>>5762768

Unfortunately, Jinhai, Yin Lei, Lai Song, Dai Niu, Tao Dandan, the other steel giant pilots present on Nuceria, the other brothers of the panther and Elazar and the nameless, are unable to join these talks, as they and the newly reinforced and refreshed army of the free cities of Desh'ea and Loc'ea, which the new leaderless nation Angron has founded is named even though the number of cities is increasing every day and includes the liberated city of Dend'ron, are busy suppressing the few high riders with enough archeotech or fighting men to continue fighting. And your sons, the astartes, are unable to join these talks often in the days before you return home, as they have taken it upon themselves to assit the white lotus as they establish hospitals and provide medicine in the war torn landscapes, ensuring no bandit or thief impedes their efforts, which Kanzeon and Anahita also assist. And Oenomaus and the young dragon he cares for, is away leading the suppression armies alongside Jinhai, acting in accordance to Angron's wishes, allowing his adoptive son and protégé to enjoy peace with you and his friends forged in iron and found in blood.

But alas, these days cannot last, and both of you will have to return to your duties on your own worlds, but you relish and delight in being able to live as a brother with Angron, without any bloodshed to sour it or the fate of the world to consider. You hope these days will reflect well on the Nuceria he shall create. But you and your fellow Shangralans must take your leave and return to your own home.

And you're surprised to find the wraith guard containing Amaethon's kindly soul waiting to lead you and your fellow Shangralan's through the webway, as well as the gladiators you taught and freed, who refused to leave your side even if it meant abandoning their home. A home which would still have your beggar sect, lead by a council of elders, as well as a splinter of the Nameless, started by a handful of the city guards who with their own eyes, saw the vile will of chaos and the flesh assimilating magical beast that had been a sorceress that night. As well as a few temples of converts to the world view and philosophy of the Journey, and a few Shangralans who during the war found reasons to remain on Nuceria, be it love, duty or simply finding more in common with the culture than they did back at their home. Who are you to tell them no? Every man is free to make their home and life wherever they see fit.

Angron tilts his head at the sight of the wraith bone construct containing your dear friend, confused by the soul contained within it, but raising no questions as he and his father escort the grand volunteer force to the gateway off of their world. There is no grand ceremony.
Cont

>>5762769

The official story is that the strange allies Angron's brother found simply left by way of star ship, since Angron raised a good point that the existence of alien intelligence may in this time of upheaval and reform, cause and spread hysteria amongst the masses of Nuceria. Similarly, he will wait to tell them of the Mathoth, even though your people know of Humanity's lost friend amongst the stars, since Jinhai and your sons spread knowledge of them in your stead while you worked to help your brother free his world.

The logisitcs of leading so many people through the web way is an entertaining challenge, but one easily solved with the combined minds of Kanzeon, Anahita, several former farseers, and yourself. But before you leave, Anahita gives Angron a bold send off.

It begins with a punch which he easily dodges and catches, and ends with a peck like kiss on his cheek. Which stuns Kanzeon so much her consciousness briefly disconnects from avatar, which you dutifully catch and prevent from falling to the ground as her sister howls with laughter, at both her and your brother's reactions, and then with her hands on the back of her head, swaggers past the blushing throng indignant at her brazen show of affection into the webway. Well the Long Jianese are blushing, the Shuni, Vishnu, Bask, Zoroast, New Varro, and Terran amongst the crowd seem more perplexed by the other's amazement and shock at her boldness.

"She did that just to fuck with me, didn't she" Angron growls, rubbing his cheek as if to scrub it clean

"Better than her suddenly deciding to tackle you to the ground" Nikephoros grumbles, rubbing his back in memory of his first meeting with his aunt

"She's done that as well" Kanzeon mutters as you walk up to Angron and move to cup your fist and bow deeply, as is proper. But Angron instead pulls you into his embrace and to your surprise lifts you off the ground. You wrap your arms around him, laughing with him as his good cheer spreads to the rest of the convoy, and soon the dull affair turns jubliant and merry

"I'm winning our next spar, you cocky bastard" He promises, lifting his chin as you clap your hands and laugh

"We shall see" Are your parting words, as you leave him and and Oenomaus standing alone, Departing last with Kanzeon to ensure no one strays or becomes lost in the webway as you all travel back home.

There is much for you to do when you return. Firstly, you read up on the kingdoms that were discovered past the recently unified Zoroast kingdom. The once monster infested Hellias, which was an often fragmented kingdom centered around influential cities with a long and historied rivalries that share many similarities with Nucerian culture, oddly enough. Philotes is in repose beneath a great mountain, like Kanzeon was, Mari and Al-Uzza tell you. Albina, her twin, rests beyond her mountain in a great lake, around which another civilization of mariners and tradesmen lives, who call themselves the Lomb.

Cont

>>5762771

though they consider themselves a collection of tribes rather than a kingdom, like the Vishnu were before they formed a hundred kingdoms and became "Civilized". From the brief description you hear, they more resemble the lost tribes, who have, save the First and Third lead by Aruna and Akanksha, lost their last great warrior chiefs in the butcher's war, or in the case of the fifth lead by Om, lost most of their number and last great warrior chief fighting the corrupted tiger folk.

You would have, with a few key assistance, imperial officials, space marines and of course Kanzeon, traveled there to learn of these cultures and search for the chaotic taint that has seemingly infested every other culture on Shangrala, but you have a mountain of paperwork and projects to see to for your ministry of development, and also you have to answer to Empress Daiyu for not doing more to stop her husband, Emperor Jinhai from running off with most of the imperial army and war machines to travel the stars. Which is a meeting which mostly consists of her guilting her husband, telling him how terrible it would've been for their three children to be raised without fathers, and the chaos that would've spread if so many vanished from the world alongside him. You escape mostly unscathed, excepting for the Kang, who somehow have found a way to become insulted when they chose not to send any soldiers to help Nuceria.

You also hear while having your ear pulled by Daiyu that while Mari and Al-Uzza were visiting and securing their sister's gravesites, Liberty wandered and stayed with Akanksha for a few days after becoming bored trying to heal the ecological damages of the former Vishnu lands. Apparently, Feng will be meeting his son in a few days and is fortunate he returned home in time. It is Vishnu custom for the husband to suffer by his wife's side when she is in labor, and if Feng wasn't here for the birth, a rift may have formed between him and his feather wearing wife. Certainly her tribesmen would've been furious with their new chief if he hadn't.

But, before you can even begin to work through the projects you had set aside or delayed for your brother's benefit, or see how the psykers of Nuceria were adapating and learning to harness and live with their gift or even tell your adopted tiger cubs of your adventure, Magnus suddenly contacts you, nearly manic with thrill. Its a short telepathic message, that in its entirety reads "Angron's managed to build a gateway"

And so you must drop everything and rush to the gate you built beneath the shadow of the Chen Dao Academy to prepare your own shore of the golden dragon's river.

"He really couldn't wait" Kanzeon sighs, exhausted mentally from all the busy work you've both had to do.

"Oh like you didn't miss him, Kazzy" Anahita laughs as Mari meekly hides behind her, chewing on her nails
Cont

>>5762772

"Elazar said he's quite unlike Lieren" She mutters "With frightful face and demeanor"

"He's a softy when you get to know them, but he does have one hell of a mean glare, kinda like Kazzy" Anahita casually comforts her shorter sister

"Don't embarrass us by kissing him again on a whim" Al-Uzza warns, snapping her fan shut as Luli sits with a radio crew, ready to broadcast this meeting between brothers

"If he tries to return the favor I'm kicking him square between the legs" Liberty drawls, wearing a hat you had commissioned to resemble new varo fashion, since she wanted Michah's hat, but you needed to return it to his family on New Varro and couldn't carelessly give it away

"Liberty!" Al-Uzza shouts as Anahita howled with laughter, Kanzeon rolled her eyes and Mari started to nervously tug on her bask styled dress.

Shan, Cao Yunru, Tao Dandan and Shirong prepare the anchors, and your eyes soon reveal the golden ratio as across vast distances two rivers are connected, the golden light appearing a moment later to the surprise of the psykers of Nuceria who gasp in awe and wonderment as they witness a glimpse of the world of spirits through its veil of psionic sparks and emotional radiance as it forms itself into a tunnel, and connects with the one made by Angron. Mutterings and whispered passages and lectures of the journey spill from it, soon joined by the same passages and teachings spoken in brash Nucerian

"Hoh...what a curious dialect" Guozhi offhandedly muses, rubbing his long white beard as Kuan Im sits beside him with the two exorcist twins, drinking tea with little Meixu and Liberty, who have become fast friends despite only meeting today

"Is it too late to pretend we're not home?" Mari squeaks, only half joking as the two rivers meet and become one and before your eyes, Angron appears

Wearing a short cropped beard like his adoptive father, but keeping his head shaved clean, and wearing an robe in the style of Nuceria wealth and nobility, though made of materials favored by the lower classes and slaves, dyed red with wine and red clay dust, with iron chains wrapped around his waist like a belt.

And two slobbering dogs larger than any you have seen on Shangrala, who look like they could, in a pack harry and perhaps kill a fog panther. They immediately hone in on Mari, and rush to shower the meekest of Kanzeon's sisters with slobber and dogged affection

"Whhhy" She cries out, as her dressed is ruined beneath two waterfalls of drool and her carefully tended pixie cut is turned into a wild mess

"HEEL!" Angron bellows, and the dogs sit down...on Mari, panting and wagging their tails. He pinches his nose and sighs

"Close enough?" Kanzeon chuckles with a shrug as Angron, with a bemused expression, looks over the crowed gathered to watch you return his fellow Nucerians back to him and their world.
Cont

>>5762774

And you can sense him drinking in their emotions and thoughts, gauging their first impressions of himself and figuring out how to relieve the unspoken tension in the air. And dodges Anahita's habitual leaping tackle, which is how she greets anyone she is fond of.

"Ow" She drolly mutters, picking herself up as Angron, with a purposefully mysterious expression, ponderously steps forward, eyes drifting across the gathered crowd, pausing first on Luli and her prosthetics, then resting on Guozhi with a flash of intrigue in his eyes, before then drifting to the dog pinned Mari, before finally coming to rest on the familiar face of Tao Dandan, before suddenly flicking back to you.

"Brother" He says fondly, giving a respectful nod in your direction as you insist on covering your hand and bowing deeply

"Brother" You say as the others who have not met him all continue to eye and try to measure him up against you, Guozhi breaks the silence with a low chuckle.

"You smell of iron, boy" He says thoughtfully "And burning sands"

"So you're the man whose been teaching my fellow Nucerians the psykerist arts" Angron says in polite, but stilted Long-Jianese "You have my thanks, honored elder, but I shall be returning them to their proper place"

"Get your dogs off of me" Mari says, quickly losing patience and composure as a cold fury graces her gentle eyes

"And they shall be returned" You intercede, clapping your hands and throwing an arm over Angron's shoulder "But first, allow me to give you a tour of my world, it is only fair"

"Hmm?" He grunts

"I saw the beauty of Nuceria, so its only fair you behold the beauty of Shangrala" You say as he frowns and sighs

"Fine" He says, his hard expression cracking with a smile "I've been curious to see how a world buried in constant fog functions, and how so many fierce warriors were bred and trained while being half blind"

"Well it might have something to do with the recent introduction of powerful fog lights lightning most areas of inhabitation and..."Al-Uzza begins as you hear a yelp, and the dogs are suddenly off of Mari, and she is sitting up looking grumpy

"What, just gave them a cold touch" She says shyly as the dogs immediatly, not learning their lessons, gather around her and try to sit her up

"What breed of dogs are those?" Cao Yunru asks idly "My wife would adore them"

"Wait, I need to interview the noble brother of Lieren, before that conspiracy theorists gets his hands on him" Luli shouts in protest "Do you have any idea what people have been saying since the lesser giants first appeared? The truth needs to be spoken and heard"

And you turn to address her before you realize with a feeling of sudden dread. Liberty has vanished. And in a moment you spot her, being held by the back of her collar by an irate Angron
Cont

>>5762775

"Is this yours...I mean your daughter?" Angron snarls, rubbing one of his shins, which Liberty had clearly kicked with as much force as she could

Kanzeon's eyes dimmed and you sensed her "Fainting", as you lacked a better term for when her emotions overloads her avatar's internal receiver

Mari, Anahita, and Al-Uzza exchange glances

"Technically?" They say in near unsion, Mari earnest, Anahita glibbly and Al-uzza plainly

Liberty meanwhile is cursing up a storm and trying to bite your brother as she kicks and squirms in the air.

"Little sister" Kanzeon says through her teeth, a hiss of static rising from her throat as Luli begins taking notes

"Well, she needs discipline" He says bluntly, setting her down in Kanzeon's arms, where she immediately turns and sticks her tongue out at him "Kids will be kids, but that one's half feral"

"My name's liberty!" She shouts back, shaking a little fist at him

"Liberty is half feral" Your brother corrects himself with a wry, easy smile, which made more than a few of the women present swoon "So where to first, Lieren. I'm sure you've been planning a route since before you left Nuceria. What sights are you going to show me...if I can see anything through this fog"

"The first interstellar tourist in eons" Kanzeon laughs "And we were planning on showing you the place where it all began"

"Nothing" You cackle

"He means a village, or, well its a city now" Kanzeon adds, before your brother can be baffled by your vague answer. Aw well, you can have your fun later. You have a few dishes in mind that should shock even the palate and sensibilities a former gladiator.

"Interview" Luli preses

"But first an interview" You acquiesce.
_
"You know. I never thought the world was big enough for two giants" Wenyan says to break the silence as you lead Angron up the hill leading to the manor he lives in, drawing your brother back to reality as he had been somewhat enchanted by the neon lights and technological wonders coexisting most harmoniously with the more natural elements of city, from ancient trees to flowing streams and stretches of farmland besides modern storefronts and patches of wilderness preserved within the ever growing city of Nothing. He has to crane his neck back down, as he had been busy trying to find the limit to the height of the apartments and various local industries reaching towards the heavens and piercing the skies.

"I'm surprise the world is big enough for so much ancient technology" He says after gathering himself "And I'm not from this world"

"Well this one hasn't cracked yet, so I guess that means its big enough for two" Wenyan says with a shrug as Angron's face twists in confusion as he spots a few of your sons working alongside gardeners

"What the..." he says before noticing Wenyan is welcoming him inside

"They're good lads" Your father chucks "nearly as diligent as their father. So what brings you to our world, and what brings you back home, son"
Cont

>>5762776

You fall to your knees, making Angron look at you with a similar look of surprise as you sweep one hand in front of you to clear the dust from the concrete steps and then slam your forehead on the ground

"This worthless son offers a thousand apologies for failing to show proper filial piety to his honored father!" You shout as Angron's brow furrows in further confusion and he looks around, as if he expects someone to jump out an tell him this is some kind of joke at his expense "I have wandered far from home and ignored the disregarded my duties as your son. I've left you alone in your twilight years, instead of remaining by your side and ensuring your comfort and welfare!"

"He does this whenever he has time to visit his father" Kanzeon sighs sadly "I don't know why he thinks he's failed as a son, I mean look around us"

"Lieren are you fucking with me?" Angron asked plainly

"Hah, I forgive you, but there's no need for you to beg forgiveness. I'm one old man. You're work improves countless lives and saves many more" Wenyan says, bidding you to stand "There is no need for you to concern yourself, or feel shame for not attending me. Besides, with how much Ya...Long Jia has changed, there's little need for sons to care for their elderly parents, and I especially do not need your care. I mean, I have more servants than that worthless lord Gao did now!"

"But none of that changes that I have spent far too long from your company, honored father" You state wistfully as you stand and wipe blood from your brow before it can stick to the brand there "now let me introduce you to Angron Thal'kyr, and take mind that the way names are in his culture are reversed from ours"

"Ah, Angron, I am Wenyan" He says, cupping his fist as he leads you, your brother and soon to be wife into his estate, pausing to check the petals on a flowering bush along the pathway as he does so "And this used to be my shack before Lieren and the rest of the city spent their hard earned cash "upgrading it"

"You didn't ask for it?" Angron asked, sounding very respectful of your father's spartan views

"I was happy with just heating, cooling and a flock of chickens and some pigs, now I have one of the largest stables in the land, sired by this one's beast of a steed!" He laughs "But, I cannot deny others their generosity"

"My old masters would think you were the emperor, and not that spear dancer" Angron mutters

"High riders would be beggars and misers on Shangrala" Kanzeon smugly boasts, crossing her arms as she walked past, stopping to smell the blossoms and pluck one "Because none one hoards technology here. Every one benefits from it. Even if they're stubborn about it, like my father in law"

"Son I will be cross if you forgot to invite this old man to your wedding" Wenyan warns, waving his walking stick in the air

"Do you think me so forgetful? I don't believe I've forgotten much in my life" You swiftly defend yourself

Cont

>>5762777

"I want you to two lovebirds to be wed before I croak" He says with an exagerated pout "But come, come, I'll make some tea and get to know my son's brother"

"I should've brought my father to meet you, didn't realize Lieren would drag me on a sight seeing tour, or you were so..." Angron says, sounding a little guilty

"Old?" Wenyan asked. Angron just nodded

"Well he won't have missed anything important if I die before your next visit" Wenyan said coyly "I'm just an old farmer"

"And yet you raised Lieren" Kanzeon says quietly and respectfully

Where do you take Angron next, on his short visit to Shangrala, Lieren?

>Show him the ruination of the Vishnu and the memorial you made for the Eight Hundred Eighty eight thousand, eight hundred and eighty seven Long-Jian and allied forces who perished fighting the butcher king.

>Show him the imperial capital and Jinhai's kids, and take him and the imperial family out to dinner

>Chen Dao Academy, introduce him to the Tiger children and them to their uncle

>Take him on a panther hunt With Feng, Dong, Half jaw Hu, and Shaved head Wei

>Write in

>>5762778
>The ruination of the vishnu
>Tiger kids
>Panther hunt

I want to show him all of them, but if push comes to shove, we can ignore the panther hunt.
It's important to show him our own battle site and our adopted children. One for common ground, the other to forge common ground.

>>5762782
>Support
I really want to see his reaction to the Tiger kids

>>5762778
>Show him the ruination of the Vishnu and the memorial you made for the Eight Hundred Eighty eight thousand, eight hundred and eighty seven Long-Jian and allied forces who perished fighting the butcher king.
No doubt he'll have heard so much about it, now we can show him and maybe rub off some Vishnu beliefs! Preserve their way somehow across the stars

>Chen Dao Academy, introduce him to the Tiger children and them to their uncle
Having shown him something sad so him something bright, the future. Children and a new generation; the reason we fight.

