>>43829276

This room, part of the vast Temple complex, and one of the many rooms you have never seen before, is dark save for a few candles lit around the room. Resting in meditation is Master Duon. When you enter he speaks out, "Approach, Disciple."

You draw closer and sit before him on both knees, resting on your heels. He stands and looks over you. You have only seen Master Duon once, and he is just as tall and intimidating as he was those years ago. His beard is sharp and bushy like a plant, and his eyes are constantly ablaze with an inner fire.

"It has been many years since you arrived, Disciple. Tell me, are you happy here?" You nod, and answer, "Of course, Master." He nods in return and asks.

"Disciple Yao, what do you wish to do once you become a Monk?" Your heart picks up in its beating, though you struggle to keep it restrained.

>A) I want to become a Pilgrim, travelling the world and defending the common man.

>B) I want to become a Guardian, defending this temple that I love so much.

>C) I want to become a Master, achieving new levels of understanding of the Path.

>D) I want to become a Consular, serving and protecting the nobles of this land.

>C) I want to become an Exorcist, hunting down the wicked Yaoguai.

>>43829288
E

I'm pretty amped about this quest.

>>43829288
>>A) I want to become a Pilgrim, travelling the world and defending the common man.

>>43829288
>C) I want to become an Exorcist, hunting down the wicked Yaoguai.

>>43829288
>>C) I want to become an Exorcist, hunting down the wicked Yaoguai.

>>43829288
>A
>B
>C
>D
>C again

You're triggering my autism OP

>>43829309
[Glad to have you.]

>>43829309
>>43829315
>>43829341
[For votes we'll always go with the majority. If a majority cannot be reached after ten minutes, I'll select the first option chosen.]
[Whoops, starting out strong with C, D, C.]

"I want to be an Exorcist, Master." He nods, stroking his fierce beard. "And you wish to do that as a form of revenge? You seek to strike against that which imprisoned you by striking against its kin?"

A fire burns inside of you at the thought, but you restrain your emotions as best you can. "The Yaoguai are evil and with the gifts I have been given by this temple, I wish to stop the spread of their evil." He nods and says nothing as he sits where he was when you entered the room. The silence is heavy and weighs on you, far more than any silence you have experienced here. His eyes drift shut and you can see the massive muscles on this man before you. It appears that he was cut from the stone itself.

"Disciple Yao, the Masters and I have decided that you are ready for the next stage in your training. If you wish to become an Exorcist and drive these monsters from our lands, then I will train you directly." You bow, your joy leaking out as a smile while your face is towards the ground.

"Tomorrow morning you will not go to morning meal, but instead will meet me here again. Do not be late."

You stand up and bow again, deeply, before running to the meal hall. Everyone assembled looks towards you and nods their head a single time, realizing that if you returned, that the news could only be good. Master Zhu nods his head lowly to you and places his fist against his palm as you take your seat. The meal tastes better tonight than it ever has.

[cont]

>>43829500

You can barely sleep, as your excitement thunders through your veins. Eventually, you struggle yourself to sleep and wake when the light hits your face. The sound of the drums, calling Disciples to eat, fills the air and you fold your bed up, placing it on the ground with the stone atop it, as you have seen other Disciples who have moved forth. When the group moves to the hall you instead head towards the room you met Master Duon in last night.

He stands in the center of the room, waiting for you. He wears simple clothes, not unlike a peasant, a sleeveless shirt that displays his massive arms and simple pants. However, he also wears a mark of a Monk. Around his neck is a necklace of massive beads, easily the size of a large apple. These beads, as you have been taught, serve as a vessel to place one's zha, or internal energy, and draw upon it later. It allows a Monk to use Elevation-type techniques and stances far beyond the limits of his body.

"Disciple Yao, let us take our leave."

You nod and he hands you a backpack. You strap it on your back and the two of you head out of the temple grounds down the long and winding road that leads away from the temple. For such a large man he moves with remarkable nimbleness.

Once you reach the base of the mountain he looks back at you and throws his head back with a laugh, startling. "Congratulations, Disciple! You have chosen a path few are bold enough to trod." He grabs you around the shoulders and squeezes, causing your eyes to bulge a bit in surprise. He laughs and looks at you, "Isn't it nice to get out of that stuffy temple? I don't like having to wear that kind of expression, but the Grandmaster is very strict about his methods." He looks at your reaction and laughs,

"What? Don't you think it's refreshing to be a bit more free?"

>A) I like the discipline

>B) I like the freedom

>C) I don't mind either way.

>D) Write in

>>43829612
>>B) I like the freedom

>>43829612
>B) I like the freedom

>>43829612
A.

It could be a test

>>43829629
>>43829644

He asks that as if it were a question you even had to think about.

"I think it's very refreshing." You say with a smile and he laughs, "Good! I am glad that you aren't too uptight like so many from this Temple. I'm sure, with your past and all, that a bit of true freedom would be nice." He releases you from his steely arm and the two of you walk down the road. As you walk he begins to talk,

"So, Exorcist! It is probably the least chosen of the Noble Paths, mostly because Disciples do not want to devote themselves to the hunt. They want to enjoy the luxuries of living around the wealthy and most become Consulars. They attach themselves to a noble family and live like princes. Bah!" He spits on the ground, "Absurd! We are the few who understand dzuwai," he says, referring to the monastic art of manipulating and transforming energy, "and they choose to use it to become comfortable."

"Do you have any questions for me? I'm sure after all those years of silence you want to use your voice a bit."

[All questions will be submitted.]

>A) Write in your question for the Master.

>>43829748
Ask him where we're going

>>43829837

"Yes, Master. Where are we going?" He nods, "A natural question. We, my new student, are going to Songnen, the biggest city this side of the Lao River. I have a home there, and I find that it is the perfect place to train in." You nod and soon enough the sight of the city enters your view.

You don't remember ever seeing a city so large as this one in your life. The walls around the city are tall and have soldiers patrolling atop them. The buildings, once you enter, are towering structures and you can't keep your head from turning to take in each new sight. He laughs softly, "Don't forget your training, Disciple. Part of the reason I brought you here was to expose you to the real world, for you must know it well to discover the monsters in hiding."

The two of you stop at a stand selling food. He begins talking to the merchant and you stand a bit away, taking in the sights. Your amazement is disrupted when you feel a hand brush against you and grab your bag from your hand. The thief then turns and sprints away, going down the crowded streets.

Your mind has only a split second to make a decision.

>A) Chase him down

>B) Tell your Master

>C) Let him have it. You can make your own way.

>>43830116
>>A) Chase him down

>>43830116
>>A) Chase him down

>>43830116
A

Don't let him get away!

>>43830223
>>43830176
>>43830153

Your vision seems to fade around the sides as you zero in on the running man. Without a word to your Master you sprint after the thief. People are shoved aside roughly as you sprint through the streets and narrow alleys after the man. You are gaining on him.

Seeing this, the thief starts throwing projectiles over his shoulder at you, whatever he can get his hands on. A bowl, a box, a cleaver, a chain, another bowl, and more come whizzing towards you as he jumps over obstacles and dives through stands. This guy is quite elusive.

Still, you tell yourself, he's just a common man. You bob and weave around the projectiles with ease and when he leaps through an unattended stall, rolling back onto his feet, you move your energy to your feet and legs, making a front flip, as easy as a performer, but instead of a mere two feet of forward movement, you vault over the stall and land on top of the man's shoulders.

