Upgrade your account to a Community Supporter account and remove most of the site ads.
Rocket your D&D 5E and Level Up: Advanced 5E games into space! Alpha Star Magazine Is Launching... Right Now!

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Emperor Valerian" data-source="post: 2213670" data-attributes="member: 15043">We’ve followed Felonca around for a bit... so its time for Nayu’s point of view on several things...Nayu and the Scholars, and the Army Heads OutAs Felonca continued to bark orders at her stunned and not pliant command, Nayu slipped away towards the main army camp, and gave a sigh of relief.Regular soldiers will always be rowdy and out of control... even though my people might be arrogant, I doubt I’ll have to face down a drunk and rowdy scholar twice my size!  As he walked, Nayu chuckled at the mental image.When he finally cantered into the central camp of the army, it wasn’t long before he spotted an immense silken tent next to the tent that housed General Wa-Feng.  After reaching its flowered and pink exterior, Nayu dismounted, and entered into seemingly another world.The floor of the tent was covered with wooden planks, above which were laid numerous thick and luxurious rugs and furs.  To his surprise, Nayu found that the tent was divided on the inside... he had merely entered what appeared to be a foyer, and he could now hear voices muttering in hushed tones.  Following the noise, he found another tent flap, and after pushing through, he entered a large room, amply large that twenty could sit in a circle.Instead only ten men occupied the placemats set on the floor, each clad in various colors of silk or other trappings of the academic profession.  From their heads hung immense hats, beads, pearls and other trinkets dangling from the ends, each possessing an immense, flowing, and carefully manicured beard that they proceeded to stroke at every opportune moment.  All their eyes turned to him, each eye weighing, judging, examining him.“Ah, the new Zhong Wei!” one of the scholars smiled and bowed a few moments later, a move that the others echoed.  Quickly, the elderly man rose, and gestured towards an open mat opposite from the tent flap where Nayu entered.  “Please, Zhong Wei!  Make yourself comfortable!  We have tea and spice wine ready for you!”“Thank you,” Nayu bowed politely, grateful that his charges were far more controlled than Felonca’s.  Within a minute, Nayu found a warm cup of tea set before him, and the elder scholar bowed as he backed away towards his own place.“Master Zhong Wei,” another scholar, this one far younger but possessing a mane of a beard that easily stretched to his knees, and silks that made even the others seem to be paupers in comparison, “we were busy discussing Master Kongxi’s fifth element of virtue, and I am curious to see your opinion on this subject!”“Zhen Ren, our Zhong Wei likely doesn’t support your view that one can be wealthy and virtuous!  Look at Zhong Wei’s clothing!” the older man that had served the tea gestured towards Nayu’s far simpler (and practical) clothing, which while neat, was no silken palatial robe like the outfit worn by the one called Zhen Ren.  “Simplicity is virtue, Zhen Ren!”“Do you then claim that Emperor Hodi was not virtuous, despite the splendor of his palace?” Zhen Ren asked, before turning back to Nayu.  “Please, Zhong Wei, we wish to know your opinion!”Oh no... Nayu was thankful that he was sipping his tea as all their eyes turned to him.  Quick... think!  Think!  What do I know of Kongxi?Born and died long ago......basis for scholar’s arrogance...He mentally cursed for not knowing more, and his sippings of tea began to drag out longer and longer.If I say what I really think of Kongxi and what these scholars call ‘virtue,’ namely that many of them are arrogant snobs... well... I can’t do that... um... quick way out...“I am afraid I entered during the midst of the conversation,” he said calmly, somehow, someway, “and I feel uncomfortable as such placing my exposition into an already existing interplay between your illustrious persons.”  Nayu... what the HELL did you just say in Common? he asked himself as he followed the statement with a revert bow.  When he looked up, he was surprised to see faces nodding in understanding, and both Zhen Ren and the elderly scholar smiling back in return.“A most wise statement!” the elderly man smiled.“Zhong Wei is truely gifted with Kongxi’s wisdom!  It is a please to be under your command!” Zhen Ren smiled, lifting his spice wine in a toast.Nayu breathed a sigh of relief, as the scholarly conversation swept on for several more moments.  Nayu used the time to observe the ten others in his unit.  Zhen Ren seemed even more arrogant and stubborn than the average scholar.  The elderly man, who Nayu learned was named Yu Enlai, seemed stubborn but not arrogant, and the others seemed to share a combination of these characteristics.  Finally, it was readily apparent that Zhen Ren and Yu Enlai, while they could tolerate each other, were always bound by philosophical disagreements, which frequently boiled over into personal attacks.“Weichan Academy is far superior to Yuling Academy!” Zhen Ren snapped some minutes later, directly to Yu Enlai.  “At my former academy, we learned the truth about virtue, that virtue leads to wealth, and can coexist with wealth!”“You failed to fully understand Kongxi’s fifth element of virtue, as he wrote in his discussions of statecraft!” Yu snapped in reply.