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File: 2nd Primarch 2.jpg (1.07 MB, 2581x1629)
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Previous thread: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/4510838/
-
You are Lieren, Great hunter of the wilds, bringer of prosperity and plenty, Hero of the common folk, and Golden eyed and Iron haired Giant of the village of Nothing, and unknown to yourself the 2nd primarch and the Emperor's son. Having become the Administrator of Lord Gao's Lands in the Kingdom of Yan, you set about building a road that would connect every farm, village, town and city together and creating a safe route through dangerous fog covered land. Meeting an impasse in the form of a foul magical beast, you opened the path by slaying the Terrible Toad Dragon, a man eating monster with toxic breath that had once been a man.

With your great road nearing its completion, and manned by men loyal to you and the road itself, you returned to your home village and headquarters of your administrative duties, to spread improvements down the road from it's start point. Including better tool designs for farming, chemical treatments to enrich soil and crop yields, improved Irrigation and a more efficient system to forge and cast metal of higher quality than ever before.

Tax collector Ling, a greedy man blinded by worldly pleasures and wealth, has come to collect Nothing's tithe to the equally greedy minded Lord Gao. And having grown tired of the Tax Collector taking more than he was ordered to to fill his own vaults and pockets, for the good of the common folk and once starving farmers, you decide that it is now time to be rid of the disgusting worm once and for all
-
"Ah, this humble administrator of the lord's lands welcomes you into his home, please treat it as your own, friend Ling" You say, clasping your hands together and bowing to greet the greedy devil before your eyes, containing the urge to tear his head from his shoulders you have fostered and hidden in the depths of your heart for nearly half a decade now. His looks are ragged, his eyes tired and panicked like he expects to find a knife in his neck at any second. Since you're arrival into Gao's service, he had lost much of the favor he once held, and had foolishly continued to take "gifts" from the tithes owed to Gao and from what little the people had left after giving what that greedy, fat slug would ask of them.

If he had only been a little less greedier, you may have let him live. But with such prosperity in the land that you've turned today, such greed will only drive him to steal greater and greater bounties from the people you've worked years to rise up from dust and hunger. Such men, who would take from those who have nothing, disgust you beyond most men's comprehensions, he is worse than the bandits that sought to predate your road and end your life. For he leaves his victims alive to suffer from his greed.
cont
>>
>>4531257

Ling's eyes dart over your meager accommodations, falling on the aged form of your adoptive father, Wenyan, who sits plucking a fowl by the cooking fire in the center of the main room of your shared abode.
He acts like a frightened field mouse, now that he sees how truly disposable he was to his master for all these years.

"This humble tax collector, thanks you, Lieren" He says, hiding his expression behind his ornate fan decorated with depictions of cliff jumpers, his dust covered robes of Pink and Maroon shifting as he moves to sit before you offer, a social faux paus

"You may sit Ling, and remember your manners, what word Gao say if he were in our presence today?" You ask, as you set yourself down across Ling from the fire, stretching your legs and lounging to relax your body. The short man's form tenses, no doubt as visions of his long, drawn out death flash through his mind's eye.

"Yes yes, what was I thinking, forgive this one's rudeness, my work is a stressful labor after all" Ling mutters, his adam's apple bobbing in his bird like neck as he takes his seat, kneeling ironically like a man who is soon to lose his head

"I can only imagine" You say pityingly, pulling at the stubble on your chin as Ling removes his symbol of office, his flat topped and wide brimmed hat, colored the same colors of his robes, first maroon and then accented with pink "keeping track and account for all of the wealth of Gao's land, every season, and to even miss a single bushel of rice would mean..."

Ling swallows again, eyes nearly bursting from his skull. Seems the "guilt" of all of his thievery comes home to roost in his heart when it will lead to his own demise.

"But it is important work" Ling says, with a nervous chuckle escaping his lips, as your father Wenyan glares at the despicable worm of a man, who has brought sorrow and hardship to his kin and yours for years as much if not even more than the cruel sadist Gao. All for his own greed

"So I must endure, as it is my duty to Gao, no the people to collect what is rightfully owed to the master of these lands" Ling continues, searching around the room, no doubt looking for servants and only finding the brothers Liang and Jiang, who are only barely restraining their own immense hatred for the man and what he stands for.

"Could one of you fetch us some drinks, my throat is dry and this conversation with your master will be as well if I do not wet it with something strong" He says as Jiang's hands shift slightly, and his brother turns to him with a serious expression in his gaze. Jiang wants to claim the tax collector's head.

"Ah yes, otherwise Gao would take your head, wouldn't he" Wenyan says with a smile as he grabs a crude bone splitting cleave and remove's the fowls head from his body. Ling's eyes flash with a rage but he remembers Wenyan is your father and silences his protests in his throat.
cont
>>
>>4531259

"Father, do not speak of such things around our honored guest" You say glancing at Jiang and lowering one of your hands as Ling is looking away, ordering your companion to stay his hand


"Even if Gao no longer favors Ling as he once did, he surely would not betray a loyal servant, who has for decades labored and worked for him and"

"The people" Jiang says through his teeth as you smile proudly at the young man, being able to restrain his temper and hatred for the man sitting before him.

"The people, yes exactly" you say, nodding as you move to stand "And I shall fetch some fruit and drink for Tax collector Ling, Honored Zian, in my personal larder, do we still have any of that bitter, strong tasting liqour"

"From Dragon's end village? the fisherman's brew made from fermented fish guts?" Zian asks as Ling visibly pales "I believe we have the jar of it you were gifted last time you past through there, and I would not be so certain in our friend's safety, Gao has always been a whimsical man, and quick too anger"

Ling choked, glancing between Zian, recognizing his uncovered scar and to you, no doubt wondering if you had heard of an order Gao had given that had been kept from his ears.

"Zian! did I not just say not to speak of such dreadful things, Ling is here as our guest, to share with us a meal before continuing his hard, stressful work" You say, swinging your arm towards the man, a smirk on his ruin of a face as you admonish him, raising your open hand into the air "And Gao is a wise man, he would not do away with a servant who is still useful to him, simply because he no longer favors him"

"Do away with" Ling mutters under his breath as you leave the room to fetch Ling his drink and something to subdue its strength and bitter flavor.

You decide on a platter of ripe peaches, dried plums and sour berries to accompany his drink. For even if he is a heartless villain, a man deserves an enjoyable "last meal" if it can be given. It is merely the virtuous thing to do, you'd even give Gao a sip of his prized liquor before you tear his head from his blubbery neck. Guozhi the wise monk, discussed such matters with you once, in his words it is said to put the soul at rest before it is reborn, remove lingering grudges and attachments. To your eyes, it is merely polite to do so, a way to know that you have not become as Heartless as men like Ling and Gao.

"Tax Collector Ling is Loyal, Tax collector Ling is wise" You say, resisting the urge to laugh and spit on the floor at the lies flying from your mouth like a flock of birds "He has done nothing to arose Gao's wrath, he has nothing to fear, after all Tax collector Ling is a friend of the people, Gao is a benevolent ruler"

You set the tray of fruits, an unglazed pitcher of fish gut liquor in front of Ling as his skin continues to pale and whiten to a color even lighter than freshly fallen snow.
Cont
>>
>>4531260

He must be reflecting on all he has done and taken that would very much draw Gao's ire and cruelty.


"Of course, of course wise as ever, Lieren" He says barely able to speak as you pour him a hearty glass of the liquor, crushing a few berries and the peach in a bowl before pouring it in the glass and mixing it with a dried piece of straw "He has no reason to do away with me, I have done nothing to him! My work is...is necessary"


"I can't imagine how many men desire a position as high as yours, Ling" You say as you raise the glass to his hands, crouched over him, casting him entirely in your own shadow "But who could ever replace one as skilled, as talented as yourself"

"Exactly, exactly" He nearly whined, drinking the offered drink is a single gulp and raising the glass for another, eyes haunted "I am irreplaceable, none may fufill my duties as I do"

"Unless you have angered Gao, some way" You laugh, as if in jest as you fill Ling's glass once again, setting the platter of dried plums closer to him "and even then, your replacement would not do your duties as well as you do now"

Ling remains silent, not waiting for you to prepare his drink properly before he drains his cup, eyes staring ahead, empty of any emotion except a deep, crawling dread.

"You have nothing to fear, you're an honest man" You lie as easily as you breath, sitting back and lounging as your father skewers the fowl he was preparing in full view of Ling, blood still dripping from it as he suspends it over the crackling fire, held in place by a long metal needle. "Come, relax those unwarranted worries of yours, Wenyan, when the bird is done, please save its organs for Ling, as our honored guest"

"I am humbled" Ling says, his eyes still staring into nothing, only seeing the terrible future to come "by your generosity, the mind wanders on the road, you see, brings forth dreams most dreadful"

"We're lucky Gao is such a generous and forgiving lord" Wenyan says happily as fat begins to drip from the fowl in the fire, its skin crisping already "free of cruelties and so full of mercies"

your father laughed as you smiled.

"Yes, yes exactly, if he were a sadistic man, one who forced farmers back to their ruined homes in the midst of a famine, or asked for more each season, why Ling you'd be as good as dead" You say, as if you were joking and trying to turn the mood of the room merry "but we are ever fortunate, to live under Gao's"

You raise your hands to warm them, keeping them an inch from the flames even though they will not burn your skin.|

"Benevolent rule" You finish as Ling nods.

"Exactly, if he..if he were a" He says, covering his face with a fan, sounding as if he's about to cry "a cruel man, I would be dead if he ever found a reason to take my head! I have, merely fallen out of favour, that is not reason enough for him to have me executed, a man as loyal and honest as myself"
cont
>>
>>4531261

"Yes, it is not like he has castrated his own sons or mutilated his own wives, after all" Zian says, eyes filled with spite as he turns to Ling again, showing him his ruined face as your father stares at the tax collector.

Ling laughs nervously as you turn to Zian and begin to scold him again for ruining the atmosphere, not seriously of course. But ling barely touches the food you offer him, and stops drinking after his third glass of hard liquor .


He tries to win your favor, and friendship during his short stay, but he misunderstand what kind of man you are, and every word from his mouth and story only servers to harden your resolve to see him dead. He stays the night and leaves in the morning, watched by your guards and the brothers of panthers for his entire stay. And when he sets off to leave with his force of guards, with this season's tithe, you send Zian, one of your most trusted guards after him.

With a chart of paths and splinters of your road to take to arrive at Gao's castle before Ling, and with a careful kept list of everything you sent to Gao since you become the head of Nothing and its people. and a letter written and signed by other lords, mentioning their fears of Ling taking more than he should be allowed from their lands. the words all coming from yourself, with you writing the bulk of the complaint. But Lady Qian let her aid, and contacted those who cared of their people enough to have their own suspicions of Ling but feared his position and power.

Gathered under your banner, and with Ling having fallen from favor, this changed, and now you sent proof of Ling's trickery and greed to Gao. Proof that he had stolen what was "rightfully" his for years, and allowed his men to do so as well.

To a man like Gao, it'd be like he found him stealing directly from his own treasury. and with that, you have sealed Ling's fate, without dirtying your hands with blood as foul as his.
-

When you next see Ling, it is when you travel to Gao's castle, accompanied by all your men, to ceremonially finish your great road at the gates of his palace. He is in six parts, outside of the city beneath Gao's castle. His limbs and head have been severed, and the only skin remaining upon him is on his hands and face. To show his greed led to his end, and so all may see the horror of his final moments. The parts that make him a man have been removed, his nails pulled out, and his tongue torn and nailed to his forehead to reflect his lies and deceit.

Brands and burns cover his skinless form, and his eyes have been removed, slowly put out with heated needles by Gao's own hands, you heard from Qian Xia. The theater playing the recently penned work "The fall of the snake Ling, his lies exposed by wise Lieren to benevolent lord gao" Leaves outs the specifics of his end.
cont
>>
>>4531262

How he bled and spewed secrets spitefully as he was dragged away, how he soiled himself and exposed to true natures of all present in his final words, an act that only made his end all the more painful.

Gao kept him as a plaything for half a season, before finally allowing him to die, by having him torn by tying his limbs and heads to six horses, that were then branded at once.

And then what remained of Ling was nailed for all who travel your road to see. Disgusting.

"So, a greedy man meets and unwholesome end" Guozhi sighs, having some how snuck up on you


"Ah, wise grandfather, I am sorry such a sight had to meet your eyes" You say, clasping your hands together to greet the elderly monk with young eyes.

"My eyes have seen far worse than this, I only wish such a man will find peace in his next life" Guozhi says, falling to his knees to pray for the dead tax collector.

There's music in the air, and cheering and festivities even this far from the city's center and the palace itself. Gao is waiting for your arrival, to claim his part in the construction of the road that has united his lands and saved its people. When he only contributed to line his own pockets and increase his personal wealth and power.

Disgusting.

What do you do, Lieren?
> Join the common folk in their celebrations
> Go to Gao so he may parade you around to visiting nobles, and incite him to lose his face before them
> Openly decry Gao for his wrong doings and sinful ways, at the party he is throwing for you
> Speak with Guozhi, and pen a letter with him to secretly distribute among the masses and honest nobles, calling for Gao's head
>Write in

new thread cause the old one was getting laggy from the sheer quantity of posts. It's girth was harder than terminator armor. RIP
>>
>>4531263
Honestly? Torture's not really something i reckon is necessary. It's pretty disgusting. I mean, i don't feel bad for him at all, but when it comes to these things you're better off just getting rid of the person quickly - making the death longer does nothing but satisfy sadism.

But eh, he won't be missed.
> Join the common folk in their celebrations
Let's celebrate with the common folk, because the nobles fucking suck. But, we should also follow the plan the other anon had in the thread
>Convince Gao to let us/someone we trust in charge of "reforming" the tax/economical system as to help "rooting out corruption that bleeds money which is rightfully his". With this, we will gain an even greater amount of control.

Inciting an rebellion would do nothing but show our face too early. We have to prepare.
>>
>>4531281
+1
>>
>>4531263
>> Go to Gao so he may parade you around to visiting nobles, and incite him to lose his face before them
>>Convince Gao to let us/someone we trust in charge of "reforming" the tax/economical system as to help "rooting out corruption that bleeds money which is rightfully his". With this, we will gain an even greater amount of control.
Supporting the write in. The nobility sucks, yes, but we should Wormtongue just a little bit more. Let's do this in preparation for overthrowing Gao.
>>
>>4531281
supporting both points on this. once we're in charge of the money, we can rebuild the country really easily
>>
>>4531292
This pretty much. I don't want to talk our way to the title of lord, we just need some more control to be able to develop an sufficient fighting force to pull off a coup.

If we manage to pull of a fast coup, we won't be bogged down. Lieren is strong, yes, but i'd rather not have to fight a thousand man all by ourselves.
>>
Damn, this quest is fucking awesome, no wonder why it got so popular. I hope you get a job at Black Library QM.
>>
>>4531281
This strikes me as a good way to save lives as well. In any prolonged war, the peasants suffer the most. All of the peasants united with the honest lords, equipped with our better gear, will make short, relatively clean work of things.
+1
>>
>>4531300
My goal is equipping our soldiers with muskets at some point, they're easy to manufacture (you don't need machines because artisans can make the same type of ammo easily), they can be put in the hands of peasants without much training (It's easier to teach someone to reload and aim than it is to train them to be fit enough to fight with a spear) and it goes straight through armor while also giving a massive morale minus to the enemies (at least the first ones who won't know what the fuck is a gun)
>>
>>4531263
> Go to Gao so he may parade you around to visiting nobles, and incite him to lose his face before them

>>4531281
Gao is shit
>>
>>4531292
We can celebrate later with the men on the street. For now, we have undetectable social sabotage to do.

I wonder what the next great project we should embark on.
>>
>>4531340
How about economic conquest?
>>
>>4531281
support

we could for a military role too and reform his army
>>
>>4531347
That's not a project like the roads which we can do publicly.

I was thinking stuff like the road. Maybe village renovations? Walls like nowhere
>>
>>4531310
I think Muskets or guns will be when we are fighting against other lords or more likely other countries or empires on our march to unify the world.
>>
>>4531354
>That's not a project like the roads which we can do publicly
You’d be surprised. China invented paper money and paper money is a powerful tool for economic conquest.
>>
>>4531292
Supporting.

>>4531310
Personally I think outfitting an *entire* army with muskets is a no go - a mix of firearm soldiers and melee soldiers is the way to go. Muskets being single-shot firearms, they are best used for squads and firing lines. Well, to my limited knowledge, that is.
If the Pod contained knowledge on rifling, muskets could be outfitted to snipers as well but Shangrala's ever present fog makes long-range firing non-viable without advanced tech.
>>
>>4531363
This is correct. GLORIOUS MELEE COMBAT will still be viable on this planet.
>>
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>>4531363
>>
>>4531293
also want to add to my own point that we should say a quick prayer with Guozhi before we do any of the other things.

Lieren condemned Ling to a very long and painful death, which is a pretty cruel action in and of itself.
>>
>>4531373
I like this. Lets make muskets with bayonettes.

>>4531374
I support this too.

Honestly I just want Gao disowned of his role so we can kill him, but I'll honestly support anything if it will lead to his eventual death.
>>
>>4531263
This >>4531281
Man, we're going to look like such bitches to our brothers, by this time angron already had all the slaves in revolt
Perhaps Bigge E killed lieren for not giving into his genetic predisposition for violence and being too much of a pacifist
>>
>>4531382
Maybe, but this is nicer.
>>
>>4531372
Oh don't get me wrong, I still want artillery and explosives in our army composition. Both will serve us extremely well in sieges and breaking/breaching enemy fortifications.

>>4531373
Okay, I grudgingly admit that I completely forgot about the existence of bayonets - but melee training should still be a part in the training program of our soldiers.


Hmm. Would we still need cavalry? Enemy cavalry will be completely nullified by a fortified position manned by gunmen, but we can't always have fortifications.

>>4531382
>by this time angron already had all the slaves in revolt
By then Angron also had the Butcher's Nails in his brain, which... didn't exactly help his rational thinking.
>>4531382
>Perhaps Bigge E killed lieren for not giving into his genetic predisposition for violence and being too much of a pacifist
Honestly? the way we're playing Lieren so far is more along the same line as Alpharius Omegon's style to war except, you know, more efficient to the point rather than pacifism imo
>>
>>4531360
Make paper money then, to create an easier method of unified trade and easier economic oversight?.....yes, this can work
>>
>>4531389
Melee training, bayonet training, war gear maintenance lessons. At most I think a soldier should have is a big k-bar that can be affixed as a bayonet, the rifle, a collapsible shovel (for back up melee), munitions, general supplies, armor, food.

Cavalry is a maybe if we can teach them to ride a horse and shoot a gun at the same time. They'll be good for lightning raids.
Now that I think about it, aren't bows & arrows faster than gun? Depending on the fortifications and tactics we implements, arrows might be more useful, but probably only for a couple of situations until we can develop a more semi-auto firearm.
>>
>>4531281
+1
>>
>>4531263
>>4531281

Support
>>
>>4531374
Ph yeah, a prayer for Ling. He was a bastard but he deserved death not torture.
>>
>>4531397
We already have the Bessemer process, we can set up the machinery we need to produce cartridges. No reason to use muskets now that we have a manufacturing base required for making more modern firearms
>>
>>4531397
A dedicated melee weapon like an axe is better for melee than any multi-tool or fancy do it all shovel.
>>
>>4531408
Swords might be better since they are easier to use with martial arts.
>>
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>>4531397
>Now that I think about it, aren't bows & arrows faster than gun?
Bow&arrow is faster than a musket, yes. But requires longer training for good accuracy. Hence the need for firing lines of muskets. First line fires and crouches down to reload, second line fires while the first is reloading and so on.

Speaking of bow and arrow. Since we're in Not!Asia, I wonder if repeating crossbows already exist on Shangrala. pic related
>>
>>4531281
support.
controlling money is always nice
>>
>>4531412
Well that would be better for stealth too considering all the fog.
>>
>>4531411
How about this, swords for officers and axes/something else for grunts.

*Maybe* non-folding combat shovels for combat engineers.
>>
>>4531420
I feel like we should just have melee units and gun units like every other army, and position them accordingly

Officers do get swords, though
>>
>>4531417
My understanding on what I'm about to say is shallow, but as far as I understand the repeater crossbow loses out on power compared to a standard one. So for stealth ambushes standard single shot crossbows may or may not be better.

Becomes somewhat of a moot point if the crossbow bolts are lathered with poison, but that's another can of worms entirely
>>
>>4531412
Range and Accuracy hardly matter when you already have an maxed out vision because of the fog. If anything, guns are even better because they don't require as much aiming, just firing lines - and they trade the range we can't use for power
>>
>>4531412
Repeating crossbows are only good against unarmored people, they don't have the power to pierce a gambeson, let alone plate

>>4531425
We can do large shields and SMGs at the front of the unit, then an even mix of dedicated spearmen and and bolt action rifles with bayonets. People are underestimating our new manufacturing capabilities. Muskets are a step backwards
>>
>>4531263
>>4531281
Support
>>
>>4531442
We're not THAT advanced, though. Rifled Muskets (breech-loaded, U.S civil war stuff).

Unless we have actual factories, making actual guns would be too difficult.
>>
>>4531446
I meant to say that rifled muskets and other stuff are reasonable, but SMGs feel like too much
>>
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>>4531446
I'd put us at late 1800s era. We have the bessemer process, mass production of steel, running water, and advanced chemistry. Standardized weapon designs from Leiren allows every weapon to be made to the same standards and interchangable parts, rather than the cottage industry of muskets. The town of Nothing can easily set up factories to make martini-henry style rifles.
>>4531448
Even if we can't produce enough SMGs to outfit everyone, we can use them as a supplement to our firepower. They'll be shorter range than our rifles, but could stop a charging army in its tracks. They can be our veterans, the frontline that doesn't waver when charged by heavy cavalry.
>>
>>4531446
Lieren is much MUCH more advanced, he has innate knowledge+egg's DAoT knowledge, the problem is the world's tech level. But Lieren is a particularly intelligent and wise Primarch, he can just change yan in a year, and then next year conquer the rest of the world with super steel armours, shields, automatic guns and pikes, bayonets, swords, etc for melee.
>>
>>4531469
Pretty much. In the 40k universe, guns don't make melee obsolete.

Really, what we need is a main force composed of riflemen and halberdiers (pikemen are good too), some cavalry and some veterans. Mix and match, and have regiments of each type complementing each other.

Not some sort of tercio thing, think of it as more like having gunners supported by melee.
>>
Alright, calling the vote now

Join the common folk:10
Convince Gao to give you more power:13
Let Gao parade you around: 4

Alright so joining the common folk in celebration and then convincing Gao to give you more power by playing on greed/ paranoia wins

Writing the update

>>4531296
Thanks, glad you're enjoying it
>>
>>4531340
Something key to understand about the lords of the feudal ages is that while their treasuries are notable, a *hell* of a lot of their wealth is tied up in land. These parties take a lot of money to go through with and they like them, so let's exploit their vice.

Make a bank, be generous with initial terms, but when they miss payments...

Bonus, if we build the back on Lord Gao's treasury, then we are able to leverage him to escalate to higher authorities, potentially the Emperor in order to expand his land and bring more and more transferred to his control that we can then improve. Land that would come to us with a simple coup, potentially backed by the Emperor via ties we establish during disputes.
>>
>>4531476
A bit disappointing that we aren't more directly sabotaging Gao. But if we at least pay him his due respects before fucking off to join the commoners then we can at least avoid arousing his suspicion.

As for playing on his paranoia, we can try the angle of "Ling had served you loyally for decades, yet was a snake who stole? Let us, who has done nothing but give to you, produce a better way to avoid this occurring again"
>>
>>4531476
We can probably throw in the promise of getting proper accounting and more taxes to him by simple fact of not stealing it, as Ling stole alot from him. I bet we can lower taxes for everyone AND get more to Gao just by not wetting our beak.
>>
>>4531482
>Bonus, if we build the back on Lord Gao's treasury, then we are able to leverage him to escalate to higher authorities, potentially the Emperor in order to expand his land and bring more and more transferred to his control that we can then improve
No, that's not good. If anything, trying to do that will make Gao more suspicious of us. No one is that loyal.

We should use the power we'll get to more safely develop our forces, then pull off an quick coup. No "sucking up to the emperor" or "winning through diplomacy", any moment spent not shooting these degenerates is a moment people are unjustly killed under their rule
>>
>>4531486
While I share your concerns, Economic conquest and pruning ala lady Qian [or perhaps a straight purge once we are in power] would be more effective with less peasant lives lost.

It's partly why I wanted Gao to lose face here. A noble without face means nobody cares when they turn up dead.
>>
>>4531486
This

We want to get this province and do a coup. We can get the rest of the province administration and probably the army too just because we are that good at it.
Then Gao goes out.
>>
>>4531494
It's not going to work. We'd only get so far until the nobles start getting worried and decide to put an end.

Don't try to play the noble's game. Crush them, and the planet is free.
>>
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>>4531454
>I'd put us at late 1800s era
>martini-henry style rifles
If we're gonna give our boys some gats, let's give them something that would actually match that era of technology.
Like pic related.
>>
>>4531500
Play the game until you are able to stand on your own two feet. This means holding the province and it's peoples, then gutting Gao.

Then we can try and move on with "peaceable" terms with the emperor. I highly doubt he is a virtuous soul, but if he is then great, it's a guy to work with.
Blood and ash isn't exactly our style
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>>4531263
> Speak with Guozhi, and pen a letter with him to secretly distribute among the masses and honest nobles, calling for Gao's head
If he manages to find out it was us, then we may have to stop being sneaky about our subversion and just go straight to installing ourselves as the new ruler of this province.
I say it's well worth the risk.
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>>4531504
>Play the game until you are able to stand on your own two feet.
Yes, which is why we need to get the power from gao so we can pull the rug, not make him distrustful of us.

>Then we can try and move on with "peaceable" terms with the emperor.
If he allows men like Gao to rule, he's not a good guy. We can try "diplomacy", but we shouldn't try to"ally" him or something, we should make it clear we're going to wipe out evil and that we will not be stopped

>Blood and ash isn't exactly our style
But neither is tongue and paper, we used our connection with gao only to have an excuse to better the peasant's lives.

We really should just take over the province (preferably near winter, because it's very unlikely that they'd launch an campaign in winter)
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>>4531502
I went for something that had bayonets since they're a staple of 40k. I don't know of lever actions had bayonets

If we equip any cavalry, lever action rifles would be pretty sick.
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>>4531509
>I went for something that had bayonets since they're a staple of 40k. I don't know of lever actions had bayonets
That's the best part anon. ANYTHING CAN HAVE A BAYONET ON IT!
It just needs a way of attaching it, and that's something we can take care of with slight design modifications.
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>>4531508
Good call on winter.

That he apparently favours Gao is, indeed, not a very good sign. But the idea in my head, at the very least, is once we dispose of Gao we try the same trick twice, offering to modernise the lands of Yan and become admin of the realm and expand the prosperity of the former lands of Gao to all lands....and in doing so, gain their adoration and bettering all their lives. Then modernise the economy [as we plan to do with our new powers], and then dispose of Yan when we've rooted our self in the power structure of the land.
If he refuses to make us an admin.....Well, we did try and be nice. Have fun facing down our guns mother fucker.
>>
Thinking about it...could we skip guns and make laslocks? I seem to recall a Napoleonic-like planet that could produce them and if we are at 1800s level...
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>>4531514
If we'd gone with electricity we might've, probably not right now
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>>4531514
I have to imagine if we had the time or the resources to make laslocks, they'd be very shitty laslocks that can't stand up to the conditions found in a warzone.
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>>4531514
That's way, way too complicate and expensive. We're not vulkan.

Guns are better, easier and infinitely cheaper.
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>>4531513
He's not going to accept such an offer after we deposed Gao, it'd be obvious we would try to do it again and he'd just use the time to prepare his forces.

No matter what happens, there's going to be a war. We can choose whether it happens now and we take everyone else on, or we can wait to take everyone on later, when they're better prepared.
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>>4531508
Maybe the Emperor is a nice enough buy but Beauracracy(tm) is keeping the bad things going. It wouldn't be out of character for 40k.
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>>4531516
We did go with electricity.

>>4531520
Looking over things, it looks like I wasn't thinking of Las-Lockes in particular, but I swear there was a regiment with bolt-action lasguns styled roughly after the 1800s.
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>>4531524
We're in a medieval china, if there's any nation where an ruler could just depose an lord it would be medieval china...when it's unified, that is.
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>>4531526
That's just warhammer fashion, i mean have you looked at imperial tanks?
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>>4531526
>but I swear there was a regiment with bolt-action lasguns styled roughly after the 1800s
That's just their aesthetics in play. If they have reliable lasguns, they're lightyears ahead of us right now.
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>>4531526

>Chemicals:13
>Gunpowder:8
>Forges:12
>Electricity: 4

no we didn't, the first thread is still up, anyone can look at it.
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> A Las-Lock is an energy weapon that uses much of the same technology as a standard Lasgun or Laspistol, but more closely resembles a flintlock rifle. Las-Locks are, presumably, adaptations of present-day laser weapons technology that are used by less technologically advanced societies who have regressed from the modern day Imperial standard.
We might be able to make some.
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>>4531527
I'm talking about the bureaucrats, not the lords. The bureaucracy keeps the emperor in the dark, safe and happy and a puppet in his castle, then get to do whatever the fuck they want because they just go "trust me, bro, this is a good idea" and he stamps off on it because he doesn't know any better.
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>>4531543
I personally blame the Custodes for not acting in the Emperor's stead the past 10,000 years.
They have the authority to do so, but they're too chicken shit to do anything besides sit on all that administrative power.
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>>4531543
Oh you meant Emperor Yan, not The Emperor. My mistake.
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>>4531521
Even if it's obvious what we are doing......We are STILL providing miracles. Like this is the sort of bait that is just too good to pass up, even if the Fog panther is leering at you
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>>4531551
No, it makes them even more distrustful because they think we're going to take over like some sort of messianic cult.
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>>4531567
Even if they don't trust you, they need to get those improvements.

Anyway war is not the desired outcome due to the collateral damage in lives of the common folk drafted into the army wasted. So contain your warmongering to preparing and help come up with other options that we can try.
"Hope for the best, prepare for the worst" should be the motto here.

Hmm, if we did Coup in winter or just before the start of it, then news would travel far slower. Perhaps with our new titles and clout, we could try and cultivate allies of virtue in our surrounding lands then extend our road and dominion through them before Yan or any of the other bastards who are predisposed against us usurping Gao can move against us.
And the start of this plan can begin with a few words to lady Qian, to point out the lands around us which need tending to.
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>>4531547
The emperor didn't make them to rule like he did the primarchs
Their purpose is to protect the emperor and slay roudy subjects
It's likely that their genetically inclined to just sit on their ass instead of taking charge
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure the only time the custodes ever acted as a high lord was when they got tired of all the bullshit and started a purge
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>>4531580
>Even if they don't trust you, they need to get those improvements.
Ha! You are underestimating how greedy nobles can be. Have you ever heard about that one time an roman emperor executed an guy who had invented flexible fucking glass, just because he feared it'd damage the value of gold and silver? He destroyed that technology, and no one has been able to make it to this day. All because of greed. Do you expect them to be better?


If we couped in the winter, then we'd have a whole season to develop...we could get an army with guns and cannons, like it had been said.

After that, we basically make it clear that anyone who tries to take back the province will be blown to smithereens.
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>>4531583
I believe the Emperor had a grander purpose for the Custodes as opposed to just guarding the Imperial Palace.
To quote the Emperor himself on the subject of the Custodes
>"Each one of the Ten Thousand represents genetic lore acquired over many lifetimes. Each one of you is unique, a work of art never to be repeated. I am miserly with your lives, where I would spend so many others without a thought."
Now, if they were solely intended to be bodyguards, why treat them as such?
It's also to be noted that the Emperor approved the policies giving the Captain-General of the Adeptus Custodes "Magisterium Maxima", meaning they have complete authority over everything in the Imperium. That includes the Primarchs themselves.
The Custodes Codex mentions that the Captain-General still retains these powers as far as M42. So it'd be safe to assume, should the need arise, that the Captain-General would be able to take supreme control of the Imperium. I think the Emperor and Malcador being dead or otherwise unable to rule are reason enough to use these powers more than a handful of times in over 10 millennia.
I get being afraid of having absolute control of the Imperium, but sitting on all that power only lets all kind of rot set in while the enemies of mankind bolster their numbers and ravage worlds by the thousands.
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>>4531590
That isn't their duty. Their duty is to be utterly loyal to him and protect his mortal body. The rest of the imperium can burn, but the emperor must be protected.
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>>4531593
Kinda. They are also his closest companions.
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>>4531593
Despite being charged with protection of the Emperor, I maintain that they were given those administrative powers for a much better reason than being bodyguards.
One of those reasons being "Protect the Imperium in case I somehow fucking can't."
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>>4531584
No, I haven't. But still you are being paranoid, which is good, but keep your war boner in your pants until someone else tries shit.

So with a season to develop, We'd better have the technology already basically done [Ie have muskets or whatever the fuck gun] so we can begin moving them to mass production immediately after the coup.
Then after that, Open friendly ventures with the men and women of virtue in the surrounding courts, while the lesser corrupt and decadent nobles of Gao's land will be slain in the uprising.

>>4531601
The reason they were given Magistratirium Lex Ultima [complete authority, speaking with the emperors word] is because they were also agents of the emperor, sent out to do shit for him and he wasn't going to have any of his household defied. So he enshrined it in law that his custodes spoke with his authority, and he made sure that their loyalty was completely beyond any shadow of a doubt so that it wouldn't be abused.

And this doesn't translate to "protect the imperium", it is "protect the Emperor" which they have done with a frankly disturbing engineered obsession.
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>>4531614
No, anon. You don't understand. Do you really think they'll just let us be after we coup gao? No, they'll send armies after us. Which is why we need to prepare on winter, arm our soldiers and forge our cannons so when they come, the only ones who has to die is the enemy.
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>>4531614
TO ADD ONTO THIS!
The Emperor is explicitly and repeatedly says that he is a Human supremesist, Post humans like astartes, primarchs and custodes and himself are not fit to rule humanity. His intent was to reunify the imperium then vanish after taking the astartes and primarchs out back and putting a bullet between their eyes, save magnus who was going to control the imperial webway.

Why would the Emperor, man who was going to have his sons decommissioned or executed once their war use was expended due to being post human, give the other post humans control over the empire with the purpose of ruling it, if the emperor dies?

>>4531620
>Do you really think they will let us be?
Yes. Gao loses favour, he is slain and we take over, life goes on and nobody gives a shit. Welcome to ancient china.
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>>4531624
>Welcome to ancient china.
Or, more accurately, Gao is slain, the nobles go 'oh shit' when they realize that an charismatic genius giant just took down an lord and move to take him down before they become his next meal.
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"I wish the same, I knew his end would be a painful one, but such savagery I could not possibly imagine" You say quietly as the monk remains on his knees, and you remain staring at the dead man's eyeless gaze. You expected cruelty, sadism from Gao, but to such a degree, even you yourself could not have foretold the depths that that man would go to in fulfilling his sadistic pleasures. Ling deserved death, pain, but to what extent. Seeing his mutilated corpse unnerves you, even if you despised the Tax Collector from the day you first met him. You realize, that the minds of other men do not function as yours does, you've known this since you first watched the farmers of Nothing as they starved.

They take illogical courses of action, and do things inefficiently. You knew this, that your mind followed different paths than that of the common man. You simply couldn't see the point in extending an execution for days, for weeks, for months simply to torment the accused. It was pointless effort, just a way to exert power and inflict fear. Inefficient, terribly inefficient and needlessly cruel. Seeing Ling butchered reminds you of exactly what you're fighting against, with subtleties and benevolence. The true depravity of Gao, and his fellows. Disgusting beasts carousing in the skins of men, predating all beneath them, using lives as fuel for their sick sadistic vices.

"With a stroke of a brush, fate is decided, with a single pebble tossed into the sea, a wave is born" Guozhi says, breaking his silence but keeping his head down and eyes shut as he continues to prey for the sinful corpse before him "Young Lieren, your mind has no place for cruelty, like an untainted pond. I have seen your fury Lieren, and it is cold but not cruel. This is the monstrosity the Dai removed themselves from, look upon the work of souls twisted and corrupted, and know they would do the same for far less"

"I know, I've spoken with Gao and the truth of him was revealed to me, even before I looked upon him, I simply underestimated his sheer brutality" You whisper, even though you and Guozhi stand alone, off the path where Ling has been hung like a hunting trophy, broken and torn "Though I saw it for my own eyes and heard tales spoken of it, I could not fathom on expending so much effort on such a pointless thing, making another man suffer in such a terrible way"

"You would have done better to have plucked his head from his shoulders yourself, even if it would've dirtied your hands, instead of feeding him to a beast" Guozhi whispers back to you as he stands "But what is done, is done. I cannot fault you for seeking to remove the corruption Ling was an incarnate of, but I can mourn the man who suffered such a fate"

"As can I, even though my heart holds no sorrow for his death" You reply stoically, hardening your resolve as you turn and leave the corpse where it stands, nailed to wooden pillars to be made a mockery of long after his flesh rots away to nothing
Cont
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>>4531629

"The tragedy in his end, is that a cruel man was slain by another far crueler than himself, a man who yet remains amongst the living" You continue on, ruefully spitting upon the path as Guozhi nods.

"The man you yet serve" Guozhi mutters quietly, under his breath as you nod "and bring much wealth and bounty, for a good cause of course, but, even acts of kindness can bring suffering from the ripples they create"

"I will deal with the beast that devoured Ling, but not yet, it is too early, grandfather" You whisper as you walk the path to the city "Let us stop speaking of such things, lest we be heard"

"I do not fear death, Lieren, it is not the end" The old monk says, eyes still closed as he presses his palms together "Whatever actions you take, are your own and preformed with good intentions, if you were to act upon your impulses today, I would not reprimand you, for a man is only in control of his own fate"

"You do not know how tempted I am, oh wise one" You say through gritted teeth as you rap your wide knuckles on the gate into the city and raise your voice to a shout "Yah, Lieren of Nothing, Administrator of Gao approaches!"

"And now you once again place on your mask" Guozhi cackles quietly, as he turns to leave you, vanishing into the fog that surrounds the city, singing hymns and mantras to himself as he leaves "Good fortune, youth with the golden eyes, may your spirit ever find its way home"

"And to you as well, Grandfather" You call out to him, as the gates slowly creak open, unleashing a wave of sound and scents. Spiced food, alcohol, smoke from cooking meat, burning oil and wax and paper.

"Greetings, honored administrator, Gao awaits you at his palace" One of Gao's men, wearing his pink armor and jeering, laughing mask says. Your own men have been stationed further down the road, to protect them in case Gao has a mind to attempt to rid himself of you as well. A precaution that hopefully is not necessary

"Please" another man, with his face also hidden beneath a grinning mask says, clasping his hands together and bowing "Follow us to him, he is awaiting your arrival to start the festivites"

You look over the two men's heads and at the people celebrating and dancing, wearing white masks with golden circles painted around their eyes, and manes of feathers and wool died grey with ash. Cheering and laughing, young and old, men and women in a fevered festival. Sparks fly from piles of burning powder, and you can see entertainers snaking through the streets and plazas already. Balancing plates, making streams of brightly colored cloth of azure and plum dance in the air.

And past all of it, you can see a broad shouldered man, almost tall enough to reach your chest with his eyes dressed in ornate armor made of painted wood and leather, dancing around a great toad faced dragon colored black and grey made of fabric, puppeteered by a wooden framework held up by stakes held by ten men
cont
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>>4531633

"It seems to my eyes that the festival has already started" You say with a deep resonating laugh, originating from your stomach and loud enough to cause nearby metal to shake "Or have my eyes for the first time in my life upon Shangrala, deceive me?"

"The peasants festival is separate from the official celebration" The second guard replies as if by some mechanization worked into where his brain should be "You are the honored guest and as such it shall not begin without your presence"

You ignore the man as he tries to urge you to follow him.

"Tell great lord Gao I shall be with him shortly, I wish to partake in the local celebration before joining him and his other guests" You say, stepping past them, the younger of the two almost moving his spear to block your path before the older of the two snarls.

"You think to stop Lord Lieren? He slew a beast that devoured hundreds, he would break you as easily as a twig beneath his foot!" He yells before turning to you, eyes filled with panic as you slowly meander past the two of them, smiling a gentle and kindly smile as you do so "Do enjoy yourself as much as you please, oh honorable administrator of the lands of Gao"

"I thank you for your hospitality, may your journey find you well" You say as you join the throng of common men and women, smiling joyously as you see the ripest fruit of your most arduous of labors. People from all corners of Gao's lands, joined together in celebration, no longer terrified, no longer hungry. Hope and joy returned to their lives along with the food in their bellies, comfort introduced to even the most hard worked of laborers

Its a thing of beauty, and something truly rare happens as you soak in all the sights and sounds, all the laughter and joy. Tears well up in your eyes, and a sense of pride and accomplishment fills your chest and heart. You allow yourself to feel pride for what your hands have wrought, instead of merely imagining the next course of action to take, or what next to make with the result of your work. You have done it, in the lands of Gao, not one child goes hungry, not one man fears the fog or what winter will bring. You can see it! you can see it! The end result of a lifetime, however short, of toil and struggle. Of blood split and blisters made.

Against all that would see you stopped, and your labor made for naught, you had done it. Prosperity had come, plenty had come, to all men and women and children, to all souls that lived in Gao's lands. And then, these bright, happy thoughts were dashed away by a single thought.

'And Gao would ruin it all to satiate his own ego' you think, smile twisting into a snarl in an instant as a feral urge to protect those you had raised so high burns in your thoughts. How easily it'd be to remove Gao, to keep him from threatening this peace, this prosperity. From abusing all of your work and creations to wreck havoc and terror upon the common man, to feed his sadism! to feed his greed!
cont
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>>4531635

"Momma, momma, its the giant! the giant!" A small voice calls out, freeing you from the grasp of your own murderous rage as you see the world clearly again, and see a little girl, so thin and skinny, yet alive and healthy still "The giant has come, the giant has come!"

And suddenly, all the wrath, the fury at deeds yet uncommitted fades, as you see this small child, excitedly pointing at you, pulling on her mother's simple dress of spun cloth, both their eyes filled child like wonder at catching a glimpse of you. at merely spotting you, Lieren who came from nothing. Lieren who built the road, who brought the food, who slew the brigands, who connected the lands and made miracle. Lieren, a hero in there eyes. It astounded you.

After seeing the lengths would go to find pleasure, to find enjoyment, to please themselves, the fact that merely being among them would bring such pure, wholesome joy to someone was almost enough to make you cry again. Such purity, spending as long as you have among serpents and beasts, it was like a summer rain. Cleansing and purifying.

Slowly, awkwardly you raise you hand to greet the little girl, and next thing you know, men of all creeds and birth come up to you, wearing masks made in your own likeness, excitedly shouting your name and the titles that have been given to you by the common folk. Some are bold enough to touch you, others scream thanks and praises as you walk by them, other still throw flowers and alcohol at your feet. A musician begins to pluck his Guqin, another glides a bow across the Huqin, a Bawu's song joins in the chorus, followed by a veritable army of Guban pounded and tapped in unison.

The song "Kind Golden Eyes" Written by some of your own guards in your travels, Rong and Chen to be precise, is sung, by young women with heavenly voices, by the crowd, by the children. And, despite your great self control, you begin to laugh and even sing along with them, becoming to center of the festival as you travel the streets, simply enjoying the fact that such a celebration could exist outside of a castle walls, and remain untainted by excess and depravity.

It is a humbling experience, an enjoyable experience. And you are so entertained, for the first time in your short life, you've lost track of time, surrounded by such pure untainted joy and revelry. It is a very different sort than what Gao enjoys, what most of the nobles enjoy. It reminds you of your home, so distant from where you stand.

But unfortunately, all things must come to an end, and eventually, for the good of the people and those who serve Gao, you leave the adoring crowds and loving people, to join their cruel master in his own celebrations. They are so bold, the mob follows you up to the hill leading to Gao's dreadful palace of deprived decadence.
cont
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>>4531628
Anon, Are you under the illusion that I said "Don't make guns, train forces or prepare for a coutner attack" when I said "Move our guns to mass production, then after that move to trying to make friendly ties with our nabours" which I said in the hopes to avoid as much conflict with those nearest to us as possible?

Because you're acting like I'm saying we should do nothing after the coup and hope it works for the best.
And as for "welcome to ancient china" half of them will seek to inudate themselves with us, because we are a charismatic genius giant magic man with obvious potential to reach emperorship or other high status, while the other half tries to crush us while we are relatively small.
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>>4531590
>To quote the Emperor himself on the subject of the Custodes
This is getting into controversial nulore, but the emperor fakes love and affection for his creations. Quotes like that should really be taken with a grain of salt
>It's also to be noted that the Emperor approved the policies giving the Captain-General of the Adeptus Custodes "Magisterium Maxima", meaning they have complete authority over everything in the Imperium. That includes the Primarchs themselves.
In effect this just means the custodes can fufil his orders and do what needs be done without having to worry about red tape. Even when he was alive they did very little ruling
>I get being afraid of having absolute control of the Imperium,
I wouldn't call it being afraid, I'd call it being absolutely disintrested. The custodes are consistently characterized as being gigantic dicks who can at times make inquisitors look like salamanders, they care very little about anyone but the emperor and other custodes and they carry our purges without care.
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>>4531638

There are fresher bodies than Ling strung up along the road up to his castle, but behind you, you hear the fading cheers and cries of all the lives you've bettered and saved, and the fading notes of another song "Benevolence in azure and plum". You yourself, whistle a hunting tune, marching up past the dead, each body further cementing your ambitions to cut Gao's head from his disgusting neck the very moment and opportunity presents itself.

The guards outside of the gate stand at attention, as they spot you approaching, hands pressed together as if in prayer, flowers and beads strung around your arms and neck. A truly bright and stunning grin on your face, a joyful expression greeting the world with kindness and warmth.

They bring their spears to the wooden maroon and pink lacquered gate, announcing your arrival.

And not a breath after, the gates swing open, and you see tired, and exhausted noble men, with untouched tables of delicacies and drinks, barely clothed girls and women lounging alongside with musicians resting by their instruments.

There's a loud, hollow sounding cheer as you enter and spot Gao smoldering in anger in his high backed chair, either forged entirely of gold, or covered in gold leaf, shaped in the symbol of his family, the entwining twin dragons.

You clasp you hands together and bow as Gao glares at you and then smiles.

"At long last, the guest of honor has decided to bless us with his presences, now the feast may begin" Gao says, clapping his hands together as you calmly stride to his side, the other nobles ignoring you the second they're allowed to dig into their cold plates of food and pour themselves deep glasses of plum wine and peach brandy. Though you smell the scent of the liquor brewed from fish guts somewhere among the accompaniments.

"Enjoy to your hearts desires, these delicacies have only reach my kitchens thanks to Lieren's work and labor of my lands, at my behest" Gao says, turning a spiteful stare to you as you sit in the smaller chair beside him, smiling still. You don't touch the food in front of you, covered in cooled fat and thickened sauces.

"I see you've been furthering your reputation" Gao whispers to you, despite the two you sitting on a platform high above the rest of the guests, even visiting Lord Huang Tengfei and Lady Luó Biya "Oh how the common folk adore you, my giant"

"One must never miss and opportunity for advancement" You say, meaning something entirely different than what Gao imagines, no doubt, for you speak of advancement for others rather than yourself alone "And I am shocked that such a loyal servant as Ling would betray you in such a manner, I couldn't believe it myself, Lord Gao"

Gao clicks his tongue and downs his drink, looking over his guests with wild eyes.
cont
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>>4531641

"He was a worm who thought he was a dragon, bolder than the rest of these rats, but vermin still" Gao hisses, slamming his cup down as he glance to you with a relaxed smile "But not you, you know your place in this world, and seek only the favor of the masses, far wiser than any of these imbecile"

Imbeciles who include Lady Qian and the third son of Yin, who either could have Gao's head served to the King of Yan and be praised for it.

"That is why I favor you Lieren, you know the hand that feeds you and not to bite it" Gao continues, somehow still not noticing how much you despise him and his kind "And you make me a far richer man than I would be without your genius at my command"

"Oh that is far too great a compliment for a humble administrator" You laugh as Gao cackles, black grease coating his autumn red beard, reminding you off the Toad dragon. How easy it'd be to crush his skull, right now, with just your two hands. Outwardly, you continue to smile blissfully

"Oh stop with the act, would you have me believe you played with the peasants as their humble hero merely for their enjoyment as well? HAR~!" He says, sounding on the edge of hysterics "None of the dogs can hear us from here, they are not deserving to hear my voice, not even the lord of Huang, not even the mother of young lord Luó, they are all beneath us, Lieren, all of them, suckling at my teats like starving infants"

You keep smiling, calculating how far you could throw this bloated bastard if you really put your back into the effort.

"Of course, of course" You say, to keep from saying more and losing your self control, and ending this worm's life with a twist of your wrist. it'd be as easy as snapping the neck of a fowl.

"Still not drinking eh? they can see you I suppose, and you must keep up that virtuous monk like facade you so cultivate" Gao says with a swine like snort "So, the road is finished, and already I am as rich as Yan himself, if not more so, I have heard of miracles created by your hand"

"Oh I was keeping that a surprise for you" You chuckle as Gao cackles, snorting and wheezing as he does so "A gift to alongside the bounty of the road'

"HAR!" He bellows, slapping his knee "Soon Gao will be an even brighter gem in the crown of Yan, brighter than noble Yan himself, but enough boasting, I want more, Lieren, more jade in my lands, more wealth in my hands. Tell me, what is your next endeavor for the prosperity of the "people"

Gao twists a strand of his beard, licking his lips hungrily

"Well, Ling's betrayal has alerted me to a problem, a cancer in the lands of Gao" You say with a gentle and soft tone, closing your eyes as you spoke "A choking corruption with in your system of taxation and economy, who knows much wealth greedy men have taken from the people, from you, my most benevolent lord"

"Oh, do you intend to slaughter my tax men?" He asks, as if amused by the idea, eyes twinkling with joy at the thought
cont
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>>4531642

"I'd love to see all those worms strung up high, and sent to join that bastard Ling in hell!

He slams his fist into the table between the two of you, shaking the plates and alcohol upon it

"I suggest, that I be allowed to reform the organization, to root out the corrupt who would bleed wealth from your coffers, to utterly remake the economy of Gao" You say, placing a hand between your twin hearts "I have set the groundwork, for true prosperity in your lands, Let me build upon it, and construct an idol of jade from all the pieces I have lain"

Gao waves his hand dismissively.

"As always you have my full support, and backing" Gao says bluntly, still waving his hand in the air as he takes a long drink from his chalice "Whatever you need, I shall pay and give freely, so long as I see results, I expect my tithes to be heavier and more bountiful than ever, in exchange for letting you run rampant"

And like that, you have permission to remove any "Weeds" you wish from the Lands of Gao. The fool didn't realize what you were having him order you to do.

Tax collectors, scribes, soldiers, generals, and noble men. All have rotten foundations, and impact the flow of wealth and prosperity. And can be removed upon your command, with this decree

"As you command" You say barely able to hide your glee and excitement at the reforms and changes you shall bring to the lands of Gao "My most benevolent lord".

"Tch, how stifling" Gao complains under his breath "Bring me Jade and gold, and I shall allow anything, give you whatever you desire"

His eyes glint with greed

"And speaking of desire, my daughters have been blossoming wonderfully in the last years" He says in a most vulgar manner. How easy it'd be to end his disgusting life

What do you do, Lieren?
> Accept the invitation to be introduced to his daughters, to save them from this monster
> With the aid of Xia and Lei, begin Gao's downfall, by removing his long time supporters from power
> Mention to Gao you have plans beyond brining prosperity, and could bring a yet unseen miracle to his court if he were to pay you more (Pay which would go to the people and your efforts to benefit all of them)
> Ask if Gao would like to hear the story of how you slew a dragon, and use the chance to vent your hatred of the man to him openly
>Write in
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>>4531644
>> With the aid of Xia and Lei, begin Gao's downfall, by removing his long time supporters from power
>>
>>4531644
> Accept the invitation to be introduced to his daughters, to save them from this monster
> With the aid of Xia and Lei, begin Gao's downfall, by removing his long time supporters from power
>>
>>4531644
Does someone have an excuse as to why not see his daughters? Trying to save them as of now would not work, it'd just pop up questions. We will deal that once gao is hanging from the gallows.
>Ask if Gao would like to hear the story of how you slew a dragon, and use the chance to vent your hatred of the man to him openly
This works as an way to redirect the talk and allows lieren to let off some steam without the fool discovering any of it.

Other than that,
> With the aid of Xia and Lei, begin Gao's downfall, by removing his long time supporters from power
They're corrupt. We just need to make gao think that this corruption is hurting him.
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>>4531644
>Remove his supporters

>>4531660
Still not a noble, I think, so we still don't "deserve" the daughters. And lets be frank, we aren't served by meeting them, except perhaps finding some savant among their number.
Yeah, I guess if we wanted to look for useful people amongst his daughters, then that'd be a reason to go with this course of action. If we find none, then we at least know who is cruel and who is not for when the purge comes.
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>>4531660
More specifically, i'm trying to say, is why we're going full friendly with the daughters but not actually doing anything. Because we're not going to do anything.

Maybe something about being a commoner or keeping the appearance of being an good pure monk?
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>>4531664
>Still not a noble, I think, so we still don't "deserve" the daughters.
Gao still thinks we're just like him but happen to be keeping the appearance of someone who is humble. It'd be wiser to make it less "Oh, i'm not worthy" and more of an "At a later date" (because there will be no later, so there's nothing to worry about)
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>>4531644
> Politely decline the invitation to be introduce to his daughters. Cite the sheer size difference between yourself and most women as the most prevalent incompatibility
At the very least, Gao would interpret it as a dick joke and almost die laughing.
> With the aid of Xia and Lei, begin Gao's downfall, by removing his long time supporters from power
IT BEGINS
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>>4531644
>With the aid of Xia and Lei, begin Gao's downfall, by removing his long time supporters from power
Daughters will help us little, the only power they could give us is to denounce gao in public, and that would be shameful of them to do in not-chinaland
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>>4531665
Oh right, you wanted one for Gao personally.

>"I must maintain my image as a relentless task master, devoid of pleasures. A wife would break this mask."
Pun in that it would reveal just how much I hate you to her, no longer appearing as the sycophant of Gao
>"Your daughters are not mathmaticians or scribes, they are of no use to my efforts to bring you wealth good lord"
More blunt but gets the point across
>"I would hate to kill them on the marriage bed, I'm sure you yourself can relate to the problems of being to "large" for your partner"
A joke which is framed as a dick joke, with a gesture to the lower regions, while actully being a jab at him being a fat and ugly bastard whore.
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>>4531668
Actually, that's an fair excuse. I mean, they're chinese noblewomen, have you read about the kind of shit they did to keep them 'good looking'? They literally stunted their development, they're probably thin as fuck too. If we tried to do something they'd actually die, no joke.
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>>4531674
I think an mix of
>Dude, i'm way too large, i'd probably kill your duaghters (end it at that, the simplest the better) and then
>Also, an wife would most likely make me seem like less of an pure, completely serious peasant figure
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>>4531675
>have you read about the kind of shit they did to keep them 'good looking'?
The most I know of it lead based makeup, starving them constantly, and smashing their feet to keep them small.
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>>4531677
That'd probably work well.
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>>4531644
> With the aid of Xia and Lei, begin Gao's downfall, by removing his long time supporters from power
>>
>>4531678
That's a big part of it, but there's also other stuff like their teeth treatment.

Regardless, i'm fairly certain that only some kind of amazon would even be able to handle a primarch. I don't know how tall we are compared to our brothers, but we're without a doubt taller than 3 meters.

We would actually kill if we tried to get in bed with an normal woman.
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>>4531644
>> Ask if Gao would like to hear the story of how you slew a dragon, and use the chance to vent your hatred of the man to him openly
>> With the aid of Xia and Lei, begin Gao's downfall, by removing his long time supporters from power
time for coup
>>
>>4531689
How can Chaste kisses on the cheeks and gentle cuddling under the covers Kill someone?
>>
>>4531689
>That's a big part of it, but there's also other stuff like their teeth treatment.
Elaborate.
>Regardless, i'm fairly certain that only some kind of amazon would even be able to handle a primarch
These terms are acceptable.
>>
>>4531695
We're a primarch anon, we don't have an romantical drive.Most likely because the emperor doesn't them to spawn an stable race of superhumans.

I mean, can you imagine if fucking fulgrim could have kids like normal people?
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>>4531699
I remember the han chinese had a bunch of stuff about teeth blackening or something. Real fucking weird.
>These terms are acceptable.
Too bad emps removed our ability to appreciate amazons, huh?
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>>4531701
It was a joke that Lieren was too pure to consider sex, similar to the monks others purport him to be. I know the lore well enough.
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>>4531703
>Too bad emps removed our ability to appreciate amazons, huh?
DAMN YOU EMPEROR!
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>>4531705
>The emperor made us in the image of the perfect human form, to fight against that which would defile it.
>He also removed our ability to appreciate the perfect human form, leaving us to defend things we have no concept of the value it holds.

Like pottery
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>>4531707
Man when you put it that way, no wonder half of them fell to chaos.
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>>4531703
I thought that was the japanese? Apparently it helps prevent tooth decay

Though it seems like Gao uses something like betel nut, with black juice rather than red. Shit's disgusting, every street in the solomon islands is strained with the spit from it
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>>4531709
Who wants to fight for an empire which denies you cuddles with the cute/muscly girls?
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>>4531707
Honestly, i don't know whether that's the emperor having literally zero foresight while trying to make it so we don't spawn a whole race of our own or if it was tzeentch playing him in 900th dimensional chess (because the emperor had to deal with chaos to get the primarchs, if i remember correctly)
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>>4531714
To be fair, the normals still have that opportunity, it's just primarchs and marines which don't have it because the emperors sees them as replaceable tools made for an specific purpose.

Too bad the average normal doesn't have the strength or wealth required to go to an deathworld and find himself a bonafide amazon waifu, though.
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>>4531714
Truly none can escape the grim darkness of the far future.
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>>4531709
I think about it like this:
The emperor delibreatly created multiple unbalanced, min-maxed, children, knowingly programed their personality flaws and other such things into their genetics. It should come as no suprise that the primarch project produced absolute manchildren like perturabo and mortarion and that his sons were constantly at each others throats. He's only really blameless for angron and lorgar being fucked up
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>>4531722
Presumably the character flaws would've been dealt with by being raised among the custodes and tutors. Growing up as a slave, watched over by the eye of terror or implanted with butcher's nails really messes with a growing boy's mental state
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>>4531728
Not sure if a tutor could help someone like Konrad, tbf.
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>>4531746
If not the Tutors, then the Emperor himself.
I'm sure he'd have been able to help with Konrad's constant visions.
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>>4531746
he'd probably need a psychologist from birth, but I think a lot of his problems were environmental. If he'd known that his other brothers were plagued with visions of the future and could change them, he wouldn't have become so insane. Probably still a sociopath, but that's a lot better than being psycho batman
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>>4531722
There’s also the fact he was negligent. Like seriously half of the problems could have been avoided if he bothered to be a father.
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>>4531644
>With the aid of Xia and Lei, begin Gao's downfall, by removing his long time supporters from power
>>
>>4531754
He had 30,000 years to learn how to be one, never did.
Some things just aren't meant to be.
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>>4531754
This is assuming that when malcador said primarch war was a feature, not a bug, he was lying.

Which fair, he lies a lot, but it isnt out of the question that the emperor deliberately intended for a chaos less heresy to occur and decimate the primarch ranks.
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>>4531644
>Accept the invitation to be introduced to his daughters, to save them from this monster
>With the aid of Xia and Lei, begin Gao's downfall, by removing his long time supporters from power

Both of these
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>>4531796
I don't know about that, he got rid of second and eleventh real quick, and he sure as hell didn't intend for magnus to fuck up and destroy the webway project.

If anything, i feel like this was a multi-faceted problem: the emperor was a shitty father, the planet where the primarchs grew up were (mostly) shitty, the chaos gods played them for a trick because emps had to deal with the devil to get the primarchs in the first place and the primarchs themselves were also asshats of their own volition.
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>>4531802
>he got rid of second and eleventh real quick
That does bring up another thing.
What might Lieren do that causes him to be all but erased from existence?
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>>4531829
To be fair, the second primarch wasn't lieren.

Lieren is the effect of the second primarch being flung into a different planet by malal, the wannabe chaos god.

As for what he did, i'm going to guess there's probably a big chance he might have sided with xenos or tried to betray the empire cold turkey, as opposed to lorgar's slower chaos heresy.
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>>4531835
Lieren seems predisposed to diplomacy and compassionate enough to attempt to negotiate with non-hostile xenos. That might be a bit of repeated history, if the 2nd canon primarch allied with xenos as well.
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>>4531839
Not really, from what we got the IInd primarch was some kind of cold, joyless bitter hypocrite.
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>>4531846
So mortarion?
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>>4531846
What does that have to do with whether or not Lieren will use diplomacy with xenos or break with the Imperium?
>>
Calling the vote now

Begin the downfall of Gao:10
Help his daughters: 3
Tell the story of how you killed the TD:2

Alright, so Lieren will begin to set in motion Gao's downfall.

Writing the update
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>>4531644
>> With the aid of Xia and Lei, begin Gao's downfall, by removing his long time supporters from power
>> Mention to Gao you have plans beyond brining prosperity, and could bring a yet unseen miracle to his court if he were to pay you more (Pay which would go to the people and your efforts to benefit all of them)
Start strangling his powerbase and his treasury.
>>
"Unfortunately, my most generous lord" You say, setting your hands on top of your knees as you glance over to Gao, his bloated stomach rising and falling as as he practically inhales his liquor through his nose as he samples its aroma instead of merely guzzling it down like a man dying from sun stroke given water "I will once again have to decline the offer to meet with your children, after all, what would the people think if their hero met with the lords daughters"

Gao growls, taking a extended moment to sip his plum wine as holding up a hand, commanding you to remain silent so he may fully enjoy. He takes a breath, vapors visibly rising from his lips as his eyes roll back.

"Speak" he barks as you resist the ever present urge to end this monster of a man's life, there's a fruit cutting knife on the table between the two of you, clean of grim and juice. It'd slide easily past his skin, cutting fat and meat a like to open his throat. With your reflexes, Gao would be choking on his fading life within to span of two short breaths. Smiling despite the foulness sitting next to you, you calmly continue explaining your refusal to pointless meet the spawn of Lord Gao's tainted loins.

"And, how few have been given the delight of knowing even one of your daughters" you say casually as Gao grins and swirls his drink in his hands, clearly drawing his own conclusions about you once again "Rats grow jealous when they see a loyal hound fed, after all"

"Speaking like a monk again. But you have a point, if word spread of the "meeting" I'm sure we'd both be troubled by no end of banal bickering and complaints" Gao sighed, pouring a peach liquor into the glass of his plum wine, despite it still being half way filled "I have many hidden rooms in my estates, it could remain a secret till the end of time itself"

"And, I do not wish to harm any member of your family, consider the stallion, a mighty beast worthy of respect. Consider the fragile flower, a beauty for all to enjoy" You explain, trying your best to politely avoid the very topic of meeting any members of Gao's abused and perhaps terribly twisted family "But when they meet, the flower is irrevocably damaged, destroyed"

Gao shook his head.

"Bah, I have many daughters, find one who can endure it" Gao says, igniting your smoldering fury once more with his casual disregard for his own kin, it takes all of you will to to not take the heavy set bottle resting between you and using it to crack his skull, dashing the corroded grey matter within over the feast below. How many of the guests would cease their gluttony? How many below would truly care outside of their own safety.

"The rest are useless to me anyways, their spawn will not be of my line, so they have no value outside of what others place in them" Gao explains, with a soft, almost gentle expression in his face like he was an old woman talking about her flower garden "What's one or two daughters less, hah! what is one or two sons less"
cont
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>>4532000

The fat slug smiles despite the poison that just left his lips.

"It would" You say, staring straight ahead, trying to picture a serene lake upon a mountain, with only a light blanket of fog. Bird song, the feeling of the wind, cool winter air, the scent of cooking meat the result of a successful hunt, the company of friends. Casual laughter. Nothing else, bliss, calm bliss.

"Ah some hesitation" Gao cackles, raising one his red eyebrows as he raises his silk covered arm towards you laughing "Could it be your act is finally breaking down, that I have found the one temptation you will allow yourself to devour"

Don't kill Gao, don't kill Gao, don't kill Gao. it will only lead to chaos and further bloodshed, do not kill Gao. you'd rather have dinner with that damnable Toad Dragon! at least that abomination did not speak its disgusting thoughts, nor revel in its degeneracy. Every time you meet with Gao you leave furious on the edge of having ended the dog's miserable life. You can't stand men like Gao, at least Ling didn't create a false Lieren in his mind to the degree Gao does. He thinks your soul and virtue is as corroded as his has become.

"It would ruin the image I have so carefully cultivated, of a humble and wise farmer risen to a position at which he can help his fellow man, throughout your lands, throughout Yan, throughout all of Shangrala" You explain, pressing your hands together as Gao gives you a disbelieving look but you can see in his eyes he "understands" your reasoning "If I mingled with the daughters of my employer and master, it would simply ruin my image as pure and serious laborer"

"Perhaps I should snip one of the buds growing in my realm, I'm certain there's a family we could be rid of" Gao muttered looking over "Then you wouldn't have to worry about that image of yours, and could freely indulge like a normal man, with your own land beyond a remote village"

Normal man? how different a world did Gao must live in. And you'd be pruning his "Garden" of many "buds" soon enough. And Remote? More trade passed through Nothing than Gao's own city! How blind was this greedy swine? You had thought he had at least some sense to be aware of the world around him. He only saw the profit, not the function of trade and its routes. What a fool, what a hopeless fool.

"Face is more important than any land or title, Lord Gao" You say with a smile, resting your head against your knuckles as Gao shrugs

"Won't buy armies, food or drink, money is worth more than face, how's that for sagely wisdom" Gao snorts shaking his head "There, no we both talk like those fools at Dai, happy now?"

You laugh at what Gao considers a joke, turning your thoughts from your desires to be rid of Gao and what method would be the quickest and cleanest to cut his life short with, to thoughts on where to strike first, in terms of which "Weeds" to pull, who to remove.
cont
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>>4532001

The best method, would be to remove Gao's foremost supporters, and then spread out from their, purging the nobility under Gao of its rotten elements, either destroying their lines if all of them are lost to the corruption that has consumed so many or allowing them to be replaced by a more virtuous heir, more loyal to you, Qian Xia, and Yin Lei than Gao.

To accomplish this, you'll have Lady Qian use her wiles and connections to reveal or forge crimes against Gao, from among his most loyal of supporters. This will drive Gao further into paranoia, trusting you as his loyal hunting hound as you remove the pillars that keep his extravagant lifestyle a float. Unfortunately, Qian will ask of her own favors and use you as an instrument towards her own designs. But, that should be simple enough and will align with your task in the end anyways. The removal of corrupt elements from Gao's court. it will be a thorough cleansing.

and for it to work, you'll need the black general, the Unbroken Thunder's howl, Yin lei and his tactical genius on your side. Nobility will not lie down and die like a wounded cliff jumper, they'll fight tooth and nail and call every ally and favor they have to survive. Qian may be able to isolate most lords beneath Gao, but she cannot take command of their armies away. And should they see their coming death fast approaching, by your hands, Yin's or Gao's, they will huddle behind their walls and armies.

A careful, delicate hand will be required to pluck these weeds from the garden. You'll need to know which men to remove first, to weaken the foundations of Gao's rule. And for that, you will need to speak with Qian. Which may take some time, especially since Gao may grow envious of your closeness with her or become insulted that you prefer her company to his daughters. A letter would suffice.

But while you wait, there is work to be done else where. It would be a much easier work than making the road, surely
-

"Please, please my lord have mercy, I..I merely lost the shipments, I swear this upon the courts, all eight courts! have meeercy" A liar screams as your men prepare to kick the chair holding him up and keeping his neck intact from under his feet. He was one of Late Ling's kin, a tax collector who grew fat on "extra tithes" He took for himself, you had caught him trying to enforce his own demands on a village you had personally saved.

And out of tax season, and his men had admitted to his actions when you and your personal guard came upon them. His sentence was decided, all that was left was to carry it out. Rong stood next to the man, trying not the breath lest the stench of the Tax collector's soiled silk garments and the filth within overcame his heightened since of smell.

The man might have gotten a less public death, if he had only not threatened a child with in this lonely village as you approached. That action condemned him to a public, and humiliating death under the eyes of those he abused.
cont
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>>4532003

"By Lord Gao's decree, any who are found embezzling Lord Gao's wealth, or pilfering tithes destined for his coffers, shall be executed as his administrator decides" You read from a scroll giving you this power to decide if a man lives or die, with the twin gold dragons of the Gao family woven into its scarlet back "As well as any who plot against Lord Gao, harbor traitorous thoughts or disrupt trade through his lands among other crimes, by the title and power bestowed upon me, I declare Tax Collector Yunru guilty of the"

"PLEASE PLEASE I HAVE MONEY! I HAVE A LOT OF MONEY! I'LL PAY YOU ANYTHING YOU WANT, I'LL PAY ANYTHING ANY OF YOU WAAAANT, JUST LET ME LIVE, PLEAAAAASE" The Tax collector screams, thrashing and kicking around as yet more urine drips down his legs, soiling his robes

"Crimes of stealing from the master of these lands, terrorizing the populace, and disrupting the flow of trade and prosperity, it is my sentence that you be condemned to death by hanging" You proclaim, closing the scroll as the gathered crowd cheers and you raise your hand to command Rong to end the man's pleading.

And the moment before you do, the fool falls off the chair himself and begins to dance at the end of the rope, kicking his legs and choking, his face turning the color of a ripe plum.

"End his suffering quickly, Rong, the fool has hung himself' You sigh sadly, as the crowd boos and hisses at the man enduring the agony of a slow strangulation, and at the man ending his pain. All you do is hang your head in shame, trying to ignore the chokes and gasps for air.

"Tough luck" Rong says before spearing the tax collector through his throat, leaving his corpse to hand and drift in the winds. It is better this way, to execute them yourself rather than let them enjoy Gao's tender mercies.

You turn away as the mob of furious villagers throw stones and refuse at the corpse hanging by the flowering tree, and see a man dressed in the bright, vivid reds that house Qian favors to color themselves and servants in. He is accompanied by Zian, dressed in the azure and plum of those loyal to you. Colors of hope in the eyes of the common man, nowadays.

"Lieren, message from Qian Xia" Zian says, clasping his hands together and bowing as the breathless messenger kneels before you and holds out a scroll pressed between two lengths of laquered wood.

"Thank you, rest in this village and continue on your journey" You say as the man nods, breathing heavily, but pausing before he rushes off to find hospitality, no doubt awed that he actually came face to face with "Gao's Giant", the only title you've been given that you despise utterly.

Pulling the scroll open, you read its contents. it is written very formally, but cut straights to the point. It seems that Qian is very excited to deal with Gao's favorite toadies once and for all, and has included within the message all necessary information to remove them from power and take their heads.
cont
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>>4532005

Their habits, what they give Gao, what is each man's personality, their allies, the allies that will aid them, the allies that will betray them, their personal guards number and discipline, lords who pay them homage, natural defenses , their wealth and how they maintain their power both in society and the region they govern.

Four men, each one a key pillar to the castle of Gao, each one a rapid supporter of the man, each one with a heart as black as their master. When you pull one out, the others will rush to knock it down, when you remove one, they shall begin to work to prove their loyalty to Gao before they end up at the executioner's block.

Even Gao will be suspicious if you remove all four of them at once, even if the others didn't close rank and tighten their defenses. Two, is the most you could do away with, before the remaining two wise up and Gao starts getting suspicious. After that, you'll have to remove smaller snakes from the pond, and burn away more obvious weeds from Gao's garden, to keep him content and sure of your "loyalty" above all others.

You have traveled through all of these lords' lands, and know them well. Your road travels through all of them, and men loyal to you and what the road represents are stationed within them.

Which crony of Gao does Lieren set about destroying first?
> Cui Fu, whose lands are bountiful in only men and provides Gao with most of his levies and generals, without him, Gao's forces will be untrained and without leadership
> Tao Song, the lord in the mountains, his land, nestled in the mountains of the center of Gao's lands, provide bountiful Minerals, stone and iron to Gao, without him, Gao's forces would be forced to wear damaged armor and wield weakened spears
>Zhou Wenyan, Whose lands sit on the border of Gao's lands and the center of Yan itself, and deals with the taxes going to Yan and the trade coming into Gao. Without him, Gao will be reliant on your road and reforms for the Panther's share of his growing wealth
> Shen Bohai, Owner of Gao's most fertile lands, and supplier of most of his armies rations and his own larder, Without him, Gao's army will march on food supplied by you, and thus at your command, his army shall starve
> Write in?
>>
> Accept the invitation to be introduced to his daughters, to save them from this monster
Second time this has been mentioned...I wonder if there's a hint of something being there...
> With the aid of Xia and Lei, begin Gao's downfall, by removing his long time supporters from power
>>
>>4532010
Eh, nevermind, too late.

Let's go with:
>Zhou Wenyan, Whose lands sit on the border of Gao's lands and the center of Yan itself, and deals with the taxes going to Yan and the trade coming into Gao. Without him, Gao will be reliant on your road and reforms for the Panther's share of his growing wealth

That way, we can take the existing trade routes and redirect them to our road under the guise of improving the infrastructure.
>>
>>4532008
> Cui Fu, whose lands are bountiful in only men and provides Gao with most of his levies and generals, without him, Gao's forces will be untrained and without leadership

All of the options are really good but they can have decent gear but if they don't have any real leadership they'll break once they see the giant charge.
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>>4532008
>> Cui Fu, whose lands are bountiful in only men and provides Gao with most of his levies and generals, without him, Gao's forces will be untrained and without leadership
>>
>>4532008
> Cui Fu, whose lands are bountiful in only men and provides Gao with most of his levies and generals, without him, Gao's forces will be untrained and without leadership
>>
>>4532008
>>Zhou Wenyan, Whose lands sit on the border of Gao's lands and the center of Yan itself, and deals with the taxes going to Yan and the trade coming into Gao. Without him, Gao will be reliant on your road and reforms for the Panther's share of his growing wealth
I think this is the best option. we can consolidate our hold on the wealth flow and really get those forges going
>>
>>4532008
>> Tao Song, the lord in the mountains, his land, nestled in the mountains of the center of Gao's lands, provide bountiful Minerals, stone and iron to Gao, without him, Gao's forces would be forced to wear damaged armor and wield weakened spears

> Cui Fu, whose lands are bountiful in only men and provides Gao with most of his levies and generals, without him, Gao's forces will be untrained and without leadership
Gao isn't the brightest but will definitely notice if he loses tax revenue or misses a meal. He won't notice the sorry state of his army, as he only sees his honorguard who will be kept in good supply via nepotism
>>
>>4531754
Well... Depending on how you interpret the lore, he was such a father to Horus, being pretty damn close to him from the beginning. There's even a few theories that he was always on Terra, so I don't think that you can really blame emps too much for not being a father to the kids.

>>4531829
We don't know, but there's a few very scant facts people have dug up. The biggest one to me is that the og IInd visited some Necron monolith, prior to his destruction. Might have been that we got too close to the whole void dragon thing, or it could be something else entirely. Would work well into how much we're getting into the whole wise purity aspect, maybe some fundamental disagreement with the nature of the Imperium and the Emperor and warp in general.
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>>4532008
>Zhou Wenyan, Whose lands sit on the border of Gao's lands and the center of Yan itself, and deals with the taxes going to Yan and the trade coming into Gao. Without him, Gao will be reliant on your road and reforms for the Panther's share of his growing wealth

Consolidating our position seems like a good idea. After that I think we should go after the food, the others two are mostly incidental though I would like to nab a mountain area as a base.
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>>4532074
The only thing that is clear about II and XI are that they were involved in some way with something that would have shaken the foundation of the Crusade itself, presumed to be related to the Rangdan given the purges that had.
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>>4532083
*And it is something even the traitor primarchs won't talk about despite being traitors and the decree shouldn't really apply to them anymore.
>>
>>4532008
>> Shen Bohai, Owner of Gao's most fertile lands, and supplier of most of his armies rations and his own larder, Without him, Gao's army will march on food supplied by you, and thus at your command, his army shall starve
An army marches on its stomach after all. They can't put up a fight if they're starving.
Fitting that Gao's ilk would have to go hungry for once.
>>
>>4532086
>*And it is something even the traitor primarchs won't talk about despite being traitors and the decree shouldn't really apply to them anymore.
As far as I know, most of the Primarchs actually can't remember the missing ones as a result of some psychic fuckery. Supposedly approved by Rogal Dorn himself.
>>
>>4532008
>Shen Bohai, Owner of Gao's most fertile lands, and supplier of most of his armies rations and his own larder, Without him, Gao's army will march on food supplied by you, and thus at your command, his army shall starve

The number of men don’t matter if the are starving
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>>4532008
> Cui Fu, whose lands are bountiful in only men and provides Gao with most of his levies and generals, without him, Gao's forces will be untrained and without leadership

And the second one we will destroy should be Tao Song. Bad equipment, no training and no leadership will make destroying his army easy for us.
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>>4532120
Remember the last time a Chinese army ran out of food?
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>>4532207
That's terrible! Knowing them they'd probably start eating the civilians.
>>
>>4532207
All the better if they act like the beasts they are. It only makes us look better when we burn them.
>>
>>4532212
but think about all the innocent civilians that would be sacrificed.
>>
Wait fuck was the last thread archieved yet?
>>
Lieren is such a good man. I wonder what his reaction will be when he finds out that the only reason for his existence is to conquer the galaxy
>>
>>4532226
Can't be all bad. Some people are probably Gao tier's of shitty and needs a good waffle stomping.
>>
>>4532226
Well at least he would be able to bring prosperity, virtue and knowledge to the systems him and his legion take or move in. And uniting humanity can be considered a noble goal (at least it would be better than leaving it in the current state of the galaxy. Besides some exceptions most of humanity is in a sorry state right now)
>>
>>4532008
>Zhou Wenyan, Whose lands sit on the border of Gao's lands and the center of Yan itself, and deals with the taxes going to Yan and the trade coming into Gao. Without him, Gao will be reliant on your road and reforms for the Panther's share of his growing wealth
Mobility and the flows of resources and people.
>>
>>4532225
Nah, it's still on page 5 or so.

>>4532226
Well, he did get purged for some reason or other, though maybe not with the malal interference. Hell, we might end up rebelling either way if we disagree too much with emps.
>>
>>4532271
>Hell, we might end up rebelling either way if we disagree too much with emps.
I can imagine as soon as we see the living conditions most of the Imperium are stuck with, Lieren's gonna make Angron's tantrums look like model behavior.
Though I imagine we might also have some of the same misgivings as Jaghatai Khan as we observe the leadership structure of the Imperium itself.
>>
>>4532008
>> Cui Fu, whose lands are bountiful in only men and provides Gao with most of his levies and generals, without him, Gao's forces will be untrained and without leadership
>>
>>4532008
>Zhou and Cui

We can be rid of half before we turn our inquisition eyes on the rest of the nobility, but if we never get a chance again, removing his trained army will be essential since we have a master general on our side, and having us provide most of his wealth will further solidify our position.
>>
If new canon has a from supposed to be the empathic understanding primarch (before his butchers nails) are we going to be the on purpose angry boy?
>>
>>4532285
Jesus phone posting sucks.

Is meant to say If new canon has angron as the empathic primarch, are we supposed to be the angry boy?
>>
>>4532286
big if true
>>
>>4532008
> Cui Fu, whose lands are bountiful in only men and provides Gao with most of his levies and generals, without him, Gao's forces will be untrained and without leadership
> Tao Song, the lord in the mountains, his land, nestled in the mountains of the center of Gao's lands, provide bountiful Minerals, stone and iron to Gao, without him, Gao's forces would be forced to wear damaged armor and wield weakened spears
Let's hit him where it will hurt, this way he won't notice what's happening until later.
>>
>>4532304
Yeah, the other anons should also be picking a second option, since there isn't any large benefit to restraining ourselves to 1 rather than 2.
>>
>>4532271
I thought we were rescued from being Censured
>>
>>4532277
> Shen Bohai, Owner of Gao's most fertile lands, and supplier of most of his armies rations and his own larder, Without him, Gao's army will march on food supplied by you, and thus at your command, his army shall starve

Adding this to my vote

>>4532312
Good point
>>
>>4532312
We have the option of going for another, QM is just asking for which one we want to get rid of first.
>>
>>4532324
On one hand, I probably misread something, for which I apologise.
On the other, giving both votes now makes it more expedient.
>>
And another question. How the fuck is Gao one of the premier Nobles of Yan? He's a moron without a trace of awareness of his realm, he spends all his time throwing lavish parties and can't tell a monk from a pretender.

How in the 8 heavenly courts did this motherfucker rise to power? That he has maintained it at all is a miracle
>>
>>4532008
>Zhou Wenyan, Whose lands sit on the border of Gao's lands and the center of Yan itself, and deals with the taxes going to Yan and the trade coming into Gao. Without him, Gao will be reliant on your road and reforms for the Panther's share of his growing wealth
> Shen Bohai, Owner of Gao's most fertile lands, and supplier of most of his armies rations and his own larder, Without him, Gao's army will march on food supplied by you, and thus at your command, his army shall starve
Just FUCK my logistics up bro
>>4532286
Would be rather ironic and would make Emps keeping angron around make sense. We ended up fufilling each others functions despite our natural inclinations being polar opposites. I also imagine angron would fucking hate us for being a high rider bitch
>>
>>4532338
Simple. Gao's an easily manipulated and appeased fool of a tool. Now, we can't really make any judgement of character on the emperor of Yan, but I would guess that he'd keep a simplistic fool in a high position of power rather than an ambitious man of vision.

That and Gao more than likely inherited his position early after his father had an... unfortunate accident.
>>
>>4532338
Even in feudal china, nepotism can get one far
Just look at dong zhuo, fat fuck antagonized everyone in his service but he still had a fuck ton of power, he only died after his own personal giant(lu bu) got tired of his shit and killed him
Hell, gao was tame compared to him
>>
>>4532344
Nepotism makes sense. I just don't get how he could have been anything other than son of the previous noble.
Keeping power with parties was easier than starting it up.
>>
>>4532338
Well consider how greedy he is, it s probably for the amount of coin he has. Not to mention that recently we have turn the province he rules from the devasted and miserable place it was, to an increasingly productive, innovative, prosperous and populated one.
>>
>>4532349
>Nepotism
I was actually suggesting that Gao may have had his father assassinated one way or another. He's already proven that he doesn't care about his wives or children, why would Gao care about his parents?
>>
>>4532358
It was more to my point that he cannot have built himself up to his station here, because he lacks any skills in that [or any] department.
So being the son of a priory important noble, who got offed makes sense.

>>4532357
He was the favoured of Yan before we got here.
>>
>>4532008
> Cui Fu, whose lands are bountiful in only men and provides Gao with most of his levies and generals, without him, Gao's forces will be untrained and without leadership
>>
>>4532008
Forgot a second one so choices are:
>Zhou Wenyan, Whose lands sit on the border of Gao's lands and the center of Yan itself, and deals with the taxes going to Yan and the trade coming into Gao. Without him, Gao will be reliant on your road and reforms for the Panther's share of his growing wealth
> Cui Fu, whose lands are bountiful in only men and provides Gao with most of his levies and generals, without him, Gao's forces will be untrained and without leadership
>>
>>4532362
In a world like this, maintaining the status quo might be enough to remain a major noble. Gao pays his due on time and in full, no matter the damage it does to his people
>>
Alright, calling the vote NOW!

Zhou:6
Cui:10
Tao:2
Shen:4

So Cui is the first on the chopping block, writing the update now
>>
Have we considered not killing everyone?

Maybe we can have them sent to exile or educate them to be better persons (e.g. ~ 5-9 years of forced manual labor, stripping them of their power, titles and property...)
>>
>>4532506
In a word NO.
This people are near-cultists, some without tue near. This quest follows the rules of the W40K universe (the important ones), and the first of said laws is "once you go Chaos willingly, you don't go back"
>>
>>4532506
We don't plan to kill those of virtue. But otherwise....Dead.
>>
>>4532506
>letting borderline Chaos cultists live instead of removing them out by the roots
Why though?
>>
>>4532506
>1ID post
>>
>>4532506
You don't offer mercy to Chaos. You burn it out, root and stem.
>>
>>4532506
Most of these people are so corrupt that such an attempt would be wasted. Were Slaanesh and the other Chaos gods not so weak right now, Gao would if not a high ranking champion of Silver prince, be on his way to be one. Most of the nobles are bad but to a lesser degree from the looks of it. If this was later in the timeline this world would probably have fallen to chaos already. So no, it needs to be culled, lest it spread.
>>
>>4532547
I wouldn’t be surprised if Chaos actually controlled the planet during the AoS.
>>
File: 904.png (1.13 MB, 847x454)
1.13 MB
1.13 MB PNG
>>4532285
>>4532286
>>4532341
Imagine the Emperor scanning his son's minds every time he finds a new Primarch, and contrasting their thoughts, acts and original role:
>Name: Angron
>Role: Primarch psicologist and psychic comfort blanket of calm and good vives.
>Notable thoughts and memories: ̸̾ͅŔ̵͓R̸̝̄Ṟ̶̀À̷̩A̶̛̳A̴̦͂Å̵̞A̷͋Ą̶̈́Å̶A̵̧̔A̷̔A̵̮̍Ǎ̴Ả̶̼Á̷̮A̸͚̋A̴̞͂A̵̖̍A̴͍̋Ä̵͙́Ġ̴̤H̶̻̚!̸̬͛!̴̧̇!̴̗͝
>Acts: [Exists] ̸̾ͅŔ̵͓R̸̝̄Ṟ̶̀À̷̩A̶̛̳A̴̦͂Å̵̞A̷͋Ą̶̈́Å̶A̵̧̔A̷̔A̵̮̍Ǎ̴Ả̶̼Á̷̮A̸͚̋A̴̞͂A̵̖̍A̴͍̋Ä̵͙́Ġ̴̤H̶̻̚!̸̬͛!̴̧̇!̴̗͝ [proceeds to murder something/
someone/someone's world and civilization]

>Name: Lieren
>Role": The Emperor's murderblender Primarch
>Notable thoughts and memories:
>>4531638
Acts: Helping all humans grow into the best they can be, using benevolence and exchanging wisdom when possible, while trying to keep both casualties and interference with their development to a minimum.
>>
>>4532555
"Well I guess everything worked out alright!"
>>
Among the four men, members of the corrupted and decadent nobility each, Cui Fu is the pillar that holds most of Gao's power. His family's lands, poorer than the rest of Gao's domain, are only wealthy in hardy men, who eek out and existence in plains of infertile soil and rocky cliffs. Historically most of the levies that make up The Gao's armies have come from the harsh lands Cui rules, and the best local generals both past and present have come from the stubborn stock of men that the Cui family has cultivated. By forcing generations to live in a land so scares of life the cliffjumpers there have became carnivorous, and no fields are grown.

Cui is also a man you wish to see removed from power, even if you could convince the Toady to turn against his master and aid you. For he hampered your efforts in improving his land, and only relented when Gao threatened him with castration for stopping your efforts of spreading prosperity and bounty throughout the land. And the reason for this lesser lord's foolish actions? He didn't want the peasantry under his control to grow "Weak", he didn't want the comforts and ease of living you brought where ever you walked to come to his home. So his people would starve, and only the strong and worthy would be able to live.

All so he could pretend his people were of an elite pedigree and the pride of Gao's army and lands, at the cost of starving children and culling the weak in times of famine. He disgusts you more than Gao himself, if such a thing is possible. Gao merely doesn't care about his people and how they live so long as taxes and wealth flow into his vaults one way or another. Cui on the other hand, actively worsens the lot of his common folks' living conditions and lives, so they can be "Strong". He battled with you, to keep you from bringing food into his lands, from bringing fertilizers and minerals to improve the soil his farmers worked, even from building forts and fire towers to keep the road safe in his lands.

The man was worse than a fool, he was a fool who thought himself a genius. He hid behind traditions and used them as an excuse to bring suffering to his people, and you do not doubt he is already working to remove the innovations you brought to his lands solely so they do not "weaken his flock". He even saw fit to scold you for "overstepping" your authority by removing a bandit clan from his lands, claiming it was his duty to do so.

When they had festered there for generations, draining what little wealth the common man could hold from them, and bleeding them in brutal conflict. No doubt with Cui's permission and perhaps even full endorsement. He is a brute, who imagines himself a scholar, who lives and breathes of philosophy of suffering and hardship. If there could be a man whose beliefs were more opposed to your own than Cui, you have not met him nor heard tale of his foulness.

cont
>>
>>4532568

Cui would meet his end for the crimes he and his line have committed for generations, of cruelly oppressing the people in their lands. Though his actual sentence would be a charge of treason for attempting to overthrow Gao, and stealing wealth from him, that mattered not. You had judge him guilty of the crime of pointless cruelty and halting the spread of your prosperity for half a season. And for that you would have him dead and buried, by your own hand.

Closing the scroll Qian had written for you, you whistle sharply, raising your hand to command your men to follow closely as you move on from this lonely village near a spring, among blossoming trees.


"Leave the thief hanging" You command, whistling again as you begin to march down the road that leads, eventually, to the struggling lands of Cui "We ride for the lands of Cui, I have been alerted of corruption festering in the court of its lord, we shall bring the traitors of Gao to justice"

Your men raise there spears, as the crowd of villagers continue assaulting Yunru's corpse with stones and rotten fruit. at least his death was quick, if not painless
-

The Lands under the Cui family, dust covered and empty, the sun beats through the fog here, burning the land that has been so long abused and untended. By your hand it could flourish and become as a greed slab of jade in the lands of Gao, the increased sunlight making it more bountiful than the lands of the Shen family. Grey and rust colored earth, dust mingling with fog, bones and signs of forgotten battles littering the land. You have done what you can to help the people under Cui's rule, but there's only so much you could force upon the man, and no doubt he has already began taking away the gifts and tools you've given to the poor souls who live beneath him.

But, he was not bold enough to touch your road, or the garrisons upon it. The people no longer starved, but they needed a better steward, to truly prosper.

"What a depressing sight lays before us Lieren" Jinhai asks as you give Zian and Rong their written orders to scout ahead with five men each "Dust, ash and bones, and men living among them like scavengers. What can be salvaged from the lords of such a tortured land?"

"We shall see, the roots of Cui run deep and rotten" You say as you sit down to rest with your men "We shall turn this starving land green, this I swear to you, to the people, and to the very earth itself"
cont
>>
>>4532570

How do you remove the Cuis from power, Lieren?
> Using the nobles Qian wishes you to deal with as bait, draw him into a conspiracy that can be twisted into a charge of treason
> Incite his peasantry into a revolt, a great show of weakness for the cultivator of Gao's military, Gao will remove him from power without any lies from your mouth
>Merely march into his court and accuse him of treason and thievery, for impeding the spread of prosperity and wealth through his lands
>Bring Jiang and Liang from Nothing, and issue a challenge for any man of the Cuis to best them in a test of strength, thus exposing his incompetent rule, and crushing his idiotic ideology.
>Write in?
>>
>>4532511
We do not yet have that much knowledge of the wider scope of supposed 40k rules. Also, remember that penitents are a common theme. The guilt can never be reversed completely, but some guilty persons DO go back.

>>4532539
>1ID post
> Low quality
> No verb
Some people have different influences than image boards in their lifes. Occasionally, this forces them to switch devices. Maybe, you prefer the non-anonymous variety?
>>
>>4532572
>> Using the nobles Qian wishes you to deal with as bait, draw him into a conspiracy that can be twisted into a charge of treason
>>
>>4532572
> Using the nobles Qian wishes you to deal with as bait, draw him into a conspiracy that can be twisted into a charge of treason

>>4532575
Whatever you say anon.
>>
>>4532572
>>Merely march into his court and accuse him of treason and thievery, for impeding the spread of prosperity and wealth through his lands
as much as i'd like to incite the peasantry i don't want to hand over another prisoner to Gao. We should just make accusation, have trial, and execute today.
>>
>>4532572
>Merely march into his court and accuse him of treason and thievery, for impeding the spread of prosperity and wealth through his lands

This is personal. Armor and Guandao ready.
>>
>>4532572
>> Using the nobles Qian wishes you to deal with as bait, draw him into a conspiracy that can be twisted into a charge of treason
>>
>>4532566
Yeah, until the marines start to get acclimated to shangralan culture and he has to hear
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oH2uGJyXHiA nonstop for ten thousand years
>>
>>4532568
>He didn't want the peasantry under his control to grow "Weak", he didn't want the comforts and ease of living you brought where ever you walked to come to his home. So his people would starve, and only the strong and worthy would be able to live.
Hmmmm.
>>4532572
>Bring Jiang and Liang from Nothing, and issue a challenge for any man of the Cuis to best them in a test of strength, thus exposing his incompetent rule, and crushing his idiotic ideology.
If he wants to talk about strength, then we will show him strength then execute for being an idiot.
>>
>>4532572
> Using the nobles Qian wishes you to deal with as bait, draw him into a conspiracy that can be twisted into a charge of treason
We'd be able to get rid of multiple corrupt noblemen, as well as ease gao's fear of a rebellion by our part.
>>
>>4532572
>Use the Nobles.
Just make sure we are not Having it traced back to us.

>>4532596
You always deserve what you sow.
>>
>>4532572
>Using the nobles
>>
>>4532572
> Using the nobles Qian wishes you to deal with as bait, draw him into a conspiracy that can be twisted into a charge of treason
>>
>>4532568
Lieren is not going to like how the some of the other primarchs leave their worlds as death worlds
>>4532572
>Merely march into his court and accuse him of treason and thievery, for impeding the spread of prosperity and wealth through his lands
>>
>>4532596
no this is how it is going to be:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJMt3pJwIhY
ten thousand years of asian balnakn war propaganda knockoffs

heh. it would be funny if our prosperity drive and the fog like nature of the world will turn it all into a balkan wars neverending edition that we just gave up upon and will continue with that particular sport even throughout the imperium.
>>
>>4532572
>Using the nobles Qian wishes you to deal with as bait, draw him into a conspiracy that can be twisted into a charge of treason
>>
>>4532572
>>Merely march into his court and accuse him of treason and thievery, for impeding the spread of prosperity and wealth through his lands
>>
>>4532572
>Merely march into his court and accuse him of treason and thievery, for impeding the spread of prosperity and wealth through his lands
>>
should i draw fanart of Lieren?
>>
>>4532752
If you want man.
>>
>>4532572
>Bring Jiang and Liang from Nothing, and issue a challenge for any man of the Cuis to best them in a test of strength, thus exposing his incompetent rule, and crushing his idiotic ideology.
Showing that his way of making strong men is a lie.
>>
>>4532598
>>Bring Jiang and Liang from Nothing, and issue a challenge for any man of the Cuis to best them in a test of strength, thus exposing his incompetent rule, and crushing his idiotic ideology.

Hmm...sounds interesting, though given the way the tides are shifting, I'll go with:

>> Using the nobles Qian wishes you to deal with as bait, draw him into a conspiracy that can be twisted into a charge of treason
>>
We can accuse him and stab him for his treachery after we've cleaned the coop out with the other bad eggs.

Why shouldn't we use the conspiracy to make our jobs that much more effecient.
>>
>>4532752
That would be cool, my dude
>>
>>4532752
I was considering doing the same thing but unfortunately I can't come up with a hairstyle I'm happy with.
>>
What are some of your anticipated / most wanted primarch interactions with lieren?

I'm hoping we can be with the emperor when he finds angron and help with that whole mess.
>>
>>4532820
Pert, Lorgar and Khan.

We were asked about this last thread, but I think we have a lot in common and a lot of ground to make with Perty boy. And come on man, we're probably the only one's who would appreciate and not abuse his creations.
>>
Alright, calling the vote now.

Use the nobles and kill two birds with one stone: 9
Just march to his court and accuse Cui: 5
Bring the brothers in:2

So, Lieren will construct a conspiracy, so he has just cause to remove Cui from power, so as not to arose suspicion.

Writing the update

>>4532752
Rad.
>>
>>4532820
Kinda wanna see XI and if we come across Nuceria first, Angron. Perhaps Leman because of the whole norse culture (which includes Finns to a degree) meeting with Leiran's asiatic (which includes Korea), as well as how close the names are.
>>
>>4532827
vile traitors and one cool dude for a horse barbarian.
Perturabo is major grade autistic, beyond even most other primarchs* and a spiteful introvert who was never satisfied with what he could get. He had a nice family and he fucked it up all on his very own.
Perturabo is not a nice dude, and he is way to asocial to open up to his new 'family'.
Lorgar is just trash who grew up on a stealth chaos world and had some serious gay dad issues, but chanced by luck on having his lectitio divinatus be the groundwork for the imperial creed that fights of chaos gods by turning the emperor into a warp god.

I am interested in the Lion, and the Rangdan Xenocides. Would be nice if we can make the Dark Angels have fewer losses.

Also interested in the Custodes. Getting a Custodes and Silent Sisters squads as honourguard for all the primarchs would be very nice in solidifying the links of the imperial household and getting blanks around primarchs via the sisters and better personal security from the custodes.
>>
>>4532863
I mean, that's not true.

Pert is ungrateful, envious and brooding but he is also very happy when getting to design things. But the reason I think we should be trying to forge links with him is A] the contrast between his petulance and our Zen in regards to how glory is split could have a stabilizing effect perhaps and B] our policy of "the most qualified man does the job" can see us talking to Pert about designs to better the prosperity of the worlds we must rebuild which gives us some common ground to talk to.

Lorgar, himself, is not that bad. Call me an apologist, but he isn't. His worst traits are his mercurial nature and childish Naivity, while his best is his Loyalty and Faith. Because believe it or not Lorgar is supremely loyal to those he gives it to, to the point it takes point blank rejection and betrayal to turn him away [See Monarchia, Magnus' astropathic conversations]. He didn't give his loyalty to Horus, and mistakenly believed horus was as zealious as he was, which resulted in his attempted betrayal.
But the interactions here are on talks of faith and philosophy, which is always interesting to talk about IC.

Khan is space Mongol to our space China. nuff said.

But don't expect many custodes. If daddies favorites are with us, it usually isn't good.
>>
>>4532890
Pert did decimate his legion upon first meeting them and the only reason they weren't the largest was due to how many casualties they expended. Emps tried to moderate him a bit by giving a balance of tasks, but it got real bad with Horus in charge where Pert got all siege all the time.
>>
>>4532911
His treatment of his legion was retarded and actively harmful [no shit sherlock], And he should have been censored for the act.

But that doesn't change that we can be a good influence. If we're not, so be it.
>>
>>4532913
*censured
>>
>>4532935
No, Pert must have black bars put all over him so that others cannot look upon his form or face.

Thank you for that.
>>
I’m starting to wonder if Lieren ever be introduced to Taoism.
>>
>>4532957
Technically speaking we kinda have? But there's no Tao here, so they probably just call it by some other name. Kinda like how we talk with the buddhist monk guy.
>>
I personally want to follow the Imperial Thruth but giving it some philosophical wisdom twists, so we can add love (pure), generosity, empathy (with humans, but also not to kill useful, nonharmful xenos like the jockaeiro) and a sense of brotherhood/general patriotism (so all worlds integrate properly and contribute all they can to the Imperium despite differences in culture) as two pillars that benefit the Imperium without reinforcing the Chaos gods
>>
>>4532985
*As the pillars of society that benefit the Imperium
>>
If Lieren does fall, I fear it will be to Khorne for (initially) altruistic reasons twisted to an industrial warmachine. We need to maintain inner peace and foresightedness for the plight of the unaugmented man.
>>
>>4532964
>Technically speaking we kinda have?
Not really. Taoism (when described) sounds more like some kind of psyker shit.
>>
>>4532940
But of course

You're welcome
>>
>>4532992
Honestly with the way we’re currently going, it’ll be Tzeentch. Like seriously have you been paying attention? We’ve been favoring underhanded schemes than outright violence.
>>
>>4533005
He's constantly boiling with rage and his goals are to end the impoverishment of the commoners by getting rid of the nobility, not uplifting himself for his own ambitions. I could see him sliding to Khorne very easily but Tzeentch is also a possibility because he's been trying to spread knowledge, bring hope to the masses, and has already slain what was either a Nurglite Chaos Spawn or Minor Daemon Prince.
>>
>>4533005
Lieren's pretty angry too, though.

I mean, it's like i said it at the middle of the previous thread, there should be a counter for how many times Lieren's thought about how easy it would be to kill someone.

I mean, how many times has he had to visibly hold back himself as to not go in a giant rage fit and kill everyone? It's been a lot of times.

Personally, i think an mix between tzeentch and khorne would be the most likely, IF he were to fall.
>>
>>4533008
What makes me think he's most likely to fall to Khorne is that most of his rage has been directed toward the wastefulness of the nobility, which is the textbook anti-Slaaneshi impulse that causes a great deal of Khornate corruption in the 41st millennia. I think we should be appropriately paranoid of and extremely violent towards any signs of heresy.
>>
Of course, Cui may be an ignorant fool like the rest of his kind, but that does not mean he is harmless. His personal guard contains more members than Gao's own, and from it a pedigree of fighting generals has sprung forth, who will remain loyal to Cui unless he is dealt with. While you have no doubt you could easily best a man as foolish as Cui Fu in battle, either massed or personal, he wouldn't attack with just the soldiers sworn to his service. He'd press every man in his lands into an army with which he would use like a hammer, and break it against your superior intellect and Yin's tactical genius.

A cornered animal, after all, is the most dangerous. And to remove Cui and the support he gives to Gao at the cost of thousands of innocent lives, would leave a most bitter taste in your mouth. You could not forgive yourself if innocent blood was shed at your command or even by your own arms. Which means, to defeat Cui and end his small tyranny, you must employ a gentler method to orchestrate his demise. Much like plucking a flower with a thorns along its stem, care must be taken when removing a man from his seat of power, when he commands most of the armies in the land.

Staring into the embers of the growing fire your guards have started to tend and feed in your makeshift camp along the side of your road, you begin to weave a plan, with which to pull the Cui family from Yan, root and stem and all. Qian, as expected has asked for your assistant in dealing with spendthrifts and sadists alike, men who desire her but are too tightly tangle in her web for her to cut down herself.

Men who do so despise the golden eyed giant who speaks so freely with their beloved scarlet blossom, not knowing the poison the jade beauty hides beneath her smiles and gentle manner. Cui would align himself with anyone if they promised him the privilege of taking your head, such is the hatred he holds for you for interfering and trying to fix the ruin he and his ancestors have made of a land filled with such potential. The men Qian wants to see dead or other wise dealt with, are ambitious, and will reach far beyond your death if they are confident in their combined power and the secrecy of their conspiracy.

Sparks fly as one of the moister logs in the fresh fire snaps and cracks open, as the path you shall take forward takes shape in the depths of your mind. Qian can set the pawns into place, maneuvering her targets into the proper positions for them to meet, and give them all reasons to join together and ally with one another for your demise. Then, it would only take a few manipulations on your end and hers to grow the fools' combined confidence enough to bring one as powerful as Cui into their fold. Qian will supply the evidence of their activities over the coming days, weeks even, and then all it will take is for you to present it to Gao.
cont
>>
>>4533057

If the threat of losing his Jade conjuring giant is not enough for the fat slug to do away with Cui and his new compatriots, all you must do is "reveal" to him the hidden treason within whatever form of evidence Lady Qian gathers, or mention that Cui's lands are being wasted upon a man of such low intellect and cunning. And then he shall all but hand you the axe to remove their heads himself, if he does not order their prolonged torture and drawn out deaths but, it is hard to apprehend criminals alive after all and even a fool like Gao can understand that.

An accident in the journey to bring them back to his cruel hands, all traitors slain in an escape attempt. Their bodies will feed the Mist Jackals. An easy death, a clean death, a merciful death. You will not consign another man to Ling's fate. and your conscious will be clear as an untouched spring, for Fu has taken no wife, as none have matched the standards he demands according Qian Xia, and his siblings died young. As the Cui bloodline, for all their cruelty and foulness, at least practices the same culling they force upon the land among their own ranks.

No innocent victims, no children murdered to appease Gao's fury, pride and sadism. A historied line snuffed out, because it wore itself thin and stood in the way of the path of progress and prosperity. A simple act, a purifying act. Cleansing the land and courts. Simple and easy.
-
There were few things Cui fu feared in this world, for few things could truly threaten a man of his size and stature. Since birth he was raised as a warrior, among warriors, following a tradition of warlords and fighters of legend. The scares that traced across his face and chest told a story, of hardship and struggle. It was the only way a man of his family could be considered proper, like all those who served beneath them. Blood was their trade, Iron their wealth. But, in recent years, the young lord had met a creature that could illicit fear eve into a heart as cold and hardened as his own.

A Giant with eyes like the setting sun, and hair like fresh iron. A man who did not fear death nor bowed to the proper order of the world. A simple farmer, who had wormed his way into the good graces of Gao, despite giving him nothing but promises and fat, weak workers. A man who would soften the people of Gao's lands into mere farm animals, content and happy despite their birth and station. Unused to hardship, weak. A slow, insidious poison that would doubt bring ruin to all who lived under the benevolent arms of the Gao line.

