The Dao That Can Be Taught (A Xianxia Teacher Quest)

[Leingod]

Son please

Click to shrink...

You should probably vote for it, then.

 

[Leingod]

Currently the gender vote is tied. I'll get started on the next update in something like 6-8 hours; if things are still tied up by then, I'll probably roll a die for it.

 

[peel]

[X] son
[X] Friendly and laid-back

 

[mrttao]

we always go for a female MC in xianxia stories. ever since forge of destiny. lets try a male MC

Spoiler: Tally Results

Vote Tally : The Dao That Can Be Taught (A Xianxia Teacher Quest) | Questionable Questing [Posts: 16-33]
##### NetTally 3.0.3
[X] daughter
No. of Votes: 7

Spoiler: Voters

[X] Pipeman
[X] AgentWho007
[X] Aoinfinity
[X] lurkest
[X] peel
[X] piens51
[X] shadowward

[X] Strong and vigorous
No. of Votes: 7

Spoiler: Voters

[X] LinkOnScepter
[X] BurningLaugh
[X] lurkest
[X] Metalbard
[x] mrttao
[X] Negation
[X] piens51

[X] son
No. of Votes: 6

Spoiler: Voters

[X] LinkOnScepter
[X] BurningLaugh
[X] Metalbard
[x] mrttao
[X] Negation
[X] Raron

[X] Friendly and laid-back
No. of Votes: 3

Spoiler: Voters

[X] Pipeman
[X] peel
[X] shadowward

[X] Scholarly and refined
No. of Votes: 2

Spoiler: Voters

[x] mrttao
[X] Aoinfinity

[X] Contemplative and wise
No. of Votes: 1

Spoiler: Voters

[X] Raron

[X] Haughty and regal
No. of Votes: 1

Spoiler: Voters

[X] AgentWho007

Total No. of Voters: 13

Son please

Click to shrink...

you need to put an [x] before the word son, and put please on a different sentence. that way the tally program will count you as voting for son. at the moment daughter is winning by 1 vote so it will actually matter

 

[Sickul]

[X] son
[X] Strong and vigorous

 

[Ryumancer]

[X] Friendly and laid-back

Tossing away a vote, i know, but ah well. I don't particularly care about the gender.

 

[Leingod]

Sorry for the long absence, but the sudden and immediate onset of summer heat is hell on the motivation to do much of anything, much less write. I'll roll the dice to figure out gender and then get to it, though.
[dice]22013[/dice]

EDIT: Male it is.

 

[Leingod]

[] son
[] Strong and vigorous
Whether you decided a strong mind could only reside in a strong body, you wanted to trip people up and cause them to underestimate you, or you just really wanted a strong, muscular physique, you certainly look the part of a strong warrior, wherever your actual capacity might lie.

(AN: If you do want those muscles to be for more than just show, I'd recommend taking at least a few options that will increase Constitution)

With that out of the way, we come to the question of what kind of cultivation organization you've joined, or indeed whether you've done so at all. The Kingdom of Yi is most famous for its schools, but cultivators of all stripes are found at every level of its cultivation hierarchy. Where in that hierarchy do your affiliations lie? (The stat points/social link thing in these votes doesn't lead to immediate changes in your stats, but rather changes the amount of points you can freely assign in the next vote)

[] A loose cultivator (++stat points, -social links)

You're something as rare as hen's teeth – no, sorry, as rare as qilin horns and phoenix feathers. Most independent or "loose" cultivators are nobodies; even if they manage to reach this level of cultivation or even higher, they're almost universally somewhere in the bottom rung within that stage. Even with your prodigious talent, you likely wouldn't have come this far, at least not with the deeds you've already got under your belt and the potential you've already realized, if you didn't have a much better teacher than most. Your master, whoever they are, are one of those very few independents who've "made good" and earned the respect and regard of the cultivation world, and it looks like you might well follow in those steps.

While your master certainly has their share of friends and enemies, they aren't actually from around here, and so most of your starting connections are entirely your own. The rest of the local cultivation "scene" definitely has their eye on you, but they'll let your own words and actions decide their opinions on you, a rare thing indeed for a cultivator to have.

Since your master is so important with this option, you'll get a vote to influence what they're like later if you pick this one.