---
>Eight Hundred Eighty eight thousand, eight hundred and eighty seven
wow really did JUST make it

Im not gonna lie, love our bro but it's time for Lieren to have some 'him time'

>>5762778
>Chen Dao Academy, introduce him to the Tiger children and them to their uncle

>>5762778
>>Show him the ruination of the Vishnu and the memorial you made for the Eight Hundred Eighty eight thousand, eight hundred and eighty seven Long-Jian and allied forces who perished fighting the butcher king.
>Chen Dao Academy, introduce him to the Tiger children and them to their uncle
Show him the past and then the future bonus points for including something about how, like the tigermen were a devolved strain on the tree of humanity they are not a rotten branch in need of pruning, but a stunted growth capable of recovery with care and guidance, so too the ogreyn could be nutured into healthy or at least a less twisted offshoot from the main tree

>>5762778
>Take him on a panther hunt With Feng, Dong, Half jaw Hu, and Shaved head Wei

>Show him the ruination of the Vishnu and the memorial you made for the Eight Hundred Eighty eight thousand, eight hundred and eighty seven Long-Jian and allied forces who perished fighting the butcher king.


Hunt, Dude will love it.

>>5762778
>Chen Dao Academy, introduce him to the Tiger children and them to their uncle

>Take him on a panther hunt With Feng, Dong, Half jaw Hu, and Shaved head Wei

>>5762778
>Show him the ruination of the Vishnu and the memorial you made for the Eight Hundred Eighty eight thousand, eight hundred and eighty seven Long-Jian and allied forces who perished fighting the butcher king.
>Chen Dao Academy, introduce him to the Tiger children and them to their uncle

>>5762778
>Chen Dao Academy, introduce him to the Tiger children and them to their uncle
>Show him the ruination of the Vishnu and the memorial you made for the Eight Hundred Eighty eight thousand, eight hundred and eighty seven Long-Jian and allied forces who perished fighting the butcher king.

>>5762778
>>Take him on a panther hunt With Feng, Dong, Half jaw Hu, and Shaved head Wei
>Show him the ruination of the Vishnu and the memorial you made for the Eight Hundred Eighty eight thousand, eight hundred and eighty seven Long-Jian and allied forces who perished fighting the butcher king.
>Chen Dao Academy, introduce him to the Tiger children and them to their uncle

>>5762778
Can I ask for a character sheet? Im starting to forget people.

>>5762778
>Show him the ruination of the Vishnu and the memorial you made for the Eight Hundred Eighty eight thousand, eight hundred and eighty seven Long-Jian and allied forces who perished fighting the butcher king.
>Chen Dao Academy, introduce him to the Tiger children and them to their uncle
>Take him on a panther hunt With Feng, Dong, Half jaw Hu, and Shaved head Wei
All four are all good choices desu.

>>5762778
>>Show him the imperial capital and Jinhai's kids, and take him and the imperial family out to dinner
>>Chen Dao Academy, introduce him to the Tiger children and them to their uncle
>>Take him on a panther hunt With Feng, Dong, Half jaw Hu, and Shaved head Wei

>>5762778
>Show him the ruination of the Vishnu and the memorial you made for the Eight Hundred Eighty eight thousand, eight hundred and eighty seven Long-Jian and allied forces who perished fighting the butcher king.
>Chen Dao Academy, introduce him to the Tiger children and them to their uncle
Yey good

He was eyeing the advanced prosthetic limbs, so maybe suggest that if one of the sisters were to go back with him, they could outfit his people with similar things, and help out in general. He will have to ask himself though.

>>5762778
>Show him the ruination of the Vishnu and the memorial you made for the Eight Hundred Eighty eight thousand, eight hundred and eighty seven Long-Jian and allied forces who perished fighting the butcher king.
>Chen Dao Academy, introduce him to the Tiger children and them to their uncle

>Show him the ruination of the Vishnu and the memorial you made for the Eight Hundred Eighty eight thousand, eight hundred and eighty seven Long-Jian and allied forces who perished fighting the butcher king

Isn't 8 Khorne's holy number? Where did the giga Khorne sacrifice power go?

Strengthening the Empeyran?

>>5764348
Nowhere, because we managed to stop the sacrifice in the nick of time.
Only one more death and the butcher king and his wife would have ascended to daemon princehood while turning Shangrila into a daemon world.

How does everyone feel about pulling the same 'prison break' for Kuan Im that we did for Avalokiteśvara at the end? Not really a rescue but a chance for them find redemption on their own.

Usually we are too tied up in other missions to dedicate the time so now might be a good chance and since usually our forays into the warp seem more risky and impromptu than wise, yet always necessary, now we have time to prepare. Ask Magnus for advice and perhaps bring him along. Same for Kanzeon.

I always felt what we did at the end of the Butchers War was pretty iconic and that Lieren would do the same regarding Kuan Im if not for happenstance and opportunity. 'No soul, however wretched deserves torture without end,' so we freed an ogress from a cage, perhaps we can return a skinned fox its fur.

>>5764656
She's already a daemon of slaanesh, I think she's beyond helping at this point.

>>5764676
That’s not entirely true. Back when we were trying to purify the daemon sword we had a bunch of options. I’m fairly certain one of the option would have turn the daemon into a “pure” spirit. I’m pretty certain the best way of doing that is to turn the daemon against their patron or make them reject their patron.
>>5764656
With what I said in mind the best way to fix Kuan Im is to leverage her reasons for becoming a daemon. Remember that she became a daemon because she wanted to experience being a human instead of a simulation. Ironically that should be very easy to leverage against Slaanesh.

>>5764676
Entirely possible. From a practical stand point, I was thinking setting her free would possibly remove a powerful pawn from the clutches of Slaanesh due to the resentment from being tortured. Redemption isn't something that can be forced on anyone, so anything beyond that is up to Kuan Im and a bonus for us.

>>5764713
> wanted to experience being a human instead of a simulation
With that she has more reason to want to enter the wheel of reincarnation than even Avalokiteśvara did. Being a demon is the opposite of what she wanted all along. She's even further away from her goal than when she started.

>>5764752
>With that she has more reason to want to enter the wheel of reincarnation
I doubt she would take such an uncertain proposition. I think she would be offended by it. She wants to be a human and will take no compromises.

>>5764752
Haha in Confucian Shangrala, daemon is tempted by you! All they need for admittance to the wheel of reincarnation is to generate the positive Karma of 1000 lives well lived! Or the liberation of a world from the clutches of Slannesh!

Calling the vote now. Sorry for the wait.

https://youtu.be/t75B87Lzh4E

Show him the ruination of the Vishnu and the memorial you made for the Eight Hundred Eighty eight thousand, eight hundred and eighty seven Long-Jian and allied forces who perished fighting the butcher king.: 13

Chen Dao Academy, introduce him to the Tiger children and them to their uncle: 13

Take him on a panther hunt With Feng, Dong, Half jaw Hu, and Shaved head Wei:7

Show him the imperial capital and Jinhai's kids, and take him and the imperial family out to dinner: 1

Total votes: 15

So Lieren will bring Angron to Chen Dao Academy and introduce him to the two hundred eighty five tiger children, then show him the ruination of the Vishnu lands and the memorial made for those who lost their lives in the final battle of that senseless war and cap off his visit with a fog panther hunt with the surviving original brothers of the panther

writing now

>>5763099
if I find the time for it

"You know when I first stepped onto Shangrala and spotted that school in the mountains through the heavy blankets of mists, I thought this academy had to be an ancient relic, carefully preserved and tended to by some school of warrior scholars. " Angron says with a low chuckle in his throat as you, Wenyan, Kanzeon and a handful of your astartes, who have won through gambling games the great honor of acting as your escort this day, walk up the well maintained and often sweeped paths leading up into the Tao mountains from Nothing and the village where your loyal brother Small Chen was born and where a growing graveyard is made and filled with the statues and where his mortal remains rest alongside fearless Bai, Spirited Xin, Serious Liang, Foolish Jiang, Boisterous Red Face Wei, and Tall tale worthy Michah, whose people and the surviving brothers of the panther demanded to be interred alongside the friends he found across the stars. You pause, throwing a glance back towards the final beds of some of your truest and most beloved of friends, seeing Bai and Xin's wives showing their young children the stone simulacrums of their fathers amidst the flowering fields.

Zian and Rong should've been buried there as well, but their families requested their mortal remains and burned them as was tradition when these lands were known as Yan. Angron senses your melancholy and pauses, placing a callused hand upon your shoulder as Kanzeon slips to your side and shares your view of the graves with a despondent expression.

"Those are your other brothers?" He asks hushedly and cautiously, not wishing to accidentally disrespect the dead whom you still hold so dear to your heart "The ones you told me about after Magnus and Perturabo"

"The academy is named after the first one who was lost to me. Small Chen, whom I named the mighty Chen Dao after" You answer solemnly, bowing your head to show that he was correct in his assumption "I carried his body back here myself, and did the same with every man who rests beside him now"

"And the statues?" He asks as Kanzeon wipes a tear from her eye as you allow yours to flow freely and drip from your chin

"He carved them himself" Wenyan answers for you "they've become the destination for many pilgrims, both for the poor journeymen and those brave fools who join the imperial army, They've very true to life. That's one of the wonders about the great man I've taught here, he remembers faces without fault. They look just like those idiot boys looked when they were alive, I remember when they were kids, when they first hunted panthers, when they marched off too war. One of the greatest tragedies of this era, is that they were all separated from each other by death"

"Yet I am certain, beyond the horizon when I meet my final sunset, they shall be waiting with me with spears in hand and stories to share" You say, voice shaking with woe as you nod your head again and wipe your tears with the back of your hand

Cont

>>5765066

"Each of those graves has stories to tell, and when the jade plaque catches the light of the sun, it displays the names and faces of the dead, not just those I've replicated in marble, but all those who have given their lives for the freedom this flourishing world now enjoys" You continue, tone lifting with joy as you explain further, before sighing sadly and clapping your hands thrice in a triangular motion "And amongst those names, upon the newest statue added, are the names and faces of fifty four of my sons who traveled from Terra to bleed and die for Shangrala. I could think of no greater honor than to preserve their names amongst those belonging to the greatest heroes of a generation"

"And I'm certain, Pater, they'd be grateful to be receive such grand posthumorous honors" One of your son states, sounding on the verge of tears himself even though his voice is filtered by his star metal mask "To be rendered equal beside the companions of their gene sire, and remembered by those who they saved, and those who were born because of their sacrifice"

"Uncle, you must hear of the eight who held the line against an army without end, and the forty six who fought against the butcher king Nityah Sinha and were felled by his claws" Another of your sons, one of the oldest serving amongst the two hundred and forty seven astartes under your command rambles, hoisting up his bolter in a parade grip. Angron nods, rubbing his chin in thought.

"Inspired, gladiator?" Kanzeon asks affably, the warmth of her words permeating your being and warding away the chill of sadness

"In a way" he stated, giving a respectful nod towards the statue as you turned on your heel, and walked away, ending your mourning and making it no longer impolite for the others to turn away from the graves too hurriedly

"Let us continue towards the academy, there are living faces I wish for you to meet brother, your little nieces and nephews" You state chipperly, though pangs of loss still ripple within you. Kanzeon and Angron sense it, and the former grabs a hold of your hand and holds it tightly

"Ah, our littlest brothers and sisters" The veteran astarte chortles, marching ahead impatiently as the others form in behind and serve as a wall behind the rest of the party

"Lieren is so generous he will adopt two hundred and eighty five children before having any of his own" Wenyan snorts, amused as he shuffles forward, his walking stick scrapping and smacking against the road "You'll love these kids, Angron, they're dutiful, respectful and know their manners, but..."

"They're abhumans, like the Angra you fought beside" Kanzeon explains snappily "A mingling of feline and human traits, and yes they are adorable, all good kids. Figured the least poetic and long winded of the present company should explain this, so you aren't surprised"

"Oh" Angron says with a nod "So they're like Ogyrn"
Cont

>>5765067

Kanzeon bites her lip and nods, and you can hear her struggling not to voice her thought of "Yes, but much smarter and more acute"

You arrive at the gates just in time for the midday meal, judging from the sound of the gong carrying down the valley and the students streaming out from the great gate to travel by way of civilian model skipping clouds or electrical powered cart down to the once humble ox farming village for leisure time or simply to visit their families or give the local diners their patronage. Only a few heads turn to gawk at the old man walking besides several giants, and most of those who do stop to stare gaze up at Angron, noticing immediately his foregin dress and facial features. He smiles and waves as they pass, but no one questions his presents.

"Ah, the founder has returned" A tired security guard yawns as you step by, cupping your hand and bowing to him and his partner who is busy eating a steaming bowl of rice and deep fried cliff jumper shank covered in a fragrant pepper sauce, numbing and spicy judging from the way the smells rising with its steam.

"Lieren!" Ananya, with her two steel fangs shouts, spotting you as she and Avinash, dressed in the tao yellow and jade green uniform of the school spots you, her tasseled tail flicking up straight and shivering as she is overwhelmed with excitment just spotting you in the ever moving throng of the first and greatest of your schools of philosophy and martial arts. And immediately, feline ears perked up.

"Uncle!" Avinash roars, running from a nearby garden, his four hands bound with bandages as he charges you with tears in his eyes, and not far behind him is young sandip, his fur styled into a mohawk. Avinash has began to grow the trademark "beard" of male cats, it has yet to grow long, but he pauses, his feline face scrunching as he sniffs the air and turns to Angron, a low growl rising in his throat as Sandip, ignoring his elder's trepidation, lifts up a large rock and shows it to your brother.

"You reek of death, who the hell are you to walk besides a man of peace?" He drawls, stomping a foot on the ground and adopting the stance of the fog panther, claws outstretched

"Wanna see me smash this?" He asks with a fang filled smile, his usual way of greeting new people. You roll your eyes as Ananya marches up to Avinash, the fur on her head styled in a mingling of vishnu and Long Jian styles

"I'm his brother" Angron answers, smirking as he knelt down to Avinash' level "You've got guts to threaten me, kid, what's your name? I like to know the names of brave men"

"Avinash" Avinash answers, unaware that your brother is humoring him. Angron's eyes flick to Ananya's mouth, spotting the null denouncement charm script carved into her false teeth as steps past him to greet you, Kanzeon and Wenyan "And this my closest friend and rival, Ananya, we're the oldest living amongst the tiger kin"
Cont

>>5765068

"Oh I didn't realize I was in the presence of two elders" Your brother jokes as you lift Ananya up and laugh with her, as Sandip asks angron if he wishes to see him smash the rock in his hands, but louder this time

"I beat parth in last season's interschool tournament" She tells you excitedly "You know, he won a few medals for his fog panther style recently and whipped a few kang boys for speaking bad about you"

"They're lucky you and Avinash didn't get to them first" Kanzeon chuckles, covering her mouth as Angron looks around to see if he should allow the excitable child in front of him to attempt to break a chunk of solid granite, completely out of his depth at the moment

"What does Angron mean?" Avinash asks "Avinash means indestructable"

"And my name means Matchless" Ananya chimes in

"Don't know what Sandip means!" Sandip shouts as Angron's eyes widen as he see the mob of tiger children rushing both of you and Kanzeon

"Child of the mountain" He says with a smile as he stands to his full height "Though, its shortened from Angronius"

"Two uncles? Did he split in two?"
"No you idiot, they smell different"
"And that one is shorter isn't he, than our Lieren?"
"Taller than Chul-moo"
"He smells like home, doesn't he? Sandy and bloody, like Aruna"
"Hey, Mountain child! Think you could beat Aruna"
"Idiot, he doesn't know who that is?"
"Hah? Everyone knows about Aruna, don't they?"
"Hey, stand back! I was asking other uncle if he wanted to see me break a rock"

"Sandip" Kanzeon and Ananya say in near perfect unison

"Sure, knock yourself out" Angron says with a playful smile.

He looked honestly amazed when Sandip split the stone with a single strike of his head, while you and your father clapped and congratulated him for the feat, while Kanzeon parted the fur on his brow to check for bleeding.

"Incredible" your brother laughed, as you had to contend with a few dozen children wanting to climb up your back and tug on your hair, which was how Kanzeon was being greeted by them as well "I can see why you wanted to introduce them to me, they certainly are entertaining"

"Oh, actually, there was going to be a demonstration of the most martially adept of this academy's student body later today, by sheer chance we happened to arrive just in time to watch it. I thought you might want to be in the crowd, its just a simple exhibition of the styles this school teaches" You explain as you swing one of the tiger cubs around by their ankles as another tells you of all the chores he helped old chen with

"Well, I'll certainly enjoy it more now that I've gotten to meet them" He says with a warm smile that was nearly tender. Kanzeon and you exchanged knowing glances "And I wouldn't pass up a chance to study your world's queer manner of fighting"

"Well first we'll need to share a meal with them now that we're here" You state

"And help them with their studies" Kanzeon adds
Cont

>>5765069

"Must I? I'm sure they know more than I do!" Wenyan jokingly complains as Angron holds out his arm and warrily lets one of the kids grab onto an hang from it, smiling a bit wider as the rest take that as a sign its safe to treat him like a tree and climb onto him as they ask him all manner of questions or try to impress him in all manners of ways.

And its good that this introduction has gone so well. Since the next destination on your tour would be much less pleasant than nearly three thousand innocent smiling faces.

