Burger

Jianghu: Age After War

Here's my CS, with some of the alterations we discussed via PM. If I still need to change anything or if something could use improvement, please let me know! I also welcome feedback/critique from other players!

Yi Hyun-Woo

5'6"/167cm*130lbs/58kg*Eyes: Pale Amber

_{"I do not know if I have the talent to be great. I do not know if I can work hard enough to be great. But, now that my eyes have been opened to this world...I merely wish to see its horizons."}

ϟ YI HYUN-WOO ϟ

|| Age: 18 || Rank: Third-Rate || Allegiance: Martial Alliance || Alignment: Neutral Good || Traits: Soft spoken, Cautious ||

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[P E R S O N A L I T Y]

_{(Based on the 12 Jungian Archetypes)}
|| The Face: The Innocent || The Soul: The Creator || The Self: The Ruler || The Ego: The Caregiver ||

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[H I S T O R Y]

Hyun-Woo, third child of the Yi family, hails from the land of Goryeo. Among the great Taebaek Mountain Range, nestled between some of the lesser-known peaks, Yi Hyun-Woo lived in a simple, salt-of-the-earth village. In order to enter the Murim--the "branch" of Jianghu in Goryeo--one must have talent. A warrior can boast that their training, or their motivation, or their bonds among brothers, lovers, and comrades will overcome the gulf in talent all they like. The truth remains that no matter how hard one works, no matter their drive, if someone else works just as hard but has a smidgeon more talent, the second warrior will inevitably surpass the first. Thus the cultivation--and the suppression--of talent among each generation became a matter of life and death. Those who would pass on their arts wished for the greatest talents among their students. Those who wished to defeat their enemies despised the talents among students who were not their own.

How talented Yi Hyun-Woo might have been, is a question with no answer. For before he could even make a fist, much less hold a sword, the boy was fated to die. Born blind, his body wracked by pain and disease, the infant struggled even to breathe. Though his family held no great status or legendary feats, Hyun-Woo’s father had practiced martial arts in his youth and knew that great masters could heal the body with their techniques as well as they could destroy it. He also knew the legends of many such masters, and of these, the closest had supposedly ascended, to be called an "Immortal Sage," atop the peak of Azure Cloud Mountain.

The mountain held many dangers, and of these vicious brigands were by far the least. Hyun-Woo’s father was a man of little talent. Hyun-Woo, being expected to die before he reached two years of age, had not even received a name. Yet, for this nameless child, somehow a man of no talent ascended the mountain. Past the blue mists, above the swirling snowstorms, he climbed until his hands and feet were raw and covered in his own frozen blood. There, at the top, he did not find an Immortal Sage immersed in meditation.

He found only bones.

And yet, among the martial artists of the world there are many strange practices. Alchemy that infuses the spiritual energy of nature into medicine. Plants grown for a thousand years, devoured to increase one’s strength. Swords that can bewitch their own wielders. For those who practice forbidden, demonic arts, even cannibalism can be seen as a path to power...

The marrow of those bones saved Hyun-Woo’s life. Though still blind, and still frail, he lived. Though he required a cane, he began to walk. And unbeknownst to his family and village, a will apart from his own guided his steps. Over many years, it led him to move in certain ways, to breathe in rhythms, and his cane became far more than a blind child’s stick. Eventually, one moonless night, when every creature besides Hyun-Woo became just as blind, the ache in his bones drew him to the peak of Azure Cloud Mountain. There, beneath the place where his father dug up a Sage’s bones, he found a slip of jade carved by a blade. As he sat upon the mountain ledge, unperturbed by thousands of feet of empty space below him that he could not see, he traced the carvings with his fingers. He breathed the words. And he began to Cultivate.

He sat, cane across his lap, on the peak of that mountain for some time. His stomach rumbled with hunger, but he did not feel the need to stop. He could feel the sun's warmth as it rose, and as it crossed the sky, and as it caressed his back.

A storm gathered as the blue clouds turned purple, then black. Lightning rumbled, wind howled, and a blizzard cold enough to freeze birds in flight circled the peak. White lightning descended, and in the instant between the time it left the clouds and the moment it struck the ground, Hyun-Woo’s head snapped up and he saw it.

The boy awoke to another sunrise--to the first sunrise he had ever seen. His cane, broken to splinters and charred to cinders, still pointed the way one last time. Where the lightning blasted away the stones of the not-so-immortal Sage's resting place, he found one last gift: a metal box, its seal now melted away. Within lay a book of yellowed pages, though its ink had not faded. The title read thusly:

To My Descendants - The Inheritance of the Azure Cloud, The Art of the Flashing Sword

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[M A R T I A L A R T S]

Azure Cloud Flash Sword

^{Silent Thunder}

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History and Lore

The Azure Cloud Flash Sword is a school of blade-mastery with a long history, yet one that has dwindled with time. Perhaps a century ago, one could hear heroic tales of this school’s chivalrous disciples from any traveling minstrel. Fifty years ago, Azure Cloud Flash Sword would still be known as a prestigious hall of swordsmen, producing many fine champions whose skills were deeply coveted. A score of years ago, tales of the Azure Cloud drifted here and there, shrouded in an unknown strength and mystique. Now, the name is spoken only in reference to a lost, historical art. Yet it seems there has been one last transmission, from an unknown Master to a single Disciple...

Nonetheless, this school of swordsmanship bestows its wielder keen senses and well-honed skills. Particularly in the speed of one’s draw, lunge, and thrust, it might not be hyperbole to say the Azure Cloud is unmatched. However, it is certainly not a strength-oriented sword. The straight, double edged blade favored by the style is that of a gentleman, one versed in scholarly arts as well as martial. Redirection, skillful cuts and disabling strikes, and evasive footwork are the domain of Azure Cloud Flash Sword. By using one’s inner energy, rather than external strength, the swordsman executes more advanced techniques.

Body Enhancements

• Enhanced Senses - Because he was once blind, Yi Hyun-Woo's other senses and his awareness of his environment are different from a person who has relied only on sight since birth. His nose, his skin, his ears, and even his concept of his orientation in physical space are far more sensitive than a normal person's. Azure Cloud Flash Sword's reliance on these senses--for its sword has many similarities to arts like Taijiquan and Baguazhang--has bolstered them even further. While Yi Hyun-Woo's physicality and mastery of fighting may only be Third-Rate, his senses and perception of his surroundings could be considered a half-step from First Class.
• Enhanced Reflexes - Combined with his senses, and the reliance on speed in the Azure Cloud Flash Sword, Yi Hyun-Woo has considerably faster reactions and better fast-twitch muscle memory than any "normal" person.
• Timid Presence - Having once been unable to see people, Yi Hyun-Woo never learned any subconscious need to BE seen by others. His personality is certainly quite docile, but he isn't anti-social; nonetheless, this quality makes it hard for him to stand out in a crowd. That is a terrible disposition for anyone who wants to become famous or practice leadership. But it can be quite surprising when a young man with a sword speaks up at your shoulder, and you have no idea how long he's been there. If Hyun-Woo actually wants to be stealthy, he's much more adept at hiding himself because he takes into account more than just not being seen.

