Within the State of Fa, located just by the border with Lin, stands a sturdy walled city. Constructed hastily over two centuries ago, the material of choice within Mazan are large, uneven blocks of Basalt, each larger than two men. Tremendous cracks run through many sections of the wall, and repairing them is a constant effort.

Due to its brutalist appearance, residents of Mazan have long been scoffed at by the beauty-loving Krissh. Even some of those who have lived their lives protecting - and being protected by - these very walls may wish they could at least look a little bit nicer.

---

A young woman stands alone atop these very walls, gazing contemplatively to the East at the rising sun. Her posture shows she is unafraid of the fifteen-foot fall, clearly confident in her equilibrium.

The woman's face is unadorned by makeup or ornamentation, quite unusual for a Krissh with even a handful of Wei to their name, yet she possesses a sublte, all-natural beauty. Her jet-black hair flows wildly behind her in the fresh wind, funneled upwards by the large wall. The first light of day catches her hair as it flows through the air like wisps of smoke.

It makes for a serene scene.

Or it would, rather, if not for the scrunched up and annoyed look on her face. Normally, she would not show this kind of expression, as she is a very well-mannered young lady. However, she is alone at the moment, and something has been on her mind.

The problem is her father, the master of this fortress, and the general of the entire Fa army. He has been acting strangely lately, avoiding her - and not just because of the amount of work that has been dropped on his shoulders after the recent kerfuffle at the Interstate Council.

Well, it's more than a kerfuffle - but that is not what the woman - one Zhao Li Hua - is worrying about right now.

Her father and her have always gotten along. While swordfighting is not a traditionally feminine activity in Kri Tan, Li Hua's mother, Zhao Fei Shi made a large change in the attitudes, at least in Fa, regarding female swordsmen - swordswomen, perhaps.

This was accomplished with her incredible skill with the blade, her beauty - untarnished even when soaked in blood, and her marriage to the general of the Fa army...

Unfortunately, Fei Shi died after a failed excursion to the south. She had been attempting to bravely rescue the captured members of her unit, and her husband had been unable to stop her - nor martial any support for such a supposedly 'unimportant' misson.

In the end, she never returned from Pangi Chuyou. Her body had been retrieved, showing she had died in battle. Terrible, but preferrable to the fate of the few poor souls who have actually returned alive from those demonic lands...

When her mother had died, the young Li Hua had been heartbroken. And yet, her father had not been there for her. That was the first - and to his credit, the only - time she had been let down by her old man.

He once drunkenly confessed to her that seeing her had been too painful for him, as she reminded him so much of her mother. He had also apologized, though he had been half-asleep at that point. Despite his otherwise great constitution, Zhao Jiugong could not tolerate alcohol.

It had been a long road, but she had forgiven him, at least mostly.

He had certainly done his best to make up for it, aiding and encouraging her in her dream to become a master of the sword. He had never judged her for this choice, but had also not made her feel like she had to live up to some tentative ideal that her mother had embodied. She had been her own person, with her own path to growth.

But back to the present, this conundrum dredged up old grievances. Despite their closeness, Jiugong had once again become distant with his daughter. Zhao Li Hua does not know why, and that bothers her.

Regardless of her contemplation, time is unceasing and the sun has fully risen. What will Zhao Li Hua do?

It was time to contemplate the city. Li Hua knew from her reading and her tutors that almost always things are obvious when seen with the glasses of hindsight. That always the clues and hints were there, but usually ignored. She had little doubt that the cause of her problem was known to her, even though she didn't realise it.  It was probably time to do some meditation. To clear her mind of 'what she knew' and instead look again as though visiting the city for the first time with the eyes of visitor. Perhaps this way the thing that would be obvious in hindsight would come to the fore

Lihua assumed the lotus position, her sword across her knees. Calming her emotions, stilling her body.

After taking some time to center herself she marshalled her thoughts. Replaying in her mind the recent Interstate council, thinking about nuances. Often there were messages within messages, and it took her time to pick them out. Perhaps here was the cause of the reason her father was avoiding her

There was a second strand to her internal contemplation. Li Hua walked through the city in her head. Listing the power structures and the important people. Assessing how they fight in the beaurocratic order, or the 'real politics' as her father called it. Trying to see if there was some reason she could divine, some tension that her father was protecting her from, or hiding from her. Or perhaps both. Of these people... if her internal contemplation failed ... perhaps there was the right person to go converse with. Old Lao sprang to mind. The priest who had married her parents, who had blessed her when she was a baby, and taught her to use her mind as well as her body. Originally a member of her father's retinue, he had now retired. Perhaps after this, she would go pay him a visit

As Li Hua calmed her breathing and emptied her mind, she began to consider why her father was avoiding her from a different perspective.

Letting go of her personal viewpoint, she began to move through the different echelons within the city and how they were reacting to the recent kerfuffle her father had brought back from the interstate council...

From what her father had confided in her, he believed war was on the horizon. Growing up, Li Hua had been fully aware of the power dynamic between her beloved State of Fa, and the hegemonic State of Lin they had always been made to bow to.

Now, that the possibility of physical conflict with this overwhelming foe had been put on the table, the militant Zhao family was becoming even more prominent. Her father had left and returned from the city twice already in such a short period, having been called directly to the Emperor's side.

Both times he had returned, she had tried to ambush him with questions about what had been discussed. Her father had refused to meet her eyes, a great show of disrespect when coming from a swordsman who is supposed to fear nothing, though Li Hua understood it not to be meant in that way, she couldn't help but feel scorned by it, given her proud upbringing as a swordswomen who followed the traditions of Fa.