“Gentlemen,” another one of the scholars interceded, “Zhong Wei has been silent this entire time.  No doubt he has more wisdom he wishes to lend to our ears.”  A smile towards Nayu, before a scolding look to the other two scholars.  “You two have been talking incessantly, and likely have rudely cut him off before his tongue even left his mouth!  Zhong Wei, please... settle this debate once and for all.  What did your Academy teach about Kongxi’s fifth element of virtue?”Dammit! Nayu wanted to snap.  He’d been quietly listening, learning, but not enough time had passed for him to fully determine what Kongxi’s fifth element of virtue was, let alone be able to bluff his way through the academic blabber that was swirling about him.Finally, as he stared in confusion for several moments at the scholar’s sudden question, it was Felonca’s words earlier that day that motivated him to act.An army is built on trust!“I attended no Academy,” Nayu admitted.Looks of shock and confusion went around the room, whispers, mutterings of confusion as to how this young, thinly bearded boy with no Academy experience was now in command.“My magic descends through my family line,” Nayu continued, “it is natural and innate.  I use no books or philosophy when my magic is released... it is done purely through my own command and will.”“How is this possible?” Zhen Ren asked quietly, while Yu Enlai stared in almost abject horror.“Magic without the controlling teachings of Kongxi?  That... that is... Not possible!” the elderly man hissed.Great.  Now they think I’m some kind of freak, Nayu groaned, looking around the room.  He quickly noticed a few of the eyes were narrowing with something other than fear, however...Lovely... they’re jealous too! he grumbled.  Time to smooth over some egos...“However, I do wish I would have had the opportunity to attend an Academy.  I have some of Kongxi’s wise teachings through my life by other means, which is how I control my magic so well,” he lied, “but nonetheless, I was denied the experience of reading Kongxi’s works in person, or meticulous study with such eminent and wise persons as yourselves!”  For added effect, Nayu executed an almost full kow-tow, which promptly Zhen Ren  helped him up from.“There there... there’s no need to show us that much respect, Zhong Wei,” Zhen Ren said quickly, looking towards Yu Enlai the entire time.  “I have no doubt that Governor Ling and Shang* Quan-Shi have placed you here for a reason!”“I do not doubt that, but excuse me if my mind needs time to fully consider and understand these developments,” Yu Enlai said quickly, before bowing in return.  “Zhong Wei, your development as a magic-user sounds intriguing, if unusual.  Please, enlighten us!”You mean tell you that your lives of reading books for years and academic conversation haven’t been in vain because a young teen can lob a spell as well as you can... Nayu realized what the question really meant.“You see, I am originally from the north of the Empire...” Nayu’s story began.  He left out juicier details, such as exactly who his parents were, which exact town he was born in.  It would do no good to let them know his ancestry... they would probably go apopletic... so instead he informed them of a few of the choicer events in the past several months of his life... fighting the great white lion, decimating the village of Wang Liang, and the dethroning of the old governor.  By the time his tale was done, and a few washes of Detect Lies fluttered over his mind, the scholars stood wide-eyed before him.“Such is... amazing!  Astounding!” Zhen Ren acclaimed at the end of Nayu’s description.  “You fought Yi Mang, and lived!?”“You slew a village of giants?” Yu Enlai asked in awe.“Yes... and I look forward to see your own abilities on the battlefield,” Nayu replied confidently, before his brow furrowed slightly.  “What exactly can you do on the battlefield, good sirs?”“Well, I specialize in destructive fire,” Zhen Ren offered.  “I can create an explosion of flame some eighty feet wide... very useful for destroying formations of enemy soldiers.”“And I can send forth waves of magical bolts to slay the enemy... eighty at a time, each headed towards a different enemy soldier.  Such are the things taught even now at the Imperial War Academy in the Jade City,” Yu Enlai said.Nayu’s eyes went wide.Eighty foot wide fireballs?  Swarms of magic missiles?I need to study at this Academy!A week later, the army was finally on the move... 48,000 under arms, a little over half the strength of their expected foe.Felonca gazed back at her command, now cantering out in perfect order, their polearms at the ready, their light armor jingling, making her heart swell with pride.My command! she wanted to chuckle, reining her horse around to join the column.  It had taken back breaking work, on both her part and theirs, to get this far.  She’d submitted them to the most grueling exercises she knew from her Academy days to break them in, before molding them, training them, making them fight as a unit.  In return, she’d cajoled Governor Ling and Quan-Shi into issuing them new, comfortable uniforms, as well as regulation spears and swords.Beside her rode Sung Ojin, facing properly on his horse.  The young man had a quick mind, much quicker than she thought possible.  He’d already become an average rider, and she had no doubt that with further training on the march, he’d only improve.  His popularity seemed to have improved as well... and she noticed a small cadre of her command seemed to look up to him for his rapid ascent in ability.