[LP CYOA] 傳

[Esquilax]

Well, regardless of who we are, it would be pretty improper and dishonorable to abandon a one-eyed cripple in need of medical attention, regardless of our reputation. If you see a gangbanger bleeding on the street after a shootout, you still call the ambulance to pick him up, you don't leave him to die there. On the other, Qingcheng lowered their standards for acceptance into their sect in the name of profit when Song Jiangke was around, so Lingshu's disciples might not be as trustworthy as she is.

Nevertheless, I'm not in the mood for taking chances anymore.

Flopped to A1

And for healing, it's almost impossible to fully recover by the challenge now. You could hope that Cao'er gets her hands on some golden fox leaves. That'd be very helpful.

No way, Xiahou Yu owes us. He should get them. treave, would Yu know where golden fox leaves can be found most readily? I know they're extremely rare regardless, but he'd probably know where they grow at least. Of course, Cao'er would have more knowledge on the subject, but I'm assuming he still has some knowledge of herbalism.

 

[Nevill]

Heh, I guess karma does play an important role in this LP. We have killed the agent in the Mansion, because it was the easy way out, and got punished for it. We spared Song Lingshu despite what both of our Masters have told us, and she came to our rescue in a pivotal moment. 'Easy' choices will eventually bite us in the ass, while the ones that have no apparent benefit might save it one day. But that never stops the butthurt, does it? I bet if we didn't murder Li's man, people would be laughing at how our stupid weakness cost us our 'cover'.

Similarly, I believe once Yu helps us out of another predictment, half of those who are jeering now will change their tune.

On the current choice, I don't think we have a luxury of not accepting the escort. The question is, are we afraid to reveal our identity? What Lingshu is going to do once she learns of our past? She won't hurt a paralized man, and there are others on our team who need her help, so she may still agree.

A1 for now.

Oh, and let's task Yu with finding a golden fox leaf or two when we get back to the Emei. I think we've earned it.

Edit: Huh. I swear I didn't see the Esquilax's post above.

 

[SirArvedeth]

Not really sure what to vote on. On one hand, A seems reasonable, as we are an easy target in our current state. Escort gives us higher chance of surviving on a way to Emei. However, whole situation stinks to me. I mean, head of the sect appearing out of nowhere, exactly when we could use some help. What kinda cought my attention is this little thing:

“I am not one for exaggerated talk. It was nothing, I was just following the principles of justice that my dear father taught me – to help the people wherever I go.” Strange, that is not what you know of him. Song Jiangke probably did not practice what he preached.

I'm not so torn apart between 1 and 2 in case we agree to be escorted. There is a chance she might not be really delighted with our identity, but lying to her is even more risky. Because of that, I'm not even considering voting on A2, as it is imho inferior choice when compared to A1. Rather, the question is - can we trust her?


EDIT

Well, regardless of who we are, it would be pretty improper and dishonorable to abandon a one-eyed cripple in need of medical attention, regardless of our reputation. If you see a gangbanger bleeding on the street after a shootout, you still call the ambulance to pick him up, you don't leave him to die there. On the other, Qingcheng lowered their standards for acceptance into their sect in the name of profit when Song Jiangke was around, so Lingshu's disciples might not be as trustworthy as she is.

Actually, after reading what Esquilax wrote, it makes more sense not to tell her who we are. Immediate flop to A2.

 

[Esquilax]

Heh, I guess karma does play an important role in this. We have killed the agent in the Mansion, because it was the easy way out, and got punished for it. We spared Song Lingshu despite what both of our Masters have said, and she came to our rescue in a pivotal moment. 'Easy' choices will eventually bite us in the ass, while the ones that have no apparent benefit might save it one day. But that never stops the butthurt, does it? I bet if we didn't murder Li's man, people would be laughing at how our stupid weakness cost us our 'cover'.

Similarly, I believe once Yu helps us out of another predictment, half of those who are jeering now will change their tune.

Bad analogy. We got out of the Black Dragon Society HQ in one piece and with some key information on who the Imperial agent in the orthodox sects was thanks to impersonating that agent. We didn't come out of this one unscathed. The point is, barring any exceptional circumstances - like finding some golden fox leaves - we aren't going to be in shape for the tournament. Now, Yu might definitely help us out a lot in the meantime (he'll be with us at Emei, and I'm sure he can help us boost our Scholarly Knowledge and Artistic Skills further while we're recovering) but it's not quite as cut-and-dry as you're making it.

I mean, going on a solo assassination or six pugilists vs Youxia City weren't "easy" (i.e. morally questionable, if we're simple-minded enough to frame it as "morally questionable = easy") choices, and they were by far the dumbest things that we have ever done.

