*temp tattoo false *choice #"Get off me, you stupid beast!" Furious, you wipe the saliva off your face and try to shove the panda off. Your hands sink into its soft flesh, however, and the only reward for your efforts is the panda's amused grin. "Get off me, you stupid beast!" — you yell, ramming the beast with your shoulder in a fruitless attempt to push it off. The smiling panda just licks you once more. "Stop wasting your energy, little one." — the voice inside your head rings out again — "This is how I communicate for I, sadly, have not yet reached Apotheosis." #"You can talk?" "You can talk?" — you ask, surprised. You've heard of [i]Spirits[/i] before, of course, but it's the first time you've seen one in the flesh. The panda nods and gives you another lick. "I can. Sadly, for have I not yet reached Apotheosis, this is the only way for me to communicate." #"You were waiting for me?" "You were waiting for me?" — you ask, tilting your head. The panda gives you another, cautious look, before it licks you again. "Not for [i]you[/i], but for someone back from the Empire." — the panda replies. Noticing your surprised expression, the voice in your head rings out once more — "Yes, I'm aware of the world beyond this realm. I come from there, after all." "And I apologize for speaking to you in this manner. I have not yet reached Apotheosis, so my ability to communicate is limited by the constraints of this bestial form." *temp questions_asked 0 *label panda_questions *if questions_asked < 3 *choice *hide_reuse #"What are you, exactly?" *set questions_asked +1 You study the panda with a curious look. "What are you, exactly?" "I'm a Spirit, a non-human being that has developed sapience. Has the education in the Empire become so bad you don't recognize one when it stares right at you?" — the panda shakes its head — "And I have a name, you know. You can call me Xiong Mao." *hide_reuse #"What are you doing in this world?" *set questions_asked +1 "What are you doing here?" — you question — "I can feel the aura around you - a word like this, barren and tribal, is hardly suitable to be your home." The bear sighs as it sits down on its butt, giving a quick look in the direction of the volcano. "His lordship brought me here before he broke our Bond. Like all the other beasts in these tribes, Lord was worrying about me being captured in the case of his demise." "Lord?" Suddenly, the panda's expression changes, struck by a realization. "Yo-you don't know?!" — the beast exclaims — "But you loo-… I just assumed…" The panda then stops, its wide nostrils taking in big breaths. "I apologize. I said what I was not supposed to say, forget it." *hide_reuse #"I heard the tribe leader call you 'Protector'. What does that mean?" *set questions_asked +1 "I heard the tribe leader call you a 'Protector'. What does that mean?" "As you already know, there are multiple tribes in this world. These tribes follow rules, ancient customs that shan't ever be broken." — the panda replies — "One of such rules, for example, is that while the tribes are strongly encouraged to war and battle, they can never exterminate another tribe entirely. We, the Protectors, are in charge of ensuring that it never happens." *page_break *goto panda_questions *else *goto panda_upgrade *label panda_upgrade Suddenly, the panda starts to dig, upheaving huge chunks of dirt with every swing of its gigantic limbs. The panda's arm accelerate, eventually becoming but an unrecognizable blur in your eyes — and soon enough, the beast burrowed a hole dozens of dozens yards deep. Afterwards, it leaps out of the pit with a single jump, only now a stone is held in its paws. Carefully, as one would hold a child, and the look with which the panda glances at the stone matches the gentle treatment. Xiong Mao raises its head. "This is the sacred relic I've been protecting all these years." — the panda explains — "All other Protectors guard similar stones, all exactly the same. How exactly they are supposed to be used, I have no idea. I've had centuries to study its mysteries, yet all I managed to figure out is that it's just an ordinary rock." "Just know that you can't just take it with you and run away. If someone else conquers the tribe, then no matter where the stone is, I'll be able to recall it with a but a thought. Even from inside your spatial ring." You, however, are unable to reply. All of your attention is focused on this ostensibly normal piece of stone. You can't look away. Can't divert your sight. Can't [i]think[/i] of anything but the pebble in front of you. Why? Because you have felt power before. You've watched seniors fight in the sect before. You've experienced the aftermath of techniques used by Peak-Xiantians. But in front of this stone, all of it seems just so… meaningless. In a trance, you step forward and touch the rock. It's warm, but not uncomfortably so: on the contrary, the emitted heat is comfortable. Pleasant. What's strange, however, is that the sensation is not limited to your hand. It's everywhere, spread throughout every inch of your body. For a split-second, there's also something else. A fuzzy, but unmistakable feeling of harmony. Of unity with nature, as if you have traveled back in time, back into your mother's womb — where it's safe and serene. When you blink, the feeling is gone, but the heat remains. Now that you have had some time to discern it, the warmth is similar to Inner Energy, only a hundred, no, a thousand times purer. Just to test it, you circulate your own Inner Energy and can't help but notice its [i]taintedness[/i]. It's riddled with impurities you have never noticed before, impurities that do not exist inside the stone. What in the world is… *page_break LICK Your stupor is broken by another lick and as you wipe off the saliva, cursing the damned panda, its voice once again rings inside your head. [i]Have you felt something?