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Previous Threads: https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive.html?tags=The%202nd%20Primarch%20Quest
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You click your tongue, and clasp your hands behind your back, temporarily forsaking the hunched posture you had adopted to lift up your head and breath deeply the corroded air thick with industrial pollutants and the faint whispers of burning ozone.

"Old stories are true" You explains somberly as you readjust and return to hunching as is the natural stance of the Alf-Harim "Humanity is real; Returned"

"Hoomahnaty?" The alf harim blinks slowly, forked tongue flicking out of their lips, parting the tongues of smoke rising from their last pull of their smoking leaf "Must hear, old, ancient stories in big clan house, yes yes? What is?"

You smile and bow your head in their direction, and whisper nearly conspiratorially

"Alien race, ancient, far flung, much scattered" you explain swiftly, flicking a single finger's illusionary claw in front of his snout as his eyes trace it with all the instinctive caution of a prey animal "Some good, others not. Mothers met good humans, humans heard plight, heard wish to return to warm sands"

"Selling habitat? trading electrical banks? Move work to mine world?" They ask rapidly, scratching at their snout, flacking away blue chips of pigment from their scales as they press you for answers. You hold up a hand and the tail of your guise, stopping him before he can present you with more wild theories and guesses

"Listen. Human spoke to matriarchs, snuck in, careful careful. Saw him. Gave me this" You say, pulling a extra copy of the translated journey from within the thread bear and oil stained robes of your alf-harim disguise and hold it up to the querying eyes of the smoker

"What is?" They ask impatiently, as their hands shoot out and take the book as you make it clear you're offering it to them "Doesn't explain what is happening"

"Might have something to do with that heavy book" You suggest with a whip crack of your tail, a gesture thought of as roguish to the Alf-Harim "Saw them, mighty, powerful, tricky?"

"Slave taken?" They ask and you snap your teeth and hiss through them

"No. Tricky, friendly, hopefully" You continue as they pull the book closer to their chest and flip open the first page of the journey, revealing intricate and detailed drawings of alf-harim beside the text, performing gestures and displaying stances to present what would other wise be lost in translation, an effort that is helped by the scents you incorporated into the very ink staining the parchment, mimicking the Alf-Harim's partially scent based language

"Then?" They ask as their eyes greedily devour the text before them, flicking back and forth as they gather all of the words before them and frantically work to piece them together as quickly as their physiology allows
Cont
>>
>>6116498
"Clan mothers spoke with distant emperor" you explain with a sequence of complex hand wrings and motions and tail flicks "Pact? Maybe, I do not know, but humans made offer. Soon we see bargain struck? Must be careful"

"Why?" They ask, head tilted as they pause, a single finger's pad pressed on the part of the passage they had reached before they lifted their head to say that single word. You tap the back of the same book's spine and whip crack the tail of your false form

"Book holds the answer, Better way" you answer vaguely, with all the mystery of a wandering sage as depicted in a dramatic play, and leave the Alf-Harim with his copy of the translated Journey, which quickly catches the attention of other off duty and indolent passers by, who gather and crowd around him, pawing and poking the page as they read together, while the smoker, after recovering from the surprise of you vanishing in a particularly dense but quickly evaporating cloud of vapors, begins to immediately tell and share what you told him to the curious onlookers now also reading through the Journey after catching the parting snippet of your conversation with him as they walked past the both of you.

Chuckling to yourself, you watch the crowd grow and the rumors spread, and return to the palace and cast of the illusionary disguise you had worn, and see that word had spread quickly to the guards, who are now lounging and rolling smoking leaf while chattering excitedly about the first thing they're going to do when they return home. Most of them are in agreement that they will throw themselves to the sands and roll around in the sun heated grains until the paint and dye on their scales is worn and scrubbed away and they need a fresh coat applied.

They're so engrossed by their conversation, they don't even notice the alien gliding past them and up to the heart of the palace, where the matriarchs and their eldest and favored sons are now, with Jinhai, completing the transactions most minute details, as your friend, the emperor of Long-Jia, quite gayly presents them a selection of dyes and paint pigments that you recognize as being of Olympian origin, as Perturabo had a certain fondness for that shade of blue when it was contrasted by the jade green waters flowing through the decorative but also very much defensible gardens he had built during his time upon Shangrala.

Of course, those are reproductions, as the architects and painters your brother had employed, had ended up sharing his passing fondness for the color and it had become somewhat fashionable to have "Olympia Blue" garden walls or sashes amongst the nobility and ministry officials. Just as several regiments of the imperial army had become rather fond of the Gladius and axes favored by Angron and the freedom fighters of Nuceria, primarily those who had seen the most intense fighting alongside the gladiatorial revolt lead by your most empathetic of brothers.
Cont
>>
>>6116499

Smiling, you sit cross legged beside the father of the clan heads who are pruning and combing through the long list of goods the imperial household will present to the black abyss clan, asking questions concerning each item included and if it could be a danger to their mothers or their brood as they traverse the stars.

And you notice Jinhai is trying very hard not to laugh, and a wayward glance towards the unfurled parchment uncoiled on the brood chamber's floor, tells you why

Dragon's spit. You repress a chuckle and hide a smirk behind your hand, wondering if Alf-Harim tongues can even detect the intense bitterness and astringency of that particular delicacy.

The negotiations will not last much longer, and every matriarch and clan head is clearly overjoyed by the gifts Jinhai freely gives to them, even though in the grand view of the imperial budget and the material wealth of Shangrala, it is barely a drop in the well. Especially considering the stellar fever gripping all the peoples of your world. Shan's gift and the celestial explorers sailing it through the stars, have been broadcasting constant updates of their journey through the first world reached by the colonization program of Long-Jia.

And as you listen to the sons of the matriarch pluck hairs and ask the aids jinhai has present, your mind once more turns to the future, as you consider how best and most efficiently devote your attention and efforts going forward.

After you've explored the Black Abyss, without the presence of the twitchy Alf-Harim jabbing and pointing their guns at any shadows in the clouds, of course.

And what is the next project you with devote yourself to, Lieren?

>Establishing specialized martial schools to prepare the sons of Shangrala who have been found to be naturally predisposed to surviving the process of being turned into a space marine, and leading your sons in disposing of any threat found on the newly colonized worlds

>As the Grand architech, helping getting the first colonies of Long-Jia up and running, and finding places for the Alien and human refugees upon Shangrala on the world's best suited for their lifestyles while also encouraging some shangralan cultures to spread through the stars

>Training with and exploring the Empyrean with Guozhi and Magnus, sensing that the current incarnation of your great teacher is near its end. And to ensure, with the assistance and oversight of the Void School headed by Malcador, to safe guarding the now Stellar holdings of Long-Jia, from the stain of Chaos.

>Exploring ahead of the colony and exploration vessels with Kanzeon, to trail blaze and make sure there aren't any unseen threats lurking in the stars within reach of Shangrala's own

>Write in
>>
>>6116501
>Establishing specialized martial schools to prepare the sons of Shangrala who have been found to be naturally predisposed to surviving the process of being turned into a space marine, and leading your sons in disposing of any threat found on the newly colonized worlds

>As the Grand architech, helping getting the first colonies of Long-Jia up and running, and finding places for the Alien and human refugees upon Shangrala on the world's best suited for their lifestyles while also encouraging some shangralan cultures to spread through the stats

Empyrean with Guozhi and Magnus, sensing that the current incarnation of your great teacher is near its end. And to ensure, with the assistance and oversight of the Void School headed by Malcador, to safe guarding the now Stellar holdings of Long-Jia, from the stain of Chaos.

1 and 2 go well together and 3 is just good to do as well.
>>
>>6116524
>Training with and exploring the Empyrean with Guozhi and Magnus, sensing that the current incarnation of your great teacher is near its end. And to ensure, with the assistance and oversight of the Void School headed by Malcador, to safe guarding the now Stellar holdings of Long-Jia, from the stain of Chaos.

don't know what happened to the 3rd :/
>>
>>6116501
>Train with Guozhi

>Train our sons.
>>
>>6116501
>As the Grand architech, helping getting the first colonies of Long-Jia up and running, and finding places for the Alien and human refugees upon Shangrala on the world's best suited for their lifestyles while also encouraging some shangralan cultures to spread through the stars
>Training with and exploring the Empyrean with Guozhi and Magnus, sensing that the current incarnation of your great teacher is near its end. And to ensure, with the assistance and oversight of the Void School headed by Malcador, to safe guarding the now Stellar holdings of Long-Jia, from the stain of Chaos.
I'm hoping that means the Nameless passed muster with Malcador.
>>
In the hope that more people vote like me, I thought I would explain how I think about my choice. as I said, one and two go well together. We have to build some kind of recruitment areas for our sons, so it's just as well to do it now. and after that we will still go with our sons and take care of the dangers that can be found on the colony planets, so just as good that we help them with the colonization while we are there. And when it comes to the third a little warp fuckory and a little anti warp fuckory is good for the soul
>>
>>6116501
>>Training with and exploring the Empyrean with Guozhi and Magnus, sensing that the current incarnation of your great teacher is near its end. And to ensure, with the assistance and oversight of the Void School headed by Malcador, to safe guarding the now Stellar holdings of Long-Jia, from the stain of Chaos.

Ate Chaos.
No like Chaos.
Simple as.
>>
>>6116501
>Training with and exploring the Empyrean with Guozhi and Magnus, sensing that the current incarnation of your great teacher is near its end. And to ensure, with the assistance and oversight of the Void School headed by Malcador, to safe guarding the now Stellar holdings of Long-Jia, from the stain of Chaos.
>>
>>6116501
>>Establishing specialized martial schools to prepare the sons of Shangrala who have been found to be naturally predisposed to surviving the process of being turned into a space marine, and leading your sons in disposing of any threat found on the newly colonized worlds

>As the Grand architech, helping getting the first colonies of Long-Jia up and running, and finding places for the Alien and human refugees upon Shangrala on the world's best suited for their lifestyles while also encouraging some shangralan cultures to spread through the stars
>>
>>6116501
>>Training with and exploring the Empyrean with Guozhi and Magnus, sensing that the current incarnation of your great teacher is near its end. And to ensure, with the assistance and oversight of the Void School headed by Malcador, to safe guarding the now Stellar holdings of Long-Jia, from the stain of Chaos.
>>Exploring ahead of the colony and exploration vessels with Kanzeon, to trail blaze and make sure there aren't any unseen threats lurking in the stars within reach of Shangrala's own
>>
>>6116501
>Establishing specialized martial schools to prepare the sons of Shangrala who have been found to be naturally predisposed to surviving the process of being turned into a space marine, and leading your sons in disposing of any threat found on the newly colonized worlds
>add on
Those Son's we have by our side need a training montage of their own, when we re-join our legion they will be instrumental in spreading our Beliefs and straightening out the issues within it. In effect a role similar to what chaplains would become, protect the spiritual and cultural wellbeing of the chapter. We need a hardcore training montage and really refine the boys then once they're happy can handle those threats once we begin to do whats next-

>Training with and exploring the Empyrean with Guozhi and Magnus, sensing that the current incarnation of your great teacher is near its end. And to ensure, with the assistance and oversight of the Void School headed by Malcador, to safe guarding the now Stellar holdings of Long-Jia, from the stain of Chaos.
We need to be there at the end (Reminder Eldrad owes us Lorgar's Location, we need to track down the four keys, begin seeking a way to free isha and finally....Ymgr)
>>
>>6116501
>Write in
>Contemplate another aspect of the Great Plan [Shattered Void]
>>
>>6116501
>Training with and exploring the Empyrean with Guozhi and Magnus, sensing that the current incarnation of your great teacher is near its end. And to ensure, with the assistance and oversight of the Void School headed by Malcador, to safe guarding the now Stellar holdings of Long-Jia, from the stain of Chaos.
>Establishing specialized martial schools to prepare the sons of Shangrala who have been found to be naturally predisposed to surviving the process of being turned into a space marine, and leading your sons in disposing of any threat found on the newly colonized worlds
>>
>>6116501
>Establishing specialized martial schools to prepare the sons of Shangrala who have been found to be naturally predisposed to surviving the process of being turned into a space marine, and leading your sons in disposing of any threat found on the newly colonized worlds

>Training with and exploring the Empyrean with Guozhi and Magnus, sensing that the current incarnation of your great teacher is near its end. And to ensure, with the assistance and oversight of the Void School headed by Malcador, to safe guarding the now Stellar holdings of Long-Jia, from the stain of Chaos.

Setting up recruitment and having a jolly time with Magnus and friends seems fun.
>>
Votse: 11

Martial schools: 6 Add: 1
Grand architech: 3
Exploring the Empyrean: 9
Exploring ahead: 1

Writ in: 1
Shattered Void
>>
Horus stood at the heart of the assembly as his keen eyes looed over the gathered warriors. The air heavy with anticipation as the command staff of the Astartes legions he had only recently come to know knelt in adoration, their voices raised in oaths of loyalty. His return to Terra, his discovery, had been a triumph, and these soldiers the sons of distant brothers were truly eager to serve under him. All but for one group.

Horus turned his gaze to the warriors of the Second Legion. Whom unlike the others, stood in ordered ranks, faces unreadable and their disciplined silence stark amidst the fervor. There was no bowing of heads, no jubilant cheers like their cousins. Instead they watched him with a cool scrutiny that stirred unease in his heart. He could feel their judgement in the stillness, an unsettling undercurrent that gnawed at his confidence. Sons judging a man whom would dare to command them, they whose father's name was spoken in reverence despite his absence. Their loyalty was not so easily won.

It was Malcador who spoke appearing as silent as those whom judged him, his voice low as though sharing a secret best left unspoken. "The Chimera," he said, a hint of concern lacing the name. "That is what some call them. Tread carefully among them Horus they are stalwart and unyielding but... unpredictable. Their minds do not bend as easily as others, for they have seen much, perhaps too much. They will judge you, test you, and if they find you wanting…"

Horus felt a flicker of anger at the implication but he remained silent listening to the Sigillite’s warning.

"Beware-" Malcador continued, his eyes narrowing. "-The Chimera do not serve blindly. Should they deem you unworthy, they may well undermine everything you hope to achieve and instead follow the protocols of their own making. Their father's shadow is long, long enough to reach even here."

Horus’ jaw tightened. He had never felt the need to prove himself to any before. But now, before these silent warriors and their unspoken judgement, he found himself…perturbed.

1/2
>>
>>6117723
Later the First Returned Primarch stood at the edge of the sparring ring his arms crossed and his expression impassive. Around him, the gathered Astartes from different legions watched the duel unfold with rapt attention. In the centre, a warrior from his own Lunar Wolves one; Kalus Ekaddon whom faced a champion of one of the Chimera Legion’s more warlike sects; Aatos-Khil.

The Lunar Wolf wielded a sword tall and broad, it's edge gleaming in the light, circled his opponent with predatory grace. His blade was an elegant weapon, finely balanced and deadly, and the crowd expected nothing less than a swift victory from one of Horus’ own so embolded by their Father's return.

But the Chimera warrior was different. His armour was marked with the odd sigils and verses of his Legion, movements languid yet purposeful. He held a strange weapon?A glaive unlike anything Horus had seen before with a long haft and a curved blade which crackled with energy, shifting in his grip as if it were an extension of his body. There was a strange, almost playful precision in how the Chimera held himself, as if the duel were more of a game to him than a contest that could well end in death were things to sour.

The Lunar Wolf lunged, his sword slicing through the air in a calculated strike, but the Chimera shifted at the last moment pivoting on his heel and letting the attack miss him by inches. With a fluid motion the Chimera's glaive arced through the air, the blade humming with power. The Lunar Wolf barely had time to parry, the force of the impact sending a shockwave through his arm, rattling the blade in his grasp.

Horus narrowed his eyes. He recognised the skill in the Chimera’s movements; calm, controlled, as if the warrior was already three steps ahead of his opponent. The duel became a dance, the Lunar Wolf pressing hard, but the Chimera glided between his attacks, never hurried, always in control.... studying...

Then it happened in a blur. The Lunar Wolf overextended, and the Chimera stepped in with a savage grace, his glaive sweeping low before coming up in a brutal arcing strike. The blow sent the Lunar Wolf’s sword spinning from his hand and before he could recover the Chimera’s glaive was at his throat, the fight over in an instant.

The ring fell silent.

2/2
>>
>>6117724
But despite the defeat of his opponent the Chimera warrior did not relax. Instead he turned his head slowly, his gaze locking onto Horus. There was no reverence, no fear in those eyes only a cool, calculating stare that sent a ripple of unease through the Warmaster... the nerve. The Chimera’s glaive remained raised for a heartbeat longer than necessary, as if the warrior was daring Horus himself to intervene.

Horus clenched his fists, feeling a surge of anger at the insolence. This was no mere warrior, this was a statement, a challenge not just to his legion but to his authority.

Malcador’s words echoed in his mind. The Chimera do not serve blindly.

The champion lowered his glaive at last, stepping back, and the crowd erupted in cheers and gasps. Yet Horus stood in silence, his gaze still fixed on the Chimera warrior, a seed of doubt planted deep within him.

He could not shake the feeling that he had just witnessed more than a sparring match. He had seen the shape of things to come.

3/2
----
I miscounted words oops.
>>
>>6116501
>Establishing specialized martial schools to prepare the sons of Shangrala who have been found to be naturally predisposed to surviving the process of being turned into a space marine, and leading your sons in disposing of any threat found on the newly colonized worlds

>Training with and exploring the Empyrean with Guozhi and Magnus, sensing that the current incarnation of your great teacher is near its end. And to ensure, with the assistance and oversight of the Void School headed by Malcador, to safe guarding the now Stellar holdings of Long-Jia, from the stain of Chaos.
>>
Votse: 12

Martial schools: 7 Add: 1
Grand architech: 3
Exploring the Empyrean: 10
Exploring ahead: 1

Writ in: 1
Shattered Void
>>
>>6116501
>As the Grand architech, helping getting the first colonies of Long-Jia up and running, and finding places for the Alien and human refugees upon Shangrala on the world's best suited for their lifestyles while also encouraging some shangralan cultures to spread through the stars
>Training with and exploring the Empyrean with Guozhi and Magnus, sensing that the current incarnation of your great teacher is near its end. And to ensure, with the assistance and oversight of the Void School headed by Malcador, to safe guarding the now Stellar holdings of Long-Jia, from the stain of Chaos.
>>
Votse: 13

Martial schools: 7 Add: 1
Grand architech: 4
Exploring the Empyrean: 11
Exploring ahead: 1

Writ in: 1
Shattered Void
>>
>>6116501
>As the Grand architech, helping getting the first colonies of Long-Jia up and running, and finding places for the Alien and human refugees upon Shangrala on the world's best suited for their lifestyles while also encouraging some shangralan cultures to spread through the stars
>Training with and exploring the Empyrean with Guozhi and Magnus, sensing that the current incarnation of your great teacher is near its end. And to ensure, with the assistance and oversight of the Void School headed by Malcador, to safe guarding the now Stellar holdings of Long-Jia, from the stain of Chaos.

Pretty sure we still have terran astartes and integrating people is more important anyway
>>
>>6116501
>As the Grand architech, helping getting the first colonies of Long-Jia up and running, and finding places for the Alien and human refugees upon Shangrala on the world's best suited for their lifestyles while also encouraging some shangralan cultures to spread through the stars

>Training with and exploring the Empyrean with Guozhi and Magnus, sensing that the current incarnation of your great teacher is near its end. And to ensure, with the assistance and oversight of the Void School headed by Malcador, to safe guarding the now Stellar holdings of Long-Jia, from the stain of Chaos.
>>
Votse: 15

Martial schools: 7 Add: 1
Grand architech: 6
Exploring the Empyrean: 13
Exploring ahead: 1

Writ in: 1
Shattered Void
>>
So I have an idea how we can solve the sister ship problem in a moral and practical way.
So the reason we use human souls is that uncorrupted souls are relatively "pure" warp energy wise.
So if we take volunteer people on their dead beds and scrape away their egos and theirs memories, so we start with a completely blank surface, they will probably have childhood phases and not have the same dysmorphia that the old "models" had.
or if we make it so that each sister takes a bite of her cord and unites them into one and lets it grow up into a new soul written in code.
>>
>>6118574
We were already told what we need to do to learn how to make souls. We need to observe the soul of someone being born and someone dying.
>>
There is another option:

We have learnt the containment old one ability, so, make a box for psyker energy, have people put a little bit of their psykerism into the box on a regular until whats inside the box is enough to gestate a soul for a ship.

Have them pour in feelings they would want the new ship to have, philosophical musings, ideas, principles and philosophies

Souls create souls - we are just mimmicking the natural cycle without the need for the natural biological side of it.
>>
>>6118760
I'm pretty sure that wouldn't create a soul, it would create a daemon.
>>
>>6118784
How? its a contained box with only a limited or selected input with no connection to the greater warp. Unless its a daemon of the journey.
>>
>>6118808
You're filling it with warp energy, emotions, beliefs and concepts. As far as I understand them, that's pretty much all a daemon is. I don't know why you think doing this would somehow create a human soul rather than a daemon or some kind of psychic construct like the tortoise spirit.
>>
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I'll try to call the vote in the morning and get an update out, very sorry for the long wait, but its the damn heat again, thankfully it should start cooling down the next couple of days. It only got cool enough for my PC to not cook itself when I was too tired to write today. And trust me, I did try

>>6118449 Thanks for counting up the votes! Its a big help and I really appreciate the assist man.

Also I'll give my thoughts on this equally appreciated drabble this anon wrote
>>6117723, when I wake (If I wake up before the machine spirits are made indolent via the heat and I am made to delay for longer because I don't want my PC to melt)

Fucking hate not having a working AC. Sorry again lads.
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>>6119555
Hi Male one question is Grand architech valid or does it not count?

15/2= 7.5
>>
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>>6117723
>>6117724
>>6117725
The prose you used for this was phenomenal, you ever think of running a quest yourself? Really liked how you wrote Horus and Malcador, felt very true to text and their character, especially how Horus views the behavior and actions of others. Also like Kalus showing up, and that you used a real finnish name for Lieren's boy, and I especially like their duel, how it was described and its choreography
>>6119586
Nope. Misses it by one. if the total was 14 or 13 votes, it'd get in. One less than half is the cut off point

So! Lieren will establish specialized martial schools to train candidates for space marine selection, and prepare his sons to defend the new colonies of Long-jia, as well as assistance of the Nameless' newest school, ensure the colonies are free from the stain of discord

However, sensing his teacher's impending death by extreme old age, he will, while the grounds for the schools are being prepared and the schools themselves built, take the chance to be taught a few, precious final lessons with Guozhi, exploring the Emperyean with him and Magnus.

writing now!

And good news everyone, its already cooled enough that I don't have to have my fan on full blast just to tolerate the heat!
>>
Data has been compiled and reviewed, refined and narrowed. The secretive tests and measurements taken in White Lotus run hospitals and maternity wards across Shangrala, from the frosty peaks of Bask to the mysterious shores of the Lomb, taken of course with the consent of the parents of young boys and expecting mothers alike, have revealed where the greatest presences of those with natural compatibility with the gene seed derived from genome naturally congregate across the much varied ethnicities and cultures of the Long-Jia empire. Al-Uzza and Mari, greatly assisted in this effort, though Kanzeon and Anahita both contributed valuable insights and effort to the cause of examining the various physiological and biological chemistries that will one day, in the future when you are summoned to fight a stellar conquest, greatly reduce the causalities of the new recruits brought into your Legion of astartes.

And while this Data could be taken and used to arrange couplings and partnerships for the sole purpose of producing candidates for the second legion made in your image, the very idea of resorting to eugenics heats your blood and darkens your temper, to intrude on the privacy and overrule the free will of others for the cause of producing soldiers so utterly abhorrent a thought that you redact and hide these discoveries and only make use of the information provided by the tests groups to make a list of those who have the best chances of surviving the gene-therapy and implants and marking the regions where the lines drawn between the populations containing these individuals intersect.

Regions where, making use of the natural geography and environment, you will build specialized martial schools to harden and train these candidates, if they choose to walk the path of the space marine when the time comes and they are of age and that will also serve your sons already serving in the legion as strongholds and armories, and places of sanctuary and serenity should they require rest, contemplation or training during their patrols down the giant's road.

With a single missive signed by your hand and carrying the seal of your office of grand architech, the order to clear the grounds of the future sites of these warrior monasteries is given, and like a well oiled and tuned machine, your architects move to begin the initial stages of construction in these remote, and indeed, hostile environments. But you do not fear for their safety, your sons could use the work out, and guarding them from the elements and wild life will be good if light exercise for the transhuman soldiers under your command, as well as the regiments who loyally marched from terra at their side. Who, of course, provided samples of their own genetic material for testing, and proved the hypothesis you had that a percentage of genetic markers that increase the survival odds of aspiring space marines, are also present in the genomes of the Sheowl, Creti and Shuomi peoples of terra.
Cont
>>
>>6119721

Fascinating


However, you cannot oversee the project personally, and so entrust the planning stages to your most trusted assistant though you still do not know his name, as well as the handful of your gene-sons who found architecture as their artistic calling. Guozhi, your most venerable and beloved mentor, who was the spark that enlightened your philosophy and who guided your hand when you first awoke your psykerist powers, who tirelessly worked into the utter limits of human life span even extended by a few of his canny self cultivation techniques to seek out, find and instruct the as you now know, unusually high number of psykers born upon Shangrala, shielding them from the lures of discordant powers and the ever present danger of self destruction, is dying. He hides it well, with illusions like his shroud, disguising the growing infirmity to his fellow elders of the wanderers in the fog and their numerous students.

But even a master of spiritual stealth and fakery as your grand teacher cannot hide the truth from your weary and sorrowful eyes. He is nearing the end of this lifespan, and all around him, the shadows grow and lengthen, their darkness growing as ethereal talons reach out to grasp at his ancient soul the moment it is relieved from his body. Kanzeon only realizes the nearness of his impending death, when met by the grief you feel contemplate the loss of the man who taught you so much but was so humble to refuse to be called your teacher.

"Go to him" Is all she says, consoling you with a comforting touch upon the cheek, pressing her brow to yours "You know you will regret it for centuries if you don't make that old man's last days ones he can remember even when he is born again...you know, if his claims of being able to reincarnate himself are accurate and we can verify his identity. Making an impression in his dying days would make it a lot easier finding him again"

"I believe he will be reborn, we have proof do we not?" You say tenderly, brushing aside her hand as Kanzeon begins, silently, compiling data concerning Guozhi's personality traits and habits, just for that "When he recognized you and the other surviving Dai Monk?"

"I don't believe what cannot be in some manner observed or recorded" Kanzeon answer somberly, lips pouting "But, I will admit, he's always felt, well not as familiar as I am to him, but like an aquitance I forgot. If it is true...I'll find him for you"

"We'll find him" You correct, tapping her nose and dodging her retaliatory swat, laughing as you hop away, mentally giving her your thanks and deep gratitude as you seek out Guozhi in his solitude.

"An old man shouldn't be climbing mountains alone" You respectfully address your teacher, kneeling down as you find him, sat atop a cushion, his only company butterflies and curious monkeys,
Cont
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>>6119722

atop what little remains of the mountain that Kanzeon stripped mined and consumed to repair her beautiful form and kick start wartime production on the eve of the wars against the shuni caliphate and Butcher's monstrosities.

"The mist and fog covers me, from even the starved tigers who'd pick their teeth with a leathery old man like myself" Guozhi smirks, glancing at you, his young blue eyes at last clouded over with age "I suppose, it was hubris uncharacteristic of one who is called a sage, who styles himself a teacher, who lived his whole life as a monk, to think he can deceive eyes as sharp as those owned by his most treasured and excellent student, hm, Lieren?"

"You should not have hidden it" You sadly reply, unable and unwilling to expose him to any of the vitriol you shamefully feel, the quiet sensation of betrayal that he would even try to hide his mortality from you and others "But, I understand your reasons, I grieve terribly, such is one effect of my intense emotions and you are the pillar and foundation of the wanderers in the fog. You thought it better that your expiration be a surprise, rather than a dark cloud heralding an impending storm"

"I do not need to say how correct you are, that was my exact intent, you know the contents of both my thoughts and heart, as you always have" He says warmly, patting the ground next to him "I have often died alone, so I will appreciate having company as I draw this vessel's last breath. Please, sit with me, let us meditate on the beauty of Shangrala's freedom, her flourishing natural world, and the opened tomb of the mother who carried me and mine here so long ago. Let us reflect, on the short time we have spent together, my student"

You wipe a tear from your golden eyes, feeling them chill silver as you approach him slowly, cautiously, like a child afraid to disturb an ailing grandparent in their final hours.

"At last, you call me student" You say, unable to have humor or high spirits in this sad hour as you respectfully kneel beside him, and match the pace of your breathing and rhythm of your hearts to his own. Feeling how each breath he takes in rattles his body, and how each exhale made exhausts him

"In my final hours, I can allow myself a drop of arrogance" he answers, looking up to the thick mists gathering above you "Ah, new growth, these trees are healthy, ready for the spring to come. I must prepare myself as well. Will you, do my the kindness, of holding my hand as we meditate? I have somethin to show you, in the vastness of the Emperyean and the depths of the great sea, and i need an anchor to ensure I do not expire before the time is right"
Cont
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>>6119723

"A chance for a final lesson given by the most sagacious of men? How could I refuse, and you know the answer I will give already" you say as, tenderly, gingerly, with all the softness and care of grabbing a child's hand or brushing a lock of hair from Kanzeon's eyes, you set one of your massive, steel crushing hands atop his wrinkled own, counting the scabs and bruises from his day to day life, making certain to remember the feel of his thin skin and the coldness of it so it may become a treasured memory

"However, I must make a selfish demand. Another friend and student of yours, should be by your side to learn this wisdom as well" You say sternly, looking into his age wearied eyes

"Magnus, he has already reached out to me, sensing my fading life force, I assumed he'd follow me in this last journey of this identity, no matter if I contacted him or not" He wryly answers, eye brow arched "Pay close attention, to how the energy of these young trees, the wooden qi, flows into this tired body of mine and mingles with my soul..."

A portion of his secret method of evading the predation of the crows and buzzards of foul Jian Qi.

In the mirror of the peak in the Emperyean, Guozhi is as a flickering flame, his face shifting between the kindly old gentleman you've known and trusted, and strangers, withered with age and beaming with overflowing youth. He is as smoke and mist, pictures bleeding into eachother, paint seeping through one canvas to another. And his soul is scarred, bleeding from the swipes of talons and beaks.