Equipment

• Wumei Jian - A mundane sword of steel, forged by Yi Hyun-Woo's own father. After his son was healed, the man ceased practicing martial arts entirely and put all of his focus into the art of smithing. A regular village blacksmith by birth and trade, he had only practiced martial arts when he thought he could rise up to take on the world. But now he used that knowledge, along with long years of practice, to craft this weapon when his son returned from that mystical journey on the Azure Peak. The sword has five layers instead of three, with softer plates added to its central ridge to increase its durability--it has better flexibility when clashing against other weaponry, but still holds a keen edge.

Cultivation Base

• Azure Cloud Flash Sword's Lightning Arc Method - To the layperson, when one thinks of "Cultivation," one thinks of "drawing in" the Qi through breathing, meditation, alchemical pills, or other methods. That Qi is gathered, sometimes in enormous amounts, before a process of "refinement" begins, and the refined Qi is built up in "layers" or circulated through the body in a specific way, or otherwise altered from its natural state through "condensation." And with large amounts of condensed, purified, properly flowing Qi, one gains great power.
  
  Through the Lightning Arc Method, however, the process of "drawing in" and "purifying" the Qi is, in a sense, simultaneous. Though not completely free of impurities until later on in the Cultivation process, the raw energy is simply "split" into two rough masses--"positive" Qi, and "negative" Qi. It is unclear whether the Azure Cloud Flash Sword's masters intended these readings to mean the same thing as "Yin and Yang" or as "good and bad," or "clean and unclean," but whatever the case the art's practitioners are taught very specifically to separate the Qi into these two categories.
  
  The Positive and Negative Qi is then circulated through the body in a fashion like most other Cultivation Arts--the Cosmic Circuit, the Three Furnaces, the Twelve Principles, the Eight Extraordinaries, etc. However, the key of the Lightning Arc Method is that the two Qi Masses are kept in a specific alignment throughout the body: When Positive Qi enters the right side of the body, Negative Qi is entering the left side. When Positive Qi travels downward along the Cosmic Circuit into the Lower Dantian at the base of the Conceptual Vessel, Negative Qi is traveling upward along the Governing Vessel to enter the Upper Dantian. It requires the practitioner to maintain specifically rhythmic breathing, and to keep track of two circuits at once--there is no question that, for a beginner, this rhythm will falter. Thus, developing mental and physical reflexes is paramount--if you are certain you cannot avoid every failure in life, then you must learn to react to those failures as efficiently as possible.
  
  The interplay of the two Qi types, and the philosophy behind the method, informs all techniques of the Azure Cloud Flash Sword. Many martial artists demonstrate their prowess through "explosive movement." They let out a great shout or exhalation, move with an almost mechanical efficiency of the body, and unleash the most power possible, through the smallest impact point possible, to the weakest target possible, as quickly as possible. There are certainly many techniques within the Azure Cloud Flash Sword that still utilize this concept--but Lightning is different from Fire. It does not burn constantly. And unlike Water, it does not "flow" smoothly. It builds within the clouds, and then, in less than a blink, it strikes the earth, arcing in jagged spikes and straight lines! It is when the breath of the Azure Cloud Flash Swordsman becomes still...the Positive and Negative Qi crash into one another, like a line of little children marching in place when the leader suddenly stops. And this clash of two opposing natures produces, in a single instant, a power that is not only their two strengths "added" together, but "multiplied" by the catalyst blade!

Techniques

• Earthward Step - A method of the “Walking and Breathing” practices used by many martial arts. The Azure Cloud’s method relies on the body’s natural rhythm of tension and release, both for the user and the opponent, as well as straight-line, high speed movement. For an instant, the swordsman may even seem to disappear from sight. Hyun-Woo can only travel a short distance at a time with this technique, but it is one of the most well-practiced in his arsenal.
• White Lightning Snake Fangs - This sword form teaches the Azure Cloud disciple to strike from any position like a coiled snake, to be ready at all times. From the scabbard, no matter where it is in relation to the user’s body, the swordsman must be able to draw and cut with a single motion in a fraction of a second. It requires extreme flexibility of the arm, straining the joint if used too many times in succession.
• Drifting Storm Cloud - A defensive form that must be practiced for long periods at a time, because it informs a great deal of Azure Cloud Flash Sword's ability to deal with enemies if their lightning-swift movements fail to dispatch the foe within the first instant of combat. Like some forms of Taijiquan, it allows the opponent's sword to make contact, and then reacts to their strength or redirects it. Yi Hyun-Woo has also incorporated his experience of using a blind man's cane into this blade, making his own sword into an extension of his senses. As a result, despite being a subsidiary form, it might be said that this is currently his most effective mode of fighting.

ϟ

@Zeroth

No real changes; it's good. You're free to put him in the character tab.

The only thing for clarification for everyone (it's not really that big of a deal) is that jianghu, gangho, wulin, and murim are all interchangeable terms to describe the martial world, not necessarily like a branch type deal. It's pretty much just Chinese vs Korean versions of the same word, with wulin/murim having the more flowery connotation. Part of this is honestly me not wanting to keep track of 4 different words for the same thing.

Jianghu: Age After War

@Zeroth i will fully review this later today (within like 16 hours)

I would like to join, but for now, what is the goal? Basically rebuilt whatever clan our character choose or is aligned with? And what is the limitation (I.E Can we create our character in any of the factions involved?).

@Restalaan

Characters would probably have some kind of personal goal they're working towards. It could be rebuilding their clan, it could be getting revenge for the death of someone from the war, it could just plain be exploring the world. The overarching goal of the story hasn't really been finalized since I plan to work around the initial group of characters, but it would generally involve accidentally becoming embroiled in a conspiracy about the war and figuring out some answers about the war.

In regards to faction, Almost, yea. You can have your character be of any faction. Martial alliance, recusant, scattered Heavenly Demonic Cult, independent. The only limit is probably currently being aligned with the Devil Clans, since that would paint a massive target and be a little unwieldy. Former Devil Clan is fine though. The main thing is that your character should, in theory, be able to wander in a theoretical neutral zone within the Jianghu and not be iced on the street.

Jianghu: Age After War - A wuxia interest check

@Kidd@Feyblue@POOHEAD189@Salsa Verde@Zeroth@SilverPaw@Taka@Dead Cruiser@Moon Man

An OOC has been made. Partially because I just realized I was editing information in 3 different posts, so I should probably not do that.

Anyone who didn't show up for the interest check, it's still open.

And oh hey, there's a discord too. I don't think it's fully required, but it's going to be the fastest way to reach me.

Jianghu: Age After War

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx	xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Current Head of the Martial Alliance Sword of Falling Stars Au Yeung Min The granddaughter of the previous head, Au Yeung Min is one of the few profound masters that remained after the war. Wielding a 10-jin blade, she holds the title of being one of the strongest in the jianghu. Her brutish strength is the object of fear within the jianghu. In the wake of the war, Au Yueng Min didn't reunite the alliance based on her bloodline; she took the position of head by force. While cruel and impatient, she is bound to honour. Though, this honour doesn't extend to the sects she believes has become corrupt.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx	xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Current Leader of the Recusant The Sleeping Giant Lee Hyeon For the recusant who believe in strength above all else, their leader remains an anomaly. He's not nearly the strongest of his faction. Despite this, he is one of the few that the recusant will follow. While he is still a profound master, his greatest strengths lie in his foresight and diplomacy. This alongside his carefree nature has resulted in the recusant allowing him to represent each sect's will. Though, he struggles with balancing his morals alongside the desires of the many recusant factions, especially in the wake of the war.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx	xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Former Devil Clan Strategist The Mind of Diyu Shiu Mo A former advisor for the murim alliance, the man known now as Shiu Mo had thought to have been killed a generation before the war. Now the grand strategist for the devil clans, Shiu Mo was the chief strategist for the devil clans. Despite never participating in a battle, his plans and tactics brought the jianghu to its knees during the war. As he had gone missing before the end of the war, it is unknown if his plans have even ended.