[/i] It stares at you with a surprised and expectant expression, it's head tilted in the wait for answers. *label panda_stone *choice #"None of your business." "None of your business." — you rudely shrug him off, putting the stone inside your spatial ring. "Brat." — Xiong Mao replies — "You dare be this disrespectful to your senior? Scram then, I won't tell you anything else." *goto after_panda *hide_reuse #"I haven't." "I haven't." — you say, shaking your head, but still putting the stone inside your spatial ring in a hurry. *gosub_scene subroutines stat_check "chr" 18 *if (stat_check) "Oh." — Xiong Mao replies, its huge body slumping in disappointment — "You looked extremely focused just then." "I was merely trying to figure out how could this simple rock have such big importance." — you chuckle. "Come to me if you do find something. My curiosity needs to be satisfied." *else "Don't to lie to me, punk." — Xiong Mao replies and shoves you in the shoulder — "You are a few thousands years too young to fool me." *goto panda_stone #"Yes..." "Yes…" — you say, describing your previous experience in detail. Xiong Mao turns thoughtful, pondering upon your words. "Could it be… Is it the same thing [i]he[/i] used all those years ago?" — the panda mutters, perhaps not even realizing that its thoughts are relayed inside your head — "But I thought they have been exhausted?" Then, as if struck by a jolt of electricity, the panda shakes its head. "Be careful not to lose it, brat." *page_break The panda yawns. It glances at the sky and seeing the afternoon sun, its eyes turn groggy. "It's getting late. I have talked too much, I'm tired." — Xiong Mao gives you another lick, before it closes its eyes. The aura around the beast changes, turns profound and ancient. You feel it reach out to you and tingle your skin, before the panda speaks again — *if (mc_level >= 2) "Ah. You've broken through to Middle stage already." The panda hesitates, thinking. "You've seen the tribesmen' tattoos, have you not?" — it eventually asks — "I can draw one for you as well. It'll boost your strength, at a very little cost." *else "Since you have not yet broken through to the Middle stage, I can help you with that." The panda then hesitates, thinking. "Or I can draw you a tattoo. Like the tribesmen have." — it says — "It'll boost your strength, at a very little cost." *choice *selectable_if (mc_level < 2) #"Help me reach Middle-Houtian." "Help me reach Middle-Houtian." — you say, opting for the immediate power-up. Xiong Mao nods, before it raises its paw, licks it and then presses the wet, covered in saliva hand right onto your forehead. When his fur makes contact with your skin, you feel [i]something[/i] enter your body. A strand of energy you can't quite describe nourishes your insides and, suddenly, your whole perception of the world changes. *gosub_scene inv_scene mh_advancement "Alright. I'm done. Good luck, punk." That said, the panda falls on its back and, in seconds, begins to snore. *goto after_panda #"Draw me a tattoo." "Draw me a tattoo." — you state, causing panda to nod its giant head. "Very well." — it replies, before uncomfortably shifting and, in a human-like gesture, scratching its neck with its paw — "But the procedure will be painful. [i]Very[/i] painful. You'll have to be restrained in order not to mess up the process. And there is a… risk of death." *label tattoo_accept *choice *hide_reuse #"Risk of death?" "Risk of death?" — you ask. "Yes. For mortals of the tribe, there's about 70% chance of their bodies rejecting the tattoos' powers, their flesh exploding from the incompatibility with Inner Energy. For you, that risk is lower. But it still exists." *page_break "So? Are you willing to do it?" *goto tattoo_accept #"What? No, I don't agree to that!" "What?" — you exclaim — "No! I don't agree to that!" Your refusal causes Xiong Mao to snort, its bestial face grimacing in derision. "What, you are afraid of pain?" — the panda sneers — "How pathetic. Go away then, you don't deserve anything from me." That said, the panda falls on its back and, in seconds, begins to snore. *goto after_panda #"Fine." *set tattoo true "Fine." — you grunt — "How are you plan-" The panda leaps, much faster than you would imagine it could, and pins your limbs. It's heavy, giant body presses you down, and, to your surprise, you find you are unable to budge the beast at all. "I have a few options for you to choose from." — the panda's voice says, before a series of images form inside your mind. *label browse_tattoos *choice #Dragon Tattoo. A tattoo that fully covers your left sleeve, depicting a large, winged, fire-breathing dragon. Dragons are known for their terrifying physical might and the tattoo of one will give you some of their strength: for the cost of [b]10[/b] Inner Energy, you can temporarily raise all of your physical attributes by [b]3[/b]. When in need, you can ignite the tattoo, destroying it forever, but gaining a short burst of infinite, endless power in return. Reduces your Inner Energy capacity by 10%. *choice #Choose Dragon Tattoo. *set mc_stamina_total mc_stamina_total*0.9 *set mc_stamina_total round(mc_stamina_total) *set mc_stamina mc_stamina_total *set mc_tattoo_dragon 1 *goto tattoo_chosen #Choose something