He crashes to the ground from your weight and you settle into a squat, maintaining excellent balance as you make your feet cling to his shirt. You gather up your bag and put it back on your back.

The man gasps out in pain and mutters, "Please, mercy, oh enlightened one, had I know who you were, I would have never done this! Spare me!"

The alley is quite empty, only a few wandering animals can see you, though you expect people will be coming to see the commotion perhaps.

How do you handle this insect?

>A) Punish him, harshly
>B) Punish him, mildly.
>C) Forgive him

>>43830297
>>C) Forgive him

>>43830297
>>C) Forgive him

>>43830297
>D
Just ignore him

>>43830297
I'm gonna back >>43830324
He's nto worth the trouble.

>C) Forgive him

>>43830324
This

>>43830297
>C) Forgive him
Just forgive the poor sod.

>>43830402
>>43830357
>>43830324
>>43830321
>>43830320

You nod and shake your head, getting off his back and letting the energy return back to your system from your legs. "If you must be a thief, perhaps consider your targets more wisely next time. Trouble me no longer, I bear no ill will." He nods and scrambles away, stumbling over a few animals and his own hurried thanks to you.

A few minutes later and you return back to the stand where you ran off from your Master. He is sitting down at a table and holds up a large bowl with steam pouring from it. "Here, all that public display of power must be making you hungry." He says with a laugh as you thank him, a bit nervously, and take a seat opposite him. You eat the noodles, one of the most amazing flavors you've ever tasted in your life after eating rice and beans for years, as he starts talking.

"Now that you are out in the wide open world I suppose I can tell you a few things about how Monks such as we are seen out here." He looks towards a passing patrol of guards who he nods to but receives a stern gaze, bordering on a scowl.

"The common man is both in awe and terror of us. They have heard stories of the actions of our brothers and sisters as legends, tales from their childhood, and then to learn that such people are real is.....difficult for them to accept. As such, I would recommend restraining your use of any displays of dzuwai to a minimum." You nod, still tearing through the noodles.

"Those in positions of power, however, have accepted that we are real, and that we are dangerous. Nobles, generals, criminal lords, and others in positions of authority are often displeased at us being too out of the normal order. In the past, after all, our people were merely the honored guards of the holy grounds the Ancient Temples were built upon. Yet, after the Seven Beasts War, we no longer have temples to guard."

(cont)

>>43830462

You nod and speak up, "I have only heard of the war in passing, it is not well recorded." He nods and drinks from his cup of tea before continuing, "Yes, for it was a very long time ago. In my opinion, people just don't want to remember it." He shakes his head and grins before continuing.

"Anyway, what I'm telling you is that while you shouldn't let people push you around, or steal from you, anything more than what you did is too much, unless you want the eyes of the common man upon you constantly. That is one philosophy that our kind observes. There are several, but it is the one that I hold closest, Empty Hand, possessing strength without displaying it."

You are about to comment on him not displaying strength with his massive arms hanging out of his shoulders, but decide against it, nodding. "What other philosophies are there?"

"Well, there are many, but the most prominent are Empty Hand, Bloody Palm, Stillness, Fullness, and Lone Tower. You know of mine, but the others are as follows. Bloody Palm believes in dominating the common man, since we are the strong and they are the weak. They call it a logical continuation of the Decree of the Gods, that which empowers the Emperor, but it is in violation of it."

"Stillness believes in using whatever means are needed to complete your ends. It is not about oppression or helping, it is instead about using your strength and gifts to benefit you."

"Fullness is about using your gifts to help everyone else. Since we are unique empowered, is it not our duty to help all? I agree with this one, however, the reality that you cannot help everyone, and this is a path to disappointment."

"Finally, Lone Tower believes in hiding away from the world to achieve mastery of our deadly craft away from all others, so that they will not fall to harm because of our actions. Which do you find most like your beliefs?"

>A) Empty Hand
>B) Bloody Palm
>C) Stillness
>D) Fullness
>E) Lone Tower

>>43830613
Empty Hand

>>43830613
>C) Stillness

>A) Empty Hand

>>43830613
>>D) Fullness

>>43830613
>A) Empty Hand

>>43830613
A

Seems pretty bro tier to me.

File: Daiyu.png (887 KB, 900x1595)

887 KB PNG

>>43830656
>>43830674

"The Empty Hand makes sense to me, with what you've explained. If the world is indeed this way, then we should keep ourselves controlled and only use our power when necessary." He smiles and nods, "I am very glad to hear that you agree, Disciple Yao. Come, I have already paid, so let us retire to my home."

The two of you head down the street and he points out the directions to your new house with him. It is a small and nondescript house, and when you enter it the interior matches the outside quite well. It is humble and quiet. "Welcome home."

He calls out, "Daiyu! I'm home!" Footsteps coming from below are heard and a young woman emerges from the basement, presumably. She is tall and pale. Her eyes are strong and burn with the same fire as his. "Welcome home, Father." She bows and he hugs her, causing her to frown a bit, but her hands touch the base of his back quickly.

"Ah, Daiyu, this is Disciple Yao Jian, my student. He is training to be an Exorcist." You bow to her, keeping your expression polite. She nods and bows back, "Welcome to our home, Disciple Yao." She adjusts her belt for a moment and nods, "I'll leave the wu kwan to you both, then." She bows again to both of you, slips on her soft shoes and exits the house.

Duon grins and puts his hand on your shoulder, "Let's get started then, can't have you away from training too much."

The two of you head to a small staircase and go down, rough walls on either side of you. You stop at the bottom in a dark room and he leans back his head, winking at you once before breathing forward with great force, flames erupting from his lips and darting to light what must be nearly a hundred candles around the room.

The room that is revealed, a large circular room with targets, weapons, and training equipment, is massive, maybe two hundred feet across. "Welcome, to your new home."

(cont)

>>43830845

The two of you settle down, putting your bags down, stretching, and then sit opposite one another in a meditative position, your wrists touching your knees. He seems to loom over you even sitting, though in truth he is maybe only three inches taller than you when standing. "Now, I have studied you for the past few months, and spoken to Master Zhu at great length about your style. From what he tells me, you favor endurance and strength based martial arts, though you are perfectly capable of others. Additionally, it seems that you favor empty handed combat, as opposed to weapon based. Is this correct?"

You nod, "Yes, though that is merely because I took to it most easily. I am certain that I can learn any Style and become great with it in due time." He laughs loudly, "Yes, I'm sure you can, but I have heard those words many times! I can see that you are quite confident in your abilities. You hide it well, but you have no need to hide it around me, I was much the same in my youth."

"As you know, from your readings and from common sense, there are hundreds of styles in the wide world, and no one can hope to learn them all, but I can teach you many that I use. What do you want to work on first?"

>A) Improving my current skills
>B) Increasing my repertoire
>C) Whatever you think is best, Master.
>D) Other

>>43830930
>C) Whatever you think is best, Master.

>>43830930
>A) Improving my current skills

>A) Improving my current skills

>>43830930
>>C) Whatever you think is best, Master

>>43830930
>Improve my current skills

>>43830930
>>C) Whatever you think is best, Master.

>>43830930
C

"It is my place to learn, Master. What is most useful to learn first?"

>>43830930
>C) Whatever you think is best, Master.