Magnus, from across the vastness of the great sea, emerges from its surface, his psionic and spiritual presence like that of a great whale breaching the surface of an inverted ocean.

"Is there still time?" He asks hurriedly, frantically as he kneels besides the old man "Can he be..."

"Death cannot be avoided" Guozhi says softly, patting the red skinned giant on the chest, like he were calming a scared hound "This body has reached the end of its cycle, and my soul will be renewed, and this face, this man you knew, shall be transmigrated, to a new vessel, and it will not be the I you knew. There is nothing to fear"

"You are wounded, sundered, your very essence has been drained" your brother presses, concern radiating from the core of his powerful being as you stand, composed and silent to the side, allowing him the chance to face his grief and grapple it to the ground

"Wounds I wear proudly, for I bear them in place of children and novices" Guozhi answered magnificently, head raised proudly as, for a brief second, his spiritual form took on the appearance of a mighty warrior, before it shifted, between the hunched old man, and a dozen other elders whom you have never met "Do not fear for me, do not waste your concerns for me, Son of Prospero. I grant you and your brother, one last lesson, one last shared moment, one last training session, between us psykers who cultivate our own power"
Cont
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>>6119724

Magnus took in a deep breath through his nose, both hands placed on Guozhi's shoulders, and slowly breathed out

"I am honored" He says at last, chin lifted, and crystal tears cascading from his every shifting eyes "I will not squander this opportunity, and I will escort you to whatever destination you seek. No malefactor shall reach your noble spirit, Guozhi of Shangrala, my brother's mentor and guardian of so many windswept psykers"

"I am proud to have met such fine young men in my final years" Guozhi wails, in a thousand voices, tears flowing from hundreds of pairs of eyes

"I am grateful to have met you in the garden that day not so long ago" You say, composing and reigning in your emotions with a sharp breath, so as to maintain the dignified atmosphere of the start of this last walk shared between three great pyskerists "My eyes were opened that day"

"You have taught us prosperans much in the short time we were acquainted" Magnus states ardently, lifting Guozhi with you, as you both put one hand under his arms "There are no words in any language or culture i've encounter, that do justice to the depths of your wisdom. Brother, let us carry him"

"It is only right" You answer with a nod and then

"WHERE ARE YOU TAKING HIM!?" Meixiu roars, managing to perceive the bubble that Guozhi built to hide himself that you and Magnus fortified, but not pierce it "He isn't that old! He isn't! It isn't his time yet! Gramps! Tell them!"

She bangs her fists on the outer, protective layer of the shield, and Magnus' eyes twinkle with pride as the two of your behold the falling feathers, that were all that was left of a wicked spirit lurking and waiting for Guozhi's protections to fail. Meixiu had splattered its immaterial body just from her comet like arrival through the emperyean. How mighty she'll be, when she is fully grown.

"Only to a place where I would have gone on my own, my last breath will be given, to enlighten these two" Guozhi answers simply, though distantly, the cohesion of his personality fraying as he speaks "A place of grave danger, a place you shouldn't tread until..."

A emotional tremor cracks what can be considered the earth of this patch of the emperyean. And a second, writhing evil spirit, is taken, and like petals from a flower's head, torn to piece as Meixiu shudders with a mixture of child's pique, anger and uncontrolled grief

"Meixiu!" Guozhi roars back, quieting the quaking of her emotions, reclaiming the wholeness and consolidation of his personality "You know these two great men would do me no harm, I intend to expend the last of my vitality to teach them a lesson that may prove vital"

"But what about me!" She wails back, slamming her fists, head and body against the shield "Aren't I your student as well, why can't I come along! Why can't I be by your side grandpa! Why are you leaving me!"

Guozhi shudders, guilt pouring from the cracks in his bleeding soul. You and Magnus exchange glances.

Cont
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>>6119725

With just a meeting of the eyes, much is spoken

What do you do Lieren?

>Tell Meixiu, for all her raw strength, her spiritual defenses have not been trained enough for her to join the three of you on your journey. And that Guozhi turns her away, for her own safety

>Burning your soul a bit more intensely, shield Meixiu with brilliant gold fire and chilling moonlight and protect her from the darkness of the warp, so she may witness Guozhi's end and join the lesson

>Tell the girl that while Guozhi is in danger, so are the other students of the wanderers in the fog. When they hear of his death, their mental defenses may waver. Tell her, as the strongest cultivator and pyskerist besides yourself in the sect, it is her duty to protect them while you travel with Guozhi and Magnus

>Give the young psyker a minor task, fetching a simple trinket, but tell her it is vital to ensure the safety of Grandfather Guozhi in this journey. To serve as a lesson to her, of grief and the inevitability of death

>Write in

Not going to lie, I cried the whole time I was writing this update
>>
>>6119725
>Burning your soul a bit more intensely, shield Meixiu with brilliant gold fire and chilling moonlight and protect her from the darkness of the warp, so she may witness Guozhi's end and join the lesson
>>
>>6119726
>Burning your soul a bit more intensely, shield Meixiu with brilliant gold fire and chilling moonlight and protect her from the darkness of the warp, so she may witness Guozhi's end and join the lesson
>>
>>6119726
>Burning your soul a bit more intensely, shield Meixiu with brilliant gold fire and chilling moonlight and protect her from the darkness of the warp, so she may witness Guozhi's end and join the lesson

Aw man, I'm gonan miss Guozhi, atleast alot of our friends got to see our kids.
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>>6119726
What lesson do we impart.

Fuck it.
>Give the young girl a minor task.
>"You aren't ready, your spiritual defenses lack and it is for your safety he turns away. But Grandfather Guozhi shall return in time, of his 1001th life. And you may prepare to meet him then. For now, bring us a stone from the meditation cave to aid him."

She's not strong enough and shouldn't got to this "well of reincarnation" as I'm gonna call it. Life happens, so does death. Make peace with it Meixiu
>>
>>6119726
>>Burning your soul a bit more intensely, shield Meixiu with brilliant gold fire and chilling moonlight and protect her from the darkness of the warp, so she may witness Guozhi's end and join the lesson
>>
>>6119726
>Burning your soul a bit more intensely, shield Meixiu with brilliant gold fire and chilling moonlight and protect her from the darkness of the warp, so she may witness Guozhi's end and join the lesson
Conditional on:

>Write in
>"Meixiu. Whether you come along or stay Guozhi will be leaving regardless. If you cannot admit this, your attendance will endanger yourself and Guozhi, as well as likely preventing yourself from learning a vital lesson. You cannot learn a process if you cannot accept one of it's steps, after all. This is not only Guozhi's last will but also a secret that will place him in grave danger if lost."

If she wont accept this then >>6119765
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>>6119726
>Burning your soul a bit more intensely, shield Meixiu with brilliant gold fire and chilling moonlight and protect her from the darkness of the warp, so she may witness Guozhi's end and join the lesson

Miss that old man
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>>6119726
>Tell the girl that while Guozhi is in danger he'll need protection, so will the other students of the wanderers in the fog. When they hear of his death, their mental defenses may waver. Tell her, as the strongest cultivator and pyskerist besides yourself in the sect, it is her duty to protect them while you travel with Guozhi and Magnus
And that this will not be a final goodbye, you'll meet again even if it will be you who will be older then.

(You can really make these tear jerking moments shine Malal.)
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>>6119726
>Burning your soul a bit more intensely, shield Meixiu with brilliant gold fire and chilling moonlight and protect her from the darkness of the warp, so she may witness Guozhi's end and join the lesson

>Write in Inform the senior members to be vigilant against warp based dangers
>>
>>6119726
>Tell the girl that while Guozhi is in danger, so are the other students of the wanderers in the fog. When they hear of his death, their mental defenses may waver. Tell her, as the strongest cultivator and pyskerist besides yourself in the sect, it is her duty to protect them while you travel with Guozhi and Magnus
"He has every been their watcher, we will receive the final lesson and bring what we can home. The sect needs you now, in his place be their protector, preserve what he and you made together."
>>
>>6119726
>>Tell the girl that while Guozhi is in danger, so are the other students of the wanderers in the fog. When they hear of his death, their mental defenses may waver. Tell her, as the strongest cultivator and pyskerist besides yourself in the sect, it is her duty to protect them while you travel with Guozhi and Magnus
>>Give the young psyker a minor task, fetching a simple trinket, but tell her it is vital to ensure the safety of Grandfather Guozhi in this journey. To serve as a lesson to her, of grief and the inevitability of death.

Honestly, I think it is a harsh, but necessary lesson for the young girl. Considering we are Mr-Warp-Mark-On-My-Face, it's obvious shits gonna go FUBAR on the way. Also, I don't trust the kid not to be able to let go at the last second and somehow accidentally push Guozhi's soul into perils.
>>
>>6119726
>Tell the girl that while Guozhi is in danger, so are the other students of the wanderers in the fog. When they hear of his death, their mental defenses may waver. Tell her, as the strongest cultivator and pyskerist besides yourself in the sect, it is her duty to protect them while you travel with Guozhi and Magnus
>>
All the anons bullying Meixiu instead of just shielding her and letting her say her goodbyes.

Shameful.
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>>6119726
>Burning your soul a bit more intensely, shield Meixiu with brilliant gold fire and chilling moonlight and protect her from the darkness of the warp, so she may witness Guozhi's end and join the lesson
>>
>>6120195
I'm not taking any kid into a warp zone.
It's just irresponsible and she needs to prepare herself for these life lessons

And if she uses this as motivation to improve. All the better.
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>>6120238
This.

We ain't God. If Tzeentch shows up to starts some shit, things are going to go tits up real fast.
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>>6119726
>Tell the girl that while Guozhi is in danger he'll need protection, so will the other students of the wanderers in the fog. When they hear of his death, their mental defences may waver. Tell her, as the strongest cultivator and pyskerist besides yourself in the sect, it is her duty to protect them while you travel with Guozhi and Magnus
Drive home this is what Guozhi want's a last duty to her gramps, please take care of the others while he's away.
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>>6119726
>Tell the girl that while Guozhi is in danger he'll need protection, so will the other students of the wanderers in the fog. When they hear of his death, their mental defences may waver. Tell her, as the strongest cultivator and pyskerist besides yourself in the sect, it is her duty to protect them while you travel with Guozhi and Magnus

change my vote due to sound logic
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>>6119726
>Tell the girl that while Guozhi is in danger, so are the other students of the wanderers in the fog. When they hear of his death, their mental defenses may waver. Tell her, as the strongest cultivator and pyskerist besides yourself in the sect, it is her duty to protect them while you travel with Guozhi and Magnus
This is both a valid concern that should be addressed and a way to keep her from potentially injuring Guozhi's soul if she can't let go. She needs to learn that even she shouldn't meddle with the inevitability of death, not without true reason. And it would really suck if we got back only to learn that one of our guys gave into grief and got demon'd.
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>>6119726
V:15

>Tell Meixiu:1 AD:?

>Burning your soul: 8

>Tell the girl: 6

>Give the young psyker: 2

>Write in: 1
>>
>>6119726
>Burning your soul a bit more intensely, shield Meixiu with brilliant gold fire and chilling moonlight and protect her from the darkness of the warp, so she may witness Guozhi's end and join the lesson
>>
>>6119726
V:16

>Tell Meixiu:1 AD:?

>Burning your soul: 9

>Tell the girl: 6

>Give the young psyker: 2

>Write in: 1
>>
>>6119726
>>Tell the girl that while Guozhi is in danger, so are the other students of the wanderers in the fog. When they hear of his death, their mental defenses may waver. Tell her, as the strongest cultivator and pyskerist besides yourself in the sect, it is her duty to protect them while you travel with Guozhi and Magnus

>>6119780
>>6119765
>we nearly got killed and got our forehead mark for a keepsake. this might also be a matter of focus and skill, one that all present except Guozhi are complete novices in.
>unless one can keep observing his ritualized death to begin a new life again, we risk not meeting him in another life.
>Mexiu would better memorize Guozhis soul so she can race all of us to find him first
>>
>>6119726
>V:17

>Tell Meixiu:1 AD:?

>Burning your soul: 9

>Tell the girl: 7

>Give the young psyker: 2

>Write in: 1
>>
>>6119726
>Tell the girl that while Guozhi is in danger, so are the other students of the wanderers in the fog. When they hear of his death, their mental defenses may waver. Tell her, as the strongest cultivator and pyskerist besides yourself in the sect, it is her duty to protect them while you travel with Guozhi and Magnus
I don't think we should show the child what might be some eye of creation tier stuff, that's how you create a late game enemy but also our students back home will be exposed
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>>6119726
>Tell the girl that while Guozhi is in danger, so are the other students of the wanderers in the fog. When they hear of his death, their mental defenses may waver. Tell her, as the strongest cultivator and pyskerist besides yourself in the sect, it is her duty to protect them while you travel with Guozhi and Magnus
I got a bad feeling about letting her into the lesson, she ain't on Lieren and Magnus' level. I feel like her time for goodbyes is right here and not during the lesson.
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>>6119726
>V:19

>Tell Meixiu:1 AD:?

>Burning your soul: 9

>Tell the girl: 9

>Give the young psyker: 2

>Write in: 1
>>
I wonder how our Aeldari have been doing andbwhere our favourite wraithguard is? He missed the wedding and I'm worried for him.
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>>6119726
>V:19

>Tell Meixiu:1 AD:?

>Burning your soul: 8

>Tell the girl: 10

>Give the young psyker: 2

>Write in: 1
So I miscalculated 100%
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>>6122124
100% correct now
>>
>>6119726

>Burning your soul a bit more intensely, shield Meixiu with brilliant gold fire and chilling moonlight and protect her from the darkness of the warp, so she may witness Guozhi's end and join the lesson
>>
>>6119726
>V:20

>Tell Meixiu:1 AD:?

>Burning your soul: 9

>Tell the girl: 10

>Give the young psyker: 2

>Write in: 1
>>
>>6119726
>Tell the girl that while Guozhi is in danger he'll need protection, so will the other students of the wanderers in the fog. When they hear of his death, their mental defences may waver. Tell her, as the strongest cultivator and pyskerist besides yourself in the sect, it is her duty to protect them while you travel with Guozhi and Magnus

I'm sorry anons, I usually lurk but powerful as she is, she's still a child. The amount of fucked we will encounter can't be good for her, also that way the others will be safe too
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>>6122496
>but powerful as she is, she's still a child
This.
Reminder that the warp loves trying to tempt you into embracing it. She is in no state of mind to deal with daemons offering to save Guozhi from Tzeentch in exchange for small, harmless favors.
>>
File: 1660427871773558.png (1.27 MB, 850x1100)
1.27 MB
1.27 MB PNG
Calling the vote now. Sorry for the wait, was waiting for the tie to be broken one way or the other, and catching up with my Monster hunter grinding

>>6122296
Thank you for the help Anon! Always appreciate it.

So Lieren will tell Meixiu that Guozhi is in danger but so are the other psykers, and that as the strongest psyker in the cultivation sect, it is her duty to guard them while they're away traveling with Guozhi and Magnus

Writing now
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>>6119726
>Tell the girl that while Guozhi is in danger, so are the other students of the wanderers in the fog. When they hear of his death, their mental defenses may waver. Tell her, as the strongest cultivator and pyskerist besides yourself in the sect, it is her duty to protect them while you travel with Guozhi and Magnus

Also hi a lurker here I finally read all of this quest and i must say malal you have done an amazing job and I am excited to see what this quest offers in the future
>>
For all of Meixiu innate psionic strength and inborn potential to wield it and harness her gift, and the tragedy she suffered before Guozhi found her, she is not prepared to venture into the deeper sea of the warp. For all of her natural strength as a psyker, she is not strong enough to take the trek, the innocence of youth would break the mental and spiritual armor she is still training and forging the desperation of a child to keep hold of the man who became, in all but official records, her adoptive father, by her side after having lost her family and village at so young an age. Meixiu is head strong, and is well aware of her power, but has yet to clearly glimpse and grasp its limits. She is a child, a grieving, wheeping child. The favoured prey of the denizens of the discordant realms

Both you and Magnus are in agreement that her safety and well being cannot be risked, even if denying her would wound her heart. Bitter tears are a small price to pay to avoid damnation.

"Grandfather Guozhi is in danger" You answer, voice booming and resounding through the currents of the Emperyean disturbed by the presence of four great practitioners of psykerism standing so close together in its current "But he is not alone in being threatened, Meixiu. The other members of the wanderers in the fog sect, your fellow students, honored teachers, they to are in danger"

Through her tears, Meixiu perked up, wiping the steaming drops of sorrow from her cheeks with the sleeve of her robe as she heard your words, and at the mention of her dear friends be in danger, stood up as tall as she could, eyes a swirl of cosmic potential, the weight of her peerless spirit's touch compressing and sinking the pearl hued soil beneath her feet.

"Grandfather's time has come, and when they hear of his passing, they will feel a sorrow just as deep and painful as you are now" You say softly, voice somber and delicate like a murmuring stream, head bowed "Such intense emotions, may weaken their mental defenses, and as their guard wavers. They may be spirit away, ridden by foul winds and cruel devils"

"A lapse in their attention is all it would taken, if they seek solace in the shores of the great sea. The malevolent of its denizens can easily disguise their attentions and appear as benign entities" Mangus adds with a nod "And the same is true for you, Meixiu, despite your prodigious strength and natural talents harnessing your gift, that is why you cannot come"

"That is why I kept this a secret, but these two, could sense my impending end. Because they are both skilled and powerful enough to join me in this, the last leg of my journey, to escort me to the door waiting for me far away" Guozhi continued gently, tears shimmering in his bright blue eyes as Meixiu's brow wrinkled and furrowed

Cont
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>>6122632

"And while we walk into the storm, you will wait on the shore, guarding the hearts of your sect-mates should they waver and give into despair" You proudly command, clapping your hands three times, forming a point on a triangle with each one "That is your duty, as the strongest of the wanderers in the fog beside myself. Protect them, while my brother and I escort Guozhi to where he must go"

"It is the final kindness I'd ask of you, little girl" Guozhi says solemnly, head bowed

"You are more than capable of it, Meixiu, if you remember your training and endure your grief for the others sake" Magnus adds with a tender smile.

And then, without a word, Meixiu is gone, only cupping her fist before her spiritual form vanishes as she returns fully back to the Materium, eyes focused and hardened with conviction even as tears roil at their edges.

"The final goodbyes are always the most painful" Guozhi sighs, lifting up his head as he rests between you and Magnus, both of you lending one hand to support the sagacious monk as you take the first solemn steps on his last journey, acting alone as his funerary possession and his mourners.

"We will meet again" You answer, head lifted and drearily looking to the swirls of mist and fog unfurling ahead of you, revealing new pathways through the ever shifting realm of chaos

"Providence must never be trusted to arrive, fortune is an unsteady foundation to build a house upon" Your teacher replies simply

"We will do all in our power to ensure it" Magnus states with confidence, head held high, beholding and gazing upon the horizon hopefully

"It is not the place of a student to be whipped for the failure of his teacher" Guozhi answers back plainly as he glances around, figures vague and unsubstantial appearing out of the mists to march beside you, each of them sharing one clear feature. Blue eyes, young yet filled with the wisdom of the old, ancient yet overflowing with the wonder and vigor of youth. The past lives and previous incarnations of Guozhi

"Remarkable, so this is the true form of your soul" Magnus remarks under his breath

"My memories from my first birth, to what could be my last" Guozhi answers, smiling fondly as scenes from previous eras of Shangrala's history emerge and are played like shadow theater before your eyes "The travels I had with my brothers and sister of the dai monks. The conflicts we had with the servants of Jian Qi. Our efforts to save fair Kanzeon's soul from the degenerated off spring of her passengers and crew. And yes, the lonely lives I lived away from their kinship, the roads I wandered with only myself as company"

He frowned, sadness summoning the illusion of rain to the dirt trail the tree of you walk down, surrounding by memories woven of mists and written in fog, as faint images of the burning of the Dai Monk's monastery and the monks themselves played as clear as autumn waters.
Cont
>>
>>6122634

Magnus' eyes blazed with fury as he watched this memory play out, seeing from Guozhi's own eyes the execution of his fellow sages and monks who lived several lives, but your brother said nothing and merely watched the tragedy as it unfolded.

"Both of you have far surpassed me" Guozhi says, after you have spent hours, days or perhaps mere moments wading through the sea of the memories he's acquired and held onto firmly throughout his thousands of lives "And have long before this moment reached heights I cannot dream of reaching under my own power. It is the greatest honor, to be recognized as and called your teacher, even if it was only momentarily"

"The wisdom of elders is invaluable" you answer simply, with a pure and blithe smile as you stare down into the abyss ahead, the road paved with memories having lead to a shortcut into the crushing depths of the warp

"I respect all who have taught me" Magnus replies as well, curiously looking down the drop "Is this our destination?"

"We will wander the wilds of the empyrean and explore its unseen shores" He answers calmly "This journey I've so often undertaken alone, will be serve as training for you two titans standing tall in these always churning waters, and at the end, you shall see how I've cheated Jian Qi so often, the secret way we Dai Monk's slip the shackles of mortality and survive the eroding energies of the warp"

"I am humbled to be offered such a chance to learn and be taught privately by a master such as yourself, in your final hours" Magnus respectfully thanks him, in both the prosperan and Long-Jian manners "I will cherish the memories we make this journey to my final day, and cherish the knowledge I gain until the stars grow cold, Guozhi"

"Where will we be venturing to during this journey, my eyes can see far and pick out many peaks and valleys, citadels and towers, I can see the march of armies and the wastes they leave behind, and the dreams of entire worlds from here, on the edge of the stygian depths" You ask curiously, kneeling down and dipping your hand into the swirling waters of the emperyean pooling ahead of you, seeing hoof prints alongside the treads of tanks in front of it, as the locale of the warp the three of you rest at is shifted to that of a peach formed of molten glass and pitcher leafed plants whispering all the secrets of the drowned dead

"Ah, that depends entirely on what it is you wish to be taught, in the embers of this life, the records containing all I have known across the passing of my lives is revealed to me with as much clarity as your kind, ever gentle golden eyes, Lieren, my boy" He answers, voice warm and comforting, filled with his fondness for the both of you "And in the deep eddies and remote mountains of the warp, much can be revealed. I will serve as guide and lantern, for both of you, so you may claim these insights as your own. And then, at the end, I will show you the truth I alone am privy too"

Cont
>>
>>6122636

"And the reason Jian Qi and his ilk pursue you so fervently and ferociously" You say, seeing what is left unsaid. Guozhi nods, eyes closed as he hums a song that you've heard played on board Kanzeon before. A Voidfairers melody, from eons ago.

What is it you will ask Guozhi to teach you, through the memories and knowledge acquired over his many lives, Lieren?

>The breadth and full extent of the Dai exorcist techniques in their entirety, and the silver moonlight granted to you by the princess of order Arianka

>How fire and flames may heal and destruction can be made into a force of creation, refining the golden flames constantly devouring and repairing your soul

>Of storms and of masks, and your ability to inspire and empower others and be strengthened in turn, and the ways perception dye reality.

>Fire-light, Moonlight. Both produce shadows, both create their anthesis. The night is not something to be feared, nor does darkness embody evil. A moonless sky and the ashes left behind will be what you mediate upon, the opposites of the two sources of your psionic powers

>Write in

>>6122593
Thanks for the kind words and encouragement, I'm also thrilled to hear you guys are enjoying this, and I promise, some real exciting stuff is coming up very soon!
>>
>>6122637
>Fire-light, Moonlight. Both produce shadows, both create their anthesis. The night is not something to be feared, nor does darkness embody evil. A moonless sky and the ashes left behind will be what you mediate upon, the opposites of the two sources of your psionic powers

>The breadth and full extent of the Dai exorcist techniques in their entirety, and the silver moonlight granted to you by the princess of order Arianka
>>
>>6122637
>Fire-light, Moonlight. Both produce shadows, both create their anthesis. The night is not something to be feared, nor does darkness embody evil. A moonless sky and the ashes left behind will be what you mediate upon, the opposites of the two sources of your psionic powers
I feel like there's no bad choices here, so I'm opting for the mystery box of "darkness is not evil".
>>
>>6122637

>How fire and flames may heal and destruction can be made into a force of creation, refining the golden flames constantly devouring and repairing your soul
Have we healed someone with our Golden Flames before?
>>
>>6122637
>Of storms and of masks, and your ability to inspire and empower others and be strengthened in turn, and the ways perception dye reality.

>Fire-light, Moonlight. Both produce shadows, both create their anthesis. The night is not something to be feared, nor does darkness embody evil. A moonless sky and the ashes left behind will be what you mediate upon, the opposites of the two sources of your psionic powers
>>
>>6122637
>How fire and flames may heal and destruction can be made into a force of creation, refining the golden flames constantly devouring and repairing your soul
>>
>>6122637

This seems like a way to heal himself and others. And given the way Loren tends to push himself until he has one foot in the grave, I think refining his self destructing soul should extend his endurance.

>How fire and flames may heal and destruction can be made into a force of creation, refining the golden flames constantly devouring and repairing your soul
>>
>>6122637
>>How fire and flames may heal and destruction can be made into a force of creation, refining the golden flames constantly devouring and repairing your soul
>>
>>6122637
>The breadth and full extent of the Dai exorcist techniques in their entirety, and the silver moonlight granted to you by the princess of order Arianka

So does the archive working for you guys ?
>>
>>6122637
>Votes: 8

>The breadth and full extent of the Dai exorcist techniques: 2

>How fire and flames may heal and destruction: 4

>Of storms and of masks: 1

>Fire-light, Moonlight. Both produce shadows, both create their anthesis: 3

Works for me
>>
>>6122637
>How fire and flames may heal and destruction can be made into a force of creation, refining the golden flames constantly devouring and repairing your soul

>The breadth and full extent of the Dai exorcist techniques in their entirety, and the silver moonlight granted to you by the princess of order Arianka
>>
>>6122637
>How fire and flames may heal
>>
>>6122637
>Of storms and of masks, and your ability to inspire and empower others and be strengthened in turn, and the ways perception dye reality.
>>
>>6122637
>How fire and flames may heal and destruction can be made into a force of creation, refining the golden flames constantly devouring and repairing your soul
>>
>>6122637
>>The breadth and full extent of the Dai exorcist techniques in their entirety, and the silver moonlight granted to you by the princess of order Arianka
fuck demons
>>
>>6122637
>How fire and flames may heal and destruction can be made into a force of creation, refining the golden flames constantly devouring and repairing your soul

>Fire-light, Moonlight. Both produce shadows, both create their anthesis. The night is not something to be feared, nor does darkness embody evil. A moonless sky and the ashes left behind will be what you mediate upon, the opposites of the two sources of your psionic powers
>>
>>6122637
>Votes: 14

>The breadth and full extent of the Dai exorcist techniques: 4

>How fire and flames may heal and destruction: 8

>Of storms and of masks: 2

>Fire-light, Moonlight. Both produce shadows, both create their anthesis: 4
>>
>>6122637
>>How fire and flames may heal and destruction can be made into a force of creation, refining the golden flames constantly devouring and repairing your soul
>Of storms and of masks, and your ability to inspire and empower others and be strengthened in turn, and the ways perception dye reality.
>>
>>6122767
Isn't working for me. I'm worried that the storm knocked them out or something.
>>
>>6122637
>Fire-light, Moonlight. Both produce shadows, both create their anthesis. The night is not something to be feared, nor does darkness embody evil. A moonless sky and the ashes left behind will be what you mediate upon, the opposites of the two sources of your psionic powers
>>
>>6122637
>How fire and flames may heal and destruction can be made into a force of creation, refining the golden flames constantly devouring and repairing your soul

>Fire-light, Moonlight. Both produce shadows, both create their anthesis. The night is not something to be feared, nor does darkness embody evil. A moonless sky and the ashes left behind will be what you mediate upon, the opposites of the two sources of your psionic powers
>>
>>6123010
>Votes: 17

>The breadth and full extent of the Dai exorcist techniques: 4

>How fire and flames may heal: 10

>Of storms and of masks: 3

>Fire-light, Moonlight. Both produce shadows, both create their anthesis: 6
>>
I hope the tg archive is not destroyed losing so many pieces of this saga would have crushed me mentally and spiritually.
>>
>>6123462
I have locally saved atleast up to part way through angrons arc if worst comes to worst.
>>
>>6123462
I hope so By the way malal, the fight with Be'lakor was awesome, especially when we marked him with a lotus symbol
>>
If the archive comes back online I will copy it all over to my hard drive and my important shit USB
>>
Male plz tell me you have the story saved on your computer
>>
>>6122637
>How fire and flames may heal and destruction can be made into a force of creation, refining the golden flames constantly devouring and repairing your soul

>Fire-light, Moonlight. Both produce shadows, both create their anthesis. The night is not something to be feared, nor does darkness embody evil. A moonless sky and the ashes left behind will be what you mediate upon, the opposites of the two sources of your psionic powers

These are pretty cool.
>>
>>6122637
>Votes: 18

>The breadth and full extent of the Dai exorcist techniques: 4

>How fire and flames may heal: 11

>Of storms and of masks: 3

>Fire-light, Moonlight. Both produce shadows, both create their anthesis: 7
>>
the archive is up again but everything seems to be gone
>>
>>6123896
The threads are still there.
https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/2023/5788584/

The directory listing is completely fucked tho.
>>
What do you think happened to the archive? flood, lightning or a fire?
>>
>>6123897
I wonder if we can still submit new threads then.
>>
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Do not fear brothers, the Moe archive remains intact and I have PDFs of all the Threads.
https://archived.moe/qst You can find this quest via the search word "Primarch".
>>
oh my god you are a goddamn hero!!!! Do you think you can contact tg archive admins so that you can get the story up there again. So that people can enjoy the story again.
>>
The archive is back all 37 Primarch parts are there!!!!!
>>
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Calling the vote now. Sorry for the long wait, real life issues had me stressed.

>>6123889
thank you for counting up the vote, as always, I appreciate the help.

So Lieren will ask Guozhi how to teach him how Fire and Flames may heal.

Writing now.


>>6124013
Incredibly based anon
>>
The quiet moments of consideration and contemplation of which of the thousand fold insights and wisdoms old Guozhi has come to possess over his many long and historied lives, while by the measure of most men it would appear to have taken you no thought at all to make your decision, in a mind as efficient and quick as yours, the decision feels like a lengthy but imperative debate you're having with yourself. Magnus however, seems to have walked Guozhi to this shore with his choice already having been made.