“Ojin?” she asked, later on that first day. “Yes, Zhong Wei?” he slowed his horse up beside her.“I have had an idea in my head for a while, something we can do with this little command.  Would you like to hear it?”“Of course, Zhong Wei.”“Well,” Felonca started, “You probably know by now that I do not have a completely typical officer’s background.”“No, Zhong Wei,” Ojin said, and by his slight smirk, she could tell he wanted to break into peals of laughter.  Only two days after she’d smashed in the jaw of the burly troublemaker, the first rumors from within Xianfung had penetrated the army camp... of how the Wa-Feng daughter had killed the previous governor and his guards, of how she was silently but deadly.  She’d noticed a sudden increase in participation and attentiveness at her drills.“Ojin... I noticed that this wing of the army has no special tactical units,” she continued.“What do you mean, Zhong Wei?” he asked, genuinely confused.“I mean,” she continued, verbalizing the idea that had been in the back of her mind for several days, “we need a unit that specializes in making traps on the battlefield.  A group of strong men that can quickly clear forests, cut wood, dug pits to make traps, defenses, and other necessities.  All on short notice.”“Yes, Zhong Wei.  That would be useful,” he said from beside her.  “For example, constructing pits and hiding them before the army so that the enemy will be demoralized?”“Exactly!” Felonca said, excited someone else understood her sentiments.  She hadn’t dared go to her uncle with her idea, and Quan-Shi was already overwhelmed.  She still had her own unit, however...“Ojin, you’ve learned extremely quickly so far... and I am very impressed.”“Thank you, Zhong Wei.”“Therefore, I’m giving you a temporary field promotion to Guan**.  I want you to find ten men you trust from this command, and organize them under your command.  After each post-march training every day, you will assemble them on the edge of our camp, and we’ll do some special training!”“Me?” Ojin sat stunned for a few moments, before he finally snapped an excited, eager salute.  “Yes Zhong Wei!  Of course Zhong Wei!”As he galloped off, Felonca turned back, and hid a smile.As Her Majesty beateth, she awardeth as well...Guan Ojin and his special command found themselves trained in surprising things.  Instead of further training in horseback riding or fighting, they found themselves trained in endurance running, climbing trees, digging and covering holes, and all other manners of ‘dishonorable combat.’  Their training continued, even when three weeks into the march Dian Wa-Feng’s column split from the rest of the army, beginning its rapid forced march towards the south.Nayu’s command gained new respect for him as well.  The young man proved himself to them as being very adept, very keen, and able to learn quickly.  He made it a goal to soak up as much knowledge of Kongxi from the scholars as possible, an effort they appreciated.  His rather humble dress and plain talk also endeared him to the foot regiments that marched in column closest to his scholars.It was during one of his impromptu conversations with them that he spotted the first sign of trouble...“Master Wakabayashi!” one of the soldiers along the road bellowed, “When are you going to get off your horse and walk on the ground like the rest of us!”  Snickers and laughs went around the unit of spearmen, their pikes wiggling in the sky as they marched.“The same time you learn that horses aren’t women, Sunyi,” Nayu replied in the most deadpan tone he could muster, an effort that was rewarded with howls of laughter from the regiment marching by as he rode.  The soldier named Sunyi loved verbally sparring with the only scholar that would speak to the common soldiers, and today was no different as Nayu displayed his wit.  He gave a mock growl towards Nayu, who merely laughed.“Why do you speak to those people?” Zhen Ren cantered up behind Nayu, his fine silk raiments hanging from his body, dripping wealth.  “They are curs, they are not on the same thinking level as us!”“Because those curs are our comrades, and one of them might very well save my life in a fight,” Nayu rejoined, before turning to face the richer man.  As he did, though, he caught sight of something behind them... something that made his heart race.That is an enormous cloud of dust... Nayu thought.  As Zhen Ren started to complain about Nayu’s actions again, the sorcerer raised his hand, his mind focuses on calculating the last time they’d seen Quan-Shi’s columns.Three weeks since we left Quan-Shi’s columns...  no... that’s not Quan-Shi...  He squinted, shielding his eyes from the sun as he looked at the cloud on the plains below and behind them.  And the cloud is equally large on either side, and the front looks to be facing us......someone... or someone’s army... is following us!“What is it?” Zhen Ren asked, as Nayu turned to him.“Ren, ride quickly to the front,” Nayu reined up his horse, “Tell General Wa-Feng that there’s a massive column of dust behind us!  I think we’re being followed!”= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = *Shang = General.** Guan = Sergeant.The magical effects the scholars described are ‘War Scale Spells’ as described in Dragon magazine (I don’t know which edition for sure... Nayu’s player has the magazine right now, for obvious reasons).  The spells are indeed, larger and more powerful, in return for extended caster times (I believe the two above have casting times of one minute each).</blockquote>

Verification