[] A minor sect (+stat points, normal social links)

You were recruited by a nearby minor sect, perhaps due to one of its members being acquainted with your family. Minor organizations rise and fall in power and influence like tides and waves, often beneath the notice of established powers. But it's in the crucible that struggle for every inch of power and influence that many great sects have been forged.

In a minor sect, you're the very embodiment of their dreams of a brighter future, and they've pinned all their hopes of future success on you. You're virtually guaranteed to be the next head of the sect, and if not for the fact that it's critical for you to go out into the world in pursuit of your Dao to get even stronger, they'd probably be adamant about not letting you out of their sight or protection. There's a lot of hopes riding on you, but that also means you have their full and complete support in pretty much anything you do that isn't obviously suicidal.

Since there are so many minor sects, you'll get to vote on what yours is like if you pick this.

[] A major sect (normal stat points, +social links)

You either sought out or were recruited by one of the major sects of the region. While not as prone to rise and fall as the nigh-countless minor sects, there is still a certain amount of dynamism among those sects who acquire enough power and influence to be considered a cut above the rest and below only the "Four Pillars" in esteem. The number is prone to flux, but is usually no fewer than 10 and never as many as 20. Currently, there are 12 in all: 6 schools, 3 sects, 2 clans, and just 1 association.

In a major sect, you're still their greatest disciple, and probably at least being strongly considered as the eventual successor, but they're more thinking that you'll secure their status as a major sect for centuries to come, or perhaps even make them "first among equals" in that category. They don't entertain any hope that you'll single-handedly make a great sect out of them, that would be insane, so that's at least less pressure on you.

[] A great sect (-stat points, ++social links)

You either sought out or were recruited by one of the "Four Pillars," as people have taken to calling them now that a fourth great sect has risen in Yi for the first time. These are the mightiest sects whose base is located in the Kingdom of Yi. Each of them are treated with deference and respect by their lessers, and usually hold themselves aloof from the "petty affairs" of those beneath them, both other sects and the kingdom itself (or rather, they claim to do so), and are often engaged in cutthroat but usually non-violent rivalry with each other. The "fourth pillar" is a bit of an odd duck in that regard, though.

In a great sect, even if you join the upstart "fourth pillar," you're by no means the only "young genius" they've cultivated in this generation, though you are at least in the top 3. You're certainly still hot shit, but your sect has seen stars just as bright as yours crash and burn before, so they're going to temper their expectations, and advise you to do the same.

---X---

AN: To be clear, your actual level of overall strength/competence won't change significantly between these options (also, "social links" refers to both good and bad relationships: friends, rivals, enemies, lovers, the works). The "lower" on the totem pole you are, the more you made up for the less efficient training and resources through sheer talent and discovering things yourself, which makes you a bit eclectic and unpolished but also less predictable and better at experimenting and adapting. Similarly, while being the student of one of the greatest sects in the lands is naturally going to put you well above other options in terms of social status, those sects have a lot of disciples, and while you're certainly one of the best they've had in some time, you aren't their one and only hope for reaching new heights, so while they've got a whole lot of weight to throw around, they aren't always going to be willing to go all-in for you like a smaller sect might when you really need it. Plus, excelling as much as you have means more in terms of how much people respect your talents personally if you don't come from the super-elite sects that have a reputation for churning out the best and brightest already, as then at least some of your glory is going to be attributed to them, not you.

But then again, a bigger sect does have a lot of weight to throw around, and a lot of resources to kick your way, even if they aren't going to be willing to put all their eggs in your basket.

Further, while they'll be more fleshed out either in play or if you pick the associated option, the names of the major and great sects are as follows:

The Six Major Schools are the Hundred Herbs School, the Eight Virtues School, the Southern Immortal Star School, the Spring and Autumn Scripture School, the Water Mirror School, and the Seven Stars Sword School.

The Three Major Sects (also the "Three Mountain Sects") are the Clear Wind (Mountain) Sect, the Twin Dragon (Mountain) Sect, and the Peach Blossom (Mountain) Sword Sect.

The Two Major Clans are the Thunderbird Clan and the River Snake Clan.

The One Major Association is the Black Cat Brotherhood.