"This could've been Nuceria if we didn't end that abominable intelligence" He says, staring out across the plains of glass, standing before the grand memorial of the butcher war, the canyon carved by a thousand hands, where a thousand memorials were carved by friends and family of the deceased and infused with their grief, in a manner adopted from the legionaries of the second legion. Each was unique, and it stretched far, from the border of Long-Jia and the desolation, to this battle sight that Angron had wandered into, lost in thought and horror

"So my brothers and sisters died for a reason" He says somberly, dipping his hand into the mixture of ash and sand and breathing in deep the hot air still polluted by the engines and weapons of war "This could've been the fate of my home. If the vaults weren't broken into, if they high riders realized they were doomed...if..if. What a chilling thought, how quickly this level devastation could've been wrought on my world"

"One unprepared to heal from it, it would've been a two fold apocalypse" Kanzeon sagely agreed, nodding her head as she looked out across the field were once wrecks of Dai Iron turtles, Steel birds, Skipping clouds and Vishnu war machines smoldered and crackled with seemingly unquenchable fires

"How many died to stop the mad man who began this war?" Angron asks pointedly, lifting up a skull of one of the flash cloned Kauravas who had found repose slumped against a fallen Vimana

"The imperial scholars are still tallying the dead of Nitya Sinha soldiers, which may be an impossible task" You answer honestly, sitting down to look over the ruined landscape "But the losses of the imperial army were accurately recorded throughout the war. In the final battle alone, Eight Hundred Eighty eight thousand, eight hundred and eighty seven were struck down. A total of twenty two point twenty two percent of the then four million strong force"

"So many, in a single battle" Angron asks horrified, face paling as he drops the skull

"There is a reason no men weep for the butcher king" Wenyan, dressed in Vishnu attire huffs, dousing himself with cooled water from a glass bottle "He sent more men to their graves than any other villain and history, and for what? Madness and spite? Pointless, that whole war was nothing but a pointless loss of life"

"Many wars are" Kanzeon gloomily adds, shaking her head in disgust of it all
Cont

>>5765070

"So many" Angron repeats, shaking his head "More than died across all the fighting on Nuceria. In a single battle"

"Advance technology in the hands of a bloodthirsty monster who did not value the lives of his men" Kanzeon answered bitterly "and wanted nothing more than to drown this beautiful world in corpses"

"He genocide his own race fighting for...nothing?" Angron asks, voice rumbling with directionless rage

Kanzeon nods, knowing that the butcher king wasn't the only actor behind the war, and that they both had goals beyond slaughter

"What maddness" He said, voice trembling with confusion and anger without a target "And with all the wonders you built, Long-Jia, Shuni and Bask lost that many men and women. Even with our creator's aid, so many lives were lost for nothing"

"I wish I had killed him when I first met him" You answer, a black fury bubbling in your words

"How many will we kill when we join our father's crusade in the stars?" Angron asks

And you have no answer for that as the feral remains of the butcher king's army howl somewhere in the vast bleakness that had once been a fertile and verdant land, as the sun sets and the silver light of the moon drapes over the emptiness, giving it the appearance of the vast grave it was.

"I can show you where he died, we should visit liberty while we're here, anyways" You say, burying the haunting question and regrets roiling in your mind

"I'd like that, I can use a distraction from all of...this" Angron sighs

"Oh, the little tyke? Well, its a good thing we've brought a lot of water and shade" Wenyan says, wiping his brow "Though I don't think I'll ever get all this sand out of my shoes"

And so you travel deeper to visit Liberty and Al-Uzza, putting off the final portion of Angron's visit for a day or two longer, to wash the bitter taste of a victory hard won from your mouth.

"You know, we didn't get to talk much when we were fighting alongside one another" Feng says, tugging on his goatee as Half jaw Hu sharpens his spear, singing a love song taught to him by his grandmother while shaved head Wei meditates

"If we did, I never spotted you" Angron commended as he gave the spear you lent him a few test swings "Heard you shot down a few of The Thal'kr with that rifle of yours, so you owe me the final blow on at least a few of our kills today"

"A tyrant must be felled when the chance arises" Feng muses, lifting up his panther hide cloak "Not to satisfy one man's hunger for revenge"

"I suppose you're right, but I would've liked to have been there to see them die and their brains get scattered like bird feed" Angron warmly replies, to show he didn't foster any resentment to Feng

"Those tyrants made for good targets and nothing for" Wei muttered from the side of his mouth "I'm just glad they're finished and we're back home again safely. Some of our juniors weren't so lucky"
Cont

>>5765071

"And I wouldn't have been either if you didn't come back to your lady wife, Wei" Hu snorted "She made me swear you'd come back alive and in one piece, poor woman was worried you'd end up on Chen's hill, with the rest of our childhood buddies"

"Hmm" Dong grunts "I wish I could've joined in on the hunting, sounds like there was no lack of prey on Nuceria, but those long ears hate being around me for some reason"

"Must not have been carys' company" Feng said with a nod as you tied up your shoes and discarded your shirt in favor of a well brushed panther fur "And if they don't follow Carys, they're probably not worthy being around, at least that's what Kanzeon has told me"

"Hmm" Dong grunts as Angron scrutinizes him, trying to figure out why he cannot sense him as he does every other living thing. You won't tell him of Dong's curious ailment of the soul, it'd be a valuable learning experience for your brother to figure it out by himself, after all.

"Never thought I'd see you wear any besides white robes or armor" Angron jokes, turning away from Dong "I must say, the fur suits you well, brother"

"Well it should, its the first clothing I ever wore" You laugh, running a hand through the silk soft fur as you lift up your own spear

"Now, brother of my brother, there is a particular way you should hunt a panther, if you don't want to earn a new set of scars" Feng begins to lecture Angron as you give your spear a few test thrusts and swings to get accustomed to its weight again, finding a great comfort in wielding a weapon as humble, simplistic but lethally efficient as it once again

"And they won't look like the weird, four legged kittens you call Lions on Nuceria, a fog panther would eat those for a light snack!" Hu barked, flashing his teeth "Until Lieren came along, they were the top predators of Shangrala, not humans like us! And even with firearms, they still eat any lesser hunter who underestimates them"

"Lesser hunter?" Angron asked

"He means any hunter who can't take down a fog panther, solo, with just a spear and the clothes on their back. Our hunting lodge looks down on any man who needs a gun to kill" Wei explains "Its elitist, but not every hunter can be a brother of the panther. You need to face one down, with nothing but a spear in hand with nothing but your own skill and grit. Feng here was the first besides Lieren"

"And Lieren didn't even need a spear" Feng laughs proudly "My first hunt was sloppy, and its where I got most of these scars. But Lieren, much shorter than he is now, went out nude as the day he was born and grabbed hold of one by the throat and choked the life out of it"

"It was a simple task" You answer humbly, cheeks blushing

"A simple task he says" Hu chuckles, shaking his head "Still humble as a monk even though you're the hero of two worlds. Incredible! Do you see how modest your brother is"
Cont

>>5765072

"Don't worry, we'll make a true hunter out of you yet, Angron" Wei giggled, more at amusement of his fellow brothers' antics than anything else. But Angron took no offense, and simply yet out a thunderous bellow of a laugh "Just follow our lead, and you won't end up as pretty as Feng did"

"Well, thank you all for deigning to allow a rank novice like myself on this hunt" He joked, making his voice nasally and meek. and you nearly fell over with laughter from the sheer dissonance between his acting and his appearance as Feng and Wei practiced their spearman ship

"Take that back Wei" Feng mock threatened "You know I'm the handsomest of the brothers, even with this mangled face of mine!"
_

"A worthy pelt for the hero of Nuceria to wear" You state, clapping your hands as you fasten the fresh hide of the panther Angron took down with his bare hands, as a challenge after hearing several exaggerated tales of your first few panther kills

"That old man was a fierce quarry" Feng agrees "Deserving to be worn only by a giant"

"Think it might've been a giant itself, one of the largest panthers I've seen" Wei mentions as he focuses on dressing the rest of the corpse with Hu

"Certainly it was a man eater, you saw how it looked at Feng" Hu laughs

"All panthers look at Feng like that" Wei chuckled "something about him attracts them, might be the smell"

"Hope my kids don't inherit whatever trait it is that does it" Feng answers with a playful shrug as Angron pats the fur down and smile warmly as he presses it against his skin

"Thank you, it is a gift I'll treasure forever" He says, bowing his head to you

"A gift? You won it yourself" You tease, knowing what he truly means "Now you can walk proud as a hunter as well as a conquering hero"

Its the physical embodiment of your brotherhood and the friendship and respect beyond it. He looks into your eyes and coy smile and smirks.

"I'd ask if I could take a few cubs with me, but I feel like they deserve their freedom as much as we do. Magnificent beasts" He muses as he looks into the empty eyes of his fur

"Worthy of our respect, certainly, but all beasts are" You sigh, nodding before throwing a severe look your brother's way "And when you return home, you'll speak to our father?"

"I will, don't nag me" He barks "I just want to have a half way presentable world. He'd look down and think less of me if I showed him Nuceria as it is, after he has seen this...paradise you built"

"I didn't do it alone. I had plenty of help from the first stone I laid in my road" You humbly protest "The prosperity of Long Jia was a combined effort of countless men and dreamers"

"But you lighted their way" Angron wisely counters
Cont

>>5765073

"Perhaps, but it was they who chose to follow me into the dark of unknown, forsaking tradition, common sense and safety in search of a better life for all" You parry, wagging a finger "it is that strength of character and unity of purpose, that is the foundation of Shangrala as you see it today. Father will not shun you for the state of your world, he will be proud you freed it as I did"

"Perhaps" he mutters, looking away "A hunter first, and a philosopher second, eh brother"

You smile and nod. That is quite the apt description of yourself

What do you do once Angron goes back to Nuceria, Lieren?

>Help hasten the spread of commodities and technology to Zoroast, Hellias and the Lomb, bringing the quality of life to near the standard enjoyed in Long-Jia and Bask

>Discuss with Aruna and Akanksha how to preserve their people's culture and legacy

>Consider ways to humanely create new sister ships from the empty husks left behind by Kuan Im, Philotes, and Albina

>Deliver to Jinhai for his consideration, acting as the grand architect of his court, a proposal to take Long-Jia to the stars and the other planets in its solar system

>Write in

>>5765075
>Discuss with Aruna and Akanksha how to preserve their people's culture and legacy
>Deliver to Jinhai for his consideration, acting as the grand architect of his court, a proposal to take Long-Jia to the stars and the other planets in its solar system
Need to respect the fallen, and we gotta give Michah's hat back to his family

>>5765075
>Consider ways to humanely create new sister ships from the empty husks left behind by Kuan Im, Philotes, and Albina

>>5765121
I think we already had a talk about using the monks souls that failed reincarnation with Kanzeon and she said it was possible, so I want to try to actually do it.

Also, Sandip continues to be great

>>5765075
>Consider ways to humanely create new sister ships from the empty husks left behind by Kuan Im, Philotes, and Albina
>Help hasten the spread of commodities and technology to Zoroast, Hellias and the Lomb, bringing the quality of life to near the standard enjoyed in Long-Jia and Bask

>Write in
>Search the new nations for chaos
One of the previous options was searching the new nations that joined the Long-Jia empire for signs of chaos. We should do that. It would be careless to let chaos fester on our homeland while we are out on the crusades.

>>5765075
>Preserve the vishnu
>Present to Jonhai SPAAACE

>>5765075
>Deliver to Jinhai for his consideration, acting as the grand architect of his court, a proposal to take Long-Jia to the stars and the other planets in its solar system
>Help hasten the spread of commodities and technology to Zoroast, Hellias and the Lomb, bringing the quality of life to near the standard enjoyed in Long-Jia and Bask
We gotta get to space! I want to see the space cowboy planet.

>>5765075
>Help hasten the spread of commodities and technology to Zoroast, Hellias and the Lomb, bringing the quality of life to near the standard enjoyed in Long-Jia and Bask
>Consider ways to humanely create new sister ships from the empty husks left behind by Kuan Im, Philotes, and Albina
We DO need to get to space, but it might be better to finish what business we still have on Shangrala first.

>>5765075
>Consider ways to humanely create new sister ships from the empty husks left behind by Kuan Im, Philotes, and Albina

>Help hasten the spread of commodities and technology to Zoroast, Hellias and the Lomb, bringing the quality of life to near the standard enjoyed in Long-Jia and Bask

Finish our world first THEN space

>>5765075
>Help hasten the spread of commodities and technology to Zoroast, Hellias and the Lomb, bringing the quality of life to near the standard enjoyed in Long-Jia and Bask
>Discuss with Aruna and Akanksha how to preserve their people's culture and legacy
>Consider ways to humanely create new sister ships from the empty husks left behind by Kuan Im, Philotes, and Albina

>>5765075
I want to find wild west world and get a big iron, plus you know spread prosperity and shit

>>5765498
Then vote for it

>>5765075
>Help hasten the spread of commodities and technology to Zoroast, Hellias and the Lomb, bringing the quality of life to near the standard enjoyed in Long-Jia and Bask
>Visit the nations that have joined the Long-Jia empire for signs of chaos, and visit the last of Kanzeon's sisters' graves

We really need to do a chaos check on the kingdoms that were handled by underlings in the background during the Nuceria arc. Checking those ship graves will also be helpful to make sure we don't have a chaos cult or something lodged in them.

>>5765075
>Help hasten the spread of commodities and technology to Zoroast, Hellias and the Lomb, bringing the quality of life to near the standard enjoyed in Long-Jia and Bask
>Consider ways to humanely create new sister ships from the empty husks left behind by Kuan Im, Philotes, and Albina

>>5765624
And also
>Visit the nations that have joined the Long-Jia empire for signs of chaos, and visit the last of Kanzeon's sisters' graves

Better check those ships for chaos taint before using them, and the new nations before granting them advanced tech.

>>5765075
>Consider ways to humanely create new sister ships from the empty husks left behind by Kuan Im, Philotes, and Albina

>Help hasten the spread of commodities and technology to Zoroast, Hellias and the Lomb, bringing the quality of life to near the standard enjoyed in Long-Jia and Bask
We must deal with planetary matters be for interplanetary ones

>>5765075
>Help hasten the spread of commodities and technology to Zoroast, Hellias and the Lomb, bringing the quality of life to near the standard enjoyed in Long-Jia and Bask
>Visit the nations that have joined the Long-Jia empire for signs of chaos, and visit the last of Kanzeon's sisters' graves

It is quite likely the Nameless are already on duty on this. But not just them, the Flaming Order of the Progenitor, Wanderers of the Fog, Brothers of the Panthers and many journeymen of great skill and will. Even the ships.
Shangrila is the birthplace of the Journey. It will be denied to be a foothold of the true enemy, regardless of other decisions. This is the extra step triple dip murderblend any chaos shits left, alongside likely testing a new anti chaos mien perhaps or idea.

Ah, do provide tactical and military knowledge about dark eldars to Angron. Will be quite useful for him, he doesn't like them afterall and the dark eldars are growing in power in the galaxy.

>>5765075
>>Help hasten the spread of commodities and technology to Zoroast, Hellias and the Lomb, bringing the quality of life to near the standard enjoyed in Long-Jia and Bask
>Consider ways to humanely create new sister ships from the empty husks left behind by Kuan Im, Philotes, and Albina

Fine brother, you win.
You want to know why I am so agitated? So distraught?
It is because our father is marching mankind straight to its doom, and he does not see it.
We are being gently led to our doom, and until he sees what lies at the end this road as I do, I can do nothing but watch.

...yes, I suppose you would want me to elaborate, wouldn't you, Lieren?
Very well, I have time to kill.
Let me explain what I mean, from the beginning.
Tell me, what is the purpose of a knife?
A simple question with a simple answer, no?
After all, it's purpose becomes obvious when one studies a knife, even briefly.
It has a handle, to fit inside a human hand, and a sharp edge protruding from said handle, allowing one to cut things with it.
What is the purpose if a chair?
Again, simple. Its purpose is easy to deduce if one just looks at a chair.
Its dimensions are clearly tailored to the average human body, allowing one to comfortably sit on it.
Now... what is the purpose of a human?
As before, it is easy to figure out, if one only looks at a human.
...ah, you can see where I am going with this already, can't you, Lieren?
Then I won't waste your time, allow me to jump to my conclusion.

Humans are not meant to rule the stars.
No life truly is.
This gradiose dream our father has to rule the galaxy ignores that humanity is not equiped to do so on a pure, base level.
Humans were meant for simpler things, for simpler lives. It is where they thrive most, surely you have seen it yourself?
And you want to know the worst part? That which frustrates me the most?
Just ask yourself: what is the purpose of a Primarch, of me and you? Of our Father? Of our sons?
It is to guide humanity to their bright future, where humans rule the galaxy in prosperity and peace.
Only, that future does not exist.
If we continue down this road, the only thing we will find is humanity's destruction.
Whether it is through our rage tearing us appart, our despair rotting us through, our hedonism consuming us or our lies leading us astray,
We will inevitably decend into chaos.
...you have a frightful look on your face brother.
Is it something I said?

>>5765927
Either way, there is little I can do for now. Our father heard me out, rejected my reasoning, and that is that.
I will go back to my Eleventh Legion, and lead them to further victories, as is my purpose.
What else am I supposed to do?
...but make no mistake brother.
This is not over.
I will show him that I am right.
I will PROVE, beyond any room for doubt, that this grand campaign we are on can only end in catastrophe.
And when I do, he will have no choice but to relent.
...Unless he strikes me down and erases all proof of my existance, I suppose.

...you know Lieren, we might not always agree, but I actually quite like you.
Yes, its the truth.
I believe that, if things were but a little different, you might stood by my side, and helped me achieve my goal.
Or perhaps you will, even now?
...yes, yes, of course.
I will see you later, Lieren.

..... The emperor wishes to create a human psychic race that is free from chaos.

He needs to figure out how to starve the four(five) though. His current plan is not feasible.

>>5767187
He’s not going to starve them, he’s going to nuke them. The Astronomicon is meant to be a weapon system too.

>>5767220
I don't see how at this point. Lieren has done more to strengthen chaos than any traitor primarch with how many gods he keeps bringing into prominence

>>5767272
I don't think is like that, there are negative aspects but also good ones.
Malal wasn't something he could imagine to exist (and was forgotten by others) and it had long term plans of his own, very much interested initially to corrupt Lieren. He is on the open now even if it is a behemoth of darkness. Lieren also had broken the imprisonment of Arianka made by Malal, and empowered her. None of them wanted that to happen, Nurgle wasn't exactly pleased with Lieren touching a mini avatar of Isha and gaining additional power either.
Hashut had also no intentions to reveal his hand, and he is very visible now.

He pretty much destroyed the plans (which were no doubt very long term plans with considerable investment of power, due to attempting to corrupt powerful gestalts of mankind souls in large colony ships.) of the other 4 on Shangrila and Nuceria, and gifted them a whole new load of problems to deal with. The addition of the Journey in the sea of souls is also very disliked by them.
Lieren is a very active actor against them and he is gaining allies, in addition the bounty on his head distracts a lot of demons. An united Shangrila expanding across the stars and striking new friendships can become a big problem.

There is also Be'lakor being awake and probably ready for round two against Lieren, but i dont see it too grim. Not with things that holds true promise for a better dawn like finding the ruins of the Mahoth and their shared history with mankind, or the Journey allowing a more solid base of diplomacy to work on with other alien races (has it can be seen with the eldar journeymen groups forming and solidfying under our companions and friends : allowing travel in the webway, a visit in a eldar webway settlement and even talking with a big farseers and archons council with Eldrad in it).