Instead, her father had sent her to his Minister Cao, who had reported in his unbearably dry tone of voice everything that had been spoken about between Zhao Jiugong and the Emperor of Fa. Every detail she had requested had been answered, though Cao had not been present for the entire meeting.

The majority of the discussion as witnessed by Minister Cao was the Emperor and Zhao Jiugong fruitlessly arguing over what possible motives the Lin High Chancellor must have to make such an absurd request?

When it came time to discuss their military strategy in the event that Lin invades, Minister Cao and the rest of the Zhao entourage had been escorted from the throne room. This had meant that the only person in the city who could reveal these imperial secrets to Li Hua was Jiugong, but he had instead sent her to his ignorant minister... perhaps these secrets were so vital that even with his own daughter they could not be shared?

Pondering what could possibly have been discussed in that room is pointless without any way to confirm her suspicions... instead, Li Hua changes her focus...

Li Hua recalls that the mercantile activity from the west had increased since her father returned last week - which is very strange, since normally the traders of the Fen Guxi would sniff out the brewing war and stay far away...
Her father had even used to half-jokingly tell her that merchants had an even better danger sense than a swordsman such as himself.

In fact... now that she thinks about it from this angle, the caravans she had seen at the west-facing gate of Mazan had been very heavily protected by foreign-looking guardsmen.

Though the western merchants usually protected their caravans, they rarely showed up to the Fortress City. When they did, they were usually accompanied by imperial Fa knights, who had been offered to them by the Emperor himself. This practice cemented a feeling of gratitude and mutual appreciation within the western merchants, while also guaranteeing their safety on the roads through Kri Tan, since the average Krissh was more likely to understand the power of a knight of Fa than a foreign-looking guardsman. This ensured bandits would keep their distance, rather than trying their luck with the unknown factor that was unfamiliar agents protecting the merchants they wanted to rob blind.

This detail felt important, but Li Hua was not entirely sure why. How could she combine these factors?

 - The rising tension after the conflict at the Interstate Council
 - The increased caravan battle strength
 - The decreased quantity of official Fa protectors for these vulnerable merchants
 - The increased number of merchants in this unpopular city, which was a ways off the main stretch of the Fen Guxi
 - Zhao Jiugong's reluctance to speak with his daughter
 - Why had Zhao Jiugong sent Li Hua to his Minister Cao, who had only partial information to deliver to her?

Ultimately, Li Hua finishes her meditation slightly frustrated... She had made some progress into solving this conundrum, specifically when she noted the recent changes to merchant behavior - and when she had recalled that Minister Cao had been the closest to her father, yet had still not been privvy to his greatest secrets...

Li Hua had the intuition that her father was planning something... And she wasn't sure how it related to both her self and the Emperor? Surely, he was not going to offer her hand in marriage? The very idea made her snort. Her father had stopped sending her potential suitors after she had beat up the last one when she was only 12 years old. Looking back, she felt a little bad for the poor boy who had clearly been as uncomfortable as she had been with the meeting... Ah, the follies of youth!

As Li Hua comes out of meditation, her eagle eyes spot something and quickly narrow in on it... her father is out and about, discussing something with one of his generals. If she rushes from her place, she may be able to reach him before he can run away from her again! She will get her damn answers!

In the quietude of her meditation, Zhao Li Hua's mind drifted like a leaf on a serene lake, touching upon the myriad possibilities that lay before her. Seated in the tranquil corner of her chambers, she closed her eyes, allowing the gentle rhythm of her breathing to guide her thoughts through the labyrinth of scenarios and clues that had entangled her life. Her main problem were there were so many scenarios that could lead to these results. The clues were a shadow cast imperfectly by events, and many events could give the same shadows.

The first scenario she contemplated was a complex tableau of clandestine alliances and deceptive trade strategies. She visualized her father, Zhao Jiugong, deeply enmeshed in a web of secrecy, masterminding a covert alliance with the State of Lin. This alliance, she realized, might not just be a mutual understanding between the two states but a strategic union against an enigmatic enemy, possibly lurking within their own borders or threatening from afar. An enemy that the Westerners might face as well.  In this intricate dance of diplomacy and subterfuge, the bustling caravans laden with mysterious cargo were not just vessels of commerce but carried intelligence as well as the tools and soliders of war.

In her meditative trance, Zhao Li Hua's thoughts coalesced around a second, equally compelling possibility. This vision painted a picture not of internal strife within the State of Fa, but of a bold and daring attempt at liberation from the overbearing yoke of the State of Lin. In this scenario, her father, General Zhao Jiugong, was not a conspirator in a power struggle within their own walls, but an orchestrator of Fa's long-sought independence.

The unusual surge in mercantile activity, under this new light, appeared as a clever ruse for amassing resources and rallying support for their cause. The Westerners were either tools that were paid: the merchants they seemed, or were a third power her father was allying with. The caravans, frequently traversing the states, served as a discreet network for the transportation of arms and messages, facilitating a silent buildup of military strength. Perhaps the merchants were in fact soldiers moving around the countryside almost openly. The reduced presence of Fa's official protectors among the caravans could now be seen as a strategic ploy, a means to divert Lin's attention and avoid arousing suspicion. Instead, these protectors were being redeployed covertly, strengthening Fa's defenses and preparing for the inevitable confrontation with their oppressors.

Neither of these two scenarios were pleasant. And the reason for her fathers behavior towards her understandable. He didn't want to get her directly involved, worry her, and especially didn't want her to cause problems through youth and inexperience.