The twin dragons of Gao would endure, Cui fu would do all in his power to ensure it. The Gao's had earned their position generations ago, and brought his ancestors their first defeat. The carp of Cui would forever support the dragons of Gao, even over the Yan kings themselves. And no mere farmer, with pretty little babbles and grand ambitions, would fell the combined might of Gao and Cui.
cont
>>
>>4533059

And yet wise Lord Gao, could not see the traitor in his court, wasting his wealth, wasting his man power and weakening his people! No, Gao could not see, he did not understand! The foul sorcerer Lieren, with his alchemy and witchcraft, must have enchanted his mind somehow, for why else would Gao allow him to trod over and build through lands that have for centuries belonged to the same line?! Why else would he give that thrice damned giant whatever he asked for or desired! The line of Gao was in danger, its branches twisted by an iron scaled snake.

And for seasons, for years, Cui Fu has wracked his mind, trying to find anyway to remove this parasite from his Lord's side. If he did not act with haste, Lieren would pollute his own lands with his corruptive sorcery, and seductive comforts he offered with open hands. Poison, poison, poison! it was all poison. The land would sour from the mixtures he fed it, devils and spirits would come at his call to feast upon the fattened herd of men he had created with bountiful food and empty lives and he would rule a land empty of men. Cui Fu knew this, for his line warned of such methods, the stories that lulled him to sleep spoke of men such as Lieren, and he would not let his land, nor any Land of beneath the Gaos fall to such foul manipulations.

But, an army to slay one man? Foolishness. And to ask Gao, to plead with the benevolent patriarch of that most noble of lines, would be impossible, for Lieren had twisted his mind, weakened it. Cui could do nothing but watch, for two years, as the people outside of his lands grew fat on prosperity, like swine for the slaughter, as the Giant strode across the lands of family's as bright as his own, plucking all danger and struggle from them like he was taking flowers from a garden.

Weak, weak weak! they were all so weak and foolish! nothing could be done! unless the giant was slain, ruin and decay would come upon great wings! devour them all, slay them all! The Giant would destroy generations of tradition and ruin the stock of all men of Gao for his own ambition.

But there was nothing a warrior as mighty as Cui Fu could do, he knew he could not slay Lieren in personal combat, he doubted even all his men combined could drag the Giant to hell together! and Gao did not see the farmer for the trickster he was! If Fu was not a Cui, he may have given into despair, and found a battle to die in before he had to see the degeneration of his people with his own eyes, to spare his family the shame of being weakened like the rest.

But Cuis did not give up, they did not retreat, and in autumn, as the winds cooled and the trees turned shades of blood and rust, after months, years of waiting, listening and hoping to find another soul in power that was no caught in the Giant's spell, Cui Fu found them. Men like him, men with strong minds and wills of iron, who had escaped the enchantment that fallen over the rest of the land.
cont
>>
>>4533061

Men who saw Lieren for what he was, knew the poison and corruption he spread with every step, and had come together to orchestrate his end. And free the people from his tricks and manipulations. For weeks now, Cui Fu has met with these men, nobles who hid their faces with blank masks when he met, but he knew them. They were seven noble men, powerful men, and with the might of the Cui and the generals fu and his father before him had nurtured, even a monster like the golden eyed giant could not escape death.

With their combined might and minds, Lieren would fall, and Gao would be free of his influence, and things would return to how they rightfully should be.

The lord of blood and Iron had received word, that they would soon move to claim the head of a giant and that he would be allowed to know the identities of his fellow conspirators, now that he had fully committed to the cause. They would meet at a small inn, built by the giant's own hands along the edge of the lands of the Cui, and there, they would set in motion events that would consign their names to legends, as heroes.

As always, Cui fu was dressed in his armor, all hues of red and grey, covered by a grey cloak of wool, roughly spun, accompanied by only two of his most trusted guards. Leaving his strong, war bred horse to his servants, he entered the small, lonely building alone. The scent of roasting meat and drying alcohol assaulted his senses, the mystical flames the giant set upon the road that would burn for hours before they turned to ask lighting every corner of the building.

Tables were set out, travelers and merchants filled every inch of the building, eating and growing fatter, no doubt spreading the Giant's poison further. Cui fu for a moment, wondered if he had came to the wrong location, before he spotted a blank wooden mask along a long table. Grinning wickedly, Gao's hound strode over to the table and took a seat without announcing himself.

His comrades turned to face them, draped in robes of simple wool, the same as he was. He recognized the faces of only one. He Tao, a man he had always thought of as soft, yet he sat at a place of honor at the table. A trader of wine and spirits, he did not think he would have escape the Giant's wiles.

"Ah, brother fu, you've joined us at last, the day of our glory is soon at hand" He spoke, glancing around, no doubt searching for any listeners or spies "And the giant will be brought low once more, before his end"

"At our hands, tell me, when will we mobilize, my armies are ready" Cui fu said as he took clasped his hands together, glancing at the faces of the other lords sat alongside him "To strike as soon as the order is given"
-
cont
>>
>>4533064

"So, you'll spare us then? and let our families eat well for once?" Cui fu's man asks, with a tired look in his eyes as you easily stride down the hill from your hiding place along the ridge, where your men still lie in wait. Joined by a few of your hunting companions from Nothing, and backed up by guards gathered along the road's of Cui fu's lands.

"All men, women and children of these lands shall eat well, and your loyalty will be remembered, both of you" You say, clasping your hands together "The end of the traitor Cui is at hand, and I shall protect you from those who would call you betrayer"

"Lord Lieren's benevolence is as bountiful as the stories say" The man sighs, shoulders slumping as he sits down into the dust "though I would have welcomed death, if only my wife would be able to have a nice meal"

"I would have if I could only live long enough to see that madman butchered as he has done to so many others" The other says, removing his mask and spitting into the dust as he sat by his brother in arms "Make it hurt, giant"

The sun hung in the sky, crimson among a sea of golds, pinks and plum. Dust filled the air, and the fog was heavy this night. A dramatic setting, for a dramatic end.

How you end the conspiracy you've spun, Lieren
> Announce your presence and list the crimes of the accused, proclaiming the sentence Gao has passed already
> Blow the whistle you've trained the men stationed in the inn, ordering them to strike the gathered group of traitors
> Ring the bell outside of the Inn, alerting the men inside the leave and bar the exists as they do. Then set the building alight with only the eight traitors inside
> "CUI FU! though in my heart there naught but hatred for you, I shall allow you one final honor, one final battle! Draw your sword and face me so I may deliver you to hell myself!"
> Write in
>>
>>4533061
The foul sorcerer Lieren, with his alchemy and witchcraft, must have enchanted his mind somehow, for why else would Gao allow him to trod over and build through lands that have for centuries belonged to the same line?!
It’s like a Khornate whining about a Tzeentchian sorcerer
>>
>>4533066
> "CUI FU! though in my heart there naught but hatred for you, I shall allow you one final honor, one final battle! Draw your sword and face me so I may deliver you to hell myself!"
I feel the need to punch the Khornate in the face.
>>
>>4533066
> "CUI FU! though in my heart there naught but hatred for you, I shall allow you one final honor, one final battle! Draw your sword and face me so I may deliver you to hell myself!"
>Have the men stationed INN go after the group of traitors from behind, expect for Cui fu's
>>
>>4533066
> "CUI FU! though in my heart there naught but hatred for you, I shall allow you one final honor, one final battle! Draw your sword and face me so I may deliver you to hell myself!"

Have your men be ready to catch any of the other noblemen who try to escape. Though Cui Fu is an bastard, i can't help but respect his belief in strength and willingness to fight for it. Let's give him a warrior's death.
>>
>>4533066
> "CUI FU! though in my heart there naught but hatred for you, I shall allow you one final honor, one final battle! Draw your sword and face me so I may deliver you to hell myself!
At least he's no coward.
>>
>>4533066
> "CUI FU! though in my heart there naught but hatred for you, I shall allow you one final honor, one final battle! Draw your sword and face me so I may deliver you to hell myself!"
>>
I wonder if he can last longer than two seconds. If he can manage to actually nick our robes I'll assume that he's been Chaos corrupted or has lingering gene-craft from the DAoT.
>>
>>4533066
>> "CUI FU! though in my heart there naught but hatred for you, I shall allow you one final honor, one final battle! Draw your sword and face me so I may deliver you to hell myself!"
>eight traitors
Something tells me this planet is deeper in Chaos fuckery than we initially thought.
>>
> "CUI FU! though in my heart there naught but hatred for you, I shall allow you one final honor, one final battle! Draw your sword and face me so I may deliver you to hell myself!"
>Have men stationed around the inn prevent the traitors from leaving as you do so.
>>
>>4533066
>> "CUI FU! though in my heart there naught but hatred for you, I shall allow you one final honor, one final battle! Draw your sword and face me so I may deliver you to hell myself!"
>>Have men stationed around the inn prevent the traitors from leaving as you do so.
>>
>>4533091
Neither the party of degenerates all wearing pink nor the Chaos corrupted monk of Nurgle didn’t tip you off.
>>
>>4533066
>Summon the general outside while the men inside gather the other traitors. He deserves to die fighting for his beliefs.
>>
>>4533103
Pure coincidence.
>>
>>4533119
Keep telling yourself that.
>>
>>4533121
Anon, you mean to tell me you think that a world with a noble class of debaucherous hedonists that dress in pink and purple, a monk who turned into an acid-spewing toad dragon, and a geopolitical power with eight noble families and a group of eight people plotting against us, all in this setting at this point in time is explicit proof of Chaos corruption? Seems like a bit of a stretch imo.
>>
>>4533130
Seems par for the course in this setting.
>>
>>4533066
> "CUI FU! though in my heart there naught but hatred for you, I shall allow you one final honor, one final battle! Draw your sword and face me so I may deliver you to hell myself!"
>Have the men stationed INN go after the group of traitors from behind, expect for Cui fu's
>>
>>4533066
>> "CUI FU! though in my heart there naught but hatred for you, I shall allow you one final honor, one final battle! Draw your sword and face me so I may deliver you to hell myself!"
>>
>>4533130
i'm banking on a a third-act twist where the machine in the mountains that produces the fog is Necron.

we're gonna spend a lifetime building up this planet only to unleash a Necron army and have to evacuate overnight.

just seems in line with how methodic and patient Lieren is only to make a very decisive action when the reason comes to do so.
>>
>>4533066
>> "CUI FU! though in my heart there naught but hatred for you, I shall allow you one final honor, one final battle! Draw your sword and face me so I may deliver you to hell myself!"
>>
>>4533066
> "CUI FU! though in my heart there naught but hatred for you, I shall allow you one final honor, one final battle! Draw your sword and face me so I may deliver you to hell myself!"
>>
>>4533066
>> "CUI FU! though in my heart there naught but hatred for you, I shall allow you one final honor, one final battle! Draw your sword and face me so I may deliver you to hell myself!"

M O R T A L K O M B A T
>>
>>4533066
> "CUI FU! though in my heart there naught but hatred for you, I shall allow you one final honor, one final battle! Draw your sword and face me so I may deliver you to hell myself!"

We're really going to hate the Imperium when we meet it, aren't we?
>>
>>4533351
What gets to me most about the whole situation is that Cui Fu is grimdark hellhole planetary governor material. Lieren is going to have a lot to come to terms with when the Great Crusade reaches him.
>>
>>4533373
What specifically do you think he wont like?
>>
>>4533410
the exploitations of everyone in order to achieve the goal of the great crusade? MaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayBeeeeeee?
>>
>>4533410
The Thallax come to mind.
>>
>>4533428
Servitors are gonna be a big problem, though I suppose some are vatgrown or criminals
>>
>>4533455
>some
This is Lieren we're talking about. He's a moral absolutionist and that won't remotely mesh well with the Imperium in the long run even if he's willing to play ball for the sake of humanity in the short run.
>>
>>4533458
Hopefully we can shift the course of history and start championing some serious reforms.
Though we'll have to make sure the Imperium is actually in a decent position for em.
We're gonna have to kill an unprecedented amount of xenos for that.
>>
>>4533459
I wonder how much we can change the imperium from canon, were just one primarch but I'd like the think were going to be one of the most connected primarchs with normal humans.
>>
>>4533459
I dunno man, if any primarch aside from Gorillaman 10,000 years from now would look favorably on xenos, it'd be Lieren... I think it's well in his character to try to ally with xenos first, and only break out the bolters if that doesn't work. Even then, he'd probably accept surrenders.
>>
>>4533462
We might go for a vassal state system when it comes to xenos rather than directly purging them if they appeal to our sensibilities (ie. not a bunch of fucking chaos worshipers or orks).
>>
>>4533462
Depends on if the Emperor managed to hardcode hatred of xenos in. Even chaos marines will shoot a xeno before a loyalist, and Vulkan of all people will fry eldar on sight
>>
File: gorillaman.png (7.34 MB, 2582x3212)
7.34 MB
7.34 MB PNG
>>4533462
>Gorillaman
The Imperium would certainly be a lot better off in the hands of Robust Gorillaman.
>>
>>4533470
That was my thinking as well. I must say I like the idea.
>>4533471
You have a point, though that scene with Vulkan and that eldar child was a bit more complicated than just "Xenos? Set flamers to char."
>>4533474
All hail he, the Avenging Ape, the Uncrowned Monkey, the Lord of Bananamar.
>>
>>4533470
>Lieren is excommunicated for unintentionally proving that Xenos could possibly live beside humanity in a stable manner
>fucks off and take his geneseed with him to the outer reaches of the Galaxy after the Imperium attempts to detain him
>>
>>4533512
The Imperium does allow for protectorate species of xenos, just gotta be completely subservient and more valuable alive than dead. Knowing grimdark, I'm positive some sentient xenos are kept alive for their scales/meat/terraforming.
>>
>>4533516
>The Imperium does allow for protectorate species of xenos
Oh, that's cool.
>just gotta be completely subservient and more valuable alive than dead
And there's where Lieren might have a problem with it.
I can see him growing just a bit too fond of his "subjects" for the Emperor's liking.
>>
>>4533458
>>4533459
>>4533461
I'll laugh if we end up causing the Heresy early.
>>
>>4533373
Heh. I hope the planet itself will force our primarch to change his views a bit before that.
>>4533458
>>4533459
>>4533527
Fuck xenos. Like seriously fuck them. The universe has shown that all xenos are out for themselves and at best will use other xenos as servants or catspaws that will be put down as soon as they represent a credible potential threat or resource competition that is not paid more through their servile existence.
Thus a similar stance of human civilization towards xenos is entirely justified and reciprocal. Indeed not having such a stance is tantamount to civilizational suicide.
>>
>>4533580
hear hear, it's bad enough that some on other forms, when given the options, will go the "all [insert xeno] are good, just misunderstood and it's the humans that are bad and racist (looking at you spacebattles)"

ether we enslave/kill the xenos or we will get enslaves/killed/worse-than-death deal by them.
>>
>>4533590
Early the majority of people have adopted the tainted ethics and morality of universal equality and equity even if unknowingly/unconsciously and act on it. Hopefully we of the more outcast 4ch can have a more pragmatic and nouanced approach.


Basically the Ur-Quan path with a case by case basis if we follow Kzer-Za or Kohr-Ah with this or that particular bunch of deformed intelligent blobs

Tl;dr Purge the alien! Xenocide now!
>>
>>4533612
>Early
Sadly
Fuck autocorrect and mobile devices.
Also jannies ofc.
>>
>>4533580
>The universe has shown that all xenos are out for themselves and at best will use other xenos as servants or catspaws that will be put down as soon as they represent a credible potential threat or resource competition that is not paid more through their servile existence.
>Thus a similar stance of human civilization towards xenos is entirely justified and reciprocal. Indeed not having such a stance is tantamount to civilizational suicide.
The Interex, Diasporex, people of Kharaatan, and pre-Heresy Eldar all would like words with you. Hell, the Eldar, notorious for their view of human inferiority, tried to stop the Horus Heresy, an event that didn't really impact them.
>>4533590
All xenos most certainly are not good, but nor are they all bad. Races like the Laer, Slaugth, Rangda, etc. deserve to be glassed, the Eldar, Tau & co, and other, not evil or Chaotic races do not.
>>
>>4533614
Human Supremacy is non negociable. Anyone contesting that gets purged even if they are human.
That is the core ethos of the great crusade.
>>
>>4533616
>Human Supremacy is non negociable. Anyone contesting that gets purged even if they are human.
Point to me where I said that we didn't have to be human supremacists. The High Lords of Terra wanted Fulgrim to make the Laer a vassal species, and while this wouldn't have worked out even if he'd tried, it's proof that the Imperium didn't render every species they came across extinct.
>>
>>4533614
Also the eldar in the conspiracy I recall wanted Horus to win and leave to few humans to sustain the chaos gods. Necron cribbed notes and half assed overcomplex troll plans that demanded the sacrifice of the human species to save the galaxy or some such drek.

Eldar should be shot in the face on principle for creating the eye of terror.

Interest and Diasporex were tainted from the get go. Most of humanity suffered under alien overlords or raiders before the great crusade. Cooperation and cohabitation with the xenos is not in the political lexicon of the nascent imperium at large. The only one who would even have such a thought in the first place as keeping the xenos as perpetual vassals instead of xenocide is emps and the sigilite.

Getting such ideas would instantly make our primarch suspicious to his brothers.
>>
>>4533627
>Eldar should be shot in the face on principle for creating the eye of terror.
And Slaanesh as well.
>>
>>4533628
I don't know Anon. Slaneesh would probably get off on it somehow.
>>
>>4533627
For the record, I don't think we have to be human supremacists. I don't think it fit's Lieren's character in the slightest. If our divergence from the canon 2nd Primarch's personality is the Emperor's doing, then he's made us compassionate, understanding, and kind for a reason. If it's Malal's we might get purged anyway. If we aren't perhaps we can speak to our father about not being a xenocidal dumbass, as Orks, Tyrandis, and Chaos are not human-excusive threats, but rather things that would benefit from maximum possible firepower (xenos included) directed towards them.

As I recall, Eldrad wanted Fulgrim to tell the Imperium of Chaos and it's threat so they could fight it. Only problem was that Fulgrim was already gone. The Necrons I don't think we have to worry about, nothing to my knowledge has happened to shake them out of their nap.

Regarding punishment for creating the Eye of Terror, Commorragh should be razed and the Drukhari put in a gellar field-shielded room and killed so as to not further empower Slaanesh. The Exodites and Craftworlders are not actively or inherently working against the interests of humanity.

Despite your high school freshman vocab words, your point about the Interex and Diasporex is wrong. The Interex knew what Chaos was and opposed it (though I will concede they did not do so strongly enough) and the Diasporex is an example of a flourishing pluralistic society that was exterminated as a result of the already-present ideological rot that plagued the Imperium. You say that the Imperium at this stage cannot ally themselves with xenos, but fail to give a reason as to why that is. As we show the signs of becoming a rather diplomatically-inclined Primarch, we will be the person who can popularize the idea of talking first and shooting only when that doesn't work among exploratory fleets. I have no idea what point you were to make about Malcador and the Emperor being the only people who could conceive something like diplomacy and xenos vassalhood. In any case, that seems implausible.

Vulkan would be open to it so long as we don't try it with dark eldar, Guilliman, being a statesman and open to the idea in ten or so millenia would be open to it, Sanguinius would be open to it as he's pretty much Jesus to Emp's God, and I'm sure there are more. We have an advantage as the 3rd Primarch rediscovered to help shape the Crusade. I doubt the primarchs popped out of their pods as massive human supremacists and most of their pre-recovery lives, minus Vulkan (as mentioned above) and Mortarion didn't have any horrible experiences with nonhumans.
>>
>>4533066
> Announce your presence and list the crimes of the accused, proclaiming the sentence Gao has passed already
>>
>>4533066
> "CUI FU! though in my heart there naught but hatred for you, I shall allow you one final honor, one final battle! Draw your sword and face me so I may deliver you to hell myself!"
>>
>>4532008
>Zhou Wenyan, Whose lands sit on the border of Gao's lands and the center of Yan itself, and deals with the taxes going to Yan and the trade coming into Gao. Without him, Gao will be reliant on your road and reforms for the Panther's share of his growing wealth

Pull the pug on him at any time, it would be a great treat to see him have to pay out of his own coffers for men and material. He would be beyond fuming and seething with impotent rage.
>>
>>4533666
The thing is, xenophobia is basically required in this future. The xeno empires of the great crusade are stubborn, dangerous, and have been enslaving and culling humans for thousands of years. It's just too risky, there simply is no time or room to deal with them all peacefully, there is the ever present danger of the knife in the back, and of course the chance that it's a chaos enhanced species like the laer.
If it makes you feel better the imperium also culled and sometimes genocided large human enclaves that refused to join and went to in human means to retain their power
>>
>>4533808
Also the eldar(craftworld in specific) are the only xenos the imperium has ever had more than a kill on sight relationship with, and even then things are usually spotty between the two as eldar foght for the eldar and humans fight for humans. Sometimes their goals align, but for the most part the two are too stubborn and self-intrested to form anything long term, even eldrad falls into this pit.
>>
>>4533808
>xenophobia is basically required in this future
I've listed instances where that isn't the case. Enough to make me think, at least that such instances are not merely acceptations to the rule, but rather the rule itself.
>If it makes you feel better the imperium also culled and sometimes genocided large human enclaves that refused to join and went to in human means to retain their power
It doesn't and we're a good enough talker to try and mitigate such instances.
>>4533810
God knows Eldrad is a stubborn asshole, I'm hoping Lieren can be a little more flexible.
>>
>>4533839
>I've listed instances where that isn't the case.
The instances you named were based purely off of eldar, who will take any advantage and make alliances as needed. Even then they're xenophobic fucks who won't blink twice about betraying said alliances if they're no longer needed
>It doesn't and we're a good enough talker to try and mitigate such instances
It's not about talking. There are powers you simply can't talk down. Techno-lords like those you see in kiavar, psykers who have enslaved their people to the point of ruling over what is essentually thoughtless flesh, nobles like those on nostromo, upper classes that keep their populations in check with drugs or horrific modification like the butcher's nails. If the imperium is to not make a joke of it's ideals it can't accept these things
>I'm hoping Lieren can be a little more flexible.
It's not about being flexible. It's about realizing long term alliances are foolish in the dark future of the 41st millenium. Trust xenos too much abd you will be used, like how alpharius was used by the cabal. This is just an unfortunate truth of the universe, even a sheltered, idealistic species like the tau have started to realize this
>>
We'll never actually ally with xenon. Empra really is a supremecist and I doubt he'll make exceptions for one of his tools.
>>
I have finally caught up to this quest, man it was a long one. The first thread kept messing with my phone and I had to keep refinding my place.


>>4533143
Support
>>
>>4533872
There are beneficial and non-hostile xenos, beneficial but hostile xenos and just straight up montruous species. For the first ones, I see no problem making a vassal, for the second one, we just learn all we need and just kill them all, for the third type we use phospex. I see no point in wasting resources if we are sure (or at least have enough info to reasonably think) that it won't bite us in the ass. Your repetitive arguments have proven wrong several times alredy, we won't kill all xenos, just all menaces
>>
Calling the vote now

CUI FU!!!:17
Announce your presence: 1
Have your men detain the other traitors first: 5

So Lieren will give Cui Fu the honor of one final battle, before hanging the rest of the traitors, well the ones who don't try to run and end up meeting the spears of the giant's guard at least

Writing the update now
>>
>>4533924
*Have been proven
>>
>>4533924
Unfortunately the menaces are a majority.
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>>4533940
That's not unfortunate, we just kill them and move on. Remember that killing a planet and taking it's resources is easier than having to manage the population, it's just that some xenos like the jockaeiro (probabli got the name wrong) are totally worth it. Others just don't deserve to die.
>>
>>4533957
Agreed there. From what I’ve read, this Second is a completly against not only senseless death, but also the death of innocents in general. If that extends to Xenos, it might serve useful. Not saying we try to be friends with all of them, but as some have said, being willing to work and take in those Xenos willing to live the way of Jade Giant
>>
>>4533886
We ain't allying, we are making them vassals.

Besides, which sounds better:
>Expend several lives trying to kill off xenos to take the planet with damaged infrastructure
or
>Convince the xenos to be vassalized and keep the infrastructure intact and no lives lost, and the xenos can eventually be used as meatshields.
>>
>>4533957
Jokaero
>>
Striding to the part of the road connecting to the inn, a thin line of white stone under a wooden arch. The gate leading into the safety of the waystation was swung wide open, the Iron bar that would hold it against all but the most furious of assaults laying upon the dry, red hued ground cast in the light of the rapidly fading sun. Horses stood, feeding upon grains and dried grass, the wind whistled around you, the torch like of your followers banishing away the shroud of dust and fog.

Swiftly, you grab your blank iron war mask, and move it to cover your face and hide your expression. Now fully armored, you turn, the plants and chains of your handcrafted armor chiming in the wind as they did when you faced your greatest and worst foe, the Toad Dragon. You have made improvements on the design of your personal armor, refining and curving the plates of steel to fit closer to your form, without sacrificing agility or movement. Using less steel for the same amount of protection has also lightened the load it bares upon your shoulders and back, but to a degree that will be unlikely to impact your fighting abilities for the better, at least while fighting against a mundane opponent.

For all of Cui's skill in the art of war and killing, he was but a man, a man above most others, but you were of a different stock entirely. One of the Primarch people, and to compare you to him would be to compare a common farm fowl to a Cliffjumper, or a kitten to a fog panther. You were simply two different breeds, entirely, but that did not mean you would not face Cui fu in battle.
He was a cruel man, he was fool who brought naught but suffering, but he was a warrior and unlike many nobles, he truly believed the philosophy he lived.

At the very least, he deserved on final honor, a last respect given to a man condemned to death by your hand alone. One final battle for Gao's War hound, one last fight for the scarred lord. This was the final meal you would give unto the last of the Cui line. A glorious death, an honorable death. The only death Cui fu himself would desire. It was a far better fate than what Gao would give unto him, the payment for generations of loyalty.

You closed you eyes, hiding their golden hue from the world as you gathered all your resolve, all your fury and hate for what must be done. For the man you will slay today. If only you had hatched from the mechanical egg that spawned you a few years earlier, perhaps you could've salvaged Fu as you did Jinhai, Lei, and Xia, before corruption could creep into his soul. Before the madness of his gospel of strength, savagery and slaughter had the chance to soak into his very bones. But to mourn what could have been and what you could have done, is pointless. You can only change the future with your actions, not the past. Perhaps it was Cui Fu's destiny to become a monster, perhaps not.

It did not matter now, the road he had taken has led to his death tonight, beneath the setting sun's glare.
cont
>>
>>4534087

In single in honorable combat, it was the least you could do to put his wrathful soul to rest, if he will walk Shangrala again in another life, or reaches the courts or simply ceases to be. Cui Fu shall die the one way he would be happy with, broken and bleeding at the height of a battle to the death.

Swinging your new Guandao into the air, you twirl it over your head and move it to your left side, before with all your might, slamming its pole into the ground. A loud thud is followed by a resonating ring as the metal shakes, the ground beneath it cracked and broken open.

Taking a deep breath, you puff out your chest, standing boldly as you issue your challenge to the man who has soaked his own lands in blood and bones.

"CUI FU!!!" You bellow, as loud as your prodigious lungs will allow you to yell, shaking the walls around you and even causing the windows upon the Inn to shiver from the sheer power of your voice. Then, you raise your weapon into the air, as you take another deep breath of dust contaminated air, tasting rust and ash upon your teeth as you do.

"THOUGH IN MY HEART THERE IS NAUGHT BUT HATRED FOR YOU" You continue, slamming your Guandao back to the earth, throwing up dust and stone to announce your challenge to Cui Fu and his lesser companions "I SHALL ALLOW YOU ONE FINAL HONOR, ONE FINAL BATTLE!"
-

Cui Fu was frozen, the Giant had found them, no doubt through foul sorcery or magical rite or demonic servants among them. The seven of his comrades were in a panic, rushing to find a route for escape, shouting orders and demands at the merchants and traders who sat among them. None of the common folk reacted, or even paid heed to the words of their betters. The lord of war took a long breath, grabbing a drink abandoned by He Tao as he sought escape from the Giant's wrath.

Gao would avenge him, he was sure, Cui had no disillusions of being able to escape alive to see the next dawn. This would be his end, his honor and legacy would not allow him to retreat even if there was a chance, however small, to survive. To flee or plead for his life would taint the legacy of the Cui, and all his ancestors. All their battlers, their victories, and strength would become worthless if he acted the coward now.

Swishing the strong liquor in his mouth, Cui Fu remained sitting, calm and content. Lieren had showed his hand, Gao would have his head. Fu himself would die, but he would be a martyr, along with his seven brave comrades who saw the devilry of the giant as well. The lands of Gao would be saved, the lives of eight men were a small price to pay. The line Cui which had endured centuries would be snuffed out.

But its flame would not flicker and fade, it would burn out in one final act of glory. One last act of loyalty.

"For Gao" Cui Fu sighed, setting the empty bottle to the table, before rising to his feet "For Yan, for Strength!"
cont
>>
>>4534090

"DRAW YOUR SWORD AND FACE ME SO I MAY DELIVER YOU TO HELL MYSELF!" The Giant roared once more, mighty enough to shake the very foundations of the building and quake the earth. Cui fu could taste his rage in the air, so thick, so potent. If only Lieren had rose from his lands. He would have made a wonderful weapon if he had not been allowed to grow ambitious an corrupt in mind and soul.

Was he destined to be a trickster? A traitor? or could he have been forged into a loyal, virtuous man? Who could know, who would care. His hands would be stained with noble blood tonight, and that is a grime even the Giant will not be able to scrub from his face. Cui Fu knew he would die, but at least his most hated of foes would soon join him in the halls of hell.

Throwing off his hood, he turned away from his fellow conspirators, who were desperately searching for a way to survive, to keep the embers of hope burning into this long night. It'd be pointless, the giant was no fool. He was not alone. All eight would meet their deaths today.

But only Cui Fu would so unafraid. With a mighty kick, he shattered wooden door blocking his path to his last battle. And his eyes beheld the giant himself. Lieren, coated in a fine armor of steel, and standing in the one route of escape like a living wall. Cui's arm shook before he commanded the fear to leave them and his heart utterly. there were no colors painted onto his armor, no loyalties shown. Not even the Azure and Plum heraldry Gao had gifted to the ambitious administrator for his personal use alone.

The only loyalty the giant held was to himself. It was plain, but of the highest quality, and in his hand he held a Guandao, like he had slain a dragon with, its pole wrapped in panther leather. The giant's favored prey.

Chains and plates of mail danced in the wind, chiming a funeral song as the beast beneath them stood stoic and proud.

His burning golden eyes, as bright as molten metal fell on Cui Fu, and all the lord's inborn instincts and knowledge screamed at him to run, to flee. That this was not a foe he could best. But he continue his march up to the Giant.

"Hmmmph" The giant grunted, hefting his massive pole of iron from the ruined ground with as much ease as a normal man would a stick from the ground.

"So, it has come to to this" Cui fu spoke, pulling his sheathed blade from his side, removing the plain scabbard of red lacquered wood and tossing it aside, he had no use for it now "One last match before I got to meet my fathers"

"Cui Fu, you are the first man to face me in battle unafraid" The giant said, taking a massive stride to the side, as Fu entered his favored stance, an aggressive open shouldered one that would allow him to preform his family's martial style to its full potential "for that, you will have my respect"

Cui Fu snarled, how dare he speak of honor and respect, he was a snake, a parasite.
cont
>>
>>4534091

"I will be the first to bring the fear of death to your iron heart, Giant!" Cui Fu bellowed as he circled, keeping himself matched with Lieren's casual stride "Until your last breaths, my memory shall haunt you wherever you walk!"

"Courage in the face of death, how admirable, but your rule must come to an end, for the greater good" Lieren said, calm and evenly, as if he was unaware of the battle to come or simply saw it as beneath him to care for such petty, mortal things "of Gao, and Yan"

"Silence your lies dog!" Cui Fu roared, gripping his undecorated sword in both hands "I will not be led astray by your promises of comfort and prosperity, your lie of benevolence, if I am to die by your hand, spare me your insipid ramblings!"

The Giant bowed his head, and stopped his pacing, Cui Fu stopped circling as well. this was it, he could see his end coming for him.

"Yes, it is pointless to try and show you the truth of the world now, let us cease talking and do battle, you may begin, Lord Cui" Lieren growled through his featureless war mask, as a show of his lack of connection to the world, an utter lack of conviction and ideals.

The Lord did not wait a moment, charging forward with a valiant war cry. The giant did not move a single inch as he came upon him. Like a serpent, he curled out of the path of Fu's strike, one meant to pierce armor and break spines.

"Impressive" Lieren muttered, not taking the chance to strike. Fu responded with force, stomping his foot to the ground, using the sudden stop of his charge, the moment of remaining momentum to power his swing. Switch the hilt of his blade in his hand, changing its position and direct, he swung upwards in a bent crescent, aiming for the Giant's throat above his head.

"Incredible agility and reflexes" is all the giant said in reply, having caught the blade between two fingers clothed in leather and armored with steel upon the joints, twisting the blade between his fingers as if he were playing with a flower's stem.

Fu pulled his steel back, as the Giant stepped forward. Letting his blade drop low, he stood defiantly as the shadow of the giant fell over him.

And he struck once again, as the giant swung his Guandao, ducking beneath his strike and driving the point of his sword into the armor of Lieren's side.

It didn't break through, but it scratched the steel. Fu smiled, as the blade was wrenched from his hands, the giant's own weapon flicking against it with such speed it could not be the movement of a natural man. The sword he had wielded for years flew through the air. The air was knocked out of his lungs, something broke inside him, and Fu found himself on the ground, struggling to breath.

The Giant remained silent, simply walking towards Cui Fu's prone form. Fu roared, jumping back to his feet and drawing a dagger from his side, throwing away any idea of survival or self preservation, he once more rushed the giant.
cont
>>
>>4534094
And with a flick of his arm, threw his blade at his golden, contemptible eyes.


Lieren swung his Guandao up, the blade bouncing off its thicker steel, but it gave fu enough time to close in. Lieren dropped his blade, and reached his hands down. Fu met his gaze, and saw a look of boredom in those ponds of gold.

"Clever" the giant said, as a father would to a disobedient child "A breath quicker and you would have drawn blood, Lord Cui, a better showing than any man I have fought before"

The dagger was caught in the Giant's massive hand, the steel was groaning, screaming. A moment later it snapped, and Fu was left with a hilt. Worthless. He drew another dagger, and drove it towards the Giant's armpit, the weakest point in any armor.

His wrist snapped as Lieren gripped it with his other hands and with contemptuous ease, threw Fu through the air.

Fu found it hard to breath, groans and gasps escaping his throat as he pushed himself off the ground, something had become bruised in side him, or burst. Bones were broken and his right hand hung limply at the end of his arm. Lieren was a monster. But Fu stood again, drawing his side sword from his hip. as the Giant walked to him, leaving his own weapon on the ground. They circled again, and Lieren retrieved Fu's blade from the dust it had fallen to.

"Face me" Fu growled, dropping the scabbard of his secondary sword to the dust. Lieren nodded, and charged, shaking the earth with every step. Fu couldn't follow his movements, he become a blur of steel and fury.

He was cut, he was sliced, he was cut. Every strike crippled him further. A cut tendon here, pierced and ruined muscle there. Lieren was breaking him down, cutting through his defense and guards as if he were cutting weeds. Blood, pain, anger. Fu couldn't fight back, even with his skill.

In moments, he was broken, unable to lift his functioning arm any longer, his legs refusing to move, their muscles pulled taught forever more. The Giant had ruined his body, in a set of strikes so quick Fu could not even seen them. He'd be a cripple if he lived beyond this fight.

"Marvelous, simply..." Fu laughed, before his own blade was driven through his neck and pulled back. A killing blow, blood flowed freely from his mouth as his body fell to the dust. His breath escaped through the wound in his throat.

But Fu did not die, his eyes fell on the giant's Guandao, and using his mangled hand, he began to pull himself to it.

"Even when the jaws of death wrap around your throat, you continue to fight on, impressive" The giant spoke again, watching fu drag himself to his own weapon "You faced me with no fear in your heart, bravely. Like charging into a storm head on, tackling into a panther mid pounce. Glorious, Cui Fu, Glorious"

The Lord of strength and hardship forced himself up, screaming in pain as his shattered wrist obliterated itself as he pushed his body off the ground. The giant's shadow fell upon him.

cont
>>
>>4534095
Fu's vision blurred, the pain began to fade from his body. He was weakening, he could feel death creeping into his bones, his already ruined body was failing. He would not die like this, he would not die like a dog...
-

Cui Fu's head falls to the ground, as you deliver a merciful stroke, slicing through his neck. His body remains in place, kneeling. One of his crippled arms forced under your titanic weapon.

"In the end, you tried to lift my Guandao" You say solemnly, amazed at the beast of a man's spirit and will, pools of red forming around his corpse "a glorious last stand, Lord Cui, may you find peace in your next life, or whatever truly comes after death"

Gently, you set his sword into his lap, the four cuts you made to his limbs to cripple him and render him defenseless are now bleeding through his armor. He had lasted half a minute in battle against you, several times longer than any bandit you've faced in building your road. Longer than most Fog Panthers. What a ferocious man he was.

He Tao, lord of lands of orchards drowned in alcohol and the vices it cultivates, breaks through a window, trying to run for the road, screaming and crying in blind fear as he sees what remains of Cui Fu. With a whistle from your lips, archers upon the hill fill him with arrows.

Ending the first member of your conspiracy. You kick the corpse over, to hide the horrid expression on his face, and turn to the inn.

"MEN, CAPTURE THE TRAITORS! THEY SHALL HANG FOR THEIR CRIMES AGAINST GAO AND THE LANDS!" You roar so all of your men and the six remaining nobles will hear your command.

They are captured easily, and by nightfall, you have ropes around their necks, hanging before the empty road by the inn. They beg, they plead. None of them face death with the dignity Fu did. You read them their crimes, they try to bribe you, to bargain, to lie. And then the ropes around their necks pull taught, and they hang lifeless in the wind. Clean deaths.

As it should be. Lord who had everything, partook in their every desire and drowned in extravagance, die in the lands which had nothing. It is poetic in away. They do not taint that land with their blood. But as this land was Cui Fu's home, you allow his body to feed the soil, and bury him with your own hands, except his head.

Proof of his death, which Gao will no doubt add to his gruesome collection of such trophies.

"Why do you mourn him?" Rong asks, as Zian pulls arrows from Lord He's corpse "He was a bastard like the rest"

"Brother Rong, do you not see? It is not Fu as he was that Lieren mourns" Jinhai says as Liang marches from the cliff with a sorrowful look in his eyes

"But rather the man Fu could have been, if he was raised differently" Liang chimes in as you smile and set Fu's head down into a small crate of tree sap and resin, to preserve it.
>>
>>4534097

"It is exactly as you say, what Fu became, was a waste of his potential, a tragedy a lifetime in the making" You reply as you turn to the small tomb you constructed for the man by the inn "I may have hated what he was, but I cannot help but grieve for what he could've been, in another life"

You stand to your full height, freeing your Iron colored hair from your helmet as you remove it.

"But there is work to be done still, let us move on and continue our labor brothers" You say, clicking your tongue "Liang, return the brothers of panther to nothing, Zian, leading the Road Guard back to their stations, Rong, Jinhai, with me!"

What is your next course of action, Lieren?
> Remove another one of Gao's "Pillars"
> Convince Gao to give the burden of raising levies and training generals to you, after all you are the black general's own student
> Stay in the former lands of Cui, and turn its fields of bone, into verdant farmland
> Spread your personal philosophy through the lands of Gao and beyond
> Write in
>>
>>4534099
>> Remove another one of Gao's "Pillars"
And then, once this is done, Gao himself.
>>
>>4534099
> Stay in the former lands of Cui, and turn its fields of bone, into verdant farmland

It is the most populous land rendered the lowest. Improving it...
>>
>>4534099
>Stay in the lands of Cui
>Spread our Philosophy as we do so

For the greater good!
...Wait
>>
>>4534099
>> Convince Gao to give the burden of raising levies and training generals to you, after all you are the black general's own student
>> Stay in the former lands of Cui, and turn its fields of bone, into verdant farmland
>> Spread your personal philosophy through the lands of Gao and beyond
>>
>>4534099
>> Convince Gao to give the burden of raising levies and training generals to you, after all you are the black general's own student
>>
>>4534108
So are you proposing to enrich the lands that we have now taken, and train the men through skill rather than hunger, then use these trainings to spread our personal philosophy and secure our position?

Renovating the lands of Cui before removing the next pillar also gives us results to show to Gao as justification for their removal.
>>
>>4534099
> Convince Gao to give the burden of raising levies and training generals to you, after all you are the black general's own student
>>
>>4534099
> Spread your personal philosophy through the lands of Gao and beyond
> Stay in the former lands of Cui, and turn its fields of bone, into verdant farmland
>>
>>4534099
>Stay in the former lands of Cui, and turn its fields of bone, into verdant farmland
I wonder if any of the remaining "Pillars" will wise up to Lieren's game now that Cui Fu is dead. It won't really matter or help them in a meaningful way, but I still wonder.

Cui Fu wasn't even completely wrong in what he saw Lieren to be. Most of his judgement was twisted to hell and back, but seeing that Lieren had zero loyalty to Gao is already plenty impressive when compared to most nobles we've met.
Not to mention he landed a blow on a Primarch. What a goddamn waste. In another time, he may have been fantastic Astartes material.
>>
>>4534141
Too old, but yes, the man was impressive.
>>
>>4534141
Custodes material, if he got to be Astartes, he would swiftly get to Captain/Champion/Chapter Master level.
>>
>>4534146
Come to think if it, what is our philosophy that we will be spreading?
>>
>>4534155
Zen Buddhist Asceticism?
>>
>>4534099
>"Hmmmph" The giant grunted, hefting his massive pole of iron from the ruined ground with as much ease as a normal man would a stick from the ground.
>and then he fixed the road right after breaking it

> Spread your personal philosophy through the lands of Gao and beyond
>>
>>4534155
I dont think we have properly articulated it, and so it is not codified. Seems to be more of a gestalt of the OPs and anons impressions
>>
>>4534099
> Stay in the former lands of Cui, and turn its fields of bone, into verdant farmland
May others see that we leave the land better then it was before.
>>
>>4534171
Which is why I fell like we should articulate it.

Prosperity for all and "virtue" are the only things which I can safely say that everyone would agree are parts of it.
>>
>>4534171
May as well figure one out then.

"Emotion is natural but one should be mindful not to blindly indulge. Moderation of oneself is necessary." seems to be one potential tenet. Leiren likes the celebrations of the peasants but hates those of the nobility due to the latter being of blind indulgence that is wasteful.
>>
>>4534164
>>4534155
>>4534171
>>4534206

I imagine it to be a mix of modern stoicism, Buddhism, and some Taoism.

Basically, master your emotions to master the world around you, do not act rashly or inefficiently, and do not let base shallow pleasures dull your path to true joy.

Leiren seems to follow these principles, mastering his emotions and rage so that he may conquer the world around him, he acts in ways that are effecient because waste (of material or even potential) are sins to his nature, and as we saw he is disgusted with excess and hedonism yet when confronted with true joy and the fruits of his labor, he is overwhelmed with true love and joy that even breaks through his stoic nature.

We could name it Leiric Daism, since it seems close to what the wise old man, the wise virtuous soul, himself practiced but changed to how we desire it.
>>
I would like some stuff on change, self-improvement, suffering, honor, etc.
>>
>>4534099
>Stay in the former lands of Cui, and turn its fields of bone, into verdant farmland
>>
>>4534099
> Stay in the former lands of Cui, and turn its fields of bone, into verdant farmland
Did Cui Fu really not have any heirs? Not even bastards?
As bad as he was, his genetics were pretty damn impressive. If nothing else, his line would make admirable Astartes.
>>
>>4534293
According to OP he was trying to get it on with the lady in red, and saw no other woman as fitting his standards.

Dude was like a crusader kings character trying to get the best traits
>>
>>4534321
>Dude was like a crusader kings character trying to get the best traits
RIP to a legend I guess
>>
>>4534321
Pretty retarded player then, everyone knows 15 stats in everything and "partying" specialisation will win the game in a single life.
>>
>>4534321
based
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>>4534099
>Stay in Cui’s land
>Spread your philosophy
Second one seems good, especially if we can get more lords or people of importance on our side without fighting
>>
>>4534099
> Stay in the former lands of Cui, and turn its fields of bone, into verdant farmland
>>
>>4534394
Spreading our influence and reputation is a fantastic idea, especially since it could start making other lords try to buy or barter for our services, meaning if we refuse them/let Gao handle the terms then it'd resolidify his trust in us.
>>
>>4534099
> Stay in the former lands of Cui, and turn its fields of bone, into verdant farmland
> Spread your personal philosophy through the lands of Gao and beyond
>>
>>4534099
> Stay in the former lands of Cui, and turn its fields of bone, into verdant farmland
> Spread your personal philosophy through the lands of Gao and beyondq.
After we turn the lands of Cui i to jade:
> Convince Gao to give the burden of raising levies and training generals to you, after all you are the black general's own student.
If he asks why wold we destroy our humble peasant facade, we tell him that it could not last forever, so bstter bs seen as a "fair, just and honorable lord that understands the common people" than to strech the peasant disguise until no one believes it. If he offers one of his daughter's hands in marriage, we accept and select the best (virtuous, smart, wise, etc) and after making sure she is not a spy, we tell her about our plans and ask her about info on Gao's personal life, etc (so we can hate him even more and maybe so we can predict possible daemon invocation to fight us).
>>
>>4534480
Why would our peasant disguise fail? There is nothing we havent already done which would damage our humble facade?
>>
>>4534480
No
>>
>>4534496
Taking on the burden of raising armies for Gao, I think
>>
>>4534327
Maybe that's why Gao is doing what he is...

Also, you can't win the game in a single life unless you get the immortal trait, as the stated goal is to retain any amount of land and a living house until the games end date, somewhere in the 1500s
>>
>>4534501
We already play about with the peasants as though they are going to learn anything (contain evil grin).
Doing it seriously would not break our disguise from Gaos perspective.

>>4534509
I meant just taking over the world, but neat.
>>
>Stay in the former lands of Cui, and turn its fields of bone, into verdant farmland
let's not start making ways with the philosophy just yet. Dai monks got purged so until we have our own army best to not rock the boat with that just yet. Seems that space feudal China also has a problem with new religions, philosophies or whatever belief structure you care to name upsetting the status quo and thus they either get purged, suppressed or coopted.
>>
>>4534547
>>4534099
Durrrrr hurrrrr
>>
>>4534321
Sad we had to kill him indeed.
>>4534327
Bah, faggotry. If you are not conquering the land its just not the fucking same.
>>
>>4534554
Not sad that he had to be slain, it was merely sad that he couldnt have been salvaged.
>>
>unaugmented human
>faces Primarch in duel
>manages to scratch armor
Holy fuck. How long has the Cui clan been practicing eugenics? All of that, gone in half a minute. I was expecting him to be a decadent hedonist with empty pretensions of hardening the peasantry, not borderline superhuman.
>>
>>4534601
He also tried to wield Lieren’s weapon.
>>
>>4534601
To be fair, Liren wasnt putting his back into it.

The only impressive thing was his diversion attack which was well done, and his spirit to keep fighting. How long he lasted isnt really impressive against an impassive opponent who didnt give it their all.
>>
>>4534612
I think we actually were trying, just not very hard
>>
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70 KB JPG
>>4534601
Probably some leftover genemods from the DAoT propagating down his family line. It explains why some people like Catachans are able to become inhumanly strong on a diet of explosive toads and mud. One managed to snap the neck of a ravener with a chokehold

I think we were playing with him as well. Primarchs can dodge bullets, a guy with a sword isn't gonna touch them
>>
>>4534627
2 things, I think the stated reason Catachans are so great is because the planet is hostile enough for evolution to kick in.

Also, I'd like to think that Cui Fu was just that much of a chad.
>>
>>4534625
That he got two free swings without any reprisal discounts that theory.
When we got somewhat serious, we diced the fuckers limbs in half a second.
>>
>>4534635
Plenty other worlds make people that can shrug off insane wounds and have superhuman strength. Yarrick routinely gets wounded to the point of death for other people. Bragg was on par with space marines in strength, able to use an Autocannon without power armor. That's not mentioning the way people manage to survive all the pollution of various worlds.

Humanity of 40k isn't the humanity of today, 30k years of evolution and genetic modification to survive on new worlds.
>>
>>4534675
To be fair, Yarric dies, but the WAAAGH brings him back because the orks think that he is immortal
>>
>>4534099
Damn. Cui Fui was a badass. RIP. He might have even been a good ally if things had gone differently.

> Remove another one of Gao's "Pillars"
Going against the tide here but I feel that we're wasting time in only one area, we can uplift everything once we've taken control over all of Gao's lands.
>>
>>4534099
> Stay in the former lands of Cui, and turn its fields of bone, into verdant farmland.
>>
>>4534697
If we go after everyone at once, Gao's noted to likely get suspicious. We need to space things out a bit so we choose when to rebel, not being forced to because he's coming after us.
>>
Calling the vote now

Remove another pillar:2
Fix the Cui family's mess:14
Spread your philosophy: 7
Convince Gao to give you his army:4

Alright, so Lieren will work to properly fix the land that has been under the Cuis rule now that Fu is dead, and bring prosperity to the people living within

writing the update
>>
So what are our Terminators going to look like?
>>
>>4534883
Pattern wise, I prefer Tartaros. Color wise, that depends on what we want our legion to look like. Or we could do what Horus has with the Justaerin and give them a paint job separate from our regular legionnaires. All comes down to a vote, really.
>>
The Cui family has abused and missed used the demesne for generations, for centuries. A quick survey of the land that once belonged to the respected and storied bloodline that you had ended mere days before reveals this even more clearly than the fields of dust, sand and bleached bone. The soil has been eroded from constant battle and riding, exposing the nutrient and mineral rich soil to the cutting winds of the plains and canyons, removing any fertility it once have. This is of course a problem, and means that too make the people and land prosperous you will have to do more than simply spread fertilizer and mineral and vitamin supplements to the locals.

Too make this land into farm land, or even graze land once again, the soil must be anchored to something, so you must important low hanging shrubs and hardy grasses. To make the soil fertile you will need to not only improve its natural quality, but encourage livestock to feed and on the meager plants you do bring to the battle scarred landscape. Their corpses and waste will help improve the soil quality. Another issue is water, which is in low supply in these lands outside of springs fed by underground rivers and lakes. To irrigate the land you will need to build canals, streams and river yourself. And with that you could plant trees and other hardy plants to further strengthen the top soil. Once you start the effort, the peasantry, tired of constant struggle and battle, will gladly take up hoes and carry buckets of water wherever you command them to work.

Until then, imported food and water from Gao's supply, as well as materials to build standing reservoirs of water, with which to hydrate the land and keep the workers alive as they tend to the fields and orchards of young trees. It will take years to properly revitalize these lands, but once you get past the hurdle the weakened, exposed soil presents, it will solve itself so long as efforts continue.

Maybe import manure, grind the bones covering the land and use them as a fertilizers to encourage early grass growth, before adding the chemicals and nutrient mixtures you've devised over the new upper soil layer. Gao would probably order all animal waste gathered if you asked for it, thinking it was a final insult to a "Traitor".

"Disgusting what one man can wrought, isn't it?" Jinhai says, keeping Fu's horse standing by your side, it was a beast that was worthy of its master, and the only one that was able to bare you upon its back. With its fur the color of fresh unfired clay and with a mane as black as coal, you had taken a liking to the beast, and took it as your own, knowing it would starve or be abused under Gao's care. Beneath its heavy, shaggy fur, it had a brutality to it, a fierceness. It tower over other horses as you towered over other men.
cont
>>
>>4534913

"This is not the work of one man, but rather the result of tradition and poisonous philosophy" You state as Jinhai ponders your words, glancing over the desolation before you, patting your steed upon its scarred hide "Carried out over generations, over centuries"

"The Cui family were all like Fu? So uncaring, so brutal, so barbaric?" Jinhai asks, sounding horrified as you scoop up a handful of red dirt and let it fall through your fingers "And they remained in power"

"Yan itself is ill with the same sickness that befell this land, they just sing a different gospel of decay is all, the end result is the same. If Gao and Cui switched places, the lands would still suffer, but in different ways. This is merely an enclave of a different kind of cruelty" You muse as you shake your hand free of dirt and dust, but the color remains on your fingers "One that sought to create strong men, but only created suffering and pain. The cruelty of the other nobility is solely for their own enjoyment and pleasure, their gluttony. The Cui's cruelty, is both lesser and greater than the rest and for the same reason. How paradoxical"

"Ah, because they had a goal, instead of merely consuming and abusing the resources at hand" Jinhai says, gasping as if a divine revelation had reached him

"Exactly, Friend Jinhai, it had a purpose, but the purpose was cruel. The others do not know how terrible a cost their debauchery raises, The Cui knew, and they continued on anyways, they were worse than the rest but at least held ideals beyond hedonistic degeneration" You snarl, clenching your red colored hand into a fist as you look over the empty plain "The rest were cruel for no reason, the Cui were cruel to an end, but they were more terrible for it in the end"

"Fu had strength, perhaps their methods had some success after all, though I know you would not care if that is true or not, suffering of others drives you in a terrible furry, Friend Lieren" Jinhai said with a nod, resting against his spear, a sad look in his eyes "And even if the lost Cui were right, I would never endorse their methods"

"Because the Cui family unknowingly strengthened their line, not through hardship, but rather breeding" You explain, stepping to the edge of the cliff face you have taken Jinhai to overlook "While struggle can make an individual stronger, it weakens the people as a whole. Fu was mighty because he was of the Cui, he was mighty because he fought his own battles and never sought rest or comfort, for one man, such things would make him mighty, but to an entire land"

"It creates this wasteland" Jinhai says closing his eyes as the wind throws a cloud of dust through the thin fog "How will you possibly save these people, brother"
cont
>>
>>4534917

"I have plans, plans that honored Zian and respect Rong are setting into motion, that is why I sent them with letters requesting aid and supplies, I shall save the land of the Cui, even if I could not save the Cui from themselves" You say solemnly as Fu's horse stomps its feet, impatient and annoyed it has to stand in such cold air so high above the ground "My duty, our duty remains the same"

"Prosperity and plenty for all men of Gao, of Yan, and of Shangrala" Jinhai says with a nod before sighing and shaking his head "Will we live to see this land repaired, Lieren? or shall our children, our sons see the fruits of our labor here and witness these fields of bones turn green and jade like, as all lands you touch do?"

"It will recover in a few years, begin to at least. It will take decades, at least two, for the trees and bushes to fully mature. Which will bring back all the wildlife that had fled these lands so long ago, the cliffjumpers here shall remain carnivorous for generations, many generations. But, forests and fields will dot this land once again, when we are both old men" You laugh happily, smiling confidently as Jinhai nods

"If we are not killed before then" He says morosely, in a dour mood from all he has seen and heard today "if you do age, brother, who knows, maybe Rong's joking that you will one day tower above mountains is in fact a vision of the future"

"Hmm, then I shall lay down to keep from disrupting life with my sheer size" You chuckle, closing your eyes as you imagine, briefly what this land shall look like when you have left the mortal coil and gone off to discover the greatest mystery of life "You know, my friend Jiang made the same joke once"

"Ah yes the rat eater" Jinhai says with a dismissive snort "I can't understand why he scarfs down vermin like they're a delicacy"

"Well there's a story to it, actually, a rather long one" You explain turning from the cliff edge, motioning for Jinhai to follow you back to the camp your men have made "I'll tell it to you and the rest, Chen will find it funny, though my friend Wei tells it better than I do"

"Ah, a rare delicacy, Lieren telling stories of home" Jinhai says, whistling as he follows you, leading Fu's horse behind the two of you as the great beast snorts and spits angrily
-

Building the foundations to allow the land to heal and recover, take the rest of the season, and much politicking, as it seems word has spread you intend to take the lands for your own. Though Gao makes the offer, you politely and humbly refuse with the excuse that it would tarnish your image of a humble hero, and in the same visit demonstrate how much of a drain the land is if it is kept in the state it has been for generations and centuries before.
cont
>>
>>4534918

By showing how infertile the soil is, and a chart of how much imported food is needed to feed the populace. That is enough to convince Gao to abandon the tradition the Cui fostered, and to lend a portion of his wealth to the efforts to rebuild their lands, outside of the supplies he has given you. Though you did lie about how soon it would be until it was as prosperous as the rest of his lands.

But Gao would not live to discover that small deception. Over looking a field of workers, tending to bushes and trees that shall not bear fruit for years, as water floods the rust colored fields of dirt outside of the villages you have built, so the people could migrate from their homes at the bottom of canyons along dry streams, and leave their cliff side abodes. Though many by choice remain within.

But you have found a way for them to tend to farms as well, though most of the work of the cliff and canyon folk is relegated to merely making sure the new streams and rivers remain flowing, as most pass by a collection of such communities.

Sighing, you sit down by a small pond you've made, watching insects and amphibians live their small lives, taking a moment of rest by the Inn where this land's fate was changed by your hands.

"Cui Fu, your blood nurtures this valley, and brings life to it once more" You say, brushing off the tomb of your foe, as some vandal had place slivers of words covered in curses upon the warriors resting place "I know you'd hate to see such a thing, think it was poison or some trick to weaken your people. But I did so to strengthen them, as your family meant to"

You look upon the silent stone, carved with the Cui's symbol of three carp circling each other and sig.

"If only I met you when you were young, Fu" You say sadly, hanging your head "Perhaps, if I did, you would be in my company now, your strength and talent not wasted with your death. a fresh legacy for the Cui instead of their last scion"

You brush dust from the face of his grave, his weapons serving as a marker upon the ground.

"Perhaps, in another life, I could have called you brother" You muse wistfully, mourning the loss of a man as great as Fu, and the man he could have been if he had lived another life. His death was necessary, the extinction of his bloodline was needed. But it was still a tragedy, that such a thing had to come to pass. But, there was no time to reflect on what could have been, it was pointless.

The past would remain unchanged, and Fu would remain dead. His lands would heal, and its people would flourish under your guidance. The bloody legacy of the Brutal Cui would be forgotten, left to the ash and dust. Perhaps mothers would tell their children of monstrous devils that once ruled their ancestors, in a few generations.

What an unpleasant thought. Whatever family came to rule these lands in the future, you could only hope they were kinder than the Cui
cont
>>
>>4534922

What is your next work, Lieren?
> Weakening Gao further by cutting down another of his "pillars"
> Returning to nothing and innovate, bringing another miracle to the world
> Laying low for a season and picking off lesser lords and corrupt officials, pruning the garden of weeds
> Recording your philosophy and world view, so long after you are gone, men may learn to view the world as you do
> Write in?
>>
>>4534924
> Laying low for a season and picking off lesser lords and corrupt officials, pruning the garden of weeds
> Recording your philosophy and world view, so long after you are gone, men may learn to view the world as you do
>>
Do we know how to read and write?
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>>4534924
> Weakening Gao further by cutting down another of his "pillars"
Down with Shen Bohai. What use are knives of iron and bowls of silver without meat to cut and wine to fill them? There is no more time to waste.
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>>4534924
>> Weakening Gao further by cutting down another of his "pillars"
]>> Recording your philosophy and world view, so long after you are gone, men may learn to view the world as you do
Through removing another pillar from the House of Gao, it becomes all the easier to topple. And by recording and sharing our philosophy, we invite people to question it, so we may learn from the flaws they find.
>>
> Laying low for a season and picking off lesser lords and corrupt officials, pruning the garden of weeds
> Recording your philosophy and world view, so long after you are gone, men may learn to view the world as you do
>>
>>4534924
>> Laying low for a season and picking off lesser lords and corrupt officials, pruning the garden of weeds
> Recording your philosophy and world view, so long after you are gone, men may learn to view the world as you do
>>
>>4534924
> Laying low for a season and picking off lesser lords and corrupt officials, pruning the garden of weeds
> Recording your philosophy and world view, so long after you are gone, men may learn to view the world as you do
>>4534927
Given how Lieren's been able to draw architectural plans, read High Gothic, and double check calculations, I'd say yes.
>>
>>4534937
...actually, append something to the latter:
>Begin work on transcribing the methods used to improve the lands. Maintain its secrecy for now under the stance of being an unfinished work.

The Emperor made the Lex Imperialis for Law. Guilliman made the Codex Astartes for the Astartes. Let us begin work on a work to uplift societies so the Imperium doesn't get stuck with innumerable Feudal worlds.
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>>4534956
Oh that's not a bad idea. Supporting as well.
>>
How would everyone feel about developing a wargame to help teach tactics?
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>>4534966
Would said wargame involve overly expensive miniature models and bizarrely complex rules?
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>>4534966
I'd rather wait til we meet Perterabo so we can just get introduced to the one he uses. Hell, maybe could get him to pen a bit on fortifying a planet in the uplift book.
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>>4534970
Don't forget the expensive paint that is extremely difficult to get
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>>4534977
Or we could start now and have something to compare and upgrade notes by then...
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>>4534970
We'll call it The Art of War
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>>4534956
supporting this.
>>
Thinking about that uplift book and the idea of having others contribute...wonder if it could evolve into a Book(s) of the Primarchs with each contributing one facet they are interested in...

Not all might be interested, but still.

>>4534981
True.
>>
>>4534922
> Laying low for a season and picking off lesser lords and corrupt officials, pruning the garden of weeds
> Recording your philosophy and world view, so long after you are gone, men may learn to view the world as you do.
>Begin work on transcribing the methods used to improve the lands. Maintain its secrecy for now under the stance of being an unfinished work.
Writing is good for destressing, let's write a lot. Mixing our uplifiting program with Perturabo's will end with technically perfect infraestructure, defenses and also a well fed, healthy and fullfilled population. So overall trillons upon trillons of happy people living happy lives and sending good vives into the warp. Chaos is going to be SOOO pissed off...
>>
>>4534998
Well, Slaanesh might try to push people to indulge further. Maybe have Angron write a "How to tell if your leaders are fucking High Riders" trieste?
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>>4534995
Perturabo: Build defenses!
Gulliman: Taxes, Taxes!
Sanguinius: I could give them hugs. And chainsaws.
Angron: MURDER THEM, THE SOIL WILL BE ENRICHED FOR THE NEXT COLONISTS THAT SETTLE. THEN MURDER THOSE TOO.
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>>4535006
Magnus: The Power of Psykers
Leman: The Dangers of Maleficarium
Magnus: The Follies of Leman
Leman: The Failures of Magnus
>etc.
>>
You know, I think it’s kinda sad our Primarch is never going to take to the arts well unless something changes.
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>>4535005
We should put a giant picture of Angron in every Administration office and datapad with a recording of the primarch saying "every time you overindulge, I get closer to FUCKING MURDER YOU, YOUR FAMILY, YOUR NEIGHBOURS, THEIR DOG AND THE WHOLE FUCKING PLANET"
>>
>>4535014
Caligraphy as a meditative exercise is something I can see Lieren doing.
Same with poetry.
>>
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>>4535016
What a handsome young lad
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>>4535014
War is an art. An ugly one, but an art nontheless
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>>4535017
I could see him maintaining a zen garden or something like that
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>>4535017
There are a lot of artistic pursuits in Asia that are of great cultural importance and spiritual significance.
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>>4535022
I'll happily vote for us to install one on our gloriana once dad comes to pick us up.
>>
I still want to explore the planet.
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>>4535027
>I still want to explore the planet.
Exploring is a part of conquering, and we're gonna be doing plenty of that.
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>>4535028
Hoping to find a Vimana and Astra equivalents.
>>
>>4535028
[A song starts and the primarch sing]
Sangunius: Join the Guard~
Robust Gorillaman: See the world~
Magnus: Explore the Galaxy~
Mortarion: PPPPPOSPHEEEEX~
>>
>>4534924
> Weakening Gao further by cutting down another of his "pillars"
>Returning to nothing and innovate, bringing another miracle to the world
I want boom boom.
>>
>>4534956
I think this is better pursued for after we've united the planet. Would work very well to cement our position within the wider Imperium anyway.

>>4534924
> Weakening Gao further by cutting down another of his "pillars"

Once we take control of the kingdom we can get into turbo uplifting mode.
>>
>>4534998
Supporting these
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>>4534924
>> Returning to nothing and innovate, bringing another miracle to the world
>>
>>4534924
> Laying low for a season and picking off lesser lords and corrupt officials, pruning the garden of weeds
> Recording your philosophy and world view, so long after you are gone, men may learn to view the world as you do
Don't want to arouse too much suspicion, and it will allow us to clear out the more cruel nobles. The other three pillars are vital to Gao but don't seem to be as needlessly destructive to the lives of their people. I assume the miner one is pretty bad though, we should do him next
>>
>>4535033
I think it was mentioned that the Vishnu, who are extremely likely to be the Hindu analog on Shangrala, had some cool technology. Not sure what that means, but I hope we don't have to shoot down flying palaces.
>>
> Laying low for a season and picking off lesser lords and corrupt officials, pruning the garden of weeds
> Recording your philosophy and world view, so long after you are gone, men may learn to view the world as you do
i agree that we should probabaly do this to lower potential suspicion on us, Cui was onto us real damn fast
>>
>>4535242
Seemed like they are good warriors, considering some went in to fight the toad dragon. Don't know if they have any better tech, especially compared to us now
>>
>>4535185
>>4535276
I feel like you're all being too cautious about Gao, the guy completely trusts us based on our last interaction with him, and we can probably afford to speed up the removal of his other close advisors. As long as we keep him happy with results, he won't do a thing against us. Though admittedly, we might want to avoid the other lords doing something, but that could also work in our favour by allowing us to get rid of them in one fell swoop.
>>
>>4535345
>>4535242
Traditionally, Indians IRL were really, really good at ironwork, so maybe they're just good at metalurgy
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>>4535406
I was thinking that they might have some of the larger stocks of archeotech on the planet or at least more than we have right now. The Indians pretty much invented science fiction, I can see Malal referencing that with the Vishnus.
>>
>>4534924
> Laying low for a season and picking off lesser lords and corrupt officials, pruning the garden of weeds
> Recording your philosophy and world view, so long after you are gone, men may learn to view the world as you do
>>
>>4534995
I like this idea. For each of the twenty sons, what would everyone provide?
>Perterabo: how to siege planets and Hive cities properly with safety tape
>Dorn: proper trench digging techniques, one hundred uses for a shovel (including melee and ranged combat)
>Russ: How to tame big fucking animals, fuck bitches, and kick ass
>Robute: governance or something
>Angron: fuck all just kill them and paint yourself with their blood
>Alpharius & Omegon: just meme your opposition to death
>Fulgrim: personal health tips and proper grooming, moral boosts.
>Manus: PT instructions on how to get /fit/ for baseline humans
>Magnus: dont talk to spoopy ghosts
>Horus: I forgot what this guy does
>Jagatai: how to travel FAST in any situations. Propper tires for ground vehicles, check turbines on valkyries, advanced vehicular combat maneuvers
>Vulkan: Imperials cook book with promethium
>Sanguinius: Sympathy or something?
>Lion: I'm drawing blanks here.
>Mortarion: toxins that will not immediately kill a human, and how to delay your death until help arrives
>Lorgar: a list of imperial songs people can sing during long marches, on shoreleave, or drills.
>Konrad: how to make quilts out of the corpses of your enemies, or generally how to fix the fabrics of your war gear. Konrad comes off as someone good at knitting to me.
>Corvus: how to be stealth and creative uses for Guardsmen tier stealth cloaks
>Lieren: meditation techniques?

>>4535016
Supporting this so hard. God we need to do this. I hope we remember to do this some time in the future.

>>4535024
This too. I think some of Horus's boys did the same thing. At least that Cerberus fellow did before the whole Heresy.

>>4535412
If they had a large stock of archeotech, then they would be the ones to rule this world. They don't, so they probably dont have much in the ways of archeotech. Perhaps they got autoguns and people think they're magic.
>>
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>>4535486
Angron would obviously include his knowledge on raising dogs and keeping them as pets
>>
>>4535499
Any suggestions of what we should so when we first meet Angron in person? Depending on when we're found, we might encounter him before the Emperor finds him, or after. I just wanna get those damn nails out of his head.
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>>4535502
>Any suggestions of what we should so when we first meet Angron in person?
It depends on what we know about him.
If all we get beforehand is his name, then all we can really do is give him a proper greeting as equals.
If we get his backstory and the circumstances around his meeting with the Emperor, the only right thing to do is tell him we will do whatever we can to make sure his people didn't die for nothing.
Also yeah we gotta get those fucking nails out of his head.
>>
>>4535502
Best case scenario is that we're with Daddy E when he comes to Nuceria and convince him to teleport down the War Hounds during Angron's final stand to turn the tide. Make things cinematic as all hell. But that is, again, the best case scenario. Unlikely to happen.

pls malal
>>
>>4535512
Would be cool though. Imagine brother Lieren coming to help save the day via teleporting with a crew of marines with Jetpacks and Guandaos. That or jetpacks with unarmed combat. Wither works.
>>
>>4535517
Angron wouldn't want our help. He'd hate some outsider swooping in to save him and kill the nobles that had tortured and oppressed him and his fellow gladiators. He might not even want to win, really, but the most help I can see him accepting is his legion, fully under his command. That's the best-case scenario, not us swooping down to save him, but Angron saving himself.
>>
>>4535519
The problem is that he can't save himself, but I feel certain that he would probably prefer to save the lives of his fellow gladiators and taking a hit to his pride, than to have them all be dead. He'd probably eventually fill up him empathic role more once we get those nails out of him to boot. Why so you think he would not want help?
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>>4535517
I say we drop the War Hounds in nearest to Angron to secure him and start their relationship off on a good foot.
This would also probably be in the thickest part of the battle, so they'd have a chance to show off to Angron as well.
Meanwhile Lieren's forces can come from the back of Angron's foes and box them in. Afterwards we can start offering aid to what's left of Angron's gladiator forces.
That small act of compassion would at the very least make him think twice about betraying us.
>>
>>4535520
He couldn't save himself in the canon timeline because he was one primarch leading a bunch of ex-slaves. If we got the Emperor to send down even half of the legion of War Hounds, he'd be able to take Nuceria. As for why he wouldn't want help, you said it just now. Pride.
>>
>>4535520
>Why so you think he would not want help?
It's still a blow to his martial pride. He went into the conflict thinking he could win and would do so or die trying. It's just how he conducted himself.
Regardless of what we do, he's likely to be sore about it.
That said, the way it happened canonically is probably the worst since it ended up with Angron being incredibly resentful of the Emperor for snatching him from a warrior's death and leaving his forces to die.
>>
>>4535406
It’s literally nanotech done by hand
>>
>>4535524
>>4535525
Between being saved by the Emperor while dooming his allies, or going down there to save him and his allies, which do you think he would hate the least?
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>>4535530
Why would we choose either of those options when there's a better third one?
>>
>>4535542
What would that be?
>>
>>4534924
> Laying low for a season and picking off lesser lords and corrupt officials, pruning the garden of weeds
> Recording your philosophy and world view, so long after you are gone, men may learn to view the world as you do

>>4534956
We can do this has a free time activity. If we have any free time to spare that isn t already filled with reading, thinkering, meditation or training.
>>
>>4534924
>Pull down another Pillar
>Record our personal philosophy
>Record our own codex thing for making planets better.
>>
>>4535542
What third option?
>>
>>4534924
> Recording your philosophy and world view, so long after you are gone, men may learn to view the world as you do
> Laying low for a season and picking off lesser lords and corrupt officials, pruning the garden of weeds
>>
>>4535502
I think we are too late for that, even if we met him immediately after emps found him and got him looked at.
We'd have to speed up the timeline and find him before they have had years to crystalise.

As for aiding him, Handing him weapons and waiting until his forces are about to be wiped out will probably make him less bitter.

"I'm sorry brother Angron, but I couldn't stand to see you and your kin wiped out. Hate me for this if you must, but you and those left will survive this battle."
sorta thing
>>
>>4534924
> Recording your philosophy and world view, so long after you are gone, men may learn to view the world as you do
We're a primarch, we must write an fancy book. If Lorgar can have his Lex Divinitatus, we can have some fancy chinese zen book.
>>
I'm going to be honest here, all this talk of specifically going to help people like angron in a way that doesn't piss them off, it feels a bit...metagamey.

I mean, it's not thing to have lieren be overall friendly, it's another thing to specifically go at it in a way that wouldn't piss these primarchs off. Why would Lieren specifically know that angron would get angry if someone were to just teleport him and his crew, or to steal his victory away?

Or to specifically go with the emperor?

I get that you people want to help, but it just feels like you're metagaming. Trying to be some kind of redemption guy for all the primarchs honestly feels cringey.
>>
>>4535639
Truth be told, it started as anons desire to get rid of his nails, an explicitly OOC desire. The conversation is going to be forgotten by the tme we actually meet him and then we will roll how the anons roll.

Besides, Metagaming is a thing we've been doing for a while with regards to technology that Lieren may or may not have any idea exists to use, as well as coming up with designs, emblems and other paraphernalia that goes with our legion. This talk of Angron is only different because we are talking about a hypothetical net positive change to anothers character arc.

As for your questions about "Why would we go with the emperor at all?" we A] would want to meet our brothers, the people we know we are a part of yet never known and B] it's quite common for Primarchs to be present at the finding of a new one.

Magnus was with Lorgar, Fulgrim with Kurze, so on and so forth. It's often the start of strong bonds of brotherhood.
>>
>>4535643
There's a difference between knowing technology related stuff that's quite easy for an primarch who's not just made for murderboning to learn and knowing how to try to redeem other primarchs.
>>
>>4535544
>>4535558
Sending down the War Hounds and letting him win his own fights? Like I said twice?
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>>4535647
Not that much from the perspective of "anon wants it, let's talk about it"
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>>4535643
Which of Lieren’s brothers would be the best to accompany the emperor to his retrieval?

Which would be the worst?

And which do you think Lieren would enjoy and connect with the most?

I feel him and Dorn would have a lot to connect over, stoicism and their love of efficiency, and the same with Perterabo cause they both desire to create public works and a desire for perfection.

I think Lieren might not care for Roboute, due to Rouboute’s more political nature. Not that he’s a politician, just Lieren’s bad experience and taste for politics (though I may be mistaken on this perception)
>>
To be fair about the Angron thing, I really doubt Lieren would be happy just abandoning angrons army
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>>4535672
>Which of Lieren’s brothers would be the best to accompany the emperor to his retrieval?
If we're still the 3rd primarch discovered, Horus and Leman are our only options. If not, maybe Rabbit Guillotine or Fulgrim. The former can appreciate skillful politicing and the latter can appreciate lifting up an entire planet culturally and technologically.

>And which do you think Lieren would enjoy and connect with the most?
He'd try his best to get along well with everyone, but I think he'd actually feel brotherly towards Vulkan, Fulgrim, Lorgar, Roboute, Corax, and Horus. Maybe more.

Lieren has never struck me as stoic. He grieves, he feels joy, and is pretty open with it. If anything, his philosophizing would confuse Dorn and his way with words would make him jealous. I agree with Perturabo, however, though Lieren has never stuck me as a perfectionist.

Lieren has bad experience with despots and fools in power. Roboute has done pretty well balancing the hard choices a ruler has to make with doing what is good for the people. But who knows? Maybe they just won't like each other. But you know who Lieren's toppling of tyrants will endear him to? Curze.
>>
>>4535672
Now, I know he won't be there to discover Lieren, Alpharius Omegon would be pretty polarizing to meet. I feel that Lieren could appreciate Alpharius' crafty way of fighting, but be driven up the wall by his insistence on showing off (Operation "Waste-of the Emperor's-bolt-shells" for example).

Konrad Curze is another Primarch who would grind Lieren's gears. Tyrannically ruling by terror is extremely inefficient in the long run, and hearing what Curze did to his victims on Nostramo would no doubt remind Lieren of what Gao did to Ling.

Can't really say about the other Primarchs, not familiar enough with them.
>>
>>4535690
Reminder that Lieren had a barely restain desire to go on a killing spree at the party.
>>
>>4535698
That he restrained his base instinct is more of a bonus than a mark against him.
He managed to put on a smile, even.
>>
>>4535698
I wasn't saying Lieren would disapprove of Konrad killing people, but rather he'd disapprove of Konrad's methods (flaying people and hanging the skin onto bridges to be seen, crucifying mutilated bodies onto buildings and other such brutalities).
>>
>>4535689
I call him stoic because he is someone who controls his emotions, not because he never shows outward emotion. He controls himself.

But yeah his Philosophical side would grate on Dorn. Fulgrim would like it though.

I also think that Lieren would probably be someone the Emperor would not be the most excited about. Cause he’s not going to invade a planet, risk it’s innocents, destroy it, and leave it without good reason. He is someone who will take a plent in such a way that is tasteful to him, that is efficient in the long term rather than focus on short term gain.

I can see him pulling a Lorgar to help rebuild societies and cultures, but not for religion but to function better and be virtuous.
>>
>>4535782
For that he is better than Lorgar.
>>
>>4535782
We may want to work on the book, as we do so, though. Ullanor's about to go Krork, so we can't really dally. We can do some for a couple so we can get the book done for more than just Feudal worlds, but eventually we want to go 'conquer -> here's a book to rebuild and get better -> next planet.' Once Ullanor is done, we do a once-over to polish things up a bit.
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>>4535830
*There's also the Rangdan.
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>>4535782
Rebuilding the worlds is actually better long term. We won't pull a Lorgar because we know how to delegate. We'll just write down our philosophy as complete and clear as possible, make an uplifting package that allows worlds to survive and be functional at first, and to be fullfilled and happy at last (at least to an acceptable point) and leave all but the most vital stuff (food, water and shelter) for our troops to build. We could also add an educational package included into our philosophy so we can help humans help themselves even more. In the end, we just get in, do diplomacy, a quick takeover with the least ammount of destruction or death necessary (and then repair the vital infraestructure and services and leave to conquer another planet while the loyal population repairs the rest and our philosophy turns the rest loyal), or bombard the planet from orbit if the worlds are hostile/chaos and then march our troops and kill all survivors if there is any left, then call the colonists and make sure to clean any dangerous remains of the war, or at least warn the colonist about them.
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>>4535830
Yep. Basically, we want to conquer creating the least ammount of hatred possible among the population, create an stable foundation for their survival, uplifting and lives in general; and then move on to another world and repeat. We keep the Crusade as fast as possible but without neglecting the worlds we conquer, gaining the respect of both our martial-inclined brothers by being a strong warrior and general, and our intelectually inclined brothers for being a benevolent, wise and intelligent ruler. We could be the commong ground between most Primarchs.
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>>4534924
best quest i have seen so far op, keep up the good work
> Returning to nothing and innovate, bringing another miracle to the world
> Laying low for a season and picking off lesser lords and corrupt officials, pruning the garden of weeds
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>>4535833
Supporting this. Have a (you).
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>>4535833
Think it might be good to do a leapfrog style of conquest? As in, we have half the fleet conquer a world and stick around to work on it, the other half goes and conquers the next planet where they stick around while the first half, now done with the first world, goes on to the next planet?
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>>4535925
If we did that, it’d be best to personally lead the assault fleet, while our trusted sons handle the worlds rebuilding. Educating, choosing trusted mortals, and always ready to help
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>>4535925
Half might be too much to leave behind. At most we leave behind a sixth or a tenth, minimum if 1 Battle Barge worth of marines to help with rebuilding, while the rest continues onwards.
>>
Calling the vote now

Laying low:12
Recording you philosophy: 14
Weaken Gao: 4
Begin transcribing methods to improve lands: 6
Return to nothing and innovate:3

So, Lieren will begin to codify his world view and philosophy, so future generations will be able to benefit from his wisdom and beliefs. While pruning Gao's court and lands further, as that got more than half the total votes, thus building a larger support base among the nobility by grateful second sons and similar.

Writing the update

>>4535013
Hilarious, I just imagine a separate edition of the biggest space book that is just Magnus and Leman insulting the each other

>>4535859
Thanks, glad you're enjoying it
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>>4535925
Doesn't the great crusade go over god know how many thousands of countries? Leaving any considerable amount of marines would be too much. It might be smarter to just have some auxiliaries trailing us to do the rebuilding.
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>>4535952
Each planet can be macro-dealt with, and there are often years between viable worlds.

Leaving 10 marines to oversee and auxilaries to fix worlds will be easy enough to do.
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>>4535957
Maybe, if our legion's actually legion sized as opposed to being an slightly larger chapter similar to the white scars.

Regardless, i wonder what the book's title will be.
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>>4535966
"How not to be a degenerate wasteful slug or student of the Gross Atrophying Orangutan school of life living for Dummies and None-nobles"
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>>4535957
10 marines plus some solar Auxilias and governing dudes sound good.
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>>4535975
We would have to handle the first few planets recovery personally while we teach our sons how to repair it. But after that point we should be fine.
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>>4535957
Ten marines sounds solid as an advisory Corp, able to physically enforce their guidance if needed.
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>>4535978
It'll be slow going for us at first, but things should start picking up after those few planets. Yeah I like it.
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>>4535989
We'd only need about 50 astartes to know how to deal with the worlds, with by the time the first is done, we'd be about 3 planets ahead, leaving them about 2 planetary conquests for them to stay in shape
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>>4535966
There were no hard limits on Legion size during the Great Crusade.

We just need to personally increase the number of marines we have after the Emps gives us the first Terran born marines.

Transform Shangrala into a vibrant garden world - with industry located in space or on moons would be a good goal.

Does 40k have space elevators, not sure if I’ve ever heard them referenced.
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>>4535978
Man imagine if we got a super rage sadist legion
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>>4535994
Technology in 40k is very weird, sometimes they've got ultra fancy teleportation gates, other times they can't create something as simple as the internet or long-distance radio.
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>>4535990
>>4535995
And another thing. We should probably stamp out that "Astartes and Mortals" crap from our legion. Keep them somewhat humble will keep their ego's from being easy to manipulate.
We can try and make them view people as people through using one of lorgars tactics, astartes and human mixing spaces to break down the "Never needs to interact with them" barriers.

As for if we've got a sadistic legion.....Well, they can be salvaged. If they can't, then they will be dealt with.
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>>4535992
Sounds like we’ll be forming our own micro-empire, just like the smurfs.

I guess the key difference will be the leadership style. Our empire will be full of vassal and tributary states who provide fit the common defence, but otherwise have full autonomy.

Our governing philosophy seems to revolve around empowerment. We actively intervene to better people’s situation, while also building their individual and collective capacity to drive change and take the reigns of leadership.
>>
>>4536008
Not exactly, as the realms of ultramar were worlds guilliman himself conquered I think before the introduction of the astartes, which was then expanded.

This is just making the worlds we conquer standard worlds in the imperium. Fully autonomous tributaries to the greater imperium, possibly with us dictating the tithes we need. We are just becoming the administratum before the administratum is a thing.
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>>4536014
They weren't though? Lol what
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>>4535995
>>4536002
I doubt it, at least when it came to the original astartes, they usually had quite a bit in common with their primarch.

I do wonder if our geneseed's got some defect though. But considering nothing's happened to Lieren so far, i doubt it.
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>>4536020
I may have been mistaken, but didn't Gilly make a space empire before Emps found him? Could have swore he did.

>>4536026
And I present to you, sanguinius and his legion prior to his arrival. It is as night and day
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>>4536032
Not every case's going to be the same because of the planets, but it is an general rule of thumb. Basically, i doubt our legion is going to be bloodthirsty because lieren himself doesn't seem to have any bloodthirsty defect.
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>>4536032
He had some worlds under his control but not the fucking full realm of ultramar.
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>>4536051
No, not the full realm. I'll say it again "The realms of ultramar were worlds guilliman himself conquered before he met the emperor, which was then expanded when he got his space marine legion."

5 worlds is still "the realm of ultramar" even if it was expanded a hundredfold later
>>
>>4536058
I wouldn't call it that, but each there own.
>>
>>4535947
>Hilarious, I just imagine a separate edition of the biggest space book that is just Magnus and Leman insulting the each other
Even better, Lieren could start a live show and have other Primarchs on.
Imagine getting to hear Magnus and Russ talking shit live.
>>
>>4536073
Lieren becomes the talk show Primarch.

“Welcome back dear viewers, virtuous citizens. I’m your host, Primarch Lieren, Second son of our Honorable Father the Emperor. Today, we’ll be having our brother, Leman Russ or the Primarch of the Vylka Fenrika. Welcome honored brother.”

Leman, clearly uncomfortable in this very calm talk show room with tea set up. “What is this weak drink?”
>>
Thoughts of death and legacy cloud your mind, like grime catching between the wheel and axel slowing or otherwise utterly stopping the cart, so to do these thoughts slow and muddy the progress of your thoughts, impeding your planning and careful calculations for the future. It is not ego, pride or fear that nurtures and grows these grim thoughts, but rather a realization. Brought about by the extinction of the line of Cui and the end of generations upon generations of labor and work. All crushed and wiped away in a single lifetime.

While their efforts brought only suffering, pain and hardship and thus deserved to be undone by your hand, what of your own lifetime of labor? all of your work to raise up the common, to feed the warmer and let the worker rest? The road was maintained and guarded now, traded flowed now, prosperity and bounty washed over the lands like a cleansing summer rain, but what of the future? Would those who followed in your wake do the same? would they see the value in caring for the common man? For all men to live lives of hope and plenty? For all men of Shangrala to see one another as brothers and sisters, joined beneath the same heavens?

Or would they only see personal gain, wasted resources and threats among simple farmers who only wish to go to bed with a full belly, to see their children live to adulthood and not have to fear the coming night, the coming winter. It was a most disquieting thought, a most upsetting thought. For you had only began this labor of yours, began the grand ambition to make the lands of Gao, the Lands of Yan and all Shangrala prosper, out of empathy for your fellow man. Your beliefs are what lead you forward down the path you carved for yourself and so many others.

But how quickly that path you've pioneered could be undone, how quickly an individual could undo all of your efforts in the name of greed and power. Hoard away the forges you built, cut off the road and separate the lands once more, outlaw your farming methods. Oppress the people with the steel you've made, use the roads to crush any rebellion in its infancy, silence dissent through fear. So many dreadful possibilities, and there would be no way for you to prevent them. For it can only occur when you have left this life, this world, and are in the ground or stored away in some nook as ashes in a jar.

Those with eyes who cannot see, will ruin, twist, and corrupt all the good you have brought to these lands, they will misunderstand it, they will abuse it. And then, in a generation, in two, in three, or maybe more if you impact the lives of those in power greatly enough and change the very heart of the Yan nobility. But as you and your virtues fade into memory and become legend, the miracles and wonders you have wrought shall be taken for granted, forgotten, or destroyed by those who fear the power they give to those so far beneath them.
cont
>>
>>4536087

Even the greatest waves created by a simple ripple in the sea, will eventually crash upon the shore and end, after all. Unless a new another stone is tossed to create another ripple, unless a fire is relit, unless the blind are made to see once again. If the way you see the world is recorded, saved and shared with all who need guidance, then the vision would not die with you, and all could see the world through golden eyes. Preserving your philosophy through text, through word, through art, through action and teaching, would ensure the road you walk is followed by many, many who would not stand by and allow the fruits of your labor be plucked by greedy hands or allowed to ferment and rot on their own.

Though a field of flowers may be viewed differently by all who see it, and actions speak different words to all who witness and hear of them, with a record, a book, a codified system of philosophy and world view would bind the people together and allow them to see the beauty you have created, the simple joy of satiation, the pride of hard work and effort, that all men are their fellows and brothers. Then, they shall see the world from the same perspective your golden eyes do now.

To guide the future generations long after you have died, to make them believe in something more, to learn, to appreciate the world and all its wonders beyond the pleasures it can bring, to control themselves, to check their greed and ambitions. That would be your greatest work yet. A measure to improve and nurture the virtuous and prevent the decadent from ever rising to true power again.

A spark of hope to light the fires of virtue and benevolence in the future, so the continued prosperity of the lands, of your people, would not be left to the cruel, uncaring hands of fate and the greed of those who come after you. Another giant from the heavens would not be needed to better the world for future generations, if his mindset were to be preserved and spread far enough across the world.

To even accomplish such a thing partially, to even preserve your world view and beliefs in but one lonely monastery of scholars and hermits, would be enough for you to meet you death content and happy. And like that, the fog clears from your head, your thoughts flow freely once more, fueled by a new ambition, a new goal you must reach. The excitement of bringing a benevolence to the land that shall outlast your own life, however long it may before.

Tracing letters into the sand and dust, you begin to write your thoughts, the beliefs that drive you ever forward, no matter how dark the coming night seems, no matter how bright the coming dawn appears. The philosophy of Lieren the wise, the benevolent, the great hunter of the wilds. The words of the giant. It helps you visualize the road forward, to begin writing tenets, codes and lessons that will be copied with ink, carved into stone, and written into the minds of those who come after you and all you know.
cont
>>
>>4536092

The first edition of the core text of this new school of philosophy, this new way of thinking and seeing the world, would fade when the wind came, but it would be the foundation with which you build all other works, the beginning of your greatest labor.

Changing the very soul of the lands under Gao, of the lands beneath Yan, of all men of Shangrala. Though not all would follow the path you lay for them, enough would see the wisdom in your words, and with that, fate would be altered even if only one man remained to teach the lessons you passed down, the ripples he creates would better the world and banish the darkness of men's hearts.
-

You continue this work, codifying and recording your thoughts and observations, reworking tenants and codes as you reflect on what you're writing, and change the words to fit your vision more properly. Lessons, exercises, meditations and phrases and sayings of your own design and those commonly spread among the farmers and workers of the lands, all are put to text, reworded and fixed to fit into your world view, to expand and deepen the philosophy you're creating, to spread to all corners of Shangrala.

But, your prior work continues even as you put most of your focus into ensuring that the future generation will have men and women like you, who see the value in the lives of even the lowest man, who grieve for even their foulest enemy, who work and think efficiently and clearly, their minds unclouded from the wiles of comfort, decadence and unrestrained hedonism.

Just now, you're penning a new passage in your text, after seeing how a minor noble abused his children and wife, and now hangs before his own estates, drifting on the wind from a tree older than his line. And yet, his family cried for his passing, it is confusing to you, but you can understand why they mourn the man. It incites you to change the wording to reveal that men are not born evil, but are twisted and corrupted to be so, and that one should mourn for who they were or could have been, rather than what they had become.
like you did with Cui Fu, you simply needed a good example to be able to include with it into your philosophy,, in a way that would allow most to be able to comprehend its meaning.

Winter was approaching through autumn, and as you pondered yourself and the beliefs you held, you pruned Gao's Garden, while Yin Lei did the same with his generals, claiming to be inspired by your actions to do so, while Qian worked to aid your efforts in removing weeds from the court. The parties of Gao became quieter affairs, and many who had attended your introduction to Gao and his celebration of your road now hung by branches as warning to their fellows, are had their heads displayed outside of Gao's castle to deter other's from having treasonous thoughts.

And while for the common man, you had brought peace and bounty, through the five years of your life, the world of the nobility had been thrown into chaos.
cont
>>
>>4536094

Power struggles in the houses killed more than your hangings and arrests did. Which made you job of cleaning their lines and purifying their rule all that much easier. None of them seemed aware that all of this was happening by your design, they were simply too engrossed in their daily struggles of power and blinded by their own decadences to notice. But, that would not last. Soon, Gao would grow suspicious of what it was you were writing, grow uneasy by how many of his court had betrayed him or worked against him for so long. And in his paranoia, will attempt to persecute you as well, or Lady Qian, or become bold enough to challenge the black general himself.

And what that happens, all your plans will be thrown into motions, to remove the slug from his throne once and for all. By next summer, you imagine, Gao's growing madness at being surrounded by treasonous dogs and men just like him would ignite the fires of war, one way or another. If it was waged against one of your allies in his court, you would act, if it was against one of his underlings, it may be more beneficial to allow him to slit his own throat.

But by then, your philosophy will have spread through all corners of his lands, and it would not be easily removed even with your death, should it come.

It is only through your natural wisdom and efficiency of thoughts that you could so quickly codify, record and explain your personal philosophy and world view in a way any man could pick up, and understand as naturally as you do.

What are the core tenants of your new school of philosophy, Lieren?
> Mastery of ones emotions, acting efficiently, and the condemnation of base pleasures, excess and hedonism
>Valuing every life, but accepting that all things are transient and must end, and celebrating the virtues of generosity, kindness and understanding
>That all men are free to follow their own paths, oppression should be challenged, but that unity is a greater strength than any army
>Valuing the natural world and nurturing the lands, that prosperity should be shared and spread, and that protecting these things is a duty natural to all men
> Write in!
>>
>>4536096
>What flavor of chaos do you wanna slurp down
DON'T MIND IF I DO MR. QM!

>> Mastery of ones emotions, acting efficiently, and the condemnation of base pleasures, excess and hedonism
>Valuing every life, but accepting that all things are transient and must end, and celebrating the virtues of generosity, kindness and understanding
>>
>>4536096
>Mastery of ones emotions, acting efficiently, and the condemnation of base pleasures, excess and hedonism
>Valuing the natural world and nurturing the lands, that prosperity should be shared and spread, and that protecting these things is a duty natural to all men
>>
>>4536096
> Mastery of ones emotions, acting efficiently, and the condemnation of base pleasures, excess and hedonism
>Valuing every life, but accepting that all things are transient and must end, and celebrating the virtues of generosity, kindness and understanding
>>
>>4536096
> Mastery of ones emotions, acting efficiently, and the condemnation of base pleasures, excess and hedonism
>Valuing every life, but accepting that all things are transient and must end, and celebrating the virtues of generosity, kindness and understanding
>That all men are free to follow their own paths, oppression should be challenged, but that unity is a greater strength than any army
>Valuing the natural world and nurturing the lands, that prosperity should be shared and spread, and that protecting these things is a duty natural to all men
>Self-improvement is an endless journey, slowly approaching perfection but never achieving it
I feel like Lieren should constantly expand and improve this book.
>>
>>4536096
>Mastery of one's emotions
>Value of every life AND the duty to aid it's survival while you are able [give a dying man medicine, a starving man food, ect]
>>
>>4536127
>a new edition of Lieren's codex is released every 5 standard Terran years
WHERE HAVE I SEEN THIS BEFORE?
>>
>>4536127
Supporting:
> Mastery of ones emotions, acting efficiently, and the condemnation of base pleasures, excess and hedonism
>Valuing every life, but accepting that all things are transient and must end, and celebrating the virtues of generosity, kindness and understanding
>That all men are free to follow their own paths, oppression should be challenged, but that unity is a greater strength than any army
>Valuing the natural world and nurturing the lands, that prosperity should be shared and spread, and that protecting these things is a duty natural to all men
>Self-improvement is an endless journey, slowly approaching perfection but never achieving it

The first two focus on the individual, the second two focus on society, and the last is a truth. Though I feel maybe we should include something like:

>Legacy is measured not merely by what you achieve, but in your impact upon others.

Give a focus on the future.
>>
>Mastery of ones emotions, acting efficiently, and the condemnation of base pleasures, excess and hedonism
>Valuing the natural world and nurturing the lands, that prosperity should be shared and spread, and that protecting these things is a duty natural to all men
>>
>>4536148
Sure but it seems no one else is really interested.
>>
>>4536165
While I am interested, it feels a bit cheap to just say "All of the above"

I will support
>Self improvement is an endless journey
>>
>>4536096
I should add something everyone forgets but is very important.
>One must remember balance in all things lest they fall into ruin.
>>
>>4536148
I mean sure I'll support this
>>
>>4536096
> Mastery of ones emotions, acting efficiently, and the condemnation of base pleasures, excess and hedonism
>Valuing every life, but accepting that all things are transient and must end, and celebrating the virtues of generosity, kindness and understanding
Now's the time to start manufacturing firearms in Nothing and take out the noble that provides steel to Gao so we have access to the rich ore veins
>>
>>4536148
support
>>
>>4536096
Self
>Mastery of ones emotions, acting efficiently, and the condemnation of base pleasures, excess and hedonism

Society
>Valuing every life, but accepting that all things are transient and must end, and celebrating the virtues of generosity, kindness and understanding

The world
>Valuing the natural world and nurturing the lands, that prosperity should be shared and spread, and that protecting these things is a duty natural to all men

These three are core
>>
>>4536101
>>4536110
>>4536127
>>4536130
Support
>>
>>4536168
>While I am interested, it feels a bit cheap to just say "All of the above"
There’s nothing wrong with saying all of the above if you agree with it. Really you should be thinking in terms of “why not” or “what stops us” instead of thinking “whether it’s cheap or not”.
But I find it annoying how some seem to impulse vote and the voting system makes getting everything I’d like impossible anyway.
Actually...
>>4536096
>>4536127
> Mastery of ones emotions, acting efficiently, and the condemnation of base pleasures, excess and hedonism
>Valuing every life, but accepting that all things are transient and must end, and celebrating the virtues of generosity, kindness and understanding
>Valuing the natural world and nurturing the lands, that prosperity should be shared and spread, and that protecting these things is a duty natural to all men
I’d like to remove my votes for these so as to improve the chance of my desire option to win.
>>
>>4536168
Support the self improvement inclusion. Humanity should always strive to better them selves and step closer to a perfection that can never be reached.

This idea that no one is perfect would be a good thing to have when papa E shows up. He is not perfect, he may be steps ahead of you, but he is just as far from perfect as any man.
>>
>>4536148
Support
>>
>>4536191
That's voting for you.
And funnily enough in the previous thread, someone said the exact opposite. "Why are you picking all of the above with no regard for the face you are being told to choose SOME."
You really can't win.

Anyway, all of the options sounds like shit Lierein would support, but the actual vote sounds like [to me] core tenants, not "every" tenant.
>>
>>4536096
>Mastery of ones emotions, acting efficiently, and the condemnation of base pleasures, excess and hedonism
>Valuing every life, but accepting that all things are transient and must end, and celebrating the virtues of generosity, kindness and understanding
Basically, don't fall into hedonism, but don't be cold either.

Also, jesus christ, some of those really sound like chaos shit. I mean, "all things are transient and must end"? Can we remove that nurglebait stuff?
>>
>>4536205
> Can we remove that nurglebait stuff?
You do realize Lieren actually does consider himself and everything else a temporary existence right?
>>
>>4536220
Yeah, but the whole "cycles of renewal n shit" stuff is extremely nurglebait and it's not really what was shown...I mean, when we were talking about this with the old philosopher guy in the party, it was Lieren himself who said that it wasn't as simple as just neverending cycles and leaving it at that.

'Accepting that all things must end' just sounds like defeatist nurglite stuff.
>>
>>4536225
I mean, sorta, but I think Nurgle ends up more on the 'life is good so it must never end, no matter what type'. After all, their worshipers are infected with huge amounts of disease, but they don't die.
>>
>>4536228
Hardly just that, Nurgle is also about the whole neverending cycle shit, you know being okay with decay and that type of thing because it's all part of the circle of life.
>>
>>4536231
That’s why balancing it out is necessary.
>>
>>4536231
>>4536235
Grandfather Nurgle may represent decay, and the eventual end of things, but he also represents renewal and life. There are good aspect to him that he represents, and just because we take the good doesn’t my meN we are taking from nurgle.

Besides, the gods represent the majority of mortal thoughts and experience, so it’s impossible to avoid them.
>>
>>4536246
>Besides, the gods represent the majority of mortal thoughts and experience, so it’s impossible to avoid them.
I know a shrieking skeleton on a golden toilet that says otherwise, but I get what you're saying.
>>
Anons let's not let the chaos bait influence our decisions here, makes for a more interesting story in the long run
>>
It’s more accurate to say the Chaos gods represent broad concepts taken to an unhealthy extreme.
>>
>>4536231
I will point that the gods are good things taken to parody levels of excess. Bare this in mind
>>
>>4536261
When we learn about them we are adding a tenant about the importance of balance.
>>
>>4536096
>> Mastery of ones emotions, acting efficiently, and the condemnation of base pleasures, excess and hedonism
>Valuing every life, but accepting that all things are transient and must end, and celebrating the virtues of generosity, kindness and understanding

This is the core of Leiren. These two things drive him.
>>
>>4536271
All of the things Malal listed are what drive Lieren.
>>
>>4536096


>mastery of emotions
>>
>>4536148
+1
>>
>>4536148
Supporting.

We will no doubt keep adding to this philosophy, and emps shouldn't try to purge it since its not based in religious dogma.
>>
If I may suggest a future axiom:

To be or act above another, once must act to do so.
(basically, dont be lazy and rely on other peoples acheivements to claim yourself superior).
>>
>>4536394
Here’s another.
>>4536170
>>
I just got caught up with the quest and I think I understand what role the Emperor designed us for. While Bobby was the maker of empires, Dorn was the builder of cities and Horus was the master of Diplomacy we are the great merchant, the logistician above all. We were designed to maximize the productivity and industry of any planet we set foot on, allocating resources to facilitate as much growth as possible, which would in turn radiate out to adjacent worlds. The culture we are building is one of great wealth but modest desires, investing their worldly possessions into yet greater works of industry and advancement. I believe the strategy of the Mist Panthers as a legion will be to conquer a world in the cleanest and most effective way possible, minimizing the damage to industry. Then once the world is compliant the planet will be entrusted to the care of 1-5 legionaries deemed worthy of the task of restructuring the world's economy and resources to facilitate growth. The exports of the planet would then be sent forward to the expeditionary fleets of Lieren. In addition the legionaries would also be given healthy amount of gene stock to begin Astares recruitment, those new Astartes serving as the escorts to the merchant convoys warding their spoils from all greedy hands. Druing the mercantile trade the occasional legionary will be dropped off and begin their own private business ventures, eventfully leading to that legionnaire becoming ludicrously productive and respected, spreading Asceticism and prosperity to yet another world untouched by greater prosperity.
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>>4536441
No.
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>>4536445
Can you give a greater description of you gripes with my sentiments? I am very interested in learning your point of view.
>>
>>4536441
I personally don't think this is what were intended for, I find Lierens interactions with the people more indicative of his purpose than his administrative skills
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>>4536461
Because Rogue Traders are the intended “merchants”, Primarches are generals and commanders. Also our legion isn’t mist panthers. Hell many were talking about taking whatever name we’re given.
>>
>>4536476
Dude I already know for a fact the more supremacist asartes are going to look at our legion and think were under valuing them just because we respect their past
>>
>>4536461
Space marines are temporary, the Emperor never intended for them to play a role beyond soldier. I could see Lieren being intended for uplifting feudal and feral world, I think it's a good thing to do even if it wasn't our purpose. But propagating astartes throughout commerce is antithetical to the ideals of the emperor. He wants to uplift humanity, not some genemodded freaks with multiple hearts. Thunder warriors and space marines are tools, to be discarded when they aren't needed anymore
>>
>>4536441
>One of Perturabo's legionares getting assigned garrison duty
This fucking sucks!! Why must I be forced to stay idile on this rock when there is glory to be had in the crusade?!
>One of Lieren's Legionares being assigned garrison duty
Want to watch me do a magic trick? *Rapidly industrializes a death world*
>>
>>4536476
Mist Panthers is a placeholder name, also I was thinking that our wheelhouse would more be centered around the optimization of planets with the trade of said goods only being managed by the legion in the earliest phases of it's colonization. The expeditionary fleets of the 2nd legion would be like the weapon we stabbed into the toad dragon a clean, sharp blade supported by a long, solid logistical network. By funneling larger amounts of manpower and material from our previous conquests towards the front of the crusade we would have ample resources not only to repair the damage inflected during the compliance of a conquered planet at a breakneck pace but also begin enhancing it in record time. Our legion would grow at an exponential pace with recruits gathered from previously conquered worlds replenishing causalities and bringing with them supplies, armaments and vehicles ready to be brought into the larger campaign. The armies of the 2nd would be inexhaustible, with well equipped reinforcements flooding into war zones day after day while the enemy continues to fall apart from attrition. Is it any wonder why Emps would use this supply chain in the Rangdan Xenocides?
>>
>>4536441
>Lieren is the primarch of the administratum
Fulgrim, Vulkan, and Perturabo all uplifted the worlds they landed on in much the same way we did. That isn't unique about us. What is, at least more so than most things, is our role as a philosopher, especially since we've created what's pretty much an anti-Chaos philosophy.
>>
>>4536441
Think 1-5 is too few and as noted Astartes are intended to be temporary. Still like the multi-fleet idea, maybe not half and number dependent on legion size. One fleet conquers world, sticks around to improve/industrialize, and another one comes to the fore to get the next world, and so on, first gets pulled forwards. Maybe can do legion recruitment at the same time, and if we encounter something big, all the fleets come together to obliterate. Sorta an aggressive, infrastructure version of Dorn's Last Wall protocol.
>>
alright, calling the vote now.

Mastery:16
Valuing life:15
All men are free:8
Natural world:10
Self improvement is a journey:9
Legacy is measured by impact: 6
Balance in all things:1

Alright, at a total of 17 votes, by the rules I use to determine what can be included/ combined into an update (1 less than half at least)
The CORE tenants of Lieren's school of philosophy he will teach are

Mastery of ones emotions, acting efficiently, and the condemnation of base pleasures, excess and hedonism

Valuing every life, but accepting that all things are transient and must end, and celebrating the virtues of generosity, kindness and understanding

Self-improvement is an endless journey, slowly approaching perfection but never achieving it

Valuing the natural world and nurturing the lands, that prosperity should be shared and spread, and that protecting these things is a duty natural to all men
and
That all men are free to follow their own paths, oppression should be challenged, but that unity is a greater strength than any army

Writing the update now.