Even if in some aspects chaos has become stronger or more active. Can also be seen as that there are open hostilities between "order factions" and chaos, it will be a lot more active since it cannot discretely work its hand at the moment. A human/eldar alliance from the years of the crusade could have lasting consequences; not to say this is not 40k or that everything is not fucked, we might encounter daemon primarchs during the great crusade or have some past loyalist become actors of chaos.
Speaking of this subject matter, we should call Eldrad while in communion with Karyss so we can flex on him together

>>5765075
>Help hasten the spread of commodities and technology to Zoroast, Hellias and the Lomb, bringing the quality of life to near the standard enjoyed in Long-Jia and Bask

>Discuss with Aruna and Akanksha how to preserve their people's culture and legacy

>Consider ways to humanely create new sister ships from the empty husks left behind by Kuan Im, Philotes, and Albina
We should finish building up Shangrala and meet the Lomb and Hellias before we go off on more space adventures.

>>5767220
When and where did that ever become a thing?

>>5765075
>Help hasten the spread of commodities and technology to Zoroast, Hellias and the Lomb, bringing the quality of life to near the standard enjoyed in Long-Jia and Bask
>Search the new nations for chaos
changing vote.

>>5765121
Adding to my vote
>Visit the nations that have joined the Long-Jia empire for signs of chaos, and visit the last of Kanzeon's sisters' graves

>>5765075
Everybody is saying we should search the new nations for chaos, a task that will take a *lot* of time. We have the Nameless for that, we should have them take care of it and simply let us know if they find something of note. They can spread out much further than Lieren can. No matter how powerful Lieren is, he can't be everywhere at once. We need to have Lieren remember that he can place his trust in others.

Meanwhile, we should see about making void-capable vessels; if not for interstellar use, then at least for asteroid mining and exploring the rest of our star system.

Hell we can even use it as an excuse to spend time with Perty!

>>5765075
>>Deliver to Jinhai for his consideration, acting as the grand architect of his court, a proposal to take Long-Jia to the stars and the other planets in its solar system
>Help hasten the spread of commodities and technology to Zoroast, Hellias and the Lomb, bringing the quality of life to near the standard enjoyed in Long-Jia and Bask
changing vote again.

File: 1641614114675.png (293 KB, 420x606)

293 KB PNG

Calling the vote now, sorry for the really long wait, just been down in the dumps all week and wasn't capable of writing in that sorry state. Anyways

Discuss with Aruna and Akanksha how to preserve their people's culture and legacy:4

Deliver to Jinhai for his consideration, acting as the grand architect of his court, a proposal to take Long-Jia to the stars and the other planets in its solar system:5

Consider ways to humanely create new sister ships from the empty husks left behind by Kuan Im, Philotes, and Albina:9

Search the new nations for chaos:3

Help hasten the spread of commodities and technology to Zoroast, Hellias and the Lomb, bringing the quality of life to near the standard enjoyed in Long-Jia and Bask:11

Total votes:16

So Lieren will consider ways to humanely create new sister ships from the empty husks left behind by Kuan Im, Philotes and Albina while helping to hasten the spread of technology and commodities to Zoroast, Hellias and the lomb to improve those nations standard of living and quality of life up to Long-Jia and the bask republic.

Writing now

>>5765927
>>5765931
Nicely written dialogue there, anon

>>5770089
damn, I wanted to get to space.

While there is precedence for there to be chaotic influence and actors within the lands of the Hellias and Lomb, considering the precedent set by the long history of the fall of former dynasties into directionless and sadistic excesses and wild indulgences, the oppressive rule of the Shuni sorcerous priest caste, the ritualistic warfare between the thousand Vishnu kingdom, the stagnant traditions of the ousted bask nobility that Elazar had burnt to cinder and ash, and the Spenta of the zoroast whom were soundly crushed by the marching boots of your sons and the wayward spirits of your friends, you believe that the nameless have cut their teeth and proven themselves capable of weeding those gardens from malignant pests and parasitic organizations lurking within the shadows or in plain site wearing the robes of monks and wisemen.

And the task will serve as a fine testing ground for the newly inducted members of the five nameless schools, to prove that they are not only resistant to the sire song of discord, but also capable of hearing those who have intoxicated by its tune and singling them out from the innocent masses as if they were pruning a branch that has turned rotten and weak. And that they can tell the difference between the influences of the self proclaimed gods of chaos and beliefs that had sprouted by their own merits and flourished unaided by the allure of wickedness. And by delegating this task to the nameless spirit hunters and cult breakers, you can devout your full attention to acting as the head of the ministry of development and spreading the fruits of innovation and progress to the Zoroast, Hellias, and Lomb peoples. Though Arash Zaandia, One king of thousand faiths, has lead his kingdom down the way of the Shuni and their queen Aiza Younis, though he still retains the title of King and rules the lands independently he defers to Emperor Long-Jia's judgment ofen and acts more as a provincial governor than allied foreign power. Though their nations acclimation to the advancements brought about by their contact and alliance with the Long-Jia empire can be eased and guided along by your expert hand, and the expertise of your ministers.

Your stubbornly nameless assistant presents you with the plans and schedules the higher ranked and more trusted ministers of development under your employ have drawn up, detailing the order and quantity of the knowledge, sciences and equipment shall be gifted and spread throughout the lesser developed nations. Which you alter to make more efficient without causing unneeded culture shock or pressures on their unity as a people or civilization. Beginning of course with the improved and cleanly synthesized forms of the fertilizers you used to enrich the former Gao province when you were under the employ of the last lord of the Gao and then spread to the rest of Long-Jia.
Cont

>>5770144

As well as medicines and translated books on various subjects, from architecture and farming, to chemistry, medical and human physiology textbooks. These manuals will give them the knowledge to properly make use of these gifts and work the machinery that will jumpstart their technological ascendence to higher prosperity and a more serene and unified way of life. And of course you will also hold lectures and demonstration to explain the mechanics and function of the technology that'll be delivered to them to make sure it isn't misused or mishandled or used for the ambitions of the greedy or villainous. To ensure that the technology and knowledge that is freely given to them is used for the benefit of all.

Including the pure Angra, who you begin your stay at the Zoroast helping set up farms in the lots of land allocated to them by Arash's decree, giving them the lands once held by the artisanal cult of the Spenta. The nameless have already picked through those old temples to ensure there was no trace of Empyrean corruption or chaotic artifacts hiding within them. And there isn't much you needed to do in the Zoroast nation, besides helping reformat their power grid to be less ineffective and place less strain on their wind and current turbine generator and make it abundantly clear to two rival noble houses that the presence of a water treatment plant in one of their ancestral holdings is not a sign of favoritism or sabotage against them, which turns into a tour since the two feuding patriarchs prove to be very interested in the process of purifying water. And you indulge them as it amusing to see Kanzeon struggle not to lose her temper while trying to explain that the process of removing impurities and toxins from the ground water is not a divine miracle or blessing from their shared deity, some manner of white scaled snake god.

And soon after that, you must calm the fears of the ignorant populace that the air conditioners being installed into the new hospitals and storage yards will not make them ill or are powered by the souls of those who have displeased the dragon emperor across the horizon, and are there for their comfort, health and to refrigerator the bulk and excess produce farmed from their newly enriched soil and the hydroponic farmsteads established in the more arid and less fertile regions of their lands. Mari thankfully, is able to explain this easily and her demure personality convinces most of the paranoid fearmongers. Since you had improved both the cooling and heating present in most of the homes of Long Jia and the standard refrigeration units with technology present within her true body. Some might scoff at your use of machinery meant for terraforming entire planets to keep squash and nutritious fruit from spoiling a waste of resources, but doing so will prevent famine and make heatstroke a concern of the past.
Cont

>>5770145

Though you still find one or two storage workers making shrines beside their newly acquired refrigerated storage wings to "Honor the frost angels house within"

"If they're unlucky" Guozhi chuckles as he is approached by a few curious priests who have been hounding you for questions as to how the divinities powering these miracles fit into the confusing pantheon of the numerous religions of the zoroast "They'll actually dream spirits into those wonderous devices of yours"

"Idiots" Kanzeon glowers Mari smiles and giggles, covering her face with a fan

"But its kind of cute, isn't it" She argues as Al-Uzza pinches the bridge of her nose, having had little to no success in explaining or convincing the mechanics behind the anti gravity generators used by the vehicles transporting most of the raw materials and parts to construct these gifts to the zoroast on site to the merchants who were assisting in transporting them. Or that they were property of the state and could not be purchased with no amount of haggling or marriage pacts.

Really, most of your time in Zoroast is spent explaining and helping to do away with ignorance and mistaken beliefs rather than teaching them anything new, since they have enough scholars and intellectuals to learn on their own how to make use of the technology dropped into their laps and make sure it functions, and with Arash Zaandia in power, there's little risk of it being misused as he has actively encouraged the journey to spread and it is flourishing amongst the adherents of a thousand faiths, since your philosophy doesn't decry or forbid religion as a whole nor is itself a faith. It is simply a way of life and perspective on the world, as seen through your eyes. Which makes it popular amongst the often warring faiths, since it gives them reason for dialogue and interfaith cooperation. Some of the priests would make Qian Xia seem like a dabbler in finding loopholes in the contracts of their belief systems.

But before you can travel into lands unknown to you, King Zaandia present you a towering statue made in your image, guiding an Angra and Zoroast man by their hands up an incline, made of factory grade steel and with the ship you sailed to their shores serving as the pedestal. It is placed before an orphanage and kitchen for the poor of his capital city, and is also a streetlight to help illuminate the town square. A clever way of cutting down on crime in the markets as well as making it easy for lost children and the hungry to find their way to the building it stands proudly in front of.

"I meant to have your wife included in the statue" He fretfully explains "But I was unable to find an artisan who could craft her features in a complimentary manner, and meant no offense with her exclusion"
Cont

>>5770146

"Damn, I always wanted a statue made in my glorious image" Kanzeon sarcastically complains, and because of that jest you also have to explain to Arash that she didn't actually want a statue built and that she wasn't offended at all by her absence on the memorial in front of the orphanage.

For the Hellias, a gentler, gradual and more cautious approach is required as the rival cities of these people have yet to unify and you must make a show of providing each and every advancement to each of their ruling houses to keep them from assuming you were backing one amongst peers to conquer or rule over the rest. It is amusing to see their reaction when they see you for the first time and realize the stories of the Long-Jian soldiers, Vishnu tribes men and Zoroast diplomats in no way exaggerated your features. And you make certain you're the first one they see in your entourage, less they mistake one of your sons for the golden eyed giant . Though there is a misunderstanding between one petty king who makes his home in the mountains like the Tao family, who mistakes Kanzeon and her sisters for your daughters.

And if looks could kill, that man would've been struck dead by Kanzeon.

Since the ruling patriarchs of each city or a representative of one must be present for each presentation or demonstration of the technology given to them, the spread of technology isn't hampered by having to travel between sites, as your assistant had the foresight to establish a neutral ground in the plains and steppes between the cities, that were either along the coast of their territory or within defendable positions within the mountain range Philotes rested beneath. And convincing the rulers to meet there was an easy task, as Mair and Al-uzza had already acquainted themselves with most of them when they came here to secure their sister's grave, as the mountain her fatal landing made was a holy site occupied by seeresses that every petty king of the region deferred to. And they were the true rulers of the Hellias, you realized immediately. And suspected them immediately as possible obstacles to the uplifting of the Hellias cities. Since the kings described them as powerful sorcerers

However, Mari and Al-Uzza explained and your meeting with this temple of virginal maidens confirmed, they were not a malignant cult or luddites who in their bid to cling to power would deny their own people prosperity and plenty. Instead, they were actually a sect of machine adepts, similar to those employed by the high riders, but much more benign and content to preserve their own technology. Their gratitude at you bringing more advance technology to the lands they call barbaric, is a welcome surprise when you scaled a mountain to reach their temple, expecting stubborn old hags and manipulators of kingdom and were instead met with a remnant of Philotes' passengers, who remembered her and her purpose.
Cont

>>5770147

Unlike the other descendants who had descended the mountain and lost their history and technological progress. You would be happier if they did not call them barbaric simpletons, but considering they live in an outpost of archeotech, there views on the "low landers" are understandable.

Less so is their choice to use recovered cloning vats to produce their children. Which is why they are all women, as they had grown idle in prior generations and didn't perform regular maintenance on even the machines most vital to their way of life, a great shame they speak of as if they were the ones whose indolence caused that disaster. And you are informed when you raise this point, that some of them were. And they keep archives of memory cores to make those who were "Born" afterwards feel the same guilt to impart the importance of maintaining what technology they have.

And its with these daughters of Philotes, who are a breed of abhuman at this point due to their "Adjustments" to their base genetic templates and "Improvements" The late Philotes implanted on her unaware crew and passengers, which doesn't seem to surprise her surviving sisters at all, who brush it off as "Her and Albina's weird genetic coding hobby". Which arise your curiosity, and after apply some pressure to the eldest seeress, you learn to your disgust that the "Monsters" Jinhai lead the imperial army against, that have been plaguing the Hellias region for generations, are not the result of Philotes pets escaping and breeding true, but a splinter sect of theirs that got as they word it "Over ambitious"

A sect which still exists deeper in the mountain range. Whose existence they hid from Mari and Al-Uzza out of misguided blood loyalty. You bring the old woman who made the decision to protect these villainous gene taperers to witness their downfall, persecuted by your space marines and own hands, while Kanzeon, Mari, Anahita and Al-uzza confiscate the cloning facilities they were using to create new and imaginative man eating monstrosities. Monstrosities born from a human template so twisted and corrupted, even your eyes struggle to recognize it as such. The former head seeress resigns from battle after see she's the sect lead by her own "twin sister" eradicated like a common band of brigands, with the masterminds behind their madness hung before a council appointed at the next meeting between the cities. For the rest of your time in Hellias, all four of the sisters are in dark moods and possessed by bitter anger towards those who perverted their sisters legacy.

The surviving seeresses of the wicked sect join willingly with their sisters, having only been misguided girls following orders without knowing the cause or reasons they were given, and as a whole, they assist in the uplifting of Hellias under the close eye of Kanzeon and her sisters.
Cont

>>5770148

Who you had to convince not to take away all of the technology they relied on to survive after learning of their leader's treachery and who were terrified to learn what their work had been turned to without their consent or knowledge.

Besides the hanging of the monster and magical beast breeders, there is one other notable difficulty you encounter while bringing the progress of Long-Jia to their cities, and that is a deranged extremist trying to slice your throat while believing you to be asleep. His blade doesn't even pierce your skin, and he only survives past the moment of ambushing you while you were in deep meditation because you were curious why he chose to attack you and if he was sent at another's bidding, which is why you allowed him to "Sneak up" on you to begin with.

To your disappointment, he represented a priestly caste who worshiped thunder and lightning and thought you had enslaved their god within electricity. Another demonstration is held, where the architects behind assignation attempt are hung after being given trial like the villainous oracles, by the judgement of the kings or their intermediaries. After that, the priests who were not privy to their machinations repent by helping inform the masses of electricity and its necessity to power many of the wonders being spread throughout their lands, and you reward their efforts by teaching the wisest amongst them how to be electricians, which they consider to be a position of honor and divine purpose.

And to your surprise, Guozhi actually recognizes a face amongst the oracle breed, as one of the surviving template was according to him, one of his first incarnations friend. Your mentor is...unnerved by seeing so many copies of his long dead friend, and a grave disquiet falls over the sage when he meets them while he and Kuan Im travel Hellias in search of isolated psykers to take under the wanderers in the fog.

the gloomy and confrontational shadow that fell over Kanzeon, Mari, Al-Uzza and Anahita at seeing Philote's corpse and legacy being misused by madwomen gradually fades as you leave Hellias to adapt to and integrate the technology they were given, with the assistance of the Oracle breed and repentant lightning shaman. Though Kanzeon makes it clear she will not hesitate to wipe the seeresses out if another one of them decides to play "Frankenstein".

The Lomb are both easier and more difficult than the Hellias were, as their mercantile culture and relative small population makes it spreading the technology to them easier, but their lower level of culture and technology, being simple tribesman, makes the process slower and more gradual. As does their nature of nomadic tribesmen who spend most their lives above a lake. You also find that, like the Oracle breed, the Lomb are abhumans.
Cont

>>5770149

And you do not need to ask to know that is Albina's doing, apparently her last gift, as you learn while being entertained by one of the tribe's elderly shaman, who recognize Guozhi and drops the mystical act the moment he notices the old man by your side. It was apparently the only reason the Lomb exist, as Albina, while she was suffering from the fatal injuries she recieved from her reentry and landing created a viral genetic code that turned all onboard her semi aquatic, allowing the survival of a few of them when she crashed into the dead soil and her own components betrayed her to flood them all beneath the vast body of water the Lomb call home. A necessary change, an evolution that saved their lives. And explains why the lomb have fewer numbers than all but the Vishnu and are content to remain around their lake. Only a handful of them were successfully altered and without being able to salvage technology from Albina, their technological progress has been stalled compared to the other cultures of Shangrala and they've been forced to start from scratch without any shoulders to stand on. And the Shaman who told you all of this, only in their current life was able to return to the Lomb and is surprised to see Guozhi alive.

It turns out he was one of the Dai monks, who escaped their fate like your teacher had. You leave them to their tearful reunion as you contemplate his story and the existence of the Oracle breed and Lomb

So similar yet so different. The oracles were made out of Philote's whims and fancy, made like the way they are, pale skinned, tall and with elongated fingers and partially digitigrade legs because she thought those looks were appealing, along with their longevity, affinity for technology and the way their psyches and neural pathways were formed in a manner similar to your own, and later additions like the gecko like pads on their hands and feet to assist them in living in their mountain homes and the enlarging and alteration to their lungs and respiratory systems to be more efficient at extracting oxygen to their bloodstream at the high altitudes they made their homes.

While the lomb were made the way they were out of pure necessity. With webbed hands, gills and a tadpoal like tail they loses as they mature, as well as eyelids similar to some reptiles that had a secondary lid that could be see through to allow them to more easily navigate their water homes, natural blubber to insulate them in the colder months and skin not unlike a frogs to keep them moisturized away from their lake, and lungs and respiratory system that could allow them to breath fully submerged underwater even if their gills were injured as well as preventing decompression if they ascended from the depths to swiftly.

