Aruna, chieftain of the first, also happily joins the venture, more dour than you remember him being, the weight of his survival from the last great war still a terrible, bleeding wound upon his warriors heart

"I must say, Lieren, it is good to be once more in your war party" Aruna, says, hiding behind a mask of gregariousness and mirth as he bites into a roasted cliff jumper leg "I wish more panther hunters would join, but alas, I hear they're busy tending their own nests"

"And mine, my children need good guardians. And who better than my valiant brothers" Scarred Feng answers with a wry grin, his eyes sparkling with the unique joy of a father "And one day, my first born shall join the greatest of my brothers as his son"

"He's already so strong for his age!" Akanksha declares, looking directly as Kanzeon as she holds up one arm of her new, feathered cloak she'd fashioned from the birds of Yushan "I'm sure he'll be the chief of Jinhai and Daiyu's brood, if their boy is courageous enough to seek giantdom!"

"Such adventures we've all had" Aruna laughs, eyes sad as he swings the poultry in his hand like a magistrates cudgel "For our paths to once again align! Those tiger faced kids...Avinash, Ananya and Sandip, I think they'd make fine chieftains. Our friends lost to the butcher, haven't left predecessors worthy of their name"

Akansksha frowns and nods "They died legendary deaths, but their replacements...weren't fit for the role. They're good for peace, but when war comes, we'll need war chiefs again. The Vishnu have not forgotten the kindness we've been shown"

"To our bright future" Aruna laughs as Feng nods and lifts his wine glass

"It has been too long since we've sat together for a meal, my friends" You say, bitter sweet memories lurking at the corners of your mind, but the cheerfullness and youthful vigor within you is not at all dampered by it "Though I wish those absent could be present"

"I too wish the brothers we've lost could still brighten our days with their laughter and smiles" Feng sighs "But, more of us have survived than we expected. Though it feels like the day the heroes of that war become nothing but history, grows closer"

"Old man Dai and Yin Lei are feeling their age" Kanzeon admits sadly "I've spoken with them, they hide it well, but they were old before medicine became more than salves and poultices of Shangrala. Lai Song, he's younger, but...I don't want to be a bitch but he's the most likely of the three to die before his time, even considering Dai's death wish and Yin's zeal"

"Lai Song will die upon horseback or bike saddle, in the heart of enemy lines and with a smile on his face" You predict, though fate is the salve of fools "Meixiu has been badgering to be made one of the four kings apprentices, I think she wishes to make a general out of herself"

"A general who could crush an enemy army with a wave of her hand? Sounds like a mystical rival to lady firestorm" Feng laughs, grinning in a very Vishnu way

>>6431428

"Speaking of war, how are you going to train those boys you're tutoring to become Giants, Lieren?" He asks then, turning as he refills his own glass with a Yushanian variation of Dragon's Spit, made from the highly toxic innards of a lamb eating frog that has become known as Green Jade Dragon Venom

"Didn't he already tell you he was training them with the xenos and abhumans?" Kanzeon asked "We're traveling to pick up a regiment of Squats, to join the effort"

"And he is also going to be training them in the art of the star flying" Akanksha shouted "Little Liberty told me, I think my warriors should learn it, or at least train to be able to pilot one of the Great Steel Giants"

"Aren't they preparing a second generation of those titans?" Aruna asked, trying to see if there was any truth to the rumors floating around Long-Jia, after Pan-An made a highly dramatized retelling of the battles the pilots of the Steel Giants had fought in the Butcher War. You're not sure where he got the idea of the cloned soldiers of Nitya Sinha's army could turn giant in the throes of battle, but it certainly made for an entertaining stage production, even if you thought that the youth's obsession with the ongoing series was at times more concerning than the friendly gangs of Skipping Cloud Modifiers, who had seen a renaissance as a safe form of rebellion against expectations and tradition

Though none of them could outpace you on the saddle of your own horse, when you took him from pasture and showed those kids what racing truly looked like.

"I have a number of challenges prepared for them" You explain, smiling over your own wine glass

"And me and my sisters are working to build a safe training ground for them in orbit of...Hell's Cauldron. Yin Delun will be partaking in the exercise, leading the attached forces from Terra" Kanzeon explains

"He'll become the next black general. The Relentless Lightning's Roar" Feng says approvingly "Many new officers in the army, wish to become one of his peers. The Star Kings of War, they'll call themselves, I think"

"Yin Delun is a good choice" Aruna also agrees, nodding "Not many men, untested, could pull victory from that acidic mire. Did you know, how many of my tribeswoman I had to talk down from seeking to steal him for their husband?"

"You vishnu never change" Kanzeon chuckles "But, before they're set against Delun and the Terran soldiers, the Aspirants do have one schedule training exercise. The rest will come afterwards"

Feng, Akanksha and Aruna all pause in their gossiping to look in your direction
Cont

>>6431430

"It is best for them to be taught how to fight alongside our xenos friends, one species and breed at a time. With abhumans, we're all human at heart, so it will not be an issue, but with aliens? They'll need to learn the strengths and thoughts of their allies, so they may act in concert with them, and take inspiration from their own unique qualities. Like martial artists seeing inspiration in the clawing of the panther, stride of the night crane and shuffle of the tortoise, they shall too shall grasp great martial insights fighting besides our friends from the stars!

And which of xenos will your aspirants train alongside, before they train with Yin Delune and the terran friends of your Astartes in the void, Lieren?

>The Nosa Rubigin, whom will also learn how to communicate in battle with other species. It will be an exercise of group defense and chemical warfare, in the wilder ranges of New Varro

>The Sagit. A martial arts tournament, to teach the aspirants how to fight like the raptor like aliens and how to communicate with only feet stomps and body motions. They will train within Kanzeon's true body

>The Se'ah'in, teaching them how to fight in the water as adeptly as they do on land, mastering the savagery of the Se'ah'in. The lomb will also be joining

>The Merchants of Mirth. They shall learn from the primates how to disguise their thoughts and emotions and become as shadows, unseen by eye and mind.

>The Alf'Harim. Desert warfare, a new form of defensive fighting that makes use of tunnels and cloak and dagger counter strikes, combing offensive principles with defensive foundations.

>The Yushan. They've offered to teach your aspirants how to command the beasts of Yushan as living weapons

>The Aeldari. Carys has accepted your invitation and is happy to teach your aspirants some of the martial arts of the craftworlds

>Write in

>>6431431
>>The Sagit. A martial arts tournament, to teach the aspirants how to fight like the raptor like aliens and how to communicate with only feet stomps and body motions. They will train within Kanzeon's true body

non-verbel communication matters alot in a battlefield

>>6431431
>Alf'Harim

Their foundation is defensive/holding fighting, their grit is unmatched and their teacher's lessons are on the pragmatism and sacrifice of a soldiers life.
Communication is good, but counter strikes is better.

The legion already did trech/tunnel warfare on terra.

>>6431431
>The Alf'Harim. Desert warfare, a new form of defensive fighting that makes use of tunnels and cloak and dagger counter strikes, combing offensive principles with defensive foundations.
This seems like a natural expansion of our sons' defensive specialties, although the Merchants of Mirth and the Sagit could also be really good decisions. While not as immediately valuable, the Nosa Rubigin would also be nice for chemical warfare training, and learning from the Aeldari might give us an advantage against the Dark Eldar combat methods.

Thinking on it, I think the Alf'harim, Sagit, and Nosa Rubigin would be the most widely applicable to our troops while the Merchants would mainly benefit small scale spec-ops type actions.

>>6431431
>The Sagit. A martial arts tournament, to teach the aspirants how to fight like the raptor like aliens and how to communicate with only feet stomps and body motions. They will train within Kanzeon's true body

>>6431431
>>The Nosa Rubigin, whom will also learn how to communicate in battle with other species. It will be an exercise of group defense and chemical warfare, in the wilder ranges of New Varro

>>6431431
>The Yushan. They've offered to teach your aspirants how to command the beasts of Yushan as living weapons
Get the boys some Yushan war beasts.

>>6431431
>The Alf'Harim. Desert warfare, a new form of defensive fighting that makes use of tunnels and cloak and dagger counter strikes, combing offensive principles with defensive foundations.
"My sons you know how to stand your ground, the enduring shield of humanity, yet I am still named Hunter! The first step is turning the tide, shifting the scale... one must learn to stand thei ground before the strike back. To lay low their foe."
>Write in
While it is not specific training with the Aeldari this style of warfare is an apt time to encourage the use of 'How Kuronus strings his bow". In hit and run warfare, not only ideal for hunting but also defending their craftworlds. Let them train with us in this style to create a cadre of shadow looming snipers to protect their dwindling homes.after all.

is the Webway not the greatest of all tunnels.

>>6431431
>>The Merchants of Mirth. They shall learn from the primates how to disguise their thoughts and emotions and become as shadows, unseen by eye and mind.
Weird to see this guys wanting to join the military. They are pretty chill.

Excellent military developments for Long-Jia in this new age of peace and prosperity. Its a good thing there is enough numbers of our alien friends and our abhumans to join us has volunteers in the military. It means the futures of their peoples is safe now.

I am a bit worried for Avinash, Ananya and Sandip, and their other brothers and sisters. Mostly for the wars ahead, even if this is a peaceful time and probably the best time for them to earn more experience/guidance from us and Kanzeon. But it cant be helped, they wanted to join us.

Its saddening to hear even old Dai and Yin Lei becoming older, but its inevitable. They where great Kings of War. But we have a lot of rough gemes to be made in the new generations of great generals. Yin Delun was pretty great in that nightmarish place.

>>6431824
>Meixiu a King of War apprentice
Didn't see that coming. She wants to learn to lead and strategy then ? Well its not a bad development for her, Wanderers have fought in the army ranks in many wars anyway. Not really has military leaders though.

Good way for her to bond further with Liberty. And she could use some additional tutoring, beyond that I wouldn't be preoccupied. The promising "princes" going behind her are just a phase, no way any of those younglings start something with her. Or can they...


Teenage love aside, i was heavily considering two other paths for Mexiu tutoring actually. Especially if she wants to do said tutoring out of the Wanderers for a while.
- First : Tutorship under Carys, maybe has a plus a visit to Amatheon* for also integrate in her advance education, Amatheon thoughts.
- Second: I am thinking Elazar. He is a great knight and i think the tragedy that happened to him, might be an excellent lesson for Mexiu. Also becoming very proficient in martial combat is not bad either. Has a plus possible training with Nameless too ? Could be an idea. Our friendly magical wind of light wouldn't be bad to master for Mexiu. Just because I really want to slap chaos face, when they tried and make this kid an evil witch.


*Now that I think about it Amatheon might be an obligatory encounter for our genesons. If we can somehow arrange it, they would be able to learn a lot from him. Then again our friend really likes being an eldar journeyman so this might be difficult to arrange. Especially if Kabals are on the rise to hunt/enslave for sport journeymen eldar in the webway.

>>6431431
>The Merchants of Mirth. They shall learn from the primates how to disguise their thoughts and emotions and become as shadows, unseen by eye and mind.
Since we are something of an anti-chaos legion, this feels like the trait that will be most useful for that. Plenty of interesting choices though.

>The Aeldari. Carys has accepted your invitation and is happy to teach your aspirants some of the martial arts of the craftworlds

As aeldari culture is both divided and has highly developed traditions, this is chance to learn a highly refined martial style and an opportunity to learn how they might cooperate or defend against it.

The most likely to appear in quest future as both ally and enemy.

>The Merchants of Mirth. They shall learn from the primates how to disguise their thoughts and emotions and become as shadows, unseen by eye and mind.


>The Alf'Harim. Desert warfare, a new form of defensive fighting that makes use of tunnels and cloak and dagger counter strikes, combing offensive principles with defensive foundations

>The Yushan. They've offered to teach your aspirants how to command the beasts of Yushan as living weapons

>>6431985

Yes. Even if we aren't going to teach the boys about chaos any time soon that is not an excuse to avoid teaching them everything they might need to challenge it when it's their turn. Lieren can't always protect them because Lieren won't always be here. Lieren should be more self aware than most about that sort of stuff given that he written a book about it despite being biologically immortal and only ever experiencing fleeting nature of others so far.

>Alf'Harim
Strengthening our Legions already noted traits would be a good idea.
---
Now a Tangent, I propose the development and advancement of the 'Lair Dogma' which I semi mentioned many a year ago and i'll explain.
Our Legion has a great history of being steadfast defenders, protectors and beachheads for both our fellow Astartes and baseline forces. Lieren is a hunter and lets be honest the Warp Threat Hunter. I propose we combine these traits into a cohesive battle doctrine which will have an immediately obvious use to the other Primarch but more importantly a hidden effect; Chaos suppression and containment. It is time we looked at the grander picture, long have we been a reactive force. It is time we tried a doctrine which works with our strengths
-
Work with the Space Shrews to get used to mobile defensive warfare to expend our capacity to hold ground and more importantly confuse the enemy where our central base could in theory be. An enemy chasing shadows and delving into tunnels wouldn't know where our true centre of operations would be.
You'll have to forgive the parallel but we need to be the SCP Legion. We [S]ecure chaos or warp tainted locations or vulnerable areas [C]ontain the threats there-in or capturing some and taking them to our void bound strongholds. Then we can [P]rotect the people from those elements and preserve the secret until such a time comes.

The Crusade would need a garrison force, we can free the Iron Warriors from it by doing it and also serving our own purposes. Our ability to work with baselines, hold sites etc all help us. On the offense we're the ultimate beachhead securing force for others to follow up on, which means we get in there first to sucure the site but secretly we use it to secure hazzards.

Should be able to call the vote and get the update out later today/tonight or tomorrow

>>6432428
Update. burned the fuck out of my hand, chances of me writing anytime soon/ within thenext few hours have plummeted

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My burnt hand has stopped hurting like a motherfucker. Luckily the burn turned out to not be too serious, but that's also probably cause I treated it quickly

Anyways, calling the vote now. Sorry for the long wait, meant to do it quicker than my usual pace, but searing the shit out of the back of my dominant hand did delay me a bit

Sagit:2

Alf'harim:5
-My sons you know how to stand your ground..etc:
- How Kurnous strings his bow:1

Merchants of Mirth:3

The Aeldari:1

Nosa Rubigin:1

Yushan:2

So Lieren will have his aspirants train with the Alf-Harim before their void training

writing now

Total votes:12

Cao Yunru was the first to greet you upon one of the worlds claimed by the Alf-Harim citizens of Long Jia. Generosity, named after one of the virtues named in the Journey, was the furthest along colonization. You greeted him as an old friend, with cupped fist and a respectful bow, before hugging the now sun tanned scholar and laughing as you joked about his adoption of the Alf'Harim's fashions

"They have a most fascinating culture, excised from the greed championed by their mother nation" He tells you "And this is a combination of Zoroast styles and Alf'Harim fashion, I find it most comfortable underneath the generous rays of generosity's primary star. I might bring my wife and children here, when they're old enough. There's a beauty to this yet to be tamed world, isn't there?"

"The rolling hills of sand and sparse plains do invoke a certain, desolate grandeur" You answer, smiling as you walk to the head of the Alf'Harim here, a young female of the species who has not yet been given rights to become a mother, but who you can tell at a glance has grand ambitions to mark the beginnings of her own clan upon Generosity and thinks assisting in your aspirants training will give her the political clout and respect to be allowed to become a mother. A hold over from the Alf'Harim's traditions, but one that she undertook of her own free will. You'd actually discussed it with her at length, and she felt she had to earn the right, despite following the Journey like the rest of the Long-Jian Alf'Harim Settlers.

"Welcome " The slightly taller than a full grown astartes princess to be greeted, eyes glittering with delight as she wore bangles and jewels of fossilized coral upon her wrists and tail, her maturity and draconic leaning already apparent "Friend teacher Lieren, We are very happy to host you and your warrior sons. Our Matriarch has given strong strong sons for the exercise, and myself has personally overseen the construction of the training grounds, Clan is very very proud to be given this opportunity. Even some of her personal husband guards, are partaking"

"How is she doing? It has been awhile since we've spoken, I miss our talks and meditations on the Journey" You tell her, knowing she is talking about the young matriarch who you first met on the world now belonging to the Se'ah'in, Black Abyss,

"She is well, new clutch on new world" She answers with a smile, smacking her club tail on the ground in thought "Unity. You should visit, very lovely sand, weather is very tame, perfect world to raise a clutch. But, I am too fond in favor of the two suns of Generosity to make my home there"

A humble excuse for a girl who dreams of being worthy of the title Matriarch herself. She is a sibling to the matriarch on unity, you know.

"I will have to make time to visit my friend" You tell her with a grin "And I would like to know the numbers and training of the troop who'll take part in this wargame with the aspirants of my legion"
Cont

>>6432787

"Ah, they're from a warrior line, mostly not related to our clan. Got tired of being sold, asked to be bought and freed when we left the Mother Clutch" She explains happily "Eh, term in your tongue...mercenaries. Very best good"

She nods rapidly as Dae-Hyun stepped down from the landing platform of the shuttle, studying his surroundings as he lead the Eight Princes of the Aspirants onto the world, this is the first time he or they or any of the Astartes or Aspirants have seen a Alf'Harim in person. And there are many, curious males skittering and observing from the landing platform, many having been in the middle of a break and others stopping their tasks of transporting and checking Cargo to observe you and your space marines

"And they've been told that they're to teach my aspirants and astartes how to wage a desert war, and to show them the traditional, tunnel based combat of your people?" You ask

"Yes yes, they were told by this one's older sisters, before they arrived, very very excited to train your warrior sons. Were asking all sorts of questions, very very curious" She titters, sounding more like a young, noble girl than the near dragon she was growing into "They've already dug tunnels, for the first trial. Er, you wanted your sons to be the attackers first, yes yes?"

