Быть Гладу и Хладу / There will be Hunger and Cold: 22. Правильное и четко выверенное применение физического насилия являет собою основу педагогической и воинской подготовки Сломанного Мира

22. The correct and precisely calibrated use of physical violence is the basis of the pedagogical and military training of the Broken World

Camrad_RIP 11.07.26 в 09:08

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Camrad_RIP 11.07.26 в 09:09

Night. Pitch black. The ominous blizzard had risen again. This was the perfect time and place for a sinister and deadly ritual, performed by a perpetually hungry cannibal and an old, evil-hearted former courtier, as cruel as a hundred such cannibals. The night proved truly opportune—both by the calendar and by the weather, which has been particularly brutal this winter on the Ridge. That is, it's always brutal here, for up to nine months of the year, but this year has been particularly grim. The forecast is that not just individual villages and farmsteads, but entire towns and cities will freeze to death. And there was a feeling that this winter might have arisen of its own accord, purely as a result of magical upheavals. But someone else helped the already extraordinary cold riot flare up into a completely all-destroying force of nature.

Camrad_RIP 11.07.26 в 09:11

Someone who would greatly benefit from minimizing any presence on Ridge. This would not simply prevent the possibility of investigating strange events, but would effectively cut off the region from the Crown, from supplies of food and ammunition here, and from the Ridge's gifts here. The old man liked this option. The more problems the crowned ruler faces, and the more his opponents have, the less time and energy there is to search for the harmless candy grandpa. And the more difficult the situation will become for all parties when the old horse decides to choose his own path and offer his services to one of the conflicting parties.

Camrad_RIP 11.07.26 в 09:14

Initially, he'd planned to approach the royal authorities, simply out of habit. He already knew exactly what he'd have to do and what to expect if he wanted to reclaim his former place at the Throne. Whatever Sturgeon's opinion of his liege lord and his role in his downfall, few are guided by emotions and loyalties in such circumstances. Or rather, by them alone. Only now, looking at the horror unfolding in the skies of Dead Man's Ridge, he's clearly considering taking a longer pause before choosing a side. Or perhaps he'd backed the wrong horse altogether?

Camrad_RIP 11.07.26 в 09:16

Ruek didn't exactly voice these thoughts outright, but he hinted at them quite clearly. It didn't seem like he was trying to mislead Ilya or provoke him into a particular opinion. There was no direct or indirect benefit, only a desire, if not to speak out, then at least to speak with someone who understood the depth of wisdom of a single Sage. Ilya listened, for what else could he do? At the same time, he absorbed the knowledge the old man was willing to share about the high society of the gifted throughout the entire sector of the ecumene. Of course, believing this information unconditionally would be rash, but he had acquired a basic understanding of who was who, who was with whom, and how to conduct himself among the rulers of a city that had been burned six times and rebuilt seven times.

Camrad_RIP 13.07.26 в 07:51

Again, the opportunity to practice the highest, purest ritualism doesn't come every day at the first step. Sturgeon's trust in the earthling's competence was evident in the fact that the old man invited him to assist with the calculations almost immediately after deciding to perform this ritual. Ilya wasn't opposed either. He considered this sacrament an excellent aid in the coming battles, when he would take turns dragging old Ryuk's anchor children into battle. More drops at the expense of temporary inconvenience, and for him, not such a serious inconvenience. What a good trade-off! And there's no need to pay for reagents—Sturgeon's skill is sufficient to maintain the structure even without additional offerings. Of course, in another situation, such disregard for the invocation ceremony would have ended disastrously for both the ritualist and the intended participant, but he wouldn't be in danger of frying his brain.

Camrad_RIP 13.07.26 в 08:03

Well, not in this ritual. The inner bunker of his self-control felt like it had been caught in a magnitude 45 storm and a hefty earthquake at the same time. The walls shifted slightly, as if threatening to buckle, but deep within the bunker, only a few small cracks appeared. The Wendigo's inner essence growled slightly, thrashing against its chains, growing a couple of centimeters longer and snapping some of the chains, but this enormous beast finally calmed down. Its chains, figuratively speaking, grew even stronger, as if even a little thicker. And in the real plane of perception, a circle etched directly into the stones shone with an unearthly blue, containing nine more circles, some of which simultaneously intersected and some of which did not intersect.

