>>4651156

However, you were restless, and returned to mountain lair of the living corpse puppet master, and his foul yet unseen master, as a strong feeling of unease had come to your mind as you once again past by that foul place, as you accompanied your army through the Bone Devouring forest. And felt as if the Unseen master would strike from the shadows at any moment, and had not joined his mummified student in death as you had assumed it had before.

Traveling into the sealed mountain caverns once again, you took time to study the murals of the temple forgotten by time and research its art, while meditating on the nature of your invisible foes life and "death". This revealed to you many secrets, and possibilities of the nature of this world and that of the dead. Most importantly, it revealed to you a hidden history of Shangrala, and a story of men from the stars beset by strange storms and calamities and how they degenerated into a religion of evil men twisted into the most abominable shapes.

Realizing the significance of the earlier murals and the truth of how human life came to settle upon Shangrala, you bravely journeyed deeper beneath the planets surface, in the search of devils and spirits even fouler than the Unseen master himself, or perhaps the source of the mutative and corruptive crystals that dotted the mountain's stone.

Instead, you found a craft, ancient beyond reckoning, and filled with knowledge and machinery from the time men sailed through the stars and rule the heavens. After exploring the wreck of strange, almost living steel, and experience the wonders and mysteries of the long abandoned vessel, you discovered it was no only active, but alive and possessing a consciousness of its own.

She called herself Kanzeon, and while she was initially suspicious of your motivations for plundering the treasures within her bodies, soon began to grow close and even friendly with you, as you allowed her to look within your mind and read to her the entirety of your journey.

Realizing this ancient being had been alone for eons and craved contact and companionship, you promised to return and eased her temper and dangerous thoughts by remaining within her for awhile longer, being allowed to enter the "heart" and core of her being, to discuss philosophy at length and to learn from her, the history of humanity as she knew it. The knowledge revealed to you by this ancient soul, unervered and even horrified you by its implications.

But you were not deterred by the tragedies of the past, and left Kanzeon to lead your armies once again, planning on finding a way to free her from her prison at a later date.

Upon returning to Mao castle, you learned of something far fouler than the secrets of the past revealed to you. The leaders of your scouting forces, returned alive, but bearing grave news.
cont

>>4651158

The armies of Yan Zihao, and the two generals of the Northern Yin, Yin Aiguo and Yin Huizhong had been taking the women and children of the lands still under their control under the pretense of offering them protection from the armies of the "ogre", as well as forcefully conscripting every man within those lands, under threat of death.

Enraged by the wicked and atrocious deeds of your enemy, you were not allowed time to calm your emotions, before you were alerted to the presence of an Envoy from the shattered kingdoms of the Vishnu, who had come to Mao Castle bearing gifts, lead by Lai Song and escorted by a group of hardened Vishnu Warriors.

Without wasting any time, you ordered your generals to be gathered and the captive Kang Yongrui to be brought to you, while you went to meet with this Envoy.

The man, called Dhanajay, presented himself as a servant of the Vishnu King, Nitya Sinha, who had expanded his borders by conquering his rival lords. He offered gifts in the form of Vishnu Steel, Exotic food, heaps of gems and gold, and Slave warriors, while talking of making the new ruling dynasty and the "King of Kings" allies rather than enemies, as the Vishnu had been with the Yan dynasty for many generations, speaking of "similarities" between the beliefs of his people and your journey.

However you had a differing view, and would never see a slave taker as a prospective comrade rather than a Tyrant that needed to be dethroned. Thus, you chose to share the Story of the Long dead tax collector Ling with the conniving worm before you vand the fate that befell him, before freeing the slaves he had offered to you and telling him your demands to Nitya Sinha, the so called King of Kings.
-

"My answer to you, Dhanajay, servant of Nitya Sinha, foulest of tyrants" You snarl, crossing your arms as you look down upon the silk wrapped worm at the bottom of the stairs, while you remain at their peak. His grey eyes flash with confusion, then rage, then impotent fear as you smile and show your teeth like an enraged panther may.

"Is to offer a story from my life, that may explain the difference between the master you serve and myself. It is a story of a man much like you, who was much like yourself, a small tyrant and abuser of the common folk. A thief of fortunes he had no right to take" You say genially, turning your snarl into a welcoming, almost friendly smile as Dhanajay looks back to his enslaved soldiers with confusion, no doubt wondering if you had misspoken or simply did not realize the meaning of the words you had used.

But he was much too cowardly and meek to interrupt you.

March down the stairs, the riflemen standing at attention upon them part before you.

"You see, Tax Collector Ling, was an ambitious and greedy man, who believed himself and the service he provided indispensable to the lord her served. The last lord of the Gao lineage" You spoke calmly and sweetly, as if speaking to a child.
cont

>>4651159

Dhananjay tugs at one of his many rings, looking back towards his collared warriors.

The six Vishnu chief look to you with Jackal grins, having heard this story before. They as a people, enjoyed hearing the endeserving being removed from positions and power they had not earned.

"Gao Liwei, a man of bottomless cruelty, greedier than even his worm of a servant. Ling never quite understood how disposable he was, he was a simple tax collector, any man who had studied mathematics even in the most basic form, would be able to take his place" You explain calmly as you reach the bottom of the stairs, standing directly before the Vishnu Envoy and his entourage of slaves "He saw himself as an important, and trusted confident, of the slug of Gao. So much so, that he, after many years of work, figured out what lord Gao would not notice missing, grain and riches of all kinds he could, divert into his own pockets"

Dhananjay listens closely, trying to see what lesson you're trying to show him, or the hidden meaning within your words, the reason you have suddenly ceased speaking to him of alliances and the bribes he had presented to you, to try and understand why you were talking of a random and unimportant tax collector.

"It was how he came into more wealth than his salary would allow, he, when given orders to drain the lands of wealth they did not have, to take a heavier tribute grain from starving villages at the height of a famine, would take even more taxes than he had been asked to collect" You say, pausing to suck on your teeth, turning your eyes to the rising sun before you began to speak again "After all, it was a privilege of his station and all it would take for Ling to get away with these wicked deeds, would be to not record these "losses" of extra tithes, and to treat them as gifts given directly to his own treasury"

"What is the point of this story?" Dhananjay wheezes, coughing his mouth as the wind whips dust and sand across his face "It's going nowhere"

"Oh but it is, for all men share the same fate, Dhananjay" You say, widening your smile into a grin, knowing how terrifying it must seem to the snake standing at your feet "For you see, no peasant could strike against Tax Collector Ling, and any who refused his outrageous requests, would be squashed beneath the Iron fist of Gao Liwei"

For emphasis you drive your hand into the stone path between you and the quivering envoy, your fingers sinking into the stone as if it were mud. Dramatically, you lift a large cobblestone into the air, and crumble it to dust and pebbles between your hands, showering the Envoy in both as he falls onto his back from sheer fright and panic.

Cheers fill the silence, as your men praise your show of strength. None cheer louder than the Vishnu, and none louder than their chiefs.

Laughing you dust your hands off, and continue your tale.
cont

>>4651161

"Many men, guilty of only trying to keep themselves and their families alive, were killed because of the greed of men like Ling, and Ling himself. Children starved, women starved, Men starved, Elders starved. The land became wrung dry of wealth, of food, of hope, and of happiness" You explain, throwing your gaze downward as you sorrowfully recount the story, before standing proudly once more "The land and its people were abused, and broken like an old Ox"

"Is this why you're revolting? is that why you're telling me this?" Dhananjay sputters as you nod "Well, I understand then, I know of your peoples plight and"

"You do not, allow me to continue, for you see, I was born into these harsh times, and saw the sorrows and grief they had brought to my father, my brothers, my kinfolk. And at an early age, I grew to despise men like this, who would take when they were already far wealthier than the men they extorted " You explain, slouching to look into the envoy's eyes, kneeling to lower yourself closer to his height "And I met Tax Collector Ling, I had spent a winter rebuilding the ruins his master had forced my kin to live in upon pain of death, taking a village of men starved of hope and grain, and bringing unheard of prosperity to its people, Making the land fertile once more and turning the sons of this once dying village into great warriors"

Dhananjay struggles to breath as you pause to take and breath and exhale it directly onto his face.

"Ling, saw the great things I had achieved, the Miracle of reversing such calamity and misfortune, of saving starving men and making them strong once more" You say, standing tall once again "He saw an opportunity, to make himself wealthier, from my labor, and the labor of my kin. He even thought to try and goad me with threats of Lord Gao's fury, to force me to accompany him to his court to present to that wicked man is I were a treasure he had found, to increase his status and further his reach"

You sigh as you remember those days and shake your head.

"Gao Liwei took me as his servant, an administrator, to utilize the wisdom and body I had been blessed with, while Ling, oh foolish Ling, began to fall from his master's favour" You say, as the envoy now realizes the lesson you are seeking to impart to him "For he had a much more able and much more irreplaceable servant by his side. One who could bring jade from nothing, who brought prosperity and wealth wherever he tred . Ling was no longer useful, but he was a fool, he saw me as a friend indebted to him for the station he had led me, and never saw the disdain I held for him, as he continued to obstruct my work by bleeding the very same people I sought to raise up from the poverty they had been born and forced to live within. Do you know what happened to Ling?"
cont

>>4651162

Dhananjay simply shakes his head.

"He, blinded by pride and greed, was only able to realize how little his master truly cared for him and his servitude, when another had taken his place as his favoured servant. Yet he did not cease acting as if Lord Gao would avenge his death with fury tenfold that of his killers" You laugh before images of Ling's mutilated form rush through your mind and sour your tongue, causing you to halt your laughter near instantly "He stole, he lied, and he cheated. But, I was far more clever than that rat, you see. I gave him all he asked and more, but recorded what I had sent to Gao Liwei's pocket, and what had arrived. When Ling's life lost what little worth it held to me, I penned his final fate and signed the command for his execution"

Dhananjay is now crying and drooling like a man struck dumb or returned to an infantile state.

You shake your head and throw your arms in a dramatic shrug.

"Alas, alas, I had underestimated the depths of Lord Gao's cruelty. For the torture he gave to a man who had once been his closest advisor and dearest servant, remains one of the most monstrous sights these golden eyes of mine have beheld" You say softly and gently "His greed, his ambitions, were all slowly snuffed out along with his life. Lord Gao, had all of his skinned removed, except for his head and hands, to reflect his greed and allow all to witness the horror Ling felt as he was brutalized"

The envoy babbles a word, it may have been a plea for you to stop, but he is unable to command his tongue.

"Then, the parts that make him a man were removed, His nails were pulled out along with his liar's tongue, which was nailed to his forehead' You say, grimacing as you recount the fate of your first enemy to all who have the stomach to listen "Ling bled blood and secrets in equal manner, before the torture truly began, he exposed the true nature of Gao's court, and so he was made to suffer, he screamed even after his tongue had been nailed to his head. He could scream no longer as his master branded and burned him, for the crime of stealing from him and for exposing what he and his followers truly were"

You snort and shake your head once again, forcing yourself to keep smiling so you do not snarl like a wild animal.

"Gao, kept him in such a pitiful state, skinless, cooked, mute and emasculated for half a season, Lord Gao was not known for his intellect, but he had a talent for torture and knew ways to continue it almost indefinitely. When he grew bored with this game, he used heated needles to put out Ling's eyes with his own hands" You continue as Dhananjay soils his silks with a stream of steaming vomit and bile "And then, tied his mutilated form to six different horses, and had him torn into six different pieces. What remained of Ling was nailed in front of the city gates, so all who traveled the road I had built could see his fate. Such pointless, meaningless cruelty"
cont

>>4651164

You turn your eyes back down to the quivering pile that was the envoy, coated in his own sick and fouler discharges.

"I consider Ling's fate to be one of the gravest mistakes I've made in my life, I have no love for Tyrants, even small ones like Ling" You say softly as you walk up to the Vishnu and grab the collars offered to you "But torture, is a crime that I consider to be surmounted by only a handful of others in terms of sheer vileness"

Gripping both of the collars, stacking one over the other, you begin to pull them in opposite directions. The metal groans as you clench your jaw and snarl. The metal bands begin to bend and malform, before they finally snap into two, with a cloud of sparks and fire. You drop the remains of both in surprise, the stench of burning metal and chemicals clinging to you. That was unexpected.

"One of these crimes which surpasses it in wickedness, is slavery" You say, banishing the black, billowing smoke with a wave of your hands "I shall take the gift of freedom, and give it to the men you have treated like cattle"

Dhananjay looks at you scornfully, before he remembers your forces far out number his, and that you had turned solid stone to dust before his very eyes.