Maybe think of a fancy name to call this school of philosophy.
>>
>>4536535
The Many Paths?
>>
>>4536535
We can still expand upon it right?
>>
>>4536535
The Path of Inner travel
>>
>>4536552
of course.
>>
>>4536535
The Way
>This is The Way
or possibly
Perseverance Philosophy or Philosophy of Perseverance.
seems like it generally sets around
>you must try to succeed
>you will likely never fully succeed
>you must try anyway, and see it through to the end
>>
>>4536535
Teachings from Nothing?
Tiānqǐ Zhǐnán (Guide to Celestial Enlightenment)?
Perhaps we should publish it under a pseudonym so Gao doesn't think we're overtly attacking his way of life, in which case I put forward the Five Tenets of Wù Jǐ, Wù and Jǐ being the heavenly stems with middle (balanced) wuxing correlations.
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>>4536535
Maybe something like The Journey? Still can be referred as the way or the path etc, chose this because no one will ever really reach the end and it's a journey of continuous improvement.
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>>4536592
I like this. We call it The Journey, but there are certain passages within it that have language like "Way" or "Path" or "Guide." Other people start to refer to it in different ways (similar to how we seem to have taken a few names) and when we walk our lands and see people arguing about our philosophy we can see that, it too is imperfect. Which is one of the central tenets.
>>
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>>4536576
Our legions war cry
>You do not know Da Wae
>>
The Dragon's Road
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>>4536598
>>4536602
No reddit-tier drivel in this thread sir.
>>
>>4536592
>>4536596
rén shēnɡ lù chénɡ
translates to "life's journey"
they end up taking it as guidance
>>
>>4536602
Fucking based
>>
<Recorded Passages from original copy of <Data corrupted>, interred within the reliquary of <Data corrupted> held within a stasis field to preserve its condition. The object is a collection of texts, teachings, and lessons, written in poetic prose standard to the world of origin. The work is bound with a protective covering of <Data corrupted> that is covered in no more than 10ml of the blood of <Data corrupted> <Data corrupted> >

For one to follow these teachings, they begin a journey with no end, walk a road that spans a lifetime, follow a path they may walk from their birth to their death. To step from the path, to abandon its teachings and forget its lessons, is one's own choice. But the humble writer of these words pleads that one would at least keep the memory of these words in their hearts, in their minds, even if they should stray from the way set before by them. These texts are meant as merely a guide, not an authority on life or a zealot's gospel.

They are merely a container, for which the writer of these words has preserved his wisdom and knowledge, so those who wish to follow in his trail, may learn to see the world as though through his own eyes and understand it as he himself once did.
-
For one to be wise, to be virtuous, to be great, they must learn to control themselves, and eventually master their self. For one can not claim dominion of a handful of dirt or ownership of the most docile of creatures if they are not masters of their own emotions. Even joy, pure and clean, can become as dangerous a poison as rage if not properly reigned. Emotions are natural, but they should not rule you. If you must cry and grieve, cry and grieve, if you must smile and laugh, smile and laugh, but do let these feelings rule you. One must also take care not to smother their feelings, and only master and control them. For a man who has no emotion is as much of a man as lake without water is a lake....
-
....Efficiency, to act without it, it is to act wastefully. A moment spent aligning a blade saves the hand from its edge, tending a fire removes the need to build another. Such is the balance one must have in life. For one can overwork and overthink, just as one can be lazy or refuse to ponder the world around them. Excess of either is foolishness, one must know and learn when to do more and when to do less. A single spear may end a panther's life, a day of work can save a week of labor, just as a season of toil can allow for two of rest, or how the time spent forging a sturdier lock will prevent a thief from taking one's hard earned wealth or treasures.
Efficiency, is not always the quickest path, and it is not always the longest. it stands, not in the middle of the road, but throughout its entirety. To learn to find efficiency, whether for an action as simple as boiling water or as large as building a city, is a talent that few have inborn, and one that many will need time to learn...
cont
>>
>>4536689

-
The gravest sin, the greatest act of foolishness one can commit, is to chase and spend their energy, wealth or power in the pursuit of life's base pleasures. Gluttony, Lust, Revenge, Rest without work, and many more names are attributed to this most deadly of sins. Men may be beasts, Men may be animals, but to act as such is a sign of utter stupidity. A merely satiated stomach is much more pleasant than one filled to bursting, the love of a single partner more fulfilling than the touch of many, Understanding brings more peace to one's soul than blood revenge.

Excess, the name of this devil, this curse, this scourge upon man! Know this, students of this humble writer's words, Hedonism in life, is to invite the most terrible of punishments upon your fellow man and to corrupt and ruin your very soul. Decadence has brought only ruin to mankind throughout its history, learn the signs of its presence so you may make outcasts of the gospels of this religion of decay, this cult of...
-

From the farmer with nothing, to the king with everything, all life holds value. Every man is equal in this regard. Talent, Title, ability and form mean add and subtract nothing from this value. It is inborn in every life, no matter the creed, race, code, belief, or standing of said life. None may remove this value, and none may debase it. The fowl one has for dinner is just as valuable as their own existence, remember this. For every life you take in a meal, upon the field in battle, or cause to end by some other means, you waste value equal to yourself. No matter if you are king, peasant, wiseman, or fool. Under heaven, all men are equal. And thus, all men are brothers and peers.
Respect your enemies as you would respect your own kin, for no matter what enmity you hold for them or the cause, they are one and the same.
-

Do not cling to life, or its joys, do not cling to life, or its sorrows. This is the wisdom I give to you. For your life will end, no matter what you do to prevent it or delay it death shall come to you someday. But that does not mean life is meaningless, all things must end, but that does not mean they never existed. Every action one takes, affects the future, changes the land, and inspires those who come after. All things must end, from the Dragon to the Toad, all creatures know death someday. But that does not mean they never lived. Do not flee from death, embrace the time you have, for one day you shall fade this is true, and one day all your works shall turn to dust, this is true. But, even if memory of you and all you created fade from this world, they will live on in the changes wrought by your actions and mere presence.

Do not fear death, do not hate death. All things are transient and will one day end, but they shall remain. A mountain may be ground to dust, but the field that stands where it once stood remains. A farmer may die in his field, but his children will tend it.
Cont
>>
>>4536691

A warrior may die, but his final breath can change the course of nations.


Remember this, and know that while you will one day be forgotten, your actions no matter how small, shall shake the heavens themselves
-

To give when one has plenty, is virtuous, to share when one has little, is virtuous. Both are acts of generosity, a virtue that wears many masks. To be generous, is to be virtuous. If your tree bears an extra fruit, share it, if one looks at your fruit hungrily, share it, if you have one fruit and a child has none, split it in half and share it. Generosity is one of the most virtuous acts a man can commit, but do not do so for the sake of being virtuous.
Do so because you can. A man who can be generous without thinking, is more virtuous than the man who chooses to be generous so he may be praised. Do not give so others admire you, give to give. If you have nothing to give, then do not give what little you have....
-
...The stubborn mule came back for its master's child, but left its owner to drown. Cruelty has no reward, kindness has many. A man who is kind is rich even if he owns nothing, a child who is kind is a blessing from heaven. If you can be kind, be kind. Offer support, offer protection, offer shelter. Held the old farmer with his labor, be merry with the king who has lost his road in life.
To be kind costs nothing, takes nothing. To be cruel taxes the soul itself and costs you much. For a man who you were kind to, will return the favor, a man you have scorned shall return the favor.

Better the world, brighten it, be kind.
-
Learn from others, ponder their actions, do not turn your head from the foreigner, but learn from him. Do not fear the unknown, but embrace it. Every meeting is a chance to gain understanding, and this grander wisdom than any text can give you. For the knowledge gained from knowing your fellow man, from mingling with them and learning from them, is a far greater gift than any other.
A farmer can teacher a fisherman much, a blacksmith can tutor a soldier, a noble man has much to learn from his servants. Do not lock yourself away from the world, but wander freely and learn from your fellow man, instead of hating or fearing him
-

...To improve one's self, no matter the method or reason, is an endless journey. Be it a journey for knowledge, for skill, for strength, for wealth, or for admiration, it does not matter. Self improvement, not matter how much work or labor is put towards it, is a journey with no end. You may approach perfection, but will never have it. Perfection is an impossible goal, but that does not mean you must not strive for it. Be happy with the steps you take towards it, even though shall never reach the end of the road...
-
We are born in the world, all men share the same cradle from birth to death. Do not abuse the world, do not wound it in search of glittering gems, do not poison its lakes, do not tear down its forests without reason.
cont
>>
>>4536694
Every creature upon the world is a member of our family. A blade of grass holds more value than any gem from the earth.


Nature is not an enemy, nor a resource, it is our mother, our father, our home. Treat it as such, care for it as such. For every tree you fell, plant two. Do not pollute water as you take it in a pail, do not scar the land to build a monument. Do not block the flow of the stream or river, take no more than you need to from nature, be it lumber, stone, grain or meat. For, like any form of life, nature itself may be poisoned, may be wounded. Care for it.
For if it prospers, those who live in it prosper as well, it shares its prosperity with all creatures, all men. As should you, prosperity, whatever form it takes, should be shared and spread as far as it can be stretched.

If your village has a clean well, and the village over the hill has a tainted one, carry water to them. If the village in the caves has no grain but yours does, bring it to them. So the village on the hill may bring its livestock to yours, and the people of the caves more repair your tools. Prosperity spreads when it is shared and flows back to its source. It is not a pond of jade, but rather a every flowing river that courses through the lands.

And the duty of every man, is to protect this river, weather it flows from their own home, or from their neighbors, or the land itself.
-

All men are free to make their own destiny, to follow their own paths. The Journey I write of, the road I suggest, and way I guide you down, is not one to be forced onto any man, nor is any other way of life. One is free to make their own choices, for better or for ill. No matter how benevolent a rule is, to force a single man under it, is a sin most grave and foul.

Any who would force another down the path they walk, or stop them from following the road they choose, should be opposed should be fought and battled if it comes to it. Oppressors, no matter the cause they follow, are a blight. Every man should stop oppression if he see it, slay the tyrant if they meet them. Should. One should not throw their life away or turn from the path they follow to do such, but should remember this lesson.
and remember, tyrants hold power because those beneath them do not band together, they hold power through fear and disunity.

Unity is a force, stronger than any army or ruler. No man can oppress a land that is truly banded together as one, no army can crush such a resistance. Remember this, Unity above all, is what gives power, the more unity a people as a whole nourish, the mightier they are.
Oppressors fear unity, for it topples them easily. Do not turn a blind eye because your brother follows a different life than yours, stand by him, and throw off his chains and challenge he who would oppress him
-
cont
>>
>>4536696

"When I find the monk who wrote this...damnable text, I shall skin him alive with his own teeth, set eels and serpents in his still living belly, boil his bowels with burning stones and force his mother to pluck out his eyes!" Gao rages as he tears page after page from the copy of your greatest work, eyes filled with anger as you stand calmly before him "I'll have his father bite his member off, feed it to his son, stab his soles with a thousand needles and thousand needles more and make him march through a plain of salt!"

His autumn red beard is stained with black oil, as he crushes those capsules he chews between his teeth like salted flower seeds, veins bulging as he rants and raves, eyes manic and burning with hatred. His nails have grown long and claw like, his hair is no longer well groomed, his clothes are befouled by oil and sweat. He's lost weight, from constantly indulging in the black oil pill rather than eating. His court is empty of festivities.

The nobles who replaced his court of deviants, do not walk in his presence willingly, if they are invited, they come, but the endless debauchery has ceased, the orgy of excess has ended. But, Gao still holds much power, even in this lessened state.

Fortunately Yin Lei has been "Unable to find followers of this new philosophy" when Gao has sent him to persecute your students, and Guozhi is safe with your father Wenyan in nothing, as Gao thought he was the one to begin this new movement. Until he noticed it was present in all corners of his lands, among farmers, soldiers, scholars and nobles. Seemingly springing out of thin air or....Nothing. To a paranoid man, it would see like a conspiracy generations in the making. The Black general merely moved his troops peacefully down your road, as your men manning it continued passing copies of your work through trade and by leaving fragments of it in waystations and inns along it. It was impossible to trace the origin of the new philosophy to any point along the road, impossible to track down those spreading it without destroying the profits of the road itself.

"I'll force him to drink boiling oil, have him sodomized by his own horse" Gao continues, quite literally shaking with rage, his guards standing by his side shifting their eyes around nervously, but not daring to take a step away from their master "Have him skinned from his eyelids down with a dull knife, break every bone in his body and twist them around, starting with his fingers. I'll have his hands fed to him, his tongue boiled and served to all his kin as a stew, I'll bury his corpse in a pile of manure...I'll, I'll, I'll.."
cont
>>
>>4536699

Gao clutched his chest, his eyes fluttering as he struggled to breath for a moment. His legs spasmed, his muscles tensed. He was having a minor heart attack, caused by the stress of his paranoia, and the rage he felt against a simple "Monk" banishing the fear his family had spent generations instilling and giving the common folk the tools to toss off their chains forevermore

Unfortunately, Gao survived and rose groaning, a black drool rolling down folds of empty skin and bulging veins across his neck

"I'll make an example of him" He mutters, shaken to his core, breathing and wheezing as he lays slumped in his throne

"Of course you will, my lord" You say with a look of mock worry and a gentle smile, hiding your disappointment that Gao couldn't simply die right then and there

"Rats...worms and rats surrounded me, and farmers follow foolish codes, finding meaning in this meaningless world, trying to climb from their proper place within it" Gao hisses, regaining his energy quickly "My lands are infested with traitors at all levels, and I simply couldn't see them until you came along, my giant, my beautiful giant, my loyal servant"

With a strong enough punch, Gao's heart would fail again, and he'd die. But then his master would come for you, or his sons would seek to avenge him, or his still loyal dogs would lash out and run rabid through the lands.

To remove Gao, you had to destroy him utterly first. It was simply the most efficient way to end his tyranny.

What is your next step in destroying Gao? Lieren?
> Tell him you heard rumors that the monk was first seen teaching this philosophy in the lands of one of his most trusted vassals
> Tell him you know of a weapon that would crush any rebellion, but you need much wealth to be able to create it
> Embolden the commoners by spreading a single phrase down the road "Salvation comes upon Azure wings, carried by a black wind, out of the fog"
> Simply leave him be, and continue your work of bettering your lands. He will bring his own downfall soon enough
> Write in
>>
Gao's falling apart. Let's have him tear apart his vassals as we make our army.
> Tell him you heard rumors that the monk was first seen teaching this philosophy in the lands of one of his most trusted vassals
> Tell him you know of a weapon that would crush any rebellion, but you need much wealth to be able to create it
> Embolden the commoners by spreading a single phrase down the road "Salvation comes upon Azure wings, carried by a black wind, out of the fog"
>>
>>4536701
> Tell him you heard rumors that the monk was first seen teaching this philosophy in the lands of one of his most trusted vassals
I have to wonder if we can't just speed up his death by giving him a more potent version of his black oil.
What the fuck is that stuff anyways?
>>
>>4536701
>> Tell him you heard rumors that the monk was first seen teaching this philosophy in the lands of one of his most trusted vassals
As much as I want to get our catchphrase going, I see it as a good way for Gao to start killing peasants out of spite.
>>
>>4536701
>> Embolden the commoners by spreading a single phrase down the road "Salvation comes upon Azure wings, carried by a black wind, out of the fog"

Personally I think there's no reason to wait anymore
>>
>>4536701
> Tell him you heard rumors that the monk was first seen teaching this philosophy in the lands of one of his most trusted vassals
> Tell him you know of a weapon that would crush any rebellion, but you need much wealth to be able to create it
Time for guns
>>
>>4536729
> Tell him you heard rumors that the monk was first seen teaching this philosophy in the lands of one of his most trusted vassals
> Tell him you know of a weapon that would crush any rebellion, but you need much wealth to be able to create it
> Embolden the commoners by spreading a single phrase down the road "Salvation comes upon Azure wings, carried by a black wind, out of the fog"
changing to this actually
>>
>>4536701
>> Write in
decapitate him.
he's already begging us. quick flick of the wrist and we are the lord of the land.
>>
>>4536752
>we are the lord of the land.

Signs point to no:
>With a strong enough punch, Gao's heart would fail again, and he'd die. But then his master would come for you, or his sons would seek to avenge him, or his still loyal dogs would lash out and run rabid through the lands.
>>
>>4536736
Support

I wonder if we drove a needle into his throat, his guards would tell on us or keep silent about his tragic "heart attack"
>>
>>4536765
Though perhaps it should be azure skies, rather than azure wings, so it doesnt implicate us half as much.

Or is Gao just retarded enough to not out 2 and 2 together?
>>
You know, I just realized that we never met anyone of Gao's family so we have no goddamn clue what his heir's like.
>>
>>4536777
Good thing we know his successor intimately then.

But I think his family line shall be evaluated and pruned once we are in power, or just shortly after.
>>
>>4536777
I'm just gonna assume the apple didn't fall far from the tree.
That said, it wouldn't be a terrible idea to get to know the person most likely to take over in the event of Gao's tragic and totally not intentional death.
>>
>>4536780
I wouldnt be so sure. Gao did say they were all useless earlier, so maybe they all disappoint him with their lack of cruelties.
>>
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>>4536701
> Tell him you heard rumors that the monk was first seen teaching this philosophy in the lands of one of his most trusted vassals
> Tell him you know of a weapon that would crush any rebellion, but you need much wealth to be able to create it
TIME FOR GUN
>>
>>4536701
>> Tell him you heard rumors that the monk was first seen teaching this philosophy in the lands of one of his most trusted vassals
>> Tell him you know of a weapon that would crush any rebellion, but you need much wealth to be able to create it
>> Embolden the commoners by spreading a single phrase down the road "Salvation comes upon Azure wings, carried by a black wind, out of the fog"
>>
>>4536779
>>4536780
>>4536782
I think at one point he mentioned maiming the sons of the two women he cuts the tongue out of. If they were his sons, they likely have no love for him.

His daughters are merely tools likely kept locked away since we never seen them at the parties, meant to stay untouched so they may be valuable traded for their virginity.

And since the Black general has command, and Cui Fu’s lands created the generals, none of his sons likely have military positions due to lack of skill and lack of Gao wanting a threat to his power.

Not to mention we have never met a “Lady Gao”, weather it be his sister, wife, mother, or some combination of those.

This man has likely only aired bastards and maimed and mistreated said bastards. Any child he would truley value he would have sent to Yan as a gift likely, to be educated and to gain prestige. This man’s family and Kin will never mourn him, though they may strike back out of fear.

Honestly, we should either get to know the family of Gao so we may take his name (thus avoiding the Yan seeing this as an insurrection). If we marry his, become a member of his house, become Lieren Gao, it would be the most effecient means of obtaining rulership.

Otherwise, we will NEED to get an agent in the courts of Yan to have them grow to appreciate us and hate Gao, to eventually have us supplant him by Yan’s hands or our own.

> Tell him you heard rumors that the monk was first seen teaching this philosophy in the lands of one of his most trusted vassals
> Tell him you know of a weapon that would crush any rebellion, but you need much wealth to be able to create it

Until then though, support these two
>>
>>4536824
>Taking gaos name.

Okay, that's is a step 500 miles too far. I utterly refuse to take this bastards name and stick it to ours, giving his repulsive line a continuation while siphoning our future glory and good deeds to his foul memory. I wont have it.
>>
>>4536701
>Tell him you heard rumors that the monk was first seen teaching this philosophy in the lands of one of his most trusted vassals
>Tell him you know of a weapon that would crush any rebellion, but you need much wealth to be able to create it

We offer both problems and solutions - as any loyal servant would
>>
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>>4536696
>Oppressors, no matter the cause they follow, are a blight. Every man should stop oppression if he see it, slay the tyrant if they meet them.

Uh oh.

>>4536701
> Tell him you heard rumors that the monk was first seen teaching this philosophy in the lands of one of his most trusted vassals
> Tell him you know of a weapon that would crush any rebellion, but you need much wealth to be able to create it

Should definitely also seek out whoever's going to replace Gao at his death and indoctrinate them to our way of thinking. I don't think we should take control ourselves just yet, we should just stay the puppetmaster for now.
>>
>>4536701
>Tell him you know of a weapon that would crush any rebellion, but you need much wealth to be able to create it
Hmm. I kinda want to supply Gao with tampered, faulty firearms just to fuck with him but I can't really figure out how to go about it.

See the problem comes in that giving Gao faulty firearms would require that we teach his men how to use them and then give enough firearms for said soldiers to drill with, to properly keep up appearances. But doing that would require giving Gao functional firearms which is obviously a no-go AND makes supplying faulty firearms pretty much pointless.

>>4536689
>All that <Data corrupted>
>"-that is covered in no more than 10ml of the blood of <Data corrupted> <Data corrupted> >"
Uhm-
*worry*
>>
You know, I can see why Gao is going ballistic since it seems the book is calling him out. Hell that book would probably cause the Chaos gods to seethe like no other.
>>
>>4536829
>>4536839
Seeking out his replacement and puppeting works to. We just need to be able to have a smooth transition of power, cause a full on planetary conquest will be long, hard, and lead to unnessasary death
>>
>>4536701
> Embolden the commoners by spreading a single phrase down the road "Salvation comes upon Azure wings, carried by a black wind, out of the fog"
A revolt would serve as a warning to others.
I also want the other options.
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>>4536856
But we are his replacement is my point.
But scheming advisor Lieren could be cool
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>>4536720
>I have to wonder if we can't just speed up his death by giving him a more potent version of his black oil.
>What the fuck is that stuff anyways?
I think I remember an Anon in the previous thread say that it could be something to prevent tooth decay?
Knowing Gao, however, what he's using could also be some form of drug mixture.
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>>4536856
Replacing an lord with an young kid and ruling from his side would be very chinese.

Do we know who's the heir to gao's throne, though?
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>>4536883
Have Gao make a new kid, he dies of ‘natural causes’ and then we use our position to manipulate the court and control the realm as its steward as we raise the boy in our vision of how one should rule.

We may not actually be a regent, but by the time we’re done no one will stop us from taking the role, and we will appear as “Gao’s ever loyal giant” as we mold the next generation. The line of Gao need not end, when potential is always there unlike with Cui Fu, who held no heirs and was to old.
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>>4536824
we can take the position for ourselves. Is not unusual for lords to be replaced with coups. That wouldn't mean we are a rebellion.
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>>4536891
An increased tribute to Yan would probably make him happy we took over. A tribute we can afford given our prosperity and that I doubt Gao increased his tribute to hoard it himself.
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>>4536891
>>4536893
I just like the puppet approach, because Leiren has better shit to do than directly rule a land. He has to spread prosperity, create great works, change the lives of all men.

I know Primarchs commonly did it and did it well, but i like the idea of Leiren never going for personal power and instead working to spread his teachings and ideas so that in the long term, everything he’s done will last beyond his death.

He doesn’t know he’s functionally immortal
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>>4536889
We don't really need a new kid. Let's just try to find out who the heir is.

If we find out it's someone who won't be as bad as gao (at least someone who won't bother trying to fight our changes) then we can just, like another anon said, give gao an "stronger dose" of his black oil pills.

Dude's clearly addicted to them, might as well cut it short and send him on a one-way trip to the immaterium.
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>>4536895
Eh...kind of.

Going with a puppet is interesting, but Lieren definitely would want to be the ultimate ruler, since that'd give him ultimate power. As a whole, installing someone in power is better NOW because it involves no bloodshed and gives him de facto authority.

Eventually though, he's going to be taking over shangrala. If he becomes king, then he won't have to worry about tiptoeing around degenerate noble politics.
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>>4536897
That’s fair. I kind of like the idea of basically rebuilding the world government from the ground up, then becoming emperor. It’s longer to do, but it creates a much more thoroughly loyal land
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>>4536895
+1
I like this idea.
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>>4536897
Regent into "vizer of the lord" keeps us neutral and not in bad standing with the rest of shangrila's Han nobility.
Stepping beyond that role later would be a simple matter of terminology when it suits us.
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>>4536905
Hardly, there's no reason to being a regent.

It works now, but we're not going to be able to do the same again. The Emperor of Yan is not going to be as dumb as Gao. At some point, war will break out and when that happens, we should be ready to take over Yan and conquer the rest of the world.
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>>4536907
The reason is keeping the peace a bit longer while we groom a virtuous administrator, being lord in all but name.
Once he is a proper lord, we can assume the title Vizer.

By that time, our armies should be the most potent and our vessels the most loyal, with nearby lords lands also being in the process of uplifting, as much as we are able.

It will be they whom declares war and it shall be we who crushes them and assimilated their land into ours.
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>>4536914
Not really interested in being something we really aren’t.
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>>4536916
What are we not?
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>>4534099
Direction we are choosing is unfitting of primarch. Leiren is turning into a tzeentchian scheemer, his modes are too cowardly for a primarch, he should use his superiority to conquer the world and quickly transform it instead of spending 100 years meddling in imperial intrigue
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>>4536917
Despite what some may think we aren’t a puppteer. That work we delegated to others like Qian.
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>>4536921
You sound like guilliman talking to alpharius.
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>>4536924
And? He’s fucking right.
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>>4536923
It isnt puppetry. It is genuinely mentoring a proper heir. By the time he is of age, we will have outgrown the lands of Gao
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>>4536921
Chinese dynastic intrigue is the name of the game

Don’t worry, pretty sure when we take over Gao’s lands, however we do that, we’ll accelerate into more standard Primarchaffairs just due to people sniffing out our whole deal.

I like the less direct approach. Lieren could be a warlord, but he’d rather ensure the least amount of suffering occurs.

We’re not like emps who just walked around with his war crime army and stomp on babies
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>>4536926
This
The people we leave to rule should be people we trust and know will continue our work properly
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>>4536925
He isnt. He said this to the primarch who consistently dismantled entire fortified and forewarned worlds with barely a bolt fired. Find a better example of superiority, I dare you.

But the reason we act gently is not to protect ourselves but to prevent damage to the people under our Ageis.
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>>4536927
>we are not like emps...


Wish we were
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>>4536932
We are operating like US government in Latin America. Too much subversion, unfitting for son of emperor. If this continues leiren will get stomped by big E. Not to mention his philosophy "we value everyone equally no matter..... Creed"???
"everyone who uses strength to oppress others is bad"??? What is he doing then, he is using strength to subjugate degenerates. Leiren is gonna get lorgar'd, Mark my words
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>>4536933
To be so is to go against all prior characterisation, namely "giving a shit about people rather than the concept of humanity"

>>4536937
>The second primarch is going to get expunged from history
Colour me shook.
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>>4536937
I feel like there's a difference between oppressing and getting rid of degenerates.
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>>4536921
"Too Cowardly"?

No such thing. We've managed to get rid of a great number of our enemies using only minimal violence. Primarchs should be smart enough to know that unga bunga hulk smash is not the only way to conquer a planet.

I mean, "Unfitting of a primarch"? Are you kiddiong me? What is fit for a primarch, being an complete schizophrenic with mental issues like half of them are?
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>>4536895
Directly rule the land would allow him to not just increase prosperity on small parts but in the whole province. He would be able to organize and delegate far more, without the need to ask someone for resources or what not. For example while he works on a critical bridge for trade, other projects can be organize, assigned skilled administrators and put to work.

He would also be able to pass local laws, do reforms and create new institutions. And as a lord he would be not considered a mere peasant anymore. It s word would hold further weight (it holds already great importance with what he did so far) and power.
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>>4536949
He also got the quote wrong.

"All men are free to make their own destiny... this road I suggest is not one to be forced on anyone, it must be chosen.... any who would force another down the path they walk, or stop them from following the road they choose should be opposed, should be fought and battled if needs be.... Slay the tyrant if you meet them."

It isnt using strength equals bad, it is "if you force others to think like you and stop them from living how they wish when they do no harm, then you are a tyrant and must be opposed."

Gao and his nobles have shown this time and again, though their greater crimes are the sadistic tortures and how they starve their people for often no reason. That is why we oppose them, not because they are doing what we are doing.
It's a nuance.
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>>4536914
>The reason is keeping the peace a bit longer while we groom a virtuous administrator, being lord in all but name.
Like i said, i don't mind it happening in gao's land, but once we get a hold of it, we should just form an army and conquer the rest of the planet.

Lieren is not some kind of pacifist, not even close. We should march on the rest of the world soon, because we won't be able to conquer shangrala in any other way.
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>>4536956
>"if you force others to think like you and stop them from living how they wish when they do no harm, then you are a tyrant and must be opposed."
lmao Lieren is going to fucking HATE The Emperor
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>>4536957
He isnt a pacifist he is just very keen to avoid peasant deaths, which is what would happen with a levy.

So the principle of "offer an open hand but carry a large stick" is what I'm suggesting. Always start off with a peaceful entreaty or start by uplifting the villages nearest our borders, and meet aggression with aggression rather than bareing our teeth first.

>>4536960
No kidding.
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> Embolden the commoners by spreading a single phrase down the road "Salvation comes upon Azure wings, carried by a black wind, out of the fog"
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>>4536957
this
As soon we can make Gao ex province, in a proper platform for conquer the rest of the planet we should move out and conquer it.
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>>4536964
I feel like people are overestimating how many would die in a world conquest.

All we need is a little time to prepare the troops. If we can get them some simple to produce gun like, i don't know, the STEN or some Henry-Martini Rifles, with some artillery in them we'd be able to win without that many casualties.

I mean, hell, i wouldn't be surprised if we could scare an good amount of soldiers away just by firing blanks from our artillery. To these people it'd look like we'd have literal thunder on our side.
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>>4536968
Given the most common number for world wars is "millions" you'll have to forgive our estimations.

But still, gotta at least try playing nice.
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>>4536970
The World Wars are hardly the same situation we are, though.

These people don't even have gunpowder.
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>>4536973
Still massive amounts of people, and the armies of china (historically) numbered into the tens of thousands for a powerful warlord, unless I have been misled.
This being 40k, and stereotypes being taken to extremes, it's still an awful lot of death.
But if they are all standing army, then the philosophical problem goes away.
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>>4536977
I feel like the sizes barely matter when we can easily rout them without even needing to destroy them.

If we can get even US Civil War level artillery, it things would get impossibly easy. There are rounds that would probably be able to destroy their morale without much death.

Sometimes, it's as simple as shooting quicklime in front of the enemy army and watching them scatter because there's literally a rain of fire on their front.
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>>4536824
That would be Gao Lieren but I vehemently disagree with taking the bastard's name as much as I do tanking the economy to prop up Ling's lavish lifestyle a second longer than necessary.
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>>4536978
Perhaps. I still don't see why the opposition to our first foot forward being an olive branch
>>
The way I see it, we can't afford to takeover the rest of Yan's provinces the same way we have with Gao because there's only so much time before the Emperor arrives and Yan is only one major civilization out of presumably several. We need a measured, proportionate conquest akin to Alexander on crack, if he were an industrial utilitarian.
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>>4536987
What olive branch? People are currently dying in other nations due to shitty leadership. Why would we not just remove them as quickly as possible when we have a nation under our control?
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>>4536990
>>4536989
I'm not proposing going climbing around the political monkeybars again.
I was more thinking "Look, I want to help your peasants grow prosperous which will help you as well. Just agree to treat them well and let me work my magic with your full support. If you refuse then I have magic thunder weapons which kill a man at 500 paces and you will find yourself hanging from the walls."

He now has a choice to accept and benefit from our gifts, as well as be a virtuous individual. If he refuses or breaks his oath, then as with all oathbreakers his life is forfit.
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>>4536993
That's fair, but he should also make clear that he's not going to allow degenerate debauchery to continue.
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>>4536998
Yeah, outline the benefits, then lay out the costs. One of those costs is "no more lavish and wasteful parties with sex and wine covering the floors".

I don't wanna turn them into prudes but.....come on people, there is a line that is quite easy to not cross.
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Still wondering when Lieren will learn to channel qi.
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>>4537011
He can, but he won't. Primarchs being latent psykers anyway, at least not in any meaningful manner.
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>>4537014
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>>4537020
I see no evidence to support your position
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>>4536978
Artillery's not the key thing for fighting people without gunpowder. Post-revolutionary America had cannons, but they weren't stomping on the natives early on. No, what is king is not cannons, but Rate of Fire. Martini-Henry like rifles that allow you to breach load a self-contained bullet rather than needing to load the powder and round separately and a few decades earlier from the muzzle. Repeating rifles. Machine guns.

A charge with melee can overwhelm gun-users if there latter can't kill enough of the former. And it isn't guns alone but RoF that does that.

Now I'll admit, you can kill a lot of people with cannister, but the reload is too slow for it to fully stop a charge if it hasn't been softened up with machine guns.
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>>4537014
Why not? We're humble enough to ask Magnus for help.
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>>4537026
We aren't aware of our own innate ability and we are LATENT psykers rather than awakened or active. Our psychic potential is never going to reach Magnus or Lorgar's level, but we are probably as capable as a proficient sanctioned psyker if we put our minds to it.
The khan, for example, extended his soul into his sword to stab daemons. That sorta shit is what we could do.
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>>4537025
Thing is a bunch of Chinese esque levies aren't going to continue charging if they hear 20 cannons open up and decimate their vanguard
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>>4537025
That's because at the time, cannons weren't really all that great for anti-personnel purpose. With the advent of explosive projectiles, it becomes the easiest thing in the world to blow 'em up.

Also, maybe you'd have a point for savages, but we're dealing with organized armies which march in ranks.
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>>4537030
By the time we reach Vishnu I’m pretty certain we’ll learn about psykers and our potential.
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>>4536968
To be fair i don t think we even need advance rifles for victory. Like Lieren reputation and natural skill would make a battle always possible for him to win. Most of the foes could just rout by seeing him or kill/defect their own generals and offer to fight with him.
Even if we just go with a medieval army, i think he has great chances. Of course we will go with something above a medieval army.
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>>4537047
Be hilarious if we never get into a battle because our reputation precedes us and keeps causing the armies to kill their leaders and defect/virtuous leaders keep defecting to us. And we get a reputation for invincibility while that happens because our enemies presume wrong about what happened.
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>>4537047
Don't forget the Black general is also at our back, one of the most revered and Skilled warleaders of our time.

His reputation would be a massive blow against enemy commanders confidence.
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>>4537049
Gonna be straight with you dude, I'm really hoping that as the revolution is about to kick off, Gao orders that we depart from our rabble to stand "trial" for our crimes.
We just stand in his throneroom and start laying into him with every last thing that he's done to sicken us, up to and including making a false vision of us in his own vices, before he demands that the guards kill us...And they all just turn on Gao, recognising us as the new lord.

It'd be soooooooooooooo satisfying to watch that ugly worm's face crumple into rage and fear
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Was looking up Chinese guns and found this.
http://www.viewofchina.com/ancient-chinese-military-weapons/
The staff gun looks fun.
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So Las-lock?
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I imagine emps is going to spend a while educating Leiren, explaining why things are the way they are.
When he does that, they should get on better. At the end of the day L isnt going to do something retarded like start a war with the imperium.
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Is Leiren an Asian phenotypically?
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>>4537122
He's an primarch, so i don't think he's part of any particular phenotype.
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>>4537119
Malcador and emps sitting in a class room, looking tired. M: Alright Leiren, let us try this again. Unity is good yes?”

L “yes”

M “and Humanity United used to have everyone happy, yes?”

L “Yes.”

E “So the great Crusade to unify humanity is good, yes?”

L:
>”All men are free to make their own destiny... this road I suggest is not one to be forced on anyone, it must be chosen.... any who would force another down the path they walk, or stop them from following the road they choose should be opposed, should be fought and battled if needs be.... Slay the tyrant if you meet them."

M and E sigh and try again
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>>4537132
https://youtu.be/U6QVCP9coII
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>>4537132
Also you going to update your anytime soon?
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>>4537052
I will support the invention of a staff gun. Maybe a primarch-sized lasmusket that hits like a lance cannon.
>>4537132
I'm very interested to see how Big E responds to our philosophy. I hope he doesn't just disown us outright. I'm trying to decide if it's even in Lieren's character now to conquer the rest of Shangrala.
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>>4537145
This seems more like Lieren's style.
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>>4537145
Staff gun doesnt sound ass appealing as a guando or whatever you call it. I like the lascannon idea.

Big E would probably dit us down and tell us what's bad and good.
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>>4537145
I don't know about Shangrala, but definitely the rest of yan, lieren hates excess and degenerate nobles with an burning passion, and we know yan nobility is shit.

He's going to march through the rest of yan as soon as possible if other anons don't try to go full pacifist.
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>>4537145
Government is literally a protection racket and a method of controlling people, despite that it is preferable to anarchy.
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>>4537142
Yeah, I was trying to go back to sleep, but couldn’t, so I was just about to tally up and work on a post.
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>>4537145
There's a reason why Lieren decided to take down Gao, and I think that's the reason were going to be on board of the great crusade as well. Just because every one walks their own paths doesn't mean that they don't need to be stopped.
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>>4537151
>Staff gun doesnt sound ass appealing as a guando or whatever you call it.
We could probably make it into a mace hybrid if that’s more appealing to you.
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>>4537151
>Staff gun doesnt sound ass appealing as a guando or whatever you call it
Hmm. We could still arm the first iteration of our bodyguard squad with those.
Build the staff guns right, with the right materials and they can easily double as melee weapons.
Pic related to give an idea of what I'm talking about.
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>>4537145
Not even a question. Lieren has costantly repeated why he is doing this and he will bring it to not just the province of Gao, to not just Yang but to all of Shangrala. He is set on doing this for the good of all this peoples.
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>>4537122
It seems like primarchs adapt to reflect the ethnicity of the first people they encounter, otherwise it's really lucky that the mongolian and black primarchs landed on planets that match their race
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Do you guys know about prayer wheels and prayer flags? I think we could do some cool stuff with them.
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>>4537201
>black primarchs
That one isn’t what you think it is. Vulkan’s skin color wasn’t originally black.
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>>4537050
>>4537049

I wouldn t be surprise if virtuous people from other lands started already to travel to us for a chance of talking with the noble giant or asking if they can enter in his service. Or even just for see if the rumors are true, or it's just a legend. Monks, warriors, scholars, nobles could be anyone.
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>>4537213
they probably will once we usurp the lands
>>
Hilarious thing, our five tenet nontheistic religion will go largely unnoticed because 4/8 is the known big danger of chaos...but Malal secretly exists so we are actually hitting the number of chaos gods that do exist.

And as a bonus, as ours is nontheistic, could be easily blended with the Imperial Truth to give it a bit more resilience that wasn't present due to that being a bit lacking on the philosophical motivators.
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>>4537229
Malal is 11.
>>
what is cultural splendor of a planet when exterminatus hits it
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I am going to be more surprised if we havent tipped off the spy in gaos court that Yan will have undoubtably put there.

Higher ups keep tabs on their vassals afterall.
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>>4537242
But he's considered the 5th Chaos God.
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Calling the vote now

Trick Gao with rumors of the "monk":11
Trick Gao into funding the weapon that will overthrow him: 10
Embolden the commoners: 6
DECAPITATIOOOOON:1

Alright, so Lieren shall trick Gao into giving him the order to remove another one of his pillars of support, and funding the creation of the arms that shall be his downfall.

Writing the update

>>4536839
I mean not all the primarchs

>>4536846
I'm sure its nothing to worry about.
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>>4537339
I feel like Corvus Corax would probably agree with us.

Well, early corvus corax, who wasn't quite as blackpilled as later corax was. Funny thing, he was actually happy when he learned that he had brothers.
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>>4537344
We must protect that smile
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>>4537339
It should be noted that the Emperor was generally an explicit improvement from before he arrived on a world. The real problems started when his sons started having daddy issues.
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>>4537132
I'd laugh if he eventually breaks down and gives not the full extent but a rough idea of chaos and Lieren goes 'oh that explains everything that was going on'.
>>
And an opportunity has just presented itself, to allow you to deliver the blow that will eventually topple the Gao lineage from their seat of power and free the land from it's patriarchs sadism, debauched decadence and excessive lifestyle. For all his suspicions and all his paranoid delusions, Gao does not suspect the "Ambitious Farmer" who has been at his side. For, unlike the rest of his court, you have not spent a full lifetime learning the game of high society, and its intrigues. No time to form alliances or create compacts against your lord and employer. Except, he's forgotten that on the day he met with you, you also met with Qian Xia, one of the few remaining powers in his court, by your rope and her own manipulations, and he's never realized Yin Lei, the Black general himself, considers you a confident if not friend, and has allied himself to your cause of bettering the land and its people.

Even for all his needling and joking of you speaking like a monk, he does not draw the connection between you and the teachings spreading through his lands like a strangling weed, even though you spoke with Guozhi on philosophy several times in the lord of the twin dragons' own court. Gao is blind to the Lieren who inhabits reality, and can only see the Lieren he has created in his mind, the Lieren who has brought him untold wealth and has protected him from those who would steal it from him or betrayer him more boldly, like with a knife through his back.
Gao is a fool, he was always a fool who thought himself clever with his gospel of nihilistic indulgence. Thought himself mighty by name alone, by the dread it inspired. A lord is only as strong as his vassals, his vassals only as strong as the loyalty of the people. Few remained who would side with Gao if a better, more benevolent option presented itself, but there were still loyal dogs in the kennels of the Twin Dragons of Gao.

Dangerous, rabid dogs, who currently had enough power and sway to keep the lesser lords loyal, even if they were virtuous. A few of them even shared sayings from your greatest work, calling it the "Journey" or the "Path" as you did not give it a proper title, surely it would be known by a more proper name as word of it spread further, and more learned men adopted its teachings. So, you must put down another of Gao's dogs. With only two great lords beneath himself, Qian rallying against him and Yin Lei commanding his own army against him, the new lords who inherited through the executions and or murder of their kin will see which way the wind is blowing, and join against Gao as well. Replacing the corrupt fools who cared only for their own benefit, rooting out the decadence from the court, was be a great boon.

For now, instead of having to face down the entirety of Gao's nobility, you instead had most of its families on your side, even if they were heavily pruned and weeded, with most of their branches cut off.
cont
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>>4537430

Virtuous men and woman, some who followed your path, were now in power

All you had to do, was cut down the trees of one family more, and Gao's remaining supporters would flee to the banner of the people to save themselves, and the virtuous and wise would rise up, unafraid of his dogs retaliation. And then Gao would burn, as would his loyal hounds.

Gao may be suspicious that another of his lifelong supporters, of a house loyal to his family for generations, would suddenly turn coat and betray his rule. But, there was one hysteria, one paranoia, that would blind Gao to this fact. A simple idea that would so enrage him, he'd cut down one of his three pillars himself.
His fear of philosophy, and the power it held.

"Lord Gao, speaking of rats, I have actually heard troubling rumors of the monk and his gospel" You say, leaning closer to Gao as his eyes suddenly widen and nearly bulge from their sockets as his face becomes a grimace of rage and disgust. His overgrown nails dug into the iron arms of his chair, snapping as his grip tightened.

"So, your men have ears and eyes after all, a gift to me? is that why you waited, so I'd reward you more generously?" Gao spat, black oil splattering on your azure and plum robes as you kept a genial smile on your lips, idly imagining plucking his tongue from his mouth and watching the bag of sagging skin and bones bleed out in front of his own throne "You know where the damnable hierophant is, do you? you know, yes?"

"I have heard rumors, but they are but rumors, there are no confirmed sightings of the man himself, but I do believe I have tracked his homeland, or at least his current location of residence" You say smoothly, gently, patting Gao's shoulder and holding back the urge to grip it tightly, twist it a few degrees and pull it from his body with your titanic might

"Spit it out, my giant" Gao said coldly, putting a hand on your arm and closing his arm as if your presence soothed his ailing mind "Speak the name of the man who would harbor such an ungrateful rat, who would kill himself to guard a monk, who shall only succeed in becoming ashes"

"My lord, patience" You coo soothingly, Lord Gao grinding his teeth "To move your army against a lord for such a reason, would incite the rabble"

"Let them join the monk in oblivion" Gao snarled, reaching his handsinto his jar of black pills, grease clinging to his fingers and catching on the jagged edges of his nails "Any who would protest my choice would be traitors, just like the monk and his guardian"

"You have your face to worry about, my lord, let this humble administrator go" You say leaning close to his ear "and bring the traitor to justice"

"Hah, if he is against me he'd respond with his own army, you have, what, thirty, forty, maybe fifty men under you wings?" Gao laughs shaking his head "or do you intend to slaughter the army yourself, Lieren"
cont
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>>4537431

"I doubt the monk's guardian would raise his arms in rebellion against you, but, if it would ease your worries, I have knowledge of a weapon, that wielded by a handful of men, could crush any rebellion, no matter the size or ferocity of it" You whisper as Gao's eyes glint with ambition and greed, a cruel smile on his blackened lips, a liveness in his movements. He squirmed in his throne]

"So you would give me such an weapon? of heaven's own design. Make me impervious to all these rats gnawing at my bones?" Gao asked desperately, pressing another black ball into his pitch colored tongue

"I will require much wealth to bring such a weapon to you" You say, not lying as you plan on using these firearms the egg had taught you of a few years before, to Gao, to end his rule and life "And that, is what I ask of you. Give me the funds, the resources to create this divine weapon, that can kill a man at five hundred pace or more with a single movement"

Gao cackled, no doubt imagining all the "rats", imagined or not, he could slaughter with such a tool.
"You may have all of it, whatever it takes, crush the fool who would support a moronic, soft hearted monk over his rightful liege" Gao barked, slamming his fist in the iron arm of his throne "And tell me, who it is who is harboring this dissident beneath my very nose"

You smile widely, unable to hide your amusement at Gao's stupidity.

"Ah, Gao, the fool is one, who was as close to your family as the Cui were" You say as Gao roars in rage, clenching his jaw as black oil and grey spittle fly dribble down his chin

What do you tell Gao, Lieren?
> The monk hides in the mountains of Tao, harbored by its lord and his men, he lives in a cave deep in their lands, or so I've heard
>The fields of Shen, the monk was once a farmer there I am told, the Shen have so much, they can waste their time listening to any foolish drivel, you see, and this farmer has corrupted their minds
>Zhou, rumor is the monk is not a native to the lands of Gao, and Zhou has let him pass and import preachers from the border he guards
> Why he's right next to you, Lord Gao, you are speaking to him *Giant laughter*
> write in
>>
>>4537432
> The monk hides in the mountains of Tao, harbored by its lord and his men, he lives in a cave deep in their lands, or so I've heard
We were going to remove him anyway, right?
>>
>>4537432
> The monk hides in the mountains of Tao, harbored by its lord and his men, he lives in a cave deep in their lands, or so I've heard
>>
>>4537432
> The monk hides in the mountains of Tao, harbored by its lord and his men, he lives in a cave deep in their lands, or so I've heard
>>
>>4537432
> Why he's right next to you, Lord Gao, you are speaking to him *Giant laughter*
God please I want to rip his throat out
>>
>>4537432
>> The monk hides in the mountains of Tao, harbored by its lord and his men, he lives in a cave deep in their lands, or so I've heard
>>
So...do we burn the ores (Tao), the fields (Shen), or the trade (Zhou)?
>>
>>4537432
> The monk hides in the mountains of Tao, harbored by its lord and his men, he lives in a cave deep in their lands, or so I've heard
>>
>>4537432
>> The monk hides in the mountains of Tao, harbored by its lord and his men, he lives in a cave deep in their lands, or so I've heard
>>
>>4537450
You can't burn ores, and i get the feeling tao isn't necessarily kind to his miners.
>>
>>4537447
>>4537445
>>4537442
>>4537438
Support
>>
>>4537456
Mining is one of the shittiest jobs.
>>
>>4537464
Well, ancient mining. The kind that used little kids to crawl in holes.

Things became much easier when you could just blow mountains apart and use machines to do all the dangerous work.
>>
>>4537432
> Why he's right next to you, Lord Gao, you are speaking to him *Giant laughter*
Would love to go with this option so much, but...

>The fields of Shen, the monk was once a farmer there I am told, the Shen have so much, they can waste their time listening to any foolish drivel, you see, and this farmer has corrupted their minds

Best to go with the food supply, once we lock that down we're set.
>>
>>4537432
YOU TEMPT ME SO MALAL, I WISH TO MAKE HIM SQUIRM!

>The fields of Shen
God I wish but...soon. patience. Patience. We can betray him when we demonstrate our guns.
>>
>>4537432
> The monk hides in the mountains of Tao, harbored by its lord and his men, he lives in a cave deep in their lands, or so I've heard
>>
>>4537432
>The fields of Shen, the monk was once a farmer there I am told, the Shen have so much, they can waste their time listening to any foolish drivel, you see, and this farmer has corrupted their minds
>>
>>4537432
>>The fields of Shen, the monk was once a farmer there I am told, the Shen have so much, they can waste their time listening to any foolish drivel, you see, and this farmer has corrupted their minds
an army marches on its stomach
>>
>>The fields of Shen, the monk was once a farmer there I am told, the Shen have so much, they can waste their time listening to any foolish drivel, you see, and this farmer has corrupted their minds
gotta get us that food supply, we secure the food we secure victory at a quick pace
>>
>>4537432
>The fields of Shen, the monk was once a farmer there I am told, the Shen have so much, they can waste their time listening to any foolish drivel, you see, and this farmer has corrupted their minds

THE BIGGEST MEME.
FARMER
>>
>>4537432
>The fields of Shen, the monk was once a farmer there I am told, the Shen have so much, they can waste their time listening to any foolish drivel, you see, and this farmer has corrupted their minds
You know, it might be fun to fall to chaos. At this point lieren is shaping up to be lorgar 2.0(minus the mass delusion and adding some bad temper problems), and he could be an intresting take on the honor and justice part of khorne
>>
>>4537626
We shall see how it goes.
>>
>>4536937
He let fucking alpharius live. Alpharius.
>>
>>4537432
>>The fields of Shen, the monk was once a farmer there I am told, the Shen have so much, they can waste their time listening to any foolish drivel, you see, and this farmer has corrupted their minds
>>
>>4537432
> The monk hides in the mountains of Tao, harbored by its lord and his men, he lives in a cave deep in their lands, or so I've heard.
Remember that this one was the option that removed the weapons and geve Gao's armies a shitty equipment. Put untrained warriors led by incompetent and untrained leaders (from killing Cui) armed and armored with low quality shitty weapons and armour and no matter how much food they have, we can litterally wreck them by ourselves, add a post industrialization loyal and trained army on top of a primarch and a prodigious general, with wide popular support and is not even a fight, they'll break (if not outright die) after the first cannon and gunner lines shoot.
>>
>>4537653
I mean yeah, but having a tighter grip on the bread basket removes the need to do it ourself at a later date.
>>
>>4536921
>>4536933
>>4536937
This goes against everything we have set when building the character. You literally want Leman 2.0 or the loved by all and totally not hated for being a bitch that only runs on plot armour revival waifu+primaris, Robust Gorillaman. Alpharius is a great primarch, if he had joined the crusade at the start, things would have been very, VERY different. The Imperium lacked influential long term planners aside from the Emperor and Malcador a long time, and it suffered for it.
>>
>>4537681
We do need to take action, not just snail crawl our way forward. The world waits for no one as they say.
>>
>>4537658
To do what, fight? We are going to fight against Gao, yes or yes. I'd rather fight against a practically unarmed and untrained army, guns don't care if you have eaten well, but they care if you wear good quality steel armours and shields. And if they want to enter a siege, we just sneak in and open the doors or ask any of our thousands upon thousands of supporters on each city to do so. Also, Gao will literally make his troops eat peasants if they are underfed, but he can't arm them with peasant flesh.
>>
I dont know about you guys, but I like to image the second legion to be bashful and humble to all hell, and being great hosts.
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>>4537691
>Gao will literally make his troops eat peasants
This is true. Never underestimate the depths the Chinese will go to because they’ve went there before.
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>>4537690
You are talking to the guy that wrote a big post about writing a primarch level "uplifting and governing planets for dummies" to spend the least ammount of time on each planet we conquer. That way we can move on to the next planet asap and become one of the great conqueror primarch, which entails respect and resources, while also becoming one of the great thinker and "good natured" primarchs, because we treat the worlds under our care with respect, and never neglect them, or at least try
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>>4537707
Kek, this is Chinese Slaaneshi cultist, he would do it without the pretext of a war
>>
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>>4537691
>Gao will literally make his troops eat peasants
Reminder.
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>>4537681
This, but I don't think he is completely like Alpharius either. Lieren is unique among the Primarchs, he doesn't actively manipulate his enemies by infiltrating them like the Alpha Legion does, instead he observes the habits, behaviors and flaws of his enemies and nudges them into committing acts that harm themselves in order to make them weaker or in extreme cases get them to self-Sudoku, with the end goal of fighting a disorganized and uncooperative enemy that can be defeated with little to no collateral damage. As for Gao, nobody would raise any questions if he ran into a cave with a bunch of shitty soldiers and never returned, even his closest allies would assume he must have just gotten lost and starved to death. This is the unique thing about Lieren's form of warfare. When you are dealing with Alpharius you have to worry about your closest allies stabbing you in the back, with Lieren your armies and generals will vanish into the mist and you won't notice for several days.
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>>4537720
Wait wait wait. Are you saying Lieren was the psychiatrist primarch through stating how such a person would wage war?
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>>4537712
So? That’s besides the point. The sooner we takeover the planet, the sooner the world will improve.
>>
I really disagree with trying to topple gao so slowly, were a primarch we don't need to cut all the supports before tearing the structure down.
>>
>>4537737
If we defeat gao, we take over his lands and then have to deal with the emperor of Yan. If we let Gao selfdestroy even more, while being ready at all times to win, we make our victory much easier both in the short and long term.
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>>4537748
We're trying to limit the amount of people that die as a result of our rise to power.
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>>4537750
>we make our victory much easier both in the short and long term.
It would have been a cake walk a few years ago.
>>
>>4537751
And people in other territories are dying while conquer this nation at a snail’s pace. You guys really need to learn to balance your priorities.
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>>4537757
Angron rushed his conquests and look where that got him when trying to take over his world.
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>>4537751
For every day we spend in Gao's lands scheming the rest of Yan and Shangrala suffer under similar lords. I've agreed everything up to know was good prep for making sure we had a good launching pad though but I hope we don't take this approach with the rest of Shangrala.
>>
>>4537762
Angron literally was a slave and had a eternal rage device though.
>>
>>4537762
And those people were much more advanced. Not to mention we had a tech advantage over most of the world. You just fear failure too much.
>>
>>4537763
Yeah no we're gonna have to step up the pace as soon as we oust Gao.
Whether that's a choice we get to make or just a necessity after Yan sends his dogs after us is up to chance.
>>
>>4537761
Hopefully the story will reflect that. So far it has been very deliberate, leisurely pace.

Perhaps seeing the state of the country at large is in while Lieren was biding his time will be a lesson.
>>
>>4537762
Angron was literally implanted with a device that made him eternally angry, he was leading a rabble of slaves against people with sci-fi technology.

We, on the other hand, have trained soldiers (and soon enough, an entire army) who will be able to use guns against people with medieval weapons.
>>
>>4537432
> The monk hides in the mountains of Tao, harbored by its lord and his men, he lives in a cave deep in their lands, or so I've heard
Taking out the food supply risks the towns nearby Gao's supporters being attacked and looted for food. Denying him steel will damage his ability to fight just as much without risking his men turning into bandits to feed themselves at the expense of the commonfolk
>>
Know what? We should start sending merchant spies to the other nation. Really we should have done this years ago.
>>
>>4537727
I'm just thinking about directions we could theoretically go for our legion that sets us apart from the rest. I'm basically taking individual actions and running thought experiments on how they could be applied on a macroscopic legion-wide scale. A semi-unreasonable headcanon I have is that the mentors chapter are the remnants of the 2nd legion, a weird quirk about the mentors chapter is that they are referred to as the Mentors legion in older imperial records, which could be a cognomen given to the 2nd for thier propensity of training and supplying their auxiliaries directly and imparting thier wisdom and martial knowledge. Not to mention their color scheme is eerily similar to some of the suggestions given last thread with white, jade and a bit of red thrown in as well.
>>
>>4537813
The Mentors were founded in M41, though
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>>4537805
support on this. we've been too focused on improving our own lands. we should start sending merchant spies to other lands, feed us information, and spread our philosophy, once we take this land from Gao
>>
>>4537805
Fuck no, I really wanna move away from scheming. Send scouts but not spies.
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>>4537828
Pretty much this, we need scouts to know what's happening, not more scheming.

There is no need to play court politics when you can just say you'll blow up every degenerate lord's castle with artillery.
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>>4537828
>Send scouts but not spies.
If we aren’t taking immediate military action then they are spies.
>>
>>4537820
I checked up on that, you are correct. But another interesting fact about them is that they were created from gene seed directly from Terra, probably from the same source that Crawl tried to get bobby to let him toy with.
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>>4537836
Like if we weren't already actively working against the establishment, and we aren't trying to infiltrate anything with scouts just find out how the rest of the country looks like.
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>>4537828
Sorry to say the scheming is required. The whole personal scheming is going to end soon, once we topple Gao. But when we do we need to have an army and backing behind us able to take on the might of Yan afterwards. Ontop of that only a fool discards a tool when it can still be of use.
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>>4537820
>The Mentors were founded in M41, though
It may be that following the dissolution of the 2nd and 11th legions, the actual name was retired and then subsequently un-retired.
It is mentioned that the Mentors chapter bear the colors of numeric designation of a previously lost chapter (The Star Scorpions to be specific).
It's possible that their name is another relic of a previous unit of Astartes, since just giving them the title of Star Scorpions as well would have been inappropriate at the time.
Keep in mind that there's multiple texts citing an Astartes Legion called "The Mentors" as well..
>>
>>4537844
We need to know if they have any archeotech though. If they do (even if it’s broken) we need to nab that shit. Also I don’t want to be caught flatfooted by psykers.
That reminds me, WHERE THE FUCK ARE ALL THE PSYKERS ON THIS PLANET? Every human planet regularly produces psykers so why haven’t we seen any?
>>
>>4537862
probably feeding the fog panthers.
No, seriously. most worlds that survived the age of strife did so because they would supress or kill their psykers.

Likelyhood in such a world as ours with mythology being so prevalent anyone born with psyker powers who got discoverd early in life probably got pegged as unnatural/deamon or such and then promptly tossed into the wilds.
>>
>>4537868
But we’re yet to hear about any such practices though, right?
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>>4537862
A lot of the worlds that survived the age of strife killed any psyker that showed up. The toad dragon might have been one that slipped through the cracks
>>
>>4537868
I never thought about it, but Catachan psykers would have to be the same level of action hero as normal humans. They'd be absolute monsters, a catachan jungle fighter that can smite
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>>4537862
What do you think the monks mentioned to have been slaughtered recently were?
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>>4537885
Old men used as political scape goats or esousing a philosophy dangerous to the current rulers.

Not the first time someone in a system akin to ancient china fucked over the monks for political gain.
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>>4537889
>esousing a philosophy dangerous to the current rulers.
Like what we are currently doing.
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>>4537890
Monks didn't have guns and mass produced steel
>>
Let me just lay out what I think the core tenants of our future Legion should be be

1. Clean conquests
Our legion will try and focus on taking a planet causing as little damage as possible in order to preserve valuable life and industry

2. Reconstruction and development
Any planet we conquer will be heavily enhanced and stripped of any wasteful expenditures in order to maximize it's productivity

3. Exponential Growth and supply chains
Every planet we land on will have dedicated recruitment managed by the Astartes in charge of optimizing the planet. The batch of new recruits will be sent to meet up with the rest of legion ferrying the supplies produced by their homeworld. The end goal is to be as numerous and ludicrously over-supplied as possible to the point where we gift other legions supplies, weapons and vehicles when they are on campaign with us.

4. Disappearing
The legion scouts out the action of the their enemies extensively and uses their numbers and communications jamming equipment to quickly and quietly eliminate entire battalions of enemy soldiers on-route to fields of operation without the main body of the force being aware. Only coming to realize that they are gone after a call for reinforcements goes unanswered, after communications from the unit suddenly halt or a search party finds thousands of neatly dug graves and the wreckage of hundreds of vehicles scavenged for any components and materials that could be recycled. The panic of getting picked off and disappeared if they stray too far would make the enemy huddle into tight balls that would allow the legion to operate for freely or let them decimate the enemy while they are at their most tightly packed keeping the battlefield quarantined as into as small an area as possible to avoid collateral damage.

5. Making the enemy hurt themselves
Try to convince the enemy to fall back on their habits and to make unwise investments of resources and manpower in order to make them easier targets. Examples of these tactics would be to send a small force out front to skirmish a much larger detachment only for them to fall back, convincing the enemy to pursue the weak stragglers, falling right into the trap made for them. Another example would be to create fake bases and pulling the iron cage strategy in several places at once, making the enemy unable to discern what fortifications are bases and what are empty concrete buildings with bombs in them. Yet another tactic of bamboozling is to get the enemy to engage in a standard battle then secretly sending a contingent of marines to put landmines under their roads.
>>
Alright calling the vote.

Tao:10
Shen: 8
IT WAS ME GAO! IT WAS ME ALL ALONG:1

Alright, The Tao shall join the Cui in death, writing the update
>>
>>4537904
Anti-chaos philosophy and combat, once we learn about it.
>>
I have to wonder if we'd be able to skip straight to cartridges and bolt actions if we took over those mines in Tao's lands.
We'd probably be able to find everything we need for brass and primers there combined with what we already have thanks to Gao.
>>
>>4537912
I already been working on a tenant that explains that “pacifism is for idiots” and that “good men seek power to protect, tyrants seek power to control”.
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>>4537917
If not Istinggar is some sexy flintlock.
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>>4537917
I don't see why we wouldnt be able to
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>>4537917
I'm hoping for Martini-henrys. They're simple enough for mass production while maintaining a high RoF
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>>4537931
We already have plenty of funding from Gao to pursue any particular end we want, and it'd be super easy to just swoop in and take over the mines in Tao's lands once Gao declares him a traitor.
The actual design wouldn't be hard for Lieren, but getting pieces in consistent dimension and materials would take a minute, hence why we would need to develop our industrial resources a bit more.
Once we have that taken care of, we can mass produce ammo and rifles that would absolute shit on anything available to anybody else on the planet.
>>
>>4537917
Let's make a STEN

Isn't it like, REALLY easy to do one?
>>
>>4537923
Good shit, anon. I feel like if Lieren doesn't outright refuse to go crusading with dad, he'll need to rework his philosophy a tad.
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>>4537950
Right, I completely fucking forgot about that idea.
Yeah the STEN gun is an amazingly simple design that gets a bad rep due to a lot of rushed pieces.
I feel once we can get proper steel in mass quantities and a proper factory setup, tube guns and shit would certainly be possible.
>>
>>4537950
Yes. They are literally something you'd see cobbled together in the post apocalypse, but wth the British Govt. seal of approval.
>>
>>4537954
Yeah some people like to delude themselves into thinking Buddhist monks are pacifists when some have went on record to say stuff like “you can be full of love and peace but you can’t lie next to a rabid dog” when talking about invaders.
>>
>>4537957
I would say having breech-loading rifles for marksmen (not snipers, marksmen) with STEN assault units and trained melee warriors sounds like an Warhammer army no doubt.
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>>4537961
But then we get into the question of whether or not that's that real Buddhism. The Buddha said in the Ambalatthika-Rahulovada Sutta "That deed which I am desirous of doing with the body is a deed of the body that might conduce to the harm of self and that might conduce to the harm of others and that might conduce to the harm of both; this deed of body is unskilled, its yield is anguish, its result is anguish." That reads as pretty pro-pacifism to me, but the answer is to just move away from the thought of Lieren being a space buddhist and maybe leaning into the shaolin.
>>
>>4537950
They are easy to do for a sub-machine gun. However, there's a bunch of fiddly components still that make Martini-Henry rifles easier while still allowing for some ridiculous bullshit. They were the rifles used at Rorke's Drift, after all. Though it should be noted from the casualty reports that the Zulu did get into melee range, Brits were just able to rapidly reposition in a fortified location of their own making. We can expect good ratios, but not that good.
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>>4537981
Well, we're not going to be as outnumbered as Rourke's drift, at least in the majority of battles.

Either way, the STEN is a good pick for our assault troops since they can just tear through armor. They don't even have mass produced plate.

I mean we do, but that's just us and our better steel forges.
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>>4537981
I think the only real issue with making subs is that to make them en masse we need some serious industry for metal working, better to start with breech loaders to get off the ground and then transition
>>
>>4537977
Leiren has never been a pacifist, his name means hunter. Every move up to this point, rebuilding lands, unseating people, spreading philosophy, has had one ultimate end, to unseat Gao. We spun it as bringing prosperity but there was always an end goal in mind.

He's been stalking his prey
>>
>>4537992
When you say it like that, Khorne and Tzeentch may take notice of us.
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>>4537992
That's what I'm saying. Since Lieren isn't a pacifist, we shouldn't think of his philosophy as space buddhism and we shouldn't being to play him as once since the only pacifist things in 40k are rocks, and even then, sometimes they snap.
>>
>>4537998
There are plenty of dead pacifist in 40k. I know the Dark Eldar exterminated an entire race of xeno pacifists.
>>
>>4538008
I remember them, I thought that they let them survive so they could torment them for longer. Maybe I'm mistaken.
>>
>>4537998
still though I don't think that space Buddhism has to be pacifist. Buddhists fight all the time, monks train for it.

the quote that I replied to could be interpreted as Buddha saying I don't know how to fight so I wouldn't do it (this deed of body is unskilled). He was a Prince who grew up in a gilded environment and meditated a lot, he probably wasn't a good fighter.
>>
>>4538015
>Buddhists fight all the time
And there are Christians who engage in extramarital affairs, but them being Christian doesn't make their actions the same.
>monks train for it
Only monks of shaolin Buddhism, which is distinct from the mainline religion. They rationalize their martial arts training by using it in self defense and the righteous protection of others, which is why I'm saying we should shift away from considering Lieren's philosophy as true Buddhism in space.

From the Saccavibhanga Sutta:
"And what is right action? Abstaining from taking life, from stealing, and from illicit sex. This is called right action."
Funnily enough, this idea of right action is the fourth aspect of the Noble Eightfold Path...
>>
>>4537987
Rourke’s drift reminds me, for whatever reason. We could honestly find a way to save resources if we instead made portable Gatling guns. They’re crank fired, use the same ammunition of the rifles people are wanting, and would have the ROT to take down must enemy numbers. Maybe make them along side our weapons?
>>
>>4538027
imma just stop this right now and agree cause you clearly know way more about Buddhism than I do. Or at the very least are must more motivated to Google things
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>>4538034
I thought those were obvious. Gatling guns are god vs. mobbed melee infantry. Like, you barely need to equip your normal dudes with guns if you have those.
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>>4538034
If we're making barrels for rifles, we can make gatiling guns
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>>4538038
It's all good, I've been on a few retreats to Buddhist monasteries. And my google-fu isn't too bad. Now all we gotta do is get Lieren to learn kung fu...
>>
>>4538043
what's a Buddhist Monastery like? i was in a pretty bad place like 10 years ago and seriously considered fucking-off to one despite only having a cursory knowledge.
>>
>>4538039
>>4538040
Cost and death effecient weaponry at its finest. Plus, imagine Lieren with a Primarch sized Gatling gun and ammo
>>
"For, according to all of my men garrisoning the road, stationed upon each fort, waystation and even light tower dotting its length, tells me the same story, that the monk who started this troublesome movement, with the aid of chosen acolytes sent down every split and direction of the road I built" You say, frowning and lowering your tone to a serious, grave anger, all faked of course but Gao would not notice if you were laughing as you spoke to him. His rage and paranoia had blinded his eyes further, to the point he would only hear the name of the men and line who had "Betrayed" him, by a rumor of a simple monk seeking shelter in their lands.

"Yes, yes, get on with it, enough flowery speech, enough politeness, cut to the point, tell me which of these rats have betrayed their ancestors and my line like that imbecile Fu!" Gao commands, eyes burning with renewed vigor fed by spite and hate alone, the only thing giving him the strength to bark orders and shout his rage, despite the state his body is in from having just endured a heart attack.

You bow your head, the insult to the man who would have wounded you if he had been just a breath quicker with his strikes igniting the fires of your anger once more. Gao wouldn't be able to so much as survive meeting you in your armor with killing intent pouring from your every pore. Fu was brighter and more observant than Lord Gao, far more so. Even if he was a mad dog, Cui Fu the last of his line, was a once in a century genius of the battlefield. And were he born but a few years later, or yourself a few years earlier, he may have become one of your companions. Like Feng, Jiang, Liang, Jinhai, Wei, Hu, Chen, Zian, Rong, and all the other brothers of panthers and your Giant's Guard. If not a friend by your side, than an ally like the black general, the scarlet flower, or the blue eyed monk.

His death, though necessary to heal his land and free the people from their suffering, was a tragedy. You hated Fu, but he was no halfwit, a fool yes, but if you placed him a room with a Fog Panther, Fu would have walked out without a single scratch. Could Gao do the same? But you center your mind, drawing on your focus to clear your mind, empty it and turn it into a blank void to avoid lashing out against the man who dared to insult the only mortal foe to earn your respect.

"As you command, Lord Gao" You speak, after a moment of silence, Gao tapping his jagged nails against the iron arms of his throne, oil and dust clinging to his fingertips "They say the monk hides in the mountains of the Tao, harbored by its lord and his men. He lives in a cave deep in their lands"

You raised back to your full height, glancing to the guards at the door, who nearly flee at the mere sight of your golden eyes falling upon them as you sigh softly and smirk like a jackal in the hunt.

"Or so I've heard" You say, turning your piercing gaze back to Gao who looks to be on the edge of suffering yet another failure of his heart.
cont
>>
>>4538053

The Tao are another family who have served the Gao for generations, just like the Cui. Their lands are rich, not in men, but resources, most of the metal in Gao come from their mines. Where children die in toil, or are consigned to tombs still living in cave ins, forever entombed beneath tons of stone and soil. Song had allowed you to better his land, to uplift his people. But compared to Zhou or Sheng, he was a monster of the same breed of Cui. Half of his population lived along side quarries and mines, breaking their bodies so he could shower Gao in gems and gold.

A slave driver, to your eyes, spending lives wastefully, to collect babbles and riches, with which he, as his father and his father and his father before him had done, to earn the favor of the Gao family. Bribery. But he supplied not only trinkets, but arms and armor. Without him, Gao would rely on lesser smiths and craftsmanship to outfit his army.

Gao recovers, pulling himself back from the jaws of lingering death from sheer wrath, he screams, yells, not speaking a word for many minutes, black oil and grey spittle flying from his mouth like flames from the tongue of a dragon. Eventually, he calms enough to speak a language you can comprehend.

"Bring me Song's head, bring me the head of every member of his misbegotten, pox riddled lineage!" Gao snarls, his eyes narrowed to slits as he gnashed and ground his teeth together "Boil the infants in front of the man, with quarter filled pots so he may hear their every harrowing cry. Castrate his sons before his own eyes, have your men defile his daughters, and stone his wife in the center of his only city, then I want you"

It took every ounce of willpower, every fiber of your being to resist the urge to start throttling Gao then and there. You felt you smiling mask fall as your eyes widened from the sheer venom of the sickening words spoken to you now"

"Hah, seems you aren't so stoic after all, that's the most I've seen you react to anything, my giant" Gao holding his hands over his eyes, thumb and pointing finger pressed together into a circle to mock you "HAR! Grow a spine, now where was I, oh yes, have him hung by his entrails, I heard you prefer that method of execution over any other, consider it a gift. Let the Tao serve as a warning for all, with proper care he should survive for a season, maybe two if the pests are scared away with vinegar and acid"

You do not say a thing, clenching your jaw to keep from speaking. 'Calm yourself Lieren, Gao's death is soon at hand' you tell yourself, to try and maintain control over your ever growing fury 'you will be able to end this foulest life soon, just calm yourself, Lieren, and wait until the proper time. To strike now would be inefficient'

"I will keep that in mind, My lord" You say as Gao laughs uproariously, his body jerking with every howl and hoot that passes his lips.
cont
>>
>>4538054

And with that said you turn, the incense smoke filling the room washing over your body and parting as you stride away from Gao.

Leaving him alone in his throne, stilling laughing as the scented smoke swallows him and hides him from vision outside of his silhouette. What a contemptuous man, the day of his death could not come soon enough, the moment it was right to strike, you would take his head and hold it high into the air, to proclaim "LOOK, LOOK! The foul slug of Yan has been slain, the diseased mind of Gao has met its end, may his heart be eaten by worms and his manhood trampled by all!"

The day of his death, of retribution, would come soon. As soon as Tao was dead, one way or another, War would come to the lands of Gao, by your hand or another noble noticing weakness in the once powerful Gao family. But, you had prepared for either, produced many arms and much armor, and now you had all the wealth and resources at hand to change the face of warfare on Shangrala forever.

Tao's mines would make the process smoother and quicker. Gao's head would be on a pike, by at most your seventh year upon Shangrala. In all likely hood, before or during your Sixth.

But fantasizing of murdering your "master", was pointless. You had to plan how to remove a tick as deeply embedded as the Tao. For their home is one of mountains and caves, removing their roots would require digging.

But like all obstacles that came before, you would surmount this challenge, one way or another.

What is the plan to destroy Tao, Lieren?
> Move with the black general and his armies, intimidating them into the mountain top fortresses and allowing you full access to their mines and metals
> Take a small force of the most veteran of your brothers of the panthers and Trained personal guard, and fade into the mists of their lands. It falls particularly thick in the domain of the Tao, you would become as ghosts under it.
> Using your position as administrator, go to the court of the Tao and then use your reputation as a unparalleled warrior to try and convince Song to peacefully end his own life.
> create the illusion of a disturbance in the valleys of his land, and draw the lord out into the open before he realizes he is in danger. All it will take then is a single decisive strike
>Write in?
>>
>>4538056
> create the illusion of a disturbance in the valleys of his land, and draw the lord out into the open before he realizes he is in danger. All it will take then is a single decisive strike
>>
>>4538056
>> Take a small force of the most veteran of your brothers of the panthers and Trained personal guard, and fade into the mists of their lands. It falls particularly thick in the domain of the Tao, you would become as ghosts under it.
>>
>>4538049
I like them, they're much like any monastery, Christian or otherwise. There's one in upstate New York called Blue Cliff that I went to as a kid. People get up with the sun, meditate, work on whatever needs it around the monastery, it's a nice change of pace from the day-to-day. No TVs, no computers, nothing. Food was good too, if you can deal with vegetarian and vegan meals, though they aren't too strict about the latter. Some days they opened the main meditation hall and a nun sang while people laid on mats or sat on cushions. That was my favorite. Very tranquil place, I recommend it if Buddhism is something you're interested in and you want to try monastic life. If you'd prefer some flavor of Christianity, I've heard Benedictine monasteries are similar. Just do a bit of research before hand so you know what's what.
>>
>>4538056
>> Move with the black general and his armies, intimidating them into the mountain top fortresses and allowing you full access to their mines and metals
>> Take a small force of the most veteran of your brothers of the panthers and Trained personal guard, and fade into the mists of their lands. It falls particularly thick in the domain of the Tao, you would become as ghosts under it.
Have the Black General draw attention away from the path we'll plan on taking by raiding guard posts and bastions and the like. It'll make sneaking in with our trusted few all the easier.
>>
>>4538056
>Take a small force of the most veteran of your brothers of the panthers and Trained personal guard, and fade into the mists of their lands. It falls particularly thick in the domain of the Tao, you would become as ghosts under it.
The hunter stalks
>>
>>4537996
He has fantasized about murdering those that disgust him dozens of times, ansolutely abhors exess, and has even given snakes like ling honorable ends, khorne is probably crossing his fingers as we speak
>>
>>4538056
>Take a small force of the most veteran of your brothers of the panthers and Trained personal guard, and fade into the mists of their lands. It falls particularly thick in the domain of the Tao, you would become as ghosts under it.
We move like shadows
>>
> Take a small force of the most veteran of your brothers of the panthers and Trained personal guard, and fade into the mists of their lands. It falls particularly thick in the domain of the Tao, you would become as ghosts under it.
>>
>>4538063
thanks man
>>
>>4538056
>Take a small force of the most veteran of your brothers of the panthers and Trained personal guard, and fade into the mists of their lands. It falls particularly thick in the domain of the Tao, you would become as ghosts under it.
>>
>>4538056
>> create the illusion of a disturbance in the valleys of his land, and draw the lord out into the open before he realizes he is in danger. All it will take then is a single decisive strike
>>
>>4538074
No problem anon. Hope you find what you're looking for.
>>
>>4538067
If Khorne managed to swing two Primarchs he'd be absolutely fucking ecstatic.
>>
>>4538056
>> Take a small force of the most veteran of your brothers of the panthers and Trained personal guard, and fade into the mists of their lands. It falls particularly thick in the domain of the Tao, you would become as ghosts under it.
>>
>>4538056
> Take a small force of the most veteran of your brothers of the panthers and Trained personal guard, and fade into the mists of their lands. It falls particularly thick in the domain of the Tao, you would become as ghosts under it.

Time to earn our name.
>>
>>4538100
>Khorne gets so happy that he's recursively pissed
>>
>>4538056
>> Take a small force of the most veteran of your brothers of the panthers and Trained personal guard, and fade into the mists of their lands. It falls particularly thick in the domain of the Tao, you would become as ghosts under it.
>>
>Theme of Lieren's covert ops unit
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjkelyuU8iw
>>
>>4538056
> create the illusion of a disturbance in the valleys of his land, and draw the lord out into the open before he realizes he is in danger. All it will take then is a single decisive strike
>>
>>4538056
>Create a disturbance
>Small ghost detachment

Let the black general draw them out, we shall bite at he heels of Song and when he tries to flee the field, cut him down. If he doesnt take the field, we will slip inside his now barely guarded fortress and slay him properly
>>
>>4538056
> create the illusion of a disturbance in the valleys of his land, and draw the lord out into the open before he realizes he is in danger. All it will take then is a single decisive strike
>>
>>4538056
>create the illusion of a disturbance in the valleys of his land, and draw the lord out into the open before he realizes he is in danger. All it will take then is a single decisive strike
Surprise, motherfucker.

>>4537991
This is pretty much what I've been thinking of. Take down Gao with rifled muskets, then start working on getting an industry going. If everything goes well, we can fight Yan with bolt-action / semi-auto guns or introduce them during the fighting with Yan.
>>
>>4538056
> Create the illusion of a disturbance
I’m always a sucker for a classic truck like this
>>
>>4538690
*Trick
>>
God I can't wait to finally yell "IT WAS ME GAO, IT WAS ALL ME!" at the fat slug
>>
Alright, calling the vote now

Create a false disturbance: 7
Vanish into the fog and mist:10
Use Yin Lei to scare the Tao into their fortresses:2

Lieren shall take his most trained and skilled companions into the fog, to covertly deal remove the Tao from power over the region.
writing the update.

>>4538067
>*Angron screaming and being a rage autist*
>Khrone: He has devolved to the point he can only say a single word, somehow I feel like I drew the short straw
>*Lieren using a daemonette to beat another daemonette*
>Khorne: But maaaybe
>>
>>4538829
Daemon Prince Lieren would probably use his enemies as nunchuks. It'd be fucking great.
>>
>>4538843
His enemies? He'd use vipers.
>>
>>4538887
Or two halfs of a daemonette held together by the intestines. This is Khorne, after all.
>>
Can’t help but think Tzeentch and Khorne would fight over him.
>>
Seeing where Lieren is now he has a little bit of every chaos god except Slanessh. He has the subltly of Tzeench the desire to persist and acknowledgment of entropy associated with Nurgle and the anger and hatred of excess that Khorne has. The thing is he doesn't have enough of any of those things to be considered a major candidate for any of the gods directly, the legions that fell under chaos undivided tended to degenerate less then their mono god counterparts and some like the Word Bearers, Iron Warriors and Alpha Legion actually channeled the power of chaos without losing themselves to it.
>>
>>4538894
Alpha legion doesnt channel chaos. They are very independent of the lot, helped by the fact that they didnt flee to the eye but rather slid out of notice following the heresy.
>>
>>4538894
Everyone has a little bit of each of the gods in them. A lot of people forget Slaanesh is technically joy and happiness.
>>
>>4538900
Yeah, but the 'chaos' part comes from excess, and Lieren HATES excess.
>>
>>4538899
Maybe not directly, they use it in a similar way that Radical inquisitors use Daemon Hosts, as a tool. The same can be said for the Iron warriors who only use Chaos as a weapon and actively despise members of their legion who become too fanatical in their devotion to the ruinous powers rather than doing the bare minimum required to make use of it's power.
>>
And you shall conquer the mountains and erase their masters from the world, using the environment itself as a weapon against them. For even with the roads you lit snaking through the Mountains of the Tao, the fog remains thick in this corner of Shangrala, thicker than any other in the lands beneath the Gao. It mingles with mist and rain, further lowering visibility. All who live upon these hills, valleys and clifftops are blind, and must carry torches or mirrors to catch the sun's rays to even go about their daily lives. An army could march unseen for days by even the sharpest eye scouts, but they would be found.

But a small force, of men, of warriors, who are acclimated to fighting, hunting and stalking beneath the cover of night and the thickest winter fogs, would be as ghosts. Unseen, unheard, able to walk the entirety of the mountains unnoticed, unmolested. And any tactician would know that trying to force the Tao out of their citadels and caves would be a fool's task, and take many seasons if not years. Their roots are deeper than those of the mountains themselves, it is said. But a small force, of highly trained hunters and killers alike? Led by the great hunter of the wilds himself? You could come to the Tao along the road, come to them in their towers, remove the task masters of their mines and draw them out into the open. All without alerting them of Gao's decree for their deaths.

Some would decry such tactics as cowardly, or slow, but a full on attack would take far more time than merely stalking the lands and picking apart the Tao's powerbase, and a pitched battle would risk innocent lives from a retreating army that could vanish into the mountains and return resupplied, rearmed and reinforced. The Tao have all the advantage against you, their homes are well defend and would prove a difficult task dismantling even for the Black General himself.

So the most efficient way forward, is to gather the veterans of your two forces. The Brothers of the Panthers and Your personal Guard, taking the most trained and talented among them and venturing forth into the fog to hunt as the panthers do. And have the others be stationed at the nearest garrison on the road leading into the land of the Tao, if the need arises for their assistance to be necessary moving forward.

Ten men should suffice, besides yourself, eleven is enough to be able to pose be able to overcome any guards stationed in villagers or along checkpoints, and enough to infiltrate the castles and mines and return unscathed. Not enough for a true battle, but, you are not fighting a war.

You are earning the name you've held for nearly six years now, for your entire life. You are simply hunting men. But, the question remains, which men would you bring as your hunting companions?

Feng has a limp, and while he also has amazing eyesight compared to any man besides yourself, he would be a liability. Fat Chen was too emotional and loud. He would remain with the rest of your guards
cont
>>
>>4538917

Shaved head Wei, his personality is a serious one, he would be one of the ten as he would follow every order to its letter, Liang is one of the most accomplished hunter of the brothers and would obey your command to his death, he would be he second. His brother Jiang, too hotheaded, to emotional, too lazy so while his talents would be appreciated his personality would only invite disaster. Half Jaw Hu, loyal, quiet , respectful, he knows his duty and has slain many a panther, though he is less skilled than the twins he is still an accomplished hunter, he would be the third. Jinhai, he is a master of arms and the only man besides yourself who may have had a chance to slay Fu in a fair fight, he would be the forth. Rong, a veteran fighter, but his missing eye and flippant ways would only be a liability in this hunting party, he would be left. However Zian, his injuries are superficial and his talent in battle in second only to Jinhai, he is experienced and respected, he would be the fifth.

Next would be Small Chen, as large as an ox but dexterous on his feet, largest among your guards, and loyal to a fault, the sixth. Dong, an oft overlooked brother of the panthers, mostly because he hunts alone, a useful scout, the seventh. Red faced Wei, another of your guards, and a man you suspect to at least be descended from some bastard branch of Gao's line due the coloration of his hair, but a virtuous and obedient young man, the eighth. Xin, excitable but deadly serious on the field, and knows how to control himself, a trained fighter, the ninth. Bai would be the last, the only one of your guards to join the brothers on their hunt more than once, a skilled slayer of men and beast, the tenth.

And the eleventh, yourself, the golden eyed hunter.

Together you would be the deadliest group traveling any part of the Yan kingdom. Even thrice your number would fall to the sheer ability of these ten men, before including your own natural talent in arms and might.

All that remained now, was to gather your hunting party, and head into the mists and fog.
-
"What do you mean my cousin has completely vanished? the roads are safe" Song sighed sadly, sitting on his throne of silver, with pearls, rubies and jade of all color set along every inch of the seat, his black beard well groomed and hanging from his face, curled upwards and scented with various oils to bring a calming air to the man "Cai wouldn't wander from the road upon some wild whimsy, have his men been interrogated?"

"We have not found a single member of his personal guard, Lord Tao" A man dressed in bright yellow and crimson armor said, kneeling before the Lord of gems and all that glitters "They have, also vanished into the fog"

"Hmm, I'll have to complain to Gao's Administrator eventually, seems the road is not as safe as he had promised" Song yawned
cont
>>
>>4538918

"Well, send a messenger to the last village he passed through, if they know nothing, have his brother executed as a kinslayer and put his young son into power, if he does not return within the season, have men patrol the roads from here to there, if no sign is found of him, we shall begin the mourning period"

"As you wish, Lord Tao" The guard, his mask showing a blank expression as he raised his head, before turning to leave his lord

"How troublesome, he was engaged to Zhou's daughter, it would have been a wonderful match for both our houses" Song sigh, running his hands over gold and jade "Ah well, perhaps the match can be saved...Now, you, scribe, explain why my miners have ceased their work"

"They have been calling you a tyrant song, and say it is their choice to follow the path their lives will take" The thin, elderly man by the side of Song's throne replied.

"Tch, raise a levy, promise the men who join it a lowering of taxes and kill the fools" Tao yawned again, leaning back into his throne "I grow tired of dealing with these would be monks and philosophers, so I shall send a message to put them back in their place and get the wealth flowing again. If the men refuse, send word to lord Gao for assistance."

"As you command, Lord Tao"
-
"Why are you doing this to me! I've done nothing wrong! I've broken no laws!" Tao Cai screams, the corpses of his men littering the forest floor around him, as your ten men circle him like hunting dogs, silent in both step and voice "This..this is murder! Tao Song will have your head for this! Lord Gao shall have your head for this"

"For the crime of sending children to their deaths, for abusing your peasantry and wrongfully executing men and women of potential to feed your own ego, Tao Cai, you are sentenced to death, by the decree of Gao calling for the extinction of your Line, and the Orders of Lieren, who have judged your actions to be unforgiveable" Zian says, his words slurring as you calmly tie a noose along the stream running through the woods

"Gao's Decree? What decree?! why has he ordered our deaths? you lie, you lie for you own power, your own ambitions" Cai screams

"You forgot abuse of his close kin and hoarding of resources that could have fed his people in times of famine" You say serenely, striding over to the cowering noble "For these crimes, and those listed before, I name you oppressor, I name you Tyrant, and I condemn you to death"

"It...it was" Cai begins to speak, eyes filled with horror as you tighten the noose around his neck and toss the end of the rope over a branch of the towering tree he is cowering under. His words are cut off with his breath, as he gasps for air. With a mighty tug on the end of the rope, you snap his neck, ending his pain before it could begin.

His body jerks into the air, lifting a few feet before falling to the ground again.
cont
>>
>>4538919

"It is done" Zian says with a nod, Jinhai moving among the dead, ordering Small Chen and Red faced Wei to prepare the bodies from proper burial, Bai sits crouched on a stone, chewing on dried meat as the rest of your men move to prepare the graves for Cai's men

"Where will our next hunt take us, Lieren?" Bai asks, grinding the tough meat between his teeth, eager for his next battle.

How do you answer, Lieren?
> We shall capture every messenger of Tao, to keep them isolated from each other and the world outside
> The time has come to free the workers in the mines, they shall only resume activity with more...efficient and safe methods
> We shall instill fear into the Tao, by demonstrating the awesome power of the weapon I have created, they shall think they are beset by demons of fire and sound
> Our hunt will take us into the Heart of the Tao's power, there is no time to waste, already we have removed the worst of their line from their seats, now it falls to us to remove the serpent's head
> Write in
>>
>>4538921
> Our hunt will take us into the Heart of the Tao's power, there is no time to waste, already we have removed the worst of their line from their seats, now it falls to us to remove the serpent's head
>>
>>4538912
You never use chaos as a tool, it always corrupts you. The reason that the alpha legion doesnt get corrupted to hell and back is that they rarely need to use it.

The iron warrior legion though is completely corrupted by it, chaos using them rather than the other way around. But that's enough of that.
>>
>>4538921
> Our hunt will take us into the Heart of the Tao's power, there is no time to waste, already we have removed the worst of their line from their seats, now it falls to us to remove the serpent's head
No more dilly-dallying.
>>
>>4538921
>> Our hunt will take us into the Heart of the Tao's power, there is no time to waste, already we have removed the worst of their line from their seats, now it falls to us to remove the serpent's head
>>
>>4538921
>> Our hunt will take us into the Heart of the Tao's power, there is no time to waste, already we have removed the worst of their line from their seats, now it falls to us to remove the serpent's head
>>
>>4538921
> Our hunt will take us into the Heart of the Tao's power, there is no time to waste, already we have removed the worst of their line from their seats, now it falls to us to remove the serpent's head
I'm tempted to stop their messengers but they'll just be commoners who don't deserve death.
>>
>>4538921
> Our hunt will take us into the Heart of the Tao's power, there is no time to waste, already we have removed the worst of their line from their seats, now it falls to us to remove the serpent's head
>>
>>4538921
>Take out Song himself

Once he is gone, we can claim control. Those of his line who are virtuous can perhaps be hidden away as workers in their own mines. A better fate than deaths I think.
>>
>>4538921
>> Our hunt will take us into the Heart of the Tao's power, there is no time to waste, already we have removed the worst of their line from their seats, now it falls to us to remove the serpent's head
>>
>>4538921
> Our hunt will take us into the Heart of the Tao's power, there is no time to waste, already we have removed the worst of their line from their seats, now it falls to us to remove the serpent's head

I'd like to demonstrate our weapon, but we can show it to Gao... personally.
>>
>>4538921
>Our hunt will take us into the Heart of the Tao's power, there is no time to waste, already we have removed the worst of their line from their seats, now it falls to us to remove the serpent's head
Strike them where it hurts, emerge from the fog and destroy Tao - once that happens, we can seize control of his resources even if in a hidden way.

After we take out song, Gao is all but finished.
>>
>>4538985
Perhaps we should tell Gao "You will be the first to feel the awesome power of these new weapons, that no army may halt them!" before taking him outside to show off our guns.
First test dummies, then practice animals, and for the final demonstration of the firing squad....A corrupt lord.
>>
>>4539017
Im always a fan of the blackadder: Stick your head down the cannon barrel idea.
>>
>>4539025
Gao isn't that stupid.....
Or is he.
>>
>>4539027
He can be, given enough booze and sweet words of course. Plus, it’ll be hilarious to see
>>
>>4539027
No, such an end is too impersonal for 7 years of rage.

I think it should be more personal, let him understand the weight of our betrayal and let him know the depths of our feelings, stare into his eyes as we gut him.

Love and hate are two sides of passion, he should understand the true satisfaction his death will bring.
>>
>>4539047
You're sounding awfully khorny there, anon.

Gao is an evil lord, and feeling pride in knowing he's gone is not a problem, but we shouldn't take delight in killing him. Shoot him, hang him, tie him to an giant powder of black powder and blow it up, there's no need to draw it out.
>>
> Our hunt will take us into the Heart of the Tao's power, there is no time to waste, already we have removed the worst of their line from their seats, now it falls to us to remove the serpent's head
>>
>>4539091
Not draw it out. Just make him understand how much we hate him and all the wrong he has done. Then stab him dead.
>>
>>4539091
Maybe it does matter if he understands the reason. If reincarnation is true it might help him in his next life to be explained to exactly why he died. We don't need to drag it out or anything, but a clear explanation even if it does get us riled up might be beneficial to him.

Or it could backfire.
>>
>>4539120
We can state our reasons, but we shouldn't try to go full capeshit and have an whole monologue about it.
>>
>>4538921
>> Our hunt will take us into the Heart of the Tao's power, there is no time to waste, already we have removed the worst of their line from their seats, now it falls to us to remove the serpent's head
>>
>>4538921
>> Our hunt will take us into the Heart of the Tao's power, there is no time to waste, already we have removed the worst of their line from their seats, now it falls to us to remove the serpent's head
>>
>>4539148
I rather execute him in a public assembly, would be appropriate for the people he oppressed all his life to watch they're tyrant die.
>>
>>4538921
>Our hunt will take us into the Heart of the Tao's power, there is no time to waste, already we have removed the worst of their line from their seats, now it falls to us to remove the serpent's head
>>
>>4539187
Depends on how our coup would work.

Hanging him in public would work if we took over his castle. If we had to assassinate him, well, then that'd be harder. But yes, if we took him, then it'd be wise to hang him in public to show people his tyranny's end.
>>
>>4539187
>I rather execute him in a public assembly, would be appropriate for the people he oppressed all his life to watch they're tyrant die.
How should we do it?
I vote for death by firing squad.
>>
>>4539187
that could be rolled into firing squad. making a public demonstration of our weapon and then executing him.

have to note, in this course of action we get Yans attention. He's definitely already aware of us but this is a pretty big gesture.
>>
Some new tenants

>Balance in all things is a necessity.
Building a good house starts with a solid foundation and such is the nature of balance. For anything to last, it requires balance to be maintain lest all your effort goes to waste. It is a narrow path which straying from may find yourself truly lost unless you reflect on where you’ve gone wrong.

>Might is right
While it is good to seek peace and desire understanding, violence and the willingness to kill is king. One cannot exert their authority without being willing to kill nor can one secure their existence without the ability to fight against those that threaten it, thus is the division between the virtuous and tyrannical. The virtuous seek power to protect and uplift while tyrannical seek power to oppress and control.
>>
>>4539226
>>Might is right
Seems like to far a jump from our current philosophy. Not saying we can't eventually arrive at this conclusion, but "Violence, while undesirable, is sometimes necessary" is a more logical next step.
>>
>>4539247
I agree with this
>>
>>4539247
>>4539254
Well it’s still a work in progress.
>>
>>4539247
I think that 'violence isn't a necessitation' is also unlike Leiren. Our name means hunter.

More like 'once violence is necessary, strike swiftly'
>>
>>4539226
>>4539247
Hmm, how about Might needs Right? It is pointless in and of itself, it must encourage greater good to fulfill its purpose.
>>
>>4539270
>>4539266
>>4539254
>>4539247
So I guess the “Balance in all things is a necessity” one is fine?
>>
>>4539266
My mistake, I got the debate about violence and buddhism confused with an actual tenant of our philosophy. We don't have anything promoting complete nonviolence.
>>4539270
I like this quite a bit.
>>4539276
I think so. Lieren has been adhering to that thought inadvertently for a while now as it is.
>>
Calling the vote.

Hunt Down Song:14

And there's no other votes needing to be counted up so, Lieren will strike quick and decisively into the very heart of the Tao's power structure and remove the serpent's head.

Writing the update now
>>
"Our hunt takes us into the heart of the Tao's power, there is no time to waste" You command, turning away from Tao Cai's cooling corpse, and striding back over to your Guandao, embedded half of the way through an ancient tree's trunk, blood and sap coating its blade and mingling upon it before dripping to the forest floor of fallen leaves and deep green grasses. Slinters fall from it as you pull it free of its living prison with one solid tug on its panther leather wrapped pole.

Turning, you throw your hand out, to the fog filled sky, in the direction of the Taos head family's mountain top home. a retreat carved into the very stone, reinforced with lumber and Iron. An unbreakable shell to all but the most well equipped armies, the siege breaker castle, that has withstood Vishnu and Shuni attacks with the same ease as it endured storms and wild gales. A landmark, a pride of the Yan. And it shall be helpless to halt your hunt. You've gazed upon the walls, in clear days and nights and once walked to its gate in your efforts to bring prosperity to all the lands beneath Gao. Its weaknesses, gaps in its imposing shield of stone and iron, are already known to you. Forgotten cliffside paths, escape routes dug through the ground, areas where the wall has fallen into disrepair and abandoned in such times of plenty.

It would provide as much safety from you and your ten hunters as a bare chest would against a winter hail storm, as much as a stick would defend against a grown fog panther. The Tao would not see their own impending deaths coming, nor would they foresee their own fall. Acting so quickly, you would pull the tree of the Tao family up by its roots, before any of their living members hear of the command given to take their heads. Before they could bolster their defenses, before they could gather, before they could summon their armies and prepare for a long siege and sue for peace.

"Already, we have removed the worst of their line from their seats!" You proclaim, shouting loud enough to shake the branches hanging over your head, leaves falling gently on the breeze as it dances through the forest and past the site of the battle and the graves of the fallen "Now it falls to us to remove the serpent's head"

You clench your outstretched hand into a fist, to give your short speech and declaration more gravitas. Your men, all ten of them, stop their work tending to the dead or rise from resting their weary bodies to let out a confident, battle hungry howl, a cheer that makes them seem more akin to creatures of the wild than men of civilization. You do not join them in their celebration, fueled by lingering adrenaline from the battle that occurred beneath the trees this day.

"Once we are done burying the dead, we march to the Tao's home of stone and iron" You say with a nod, standing a still as a pole hammered into the earth
cont
>>
>>4539396

Night had fallen, the fog was thick and all covering. Flames lit the walls of the Tao's home. You had spent three days scaling the cliff face leading to avoid being spotted on the one path leading to the great, ancient citadel the Tao lived within for generations upon generations. Resting in caves, repairing the hooks and picks you were using to scale the nearly sheer cliff face, you made slow progress but unnoticed progress. And as the sun vanished for the third time since you and your ten most trusted, loyal and capable companions began your climb, you reach the wall. Covered in frost, dried moss and dead vines, it was more difficult to conquer than nature's own design.

But it was a portion of the walls surrounding their home carved from the body of the mountain, that was the least defended and maintained. And thus it was the least patrolled, the noise of your entry would go unheard, unnoticed. In under ten minutes, all eleven of you had managed scaled the wall and reached the top. Besides yourself and Jinhai, you companions all nearly met their ends due to slippery stone and crumbling rock. But, with the tools you gave them, they were able to cling on, and continue the climb upwards.

Now, you sit closely huddled together. Red faced Wei catching his breath with Shaved head Wei, who had hefted the man up as he lost his grip mere seconds before he reached the top of the wall. Small chen lays on his back, breathing raggedly from the effort it took to heft Liang over the wall after the rope he clung to had began to slide down the mountainside. Zian had lit a pipe, his hands shaking from his brush with death, the ground beneath him crumbling the moment before he began his climb. Xin pressed himself as far from the edge of the wall as he could, eyes wide, he scrambled up the wall unassisted by tools, having dropped his pick and hook halfway up, it was a miracle he was still with you.

Half Jaw hu was vomiting from stress, spewing foam and bile as there had not been time to break fast before you took your final climb, Dong stood next to him, looking almost as green as his brother in arms. Bai clutched his hand, the skin of his fingers scrapped off as he pulled himself over the top with the last of his strength.

So close to disaster, but their brotherhood and trained physique had kept all your men alive. Their less trained, less motivated, less devoted brothers would have fallen. But all of them had the will, to survive and stay by your side till death came to them.

It filled you pride, to see the living results of your training and friendship. But there was work to be done.

"Dong, take Bai, and hunt any stray guards in the courtyard, hide the bodies living or dead in the shadows" You whisper, before turning to Zian and Jinhai "Jinhai, Zian, together with Small chen and red face, meet any patrols whose paths would cross any of ours, deal with them as silently as possible"
cont
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>>4539400

Zian nods, Jinhai races his head, Chen and red face just groan as they pull themselves back up to their feet

"Shaved head, Hu, Liang, Xin, your duty is to remove the men who would sound the alarm, I'll leave the specifics of your duty to each of you" You order as Wei and Hu nod, Liang smirks glad to be in his element of hunting rather than climbing and Xin sighs in relief "But however you achieve your ends, do so quietly. I shall infiltrate the castle alone, do not bicker or argue my orders, this is no Panther hunt"

And with that, your trusted companions leave you, splitting off into groups and vanishing in the fog and darkness of night. Now you are alone.

And now you go about your own task. The inner edge of the wall is rough, but flat enough still for you to stand on, it wraps around the entirety of the courtyard, meeting the mountain the castle juts from like a malignant growth. Running upon it, as silent as death, you find your way to the castle itself, without ever entering the courtyard proper. Jutting rocks sturdy enough to support your weight, large enough to grasp. Using them as handles and a hanging path, you reach the wall of the castle, and then it is as easy as climbing through a large enough window. Luckily the Tao need to keep their home well ventilated, so there are openings large enough for even a man of your prodigious size to slip through.

Then you become a ghost, in the gem and painted coated walls, stalking through them, avoiding fire light and following scents and sounds from room to room.

The men guarding the halls are ignorant of your presences and what occurs outside of the stone walls. The difficulty is merely tracking down Tao Song.

You find him, by following the sound of string instruments and the thick scent of the spices favored by the nobles of Yan's palates, a disgusting strong aroma that burns the nostrils and numbs the tongue.

There's an inner courtyard, deep in the castles depths, with only four men stationed to guard it. A spring sits in its center, bubbling and feeding four streams. Along the streams, sits the Main branch of the Taos. With Song at its center, laughing and entertaining grandchildren with a joyous smile upon his face. A baby bouncing upon his knee, his wife sitting by his side dressed in the colored silk of her former house. Children play with food that cost more than it'd take to feed three villages, sons laugh and bicker, daughters gossip and giggle gently. A sole musician plays.

Images flash through your mind, putting faces to the horrors Gao had ordered you to commit. A thought that merely strengthens your resolve to kill that tyrant by your own hands. Song was the only man who had to die, if his sons were fools, they would join him in death.

All you sought, was the end of the Taos in power. the blood of children would not stain your hands. Only the corrupted and unsalvageable.
cont
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>>4539402

How do you go about removing the serpent's head
> Merely walk into the middle of the Tao's dinner, and offer Song his family's safety for the price of his head
> Stalk Song, and tell him Gao has ordered his death, away from his family.
>Attempt to convince The Tao to step gracefully from power, to avoid needless bloodshed.
> With your unnatural speed, take Song's head, allowing him to die happy, before ensuring your men have dealt with the remaining threats in the castle
> Write in?
>>
>>4539402
>Wait until he sleeps, sneak into his quarters and snap his neck while he isn't sapient, than take his body and make him a neat grave in the courtyard and have your men approach when someone discovers his place of burial.
The cleanest and most terrifying way for him to die, the forces here will surrender when they realize their lord was killed without them even noticing.
>>
>>4539404
>> Stalk Song, and tell him Gao has ordered his death, away from his family.
>>
>>4539404
>> Stalk Song, and tell him Gao has ordered his death, away from his family.
>>
>>4539404
>>Attempt to convince The Tao to step gracefully from power, to avoid needless bloodshed.
Resort to violence only when all other options have been exhausted, but do not hesitate once this condition is met.
>>
>>4539404
Backing this >>4539418
>>
>>4539418
>>Wait until he sleeps, sneak into his quarters and snap his neck while he isn't sapient, than take his body and make him a neat grave in the courtyard and have your men approach when someone discovers his place of burial.
I'm down for the stealth kill approach, he'll probably retire for the day soon anyways.
>>
>>4539404
>> Stalk Song, and tell him Gao has ordered his death, away from his family.
We've made it a habit to read off the offender's crimes to them before their death but we can leave his family in peace. The children don't know a life beyond this fortress, perhaps they can be redeemed when shown the real world
>>
>> Stalk Song, and tell him Gao has ordered his death, away from his family.
>>
>>4539404
> Stalk Song, and tell him Gao has ordered his death, away from his family.

We might even end up sparing him, he hasn't been practicing eugenics on his people like Cui was. I would prefer to have a loyal ally in the fight against Gao than nobody.
>>
>>4539402
>Stalk Song, and tell him Gao has ordered his death, away from his family.
>>
>>4539418
Support this

>>4539432
Or this.

His family can pose an issue if they desire revenge against us, or the system that took their patriarch. The best route would be to make sure all blame for his death falls on Gao, so we may pick up the pieces
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>>4539404
> Stalk Song, and tell him Gao has ordered his death, away from his family.
Perhaps he is not beyond redemption, seeing as he is capable of caring about other people.
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>>4539404
>Stalk Song, and tell him Gao has ordered his death, away from his family.
>>
>>4539423
>>4539431
>>4539467
>>4539468
>>4539487
>>4539507
>>4539593
>>4539624
Changing to this for support, cause I actually read it more than half a time
>>
>>4539418
While I appreciate the clearness, he needs to know his crimes before he dies. Sp let's get him alone before snapping his neck.
>>
>Stalk Song, and tell him Gao has ordered his death, away from his family.

Killing without noticing is one thing, but I am curious as to how particularly he will react. He's more of an uncaring of the peasantry bastard rather than someone just diseased like Gao or of Cui's asshole philosophy. Unfit for rule, but may give a fuck about his family and that could provide some interesting interactions.
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>>4539675
We might also want to mention that Gao's also ordered the death of his entire family, in a very brutal fashion. Would be interesting to see how he takes that on.
>>
>>4539675
>>4539715
A little sadistic guys, but it would be good to take his measure and make a point of it. The guy is gonna die, there is no two ways about it, but his family could yet be saved.
>>
With our industrial base, could we introduce steam power and dynamite to the mines? I would think that it reduce the required child labor, but introducing advanced technology to these guys might cause a spike in mine deaths while they work out the kinks.
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>>4539732
Not If we do it the primarch way, ie teach them flawlessly
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>>4539749
We can teach as much as we want, it's gonna take time for the lessons to stick.
I say we spend our time idiot-proofing the technology first.
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>>4539752
That comes under "Primarch way"

But since it takes time for it to stick, we dont let them touch it until it has
>>
>>4539404
> Stalk Song, and tell him Gao has ordered his death, away from his family.
>>
What if we don't kill Song? The fact we managed to sneak into his household could be a warning to him to stop fucking around and change his ways. No one would ever believe him if he went around saying "The Giant with Golden Eyes snuck into my home and threatened me!" because they would think him mad. Plus, we can make an ally out of him instead of outright killing him and maybe possibly not having to kill his family should they seek revenge at a later date? An ally for us, is one less for Gao afterall.