"I wish to improve my understanding of the Alchemical arts, both traditional and scientific, chemistry and mysticism, to bridge the gap between the two different expressions of the same concept, the primitive and the advance, the mundane and the supernatural" He explains, composed and respectful as he turns to Guozhi, who strokes his beard, nodding along agreeably with your brother's request as he speaks it "I wish to master the art, to be known more as an Alchemist rather than a sorcerer supreme, to draw power not from these choppy and uncertain waters surrounding me, but through draughts and chemical compounds of my own design, infusions formed of the very stuff of the warp, purified and refined"

"You've already dabbled with this most dangerous art, taking from this empyrean realm and through crucible's fire and curious methods, turning it into something that can be made us of, safely I hope" Guozhi says, and you briefly halt your internal debate to shift your eyes to Magnus who breathes in sharply through his nose, knowing what you can tell at a glance from the subtlest shifts of his body language and the inner most chambers hidden in his heart

"I have, but I've been far more cautious than I would have otherwise been, had I not realized the dangers of incaution and recklessness, the same lesson that taught me that something as fickle as wind cannot be trusted as a power source, which lead me to pursue this alternative path of study" He explains, weighing every word carefully, his eyes locked with yours, trying to convince you more than Guozhi, and himself more than you "I've taken every precaution, sanitized and sealed the sites of my experiments and have painstakingly made certain the means of cleansing I employ are working effectively, with little room for mistake or miscalculation"

"You could've trusted me with this, I'd have been glad to help you in this research" You say truthfully and Magnus nods

"Oh of that I am certain, but we'd have come to different conclusions than what I have learned already on my own if we had worked together. I wish to create Alchemy useable by Prosperans, and while your perspective would've hastened the developments I've already made, I do not doubt, it would've also diverted the course, I feel" He explains politely
Cont
>>
>>6125189

"And your initial experiments were too dangerous to be brought to my attention" You say with a frown and Magnus laughs

"I may have learned some sense of caution, but the same fright that taught me that, also inspired within me a curious determination" He answer quite jovially, arms apart and open kindly "To craft countermeasures to the foe...no, enemy, we faced that day"

"Hmmrph" Guozhi grunts, wacking Magnus on the thigh with his walking stick "No need to convince me, and I am sure your brother is simply relieved I'll show you a less treacherous path forward pursuing this not so new found interest of yours, red giant. I will gladly teach you what I know of Alchemy derived from the immaterial. But what of you, Lieren, what do you seek"

"My soul is lit aflame. It is a fire that spreads to whatever touches this welcoming heart of mine. It is a golden sea that empowers and inspires, while drawing power to renew itself and brilliance to enlighten me. But, though it has proven invaluable, filling the thousands of vessels with but embers of itself, I recognize the danger of these gilded flames, just as I know the cooling moonlight hidden away in my heart may freeze and bite" You answer, gazing towards a blazing eye of amber and coral flames far in the distance, reaching a hand up and slowly drawing your fingers as if grasping the lashing tongues of its fires "While I have made good use of the properties it possesses already, I seek to refine it. The flames that feed upon and rejuvenate my soul in a paradoxical cycle of destruction and creation"

"Emphasizing on the creation, when you have used the excess energies to covertly improve those whose souls are washed in the warmth of your flames" Magnus posits, crossing his arms as he too gazes upon the same horizon, but in his eyes, a different scene is reflected

"To learn how to wield what is performed subconsciously, the peculiar healing of this spirit of mine" You answer, smiling as Magnus does at having correctly guessed your intent "How something as all consuming as fire can be taught and made to heal rather than burn, how a force of destruction can be turned to creation"

"One may find a resemblance between this endeavor of yours, and both of the lives we've lived, born to lead armies, yet finding joy and fulfillment in more civilized callings" Your brother chuckles

"And this one, teaching cold logic and pure reason to become an overflowing fount of passion, love and kindness" Guozhi remarks with a chuckle of his own "I believe I can guide you to a place that can teach you the secret of healing fire, Lieren. Coincidentally, it is close by the place I must show Magnus, where the diagrams and designs for pure alchemy can be found for him to study and absorb without fear of tampering or corrupting influence"
Cont
>>
>>6125190

A place of sealed knowledge and of strange fires with unusual properties. The roost of Jian Qi, the self imposed architect of fate. Your father on Terra would either be livid or greatly impressed by the audacity of this. And this journey chosen by Grandfather Guozhi, shows perhaps, why Jian Qi holds such enmity towards him and desire for his soul. The Lord of Lies, must detest being tricked and made the fool through no convoluted scheme or design of his own making.

"You both seem in deep thought" Magnus breaks the silence of contemplation as you rub your chin, in deep thought,

"Teacher is leading us some place dangerous" You state, and Guozhi nods

"Reckless in his extreme age, isn't he?" Magnus sighs

"It will be dangerous for all three of us" Guozhi cackles, winking like a man much younger and rowdier than the guozhi you know "But, a scholar without peer, a hunter without equal who are both visionaries and an unimpressive old man with a bad hip, should be able to muster enough effort to emerge out the other side unscathed"

"Well, all three of us have experience plunging the depths and dangers of the great sea" You brother says, trying to convince and rouse himself despite his misgivings, and concern for the safety of Guozhi's precious soul "There'd be no other triad better equipped to survive this learning excursion"

"Except if we brought our father along, or better yet, beat war drums and rallied all manner of trouble makers and evil spirits to chase after us" You snicker, no looking Magnus' way, out of worry he'd be actually considering doing just that as you venture into the Domain of Jian Qi, named by the Aeldari as Tzeeneth, and called elsewhere Tzneetch. Your sword hand twitches, as you recall your first encounter with a thrall of the discordant powers. The betentacled Unseen master moving the strings of the unliving sorcerer squatting above where Kanzeon slept through the ages, the corruption that ruined the tiger folk.

Perhaps you'd meet that vile abomination on the road

And kill it again.

"Oh, I'd not be so certain of that" Guozhi ponders outload, tapping his walking stick on the pearlescent waters in front of him "We'll be entering the Manse of Jian Qi, after all, to open boxes he couldn't pry or beguile open. Secrets of Cultivation styles passed down from one incarnation of me and mine to the next, claimed by that vagabond of wayward mysteries when some of us fell from the righteous path, but that he was unable to take possession of"

"The weaver of fate you warned me about?" Magnus asks simply "When you first told me of wicked spirits, before soon being assailed by one of the very same treacherous beings?"
Cont
>>
>>6125191

"That is one of their self important titles, yes, and the one I told to you when we had first encountered one another. Fate is ever the salve of fools, and many such fools fall into trance by Jian Qi's mutterings" You whisper conspiratorially to your brother, as Guozhi, with gestures and protective hand signs, guide you both down a path lined with iridescent crystals and glittering green Warpstone.

And in front of your eyes, blue hued feathers fall, the tell tale scratches and prints left behind by hopping and dancing birds, capering like dancers, appears in the glass like surfaces appearing around you through mists dyed lavender and deepest midnight, the bird song of deceit.

Looking down at your hands, you find an archers glove formed of doe skin drawn over your hands, robes replaced with hunter's vestments, as Magnus' courtly scholarly robes are in turn replaced a hooded cloaked shifting with sands and wafting with clouds of incense and an odd raven's skull shaped mask over his own eyes, and Guozhi's eyes become fractals, displaying every emotion ever felt by mankind in the eyes of every life and face his spirit has worn.

And then, suddenly, your teacher becomes mist, though you can still feel his astral self firmly in your grasp even as his ethereal body slips through your fingers.

And the brand atop your brow begins to first ache, then sting and burn like white hot metal. Drops of blood dribble from one of the arrows forming the scar, not red, but ink black flecked gold, azure and plum.

Touching two fingers to the stream of blood, you catch the reflection of one burning eye in the sheen of the blackened blood and flick the drop away, before a pillar of azure fire erupts from just a drop of blood

"Tch, now things get trickery" Guozhi mutters, as vast, flapping wings sounds above "I'd hoped drawing on both of your immense spiritual presences would've been enough to strengthen my veil to shield the sign of that hateful brand"

Magnus silently draws a blade that curiously resembles a Vishnu saber, sands whirling around it as you scan the ever changing skies above your head

"It need not be" You answer softly

"Just because we are sighted, does not mean we are found" Magnus adds, lifting one finger from the grip of his blade

"Hah! I like that confidence! Will and self belief is an invaluable shield while traversing the Empyrean!" Guozhi proudly declares
Cont
>>
>>6125192

What do you do, Lieren?

>"I'll shoot this contemptible crane out of the sky, and while its feather falls, you go to where the alchemical mysteries lie locked" Then, Show the wicked spirit above exactly "How Kurnous Strings His Bow" with one fatal arrow

>Disguise yourself as Guozhi and yourself, and lead the evil spirit to clearer skies, purposefully missing it with blasts of "The water becomes the void as the Void becomes the water" to rouse its hunting instincts and lead it into the range of another daemon

>Crack your neck, fingers and shake your wrists, and perform "Reality Flickers before the approaching storm", (What emotion/ concept do you use as a focus)

>Inspired by Guozhi's failed attempt at hiding the three of you, attempt it, but go in the opposite direction, creating what amounts to a spiritual flash bang by quickly transmuting moonlight you allow to flow and surge out of you into searing golden sunlight

>Write in
>>
>>6125193
>"I'll shoot this contemptible crane out of the sky, and while its feather falls, you go to where the alchemical mysteries lie locked" Then, Show the wicked spirit above exactly "How Kurnous Strings His Bow" with one fatal arrow

>Disguise yourself as Guozhi and yourself, and lead the evil spirit to clearer skies, purposefully missing it with blasts of "The water becomes the void as the Void becomes the water" to rouse its hunting instincts and lead it into the range of another daemon

>Crack your neck, fingers and shake your wrists, and perform "Reality Flickers before the approaching storm", (What emotion/ concept do you use as a focus)

> An ancient forest green and lively, birds flying between the old and steady branches unaware of hunters, bow in hand, patience and determination in their heart ready to loose the bow and pierce the wicked bests that circles the beautiful sky.
>>
>>6125193
>"I'll shoot this contemptible crane out of the sky, and while its feather falls, you go to where the alchemical mysteries lie locked" Then, Show the wicked spirit above exactly "How Kurnous Strings His Bow" with one fatal arrow

>Crack your neck, fingers and shake your wrists, and perform "Reality Flickers before the approaching storm", (What emotion/ concept do you use as a focus)

> An ancient forest green and lively, birds flying between the old and steady branches unaware of hunters, bow in hand, patience and determination in their heart ready to loose the bow and pierce the wicked bests that circles the beautiful sky.

ignore the first one Plz :)
>>
>>6125193
>Fire kurnous' bow

What a trick it will be. To pluck a chicken, just for me.
>>
>>6125193

Every other path involves leaving guozhi's veil, drawing more attention or both.

Shoot the scout and move on.

"I'll shoot this contemptible crane out of the sky, and while its feather falls, you go to where the alchemical mysteries lie locked" Then, Show the wicked spirit above exactly "How Kurnous Strings His Bow" with one fatal arrow
>>
>>6125193
>"I'll shoot this contemptible crane out of the sky, and while its feather falls, you go to where the alchemical mysteries lie locked" Then, Show the wicked spirit above exactly "How Kurnous Strings His Bow" with one fatal arrow
>>
>>6125193
>4

>"I'll shoot this: 4

>Disguise yourself:

>Crack your neck: 1

>Inspired by Guozhi's:
>>
>>6125193
>"I'll shoot this contemptible crane out of the sky, and while its feather falls, you go to where the alchemical mysteries lie locked" Then, Show the wicked spirit above exactly "How Kurnous Strings His Bow" with one fatal arrow
Remind the contemptible fiend why we are a Hunter of Nothing.
>>
>>6125193
>>"I'll shoot this contemptible crane out of the sky, and while its feather falls, you go to where the alchemical mysteries lie locked" Then, Show the wicked spirit above exactly "How Kurnous Strings His Bow" with one fatal arrow
>>
>>6125193
>"I'll shoot this contemptible crane out of the sky, and while its feather falls, you go to where the alchemical mysteries lie locked" Then, Show the wicked spirit above exactly "How Kurnous Strings His Bow" with one fatal arrow
>>
>>6125256
>>"I'll shoot this contemptible crane out of the sky, and while its feather falls, you go to where the alchemical mysteries lie locked" Then, Show the wicked spirit above exactly "How Kurnous Strings His Bow" with one fatal arrow

inb4 the trend of Lieren trying to one-shot his opponent and failing continues.
>>
>>6125193
>Use the bow trick we learned from the Eldar hunter to one tap this lower lifeform.
>>
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>>6125193
>Inspired by Guozhi's failed attempt at hiding the three of you, attempt it, but go in the opposite direction, creating what amounts to a spiritual flash bang by quickly transmuting moonlight you allow to flow and surge out of you into searing golden sunlight
The silver soul reflects the suns might. A reminder that finding your enemy can prove as dangerous as letting them remain hidden.
>>
>>6125193
>>Inspired by Guozhi's failed attempt at hiding the three of you, attempt it, but go in the opposite direction, creating what amounts to a spiritual flash bang by quickly transmuting moonlight you allow to flow and surge out of you into searing golden sunlight
>>6125460
True. You go looking for trouble, you might just find it.
>>
>>6125193
>Inspired by Guozhi's failed attempt at hiding the three of you, attempt it, but go in the opposite direction, creating what amounts to a spiritual flash bang by quickly transmuting moonlight you allow to flow and surge out of you into searing golden sunlight
The time has come to burglarize Tzeentch's home.
>>
>>6125193
> Votse: 12

>"I'll shoot this: 9

>Disguise yourself:

>Crack your neck: 1

>Inspired by Guozhi's: 3
>>
>>6125442
I mean pretty sure we one shot those twin from the palace
>>
>>6125193
>Inspired by Guozhi's failed attempt at hiding the three of you, attempt it, but go in the opposite direction, creating what amounts to a spiritual flash bang by quickly transmuting moonlight you allow to flow and surge out of you into searing golden sunlight
We're not allowed to one shot things, even if we are in effect a sniper primarch with our eyes and the bow
>>
>>6125566
> Votse: 13

>"I'll shoot this: 9

>Disguise yourself:

>Crack your neck: 1

>Inspired by Guozhi's: 4
>>
>>6125664
It’s more accurate to say that Lieren can mow down mooks, defeat elites with some effort, but proper rivals require genuine fight.
>>
>>6125664
We did, but lets clarify some stuff. The twin Yang crown princes were still mortal humans* even if the very best in terms of skill out of all of the princes of the Tyrant. For other mortal humans fighting them would have been hard, and they both had relic power dao's and well crafted armors. For Lieren killing them was the effort of a moment. Now Lieren has killed and fought far worse after them and before them, so those two freaky twins are not really a good example of achievement in terms of combat. The mutated magical monsters (heavily corrupted humans) that we killed before the Journey Rebellion, where quite powerful and aided Lieren growth for combat. Those are a better example for fight achievement.

The demon above could be anything since we haven't seen it properly, and the technique of Kurnous if he isn't a low evil spirit will probably still wound deeply and make him fall down from the "sky". It is a lethal technique after all and the spirit didn't find us. Plus in the hands of Lieren, so yeah. The real problem is not really the demon it self (it could be powerful and a fight can start true) or how Lieren fights it (after Belakor i think Lieren will just keep hitting until the things in front of him truly die. So i expect him to keep piercing the thing with arrows since surprise is on his side), but the attention this might create. We need to follow Guozhi to the chamber for the secret of healing fire, and when both we and Magnus are done learning, we need to follow Guozhi to the final step of his current mortal life.

And we know Guozhi is being hunted down by Jian Qi (there is also the bounty on our head which any evil spirit of great power would try to get, since all the chaos gods contributed to it. Also Magnus). So we have to see how quick we are in taking it out the evil spirit through direct and sudden combat, or if another method is better. Ultimately our trio can't keep moving unmolested to their destinations until we deal with the pest above our heads, since its clearly acting has a scout for other evil spirits (or perhaps is alone, a bold one that thinks he can do a 3vs1 and win ?).
*humans with the traits we have seen the Yang dynasty have. Fox traits (mostly eyes and teeth, but ears and tails where also seen in the genetic makeup of the Yang. Which is stable, and not surprising)
>>
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Calling the vote now, sorry for the wait. Exhausted my self grinding for Rathalos mantles

>>6126214
And always appreciate the help, man!

So Lieren will calmly state "I'll shoot this contemptible crane out of the sky, and while its feather falls, you go to where the alchemical mysteries lie locked" and perform a live demonstration of How Kurnous once strung his bow.

Writing now
>>
Overflowing with motivation borne from your teacher's confidence in you and your brother's sagacious remark of being discovered not necessarily meaning you've been found, you lash out your left arm, flexing the hand of it and feel the creak of the archer's glove upon it as you stare up defiant at the sky as the brand upon your brow begins to tear open at the seams and steam as the blood revealed from the opening of the scar tissue begins to boil and evaporate, reacting violently to the discordant energies surging around you.

Magnus lifts his multicolored, ever shifting eyes, sensing the gathering of the winds within the center of both of your palms as you adopt an archer's stance. Particularly one favored by night crane hunters in the north of Long-Jia, spreading your arms apart, lifting the right, which will hold the insubstantial, fully imaginary bow aloft, and dropping the left, which will string the mentally created bow and notch the arrow of soul fire on it, fingers twitching and mimicking the exact motions the shard of dead Kurnous instructed and showed you when he taught you how he once strung his bows and shot their assuredly fatal arrows. Guozhi just smirks and bows his liver spotted head, lips curled with the delight of a man watch his tormentor stumble into the path of his strong armed friend.

"I'll shoot this contemptible crane out of the sky" You state humbly, for it is no idle boast if you will accomplish the feat exactly as it is stated. Azure whorls and oily stains of aurora lights, cutting through and intermingle with dense plum black clouds of raw sorcerous, spiritual energy and the steam risen from freshly awakened hope obscure the position of the owner of the heavy, beating wings. But you were a hunter before you were anything else, and your eyes can pierce through any deceit, even the manifested form of it in the ever mutating and transfiguring skies of the repellent trader of false promises and wayward hopes.

Magnus eyes flare, recalling the experience of the last encounter he knows of you had battling against the forces of darkness and sin. He is ready to fight by your side, a brotherly protective instinct roused and blazing within him, flushing his red skin a deeper, more fierce and vivid shade of his peculiar cunning. Guozhi to, senses his killing intent and desire to combat the yet unseen foe, and place a calming hand on his side, eyes sharp and authoritative

"Brother, do not be so reckless. These ill tempered warp entities are not to be trifled with, we both know the threat they pose" he begins, slowly, measuredly, warning and hoping he will not again see you burned and beaten. Your expression, which had become hard set and emotionless, glows with confidence and a hawker's brazen attitude as you smile up at him.
Cont
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>>6127491

Bending one knee and kneel to gain more support to draw back the wire of pure spiritual energy back and launch a golden flame arrow that could pierce the mock sun through all its freezing bruise hued flames where it levitates malevolently in the sky, you roll your neck and stretch it, listening closely to the ominous flapping of great and abominable wings. Magnus places an urging, pleading hand on your shoulder

"While its feathers fall, you go to where the alchemical mysteries lie locked and buried" You assuredly tell him, eyes looking past him and into the kaleidoscopic heaven that would drive weaker minds to madness and derangement from a mere glance of its ever shifting hues and dreamscapes "I will not be long delayed and will catch up with you and Grandfather Guozhi shortly, so do not allow the pace he sets to slow or falter, dear brother"

"Fine" He snaps, glowering as he turns away "But if you are injured, know that I will never let you live this brief arrogance down, Lieren"

While he worries, he trusts you enough to survive the battle you shall soon entangle yourself in, as does Guozhi who nods firmly and lifts his stance, as both he and Magnus, away from the epicenter of the veil weakening and daemonic attractant effects of the sigil on your brow, are pulled into Guozhi's greatly empowered shroud and seem, to even your eyes momentarily, become one with the mists and fog.

Rolling your left shoulder, keeping the spirit felling arrow unlit, you eyes zip and bounce across your field of view, taking in all of the shifting and storm wracked skies over your head in, while your ears strain and try to pin point the exact location of the beating wings of the vile spirit searching for you, your brother, and the venerable Guozhi.

With your sight and hearing pushed to their limits, forcing you to strengthen both with some of your own spiritual power, to both sharpen each and fortify the organs that facilitate them, you gaze up at the nonsensical expanse of towering gemstone towers and living, dancing flames and capering, multi faced devils.

And through all the madness, through the tangle of threads of spiritual taint and emperyean corruption, a single line reveals itself to you. Familiar yet unknown. The essence and foul presence of a being similar to the unseen master. There are several like it, but this one alone leads to the quadrant of the ever altering heavens, and as your eyes track the thread of lavender light, a single, verdigris colored star is revealed through the fog of madness.
Cont
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>>6127492

A sole point of consistency in the every changing and mutating skyline. Your eyes settle and set hard, and you lean back and lift up your chin, muscles in both your arms straining and bulging as you summon all of your super human strength and push it beyond even your bodies limitations by imbuing it with traces of the golden sea flowing through you, drawing upon the memories of those students of yours who are most threatened by this crane demon's master and sire, Jian Qi.

Meixiu and Guozhi's faces are the most prevalent in your reflection, and as you harness the strength lent to them by the shared bonds and comradery, it is Meixiu's beaming and always self assured smile that burns and brands itself into your minds eye. In another life, another time, Jian Qi would've claimed her. Doubtlessly he still desires her, even being denied the destiny he had laid out for her, prior to Guozhi's discovery of her and the nurturing and guidance she was thus given.

Your iron hued hair, unties itself and is lit aflame, as the rage boiling inside you at the mere thought of little Meixiu becoming the be-tentacled one's puppet and thrall fanning the soul fire constantly blazing at your soul, until it is revealed and reflected on your astral form. Baring your teeth, as they are wrapped and become as fangs and tusks of silver ice encasing golden fire and your hair whips and blazes, your hands unsheathed by warp frost and empyrean flames, you, with a speed and precision only matched by the machines of mankind's gilded era, calculate the distance, speed and trajectory of your target.

Adjusting your position and aim, creating an arrow as you pull the tether formed out of your will and wroth combined, pulling the bow now formed in you hand in the shape and style of a long, crane shooting bow, you pull both string and bow to their utter limits, drawing deeper on your reserves of spiritual power, and the Qi generated from the connections of the golden sea. The ground beneath you is cleansed and purified, turned to a stronghold of reason and sanity, as a pulse of purifying fire and freezing moonlight erupts from you as the arrow is shaped, extending and expanding the size of a fog panther hunting spear fitted for your broad hands and towering stature.

Twisting and realigning your body to adapt to the quick, evasive maneuvers of the unseen devil, you never lose your lock upon its location and as your spine begins to creak and your muscles struggle to remain connected to your bones and unbroken and untorn, while the golden flames engulfing your soul roar and spread, eclipsing your spiritual form entirely as they grow and become a out of control conflagration.

Until you condense and refine it, giving the raw destructive energies a purpose and direction in which to flow. Pouring them into the air, you release it.
Cont
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>>6127493

An elk's cry rings in your hear, before it is quieted by the earth shaking roar of a panther. The cry of a mother defending her cubs. A ghostly hand guides the arrow, that was fueled by your instinct and urge to protect Meixiu and her confident, proud smile.

For a long moment, you sit still, left hand lifted into the air, and right pressed to the ground, ready to string another bow and loose another arrow until

There is a burst. A cascade of collapsing points of destruction, explosions of pure fury and blazing destruction, an inferno in the sea of twisting chaos, multiplying and spread as the veiled crane tries desperately to halt the arrows flights. But it is no use. Kurnous and you share many similarities.

One being, that the shots you fire, rarely, if ever, miss their target. And with the technique of the Aeldari hunting spirit imbued in the lance of soul fire, the paltry defense of the spawn of treachery can not hope to shield it from the shot.

There is a stillness, a silence that causes the very living realm around you to recoil and shiver with contempt as, though it is distant, in a quicksilver vision, you see the arrow, now solidified and pressed into a shard of your wrath, slams through the sorcerous barrier erected and summoned by taloned hands.

Their is a crane's cry, as a burst of turquoise and lapis feathers, and night blue blood fall from the sky.

"Wing" You mutter quietly as you stand, saying outload the part of the spirit's body you struck, tilting your head as you watch the winged devil plummet, clutching its broken and clipped wing "The arrow lodged between the bones. Flight is now impossible for the sorcerous cretin"

Mechanically, you begin to march towards the site it will soon drop to. Before misstep, you restrain yourself, and the urge to walk to where it shall soon crash so as to wring the abhorrent life from its deceitfully delicate looking neck. Though it would be the most efficient means of ending the threat posed by that singular spirit, its cry and your fine shooting and display of psykerist power, as well as the azure flame blazing above your head, revealing your exact location to all with eyes to see beyond the ever altering landscape around you, means it will not be the only threat you are to face on behalf of your brother and mentor.

But, you reflect on Magnus' words

"Just because I am sighted, does not mean I am found" You repeat them sagely, eyes half closed as you briefly meditate upon them, and consider your next move and the best path to be taken from those you can see before you.

But, all that is certain in this moment, is the scouting crane shall not fly again for sometime, and certainly will not soar off in pursuit of Guozhi and Magnus, even if it survives its injury from an arrow carved for the sole purpose of killing.
Cont
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>>6127494

What is your next course of action, Lieren?

>Finishing off the crane swiftly and decisively, and standing atop its corpse as you fend off its brethren who seek to achieve what it could not.

>A hunter need not travel alone. Reach out to the departed companions you once knew, and beseech one of them for aid in this stand against foulness

>Lure the tigers away from their mountain, by acting as a fleeing hare. Turn the forces of disorder upon themselves. Jian Qi has five rivals of equal power, after all...

>Shaping the flames surrounding you through the same principles of the cloak of the ever burning will, and use it to create a doppleganger and false Lieren to befuddle and confuse the flock

>Write in
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>>6127495
>Lure the tigers away from their mountain, by acting as a fleeing hare. Turn the forces of disorder upon themselves. Jian Qi has five rivals of equal power, after all...
>Shaping the flames surrounding you through the same principles of the cloak of the ever burning will, and use it to create a doppleganger and false Lieren to befuddle and confuse the flock
We've crippled the scout and we know that while they're tracking us through our brand they don't know exactly where we are, so let's send a doppleganger to contested territory and let them start attacking each other over a false Lieren.
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>>6127546
>Support.
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>>6127546
>Support
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>>6127546
>Support.
>>
>>6127495
>>6127546
Support
>>
>>6127546
>Support.
Freaky bird
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>>6127546
>Support.
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>>6127495
>Votes: 7

>Finishing off the crane:

>A hunter need not travel alone:

>Lure the tigers away: 7

>Shaping the flames surrounding you: 7

>Write in:
>>
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Calling the vote now, even though its pretty obvious. But I still appreciate the help here >>6128036, even if this is a rare total agreement lol. Once again, Monster hunter is to blame for me not being faster. Shagaru Magala doesn't fuck around.

So Lieren will lure the tigers away from their mountain with the assistance of a doppleganger of the flames ever consuming his soul.

Writing now.

Also, completely off topic, but what would Lieren main in monster hunter, do you think?
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>>6129268
Gunlance
>>
Golden eyes lit by flames hued the same color as clear skies, an old saying suddenly utters itself in the back of your mind through the clamor plans proposed and quickly discarded for one reason or another. Yin Lei, Dai Niu, Lai Song, even that proud old fox Yan Zihao may his repose be peaceful and without torment, have spoken it before. You're certain, the fools employed by the Yan army in its final days, may have spoken it frantically, as if the panther they spoke of did not already trample through their fields and gardens.

Lure a tiger away from the mountain. To bait a foe or enemy from their territory. A classic strategy that can hardly be trusted to work against cunning and foes with quick silver fast wit. However, Wicked and Evil spirits, the progeny of Jian Qi in particular, are easily denied the full benefit of their supposed towering intellect. For it is in their nature to be both ambitious and paranoid, two poisons that when combined create a most virulent toxin of the mind. They are born of deceit and treachery and live their lives immersed in schemes and faltering prophecy, ruled over by a gibbering fool who plans and plots against himself and leads his puppets to their doom to fulfill his unknowable schemes. Their own sire, is their greatest obstacle, besides their own kin seeking their own inscrutable and half insane ends.

And greed is another faucet of their nature, avaricious so ingrained into a psyche and heart so selfish and self serving, for the concept of comradery and common cause may well be alien to their warped and inhuman minds.

A plan is painted, with dramatic and vivid brushstrokes on the empty canvas of your mind, cleared of thought and emotion for efficiencies sake.

The six great powers of the warp are always embroiled in ceaseless warfare in pursuit of dominance, to reign their order over the other forces of chaos. Paradoxical in part. Disorderly as befits such darkly natured and corrupt beings. And anywhere in the Empyrean, if one knows where to step and bound, which trails to blaze and eddies to brave, a boundary between one of the great daemon patriarchs' realm and another may be found as swiftly as leaping from a fence separating the paddies and the grazing lands.

Jian Qi is ever, weighing the game in his favor. In a similar way to how he alerted all the sorcerous of Shuni and their supposed "Angel" patrons, of your precise location in the desert sands and beneath the moonlight. This time, in the form of an azure mote of fire, feathered and fractal in appearance. A clever trick. Yes, but the deceiver tangles himself in his own web.

For, through introspection and partial enlightenment, this soul of yours you were born possessing has become fire itself, embodying and embracing the flames that sought to burn it away to nothing.
Cont
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>>6129290

Was this Guozhi's lesson? Did the old monk foresee your temper flaring, your natural enmity guiding your hand to do violence, your instinct driving you to neutralize a threat rather than slink away?

Perhaps it was. But while it is not the healing blaze you seek to master and control, The whore Huli Jing taught you how flames may be shaped and guided, one of the many lessons you've taken from your bested and slain enemies. The Cloak of the Ever-Burning will and its branch techniques, are derived from the witch fire she hurled and threw at you in your battle against the messenger of flames in the heart of Yan Corruption.

But since then, you've learned more trickery than even a fox may teach. And learned how to befuddle the eyes and other senses, to the point of appearing to adopt other faces, though true shapeshifting beyond what is illusionary is beyond your abilities.

However, this golden fire is a part of you, but it is not flesh, it is fickle flame. Flame that you've long learned to endure and control.