Of course there were nicer scenarios. It was always tempting to consider dangerous and possibly exciting ones. But often the simplest was the most likely. The Caravans could just be because of a changed policy involving trade with  Westerners. The reduced protection because they were not citizens but were responsible for their own security. Her father wasn't trying to protect her from anything but the frustrations and annoyances of any major shift in policy like this.

Li Hua contemplated other scenarios. Each of which could give the same external clues. It was clear she did not have enough information. And also clear that she didn't want to be a 'bull in a china shop'. In any of the more 'intrigue filled' scenarios her actions could be monitored, could be seized on by her father's opponents. Probably she needed advice.

It was time to visit Old Lao.

Her considerations were multitudinous and well-reasoned, but ultimately lacking in the necessary knowledge to conclude anything other than "something is happening".

Deciding not to confront her father, Li Hua stood up from the wall she was meditating on, and moved towards one set of stairs that led down from it.

Now with both feet firmly planted on the earth, Li Hua begins to move through the Fortress City, seeking out the residence of Old Lao.

---

The man had once been a vicious warrior, or so her father had told her. Even before her birth though, he had been tired of that life, and decided to retire.

Since then, he had acted as a Tanist shaman-priest. Given it's pagan nature, Old Lao had no scripture to follow and no duties he must abide. Instead, he had chosen to follow his own code, and the duties he fulfilled were ones that benefitted the community.

There had been a time when she was young, that Li Hua felt Old Lao was wasting his life. Why had he stowed his blade when there were still enemies to fight? Why was he instead spending his time speaking in riddles, making commonly-known stories appear more profound than they truly were...

Then, she had spent a winter under his tutelage, when his father had been busy chasing off some Anba raiders, who had entered Fa to steal food to feed their starving families. During her tutelage, Old Lao had grown on her. She began to believe what once seemed to be inane sophistry, was actually an old man who had begun to grasp his own deeper purpose... she envied him, but not overly.

In the end, her 'studies' had mostly been pondering on questions posed to her by the graying hermit. The rest had been spent in guided meditation, which had served her well for many years - allowing her to keep her cool during training and even the few times she had seen a real battlefield, alongside her father.

---

Arriving at a familiar shack, with run down walls and a moldy roof on the verge of collapse, yet surrounded by a well kept garden - Li Hua announces her presence at the door by clapping her hands once and speaking her introduction.

She hears the old man moving around inside, before he finally comes and opens the door.

The sight that greets her sends a pang of sadness through her heart, but it is quickly snuffed out.

Old Lao indeed looks his age... She doesn't know his exact age, but given context he is definitely her father's elder by at least some years.

Yet, he has not aged gracefully as Zhao Jiugong has. His previously gray hair is now fully white. His once-wrinkled skin is now sagging and blotted with liver spots. His eyebrows droop over his eyes, making them appear to be always closed...

Despite it all though, he smiles when he sees her. "Ah, Young Mistress Zhang! It has been some odd winters since these old eyes have last rest upon you. You have grown splendidly, it is great to see. Why have you visited this old man?"

His voice is weaker than she remembers. But, he still has that sense of serenity about him that she has never felt from another person.

The State of Fa divided life into the three thirds. Dawn, Endeavor and Wisdom. Or amoung the peasantry Growing, Toiling and Sunset. Li Hua was on the cusp of moving from the first to the second. Old Lao of course was deeply in his third: A phase all people had to go through, if they lived that long. In Li Hua's view few had done it as gracefully and well as Old Lao. She rather hoped when it was her turn she could do as well.

"To drink tea with you of course" Li Hua said easily "Let me" she settled into the familiar mini ritual of tea making. Not the formal one that might be done at court, but the one for a junior making it for a respected elder. It was generally considered impolite to 'go straight for it'. Instead she asked questions about how things were going and the management of the monastery. All useful things anyway. During it she focused on making her 'wa' calm and serene. Something helped enormously by the simple task she had undertaken, and the long practice at meditation.

As they setteled into the drinking of the tea the real reason she was here came to the fore  "I come seeking Wisdom" Li Hua explained. "I am perhaps overthinking things. I see many small matters happening, and together they mean little. But piercing them together ... well ... perhaps I am making two plus two equal twenty two. My heart is telling me to confront my father and ask questions. My head is telling me that he loves me and wishes to protect me. I don't have the knowledge or judgement to work out if is right. Or even if I am seeing ghosts where there are just fragments of mist"

"Let me explain"

Li Hua laid it out in front of him. Building up the story. Careful to say where it was fact, and where it was guesswork, as Old Lao had taught her.

OOC: two things:

1. I really like your consistent additions to Krissh culture. Generally, I will be doing the worldbuilding, but for the player's homelands it is a good thing for them to do also help design, should they wish. Just remember with future cultures it will be solely my (the GM's) role to fill.

Only thing I would change though is the 'monastery' bit. Tanism is not so much an organized religion, and has no such institutions. Small family shrines are probably the largest and most prominent, but altogether even those are rare.

2. I confess ignorance on what you mean by 'wa'.

During the preparations of tea, Old Lao's eyes seem to follow Li Hua, seemingly trying to peer into something on a deeper level. Or perhaps he's just judging her tea-making skills.

As Li Hua speaks, Old Lao nods along attentively. By the end, he is caressing the wispy beard that drapes off his pointy chin.

Once finished, Old Lao closes his eyes and exhales. When he opens them, his eyes have a strong gleam to them. He is clearly giving this matter sincere consideration.