I don't know guys I just had some redemption idea in mind, like taking a chapter out of Curze's book to scare people into doing the right thing, and you don't kill them at the end.
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>>4539774
Gao has ordered his death, his head is as good as severed, that we can buy time to outfit his army with just the worst weaponry we can get away with.

But as for why not allow him to change his ways out of fear, is because he has permitted and carried out harm against his people, even as we slee his vile lines worst offenders he raised a levy against those who wished for better conditions and struck on strike.
He is a tyrant and decadent, that he is apathetic and not sadistic does not redeem him. His family may be salvaged but even so they must be hidden if that is so, while we finish pruning their branches.
>>
>>4539404
> Stalk Song, and tell him Gao has ordered his death, away from his family.
>>
>>4539782
Oh, and he is utterly loyal to Gao.

That's not a excusable quality
>>
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>>4539782
>>4539786
alright. lets kill em.
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>>4539790
That's the plan. Pumping him for information first however is a priority. And apparently satisfying anons sadism.
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>>4539802
I don't know about the sadism part, but I think we should make it quick, quiet, and efficient. I agree with you on the information gathering.
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>>4539807
i agree with a cold, swift and simple kill.
>>
>>4539404
>Stalk Song, and tell him Gao has ordered his death, away from his family.
Seems like he's an family man, at least. So i don't think he'll be just chimping out.
>>
>>4539807
Their sadism is just seeing how he reacts to being told A) Gao wants to kill them and B) all the shit he wants done to them.

Which we were gonna do anyway, but still.
>>
>>4539818
I voted for that for the possibility of redemption for this man, as he may not be all Far gone. But then again that might be the family man aspect making me biased.

All I know, is that if he is made to care, it’s hard to remain apathetic
>>
>>4539902
I'd say judging by his earlier handling of business, he knows damn well what he's subjecting his people too and doesn't care.
Just because he's kind with his immediate family as opposed to Gao doesn't make him any less of a butcher of men, women, and children.
>>
>>4539902
>>4539905
And again, one of Gao's loyal pillars, which means he knows and partaken in Gao's vices and supports them.

Man gets no reprieve for this, all he gets is to die without causing his family trauma and the chance to save their lives.
>>
He has to die. But his immediate family who are innocent shouldn't have to suffer for it. Likelyhood is they will end up as peasents, if they value their lives.
>>
>>4539914
the issue is determining their innocence.
Offer them death or servitude as peasants in the mines, those are their only options now. At least until Gao is dead.
>>
Alright calling the vote

Wait until song sleeps, snap his neck:3
Stalk Song:12
Attempt to convince the Tao:1

Alright, so Lieren will Stalk Song and privately tell him of Gao's judgement

Writing the update
>>
To interrupt the Tao's feast, would simply create needless conflict. Sons are more courageous when defending their fathers, even the meekest daughter can grow fangs if their family is threatened. It is one of the natural truths of the world, that family's defend one another, care for one another. It is one reason Lord Gao is an abominations, why you put the lords who would follow in that monster's footsteps to the rope before putting their more virtuous siblings into power. There would simply be no reason to confront the main branch as a whole, you understood, to do so would only bring needless pain and meaningless bloodshed.

And expose innocent children to such horrors, when their only crime was being born to the Tao line. They had no part in the apathy of their family, the cruel actions of its lords. They were simply children born into wealth and power. What did they know of the world? It'd be efficient, yes, to merely move from the shadows that hid you and kill the grown men of the family, but it would not be right to do so. It would only foster grudges and resentment, so while it was the quickest method to deal with the Tao, it was not the most efficient way, especially for the future to come. Nor would it be clean, or virtuous. Enough children have seen their parents die before they were grown, you would not have a hand in scarring more than a dozen by slaying their kin before their eyes like an uncontrolled force of nature.

Part of your mind rebelled, your anger, reminding you how the Tao had sent many children to die in the dark, afraid and alone. How they let their people starve in their mines, kept themselves fed with the wealth they brought them. But you restrain these errant thoughts, and ignore the path they present to you. Enough blood had been shed tonight, the Tao were cut off from their kin, their lands, and their men. You could afford to employ a gentler, more merciful method than you did with Cui Fu and so many others.

So, instead, you merely retreated from the scene, watching Song make light of himself as he made ridiculous expression and impressions to amuse his grandchildren. Red in the face, merry and content. It would be his "last meal" of sorts, as Cui Fu's was his last, honorable battle. Let Song know peace for one night more, before it is torn away from him along with his life.

You retreat back into the labyrinth of hallways and rooms that make up the Tao's seat of power, artwork of their ancestors and their glories hanging from the walls, lit by moonlight and the embers of torches allowed to burn down to ash. Carvings in the stone depicting common beasts and fantastical beasts alike, that almost seemed to move as if alive as your great shadow passed over the reliefs. The stone is uncarved, deeper into the castle, less decorated away from the eyes of guests, with alcoves and recesses in the rock where shadows lay deep and dark.
cont
>>
>>4540331


There is one in particular that can hide even your frame, it is so deeply carved, but only if your crouch and bend your back as if kneeling to harvest grain or pick berries. In this crevice you sit, still as the rock itself, waiting for the festivities of the Tao to come to an end so you may confront Song, alone and away from his kin. To avoid causing an uproar, or being forced to defend yourself against enraged sons and daughters.

It allows you time to center yourself, sharpen your focus and empty your thoughts. To purge the lingering rage from your heart and mind, to ensure you do not act rashly or wildly. Voiding your emotions and mind, allows you to plan the confrontation with what you know of Song's personality and temperament. What you shall tell him, the details you will avoid mentioning, the precise ratio of truth and lies , the way you word Gao's decree. Though these are but minute details, they are the difference between Song accepting death, or in his final breaths cause yet more suffering with his refusal to leave this would in dignified manner.
-

Song was in high spirits, liquor ran through his veins and removed the weight from his shoulders. Truly life was blissful, the road allowed for easier transportation of goods and resources, and kept the peasantry in line, happy that they were given something as simple as safety from the fog. Truly the Tao were at their most prosperous, outside of a few mistakes and tragedies that have occurred with in their own ranks, and when the Tao prosper, the Gao prosper. No doubt, by this time next week, Song would be able to deliver the heads of the rabble rousers in his minds to Gao, along with his usual shipment of gems and iron ready to be forged into steel.

Perhaps there was enough good will between the two houses to arrange an engagement among their members? Oh it was a fantasy brought upon by drink and joy, but if Gao was given enough wealth, he could be convinced to hand off a daughter to the Tao, or wed one of his sons to one Song's children. Of course, mining efforts would have to increase greatly to supply enough wealth to make up for the difference of prestige between the swallows of Tao and the Dragons of the Gao.

Song chuckled at his own ambitions, twirling a finger through his long, goat like beard as he walked along, lost in thoughts and the haze of drunkenness. Perhaps, even, he would have his wife's company in his bed tonight, he may be old but his loins were still fruitful after all, and the Tao above all could afford to rear another child, despite the coming winter. They were ascendant, wealthier than they had been two generations prior, and they were unified. Despite the power and wealth in contest, Song's family loved one another as a family should, unlike his own generation who fought tooth and nail for mining rights and which cold citadel they would wither away in.
cont
>>
>>4540332

They were like the misbegotten Cui, fighting for the right to call themselves the head of their family, bleeding themselves dry over pointless conflict. But under Song? the Tao had flourished, even if a few of the further branches did maintain the old way of sibling rivalry turning to heated, minor wars.

Now if only the peasantry could realize how good they had it, living beneath his rule. He did not starve and beat them like the Cui, Did not take their wives and daughters like so many other lords who now hang by the road since they angered a giant born of the same stock they oh so enjoyed "sampling. Yet they always bristled, complained that they had to work the earth rather than the fields, complained over unforeseen accidents and blaming their weak constitutions over his mines and quarries! And they called him and his kin tyrants? Because a child was clumsy, or couldn't keep their breath held. Oh what a tragedy, the only path forward was to pin the blame upon the lord and begin acting as the Dai once did.

It brought the lord of the Tao a piercing headache, he had been kind, he left the peasantry alone besides to send orders for more workers in this mine, or that quarry or when the time came to collect taxes, and yet they treated him like some monstrous oppressor! Until recent years, the fields were dangerous, beset by Panthers and the odd Magical beast wandering through his lands, the mines were safe! nothing stalked them in search of warm blood and supple flesh, a cave in was a far more merciful death than being devoured by a panther, choking on fumes was quite painless Song had heard, much more so than being beset by a pack of starving Jackals. So what if the young workers and the old died? they at least died easily, did they not? And it was not the Tao's fault for the miners shoddy work causing accidents.

And like that, the pleasing haze of plum wine had faded from Song's head, as he worked himself up into a indignant fury over the clamorous common folk constant complaining over the slightest misfortune and hardship. It was all so tiresome, Song sighed and looked towards the moon high in the sky, it was a spectacular shade of autumn red this evening, a sign of good harvest perhaps.

There was a rush of wind, cause by the movement of something truly massive. Song turned, reaching for a blade he did not have as a giant silhouette stood before him in the dark. Gold eyes shined like those of a panther in the hunt. It was Lieren! Gao's administrator and hangman! He...was not an expected guest, why was he not alerted to his presence? At the sight of any riders the watchmen would inform Song before letting any guest into these halls. Even one as predigious and renowned as The Azure Administrator, the Great hunter, the farmer who slew a dragon. And yet here Lieren was, deep in the heart of the Tao's mountaintop home.
cont
>>
>>4540334

"Be at ease, Song, I have come to deliver a decree most grim" Lieren spoke, with a deep, intimidating tone that could be mistaken for the very voice of Shangrala herself, the sound of stone and steel. His form remained cloaked in shadow, except his eyes. Song saw that he was not dressed in the robes of his office, there was no tell tale glint of Jade over his brow. No ruffle of silk against silk, just a faint metallic chime.
The chime of steel brushing against steel.

Lieren was covered head to toe in armor made of rings and connected plates. Song thought to scream, to yell for help, but calmed himself. None of his men would stand a chance against the Giant, if he truly meant harm. He did not even speak

"Gao has ordered me to take your head" Lieren continued, speaking with a serene and almost soft voice, it almost put Song at ease, despite what was being said.

"No...no that, that can't be possible, what have the Tao ever done against the Gao" Song hissed, not daring to raise his voice in the presence of a man as a great and mighty as Lieren, even if he spoke nonsense "We have been loyal, we have been profitable, we have been peaceful, what is the meaning for this deceit, giant"

"Disbelieve me if you wish to, your master holds no love for any but himself" Lieren said, his voice suddenly shifting to a hate filled coldness, every word dripping with the venom of disgust and spite "He suspects you to harbor the monk spreading his philosphy through his lands, and has decreed you and the entire bloodline of Tao, to be extinguished"

"I am fighting against that fools gospel!" Song bellowed, not giving himself to rage yet, it was true that Gao was a cruel man, an uncaring man, but he was no fool, The Tao have never harbored any threat to his power or their own "What madness has claimed him to think I shelter such a man, and risk my family, your sense of humor does not amuse me, Lieren"

"This is no jest, Song, I have come to deliver this decree and follow its commands" Lieren said turning to look out the open window and at the moon dressed in red "If it would convince you, shall I tell you exactly what he commanded me to do"

"It isn't, it isn't possible, is Gao truly so blind as to see traitors among his closest allies? we have done nothing, unlike that fool Cui, we have been loyal, he would not order such actions, we are his wealth, his steel" Song said, shaking his head to stop himself from believing such a thing for even a moment, to keep himself from falling into despair

"And The Cui were his muscles, his army" Lieren spoke calmly, not moving to kill Song, but the lore knew that could change before he had time to realize his death was at hand "Gao cares only for his personal power and wealth, the Tao in his eyes threaten both. So they are to die"

"But we have done nothing!" Song wailed, feeling his grip on his emotions fading, fear and dread creeping into his bones
cont
>>
>>4540336

"My family is innocent of these accusations, Lieren, you have his ear! Convince him of the senselessness of this decree! If I cannot be spared, then spare my children, if they cannot be spared shelter my grandchildren! I beg of you, if I am to die, at least allow me the peace knowing my kin will survive me and the crimes Gao has dreamt that I have committed. Allow my head to appease my lord "

"He was very specific about what he wanted me to commit, atrocities and madness, he ordered you to be the last to die. Your head alone will not sway him from the judgement he has passed " Lieren sighed almost as if he felt Song's own sorrow, despite coming to execute him. Song's hopes began to fade, along with his dignity. Desperation and fear took their place.
-

Song was on his knees now, hands pressed together as if in prayer, tears rolling down his cheeks as he kneels in the moonlight flowing through the open window. In what may have been his final moments, as Cui Fu did, he showed a greater virtue and bravery than he had ever held in his life.

Instead of fleeing or attempting to seek protection to extend his time on Shangrala by mere moments more, he faced you, afraid not for himself, but for his family. How many men had begged him the same? to spare their families from the mines, to plead for mercy and receive none? How many had starved by his lust for wealth, how much did he fuel Gao's own depravities and turn a blind eye to his sadism, until it fell upon him and his kin? You had no respect for Song the lord, but Song the father had earned your admiration in his final night, at least.

The exact words of his pleading and begging, you didn't hear, so deeply had the man's heart fallen into despair and fear.

What do you do, Lieren?
>Promise that the innocent of his line shall be spared, and he may choose how he dies
> Tell him you are no butcher, and ask that he greets Gao in hell along with Cui when he arrives, then take his head.
>Allow one last day with his family, so he may put his affairs into order and ease their pain.
>Grab Song by the neck and break it with your grip. He has already suffered enough.
> Write in?
>>
>>4540339
>>Grab Song by the neck and break it with your grip. He has already suffered enough.
>>
>>4540339
>Allow one last day with his family, so he may put his affairs into order and ease their pain.
>"You will be allowed one last day to live, the innocent of your line will be spared. Be sure to teach them not to repeat the sins of their father or one day they will face the same fate."
>>
>>4540339
Supporting >>4540343
Tell the man his line will no longer be royalty, but they [the innocent] shall at least be alive. Tell them this yourself that they don't get fool notions in their head.

I hope he dies with some dignity.
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>>4540339
>>Promise that the innocent of his line shall be spared, and he may choose how he dies
Dude doesn't deserve any extra time, he's stolen enough.
>>
>>4540351
I more just wanted him to say "Hey family, guess what, you're all going to need to go into hidings and work the mines, M'kay? Or you're all gonna die and get handed over to Gao, not really in that order"
>>
>>4540356
Maybe give him a few hours rather than a day, now that I think about it. He doesn't need that much to organised things for a smooth transition.
>>
I wonder...the guy strikes me a slightly better Scrooge as he actually gives a damn about his own family. Wonder if we could Chrismas Carol him? Give him the day. Watch carefully what he does with it. And speak with him again before we kill him.
>>
>>4540343
supporting.

Not like he can do anything for escape. Maybe we can offer to send his family to our village in Nothing. Under secret. They would be safe there.
>>
>>4540369
I don't see the point really. A few hours is enough to be organised about handing over our reins.

>>4540372
Gao's spies might find that. If you are all objecting to just putting them in the mines, we could split the family apart, sending them under new names to different allies to be raised in the virtuious manner.
>>
>>4540343
I support this.

I also feel like we shouldn't give his body to gao so he can do his fucked up shit, that'd just please him and we do not want to please gao. Just give him the emperor's peace (medieval edition), let his family bury him in some nameless grave somewhere and and then tell gao he threw himself from his castle and his body was not able to be found or some shit.

The guy is definitely not good, but he's not malicious or degenerate either. Really, he's better than most real life nobles. That doesn't excuse his crimes, but he deserves an humane enough treatment.
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>>4540379
We are going to give him his head as proof of deed Anon. And Gao doesn't mutilate corpses he hasn't tortured already, there being no pleasure in it for him
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>>4540375
I think mines could be a risk for them in their own region of the province. I am fine with splitting the family apart or the mines.
My idea was more a suggestion
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>>4540383
I'd prefer to psyche out gao, honestly. I mean, Gao doesn't know we'd be able to basically move faster than the human eye, right? We can just say he jumped from his castle. That's gotta apply some paranoia. He's not going to turn on us, and if he does then we'll take him out all the same.

As a whole, i don't see any reason to do that.
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>>4540339
>>Promise that the innocent of his line shall be spared, and he may choose how he dies
>>
>>4540339
>Grab Song by the neck and break it with your grip. He has already suffered enough.
His love for his family does not wash away the blood of the countless innocents who have died to build his wealth and further his ambitions
>>
>>4540413
True, but it's not like he's particularly malicious or anything. Workers in bad conditions is pretty standard for an medieval world, and even if it has to be punished there's no reason not to let him put his affairs in orders. Not like he can escape, anyway.
>>
>>4540339
>>Allow one last day with his family, so he may put his affairs into order and ease their pain.
A day seems too much, but giving him time to speak with his children and wife will put them at ease. I'm happy to let them live on as peasants in some village, and our improvement of his lands will keep them safe
>>
>>4540339
Supporting >>4540343
I would like to add a line, right before he dies, about how we’ll make sure Gap’s madness comes to an end.
>>
>>4540339
>Allow one last day with his family, so he may put his affairs into order and ease their pain.
>Promise that the innocent of his line shall be spared, and he may choose how he dies
>>
>>4540420
How long do you think he would need? 3 hours? 6 at most.
>>
>>4540339
>>Promise that the innocent of his line shall be spared, and he may choose how he dies.
>>Allow one last day with his family, so he may put his affairs into order and ease their pain.
>>
>>4540424
Ah yes, this is actually something that i agree on, we should definitely add that gao is going to get what is coming to him and we're doing this because of HIS crimes (sending young children to die in the mines)
>>
>>4540437
Sounds like it could implicate us. Save it for just before the blade pierces his heart/lungs.
>>
>>4540343
supporting
>>
>>4540442
Yeah, before we kill him. What difference does it make anyway, he's a dead man walking.
>>
>>4540427
Give him till dawn. He can wake up his kids and say his goodbyes then do whatever book work is needed. Let him see the sun one more time
>>
Since discuss slowed down what do you guys think of hindu/buddhist meditative techniques?
>>
>>4540339
>Allow one last day with his family, so he may put his affairs into order and ease their pain.

Promise him that Gao isn't going to last much longer either. We also might want to spirit away the family, to keep them safe from Gao.
>>
>>4540533
I honestly know nothing about it, but i think having "buddhist" type meditation as being part of our legion's culture would help a lot with the purity part.

As for the discussion, i feel like it's slowed down because we've yet to reach the more interesting part. Discussion was also pretty slow last thread when we were just talking with the four virtuous souls.

After we start the coup, there'll be plenty of discussion on what to do.
>>
>>4540583
I agree, I think encouraging our marines take up hobbies like calligraphy, philosophy, poetry, pottery, knotting, gardening, or whatever is in line with our philosophy and would help to form a cohesive legion identity.

I was thinking recently how I could see Lieren being a bonsai enthusiast, but remembered that we haven’t found or heard of a Japanese analog on Shangrala. Luckily enough, there’s a Chinese version.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penjing
>>
>>4540583
>>4540597
There’s a lot of practices that China lifted from India like Mudra (magic handsigns), Pranayama (breathing techniques), Nata (ritualized movement), and Asana (still meditative postures).
>>
Alright, calling the vote now.

Snap Song's neck:2
Allow him one last day with his family:7
Promise his innocent kin will live:10

Alright, allowing him a final day of life and sparring the innocent of his line wins, and I'll include the specific write in for that as it was what most people voted in support off.

Writing the update now
>>
Looking down into the mountain lord eyes, he freezes from merely meeting your direct gaze. His pleas stop, his begging stops, even his breathing ceases for a few moments. Song becomes as still as a frozen pond, perhaps fearing you have grown tired of his begging and his death would soon be upon him, sooner than he could comprehend. There was fear in his eyes, there had been since you spoke of Gao's decree, but if it had deepened in the instant you looked upon his eyes, even you could not tell. His already pale skin had become the color of the oldest snow on a mountain's peak. The pallor of a bloodless corpse, left to turn cold in the night's air.

You ease his tensions by speaking, simply and to the point, no metaphors, phrases or poetic verse. Simple words, no flowery speech, despite your habit of speaking in such a way.

"You will be allowed to live one last day to live" You say, leaning over so you are not towering so much above the kneeling lord, his expression of pure terror relaxing and fading away as he realizes his death is coming in moments, but in hours "The innocent of your line will be spared"

"So you are going against Gao's command then?" Song asks, as if he expects to find some hidden meaning in the words you just spoke to him, poison hidden among honey, a knife buried in the field, a deception most cruel.

You step to his side, to observe the blood red moon from a better angle, tilting your head as you admire the beauty of Song's lands, the fog covered by the shroud of night, the only sound being the softest wind dancing through mountain peaks and into the castle's hall through openings like one you're staring through now.

"I have never been loyal to Gao, he has never commanded my actions. What he wishes done, is utterly meaningless to me" You answer simply, glancing back to song, taking a long breath of frigid air, feeling it rush to your lungs and cool your body before speaking again "Be sure to teach them not to repeat the sins of their fathers, or one day they will face the same fate"

"Sins?" Song asks, before a look of realization flashes over his eyes, and a amused smile passes his lips. Like his cousin, he must have figured out from your actions and words that you were in fact the monk who had spread the new philosophy and taught virtue throughout the lands of Gao. But he does not react angrily, or hatefully, he simply bows his head and chuckles as if amused with himself.

"A farmer has outsmarted all of Gao" he laughs shaking his head, seeming to have made peace with his fate knowing his family will live beyond him "So it was no mere act, you truly are so foolishly virtuous and benevolent, Lieren. How surprising"

"Make your peace, for when the sun is high in the sky, you shall die" You say, motioning with the your Guandao as Song remains on the could, laughing as if it were all some big joke, as if he's forgotten his rapidly approaching doom.
cont
>>
>>4540748

You pause, and turn back to face him, to ensure he does not try to slip from your grasp.

"And do not think to flee, your citadel is already under my control, my men stalk its shadows. Its bells have been removed and the signal horns trampled, there is no escape for you, Song. Make your peace, and face death with dignity" You add, before slipping into the shadows, moving so quietly the Lord of the Tao no doubt thinks you have simply vanished into the air like a ghost fading into the mist.

And there you remain, moving as unnoticed as the wind, ensuring your men have acomplished their tasks, as you move through the Tao's home. Out of all ten of them, only two have been injured. Small Chen and Red Faced Wei, and not severely. Though Chen shall now bear a scar upon his chest for the remainder of his days, Jinhai had saved his life, while Wei took his injury, a shallow cut along his leg, defending Zian from a surprise attack from beyond. But to ensure their safety, incase any of the Tao besides Song attempt to make a break for it or send their guards to hunt your hunters, you send them to rest along the abandoned portion of the wall. Out of sight of any who would enter the courtyard or look from the castle's heights.

You yourself, observe Song in his final hours, trailing him, unseen even as his sons order guard stationed to accompany him wherever he goes, as closely as possible. Song's children seem to believe they can battle the world to save their father, and for the dawn their are talks among them of abandoning the fortress or sending a messenger on horse back, requesting aid. But Song vetoes all their plans, and instead forces them to continue as normal. And for most of his final day, Song merely plays with his grandchildren and younger children together, his wife joining him on the verge of tears as the adult sons and daughters of the Tao mourn their still living patriarch.

He has not, even to his own kin, revealed you were the one behind the spread of the new school of philosophy, or the one teaching its tenants to all who would listen. He had even stopped referring to it as "the peasant's gospel" in his final day. But he did tell them of Gao's decree, and that soon, the power they had built over generations would slip from their fingers. Some of the Tao took this news better than others, but having spent all their passion and fury demanding to be allowed to defend their father, their patriarch, even those who objected did not do so loudly. They merely turned to drinking more heavily during the last meal of Song. An air of mourning had fallen upon the castle, of unease, not knowing which shadow held watching eyes, and which were empty.

The older Taos stopped speaking to their guards, perhaps fearing you had infiltrated them with men loyal to you over themselves.
cont
>>
>>4540752

Though one thing you enjoyed hearing were the curses and insulting song the now drunk Tao spat and sang towards Lord Gao, their loyalty to the man severed with the knowledge he'd have them all dead, and that he was the cause for their sudden downfall. It seemed Song had convinced them you were not at fault for any of their misfortunes. Because you had shown his kin mercy, though he probably knew that you were watching for signs of sinful behavior among his kin even now. Watching to see which had committed unforgiveable crimes as their father had.

By time the sun was at its brightest, Tao Song left the safety of his castle and stepped into his courtyard. He looked to the sky, a throng of his family forming behind him, but too scared to leave the safety of their home.

With a whistle, you called your men to you, and walked from the battlements of the wall that surrounded their palace of stone and steel.

"I am ready, Lieren, I am content. My last day is a joyous one" Song says simply amid wails and curses thrown by his family, calling you some rather colorful names for merely being Song's executioner. You do not blame them, no child can prepare themselves for the day their father perishes.

"You face death with more dignity than most, rest knowing your family shall come to no harm from my hands or any others" You say calmly as the guards who would have rushed to their master's side merely stand at attention, knowing they will only join him in death if they were to try and defend him from you.

"So, none of them are...sinful?" He asks, still looking at the mist free sky above his home, a child like smile on his face, his eyes free of fear and dread

"I would not fill a dying man's thoughts with worry and fear for his kin" You reply simply "If they are, you shall meet them again soon"

"Hmmm, I hope none of them are sinners in your eyes, as a father" He says closing his eyes, and stroking his beard "I must ask, that I be allowed one more boon"

"I would not deny a man about to die a final wish" You say with a smile as Song takes a deep breath.

"Allow me to look over my lands, as the last Lord Tao, allow me to die seeing my family's faces" He says softly, his voice pure and innocent, as if a lifetime of sin and apathy had been washed from his back in the face of his appending death.

"You may" You say, walking with him, your men following you as Tao Song leads you to the walls surrounding his home. He walks at a leisurely pace, singing a war song his family favors as he marches to the center of the wall. And looks over the edge, above the veil of fog and mist.

Tears fill his eyes as he takes in the view, valleys, rivers, distant castles and ruined forts. Smoke rising from the mines and villages under his command. Forests and caves. The rarely seen clouds of Shangrala. He closes his eyes, to maintain the imagine in his memory before he turns and laughs.
cont
>>
>>4540753

"Do not mourn, my children! for you have lives beyond Tao Song, beyond the Tao! our wealth may be taken, or lands stolen, and our nobility stripped! But we are, forever, a family. Until the stars themselves fade and the fogs lift, I shall watch over you my children, my grandchildren, a Tao shall never be alone!" he proclaims, bowing his head before lifting it again "Celebrate that you yet live, do not mourn me!"

And with that, you strike, wrapping your hand around his throat and crushing it beneath your grip, allowing Song to die standing, a far better death than any who had died to fill his coffers had. His eyes widen with shock, before the life and light fade and they go empty. A smile remains on his face, and you let go of the last lord of the Tao.

His family wail and cry, their anger towards you, towards Gao is forgotten in their grief.

"We would all be so lucky" Zian says simply as you stand stoically, brushing your hands of as if to clean them.

"Many of us won't be, but if it is in my power to give a condemned man the death he wishes for, I shall give it to him without hesitation" You say, looking over the sorrow and grief filled faces of Song's family, shaking your head "if the death he deserves is out of my reach, and the man has some virtue in his heart"

"If he is not an utter abomination?" Jinhai rightfully guess, pawing at his frowning mask to pull it free and scratch his face

"Exactly" You say with a nod "Monsters do not deserve to die as men, and cruelty given to a dying man is the most pointless thing one can do"

"I see" Zian says with a nod, leaning against his spear

What do you do now, Lieren?
> Escort the Tao to safety, under Gao's nose. Keep your promise beyond sparring the virtuous Tao.
> Move men to hold The Tao's citadel, it shall be your staging grounds against Gao
> Send messengers to stop mining until further notice, and claim the iron already harvested to begin building the armaments of your army.
> Contact your allies, telling them to move to Nothing under the guise of a celebration held by yourself, and begin planning to overthrow Gao
> write in
>>
>>4540755
>>Escort the Tao to safety, under Gao's nose. Keep your promise beyond sparring the virtuous Tao.
>>Send messengers to stop mining until further notice, and claim the iron already harvested to begin building the armaments of your army.
>>Contact your allies, telling them to move to Nothing under the guise of a celebration held by yourself, and begin planning to overthrow Gao
So it begins.
>>
>>4540755
>> Send messengers to stop mining until further notice, and claim the iron already harvested to begin building the armaments of your army.
> Escort the Tao to safety, under Gao's nose. Keep your promise beyond sparring the virtuous Tao.
>>
>>4540766
>> Send messengers to stop mining until further notice, and claim the iron already harvested to begin building the armaments of your army.
> Escort the Tao to safety, under Gao's nose. Keep your promise beyond sparring the virtuous Tao.
>Contact your allies, telling them to move to Nothing under the guise of a celebration held by yourself, and begin planning to overthrow Gao
changing to this actually
>>
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>>4540755
>>Escort the Tao to safety, under Gao's nose. Keep your promise beyond sparring the virtuous Tao.
>>Send messengers to stop mining until further notice, and claim the iron already harvested to begin building the armaments of your army.
>>Contact your allies, telling them to move to Nothing under the guise of a celebration held by yourself, and begin planning to overthrow Gao
Remind them, this was Gao's orders to kill them.
>>
> Escort the Tao to safety, under Gao's nose. Keep your promise beyond sparring the virtuous Tao.
> Move men to hold The Tao's citadel, it shall be your staging grounds against Gao
we promised Song his family would not perish, and so it will be, i would allow them to take some family heirlooms and a small amouunt of wealth so they may start anew after we rid the world of gao, and hopefully the family will use it well in the future
>>
>>Escort the Tao to safety, under Gao's nose. Keep your promise beyond sparring the virtuous Tao.
>>Send messengers to stop mining until further notice, and claim the iron already harvested to begin building the armaments of your army.
>>Contact your allies, telling them to move to Nothing under the guise of a celebration held by yourself, and begin planning to overthrow Gao

In addition to these:
>>Ask where the Tao are buried/where Song wanted to be buried and bury the last Lord Tao yourself there if it can be done quickly.

We did bury Cui, and this will help prevent his family from doing something stupid.
>>
>>4540755
>>Escort the Tao to safety, under Gao's nose. Keep your promise beyond sparring the virtuous Tao.
>>Send messengers to stop mining until further notice, and claim the iron already harvested to begin building the armaments of your army.
>>Contact your allies, telling them to move to Nothing under the guise of a celebration held by yourself, and begin planning to overthrow Gao

Perhaps one day one of their youngest will make a fine space marine, and some of the Tao will become as immortal demi-gods among the stars

>>4540784
I agree with the burying idea.
>>
>>4540784
Supporting the addition of a burial
>>
>>4540784
i also support the idea of a burial
>>
>>4540755
>>4540755
>> Escort the Tao to safety, under Gao's nose. Keep your promise beyond sparring the virtuous Tao.
> Send messengers to stop mining until further notice, and claim the iron already harvested to begin building the armaments of your army.
> Contact your allies, telling them to move to Nothing under the guise of a celebration held by yourself, and begin planning to overthrow Gao

>>4540784
agree with the burial

Also:
we should try and find some sort of heirloom item for the Tao family, so that we might find Song in the next life and raise him up well. (or maybe make a space marine) He actually seemed to show some amount of virtuousness toward the end.
>>
>>4540784
agreed
>>
>>4540755
> Escort the Tao to safety, under Gao's nose. Keep your promise beyond sparring the virtuous Tao.
> Send messengers to stop mining until further notice, and claim the iron already harvested to begin building the armaments of your army.
> Contact your allies, telling them to move to Nothing under the guise of a celebration held by yourself, and begin planning to overthrow Gao

I also have to say, this has been an amazing quest. Moments like these are so easy to screw up, but you've written each one perfectly QM. Thank you.

>>4540784
Supporting the burial idea
>>
>>4540784
>>>Ask where the Tao are buried/where Song wanted to be buried and bury the last Lord Tao yourself there if it can be done quickly.
>We did bury Cui, and this will help prevent his family from doing something stupid.
Indeed.

Tao has to be buried and for us to meditate on Tao just as we did on Cui.
Their goals were after all admirable as well as the their persons had dignity even in the face of certain death.

Perhaps Lieren will manage to come to peace that all the powerful and wealthy have some bloodstains be it directly or indirectly as a function of their position, as the price of blood gets paid regardless of method, and thus some like Tao have become apathetic to it and simply made a calculus he never revisited on what is to costly in blood.

We do kind of have to temper our idealism with some pragmatism before we meet our extended family.
>>
>>4540755
> Escort the Tao to safety, under Gao's nose. Keep your promise beyond sparring the virtuous Tao.
> Send messengers to stop mining until further notice, and claim the iron already harvested to begin building the armaments of your army.
> Contact your allies, telling them to move to Nothing under the guise of a celebration held by yourself, and begin planning to overthrow Gao


>>4540784
i support as well the burial idea
>>
>>4540784
Supporting this
>>
>>4540784
Supportin.

We can get a reputation for being a merciful lord, which will help a lot.
>>
>>4540784
Support
>>
>>4540755
>> Send messengers to stop mining until further notice, and claim the iron already harvested to begin building the armaments of your army.
> Move men to hold The Tao's citadel, it shall be your staging grounds against Gao
> Contact your allies, telling them to move to Nothing under the guise of a celebration held by yourself, and begin planning to overthrow Gao
>>
>>4540784
Bury him
>>
>>4540755
As far as I know, most Primarchs have some degree of psychic abilities. Do we have any, or is all in the eyes?
I don't know how many other primarchs have golden eyes, but I wonder if Lieren looks the most similar to The Emperor, what with the iron colored hair and golden eyes.

How tall are we again?
>>
>>4541453
>but I wonder if Lieren looks the most similar to The Emperor, what with the iron colored hair and golden eyes.
The Emperor in his prime is most commonly depicted as a Caucasian man with a deep tan, dark brown eyes, a strong jawline, sharp features, with long brown hair parted in the middle.
It should also be noted that all of his physical features could be changed on a whim.
Whether this is similar to how Magnus performs the same feat is up for debate, but regardless it is within his ability. Most commonly he would change his height depending on a variety of factors, usually preferring to be taller than any of his Primarch sons under most circumstances.
Based off all that, I'd say that my personal interpretation of Lieren matches somewhat closely to the common depiction of the Emperor, save for the golden eyes and iron hair.
>>
>>4541453
Oh yeah also since Lieren's a Primarch, he's gotta be 8 feet tall, minimum.
>>
>>4541453
We'll probably discover osme psychic ability, but a lot of them don't have any obvious ones. Dorn, Roboat Gorillaman and Perty all seem pretty normal. Assuming we're the anti-chaos primarch like some people have said, it would make sense for us to not have many psychic abilities. Then again, the Lion could smite and he's kinda the anti-psyker posterboy, so who knows

Lorgar looks most like the Emperor of the 18 primarchs, but it's possible Leiren resembles him as well.

Primarchs tend to be 12-14 feet tall depending on the writer. I think we're fully grown by now, so somewhere in that range
>>
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>>4541477
>Lorgar looks most like the Emperor of the 18 primarchs
If the Emperor of Mankind devloped Alopecia, sure.
>>
>>4541477
That is something to consider. Has Lieren achieved max Primarch physical maturity yet?

Say, are we sticking to mostly bladed polearms now, or will we consider investing more into martial prowess (unarmed, ninja stuff, stubby sticks) once we overthrow Gao?
>>
>>4541487
I'd prefer polearms, the ninja primarch niche already has two people and polearms are underappreciated in 40k. Pretty much the only people that use them are the Custodes and Alpharius
>>
>>4541495
I think our wargear setup is eventually gonna look something like this
>Mastercraft armor
>Power Guandao
>Powerfist (maybe replace with a Chainfist or Lightning Claw)
>Heavy Bolt Pistol
This is all just based on nothing however and could change drastically.
>>
>>4541506
I can imagine Leiren using a jumppack of some kind. Movement and mobility will be key aspects of his fighting style, so the more options he has the better.
>>
>>4541508
I feel like mobility is gonna be a big part of our fully realized style/tactical doctrine
Always being able to get into the most advantageous position or get out of a disadvantageous one as fast as possible would mesh with Lieren's tactics well I think.
>>
>>4541477
>it would make sense for us to not have many psychic abilities.
But that’s wrong. Psyker abilities are one of the best counters to immaterium bullshit outside of blank bullshit.
>>
>>4541487
I think we should get into a variety of weapons especially since every weapon we wield will turn into a relic.
>>
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>>4541506
Hell, we're a primarch, we could get a powerfist with an integrated flamerbolter and a upscaled guardian spear. Just steal the loadout from the Achillus dreadnought
>>
>>4541536
What about a Guandao that can be turned into a separate staff and sword?
That allows us a fair degree of versatility at the very least.
>>
>>4541553
Thinking about it making our weapons all modular would set us apart from all the other legions.
>>
>>4541526
Wouldn't that then mean that Magnus was supposed to be the anti-warp primarch? I feel like it's still too early in our life to figure out what we are, though I am partial to the Inquisition or Idealism idea.
>>
>>4541553
we can always just have a sword on our ship in case we go into city warfare and don't want to deal with the guandao. A sword and a guandao blade are pretty different in terms of balance and shape, it wouldn't be as good as a dedicated power sword. There's a reason medieval weapons didn't break down into components, its an unnecessary weak point and isn't that useful. Roboute had a gladius as a side arm, nothing stops us from doing the same
>>
>>4541570
Alright yeah, fair argument.
The only reason I brought up having some way of incorporating a short weapon in our arsenal is because we're not always gonna have enough room to use a Guandao effectively.
>>
>>4541564
Magnus was a battery/overseer for the Astronomicon and also a scholar, Lieren could be a mega-psyker too, just with a main focus on combat-related stuff like biomancy (my beautiful, beautiful and OP biomancy), technopathy (to reinforce and bond with weapons and armour) and many other powers that I don't know about.
>>
>>4541506
A storm or combat shield would be better than a power fist desu. Unless we could slap both on the same arm. Really I think the Powerfist wouldn't mesh well with the Guandao if we wanna two hand it for maximum leverage strength.
Maybe something like Dig-weapons we could imbed in the knuckles of our power fists to make them mini versions of actual power fists if people want to get up close and personal?

>>4541508
>>4541511
Same. Jetpack+Guando/las cannon+power fist is the way to go.

>>4541536
Why steal when we could make it a goal to make them?

>>4541570
>>4541574
A back up power knife would be ideal incase our main melee weapon(s) break or are lost mid combat.
>>
>>4541592
*digi. Digi weapons. Those ring weapons that can shoot laser or flames.
>>
>>4541592
Would rather not wield a polearm with a fucking jetpack.
>>
Alright, calling the vote, sorry for the wait lads

Escort the tao:13
Send messengers to stop mining:13
Contact your allies:12
Bury Song respectfully: 13
occupy the mountainhold: 2

Alright, So, Lieren will Bury Lord Tao properly and respectfully, escort the surviving Tao to safety, send messengers to stop mining and contact his allies to move to nothing and bring the stockpiled Iron from the Taos Lands.

It begins. Writing

>>4540808
I'm just happy people are enjoying it

>>4540788
>some of my ancestors were KILLED by our father
>*Loud cheering from gathered astartes*
>>
>>4541598
Is it really that unwieldy? I figured it could double as a semi rifle if we manage to install a lascannon in it, so why not?
>>
>>4541592
I figure we could use a human sized powerfist as a normal gauntlet. Sure it won't have the strength of a normal one, but it's really just a backup weapon and a primarch's strength will make up for it.

By steal I meant steal the combo, not physically steal from a Custodes dreadnought. Not sure if we could make it though, technology doesn't seem to be Lieren's gift. Normal firearms from a blueprint is easy enough, but a las-impulser power spear is very high tech.

>>4541598
Everyone's favorite primarch could fly and used a spear. I'd guess that a primarch can get a smaller jetpack than 40k astartes to avoid it getting in the way
>>
>>4541603
Kek
>>
>>4541614
I think we should have different sets for different situations, but not too many. My vote is for:

>For pure close combat melee in ships/corridors, etc: Primarch level servoarmour, built to integrate and support a mix of powerfist (enhances our martial arts), thunderclaw with claws similar to those of a panther/beast (curved, shorter and thicker than a blade, slashing deep enough to kill while also allowing to grapple, rip and tear and overall enhancing our martial arts), chainfist (with chainswords acting like a not!tonfa/forearm blade, moving vertically with a rail like mechanism up and down our forearm so they don't impede our hand movements when we don't need them), boltstorm gauntlet, and if possible (not really), just to complete the "fist-type" set, add powerklaw-like mechanisms to the thunderclaw (one klaw from beneath the wrist, like that charcarodon barbed saw gauntlet, the other two from the top, leaving the chainsword rail between them so they can fit and don't break the structure), but that part is excessive and probably not possible (I want to rip and tear until it's done, Ok?). The idea is to alternate between modes and to activate compatible ones at the same time for extra CQC carnage.

>For regular battle: Guandao (our main weapon) +jetpack/xianxia psyker levitation(mobility)+sword/s (side weapon)+ranged weapon(insert name here).

>For non-lethal takedown: Just punch with your superhuman strenght and flawless self control. Or hit with the non-pointy end of the Guandao. Or use psyker powers if we have them.
>>
Guys, what last gift should we give Gao to set his soul at ease? Perhaps a wine glass of that drink he loves so much before his death.

Because I feel like as much as we hate him with every fibre of our core, if we can still show this disgusting repulsive insect courtesy, nobody can ever claim we dont stick by our principles.
>>
>>4541665
Oh, and if we can, get some Primarch level servoarms and mechadendrites, because extra-arms with ranged and melee weapons can support any build and also give us the fine motor skills (and hacking/scanning/general utility abilities) that we would lack with the whole powerfist monstrosity combo. Any advantage we can get before the Ragdan and The Beast is a good bonus.
>>
>>4541676
We will acknowledge his Slaaneshy nature and punch him in the face so he enjoys the pain. But now seriously, read the part where Ñieren says that abominable monsters should die like monsters they are, with no mercy and no honours.
>>
>>4541679
*Lieren
*like the monsters
>>
>>4541679
I also read the part that said "even gao, much as i hate him, i would let him have a mouthful of his wine before throttling him dead".

I can see either going through, I just like to think on possibilities. Gao though, won't show any virtue whatsoever. This probably renders him as not a man.
>>
Then, kneeling down, you gingerly pick up the last lord of the Tao, holding his still form in your arms and taking care not to disturb his body too much as you lift him from the ground. His robes dance and wave in the wind along with his long hair and beard. The corpse gazes up at you with lifeless eyes and a senseless smile, a peaceful death despite it being an execution. Its almost as if Song is staring into the mystery of death and greeting it with a smile, but in actuality he is merely frozen in his last moments, his muscles pulled tight and locked in the position they were last held in. Soon they would stiffen further and then go soft. Would Song's smile remain then.

Silence has fallen over the mourners, as you carry their father, their grandfather, their lord and their husband across the walls, taking long, meticulous strides to ensure you do not cause the corpse in your arms to jerk or move in an otherwise unpleasing manner from the momentum of your march. He remains still, dignified, as you take him from the walls and too the courtyard. The fear of his kin is heavy in the air, they do not know what to expect from you, what you will do. None of Tao's grandchildren are among them, nor his younger children. Only the adults and servants have come to witness his final moments.

Good, crying children is the last thing you wish to see today, or any day. Walking across the gathered family, each member looking up at you with a mixture of pain, sorrow and anger painted across their expressions or hidden in their eyes. Not a single soul speaks a word, or makes a sound. Either from your presence, or the last order of their patriarch. After a few strides more, across the courtyard, you come to Song's wife, a middle aged woman, powdered and dressed as finally as her late husband. Jade and lesser gems woven into her yellow dress, her hair tied and looped together to form a bun upon which a gold and gemmed covered pin is pierced through.

She looks at you, and then your husband, silent still. Then you kneel, and before her and bow your head, to show respect to the widow.

"Tell me, Lady Tao, did Song have a gravesite in mind? Or did he wish to join his ancestors in their silent halls?" You ask softly, gently, not raising your voice and taking an effort to remove any harshness from your words or tone. Lady Tao merely looks at you, confusion clear in her expression and movements.

"Is their a location where Song wished to be buried?" You ask again, lowering your posture, bending your back and slouching your shoulders to appear less intimidating, less of a giant "Or shall he be interred with those who came before him, as the Last Lord Tao buried with in the crypts of your family"

Song's wife turns away, fanning herself as she struggled to hide her emotions, to keep them from surfacing in the face of the great kindness you are showing to her deceased husband, to his family.
cont
>>
>>4541768

The elder sons, standing at her side look at you with awe and amazement glowing in their eyes. But they remain silent, and do not praise you or thank you for showing their father such respect in death, nor for attempting to honor any wishes or will he had left behind before marching to his end. With dignity and valor. He may have been an apathetic lord, who forced those who lived in his lands to live and die in the dark, to break themselves with toil and labor.

But Song was also a father, also a man. and for that you honored him, and ensured his everlasting rest would be a comfortable one.

"He, wished to be buried upon the highest mountain in our..." Lady Tao says quietly pauses, closing her eyes and sighing before taking a long, deep breath of frigid air to calm her nerves "former lands, so he may keep an eye upon all who followed after him"

Her voice was on the verge of breaking into sobs, her dignified mask breaking as her tone raises to a high pitch, her pain clear in every word she speaks. She turns away, her eldest son moving to comfort her as she lose her composure and starts openly weeping.

"Why? Why would you of all people waste time fulfilling the last wishes of a man you killed?" Another of Song's sons, this one with a thin strip mustache and no bear asks with his hands clasped together.

"Is it truly a waste of time?" You ask in reply, turning and looking into the man's eyes, freezing him in place and silencing him once again "To give another man your respect, even if you had no love for him in your heart? To give a man a clean, easy death, allowing him to die happy and fulfilled? If I were to leave his body to the crows, I'd be betraying not only my promise to him, but myself. Make no mistake, your father is no man I considered a friend or even respected in life, but in death I shall give him the honor he deserves as your father and the last lord of the Tao"

The son does not respond. A few of the young men and women in the line also toss aside their masks and begin crying as their mother did.

"Send messengers into your lands, telling the mines and quarries to cease their activities and labors" You say, still not rising to your feet "And I humbly request an escort to the highest peak among these mountains, when I return I shall take all of you, your entire family, to safety"

Lady Tao turns to her eldest son, and nods once, the son closes his eyes and sighs.

"As you wish, administrator" He replies, looking at his father in your arms, rather than you yourself.

With a click of your tongue, you call Jinhai to your side.

"Send word to the nearest garrison, we will need a mustering of arms and men to guard the Tao on our shared journey, and have them send riders down to the road to the lands of the virtuous" You whisper into the young warriors ear, he simply nods and turns to the rest of your men
cont
>>
>>4541769
"Ensure that for each destination, four riders at minimum are sent, so the message is not lost, give them a copy of this writing"

You trace letters into the ground in front of Jinhai, writing "Return to nothing" allowing him only enough time to see it once. But with his sharp perception and hawk like eyes, he would remember the message exactly.

"Zian, keep half of our force here, to ensure they Tao do remain in the safety of their castle, and do not wander into the hands of those who would seem them slaughtered" You order as the veteran soldier clasps his hands together and bows "The rest shall follow the same orders as Jinhai, and accompany him on his short journey"

And with that said, you take your leave of the citadel of stone and Iron, the eldest son of Song following after you, remaining silent and keeping his eyes down the road and into the fog. He's trying to avoid gazing upon his father's corpse, but he does not stray from your side, nor return to his home.

He follows you up the narrow path of stone reaching high into the sky, along the side of the mountain, bridging gaps between mountains with aged arches of stone held together with braces of wood. He keeps pace, even as he visibly becomes more exhausted, walking in silence even as his soft silk slippers become tatters from the hike into the skies above Shangrala.

Eventually, after hours of hiking along the most treacherous of paths, you arrive upon a small flat garden, held high above the ground, a simply bench besides a flowering tree. The light is nearly blinding, and there is not even the merest hint of fog cover. It is carved out of the very top of the mountain.

Without a word, as if possessed, Song's son begins digging into the earth with his hands, his stoic mask shattering in the moment as he howls and wails like a tortured soul, crying as a child would, trying to do his part in ensuring his father is properly buried, without any tools. You walk by him, and lay song out upon the stone bend, turning his head to face the view over the edge. It must've been one of his favorites if he wished to be buried here.

And then, you kneel next to his son, and put a hand on his shoulder.

"Allow this humble hunter to aid you" You say kindly, smiling as you drive your own massive hands into the soil, tearing it and pulling it free from the ground.

A few minutes longer, and there is a proper grave at the bottom of the blossoming tree.

Clasping your hands together, you bow and leave the son to his duty, and walk down the worn stone steps leading up to this hidden garden, to the final resting place of the last lord of the tao. It takes an hour for Song's eldest son to come to terms with his passing.

When he comes down the stairs, his eyes are red and his face coated in dirt, streaks of tears flowing over the mask of soil like streams fed by rain.
cont
>>
>>4541775

"I thank you for this honor, Lieren" he says simply, stepping past you "and for your mercy, I will do my best to ensure any grudges and hatred my kind hold toward you are buried with my father. It was by Gao's hand he met his end, and it'd be by his hand we would have joined our father in death"

"How wise you are, Tao" You say, not knowing the man's name as he smiles.


"I only hope I will be remembered by that name, rather than the one given to me on my second year" He says frowning deeply and ruefully, his words bitter and cold "but, men cannot choose their fate"

You say nothing in reply, but nod in agreement. And with that, you return to the Tao, and wait for your men to arrive so you may properly escort them to safety, along with the iron harvested from their mines
-
Nothing is in chaos, if only because the presence of nobles such as Lady Qian and the others who have through some way or another become complicit in your scheming, the sudden arrival of a small army of one of the greater noble houses beneath Gao, worsens the tension already present. There is not one man in Nothing who holds love for those of noble birth in his heart.

But peace is maintained, by your bellowing voice and commands. None would dare act against you in your own home, none of the brothers of panthers would do any mischief knowing it'd upset you, same with your guards and allies. But to be safe, you keep your guests in your personal home, with your father and Guozhi.

No doubt word would reach Gao of your "betrayal". You did not have much time to work with, winter was soon to arrive. At most you'd get a messenger demanding you turn over the Tao for a fate most terrible. More virtuous men would arrive before them, if they are not intimidated away from following your invitation.

What are your preparations, Lieren?
> Put all your available man power into manufacturing fire arms through the winter
> Meet with the nobles and generals who have turned to your side, from Qian's manipulations or your actions
> Send messengers to the black general, detailing his part in your plans
> A panther does not feed by waiting, You shall take Gao's head yourself. That will delay the coming of war
> write in
>>
>>4541777
> Put all your available man power into manufacturing fire arms through the winter
> A panther does not feed by waiting, You shall take Gao's head yourself. That will delay the coming of war
>>
>>4541777
> A panther does not feed by waiting, You shall take Gao's head yourself. That will delay the coming of war

> Put all your available man power into manufacturing fire arms through the winter

>See if there is a "meeting" which the black general will be at, And "happen" too catch him at it.
>>
>>4541777
> Put all your available man power into manufacturing fire arms through the winter
> A panther does not feed by waiting, You shall take Gao's head yourself. That will delay the coming of war
It seems we will have to deal with the whole of Yan in this war. Our men will have to be well armed and trained to survive this trial
>>
>>4541777
>>4541777
> Put all your available man power into manufacturing fire arms through the winter
> Meet with the nobles and generals who have turned to your side, from Qian's manipulations or your actions
> A panther does not feed by waiting, You shall take Gao's head yourself. That will delay the coming of war
I assume the nobles and generals are in Nothing already? If not, don't bother, but if they are it'll be a good idea to talk to a few of them.
>>
>>4541777
> Put all your available man power into manufacturing fire arms through the winter
> Send messengers to the black general, detailing his part in your plans
>>
> Put all your available man power into manufacturing fire arms through the winter
> Meet with the nobles and generals who have turned to your side, from Qian's manipulations or your actions
> A panther does not feed by waiting, You shall take Gao's head yourself. That will delay the coming of war
>>
>>4541777
>Put all your available man power into manufacturing fire arms through the winter
>A panther does not feed by waiting, You shall take Gao's head yourself. That will delay the coming of war
>>
>>4541777
> Put all your available man power into manufacturing fire arms through the winter
> Send messengers to the black general, detailing his part in your plans
> Meet with the nobles and generals who have turned to your side, from Qian's manipulations or your actions
>>
>>4541453
This is all mostly guesswork.
Alpharius and Omegon, as the shortest, were 10-12 feet tall. Alpha Legion astartes were taller than their cousins, allowing the two primarchs to disguise themselves as taller, but normal marines.
Vulkan was around 15 feet tall out of armor. He's also the tallest of the primarchs. All of the others fall somewhere between and their armor adds a few feet. Post-Moloch Horus, for example, in armor was as tall as the Emperor.
>>
>>4541777
>> Put all your available man power into manufacturing fire arms through the winter
>> Meet with the nobles and generals who have turned to your side, from Qian's manipulations or your actions
>> Send messengers to the black general, detailing his part in your plans
Checked
>>
>>4541777
>> Put all your available man power into manufacturing fire arms through the winter
>> Meet with the nobles and generals who have turned to your side, from Qian's manipulations or your actions
>> Send messengers to the black general, detailing his part in your plans
>>
What should we do if we somehow encounter a xenos race native to this world? What if its Eldar? What if it's an original race? Are they nice or bad? Kill or no kill?
>>
>>4542076
It depends if they wanna play ball or not. In a vaccum (AKA before contact with the Imperium) I can imagine Lieren would try to integrate native xenos into society alongside Humans so long as they aren't inherently hostile or incompatible.
>>
>>4542077
So in theory, what will happen to the integrated xenos after the Imperium comes? Let's say that they are really nice and not evil. The inperium's stance on a majority of xenos live is pretty grim.
>>
>>4542081
>So in theory, what will happen to the integrated xenos after the Imperium comes?
I honestly don't know enough about finer points of the Dictates Imperialis to give a definitive answer.
All I have to go off of is surface level knowledge of the Imperium, mainly the part where Xenos are the only common enemy between Imperial forces and the Traitorous legions.
Based on that, I'm gonna say that the best we can hope for is the Emperor dictating they be put to slavery, restricted from breeding, or exiled from Imperial territory.
I'm not sure Lieren would be okay with any of those options.
>>
>>4542076
Lieren doesn't strike me as a human supremacist. He doesn't know alien life exists, but his philosophy centers around life in general, not solely human life. If he learns about Chaos from the daemons on Shangrala, he'd probably try to ally with as many non-Chaos groups as possible. He could use his knowledge of it in diplomacy too. The threat of something like Chaos makes for good alliances.
>>
>>4541777
>Put your men into manufacturing weapons
>Meet with the nobles and generals swayed to our side
>Send a message to the black general about his part.
>Take Gaos head ourselves.

If we can reach before news of our defiance of his orders gets to him, we can report it ourselves. Our execution of Gao shouldnt have its buildup rushed by his rage.
>>
I had an idea about establishing an advisory group in our legion once we get picked up. Something like Horus's Mournival. I was thinking we could base it off of the Wuxing which is the Chinese theory of five elements. Hell, maybe we could even call it that.
>>
>>4542122
We dont really need an advisory corp. We just need a reporting group to act as a bridge between us and the regular men
>>
>>4542131
Why not? Horus could've easily made his way through the Great Crusade without the Mournival, but he saw the value in getting other opinions from people who had different perspectives. They also served as a window into the minds of the rest of the legion, as you suggest, but if we really need to ask our captains how our men are feeling, we aren't involved enough with them.
>>
>>4542217
Well no shit we are not going to be able to be involved enough to know their feelings. We are one man, an exceptional man but one man none the less, while there are thousands of our sons across dozens of fleets across the entire galaxy with communication taking weeks to cross from one side of the crusade to the other.

But horus has his men as a political weapon as well as council, which they formed more of the former than the latter.
I just think that we are wise and knowledgeable enough to not require council, at least on the big issues.

Functions I can see them being useful in, I grant you, is getting us acquainted with out legion and letting us conform to their eccentricities and they conform to ours, learning of their culture and style, and how to best address other facets of the imperium. Their use is information, not opinions.
>>
>>4542122
I feel like if Lieren wanted to get to know his marine's and their opinions he would just go and talk to his men
>>
>>4542278
>we are wise and knowledgeable enough to not require council
And in that overconfidence lies weakness. As you said yourself, we are an exceptional man, but still a man. We are fallible. We will not see every solution. Loken wasn't chosen to join the Mournival only to add another weapon to Horus's diplomatic arsenal. He was chosen for his opinions. He was chosen to be a naysmith. Horus also knew the thoughts of his men, he could read a room and manipulate them to think what he wanted. They were completely devoted to him. Most of them, anyway.

>>4542292
Yes, that's what I'm saying. The Mournival was a group of advisors, primarily.
>>
A man should draw wisdom from many sources, to ensure that it does not grow stale.

A council would be a very good idea. If nothing else than to draw the political focus within the legion to a point.

Just make sure that the position cannot contain those who rise to leadership of the entire legion, keep it seperate from the primary power base, should help stop any corruption occuring.
>>
>>4542296
It is barely overconfidence. We just require the facts to be right, since a primarch can find more than a mortal man. This is a fact.

But I want them to keep us informed, to learn virtue from us and propagate it through the ranks. If you want to get their opinions while they do it, fine by me.
>>
>>4542314
There is a difference between being factually correct and making a good decision. I would be surprised if over the course of the entire Great Crusade we come across a world that will willingly join the Imperium under the condition that we answer a question with one, factual answer.
>>
>>4542333
That is because planetary governments are not concerned with right and wrong, only that which benefits them.

But our ability to make good decisions is easier, only fucked up by anons. Lieren himself is almost flawless. I dont actually know what our fatal flaw or sin is yet.
>>
>>4542296
I meant like, going up to a random group of battle brothers and asking how they felt. Making a clique of people like the Mournival creates factionalism in the legion, and plus Horus really manipulated his for his own benefit.
>>
>>4542338
And when they refuse our offer of peaceful subjugation, we're going to have to fight them. And other accomplished warriors will have unique insights to offer us. If we, for some reason, had to fight against the Black General, I think it'd be a pretty even match, in terms of strategy and tactics. As for our flaw, I'm sure it'll make itself apparent in due time. Nothing like family to bring that out.

>>4542349
There's already a sense of factionalism in every legion, it's just a matter of how severe. Right before the Heresy, it got bad in the Luna Wolves and the Emperor's Children were always pretty bad. >>4542312 had the idea of group membership being divorced entirely from their role in the legion, which I think will help mitigate any problem that may arise. And it'll offer a wider range of viewpoints.
>>
>>4542349
Sooo, you want Lieren to visit and personally talk with all of his men, the ones dispersed through the entire galaxy doing the Great Crusade? I get what you are saying, we will of course know the astartes in our vicinity, but we won't always have our Legion in one place. We need some people to tell us their opinions, viewpoints, ideas, etc. Lieren is a Primarch and probably one of the wisest and most intelligent beings in the galaxy, but he is still a person and needs feedback to learn and grow into the best person he can be. Being the best doesn't mean knowing everything, or doing everything flawlessly.
>>
>>4542391
Weren't the legions mostly whole during the crusade? Some were left on garrison duty but I got the sense that they traveled together, for the most part. I saw the legions and their exploration fleets as the ones at the front of the front, clearing the biggest threats for the fleets behind them who would go over that space with a fine-toothed comb afterwards.
>>
>>4542338
Probably an absolutely insane and over the top murder-rage and scheming to channel said murder-rage into productive ways of destroying our enemies while at the same time, getting the maximum benefit. Remember that according to QM's depiction of Lieren's thoughts and feelings, his love for his people (and in the future, mankind) is only matched by his near-uncontrollable rage when faced with something that damages and threatens said people. Lieren's self control has proven to be way above the norm even for a primarch, and this willpower has been tested to the limit any time we had to contain our hatred for Gao, Cui or any other asshole.
>>
>>4542399
A thousand kilometers in space is nothing. For a person, even a primarch, is a really big wall. We can talk to people in our ship and in our fleet, but in a fleet in the next system? I doubt that we have the time or resources go do that alone while directing our parg of the Great crusade. We need to delegate.
>>
>>4542406
*our part
>>
>>4542404
Sanguinius had similar rage problems. I doubt it's our fatalistic flaw
>>
>>4542391
No? I just think if he wanted to get the feel of what his army felt he would talk to the soldiers and not the same group of people. Didn't mean to say he'll go on a journey to talk to his tens of thousands of sons..
>>
Btw guys, just an idea. As I see it, there are two type of primarch/legion flaws:
>Innate flaws: The ones caused by Chaos' interference and the Emperor's genetic and conceptual min-maxing of the primarchs. In Lieren, this would be his rage (useful to boost him in war a d battle, but bad for anything else).

>Acquired flaws: Angron's rage (via butcher's nails), Conrad's sadism and sociopathy (via growing up in Nostramo), Mortarion's lungs (via corrosive fog), etc. Lieren channels his rage into constructive ways, but this is only possible by "storing" his emotions, which cannlead to outbursts. Also when he deals with people he dislikes, half of his thought processes go to finding better and better ways to kill them, which is kind of dark and creepy (and useful).

What do you think are Lieren's flaws?
>>
>>4542427
We want to know the thoughts of as many of our sons as possible. If they make a consensus about what they feel in general and what could be improved, we could delegate people to inform us of said consensus. Talking to a few dozens of astartes will change pracfically nothing
>>
*practically
>>
>>4542490
Not sure to be honest. Like....come on, we only do that to Gao and Gao is the single point of evil in our entire lives. He is the epitome of everything we hate, from decadently sadistic to actively harmful to our family.

Thinking how to kill him is natural
>>
>>4542499
>Like....come on, we only do that to Gao and Gao is the single point of evil in our entire lives
We regularly had the same types of thoughts while we talked to Ling.
>>
>>4542427
We can still talk to people around us when we can, but primarchs need to see the bigger picture, and holding merry talks about philosophy with the nearest astartes (that are also the most indoctrinated and generally loyal out of sheer proximity with a primarch) will achieve little in the long term. We want our MC and his legion to be the best they can be and for as many of the astartes under said legion to be happy with us and with the Imperium, also to remain connected with normal humans. If we lead with our example and said example leads to success, the other legions with some brain matter will follow.
>>
>>4542499
>>4542504
And the one thing that both Ling and Gao have in common? They were corrupt and harmed the people he loves.
>>
>>4541777
>> Put all your available man power into manufacturing fire arms through the winter
>>4541777
>> Send messengers to the black general, detailing his part in your plans
>>4541777
>> A panther does not feed by waiting, You shall take Gao's head yourself. That will delay the coming of war
If we kill Gao, and flee the power struggle might give the black general a chance to be invited into the city to support one faction. At which point his troops can take control so the city falls almost totally without battle.
>>
>>4542509
Yep. He's a bitch.

>>4542510
Sneaky and saves us from more bloodshed. Perfect.
>>
>>4542505
I wouldn't mind a more public sort of council, not secretive like the Mournival, I don't think its really a big issue because Lieren would probably actually the advice of his advisors.
>>
The space furries, for all their flaws, fight tooth and nail to protect those they care about. The same happens with Sanguinius and Vulcan. Good primarchs tend to have this "flaw" (Sanguinius is a bodthirsty beast, Vulkan wants to see things burn, BURN!, Lemon Rush king of bestiality, yes I hate him, is a mix of a viking and a werewolf, etc)
>>
>>4542516
Maybe just have an open door policy?
>>
>>4542516
That's the idea. We want a group of good advisors with interesting ideas and varied opinions, formed by astartes of all ranks, and exceptional humans that can keep up. This group won't be public in the sense that we'll flaunt them to everyone we meet, but everyone in the legion or with good knowledge about it will know that we accept any advice that they are willing to give, and that we will praise or correct and advice the one sharing it's wisdom so we both grow in the process. Basically we are a cool dad-king that has weekly meetings with his son-subjects to make sure everything is ok and to improve things even further if possible, being overall chill and understanding and only punishing those that act retarded and bring harm to the Legion or mankind.
>>
>>4542516
So long as we can have cool symbolism like the Mournival's moon phase thing, I'm game. Maybe a marine for each of the 5 Heavenly Creatures of China. Or twelve for each of the zodiac animals.
>>
>>4542568
Give them the Carp to reflect the virtue of bravery.
>>
>>4542568
I think I have an idea on how to organize our advisory board.We will create a council of 12 individuals known as the Zodiac Kings that are the most veteran and experienced in the legion for their particular field of warfare. Each Zodiac King will use their vast repository of experience in field operations to advise us how best to use the type of unit they were derived from. The list is as follows.
Rat: Recon Squad
Ox: Tanks
Tiger: Assault Squads
Rabbit: Land Speeders
Dragon: Terminators
Snake: Devastators
Horse:Bikes and Jet Bikes
Goat: Fleet Warfare and Logistics
Monkey: Tactical Squads
Rooster: Aircraft
Warhound: Operational command
Boar: Dreadnoughts

In simpler terms, the Rat king tells us where to send the recon squads, the Ox King gives suggestions on how to use the armor pool etc.
>>
>>4542631
Can we make it so that any Dragon king never has a name that starts with G or possesses all three letters of G, A and O. It makes me nauseous.
>>
>>4542631
Imagine being the rooster while your friend is the Dragon haha
>>
>>4542631
ew no. just call them what they're normally called.
>>
>>4542631
I feel like dragon should be our dreadnoughts, considering their massive size and power. Boar would work for Terminators

Not really sure about the Dog one, seems like the operational planning should be under the control of the respective kings. Not entirely sure what they should be, maybe librarians?
>>
>>4542631
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cat_(zodiac)
>>
Let me give you the reasoning behind each name
Rat: Sneaky, gets into small crevasses
Ox: Perfect description for heavy vehicles
Tiger: Self-explanatory
Rabbit: Really fast and evasive
Dragon: Armored but possessing immense fire power
Snake: Small but incredibly deadly, capable of punching well above weight class
Horse: Another no brainier
Goat: Extremely high altitudes and always on the look for new pastures
Monkey: Versatile and Cunning, makes use of a wide array of tools
Rooster: Aggressive and airborne, gets right up in their enemies' faces and rips them apart. Look into cockfighting it's brutal. Cockatrice could be an alternative name.
Warhound: Dogs are pack animals and some of the most intelligent carnivores out there. Alliteratively the Warhounds could become a general veterans core for small elite formations that don't fit into the other groups such as the Moritats, Command Squads and Masters of Signal
Boar: Stubborn, pissed off and refuses to die, perfect descriptor for dreadnoughts.
>>
>>4542716
I still feel that dragon fits dreadnoughts better. They wield far more power and have much longer lifespans than normal marines, with hides that normal weapons can't even penetrate. A boar is strong and meant for charging down their foes. That seems to fit the role Terminators play, clearing space hulks and ships in close quarters where their heavy armor is most important
>>
>>4542747
That's a fair assessment, the size argument makes a lot of sense. What other ones do you think should be shifted around?
>>
>>4542716
I'm against these because they sound lame, thats it. Your explanations for the names are good though
>>
>>4542751
I think horse could have land speeder rolled into it and make rabbits jump pack assault squads. Then just make tigers our standard line infantry, gotta have some normal troops during the GC's meatgrinders
>>
>>4542716
I too am against these. baring the Space Wolves it seems obnoxious to just give vehicle groups or squads extra special names.
>>
We don't need to make everuthing we do into a reference to chinese culture. We could just call them all advisors, that way no one will complain that they have rabit instead of dragon or rat instead of anything else.
>>
>>4542761
>>4542810
>>4542815
These are the names for the "Kings" of their respective fields for our personal Mournival, these names will not be carried out through the legion as a whole

>>4542766
I agree with the rabbit king being a jump pack specialist but I disagree with the tiger king being from a general infantry position, that role is held by the monkey king, there is enough of a difference between jump pack and on-foot melee combat that I think it justifies the additional seat among the Zodiac Kings
>>
>>4542835
Yes, the rat king. the goat king. At least make the names sound more warhammer man
>>
>>4542841
Rat King is a title used by Tretch Craventail, it may be a different warhammer but it is still warhammer. As for goat king you are totally right, Ram king seems like it would be a better fit.
>>
>>4542835
>These are the names for the "Kings" of their respective fields for our personal Mournival, these names will not be carried out through the legion as a whole
I was specifically refering to our "Mournival". We should just call them advisors and that's it. No need to complicate stuff further than it's necessary or beneficial. And if I was the advisor of a primarch, and also an astartes, I wouldn't like to be called Rat king or Rabbit king while other guy as good as me is called Dragon king or Tiger king. Some poetry and symbolism is good, too much and it just loses it's uniqueness and meaning. I agree to get 12 advisors, because is a Mechanicum sacred number of the motive force and with Lieren it would be 13, which (I think, if I remember correctly) is the Emperor's sacred number. But not a god number because he is totally not a god, no sir, no divine beings here.
>>
Alright calling the vote, sorry I've been slow lately. Sleep alludes me.

Put all manpower into making GUN: 12
Time to slay Gao:8
Meet with the nobles: 6
Send messengers to the black general:7
Total: 12 votes
Alright, So Lieren will put all his manpower into making fire arms, Head out to slay Gao, but not before sending a message to Yin Lei and meeting with the nobles briefly.

Writing the update now
>>
I think we should allow our marines to create sects so they can find their own path so to speak.
>>
>>4542932
Quick and easy way to chaos cults.
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>>4542952
It's like he has never heard of the lodges
>>
But there was not a second to waste. You would have to be prepared for the coming storm, long before it arrived. Taking aside the most talented craftsmen that you have encountered in your travels and sent men to invite to your village along with the nobles and their entourages, you begin to explain to them the weapon you need created, properly and without defect. You show these men, and two women, the examples you have made with your own hand, how it functions. The meaning of its designs and the method of its construction, and how to supply it with ammunition. You show them four firearms, and the images you've painted to show their designs and parts. The four weapons you could make with the industry you control, and with methods any man could be trained to learn. Standardized designs, no useless parts or decoration. Drawn from the images from the egg that hatched you and modified only slightly. As you still have no way to mass produce more advance forms of fire arms, but these four will more than suffice, once the craftsmen set off producing more of them with assistants and apprentices.

They seem amazed by the cartridges you've made, as the wisest of them had a similar idea to fire a mere ball of iron, loaded over time, but the knowledge to combine the primer and bullet simply eluded them in their dreams of making a "Dragon stick" as one of them calls them. Seems that the idea of launching metal at threats from a great distance is not a concept solely held by the Primarch people. But their ideas and designs are inefficient, even with the technology you have, it takes too long to reload with their methods and the barrels of their simple guns are bare, and would thus be inaccurate as well. Though the ever present fog does make accuracy somewhat of null point, having the gun fire its projectile where you are aiming is still worthwhile.

You present the first fire arm with Feng demonstrating its use, as you taught him in but a few hours. Poor man nearly ran for the woods when you first had him fire the gun, but now he's comfortable with his use.

"This, is called a rifle" You say as the gathered craftsmen gather around your friend who smiles proudly, holding the weapon out for all of them to see "it is designed to kill from a distance, impossible before now, it can put a hole through a panther's hide, break the shell of a century tortoise, and end the life of a cliff jumper or man in but a single shot"

"Incredible, to think you were this far ahead of the rest of this, oh wise hunter" The eldest of the craftsmen says excitedly, his greying beard frayed and burnt from his own experiments with the resources you gave him "Truly this is a divine gift of knowledge, but how does this device function"

"Pull this and it fires" Feng answers simply, with a wide grin across his scarred face, clearly happy to have something will allow him to hunt despite his crippling injury
cont
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>>4543090

"Point it at what you want to kill, it dies if you hit in the right spot, just like spear hunting"

"Feng, allow me to explain, as you already know, wise elder, the key to this weapon is the black powder, but I devised a method to allow for easy production of a combined cartridge, without the use of complicated machinery or advance technology" You explain, pulling one of the rifle's bullets from the pocket of your panther fur coat, which had to be expanded as you out grew your original "Within this of cheap brass or steel, is a primer, that is struck by the mechanism set into motion when this part, the trigger is pulled. The mechanism strikes the end of the primer, with the proper force to set it of and instantly set alright the gunpowder, which then propels the bullet itself into its target, Feng, please demonstrate and may one of you choose a target from the field?"

One of Song's daughter, who you noticed along the road to have a talent for tasks that required dexterous hands and careful movements step forward.

"The target shall be that clay cup left upon the edge of the field, one that fence" She says, clearly trying to give Feng a hard target to hit, Jiang chuckles at this, as he waits to demonstrate the second weapon you've designed

"Understood" Feng replies coolly, falling to his knee as you hand him the bullet, he loads it in the slot on the back of the rifle's barrel, raising its sight to his eye, pressing its wooden stock to his shoulder. He licks his teeth, closing his unscarred eye as he lines up the shot in a few short breaths.

"If I hit this, Jiang, you owe me a cask of wine" He says cockily, letting the power his weapon gives him go to his head a little as Jiang just laughs and nods.

A second later, the clay cup shatters and there's an uproar, as the unprepared craftsmen try to scramble away from the sound and flash of smoke and fire. Song's Daughter, Dandan, and the elder Craftsmen and alchemist Shan, are the only two who do not flee

"Incredible!" Dandan shouts, eyes filled with wonder and amazement as Shan howls like a wildman.

"Amazing, amazing, but is the weapon only able to be used once? How is the casing discarded?" He asks, moving through the fog to Feng's side

"Simple, a pull of the lever the trigger is attached to, demonstrate if you would, Feng, moves out two bars of steel, which hold the cartridge in place as it fires, and flings it to the ground, putting the lever back returns them to the groove they rest in, and allow for a new round to be load" You explain as feng goes through the motions of reloading as Shan cheers like a child, clapping his soot covered hands together

"There is no chance for Gao" Dandan says with a vicious, jackal like smile "But there are three more weapons you've introduced to us, what is their purpose if this one is so...effective a killing tool?"
cont
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>>4543092

"This weapon, is meant for marksmen and line troops, it can fire rapidly in well trained hands and pick off targets with a well trained eye" You explain, motioning to Feng

"Our friend Feng here, is blessed with both, that cup was an easy target for this man"

"Oh I do not deserve these praises" He says, humbly lowering his head

"And of course, these rifles will replaced along the majority of the army once I construct more proper industry and have the proper technology at hand" You explain, raising hand to Jiang, as he carelessly spins the two firearms you gave him "I shall explain it further as we go along this presentation"

"I cannot wait to see what secrets you hold from us" Shan laughs as the other craftsmen cautiously return "Hoh, young man, tell me what you wield, I must see it now"

Jiang looks at Dandan and grins smugly. Dandan just stares at the firearms in his hands, eyes greedy and excited.

"Well I" He begins before looking to you "Well I am well trained in their use, but Lieren knows them better than I do, well brother Lieren?"

"These are meant as sidearms, a close quarters weapon and a way to distinguish officers, by giving them more ornate versions, a symbol of their position, but a weapon to be used only when the cannot fire their rifle" You explain, stepping to Jiang as he continues to show off in front of Dandan "This design is called a revolver, for the way the chamber that holds it ammunition spins upon firing, it can hold six bullets of lesser size to the rifle and has a shorter range, but, the turning mechanism allows for a faster rate of fire than the rifle, even in the hands of a skilled gunner, or a master of firearms, Jiang, demonstrate"

The gathered craftsmen cover their ears as Jiang puts his two revolvers in their holsters, and draws one quickly, nearly blasting a hole through his foot. He fires once, the hammer pulls back as the chamber rotates, he flicks his thumb against it and fires it again, repeating this action four more times before dropping the first revolver, potentially messing up the mechanism or clogging it with dirt, all to fluff up his feathers and attempt to court Dandan.

You smack him on the shoulders and make him yelp.

"Treat these weapons with care, if they become dirty or clogged with dirt, they will miss fire and take your hand with them" You snarl, picking up the revolver and pressing the empty weapon into his chest "Demonstrate how you reload it, without showing off"

Jiang nods silently, and pulls out the revolving chamber, removing it entirely and detaching it from the turning mechanism, he then reloads each of its chambers one by one and sets it back into place, spinning it to ensure it's set right, and fires and shot in the air.

"Good, now remember to treat these guns with respect, unless you enjoy the feeling of searing hot metal digging into your skin" You say through your teeth before clasping you hands together and bowing to the crowd
cont
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>>4543093

"My apologies for the interruption, but these weapons, while powerful, require more care and maintenance than a blade, a Guandao, a spear, a crossbow, or the humble staff"

You glare as Jiang as he avoids your gaze with a weak smirk on his lips.

"Something Friend Jiang forgets" You scold, shaking your fist in the air "The next two weapons are not personal firearms as the rifle or revolver are, they are weapons manned by teams of operators, The Gatling gun, and the Cannon, Xin, Bai!"

You two guard step from their perch on a fence, Xin tossing the Pipa he was playing to the ground as he rushed to catch up to Bai, as he stood by the Gatling gun you constructed, with iron wheels for increased durablity.

"Xin, you'll be the one to pull the crank, Bai, you'll ensure the weapon remains loaded and does not overheat, do not allow the barrels to warp" You explain, before turning back to your crowd of onlookers and clap your hands together "Those of you with weak hearts or who are easily startled, I would advise you to step back and observe at a distance, for this Gatling gun is a far wilder beast than"

You stop speaking as the beast of iron lets out its roar, tearing a hut you built for the purpose of target practice to splinters, Xin cheering and bellowing alongside it. The air grows hot as the metal barrels of the weapon overheat from the reactions set off which every bullet fire. It begins to glow

"CEASE!" You bellow, raising a hand "As you can see, firearms have the potential to fire a far great volley than one or six bullets before reloading, I am currently working on designs to bring this sheer rapidity to hand held firearms"

Shan is laughing loudly as Dandan looks weak in the knees from merely observing such a show of power, the other craftsmen who did not flee for the safety of the walls again are frozen, their expressions a mix of shock and terror.

"My lord, my lord, please, please show me the last wonder, I must see it" Shan begs, falling to his knees, manic energy and bliss written across his acid scarred face, his scorched beard dancing with his exaggerated movements as he rises and bows his head over and over again like a cat bobbing for fish.

"The last, is the simplest of the weapons I've designed, one of your early designs expanded, Grandfather Shan" You explain with a smile as the old man nearly squeals in delight, his muddy brown eyes glittering with excitement "But it is by far the most devastating, it can fire a ball of iron, a bundle of chains, a collection of razors and nails or an explosive that could tear a hole in the sturdiest of walls. It requires a team of two men as well, Wei and Wei, stand together"

Some of the craftsmen laugh, as shaved head Wei and Red faced Wei stand together by the tube of iron.
cont
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>>4543094
"it can be used to fire directly into an enemy formation or fortification, or it can be angled, to rain fire and shrapnel down upon a distant army or camp, it is simple, a fuse is lit, it reaches the black powder loaded into the steel tube, and lights it, firing its payload with a thunderous bang, it is called"

"The steel dragon! the steel dragon!" Shan shouts as you pause, frowning a bit, but what does it matter if it is called canon or Dragon

"As the design is based somewhat off your ideas" You lie, having learned of such a weapon from the mechanical egg, but the old man does deserve credit, for coming up with firearms without the benefit of such knowledge "I shall allow you to name it, it is Shan's Steel Dragon, you will not get a demonstration of it raw power, however, as its roar will disrupt the farmers and workers hard at work, instead"

You motion to Feng who nods and produces a long knife with a ring attached to its hilt, and begins fitting it over his rifle.

"Feng, Jiang, Xin, and Bai, shall demonstrate how one locks a blade onto their rifle, and how to use such a thing in battle, if one loses their proper sword or cannot reach it in time" You explain as Shan's expression falls and fills with sorrow, all the joy and light draining from the mad chemists' eyes.

He follows after you for a few yards, begging and pleading for further demonstrated destruction, but he gives up as you reach the second wall surrounding Nothing, and leaves you, pouting like a child would.

Some villagers approach you, asking if you had slain a dragon or similar, but you ease their worries with a short explanation of the demonstration you were giving just now, explaining it away as sorcery and alchemical secrets, as while craftsmen may be able to understand the reality of chemical reactions and how firearms function, a simple farmer cannot. At least not without a long winded explanation and they would still probably call it magic, but you will teach them and they shall learn of it eventually.

Some monks following the school of "The Journey" sit around Guozhi, who is discussing with them meditation methods and ways to learn from nature. Some of the monks you recognize as men who lost their families to famine, but they seem to be at peace with them now.

"Greetings grandmaster" Guozhi says, raising a hand with a smug smirk on his weathered face "may fortune ever find you"

"And you as well, Grandfather" You say, clasping your hands and bowing in greeting, wondering idly what your school of philosophy and world view would be called someday "But unfortunately I cannot join the discussion at hand, I have duties to attend to"

Guozhi bows and turns back to his students, smiling happily for the first time you have met him.

Marching through the street, you find Liang sharing a drink with Ziang, some of the youngster listening to their stories of hunting and battle.
cont
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>>4543095

Rong is stationed outside of your house, with has grown over the years as Wenyan has new rooms added and built for guests and storage.It doesn't matter to you, of course, so long as it is large enough to live in, it would have sufficed.
Opening the fur covered door, you walk into a gathering of House and Family heads, of generals young and Old, and Lady Qian, gathered around the cooking fire of your house.

Seems Xia is trying her tricks upon your father, to get further into your good graces, acting like a servant and fetching him food and drink.

"Ah, my son, you've come to join us?' Wenyan asks as he refuses a second glass of wine with a gentle smile "You have made some rather interesting friends in your travels"

"Ah, if it isn't the master of the encircling charge Lai Song, and his brother Lord Lai himself" You say, clasping your hands together and bowing to the gathered nobles and generals, but do not sit down. The brothers smile and raise their glasses, Song with a scar over his eye, and Lai with chestnut colored hair "Your pedigree horses shall be put to great use in the coming battles, and is that Yin Jie? Ah, older brother of the black general himself, I am honored by your presence, and grateful for the craftsmen you've brought to my village"

The old man snorts, his son Delun raising his glass for him, as the patriarch of the Yin is nearly asleep.

"Lieren, you honor US with YOUR presence" Lady Qian says sweetly, her eyess piercing through you as you turn to her and smile "We are but guests, after all"

A good quarter of the men raise their glasses as Qian Xia finishes speaking.

"Yes, but I am a mere administrator, a simple hunter, a humble farmer" You say, unclasping your hands and smiling genially "You are my guests, of noble birth and high standing, of virtuous mind and soul, I see your younger "brother" has joined us as well, Xia"

Lady Qian nearly chokes on her drink. As she knows you know very well her "brother" is actually her son, a little secret you learned by watching Xia and the head of her household guard interact

"I,Xiaowen, greet you, Lieren!!" The youth proclaims loudly, his eyes an odd fiery red color, his hair as dark as his mothers and his skin as fair as jade "I am honored to meet the great giant myself"

Its funny, you realize, that Xiaowen is a few years older than yourself, having been born before Qian dealt with her monster of a father and abominations of brothers, when Xia herself was quite young. She had been clever to hide the truth of his birth, to keep jealous men from striking the boy down

"Hah, a strong boy, one day you will make a great hunter, or perhaps a mighty warrior' You laugh, never taking your eyes of Qian Xia, to remind her that you are no mere tool in her hands. Xiaowen looks up at you, eyes glowing from the praise you gave him as you cross your arms and turn
cont
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>>4543096

"I will have to share tales of my adventures, some other time, I wish I could spend more time among you, my friends, but there is work I must do"

"Oh Lieren, we shall speak of your glory ourselves" Lord Lai laughs "Simply to gather us here is enough, your work is important to the people"

"My uncle speaks kindly of you, Giant" Delun says with a nod "the Yin will render their support no matter which path you take"

"Hah, the Black general and the Lord of Cavalry together under the Giant's banner, we shall be unstoppable" Lai song proclaims, raising his cup into the air, splashing its contents of bitter fish gut brew everywhere amid cheers and shouted agreements "The dragons of Gao shall writher and die beneath our heels as common serpents!"

You smile and bow humbly

"This one is honored by your support and belief in him and his cause" You say softly as the gathered nobles and generals, numbering ten including Qian Xia with three more to arrive all look to you, passion and righteous fury burning in their eyes. Their families kneel beside the nine lords and generals, having rode with them for their safety "But, my duties call to me, I shall return to Nothing shortly, Delun! I will have you deliver a message to your uncle, keep it safe and hidden"

"As you command, benevolent Lieren" Delun says with a nod of his head as you walk into your privated quarters, to pen the message that shall ensure the fall of the Gao is as complete and utter as possible.

It reads as follows

"Ride to station your army in the hills outside of Gao's estate, arrive to the city half a day after I light the signal fires upon Garrison 22, ride to maintain order and peace within the city, but do not arrive as a conquering force, end the struggle for power that is soon to break out by your force of reputation and the might of your army alone. Hope comes upon Azure winds, and Salvation through black smoke, The dragon chokes and dies upon his latest meal"

You seal the letter with a pressing of wax, and encase it in a iron box, which you then dip in more Wax, to seal it completely. Then, leaving you room, you hand the package to Delun and whistle, calling Rong inside.

"Take half of my guard force to join with young Delun's as he rides to his uncle's side, to ensure no harm befalls him" You say as Rong smirks and nods

"As you command, Giant" He says sucking on his teeth "I take it you are riding from Nothing yourself?"

"Of course, festivities tend to bore me anyways, fetch me Fu's horse' You command, clasping your hands together as the young heir and the one eyed guard return the gesture.

And with that, you leave to meet with Gao one final time, to hold court with the beast and end his life. The last audience between the Giant and the Dragon.
cont
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>>4543097

How do you approach Gao, Lieren
> Ride into the city, proclaim your arrival, and meet him in full view of his court
> Sneak into his palace at night, and catch him while he's drunk
>Stalk him as he leaves his palace, for some reason or another
>Openly announce you've come to end his life and march to his palace, unimpeded by the people of his city or his guards.
> Write in
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>>4543098
>Stalk him in his palace, Slowly driving him slightly crazy and weeding out his own corrupt court before having him "take" his own life one night.
>>
>>4543108
Supporting

We will rise up and prevent disorder in the wake of his untimely death
>>
>>4543098
> Ride into the city, proclaim your arrival, and meet him in full view of his court
>>
>>4543098
>> Ride into the city, proclaim your arrival, and meet him in full view of his court
Just fucking snap his neck.
>>
>>4543108
Supporting
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>>4543098
> Ride into the city, proclaim your arrival, and meet him in full view of his court
So how should we kill him?
I say we just smash his head with a clap.
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>>4543118
Ah but then we wouldn't have his head! I say we deliver a primarch level punch to his gut then string up the corpse outside of his walls, where he put Ling.
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>>4543121
>I say we deliver a primarch level punch to his gut
If Lieren hits Gao as hard as he actually wants to, I'm pretty sure he'd turn into a fine mist.
It'd be totally worth it.
>>
>>4543098
> Ride into the city, proclaim your arrival, and meet him in full view of his court

The dragons are already quite mad and deranged this days. Whatever sanity is left in Gao will soon break. Time to a t is now, or he might to something against the people.

He will not have any moment or word anymore. He will simply die. And then his corpse will burn like the toad dragon, forever leaving Shangrala. This will honour all the men and women of all ages, fallen by it s hands or acts.

With this done a purge of the city from the corrupted Gao rats and snakes will need to be done. And then we will need to free the people imprisoned in it s dungeons. And it s family. Lieren rule of the province will then begin, after some meditation and time with his own father.
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>>4543134
*The time to act is now, or he might do
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>>4543098
>> Ride into the city, proclaim your arrival, and meet him in full view of his court
>>
>>4543098
>> Ride into the city, proclaim your arrival, and meet him in full view of his court
>>4543108
I think we've already done this, dude's court is completely different now
>>
>>4543094
>The Gatling gun

Gentlemen,
Whatever happens, we have got
The Gatling gun, and they have not.

>>4543098
> Ride into the city, proclaim your arrival, and meet him in full view of his court
The end is nigh.
>>
>>4543098
> Ride into the city, proclaim your arrival, and meet him in full view of his court
>>
>>4543092
>One of Song's daughter, who you noticed along the road to have a talent for tasks that required dexterous hands and careful movements step forward.
>Song's Daughter, Dandan, and the elder Craftsmen and alchemist Shan, are the only two who do not flee
>"Incredible!" Dandan shouts, eyes filled with wonder and amazement as Shan howls like a wildman.
>Shan is laughing loudly as Dandan looks weak in the knees from merely observing such a show of power

Well that is interesting.

As for vote...

Let's see if we can replicate the whole Rickard Stark and the Mad King, but with opposite results of who dies.
> Ride into the city, proclaim your arrival, and meet him in full view of his court
>>
Man, it's already over for everybody who would ever fight us on this planet, but it's gonna be even more conclusive once we figure out radios.
>>
Calling the vote now

Stalk Gao in his palace:3
proclaim your arrival and meet with gao openly: 9

So Lieren shall ride into the city, Proclaim his arrival and meet Gao in his court.

Writing the update now
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>>4543375
>It is finally time to tell Gao just how much we hate him and have been betraying him

OH IT IS GOING TO BE SO FUCKING GOOD! I'm hyped.
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>>4543277
She seems fun

>>4543176
When I read the Gatling gun inclusion, I got super hype. We can take a force fifty times the size our own easy with enough ammo.
>>
>>4543417
>She seems fun
I wonder if she wants a job. We could probably make her one of the first proper machinists on this planet.
>>
>>4543421
So far she is proving our philosophy of "dont waste people for sins of their father" correct. It is good when that happens.
>>
>>4543424
I liken it to mechanical maintenance.
Just because the system had to be replaced doesn't mean we can't salvage parts from it.
>>
Cui Fu's steed, as ever, is as an impressive as its former master. Not only is it able to bear your weight, but it was able to keep a steady pace throughout the journey. The Clay furred beast seem more impatient to end the man who had betrayed its dead master than you yourself, every night as you camped on the side of the road built by your design and your hands in some of its portions and stretched, the war horse would pace restlessly, making quiet the racket as you rested yourself upon the ground. You did not sleep, you could not, but your body did not weaken with fatigue or become sluggish with exhaustion.

If anything abstaining from sleep, beneath the fog and stars, did nothing but sharpen you mind as you lay awake, dreaming fantasies of finally ending Gao's life. It was for the good of the people and land, any supporters of his who slipped through your fingers or the net of supporters and alliances you've cast although his demesne, would take seasons to ride to the capital of Yan. Sparring the land from bloodshed and pointless war, and allow you to prepare it and its people for the coming storm. And produce more than enough fire arms to crush not only the Yan army, but also any foreign force that would ally themselves with the decadent rulers who have plagued this kingdom and this world as a whole for generations.

Like a cleansing rain, you would wipe the corrupt and deprived from their thrones and carry them to their graves. Like a purifying flame, you would burn away excess and hardship from the kingdom of Yan and beyond, and as ash fertilize the soil, so to would your conquest bring prosperity and plenty to all who were born upon Shangrala. And where you walk, your world view and philosophy would spread, perhaps get a proper name, but certainly ensure your world wide reforms and advancements would remain long after your own death.

And it would all begin, with Gao's death at your hands, the first of the ticks pulled from Yan's back, the first serpent tossed into the fire to burn. The beginning of your true campaign to better the lives of every man, from the lowliest farmer to the richest merchant. The sinful and decadent would burn if they would not change their ways, the cruel and wasteful would have their power taken from their hands and their wealth given unto the those who suffered beneath their heels for generations. When your army met tyrants, they would kill them. When they met abominations, they would slay them

Once the ashes of inevitable war cooled and before it ended, you would travel and ensure that the road you built, the innovations you created and the prosperity and unity created by comradery and plenty would reach all corners of Shangrala. That the virtuous would rule forever more, that no child would know starvation ever again, and the winter would take no more lives. This is the promise you made yourself, as you lay on the ground, watching the stars and the fire that flew between them.
Cont
>>
>>4543433

This was the wordless promise you made to Shangrala herself, as Cui Fu's horse whined and stomped its feet, ever ready to carry you upon it's broad back to your destination, to slay the man who had turned his back on his master, on the Tao, upon every man, woman and child who lived upon his lands.

By time the moon rose and shun through the fog once more, Gao's blood would coat his courts floor. Breath would leave his body, and life would leave his eyes, as his soul is torn from his putrid flesh and he is left to rot or burned so his evil and his foulness may never plague these lands again. The thought created a wave of imagined scenarios in your mind, the many ways that Gao may die by your hands. Methods of killing, all honed and planned before hand to the height of efficiency. Not one movement was wasted in these fantasized slayings of the last lord of the Gao. A quick strike to the throat, restricting the flow of air to his lungs. A strong strike to his stomach, causing his heart to stop beating and Gao to squirm before his body fails and dies an organ at the time. An open palm strike to his forehead, caving in his skull and mulching his grey matter with one movement.

Wrapping your hands around his throat and squeezing, forcing a bottle of wine into his mouth, breaking his jaw and drowning him with a single push. Driving your hand into his chest and tearing his heart from its resting place in his chest. Lifting him up and crushing him in a mighty bear hug. Placing a knife in his throat, or through his skull. Taking a needle and jamming it through his eyes, scrambling his brains with a twitch of your wrist. Lifting him by his legs and dashing him against the floor like a fish. So many ways to kill Gao, but only one could be chosen. For he, like all men, only has one life to lose. At least as Gao, perhaps he would be reborn in some distant year as a worm or corpse beetle. But that would be far more than the monstrous lord deserves.

Gao deserves nothing but the fires of hell. Perhaps you would drive two fingers into his throat and tear out the flesh to his spine and leave him to bleed out and choke on his own life giving fluids. Perhaps a solid kick between the legs would suffice, causing internal hemorrhaging which would kill him in mere moments after unfathomable pain. A slap across the chest, with sufficient force behind it, would also work with your strength and broad hands, it'd shatter his ribcage and fill his organs with shards of bones. Grabbing Gao by the back of his neck would allow you crush his spine and rip his head from his shoulders in one movement.

There's a thousand upon a thousand and thousand more ways with which you may slaughter Gao with your bare hands with the same ease and wringing the neck of a farmer's fowl. But with weapons, from a stone to a spear, there are are near numberless amount of methods of ending the Toad's life and snuffing out his existence.
cont
>>
>>4543434

Slaying him with a single strike from a blade or jab with a spear alone allow for an uncountable number of variations. And you imagine them all, in the night before Gao's death, allowing your mind to wander as you rest your body and Cui Fu's horse, imagining and plotting out Gao's demise as you have for so long wished and dream of delivery to the man.

His doom was nearing, and by dawn, you would ride to his city and enter his palace. And in the full view of his guests and servants, slaughter him like the swine he is. If you're lucky he'll have invited a few rivals and peers in his excessively decadent way of life, and you will be able to hang them alongside the worm of Gao. Maybe an overdose of his intoxicant of choice, those black oily pills he scarfs down like other men would fried minnows or berries.

He'd have a high tolerance, but with your knowledge of chemistry, you could fabricate a drug strong enough to break through his resistance to the foul substance and lead to his most terrible of demises.

Maybe you would simply give his mutilated wives or sons swords and command them to make their own justice, but that could become messy, drawn out, cruel. And thus, pointless and inefficient. No, Gao would die by your hand, and your hand alone and would answer for his life time of cruelty, sadism and wastefulness.
-
You road to Gao's lair, eyes burning with barely restrained fury and nurtured spite. Any man who looked upon your usually kind and gentle golden eyes, would see your subdued wrath and boiling anger that you have held for the entirety of your short yet eventful life. Your face had become a mask of disgust and hardened determination, as unchanging as unforged iron. Veins bulged along your arms and forehead. It was difficult to think straight as all of the rage you've swallowed and locked away struggled to rip from your skull and chest and come screaming into the world like a living inferno.

For the first time in your existence, it was hard to think, to place, Gao's laughing face and images of his attrocities were all you saw in your mind's eye. The scent of wine, the scent of sweat, the scent of vomit, of rotting meat, of that oil that coated his beard, of those overly strong spice they ruined their lavish meals with, filled your lungs even though they only existed in your mind.

With a jaw clenched so hard it could bite through iron, and hands gripped so tightly upon the reigns of your red clay furred steed, that the leather straps had been worn down to naught but dust, you road, the city beneath Gao in your sights. And along the road, corpses were drawn, corpses of nobles, of merchants, of soldiers and of children.

The taste of blood filled your mouth as you grinded your teeth together, your expression changing into a near demonic snarl as a roar tried to crawl out your throat, your mind becoming a field of flame and burning smoke.
cont
>>
>>4543435

Your control slipped for a moment and the roar in your chest came screaming out of your mouth.Cui Fu's war horse took that as a command to ride faster, to ride harder.

Your meticulous mind had become empty of conscious thought, calculation, planning and reason. And in that moment, you must have seemed as a force of nature, a wrathful god come to smite the sinful and unvirtuous, or as a devil who had come charging from the depths of hell itself to drag his prey back into the abyss below.

If you had your Guandao with you, you would have shattered the city gates with a single blow and rode on, but you had left it as a symbol of hope back at Nothing, to raise spirits and morale. You were unarmed, and that impediment was enough to calm you, to allow you to grab hold the reigns of your mind and force back your mindless, feral rage into the cage you had crafted for it.

There were guards on the walls. Cui Fu's horse stomped its feet as your burning glare lashed to them, and one of the four looking down upon you fainted. Two more fled screaming as if they had met a dragon, and last, judging from the scent in the air, soiled himself.

"OPEN THE GATES, LIEREN OF NOTHING HAS COME!" You bellow, taking a deep breath of the cold early winter air, to smother to fire burning in your heart, and smoldering in your thoughts "Alert Gao that his administrator has arrived to answer for his actions in sheltering the Tao and taking their wealth of iron as his own, the giant will hold court with the Lord of the Gao and answer for his crimes, open the gates so I may have audience with my master and enter his court to await rightful punishment"

The guard blinked, looking down at you as if you started spewing smoke instead of words
-
<Brief excerpt of the abridged version of the folktale "Lieren hunts the devil Gao", often used to put children to sleep.>
The Giant from the heavens road to the lair of the lord of foulness, the master of all wasteful men and father of sin himself, The Gao, the same two headed dragon that had for centuries stolen away farmers' wives, lain with lost children, and brutalized honest and virtuous men. For many generations this beast had preyed upon the lands of Great Lieren's home, and upon hearing the pleas of his fellow men , and seeing with his own eyes the nature of the Gao's spawn, Lieren sought to bring an end to the tyrannical devil's rule upon the material realm and to claim his head with his own hands.

It was a long journey, of which Lieren was joined by such heroes of Legend as Jinhai of the son of the sea, Guozhi, the ever living sage in the mountains, The wandering spirit of fire who he named Shan who he found in a forge of a lonely village and tamed into a body of flesh, The many brothers of the celestial panther, whose offspring and students still walk among us now, including Bai the lion who walked as a man. Xin the trickster.
Cont
>>
>>4543437

Zian Rong one of the many men to swear loyalty to the giant after being saved from one of The Gao's spawn.The Red Faced warrior, a demon reborn as a man after sacrificing himself to defend Lieren from a a dishonorable attack by one of the Gao's servants.And many more heroes of legend among them, including Dong born of the mist, the three brothers Wei , Liang and Jiang born from the panther king's own blood, Iron Jaw Hu, the Ox man Chen and a hundred more great warriors.

Many stories have been told of Lieren meeting these figures of legend, saving them and being saved by them from horrid beasts, joining them in their own journeys as he mastered the arts of war and sorcery. But now he road alone, after having freed the Unbroken thunder's howl from the enchantment placed upon him by the Gao himself, he road, upon his horse bred of fire and steel, Feng, his most trusted companion who arrived with him as he fell from the stars and was his brother in blood and spirit.

The air was foul around the forest which the Gao had made its home, a manor of bones and rotting flesh, surrounded by a river of blood and fire of every color within the world of the living and without, beasts freely fornicated with men and women under his rule, and boiled newborn children in pots of wine and bile. The sky was black, the fog was as red as fresh blood, and the scent of cooking flesh and spilt blood filled the air around the Gao's demesne for a hundred miles.

Corpses were planted like trees, and hearts grew upon trees like peaches and plums.

On the road to the Gao's palace of tarnished gold and pink skins and bleeding skins, Lieren met two of his greatest foes since the Toad Dragon.

Fu, a forgotten god of war the Gao had enslaved and drove mad by feeding him the blood of the innocent, once a mortal man, Fu fought Lieren, thinking the benevolent hunter to be a demon seeking to devour his young master's heart and soul. With heavy heart, after a battle that lasted two seasons, Lieren took Fu's head and freed him from madness, suffering his first wounds in this world from Fu's final, glorious attack. His blood turned Feng's coat a brilliant scarlet and spread through the land, becoming seeds that grew mighty warriors for generations after, who would leave for the stars themselves, but that is a story for another time.

Upon the mountains that protected the home of the Gao and all his foul brides and souls servants, Lieren was beset storms of furious winds and hails of gem, but he climbed onward with upon his brother Feng's back. And at the mountain peak, he found the Tao, a family of spirits who sat picking gem's from the stomach of children and the warriors who sought to slay them. For two seasons more, Lieren met with the father of this clan of devilish spirits and discussed philosophy and virtue with him under a magic disguise that made him appear as one of the dead himself.
cont
>>
>>4543439

The Giant taught the father of the Tao virtue, through song and stories, and revealed to them the truth of the atrocities they had committed, showing them the truth of the bushes of rubies and jade they tended.

Grief stricken and horrified by their crimes, the Tao threw themselves from their clifftop homes, and so redeemed themselves to be born again as men, noted for their wisdom and brilliance from being personally taught by the benevolent son of the heavens.

Saddened by the mass suicide that occurred before his eyes, Lieren continued on his road with his sole companion, his brother Feng. Horrors great and small assaulted the pair. Children in cages, fattened like swine and crushed under rocks to make wine, hung on the road to the Gao's palace of tarnished gold, pink silk, and the hides of men.

Arriving at the gate to the Gao's estate, Lieren's anger could no longer be contained within his mortal vessel, and manifest as a golden fire that covered his body, as molten gold dripped from his kind, soft eyes as the sorrow of all those he had seen to suffer beneath the Gao's shadow and the atrocities that he had encountered over came him, and his divine wrath and power were unleashed.

Breaking the gate to the Gao's palace, he road forth to confront his most hated of foes...
-

The gate opens for you, and the guard ducks out of your weigh as you cry out "HAI!" and command Cui Fu's horse to gallop onward, racing through the streets like a bolt of lightning.

It seems to remember the path to Gao's palace, and you pass the guards who had been sent to alert Gao of your presence as it carries you to the road leading up to that den of depravity and debaucherous evil. Their are still living women crucified along its side, men kicking and screaming from botched hanging alongside them. And children crying as their parents die before their eyes. As Gao's men stand silently, their pink war masks laughing and mocking the grieving children outside of Gao's palace.

They stop being silent and still as you let out a ferocious growl, riding towards them with your teeth barred, your face twisted with a truly terrifying snarl, but you control yourself. The men do not, and flee down the hill, screaming and dropping their weapons as they witness you truly enraged for the first time in their lives, the first time anything besides the Toad Dragon and the men at the city's gates have seen you truly in the grip of wrath and fury.

But you maintain control, and calm you expression as you slide off of Cui Fu's trusted steed, patting it on the side gently as it snorts and whips its tail, almost seeming to glare the lacquered gate painted Maroon, pink and red with entwined dragons of gold dancing upon its face.

You do not have the paitence to wait for the gates to be opened for you. Your rage is too strong, the sights you've seen, of butchered, brutalized children, of children grieving and trying to save their still living parents beaten and bruised.
cont
>>
>>4543441

Its turned the anger you've nurtured for Gao into a wild beast roaring and struggling to escape to lash out at all that stands around it.

So you open the gate yourself, headbutting through laquered wood and hold, impacting the wood and allowing your to drive your hands through it, and with one mighty tug, you rip the gates from the walls. They become splinters, chains fall as you hear men tumble from the stations above the wall, the force of your entry knocking them from their perches as you casually stride into the courtyard of the palace.

One man without thinking, stabs a spear at you. You of course, easily sidestep the attack, twisting your heels to dodge his second strike before disarming him with a chop of your hand, shattering his spear.

"That is no way to greet a guest" You say softly, your smile cracking and twitching as you hold back from simply slaughtering the man for attacking you "I shall raise a complaint with your master for this"

Smiling, you pat the young man who has now fallen to his knees, tears streaming down his face as you walk past him, guards stand frozen at their stations as the ongoing orgy of excess and wastefulness freezes as if it had become a painting. None of the nobles who celebrated your first arrival remain, the few nobles who are present are from the two pillars that still support Gao, or other parts of Yan. Most of the guests are servants or generals who have been trying to take the place of the Cui, and were not smart or virtuous enough to join your side.

There is no music, there are no screams. And upon the platform with which you once dined with him, Gao sits, entertaining Huang Tengfei and Luó Biya.

Clasping your hands together, you take a few steps and bow.