>>43831042
>>43831010
>>43830944
>>43830973
>>43830995

"Well, I would like to improve my current skills, but ultimately the choice lies with you, Master." He laughs, "Of course it does, my Disciple, but the question was but to glean your mindset. The truth is, we must first have you reach the status of Monk. You must learn to convert ziu to zha, External to Internal Energy."

He places a bowl of water in front of you and sits, cross armed. "Now, I know you can reach out and manipulate external energy, at least through contact, but what I want you to do is, with your hand in the water, drain its energy and turn it into zha." You do as instructed and close your eyes. You reach out for the energy, and feel it, intangible, yet warm in your hand. Yet, frustratingly, you cannot form the bridge that you have learned around, that you read about.

The hours pass as you focus and strain, diligently, before he speaks, "That is enough for now." You withdraw your hand, now wrinkled from the exposure to the water. "Tell me, what are you doing?" You explain the process to him and he nods, "A bridge? I never thought of it that way. The issue with a school, I've found, is that they try to fix every problem with the same one answer. You can feel it, and you can affect it, so you must be the one who figures out what works for you."

He stands up and stretches, "I will go and make some tea. Keep working, but, word of warning, use the other hand." He heads up the stairs and you place your non-wrinkled hand into the water and close your eyes, focusing.

The minutes pass with no effect and you sigh, opening your eyes to see Daiyu sitting opposite you. You control your surprise as she looks at you, "I had the same problem when I was training. I couldn't make that connection." You nod, listening to her words very carefully, your eyes on her lips.

(cont)

>>43830930
>>B) Increasing my repertoire

>>43831152

"Those who are detached from the immaterial need to form a bridge. You have it already, as did I. The connection is formed, and the spiritual and physical realms are connected within your mind and body. Yet, what blocks you is your spirit. You resist the connection, for it means surrender. It means allowing another force to enter your body, and to become a part of you." You nod, very aware of the dryness of your throat as she talks and smiles politely at you.

She reaches out and puts a finger into the bowl, her digit a few inches from your hand. She softly closes her eyes and sure enough, the water level drops slowly, and her skin appears to grow more vibrant, her entire appearance more alive, as she breathes out, the water refilling in the bowl with her breathing.

"Do you understand what I mean?"

>A) I understand, thank you
>B) I'm not sure I do.
>C) Maybe, but could you show me?

>>43831211
>B) I'm not sure I do.

>>43831211

"Let's find out."

Try it!

>>43831211
>B) I'm not sure I do.

>>43831211
>I'm not sure I do

>A) I understand, thank you

>>43831211
>>B) I'm not sure I do.

>>43831211
>>A) I understand, thank you

>>43831211
>A) I understand, thank you

>>43831246
>>43831241
>>43831236

"I'm not sure I do." She smiles, "I wouldn't think so. It is hard to describe. Just keep it in mind." She says and stands up, bowing and heading up the stairs.

You close your eyes and focus on the energy again, feeling it, warm against your hand, and this time you don't try to touch it, or to pull it in, but instead to let it move of its own accord. Slowly, and very subtly, it inches towards your fingertips, warmth surging up your arm as you see it. Your focus breaks for a moment and you breathe out sharply.

You had it, the edge of it. You can feel it! Master Duon appears and smiles, "Tea is ready. I would recommend having a calming cup of tea before you continue." You thank him and drink the warm tea, sighing in contentment. The two of you finish the drink without another word as you put your hand back in the bowl.

Hours pass again, however, this time you can feel a change. And then, finally, and almost as if you did nothing different, you feel it. Your mind shifts and you view your hand as a vessel, like the bowl, and the warm energy of the water as resting within it. The heat surges up your arm and you feel your entire body surge with blazing heat. Startled, you clamp down on it, the water having vanished entirely from within the bowl. "Master!" The older man laughs loudly and stands up, "Look at that! Seven years of hard work come to a head in a single day!"

(Conversion: 0 -> Conversion: 1)

You release the energy and it slowly dissipates through your skin. "Excellent work, now, I'm sure you're not tired, thanks to the energy you drew in." Amazingly, he was correct. You felt as if you had just awoken from a long night of excellent sleep. "This is part of our great art. True power, Yao, comes from taking the outside world and turning it within."

(cont)

>>43831352

You stand up and feel your every nerve quivering from excitement as you jump and kick a bag, tearing a solid hemp bag to shreds with a single kick. You feel strong enough to fight the world!

Master Duon stands up and puts his hand on your shoulder, "You are a Monk, now, Yao. Welcome to the brotherhood." You bow deeply and thank him, feeling the energy finally leave you, but less than you took in, some of it used to fight off your exhaustion. "What now, Master?"

He laughs, "Now? Well, now that you are no longer a disciple, I will fight you. I must see for myself how you are in battle." His hand on your shoulder changes from a heavy warmth to a cold clamp and you feel yourself thrown, bodily, towards the walls of the room.

You shift your energy to your feet and hold yourself against the wall, in a low crouch, clinging to the wall as if it were made of honey and you were a fly. "If that is your order, Master, then I will fulfill it!"

[Combat Tutorial has begun!]
[You have 4 Zha available to be allocated or used. What Stance would you like to enter?]

>A) None
>B) Progression Stance, grab staff.
>C) Roots of Earth

>>43831396
>>C) Roots of Earth

>>43831396
>C) Roots of Earth

>>43831396
C

Let us see what he throws at us.

>>43831396
>C) Roots of Earth

>>43831415
>>43831411
>>43831407

You drop onto the ground and shift your feet wide, the energy in your feet changing form and shape. Eventually, your feet feel heavy and sturdy, as if the entire ground were a pair of comfortable boots. You hold your hands forward, palms facing him, thumbs tucked, forming a blade with your hands. He removes his necklace of beads and rolls his neck, "Very well, you think to counter me? I'll give you that chance."

He lunges forward, as fast as you expected he'd be, his right hand in a tight fist, soaring for your stomach.

[Defensive Choices: You may attempt to block/parry his attack with a Defense roll, or you may attempt to directly counter him with an Attack roll. If you make a counter and fail, however, you suffer greater damage from exposing yourself.]

[To indicate your choice below, roll 2d10+3 and say, in your post, Defense or Counter.]

Rolled 10, 5 + 3 = 18 (2d10 + 3)

>>43831466
Defense

Rolled 7, 7 + 3 = 17 (2d10 + 3)

>>43831466

Hit him right back!

Rolled 6, 6 + 3 = 15 (2d10 + 3)

>>43831466
counter

Rolled 9, 6 + 4 = 19 (2d10 + 4)

>>43831499
>>43831497
>>43831513

[Rules for popularity still exist in combat, and I'll take the highest of the first three rolls. That gives us a hell of a chance of some good shit.]

>>43831597

You try to catch his fist, but he slips just a bit past you and his fist smashes into you.

[7 Damage reduced to 4. 8 Soft Health remaining.]

However, he is vulnerable now, and you strike!

[Attack time. Same deal, 2d10+3. Best out of the first three.]

Rolled 9, 1 + 3 = 13 (2d10 + 3)

>>43831627

Smash!

Rolled 4, 10 + 3 = 17 (2d10 + 3)

>>43831627
Strike like Lightning!

Rolled 3, 7 + 3 = 13 (2d10 + 3)

>>43831627

Rolled 4, 1 + 4 = 9 (2d10 + 4)

>>43831683
>>43831655
>>43831651

Your hand lunges forward and strikes, empowered by your energy, you stab at his chest.