"That is correct, young lady" You laugh as you see a great shadow move, knowing Kanzeon was very interested in getting a bird eye's view of the training ground before the exercise began "They've been taught how to hold the line, and hold it well. They're smart boys, quick to adapt. But they've not faced the Alf'harim in their natural environment. The first match, is to humble them and open their minds"

"Will I see those big iron turtles you humans send into war? My sisters have told me about them, shown me videos" She suddenly changes the subject, and you know she wants her soldiers to learn how to use tanks without even looking in her direction

"A future exercise. I want my sons to learn about your people, and how they fight, so they may better fight alongside them and hopefully find inspiration as they fight" You explain with a wry smile "Though if you are interested, I could ask the relative of one of the greatest of My Aspirants, the recently lorded Dai Gang to bring a parade of their iron turtles"

"Dai Nui is no longer lord of the Iron turtles?" She asked

"He passed some time ago, and while a brother of his had taken temporary leadership of their family, it was to give time for his son, Gang to mourn " You explain "Dai Shun, the aspirant, was one of his best and brightest pupils, in the twilight of his life. He adopted him into his family and named him Shun of the Golden Shell in his final hours. Gang is currently training tank commanders of New Varro stock, who am I sure would appreciate a taste of pomp and ceremony here at Generosity"
Cont

>>6432789

The young princess of the Alf'Harim's eyes glow like sunlit jewels

And as your sons train with the Alf'Harim, how do you occupy yourself, Lieren?

>Make it challenging for them, by fighting on the side of the alf'harim in these wargames

>Join them on the field, and practice a martial art inspired by the Alf'Harim, one which uses a rope dart or meteor hammer in place of their tail

>Plan ahead for the training with the other xenos races, and invite the imperial army to test the mettle of your aspirants, once they've mastered the Alf'Harim art of war

>Make friends with the head of the former Alf'Harim Mercenaries, and learn from them what other species sell themselves as soldiers in this region of space

>Write in


Realized I had forgotten Dai Niu had died when writing the first post of this thread, ignore that slight continuity error! Ignore it! IGNORE IT

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>>6432790
>Write in
Meditate and look inwards for once the Crusade arrives, when our father returns us to the fold of Primarhc we may find we have precious little time.

So we shall meditate here upon Generosity looking inward to see and understand ourselves for the self can be like a desert; a thousand thoughts as they were grains of sand forming sprawling piles the winds of emotion shaping them yet all are one desert, one DUNE

>>6432790
>Plan ahead for the training with the other xenos races, and invite the imperial army to test the mettle of your aspirants, once they've mastered the Alf'Harim art of war
Xenos have the keys to all the fun skill trees.

>>6432790
>make it challenging and fight against them

Harder the trials they overcome the better they will be

>>6432790
>>Make friends with the head of the former Alf'Harim Mercenaries, and learn from them what other species sell themselves as soldiers in this region of space
Lol ok mal

>>6432790
>>6432793
+1

>>6432790
>Make it challenging for them, by fighting on the side of the alf'harim in these wargames

>>6432790
>Plan ahead for the training with the other xenos races, and invite the imperial army to test the mettle of your aspirants, once they've mastered the Alf'Harim art of war

>>6432790
>Plan ahead for the training with the other xenos races, and invite the imperial army to test the mettle of your aspirants, once they've mastered the Alf'Harim art of war

>Make friends with the head of the former Alf'Harim Mercenaries, and learn from them what other species sell themselves as soldiers in this region of space

>>6432793
+1

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Calling the vote now, sorry for the long wait

Meditate and look inwards: 3


Plan ahead for the training with the other xenos races, and invite the imperial army to test the mettle of your aspirants, once they've mastered the Alf'Harim art of war: 3

Make it challenging for them, by fighting on the side of the alf'harim in these wargames:2

Make friends with the head of the former Alf'Harim Mercenaries, and learn from them what other species sell themselves as soldiers in this region of space:2

Total votes: 8

So Lieren, planning ahead, will invite the imperial Long-Jianese army to test the aspirants once they've mastered the Alf'harim arts of war and will meditate and look inwards while waiting for the aspirants to be ready

writing now

It will take time and many trials for the Aspirants to truly master the Alf'Harim method of waging war and the many methodologies and variations of it. The former mercenaries shall provide them with a wealth of wisdom, insights and hard fought and learned experience. However, they shall not be the only ones to benefit from these trials nor the only ones to learn. With a few messages sent across the void, Jinhai agrees to prepare a number of imperial regiments to travel to Generosity and the other worlds your Aspirants are scheduled to train with the xenos friends of Long-Jia, so they may test their new found mettle and further refine their talent of making war and committing battle.

And while you observe their training closely, while leaving the space marines to oversee and join in the exercises directly and you plan and break ground for new development projects on across the colony and give lessons public and private to the Alf'Harim settlers, explaining your philosophy and views to them directly and helping to create Alf'Harim based stories, koans and lessons to be shared amongst the Journeymen present, and also enjoy exploring the untapped wilderness still left untouched by even the gentlest brushing of industrialization and settling with Kanzeon, you spend most of your hours upon Generosity in deep, lonesome meditation. You're a social creature at heart, but meditation requires emptiness and clarity of mind. And the Dunes bring great isolation when one walks far enough from the buzzing electrical lights and communal bonfires burning and roasting cactus and wild game.

And it is in these lonesome, moonlit nights, that you reflect how the self greatly resembles the vast desert than surrounds you. Not just you personally, but all individuals. In a way, you too are made of thousands of grains of sand. Fleeting thoughts, concepts, emotions, plans, feelings, beliefs, sensation and many other things both named and nameless, known and unknown. All swirling together, forming the greater whole. The winds of emotion shaping every grain together, separately, yet they remain as one. All is but sand in different forms and motion.

The desert wind howls around you, whistling through fulgurite pillars and deep ravines as you imagine yourself breaking apart, piece by piece like the sand. Seeing which parts Giggling Maid reflects, which grains were the first to come together to form your character and personality and the oldest source of behavior and intent, programmed into the very genetic data within a lab on Terra. It is a greatly soothing exercises, one which you repeat for several days and nights, partaking of the minimal food and drink required to stave off weakness of the body and fraility of the mind.

It becomes an ascetics journey, a trial to obtain greater understanding and reach a further, more profound step of enlightenment.
Cont

>>6434932

The sands and winds wash over you as you remain seated in the lotus positon atop a high dune, overlooking a "forest" of Fulgurite statues and a "Sea" of deep ravines, the only constant being the grit of the sand. Heat and cold become synonymous with the passage of time, and vanish entirely as you ignore them. The gentle wash of the breeze, and the whistling, chime like melody it brings, slowly soften and dull into nothingness as you enter a deeply profound state of meditation, brought about by a gradual practice much more subtle than your usual method of forcefully blanking your mind and emptying your heart of emotion, with each sensation that is blocked out fading slowly like the bleach of painted colors.

But the grit remains. Vaguely, you are aware, that at some point, that sandy texture ceases to be the sensation of sand accumulating and blowing against you, and instead becomes the perception of every individual "Grain" that composes your physical, mental and spiritual selves. And through touch, you can feel the lines drawn between them.

And the lines drawn from you to the others connected to you so closely, the thousand vessels filled by the golden sea that in turn fill that same sea. The great, gilded web of many connections, feelings and thoughts. Which you can more closely and accurately perceive through the golden sea, than you ever have while making use of that invisible connection before. But that is not the extent of your awareness across the sea of sands.

It is frightening. How much one can see, when they look so closely as to perceive the individual particles that. And with eyes like yours, re-merging from the dune of self, what is revealed through this change of view...

And what is it your eyes look upon, as you end your mediation to test the mettle of your aspirants, Lieren?

>A greater understanding of the golden sea and the connections formed between yourself and others through it

>How to manifest and separate the three "Selves" that makes your whole personage

>Biomancy, having mapped out the particles of yourself and meditated deeply, you've grasped that most tricky of psykerist arts

>How to force separated grains to join together and for joined grains to separate, allowing you to turn the intangible tangible and the reverse

>Write in

>>6434933
>How to force separated grains to join together and for joined grains to separate, allowing you to turn the intangible tangible and the reverse

trickmaxxing

>>6434933
>>How to force separated grains to join together and for joined grains to separate, allowing you to turn the intangible tangible and the reverse

being a tricker fighter then Alphurius Omegeron

>>6434933
>Biomancy, having mapped out the particles of yourself and meditated deeply, you've grasped that most tricky of psykerist arts

Lets go Biomancyyy

>>6434933
>A greater understanding of the golden sea and the connections formed between yourself and others through it
With our aid, even common laborers and militiamen might become the stuff of legend.

>>6434933
>A greater understanding of the golden sea and the connections formed between yourself and others through it
It's not as flashy as some of his other tricks but the Sea is probably Lieren's most powerful ability.

>>6434933
>A greater understanding of the golden sea and the connections formed between yourself and others through it
It is such a core part of ourselves we must amster it. Twas this that first led us down this path.

>>6434933
>The golden sea

>>6434933
>A greater understanding of the golden sea and the connections formed between yourself and others through it

Malcador slowly walked through the familiar dungeons, past the black clad Custodians, beyond uncountable wards and esoteric locks. The Black Cells were not young but some of their more recent additions were.

He was here to speak to one such being now, it had been a man once, then an Astartes and now... a thing. A thing dressed in the flesh of man honed into a weapon now the host and wielder of a Greater One. Plasma coiled vented and hissed as they depowered letting the red hazed force field drop in a splutter of static.

The cell should be as one would imagine, black, lightless and had nought in it but its captive. Yet it was not so, the cells reinforced walls were flaked with blood and ice runes and archaic script all about it. Yet the captive was bound in chains of Auramite unable to rise from his knees.

The script appeared without the mans needing to pen it, beneath his palms both pinned tot he floor by great manacles was a sword standing as tall as a mature Astartes, it was a magnificent work of artifice. Once it had been a simple power sword of the legion, its' wielder Captain Eino Juhaninen a rising talent in the Second Legion... whose time would be wasted here.

But not the first of the 'Legio Chimerai'.

“Captain” Malcador's voice was even even as his psyker senses pushed into the room and felt the additional mind presant within the room.

“Lord Sigillite” the marine responded his voice as flat as Interrogator's, the mind which lingered in the blade.

“Has your...friend seen fit to answer the questions I left you last time?”

“Some, but others Ensilupaus will only answer in the presence of my father.”

“That will not happen”

“it is willing to wait, it says you may be old but his Mistress is older. He will get his message to my father with or without your consent.”

Malcador's eyes flared with light and a whirlwind swept the chamber but the daemon in the blade did not quiver.

“it asks why you bring pain and a waling wind? I ws born of this, shed blood, ice and promise. What can you a liar do to such honesty?”

1/2

>>6435468
“Tell me what answers it granted you”

“It's name I have already said. It's purpose it to deliver a message to my father and a proclamation for all life-”

The marine suddenly stopped and jerked, the restraints pulled and tore at flesh even as the mans hands were left behind torn from muscle and bone, the Astartes stood eyes burning with warp light and a voice roared.

“You will not stop the Great Reclamation Servant of the Denier! Heaven shall weep once more yet in joy, the great circle shall be complete and the Garden of Creation will expunged of it's infestation!”

The voice was a tearing blizzard, it was the promise of seasons turning and the echoing depths of icey oceans. The posessed marine took a step forward fighting the sigillites own power even as more and more flesh was torn away.

“I am born of the promise, I am born of the shed blood, I am the Blade of Mercy to end the suffering of a garden trapped in summer! And I-”

The blade was inexplicably free now held in hands of bone and pointed towards the Old Man.

“-WILL-”

The last of the marine was blown away with a strained thought, the blade of part is and part machine shattered but faded into light.

A whisper.

“-Forgive you at the end.”

2/2

---
Because of the Brand i can see our sons being prefered hosts to spirits, good thing we grafitti everything. But until we get there? Hold on boys!

>>6434933
>A greater understanding of the golden sea and the connections formed between yourself and others through it
Still much mystery

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Going through some serious family drama IRL rn, so the wait could be pretty long this time. Just fucking exhausted, mentally.

>>6436204
take as long as you want Malal. We will be here.

>>6436204
Sounds shit. Good luck with that, Malal.

>>6436204
We love you Malal and will be here when you can come back. Don't feel rushed. Remember the path of the journey

>>6436299
>>6436416
>>6436626
Thank you for your kind words and patience, still going through it and am nearly losing my mind from stress, but it is slowly calming down at least on my end. Might be able to end the wait earlier than I anticipated, but I can make no promises cause it might go to shit at any moment and I am still in a bad way, personally

>>6436779
There is no need to rush or worry Malal, Real life will always come first including mental relaxation. We will be here no matter what.

>>6436779
Np we can wait malal

>Proposed Legion Reformation

>Recruitment
Each world the legion is granted recruitment privileges upon will have an Academy where those whom wish to serve in the Forces of the Primarch may go to train from a young age. Those whom are in the top percentage will be gene tested and if deemed viable offered the chance to not serve with Baseborn humanity but to undergo the Legion Trials. They may refuse and serve with the rest of humanity should they will it serving with others.

[This method is chosen as it will provide a wide number of recruits whom will grow and serve together bonding Astartes and Base Humanity. It will also allow for early stress teting to preserve lives otherwise lost in rushed recruitment.]
-

>The Trials
Once per year the Legion will take those whom wish to join their ranks away to the closest ''Proving Ground” (Ideally one per system). In these places the Aspirants will be put through harder and harder trials gradually given the surgeries to rise as an Astartes. At this point they will begin serving in lesser roles alongside full fledged Astartes and Baseborn forces.

[While Blood Angels or Space Wolves will pump out an Astartes in a year from an Aspirant the Second Legion will take a little longer than the average of 5-10 years. However those Astartes will come out in greater numbers due to minimising losses and far wider recruitment base. Scout marines more used like the 40k Black Templars do, on the job training.]
-

>The Meditation
The final implant being the Black Carapace will happen in one of the Legions 'Halls of Stillness' where they will enter a pod and not only receive this implant but also have their bodies grafted with Memetic Sigils. It is also during this time the Astartes will meditate upon the Legions tenants and be welcomed into the Company Dedicated to their System.

[Each System we hold shall have three Companies dedicated to it, they shall cycle all crusade. One on Active deployment, one on recovery and assisting in training of the new bloods then finally one on defence of the system and rearming. The men will constantly bring in new training and information new experiences and serving stories!]
-

>The Hunt Companies
An Astartes may join a Hunt company at will but it will mean stepping outside of the System Companies. They will join the forces of the Primarch serving him more directly, but they will not be so free to cycle home for many hunts are long and take you far.
----

A Company will be around 800-1000 Marines, Three Companies make 1 Grand Company (A System Company).

The Hunt Companies will be founded and led by Astartes granted the rank of Hunt Master and will be greatly shaped by the Hunt Masters preferred way of war, their sizes as such will greatly vary. It could be considered the grandest Ambition of a General to be granted command of a Hunt Company.

>>6437313
>Only testing those that are in the top percentage
>limiting the already limited number of numbers

Crazy and made me stop reading right away.

>>6437444
Yeah, Genetic compatibility is the first thing to test and everyone with potential needs to be put through the wringer.

>>6437313
Engaging properly with the proposal.

The first thing we have to do is scan for viable compatibility.
This is the first test, so we don't waste time and effort. You MUST be ABLE to be a Spacemarine before we proceed through space marine training.

to expand upon the idea, to have space marines bonded with baseline warriors, Consider having them do placements with local imperial guard training/pdf facilities. Their age will be balanced by the physical capability through which they can get comfortable with eachother.

About your idea of rotating companies. . . There are WAAAAAAAAAAAYY too many marines in system in your proposal.
You propose 3 companies per system, between 3000 and 2400 marines, with a permenant station of 2000 to 1200 marines.

500 to hold the fort and secure the next generation is already sufficient, let along double that number.
The purpose of a crusade fleet is to always be rearmed and healing on the frontlines of exploration.
Cycling between the companies is logistically a nightmare.

>>6437313
>Recruitment
>Academy idea
Should be based on the Chen Academy creating the general institution model, with an addition to look at the monk order Guozhi was part of and the schools of journeymen.

I would only accept volunteers, and I wouldn't put anyone in harm's way to become an Astartes. Any family or any tutor who presents a child should present a willing youngblood, the proper legal procedures, and medical records to be seen by the Legion human assistants and by medics of the local hospital of the White Lotus. This will include further health and genetic scanning for the safety of the child, and also the family that presents him. If the child presents obvious psychic powers, the colony should immediately contact the Wanderers of the Fog for preliminary tests and be brought first and foremost inside the psykerist order. After a time period to ensure the child understands their powers and can use them/live with them with responsibility and no fear, if the child's genetic testing is fine, and if he volunteers, he can join the Legion as an aspirant.


>The Trials
I would start with 2 years of education, training, and learning about warfare. Depending on the child's skills, I would also have their teacher personalize their 2-year path to follow to see if they are suited for a particular type of sphere of science/craft/warfare specialization. After this period, I would move to active trials, alongside academic and philosophical tests, and lastly, coordinated training exercises with the forces of the Long-Jia Star Empire and its allies.

This may include: Hunters of the Brotherhood of the Panthers, Knights of the Flaming Order of the Progenitor, soldiers of the Long-Jia Army (from regulars to specialist troops like, say, a Lai Skyrider, a Vishnu Screamer, a Kang Charger, etc.), Psykers of the Wanderers of the Fog, New Varro gunslingers. Or the abhumans like the Tigerfolk, the Angra, Oracle Breed, the Lomb, the Relieved, and last but not least the Squats. This will include even the xenos species that entered the army, like Nosa Rubigin, Sagit, Se'ah'in, Merchants of Mirth, Alf'Harim, and Yushan. Any training/education with Eldar or Eldar Journeymen, we will either have to organize it with Eldrad for the first or more easily for the second with Carys and Amatheon.
I would wait to make any other modification to this because Lieren and Kazeon are doing right now, as we speak, an educational/training process for the first aspirants Lieren decides to take in. Which will give Lieren a far better idea of how to go about modifying/reforming the Legion. Besides the obvious stuff.