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CS Guide

A character image. Perhaps a fun quip underneath.

Name:

Probably a name fitting to Ancient China or its surrounding areas.

Titles:

Would be fairly rare for most characters. A title would mean that you are of note to the entire Jianghu.

Age:

Within reason.

Rank:

Third-class to first-class. Peak at the most, if you have reason for it.

Allegiance:

Essentially who you outwardly seem to support. It could be the sect that trains you, it could be your criminal gang, it could be yourself if you're a self-trained wildebeest. Include a bit of lore/structure if it's an organization.

Appearance:

Anything not covered by your image.

Personality:

A short thing about how they act towards others/what drives them/etc.

History:

How they got to where they are. Any noteworthy events that shaped them. Past events I can hook into the overarching plot.

Other:

Trivia, things that aren't included in other sections.

Body Enhancements:

One and done things like bone metamorphosis, immunities, etc. These would actually be pretty rare for non-masters.

Equipment:

What your character uses. Feel free to skip the basics that everyone would probably have access to.

Cultivation Base:

Basically, the theory behind how your character gains and develops their qi. It could be through meditation and the balance of yin and yang energies, it could be through breathing energy and exhaling it. Basically, what is the foundation of your growth. It should generally align to your other techniques.

Techniques:

What your character can do with their qi, essentially. Some examples:

7 Vermilion Star Sword Art - A technique passed down within the Au Yeung family, this art comprises of 7 movements relating to seven mansions of the vermilion bird. It is said that masters of this technique have a radiant sword aura of white flame and each slash resembles a falling star. However, the art remains incomplete. Designed to be used within a formation alongside four other techniques, its sister arts have since been lost to time and its true power remains with its lost sisters.

Earthly Palm Art - An art designed to protect. Rather than counter or clash with an opponent's blows, practitioners of this style use their meridians to conduct, shift, and return their opponent's qi to the earth. It is said that so long as one's feet are on the ground, even a dragon can be stopped. However, the art contains numerous weaknesses. First, it remains incompatible with any killing techniques or weaponry. Second, it requires an extraordinary level of focus to shift qi. The slightest misstep could result in the destruction of one's internals.

Style this CS how you want.

[center][img]Image[/img][/center]
Name:
Titles:
Age:
Rank:
Allegiance:
Appearance:
Personality:
History:
Other:

Body Enhancements:
Equipment:
Cultivation Base:
Techniques:

Jianghu: Age After War

The World

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Age of War

Before the age of war, the major factions within the Jianghu had fought each other to a stalemate. For generations, a cautious peace was upheld. No faction wished to risk alter the balance, lest be crushed under the weight of the others. Whatever peace may have been prevalent, the time certainly wasn't prosperous. Stagnation, indifference, and petty matters were all circumstances. However, a malicious plan ruminated beneath the earth.

The peace was broken by an attack of the recusant clans. The alliance answered in kind: bloodshed led to bloodshed. Soon, the entire jianghu fell into disarray. It was war.

But it was not a war by the intention of the recusant or alliance. No, it was a plan generations in the making. The devil clans acted in silence. They infiltrated both sides. Perhaps if the alliance had been less complacent or corrupted, they could have noticed. If the recusant had a true leader, perhaps they would have been able to figure it out. But neither side had figured anything out. The devil clans had wormed into both sides and were responsible for the pretenses of war.

Though, perhaps the devil clans played their cards too early. Before a faction had yielded, they had assassinated the leader of the alliance. They announced themselves to the world and threatened both the remains of the alliance and the recusant.

Knowing that both of them were threatened and that the pretense for war had been false, the remaining leadership of both sides formed a pact. The iron concord would last until the devil clans were slaughtered. Under the promise of returning sacred land to the Heavenly Demon Cult, all three factions joined blades to fight strike back against the devil clans.

The final campaigns were brutal. The devil clans had access to power that no faction could singlehandedly match. Despite this, the concord fought tooth and nail for their survival. Countless lives were lost. Heroes of each generation had been wounded beyond recognition. Hundreds of battles were fought. Finally, it ended.

It ended. The Heavenly Demonic Master had sacrificed his flesh for the Devil God's bones. The war that had shattered the jianghu had finally come to an end.

Peace did not come. No, as each side cared for their wounds, the remains of the devil clans once again receded into the shadows. The scars generated from the war ran deep. In this uncertain time, people wonder when it will end. Though, the devil clans seem to not go quietly into the night.

The Jianghu

The Jianghu can be thought of as the entire martial world. Though, it's more of a descriptive term than an actual name. Interchangeable terms include Wulin, Gangho, and Murim. Within the Jianghu, there are four major factions. These factions had once divided the country into a stalemate with any large action resulting in a massive shift of power. Since the age of war ended, the factions are once again moving to reclaim their power.

The Martial Alliance
An alliance between the orthodox sects. The Martial Alliance and those associated with it have a generally honourable code of conduct: respect one's elders, do not involve those outside the Jianghu, fight with honor, be held to one's word, etc. However, the rigidity of the orthodox path and the generations of stagnation have resulted in corruption and self-serving. While heroes still held up the foundation of the alliance, the poisoned fruit continued to grow. Since the war, the alliance has entered a dangerous situation. The heroic roots had been wounded or slain by the war while the corrupt sects had been mostly spared. As such, the righteous stand against two enemies: those outside and those within.

The Recusant
A loose association of fallen sects, associations, and secret societies, the recusant are bound by a simple philosophy: the strong defeat the weak. Unlike the Martial Alliance, the recusant gave up their honour long ago. While the orthodox sects call the recusant evil, it's difficult to define them as such. There are murderers, but there are also flawed heroes within their ranks. If there is a criminal enterprise, it's usually part of the recusant. While they were at an adversarial stalemate with the martial alliance before the war, they have since found themselves fighting alongside the alliance. Since the war ended, the wounded recusant entered a state of internal strife. The recusant are at the risk of an ideological fracture: those who wish to continue the iron concord and those who wish for vengeance for the beginning of the war.

The Devil Clans
A broad group, the devil clans tap into forbidden methods of cultivation. Blood sacrifice, cursed weapons, and arts that corrupt the body and mind. While the recusant tend towards criminals trying to make money, the devil clans tend toward the criminals that commit unspeakable acts. The devil clans were the prime instigator of the war. The devil clans were able to break the stalement thanks to their heinous methods and strategies. A war generations in the making, they were able to inflict unparalleled damage before the rest of the Jianghu banded against them. With the primary instigators of the devil clans captured, crippled, or dead, the devil clans once again are hiding as they rebuild their strength.

The Heavenly Demonic Cult
Effectively, the unpredictable out of the factions. True to their name, they are a cult devoted to the heavenly demonic master. It's a harsh and brutal place. Brutal injury, if not death, is commonplace for disciples. While the rarest faction, members of the Demonic Cult are generally considered to be the strongest out of all of the factions. While they had joined the age of war late, they had a pivotal role in ending the war. However, they had done so at a great cost: the death of the heavenly demonic master. Now, the cult lacks leadership. They remain at risk of losing their arts as they scatter across the provinces.