Camrad_RIP 13.07.26 в 08:23

And in the very center, within all nine circles at once and not within any of them, within the shared tenth contour, stood Iliy Khvat, the eleventh circle seething on his chest, drawn in ink and blue. The very one that tried to drive him mad, pushing against his mind and will, until the sacrificial parts were bridged between them. There were no hearts of ice creatures, no blood of a god's creation, not even a few dozen nuggets of pure gold—this ritual could not be performed at a lower cost. Execution is also excessively laborious and requires the assistance of a group of Sages or other pure first-level ritual specialists, with at least two deuces among the eleven specialists required. Otherwise, you'd have to call someone like Sturgeon, and such individuals don't mess around, value their time, and can also invent a far more sophisticated method of execution.

Camrad_RIP 13.07.26 в 08:48

The Citadel has several such groups, with at least two permanently assigned to such rituals. Of course, there's no bare rock and snow there, but a fully-fledged ritual hall. And the mysteries rely not on the essence of Winter Drean in the Lost Traveler attribute, but on a whole host of other ritual variations. And they spare no reagents, ensuring the almost conveyor-belt application of the much-needed ritual effects. All for the Citadel, to accelerate the development of its new defenders and inhabitants—such rituals are part of a general list of actions undertaken to accelerate leveling and essence growth. It is precisely this combination of these that allows the Citadelers to so quickly lift their recruits beyond the plateau of impotence, and even drag them by the ears to the second step.

Camrad_RIP 13.07.26 в 13:39

On the one hand, their forced union isn't the Citadel, but on the other, they're highly motivated by their own survival, and with Ilya around, they can have no brakes. And so the blizzard howls, the voices scream in his head, momentarily audible yet infinitely distant, separated from the earthling by the wall of his super-strong self-awareness. That's why the blue and ice sparkle; that's why the circle burns his flesh, digging into his body, aura, and psyche. A perfect pretext for planting some dreaded trick on Ilya. But not yet; he's part of the anchor structure... later, later, he'll have to be practically dragged into Ryuek's ritual circle by the ears, if not outright "by the balls." Thoughts didn't stop Ilya from listening to the old man's verbal ceremony, drawing to a close, at the right points, putting all the weight of his soul into his own words.

Camrad_RIP 13.07.26 в 13:42

"...the one who comes for us, frozen and unchanging, who takes the frost of the last tears from the eyes of the lost and sleeping, who dons the shroud and covers us, frozen and warm, in his garments, I call upon with will and essence, by the Dead but Not Forgotten Name!" The Old Man, of course, is no Priest. But Sages also engage in theurgy; it's just that their approach is different: not service and prayer, but conversation and communion, different paradigms and varying degrees of effectiveness with the same expenditure of time and effort, and, obviously, in favor of the Priests. "Conjuring with lines of sleep and ice, fearless death, posthumous execution, sinless fear, I prophesy that all frozen chalices will shudder!"

Camrad_RIP 26.07.26 в 13:44

As if waiting for these words, the inner image—the altar—begins to respond, as if a storm had whipped up a blizzard not only on Khrbetina but also there, within. A snow whirlwind in the sky above the altar bowl swirls into a ring—not a tornado, but precisely a ring, like a halo. The ring is solid, unbroken, and yet ravenously hungry for that scarlet drop that is meant to fall into the bowl. This halo will draw in every drop, holding it within itself for a time, smearing the scarlet gold across its rim until enough has accumulated.

Camrad_RIP 26.07.26 в 13:42

As with all rituals of this kind, it's crucial to maintain balance. It's crucial to be able to not only perform the ritual but also remove its effect afterwards, like a seal on a sealed container. And to do this, as you might guess, you need to earn as many drops as possible. This isn't a trivial task unless the Earthling has advantages or the will of the Citadel, which would provide a promising candidate with a literally golden path strewn with drops of Essence.

Camrad_RIP 13.07.26 в 13:44

"Shudder." Ilya himself clearly imprints the last word into the essence of the ritual, creating additional resonance, and then launches the next cycle of the recitative. "Frozen."