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Okay, finally calmed down enough to write. Wasn't doing well this last week, but things have settled on my end, mostly.

How to force separated grains to join together and for joined grains to separate, allowing you to turn the intangible tangible and the reverse: 2

Biomancy, having mapped out the particles of yourself and meditated deeply, you've grasped that most tricky of psykerist arts:1


A greater understanding of the golden sea and the connections formed between yourself and others through it: 5


Total votes: 8

So Lieren will look upon a greater understanding of the golden sea and the connects formed through it to himself and others

Writing now.
>>6437271
>>6436897
Thanks again

'>>6435468
>>6435469
Also, took me a week to read this in the right head space, its excellent. Really liked the descriptions you used, Malcador's POV and especially “it is willing to wait, it says you may be old but his Mistress is older. He will get his message to my father with or without your consent", and how you wrote the child of Arianka possessing Eino to be so...imposing. Also really liked the whole blade of mercy to end summer and forgive you in the end, really top tier stuff!

Was the most complete view of the existence, the concept of the "Golden Sea", the term you used to refer to both the golden flames every scorching, consuming and reinvigorating and rebuilding your soul from its very roots as well as the invisible web that allowed the spiritual energy or "Qi" produced from the cyclical burning of your soul to be used to empower, strengthen and nurture the spirits that have formed a connection with you, and to in turn take the excess soul stuff created from this transfer to be used as further kindling upon the golden sea. A process that does not reduce, and only expands. A paradox born of the first step you took towards real enlightenment, during your struggles prior to your visit to the celestial incarnation palace, the death of the yan princes and the hunt for Huli Jing. And now that you gazed upon it, saw it with your own eyes rather than merely imagining it or describing it in prose or poetry.

You understood. How these spiritual connections formed, not only through shared experiences and bonds, but shared purpose. It was a manifestation of the ideal of unity, shared burden and joined cause. The very embodiment of the spirit that allowed a single province to overthrow the tyrants that had exchanged the mandate of heaven for the rule of excess and conceit, and to go further to defeat the other tyrants and thralls of powers born of the darkest corners of mankind's heart. That took a people, once hopeless and allowed them to join hands with those born oppressed beneath different stars, to spread the lessons learned across the stars and strive, ever forward, to a kinder, brighter future. It was, the first glimpse of the new dawn that so many poets and philosophers had used to describe the end of the Yan Dynasty and Kingdom, the hopeful dream shared by thousands. The will to endure and strive towards a better future even though the past was grim and dark and the journey one filled with strife and troubles.

And it was more than that, it was a reflection of the true, pure love you felt for every soul that was touched by the golden sea. All thousand and more of the vessels it filled and was filled in turn by. A monument against the cruelty of the universe, sparked and begun by the kindness of one man's heart and his devotion to his fellow man. It was a seed that had grown, from the moment you had first dragged a Fog Panther to the outskirts of Nothing, when in the chill of winter and beneath the shadow of famine, you chose to save and teach your fellow man.

It was.

You. Lieren. At your very core. The concepts and purpose of the Golden Sea, reflected your truest desires and deepest wishes. For all to be joined in comradery and friendship, for all to understand that together they could accomplish so much more. It was the incomplete promise, the hope that rippled forth from a simple act of generosity, a shared journey that connected all who had opened their hearts to you and in turn knew yours as closely
Cont

>>6438162

A sea that reflected countless faces, some long dead, some you knew only in passing, and of course those most familiar and intimate. The brightest stars gleaming in the sea, mostly closely held and treasured, your own care and love reflected in the invisible weave of golden threads like threaded sunlight. And you understood where the bonds, the friendship, the love had first began with every soul that your own spirit reach out to and tightly held and protected with a ferocity greater than any wildfire or storm. And you understood. Understood all of it.

Like reading a record of your own life, the diary of your life journey, penned by a distant, detached observer. Perhaps, the purely logical, mechanical side of yourself, that showed you the most efficient way forward even now. What you had been, at your birth. Perhaps. You could see where Giggling Maid had emerged from, where the silver moonlight swirled and mingled with the golden sea. Every shared pain, every scar, every loss. Every shared joy, every smile, every victory. Within the Golden Sea, was a record, a scripture detailing your journey and how it intersected and joined the journeys of others. You understood. It was beautiful. A pure expression of Compassion, Comradery and Humanity. A distillation of Empathy. A reflection of the world as you, and so many others wished it to be. Willed it to be.


It stretched before you, vast and seemingly without end. A sea made of countless golden threads. A conflagration of a soul that burned itself to benefit others, warming and safeguarding them in its own flames, bearing the burden but not alone. Protecting and protected in turn. Healed and in turn healing. Strengthening and in turn strengthened. A river that connected to its own mouth. The dragon that bit its own tail. The sea that was filled by the vessels it had filled. A sun that was lit and formed by a thousand torches. A light that inspired and cultivated the potential of others, while being inspired and taught by them. You understood it. It had first burned outwards from your self immolating soul, and thus it was a reflection of your truest, self chosen purpose. The belief and ideals that drove you to accomplish so much, to push others and encourage them to strive to the greatest of heights.

It was beautiful. Truly resplendent. Like a pure lake catching, a for a few moments containing the brilliance of the setting sun in a golden blaze.

You understood, so much, it made you begin to weep in joy.
Cont

>>6438163

And what else did you understand, Lieren?

>How to refine your control of the technique of "Reality flickers before the approaching storm" and create branching techniques

>Greater ability to use the "Mien of the companion loyal and true" and "The golden sea's aura fills a thousand vessels"

>How to turn the golden flame into a wind like Hysh, improving your ability to wield it as warpfire and especially the "Cloak of the every burning will" and "Spirit Subjugating blade"

>How the innocence of your spirit, as represented by Giggling Maid, can be used in pyskerism and spread to others

>Write in

>>6438164
>>How the innocence of your spirit, as represented by Giggling Maid, can be used in pyskerism and spread to others

Thank you Malal, I don't know how you do it but every post you make is a masterpiece.

>>6438164
>Greater ability to use the "Mien of the companion loyal and true" and "The golden sea's aura fills a thousand vessels"
Though the Giggling Maid option is pretty good too.

>>6438164
>Greater ability to use the "Mien of the companion loyal and true" and "The golden sea's aura fills a thousand vessels"
We'll probably use these quite a bit once we go on Crusade.

>>6438164
I do want to come up with some much better write in options, but. . . Innocence is so good.

>How the innocence can be spread

>>6438164
>Greater ability to use the "Mien of the companion loyal and true" and "The golden sea's aura fills a thousand vessels"

>>6438164
>>How to turn the golden flame into a wind like Hysh, improving your ability to wield it as warpfire and especially the "Cloak of the every burning will" and "Spirit Subjugating blade"

>>6438164
>How to turn the golden flame into a wind like Hysh, improving your ability to wield it as warpfire and especially the "Cloak of the every burning will" and "Spirit Subjugating blade"
Good options all, methinks.

>>6438164
>>Greater ability to use the "Mien of the companion loyal and true" and "The golden sea's aura fills a thousand vessels"

>Greater ability to use the "Mien of the companion loyal and true" and "The golden sea's aura fills a thousand vessels"

It seems like the viable candidates should be in the planetary population range by now, but every time it's mentioned it's only personal friends of lieren.

>>6438164
>Greater ability to use the "Mien of the companion loyal and true" and "The golden sea's aura fills a thousand vessels"
This one my favorite can't wait using it on our brother

>>6438164
>How to refine your control of the technique of "Reality flickers before the approaching storm" and create branching techniques
One of the best tools we have against chaos and psykers.

>>6438164
>>How to turn the golden flame into a wind like Hysh, improving your ability to wield it as warpfire and especially the "Cloak of the every burning will" and "Spirit Subjugating blade"

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Calling the vote now, sorry for the wait

How the innocence of your spirit, as represented by Giggling Maid, can be used in pyskerism and spread to others:2

Greater ability to use the "Mien of the companion loyal and true" and "The golden sea's aura fills a thousand vessels": 6

How to turn the golden flame into a wind like Hysh, improving your ability to wield it as warpfire and especially the "Cloak of the every burning will" and "Spirit Subjugating blade"
How to turn the golden flame into a wind like Hysh, improving your ability to wield it as warpfire and especially the "Cloak of the every burning will" and "Spirit Subjugating blade":3

How to refine your control of the technique of "Reality flickers before the approaching storm" and create branching techniques:1


Total votes: 12

So Lieren will attain a deep understanding of "Mien of the companion loyal and true
and "The Ggolden sea's aura fills a thousand vessels"

Writing now

You think the highest of those you call friends and family. Your image of them, can become a boon in of itself. Through conscious effort, you can strengthen your companions loyal and true and in turn, borrow and refine their own excellence. In a way, this exchange allows these mortal men and women to become as legends, and for you to embodied those same legends. This in now way lowers their own abilities or achievements, but by pouring the golden sea more heavily into the vessels that fill it, they can be raised beyond their natural limits. You've used this technique to strengthen agents sent on missions or to empower armies under your command, and have in turn used it to switch your presence and fighting style with those whose mien you wear into battle.

But this is just the surface level of this technique, and the bond between yourself and those who you are proud to call your companions, loyal and true. Power. the crudest and most simplistic exchange that can the golden sea can accomplish. These twin techniques, two sides of the same coin, mirrors of the other, can be further refined, further improved. For they are based on character. That of yourself and those you adopt the mien of. But it is also based off of, and determined by belief. Yours, theirs and others. It is based on knowledge and understanding. The masks you don, reflect your own image of your companions loyal and true. It is like embodying a legend, partially penned by your own hand. An ideal of great men who you are proud to call friend and comrade. And realizing this, truly understanding this, enlightens you of the true extent of the twin techniques.

Numerous aspects determine the outcome of the technique, those who are granted a portion of your own power, subconsciously shape it to match their idea of Lieren as the mystical mien you borrow is shaped by not only your vision of them, but how they are known by others, both widely and personally. Refining the technique, will allow for greater accuracy, control and the ability to adjust and adapt the exact shape of the powers reflected by the mien and granted temporarily to the vessels of the golden sea. And while this would, say, allow you to wear the mask of Jinhai the carp danger, Emperor Jinhai, and Youngest King of War Jinhair. Or Unkillable Feng, Peer of one Hunter Feng, and The Chief of VIshnu Feng, and so on and so on for every one who you are close enough to call them a loyal and true friend and companion, it does not stop at a refinement of the technique's form which you had already grasped and mastered.

If the base power, is determined mostly by your own idea of whom you are channeling, at the evolution would allow you to separate them into aspects and access hidden sides of the reflections or different roles they've lead. Then what is stopping you, from only wearing the masks of the real? Reality is what you create, and nothing else is real.

Cont

>>6439735

A harrowing train of thought, but who is to say you cannot day dream of the life Cui Fu may have lead if you'd made his acquaintance a few years earlier, or to wear the mask of one of your false, assumed identities? Or exaggerate the story you tell beneath the mien of another? If it is a reflection of your companions, and what you see is what you know and believe of them, then the initial technique was greatly limited. It would return with expected results, but now, if you perform the technique and focus it differently, you will be able to, without changing targets of the channeling and mantling, adopt a number of miens all based on the different faucets and "selves" They all embody.

And you could probably extend the technique, in its basic and new, more complex forms, on people whom you had been unable to do before.

And while exploiting your deep understanding of your loyal and true companions, the truths hidden even to their own hearts revealed by your golden eyes' sight, you also realize. That "Lieren" isn't the only source of power they can be empowered from. You can, of course, perform the reverse of focusing and favoring a certain aspect of your mantle target to grant them a boon based on one of your own numerous aspects. But if they are vessels, filling and being filled by the golden sea. Can't you connect their streams and exchange their waters? Can't you connect and grant skills and prowess from one vessel to another. Can't you connect, say, a strike team and boost their cooperation and grant them all a share of the others talent? With careful micromanaging, you can do more than grant an army under your command a renewed spirit and resolve born from your soul's own fire, you can link them together via the golden sea. Improving cohesion and sharing any spiritual or mental strain they may encounter.

And reflecting upon this, reviewing your bonds with others, has enlightened you greatly. And reminded you just why you have called so many your friend, you companion, and your comrade.

But reminiscence and new found understanding of how the golden sea functions, are not the only boons you're meditations have brought. By sheer accident, you've realized you can, while meditating, accurately astral project to the location of any of the souls connected to the golden sea. And this ability you realized by happenstance, proves there is still much to understand about the "Golden Sea" within your soul.

Like the fact, that with with the newfound understanding and improvements to the "Mien of the companion loyal and true' Technique, combined with "The Dragon sheds its scales to walk amongst snakes" technique, allows you to become as a mirror to any counted amongst the vessels of the golden sea.

There are many more possible expressions of your new found understanding of these techniques and the sea they're borne from, but testing them all, safely, will take time. And many you believe can only be proven in the crucible of battle.
Cont

>>6439736

But further meditation and refinement can wait, since you're aspirants are ready. And while you have a whim to prank Kanzeon by wearing her appearance and jumping out at her while she's distracted with some sub routine of her true body or another, you restrain yourself as the imperial army is arriving to test your space marines to be and measure what they have learned of the Alf'Harim art of war...

And as their mettle is tested, what do you do, Lieren?

>Prepare for the next steps in their training, the most immediate being their lesson in void fighting

>Ask Kanzeon to help you practice your two newly improved techniques, by acting as an anchor and comforting presence while you do...and then prank her. And probably get slapped.

>Give your aspirants more of a challenge, by joining the imperial army's side and using "The golden sea's aura fills a thousand vessels"

>See if there is any limit to how far you can travel across/through the "golden sea"

>Write in

>>6439737
>See if there is any limit to how far you can travel across/through the "golden sea"

>>6439737
>Give your aspirants a challenge

I want every war after their training to be "well at least it's easier than the Primarch's training!"

>>6439737
>>Ask Kanzeon to help you practice your two newly improved techniques, by acting as an anchor and comforting presence while you do...and then prank her. And probably get slapped.

>>6439737

>See if there is any limit to how far you can travel across/through the "golden sea"

>>6439737
>>Give your aspirants more of a challenge, by joining the imperial army's side and using "The golden sea's aura fills a thousand vessels"

>>6439737
>Give your aspirants more of a challenge, by joining the imperial army's side and using "The golden sea's aura fills a thousand vessels"
If they can perform well or even win against an army led and psychically empowered by a primarch then they'll be some of the finest space marines in all the legions.

>>6439737
>Give your aspirants more of a challenge, by joining the imperial army's side and using "The golden sea's aura fills a thousand vessels"
Can't wait at their completion

>>6439737
>>Give your aspirants more of a challenge, by joining the imperial army's side and using "The golden sea's aura fills a thousand vessels"

>Ask Kanzeon to help you practice your two newly improved techniques, by acting as an anchor and comforting presence while you do...and then prank her. And probably get slapped.

>Give your aspirants more of a challenge, by joining the imperial army's side and using "The golden sea's aura fills a thousand vessels"

yeah...improve the technique and turn the imperial army into individual warriors of legend.

and then connect them together so these legends all possess the talents one among them has and make them capable of co-ordinating at the speed of thought.

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Calling the vote now, sorry for the long wait. Summer heat is kicking my ass

See if there is any limit to how far you can travel across/through the "golden sea": 2

Give your aspirants more of a challenge, by joining the imperial army's side and using "The golden sea's aura fills a thousand vessels": 6

Ask Kanzeon to help you practice your two newly improved techniques, by acting as an anchor and comforting presence while you do...and then prank her. And probably get slapped:2

Total votes: 9

So lieren will give the Aspirants more of a challenge, and join the imperial army in their final test upon the world of Generosity

Writing now

The Alf'Harim were a queer sort of folk but cunning and sharp as razors, Lee Fox had decided now that he had bumped shoulders and rode rough with the hired guns beneath the twin suns of the world called Generosity. It took some jawing to learn what they were trying to say to you, but once you'd cottoned on, they were quite good company, Lee had decided. Hard to not get along with fellers you had to spend most of the day in the sand and grit, like snakes in their holes or rats in their warrens. And if you listened, you learned just how crafty the sons of guns were when it came to starting and ending fights beneath the sand. It was like learning slither from snakes and how to scurry from whats, the sort of thing tall tales were made of. And for some reason, the other seven boys called princes all agreed Lee was the one who'd learned in the dust and grit the best, since they all followed his lead once he started getting chummy with the Alf'Harim,

It made him proud, and hopeful that he'd get a better nickname than Painkiller, since Lee thought it was too harsh and mean sounding for a kid who only wanted to help other folks, ease their pains and cure what ailed em, even if he understood it had been meant as a compliment and to praise him for his healing hands. The Alf'Harim weren't much help there, since the nickname fit with their peculiar manner of speaking and used it more than the one his Ma and Pa had given him. And he was rather bitter that his scaly friends had taken to using it to mean how crack of a shot and lethal on the draw he was, but now amount of whip crack remarks and bellyaching could make em stop. Which, Lee reflected as he rested in the cool dark of the tunnels might've been why he'd ended up the best of the space marines to be at fighting in the hot, cramped tunnels; Even better than the hired guns that had been brought on to be their teachers. Since, and Lee realized he had been as dull as an old nail to think it, he had thought if he whipped them at their own game, they'd listen and stop using that mean sounding name and in meaner way than his brothers to be.

Hadn't worked, though that might've been cause he busied himself learning the Alf'Harim folk remedies as well as their way of making war. He liked the praise, the attention, but he didn't like the name Painkiller, and his seven closest rivals knew it and he suspected they'd played apart in keeping the name alive. Cause surely, Lee thought, he should've earned a new epithet with how well he'd adapted to fighting like a snake and rat. He'd collapsed an entire enemy position during a training exercise and captured the head of the mercenary company during another. Hell, he'd even beaten Ol' Golden Shell Shun and took his flag during a tunnel fighting exercise and snuck up on Zian during a mock night raid and stuck a desert rose in his rifle's trigger.
Cont

>>6441859

He'd taken to this kinda fighting like a pig to shit, but did they call him, Lee of the silent sand? Desert Lightning Fox? Viperstrike Lee, or any of them flowery names them Long-Jians came up with? Nah, he was still Painkiller. Like a doctor you didn't want to make a house visit.