>>43831701

[Rolled 8 damage]

The hit strikes home and and he winces a bit at the impact before raising his hands and striking again.

The two of you exchange blows in a rapid flurry, his hits are hard like the fist of a yaoguai, but yours are fast and hard as well, spurred on by your youthful vigor and the thrill of the empowerment.

Eventually, after maybe a minute of exchanging blows he jumps away from you. Bruises cover your torso, and blood is running down his chest, but he smiles and stomps the ground hard. Your connection to the ground seems suddenly cut off as he dashes in and grabs you, lifting one of your feet off the ground and throwing you at the wall again.

You go to recover, but see him immediately closing the distance. You can barely cover yourself up as he crashes into you. His hands grab you again and you are thrown to the ground.

As you hit the ground you pull energy from the earth and when he strikes down you lash out with it. A blast of invisible energy soars up. He dodges it at the last second and one of the walls suddenly has a massive crater in it. "Enough!" You stand up and bow, "I'm sorry, Master." He shakes his head, "Don't worry about that." He says as he looks at it.

"That's impressive. I know you weren't doing it purposefully, but that's a lot of energy in that strike. It seems that you have quite some potential." You thank him and he waves his hand over the wall, repairing the crater.

"Now, let's get some rest. Even though we can keep going, it's better to sleep while we can." You nod and he extinguishes all the candles with a wave of his hand.

~The next day~

You awaken and head into the common area. Daiyu is preparing three bowls of rice and places one in front of you. Her father is absent. When you look at her she speaks, "He's still alseep. Father likes to sleep." You nod and thank her for the meal. The two of you begin eating.

>A) Eat that food right up and wait for Duon to appear
>B) Make polite conversation
>C) Write in

>>43831873

"Tell me about yourself! What does your father do when he is not training monks like me?"

>>43831873
>B) Make polite conversation

>>43831873
>>B) Make polite conversation

>>43831873
>B) Make polite conversation

Start off with Hey bb u waun sum fuq?

>>43831873
>>B) Make polite conversation

>>43831998
>>43831993
>>43831950
>>43831931

"So, Daiyu, tell me, what do your father do when he's not teaching?" You ask her somewhat suddenly, clearing you throat as you drink some tea to give her a chance to respond.

"Well, he's an Exorcist, so he travels around finding yaoguai and destroying them. That's what you are going to do as well, I'm sure. He only trains Exorcists." You nod at her assertion, "Yes, I intend to be an Exorcist."

She takes a quick bite before continuing, "Other than that, he goes to the capital very often." That seems to be the extent of that conversation, you note as she eats a few more bites without saying more. The two of you eat in the renewed silence as she speaks,

"And what about you, Yao? Are you going to make the great voyage? Father has been obsessed with it for years." You cock your head, "What's the great voyage?"

Duon's deep voice rumbles from the hallway, "It is the goal of all Exorcists! We go to the Western Savagelands, the original home of the yaoguai, and find their King there and kill him." You stand up and bow to him when he enters and takes a seat facing you. "Thanks for the food, Daiyu." His voice is a bit gruff and she smiles even more politely and bows, "Of course, Father, it's my duty."

She stands up with her empty bowl and heads out, "I'll be back later, good bye." And with that the young woman heads out into the town. Duon sighs, "It's always something with her." You decide it best not to intervene.

The food is quickly finished and you return to the wu kwan, The candles are replaced with new ones and he lights them excitedly.

"Today, we talk about your curriculum."

(cont)

>>43832146

"Now, seeing as you are now a realized Monk, and can fuel extensive internal energy and external energy styles, I can begin teaching you what I know. From what I've seen yesterday you are too defensive and rely too much on your endurance to outlast your opponents. That may have worked in the Temple, but yaoguai are stronger, faster, and tougher than you are in every way. It would be in your best interests to never be hit by them, rather than to absorb it. To that end, I will offer you a few Styles that would supplement your current knowledge well. I would like to teach you all of these by some point, but once you learn three to a decent level, we can go hunt our first yaoguai together."

You feel your heart pick up in excitement, and a bit of fear, at the thought of facing a yaoguai like Rends-Maidens again, but you steel yourself against the fear.

He stands up and takes a stance that is very close and tall. His shoulders raise and his hands settle in front of him. Golden energy surrounds his hands and he swings his hand, lazily, towards a mounted stone on a pedestal. The aura passes over the stone and when he returns to the ready position you see a massive gaping hole where the aura touched the stone. "This is Inner River, Outer Rampage. It is a Style that can only kill. It is destructive and requires excellent zha control, which I know you have."

He shifts now, both arms behind his back, each hand holding the other's arm, and raises his left leg. He does a simple side kick, a child's move, but as it moves, the roar of a tiger fills the room and a wooden dummy explodes to splinters. "This is the Six Funerals, another intensely murderous Style."

[cont]

>>43832310

He adjusts his position now to a low style, one leg forward and the other under his weight. Both arms raise and hang like a bird's wings. He leaps up into the air twisting like a leaf in the wind, and strikes several dozen times in the span of two seconds. "This is Soaring Heron, a defensive and evasive style."

Finally, he adopts a shallow stance, his hands formed into blades like you usually do, but now he lunges and stabs with speed you hadn't thought him capable of, and when he finishes a combination he spits a focused blast of fire from his lips, even coating his hands with fire and striking with burning punches. "And this, is Bai-Lung, mastery over fire and rapid attack."

He settles himself and sits opposite you. "So, which of the four would you like to start with?"

>>43832338
>Soaring Heron

>>43832338
>Bai-Lung

>>43832338
>Bai-Lung

>>43832338
>Soaring Heron

>>43832338
Inner River, Outer Rampage

>>43832338
>Bai-Lung

>>43832338
>>Soaring Heron

>>43832338
>Inner River

>>43832404
>>43832378
>>43832438

"I want to learn Bai-Lung." He nods and smiles, "It's very impressive, isn't it? Very well, then let us begin."

He sits opposite you and you take the meditative position up with him. Your eyes close and you sense his zha, vast and radiant energy like your own. "Bai-Lung was created by the eccentric monk known as Ten-League Gao, called that for his famous Ten-League Kick, which he famously did from the top of a mountain into the middle of an invading army, destroying them all. Gao worshiped the Sun Dragon, Tzingonglokinming, 'Radiant Brilliance on the Purest Morning'. More than anything, Gao wished to become as the Lung. And so he asked for guidance."

As he speaks you sense the energy within him boiling, like water over a flame, and he continues. "After five years of study he descended from the mountain he studied upon and breathed flames like the Lung he so adored. He learned to strike with speed and force, to breath flames, but it was not complete." The bubbling energy within him increases in ferocity, and his voice drops several notes in depth.

"So, with the last bits of his life he finally developed the Ultimate Technique of the Bai-Lung, the Step of Ascension, known to the greatest masters of Bai-Lung and imitated by its inferior students. He became a Lung and lives to this day, so the story is told."

You open your eyes and see the man before you, his skin now dark burned golden and hard, covered in scales. His black beard grew in length, now white, and his eyes burned red through his eyelids, so bright was their flame. He eventually sighs, the transformation reversing and leaving him just a man again.

"As you can see," he says, looking at you, "Even I am still a student in many ways. That form, which I call the Khu-Lung, the half-Lung form, serves me well in battle."

You stand at his command and he teaches you the basic stance. You spend the rest of the day practicing it with him and learning the basic strikes.