The Four Pillars are the Heaven's Rain School, the Three Teachings Sword School, the Dragon's Gate Sect, and the upstart White Lotus Sect/Cult (depending on who you ask and who's in earshot when you ask).

 

[mrttao]

I am honestly fine with all of those options

[x] A loose cultivator (++stat points, -social links)

mostly for the badass master

 

[Marlin]

[x] A loose cultivator (++stat points, -social links)

 

[peel]

[X] A loose cultivator (++stat points, -social links)

I would want these or the minor sect. I prefer not having the positive/negative Social links and expectations of the great or major options. Plus the little extra of stat points will be nice.

 

[Negation]

[X] A minor sect (+stat points, normal social links)

A Teacher seeking to raise their school/sect to greater heights makes sense.

[X] A loose cultivator (++stat points, -social links)

On the other hand, raising a student and focus everything unto him/her to ensure the continuation of our Lineage works too.

 

[Jaoling]

[] son
[] Strong and vigorous
Whether you decided a strong mind could only reside in a strong body, you wanted to trip people up and cause them to underestimate you, or you just really wanted a strong, muscular physique, you certainly look the part of a strong warrior, wherever your actual capacity might lie.

(AN: If you do want those muscles to be for more than just show, I'd recommend taking at least a few options that will increase Constitution)

With that out of the way, we come to the question of what kind of cultivation organization you've joined, or indeed whether you've done so at all. The Kingdom of Yi is most famous for its schools, but cultivators of all stripes are found at every level of its cultivation hierarchy. Where in that hierarchy do your affiliations lie? (The stat points/social link thing in these votes doesn't lead to immediate changes in your stats, but rather changes the amount of points you can freely assign in the next vote)

[] A loose cultivator (++stat points, -social links)

You're something as rare as hen's teeth – no, sorry, as rare as qilin horns and phoenix feathers. Most independent or "loose" cultivators are nobodies; even if they manage to reach this level of cultivation or even higher, they're almost universally somewhere in the bottom rung within that stage. Even with your prodigious talent, you likely wouldn't have come this far, at least not with the deeds you've already got under your belt and the potential you've already realized, if you didn't have a much better teacher than most. Your master, whoever they are, are one of those very few independents who've "made good" and earned the respect and regard of the cultivation world, and it looks like you might well follow in those steps.

While your master certainly has their share of friends and enemies, they aren't actually from around here, and so most of your starting connections are entirely your own. The rest of the local cultivation "scene" definitely has their eye on you, but they'll let your own words and actions decide their opinions on you, a rare thing indeed for a cultivator to have.

Since your master is so important with this option, you'll get a vote to influence what they're like later if you pick this one.

[] A minor sect (+stat points, normal social links)

You were recruited by a nearby minor sect, perhaps due to one of its members being acquainted with your family. Minor organizations rise and fall in power and influence like tides and waves, often beneath the notice of established powers. But it's in the crucible that struggle for every inch of power and influence that many great sects have been forged.

In a minor sect, you're the very embodiment of their dreams of a brighter future, and they've pinned all their hopes of future success on you. You're virtually guaranteed to be the next head of the sect, and if not for the fact that it's critical for you to go out into the world in pursuit of your Dao to get even stronger, they'd probably be adamant about not letting you out of their sight or protection. There's a lot of hopes riding on you, but that also means you have their full and complete support in pretty much anything you do that isn't obviously suicidal.

Since there are so many minor sects, you'll get to vote on what yours is like if you pick this.

[] A major sect (normal stat points, +social links)

You either sought out or were recruited by one of the major sects of the region. While not as prone to rise and fall as the nigh-countless minor sects, there is still a certain amount of dynamism among those sects who acquire enough power and influence to be considered a cut above the rest and below only the "Four Pillars Plus One" in esteem. The number is prone to flux, but is usually no fewer than 10 and never as many as 20. Currently, there are 12 in all: 6 schools, 3 sects, 2 clans, and just 1 association.

In a major sect, you're still their greatest disciple, and probably at least being strongly considered as the eventual successor, but they're more thinking that you'll secure their status as a major sect for centuries to come, or perhaps even make them "first among equals" in that category. They don't entertain any hope that you'll single-handedly make a great sect out of them, that would be insane, so that's at least less pressure on you.