And Lee had decided to sulk while waiting for the next set of trials, which he knew they'd win, since they were working together with them crafty varmints, the sliest and toughest to tussle of any of the Alf'Harim, and wouldn't be fighting eachother. Instead they'd be put against the Imperial Army. Tough as Iron, but, they'd been taught to be tougher and meaner. Lee didn't think it'd be much of a challenge.

Or he thought that, till another of the princes, Khaliq Mina the daydreamer and the one who could make his blood sting like a viper's spit, told him that the great trail blazer Lieren would be fighting on the otherside. How the Pyskerist had learned that, ahead of time, Lee didn't know. He suspected it was one of their "big brothers", might've been told by Lieren himself to secretly spread the news. But it did get Lee excited. Since that would make it a challenge, and a chance to earn himself a better title. Like Shun had when he impressed the late lord Dai enough to be called Golden Shell.

But Lee was arrogant. Oh he was a loudmouth, bragger, a bit too much of a comedian and often content to let the wind blow him where it may like a tumbleweed, but he didn't have a head too big for his hat. He knew that Lieren could talk a snake out of its scales, get a rattlerman to put the saddle on his own back and carry his own horse to the watering hole and trick lightning into striking the sky. Lee had learned to be more dastardly than a shaggy spook when it came to fighting in and under the sand, but he knew he ain't have a quarter of the cunning that Lieren did. Which meant he had to weigh the dice and stack his hand of cards. Which meant he'd have to sit down and cut nails and iron with the other seven princes and come up with a plan to win at the impossible game their Primarch to be was setting them up to fail at...
_

"It has been too long, Yin Lei" You greet your old friend and one of the earliest adopters of the journey, as well as one of the first comrades you found against the Tyranny of the Yan "I see that age hasn't slowed you down as much as rumor would suggest. Though they may soon have to call you the Grey General rather than the Black"

Yin Lei smirked as he looked at the apparently untouched sands and took off the cap that was now standard issue among imperial officers, scanning the apparently untouched arid landscape.
Cont

>>6441860

"I will die in my uniform, and will remain in command so long as the years do not rob me of my senses or slow my wit" He answered "Though, it was meant in jest, perhaps Grey General is a more suitable title for me to be remembered for, once all of my deeds have been taken into account. I see the Giant's to be have busied themselves and prepared to meet this old dog of war"

"Delun will be their next challenge, and while he will be the general to lead Long-Jia to war in the stars, you are still as able as you were when you earned the title of Unbroken Thunder's Howl" You tell him and he nods, stroking his beard in thought

"My nephew has, in many ways, surpassed me. His victory against the long eared raiders and slavers, was a great achievement, and he had never served unworthy masters" The old general bitterly remarks "It is their test against Delun, that will determine the excellence of these boys who aspire to be giants, Lieren"

"Humility in excess is as foolish as pride without foundation, remember this, Lei" You tell him as you smile "So, I am under your command for this exercise, you have read the results of the prior tests and training, how shall you approach this blank slate of sand"

"They're in tunnels, we have Dai Tank Companies and Lai skyriders" He laid out "We cannot fight them in the tunnels, at least not initially, nor can we encircle their position or wait them out. This puts us at a disadvantage, as we must first cross the invisible line in the sand before the battle can begin, but that does not mean we are without options nor that those youths under the sand have prevented us completely for adjusting the layout of the board. Our strategies are restricted, our tactics suppressed. But they are not sealed, and with preparation, we'll be as free as if we had decided the battlefield rather than your aspirants"

"If it were any other man, I'd call that arrogance, but I will warn you, that these boys were the student of Dai Niu before he passed and they have studied your every battle won" You chuckle "But, you were named a king of war for a reason, old friend. Even if your sun is setting, they will find in you a challenge greater than any mountain, especially with the assistance I shall lend"

You'd told Yin Lei your plan, and as strict an adherent to the Journey as the General was, he had been greatly enthused by the prospect of receiving direct, spiritual guidance from the founder of his philosophy. As were the soldiers, from veterans of the butcher war to the new recruits that had joined the ranks as the nations of Long-Jia healed from that war waged without reason.

And with your deeper comprehension of the golden sea, the effect and influence of "The golden sea's aura fills a thousand vessels" is greatly improved and much more noticeable. Yin Lei's standards for his troops are high, it would not be an exageration to call the companies he leads amongst the elite and top class of the imperial armor.
Cont

>>6441862

But with the empowerment of your unshakeable will and the gilded flames of your spirit, they become a force worthy of legend.

Fresh recruits serve alongside veterans with a familiarity as if they had been trained by the same instructor and taught the same lessons, side by side, and as a whole they fight with a cohesion and unity of purpose as if they were of one mind and heart. The flow of the golden sea allows them to communicate without words and to react to the thoughts of their superior officers, turning their reactions lightning quick and curbing natural hesitation and delays. Kanzeon remarks that their efficiency is almost mechanical, and it dawns upon you then, that the golden sea has imparted them, temporarily, with a portion of how efficient your thoughts and actions are organized, as well as improving their physical and mental attributes greatly

Under such circumstances, they might have given fully realized astartes a workout and presented some challenge to beat in a friendly spar such as this exercise. Against Aspirants, they've become a nigh insurmountable obstacle, commanded by a King of War and Yourself, who were well aware of the Alf'Harim tricks they'd been taught. You did not make it impossible, for nothing truly is, just as perfection is something that cannot be achieved, but their chances are slim. The exact percentage isn't clear, for you and Yin Lei are unaware of the preparations they had made.

Yin Lei suspects it will take them two days to surrender. Kanzeon says three after some thought, and after she spent some time computing the known variables.

Under the leadership of Lee Fox, also known as Painkiller, they last four days and four nights before they are bested and the last Aspirant is forced to surrender. Their Alf'Harim Instructors, the most skilled mercenary company known amongst their race, had been defeated on the dawn of the fourth day. The Aspirants, alone, lasted for a night longer.

And the last to be made to submit, was Lee Fox, who'd launched a daring counter attack at the last moment, having, together with Shun of the golden shell, created quite the cunning trap, inspired by both Dai and Alf'Harim lessons. Shun, remembering what Niu had taught him, had acted as bait, while Lee had took the bravest of the aspirants with him to launch a surprise raid on the imperial army's camp

And had it been a real battle, he'd have captured or killed the enemy general, as Yin Lei had been focused on the last push and had been caught unaware by the tactic. He'd been a good sport and was in higher spirits as he declared the attempt as "Audacious as Lieren's", as it had been somewhat inspired by your daring infiltration into enemy fortresses and because it had nearly succeeded despite the exhaustion the aspirants were suffering.
Cont

>>6441863

And it was while the black general was praising Lee Fox, that he was "Captured", as Lee had spent four days digging a sand trap under their lines and it was when he was captured and Shun was cornered, that a party of four Aspirants sunk the pit they'd dug and buried Yin Lei, his bodyguards as well as Lee Fox and the members of his night raid.

It had been a self sacrifice play that would've made Dai Niu nod in approval. And so audacious you, after hopping out of the pit to avoid being stuck in sand yourself, had doubled over laughing from just how bold it had been! Schemes within Schemes! Lee Fox was truly worthy to one day be called your gene-son!.

"The kid could be mistaken for your son already" Kanzeon remarked with a giggle as the other imperial soldiers helped dig out the buried aspirants and imperial soldiers "He turned an unwinnable battle into a draw, because he recognized that goal wasn't to win. It was to beat Yin Lei. A mutual kill, technically, fulfills that condition"

Then she pursed her lips in a pout and added "Which, is almost identical to your own method of fighting. If it is efficient, you'll do anything to win, no matter how crazy or ridiculous it is"

"So you're fond of the boy?" You ask, once you've caught your breath

"I'm fond of all of them, but he makes me worry. Which is another trait he shares with you, darling" She chuckled, dusting sand off your back as Lee Fox was excavated and immediately began hooting and hollering with New Varroican spirit

And now that the aspirants have proven their mastery of the Alf'Harim art of war, what do you do, before setting them against Yin Delun in the void, Lieren?

>Despite to grant Lee Fox an accolade and grant him an epithet to mark his accomplishment of stalemating the black general and tying against him in the wargame. Lee of the falling sand

>Spend some more time with the Alf'Harim and help them and ministry of development build up Generosity

>Ask Yin Lei if he'd like to teach the Aspirants, taking Dai Niu's place as their mentor

>Give them once last test, and task the Aspirants with combining Armored warfare with Alf'harim tunnel fighting!

>Write in

>>6441864
>Grant Lee his new Epitphet.

>Offer Yin Lei a mentor position
We've set the base with Dai Nui, Yin Lei can build on top of it without erasing the identity of Soldiery and pragmatism we've instilled

>>6441864
>>Despite to grant Lee Fox an accolade and grant him an epithet to mark his accomplishment of stalemating the black general and tying against him in the wargame. Lee of the falling sand

>>6441864
>Despite to grant Lee Fox an accolade and grant him an epithet to mark his accomplishment of stalemating the black general and tying against him in the wargame. Lee of the falling sand

>Ask Yin Lei if he'd like to teach the Aspirants, taking Dai Niu's place as their mentor

>>6441864
>Spend some more time with the Alf'Harim and help them and ministry of development build up Generosity
>Write-in
>Offer to introduce them to the Yushani to assist in tempering their problem with excessive reproduction
We want a handle on this problem before it comes to the Emperor's attention. This is something that he might actually order a genocide over, because he only tolerates xenos on the understanding that they won't threaten humanity's dominance in the stars, and a bunch of lizard-rats who literally bred themselves off their homeworld will probably one day start intruding on human space simply to survive.
Once we've gotten Generosity well and developed, we can cite all the ways that their society has suffered for their historical lack of moderation and gently offer the Yushani's expertise as a potential solution.

>>6441864
>Despite to grant Lee Fox an accolade and grant him an epithet to mark his accomplishment of stalemating the black general and tying against him in the wargame. Lee of the falling sand

>Spend some more time with the Alf'Harim and help them and ministry of development build up Generosity

>>6441864
>Despite to grant Lee Fox an accolade and grant him an epithet to mark his accomplishment of stalemating the black general and tying against him in the wargame. Lee of the falling sand

>Ask Yin Lei if he'd like to teach the Aspirants, taking Dai Niu's place as their mentor

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4.59 MB JPG

Calling the vote now. Sorry for the wait.

Grant Lee Fox an accolade and grant him an epithet to mark his accomplishment of stalemating the black general and tying against him in the wargame. Lee of the falling sand:5

Ask Yin Lei if he'd like to teach the Aspirants, taking Dai Niu's place as their mentor: 3

Offer to introduce them to the Yushani to assist in tempering their problem with excessive reproduction:1

Spend some more time with the Alf'Harim and help them and ministry of development build up Generosity: 2

Total votes:6

So Lieren, will name Lee Fox, Lee of Falling Sand and offer Yin Lei the position of the Aspirant's mentor, while lingering a little longer on Generosity to assist the Ministry of development in breaking ground and starting to develop the colony world

Writing now

You personally pull young Lee Fox from the sands. The boy is still laughing, despite suffering cracked & broken ribs, heat stroke and the wounds he sustained earlier in training. You do not waste time on ceremony or pomp, lifting up the prince amongst the aspirants of your legion and presenting him to his peers and seniors, who understand immediately what is happening and thump their colored gauntlets denoting their membership to one sect or another against their chest, betwixt their twin hearts. The seven other princes of the first generation of Long-Jian aspirants, understand a moment later and six of them kneel while Dai Shun remains standing, a look of pride in his eyes as he crosses his arms. The other Aspirants and the soldiers they'd fought against catch on not long after. Yin Lei, stroking his well kept beard, nods in approval as Lee, still stunned from his tumble and being buried in sun baked sand, looks around, baffled.

"As sly as a uncollared rattler, as audacious as thundering bird, and as tricky as weighted dice" You, in a new varro style and drawl, introduce the triumphant Lee Fox "Lee Fox of New Varro has shown greater mastery of the art of Alf'Harim war than even its native practitioners, improving and refining it to create a trap that fooled even the great black general! Let him be known to you and all, no longer as Lee Fox or Painkiller, But Lee! Of the Falling Sands!"

Lee's eyes widened, and he was shocked into silence, but a look of delight and pride came to dominate his expression quickly as you set him down, subtly and secretly holding him upright with a great palm placed upon his back as he, as was the fashion of his homeworld, took off the helmet he wore and swept it in front of himself before taking a stately bow. Only then, did the Astartes observing him receiving an honored title from a Primarch, repeated the motion of pounding their fists against their chest and shouted the epithet and words of encouragement, while the Aspirants as if they had practiced it, clapped their hands together once.

"A fine name" Yin Lei himself remarked, nodding "With a story as illustrious and tale worthy as many of the great generals of our ascendant Long-Jia! Let the scribes record this day! When Falling Sands bested a King of War, and stalled the Unbroken Thunders Howl with naught but his wit and strategic thinking! Be proud, son of new Varro, son of Lieren, for I, like the Late Dai Niu, Acknowledge you as he acknowledged Dai Shun!"

And the cheers redoubled. Kanzeon clapped her hands, softly but you could pick out the noise of it through the clamor.

"BROTHERS! LET US CELEBRATE THE ASPIRANTS SUCCESS!" Dae-Hyun, in good spirits, announces before looking to you for permission. You give it with an amused smirk and nod "AND LET US CELEBRATE THEIR HOSTS! WHO TAUGHT THE KID HOW TO FIGHT LIKE A DESERT RAT!"
CONT

>>6443619

"WOULD'VE MADE FIGHTING IN THOSE WARRENS ON TERRA A HELL OF A LOT EASIER IF HE WAS AROUND"
"DON'T GET COCKY, ASPIRANT, YOU HAVEN'T GOT YOUR AUGS YET!"
"THE FIRST OF MANY NEW VARRO RECRUITS TO FIND A PLACE OF HONOR IN OUR NUMBER"
"MAYBE HE'S OLD ENOUGH TO TRY THAT FISH GUT LIQUOR NOW THAT HE'S GOT ONE OVER ON THE GENERAL"
"HAH! I'LL BE THE NEXT TO EARN A NAME FROM OUR GENESIRE!"
"MOO, WANNA PLACE BETS ON THE NEXT LITTLE PRINCE TO EARN THE HONOR?!"

And so, a celebration hosted and shared by the Alf'Harim, with Lee Fox and the leader of the former mercenaries being the guests of honor begins, in a Alf'Harim fashion. Amongst water gardens and orchards, a crowded and energetic affair like a festival day in the capital city of Long-Jia, with Alf'Harim workers chattering excitedly and taking full advantage of the reprieve as the Aspirants are urged by Space Marines to sample more and more bizarre drink combinations and strange Alf'Harim Delicacies.

You, having spent some time in conversation with the local leaders, and in debate with your subordinates in the ministry of development to begin breaking ground and laying the foundations of numerous of necessary projects across Generosity, starting with expanding and reinforcing the tunnels already being dug under ground and establishing hanging gardens and hydroponic grow sites both above and far below the sands, you approach Yin Lei, who was, observing temperance, enjoying a glass of slightly flavored water with the oils and peels of a citrus cousin the princess to be favored, as he spoke with the almost dragon as if she was a student of his. And she listened, with rapt attention as he told her war stories and his own observations of the tenants and lessons of the journey.

When you interrupt their conversation, he is in the middle of giving her a lesson by way of a poem he'd written, following the death of the Old Fox.

He notices you approach and holds up his glass of water. And waits.

"Yin Lei, I would like you to mentor the Astate Aspirants", you are direct and blunt with your approach. He nods

"I can do so temporarily" He answers, shoulders straight and back strong "My service is to Long-Jia, as long as I can fulfill my responsibilities to the people, the nation, the army, and the imperial household, I shall serve, I shall lead, I shall fight, and if it is asked of me, I shall die"

"There is a loophole to this oath of loyalty. So long as you can fulfill the responsibilities of your rank. If your seat and position are taken, by another, you've given yourself an honorable escape from service and to retirement. Though" You pause, smiling fondly "I know you intend to take no such liberties, and intend to die a bachelor in uniform, whether behind your desk or out in the fields of war. And that, is a admirably ambition. Humble"
Cont

>>6443620

"If I am no longer needed for the future of war, and become a liability, and make the war machine run less efficiently by my presence and authority, then retirement would be best. Rather than wasting lives, resources and time. I see a White Lotus Doctor, regularly and have taken supplements to ensure my mind remains clear and sharp even as age begins to weigh on my shoulders" He answers before smiling "Your sister in law, Al'uzza, has offered to give me cybernetic implants to assist in maintaining my present state of awareness, but...eventually, staving off age becomes evading death. Anathema to my beliefs"

What he didn't say but what your eyes revealed, was that he'd make his decision after your astartes in training fought his nephew in the void combat trials. To see, for himself, if Delun was ready to take his place as one of the keystones of the Long-Jianese imperial army. His reputation had only grown since he'd proven himself against the Aeldari slavers. While you've been traveling and preparing the Aspirants, the Imperial army has not been idle. He wasn't the only candidate, in Yin Lei's heart or the eyes of the officers and general public. But you had not made the acquaintance of the other rising stars in the imperial army.

"We shall see if your twilight years must be spent in the service of war, old friend, but let us talk of other things. It is so rare that you and I cross paths" You laugh and he nods

"May she listen to our conversation? As an elder, it is my wish to instruct the younger generation and I've always enjoyed lending my wisdom to those followers of the Journey who have yet to truly grasp its teachings"

"Of course"

And what do you talk about with Yin Lei, Lieren?

