Reforged from Ruin [Eldritch Xianxia Cultivation]

So. It's pretty obvious that whatever the pretty young thing of the Dancing Clouds sect was expecting her to be, he was woefully underprepared.

From the way he seems on-edge as they approach the stairs leading up to the audience chamber of the elders, to the way she keeps surprising him on accident, her movements entirely without visible Qi, to the way that he clearly doesn't have a script for what's coming.

In an ideal world, maybe, maybe, she could stomach spending the next few months learning the ins and outs of how things work here. Maybe she could stomach the way her gut churns at the way the people treat those they consider lesser, the scent of fear that washes off of servants and mortals alike, long enough to become familiar with how things work. Maybe, on top of all that, she could be patient enough to find ways to properly schedule and arrange fights.

It might not take months, though. It might not even take years, it might take decades to get the progress she needs now. She needs greater challenges, yes, but she also needs to weaken, recruit, or at least understand the Republic of Morae before the war at the Wall truly kicks off. That, and before the world ends, which, apparently, is practically imminent, as far as world-endings go.

She's still not sure what that's about. If the Emperor intends to leave the world, with or without it's Empire, if it has a plan to prolong things, if it's going to end the world but in some kind of specific way… does it really matter? Does any of it? The world is ending, as foretold by a being that spoke in a tongue which cannot lie, and who, of all beings she's met or is aware of, would know. So. She has to hurry. And if that means she has to (gets to) cut through a bit of the complex political, social, psychological complexities of a culture that has, so far, not particularly impressed her, that's ok too.

The walk up the steps is undertaken mostly in silence. The three members of the Dancing Clouds sect, led by Li Tianfeng, are ahead, while she walks with Ko and Aria. Ko, as always, remains a stoic fellow, though she senses a sort of vague background approval of how she's handling this. He might be one of the only people she's ever met who might have even less patience for complicated political bullshit than she does, and he's showing it. His bells jingle as he walks, his massive sword held politely (yet very visibly) over his shoulder as they climb. Aria, on the other hand, is somewhat more… sensibly(?) nervous about the whole affair. Raika can't help but feel a bit bad about how anxious she is- partially in a bid to calm her, and partially just because a bit more information can't hurt, she turns to the cultivator, nodding slightly to bring her close enough to speak.

"This Dancing Clouds sect. Anything special I should know, heading into this?"

A small, mischievous part of Raika almost wants to cackle at the spike in frustration that emanates off of Aria at that point. Just almost. Definitely not any sort of sadistic joy at that.

"I… suppose we might have time for the briefest summary, Master. Despite the millennia of conflicts and complicated interactions between the many sects of Morae, or the complexities of the Jianghu, or the fact that these people have known and interacted with each other enough to form their own histories. And are capable of complicating your goals here by a considerable amount should they so choose."

"Good. So… what's the info?"

Not a sadistic bone in her body. Seriously. She experiences absolutely no joy at the sheer frustration that, for a brief moment, positively radiates from her follower / paid employee / minion.

With a deep breath, Aria nods, her posture raising up into a more "official" pose as she reflects on information. Raika's never actually confirmed how old she or Ko are, but she got the impression they're on the younger side, relative to Morae- mid thirties, maybe? Would explain why they survived whatever scandal it was that Ko apparently caused, and managed to make patrolling the Overgrowth an equally survivable punishment. She's lived her whole life in Morae, as far as Raika is aware, and that's bound to provide some insight, which a reasonable leader definitely would have made more use of before now.

Never let it be said that Raika considers herself reasonable.

"The sects of the Jianghu are myriad, with varying responsibilities and strengths between them. Sects like the Watchful Fields sect, the Rolling Hills sect, the Crumbling Plains sect, all sit at the bottom of the peaks of Morae, and are often looked down on. Most who look down on them tend to forget, or sometimes overlook, the ways in which they are essential. All of the produce and most of the liveable land of Morae is off the peaks, not on them. Mortal servants, outsider recruits, and the resources of the Overgrowth and invading beasts all come from the sects of the land. However, the amount of Qi in Morae tends to rise as one rises above the ground, and so, even with potent resources and Qi-gathering arrays, and so those atop the peaks, despite a lack of material resources, often end up with a higher number of disciples.

"Each of the five peaks of the hand possesses its own specialty, and its own naming structure. Each of the "land" sects is its own organization, and they all cooperate in a political alliance, acting as a sort of sixth finger, but with distinct names, unlike the peaks themselves. Ko and I, as you know, were once of the Crashing Rainfall sect, considered a higher end sect but not one at the peak. The Dancing Clouds sect is very much at the peak.

Raika nods, thinking. "Might explain his desperation, then. If he's down here, no matter how important the job, his type probably sees it as a sort of slight."

Aria nods, though she also shoots a glare at Ko, who apparently couldn't help himself but to give a little snort.

"What?" he asks, shrugging. "It's true. Even I know you have to eat to be able to fight. Can't farm for shit up on the peaks, and most of the gardens get grown special, cause they're too high up for regular herbs."

Raika cocks an eyebrow, and he shrugs again, more defensively this time. "It's true."

"It is true, and I'm happy you know that. That's good context. Maybe I should be asking you for political advice instead."

Stolen novel; please report.

The look of horror on his face, and despair on Aria's finally gets to be too much, and she lets out a giggle.