"Very well" He mutters, his voice hollow and defeated "That is the gift the great king Nitya Sinha, shall give to you, as a token of your budding friendship"

He pulls a small slip of iron from his ruined robes, and presses down upon it after waving it ritualitically in the air, near one of his brooches. The ruby eyes of which suddenly begin to glow.

With a loud hiss, the collars on his entourage unlatch, and all of them collapse to the ground, sobbing and gulping down air, tearing and pulling at their necks to remove the now depowered collars. Many of them soil themselves, or begin to vomit a strange white foam.

"A good start, however, if the great Nitya Sinha, truly desires my friendship, when you return to him, tell him the Giant from Nothing demands he frees every slave within the borders of his kingdom, or else court death dealt by my hands" You say happily, walking past the envoy to help one of the worse affected of his former servants up

"Praise be! Praise be! Praise be!" the man wails, hugging you tightly, crying like a mourning mother as he clings to you. Kamakshi pulls him off of you, looking quite annoyed.

"Courts above, what did you do?" Lai Song asks, looking confused and somewhat horrified by the turn of events "What manner of sorcery was that?"

You purse your lips.

"Not sorcery, technology" You answer, speaking Yan once again. Aruna walks up to Dhananjay, with fury in his eyes beneath the skull painted over his face.

"Devilry" He snarls, hand falling to the sword he inherited from his father, Jayesh "You have taken the souls of our brother Vishnu, and turned them into dogs, I would have your head if your blood would not so sully my blade"
cont

>>4651169

What will you do with the envoy, Lieren?
>Allow the Vishnu, both wild and recently freed, to enact their justice upon the man
>Stop Aruna and his fellow chiefs from butchering the man, and allow him to return to His master, bearing a gift of his own (a translated copy of the journey)
>Lift the worm from the ground and politely ask him of the other technology the Vishnu hold, before ensuring he is treated fairly and well
>Ignore Dhananjay, and simply return to the war room, the plan your next move against the Yan with your generals.
>write in?

>>4651175
>Stop Aruna and his fellow chiefs from butchering the man, and allow him to return to His master, bearing a gift of his own (a translated copy of the journey)
>Lift the worm from the ground and politely ask him of the other technology the Vishnu hold, before ensuring he is treated fairly and well

then we throw him to the ground and go to see our generals

>>4651175
>>Stop Aruna and his fellow chiefs from butchering the man, and allow him to return to His master, bearing a gift of his own (a translated copy of the journey)
>>Lift the worm from the ground and politely ask him of the other technology the Vishnu hold, before ensuring he is treated fairly and well

>>4651175
>Stop Aruna and his fellow chiefs from butchering the man, and allow him to return to His master, bearing a gift of his own (a translated copy of the journey)
>Lift the worm from the ground and politely ask him of the other technology the Vishnu hold, before ensuring he is treated fairly and well
Envoys should be treated well.

File: Team Caster's MO.png (310 KB, 500x300)

310 KB PNG

>Stop Aruna and his fellow chiefs from butchering the man, and allow him to return to His master, bearing a gift of his own (a translated copy of the journey)
>Lift the worm from the ground and politely ask him of the other technology the Vishnu hold, before ensuring he is treated fairly and well

>>4651175
>>Stop Aruna and his fellow chiefs from butchering the man, and allow him to return to His master, bearing a gift of his own (a translated copy of the journey)

>>4651175
>Stop Aruna and his fellow chiefs from butchering the man, and allow him to return to His master, bearing a gift of his own (a translated copy of the journey)
>Lift the worm from the ground and politely ask him of the other technology the Vishnu hold, before ensuring he is treated fairly and well
We got bloody high riders to hang after Yan.

>>4651175
>>Stop Aruna and his fellow chiefs from butchering the man, and allow him to return to His master, bearing a gift of his own (a translated copy of the journey)

>Write in: Raising a single hand and bringing your commanding voice to bear once more,
"This man's life holds value to me in the form of a single task."

With a final glare cast towards the walking worm and an outstretched palm containing a Vishnu translation of The Journey,
"Deliver this to your master posthaste. I truly wish for him to see the error of his ways but I know for certain he will see how... incompatible I am with those who treat men as livestock."

Forgive my words. Dialogue is far from my usual forte.

>>4651175
>>Stop Aruna and his fellow chiefs from butchering the man, and allow him to return to His master, bearing a gift of his own (a translated copy of the journey)
>>write in?
We should also send along with him one of our mid-tier generals, (sorry I cant remember all these names) with a group of soldiers. This way we can keep an eye and we 'make sure they fulfill their end of the friendship.'

>>4651189
Support

>>4651175
>>Stop Aruna and his fellow chiefs from butchering the man, and allow him to return to His master, bearing a gift of his own (a translated copy of the journey)
>>Lift the worm from the ground and politely ask him of the other technology the Vishnu hold, before ensuring he is treated fairly and well
I wonder if they have any unique bits of archeotech like the butcher's nails. Hopefully nothing that barbaric, but it'd be interesting to see how isolated instances of advanced technology melds with their presumably feudal society.

>>4651175
Explain to the envoy that our Vishnu friends had a bad history with sorcery. It would be within his best interest to explain how it functions, less something unfortunate happen.

>>4651287
This could be worth digging into. There might be a chance that the Vishnu got this tech/sorcery near the fallen sight of a crashed settlers space ship. It would be in our and our space friend's interest to find out. It would be a crying shame to find that the ship has been scavenged though.

>>4651188
Support.

Lets keep the slave collars and the deactivation device, for study and maybe we can figure out a way to create a "One key opens all" type varient.

>>4651349
Because waving a magic wand and making all the slaves no longer slaves, especially in a war setting with this dehabilitating effect of them coming off, we would have a real power to it.

ye

>>4651175
>>Stop Aruna and his fellow chiefs from butchering the man, and allow him to return to His master, bearing a gift of his own (a translated copy of the journey)
>Lift the worm from the ground and politely ask him of the other technology the Vishnu hold, before ensuring he is treated fairly and well

Envoy vomits, shits and pisses himself. Good lord Malal.

>>4651385
Gonna cry?piss your pants maybe?maybe...SHIT AND LIBERATE!?

>>4651175
>Stop Aruna and his fellow chiefs from butchering the man, and allow him to return to His master, bearing a gift of his own (a translated copy of the journey)
>Lift the worm from the ground and politely ask him of the other technology the Vishnu hold, before ensuring he is treated fairly and well

"My friends and trusted generals, your fury is righteous but allow me to give an use to this worm. He may know more about this things."
Indicate the collars
"I don t wish to be unprepared in disabiling such devices in the future, my commanders. I hope you can understand my decision."
Call an officer of our soldiers
"Have this ex-slaves clean, feed and given rest and clothing. If they need medicines or treatments do that as well."
Then look at the diplomat directly in the eyes.
"Diplomat Dhananjay, i suggest you to tell me about the devices. My mood and the one of my court has already being shaken today, so i hope you tell me what i want without any embellishments or half truths. And upon your return to your "king", reflect on your treachery and the ones of your kingdom towards your own kin".
"Make no mistake though, my diplomatic manners will run thin faster than the ones of my men, if you don t tell me what i want to know."

>>4651444
No need to warn him about the thinness of our patience. We did that with lings story, and what's more in the off chance this warlord listens to our demand and repents, we shall need to deal with these unsavory individuals further.

But I doubt the warlord has virtue enough to become an ally.

>>4651349
>>4651381
Our AI friend could probably just hack into the collars and force them to open.

>>4651463
If they could interact, maybe.

>>4651175
>Stop Aruna and his fellow chiefs from butchering the man, and allow him to return to His master, bearing a gift of his own (a translated copy of the journey)

>>4651463
Assuming a lot there

>>4651497
If she can study them and we either make, help make, or come across something that could boost the signal, I think there's a fair chance we can do it. Not without work though.

>>4651497
The metal melted right? So it's probably made from the same thing as those doors in the ship.
It's not that big of a logic leap to think that Kanzeon would now how to jailbreak them.

>>4651499
Again assuming a lot here without studying them yet. You could be right, or you could be wrong.

>>4651514
I dont see any mentions of the collars melting, only sparking and some metal cloud bits. Reread and quote me if I'm wrong.

>>4651550
>Again assuming a lot here without studying them yet.
They're remote controlled. We know a DaoT AI. Remote controls were well within the wheelhouse of DaoT craftsmen. That Kanzeon could invent something to fuck with them is not an unreasonable inference.
>You could be right, or you could be wrong.
Those possibilities has existed for every person with enough mental fortitude to form an assumption about something.

Reposting

What is the geography of Shangrala like?

>>4651561
Fuck knows.

>>4651550
I read "the stench of burning metal and chemical" and thought thay melted when we ripped it off, but rereading it I think that's not necessarily true.

>>4651570
Nah, they probably had their wirings damaged when we tore it in half, which would cause them to catch fire.

The use chemicals to control, pacify, kill or influence the person who wears it, as we can see by the guys who started coughing up foam when it was taken off them.

>>4651561
Fairly varied? We've seen mountains, swamps, forests, and rivers. I don't think we've heard anything about where the Vishnu, Shunni, and Bask live, but I'd assume jungles, deserts, and mediterranean. That's just based off of the real life hindu, sunni, and basque homelands, Malal could have pulled a fast one on us there and given them completely different climates.

And a bit late, so I've no expectation of this getting supported, but it may be an idea to give the envoy a more succinct breakdown of what our philosophy and goal is, namely what we told Gao.

"I will bring Prosperity to every, man, woman and child in Yan and upon Shangrila and I shall slay every tyrant who tries to stand against us.

>>4651561
>> Shangrala, Classification: Feudal world. This planet is primarily made of vast fields and plains, with mountains and lost technology serving to create a near ever present fog in the lower parts the valleys and hills. It is ruled by warring kingdoms lead by depraved & hedonistic kings given patronage and a divine right to rule by the eight celestial courts.

>>4651556
If the Vishnu has DaoT like this, dont you think they would had dominated the Yan a long time ago?

>>4651769
if all they have are slave collars and other similar shit that isn't directly applicable to combat. No.

>>4651769
Never said they did. I said that DaoT technology can probably interfere with whatever principle the collars function on.

File: 1535061106209.jpg (660 KB, 1500x938)

660 KB JPG

>>4651733
I meant more in how many continents are there? Several like Terra or a Pangaea type supercontinent deal? And oceans as well, which would greatly influence how our conquest may be influenced.

If you guys excuse the sperg I'm about to write for a second, I've been thinking of our Legion's Tactics and specialties in war and how we'll aid the Great Crusade. From the way that Lieren organizes his army now and goes about leading it, it strikes me that our forces will most likely be generalists in a similar vein to the Dark Angels, Luna Wolves/Sons of Horus and Ultramarines.

If we look at our structure now, we seem to rely on splintering our forces to engage the enemy on multiple fronts, using those forces unique talents and bringing out the best of them. With his gaze Lieren seems to be able to almost instantly ascertain the measure of a person, and in doing so seems to see how they need to improve and what they're already good at.

Taking all of this into more consideration, I suspect that he'd split roles into his companies and have them specialize in certain tasks, for example a theoretical First Brotherhood; could focus on stealth, recon and melee combat, much like our existing brotherhood of the panther.

The theoretical second brother hood could be focused on heavy artillery and siege craft, much like our current artillery forces. The third could be swift outriders like the lord of cavalry's forces etc etc etc

What I'm getting at is we're very likely to be similar to the dark angels specializations of their circles, but on a broader level if that makes any sense. Lieren also appreciates free thinking and people capitalizing on their instincts, which would make a force that's very good at acting independently when needed.

Sorry for the long post, I just needed to get my thoughts out.

>>4652837
Constructive sperging is good, no harm there. I like the idea of our legion being like more fluid Dark Angels and I think that works thematically. They were the first, we are the second. Improvements are to be expected. The only gripes I have is with the first company not being veterans, but that's nothing to worry about, numbers can be shifted around.

Speaking of tactics, I was struck by one the other day. In order to take a fortress on an island, during the crusade, we could send damaged, stripped-down gunships and allow them to be shot down on their approach by the fortress's defenses. From there, the marines could climb out of the wreckage, melta bomb their way in through inevitable weak points, like sewer grates or maintenance hatches, and take it from the inside out. Now, that's an incredibly specific scenario and probably won't ever come to pass, but I was struck by the image of marines in mark II diving suits walking across the seafloor.