"Pardon this ones uninvited appearance, but I simply had to come" You say gently as one of the older visiting noble's keel over, his heart giving out from fright or the young woman servicing him beneath the table

"What..what is the meaning of this?" Lord Huang asks, looking around with blank eyes and a jiggling collection of chins

"Lieren, you damaged my property, that will come out of your pay and from your village" Gao said, color returning to his face as he looks down upon you "As will you insubordination and greed, I am thinking a season in the stocks, daily whippings and cleansing baths of boiling oil, you treasonous dog"

"Ah, so I am more valuable to you then the Cui or the Tao, one man, worth more than generations of traditions, centuries of loyalty" You say, taking a few new steps further, eyeing up the guests at Gao's feast, some of them half dressed, some of them bruised, some of them coated in wine and grease, many of them surrounded by terrified women and girls. Each sight of these rotten souls only further feeds your apocalyptic rage.
cont
>>
>>4543443

"What nonsense are you talking about Lieren? Have you overworked yourself to the point of madness?" Gao laughs, black oil dripping from his beard, with cushions stuffed under his robes to hide his weight loss "Perhaps I shall instead consign you to a suite where you may...relax properly, among gentler and fairer company"

"Do not offer filth to reward a miracle worker, dog" You reply bluntly and calmly, as lady Luó looks around like a confused sparrow and Lord Huang seems as if he does not understand the words you speak, Gao looks as infuriated as you feel or as close as a normal man can reach at least.

"YOU DARE!" Gao roars, his face turning as red as his beard, the portions unstained by oil and grime at least, you laugh.

"I have come for punishment" You say with a grin "there is no reason to scent and beautify my words any longer, Gao"

"So you're a masochist, testing my limits to see what punishment I'll give before tossing you to the side like garbage" Gao snorts as if amused, still not sensing the danger you pose "knowing I will not waste an asset as yourself, you want to make a fool of me before tasting delectable torment, is that it"

"No, you fool" You say calmly taking another step forward, shaking the plates of the feast around you and quaking the ground as you take another.
cont
>>
>>4543445

What do you say, Lieren ?
> It is not my punishment I have come for, for the crimes of excess, cruelty, sadism, madness, abuse of your kin, your own children, the children of thousands of others, for the murder of generations through starvation and neglect, I condemn you to death! Dog of the Gao, filth of the land, pile of horse feces in human form, I, Lieren, call you traitor to all men and lands! and will carry out this sentence.

> Lord Gao, you saw traitors everywhere, but your greed blinded you to the one by your side, whispering in your ear. The Cui were loyal to you, the Tao were loyal to you, but not to the people. Since I met you, I've planned your downfall and death, from the moment I saw your disgusting way of life and the monster you were. and you gave me all the power and wealth I needed to carry it out. You imbecilic Toad.

> No, you told me to bring prosperity to your lands, to turn them in jade and bring plenty and wealth from dust and ashes, to raise up the corpses you trod upon to make yourself powerful. The last thing in the way of true prosperity, the one thing holding back your lands from being truly great. Is you yourself, Lord Gao. I have never acted the humble farmer, the benevolent administrator, the wise hunter, for I am all those things. and I am the monk who has driven you mad with rage. and as I promised, I will remove this obstacle to my ambitions of bettering the lives of all men

>Do you know how long I have dreamed of murdering you? Of murdering all men like you? All these debased, disgusting nobles who act as swine and other base beasts, who partake in pleasures so foul they'd sicken devils. Ever since I saw you, I have dreamt of ways to murder you, to butcher you and all who hold your court. For years I have hunted your kind, with your blessings and hung them high. For, I am no monster like you, while I dream of torturing you, of brutalizing you, and all who are like you. I shall do no such thing, for I am merciful, I am kind. I will grant you the release of a swift death, all of you who would follow in this Dog's footsteps. I shall end you efficiently, and cleanly. Call your hounds, summon your servants, scream for your guards! none of them shall save you from my wrath, Gao!

> Write in?

Also bonus, the music I was listening to as I wrote this monster of an update: https://youtu.be/l76unGjRtBs
>>
>>4543443
I do hope the poor can leave before we get TOO angry. It would be very bad to kill them of fright.
>>
>>4543447
>Do you know how long I have dreamed of murdering you? Of murdering all men like you? All these debased, disgusting nobles who act as swine and other base beasts, who partake in pleasures so foul they'd sicken devils. Ever since I saw you, I have dreamt of ways to murder you, to butcher you and all who hold your court. For years I have hunted your kind, with your blessings and hung them high. For, I am no monster like you, while I dream of torturing you, of brutalizing you, and all who are like you. I shall do no such thing, for I am merciful, I am kind. I will grant you the release of a swift death, all of you who would follow in this Dog's footsteps. I shall end you efficiently, and cleanly. Call your hounds, summon your servants, scream for your guards! none of them shall save you from my wrath, Gao!

Lieren of Nothing has come, and he is PISSED
>>
>>4543447
> It is not my punishment I have come for, for the crimes of excess, cruelty, sadism, madness, abuse of your kin, your own children, the children of thousands of others, for the murder of generations through starvation and neglect, I condemn you to death! Dog of the Gao, filth of the land, pile of horse feces in human form, I, Lieren, call you traitor to all men and lands! and will carry out this sentence.

Tell to innocent servants to leave (some could be chained though, so we should pay attention in not striking them accidentally)
Now cool that rage, and prepare to fight with a cold mind. Defeat his incoming guards and then move on him. One strike, of the most fitting death we can think.
>>
>>4543447
I want all of the above plus Tell the servants to leave. But lets try some speech writing to make it flow a bit better.
Do tell me if it's crap or too "tryharding"

>I didn't come to suffer punishment, Worm of Gao, I came to bestow it. I was born of a star and raised by Shangrala herself in the dirt and the blood of fog panthers and of all that I have seen, all I have slain, the beast which digusts me most is YOU! [intercut smashing a table] You Gao! I came before you so many seasons ago and spoke true, that I desire only the prosperity for the people of Gao, of Yan, Of all Shangrala and what did you do?
>You snorted in derision and claimed it a mere act, my heart as black as yours and my ways as sinful, my virtue a mask for depravity yet unleashed you nihilistic toad! So I was silent again and nodded my head, even as your excess and madness and sadism and sundering of family duty carried on, as you sought to plate up your daughters without care for how they may survive or be injured, as you scar and torture your sons for no reason but your own sadistic pleasures. I watched and I grew furious! Then you commanded me to bring prosperity, I leashed that fury like a beast of spiteful burden and brought the people of Gao the road, better tools, food and water and farming tools and safety. Then I brought them a gift in the guise of a monk, a tome to explain their place and how they may better it, the tome that outlines unity cannot be supressed by tyrants like you. But how can I prove that my beliefs are true while yours are not? I would abuse your greed, whisper in your ears of traitors hidden in your pillars of power. Carp of Cui and Swallow of Tao and so many others, each loyal to their last days now feeding their lands with their own blood on your own command. Do you understand, you impudent stupid Slug? Are your blind eyes finally squinting against the light of truth? Can you see the shallowest truth of how long I have waited for, planned around and stalked you? The depths of my hate for the decadent and cruel tyrants which you take such glee in being?

>It doesn't matter now. Take one last sickening drink Gao, that your spirit finds a modicum of rest before it is reborn in the fires of hell or the body of a fly in a dungheap. For I am Lieren of Nothing, Author of your downfall, I name you traitor to all of mankind and sentence you to death, Scream and rant if you must but it will not save you from my wrath.
>>
>>4543460
This is pretty good. Not tryharding at all. I'll support this along with a bit of,

>Do you know how long I have dreamed of murdering you? Of murdering all men like you? All these debased, disgusting nobles who act as swine and other base beasts, who partake in pleasures so foul they'd sicken devils. Ever since I saw you, I have dreamt of ways to murder you, to butcher you and all who hold your court. For years I have hunted your kind, with your blessings and hung them high. For, I am no monster like you, while I dream of torturing you, of brutalizing you, and all who are like you. I shall do no such thing, for I am merciful, I am kind. I will grant you the release of a swift death, all of you who would follow in this Dog's footsteps. I shall end you efficiently, and cleanly. Call your hounds, summon your servants, scream for your guards! none of them shall save you from my wrath, Gao!
>>
>>4543465
I just felt that Gao needed to know why he is dying, partly so his next life will be burdened with the knowledge to repent, partly so the rest of the party can hear and take away a lesson, and lastly because "5 years of rage cooking up in this bad boy"

As a minor point, the speech was just a way to make all 4 options flow together, it already includes "How long I've wanted to murder you"
>>
Ever since Cui's horse was introduced, I've started to picture Lieren looking similar to Fist of the North Star's Raoh.

>>4543447
>Lord Gao, you saw traitors everywhere, but your greed blinded you to the one by your side, whispering in your ear. The Cui were loyal to you, the Tao were loyal to you, but not to the people. Since I met you, I've planned your downfall and death, from the moment I saw your disgusting way of life and the monster you were. and you gave me all the power and wealth I needed to carry it out. You imbecilic Toad.
>>
>>4543443
Also, give this guard a commendation. He saw a piiiiiissed off primarch, and still had the balls to attack him twice with a spear, that's some serious balls.

But I think they are going to spread tales of this appearance quite far. An angry god is quite memorable.
>>
>>4543447
>>Do you know how long I have dreamed of murdering you? Of murdering all men like you? All these debased, disgusting nobles who act as swine and other base beasts, who partake in pleasures so foul they'd sicken devils. Ever since I saw you, I have dreamt of ways to murder you, to butcher you and all who hold your court. For years I have hunted your kind, with your blessings and hung them high. For, I am no monster like you, while I dream of torturing you, of brutalizing you, and all who are like you. I shall do no such thing, for I am merciful, I am kind. I will grant you the release of a swift death, all of you who would follow in this Dog's footsteps. I shall end you efficiently, and cleanly. Call your hounds, summon your servants, scream for your guards! none of them shall save you from my wrath, Gao!
>>
>>4543447
>Do you know how long I have dreamed of murdering you? Of murdering all men like you? All these debased, disgusting nobles who act as swine and other base beasts, who partake in pleasures so foul they'd sicken devils. Ever since I saw you, I have dreamt of ways to murder you, to butcher you and all who hold your court. For years I have hunted your kind, with your blessings and hung them high. For, I am no monster like you, while I dream of torturing you, of brutalizing you, and all who are like you. I shall do no such thing, for I am merciful, I am kind. I will grant you the release of a swift death, all of you who would follow in this Dog's footsteps. I shall end you efficiently, and cleanly. Call your hounds, summon your servants, scream for your guards! none of them shall save you from my wrath, Gao!
>>
>>4543447
>Do you know how long I have dreamed of murdering you? Of murdering all men like you? All these debased, disgusting nobles who act as swine and other base beasts, who partake in pleasures so foul they'd sicken devils. Ever since I saw you, I have dreamt of ways to murder you, to butcher you and all who hold your court. For years I have hunted your kind, with your blessings and hung them high. For, I am no monster like you, while I dream of torturing you, of brutalizing you, and all who are like you. I shall do no such thing, for I am merciful, I am kind. I will grant you the release of a swift death, all of you who would follow in this Dog's footsteps. I shall end you efficiently, and cleanly. Call your hounds, summon your servants, scream for your guards! none of them shall save you from my wrath, Gao!
>>
>>4543447
> No, you told me to bring prosperity to your lands, to turn them in jade and bring plenty and wealth from dust and ashes, to raise up the corpses you trod upon to make yourself powerful. The last thing in the way of true prosperity, the one thing holding back your lands from being truly great. Is you yourself, Lord Gao. I have never acted the humble farmer, the benevolent administrator, the wise hunter, for I am all those things. and I am the monk who has driven you mad with rage. and as I promised, I will remove this obstacle to my ambitions of bettering the lives of all men.

>Do you know how long I have dreamed of murdering you? Of murdering all men like you? All these debased, disgusting nobles who act as swine and other base beasts, who partake in pleasures so foul they'd sicken devils. Ever since I saw you, I have dreamt of ways to murder you, to butcher you and all who hold your court. For years I have hunted your kind, with your blessings and hung them high. For, I am no monster like you, while I dream of torturing you, of brutalizing you, and all who are like you. I shall do no such thing, for I am merciful, I am kind. I will grant you the release of a swift death, all of you who would follow in this Dog's footsteps. I shall end you efficiently, and cleanly. Call your hounds, summon your servants, scream for your guards! none of them shall save you from my wrath, Gao!

>>4543460
Qm, you can also add any part of this that you like. I particularly like the part where he says "I leashed that fury like a beast of spiteful burden" and the whole insulting Gao by calling him a Toad (reference to the other corrupted Toad that we brutalized) and Slug. I only doubt about including the whole rebirth thing, but that's your choice

The first one as an introduction, reveal our true self, our life goals and our intentions. The second one because is badass and merges Lieren's flaw with his kind and loving nature, tempering both and alowing us to contain and manage our berserker rage and at the same time eliminating our compassion for our enemies (ar least the ones that are corrupted), removing any hesitation when the moment to kill them arrives (basically
I want Lieren to be a lucid beserker with cold and calculated rage that can patiently hold and slowly build up as we deal with our enemies, waiting for the moment when it'll be the most useful for us and our goals, and then being released in a swift, efficient and clean burst of unimaginable violence. Basically Angron if he had control over his rage, concentrating it into a singularity that he only releases in combat against the worst of the worst, or particullarly difficult enemies).
>>
>>4543515
The rebirth thing was something the sage taught us.
>>
>>4543460
This speech fits Lieten perfectly, have my support
>>
>>4543460
This sounds like a cool speech, but i feel like you should remove the last words. I think ending it with
>I name you traitor to all mankind, and sentence you to death.
>>
>>4543548
Actually, now that i think about it something like
>You are a traitor of mankind, and your sentence is death!
Sounds better. I think "You sentence is death" or "The Sentence is Death" sounds better than "sentence you to death"
>>
>>4543447
>> It is not my punishment I have come for, for the crimes of excess, cruelty, sadism, madness, abuse of your kin, your own children, the children of thousands of others, for the murder of generations through starvation and neglect, I condemn you to death! Dog of the Gao, filth of the land, pile of horse feces in human form, I, Lieren, call you traitor to all men and lands! and will carry out this sentence.
>>
>>4543447
> No, you told me to bring prosperity to your lands, to turn them in jade and bring plenty and wealth from dust and ashes, to raise up the corpses you trod upon to make yourself powerful. The last thing in the way of true prosperity, the one thing holding back your lands from being truly great. Is you yourself, Lord Gao. I have never acted the humble farmer, the benevolent administrator, the wise hunter, for I am all those things. and I am the monk who has driven you mad with rage. and as I promised, I will remove this obstacle to my ambitions of bettering the lives of all men.
Lieren, calm your tits. Remember why you do this. Do not let the emotional drive for the action become to much of a reason. You chose to journey into the den of excess, not primarily to obliterate it, but to save people from it and its demands. Do not prolong Gao's suffering just to hear him scream or know his terror. Just kill him to know that he is gone and your people are safer then they were when he was alive.
Please Lieren, just end it. You are not a demon of wrath, you are a hunter of prosperity. So kill this beast and go home.
>>
>>4543560
it isn't just to prolong his fear. It is to give the message to the rest.

But we should really tell the servants and guards to flee for their own safety.

>>4543548
personal taste on that mark
>>
> No, you told me to bring prosperity to your lands, to turn them in jade and bring plenty and wealth from dust and ashes, to raise up the corpses you trod upon to make yourself powerful. The last thing in the way of true prosperity, the one thing holding back your lands from being truly great. Is you yourself, Lord Gao. I have never acted the humble farmer, the benevolent administrator, the wise hunter, for I am all those things. and I am the monk who has driven you mad with rage. and as I promised, I will remove this obstacle to my ambitions of bettering the lives of all men.
>>
>>4543460
i love this speech, and i support it
>>
>>4543460
it is a nice speech but i think that it is a bit of a waste.
Why proclaim our virtue when it can be inferred from our acts if they are successful?
>>4543447
> No, you told me to bring prosperity to your lands, to turn them in jade and bring plenty and wealth from dust and ashes, to raise up the corpses you trod upon to make yourself powerful. The last thing in the way of true prosperity, the one thing holding back your lands from being truly great. Is you yourself, Lord Gao. I have never acted the humble farmer, the benevolent administrator, the wise hunter, for I am all those things. and I am the monk who has driven you mad with rage. and as I promised, I will remove this obstacle to my ambitions of bettering the lives of all men


Gao is the most powerful vasal of notchina emperor, and for some reason i think it is going to be romance since fuckery like that is what is expected by Primarchs to encounter.

We are going to be businessman!/politician!Primarch, might as well not give up the mask, ever.
>>
>>4543643
Because it's addressing the slight against them. And fuck Gao.
>>
>>4543460
support
>>
>>4543459
i am changing from this vote

to
4543460
as above
>>
>>4543447
>> No, you told me to bring prosperity to your lands, to turn them in jade and bring plenty and wealth from dust and ashes, to raise up the corpses you trod upon to make yourself powerful. The last thing in the way of true prosperity, the one thing holding back your lands from being truly great. Is you yourself, Lord Gao. I have never acted the humble farmer, the benevolent administrator, the wise hunter, for I am all those things. and I am the monk who has driven you mad with rage. and as I promised, I will remove this obstacle to my ambitions of bettering the lives of all men

The last one is too chaosish
>>
I hope that you guys don't deny Lieren's rage forever. Holding your negative emotions and pretending you are completely virtuous in fear of Chaos using said emotions to corrupt you is the kind of shit that leads to people snaping and going full Chaos murderhobo
>>
>>4543766
the way votes are going, we won't be denying this rage. We shall be venting quite a lot.
>>
>>4543460
+1
>Would add saying that we are the monk and your executioner.
>>
>>4543447
> No, you told me to bring prosperity to your lands, to turn them in jade and bring plenty and wealth from dust and ashes, to raise up the corpses you trod upon to make yourself powerful. The last thing in the way of true prosperity, the one thing holding back your lands from being truly great. Is you yourself, Lord Gao. I have never acted the humble farmer, the benevolent administrator, the wise hunter, for I am all those things. and I am the monk who has driven you mad with rage. and as I promised, I will remove this obstacle to my ambitions of bettering the lives of all men
>>
>>4543447
> No, you told me to bring prosperity to your lands, to turn them in jade and bring plenty and wealth from dust and ashes, to raise up the corpses you trod upon to make yourself powerful. The last thing in the way of true prosperity, the one thing holding back your lands from being truly great. Is you yourself, Lord Gao. I have never acted the humble farmer, the benevolent administrator, the wise hunter, for I am all those things. and I am the monk who has driven you mad with rage. and as I promised, I will remove this obstacle to my ambitions of bettering the lives of all men


Calm and control. Ying to yang, Balance in all things. Do not lose yourself in hasty revenge. Enact justice.
>>
>>4543447
>Do you know how long I have dreamed of murdering you? Of murdering all men like you? All these debased, disgusting nobles who act as swine and other base beasts, who partake in pleasures so foul they'd sicken devils. Ever since I saw you, I have dreamt of ways to murder you, to butcher you and all who hold your court. For years I have hunted your kind, with your blessings and hung them high. For, I am no monster like you, while I dream of torturing you, of brutalizing you, and all who are like you. I shall do no such thing, for I am merciful, I am kind. I will grant you the release of a swift death, all of you who would follow in this Dog's footsteps. I shall end you efficiently, and cleanly. Call your hounds, summon your servants, scream for your guards! none of them shall save you from my wrath, Gao
I want to see lieren cut lose a little bit, he's not an actual monk after all, he's a hunter who finally has his prey trapped
>>
>>4543460
I’d be fine with this.
>>
>>4543957

Yet at most he only ever felt satisfaction that the meat of his prey would feed the hungry, its fur would warm the cold, and that its fangs would never more harm the weak. What good reason is satisfaction to be found in a mutilated corpse, fear in the eyes of the soon to be dead, of the smell of soiled clothes and the sight of tear stained eyes?
>>
>>4543460
Backing. Let us slay the serpent.
>>
>>4544265
Recount. Write-in got 9 votes.
>>
>>4544274
Nice catch, looked back and so my mistake

as I thought, this anon >>4543665
>>4543667
changed his vote FROM the write in to the "No I told you" as he for some reason listed the post number and I saw the 60 at the end of it thought he was referring to a different post, namely >>4543560 this one

My bad, my bad! sorry that happened.

So the count is actually
Write in: 9
Not my punishment:1
No I told you: 7
Do you know: 7
So My bad there
SO THE WRITE IN WINS, and I'll just delete what I had already written and start over, since it was my fuck up so I'm not going to stick my head in the sand here and go "Well I already started"

Cause that'd make me worse that Erebus
>>
>>4544287
Obligatory fuck Erebus.
>>
>>4544287
>>4544318
Who?
>>
>>4544321
One of the things that helped cause the Horus Heresy along with the Emperor’s mistakes.
>>
>>4544324
Oh I thought it sounded like QM's name.
Like he was some egregiously bad writer.
>>
>>4544328
Nah, that's Lorgar

Erebus is generally regarded as the cause of the Horus Heresy
>>
What do we do with erebus and korphoran when we meet them? Would lieren be able to see the rot inside them with his golden eyes?
>>
"I didn't come to suffer punishment, Worm of Gao, I came to bestow it" You says as calmly as you have ever spoken to Gao, but your golden eyes revealed the true depths of hatred you felt for the monster who dared to call himself a man, if one had eyes and sense enough to see it. The wiser nobles try to get out of their seats, sensing perhaps the killing intent flowing from you as if you were a broken bottle or a dam that long held a river in place suddenly crumbling beneath its own weight. But they cannot, their legs give out and they fall to the ground, some crying and pleading for mercy already, the servants cowering where they stand or seeking shelter behind their masters as you walk by them, seeming to all who looked upon you as a wrathful god incarnated in flesh.

"I was born of a star and raised by Shangrala herself" You proclaim, slamming your balled fist into your chest for emphasis with enough for to crush every organ in a lesser man's body, a sound like iron meeting iron echoing over the silent and still party and its revelers "in the dirt and the blood of fog panthers and of all that I've seen"

You take another step forward, glaring directly at Gao as he realizes you are not going to kneel down and accept a beating like a obedient hound, and at last sees the threat you are to him and his little kingdom of depravity. He tries to stand, but is held in place by the same crushing force as all of his abused servants and foul spirited guests.

"All I have slain, the beast which disgusts me most is YOU!" You say raising up your fist in the air, above your head before bringing it crashing down like a hammer on the feast table, turning it into a cloud of splinters, broken metal and shattered glass. Meat, grease and spices flow to the floor as the unfortunate noble man who was seated before the destruction curls into a ball wailing and pleading for mercy at the sight of your rage and true strength unleashed to the world. Raising your other hand, you lash an accusing finger towards Gao, pointing towards his foul black heart.

"You Gao!" You bellow, your voice seeming as falling thunder, as metal ringing in a forge, of ice cracking and stone breaking, a force of nature directed towards your "master" "I came before you so many seasons ago and spoke true, that I desire only the prosperity for the people of Gao, of Yan, of all Shangrala!"

You raising your fist again and lower it, opening your hand and spreading your arms out, motioning to all the animals dressed as men around you, eyes still focused on Gao as he tries to find the courage to even speak in your presence now that you are no longer acting the part of the humble, loyal servant and dog. This is a challenge, you have left yourself open as a challenge to any who would dare to attempt to strike you down or guard Gao's life from your hands

"And what did you do?" You ask, lowering your voice to a deathly quiet,so frigidly that it seems the air around you itself has also turned to ice
cont
>>
>>4544467

"Your snorted in derision" You snarl, not allowing Gao to answer as he looks around for his guards, his two guests of honor doing the same, but are unable to yell or scream for protection in the face of your overwhelming anger and released killing intent washing from you like waves upon the sea. Clapping your hands together you continue, walking and speaking.

"And claimed it a mere act, my heart as black as yours and my ways as sinful, my virtue a mask for depravity yet unleashed, you nihilistic toad!" You roar, disgusting and hatred oozing from every word you speak like blood from a wound or water from a spring, as you stalk close to Gao, pulling your hands apart and once again balling them into fists. Barring your teeth like fangs you continue on, taking long, deep breaths to maintain your self control and keep your unrelenting fury held at bay.

"Guards! Call for your guards!" Lady Luó shrieks, gripping at the chair she is seated in, her thin, starved face flushed with terror and primal fear as you continue towards the platform she, Huang, and Gao are seated upon "He means to murder us! murder all of us, do something Lord Gao! before the giant bites into our flesh and gnaws upon our bones!"

Gao remains still and silent, eyes wide and distant as if he is still too shocked to believe what is happening, what you're saying, and is held in place by that shock and the sheer murderous intent directed towards him.

"So I was silent again, and nodded my head, even as your excess and madness and sadism and sundering of family duty carried on" You explain serenely, having managed to void your thoughts of all the instincts urging you to simply slaughter Gao like the swine he is. The sudden calmness in your eyes only serves to heighten to fear felt by those pigs gathered around you, unable to flee from their own fast approaching doom, but it breaks the spell of the sheer menace of your presence that had so enchanted Gao.

"Guards!" He bellowed, his voice ragged and filled with terror and panic, he stood from his seat, glancing around for his men as they stood transfixed by the furious giant standing before them, speaking heresy and hard truths so boldly and readily "don't just stand at attention and watch me be butchered! if you do not defend me my last will will be to have you all castrated and your family fed still living to jackals! Stop the madman! Stop him!! STOP HIM!"

He screams and shrieks, but to no avail, none of them move, for they are as terrified as he himself is. as all of his guests, as all of the servants and foolish generals. The air is heavy with dread and bloodlust, your desire to finally end Gao's life mingling with the fear the sight of you standing at your full height and truly furious inspires.
cont
>>
>>4544468

"As you sought to plate up your daughters without care for how they may survive or be injured" You hiss through your teeth, your snarling and expression making you appear as one of the panthers you so idolize and respect, your voice raising in volume and fury as you speak and expose Gao's further atrocities to the world and all who live upon it "as you scar and torture your sons for no reason but your own sadistic pleasures."

Lord Huang, the fat frog himself, realize he is in danger at last, and with much effort and force of will, lift his corpulent form from his silk covered seat and tries to flee down the steps of the platform he had been indulging upon. But his legs give out from being force to move more than they have for decades, and collapse beneath his weight. He lays upon the ground under the platform, a heap of fat and soiled silks, wailing for help as Gao continues to bellow threats to his men, to try and save himself from your long nurtured wrath and hatred.

You continue walking towards them, at a leisurely pace, before you drown out Gao's threatening, Luó's shrieking and Huang's wailing with a single sentence screamed as loudly as your mighty lungs will allow. The air seems to shift and shudder from the sheer force of your voice.

"I watched and grew furious!" are the words you scream, shaking your head and mane of iron colored hair around, still barring your teeth and clenching your hands. You stop in place, taking a long breath of winter air to clear your thoughts and soothe your mind, calming your heart to resist lashing out before you finish your accusation and damnation of Gao and all he stands for in your eyes.

Those five words are enough to shatter the enchantment of fear that held over the other guests, the ones who have fainted or died from fright at the sight of you, and they begin pushing past their servants, to try and seek safety behind their bodies or the palace of Gao. The nobles trip, push and pull, in a chaotic brawl to everyone besides themselves between the enraged giant and their throats. The servants cower together, unified against the tide of noble flesh and blood that tries to pull them apart and push past the wall of their bodies.

"Then" You say, once again calm and controlled, staring at the ground beneath your feat, a gentle smile on your lips but fire in your eyes "you commanded me to bring prosperity, I leashed that fury like a beast of spiteful burden and brought the people of Gao the road, better tools, food and water and farming tools and safety"

You can hear armor rustling, lacquered metal rubbing against itself in rapid movement. Seem some of the guards are still loyal to this beast or more likely fear what he would do to their families should they shirk their duties and leave him to die. But the chaos that has erupted keeps them at bay, at least for a few moments more. You begin to laugh, a laugh different from your usual one.
cont
>>
>>4544470

For while it is as deep and loud as your joyous laugh, and also comes from deep within your belly, this laugh is cold and harsh, half bark and half crow's call.

"Then I brought them a gift in the guise of a monk" You say looking back up to see the reaction on Gao's pallid face, a grin upon your own and amused pride in your tone "A tome to explain their place and how they may better it, the tome that outlines unity cannot be suppressed by tyrants like you."

You look him in the eyes, seeing fear turn to spiteful hatred, maddened wrath and mindless anger, as he stands from his chair, only now appearing similar to the Dragons his family claimed as their symbol.

"SLAUGHTER HIM! KILL HIM! KILL HIM NOW!" Gao shrieks, his voice turned ragged as oil and grey spittle flies from his mouth, his eyes pits of the purest anger "BRING ME HIS HEAD! BRING ME HIS BALLS! DISEMBOWEL HIM! MAKE HIM SUFFER, I DO NOT CARE HOW MANY OF YOU DIE! KILL THE TRAITOR LIEREN!"

You merely smile serenely, taking a few more paces forward, unaffected by the chaos or men coming to throw their lives away, you're nearing the end of the feast table now, most of its seats are empty except for fainted or dead nobles or those not bold enough to try and save themselves by running from you.

"But how can I prove that my beliefs are true while yours are not?" You ask, clapping your hands together in front of your face and closing your eyes for but a single breath, and open them again to gaze upon Gao while smirking, lowering your eyes so you don't have to look upon such a disgusting creature any longer than you have to.

the footsteps are growing closer, but Gao's men still have to get past the surging wall of nobility and servants before they can reach you as a gathered force.

"I would abuse your greed" You answer yourself, emotionless and blunt, simply stating a fact to Gao and his guests "whisper in your ears of traitors hidden in your pillars of power"

You pull your hands apart and raise one, fingers out stretched and held apart.

"Carp of Cui" You say, lowering your pointer finger and curling it into your palm as you walk forward, unfazed by the shouts and screams around you, before repeating the action with your middle finger "Swallow of Tao, and so many others, each loyal to their last days now feeding their lands with their own blood on your command"

Once more Gao bellows for your head, screams for you disembowelment, shrieks for your castration and begs for protection, but none of it deters you or even slows your approach. Luó stands there, like a starved corpse, her eyes distant and panicked as she glances around, looking for any route of escape or to any protection to save her life.
cont
>>
>>4544472
Huang is still screaming and blubbering over his snapped ankle, stuck on his back like a tortoise flipped over.

"Do you understand, you impudent stupid Slug?" You ask sternly, interrupting and ignoring Gao's shouted commands and wailed pleas for aid "Are your blind eyes finally squinting against the light of truth?"

"Stop hesitating and kill him, impale him, tear him to ribbons and pieces!" Gao yells again, as the guard's finally find an opening to you, charging through the fear stricken mobs of servants and gathered nobility. Some of the nobles get trampled by their advance as they try to slip through the path they made to safety. The servants are smarter, and simply parted away from the men armed with spears instead of trying to push past or impede their march.

You do not react and simply walk a little closer to the platform Gao and Luó remain trapped upon, like fowl in a cage. You are directly beneath it now. Lashing your finger towards Gao, you jab it in the air like a spear.

"Can you see the shallowest truth of how long I have waited for, planned around and stalked you?" You asks, sneering spitefully at the soon to be deceased Lord Gao, before swinging your accusing digit away from him, to Luó, Down to Huang, and then to your side, motioning to all of his guests attempting to flee in a blind, feral panic "the depths of my hate for the decadent and cruel tyrants which you take such glee in being?"

"END HIM! TAKE HIS HEAD, I WILL HEAR NO MORE OF THIS SELF RIGHTEROUS BABBLING, THE LAST WORDS YOU WILL SPEAK WILL BE GURGLED PLEAS FOR MERCY, YOU DUNG EATING DOG! DISRESPECTFUL, IMPUDENT LITTLE RAT!" Gao shrieks, black veins bulging through the folds of his thin skin, eyes bloodshot, a vein burst in his left eye dying it a deep scarlet red that is so deep it is almost black.

You bow your head, sensing the spears leveled towards your back, the guards to frightened and cowardly to face you head on. It begins.

A flurry of jabs, you bow to avoid them, the first wave of attackers falling to the ground as they over extend in their desperation to avoid getting near you. This is then followed by spear thrown towards you, which you push off its path with a brush of your hand, turning back, you spin on your heels before standing on your toes. Facing over a hundred men crammed into formation in the space between the two feasting tables.

Your smile at them, and with two fingers beckon them forward. They give an uncertain war cry, sounding more terrified than fearsome. With ease, you avoid their attacks, shifting your weight and center of mass, moving through their panicked assualt as a carp moves through rocks in a stream. Despite your size and weight, you agilely avoid every attack they throw your way.
cont
>>
>>4544474

And one by one, their spears break against your hands, as you swipe them like a panther claws at their prey, bending and breaking their poles covered in maroon lacquer, snapping their flame styled points in your palms and tossing them aside.

You catch one spear between your leg and thigh, snapping it with a twitch of your muscles. You stand on one foot, leaning back to avoid a spear desperately thrown towards your neck, hands pressed together as you turn your back to the now disarmed front line of Gao's guard force, pausing the pluck a spear out of the air before snapping it in half as a child would a dry twig. Now the guards have extended themselves too far between the tables to effectively reorganize, and thus those still armed with spears are trapped behind those that hold nothing but broken poles and splinters.

With that, you walk past Huang, a satisfied smile on your face as you look up at Gao with a hateful glare, shaking your head.

"It doesn't matter now" You say softly, serenely, no anger in your words of movement as you climb the stares, eyes locked on Gao as he stands, eyes ablaze with impotent fury, Luó falling to her knees, covering her face with her hands and shuddering, too afraid to do anything but cower "Take one last sickening drinking Gao, so that your spirit may find a modicum of rest before it is reborn in the fires of hell or within the body of a fly in a dung heap"

"Yan will make me seem merciful, farmer" Gao spites, tossing his jug of wine against your bare chest, refusing the last honor you'd give him "If you intend to kill me, I'd suggest slaughtering my children, though I know you haven't the stomach for it, one of my sons will avenge me, if Yan does not put your head upon a pike first, DOG!"

"For I am Lieren of nothing" You say as you step onto the platform, looking down on him and ignoring his words entirely, a calm smile remaining on your lips, your eyes revealing the fury hidden behind the serene mask you wear, cracks from which your bloodlust leaks out of "Author of your downfall, I name you traitor to all of mankind and sentence you to death. Scream and rant if you must, but your pathetic threats will not save you from my wrath"

Gao stands, his legs shaking as he looks up to you, black oil upon his lips and urine soaking his robes.

"If there is anything after death, I pray I get to witness your downfall with my own eyes, when the next self righteous imbecile names you tyrant and sinner, you prideful worm" Gao hisses, his last words filled with venom to you and the world "For that is the cycle of righteousness and virtue, someone shall always see you as below their self imposed standards, one day, you shall meet your death, just like me, Lieren, when one balks beneath your heel and your benevolence"
cont
>>
>>4544475

His voice is weak, and uncertain. there is not an ounce of confidence or dignity left within this abomination. You say nothing, and merely stand before him.

"Well go on, tell me how I am wrong, proclaim you will be different, argue against the truth!" He roars, his voice cracking as he begins to wheeze and cough, unable to maintain his defiance, wincing in pain as he tries to speak more foulness to you


How do you Kill Gao, Lieren?
> Pour him a drink and offer it to him again, before snapping his neck
> Shatter his jaw with a back hand, severing his spine and dashing his brains to liquid
>Lift him into the air by his neck, then cave his skull in with a headbutt
> Pluck his heart out and crush it between your fingers
> write in
>>
Sorta wish we hadn't included the line about Cui, Song, and the other nobles, but oh well.

> Pour him a drink and offer it to him again, before snapping his neck

Let's end this as it began, with a drink on offer.
>>
>>4544476
> Shatter his jaw with a back hand, severing his spine and dashing his brains to liquid
Quick and easy
>>
>>4544476
>Pour him a drink and offer it to him, before snapping his neck.

This is how we are different Gao, we are dedicated to principles of prosperity and enlightenment while you are dedicated to principles of meaningless and hedonism. We should probably kill the other noble leeches as well
>>
>>4544476
>> Shatter his jaw with a back hand, severing his spine and dashing his brains to liquid
Bitch-slapped into the 41st millennium.
>>
>>4544476
> Pour him a drink and offer it to him again, before snapping his neck
If he doesnt drink it, then kill him regardless
>>
>Rip out his head with his spine still attached.
We should be atleast sometimes brutal.
Its still Warhammer after all
>>
>>4544476
>Pluck his heart out and crush it between your fingers
>>
>>4544476
>> Pour him a drink and offer it to him again, before snapping his neck
>>
>>4544476
>write in
>Split his skull with a chop of your hand
perhaps not clean, but still quick.


So, looking at the way Lieren's presence made people panic got me thinking.
Since Angron had a latent psychic ability to calm people before getting the Nails in his brain, maybe Lieren can do the opposite and instill fear?
>>
>>4544476
Drown him with his own wine. Excess was his life, excess shall be his death.
>>
>>4544476
>Pluck his heart out and crush it between your fingers
>>
>>4544476
> Pour him a drink and offer it to him again, before snapping his neck

If he refuses, the drink will go directly in his mouth at high speed. If he is still alive a slap or a punch, should do for finish him. Though i doubt it with a new hole in the head.
With that done we should give the signal to the Black General and our men to move in the city.
We can start killing the other snakes and save the people in need.
Throw a torch to the corpse of Gao, before going for our new duties. Spit on it for good measure too.
>>4544554
I think anyone would fear a Primarch that is visibly angry and start a speech of this kind. Maybe is more shame though, the shame of being exposed to the truth of their disgusting lives.
Also good job on Lieren in using his anger like a weapon.
>>
>>4544476
> Pour him a drink and offer it to him again, before snapping his neck
Have one last enjoyment of the decadence you didn't deserve and see how it meant nothing.
>>
>>4544476
>Pour him a drink and offer it to him, before snapping his neck.
>>
>>4544476
>Give him the people's elbow
>>
>>4544476
>Pour him a drink and offer it to him again, before snapping his neck
Live by the sword, die by the sword
Live by the wine, die by the wine
>>
>>4544476
>Pour him a drink and offer it to him again, before snapping his neck
>>
>>4544476
>> Pour him a drink and offer it to him again, before snapping his neck
WE. TOLD. HIM. TO. DRINK.
>>
>>4544691
He is going to drink or drown. His choice.

I do wonder what we should do about the guards, Tell them to fuck off?
We should murder the starved woman and the fat man, but maybe just leave after that? Or perhaps take Gao's family with us. I'm not sure.
>>
>>4544476
>Humanity itself always hungers for more and regardless of its condition will eventually seek to change it. That is the way of the cycle. Going by said logic, have you yourself not swung the pendulum too much towards vice and now must it not swing back? Cui and Tao managed to face death with glory and dignity, living and shouting their ideals and dreams to those around. Are you truly just a lesser being held up by greater ones aloft, that you would simply rationalize your own shortcomings away?
>Here is your chance to prove if you are a lesser creature or not. A toast to your life thus far.
> Pour him a drink and offer it to him again, before snapping his neck
>>
>>4544476
> Pluck his heart out and crush it between your fingers
>>
>>4544476
> Pluck his heart out and crush it between your fingers
>>
>>4544476
> Pour him a drink and offer it to him again, before snapping his neck
He will drink or he will drown.
>>
>>4544476
> Pour him a drink and offer it to him again, before snapping his neck
Shove the cup down his throat if necessary
>>
>>4544476
> Pour him a drink and offer it to him again, before snapping his neck

"If there is anything after death, I pray I get to witness your downfall with my own eyes, when the next self righteous imbecile names you tyrant and sinner, you prideful worm. For that is the cycle of righteousness and virtue, someone shall always see you as below their self imposed standards, one day, you shall meet your death, just like me, Lieren, when one balks beneath your heel and your benevolence"

those words are going to come back to ring true when we meet Emps
>>
>>4544873
When we die, we won't die squirming and afraid, devoid of virtue. That will be the key difference.
>>
>>4544895
whether we die on our feet or otherwise isn't part of what he said. it was prophetic though. I could see our idealism planting seeds in Horus to turn against dad. Maybe we should be able to dictate our own paths and not the ones prescribed to us?
>>
>>4544897
"One day you shall meet your death, just like me, Lieren, when one Balks beneath your heel and your benevolence"

We are not dying as he did, a corrupt ruler terrified before a being he cannot comprehend. We will die as a brother of ours drives their spite and rage against us. A peer murdering us for an ideology or defiled order, not killed by a subordinate whom we have been nothing but evil to.
>>
>>4544476
>> Pour him a drink and offer it to him again, before snapping his neck
>>
>>4544911
Never say never. We could have our very own erebus waiting in the wing, you never know
>>
>>4544911
while the emperor may not be under our heel what he says about "the next self righteous imbecile" is 100% correct
>>
>>4545004
The emperor fits more a hypocritical imbecile than self-righteous though
>>
>>4545024
The Emperor is extremely self-righteous
>>
>>4545024
>>4545033
he's both
>>
>>4545024
While Lieren would disagree with the emperor's actions he certainly couldn't argue with a majority of the results. If there is something that would push him over the edge it would be either Angron or Mortarion, I wouldn't put it past him to try and kill Angron to try and stop him from subjecting his legion to the butcher's nails.
>>
>>4545024
I really hate how the GE is written.
>>
>>4545024
Remember monarchia? Sometimes he can make lorgar look like a man of reason
>>
>>4545050
Eh...the emperor being an self-righteous imbecile sounds fair for the representation of humanity. But he's lacking in other decidedly 'human' areas, so yeah, he's pretty badly written.
>>
>>4545088
>Hundred years of saying 'Lorgar, could you not?' and hoping the problem solves itself
>When it doesn't, take your sons greatest achievement and grind it into actual dust using your other son to make him hate you and that other son, who doesn't want to do any of this anyway to his known mercurial and temper prone brother.

Emps is a genuis, what do you mean that was a bad idea?
>>
>>4545093
The Emperor is like the Living Avatar of the Fedora Atheists of the Second Millenia. Chances are, he was actually all of them, in different forms.
>I don't like religion because it causes bloodshed, and if you disagree i will quite literally genocide your entire planet
>>
isn't some of the books about emp where made by hard core chaos players?
>>
>>4545095
To be fair, 30 thousand years of seeing your species fight each other for nothing, make some progress, the regress to fighting each other for nothing over and over again will do much to jade a man
Blaiming it on religion is dumb though, even dumber when the ecclesiarchy has proven lorgar right and shown that praying really really hard to the emperor really does grant magic powers and is basically the only reason the imperium still stands today, which means that having lorgar on his side would have actually been really beneifical
>>
>>4545105
He thought he was right, so his hypothesis must have been correct, thus he couldnt possibly allow lorgar to think he was right.
>>
>>4545116
>>4545105
That’s the joke.
>>4545100
Well the people that write him seem to hate him.
>>
>>4545116
Pretty much. He wanted to slowly erode the Chaos gods by makjng everyone disbelieve deities in general. The problem is that the four draw a lot of their power from emotions and the subconscious of manking, so using religion to empower himself as the racial god of mankind and drawing all belief and emotions towards him (on his own terms, not like the Punished Emperor that is the Empireal Tyrant), while shielding people from chaos and using his power and authority to secure peace, better living conditions and a philosopy of logic and reason to make all races slowly erode the four permanently.
>>
>>4545144
Strangely I’ve seen people that somehow think “religion bad” in 40k despite it being one of the only reasons humanity is still around. Like unregulated religion is bad but if careful managed it can become a powerful tool.
>>
Calling the vote now. that's a lot of votes.

Offer him a drink again, snap his neck:15
End him with a dismissive backhand:2
Sub zero style:1
Chop his head in half:1
Drown him with wine:1
Pluck his heart out and crush it:4


Alright, so Lieren shall offer Gao one last drink, and snap his neck whether he accepts or refuses it. Writing the update now
>>
>>4545148
To be fair, religion's faith is only necessary in 40k because humanity literally has nothing else to keep it together
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>>4545153
Not quite malal. He doesnt get to decline. He will accept the drink or have it forced down his throat.

LIVE BY THE WINE, DIE HY THE WINE. FUCK YOU GAO, YOU DONT GET TO STOP NOW!
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>>4545157
I know what you mean and saw the other people suggesting to force him to drink as well

but the way you worded it, created a mental image of Lieren standing there offering him glass after glass of wine until he gets frustrated and just shoves the bottle through Gao's neck. Which amuses me.
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>>4545162
If we had more time, I would completely vote for that. death by alcohol poisoning.
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>>4545105
I've never understood this about The Emperor. The guys clearly a God, immortal leader of our species, he can travel dimensions in order to entreat with other Gods.

How can he not see what's so clearly obvious? Why does he reject the notion that he's a God when it's so obvious that he is?
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>>4545232
I think he just hates the term itself at this point.
It brings with it a certain connotation that I'm pretty sure he specifically said he did not want associated with him or anybody else in relation to Mankind.
>>
You say nothing, and merely step past Gao and grab a second bottle of plum wine, one of the last bottles produced by the He family before they were removed from power, the same night that Cui Fu died. You swirl the bottle in your hand, it is half full. Seems Lord Huang didn't have much of a taste for fine alcohol today, how fortunate for the last lord of the Gao. Casually, you grab Lady Luó's glass, reaching over her head as she remains cowering on the ground, her eyes filled with such terror it seems she might faint from fright. Or more likely, considering her constitution and choice of starving herself reed thin, she'll merely perish as her weakened heart cannot stand the stress put upon it by the terror your wrath inspires.

Gao watches you, his eyes like those of a rabid hound or mad jackal, inhuman fury and anger burning in his muddy, bloodshot eyes. His left eye continues to fill with blood from the vessel that burst within it, causing him to squint and nearly close it, but he keeps it open to look at you through a haze of scarlet. The shouting of guards, the screaming of nobles and the jeering of their servants is the music that shall accompany Gao through his last moments.

"So you accept that I am right, that all you do is pointless and shall one day be washed away by another zealot like yourself?" Gao hisses through his teeth, shuddering and wincing away as you step towards him again. He glances back to you as you kneel down on one leg, and fill the crystal glass with pink hued liquor and gently offer it to him, eyes locked with his. Your expression serious, stern and filled with disgust. The air is filled with the mingling scents of the alcohol he splashed upon you, and the acrid aroma of urine seeping from Gao's robes

"Drink" You command, holding the glass to him "it is your last chance to indulge in one of your vices, Dog of the Gao, I am offering you a kindness you do not deserve"

He spits a ball of phlegm heavy, oily spittle onto your cheek and cackles, but your expression remains unchanged as you continue to look upon Gao with disdain and contempt. The warm liquid crawls down your face, turning cold as you sit there, listening to Gao howl with laughter at his childish display of defiance. You raise the glass, running your thumb over the sharpened edges that spiral around the glass.

"I will not become a foot note of glory to your story, worm, let all know the Gao died screaming defiance and fury" He sneers, cackling madly as looks into your eyes, his expression shifting to one of sheer terror as he does so, his boldness vanishing in an instant. He does not speak any longer, the venom and defiance he tries to spit turn to whines and whimpers or other wise catch and wilt in his throat as he tries to speak them.
cont
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>>4545251

His thin, grey lips shudder, his bleeding eye clamps shut as a single tear of blood drips down flabby, pallid skin. Pulling his thin arms to his chest, the excess skin hanging upon them ripples and quakes with every movement he makes. Amusingly, his once fat neck now resembles Ling's fowl like throat, loose folds of skin hanging from it and jiggling with every struggling breath Gao gulps down.

"Drink, it will be the last thing you taste in this life" You command again, lifting the glass to his lips. There's a twitch through his body as his mind tried to command it to move, to slap the drink out of your hand, to strike you weakly or simply try to flee and earn itself a few moments of life in this material world. And shamefully, he takes the glass from your hand, and throws the liquor into his mouth, closing it as oil oozes past his lips and blackened teeth.

His cheeks bulge as he shifts the liquor of his tongue, whimpering and whining like a beaten dog, his open eye tearing up as he realizes there is no way to escape you at last. Gao's guards haven't even attempted to rush to his side to guard him, having realized that he cannot threaten their families or manhoods if he is dead. So they stand, those with spears keeping them raised as they watch you, as if expecting you to suddenly fall over dead as if struck down by some higher power for daring to threaten the lord of Gao.

The nobles are still fighting amongst themselves and clawing at the wall of their Servants, pulling and pushing their own back despite the fact if they were unified they could easily break through the line of common men and women, and reach safety. Like crabs in a barrel.

Gao sighs, opening his mouth, vapors rising into the air off his blacked tongue, drops of oil clinging to his teeth and glistening as he raises the glass towards you, his eyes empty of higher thought, his defiance and rage against your forgotten in the pursuit of one last pleasure, one last high. It is as if he has forgotten everything but his own satisfaction, as he had done for the entirety of his most wicked life.

Which you end with a single and simple movement. Gripping his jaw with your now free hand, you press your strong fingers through his ragged, oil and grease filled beard, and dig your nails into cheeks and neck. And then, with a twist of your wrist, you snap his neck, his eyes widening in his last moments as he gurgles and spits out one final words.

"One more" He wheezes through his crushed windpipe, crying and kicking his legs as you raise him into the air by standing back to your full height "One more...drrrrrrrnnk"

The life fades from his body before your eyes, and the warmth leaves his body as you hold him a few feet off the ground for a few moments longer, before letting him drop. There is silence now, no screams, no shouts, no curses beside Lord Huang's pathetic whimpering.
cont
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>>4545252

It seems that the sound of Gao's neck breaking had acted as a gong, drawing the attention of his guests and servants alike.
You wipe your hands clean, pouring the remaining wine over them to wash them and cleanse them of any lingering foulness from touching Gao's tainted form.
"Anything, anything!" Luó pleads on the ground, clinging to your leg

What do you do, Lieren?
> leave and send the signal for Yin Lei , let the animals devour each other
> Murder the remaining nobles, starting with Lady Luó
> Bark a command to the guards and servants, ordering them to gather the remaining nobility so they may stand trial for their crimes
> Casually walk into Gao's Palace, and find his children, to judge or free them
> Write in?
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>>4545255
> Bark a command to the guards and servants, ordering them to gather the remaining nobility so they may stand trial for their crimes
> Casually walk into Gao's Palace, and find his children, to judge or free them
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>>4545255
>Kill Luo and the fat fuck, but not the other nobles. There must be a struggle for Yin Lei to reassert order
>Tell the servants to leave, guards too if they want, or they can serve us.
>Find his children, to judge or free them

Gao was right on one thing. If his sons are as cruel as he, then they will try and kill us. Lets end this cleanly and spare only those with virtue.
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>>4545252
> Gao's guards haven't even attempted to rush to his side to guard him, having realized that he cannot threaten their families or manhoods if he is dead
That is incredibly Chinese.
>>4545255
> leave and send the signal for Yin Lei , let the animals devour each other
Leave it to Yin.
> Casually walk into Gao's Palace, and find his children, to judge or free them
Let’s remove the corruption by the roots.
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>>4545255
>> leave and send the signal for Yin Lei , let the animals devour each other
> Bark a command to the guards and servants, ordering them to gather the remaining nobility so they may stand trial for their crimes
>>
>>4545265
It is both incredibly chinese, but also a proof of our methods. Do you think the brothers of the panther would stand aside as we were threatened?
I doubt it.
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>>4545255
>> Bark a command to the guards and servants, ordering them to gather the remaining nobility so they may stand trial for their crimes
> Casually walk into Gao's Palace, and find his children, to judge or free them
>>
>>4545255
>Bark a command to the guards and servants, ordering them to gather the remaining nobility so they may stand trial for their crimes
> Casually walk into Gao's Palace, and find his children, to judge or free them
Let's deal with this shit, the fat degenerate fucks will be hanging soon and lieren can at last stop fantasizing about killing someone every five minutes.
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>>4545271
disregard this, voted wrong

> Bark a command to the guards and servants, ordering them to gather the remaining nobility so they may stand trial for their crimes
> Casually walk into Gao's Palace, and find his children, to judge or free them
>>
>>4545255
> Bark a command to the guards and servants, ordering them to gather the remaining nobility so they may stand trial for their crimes
> Casually walk into Gao's Palace, and find his children, to judge or free them
>>
>>4545271
>>4545275
>>4545277
wow i'm dumb
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>>4545276
We still have a world to conquer.
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>>4545255
> Bark a command to the guards and servants, ordering them to gather the remaining nobility so they may stand trial for their crimes
> Casually walk into Gao's Palace, and find his children, to judge or free them
>>
>>4545288
Yeah, but now we won't have to spend years having to pretend to obey some degenerate slaaneshi wannabe, we'll just shoot them indefinitely.
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>>4545255
> Bark a command to the guards and servants, ordering them to gather the remaining nobility so they may stand trial for their crimes
>>
>>4545255
> leave and send the signal for Yin Lei , let the animals devour each other
> Casually walk into Gao's Palace, and find his children, to judge or free them

Also do you guys think that when Gao said that he was merciful compared to Yan he was rubbing his ego or that the rest of this place is even further the chaos hole rhan we thought?
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>>4545317
Have you seen the discussion in this quest? We have yet to reach peak China.
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>>4545255
>leave and send the signal for Yin Lei , let the animals devour each other
>Casually walk into Gao's Palace, and find his children, to judge or free them
>>4545317
Gao was pretty vanilla by chinese standards
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>>4545255
>> Bark a command to the guards and servants, ordering them to gather the remaining nobility so they may stand trial for their crimes
>> Casually walk into Gao's Palace, and find his children, to judge or free them
>>
>>4545317
Ego rubbing.
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>>4545255
> Bark a command to the guards and servants, ordering them to gather the remaining nobility so they may stand trial for their crimes
> Casually walk into Gao's Palace, and find his children, to judge or free them
>>
>>4545378
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nine_familial_exterminations
He wasn’t even doing this shit.
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>>4545390
Thats probably what he wanted to do to Tao, given he wanted all the family dead and his love for meaningless torture
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>>4545255
> Bark a command to the guards and servants, ordering them to gather the remaining nobility so they may stand trial for their crimes
> Casually walk into Gao's Palace, and find his children, to judge or free them

Kill the fat and Luo, rapidly and throw a torch at the body of Gao before going inside the palace. Tell whatever officer is still alive of the guards to wait here for us.
Have a guard be our guide (we have been here mostly for tell our work, Lieren never wanted to remain even a second more in this place)
There could be even innocents of common birth in cells, those too needs to be free.
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>>4545395
He wasn't even going thatbhard on the torture, old chinese tyrants used to torture people at the party and make all the guests listen to the screams
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>>4545438
Can’t wait to meet whatever Chaos sorcerer Yan has in his court.
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>>4545438
I feel like Gao would've done that as well
>>
Calling the vote.

Command the guards and servants to round up the nobles: 10
Judge and free Gao's Children: 12
Leave and signal Yin Lei:5
Kill Luo and Huang:2
Tell the servants and guards they may leave:1

Alright, so Lieren Shall order the nobles to be rounded up by the servants and guards, before going to judge Gao's spawn, so they don't try to escape before they can be made to answer for their crimes.

Writing the update now.
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>>4545505
>Judge and free Gao's Children
Waifubait in 3...
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>>4545522
2...
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>>4545536
1..?
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>>4545505
Gao’s comment on this cycle of virtues and tyrants got me thinking, we’re in a very good spot to fall to chaos by good intentions.

At the end of the day, while we are a Primarch, we are still a simple man of nothing. I can see as the territory grows, our persuit of Virtuous and effecient living may push us into becoming a benevolent tyrant, and eventually that leading us to the Tzeentchian route of attempting to manipulate and force this behavior, or us breaking and going full Gao.

Narratively speaking, going full gao as our fall is the most logical route.

Though hopefully we’re not one of the broken Primarchs and can make it pass the hurdle.
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>>4545567
With how much we hate indulgence, I doubt it.
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>>4545556
Nah, as soon as Emps comes down they'll be gone, which is why we probably shouldn't nab any. Hoes are temporary, crusade is eternal.
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>>4545567
how about we don't go "i'm chaos' bitch and i'm happy" and you don't try to swing votes that way.

k?
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>>4545567
We already get mad as fuck at indulgence and we scheme like crazy, so who knows? It really depends on what the emperor does to offend us.
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>>4545583
But that temporary will be nice. Hoping for one who shares our desire for philosophy. We may not have a need for physical love, but emotional and spirtual would be nice to see for Lieren
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>>4545583
Leiren knows he is special in some form, but the driving reason for him writing is philosophy is for people to follow it after his death, which implies he is still thinking of himself as mortal and able to die of old age rather than the nigh-immortal being he is. After seeing Song being held back from being a horrible man, would it really be out f the picture for him to want to have a kid and family out of curiousity? Astartes and his brothers could satisfy that, but they are still over a decade away at the minimum...
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>>4545600
I don't think it's out of the question for Lieren to peruse a relationship for the reasons you mentioned, but it would have to be a very intelligent women to impress a fucking primarch
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>>4545602
Precisely why I said incoming waifubait. If we find one of Gao's daughters unharmed and she is someone of virtue, she'd be probably be in the intelligence ballpark.
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>>4545593
Not really trying to do that, but alright bro. Sorry it seemed that way.

>>4545602
>>4545612
No yeah, it’ll be unlikely. But there are always exceptional people somewhere waiting to be discovefed
>>
Contemptuously, you shake the desperate noble woman off of your leg, like she were a tick or a flea struggling to break through your skin or a patch of filth clinging to your body. She falls to the ground, clutching her arm and wailing as you take one final look at the final lord of the Gao, crumpled in a heap of dirtied silks and loose skin stained with the black drool produced by the pills he was ever so addicted to.

And, upon his hollow vessel of flesh and bone, you return the disrespect he showed you by spitting upon your face, by spitting on the ground at his feet. You will not go as far as desecrating his corpse, but you will show him the same respect he showed you in his final moments. It is but an empty vessel after all, and the spitting is merely a show to those around you of your contempt for the life that once inhabited it. But you shall not dirty or befoul the corpse before consigning it to the fire. To do so would be actions a disgusting worm like Gao would do. Let the dirt upon your heels show your hatred and disgust for the dead man, and not any marring or dirtying of his body.

Turning away from the crying skeleton of a woman, and glancing down to the ball of fat barely held within thin, overstretched skin and silk that calls itself Lord Huang, you look to the guards, who do not dare move an inch before your eyes or even breath in the presence of your scowling face and judging eyes. With a single motion of one of your powerful arms, they bow, no doubt trying to endear themselves to what they must see as a usurper, the new lord they must serve by oath and threat of torterous death.

"HEAR ME! MEN OF THE FALLEN HOUSE OF THE TWIN DRAGONS!" You roar, so loud the platform beneath your feet quakes and comes close to collapsing, a few of the support beams cracking and snapping from the sheer power of your voice "SERVANTS OF THE TAINTED LINE OF GAO, HEAR MY VOICE! THE TIME TO CAST ASIDE YOUR CHAINS AND REMOVE YOUR COLLARS IS NIGH! BY MY COMMAND, CORRAL AND CAPTURE THOSE WHO HAVE FOR SO LONG ABUSED OUR FAMILIES, OUR PEOPLE AND OUR LANDS, BIND THEM IN ROPE AND CHAIN, SO I MAY HOLD TRIAL FOR THEIR CRIMES AND CARRY OUT THEIR SENTENCES WITH MY OWN HANDS"

With that you march down the steps of the plant, spitting at Lord Huang's feet as he tries to roll off his back so he can attempt to crawl away despite his massive, disturbing bulk of flesh and fat.

"Foul toad" You snarl, no longer caring to hide you contempt and disgust you feel for these loathsome creature creatures that dare call themselves men "save your groveling for the end of the noose, I shall return for your head and the walking corpse's soon, there is work I must do, and you"

You lash your finger at the gathered guards still wearing those pink lacquered war masks that laugh and smile at the world despite the foulness before them. One of them has the courage to look up and into the pools of gold that are your eyes.
cont
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>>4545632

"Bring me a vial of ink, a brush of horse hair and the record of the line of Gao, and show me to the children of its last lord" You command, pulling your hand and arm back before marching to the wall of nobles, who have either given up their attempt to escape your judgment or are struggling against the braver servants and more opportunistic guards as they try to keep them restrained and held to the ground. It is something like a sight from a fever dream, half dressed or completely uncovered women treating the men they had moments before fawned over and did whatever they could to please and feed their desires.

Its almost enough to make you laugh, if it didn't instead fill you with wrath, knowing what the shameful and degrading acts these poor young women and girls were forced to commit under threat of suffering a death that lasted a season or longer. The courageous guard follows after you, as he lifts his spear split across the center and you recognize his eyes.

He was the one who tried to stop you at the gate! now that is enough to make you chuckle, out of sheer awe that this man tried to attack you with half of a spear's pole.

"Capture the guests, do not allow a single noble to escape the azure administrator's judgement!" He yells, his voice sounding younger and gentler than Jinhai's, than even the youngest of your hunting companions, impressive! how impressive! such valor and bravery! He rushes past you, and into the home of the fallen house of Gao.

You follow after him, smiling as some of the servants, bruised and scratched by the desperate nobles cheer your name, naming you "Lieren the liberator" and other such titles as you pass them by. Some are bold enough to attempt to reach out and touch you, but they pull their hands away moments before they can reach you, losing their bravery right before they could caress the fur you wear upon your back.

The courageous guard does not speak to you as he leads you into the manor you have walked within many times before. The stench of Gao's corruption still lingers in the air here. It turns the stomach and burns the nose. The hides of panthers you brought to his halls are covered in ash and befouled by the oil of Gao's drug of choice. How insulting, and how disrespectful to such magnificent creatures. They may be eaters of men, and the cause of nearly as many deaths as famine, sickness and cold. And they may be mere beasts, but they are a predator of mankind and should be shown proper respect in their death. Disgusting, horribly disgusting.

"This way" The bravest of the guards beckons, their voice soft and gentle as freshly woven silk. Not like the voice of any man you've ever heard, in fact, observing their movements more closely and how they shift their weight, as well as their shortness of height, this guard was in fact no man. But a young woman.
cont
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>>4545634

How curious. It reminds you of Xiulan and her bandit clan, you still remember the look in her eyes when her life was snuffed out by the pull of the noose you had tied around her neck.
But what is most curious is that this woman is a guard, and not one of Gao's concubine or wives.


As the fattened toad had quite a taste for " Flowers yet to blossom" as he put it, such a phrase that bitters the tongue to even think it, as if you took a drink of vinegar followed by etching acid. But knowing Gao, he was probably blind to this warrior's true gender, as armor hides all sign of femininity.

It does not matter, it does not make the guard any less valorous and brave for standing against you twice, once with broken spear. You follow after her, seeming to unnerve whenever your shadow falls upon her in the halls. No doubt it reminds her of how easily and quickly you could have ended her life when she attempted to impede your path. But she brings back memories, of the fall of Deadly Xiulan and her band of blackguards and brigands. A few were so bold as to ambush you during your nightly work upon the raod to try and claim your head.

Unfortunately for them, you had a sturdy working hammer in your hands, though even if you were unarmed they would not have been able to harm you. The hammer simply made their deaths cleaner and quicker. But made for quite a disturbing sight. No, you would think of the past no longer, focus on the duty ahead of you.

"Such a foul palace" You muse, looking around as you take the brush and a vial of ink from the guard's hands, before following her lead into the living area of Gao's fortress "The sins that have been committed within these walls befoul the air, I can taste the depravity with every breath I take, it burns the eyes, sours the tongue"

"It can be cleansed" The guard says quietly as she tries to lower her tone and speak gruffly to mask the truth of what she is

"It should be burned" You reply within the span it takes to take a breath, dipping the brush of horse fur into the deeply black ink, swirling around to coat it before continuing on "Show me to Gao's children, so I may judge them and separate the salvageable from those completely corrupted"

"Those you shall spare and those you shall execute?" The guard asks, nodding and opening a door to a hall leading deeper into the heart of the fallen house of Gao, golden carvings of dragon lining the walls here as they do so many other portions of this palace of the damned.

"Precisely, I remove corruption from its very roots, the younger children shall be spared my judgement, and protected from any harm of course" You say, testing the brush on the back of your hand by writing the character for mercy upon the back of your left hand, and then wipe it off with the back of your right. Ink drips to the floor from the tip of the brush as you do so "his adult sons and daughters, I shall meet and mark for execution"
cont
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>>4545638

"if they do not match your standards of virtue" The guard growls, in an amusingly overtly gruff way, probably realizing you were suspicious about the oddities presented in the voice and build, but thinking you less perceptive than you truly are.

"If they are abominations like their father" You say calmly swishing the brush in the air to clean it of excess ink "I will not allow another monstrous Gao to claim domain of these lands, and ownership of its people, some death is necessary ensure this comes to past"

"Then why spare any of them? Men change, children grow older, would it not be safer to have all of them killed?" The guard asks as you begin to heighten your focus upon her, as another suspicion crosses your mind. Is she not strangely concerned with the fate of the Gao line? There are few men who would mourn the complete destruction of such a tainted bloodline, and less women who would do the same. Those you know who would speak out against such a total slaughter, can be counted upon one of your hands, excluding yourself of course. And one of them is Red Faced Wei, the man you suspect to be a bastard spawned from Gao's loins. Familial loyalty runs deep. Would this guard's hair be autumn red if you removed her helmet?

"Would it not be wiser, to prevent any of them from rising to power, by name alone, held up by sinful men who dream of a return power and respect?" She asks, continuing as she leads you through the hall, the smell of flowers and perfume filling your lungs as you stand before a door lacquered completely pink, carved of old wood with two simple dragons etched into its face. They dance, rather than entwine together. Smooth jade is embedded in their eyes.

"Such cruelty is pointless, killing to prevent a man from turning depraved, or to keep a child from taking arms against you, is foolish, for they can still be swayed to the right path, the righteous and virtuous path" You explain genially, deciding if your suspicions are correct this will keep the young guard from throwing her life away defending her kin from nothing, and if you are wrong, will simply explain your stance on the matter.

Clasping your hands together, you lean over the young woman, smiling gently.

"Innocent blood is a stain that cannot be washed from your hands, and the blood of children stains far deeper than your skin, it corrodes your very soul" You whisper, leaning back, and standing tall and proud behind the guard dressed in maroons and pinks "Do not fear, I have not come here intent on cutting the whole tree to the ground, I merely need to prune its roots"

The Guard stands before the comparatively plain door, which is large enough to let a man of your titanic frame the pass through without crouching. Silence descends upon the hallway, outside of the crackling of oil lamps and the gentle whistling of a draft working its way through the wood and stone of the castle.
cont
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>>4545641

"Others would..." They begin to say before you left out a bellowing laugh and shake your head.

"Who would stand against me, to harm them? who would dare to risk incurring my wrath by harming children" You answer, before the question can be presented to you fully, your Iron hair falling back into place as the guard "Upon my name Lieren, no harm shall come to them, that is not deserved or earned"

The door is opened, and the guard steps aside, revealing a garden of exotic, bright flowers and trees bearing fat peaches and plums, a jade colored pond sits in the center of the garden, beneath twin statues of long deceased lords of the Gao, raising swords your recognize as the ones Gao kept in his bedroom as decoration.

Beneath them is a bench carved of rough stone, you sit down upon it, and set the vial of ink upon your lap.

"Bring me the record of Gao Liwei's issue, and I shall cast my judgment upon them" You say calmly, and casually as if you were ask the guard to pluck you a peach and discuss the world and life with you in the garden "Begin with the heir apparent, Gao Mingyu, who has lived his life appeasing his father"

"You're going to interview every member of the Gao family?" the guard asks as you nod, writing the character for mercy upon that back of your left hand once again, before wiping it clean upon the stone you're sitting upon

"I did so for the Taos and would have done so for the Cuis if they numbered more than one, those who take after Liwei and cannot be salvaged, shall hang, those who can or have never walked his path, shall be spared and protected, as it was with the Tao and so many others" You explain, swiping the brush through the air to clean it of excess ink once again "But please, fetch the heir Mingyu, so he may be judged"

The guard clasps her hands together as you begin to search the record of the Gao's history and line for any daughters who would match up with her apparent age. Of which there are five, Zongying, Jinjing, Huifang, Liling, and Daiyu. It will be a simple process of elimination, as all five remain living, unlike other siblings of theirs who "died tragically from sickness" or "were felled by an unforeseen accident". The wives at least, have their true cause of death listed "Executed by order of Lord Gao Liwei"
-

Mingyu, as expected, was as foul a creature as Gao, if not more so. You marked him for death, and he threatened his own kin if you did not change his sentence. So you twisted his head off and set it upon his chest. His expression frozen into one of primal terror at facing his own death. The next son to come, is one of the poor souls castrated by his own progenitor. You mark him for mercy, with the character for such, upon his forehead. and recommended him your written philosophy for reading.

The first daughter to arrive, is a meek creature with watery eyes and little intelligence to her just barely above a lackwit.
cont
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>>4545642

You mark the sign of mercy beneath her red locks as she seems confused and scared at the sight of her elder brother's headless corpse and disembodied head, the guard leads her away gently before she can ask questions.

The next daughter to come to you, is an utterly depraved creature, with a killers eyes, and seems to think offering to smother her infant siblings will earn her your good graces. Such a disgusting offer leads to her sharing Mingyu's fate, her forehead marked with the character for death, a shocked look upon her beautiful face, staring emptily into the garden, her pink silk covered dress resting against Mingyu's unearned military attire. she must've been Meixiang. Foul creature, just like her father.

Another son is brought to you, so broken his voice holds no emotion or joy. He has been hollowed out and made empty, even the guard seemed disgusted by his presence, he answers your questions dutifully, and seems confused when you touch the brush upon his forehead as if being touched was an alien sensation to him.

And so the first tenth of your judgment is cast, though Gao has sired over a hundred children, but only seventy of them still walk Shangrala. and twenty of them are but children, unaware of how many siblings died by their own father's hands or orders or neglect.

With the remaining forty five children of Gao that need to be judged, none are so foul as Mingyu or Meixiang, though some do demand you merely end their life rather than force them to walk as condemned men, a wish you fulfill, as it does not matter if they die here today or hung tomorrow, only that they meet their death before they can cause havoc and chaos. One even refuses the mark of mercy, having been so close to the one of his condemned siblings that he takes the brush himself and writes death upon his forehead.

you remember his name Yaozu, and offer him mercy two more times before you allow him to choose his own fate. for who are you to deny a man his choice between life and death, when he is virtuous? You will ensure he is remembered well and respected beyond his death.
But, by the end of your judgement, more of Gao's children have been granted mercy and the gift of life than those killed by your own hands or condemned to hang by them.

But one has not come to you, Daiyu, and that confirms your suspicion as the guard brings no other of her sibling before you, her eyes falling on the collection of seven headless corpses at your feet, their blood fouling the grounds of the garden you sit within. thirty four men and women stand in a row, with mercy written in wet ink upon their brows, while the remaining eight who are condemned for their crimes and sickness of their minds stand along the wall leading deeper within the palace, among them Yaozu, who has decided to join his condemned kin of his own accord.
cont
>>
>>4545646

"One remains" You mutter, flipping the page of the record without looking upon it "Fetch me Gao Liwei's remaining daughter, so she may be judged"

"Gao Daiyu?" The guard asks, her voice shaken and nervous, no doubt wandering if she would join the corpses in the garden, the row of her siblings granted mercy, or those condemned to die.

"Yes, she is the one I have yet to meet, unless she has met some tragic fate that the record does not list" You say flatly, dully, like you were merely keeping stock of bushels of rice and crates of fur.

The guard takes a breath and moves to remove her helmet

"Daiyu stands before you now" She says, trying to be dramatic, but her helmet's chain veil must've caught upon her hair. You merely stand and stride to her as she struggles, and quickly brush mercy upon the brow of her helmet.

"I am aware, and have been since before I began my judgement" You say simply, smirking as you hand her now dry brush and walk past her, glancing back as she freeze stiff as a pole hammered in the ground "Hmph, didn't your father tell you? My golden eyes see the truth of the world, there is no deception that I cannot see through. Console your younger siblings, Daiyu, and explain why fifteen of your number and the man who fathered you all had to die"

And with that, you walk alone into the hallway leading into the garden and quarters of the Gao family, hands wet with ink and sinful blood.

There was work to be done still

What is that work, Lieren?
> Holding court over the captured nobility, alongside the black general and his trusted advisors
> Riding for the border of the lands of Gao, hoping to stop Zhou Wenyan from fleeing to the court of the Yan and exposing your rebellion, this will buy you an extra season to prepare before the Huang and Luo realize their patriarchs have yet to return.
>Returning to nothing, and beginning to train and arm a standing army drawn from all corners of Gao's lands with firearms, preparing for the inevitable war
>Sending a trusted messenger to the court of Yan, explaining your actions and declaring yourself the ruler of the lands formerly held by Gao
> write in
>>
>>4545651
> Riding for the border of the lands of Gao, hoping to stop Zhou Wenyan from fleeing to the court of the Yan and exposing your rebellion, this will buy you an extra season to prepare before the Huang and Luo realize their patriarchs have yet to return.
> Returning to nothing, and beginning to train and arm a standing army drawn from all corners of Gao's lands with firearms, preparing for the inevitable war
> Take the virtuous progeny of Gao's lineage back to Nothing and arrange for them to be provided shelter and jobs suited to them
Time to put these fuckers to work so they can learn how everybody else has it.
>>
>>4545651
> Riding for the border of the lands of Gao, hoping to stop Zhou Wenyan from fleeing to the court of the Yan and exposing your rebellion, this will buy you an extra season to prepare before the Huang and Luo realize their patriarchs have yet to return.
>Let the Black general and his advisors to hold court over the captured nobles.
Anyone judged with mercy can remain in captivity until we return
>>
>>4545660
Support.

We wont submit to the court of Yan. It is time for death and season unending.
>>
>>4545660
Support. It begins.
>>
>>4545651
> Holding court over the captured nobility, alongside the black general and his trusted advisors
>Returning to nothing, and beginning to train and arm a standing army drawn from all corners of Gao's lands with firearms, preparing for the inevitable war

Judge the nobles and make sure the cities fine then leave to train the army
>>
>>4545671
We can judge the nobles at any given time, so it's not an immediately pressing issue.
What is our priority right notw is getting our soldiers trained, equipped, and making sure we have the infrastructure available to keep our lands alive while we fight every other lord in Yan.
If we can get another season to do so, I say we go for it before all else.
>>
>>4545679
Doesn't really take more than a few hours, not going to really impede the training of thousands of troops. That's one of the reasons I don't want to go stop Zhou though, so I understand.
>>
>>4545680
Dude, stopping Zhou potentially nets us a whole season to prepare our troops, defenses, infrastructure, you name it.
I'll rationalize it like this, war is coming no matter what. In Lieren's eyes, I think he would prefer the least amount of deaths possible when conquering.
We can do that by making the deaths our troops far less likely with proper training and equipment, as well as shortening conflicts by making their advantages over the rest of Yan even more overwhelming.
>>
>>4545683
I don't really see it as being much of an issue for two reason:
1) Every little minor noble who's about to experience Lieren's purge is going to try to escape, we can't stop them all and if I was fleeing a peasant revolt I would go straight to the king, unless Zhou controls the only way out (which he might no idea) I don't see it buying us that much time
2) We have breach loading rifles, canons, fucking maxim guns. I understand wanting extra time to prepare but Lieren has a primarch's level of logistics, he can probably raise a new army from farmers and teach them 1800's military tactics faster than Yan can even muster, plus who says the Yan even takes the rebellion seriously and only sends some local garrison?

Either way the end is the same though, those mother fuckers are going to eat some lead eventually
>>
>>4545689
The QM says it will buy us a season to train our troops and stockpile ammo. That's quite a while and a lot of prep done.
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>>4545651
> Riding for the border of the lands of Gao, hoping to stop Zhou Wenyan from fleeing to the court of the Yan and exposing your rebellion, this will buy you an extra season to prepare before the Huang and Luo realize their patriarchs have yet to return.
>Returning to nothing, and beginning to train and arm a standing army drawn from all corners of Gao's lands with firearms, preparing for the inevitable war.
>>
Seems there's a Mulan. Pretty smart, but shame she didn't pick up on us spotting that she was female earlier. Would have fully hit the extreme intelligence to impress a primarch to waifubait levels.

> Riding for the border of the lands of Gao, hoping to stop Zhou Wenyan from fleeing to the court of the Yan and exposing your rebellion, this will buy you an extra season to prepare before the Huang and Luo realize their patriarchs have yet to return.
> Returning to nothing, and beginning to train and arm a standing army drawn from all corners of Gao's lands with firearms, preparing for the inevitable war
> Take the virtuous progeny of Gao's lineage back to Nothing and arrange for them to be provided shelter and jobs suited to them
>>
>>4545725
Yeah, maybe that Song girl who was really into explosives might be good?

Though maybe the Gao girl will be smarter than she is perceptive
>>
>>4545660
Support

We can hold court over the captured nobility later on. I suggest that in the free time if we have any, we should do some meditation for concentrate and reflect on what we did and what we should do (alongside training, learning or tinkering). Talking more with our adoptive father would be beneficial for Lieren morale.
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>>4545725
>Would have fully hit the extreme intelligence to impress a primarch to waifubait levels
Ehhhhhhhhhhh. That would come off as kinda mary sue-ish to me personally.
Better that she has some flaws like that anyhow so she can overcome them and be even better for it.
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>>4545750
You can't really overcome a 'flaw' of being unable to notice a primarch what a primarch has noticed about you.

I suspect she was only a she as of this latest update, because I am not quite sure how we missed her in our 1100 inspection of Gaos staff, which was a few years ago so maybe she didnt wear armour then, or when we saw her face break down into tears at facing Lierens wrath. Maybe we were blinded by rage and didnt bother looking beyond the mask? I dunno man.
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>>4545651
> Holding court over the captured nobility, alongside the black general and his trusted advisors
> Riding for the border of the lands of Gao, hoping to stop Zhou Wenyan from fleeing to the court of the Yan and exposing your rebellion, this will buy you an extra season to prepare before the Huang and Luo realize their patriarchs have yet to return.
>Returning to nothing, and beginning to train and arm a standing army drawn from all corners of Gao's lands with firearms, preparing for the inevitable war
We should start spreading spies.
>>
Also, of 70 children only 14 are wicked. That's not a bad tally, though I do worry that the dumb daughter will have no place where she can be of use and earn her keep.
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>>4545765
She could just be a mother.
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>>4545765
>though I do worry that the dumb daughter will have no place where she can be of use and earn her keep
Sometimes people aren't really cut out for employment.
She could just be a regular housewife if nothing really suits her.
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>>4545770
I mean, she hasnt got a dowry or wits or in this case a job. Attracting a husband is gonna be a task.
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>>4545754
Wasn't among the ones Lieren inspected. and yeah I decided to change the young brave guard into a woman cause I wrote a bit about their voice being soft and gentle, and figured doing that would be more interesting than Jinhai 2.0.

And also cause I thought it'd be amusing to write a classic "Ah that warrior was a woman" but with Lieren catching on the second he actually paid attention to her.

Similar to how I've fleshed out the ranks of Lieren's personal guards . Cooking up a personality, and then giving them a name when they needed to become characters beyond "one of your guards".

I feel its more realistic that way, in that you don't think about everyone you know all the time unless something makes you go "Ah wonder if Bob wants to go to the bar" Or "man, Terry would really like this show". Kind of like that.

>>4545765
Well 20 of those 70 are children, and Lieren, if you've noticed, has a soft spot for kids and despises people who harm them.

But that's 14 wicked against 36 who are not.
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>>4545781
Farmers need farm hands, and children are usually the way to do it. Plus, she’s likely very pretty thanks to her upbringing and care. She may be dumb as a box of rocks, but a farmer might just want someone to share a home with and that someone to be pretty. Shallow but it can happen.

>>4545750
>>4545754
As for this, to be fair the only reason we knew was because we have super Primarch intuition, and she has clearly taken every precaution to appear as not a man.

Not saying she is the intelligence or spirtual person Leiren may need, but still it’s worth giving her credit where it is do. It could also be that she became a guard recently to escape her father’s direct notice.
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>>4545798
>It could also be that she became a guard recently to escape her father’s direct notice.
Wouldn't you if your dad was Gao?
>>
One thing i think we should consider is not expropriating the Tao and Gao. Sure we had to shelter the Tao since Gao ordered the entire family executed, and the Gao children are relatively well educated. Not expropriating the family means also that other noble families are less inherently against us and part of them will recognize our takeovers as events of , erm, housecleaning and inheritance reshuffling.

That does divert considerable attention to their own internal politics if they are a big clan and we seem to be the proverbial unstoppable force.
>>4545801
It is a pretty good idea to escape the politics of it, especially with the mask his forces used.
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>>4545796
We are not at the point where we think of ranks and numbers with our forces, and even then our inner circle like our immediate guards and officers should have names to them. good choice.
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>>4545805
That’s a good point.

Nobility will fight tooth and nail to maintain their nobility, even against their own. So if we pose as not something threatening their family, but the individuals of the family, it will only encourage infighting. We are not a existential threat, we are a filter.

The nobility will see us as a means of Eliminating their rivals, and the virtuous to get help when they are to weak to stand.

Let them prune and cut themselves, and we will be there to ensure the right things get pruned, and the right trees get burned
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>>4545805
Who cares about the other nobles, we have fucking machine guns. If they try to stop us we can grind them to dust.
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>>4545651
>> Riding for the border of the lands of Gao, hoping to stop Zhou Wenyan from fleeing to the court of the Yan and exposing your rebellion, this will buy you an extra season to prepare before the Huang and Luo realize their patriarchs have yet to return.
>Sending a trusted messenger to the court of Yan, explaining your actions and declaring yourself the ruler of the lands formerly held by Gao
get ahead of rumors, spin diplomatic
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>>4545818
We need administrators and local governors in this age of lacking communication, and though it’s not commonly brought up, nobility’s main role in society is being the best bred and fed to be the best people for their jobs. They get better food and education and shelter and protection because, at the end of the day, these things allow for nobility to be greater than a common man.

Not saying we’ll keep the system forever, it’s looking like we’ll be solving the feed and education issue with the peasantry, it’s just that for now we need it and it’s better than pushing a big ass war that leads to deaths.
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>>4545826
We're not going to eliminate all nobility, but the Taos and Gaos should not be anywhere close to it. Their lines in particular must become peasants for them to learn humility.

Other less corrupt nobles may stay, but we're going to be cleaning house. Chances are Lieren can do the job of a hundred administrators, regardless.

I mean, you have to remember that for the past year or so, Lieren has basically become the 'hangman', executing corrupt nobles through tricking gao.
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>>4545829
I'm with this guy. TAO and GAO families need to become peasants. No more nobility for you lot.
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>>4545835
There's a difference between teaching them humility and stripping away titles for the sake of it, some of them might be good.
>>
>>4545835
>>4545839
Make those who can beuracrates, the rest can become peasants. The truley intelligent and promising can become advisors who, maybe one day, can earn their nobility back through merit
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>>4545839
They can earn their way back to power. We already told the Tao they are not getting to keep their titles, they have internalised that fact by now. The Gao will do the same.

Songs daughter is already on her way what with being smart enough to work on the guns. You dont get to have a title just because your disgraced fathers did.

>>4545841
Basically
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>>4545842
Ha, merit based rule will make us get along well with the Khan. I believe his entire backstory is just Ghenghis Kahn’s backstory
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>>4545846
He conquered his clans and then kept trying to improve because he believes if you stop going forward then you would be usurped.

But merit based rule is the ideal, I doubt it's going to be fully implemented though.
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>>4545798
I hope you are right. I feel a bit if responsibility to make sure that the virtuous are reintergrated into society. Like a litter of abandoned strays.
>>
How old are we now?
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>>4545883
like, 5-6 years old right?
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>>4545886
5 to 8 years old
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>>4545651
>> Holding court over the captured nobility, alongside the black general and his trusted advisors
>> Riding for the border of the lands of Gao, hoping to stop Zhou Wenyan from fleeing to the court of the Yan and exposing your rebellion, this will buy you an extra season to prepare before the Huang and Luo realize their patriarchs have yet to return.
>>Returning to nothing, and beginning to train and arm a standing army drawn from all corners of Gao's lands with firearms, preparing for the inevitable war

>>4545886
>>4545889
Do we know how long it takes for a primarch to be fully grown?
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>>4545890
We are fully grown, technically. We are already a giant and have been for the vast majority of our life.
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>>4545890
I would imagine that they come of age faster than a human, maybe 10-12 years?

Yan has to deal with us as we go through puberty.
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>>4545890
From what we see, it's pretty fucking fast, but it depends on the situation the primarchs were put through. Chances are, primarchs who had to go through constant shit like angron grew faster. On the other hand, Lion apparently grew up at a normal rate.

So i'd say that considering our situation, we should be nearly full-sized.
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>>4545891
Beyond fully grown for a baseline human, indeed, I was just wondering if we could get even more giant.
>>4545892
I fear for him, if that's the case. May Dad have mercy on his soul.
>>4545893
Makes sense, I'd imagine he was probably half way to fully grown by his first week on Nuceria.

Shifting gears, I think that blue needs to be a color featured somewhat prominently in our legion. The people of the land ruled by Gao associate it with us and our benevolence, even if it was the heraldry he gave us.
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>>4545903
Our personal heraldry, azure fog panther?
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>>4545903
I don't know, though. That's just because they know of us as that because gao gave that to us. It'd be a good idea to start a new and associate ourselves with something completely different - to show we are not just a new gear in the old clock, but rather an new thing entirely.

I think White & Gold fits the whole chinese revolution thing.
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>>4545907
Turquoise fog panther bearing a bushel of rice plants in our mawwith a coal black Thunderbird and a ruby web, the three pillars of our takeover should be our legions heraldry.
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>>4545914
Or maybe our color is steel silver, like our armour
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>>4545914
That sounds like a lot of colors. You know we don't need to base everything on our first years, right? Like, i agree with the Fog Panther symbol, but bushel of rice? Coal Black Thunderbirds? Web of Ruby?

That's just weird. I think Gold & White is good because it looks good.
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>>4545917
This was my favorite color scheme from the last thread.
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>>4545922
>4 colors
What are we, an 22nd Founding Chapter?
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>>4545907
I agree.
>>4545914
No. We really don’t do very elaborate stuff like that because it’s a waste.
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>>4545917
Spitballing, but the bushel of rice in a fog Panthers mouth/claws is perfectly fine. Apex predator bringing rice wherever it goes is an easy representation of our mission to bring prosperity everywhere.

The others, fair enough. Overconplicating the symbol only works a few times in history (I distinctly remember there was one lord with 4 emblems making up his heraldry). But as it is, the first years are all we have to draw significant symbols from at the present times.

>>4545922
That does look nice
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>>4545924
Close, after I made that I realized that it's pretty much just the scheme of the Mentors. They're 26th Founding.
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>>4545936
It's one thing to put some very simplistic bushel on the panther's mouth is a thing, adding four different colors is overdesigning.

As an group, our emblem should be easy but recognizable. So far, i don't think there's any known space marine chapter that uses an White & Gold color scheme.
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>>4545943
The White Scars do, but they have red too.
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>>4545946
The White Scars don't really use gold, though. It's not part of their actual color schemes. Having an tiny part of your logo be yellow or having an yellow rope tied to your weapon is not a gold color scheme.
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>>4545947
Here's an comparison
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>>4545947
Their standard legionaries don't have a ton of gold, but the higher a marine climbs in the ranks, the more gold they get.
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>>4545951
Eh, that's just normal military reward, as opposed to an actual color scheme with golden pauldrons and golden kneeguards and golden torso.
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>>4545952
That's just yellow though. Chapter generator has a gold preset. I also think that it's a bit too ostentatious for Lieren to go with.
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>>4545953
There's nothing wrong with the color gold. Or yellow, i don't think there's any difference.

As a whole, there's a difference between the color gold and the actual metal gold.
>>
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>>4545936
I made an improved version on the Cataphractii template.
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>>4545956
Still, silver steel is a humbler colour rather than the ornate gold and fits his tastes a bit better.
I'm firmly in the silver/turquoise camp, being a different shade of blue (new but also familiar and ironically the colour of hope) and plain metal to reflect our humble demeanor.

Teal is a bit tacky on armour, but for his heraldry it's good enough.
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>>4545967
Would that even look good on armor though? Symbolism is completely and utterly meaningless if it looks ugly.

I mean, i'm certain you could talk about how symbolic the original color scheme for the salamanders was, but it sure as hell wasn't good.
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>>4545969
I heavily disagree with you. Symbolism has value placed upon it, regardless of how nicely it fits with everything else, because symbolism is more than just a picture or a painting or motif.

Right, take Pic related, make it silver, then stick a wheat bundle in it's gob and make that a light blue/sorta green. This is what I imagine it to come out like, since I figure the 6 legged fog panthers look a lot like jaguars in this pose.
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>>4545979
>Symbolism is completely and utterly meaningless if it looks ugly.
His is completely right. If it looks shit, then it’s shit. Not to mention the obsession with fog panthers turns me off the idea.
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>>4545980
He's not completely right because, again, symbolism isn't just pictures. It can be acts, speeches, picture/paintings, stories and any other unknowable amount of combinations thereof. Not looking nice does not mean it has no value as proven by chaos and sorcery of all things.

As for the "obsession" with fog panthers, it's Lierens favored animal, his first prey and the act of killing them gave him his place in Nothing, and is the only significant animal we have encountered on the planet that commands any respect. The toad-dragon doesn't count, being a mutated twisted freak [and maybe a psyker spawn].
I would suggest the Carp, since Lieren also draws his main fighting style from the movements of such a creature but the Carp was the animal of house Cui.
>>
>>4545985
Yeah, but it doesn't matter that it has value if it's ugly. If it's bad, it's bad.
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>>4545985
>it's Lierens favored animal
His favored animal is humans.
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>>4545979
You have forgotten a lot of good content from last thread
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>>4545986
That's an incredibly flawed statement, but you do you.

>>4545988
He draws a distinction between men and beasts, so I am inclined to disagree with you on that one.
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>>4545994
>>
>>4545994
>>4545997

I completely missed that actually, But it does look good.
Anyway, point stands, make it grasp or bite something that represents bounty and prosperity, and I reckon that'd make for a fantastic heraldry with our mission statement on it.
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>>4545995
>That's an incredibly flawed statement, but you do you.
I’ll point out the obvious. You don’t understand symbols because symbols aren’t just what you do but also what you don’t do. You might think the elaborate symbol may represent Lieren th best but I think it does the opposite. I think a simple but more abstract symbol that can be interpeted many different ways or no symbol would be more effective and expressive.
>He draws a distinction between men and beasts, so I am inclined to disagree with you on that one.
Considering his beliefs I’m inclined to disagree that Lieren would hold the fog panther above animals or that humans aren’t animals. After all not all animals are beasts.
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>>4546039
Perhaps not holding the Fog panther above other animals officially, but he does respect them immensely as flatly stated here >>4544470
>your snarling and expression making you appear as one of the panthers you so idolize and respect, your voice raising in volume and fury as you speak
and he hunts them as a speciality, as remarked by Fu here >>4534091
> its pole wrapped in panther leather. The giant's favored prey.
I think the evidence given is quite hard to refute that he holds a very special respect that other animals don't get.

He does state in his tome of the path that "Men may be beasts, Men may be animals, but to act as one is a sign of utter stupidity" so I don't think he believes humans are animals in any way other than a practical "yes we are both made of meat" sort of way.
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>>4545651
>> Holding court over the captured nobility, alongside the black general and his trusted advisors
>Sending a trusted messenger to the court of Yan, explaining your actions and declaring yourself the ruler of the lands formerly held by Gao
>>
>>4545994
>>4545997
Yeah, we're definitely using some form of this as the chapter symbol.
>>
>>4546285
I swear if the master of our legions is a terran named Richard.
>>
>>4545651
> Riding for the border of the lands of Gao, hoping to stop Zhou Wenyan from fleeing to the court of the Yan and exposing your rebellion, this will buy you an extra season to prepare before the Huang and Luo realize their patriarchs have yet to return.
> Holding court over the captured nobility, alongside the black general and his trusted advisors
>>
> Riding for the border of the lands of Gao, hoping to stop Zhou Wenyan from fleeing to the court of the Yan and exposing your rebellion, this will buy you an extra season to prepare before the Huang and Luo realize their patriarchs have yet to return.
>Returning to nothing, and beginning to train and arm a standing army drawn from all corners of Gao's lands with firearms, preparing for the inevitable war.

>>4545906
>>4545914
>>4545903
I think that many people in the first thread supported a white armour (because it's simple, it's the colour of the most valuable jade and represents virtue, purity, etc) with gold in some "secondary" parts (belt, codpiece, kneecaps, circle on the pauldrons holding the emblem, thin outher part of the border of the pauldrons, etc). The gold is in honour of the emperor and because it looks good with white, and we add more gold parts the higher the rank. Aldo because of gold's simbology as both the virtues we want achieve and the flaws we want to avoid.
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>>4546357
White armour, gold trims and >>4545997 sounds good to me.
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>>4546048
>favored prey.
I don’t consider the fog panther his favorite animal just because he likes to hunt and kill them nor would I use the flawed perception of an another character to determine it
> he does respect them immensely as flatly stated here
The guy that wrote a book where he stated “all life is valuable” states he respects an animal. Color me surprised.
Let me explain how I think he see things. What he admires when he sees the fog panther isn’t the animal itself but rather the virtues it has. If he was dropped on Carib he would likely admire the size and might of the sea creature and effort they would require from him. If he were on Voormis he would likely admire the savagery and cunning of the beasts there. If he were to have landed
on Fenris he probably have admired the wolves there as Russ did. Point is his admiration for the fog panther is not as special as you make it out to be.
Furthermore in China, humans are still considered to still be animal but their connection to the heavens is suppose to put them above other beasts.
>>
About the symbolism of white and gold:
>The gold color is the color of success, achievement, and triumph (we want this). The color of wealth and high status (we give it when we raise an astartes' rank). It is associated with wealth, luxury, quality, reputation, sophistication, elegance (the higher the rank, the more reputation, but also responabilities; the more complex, advanced, and better quality of the equipment, but the tasks faced increase proportionally. Elegance comes with skill and power. Wealth is good if shared and used).
>Golden is associated with male energy and the power of the Sun (yang is characterized as outward energy, masculine, hot, bright, and positive, we live in the kingdom of Yan(g) and astartes are all guys). Compared with silver, which is related to female energy and the Moon.

>Golden color adds richness and warmth to everything that it comes in contact with. It illuminates and enhances other things around it. It is optimistic and positive (basically, it has a sinergy with white, and with many colours, really).

>At the highest level, golden color is associated with higher ideals, wisdom, understanding, and enlightenment. It inspires knowledge, spirituality, and a deep understanding of ourselves and our souls (we want to inspire this ideals on every human willing to learn and improve. Gold is a symbol of excess, vanity and pride, selfishness, greed and material wealth, but only to those with a lack of a deeper understanding, those that can only concieve the mundane).

>In terms of colors, golden is generous and giving, compassionate, and loving. It is a winner who shares wisdom, knowledge, and wealth with others. The color is confident and passionate (this is fucking Lieren, come on...).

>The golden color is a warm color that can be shiny and happy, but also dull, quiet, and traditional. Lighter shades of gold are inspiring with brilliance, darker shades with depth, warmth, and intensity (again, Lieren).
>Surrounding with too much gold can cause egoism and opportunism in the quest for higher power and influence (that's why we limit the ammount of gold on the armour and only add more when the astartes reach higher levels of wisdom, self control, abilities/power in general and virtue. It's a sign of trust).
>Favorable properties of gold are a success, abundance, wealth, understanding, wisdom, compassion, love, passion, charisma, optimism, positivity (we want to get this).

>Negative characteristics of gold are distrust, selfishness, complexity, fear of success and wealth, lack of kindness, and lack of generosity (we want to avoid it).
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>>4546357
I remember a lot of people liking the design in >>4545922, most of the designs had green in them since that's what westerners typically associate with jade

I liked this one as well
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>Furthermore in China, humans are still considered to still be animal but their connection to the heavens is suppose to put them above other beasts.
That seems like a really smart and wise chinese philosopher trying to explain rationality without modern science in a very religious culture.
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>>4546379
Most of the voters wanted a unique color pattern. Magnus has blue and gold alredy, no one has whithe and gold. Also, blue, pink/purple, red and green should be avoided at all costs. And black and white are a symbol of the worst and the best mixed in a paradox, so taking the best and adding the colour of the Emperor (clear, pure and shiny gold) to secure against chaos symbolism is great
>>
>>4546367
Most of Fu's observations were correct to start but mangled in their conclusion, even so, he stated a fact that comes with reputation than something which he just deduces.

And "idolise" is quite a strong word to use if you are someone who doesnt hold that animal in any paticular regard.
But even with your own view of the situation, that he sees the virtue the animal represents and respects that, that is still Lauren favouring the Fog Panther above the other animals because they dont command the same effort from him or display the virtues he values in said panther, and he has never expressed such admiration for any other type of animal to my knowledge, making them his favoured Aninal.
So you have agreed with my starting statement by a different manner of speech.
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>>4546395
>Lauren
>Aninal
Fuck you autocorrect.
>>
>>4546395
>>4546396
Kek, the emperor get's our name wrong and we spend the rest of the Great crusade being called Lauren/Laura. The whole wiping the primarch from history was to make Lieren a favour so he could stop containing his stress and MEGARAGE and live happy
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>>4546403
>Literraly burn a legion from history because the master of mankind misheard his son one time and didnt fix it.

He really is the worst father.
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>>4546391
>blue and gold
That's post-heresy. They're cherry red and gold now. And the Luna Wolves are white and so are the White Scars. And the Death Guard and World Eaters feature it prominently. It's really not that unique. You're also thinking of black and white with European color symbolism in mind. White represents mourning and death in addition to brightness and purity. Black was regarded as "the king of colors" but three other legions use it, so I'll pass there. Purple is a pretty unique color among the Legions, the Emperor's Children are the only ones that have it and theirs is a much lighter shade.
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>>4546408
Luna wolves also used gold embellishments. The inverse Mentor design is probably my favorite ofr the legion
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>>4546379
I like it too, but some people didn't like because it's the colors that Gao gave us (even though we turned it into a symbol of hope)
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>>4546408
Most of the legions will change their colours in 4000 years, so this, combined with the whole leaving our original legion's name is fitting. Persomally, as an anon whit OOC knowledge I cannot see the Thousand sons as anything else than blue and gold.
The whole red, purple, blue, green was a reference to the Four, the black and white part was a reference to Malal, the chaos god responsible of Lieren ending in Shangrala and the lord of self-sabotage and paradoxes. His marines are usually depicted as wearing half-white half-black armours, with the white part being immaculate and uncorrupted, sometimes even better than before, and the black part giving nightmares even to regular chaos. The ones with the European colour symbolism in mids are Games Workshop.
> White represents mourning and death in addition to brightness and purity.
Lieren hates death and killing. He understands it's necessary but mourns his enemies and what they could have been with a proper uprising. A white legion has all the fitting symbolism for me, so I suppose it's just a matter of taste.
>>
>>4546423
Yeah, gold as a secondary or as trim is pretty common.

>>4546427
I think that says all the more though. We had the power to take something from an absolute shit-tier human being and turn it into something that people rejoice over. The thought of this heraldry given to us by one of our least-favorite people ever being as symbol of hope throughout the stars is one that I think would appeal to us.
>>4546429
>I suppose it's just a matter of taste.
Indeed. It's also hard to come up with a wholly original paint scheme when most of the other legions have two already. I think orange is the only one none of them use?
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>>4546427
I personally don't like it because it's the colour of 2 Chaos gods combined and it was something given by Gao. Blue and purple are cool, but in the actual context are not so cool. I want to burn everything that Gao represents, and everything he gave us that is not people or resources.
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>>4546433
Heh, black and orange ala deadshot would look cool on an Legion of marksmen and overall long range astartes (but with a sword, slade always has a sword)
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>>4546437
Would've been better for that Cold War planet. Bunch of secret police astartes with commando training. I guess Lorgar is as close as any of the primarchs get to being ministers of propaganda and Alpharius has special forces/spies on lock.
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>>4546423
Kek, Lieren picks the color pattern because the facilityes for said colours are alredy operative and he doesn't want to waste resources or to make the Legion with a cat as an emblem closer to the furries
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>>4546440
We don't know our role yet, but it's probably a cool one (and now the Emperor declares us the janitor primarch in charge of cleaning his palace and killing enemy childrens, and then has to make up the Ragdan, the Beast and the Pale Wastings to cover the fuckfest)
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>>4546442
Wasn't there talk of keeping whatever color and name our legion has when we show up in the last thread?
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>>4546443
My bets are hedged on anti-chaos or designated diplomat. Maybe both.

>>4546445
There was, and I do think it has some merit. Lieren would definitely win over his Terran-born marines by not pushing a name, heraldry, and culture change on them right off the bat. In-character given his penchant for diplomacy. And if the name and colors are cool, that's just a bonus.
>>
calling the vote now, sorry for the wait.

Ride to try and stop Zhou:12
Return to nothing and prepare:10
Give the virtuous Gao's shelter and jobs in nothing:5
Hold court yourself:5
Let the black general hold court:1
Send a messenger to the court of yan:2

Alright, Lieren will ride to the Border to try and stop Zhou from fleeing, and then return to nothing to utilize the time he has bought himself properly.

writing the update
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>>4546451
woohoo!
>>
Zhou, the dog who dares share the name of your own honored father, was not among the guests. And thus at the moment he and his kin represent the greatest danger to your ambitions and life long efforts to bring prosperity and plenty to all men upon Shangrala. The Gao rely upon the Zhou, and the Zhou rely upon the Gao. If their masters have been ousted from power, they will be removed from their very profitable seat along the border by one of their many rivals or simply any nobleman with half a brain and a son with a talent for trade, bartering and numbers. The Zhou have long known they're replaceable, it is only because they have funneled the wealth that passes through their hands to the Gao for generations, like the loyal workers they are. They have only remained in their most advantageous position, because they have proven time again to be savvy merchants and more importantly loyal vassals.

And that same savviness and loyalty is what makes them dangerous now! the moment word of Gao's death and the imprisonment of most of his children and execution of a portion of them reaches the border, the Zhou will flee, flee to the courts of Yan with stories of a maddened giant who has taken power, and is feasting upon the flesh of children or some other outlandish tale to rouse the Yan from their apathetic stupor, and bring war to the lands you have made peaceful and prosperous. Otherwise, news of Gao's fall will come when the families of Huang and Luó realize their lords have not returned from their travel to the lands of Gao, which will take at least a season to occur.

Maybe longer depending upon the ambitions and loyalty of the kin of lord fat toad and lady starved corpse. But for every day the arrival of the combined army of the Yan kingdom is delayed, is a day you can prepare for them more properly and effectively. They shall meet a wall of lead and steel, of fire and sound. Walking over the ruined pelts of panthers, you step back into the courtyard of the fallen Gao. The sight before you is a stark and somewhat amusing one to your eyes, lines of nobles, held in place by ropes and chains by servants. Scholars holding down generals, concubines keeping collars of rope around the necks of nobles who resemble more a fattened swine than a man, guards pressing their spears against men who they were but mere hours ago protecting and serving.

It is very satisfying to see these worms put in their place, the festivities and decadence of Gao's court at last ended entirely. No more, waste, no more excess. Smiling, and keeping your hands clasped behind your back, you walk past the gathered nobility, and servants in revolt. Huang is merely sat down, unable to rise without existence, flabby face red and soaked with tears and vomit. Luó is sat next to him, with a book set over her skeletal legs, keeping her from rising with her purposefully starved frame.

The two peers of the late Gao look up to you, unable to muster even a defiant look of rage.
Cont
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>>4546603


"As pathetic as Liwei" you say, taking but a moment to stop before them "At least those beneath you are struggling, fighting for their lives still, but the two of you? Hah, you cannot even hold your heads high in the face of death itself, pathetic, absolutely pathetic. I am sure none will mourn for either of you"

You turn to walk away, seeing Biya's face twist with rage as she realizes you intend to see her fragile body hanging and dancing in the wind by the end of a rope. But she says nothing to argue against your assertion of her character. Perhaps she no longer cares of maintaining her face now that she's accepted there's no escape from her own rapidly approaching death? Maybe she simply doesn't have the courage and backbone to speak against you, and wouldn't even if she sat in your own home as an honored guest? Shaking your head and voiding it of such pointless musings, you continue on your walk through the courtyard. Some of the bolder members of nobility and more ferocious generals actually manage to spit curse and insults towards you and your lineage as you walk past them.

Most remain silent, either from despair or a sense of a dignity. The looks of anger turn to confusion and then fear as the nobles at the end of the rows realize you're leaving the palace grounds. No doubt they fear you'll give them over to the servants they have abused and stepped upon for seasons and years, but you are not so cruel. The Black general shall hold court over them, bring peace to the city in the chaos that is sure to follow such a sudden, violent upheaval, and will decide their fates himself.

Raising up an open palm, you turn back to face the very eager and vengeful servants, and take a breath of the freezing air, cooling your throat and lungs before you address them. Standing with your legs apart and your chest puffed out, you present a commanding figure before you begin to speak.

"Hear my decree, heed my words, lest you fall into the same den of sin as these dogs. Do not act rashly and steal their lives, one shall come who will judge them! But upon Azure winds I must leave this place, to ensure the prosperity we have built and the plenty we have brought to these lands will not be threatened by rapid dogs let loose upon their master's demise" You bellow, throwing your arms out and leaving yourself open, a show of trust and belief to the men and women who once suffered to serve beneath the Gao "Restrain your anger, your hate, resist the temptations of sweet revenge and deserved punishment, master yourself and prove you are more virtuous that these gilded toads"

it is as if a wind has washed over the gathered servants and nobility, a wave of raw emotion, a wind that carries your words to their very hearts and depths of their souls. Over a hundred eyes flood with awe, over a hundred eyes flood with admiration, but you do not turn to hear their praises, turning on your heel and leaving an indent on the stone flooring of Gao's courtyard.
cont
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>>4546605

And with that said, you take your leave, patting Cui Fu's horse on the side before you turn to see a mob of men and women gathering at the foot of the hill the palace sits atop. You even spot a few children among them. Every member of the mob is wearing one those masks painted with golden eyes and armed with craftsman's tools, cooking knives and even a few piece of farming and gardening equipment.