>Remind and warn him of the dangers of righteous thought corrupting and turning putrid

>Introduce him to a few new teachings you'd come up with since you'd enshrined your youthful, blithe spirit and joyful outlook

>Ask him how he'd spend his retirement, if his terms were met or it was forced upon him

>Turn the talk to strategies to employ against alien threats, like Aeldari raiders or orks

>Write in

>>6443621
>Remind and warn him of the dangers of righteous thought corrupting and turning putrid
>Introduce him to a few new teachings you'd come up with since you'd enshrined your youthful, blithe spirit and joyful outlook
Yin's the sort who frequently needs reminding to temper his zeal, but I'm also very curious what he'll make of Joyous Innocence.

>>6443621
>Remind and warn him of the dangers of righteous thought corrupting and turning putrid

>>6443621
>>6443734
>Support

>>6443621
>>Remind and warn him of the dangers of righteous thought corrupting and turning putrid
>Turn the talk to strategies to employ against alien threats, like Aeldari raiders or orks

>>6443621
>Introduce him to a few new teachings you'd come up with since you'd enshrined your youthful, blithe spirit and joyful outlook

>>6443621
>>Introduce him to a few new teachings you'd come up with since you'd enshrined your youthful, blithe spirit and joyful outlook

>>6443621
>>Remind and warn him of the dangers of righteous thought corrupting and turning putrid
>>Introduce him to a few new teachings you'd come up with since you'd enshrined your youthful, blithe spirit and joyful outlook

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314 KB PNG

Calling the vote now, sorry for the long wait.


Remind and warn him of the dangers of righteous thought corrupting and turning putrid: 5

Introduce him to a few new teachings you'd come up with since you'd enshrined your youthful, blithe spirit and joyful outlook:5

Turn the talk to strategies to employ against alien threats, like Aeldari raiders or orks:1


Total votes: 7


So Lieren will remind Yin Lei about the dangers of self righteousness and introduce him to the new teachings concerning innocence and the celebration/ joy that is life

Writing now

The princess hopeful of Generosity watches with quiet respect and reverence, her talons wrapped around a crystal glass of iced water as she crouches down to be closer to the Black General's life as she, and her bodyguards, press shoulder to shoulder to listen in on your conversation, content to remain observers and students. You grab a slice of fruit, expressing the oils and juice into the purified water in your cup, thoughts wandering as you watch Kanzeon discuss the finer points of terraforming with one of the Eternal Celestial Forge born members of the ministry of development, who nods along. You recognize them as one of the members of the "Anti Pollution Collation" established by the Enginenears after the initial efforts to heal and clean the biosphere of their industrial world began.

Nodding as your wife catches you staring and sends a wink that could dim stars your direction, you turn to Yin Lei and say softly "General, you often seek insight and comfort in my work. How often have you revisited the lesson concerning the dangers of becoming assured of ones own righteousness and goodness?"

He shuts his eyes, knowing that you're asking this question because of his irascible personality and dim view of the scum of the world, as well as his oftentimes excessive punishments and executions of criminals and villains when they fall under his jurisdiction.

"Often. I know I have a fatal flaw in my wrath and contempt, though it has served me well as spear and shield, I often see the haunted look in noble Elazar's eyes and remember his deeds, valiant and ignoble both, upon the world of Nuceria" He answers solemnly "I was not born with an balanced scale or ideal of justice, as you were. And I at times choose anger arbitrarily over just temperance. But none of the lives I've ended with these hands or by writ, were undeserving. It is not out of sadism that I send them to their graves"

"And many of the Yan executioners started the same, though I mean no insult, you've had time to temper your rage and hatred of sinners and malefactors" You tell him stoically as you clink the ice around in your cup "But even the most vigilant of wardens can miss the scurrying of a rat"

He nodded, listening. No rise or pique colored his heart as he heard your warnings with open heart and mind.

"It is exactly that, which is the subject of my most tiring nightmares. When I do not dream of the soliders I've lead to their deaths, I dream of what I could've and may yet become" He answered "But I cannot suffer the tyrant or the villain to live, I've lived too many decades watching what allowing their influence to fester brings. I often reflect on the passages, describing the tyrant, to center and refocus myself"

To ensure his definition does not stray or broadens the term of mortal sin, that which can only be answered and punished by death.
Cont

>>6445305

"That is because your character is at its core noble, you're a virtuous man who knows how easily taking pride in the quality of his character can lead to its tarnishing. More than any sword hung above the head, or threat of censure, ones own vigilance is the most potent ward against the rotting of righteousness into that foulest of poison" You tell him "I am glad you've recognized the risk and seek to avoid it"

"You didn't need to ask, your eyes would've revealed if I had began to teeter towards the madness of self righteous hypocrisy" Yin Lei said confidently "And I am sure, should I fall and commit unforgiveable offenses to Long-Jia or her people, you will deal with me"

"Don't be so dour, it will never come to that. As I said, the foundation of your self is that of a selfless man enraged by the harms and ills done to his fellow man. You might strictly adhear to the tenants of the journey, but you do not force others to match your zeal of belief, nor do you revel in the butcher's work that must be done" You assure him "You will die in your uniform, whether it be in a bed or on the field of war. The Black General is not a tale that shall end in tragedy"

"You're confidence in my character and self mastery, is humbling, greatly so. But we will not know how history will remember me, until I come to pass" He said as you clicked your tongue.

"Your heart has hardened, but its roots are evergreen my old friend and trusted spear" You chuckle "You've merely forgotten the innocence of your youth"

"A luxury not permitted in my time" He said sadly as you laughed and clapped him on the back

"But in the present, we enjoy a time of relative peace. You could rediscover that lost gentleness, that childish joy that was robbed from you. I have come to see that one needn't grow cold just because the universe is a cruel, uncaring place" You jubilantly explain to him and the audience of Alf'Harim who stand as still as statues, a show of great self control for their species "One must not harden their heart, simply because they've left childhood behind. Innocence should not be so carelessly discarded, while one should endeavor to not be naive and guileless, that does not mean they must forsake innocence or purity of perspective and heart"

Yin Lei looked shock, as if he'd been struck by a bolt of enlightenment, listening more raptly that the Alf'Harim as y ou continued

"Life alone, no matter the quality, whether one is a pauper or a prince, simply living is cause to be joyful. A reason to celebrate. One day or the next, is simply another day in the festival of your existence. One shouldn't squander their seconds nor their years, or all the weight of responsibilities bow their backs or blind their eyes. Be joyfully, be happy. Even if every day is a struggle, one can find meaning and purpose in survival. Even in war, even in famine, even in sickness, their is cause to celebrate and a place for innocence to be kept and sheltered"

Cont

>>6445307

"I imagine these will be in the next updated publication of the Journey?" The black general asked, as excited as a kid being offered a new toy. You just tittered behind your sleeve, coyly and continued discussing your world view and philosophy with Yin Lei and the Alf'Harim

And as the arena in the void is prepared, what do you do, Lieren?

>Sit down with Yin Lei and Yin Delun and let the younger Yin observe his uncle help train your aspirants

>Take your Astartes and observe the nearby stellar fauna, and see if you could not be inspired to create a new martial arts based on their movement

>Explore the planet beneath the station used for the training exercise with Kanzeon

>Observe your Aspirants closely, and see if any of them shows a natural aptitude for void warfare and life

>Write in

>>6445308
>Take your astartes and observe the stella fauna

We don't really need martial arts. But I like being a good dad

>>6445308
>Take your Astartes and observe the nearby stellar fauna, and see if you could not be inspired to create a new martial arts based on their movement

>>6445308
>>Explore the planet beneath the station used for the training exercise with Kanzeon

>>6445308
>Explore the planet beneath the station used for the training exercise with Kanzeon
>Write in
>Formally add the lesson of blithe spirit to The Journey
Not sure if we've done this already, but why not?

>>6445308
>Take your Astartes and observe the nearby stellar fauna, and see if you could not be inspired to create a new martial arts based on their movement

>>6445308
>>Take your Astartes and observe the nearby stellar fauna, and see if you could not be inspired to create a new martial arts based on their movement

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Calling the vote now, sorry for the wait.

Take your Astartes and observe the nearby stellar fauna, and see if you could not be inspired to create a new martial arts based on their movement: 4

Explore the planet beneath the station used for the training exercise with Kanzeon:2

Formally add the lesson of blithe spirit to The Journey:1

Total votes: 6

So Lieren will take his astartes sons to observe the stellar fauna and see if he can find inspiration from their movements, and explore the planet below with Kanzeon as well

Which will change/ expand the options on the next vote a bit

Writing now

The station prepared for the next exercise is placed within a system planned to become a hub for the expanding Long-Jian Sphere. No planet had yet been settled nor prepared for long term colonization. It was close to the innermost ring of Long-Jia, a close neighbor to Shangrala's star and the earliest colonies settled by Shangralans, such as Yushan or Black Abyss. An intermediate point before the client worlds like Eternal Celestial Engine, Slaughter , New Varro or Karak-Kol.

It had finished construction and had been turned into a rest point for Celestial Explorer and Civilian ships with a permanent garrison of the growing Imperial Celestial Armada, whose section of the habitat, updated by Anahita from old designs stored in her memory banks, was being prepared and readied for the recruits and Aspirants of your legion. Already the garrison was preparing to bring up to speed Yin Delun and the forces allotted to his for the exercise. But there would be a brief delay. Which meant there was time to be spent and time to be used.

However, what caught your eye was a biologist who had been left behind on the station by the ministry of development, to study the surrounding cosmic wilderness and the world below the primary station slash waypoint. Kanzeon had been curious about their research and was soon urging you to explore the world personally, not even bothering to pretend it was to assist in the researchers efforts to determine if the world was suitable and hale enough to be colonized without suffering from the process. And you, who had spoken with the Station master about the curious void creatures that inhabited the asteroids and gravital eddies surrounding the station like tidepools and was planning to take your astartes to study the creatures and see if anything could be learned from the strange spaceborne fauna.

And you decided to combine the two ventures into a joint family and military outing. Your sons would test their wilderness survival skills alongside you and Kanzeon, as you explored the world that had yet to be give even a poetic or numerical designation. There had been teams of Yushanians and The worshippers of the eternal engine, as well as one curious tourist of Nosa Rubigins and strangely enough a hunting party of squats. There had been not fatalities, but each of the groups, except for the Nosa and Yushanians had been frightened and confused by the beasts and animals they encountered on the world, as greatly as they had been by the strange creatures living in the airlessness around the station.

And each description Kanzeon heard, even the clearly embellished tall tales and outright fantasies excited her more and stoked her curiosity further. And you'd be a liar if you claimed you were unaffected. Though, you were equally thrilled to take a walk through the wilds with your beloved wife, it had been too long since your last outing together.
Cont

>>6446661

And as you sit, watching your astartes stand in formation, armed and armored and prepared for the first landing and exploratory visits to the unnamed world, you look forward the adventure and plan the few days of idleness you'll be spending with your wife as intently as you do the most fascinating beasts confirmed to exist above or upon the planet.

And which do you chose to be the basis of a new martial art, Lieren?

>Starbats, a common predatory species that nests in asteroids and upon the station. Watching them in hunt, you were inspired by their movements as well as those of the station dwellers. An swooping assassin's style, that is amplified in low or zero gravity enviroments

>"Tank Breaker". Massive, armored rolling beetles whose stubbornness and aggression could be translated into a style more aggressive than fog panther that creates a defense through ceaseless strikes and summersaults

>"Eel Devils". Sea serpents, like those native to Black Abyss but smaller and more vivacious, an evolution of the Carp's dance that uses the evasive movements as a foundation for the style, which will focus on poisons and feints

>"Abyss Sharks". A grapplers style inspired by the apex predator of the system's void. A crushing, pinning style that only needs to grab hold of an opponent to bring a definite end to a battle

>Write in

Also slight typo, realized as I hit enter on the update that the tribal/ feral world in Long-Jian control is Massacre, not slaughter. Whoops

>>6446662
So we have
Fog panther - rip/stabbing style of precision violence
Night crane- focused on pin point and meridian sealing/psyker style
Century tortoise - defensive stamina style.
Carps dance- refined from Jinhai, dodge and position based style for avoiding harm.

New varro has their wrangling and our sons have their gutter boxing.


Okay, with all this in mind, I immediately don't care for Eel Devils. Any art that requires external substances to work is a hinderance.

Unending aggression might be good for our sons, who have the superhuman biology to manage it, but they already have our fog panther style and their guns.

Hmmm. I think I'll alter the the Abyss sharks slightly.

>"Silver Shimmers" A smaller host of symbiotic feeder creatures, they usually attatch themselves to an Abyss shark or other apex predator in trailing trains of flowing silver. Their coordination with their patron predators can be translated into a Control/grappling style of combat, focused well onto moving your opponent wherever best suits you through pressure points, targeted strikes and pain compliance.

By itself, good for enviromental hazards or disrupting a group of attackers. In conjunction with others, it's a big set up style for them to hit hard and well.
Possible applications in none lethal combat?

>>6446662
>>"Abyss Sharks". A grapplers style inspired by the apex predator of the system's void. A crushing, pinning style that only needs to grab hold of an opponent to bring a definite end to a battle

>>6446662
>"Tank Breaker". Massive, armored rolling beetles whose stubbornness and aggression could be translated into a style more aggressive than fog panther that creates a defense through ceaseless strikes and summersaults
Clearly I have no choice but to use myself as a cannonball.
>>6446672
Tank breakers are for shocktroopers. Fog panther is proper cqc.

>>6446662
>Starbats, a common predatory species that nests in asteroids and upon the station. Watching them in hunt, you were inspired by their movements as well as those of the station dwellers. An swooping assassin's style, that is amplified in low or zero gravity enviroments
Zero-g martial arts are the kind of utility that'll benefit anyone who goes out in the void, even if it's just for getting away. Get people thinking in 3D and their mobility and environmental awareness skyrockets, even outside of using the style.

>>6446662

>"Tank Breaker". Massive, armored rolling beetles whose stubbornness and aggression could be translated into a style more aggressive than fog panther that creates a defense through ceaseless strikes and summersaults

>>6446662
>>Starbats, a common predatory species that nests in asteroids and upon the station. Watching them in hunt, you were inspired by their movements as well as those of the station dwellers. An swooping assassin's style, that is amplified in low or zero gravity enviroments

>>6446662
>>"Eel Devils". Sea serpents, like those native to Black Abyss but smaller and more vivacious, an evolution of the Carp's dance that uses the evasive movements as a foundation for the style, which will focus on poisons and feints

>>6446662
>Starbats, a common predatory species that nests in asteroids and upon the station. Watching them in hunt, you were inspired by their movements as well as those of the station dwellers. An swooping assassin's style, that is amplified in low or zero gravity enviroments
I would have preferred Abyss Sharks but I don't want to make it a three way tie. Eel Devils would have paired well with those magic needles Lieren was playing around with in the Webway after learning alchemy from Magnus.

>>6446662
>"Eel Devils". Sea serpents, like those native to Black Abyss but smaller and more vivacious, an evolution of the Carp's dance that uses the evasive movements as a foundation for the style, which will focus on poisons and feints
I’ll support eel devils because of what >>6447165 said. I really do want alchemy to get explored more.

>>6446662
>Starbats, a common predatory species that nests in asteroids and upon the station. Watching them in hunt, you were inspired by their movements as well as those of the station dwellers. An swooping assassin's style, that is amplified in low or zero gravity enviroments

>I am the Night!

>>6446662
>Starbats, a common predatory species that nests in asteroids and upon the station. Watching them in hunt, you were inspired by their movements as well as those of the station dwellers. An swooping assassin's style, that is amplified in low or zero gravity enviroments

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Calling the vote now. Sorry for the long wait, got into a battletech kick and lost sleep listening to lore. Thinking about buying Mech warrior.

Silver Shimmers:1

Abyss Sharks:1

Tank Breakers:2

Starbats: 5

Eel Devils:2

Total votes: 11

So Lieren will look to the Star Bats for inspiration

writing now

The unnamed world is truly a wonder. Terrific in beauty and danger, it is clear why the world's orbit was chosen for such an important waystation while it remains unclaimed and even unnamed. While not as dangerous as Massacre or Yushan before peace was brokered with the native intelligences, the native fauna are unique in their dangers as they are in their grace. You and Kanzeon spend hours studying them from afar while you lead several outings with your Space Marines, sometimes joined by other parties of adventurers and researchers to learn of the beasts the way a hunter should. In that most primal fashion. As hunter and prey. The beasts were strange, alien but they were still just animals no matter how fantastic they appeared.

The Tank Breakers, who had frightened the followers of the Eternal Celestial Engine, giant beetles that could topple a tank were, despite their anomalous size and resilient chitin, were merely guarding their breeding grounds and acted passively if one encountered them away from the clusters of their larva, which, strangely, were only the size of ordinary beetle larva. And you'd learned how to hunt the aggressive members of their species, by way of leading their rolls into crevices. The passive members, did not make good sport and presented no danger, so no specialized method was needed to hunt or kill them. And in fact, some of your Astartes found the beetles "Charming" and started keeping farms of the Larva after a few white lotus Biologists arrived with Al-Uzza to figure out the secret behind their massive growth spurt.

Similarly, the so called Eel Devils, named for their frightening appearance and habit of suddenly attacking explorers or stealing their supplies, were found to be not as hostile as tales would have one believe. While they could be fierce and deadly if cornered or attack, the serpents were the kings of the water of the world and while carnivorous, didn't view humans as suitable prey and instead favored mollusks and crab like creatures that were close to the size of the Tank Breaker Beetles, whom they hunted with enchanting movements and a deadly toxin, and you had spotted them predating upon Tank Breaker Beetles on occassion. The species as a whole only seemed to deem suitably armored creatures as prey. Which was what lead to the culling a school of them when they attacked your Astartes . They were even intelligent enough to be "Bribed" to not bother explorers by giving them a offering of the house size clams or tank size crab's meat and learn that Space Marines were predator rather than prey.