On the current choice, I don't think we have a luxury of not accepting the escort. The question is, are we afraid to reveal our identity? What Lingshu is going to do once she learns of our past? She won't hurt a paralized man, and there are others on our team who need her help, so she may still agree.
...
Oh, and let's task Yu with finding a golden fox leaf or two when we get back to the Emei. I think we've earned it.

I agree that she might still help, but lying ensures that she will definitely help... for now. As I mentioned before, being all alone in the unorthodox world means that there are going to be times when we have to embrace our inner hustler. This is one of them. I mean, ffs, we can't walk and we're on the run from a bunch of ruthless mercenaries, are we really going to take the chance of offending her? Fuck it, lie.

And yeah, you're goddamn right that Yu is going to help us recover.

 

[Stygian Lurker]

B2

 

[Baltika9]

The questions for this are: is Lingshu the type of person to carry a grudge, is she the type to abandon anyone in need of help? No on both counts, will think more.

 

[ERYFKRAD]

Is there a hidden stat called "humility" somewhere? Jing desperately needs to improve it...

No. No. SINCE WHEN HAVE YOU HEARD OF A HUMBLE TIGER?

 

[treave]

treave, would Yu know where golden fox leaves can be found most readily? I know they're extremely rare regardless, but he'd probably know where they grow at least. Of course, Cao'er would have more knowledge on the subject, but I'm assuming he still has some knowledge of herbalism.

Sure. If you're willing to take a two month round trip to the Tianshan Range, spend half a year up in the freezing, dangerous and deadly mountains searching for them, praying that you harvest them in the correct manner to avoid ruining their medicinal properties, and then hoping you don't run afoul of the strange and mysterious group that has monopolized the gathering and sales of the herb. Did I mention that they were very expensive herbs?

 

[Nevill]

It's okay, you're almost at Emei. Almost.

Though a safe passage to Emei might be worth a little lie. Getting there is a matter of life and death now. I guess it comes down to if we find other surprises on the road or not.

We got out of the Black Dragon Society HQ in one piece and with some key information on who the Imperial agent in the orthodox sects was.

Of course, but we did so a the whole pack of Imperial hounds, led by Gao Ying, on our tail. We are still a wanted man, despite what we have told him.

but it's not quite as cut-and-dry as you're making it.

It isn't, and I am not making it so. There are trade-offs. Take an easy route now, suffer the consequences later. Do something seemingly useless, like wasting all of your money to buy a scholar out, and get rewarded later. Karma.

Whether you think the things you lose are worth the things you gain is up to you. However, any immediate loss will produce immence butthurt.

I mean, going on a solo assassination or six pugilists vs Youxia City weren't "easy" (i.e. morally questionable) choices, and they were by far the dumbest things that we have ever done.

And sometimes a bad choice is just a bad choice. However, full consequences of a choice are rarely obvious from the get-go.

Did I mention that they were very expensive herbs?

Then let him think up a plan how to rob that cartel.

 

[treave]

Did I mention that they were very expensive herbs?

Then let him think up a plan how to rob that cartel.

You go from talking about karma to suggesting this course of action. Impressive. Surely robbing a strange and mysterious group won't come back to haunt you in any way.

 

[Nevill]

Trade-offs. What do we care, with a box of leaves in our pocket? We can fight off hundreds of men on a daily basis that way.

Should I just add smiley faces to my every post?

 

[XenomorphII]

A1

 

[TOME]

I guess we just have to trust Yu and Yunzi now. Hopefully they can keep Xiaoqi and Changfeng under control. A2.

 

[Nevill]

Yes, A2 is probably a wiser move. These matters are best not left to chance. Flopped.

 

[Elfberserker]

There is also another thing we have to think before accepting assistance, Cao'e


Interestingly Miss Song didn't put Cao'er in prison nor cut her tendons, despite Yao killing her father. I wonder what happens should the two meet face to face. Anyway flopping, because we can't take anymore risks.

A2

 

[Azira]

Not telling the truth is also running a risk. It is an unknown, so all choices carry a risk. As to which is the higher, only treave knows.

 

[Nevill]

There is also another thing we have to think before accepting assistance, Cao'er

There is also a matter of Cao'er being a sister to her best childhood fried, Yifang. Or a matter of Yao saving her life.

There are a lot of things she does not know about yet. But I don't think now is the time to tell her.

 

[Elfberserker]

There is also a matter of Cao'er being a sister to her best childhood fried, Yifang

I had forgotten all about that. That being said I read that update and Yifang said that she was a good person...Granted this was Yifang who talked about her, but that is least one person to vouch her character, even though it's word of sheltered young nun.

 

[Baltika9]

Nah, Lingshu seems the classic happy-go lucky, adorably dumb goofball that wears her golden heart on her sleeve and feels instead of thinks.

Voting B2.