(cont)

>>43832593

[Bai-Lung added to Styles known. Ember Stance learned.]

You take a break for dinner, eating some meat for the first time in a long time. After you both have eaten he stands up, "Well, my student, I wish to practice my own exercises tonight, so you have the evening off. If you would like, I have some garments that will fit you, and some spare gold in a purse in your closet, how about you go out and explore tonight? Live a little! Fall in love, then out of it, and then back in." You flush a bit at his talk of such things and he laughs, "Have fun, Yao."

You bathe yourself, retie your hair, and wear a handsome outfit, putting the gold in your pocket and head out into the city.

Where do you go?

>A) To the town square, where sounds of a celebration are coming from.

>B) To a local tavern, alcohol sounds enjoyable.

>C) Write in

>>43832666

>A) To the town square, where sounds of a celebration are coming from.

>>43832666
>>A) To the town square, where sounds of a celebration are coming from.

>>43832666
>C) Write in

Neither Stay and train in the new style we learned. Gotta git gud

>>43832684
>>43832702

You go to the town square and see a large group of people carrying someone on a chair of wood and gold. From the words being said, the songs being sung, and the liquor being thrown about, you surmise that this is the birthday of someone of local importance. You smile and when someone passes you a cup of wine, you don't refuse. You sip from it, unused to the burning sting it has in your throat.

People cheer and laugh, eventually, you get your chance to be passed to the throne and support the beam on your shoulder. The person on the throne, a quiet looking young man, is smiling around happily and waving. His name is Yushin, and he is the son of the local nobleman. Today he has turned thirteen, and is officially old enough to become the new lord of the town, should his father die.

The procession moves to the center of town where games and performers are set up waiting for him. Jugglers, fire-eaters, and other such performers all entertain and dazzle the crowd. Eventually, a large stone is brought forth, with the straining effort of ten men, and placed on a stand. A thin man, apparently the adviser to the local nobleman, calls out, "And now, the great test of Songnen! These men, mighty and tall the lot of them, have gathered to attempt to break this stone with only another, smaller stone, using their sheer strength!"

Indeed, a group of ten or so men, all huge and oiled, burly and strong, are lined up waiting to try to break the stone. Each of them are holding a misshapen rock and grinning proudly. "He who wins shall receive the title of Strongest of Songnen and will be given a thousand gold coins for their efforts!"

And so the men start, each of them straining as hard as possible and bringing all their weight down on the stone, but to no avail. Either the stone they held would break, or fall, or they would crush their hand or leave the large stone bloody from the sharpness of their stone.

(cont)

>>43832666
>>A) To the town square, where sounds of a celebration are coming from.

>>43832900

Yushin cheers the whole way through, admiring their efforts and enjoying the show. However, when all have tried, and failed, the adviser calls out, "It appears that the strength of Songnen is not as great as it once was! For, not twenty years ago, Prince Yushin's father, the mighty Lord Wuoshin, shattered such a stone with but the smallest effort!" The people jeered at the strongmen who glowered out at the crowd as they wiped the blood off their hands.

"Now, I ask this to you all, does ANYONE have the strength to shatter this stone and win the fabulous prize!?" The men of the village, not a moment ago full of jeers and gloats, now cough and turn their heads away, suddenly fascinated by their own sleeves.

>A) Step up
>B) Keep quiet

>>43832932
>>B) Keep quiet

>>43832932
>>B) Keep quiet

>>43832932
>>A) Step up

>>43832932
>>B) Keep quiet
Empty palm guys

>>43832932
>A) Step up

>>43832977
I want to shatter it then just walk away.

>>43832932
>B) Keep quiet

>>43832932
>B) Keep quiet

>>43832958
>>43832959
>>43832977

You keep your silence, but do not flinch or turn aside with shame like the other men. Yushin calls out, "Of course not, Father is the strongest!" The crowd laughs and claps in agreement. A female voice speaks up next to you, "Why didn't you try? You look like a big man."

You look down at the surprisingly short woman near you. She looks a bit younger than you, but you can't tell for sure. She smiles, "I'm Meng Xiu, nice to meet you, stranger." You bow your head to her slightly, "I am Yao Jian, thank you." She chews on a sweet pastry from one of the carts near the start of the festival and offers you one. You thank her for it and chew it, the sweetness nearly overwhelming your senses.

"Are you a soldier?" She asks you suddenly and you shake your head, "I am not." She ponders, "An Imperial Agent?" You laugh, "No, I'm not that either." She chews her lip and gasps, "Oh!!! Are you one of those monks? Can you break the rock by looking at it, or something?"

[Your past actions are influencing your response: Empty Palm]

"Nah, I'm not one of those either. Just a traveler." She pouts and sighs, "What a shame. I always wanted to meet one of them. I wanted to be one when I was a little girl, but I had to stay in the village." You nod politely and chat with her a bit as the next entertainment is brought out. A knife juggler bows, and from the cuts on his face and hands you estimate he's not very good at his job.

To your surprise, he's extremely nimble, juggling three, then five, then ten knives at once, grabbing handfuls from the air and tossing them into things, moving to them while juggling other knives, and recovering the other ones. Everyone loves it.

This goes on for almost ten minutes, and as it does a growing sense of unease fills you. You look around, trying to remain subtle, but notice that a few of the townsmen are shifting around to boxes and crates. Something is about to happen, you can feel it.

[cont]

>>43833137
It seems we need to open an can of whoop ass.

>>43833137

Not five seconds after the thought crosses your mind someone screams, one of the knife juggler's blades landing in a nearby guard's chest as a second finds another man's chest. People start to run away immediately and the skulking "townspeople" rush forward, sharp swords drawn as they head towards Yushin. By the time you turn to see what Xiu's done you see that she has already run, but hasn't gotten far. One of the men scoops her up over his shoulder and tells her to shut up as the others rush for the young man and gather him up as well. The man with Xiu runs away from the rest of the group. You press against a building and keep hidden as you see the six assailants knock the boy around and carry him away, heading for the docks.

You curse silently and have to make a choice, quickly.

>A) Stop the bad stuff from happening to Xiu
>B) Rescue the boy

>>43833186
>>B) Rescue the boy

>>43833186
>A) Stop the bad stuff from happening to Xiu
wouldn't there be a consular somewhere around her to protect the boy assuming it's the nobles son?

>>43833186
>B) Rescue the boy

>>43833186
>B) Rescue the boy

>>43833233
[If they hired one. Or if one were available.]

>>43833186
>>B) Rescue the boy

>>43833186
>B) Rescue the boy

>>43833300
>>43833216
>>43833237

You take off at a sprint after the men with the boy. A few of them see you and run back to stop you, drawing swords and yelling, "Get back you fucking peasant, we'll cut you to pieces!"

You don't break your run, and when they swing, you disarm one and fill your hand with energy, smashing the other into a building so hard you hear his skull break. The disarmed man yells out, "Consular! There's a Consular for the boy, Raven!" The name, Raven, instead of a proper name, it's either some sort of mercenary or another Monk.

The remaining four men are sprinting as quickly as they can towards the river, where a boat is waiting for them, and from the boat leaps a figure in black robes, holding a staff that ends in jangling rings. You know that weapon well, it's a staff used only by Monks.

The figure lands and when you move, even the slightest inch, he taps the staff on the ground and the rings clink, and you are walloped with a force of wind so strong it puts Master Duon's hits to shame as you are tossed onto your back and slide up against a building.