Clans

This section is incomplete. It will be filled out as characters are completed. Feel free to make your own clan (or introduce classical sects like Mount Hua, Wudang, etc), their lore and any other bits.

The Luo Clan
Taoist philosophers yet not ascetics, the Luo Clan marks western Henan as their home. Believing in harmony, it is no surprise that they reside in a province in which martial warriors from both sides live in relative peace. The Luo clan enforces the peace of their territory with prudence. Those who wish to disturb the peace of the Luo's land will find themselves in danger. Though, since the war, the Luo Clan has struggled with the aftereffects.

Additional information: See Kidd's Luo Yifang

Disciples of the Wilted Lotus
Isolated deep within the northern wilds of Goryeo, the grudge-bearing warriors of the cult calls the Jugeul Forests their home. As with many other sects within the Heavenly Demon Cult, they possess martial arts that border on the demonic. The only thing stopping them from embracing the devils is their devotion towards the Heavenly Demonic Master. The Disciples of the Wilted Lotus see themselves as the antithesis of the devil clans. As such, they are hunters, assassins, and warriors living in secret within the Jianghu.

Additional information: See Cu's Bin Myung-Suk

Yuán Clan
Guardians of the Severed Peak's spring, the Yuán Clan were once a renowned family within the martial alliance. With their spiritual ability, perhaps they could have rivalled the Five Great Families had they involved themselves within the politics of the Jianghu. However, their legacy had been sullied by the age of war. They had been revealed as and fallen. Was it a betrayal for power? Perhaps they had never been on the alliance's side. No matter what the case is, those who remember the Yuán Clan do not remember them as warriors of the alliance. No, they are remembered as dogs of the devil clans.

Additional information: See Feyblue's Yuan Xiaying

Broken Mountain Sect
Located in Hunan, the deep forests and eroded, pillar-like mountains of Dayong served as a impenetrable haven to those with nowhere left to go. Known for their great strength, members of this sect primarily involve themselves within borders of their province. It is said that if there is business within Hunan, the Broken Mountain Sect is involved in some way. While many businessmen within Hunan say that it's plain racketeering, business in Hunan goes unimpeded. However, memories of the war still scar the mountains. While they had not been a participant in the early parts of the war, the alliance's offensives had been against the sect nonetheless.

Additional information: See Restalaan's Xiao Shan

Iron Fist Sect
A recusant clan located in the heart of Hefei, Anhui's capital. The Iron Fist sect rules the streets of the city. (I should actually fill in more here, but that comes if we go to Anhui. Just know that they're kinda assholes.)

The Immortal Tools
The founding philosophy of the Immortal Tools is that the body is the tool of the immortal soul. And to shape a tool, it must be hammered into shape, honed, and maintained regularly. The Immortal Tools practice mental dissociation, allowing themselves to subject their bodies to cruel training that can strengthen them much faster than a healthier, less extreme regime would. But through this, they become masters over their bodies, and are often undeterred by pain. The Immortal Tools are an intellectual sect, often pursuing and discovering new ways to train themselves, and do not have a fixed style. The founder of the Immortal Tools believed that as long as the sect members focused on their techniques, they did not need to engage in the politics of the jianghu until they were powerful and ready, so for much of the sect's history, they have been isolationist and defensive, only occasionally drawing the ire of sects of the Martial Alliance. But their willingness to try out their techniques on living people, blatant disregard for tradition, extreme practices, and lack of a moral philosophy puts them squarely among the Recusant Clans.

Additional information: See Stern's Sheng Qingling

Locations

Henan - It's split down the middle, baby.

Martial Knowledge

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Cultivation, Qi, and Martial Arts

In its most basic form, martial arts comprises of three actions: the conversion of energy to qi, the movement of qi through the meridians, and the application of qi through martial techniques. Thus, there are effectively three different types of techniques a martial warrior needs to know: cultivation techniques, qi techniques, and martial arts.

Cultivation techniques are fairly simple. Simply put, all cultivation techniques focus on the creation of qi from energy. This energy comes in many forms. Yin and yang, the five elements, and bagua are all common frameworks to cultivate energy. However, the esoteric nature of this energy makes it difficult to prove what are correct as all of them allow for cultivation. While simple, cultivation techniques are the most important for a martial artist; every other technique relies on the process of turning energy to qi in the dantian.

Qi techniques revolve around the movement of internal energy through the meridians. Thus, they are normally more passive than martial techniques. Things such as body strengthening, regeneration, and more would be here. The primary difference between a qi and martial technique is that a qi technique does not need a target.

Martial techniques involve battle. They include things such as weapon arts, sound arts, assassination arts, etc. Martial techniques are extraordinarily broad and cover a great extent.

Internal arts and external arts are also classifications, but they're more broad. Internal arts focus on strengthening qi, the mind, and the spirit. External arts focus on strengthening the body.

Generally, a single person has a narrow set of techniques. The more broad techniques they possess, the worse off someone usually is as conflicting energies, conflicting movements, and more issues develop.

On the more supernatural powers:
It's a bit complicated and case-by-case. Generally, stuff like shooting fire and doping belong more to the devil clans/heavenly demon cult. Generally, manifesting any sort of qi effect in the real world belongs to masters and higher (though gifted first-rates can also do so).

Sword (or weapon) qi is pretty common among martial arts. It's basically making your weapon glow and bew reinforced. Generally, only masters can do this. However, if a weapon and non-master are perfectly suited to one another, manifesting sword qi without being a master is possible.

Ranks

Martial warriors are generally divided into 7 ranks based on their strength. Of note, these represent the most common walls a martial artist faces on their journey. Generally, each rank. However, they are not truly indicative of strength. While a transcendent master will almost always be stronger than a peak master as they are further along in their journey, there has been times where someone of lower rank has defeated one of higher rank.

There is an invisible rank for those who belong in the jianghu but have yet to begin to fight. The majority of this group are young disciples of sects who have yet to become warriors.

Note that these terms aren't exact. A first class disciple is the same strength as a first class warrior. The difference is a disciple is implied to be under the tutelage of a sect. In addition, someone who is a Peak Master is in the peak realm. Similarly, an unrestrained master is in the unrestrained realm. It smooths out a lot of sentences.

Third Class Warrior - The wall of cultivation.
The first level of those who belong to the martial world. While they are the lowest rank of martial artist, there are still basic requirements to being a third class warrior. Primarily, the ability to cultivate and sense qi or, at the bare minimum, be equivalent in strength to someone that can.

Second Class Warrior - The wall of willpower.
Stronger than third class, a second class warrior is seen as strong enough to lead a small group of third class warriors. They are experienced and strong, but nothing in particular stands out. As a result, the first wall is generally one of willpower to reach this point.

First Class Warrior - The wall of talent.
They are stronger than second class and usually have defining characteristics. However, they are still weaker than someone that has mastered their martial art.

Peak Master - The wall of mastery.
The strength that comes with complete mastery over a martial art, peak masters are strong enough to cause waves within the Jianghu. Qi usually begins to materialize at this level, giving rise to sword qi and other similar effects. At this point, a warrior is strong enough to teach disciples within a sect without incurring the ire of others.

Transcendent Master - The wall of realization.
Transcendent masters have not only mastered their martial arts, but also gone beyond and improved the martial art they have once mastered.