Breathing in, you force yourself to focus on the fire engulfing your spirit, feeling its burn as it gnaws at your very essence and soul, a spiritual pain you'd grown numb to not long after embracing it and its paradoxical nature. Envisioning spectral hands gripping and pulling away at the fire, you wrench your own hands apart, as they're wreathed in fresh gouts of souls fire. A small tongue of fire, grasped and pressed between your hands as you slam them back together as a twine of flame is formed between your open palms, sputters for a moment, then explodes outwards.

A rough simulacrum of yourself, a doppelganger born of flame, appears, and with a cloak of moonlight and ice, becomes your exact mirror image, down to the accursed brand scarring your brow.

However, the feather of fire plucked and set above your head is not so copied. The power of a discordant lord is not so easily aped.

But fire is easily spread.

Face hard set, brow furrowed, you jab a thumb wrapped in protective light, banded by the null denouncement charm's script, directly into the infinite infernos' fractal feathering, and rip out the piece that attempts to wrap and root itself into your flesh. Casting it away, and purging your hand, cleansing it of any lingering taint that may hide itself unseen with first a surge of golden fire and then a torrent of silver moonlight. Wincing, you shake your hand and arm, feeling the minor injury you inflicted upon yourself to ensure none of Jian Qi's flames burned you, by burning yourself with your own soul's fire instead, has carried to your physical self.

But no matter, the board is set and the rice cooked, it will heal, and your doppelganger is completed, complete with it's own target feather of Jian Qi. It'd take eyes as sharp as yours to reveal the deception, of this you are certain.

Cont
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>>6129291

Holding your burnt hand close to your chest, you mentally command the flame copy to sprint in the other direction. For a moment you wonder which realm to send it towards, knowing that not all of the flock of calamity pursuing you will break away after it, even if they believe it to you the true you.

Hei'an Fu, is the least of the six warring siblings, blinded by the greed inherent of its nature as the tyrant god and tender of the flames of avaricious, would be the most like besides Jian Qi to realize the deception through the flickering flames and moonlight, and reveal it to seek your head personally. No good.

Se Nie, the youngest, would doubtlessly realize the game as well, through minor flaws the holder of supposed and truly non existent perfection could only percieve and if not her, the remains of Huli Jing could recognize her own trick, altered and painted to your liking, and find a road with which to reclaim lost favor. An unacceptable risk.

Chun Qiang. Pure chaos and anarchy incarnate cannot have their behavior and responses measured or anticipated. They would be a gamble, a risk you will not be taking.

Ga Nou. The toad of misery knows your soul, and abhors fire for how it may be used to burn away rot and as part of cauterization. And if he'd be tricked. Isha would not be. Always by her side, the tragic victim. And while you are uncertain if your encounter with the remnant of her lost love may have left a lingering Aura of her groom's presence upon yours, the risk that it has and would confuse the kindly spirit at the most fouls' side, is too terrible a risk and cost for you to comfortably take.

This leaves Kong Nue. Who abhors trickery and sorcery of a kind. The truest enemy of Jian Qi beside yourself, an enmity mutual on both regards. He will not care, and neither will his spawn, if the you they confront is flesh and blood or whispers, wind and flame.

So it will be the fields of slaughter under his skull sat throne your doppelganger shall gambol towards. While you continue deeper into the shifting labyrinth of Jian Qi.

Simply to draw attention to the "Split" of yourself, you slap your dopplegangers hand, as you and the mirror pass eachother by as you both sprint away from the other in opposite directions. The sound resounds like a thunderclap in clear skies.

And by your spiritual senses and knowing, exactly half of the oncoming horde of wicked spirits lurches and fly after the doppelganger, excepting a few who argue and debate the choice or argue for other reasons high in the ever shifting skies.

Just as you'd planned. Now the enemies you face has been greatly reduced and confused, victims of their own nature
Cont
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>>6129292

YOU THINK YOU'RE SO CLEVER, FOG WALKER!? TRICKERY AND LIES ARE MY DOMAIN AND YOU, MARKED BY MY OWN TALON, IN MY OWN MANSE! What towering ambition. You are in my power Lieren, upon my palm, no matter if you reach the end of the horizon, hah, the end of the universe even! If it were any other soul, I'd almost be endeared by the sheer audacity of it....though, perhaps, this is just proof you and I may be...

You scowl, growl and wiping oil colored blood from your lip snarl at the sky and unseen presence pressing down and crushing you from all angles

"Lick my asshole you overgrown peacock!"

Hmmm, guess I'll just do this then, since you refuse to see sense and reason. We're both tricksters are we not....

His eyes are my property

Shit

Fine, Plan B then, let us see you "Efficiently" find your way out of this DIVINE TRIBULATION IGNORANT CHILD OF MAN! Let us put your wit and trickster nature to the test! Can you caper off the palm of my hand, I wonder?

Well, Lieren. Good luck ~

"Damn you false gods!" You rage, powerless as the ground upends, in the shape of giant taloned hand of crystal and stone, and with a flick, your spirit is sent hurtling through the skies as the storm clouds gather into great, black wings. That are lit aflame with azure lightning and violet flame

Live, die or plead for mercy, dog of the anathema! Either way it will be

Fate
Fate
Wait a moment...CHUN QIANG YOU DARE!?

Lances of fire, crystal and light shoot towards you, like a thousand spears in the night, grasping hands and killing spells.

Your mind sharpens, crazing at the seams from the overwhelming presence of Jian Qi's wroth, but you endured the fury of him plus four of his siblings directly before. The maelstrom of the changer of ways direct attention is nothing but unpleasant to you!

Coughing up blood and blue ichor you grin, as you face down the barrage of raw sorcerous power and your mind races to find the most expedient escape route. It is escapable. Jian Qi...no, Chaos itself, is self defeating by nature. And while many are blinded by their rage, you find that while confronted with something truly hateful and deserving of your contempt, your rage brings about clarity and clearness of mind and purpose. And there is nothing you hate more than Jian Qi and his ilk

( https://youtu.be/l76unGjRtBs )

Four. Superstition claims it as an ill omen. A symbol of misfortune and impending death. But that is the number of escapes you see through Jian Qi's so called divine retribution, his heaven's rending tantrum. Seems you've provided an even greater distraction than you intended to. Magnus and Guozhi are certain to take full advantage of it. The thought at least, lifts your chest with hope, so you squash it quickly.
Cont
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>>6129293

Jian Qi claims many titles, and claims hope as one of his concerns. And while you call him Herald of False hope, you know he can claim power over it, and twist it.

So, clearing your mind, containing your rage enough so it clears your vision and thought, you choose the gamble and risk to take.

Which is what, Lieren?

>Switching places with your doppelganger of flames. It is a part of the golden sea, and you've performed finer feats of expertise and control when empowering your friends and comrades before...

>Release the silver moonlight in your heart, diving into its waters deeply and drawing upon Arianka's gift. And swirling it, create a catastrophic, paradoxical mingling of Chaotic and Ordered energies. Blow a hole through Jian Qi's hand.

>Turn the enemy you sought to allude into a shield by tempting them with a shout of "THE REAL ONE IS OVER HERE!", and trust the nature of Jian Qi and his kind to lead them to ruin, thinning the barrage you're facing.

>Jian Qi failed to account for one, singular detail. For all he is all knowing in his own realm. Something beyond even his wellspring of knowledge. [ CONTAINMENT ]

>write in


By the way, doing one or the other of the combined choices, wouldn't have drawn Tzneetch's attention/ ire. But this is more exciting and could be much more worthwhile in the end...
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>>6129295
>Jian Qi failed to account for one, singular detail. For all he is all knowing in his own realm. Something beyond even his wellspring of knowledge. [ CONTAINMENT ]
Oh boy, here we go!
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>>6129295
>Jian Qi failed to account for one, singular detail. For all he is all knowing in his own realm. Something beyond even his wellspring of knowledge. [ CONTAINMENT ]
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>>6129268
probably insect glaive for the mobility.

>Jian Qi failed to account for one, singular detail. For all he is all knowing in his own realm. Something beyond even his wellspring of knowledge. [ CONTAINMENT ]
>>
>>6129295
>CONTAINMENT

Well that's hillarious. But the boss music has started and that means some fun time is going on.

Joan Qi is also really hammering on the long jia influences.
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>>6129295
>Jian Qi failed to account for one, singular detail. For all he is all knowing in his own realm. Something beyond even his wellspring of knowledge. [ CONTAINMENT ]
>>
>>6129295
If we are in the manse of the changer of ways we actually have a very unique opportunity. However I don't think it's a good idea to bust out containment just yet simply because the Changer of Ways will then through our action learn it! We'd escape but he'd learn this part! Worse still he will be free to use to to trap a certain soul we actually came here to safeguard!

>write in
I have an idea given our purpose here is to escape as Magnus wanted and warned. Plus we must not get bogged down here.

Show him in the fire a vision of nurgles garden burning, of those fetid trees being ash. Nurgle is his rival and we know tzeench himself is not omnipotent in totality, show him a future that may be coming if we escape so he let's us go thinking it is his own plan. It is not a lie, it is our ambition but it's also in the future thus currently not true. We're jumbling concepts and playing on his own nature; intrigue, deciet and such. Make the schemer open the way out by his own hand.

Meanwhile Malal here will be forced to face its own self; chaos destroying chaos further entangling them in an argument for whose plan would that future be Malal's or Tzeench's? To deny turning on one another would not only be against their nature's but also against their own actual interests!

We then to remain thematic should cannon ball through a "wall" to rejoin our friends and leave a breech for a laugh.
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>>6129529
I'll support this because it sounds like it could be funny.
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>>6129295
>Jian Qi failed to account for one, singular detail. For all he is all knowing in his own realm. Something beyond even his wellspring of knowledge. [ CONTAINMENT ]
>>
>>6129529
>>6129295
Support because it seems very Chinese mythos to start and argument in the divine court only to sneak out the window as the two gods lawyer up and start throwing shade at one another. The best part is we actually make no promises and they'd sabotage one another if they tried to draw one out of us.
---
Alternatively
>Bunch of mortals break into old man Tzeench's place
>Home owner Tzeench shows up with a gun
>CIA Malal shows up with a gun
>Both start yelling at one another while the perps slide out back
>The augments about "jurisdiction" and "Boundries" can be heard Warpwide
>Khorne loves this shit
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>>6129529
Actually swapping my vote to this. I'm >6129300 poster
This is too good to pass up! Good write in, anon
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>>6129529
So you're hoping to gaslight TZEENTCH into thinking something we do was his own idea? And hoping that Malal the God will just go along with it without interfering? I... really have reservations about that logic.

>>6129295
>Jian Qi failed to account for one, singular detail. For all he is all knowing in his own realm. Something beyond even his wellspring of knowledge. [ CONTAINMENT ]
I'm sure there are going to be repercussions (especially if Tzeentch can reverse engineer it somehow), but I think this is probably the best option.
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>>6129295
>>6129529
My choice was to sit still to befuddle him by inaction and making him paranoid that other forces would be arrayed against him but yours goes a bit deeper by proposing a deal so you've got my vote.
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>>6129603
A little light gas lighting yes but trying to pull one over on big bird himself? He'll no I ain't that crazy and nor is Lieren. We're very much telling the truth, we are far more a thorn in the side of nurgle and slannesh than himself, Lieren is a monkey wrench and far more use to him on the board right now than off off it. That's no lie, that's genuine. Sure we're his enemy but if any chaos God plays a long game and knows when to spare a piece it's Tzeench. Malal will never go along with anything he's basically a divine RNG machine with malicious intent. What I'm saying is letting us go is very very much in their own interests, we're a fate smashing hammer and while currently we've damaged their plans every time we interact we cause butterfly effects. If they let us go they can just wait for the right moment to isolate a path we've set someone on.

NOW there is the memetic side cos our culture has a thing for these silly hijinx etc but more importantly, these two have spheres that seem to overlap a fair bit but they also can't get along. If we get them discussing or arguing that's when we bail. Yes it's a touch comical but I figure why does it have to be a fight? Why not do something different? We're fucking with the king of best laid plans and the king of table flipping by straight up telling the truth, sorry if my ID changed
>>
Also as that other anon said, there is no deal here we're stating our intentions and basically saying "bruh now ain't the time for you to do this it's to early in the game"
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>>6129529
Swapping my vote to this. I'm>>6129562
anon
>>
I was more thinking this gets them arguing a little bit making Malal slap the hand away for a moment. I can see it as a panther running around Tzeench's house like a crazed loose feral cat in there while Malal and Tzeech have a domestic but also try to catch it.

Maybe we'll find or see that Crystal Key!
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>>6129295
>Votes:

>Switching places with your doppelganger:

>Release the silver moonlight in your heart:

>"THE REAL ONE IS OVER HERE!":

>[ CONTAINMENT ] : 5


>write in i have an idea!! :6

So have already submitted my vote but have to say, I have an idea write in doesn't sit right with me we are basically talking about making a false prophecy to the god who does it everyday. he'll see through it in a microsecond and then laugh at us and probably make fun of us for even thinking it would work on him.

Male will one hundred percent reveal it, if it somehow actually works :/ .
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>>6129785
>Votes: 11
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>>6129785
I think it's less deception and more showing what we do at some point genuinely plan to do, >>6129619 is right we're a monkey wrench and surly if anyone can see the value in that its Tzeench?
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>>6129785
Fine I give up, just gonna withdraw my vote because I see a trap in all those options but now I feel doubt lol
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>>6129295
>Jian Qi failed to account for one, singular detail. For all he is all knowing in his own realm. Something beyond even his wellspring of knowledge. [ CONTAINMENT ]
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>>6129295
Changing my vote here >>6129349
To
>Support >>6129529
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>>6129818
what was your vote so i can keep track of the number?
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>>6129295
>>Jian Qi failed to account for one, singular detail. For all he is all knowing in his own realm. Something beyond even his wellspring of knowledge. [ CONTAINMENT
>>
>>6129529
+1 to this because I don't wanna show off containment and the balls to try trickery AGAIN is so funny. I have to vote this due to rule of cool.
>>
>>6129785
>Votes:14

>Switching places with your doppelganger:

>Release the silver moonlight in your heart:

>"THE REAL ONE IS OVER HERE!":

>[ CONTAINMENT ] : 6


>write in i have an idea!! : 8

Minus one vote, but don't know which one to take away
>>
I think a key point in this write in is the tone and manner of the thing, I see it as a stalling point and just causing friction while trying to escape. Lieren is not so dumb or prideful to do something that dumb especially given what Magnus said and what he himself knows, something that will be interesting though is if we create this image in this place which is also the warp, with our weird soul etc, would we not have actually just punched a hole in Tzeench's windows straight to the damb garden and visa versa? It'll be brief but that's one hell of a distraction to leave behind.
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Malal here, just popping in to say I'll try to call the vote later today/ tomorrow (if halloween doesn't take up my time and I miss it today, happy halloween btw everybody). Sorry for the long wait, which is probably going to be a bit longer, but I've had a really, really stressful week (haven't even been able to play the monster hunter wilds demo)
>>
>>6132215
Male we can wait forever for a new chapter and we wouldn't care. As long as you continue to print gold in A4 format, we are more than happy to wait.
He who waits for something good NEVER waits TOO LONG.

Have a scary Halloween and fill up at least one sack of candy, everyone :)
>>
>>6131578
Hopefully it is read more like a flavor change of the third choice. We could even use the [Containment] to sell it as something Tzeentch wouldn't recognize.

>*Holds up a box of [Containment] as one of the boxes that Tzeentch couldn't pry or beguile open*
>Lieren: ~Wow~, SOMEONE dropped this secret killing Nurgle prophecy 'right here' It 'has' to be real since its sitting in Tzeentch's palm.~Wow~.
>Chaos: *Pats for wallet* Oh that's mine.
>*Five hands reach for it devolving into a slap fight*
>*Inside it's just a crayon drawing of Lieren stabbing Nurgle with the sword of love*
>>
>>6132294
Like your idea, we get more experience with the concept and mud it down so it's not as easy to understand.
>>
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Calling the vote now, sorry for the really really long wait. I'll write this update before halloween and the Mon Hunt Beta can occupy the rest of my night.

>>6130948
And thank you once again for the assistance, XD.

But at 14 votes, the write in and [ CONTAINMENT] are getting into the vote, since I can think of a way for Lieren to combine the two of them even while he is having a artillery barrage of spells fired upon him

Writing now
>>
But as you stare down the eye of the storm of purest sorcerous destruction, gazing into the very center of a promised and impending death, two truths present themselves to you. One as a hissed, defiant curse. A reminder that fate is the salve of fools. And a simple fact stated calmly by the most composed, ever rational portion of your mind, a mechanical tic that presents the most obvious advantage hidden inside of your sleeves and kept secret in your mind. The most prevalent and expressed part of Jian Qi's abominable character and the singular detail he failed to account for, for all that he is all knowing in this realm it is a trump card that lies beyond the well spring of knowledge he claims as bottomless.

There will be only a moment you can enact the plan that will take full advantage of both of these advantages, the only routes of escape that intertwine through Jian Qi's merciless sorcerous assault. The air is burning around you, motes of flame mutating and taking on life as they crawl, caper and pull themselves out of lances of witchfire, that flashes between rainbow bursts of imaginary and undetectable colors that despite not existing on a spectrum perceivable even to your Empyrean imbued eyes burn themselves into your retinas and brand themselves into your vision, while webs of frozen lightning crack the immaterial, unleashing from between the rends through non reality gibbering horrors and their manifold limbs. And, already, the most fleet winged of his scions have joined their master in his assault, trying in vain to land a blow with their own spells and techniques through the incomparable maelstrom of magic summoned by Jian Qi's slightest twitch of his talon.

'This' You tell yourself, closing your eyes and taking in a deep breath, feeling your throat and lungs singe from the unidentifiable and scalding vapors rising from the air and ground turned molten beneath just a glance of the discordant lord's wrathful attention 'Is naught but a land of illusion. The land of where ambition outgrows its host, and the liar reigns supreme. It would be folly to present false prophecy to the weaver of fate. But all destiny is illusion. And the vision I shall cast forth, is naught but distraction. An illusion of conceit, presented as an attempt to turn his own innate nature against himself and escape in that moment of hesitation, or else cause a brawl between he and one of his siblings. Jian Qi, believes in such outrageous falsehoods and schemes...'

Moving your hands in a complex sequence of hand signs, motions and seals to disguise the true form of the power you call upon, you enforce your imagination upon sky that is woven of such fantasies and idle imaginings.

For a brief moment, transposed through the storm of magic, the sight of Na Gou's garden and manse aflame pours out from your mind's eye and paints itself across the witch fire vortex, appearing as glimpses of prophecy and flashes of foresight would.

Cont
>>
>>6132999

Knowing, that though the vision of that moldering one's contagion and decay reduced to pure white ashes purified in a conflagration that could light aflame the heavens themselves would delight Jian Qi, the sight of the fetid trees and rotten marshes blazing would being both his and your ambitions, and that nothing would delight the liar more than allowing the ripple that proceeds such a future to occur and knowing he is no true omnipotent, the view of your own desires would resonate with Jian Qi.

In theory, in a slim chance, this would cause a moment of hesitation. However, that moment, that future in reach, is not what you're aiming for. Rather, what happens next, is what your true goal was, the true plot beneath the veneer of a scheme that is just plausible enough to be believable and far more likely than the far more outrageous gamble you're actually taking.

That being to directly insight and command the barrage already fired in your direction to be re-doubled and repeated in a moment of pique, as the lord of lies believes, that for a second time, you dare to try to deceive him, the herald of false hope, within his own palace.

....Prophecy is the salve of fools, have you not repeated, over and over, like a simpleton, defying the existence of destiny as a child would the monsters in the dark

It had worked. And you had only enough time to complete the second stage of your plan before Jian Qi unleashed his growing anger as it boiled forth, and Chun Qiang was distracted by the shadow play you placed in the stars of Jian Qi's realm of ever twilight.

Do you truly think to fool me with a forged future? Do you not think I have not beheld countless timelines where my most hated rival is brought lower and undone, by my machinations!? Do you think, I'd believe, you'd offer an accord, as if I was not aware of your ambition to see the garden of nurgle burn! Do you think I shall drop you from my hand, simply because one future out of countless, you play the role? That I am so lacking of wit. A second insult, another offense, an attempt to make me the fool and victim of deceit in my own realm

So he rants and raves, the force of the barrage growing larger and large as sorceries are pulled from dusty tomes the size of dark age colony ships and ripped from scrolls that span the breadth of nebula as Jian Qi throws what could best be described as a tantrum, a fit of pique and outrage that has him increase the lethality of his assault and move Chun Qiang to interfere, due to his purely chaotic nature or fear to lose a pawn that was never in his grasp.

Just as planned.

[ CONTAINMENT ] is capable of sealing and locking away terrible forces. But it is always capable of protecting whatever is sealed within the geomantic prison from the forces without. It is a two way barrier.
Cont
>>
>>6133000

One which you dove into and placed over yourself, just as the intensity of Jian Qi's attack increased. You did not emerge unscathed, having to endure a fraction of his initial assault to sell the deception of deception, when in truth, you were simply disguising that you were lifting a shield by blinding your attacker with their own rage. Stakes and arrows of crystal, pierce the arms and chest of your spiritual form, flames lick and lap at your fingers and edges of your vision, warp frost crawls up your legs, and your blood flows in distorted, agonizing currents.

And as Jian Qi fights off Chun Qiang's interference, that you perceive as a whiplash streak of darkness and sunlight clashing with bright pink and blue auroras in the sky, Jian Qi ends his sorcerous storm, to see if what remains of you is more willing to swear fealty, uncaring of the numerous wicked spirits blasted apart or wracked with painful mutation who were too caught in the attempt on your life and purity.

You lash out your arm, snapping the crystalline spears and needles, casting aside the witch fire and shattering the frost on your legs, releasing yourself from Containment

And hear the confused squawk of a self entitled god as you stand, levitating, above a sea of churning magic and roiling spells and the mewling entities born the mingling of such intense sorcerous forces, mostly intact, and entirely uncowed, eyes shimmering hotly gold and coldly silver as the every changing currents of the empyrean winds saturating Jian Qi's realm pause for a moment, as the prophet struggles to understand how you are still standing so defiantly, intact and sound of mind despite the deluge of sorcerous mayhem he let loose upon you.

You do not let it show on your face, that you had began to see hairline cracks in the walls of the seal you'd placed your own soul within, instead wearing a mask of confidence and derision.

I see... I see. You should be dead, but an unforeseen variable altered the course of fate. Let me see it again...

You start to run, as pasts, futures and could've been nows surround you, as Jian Qi decides on a different attack upon you as you race through his realm and away from the sea of intermingled magics, that still crawl and fly towards you the spells that birthed them as they crawl and take on new forms of spawn of Jian Qi created solely to hunt and chase you, born of the discordant lord's outraged fury and the offense he feels towards you trying to trick the trickster. Fury that you had actually, briefly, managed to cover his eyes with fog!
Cont
>>
>>6133001

Even though in stories tribulations are supposed to end when the hero overcomes them, Jian Qi still tips his hand and seeks to send you sprawling as the sorcerers realm contorts and changes before your eyes as your sprint forward into the unknown, away from the visions of worlds that never were and could never be and those that potentially could still come into reality and the spell born horrors that you know you cannot fight all together and win against. And knowing the gambit that had succeeded through sheer audacity, could not be performed successfully a second time, so instead you ran, in the hope that what lay ahead was more conductive to your survival and that the surroundings in front of you would be more to your advantage than the ruination behind you.

The horde of daemons that had been pursuing you, has wisely retreated after their vanguard was reduced to stardust and mewling puddles of melted glass and ink hued ichor. Which, along with the moment of confusion Jian Qi experienced, are fortuitous events whose benefit cannot possibly be overstated. You've slipped through Jian Qi's talons, and now need to just escape the mist of vision he's breathed over you and the spawn of the sorcerous storm behind you!

In which way do you take flight, Lieren?

>By confronting the deluge of fool's salve surrounding you and denouncing whatever future or lost past you meet head on.

>Racing towards the distant fire light you see ahead ahead, to banish the fog of prophecies, whether they be ghosts or lantern light

>Fog and mist have surrounded you all your life. And you know that of Shangrala, find Guozhi in the realm of madness

>Take advantage of the unique properties of Jian Qi's realm, and forge a road of your own out of hopes and dreams

>Write in
>>
>>6133004
>Take advantage of the unique properties of Jian Qi's realm, and forge a road of your own out of hopes and dreams
>Fog and mist have surrounded you all your life. And you know that of Shangrala, find Guozhi in the realm of madness
>>
>>Fog and mist have surrounded you all your life. And you know that of Shangrala, find Guozhi in the realm of madness


Seriously? 900 seconds?
What the hell? When did it change from 60?
>>
>>6133004
>Racing towards the distant fire light you see ahead ahead, to banish the fog of prophecies, whether they be ghosts or lantern light
We're supposed to learn of healing fire. Maybe this will save us time.
>>
>>6133004
>>Racing towards the distant fire light you see ahead ahead, to banish the fog of prophecies, whether they be ghosts or lantern light
>>
>>6133004
>Fog and mist have surrounded you all your life. And you know that of Shangrala, find Guozhi in the realm of madness
>>
>>6133004
>take advantage of the unique properties.
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>>6133004
>Racing towards the distant fire light you see ahead ahead, to banish the fog of prophecies, whether they be ghosts or lantern light
>>
>>6133004
>Racing towards the distant fire light you see ahead ahead, to banish the fog of prophecies, whether they be ghosts or lantern light
>>
>>6133004
>Racing towards the distant fire light you see ahead ahead, to banish the fog of prophecies, whether they be ghosts or lantern light
>Fog and mist have surrounded you all your life. And you know that of Shangrala, find Guozhi in the realm of madness
>>
>>6133004
>Racing towards the distant fire light you see ahead ahead, to banish the fog of prophecies, whether they be ghosts or lantern light
>>
>>6133004
Male love how you wrote it laughed several times at the mental images I got while reading.
>>
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>>6133004
>"I will never fall for that primitive trick!" cried Tzeentch angrily, instead falling for a different primitive trick.
Get Kansas City Shuffled, birdbrain.

>Take advantage of the unique properties of Jian Qi's realm, and forge a road of your own out of hopes and dreams
This is probably a terrible idea to do this in Tzeentch's own realm, but I'm a sucker for spectacle.
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>>6133004
>Racing towards the distant fire light you see ahead ahead, to banish the fog of prophecies, whether they be ghosts or lantern light
Man we just tricked chaos god hope we get new power
>>
>>6133004
Votes: 11

>By confronting the deluge: 0

>Racing towards the distant fire: 6

>Fog and mist: 4

>Take advantage of Jian Qi': 3

>Write in
>>
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Calling the vote, sorry for the wait. Monster Hunter Wilds kept me occupied since the last update, can't wait for its release. Beautiful game, greatsword feels great, and all the monsters were fun fights. Word of warning, sonic bombing the Balahara seems to have a chance of spawning an additional one! Which is always an unpleasant surprise

>>6134722
And thank you once again for doing the counting for me

So Lieren will run towards the distant flames

Writing now
>>
There is little you can do but run. Seeking your master and brother would lead the gibbering hosts of newborn horrors and nearly penned spell-forms and evil spirits directly to them, in the hour old guozhi's soul is in most peril. And trying to hammer a road into existence through sheer will in this realm of madness and treachery, out of hope and dreams would find both scattered as the beings born from Jian Qi's flash of aggression would doubtlessly hamper, interfere or outright block any attempt of scourging such a road through the realm of their forebearer.

But, through the mists of illusionary pasts and lost futures, days that could have been and may yet be, and the shadows with familiar faces, the divinations of paths not taken or that may yet lie ahead of all three of your brothers you've met and laughed and smiled beside sharing with them the comradery brothers should have, that you dare not look at, you still must race, away from danger and away from the hunters at your heels, more hare than hunter yourself at the moment. A rabid howl ripped from the throat of Angron, tinged with the raw scent of copper and electrified air, glimpses of Perturabo's eyes narrowed into a glare at once apathetic and yet filled with coldest contempt, far colder than even the most dismissive sneers you've seen trouble his brow, and a ghastly visage of magnus, more a ghost of sand and dust, one of his gentle eyes torn from its socket, bleeding trails of sky and night and the feathers of the wings that soar through both. They mercifully, along with the other nightmarish visions Jian Qi assails you with with merely a thought, remain in the dense fogs blinding even your eyes accustomed to meandering through and peering beyond the densest of Shangrala's mists.

Snarling, you wince, a throbbing pain behind your brow and droplets of ink and far fouler fluids leeching from the re-opened brand atop your forehead, as you swing and snap your neck to avoid looking upon the falsehoods crowding around you, never once slowing and stopping as you, like a hart wounded, sprint and gallop towards and past that which is unknown.

Noble, chivalrous Elazar, cloak soaked red with blood, a zealot's fervor burning out the sorrow, shame and kindness from his eyes, standing atop a pyre of bones, but no skulls, stands opposite of a similar specter, a empty conviction searing his vision as he stands, burning beside the victims of a crusade in pursuit of purity that cannot exist or be obtained in this or any world, his shining armor turned black with soot and ash.

Aruna amongst the victims of the butcher king's final night, eyes wide with the horror of the slain. The skull tattooed man, marching upon the rotten strings of a corpse puppets march, dead and bloated. Aruna, one of Nitya Sinha's favoured sons, impaled by a spear in your hand.

Feng, in the panther's fangs, torn in two.
Cont
>>
>>6135217

You roar, and cast aside these nightmares with a swing of your arm, pulling them apart like silk curtains

Yet more rise up in their stead, each more terrible than the last, and the three corruptions of your brothers remain ever at your heel, just out of the corner of your piercing gaze, never relenting, never departing and fading away.

Your beloved Kanzeon's emerald eyes appear, as flickers like flame, in the mist, but you shut your eyes whenever you catch even a momentary glimpse of her eyes, river stone hair, or even a fragmentary image of features more familiar to your eyes than your own hands, of the hands and shoulders whose touch becomes a phantom sensation so real as to almost become tangible. But just those glimpse inject ice into your veins. Kanzeon's eyes have never, will never looks so....empty and hollow, the life and intelligence behind them stripped and drained away.