You groan from the shock and stand up, seeing the boat start moving down the river. The monk with the staff, Raven you assume, jumps onto the water and runs after the boat, keeping their eyes on you until they leave your vision. You spit up a bit of blood. That hit was extremely painful, and you can barely move. Your inner energy rushes to repair you as quickly as it can and you take to your feet after a mere twenty seconds.

Is it time to reassess the situation? You choke the thought down, feeling your inner indignation raise up at being bested so casually by someone with the nerve to name themselves Raven. You didn't work this hard to lose so damn easily!

Still.....

>A) Better go after Xiu (requires 1 Balance Point)
>B) Stay on them, now it's personal.

>>43833394
>B) Stay on them, now it's personal.

>>43833394
>B) Stay on them, now it's personal.

>>43833394
>B) Stay on them, now it's personal.

>>43833411
>>43833426
>>43833437

"Like hell..." you mutter and run towards the river. You haven't mastered the art of running on water, in fact it was one of your surprising weaknesses, however, there is a bank around the river. You take off at a loping sprint and follow the boat. It's not moving that quickly, but as soon as Raven spots you he jumps on the shore and raises that staff again.

>A) Dodge (make a Defense roll)
>B) Block (make a Defense roll)
>C) Try something, anything (spend 1 Balance Point)

Rolled 8, 1 + 3 = 12 (2d10 + 3)

>>43833471
>A) Dodge (make a Defense roll)

Rolled 4, 8 + 3 = 15 (2d10 + 3)

>>43833471
>>A) Dodge (make a Defense roll)

Rolled 1, 7 + 2 = 10 (2d10 + 2)

>>43833510
>>43833486

You lunge out of the way, keeping your speed as you try to evade the hit that you cannot possibly see.

>>43833596
>>43833510

The wind blasts past you, smashing a tree into splinters, but this time you dodge it. Raven seems to panic and jumps backwards, trying to put some distance between you, but you're taller and faster, and it seems that his ability to move his zha is worse than yours.

However, he does head back out across the water, correctly guessing that you cannot follow him. The boat, however, is still lazily drifting along as the current and some rowers try to get it away from you.

Sadly, your ranged options are not very great, it was not something that you ever practiced much. As you run you spot a spear that a fisherman must have left near the bank and grab it.

You can activate the energy of the spear and throw it, hoping to maybe kill the rowers, or sink the boat, but that would have dangerous consequences if you miss.

You could try to go out there and water walk, but failing would mean you'd probably lose them.

Or something else?

>A) Throw the spear and pray. (Attack roll)
>B) Water walk out there
>C) Write in

Rolled 6, 5 + 3 = 14 (2d10 + 3)

>>43833658
>A) Throw the spear and pray. (Attack roll)

I regret nothing.

Rolled 1 + 3 (1d10 + 3)

>>43833658
>>A) Throw the spear and pray. (Attack roll)

Rolled 3, 10 + 3 = 16 (2d10 + 3)

>>43833686
fucked my roll, sorry

BTW OP I'm really liking this quest so far you got a twitter yet?

>>43833658
>A) Throw the spear and pray. (Attack roll)

Rolled 4, 8 + 3 = 15 (2d10 + 3)

>>43833820
here

>>43833701
>>43833675

The spear sails into the distance and smashes into the back of the boat. The explosive shards of wood splinters fly into Raven who lets out a scream of pain as he blocks his face with his arms and the boat dips into the water quickly. "Shit, we're sinking! Get the kid to shore, we need him alive!"

Raven has gone under the water and the men swim ashore, coughing, and when they see you, they roll over and surrender. This time, however, the criminal is not going to get an easy time off. You break their arms and tie them to a tree. Raven disappeared, not to be seen again, it seems, and you recover the boy.

Yushin coughs and looks up, "Thank you, sir, I am eternally grateful for your kindness. Please, take me to my father, I will see you justly rewarded for your deeds." You nod and help him up as you feel someone get close.

Daiyu lands next to you, "Yao! You recovered Yushin?" She says and the young man nods, "Yes, he saved me from those men." She smiles at the boy and nods, "Good. I saved the girl from the festival, I just....happened to see her while I was out. So don't worry about her." You nod, relieved, and thank her.

You and Daiyu escort Yushin back to the square, now crawling with guards. In the center is a tall and fat man who, perhaps once, was more athletic. The boy runs towards him, "Father!" The fat man kneels and embraces his son, "Oh, thank the Gods you are alive." He stands and faces you, Yushin speaking up, "Yes, father, it's him who saved me."

The man, Lord Wuoshin, wobbles towards you and bows his head, "Thank you, enlightened one, for saving my son. Please, name your prize and you shall have it."

>A) Write in suggestions
>B) I want no prize.

>>43833796
[Actually just made one, thanks for reminding me. https://twitter.com/WayOftheFistGM]

>>43833902
>B) I want no prize

>>43833902
>B) I want no prize.

>>43833902
I want no prize Sir, and by the way how she just happened to see the girl...it was her wasn't it just transformed, she was trying to either test us or see our strength.

Stay safe young man.

Walk off into the distance back home

>>43833902
>>B) I want no prize.

>>43833902
>>B) I want no prize.

>>43833926
>>43833939
>>43833973

"Thank you, your Honor, but I wish no prize." You bow to him and he shakes his head, "No, no! Wuoshin always pays his debts, and this is a sizable one." You smile, partially at his choice of words, but more as he grabs your arm and tugs you towards the waiting horses. You go along with a smiling Daiyu who keeps quiet and follows along with you.

The two of you are taken a short distance to the nearby manor where a grand feast is called. Expensive alcohol is brought out, and who would you be to refuse a host's hospitality? You drink it merrily with Daiyu who shows restraint. Wuoshin drinks alongside you and, once all the advisers and bootlicks are removed from the room, he removes his official hat and drinks freely, leaning back and singing. Beautiful women are brought in to play music and he flirts mercilessly with them.

Their attentions, naturally are brought to you, and Daiyu keeps herself from laughing, but you can see her holding it back as you eventually realize you have six women surrounding you and chatting you up, their hands running up and down your sleeves. This is certainly not what you would have seen yourself doing a week ago.

Two hours into the evening the hefty lord drags himself over to you, "I must say, Yao, I am full of joy this evening! What say you to joining me as my permanent assistant and guard? I'll pay you well, you can stay with these lovely women as much as you wish, and you can watch my beloved boy grow up! How does that sound?"

>A) Accept
>B) Refuse (roll 2d10 beat an 8, or spend a Balance Point)

Rolled 2, 2 = 4 (2d10)

>>43834134
>B) Refuse (roll 2d10 beat an 8, or spend a Balance Point)
If this fails spend.

Rolled 2, 4 = 6 (2d10)

>>43834134
>B) Refuse (roll 2d10 beat an 8, or spend a Balance Point)
we have a mission that we are already devoted to.

Rolled 2, 8 = 10 (2d10)

>>43834134
>>B) Refuse (roll 2d10 beat an 8, or spend a Balance Point)

Spend if fail

>>43834196
>>43834194
>>43834153
Looks like we're spending.

>>43834228
We beat an 8 on that third one dude

>>43834196

You push through the haze of the liquor and pat his shoulder, "Oh your great Honor, I would be overjoyed to! However, I have a standing obligation, unfortunately, and tonight I just happened to be at the right place at the right time." He nods, a tear running down his cheek sadly as he nods, "Oh! The misery! We shall always think of you, Yao."