Camrad_RIP 26.07.26 в 13:45

In reality, words don’t mean all that much. Even he is quite capable of stripping away the lyrical and lexical elements of ordinary, unadorned rituals, doing so almost in passing. It’s just that they’re both very pragmatic beings; besides, Sturgeon has already shortened the liturgy as much as he could possibly allow himself, so now he’s straining his throat with painful words. Yes, yes—even Ilya doesn’t dare utter more than a single word of the cyclical lyrics as he closes and opens the ritual, lest he cough up not black blood, but shreds of his own soul. But the sprightly old man doesn’t give a damn—he hasn’t even lost his voice. Then again, he speaks hoarsely on his own, like an old raven cawing. Especially when he stops grumbling on purpose and starts getting deadly serious.

Camrad_RIP 26.07.26 в 14:00

"...with the drops of our breath, the laughter of our sorrows, and the wind of our deeds, let us command each of the lost to freeze!" Ryuek concludes yet another white verse of the liturgy, and then, in a single motion, drives his palm into the stone, breaking the main circle while momentarily closing its line upon himself. "Ahem. There’s still the sharpness of the pen in the word and the poison of faith in the veins! What about you? Delusions, voices, desires?"

Camrad_RIP 26.07.26 в 14:03

The question was asked with irritation and a certain air of superiority—that of a third-level over a pitiful first-level—but at the same time, one couldn’t help but notice a hint of peculiar concern, even if it was concern for a useful tool. Ilya just waved his hand in a classic gesture, genuinely trying to catch his breath. And he did catch his breath, rubbing his chest, on which not a trace remained of the circle that had glistened turquoise and chilled even his frost-resistant body with ice. Now, for the next twenty-one days, he wouldn’t be able to obtain a single drop of the essence, but in the end, he would gain all of it—everything he had accumulated.

Camrad_RIP 26.07.26 в 14:08

If you've accumulated enough, you'll get more on top—exactly how much is unclear, but it's unlikely to be more than the Citadel standard "plus two units for every three earned independently." They have different reagents, a well-established procedure, a dedicated support team, and overall, sheer awesomeness. Oh, and they even make biodegradable plastic packaging out of sugar, perfect for drinking with your tea. However, jokes aside, quality is a given—their improvised ritual-liturgy called Winter Sleep clearly has weaker specs; no amount of ignoring the mental side of things will stand a chance against dedicated builds and well-coordinated tactics.

Camrad_RIP 13.07.26 в 13:46

Blessings and Curses:

Camrad_RIP 13.07.26 в 13:46

Eleven Rings (Expiring): 1/1

Camrad_RIP 13.07.26 в 13:46

In the name of Winter's Dream and His attribute, named the Lost Wanderer, every drop of Essence gained during the existence of the Eleven Rings will be held in the grasp of the halo, and upon reaching its overflowing potential, it will be returned and supplemented by the fraction acquired in the Rings.

Camrad_RIP 13.07.26 в 13:47

Duration: until the embodied structure is blurred (three times seven daily cycles) or until the completion of the Dive cycle.

Camrad_RIP 13.07.26 в 13:48

Okay. Although it could have been better. But even so, it turned out well, far better than originally expected. Ilya's complete dedication paid off. He was not even making a reflexive attempt to distance himself from the ritual being cast. Reading the deeper lines of his status, as well as peering into his ominous frozen lake, Ilya found no flaws or traces of aura trauma dangerous to his subtle body, nor did he find any traces of any dirty tricks on Ryuek's part. However, he could have missed the former, and only by chance would he have noticed the old man's well-prepared destructive altar structure.

Camrad_RIP 13.07.26 в 13:55

Rituals like these would be much more popular if not for the side effects. They don't last long, and if you don't reach a certain critical mass by the end, you'll also suffer a cooldown. The Citadel's eggheads (not necessarily Sages or Priests) have created a thousand and one ways to mitigate these cooldowns, just in case you're unlucky or suffer some serious injury right at the start of your leveling. But with Ilya, it's simpler. Another blow to self-awareness. An ordinary gifted person would feel like they were freezing, even if they were sitting in a bonfire. It would be their mind itself that would freeze, not their body or energy, until nothing remained in their head except the name of the Dead God, which sealed the liturgy and struck with a cooldown.