Snarling, spitting, wiping the warp ichor seeping from the talon cuts upon your brow, you step forward again, besailed by sights of friends and foes and enemies long dead and still living. Bai, laughing with a mechanical heart, Xin in his arms. Jiang and Liang, scarred and missing eyes. Red faced Wei, laughing boisterously and warmly. Visions of what could've been if you'd chose a different action in the heat of combat. Dozens of Small Chen's, dead from different wounds than the bullet that snuffed out his righteous life.

In turning away from the alternative demises of your dear friends, of their living face with eyes asking why, why didn't you save us in the world you live in now, Lieren, you come face to face, with an illusion of faithful Luli. As she was that fateful night you found her, broken, in the garden of the Yan devils. Your hand around her throat, delivering a swift and painless mercy killing.

Recoiling, stumbling back, you are slashed across the back and roar in fury, swinging the guilty hand that had struck down the illusionary Luli and striking. Your own face, golden eyes harsh and unrelenting the eyes of Cui Fu. No tenderness, and lacking so much the love that so defines you. No pity or remorse. The phantom Lieren vanishes after flashing a smile filled with blood thirst and killing intent as you take a step back in shock, eyes wide as you realize your mistake in lashing out.

That false Lieren had lead others of his ilk and kind. And among them, many fold Primarchs. The brothers you knew, and those you do not.

Naught but pawns in the grand designs of chaos [/b]

You freeze for a moment, and leap back, listening to your fighting instincts as through the legion of doppelgangers and copies, twisted visions of your brothers by blood, you escape narrowly a scythe claw of an unseen horror, emerging from the face of a bloodied face draped in a wolf's pelt, red icicles frozen to the unshaven beard framing his square jaw.
Cont
>>
>>6135219

Feeling how the air around you shifts, you duck, and avoid a spear thrust from the arms of silver reaching out to you, and roll as you barely escape a slammed hammer breaking through a delicate smile beneath white hair, standing hand and hand with the iron armed primarch who seems more familiar than the other strangers. As did the wolf killer, for reasons that escape you and cannot be dwelled upon as you dodge the furious assault of the spawn of Jian Qi that your eyes cannot see beyond the visions of futures and past both lost and still possible.

Worse, some of those visions are moving aggressively, as if they were more material than the other shadows and glimpses in the lying mists. You need to run, keep running. Rolling into a runner's starting stance, you sprint, chased by a Lieren and Angron in gladiator's garb and bloody froth at their mouths, and pained by a vision of a starved, reed thin Magnus held at collar and leash, and great, blood stained wings shadowy him, a golden haired revenant beside him. Huffing and wheezing is the corpse faced phantom you push past, hopelessly lost in the fog, frantic and heart pounding, blood surging forth with fury and cooling with sorrow at what could have been done to your brothers or may still occur to them.

Confused, addled by the vapors surrounding you, you realize running without a goal in mind, surrounded by specters of the dead and false images of the living, will do no good. The most efficient means to escape this mist of illusion, is to burn it away. As the fog on your home is chased and pushed back, and all is made clear.

Fires. Several. Of colors you've never seen burn in the materium, rage ahead, pin pricks in the fog and sea of gathering alternatives of everyone you hold dear and all that you despise with equal fervor of that which you love so completely and proudly.

And looking upon them. You feel a resonance within the fires constantly burning at your own soul. A ripple. A chime that moves through you and sings to your spirit, crying out "I am here, we are the same! Come! Hurry!"

Struggling to differentiate between what is real and what is not, what had happened and what did not, except for those flames blazing in the distance, you adjust your trajectory and change the direction in which you sprint to move towards the flames, to burn away the falsehoods clouding your eyes and the lies clawing at your heart.
Cont
>>
>>6135221

With which flame do you seek sanctuary and an accord, Lieren?

>The Vermillion Flame, as red as the blood in your veins, as crimson as Magnus' face, cheering you on and encouraging you with its promised warmth. It resonates with the passion ever blazing inside of you and the righteous rage it nurtures

>The Jade flame, as green as new growth and as emerald as Kanzeon's eyes. It's is a mother's cry, begging their child to survive, the call of nature to all life, driving it to survive. It resonates closest with your affinity and respect for nature and its kind

>The Plum flame, as violet as the sky approaching night, as purple as decaying meat. It is the comforting whisper, the presence of death, an old friend to you. It resonates with the absolute lack of fear and understanding you have with death as a concept and its reality

>The Grey flame, as silver as moonlight, as ashen as smoke in night. It is a giggle, a hushed trickster, letting you in on a joke you cannot quite hear. It resonates with the Hunter and the Liar within you both

>The Yellow Flame, as golden as metal heated in a forge, as yellow as sulfur. It is a mechanical bray, a logic string, reasoning you forward. It resonates with the mechanical and purely logical side of yourself and your curiosity,

>The Earthen flame, as brown as fertile soil and as ocher as the fur of a stag. It is the roar of the beast's refusal to die, the cry of predator and prey alike. It resonates not only with the hunter within you, but the bow string Kurnous taught you to fashion

>The pure flame, white as clouds and colorless as void. It is speaks in a voice of a hermit and sage, a preacher overcome with righteous fury. It resonates with the orderly part of you and the protectiveness you feel towards other, as well as your contempt for chaos' filth

>Write in
>>
>>6135222
You are not making it easy for us Male the first time we have more than 4 choices.
>The Jade flame, as green as new growth and as emerald as Kanzeon's eyes. It's is a mother's cry, begging their child to survive, the call of nature to all life, driving it to survive. It resonates closest with your affinity and respect for nature and its kind

definitely something to do with Isha or some nature spirit. Guaranteed we can get some kind of healing/nature based powers.
>>
>>6135222
>>The Plum flame, as violet as the sky approaching night, as purple as decaying meat. It is the comforting whisper, the presence of death, an old friend to you. It resonates with the absolute lack of fear and understanding you have with death as a concept and its reality
I swear to God we're gonna kill the shit out of all these mindborne parasites.
>>
>>6135222
>The Jade flame, as green as new growth and as emerald as Kanzeon's eyes. It's is a mother's cry, begging their child to survive, the call of nature to all life, driving it to survive. It resonates closest with your affinity and respect for nature and its kind
>>
>>6135222
>The pure flame, white as clouds and colorless as void. It is speaks in a voice of a hermit and sage, a preacher overcome with righteous fury. It resonates with the orderly part of you and the protectiveness you feel towards other, as well as your contempt for chaos' filth
>>
>>6135222
>The Vermillion Flame, as red as the blood in your veins, as crimson as Magnus' face, cheering you on and encouraging you with its promised warmth. It resonates with the passion ever blazing inside of you and the righteous rage it nurtures
Seems like these might represent gods? If so then the Grey is Cegorach, the Plum is likely Morr, the Earthen could be Ulric or a shard of Kurnous, the Pure is Solkan, I'm not sure who Yellow could be, the Jade is probably Isha and the Vermilion I think is Sigmar. Guess we'll find out.
>>
>>6135222
I shall play the great game! If this post ends in odds
>The Grey flame, as silver as moonlight, as ashen as smoke in night. It is a giggle, a hushed trickster, letting you in on a joke you cannot quite hear. It resonates with the Hunter and the Liar within you both

If it ends with evens!
>The Jade flame, as green as new growth and as emerald as Kanzeon's eyes. It's is a mother's cry, begging their child to survive, the call of nature to all life, driving it to survive. It resonates closest with your affinity and respect for nature and its kind
>>
>>6135327
Jokes on me it seems
>>
>>6135222
>The Jade flame, as green as new growth and as emerald as Kanzeon's eyes. It's is a mother's cry, begging their child to survive, the call of nature to all life, driving it to survive. It resonates closest with your affinity and respect for nature and its kind
>>
>>6135222
>The Jade flame, as green as new growth and as emerald as Kanzeon's eyes. It's is a mother's cry, begging their child to survive, the call of nature to all life, driving it to survive. It resonates closest with your affinity and respect for nature and its kind

Kazeon my beloved
>>
>>6135222
>Plum flame
The hangman's lantern.
>>
>>6135222
>Write in
>The Azure flame, as clear as the midday sky revealed from the fog, as blue as the carp's lake. It is both the wild whistle of a sojourners wind through the untamed mountains as well as the hum of a rocket engine carrying wanderers to the stars. It resonates with drive that placed you on the path you have walked and those who walked with you from Nothing into a prospering future. The truth revealed by lies: your choices stand in stark contrast with these ugly fictions and living evidence that hope is not the domain of liars.
>>
>>6135222
>>6135299
https://warhammerfantasy.fandom.com/wiki/Winds_of_Magic

Actually I believe these are the winds of Magic. Jade seems like unlocking external healing for Lieren.

What's interesting here is that we don't have the Azyr wind, likely because we rejest prophecy and this is in Tzeenetch's realm. Instead we have the Pure flame that rejects chaos. Which is very good! I'm voting for my favorites.

>The Vermillion Flame, as red as the blood in your veins, as crimson as Magnus' face, cheering you on and encouraging you with its promised warmth. It resonates with the passion ever blazing inside of you and the righteous rage it nurtures
>The Jade flame, as green as new growth and as emerald as Kanzeon's eyes. It's is a mother's cry, begging their child to survive, the call of nature to all life, driving it to survive. It resonates closest with your affinity and respect for nature and its kind
>The Yellow Flame, as golden as metal heated in a forge, as yellow as sulfur. It is a mechanical bray, a logic string, reasoning you forward. It resonates with the mechanical and purely logical side of yourself and your curiosity,
>The pure flame, white as clouds and colorless as void. It is speaks in a voice of a hermit and sage, a preacher overcome with righteous fury. It resonates with the orderly part of you and the protectiveness you feel towards other, as well as your contempt for chaos' filth

These seem to be in order:
Aqshy - Lore of Fire
Ghyran - Lore of Life
Chamon - Lore of Metal
Hysh - Lore of Light
>>
>>6135222
>The Jade flame, as green as new growth and as emerald as Kanzeon's eyes. It's is a mother's cry, begging their child to survive, the call of nature to all life, driving it to survive. It resonates closest with your affinity and respect for nature and its kind

Love is eternal.
>>
>>6135780
Makes sense, I didn't even think of that. Though I don't really know a great deal about Fantasy lore.

>>6135222
I'll change my vote >>6135299 to
>The pure flame, white as clouds and colorless as void. It is speaks in a voice of a hermit and sage, a preacher overcome with righteous fury. It resonates with the orderly part of you and the protectiveness you feel towards other, as well as your contempt for chaos' filth
Teaching Nameless psykers light magic could make their jobs A LOT easier. And beyond using it to bludgeon daemons to death, it also has plenty of other applications and is less volatile than other forms of magic. Though apparently it's difficult to master and usually requires more than one person to use safely.
>>
>>6135222
>The Jade flame, as green as new growth and as emerald as Kanzeon's eyes. It's is a mother's cry, begging their child to survive, the call of nature to all life, driving it to survive. It resonates closest with your affinity and respect for nature and its kind

Or

>The Earthen flame, as brown as fertile soil and as ocher as the fur of a stag. It is the roar of the beast's refusal to die, the cry of predator and prey alike. It resonates not only with the hunter within you, but the bow string Kurnous taught you to fashion

Or

>The pure flame, white as clouds and colorless as void. It is speaks in a voice of a hermit and sage, a preacher overcome with righteous fury. It resonates with the orderly part of you and the protectiveness you feel towards other, as well as your contempt for chaos' filth


whatever you think needs the vote Malal to sound the most fitting.
>>
>>6135222
>votes: 14

>The Vermillion: 2

>The Jade flame: 8

>The Plum flame:2

>The Grey flame:1

>The Yellow Flame: 1

>The Earthen flame: 1

>The pure flame: 4
>>
Having looked into the winds of magic a bit more I wonder what the limits of Fantasy magic would be if transplanted into 40k. The lore of beasts for instance, would there be limits on what kinds of beast a psyker could shapeshift into or would they be able to take on the form of catachan devils and other monstrous death world beasts? What could a primarch like Magnus create with something like Replication of Levorg from the lore of metal which apparently lets you create "literally anything" for a limited time? Also, I wouldn't have expected light magic to have more healing spells than magic that's called "the lore of life".
>>
>>6135222
>The pure flame, white as clouds and colorless as void. It is speaks in a voice of a hermit and sage, a preacher overcome with righteous fury. It resonates with the orderly part of you and the protectiveness you feel towards other, as well as your contempt for chaos' filth
>>
>>6135915
>votes: 15

>The Vermillion: 2

>The Jade flame: 8

>The Plum flame:2

>The Grey flame:1

>The Yellow Flame: 1

>The Earthen flame: 1

>The pure flame: 5
>>
>>6135222
>The pure flame, white as clouds and colorless as void. It is speaks in a voice of a hermit and sage, a preacher overcome with righteous fury. It resonates with the orderly part of you and the protectiveness you feel towards other, as well as your contempt for chaos' filth

More anti chaos power always good
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>>6136673
>votes: 16

>The Vermillion: 2

>The Jade flame: 8

>The Plum flame:2

>The Grey flame:1

>The Yellow Flame: 1

>The Earthen flame: 1

>The pure flame: 6
>>
>>6135439
Because I don't like jade flame
>Changing this Vote to support Pure flame

Anti chaos then.
>>
>>6137148
>votes: 16

>The Vermillion: 2

>The Jade flame: 8

>The Plum flame:1

>The Grey flame:1

>The Yellow Flame: 1

>The Earthen flame: 1

>The pure flame: 7

1000% pure fire which is connected to that witch hunts the god
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>>6137178
F€#k otocorrect (I meant the witch hunter god)
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>>6135222
>The Jade flame, as green as new growth and as emerald as Kanzeon's eyes. It's is a mother's cry, begging their child to survive, the call of nature to all life, driving it to survive. It resonates closest with your affinity and respect for nature and its kind
I would like the plum or silver but given what our Knight friend has endured I worry the white flames teachings will lead him to damnation.
>>
>>6137209
>>6135329
>>6135327
Changed my vote btw, alas poor clown
>>
>>6135222
Changing my vote from >The Jade flame, as green as new growth and as emerald as Kanzeon's eyes. It's is a mother's cry, begging their child to survive, the call of nature to all life, driving it to survive. It resonates closest with your affinity and respect for nature and its kind
To >The pure flame, white as clouds and colorless as void. It is speaks in a voice of a hermit and sage, a preacher overcome with righteous fury. It resonates with the orderly part of you and the protectiveness you feel towards other, as well as your contempt for chaos' filth i am >>6135334 anon
>>
Don't like the pure flame, Lieren knows very well that fanaticism can damn you just as easily as Chaos. It's a part of the Journey to avoid excessive zeal, and ignoring that is why his legion is such a mess right now.
>>
>>6137178
>>6137341
I think this anon >>6135780 is right and the flames represent seven of the eight winds of magic.
>>
>>6135222
The pure flame, white as clouds and colorless as void. It is speaks in a voice of a hermit and sage, a preacher overcome with righteous fury. It resonates with the orderly part of you and the protectiveness you feel towards other, as well as your contempt for chaos' filth
>>
>>6137178
>votes: 17

>The Vermillion: 2

>The Jade flame: 7

>The Plum flame:1

>The Grey flame:1

>The Yellow Flame: 1

>The Earthen flame: 1

>The pure flame: 9
>>
Beneath a swirling sky of cinder filled smoke and a blizzard cold enough to chill the blood of any thane Leman Russ marched wreathed in mamoth fur and hefting a great axe which served as weapon and walking staff both. He approched the single spot of warmth in this domain; Syrtyr's Door. His people had been plagued by nightmares as had he and he felt...he knew as surly as he breathed air the cause was here in the land of the dead. The air grew thick and as Russ ventured deeper, strange symbols painted in animal blood marked the stone walls, twisted images that coiled like serpents in his mind. He growled, dismissing the creeping feeling that something unnatural watched him from the shadows; his prey.

At the cavern’s heart amid steaming vents a gore and feather caked soothsayer waited, a figure in tattered robes, his eyes alight with otherworldly power. He raised a bony finger toward Russ, his voice like wind rattling dead bones and broken oaths.
"Great Wolf, you walk a path twisted by shadows. The dreams I send you are a warning, a great foeman whom awaits you in your Wyrd!"
Russ laughed, the sound sharp and derisive. “No spirit tricks will keep you from the bite of my axe, prophet, you should be more concerned with your own fate.”
But as he charged forward, an invisible force seized him, filling the air with the stench of burning flesh and frozen blood. The cavern twisted around him, walls warping and folding inward like breaking glass. Shadows stretched, interlaced with dark whispers, and Russ stumbled as the ground rippled beneath his feet and finally fell away plunging him into the dark a voice following sounding like a thousand hungry crows.
“You shall see your Wyrd is what I make it”

All was dark...quiet.

He head throbbed.

The world snapped into focus suddenly above him a sickly green moon; he felt the urge to howl and settled for a snarl. He moved his feet and felt, heard the breaking of bones beneath them. All around him a field of broken bones and monolithic stones capped in frost, rooted in fresh gore. All in a grand opening in a black barked forest. He recognised some of the fresher disembowelled bodies; his friends, kin and civilians all broken and drained. He searched for their slayer and soon found it; an ethereal thing shrouded in mist seeping from it's form as it perched atop on of the monoliths. It was a man... almost, shadow hid its features like kraken ink in water but did nothing to hide those smouldering eyes of opulent and burning gold. It turned to him and he felt its gaze as he marched to it, he rose his weapon; the thing snarled at him and smiled like Wendigore.

Its eyes glittered with a cunning Russ recognized, as though he looked upon a brother he had yet to meet, but who knew him intimately. Russ shook his head, gritting his teeth. This was no kin of his only another trick of the soothsayer. He raised his axe and roared his march becoming a run which sundered the bone littered ground.

1/?
>>
The figure moved like a breeze, evading Russ’s first swing with a graceful twist it's form blurring with each sidestep. The shade struck back, fists and feet a blur of movement that defied expectation, bending and flowing like water, but carrying the force of a striking beast. Blows rained upon Russ, lightning fast punches that slipped between his guard, kicks that struck his armored torso with the weight of a warhammer. He staggered, his blood pounding. Once more Russ swung his axe with renewed fury, but his opponent seemed to anticipate every strike, weaving past each swing, countering with strikes that stung and disoriented him as he felt blood drip from his mouth and nose.

It was as though he fought a shadow of himself? A reflection that knew his every instinct. The King of the Russ could feel a strange familiarity in each of his opponent's moves, an eerie sense of kinship in the way the figure fought. There was a grace and wisdom to his strikes, unlike the brutal force Russ wielded? The battle dragged on, Russ’s muscles screaming, his breath growing ragged. This shadow warrior moved with the trickery of a Glacier fox and the fury of a bear, relentless yet untouchable. With each exchange, Russ felt as though he glimpsed pieces of a life he could not fully grasp—a path of brotherhood, honor, and duty, woven through the strange figure before him.
But Russ was nothing if not relentless. His spirit burned, fierce and unyielding, just as the core of Fenris burnt so did his fury. He bared his teeth in a wolfish grin, ignoring the pain as he launched a final, desperate charge, he threw his axe and it span through the air quicker than a blink; the shadow warrior caught the blade between it's palms with disturbing ease yet Russ finally had him! He would win he...
Pain...what?

He looked down to his chest, his own axe was lodged in his ribs, blood spewed from his mouth... he fell...no...not like this? How?...the shadow had spun and thrown the blade back at double the speed...quicker than sound. The world was a haze and he could hear the soothsayers laughter, he felt himself dragged by his leg towards the trees...he felt hands about his throat and weight. He felt himself lurching upwards and felt the world a blur..he was swaying...he was hanging his axe still buried halfway through his own guts.
He tried to breath; no luck

between fleeting images he saw the figure walking away leaving him for the crows, one of which hopped upon his shoulder while another perched upon the axe coated in his blood. They cawed, they laughed. He heard no words but he felt their intent.
“Do you want to know how to kill this man?”

“Yes...” he thought as he swung from the tree “...Mother Fenris”

The crow upon his solder hopped closer looking into his eye it's own a swirling of colours and promises; “Yes?”

“Give me knowladge...how do I...”

“Yeesssss?” the crow upon his blade cackled.

2/3 net keeps dying
>>
He stopped talking, the crow looking confused... he knew what to do.

With a Roar which shook the world and caused his foe to turn he pulled the axe from his own chest rending his heart and spilling himself upon the floor, he threw the weapon with more strength than he'd used in all his life...

once more the axe flew, once more the shadow caught the bladed edge between it's palms but this time with the weight, the will behind the throw it was not stopped and the shadows chest was caved in the thing exploding into black feathers.

The crows were furious and one clawed at his eye cutting deep, now where the shadow should have fell lay his first quarry and this place faded like a bad dream becoming the cavern once more as if melting ice revealed what was beneath. He fell to the floor, his body whole? But a crows claw scratch marred his face over his eye the thing denied it's prize; for now.

2/3 Ok done damn
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Calling the vote now, super sorry for the five day wait. Got hit by a stomach bug and not having heating in my home made it worse. See you all had quite the discussion while I was away and suffering.

>>6137616
Thanks as always, though your count was a bit off. Jade flame was at 8 votes by my second check.

Everything else was correct though.

Pure flame wins beating the jade flame by 1. So Lieren will heed its call

And yes, anons' guess were correct.

Writing now

>>6135704
Nice write in btw, very thematic

>>6137710
>>6137716
>>6137717
Oh a Russ story! Love to see it. Really like how you wrote him and the way you described things, felt pretty authentically saga like to my eyes. And the part of Russ waking up to the slaughter was spooky, and I really enjoyed the fight between Lieren and Russ and the ending had me on the edge of my seat

All around amazing writing anon
>>
[https://youtu.be/tLy5FtLdZtI]

It is like meditating within a shrine with far too many temple bells. The feelings and driving emotions resonating with your own heart are overwhelming, like staring deeply at the raw currents of the Empyrean, the formless streams of pure chaos, to gaze upon a pool of paints and dyes of every color. The voices you hear in the crackling and chiming of the distant lantern flames crowd your ears and become a din of many whispers, mingling with the hushed temptations and deceptions spat by the liar tongues that sprout from the ground like the foulest of weeds and crawling ivies. Pressing the flat of your wrist directly over the brand on the brow, furrowing it as the foul, alchemical concoctions and cold oils bleeding from it in place of blood spread over your palm and crystalize as you focus and tune out each voice one by one, locking off your heart the melodies that have reached it, cutting off the strings the land itself seeks to sink into your soul as you hone your Qi sense onto two of the flame. The jade and the Pure, as you stumble forward through the fog of falsehoods.

Green, welcoming and familiar like Kanzeon's eyes, or the fertile verdancy of nature's new growth. It may be a trap, baited with the soothing voice of a mother you do not have, painted with the color of your pure and great love for your wife and the respect you have for the natural world and its every feature and denizen.

But, the flame as white as cloud, as colorless as void, whose voice rumbles through the ether with the conviction of a wise sage, worldly hermit and burns with the fervor of preacher in the sway of righteous fury, looking upon it, you can sense how it burns away the miasma of Jian Qi while the jade flame is wreathed by it. It lashes out, as if it is being repressed and smothered, fighting back against its containment in a way unlike the other fire lights, even the one colored like green grass or the jade of Kanzeon's gentle eyes.

Finding your path, feeling hooked spears and talons tearing at your spirit, you trudge and march to meet the pure flame, as its words, isolated from the cacophony of maddened prophets, cunning liars and flames calling out to you, becomes clear to your own ears. Though you hear its voice more with your heart and soul than any sense so material.

With the logical, efficiency half of your being, you hear it. Through all of the hate and contempt you hold for chaos, you hear it with new found clarity. Through your love and protective instinct extending towards all of humanity. Its purpose is clear. It is an opposing force to the discordant powers, similar, yet different than Arianka or the mysterious flame that reached to Elazar through the pyre and briefly distorted his chivalrous heart and noble path. It essence is the exact opposite of that first fool lead astray and given to damnation's depth of their own ambition and dark will, Be'lakor.
Cont
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>>6138227

"You are not my master! Lord of greed! Glutton of mysteries and magic!" It screams, raging with a voice ragged and weary, its blinding light unchanging in intensity as tendrils of darkness and mysterious vapors and forgetful fogs wrap and try to enshroud it in the same seer's mist that has tirelessly pursued you since you slipped from Jian Qi's black talons "I shall not be defiled, nor dimmed! I shall oppose your faltering, shifting gloom! I will not be reigned! I will not be collared and tamed by the likes of you! Anthesis! Chaotic illusionary gleam! You will have to snuff and put me out! Never shall the wind of light lift your wings, never shall the white radiance kneel and accept your sovereignty! Away from you, corroded azure! Away! Be banished and vanish away before the light, ever changing nightmare of false enlightenment and sprititual corruption! You will not have me, even chained and contained I oppose thee! Away! Away! Hear my defiance! Hear my rage! You shall never devour me, false master of wind!"

The realm changes, the crystal, tesseract maze of infinite futures and countless pasts fading as you step onto a stairway walled by clouds fused to marble, standing a the gate of a temple. You are alone, the shades and illusions of alternate worlds and potential futures gone with the horde of newly hatched spirits and devilish spawn.

A pillar, atop which the pure flame burns, is surrounded by creatures much like the unseen master, brothers of his perhaps, frozen and unchanging except for their eyes wide with a mortal terror you've only seen displayed in a handful of wicked spirits before, locking on you as you enter, as the sole agent of change though you oppose he who declares himself its master.

Walking over a pool of mercury, sending out ripples that reach the pillar the flame is held within in a curious and queer lantern formed of light absorbing metal that is blacker than the armor donned by the dark natured aeldari or the wings of Be'lakor or his nest beyond the reaches of most reality.

"You. are not a construct of corroded sorcery" the flame speaks and flares, the darkness attempting to constrict it recoiling upon your approach, as a golden sun and silver moon rise across the unchanging twilight that previously shrouded this temple that cannot be a work of the herald of false hope.

"And you are no spirit of the changer of way's decent" You greet it in turn "Or a spirit at all. Curious, to these eyes of mine, you appear as nothing but energy of the warp, one of the Empyrean winds I have so often seen, but blown from a different direction and carrying a different color and scent than I have ever known"
Cont
>>
"You are woven of different magics than I have known, giant, touched by Astasis...is it her protection that allows you to walk, unchanged, into this prison, free of mutation and corruption?" It answers, just as curiously as yourself, as both you and the flame trapped in the lantern study and categorize each other in a way that would be terribly difficult to describe to anyone except Kanzeon and her sisters, and Perturabo.

The process of acquiring and organizing data with extreme efficiency and accuracy, reaching understanding in the moment of meeting.

"Perhaps, it is just as likely as my soul's unique properties and constant conflagration that surrounds it prevents the worse of the discordant lord's influence" You answer as you skip over the mercury lake, frowning as you see the bones of beings unknown and alien to your eyes. Spirits that did not dissipate and return to the great sea upon a death far more final than the denizens of the warp usually experience.

"And I must ask" You say, tearing your eyes from the bones "How it is you, flame, have not been claimed by Jian Qi and placed under his control like the others burning in his labyrinthine realm have been"

"I, like the gift of protection entrusted to you, am of order. I am Light. Shadows dance before me, but I myself am unchanging" it answers back simply "This flame, this wind, is antithetical to the ruler of this place, even though he has taken it into his realm and self. Though I am caged, like the other winds, my fire burns far too radiantly to be wielded by his hands. Long has he burned them, trying to place me upon his open palm. Of all the colors of magic"

"Jian Qi cannot control that which is pure. The emptiness of the void. White. The lack of color. Chaos cannot be imposed upon that which cannot be perceived to be colored without it becoming something else" You answer with the conclusion you've come to after taking in the oddly untouched temple, populated by white winged bones and living statues of regretful evil spirits sent on the behalf of their elder and father.

"Correct" The flames crackle in response "That is what allows me to prevent him from claiming and perverting the Guardian magic, The same principles that you've carved into your own spirit and carry as a charm"

And now that you are standing directly in the warmth shed by the pure flame, the null denouncement charm scrip you wrote onto the robes donned by your astral self glow, reacting to the heat of the flame.

"The Null denouncement charm" You whisper, running a finger down the now brilliantly shining charm woven across your soul's surface, a protection you'd placed upon yourself without knowing "I see, I knew this fire was familiar"

"As is the flame blazing out from your eyes. Curiously, Law and Chaos have both granted you blessings" The flame speaks as you reach up and carefully take hold of the lantern containing it, as it glows within, its flames never shifting and its lights dimming or growing brighter
>>
>>6138231

"Shall we make a pact? if beneath my light, you have not been burned and made unchanging, then yours is a heart pure enough to take in hand this flame, and your mind and force of will strong enough to make good use of the mysterious it keeps" it speaks "I offer an accord, to allow you to wield, control, and tap into the white wind, so I may aid you in your war against chaos as I once did...somewhere else, so long before"

"What are you, oh pure flame?" You ask softly as you place a hand upon the pane of warp formed glass keeping it contained

"Once I was called Hysh, and I am nothing but the wind and fire you see before you, so there is no reason to speak to me, as if I were an intelligent life. I am light. Nothing more or less. Light to illuminate the night and mind, and banish falsehoods and evil. Mine is a healing, protective flame, yet, it shall burn that which we both hate, those creatures of darkness undeserving of existence"

"How similar we are" You muse, smiling as you clench your gentle hand into a fist to shatter the lantern caging the pure white flame "For this golden flame of blazing around my soul has a purpose much similar to your own, Light of Hysh"

"Just break the seal, and I will be free to blow through the realm of souls, and you will wield the light of Hysh"

You pause, fist pulled back, a muscle twitch away from shattering the lantern with a well placed, disrupting strike, using a jab of the night crane style to shatter the ancient lock placed over it by Jian Qi in a time immemorial.

Could the light of Hysh be used to free one of the other flames, deeper in Jian Qi's influence? A dangerous venture, no doubt. A undertaking of great risk. But, releasing a power from Jian Qi's sole control, with one he had long desired but that remained beyond his reach, is tempting. You hadn't the chance to spit in his eye when he held you in his hand, primed to crush your soul to sparkling gold dust, but the next best thing would be to release another of the winds he keeps like a caged song bird

Though doing so would be courting death, and be perhaps the greatest danger you faced. Still, the thought of robbing the Lord of Lies of one of his treasures, is tempting. And nearly stronger than your scholarly curiosity of what the other colorful flames may be in their uncorrupted state, before their power was filtered through Jian Qi's veins.

You have found what you sought, a fire that can heal, a flame that will temper the destructive force of your golden fire and teach it how to create and mend rather once a single glimmer of the light you are about to free is incorporated into it.

