Cultivation

A cultivator is an individual who trains in martial and mystical arts, learning to cycle the life energies of the heavens and the earth in much the same way that non-cultivators breathe air. Cultivation provides a number of benefits, including improved health and longevity as well as the ability to grow more powerful and unleash the might of mystical martial arts.

A cultivator has only a limited amount of qi energy and must rest and meditate to regain it. This energy is stored in and circulated by the dantian, a metaphysical organ similar to the heart, and flows through meridians, which are somewhat analogous to veins and arteries.

Foundations and Techniques

There are two different types of Cultivation Abilities available: Foundations and Techniques.

Foundation

A foundation is the core cultivation Ability of any individual cultivator. It is how they gather qi and manipulate it, and how they direct it into other Abilities. Under normal circumstances, no individual may possess more than one such Foundation Ability.

In order to build a new Foundation, the old one must first be destroyed. To gain a new Foundation Ability, the old Ability is permanently lost, not simply suppressed and unavailable the way that class-exclusive Abilities are. All Levels and Level Benefits granted by the destroyed Foundation Ability are lost, including Vitality, Attribute Bonuses, and Aptitude Bonuses.

Techniques

Most Abilities related to Cultivation are Techniques. Each Technique is a specialized use of qi to perform an attack or grant some other benefit to the cultivator.

Each Technique can only be learned and used by an individual who has an appropriate Foundation Ability. While most Techniques can draw from many different types of Foundations to be effective, some are simply incompatible. For example, it’s nigh impossible to use a Technique that conjures water with a Foundation aligned solely with Fire Qi.

Harnessing the Qi Flow

Each individual possesses qi within their dantian, but only those who follow the path of cultivation can direct their qi to circulate through the body, much like blood, shaping it into powerful qi techniques. Qi itself has no discrete unit of measurement, as there is no such thing as a “unit” of qi. The power of qi exists only as it moves, with still or inert qi being useless. It must move and flow, or it accomplishes nothing.

Some individuals try to quantify qi in “breaths,” “beats,” or other such semi-mystical terms. These attempts fail to measure the qi itself and simply note the speed at which the qi circulates through the body’s meridians. Whatever term is used to describe an individual’s Qi Flow, the Flow is quantified as a singular number, which can never exceed an individual’s Qi Aptitude.

Each use of a Technique typically slows the Flow by 1 or more as it drains the qi energy. Most Techniques are more powerful with a higher Qi Flow and grow weaker as the Flow grows stagnant, causing most cultivators to use their Techniques only when necessary.

Any Ability, Action, Augment, or other effect that counts an individual’s current Qi Flow always uses the current number after any reduction imposed by the effect has been applied.

If a cultivator’s Qi Flow reaches 0, it is said to have become Stagnant.

Overdrawing Qi and Qi Deviation

Qi energy is used to reinforce the body, mind, and soul, perfecting the cultivator over time. In times of emergency, it is possible for a cultivator to draw on this energy to power their Cultivation Abilities.

When an individual uses a Cultivation Technique that reduces their Qi Flow below zero, the qi begins to flow backwards, causing severe physical, mental, and spiritual damage to the individual as they suffer the turbulent storms of qi surging through their meridians.

Each such use applies one instance of Qi Deviation to the individual, causing permanent harm, weakening their cultivation, and potentially even destroying their ability to cultivate at all. In this way, a cultivator can continue to use their Cultivation Abilities beyond their normal limits, but only at great risk to themselves.

Cultivation Abilities