[] A great sect (-stat points, ++social links)

You either sought out or were recruited by one of the "Four Pillars," as people have taken to calling them now that a fourth great sect has risen in Yi for the first time. These are the mightiest sects whose base is located in the Kingdom of Yi. Each of them are treated with deference and respect by their lessers, and usually hold themselves aloof from the "petty affairs" of those beneath them, both other sects and the kingdom itself (or rather, they claim to do so), and are often engaged in cutthroat but usually non-violent rivalry with each other. The "fourth pillar" is a bit of an odd duck in that regard, though.

In a great sect, even if you join the upstart "fourth pillar," you're by no means the only "young genius" they've cultivated in this generation, though you are at least in the top 3. You're certainly still hot shit, but your sect has seen stars just as bright as yours crash and burn before, so they're going to temper their expectations, and advise you to do the same.

---X---

AN: To be clear, your actual level of overall strength/competence won't change significantly between these options (also, "social links" refers to both good and bad relationships: friends, rivals, enemies, lovers, the works). The "lower" on the totem pole you are, the more you made up for the less efficient training and resources through sheer talent and discovering things yourself, which makes you a bit eclectic and unpolished but also less predictable and better at experimenting and adapting. Similarly, while being the student of one of the greatest sects in the lands is naturally going to put you well above other options in terms of social status, those sects have a lot of disciples, and while you're certainly one of the best they've had in some time, you aren't their one and only hope for reaching new heights, so while they've got a whole lot of weight to throw around, they aren't always going to be willing to go all-in for you like a smaller sect might when you really need it. Plus, excelling as much as you have means more in terms of how much people respect your talents personally if you don't come from the super-elite sects that have a reputation for churning out the best and brightest already, as then at least some of your glory is going to be attributed to them, not you.

But then again, a bigger sect does have a lot of weight to throw around, and a lot of resources to kick your way, even if they aren't going to be willing to put all their eggs in your basket.

Further, while they'll be more fleshed out either in play or if you pick the associated option, the names of the major and great sects are as follows:

The Six Major Schools are the Hundred Herbs School, the Eight Virtues School, the Southern Immortal Star School, the Spring and Autumn Scripture School, the Water Mirror School, and the Seven Stars Sword School.

The Three Major Sects (also the "Three Mountain Sects") are the Clear Wind (Mountain) Sect, the Twin Dragon (Mountain) Sect, and the Peach Blossom (Mountain) Sword Sect.

The Two Major Clans are the Thunderbird Clan and the River Snake Clan.

The One Major Association is the Black Cat Brotherhood.

The Four Pillars are the Heaven's Rain School, the Three Teachings Sword School, the Dragon's Gate Sect, and the upstart White Lotus Sect/Cult (depending on who you ask and who's in earshot when you ask).

Click to shrink...

[x] a loose cultivator.

[] son
[] Strong and vigorous
Whether you decided a strong mind could only reside in a strong body, you wanted to trip people up and cause them to underestimate you, or you just really wanted a strong, muscular physique, you certainly look the part of a strong warrior, wherever your actual capacity might lie.

(AN: If you do want those muscles to be for more than just show, I'd recommend taking at least a few options that will increase Constitution)

With that out of the way, we come to the question of what kind of cultivation organization you've joined, or indeed whether you've done so at all. The Kingdom of Yi is most famous for its schools, but cultivators of all stripes are found at every level of its cultivation hierarchy. Where in that hierarchy do your affiliations lie? (The stat points/social link thing in these votes doesn't lead to immediate changes in your stats, but rather changes the amount of points you can freely assign in the next vote)

[] A loose cultivator (++stat points, -social links)

You're something as rare as hen's teeth – no, sorry, as rare as qilin horns and phoenix feathers. Most independent or "loose" cultivators are nobodies; even if they manage to reach this level of cultivation or even higher, they're almost universally somewhere in the bottom rung within that stage. Even with your prodigious talent, you likely wouldn't have come this far, at least not with the deeds you've already got under your belt and the potential you've already realized, if you didn't have a much better teacher than most. Your master, whoever they are, are one of those very few independents who've "made good" and earned the respect and regard of the cultivation world, and it looks like you might well follow in those steps.