His words however are dismissive, "Li Hua, my friend's daughter, my advice may not be taken kindly by you, but I hope you can understand my intentions. I would leave it be" he takes a sip of tea before having a brief coughing fit, but then quickly continuing

"Though I have my own thoughts on what may or may not be transpiring, I believe your father always has your best interest at heart... Though, between you and me, he is not always the wisest man when it comes to his own emotions..." the knowing look he gives you clearly references the time when your father had half-abandoned you after your mother's death. During that time, Old Lao had been very displeased with your father and had taken the initiative to keep an eye on you.

The old Tanist leans back before continuing, "With that being said, do not be misled. I am not telling you to let the old man sculk around like some sort of Pangiyu [hideous ghost / ugly soul]. It is this man's intuition that your best bet to get a straight answer is to approach him where he cannot run away" a mischievous smile appears on his face at that, perhaps Old Lao has some ulterior motives... like bullying his friend.

Finishing his tea, Old Lao says jokingly "This great one is willing to educate the Young Mistress, however he will not do so for free..." he idly shakes his empty teacup, shamelessly looking away as if it is not his own arm moving it!

"Well I miss Mother too" Li Hua said sadly "I do understand even if it hurts. Hey" she gave a little sad smile and topped up Old Lao's tea "That was then this is now. Let's see what we can do to make sure that 'now' doesn't hurt"

"I have no desire to cause Father distress, but if you think this is the best path, then I'll follow it."

"I would value your advice on my unarmed 'lower form'. There is a little section just before 'Dragon Rises out of the Lake' where..." Li Hua changed the topic to another place where the old man was strong. He had fought more foes than most, and thus knew where the arts where just 'for display' and 'for the real'. It was the latter that Li Hua wanted to learn from him.

---

That evening she acquired some of her father's favourite sweetmeats and a cup of the 'Iron Buddha' tea that Li Hua found frankly horribly, but he loved, and took them on a tray to her father's quarters and knocked on the door.

OOC: <Error on Line 7> Please refrain from using real-world religious imagery or terminology in the world of Eternal Existence!

Arriving outside her father's quarters, Li Hua notices a man standing guard. She might recognize him, but his helm covers most his face.

Despite being the daughter of the very man he protects, Li Hua is still hailed to stop by the man, though he does so a bit abashedly.

"Greetings, young miss. The honorable General is taking a much needed rest, and asked not to be disturbed."

He then sees what you are holding and his face softens slightly before steeling up again, "If you wish, I could deliver this platter to him, as well as any words you might have?"

How will Li Hua react to this turn of events?

"Could you tell him I have a message from Old Lao which has to be delivered in person" Zhao told the guard "I'll keep the platter and deliver it in person if that's OK." she indicated with her body language that the guard could go in now "Further please tell my father that it is important, and that I will be waiting here to intercept him from now until he does see me. I can be very patient. And tell him that cold tea isn't very pleasant, so he should really accept the inevitable now while the tea is pleasant"

The guard swallows and flop sweats but ultimately sighs and hands his head, turning around and entering your father's bed chambers. Immediately, you hear a muffled commotion... the old bastard clearly wasn't actually sleeping...

Eventually though, the guardsman comes out looking pale with tiredness but also a little amused. He just nods and gestures for you to enter.

---

Past the door's threshold, your father's chambers are half bed chambers and half study. The organization of the room is strange, seemingly following the principles of Tajana Wenshi (lit. Spatial Esoterica), but not properly.

A large mahogany desk sits on the middle of the left wall, occupying Gu'jan of the Nine Divisions and thus representing Earthly Order or "The Empire". This much is understandable, as this would be the site where your father racks his mind to find ways to defend the imperial military order of Fa.

However, this auspicious choice is contrasted by a four-poster bed of lavender coloration is in the far right, occupying Shi'weng of the Nine Divisions and thus representing Divine Chaos or "Ugliness"... a strange omen, if not downright bad. If anything would be placed within that Division, it would usually be a latrine or chamber pot...

Either the person who designed this room was subtly trying to place a curse on your father, or he moved it without being aware of the (arguably meaningless) significance. There was no definite proof that the Tanist superstition of Tajana Wenshi had any bearing in reality, but many folk believed it and felt it was better to play it safe.

Besides a sleeping and working area, the room is otherwise barren. This much, at least, is auspicious, abiding the general Tajana Wenshi principle that useless things should be abandoned. Clutter is avarice is folly ('kozi taepung sui'), after all.

Your father sits at his desk, though his seat is turned to face you. He has a blank expression on his face, though you can tell it was the one he wears when he wishes to appear unfazed, but actually is.

For the first time in several weeks, your father, the honorable general Zhao Jiugong speaks to you, "My little flower ('ang hua-fi'), what has troubled you so that you bring to your father his favorite tea at such an hour? I was just seeking some repose" he sure knows how to speak when he needs to.

Almost shamelessly, given the situation you both know but he is dancing around, your father grabs his favorite "Iron Glory" tea and begins to sip.

How will Li Hua begin to navigate this conversation?

"Greetings Father" Li Hua didn't let her distress at her father's state be visible as she knelt in front of him. And she had no idea whether his bed layout was magically bad in some way, but it was obvious that it needed to be moved. Which was it's own problem and perhaps not her biggest. Still she followed her planned words "I am here following Old Lao's advice."

"You raised me to think. To look at things and put together patterns. To see the inner meaning behind exterior face. I have been doing this for some days, and in the end the conclusions I have come to are worrying. After listening to Old Lao's words, I had no choice but to push through the barrier that you have created to keep me away from you. A barrier that I think is trying to protect me, but is probably having the opposite effect."