"Go on, Aria. I'm sure we didn't mean to interrupt with our uneducated musings."

Aria almost does something overly polite and annoyingly sycophantic in response- but reigns herself in. She's a political player, if not a mastermind, and she knows that's not what Raika wants or responds to. That much, at least, Raika's managed to train into her.

"Anyways. There are five peaks, and one land. The land is crucial for survival, defense, and resources, but the peaks are where those with power and a pursuit purely for immortality go. Our former sect, Crashing Rainfall sect, and the Dancing Clouds sect both belong to the same peak- the Peak of the Thundering Tempest. They're near the top, while our old sect was nearer to the middle. On the peaks, the higher your sect… well, the higher your sect."

"Hmm. Would you say they're important enough to be useful as a way of getting to more places?"

Aria nods. "I suppose so, Master. Their techniques tend to encompass Sky, Water, and Lightning techniques, so they have close bonds with multiple other sects, especially those who specialize in only one or two of each. They also have closer ties to the Peak of the Azure Serpent than some might expect- elements of Water and Storm are considered aligned in the great Dao wheel, after all. They're… not the most open? And certainly not known for being particularly open to outsiders, especially. They might not be ideal, but they are an opportunity."

And probably the best one she'll find on the timetable she needs. At least, without climbing the mountains directly, which is still very much on the table.

"Alright. That should be enough, I think. I can pick up the rest from being in the room where the discussions happen."

"Yes, Master," Aria says, bowing and taking a measured half-step back, returning to her position a pace behind and to the side of Raika.

She… frowns.

"Aria?"

"Yes, Ma-"

"That's- mmh. I'm starting to think I really haven't given either of you much to do since we arrived here, except to ask basic questions and guard us. Would you, and you, Ko, be… open to changing that?"

"Gods yes."

She and Aria both pivot to stare at Ko, who is blushing very slightly at his outburst.

"What? It's been forever! The only person I've sparred with in months was that kid, and he's just a kid! I haven't had anything to do except absorb resources and cultivate."

"And that's not enough for you?" Aria asks, hissing through her teeth.

"Of course not! True cultivation requires a challenge, and I've never been great at meditating while sitting still."

"Amen, brother."

He blinks, startled at that, but then grins openly at her agreement with him. "I'm glad you understand, Master! Not that I'm ungrateful for the resources, it's just… they absorb really easily, and I feel my skills might be getting a bit rusty."

"We'll have to see what we can do about that. How about you, Aria? Do you feel comfortable in your current role?"

"I wouldn't dare to-"

Raika stares at her. Hard.

"...I could maybe stand to do something besides private cultivation, milady."

"It's settled then. Make me a comprehensive, summarized report of the different peaks and the sects involved in them. If I'm going to be dragged into this politics bullshit no matter what I do, might as well do it competently. You'll be my aide for the time being. Sound good?"

"That… does sound agreeable, milady."

"Good. Ko, I'm probably going to be pretty busy today, but tomorrow, we can get some sparring in. Deal?"

"Deal, Master!"

"Great. Now the only trouble is going to be steering this the way I want it to go."

Ahead, coming up fast, is the meeting hall.

It's an ostentatious son-of-a-bitch, that's for sure. Besides other manors of lesser and greater scale, the core ring of the sect keeps only the most elite and potent resources to itself, and that's reflected in the architectural design of the space. A few miles across, she can sense the presence of some sort of library, a grand smithy and storage space to accompany it, and several private and potent gardens, but all of them pale before the building she's climbing now. Set into a small mountain, and with only a very direct set of stairs to reach it, the meeting hall stands before the central palace of the sect patriarch, connected to the palaces of the other elders. It's seven stories tall, covered in gold, jade and bright green paints, stylized with scenes of farming, fighting, and complex, likely mythic feats of cultivation and strength. Despite its brightness, it has no windows, and only one door, and she could sense from miles away the density of the arrays placed on it, absolutely crawling with the Intent to silence, to protect, and to keep secret what they cover.

In spite of this, they're not perfect. It's subtle, but she can feel the after-effects of shouting, carried on the wind. The noise-cancelling formations do their job, sure, but the way they do it varies, and this particular set seems to dissipate the sound of voices but leave the kinetic energy they exert on the air, at least to some extent. It is a rather dreadfully breezy morning, it would seem.

The trio from the Dancing Clouds sect pauses at the top, bowing politely before the two core disciple cultivators standing guard, and-

Raika steps past them and the guards, and simply shoves the door very, very hard.

It's rated for cultivator strength, defensible against attack, inlaid with heavy metals, arrays, and complex Qi formations. It's not something she can just push aside so casually.

So she doesn't push casually.

She centers her frame, organizes the flow of force through her body, shifts joints and hips and internal architecture such as to guide movement and energy into the shape she desires, and shoves.

The hinges squeal and scream as they are torn from their moorings, and the door cracks along its seams as it is thrown inwards with a thunderous, terrifying impact, echoing in the vast open space inside the pagoda-like building.

The air is violent with Qi, all of the elders in attendance manifesting Domains and overwhelming raw energy to strike down those who would seek to attack them, ready to defend themselves-

And Raika steps in, arms spread wide, smiling with as toothy a grin as she can manage (which is to say extremely toothy).

"My friends! I apologize for coming to call on you so abruptly, but you would not believe what this guy told me!"

She can actually hear the way that Li Tianfeng's butthole clenches.