File: Space_Marine_Chapters.png (692 KB, 800x504)

692 KB PNG

>>4652837
I don't think that's a terrible idea, breaking up the 2nd Legion into "Brotherhoods" and all that.
besides the 3 you suggested, I have a few ideas of my own.
>a Brotherhood composed of combat engineers and experts on fortification and equipment maintenance.
>a Brotherhood composed of generally trained, but not quite specialized battle brothers, usually staffed by younger Astartes and able to supplement any Brotherhood that is found wanting for support in battle
I also suggest we send some members of each Brotherhood to the other Legions who share their specialties as a method of joint training.
This will also allow us to get a some idea as to how other Legions are doing internally during the Crusade.

>>4652948
The use of gutted gunships as a means of concealing troop deployment sounds like something we'd do desu.
We should find a name for that tactic at some point and mention it to Guilliman. He might just add it to the first edition of the Codex Asartes.

>>4652837
>>4652948
>>4652958
I like these

>>4652991
I'll try and make a rough diagram based on our ramblings so we can get a better idea of potential rank and company structures in our Legion.

>>4652958
>>a Brotherhood composed of generally trained, but not quite specialized battle brothers, usually staffed by younger Astartes and able to supplement any Brotherhood that is found wanting for support in battle
I think this is a good idea. Right after they finish conversion, a serving a mandatory amount of years or missions as a part of the nth brotherhood would also serve as a way to sort new recruits into whichever new brotherhoods they'd be best in.

Should there be marines that serve as some sort of general in an imperial army?

>>4653007
I don't think it's quite necessary or advisable to put Astartes in long term command positions within the Astra Militarum.
The Astra Militarum never really runs out of qualified leaders to begin with, and any Astartes with leadership potential would be better served commanding other Asartes.
The only time I think it's directly necessary for an Astartes to be given command of any group of Guardsmen is when there's a joint operation going on between the two branches.

>>4652958
One would argue that sending brothers to other legions for join training could be the progenitor of the Deathwatch which is an excellent arm of the Astartes even if it is at the beck and call of the Ordo Xenos

>>4653020
It's a bit of a risk, but I believe that human Commanders with astartes advisors might be a good idea.

Also we really should get our marines to care about and love regular humans as much as possible, we don't want them thinking they're better than everyone else just cuz they have our geneseed.

Hell, lieren is a primarch and although he knows he's different, he'll probably never believe himself above humans

>>4653240
Astartes advisors are for joint operations, it's the same reason we don't want to follow the earlier idea from last thread about turning a portion of our astartes into bureaucrats that stay behind on a world we have rebuilt to rule it in our stead.
There is a time and a duration where these ideas are viable, and that duration is not permanent.

That being said, you're never going to stop all of that hate and negativity but if we do a Lorgar then we should be able to get a 90 to 99% coverage and convert them to the Journey.

>>4653258
>doing a Lorgar
Anon, Lorgar and the Word Bearers were the least productive and slowest legion of the Crusade. The only thing that would save the worlds we uplift from getting Monarchia'd is the fact the Journey doesn't yet feature a god or godlike figure. And I think that last bit might have to change once we meet dad.

>>4653283
The WB's got their chastisement for being SLOW due to their insistence on making each world they dominate into a perfect model world, where no rebellion or dissent was going to rise again. The emperor worshipping shit would have been tolerated if he wasn't fucking lagging behind everyone else.

But that's not what I'm on about. After taking control of the legion, within a decade Lorgar had all of them worshiping the emperor. In 10 years or less, this demi-god managed to convert thousands of astartes that he wasn't even near to his belief system through the use of informal lodges and altered training.
This is the sort of thing I'm talking about, but for the journey.

>>4653290
Well, the emperor shit would have been tolerated LONGER, not indefinitely.

>>4653290
We have to worry about the journey going too far and all our astartes turning into puritan monks who despise humans for not being ascetic enough.

And also the fact that our journey has a VERY HIGH risk of falling into nurglite shit. You know, with all the stuff about life and cycles and stuff. We have to take a lot of care.

>>4653295
Zealots. Not puritans, since that course of action goes against the tenants.

Anyway, maybe we should enshrine the unseen master into our texts as a devilish figure. Literally just retell the fall of the Sorcerer and "voices in the dark" without the specific setting or mentioning ourselves at all and nobody will question if it's actually real because why would it be? it's just another parable.

>>4653290
Regarding a Lorgaresque approach to spreading the Journey among our ranks, we can certainly encourage its study, but don't we have a tenant down about not forcing it on others, allowing for people to discover their journey all on their own? If not, Lorgar tactics it is, but I think I remember something like that.

>>4653317
I don't even think we need to follow the Lorgar approach at all for our marines given how The Journey is text written by their fucking Primarch.
I'll be shocked if there's not at least a few thousands marines with passages from The Journey tattooed on them somewhere.

>>4653317
It's one of our main tenants actually, and the origin of the stigma and negative connotations of the word "Tyrant" which we use against the Yan.

The passage goes something like "These words are a guide, a suggestion for the path that I walk, and must be chosen willingly for only a tyrant forces you along a path, and when you meet a tyrant on the road you must slay him."
But there isn't anything against encouraging the study of the book, which is what this would be. Facilitating the easier reading and interpretation of the text as intended. Attendence isn't mandatory but if we explain it's our worldview then most astartes will read it to understand why we do as we do.

>>4653326
>but if we explain it's our worldview then most astartes will read it to understand why we do as we do.
We should also just have a copy of it on hand at all times. Like visibly on our person.
Yeah we don't actually need it since Lieren wrote the damn thing and has a Primarch's memory, but it's good for the sake symbolism and getting our astartes interested in the text.

>>4653323
I think you're overestimating marine-primarch loyalty. Fulgrim, in all of his nearly psychic-levels of charisma, had to send nearly a full quarter of his Legion down to Istvaan III which then killed nearly another quarter of their own legion in defiance of their Primarch. Ditto for Mortarion and Horus, both of whom were beloved by their legion. Doubly so for Angron, who had a rebellion of marines even before the Heresy.

>>4653326
Ah, gotcha. Encouraging it's study and discussion is a good idea. I'd also like for us to pick up a hobby after the war, both for our own sake and for the sake of establishing unmartial traditions in our future legion. Shuihan penjing is sort of like chinese bonsai, except a whole landscape instead of just a tree, sometimes with little figurines. One might even call them miniatures...

>>4653329
Maybe, not sure on the astheticis of that though. Maybe have it bound on a chain like the prayer beads the buddah had? I dunno. I leave that to the more aesthetic individuals.

>>4653336
I think that He's talking about the first spur of excitement that they have upon meeting their gene father. That sort of interest and enthusiasm would go pretty far.

Anyway, I think we already talked about trying to seed poetry and smithing into our legion, but I won't deny that having a room on our command ship which is tended solely by Lieren would make for A] a beautiful place to relax and meditate and B] would serve as a very special show of respect to receive individuals like our brothers.

>>4653344
Indeed, warriors in gardens and all that. Definitely something to encourage among our sons. I also like the idea of a large atrium for legionnaires to meet and discuss, with a big scholar's rock in the middle. I also find the image of Kurze or Mortarion or Angron standing around uncomfortably as we prune our trees very amusing

>>4653295
The journey has high chance to turn into any of the chaos gods, we made it so it exemplify the good parts of each of them, like Khorne's honor, Slannesh's self-improvement and Tzeentech's hope. Nurgle acceptance is just one more part of the soup. We really need to look out for Erebus, our legion can either be chaos greatest tool or it's worst enemy.

>>4653380
Bit egotistical there anon but the message is right about it.

>>4653355
Mmm, a public area rather than a private one is more fitting for Lierens sensibilities.

File: Spoiler Image (77 KB, 800x804)

77 KB JPG

>>4652958
How about we call these 'Brotherhoods' Chapters?

>>4653355
>Angron visits the 2nd Legion's capital ship to discuss the terms of their Astartes Exchange program
>Lieren invites him to his personal quarters
>after wading through a sea of warrior monks and unusually upbeat serfs, Angron enters Lieren's zen garden
>"What in the Emperor's name is this?"
>"...a garden? Did they not have these on Nuceria?"
>"You know damn well they did. I'm asking why you had one installed on your vessel."
>"I find the aesthetics of gardens and the practice of keeping them a wonderful form of meditation."
>"I see..."
>"..."
>"Are you just gonna keep pruning branches and humming along like an old man?"
>"You know, this would go a lot faster if you picked up some shears and helped."
And thus Angron learns the joys of bonzai.

>>4652745
Unlikely to be a Pangea like super continent. With nithing to break the air wind speeds pickup to ridiulous amiunts iver the ocean. Coastal areas get brutalized. But, the moisture from the ocean doesn't make it all the way accross and so the centre of continent becomes an arid desert like place. Given the reletively moderate temperture we've experienced its be multicontinent planet like our own.

>>4653390
I mean they'd pretty much function almost exactly like chapters now that I'm researching this shit.
That said, it's not like every Legion didn't have their own dumb names for the same shit. Why not ours?

>>4653389
>Mmm, a public area rather than a private one is more fitting for Lierens sensibilities.
No reason we can't have both. Lieren has also taken time alone to himself, but I do think it's something he would want.
>>4653396
Kek
Maybe we could get Angron into rock gardening, little bit more durable a medium than plants.

File: 180730145940-underscored-(...).jpg (95 KB, 1100x619)

95 KB JPG

>>4653413
>Maybe we could get Angron into rock gardening
I think sand gardening would be a better idea if durability is a concern. Kinda hard to destroy sand ya know.

>>4653390
Doesn't sound chinese enough

>>4653421
Heavenly Imperial Regiment then.

>>4653419
If anyone can, it's Angron. I don't suppose there's a way to garden gases? We should ask a magos.
>>4653421
>>4653426
Brotherhood in chinese is xiōngdì huì, but that strikes me as a bit of a mouthful. We could just call them companies like nearly everyone else. The Dark Angels' Deathwing, Ravenwing, etc. are companies, they just have more commonly used cognomen.

>>4653436
>gas gardening
>quite possibly the hardest naturally occuring physical medium to observe and maintain
Perfect for a Primarch. I bet the Emperor has several in the Imperial Palace.

>>4653436
How about packs, as in panther packs, I know they're solitary creatures but our brothers are sort of pack like

>>4653449
It'll keep Angron busy for hours and he can't break it. Perfect.
>>4653451
Remids me of the Wolves' naming conventions and we all know it's a slippery slope. The day we fight alongside Panther Lord Xia Tao, called the Ghost Panther, of the 14th Panther Pack "the Nightpanthers," wielder of the archeotech powersword Pantherclaw is the day I vote to get Leman to put us out of our misery and use our story as a cautionary tale for his own sons.

>>4653474
I think Angeron would just out and out dismiss the idea of farming.
The only way he would give two shits about what we say is if we examined how we were effectively slaves to Gao until we became an admin. But even then he would probably go on an angst about how he was truly suffering while we got the cushy life.

>>4653481
I don't think we'll be able to connect with him by telling him of our current accomplishments. If/When we go to war with the Vishnu, freeing all their slaves will earn us some points with him. Best way to get buddy-buddy with him was mentioned a few threads ago. We convince dad to teleport down as much of the XII's force as possible so he can hand it to the High Riders with impunity. Bonus points for style if this all happens during his final stand where he got teleported up by Emps in canon.

>>4653495
He'd hate us even then for stealing his earned death.
Some people just can't be reasoned with.

>>4653525
He made his "peace" with dying because he knew he couldn't win with his dwindling army of gladiators. As the twelfth is of his blood and would obey any order given to them from their newly-discovered primarch with little, if any question, I think he'd be perfectly fine using them to conquer Nuceria and free the slaves. Better to slaughter your oppressors with your brothers-in-arms and the help of your new army than merely dying alongside your friends.

>>4653534
He doesn't and didn't consider the 12th as his blood or his friends or his family is the problem. Only those slaves who he's been leading to battle after battle earn that distinction.

I'm up for trying to help him however we can, but I am under no illusions that he will be grateful or easy to deal with.