And while you could easily imagine a martial art based off of either of them, the creature that you decided to study did not dwell in the land of giants, but rather the space above it.
Cont

Colloquially termed "Star Bats" by station attendants and visitors, they were a common predator in the system. They had long veil like wings, resembling some natives of the Black Abyss, with long, trailing tails tipped with blades and viper like heads with curved, needle like fangs, and possessed vestigial legs and multiple arms, one scythe tipped and the other tri clawed. . They were colorfully bioluminescent, and lived in colonies

And they hunted other void born beasts through strange swooping motions. Motions you noticed were similar to that adapted by the station dwellers in the low gravity portions of the station. And comparing them to the other, silent winged predators you encountered, from Night Cranes, Hook Ravens and Nucerian Owls, you were inspired.

And so was born Star Bat Style. An Assassins art that was strongest where gravity was weakest. Unlike the Fog Panther, Night Crane, Or Century Tortoise it was not a directly confrontational style. Though it had options for if one was caught in a prolonged fight, it was intended to end it in a singular stroke, a fell swoop, a executionary drop. Which your Astartes adapted too with gusto and haste, having learned already how to infiltrate and strike from the shadows, all they lacked was experience in void warfare. And so, you did not create the Star Bat style alone, but instead alongside your Astartes, whom expanded and refined different aspects of the martial art once you had established and confirmed the foundations.

The different focuses and viewpoints of the sects they separate themselves into, is greatly beneficial to the martial arts creation and establishment. Kanzeon and Al-Uzza watch you practice with your gene-sons, amused by the practices the style necessitates, especially the swooping and descent portions, but they provide pointers and lead to several of your sons also taking inspiration from more terrestrial sources. So while the Style is named in honor the Star Bats, its strikes and assassination techniques draw from every raptor and airborn predator across the worlds under Long-Jia as well as a few terran examples.


And every practice session and test of the differing branches of the style, only further advances and refines the style, turning it into a living codex of assassinating strikes and felling blows, that while favoring low or zero G environments, can adapt to conditions where one's body and soul are more weighed down by gravity.

and while exploring with your wife and training with your sons, and watching as Al-Uzza catalogues the world alongside her sister and your sons, you realize that the Aspirants trail is almost ready. Once it is finished, they will proceed to train with another of the non human residents of Long-Jia.

But what the Star Bat style lacks, is one last test to prove its effectiveness. For a martial arty that excels in testing and tournament conditions, may not find purchase in the battlefield. And a perfect test has just presented itself

>>6448378

And which way do you prove the Star Bat styles merits, Lieren?

>By teaching the Aspirants it right after their first match against Yin Delun's soldiers

>By spreading it to the soldiers of the imperial army and Brothers of Panthers who are competing against your aspirants

>As an additional challenge, give the Aspirants the choice to try and beat a team of astartes, who are instructed to only use the star bat style.

>Give both sides an additional trial, and have Yin Lei plant a mock assassin team of Astartes, to aim to capture Yin Delun or the Aspirants in charge during the war games

>Write in

>>6448378
So we invented Warhammer version of Ataru? Neat!

>>6448367
You may want to play the demo and/or contribute to the Kickstarter of code Rapid, Qm. I fail to recall any other game where piloting a mecha felt that good.

>>6448379


>By spreading it to the soldiers of the imperial army and Brothers of Panthers who are competing against your aspirants

I like this one. Bottom 2 feel kinda mean spirited to me.

>>6448379
>By spreading it to the soldiers of the imperial army and brothers of the panther

>>6448379
>By spreading it to the soldiers of the imperial army and Brothers of Panthers who are competing against your aspirants

>>6448379
>By teaching the Aspirants it right after their first match against Yin Delun's soldiers

>>6448379
>>As an additional challenge, give the Aspirants the choice to try and beat a team of astartes, who are instructed to only use the star bat style.

https://ultima-tectum.com/warpcraft-system-a-psychic-daemonic-framework-for-warhammer-40k-powered-by-ars-magica/
Just wanted to share something cool I found with everyone.

>>6448379
>By spreading it to the soldiers of the imperial army and Brothers of Panthers who are competing against your aspirants

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Calling the vote now. Sorry for the longwait, but Mechwarrior 5 Mercenaries went on sale and is consuming my life. I got a Stalker, I do not think I was supposed to get an assault class mech at this point in the game. Not complaining though. It is the punch Mason's Molotovs needed to pack. Cause fuck hunchbacks. They need to explode. My favouite mechs to pilot, beside the Stalker, are the Centurion, Crab, Dragon, Jaegermech and Spider.

By spreading it to the soldiers of the imperial army and Brothers of Panthers who are competing against your aspirants: 4

By teaching the Aspirants it right after their first match against Yin Delun's soldiers:1

As an additional challenge, give the Aspirants the choice to try and beat a team of astartes, who are instructed to only use the star bat style.:1

Total votes: 6

So Lieren will spread the Star Bat style to Yin Delun's soldiers and the brothers of panthers who are also competing in the exercise

Writing now

>>6449122
Neat!

Another teacher might think to spread the style through their own students. But to test the merits of the star bat style, that would not suffice. The Aspirants were all highly skilled, born strong and blessed with talent, raised by the finest warriors and tacticians available. They would not prove the worth of the style's techniques and foundational skills. No, instead, it needed to be tested by those not blessed by birth or granted the privilege of education and expert training.

Yin Delun had brought an elite regiment of the imperial army, but they would be the perfect testing ground for the Star Bat Style. There were also members of the brothers of the panther attending, and they would naturally be able to prove the martial art as seen wielded by an expert as well. So, you met with Yin Delun's forces, while he and his Uncle Yin Lei met to discuss strategy and plans for the initial tests. The brothers of panther attending, were not your childhood friends from your home town or the companions you traveled with and hunted beside, but rather their students or the apprentices of their students. The second and third generations of the brotherhood, inspired by the heroic and adventurous lives of the first brothers of the panther, and in some case their noble deaths. They were thrilled to be taught a new skill and be given lessons directly from the great hunter of the wilds himself.

And while the Aspirants began the wargames and began to learn how to fight in low to no gravity environments and were taught how to pilot the fighter craft employed by Long Jia in space or to man the turrets and guns of larger vessels, you'd take aside a group of ordinary if elite soldiers and brothers of panthers, and run them through intense, exhausting drills, using psykerism to help hasten their progress to grasp and learn the style, with no small number of them becoming adept enough to be called a master of it in polite company. And then had them watch how the Astartes to be fought in the low gravity environment from the sidelines and take notes.

And neither your Aspirants nor the soldiers they were matched against disappointed. Yin Delun showed he was a worthy successor of his uncle, repeating the show of skill and decisive action he'd shown during the fighting on Hell's Cauldron. And with his guidance, his soldiers were able to almost keep up with your legion's aspirants, who'd quickly adapted to his style of leadership and the unfavorable conditions to start scoring points and claim victory in the mock battles and skirmishes. But just as quickly did Yin Delun adapt to the Aspirants, even as they would switch which Officer in training or prince was leading them or even be lead by a fully fledged astarte. The Relentless Lightning's Roar proved himself again worthy of his title, through the difficulty he gave the Aspirants to best his forces or even tie them.
Cont

>>6449981

Yin Lei, in fact, had been so excited by the display, that he began leading your Aspirants directly. It took Delun a mere Four losses to begin drawing and tying against the Aspirants' lead by his uncle, with his soldiers and your aspirants both pushing themselves further and growing more adept at maneuvering and fighting in zero gravity, and mastering the controls of the flight simulations and other aids to safely train them in every aspect of void warfare.

Then, the soldiers and hunters you'd trained in the way of the Star Bat were reintroduced. And the style was proven, as with their training, they were able to break the stale mate of equal wins and losses between Your Aspirants and Yin Delun's soldiers. Briefly. Which was still meritorious, for those boys had been trained in ambush and hunting tactics and assassination methods, they'd learned how to fight in dark, cramped tunnels, they were experienced in turning around the roles of predator and prey and countering ambushes. But ordinary soldiers and skilled hunters were able to catch them by surprise and score "Kill" points on several of them, and this trend continued

Until the Aspirants found the weaknesses in the style designed by the joint efforts of their senior brothers to be and yourself. They had, across a dozen or so matches, devised a counter style to the assassin's skill. A fighting style intended to disable opponents who defied gravity or had experience fighting in its absence. A style of traps, nets, chains and hooks. But it was not the superior to the Star Bat style, but the equal. Neither was solely predator or prey, it depended on the practitioners own skill and awareness. The Aspirants had leveled the playing field, by creating a system of counter and responses to the style that had given them so much difficulty.

When the wargames ended, with Yin Lei, privately, assuring you that Yin Delun had earned his position, his respect and that he planned on entrusting the future of Long-Jia and its army to his nephew, you asked which Aspirant had innovated the style first.

And the eight princes presented the mute Okeanos, who through sign language and projected intent, explained he had been inspired by octopi raised by the oracle breed, and similar creatures found at Black Abyss and the wilds of Yushan. He did so proudly and as boisterously as was his manner.

And thus, you gave him the honor of naming the style, that you asked humbly to be taught by him and the aspirants he had taught as you promised to teach them the Star Bat style personally as well.

Okeanos dubbed the restraining art and sealing style as "Abyss Veil" after the name of one of the octopus like creatures the Se'ah'in hunted in Black Abyss. A ferocious and terrifying predator, that the younger Se'ah'in enjoyed the taste of to the point they'd taught the once apex predator the fear of being hunted in their pursuit of their new favorite meat.
Cont

>>6449982

And then, you gave permission for the Terran regiments that accompanied your Astartes to fight against your Aspirants in the same trials.

And neither did these soldiers of terra disappoint, for they were able to match Yin Delun's own win loss ration against the Aspirants, having watched the mock battles alongside your space marines and having planned from the beginning how to counter and match the boys who shall become Astartes.

All in all, the void warfare practice had proven to be incredibly successful!

And which xenos do you train your aspirants with next, Lieren?

>The Nosa Rubigin, whom will also learn how to communicate in battle with other species. It will be an exercise of group defense and chemical warfare, in the wilder ranges of New Varro

>The Sagit. A martial arts tournament, to teach the aspirants how to fight like the raptor like aliens and how to communicate with only feet stomps and body motions. They will train within Kanzeon's true body

>The Se'ah'in, teaching them how to fight in the water as adeptly as they do on land, mastering the savagery of the Se'ah'in. The lomb will also be joining

>The Merchants of Mirth. They shall learn from the primates how to disguise their thoughts and emotions and become as shadows, unseen by eye and mind.

>The Yushan. They've offered to teach your aspirants how to command the beasts of Yushan as living weapons

>The Aeldari. Carys has accepted your invitation and is happy to teach your aspirants some of the martial arts of the craftworlds

>Write in

>>6449984
>the nosa rubgin
Communications is vital.

The merchants of mirth are tempting, but only that.

>>6449984
>The Nosa Rubigin, whom will also learn how to communicate in battle with other species. It will be an exercise of group defense and chemical warfare, in the wilder ranges of New Varro

>>6449984
>The Yushan. They've offered to teach your aspirants how to command the beasts of Yushan as living weapons

>The Aeldari. Carys has accepted your invitation and is happy to teach your aspirants some of the martial arts of the craftworlds
I’d like either of these.
>>6449980
I’ve been looking into Power Dolls and Graverobber foundation’s DRPGs for mech games to play. I’ve also been playing the Front Mission series and trying to watch Dunbine.
Mistakes of the Emperor is a pretty interesting watch even if it uses nulore.

>>6449984
>The Sagit. A martial arts tournament, to teach the aspirants how to fight like the raptor like aliens and how to communicate with only feet stomps and body motions. They will train within Kanzeon's true body
This or the Nosa Rubigin, I think.
Communications are huge, and through the Sagit we can create a standardized pidgin language that can allow all races to communicate simple concepts with each other without need for a translator. That way even if they're deprived of translators somehow they'll still be able to coordinate or signal each other to some basic degree, even with the Sagit or the Nosa.
Merchants of Mirth honorable mention for stuff that's super useful but probably not pressing enough to get picked.

>>6449989
>>6450056
Just so you know, the Nosa Rubigin option is for the Nosa to learn how to communicate with others. Sagit are for an alternative communication method.

>>6449984
>>The Merchants of Mirth. They shall learn from the primates how to disguise their thoughts and emotions and become as shadows, unseen by eye and mind.

>>6449989
I will fix my vote from Nosa rubgin to the Sangit

I want out boys to speak, not the auxillaries

>>6449984
>The Yushan. They've offered to teach your aspirants how to command the beasts of Yushan as living weapons
Warbeasts

>>6449984
>The Aeldari. Carys has accepted your invitation and is happy to teach your aspirants some of the martial arts of the craftworlds

>>6449984
I want most of these, and thinking further on this I also want to develop more equipment for our allies.
Couldn’t we just set up a list of stuff we want done in order, then just execute that list until some demands our attention?

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Rolled 2 (1d4)

Calling the vote now. Sorry for the really long wait. I was determined to beat mechwarriors 5 base games main story before restarting in career mode

Fuck Comstar, cheating phone company cult cowards fielding twenty plus battlemechs against a lance of four. Had to hobble to the escape shuttle with a one legged, red in the torso and remaining leg Zeus, cause they blew up my stalker, Atlas and Victor. No one died, Freeman got to the end. Should've just dumped my three highlanders into the mission.

Anyways

Nosa Rubigin:2

Yushanians:2

Aeldari:2

Sagit:2

Merchants of Mirth: 1

Total votes: 7

so by my count, we've got a four way tie.

So I'll tie break since I've kept you all waiting for too long already

1: Nosa
2: Yushanians
3: Aeldari
4: Sagit

The runners up will be considered the "Next in line" for the following training excursions, to make things easier in the future

>>6450777
You very well could. That is what the write in choice is for

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>>6451781
Funky Fungoids it is!

Writing now

"You should be honored, I haven't turned off my internal automatic decontaminant protocol since my hard crash onto Shangrala's surface, ages ago" Kanzeon jokes with the unexpected guest, a Yushanian intelligence who had taken on the poetic epithet of "The presence of eyes in the jungle", who you recognize after a few moments as one of the more enthused members of the strange species to interact with and work alongside the human settlers of Yushan. They are reticent and often silent in the communications between the Yushanian intelligences, and you had in fact not known of them every creating a physical vessel to interact with the world beyond the mycelium networks which contain the Yushanian minds and souls.

Presence of eyes turns the "eyes" on their open lotus blossom shaped "head" to you, in a quiet, learned behavior to ask if Kanzeon had threatened him. You smile, laugh and send a wave of reassurance, knowing your wife's dry humor well

"Yes, yes, this is a grand occasion, worthy of celebration" You smooth over the tension and worries of your guest as you walk beside the semi humanoid container of their mind, which resembled a marrying of Nosa Rubigin and Human physiology, mixed with a particularly mobile squash like plant from Yushan or a writhing mass of eels "But I would ask our guests reason for visiting, so suddenly, so unexpectedly, while Kanzeon and I were studying the curious world below"

They flutter the "petals' of their head and answer "I have been given the task of presenting an offer the majority of us Yushanians have agreed to present to the righter of ways, referring of course to your actions against the rogue intelligences, that endangered both the new Yushanians and old with their impulsive acts"

"Don't shoot the messenger" Kanzeon said with a smile as she walked on the other side of the fungal mass

"And what is this offer, fair Yushanian?" You ask and Presence of Eyes hummed musically, mimicking the behavior from Kanzeon, who had done it to urge them to respond faster, lacking somewhat in patience, as the Yushanian had boarded her true body unannounced and through a means that eluded the both of you and had caused a quiet panic between the two of you that an orkoid had somehow infiltrated the vessel that was her body

"We would broaden the knowledge of our control and command over our native biosphere to the juveniles awaiting metamorphous in your care, Righter of Ways" They answer, stoically "A privilege we have kept, despite our alliance with the new Yushians and membership of the wider world they are a part of, and our continued passivity and aid within the mutual compact formed upon that day and hour"

"This is a test to see if humans are capable of it, with the same resources and understanding" You immediately understand
Cont

>>6451789

"A test bed to see just how far interspecies cooperation could go. Yushanian's controlling a physical body, can do the jobs of man, but can men do the jobs of mushrooms?" Kanzeon though outloud

"Correct" Presence of eyes answer with a melodic hum "Consensus agreement has found, that either success or failure will prove to be of mutual benefit to both Yushanians and the Juvenials preparing to enter into the augmented warrior caste"

"Perhaps you should introduce the Yushanians to a certain dragons heart" Kanzeon telepathically suggests "I think they'd get along well"

"This is agreeable" You accept the Yushanian's offer "We shall advance our plans to train up Yushan and alter them to focus on the Yushanian's unique method of taming beasts, for if successful, it will prove a great boon to my future space marines on or off the battlefield and if it is a failure..."

"A learning experience, yes" Presence of eyes concludes "The offer, may be extended to other parties, found worthy or deserving of the secret knowledge, should this attempt prove successful"

"But what exactly are you going to be doing?" Kanzeon ask "Your lessons won't be, invasive, I hope"

"We can communicate to those outside of our connections, we can teach without it, they will learn from our masters of biology and behavior, to control the hormones and psyche of beasts as they have, through our subtlest of means" Presence of eyes answers

"The same methods used to drive the native fauna to attack settlers and for the planet itself to revolt against their presence?" She presses

"Yes, though restricted to our knowledge and technique of controlling the behavior and actions of lesser animals" they answer "We expect, you and Lieren shall be able to refine our proposed method translating our art into techniques that may be practiced by men. We have had success, with some of the settlers, who were already aware of many of the basic concepts of our art, in taming the herbivores of Yushan"

"I'd read a report detailing the recent, rapid success of domestication attempts involving Yushanian beasts off world' You admire as you stroke your chin in thought "And I shall hear your superiors suggestion, before I decide how my aspirants shall attempt to grasp your offered gift, fair yushanian"

And how do you begin the teaching of the Yushanian ways, Lieren?

