[LP CYOA] 傳

[Nevill]

I am in doubt whether to go alone, or take them with you. The only one who has a sneaking skill worth anything is Jing, and the choice states that's what we will be using.

What would be the plan in C2? Will Cao'er go with us, too? I can't imagine her not trying to. I hope Song Lingshu does not have a grudge against her - the girl is as close to saint as it gets.

Seeing Jing, Lingshu, Jiutian and Yandi in action should be quite interesting, knowing the relationship dynamics between them.

I guess we can try to persuade the Wudu Cult to assassinate him for kidnapping Qilin, but if he has profitable plans for them, they may ignore us.

If he had profitable plans for them, he wouldn't have continued to keep her hostage against her will to help in the negotiations. No, I don't think he has anything good in mind for anyone here.

And C2 only works if the others come with you, if they say no because they're, oh I don't know, they're orthodox and their place is with the sect heads, or they want to protect the rest of the sect? It becomes C1 pretty quickly.

It is pretty obvious that the sect heads - well, Nie Wuxung, at least - want Qilin free so they could bail. Or at least so that they would have one worry less.

 

[Smashing Axe]

A>C1 Screw this guy. Screw the fire cult.

Also we're skilled enough to sneak Qilin out without taking away much needed fighters from the fight with this asshole.

 

[Nevill]

Also we're skilled enough to sneak Qilin out without taking away much needed fighters from the fight with this asshole.

When we are talking about a fight of this caliber, Bai Jiutian and Song Lingshu are but moths.

None of them have participated in the battle of the masters at Heihu Valley, and for a reason.

This is Youxia assassination plot again with C1.

 

[Smashing Axe]

Hardly. It's not equivalent at all.

This is more equivalent to attempting to sneak through an alert enemy city to rescue a single person before retreating. This isn't trying to take down an entire city with a band of six.

Also, numbers matter. We almost died taking on 100 poorly trained pugilists earlier. BJ wouldn't have broke a sweat. Very skilled pugilists against an incredibly powerful master, when united as a force, matter.

 

[Nevill]

This is more equivalent to attempting to sneak through an alert enemy city to rescue a single person before retreating. This isn't trying to take down an entire city with a band of six.

Hello? What part of 'assassination plot' involves taking down a city?
I meant the real assassination. The one that we decided to do alone.

Also, numbers matter. We almost died taking on 100 poorly trained pugilists earlier. BJ wouldn't have broke a sweat.

How sure you are about that?

Anyway, I do not believe for a second we can overwhelm this guy. Wang Zhengchong couldn't, and he had backup from every sect master there was. On the other hand, saving Qilin is completely within the realm of what is possible for us.

The numbers are the same as then. We have the Saint to replace Zhengchong, and three of the sect masters, while they have their Lord and two of Amesha Spentas.

 

[Smashing Axe]

This is more equivalent to attempting to sneak through an alert enemy city to rescue a single person before retreating. This isn't trying to take down an entire city with a band of six.

Hello? What part of 'assassination plot' involves taking down a city?
I meant the real assassination. The one that we decided to do alone.

Oh, I thought you meant when we voted to take down an entire city because we didn't want to assassinate a spy/assassin. Anyway, I voted to take BJ with us on that assassination mission every single time and I don't think the current situation is equivalent. Yes, it's riskier without backup, but taking away that backup is very costly to the effort to take down that fire cult dick.

Also, numbers matter. We almost died taking on 100 poorly trained pugilists earlier. BJ wouldn't have broke a sweat.

How sure you are about that?

Anyway, I do not believe for a second we can overwhelm this guy. Wang Zhengchong couldn't, and he had backup from every sect master there was. On the other hand, saving Qilin is completely within the realm of what is possible for us.

The numbers are the same as then. We have the Saint to replace Zhengchong, and three of the sect masters, while they have their Lord and two of Amesha Spentas.

treave said BJ could do it without issue earlier.

If the numbers are the same as then, then surely adding three highly skilled martial artists, rather than taking them away from the main battle, would tip the scales to the side of the Orthodox?

 

[Nevill]

They are junior fighters. Their skills are not on the level of the sect heads.

This is far beyond them, which is why I think we must reditect their efforts to where they can make a difference.

 

[Smashing Axe]

They are junior fighters. Their skills are not on the level of the sect heads.

This is far beyond them, which is why I think we must reditect their efforts to where they can make a difference.

From what we've seen, they pretty much surpass all martial artists bar the sect heads. It's enough to make an impact.

A swarm of bees will kill a man.

 

[Nevill]

Why didn't they participate in the battle of the masters at Heihu Valley, then, if they could have had such an impact?

The Sword Saint can down Vahista with a flick, and Vahista can prevail over Bai Jiutian. That is the level of the fighters here.

Even the sect heads are small fries in the face of this new danger, and they have to ask for the Saint's help.

No, this is not our battle.

A swarm of bees will kill a man.