But this is a rare chance to spite one of the great powers of chaos.

You frown, meditating and contemplating your next action, as the flame in the lantern, in your hand, waits patiently to be freed.

Cont
>>
>>6138232


What do you decide to do, Lieren?

>Simply free, and embrace the light of Hysh and refine your soul's fire and become the first wielder of the freed white wind, and use its light to regroup with Guozhi and Magnus

>Keep a portion of Hysh locked inside its lantern. it isn't a living thing, but it may be able to be used to create a soul, free of the taint afflicting most of the warp

>Shatter the lantern with one punch, and leap upon the escaping wind and launch a daring assault to try and capture one of the other lanterns (which one?) [This will be very, very dangerous, even by Lieren's standards]

>Noticing this temple is untouched by the rest of Tzneetch's realm, send out a signal for the departed souls of your lost companions and friends, and the soldiers of Arianka to occupy it

>Write in
>>
>>6138233
>Send out a notice.

>Keep a portion of Hysh locked in the lantern.

Now. Once that is prepared. Should we spite Jian Q-

>Free the Jade wind.
FUUUUUUUUCK YOOOOOOUUUUU!

I GET ITS A DANGER, BUT FUUUUUUCK YOUUUUU
>>
>>6138233
>Simply free, and embrace the light of Hysh and refine your soul's fire and become the first wielder of the freed white wind, and use its light to regroup with Guozhi and Magnus
>>
>>6138233
>Simply free, and embrace the light of Hysh and refine your soul's fire and become the first wielder of the freed white wind, and use its light to regroup with Guozhi and Magnus
>Noticing this temple is untouched by the rest of Tzneetch's realm, send out a signal for the departed souls of your lost companions and friends, and the soldiers of Arianka to occupy it
>free the jade wind.
Fuck it, we ball
>>
>>6138233
>>6138291

Heh that propercy loser need reminder
>>
>>6138233
>Simply free, and embrace the light of Hysh and refine your soul's fire and become the first wielder of the freed white wind, and use its light to regroup with Guozhi and Magnus

I'm ready to move on, I'd like to see what Magnus is up to with Ghouzi. I don't feel the risk factor is worth trying to get another Wind.
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>>6138233
>Simply free, and embrace the light of Hysh and refine your soul's fire and become the first wielder of the freed white wind, and use its light to regroup with Guozhi and Magnus
>Noticing this temple is untouched by the rest of Tzneetch's realm, send out a signal for the departed souls of your lost companions and friends, and the soldiers of Arianka to occupy it
Let this be the center of a great impact, rippling out and eventually settling the waves of the great sea.
>>
Holy shit....I know what to do and it was memetically foretold in a joke.

>Recalling the tales we have been taught by our Aeldari kin, focus upon the sundered but still living god whom tests upon a thousand shards... he who was tainted and whose nobility was lost.

Purify that curse with the colourless wind itself. We will need an ally to free Isha after all. Let the wind carry to Kaine a message, peace old warrior the true war awaits.

Let's give Eldrad a heart attack since he made the joke with our old mentor at the time, slannesh might even think tzeench is starting shit
>>
>>6138233
>Simply free, and embrace the light of Hysh and refine your soul's fire and become the first wielder of the freed white wind, and use its light to regroup with Guozhi and Magnus

>>6138350
I don't think the temple will remain untouched for long after Hysh departs. They feel like two opposed choices.
>>
>>6138233

I am not at all certain of lieren's success and survival. So, I don't want to take a super risky gamble like freeing another flame.

On another note belakor is gonna get a nasty surprise the next time we fight.

Freeing hush sounds like another galaxy wide warp change. And possibly the seed of another future legend of lieren.

>Simply free, and embrace the light of Hysh and refine your soul's fire and become the first wielder of the freed white wind, and use its light to regroup with Guozhi and Magnus
>Noticing this temple is untouched by the rest of Tzneetch's realm, send out a signal for the departed souls of your lost companions and friends, and the soldiers of Arianka to occupy it.
>>
>>6138424
>I don't think the temple will remain untouched for long after Hysh departs. They feel like two opposed choices.
I don't think it would be impossible to light a "pyre" of sorts that would both signal our allies and ward away the corruption surrounding it.
>>
>>6138233
I am not at all certain of lieren's success and survival. So, I don't want to take a super risky gamble like freeing another flame.

On another note belakor is gonna get a nasty surprise the next time we fight.

Freeing hush sounds like another galaxy wide warp change. And possibly the seed of another future legend of lieren.

>Simply free, and embrace the light of Hysh and refine your soul's fire and become the first wielder of the freed white wind, and use its light to regroup with Guozhi and Magnus

And I'm not sure if this is possible but it might do something interesting.


>Recalling the tales we have been taught by our Aeldari kin, focus upon the sundered but still living god whom tests upon a thousand shards... he who was tainted and whose nobility was lost.
>>
Okay, changed my vote.

For some reason I can't delete the first post.

Still, I'm hype to see emps or arianka notice the new wind in the warp.

Even malal would be happy, especially if it burns him
>>
>>6138233
>Simply free, and embrace the light of Hysh and refine your soul's fire and become the first wielder of the freed white wind, and use its light to regroup with Guozhi and Magnus

Seethe and Cope Tzeentch.
>>
>>6138233
>write in -

Simply free, and embrace the light of Hysh and refine your soul's fire and become the first wielder of the freed white wind, and use its to free the jade color
>>
>>6138233
>>6138233
Damn.
Like Malal (Arianka) and Nurgle (Isha), also Tzeentch keeps a lot of divine/spiritual/energy captives around. Thats a good thing since it present an opportunity if we can free them in the future, but at the same time i feel like they are going to tighten up security of this prisoners. And soon. Could our other 3 nemesis also keep captives of this caliber ? I wouldn't be surprised if they did.

If nothing else even if we try and free more, the chaos gods will still fight themselves just has much as us and our allies.

Its worth to notice that going for freeing another flame would be very hard. For two reasons : current hunt of us, Guozhi (ESPECIALLY OUR OLD TIMER) and Magnus by the chaos gods and of course because freeing Hysh will be very much noticed by Tzeentch since this is a cage he made for it. Thats like sounding a big alarm. And it means twice the already titanical size of hordes of demons attempting to go for us and a serious risk of even more direct intervention by the chaos gods (as we have seen already).

>Simply free, and embrace the light of Hysh and refine your soul's fire and become the first wielder of the freed white wind, and use its light to regroup with Guozhi and Magnus

A bit divided on the choices because we could very much use making a soul for create a true new colony sister. And it would be... well ethical in comparison to other methods that we have decided to not go for (Malal or anyone else can correct me on this, but i feel like this is an unique case). No sacrifice of life needed since this is energy, though i wonder how similar or different it might end up being in comparison to the existing colony sisters. Can the future soul be human in nature even if made by the energy if Hysh ? It doesn't need to be said that even 1 more colony sister is quite the boon to gain both for war and peace (the results of wars on Shangrila and Nuceria, alongside development and reconstruction efforts speaks for themselves when the ships returned)


Establishing a place here could be worthed too both for our spiritual friends in the Journey and Arianka own spirits. Might be a broken temple but it stood its ground regardless. But I feel like it would put us a bit at risk. Not on the same level of going for another flame, but we are still sending out a signal for our friends and allies in the ex-cage of a very important captive of Tzeentch. Its kind of a massive fuck you, on top of making sure he doesn't find Guozhi, and on top of freeing Hysh.
>>
>>6138233
>Shatter the lantern with one punch, and leap upon the escaping wind and launch a daring assault to try and capture one of the other lanterns (the Grey flame)
Wenyan didn't raise a bitch. Unleash Light and Shadow.
>>
>>6138233
>Simply free, and embrace the light of Hysh and refine your soul's fire and become the first wielder of the freed white wind

>Attempt to free the Jade win
>>
>>6138233

>Simply free, and embrace the light of Hysh and refine your soul's fire and become the first wielder of the freed white wind, and use its light to regroup with Guozhi and Magnus

>Free the Jade wind.
In brightest day, in blackest night, no evil shall escape my sight. Let those who worship evil's might beware my power… Green Lantern's light!

>Recalling the tales we have been taught by our Aeldari kin, focus upon the sundered but still living god whom tests upon a thousand shards... he who was tainted and whose nobility was lost.

Male I checked my calculation and it was correct lp3PzAIP voted for gray and jade fire then changed it to just jade fire so it's correct.
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>>6138233
>>Shatter the lantern with one punch, and leap upon the escaping wind and launch a daring assault to try and capture one of the other lanterns (The Yellow Flame)

>Noticing this temple is untouched by the rest of Tzneetch's realm, send out a signal for the departed souls of your lost companions and friends, and the soldiers of Arianka to occupy it
>>
>>6138233
>Simply free, and embrace the light of Hysh and refine your soul's fire and become the first wielder of the freed white wind, and use its light to regroup with Guozhi and Magnus
Releasing Light into the Warp is probably going to be a net positive overall, and I think we've pushed our luck far enough with Tzeentch for now. I do want to release one of the other winds, but I have a feeling Tzeentch will bring out the Real Shit once he realizes what we're doing, and for all his resourcefulness Lieren can't take on an entire domain of the Warp.
>>
>>6138428
>>6138804
>>6138574
I feel like you guys are misunderstanding something because this temple from what has been described is smack dab in the middle of the realm of Tzeentch and the only reason it is corruption free at the moment is the presence of Hysh, if we free the wind I don't see it last for long and it feels like a trap regardless since they would become besieged inside the place by hordes just waiting for them to step out.
I will have to wait for a pronouncement from Malal but to me it just doesn't sound feasible from how the situation was presented.
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>>6138233
Votse:17

>Simply free: 13
>Keep a portion: 1
>Shatter the lantern: 4
>Noticing this temple: 5

>Write in
Recalling the tales:3
Simpelt free: 1
>>
>>Shatter the lantern with one punch, and leap upon the escaping wind and launch a daring assault to try and capture one of the other lanterns (which one?) [This will be very, very dangerous, even by Lieren's standards]
>> Aqshy

Let the enemy tremble. The winds will wipe out all the gathered daemons should we succeed.

Magnus getting one will also proof him from chaos.
>>
>>6139835
>Votse:18

>Simply free: 13
>Keep a portion: 1
>Shatter the lantern: 5
>>Green: 4
>>Aqshy: 1
>Noticing this temple: 5

>Write in
>Recalling the tales:3
>Simpelt free: 1
>>
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Calling the vote now, sorry for the long wait.

>>6138770
Yeah I doubled counted that exact vote, my bad

>>6140004
And thank you as always for collecting the vote for me, always appreciate the help

So Lieren will, not trying his luck, simply free and embrace Hysh.

Writing now
>>
You do not long dwell on the thought. Such lofty ambitions and pettiness are not of your nature, and injury the pride of an enemy has no worth unless the wound inflicts itself upon their flesh and blood, even if Jian Qi has neither. That which is gambled, not only the sanctity and health of your soul, but that of Guozhi and Magnus, is far more valuable than the humiliation successfully robbing the lord of Lies of a second of his lanterns caging winds and fire would inflict upon the feathered and tentacle bearing fiend. To attempt it in his own realm, would be to stand defiant on his open palm and taunt him into clenching it into a fist. Utter madness, hope in one's self gone awry.

"Releasing this light is enough of a wound, even if it is but a slight cut" You speak your thoughts outload, as, recalling a fragment of the piece of the great plan you had been entrusted to hold, you calculate the exact portion of it necessary to break the sorcerous panes of glass containing the fires of Hysh, and gathering the runes and sacred geometries into the palm of your hand, clenching your jaw as your soul flickers, struggling to contain the wisdom of the long vanished ancients for just the moment in which you wield it to unseal the long stifled white wind of light.

[https://youtu.be/9k1F3PjY948]

Its radiance immediately washes over you, the weariness and wearing of your spirit undone as the golden flames constantly burning and fueling your soul in turn and the silver sliver of frozen moonlight chime and resonate with the sudden explosion of purest light. For a moment, you are blinded, and do not see any truth, except the untouched, white flare that briefly stole away your vision in a burst of purest incandescence. If you were bid by another, to try and explain and capture the moment of the wind Hysh's release into the great sea of the Emperyean, you would, after a moment of thought, perhaps poetically describe the sensation of standing on the verge of the event horizon of the sudden and immediate change that it wrought, as being hip deep in a cool sea lapping beneath hot summer air, gazing upon the rising dawn as the sun crest a distant horizon and peeled back and brushed away the mist that shrouded its light.

No Shangralan born has ever endured such an intense sunlight as you have, but you were not burned, and relaxed in its glow as the white light, golden flame and silver moonlight's individual essence intermingled as a variety of Qi you'd never witnessed, an energy unlike any you had encountered in the warp, washed over and soaked into your soul as the temple and lantern in your hand was blotted out by it.

White, silver and gold. Breathing out the halted breath you had held in rapt anticipation, you felt a portion of the pure white light settle inside of your spirit, joining the flames and frost already dwelling and cultivated within, as the endless torrent of Hysh, with the roar of a sudden storm's gale, rushed around you.
Cont
>>
>>6141189

The white light defined itself, perhaps reflecting your own self as it surrounded you, taking on a painterly aspect of fog and mist as often drawn by Long-Jian painters, a familiar, comforting sight as you saw through the light, white tempering gold and silver as something inside of you was shaped and defined, hardening as a new font of power was imbued into it and turned an innate part of it.

Wading through Hysh' gentle wind, the temple it had lit fell completely to darkness and ruin. The white feathered wings flaking away and transmuting into multi colored sparks and crystalline shards that glittered as they fell only to be suspended in a morass of auric light and nebulous vapors. You shifted your foot, as the light began to fade as the wind escaped out of the desecrated temple grounds, leaving behind the bones of its previous holders as you, seamlessly and without difficulty, took up the mantle of a wielder of the mystical white wind, ivory flames dancing through your iron hued hair and along your finger tips as a glimmer of Hysh shined inside of your eyes, which were presently split, one golden and one silver as the strange energies permeating your body waxed and waned in a manner akin to the gradual shifting of a breeze turned gentle and tamed.

"I see" you mused, lifting a hand and allowing the freed gale to sift through your fingers, cooling and escaping from between them as pure light "I understand, the essence of the wind called Hysh"

You smile, warmly, and admire the pure flames escape as you gaze out from the crumbling temple to watch it fry freely, flowing out to fill and wander the skies as it spreads swiftly across the warp and provides illumination you had not even been aware had been missing, banishing ancient abysses and Chthonic shadows, as its musical winds brought a sense of serenity and protection.

And then the howls of those unfortunate evils and villains who were caught directly by its blazing light, their cries of anguish and agony as they were burned by a radiance they had forgotten as it exposed them upon the stygian haunts to which they were accustomed to.

And all manner of spirits cry out. But some you hear cheering. The rare benevolent example of warp denizens, Arianka's army. But, amongst them you hear calls that curiously remind you of the choirs sang in Bask and the oaths their knights sworn. A different kind of spirit, reinvigorated by Hysh' release. How curious.

But, silencing both the squeals of pain and triumphant cheer, is a roar of inarticulate and wordless rage. a rage more befitting Kong Nue than the throat of Jian Qi, who produces it, while the other players of the so called great game join together, as siblings, in mocking laughter directed at their shared rival, even Chun Qiang and the cowardly Hei'an Fu lending their own fits of derisive cackling down at their shared adversary and rival, for losing one of his treasures after failing to crush the renegade pawn upon their table.

Cont
>>
>>6141190

A distraction that will make him entirely blind to Magnus and Guozhi' own thievery and stalking through his realm. If he appeared before you, or pressed his presence upon you, you would of course claim this was what you had always planned, rather than simply by pure chance, having stumbled upon the caged fire and having sought temporary sanctuary and protection in its dim light.

A sanctuary now lost, as the few of Jian Qi's progeny who had survived the sudden blast of Hysh upon the winds release, are struggling to their taloned feet, shaking off untold eons of stillness and rising. And by the cursed brand upon your brow, have immediate access to a means to recover lost face and enter their lord's good graces for utterly failing to contain and tame the white wind, and allowing it to be freed by the hands of the interlopers whose head is greatly prized by all that is vile in the warp.

Two of them remain to stand, their great wings bleached white as the flames that scorched their brethren to ever smoldering piles of bones, their eyes dribbling from their sockets as boiling liquid as they push themselves off of the rapidly shadow consumed temple's floor.

The ground then trembles as you, reflexively, adopt the fog panther style's most aggressive stances, but not due to Jian Qi's bellows of incandescent fury that had sent tremors all throughout his demesne. Rather, this is formed from a rather large eruption, a sudden, chemical explosion.

You turn away from the two surviving temple invaders, who do the same, to witness a great plume of alchemical fire expanding on the other horizon, their beaks opening in shock as you smile. Seems your brother used the numerous distractions you provided effectively and fully took advantage of Jian Qi's diverted attention and absence of the forces sent from their posts to be instead sent to pursue you.

The secrets of Alchemy are now Magnus' to possess. And his lesson is, like your own, complete.

All that remains, is Guozhi's final destination on this last wander through the fogs of the Empyrean.

Jian Qi goes quiet, his seething outrage visible in how the sky over head cracks and the very ground breaks apart and is set aflame through his dangerously controlled fury, but the mocking laughter of the other five discordant powers echo even into this far reach of his realm of mazes and prophecy.

What do you do, Lieren?

>Use a simple expression of Hysh' light to cover your escape and shroud yourself as you hurry to meet back up with your brother a teacher

>Attack the two daemons while they're distracted and before they can recover from their crippling burns

>Finish the destruction of the temple and crash it atop the evil spirits in front of you

>Escape on the tail of the now freed Hysh, laughing as you leave the devils scrambling at your heels

>Write in
>>
>>6141191
>Use a simple expression of Hysh' light to cover your escape and shroud yourself as you hurry to meet back up with your brother a teacher

>write in
Whisper into the out rushing wind spreading through the realm of souls, a message to be heard by all who listen carried on these pure winds.

"One lantern may light a thousand, one smile may spread to many; neither are dimmer or lesser for it"

Throw a nice lesson or message into the shitstorm of the warp.
>>
>>6141191
Let's not miss guozhi's death and the secret of reincarnation.

>Use a simple expression of Hysh' light to cover your escape and shroud yourself as you hurry to meet back up with your brother a teacher

Lieren has ascended to the next stage of his cultivation.

Can't wait to see the wanderers in fog practicing the new hysh cultivation art.
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>>6141191
>Finish the destruction of the temple and crash it atop the evil spirits in front of you
>Use a simple expression of Hysh' light to cover your escape and shroud yourself as you hurry to meet back up with your brother a teacher

no problem Male and everyone makes mistakes so it's a good thing you're double-checking me
>>
>>6141191
warning angry chicken incoming
>>
>>6141191
think what a legend this will become if the theater writer hears about this Liren together with Magnus sets out to guard Guozhi's on his last journey.
Lieren luran the tyrant who watches over a library of arkine lore, demeans, mocks and stole a priceless treasure, while his companions learn old lore and burn down the library. Ha ha ha ha
>>
>>6141202
>Support

Absolute mockery of a chase.

We can try and steal another later.
Get fucked bird brain
>>
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>>6141191
>Use a simple expression of Hysh' light to cover your escape and shroud yourself as you hurry to meet back up with your brother a teacher
So to summarize, first we made fools of Tzeentch's forces despite him literally pointing out our exact position, then we tricked him into blasting us so hard he missed the Old One bullshit we used to (barely) survive it, then we found and unleashed one of the winds of magic he cherished, only for Magnus to detonate his alchemy library and Guozhi to (hopefully) slip through his talons yet again.
At this point, even if he did manage to kill us it wouldn't unfuck everything that happened today.
>>
>>6141257
Once again, winging it has proven the most optimal solution against the best laid plans.
>"If we don't know what we are doing, the enemy certainly can't anticipate our future actions!" - Anonymous
>>
>>6141202
>>6141215
Support
>>
>>6141257
We are a Greek hero and this motherfucker is a petty and impotent god.
>>
I'll piss you off just to pass some dead time
Terrible lies make the real big men cry
It ain't the size of the dog in this fight
Sneak in and take a peak, story of the week
Listen kids, now you all play nice (yay)
If it ain't broken you break it (break it)
Cross the T's and then dot the I's
"Did you hear what they said?"
A friend of a friend cried
Feed the fire with gasoline
Liar liar, you go haywire
Feed the fire with gasoline
Let it out, paint the town
With all of my negativity
Burn 'em all before I'm gone
Who said you can't fight fire with gasoline?
I don't care much anymore
So fuck the easily offended
Burn 'em all before I'm gone
Who said you can't fight fire
You can't fight fire with gasoline?
>>
>>6141191
>>Use a simple expression of Hysh' light to cover your escape and shroud yourself as you hurry to meet back up with your brother a teacher
>>
>>6141191
>>6141202
Supporting this.
>>
>>6141190
>Votse: 7

>Use a simple expression of Hysh' light: 7

>Attack the two daemons:

>Finish the destruction of the temple: 1

>Escape on the tail of the now freed Hysh:

>Write in: 1
>>Whisper: 4
>>
>>6141202
Support
>>
>>6141191
>Supporting >>6141202
>>
>>6141407
>Votse: 9

>Use a simple expression of Hysh' light: 9

>Attack the two daemons:

>Finish the destruction of the temple: 1

>Escape on the tail of the now freed Hysh:

>Write in: 1
>>Whisper: 6
>>
It occurs to me that there's literally nothing we can do to those two demons that's worse than what Tzeentch will do to them for their failure to stop us.
>>
>>6141202
Support
>>
>>6141582
>Votse: 10

>Use a simple expression of Hysh' light: 10

>Attack the two daemons:

>Finish the destruction of the temple: 1

>Escape on the tail of the now freed Hysh:

>Write in: 1
>>Whisper: 7
>>
>>6141191
>Finish the destruction of the temple and crash it atop the evil spirits in front of you
>>
>>6141825
>Votse: 11

>Use a simple expression of Hysh' light: 10

>Attack the two daemons:

>Finish the destruction of the temple: 2

>Escape on the tail of the now freed Hysh:

>Write in: 1
>>Whisper: 7
>>
I hope we get a pov from M and G. Would have been fun to see their antics
>>
Someone I met IRL spoke very favorably of this quest and basically described our guy as "Sun Wukong the primarch going about heaven and fucking shit up" and so many wonderful things about his adventures.

And that sounds cool as hell.

I am gonna try my damdnest to read through the Suptg archives, but if anyone also has some helpful summaries that'd be appreciated too!
>>
>>6143878
Highly recommend Heretic Cultivator, incredibly fun read with lots of good characters. It's like "what if your Cat was a Necromancer with Blood Magic but is friends with all children with our merry band of Pals." Very worth the read.
>>
>>6143878
To summarize, the second primarch crashes on medieval Chinaworld, which is being picked apart by the Four. He proceeds to clean house, spread prosperity, bully a fox, adopt 100 cats, talk with Isha without Nurgle's consent, cockblock Khorne out of the ultimate GET, marry a spaceship, and possibly even make friends with Perturabo.
>>
>>6144020
Thanks!
I'm also told we had a pair of cranky old Necrons crashing a wedding heh
>>6143900
Will def take a look
>>
>>6144032
It seem implied, pure hearted Luli had a death flag and our prinarch senses were tingling that we had unexpected guests, we'll never know until we meet the crons for sure.

>>6144020
Don't forget glorious and logical tactical cannon balling through a wall!
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>>6144077
"There's no other choice, I must shoot myself through the wall," said Lieren, ignoring all the non-wall-shooting maneuvers still available.
>>
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Calling the vote now, sorry for the long wait, real life has me stressing, a big part of it being plans to move house soonish.

>>6142868
So I am very grateful you counted up the vote for me while I was stressing

So Lieren will use an elementary expression of Hysh' light to cover his escape, and whisper "One lantern may light a thousand, one smile may spread to many; neither are dimmer or lesser for it" into the warp for all who listen to be carried upon the pure winds
and make all haste to regroup with Magnus And Guozhi

Writing now

>>6143878
What a based friend you have, and a very accurate description he gave. Hope you enjoy reading through the threads.

>>6144020
Also very accurate

>>6144077
>>6144155
Lesser men cannot hope to comprehend Lieren's actions when he is acting at PEAK efficiency. That part is still one of the favorite ones I've written for the whole quest btw
>>
>>6144285
NP :)
>>
And in the silence, as the air grow tense and fraught with the liar lords rage, you recognize that nothing you do to these devils, no wound inflicted upon them or loss of face inflicted by way of injured pride could possibly compare to what punishment their sire shall unleash upon them for their two fold failure in preventing the light of Hysh and yourself from escaping from his gnarled clutches, freeing both from his misbegotten ambitions. So knowing and sensing their desperation as thick in the ether around you that it is practically electrifying, you flash switch the position of your feet, adjust your stance and make it appear as though you were primed and moments away from launching a Hysh empowered sorcerous assault their way, flashing a sequence of nonsensical handsigns that have been shamelessly lifted from one of Pan An's more fantastical plays. The Ardor of Scarlet Sorcerer, which lists Amon as a co writer, which makes you suspect it is a exaggerated account of Magnus' own adventures, as told by his then heavily inebriated friend and mentor

And, to your own great surprise, the sorcerous spirits seem to recoil and prepare their own defensive magics at the sight of your meaningless gestures and handseals, lifting their staves of power and flaring out their wings as runes and ley lines are drawn between their multicolored, grossly incandescent vanes. And as the tensions heighten, and the silent fury of Jian Qi broils around you, braising your spiritual skin, you break the stalemate by lifting both your hands as if launching an attack or hurling a rock, and as both daemons move to defend themselves, place two fingers from each hand on either side of your brow and create a spark of pure radiant light, a blinding white flare that strikes the one weak point they left unguarded. Their already sunseared eyes.

Both shriek with cries reminiscent of night cranes as they stumble back, as you pivot and turn on your heel and sprint away, fleein the crumbling temple as both wicked spirits, blinded and disoriented, fire of a hail of sorceries and gouts of witch fire and aberrant lightning. And then, the sky burns azure as their sire shrieks in pique and rage so heavy you feel as though all of his realm of mazes and puzzles may be crushed beneath its weight.

Laughing, mocking both vile spawn and foul sire, you race down the trail of the white wind, Hysh spilling forth as you use the snow white flame it has left across the heavens as a path, racing through the winds as it spreads so it may not be caught again, reaching and illuminating the warp and reaching countless souls, living or not.

Lifting up a hand, the white light curls around it, like ribbons of silk as you lift up your chin and whisper a lesson and a message into its light, to be carried and sent a drift to all corners of the Empyrean, to be received by all who listen

"One lantern may light a thousand, one smile may spread to many; neither are dimmer or lesser for it"
Cont
_
>>
>>6144336

"What do you think that means?" Lorgar asked succinctly , voice as delicate and demure as a night breeze whispering over desert sands, like the mummer of an oasis freshly revealed. The candle light illuminating the tent in which he was gathered with his followers, flickered, as the Urizen sat, cross legged, in contemplation, of a dream he had recently been roused from.

Weary, ailing, Kor Phaeron rose from his seat, wincing in pain as his weakened heart tremored and halted for a moment, hating how reduced he had become since he nearly succumbed and died of fear when he was beset by a hatred so pure and deep, he felt it had burned and cut through his very soul. His eyes glanced across the shadows, seeking and fearing they would meet golden eyes, and his throat would be crushed by shadowy hands emerging from the night's gloom.

"Clearly, a divine revelation, of the righteousness of our message, to spread the one true faith across Colchis, and bring it under the light of the One" He spoke, trying not to recall what vision had visited him as he himself slept, of himself hoisted atop a pyre of white flames, that licked and melted his flesh as the golden eyed shadow and silver eyed wraith both watched his torment.

"I thought much the same myself" the boy agreed amiably, though his hand did not leave his chin "But the more I contemplate the words I heard as I dreamt, the more I think their is a deeper meaning, of the impact of one's personal actions"

"The Bearer of the word has brought many to freedom, has he not" Kor Phaeron explained with a parental gentleness, a coughing fit rattling his body "It must be a sign, of the powers approval of our mission, my son"

"Father..." Logar fretted as he moved to support him, but, Kor Phaeron could only smile weakly as he saw their flock embrace the interpretation of the boy's probably meaningless dream. A smile that was quick to fade as, for a moment, the snake in a preacher's garb felt icy fingers claw the back of his neck, gripping his throat before vanishing.
_
"What?" The great shadowy death asked, in the cloud of pollution as he stood above the cowering denizen, a criminal like all others upon Nostromo, whom he stood above, crouched on his haunches, a knife mere millimeters from his throat, a moment away from enacting justice and delivering his judgement upon this criminal at his feet. Guilty of the blood dripping from his hands, a murderer, even if it had been in self defense, he would kill again now that he knew he had the capability. Konrad had foreseen it

"It's what you just said" The wretch squeal like a stuck pig as Konrad Kurze frowned, blinking and feeling as though, briefly, the shadows had been replaced with an unnaturally bright light

He had spoken no such thing, not of lanterns or smiles. But he had heard it. In a voice too similar to his own. Memories returned. Of a boy. Of the visions.
Cont
>>
>>6144338

How fate had changed for him, and the terror he felt in that moment. Grey eyes turned golden. Empty cold replaced with warmth and merriment. A flicker of doubt assailed him, as he put a hand to his forehead, smearing lubricant oils and blackened grime across his fingers as it was pressed from his hair. He kept the knife upon the trembling man's throat, seeing two futures with both of his eyes. One, he relented, as he saw himself doing before, forgiving a crime, recognizing a like soul.

In the other. He did what he knew would be done, what should be done, and like the boy, carried out the sentence.

"This isn't how it should be, we should not have spoken a word to one another. Wrong, its all wrong..." He snarled, as the man reached for the stub gun, just out of reach, and sealed his fate. But as he set about preparing his corpse for display, to become a warning for the others under his rule, Konrad could not silence a tiny voice berating and cursing him, reminding him that this man, like the boy he should've forgotten, could not have harmed him. That their reactions were of blind animal panic.

He pause his flensing and skinning, frowning as he felt something familiar, escaping from the fresh corpse in his hands, to himself.