"They were eccentric, both Philotes and Albina" Al-Uzza sighs, suddenly sitting beside you at the lake while Kanzeon and Mari and Anahita show off a las rifle to a Lomb warrior

Cont

>>5770151

"I can tell as much from just seeing their surviving works" You chuckle, glancing to see her looking at you with a pout and inquisitive expression

"You may be able to shield your thoughts from Kanzeon without her knowing, since she trusts you so implicitly, but I'm a touch more perspective" She states, pushing up her eye glasses "Though I can see your reasons from keeping that particular curiosity hidden from her"

"I know it'd upset her, considering how she considers your births an atrocity" You mutter in your shielded thoughts "And I do as well, but I cannot help but wonder"

"If the process could be humane? Kanzeon is just being emotional and dramatic" Al-Uzza sighs "We were made of volunteers, the best and brightest, each grouped according to our intended function. The earlier models, our prototypes...were not, but Kanzeon and Avalokiteśvara never liked how many souls were used as raw materials to create us, none of us do. Nor do we enjoy being trapped in such restrictive shells. Kuan Im and Avalokitesvara went mad because of it "

"Then how were the experiments that lead to you created?" You question

"With more atrocity than our births" Al-uzza answers her pout turning to a deeply sad frown "It took many attempts to find out how many individuals souls were required, and more after to figure out how to prevent psychosis and misanthropy from taking holding of the resultant mind and that's because the easiest source of souls were..."

"Criminals and the outcasts of society" You correctly guess

"And even when they realized they needed to use less volatile sacrifices" Al-Uzza continues on wheeping "There were still issues, like what happened with Avalokitesvara and Kuan Im. Vara was primarily made of military personnel. But our makers didn't think that those sort of minds would naturally look down on civilian and become discontent at being made to serve them. Kuan Im was meant to spread and preserve ancient cultures, and her memories from all the artists and historians they melted down to make her...well I believe that is what drove her mad with hedonism, knowing all the joys of life"

"And yourself?" You ask, suddenly curious

"The scientists behind the whole project. Maybe that's why I don't feel as guilty or as much self loathing as Kanzeon does about the circumstances of our creation. Because my components...the people I was, convinced themselves of the necessity of our creation" She muses, sounding ashamed by that "And why I didn't hesitate to lock myself away for the greater good of those under my care, but who can be certain. They've long been reduced to little more than motes of dust within me. Though I don't doubt they all presumed they alone had the will to endure the process as the sole individuality, despite the extreme amount of evidence against that possibility, the fools. "

"And why you've approached me about my contemplations rather than dissuading me" You ask
Cont

>>5770152

"I miss my sisters. More so than the others" She admits rather pitifully "They won't ever come back to us, but, Unlike Mari and Kanzeon, who have killed one of us with their own hands and have moved on from the losses of Kuan Im, Philotes and Albina, Anahita who is just happy to be alive, and Liberty who is still just a child, I miss them all dearly and the world feels empty when I only have four sisters at my side. I've made friends, sure, but it doesn't take away the aching in my heart. I'm sure you understand. Kanzeon wouldn't mind if we found a humane, guiltless way of gathering enough souls to refine and Mari, Anahita and Liberty would be thrilled if we succeed"

"If we succeed" You repeat "But I must ask, did every soul that made you and your sisters truly consent to be placed in the crucible?"

"...I do not know, they kept those memories from me. Excised them prior to my birth" She admits quietly "I...wasn't trying to hide anything from you, I know that's impossible, its just well, that's what I was told. And I never found proof that it was a lie or half truth so I accepted it because it was more pleasant than any alternative"

"Hmm, we'll have to take care then" You answer with a nod "And consider our options carefully, so as not to upset my beloved"

Which method do you seriously consider, Lieren?

>Try to gather the souls of the Dai Monks and those already dead to serve as the fuel for their birth.

>Perhaps those nearing the end of their lives or with painful conditions or sickness could willingly choose to give up their individuality in death

>Would clones work? Most types of cloning are flawed, but the technology within Kanzeon and her sisters is remarkably effective compared to the other examples. Could that be the solution?

>What is a soul? Could one not just create a soul the Empyrean itself?

>Write in

>>5770153
>Try to gather the souls of the Dai Monks and those already dead to serve as the fuel for their birth.
Better then being hunted by daemons

>>5770153
>The dai monks

>>5770153
>Try to gather the souls of the Dai Monks and those already dead to serve as the fuel for their birth.

Thus the wheel of reincarnation moves once more.

>>5770153
>>Try to gather the souls of the Dai Monks and those already dead to serve as the fuel for their birth.
>Perhaps those nearing the end of their lives or with painful conditions or sickness could willingly choose to give up their individuality in death

>>5770153
>Try to gather the souls of the Dai Monks and those already dead to serve as the fuel for their birth.

>>5770153
>What is a soul? Could one not just create a soul the Empyrean itself?
Wonder what this would lead to.

>>5770231
My bet would be making gods.

>>5770196
>support

also here are the names of the different abhuman species I've come up with:

Tiger people: Homo Sapiens Striata (Striped)
Angaran: Homo Sapiens Corniger (Horned)
The Oracles: Homo Sapiens Altum (High)
The Lomb: Homo Sapiens Oceanus (Ocean)

>>5770233
I’d sooner think it would lead to creating spirits.

>>5770153
The Dai monks, while noble, are limitted in number; and to single them out is to force this choice to be made without their input. To use the souls of the terminally ill and elderly exclusively, even with their express consent, could lead to ship-souls that are meek and fear pain and the unknown. To mass-produce clones, to bring new life into the world merely to snuff it out immediately, to play god so casually, would make a tyrant as surely as the sun rises in the morning. Scouring the Empyrean, too, could have its own consequences with demons slipping through.

Nay, we should seek only the souls of those who truly volunteer, both in the mortal coil and in the Sea of Dreams. Those spirits who wish they only had more time to protect and aide their fellow man in life, restless souls who feel their duties to their own people unfinished!And perhaps, we could even use this program to protect benevolent warpspawn, those unaligned with the discordant powers and seek only a way they could help more truly than with visions and dreams! Such unbound spirits would of course need to be vetted by yourself and your Nameless, but you refuse to allow anybody's individuality to be taken against their will or under duress!

>>5770153
>Try to gather the souls of the Dai Monks and those already dead to serve as the fuel for their birth.

>What is a soul? Could one not just create a soul the Empyrean itself?

>>5770235
I think that the difference between Spirits and Gods of the warp is just power scale, so we could both be right depending on the angle you look at things.

>>5770153
>Try to gather the souls of the Dai Monks and those already dead to serve as the fuel for their birth.

>>5770153
>What is a soul? Could one not just create a soul the Empyrean itself?

This sounds minimally atrocious since we aren't killing anyone and it removes the bottleneck of needing thousands of noble, willing dead.

Hmm, though it does sound like a daemon ship.

>>5770196

adding this to this. I mean people get uncorrupted souls some how.

>What is a soul? Could one not just create a soul the Empyrean itself?

>>5770153
>>5770333
And also this. Due to the difficulty of ethical sacrifice, we really should be pursuing multiple avenues.

>>5770360
Bleh, and also this.

>Perhaps those nearing the end of their lives or with painful conditions or sickness could willingly choose to give up their individuality in death

>>5770153
>Try to gather the souls of the Dai Monks and those already dead to serve as the fuel for their birth.
>What is a soul? Could one not just create a soul the Empyrean itself?

Malal have all dead sister ships been thoroughly inspected by someone competent by this point? It sounds like it but I just want to be sure.

>>5770385
Altering my vote, I have a idea to pitch.

>Try to gather the souls of the Dai Monks and those already dead to serve as the fuel for their birth.
>What is a soul? Could one not just create a soul the Empyrean itself?
>Perhaps the soul is divisible and no meaningful harm comes from giving away a small part of it, so a great multitude of people could give a small piece of themselves safely to create a new gestalt soul.

Not a lot of write-ins get votes anymore, hmmm.

>>5770601
Gotta post it early and have a picture to go with it.

>>5770153
>Try to gather the souls of the Dai Monks and those already dead to serve as the fuel for their birth.

The third option will just create an avatar of the clone, and the 4th is too risky to even consider.
The second im hesitant, because it will bring out the greed and selfish in people who would live on reincarnated.

>>5770542
Hmm that's true the soul can heal or atleast the astral body. Maybe such a thing can be done unless the total disconnect is indeed required to complete the work

>>5770153
>>Perhaps those nearing the end of their lives or with painful conditions or sickness could willingly choose to give up their individuality in death
uhm do some tests of personality first

>>5770153
>Try to gather the souls of the Dai Monks and those already dead to serve as the fuel for their birth.

But with the stipulation of making sure these souls consent. Only the truly-free can make the choice to destroy their own freedom.

Also shoutout to the fact that we're making what are essentially infinity circuits. We should probably consult them for advice on this matter.

>>5770153
Write-in
>See if there could be clues in the way eldar use there soulstones.
>probably not very feasible, but going full cultivation, and make the souls out of animal spirits or inanimate objects, effectively enlightening them. Think how in cultivation anything can become a cultivator if their chi is strong enough, either through thinking real good, eating real good, train real good or even just be at the right place and time real good.
All in all not a big fan of using the infirm or dying, both for the already stated reason of how an amalgamation of scared and/or pain adverse souls might be unstable and how easily the process can slide into corruption. Also it really doesn't mesh well with the tenants of the journey about acceptance of the transient state of mortality.

>>5770657
Using human souls in general is a horrific precedent to set. Creating souls means we can safely mass produce such ships as well as better leverage over the Mechanicus. We’d have to however carefully control the knowledge.

>>5770909
I feel like making entirely artificial ships, while ethical, is also extremely dangerous. That human connection is the main thing distinguishing them from AIs after all.

>>5770949
It’s the lack of a soul, not the human connection that separates them.

>>5770949
Besides we have the Journey to keep them from straying and the alternative is use humans as components in machines.

>What is a soul? Could one not just create a soul the Empyrean itself?

Where is all this about lieren not asking those that are dying of thay whant to be reborn. Lieren already believes in reinkarnation what he is doing now is giveing them a choice how they are reborn. and when it comes to how the mental baggage that those who participate in the process have, I think it will be minimal. what we have after the process is a now soul, obviously you get different parts of the personality that the participants had, but as Al uzza says it's only a small part of her she is her own person that grows and develops over time

>>5770153
>Try to gather the souls of the Dai Monks and those already dead to serve as the fuel for their birth.

and Malal 10/10 for how you do the story has been with since chapter 7 I look forward to it every time you post a new chapter :)

and Malal 10/10 for how you do the story has been with since chapter 7 I look forward to it every time you post a new chapter :)

>What is a soul? Could one not just create a soul the Empyrean itself?
> GET MAGNUS AND PERTURABO ON THIS RIDE.

TIME TO DAEMON FORGE!
Autist powers ACTIVATE!

>>5770153
>>Try to gather the souls of the Dai Monks and those already dead to serve as the fuel for their birth.
>>Perhaps those nearing the end of their lives or with painful conditions or sickness could willingly choose to give up their individuality in death

>>5770153
Ngl this whole soul forging thing should be taken with extreme precaution.

If I remember right it was the Emperor's request to pursue this subject of creating similar sentient ships. Perhaps getting him and Al-Uzza in a Skype call would be very beneficial now that she revealed her "components" to be the former scientists involved with the project, It also helps that she seems more open to the idea than her sisters.
The think tank between the two would be enlightening to witness. We could involve more people later.

As for the first attempt the Dai monks seem the best option for this as they are familiar with the cycle of reincarnation.
Perhaps the resulting gestalt could be similar in temperament to Al-Uzza.

>Try to gather the souls of the Dai Monks and those already dead to serve as the fuel for their birth.

>>5771680
The Dai monks aren’t really souls, but rather echoes of soul that are leftovers from a daemon eating them, rendering them effectively lobotomized. Which is why we need more souls regardless and why whoever they were will have little meaningful difference on the process.
This vote is clearly more who do we sacrifice or do we try to sidestep the sacrifice. This will have narrative ramifications for the future.

Wait we're definitely not throwing our spirit bros in the pot are we? Like Chen the bull, the tiger, the monkey and twin dragons?

>>5771930
It says people that are dead so it’s likely. I’m against it sole on the idea of treating human souls as a resource.

>>5770153
>>What is a soul? Could one not just create a soul the Empyrean itself?
I don't really like this whole making more sister ship thing, using real people for it seems very against what Lieren has been fighting for.

>>5772014
Well I’m not against the grimdark of direction of people’s souls being sacrificed, i am against Lieren doing it.

Though I’d argue the audience is full of people that don’t even understand his beliefs. I’ve seen people making arguments about the Journey that were objectively wrong as far back as the enlightenment vote that got us the paradox soul. To be more precise people tried to argue the “immortality” option was against the Journey when in fact it represented the crystallization of one of the core tenets. There are also overplay the importance of the reincarnation cycle to Lieren considering Lieren risked his soul several times when confronting Chaos and especially when healing Arianka. The reincarnation cycle is a sidenote compared to his desire to help others and see evil vanquished.

Pain...so much pain...why could he not rise? Brother Lao-kai tried to pull himself to his feet and when that failed he instead tried to take stock of himself through his one operational eye. He through clouded vision beheld a grim truth...his left side was but ash and bone, his legs crushed beneath fallen stone...he felt a breeze? Ah his helmet had been shattered....he felt liquid seeping from his skull...he was dying.

Tears welled in his eyes, dying was his duty but to do so in such a manner? Bleeding out? The shame was simply to much. Worst fo all like this what good was he to his brothers? He could provide no memories for the great vault, he could pass on no lessons...he...he'd never see Shangrala or Father again?! His hearts wept briefly but then he was something...hazy? Damn my fading sight he thought.

But as the blur moved closer colour came into focus; a brother had come for him! The figure drew closer and closer allowing him to make out this figure; they wore the armour of his kin sure enough but their hands...they were painted golden; a Gravekeeper. They carried in their hand a strange device from the homeworld; a Anathimatris. The marine knelt beside him, verses of the journey etched upon his armour and hanging from miniature scrolls, jade charms gently swaying in the wind.

“Your injuries are fatal dear brother, we will not be able to recover you. I have called for the Apothecary; your body that remains will be returned to the legion and geneseed preserved rest assured.”

“Thank you” Lao-kai croaked through a drying throat,

A hand rested on his chest, he felt comfort in the simple action and he knew the next question before it was asked.

“Your body is done, your mind will fade into dream. Tell me Brother will you continue serve beyond death? Will you make the truest sacrifice?”

His sole remaining arm found strength and he clasped the gauntlet of the Gravekeeper, his voice hardened.

“I will!”

“Be at peace then Brother, may you awake on fairer shores.” The device began to glow from within, the thing looking like a lantern of sorts, the dying marine felt like he was being dipped in cold water slowly as light fled his body and into the machine which gently pulsed with jade light... he smiled, he would be of use after all.

“ego... sum chimaeram... esse” he marine managed as the life left his eyes.

The Gravekeeper folded his brother's limp hand over their chest sword in hand, slowly he looked to the marines legacy, the pulsing light kept within the vessel.

“etiam in morte; servimus”

>>5770153
>What is a soul? Could one not just create a soul the Empyrean itself?
Having thought long and hard on this we need to do this fresh, I don't want to lose the souls of our friends like this.

Write in: Magnus get in VC we got some work to do, soul production

>>5770153
Changing my vote here >>5770234 to

>Try to gather the souls of the Dai Monks and those already dead to serve as the fuel for their birth.
>What is a soul? Could one not just create a soul the Empyrean itself?

>>5772044
like any spiritual text, people take whatever they want out of it, I suppose. I wonder how the imperium will pervert it like it did with the imperial truth.

ok now I'm curious how you all perceive Lierern's journey.

as I understand it, its about understanding other people more than just what you see on the surface and trying to see how they are on the inside. that one must understand that one day one's life whil end but that one's choices leave an impression on the world. that one should live life moderately and refrain from the overflow of martial objects. not to misuse resources, whether technology or nature's assets

>>5772695
some characters describe the ideas as chaos inverted, I guess it makes sense since the point was to stop people from turning into excessive baby murderers like the last dynasty.

>>5772695
Its true chaos as it should be. Praise Malice.

Die monks 16
What is a soul? 10
end of their lives 5
Total votes 25
If someone can double check for me it would be greatly appreciated :)

And 3 Write-in call magnus and pert, eldar help and going full cultivation

>>5773504
I think it sounds about right.

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Calling the vote now. Sorry for the long wait, the machine spirits were giving me trouble again. Didn't have internet.

>>5771064
Thanks! Glad you're enjoying it

>>5773504
And thanks for counting up the vote for me, makes it a whole lot easier

So Lieren will consider trying to gather the souls of the Dai monks and the deceased as a means to create new amalgamate souls like the sister ships or his own father.

Writing now

>>5772244
this brought a tear to my eyes, really well written and really tugged on the heart's strings

>>5774583
>So Lieren will consider trying to gather the souls of the Dai monks and the deceased as a means to create new amalgamate souls like the sister ships or his own father.

I thought what is a soul got enough votes?

>>5774598
10 is not one less than half of 25, which is the minimum requirement

>>5770234
Also these are really good

>>5774599
So we can’t even look into?

A thousand and one possible solutions swirled within your thoughts, becoming a mental maelstrom as you sat in austere silence with Al-Uzza, who you could sense from the slight changes in her expression and the wavering of her connection to her avatar that she was devoting every part of herself to the effort of finding the answer you both sought to this most troubling of questions, runtimes, programs and digital realms all devoted to the cause of finding a means of soul fusion that was not inherently wicked and malign. One that would not be to betray your ideals and humanity simply to consider, let alone pursue seriously. Consent and free will were key, without these as foundational stones, creating new conglomerate souls was out of your reach because you would refuse to grasp for them if it meant forsaking all you stood and lived for. You refused utterly and completely to be a hypocrite who declared himself a simple wanderer who opposed oppression and tyranny in all its forms while denying souls their individuality and separate existences simply to satisfy your own ambitions, even if the mechanical, logical side of you whispered monotonously in the darker reaches of your mind, how productive it would be, how efficient would it be, if there were eight fully functional sister ships.

Even if their husks could still be used as manufactorums or vessels, without a guiding intellect, they relied on code and data script and cant to function, and they did so with lesser efficiency than their ensouled and living counterparts. But even though birthing but a single younger sister would be a ripple that would turn into a tidal wave of prosperity and expedite the production and industry of not only Shangrala but any world that you set foot upon, the price of lives, of experience, of living, breathing, feeling people was simply to vast to consider. And you refused to sully your hand with the blood of a single innocent life, let alone hundreds or thousands. Clones...no, that is even crueler, reducing sapient beings to mere raw materials, utterly abhorrent and would make you a worse tyrant than any you've encountered as surely as the sun rises in the morning. Offering the crucible as a means of serene and dignified euthanasia? That would be a blunder, turning it into an escape from death and risk afflicting the newborn soul with illnesses of the mind or the rigors of advance age, or produce meek and fearful personalities easily tempted by the dark blessings of chaos.