Unrestrained Master - The wall of enlightenment.
The unrestrained stage is usually defined by some kind of qi enlightenment. This enlightenment is unique to each martial artist. This enlightened qi allows for martial abilities beyond understanding. Qi solidification usually happens here.

Profound Master - The wall of understanding.
The profound stage revolves around the understanding of the self and the world. It is usually at this point when one can form a sect that can rival the great sects.

Heavenly Master - The wall of the world.
The final stage is defined by one thing: the ability to upheave the balance of the world.

Misc.

Currency is comprised of coins and precious metal. 1000 Wen (a single copper coin) = 1 Tael of silver (a weight of ingot). There's also sycee (boats and ornaments made of gold/silver), but they're local and just worth their weight.

Weapons have ranks. Normal > Named > Famed > Divine/Demonic/Bewitching.

While the story has people with supernatural capabilities and events, it should generally always focus on the people within and affected by the Jianghu. Intelligent spirits, malevolent demons, and other celestial beings are very unlikely to appear.

It's been a year and a bit since the war ended. Enough time for funerals and some rebuilding, but the world is still very post-war. The war probably would have lasted around a decade with some periods being much more violent than others.

---

---

A Discord!?

While not required, the fastest way to reach me and my goblin brain is always going to be @ing me on Discord.

---

---

CS Guide

A character image. Perhaps a fun quip underneath.

Name:

Probably a name fitting to Ancient China or its surrounding areas.

Titles:

Would be fairly rare for most characters. A title would mean that you are of note to the entire Jianghu.

Age:

Within reason.

Rank:

Third-class to first-class. Peak at the most, if you have reason for it.

Allegiance:

Essentially who you outwardly seem to support. It could be the sect that trains you, it could be your criminal gang, it could be yourself if you're a self-trained wildebeest. Include a bit of lore/structure if it's an organization.

Appearance:

Anything not covered by your image.

Personality:

A short thing about how they act towards others/what drives them/etc.

History:

How they got to where they are. Any noteworthy events that shaped them. Past events I can hook into the overarching plot.

Other:

Trivia, things that aren't included in other sections.

Body Enhancements:

One and done things like bone metamorphosis, immunities, etc. These would actually be pretty rare for non-masters.

Equipment:

What your character uses. Feel free to skip the basics that everyone would probably have access to.

Cultivation Base:

Basically, the theory behind how your character gains and develops their qi. It could be through meditation and the balance of yin and yang energies, it could be through breathing energy and exhaling it. Basically, what is the foundation of your growth. It should generally align to your other techniques.

Techniques:

What your character can do with their qi, essentially. Some examples:

7 Vermilion Star Sword Art - A technique passed down within the Au Yeung family, this art comprises of 7 movements relating to seven mansions of the vermilion bird. It is said that masters of this technique have a radiant sword aura of white flame and each slash resembles a falling star. However, the art remains incomplete. Designed to be used within a formation alongside four other techniques, its sister arts have since been lost to time and its true power remains with its lost sisters.

Earthly Palm Art - An art designed to protect. Rather than counter or clash with an opponent's blows, practitioners of this style use their meridians to conduct, shift, and return their opponent's qi to the earth. It is said that so long as one's feet are on the ground, even a dragon can be stopped. However, the art contains numerous weaknesses. First, it remains incompatible with any killing techniques or weaponry. Second, it requires an extraordinary level of focus to shift qi. The slightest misstep could result in the destruction of one's internals.

Style this CS how you want.

[center][img]Image[/img][/center]
Name:
Titles:
Age:
Rank:
Allegiance:
Appearance:
Personality:
History:
Other:

Body Enhancements:
Equipment:
Cultivation Base:
Techniques:

Jianghu: Age After War - A wuxia interest check

Just to clarify, since this is more "Wuxia" and less "you thought Legendary Rank was the peak of cultivation? You've still got 13 Dimensional Realms and 72 Constellations to work through, boyo!" where do things like monsters, Demon/Spirit Beasts, or just general supernatural things like ghosts, necromancy, etc fall? Will we be sticking to mostly Street Fighter-esque applications of Qi, or is stuff like "Five Element Magic/Illusion Arrays/Summoning Arts/etc" present as well?

@Zeroth

So on monsters:

The focus on the story that I'm going for is people. I would say that while monsters do exist, they are generally just older creatures that can also cultivate (or, alternatively, just big versions of insects and stuff). I wouldn't really say that there won't ever be a more classical spiritual-type beast with human intelligence because I don't like putting restrictions on the future, but I would try to avoid it if I could.

Traditional demons and monsters from the underworld or divine figures from the heaven? Probably not. People who have turned into demons because they practice demonic martial arts and they bone and flesh metamorphosed into a monstrous form? That's a lot more in the wheelhouse of what I'm going for.

Ghosts yes, but I do hesitate for intelligent ghosts/spirits. More dying will and single thoughts, if anything. Jiangshi, yes. Even though they're dorky as hell sometimes, necromancy can fit in decently because we already have people manipulating their qi, what's a little manipulation after death.

Basically, I'm not going to hard restrict myself on anything, but the general premise is that this should be a story about the people of the martial world first and foremost.

On powers:

Illusion arrays are dope as hell as a concept and can fit in with just manipulating qi. Raw magic I would stay further away from? Yea, a lot of wuxia stuff is pretty much just magic, but most of it would fall under qi solidification which is pretty end-game (hey, I have that as the third to last rank!). Summoning, probably not since we don't have spirit beasts.

It's also pretty case by case, so if something dips a little hard into the supernatural, it's best to send a quick question.

Jianghu: Age After War - A wuxia interest check

Inspired by Volcanic Age, Legend of the Northern Blade, and, you know what, just shove every single wuxia in there. Now, while there will be supernatural elements (hey, telekinetic blades and giant snakes are cool), I would refrain from going full Xianxia. Basically, characters should be trying to become the strongest and 200,000 year immortality should remain in mythology.

Basically, the roleplay will follow a group of travellers (sect members on journeys of self-discovery, wandering warriors, etc) as they unravel a conspiracy and try to navigate the scars of a post-war world. Generally, player characters will be spread across the beginner to middle power levels. After all, cultivation stories focus a lot on development.

I'm playing pretty fast and loose with the mechanics and systems. Basically, as long as something can coexist alongside the other pieces, it's fine. If you don't know much about Wuxia, then it's fine (though much of the RP is designed around having some understanding about the genre). I would 100% recommend reading some manhwa about it (Volcanic Age, Tale of a Scribe Who Retires to the Countryside, The Undefeatable Swordsman, Peerless Dad, Gosu). They're pretty short reads and don't require as much knowledge of cultivation systems compared to a lot of other series.

It'd probably be weekly since that's just a nice balance of everything.

Besides that, feel free to run any questions by me.

Hey, an OOC.

The World

---

Age of War

Before the age of war, the major factions within the Jianghu had fought each other to a stalemate. For generations, a cautious peace was upheld. No faction wished to risk alter the balance, lest be crushed under the weight of the others. Whatever peace may have been prevalent, the time certainly wasn't prosperous. Stagnation, indifference, and petty matters were all circumstances. However, a malicious plan ruminated beneath the earth.

The peace was broken by an attack of the recusant clans. The alliance answered in kind: bloodshed led to bloodshed. Soon, the entire jianghu fell into disarray. It was war.