>By having your aspirants familiarize themselves with Yushan and its biosphere, a method than can, perhaps, replicate the results on other worlds

>By working in concert with the Yushanian intelligences to teach the method, while learning it yourself

>By carefully selecting species from Yushan that would be the most useful to your legion and working from there

>Start small, and have your aspirants first learn how to train hounds, cats, horses and cliffjumpers, before advancing them to the Yushanian taming technique

>Write in

>>6451791
>>Start small, and have your aspirants first learn how to train hounds, cats, horses and cliffjumpers, before advancing them to the Yushanian taming technique
one must have a proper foundation.

>>6451791
>Start small, and have your aspirants first learn how to train hounds, cats, horses and cliffjumpers, before advancing them to the Yushanian taming technique

>>6451791

>By having your aspirants familiarize themselves with Yushan and its biosphere, a method than can, perhaps, replicate the results on other worlds
>By working in concert with the Yushanian intelligences to teach the method, while learning it yourself
I want in on this too.

>>6451791
>By having your aspirants familiarize themselves with Yushan and its biosphere, a method than can, perhaps, replicate the results on other worlds

>>6451791
>Start small, and have your aspirants first learn how to train hounds, cats, horses and cliffjumpers, before advancing them to the Yushanian taming technique

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Calling the vote now. Sorry for the long wait, meant to do this earlier today but something I ate wasn't agreeing with me'

Start small, and have your aspirants first learn how to train hounds, cats, horses and cliffjumpers, before advancing them to the Yushanian taming technique: 3

By having your aspirants familiarize themselves with Yushan and its biosphere, a method than can, perhaps, replicate the results on other worlds:2

By working in concert with the Yushanian intelligences to teach the method, while learning it yourself:1


Total votes: 5

So Lieren will start small and have his aspirants first learn how to train hounds, cats, horse, cliffjumpers, before advancing them to the Yushanian method and having them familiarize themselves with the world and its biosphere

Writing now

The Yushanians and colonists, specifically those who are members of the ministry of development, from The Celestial Eternal Engine or of the Squat race are given the task of preparing stretches of wilderness for your aspirants to acquaint and familiarize themselves with the Jade World and its Biosphere and the Yushanians and Scholar Scientists present are given imperial mandate to, with the assistance of your Space Marines and the Aspirants of your legion, to eventually see if the Yushanian method can be replicated on other worlds where evolution had not created such a harmonious relation throughout its web of life.

And while these preparations are underway, you have your Aspirants and Astartes both train to learn how to tame and train animals ordinarily. Starting with Cats and Hounds, the former of which seem particularly found of a fully armored astartes due to the heat their Star Metal Armor produces. This cannot be called a challenge, but it does teach them the foundational skills of training beasts and gives your Space Marines another chance to form bonds and identity outside of their purpose of soldiers. One even manages to teach a little kitten how to paint, which had been his chosen artistic pursuit and had become a daily practice of his. They become quite adept at raising hunting hounds and teaching them and the housecats tricks both amusing and spectacular. One Aspirant, who could be called Middling amongst his peers, had shown a particular talent in training cats, teaching them how to balance on any of their six limbs, cartwheel or "Dance". He is a more recent recruit, from Massacre, who matched the genetic markers that would make him suitable to receive your geneseed, and is known by his "Child name" of Bird Seeker.

Then you move onto Horse and Cliffjumpers, starting with tame breeds, the sorts favored for shows or noblewomen in terms of horses and meat and decorative breeds of cliffjumpers, before moving onto more aggressive and stubborn natured examples of both animals. War and wild horses, wild and guard cliff jumpers. This present more of a challenge and more than one of the Aspirants earns a reminder of humility in the form of scars they receive from their charges. Feng provides some assistance by having his Vishnu warriors help to procure the more fierce subjects of the training. And when you are satisfied that they can tame horses and Cliff Jumpers both, you up the difficulty

And have them raise The Carnivorous Cui Cliff Jumpers and Cui War Chargers, like your own personal warhorse and some of his progeny are included in the test. And this is where they meet with real difficulty and you, to ensure no tragic accidents pass, have them accompanied by their senior Astarte brothers as they attempt to capture, train and make tame of these unusually fierce creatures.
Cont

>>6453107

And while they try, Nikephoros and a few of your other Gene sons approach you with a suggestion to bring in other beasts from the other worlds of the Imperial Long-Jian borders.

Like the Rattle and Thundering Birds of New Varro and the more exotic beasts of Shangrala, and when that conversation begins, Kanzeon suggests they be taught how to raise the Phoenixes and Dragons she's reintroduced. And you also notice at this time that Bird Seeker has been speaking with Feng, about the topic of Fog Panthers and their kin. And It becomes a discussion of the Astartes, in short order, which beast outside of Yushan that would be the most efficient war beast to bring to the battlefield and which would be the most adaptive without gene editing to be brought to any battlefield and if Qilin should be the next step of the Aspirant's beast taming trials. And as you listen to their debates, idle musings and hopeful dreams you begin to wonder if you should include a final test on this initial stage of this particular stage of their training. For why the Horses and Cliffjumpers of the former Cui Province are indeed fierce, there are more difficult beasts to rear even upon fair Shangrala.

And you had entertained the idea of raising beasts of war for your legion, long before the Yushanians approached you with their offer to teach your Aspirants their way. Though it had only been a passing whimsy or thought experiment, but seeing how well your students excel as animal trainers already, and how easily your Astartes take to it like they did hunting or their myriad of artistic endeavors, you begin to more seriously ponder and consider it

What do you decide, Lieren?

>Stop at War Chargers and Cui Cliffjumpers, and move onto their Yushanian training, putting aside the idea of Astarte war beasts later

>Attempt what plays had attributed to you for years, and see if Fog Panthers could be made tame without demeaning the proud and deadly creatures

>Move the Astartes onto New Varro and Massacre Fauna

>Decide that they should raise dragons and phoenixes, and do so

>Spend more time teach them horsemanship and invite Lai Song to assist Yin Lei in training them, as the Aspirants new mentor has had little advise to offer in their current lessons

>Write in

>>6453108
I really hate how this gimps them. The whole.
>By having your aspirants familiarize themselves with Yushan and its biosphere, a method than can, perhaps, replicate the results on other worlds
The whole point of this option was that it would take more time but would give them more versatility and a better understanding of nature which they could use to their advantage.
>expand your lessons to include teaching them about the interconnectiveness and patterns of nature so they can better understand and tame beasts on their own with fewer risks.
>Do not limit what animals you include in your legion for now, domestication was originally meant to be symbiotic after all

>>6453108
this >>6453169

>>6453108
>Move the Astartes onto New Varro and Massacre Fauna
I think this is a good way of helping them extend their experience into more universal principles.

>>6453169
Sure, I'll support this one. Druidmaxxing.

>>6453169
I don't know what he means about gimping, but these lessons are pretty applicable to survivalist too

>Support >>6453108

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Calling the vote now. Sorry for the wait.


Expand your lessons + do not limit the animals included in your legion:4

Move your astartes to new Varro and Massacre Fauna:1

So Lieren will give his Aspirants on the patterns and interconnectivity of nature and not limit what animals his aspirants attempt to tame

writing now
Total votes: 5

However, you decide that your Astartes and the Aspirants of the legion require a deeper understanding and comprehension of nature before they can proceed to the Yushanians training or be given permission to attempt to tame or outright domesticate the most dangerous of beasts catalogued. For one may understand a single species, but there is a difference between a hound or horse trainer, much more than there is between the wilder breeds of stallions and cliff jumpers and their more placid and tame cousins. And to be able to master all manners of beast, especially those who until only recently primarily preyed upon men like the noble but dangerous Fog Panther, one must first endeavor to understand nature.

Astartes and Aspirants both understand your reasoning, to the point you do not need to even approach them with the topic of extending their studies and returning them to the foundational of the subject, for such teachings are closely aligned with the lessons of the Journey that teach one to respect the wilderness and the ecosystems within, and that every life is of equal value and importance. But few amongst your legion have had the free time to devout to studying the natural world intently and to meditate upon its mysteries and wisdom. And they and the Aspirants know how to survive in the wild places of the galaxy, how to stalk, hunt, and kill and thrive in these untamed places, they are not aware of how deeply interconnected the natural world is nor of the patterns that can be seen to emerge across the stars and upon worlds more different than can be imagined.

So, you delay their training with the Yushanians, the intelligences are very understanding of the reason and in fact applaud your foresight and wisdom for making this determination. And according to the message they deliver with the seasonal colonial report, they now consider you much more of a kindred spirit. But the fungoids of the jade planet are not the only ones who take attention of the lessons of natures repeating patterns and the behavior of even the strangest beasts. Carys and her flock come to observe some of the programs you've planned, where your Aspirants observe for several days and nights flocks of Night Cranes or troops of monkeys, and so to do representatives of the Oracle breed come to have their youngsters trade notes with your aspirants as groups of them try to reach a state of understanding with the most wild of beasts.

You allow your Aspirants to travel freely under the chaperone of their elder astartes brothers, as they pursue one animals or another as the focus of their quests to obtain understanding, as you flit here and there daily to give teach them of one of nature's aspects and the relationship between one small part of it or how a niche or nook in the circle of life is filled and explain how one area of a ecosystem effects another that at first glance would seem wholly separated from it.

Cont

>>6454122

but the Aeldari journey men and the Oracle breed gene splicers are not the only groups who help or even join your aspirants in their lessons, the White Lotus doctors, your tiger cubs and the Angra also assist in their endeavors to understand the natural world and the beasts that reside within it.

Long-Jia Jinhai, also, takes an interest and asks for frequent updates on your Aspirants progress as you make good use of their extended lessons to obtain understanding and balance with nature and its beasts, to lead several Ministry of Development projects focused on the natural wonders and wildernesses of Shangrala and its closest colonial worlds, as preserving them and ensuring the health and equilibrium of ecosystems has become one of the most paramount concerns of the people, who in an era of peace longer than any they've lived to experience before and a colonial expansion has shifted their fears of what may lurk in the dark of space into worry of what the expanding stellar empire will bring to the wonderous worlds they hear described daily on the radio or see photos printed in domestic magazines or see video reports both official and personal directly from the worlds.

New Varro especially, has become a point of concern for Shangralans, which amuses the native New Varronese greatly. And you happen to overhear a conversation between a Rattleman and a technician from the Eternal Celestial Engine talk idly about how charities have sprung up to fund projects on both of their worlds.

"Though, I would personally prefer the charity go towards transplanting these cactuses to the more arid regions of our primary habitat"

"Maybe we could see if our Rattlers like that engine of yers, once you've gotten it all sorted out and ready for guests, heh"

And this is but one conversation you overhear as you travel across Shangrala to oversee your Aspirants progress and growing understanding with the beasts of the world, each trip increasing your confidence that they'll soon be ready to travel to Yushan to learn their method as they have quicker than your expectations grasped and master the means to domesticate several species that no man on Shangrala had dreamed of taming before. Fog Panthers remaining elusive, as you know that the only way to possibly tame one would be to do so when they are a cub and Fog Panthers are rarely orphaned naturally and unless the Panther endangers human lives, you see no reason to hunt them specifically to orphan kittens for training and Fog Panther related deaths have dropped steeply in the years since you first build and lit your famous "Giant's Road", and every advancement since has reduced them yet further. Though another possibility is to create a subspecies through gene editing, which one Oracle Breed girl had brought up to Kanzeon and her sisters, though at the moment that remained a mere proposal.
Cont

>>6454123

Though, the Aspirants and Astartes interested in raising Fog Panthers, would ask you whenever they had an excuse to about the proposal and if it would be accepted and if it would if it'd bear any fruit.

And what do you now, Lieren?

>Before proceeding to the Yushanian part of the training, have your aspirant compete against eachother and the beasts they've managed to tame, to see who amongst them has the greatest understanding

>Encourage Your astartes and Aspirants to forge closer ties with the Oracle Breed and ask the breed to cooperate with Kanzeon and her sisters to produce subspecies of beasts that can coexist and fight comfortably alongside astartes

>Encouraged by your astartes and the public, attempt to tame a full grown fog panther by yourself

>Now that your Aspirants are better familiarized with the natural world, have them tame New Varro and Massacre Beasts

>Write in

>>6454124
>Encourage Your astartes and Aspirants to forge closer ties with the Oracle Breed and ask the breed to cooperate with Kanzeon and her sisters to produce subspecies of beasts that can coexist and fight comfortably alongside astartes
>Now that your Aspirants are better familiarized with the natural world, have them tame New Varro and Massacre Beasts
I think these are the most important.
Also Malal, have you ever heard of the Chinese Daoist art of Fushi?

>>6454124
>Encourage your astartes
>Try and tame a Panther Ourselves.

>>6454124
>Encourage Your astartes and Aspirants to forge closer ties with the Oracle Breed and ask the breed to cooperate with Kanzeon and her sisters to produce subspecies of beasts that can coexist and fight comfortably alongside astartes
>Encouraged by your astartes and the public, attempt to tame a full grown fog panther by yourself
Getting ready to bond with some Cui Warhorse tier ancient Alpha Fog Panther

>>6454263
>>6454271
You guys aren't interested in Massacre or New Varro? A fog panther would be more of a luxury than a benefit at this point considering how much we fight chaos and how much we leave fighting to our men.

>>6454276
Not really? Applying the Yushan method now gives them new targets to try on new varro and massacre.

I also don't really want a fog panther, I just want to prove it can be done.
Like our nameless steed, rather than a persistent character.

>>6454276
I'm not opposed, I just try not to choose more than 2 options per vote since small Chen died.

Getting fog panthers for our army makes thematic sense to me considering how long they have been a cultural part of Shangrala and getting one ourselves, since I can't remember us having a non-hostile/predatory interaction with one, I feel would be a cool interlude, show leadership, and maybe reveal more about how the panthers live and the future of the species on Shangrala.

Massacre or New Varro would fit the 'Chimera Legion' theme and would be interesting certainly.

>>6454292
I personally want the massive birds of prey Varro has and whatever Massacre has. I am, however, assuming that the option picked does not happen.
>>6454305
>I just try not to choose more than 2 options per vote since small Chen died.
It's not an issue out outside of war. Taking more options just eats up more time or lowers the quality of the actions taken. Remember that our plant friend likely died because we didn't choose to cure them.

I also want to compile a list of stuff to invent and techniques to develop so we can just front those when the time comes. Any ideas?

>>6454124
>>Encouraged by your astartes and the public, attempt to tame a full grown fog panther by yourself
>Before proceeding to the Yushanian part of the training, have your aspirant compete against eachother and the beasts they've managed to tame, to see who amongst them has the greatest understanding

>>6454124
>Encourage Your astartes and Aspirants to forge closer ties with the Oracle Breed and ask the breed to cooperate with Kanzeon and her sisters to produce subspecies of beasts that can coexist and fight comfortably alongside astartes
This is the only one that seems like a moral imperative. If we're going to be raising creatures explicitly to fight alongside us, the least we can do is ensure that they can survive comfortably and that going into combat isn't a death sentence for them.

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Calling the vote now, and in advance if the update is short. lots of drama IRL from the family, so I'm going through it atm

Encourage Your astartes and Aspirants to forge closer ties with the Oracle Breed and ask the breed to cooperate with Kanzeon and her sisters to produce subspecies of beasts that can coexist and fight comfortably alongside astartes:4

Now that your Aspirants are better familiarized with the natural world, have them tame New Varro and Massacre Beasts:1

Encouraged by your astartes and the public, attempt to tame a full grown fog panther by yourself: 3

Before proceeding to the Yushanian part of the training, have your aspirant compete against eachother and the beasts they've managed to tame, to see who amongst them has the greatest understanding:1

Total votes: 5

So Lieren will attempt to tame a fog panther himself, and forge closer ties with his Astartes, the Aspirants and the Oracle breed to create a subspecies of panther that can coexist and fight alongside astartes comfortably

writing now

Even as you watch the Aspirants study and struggle to succeed at learning the ways of beast taming and animal care, you are often surrounded with a cloud of platitudes and praise.

"Fog Panthers are proud creatures, solitary, but surely if any man could make one of those cats tame, it'd be our genesire" One of your Astartes says over a game of dice with their brothers and a few Shuomi soldiers

"Primarch Lieren. He took the name hunter, he knows beasts better than the back of his hand" Tapio, one of your eleven most trusted and veteran sons says during a routine meeting with the brothers of Panther "And of all beasts, it is the fog panthers which with he is most alike

"The Primarch, he is a great man" Colonel Tarmo Lauri of the Ursine guard says off handedly during a joint training between his forces, the Sheowl Rangers and Long Jianese Imperial guard and New Varro Rough Riders "I've seen these panthers, saw one close, dead. But I've heard from the Brothers of the Panther and the Astartes given the honor to hunt them, that they are a beast wilder than any on Terra, only surpassed by the behemoths of some of the worlds claimed by House Long Jia. But, I've also seen The Primarch in battle, stood beside him. His presence reminders me of his father, the Emperor. I am sure, he can make them docile. He has faced tyrants and monsters, and always stood tall over their remains"

And you can see where this idle praise and belief is leading, forming into a wave that begins to spread, picking up more confidence and fervent belief as mundane conversations and idle talks begin to spread like an infection. Your Astartes, adore you and trust you completely. And you were already considered the ideal hunter, a figure of living legend by the people of Shangrala. And soon you cannot seem to go a step without some curious onlooker or passing acquaintance talking about the possible taming of fog panthers or if you'd been raised by them or knew the secrets to make them docile and gentle. Even Cao Yunru brings it up while you meet with him to discuss an irrigation project on New Varro, wondering out loud if their exists any technological means to change the temperament of beasts.

And it is then, along with spying on a group of Aspirants covertly planning to attempt to capture a Fog Panther themselves, that you decide to put the question to rest

For they are not wrong, you know Fog Panthers more intimately than any other beasts. Which is why your thoughts of taming them, had only even been idle day dreams. Because you know it would be cruelty beyond words to forcefully bend and subjugate the wills of such proud creatures. They are solitary hunters, one of the deadliest natural hunters on Shangrala. Until the advent of the brother hood of the panthers and firearms, they preyed upon whatever they desired and rule the mists and fogs more than any king could claim.