else. *goto browse_tattoos #Tortoise Tattoo. A tattoo of a turtle shell on your back. Tortoises are known for their impenetrable defenses: for the cost of [b]10[/b] Inner Energy, you can reduce the next incoming damage by [b]2[/b]. When in need, you can ignite the tattoo, destroying it forever, but gaining an impenetrable defense in return. Reduces your Inner Energy capacity by 10%. *choice #Choose Tortoise Tattoo. *set mc_stamina_total mc_stamina_total*0.9 *set mc_stamina_total round(mc_stamina_total) *set mc_stamina mc_stamina_total *set mc_tattoo_turtle 1 *goto tattoo_chosen #Choose something else. *goto browse_tattoos *selectable_if (mc_trait_1) #Phoenix Tattoo. A tattoo of phoenix's wings on your chest. Phoenixes are mythical beasts of healing and rebirth: for the cost of [b]10[/b] Inner Energy, doubles the effect of your regeneration. When you are near death, the tattoo will ignite by itself: it will be destroyed forever, but you will be resurrected at full health. Reduces your Inner Energy capacity by 10%. *choice #Choose Phoenix Tattoo. *set mc_stamina_total mc_stamina_total*0.9 *set mc_stamina_total round(mc_stamina_total) *set mc_stamina mc_stamina_total *set mc_tattoo_phoenix 1 *goto tattoo_chosen #Choose something else. *goto browse_tattoos *label tattoo_chosen The panda nods and barfs out a huge brush, with steel blade-like strands instead of bristles. Oh-oh… *page_break You think, at some point, you had blacked out from the sheer agony: it felt like the tattoo was being drawn not on your skin, but engraved onto your very soul. Nevertheless, you withstood the pain and, glancing at your new source of strength, hope that it was worth it. The panda have already fallen onto its back and started to snore. *goto after_panda #"I don't want anything." "Oh?" — the panda's expression lits up — "And why is that?" *choice #"I don't need anybody's help." You snort, crossing your arms. "I don't need anybody's help. I will reach the peak on my own." The panda widely grins. "Alright, little Lord." — it chuckles — "I'll enjoy watching you." #"I don't trust you to mess with my body." You snort, crossing your arms. "I don't trust you to mess with my body." The panda chuckles. "Careful *if mc_sex = 0 boy." *else girl." — "I have no intention to harm you, but think as you will." #"I don't have to tell you my reasons." *comment edit relationships You snort, crossing your arms. "I don't have to tell you my reasons. You are just a beast, after all." The panda scowls. "Just a beast?" — it growls — "Fine. Do as you wish." That said, the panda falls on its back and, in seconds, begins to snore. *goto after_panda *label after_panda *if (goshan_dead) Since you have — totally by accident — killed Goshan, you spend some time asking around who's the second most respected person in the tribe. Turns out, 'Goshan' was not a name, but a prestigious title. 'Goshans' are trained since birth to lead the tribe, taught all its sacred knowledge. Sure, there is a 'spare', a hunter that has also been trained to speak empyrean and has relation to the previous elder. But the warrior is nowhere as capable as the old man before him. Left without a choice, however, you pick him to be your new Goshan. He's on his knees, bowing before you. "Thank you, holy one, for this opportunity!" — he cries out — "Goshan will not let you down!" With a roll of your eyes, you wave your hand. "Walk with me." *else *if (tattoo) *comment check if goshan was present with the panda before. It yes, edit it out Noticing your tattoos, Goshan grins. "The sacred drawings suit you, holy one." The sheer pain from these 'sacred drawings' still clear in your mind, you just wave your hand in response. "Walk with me." *else Seeing Goshan waiting for you as you exit, you wave your hand. "Walk with me." Goshan nods and readily matches your step. "Holy one," — he begins — "I'm sure you possess knowledge beyond my understanding, but there are a few things I feel I need to explain." "Your main goal is to attack other tribes and, by any means necessary, get their relic fragments for yourself. There are multiple ways to do that, ranging from a simple, but brutal and effective frontal assault to more covert robbery or, if you wish not to spill the blood of your people, you can even try diplomacy." "Keep in mind, however, that other tribes will no doubt do the same. They will attack us, infiltrate our ranks and scheme to gain the possession of the key. To prevent that, you must either train my tribesmen to be more capable and of help to you — or recruit new ones, either from other tribes or from your own people." "But out time is very limited, Apostle. Scriptures say that after your arrival into the world, you'll have about two months to assemble the key, before terrible things will begin to happen." By the time Goshan ends his speech, you've already returned to the tribe hall. Goshan then points to the building and bows. "If you need me, I'll be inside. Come and talk to me, if you have time. I can provide you knowledge both about the world and about how to manage the tribe more effectively." He then gestures to a large tree house almost straight above the hall. "We have cleaned the Sacred House and readied it for your use. Don't hesitate to call on us, if you need anything. Go and rest for now, Apostle. We'll start our ascension path tomorrow." He gives you another bow and leaves, entering the tribe hall. You look towards your tree house, various thoughts running in your head. [i]These would be very interesting two months.[/i] *page_break *goto_scene expedition_free