But it was not a war by the intention of the recusant or alliance. No, it was a plan generations in the making. The devil clans acted in silence. They infiltrated both sides. Perhaps if the alliance had been less complacent or corrupted, they could have noticed. If the recusant had a true leader, perhaps they would have been able to figure it out. But neither side had figured anything out. The devil clans had wormed into both sides and were responsible for the pretenses of war.

Though, perhaps the devil clans played their cards too early. Before a faction had yielded, they had assassinated the leader of the alliance. They announced themselves to the world and threatened both the remains of the alliance and the recusant.

Knowing that both of them were threatened and that the pretense for war had been false, the remaining leadership of both sides formed a pact. The iron concord would last until the devil clans were slaughtered. Under the promise of returning sacred land to the Heavenly Demon Cult, all three factions joined blades to fight strike back against the devil clans.

The final campaigns were brutal. The devil clans had access to power that no faction could singlehandedly match. Despite this, the concord fought tooth and nail for their survival. Countless lives were lost. Heroes of each generation had been wounded beyond recognition. Hundreds of battles were fought. Finally, it ended.

It ended. The Heavenly Demonic Master had sacrificed his flesh for the Devil God's bones. The war that had shattered the jianghu had finally come to an end.

Peace did not come. No, as each side cared for their wounds, the remains of the devil clans once again receded into the shadows. The scars generated from the war ran deep. In this uncertain time, people wonder when it will end. Though, the devil clans seem to not go quietly into the night.

The Jianghu

The Jianghu can be thought of as the entire martial world. Though, it's more of a descriptive term than an actual name. Interchangeable terms include Wulin, Gangho, and Murim. Within the Jianghu, there are four major factions. These factions had once divided the country into a stalemate with any large action resulting in a massive shift of power. Since the age of war ended, the factions are once again moving to reclaim their power.

The Martial Alliance
An alliance between the orthodox sects. The Martial Alliance and those associated with it have a generally honourable code of conduct: respect one's elders, do not involve those outside the Jianghu, fight with honor, be held to one's word, etc. However, the rigidity of the orthodox path and the generations of stagnation have resulted in corruption and self-serving. While heroes still held up the foundation of the alliance, the poisoned fruit continued to grow. Since the war, the alliance has entered a dangerous situation. The heroic roots had been wounded or slain by the war while the corrupt sects had been mostly spared. As such, the righteous stand against two enemies: those outside and those within.

The Recusant
A loose association of fallen sects, associations, and secret societies, the recusant are bound by a simple philosophy: the strong defeat the weak. Unlike the Martial Alliance, the recusant gave up their honour long ago. While the orthodox sects call the recusant evil, it's difficult to define them as such. There are murderers, but there are also flawed heroes within their ranks. If there is a criminal enterprise, it's usually part of the recusant. While they were at an adversarial stalemate with the martial alliance before the war, they have since found themselves fighting alongside the alliance. Since the war ended, the wounded recusant entered a state of internal strife. The recusant are at the risk of an ideological fracture: those who wish to continue the iron concord and those who wish for vengeance for the beginning of the war.

The Devil Clans
A broad group, the devil clans tap into forbidden methods of cultivation. Blood sacrifice, cursed weapons, and arts that corrupt the body and mind. While the recusant tend towards criminals trying to make money, the devil clans tend toward the criminals that commit unspeakable acts. The devil clans were the prime instigator of the war. The devil clans were able to break the stalement thanks to their heinous methods and strategies. A war generations in the making, they were able to inflict unparalleled damage before the rest of the Jianghu banded against them. With the primary instigators of the devil clans captured, crippled, or dead, the devil clans once again are hiding as they rebuild their strength.

The Heavenly Demonic Cult
Effectively, the unpredictable out of the factions. True to their name, they are a cult devoted to the heavenly demonic master. It's a harsh and brutal place. Brutal injury, if not death, is commonplace for disciples. While the rarest faction, members of the Demonic Cult are generally considered to be the strongest out of all of the factions. While they had joined the age of war late, they had a pivotal role in ending the war. However, they had done so at a great cost: the death of the heavenly demonic master. Now, the cult lacks leadership. They remain at risk of losing their arts as they scatter across the provinces.

Clans

This section is incomplete. It will be filled out as characters are completed. Feel free to make your own clan (or introduce classical sects like Mount Hua, Wudang, etc), their lore and any other bits.

Locations

This is also incomplete and will be filled in as we go.

Martial Knowledge

---

Cultivation, Qi, and Martial Arts

In its most basic form, martial arts comprises of three actions: the conversion of energy to qi, the movement of qi through the meridians, and the application of qi through martial techniques. Thus, there are effectively three different types of techniques a martial warrior needs to know: cultivation techniques, qi techniques, and martial arts.

Cultivation techniques are fairly simple. Simply put, all cultivation techniques focus on the creation of qi from energy. This energy comes in many forms. Yin and yang, the five elements, and bagua are all common frameworks to cultivate energy. However, the esoteric nature of this energy makes it difficult to prove what are correct as all of them allow for cultivation. While simple, cultivation techniques are the most important for a martial artist; every other technique relies on the process of turning energy to qi in the dantian.

Qi techniques revolve around the movement of internal energy through the meridians. Thus, they are normally more passive than martial techniques. Things such as body strengthening, regeneration, and more would be here. The primary difference between a qi and martial technique is that a qi technique does not need a target.

Martial techniques involve battle. They include things such as weapon arts, sound arts, assassination arts, etc. Martial techniques are extraordinarily broad and cover a great extent.

Internal arts and external arts are also classifications, but they're more broad. Internal arts focus on strengthening qi, the mind, and the spirit. External arts focus on strengthening the body.

Generally, a single person has a narrow set of techniques. The more broad techniques they possess, the worse off someone usually is as conflicting energies, conflicting movements, and more issues develop.

Ranks

Martial warriors are generally divided into 7 ranks based on their strength. Of note, these represent the most common walls a martial artist faces on their journey. Generally, each rank. However, they are not truly indicative of strength. While a transcendent master will almost always be stronger than a peak master as they are further along in their journey, there has been times where someone of lower rank has defeated one of higher rank.

There is an invisible rank for those who belong in the jianghu but have yet to begin to fight. The majority of this group are young disciples of sects who have yet to become warriors.

Third Class Warrior - The wall of cultivation.
The first level of those who belong to the martial world. While they are the lowest rank of martial artist, there are still basic requirements to being a third class warrior. Primarily, the ability to cultivate and sense qi or, at the bare minimum, be equivalent in strength to someone that can.

Second Class Warrior - The wall of willpower.
Stronger than third class, a second class warrior is seen as strong enough to lead a small group of third class warriors. They are experienced and strong, but nothing in particular stands out. As a result, the first wall is generally one of willpower to reach this point.

First Class Warrior - The wall of talent.
They are stronger than second class and usually have defining characteristics. However, they are still weaker than someone that has mastered their martial art.

Peak Master - The wall of mastery.
The strength that comes with complete mastery over a martial art, peak masters are strong enough to cause waves within the Jianghu. Qi usually begins to materialize at this level, giving result to sword qi and other similar events. At this point, a warrior is strong enough to teach disciples within a sect without incurring the ire of others.

Transcendent Master - The wall of realization.
Transcendent masters have not only mastered their martial arts, but also gone beyond and improved the martial art they have once mastered.