>>4653541
He doesn't/didn't consider the 12th his blood after he got to know them, after he was teleported up by the Emperor against his wishes and was forced to leave his friends to die. Now imagine, instead of that, Angron and the Eaters of Cities cornered in the mountains of Nuceria. He sees the five armies pursuing him, outnumbering him 50 to one, crest a ridge, and just as they begin their charge company after company get drop pod-ed down to hold the line while whoever is first captain reports to Angron for orders. In canon Angron refused the Emperor's offer because it was only to join him, not to help his situation and hated his legion because they were strangers. Now the Emperor (at our behest) has helped him and his sons have done his will to topple tyrants and slavers who have wronged him time and time again. And lets say that even after all of those changes, he still doesn't like his legion. He'd still be significantly more calm after that instead of just being kidnapped. Its the best choice out of a bunch of bad ones, in short, if you're right.

>>4653552
I'm don2 to, in this fanfic situation where we are there, to drop down and interfere even at the direct contradiction of big E's orders, though I doubt we will be there.

You are however incorrect on being calmer. Maybe he wont sulk and team kill, but that's the best we can reasonably hope for.
If we are present, and we can pull this off with "I shall never let tyrants rule daddy-oh", AND massively prevent deaths by fighting with, not for Angron and his slaves, then I would be immensely suprised and gleeful.

>>4653389
It's not really egostistical,the journey is a direct attack to the only thing that can actually threaten chaos gods: their gestalt identity. The only other way would be to starve then of emotion, either by fucking off to the webway like the emperor wanted to do, killing every sentient being in the galaxy and starting over, or redirecting their psychic tendies to another deity like the imperial truth, Khaine and Gork and Mork.
Also it's funny thinking that chaos gods, who conquer through subversion, ended up subverted themselves.

>>4653565
>AND massively prevent deaths by fighting with
That's the only part I see as unlikely, assuming we're there.
As for the likelihood of us being there, it's not uncommon for some primarchs to go with the Emperor when he finds lost brothers. Magnus was there when He found Lorgar, and Dorn, Lorgar, Fulgrim, and Ferrus went with Him to get Curze from Nostromo.

>>4653575
Chaos' WORST ENEMY would have been Russ' wolves and Magnus' sorcerers, not the 2nd legion of Lierens.

Philosophically you may have a point, though no deity to funnel their faith into makes it weaker than the imperial truth, but big E approved.

So far in terms of character development Lieren is basically Primarch Mr. Miyagi with more flowery speech. He would be almost instantly disliked by his brothers with daddy issues because of having a decent by Primarch standards childhood. I can see him initially having some friction with people like Russ but I think that would be settled quickly after a friendly fist fight even if Russ would give him flak for not drinking super booze afterwards.

As for the legion, if Lieren disappears there will likely be disagreements about Lieren's tenets. Some things that may stay in place is the encouragement of teaching and brotherhood. For the most part frontal engagements will err towards lessening casualties but while infiltrating or in desperate times they will go for the neck. They will attribute this to messed up rhetoric relating to the carp and panther styles.

>>4653660
>He would be almost instantly disliked by his brothers with daddy issues because of having a decent by Primarch standards childhood
I'm sorry they didn't have the balls to subvert and murder the nearest tyrant and begin building a proper armed rebellion that kicked the shit out of every other major military power on the planet.
And they totally could have too I bet.

>>4653626
I dont see your point. Magnus's legion got duped into chaos, and their "familiars" were actually demons. Russo's rune priests were psyker dudes that worshiped a NOT! eldar in origin world spirit circuit thing.

>>4653675
Morty tried that. Failed.

>>4653690
>Morty tried that. Failed.
Well he's asthmatic, so he gets a pass.

>>4653687
My point is the militarily, We are no more a threat to Chaos and it's forces than anybody else of the legions. Magnus if he had stayed loyal, he would be utterly instrumental against chaos given his extensive knowledge of the warp and it's creatures.
Russ and Ilk are executioners and killers with a proven track record of murdering legions before and are exceedingly good at it by accounts since they did it twice without being decimated.

You need more than Philosophy to win the heresy. It's force of arms that wins the day here with aspects of the arcane.

>>4653702
And yet a large number of our forces was rendered traitors by means of philosophy, nor would any Astartes be worth much in battle without living by their own strict philosophies.
It's fascinating.

>>4653767
"our" as in the traitorous legions in canon, not any of Lieren's troops

>>4653767
Men follow who they follow. Before the war, thought is a weapon and preparations must be made. During however the Journey ceases to be a tool of securing the loyalty of our men and at best takes a passive and minor action as a poor shield against the arcane while the forces won through it's teachings are what will defeat chaos in their grand offensive.

Chaos with three legions would be bad, but their doom is certain.

More Observations, I honestly don't know if Lieren would support the Librarians during the censor of magnus and the Council of Nikea.

Our only experience with magic has had it be super aids evil, so I don't think he'd like it very much.

>>4653813
Maybe not, but that's due to ignorance.
Once he understands that Psykers are born with their gifts and have no control over the fact, He'd be much more inclined to establish and instatution to understand and control their abilites.

That being said, I don't think we would have a good experience with sorcery and ritualism, which is distinct from psychic abilities in that anyone can do it and I highly suspect is what the sorcerer under the mountain was using.
Condemning a group of people for circumstances of their birth and demanding they never use such a helpful resource again is rather not like him, so I think.

File: Spoiler Image (6 KB, 200x200)

6 KB JPG

>>4653826
this. have my (you) anon.

>>4653687
Fighting the chaos forces just wastes time, the daemons are just going to reform and more cultist are going to be duped.
Now if you start fucking directly with the source on the other hand, you can bring an end to this whole problem for good.
Now I'm still going to push for us to qirte more parables about a fake journeyman, that way religious people power him through belief, and agnostic followers will end up subverting chaos. Either we end up with an non-austist god emperor or purified warp.

File: de6e150d779a12b87991b8af2(...).png (66 KB, 224x351)

66 KB PNG

>Lieren's dad is dying the day Big E comes to the planet
>E comes to Lieren's house
>Dad refuses treatment, he's lived a long and fulfilling life
>Lieren's dad asks this (Not)Godlike being but one thing: To help Lieren's dream come true
All to this
https://youtu.be/W8x4m-qpmJ8

>>4653893
Honestly, we need to train more. Like, a LOT more. Lieren is still weak as hell for a primarch. He still had difficulties killing the sorcerer, when he should have been able to backslap him into a thin mist effortlessly.

We need, a training arc.

>>4653918
The Sorcerer was also the first thing we've encountered that we actually struggled against at all. The Toad Dragon broke our skin, but other than that we toyed with it. The two things in the Devouring Woods were killed with relatively little effort. We KO'd an entire army while developing a new martial art from the ground up.

Lieren has been training, getting stronger as he goes.

What if Lieren is like Aplharius/Omegon in that he has a weaker/smaller body? He's just called a Giant because everyone on Shangrala is just small?

Lieren could be around say Custodes in size

>>4653918
Not really. We are only 8 ish years old.

File: 1611981956334.jpg (544 KB, 1404x2244)

544 KB JPG

He Malal? How far along is the GC?

>>4653918
>>4653946
>>4653967
As I stated before, I truly believe that lieren is a late bloomer and that we have yet to go through primarch puberty.

I think maybe we'll go through it when we topple the vishnu, but that is still a ways off

>>4653946
I don't know about that. Primarchs are developed to have appropriate sizes to their roles (alpharius omegon, lorgar, they're weaker because their roles don't need strength) lieren doesn't fit in any of these kinds of situations.

>>4654008
Inquisitor primarch.
Grey knights and exorcists are from the 2nd legion, there founding is a mystery because it was all scrubed away.

>>4654031
Exorcists are Lorgar's boys anon

>>4654031
Their founding isn't a mystery though. The only mystery is "What is put into their geneseed, that they call the "emperor's gift""

>>4654046
And nah, the exorcists are offshoots of the grey knights, fully pure and all.

>>4654031
What? No. They got kablooey'd by something...either by the viking furry or by xenos. Grey Knights are different from normal legions on purpose.

>>4654031
>>4654065
It's been theorized for a long time now that Lieren is the actual gene seed for the grey knights. it's fun to think about
>inb4 fanfic
this whole thing is fanfic

>>4654068
I think the Grey Knights being the 'Sons' of the Angel AKA the '0th/Prototype Primarch' is more likely given how obsessed about purity both are

I suspect Lieren's sons will be highly adaptable, develop golden eyes in some and will be very controlled.

That may be boring for some, but I think it's a great building block for a powerful set of marines. I also think his geneseed will have a high acceptance rate and little to no mutations like perturabo's

>>4654072
'The Angel' really throws a big wrench in the whole thing about Lieren being anti-chaos...but i mean, what is he supposed to be?

We've been trying to figure it out for over five thousand posts, and yet we cannot. Sure, we have the golden evil-seeing eyes, but how can we be the anti-chaos primarch if that was already the protoprimarch's role?

We can't be the inquisition primarch because the emperor didn't have an inquisition.

We can't be the 'prosperity' primarch because roomba gollyloop already fits that. And, if you believe the theories, angron before he got lobotomized

We can't be the void warfare primarch because we've already conquered an entire kingdom and we haven't even so much as seen the sea.

>>4654093
Wouldn't the golden eyes be the mutation?

I also suspect that there will be a tradition of having new intiates teach normal humans both the Carp and Panther style to learn from teaching and to humanize the legion.

>>4654169
Honestly we don't have to be anything. Lion, Horus and us make up the generalist Trifecta, that's not a bad thing. Fulgrim too in a lesser extent.

>>4654170
I meant like, leman russ' furries and hawk boy's vampires.

>>4654169
The Angel's role was to fight Chaos, yes, but it was indeed a prototype. It's uncontrollable, insane, flawed. When the Emperor locked it up, he never meant for it to be used again as it would slaughtered humans indiscriminately simply because they were connected to the warp by virtue of having souls. The Angel was intended to be the Emperor's only son, but containing such power in a single, artificial entity proved impossible, so he split it by 20. We can still be the anti-Chaos primarch, though anti-corruption would be more accurate. We're neither a blank nor a powerful psyker, both things would be instrumental in the mass-slaughter of neverborn.

>>4654169
We are the berserker primarch then, giving how we constantly feel the urging to kill people we dislike, and the burning rage against the sorceror and daemon.
Angron and Lieren got their genes and roles swapped.

I can imagine our Legion with an unorthodox set up. Marines deployed alongside scouts/aspirants like modern DTs. Or a noticeably larger normal human presence, friends of the guard.

>>4654216
And abhumans, given our new nieces and nephews.

>>4654263
>send us your abhumans, we have health insurance and a 401k plan

Calling the vote now. Sorry for the wait. Loved all the discuision.

Stop Aruna and his kin from butchering the man, and let the envoy return to his master with a copy of the journey in hand:13
lift the worm from the ground, and politely question him of the Technology the Vishnu hold:9
"This man's life holds more value to me in the form of a single task":1
Send a general and group of soldiers to accompany the Envoy:1
Explain to the General how sorcery enrages your Vishnu friend, and it would be in his best interest to explain how the collars functions:1
"My friends and trusted generals, your fury is righteous but allow me to give an use to this worm. He may know more about this things.":1

So, Lieren will stop Aruna and Co from making Dhananjay Deadanjay, and lift him into the air to question him off the Vishnu's technology, before ensuring he is treated well and given a parting gift in the form of a translated copy of the Journey

Before going to meet with his generals

Writing now

>>4653396
>>4653893
heh

"Cease!" You bark, you voice like the fall of thunder. So mighty is your roar, it silences all other noise and even seems to still the wind, by sheer coincidence. Aruna's wild, fury drowned eyes whip over to you, his mask of paint and dyes cracking from the near feral grimace his expression has warped into.

He bows his head, after you shoot him, and Rudra and Akanksha behind him a stern glare. Manu and Kamakshi have managed to reign into their emotions, and kept from joining the would be lynching party.

"Your aggression, and halt thy threats, my friend and honored general. I understand, that this man and the master who woulds the leash to his collar, have committed a grave sin, and insult to these proud warriors" You say in Vishnu, as Aruna nods, Rudra simply taps his fingers along the rough haft of his hatchet. Akansha tries to shrink away from your gaze and lecture, meekly bowing her head despite her previous violent intentions.

Dhananjay wheezes again, choking on his own tongue and bile. He struggles to stand in the face of three natural born killers. You lash your arm outwards, whipping it through the air with enough force to produce a keening whistle.

"However, he has come into our fortress as a guest, even if he is the servant of a tyrant. He approached us with good manner and peaceful intent, even if his master and self stand against the virtues we believe and struggle to uphold, I will not see him butchered as an animal" You sternly state.