"It is obvious that the Westeners are involved. It is obvious that soon there will be a state of turmoil about to strike the State of Fa like a Tai Feng. That much is clear. Because you are distancing me, and keeping me in the dark I cannot tell who is allied with who, and who I can trust. Within days or weeks there will be chaos. Keeping me ignorant of it will not protect me. If there is punishment from failure, all your family will be punished. In the chaos we both know will be here, then without knowledge I might do things that would harm your plan"

"It's up to you Father. You can treat me as an adult member of the family, and trust me. Or treat me as a woman in the family incapable of doing more than cleaning your room and cooking. In the case of the first educate me. In the case of the second... don't distance me. Let me do those duties"

Zhao Jiugong grits his teeth, clearly in internal turmoil. Ultimately, he sighs and sags down in front of you, exhausted.

He places a hand on your shoulder briefly, before returning it. "Li Hua, my daughter, don't speak such things. You know I have always raised you to be a strong woman, as capable of protecting the family as any man... but as your father, I worry... what you have observed may not be bad signs for Fa... I cannot say more, I have sworn a Soul-Oath to the emperor"

the words are shocking. A Soul-Oath is the ultimate bond of honor in Fa culture. Though, it is out of practice in the rest of Kri Tan (except, weirdly, among some groups of Chuyoun - the last people you would expect to have any honor at all).

Indeed, if your father made such a promise to a man as important to the Emperor, it would be reprehensible to ask him for any information about your conjectures, or to listen if he tried to offer them. The mere thought of pushing in such a way is shameful, and the idea of your father breaking a promise like that is enraging. Fortunately, no lines have been crossed.

Lying about the existence of a Soul-Oath is equivalent to breaking one, so there is no deceit here

OOC: A bit more context, a Soul-Oath is slightly Tanist in nature, but basically it is secular and the concept is just that "I promise this so strongly that I am willing to sacrifice my very soul if I betray my word". Tanists may believe that breaking a Soul-Oath means a person literally becomes soulless (and thus no longer a being worthy of respect, being more similar to dirt. Literally) or that their soul will be made into a hideous monster after death, and eternally punished by the Gods.... for a swordsman and swordswoman like your father and  you, a Soul-Oath is more simple : A supreme promise on your honor. Something that should never be broken if you have any honor as a sword user at all. An oath breaker of this strain is basically shunned by their peers, regardless of their talent, loyalty or actions. It is all but impossible to reclaim your honor if it is lost this way. For this reason, it is also extremely dishonorable to request a Soul Oath, though not as much as breaking or lying about one.

Jiugong sighs, "I won't deny that I have avoided you. It is because I did not want to have this conversation, because I know you will take it the wrong way... but I must say it."

Your father looks to you, weakness evident in his eyes, and even his posture. Disgraceful for a general, but it has always been clear he treasured you perhaps too much... You are his only close family, and vice versa. "Zhao Li Hua, your father shamefully requests that you leave the State of Fa. At least for a while. I do not know how the coming war will go, or if it will be avoided in the last minute... But even if you have been trained as a swordswoman, and your skills are up to par - you lack experience, and I don't want a war with Lin to be the place where you have to acquire it."

He sighs again - he is doing that a lot lately - "I know you are strong. I do not doubt your strength. You are even trained in military tactics and strategy, thanks to Old Lao... that treacherous bastard... setting me up like this... Ahem! Anyways, what I am saying is some things can only be learned through experience. You are but twenty two in your years, and you have only seen true combat a couple times. This is partially my fault for being overprotective, and partially a problem all of Kri Tan is facing... conflict is rare in Greater Ouxia, except with the Anbai of Pangi Chuyou, who are not foes you can send rookies against... their tricks are too vicious or dastardly"

Continuing, he says "If you had just five more years of experience, I would be willing to brave the risk of sending you off to fight beyond where I can reach... after all, for most of this war I will unfortunately be pulled away from the front lines..."

Your father sits up straighter, some weight off his chest and decorum returning, though clearly he is still troubled deeply, "The sins of my past do not make it convincing, I am aware. The way I ... handled ... the death of your mother was unforgivable, and though we have moved past it I know that me trying to separate us in this way will feel terribly reminiscent of my great folly... I make no excuses, this is weakness. I am being weak when I ask you to run, but I do it anyway, because it is too fearful a prospect that I may lose you so soon."

Finishing, Zhao Jiugong the Divine General, and a tormented father, spills the last from his heart, "I do not know if this war will definitively occur... But it seems likely... And though Fa may not be as completely doomed as it may appear, your presence is insufficient to pull the tide either way. It may make me selfish, or a worse general, but I am not willing to trade your life for however many lives you could save. Your potential is  greater than most, but fundamentally you are my daughter and in my eyes that makes you more precious to me, even if it burns my soul whenever I see a man under my command die... your death before my own would kill me where I stand."

"I have ways for you to safely leave, and return as soon as it is safe again -- should you accept this shameful offer. This is all because I love you, and am too weak to expose you to war before I think you are ready"

With his words finished, Jiugong sits slightly back and awaits your response.

---

OOC: Hopefully this wasn't too confusing. This is the most prominent path for your character to meet up with the other PCs. But don't feel pressured to take it if you imagine Li Hua would definitely act differently

Li Hua felt a chill run through her at her father's words. It was only her long hours of training meditation that let her control her emotions and continue to project a harmonious 'wa'. Meditation was all about control of emotions and self in the event of social unpleasantness, in the same way that Moving Meditation or Martial Arts was all about the control of emotions and self in the event of physical unpleasantness. And this was pretty damn unpleasant.