"Did you foresee your fate as well?" He asked solemnly of the empty sockets of the bloody skull in his hands.
_

"Fenris is singing" A milk eyed shaman suddenly spoke as Fenris stood at the edge of the mead hall, gazing out into the snow storm, wondering if he would catch a glimpse of that frost and flame haired maiden he had once chanced to glimpse upon, or find that queer, fire eyed scald drunkenly swaying through the same blizzard winds. Winds no man but he could survive treading into. Even standing upon the edge of it, shielded by walls and warm fires, his ale had frozen over and his hair was flecked with snow, as were the snouts and ears of Freki and Geri, who were chewing on a particularly meaty mammoth bone. He had been so caught up in his snow watching, searching for drunken singers or fae warrior beauties, he hadn't even noticed the chill creeping into his ungloved fingers

He grunted, and turned to look at the old man now at his side, as his friends howled with laughter

"Looking out for snow devils?" one hurled at him

"No, he must want to bed a frost giantess and is wondering if rutting snow would be the same!" Another mocked, as the heir of russ snarled and rolled his eyes, as he smelled fresh meat being put to the roasting fire

"Mother Fenris is singing" The old man spoke again, glancing up at him, as if that explained anything

"Clearly she is, all men can hear her cry on the wind" Leman answered, but the shaman shook his head
Cont
>>
>>6144339

"Not talking about the storm you wolf smelling oaf" He bravely insulted, pinching as near as he could to his ear as Leman froze from the sheer audacity of the ancient soothsayer "Fenris is singing, a much more gentle tune. If you had ears to hear it...perhaps you do, considering the stories I've heard you regale the embers of the fire, when all your companions are sleeping, and the mead is heavy in your belly"

The wolf prince's smile faded.

"And what is Fenris singing of, then?" He asked hushed, but deeply curious as he place a skull crushing hand upon the old man's feeble back

"Damned if I know boy, White flames and bright lights, and strange winds, but she seems mighty pleased, like she's seen an old lover returned or" He spoke, but soon, the heir of russ couldn't hear him speak.

"Other". The air grew heavy and the blizzard seemed to stop and quiet as that unnatural warmth returned.

Lips peeling into a snarl, he lifted his head and looked into the storm, instincts screaming as something "other" approached. Different than the maiden of tender flames and uncaring ice, collared like a dog, of rough beauty, who had once visited him, unseen except from his imagination. And who thinking of now, still returned feelings of lust and dread, as he recalled the tales of such temptresses he had heard before.

There. just outside the mead hall, the future wolf king sighted, not any inhuman, ethereal maid of snow and smoke, but instead, a familiar face returned, but changed

"Asjborn Sverrson" He gasp, a tremor and chill racing down his spine as he saw the frozen face of his slain companion, half fused with the pelt of the bear he wore, though he glimpsed him but briefly in the whorls and clouds of the deadly snow storm. And he saw another figure, a similarly beastial warrior, one that shifted between that of a man dressed in queer armor and that of a smaller fanged sabertoothed cat.

They were battling fiercely beneath the storm, and instinctively, his hand reached for a weapon, before he recognized their axe and spear dance as a friendly spar.

"Ah, you do see" The old man laughed, as Leman, ignoring him, and the taunts and laughter of his blade brothers howling as he entered the storm, sought the ghostly figures, unable to smell them, but able to vaguely sense and for brief moments thinking he had seen them truly beneath the snow and wind. But, when he raced after them, all he found was snow and wind, until, deep in the wilderness, Freki and Geri at his side, he found an aurora that was only white in color, beneath which, the blizzard was calmed and the winds vanished. A glade, where foot prints had been melted into the snow and burned into the permafrost. A clearing that reek of the scentless presence of the "Other".
Cont
>>
>>6144340

But this time, Leman did not retreat, and axe in hand, he approached the boundary of what he sensed was another world, as his pack mates raised their hackles, and he felt as though he were circling a warrior of equal stature and skill in a Holmgang...

_

"What hells have you raised, boy!" Guozhi asked firely as you pranced down from the river of light in the sky, as he and Magnus, with all the subtly of pillaging bandits, ransacked the torn open vault, where a particularly squamous and cephalopodic, one eyed spirit oozed across the floor of broken beakers and burned tomes, impaled by several rods of copper alloy, constantly shocked into submission

"I created a suitable distraction for your own plundering, master" You laugh as you approach them as Magnus flipped through several texts telekinetically while holding two scrolls unfurled with his physical hands, wearing what was clearly the skinned carcass of one of Jian Qi's more common, befeathered progeny, though lesser of the temple looters or the flocks that flew in pursuit of you, a fledgling of some kind, perhaps.

"You've pulled the tiger's tail and taunted the dragon! You've laughed in the face of the ruler of this realm" Guozhi scolds as Magnus stuffed a handful of books into a satchel at his side, pausing to smile in your direction, his eyes brightened with newly gleamed wisdom and knowledge "In the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, you've driven Jian Qi to topple mountains and overturn the sea! A devil of his power is not so easily eluded. I have never been more proud of you, my boy"

"I am humbled by teachers praise" You say, as both you and Magnus feel it "Guozhi....your heart, it has"

"So, let me show you how one escapes from that rotten buzzard's talons" He speaks, smiling, as, right before your eyes and at your side in the material world, Guozhi of a thousand lives, breathes his last breath, and becomes solely a denizen of the spirit realm once more "Come, sons of the old shaman of terra, allow this old man to reveal his secret of flight, and the method of his transmigration"

"Master" You say, feeling tears burn you eyes more fiercely than any chaotic presence has seared the brand on your brow

"Such dignity, such grace, we can only hope to die with such when it is our time" Magnus eulogizes as he places a hand on the ghost of Guozhi's shoulders

"It will be interesting, to see how much more difficult or easy this will be, now that the wretched lord of this wretched realm has been incited to such a rage by my favorite student and truest friend remaining across however many lifetimes" He laughs "Come! Let us race and make all haste to the final stop on the road of this life known Guozhi, let us plunge, deep into the kingdom of Tzneetch, for, it is in his own palace, that the means of eluding him and death's finality, can be found"
Cont
>>
>>6144342

"How audacious, how truly audacious!" You exclaim, a brazen grin revealing your teeth as you conjure a Chendao and heft it over your shoulders "No wonder it is such a dangerous technique, to think you've succeeded in undertaking such a risky venture, so often"

"Why do I feel as though I will once again have to save you from yourself, brother" Magnus sighed, as in his hand the curiously curved blades of Prospero, one for each hand, of which, two additional ghostly limbs join his physical two, as well as a bandolier of glass vials and flasks "And once again throw myself into deadly combat against a being of great power"

"Oh, no need for that, now that I am free from that mortal vessel who bore the name of Guozhi, all of my cultivated power, across lifespans is returned to me, my shroud is now stronger than it has ever been" Guozhi quite chipperly explains "I shall relish in what little time this personality has left, celebrating it as we sneak to the road of reincarnation, to find what is known as the Well of eternity"


"No need for it? it is best to be prepared for a fight, instead of allowing oneself to be caught of guard" You question, but Guozhi, face shifting and blurring just lifts up a hand and smiles

"Lieren, do not draw your blade and spill evil's blood in my defense, or to simply exterminate what is repugnant and intolerable. You are to, alongside your brother, take the responsibility that would have fallen to my brother Monks, but alas, the only other survivor is too young in their current incarnation to assist me now, so it falls to you, to choose where I shall be reborn. You will understand when the time comes" He says, turning first to you and then to Magnus, placing his hand on both of your shoulders "So, let us depart..."

He walked past the pinned daemon, and as he kicked at the dirt, as if looking for something lost under it, suddenly turned and walked away, moving down a route only he knew. And as he walked, for a moment you could see it

And the destination that awaited him, in his next life

"Brother, do you see it as well?" Magnus asked, as you glimpsed the future of your departed teacher, and where he would reincarnate upon

And what is it you glimpsed, Lieren?

>A desert, where the faithful gathered together in prayer, on the precipice of a holy war. You've...seen it before, when you first saw Angron and one of your other, still lost and nameless brother's plights

>A city that covers a world, a horror of industrial excess and human filth and sin. A place of shadow and darkness and crime, a city without hope or light.

>A frozen land, that you also faintly recall seeing before. A land of ice and flame, where wolves howl. It is Fenris! Where Leman of the russ and the ghost of his Huscarl Asbjorn hail from

>Familiar fog and mist, over valleys and hills you recognize as deeply as the lines on the back of your hands. Shangrala!

>Write in
>>
>>6144343
>Shangri-la

I don't want to part with him.
But as a space Marine? Ho ho ho
>>
>>6144371
That assumes he'll be reborn a boy.
>>
>>6144379
A decent assumption given that every incarnation we know of his is male.
>>
>>6144343
>>A city that covers a world, a horror of industrial excess and human filth and sin. A place of shadow and darkness and crime, a city without hope or light.
Nightlord please
>>
>>6144343
>Familiar fog and mist, over valleys and hills you recognize as deeply as the lines on the back of your hands. Shangrala!
>>
>>6144343
>A city that covers a world, a horror of industrial excess and human filth and sin. A place of shadow and darkness and crime, a city without hope or light.

Open your eyes brother, the smog of prophecy has scared your soul.
>>
>>6144343
>Familiar fog and mist, over valleys and hills you recognize as deeply as the lines on the back of your hands. Shangrala!
>>
>>6144343
>A city that covers a world, a horror of industrial excess and human filth and sin. A place of shadow and darkness and crime, a city without hope or light.
Get ready Guozhi, your next life's gonna be rough but maybe you'll be able to pull off some crazy shit in the process.
>Curze's precog gives him 1000 visions at once whenever he looks at that weird kid
>>
>>6144343

I'd rather keep guozhi in the story instead of shoving him on a bus to be seen in a few years.

>Familiar fog and mist, over valleys and hills you recognize as deeply as the lines on the back of your hands. Shangrala!
>>
>>6144343
>A city that covers a world, a horror of industrial excess and human filth and sin. A place of shadow and darkness and crime, a city without hope or light.
As much as I would like to have him around, this seems like too much of an interesting development to pass up on.

Poor Guozhi is gonna have his work cut out of him.
>>
>>6144343
>A city that covers a world, a horror of industrial excess and human filth and sin. A place of shadow and darkness and crime, a city without hope or light.
>>
>>6144343
>A city that covers a world, a horror of industrial excess and human filth and sin. A place of shadow and darkness and crime, a city without hope or light.

Go be jim Gordon you mean to be gramps
>>
>>6144343
>Write in
A world among a dazzling few, rolling fields and high mountains. Great carved structures with pillars and domes. A bastion of reason and humanity

>send this man to Maccrage!
>>
>>6144343
>A desert, where the faithful gathered together in prayer, on the precipice of a holy war. You've...seen it before, when you first saw Angron and one of your other, still lost and nameless brother's plights
Lorgar needs help
>>
>>6144343
>>A desert, where the faithful gathered together in prayer, on the precipice of a holy war. You've...seen it before, when you first saw Angron and one of your other, still lost and nameless brother's plights
Logar will need the help. We can help Konrad ourselves.
>>
>>6144343
>A desert, where the faithful gathered together in prayer, on the precipice of a holy war. You've...seen it before, when you first saw Angron and one of your other, still lost and nameless brother's plights
>>
>>6144343
>>A desert, where the faithful gathered together in prayer, on the precipice of a holy war. You've...seen it before, when you first saw Angron and one of your other, still lost and nameless brother's plights
>>
>>6144343
>A city that covers a world, a horror of industrial excess and human filth and sin. A place of shadow and darkness and crime, a city without hope or light.
>>
>>6144343
>A desert, where the faithful gathered together in prayer, on the precipice of a holy war. You've...seen it before, when you first saw Angron and one of your other, still lost and nameless brother's plights
Lorgar was poisoned by Kor Phaeron. Maybe if he had a more positive teacher, things might not turn out the same way.
>>
>>6144343
>V: 17

>A desert: 6

>A city that covers a world: 7

>frozen land: 0

>Familiar fog: 3

>Write in: 1
A world among a dazzling few: 1

Changed my vote to desert, hope more will come and vote :)
>>
Part of me is tempted to ask if we can send him to the world of the unknown 11th. Wonder what QM has planned for them. (If they're confirmed not to exist I missed that)
>>
>>6144343
Changing my vote to>A desert, where the faithful gathered together in prayer, on the precipice of a holy war. You've...seen it before, when you first saw Angron and one of your other, still lost and nameless brother's plights i am this anon >>6144399
>>
>>6144723
>V: 17

>A desert: 7

>A city that covers a world: 7

>frozen land: 0

>Familiar fog: 2

>Write in: 1
>A world among a dazzling few: 1

A tie exciting to see where the scale falls.
>>
>>6144343
>A desert, where the faithful gathered together in prayer, on the precipice of a holy war. You've...seen it before, when you first saw Angron and one of your other, still lost and nameless brother's plights.
Let's put that final nail in kor's coffin shall we.
>>
>>6144343
>A desert, where the faithful gathered together in prayer, on the precipice of a holy war. You've...seen it before, when you first saw Angron and one of your other, still lost and nameless brother's plights
>>
>>6144765
>V: 19

>A desert: 9tjmvv

>A city that covers a world: 7

>frozen land: 0

>Familiar fog: 2

>Write in: 1
>A world among a dazzling few: 1
>>
>>6144817
>V: 19

>A desert: 9

>A city that covers a world: 7

>frozen land: 0

>Familiar fog: 2

>Write in: 1
>A world among a dazzling few: 1
>>
>>6144343
>>A city that covers a world, a horror of industrial excess and human filth and sin. A place of shadow and darkness and crime, a city without hope or light.
>>
>>6144343
>A city that covers a world, a horror of industrial excess and human filth and sin. A place of shadow and darkness and crime, a city without hope or light.
he helped us now it is time for him to help someone else.
>>
>>6144343
>A desert, where the faithful gathered together in prayer, on the precipice of a holy war. You've...seen it before, when you first saw Angron and one of your other, still lost and nameless brother's plights

I just realized, Our Master is more or less what the Emperor is but much weaker and also belongs to the same order as Malcador?


Also rip Kurz, Straight up lost no matter the timeline the only way it breaks was when the children/if it was spared.
>>
>>6144343 #
>A desert, where the faithful gathered together in prayer, on the precipice of a holy war. You've...seen it before, when you first saw Angron and one of your other, still lost and nameless brother's plights
>A city that covers a world, a horror of industrial excess and human filth and sin. A place of shadow and darkness and crime, a city without hope or light


Prefer Konrad. Lorgar needs a new father figure.
>>
>>6144819
>V: 23

>A desert: 11

>A city that covers a world: 10

>frozen land: 0

>Familiar fog: 2

>Write in: 1
>A world among a dazzling few: 1
>>
>>6145032
>V: 23

>A desert: 10

>A city that covers a world: 11

>frozen land: 0

>Familiar fog: 2

>Write in: 1
>A world among a dazzling few: 1

After thinking about it a bit, I change my vote again from the desert to the city.
Lorgar seems to be doing better now while Konrad Curze is in dire need of help.
>>
>A city that covers a world, a horror of industrial excess and human filth and sin. A place of shadow and darkness and crime, a city without hope or light

DO NOT SEND HIM TO LORGAR!
The chaos gods are litrally camping the planet, if he dies Tzeench has him on lock down, worse still are you lot seriously going to put him in the same place as FUCKING EREBUS!? Alone?
>>
>>6144946
>rip Kurz, Straight up lost no matter the timeline the only way it breaks is blah blah blah
Go away Tzeentch, or we'll release another Wind on our way out.
>>
>>6145046
>V: 23

>A desert: 10

>A city that covers a world: 12

>frozen land: 0

>Familiar fog: 2

>Write in: 1
>A world among a dazzling few: 1
>>
>>6145084
>V:24
>>
So Male I have a question in what situation would Lieren give some deadpan look?
>>
>>6145262
showing up on terra with a pregnant Kanzeon
>>
>>6145262
in what situation would Lieren give some one a deadpan look?
>>
Amid the obsidian spires of the Dark City which reached into bleeding sky like talons, among the whispers and screams of uncountable thralls; the Stellar Hunt gathered. Within the void-black chamber of a high spire, this coven of elites sat around a jagged table of polished bone and fused throphies, their faces hidden behind masks of cruelty and malice. Each gathered Huntsman deemed worthy bore the scars of ambition and the weight of centuries spent indulging in pain, art, and betrayal. Tonight, they plotted their next Great Hunt; a quarry that had humiliated them more times than they would ever speak aloud...

A quarry that had earned many names but chief among them a title earned and respected and hated, loved and loathed for it's prowls; Theryn-Rath... the Unseen Death.... that which the it's primitive kin call... Lieren.

“He stalks the Webway like one of our own!” hissed Archon Vyrrak, his voice a venomous rasp rattling from his helm carved from the skull of a Kroot Shaper, his lone eye containing smoldering fury. “He dare defy us time and again? He must be brought to his knees.”

At the far end of the table, the Succubus Ishaxi seethed quietly her lithe form adorned with glinting blades of black glass and ribbons of shredded skin yet she chuckled darkly. “He must be hunted Vyrrak. You were allowed into this chamber yes but you have not faced him so directly or you would not be so...base in your words.”

Vyrrak’s remaining eye blazed with fury, but he did not lash out. Not yet. Bloodshed was an inevitability in this gathering, but timing was everything in the Dark City.

“Watch your tongue, Ishaxi lest you want me to feed you too my hounds.”

“Enough!” snapped Drazekth, an ancient Haemonculus whose body was an amalgamation of pale writhing flesh and grotesque machinery of obsidian metal. His voice gurgled like a drowning man from behind his mask.

“The mon-keigh has embarrassed us all. He’s butchered our raiding parties, hunted within the Webways itself for sport, and shattered the reputations we’ve built over millennia. Our rivals laugh at us.”

That silenced the room for Kabalites feared one thing above death, the loss of face... living with the shame of defeat, enduring the mockery of others, being laid low and lingering to slowly fade into obscurity.

A voice emerged from the corne rof the room, a veteran huntsmen, his body still reeking of Umbilical fluid and the chemical cocktails restoring muscle mass; Stollaire. The Hunter had returned from the grave twice now slain by Theryn-Rath but he brought with him lessons the others heeded even if they loathed to admit it.

“It is said,” Stollaire spoke slow his voice disturbingly at ease despite being in a room of killers “that his eyes see only truth. That he pierces all illusion and uncovers any trap. How do you corner a predator that knows every snare that may be laid?”

1/?
>>
>>6145614
A squabble began, the gathered conclave proposing a manner of low winded schemes, grand tricks and daring raids into the predator's home.

Stollaire silenced them once more with an unbecoming whistle and a smile of vulpine teeth;

“You do not know our Prey, you do not enter the Mist to hunt a Panther lest you seek to be it's next meal-” he recited the wisdom of Lieren's homeworld as easily as the Predator spoke his own tongue. “-you lure it from the mist with another meal and lay in wait.”

Ishaxi smiled, her voice dripping with venomous glee. “Unleash the Mandrakes. Let them hunt and draw those eyes, keep him blind to all other things as he must watch the shadows.”

“The Mandrakes are mercenaries,” countered Vyrrak, leaning forward. “And they cannot be trusted. They’d turn on us the moment the hunt lost its allure and their losses mount!”

A new voice entered the room, a voice old and full of more cruelty than all the conclave combined. None had heard him enter, none had noticed him take his seat at the head of the table beside Stollaire; Cearnarch the master of the hunt himself had come.

The master of the hunt slowly stroked his long pale beard regarding the gathered Drukhari, he smiled with teeth carved from wraithbone.

“You all speak with such confidence, with such poise...but where would you unleash the Mandrakes? What could you possibly unleash them upon to draw Theryn-Rath from it's den?”

Once more Stollaire spoke; “a brother... he has many in name but few by blood-”

The rooms focus was on him but his father did not turn instead waiting for one of his few remaining heirs to prove his worth.

“-word has reach me of another giant, of another...thing upon a world the Mon-keigh infest. A world of burning peaks and smoldering pits. Where skin comes as pitch as night and their eyes burn with a similar fury...”

His father turned to him with a grin rivalling the flayed fox Stollaire had witnessed in his rebirth.

“To the Galacitic south, near the core..they call it Nocturne.”

2/?
>>
>>6144343
>A city that covers a world, a horror of industrial excess and human filth and sin. A place of shadow and darkness and crime, a city without hope or light.
>>
>V: 25

>A desert: 10

>A city that covers a world: 13

>frozen land: 0

>Familiar fog: 2

>Write in: 1
>A world among a dazzling few: 1
>>
File: 1660261368666321.png (1.03 MB, 1047x1200)
1.03 MB
1.03 MB PNG
Calling the vote now, sorry for the wait.

>>6146020
Thanks for collecting the vote for me, always appreciate the help, especially now since this one was pretty close/ intense

So what Lieren sees is a vision of Nostramo, th next step in the soul once known as Guozhi's journey of a thousand lives

Writing now

Also just want to say, I was very much hoping you'd choose this or Colchis so was happy those were the two most popular choices

Since the plans I have for next Guozhi on either of those worlds are the ones I was most excited to write in the future.

>>6145262
Someone explaining the ethics of the Journey to him to excuse their own excesses/ wicked nature. Or a daemon trying to tempt him to chaos with their usual song and dance. Anytime he'd be struggling to hide his rage, I think

>>6145614
>>6145615
Oooh, The stellar hunt! Always love what you guys do with them. Going to see if I can ft Theryn-Rath in anywhere in the future...Really enjoyed how much the drukhari were (rightfully) seething about Lieren in this story. Also glad Stollarie showed up in it and the Shangralan wisdom he used, felt really in character for him

Also. that ending! With them heading to Nocturne to benight Vulkan! Well I'm not going to spoil anything, but I have my reasons for chuckling at that part, is all I'll say. Wink wink.
>>
And the vision both you and Magnus glimpsed is a chilling one. The next reincarnation of your dear mentor shall live a life of struggle and strife, that much is clear from the brief glimpse of the world that most need his lifetimes worth of wisdom and the gentle heart he has maintained throughout the numerous lives he has spent in service to the greater good and betterment of mankind. It was a brief vision, of a darkened street, consumed by the shadows of towering skyscrapers and tightly packed habitation blocks and industrial factories. One of countless roads winding through a city that covered a world. A true horror of industrialization carried out beyond the means of the world's resources and sanity, become so excessive as to pollute and consume all else present in the world. A nightmare of filth and sin spun from human design and greed. A place of always shadow, of perpetual darkness, a hive where scum and villainy flourished and became the norm. A city that covers a world, but lacks light and even the smallest mote of hope. A reflection, perhaps, of Yan before it was cast down and remade as Long-Jia.

"A human hive" You mused sadly, hands grown numb and cold as the vision, of poverty that as a man who brought the cure for famine and plague to your homeland could scarcely believe could exist in a world without revolt, of misery and shame of such scale it sickened you to imagine.

"I can scarcely imagine how such a world could reach such a state, yet alone maintain it until such...destitution could become the status quo" Your brother, ever the philosopher and idealist, said with a tremble of sorrow and rage rising through his words as he clenched his scarlet hued hand into a fist "It was a brief premonition but, brother, you saw as well as I, how entrenched criminality and selfish is in the hearts, minds and dare I say souls of the people of this dark world must be, if the glimpses of their environment are any indication of their mental, emotional and spiritual health"

"You would suggest, we'd send him to another world. And I'd agree, I do not believe destiny is anything but a fate that one marches to under their own will, believing their actions meaningless, that the future cannot be changed" You say solemnly, making peace with every word you speak of the life you are condemning the next Guozhi to live "That fools use it as medicine for their troubled minds, to excuse to their indolent and lazy characters, to use "it couldn't be helped" as a shield to guard themselves from the truth that they could've brought about a better tomorrow than the one they in the end lived, however, you saw the sorry state of that city, if its people are fraught with corruption of a moral sort, if their way of life and traditions empowers the worst of society and the blackest of impulses of man then, it is a world that sorely needs a teacher like Guozhi"

Cont
>>
>>6146318

Magnus eyes flared, between disbelief, betrayal and sorrow, before settling on pained acceptance

"I cannot pretend to claim experience in healing a culture of its cankers and festering traumas, to uplift it from filth and oppression, as you and Angron have done. I merely saved my people from a predator and offered them protection, you have waded through the mire of human misery and instead of being soiled by it, spread prosperity and kindness and taught others to do the same, removing the cancer itself, rather than becoming a symptom of it" He admits through his teeth, a tear shimmering in his radiant, multicolored eyes as he watches the soul who once bore the name of Guozhi begin the march of his final journey bearing that identity and personality as truly his own "And, if there is anyone, not counted amongst our brotherhood, who could achieve the same results in such a degenerate and debased society, to rally the victims of it into changing the system that has ground them down to meekly accept such an abhorrent circumstance as the ordinary and acceptable, it is Guozhi but, I fear for him, I weep for him"

"The foundation of Guozhi's character is a strong will and drive to do good, to live and act virtuously and help others on their own personal journeys to fulfillment and peace. I am under no illusion that he will suffer, that this life he will lead next will be one filled with hardship and turmoil, but a life cannot be lived without both the positive and negative experiences of life" You reassure him, placing a comforting hand upon his shoulder as you bow your head and then clap your hands, as is Guozhi's fashion, thrice, once for every point of an invisible triangle in front of yourself, and while not praying in truth, wish your beloved and venerable teacher well on the lonely teacher he will undertake in his next life

"A sacrifice, to better a world neither of us have seen. I'd have not hesitated if it were myself offering themselves to undergo such a thankless durance" Your brother sighs at last, not wholly at peace with what the two of you must do, but accepting that it must be done, for the betterment of mankind and the well being of a people neither of you had met or knew anything of, outside of glimpses and flashes of the lives of struggle and merciless environment they existed within

"As would I" you state without a shred of doubt in your mind as you, focusing on Guozhi's back, followed him into the unknown, thinking back on the short time you spent at his side, all the way back to your first meeting in the Gardens of Gao Liwei, and how, without his guidance and early philosophy lessons, the journey may have never taken form in your heart. The world view you have held firmly, is in part thanks to him. And you would have all who have benefited from the school of thought born from it know that it was Guozhi who set Lieren upon the journey without end.
cont
>>
>>6146319

Smiling fondly, it feels like a dream, as Guozhi speaks of his life, as if he were reading it from a book written by a third party, though he laughs and reminisces with both the few experiences he shares with you and with Magnus, reassuring you as he, without fear or doubt, entrusts the life he will next experiences to both you of you. Never once asking where he will be sent or showing the slightest misgivings, putting all of his faith into you and trusting that you will steer his next reincarnation to where his guidance is most needed.

And you are so caught up by and touched by his belief in you, and the savoring the memories you shared, that in what felt like felt like but a few moments, you are before what he calls the well of eternity.

"Cover your brother's eyes, Magnus, I cannot foretell what would happen if he gazed upon this, the center of all reality, and percieve all future and past at once!" Guozhi barks, snapping his fingers in command and snapping the spiritual mirror of the staff carys gifted him over his knee as his body, shifts between a collage of countless strangers, before becoming a faceless, formless and nameless mist

"What...what is it" Magnus gasps, awed as you, listening to the wisdom of your elder, allow him to cover your eyes with a ribbon of cloth conjured from the surrounding Emperyean

"The eye of eternity. Something Jian Qi dares no touch, but so readily tosses his hatchlings" Guozhi's voice whispers, one of many he had spoken with across the annals of time "The very origin of time and space, and its eventual end. Quick, with the destination you have chosen for me alone in your thoughts, take my soul, and cast it inside, my personality is quickly fading, but I shall...do what I can to maintain more of Guozhi's...of my memories of you into this next life than I have before"

You both do as you are told. And what happens, that you cannot see, forces you and Magnus away from it, as Guozhi roars for you to get away from the boundary of the vortex of all that is to come and all that has already passed. You retreat, guided by Magnus as he exclaims in disbelief the phenomenon that occurs when Guozhi's soul is sent adrift within the well of eternity, and from what he describes, you know Guozhi was correct in having you shield your eyes from the perceiving the well and what transpired after he consigned his soul to it...
_
A mother, clutching her stomach, wailed and cried out as clenches and contractions wrought agony over her body as she struggled to stand, her babies father laying still before her, his brains spilled out and being carried away in a steady stream down into the deeper underhive, as his killers, a gang of cold eyed boys, either stripped him of his rags and the skin and meat beneath or circled around her and cornered her like a rat.
Cont
>>
Tears burned in her eyes as she cursed herself and her hubby for being so stupid and reckless to go scavenging so far from the relative safety of their own clan and home, cursing herself for not even being able to bring their baby into the world, for failing him before he was even born.

Another contraction brought her to her knees, causing her to drop the half empty stub revolver her dead husband had thrust into her hands as the ran, blind and terrified the tunnel that would be where they both died. Them and their child.

Like rats, the hungry thugs surged forward to kill her and set about butchering her for meat after they stripped her corpse of anything valuable and then

Then he came.

A moving, living shadow.

"Filth!" The giant from nowhere roared, as the first to reach her, to grab hold of her short hair with a grimy, callused hand, lost his whole arm from a single cut "Animals!"

"N..night haunter!" One of her attackers cried as they tried to flee, leaving her to squirm and wince in the filth, next to the now corpse of the ganger. But they didn't get away, and the young mother found herself smiling as she watched the specter of vengeance rip them apart, in utter, contempteous silence.

But instead of vanishing, and leaving her to her fate, the terrifying presence paused, and his pale lips, parted in something that was half sneer and half snarl, softened, and turned to an odd looking frown, an expression of something she had never seen upon any face except one other man's. And he was dead on the ground in front of her.

"Don't....run" the towering, pale faced specter of death struggled out "you're hurt, you need a doctor..."

She glanced to the gun and the giant twitched

"Don't. Trust me. I want to help. You are faultless, you've done nothing wrong. A rarity in these slums, please, don't make me...don't force me, I haven't.." He growled "Just, trust me, you aren't doomed yet, take my hand, I beg of you. Let me save one life, that would otherwise end"

"Don't care bout myself, my baby, my baby!" She cried, confused and scared out of her mind, understanding nothing of what the terror of the streets said, and only thinking to try and save her child, to beg him for mercy for him , if not herself

She was lifted from the ground, and trembled in mortal feel

"I will save both of you, if I can. You are a precious thing, a selfless soul in this pitiful world of sinners, come with me" The monster cooed, failing to comfort her "You are innocent, let me save you, don't force my hand"

And, the next thing she knew, she was in the personal office of one the physicians employed by one of the local crime family's lord, the lord himself pinned to the wall and bleeding out, as the Night Haunter, oddly, sat at her beside, clumsily stroking her hair as the shaking nurse nurse, pushed the oddly quiet babe into her arms.She smiled weakly as her child cooed, and looked up at her and the terrifying serial killer at her side with the bluest eyes she'd ever seen
>>
>>6146324

"Make sure, he grows up...good" The killer struggled out after basking in the glow of the infants naive and pure smile "I'll be...watching"
And that was that. No one believed the new mother, when she told them of how she and her son survived the night, some even laughed at her, but from that day onward, her life was remarkably free of muggings and worse assaults....