"My apologizes, for a moment I forgot I was no longer the savage man I once was" Aruna says, eyes slowly drifting to rest on the envoy squirming behind you "I would...request, to see this man gone from our company. That is how you Yan would put it, yes?"

"Why I thought for a moment you were one of our nobleborn friends" Manu teases, glancing towards Kamakshi with a smirk "More so than our fellow chief, dressing up as one"

"Remember forth, I may be dressed in soft silks, but my body is still forged of iron, and I can pluck your tongue from your skull with the same ease as pulling a fruit from its tree" Kamakshi says, in a sweet yet threatening tone.

"I was just following the first's lead! as is tradition" Akanksha proclaims as she turns away, obviously pouting.

"Do not lie, little bird, you'd have been the first to disembowel the worm before us" Rudra laughs boisterously, before the youngest of the chieftains slams her elbow into his gut, nearly toppling him, and restarting their good natured brawl.

"Perhaps my brother was right when he suggested I should find a tutor of the Vishnu Tongue" Lai Song sighs, tugging on his mustache as he confusedly watches the conversation between you and the chiefs "After all, in recent days, I hear it almost as often as I do Yan"

"Perhaps you should" You say, briefly switching to your native tongue before turning to address the Envoy now kneeling at your feet, prostrating himself and slapping his hands upon the ground to show his gratitude towards you,
cont

>>4654705

for preserving his life despite the disdain you had shown.

Crouching down, you grab the man with both of your hands, taking him by the under of his shoulders, to safely raise him into the air, above your own head. He doesn't have the power to even shriek or try to struggle from your grasp, being exposed to effects of your direct attention for as long as he had been, had sapped him of his energy and will. Losing most of the liquid within his body through one method or another, had also served to render Dhananjay to weak to protest or resist.

As had, no doubt, the threat of painful death posed by Aruna, Akanksha and Rudra. All he can do is whimper and whine pleas for mercy and salvation.

"Dhananjay, I have given my word, you shall return to your master alive. I have no intention to harm you. All I am doing is helping you back to your feet" You say with a grin, but don't lower the worm to the soil just yet, as he looks at you with eyes filled with disbelief and suspicion.

"However, while you're up here" You laugh, grinning and revealing your teeth as you look the envoy directly into his eyes and into his heart, clearly causing the man a great deal of further distress "May I be so bold as to pry further in the sight that my eyes have just beheld, and humbly question. What. form. of. technology. are. those. collars"

"Technology?" He questions, looking confused, so you lift him exactly half a foot higher from the ground

"Yes. I understand what those slave collars are, but not how they function. clearly they can control the bodies of the men they are placed upon, and dull their minds. I have seen such methods of enslavement before, but performed through sorcerous means, rather than via electrical or chemical proding" You say calmly, almost casually, as if you were discussing the growth of a personal garden or season's harvest "Clearly those wicked machines are powered, yet contain some admixture of chemicals. Which controls the body? Which controls the mind"

"Lord Lieren, merciful lore Lieren, Benevolent and wise master of the free men, I do not understand what it is you're asking me" Dhananjay says in between whimpers of fear and panic, brought on by his brush with death and the duress he has undergone "I do not understand the collars of enfeeblement, all I know is how to best guide those under the thrall of such...horrid devices, and how to release their victims from their grasp. I do not understand what it is you're speaking of, the bar of iron, sinks when pressed, and the collars react. I do not understand its exact function or the means of which it breaks the wills of its wearers"

He isn't lying. He's confused and afraid, and utterly baffled by this line of questioning. He assumed the collars to be enchanted, magical tools with which a man could turn his fellows into automatons of flesh, sinew and bone. Which is why it's quite odd that the Vishnu would employ such devices.
cont

>>4654707

It is well known they keep slaves for many purposes and that their raids are as often driven by a need for fresher slave stock, as they are by a desire for wealth or glory. However, they are also known aversion towards sorcery and other "Shortcuts" to power or wealth. They pride themselves on their physical abilities and martial prowess. Surely, then, they would not use technology that would both appear and mimic sorcery. Unless, it was widespread and known, or. Perhaps, simply known to the ruling caste of their society and kept from the other ranks of their people.

It would explain, why a mere servant such as the one in your hands would not understand the function of these hellish devices. To all eyes, they would appear as mundane, if ornate, slave collars. Clever. It is often said, never underestimate a Vishnu's mind, but this kind of deceit reminds you more of your own trickery or the social manuvering of Qian Xia herself. How clever, and troublesome.

Perhaps this Nitya Sinha's most weapon, is not his horde of veteran Vishnu warriors and armies of screamers, or his great wealth and fertile lands. But rather, his mind. It seems, he will one day be your enemy, by the nature of your clashing worldviews and personalities, this insight into the methods of this King of Kings, will prove invaluable when the day comes that you must meet him upon the field of battle.

Either in defending the lands you have freed, or seeking to liberate those crushed beneath his heel.

"I see...I see, I shouldn't have expected you to be so knowledgeable of such an arcane device. I have grown accustomed to speaking with curious minds and analytic intellects, it would seem" You say, as you gently lower the envoy to the ground and smile gently "Unless you require rest, you are free to return to your master, if you are weary, I will offer once more my hospitality and protection to you, and....a gift"

You turn back and look to Manu, who realizes nigh instantly what you are asking of him.

"Perhaps it will provide a clearer insight into the differences between your master and I" You say, as Manu clicks his tongue to one of his warriors, who sighs heavily, and pulls a scroll from his belt, pouting dramatically as he hands it to his leader, who then passes it to you.

Then, you gingerly copy the recent additions you have made to the journey, at a pace that would rival falling lightning in its haste, before setting the scroll in Dhananjay's hands.

"May it serve your master well, a grant him the wisdom he lacks" You say politely as you turn to Lai Song "Come friend, we have a war to wage, it will not be won by standing idle and gawking at every surprise that we come across"

"Har, of course, I was simply waiting to escort you to the war council" Lai Song says with a half snorted chuckle
cont

>>4654710

"And all of you my friends, come along as well, we're to discuss our coming battles, maybe it will calm the raging hearts of Akanksha and Rudra" You say, seemlessly switching to Vishnu again, causing Akanksha to lift her head up and grin happily as you say her name.

"Like a well trained Pup" Kamakshi teases "Perhaps I should build you a kennel, to ease the shame of your coming defeat"

"Hur, he doesn't even look your way when your dressed like one of those weak, spoilt princesses, you have no chance, Seventh" Akanksha cackles as you roll your eyes

"He is a very focused man" Kamakshi blusters as her "rival for your affections" continues laughing maniacally at her response
-

The meeting of your generals, was a tiring affair. Yin Lei had become possessed by such a wild fury, he could not sit still and paced the room shouting curses towards the Yan nobility and their sinful ways, even going so far as to draw his own sword as he raved, maddened by actions of your enemies. He had, calmed himself, and began sharpening his killing tool, reigning in his emotions as the Journey taught to. Lai Song had to be kept from drunkenly riding out to confront the Old fox himself, and when the Vishnu were told of the deeds of the Yan, they to had to be restrained from launching a heroic and suicidal raid to rescue the willing hostages taken by the Old Fox and his underlings.

Daiyu remained silent, clearly haunted by what was occuring just over the border.

Yin Jie was nearly as infuriated as his brother.
Lord Lai had stopped his brother from riding off himself.

Dai Niu did not speak and just held his head, reacting with sorrow rather than blind rage.

What a cacophony it had become. Like a pack of rabid dogs fighting over an old bone. Every general present for the council made their fury known, by shouting curses towards Yan Zihao, Oaths to personally cut down the aged legend of war, or promises to be the first into combat to right this terrible wrongdoing.

But now, they have exhausted themselves, and your usually calm and courteous comrades, lay tired in their seats, red faced and struggling to breath as they had spent several hours in their tirades against the actions of the Yan Tyrants.

Now, you could begin discussion on the course of action your army should take.

"We cannot delay, there is no time for us to now" Dai Niu said, speaking at last "My honorable Lord, many passionate voices have been raised, demanding an immediate march into the Northern Yin lands, some have even called for a direct assault on the capital, ignoring the armies that stand between Mao Castle, and the Celestial Landing. You, despite your young age, are clearly a natural tactician, none could claim that you were not a genius, so I ask you, Lord Lieren. How will we save the women and children of Yan?"
cont

>>4654714

What is your next move against the Yan, Lieren?
> One half of your army shall lead a diversion, to draw the Yan army to one of the borders, the other shall strike them from behind before the battle commences
>Gather the entirety of your army, and test its fangs against the with of the Old Fox. Dai Niu is right, there is no time to waste. The march begins at dawn
>Separate your army into many pieces, and carefully send them over the border to regroup, so their crossing will not be noticed
>"I have learned a method to peer into the memories of other men, I shall catch one of the Northern Yin Generals, and find the purpose for these actions, and return upon the eve of battle" *stand from your chair, and go speak with Kang Yongrui"
>Write in?

>>4654716
>"I have learned a method to peer into the memories of other men, I shall catch one of the Northern Yin Generals, and find the purpose for these actions, and return upon the eve of battle" *stand from your chair, and go speak with Kang Yongrui"

>>4654716
>"I have learned a method to peer into the memories of other men, I shall catch one of the Northern Yin Generals, and find the purpose for these actions, and return upon the eve of battle" *stand from your chair, and go speak with Kang Yongrui"

>>4654716
>>"I have learned a method to peer into the memories of other men, I shall catch one of the Northern Yin Generals, and find the purpose for these actions, and return upon the eve of battle" *stand from your chair, and go speak with Kang Yongrui"

>>4654716
>"I have learned a method to peer into the memories of other men, I shall catch one of the Northern Yin Generals, and find the purpose for these actions, and return upon the eve of battle" *stand from your chair, and go speak with Kang Yongrui"

>>4654716
>>"I have learned a method to peer into the memories of other men, I shall catch one of the Northern Yin Generals, and find the purpose for these actions, and return upon the eve of battle" *stand from your chair, and go speak with Kang Yongrui"

>>4654716
>Gather the entirety of your army, and test its fangs against the with of the Old Fox. Dai Niu is right, there is no time to waste. The march begins at dawn

>>4654716
>"I have learned a method to peer into the memories of other men, I shall catch one of the Northern Yin Generals, and find the purpose for these actions, and return upon the eve of battle" *stand from your chair, and go speak with Kang Yongrui"

>>4654716
>>"I have learned a method to peer into the memories of other men, I shall catch one of the Northern Yin Generals, and find the purpose for these actions, and return upon the eve of battle" *stand from your chair, and go speak with Kang Yongrui"
I need to know how this thing works

>>4654921
Adding
>>Write in?
we should get our technicians to look at the collars while we're gone, see if they can figure out how they work.

>>4654716
>I have learned a means of peering into ones mind, without the aid of sorcery

>>4654716
>>"I have learned a method to peer into the memories of other men, I shall catch one of the Northern Yin Generals, and find the purpose for these actions, and return upon the eve of battle" *stand from your chair, and go speak with Kang Yongrui"

One of these days we need to sit down with the women who fancy us and tell them outright that it's not going to happen. Better the sooner because I'd hate to see them turn into dead eggers.

>>4655021
Are there any more than Akanksha and Kamakshi?

>>4655021
What we need to do is personally train two of our soldiers to be able to handle some Vishnu Amazons.
The upshot of this (provided they survive) is that they'll be some of the deadliest warriors in Yan.

>>4655025
Nope, but them two do need something about them. Maybe find them some husbands.

>>4655021
Well, i suppose we'd have to explain our origin and use that as an excuse, i suppose. Lieren, as a primarch, is basically unable to have anything.

It is, however, important that we let them down in a way that's nice. I mean, if it was literally anyone but an primarch/marine they would have went wild over an vishnu amazon pining over them.
>>4655029
I don't know, maybe have some type of strength contest to find the strongest warriors in our ranks? That sounds reasonable, right? Have an context, find out who are our strongest men, and set them up on a fight against the amazon queens.

>>4655033
Could always give them Jinhai.
But jokes aside, I think a fair few of our panther brothers could make adequate companions for them.

>>4655033
We could arrange for a short tournament to be held between troops of higher exceptional skill.
Obviously those that have already distinguished themselves will be invited automatically. The rest of the spots however would be open to 1 man from each division, the choice being determined by said divisions.
We could frame it under the context of encouraging the further growth of our force's martial abilities.

>>4655035
>Could always give them Jinhai.
I would say that if Jinhai's tastes didn't seem to be painfully vanilla.