"I am a dutiful daughter my Father" Li Hua said after some thought. "And I know that being a soldier is much more than being skilled at arms. Both of us must reflect on duty. Your's is to the Emperor, may the light of heaven always shine on him, but also to our ancestors and the Zhao family. It is your duty to ensure that the family survives. That our Ancestors are honoured and remembered. Let us spend some small time considering options and seeing if a fresh set of eyes can help chart a way through these troubled times. An hour or two will cost us nothing, other than perhaps some sleep, which you are not getting anyway. And we will stay away from anything that your Oath prohibits you discussing"

"Let us start with the basics. Do you beleive in your heart that this battle is winnable? Looking at you, you don't at the moment. You are the soul of honour, but this conflict is destroying you. You have to start beleiving that. And acting it" she gestured with her hand to the bed "For example whether it is superstition or not, you know that the people who tend you accept that to be 'a bad thing'. You sleeping there affects them, and it is probably not helping you sleep. It is the work of a single command to move that bed to a more auspicious place and that will affect all those around you. And it can be the first step of that affirmation that you can win. 'Sleep is a weapon'. You taught me that. You need that weapon, and that means you need to give that command"

"For our family to survive, one of us two must survive. If I ease your mind by making myself safe, then I will do that. There are other options too. I am reminded of the 'two son strategy' that you have explained to me in the past, where in the event of a civil war there is one son on each side of the conflict, by 'disowning' one of them. There is a variant with just one Son, where one side is doomed but honour requires staying and fighting for the loosing side." she knew her father could not and would not instruct her to follow the obvious version of this that would apply to her: she marry into a family on the other side of the conflict, but from his body language she would know if this was what he actually wanted.

Zhao Jiugong listens attentively to his daughter. When she is finished, he responds to her words.

"Whether the battle is winnable or not changes little... as you have been taught, sometimes one has to fight regardless... In the current situation, we have little to gain by fighting even if we win, but it is highly unlikely Lin will seek to eradicate Fa no matter the outcome, and it is not honorable to surrender before a fight has even begun... The best we can hope for is to endure against Lin - an inarguably superior enemy - and prove Fa is a respectable force that is worth more consideration than we have previously been shown... The worst we can expect is Lin summarily defeats us and demands back-breaking reparations. In that case, we will end up in a state not dissimilar to Mau's own."

The State of Mau is widely known to be in an extremely bad condition, ever since the last Divine War. It is hard to imagine Fa in such a state, but it is nevertheless better to suffer than be completely wiped away...

Fa is a very military-focused society compared to Lin or Mau. The minor states of Khatong and Tsi'ur are comparably skilled, but far smaller in scope and significantly less honorable and disciplined. Of all the states, Fa probably has the best chance of fighting Lin, though it is clear they could never achieve victory in such a way... Even if all it's neighbors fought against it, Lin may very well survive in the end.

"As you know, since I told you this when I returned from the Interstate Council, the initiative is on Lin's side. Fa will not be attacking Lin, we are not suicidal. This is all in preparation for the case where they attack us... I truly cannot understand why the High Chancellor made such a blatant non-starter of demand..."

When it comes to the topic of the bad omens of his room, Jiugong nods pridefully at Li Hua for noticing this, then he says something surprising.

"Though you are not wrong, daughter, that my spirit's strength has suffered due to my inner conflict, do not begin to think Zhao Jiugong has become so useless... Even if I am in such a shameful way, that does not preclude me from using that very disgrace to put on a show..."

His words are strange, but he clarifies his implications in a mere whisper, and they are very shocking indeed, "While I do not believe in that particular superstition, I am aware that many of my company do. Indeed, it is bad for morale to be seen allowing myself to rest in such a position. Several of my company have any pointed that out."

He gives a vicious smile then, one that reminds any who see it why Zhao Jiugong is not just some brute with a sword, "I told them to leave it. Do you know why? Because I still have not found the one who arranged the bed in the way in the first place... such a thing could only be the act of an ignorant fool or an aspiring traitor, and now is no time to have those in our mix." The idea that a traitor could exist so close to your father is terrifying, but the idea that he would keep his enemy so close on purpose (before he could strike them down)... well, it very much seems like a thing he would do. Daring and insane, but also genius and efficient

OOC: Apologies if I misunderstood this next part, I am not 100% sure what is being described here. Feel free to  correct me and I will edit this part of the post

Your father visibly shudders at the idea of sacrificing you either in battle or by handing you off to the enemy's family. Zhao Jiugong simply whispers, "No." but its enough to make the room feel like its shaking, not that it is.

Clearly, he has no intent of using you as a mere pawn piece in this war... It makes sense, as Zhao Jiugong has always raised his daughter more as a successor - or at least as a supremely talented general should he ever have a diligent son to inherit - than a disposable princess to be married off as a bargaining chip.

One time, when you were just 8 years young, your father had come back steaming, and years later he had told you that one of the worthless princelings from Tsi'ur had suggesting such a thing, and he had beaten them senseless befoer an entire company of men could pull him away. The cries from the scion of Eifen for your father to face punishment had met deaf ears, as the presiding Lin chancellor had simply scoffed and said even if he had been killed, the Divine General was more valuable to Kri Tan than any number of princes of his caliber.

Your father had probably know that before he allowed himself to lose his temper, it is hard to believe he would let his emotions control him to such an extent, even if you were undoubtedly the one thing he would not see tarnished by others' words... It was possible that you were even more important to him than his honor, which was already clearly more valuable to him than life. Li Hua may or may not be unsettled by the idea that her father would sacrifice his honor for her sake... it's not something a good warrior would do... and being a warrior was a more important identity than being a father...