While your master certainly has their share of friends and enemies, they aren't actually from around here, and so most of your starting connections are entirely your own. The rest of the local cultivation "scene" definitely has their eye on you, but they'll let your own words and actions decide their opinions on you, a rare thing indeed for a cultivator to have.

Since your master is so important with this option, you'll get a vote to influence what they're like later if you pick this one.

[] A minor sect (+stat points, normal social links)

You were recruited by a nearby minor sect, perhaps due to one of its members being acquainted with your family. Minor organizations rise and fall in power and influence like tides and waves, often beneath the notice of established powers. But it's in the crucible that struggle for every inch of power and influence that many great sects have been forged.

In a minor sect, you're the very embodiment of their dreams of a brighter future, and they've pinned all their hopes of future success on you. You're virtually guaranteed to be the next head of the sect, and if not for the fact that it's critical for you to go out into the world in pursuit of your Dao to get even stronger, they'd probably be adamant about not letting you out of their sight or protection. There's a lot of hopes riding on you, but that also means you have their full and complete support in pretty much anything you do that isn't obviously suicidal.

Since there are so many minor sects, you'll get to vote on what yours is like if you pick this.

[] A major sect (normal stat points, +social links)

You either sought out or were recruited by one of the major sects of the region. While not as prone to rise and fall as the nigh-countless minor sects, there is still a certain amount of dynamism among those sects who acquire enough power and influence to be considered a cut above the rest and below only the "Four Pillars Plus One" in esteem. The number is prone to flux, but is usually no fewer than 10 and never as many as 20. Currently, there are 12 in all: 6 schools, 3 sects, 2 clans, and just 1 association.

In a major sect, you're still their greatest disciple, and probably at least being strongly considered as the eventual successor, but they're more thinking that you'll secure their status as a major sect for centuries to come, or perhaps even make them "first among equals" in that category. They don't entertain any hope that you'll single-handedly make a great sect out of them, that would be insane, so that's at least less pressure on you.

[] A great sect (-stat points, ++social links)

You either sought out or were recruited by one of the "Four Pillars," as people have taken to calling them now that a fourth great sect has risen in Yi for the first time. These are the mightiest sects whose base is located in the Kingdom of Yi. Each of them are treated with deference and respect by their lessers, and usually hold themselves aloof from the "petty affairs" of those beneath them, both other sects and the kingdom itself (or rather, they claim to do so), and are often engaged in cutthroat but usually non-violent rivalry with each other. The "fourth pillar" is a bit of an odd duck in that regard, though.

In a great sect, even if you join the upstart "fourth pillar," you're by no means the only "young genius" they've cultivated in this generation, though you are at least in the top 3. You're certainly still hot shit, but your sect has seen stars just as bright as yours crash and burn before, so they're going to temper their expectations, and advise you to do the same.

---X---

AN: To be clear, your actual level of overall strength/competence won't change significantly between these options (also, "social links" refers to both good and bad relationships: friends, rivals, enemies, lovers, the works). The "lower" on the totem pole you are, the more you made up for the less efficient training and resources through sheer talent and discovering things yourself, which makes you a bit eclectic and unpolished but also less predictable and better at experimenting and adapting. Similarly, while being the student of one of the greatest sects in the lands is naturally going to put you well above other options in terms of social status, those sects have a lot of disciples, and while you're certainly one of the best they've had in some time, you aren't their one and only hope for reaching new heights, so while they've got a whole lot of weight to throw around, they aren't always going to be willing to go all-in for you like a smaller sect might when you really need it. Plus, excelling as much as you have means more in terms of how much people respect your talents personally if you don't come from the super-elite sects that have a reputation for churning out the best and brightest already, as then at least some of your glory is going to be attributed to them, not you.

But then again, a bigger sect does have a lot of weight to throw around, and a lot of resources to kick your way, even if they aren't going to be willing to put all their eggs in your basket.

Further, while they'll be more fleshed out either in play or if you pick the associated option, the names of the major and great sects are as follows:

The Six Major Schools are the Hundred Herbs School, the Eight Virtues School, the Southern Immortal Star School, the Spring and Autumn Scripture School, the Water Mirror School, and the Seven Stars Sword School.