>>4654716
>Gather the entirety of your army, and test its fangs against the with of the Old Fox. Dai Niu is right, there is no time to waste. The march begins at dawn

>>4655037
First, we have never asked or tried to deduce his tastes.
Second, who cares if he likes vanilla? The girls dont seem to be freaky about it, just into musclemen and martial gods.
Third, the man worked for Gao and shares our philosophy. Wouldnt you be put off by anything but missionary and hand holding after that?

Again, I dont think Jinhai would actually like or enjoy a relationship with the Vishnu but it wouldnt hurt to ask.

>>4655044
Trying to play the set-up feels awfully weird though.

But i will say, maybe telling Jinhai you've just got no idea on wtf to do with them and asking his advice as a much more normal person than us sounds wise, but strictly in a 'bro' tone.

If he likes muscle girls, then he'll take the opportunity. We're not fucking cupid/fulgrim/sanguinius, we don't do matchup.

>>4655060
Yeah, fuck it. We'll just ask next time we get a chance.

>>4655025
who knows, i can imagine there is one or two Lieren fan clubs around the lands by now.

>>4655060
It doesn't feel that weird to me, it's getting rid of an annoyance now big problem later and it's doing it while satisfying their desire for a mate.

To say we have no idea what to do is disingenuious, we have plenty of ideas of what to do, we just haven't gotten around to implementing any of them.

>Lieren is known as The Ogre
So, when is he going to have a kid called Baki?

>>4655103
When the kid kicks down our castle door and demands we fight them or they will take our Dojo armies banner.

>>4655103
When we find a women who's just as benevolent as we are...also she has to be able to handle the massive power club standard to every Primarch's physiology.

>>4655103
I don't think it was within the realm of possibility even during the DaoT to produce a child with an AI, Anon. We can dream, though.

>>4655122
We could build a new AI core with Kanzeon and house it in a humanoid shell.
That's close enough, right?

>>4655124
We'll have to fix the ship first, it sounded like she's been running on low power ever since it crashed and transferring her consciousness to another body would scuttle it. It'd be a massive project besides, we can't ask any non-heretek techpriests for help and would need a fair bit of pretty advanced technology. Definitely archeotech, maybe even xenotech.

>>4655144
If we get some damascus steel and a list of crap she'd need, then we could give her the resources to form her own body.
The reason we didn't is that she said it'd require canabalising parts of her ship to produce the body, which would destroy memories and artifacts of her creators, losing yet more history to the passage of eons. Which she didn't like.

>>4655122
>DaoT to produce a child with an AI, Anon
We're literally an test-tube baby, the fucking kriegsmen have them.

>>4655158
Oh yeah...we could just clone ourselves if we meet the right people.

>>4655159
That would probably end badly. My point here is that it would be easy, in fact, to make an child with an AI...

Which is kinda moot, because we already have god knows how many thousands of 'sons' in our legion.

>>4655161
>Which is kinda moot, because we already have god knows how many thousands of 'sons' in our legion.
My god you're right. It's gonna be a nightmare trying to schedule individual father-son bonding excursions for each marine.

>>4655165
Do them by fleet.

>>4655169
>fleet by fleet fishing trips
IT SHALL BE DONE

>>4655165
We will bond by killing dark elves

Like holy shit, Lieren is NOT going to like drukhari. He's going to make Vulkan look like...well, normal vulkan.

>>4655180
Uncle Lieren will be second only to Vulkan in the eyes of the Salamanders, this I swear.

>>4655124
i think a more basic thing that can be done easily, could be something for communicate with her across the world. Or for the future years at least in the Yang regions. A cable connect to the spaceship and attach to an outside communication tower for example.

>>4655177
We accompany each fleet over it's life, and spend the time with each going company to company, bonding and learning ALL THEIR NAMES. ALL OF THEM! WE SHALL STRECH OUR IDETIC MEMORY TO THE LIMITS

>>4655256
>forcing Malal to come up with names for each marine in our legion
How delightfully cruel, my friend.

Unrelatedly, I just realized that the planet we landed on is the only change to canon, meaning our legion is as it was in the original continuity. There's no guarantee they were recruited from a pool complementary to ourselves, unlike almost every other legion (save I think the Death Guard?). It'll be interesting to see what their culture is like.

>>4655271
>Our legion has mysteriously took the tradition of replacing their first name with Jinyinainu.

But nah, just every marine we interact with at a stratigic level, like our first captain or the leaders of the groups we are directing on the ground.

>>4655337
Ah, gotcha. Yeah, getting to know company captains is a must. And the captains of our fleet, more prominent remembrancers, Mechanicus representatives, and Auxillia regimental commanders. We've a lot of networking to do once dad picks us up.

>>4655444
No, my friend, I mean that Malal would only have to come up with names for every one of those individuals. Mechanically, instead of saying their names, we just know it already.

From the perspective of the world, we are putting in so much effort to learn about people as more than expendable meat puppets which we order to die where we want them to. And that endears us to them

>>4655033
>Lieren, as a primarch, is basically unable to have anything.
He doesnt know that

>Lieren: guys! You gotta help! Muscular busty amazonian women want my dick! You gotta help me
>literally everyone: gives him a look of jealousy

>>4655469
I'm pretty sure Lieren already knows he doesn't really have the physical capability to feel romance. Emps just cut that cord.

I mean, i'm pretty sure people already think Lieren is beyond human. Having him go full monk would be a surprise, but uh...not really unbelivable.

>>4655623
Why would he? He literally went from Farmer to fucking General. Fulgrim felt this shit, Its literally just life choices and the world you arrive don that shaped shit.

>>4655635
He just don't feel nothin'. I'm pretty sure primarchs don't have romantical feelings. Not genuine ones, that's for sure.

>>4655655
I’d imagine they would feel the love that one would have for a best friend, not romantic but something along the lines of childhood friends who would die for eachother

>>4655665
So no romantical feelings, then. Like i said, Lieren is uh...already obviously not human. He doesn't even try to hide it. There's an widely known play about how he literally came from the stars.

>>4655623
We are a monk, in case you forget. We've made it a point to abstain from everything but the most basic bitch of shit unless it was a gift or we required it, even using it as an excuse to avoid marrying Gao's children.

As for "love", then it's not out of the realm of possibility but sexual desire I think is out of the running unless we go slannesh, since we'd try it out eventually

>>4655665
>>4655675
Actually now that I reread my post and remembered Fulgrim and Ferrus, it’d be more accurate to say that they have the capacity to feel familial love but you’re right, Primarchs shouldn’t be able to feel romantic feelings

>>4655675
Man, why do you think that primarchs fell in the first place, although they are advanced beyond normal humans they are still completely human emotionally and spiritually, that is why they fell, that is why even though they are as close to perfection as possible they still make mistakes and terrible decisions, because they ARE humans, not even the emperor is above these emotions of love and lust, our own brothers have shown love and lust towards humans women.

I just want to know what you think makes lieren so special that he is somehow "above" these desires that our brothers, our father, and our fellow men as well as son's are most certainly not.

Lieren isn't some super duper sage who can't feel these emotions, it's simply that he has not experienced them yet, hell, in a lot of our fantasies about what people will be doing once we are dead in the ground in just a few decades (because we don't know we're semi immortal)we wonder how our son's will fare without us and how our descendants will affect the world,.this fantasy points that at some point in the future lieren expects to fall in love and settle down, it's just not happening right now.

>>4655688
What!?
Fuck no man, we indulge ourselves plenty and our philosophy centers around enjoying all that the world has to offer and treating our fellow men well and good, we're not going to deny anyone or ourselves their vices, we merely ask for restraint and responsibility

>>4655712
We don't indulge ourselves plenty, the best case you have is that we eat fine food. We refuse alcohol whenever it is offered to us, we again abstain from sex [though more out of disinterest than effort] and nearly never take any time off at all if it isn't in service of some greater goal.
Ling mentions that we never took any breaks during Gao's service, The war has given us no time to ourselves and the only time we DID take a break was when we took our father on a journey.

We don't need fancy things or intoxicants, we have the thankfulness of the people and that's the only vice we really need.
Though granted, murdering gao can count as indulging quite a bit.

>>4655655
>>4655665
Vulkan went so apeshit when one a lady remembrancer in his fleet died that he killed a child. It was an eldar child, but still, I'd argue that he loved her in a romantic way. And Loken loved Mersadie, so we know regular astartes can love. It's just rare.

>>4655731
I’d say astartes are arguably still human, highly modified from baseline but still human. There’s only so much pycho-indoctrination can do at suppressing base human emotions like romantic love or lust

Still catching up on the quest, but dammit Malal.
>"Lieren!" Kamakshi coos happily as she spots you, and you see she has been forced into a silk dress more befitting of a Yan noblewoman than her usual furs, though she still wears bands of Iron around her neck.
>Kamakshi tries her best to draw your gaze to herself, posing dramatically like an actor in a play. You simply remain where you stand, arms crossed.

Ara-ara's intensify. Seems like the prosperity really is mega.

>>4655688
SLANNESH is EXTREME EXCESS, not exclusively sex.

Guys
Lieren is technically a shota. There are two relatively big women (compared to base line humans) pinning for his affection
>ara ara intensifies

>>4655730
I think Lieren actually does on a very rare occasion drink fishgut alcohol. He mentions it's less a celebratory drink and more something you drink while contemplating or mulling things over. It doesn't happen often but when people are content and there is nothing to do Lieren is happy to celebrate with the people or play pretend with kids. I don't doubt his teachings will get warped over time but Lieren is totally fine with people indulging as can be seen by all the fog panther hides in the village or him letting his dad get a hangover.

>>4655851
>Lieren is technically a shota.
A shota is someone with a youthful or childlike male appearance.
Lieren is a hypermuscled giant of a man.
Get gone from here, hornyposter.

>>4651156
Please keep up the great work!

>>4655854
Doing it once in a while isn't "Indulging ourselves plenty" to the point that we don't live a more monk lifestyle in this regard than not. But other than that, I agree with most of what you say other than the fog panther hides aroudn the village of Nothing, those are used as insulation and clothing to keep people warm as Lieren explains. It's also why he didn't like gao upon entering his throne room, he saw a pelt on the floor as a mat which served no purpose but to display his wealth.

>>4655838
I know and agree, but it's also something nearly every slanneshi has done at least once.

>>4655945
Every nurglite has also just sat down for hours and done absolutely nothing

Every khornite has killed an asshole they don't like

Every tzeenchian has spent hours upon hours thinking of how to do some the right way

I don't understand why the hell you're saying Every slaneeshi has had sex as if it proves anything, cultists are (unfortunately) also humans and do tons of Shit we do, except they take it way past cool

>>4656005
because the point I made under that was
"Primarchs don't by the by feel sexual desire, unless of course they went slanneshi, whereby the would try it out at somepoint."

>>4656015
And that by the by is fucking wrong as fuck, unless you are calling fucking wolfboy a slaneeshi cultist in disguise

Primarchs do fucking feel desires, same as every man

>>4656027
I'd be inclined, undisciplined rabble.

But all the same, doing it once maybe as many as six times in his youth, then never doing it again in his entire 200+ year existance during the crusade still has him, by the by or in other terms most of the time not feeling such things. And then he is the only one out of 21 primarchs to indulge in those urges, while also being the most uninhibited without being mentally damaged. This isn't strong arguments that this is what primarchs feel since it can easily be attributed to the culture he grew up in, where fucking by 14-16 is acceptable because 18 is an old man

>>4656027
Fuck, forgot about Russ.
Guess we do have the capacity to want to fuck, unless the Emperor only made Leman able to feel the need.

>>4655945
its also something every imperial, Tzeech, Corn, and Nurgle worshipper has done. And Eldari, and Tau, and any other Xenos race in the galaxy.

>>4656042
Wouldn't suprise me. I do wonder what state his partner was left in, since allegedly the emperor's kids when they were still a thing they basically brutalised their partners.

>>4656051
It's also something that 1 out of 21 primarchs has done by themselves and without any prompting.

>>4656055
The sensei? I don't remember anything about them being rapists or anything. Lotta different versions of them in the lore though. I think they've been reinstated now? Then again, Saturnine is a thing and the Twins' backstory seems to be all of them for sure now. So who knows these days?

>>4656079
>Who knows
Nobody living and not omniscient, that's for certain.

>>4656079
Oh no, I didn't mean that emps raped someone to make them, I mean that their interactions left the human injured just due to the nature of his strength/psychic presence.

That's what I meant by the mothers being brutalised, not by intent just as a result.