The older she got, the more Li Hua realized even seeming paragons were complicated - and weak in various ways. Not that Zhao Jiugong had ever admitted Li Hua was a weakness of his... he preferred contextualizing her as his greatest strength that must be protected. Maybe Li Hua even believes this.

Then again - Going back to that incident - it was unclear if Zhao Jiugong was really able to restrain himself even if the situation had demanded it. Nobody had tried even implying such a thing afterwards, clearly worried that the generally brilliant and calm Zhao Jiugong would truly lose his rationality in the face of such a veiled insult, making it meaningless to rile him up like that since it would endanger the party delivering the bait.

The fact that nobody had tried didn't just reveal that most could not properly grasp the Divine General's character, but it also showed that he had at least enough respect to not be treated as someone who had to be poked and prodded until his bottom line was found.

In the present - Zhao Jiugong speaks again, "Enough of that, daughter. We both know I would sooner-- no never mind it. What else do you think is pertinent to consider?"

So far, the conversation was going steadily, and Zhao Jiugong patiently awaited his daughter's next words, clearly in a better state than he had been when she first entered... though many shadows still danced across his heart, Li Hua could tell.
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:34, Thu 04 Jan.

"There are strong arguments and weak arguments father. Most of yours are strong and I will concur with them, but the bed argument is weak. It makes no difference to finding the traitor and it makes a big difference to morale. And to me. We all have to do things we don't want to do. I am going to leave you. I want you to move that bed. Consider it a parting gift to me, because it matters to me that I know you are sleeping where the latrine pot should go."

"Since I am leaving we should discuss matters of family survival. In a war people die. What is the plan should that happen to you? How long should I be away? Where do you suggest I go? What is the 'official reason' for the leaving? Is there a way that I can help the war effort by leaving: for instance delivering a message"

Zhao Jiugong frowns at his daughter's first statement, and quickly speaks up.

"The argument is not weak, daughter. A swordsman does not move uselessly!"

After a moment of quiet, he relents slightly, "... Even if it is slightly weak, I feel I am making progress. However, if it is your wish, I will see it done... I have other ways to weed out traitors, this is just the... least intrusive"

Well, looks like there might be a bit of a purge now...

After Li Hua's next words, Zhao Jiugong speaks up. "If I die - which is not a likely outcome, mind you - you will inherit the family name and all that entails. Old Lao will help guide you for as long as he has left... you will also need to prove your worth to the Emperor. I have done my best to speak your merits, but he is hesitant to entrust the army of Fa to... someone so young. And other things." clearly your father is referring to the fact you are a woman. It seems even the emperor is not free from the traditional beliefs. Though, given how well your father has spoken of him - it should be possible to move him over, if you can make a case.

"Forgive me, but I have already established plans for your departure. I will share the details with you when thew plan becomes necessary... As for an official reason... Well, the Emperor doesn't need to be informed of every last thing..." it's not technically treacherous, but your father quickly adds, "Honestly, I find it hard to believe he doesn't already know of my plans. He likely knows and just doesn't care. He would rather let me move as I wish to ensure I can work my best without extra stress when the time comes."

For his part, your father thinks quite a lot on the last part of Li Hua's words... "In truth, there is nothing particuarly you can help with where you are going... Let's just say, it will be quite far. For that reason, if you truly wish to help your homeland, which I know you do... Consider learning as much as possible while you are away. It may prove beneficial in the future, depending on what you come back to."

Your father nods, and quickly it becomes clear he is actually quite tired.

"If that is all, daughter, then permit me to retire. Ah, but first, let's relocate this bed... Hm.... if I remember the philosophy correctly, a bed is best placed at... either Jan'ban (lit. Midsouth, tl. Underworldly Balance), Shi'ban (lit. Southeast, tl. Underworldly Chaos), Jan'ur (lit. Middle Middle, tl. Earthly Balance) or Jan'weng (lit. Midnorth, tl. Heavenly Balance)"

Jiugong pauses for a while, before proposing with a smile to Li Hua "What do you think is best, daughter?"

OOC: In the Nine Divisions sytem, Jan'ban represents "Rebirth", Shi'ban represents "Forgetfulness", Jan'ur represents "Nature" and Jan'weng represents "Life"

Rebirth is fairly self-explanatory. It is also the least practical place to put a bed, since it is technically right in front of the door (though you have some wiggle room, depending on the ratios between other objects. For Jiugong's room, since there is only 1 other significant object, it is not a big deal to push the bed back a bit while still keeping it in this 'division')

Forgetfulness is not always a bad omen. It can also represent healing from mental trauma. Specifically in the context of a bed's placement, Forgetfulness can refer to a deep and peaceful sleep every night, where dreams are 'forgotten' upon waking

Nature represents many things. For context, Earthly Order is Empire and Earthly Chaos is Warfare (warfare also extends to ideas like 'savagery' and 'suffering' but also things like 'triumph/victory' or 'revolutionary inventions')

Life represents many things as well. For context, Heavenly Order is Beauty, and Heavenly Chaos is Ugliness. Thus, Life represents a mix of the beautiful and the hideous. Just another apt Tanist metaphor. In the context of a bed specifically, Life probably refers to baby making.