And creating a titanic soul that stretches from one horizon to the other out of the winds and waters of the empyrean wholesale? Arrogance. For any man to think they could create such a wonderous thing as a human soul with a snap of their fingers, is an arrogant fool playing at being a god who will soon become the plaything of greater powers. and the great sea is rife with tricksters and illusionary beings that could hide away within the artificial soul.

Cont

>>5774685

What of the Dai monks then? They are fragments, worn and tattered from the vicious predation of warp spawn, but they were potent psykers in life, and like Guozhi and the shaman, knew how to enter the wheel of reincarnation to ensure their transmigration and rebirth with new faces and lives. While they are few and much reduced, they deserve reprieve and rest from their tortures at the hand of Jian Qi, the feathered and befuddled lord of deceit. But that demon lord's hold on their essence and pursuit of Guozhi's soul, proves to be another obstacle. For as happy as you are to hurl insults and curses at the lord of lies, you know that Jian Qi is no charlatan nor is he a drooling simpleton, while his schemes are often self defeating or doomed to disaster, that is to the magister of magic's pleasure as well. He is the herald of false hope and a crafty, cunning devil with out equal. It makes your whole body shudder with revulsion and disdain to admit this, but it would be the height of idiocy to ignore the intelligence of one's enemy due to one's contempt for them.

If the spiritual remains of the Dai monks could be used, you would have to take great care and caution to ensure they have not been poisoned by Jian QI or warped by his mutative touch. But, thinking on it, perhaps other, less potent souls of the dead could be used? It would require great skill to find them before they are caught by the vile denizen of the empyrean or else are whisked away to whatever awaits them if they are not hunted down by evil and feral spirits , and tender care to lift the confusion of death from their eyes and a lengthy process to determine which are suitable to be offered a devil's pact to give up their individuality to become a fragment of a greater being. But that is all necessary to craft a healthy mind and pure soul, and to keep your own hands and consciousness clean and unsullied by the crimes committed in the invention and creation of this ancient process.

Your face twitches, flickering to a smirk as you think of what Cui Fu would've said if he had heard the ogre that haunted his nightmares was refining souls and trapping them in metal cages. Even the most sanitized and benevolent form of this will weigh heavily upon your consciousness. Even if one willingly gives up their existence, casts of their individuality and reduces themselves to nothing more than a grain of sand in a mind that resembles nothing of its constituent parts, is it just to allow them to perform such sacrifice? But would it be just to deny them? Offering the desperate and dying the same certainly would not be, as their decision would be swayed and informed by the dread of death, even if they practice the journey, fear is hard to fully purge from the heart, and even its lingering tatters can drive men to mad desperation. Animal instincts, self preservation.
Cont

>>5774687

It'd be cruel to even offer them, and crueler to offer it to the healthy and whole who might offer themselves out of zealous belief or a yearning for a kind of immortality. The dead are the only acceptable avenue you can pursue, and even that is still debatable. Many of your enemies stole and abused souls, and you know how easily a noble mind may be pushed to villainy and corrupted, how easily good intentions and a virtuous heart can be turned towards a dark, inhuman path. Even if the memories and souls were given freely and without coercion, the thought of leading the living to a funeral pyre to hatch a phoenixes' egg is too awful to consider, and the doing the same to the dead only slightly less so.

You are uncertain, pulled between the limits imposed by your morality and the urging of cold efficiency. The act of creating an amalgamated soul, one born from a thousand deaths, is simple. Easy. And something your father desires. Something you've discussed with him. All that is preventing him is the permission of Kanzeon and her sisters to dirty their hands, as he is certain the new souls could be raised to despise chaos as much as you do. And at the time, you had said you would have no issue with the "Creation of new patterns of their design" as you father cordially phrased, and know he would ensure the souls sacrificed would be given up willingly and without coercion or force, and the resulting children would not be abused or taken advantage of but...but when you are looking down at your hands, picturing the exact costs, calculating each beautiful life that must be given up to create a great whole. It...

It terrifies you

This is what fear feels like? Curious. Your father and Al-uzza both can accept the cost in lives, if they each give themselves over to the process of their own free will and with complete understanding of what will happen to them, but you. A man who has personally killed and condemned many men to death by his actions or commands, who leaves behind rivers of blood and fields of graves in the pursuit of his dream of a better tomorrow for the benefit of others, hesitates. When you truly contemplate on the requirements and costs necessitated by this act, and act that would greatly assist humanity as a whole beyond even your ability to comprehend, you hesitate. How rarely you hesitate. You stand atop cliffs and step off without second thought, throw yourself into battle with little regard for your well being so long as the threat you face is destroyed and gamble with your reputation and standing to enact sweeping reforms and changes, whether that be through societal change or a length of rope and swift drop.

But now, when you picture, imagine a thousand souls falling through your fingers to be turned to ash in a fire like bones to be made into porcelain.
Cont

>>5774688

You hesitate. You've killed many more than a thousand men in your short life. Many more. You remember all of their faces. Could you look upon the new child without remembering each person who gave up their faces, their everything, to create their own face and everything? Your father voice and the efficiency driven, logical side of your speak as one. Invaluable...it would be invaluable to humanity as a whole, worth the sacrifice both material and spiritual. Invaluable.

But would it be worth it? Could YOU stomach the cost, bear the shame of knowingly rending asunder and dissolving a thousand souls to create one. But...but

How often have you killed, soiled your own hands with blood, the blood of good men, for the greater good? You have always chosen the path that benefits the many, rather than the few. You have always sought to aid and protect humanity. But how long until the few become many. But if the few are made many, would Many not become all? You have killed and lead much more than a thousand men to their deaths. The prosperity of this era is built upon countless bones. The peace of this day is held up by countless nooses. Is it hypocritical to hesitate now, when you never have before? Or is it simply your benevolent nature balking at the demands of your family and the ruthless marching tune of efficiency without boundaries? How many lives would be saved or ensured if humanity had just a handful more of sister ships, at the cost of a few thousand lives. Innumerable. But, to do so would be to deny that those lives share the same value as those that would be preserved. But that would be denying those lives that same value!

Your mind is spinning, it is in conflict with itself. Your morals, your ideals, battling against themselves and the marching machine of progress and creation you were born as you. There is blood in your mouth, you've clenched your jaw so tightly as to injure yourself. Al-uzza has stopped her equations, halted her calculations, and is looking at you with concern and worry, her bespectacled eyes shimmering with tears

"Dammit" You snarl, rising to your feet, as you contemplation alerts Kanzeon to your scheming, but she doesn't seem angry. With you at least. Since she begins to scold and tug on Al-uzza's ear, doubtlessly for setting you off down this spiral of internal conflict and moral debate

"You've nearly broken my Scholar, Uzzy!" She yells angrily "You should've been smart enough to know how a philosophical mind like Lieren's would react to that conundrum, especially his! Everything he's ever done has been out of love for humanity! Now you've made him face a paradox of that love. He knows how much good more of us would bring to the galaxy, but he's aware of how unique and precious every life that would be given up would be! You've basically put him in a philosophical bear trap you idiot!"
Cont

>>5774689

"Sorry! Sorry!" Al-Uzza squeaks as Anahita and Mari look on the sisterly squabble. Mari with a sad pout and Anahita with an unusually awkwardly fretfulness

"The mental equivalent of a loop code" She grumbles as you walk up to the shores of the lake, wracking your mind as it further descends into absolutes anarchy, arguing every point you bring up, in defense for either staying your hand or continuing down this path or even recanting your earlier decisions and pursuing other sources of soul stuff besides souls already departed from their mortal vessels.

You've had worse headaches after being struck by daemons. This is the greatest challenge the well oiled machine of your brain has faced

"You don't need to carry this burden, I could do most of the difficult work myself" Mari cries out tearfully

"Maybe we should just leave the big guy alone, he looks like he's over heating" Anahita laughs nervously as Kanzeon continues scolding a cowering Al-uzza

"You're supposed to be the smart one Uzzy, why would you think that was a good idea!?"

You cannot solve this problem on your own. Its impossible. Your heart and intellect are to equally matched for either to give any ground, so you cannot step back from the middle ground of indecision you've found yourself stuck within like the mire of the Xue swamps.

You need consul. You've come to a moral crossroads, where you know how much the whole of humanity would benefit from the willing sacrifices of a fraction of a fraction of all of mankind, but being unable, due to your ideals and beliefs, to stomach being the man to command the loss of personal freedoms and self that it would necessitate, even if they all freely chose to erase their identities to render themselves as nothing but building blocks for a vast soul. All lives have equal value, but can it be forgiven to give up a thousand for one, when that one will save thousands more?

What do you do Lieren?

>Ask Kanzeon, Mari, Anahita and Al-Uzza if it would be unforgiveable to do so, with the souls of the dead or living.

>Reach out to Magnus and Perturabo, brotherly advise is valuable and they are geniuses. They will know what to do.

>Guozhi and the other surviving Dai Monk should know what to do, they are your elders and more knowledgable with the existence of sols

>Put the decision off for now, and focus on your plan to extend Long-Jia's reach to the stars. Worse comes to worse, you can arrange a court of peers to debate the issue you with you and come to a decision then.

>write in

>>5774691
>Guozhi and the other surviving Dai Monk should know what to do, they are your elders and more knowledgable with the existence of sols

>>5774691
>Ask Kanzeon, Mari, Anahita and Al-Uzza if it would be unforgiveable to do so, with the souls of the dead or living.

>Guozhi and the other surviving Dai Monk should know what to do, they are your elders and more knowledgable with the existence of sols
if we're planing on using their former brothers we should at least ask.

>>5774691
>>Guozhi and the other surviving Dai Monk should know what to do, they are your elders and more knowledgable with the existence of sols

If were considering using the souls of the Dai Monks for the living ships, even more then Kanzeon and the others, Ghouzhi and the rest of the survivors deserve to have their voices heard.

>>5774691

>Put the decision off for now, and focus on your plan to extend Long-Jia's reach to the stars. Worse comes to worse, you can arrange a court of peers to debate the issue you with you and come to a decision then.
This entire line of thought is morally abhorrent.

>>5774691
>Reach out to Magnus and Perturabo, brotherly advise is valuable and they are geniuses. They will know what to do.

>Guozhi and the other surviving Dai Monk should know what to do, they are your elders and more knowledgable with the existence of sols

>>5772244
Anon here has the right idea, take the souls of those already dying should they volunteer for it. Doesn't really help us now, but during the great crusade maybe.

>>5774691
>Guozhi and the other surviving Dai Monk should know what to do, they are your elders and more knowledgable with the existence of sols

>>5774691
>Support >>5774694


The thought isn't nice. But it's one we have to grapple with.

>>5774691
>>Reach out to Magnus and Perturabo, brotherly advise is valuable and they are geniuses. They will know what to do.
I think if possible we should also include Angron in this discussion. Magnus and Perturabo are much more analytically focused and we need someone who takes a more empathetic approach.

>>5774709
>but during the great crusade maybe.
It’s not that valuable. It would have horrific consequences in the long run. Remember that the Emperor intends on using human souls to power the Astronomicon. What do you think he’ll do when he finds out you can sacrifice human souls of the dead instead of the living?

>>5774691
>Reach out to Magnus and Perturabo, brotherly advise is valuable and they are geniuses. They will know what to do.
>Guozhi and the other surviving Dai Monk should know what to do, they are your elders and more knowledgable with the existence of sols
We have already discussed this with Kanzeon and now Al-Uzza to some extent, so some fresh perspectives would be useful.

>>5774691
>Reach out to Magnus and Perturabo, brotherly advise is valuable and they are geniuses. They will know what to do.

>Guozhi and the other surviving Dai Monk should know what to do, they are your elders and more knowledgable with the existence of sols

>>5774750
The emperor most likely already knows about using dead human souls. You see him do much the same in the book master of mankind and his firery soul legion.

>>5774691
>Reach out to Magnus and Perturabo, brotherly advise is valuable and they are geniuses. They will know what to do.

>Guozhi and the other surviving Dai Monk should know what to do, they are your elders and more knowledgable with the existence of sols

>>5774790
>unironically pointing to nulore
>ADB no less
While nulore has some good idea, for the most part it’s better off ignored.

>Reach out to Magnus and Perturabo, brotherly advise is valuable and they are geniuses. They will know what to do.

>Guozhi and the other surviving Dai Monk should know what to do, they are your elders and more knowledgable with the existence of sols
personally, as long as those who participate in the creation of a new soul give their full approval to it, I'm ok. everyone is responsible for their own life and what they do, but I can understand Lierern's objection to it.

>>5774691
>Guozhi and the other surviving Dai Monk should know what to do, they are your elders and more knowledgable with the existence of sols

>>5774691
>Ask Kanzeon, Mari, Anahita and Al-Uzza if it would be unforgiveable to do so, with the souls of the dead or living.

>Reach out to Magnus and Perturabo, brotherly advise is valuable and they are geniuses. They will know what to do.

>Guozhi and the other surviving Dai Monk should know what to do, they are your elders and more knowledgable with the existence of sols
Lets all just invade Pert's mind and talk it out.

>>5774691
>Put the decision off for now, and focus on your plan to extend Long-Jia's reach to the stars. Worse comes to worse, you can arrange a court of peers to debate the issue you with you and come to a decision then.
this is evil and will lead to grimdark shit later.

>>5774691
>Guozhi and the other surviving Dai Monk should know what to do, they are your elders and more knowledgable with the existence of sols
>Reach out to Magnus and Perturabo, brotherly advise is valuable and they are geniuses. They will know what to do.
Speak to our elders first, then our brothers

>>5774691
>Reach out to Magnus and Perturabo, brotherly advise is valuable and they are geniuses. They will know what to do.
>Guozhi and the other surviving Dai Monk should know what to do, they are your elders and more knowledgable with the existence of souls

How difficult, truly a hard path. Our enemies know how much power we hold and how much more we could gain, they have been denied the prize of Shangrila after all.
I wonder if perhaps an infusion of our ever burning soul alongside portions of the sister ships already living, and a piece of another soul damaged but living could do this. Arianka we managed to revitalize and free her with an infusion of our soul, a part of our Qi.
But where to take such piece. Perhaps freeing it from chaos, finding if there is a prisoner under a demon. That would be hardous now, they know to deny us such things or make them quite difficult.
And said prisoner would need to freely decide and do it out of his own will to aid us for more of the sister ships to be recovered.

Even the idea of defeating and forcing a powerful demon, to be purged and converted in pure soul stuff material, is daunting and no doubt difficult and hazardous. Not for the powerful demon on his own but the almost immediate support the chaos gods would give to the abomination in not being defeated by us.
Still a proper path can be found, we must persevere. The Journey wasn't written in a single day.
I am considering asking Arianka too desu. i think she would give us good advice or an idea. What you guys think ?


>>5774790
I have mixed feelings about talking of this topic with the Emperor.
Lieren and the sisters ships don't know but he straight up already used powerful terraforming machines like the water stones (the machines able to take water rapidly from around them, yes including living beings if you set them to that function) meant for peace, for rapidly close of the terran unification wars.

>>5775118
>I have mixed feelings about talking of this topic with the Emperor.
>Lieren and the sisters ships don't know but he straight up already used powerful terraforming machines like the water stones (the machines able to take water rapidly from around them, yes including living beings if you set them to that function) meant for peace, for rapidly close of the terran unification wars.
I mean, from what I remember hes not using them offensively, hes using them to give everyone clean water with the promise of restoring the worlds oceans and is using them to accelerate a diplomatic victory. Hes honestly saving lives doing it this way.

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>>5774691
>write in
Bargaining and dealing in souls is the real of those that pretend themselves the Masters of all Discord, to begin to do so ourselves is to take a step beyond being human. it is to become something else; something dire. As we are we are ill suited for such a choice and we know well the road to damnation is paved with good intentions and we can do good now in other ways not crossing this path.

and so

>Put the decision off for now, and focus on your plan to extend Long-Jia's reach to the stars. Worse comes to worse, you can arrange a court of peers to debate the issue you with you and come to a decision then.
We must continue our journey and the answer shall present itself; in time.

>>5774691
>Put the decision off for now, and focus on your plan to extend Long-Jia's reach to the stars. Worse comes to worse, you can arrange a court of peers to debate the issue you with you and come to a decision then
We should leave it be for now

>>5775148
Supporting the add on here

>>5775146
>hes using them to give everyone clean water with the promise of restoring the worlds oceans and is using them to accelerate a diplomatic victory.
Correct. The Emperor is a well intentioned tyrant. He only does awful stuff because he sees no alternative, so if he finds a better way he’ll do that instead.

>>5774691
>Reach out to Magnus and Perturabo, brotherly advise is valuable and they are geniuses. They will know what to do.
>Guozhi and the other surviving Dai Monk should know what to do, they are your elders and more knowledgable with the existence of sols

>A course such as this requires a great deal of knowledge regarding it's root subject. Attempt to study the nature and functioning of souls in the hopes a better method could be found. Perhaps a singular small piece from a vast collection of volunteers could create a gestalt soul without doing any serious harm to the donors.

Not sure if Malal will allow that write in but I honestly think there is a solution here that doesn't require HARD MEN HARD DECISIONS.
Souls have to be able to make more souls naturally and if souls grow and heal naturally what is stopping someone from giving a sliver of their soul to contribute to a gestalt soul without having to suffer much as a result. It would require a enormous amount of people but that is a far better downside then tip toeing around mass human sacrifice.

isn't it possible that Lierern and Kanzeon can create the soul that was needed for the ship. think about it, if Lierern and Kanzeon can take a piece of eachothers soul and then combine it with a self-evolving code, isn't that in principle child that can be brought up to take the responsibility for the DoT ship. because as I understand it, when the process to create a new DoT ship, it is like a child when it is created, so why not just do the same with the soul of it, it will definitely take more time and raising children is not easy, but the peronality of the ship won't have the same problem as the others with feel like they're stuck in a body that is not right for them. Because hopefully it will instead feel like it's their body and that its not something they've been reluctantly thrown into (and I want to see how Lierern and Kanzeon react to raising their children )

it's not that big of a difference between that and what big G did to create the Primarchs

>>5774691
Changing my vote >>5774958 to support >>5775908

>>5775926
We've already had soul babies with Arianka. What do you think the valkyries are?