>>4656091
Ah. Yeah, that makes more sense. Even as a corpse the custodians in His throne room take damage just by being there. But speaking of sensei, I wonder if we'll ever meet any? I do like those weird/old parts of the lore.

>>4656101
>But speaking of sensei, I wonder if we'll ever meet any?
Didn't they all fuck off to the warp to try and merge with the Star Child?

>>4656136
Not by 30k I don’t think

>>4656136
>>4656141
Yeah, most of, if not all of their lore is post-Heresy. The Star Child only exists because Emps purged all of his "good" feelings from his soul before he fucked Horus with mindbullets.

>>4656141
>>4656154
Okay, so we might meet some of our half brothers and sisters during our journeys. Kinda excited for that possibility.

Calling the vote now. Sorry for the wait. Machine spirit is being more rebellious than usual

I have learned a method to peer into the memories of other men, I shall catch one of the Northern Yin Generals:10
Gather the entirety of your army:2
Study the slave collars:1

So Lieren will state he shall risk himself to find out the True plans of the Yan, and leave to speak with the crippled Heir, Kang Yongrui

Writing now

Also, see you lads have been invoking she who thirsts, again

>>4655271
I mean, it is a bit cruel

>>4655165
>>4655169
>>4655177
>Ancient dreadnaught of the 2nd legion awoken
>"Tell us of our father, oh vulnerable elder brother"
>*Long silence*
>"Elder brother?"
>"He had discovered the most efficient means of baiting fish, while I was within his company. such a simple act, yet so gracefully done. He even refused to employ live bait, thinking it to be a cruel to make even such a small, insignificant life suffer such a fate as being devoured alive"
>*Loud cheering rocks the fortress monastery*

File: watcher.jpg (139 KB, 1448x2048)

139 KB JPG

>>4653297
I'd laugh, and laugh hard, if we put in a warning about "voices in the dark" in our book. Later, The Lion reads it and pulls us up with a "WHAT DO YOU KNOW???"

>>4655177
We shall become the devourer of aquatic biomass that the Tyranid swarm could only match thousands of years later with specific evolutions.

>>4656529
>Ancient dreadnought: "Even in death, I still surf 'n' turf.

File: legion logo.png (70 KB, 626x626)

70 KB PNG

Made us a logo for the legion!

>>4656577
I fucking dig it. Reminds me of some of the unit patches we have on the ship.

>>4656577
Nice and purplish, maybe add a carp in its mouth to symbolically represent that we have 2 paths, the carp path and the panther path

I really liked the idea our legion is minimalist and so our colours or lighter and not overstated. instead I could imagine a large use of silk shawls and accessories. A big idea is jade talismans a marine would wear around their neck to define their company; different colours of jade shaped into different animals based on the Clans from our conquest of home. As a Marine grows they get another showing the lessons they have learned (So far we got Panther, Horse, Boar, Turtle, Carp and more to come!)

>>4656599
Panther is Feng
Carp is jinhai

What are the rest?

As for ourselves, we're obviously THE HUNTER

"That, is a quandary that has plagued my mind since I myself learned of the foxes' lie" You sigh, raising your head from the map set out in front of you, as, while it may show where your enemies lay ahead of you, it does not show where their captives are kept. Though Liang and Feng postulated that, from the rumors and hearsay they heard, the Yan had opened the captial to welcome the displaced sons, daughters and wives of their subjects, offering protection. Bai, believed with all his spirit, that Yan Zihao intended to use the poor souls as a screen of sorts, to shield their armies from the devastating power of the "Steel Dragons" and Gatling guns.

Dong, in a dark tone, had offered an even more horrifying and disturbing possibility, that with the chaos of war and loss of lands, that perhaps, the foxes were merely stocking their larders to endure through the winter. Which, would not be as unbelievable as you wish it would be. The old breed of nobility, did not see their peasantry as fellow men. An old story comes to your mind, of a general who had a boy whipped, after his horse had been startled by his presence and shattered his ribcage. The poor youth of course died, but such a tale showed the exact measure of the contempt and apathy the "Common" virtueless noble felt for those beneath him. It did not apply to every man or woman blessed with noble blood, of course. and even such heartless beasts could hold a spark of love for another, as seen with the Father Tao Song, who treated the lives of those who lived upon his lands as disposable as candles, yet treasured his family more than the jewels he worked his people to death to attain.

"For, we have no knowledge of where or how they are keeping their captives, Dai Niu" You say, idly turning your hand to the Map, Manu translating your words as you do so "Nor the tragic fate they intend to force upon those unfortunate souls, will they use them as a living shield? To force us to fight as battles were once fought?"

You cast your gaze over you gathered generals. Yin Lei pauses in sharpening the edge of his sword, halting his maintenance to gaze deeply into his reflection, a haunted look passing over his tired eyes. The fingers of the Vishnu Chiefs, twitch towards their weapons as they understand your words, but they restrain themselves from passionately denouncing the deeds of the enemies you face together. Dai Niu shudders, like a man his age left alone in the uncaring winds of winter. Lai Song scowls, but says nothing.

"Or, do they intend to spend their lives as ransom? using my own kind, gentle nature against me, and forcing our march to halt, under the threat of a massacre of unheard of, of unimaginable vileness?" You question, turning your back to the table now.
cont

>>4656630

"They would pen the story of their own deaths, if they'd think you would be cowed, rather than enraged by such wickedness" Yin Lei says simply, never taking his eyes off of his reflection within his polished blade "Yet, I would not be truly surprised by such idiotic and meaningless cruelty"

"I would ride with Lieren to avenge them, if such a tragedy comes to pass" Lai Song says solemnly "Even if it would mean riding to my own death, as well. Such a thing cannot be forgiven"

"If it does occur" Dai Niu says solemnly, his eyes closed tightly, his expression pained "the Yan are tyrants, they will hold onto power like a Century tortoise bites"

"And the men in their army, will believe us to be legions of devilspawn and mindless thralls" Yin Lei says angrily, his eyes narrowing "What a cruel irony, that they march beneath the banner of the true devils"

You do not mention Dong's theory, as though it is plausible, it would only serve to heighten the wrath of your men, and drive them to act rashly, foolishly. But then, it occurs to you, as you feel the atmosphere of the room change from one of barely restrained fury, to a cool sorrow akin to that of an empty battlefield. And this simple thing, brings a revelation to you, like a spark becomes an inferno. Of course! of course! how could you be so careless. The way to find the Yan's intentions, have been upon your hip all this while. How foolish of you, how utterly foolish.

You scowl turns to a smirk, and you nearly have a fit of laughter, directed towards yourself, before you restrain the glee now coursing through you as it would be quite inappropriate to act in such a way considering the present circumstance.

The Lotus Scepter! It can show memories and thoughts of those who have been pricked by its needle. Which is exactly what you require now, and no one will shed tears for a tyrant, if it functions by sapping the life of another.

Standing tall and proud, you turn back to the map, and focus upon the two white banners flying beside the gold of the Yan dynasty. Two generals, following behind the main army like cliffjumper chicks do their mother. Though close behind, they are still separate from the main Yan army, almost as if they are acting as though they are holding the end Yan Zihao's robes for him.

Gathering men, scouting the lands, preparing it to stand beside their masters in the storm to come. Leaving themselves vulnerable, never once considering they could be stalked beneath the mists.

"My most trusted, and dearest friends, my brothers and sisters in arms. I ask for your forgiveness, for keeping the knowledge I hold from your eyes" You say somewhat blithely, the air turns tense and heavy before you allow yourself a chuckle and shake your head "For I have learned of a method to peer into the memories of other men, in my travels, I shall capture one of the Northern Yin Generals and find the true purpose for their actions"
cont

>>4656631

You are met with many confused and curious stares, except for Jinhai, who seems nonplussed by this revelation and the statement you had made.

"Something Grandfather Guozhi must have taught him" Jinhai says without so much as blinking "It would certainly ease our minds of the mystery presented by exactly what form of wickedness the Yan intent to perform upon their captives, and perhaps, even reveal to us weakness yet unseen"

"A form of technology that I have found that shall reveal the plans of our enemies. It is not sorcerous in nature, though I do not understand it fully " You say in Vishnu at the exact moment Manu finishes translating your prior statement, Rudra looks at your suspiciously, Aruna simply nods and Manu gets a curious glint in his eyes. Akanksha simply looks confused, while Kamakshi nods in agreement.


"Perhaps I shall share the story of how I acquired such techniques, upon my return" You say, bowing your head as you cupped your hands "Which I swear to do so, upon the eve of battle at the latest"

"So the Giant will Hunt the Qilin, sounds like a song to me" Lai Song says with a confident smirk, nodding his head in approval.

"Gaze not into the darkness, lest it turns its eyes towards you as well" Yin Lei says, wagging a single finger in the air as he did so "Take care, Lieren, to remember those words in your hunt"

"You seem to enjoy hunting more than commanding, I've noticed" Dai Niu says bluntly "Perhaps it is not in your nature, though I must humbly ask, Lord Lieren, who shall lead this battle in the unlikely event you do not return to us before the battle again the fox and his hounds begins?"

Dai Niu, with his sullied reputation, would lower morale of your troops and the generals who lead them. While he is well trained in the ways of war, and is a veteran general, this fact and the area he had chosen to focus in expertise within, namely that of Defensive and slow, grinding marches. Was ill suited for the current climate of the warfront.

So to, was Lai Song, and any of the Vishnu Chiefs, for much of the same reasons. Lai Song, while effective at lightning strikes and overwhelming aggression and a pioneer of a new form of warfare, will at times become too confident in his victory to come or rely too heavily upon his complete mastery of cavalry, which are weakness that can bring even a master of combat as Lai Song to his knees. And the Vishnu, are wild in how they wage war, even when civilized. Fearless, yes, but also somewhat careless. Yan Zihao is a genius, he'd see these two weakness and use them to their fullest advantage.

Yin Lei, the Black General, The Unbroken Thunder's Howl. A living Legend as Dai Niu and Lai Song are, but while they had focused their studies and thus their expertise, into a single faucet of war and honed their mastery to near heavenly levels, Yin Lei, had become a generalist. A master among generalists, he has not once tasted the sting of defeat,
cont

>>4656635

no matter the environment or foe he battles.

But, Yan Zihao is also a generalist. Yin Lei is a safe choice, but one that may make any meeting between these two Legends stall, even with the large advantage your army holds in both armaments and training.

Daiyu. Untested, but Yin Lei's own student. And most importantly, a surviving child of the Gao Line, whose fall from grace and power started this war. Her banner, flying high and proud at the forefront of your army, would be an crippling blow to the morale of reinforced armies of the Yan and Northern Yin, and any virtuous man who fights within them or leads them to battle. She's clever, but has yet to achieve a victory on her own merits, rather than as a mere follower of Yin Lei. Which might lessen her theoretical authority over the generals who would serve beneath her

Jinhai, he has gained a reputation as a rising star of the rebellion and the "Fourth King of war" for his strings of victory. While he is a better fighter than he is a leader, that still means he is quite talented at the task of commanding men. Being able to hold his own in combat, and command not only the actions but respect of others, is what makes a general great in Yan. While the shape of warfare is changing by your interferences, tradition does not vanish overnight. However, while his experimental and ever shifting tactics of waging war have proven thus far uncounterable. Yan Zihao is a greater beast than any of his prior quarries. Could Jinhai match his wit against the Old foxes.

Or perhaps, perhaps. You should do away with the idea of a centralized command entirely. And take a lesson from the Xue. Rather than having one general whose commands flow down to his underlings who then command the army he leads, thus presenting an inherent, yet grievous danger of the army collapsing upon the death of its leader. Why not remove such a figure head from play entirely? While a unified front, with a clear commander, is in of itself valuable, such a structure is weakened by the same means that would make it preferable to the alternative of a less cohesive form of leadership. And that is reputation. A valued, respected, storied leader inspires his men, while his death will leave them listless and loss.