The Three Major Sects (also the "Three Mountain Sects") are the Clear Wind (Mountain) Sect, the Twin Dragon (Mountain) Sect, and the Peach Blossom (Mountain) Sword Sect.

The Two Major Clans are the Thunderbird Clan and the River Snake Clan.

The One Major Association is the Black Cat Brotherhood.

The Four Pillars are the Heaven's Rain School, the Three Teachings Sword School, the Dragon's Gate Sect, and the upstart White Lotus Sect/Cult (depending on who you ask and who's in earshot when you ask).

Click to shrink...

[dice]22022[/dice]

 

[LinkOnScepter]

[x] A loose cultivator (++stat points, -social links)

 

[AgentWho007]

[X] A great sect (-stat points, ++social links)

 

[Pipeman]

Man, I wanna learn about all the orgs mentioned at the end now.
Kinda makes me disinclined to go minor, so as to not get bogged down in another half dozen rival or allied minor sects I also wanna learn more about, but I'm also concerned that great sect makes it too tempting to not pay much attention to the majors.

I guess badass master is kinda cool and lets us explore stuff more organically, so I don't mind it too much.
Gonna have to think a bit.

 

[Lon]

Being a no sect means that if our student is too amazing. They can potentially bully us and steal them. Not to mention all the resources they have to throw around.

On the other end, our stats are gonna be lower than doing it ourselves and we have to contend with all the grudges and stuff that major sects get into. Not to mention all the inter sect rivalries.

It's a quandary.

 

[Kingkold14]

[X] A great sect (-stat points, ++social links)
Our stats arent going to be lower, we just have less to personally assign, so our path is a lil less customizable, having been influenced by our sect
​

 

[jake jack]

[x] A loose cultivator (++stat points, -social links)

 

[Leingod]

[] A loose cultivator (++stat points, -social links)

In the journey to reach immortality, the Imperial/Orthodox model of cultivation recognizes six major phases, usually called Realms or Stages (each of which has its own name that varies by cultivation method), each with twelve minor phases (meaning there are a total of seventy-two), called Levels and a multitude of other things dependent on specific variations (Clouds, Stars, etc.). To successfully transcend the 12th​ Level of the 6th​ Realm is to attain the status of an Immortal. The journey doesn't necessarily end there, of course, but that isn't important to you right now.

Your master is at the higher levels of the 6th​ Realm, though they've told you their (hopeful) ascendance to the status of an immortal is still at least a century or so away. With your recent breakthrough to the 4th​ Realm, their instruction and protection is going to be much more hands-off than it was in the past, but they're still keenly interested in your future progress, especially since it necessitates that you take up the mantle of a teacher early due to your exceedingly rare Dao of Origin (but more on that later).

Obviously, the influence of your master has rubbed off on you. And not just in the ways one might assume, like what disciplines and techniques you know and have received extra training in, but also in how you as a teacher are going to relate to your students. This isn't to say you'll try to mirror your master's teaching style: It might be that you want to be anything but the kind of teacher they were!

You would describe your master as...

[] Illusive and mercurial

Known in the cultivation world as the "Veil of Mist," your master is famous for their skills in deception, misdirection, and illusion. Easily bored and allergic to routine, you have no idea what your master's true appearance is, if such a term can even apply to them anymore, as they prefer to radically alter how they look at least once a week, often with minor changes from day to day, and they often play tricks and tell lies simply to stay in practice or just stave off boredom.

Your master never gives a straight answer or direct lesson if they can help it, and often engineers elaborate set-ups and scenarios to teach you important skills and applications of techniques, usually with an underlying message to never take anything at face value and to "look underneath the underneath." Though sometimes they just do it to mess with you and keep you on your toes.

[] Passionate and demanding

Known in the cultivation world as the "Heaven-Shaking Thunderbolt," your master is famous for the sheer destructive power they can bring to bear. From parts far, far west, your master claims their incredible power over the element of lightning originates from the teachings of a mighty storm god who supposedly ruled the world in ancient times. These teachings draw on reckless passion and a mighty will that doesn't bend before others, and so your master is infamously proud and overbearing, quick to lash out with their powerful spear arts and lashing bolts of lightning.