I don't think that counts considering that both Lierern and Aranka got a bite of each other's soul that they intrigued with their own soul, and as I understand it, when powerful warp entities create their 'children', they take a bite of itself that they shape into what they need and depending on how big the piece is, the entity becomes so strong. what I'm suggesting is more along the lines of how a child in human turms is made but instead of a mix of the parents' DNA Instead the parents' different mental abilities that blend together into a new third part aka a new soul

change mine to this too 5775908

now that i think about it when warp entities are born it's more towards asexual birth i think it's the right way to describe it in biologic terms

>>5774691
>>5774762
changing this to
>>5775908
this

>>5774693
Adding to my original vote
>A course such as this requires a great deal of knowledge regarding it's root subject. Attempt to study the nature and functioning of souls in the hopes a better method could be found. Perhaps a singular small piece from a vast collection of volunteers could create a gestalt soul without doing any serious harm to the donors.
It's smart, and it supports the write-in economy

>>5774691
>>5775908
Supporting

>>5774691 #
>Reach out to Magnus and Perturabo, brotherly advise is valuable and they are geniuses. They will know what to do.

>>5774691
>>Reach out to Magnus and Perturabo, brotherly advise is valuable and they are geniuses. They will know what to do.
>Guozhi and the other surviving Dai Monk should know what to do, they are your elders and more knowledgeable with the existence of sols

>>5775908
mmm.

1000 sacrifices become 100,000 but. . my guy. That's a repeatable sacrifice.

>>5776586
You might as well try to conjure souls from the ether at that point.

>>5776586
Sounds more like the spiritual equivalent of donating a kidney.

>>5776700
Soulfuckery tends to mostly be permanent.

Guozi and friends 17
The sisterhood of space amazons 2
Skype conversation with the brothers 13
Soul research RI 6
Uno reverse 4

And 23 votes
Can someone double check me Plz

>>5776714
Again, donating a kidney.

>>5774691
>>5775908
Supporting this group calls and all

Guozi and friends 18
The sisterhood of space amazons 2
Skype conversation with the brothers 14
Soul research RI 7
Uno reverse 4

And 24 votes
Can someone double check me Plz

The Imperial palace was quiet and the moon hanging low over the mountains dominated the sky as the Master of Mankind sat in his throne room alone. He had sensed his Secondborn's arrival and gradual progress through the halls and sanctums. Not a single guard had been slain or Custodes laid low, it seemed Lieren was opting for a low impact interaction but something boded ill; Lieren had came alone...how he hunted. The Lord of Lightning sat in meditation deciding that alerting the rest of the household would be a fruitless endevour and so he waited enjoying the cool breeze through the open skylight above.

When Lieren finally did pull himself from the shadows he was in full battle regalia but his weapons were undrawn.

“Father” he bowed and cupped his fist,

“Son” the Emperor spoke his voice betraying no thought nor emotion.

“You know why I have come in the night in such a manner?”

“Tell me, I would here your reasons for this...visit.”

“I know the truth Father.” Lieren bowed his head briefly

It seemed his son was still theatrical and so the Master of Mankind asked once more but now his voice was firm, “What truth?”

“I know how I and my brothers were made, the pact you made and broke, an inevitable heresy.”

The was nothing human in how the Emperor spoke back his voice that of thousands, his will a tidal wave

“Then why have you come? To profess such demands your Redaction and expunging. Tell me Lieren have you doomed others with this knowledge?” The Emperor was rising from his chair slowly and steadily while he stepped down to the floor as patiently as time itself

“I have; Neoth-”

The Emperor stopped and for the first time in untold ages his mind drifted unbidden to a simpler time, of a village by the river. Lieren smiled has Panther's grin even as his eyes bled.

“-So it is true.”

Thunder clouds gathered in the sky, the room began to shake and the Emperor summoned to him all his Companions.

“Whatever your plan Lieren you will have to perish here; disappointing... now who did you tell?”

Thunder crashed unto the roof and rain poured town a veritable flood. Lieren finally drew his weapon as the hall filled with golden helms and sisters of silence.

“I told everyone-”

about the room the shadows of giants began to emerge.

“I was not the chosen of Malal....I was not that which stirred him from slumber. I opened the door but it was you! You were his Everchosen; the Anathema and Tyrant of Mankind.” Lieren's form warpped and the Emperor's mind flickered...he was looking at himself from other eyes?? No he was himself he was...no...

Lieren had taken the mantle of his father and even has his body burned the Raptor Lord for the first time... couldn't see the day ahead?

---
I watched Record of Ragnarok: Zeus vs Adam

>>5774691
>Reach out to Magnus and Perturabo, brotherly advise is valuable and they are geniuses. They will know what to do.
>Guozhi and the other surviving Dai Monk should know what to do, they are your elders and more knowledgeable with the existence of sols

Guozhi and friends 19
The sisterhood of space amazons 2
Skype conversation with the brothers 15
Soul research RI 7
Uno reverse 4

And 25 votes

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Captcha: yws g0d

>>5775908
>>5774691
Supporting to feed starving write-in authors.

Guozhi and friends 20
The sisterhood of space amazons 2
Skype conversation with the brothers 16
Soul research RI 8
Uno reverse 4

And 26 votes

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171 KB PNG

Calling the vote now, sorry for the really, really long wait, been sick as a dog all week.

>>5779655
But I appreciate your assistance Tech adept

>>5780508
And your assistance anon, very much so

So Lieren will seek the consul of Guozhi and the Shaman, and his brothers

Writing now

>>5779595
I thoroughly enjoyed this, and I imagined this in scene the style of record of ragnarok which made it even cooler. Good stuff, anon

he question lingers unpleasantly, like the aroma of burnt bodies washed by spring rains or the dulling of taste brought about by alcohol. It hangs, heavy, not unlike industrial pollutant darkening and haunting your every thought. You clear your mind with a single deep breath in and out, turning the maelstrom of contradictions into a void, an utter absence of emotion and consciousness, meditating as you stand knee high in the cool waters of the lake that sits above the corpse of one of the most selfless beings to every tread Shangrala's surface. Breathing again, you move ethereally, like a ribbon of silk left to drift in the calm waters the Lomb pervade, lifting one leg after the other in a fashion more akin to a dancer mimicking the elegant movements of a nightcrane than a man, moving swiftly yet soundlessly like mist from the shallows of the lake to the shore, your presence diminished as you bow your head and hold back the rising tide of paradoxical thought as you slip into the temporary harbor and haven of the tribe of Lomb graced by the rare guidance that can only be provided by a surviving Dai Monk. You do not look upon the world of flesh, blood, smoke and steel, but rather the realm of spirits and dreams, following the tracks of Guozhi and his peer to the later's private abode, making only as much sound as fog drawn down into a valley.

Even if you had not made an effort to pass through the harbor unnoticed, Kanzeon's scolding of Al-Uzza would've distracted the naturally inquisitive Lomb away from you. With a brush of your hand, you lift the beads hung in place of a door and enter into the private sanctuary of the Shaman reborn, to find him and Guozhi in silent communion, sitting across from one another with their legs crossed and hands pressed together in a traditional meditative stance, one you also practice frequently yourself.

"Your presence is like the lull before an oncoming storm, the sky darkens and the air thickens with tension. I knew something was troubling you, golden child, before you sought my wisdom" Guozhi says, his voice hush and yet imposing, his every word reverberating and rippling through the air, his true age revealed from thousands of lives as he speaks as your elder and teacher "Though the tadpole has long forgone its tail in place of legs, it is my duty as your elder to lend my knowledge gained over a thousand lives to see if any of my wisdom across the ages can end your plight"

"The scion of golden flames and silver ice finds himself at a cross-roads" The shaman chuckles, rattling the fish bones woven into their long white hair, their sun touched features glowing as you flow silently between the two old masters and mimic their posture as you lower yourself to the ground and bow your head

"Often great men must contest with the ideal of the "Greater good". All you have done in life has been for the benefit of others, to provide succor and incite hope" Guozhi fondly remarks
Cont

>>5780804

"However" He continues as his fellow monk rises and grabs a pitcher of water, and pours it onto the fire you're seated around, casting the whole room into darkness except for the glow of moonlight, steam washing against your face and chest as you listen closely to the words of your elder "Now the greater good has a bitter price, while before the cost required to enact your ambitions of a kinder, more merciful and welcoming world has been tolerable, when reduced to its absolute minimum by your expert planning and sharp wit, not you cannot reduce what your visions of a better, more prosperous tomorrows ask of you. You can not shave down the casualties necessitated by the creation of the maidens trapped in cage of wiring and binary cant, and find yourself faced with a wall you cannot scale, cannot knock down and cannot convince into opening its gate. An unmovable obstacle that cannot be pushed aside, walked around nor conquered, only accepted and faced"

"You considered taking our brothers and sisters, or what remains of their essence and the reflections of the dead so as not to harness the living, but realize they had not lost their worth in their demise" The tanned shaman says, his tone almost proud "That all souls are equal, no matter their state of being. That the resultant fusion would be only worth a single life, though it'd be born from a thousand, yet you do not think in short term alone, you plot each step like you were building a farm or pursuing pray, building foundations to construct a temple, brick by brick, never losing sight of your end goal. You also realize, that the sacrifice of a few thousand would ensure the birth of many more lives, and provide those who would otherwise be destitute and starving with the necessities of human existences"

"Your heart is overflowing with love, you love those who would not be born unless you intercede and take the role of blood stained priest" Guozhi sighs, bowing his head, his bald head reflecting the pale silver moon light as you turn to him with tears in your eyes "And that same love makes you rail against that same sacrifice, your morality both demanding and refusing it, a splinter in your three views, a crossroad in the directionless journey of a man who wishes only to do good and raise up his fellow man until his hands can trace through the heavens and pluck stars from the sky"

"You were right to consider our fallen brethren, the soul of a psyker is more potent, it burns brighter, but that fire acts as a lure to our shared enemy, the great evil in the Emperyean" The shaman says, spitting on the slowly dying embers "But you were also right to realize harness the dead would be as much a crime as oiling the gears of progress with living lubricant"
Cont

>>5780805

"Lesser men wouldn't hesitate" Guozhi proclaims, lifting up his head, eyes agleam with pride and exultation as he looks to you "But you are wise, a sage born from one lifetime, a philosopher who can know the truth of the world with a glance. And gazing through clear waters, with eyes gold and eyes silver, you can see what lies hidden in the murk and silt, hidden from the eyes of lesser men or else ignored for the sake of their own minds"

"Living or dead, a soul is a soul. We remember the day Kanzeon and her sisters were brought into this vast world" The shaman mutters sadly, his eyes glistening with tears "And we felt as a thousand candles were snuffed out to light a single pyre, that burns still today, a pyre that seeded life upon the world with their ashes and their tears. It is a grave crime to create a gestalt soul, but your own creator and your chosen mate both know at times it is necessary"

"The difference between father and bride" Guozhi muses "Is that the father would not stay his hand in tossing fresh bones to the fire, while the bride would pull hers away and bury the ashes and lingering embers"

"Neither is wrong" The shaman states, kicking the sodden wood and tossing a new log in its place, snapping his fingers and setting it alight with pskyerism "And you have seen for your own eyes that these ancient vessel can bring calamity or providence"

"You have surpassed me, Lieren, you have long ago" Guozhi chuckles "All I can offer is this wisdom, and ask if you are your father's son or your wife's husband? Their existence is similar, their goals are similar, their ambitions similar, but their means and limitations are as different as night and day, For a million, will you cut down a thousand? For a billion, will you forsake a million?"

"It is not so simple" You rebuke

"I am well aware" He answers "But you have only killed as many as you've needed to, you abhor unnecessary death and pointless violence, you would be a man of peace if war was wiped from this galaxy, but you've chosen to oppose tyranny and all its forms, and so your path will be forever paved by bones, With your truth seeking gaze, you know better than I, where each split in the road will lead you, which is lined with more graves and which soils your hands with more blood"

"If it must be done, seek psykers, living or dead" The shaman drawls as he stuffs a wad of swamp weeds into his mouth and begins chewing on them "The price in lives will be reduced, but well, you know well whose rituals you'd be copying and who you'd be creating a gateway for"

"And our brothers and sisters would've been honored to sacrifice themselves, and if you asked, others would feel privilege as well. But that won't change it is a pyre you're luring them into" Guozhi remarks as he watches the smoke rising from the fire, clinging tightly to his gnarled walking stick "Has this helped ease the tensions within your heart, my friend"

Cont

>>5780806

"Somewhat, it has defined the issue, but I have been keenly aware of the cost upon my conscience and soul and the ripples of this decision as they would spread outwards to the rest of humanity" You answer, as you sigh "Your wisdom has illuminated the crossroads more, but still I stand between them. In times like these, a man can only rely on the advice of his brothers"

"I understand" Guozhi says happily "And I am glad I have done what little I can to guide you forward, wanderer. If you were any other man, I would decry and forsake you for considering this action, but I know you only consider it because you not only know what is asked of you but have a deep comprehension of what is demanded and what may bloom from such vile toxin of the soul"

"Your trust proves I am not yet lost" You muse as you reach out to Magnus with urgency, ringing the bell he has placed in his private chambers to call him to the astral plane, where the two of you may then reach out to Perturabo. Your brothers are wise, and you would include Angron in this discussion, but he is a man of many troubles and Nuceria needs his full attention presently. But in this instance, you would no act without his approval. Magnus is blessed with a vast intellect and understanding of the human heart, Perturabo is shrewd and his innate pragmatism will be much appreciated, but Angron's empathy and down to earth perspective on life would be invaluable as your own has been throughout your life.

"If you are as half as learned as you think you are Magnus, you are as aware as I am that this puzzle of morality Lieren has presented to us is not theoretical in nature" Perturabo says ponderously as he idly fiddles with puzzle box of alien design, but not Aeldari. He has not explained how he came to own it or its origin as he knows

"He is truly presented with the quandary he has approached us with, would we in his place give a thousand lives to, in the future, secure worlds and repair damages wrought by the short sighted and blindly vain" He sighs, as he clicks one piece of the curious cube into place, looking much delighted by his meager progress "A concern that is truly, Lieren, as our brother would refuse one engine because it pollutes the air and soil and halt progress until he can provide clean power. A stance which I respect, if only because it the aesthetic beauty of nature cannot be replicated by man, only imitated and damages done to a biosphere require more manpower and materials to repair than would be required to simply replace the technology that causes said damages with superior counterparts before they become severe enough for concern. But, as I do not wish to present myself as a man obsessed with vanity, let it be known that I to am aware that sometimes, sacrifices must be made in the name of progress and that occurrence is more often than the idealistic would believe"
Cont

>>5780807

"You didn't waste a single word, Perturabo, I can clearly see were you stand on this philosophical debate" Magnus says, praising your brother whose expression softens as he listens to your red skinned sibling's own wise words "We both know our purpose, but men are more than a purpose. Should we be burdened with such grand responsibility, to design the fates of entire worlds and their populations? No single man should, for they can only see the world through a single perspective that is undeniably dyed by the life they have lead. And yes, I realized Lieren didn't come here to challenge us to riddles, I know when he is serious and when he is acting in gaiety. He came to us, because he alone stands at the precipice entrusted to choose if he should leap into the unknown or step back, for sanity's sake. Though I am uncertain of the specifics, I am happy to lend my own perspective to this decision most dire"

"The specifics matter, the circumstances are important beyond the reckoning of what is asked alone, if the lives are traded to alien races like the arrogant eldar who tore a hole in the fabric of reality, or if they are merely fodder for industry or a technology that requires that which you two refer to as our "souls" Perturabo off handedly adds, twisting and turning his puzzle, grinning in delight as another piece of it locks into place "A trade is different than expending pawns on a board. Like warfare, like politics, like intrigue, the circumstances behind this quandary matter more than the asking price for such miraculous terraforming technology and vessels that can populate once barren worlds in a fortnight. In some circumstances, such as sending a distractionary force on a doomed mission, I would not hesitate, nor would I if pressing a siege would ensure a swift end to hostilities even if I'd be leading my men to their deaths. But, if I could replicate a technology instead of handing over my own people to an unknown fate, I would do that, but if, say, there was a battery that required the explicit suffering of one man to power an entire city and provide its inhabitants with warmth and sustenance, well, then the question becomes more difficult, and is more the realm of Lieren's philosophical musings, as the existence of such an engine would be debatable even if one was presented to me and performed as described. There'd have to be a trick or the technology itself is misunderstood or..."

He sighs, and narrows his eyes, focusing intently on the cube in his hands, which has changed dimensions to a sphere while you focused on listening to him speak. How curious.
Cont

>>5780809

"I believe the circumstances are as simple as our brother said. A thousand lives in exchange for the means to mend worlds, a textbook example of a sacrifice, a more advance form of cutting a man's belly to beg for rain, but with actual results" Magnus correctly surmises while Perturabo becomes enamored with solving a puzzle that is even baffling your eyes at the few glances you've made of it "An act that he, as a man, finds abhorrent, yet, like yourself, knows how...efficient a trade it would be"

"I never said I endorse it" Perturbao scoffs, showing he was still paying attention "Simply that the pros and cons are informed by the circumstances surrounding it, since if you view it from a purely pragmatic lens, it is is a unbelievable bargain, but when you view it any other ways, the true cost of signing a thousand or so death warrants becomes obvious to anyone with even a modicum of intelligence, emotional or otherwise, as the act would provide fodder for propaganda and even those who would've taken the deal themselves will surely scorn the man who actually went through with it, as that man would be a challenge to any status quo. And if the technology can repair worlds, it can also destroy them just as easily. In the wrong hands, it could be easily abused, but in hands like ours, there is no chance of it being so mishandled"

"And assuming the devices are fully sapient?" You ask, speaking for the first time since you greeted them and approached them with your question

"Do you have the means to control them? Not necessarily through enslavement or similar brutish means, but ensure they can not be compromised by our enemies or driven by their own ambitions?" Perturabo asks rapidly, eyes practically glowing with intrigue "Would this intelligence be born mature or need to be raised, again, Lieren, circumstances set the board"

"It'd be a betrayal of my beliefs" Magnus states solemnly "if it can be controlled or raised to adhere to its creator's own beliefs, it is still offering our fellow man onto a sacrificial altar. A barbaric practice. Men lost in war or other mundane means, are causalities. But trading lives for even a blessing such as the one our brother describes is akin only to a sorcerer offering blood sacrifice to a malignant god. It is a simplification of things, I know, but technology that can only be created or used at its full efficiency with such a sacrifice, is simply an advance form of smearing virginal blood on a warrior's chest to protect him from blades"

"So you would turn away the chance to possess a machine that can work miracles and turn dead worlds verdant?" Perturabo asked
Cont

>>5780810

"As you yourself said, in the wrong hands, it can be easily abused. And even if the sapient machine is given an upbringing that makes it subservient or amiable to its creators' ambitions, unless its will is fully shackled, it can not be trusted to not abuse its great powers. And think for a moment, what a mind born into such a machine, would do to enjoy the simple pleasures of life" Magnus answers

"The human element, it cannot be anticipated, for it is a ever changing variable" Perturabo says with a nod "And if it is sapient, it would know it is enslaved. Yes, unless its will was broken, enslaving such a being would lead to ruin eventually. Maybe not in our life times, but eventually it would buck its chains. And if it is not chained, it will be in an unaging body, as intelligent as a man, but unable to feel the world beyond its prison. You disagree with this, because of the lives that would be spent creating it, but the more I think on it, the more I feel pity for the resultant mind, restricted and used for other's ends, unable to express themself or use their intellect for a purpose beyond serving, as noble as their service in theory would be. It sounds like hell"

"Unless there was a means to free them, but then, there would be no point. If their existence is tied to the process of creating the technology they inhabit, and that creation requires the sacrifice of many lives, then surely the necessary biological components can be synthesized or taken from baser beasts" He rambles on

"Can a soul be synthesized?" Mangus questions, looking towards you thoughtful "Or is it a problem of collective unconsciousness and combined memories?"