It is, in away, a cultural zeitgeist that has afflicted your gene sons as well as the populace
Cont

>>6455290

For, generations of Shangralans, of Long-Jianese, had lived in fear of the Fog Panther and their cousins and the fantasy of taming one, has existed long in oral traditions and myths. You, despite being but a man, a great man according to many, are in many ways one of scarce few living legends. A simple tale of Jinhai once passing by a panther's den unassailed, became the subject of many a play, when he had simply known to keep his distance and approach only when it slept. Of course you, who are known to a Giant and great philosopher, slayer of tyrants and the architect of the modern society of Shangrala, also have the reputation as the man who made men no longer prey to the beasts of the fog. And that reputation, one of your earliest great accomplishments has turned into something of a growing obsession amongst the people

The belief that Fog Panthers could be tamed, if only Lieren will show us how. For he ended famine, he stalled plagues, he single handedly tore down the Palace of Celestial Ascension, He slew The Lord of The midnight sands, the Butcher King, he revealed the nations beyond the fog and shown us worlds beyond even the stars.

It is a disease. You could tame Panthers, you knew of methods. The dark natured Aeldari, had means to make them obey. And there were others, no less cruel than their brutal and cruel methods. There were means, efficient processes. Such as the contemptible act of servitorization. But simply because it could be done and could be done efficiently, does not meant it should.

So you decided to make an example, through your own failure. Kanzeon, tried to gently dissuade you, but could not answer with a more effective method to cure this shared illness. The Fog Panther would not be troubled by the pride and fear of men, and you would make certain of it.

Unarmed, undressed and completely alone you enter the mists and walk into the forests, to provide a demonstration, to protect the beast you respected more than any other from the whims and pride of men.

<Surviving Excerpt from Long-Jianese Folk tale "The Pride of a Panther">

...Bloody and exhausted, the Giant Lieren fell to one knee as the White Panther did the same, both struggling to rise back to their feet to stand in defiance of their rival's strength of pride and will. The Panther had left its mark upon Proud Lieren's chest, but the Giant did no harm unto the Proud Panther. Laughing, the Giant shook his head, seeing now how foolish a dream it was to ever think one could make a Beast as Proud as a Panther subject itself to the will of a man even as a great and mighty as he. Lieren, born of a star, smiled and bowed, cupping his fist as the Panther raised its head and with the last of its energy snarled.
Cont

>>6455292

Though a Panther could not speak, Lieren knew its intent. For it spoke for all Panthers and wild things, it spoke a truth of nature. That which is born free, can never be leashed or chained. It roar and bellowed the Pride of a Panther, that Lieren had always known. Without shame, Lieren was the first to turn his back, still laughing at his own folly and failing to even dare to dream of being greater than a Panther's Pride.

Though Lieren could take their lives, he could never take a Panther's pride. Enlightened, The Great Hunter of the Wild's bid farewell to his life long rival, leaving it in peace to live as nature had intended rather than how the dreams and ambitions of men had desired it to be.

For, the Giant had known all along that a Panther's place was the wild but that men would dream and desire, unless they were shown their folly and taught that a Panther's Place was the Fog and the Mist, the depths of the forest, as a solitary hunter.

For what is born free, should never be chained. Only a tyrant would take a man or beast from their home and force them to labor or practice a way of life they had not chosen. It was man's dream to be free of the fog, but never a Panthers. A Panther is many things, but one thing it shall never be is tamed, for a Panther, even in its dying days, shall keep its Pride. And all men should remember, that even if they have the strength and will of a Giant, somethings are simply not meant to be, and in trying to bend what is will only result in breaking something irreplaceable
_

"You could've simply told them" Kanzeon nags you as you laugh, laying upon the moss of the forest floor as an exhausted Panther lays flat on its side, all six limbs still poised to strike against you after you had made a true effort to tame it, but expectedly had failed. For their could be no success in making a Fog Panther tame, without resorting to wicked and cruel means. Perhaps a cub could be made to learn to follow orders, when it was well fed, but that was no different than a circus bear, learned behavior, not true domestication,

"My word will not last as long as the image of a battered and clawed Lieren" You laugh "Feng knew this as well, all the Brothers of the Panthers had, but men will dream until their fantasy is shattered before their eyes. If even I cannot make a Fog Panther submit, than clearly, no man can and they should be left alone in their natural state"

Kanzeon fixed you with her stare and you sat up

"This won't scar" You assure her

"I know it won't, I just think letting yourself get mauled to prove a point, is stupidly reckless. More so than your usual behavior" She said sternly "We could've put out a public service announcement"
Cont

>>6455295

"bah, Long-Jianese are poetic souls, etiquette may be as water to our society, but it is metaphor and symbolism that are our rice!" You declare, nodding to the Panther, who seeing you retreat away, gave one last snarl of defiance before shutting it eyes, ever assured of its own place in the food chain as you left to meet with the leaders of the Oracle breed, who you had encouraged along with your Astartes and Aspirants to form closer ties, and in doing so cured them of the pride and stupidity in thinking a Fog Panther could ever be made tame.

While Kanzeon and her sisters met with and discussed with them, and revealed to them that the origin of the original Fog Panther had been in the gene banks of the queer, four legged felines that were brought along for companionship on the fateful voyage that found them all marooned upon Shangrala eons ago. In fact, those odd, beardless and tassleless cats with but four legs, were the ancestor of all felines upon Shangrala.

But, the fact that house cats could be kept and trained, showed that the genetic legacy had, in some branch, a panther like beast that could be trained that would be comfortable fighting in a pack. For you knew that House cats and their closer relatives, weren't solitary, like Panthers were. Nor were Lions, which were closer to Panthers than not. Dreams were stubborn things, and hard to fully break, so to prevent any fool from attempting to tame a true Panther, there would be an substitute. An animal akin to a Panther, that could be comfortable in their company and adapted to thrive in their care as well as the wilderness or battlefield if the need arose, which would be abject cruelty to force upon a Panther or similar beast.

Soon the Aspirants would learn under the Yushanians, but before that, the Oracle breed wished to discuss the project you'd requested them to take, to create a companion for an Astartes that would not be disoriented or afraid of the life they lived in survive to mankind.

And what do you tell the Oracle Breed, Lieren?

>Simply that you do not want the beast to be solely for war. For war is not the natural state of existence, and one day, like your Astartes themselves, will need to find a new life outside of the battlefield.

>Wonder about why other types of cats only have four legs and lack beards or tassels, before explaining that the oracle breed should revive the "missing link" between the cat and panther, even if it will result in a smaller, less fierce beast

>Knowing the Oracle breed's technology was derived from technology taken from the late Albina and Philotes, as was their knowledge, ask that the lost twin's work be used in place of modern blueprints

>Simply observe and direct them from making any mistakes

>Write in

>>6455297
>Simply that you do not want the beast to be solely for war. For war is not the natural state of existence, and one day, like your Astartes themselves, will need to find a new life outside of the battlefield.

>Simply observe and direct them from making any mistakes

>>6455297

>Simply that you do not want the beast to be solely for war. For war is not the natural state of existence, and one day, like your Astartes themselves, will need to find a new life outside of the battlefield.

>Wonder about why other types of cats only have four legs and lack beards or tassels, before explaining that the oracle breed should revive the "missing link" between the cat and panther, even if it will result in a smaller, less fierce beast

>>6455297
>Simply that you do not want the beasts to solely be for war.

Yeah, This whole pantomime seems like the right way to go about things.

>>6455297
>Simply that you do not want the beast to be solely for war. For war is not the natural state of existence, and one day, like your Astartes themselves, will need to find a new life outside of the battlefield.
Wouldn't want to be forced to give the beasts the Thunder Warriors treatment someday.

>>6455297
>Simply that you do not want the beast to be solely for war. For war is not the natural state of existence, and one day, like your Astartes themselves, will need to find a new life outside of the battlefield.
I honestly like that we failed to tame the Fog Panthers. It shows that Lieren does have limits, and also serves as a small lesson that not everything has to be bent to humanity's will.

>>6455297
>>Simply that you do not want the beast to be solely for war. For war is not the natural state of existence, and one day, like your Astartes themselves, will need to find a new life outside of the battlefield.

>>6455297
>>Simply that you do not want the beast to be solely for war. For war is not the natural state of existence, and one day, like your Astartes themselves, will need to find a new life outside of the battlefield.

>>6455297
>Simply that you do not want the beast to be solely for war. For war is not the natural state of existence, and one day, like your Astartes themselves, will need to find a new life outside of the battlefield.

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Calling the vote now. Sorry for the Long wait, life has just been stressful lately

Simply that you do not want the beast to be solely for war. For war is not the natural state of existence, and one day, like your Astartes themselves, will need to find a new life outside of the battlefield.: 8

Simply observe and direct them from making any mistakes: 1

Wonder about why other types of cats only have four legs and lack beards or tassels, before explaining that the oracle breed should revive the "missing link" between the cat and panther, even if it will result in a smaller, less fierce beast:1

Total votes: 8

So Lieren will tell the oracle breed that he does not want the new beasts to be made Only for War, that war is not the natural state of life and that one day the New Beast like the Astartes themselves will find purpose beyond the battlefield.

Writing now

<Recorded fragment of the abhuman strain, "Oracle Breed", oral history, as spoken by Delephinite to Remembrancer Far Strider , concerning the task the original seed society of the strain had given unto them by Primarch Lieren, early into the the expansion period of the then independent Long-Jian Sphere>

"Lo, the great man spoke unto the new eyes of the Oracles, whom had washed away the tyranny of their predecessors with many benevolent acts and farsighted deeds, of his wishes for the resurrection and reshaping of prior bioforms of the feline genus, a distant ancestor of the Fog Panther that could be made tame and taught and lead like a war dogs of Hellias. The Great Man, Lieren, who spared us in spite of the short sightedness and selfish acts of our sisters who ruled over Hellias with fear and genetic aberrations of their own design, instructed the Gene Maestros of his wants and dreams of both his gene altered sons and the creature that would emerge from our gestation pools to aid them on his father's reconquesta of the stars"

"Lo, the great man spoke, They were not to be biological weapons or war, nor would they be cybernetically augmented unless injury necessitated as such. They were not to be controlled nor commanded via cybernetic implant or chemical marker. These Panthers new yet old, would not be destined for war alone. They would be, first and foremost, animals. Creatures that could be trained to fight, but whom were not designed with the intent only to be as a weapon of war. He explained and illuminated, war is not the natural state of life, for beast or for mankind but rather a grim necessity"

The Oracle Breed speaker nodded eruditely and paused

"Though the beasts yet to be crafted, would be improved for efficiency upon the battlefield, their genetics purged of flaw and mutation's blight, they would be in the manner of Astartes rather than the cruel act of Servitorization or Tyranny of the Iron Nails and similar Nucerian inventions or the Drukhari Haemonculus' repugnant arts. They would be as companion and equal, and share their fate with the Astartes second Legios. For, Lieren knew, even then, that war must come to an end. War is not perpetual, nor ceaseless. And that one day, his gene-progeny too would find themselves without war. Thus, their companions, red in claw and fang, too, must adapt to a peaceful, natural existence"

The aged abhuman sighed

"How touched the matriarchs were at that moment, how blessed they felt to be trusted with such a task, with such a dream. How honored they must've been, to work with the ancient matrons, as equals rather than students. I must admit, I am envious of those women, then young, who met the Great Man before he came to truly understand the nature of war, whom could share and believe even for a moment a hope so innocent and pure...Of course, I believe it as well. Lieren fights for peace, more than anything else. There is no such thing as an endless war. For nothing is without end"
Cont

>>6457074

<End of partially recovered data cache>
_

"I believe we have a good initial foundation, a common ancestor of the big cats of Shangrala" Al-Uzza said as she gestured towards one of the newly repaired screens in the Oracle Breed's mountain top temple "That will reduce the genetic tampering required to create a species that could keep up with Astartes"

"These girlies have a lot of interesting ideas for their augments, going to need to get my hands dirty testing them and improving on them, but I've gotten board with city building and colonization projects!" Anahita laughs with her arms crossed "Wish I wasn't so busy, and had as much free time as you Kazzy"

"You think this is relaxing? My husband is a magnet for trouble and complications, traveling with him may be exciting but the work we do gets just as exhausting as the work you've taken upon yourself" Kanzeon laughs as Mari sighed, shaking her head

"We'll need to adjust some of their genes, to make them hyper adaptive. They will be brought to many different worlds and biospheres, they'll need to be comfortable in most environments even if they won't be thriving in them" She says softly as Liberty pouted and kicked her legs

"Are they going to have guns strapped to them their chests? Las canons? Are they going to be big enough for a Space Marine to ride?" She asked, not as invested into the project as her older sisters "Are you going to fight another Panther, Bro?"

You chuckle, listening to their discussion from the side as one of the Oracle Breed taps absent mindedly, recording the conversation in writing as the more advance technology in the temple is being used constructing the genetic blueprint for the yet to be created "Astarte Cat" as one of the younger Oracles had called it after you'd explained precisely the goal of the commission you asked of them.

It wouldn't take long for them to finish the first generation, with the assistance from Kanzeon and your sisters in law, but it was almost time for your aspirants to train alongside and learn from the fungoid Yushanians

And what would you do as they were taught the ways of Yushan, Lieren?

>Remind them to not forget the traditional way of training and commanding animals, and simply observe

>Learn alongside the aspirants, curious about the Yushanian and their ways of controlling their enviroments'

>Apply some of the Alchemy Magnus taught you with the Yushanian's more mundane method of controlling their world's ecosystem

>Encourage the Oracle Breed, who have sent some of their daughters to travel with your Aspirants, to learn what they can from Yushan as well

>Write in

>>6457075
>Learn alongside the aspirants, curious about the Yushanian and their ways of controlling their enviroments'

>Apply some of the Alchemy Magnus taught you with the Yushanian's more mundane method of controlling their world's ecosystem

>Encourage the Oracle Breed, who have sent some of their daughters to travel with your Aspirants, to learn what they can from Yushan as well
No reason to not do all of these.

https://cultivatingdragons.com/the-messy-truth-about-cultivation-pills-elixirs-and-the-side-of-daoism-xianxia-pretends-doesnt-exist/
https://cultivatingdragons.com/how-to-use-jing-qi-and-shen-in-a-xianxia-story-a-writers-guide-to-the-three-treasures/
https://www.kinesiologyconcepts.com/kinesiology-and-the-five-shen/
https://giovanni-maciocia.com/shen-and-hun-psyche-in-chinese-medicine/
https://benebellwen.com/2026/02/28/five-core-skills-in-chinese-folk-magic/
https://dao-world.org/2025/05/28/3-hun-and-7-po-the-taoist-souls/

Also found some cool stuff on taoism.

>>6457075
>>Learn alongside the aspirants, curious about the Yushanian and their ways of controlling their enviroments'

>>6457075
>Learn alongside the aspirants, curious about the Yushanian and their ways of controlling their enviroments'

>Encourage the Oracle Breed, who have sent some of their daughters to travel with your Aspirants, to learn what they can from Yushan as well

>>6457141
>>6457146
Why not mix in alchemy?

>>6457075
>Learn alongside the aspirants, curious about the Yushanian and their ways of controlling their enviroments'

>Apply some of the Alchemy Magnus taught you with the Yushanian's more mundane method of controlling their world's ecosystem

>>6457075
>Apply some of the Alchemy Magnus taught you with the Yushanian's more mundane method of controlling their world's ecosystem

>Encourage the Oracle Breed, who have sent some of their daughters to travel with your Aspirants, to learn what they can from Yushan as well

>>6457149
Id rather learn it without any unknown factors or distractions to take in the whole lesson.

>>6457197
Then why not do both? Nothing to stop us from doing multiple options.

>>6457075
>Learn alongside the aspirants, curious about the Yushanian and their ways of controlling their enviroments'

>Apply some of the Alchemy Magnus taught you with the Yushanian's more mundane method of controlling their world's ecosystem

>Encourage the Oracle Breed, who have sent some of their daughters to travel with your Aspirants, to learn what they can from Yushan as well

i mean i want to learn too

>>6457075
>Learn alongside the aspirants, curious about the Yushanian and their ways of controlling their enviroments'
>Encourage the Oracle Breed, who have sent some of their daughters to travel with your Aspirants, to learn what they can from Yushan as well

>>6457075
>Learn alongside the aspirants, curious about the Yushanian and their ways of controlling their enviroments'

>Apply some of the Alchemy Magnus taught you with the Yushanian's more mundane method of controlling their world's ecosystem

>Encourage the Oracle Breed, who have sent some of their daughters to travel with your Aspirants, to learn what they can from Yushan as well

I wanted to set this up for the next vote so we could get them cleared out. I still have more to write up.
>Assign the Yushan to help the Alf'Harim with their overpopulation issues, the suggested resolution is to solve it by curtailing population growth once they reach a certain threshold and maintain a equilibrium unless something threatens them or otherwise reduces their numbers

>Try to analyze the Null Denouncement Charm, the mathematical enchantment upon our mind, the archaic Eldar runes, and the script the priests on Lorgar's homeworld uses to see if you can reverse engineer the language they were derived from. When studying the Old One plan do it in the following order
1: Purity protocol
2: Shattered void
3: Elemental Event Horizon
4: Star Forging


Joint Training
1: Sagit
>Award our sons that do the best in the tournament special powered armor based on various beasts and weapons designed for use with martial arts
2: Nosa
>Develop alchemical poisons for use in chemical warfare
3: Aeldari
>Attempt to produce swordbreaking styles (a martial arts style intended to counter another style) for use against the dark eldar
4: Merchants of Mirth
>Set up stealth training exercise involving psykers, also create stealth power armor.
5: Se'ah'in
>Include naval and amphibious exercises, creating new equipment like naval vessels and a new light astartes powered armor intended for sheer mobility.
>Final test shall be to hunt a leviathan in the depths of Black Abyss which we will harvest for resources without wasting a single piece of it