 

[Esquilax]

After we escaped from Qingcheng with Cao'er, we had this exchange with one of their disciples:

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry. It won’t happen the next time. By the way, sir, why are you looking for a girl?”

“Are you new in town? She is an apprentice of the Killer Physician, who murdered our old master. She somehow escaped last night.”

“I see, I see. What will you do with her when you catch her? Will she be put to death?”

“That’s up to the mistress,” snorts the disciple. “Her master will be executed for his crimes in two days, though. You can come up to the public square in Qingcheng if you want to watch.” You bow to him respectfully. “Of course, sir. I will be there, sir.”
...
Master Yao stands in front of you, his head shaved. He is dressed in the orange robes of a monk.

“…Master Yao?”

“My name is no longer Yao Shunshi. Call me by my Buddhist name, Fayi, kind sir,” he intones.

“Are you serious?”

Yao frowns and snaps at you. “Of course not. But I’ll have to be this way until things settle down with Qingcheng or I die of old age, whichever comes first.”

“That is not the way a monk should be speaking, Shunshi.” A stern voice calls out. Looking behind Master Yao, you see an old nun carrying herself with dignity and grace. She is tall and thin, almost as tall as Yao himself – from her features, she would have been quite the looker back in the day.

“Spare me the lectures, Lihua,” Yao grumbles.

“My name is Miecao now. And sooner or later, I will be calling you Fayi. Do get used to it; after all, you promised to do so in order to be rescued,” says the nun as she approaches you.

treave, I'm assuming that everything that was done in Qingcheng was covert, correct? That is, Qingcheng simply thinks that Yao and Cao'er managed to escape from their grasp before they were punished.

There is also another thing we have to think before accepting assistance, Cao'er

There is also a matter of Cao'er being a sister to her best childhood fried, Yifang. Or a matter of Yao saving her life.

There are a lot of things she does not know about yet. But I don't think now is the time to tell her.

Yao might have saved her life back when she was a child and her father called him up, but he also did attempt to kill her a few months ago, so that's a bit more fresh on her mind, I'd imagine.

However, after considering things more carefully, there might be some merit to A1. I'd compare admitting that we're Zhang's disciple to taking a pea bargain; Song Lingshu is far more likely to help Zhang Jue's disciple because he's never done her any harm and because we are an injured person in need of aid. Basically, being known as Zhang's apprentice is way better than being known as Yao's apprentice, as far as Song Lingshu is concerned.

Also, their relations with Emei are still good, so it stands to reason that they will at least bring us there, if only because we've got the Yuchang Sword.

 

[treave]

Yup. That's also part of the reason why Miecao shaved Yao and put him in a monastery, to hide him.

 

[Nevill]

Yao might have saved her life back when she was a child and her father called him up, but he also did attempt to kill her a few months ago, so that's a bit more fresh on her mind, I'd imagine.

That part she knows about. This is why she was so determined to execute him.

The part about how her father broke his word to Yao after the latter saved her is yet unknown to her.

Her father made a request to Killing Physician, and have paid the price. I still believe that it is possible to convince her to leave things at that, but I don't think we can right now. This would be a matter for when they will call us as a witness to hear Yao's case.

 

[Kipeci]

A1

In our current state, I think Emei is just going to strip us of our sword.

 

[Nevill]

That would be a fitting way to end the chapter - a cripple without the sword, without an eye, captured by the ever watchful Gao Ying.

Fuck it, let's come clean. Let's tell her that we are ZJ's disciple. Let's tell her that we've lost an eye trying to break a prisoner out of BDS, and it is them who are after us now. Let's tell her that we got crippled trying to prevent the last survivor of her sect from going on a mission to liberate her sisters from slavery while being half-conscious.

Let's see if she wants to just abandon us, along with two women and one child, to the mercenaries and slavers.

Back to A1.

 

[Fangshi]

Well on the bright side our Strength and Agility can't go any lower...

I would say A since our group is really in no position to fight off pursuers. Both 1 and 2 could work, I doubt young Miss Song will abandon us either way given her upright nature, we are clearly in need of help. Of course Jing lies to pretty much everyone so it would be more in keeping with his character to lie here but provided we don't tell her that we were behind Yao's jailbreak she should probably help even if we tell her that we are Zhang's apprentice. And Yu seems fine with it, I am inclined to trust his judgement when it comes to our strategy...

Hmmm... A1>A2 seems reasonable (also if we can discreetly get her to swear she will help us that would be comforting, though I am not sure Jing is crafty enough for that without coming across as weird, given she seems to be the honourable type she would not go back on her word and I would feel more comfortable telling her who we are).

Also we do know someone nearby who has (or had) golden fox leaves... if we, well if we beg BJ maybe he will give them to us... time to work on that humility stat I guess....