Ah, they must've rallied to try and fight by your side, no doubt imagining a brutal battle taking place between their savior and their oppressor. How admirable, and humbling. You bow your head, smiling gently as you raise a hand to wave to the crowd, as a thunderous cheer erupts as they spot you, whole and alive.

Cheers of children who would not have been born, without your intervention. Cheers of men who would have starved if the road had not reached their homes. Cries of women who can accompany their brothers and fathers are journey. The gathered cheer of people who would have never met and joined as brothers without your labors. And all of them, without hesitation, would have risked their lives to defend yours. Its enough to bring tears to your eyes, and overwhelm you with gratitude. The world has changed for ever more by your actions, and that is proof enough that your life and the lives of all you have saved and nurtured, have value. Further proving the truth of your beliefs and world view.

Marvelous, simply marvelous.

"Come on, old warrior, we have one last head to claim before we can rest again" You whisper into the ear of Cui Fu's horse, who snorts and impatiently stomps its hooves, reflecting its deceased master's lust for battle even now "Though, I know you will grow restless in peace, worry not, old warrior, you will ride to battle again someday soon"

Carefully pulling yourself onto the giant warhorse's back, you pull his reigns gently and lead him down the path of horrors, past the last of Gao's victims, closing your eyes and humming the tune of "Kind Golden Eyes" as you pass through the mob of your would have been your guardians. And, they begin to sing, crying joyously the lyrics as they follow alongside you, as you keep your steed's pace at a steady trot.

And while it is fulfilling and incredibly enjoyable to bask in the adoration and joy of the common folk, as well as cleansing and purifying, you have work to do, and so raise a hand.

"Through Black Smoke, Salvation rides, remember these words" You call out, pulling on what's left of the reigns around the warhorse's neck to command him to start to gallop "May serenity and peace ever find you, all of you! live well and keep your celebrations restrained and moderate!"

And with that said, you laugh as you ride off, to signal Yin Lei and his army, and then to capture that greedy snake Zhou before he can pierce his fangs into the throat of the common man.
cont
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>>4546607

-
Yin lei followed the Giant's command, an army arrived at the gates of the city beneath Castle Gao, but there was no chaos as he had been led to expected to find, rather, it was a celebration of golden eyed masks and song. There was of course, some bristling and trouble with the common folk, but one of them spoke a variation of the phrase Lieren had wrote upon the letter he had delivered to him by his nephew's own hand, and all the troublemakers dispersed and lowered their "weapons" if one can call ladles, kitchen knives, shears and pottery hammers weapons.

Good, the black general thought, riding through the streets with his vanguard of veterans and trained killers, innocent blood would not be shed this day. Not by his hands, or any other. He expected as much from that farmer, he was quite wise despite his youth, and had the same distaste for pointless death as Lei himself held. He wouldn't have left a city in chaos if he could instead avoid and calm its residents. The scent of rotting flesh and death met Yin Lei's nose and he snarled, shaking his head.

Seems the slug Gao had a few final victims, but his corpse did not stand among them, nailed to wooden pillars or hanging from blood stained gallows.

"Hmm, seems he has left the door open for us" One of Lei's men mused, as they came across what remained of the entryway of the palace of Gao, shattered stone and splinters of wood. Broken spears and giant footprints in the stone itself.

"He nearly tore down the wall itself! a living siege weapon!" Lei laughed, in high spirits in how bloodless his occupation had been, even as he entered the courtyard he so loathed.

And what a bizarre sight Lieren had left for him, like a gift of Jade tools or a solid sphere of glass coated in brandy, Servants, guards, scholars, scribes, concubine and pleasure women holding hostage the lords and heirs of several mighty houses. Including Lady Luó and Lord Huang, who both seemed to have suffered the Giant's wrath through a broken arm and shattered ankle.

"Incredible, incredible, it reminds me of when I brought The rebellious Su to heel, what a delectable sight" the black general laughed as he slid off the back of his horse, smiling widely as he walked among the collection of rapists, killers, whoremongers, liars and thieves dressed in silk "Is this a gift? a gift from the giant? Oh I have dreamt of this scene before, all you soft men, all you disgusting bastards brought to kneel before me, to answer for the crimes of all the unnecessary death and war you've caused"

Laughing Yin Lie, with the energy of a child, skipped over to an aged lord, flicking his forehead

"Didn't you order levies raised over a dispute for a winery?" He asked, storm grey eyes burning with long contained spite and anger fed by the sorrow and pain of all the men who had died under his command and because of it
cont
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>>4546609

"I think a drowning will fit you well, let you taste the fruits born by the blood of young men and old soldiers, hmm? Oh my dear lady, two decades ago, didn't you request the army to put down a rebellion your empty headed husband caused by stealing the entire harvest of your people. Ah yes, I remember your laughing and joking tone, along with the screams of starving peasants fighting for survival. I wonder if you and that swine shall scream in the same manner, you whore. How bold of you to leave your manor, when the hangman stalks the roads"

Slapping the noble woman Yin Lei marched down the line of nobility, insulting and listing the crimes they had force his hands to commit, until he came upon one of Gao's spawn, standing tall and proud, with mercy written over his head.

"Oh, Lieren, your heart remains warm and loving. Despite the horrors you've seen, you see fit to spare the seed" Yin Lei says to man, who stares at him with wide eyes.

"He tore my brother's head off" he replies with a smile that Lei had seen many times over his years upon Shangrala, through his battles and wars. The sight of a man whose mind has been cleared by shock and horror.

"And left you alive, I too would be tempted to tear the heads of your entire misbegotten line, but Lieren has seen fit to give you mercy, and that means you are innocent" Yin lei said, stroking his well kept and groomed beard, Lieren could see into a man's soul after all, he had heard and believed, as he had seen the virtue in a cynical man like himself, in that devilish woman Qian Xia, in that ancient monk and so many others "And I shall have no more innocent blood upon my hands, so rejoice, you and your kin get to meet two legends and live, many cannot even manage to survive crossing paths with only one"

Yin Lei sighed, his long restrained rage unleashed and lifted from his shoulders as he walked up the platform Liwei would use to look down upon his guests and valued vassals.

"Ah, lord gao" Yin lei chuckled, having stepped on the still form of the bastard spawn of hell himself "I did not see you there, my apologies, I see you have been condemned, must've said something quite foul to break the Giant's serenity, broke your neck did he, I hope you rot in hell, spat upon by every man, woman and child you sent ahead of yourself, I hope your soul meets the dai and those poor monks get their long overdue revenge, taking their pound of flesh, son of a thousand whores"

Yin lei spat on the ground at Gao's feet, and turned, looking over the gathered nobility and closed his eyes.

"I will determine which of you are traitors to the land of Gao and Kingdom of Yan, I will, restrain myself from carrying out my vengeance against you blindly, for if I just have you all executed, I shall be no better than you who have sent generations of men to die, alone and afraid upon the battlefield" Yin lei said calmly.
cont
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>>4546611

For he had realized the giant marked the children of Gao to show him the weakness present within him, the poison of spite in his veins.

"For your lives are equal to theirs, so I shall have the worst of you executed, the virtuous of course will be spared and released. Thus, is the command of the azure administrator, the hero of the people!"

Yin lei sighed, feeling a darkness creep out of his soul, it felt as if he had been cleansed by a gentle spring rain. the screaming of his men no longer echoed in the depths of his mind.

"Virtuous children of Gao, rejoice and stand tall and proud, for you have been judged by Lieren of Nothing himself, wear his mark with pride, a badge of honor representing your good and moral character, but now, I shall bring order to this rabble" The black general proclaimed with an uncharacteristically gentle smile upon his lips "To this city, and by the giant's side, Yan itself!"
-

"Hah, Zian was not lying about the Vishnu's ferocity in combat" You mutter, sitting beneath a tree outside of the gates of the estates of Zhou, its lord hanging above your head and his hired guards gathered at your feet, men with skin the color of fired clay, builds almost comparable to Cui Fu's. Now in pieces, for they did not die when you pierced their chests or cut their throats, so to get the Zhou Wenyan, you had to nearly butcher them, as even missing an arm these Vishnu Mercenaries fought to their last, despite knowing they would die protecting their employer.

The gates of Zhou are closed and blocked upon both ends, and his wife and children fled down the road you built, and thus were safe . Though you had not expected his brother to take up arms and attempt to strike you from behind as you carried out your sentence to Lord Zhou, and thus joined the vishnu, in death,

One thing you hadn't heard, was how the Vishnu painted their scars to make them appear fresh and new, or wore little when in battle. No armor or even any clothes above their chest. A queer tradition and a most foolish one.

You had ridden for days to reach the border, but now, you could rest and recover, and return to nothing to prepare for the inevitable arrival of war. And your dreamt of golden fields that night, of grain and orchards, panthers stalking jackals and men riding cliffjumpers rather than horses.
-
Cont
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>>4546612

"At my command, fire a volley, reload and step back to allow the next line forward, then repeat." You order a troop raised from farmers and fishermen, as Lai song stands besides you, along with Dandan and Shan, who have taken to observing every drill you oversee

"Remarkable" Song says sounding impressed and in awe of the power of firearms being presented before him "Simply remarkable, imagine a cavalry charge armed with these...rifles of yours"

"Hmm, I have thought of employing marksmen upon horseback, actually" You say as the master of the encircling charge grins and nods

"You'd have made a fine general had you walked different paths" He says in reply, as you leave him, and Dandan who has become a little too engrossed in watching the newly raised regiment training. Shan follows close behind you, a ledger in his hands

"You said you had received volunteers for the artillery battalion?" You ask turning to man with charred fingers and a burnt beard "Have they undergone the proper training"

"Hmm, yes, it seems some of Gao Liwei's children seek to wash away the stain of their ancestry, but don't have the heart for actual combat, I believe Dandan has also recommended a few of her brothers for such duties and...Lady Qian's brother has been bothering me, as you will not allow him to join your forces" Shan explains, with his usual manic energy, as you pass Feng and Jinhai demonstrating to a group of potters how to fight with a spear and bayonent a like, nodding and smiling at your two friends, as Rong, Jiang and Xin rush past the mustering grounds, forcing their trainees to run with stone slabs upon their backs, seeming to enjoy themselves with it.

Nothing was beginning to resemble a military fortress more than a simple farming village, as you have been working to improve its walls and using the land outside of it as a makeshift camp for those who would fight beside you one day soon.

"Yes, he is too young to see the horrors of battle, let age mellow his energy and if the war is still ongoing, he may join our ranks" You explain for what must be the fifth time since you've arrived back home

"He wants to man a canon, thinking that is far enough from the frontlines for you to accept him into the folds of our army" Shan explains, seeming more amused than anything else

"Remember the lessons war has taught us before, and the teachings of Lieren, do not allow yourself to be consumed with pride or a lust for victory, our actions must be done efficiently and cleanly! " The black general is giving a speech to some tactical minds you had come across in your journey back from the border, including Daiyu, who admittedly, not tactically talented, but she seems intent on learning

"No, tell Xiaowen he must wait and be patient, and that war is no game" You sigh through your teeth, shaking your head as you walk along

"Understood, understood" Shan says, nodding along as he makes a note on his ledger with a sliver of charcoal.
cont
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>>4546617

What do you do, Lieren, with the extra time you have given yourself
> With Lai song and Yin Lei, draw up entirely new tactics and stratagems
> Take aside those new soldiers with the most promise and personally train them along with your guards and the brothers of the panthers.
> Ensure the common man is well defended, and further fortify your road, the villages upon it, and the garrisons defending it
> Spend time with your father, and your close friends.
>Write in?
>>
>>4546619
>Spend time with your father, and your close friends.
> With Lai song and Yin Lei, draw up entirely new tactics and stratagems
Ensure the common man is well defended, and further fortify your road, the villages upon it, and the garrisons defending it
>>
>>4546619
>> Ensure the common man is well defended, and further fortify your road, the villages upon it, and the garrisons defending it
Wars are won by logistics, making our lands impossible to assault will save more lives than a few expert soldiers.

We should encourage the formation of a sharpshooter group though. The fogs of this world mean sniping isn't all that possible, but having guys that can pick off the commanders if visible will cripple premodern armies
>>
>>4546619
>>Spend time with your father, and your close friends.
>> With Lai song and Yin Lei, draw up entirely new tactics and stratagems
> Ensure the common man is well defended, and further fortify your road, the villages upon it, and the garrisons defending it
>>
>>4546619
> Ensure the common man is well defended, and further fortify your road, the villages upon it, and the garrisons defending it
> With Lai song and Yin Lei, draw up entirely new tactics and stratagems
>spend time with dad when possible, but we have a year to prepare for the coming shitstorm and we don't have any kind of realistic expectation as to what Yan can through at us.

Even with rifles if he has 100 000 more people to throw at us there will be a lot of casualties. Which is something we haven't had to deal with up until this point.
>>
>>4546443
now that's a hilarious mental image.
>>
...

So a thought occurs. Leiren has some good perception. Scarily good, even by primarach standards. He can read your career politician who wraps people around her fingers like a book with ease. He can read an entire room at a glance.


This likely has something to do with our golden eyes. Assuming this s not chaos fuckery like Best angel's wings? It's a safe bet Emps made us to see clearly. The question is, for what purpose? Are we to see the heart's of man and cut out the rot? Are we to read the tide of war and appear where we are needed most in its cold calculus? Or are we destined to see beyond the vale, to contend with things hidden, to hunt them down and purge them?
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>>4546619
> Spend time with your father, and your close friends.
>>
>>4546719
Honestly, I don't think there's anything special about our perception. I can't remember if it was Fulgrim or Sanguinius, but they were able to see a bonding stud misaligned by a few microns and determine that something minor must have thrown the chapter serf's rhythm off by a fraction, causing the imperfection.

We might be one of the more social primarchs though, I don't see Perty or Mortarion being able to do what we have. Some of them are just too blunt, where as Sanguinius, Lorgar, and us seem well suited for diplomacy
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>>4546619
> Ensure the common man is well defended, and further fortify your road, the villages upon it, and the garrisons defending it
> Further modify your personal armaments and craft a rifle befitting a man of your stature
I wanna spend some time with the boys, but we have to make sure we're as ready as we can be.
>>
>>4546755
Other Primarchs may have higher levels of visual acuity and such, but I think there may be some truth the myths about Lieren's insane level of perception when it comes to reading people.
Think about it this way, if somebody able to gaze into the hearts of men as clearly as Lieren was a Primarch, wouldn't they be inherently useful in snuffing out potential Chaos worshippers like Erebus and Kor Phaeron?
I'm almost certain potentially falling to Chaos is something the Emperor would have been aware of, so we may have been created to act as something of a Detective among the legions outside of our duties as a General.
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>>4546767
Esentually, Lieren was designed to be the janitor primarch like that one anon mentioned.
Not the best fighter but a great deal more perceptive than most.
Pro-civilian life.
Improving lifestyle of the common man.
>>
>>4546769
>Esentually, Lieren was designed to be the janitor primarch like that one anon mentioned
I prefer the term "Custodian", but I feel like that would get confusing real quick.
Interesting question though, I think Lieren would be a great fit for running the Inquisition giving his natural talents.
I know the Inquisition was only created on the Emperor's orders at the start of the Heresy, but I have to wonder how long he had thought about it before then.
I'm sure either way we'd have to massively impress the Emperor and Malcador when we do meet them to even be privy to that knowledge.
>>
>>4546644
support
>>
>>4546619
>> With Lai song and Yin Lei, draw up entirely new tactics and stratagems
>> Take aside those new soldiers with the most promise and personally train them along with your guards and the brothers of the panthers.
>> Ensure the common man is well defended, and further fortify your road, the villages upon it, and the garrisons defending it
>>
>>4546619
Oh right.
>start sending spies to other lands so we can get the information advantage
>>
>>4546644
This might require us to use assumetric warfare alongside more modern ballistic warfare tactics.

What we have here are feudal armies, marching across lands at their lords orders, to kill other peasants. They March on their stomach and have to deal with corrupt and incompetent nobility in both their leaders and the elite troops.

With asymmetric warfare taking out their likely flimsy supply lines, striking fear into them, cutting off their chain of command, we’ll have a bunch of scared, hungry, angry peasants that will more than likely break and run into the fog. Some may stay, but then those will face the roar of guns and artillery.

We can make whatever army they send our way collapse before they even cross the border, and disappear completely by the time they make their first charge.
>>
>>4546773
>>4546769
>>4546767
>>4546755
>>4546719
The enemies of man are subtle, quiet, and everywhere. And they are already rooted in every man, woman, and child that does, has, and ever will live.

So it makes sense that the emperor sought to make a Primarch who could see that, look into that humanity and find not only the filth and the corruption, but the good and virtue of human spirit.

The emeperor may not have needed compassion or his love or whatever he threw away to accomplish his goals, but even he might have known that those things were needed even if he himself could not provide it.
>>
>>4546644
We can use Lieren image and the deeds he did (not to mention his martial might), plus the power/sound of guns and artillery. Maybe even some large musical instruments and colored smoke. Powerful tools for break their morale. With us we have also the knowledge of the province terrain thanks to our experience and the many hunters of the province. If we add on it Lieren giving the enemy army the option to surrender and join him both at the start and end of the battle, combining it with offering them food, heal their wounded and give burial to their deads we have all the cards for a first victory without too many losses for the yang army that will be send. Of course there will be still some losses and we will need to do a purge of this army before integrating it in our own, but it shouldn t be too many deads.
>>
>>4546619
>Ensure the common man is defended
>With Lai and Yin, Draw up entirely new tactics and stratagems

Pyrotechnics are gonna be fucking amazing. A pall of red smoke floating towards the enemy with the sound of gunshots......can you imagine the terror we would sow? the armies that would rout before us.
>>
>>4546719
Clearly this means we're going to have magic eye powers. So now all that's left is waiting for malal to let us unlock our sharingan.
>>
>>4546855
Already way ahead of you.
>Altering the book of the path to read 'Your virtue is determined by your blood purity'' instead of 'any may be virtuous, you must judge an individual by their own virtues'
>>
>>4545642
Also, maybe I'm just too stupid to understand it, but what was the big brained 9001 IQ move of telling the executioner of nobles that if he doesn't change his mind about killing you for being a scumbag, that you would hurt your OWN family?
Was he banking on us being weakwilled enough that the threat of people getting hurt, no matter who, would make us rethink our decision? What was this retards plan?
>>
>>4546858
That sounds like exactly the dumb type of shit people would believe.
>>
>>4546863
It's what the ninja's of naruto believe post the first season or so. And the Nazi's, and quite a few empires of ages past.

I wouldn't put it past people to distort our teachings like this.
>>
>>4546865
We need to find a way for set our teachings in stone and avoid that they are heavily distorted and modified with time. Maybe we could produce copies upon copies like Lorgar, and distribute it everywhere (both high and low classes) while ensure that every copy is made of highly resiliant and protective materials.
>>
>>4546872
We had kind of a similar idea in Saiyan Conqueror Quest where we'd carve our training methods into solid Katchin (DBZ unobtainium) so they'd last forever.
If we want to go that route, we could make monuments out of our scripture and inlay the lettering with some long-lived material.
Now if that sounds stupid as fuck, it is.
The more feasible method for us is to just stick around to make additions and edits to our writings as needed.
>>
>>4546872
>>4546873
The problem is that philosophy and methods of living must change as time goes on to give an answer to new problems, but as we have seen with "living documents" in the real world, it doesn't actually work out in practice.
Plus our idealism won't mesh with 40k, so it's going to fail anyway.....eh.

Pick your poison, our beliefs forgotten or our beliefs warped into a mockery of themselves.
>>
>>4546875
both poisons suck.
>>
>>4546875
Alright, adamantine tablets inscribed with our teachings it is then.
>>
>>4546879
Not everything is as pleasant as alcohol.
>>
>>4546875
Better trying than not. If something remains of our teachings, even in the smallest portions, and it helps mankind is preferable than nothing.
And it would be already a great success. Even if in the future the book is found/used only in the fortresses of the successors chapters of our legion, in Shangrila and in some libraries of planet governors houses it s a good result too.

Other primarchs like Roboute did aid the imperium with their written works, we should aid it too.

>>4546873
>>4546880
Creating new editions/books seems for the best.
>>
>>4546884
Our teachings would be gutted, our ideals of virtue twisted and restrained, parts of it doctored out or flatly butchered.

But even if it isn't the the problem remains that after we are gone, the philosophy of the path will become outdated and stagnant and become sour. It won't last the ages and only it's practical advice for farming and administration will be taken into account.
>>
>>4546887
All of that is true, but i dislike the idea of Lieren not helping the imperium even in his way. It would be a shame.
>>
>>4546619
>> With Lai song and Yin Lei, draw up entirely new tactics and stratagems
>> Ensure the common man is well defended, and further fortify your road, the villages upon it, and the garrisons defending it
>> Spend time with your father, and your close friends.

>>4546719
I think we'll find out once we meet either more warp-spawn or come across a psyker. Which raises a question posed in the last thread. Where are Shangrala's psykers?
>>
>>4546911
Proposed theories are
1. The monks of Dao [exterminated]
2. killed at birth, or become monsters [toad dragon]

And that's all we've seen really. But I propose that the scarlet spiders son is a psyker, on the basis of his strange eyes.
>>
>>4546619
>> With Lai song and Yin Lei, draw up entirely new tactics and stratagems
>> Ensure the common man is well defended, and further fortify your road, the villages upon it, and the garrisons defending it

Also >>4543447
thanks for a new favourite band.
>>
>>4546644
Support
>>
>>4546619
> Spend time with your father, and your close friends.
> Ensure the common man is well defended, and further fortify your road, the villages upon it, and the garrisons defending it
> With Lai song and Yin Lei, draw up entirely new tactics and stratagems
>>
>>4546619
> Spend time with your father, and your close friends.
> With Lai song and Yin Lei, draw up entirely new tactics and stratagems
>>
>>4546769
>>4546773
I always figured thats what Konrad was for, but he just went about it in the wrong way.

Konrad and Lieren would make a really funny odd couple duo.
>>
>>4546619
>> With Lai song and Yin Lei, draw up entirely new tactics and stratagems
> Ensure the common man is well defended, and further fortify your road, the villages upon it, and the garrisons defending it
>>
>>4547170
Good cop, bad cop setup maybe? Konrad acts as the violent deterrent to heresy/crime while Lieren finds the innocent/salvageable citizens of the Imperium
>>
Once we get all of our troops geared up and prepared and the war gets started I have an idea how to quickly get the upper hand. Aircraft. We are fighting at a roughly 1880's tech levels while our opposition is fighting with 1500-1600 level tech which should give us a sizable advantage until the enemy catches up. Aircraft in my opinion is the most efficient in terms of their resource investment. While WW1 Tanks would be powerful and allow us to punch deep through enemy formations they are expensive and run the risk of being captured by the enemy if they can break inside. Aircraft on the other hand completely out-range anything the enemy could develop in a reasonable period of time and can deliver large explosive payloads anywhere within the enemy formation with no risk. Unless the enemy has Xenos or warp fuckery on their side there is no way they can get to our manufacturing centers and they have no hope of establishing the necessary industry to combat our airforce in time to make a difference.
>>
>>4547202
we have guns, armour of great quality, bombs, two of the greatest general in Yan, a season where we are just creating techniues to confound the enemy while our food production is greater than the rest of yan by ourselves.
I actually do not know how much more of an upper hand we can have starting out.
>>
>>4547202
Given that they can't hope to attack aircraft, why not do zeppelins? They don't require the insanely fine tuned engines of planes and can carry a lot of bombs and troops
>>
>>4547229
Zeppelins are terrible weapons, but maybe "hot air balloons could work well as bombers.
>>
>>4547245
they're terrible against people with AA guns. Having a border patrol of zeppelins that can stay in the air for days will be more useful than a few biplanes
>>
>>4547258
wouldn't the fog cancel out any potential sight advantage?
>>
>>4547209
Just to add
+ a very defensive terrain and home advantage in the province, probably knowledge of the yang armies tactics and composition (the General would know it), Lieren (for command, combat and simply breaking their morale). Which i doubt Yang armies will be prepared to. No to mention with corrupted and cruel nobles and generals leading them, the soldiers of Yang will see us as a far better man to serve and fight for. Add our deeds and what we stand for on top of that, and we are a walking legend for them.

>>4547202
With all this reasons i think we should have a great advantage over Yang.


>>4547229
There is the mist problem, but we have invented electricity so maybe it s not a problem.
>>
>>4547264
nah, as they make camp the smoke and light from fires would give them away.
>>
>>4547266
Maybe simple thermal imaging could help them see groups of troops, even if we can't spot individuals. The first thermal camera was invented in the 1930s, we probably can't mass produce them, but we could make enough for however many airships we build. Since the troops wouldn't be able to see through the mist, any bombs would be assumed to be from some cannon. The airships could just float along over Yan's armies, randomly destroying their camps/formations
>>
>>4547258
What about Blimps that serve as flying aircraft carriers for long range operations?
https://youtu.be/EfIABE-hUSg
>>
>>4547258
Or people with flaming ballista or crossbows. They are gigantic bags of flammable gas, any fire breaching them makes a big BOOM which renders their use very poor. And putting them out of reach of those weapons runs into the problem of fog
>>
>>4547296
I think you're overestimating these weapons. Long range weapons likely lag behind in this world due to the fog, so they aren't gonna have ballistae maximized for range. Even if they did, they don't know blimps are flammable, ballista can't fire above 45 degrees, can't even see the blimp, and have to deal with bombing
>>
>>4547202
>Using aircraft at a planet completely filled with mist
what a great idea.
>>4547229
>Using highly inflammable airships in a planet completely filled with fog
That's even better!
>>
>>4547198
I think it'd be a bit more nuanced than that. Konrad's gift is foresight, but he sees either the worst outcome or both an optimistic outcome and a pessemistic one and assumes the latter will come to pass. Our ability of seeing into the true nature of anyone we look upon makes us complimentary to each other. One is the judge, the other is the jury, and Russ is the executioner.
>>
>>4547296
>>4547352
If they were as bad of an idea as you seem to think it is, people wouldn't've shelled out for them IRL.

They weren't that dangerous, as long as you actually knew what you were doing and didn't do things like start smoking on the gasbag.

What put them out of service were airplanes, which advanced faster than AA capable of being mounted on a blimp did.
>>
>>4547358
Airship were also pretty efficient. Airplanes took a lot of fuel compared to a blimp which was part of the reason planes didn’t immediately replace airships.
>>
>>4547370
The US even had a blimp that carried biplanes at one point
>>
>>4547358
Anon, they're a good idea in real life where you have an line of sight bigger than thirty meters. Shangrala is completely filled with fog. How are you planning to make landings with all that fog? It's not something you can do with shitty world war one planes.
>>
>>4547397
He wasn’t arguing for planes though. He was arguing for airships which is much more reasonable considering that actual China was mostly flat plains.
>>
>>4547397
Fog lights, even if you can't see the landing zone itself it will be outlined by the lights. It's the same way real airports do it.
>>
>>4547407
For the carrier blimps we could extend long strings of smaller balloons with lights attached to them to create a marked corridor leading to the hanger.
>>
>>4547412
That doesn't help with crashing into mountains, I don't think the tactical diameter on early planes would be small enough for our pilots to avoid crashing into terrain. Zeppelins move slow enough that we don't have to worry too much about that, and could have radar placed on them. Having to fly entirely on instruments would be hellish with planes on this world
>>
>>4547426
Planes would be death traps on this planet.
>>
>>4547397
Anon, we're on the same side! Maybe the fog's blinding you
>>
>>4547415
I'd rather just stuff the zeppelin full of flechettes/rocks to drop on a marching army. No explosives, electric engines for stealth, just hiding in the fog. The army would just think they're getting ripped to pieces by hidden archers/slingers and spend hours searching for them on the ground. We can make people think our lands has a massive amount of stealth archers, forcing them to either spread out massively or march in close formation under shields to protect against them.
>>
>>4547447
seems like a good idea
>>
>>4547447
I like this idea but like i said, the problem is landing. You do know planes aren't the only ones who land, right? Zeppelins also have to land.

Also, we're getting a bit ahead of ourselves. For Zeppelins we'd need full on factories to produce the materials, the machinery, the engines. Did you forget we're still using artisans?

We should be preparing for war and industrialization.
>>
>>4547447
Paratrooping is another great idea, I can't believe I forgot to mention it.
>>
>>4547518
That's such a bad idea in the fog that it's too terrible to talk about.

That being said, it's fucking cool. So lets do it.
>>
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>>4547507
Landing a zeppelin seems easier a plane at least, those signal lights >>4547412 was talking about would be enough for a slow moving vehicle.

This is definitely long term planning though, just another weapon to look into for our expansion out of Gao. Short term, mass production of our current firearms and armor. Later on, simple SMGs
>>
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>>4547522
>>4547518
If not paratroopers, the zeppelins could let us drop people behind enemy lines
>>
>>4547522
Since the enemy has no idea that such a concept even exists I think it is a perfectly viable strategy to send stealth blimps along with the main army to silently float over the enemy line until they are behind the enemy, before quietly dropping troops to flank them from the rear. It would be so effective against 1500's tactics that entire armies would just collapse that only tiny fragments of the force would escape, only to be caught by the troops deployed from the blimps that went even further back to scout for sources of potential reinforcement and future targets. A great way for the blimps to communicate with ground troops would be Morse code. We would of course only teach it to trusted ground officers so the communications could not leak. We would manage the air forces personally. Another major boon of blimps is that they could completely remove the logistical problem of carrying goods allowing our troops to move quickly while getting everything they need dropped from the supply blimps above. Planes are a ways off but blimps are a very simple method of flight to get into. We'll save the flying aircraft carries for when we start conquering the rest of the planet.
>>
>>4547533
>jumping out of an aircraft with no way of seeing the ground coming up
>>
>>4547533
We could also use horns for communication. If it’s deep enough it could also help with psychological warfare while attacking.
>>
Attack Helicopter Gunships would actually be a better option, can approach the illuminated zone (illuminated with a code of lights, to make sure we don't get robbed) maintain itself suspended in the middle of the landing, wait for the fog to disperse due to the air current and then land or fly again. Also has armour and ALL the fucking firepower we need against dense groups of infantry (and we can paint a mouth on them and make the ebemie armies run screaming at the "dragon"). One of this things could decimate all of Yan's armies and probably Shangrala's (except for archeotech and greater daemons)
>>
Also, please, consider
>>
And also this
>>
>>4547557
>>4547552
>>4547551
No. That’s not happening for a long time for many reasons.
>>
>>4547551
we just invented the gun, even Zeppelins are a bit of a stretch desu
>>
>>4547573
Blimps are the peak of what we can hope to achieve before Emps shows up.
>>
>>4547568
>>4547573
Even crappy helicopters would do a better work than zepelins. In the time we spend building a zepelin, we can build a squad of helicopters, give them a bunch of bombs and see the enemy crumble. We have the knowledge and in a few years we can make them. For this war, let's focus on strategy and superior firepower (they have bows, we have miniguns. If we had mortar fire, we would be served)
> With Lai song and Yin Lei, draw up entirely new tactics and stratagems.
> Ensure the common man is well defended, and further fortify your road, the villages upon it, and the garrisons defending it.
If possible, on our free time:
> Spend time with your father, and your close friends.
>>
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>>4547524
We can do a touch better than the STEN
>>
Alright, calling the vote now. Sorry for the wait.

Spend time with your loved ones:9
Draw up new tactics and stratagems:12
Ensure the common man is defended:12
Make a rifle of your stature: 1
Train an elite force from promising recruits:1
Send spies into other lands:1

Alright, So Lieren will fortify the lands, ensuring the common man is well defended, while drawing up new tactics and fresh stratagems to surprise the yan and to properly utilize their new weaponry.
And He will spend the little free time he has with these labors, with his loved ones.

Most of his focus will be upon fortifying the lands and reinventing warfare, with him spending time with his father and close friends only when there isn't work to be done.

Writing the update now

>>4546920
Demon hunter is great
>>
>>4547619
Knowledge and resources don't change the environment of this world. If you can't see 100 feet away half the time, you better not fly. In the modern world, if visibility isn't better than 1 mile, you aren't taking off. That's with all of the sensors we have now, not the simple design we'd have to use.
>>
>>4547648
oh sorry didn't see that last vote

>>4547619
So it'd be 13, 13 and 10 rather than 12, 12, 9, not like it matters, but I feel I should point that out
>>
>>4547619
>Crappy Helicopters
Okay where do we get fuel? Does Lieran shit petrol all of a sudden?
Should we make people dig deep enough in the hopes of finding oil to what? Bring out of a long ass tunnel in a bucket? Or maybe! Solar! Oh wait! the land is often covered in perpetual Mist! maybe wind power! wait that'll take too long to be viable for military purposes...Hmmm Big think.
>>
>>4547649
Wait, is the fog athosphere-high? I thought it was just surface (plus a few dozens of meters) high
>>
>>4547619
You realize that even a crappy helicopter would require 21st century infrastructure and techbase right?
>>
>>4547619
Dude we have barely gotten our hands on basic firearms, big bags bag full of hot air with simple electric engines about as good as we can do for aircraft at this moment in time. We'll be at that tech level soon enough but not during the course of this war.
>>
>>4547664
More like 20th century, considering the cold war. But we don't even have ww1 tech yet.
>>
>>4547670
To build one? Sure. For them to be viable? 21st century.
>>
>>4547619
Strategy, firepower, hearts and minds. Remember they never faced an army like our own and neither a man like us. The Yang armies morale will break quickly after any battle, so we need to make them our own men more than killing them. Which can be done with Lieren charisma and humble offers to join him. As well making them see how much of a terror he can be on the battlefield.

The mists of Shangrila seem fairly thick. It would be better to have adequate technologies for excellent and reliable movement in the mist, before creating any kind of modern aircraft.
>>
Your army does not want in terms of manpower or weaponry, but there is one thing that you find woefully lacking in the face of war. and that is domestic defenses. Outside of the watchtowers and garrisons you've made, most of the people in the lands formerly ruled by the Gao, only have the walls you built around their villages and homes to rely upon, and some do not even have as much as a secondary wall to guard their farmlands. An invading army would present a very real danger to the common man, even if your forces are much more well equipped and organized. Numbers will eventually overwhelm even the brightest tactician, and superior weaponry can only bridge the gap so far.

Which, is why you have decided to travel the lands, that now look to you for guidance, with a council of the best and brightest among your allies and companions. Lai Song, Yin Lei will of course accompany you to advise you on military matters, strategic points of interest and how best to utilize the terrain, Shan and Dandan will help with resource allocation and management under the leadership of Qian Xia, mostly so as to keep her son from sneaking his way into the army the moment he leaves your watchful gaze. the Yin leadership shall remain at nothing, as will Lord Lai and the other nobles who have rallied to your cause.

The generals in training will join you for your journey, while a few of the Unbroken Thunder's howl's lessers shall remain to keep training the main body of your forces, to turn them into something more than peasants and lay man armed with advance weaponry and fine armor. Most of your craftsman corps will also remain, to meet the demand your army will require. However your assistants who helped make your road will travel alongside you, along with a few artisans skilled in working stone and steel.

Wenyan, your honored father, shall remain in nothing, to keep any lingering grudges between the common folk and the nobles who survive beneath your wings from flaring up and cool the more emotionally brash of your kinfolk and allies from causing any problems. It is a great shame he will not travel beside you, but Nothing needs leadership while you are gone, and your father is the man you trust the most to lead in your absence.

You will have to find time to return and keep his company, before the war begins, once you have started the efforts to reinforce and fortify the land, you will have enough leisure to spend time with your closest friends and the only other member of your family. But of course, merely increasing the defense of your homeland is not the only work at hand.

The firearms you have created will change the very face of warfare, and thus new strategy and tactics are required to fully utilize their potential on the field of war. Which is another reason why the military genius Yin Lei and Lai Song will accompany you on your travels. Their tactical acumen will be a great boon in creating a new method of warfare wholesale.
cont
>>
>>4547819

"Shan" You bark, coming out of your thoughts and back to reality, causing the manic gunsmith to jump in surprise and shock, but his eyes remain as wide and wild as they also do "Make note, we are to travel the lands beneath us to fortify and prepare them for the coming war"

"Of course, of course" He says quickly, grinding his shard of charcoal along the notes he has been keeping, and recording your orders and even common phrases and expressions upon "I take it we shall gather a traveling entourage to assist in these efforts"

You nod, idly running a hand through your iron hued hair to straighten it's locks back into their proper place.

"Yes, as well as a number of the Brothers of Panthers and my personal guard" You say as Shan picks at his burnt beard, eyes wide as he rapidly jots down his notes "And request that elder Guozhi and his students come with us as well, I would much appreciate his council in the coming days"

"Yes yes" Shan says, snorting and discarding his piece of charcoal and pulling a fresh chunk from the satchel at his side "I take it you shall gather the rest of this council of jade before we begin our journey"

"You will be one of its number, as will your apprentice Dandan" You say as Shan grins widely, his teeth covered with soot from his experiments

"You are too kind to this humble alchemist, my lord" Shan says, flicking his tongue out like a snake tracking its prey, his hands shaking with excitement at the mere thought of being allowed into such a prestigious circle of great minds and renowned personalities.

"Oh you are too humble, Friend Shan, you are one of the most clever souls I have encountered in my time upon Shangrala, I do not cast aside talent and wisdom to praise birth and blood, you know this well, my friend" You say with a kind smile as Shan continues grinning

"And that is why you rule the former land of Gao, rather than that foolish line, you can see the value in even a clod of dirt, and shine it to appear as jade" Shan cackles, shaving off flakes of his charcoal pen with his nails as he tries to match the pace of your long stride.

"I merely look deeper than outward appearances, When I look upon a man, I see even the secrets hidden within him unknown to even himself" You say humbly, smiling a bright smile as Shan laughs.

"I wish I could see through your eyes, Lieren, oh how I wish I could see the world as you do" Shan sighs, his voice sweet and pining "But that is but a mere dream, let us return to discussing how you plan on bolstering the defenses of an entire land"

"Let us gather the other advisors first, and then I shall begin to explain the groundwork, the foundation which will allow me to turn these fields, hills, mountains and forests into a wall studier than master crafted steel" You explain, turning to head to your own home, and see if your father needs any assistance in his day to day life before beginning your next great labor.
cont
>>
>>4547821
-
You sat in an iron chair crafted solely to hold your mighty frame, one of your legs crossed over the other's knee as you looked over a detailed map of the border of the former lands of Gao, drawn large relief of silk. Upon its face, was set figurines carved of wood and stone, to represent your forces and key points of interest. Every village upon the map had blocks of wood set around it, to represent walls, and every garrison, watchtower and waystation had small slivers of wood to represent the fortification you had place around and within their walls, a detail left out for the villages as the fortifications along the road already had walls set around them. Walls which now reached around portions of the giant's road itself.

Lai song sat to your left, moving wooden horses with a thin rod, spreading them out behind the vanguard of your forces. Yin lei sat to your right, leaning over the table as you were.

"No, no" He said, shaking his head, smacking his own pointing rod onto the table "Remember, Song we are not fighting with spears and swords alone, while are forces are armed with traditionally weaponry, we also hold the wonder that is gunpowder, and that...artillery, you are planning on moving your riders in after the opening volley from the vanguard yes?"

"I figured I'd strike while the enemy was disoriented" Song said, bowing his head as the fire light with which the three of you worked and studied the battle lines you have drawn up "Take advantage of their fear and rout them before they have a chance to regroup and begin a counter charge or retreat to a more defendable position"

"A good plan, a wise strategy, however" Lei says, pushing the horse figurines up hills and ridgelines "I would suggest that we instead hold the cavalry of the Lai in reserve, to strike as the enemy is in retreat from the sheer power of our new weaponry and the fear its sound and fury inspires, wait"

Yin lei falls silent, stopping his advice as he moves tubes of iron meant to stand in for your regiments of cannons, into position right behind the main force of the army.

"Until we unleash hell's fury upon the Yan army, they will follow the old way of meeting our army head on, which is why in this scenario, Lieren has set most of our forces in a highly defendable choke point, between the cliff where He Castle still stands, unoccupied, an irresistible fruit for a young general hoping to become a lord"

"Like a knife hidden within a peach" You say, smiling as the black general nods, his greying hair and dark uniform making him appear as a head floating within the darkness, as his scar seems to deepen by the shadows cast upon his face "In this scenario, in all likelyhood, the Yan would be emboldened by their greater numbers, not seeing the bulk of our forces hidden in the fog and hills, and I must agree with the black general, Song"
cont
>>
>>4547822

"Yes, yes, I see the wisdom of your words" Song says, nodding as he moves his cavalry along the walls of the pass "So I shall employee the Rushing Landslide, and come upon them with brutal haste, crashing into their lines as they retreat, however, with if we place marksmen upon the backs of the horses, behind the riders"

Song grabs a dainty carved rifle and places it upon the base of one of the horse figurines to visualize the new formation he suggests.

"One rider, and one gunner?" Yin lei asks, sounding amazed by the idea, his storm grey eyes almost as bright as the oil fires burning by the table "If they're the same stock as the horse Lieren rides, then that should be entirely possible'

"Of course, The Lai produce the strongest steeds upon Shangrala, they are our pride, black general" Lai song says with a cocky grin, raising a toast to his long time rival who returns the gesture "But, allowing the marksman to aim without having to worry of controlling the horse beneath him, will improve his accuracy, would it not?"

Lai song glances to you for confirmation. You nod after thinking over the tactic for a moment, it would be quite effective.

"We would need to train the horses before hand, to inure them to the sound of rifle fire" You explain, leaning closer to the table to make some adjustments in the Vanguard of your forces, forming a tight half circle with them, thus giving them a further range of vision and thus a wider shooting area.

"I find myself fortunate to have never faced the Lord of Cavalry upon the battlefield" Yin lei chuckles, before taking a short sip of that fish gut liquor, having become fond of its bitter taste after you introduced it to lands beyond the fishing village that produces it, apparently its now referred to as Dragon's spit, as the village has become known as Dragon's end.

"Perhaps I would not be undefeated if I fought against your riders, Song" the black general continues, setting his drink down upon the edge of the silk map "Together, as I have said before, we will be night unstoppable, unity is a greater strength than any army after all"

"Indeed, indeed" You mutter, rubbing your chin "We have made quite the efficient snare together, but we should move onto another scenario, I can think of no way to further improve this strategem "

"Path be praised" Song says, setting down his own drink, wiping his nose between four of his fingers before he begins to wipe clean the map, only giving Yin Lei enough time to copy the troop placements "So what is the next puzzle we must solve"

"I would suggest mountain fighting, or battling uphill" The black general says, gathering handfulls of stone and casting them upon the now blank map "The lands of Yan are broken by such obstacles, we would do well to devise a method to strike into them efficiently and quickly"
cont
>>
>>4547824

"Reminds me of how I removed the Tao from power" You muse, moving a few stones to replicate a mountain more realistically upon the map "A pitched battle is not necessary, a small force can suffice in such a endeavor, if we mean to remove a threat"

"But some paths only run through mountains, it'd be best to be prepared, an army may retreat to the hills and mountains, it'd be wise to not leave them to regroup in the safety the mountain provides " Yin lei argues, and you nod in agreement

"Of course, of course, I was merely speaking of how to take a castle, not to defeat any army" You explain, placing a hand upon the map as Lai song moves a few of his horse figures on the map, and places artillery behind them. Does he mean to show using horses to more efficiently transport your artillery during a battle? rather than leaving them at one position until the battle ends? You had pondered on using horses to reposition your cannons during battle, but did not think a member of the Lai would be willing to use their horses for such an endeavor.

"Now, I think we should not force an army to march up a mountain, but rather bring the mountain down upon our enemies" He explains as a wide, mirthful smile spreads over your face, that is what he is suggesting, he has earned his reputation as a genius general "Let us use the army as a distraction, so they move into their graves, and then, with teams of war horses, move our artillery after an opening salvo to keep our enemies from trying to break out of their cage, and place them upon nearby peaks to"

He dashes his hand over the pile of rocks.

"Shatter the one they hide beneath, and burry them in a wave of stone and dirt" He says as the black general visibly stiffens, looking somewhat horrified at the idea.

"We could also use the same horses to give our heavier weapons more mobility" You say, to move away from the line of strategizing that is clearly unnerving the black general, Lai song nods, as Yin lei reaches for his drink with a shaking hand, a haunted look in his eyes.
-
Seasons pass before you can find a time to rest and relax again, the continued construction of fortifications have been left in the hands of trusted men as you ride back to your home of Nothing. to spend some time among those who you consider your family and closest friends, without having to worry about the war effort. You have entered the seventh year of your life, and by your calculations, after the eighth winter you'll endure, the Yan will attack in spring. It is currently autumn of your seventh year, so you have a season left to prepare.

You can be allowed this small piece of leisure, to relax your mind and rest your body for a few days. The generals learning under Yin lei and Lai song have proven themselves skilled tacticians in the mock battles they've fought, and with Shan and Dandan's aid you have more than enough firearms and resources to supply your army.
cont
>>
>>4547825

Which grows by the day, as young men and brave souls volunteer to join the effort to bring prosperity to the further lands of Yan.

How do you spend your free time, Lieren
> take your father to see sights outside of nothing and spend time with him alone
> Gather your childhood friends and go hunting panthers for a few days
> Hold a wrestling tournament between your guards, for fun rather than any prize.
> Discuss philosophy with Guozhi, Shan and any other who wishes to join in the talk
> write in
>>
>>4547828
>> Hold a wrestling tournament between your guards, for fun rather than any prize.
>> Discuss philosophy with Guozhi, Shan and any other who wishes to join in the talk
>>Take up some artistic hobby like carving or painting as a part of meditation
>>
>>4547828
>> take your father to see sights outside of nothing and spend time with him alone
>>
>>4547828
> take your father to see sights outside of nothing and spend time with him alone
He's already lived a long, hard life.
May as well live like it's the good old days before shit hits the fan.
>>
>>4547828
> Discuss philosophy with Guozhi, Shan and any other who wishes to join in the talk
> take your father to see sights outside of nothing and spend time with him alone
> Hold a wrestling tournament between your guards, for fun rather than any prize.
>>
>>4547828
> take your father to see sights outside of nothing and spend time with him alone
> Gather your childhood friends and go hunting panthers for a few days
> Hold a wrestling tournament between your guards, for fun rather than
I feel we should spend some time with out father before we leave, and our close friends. Would be good to get to know everyone better considering they'll probably be some of the closest ones to us once we leave the planet.
>>
>>4547828
>> take your father to see sights outside of nothing and spend time with him alone
>>
>>4547828
>> take your father to see sights outside of nothing and spend time with him alone
>>
>>4547828
> take your father to see sights outside of nothing and spend time with him alone
>>
>>4547828
>take your father to see sights outside of nothing and spend time with him alone
>>
> take your father to see sights outside of nothing and spend time with him alone
>>
>>4547933
Actually, you know what, let's go for all four. We have a full season before the assault arrives which gives us three months and change. Let's go with:
> Discuss philosophy with Guozhi, Shan and any other who wishes to join in the talk for a week.
> take your father to see sights outside of nothing and spend time with him alone for two months
> Hold a week long wrestling tournament between your guards, for fun rather than any prize.
> Gather your childhood friends and go hunting panthers for a few days
>>
>>4547525
Based Leviathanchad
>>
>>4547828
>> take your father to see sights outside of nothing and spend time with him alone
He is old. He may not even live long enough for us to meet Big E. Spend time our foster parent, as the one who holds such a position for a primarch is as close to them as any mortal can be.
Also, ask him what he thinks of us being from the "primarch" people.
>>
calling the vote now

Wrestling contest:4
Philosophy discussion:3
Take up an artistic hobby:1
Father and son bonding trip:10

Alright, So Lieren will take his elderly father to see the sights beyond the village he has spent his life living in. What wonders Wenyan's eyes see as he travels alongside his second son?

Writing the update now
>>
But, you decided to spend the time you have free, with your adoptive father. Wise and honorable Wenyan. You have not been the best son, this is true. Your focus and time have nearly been entirely devoted towards the efforts of spreading prosperity to all corners of the land and ensuring that all men will want for nothing, fear no hunger, or cold, or even sickness. Compared to your great labor and lifetime of efforts in bettering the lands under the late Gao and preparing for his downfall and the storm that would follow it, you have barely spent any time with your venerable father. How shameful, it was simply shameful. It was exactly because of your lack of filial piety, that you decided to give your father the greatest gift you can imagine.

For Wenyan of Nothing is but a humble farmer in truth, as you yourself are but a mere hunter forced into greatness for the betterment of your neighbors and fellow men. He would turn away any wealth of gems and gold, set aside a well carved figurine of jade for a warm meal to share with his neighbors. He is a kind man, a gentle man. Who has never wished for anything besides shelter from the cruel winds of winter and filling meals. Simple in desires, but great in his wisdom. Without your father, you would have remained a savage in the woods, instead of the philosopher, the administrator, the warrior you haven risen to become. Without Wenyan, the lands would still be starving and the villages would still sit alone to face the cruelty of winter and tragedy of famine.

That is why the gift you shall give unto him, is no petty trinket, no title or power, no increase in standing or flagrant show of wealth to praise him and show all his virtue. It is no song, or play, or statue raised to show the respect and love you feel for the man. But rather, a simple journey of father and son alone. To take the farmer who has only ventured out from his home village once, when it had been rent asunder by your birth, and show him the lands his small act of generosity and kindness had made into the finest Jade. The waves of prosperity created by the ripples of welcoming you into his home, into his family as his second son.

Wenyan, with his own eyes, would see the plenty his son had brought beyond the walls of his home. See the greatness that had been made, from the teachings and wisdom he passed onto his child. You may have only been his second son, and never met your trueborn brother before he met his tragic end on the eve of your waking, but you would show Wenyan how much he meant to you, as a father, as a friend.

All the good you had done, you would present to him, as repayment for the many small acts of kindness he had shown you when you were young and could not even speak for yourself. Lieren may have been the architect of the prosperity shared by all upon this land, and the road that connected them together as once. But Wenyan was the cause and inspiration. You would honor him, as father and guide, as he deserved.
Cont
>>
>>4548148

And make up for not being able to remain at home and his side as often as you wished you could. Walking into your home, Jinhai and Zian bow, clasping their hands together, dressed casually in uniforms of silk, unadorned and undyed. As pure as their souls. Your father merely war a coat of panther fur, to keep himself warm by the fire. He sat, tending to the flames, a smile upon his withered face, his beard hanging into his lap as he hummed an old farming song.

"Ah my son, you've come to visit me, despite being as busy as ever" He said, noticing your approach and looking up, joy and love flowing from his expression like the warmth of the fire before him "I am glad you remember your father, despite rising so high, and having so many obligations to fulfill to the land and its people"

"You are my father" You say, kneeling across the fire pit from him, returning his bright smile, and setting your worn hands upon your lap as you spoke to him "I could not call myself great, wise, or knowledgeable if I did not care for you, I would not even be able to consider myself a man"

"Humble as ever, Lieren" He says, prodding the embers a few more times with the iron rod you had gotten him, to keep him from burning his hands using a long stick as a poker to keep his fire "You still remember when the only part of the world that knew of you, were a handful of starving farmers and poor workers. But now, haha, you've thrown the realm into a storm, out of the kindness of your heart. How many farmers can claim they broke generations of tradition simply because it disgusted them"

"I am only following the lessons you taught me in my first season among men" You say, staring into the fire, smiling still as you enjoy the warmth of not only the flames by the company of your father "Without you, honored father, I would not have gone as far as I have, and may have found a different path"

"Oh oh, you give me much too much credit my son, an old man can only teach so much, even if I was cold in the ground when you arrived, you would have still done all these great things you have accomplished" He says, raising a bowl of stew made from a fat two year old fowl and radish shavings along with a thick porridge of rice, as if he was toasting to you with it "All I did was welcome you into my home, as my own son, you are great by your own deeds, Lieren"

"And that taught me much, when I was so young. The first lessons taught to a hound linger the longest, they say" You say, reaching into a small smack of mushrooms the village children had gathered for you as a gift, offering them to your father, as he has quite a taste for the local fungi. Mostly because they turn his stews and broths gelatinous, which makes it easier for him to eat.

"Tch, calling yourself a hound when you have slain dragons" Father laughs happily, shaking his head as his joy brings warmth to your heart that spreads throughout your body like a gentle flame "And avenged all who they have murdered"
cont
>>
>>4548149

"Your first son" You say solemnly, a feeling of sorrow washing away the happiness that had washed over you, pressing a fist against your lips and closing your eyes to show respect to the brother you never knew.

"And his wife, and mine" Wenyan says sadly, still mourning his family after eight years of them being gone. He would miss them to the day of his death. If only you had the power to return the dead to life, but alas, no man upon heaven or earth held such a gift. Wenyan did not often talk of his lost family, and you did not often ask about them. Do so would merely reopen old wounds that were best left to heal and mend.

For a few moments, you remain in silence, reflecting upon the past and all that you have done and seen that has led you to where you sit today, on the cusp of war. Before your father clears his throat, and you open your eyes, worried he has fallen ill or weak and needs your assistance. And just see him chuckling at your worry.

"Worried I'm dying, son?" He asks, still laughing to himself, shaking his head and dropping a handful of torn mushrooms into his bowl of stew "I was just trying to get your attention, you tend to go into trances when you're thinking too hard"

"That scared me" You admit, chuckling yourself as he stirs his stew, body shaking with laughter over his harmless prank

"Wenyan, the only man to make the Giant of Nothing feel fear" The old man that is your father cackle, eyes squinted as he taps his wooden spoon against his clay bowl, which for some reason you find hilarious and join his laughter with your own boisterous brand of it, shaking the house as the two of you laugh at a stupid prank together, forgetting the painful past to move forward, as you have always done.

"Ah father, you always know how to brighten a room and day" You say happily, struggling to keep yourself from laughing further, as your father continues to break up his now gelatinous bowl of soup "Your company, above all others, I cherish"

"And the same for you, Lieren, you always have interesting things to say and knowledge to share" Wenyan says, taking a spoon full of stew to his lips, and sucking it down "But, you always have some work your must do, some duty to follow, I should not keep you long, when there are others who can benefit from your wise gaze and benevolent hands, my son"

"There is no work for me to complete, at the present" You say with a smile "And I intend to give you a gift father, not to leave your side once more"

"Oh, a gift? that is a rarity" your father replies happily, setting his bowl of stew down to cool and harden, as he preferred its texture after it had time to solidify further "But you shouldn't waste your time on an old farmer"

"As I've said, there are no duties that demand my attention, nor any obligations that I must see to" You say kindly, smiling brightly and wagging your finger in the air "And even if there were, time spent in your company is never wasted, father"
cont
>>
>>4548151

Wenyan ran his hands over his beard, brushing it roughly and nodding with understanding.


"If you truly have no labor or task with which requires your attention, than there is no harm done keeping the company of an old man" Wenyan laughs, still running his fingers through his long grey beard, eyes merry and joyful "What a rarity, but not as rare as a gift, are you going to make me guess what it is?"

"Oh there's no need for such game, I am giving it to you now, the second part of it is to follow" You explain, moving to stand.

"Ah you mean to keep me company, but, not in Nothing?" He asks, quick and clever even in his old age, you nod.

"Yes, I wish to show you, the sights and beauty beyond the walls of nothing, the prosperity and comfort I have brought to our neighbors" You say, waving one of your arms flat through the air, to emphasize your words as you spoke them "You have only left home once, to flee it, let your son show you the world, in a far better light than you have seen it, allow me to walk with you down the road I have built by my own hands, and show you the villages who owe their life to its construction"

Wenyan takes a sip of his jiggling soup, nodding slightly as you spoke.

"Let me take you on a journey, a travel, through the lands" You say, clapping your hands together as your father continue eating his thick stew "So your eyes, in their autumn years, may see the grandeur of the world, the beauty of it, the magnificent sights and views, please father, allow me to give this gift unto you. The gift of seeing the world bettered by your son's hands"


You hold your hands out to him, standing above him, as he calmly eats his stew.

"I am content with seeing Nothing until the day I die" He explains, pushing a bone in his bowl around with the back of his spoon "But a father should no refuse a gift handed to him by his son, let me pack, and we shall take our leave, how long shall we be gone from here?"

"Well into winter, be sure to dress yourself heavily in furs and keep some stones to heat and place in your pockets" You say, moving to help your father collect his things

"Bah, such a long walk" He groaned, stretching his back and arms

"Ah, I will not make you walk, honored father" You say kindly as he gives you and odd look
-

"I think this creature wants to feast upon my flesh, Lieren" Your father says, sitting upon the back of Cui Fu's battle hungry horse, who barely seems to notice his presence "I have seen no horse like this before"

"Oh he is an old warrior, who only desires the rush of battle, do not fear him, for he feeds on grain and discarded peels of vegtables, not living flesh" You laugh, patting the mighty beast on its clay colored flank as Wenyan shoots you a worried look.

"Rush of battle? just what breed of horse is this?" He asks, looking uneasy as the stubborn horse looks you in the eye as if to ask what is the small creature upon its back.
cont
>>
>>4548152

"A very well bred horse" You explain, not wanting to mention his breed is none as a Cui Warmonger, it would only upset your father's weak constitution with stress, after all "One of the finest breeds kept by the Lai themselves"

"Why do I feel you are hiding something from me?" Father asks as you grab ahold of the horse's new reigns and lead it along down the road

"Nothing important, do not worry my father, ease your worries, release your stress and calm your nerves" You laugh as the two of you begin down the long winding road of white stone "This is supposed to be a happy journey"

"And where do we intend to go?" He asks, nervously shifting upon the saddle he is sat upon, seeming to not want to look upon the head of his steed.

"Many places, but we shall end in the city where you met Lord Gao himself, so you may see how it has changed" You explain as your father sighs.

"Aaaah, is it really okay to travel with just the two of us? When I was a boy I was told not to wander" Wenyan asks, glancing back to the walls of Nothing, as they are soon swallowed by the ever present fog.

"I am by your side, as is my weapon" You say, using your Guandao as a walking stick, keeping a nice, steady pace as you walk along, enjoying the autumn air upon your skin "But you could even travel alone, so safe I have made these roads"

"Hah, only because no panther would want meat as tough as mine, har" Wenyan says, trying to increase his own confidence by mocking himself "This is the furthest I've wandered alone"

"You are not alone, I am by your side, and is it not good for a father and son to spend some time alone, to discuss the world and future?" You say, presenting a question as you raise your Guandao into the air, turning to look at your father.

"I suppose it is, but we'll pick up some of the Dragon's spit drink in the next village we pass" He orders, nodding his head as he holds onto the reigns of his forced steed so tightly his knuckles turn white as bleached bone "To calm the nerves, of course"

"Of course" You say happily, nodding as you continue on, smiling to the world and all within it
-

And so you traveled with your father, showing him the sights yet unseen to his eyes, flowing rivers of wild waters, flowering trees heavy with fruit, people from far corners of the lands, speaking your praises and offering wonderous gifts to you and your father. Every sight seems to surprise Wenyan further and bring more joy to his eyes as the two of your journey down the road, simply and steadily, taking in the sights the world offers as fully as you can together.

Though he does not venture up the mountains, and refuse to even entertain the thought, fearing them as the home of "Devils and monsters alike" and saying no more on the subject.
cont
>>
>>4548153

But you do convince him to join you upon a fishing boat, despite his distrust of the vessel, even if he spends the first of the few hours you spend upon the river clinging to the sturdiest piece of the boat he can find.

And it turns out Wenyan enjoys the taste of dried fish along with that liquor brewed from their guts. Even if he does drink a little heavier than you feel comfortable allowing, but for a man as old as your father you would allow half a glass at most, muddled with fruit and its juices. So he truly isn't indulging too heavily, merely having a glass with a meal of dried fish when he can, not every day even.

But he does make it difficult, in that he refuses to drink water after her partakes in alcohol. The hangovers he suffers somewhat slows your journey to the heartland of the Gao.

"So you slew a dragon here?" Wenyan asks, swaying in his seat, humming a fishing song he had been taught, as you walk over the raised path you built through the Toad Dragon's lair "it seems so peaceful, unbefitting to be a monster's home"

"It used to be a marsh, covered in bones and pools of bile, with the dreadful beast making a nest for itself not far from here" You explain "Hah, hardest battle I've ever had, its left its mark upon my shoulder, with its foul claws, though the scar has began to fade"

"Is that why you stopped wearing your fur coat for so long? Didn't want to show off your badges of honor gained in battle?" Your father teases you gently.

"Needed to keep up appearances" You say, touching on your shoulder, remember the acrid scent of the creature and the burn of its breath and stomach acids "don't have to worry about such things anymore...a bit further is the resting place of those warriors who faced it before, and met their ends doing battle with it"

"Ah, shall we pay our respects then?" Wenyan asks, sitting up straight, trying to look through fog, aided by the light of the fires guiding the great road's path "Not like we are in any hurry, my son"

"I was planning to" You say with a nod "You may join me if you wish"

"Ah, I do wish to do so" Father replies, claping his hands together "I have heard stories, from your friends back home, of your battle with this magical beast...could you tell the truth of it, so an old man may meet his end knowing what really occurred in this lonely valley, between mountains and rivers?"

"Oh don't speak so grimly, honored father, and I would be overjoyed to" You say with a genial smile and boisterous chuckle "Let me guess who has been telling you outlandish stories, Jiang, Xin, or fat chen"

"And Feng" Father chuckles "He loves telling stories of your adventures"

"Ah of course, Feng, he wishes he could've stood by my side that day" You laugh as Wenyan looks at you with a gentle warmth in his eyes
cont
>>
>>4548154

"All of them do, you're their brother, your guards have told me as well, how they dream, dream of having stood by your side for that night" Wenyan says, pressing a fist to his chest, with a serious look in his eyes "How they have dreamt of near nothing else, but facing that terrible beast alongside you, they desire to stay by your side even in the face of the worse dangers Shangrala has birthed"

"I know" You say, bowing your head and grinning proudly "they are loyal friends, all of them"

"Few are so lucky to have such friendship" Wenyan says, reaching up to pat the bottom of your shoulder, as high as he can reach upon the great horse he rides upon "But let us pay our respects, to those who came before you"

"Yes, let us" You say, nodding and agreeing with your father as you lead him to the tomb you had made for those warriors ancient and brave
-

"Hmm, the air doesn't smell rotten, as it did the last time I had come here, before you came to me" Wenyan says, a look of dread upon his face at being made to approach the city where he had lost his hope for living, before he had met you, before you have saved him and the rest of your kin "It is unbelievable, that Gao could fall so easily, with out leaving some foul stench upon the earth"

Possibly because you, with the permission of his eldest living son, burned his body upon returning to the city, after capturing Zhou.

"THE GIANT! THE GIANT RETURNS!" A little girl cries out, with some yellow dye painted under her eyes, mimicking your own eyes. Flowers are woven into her chestnut hair as she points at you and your father "He's come to visit us! Lieren! benevolent Lieren! The Hero of the land!"

And like that the city comes alive, and a crowd forms around you and your father who looks flabbergasted by the sight, of a horde of young men, women and children, with pollen and oil mixed together and smeared beneath their eyes, rushing to try and catch a glimpse of you.

"Ah, you're a greater man than I realized" your father mutters, as he sees how deeply you have affected the land and the people who live upon it, once again "if only my first son was still alive to see such a beautiful sight, I mourn that he did not live to see the changes his little brother has brought upon these lands"

You lower your head, mourning the brother you never knew once again. But this is not time to be glum! you brought your father to this city as a gift, so he can enjoy himself and be merry, not so he can reflect on the painful past.
cont
>>
>>4548155

What do you show Wenyan in the city, Lieren?
> A play about the story of your arrival, spawned from your declaration of coming from the stars to Gao
> Simply walk through the streets with him, showing him the flowers that grow here and regional dishes of food
> Take him to the abandoned palace of Gao, and show him where he died. He may find some peace this way
> Cleverly get the crowd to praise your father, by doing so yourself, to show him how his small act of kindness has wrought such a great change
> Write in
>>
>>4548155
>> Simply walk through the streets with him, showing him the flowers that grow here and regional dishes of food
>> Take him to the abandoned palace of Gao, and show him where he died. He may find some peace this way
>>
>>4548156
> Simply walk through the streets with him, showing him the flowers that grow here and regional dishes of food
> Ask if he happens to have any acquaintances in the area who wouldn't mind a visit
I fear bringing him into the palace would do nothing but stir up bad memories for the both of us.
What's done is done with Gao, no need to dwell on it any further. Especially not in the middle of a trip with pops.
>>
>>4548156
>Cleverly get the crowd to praise our father
>Simply walk the streets
>Take him to watch a play, spawned of our speech.

I admit the last one is because I just really want to see what people took from that speech, but a bit of theatre could be good for unwinding after a long travel.

I also think we should avoid the palace. Yins manic child energy was the only person who could enjoy the palace, for the gift we left him.
>>
>>4548156
> Simply walk through the streets with him, showing him the flowers that grow here and regional dishes of food
> Cleverly get the crowd to praise your father, by doing so yourself, to show him how his small act of kindness has wrought such a great change
>>
>> Simply walk through the streets with him, showing him the flowers that grow here and regional dishes of food
>> Take him to the abandoned palace of Gao, and show him where he died. He may find some peace this way
>>
>>4548166
support
>>
>>4548156
>Simply walk through the streets with him, showing him the flowers that grow here and regional dishes of food
Wenyan is a simple man, he doesn't need to visit the gao palace or anything to feel peace...seeing the people healthy is more than enough.
>>
>>4548156
>> A play about the story of your arrival, spawned from your declaration of coming from the stars to Gao
>>
>>4548166
Backing this
>>
>>4548166
Supporting
>>
>Cleverly get the crowd to praise our father
>Simply walk the streets
>Take him to watch a play, spawned of our speech.
>>
>>4548280
Thought about it, add:
>If he seems troubled in some way when we go near the palace or requests to see where Gao died for some peace, take him there.
>>
>>4548155
First
> Cleverly get the crowd to praise your father, by doing so yourself, to show him how his small act of kindness has wrought such a great change
Then
> Take him to the abandoned palace of Gao, and show him where he died. He may find some peace this way
Finally
> Simply walk through the streets with him, showing him the flowers that grow here and regional dishes of food
and maybe if he feels like it
> A play about the story of your arrival, spawned from your declaration of coming from the stars to Gao
>>
>>4548225
>>4548156
far better this one i think. also wrap it up faster so we can get to something more important, like perhaps going for a village elders councils to better tie the villagers together and make them less at the mercy of cities.

Something that we could use Wanyan for perhaps.
>>
>>4548156
> Simply walk through the streets with him, showing him the flowers that grow here and regional dishes of food
> Cleverly get the crowd to praise your father, by doing so yourself, to show him how his small act of kindness has wrought such a great change
>>
>>4548156
>> A play about the story of your arrival, spawned from your declaration of coming from the stars to Gao
>> Simply walk through the streets with him, showing him the flowers that grow here and regional dishes of food
>> Take him to the abandoned palace of Gao, and show him where he died. He may find some peace this way

These three look fine to do in any order.

My gut is telling me not to choose the last one though. I don't know why.
>>
>>4548596
Because our father is of weak constituion and you are asking him to go back to where his will to live was utterly, and almost irrevocably crushed, along with a potent mix of terror and fear for his life and the life of his peoples?

that why?
>>
>>4548156
>> Simply walk through the streets with him, showing him the flowers that grow here and regional dishes of food
> Cleverly get the crowd to praise your father, by doing so yourself, to show him how his small act of kindness has wrought such a great change
> A play about the story of your arrival, spawned from your declaration of coming from the stars to Gao
>>
>>4548156
> Simply walk through the streets with him, showing him the flowers that grow here and regional dishes of food
> Take him to the abandoned palace of Gao, and show him where he died. He may find some peace this way
>>
>>4548680
That explains some of it, but not all.
>>
calling the vote now. Sorry for the wait

Walk through the streets: 15
Show him where Gao died:5
Ask if he has any acquaintances in the area : 1
Get the crowd to praise your father:9
Take him to the play:9

Alright, so Lieren will walk through the streets with his father, showing him flowers and regional cuisine, as well as getting the admiring crowd to praise Wenyan and then taking him to see a play

Writing the update now,
>>
"If only" You echo sadly, before straightening your posture and standing tall and proud once more, clasping your hands together and bowing quickly to the crowd, before humbly requesting "Please, I understand your excitement, but could you give me and my father some space? He is not used to crowds and I am trying to show him how the city has changed"

The crowd freezes, some of the younger children clearly not understanding how someone couldn't be used to crowds, having been raised in an environment that held so many other people, unlike your father who has rarely traveled outside of Nothing and rarely greeted visitors and travelers after you had connected Nothing and many other villages to the wider world. But there parents or siblings do understand, and with hurried apologizes and bows, they lead the children away.

Some of the youths try to fight back to stay by you, crying things like "I want to see the giant" "but you said we had to thank him if we saw him" or the ever amusing "He's a giant! the giant is a giant!". Which elicits a burst of laughter from your aged father, who repeats the phrase "The giant is a giant" as the crowd disperse, shaking his head as his body shakes with every laugh that passes his lips.

"Hah, children do say the most amusing things" He says, after having time to let his laughter run its course, as the two of you walk down the paved streets and alleys of the city, drawing staring eyes and curious followers wherever you go, but they keep their distance from you and your father "Quite a lively place isn't it?"

You stop, as your father pauses to look around at the various shops and stands surrounding the path the two of you are walking down. Flowers with petals of orange, red and yellow line the way, being allowed to grown upon the walls of the buildings, seemingly kept alive in the heart of winter by the heat of such a lively city, and the fires lighting its paths.

"It is indeed" You say with a nod "much more cheerful than the first time I visited it, seems they have taken to growing flowers in the city itself, nowadays"

"How do they keep them blooming in the winter?" Wenyan asks, brushing his hand over a flower petal a little larger than his hand "And so healthily as well"

"These are a hardy breed of flower, that can endure winter so long as they are kept out of harsh cold" You explain, motioning to a brazier of flame, lit with resin covered wood like the many watchtowers lining the road that rand through the lands "There seems to be an effort to keep them alive, to bring some color to the city"

"Interesting, interesting" You father mutters, running his hand through his beard as he nods "We will have to get a few seeds of these flowers, I'd enjoy their color back in nothing, the winter always feels sorrowful and colorless, joyless. They'd brighten up the village"
cont
>>
>>4549092

"I will see about collecting a variety of samples, so we can have a nice collection of colors back at our home" You say with a nod, before catching the eye of another exotic flower up ahead, planted in a clay pitcher, with a sunburst of white in its inner petals, while the outer turn a deep shade of blue "Ah father, come look at this flower, is it now also lovely?"

"A different kind?" You father asks as you nod

"Perhaps a close relative of the others, considering that it is also in bloom" You say as your father looks over the flower

"What a curious flower, never seen such a vivid blue in nature before" He says, sounding impressed by the simple beauty of nature, leaning closer to get a better look at it "I wonder if we can get a few seeds of this one as well"

"I will remember to inquire for a pouch of them" You say happily, before the scent of bubbling oil and cooking meet reaches your nose, putting you on alert, worrying perhaps an execution was being carried out, before the aroma of hot peppers and sour seeds follows closely behind the scent.

"What is that smell?" your father asks, looking annoyed that his admiring of the flower has been interrupted by a strong smell "Is someone cooking? Why does it smell so...burning?"

"Its the regional taste, the people in and around this city have a taste for strong flavors and spice, mostly the numbing kind, the heating kind and the sour kind" You explain as you pick apart the scent, and figure out that is pork is being cooked along with a light batter, that you would guess was made from rice flour "Would you like to try some of it"

"Hah, as the saying goes, when a guest in a home, eat as the owners do" Wenyan says excitedly as he tries to get Cui fu's horse to move onwards, but the beast is more interested in the flowers growing itself, as they must present a more appetizing meal to it than grass and grain.

The flowers crawling along the walls begin to shift to shades and hues of blue, as you lead your father and the horse he rides upon over towards the smell of cooking food. Must be an effort to get a variety of this hardy winter bloom to turn to the azure you once wore, but it makes for quite the beautiful sight nonetheless.

After a few short minutes of walking, you manage to find the stall frying up the fragrant pork that had so intrigued your father. A man with a clean shaven face, and his black hair tied into a tight bun sits over an open kitchen, moving a large steel pan back and forth, reddish orange oil jostling inside of it, with at least a dozen cuts of swine sit cooking inside of it. You can also make out pepper seeds and skins within the oil, clinging and being caught in the sticky batter as it fries quickly.
cont
>>
>>4549095

The cook does not notice you or your father's approach, as he adds shavings of ginger to the oil, whistling the tune of "Benevolence in azure and plum" as he grabs a bottle of plum juice and begins to toss spoonful's of it upon the oil, agitating it as he moves the pork cutlets around with trained ease.

He pauses when your shadow falls upon him, and he nearly splashes you with the scalding oil as he jumps from his seat in surprise.

During this bit of chaos, your father merely sits upon the horse, enjoying the fragrant scents coming from the cooking stand, a look of amazement on his face and youthful joy in his eyes.

"The..the" The man stammers, looking up at you as if you'll suddenly blow away on the wind "lord Lieren, you..have you truly have come to bring your patronage to my humble stall?"

"Yes, yes, my father wanted to try some of the local flavor" You say, slouching to appear less intimidating, motioning to your father "So I figured I'd partake as well, though I will admit to being somewhat ignorant of this dish you serve, so if you could serve us what you believe to be its most delicious variation, as I've noticed you have quite a few ingredients hanging in this stall of yours"

He stares at you for a few more moments, before realizing you had requested an order of his finest meal and just nodded in silence, grabbing a steamed bun and splitting it with his hands, before gathering a spoonful of the oil the meat soaked in and dripping it inside. Then he grabbed a handful of fermented vegetables, squirting a slice fruit over them before setting them inside of the bun, before finally adding the pork, still glistening with oil and its skin cracking as he gathered the two buns in a bowl.

You didn't like the smell of it personally, strong flavors remind you too much of Gao and his ilk, but, well it wasn't so extravagant, even if its components could be put to better use. The dried peppers would make for an excellent ingredient to a health supplement, after all, and the fermented vegetables could be a meal on their own.

Helping your father off of his horse, you walk with him to wooden bench not far from the stall, the amazed cook watching you all the while as he begins to make another dish.

"Why have they covered this pork in rice flour?" your father asks as he wipes his hands, getting ready to start eating "What an odd thing to do, isn't it my son?"

"Its to add texture" You explain, waiting for your father to begin eating before starting yourself "And helps keep the pork moist while frying"

"Its dripping with oil" Wenyan laughs, holding the bun up over his bowl, letting it drip out as he stares at it, almost amused by it "How can men survive on such fare?"

"They impart flavor into oil with spices, I imagine it is meant as more of a celebratory dish" You explain as your father squeezes his pork bun to drain it of more oil "festival fare, like those jars of fermented honey we enjoy back at Nothing"
cont
>>
>>4549097

"I understand by what you meant by it burning, the smell alone makes it feel like I've just stepped away from a fire" Your father continues, turning the bun of pork and fermented vegetables around in his hand "People truly have varying tastes, I cannot imagine any of our kinfolk stomaching such a dish"

"Tastes do indeed vary, like Dragon's spit, only some enjoy its bitter strength" You say, watching your father carefully as he braves a bight of the meal you have got him.

He winces, and beings to chew, a confused look in his eyes, glancing down at the bite he took and inspecting it carefully.

"Its hot, but...not" He says flicking his tongue out "Numbs the mouth and tongue, sour... a little sweet, and very hot"

He takes another, bite, nodding his head and appreciating the flavors soaking into his pork, letting out a panting breath.

"Is this the pepper?' He asks, having never tried it before as you nod, watching him take a third bite, smiling with delight. Seems despite his complaining, this dish is too his tastes

You try it yourself and only feel a tingle upon your tongue, and look up to see that there's now a line at the stall you got these pork buns from. Its certainly is sour, but not very hot to your tastes.

"We need to get some of these peppers for Nothing, they'd make a great snack" Wenyan says, nodding quickly as mucus drips from his nose and tears well up in his eyes "it'd certainly get me back to working in the fields again"

"Calm down father' You laugh, shaking your head "they certainly can make one energetic, but you'd regret that work in the morning"

"It is a bit much, but I like it, what's the occasion for such a treat?" Your father asks,setting the bun back down into bowl, fanning his face with his hand.

It has been a year since Gao has died, and it seems to have become a local festival, but you don't tell your father that. Its too grim to speak, and would only ruin his spirits. But, thankfully, this awkward conversation is interrupted, by children and other festival goers, offering their bowls of pork buns to you like you were some kind of living shrine.

"Lieren is wise! Lieren is kind"
"Your benevolence, your benevolence, my son fell ill, but the medicine your created saved him, I've come to give my thanks"
"Have you come to build another road, or bring us another miracle"
"Liberator Lieren! we are honored you have joined are festival once again"
"Truly there are none under heaven with such wisdom as you, with strength and moral character"
"You bless us with your company"

Wenyan smiles, enjoying the impromptu gathering around you, and while you enjoy the gratitude towards you and the joy your presence brings, you did not come here to be praised, but this admiring crowd could be used for your own ends.
cont
>>
>>4549098

"I am such because of my father, honored Wenyan" You say, putting a hand on your father's shoulder "if it were not for his kindness in raising me, I would not have traveled the lands or built the road that has saved your son"

Taking a breath, you continue on

"I've brought him to this city so he may enjoy this festival himself, for his lessons early in my life made me the man I am today" You say as hundreds of eyes with yellow painted beneath them turn to your father "There would be no Lieren without Wenyan. Wenyan the humble, Wenyan the wise, Wenyan the kind, Wenyan the merry, My father who taught me how to be a man"

Not a lie, as you were closer to a beast before you joined Nothing and mingled with its people.

"Wenyan! father of heroes, teacher of wisemen"
"Oh grandfather, you must truly be wise to make a man such as Lieren"
"I thank you, for showing your son the path that has brought us all such light through the fog"
"You are a good man if your son has turned out so virtuous and kind"
"Honored Wenyan, you have our thanks and praises, you have done the land a great kindness in giving it Lieren"

Wenyan bows his head, a smile on his lips and tears in his eyes.

"Humble as ever, my son" He says, glancing to you as you smile and look away

"You deserve more praise than I myself, it is the truth, your kindness set me down on the path I follow to this day" You reply gently, warmly, hearing your father begin to cry "All of this, is because of your kind soul, father, all of it"

"That's not true, that's not true" He says, shaking his head "Even without Wenyan to guide you, you would have become a great man, my son, a great hero, a wise scholar, I did so little..."

"I do not believe you did, you have done more than you can realize" You say, hugging your father as he is overcome by his joy

"Lieren, Lieren, you must come to see the play" A man wearing a formless hat of wool says, his eyes painted like so many others, with a thin beard sprouting from his chin "Of your arrival upon Shangrala and your deeds"

"Play?" You ask curiously as Wenyan wipes tears from his eyes

"Oh I must see it, I must see it!" you father cries, and with that, you have no choice but to accept.

"I would love to" You say simply, clasping your hands together and bowing your head
-
It was an impressive show, with detailed costumes and instruments and tools used to replicate effects, you had been sat in front of the crowd, along with your father and merchants who paid for the privilege to be sat close to you. With a heavy cloth draped over the grounds in front of the open theater, actors moved into place upon the platform.

Wenyan began to laugh as he saw the representation of Gao, a bugged eyed lunatic moron represented by an actor filling his mouth with seeds and painting his skin a unhealthy shade of red, with his lips puckered outward and a ogreish mask covering the top half of his face.
cont
>>
>>4549099

The actor waddled around, with cushions and pillows sewn into his clothes to simulate Gao's girth. But your father grew silent as the actors playing the people of nothing were admonished and cast out of the court after pleading and begging for mercy and aid. All of the actors were attractive, with only some dirt and makeup to mask their appearances.

"Haaah, bad memories" Your father mutters as the scene changes to a devastated village, actors shivering and wrapped in blankets of straw and reed, huddled together around dying fires. They bemoaned their situation, but did not give into despair, which, was not true before your arrival. Pangs of pain dug into your chest as you recalled that night, seven years before.

In fact it seemed the writer of the play was using this scene to show the virtues presented in the book of the path you wrote, unity, efficiency, and generosity mostly, as the actors moved about, giving what little they had to share with others who had less, and working together in fields of dust and stone. It was, in your opinion, sickeningly sweet, but at least their heart was in the right place.

"When are you going to appear, I'd very much like to leave behind THIS sorrowful tale?" Wenyan asks, leaning close to you as he watches the play with an annoyed expression upon his wrinkled face.

"Can't be much longer, they've already managed to include every core tenant of my philosophy already" You whisper, turning your head towards your father.

"Is that supposed to be Feng?" Wenyan asks, suddenly smiling and chuckling again as a man absolutely covered in scars walks onto the stage, pulling a plow by himself, before gasping and covering his mouth as two feminine looking men walk out bemoaning the situation with familiar long hair "Liang? Jiang?! Oohohoh, now that is amusing"

You struggled to keep from laughing and maintain a straight and dignified expression. Which became a struggle as an imitation Fog panther, controlled by four men with poles, appeared on scene, acting nothing like a fog panther does. With Roars made by blowing loudly into iron tubes and smacking steel tubs, it shook its head around as it walked in an odd dancing motion, nothing like the dignified approach of one of the actual man eaters. At least the fur was right.

"Ahh" your father says, gently tapping your shoulder as the Mock Feng, Liang, and Jiang began fighting the beast with farming equipment, which would be a death sentence for any man "You taught them how to hunt those damnable maneaters, yet you haven't show up yet? Are you in this play at all my son?"

You were no longer certain if you were, but then the words of your impassioned speech towards Gao ran through your mind once more. Born of a star. And raised by Shangrala in the dirt and blood of fog panthers. They had taken it literally.
cont
>>
>>4549101

Sure enough the next scene was the villagers praying over the injured warriors, played by actors older than your friends are today, let alone seven years ago.

"Oooh courts, be merciful, oh heavens be kind, we cannot survive like this" A woman cried, pressing the back of her hand to her forehead dramatically as an old man who may have been meant to be your father fell to his knees, pleading with the crowd. At this point you are covering your eyes from shame

"We suffer beneath the heel of a tyrant" The mock Wenyan says shaking his hands together "the earth we work has turned infertile and brittle, we are beset by beasts of the wilds, and the winter's winds are soon approaching, ooooh who can save us from such poverty, and free us from all this tragedy"

"Oooh, what's this now" your father says curiously, causing you to look up and see the stage lit with bright lights, by reflecting fire lights onto the stage, as five faceless figures dressed in pale white robes gather around a golden star and discuss your characteristics and personality.

"Must be strong, brave and valorous"
"Yet kind, generous and merciful"
"Yet Humble, accepting and understanding"
"And he shall be wise, and knowledgeable in all fields and arts"
"Let no lie besmirch his vision, no trickery cloud his thoughts"

Then in unison they say "Let him free the lands and its people, and bring prosperity to all"

You hang your head and shake it, you'd have to have a talk with the writer of this play if you could track him down. Glancing back up at the stage, you see a small star of dyed fur falling, pulled along by a string, before it gently and inaccurately, lands near the corpse of the Fog Panther, with only so much as a billow of smoke.

And there comes the actor playing you, a man nearly as tall as Cui Fu, wearing a mask with a gentle smile and golden eyes set upon it, with a helmet of iron shaped into the shape of wild and usually unkempt hair, with a costume of white silk with its right sleeve dyed Azure and the left dyed plum.

"Hmm, at least your costume is accurate" Your father teases, running his hand through his beard as a tune you recognize as "Kind golden eyes" plays as the Mock you curiously saunters around the stage, observing the environment and world around him with deep interest and wonder.

What do you do, Lieren?
> Merely watch the play in silence, trying your best not to have an outburst of laughter or groans
> Ask your father if he has any advise to give you, with the coming war
> Heckle the play with your father, so as not to suffer through it
> Close your eyes to plan and calculate the best response to the Yan army's arrival, and where they are likely to arrive from
> write in?

sorry for the long wait
>>
>>4549102
> Merely watch the play in silence, trying your best not to have an outburst of laughter or groans
>>
>>4549102
> Ask your father if he has any advise to give you, with the coming war
> Close your eyes to plan and calculate the best response to the Yan army's arrival, and where they are likely to arrive from

Could be interesting seeing his perspective of war.
>>
> Merely watch the play in silence, trying your best not to have an outburst of laughter or groans

Let's not marr this with discussion of the looming storm, as well as not insult the playmaker. After all, we are seeing what we'll look like in the stories that will spread.
>>
>>4549102
> Merely watch the play in silence, trying your best not to have an outburst of laughter or groans
> Ask your father if he has any advise to give you, with the coming war
A few moments wont deprive us of much military insight. Just spend time with your father. It was just my father's birthday so I want to spend more time with Lieren's
>>
>>4549102
>Be embarrassed
>>
>We will have to get a few seeds of these flowers, I'd enjoy their color back in nothing, the winter always feels sorrowful and colorless, joyless.
Wonder if we’ll actually do something artistic sometime after this.
>>
>>4549095
"Hah, as the saying goes, when a guest in a home, eat as the owners do"
>love it

>>4549106
support
>>4549121
support this as well
>>
>>4549102
> Merely watch the play in silence, trying your best not to have an outburst of laughter or groans
>>
>>4549117
It would sour the mood.
>>
>>4549102
> Heckle the play with your father, so as not to suffer through it
>>
>>4549102
>> Merely watch the play in silence, trying your best not to have an outburst of laughter or groans
We can always ask about his thoughts on war after the play and talking during a play is rude
>>
>>4549102
>> Merely watch the play in silence, trying your best not to have an outburst of laughter or groans
Make sure we let out a giggle or two. Holding in laughter in a time of joy isn't the best of things.
>>
>>4549102
>watch the play
>Feel embarrassed

They tried their best and it is an amusing fiction. So we should not heckle them, we must be better than that
>>
>>4549102
> Merely watch the play in silence, trying your best not to have an outburst of laughter or groans
And feel embarrassed anyway.
>>
Calling the vote now

Merely watch:8
Close your eyes and calculate:1
Ask your father for advise:3
Be embarrassed: 4
Heckle the play:1

Alright, So Lieren will simply watch the play with his father, writing the update now.

>>4549123
>So brother Feng, I must ask, why is there a tradition of gardening among the sons of Lieren?
>Well, you see, long ago...

>>4549132
thanks!
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>>4549228
Malal make that green text canon for this quest please!
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>>4549228
>further feeding into the farmer/janitor/gardener space marine chapter meme
>>
>>4549237
Rake a zen garden full of seeds, then help them bloom. A true master can make each flower bloom in colour from yellow to plum to azure, from the center outwards

Not gonna lie, would be pretty dope tradition for a chief librarian to practice
>>
>>4549228
I can see a large garden being incorporated into our flagship for on the go meditation.
>>
The Mock Lieren continues across the stage, stopping to observe and inspect props, probably in an effort to get across your own inhuman level of perception and eye for detail. Or it could be because the mask's slits are too narrow to be properly see out of. But the music accompaniment is quite pleasing, gentle and attempting to mimic the sound of a gentle winter breeze, wailing gently like a mourning mother. It's a nostalgic song, for you have worked under such music during much of your labors. It brings back pleasing memories, warm memories. Your father is watching with interest now, no longer complaining or mocking the odd choices of the writer.

It is an amusing fiction, but you have never explained to the man who made this play the truth of your birth, and all he heard was that you had been born of a star and nurtured in Shangrala's soil by panther's blood. It's understandable that he'd believe you had merely sprung out of a pool of Panther's blood from star that was a seed, like a flower blossoming in spring. One thing they had captured right, was your serene and calm mannerisms, no movement is wasted or done without purpose. But the actor has managed to also capture the way you move quickly, without seeming energetic or excitable. Which is impressive considering the weight of his costume.

The scene changes, to one of the Mock Feng, Liang and Jiang guarding the Mock Wenyan as he moves through the fields to work. the scene is bright, as they feed the fires to increase the lightening of the open and shaded theater. Along Comes another panther, wounded and bleeding, and then the Mock Lieren appears, dressed regally with a cloak of panther skin. With the head and paws still attached.

How inefficient, that would merely get in the way of your daily work and training. The actor playing your part ends the panther with a quick jab to the throat, which would merely stun such a beast for a few moments which would be enough to slay it cleanly. But you cannot expect a writer to know how to slay a panther, such things would be as foreign to him as catching a bird would be to a fisherman.

"Auspicious greetings, humble workers of the fields" Mock Lieren says as if giving a speech, throwing out his arm and swinging it slowly as you yourself have a habit of doing while speaking to a crowd "From your starved appearance and sorrow filled Miens, it would appear to this hunter that you're conditions are unreasonably poor and your lives fraught with hardships of the most dreadful variety"

Is that what other people think you talk like? not to mention the actor sounds eerily resembling the voice of your guard and friend Small Chen, its actually kind of distracting, though the way he pauses between every other word reminds you a little of Dong, which is also distracting as it makes you imagine the quiet man in the place of the large actor playing your part.
cont
>>
>>4549288

The next scenes show the Mock Lieren leading the men of the village against a supposed king of the fog panthers to make the fields safe to work, the writer once again showing his woeful lack of understanding of the ways and nature of the beasts, as they are not a pack animal nor do they have a social hierarchy outside of their mating season and child rearing phase, as they are solitary hunters of men. But the actors movement is pleasing to watch, if somewhat over dramatic and filled with unnecessary flourishes and ripostes that would leave the attack wide open to have most of the flesh upon their torsos shorn off by curved fangs and claws.

But your father greatly enjoys the battle scene, despite its flaws, and you have to admit it is entertaining. Even though it doesn't at all resemble actual combat or the proper method to hunt Fog Panthers as a group.

But what is truly confusing to you, is that, apparently, slaying this king of panthers, makes the ground fertile again? Not many understand the process of making land useable for farming, or the method of irrigation you used, but its still a somewhat bizarre choice to have the slaying of a mundane beast suddenly turn the ground fertile again and cause rivers of clean water to flow naturally. When you had to dig the streams that now run through Nothing from springs within the forest. They also don't seem to realize that a sustainable harvest didn't come until near your second year, and most of the people living in Nothing subsisted upon Panther Meat.

No, no, crops sprung up where you walked and you were showered with praises for your genius and wisdom in saving the village. Its a nice story for children, but it reflects reality as much as a muddy pond shows your reflection. However, the writer does seem aware of the concept of fertilizer, as there is a short scene of you showing amazed and awed farmers that burying the corpses of panthers in their fields will make them grow more reliably and healthier.

Though you did not waste entire panthers consigning their bodies and life giving proteins and fat into the soil, but its at least somewhat accurate compared to you running your hands through soil and suddenly bringing a field to life through "Heavenly sorcery". Which was a sight that was almost enough to make you chuckle by its utter insanity. Even the chemical fertilizer and vitamin and mineral powders you have introduced to farmers all across the land do not work with such haste and efficiency.

And then Tax collector Ling appears, covered in jewels and fake jade, wearing a pelt of a fog panther as a sash, which would years prior have been a sign of outrageous wealth, but nowadays is common in villages neighboring Nothing. And instead of the suspicion and greed he viewed your achievements and progress with upon your first meeting, he instead shows a barely hidden wonder and completely unhidden greed as he arrives in Nothing.
Cont
>>
>>4549290

And the writer rightly guessed you were restraining yourself and the various brothers of the panthers from simply killing that greedy worm upon first meeting him. There is also a scene of Ling ordering his men to steal furs you were keeping for the young and elderly, and Mock Lieren watching hatefully from the background of the village, crouched like a panther in the hunt.

And the explanation for your mysterious, and inexplicable knowledge, why you merely meditate beneath the moonlight and receive a divine revelation in the form of a vision of you accomplishing tasks with the tool or wisdom you seek to find? that elicits a quiet snicker from you, as it simply too amusing not to laugh at. Luckily no one notices or at least draws attention to this show of disrespect to artwork being preformed before your very eyes.

The following scenes show your travels with Ling, and your disgust and horror at the state the people of the land lived in, including a somber scene of you mourning a grave of an orphaned girl's parents along side her, which gets most of the audience crying and even makes you tear up a little. And another fight scene where you do battle with one of the bandit lords you faced in the beginning of the construction of your great road.

This one seems to be a fusion of several of them, armed with axes like Xiulan was, dressed in sashes of deep crimson silk like Bloody Feng enjoyed, but was a broad shouldered, aged man with a grey beard like Zhu was. Though this scene is much shorter, and ends with your some how decapitating the patchwork bandit lord with a swipe of your hand, mimicking the movements of a Fog Panther.

Perhaps the mock you is supposed to have cut through the man's neck with your nails? No that couldn't be right, you swung a whole Zhang away from him? What happened? Do people believe the ripples through the air your swings create with their sheer force is enough to cut flesh and sever bone? And cut down stalks of bamboo and old trees behind the now headless man?

Still, the effects used for the blood and severed head are interesting, a black cloth tossed over the actors head as a replica of it is tossed into the air with a burst of red dyed water forced through a rubber hose, that could be irrigating a field rather than being used in theater, but that is a minor complaint as it isn't like there aren't many of those to go around.

But the best scene of the play, the most entertaining part of it has to be your recruitment into Gao's service, if only by the bombastic acting of your doppelganger and the False Gao. It seems they were having a contest to see which one could be the most dramatic and incorporate the most flourishes to their movements. The only scene that comes close is your meeting with Jinhai, where you apparently fished him out of a pond like the carps he learned to mimic, you would have to tell him about that scene when you next met him. It was absolutely hilarious.
cont
>>
>>4549291

"I can use this senseless bruuuute for my own gain, to bolster my weaaaaalth and repuuuutation among those foolish peasants who dare complain that they do not eat every daaaay ooooof the weeeek" The Actor playing Gao sings, pinching his beard and rubbing his hands together like caricature of a greedy merchant "And the common maaaan will praise me, instead of mourning their losts sons and Faaathers"

Mock Lieren roars, or rather the stage hands recreate the roar of the Fog Panthers as he turns away from Gao, snarling and hissing like one of the man-eating Felines.

"Ahhhh, my pure heart aches at the mere sight of such a beast, no fouler I have seen" the actor proclaims, cover his eyes "my golden eyes sting from only looking upon his fetid form. Such corruption incarnated, the worst tyrant ever born, I believed the excess of his court to be the worst sin upon Shangrala, but now I know the truth, now I know the face of true depravity"

He "roars" in sorrow and pain again, falling to his knees.

"At last I know my purpose, I cannot stand idle by as such abomination predates the good people of Yan, to allow such a walking travesty of debaucherous depravity to live, I can barely stomach, but this fattened Toad is a useful tool yet" The Mock Lieren says, lashing a finger towards the audience "Under his eyes, beneath his notice, I shall steal his wealth and seal away his power, slay his sinful vassals and bring plenty and prosperity to this land, and turn it to jade, before I claim his head and end his senseless existences"

And with that speech there is a loud and wild cheer, as the scene changes to your finding your guards along the road, one after the other, as you, by yourself, build a great road, with Gao happily watching from a high seat, throwing away bags signed with the image of coins upon them to the Mock Lieren, who now wears a mask with a prideful smirk. Then, after a few scenes of your guards repeating some sayings from the book of philosophy the play ends, as the five actors who played the faceless celestials come onto the stage and explain.

"But the great hunter's story has only began, and greater challenges await him in the future, devils and foul spirits, heartless men and monsters, but as you can see, Benevolent Lieren, the wise Azure Administrator and Great hunter of the wilds sits among us today, so fear not, the bringer of prosperity has conquered these challenges and slew his terrible foes, to become the hero of people you see before you today"

"But that" a thin man dressed in old and plain silk robe says, wagging his finger as he walks unto the stage with a beaming smile "is a story for another time, as the tale of the coming of benevolence has reached its end"

cont
>>
>>4549292

What do you do, before returning to nothing to plan the war effort, Lieren?
> Walk to the stage and congratulate the playwright with your father, and tell him of a few events he missed
> Cheer with the crowd, no doubt making the playwright a famous man with this simple action.
> Humbly suggest some changes, and sit upon the stage sharing your recollection of the events.
> Enjoy the festival, and entertain the gaggle of children that forms around your poetry and jokes
> write in
>>
>>4549293
>Clap/cheer with the crowd
>Once the play is done, ask to speak to the playwright to suggest a few alterations.

Honestly, details autism aside, I don't think Lieren is gonna be against that against the whole story thing, or the dramatisation. He can probably figure out the "immediately sprouting plants" is not to be taken literally.
But that being said, methods/movements to kill a fog panther, some events he missed, clarifying what exactly we had meant when we said born of a star [because that makes for a better scene than 'star falls on corpse, out comes man'] and other assorted minor details would probably be better received.

But also tell him that the play perfectly captured how we met Jinhai. This masterpiece cannot be allowed to be altered.
>>
>>4549295
Oh and
>Entertain the children
How could I forget, Lieren love the little tykes
>>
>>4549295
>>4549300
Supporting both of these.
>>
>>4549293
>Cheer with the crowd, no doubt making the playwright a famous man with this simple action.
It got a few things wrong, but it's just an dramatization in the end. It gets the message right in a way that an medieval peasant is able to understand. Dramatic? Sure, but it's pretty funny and gets the point across. It's a play after all, and not an history book.
>Enjoy the festival, and entertain the gaggle of children that forms around your poetry and jokes
Lieren likes festivals that are run by normal, good peasants.
>>
>>4549295
>>4549300
Supporting. Kind Lieren is best Lieren.
>>
>>4549295
>>4549300

support. This is good for Lieren spirit.
perhaps we can even invest in this man and his group of artists for create a theatre in the city. We could build it where the Gao Palace is currently placed.
>>
>>4549295
>>4549300
Lieren should tell him about the time he snapped a tree with his bare hands as a warning.
>>
>>4549295
Support
>>
>>4549292
>rubbing his hands together like caricature of a greedy merchant
fucking kek

>>4549295
>>4549300
Supporting
>>
>Cheer with the crowd, no doubt making the playwright a famous man with this simple action.
>Ask to speak to the playwright. Congratulate him and give suggestions for the scenes of battle as well as some small moments that could be fitting.
The dramatics are fine, but we should at least advise on making battling fog panthers a bit more accurate so if people get in a dangerous situation they don't try something that won't work. And bring up small moments like >>4549321
>Enjoy the festival, and entertain the gaggle of children that forms around your poetry and jokes
>>
>>4549293
> Humbly suggest some changes, and sit upon the stage sharing your recollection of the events.
It was good for what it is. A few suggestions should be welcome.
> Enjoy the festival, and entertain the gaggle of children that forms around your poetry and jokes
Do you even have to ask?
>>
>>4549384
Maybe even lead with >>4549321 . Sorta "I did notice a few inaccuracies...I did snap a tree in front of Ling to warn him of trying to harm Nothing."
>>
>>4549295
>>4549300
Supporting these
>>
>>4549293
>>4549295
>>4549300
>>4549387
+1
>>
>>4549293
>> Cheer with the crowd, no doubt making the playwright a famous man with this simple action.
> Walk to the stage and congratulate the playwright with your father, and tell him of a few events he missed/ congratulate him on the things he got correct.
>>
>>4549293
>>4549295
Support
>>
>>4549576
I don't think we should point out the flaws in front of a crowd. That'd just be a bit shaming wouldn't it?
>>
>>4549300
>>4549295
>>4549293
Yeah do what this guy says
>>
>>4549696
Yes.
>>
>>4549729
We don't wanna do that either.
>>
calling the vote now, sorry for being late, but thanksgiving happened.

Cheer with the crowd:13
Ask to speak with the playwright:11
enjoy the festival/ Entertain the children: 10
Humbly suggest changes and tell your version of the story:1
Openly congratulate the playwright:1

So Lieren will cheer with the crowd, privately speak to the playwright to suggest some alterations, and finally enjoy the festival and entertain the children that gather around him.

Writing the update now
>>
The troupe of actors line up together, removing this masks or wiping off the makeup covering their features as they step into place along the stage. Then, hand in hand, as wave, the twenty or so actors in partial costume and the playwright, take a humble and low bow together, signaling the end of the show and the closing of the theater for at least some hours to repair their props and clean costumes coated in fake blood and dirt. And as if by signal , the crowd rises to their feet, shouting praises and crying out joyously. Some women are even in tears over the emotional ending of the play, as is your father.

But there is no shame in showing emotions, as long as you have control over them. Slowly, after enjoying the orchestra of shouted voices, you stand up from your seat yourself, unfolding your arms from over and under each other and cupping both hands around your mouth. Taking a deep breath, a silence seems to fall as you stand before the crowd. All are silent, waiting to see how you'll react to the play detailing your birth and applauding the deeds you preformed during your first years upon Shangrala. The air grows heavy and tense with the gathered anticipation of a few hundred men. The actors remained bowed, fearing that you'll lambast and decry their work.

So, when you begin to cheer and shout, heaping praise and congratulations on the production and story, the tension is near instantly lifted and brushed away as if it were never even there to begin with. The Playwright himself sighs, his shoulders sagging with relief as he remains on his knees, with joyful grin upon his lips and pride filling his eyes. But the pure kind of pride, the pride of making something beautiful by working together with others to create it. Like the pride you felt when the great road had finally reached its end, at least until you can extend it into the further lands of the Yan and beyond.

"What a masterful work of art you have created, it brings back the memories of those days as vividly as when I experienced them myself!" You cry out, clapping your hands together once, your words visibly exciting the cast of actors and looking to almost stop the playwright's heart judging from the look upon his face "What a wonderous show, it was exciting and emotional, dramatic and at times even amusing"

You move to sit back down, a broad and merry smile on your face as the crowd resumes cheering, some of them simply repeating the words you spoke, shouting them to show that they share the Giant's refinement and elegance. Your father simply stays silent, as polite and humble as ever, keeping his hands pressed tightly together. Eventually, the raucous cheering fades into silence and the crowd begins to disperse, outside of those seated close to your father and yourself. They remain, hoping that some of your grandeur or wisdom will linger upon them when you leave, like the scent smoke sticking to one's hair when they sit too closely to a fire.
cont
>>
>>4550138

But eventually, you stand from the rows of chairs set in the clearing in the middle of the city, and walk over to the troupe as they begin gathering the various props and tools used for the production, repairing some and cleaning others.

"Father, enjoy the festival on your own for awhile, there is something I want to do by myself, do not indulge to heavily on the local drinks or food, they'll ruin your stomach" You say in a casual tone, looking back over your shoulder to your elderly father, who has wrapped himself tightly in his panther fur coat.

"How motherly of you, my son, but do not worry, I know what is good for my body and what is bad" He laughs back, remaining in his seat with a gentle smile on his lips and joy shining in his eyes "Do what you must, I shall not want for company in your absence"

That's true, even if the city had any danger within its walls, your father would be safe from it, as he is known as your father and there is not a man among the revelers today that would not guard him as if he were there own father. He was safe, and free to enjoy the merry celebration. While you had a short conversation about the play with it's writer.

"Auspicious greetings" You say, mimicking the words of the mock Lieren for your own amusement as you step in front of the troupe. Most of them freeze from the shock of you approaching and speaking to them, other stammer as if disbelieving that you're in fact standing before them, but all of them turn to look at you. And see you clasping your hands together and bowing to them in greeting.

Bending over and slouching your posture, you lean closer to the playwright.

"If I may be so bold as to talk with the author of this masterpiece? I would like to discuss its composition with him, and explain some events of my life in greater detail" You explain gently, with a soft and reassuring voice "And tell of some exciting events that he has not heard off, I think it would help improve the play if he would discuss such things with me, after all a pinch of spice changes the flavor of a meal"

The playwright steps to you, holding out his hand, his legs shaking as he looks up at you, looking as a field mouse looks upon an old and veteran mouser .

"I would be overjoyed to discuss the play and your life with you, Lieren, I am the writer of this work, Pan An" He says placing his hand over his chest "Shall we talk over a bottle of wine? a gift to celebrate the fantastic reception of and thus betterment of my greatest work thus far"

"I may not partake, but I shall not stop you from having a glass or two" You laugh, placing your hand between your two hearts as the man in the plain robe looks at you as a child would when meeting his hero, his hair tied into a loose tail and covered by a shapeless cap of fur "But I am grateful for the offer itself, An"

Patting his back gently like you would an old friend, you follow the man towards his home.
cont
>>
>>4550139

Leaving the rest of the troupe to remain breathless from your sudden appearance and departure
-

"So" Pan An says, his legs kicked up on the small table the two of you are sat around. He swirls a cup of pale pink wine around in a clay cup, the knuckle of his free hand pressed against his chin as he looks at you with a look of utter facination and awe

He sits up straight and properly, remembering his manners as he runs through the information you just told him.

"When you hunt fog panthers, you do not strike them" He says, grasping at the air with three fingers "But rather take them by their neck with one hand, and squeeze the vein beneath their skin and end them like this? by crushing the neck?"