Unrestrained Master - The wall of enlightenment.
The unrestrained stage is usually defined by some kind of qi enlightenment. This enlightenment is unique to each martial artist. This enlightened qi allows for martial abilities beyond understanding. Qi solidification usually happens here.

Profound Master - The wall of understanding.
The profound stage revolves around the understanding of the self and the world. It is usually at this point when one can form a sect that can rival the great sects.

Heavenly Master - The wall of the world.
The final stage is defined by one thing: the ability to upheave the balance of the world.

Misc.

Currency is comprised of coins and precious metal. 1000 Wen (a single copper coin) = 1 Tael of silver (a weight of ingot). There's also sycee (boats and ornaments made of gold/silver), but they're local and just worth their weight.

Weapons have ranks. Normal > Named > Famed > Divine/Demonic/Bewitching.

---

---

And a li'l CS because I trapped a bunch of wuxia heads for this.

CS Guide

A character image. Perhaps a fun quip underneath.

Name:

Probably a name fitting to Ancient China or its surrounding areas.

Titles:

Would be fairly rare for most characters. A title would mean that you are of note to the entire Jianghu.

Age:

Within reason.

Rank:

Third-class to first-class. Peak at the most, if you have reason for it.

Allegiance:

Essentially who you outwardly seem to support. It could be the sect that trains you, it could be your criminal gang, it could be yourself if you're a self-trained wildebeest. Include a bit of lore/structure if it's an organization.

Appearance:

Anything not covered by your image.

Personality:

A short thing about how they act towards others/what drives them/etc.

History:

How they got to where they are. Any noteworthy events that shaped them. Past events I can hook into the overarching plot.

Other:

Trivia, things that aren't included in other sections.

Body Enhancements:

One and done things like bone metamorphosis, immunities, etc. These would actually be pretty rare for non-masters.

Equipment:

What your character uses. Feel free to skip the basics that everyone would probably have access to.

Cultivation Base:

Basically, the theory behind how your character gains and develops their qi. It could be through meditation and the balance of yin and yang energies, it could be through breathing energy and exhaling it. Basically, what is the foundation of your growth. It should generally align to your other techniques.

Techniques:

What your character can do with their qi, essentially. Some examples:

7 Vermilion Star Sword Art - A technique passed down within the Au Yeung family, this art comprises of 7 movements relating to seven mansions of the vermilion bird. It is said that masters of this technique have a radiant sword aura of white flame and each slash resembles a falling star. However, the art remains incomplete. Designed to be used within a formation alongside four other techniques, its sister arts have since been lost to time and its true power remains with its lost sisters.

Earthly Palm Art - An art designed to protect. Rather than counter or clash with an opponent's blows, practitioners of this style use their meridians to conduct, shift, and return their opponent's qi to the earth. It is said that so long as one's feet are on the ground, even a dragon can be stopped. However, the art contains numerous weaknesses. First, it remains incompatible with any killing techniques or weaponry. Second, it requires an extraordinary level of focus to shift qi. The slightest misstep could result in the destruction of one's internals.

Style this CS how you want.

[center][img]Image[/img][/center]
Name:
Titles:
Age:
Rank:
Allegiance:
Appearance:
Personality:
History:
Other:

Body Enhancements:
Equipment:
Cultivation Base:
Techniques:

garbage zone

shh

garbage zone

hello, you have found the funny test thread

Symphony of Espers

El Banditos in the Club

---

For a city that was otherwise a cesspool of corruption, Pax Septimus had one thing going for it at least: the night life. The lack of any real government oversight in regards to building regulations meant that those with a particular vision could get away with constructing anything they wished, so long as they knew the right people to pay, and subsequently, that meant that the clubs within the city had some designs that were quite outlandish.

The Rainforest was one such club, an expansive dance hall with all walls made of sturdy, bulletproof glass that had been glazed over to make it almost totally opaque. Inside, the space was divided into a dance pit with artificial vegetation and humidifiers giving it an intensely fatiguing tropical vibe, as well as an upraised lounge where onlookers could quench their thirst and enjoy the show from above. It was a sinister place, perhaps, one that accelerated dehydration in order to get people to buy more drinks, and more than a couple people had gotten hospitalized from heat stroke within the sauna-like setting of the dance pit, but at the same time, those hospitalized people would return afterwards anyhow, having gotten addicted to the sensory overload of the Rainforest, the feeling of drowning while on land.

Yup, Pax Septimus’s night life was fucked up, but at least it wasn’t boring.

Pushing her way out of the throbbing music and the jumping crowds of the dance pit, Klava let out a sigh half of satisfaction and half of exhaustion. Tonight’s performances were fairly stellar, though a bit on the rote side of things by how easy it was to predict the incoming changes in tempo. The singer, new face as she was, wasn’t too bad though. Definitely needed to drink more water if she didn’t want to pass out during the latter half of her performance. She made her way up to the lounge, swiped a cold, fruity cocktail out from the counter, and downed it in one quick go, shooting a wink at the bartender who made note of her purchase and began shaking up another cocktail for the person who actually ordered it. As calories, sugars, and fluids snaked their way into her system, the white-haired woman inspected her appearance once more.

Her drop earrings were still there. Her loose croptop was sticky with sweat and clung to her skin, but was otherwise still in decent condition. Her denim hotpants basically always worked out for these sorts of activities, and the temporary tattoos she had were looking a bit melted but otherwise looked in place. And her hair? The red hair extensions were still there, and even after sweating, the curled ends looked to be holding too. Good shit. She’ll take fifteen and then go for another dive.

But as Klava turned her gaze away from herself and to her surroundings, a familiar face popped up. A muscular man of a man, with the gaze of a sigma alpha wolf and the brain of an unprincipled cuck. A bit buzzed herself, she strode over, kicking the couch he sat on. “Sup ‘pollo,” she grinned. “How’s your ass after Fritz’s pegging?”

In his plain black t-shirt that shrunk in size every time he wore it and tight jeans that left absolutely nothing to the imagination, Apollo took a brief moment to figure out who had stumbled upon him. After all, a woman angrily approaching him in the club wasn’t a rare occurrence. Her tone and the mention of Fritz made it pretty easy to figure which jilted woman in his life had found him today, even if the club’s environment shrouded one’s appearance.

“Surprised you haven’t been brutalized in the streets after becoming persona non grata,” he shrugged. “So is this meeting just bad luck or something else?”

“I’m just built different,” Klava replied, sliding onto the couch opposite of him. “Anyhow, the way the chips fell down, I’m pretty much in better shape than you.” Her eyes roamed up and down his body briefly, noting the way that he may as well have just gone up and worn a skinsuit again. “Call it fortune though. Didja actually get lil Timekeeper to do shots after all that?”

Apollo did suppose he could take it as good fortune. After all, this was one of the few times where he didn’t immediately get a glass of whatever splashed onto his face. “No, unfortunately. Would have been funny though. He did look a bit better when I fucked off, so maybe he got some newfound resolve or something corny like that.” He did notice Klava giving him an ocular patdown. “And I doubt you could ever be in better shape than me.”

Immediately, one of his pecs popped up and down.

“Anyways, how’s becoming a defacto member of Maverick been for you so far?”

“Ah, young adult love,” Klava said, faking a swoon. “And the Mavericks are fine. Turns out Billy’s basically a giant mole, so the GEMs don’t have much chance of ever actually taking ‘em down. Pay got better once y’all fucked off too, so…”

She glanced at his quivering pecs, raising a brow and smirking.