I suppose so. But then they have 150 more bees with them.

Look, we can free Qilin. I know it. We ought to try.

I can't help but think that it is too early to take on a man who is stronger than Wang Zhengchong. Even if we make him back down, we would do so at Qilin's expense. The second chance to free her would not present itself soon while the Lord will be watching.

 

[Azira]

We don't know exactly what went on at that battle. We don't know what's become of the other sect heads, only that Ahura here seems to've escaped the cliff falling. The other sect heads might have survived/escaped as well.
We don't know how it all went down. We only have some shocked eyewitness accounts.

What we do know, is that the Sword Saint just saved Jings life. And that Jing has previously made the difference in a battle against someone more poweful than him. Jing doesn't need to land the killing blow, but if his presence helps in the fight, the odds are better that Ahura gets taken down.

I'm sticking with my choice of A.

 

[profreshinal]

C1

Fighting Ahura without the sword saint seems pretty pointless and I think the sword saint is just going to watch this first fight before he goes in. This fight however is an excellent distraction to get close to Qilin. C1 over C2 because C2 feels more likely to get in to a fight and starting the big battle again and C1 is the sneak in use fire powder and let qilin run to safety.


"Madam Nie will not be pleased if Chi Qilin dies here." Does this mean Nie wuxing is Qilin's step-dad?

 

[asxetos]

Going for C2.
The battle that will take place in A is definitely out of our league but we do have a chance against the Amesha Spenta if we bring company.

 

[Nevill]

And that Jing has previously made the difference in a battle against someone more poweful than him.

When was that? Are you talking about the Ashina camp?

Jing doesn't need to land the killing blow, but if his presence helps in the fight, the odds are better that Ahura gets taken down.

That's my whole point. He is in another weight category altogether.
If we free Qilin, we can at least untie Wuxung's hands as to what he can do next. That is where we can help.

We don't know exactly what went on at that battle.

Oh, we know enough to connect at least some dots. Wang Zhengchong couldn't hold his own against the man, and the other sect heads rushed to his aid. That should tell us where the man stands, power-wise.

 

[asxetos]

Nevill, we can make a difference in A because our purpose would be to provide a target for the Fire Lord. This could give a fighting chance to the other masters to flank/surprise him somehow, because we are one of his main objectives it seems.

 

[Azira]

The fight against Yang Xue. That man's definitely out of Jings league, yet Jing, Qilin, Cao'er and the eunuch took him down/pacified him together.
Something similar could happen here. Or Jing could die horribly, it's true. I just don't want to see Jing flee from this man who just tried to kill him, without trolling him a bit first at least.

 

[Nevill]

Nevill, we can make a difference in A because our purpose would be to provide a target for the Fire Lord. This could give a fighting chance to the other masters to flank/surprise him somehow, because we are one of his main objectives it seems.

But then the Saint, their only hope against the Lord, would have to protect us, because no one else can. He is plain faster than us.

Before you can drop into a fighting stance, Ahura appears right in front of you, traversing the intervening distance with a single step. He looks down at you with a sneer, weighing you down with the pressure of his full attention.

Cao’er squeaks in a panic. You feel your limbs becoming heavy: his strong qi is of an oppressive nature, and you struggle to shake it off.

His fists blur.

I'd rather not be his primary target. It is suicidal.

The fight against Yang Xue.

It was not a serious fight. The man was amusing himself, and wasn't actively trying to kill us.
This does not even compare.

The madman leaps back, giggling. “You learnt it. You learnt the feet just by reading! That is smart of you, young one. Very smart. Why not stay and learn more? Just give me an arm from one of those girls. Maybe a leg.”
[...]
Your foot cuts through the air, aiming for his temple while he is still distracted by Qilin’s attack. Even without eyes he realizes what you are doing. His arm is raised to block well before your attack arrives. “Using my own feet against me? Good! I will indulge you for five moves!” gloats the madman. You land your kick squarely on his forearm. Leveraging your body’s movement according to the Wuying Leipo technique, you use your position to push off from Yang Xue’s block. You circle around in the air, gracefully turning your movement into another kick launched from the other side of his body. Yang Xue dodges with a laugh, leaning back just enough that your foot scrapes the side of his chin. You hook your leg backwards, striking into his chest with the back of your heel. He does not budge, but again you push off by using his body as a stepping stone. “That is three moves!” he shouts.

Do you see anything like this happening here?

I just don't want to see Jing flee from this man who just tried to kill him, without trolling him a bit first at least.

How about Jing caring for Qilin enough to place her safety first and his pride second? Do you see it?

Besides, sneaking unwilling concubines out of the Lord's harem is awesome trolling.

 

[Azira]

If Jing had gone directly to Qilin in the previous choice, he would have placed her in even greater danger (she would actually have died). Why is now different? Ahura wants to keep her. If we try to free her, we might inadvertently put her in greater danger.

 

[Anabanana]

Ahura will be preoccupied with fighting the orthodox masters. This is probably the best chance we'll get to free her without Ahura swooping in and killing us all.