"By cutting off the flow of blood" You say, carefully demonstrating upon the writer himself, careful not to harm him "by pinching their carotid artery, it puts them into a deep sleep and quickly ends their life, however when other men hunt panthers, there is no easy way to slay the panther, to safely hunt a panther you need a group"

"And how do you do that then? it's different from other beasts?" An asks, sipping his wine as you nod

"A panther has such thick fur and tough hide, that they resist most spear blows and arrows, so you must either put all your strength into the strike, sharpen the edge of your weapon's blade, or more wisely" You explain, poking his wrists "Stab into its limbs, keeping it distracted so your fellow hunters can pin it, and then striking for its neck, heart, lungs or other vital organs"

"And to hunt it by yourself?" An asks, setting down his cup as he rests his chin on the back of his fist, leaning closer to you

"Ambush it, strike it from behind, otherwise lead it into a snare. Any other method is foolhardy and dangerous. A Panther's jaws can tear a man's torso from the rest of him, their claws can rip through flesh as easily as our hands pass through sand. And remember, both of these are serrated" You explain as An winces at the mental image, resting your arms on the table as you idly turn your cup of water around in your hand. "Also, there was a mistake in the scene when I left Nothing to travel with him for a time"

"Like how I misunderstood your words when you said you were "born of star" and "raised upon the blood of panthers" An laughs, taking his mistakes and misinterpretations "I thought you grew like a flower from their blood, not that you hatched from an iron egg that fell from the heavens, and you ate Panthers to grow strong"

"Well it was a rather vague statement" You say, with a nod "But it is a more exciting origin than merely springing up from a puff of smoke, is it not"

You laugh and An joins you for a few moments before his expression turns serious again

"So what did I get wrong in that meeting between you and the tax collector" He asks, before taking another sip of his wine
cont
>>
>>4550140

"Well I gave him a threat through a show of my physical might, using the power of my muscles to split an old growth tree upon my knee as any other man would a dry twig" You say, mimicking the motion as An grins widely, obviously imagining the scene upon the stage with his mind's eye "As he had warned me to be wary of bandits attacking my home, a poorly veiled threat to make me come to Gao's corrupt court, and so I demonstrated what would happen to any "Bandit" who dared to harm my kin"

"Not like they could be threatened, Panther killers live in that village" An laughs as you nod

"But men like Gao enjoy sticking their hands into viper's nests, to show that they are inured to its bite" You explain as An nods, writing down a note quickly on a scroll of silk "Also before I forget to, I have to commend and praise you. For your play perfectly captured my meeting with Jinhai, it was as accurate to life as life itself"

You said that without a hint of mirth or amusement, taking a great effort to sound serious as you congratulate An on the accuracy of his work, even making your tone sound a little awed at this accomplishment. Because that scene is a masterpiece you shall not deny to the future generations.

"So, he's truly a son of water, a half spirit born unto a human mother by the lord of rivers and streams?" An asks, sounding amazed as takes off his fur cap and fans himself with it "Hah, I was laughed at you know, when I said that Jinhai's costume needed to resemble a carp as he was partly kin to such creatures"

"Oh of course" You say with a nod, not showing any outward signs of the sheer glee you feel at cementing this harmless lie into the Folklore of the lands "of course, it is why we call him Jinhai son of the sea, or Jinhai born of the sea"

"Amazing, and you just helped me win a bet" An laughs merrily, as you resist the urge to break the mask you wear to laugh and tell him its a joke, but that'd mean the scene of you fishing Jinhai out of a pond would cease to be, and thus would snuff out a small light of Joy from the world "But could you explain to me, again, how you met with Qian Xia, the Black general and Guozhi again, I figured you met them on your travels"

"Oh I saw their souls as virtuous as good the very day I met them in Gao's court, which is the same day I came into his service, see, they and I had been in an Alliance since that day, to bring prosperity and virtue to these lands, and purge it of the corrupt nobility and their depraved excesses" You explain as An nods along, the stick of fragrant incense between you burning low
-

"Ah so you had been gone for so long, I was afraid you had gotten sidetracked and found another years long labor to preform' You father laughs, flowers tried into his beard and set on his head like a circlet grown from nature itself, his cheeks red from either drink or the caress of the cold air.
cont
>>
>>4550143

You had found him in the center of the festival, telling stories and tall tales to a crowd of curious revelers and festival goers.

"I had much to discuss about the play, my apologies for being " You say as you walk forward, a mob following behind you of your own, but yours is of young children, who had began to trail after you since you walked by them playing a game of pretend together, acting as warriors and bandits. Two now hung on your arms, swinging on them like branches of a tree, as others marched behind you, trying to ape your long strides.

Your father laughed at the sight of you as the crowd parted to allow you and the gaggle of youths following you like ducklings to come through.

"Well, at least I can go to the final rest knowing you'll be a good father someday" Wenyan chuckles as you sit down, having your long iron hair pulled by a particularly bold little girl wearing an ogreish looking mask

"Perhaps, perhaps" You laugh, in very high spirts and good cheer, the innocence of your little followers and purity of this celebration filling your very soul with light and making you feel almost light on your feet.

"Uncle Lieren, Uncle Lieren" A boy missing two of his front most teeth says, lisping his words in a manner akin to how Zian speaks with his mangled jaw "Tell another joke, like the one about the Toad and the dog"

"No I wanna hear another poem, like the one of the plum tree that took years to grow" A girl shouts, smacking your leg impatiently with a stick, as her peers gather around her. It turns your gentle smile into a merry grin

"No, I want to hear a story, like how he slew the Toad Dragon!" A boy with a once broken nose snorts, crossing his arms impudently, as the girl with that mask continues to grab handfuls of your hair to tug and pull on "the giant tells the best stories"

"Noooo!" the girl with a stick complains, stomping her foot and menacing the boy with a once broken snout with her "weapon", so you decide to step in before a fight breaks out.

"I shall give you a poem, that you should remember, for the wisdome within its words" You say, wagging your finger "Then Wenyan can tell you a story, and I can tell a joke, is that acceptable"

Your little cabal of followers begin to cheer happily and excitedly, forgetting their argument as the coming of spring erases the memories of winter. Which inspires the poem you weave from your heart, to impart a lesson into the carefree youth.

"Winter and hardship, arrives with dreadful haste, Savor summer rains." You say slowly, pausing over every syllable as you repeat the poem in your mind to the world. You can only hope that the children remember these words and the wisdom within them. but they just shout for another, making you chuckle as you try and come up with another one, your father grinning in an amused way as you do so.
cont
>>
>>4550147
-

Spring is soon approaching. Your allies, friends, family and comrades are all on edge, nervous in the face of coming war. Word has spread, from the movements of your army up and down the road, and from messengers who've been captured coming over the border, bearing dreadful decrees for your capture and the expectation of all who has stood beside you. Posters of demonic interpretations of yourself and your closest allies.

You are drawn as some terrible ogre, with iron teeth and terrible horns, coated in blood and wearing the skins of man and beast alike, the black general has been drawn to appear as a mad man, with a wicked grin upon his lips that makes him appears as a jackal. Guozhi is drawn as a withered old wretch with pin prick eyes, Qian Xia is drawn as...well just a harlot in an entirely disgusting painting showing her committing acts most foul. There are, also crude drawings of your guards some of which resemble the actual man more than others.

Fat chen for example is drawn obese despite being as thing as a reed, and Bai is drawn with fangs and fur like a Panther or Marsh Lion. Rong and Zian were depicted as much more horrifically scared than they were. Surprisingly, Jinhai and red faced came out completely unscathed, but they seem to think Xin was a monkey.

Feng and Jiang complained that none of the brothers of panthers were now wanted men with bounties on their head, as they have fought beside you as much as your guards have, yet only your guards have had a call put out for their heads alongside yours.

Lai song also pinned his "portrait" outside of the camp, as it resembles Red faced wei more than himself, with a wild beard and manic eyes.

But despite how amusing these posters are, it is an omen most foul. Once the winter frosts clear, war will arrive to these peaceful fields come as the Yan army braves crossing the border into the lands you took from their abusive rule.


How do you prepare in the days leading up to the outbreak of war, Lieren?
> Station your army in separate castles and forts close, but not upon the border, to lure the Yan into taking the abandoned Zhou castle as their staging platform.
>Send the captured messengers back over the border with copies of your book of Philosophy, and give it a proper name to rally the people behind
>Split your army into three portions, giving control of two to Yin Lei and the black General, and form a wall along the border, to be able to reinforce the other thirds of the army if the need arises
> Abandon the castles and garrisons along the first steps of the road, and fill them with traps and explosives as you fortify your position further along the Road
> write in?

Sorry for the wait, and for running so late lately again.
>>
>>4550150
> Station your army in separate castles and forts close, but not upon the border, to lure the Yan into taking the abandoned Zhou castle as their staging platform.
>Send the captured messengers back over the border with copies of your book of Philosophy, and give it a proper name to rally the people behind
>>
>>4550150
> Station your army in separate castles and forts close, but not upon the border, to lure the Yan into taking the abandoned Zhou castle as their staging platform.
>Send the captured messengers back over the border with copies of your book of Philosophy, and give it a proper name to rally the people behind
>>
>>4550155
Support.

Dint abandon the castles to make them explode, because that will give our game away too soon.
>>
>>4550150
> Abandon the castles and garrisons along the first steps of the road, and fill them with traps and explosives as you fortify your position further along the Road
>Send the captured messengers back over the border with copies of your book of Philosophy, and give it a proper name to rally the people behind

Let's try and get them to mutiny
>>
Lieren and Mortarion seem pretty similar, he’s probably the primarch we’d get along with the best.

https://www.reddit.com/r/40kLore/comments/k1sqgd/excerpt_mortarion_as_seen_by_his_own_people/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf
>>
>>4550150
> Station your army in separate castles and forts close, but not upon the border, to lure the Yan into taking the abandoned Zhou castle as their staging platform.
>Send the captured messengers back over the border with copies of your book of Philosophy, and give it a proper name to rally the people behind
>The Path
>The Journey
>The Way
i'm sure there were others, whats it gonna be?
>>
>>4550150
>> Station your army in separate castles and forts close, but not upon the border, to lure the Yan into taking the abandoned Zhou castle as their staging platform.
>>Send the captured messengers back over the border with copies of your book of Philosophy, and give it a proper name to rally the people behind
>>
>>4550150
>March into the lands of the enemy, capturing a town to make your base, a glorious show of defiance.
The time for subterfuge and manipulation is over, we're going to war.
>>
>>4550150
>> Station your army in separate castles and forts close, but not upon the border, to lure the Yan into taking the abandoned Zhou castle as their staging platform.
>>Send the captured messengers back over the border with copies of your book of Philosophy, and give it a proper name to rally the people behind
>>
>>4550150
> Station your army in separate castles and forts close, but not upon the border, to lure the Yan into taking the abandoned Zhou castle as their staging platform.
>Send the captured messengers back over the border with copies of your book of Philosophy, and give it a proper name to rally the people behind

In addition
>Write-in
>Lieren alongside a group of his best fighters, will start heavily harassing the Yang army making sure they go as fast as they can in the abandoned Zhou castle (increasing the chances of them leaving equipment and supplies behind). The harassing will include : capturing messengers, camp patrols, scouts and sentinels, raiding their camp for bring disorder in it, take away their supplies, suddenly play powerful musical instruments during their march for then vanish and defeating their reinforcements. Their army will be also costantly reminded to surrender with messages left along the road. The harassing on their army will be always unexpected, brief and swift, happening both at night and day.
>When their arrive in the castle, they will soon realize it s state of disrepair as well their own situation : blocked in a abandoned castle, surrounded, scared and without many supplies.
>On that day Lieren will come to the castle gate, offering them a truce until night arrives. There he will heal the wounds of the wounded, and giving food and moral nourishment to the Yang soldiers. Anyone attempting to stop him, Lieren will move them out of his way, breaking their weapons and tossing them on the ground and simply tell them to remain silent. When night arrives, Lieren will leave the castle giving the Yang army time until morning for decide if they still want to serve their cruel master or him.

An entire Yang army defecting without suffering any losses or fighting a single battle, will be a great morale blow to the rest of the Yang armies and garrisons once news reach them.

Furthermore we will start producing our own posters and delivering them to Yang settlements. Ours though will not just be images, they will also have written on them the crimes of the Yang and their governors, and the punishments they will face.
>>
>>4550313
Dodging an entire army is hard work. But they do need to consider their families wellbeing, which Yan would turn his wrath upon
>>
Why not cut the head off the snake?
>>
>>4550150
>> Station your army in separate castles and forts close, but not upon the border, to lure the Yan into taking the abandoned Zhou castle as their staging platform.
>>Send the captured messengers back over the border with copies of your book of Philosophy, and give it a proper name to rally the people behind
>> Abandon the castles and garrisons along the first steps of the road, and fill them with traps and explosives as you fortify your position further along the Road
>>
>>4550166
Some anon mentioned Teachings of Nothing, Tiānqǐ Zhǐnán which is Chinese for Guide to Celestial Enlightenment, and the Five Tenants of Wù Jǐ. I don't think that last one is accurate anymore, didn't we add some tenants or was that just discussed?
>>
>>4550323
Yan or their generals?

One requires us to blitzkrieg, the other is going to be difficult.
>>
>>4550313
I was thinking amoething similar actually but was saving it for the next post.
>Cut off their supply line
>isolate them
>find anyone worthy of being saved and then slaughter the rest

our infrastructure on its own should put some fear into them.
>>
So some of the opposition will be brainwashed foot soldiers. We're all about not killing the innocent dumb soldiers. In addition to trying to sway the masses with our book of Philosophy, what else should we do? Do lots of shock and awe to destroy enemy moral, and get as many Prisoners of War as we can? Destroy the propaganda image the Eight Celestial courts put on Lieren by showing how humane he can be with prisoners?

>>4550534
We could do more with PoWs. We could maybe exchange them back for something? I hope at least.
>>
>>4550564
>We could maybe exchange them back for something?
Not before we treat them 10x better than their own lords ever did.
>>
>>4550564
Spreading our philosophy via spies and their messengers, combined with the use of cannons will probably cause desertion rates to skyrocket

Unfortunately our weapons aren't great for the common soldier, a lot of them are gonna get shot and bleed out. I just hope that Yan nobility leads from the front during the first few battles, we could pull off something like Agincourt
>>
>>4550620
We could launch our books literally at them via catapults.
>>
>>4550150
> Station your army in separate castles and forts close, but not upon the border, to lure the Yan into taking the abandoned Zhou castle as their staging platform.
>Send the captured messengers back over the border with copies of your book of Philosophy, and give it a proper name to rally the people behind
>>
Well we shouldn’t worry too much about killing soldiers. After all avoiding casualties in the upcoming is impossible on a practical level.
>>
Rolled 948 + 30000 (1d1000 + 30000)

rolling to determine how long in yearsuntil the emperor finds us because why not
>>
>>4550832
bruh, hed be on the chair
>>
>>4550840
Didn't the heresy start in 31k? We'd the the last primarch found but have half a century to get redacted
>>
>>4550832
Sooo, no matter how low you roll, the Emperor became a vegetal before meeting his third son? Something seems fishy
>>
Wait, mindblow: Malal sent us to the past and we are on an isolated world during the War of Iron. And dad get's the whole primarch idea from Lieren, giving him a virtuous Legion of the Emperor's own geneseed (grey knights) that remains a secret to avoid time paradoxes.
>>
>>4550924
nah nah, Malal, somehow altered the timeline, and we are writing the 2nd primarch's story, whether we get redacted later on is on our watch.
>>
>>4550892
The heresy started about 230-250 years after the Great Crusade began.
>>
>>4550983
"Date ca. 798.M30 - ca. 005.M31"
So if soon after we get picked up we here that the crusade is around 200 years in, we know shit will hit the fan soon.Though, since Malal sent us to a different planet then whatever the canonical one was, we could be anywhere from firs primarch found(not likely) to last(hope not).
>>
>>4551137
if somehow we were the first primarch found, that would throw the whole emperor / Horus dynamic out of whack
>>
>>4551153
Question is...what will the Emperor's personality be? Utterly cold, caring for humanity, TTS Dadperor, or...
>>
>>4551171
People perceive the emperor differently, though the primarchs and Malcador are likely able to perceive his fullness to a greater degree. With Corvus, he even made a joke during their first meeting(it was probably a joke).
At first he will likely seem grand. He will be the first individual that we could connect to to such a degree. As long as he doesnt pull any Angron shenanigans, we should get along well.
>>
>>4550150
>Station your army in separate castles and forts close, but not upon the border, to lure the Yan into taking the abandoned Zhou castle as their staging platform.
Let's not waste perfectly usable forts if we can avoid it.

The discrepancies in the play gave me the idea that maybe Lieren should write a biography of his life at some point. People telling it via plays and word of mouth is eventually going to twist the truth pretty badly.
>>
>>4551217
>write a biography of his life

I agree with you on that
>>
Calling the vote, sorry the long wait. I'm trying to get back to a normal sleep pattern which isn't working out to well.

Station your army near the border:10
Send captured messengers back with your BOOK: 10
Turn castles into bombs:2
March into the Yan Lands:1\

So Lieren will station his armies forced in castle near the border to create a trap, after sending the captured messengers back over the border with his book

Which still needs a name.

Writing the update now
>>
>>4551338
https://youtu.be/iMknPQU9HnE
What will our first encounter with the Emperor be like?
>>
>>4551398
I have several ideas for how he'll approach Lieren, but how it goes is decided by how Lieren reacts to said meeting
>>
And they shall march directly into a trap you have prepared for them during the depths of winter. With your authority as the leader and mastermind of this rebellion to liberate the people of Yan from the kingdom's traditions of oppression and corruption most fowl, you have created a snare that will cripple an army should all go according to plan and serve as an early foundational victory for your forces. For as you traveled the snow covered lands alongside your honored father, you had left orders for the black general and lord of cavalry to move the bulk of your forces into the castles and forts along the borderlands to garrison and hold them in preparation for the Yan armies crossing that you had predicted would occur early in spring.

You left the citadels and castles on the border empty, which any noble general would assume to be a foolish mistake made by a rebellious farmer, leaving his wrongfully taken demesne open to attack and allowing his enemies to more easily establish a staging ground from which to crush his pathetic revolt. Even any generals lifted to their position by their genius and tactical knowledge would assume such a terrible misplay in the theater of war, as they'd see you as a novice. And if they know you by the reputation you've fostered before disposing the Gao, they would rush for the opportunity to gain even the smallest advantage over you and your army, and taking the shield of the lands would be an irresistible temptation. No matter the character of the men leading the forces that have come to slay you and "free" the lands from a usurper, they would walk into this snare and break their legs.

For the most delectable and irresistible of fruits hangs from the branch, waiting to be snatched and bitten into. Zhou castle, the fortified gate sitting upon the most direct passage to the heart of the former lands of Gao, sits undefended and unmanned. It'd tactical suicide to approach an invasion from any other direction. The castle of the deposed Zhou family is luxurious in its defenses and size, only lesser to the former palace of the Gao family in its size and outstripping it in terms of defensive capabilities. Only the mountain citadels of the Tao are better defended than the empty home of the Zhou.

Even a novice general would realize how advantageous it'd be to capture such a fortres so early into the war effort. It'd be a boon from all heavenly courts. But it was poison hidden within honey, a jade knife pointed towards their exposed bellies. For, every castle surrounding the border but not sitting upon it, are filled with well rested and trained soldiers, armed with weapons far beyond the capabilities of any killing tool the Yan possess. And leading these men, are students of war who have studied beneath two of Yan's greatest military minds, each hand chosen by you to hold the castle or fort that would be most suitable for their abilities and warfare specialties
cont
>>
>>4551465

It is somewhat Ironic, that one of Gao's own daughters will be defending against the army which seeks to return her family to power, but Daiyu proved herself worthy and trustworthy enough to be given such an honorable assignment, along side a few other eager scions of noble families, and men who were once mere soldiers or even scholars, who impressed you with their military accumen.

But, even though you are certain that bait you have presented in Zhou castle will be taken, the army may be cautious or the general unwilling to commit to such a bold action without a victory or two under his belt. So even earlier in the year, you've provided further incentive , which should have also weakened the morale of their army and made the journey to the border dangerous.

For you did not kill the messengers that were captured spreading propaganda and slander against you and your comrades, no, you are not so cruel. Rather, you had them brought to you whenever one was found, and you discussed with them the truth of the situation and often turned the discussion over to philosophy and the deeper secrets of the world and the hearts of men. Most of them, were simple couriers or servants had lost the favor of their masters, much like Ling. And as they had expected to be executed upon capture or submitted to the worst of tortures imaginable, many of them were quite happy to turn their coats and aid your efforts in teaching virtue and spreading prosperity across the lands.

Some even became full converts to your world view, so convincing you were in you arguments and debates against their former loyalties to Yan and its disgusting traditions. Now you walk the roads between the castles, meeting with your generals alongside your assistants and personal guard, ensuring that ever piece of this military machine you have created is working as intended and functioning efficiently. Spring has come, the snow has melted and the frost recedes.

Today a letter has been delivered to you by a rider, who had awaited your return to one of the furthest castles along your defensive line, a fort held by Yin Lei himself. Its a report written by one of your reconnaissance forces, a scouting party led by Half Jaw Hu and Liang.

Yan banners have been spotted over the border, the golden standard of the regal family, backed by the standards of five noble houses. That means there shall be at least six generals arriving for to claim your head and bloody your lands. Impressive, they knew not to underestimate this humble farmer and his friends.

"So the golden fox moves to hunt in our fields" You laugh, as you read over the scroll, rereading the portion detailing of the heraldry upon the five other banners. Turtles on russet, Lions upon silver, three headed serpents upon aquamarine, wild swine upon tangerine, and at last a Qilin upon a pure white field. You will have to study the families that wear these coat of arms, to gain an understanding of their temperaments and history
cont
>>
>>4551466

"The first battle of our virtuous rebellion shall soon be at hand, send a message down the road, Our forces must be prepared and ready to bloody themselves against the coming invaders"

"So at last it begins" Yin Lei says solemnly, bowing his head "the opening scene to this play that shall decide the fates of not only our kin, but our people and all peoples upon Shangrala. A historic day to be sure, let us make it a glorious one as well, my friend"

You turn to your friend and trusted advisor, with a serene smile and relaxed look.

"When the day comes, let us end it as efficiently and cleanly as possible, to avoid pointless bloodshed and suffering" You state, wrapping the scroll back over itself and handing it over to one of your assistants "I shall take shelter under your protection, Black general, until the outbreak of war. This castle after all, presents the clearest view of the surrounding borderlands, considering its height and position"

"I realized that myself when you gave me command over the garrison manning its walls and patrolling the roads surrounding it" The black general replies with a predatory smile "You have given me a perch from which to stage our retaliatory attack, even if fog clouds my eyes I can still see ahead of me"

"Fog, an ever present obstacle" You mutter, shaking your head, if only you had a clear vision of the fields and hills before you, it'd be much easier to wage the coming war and plan for the battles on the road ahead.

"But we shall march through it together" Yin Lei replies confidently.

What is your first wartime decision, Lieren?
> Keep your forces hidden behind the walls of their castle, and allow the Yan army to probe further into your lands, to further entangle them
> Reinforce the closest castles and forts to Zhou castle more heavily, creating an unseen cage of faith, steel and gunpowder.
> When the majority of Yan forces have settled into Zhou castle, gather your army and march upon it
>Using the armies under the Banners of Lai and Yin as a distraction, lead a hunt into Yan territory as soon as their vanguard holds Zhou castle.
>Write in?

Also sub vote, to finally deal with this issue.
What is the name of Lieren's book?
> Teachings of Nothing
>Tiānqǐ Zhǐnán
> the Five Tenants of Wù Jǐ
>The Journey
> Write in?

Also I'd like to apologize for my somewhat slow pace over the last few days
>>
>>4551470
> Reinforce the closest castles and forts to Zhou castle more heavily, creating an unseen cage of faith, steel and gunpowder.

> the Five Tenants of Wù Jǐ
>>
>>4551470
>Keep your forces hidden behind the walls of their castle, and allow the Yan army to probe further into your lands, to further entangle them

>Teachings of Nothing

I'm getting Mount&Blade vibes out of nowhere suddenly
>>
>>4551470
>Write in?
Split the army into three
>cut off their supply line with one third
>establish a beachhead in enemy territory with one third
>park the last third in front of the landed army as a challenge
from that point we infiltrate personally (Tao style) (maybe take someone whos capable enough to train them in an actual combat scenario) and get an idea of who we're dealing with, whos worth saving, if saving any are worth it, and the best way to deal with them.

if causing a mutiny is most efficient then so be it. if gunning them down is more efficient then so be it. if holding siege and ignoring them is most efficient then so be it, we have bigger fish to fry than this initial army.

I see it mostly as a distraction from the actual goal, needs to be dealt with quickly.

>The Journey
>>
>>4551470
> Reinforce the closest castles and forts to Zhou castle more heavily, creating an unseen cage of faith, steel and gunpowder.
>The Journey
>>
>>4551470
Tiānqǐ Zhǐnán (Guide to Celestial Enlightment) is a great name and makes it clear what it is.
Otherwise
>>4551512
I support this.
>>
>>4551512
Support
>>
>>4551512
Support
>>
>>4551470
>Teachings of Nothing
The Journey honestly doesn't sound like a book name to me.

As for our strategy, >>4551512 has got an right idea, HOWEVER i believe that we should not just park the last third in the front like a joke, we should be 'preparing' for siege. Nothing too permanent, just building an encampment.
>>
>>4551574
Also, am i the only one who thinks "Book of Nothing" sounds better than Teachings? I mean, the problem is that it wouldn't be as nearly as original what with how many other warhammer books are named 'Book of [name]' but it certainly sounds better...teachings just doesn't roll of the tongue well.
>>
>>4551574
Good catch, shouldn't make the army get thoughts in their heads.

>>4551576
Not really. They are "teachings", the name is to the point. Efficient, one may say.
>>
The name Journey is a fine name. Trying to be try harder about it is ehh
>>
>>4551512
Supporting these tactics
For the name,
>>Tiānqǐ Zhǐnán
>>
>>4551470
>> Keep your forces hidden behind the walls of their castle, and allow the Yan army to probe further into your lands, to further entangle them
>>Tiānqǐ Zhǐnán
>>
>>4551470
> Keep your forces hidden behind the walls of their castle, and allow the Yan army to probe further into your lands, to further entangle them
> Reinforce the closest castles and forts to Zhou castle more heavily, creating an unseen cage of faith, steel and gunpowder.

> Teachings of Nothing
>>
Strategy:
> Keep your forces hidden behind the walls of their castle, and allow the Yan army to probe further into your lands, to further entangle them
> Reinforce the closest castles and forts to Zhou castle more heavily, creating an unseen cage of faith, steel and gunpowder.

Book:
> From Nothing
>>
>>4551470
Changing to
>The Journey
>>
>>4551629
My problem with calling it "the Journey" is that it isn't. You could stretch it and say that our teachings could facilitate a journey in the reader, but they are teachings from nothing, a guide to enlightenment, or tenants. As he's been played so far, our boy would call his philosophy by what it is, not by some distant metaphor.
>>
>>4551512
Support.

>>4551470
>The Journey

>Also I'd like to apologize for my somewhat slow pace over the last few days
Perfectly understandable. You can take as long as you need, you've definitely earned it.
>>
>theorycraft
Let's say we manage to concourse all of Yan and make it less shitty. What's the next phase of the plan? Delve into the space pod and research as much as we can until we learn all its secrets? Half and half where we research and try doing some administrative work to make sure the world runs more smoothly?

Wait, actually? Maybe we should do a mix of everything up to the point where we develop radios and telephones. Communication would make the ruling of a planet significantly easier until we finish researching the "egg", and who knows how long that would take.

Unless Lieren has already learned all there is to learn about it?
>>
>>4552706
I say we make some lists.
One of cultural/political reforms we need to make.
Another for all the technological innovations we need to introduce.
>>
Calling the vote now

Main
-
Reinforce and create an cage: 4
Allow the Yan to march further, to entangle them: 4
The 3 stage strategy write in: 7


Sub
-
The five tenants:1
The Journey: 6
Teachings of nothing:3
Tiānqǐ Zhǐnán:2
From nothing:1

Alright, So Lieren will split his forces into three portions. One to harry into the Yan's territory and disrupt their supply chain.

Another to establish a beach head in enemy territory.

And a third to keep the landed army occupied with a mock siege/ challenge.

Writing the update now. and hopefully I've gotten my shit back in order in terms of when I'm awake.

>>4552633
Thanks
>>
>>4552772
This man is apologizing for doing all the work and sleeping in. Laugh at him.

Also caught up which is nice but I may have forgotten a thing or two.
>>
>>4552772
Ha, ha, ha.
Seriously though, it's all good.
>>
There were no men guarding the walls of Zhou castle, the gateway to the lands of Gao. The door way to the jewel of the Yan has sat silent for a full cycle of seasons, and as the wise lord Yan and many others had suspected, that Iron haired ogre had come hunting for the loyal and proud gate keepers. Zhou Wenyan's bones still hung by a rope outside of his ancestral palace, beneath which the scattered remains of his loyal protectors and kin lay scattered among the roots of the tree from which the merchant lord rested.

Mao Jian, brother of the lord of his family and house, Mao Bolin observed the scene of long past slaughter with hateful eyes, the swine of the Mao family decorating the once flourish and now abandoned castle. He had seen much slaughter in his times upon this earth, crushed rebellions with beneath his boot and slaughtered invaders and fools who dared to squat upon another's rightful land, but this sight was one that disgusted even a man as hardened by war as himself. This did not look like the handiwork of a man, a man could not tear another man to pieces as the Ogre that devoured the Gao had done. Jian was not a man who believed superstition or myth but.

it would seem that, concerning the usurper Lieren, the accounts of his inhuman strength and ferocity in battle had not been exaggerated in the stories and songs that had reached the further courts beneath the Yan. And Jian had been given the honor of leading the vanguard into the territory stolen by such a monster. A beast who could rend men apart with his bare hands and perhaps teeth, he had heard he acted like one of those damnable panthers in many stories, after all. Smiling, the general with a bald head and face covered in course, brown hair that resembled the fur on the symbol of his house, walked down the courtyard that had once been held by an esteemed peer of his family.

Perhaps, this marvel of architecture would remain in his hands, and his sons would be lords to rival his nephews. But such fantasies of future fortune and reward, were best to be avoided. All the eyes of Yan were upon him, he must not fail. He had been given the honor of leading the assault into the land of traitors who had given their loyalty to a beast that walked as a man. He could not afford to be distracted by daydreams and wishful thoughts. He would establish a foothold in the land of Jade, and hold it.

Mao Jian knew he had been chosen for his unparalleled ferocity and tenacity in the theater of war, no matter what horrors faced him upon the field or how many fools sought to impede his path, his charge would not end once he was let loose. But he had been ordered to establish a stronghold from which too launch the campaigns opening strikes and attacks from, not to charge into battle.

Such commands angered his warrior's spirit, but he was loyal and obedient. The Wild Boar would wait for the call to march to come again. But what fortune he had, what divine prosperity!
cont
>>
>>4552798

The Ogre Lieren was not a wise man as many blind cultists preached and shouted, even when dragged to their freshly dug graves. Were was the Genius of Gao? The man who had turned an entire land to Jade? The clever beast who slit the throats of the Carps, Swallows, Polecats and Dragons a like to claim their power for his own? Who came from nothing to crown himself as king over the wealthiest land of the Yan Kingdom? He was an utter fool! The Ogre had left his back open to attack, and had not claimed the castle which would have defended him from open invasion. He had left one of the strongholds of Yan, the greatest shield of the Gao, abandoned and open for any who would claim it. Perhaps he truly saw himself as the virtuous liberator those fanatics claimed him to be? Or perhaps he was over confident in his own abilities, turned prideful from his success as a scheming snake? Did he think himself invincible, or was he merely a clever fool with too much praise given unto him?

It did not matter to Mao Jian, for whatever reason the Ogre Lieren had left the border unmanned and undefended, it would only benefit him. He did not have to waste his men in a drawn out siege or find another route into the land. He simply had to walk in, and wait for the supply line to reach him with new orders from the king. And then he would no doubt lead the vanguard to hunt down that fool of a farmer and gain the glory of the killing strike. Oh the songs they would sing. The Boar against the Ogre, the Ogre slayer, the liberator of the lands. He would stand from his brother's shadow at last, and be remembered as more than just a brute
-

"The Brute Mao Jian has occupied Zhou castle, and been caught in your snare as just you predicted, Lieren" Yin Lei says, sitting across the table from you, along with Lai Song and a few of their students who are observing this meeting in silence. You smirk, sipping from a cup of freshly boiled tea leaf as The black general mixes himself a slurry of those coffee beans he enjoys.

"The old fox is as clever as ever" Lai song says, setting down his alcohol before picking up the report of the army spotted crossing over the border, by a scouting force led by your dear Friends Feng and Shaved head Wei "Out of all the generals who could be leading the vanguard, he chose the most disposable, the fool swine"

Yin lei shakes his head, and sets his cup of coffee slurry onto the table, clasping his hands together and leaning over the map.

"Jian is a blunt instrument, but he is a useful one" He says, as you remain silent, not having anything to add or perspective to reveal as you have never met Mao Jian and thus know nothing of the man except his reputation and name "The Mao will never flee a battle, they are too stubborn to, but they are not an easy foe, I have fought beside and against the wild boar myself, his men are trained to be as sturdy as iron and he himself is fearless"
cont
>>
>>4552800

You nod along, already drawing up a strategy to end this swine's life and crush his portion of the invading army.

"Even if we surround him, he shall remain in Zhou castle, even if we bleed his army dry, he will charge towards our lines. His will is unbreakable" The black general continues, as Daiyu records every word spoken between you, as your usual scribe had fallen ill and needed to rest to regain his health "Even in the face of our roaring cannons and screaming Gatling guns, he will hold or he will charge. The Mao are a stubborn line, and Jian is the most bull headed of them all"

"Seems like easy prey to me" Lai song says again "considering how well armed our forces are, and the brilliant minds that Jian is being put against, my friend"

"A fool in danger is more dangerous than a threatened Genius" You say, calmly and casually as you begin to gather to pieces representing your arm, which are already being gathered in a staging ground out of sight from Zhou castle and any scouting parties Mao Jian will send forth if he has any sense "A direct attack would merely bloody our forces and leave his slain to the man, an utter waste of lives and resources"

"Exactly, we share the same wisdom, my friend" Yin Lei says as Lai songs sighs through his teeth, not willing to argue with you, the man who stands as the leader of the army he has sided with, and the mastermind behind the improvement of the land and its peoples' lives "And he is an animal already snared, there is no reason to drive him out of our lands or take his head hastily, the plan was always to trap him in Zhou castle, to make it his tomb"

"He will be reinforced soon, we cannot stand idle" Lai Song argues, now that Yin lei has presented himself as his opponent rather than yourself. You just casually separate the figures representing your army, and silently position them on the silk map representing the border "Or else we will be overwhelmed by the coming storm, even with our weapons and numbers. if we do not stop the flow of men, we shall be drowned beneath the weight of the Yan's army, when they realize retaking this land will be no easy feat"

"I have planned for that, and you should know I do not act cautiously, but decisively, efficiently" You interrupt, grabbing the Banners of Yin and Lai and setting them in front of you, as you begin to build up a sieging force before Zhou castle, set aside a raiding force along the border, and build up the opening invasion army, equally dividing your forces between the three armies "I will not sit in a sinking boat, hoping to drift to land, I shall swim to shore and pull the ship with me. Mao Jian has stepped into my trap, and I will not wait for the rest of the Yan army to enter our lands"

Lai Song goes silent, his tactical mind instantly realizing you are beginning to rely orders, Yin Lei has also gone utterly silent and still, closely watching your broad hands as they moved pieces across the map.
cont
>>
>>4552801

"Yin Lei, you shall lead a third of our forces in a mock Siege of Zhou castle, from what I've read and what the two of you have told me, he is a stubborn man. He has been ordered to create and hold a staging point for the invasion" You explain, setting the miniature banner of the Yin Army in front of the siege army, and move them around Zhou castle by cupping you hand behind the gather figures, putting them against the tangerine banner of the Mao "He will only attempt to break free if he is desperate, like for example if he saw the full might of army at once, but a third would seem to a man blind to the affairs of these lands as the entirety of the forces we could muster from the peasantry"

"Not realizing we have gathered and trained a far more professional army than mere levies" Yin Lei says with a nod "from all rungs of society"

"I see, I see" Lai song says, scratching the scar over his eye as he looks over the map "And no one outside of the former lands of Gao know of the power we hold, of our firearms"

"Precisely, Mao will be outmatched and not even realize it, he will be content to wait out the apparent siege in luxury, like a gluttonous swine, like an ox caught in a storm" You say with a confident smile on your lips, unable to hide the joy and satisfaction brought upon by your plan working as near perfectly as possible, as such a thing as perfection is impossible to achieve "Expecting to remain supplied, which is where your cavalry and marksman force will come into play, there is one road with which supplies can come into Zhou castle, and it does not compare to the road I built, a mere collection of paths and routes that have proven safer than the rest"

"So I shall harry the supply chain and cut it off from the army of the wild boar?" Lai song correctly guesses, with a satisfied smirk upon his own lips as well "Appear from the fog, cast devilish sorceries and vanishes just as quickky, Har! I shall be known as the rider of hell among the enemy, the man able to conjure fire and death"

He laughs boisterously as Yin Lei smirks as well.

"if any of the supply caravans survive encountering your raiding force" the black general points out, lifting a finger from his balled together hands before sitting as straight as a pole once more "And such an action will make Mao Jian desperate, should the siege drag on long enough for him to deplete his current supplies"

"There will be no need to worry about that eventuality" You say bluntly, your smile falling as you gather the remaining third of the army "For, by time he realizes he has been caged, we shall already have our own proper foothold in enemy territory, a staging area where we can regather our forces and march deeper into the lands of the Yan"
cont
>>
>>4552802

"Ah the fortress of the Dai, breaking the turtle's shell and shattering the Yan's own wall of shields in one move" Lai song says with a predatory grin, his respect for your intellect clear in his admiring tone "I take it the glory shall be yours?"

"No, I shall do what I have always done, and hunt" You explain, hovering your hand over a collection of banners, belonging to lesser generals and the students of Song and Lei yet unbloodied by true conflict "A panther among swine, it shall be I who writes the ending of Mao Jian's story, or perhaps change its path. I will be in the walls of Zhou castle, with my hunters and guards. We shall be an unseen spear against the boar's belly"

Lai song frowns, and Yin lei sets down his drink, both of them clearly wondering the same thing. Who will lead the third army and commit to accomplishing the most vital opening movement in your war against Yan.

Who will you have capture the Dais' Castle? Lieren?
> Jinhai, his perception and open mind will be indispensable in cracking the Yan's shield, and his wisdom will allow visualize the battle before it begins and thus he shall strike at the perfect opportunity.
> Daiyu, She is quite wise and resolute in spirit, and her relation with Gao Liwei will be sure to lower moral, and her bravery and urge to clean her family's name will mean she shall not be overtly cautious
> Zian, A veteran of many battles, brave and loyal. He would fight to the last if you ordered him to. His stoic nature will be vital to this operation, as he shall not be intimidate or swayed from the orders given to him.
> Feng, though he can no longer fight in hand to hand combat, he shares your hunter's mindset, and before his injury was the greatest hunter of the Brothers of the panther. His experience in traveling the wilds will allow him to move his army unseen and attack from an unexpected direction
> Someone else? (Write in)
>>
>>4552803
Forgot to put enemy before morale in the Daiyu choice, thought I should point that out so no one thinks picking that option will lower your army's morale
>>
>>4552803
>> Jinhai, his perception and open mind will be indispensable in cracking the Yan's shield, and his wisdom will allow visualize the battle before it begins and thus he shall strike at the perfect opportunity.
>>
>>4552803
> Jinhai, his perception and open mind will be indispensable in cracking the Yan's shield, and his wisdom will allow visualize the battle before it begins and thus he shall strike at the perfect opportunity.
I believe that for this situation, Jinhai is the best one. Feng and Zian would not perform badly, of course, but i believe that they can be better used in other situations. Zian is a veteran of battles, and thus, it would be wise to include him in more open-pitched fights, where his experience will grant him a better advantage. Feng knows of stealth, and would do well by leading an ambush against the nemy.

Daiyu may have resolve, but we're talking of a siege here, and sieges are definitely not a place to clean your name. We don't want this to be an iron cage.
>>
>>4552803
> Jinhai, his perception and open mind will be indispensable in cracking the Yan's shield, and his wisdom will allow visualize the battle before it begins and thus he shall strike at the perfect opportunity.
>>
>>4552706
Figure out whats causing the fog and realize thats its a tomb world for necrons. We'll have to abandon everything overnight.
>>
>>4552803
>> Jinhai, his perception and open mind will be indispensable in cracking the Yan's shield, and his wisdom will allow visualize the battle before it begins and thus he shall strike at the perfect opportunity.
Now's the time for him to prove himself as more than just a good fighter
>>
>>4552803
Jinhai

The man knows. But give him the advice of Feng. This is one territory, so we should trust his experience in these strange lands.
>>
>>4552803
> Jinhai, his perception and open mind will be indispensable in cracking the Yan's shield, and his wisdom will allow visualize the battle before it begins and thus he shall strike at the perfect opportunity.
>>
>>4552803
>> Jinhai, his perception and open mind will be indispensable in cracking the Yan's shield, and his wisdom will allow visualize the battle before it begins and thus he shall strike at the perfect opportunity.
>>4552828
Daiyu is best used against Yan himself. Imagine how demoralizing it would for the forces defending Yan to realize Gao’s own flesh and blood is fully on our side, all that propaganda he was pushing falls apart and backfires at the worst moment.
>>
>>4552803
> Jinhai, his perception and open mind will be indispensable in cracking the Yan's shield, and his wisdom will allow visualize the battle before it begins and thus he shall strike at the perfect opportunity.

How was Feng injured? Does he need a prosthetic?
>>
>>4552857
>Daiyu is best used against Yan himself
Agreed
>>
>>4552875
>Daiyu is best
Agreed.
>>
>>4552803
>> Jinhai, his perception and open mind will be indispensable in cracking the Yan's shield, and his wisdom will allow visualize the battle before it begins and thus he shall strike at the perfect opportunity.
>>
>>4552920
>Daiyu is
Indeed.
>>
>>4553122
>Daiyu
Quite.
>>
>>4552803
> Jinhai, his perception and open mind will be indispensable in cracking the Yan's shield, and his wisdom will allow visualize the battle before it begins and thus he shall strike at the perfect opportunity.
>>
>>4553123
>
ye
>>
>>4553239
>>
>>4552803
>> Jinhai, his perception and open mind will be indispensable in cracking the Yan's shield, and his wisdom will allow visualize the battle before it begins and thus he shall strike at the perfect opportunity.
>>
>>4552803
>> Jinhai, his perception and open mind will be indispensable in cracking the Yan's shield, and his wisdom will allow visualize the battle before it begins and thus he shall strike at the perfect opportunity.
>>
>>4552803
>> Jinhai, his perception and open mind will be indispensable in cracking the Yan's shield, and his wisdom will allow visualize the battle before it begins and thus he shall strike at the perfect opportunity.
>>
>>4552803
> Jinhai, his perception and open mind will be indispensable in cracking the Yan's shield, and his wisdom will allow visualize the battle before it begins and thus he shall strike at the perfect opportunity.
>>
alright, calling the vote. sorry for the wait

Jinhai:14
pretty obvious winner here. Jinhai will lead the third army/ invasion army
writing the update now.


>>4552865
it's his limp Lieren refers to
>>
And take a small banner colored azure, with the a vague representation of a fish curled around a spear. The Banner you've given to Jinhai should to the time come for your dear friend and companion would have need to lead an army in your name. Yin Lei's frowns as you pick up the banner, and slowly move it to the third army, setting it in front of it as Lai song leans over the table for a closer look, looking somewhat baffled by your choice.

"I do not recognize this banner, Lieren" Song admits, pressing his fist against his chin and tilting his head like a hound confused by the actions of its owner

"I recognize it, he had it made, along with others, for his closest companions to fly as they march to war" The black general explains, stirring his cooling cup of coffee bean slurry "This particular banner, belongs to one of his hand picked guards, taken from Gao's personal forces"

"An inexperienced general?" Song asks, glancing to you with a curious tone to his voice, his scar stretching as he lifted one of his eye brows, intrigued by your choice obviously "A curious choice for such a vital campaign, I'd have chosen one of the lesser generals beneath mine or Lei's comnand, or one of our students"

"Jinhai is observant, and open minded, and one of the rare men I consider to be truly wise" You explain as Yin lei nods in agreement "Behind myself and the deceased Cui Fu, Jinhai is the most able combatant I have met in my travels. His mind is not constrained by tradition or code. I believe, he will be able to visualize the battle before it begins, and thus be able to strike when the men holding Dai Castle are at their most vulnerable. He created the martial style I myself practice by observing a carp swimming in a pond, I am certain that if allowed to, he could divine victory by merely watching leaves fall upon the wind"

"Sounds like quite the extraordinary individual!" Lai song says, sounding amazed but not disbelieving, he trusts your judgment after having the wisdom to ask about it rather than bristle against it and argue for another general to take Jinhai's place "Is he some manner of seer then?"

You shake your head.

"He simply has eyes to see the world around him, to divine victory by watching leaves fall was merely a metaphor for that, he watches the world and learns lessons many would overlook or misinterpret" You explain further, clasping your hands together and resting your arms on the table between you and your two head generals, as well as their most honored students, who continue to silently observe the discussion between the Bringer of Prosperity, Black General, and Lord of Cavarly.

"Though he is blessed with remarkable foresight, that you could be excused for believing that he could see into the fog of the future" Yin Lei says with a smile "And what Lieren says is quite true, Jinhai stays by his side because he is extraordinarily talented in not only battle, but matters of the mind as well"
Cont
>>
>>4554196

"Well we shall see how well he handles leading an army, though with the rigorous training our army has been put through, it'll be an easier task to lead them, than levies raised from the peasantry" Lai song says, nodding his head slowly with a look of casual amazement still written clearly over his scarred visage "But you have assured my worries in leaving a novice to control a third of our forces, though I will request to teach him the finer points of warfare, after we have a stronghold in the lands of Yan"

"of course, of course, either of you can teach him if he is willing to learn" You say with a genial smile as you begin to move the army Jinhai will lead over the border "I shall separate our gathered forces personally, to ensure that an equal number marchs beneath each of you, and then...it shall begin"

"A new chapter in Shangrala's history shall be written by our hands, for prosperity and virture!" Yin lei proclaims, lifting up his cup into the air as Lai song nods and mimics the motion

"For Prosperity and virtue" Lai song repeats, as you nod and lift your cup of cooling tea into the air, eyes focused upon the map as you run through the benefits and downside of sending a particular corp to one of the three armies you've created. Calculating to most effective and efficient composition of your now split army.

The artillery regiments would be divided between the armies led by Jinhai and Lei, while the most skilled marksman would be handed over to assist Lai Song, with a suitable group put aside to be given to the other two armies in specialist roles.
-

Mao Jian was perplexed and greatly amused at once, he had been alerted that enemy forces marching beneath the banner of the traitorous Yin had been spotted approaching his castle. No doubt sent by the giant when he realized his folly in leaving his back exposed and the way to his stolen lands open. So brave in story and song and the preaching of those zealots who praise his name with every breath they are allowed to take, yet the ogre either saw such a task as beneath him and did not deign to lead the army to reclaim the fortress or was too cowardly to join an actual battle.

But, this too proved fortunate, for The black generals had positioned himself in such a way to doom himself to defeat, and thus lose his pride and reputation as the undefeated general. Jian would be the one to claim such a glory, better than crushing a fool of a farmer in a battle against his better.

"Hah, look at this fool, he's brought the heir of his house, his Nephew marching along with him in this doomed campaign against the rightful master of these lands" Jian laughed, watching the forces gathering in the distance, barely able to make out the banner of the Yin themselves flying along the black general's personal standard "He'll do us the favor of dooming his brother's line for their treachery, look, they barely were able to must a force that could just match ours!"
cont
>>
>>4554197

The wild boar laughed, sitting in the chair he had brought to the top of the gate, to observe the siege force, pausing only to take a bite of a ripe peach. A wicked grin ran over his face, hidden by his thick beard.

"In a week's time, my son shall reinforce us with fresh men, and I shall break the thunder's howl, and turn it to a whimper" Jian boasted, turning to his sub commander, a brat of the Dai with a wispy mustache on his lip, who returned his smile and laughter "We have been handed such bounty and glory my friend! what a joke, the ogre must have forced them to his side, otherwise this "Genius of the battlefield" has been a lucky fool all along"

"Our victory is certain, General Jian" the man dressed in robes of silk dyed russet said confidently "They have not rallied enough of a force to break this siege themselves, and our army shall swell to twice its number by the end of the coming week. Though perhaps, in his age, the Lord of the Yin and his brother have been seduced by the Giant's "Journey" that has spread like a disease through our righteous lord's lands"

"Perhaps, it would explain why he has wasted time and effort dragging those hideous pillars of iron and steel to the front of his forces, perhaps it is some form of self punishing training or meditations" Mao Jian laughed, shaking his head "Ah, I cannot wait to see this old legend break beneath my own hands, and with him out of the way, our ogre of a farmer shall be utterly defenseless in the face of our advance into the lands he stole and so utterly fooled"

"Perhaps they are a gift" The Dai courtier sneered, pulling at his thin mustache as soft as a maiden's hair as Jian laughed uproariously "to ask for mercy before the battle breaks, to maintain his face and reputation rather than fight an unwinnable battle"

"I may consider being merciful towards the yin if they deliver the ogre's head in a box lined with silk and jade" Jian said smugly, grinning wider still as he took another bite of his peach, unaware of the hunting party moving beneath the walls of the castle, distracted by his pride and visions of glorious victory.

"Soon my son will join us with another detachment of the greater Yan army" Mao Jian said with a sigh, casually explaining the road to victory before them "And by my side, we'll begin our march into these wrongfully stolen lands, no matter what storied hero or monster stands before us"
-
Mao Zihao knew something was wrong, but could not react quickly enough to prevent the tragedy unfolding before his eyes. Bandits have always been common upon this road, hoping to leech the flow of wealth from the Jewel of Yan and disrupt trade between the regions. That was why he had suspected that uneasy feeling in his gut and the chill in his head was merely his sixth sense warning him of some bandit clan watching the passing of his supply train that would decide against riling the anger of the Yan.
cont
>>
>>4554200

He had always had a strange sixth sense of when danger was present, like a weight upon his brow, a block of ice pressed through his skin and into his skull.

It made it easy to ignore, as it'd be present when he walked among his men armed with spears, or held a blade himself. It warned him of any danger, without any distinction between a thorn on a rose or a sword swung at his back. He could have expected panthers, brigands, or even vishnu.

He did not expect the Lai, rushing down the cliff side like they had gone mad, seemingly unconcerned by the danger presented by the force defending the supply caravan. It was unexpected, for several reason, the fact the horse lords would turn against the Yan rather than fight to the last for example, that a tactical genius like Lai Song would be so careless and rush into a battle so heavily weighed against his forces.

That was when the man standing next to Zihao's head popped like an over ripe squash, his skull breaking in the front as his face became a ruin of meat and splinters of bone. His ears were still ringing as he stood by the dead man, still standing as if he himself had not realized he had died. There had been a sound like thunder, but much loud. The horses tired to break free of their harnesses and bolt, taking away his veterans as they struggled to control their once well trained steeds.

What had happened? Zihao turned to face the corpse beside him, blood flowing over its bulging eyes and into its slack jaw. the legs of the unfortunate man buckled beneath him as he fell into a heap. Senseless noise and sound filled the air, screaming mingling with the ringing in his ears as the young man finally became aware of what had happened, cautiously. And the chill in his skill deepened, something it had not done before.

The war cry of the Lai filled the air, along with an odd hooting scream, as hearing returned to the noble general, but his tongue still refused to move and issue orders.

It took a second infernal roar to shake him into action, dirt flying into the air from some unseen attack! Demons! Devils! Spirts! Foul sorcery! the Lai had sorcery! they had bound spirits and devils to their aid! the ogre must have bargained with them by offering them this foul power.

Zihao saw one, as he fled to for the closest gathering of his men, the ones who had not fled and at least attempted to hold their ground. It was as if he had somehow wandered into hell, he couldn't hear or think clearly, fear gripped him. The screams of the damned followed him, as he saw men dressed in full armor struck down quicker than he could take a breath, their chests caved in by an unseen and monstrous strength.

Others had their limbs shattered or torn off, as the sorcerous rides ran through the caravan, shouting and cheering madly. Zihao kept moving forward, determination to survive keeping his body moving even as his mind fled.
cont
>>
>>4554203

And then, as if beset by a pack of vengeful spirits and blood thirsty devils, the formation he had been instinctively fleeing to join, was turned into ribbons of meat and blood stained skin. They hadn't even been able to scream, as some terrible beast ridden by a man dressed in furs attacked them with a stream of fire, as its master with his wild hair tied in a band of serpent skill cackled, as a hellish glow and smoke came from his hellish mounts mouth and twelve tongues.

Pain dug into Zihao's leg, as if he had been struck by a burning iron poker. He fell to the ground, at last able to speak, letting out a cry of pain and terror as smoke swallowed him, a foul smell rushing against him as he reached for his wounded limb. He had...he had been stabbed, by some unseen assailant, attacked by sorcery! It had pierce through the greave protecting his legs, tangerine running with crimson. He wailed, and screamed trying to crawl himself away from the danger surrounding him, barely aware of his men fleeing for the hills, only noticing them as their bodies blocked his own path of escape. All he could hear, was the screaming, the roaring, that snap that surrounded the riders along with that foul smelling black smoke.

"Devils....devils!" Zihao babbled, tears streaming down his face as dug his hands into the dirt. He had to escape, had to warn the others of the sorcery the ogre held, warn his father. He had to warn his father, he had to escape, he had to live to warn his...
Zihao died without realizing how his death had come to him, or understanding the weapon that had ended his life. A stray bullet struck his neck, fired by a man who had spent his life gutting fish. A lifetime of military training and tutoring ended by a sliver of lead driving into his spine, driving the shattered bone through both of Zihao's carotid arteries. He bled out in moments, fallen over one of his own men. His last breaths spoke no defiance, or pleas for mercy.

All he did was gurgle, confused and frightened like a child in the dark.

The supplies to Zhou castle would never arrive, as similar attacks were carried out upon the other caravans and camp sites along the supply chain leading to the territory Lieren held. The survivors of these attacks would speak of foul magic, powerful weapons, monsters of steel and iron, how Lai song road with a hide of smoke and fire, how men that were half panther and half man came screaming from the fog and killed with a glance. Reports of these tales told by terrified men spread, and mutated, spreading along with the fear they inspired, from the loneliest village, to the castle of the highest lord. Of horse legged men that spat death on black smoke, and panthers walking as man among them.

On the other side of the conflict, these attacks were forgotten, all except for the cataloguing of the supplies they had taken from the enemy.
cont
>>
>>4554204
-
Jinhai sat on a rock, looking up at Dai castle, besides a stream along with his honored elder Zian. The fortress stood like a ghost in the fog, pressed against a mountain with a deep lake before it. The young man dragged his hand through the water, his hair tied into a tail as he weighed his options. There was one path leading to the castle, heavily defended. The guard force of the Dai was a bit larger than that of his previous employer before Wise Lieren, and they had an army raised from the nearby farm lands stationed behind its walls and in camps before it.

The walls. That would prove to be his greatest obstacle, to get the army his lord had entrusted into him past those walls. they could shatter them with Dragon fire, but they'd need to get close or rely on artillery which would take time and required calculating the trajectory before firing. That risked scouts or patrols spotting his encamped army, hidden by the fog on the other side of the lake, that stood between the border of Lieren's land, and the land of tyrants. The path into Dai castle would require stepping into enemy territory, and risk being caught up in one of Lord Lia's engagements, wasting time and risking thinning the numbers of the men under him.

It was a riddle...a most troubling riddle. Jinhai sighed and looked upward, scratching the goatee he had started to grow as he looked to the sky, seeking answers. It'd be wasteful and difficult to attack head on, and needlessly waste the lives of men Lieren had trusted him to lead.

"What are you thinking of, Carp?" Rong asked, coming from the camp to join his superior by authority and brother in arms "You've been sitting here for hours, as silent as the dead, the men are beginning to worry"

"He has requested silence" Zian answers, helpfully, standing at attention with a rifle and spear at his side "Jinhai is trying to devise a method to attack Dai castle, It is in a troubling position you understand"

Rong walked to his side, as Jinhai ran his hand in the cool waters of the stream flowing from the lake. The older guard snorted and shook his head

"there's one path, might be able to hit it from here with those Steel Dragons if we can angle them right" He said as Jinhai shook his head

"The fog is too thick, it'd take too long to properly align them and the lake is so fast they they may not be able to reach its walls" Jinhai spoke, glancing to his comrade "A direct attack may be our only way forward, but...I feel as if I am on the edge, the edge of finding some secret path into that hold, but I cannot find it"

"How troubling" Rong chuckled "Well if you want some company, there are some lovely woman who wish to bare a future war hero's son, if you can understand that, Carp"

"Please leave Rong, you'll only distract him" Zian sighed as his fellow veteran cackled
cont
>>
>>4554205

"Ohohoo, perhaps you prefer this creature's company" the one eyed annoyance sneered, causing a scuffle behind Jinhai as he turned his gaze back to the lake, looking at it like a hateful foe standing just outside of his reach. The two older men fought behind him, Zian to repay Rong for his insult, and Rong because he was bored. It was a friendly bout, but a distracting one.

But, their fight between friends, filled the stream with detritus, leaves, twigs, branches and rocks. Jinhai turned as he heard the splashes. and saw the dam formed in his stream. Rocks filling the water, catching sticks but allowing the leaves to flow over it.

and suddenly, Jinhai saw the path forward, smiling happily as he slowly got back to his feet.

"Zian, Rong, gather the men and order them to begin felling trees, and take half to shovel dirt and rocks into the lake" Jinhai said, mimicking Lieren's habit of swinging his arm out when giving commands to try and appear as a more commanding presence "We shall attack Dai castle from the lake"

"have you gone mad, Jinhai?!" Rong gasped as Zian tugged at his face, pressing him against a tree as they rough housed "That's impossible"

"Many men have said the same of Lieren's wisdom and miracles" Jinhai replied calmly, a serene expression on his youthful face "We'll construct a submerged bridge, using rafts to allow us to construct it and move our steel dragons along it, our men shall march behind the dragons and along the rafts. We'll strike before the Dai have a chance to notice our approach. They won't turn their lives towards the lake, after all"

"As you command" Zian says, releasing his fellow guard and clasping his hands together and bowing to Jinhai

"As you command" Rong mutters, as Jinhai begins to move stones and sticks to attempt to figure out HOW to construct his underwater bridge exactly.

The folk stories and legends born of this war would remember the coming battle, as Jinhai son of the sea having lead a force from the lake itself, having used sorcery to allow his companions to breath beneath its surface and crawled up the walls surrounding the walls protecting the Dai family.

In truth, his unconventional sieging method simply overpowered his enemy with a decisive and utter victory. With canons and artillery parked against the ignored lakeward wall, he tore a great hole in the Dai's defenses in a way that would not threaten his army when he held it himself. The roar of the canons threw the defenders into a panic and sent a portion of the army stationed outside of the castle fleeing from fear of a monster crawled from the lake and crushed the wall. The army sleeping within was slaughtered, unarmored and utterly unprepared for a water bound attack. Jinhai himself led the vanguard, armed with a spear and a collection of revolvers, as the cannons behind him continued to fire into the courtyard.
cont
>>
>>4554206

Dodging spears and swords like a fish escaping a net, he carved a path into the castle itself, with Rong and Zian by his side, the trio unaffected by the chaos raging around them, as more of their army broke through the ever expanding hole in the wall upon the lake shore.

Gun fire, cannon fire, and an army that appeared from the lake itself. Dai castle was taken in a night, after an army worked for a week. The Regent lord Dai had left to defend his wife and younger children who had no place on the battlefield surrendered before the army outside of the walls could rally or gather again. To protect his kin and family.

By dawn, Panther furs covered the banners of the Dai and Lieren had his beachhead into the lands of the Yan. A fog panther was painted on the one gate in the castle's walls, as soon as the remaining forces camped outside of the castle were subjugated our scared off and scattered to the winds.

Messengers were sent back over the submerged bridge of stone and the rafts anchored to it, to alert the rest of Lieren's forces and the men gathered beneath his name of this victory. And thus, Jinhai proved himself wise in matters of war as well as battle.

For he had taken a castle in one night, without sacrificing a noticeable portion of his army to do so.
-

Mao Jian does not know how doomed he is, for no messengers can reach Zhou castle, because of the efforts of Lai Song and his "Wild Rider". He walks his halls, confident in his safety and victory, not knowing a Giant and his hunters stalk the shadows of the halls he has claimed as his own. Every day he sits upon the wall, mocking Yin Lei and your other allies. Today he spoke of seeing about having your body stuffed and displayed in this castle when the war ends.

How foolish, how prideful.

"Shall I just kill him, Lieren?" Feng asks, fury clear on his face as he snarled and leaned out from your hiding place

What do you do, Lieren?
> Observe the forces in the castle to decide if any of them are salvageable
> Tell Feng if he can make the shot, he can end Jian's life
> Inspire a mutiny by sneaking Liang, Shaved head Wei, and Dong into the forces of Mao,
> With Bai and Red face wei, walk up to Mao as he sits on the wall and ask if he'd like to surrender
> write in.

Also figured out why I've been having trouble staying awake lately. The heater in my home broke, and I tend to get tired in the cold. It sucks
>>
>>4554203
>He had always had a strange sixth sense of when danger was present, like a weight upon his brow, a block of ice pressed through his skin and into his skull.
This guy is a psyker. A very low tier one, but a psyker nonetheless.
>>
>>4554212
> With Bai and Red face Wei, walk up to Mao as he sits on the wall and ask if he'd like to surrender
Feng making the shot is too risky, and the other methods are too slow.
>>
>>4554212
> With Bai and Red face wei, walk up to Mao as he sits on the wall and ask if he'd like to surrender
>>
>>4554212
>Observe the forces to see if any are salvagable
>With Bai and red faced Wei, walk up to Mao and ask if he'd like to surrender.

Remember, ever salvaged army element grows our own forces.
>>
>>4554212
> Observe the forces in the castle to decide if any of them are salvageable
> Tell Feng if he can make the shot, he can end Jian's life
Honestly Mao's the most stuborn person there. We take him out, and subjugating the entire castle army would be easy.
>>
>>4554238
Fair point, if we are confronting him we should do it alone then, so the other panthers can stay hidden and wait for prime sniping oppertunities.

And I like Carp-son's genius.
>>
>>4554212
>> Observe the forces in the castle to decide if any of them are salvageable
>> Tell Feng if he can make the shot, he can end Jian's life
>>
>>4554212
> Observe the forces in the castle to decide if any of them are salvageable
> Inspire a mutiny by sneaking Liang, Shaved head Wei, and Dong into the forces of Mao,
>>
>>4554212
> Observe the forces in the castle to decide if any of them are salvageable
> Tell Feng if he can make the shot, he can end Jian's life
>>
>>4554212
> Observe the forces in the castle to decide if any of them are salvageable
> Tell Feng if he can make the shot, he can end Jian's life
If he does, that'll be one hell of a blow to their morale - their commander, literally just exploding from nothing.

Honestly, it's no wonder they think us to be sorcerers.
>>
>>4554212
> With Bai and Red face wei, walk up to Mao as he sits on the wall and ask if he'd like to surrender
> Observe the forces in the castle to decide if any of them are salvageable
If it fails.
> Tell Feng if he can make the shot, he can end Jian's life
>>
>>4554427
This
>>
Change this >>4554237 to >>4554427
>>
>>4554203
Looks like we found our first psyker and dealt with him properly. I hope we passed out revolvers to the Lai horsemen, mongol cowboys is a very appealing image

>>4554212
> Observe the forces in the castle to decide if any of them are salvageable
> Tell Feng if he can make the shot, he can end Jian's life
>>
>>4554212
> Observe the forces in the castle to decide if any of them are salvageable
> Tell Feng if he can make the shot, he can end Jian's life
>>
>>4554557
I thought we were chinese?
>>
>>4554212
>> Observe the forces in the castle to decide if any of them are salvageable
>> Tell Feng if he can make the shot, he can end Jian's life

Theres no way Jian will go quietly if he learns of his sons death.
>>
>>4554679
I assumed the Lai were like the mongols who settled in China since they're such good horsemen. I've never really heard about chinese cavalry

kinda stepping on Khan then though, but maybe we're in the same solar system and the Lai were left behind when the old night started
>>
>>4554709
>I've never really heard about chinese cavalry
They existed for a long time. The mongols just had better cavalry.
>>
Cup bearer is back up
>>
>>4554427
Support
I gotta say, I'm loving the trickster approach to warfare. I think unorthodox tactics, improvisation, and outside-of-the-box thinking is a unique way we can distinguish our forces and future legion.
>>
>>4554763
I’d rather focus on diverse tactics. Having battalions that are each specially trained to solve every problem we run into would be nice.
>>
>>4554842
Having forces that can excel wherever and adapt to whatever is more advantageous than forces that can do one thing phenomenally but are flat-footed in any other situation.
>>
>>4554842
That's more the Dark Angels thing with their six wings.

>>4554908
It sounds good, but I'm not sure if it's a bit too... generic? One of the hallmarks of 40k is that the legions all have their once speciality, and I feel like we should try to find our niche. But then again, 40k is missing the reasonable marines...
>>
>>4555074
We talked about this before I think
>>
>>4554212
>Observe the forces in the castle to decide if any of them are salvageable
>>
>>4555074
I suppose you're right about continuing to try to find our niche. Personally, I'm still convinced it's anti-chaos/psyker, but the vast majority of our enemies won't be quite so empyreanically inclined. Are any other combat niches open aside from void warfare, trickster tactics, and warpshit nullification?
>>
>>4555170
Farming, mortal administrative aid, general Astartes Support to other Astartes, improved Mortal+Astartes combat tactics.

Why not an Adeptus Astartes chapter dedicated to medicine?
>>
>>4555237
Because it isn’t necessary.
>>
>>4555237
Astartes are first and foremost soldiers. Everything else they do is supplementary to that fact. Focus on support roles would be a horrific slap in the face for a legions pride.
>>
>>4555237
That's just a waste of Astartes, they're genetic super soldiers. Get someone else to do the support role the 400 pound man can go shoot shit
>>
Then what do? Lieren and his legion as far as I know cant be a blanks/anti-war based legion. People dont seem spooped by our jolly iron giant.
>>
>>4555270
Just an errant though. Hearts and minds, causing betrayals from within, convincing people to see our way of things and bring worlds into compliance without uprisings.

Like an alpha legion mission without any of our own assets becoming sleeper agents.
Just a though.
>>
>>4555297
So a heavy diplomacy themed space marine chapter?
>>
>>4555306
It's possible that Sanguinius and Angron were designed for that role. The nails kinda messed with that plan though
>>
>>4555237
>combat niches
>"farming and being clerks!"
>>
>>4555315
The leman russ tank was originally an STC for a Tractor.
Farmer ftw.
>>
>>4555339
It is better to be a warrior in a garden than a gardener at war.
>>
>>4555484
Agreed.
>>
>>4555306
Nah, not heavy diplomacy, though that is the first avenue.
In actual warfare, I imagine demoralising defeats, deep strikes into enemy territory to turn or decapitated enemy commanders, lots of propaganda and shit while making 0 warcrimes or overly brutal displays to make the population more at ease with our population.

Hearts and minds ya know. The heavy talker theme does also fit with last threads "our legion is full of poets and people who talk in riddles to confound our brother legion" odea
>>
Calling the vote now

Ask Mao Jian if he'll surrender:3
Observe the Mao forces for salvageable men: 12
Tell Feng he can shoot if he can end Jian's life:11
MUTINY:1

Alright, so Lieren will look over the force for salvageable men and talent to recruit, and tell Feng if he can make the shot to take it

Writing the update now

>>4555339
https://youtu.be/Bjvffx-h2KM
>>
File: Masked-men-1024x512.gif (264 KB, 1024x512)
264 KB
264 KB GIF
>>4555754
Wait. I've heard that tune before.
>>
Wait, how exactly is Lieren supposed to look like? I mean, i know he has iron hair but is he supposed to look like fulgrim? like an buff male primarch SoB? Like Dante from Devil May Cry?
>>
>>4555911
I picture him as Buff Buddha.
>>
"If an opportunity arises to take Jian's life, you have my permission to take it" You say, careful to be heard only by the hunters sharing the shadows you are hiding beneath "But do not fire upon him if you are not certain it will be a killing shot"

"When do I ever miss?" Feng asks confidently, but he's cocky, there are many factors that could lead to his shot straying or slow the bullet's momentum enough to prevent it from killing Mao Jian. And considering the distance between the alcove and Mao Jian's perch upon the wall, it'd be a difficult shot to make, even before the other obstacles in the way. The wind, the rain, and the unusually thick fog this morning. Feng would have to find a better, closer vantage point to remain accurate and have a chance of striking Jian down.

However, from the temperament of Mao's men and the atmosphere surrounding his army, would make such an endeavor worthwhile to preform. Most of them would surrender at the mere sight of you, their nerves frayed from the stories told of you that have passed through enough mouths to mutate into the sort of nonsense mother's would tell their children to keep them straying from the fog. Not to mention the stress any man would feel when being told they would do battle against an army that marches under the command of the Unbroken Thunder's howl. Even if they themselves stand beneath the banner of He who runs rivers red. It's an intimidating prospect after all, to challenge a legend.

"There is a first time for everything my brother, do not take unnecessary risks" You whisper as Half jaw Hu adjusts his and lets out a breath, careful to keep the three of you hidden. Clicking his tongue against what teeth he had, Hu stood and crept further into the Courtyard, resting beneath the arms of one of the trees growing within. Across the wall, Shaved head Wei and Dong avoid a patrol set to march in an attempt to intimidate Lei's army and lower moral. Jian is still unaware of how outmatched his men truly are. Liang and Jiang, with the synchronization only twins can have, come down the the tower they had been tucked away inside, watching the spotter straining his eyes to get an accurate count of your forces beyond the wall.

And Red face Wei, is merely sitting on a rock, dressed as a common servant, one of the few guards you've taken with past the walls, alongside Bai and Small Chen. As the guards upon the wall rotate out, and their replacement's walk past red face, he raises his hand, signally to Dong. Dong grits his teeth and press his hands together, turning to you and repeats the sign, even though Red faced Wei is no where close to outside of your vision.

"Tch, like a worried mother" Feng complains, shaking his head "It isn't like we're in danger, even without these rifles. I might be lame and crippled, brother, but I am a better fighter than any of these men"
cont
>>
>>4555963

"Jian is returning to his castle" You mutter, so Feng will here you even through his blustering, raising an open palm to order him further in the shadows "if you wish to end his life, trail him, and I meant no insult to your capabilities, but any assassination must be done in one stroke, with a single shot. If the boar flees, we'll have to give chase, and that'd be most troublesome"

"I've not remained in Nothing by my own choice, Lieren" Feng mutters in reply, most of his scars covered by a veil of shadow splitting down the middle of his face, he has always been restless after his injury in the first winter of your life. "I will not be coddled during a war, I can stand being kept from your travels throughout the land and bear your requests to patrol and guard over hunting, but"

That injury still poisons his hunter's spirit, and his sense of worth. You have always been able to tell, but the look in his eyes, that he fears the world thinks of him as some invalid. But, his injuries are a fatal weakness in pitched battle, before you had trained him in the use of rifles. Even with his obvious skill as a hunter, even a novice fighter would notice the opening his broke stride presents, the weakness in his stance. It'd have been inefficient and dangerous to allow Feng to continue chasing panthers on his own, or allowing him to accompany you on your journeys. It pains you, inside, to have to go to such lengths to keep your friend from getting himself killed, but with a rifle, that weakness is more or less nulled. But the wounds to his pride remain. Even the brightest flower may have thorns, as it is said.

"But I shall not see you march into battle, without standing by your side myself" Feng whispers, confidence glowing in his eyes as he looks into yours, as you ponder reminding him of his manners, considering how he tried to blatantly guilt you into being less cautious about his well being.

You roll your eyes and put your hand on his shoulder, covering it almost entirely.

"Brother, your opportunity is slipping from your fingers" You hiss, tightening your grip slightly to pull him from the haze of his fears and focus him once more "I do not think you helpless, for your injury means nothing now. No man would call you weak, Feng, but take care not to blind yourself to danger because of wounded pride"

He remains firm, his eyes locked with yours, one of the few men who can stand looking into your eyes for any amount of time.

"I would mourn for the rest of my life, if you meet your end trying to prove you are still strong and able" You continue, glancing from him to see how much progress Jian has made through the courtyard. He's taking his time, certain in his safety, unaware of the hunter's surrounding him.
cont
>>
>>4555964

"Walk as if you stalk a panther, with nothing but a dull knife" You say, deadly serious as you turn back to him "Do not fire unless it will kill Jian, I meant no insult when I told you to be careful, it was a reminder not to allow your excitement or anger overcome you. Control yourself, Feng, and keep a clear mind, if not for your safety, than your friend's peace of mind"

"I understand Lieren, I meant no offense, but I tire of being treated like cracked pottery" Feng mutters, loading a shot into his rifle, keeping his finger away from the trigger "I am honored to be allowed the killing strike, and will avoid any unnecessary risks. Fear not, for I shall return to your side unharmed, and with a Boar's head in my hands"

"Hurry or your quarry will escape you" You sigh, clenching your hand into a fist and releasing it to keep from scolding your friend for wasting time while you both stand in a Jackal nest "We can discuss this matter later"

He nods, and begins to scale the wall, smartly deciding not to follow Jian while he is accompanied by his personal guard. You watch his ascent, unable to suppress the worry you feel in watching Feng climb up a rain slick wall with not footholds, his bad leg nearly causing him to plummet back to the ground. Only when he pulls himself up to a railed landing overlooking the courtyard, do you turn away from him. But the worry remains. Feng has always been hot blooded, and there's a chance his restlessness will bring him trouble in his hunt.

its going to hang over your thoughts, a thin veil of trouble keeping your from thinking as clearly and quickly as you should. It's a troublesome aspect of your personality, but an important one, for it is merely your empathy beneath a different mask. The same urge that made you walk into Nothing for the first time. Despite your efforts to think otherwise, you still cannot help but to be troubled over the state of your friend, so long after his injury.

But, clearing your mind of such things is quite easy, as your emotions are well within your control and voiding your mind of what isn't necessary, or of emotions and feelings that may cloud your judgement or render you unable to act efficiently and effectively is akin to Childs' play for you. Feng will be fine, he has proven able to overcome his injury before.

And you must remained focused, so you shall bury both your concern and worry, to be able to carry out your own hunt. A hunt for men who are salvageable, of talent that's worthwhile among the ranks of Mao's men.
cont
>>
>>4555966
-
You have not heard a gunshot, or any sound that tells you that Feng has acted foolishly. He must be waiting for Mao to step into the open, to give another pride filled speech to his men, or laugh at your army standing outside his walls, or he is followed your advice and is waiting for the easiest shot to present itself to his eyes. And your search for virtuous souls has left you, disappointed. The commanders beneath Jian are all cut of the same cloth, sure of their own abilities, a weakness that some of your own friends and comrades in this war admittedly share. But unlike, say, Feng, Bai, or Dong, they do not realize their own limits nor do they have any values or virtue in your heart. Even Cui Fu could understand he was outmatched, his valor was respectable. These warriors, while similar in their lust for battle, are utterly blind. Feng, knows that he leg slows him down and renders him unfit for traditional combat, despite having to fight against his own pride as a hunter to do so. Bai, knows how to reign in his hunger for conflict and the thrill of the hunter, and act cleanly and carefully. Dong, despite his arrogance and distaste for cooperation, he will lend his spear to his brothers and fight alongside him if he or they cannot hunt alone.

But these men? they are almost like children! blustering and posturing and bullying their men, letting their pride blind them. As you watched there have been two duels, that have broken out because of conversations like the one you and Feng had. But the two of you know not to get upset over insults that aren't meant or accidentally wounds to pride. But the men beneath Mao? they cannot seem to speak to each other without some veiled jab or open bickering! its madness! Like Jackals fighting over a bone. They are skilled with the blade, with the spear, and are somewhat skilled as tacticians, but their character leaves too much to be desired. Their hearts are corroded by the venom of hubris and addicted to the scent of spilt blood.

None of them are salvageable.

The man of Dai accompany Mao is a submissive fool, who agrees with whatever is told to him and has no backbone, and is talented in terms of numbers and calculations, but refuses to accept his own mistakes and ignores his assistant logicians, who are quite more knowledgeable than he is, in both mathematics and logistics. They, can be offered to join your forces, as they have a sense of duty and diligence! unlike their master or Mao's commanders. And unfortunately, among the army stationed here, their are no true soldiers. They're farmers and architects taken from their fields and workshops to die in a land they have never before walked upon, let alone known.

Some, have skills that would be useful, but not upon the battlefield. They are a weak foundation, and beneath Mao, most of them would die due to his stubbornness and pride.
cont
>>
>>4555968

Pride...such a disease, it can crawl into the hearts of even the most virtuous of men. Perhaps you'd send the farmers back home, and add the especially talented architects to your personal stable of assistants. Or maybe you could get them to aid in construction somewhere or the other.

But of the nobles, their entourages and favored servants, in Zhou castle there was naught but chaff and wasted potential that was too deeply buried or held by men so consumed by their own egos that it simply could not be recovered or nurtured.

What a shame, but not every army holds a Jinhai, a secret Jade. You could train these farmers forced to be soldiers into skilled fighters, you could train them to be anything. But they had no natural talent, or stomach for battle. And there were no hidden genius among them, they were all simple men. Like the majority of men. if they wished to join your forces, they'd need training, so if they wish to return home, you shall allow them to do so as well.

Sighing, you return to Chen's side, as Bai sits upon a perch not far from where you and he sit. Chen snorts, but doesn't speak as he glances over the courtyard.

"Swine's back" He says turning back to you, wiping at his nose "Can see Feng as well, he's on the castle"

You sigh, and close your eyes.

"Feng, you fool, don't test your luck, the wind is howling, the rain is falling, the fog is thick" You groan, swaying your head slowly from side to side, mostly as a means to keep yourself from getting angry at your close friend's outrageous confidence

"Yeeeeep, ever since he picked up that rifle, he's been wanting to show off his eyes" Chen sighs, turning away from the courtyard and leaning against the watchtower the two of you have moved under, soaked in rain and assaulted by the wind "Guess that's cause of his...."
Chen stops himself, taking care not to rose your anger.

"Leg, yes" You say, rubbing the bridge of your nose as the two drunk officers above you laugh and sing a rowdy song of having relations with a young maiden pure. And then a stray thought shot a chill down your back "Wait, where on the castle is Feng?"

"Roof?" Chen says, scratching his bald head and glancing upwards, trying to figure out the word for where Feng is "uh, not the top, I mean the tiled...thing under the walkway"

"You mean the terrace over looking the courtyard?" You ask as Chen snorts and nods and you bite your tongue to keep from growling "He's under that?"

Chen nods again and you slam your first into the watchtower, shaking it and putting a hole through its wall.

"His balance is poor enough, without standing on rain slicked tiles at a sheer angle" You hiss, grinding your teeth "He's going to blow our cover away like smoke"

"Probably" Chen says blithely , wiping his nose again "Hope he doesn't break his other leg"
cont
>>
>>4555970

You can't bring yourself to look, it'd just make you angry and risk you having another outburst like you did in smacking the tower you're resting beneath. You'll hear Feng when he takes his tumble, as he is most likely to do.

"I should've just ordered him to shoot early, there'd be more of a chance of him killing Jian then" You mutter, slouching forward and pressing an open palm to your forehead, slowing your breath ease your annoyance and steadily growing irritation at the foolishness of your dear friend Feng.

Jian is giving a speech to his men in the center of his courtyard. It is not any different from the speech he gave early this morning, the message is the same. He's trying to raise morale and encourage his forces As the reinforcements he was promised, along with their supplies, have yet to arrive. He still is confident they will arrive, when it is likely that Lai Song has caused the Yan to simply abandon their supply chain in favor of chasing him through the hills and fields like a hound after a hare.

This was unlike Feng, he might be restless and eager to prove his worth, he's always has been, but he knows his weakness. He may be prideful in his abilities and certain of them, but is not blinded by it! So why is he doing something that'd be risky for a man without a badly damaged leg?

Unless, that was the easiest way to get his shot. The realization hits you like a sudden drop into a frozen lake. Feng isn't being careless, or foolish, or prideful or over confident. The easiest shot he can take, must be above Mao, close enough that he can reliably make the shot, and somewhere he can reload with ease. You hadn't looked to see where him yourself, so you had not seen his position. But if you are right and Feng isn't attempting to show off during his assassination attempt. Then he will make the shot.

The wind dies down, and a moment Mao's speech is interrupted by a rifle's bang. Silence falls, except for Feng cursing and kicking his feet against wet tiles. Then the screaming starts. Chen looks over his shoulder, into the courtyard.

"Amazing, he actually hit" He says dully, before sighing "and is about to fall off"

"I am amazed, proud, somewhat shocked, and quite furious with that man" You laugh, looking up to see if Feng needs your help and sigh in relief as you seem him manage to scramble back to the terrace he had climbed up earlier, panting before falling to floor, pale as a corpse.

"Oh he made it" Chen says with a small smile "Good. Surprised his boldness paid off"

"He knew what he was doing, he put efficiency over his safety" You say, crossing your arms over your chest "which is admirable as well as foolish"

Chen snorts, and wipes his rifle clean of rain as panic and chaos spread through out the courtyard and Mao's men, as they realize he's been struck dead somehow in the safety the castle he held.
cont
>>
>>4555972

What do you do while the enemy is distracted?
> Go to Feng, congratulate him for the shot and scold him for being a jackass
>Dramatically reveal yourself, and in terms the men who followed Mao will understand, tell them that you have the ability to end any of their lives as you did Mao's
> Alert Yin Lei to charge the gates now that the army is distracted and without leadership
>Give the command to your other hunters to Pick off the officers and commanders as well
> Write in?


>>4555911
>Dante

That made me imagine something

Lieren: You showed up

Fulgrim: You sure know how to throw a party! No food, no drinks, and the only babe just left.

Lieren: My sincerest apology brother. I was so eager to see you, I couldn't concentrate on preparations for the bash.

Fulgrim: Whatever, at any rate, it's been a whole year since we last met. How about a kiss from your little brother? Or better yet how about a kiss from THIS!
>>
>>4555976
>>Give the command to your other hunters to Pick off the officers and commanders as well.

Can't give them time to even think of pulling themselves together. We just made an opening in the leadership department so we can't allow anybody to even think of filling it.
>>
>>4555976
>>Give the command to your other hunters to Pick off the officers and commanders as well
>>4555988
agreed
Our observation was that maybe some of the commoners can be saved. Maybe some of them can be worked into productive members, but there are no stand-outs. We should continue cutting the head off the snake and once they're rightly scared shitless, unmoving, and corralled, that's when we reveal ourselves.

Reassign those who are unproblematic, POW those we're unsure of, and execute the rest. Move on with the war.
>>
>>4555976
>Give the command to your other hunters to Pick off the officers and commanders as well
>>
>>4555976
>>Give the command to your other hunters to Pick off the officers and commanders as well
>>
>>4555976
>Give the command to your other hunters to Pick off the officers and commanders as well
> Go to Feng, congratulate him for the shot and scold him for being a jackass
Based Feng. I hope he lives long enough to be an Astartes.
>>
>>4556104
Probably too old. At best he could be a semi astartes like Kor Pharon or Luther, but their are plenty of other positions he could find honor in.
>>
>>4555976
>>Give the command to your other hunters to Pick off the officers and commanders as well
then
>>>Dramatically reveal yourself, and in terms the men who followed Mao will understand, tell them that you have the ability to end any of their lives as you did Mao's
and when we've finished recruiting,
>> Go to Feng, congratulate him for the shot and scold him for being a jackass
>>
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>>4556104
Ignore this second action vote, I was half asleep and voted twice for some fucking reason.
>>
>>4556227
Support.

>>4555976
>Lieren is Virgil
It just fits.
>>
>>4555976
>Give the command to your other hunters to Pick off the officers and commanders as well
> Go to Feng, congratulate him for the shot and scold him for being a jackass
>>
>>4555976
>Give the command to your other hunters to Pick off the officers and commanders as well
>>
>>4556227
support
>>
>>4556248
Lieren IS THE STORM THAT IS APPROACHING
>>
>>4555976
>Give the command to your other hunters to Pick off the officers and commanders as well
> Go to Feng, congratulate him for the shot and scold him for being a jackass
>>
>>4556386
Lieren: why do you refuse to gain virtue? The virtue of our father, The emperor?

Fulgrim: Father? I don't have a father. Ha ha ha! I just dont like you is all.

>Intense mortal combat, Gundao flips the blade away and impaled Fulgrim

Lieren: foolishness Fulgrim, foolishness. Without Virtue is everything. And without it, you cannot stand against anything.
>>
>>4556444
*Virtue is everything
>>
>>4556447
Imagine if in this reality Fulgrim was actually the chill primarch. Then we'd actually have that Dante + Vergil relationship.
>>
>>4556457
I mean, he was chill for a while. But he let his anxieties fuck his legion over.
>>
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>Lieren is the Motivational Primarch
Ah yes, like what a Comissar is supposed to do except without the fanaticism and the itchy trigger finger
>>
>>4556469
Bold of you to think we are not fanatics with a perfect pokerface.
>>
>>4556469
>Lieren reinvents the Katana
>immediately starts judgement cutting the entirety of Yan's nobles
>>
calling the vote now

Give the command to complete destroy this army's command structure:10
Go to feng: 5
Dramatically reveal yourself:3

Alright, so Lieren will give the order to completely cripple the vanguard army, and then go to feng and Congratulate/ scold him.

Writing the update now
>>
>>4556791
>Appears behind your castle walls
>Nothin personal, Noble
>>
And thus the chance you've been waiting for within the walls of this castle has at last fallen onto your lap. With the foundation of the occupiers now dead, it would now be efficient to remove those who could in theory take his place. His officers, his commanders, who even in the throws of panic are no doubt planning their own ascension to leadership. A serpent may grow many heads, after all, lest they are removed quickly. Standing up, you hiss through your teeth, lifting up your Guandao as you cease trying to remain hidden from all the eyes within Zhou castle.

"Chen, the time has come" You say, smiling with satisfaction, confident that this string of assassinations will be preformed not only efficiently but cleanly by the men of your hunting party "Enter this tower, slay the officers however you deem fit, and give the signal to others"

Chen snorts, reaching into the satchel by his side, pulling out a mirror and flint and sliver of steel, something that all of your men carry with them on this mission of infiltration and sabotage. Chen will end those men's lives and give the signal by reflecting a small flame's light into the courtyard. Something that can be seen through the fog and rain.

"Understood" He says simply, rising to his feet as well, holding onto his rifle like a club "I shall not needlessly waste ammunition"

"Do not break your weapon, soldier" You order sternly, wagging your own weapon like a father would his finger in scolding one of his sons "but, as I've already said, you are to end them however you are able to. How you do so is a decision for you to make, but do not use your rifle like a club"

"Understood" Chen says again with a nod, reaching for his side to retrieve his bayonet, setting into place as you leave him, gracefully leaping onto the railing alongside the wall. Despite your great size and the heavy rain and fierce winds, you keep your balance with ease, but must move quickly off of the rail, lest the wood splinters beneath your weight. Slipping off the side, you catch yourself on the edge of the tiled awning, fingers dug between two tiles. Above you, Chen kicks down the door to the tower and bellows a roar of challenge to the drunk officers above. You remain where you are, above the chaos and panic in the courtyard beneath your feet.

Some men were wise enough to look for the unseen assailant, no doubt imagining a devil or magical beast having crept over the walls to end their master's life, Instead of carefully placed killers than have been stalking the shadows and empty halls of their own fortress since they occupied it. Soon their illusion of safety, that they are protected by their walls and numbers, shall be torn away. As soon as Chen gives the signal, your other companions shall finish the work Feng has started, and remove the new "heads" of this serpent before they can grow.
cont
>>
>>4556968

Closing your eyes, you remain hanging in the air, taking a few moments to meditate on the sensation, to focus your mind and dethatch yourself from the havoc beneath you. It is a method to more easily filter out the unnecessary noise. the sensation of standing upon nothing, like the feeling of floating, is an excellent way to clear the mind of distractions. In a few more moments, you heal the final yells of the officers shirking their duties in the tower you had sat under. And a few moments after that, another gunshot rings out.

Opening your eyes, you reach out your Guandao, and get its pole of steel stuck between tree branches, giving you a second to let go of the tiled awning and grab ahold of the tree itself, before the branch breaks. Another gunshot, followed closely by a third scream through the cacophony of an entire army in the throws of panic. This tree has grown large enough to support your weight, allowing you to throw yourself onto one of the decorative statues standing proudly in front of the castle proper. Gripping onto the outheld blade of the warrior depicted in stone, you quickly climb to stand upon its head, and with a simple jump, fly through the air thus throwing yourself against the walls of the castle itself.

The stone buckles from the force of your impact, and cracks. In rapid succession, four more gunshots ring out, as you dig your hand into the newly made crevices of the wall, and begin to pull and claw your way onto the first layer of rooftop. It is as easy as walking up a flight of stairs. Standing upon rain slick tiles of clay once more, you notice a path of them have been knocked out of place, no doubt from Feng's scramble to safety.

You just walk over on the ledge he is laying upon, stepping over the railing and looking down at him. He's pale as a ghost, pain written across his face. He twisted the ankle of his good leg in keeping himself from plummeting off the roof.

"Ah, Lieren" He says, half wincing, his tone low and quiet "I told you I would not fail, did I not?"

Another gunshot rings out as you lean against your trusted weapon, frowning and looking over your dear friend as he remains prone, panting and unable to find his breath. Pain does that, to men and beast. Once the rush screaming for survival, to live fades away upon the currents of the subconscious mind, only pain and fatigue remains.

"I am impressed, it was an amazing shot, I can think of few men who could have made it" You say, before twitching your head to glance at the courtyard, seeing a man with a bleeding hole in his leg die as three bullets come to rest in his chest. The man is then trampled by a throng of peasants fleeing towards the safety of the castle.
cont
>>
>>4556970

"Especially considering the circumstances it was preformed under, just a half a second sooner or later, and you would have missed. You saw your chance to land a killing blow and took it. A lull in the wind, to make the bullet fly true" You continue, praising you friend as you kneel in front of his head "Few men would have the nerves to wait for such an opportunity, and would thus fail in their attempt to assassinate Jian. It was bold of you, to risk your own health and safety to reach the best vantage point from which to take your shot"

Feng smiles smugly and then grins proudly, his eyes tired, the one beneath the scar the panther that ruined his leg gave him closing as he looks to the grey sky above your heads. Relief washes over him, and color returns to his face. You press a finger against his skull, hard enough only to give him a dull pain.

"It was also incredibly foolish, and if these men knew firearms, would have certainly resulted in your death or capture" You continue, speaking in the same gentle way you had been for the length of this conversation as Feng groans and winces, but does not move to attempt to push your hand away from his forehead "Your leg will need to be splinted, to allow your ankle to heal, you will not be able to walk on it for some days, in the wilderness"

"this would mean death, this would mean death" Feng groans, gritting his teeth "I know it was a foolhardy thing to do, but it was the perfect time to strike, was it not? "

"It was, you once again proved your hunting instincts to be quite well honed" You say, pulling your finger off of his head, leaving him to rub the red mark you left upon it "You threw the flock into panic, allowing the rest of the hunting party to take their pick of them"

As if one cue another gunshot silences the choir of screams and pleas for mercy. It seems the peasants think the wrath of some hateful and vengeful god has fallen upon them and seeks to take their lives and souls as payment for some wrongdoing of theirs.

"Then why are you reprimanding me, brother? if I succeeded beyond all expectations, and achieved more than what I set out to do?" Feng asks curiously, a hint of irritation in his tone as he looks up at you, his scarred eye opening enough to peer at you as he does so. Rain washes down his face, pulling in the scar along it, his lame leg twitches as he moves to sit up

With his back to you, he crosses his legs.

"I did my duty, I did it well. So what if I was wounded?" He asks, the irritation is his voice gone, left with just a mild sorrow brought upon by displeasing you, judging from his body language and slumped shoulders

"It may have seemed like the perfect shot, but remember perfection is unattainable, you got as close as you could to it, considering the circumstances" you explain, putting a hand on his shoulder to reassure him he did no wrong or failed in anyway to your eyes
cont
>>
>>4556973

"But injuring yourself was unnecessary, putting yourself into danger as you did, was foolish"

Feng remains silent, you lean closer, still kneeling behind him.

"I do not imply your judgement was faulty, I simply believe, that while the risk you took worked out and thus proved to be effective, it could have easily have failed, and left your crippled and surrounded by enemies" You explain "I praise you for you achievement, but remind you that what you did, was"

"Foolish" He sighs, the tension releasing from his back as he looks to the sky again.

"But effective" You add, smiling and laughing heartily as two more gunshots sound off "but that was an outrageous risk you took, foolish even though it proved fruitful. As your commander and friend , I think you acted the part of the half wit doing such a thing, but as your friend and commander, I think you accomplished a feat that you must be praised for"

He glances back to you, looking confused and unsure if he should be offended or gratified by your words.

"For it was quite the impressive shot you took, I have to acknowledge that, but I cannot allow you to think that how you managed to make it was not, well foolish but I feel I have used that word too much in this conversation already" You laugh, pressing your hands to your knees as you move to stand.

"Ah just repeating what you already said, but worded differently" Feng says, scratching his jaw

"I believe you need to the point hammered into your mind, since your skull has time and time again proven to be astoundingly thick" You say with a friendly grin as your friend groans at your barely veiled jab.

"If I didn't need help walking" He chuckles, leaning against his rifle "I'd tell you what I think about those words of yours"

You join him in laughing, to relax your nerves before you must deal with the problem presented by the now leaderless army. But for you, it will be a most simple of tasks to calm the panic and take this castle without further bloodshed.

Rather, you should think on what your next move will be, as the war is far from one.

How will you proceed, now that you have an open path into the Yan territory and have already defeated a portion of their army, with no casualties? A simple march further, may prove ineffective after all, and the Yan will no doubt redouble their efforts, now that you have shown just how much of a threat you pose to them now.
cont
>>
>>4556975

What is your next course of action, Lieren?
> Regather your army, and move it to Gai Castle, it shall be your new strong hold. And take the time to personally aid the surrounding villages, if they have not fled in terror of you and your army.
> Use the defeated levies to counter Yan's propaganda, and to spread your own, so the people do not fear an invasion of monsters and scoundrels.
>Regroup your army, and use your superior firepower and advantage granted by defeating the vanguard force to rush deeper into enemy territory against the "Common sense" of warfare
> Commit the resources and time to absorb this army into yours, and raise these levies to the standard of your professional soldiers.
>Write

Sorry for the wait.

>>4556925
It was a dark day for chaos when Lieren discovered anime
>>
>>4556978
>> Use the defeated levies to counter Yan's propaganda, and to spread your own, so the people do not fear an invasion of monsters and scoundrels.
> Regather your army, and move it to Gai Castle, it shall be your new strong hold. And take the time to personally aid the surrounding villages, if they have not fled in terror of you and your army.
>>
>>4556978
How far away is Yan’s castle?
Regardles
> Use the defeated levies to counter Yan's propaganda, and to spread your own, so the people do not fear an invasion of monsters and scoundrels.
>also use shills to help steer things in our favor
>>
>>4556978
> Regather your army, and move it to Gai Castle, it shall be your new strong hold. And take the time to personally aid the surrounding villages, if they have not fled in terror of you and your army.
> Use the defeated levies to counter Yan's propaganda, and to spread your own, so the people do not fear an invasion of monsters and scoundrels.
>>
>>4556978
>Regroup your army, and use your superior firepower and advantage granted by defeating the vanguard force to rush deeper into enemy territory against the "Common sense" of warfare
I think this is a better idea thinking about it. If we cut the head off the snake it’ll demoralize the other nobles and if Daiyu does it then the narrative they were trying to spin falls apart.
>>
>>4556978
> Regather your army, and move it to Gai Castle, it shall be your new strong hold. And take the time to personally aid the surrounding villages, if they have not fled in terror of you and your army.
> Use the defeated levies to counter Yan's propaganda, and to spread your own, so the people do not fear an invasion of monsters and scoundrels.
>>
>>4556980
Support.
>>
>>4556978
>> Use the defeated levies to counter Yan's propaganda, and to spread your own, so the people do not fear an invasion of monsters and scoundrels.
> Regather your army, and move it to Gai Castle, it shall be your new strong hold. And take the time to personally aid the surrounding villages, if they have not fled in terror of you and your army.
>>
>>4556978
> Regather your army, and move it to Gai Castle, it shall be your new strong hold. And take the time to personally aid the surrounding villages, if they have not fled in terror of you and your army.
> Use the defeated levies to counter Yan's propaganda, and to spread your own, so the people do not fear an invasion of monsters and scoundrels.
Let them send more nobles against us, they'll find a similar fate. Once word of our deeds spread throughout Yan, we will not have to kill nearly as many of its common folk
>>
>>4556978
>> Regather your army, and move it to Gai Castle, it shall be your new strong hold. And take the time to personally aid the surrounding villages, if they have not fled in terror of you and your army.
>> Use the defeated levies to counter Yan's propaganda, and to spread your own, so the people do not fear an invasion of monsters and scoundrels.
>>
>>4556978
It will be darker still when they confront him on a storm wracked world, atop a mountain with a peach tree in the background, illuminated by lightning strikes.
>>
>>4556978
>Move to Gai castle
>Use the defeated levies to counter Yan's propagada
>>
>>4556978
>Move the army to Gai Castle, and use the levies to counter Yan's propaganda.
>>
calling the vote now.

Employ counter propaganda:9
Occupy Gai castle and personally aid the surrounding land: 9
Rush deeper into Yan lands:1

Alright, writing the update now
>>
>>4557862
Shit, forgot to do the little blurb thing. Well it should be obvious, but Lieren will employ counter propaganda and occupy Gai castle and do his usual benevolent shindig of helping the common man
>>
Well, it'd be the height of foolishness to allow these terrified men return to their farms, to their armies and their leaders with story of a an invisible killer able to infiltrate through unbroken walls and kill. Such an experience would surely twist into tales of devils ensorcelled into service, violent and vengeful spirits plied into service with promises of retribution carried forth by their own hands. Of sorceries dark and mysterious, of monsters their minds created to fill in the emptiness and explain how noble men and storied warriors fell without so much as a fight and were slain so suddenly they were not even aware they died. Those are the stories they'd spread, their fevered and panicked mines screaming the terror of this storm wracked night to all who would listen.

And while, on the short term, that would be beneficial, as it would lower morale greatly as there are few men who can truly be prepared and ready to stand against a monster let alone a horde of many such abominations. But it would sow seeds for the destruction of your reforms, and make it more difficult to achieve clean victories in the coming battles. If stories spread, that the giant and his army of devil, spirits and monsters of other kinds march through the land of the Yan, even the meekest man shall find the bravery hidden within the depths of his heart. The greatest force, the strongest motivation in the world, is a father protecting his children, a brother defending his siblings, a son defending his home. And thus, blood of heroes and the innocent shall be shed needlessly, as the Lieren they imagine drives them to madness and emboldens them to hold their ground, even in the face of certain defeat and death.

And you shall not drown the lands in blood, nor paint a tragedy in the lives of men who have before never walked from the farm they were born to. These men, though they wear different colors and march beneath an hostile banner, they are your people. All people of Shangrala are your kin, in someway. You shall not needlessly spend the lives of those you would call brothers in another day, another time. Only when it is necessary and efficient to do so.

Rather, you would use these men and their impressionable minds. For they lack experience, unlike your army that have seen the wonders left in your wake and have basked in the "miracles" you bring where you walk. With sweetened words and a gentle, fatherly tone, they will see the lies the tyrants they have toiled under for generations have fed and weaseled into their minds. No doubt, a few of them would come to tragic, nasty ends for believing the truth of your existence, of your purpose. But you would avenge them, and remember the weight of their deaths to the end of your days, as you still shoulder the horrible end of Ling, and the messengers of who you hold no delusions that they were not punished for merely speaking well of you and believing in something beyond excess and fleeting pleasures.
cont
>>
>>4558033

But it was a kinder, more benevolent path, than forcing these men to war, than slaughtering them, than keeping them from their homes. And for every man slain speaking the wisdom you've gifted them, speaking the truth, you would hang their executioners high, for all to see the fate of tyrants and those who would follow their gospel of sin. To show the fate of murderers and remorseless killers. As you have done many times before, and no doubt will be forced to do many times again.

With a steeled heart and focused mind, you walk into the courtyard, by leaping from the perch you and Feng had been seated within, discussing his accomplishment and his recklessness. The fog clears before you, dust and smoke swirling around your ankles as you stand back to your feel height, stretching your arms out, before slowly bringing them close together once again. The panic, the screaming stops. The scattered, panicked army ceases running around like fowl with their heads cut off. What an imposing, terrifying figure you must present, eyes shining in the gloom of the storm, appearing from nowhere. Not one man moves to try and attack you, not one moves to try and flee from you.

To these poor men, it must seem as if death incarnate has come to end their lives and some inborn instinct tells them to just accept their fate, so as not to die tired if nothing else. What must they think, when your might hands clasp together, and you sit before them, the smoke clearing while the scent of spilt blood and moist dirt and wet stone and lumber remains. How strange a sight it must be as you slowly take a breath, not moving to attack or barking commands and orders to them as their master would.

"Stop this senseless panic, feel no fear, I have not come to take your lives but rather to save them!" You proclaim, the air becoming tense and heavy from the combined dread of the army before you "To enlighten you and show you the truth of Lieren and his way, to cast aside the lies spoken of my philosophy and character and reveal the virtue of my actions and those who would follow my example. I am no conqueror, I am not murderous ogre, I am no mad beast"

You shake your hands above your head, rain pattering against your armor, forming small streams and spilling off of you like waterfalls in the miniature.

"But rather a man, who can no longer stand idle by as his fellow men suffer beneath the rule of tyrants and fools" You continue, speaking harshly and angrily now, but not less passionately "as plenty and wealth are wasted in extravagant wasteful shows of power, while the nobility feasts while children starve. I have deposed the serpent Gao, to ensure his lands remain prosperous and healthy, and its people remain safe, fed and comforted. I do not do this out of greed or pride, I do not shed blood and end lives for my own gain, my brothers"

You sigh, closing your eyes, feeling the cold spring rain falling against the skin of your hands. It is a pleasing sensation.
cont
>>
>>4558034

A simple gift given from the skies of Shangrala down to the lands beneath her heavens.

"Every action, every labor, every killing, every word spoken from my mouth, has been for the betterment of those who breath the same air as eye, work the same fields as I, eats the same meat and drinks the same water as I. I do not rebel for personal gain, or power" You say calmly, basking in the cleansing rain, still gazing into darkness as you turn your helmeted head to the sky and sigh "But freedom, freedom to be virtuous, to be prosperous. So all men may go to bed with a full belly, can sleep warmly, and travel unafraid. So fathers must not fear their children being taken from them by illness or famine or winter, and Sons may benefit from their fathers' wisdom for many years more. So the lowest of men can grow content and no longer fear what hides beneath the fog, so all lands may prosper and grow. So the Virtuous can stand tall and the decadent can be cast from their castles and removed from power"

Opening your eyes, you meet the gaze of a man who was bold enough to dare to approach you as you sat, his eyes filled with wonder and awe, as if he were caught in a waking dream, enchanted by your words.

"This war is not held between a usurper and liberators, but rather kind, moral souls and the cruel fools who would lead you to die in distant lands" You continue on, speaking softly and kindly, a smile beneath your featureless war mask "See me now, I am no Ogre, I am merely a Giant with a big heart and wisdom to see the poison that has afflicted the kingdom of Yan, sit with me, be calm, none of my men shall harm you. The killing is done, listen if you wish, to the wisdom a lifetime of toil and reflection has given unto me, and perhaps you shall learn the true face of the nobility you serve and how monstrous they can be"

You bow your head, as a few more men gather around you, and then a few more and more yet, until a crowd has gathered before you.

"I shall not force you down the Journey I walk, but I shall tell you of it" You say, as you remove your helmet and black plate of steel covering your expression, to show these men that you are indeed just a man, no god, no monster, no beast. Just a man

"And the sins of Tyrants" You hiss through your teeth
-

No force has come to siege Dai Castle yet, perhaps because the blow you dealt to the land was more crushing than you anticipated, perhaps they are still licking the wounds upon their pride. Or maybe Lai Song's raids and harassments has made them cautious and given them cause to rethink their tactics. Or perhaps the fact you have Lord Dai's children and wife as your hostages has caused an argument between the remaining five generals? Whatever the reason, you do not make the mistake of becoming incautious.
Cont
>>
>>4558035

Or wasting the chance you have to bring prosperity to these lands. While some of the border villages have been abandoned, a good number remained populated, the people who live in them hiding or trying to build defenses both mundane and esoteric. Why just today you found an old man sacrificing a cliffjumper and Ox to appease a lake spirit to do battle against the "Ogre" stalking the lands.

He was a funny sort, cut of the same cloth as Shan, and quickly realized you were no terrible, man eating devil. And the night before, children in a town you were working in to help fertilize their fields with the proper mineral and nutrient treatments tried to ambush and catch you, which was amusing.

Though a few of your generals have balked at you casual attitude and gifting of supplies to local farms, but they quite their protests when you point out these men are beneath the protection of Dai Castle, and you now hold Dai castle, thus it is your duty to ensure they are fed and cared for.