“Chill out, yeah? They’re not gonna send assassins after your ass either.”

“I’m not exactly worried about assassins,” Apollo said, brushing away Klava’s comment that he should chill out. He gave a brief pause to think about it. “Actually, maybe I am. That agent with the railgun is pretty demented. She’d probably kill you on sight and me for the hell of it.”

“Looks like the sorta person who got orphaned by monsters and then had the GEMs act as the shittiest therapists ever, yeah?” Klava nodded. “Least they’ve got a collar on her though. Probably wouldn’t go rogue if she wasn’t shooting at us during Ghost 2.0.”

“The type to keep a kill-list and update it every microaggression.” Apollo added. “And you’re speaking like someone who didn’t have bullets flying at them 15 seconds prior.”

“Hey, I’m a merciful gal too,” Klava said, crossing her legs and leaning back against the couch. “Sofron unloaded a couple smg clips at me and I still gave him a chance to surrender.”

Well, ended up with her getting clobbering into a wall instead, but details were for nerds.

“Pretty sure I’m the only one who actually got shot too. Wasn’t too bad.”

“Yea, mercy and pleasantries aren’t the best strategy for dealing with Gemini,” Apollo shrugged. “The only thing that stopped everyone from killing each other was a different thing to kill. And what, shot by the railgun or one of the pistols?”

“By a ‘hand cannon’.” Functionally the same as a sniper, especially when they were both fighting in hella close range.

“Yea, so a man-sized pistol.” Apollo immediately went to invalidate her experience.

“Maybe get your eyes checked,” Klava shot back. “Hand-sized.”

“I can’t even play off that one,” Apollo acquiesced. “Without a self-burn, anyways.”

“All meat no head, huh?” She grinned. “Surprised you’re an advocate for lethal retaliation though, considering how things actually went down. Gonna jump ‘em next time with your stick?”

“Lethal retaliation? Not sure if I said anything about killing them. I’m just saying that some of those agents would sooner shoot you in the back of the head than accept a handshake.” Apollo leaned back against the couch. “If you think that automatically moves to murder, then hey, be my guest. And hey, you’d be surprised with what a stick can do.”

Klava gave him a look, one that transitioned almost seamlessly into a shit-eater’s mockery. “I don’t think I’ve much to be surprised about regarding your stick. But huh, more than one? Think that dragon chick’s a psycho too?”

With a nod and a shrug, Apollo accepted the comment about his stick. Unless it was a really deep cut, Apollo heard it all before (and numerous times, such was the way of a man of the night). “She does think that Billy feeds orphans to little girls or some shit like that. Probably not a fun time if you run into her. If Binky had a gun, she’d probably shoot you too. Throw in the bad doc for good measure? Yea, a good portion of them. The others would probably stab you.”

“Sure, fine.”

So peace was never an option, huh. She had, in fact, killed her fair share of humans before. An Esper, especially a government stooge deluded by propagandists, wouldn’t even be that much a problem to deal with. Still, Klava was dissatisfied. She was, inherently, a bitch.

“Hard to stab em without validating their self-righteous shit though. What was it again…” Her fingers rapped against the table. “Yeah, can’t punish people who don’t think they’re wrong.”

“I mean, you could just throw them out of a window and see where the cards lie. If there’s some third world-ending threat that forces them to work together, I’d rather work with someone who threw me out a window than tried to kill me.”

“Not many windows on the first floor though.”

“You can make one, just like whoever the fuck came in with a rocket launcher.”

“Yeah, and that needs a rocket launcher, bud.” Klava’s eyes flicked back to his belt. “But also, what happened to that gun you looted?”

With a hearty slap, Apollo placed his hand against where a gun would have rested.

“For starters, I wouldn’t bring it into a club. Also, lost it. It’s somewhere in the city now. Either that or I left it at some woman’s apartment. What a surprise that would be.”

Klava let out a low whistle. “Lucky girl. Gonna have more to worry about on that end than on the ‘hypervengeful magical sniper’ end then.”

“Wouldn’t be the first time a one night stand ended up with a gun pointed at me. Wouldn’t be the last, either.”

“Till they pull the trigger, at least.”

”At that point, it’s no longer my problem.”

“Wow,” Klava teased. “How cavalier. Gonna use those same lines next time you have a run-in with the GEMs?”

”Probably just call them morons again.” An annoyed scowl formed on Apollo’s face. ”I could just mention Sofron and he’d jump out of a trash can. That’s how things have been going recently, anyways.”

“If you could, that’d be great.” She propped her elbows on the table, leaning in. “Been looking for that ol’ bastard myself, so if you have him on speed dial…”

After grabbing a nearly empty can of beer on the table, Apollo stood and approached the nearby garbage can. He poured what little liquid remained inside. In all honesty, he was expecting an angry Sofron to pop out. Alas, such an event would not occur. Though, he did look inside to make sure.

He froze for a moment and looked back at Klava with a look that was a strange mixture of bewilderment, amusement, and excitement.

“Lo and behold,” he announced as he took out his phone and snapped a picture of what was inside.

He strolled back to the couch and showed Klava what he had captured.

And there it was. Among some cans, broken glass, and used napkins, a golden hand cannon splashed in booze.

“I haven’t visited this place in months, either.”

“Well,” Klava observed, showing such an incredible interest in the contents of a trashcan that her facial expressions malfunctioned and were unable to move so much as a twitch in any particular direction. “Gonna pick it up? Or is this just going on your Insta?”

Apollo stood up once more, showing off the full scope of his ensemble. “If you think I can hide it somewhere on this body, feel free to point it out.” He paused for a brief moment. “Do not say ‘ass’ or any variant thereof.”

She smirked. “Try deepthroating it.”

“Walked into that one.”

Apollo sat back down.

”So what brings you to this… establishment. It’s pretty easy to figure out why I’m here, but someone who rides a bike and calls themselves maiden?”

“The maiden’s got many shapes and forms,” Klava sang. “But her origins are still that of a brat from Pax Sept. Seriously though, did you forget the part where I’m also the sort of maiden who has a kill count in the double digits?”

“Murder and clubbing are two very mutually exclusive events.”

“Never watched a movie, huh.” Klava shrugged. “Well basically I do lots of things. In this establishment, I’m here to have fun and enjoy the music, while you’re here to…what, sulk in a corner?”

“Get shit faced first before I start dancing, thank you very much.”

“No one taught you to pre-drink? What, did you never have friends to go out with?”

“Getting shit faced at the club is part of the experience. It’s not like money is a problem for me.”

“Sure sure,” Klava laughed, pushing off the table and getting out of this depressed little booth. “I’ll leave you to your depressed drinking session then, ‘pollo. See you on the floor if you ever make it there, yeah?”

Immediately upon being taunted, Apollo stood up. “I’m shitfaced enough now.” Like a storm, he moved forth to the dance floor. Klava wouldn’t outdo him there.

“Ok, but first take off your shirt.”

Apollo paused before taking off his shirt. He was, at some level, drunk already so it may have been a move against his better judgment. “If you five star me, I’ll send one right back.”

“Now take that gun, wrap it up in your shirt, and voi-fucking-la, you’re good to go.”

And with that, Klava swung over the railings and dropped into the dance pit, heels and everything.

”...I’ll keep that in mind so I’m not about to enter a dance floor with a gun.”

Putting his shirt back on, Apollo went around the railing like a normal person.