Your master believes in the maxim "Don't think, feel." Your instruction has often been in a single demonstration followed by long, exhausting spars that only end when you can successfully recreate the demonstrated technique or principle, then yet more sparring until you can do it intuitively without a moment's thought. Where most Orthodox methods of cultivation stress detachment and calm, your master's foreign teachings stress being in touch with your passions and emotions, drawing on them for greater reserves of strength.

[] Down-to-earth and practical

Known in the cultivation world as the "Jade-Armed Craftsman," your master is famous for their incredible skills in both artifact-crafting and in geomancy, a discipline that combines architecture and array-crafting to create buildings, fortifications, or other structures that function as powerful spell arrays and breathtaking works of art at the same time. Their skills are always in high demand, and your master has made no small fortune from selling their services at a premium on commissions, though you've often heard them grumble in frustration at the stifling demands of their customers.

Your master firmly believes that experience is the best teacher, and a lot of your teaching has been assigning you numerous jobs and missions of varying levels of danger and difficulty, with minimal oversight or protection. Your failures, you were often told, are even more instructive than your successes, so long as you live long enough to learn. That's not to say you were just abandoned on your own to figure things out; your master often told you everything you'd done wrong in explicit and exacting detail to make sure the right lessons were learned, and if you ever really and truly got in over your head, you were first rescued and then set to some lengthy and crushingly dull task as punishment to make sure you never made that mistake again.

[] Righteous and stern

Known in the cultivation world as the "Sky-Piercing Sword Sage," your master is, of course, famous for their swordsmanship, which is renowned for its speed and elegant simplicity (and the accompanying killing efficiency). Like most sword cultivators, they're firm and dauntless in their beliefs to the point of being hopelessly stubborn, and in this case they're known far and wide as exceptionally righteous and unyielding in the face of evil.

Your master is also like many sword cultivators in that he's an obsessive perfectionist. Your instruction has been filled with endless, repetitive drills of the same basic movements and techniques, over and over, both in swordsmanship and in virtually everything else, until your master was satisfied with your execution. Practice, practice, practice, has been the order of the day pretty much every day for you.

[] Compassionate and gentle

Known in the cultivation world as the "Life-Giving Hand of God," your master is not only a famous physician, but a deft hand in the care and raising of strong and healthy plants and animals of all stripes. And, of course, the best way to not get sick or injured is to be strong and healthy, so they know a great deal about diet, exercise, and of course, body cultivation. Though compassionate and always preferring to talk rather than fight, your master is the farthest thing from a pushover, with extraordinary physical prowess and the hand-to-hand and staff skills to match.

Your master is a very helpful and accommodating teacher, never sparing with praise when you do well and encouragement when you struggle, and firm but gentle in correcting your errors. Actual punishment was spared except in cases of actual misbehavior, like willful attempts to take advantage of their usual good nature to slack off, and their clear disappointment was far more hurtful on those rare occasions than the actual punishment itself.

[] Creative and eccentric

Known in the cultivation world as the "White Flash in the Waves," your master is renowned for three things: their multitude of artistic talents, their skill with the saber, and their eclectic, independent nature. They take up only whatever causes or jobs can hold their interest and ideally give them inspiration of some kind for some work of art.

Your master has what can only loosely be called a real teaching style; mostly they let you follow your interests wheresoever they may drift. They'll certainly give you instruction and assistance as appropriate, but otherwise allow your talents to develop organically, albeit with frequent probing questions about the paths you choose and decisions you make. According to them, this is much akin to art; one does not simply carve out a sculpture, one frees the sculpture waiting within the medium.

[] Intellectual and patient

Known in the cultivation world as the "Jade Brush Scholar," your master is a renowned polymath in various scholarly fields, and among cultivators is particularly well-known for their abilities in divination, talisman-crafting, and spell arrays. They've also collected a very large catalog of cultivation methods, techniques, etc. for a loose cultivator, though they consider most of that collection mere curiosities of little practical use to themselves.