---

OOC #2 - Congrats! You are all but done with your Prologue :-)

If you have anything else you wanna do around the city before you are spirited away, LMK :-)

"I will do my filial duty in this father. I don't like it, but if it is your wish" Li Hua and with a tiny smile pointed to the corner for 'Life' A not so subtle hint that her Father should find a wife. With a little bow she stood in that graceful way without touching the floor that the young or well trained could do.

"I will stay away for up to five years or the end of the war. If the war sounds to be still going on at the time I will no longer be the untrained person I am today, and will be able to help more properly without causing you distress. I expect you to have found me a husband by then Father, because without that how can the family continue"

"Until then farewell"

Zhao Jiugong embraces his daughter in a great hug.

When they separate, he looks her in the eyes. "You're the most nobly beautiful daughter I could ask for. I hope it doesn't come to it, but I acknowledge your filial piety."

OOC: Beauty in this case refers less to appearance and more quality of character. This is common in a Tanist context - which have the core tenet of admiration of all kinds of beauty, physical or otherwise

With that - Zhao Jiugong and his daughter depart, perhaps for the last time...

---

Days pass without any confirmation about the subject of their discussion. While she does occasionally see her father around, and he always makes sure to smile at her or make small talk - it is clear the man is so busy he probably isn't even getting sleep.

Then, one day in the early morning, Li Hua wakes up in a start. She feels like a presence has recently been in her room.

Nothing is disturbed, except for a letter has been left for Li Hua, which is encased in a golden envelope

Upon opening the envelope, the letter reads:

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)

quote:

Dearest Li Hua,

If you are reading this, our fears have come to pass.

The Emperor has called for me. It is time for war with the Lin.

Please follow these instructions, as we have discussed:

 - I have directed Minister Cao to visit your room at the setting of the sun, ensure you are there at the time of his arrival.
 - Follow Minister Cao, he will bring you to the individuals I have selected to escort you.
 - Once you decide to finish traveling with them, which must only be once the sights around you become wholly unfamiliar, and you are far, far from Fa, tell their leader your wishes for where you want to go, and he will fulfill them as part of our agreement. Also decide on a place where you two can meet again in the future.
 - Be careful, and learn what you can about the region, or spend the time practicing your martial arts and meditation, but keep in mind there will be none to properly train you.
 - If after five years have passed and you have not been contacted by one of my agents, return to the place previously agreed upon and the man will escort you one last time back to Zhulon

I wish for your success as you wish for mine. May Fa and the Zhao family triumph over all obstacles!

With deepest love and greatest faith,
Jiugong

---

---

Is there anything Li Hua desires to do before dusk? Or will she simply wait for the Minister's arrival?

Li Hua had spent a lot of the time with Old Lao. Discussing where to go, what precautions to take. Listening to his wisdom, and hoping that she didn't make her own fresh mistakes that were the same ones he was warning against

One thing was clear: she should disguise herself as a boy. Much easier for ladies of the east than the west. Another was where to go: along the  Fen Guxi to the west. A journey that was hazardous, but less so than most of the wilds outside the Empire. She was not without wealth so could travel with a caravan.

It was good that her father's message was in line with that plan. It meant a lot to her that he had left the final destination up to her: she'd been worried it would be 'go to the nunnery of X' which would not have been a great time!

She already had her 'go bag' arranged. Some wealth, clothes, medicine for the treatment of wounds, a few spare weapons, basic survival gear. Having time and Old Lao's advice had helped a lot. With that in mind she made sure she had a couple of Asses to carry equipment and small valuable things to trade.

According to Old Lao those that went along the  Fen Guxi  either returned with vast wealth, or didn't return at all. Li Hua was planning on doing the former.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:28, Sun 07 Jan.

By the time Minister Cao comes to visit Li Hua, she is ready and prepared with all her things. Minister Cao takes a look at everything she has decided to bring and nods along, "You seem prepared. I don't think your escorts will have any problem with you adding your burden to theirs."

Li Hua (and her two horses) are then led by Minister Cao to the western edge of Mazan. There, a small caravan is settled. Four oxen, two carriages, three strangely-dressed foreigner merchants and five heavily-armed men.

Minister Cao simply nods and wishes Li Hua luck before retreating back into the city.

The most handsome and oldest of the three merchants approaches Li Hua and surprises her by speaking in Kri Tan. He has an accent, but his speech is fluent.

"Greetings, daughter of the Divine General, Zhao Li Hua. This one is named Balshad Hamurat, hailing from Sedoria. I am ashamed, but we must cut our introductions short as your father's instructions were to leave before sunrise. I see you have brought your own beasts. As long as they can get along with ours, feel free to make your own accommodations. We will be crossing the Fen Guxi, and once we have left Kri Tan, you are free to depart from us or continue the journey alongside us, until we reach Sedoria"

With that, the respectful man nods once and begins to rouse his guard and beasts, preparing to setoff.

OOC: By 'make your own accommodations' he is referring to if Li Hua wants to ride with company in either of the carriages, or if she will mount her own horse. I don't know enough about horses to say what they are expected to do when not being ridden. Would they just follow the group? I will leave that to your consideration.

"It is a pleasure to meet you most honoured Balshad Hamurat. I look forward to your company on this trip. I don't think my beasts will be a problem. They are trained to follow, stay and even if needed be ridden. If we do not travel far in a day they can forage for themselves, but if we are traveling fast they will need some grain or something."

"I will be traveling as a man to avoid awkwardnesses. Perhaps we could go over..." and Li Hua lead the conversation into things like 'understanding the normal routine', 'who would meals work', 'who did guard duty' and similar topics

With a last look at Mazan, she tried to lock it into her memory. And then she put her back to it and took her first stps on the road her father had instructed her to take