You and Daiyu make your escape after that, and she laughs, her pale cheeks flushed from the drinking as she supports you. "The world outside the temple is something else, eh?" You nod and laugh, unsure on your feet for the first time in a long time. She gently jabs your shoulder, "So, why didn't you go after the girl, Yao? Isn't it a man's duty to protect women?"

>A) I have a higher duty to the local lord
>B) I made the wrong choice
>C) Write in

>>43834320
>C) The boy was in greater danger.

>>43834320
>A) I have a higher duty to the local lord

>>43834320
>C) The boy was in greater danger.

>>43834320
>>B) I made the wrong choice

>>43834320
Some variation of >>43834365

>>43834320
>C) I'd rather a little boy be indebted to me than some woman.

>>43834320
C. The child was in greater danger

>>43834320
>C) The boy was in greater danger.

>>43834377
>>43834365

You shake your head, "The boy was in greater danger. It was the hard choice, but I had to do it....besides, you saved her." She frowns and hits you again, a bit harder, "That's not the point, Yao, you should have saved her!"

You feel your temper rising, "Daiyu, I did what I could..." it's hard to keep calm with the haze of liquor in you, but the haze is slowly turning redder as she keeps scowling at you. A heat begins growing on your back, almost as if your old scars were on fire. She starts to raise her voice, "Yeah!? Well you didn't do enough! That girl could have gotten her life ruined, Yao!"

You open your mouth, about to speak, and feel a hideous feeling. At first you think that this is what nausea feels like, and you drop to your knees, feeling something creeping up your throat. Yet, to your revulsion, it's not vomit, but a thick black tongue that pushes your own down and speaks, "BE SILENT YOU RUINOUS WITCH!"

Daiyu, even as drunk as she is, steps back, aghast at the change in your voice, "Yao? What's wrong?" You grab at your throat and try to touch the tongue, but it is icy death cold to the touch. It laughs, "Finally, after all this time, freed! Yet....it is not complete! Why did you drink so little, Yao? Afraid?" Your back is red hot and on fire, and you feel your limbs move against your volition. You try to move them, but the burning on your back increases more and more as you try to resist until it's too painful to resist and your body shambles, the tongue lolling around in your mouth, speaking vulgarly.

"So, you think you're a big grown man now, Yao? Mighty Yao, the boy who cried as I ate his parents in front of him." You know that voice, you knew it immediately, but you couldn't believe it.

Panic starts to flood you, genuine fear. "Yes....that's it."

What do you do?

>A) Write in suggestion?

[Questions welcome]

>>43834320
Ill be honest I though she was the girl in some crazy disguise, but seriously if a local Lords Son vanishes wars could start and many more will die, about that happened it was the Correct choice, but not necessarily the right one.

>>43834488
>A) Write in suggestion?

Bash head against the ground repeatedly until the voice stops.

>>43834488
>>A) Write in suggestion?
Just calm down, do roots of earth and focus on our breathing.

>>43834488
>Rip tongue out

>>43834488
>A) Write in suggestion?
Breathe deeply in and out, try to become aware of my body and attempt to drive out the voice from within

>>43834488
Signal her to get help, as for us root of earth ourselves, lock ourselves down and make ourselves as safe to others as possible. Calm ourselves and slow our mind, simply relax and be calm

>>43834488
focus on our inner energies and try to suppress this thing

>>43834543
>>43834544
>>43834543
>>43834506

You calm down, as best as you can anyway, and while the yaoguai manipulates you like a puppet, you reach to your inner energy. You find your connection to it is weak, weaker than its ever been, but can feel the energy and the source of this possession, the tattoo on your back. It's dark energy feels revolting to even consider holding, where the energy of the water and ground are warm and pure, this is putrid and dripping like pus.

You manage to gather enough of your energy to hold onto a Roots of the Earth and your legs lock to the ground. Your knees buck forward, trying to move you, but you cannot be shifted. The tongue in your mouth, the demon's tongue, lashes around violently, "YOU DAMNED MORTAL CHILD, ONCE I AM DONE WITH THIS BODY I WILL DELIGHT IN RENDING IT TO SHREDS. RELEASE ME NOW!!!"

Daiyu, frozen in horror, finally snaps free and sprints away at top speed towards home.

You try to drive the tongue back into your throat, but any attempts to touch it or interact with it result in burns from the cold. Your regular tongue has lost all feeling from the hideous cold of the demon's tongue and while you have rooted your legs, you cannot move any of your limbs due to the demon's control over you.

An idea reaches you, perhaps you can drain his energy and convert it to internal energy? Tattoos like this are just stored energy, and if drained, it should disappear, right?

>A) Drain the tattoo's filthy energy
>B) Hold on and wait for help.

>>43834639
>A) Drain the tattoo's filthy energy

I'm probably going to regret this but...

>>43834639
>A) Drain the tattoo's filthy energy

>>43834639
>B) Hold on and wait for help.

>>43834639
>A) Drain the tattoo's filthy energy

Too interesting to pass up

>>43834639
>>B) Hold on and wait for help.

>>43834639
>B) Hold on and wait for help.

>>43834639
>A) Drain the tattoo's filthy energy

>>43834671
>>43834665

You form the same connection you did with the water with the tattoo, but as soon as you do so you feel nauseated. The tongue flares against your own, "I SEE YOUR PLAN, BOY! IT WON'T WORK!" That complaint, the assurance that it couldn't work encourages you to try.

The energy, however, will not flow like the water or the earth, instead, you realize, you have to pull it. You accept the energy and this time pull it into you. Your teeth become freezing painfully cold for a moment before losing all feeling in them as your lips become white and then start cracking. Frost and cold spray out of your mouth as the demon's voice howls with your mouth, "I CURSE YOU, JIAN! YOU AND YOUR FAMILY! YOUR ANCESTORS AND YOUR FILTHY CHILDREN DAMNED TO HELL FOR ALL TIMES!"

The pain isn't even a concern anymore, the sensations of your external body have been blocked off by the revulsion you feel within as the energy runs through your system.

"Yao!" You hear, faintly, as you look around through bleary and half-seeing eyes. Your legs are mostly ice at this point, and you see Duon towering in front of you. "Hold on, keep doing what you're doing. I'll neutralize it."

The tongue in your mouth, to your surprise, then starts to wither away. Its thick slimy nature becomes dry, and then starts to drain like a stuck animal. Duon's hand is against your back and combined with your efforts, eventually, it stops. You are in control of your body again, and the voice stops. You release the hold on the earth and collapse forward. Daiyu catches you and Master Duon starts smashing the ice around your feet. A smile of victory flashes across your face as you collapse into blackness.

[Grand Grace Noble, lost. Grand Grace Determined, gained. Flaw, Tainted Zha gained.]

[cont]

>>43834831

You awaken in a blazing hot sweat and sit up feebly. The strong hand of your Master presses you down back onto the bed. "No, Yao, you should not exert energy. You are still weak, and your zha is going crazy." You nod and close your eyes, feeling your energy erratically spiking and receding. With a single mental command it calms and you direct it to heal you. Stunningly, even to you, it takes nearly no exertion, but you feel your body repairing itself. Your then blackened and leathery tongue from exposure pinking and returning to healthy texture. Your lips repair, and in the span of ten seconds you are back to normal, though you feel ill and cannot shake that.