Is the damage to morale and pains of transitioning to a new form of army, worthwhile in exchange for a easier transition from orders to actions and ensuring the army could endure as long as one general survived to lead it? An army ruled by committee, fractured yet whole. Would it be stronger or weaker than the traditional structure?
cont

>>4656637

What is your answer to Dai Niu, Lieren?
>Yin Lei, beyond myself, he perhaps embodies our struggle against tyranny the most. He stands as a pinnacle, both among generals and common men.
>Daiyu, let us break the Yan's wills as they wish to break ours. She is a student of the Black general, and a child of the line they intend to return to power. The Twin dragons shall fly once again, at the head of the "ogres" army. The morale loss will be devastating, as I have long planned it to be.
>Jinhai, my guard, student and at times teacher. His mind works differently than other men's. He can look to the clouds and find inspiration among them. Yan Zihao may be a genius, but Jinhai is in a realm beyond him yet. His wit, I am sure, would best the old fox, and leave him as confused as all who had faced him before
>Why, all of you. You all have your expertises, your habits and your preferred ways to wage and win wars. Seeking a single leader, is foolish, when an army can become as many yet remain as one. Do you not see it, my friend? the potential, of an army that cannot have its head severed lest every general within it meets his end?
>Write in?

>>4656577
Nice, good work!

Also gonna try and bring the next update a bit faster than my normal pace, to make up for the long wait for the last two updates

If the machine spirit is willing to not be a cunt, of course

>>4656639
>>Why, all of you. You all have your expertises, your habits and your preferred ways to wage and win wars. Seeking a single leader, is foolish, when an army can become as many yet remain as one. Do you not see it, my friend? the potential, of an army that cannot have its head severed lest every general within it meets his end?
This one I find very interesting. High risk in that our army could be paralyzed through disagreement, high reward in that it might be as though our enemy fights against three. Let's see.

>>4656639
>Why, all of you. You all have your expertises, your habits and your preferred ways to wage and win wars. Seeking a single leader, is foolish, when an army can become as many yet remain as one. Do you not see it, my friend? the potential, of an army that cannot have its head severed lest every general within it meets his end?
> If I determine the enemy's disposition of forces while I have no perceptible form, I can concentrate my forces while the enemy is fragmented. The pinnacle of military deployment approaches the formless: if it is formless, then even the deepest spy cannot discern it nor the wise make plans against it.
>Sun Tzu

>>4656639
>Why, all of you. You all have your expertises, your habits and your preferred ways to wage and win wars. Seeking a single leader, is foolish, when an army can become as many yet remain as one. Do you not see it, my friend? the potential, of an army that cannot have its head severed lest every general within it meets his end?
It's time for modern techniques of combat. Having one single general is foolish. Let them do their best roles.

>>4656639
I really want Daiyu to lead this one. I really really do wish to because she needs the victory to legitimize herself.

But modern tactics require modern innovation. Namely "next man up". We have no head that can be cut off, simply talented fingers.

>>4656639
>Daiyu, let us break the Yan's wills as they wish to break ours. She is a student of the Black general, and a child of the line they intend to return to power. The Twin dragons shall fly once again, at the head of the "ogres" army. The morale loss will be devastating, as I have long planned it to be.
Yin and Jinhai qill serve as her sub-commanders and advisors. Let's try a first anong equals thing, but mantain a chain of command, if every decision has to be voted on, or if part of a force does a maneuver that ruins the plan of another one, than the efficiency suffers.

>>4656680
I thought that was what it meant by "run by commitee". Burt if not, changing >>4656669 to support.

>>4656549
>I'd laugh, and laugh hard, if we put in a warning about "voices in the dark" in our book. Later, The Lion reads it and pulls us up with a "WHAT DO YOU KNOW???"
"Empers Tempers Mr. Lion! Do you think Mr. Lieren knows?"

File: R1002dea509828f45d6fa6987(...).jpg (119 KB, 1549x1127)

119 KB JPG

>>4656641
You could have a Yin Yang symbol of sorts with Panther and Carp taking each side

>>4656639
>>Daiyu, let us break the Yan's wills as they wish to break ours. She is a student of the Black general, and a child of the line they intend to return to power. The Twin dragons shall fly once again, at the head of the "ogres" army. The morale loss will be devastating, as I have long planned it to be.
Now's her time to shine. We can work on restructuring the command hierarchy after we're not in the middle of a war.

>Daiyu, let us break the Yan's wills as they wish to break ours. She is a student of the Black general, and a child of the line they intend to return to power. The Twin dragons shall fly once again, at the head of the "ogres" army. The morale loss will be devastating, as I have long planned it to be.

>>4656683
...know what?

File: Spoiler Image (33 KB, 500x375)

33 KB JPG

>>4656690
You know... that thing

>>4656669
>>4656682
Right fuck it, I'm putting my vote into more legible form

>Daiyu, I want you to break the old fox's army, you will be leading the army under your name and direction. However I am also giving you Jinhai and Yin Lei as sub-commanders, tasked with granting you advise when you require it and executing your commands. The reason I do this is not because I do not think you are capable, but because I wish to see if this new system works, if three disparate command styles may meld into a single army and remove one of the weaknesses of a single leader, that being if they are indisposed the rest of the army breaks.

That's my vote.

>>4656656
Support

>>4656669
If we go with the everyone option, I think there will be some people that will go with Daiyu. So she will more or less be a kind of general.

>>4656639
Actually scratch that. Voting for Daiyu. Anon was right, we can restructure the army til after the sust of war has settled. Whatever slight morale loss or weaker authority she possess wont be a bad as what her presence will inflict upon the enemy. She can have Jinhai and her mentor as advisors. Jinhai for his "unorthodox" perception and Yin Lei for his generalist veterancy.

>>4656715
I really hope this goes how I expect it to go.

>Old Fox: "Aha, I recognise these tactics as Yin Lei's handiwork, now to employ cou- What the courts? This countermove is the work of Carpson, very well then move to conti- WHO THE HELL IS THIS ONE?!"

Probably not gonna react like that, but I hope that this is how things go.

>>4656597
>>4656618
Panther is the way of the stalker
Carp is the way of the polearm dancer (pun intended)
Tiger is the way of non-lethal takedown, if we don't mess up teaching others like the beastkin about it.

We could add other animals representing doctrines. For example, the dragon for the steel dragon cannoneers and engineers.
The way of the bull for our future terminator teams, tanking hits with their face as their shield.

>>4656639
>>4656656
Supporting the diverse structure. Yin Lei given overall command of the army to pick the place of battle and placement of divisions.
Jinhai commanding one division of gunners, and presumably Daiyu with another division like the sharpshooters.

What will happen with the rifle cavalry forces? Will Lai Song still have a role to play in cavalry hit and fade tactics during the battle? Vishnu chiefs like Aruna leading his people? I don't know if the Dai family have a role to play unless they want to be an elite defence covering the Vishnu berserkers?

>>4656639
>Daiyu, let us break the Yan's wills as they wish to break ours. She is a student of the Black general, and a child of the line they intend to return to power. The Twin dragons shall fly once again, at the head of the "ogres" army. The morale loss will be devastating, as I have long planned it to be.
>Ensure that Daiyu is battle ready.

>>4656752
I feel like asking Yin Lei in private to make sure she's ready is the more appropriate action. Nothing undermines your self-confidence like your demigod leader giving you command and then immediately going "But are you ready tho?" for the next week.

>>4656639
>>4656708
Supporting this as well as ensuring that she is ready for it

But question, does this mean we wont make it back? Because in all honesty I think that this is the battle we should lead

I think that one of the chapter's main trial of initialization will be the simple but difficult trial of pointing out the truth in face of everyone else. There will be other tests scattered out to keep it secret. It'll be a test of mental acuity disguised as a test of vision where people have to point out what straw is longer with the boy coming after other people who purposely pick the shorter straw.

>>4656832
what

i don't get it anon, explain it in a retarded way

>>4656839
YOU'VE FAILED MY SON.
Come to father son training camp, you must be taught.

>>4656839
Weed out the brown nosers and sheep by making them think the right choice is the blatantly wrong choice because everyone else chose it. If 4 out of 5 think jumping off a roof is a good idea surely it's a good idea. Except the one guy that says there are stairs right there.

>>4656850
no anon, what is the test, how is he supposed to tell the longer straw if the others already took it

there's only going to be 1 straw, hwo can he judge the longest if there's only 1

>>4656795
We might not. depends on what side tracks us. My money is on needing to relocate the prisoners this general we are going to kill has already taken and convincing them that we are not a devil.

And we should really apologise to the generals, that we arent here leading them more often.

>>4656883
Should be easy enough if we show our face and recite/explain the passages of the journey.

>>4656639
>>Why, all of you. You all have your expertises, your habits and your preferred ways to wage and win wars. Seeking a single leader, is foolish, when an army can become as many yet remain as one. Do you not see it, my friend? the potential, of an army that cannot have its head severed lest every general within it meets his end?
We've switched up our tactics so many times during this war. but we haven't really done a conventional battle. If we meet them for such a thing in an unconventional way they wont know what to do.
It'll also let us know who is able to best work together and see where the big egos lie.

>>4656730
>Tiger is the way of non-lethal takedown, if we don't mess up teaching others like the beastkin about it.
I thought the Tiger style was designed to be lethal we just didn't deliver any lethal blows. We specifically used our fingers where they would use their claws.

>>4656883
>And we should really apologise to the generals, that we arent here leading them more often.
merely allowing them to rise to their potential, someday even Lieren will die and Shangrala will once again be on its own.

>>4656881
It's disguised as a vision test. You pick the longer straw by pointing at it. You don't have to draw it away from the possible choices.

>>4656904
At least say that, because we haven't so far and frankly it's starting to look irresponsible.

We know it isnt, and we know that they at least recognise that our missions are important. But this is a system of military where your leader is dictator and represents you all, and we keep dodging battles, any other man would appear a coward if not in fear of death then fear of seeing what he had ordered done.

>>4656904
Say this

>>4656639
>>Why, all of you. You all have your expertises, your habits and your preferred ways to wage and win wars. Seeking a single leader, is foolish, when an army can become as many yet remain as one. Do you not see it, my friend? the potential, of an army that cannot have its head severed lest every general within it meets his end?

>>4656680
I support this

>>4656639
>Daiyu, let us break the Yan's wills as they wish to break ours. She is a student of the Black general, and a child of the line they intend to return to power. The Twin dragons shall fly once again, at the head of the "ogres" army. The morale loss will be devastating, as I have long planned it to be.

lets wait until we have radios before we implement modern army command structure. In a battlefield where communication is very suspect due to gunfire, modern commanding will be a challange if not down right dangerous to implement.

>>4657284
Thats true, iit was very common for commander to retreat or overextend their soldier in large battles due to miscomunication, and adding multiples leaders only makes things more complicated. There is a reason even in modern warfare there is a very clear chain of command.
Also aren't our troops mostly fighting in napoleonic style warfare right now instead of modern squads and battalions?

>>4656639
>>Why, all of you. You all have your expertises, your habits and your preferred ways to wage and win wars. Seeking a single leader, is foolish, when an army can become as many yet remain as one. Do you not see it, my friend? the potential, of an army that cannot have its head severed lest every general within it meets his end?

I finally caught up and read the quests. I finally get to cast my first vote. This would be devastating and in Lieren's wheelhouse. This is modern day warfare application. It would also boost morale, and in a way the rising tide lifts all rafts which is what would happen here. It may hurt us in the future but I think this would be at least key in solving a few problems.

>>4657284
I hadn't thought about potential friendly fire. The risk of that is too much.
Changing >>4656652 to
>>Daiyu, let us break the Yan's wills as they wish to break ours. She is a student of the Black general, and a child of the line they intend to return to power. The Twin dragons shall fly once again, at the head of the "ogres" army. The morale loss will be devastating, as I have long planned it to be.

>>4656896
>I thought the Tiger style was designed to be lethal we just didn't deliver any lethal blows. We specifically used our fingers where they would use their claws.
I think you're right, I was only remembering how we practiced it and assumed that that would be how it was taught.

>>4656934
>>4656972
maybe we should add something like this before we run off.
"I might have incited this rebellion but it is you all, who have done the fighting, all the heavy lifting. As far as i'm concerned this is your rebellion, and the historical scrolls shall record it as such, I'll make sure of it."

File: 1612496865220.png (403 KB, 458x458)

403 KB PNG

Praying to the Omnissiah for you, Malal.
May he placate your device's unruly machine spirit once and for all.

>Malal having PC troubles
>Techpriest: "Have you tried singing the Hymns of Activation and Deactivation?"

>Why, all of you. You all have your expertises, your habits and your preferred ways to wage and win wars. Seeking a single leader, is foolish, when an army can become as many yet remain as one. Do you not see it, my friend? the potential, of an army that cannot have its head severed lest every general within it meets his end?

>>4658013
But what if Malal's pc has a daemon engine instead of a machine spirit?

>>4658799
Daemon engines aren't chaotic machine spirits, they're warp-tainted war machines. If Malal's pc is one of them, we never stood a chance.