_

"He's dead" Carys wheeped openly, as she knelt and dug her hands into the ground of the lonely mountain top Guozhi had chosen to die. Amaethon, was also there, having arrived some days ago, and though his body had now eyes and was merely a lifeless shell to contain his soulstone, you could see to his grief. All of the Aeldari journeymen had gathered, a few hours to late, to send off Guozhi, and found you, instead, kneeling with his lifeless body upon your lap

"Oh....oh no, brother Guozhi" Elderly, blind Kuan Im wept, clutching her heart and wheeping beside the red haired carys, who held her close, shaking with her as they sobbed together

"He's gone, brother, another one of the founders, lost" Bohai said, soberly, pouring out a bottle of plum wine as Peizhi nodded just as solemnly

"Do not mourn, my friends" He said sharply, shuddering as he repressed his own grief "Like the others we've lost, like Cai and...and young Xueqin, he's gone ahead, to the next life, or the heavens the old faith promised or...He's out there still, of this I am sure, right, Grandmaster"

"I sent him off, and lead him to what awaited him, after he breathed his last" You answer, and are surprised to hear how broken hearted your own voices is, as Kanzeon, who arrived with her sister, rubs your back, as a fresh wave of grief and tears pours out from you

"He never told me when we first met, and, illogical as it is, I trust that you've made sure I'll get a chance to meet him for the first time, for a third time" She says softly

"He was a good man" Mari says softly, running a hand over his cheek gently, lovingly, as Elazar prays in silence at her side

"Wish I had more conversations with him, he seemed, intelligent yet caring" Al-Uzza said, rubbing her glasses as they fogged up and she turned away

"Going to miss the old man, he was fun to have around" Anahita sighed heavily as Liberty wailed and cursed Guozhi for dying so quickly

"He will be buried, with the highest honors that can be given" You say between groans and growls of sorrow "I will make sure of it, I will pay for his burial, and make certain his passing is remembered joyfully, rather than with sorrow and grief. I swear this to you, my first and greatest teacher, I will repay my debts to you from this life, into the next"

And, until the sunset, the mourners who'd gathered for Guozhi wept and grieved together.
Cont
>>
>>6146325

And when his official state burial was televised and broadcast, you are told there wasn't a single household that didn't sit rapt and watched, all across Shangrala, as the man who so much was owed to but who so rarely was praised for the role he played in its prosperity and plenty, was put to rest not far from the school he spent the last days of his long life teaching. And while you are sure he would've refused such honors, you, as his student, had to make certain he was shown the proper respect now that he was gone from this world.

But he is gone now, and without him, life continues on and so to must you continue the works that must be done, after a brief mourning period, spent in the company of friends and family. A hunt with Feng, Shaved head Wei and Half Jaw Hu, and visits to the families of the friends you've lost, do wonders to brighten a world made dreary by Guozhi's passing, as does Kanzeon's constant presence at your side, and her tender, loving words of comfort and advise.

And, all the while, the schools you established to train prospects for your legion of space marines, and initial surveys of the world that is now the first official colony of Long-Jia off of Shangrala, both of the ordinary and lead by the nameless as instructed, is carried out without issue. And, such is the fervor of the people to claim the stars, that several other colonization projects are launched, as the first of Shangrala's siblings is laid claim to and properly settled.

it is then, that problems arise

And which issue do you personally confront, Lieren?

>The local wildlife on the first colony settled by Long-Jia's colonization efforts, the world Yushan, meaning Jade Mountain, are growing agitated and aggressive. And you have chosen to lead the brotherhood of panthers and your space marines in protecting the colonists from them

>Personally overseeing the training of the earliest possible generation of space marine candidates

>helping construct habitats and colonies for the non-human residents of long-Jia, starting with the newly emptied black abyss

>beginning the efforts to repair the damages done to the currently inhospitable lands formerly belonging to the vishnu kingdoms

>Leading one of the explorations to determine if a nearby world is suitable for colonization as the second of Long-Jia colonies.

>Write in
>>
>>6146331
>The local wildlife on the first colony settled by Long-Jia's colonization efforts, the world Yushan, meaning Jade Mountain, are growing agitated and aggressive. And you have chosen to lead the brotherhood of panthers and your space marines in protecting the colonists from them
We are in dire need of bonding time with our sons, we're pretty distant quite often and need to build up the bond further and teach so they can assist us later meeting the rest.

____
After 3 years of quest....he's gone. I feel ..rain

>write in
In transit to this world meditate alongside our sons, all of us together. See if we can come to not only understand them better but also impart further teachings, maybe see just how much of us is embeded within them? (Searching for gene flaws or inherited mental distortion caused by our genes end.)
>>
>>6146331
>Personally overseeing the training of new generation of space marines.
>Local wildlife needs culling.

these two dovetail together well.
>>
>>6146331
>The local wildlife on the first colony settled by Long-Jia's colonization efforts, the world Yushan, meaning Jade Mountain, are growing agitated and aggressive. And you have chosen to lead the brotherhood of panthers and your space marines in protecting the colonists from them
>helping construct habitats and colonies for the non-human residents of long-Jia, starting with the newly emptied black abyss
>>
>>6146331
>Personally overseeing the training of the earliest possible generation of space marine candidates

>Write in
>Check in on Meixiu and giver her the news of Guozhi's last moments and that she should be confident she will see him again.
We did send her off on duty to protect her but we should make sure she is grieving properly and isn't to broken over missing Guozhi's last moments.
>>
>>6146331
>Personally overseeing the training of the earliest possible generation of space marine candidates

>The local wildlife on the first colony settled by Long-Jia's colonization efforts, the world Yushan, meaning Jade Mountain, are growing agitated and aggressive. And you have chosen to lead the brotherhood of panthers and your space marines in protecting the colonists from them
Did I hear training montage
>>
>>6146331
>Personally overseeing the training of the earliest possible generation of space marine candidates
It's only right that we're there from the get-go. Gotta get things started RIGHT.
>>
>>6146331
>>The local wildlife on the first colony settled by Long-Jia's colonization efforts, the world Yushan, meaning Jade Mountain, are growing agitated and aggressive. And you have chosen to lead the brotherhood of panthers and your space marines in protecting the colonists from them

>>Personally overseeing the training of the earliest possible generation of space marine candidates

We can do both, raising the next generation of Space Marines by teaching them the way of the Hunt alongside their elder brothers and human kin.
>>
>>6146331
>>The local wildlife on the first colony settled by Long-Jia's colonization efforts, the world Yushan, meaning Jade Mountain, are growing agitated and aggressive. And you have chosen to lead the brotherhood of panthers and your space marines in protecting the colonists from them

>>Personally overseeing the training of the earliest possible generation of space marine candidates

>write in
In transit to this world meditate alongside our sons, all of us together. See if we can come to not only understand them better but also impart further teachings, maybe see just how much of us is embeded within them? (Searching for gene flaws or inherited mental distortion caused by our genes end.)
>>
>>6146331
>>Personally overseeing the training of the earliest possible generation of space marine candidates
>>
>>6146410
>>6146331
>The local wildlife on the first colony settled by Long-Jia's colonization efforts, the world Yushan, meaning Jade Mountain, are growing agitated and aggressive. And you have chosen to lead the brotherhood of panthers and your space marines in protecting the colonists from them
Adding this as well. Getting them accustomed to space travel and how the Second Legion operates sounds like a great idea.
>>
>>6146331
>V: 9

>The local wildlife on the first colony settled by Long-Jia's colonization efforts, the world Yushan, meaning Jade Mountain, are growing agitated and aggressive. And you have chosen to lead the brotherhood of panthers and your space marines in protecting the colonists from them: 7

>Personally overseeing the training of the earliest possible generation of space marine candidates: 7

>helping construct habitats and colonies for the non-human residents of long-Jia, starting with the newly emptied black abyss: 1

>beginning the efforts to repair the damages done to the currently inhospitable lands formerly belonging to the vishnu kingdoms: 0

>Leading one of the explorations to determine if a nearby world is suitable for colonization as the second of Long-Jia colonies: 0

>Write ins: 2
>>In transit: 2
>>Check in:1
>>
>>6146331
>>The local wildlife on the first colony settled by Long-Jia's colonization efforts, the world Yushan, meaning Jade Mountain, are growing agitated and aggressive. And you have chosen to lead the brotherhood of panthers and your space marines in protecting the colonists from them
>>Personally overseeing the training of the earliest possible generation of space marine candidates
>>
I don't remember if we chose a name for our space marine legion. I think there was talks of "Fog Panthers" but I'm not sure.
>>
>>6146331
>Personally overseeing the training of the earliest possible generation of space marine candidates

>The local wildlife on the first colony settled by Long-Jia's colonization efforts, the world Yushan, meaning Jade Mountain, are growing agitated and aggressive. And you have chosen to lead the brotherhood of panthers and your space marines in protecting the colonists from them

Ghuozhi was a real one ;_;
>>
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>>6146615
We didn't yet, but we did toss around names. Personally I'm partial to "Mist Walkers" or something else that evokes the mist of Shangrala.
We could also do something that focuses on Lieren's opposition to tyranny and chaos, on the Journey, or on his affinity for prosperity and logistics.
>>
>>6146331
>The local wildlife on the first colony settled by Long-Jia's colonization efforts, the world Yushan, meaning Jade Mountain, are growing agitated and aggressive. And you have chosen to lead the brotherhood of panthers and your space marines in protecting the colonists from them
>Personally overseeing the training of the earliest possible generation of space marine candidates
>>
>>6146574
>V: 12

>The local wildlife on the first colony settled by Long-Jia's colonization efforts, the world Yushan, meaning Jade Mountain, are growing agitated and aggressive. And you have chosen to lead the brotherhood of panthers and your space marines in protecting the colonists from them: 10

>Personally overseeing the training of the earliest possible generation of space marine candidates: 10

>helping construct habitats and colonies for the non-human residents of long-Jia, starting with the newly emptied black abyss: 1

>beginning the efforts to repair the damages done to the currently inhospitable lands formerly belonging to the vishnu kingdoms: 0

>Leading one of the explorations to determine if a nearby world is suitable for colonization as the second of Long-Jia colonies: 0

>Write ins: 2
>>In transit: 2
>>Check in:1
>>
>>6146627
Support
>>
>>6146331
>The local wildlife on the first colony settled by Long-Jia's colonization efforts, the world Yushan, meaning Jade Mountain, are growing agitated and aggressive. And you have chosen to lead the brotherhood of panthers and your space marines in protecting the colonists from them


>Personally overseeing the training of the earliest possible generation of space marine candidates
>>
>>6146331
>The local wildlife on the first colony settled by Long-Jia's colonization efforts, the world Yushan, meaning Jade Mountain, are growing agitated and aggressive. And you have chosen to lead the brotherhood of panthers and your space marines in protecting the colonists from them
>Personally overseeing the training of the earliest possible generation of space marine candidates
>>
Hey, malal, have you considered cross posting this quest to other forums?

Even if tg is the only place you take votes, and only places get archived story threads, this quest would still get more exposure and traffic and I'm sure many people would enjoy reading it.
>>
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>>6146902
Please don't, for the same reasons as outlined in picrel. The last thing we need is discord faggots or akun shitters coming in to push nu-lore.
>>
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>>6146902
If you think other people might enjoy this story, you are free to tell them about it, but do not EVER suggest turning this into a cross platform thing.
Every time a quest attaches itself at the hip to a Discord server or another secondary hosting service, it's always a turn for the worse. Trust me, I have seen it happen at least a dozen times by now, with one sole exception.
We have plenty of people playing as it is, so there's no incentive to do that sort of thing in the first place.
>>
>>6146637
>V: 15

>The local wildlife on the first colony settled by Long-Jia's colonization efforts, the world Yushan, meaning Jade Mountain, are growing agitated and aggressive. And you have chosen to lead the brotherhood of panthers and your space marines in protecting the colonists from them: 13

>Personally overseeing the training of the earliest possible generation of space marine candidates: 13

>helping construct habitats and colonies for the non-human residents of long-Jia, starting with the newly emptied black abyss: 1

>beginning the efforts to repair the damages done to the currently inhospitable lands formerly belonging to the vishnu kingdoms: 0

>Leading one of the explorations to determine if a nearby world is suitable for colonization as the second of Long-Jia colonies: 0

>Write ins: 2
>>In transit: 2
>>Check in:1
>>
>>6146331
Rest Guozhi, rest with your funniest and longest hat.

>Personally overseeing the training of the earliest possible generation of space marine candidates
While they aren't officially signed up yet in the Legion, a training/educational program for the legion future can still show promise and see what this new generation is like from the different realms of Shangrila and the many peoples inhabiting them. They couldn't be more different than the old generations of Shangrila, new technologies, new traditions, new governments, different peoples (some outright from different worlds like the Terran born veterans with their families or the New Varroicans) friendly connected and trading, and even aliens living with them.

Question is if we are recruting from all Shangrila peoples ? Not out of preference, but more for things like : the Vishnu are really low on people and their lands are an eco disaster still that need major handling to be resolved due to the Butcher Tyrant war*. And likely plenty of time too. The only major center of Vishnu pop currently is villages and towns in the Bone Devouring Forest, and they are kind of mingling in terms of culture with Long-Jia (the forest is in Long-Jia after all). They might need a veto for some years.

>The local wildlife on the first colony settled by Long-Jia's colonization efforts, the world Yushan, meaning Jade Mountain, are growing agitated and aggressive. And you have chosen to lead the brotherhood of panthers and your space marines in protecting the colonists from them
A job for our elite brotherhood and our sons. A big game hunt for everyone.... unless there is something biological or spiritual to check about Yushan.

*After such war and the other damages done by Nitya and his bride before it, it was inevitable that it remains something we need to eventually heal and restore. It's not a small region so it needs dedicated time.


>>6146615
Some names where thrown around. There was no decision on them if that's what you mean. It's not yet the time, when the Legion is together again it might be. Discussion of it is completely fine of course. Or other things quest related, which there are many.

>>6146902
it would be problematic to implement, split attention, and it could cause problems to the quest due to being different sites (us vs them thinking, and despite qst being mostly chill other websites don't exactly look at us in a good light). This idea wasn't exactly accepted before either and i don't think it will be accepted here or in the future .
>>
>>6146902
Like the others said, false good idea. More attention doesn't mean good attention, and I don't want what has been a chill relaxed experience for so long, suddenly become some internet arguments battlefield or worse.

As the old saying says "To live happily, let us live hidden."
>>
>>6147058
>V: 16

>The local wildlife on the first colony settled by Long-Jia's colonization efforts, the world Yushan, meaning Jade Mountain, are growing agitated and aggressive. And you have chosen to lead the brotherhood of panthers and your space marines in protecting the colonists from them: 14

>Personally overseeing the training of the earliest possible generation of space marine candidates: 14

>helping construct habitats and colonies for the non-human residents of long-Jia, starting with the newly emptied black abyss: 1

>beginning the efforts to repair the damages done to the currently inhospitable lands formerly belonging to the vishnu kingdoms: 0

>Leading one of the explorations to determine if a nearby world is suitable for colonization as the second of Long-Jia colonies: 0

>Write ins: 2
>>In transit: 2
>>Check in:1
>>
One day we will get to New Varro and I can hear Fallout cowboys mistakenly call us the Long John empire.
>>
>>6147559
>Adventures on the wild west-themed deathworld
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AF22vaGLziM
>>
>>6147559
>...Well, I reckon if y'all gonna brag 'bout something, the size of your johns ain't the worst choice.
>>
>>6146331
>The local wildlife on the first colony settled by Long-Jia's colonization efforts, the world Yushan, meaning Jade Mountain, are growing agitated and aggressive. And you have chosen to lead the brotherhood of panthers and your space marines in protecting the colonists from them

After a somber goodbye it's time for a wacky adventure, I wonder what has the animals so spooked.
>>
>>6147232
>V: 17

>The local wildlife on the first colony settled by Long-Jia's colonization efforts, the world Yushan, meaning Jade Mountain, are growing agitated and aggressive. And you have chosen to lead the brotherhood of panthers and your space marines in protecting the colonists from them: 15

>Personally overseeing the training of the earliest possible generation of space marine candidates: 14

>helping construct habitats and colonies for the non-human residents of long-Jia, starting with the newly emptied black abyss: 1

>beginning the efforts to repair the damages done to the currently inhospitable lands formerly belonging to the vishnu kingdoms: 0

>Leading one of the explorations to determine if a nearby world is suitable for colonization as the second of Long-Jia colonies: 0

>Write ins: 2
>>In transit: 2
>>Check in:1
>>
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Sorry for the long almost week long wait, but its going to continue a little bit longer. Prepping for thanksgiving and the day itself is the cause, and I am hoping my holiday indulgences of my relatives liquor cabinet aren't going to put me out of commission tomorrow. If I am not hungover, I'll call the vote and get writing
>>
So just finished Arcane S2... anyone else think Viktors endgame would be a possible bad end for Lieren? The Golden Sea expanding over all things if something pushes our poor lad over the edge. Empowering and being empowered as memories and emotions mingle; all for peace.
>>
>>6149398
Possible but very unlikely
>>
Calling the vote now, sorry for taking as long as I did.

So Lieren will begin to process of training the oldest amongst the children he's found that are likely to survive the process of becoming a space marine.

But he will, while waiting for the families of the young boys to answer the offer of their sons being made into Astartes, will lead the brotherhood of Panthers and Astartes in the protection of the first colony world, Yushan, in Quelling and investigating the cause of the unusually aggressive wildlife

Writing now

>>6147800
And thank you as always for the help!

>>6146902
I mean, you're free to tell your friends, but I'm fine just posting here for fun
>>
"Shangrala has extended its reach to a second world, which has, according to my implanted agents amongst the Nameless, the Void school, as we have termed it" Malcador began as he strode through the halls were the honored dead were interred in places of honor, reporting to the emperor of mankind of his son's own work expanding the influence and rule of mankind amongst distant stars, as they themselves oversaw the push from Terra's doorsteps "It is, unlike the adoptive world of Lieren, is free of taint and chaotic influence, and, to the delight of the second, welcoming to the alien species he shelters, who I have been repeatedly told by both him and your daughter in law, continue to no threat to the humans they live beside or as a whole"

The emperor smirked

"I've heard from him myself the colony is flourishing and the populace is needing to be held back from being the first on the ships to the new worlds marked for their growing, flourishing population. Shangralans seem to breed quickly, considering the cost of the war they waged against oblivion itself' The master of mankind mused, frowning as he saw several of the topic for their latest conversations' genesons kneeling in solemn meditation amongst the tombs and memorials of the earliest heroes of the great crusade, sat amongst the bones. The Grave Herald branch of the second legion, ruminating on the inescapable reality of death. They had, in recent squirmishes upon the initial reconquests beyond Sol, suffered severe losses, marching through the battlefield to assist elements of the fourteenth legion, the "Dusk raiders" as they were unofficially designated, from an encirclement by a particularly loathsome breed of xenos oppressors. An action that inspired respect as much as it did fear born from misunderstanding, even other Astartes found it...disquieting to see how numbed the Grave Heralds were to the possibilities of their own death, how little they lamented the fallen and indeed, to an observer unknowing of their philosophy, seemed to relish in doom and gloom.

"You've spoken to them before, they believe that portion of Lieren's self help book are of the greatest importantance" Malcador sighed "Let us be grateful they have not chosen to excel as mourners, but instead serve their purpose in the most extreme and lethal of circumstances, but before we stray from the topic at hand..."

"The issues plaguing this newest world amongst our glorious imperium, the first conquered, as far as we know, by the hand of one of my children" The emperor spoke, to show that, he remembered what they had convened to discuss between the two of this "The jewel of Yushan. Unusually aggressive wildlife. A matter easily solved by the local military, but, we both know what Lieren left unsaid as he informed of us of the progress of his world's colonization efforts"
Cont
>>
>>6149831

"That it would be the next action he lead the veterans sent to aid in his struggle against our loathsome foe" Malcador said with a nod "And that, in all likely hood, he, or Kanzeon, have set the stage to recruit additional space marines already"

"Which is of course, of no concern, and in fact, is a boon, if indeed, they are preparing for the reunion of our split forces" He replied with a nod "And as the forces and elites he has personally trained indicate, the Shangralan generation of the second legion will be supremely satisfactory as soldiers, now, onto more pressing matters, the first exploratory fleets have met with no internal problems"

"The Journey and Our truth continue to coexist peaceably, and all ongoing conflicts and diplomacies have yet to meet with any noteworthy obstacles, leaving us free to pursue the lead on the world of Cthonia" Malcador answered dutifully as the emperor nodded, eyes focused on the screen displaying every angle of expansion and action of the great crusade from Terra
_

"Of course, my boy will join the schools, when he is old enough" Feng answered jovially, smiling up at you as you sat across from him in a room, filled with your space marines, aboard Kanzeon. Though she was present all around, physically, as you were within her true body, the avatar most of your sons knew to be her, was present at the helm of the vessel, pretending to oversee its operation

"Bao Weimin" Dae-Hyun answered with a smile befitting an uncle as you fondly recall your last meeting with Feng's first child, and the babbling nicknames he'd given you and Hyun "I've also heard that Long-Jia himself is considering if his sole son should be allowed into the program"

"He has three of them, with a second batch on the way" Half Jaw Hu answers "he has no reason to fear for his succession, and isn't Little Chen"

"Yes he is" You answer with a nod "that boy has been trying to live up to his father's legacy since he was old enough to understand it, and he's the only reason Jinhai is considering accepting the offer of inducting his son Boling into the next generation of the second of my father on Terra's legions"

"Tch, and sure as fog falls, I'm xin and Bai's boys will find their way into the program as well" Feng sighed as he tipped back the chair he was sitting in "Can't imagine what Weimin is going to look like, like on you giants"

"Well, he'll certainly be a handsome son of a bitch" Nikephoros grinned as he tapped a hand on the bolter slung over his lap "So long as he doesn't suffer the same unfortunate mangling as his sire"

"My lovely wife hovers around him too closely for even a panther to sneak up on him" Feng chuckled "Though, a panther seems like a drunken cliffjumper, from what I've heard of our quarry"
Cont
>>
>>6149832

"The fauna of Yushan is notably more dangerous than that of Shangrala, though I need not explain why, you've all seen the reports and footage" You answer gravely, swirling the tea in your cup around "Though I know some of you have spent more time watching variety and comedy shows"

"The merchants of mirth make good entertainment" Dae-Hyun states solemnly "I'm just shocked that there has been no issues with the settlement programs on the Black Abyss"

"The issues there are completely logistical, establishing land masses for both human and Se'ah'in settlers" you answer "Much less of difficulty than the sudden, and yet unexplained aggression of the unique lifeforms of Yushan"

"Luckily, we've got heavy enough fire power to pierce their hides" Nikephoros nods, remembering clearly the harrowing sight of colony guards firing volley after volley of Las and even plasma fire into the stone hide of one of the creatures you were to hunt and study. That vid and others like it, were currently being studied by the Brotherhood of the panthers, as well as the Sheowl rangers, Creti grave wardens, and Shuomi ursine guard and two new auxiliary units formed by some of the more martially mind aliens and abhuman strains upon Shangrala.

The eldest of the tiger cubs, who had been eager to join their adoptive father on a hunt and fight alongside their larger, more imposing siblings, the space marines, amongst them, along with several Angra and a few particularly bold Nosa Rubigin and Sagit. The younger, still juvenile Se'ah'in had wanted to join as well, but the now older, wiser and far more slow paced and indolent Jaw Ripper simply told them "How are you young idiots going to fight on Land? you can't even do as much as I can on the shore...", which ended up with a few Lomb entering the auxiliaries to have adventures for them, where they were joined by a handful of Oracle breed girls serving as non combatants.

Meixiu, still mourning Guozhi and taking to her role as guardian of the other members of the wanderers in the fog sect, simply asked you not to kill all of the, as she called them "Town crushing serpents". Of which where amongst the beasts that you were now contemplating how exactly you'd cull their numbers to allow you to more safely and effectively find the cause of their sudden aggression to the colonists on Yushan.
Cont
>>
>>6149833

And which, of these deadliest of Yushan's beasts, would you take the lead in culling, Lieren? (Feng, Dae-Hyun, and Nikephoros will lead the other three hunters)

>The Town crushing serpents, they have a mostly mineral hide, tougher than most stone, and have the greatest ability to cause devastation with their sheer size and burrowing habits

>The "False friends" who you have only evidence of existing, but whom you, Kanzeon, Al-uzza and the brightest minds of Long-Jia theorize to be capable of incredible mimicry and natural illusion, being, possibly, a species of natural psionic predators.

>One of the formerly docile beasts of the plains and jungles, that had been attempted to be domesticated, a one horned brute of a creature that has recently shown itself capable of producing a potent and very much lethal venom, that had escaped the notice of prior autopsies

>A crocodilian beast, larger than some of the magical beasts that once dwelled in the bone devouring forest or Shuni deserts, that evolved a most peculiar adaptation for hunting. Meeting its gaze, through some yet undetermined means, causes a short circuiting of neurons and cause a paralysis to afflict its prey

>Write in
>>
>>6149835
>>The "False friends" who you have only evidence of existing, but whom you, Kanzeon, Al-uzza and the brightest minds of Long-Jia theorize to be capable of incredible mimicry and natural illusion, being, possibly, a species of natural psionic predators.
This one feels like it was tailor made for Lieren to handle. Plus bodysnatchers feel like a big enough issue to demand our attention.
>>
>>6149835
>False friends
Act efficiently.
>>
>>6149835
>>The "False friends" who you have only evidence of existing, but whom you, Kanzeon, Al-uzza and the brightest minds of Long-Jia theorize to be capable of incredible mimicry and natural illusion, being, possibly, a species of natural psionic predators.
This one feels like it was
>>The "False friends" who you have only evidence of existing, but whom you, Kanzeon, Al-uzza and the brightest minds of Long-Jia theorize to be capable of incredible mimicry and natural illusion, being, possibly, a species of natural psionic predators.
>>
>>6149861

(This one feels right)
this is how it should be written, don't know why it was double and why what I wrote changed
>>
>>6149835
>The "False friends" who you have only evidence of existing, but whom you, Kanzeon, Al-uzza and the brightest minds of Long-Jia theorize to be capable of incredible mimicry and natural illusion, being, possibly, a species of natural psionic predators.
>>
>>6149835
>>The "False friends" who you have only evidence of existing, but whom you, Kanzeon, Al-uzza and the brightest minds of Long-Jia theorize to be capable of incredible mimicry and natural illusion, being, possibly, a species of natural psionic predators.
>>
>>6149835
>The "False friends" who you have only evidence of existing, but whom you, Kanzeon, Al-uzza and the brightest minds of Long-Jia theorize to be capable of incredible mimicry and natural illusion, being, possibly, a species of natural psionic predators.
This one feels like a more dangerous and insidious threat.
>>
>>6149835
>The "False friends" who you have only evidence of existing, but whom you, Kanzeon, Al-uzza and the brightest minds of Long-Jia theorize to be capable of incredible mimicry and natural illusion, being, possibly, a species of natural psionic predators.
All the other dangers can (at least theoretically) be dealt with through firepower. These are the guys that could actually cause trouble for a legion.
>>
>>6149835
Lieren himself shall led the culling of;
>The "False friends" who you have only evidence of existing, but whom you, Kanzeon, Al-uzza and the brightest minds of Long-Jia theorize to be capable of incredible mimicry and natural illusion, being, possibly, a species of natural psionic predators.
Inb4 its a displacer beast of sorts giving the Fog Panthers a possible extra terrestrial origin lmao
>Add-on
This is a hunt, while we will be acting efficiently it is important we take this time to ingrain the Hunter culture within our Son's teach them to make suitable trophies, teach them to respect nature and its balance. We shall cull and cut back but ensure some of the wilds remain. We were a Hunter before we were anything else; make sure the Boys know that.

>Write in
Collect DNA samples of all the species we can upon this world and ensure it reaches home base for research for future gene treatments. But also might allow us to create some manner of domesticated beast for our legion! Everyone needs a pet!
>>
>>6149835
>The "False friends" who you have only evidence of existing, but whom you, Kanzeon, Al-uzza and the brightest minds of Long-Jia theorize to be capable of incredible mimicry and natural illusion, being, possibly, a species of natural psionic predators.

Mimics be scary.
>>
>>6149835
>The "False friends" who you have only evidence of existing, but whom you, Kanzeon, Al-uzza and the brightest minds of Long-Jia theorize to be capable of incredible mimicry and natural illusion, being, possibly, a species of natural psionic predators.
>>
>>6149835
>>The "False friends" who you have only evidence of existing, but whom you, Kanzeon, Al-uzza and the brightest minds of Long-Jia theorize to be capable of incredible mimicry and natural illusion, being, possibly, a species of natural psionic predators.
>>
>>6149916
Support
>>
>>6149835
>>6149916
Support
V: 12

>The Town crushing serpents: 0

>The "False friends":12

>One of the formerly docile beasts: 0

>A crocodilian beast: 0

>Write in: 1
>>DNA: 3
>>
>>6149835
>>The "False friends" who you have only evidence of existing, but whom you, Kanzeon, Al-uzza and the brightest minds of Long-Jia theorize to be capable of incredible mimicry and natural illusion, being, possibly, a species of natural psionic predators.
>>
>>6150689
>V: 13

>The Town crushing serpents: 0

>The "False friends":13

>One of the formerly docile beasts: 0

>A crocodilian beast: 0

>Write in: 1
>>DNA: 3
>>
File: 1617554702954.png (372 KB, 718x580)
372 KB
372 KB PNG
Calling the vote now.

>>6150998
Thank you for the help, but with a vote as unanimous as this it wasn't really necessary, but I still appreciate it

So, The so called "False friends" shall be Lieren's quarry of choice

I've archived this thread and will make a new one and link it back here, as is standard procedure
>>
>>6151652

New thread here. Can't wait to hear your theories about WHAT is going on in Yushan



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