He sighs, rubbing his beard and looking at you, "It appears that Rends-Maidens was aware of the potential you had within you. He put a piece of himself into that tattoo on your back. And, when you got drunk, it appears that it limited the control you had over your energy enough for him to seize control." You grin and cough, "Well, at least we removed his energy, right?"

Duon is silent for too long and you look at him worriedly, "We didn't?" He shakes his head, "To the opposite, it appears that the tattoo is just as healthy as ever, maybe more so. It's energy grows as your own grows. However, it also seems that you can keep it restrained as it grows in strength. For all my Exorcist knowledge....I cannot drive it from you. It is tied too closely to your own zha." You nod and sit up, and when he goes to stop you he pauses, seeing your renewed vitality.

"I see..." He muses and looks at you more carefully. "Yao, I believe we will have a change of plans. Daiyu will train you in Bai-Lung for the next week. I must travel somewhere with all haste." He stands up quickly and starts to pack a bag.

>A) Follow him and ask questions (write in)
>B) Other? Write in

>>43834910
>A) Follow him and ask questions (write in)
Where are you going and can I come with you?

>>43834910
>A) Follow him and ask questions (write in)
Where are yougping, Master?
Are you searching for the knowledge necessary to destoy this piece of Rends?

>>43834944
>>43834938

You climb out of the bed and follow him downstairs. "Where are you going, Master? May I come along?" He shakes his head seriously, "No, Yao, I am going to a very unsavory place, and I am going to meet several undesirable people. This is no place for a chi- a student." He says, stopping himself from calling you a child, obviously, and sighs.

"Listen to me, Yao, while I am gone, do not, and I must be extremely clear about this, do NOT draw from that tattoo more. I know you think you can handle it. I believe you can. But, I do not know what your body can handle. We have to withdraw it from you safely, so that you retain your zha."

You patiently wait and speak, "Master, if it regards my well-being, shouldn't I come along?" He turns and looks at you extremely sternly, "Yao, I am your Master, and I am giving you an order. You will remain here and study under Daiyu, or I will remove you from my home and teachings."

>A) Apologize for speaking out of turn.
>B) Push the issue further
>C) Say you don't need him.

>>43835023
>>A) Apologize for speaking out of turn.

>>43835023
>A) Apologize for speaking out of turn.

>>43835023
>B) Push the issue further

>>43835023
>A) Apologize for speaking out of turn.
We are determined to learn.

>>43835023
>A) Apologize for speaking out of turn.

>>43835023
A

>>43835023
>A) Apologize for speaking out of turn.

>>43835040
>>43835043

You bow and press your fists together, "Of course, Master, I apologize for my rudeness. You are the Master." He sighs and puts his hand on your shoulder, "There are demons in human skins as well, Yao, and I want to only have you meet those when you are ready." He pats your back once and turns to the door, "I will be back in a week." And with that he heads off into the distance.

An hour later Daiyu appears, this time to the sight breakfast waiting for her. She ignores it, though, and runs up to you, "Yao! Are you alright?" You nod and smile, "Yes, Daiyu, I am. However, your Father left to go somewhere. He'll be back in a week." She nods blearily and sits down, starting to eat her food as you pour her tea. She thanks you and asks, "So, did he have any orders for me?"

You tell her that she is to teach you Bai-Lung and she nods, "Yes, I can do that. I'm only slightly less experienced than Father. We'll start after food." You get some food, feeling your entire body thanking you for eating.

Once downstairs you take up the stance taught to you yesterday and practice the strikes. Daiyu, as it turns out, is an even more severe teacher than her Father, by no small margin. If you ever missed a move she would sharply correct you, immediately. Your mind was straining under her tutelage, but somehow you make it to lunch.

She eats some dried meat and comments, "You are too stiff, too traditional on everything. That's fine for some schools, but when have you ever seen stiff fire? It just doesn't exist, Yao." She finishes matter-of-factly as she eats a piece of meat with a flourish. You raise your eyebrows and nod, "True." It is difficult to have her as a teacher.

Once the food is done you both stand back up and resume training. By the end of the day your muscles ache, and your zha feels almost restless, waiting for a chance to be used.

>A) Heal your aching muscles
>B) Leave your zha alone, it's dangerous.

>>43835160
>>B) Leave your zha alone, it's dangerous.

>>43835160
hing muscles
>B) Leave your zha

>>43835160
>A) Heal your aching muscles
I want to go deeper down the rabbit hole

>>43835160
>B) Leave your zha alone, it's dangerous.

>>43835160
>>B) Leave your zha alone, it's dangerous.

>>43835160
>B) Leave your zha alone, it's dangerous.

>>43835176
>>43835213
>>43835222

You calm down your zha, a bit startled at how it almost has its own will now, and how its starting to impart feelings to you. Daiyu sighs as she sits next to you, "It's difficult to train you without using your zha. If only you knew the Sum of Rivers technique. Of course, if you knew that technique, you'd be some sort of prodigy." You ask her about it and she smiles, "I've been trying to study it for five years, and I can barely find any mentions of how it works. However, I know the principle of it. You can achieve a state where you have only the smallest amount of zha remaining in your body and as you remove it, normally a fatal act, you open yourself to all the ziu around you and draw it in, using your body as a gathering point for energy and use the energy from without to fuel any techniques that would use zha." You nod, interested as she continues,

"Basically, think of it this way. If I can use all of my available zha to smash a cart to powder, with Sum of Rivers, I could destroy an entire castle with a flick of my finger. It's one of the Legendary Techniques, one of the four." You nod, impressed by her knowledge. You ask....

>A) Write in question

>>43835313
Ask if there have been any cases where exorcists have used the Yao or their powers for battling them.

Is there any way to purify your Zha?

>>43835313
>What are the other three?

>>43835419
This

>>43835594

>>43835313
Where would I find more information about Sum of Rivers?

>>43835594
>>43835612
>>43835419

"Have there ever been tales of Exorcists using the powers of the Yao against them?" She hesitates, "I think that's something you'd better...." She sighs, "Father wouldn't tell you. Yes, there are a group of Exorcists who have developed whole Styles devoted to using Yaoguai powers against them, but it is considered to be a dark path that ultimately leads to becoming a yaoguai yourself."

You keep that in mind and ask, "What about purifying your zha?" She shakes her head, "That's beyond my level. No idea."

"What are the other three Legendary Techniques?" She smiles, "There is the Empty Infinite, where you can turn your flesh and blood into raw energy, forming a perfect harmony of zha and ziu to sustain yourself. It allows you to fight unlike any other Monk. Finally, there is the Will of Ancients, where you use energy to draw techniques from Monks past and just serve as a source of power and aim them. The final Legendary Technique is the Touch of the Gods, where you can convert energy into life, creating life with your power. Only one person is ever said to have performed that."

You nod and ask her about the Sum of Rivers, to which she smiles, "If you can find anything out about it, please let me know, I've been after information regarding Sum of Rivers for years. If you want, when you're done training, you can go questing for it with me, if you're tough enough."

(I think I'm gonna have to stop there. I'm having internet issues, that's why the long delay in replies. So, thanks for playing guys, I'll try to get this archived and let you know on twitter when we're running again. Thanks again!)

>>43835974
Thanks for running! I'm looking forward to your next thread.

>>43835974
Thanks for running boss, see ya

>>43835974
Thank's for running I'm lookin forward to the next one.