 

[Nevill]

Now is different because their Lord is busy, and that places Yunzi at the top of the Fire Cult's command chain.

Ahura wants many things, it does not mean we have to oblige him.

Get Qilin out and send her to her family. His beef is with us, not with her. Oh, and sick the Wudu Cult on them, too. It never hurts to.

 

[SirArvedeth]

A. Let's hope Zhang Jue is on the way ^^

 

[Azira]

Ahura isn't the only dangerous person present. The vahistas for instance. If we try to abscond with the person Ahura has just claimed to want for a concubine, we might endanger her even more. Even if it isn't Ahura that we'll be facing directly.

If we want Qilin to be safe, we need Jing to stay away from her right now. We need Ahura to disappear.

 

[Nevill]

We need Ahura to disappear.

It is not going to happen. If we win against him, he will crawl back to whatever hole the Cult is stationed at right now and take Qilin with him.

Amesha Spentas are a fight of our caliber. Not necessarily Jing's, but Bai Jiutian and Co. can beat them.

If we try to abscond with the person Ahura has just claimed to want for a concubine, we might endanger her even more.

He ordered to keep her safe for him. They will not dare to kill her. After all, she can be reclaimed from us only if she is alive.

We do not only want her to be safe, we want her to be free, as well.

 

[Azira]

Alive does not mean unhurt. I stand by my vote. Qilin is resourceful. If we give her the opportunity, in any way, she can make her escape on her own. If we can help her, that's fine. I just feel we help her better right now by trying to help take Ahura down a notch.

We're all just delaying for ZJ to show up, right?

 

[Nevill]

Alive does not mean unhurt.

Except it does:

“But do not worry,” continues the Temple Lord, “she will not be harmed now. You have my word on that."

That is what C is, giving her the opportunity to escape. How can you help her better than trying to break her free, I have no idea.

I also have no idea what are you delaying for. Zhang will show up anyway. Whatever the outcome will be, this will not be resolved once and for all.

 

[Elfberserker]

Lets try to analyze the immediate battle a bit before voting.

Big players and other battle influencing things :

- Firelord.

So far seems to be most powerful fighter in the ring currently, but he just fought other greats so I assume that he still isn't recovered to full strength. Still he seems fairly confident and has powerful inner strength. I assume it's safe to think that Firelord and Amesha spenta warriors are used to teamwork in battles

-Powerful Amesha spenta warriors.

I think there were two of these guys or were there three? Neverthless they were powerful enought to survive battle between greats and the explosion. Not only that they seem to have teamwork advantage over their eight sect counterparts.

- Sword saint and one of legendary ten swords

Sword Saint seems to be only one who can go one on one against firelord from orthodox side. Not only he is greatest swordman of his generation, he also has one of ten legendary swords to make him even more formidable than he already is.

- Hueshan, Kunluin and Taishan sect heads.

These guys are great fighters and I think each of them are about in level of powerful amesha spenta warriors more or less. Fortunately Hueshan guy has one of legendary ten blades to push above his weight. Unfortunately these guys aren't used to work together like their firecult counterparts.

- Vahista?

I assume he is on same power level than one of normal eight sect leader, but I am not sure if he is joining in this battle.

Smaller players:

Bai Jiutian

Most likely most powerful fighter outside of big players. I think he could have pretty good teamwork with other Hueshan people and Miss Song. It's currently unknown how he would fight with MTP, but my personally guess is that badly.

Man-Tiger-Pig

Possible the second most powerful fighter of his generation after Bai Jiutian. He has killer techniques and has powerful inner strength compared to his peers. He is cunning fighter and isn't likely afraid to get his hands dirty nor worry about his reputation. Unfortunately he doesn't seem to work well with orthodox side nor is the Firecult is anymore intrested in recruiting him.

Yunzi.

A powerful fighter on her own right, I think it would safe to place her as third powerful fighter of her generation. She is bloody fast and has powerful inner strenght compared to her peers. She most likely has dirty trick or two in her sleaves.

Twin Flowers of Hueshan.

Good young fighters, who together can probably pose great challenges to either Yunzi or MTP. Unfortunately they seem rather naive and probably believe in "fair" fight.

Taishan Seven Heroic youths:

Specialised in fighting formation, which could be enought to tip scales in any battle as long as they keep formation.

Kunlun fighter guy.

While not most powerful guy around, He is rather crafty, focused and seem to have couple of tricks under his sleeve. Could be unexpected source of help in battle should we fight with orthodox guys.

Farmerbro.
- Physically blessed warrior who seems to have unlimited inner strength available. He was already in top ten fighters of his generation as untrained martial artis before going Wudang. Who knows how powerful he is now that he actually had proper teacher.

Cao'er.

Great ranged fighter with her pressaure points knowledge and with her perception. She seems to mainly use ranged techniques, but she does have unarmed ones as well from her Emei days.