Already the road has began to creep over the border, heavily guarded of course.

But, the fact you have received no messenger from the Yan or sign of their response to your victory, is worrisome. All Lai Song reports in his lighting raids are...scouts, or supplies heading for other castles near the border. No army movements or mustering grounds nearby your stronghold.

Which means they are planning something, preparing for to counter with a devastating strike.

What will you do, Lieren?
> Take a small force and find the Yan army yourself, and show them why they should fear a Giant.
> Begin reinforcing Dai castle and the surrounding lands, spreading your men throughout it. let the Yan strike against a wall of steel
>Send word to Lord Dai you are willing to release his kin, if he would meet you in his own castle. And while you wait, treat his family well, acting like an uncle of sorts
>Command Feng, Jinhai, Bai, Liang, and Dong, to take scouting forces into Enemy territory, while your army rests and prepares for battle
>Write in
>>
>>4558037
> Begin reinforcing Dai castle and the surrounding lands, spreading your men throughout it. let the Yan strike against a wall of steel
> Take a small force and find the Yan army yourself, and show them why they should fear a Giant.

If the strike force team passes make sure the men who come are volunteers who understand the dangerous situation they're being place in.
>>
>>4558037
> Take a small force and find the Yan army yourself, and show them why they should fear a Giant.
> Begin reinforcing Dai castle and the surrounding lands, spreading your men throughout it. let the Yan strike against a wall of steel
They've probably learned about the capabilities of our guns, the infantry level ones at least. We should kill some of their generals like we did Mao. They will be thrown into chaos by the deaths of their leaders, and allow more men to desert before facing our guns
>>
>>4558037
>> Begin reinforcing Dai castle and the surrounding lands, spreading your men throughout it. let the Yan strike against a wall of steel
>Send word to Lord Dai you are willing to release his kin, if he would meet you in his own castle. And while you wait, treat his family well, acting like an uncle of sorts
>>
>>4558037
>>Command Feng, Jinhai, Bai, Liang, and Dong, to begin reinforcing Dai castle and the surrounding lands, spreading your men throughout it. let the Yan strike against a wall of steel.
delegate
> Take a small force and find the Yan army yourself, harrass them (kill scouts, shoot a General if possible) and show them why they should fear a Giant.
pretty much them same thing we did to Mao, cut out the better aspects of his army and then he walks into a trap.
>>
>>4558037
> Begin reinforcing Dai castle and the surrounding lands, spreading your men throughout it. let the Yan strike against a wall of steel
Let's make Dorn proud
>>
>>4558084
Support
>>
>>4558037
>> Take a small force and find the Yan army yourself, and show them why they should fear a Giant.
>> Begin reinforcing Dai castle and the surrounding lands, spreading your men throughout it. let the Yan strike against a wall of steel
>>
>>4558037
> Begin reinforcing Dai castle and the surrounding lands, spreading your men throughout it. let the Yan strike against a wall of steel
>>
>>4558037
> Begin reinforcing Dai castle and the surrounding lands, spreading your men throughout it. let the Yan strike against a wall of steel
> Take a small force and find the Yan army yourself, and show them why they should fear a Giant.
> Send a few "personalized" copies of your written teachings to Yan's Palace
That last one doesn't really hold any tactical advantage, it's mostly just to fuck with Yan.
>>
It just occurred to me, what if we're the long-term planner? Not an empire builder or administrator, but the guy who looks ahead to the future when everything's done and dusted, and plans to uplift and improve everything? Like Emps webway plan, but on a smaller scale. Though that does have the implication of something going wrong, dooming us to 10'000 years of darkness and despair...

> Begin reinforcing Dai castle and the surrounding lands, spreading your men throughout it. let the Yan strike against a wall of steel
> Take a small force and find the Yan army yourself, and show them why they should fear a Giant.
>>
>>4558229
Isn't 'Empire-Builder' Gollymoon's thing?
>>
>>4558238
We're basically a better, less autistic Gorillaman.
>>
>>4558314
Guilliman isnt autistic though. Hes great at multitasking and keeping a cool head, our differences are more in our focus of what we consider important than anything primarch defining. Yet.
>>
>>4558037
>> Take a small force and find the Yan army yourself, and show them why they should fear a Giant.
>> Begin reinforcing Dai castle and the surrounding lands, spreading your men throughout it. let the Yan strike against a wall of steel
>>
Alright calling the vote now

Reinforce Dai castle and the surrounding lands: 10
Lead a strike force to find the Yan Forces and attack them:8
Send personalized copies of your written teachings to Yan palace:1
Delegate the task of shoring up your local defenses:1
Send word to lord Dai you'll be willing to release his family, if he enters in negotiations with you:1

Alright, So Lieren will begin to reinforce not only Dai Castle, but the surrounding lands as well, spreading his army through them rather than gathering them into a single area. Making the Dai demesne a nightmare to launch an assault against.

And, will himself lead a small force to find the Yan army himself and show them exactly how much a threat this rebellion is.

Writing the update now
>>
And thus, despite the weapons and training of your army, you are endangered by this unknown. If you march out your army or even a portion of it to look for an arm of or perhaps the main body of the Yan's military forces, you'll be exposed on all sides during the search. And thus Dai castle and the road into the lands beneath your protection would be endangered. As numbers can overwhelm even the most overwhelming of advantages in quality of arms and position. Thus, it'd be apparent to remain where you are and reinforce the hold you have on the one castle you've taken in their territory, and wait for their reaction to come. But by your mind this would also prove to be a folly most deadly. Allowing them to move beneath the fog could find your forces surrounded, or give them time to raise levies to replace those that have deserted. Simply waiting in safety for their response would merely give them more time to hunt down those who follow The Journey you have taught to them, those who have seen you for who you truly are and speak against the libel weighed against you. So while it would be wise to simply shore up the defense of Dai castle, to allow the Yan to move uncontested, and maneuver their armies freely would be a grave mistake.

This leaves you at an impasse, you realize, as you sit on the throne of Lord Dai, having been forced to take it in your seat, as the leaders of your army and support corps have gathered to discuss and bicker about the next course of action the Liberation army of Lieren should take. Lai Song is of the mind to continue the assaults and push deeper into the enemy's land. Yin Lei advises caution and sending scouting forces ahead, backed by army encampments in the villages you've assisted already. Shan, who has barged his way into the meeting as the unofficial head of the artillery corps, has been trying to push for a rain of destruction and devastation on some unoccupied piece of land, Dandan his second in command instead offers the suggestion to bombard a nearby castle and render it to rubble. Your head architect, a man who still refuses to tell you his name despite being your long time assistant, suggests instead to use this lull in the fighting to build the road further, and to turn the people of Yan to your side the same way you did the in the lands that once suffered beneath Gao.

And there are many more suggestions and variations, all being shouted and filling the room with a loud buzz of senseless noise, their words and beliefs mingling and mixing together into a jumble of nonsense phrases and shouted council. They're like a bunch of fishmongers trying to sell last night's catch before the morning sun rises. While you are able to pick out each member of this council's suggestion as they speak them, even with your ability to focus and filter out unnecessary information, it is quite troublesome to hear them all argue on which road the army shall march upon.
cont
>>
>>4558939

They are all wise enough of course, not to mention any tactics that you would consider, unseemly.

No suggestions to burn fields of grain, to pillage poor villages or forcefully induct their men to your army. Your virtue and belief the world could and should be better than it was, has gathered these men beneath you. Men who might have toiled away in fields or wasted away as an unneeded son of a lord, or useless daughter of a merchant. Men who might have died of hunger, or sickness, or in some pointless conflict. And they have been gathered here, to change the course of Yan and Shangrala's history. Their talent and potentials realized. Genius and wisdom that would have been wasted or even entirely lost, now are being harnessed for the betterment of all men, rather than lingering unused or being abused by some fool of a lord or bastard of a father. Despite the heated discussion, insults and curses being thrown between your advisors, it brings joy to you to see them all together. Living proof of the effectiveness of your methods. For who could have found such men and women of Jade, in a land beset by famine and other hardships? And who else would have set them to bring prosperity to their fellow man, rather than keep their ability for their own gain, or snuff them out out of fear?

Despite the rowdiness of this meeting, it is a living mural that proves that your way works. The Journey you have led so many others to begin purely for the benefit of other men and those who come after them, functions as you intended. It's odd to think of a philosophy as a machine, but you just did, it makes you laugh at yourself. Thankfully none of your advisors take the slip in the silent mask you've worn as an insult. Function? Work? Belief can do neither of those things. It is the work to the man who believes to do good and better the world around him, not the words you written. What a foolish thought, its hard to stop laughing. Daiyu notices your outburst, and turns to you as you rest your head upon an open hand, watching the sea of argument and heated discussion before your eyes as a father might watch his children play.

Grinning happily, you turn your gaze to her.

"my apologizes, it's just odd to see court being held so loosely, I half expected you to stand and start shouting for silence or death" She says with an amused snicker, no doubt remembering her slain father "You are not the kind of man of course, but its still...amusing to see you act so casually while battles are being planned and war is being discussed, Lieren"

She turns away from you and to the chaos, her autumn red hair allowed to flow freely, untied and unbound.

"How can you maintain such serenity, in a time like this? have you, perhaps, already planned a way to take head of lord Yan, as you have my father? Or are you merely..." She continues, pausing for a moment to find the right word to use as she tries to learn more of your character and figure out your thought process.
cont
>>
>>4558940

Clever, Qian Xia had done the same when you were younger, as had many others. Trying to find a crack with which to view your heart and mind through. The wise among them merely asked, like Guozhi, or your own father. There is no shame in simply asking another what their thoughts and feelings are, after all.

"Amused by this? You've always preached the benefit of efficient action and careful consideration, yet, you sit here, smiling at the chaos present in your own council of advisors" She says with a bemused smile, her lips painted black in a way that has at times reminded you of her father's sickening habits. Apparently its because her name means Black Jade, but...why not dye her hair then? Perhaps it'd be too much effort to do so. You would not know, as you have never had a need to apply makeup to your features or dye your hair.

"You are a mystery still, oh kind Lieren" She laughs, as you raise a hand and shake your head

"I've been taking their suggestions into consideration" You say at last, having remained silent for hours "I've already come up with our army's next course of action, and no I am not amused by them, I am amused by my own thoughts"

Daiyu laughs a little harder, covering her mouth as she does so.

"What an odd thing to find humor in, if I may pry, what thought cause you to fall into a fit of laughter moments ago" She says as Yin Delun notices the two of you talking and moves to join the conversation, Bai turns to him, having remained motionless in his duties of guarding you as he does so. Ever aware, ever cautious.

"It would be difficult to explain, suffice to say my manner of thinking itself had amused me. A stray thought brought me laughter" You explain, before beckoning Young Delun to come sit by you, by now the rest of the council realizes you have begun speaking again and have turned to you. All of your advisors waiting with baited breath for you to give your command and the details of the tactics they are to follow in the coming nights.

"Lord Lieren" the young man, heir of the Yin family says, placing a hand over his heart and kneeling before you. You just furrow your brow, sitting upon a throne and being called Lord is...unsettling to you. Many have referred to you as Lord before, but somehow, the combination of that and the fact you are seated in a throne makes the words upsetting. Like it sets a hive of insects crawling down your back, burrowing into your bones.

But you do not reprimand the future lord and merely lower your hand as Silence falls around you. Bai lowers his rifle as well.

"What is it you wish to tell me, Delun?" You ask as the man swallows hard, glancing back to his elderly father who has some how fallen asleep despite all of the noise. Wetting his lips with a flick of his tongue, he turns back to you.
cont
>>
>>4558943

"It looked like you wished to discuss something" You say again as his hair bobs with the movement of his head, only kept from falling over his eyes by the fact he has it tied and restrained in a bun on the back of his head. And even then it remains quite wild and long.

"My father was wondering if you had reached a decision regarding the movement of our forces" He says, lying through his teeth and obviously so. His nervousness comes from the fact he is speaking on his father's behalf and would surely be reprimanded for such a bold action if his words do not match his father's own desire

"Morning, after all, is approaching" He adds, clasping his hands together and glancing towards his father who had fallen asleep hours ago "We are all tired, and the arguing has gone on for long enough, you must have heard all of the suggestions and offers placed before you, as perceptive as you are"

"OH I quite agree, I had come to a decision not long before you approached me" You say with a nod as you stand back to your feet, finally freeing yourself from the damnable throne you had been seated in, it felt like an eternity and only now has your skin ceased crawling and itching from merely being sat in such a needlessly extravagant chair.

"let it be known, that we shall be going on the defensive, our forces will defend the lands of Dai and all who live within them, as our architects and laborers work to shore up the defenses of the lands we have taken" You say with a nod, pressing your hands together as you walk towards you gathered advisors "The shield of Yan shall become a wall of steel they will break themselves against, no matter which direction they attack from. Our forces will be split and given to the generals to command as they see fit for the time being, with the orders to defend the land and prepare for an enemy assaults"

Some faces twist with displeasure or worry, no doubt because the thought of splitting and spreading the army in such a way is a thought that the owners of those faces find foolish. But you have yet to fail in any endeavor you've set out to do thus far.

"And, I shall personally lead a force to find the Yan army or their nearest encampment, so they may learn to fear the Giant's wrath and we have at least a vague idea of which direction our enemies lay" You continue on, and cause an uproar. as Every eager lord and general offers to join you in this hunt, or beg you to reconsider. Yin Lei merely raises his head at your words and Lai song grins like a hungry Jackal, no doubt hoping he could accompany you to such a battle.

Only those who have not seen you in a fight try to urge you to not march off in search of an army on your own, that it will be suicide. Those who have journeyed with you before, who were denied one glorious battle before in the form of your duel with the foul Toad Dragon, look upon you with anticipation and a hungry looks in their eyes.
cont
>>
>>4558943

What form will the small army accompanying you take on for your hunt for the Yan army, Lieren?
> A hunting party comprised of the most able hunters and guards you have, along with a regiment of marksman and a regiment of artillery
> Cavalry and Gatling guns, a composition proven quite effective by Lai Song in his raids upon the Yan army.
> The sappers and saboteurs Jinhai accidentally trained for his assault on Dai castle. With them, any form of attack shall be possible.
> An army armed with spears and swords, hiding their fire arms, with cannons and Gatling guns hidden behind the line. A deception to entice the Yan into trying to ambushing you, and charging into a storm of steel and fire
>write in
>>
>Function? Work? Belief can do neither of those things.
Wait until he learns about how the warp works.
>>
>>4558945
> Cavalry and Gatling guns, a composition proven quite effective by Lai Song in his raids upon the Yan army.

I believe this arrangement gives us the most mobility and crushing firepower under the right circumstances.. A crucial element if we are to be away from the bulk of our forces. Forward deployed as it were.
>>
>>4558946
>Cavelry and gattling
>>
>>4558946
>> The sappers and saboteurs Jinhai accidentally trained for his assault on Dai castle. With them, any form of attack shall be possible.
time for further training. this also allows us to get the most time with Guandao in hand.
>>
>>4558946
> Cavalry and Gatling guns, a composition proven quite effective by Lai Song in his raids upon the Yan army.
>>
>>4558946
> The sappers and saboteurs Jinhai accidentally trained for his assault on Dai castle. With them, any form of attack shall be possible.
>>
>>4558238
No, I mean like we pursue massive, planet (or galaxy) changing projects, that will lead to the upliftment of everyone there is. We're not focusing on the empire itself specifically, but for the people themselves. Like Emps webway project, if Magnus hadn't done anything wrong.

>>4558946
> A hunting party comprised of the most able hunters and guards you have, along with a regiment of marksman and a regiment of artillery
>>
>>4559064
>No, I mean like we pursue massive, planet (or galaxy) changing projects, that will lead to the upliftment of everyone there is.
Guilliman would still be better at that.
>>
>>4558946
> A hunting party comprised of the most able hunters and guards you have, along with a regiment of marksman and a regiment of artillery
I'd like to leave the artillery behind. We want to kill off their leaders via surgical strikes and stealth. Having to cart around cannon is just gonna slow us down and leave more tracks
>>
> Cavalry and Gatling guns, a composition proven quite effective by Lai Song in his raids upon the Yan army
>>
>>4558946
>The sappers and saboteurs Jinhai accidentally trained for his assault on Dai castle. With them, any form of attack shall be possible.
We need to get these guys explosives, eventually

>>4558939
>Your head architect, a man who still refuses to tell you his name despite being your long time assistant
man what is up with this guy
>>
>>4558946
>> Cavalry and Gatling guns, a composition proven quite effective by Lai Song in his raids upon the Yan army.
>>
>>4559064
That's literally what Guilliman does, though. He's an administrator. If you're thinking of grand deeds, then there's also perturabo and dorn.
>>
>>4558946
>Cavalry and Gatling guns, a composition proven quite effective by Lai Song in his raids upon the Yan army

>>4559234
maybe the head architect is a bastard son of a powerful noble in the kingdom ? He could be ashamed to reveal it if his family is know to be evil and cruel across the lands.
>>
>>4559414
Now this is a longshot and almost certainly wrong, but I'm putting the bet down here, just in case I'm right.

He's big E
>>
>>4559425
Nope, the Emprah doesn't wait that much for the primarchs. Even with the ones he tricked like Leman he was fairly direct with his challenge.
>>
>>4559485
Yeah, but if it is, then I get to feel smug.
>>
>>4559492
Doubt its him. Hes wasting years when he could do this in a couple of days and get the crusade ball rolling again.
>>
>>4559602
As I said, its 99.99999999999% likely not. It would make no sense whatsoever.

But still, redundancies.
>>
Well if emps was using a projection it would be possible, but that would imply he knew where leiren was and was on his way.
>>
>>4559622
>but that would imply he knew where leiren was and was on his way
It's not impossible I suppose.
We might actually be closer to Imperial space than first thought
That or we may be unwittingly projecting psychic emanations like Angron did, though on a much lesser scale.
>>
Maybe the warp storms covering terra are still full power and Malal sent us into the materium right after (or before) getting stolen into a world that was really close to Terra. And emps, who is still trapped in Terra, sent a proyection here, or even Malcador, or a proyection of Malcador, to help us. And he is gauging our personality to see if we've been corrupted by CHAOS and that's why we are free so soon, because the only way we could have escaped chaos would be either getting rapidly corrupted (the primarchs only got spat out after getting geneflawed), making a pact or due to Chaos ABSOLUTE incompetence and self sabotaging nature.
>>
Alright calling the vote now!

Cav and Gat:6
Sappers and saboteurs:3
Hunting party:2

So Lieren will use the same troop composition that Lai song has used to great effect in his lightning raids against the Yan. Cavalry alongside Gatling guns

Writing the update now
>>
>>4559234
>man what is up with this guy
Doubt he's our dad and it doesn't seem like there's much else notable about him aside from him not telling us his name. Would we be able to recognize chaos taint on sight? Maybe it's an emissary or something...
>>
>>4560191
Is he the blue birb in person? Or maybe one of his daemons... If it's the changeling we'll get a worthy test for our "eyes of truth"
>>
Clapping your hands together you strengthen the focus set upon you buy the eyes of all your advisors and their various servants and students. Their gazes burn into you, burrowing deep into your skin as they wait for you to speak again, some wondering perhaps if you'll take their advice and not ride off to find the Yan army looking to fight them with anything else by a third or half of your army at least behind you. Others wishing, praying, hoping that you'll call their names and give them the honor of riding with you into a battle that most generals or soldiers would see as a suicidal attack simply to spite the enemy with your final breaths, as it would seem and would be if it was not you leading the charge and if your men were not armed with firearms. The weaponry and training of your army makes them much more effective and efficient in terms of kill to death ratios than the Yan's massed levies. And you yourself aren't easily wounded and do not panic or feel fear for yourself.

You're judgment is unclouded by pride, by terror or by desire or greed. This is the most efficient path forward, to find the Yan army and to keep them on the retreat. Taking a deep, slow breath that brings the chill of early spring deep to your chest, wrapping around your lungs as you slowly pull your arms away from eachother, and swing one towards Lai Song. The air shifts, as the Lord of Cavalry's lust for battle, the anticipation to ride upon his enemies surrounded by screams and death, his hunger for that struggle between life and death, all comes flowing from his heart. He keeps it hidden behind a small, gentle and almost genial smile, but his eyes are ablaze with a conqueror's excitement.

"You shall gather your best riders, and pair them with the most skilled marksman spread throughout the regiments of our army, gather them in the courtyard. Be mindful of the number, as this is a strike force, a swift knife to the throat, not an army meant to crush the entirety of the Yan and cast them into the flames of defeat" You command, clenching your hand into a fist as Son bows his head, and his brother puts a hand on his shoulder with a proud smile upon his lips. No doubt Lai will include himself in the number, but that is fine, his expertise will be necessary, after all. And as it is said any Lai may ride a horse as a master, his elder brother may be less an able tactician than Song, but he'll be able to take command of the main force of the Lai's portion more easily than any general under your command.

Excepting Song's own students in the art of war, that is. A few eyes glance enviously towards the lord of Cavalry, and the black general's gaze is not among them. Rather Yin Lei continues to watch you carefully, no doubt expecting a more refined approach than trampling the Yan and their banner's beneath a thunderous storm of hooves and steel.
cont
>>
>>4560418

"Yin Lei, shall be in charge of leading our forces in defending the lands of the Dai while I am away, he may appoint his own sub commander and marshals from among out forces, as he so wishes to" You say, Yin Lei turning from you at that moment, turning his tactical genius to finding worthwhile assistants from among the flock of generals and generals in training that your coalition habors. Then you swing your other arm, your left, to Dandan, who has become more or less the kingpin of maintaining your Army's Gatling guns and lesser firearms, as Shan has solely turned his attention to explosives and cannons, or Steel dragons as they are known to all but yourself.

"Dandan" You say, as the bright eyed woman turns to you, her excitment washing away Song's eagerness to see battle as a cleansing rain would a battlefield. Though she is perhaps more bloodthirsty than any panther or scion of Lai, considering the barely restrained rapture she experiences whenever she hears gun fire or witness a firing line, let alone when she sees the effects caused by release of the sheer power the weapons hold. A most unnerving trait of hers, and one that marks her as kin to Shan in spirit. Both revel in destruction, but of different kinds.

Shan wishes to level mountains to prove he can, and Dandan basks in the scent of gunpowder, acting as if the roar of Gatling guns and the snap of rifles is an orchestra. Thankfully, neither are mad men who would mindlessly tear the world to pieces to chase the beauty they find in explosions and rifle fire, but, it doesn't mean that it isn't an...aberrant fascination that they share. And they are geniuses outside of the field of weaponry and devastation, but their focus has always been upon the use and refinement of gunpowder.
After all, Dandan was the one to suggest using artillery shells to mine more efficiently and safely.

"Yes, Lieren?" She says happily, having had time to mourn her father and control the sorrow she still feels for her pacing before the war began "I take it you will require my expertise as well? or do you have a new schematic for me to put into production, some form of mounted rifle? to remove the necessity of a second rider? Or perhaps a more mobile variety of gatling gun?"

But her interests always end up returning to firearms in the end. She looks at you with eyes bright, like an excited child being given a sweet. Shan had, in their time together, rubbed off on her more than she let on in public. Perhaps this excitable nature of hers was always present, but merely need an outlet with which to be expressed? Questions for another day.

"We may discuss further variations of firearms at a later date, Dandan" You say quickly, before she gets too many ideas and mires her own mind in trying to chase these wild ideas of hers to fruition
cont
>>
>>4560420

"Rather, I need you to lead an inspection of our current supply of Gatling guns, setting aside those which require maintenance or cleaning, so I may take a suitable supply of them along with my strike force"

Dandan frowns and Xin's head twists around, his eyes wide. Ah yes, the third person whose first reaction to a gunshot was not fear, but awe and excitement. Though quite a few of your guards and hunting companions reacted with curiosity, but not the Joy of Shan, Dandan and Xin.

"Of course" Dandan says as she stands, no longer kneeling, her yellow robes smeared with scorch marks and grease stains from spending most of her time "tending" to your heavier guns, as that is the term she uses for it "such inspection will require a fire test, yessssssss?"

You look at her, and sigh.

"We have suitable supplies of the proper ammunition, I will allow such tests, but remember the goal is to ensure the guns remain functional" You say as Delun stifles a laugh, receiving a burning glare from his uncle for it "not to needlessly waste our stores of bullets solely for the thrill of it"

"I would not dream of being so wasteful, I may enjoy the roar of gun fire and the scream of falling shells, but I know the cost of ever bullet" Dandan says, wringing her hands together. Once again showing why she has had no suitors from the houses of your inner circle since you began these meetings, besides her loss of social status since the denouncement of her family and loss of face in her choice of occupation "it is merely in the interest of pragmatism, Lai Song has after all ridden those precious weapons rather hard"

You lock eyes with her, and tell she isn't lying from her mannerisms and expression. She will enjoy the tests, but she will not needlessly expend ammunition for them.

"I was merely ensuring you didn't get any ideas" You laugh, warmly and friendly as Dandan joins with you, not taking the suspicion as an insult, as to be entirely fair, considering her fascination and obsession with firearms, there was a possibility that she would do such a thing. However small it may be.

Then you stop laughing, turning serious once more as you purge your mind and heart of the emotion of amusement, to focus properly and keep yourself from wasting time laughing and joking with your friends and closest advisors, when said time could be spent riding and searching for the Yan, or preparing to do so.

"I shall employ the tactics proven by Lai song in his lightning raids against the Yan" You say with a click of your tongue "And catch the Yan by surprise, wherever they may be hiding"

A careful choice of words, to raise moral and keep the men from believing your have marched off to die. To keep the belief you shall succeed and return shortly
cont
>>
>>4560423
-
"Why hasn't the giant's army moved since they marched across the border, so boldly!?" Lord Dai Niu questioned, asking his advisors and sons as they sat around a map of his own lands in a camp upon the border of them, away from the rest of the Yan's allied forces.
None of his men or children answered, merely watching the aged turtle to chew on the back of his hand, teeth piercing the skin of his knuckles.

Stress and worry had overcome him. He had heard conflicting reports of this, Lieren, a liberator of the common man, scourge of nobility as some called him, and monstrous beast and hellish sorcerer by others. Some said he had tossed captives living into fires, others claimed he released them without so much as a maiming or whipping. Two different men, one who sought only to bring peace and prosperity to all men by any means necessary, and another who delighted in suffering and death in manners more hellish than even the Dai's own overlord, the Yan.

One possibility, that screamed that Niu's family were alive, that they were well and protected, and another that whispered they were already dead or had suffered a far more terrible fate. Such uncertainty was bad for a man of his age, he was on the cusp of being elderly, and now his blood was poisoned with stress and fear for the safety of his children, his grandchildren.

Is this the fear Zhou Tao felt? Rumors spoke that the Giant spoke with him at length before his death, their was a song about it even, a song that had gotten innocent men hanged because it offended Yan and the other nobles. But, he heard that the Tao had all been slaughtered mercilessly before these Followers of The Journey started appearing, men emboldened by Lieren's words, it was said. Walkers of a path that could not be seen, that had no end.

It sounded of madness and yet...they believed it, and believed in Lieren the Benevolent, while others screamed and cursed the Ogre Lieren.

Which man was the true Lieren? Which man had his family imprisoned in the walls of their own home.

This question had plagued Niu since he heard his castle fell from warriors rising from the serene lake he had often boated across in his youth.
Was his family safe? did they still live? So many questions, but the most pressing now was

"Why hasn't there been any movement outside of my lands" Lord Dai hissed, his own blood sticking to his teeth as he turned helplessly to his eldest son, who merely casts his gaze to the ground "The Giant did not overthrow Gao merely to terrorize me and take what was mine, they have the advantage, the Yan army is in disarray because of those sorcerous tools of his, he could kill us all without a challenge, and he remains in my castle!"
He slammed a bleeding fist into the map sitting before him.
cont
>>
>>4560424

"While our army is scattered and in the process of regrouping to redevise our strategy to deal with an army of men who can slay dozes from several chi! SEVERAL ZHANG!" He raves, eyes bulging out of his head, heart pounding in his chest as if it were a wild animal attempting to escape its cage. None of his men say a word, and simply watch silently as he slumps back into the seat he had taken, his mind plagued by images of what he feared could have happened to his family.

There was a battle in his skull, one side hoped Lieren was honest of the virtues his followers preached so fervently, and one side believed the stories he had heard before they appeared.

And he could not move his own army to retake his lands, for on the chance that Lieren was a good man, he surely had advisors of his own, who would push a simple farmer seeking to better the world to use the bargaining chips they had in their grasp. And Niu would not cause his own family's death or torture.

He couldn't move, for the Giant's army had fallen still and languid. No raids as they had done prior, no assaults or marches. Refugees had ceased passing the border since the castle was taken, or shortly after. No new information, no nothing. The lands Niu had long traveled had become as distant as the deserts of the Bask, it seemed. as if the fog had shrouded them from his eyes completely.
-

"These are Dai men, a scouting party" Lai song informs you, as a young man dressed in armor with russet lacquer looks at you, petrified with fear, his fellows laid out on the ground, with horrific injuries. His war mask had been torn off, and you could see his trembling lips "We near the border"

It was understandable why the man was afraid. His party had the misfortune of running into Xin and Bai. And there Gatling gun. And one of the fools tried to throw their spear at it, surprisingly, quite a few of this scouting party had survived the encounter. Hideously wounded and shaken to their core, but, almost half of them remained among the living.

You move you hand, casting a shadow over the man's head, causing him to wince and weakly whine as you gently press your palm to his shoulder, and kneel down to become closer to his eye level.

"Do not worry, I am no butcher" You say quietly as he stares up at you, senseless with fear "If you answer my questions, I swear you and your comrades shall be treated well, and allowed to recover in comfort, I am just...curious, as to where exactly"

You lean closer and nearly press your lips to his ear as he lets out a ragged groan of primal fear, the squeak of a mouse caught by a cat.

"Me and my men can find the Dai army" You whisper, the man's voice squeaking and blabbering as he tries to tell you everything, but is too consumed by shock and terror to do so.
cont
>>
>>4560426

You sigh, and bow your head.

"Chen, Chen" You say, Small and Fat Chen perking up as you call their names "Find Zian and Rong, tell them to clear one of our carts, so these men may be treated, see if there's any tea or liquor around to calm their nerves"

"Hmmm" Lai song grunts "we could ride and find the army in a day's time, Lieren. Why waste the time treating the wounds of our enemy?"

"Yes, but I am not one who enjoys stepping into snares when I can avoid them" You answer quickly, in the span of a breath, making Fat Chen snort with laughter.

"So this is pragmatic then?" He asks, as you chuckle

"Find the answer for yourself" You state, as you lift the senseless man up carefully "And have the most able of our men see to the dead"

"There's my answer, I suppose" Song laughs, finally sliding off his horses' back "I can respect such a choice, and understand it. Unconventional as it is"

How do you approach the Dai army, Lieren?
> Hide your Gatling guns in the nearby tree line, and lead with your cavalry
>Put your gatling guns where the fog is thin enough for them to be seen at a distance, with your cavalry behind them, and sit down in front of them, drawing poems in the dirt.
>Order your Gatling guns to fire, to alert the dai. The threat should also greatly lower their morale and perhaps get them to surrender outright.
>Hold your forces back, watching their troop movements and gathering intel, namely how many men are stationed here.
> Write in

Sorry for the wait, had a bit of writer's block.
>>
>>4560428
>>Hold your forces back, watching their troop movements and gathering intel, namely how many men are stationed here.
>>
>>4560428
>Put your gatling guns where the fog is thin enough for them to be seen at a distance, with your cavalry behind them, and sit down in front of them, drawing poems in the dirt.
>>
>>4560428
I would suggest doing both of these:
>Hold your forces back, watching their troop movements and gathering intel, namely how many men are stationed here.
Then after gathering some more intel about the enemy, I think it would be prudent to

>Put your gatling guns where the fog is thin enough for them to be seen at a distance, with your cavalry behind them, and sit down in front of them, drawing poems in the dirt
>>
>>4560428
> Write in
Call out their general for a discussion or parley. We can decide if we need to wastefully end lives now, or talk things out.
>>
>>4560488
changing my vote to this
+1
>>
>>4560488
supporting
>>
>>4560488
support
>>
>>4560488
Support. But keep our gattlings hidden, only keep some cavelry with us.

Though drawing poems in the dirt while we wait with our weapon for them to read after we have left would be rather good.
>>
>>4560625
My reasoning is, if they see a small diplomatic party then they are bound to act in accordence with parlay, or they could try and be dishonourable and swarm us, in which case we lead them into the crossfire and everybody following us dies.
>>
>>4560625
i support a precaution in case they decide to attack us in mass.
>>
>>4560464
+1
>>
Alright calling the vote now, sorry for the delay, my Internet died.

Hold your forces:2
Gatling guns+ poem:3
Call their general for a parley:5

Alright, so Lieren will approach the Dai Army diplomatically, hoping to avoid any unneeded bloodshed

Writing the update now

And sorry again for a day without any updates
>>
>>4562248
's all good mate, you consistently give us daily updates, missing a day or two ain't a problem
>>
You stand over the graves of the fallen scouts, men who died afraid and unable to even comprehend how their life was taken from them. They were your enemy, yet not your enemy. Had they not had the misfortune of encountering your own forward force, they may have survived and returned to their farms. Like all deaths that could have been avoided, theirs were a tragedy. But you were not fraught with guilt, it was war, and death was unavoidable. Had you been there with Xin and Bai when they encountered these men, they may have survived or they may have taken the same actions that led to their deaths and the horrific wounds their comrades now suffered.

A man after all, only has control over his own fate, the fate of others and the world changes from the ripples cause by the combined actions of all men, of all life. But that does not mean you cannot mourn these men, who had done nothing except follow the orders of their betters. Even if they were your enemy, they would be honored.

You shifted your legs, adjusting your posture as you sat before the small graveyard beneath the shade of trees, looking over the markers denoting where each man had been interred. Whether it be a final rest, or merely the end of a dream, it was only right to show them such respect in death. Zian approached you from behind, his breathing alerting you of his presence. He's nervous, even though he is a warrior, he is wise enough to fear the coming battle rather than welcome it. That is, if there must be a battle. Sending scouts, is a tactic rarely used by the people of Yan, due to the ever present dangers hidden beneath the equally ever present fog. It was just a waste of men, unless the scouts were well trained and veteran enough to know how to find their way beneath the cover of the fog. Dai's family were well defended when Jinhai breached the walls of their home, and the castle fell with as little bloodshed as it did because of the reagent's pleas for mercy.

Perhaps, Lord Dai is more virtuous than his peers, than Mao. He was foolish to leave his family so near the border, but none of the Yan lords could have anticipated the power of the weapons your army held, nor the tactics employed by your generals, or the genius of your various assistants and helpers. Without Lieren, and given a chance to find their talent, Shan and Dandan would have created functional if not efficient firearms on their own. Yin Lei and Lai Song could have taken Zhou castle, with a heavier loss of life, but they would have taken it. Qian Xia would have bettered the lands, slowly, but she would have done so. And many other such examples, you are merely the man who brought such talent together and combined their wisdom and might to create a great coalition of minds and virtue.

The Yan had no way of knowing how effective your logistics were, how trained your army was, nor the dangers they posed. Dai was not careless, he simply did not have eyes to see what would have once been deemed impossible.
cont
>>
>>4562411

That a farmer, a mere hunter, could have created a force that rivaled the Yan army itself with only the resources present in one region of the kingdom. But he kept his army defending his home, even before the first "battle" of the war was fought. He was foolish not to move his family to safety, but he clearly cared for them greatly. To the point he would cast aside his own honor to ensure their safety, with the orders he had given his regent in the unlikely event of Dai castle falling. How many nobles would give up their ancestral home to ensure the safety of some of their family? Like Tao Song had done. Perhaps Dai was of similar character, a loving father. His children certainly seemed well cared for and cheerful, and his wife spoke highly of him the few times you had visited her during the occupation of Dai castle.

Perhaps, Lord Dai could be reasoned with, to prevent further bloodshed and spare his army, his men. Perhaps, you could reach an accord with him, and turn the tide of war further in your favor. Perhaps, you could even gain another ally to join your council of advisors. Perhaps. perhaps

"Mourning?" Zian asks through his ruined jaw, standing at attention close behind you, staring at the small garden of graves before the two of you

"Yes, and planning" You say quietly, to give the dead the respect they deserve and not rouse their spirits, if they linger upon Shangrala still

Placing your hands upon your knees, you close your eyes. Zian remains silent, aside from the sound of his breathing. He does not question you further, merely keeping his vigil by your side. Until, you stand to your full height, pulling your blank war mask into place as you do so.

"I believe their may be a way to avoid a battle with the Dai army, and remove them as a threat. To weaken the Yan, without committing more needless violence" You say, turning to your trusted guard, who merely turns his gaze upwards to attempt to meet and match your gaze "Though, it is just as likely that the actions I take will result in a pitched battle, or worse, betrayal in the form of an ambush"

"I will follow where ever you path leads, Lieren" Zian says, bowing his head "Tell me, is there a part I may play in this plot of yours?"

"Hmm, outside of your usual duties, no. But if you could fetch Jinhai and the most able of the wounded Dai scouts, I would appreciate that small service greatly" You say with a smile beneath your mask, which you assumed Zian can hear by the tone of your voice "We shall retread the path they took to breach the border into the Lands of Dai, and meet their master with open hands and peaceful intent"

Zian claps his hands together, bowing.

"It shall be done, your order is absolute, I trust your judgment, we shall either find peace or victory. I expect nothing else from the great man that I serve" Zian says solemnly "If battle cannot be avoided, know I would give my life for yours without hesitation"

You return the gesture.
cont
>>
>>4562413

"And I would do the same for you, for any of my men, no go, my dear friend, and let us make haste to the encampment of the Dai forces" You say kindly, as you banish a lingering doubt growing like an unwanted weed in the back of your thoughts. Though it is a dangerous gamble you are making, you must take it. It is the most merciful and efficient way this meeting can turn out, even if the chances of being attacked or betrayed upon meeting Lord Dai for this discussion, this parley you envision is greater than the possibility of being allowed to speak freely and finding common ground with which to broker an alliance, You must take that risk.

The only other choice, is pitched battle or assassination. and you cannot be certain your men would survive unscathed in such a conflict. A wounded, and desperate animal bites harder as they say
-

Dai Niu was terrified. His scouts had returned, but far too early and cut down to less than half their number. They appeared almost as walking corpses, so terrible were their wounds. Let they still lived, wrapped in bandages soaked with a foul smelling ointment or potion soaked into them, burns and small metal strips keeping their flesh closed. Half of his advisors, his eldest son among them, said they should be killed before they reached the camp, clearly they were of the walking dead, corpses raised by foul alchemy and sorcery. Yet, they still flew the banners of Dai, and their skin had the tone of a living, if not healthy, man. Besides them, road a man dressed in Azure and plum, one of the Giant's army. Again, Niu was advised to simply kill the returning scouts, it must've been a trick of some kind. The emissary of the Yan, a bastard son turned general, begged him to keep the cursed men out of the camp.

But, Niu saw the giant's man, carefully aiding the horrifically wounded scouts towards the outskirts of his army's encampment. And through the haze of the fog, it did not seem as though the soldier gaze them any tonic or place any written spell upon the flesh of the scouts, merely helped them as they fell or stumbled. One even road upon his own horse, a most generous gesture. Yet still, he was told these men were corpses, inhabited by devils or tormented souls. But, they seemed living to Niu, and further proof that the Giant truly was as merciful and kind as the songs and tales held him to be. That his virtue was not a lie.

And, while Niu knew it was but a father's wayward hope, that his children were still alive, a husband's hope that his wife remained among the living, he ignored the council of even his own sons, and allowed the men to reach the camp. The Giant's man had vanished into the fog as soon the maimed scouts became close enough for arrows to have a chance to hit them.

The lead scout, whose eye was covered by a thick bandage, held out a scroll, breathing raggedly and speaking of mercy and terror, his senses having fled him by whatever attack had so ruined his body.
cont
>>
>>4562415

The scroll was written in fine handwriting, that befitting a lord. It was short, and yet some how felt more grave and terrible than any missive he had received from the Lord of all Yan himself.

"I have arrived, I wish to speak with the general of the Dai army, Lord Dai Niu, to hold parley and discuss his family and lands, currently held safely by myself and the combined forces of my army. I have not come for further slaughter, I have spared these men when others would have left them to die or given them an unneeded mercy. That is proof enough of my peaceful intentions, should you refuse my offer, I will bring the full wrath of my terrible weapons upon this encampment. But I do not wish to deprive innocent children their father once again. I urge Dai Niu, to see the wisdom in sheathing his blade, of calling off the hunt. I mean no harm, and wish to do no harm. Do not force my hand, and meet me where you last saw the escort who returned your men. It shall serve as neutral enough ground.
Bring however many guards you wish to ensure your own safety, for I shall bring my own, to ensure my own safety as well. Order your sub commanders to keep a leash upon your forces and not to act rashly.

I have not come for your head. Let us speak as friends, Dai Niu, and bring peace to the lands of the Dai once again.
Upon the honor of my word, I swear no harm has come to your people or family.
Signed Lieren of Nothing"

Suddenly Niu's hands became sweaty, and the air around him seemed to thick. The pragmatist in his mind urged him to not fall to the giant's wiles for this must be a trap, yet, the father he was could not resist the temptation. Swallowing, his tongue became dry and his throat itched. He could not think clearly as he held the scroll of silk to his chest and without thinking, acted

"I shall meet the Giant" he says, his voice sounding like a scared child's to his own ear "I shall meet the Giant, as he offers, peacefully and without deceit, for the good of my family and lands"

His sons bowed their heads, shamed and worry in their eyes. The Yan emissary merely glared at him ruefully, but remained silent
-

You on the ground, with a small table set in front of you, painting a poem you had heard once with a small brush, writing it on a tanned jackal's hide as you waited for Dai Niu to come from his camp. The army of the Dai was at attention, and far outnumbered your strike force even with the loss of the army stationed at Dai castle itself.

Lai son was beside you, on his horse and dressed in his armor, alongside several riders, and marksmen. Feng was among them, as was Liang and Jiang. Of your guards, Small Chen, Jinhai, Zian, and Rong stood directly by your side. Xin and Bai remained with the gatling guns, and Fat chen remained with your other forces to relay your orders should the need arise.
cont
>>
>>4562417

Under russet banners, The Lord of the Dai road to meet you upon the hill. He was a thin man, dressed in ceremonial armor made to resemble a turtle's shell. Among him road two others dressed in such fine armor, his eldest sons. Behind them, foot soldiers marched, numbering exactly twenty men.

Dai nearly leapt of his horse, pulling his helmet from his head as he reached the designated meeting spot, his army hidden by the fog at this distance.

His face was that of a man nearing Yin Lei's age if not surmounting it. His almost red hair had streaks of grey and was kept long, tied into numerous strings and braids that met into one tail. He had a long mustache and little other facial hair. His eyes were fearful, and his mannerisms nervous, twitchy.

He looked to your men, armed with rifles and you could tell her knew what they were.

"Lord Lieren" he says at last, his voice soft and broken with the sorrow of a father kept from his children, but there was a bold certainty to his voice, that told you he was not so easily bowed and broken. Befitting the symbol of his house

"Dai Niu" You reply, glancing up at him, your own Iron hair washed thoroughly and groomed, so you could style it into a more noble look rather than the wild mane of hair your preferred. It was but a simple tail, with the rest of your hair left to fall as it would. Uncontained, yet tamed. It would show you as a civilized man, but a wild one. Unlike the style you wore while meeting with the deceased Gao Liwei.

Motioning your hand to the chair sitting opposite of you, Dai Niu nods and takes his seat. but remains silent as he gazes upon the poem you were copying.

You can sense his dread, his worry. He hides it well. But not well enough to fool your eyes.

How do you act in this parley, Lieren?
> As yourself, speaking of your world view and how you feel that Dai Niu and yourself can come to a compromise without further bloodshed
> Apologetic and kind, focusing one Dai Niu's family and how they miss him greatly but are well cared for
>as though you're already the victor, pressing Lord Dai to surrender and be given mercy, he knows what your army is capable of, how can he hope to survive standing against it
> Casual and flippant, as if he is an old friend, ask him of the glories he's won and his day to day life, to put him at ease
> write in

Sorry again for the wait
>>
>>4562418
>> As yourself, speaking of your world view and how you feel that Dai Niu and yourself can come to a compromise without further bloodshed
>>
>>4562418
>Speak as yourself, Kind and wise to set him at ease.
>When he asks about his family, tell him about them without manipulation.

He should see us as we are, Charismatic, At ease and completely dedicated to our cause. And a small thing we can use to illustrate our point about our philosophy.

>Look amongst my companions, tell me what you may see.
We can tell him each and every story, of the harm they have suffered and the remedy we have administered. Shatter this image of "the Ogre" he has in his mind.
>>
>>4562436
i'll support this, tell me what you see is a decent call back that we havn't used in a while.
we should save the next usage of that for Yan (rule of three and all). Then the fourth time hopefully we can get Emps with it and get a surprising answer.
>>
>>4562418
> As yourself, speaking of your world view and how you feel that Dai Niu and yourself can come to a compromise without further bloodshed
Saying that his family misses him could very easily be seen as a veiled threat. Acting like t he victor would just make you seen more like some kind of sorcerer warlord.

Being casual would make it feel like you're just trying to mindtrick him.
>>
>>4562452
rule of three, save it for Big E. There's not a lot I can think the Yan could be tricked into telling us, he still needs to go.
>>
>>4562436
Supporting
>>
>>4562436
Supporting.
>>
>>4562436
Support


>>4562248
Like someone already said is not a problem.
>>
>>4562436
Supporting.
>>
>>4562436
Support
>>
alright calling the vote now

Speak as yourself and of your world view:2
Speak as yourself, kind and wise to set him at ease:7
Tell him of his family when he asks7
Asks what he sees:7

Alright, so Lieren shall speak as himself, wise and kind to put Dai Niu at ease, Tell him about his family without manipulation when he asks
And then ask Lord Dai to look at your companions and what he sees.

Writing the update now
>>
>>4563398
Our wisdom is gonna have parts of our worldview in there anyway, isn't it, as it is our frame of reference to the rest of the world?
>>
>>4563407
Yeah but I felt the need to separate the votes, as the write in was different enough for doing so to be necessary
>>
>>4563418
fair nuff
>>
>>4563418
when will we get to throw cannonballs at people?
>>
"I am glad you have decided to see reason, and meet me as a potential friend rather than as a decided enemy" You say, with a warm and kind tone, a genial smile on your lips as you clasp your hands together and bow, properly greeting the Lord of Dai. He stares at you for a moment, before pressing his hands together and slowly interlocking his fingers. He returns the gesture hesitantly, but he does return it.

You set your brush aside, after shaking off the lingering drops of ink from its hair. They fall to the grass beneath the table, leaving miniscule black streaks upon a few wayward blades.

Dai Niu does not respond immediately, but glances behind you, at the men standing ready at your back armed with killing tools he understands at least partially. Dreadful, terrible weapons. Beyond any force any other nation upon Shangrala can muster. His eyes drift to the oversized Guandao you prefer as your weapon, if only because it has many forms and methods of attack.

"What are the terms you wish to discuss in this parley?" Lord Dai asks, seriously and stoically but the mask cracks, his voice wavering as he speaks "The letter your messenger brought to me, said that you wished to discuss my family and lands and wished to avoid needless bloodshed, that you wished to have a peaceful meeting despite the two of us being enemies in this war"

"Yes, that is the essence of what I wrote" You say with a nod, maintaining your smile gently, careful to keep your hands away from the still drying ink of the poem you had just copied to hide "I do not desire violence, or death. I try to avoid it when I am able, it is a most...distasteful act, but it has its uses, and sometimes it is the only way forward"

"So this rebellion, this usurpation, you consider it necessary?" Dai Niu asks, picking at his mustache as he cuts you off in spite of his fear "The killing of many noble men, of noble woman. by your hand, centuries of tradition have been burnt to ash. Is that truly the only way forward you could see"

You frown and nod once.

"Yes, they were unable to see the harm they caused their people, their lands" You explain, softly and slowly "or they were tyrants who reveled in wounding and tormenting those who lived beneath them, those who served them, their own families. Every man, every woman, every beast that has died by my hands has been for the greater good, their deaths serve a purpose"

"And you believe that my death, the death of my family and my army, is not necessary for the prosperity your promise to bring to all men? I noticed my scout force was thinned from the force I sent to delve into my own lands" Dai Niu replies, hands still clasped together tightly, staring directly ahead into your eyes trying to read your reactions, your tone, your mannerisms and expression to discover your "true" intentions "Were their deaths necessary"

"Unavoidable" You reply sadly, bowing your head
cont
>>
>>4563826

"They reacted hostilely and my men acted to protect themselves, I saved who I was able, for it was one man who caused such a tragedy, the rest merely fell because they stood beside him. I wish I could have prevented it, but alas, my hand was not near enough to stay the blades of my men...in a manner of speaking"

Dai nui's eyes glanced towards the trees, before drifting to the rifles held by your men with a sour expression on his face. Then his gaze once more settled upon you.

"So you value the lives of soldiers more than the nobility?" He questions. You simply shake your head

"All life, from the smallest worm to the greatest king are of equal worth . As I said, the men I killed, to my eyes needed to die. They wasted resources, spent men like coin, allowed their lands to wither and starve or worse inflicted such hell by their own hands. The scouts that died, were an accident, a tragic accident. I do not believe they needed to die" You explain as Dai Niu nods

"So that is why you mourn them, then. Their deaths were not necessary to achieve your dream of prosperity and plenty for all" He says, pulling a finger from under his other hand's palm to point in your direction "At least to your own perspective"

"Exactly, though I mourn men whose death's were necessary as well. I do not denounce men as worthless or as less then others because of their actions, lest they prove themselves to be the foulest sort of abomination" You say, smiling once again, looking up and sitting up straight once more, casting your shadow upon Dai Niu

"I understand the virtues you preach, Lieren" Dai Niu says after a few moments of tense silence "The Journey, it praises kindness, understanding, and generosity. as well as The mastery of one's self. I have heard a handful of passages of yours pass from the lips of men who accepted torture and death, as if it were a mere slap across the face"

You mask breaks, the air grows heavy as your rage you've held at the abuse of those who would listen to your words creeps out of your heart and into the wider world. Dai Niu leans back, wincing as he sense the drops of your killing intent escaping the chains you keep such emotions bound beneath.

"They cursed hedonism, they cursed tyrants. I would hear in your own words. What men do you consider to be irredeemable monsters?" Dai Niu manages to as, sounding as if he's struggling to breath "What men are these "Tyrants", that if met, must be slain by the words of The Journey?"

"Men like Gao" You say through your teeth, nearly hissing "Men who would force others to turn from the path they chose, or force them upon another against their own wishes. Men who would laugh at the idea of giving up his feasts so children may be fed, men who hunger for war for its own sake. Men who would wallow in their own degeneration no matter how their lifestyle poisons the lands they rule. The kind of man, who enjoys oppressing all those beneath him and refuses to change his ways"
Cont
>>
>>4563827
"The man who only brings pain and suffering to the world, and takes everything good from it"

Dai Niu remains silent

"That is the man I consider to be a Tyrant, the worst of tyrants to be specific. There are lesser breeds tyrants of course, but their crimes must be judged, they may live or die depending upon the weight and depth of their crimes" You explain further "It is a hard term to explain, you would know a Tyrant when you meet one, unless you have blinded yourself to the reality of the world. The worst simply do not deserve to live. Others, may be allowed to live if they can change. Many must hang for the crimes they committed throughout their life"

"So that is why you have hung so many nobles" Dai Niu says as you nod "Their crimes...to you, could only be answered with death"

"Unfortunately, few had the wisdom to repent. Tao Song was a tyrant, but he had virtues and loved his family, I gave him a last day with them and a quick death. Cui Fu was a monster, but he was loyal to the end, I gave him the battle he sought and honored him in death. Gao...was worse than either by several magnitudes. He had no virtue, no love, no loyalty to any but himself. And I still allowed him to indulge once more" You continue to explain as Dai Niu listens in silence "I do not mourn Gao, I despise him. But I mourn Fu and Song, for the man he could have been and the father he was. That is the difference between the levels of Tyrant"

"So you can be virtuous and a tyrant?" Dai Niu asks with a curious look in his eye "

"The Yan king calls himself benevolent, as did Gao" You reply bluntly "it is the most effective mask to wear, some believe their own lies. If my word spreads, someday I fear, it will be twisted by another man to give himself pardon and reason for his tyranny and sinful ways"

"Interesting, interesting" Lord Dai says, glancing to you again "You...care a lot of familial loyalty, and the bond of family, do you not"

You nod

"So, if I may ask, to get this discussion back on track. My family, are they..." Dai Niu says, before pausing, taking a breath and sighing, eyes wide and distant "Are my children and wife safe"

"Yes, I have ensured they were well cared for, and safe from any abuse or harm. Fed as well as any of my men, protected by my own army as my advisors and assistants are" You say kindly "I would not dream of hurting children or ordering such an atrocity"

"So they are comfortable as well?" Dai Niu asks, hope and joy raising in his voice, breaking through his grim and serious facade.

"Of course, I do not torment people, I do not starve or make them suffer. How could I allow myself to be called benevolent if I did such things? Your children play, they are free to roam certain parts of the castle, your wife is allowed to move freely" You say happily as well, remembering their laughter. Even in the face of an enemy army, it seems to brighten the day and lift the fog "Some of my most trusted guards ensure their safety"
cont
>>
>>4563828

"Why?" Dai Niu asks, his mask falling completely "Why would you do such a thing? We are your enemy"

"I only hate those who would do harm to others without just cause. Children and innocent mothers have done no such thing. You've heard my philosophy and listened to my words. All I wish, is for all men to be able to prosper and live their lives comfortably and in the manner they so choose. No needless excess, no decadence, no corruption. A virtuous society, where a man's kindness is not abused, but shared and repaid" You say joyously, moving your arms out and craning your neck up

Dai Niu begins crying.

"It was true...it was true" He says, struggling to keep himself from sobbing "What they said was true. You are as virtuous and kind as they claimed. You are not the monster Yan denounces you as, you are not the beast they insult and spread the foulest of tales of. All those men, those poor men have spoken was true after all"

He slouches in his chair, days or weeks of tension lifting from his back

"My family is alive, they're happy. My enemy has cared for my family better than I have" Dai Niu says, chuckling and crying at once.

"This Humble farmer, has a question for you, Niu. For you have asked me many" You say softly and quietly "And I wish to know you as you now know me. Look amongst my companions"

You wave you arm back towards Lai Song, Feng, Jinhai, Zong, Rong and all the rest

"Tell me what you may see?" You ask as Dai Niu looks over your escort again, his eyes resting upon each of them and lingering as his chest heaves with his sorrow and his joy. Tears stain his cheeks.

"Men who saw the light of the truth quicker than I, Men who were wise enough to believe the praise that proceeds. Men who are better than those I fight beside" He answers after a few moments of thought, bowing his head "Men fighting for the sake of others, instead of themselves. They were true...they were all true"

You smile, moving to comfort Niu and tell him how glad you were that he was not blind as so many others, that he and his line could be saved.

And then you hear it.

Several bow strings snapping, the whistle of arrows in the air.

One of Dai's men have betrayed him. For he alone sits within the range of their archers, beneath such heavy fog.

What do you Do Lieren?
> Shield Dai Niu, you will not allow a virtuous soul to be snuffed out.
> Grab Dai Niu and pull him to safety
> Try to Warn Dai Niu
>Kill the men who would harm their own lord for merely speaking to the enemy
>Write in?

Sorry for the long wait from calling and writing
Got dragged from my computer for practically all day
>>
>>4563829
> Shield Dai Niu, you will not allow a virtuous soul to be snuffed out.
Can Dai order his men to detain the archer? If we act in this parley, it might be an excuse for his more quick tempered men to attack, which would lead to their deaths.
>>
>>4563829
>> Shield Dai Niu, you will not allow a virtuous soul to be snuffed out.

>>Order our men to hold their fire immediately.

It would cause chaos in their camp for shots to be heard just as their commander went to talk to the enemy.
>>
>>4563829
> Shield Dai Niu, you will not allow a virtuous soul to be snuffed out.
> Order your men to surround Dai's entourage and detain the assailant
We can't let any of them escape before we settle things with Dai Niu.
The only thing they'll do is incite more bloodshed by alarming the forward camp.
>>
>>4563829
>>4563829
> Shield Dai Niu, you will not allow a virtuous soul to be snuffed out.
> Grab Dai Niu and pull him to safety

Several bow strings means that it's several of his men. I doubt we're going to be able to stop them without bringing down the rest of the army with us. Get him to safety and then do what we were going to do, hunt down those who would harm others.
>>
>>4563850
In addition, If we do end up making a counter attack, I want to whip either the table or one of the chairs as fast as we can at archers. Less noise than a gunshot at least.
>>
>>4563869
supporting, may as well give the historians something interesting to write.
>>
>>4563869
Supporting, but let's use the table as a shield for the both of us, and whip the chairs at them.
>>
>>4563858
this.
>>
>>4563829
>Shield Dai Nui
>order men to hold their fire, take out the archers by ourselves, possibly with our table.

Betraying your lord for agreeing to parlay? Most disagreeable.
and not gonna lie, I'm kinda hoping we use our guandao to slap all the arrows out of the air.
>>
>>4563878
>I'm kinda hoping we use our guandao to slap all the arrows out of the air.
That would be the most efficient action, but I feel like shielding Dai despite being our enemy until just now would further solidify our words.
>>
>>4563879
I believe that would be the most efficient way to shield Dai, though the table idea also has merit.

We are wearing our armour right? So these arrows should cost us nothing. But those motherfuckers are going to fear The Giant of Nothing before they get a chance to fire again.
>>
>>4563884
>though the table idea also has merit
It does, but I personally like it for fucking style points.
If it doesn't explode we should keep it as personal piece for our private quarters.
>So these arrows should cost us nothing
We're a Primarch, so shitty arrows fired from shittier bows probably wouldn't do anything in the first place. That said, the armor we're most likely wearing would probably deflect them anyways.
>>
>>4563886
Agreed on all points.
The fear of God needs to be put into these men, and they are both very possible ways to do so
>>
>>4563829
>> Shield Dai Niu, you will not allow a virtuous soul to be snuffed out.

>>Order our men to hold their fire immediately.
>>
>>4563858
Support
>>
>>4563829
> Grab Dai Niu and pull him to safety
use the table as cover
>>
>>4563829
backing this >>4563858
>>
Calling the vote now

Shield Dai Niu:9
Order your men to hold fire:3
order your men to surround the assailants:4
Pull Niu to safety: 2

Total votes 10

Alright, So Lieren will shield Dai Niu from the cowardly attempt upon his life, and order his men to surround the assailants, to try and prevent further bloodshed

Writing the update now
>>
Before you sits a rarity. A man of moral, virtuous character born into power. A man who understands you despite being raised to rule. Despite the noble blood in his veins, Dai Niu is wise. His birth, his power, his weatlh, none of it has blinded him to the world. Despite his age, he can be saved and he has already began to change for the better judging from his words. You do not know what crimes if any he has committed to the lands he ruled over for years as well as the people who toil and work those lands. You cannot know, you simply know his reputation as a stoic, immovable man like his father before him. He has revealed himself to have a heart, to not be corrupted by the decadence surrounding him. Like a raft lost at sea, but he stands above them and sees his peers and betters for what they truly are. In a sea of sinners, he rises above, like a tower of stone. He agrees with your world view, he accepts it and perhaps even believes it himself now that he sees your passion and own dedication to the words of The Journey are true.

And his men? One of his men gave the order or decided to slay him merely because he decided to speak to his enemy as an equal, as a friend. Perhaps they see it as betrayal, perhaps they merely desire the power and prestige that would come from slaying a would be turn coat before he had the chance to cast aside his prior allegiance. Or perhaps, just perhaps, this attack is an effort to blacken your own name and reputation, to claim you killed a man who came to you unarmed as a friend.

It does not matter the reason or purpose, for you shall not allow this man to die. He is a virtuous soul, and you refuse to see him snuffed out while there is still so much for him to accomplish, so much more he can achieve. Stand to your full height, you move with more haste than lightning splitting the sky. Dai Niu is unable to process what has happened, so quickly to you leap to action. The arrows, by your calculations are mere moments away from hitting their target, impaling Dai Niu and likely ending his life. You could not call the time it'll take them to arrive to be seconds, but moments, to quick for a normal man to comprehend, to realize what was happening and to act to stop it.

The wind blows, all is silent except for the faintest whistling of feathers in the wind. In the time it takes your muscles to react and pull taught, for your nerves to obey your commands, the arrows will be just a few mere Chi away from Dai Niu. More than enough space for you to to stop their journey and preserve the old turtle's life.

With a swipe of your Guandao, you easily splinter to first five arrows to be sent flying. Dai Niu covers his head, his eyes filling with fear as you slam the blade of your weapon into the ground next to his seat, to end its momentum and keep it from striking the aging man's head.
cont
>>
>>4564852
There is exactly a second, the span of a short breath before you predict the next arrows to begin their descent, thus endangering Lord Dai's life once more.

You react, faster than any other man could, faster than a normal man's perception could pick up. You pull your leg back, your muscles pulling and stretching before snapping back into place as one. With that motion, you send the table sailing, having kicked the edge of it. You did this before Dai Niu could react to your first action of defending him, only now does he crouch and cover his head to try and avoid an attack from your own hands. The air displaced from your powerful kick, and the table it sent flying faster than a bullet fired from a gun, knocks Dai Niu and the chair he sits upon over to the ground.

He gasps and blinks, the table shattering from the friction and resistance the air presents. But it remains intact enough still to catch the second volley of arrows before it disintegrates into slivers of wood and dust. Ink rains down, splattering your armor and the grass beneath your feet. The wind catches the jackal hide you had used as parchment to record and copy poems upon.

A third volley, the last fire, the arrows having been loosed as soon as the second group of archers fired their own volley approaches. You step forward, you speed and bulk causing a whipping wind to sheer through the fog and grass. Your step creates a crater in the soil softened by spring rains, hardening it as all the moisture held within pools around your armored limb.

Lord Dai looks up at you, confusion and mortal terror present in his eyes and expression. He's turned pale and taken a second breath. He still has not realized the betrayal that has occurred, nor the attempt on his life. His gaze falls upon the empty space that now sits between you, which was once been occupied by the table.

By the calculations that have dominated your thoughts since you noticed the attempt on Niu's life, you expect the last arrows to fall in double the time it will take you step over the virtuous soul laying upon the ground now, witless with fright. Which will allow you to grip the back of the chair you offered to the man, before standing in the way of the volley.

With a determined expression, you do so, air whipping and snapping around you as you move as quickly as you body is able to. With another step, you shake the earth. Reaching down, you pull the chair from under Dai Niu, sliding him forward by a full Chi. Sparks flying as the wood of the chair meets the lacquered armor Lord Dai is dressed in. By the friction between the two, the seat has caught fire, or rather is beginning to as you raise it into the air.

The arrows shatter against your puffed out chest. The tip of the iron head's dull or bounce off the steel you wear. A few fall a bit further back, and strike against your face, leaving thin and shallow cuts upon your cheeks before the arrows' haft shattered or glanced away.
cont
>>
>>4564855

Your hair lifts up as it passes through and under it. Releasing your grip upon your Guandao, you raise your left hand and pluck the last arrow out of the air, catching it between two fingers.

It had a malformed feather as its fletching, explaining its delayed arrival. You blink and look upon the archers veiled by fog. The front line of them are reacting now to the failure of their attempted murder, reaching back to notch another arrow in their bow's string. By instinct and muscle memory, their eyes are filled with pure terror as they realize that you were able to react quickly enough to foil their assassination attempt, only sustaining scrapes and scratches for their efforts.

Quicker than lightning itself, you calculate the necessary trajectory and force for the now burning chair in your hand and the arrow to arrive to the would be traitors before they can react. Thus ending their lives.

Pulling your arm back, and whip it back forward with enough speed to cut through the air and create a loud whistling noise. It sounds like the wail of the damned. Twisting around on your heel, you flick the arrow back with your wrist, the chair already half way to its target.

Looking down, you gaze upon Dai Niu's face, still looking at the empty space that had once been between you. Now you stand behind him, which takes him a second to realize. Smiling reassuringly you turn your eyes to Lai song, whose eyes you can see. This was the first time he has seen you in action, functioning at the peak of your abilities. He is frozen, struck with awe and amazement.

"Surround the traitors of Dai, do not let the would be assassins escape" You command, Lai song nodding mindlessly as your men move from their positions or slide off the saddles they share with the Lai riders. As one they march forward, their rifles pressed against their chests as they move forward.

"What's happened? What have you done? What is the meaning of this?!" Niu finally manages to say as his eyes look up to you as you fall to one knee behind him, clasping your hands together and bowing your head so quickly a gust of air pushes against him and runs through his hair, messing it terribly.

He groans, the pain of being dragged from his chair catching up to him. But you know it is a minor injury at worst, and will most likely take the form of a slight ache for the duration of a week or two.

"My most sincere apologize, this one did not predict an attempt upon your life could be carried out during our parley, I have done what I could to defend you and preserve your life" You say, keeping your head bowed to show your shame in allowing such a thing to happen, for not taking the precautions to prevent it in the first place "I was foolish to not forsee such an occurrence, and to not prepare for such a horrid betrayal is one of the gravest mistakes of my life. Please forgive this humble hunter for his naivety!"

Dai Niu blinks, his mouth gaping as if he were a simpleton
cont
>>
>>4564856

It is then the chair collides with one of the traitors of Dai, splintering and striking down a number more of the treasonous soldiers.

There's a loud cry, and judging from the distant thuds, the arrow has pierced through at least three men's chest plates and gravely wounded if not killed them out right

"APPREHEND THE TRAITORS!" Lai song bellows, finally reacting to your command, leading a charge as your guards begin down the hill to carry out your orders duitifully "DO NOT LET LORD DAI FALL BY THE SWORDS OF HIS OWN MEN, FOR THE GIANT! FOR DAI!"

Of course he would react in such a way.

No Matter, you have done what you set out to do and saved the patriarch of the Dai family from joining the Monks of Dai in death.

Perhaps you would visit the ruins of their monastery with Dai Niu. If only because their shared name amuses you greatly, it would also present Yin Lei a chance to find a since of closure for his hand in the unfortunate demise of those long dead philosophers

Perhaps you were send word for Guozhi to journey back to the home that was stolen from him in this life.

Perhaps, but now is not the time for idle day dreams. There is after all, still the danger of a battle breaking out between your forces and the Dai army, or the between the Dai themselves.

What is your next action, Lieren?
> Calmly explain what happened to Lord Dai, and help him up from the ground while suggesting a remedy for the soreness he is now experiencing
> Turn and rush down the hill to aid your men in restraining the traitors
>To keep confusion from spreading through the Dai Camp, scream yourself exactly what happened
>Ask Dai if there are any rivals or perhaps emissaries from the Yan themselves beneath his command
> Write in?
>>
>>4564858
>Ask Dai if there are any rivals or perhaps emissaries from the Yan themselves beneath his command
>>
>>4564858
>>Ask Dai if there are any rivals or perhaps emissaries from the Yan themselves beneath his command
>>
>>4564858
>>To keep confusion from spreading through the Dai Camp, scream yourself exactly what happened
>>Ask Dai if there are any rivals or perhaps emissaries from the Yan themselves beneath his command
>>
>>4564858
>> Calmly explain what happened to Lord Dai, and help him up from the ground while suggesting a remedy for the soreness he is now experiencing
>Ask Dai if there are any rivals or perhaps emissaries from the Yan themselves beneath his command
>>
>>4564858
>Calmly explain what has happened
>Ask about rivals
>Scream what has happened.

Lieren once again proves he is amazing.
>>
>>4564858
> Calmly explain what happened to Lord Dai, and help him up from the ground while suggesting a remedy for the soreness he is now experiencing
>Ask Dai if there are any rivals or perhaps emissaries from the Yan themselves beneath his command
>>
>>4564858
> Calmly explain what happened to Lord Dai, and help him up from the ground while suggesting a remedy for the soreness he is now experiencing
>Ask Dai if there are any rivals or perhaps emissaries from the Yan themselves beneath his command
>>
>>4564858
>>To keep confusion from spreading through the Dai Camp, scream yourself exactly what happened
>>Ask Dai if there are any rivals or perhaps emissaries from the Yan themselves beneath his command
>>
>>4564858
>Ask Dai if there are any rivals or perhaps emissaries from the Yan themselves beneath his command
> Calmly explain what happened to Lord Dai, and help him up from the ground while suggesting a remedy for the soreness he is now experiencing
>>
Just starting to catch up and god damn this is like, light novel tier writing. Big ups bro, keep doing what you're doing.
>>
>Ask Dai if there are any rivals or perhaps emissaries from the Yan themselves beneath his command
> Calmly explain what happened to Lord Dai, and help him up from the ground while suggesting a remedy for the soreness he is now experiencing
>>
Alright calling the vote!

Ask Dai if there were any rivals or servants of The Yan beneath his command:10
Try and stop confusion from spreading in the Dai camp by yelling what happened: 3
Calmly explain to Lord Dai, what exactly happened and suggest a remedy for the pain: 6

So Lieren will ask Dai Niu if there happened to be any political rivals or servants of the Yan working under him, and tell him what exactly just happened and suggest a remedy to help numb the pain he is no doubt experiencing right now.

>>4565572
Thanks! glad you're enjoying it so far.

Also, some people have said how the mentors in canon 40k would probably have been Lieren's sons. But listening to a certain song I can think of another chapter that at least in spirit are his kids.

https://youtu.be/ybvtDr48sqo
>>
Alright, about halfway through this thread, and I ain't seeing us use any kung fu yet, what gives
>>
Remaining kneeling behind the prone form of the Dai patriarch, you slouch your shoulders and lean to try and appear less threatening an imposing to the terrified and confused man, who still has yet to realize what exactly has occurred. He had thought you were attempting to end his life yourself, it was as clear as day to your eyes. His perception is that of a normal man, of course he did not notice those who were truly attempting to steal his life from him, when he still has so much more time left to live and great and virtuous deeds to accomplish. As penance for his crimes, if he has in fact committed any at all through the duration of his long rule.

You release the air from your lungs with a drawn out sight, and take your time drawing in another breath. Dai Niu just stares at you, mindless in his shock and the mortal terror your sudden actions had afflicted upon him. Your men charge past the two of you as you look down upon him and into his eyes, staring into them directly. Most men cannot stand your gaze for more than a few moments, so after a quick glance, you look to the heavens so as not to inadvertently torment the poor man further by subjecting him to anything more than but a brief exposure to your full and direct attention.

"Dai Niu, I know you are confused, I know you are scared. But know that my actions just now were committed solely to save your life and keep you from becoming the victim of a most cowardly assassination attempt" You say softly, trying to be as gentle in your explanation as you are able to be, thus you speak calmly and steadily, hoping to keep Lord Dai himself calm and relaxed despite the danger he is presently in.

He doesn't respond quickly, blinking once again and narrowing his eyes as he tries to comprehend the sheer speed and haste of which you moved, how he ended up on the ground and what became of the solid wood table he had been sitting at just a moment or two before. It is to be expected that he would struggle with perceiving your movements and realizing your intentions, when you had saved him in the span it'd take a peach to fall from its branch. Or near enough at least.

"I am sorry to have startled you, but I had to act with haste, lest I risk your death by my own inaction. I was not attempting to harm you in any way, it might have seemed that was my intent because my first method of defense" You continue to explain, as Niu simply nods, eyes wide but empty. His mind is still scoured clean by shock and by fear, but he seems to be returning to his senses rather quickly. Enough to understand what you're telling him at least "using my Guandao to break the arrows before they could fall upon you, I apologize once more for my lack of foresight and for having to protect you in such a crude manner"

"Ah" Lord Dai speaks, struggling to push himself to a sitting position, the weight of his armor and pain in his back and legs hampering his efforts and making him groan in pain.
cont
>>
>>4565907

You hold him up, as he instinctively reaches for his back in the throws of his pain.

Taking a few labored deep breaths, he glances around like a field mouse, eyes fluttering as he sees that your men have left your side and sees the broken arrows dotting the ground around the both of you.

"Assassination?" He asks, his voice hoarse and his still present confusion dominating the tone with which he speaks. He repeats himself once before continuing the sentence he wishes to ask you.

"What do you mean assassination? we have barely spoken for more than a minute or two, just a handful of minutes" He says, running a hand through his hair, his eyes remaining distant and empty of any emotion besides confusion and slowly fading terror "it was a just a short conversation, a courteous discussion, we hadn't even reached the terms of the parley"

He tries to stand, you keep him down. He'll simply collapse if he tries to stand, as shocked as he is still. When he calms, you'll allow him back to his feet, but now it would be mere folly to allow him to attempt to stand. For he will simply fall back to the ground, and potentially injure himself.

"We were still introducing ourselves, speaking politely as manner and etiquette dictates, what do you mean I was..that I was almost assassinated, by who? Who would do such a thing?" Dai Niu raves, gripping his hair tightly with the hand he had been brushing through it "None of my men would, none of yours would? Who were the assassins? Where are they? have they been dealt with already? I..I do not understand, Lieren"

"It may be a hard and painful truth, but a group of your soldiers, whether by orders given to them by another or their own free will, have made an attempt on your life" You say, moving your hand off his shoulder as he stops trying to foolishly stand despite the state he currently is in "They fired three volleys of arrows, that I kept from reaching you the moment I heard their approach. and unfortunately, the most effective method to defend your life would appear as an attempt against it"

"Heard?" He asks, glancing at you, peering of his shoulder. But he stares past you, at something that simply isn't there. A clear sign that he is still in state of grave shock.

"You, You heard the arrows in flight?" Lord Dai asks, you simply nod in response, he turns his head back to face foward and sighs "Well I am grateful you did, you said my, my own men were the assassins? My trusted escorts? They were the ones to commit such a heinous action"

"Unfortunately, though some of them have already paid for their crimes with their death" You say, bowing your head as Dai Niu' nods his.

"Good...good" He says, still breathless and unable to process what has occurred fully, for that reaction would be quite bizarre for a cognizant mind to speak "I am grateful you were alert to such a danger and, and for your protection. Despite us being on opposing sides of this"
cont
>>
>>4565908

He pauses, trying to recall the word he's thinking of, his mind still covered by a veil of shock and confusion.

"War" You say, to help him along the steps in returning to his senses

"Yes, yes, that" He says, letting his arms fall to his side, wincing and going silent again as a pang of pain shoots through his body "And you were certain they were my men and not some overly confident brigands"

"Quite certain" You say, standing to your full height, not bothering to turn to face the cowards who would betray their own lord for merely speaking peacefully with his foe, respectfully and serenely "I know this must be quite painful and shocking, for your own men to turn their coat for such a little thing, such a petty thing as meeting your enemy as an equal and speaking with him rather than blindly charging to do battle with him"

"Oh that is unfortunate" Dai niu says, nodding slowly, closing his mouth and wetting it before he continues to speak "I do not quite understand why they would do such a thing, I have not treated them poorly or done anything to wrong them"

"Well I have an inkling as to why they acted so barbarically, Lord Dai" You say softly and kindly, patting his back again to try and figure out exactly what kind of damage you did to him in your haste to pull the chair from beneath him. As you expected, it doesn't seem major. His reaction, a yelp and attempting to twist away from your touch, tells you there is a bruise upon the base of his spine and a friction burn along his back. No doubt caused by his armor suddenly shifting against the cloth beneath it and thus Niu's own skin as well.

"If you would be willing to humor me" You continue, leaning closer to speak in his ear, hushing your voice so as not be overheard "I must ask, are there any men that you would consider your rival in the politics of the Yan court? Or perhaps merely on a regional scale, some perturbed vassal or ambitious general that wishes for more than he is owed?"

"No, no. All of my advisors are my kin, my family by blood or compact" Dai Niu says, as the realization that he had nearly died finally washes over his mind, his voice cracking with panic and pain as he speaks "None of them would sully their hands with my blood, by action or command?"

That rules out your first suspicion. It is common for heirs to remove their father from power to take his position, as it is for cousins to have one another killed to move up the line of succession. The hands of the nobility are soaked with the crimson stain of their own kin's blood, after all. A proclivity you used to the great affect to clean the lands Gao once ruled of corruption and decadence. It is still possible his son tried to have him killed, but Niu is a kind man and gracious father, so it is unlikely any of his children would make an attempt on his life. Less they were a fool without equal, the lord of all halfwits himself.

Which leaves two possibilities.
cont
>>
>>4565909

That the men acted of their own accord, fearing you had enchanted their lord and simply not thinking of the consequences of their actions, never realizing they put him into danger.

Or fearing he had betrayed the Yan, sought to save themselves by ending his life. Which would be even more foolish than not realizing they were endangering their master in a moment of fear, a moment of passion. You had only a short conversation when they put their arrows to flight and could not hear what you had spoken to Lord Dai. This is unlikely, as in your experience, when men are gripped by fear, they are more likely to freeze or flee for their lives. Instead of striking back as most beasts would.

This leaves one possibility. A servant of the Yan was in a position of power in the Dai army, perhaps one of Niu's advisors. And his actions had led to him deciding it'd be a wise decision to have him killed by his own men. Probably for having the "gall" to speak with you peacefully and hold parley with the enemy. A fool who does not see the wisdom in sheathing his blade, or a self proclaimed genius who sought to sully your name and remove a potential traitor in one move.

"But are any of them servants to the Yan dynasty?" You ask simply as Dai Niu nods, confirming your suspicions.

"Yes, a distant cousin of mine who had been sent to serve in their court as a eunuch in the royal court , the child of one of my most favored uncles. Why do you ask such a thing?" He replies as you turn to face the force of his guards, who have thrown down their spears in the face of your men's rifle and the Lai cavalry circling them.

"I see, I see" You say, reaching over the shock stricken lord to retrieve your Guandao "I believe I know the cause of this attempt against your person and life, Dai Niu, and the culprit"

Dai Niu remains silent, still too panicked to realize what you have just said and thus implied.

No doubt this Eunuch will be wearing the gold of the Yan, and trying to flee now that his plot against his cousin had failed miserably

Then, Niu gasps in pain, reaching for his back again and groaning. His cry of pain turns into a low whine.

"Ah yes, I nearly forgot, but I know a way to cure that ache in your back and the medicine that will heal the injury I regrettably caused to your body in my haste to find a weapon with which to strike the assassins" You say quickly, looking back down at the groaning lord at your feet "There is a tree that grows in this exact climate, with bark that has the property of alleviating pain, as well as a strong liquor that shall help ensure the scrape along your back remains clean, if a paste of wax mixed with recently cooked oil is applied in a thin layer over it"

"I would appreciate that greatly" Dai Niu says after a few more moments, pain causing him to speak in a hollow quiet manner, almost forcing him to whisper what he says.
cont
>>
>>4565911

How shall you approach this problem, Lieren?
> Personally hunt down the traitorous dog, even if you have to chase him to the edge of Shangrala itself
> Allow the Eunuch to escape, so Yan may realize that the stories about your might are indeed true.
> Escort Dai Niu back to his army's camp so they will aid you in the capture of his eunuch cousin.
> "Jinhai, fetch me Bai and Dong, I have a task for them, tell them to bring me the head of the man dressed in Yan gold"
> write in?

>>4565884
Hasn't been anything this thread that required Lieren to put effort into killing it. Like he had to with the Toad dragon in the 1st thread

Also he did use some martial arts while delivering his judgment upon Gao, to defend against the attacks of said bastard's guards while he verbally tore the fat lord a new sphincter.

if you haven't reached that part yet, I apologize for the spoilers
>>
>>4565913
>Jinhai unleash the brothers of the panther, I wish the man in Yan gold brought to me
>Escort Dai Niu back to his camp, to both aid us in our search and to continue parlay in relative safety.

The old man just needs to calm down, but as usual, Lieren has slathered into another confidence with the guile of a snake
>>
>>4565920
supporting
>>
>>4565920
This sounds like a solid plan.
>>
>>4565920
This
>>
>>4565920
support
>>
>>4549292
>greedy merchant
Oy vey!
>>
>>4565920
supporting
>>
>>4565920
Support
>>
>>4565920
+1
>>
Calling the vote. Don't really need to count cause all of the votes are the same, but I will anyways.

Tell Jinhai to unleash the brothers of the panthers and bring you the man in Yan Gold: 8
Escort Dai Niu back to his camp. Both to aid in the search and continue the parley:8

So Lieren will send his men to apprehend the traitor and take Dai Niu to safety to both bring his men to aid in the search and continue the parley.

Writing the update now
>>
>>4567092
What is your time zone?
>>
>>4567105
PST, but my sleep schedule keeps getting messed up for various reasons so I've been waking up in the middle of the night lately. Which slows my pace
>>
>>4567111
Aye, I know what you mean, I find myself sleeping through half the day more and more, I fear eventually I'll be sleeping through the entire day and waking in the night, completely flipping my internal sleep schedule.
>>
>>4567130
Hey it just means you're perfect to pick up a night shift somewhere. Less people, less supervision, and a whole lot of free time at work.
>>
"Jinhai!" You bark, calling your dear comrade and friend to your side. He breaks away from the formation of marksman that had, as ordered, detained the the traitorous entourage or at least the members of it that remained living and able.

He rushes to your side, moving gracefully as ever. Like a carp swimming through a stream, not a single movement wasted in his short journey to reach you and Dai Niu.

"Lieren, what is your command?" He asks, profesioal and to the point, his eyes drifting down the look up the still shock stricken Lord by your feet "Whatever you ask of me, I shall do and carry out your command with haste and efficiency. As my oath declares"

"Release the members of the Brother of the panthers we have stationed in the trees, give Feng or Liang Command over the hunting party, and relay the order for them to begin a mission of dire importance and great honor" You speak, as Dai Niu looks up at the newly arrived Jinhai with idle curiosity, still a nervous wreck from his close encounter with death and the betrayal of his own entourage. Such a breach of loyalty and trust would gravely affect any man, even if there heart had become as stone.

Jinhai clasps his hands together and bows, you by reflex bow your head a few inches in return while maintaining your stern and grim expression.

"Also, command Bai to accompany them as well, he may not be one of the original brothers, but I count him among their number" You explain as Jinhai listens closely, trying to pick out any hidden meaning or wisdom to your words as he always does. It is part of his nature, he always ponders that which is around him.

"And the task you set before the hunters?" Jinhai asks, meeting your gaze calmly, his sharp clay colored eyes meeting the wells of gold that you see the world through without so much as flinching. He is after all one of the few men who is able to look into your eyes without feeling intimidated by your attention and withstand the feeling of being picked apart piece by piece by your observations

"Tell them they are to capture a fox of Yan, and bring me the treasonous advisor of the Dai dressed in Yan gold" You explain with a calm voice, lashing your arm out for emphasis as you relay the orders to your trusted friend and companion "I want to Eunuch brought before me and Dai Niu alive and whole. If his death cannot be avoided or his capture would risk one of their own lives, then he may be killed. But they should first and foremost attempt to capture the traitorous fox and return him to the master he tried to sink his teeth into"

"As you will, Lieren, It shall be done. I am sure Feng or Liang will not allow their fellows to fail in this task. Such is their character and skill" Jinhai says, nodding his head quickly, before turning away from you to face the tree line "And I must praise your swiftness in rushing to Lord Dai's defense, Lieren"
cont
>>
>>4567179

"It was the virtuous thing to do, if you had the inherit speed and fortitude that my body holds, I am sure you would have done the same as I did" You reply kindly, with a humble smile as you bow your head "As would have any of my men, one cannot simply stand idle when an innocent man's life is endangered, after all"

Jinhai nods

"Shangrala would be a better place if all men held such a belief, my friend" He says quickly as he dutifully marches to gather The members of the Brothers of Panthers who have accompanied you on this short journey, and send them to hunt and capture the traitorous eunuch.

"Incredible, such valor, such benevolence. I am glad you are the man the stories of the faithful of the Journey claimed you to be" Dai Niu says as he struggles to stand on his own two feet once more. You move to support him.

"No, no, I do not need your assistance. It would reflect badly for me to aided by an enemy twice in a single season, let alone day" He says with a weak smile on his lips, trying to put on a strong and stoic front now that he has began to recover from the mortal terror that had afflicted him "We have much to discuss still, despite this interruption, Lord Lieren"

"Please do not refer to me as such, for I am no Lord" You say in reply, keeping your hands near the aging lord as he smirks in response to your works and the winces, but does not allow himself to groan "and if you will not accept my assistance, then at least allow me to escort you back to your own camp, so we can safely continue our parley with out further interruption"

"You would leave neutral ground? I cannot guarantee your safety then, Lieren of nothing" Dai Niu says, tugging at the sheath that holds his blade "We can remain here, I would not endanger my savior for my own safety"

"And that is why we speak as friends rather than foes, you are a most virtuous man" You say, confident that you speak the truth, for you have seen into the hearts of every man you have met, there is no reason for Lord Dai to be the exception to that rule "However, my men cannot apprehend the traitor who gave the order to the would be assassins if we do not explain the circumstances to your men"

Dai Niu nods, clearly still sluggish in thought despite the fact his senses are slowly returning to him.

"Of course of course" he mutters, now using his blade as a walking stick as he turns to face his camp "The enemy invading our grounds would cause quite and uproar, wouldn't it? I will allow you to escort me back to my men, and ask that they join the search...even if my cousin has not betrayed me, he may know who has"

"Optimistic I see" You reply frowning, shaking your head as you walk besides the old man "I will see to gathering the remedies for the aches and pain that now aflict you, Niu"

"It's fine, you have done enough for this old turtle" Niu says through his teeth, groaning the words as the scraped skin along his back touches his armor
cont
>>
>>4567180

"I just need to sit down and collect myself is all, I am fine"

"Of course Lord Dai" You say, pressing your hands together as you join him in his slow and staggered walk to the men who betrayed him and the army that lays behind them "Though my men are more than capable of sniffing out a Jackal from its den"

"Even so, I cannot allow such an insult, such a betrayal to pass unanswered. If my enemy solves of my problems..." He says, taking a deep breath, letting it slip from his lips slowly as he gathers his composure to keep walking so soon after such a sudden fall. Guilt creeps into the fortress of your mind, through the cracks, but you banish those self doubts. It was the only way to ensure the archers would not release another volley of arrows, but that does not mean you should not feel guilty for harming an innocent man, even if it was of the most minor kind of injury. The kind that would fade in a few days' time.

"They would not be much of an enemy" You interrupt, lifting your head. Lord Dai chuckles.

"So it would seem" He replies, a smile remaining on his lips despite the dread still lingering in his eyes and the panic hinted at by his sudden, shuddering movements "But do not speak so boldly, we have much to discuss still and there are men who would think me enchanted if I spoke to you so freely, as a friend"

"But perhaps by the end of the day, we can freely talk as such if we can reach and agreement. After all, the servant of your master sought your life but moments ago" You mutter as Dai nods.

"I cannot promise anything with certainty, we shall speak peacefully and finish our talks. If they lead me upon the path you and yours walk, then so be it" He whispers back "But I will not cause an uproar by openly considering you an ally, until our parley has concluded"

"You are wise to do so, Lord Dai" You whisper back, glancing to him as he glares at the men who had moments before made an attempt upon his life. Not with spite, but disappointment and worry.

"My sons will witness the continuation of our discussion, to further ensure my safety and show your true character to them, so none may think you have cast a spell upon me and mine" Lord Dai says, thumping his empty hand upon his cuirass fashioned to resemble the underbelly of a turtle "These are terms I shall not accept compromise for"

"I understand, I'd wish to meet them myself if you had not included them in our talks" You say, still smiling as you continue on the road to the Dai army's encampment "And I would argue over their presence, it is after all your territory we shall be speaking upon"

"Such an odd fellow, I suppose with that mighty body of yours you do not have to worry as much as us mortal men" Lord Dai says, glancing to you for but a moment before he focus on the road ahead once more

"I assure you, Lord Dai, I am as mortal as any man, I am merely gifted is all" You reply, keeping your hands pressed together as if you were in prayer or meditation
cont
>>
>>4567181

"By all eight courts perhaps" He mutters under his breath "I could not even see your movements, in the lands loyal to Yan, the defeat of the Lord of All rivers and mountains was claimed to be legend, propaganda you spread to cement your reputation"

Dai Niu shook his head

"That is why I hoped you were truly as benevolent and mighty as the tales told, for I heard of your battle with that demvil, from merchants and travelers and even other lords" He says, still hushing his voice to avoid being heard as you approach the edge of the ground held by his army "and did not so easily believe it to be a lie afterwards, for as a neighbor to Gao, I was raised upon stories of that beast"

"I can show the sight of the battle some day, and tell the truth of my encounter with that foul beast" You whisper back, looking up at a young man with thin arms holding up the banner of the Dai. He falls still as he sees you from the fog, reaching for an bronze horn hanging by a belt on his side.

Then Dai Niu steps forward

"Fear not, the giant approaches peacefully, the agreed upon location is no longer safe. I have invited the lord of rebellion into our camp" He says as the young fellows looks upon you with a mixture of awe and terror, not speaking or moving further "Send word to my sons, we have been betrayed from within our own ranks. A search shall be held to capture the mastermind"

"What do you speak off? I heard shouting but a traitor? What has happened?" The poor boy manages to spit out as Dai Niu sighs

"It would seem one of my own kin has more loyalty to the Yan than his own family" Dai Niu replies bluntly "and upon hearing I was meeting the Giant Lieren in a peaceful parley to discuss the present condition of my family and lands, ordered my death to ensure my army would remain aligned with the Yan, or perhaps out of greed. Lor...Lieren of Nothing has ordered his most trusted soldiers to assist in capturing the traitor"

"Buh...but he's the" The man tries to say, as you flash your teeth which you have been told call to mind the fangs of a fog panther when viewed from a certain angle, mostly to just mess with the young man and give him a story to tell when he returns home to his village.

The air is fouled by the stench of urine.

"The enemy, yes, I am aware, we gathered to oust him from the lands of my family. The ogre Lieren, the Iron furred beast, the usurper of Gao and slayer of noble men, I know. I am not deaf, I have heard stories of this man!" Dai Niu bellows, rage burning in his hands and hate burning from every word he speaks.

"However, despite this libel, and these terrible rumors and tales. Lieren of Nothing, despite being my enemy, my foe, the man who took my children and wife from my arms and invaded my ancestral home!" Niu raves, passionately yelling his mind to the men guarding the edge of the encampment, who have gathered upon hearing his voice and seeing your large silhouette within the fog
cont
>>
>>4567183

"Did not stand by and watch me die at the hands of my men who betrayed me and shamed their names by following the commands of another master, and attempted to assassinate me for merely meeting him with words instead of steel"

He shakes his head and slaps your back as high as he can reach.

"This man saved me, he is no beast, no monster hiding beneath the hide of a man. He is as virtuous and kind as his followers claim even to their death" He continues, eyes burning with a deadly mixture of fury and resolve "Without thinking, he saved his enemy when it would have been easier to simply watch me die and reap the benefits of the betrayal from within my own ranks. Do not think me so foolish to not realize Lieren should by all means be my enemy, my most hated foe!"

He walks forward raising his sheathed blade into the air as he address the gathered guards.

"But he saved my life, defended me without a moment of hesitation. If it were not for his valor and virtue, I would be a corpse!" He continues, slamming the tip of his sheathed sword into the ground, wincing in pain as he does so "He shall enter our camp unharmed and unmolested. I shall not see my savior threatened beneath my hospitality and protection, if so much as a single iron hair is plucked from I shall have the perpetrator lashed and forced to languish beneath the elements! Is my command clear? Do you hear my decree!?"

he wheezed, struggling to breath from such an impassioned speech, but that is because of his age not his pain.

"I will hear no argument against this decision" He says calmly again, closing his eyes "Fetch a cask of that Dragon's spit liquor and my sons, and give the order than my cousin is to be captured and Lieren's men are the be afforded the same protection as their master"

Silence falls as he hobbles back into camp, you follow him close behind, with a serene smile upon your lips. It does please you that he would go so far to ensure your safety. But it is unnecessary. Commendable, but unnecessary.
-
A shot rings out somewhere in the distance, causing the heads of Lord Dai and his sons to raise as you share their tent with a glass of the most bitter of drinks sat before you.

"Is that the sound of the sorcery you've taught your men?" One of Dai's younger sons, barely a man grown asks

"It is a mundane weapon, but it is a powerful one" You say calmly, swirling the liquor served to you to make you feel comfortable and at home among the men of the Dai family around in its glass "that means one of my men has fired such a weapon in the pursuit of the traitorous member of your line"

Dai Niu bows his head and closes his eyes as his sons solemly lower their heads as well.

"So he is slain then?" Lord dai asks.

You shake your head

"No, such an attack is not always fatal. He may be dead, or he may just be injured" You say as you raise up the glass and gaze into the clear liquid sloshing inside of it "We shall not know until they bring him to me"
cont
>>
>>4567185

Dai Niu nods, pulling on his mustache as he does so

"The stories I've heard say such weapons burn the soul away with the very fires of hell" He laughs "Such is the nature of tall tales, I suppose"

You join him in his laughter.

A few minutes later, two Dai soldiers open the tent, letting in Feng and a general that served beneath Lord Dai. They're dragging a fat man dressed in robes with strands of gold weaved into the fabric.

Feng has a cut beneath his eye, and a sour mood. The Eunuch has a bandage wrapped around one of his legs, stained a brilliant shade of red.

"The fox had claws. Jiang retaliated" Feng growls, tossing the ball of fat to the ground, and then pulling a knife from the side of his armor, throwing it by the injured man whose already wailing and crying as if he's the victim "I got cocky and was injured for the mistake of being overly confident, Jiang reacted in anger. We had captured this man by the stables, telling a story of murder and deceit to the man who fed the army's horses"

"And your man, as he would tell you if I did not speak of it now, Tackled the fat bastard to the ground like he was a panther" The Dai general laughs "And lifted him up like he was a kitten, which is when he was wounded and your other man saved him from a knife to the gut by drawing that "Revolver" tool and firing it, tearing a chunk of fat and meat from this traitor's leg"

The general looks at you and swallows, clearly unnerved by your presence.

"My cousin! do not be deceived, it was not me who gave the order! the ogre used sorcery to control the minds of those men, he's infiltrated our ranks! he means to steal your mind and damn you to the service of his hellish masters, the devils who tutored him in such arts" The worm covered in gold wails and cries, pleading to the man who tried to have killed. Dai Niu takes a sip of his drink and swishes it around his mouth, listening as his eldest son glances at the fruit cutting knife upon the table you share. It would not be the most effective way to kill this blubbering traitor.

The most efficent way to end this traitor's life, would be a swift stomp to the base of his neck. It'd sever his spine and burst the carotid arteries in his throat, and perhaps render his skull and what lies within to a mushy pulp. A knife would take longer, and have to be forced past folds of skin and fat to reach his throat.

"What he speaks of you, its a spell, laced into his tongue by a foul elixir. He speaks lies of the Yan, of our country of our lords! do not fall victim to his silver words, he uses devilish magic to cloud your mind and make you vulnerable to his manipulations, like what happened to poor Lord Gao" The worm continues

Rage flares within you, as you clench your hand around the glass it holds, calculating the percentage of strength it'd take for it to achieve sufficient velocity to shatter this fool's skull.
cont
>>
>>4567186

"Dear cousin, we were discussing the transportation of food supplies to our family's land and the construction of the Giant's road into it, so it may prosper as the Lands of Gao prospered" Dai Niu says calmly, spitting his mouthful of liquor into his Eunuch cousin's face as he does so, his sons roaring with laughter "under the administration of this gentle soul"

"LIES! LIES!" The worm bellows and spits, red in the face, reminding you of Gao as he called for your head the day you finally ended his miserable, detestable life "He brings corruption and devastation wherever he walks, he seeds the ground with the waters of hell, allows demons to turn men to cattle! shadows the land with his cruel rule and spiteful torments to the honest men who by right should rule it, for refusing him position and wealth beyond his birth! The road promises a paradise that cannot be, and would ensure the downfall of not only our house, but all of Yan! you blind fool"

"Father, may I remove his tongue?" Niu's eldest asks, gripping the handle of the fruit knife, rage smoldering in his eyes while his expression remains neutral.

"No, Gang, he is after all still a member of our family, even if he has betrayed us for the Yan" Dai Niu sighs, turning to his shrieking cousin with a look of disgust. He swirls his drink and looks over to you.

"You would damn us all! He'll bring ruin to our great nation, he'll bring death and suffering! Listen to me, have I ever led you wrong Niu!? do not let him dig his claws into your mind!" The Eunuch spits, glaring at you before looking away, the scent in the air telling you he has fouled his robes by the mere sight of you turning to look upon his pathetic form.

"When you told me to attack the man you speak against, spewing such foulness of a man as great and noble as the first Yan himself" Dai Niu snarls, Dai Gang lifting his head up as well as his knife.

"If you say one more word about my friend, dog, I will personally shove a bar of heated iron up your rectum" Feng hisses, kicking the fat emissary in the ribs.

You raise a hand, to keep him from further beating the traitorous bastard.

"Feng, do not allow anger to cloud your thoughts" You advise, your dear friend closing his eyes and growling as he grimaces, struggling against his emotions and urge to defend your honor.

"You only still live because of his benevolence and the fact you were spat out of the wombs of one of my aunts" Dai Niu says sounding absolutely disgusted "I will not dirty my hands with your blood. Lieren, as the man who discovered this treacherous swine hiding amongst my advisors, I will leave his judgement to you"

He sips from his glass, swishing the fish gut liquor around his mouth before swallowing it and sighing. Vapors rise from his tongue.

"Interesting drink" He says, turning the glass in his hand
cont
>>
>>4567187

"it is strangely pleasing upon the tongue. But I will await your decree, Hangman,.I will not stop you from repaying the ridiculous insults leveled against you"

"If you kill me, your daughters will be raped by every man within the Yan army, you'll be forced to watch as insects eat your bowels and your manhood is roasted in front of you" The Eunuch hisses, hoping to intimidate lord Dai into remaining loyal "Like mine was, you son of a whore! Your father made me less of a Man to receive the grace of the Yan king, and you would spit upon my sacrifice and align yourself with a mere farmer!? You fool! Your line deserves to be snuffed out cruelly and publicly, you half witted dog. I have given my life to the Yan for your line's benefit, and this is how you repay me?!"

How distasteful.

What do you do with the Eunuch, Lieren
> Simply walk over to him and stomp his head into a smear on the ground
> Debate with him and get him to admit the utter tyranny of the Yan himself
> "Feng, take this man and hang him as we have done with all the decadent fools who came before him"
> Write a message to the Lord of Yan and pin it to his chest, break his fingers and remove his tongue so he cannot speak lies or alter the text upon the letter, which shall read "I have come to hunt foxes, if any other creature large or small stands before me, they shall join them upon my wall"
> write in

Sorry for the wait. Also to anyone wondering, new thread when this one reaches page 10
>>
>>4567190
>Debate with him to admit the Yan's tyranny
>Feng, hang him.

First, the moral victory of bringing him the truth. Then the physical victory of repaying his betrayal with death.
The message to Yan can be brought in a less cruel manner.
>>
>>4567190
>> Write a message to the Lord of Yan and pin it to his chest, break his fingers and remove his tongue so he cannot speak lies or alter the text upon the letter, which shall read "I have come to hunt..."

I think brevity is the way to go for this one.
>>
>>4567192
Maybe put the corpse on a horse and send it to Yan with the message. I dont trust yan to leave the messengers alive and unharmed.
>>
>>4567192
This, but also put his soul at rest. Even if he betrayed his family he thought he was doing the best for them by following the Yang.
>>
>>4567190
> Debate with him and get him to admit the utter tyranny of the Yan himself
> "Feng, take this man and hang him as we have done with all the decadent fools who came before him"
>>
>>4567192
Support
>>
>>4567193
>I think brevity is the way to go for this one.
It's also needlessly cruel and not something Lieren would sign off on.
We can just send the message and an identifying object from the corpse.
>>
>>4567192
Support
>>
>>4567190
>Simply walk over to him and stomp his head into a smear on the ground
Stomped.
>>
>>4567192
+1
>>4567193
"When you tear out a man's tongue, you are not proving him a liar, you're only telling the world that you fear what he might say."
>>
>>4567190
> Simply walk over to him and stomp his head into a smear on the ground
there is no need to debate him, it's a waste of time, words, and energy.
>>
>>4567192
Yeah this
>>
>>4567500
There is never a waste of energy in making a blind man see while nothing else demands our attention.
>>
>>4567190
> Debate with him and get him to admit the utter tyranny of the Yan himself
> write in
Judge this man's character and determine if he is salvageable or not.

>>4567193
Not this. Anon why are you like this?

>>4567194
Then don't send a messanger at all if he's just going to kill them? That would be cruel.

>>4567479
Support
>>
>>4567548
Anon, I would like you to re-read my point about the messanger, and his proposed state of life.

I think you will find that I was talking about sending the corpse back with a message BECAUSE I didn't trust Yan to honour 'don't shoot the messanger'
>>
>>4567542
>making a blind man see, only to pluck out his eyes a moment later.
waste o' time
>>
>>4567576
Even if there wasn't the semi-confident belief that the spirits of the dead will be reborn to try and gather wisdom in their next life, A few seconds of the truth has more value to the recpient than a lifetime of ignorance.

But if you are still convinced it is a waste, consider that we are not only teaching him, but also the sons of Dai, whom may simply be going against Yan because their father decrees it rather than true belief. Explaining how Yan is a tyrant and the cost of tyranny is both an education for them and a demonstration of our own abilities upon such a clearly hostile party.
>>
>>4567500
It allows us to:
1. Demonstrate that we are a benevolent person and do not act like a childish, violent fool anad smash someone's head because they displease us and we can.
2. Cost us nothing but a few minutes, that will actually be an investment, because people are more convinced of something if you prove it indirectly, without obviously trying to convince them.
3. Make another character building moment, one of many that will eventually allow QM to consider Lieren as "permanantly wise and intelligent even on his day to day life", which means that we get better choices in line with our better MC and can slowly eliminate options like KILL HIM, KILL HIM, except when they have no negative consequences and give us some benefit.
>>
>>4567686
To be fair, Smashing his head open isn't childish or foolish. It's just expedient.
>>
page 9 so it's getting close to ending.
>>
>>4567573
Wouldn't the horse get lost?

>>4567686
I'm still kinda wondering if Lieren was originally supposed to be the butcher of primarchs and angron the empathic primarch, and that when the Emperor eventually find us he'll just swap our sons around so we have Angrons and Angron has ours.
>>
>>4567754
Probably not.
Could just be a case of sending a rider along with them to guide the horse to the city of Yan, setting it off on the right direction then bolting out of there.
>>
>>4567190
>>4567192
Support
>>
>>4567192
Supporting
>>
Alright, calling the vote now

Debate with the Eunuch: 10
Tell Feng to Hang the Eunuch9
Write the message and condemn the Eunuch:1
Stomp on the Eunuch's head, thus killing him:2
Judge the Man: 1

So Lieren will debate the Eunuch to make him admit that the Yan are terrible Tyrants, then have him hung for his betrayal

Writing now

>>4567700
Yep
>>
>>4567754
A legion has the love for their primarch ingrained into their genes. Swapping primarchs could lead to an absurd number of problems. But we could avoid Angron killing his rebellious children (the ones that rejected the nails) by asking the Emperor if we could "adopt" them into our Legion, they are astartes after all, just killing them would be a waste. If we manage to get pre-nails world eaters, we'll get the extremely rare "psychological support buffing aura" Space Marine that also kicks faces in like no one else. We could keep them mostly safe, getting geneseed from time to time until we have at least a chapter of them.
>>
>>4568586
Not to mention that the legionaries would be replaced with our actual gene-sons as we rebuild after battles

I do wonder what would have happened if primarchs were paired up and each mega-legion marine is made with a chimeric geneseed from the tow primarchs. Would there be benefits? You could mix stuff like the Iron Warrior low rejection rates with blood angel close combat skill
>>
>>4567754
Btw, Lieren being the elite unit primarch made to kill other primarchs and hero units makes a lot of sense given our extremely good assasination methods, our preference for one vs one fights against the most powerful shit we can find and our fondness for elite squads. In tabletop games I would imagine Lieren to be the expensive unit you want if you have to fight against a relatively small group of elite and hero units or against a lot of chaff and a Hero. For the first scenario, you also buy a reduced elite squad that gets buffed the fuck up by Lierens abilities to the point that thwy resemble a megahero unit (Lieren) with a small group of weak heroes at his command. For the second scenario you give him a fuck ton of imperial guard with good equipment and he pulls "The Journey" or something and they turn into Cadian+Kriegers with pseudo astartes package. Basically the dicotomy of Lieren "The savage beast on the hunt" vs Lieren "Philosopher-king, tactician extraordinaire and uplifter supreme"
>>
>>4568598
Technically, with enough genetic engeneering and psystuff yes, but the Emperor would refuse unless 40K alredy happened, remember that right now he wants a quick galactic conquest, then an orc and xeno genocide en mass, making sure to erase them forever, and then to probably se d all astartes to fight chaos until the legions break, buying him enough time to pull the human webway and then work on sealing the warp as much as possible or at least shielding the galaxy.
>>
>>4568586
>chapter of reasonable!World Eaters
My fuckin' dick, anon
As unlikely as this is to happen, I think we should call them the Gū'ér túfū: the Orphaned Butchers.
>>
>>4568603
Isn't that kinda stuff Russ's domain? Hell, even Sanguinius or Horus could do it as well.
>>
Going to post the update as the new thread, fwi. gonna link to it when I post it and archive this thread before then.
>>
>>4568674
New thread and update posted: >>4568748
This thread is archived already, I did it myself



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