Your master has a very methodical and organized approach to teaching, usually in the form of scheduled lectures followed by lengthy question-and-answer sessions and even assigning you homework and exams on your studies, though often with some practical element to show you how to actually apply the principles you learn. Discipline, if needed, is usually just assigning more work. Given that you're their only student, these lessons are always personalized to your particular talents and studying habits to maximize efficiency.

---X---

Your earlier choice means you have FOUR free points to distribute among the four major stats we'll be using, and none that are pre-assigned.

Current Stats: Comprehension 7, Constitution 5, Resolve 8, Fortune 6

[] Write-In where you want to spend the points

Example: Comprehension +2, Constitution +1, Resolve +1

 

[Kingkold14]

[X] Intellectual and patient
[X] Comprehension +3, Fortune +1
Scholar and intellect seem synergistic

 

[LinkOnScepter]

[X] Down-to-earth and practical

This one just speaks to me cause I like the image of us getting the Protagonist, watching them beat a big bad, then proceeding to explain how they could've killed him faster.

[X] Constitution +2, Resolve +2

I want at least one of our Stats at 10 before we start, and Con just seems fun I guess.

 

[Lon]

[X] +4 Fortune

Better lucky than good. All the treasures and crazy manuscripts are ours! Be Blessed under the heavens!

will think of the teacher type latter.
[X] Compassionate and gentle

Edit: Looking at the teaching types
[] Illusive and mercurial - the merlin, the flighty teacher who you aren't sure is serious or being a troll and has a tendency to have as many enemies as friends.
[] Passionate and demanding - shonen protag/seijuro hiko, raises people who do rather than think. Also may potentially enjoy beating you up.
[] Down-to-earth and practical - apprentice student as the unpaid intern route. Not sure if they're teaching you or just using you to do their chores.
[] Righteous and stern - Ironically the Generic xianxia teacher route, usually gets surpassed or killed off early so the student moves onto better teachers
[] Compassionate and gentle - Uncle iroh. Makes you feel like kicking a puppy. Actually can't think of a downside to this type of teacher. Almost universally very good.
[] Creative and eccentric - The hobo who aren't around except when you need help against your destined rival or something. Don't expect them to be around to save you.
[] Intellectual and patient - school teacher

 

[Marlin]

[X] Down-to-earth and practical
[X] Comprehension +3, Constitution +1

 

[Leingod]

[X] Down-to-earth and practical
[X] Comprehension +4

Click to shrink...

I should have made this clear beforehand: No stat can go higher than 10 here.

 

[peel]

[X] Down-to-earth and practical



Im going to vote for this one. However I also like the two I put under

[] Illusive and mercurial
[] Intellectual and patient

Getting 10 comprehension Would be very nice and increasing or luck to 7 Would make us more lucky We can leave being the most lucky or the most resolute to Our disciples and with 10 comprehension Even if we get a super mc disciple we should be able to comprehend what they are doing and that would help with or cultivation.

[X] Comprehension +3, Fortune +1

 

[Lon]

Getting 10 comprehension Would be very nice and increasing or luck to 7 Would make us more lucky We can leave being the most lucky or the most resolute to Our disciples and with 10 comprehension Even if we get a super mc disciple we should be able to comprehend what they are doing and that would help with or cultivation.

Click to shrink...

tbf, i imagine luck can help us luck into getting the super mc disciple.

 

[peel]

tbf, i imagine luck can help us luck into getting the super mc disciple.

Click to shrink...

Yea it would however Im assuming that 5 is the average so having 7/10 luck is in my opinion really high luck like mc probably have 7-10 luck (7-8 if they have a 10 in another stat) So my thinking is that at 7 luck we would have the luck of a minor mc or a "normal" luck MC.

 

[Lon]

Yea it would however Im assuming that 5 is the average so having 7/10 luck is in my opinion really high luck like mc probably have 7-10 luck (7-8 if they have a 10 in another stat) So my thinking is that at 7 luck we would have the luck of a minor mc or a "normal" luck MC.

Click to shrink...

I suppose, but i like 10 luck because how else are gonna find the cultivation manual that just so happens to be perfect for the mc alone that only they can cultivate and bring them to the top.

 

[Leingod]

Just a reminder: MC-level students are for much later, no matter how good your Luck gets I'm not going there from the very start.