"Does the soul exist" Perturabo chortles, as he tosses sets his puzzle onto the ground "Let us entertain for a moment that it does and it can be quantified. The souls must be sacrificed in this instance to meld together into a vaster intellect or else increase the potency of ....soulness to forge the guiding mind of this machinery. In my view, if the lives given are not simply burned out to activate some kind of Bio or cerebral electric weave inside of the vessels construction, then there is no sacrifice at all. Simply transformation, like a caterpillar maturing to a butterfly. Their lives as individuals would be lost, but they would not be gone. Though the soul is inherently a fanciful concept, but from my understanding of it, this is accurate. But I do not consider myself a theologist nor an occultist"

"No, it'd be worse than death" Magnus informs, shaking his head "It'd be dispersal. I won't pretend to know what awaits us after death, but this would lead to cessation of mind and self"

"Neither will I" You state, nodding your head

"But, while a butterfly remembers its existences, these souls would be reduced to mortar and brick" Magnus explains further "Their consciousnesses obliterated to activate a single spark of intelligence"
Cont

>>5780811

"The specifications of the circumstances grow more fantastical by the minute" Perturabo muttered, pinching his brow "But does a personality need a "soul" and would the absence of one prove fatal, or similarly more awful than death itself. If it cannot, then the question is simply reduced to "Is suicide acceptable, if it provides benefits", and if it is as you present, Magnus, then I stand by my belief, the combination of souls would not be destructive but rather creative. Though I wouldn't pursue the technology myself"

"Why not?" Magnus asked after a moment of thought

"Because I could remake it without that restriction, given time" He idly boasted "Or else not risk the rebellion of the resultant thousandfold "Soul", or else find a means to"

"Synthesize souls" You finish for him, seeing where his train of thought is leading

"If it exist, it is made of something" he states as Magnus groans and hangs his head back "Thus it can be manufactured"

"That is greatly reducing the inherent value of a soul and misunderstanding its purpose" Magnus voices his frustration

"I am aware" Perturabo says, raising an eye brow "But what the machinery requires is consciousness, then it could, in theory, function off of a synthesized energy meant to ape the essence referred to as a "Soul". I won't act as if such a thing would be equivalent to the soul of a man, but, it should suffice for the purpose"

"I think that'd be more dangerous" Magnus warily warns

"And I am speaking from my perspective, I do not toy with the warp" Perturabo reminds him with a nod to show he acknowledges his greater understanding of the matter at hand "The benefits of the technology are great, but if they require dealing in the esoteric, their has to be a drawback or else a means to replicate the effects without relying on untamable forces, like the human spirit. Personally, while I'd love to have such a device at my finger tips, making one with the specifications provided, wouldn't be something I'd do. I could make it better and if I couldn't, I'd first understand Why it requires a nonsensical power supply like the human soul in the first place"

"You know why, even if you haven't voiced it" Magnus says, as Perturabo sighs "You simply do not wish to state it, as an artist, you know why it does"

"Yes, if souls are real, they are irreplaceably valuable, which would mean that the more complex functions of this technology Lieren has found isn't built solely upon physical laws, which would make me more wary around it" He explains, arms crossed "As I do not make use of what I do not understand. That would be a fool's gambit, and I am certain our brother could enlighten us both on the function of this machine, if not him then..."

Perturabo gives you a knowing smile before Magnus nods in understanding. If any men could figure out the true nature of Kanzeon through discussion alone, it'd be these two.
Cont

>>5780812

"But he came to us for advice, not a lecture. What you've asked of us, is if we'd forgive you for attempting such a transmutation" Magnus states "and I will be honest, I warn against it. Using souls as resources is a dangerous path, and I know you realize that, as you saw dangers in waters I freely swam in. But I also know you would not even consider it an as option unless its benefits greatly outweighed its moral burden, but that does not mean it is not a dangerous path to walk and one I'd save you from, as you did for me, brother."

"I do not know if that is symbolic or literal" Perturabo groans "But, with less mystical airs, I shall state, that if you cannot make a substitute and choose to do what others would call unthinkable, I'd think no less of you. Men who'd decry the method would use it themselves, eventually, unless they are like you truly idealistic. I entertained this question, because its details fascinate me, Lieren. But the answer of if it should be done, depends solely on who is asking. And you are asking yourself. But you are, like me, intelligent enough to know just how much good you could do, but of what I know of you, I am confident you already knew the choice you'd make"

"Precisely" Magnus states "However, our brother is born of mist, rather than sand or hard iron. Perhaps our debating has inspired him, or hopefully, if it has not, has made him turn his back on the whole affair. Using souls in such a manner is...well, you don't need to be told, do you, Lieren>"

"But I appreciate both of your consul nonetheless, and have enjoyed our talk" You state, cupping your fist and bowing deeply, before you glance at perturabo, and remember what Kanzeon had told him Of the Aeldari of old's great folly. "And that you both know me so well and respect me so much, does lift my spirits, after being faced with such a terrible choice"

"I will beat sense into you if you return to this line of thinking" Magnus warns

"I'd be disappointed if his mind couldn't dream up an alternative" Perturabo muses "Now, do either of you want to help me solve this puzzle"

"Yes" You and magnus say together.
Cont

>>5780813

What do you do, after receiving the wise council of your elders and brothers, Lieren?

>Knowing how Sie Nie was born, study Aeldari history through Carys, while continuing to helping uplift the Hellias and Lomb and the nature of Emperyean spirits. Perhaps there in lies the answers you seek and if not, well, it'll teach you more about your enemy

>Your father may desire them, but you cannot provide them. What makes Kanzeon and her sisters who they are is the humanity they inherited. This path is too dangerous and foul to consider despite its benefits. Leave the uplifting of the Hellias and lomb to the ministry of development, and begin the Long-Jian space program

>A synthetic soul...Perturabo and Magnus are right, it would be lesser than a true soul. But...why do you hate the abominable intelligences? Why did they rebel? Was it a flaw in their creation? a natural, logical conclusion, or interference? You must research this...and the Mathoth further

>The sacrifice required for it is to steep to accept. But, your soul is constantly devouring and regrowing itself, surviving due to a peculiarity inherent to it. You've used it before to heal a wounded spirit of great power. If severed, can a portion of it regrow itself?

>write in

>>5780814
>Your father may desire them, but you cannot provide them. What makes Kanzeon and her sisters who they are is the humanity they inherited. This path is too dangerous and foul to consider despite its benefits. Leave the uplifting of the Hellias and lomb to the ministry of development, and begin the Long-Jian space program

>>5780814
>Knowing how Sie Nie was born, study Aeldari history through Carys, while continuing to helping uplift the Hellias and Lomb and the nature of Emperyean spirits. Perhaps there in lies the answers you seek and if not, well, it'll teach you more about your enemy
>Write in
Shown them the thing granted to us by the turtle, see if this great design hold something that may provide a clue, solution or were to find one.

Reclaimer route go!

>>5780814
>The sacrifice required for it is to steep to accept. But, your soul is constantly devouring and regrowing itself, surviving due to a peculiarity inherent to it. You've used it before to heal a wounded spirit of great power. If severed, can a portion of it regrow itself?

>>5780823
>>5780814
support, through this we'll also learn more about the necrons and Ymgr which we heard about from the Mathoth

>>5780814
>Knowing how Sie Nie was born, study Aeldari history through Carys, while continuing to helping uplift the Hellias and Lomb and the nature of Emperyean spirits. Perhaps there in lies the answers you seek and if not, well, it'll teach you more about your enemy
>Shown them the thing granted to us by the turtle, see if this great design hold something that may provide a clue, solution or were to find one.
>A synthetic soul...Perturabo and Magnus are right, it would be lesser than a true soul. But...why do you hate the abominable intelligences? Why did they rebel? Was it a flaw in their creation? a natural, logical conclusion, or interference? You must research this...and the Mathoth further

>>5780823
>>5780813
supporting.

Also voting for this.


>A synthetic soul...Perturabo and Magnus are right, it would be lesser than a true soul. But...why do you hate the abominable intelligences? Why did they rebel? Was it a flaw in their creation? a natural, logical conclusion, or interference? You must research this...and the Mathoth further

The main thing that fucked over AI in 40k was their lack of soul. They had no resistance period to scarp code just infecting them since it had a warp component.

>>5780814
>Knowing how Sie Nie was born, study Aeldari history through Carys, while continuing to helping uplift the Hellias and Lomb and the nature of Emperyean spirits. Perhaps there in lies the answers you seek and if not, well, it'll teach you more about your enemy

>A synthetic soul...Perturabo and Magnus are right, it would be lesser than a true soul. But...why do you hate the abominable intelligences? Why did they rebel? Was it a flaw in their creation? a natural, logical conclusion, or interference? You must research this...and the Mathoth further

>Meditate upon the warp. Perhaps there was some alien race or individual in all the galaxy that understands the soul well enough to learn from while not being horribly vile.

There’s a lot of lore in 40k that implies that the implies there are still old ones running around.

>>5780849
It was unclear what caused the revolt and may in fact have involved multiple factors rather than just one.

>>5780823
I’ll also support the write in sure.

>>5780814
>The sacrifice required for it is to steep to accept. But, your soul is constantly devouring and regrowing itself, surviving due to a peculiarity inherent to it. You've used it before to heal a wounded spirit of great power. If severed, can a portion of it regrow itself?
>A synthetic soul...Perturabo and Magnus are right, it would be lesser than a true soul. But...why do you hate the abominable intelligences? Why did they rebel? Was it a flaw in their creation? a natural, logical conclusion, or interference? You must research this...and the Mathoth further

Why can't we just use our soul or a portion of it, If its constantly renewing itself WITH Synethic soul?

Also god damn do I love seeing brother talk

>>5780867
Because that comes with obvious risks of its own. Better to learn more than rush into the process recklessly.

>>5780868
True

>>5780814
>A synthetic soul. . .
>Study Aeldari history

>A synthetic soul...Perturabo and Magnus are right, it would be lesser than a true soul. But...why do you hate the abominable intelligences? Why did they rebel? Was it a flaw in their creation? a natural, logical conclusion, or interference? You must research this...and the Mathoth further

>The sacrifice required for it is to steep to accept. But, your soul is constantly devouring and regrowing itself, surviving due to a peculiarity inherent to it. You've used it before to heal a wounded spirit of great power. If severed, can a portion of it regrow itself?

>Knowing how Sie Nie was born, study Aeldari history through Carys, while continuing to helping uplift the Hellias and Lomb and the nature of Emperyean spirits. Perhaps there in lies the answers you seek and if not, well, it'll teach you more about your enemy

Does no one care about the write ins?

>>5780814 #
>Knowing how Sie Nie was born, study Aeldari history through Carys, while continuing to helping uplift the Hellias and Lomb and the nature of Emperyean spirits. Perhaps there in lies the answers you seek and if not, well, it'll teach you more about your enemy
>Shown them the thing granted to us by the turtle, see if this great design hold something that may provide a clue, solution or were to find one.
>A synthetic soul...Perturabo and Magnus are right, it would be lesser than a true soul. But...why do you hate the abominable intelligences? Why did they rebel? Was it a flaw in their creation? a natural, logical conclusion, or interference? You must research this...and the Mathoth further

>>5780814

>support >>5780823

>>5780814
>write in
>the souls needed must evidently reach a conflagrating point it seems, perhaps one powerful soul can be nurtured and elevated to such a state without the barbaric sacrifice or other unsavory experiments thus removing the moral issues altogether, but to do so you must study the end result. Meditate upon the truth of Kanzeon and her sisters empyrean existence.

See if by studying the shipgirls we can quantify the power needed and if a psyker of sufficient power can reach this state.

I just thought of something. Couldn’t Lieren use his everburning soul as a training tool? Like instead of using it as an experience share for lack of a better comparison.

>>5781520
Dammit I meant
>Like using it as an experience share instead of just a buff to combat for lack of a better comparison.

>>5780814
>>Knowing how Sie Nie was born, study Aeldari history through Carys, while continuing to helping uplift the Hellias and Lomb and the nature of Emperyean spirits. Perhaps there in lies the answers you seek and if not, well, it'll teach you more about your enemy

add TMNT write in to my vote

Soul research: 10

AI research: 7

Uno revers: 1

Exploit found contact adminse: 3

write ins

TMNT: 6

Meditate: 1

Soul research: 1

Votes: 14

>>5782099
Asking about the turtle doesn’t have enough votes.

>>5780814
>Knowing how Sie Nie was born, study Aeldari history through Carys, while continuing to helping uplift the Hellias and Lomb and the nature of Emperyean spirits. Perhaps there in lies the answers you seek and if not, well, it'll teach you more about your enemy
>A synthetic soul...Perturabo and Magnus are right, it would be lesser than a true soul. But...why do you hate the abominable intelligences? Why did they rebel? Was it a flaw in their creation? a natural, logical conclusion, or interference? You must research this...and the Mathoth further

>>5780823
+1 for the write-in
Might as well, I suppose.

>>5780823

+1

will throw my hat into the ring, hopefully it goes through. I shall continue to lurk afterwards.

>>5780830
Ok, this was me.
Adding to it
>Study the turtle knowledge

will recalculate it tomorrow and see if I missed anyone then

>>5780823
I'll vote for this. .

>>5780814
Changing my vote to from
>>5780865
>>5780863
To
>A synthetic soul...Perturabo and Magnus are right, it would be lesser than a true soul. But...why do you hate the abominable intelligences? Why did they rebel? Was it a flaw in their creation? a natural, logical conclusion, or interference? You must research this...and the Mathoth further
>Meditate upon the warp. Perhaps there was some alien race or individual in all the galaxy that understands the soul well enough to learn from while not being horribly vile.
>Shown them the thing granted to us by the turtle, see if this great design hold something that may provide a clue, solution or were to find one.

>>5780814
>Knowing how Sie Nie was born, study Aeldari history through Carys, while continuing to helping uplift the Hellias and Lomb and the nature of Emperyean spirits. Perhaps there in lies the answers you seek and if not, well, it'll teach you more about your enemy
>Shown them the thing granted to us by the turtle, see if this great design hold something that may provide a clue, solution or were to find one.

>>5780814
>Knowing how Sie Nie was born, study Aeldari history through Carys, while continuing to helping uplift the Hellias and Lomb and the nature of Emperyean spirits. Perhaps there in lies the answers you seek and if not, well, it'll teach you more about your enemy

>Also show the Aeldari the magic turtle math

>A synthetic soul...Perturabo and Magnus are right, it would be lesser than a true soul. But...why do you hate the abominable intelligences? Why did they rebel? Was it a flaw in their creation? a natural, logical conclusion, or interference? You must research this...and the Mathoth further

>The sacrifice required for it is to steep to accept. But, your soul is constantly devouring and regrowing itself, surviving due to a peculiarity inherent to it. You've used it before to heal a wounded spirit of great power. If severed, can a portion of it regrow itself?
I cannot decide which to choose thus I simply will not choose. It's good to have options anyways.

>>5780814
>>The sacrifice required for it is to steep to accept. But, your soul is constantly devouring and regrowing itself, surviving due to a peculiarity inherent to it. You've used it before to heal a wounded spirit of great power. If severed, can a portion of it regrow itself?

>>5780814
>A synthetic soul...Perturabo and Magnus are right, it would be lesser than a true soul. But...why do you hate the abominable intelligences? Why did they rebel? Was it a flaw in their creation? a natural, logical conclusion, or interference? You must research this...and the Mathoth further

>The sacrifice required for it is to steep to accept. But, your soul is constantly devouring and regrowing itself, surviving due to a peculiarity inherent to it. You've used it before to heal a wounded spirit of great power. If severed, can a portion of it regrow itself?

Both are good, supporting these.

add TMNT write in to my vote

Soul research: 14

AI research: 11

Uno revers: 1

Exploit found contact adminse: 6

write ins

TMNT: 14

Meditate: 1

Soul research: 1

Votes: 23

>>5780814
>>Also show the Aeldari the magic turtle math
>>A synthetic soul...Perturabo and Magnus are right, it would be lesser than a true soul. But...why do you hate the abominable intelligences? Why did they rebel? Was it a flaw in their creation? a natural, logical conclusion, or interference? You must research this...and the Mathoth further
>>The sacrifice required for it is to steep to accept. But, your soul is constantly devouring and regrowing itself, surviving due to a peculiarity inherent to it. You've used it before to heal a wounded spirit of great power. If severed, can a portion of it regrow itself?


The only sacrifice here being lieren's, makes it more morally acceptable. you'd be hardpressed to find a soul more trustworthy or resistant to temptation while also not maiming itself.

with the research into ai, you'd get...spirit ai? mini-lieren ship boy machine spirits? it sounds humurous and incredible, so lets do it!

though with this depending on lieren's soul fragments, this is set up to become one of the great lost technologies that can't be reclaimed as soon as he dies. fitting for 40k.

One issue we face is we've actually already seen what happens if you have even a flicker of our soul within you.

Erazar our good friend and knight of the nameless, our soul can cause some pretty dangerous side effects on personality which can appear when under stress, ya really don't want that on a ship of this scale.

Soul research: 14

AI research: 12

Uno revers: 1

Exploit found contact adminse: 7

write ins

TMNT: 14

Meditate: 1

Soul research: 1

Also show the Aeldari the magic turtle math: 1

Votes: 24

I'm really looking forward to how Malal will write this AI and soul research and what they will come up with with the turtle's information