Camrad_RIP 13.07.26 в 13:58

They run the classic “1-9-1” formation only when preparing a diver—or someone local, from among their allies— —for a “bump,” that is, for an extremely focused and accelerated leveling run, where the entire group—and sometimes even another group acting as backup—herds the most suitable creatures (who don’t have time to get their bearings) toward the diver and lets them be killed, while the group itself contributes a minimum of effort to this victory. Or when the artisan class is given nearly finished components that just need to be properly assembled. Or when a certain Seeker is given tasks that are objectively complex but can be solved perfectly using precisely their set of talents—perhaps having even contributed in advance to the task and problem arising in the first place. There are plenty of ways to do this, yes, but the good old-fashioned slaughter of all manner of creatures still prevails.

Camrad_RIP 26.07.26 в 14:11

The kind they plan to arrange in the very near future.

Camrad_RIP 13.07.26 в 13:59

"Well, is it time to begin?" the earthling asks himself, not Sturgeon, who merely looks at him with bewilderment, as if to say, "What are you asking, you idiot?" "Then it's time, before the creatures migrate."

Camrad_RIP 13.07.26 в 14:00

Not only did Sturgeon settle some of his old debts during his theoretical—and somewhat practical—training with Ilya, but he also scouted out quite a few lairs of various moderately dangerous creatures. On top of that, he scouted out the lairs of some truly dangerous creatures, including one of the third level—which, fortunately, was in a deep hibernation and showed no signs of waking up. Or so it seemed. But they both decided against leading a raid in that direction; there were plenty of other nesting grounds for enemies they could handle.

Camrad_RIP 26.07.26 в 14:16

Из Рюка средний сенсор и отнюдь не идеальный порталист-попрыгун, не те таланты он развивал. Но при этом старичок все же остается дико опытной пиковой тройкой, да еще и от Мудреца развившим свой путь, так что мог он много. Но в идеале здесь должен был быть профильный специалист, а лучше парочка таковых,

Camrad_RIP 26.07.26 в 14:19

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" ...every loss is considered irreplaceable, so I’ll be very brief and direct—you already know me." Ilya sees no reason to mince words, but something must be said. "I’ll bend over backward, but I’ll do everything in my power to ensure that none of you dies because of your own or someone else’s stupidity; however, anyone who commits such stupidity intentionally and knowingly will be beaten to a pulp. Not out of malice or a desire to mock, but so that you are fully aware of this fact and don’t make mistakes."

Camrad_RIP 26.07.26 в 14:21

Maybe it’ll work. They’re all very smart and quick-witted individuals. And they understood perfectly well that Ilya wasn’t joking. In such cases, the threat of inevitable brutal violence goes a long way toward preventing that violence, since everyone will be convinced of its inevitability. The correct and precisely calibrated use of beatings forms the foundation of educational and military training in the Broken World.

Camrad_RIP 26.07.26 в 14:23

That’s a quote from Odi, by the way. In fact, he went out of his way—and even took the media to court a couple of times—to ensure this quote wasn’t censored, because otherwise the educational effect would have been somewhat diluted. They say that Old Man Odi personally threw some particularly stubborn and obstinate individual—who stubbornly insisted on using “physical violence” instead of “beating the shit out of someone”—out of a skyscraper window, right into the harbor. The only thing that saved the poor guy was that it was only the fifth floor, and the man who was thrown out knew how to swim.

Camrad_RIP 26.07.26 в 14:24

Well, jokes aside, it's time to get to work.

Camrad_RIP 13.07.26 в 14:01

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Camrad_RIP 13.07.26 в 14:00

The Fierce-Eaters could be considered one of the main enemies of small villages and farmsteads, much like the Nakhtsetsers or the wolf-like beast-creatures had become in many sectors. They lived in packs, were quite strong and large, possessed some rudimentary sense of self-awareness, and were also cautious and cowardly enough to hunt and attack where they could strike without risk, rather than where they might get a pike thrust into their bellies. Add to this a tendency—uncommon for creatures that are typically territorial—to regularly roam in search of easier prey, and you get a real nightmare for the villagers in the Broken World setting.

Camrad_RIP 26.07.26 в 17:53

A pack of Fierce-Eaters can wreak havoc in plenty of places with little effort, killing someone here and there for years on end, and then retreating back into the wilderness long before that fateful moment when a well-coordinated hunting party—or even a gifted one accompanied by an entourage—sets out after them. They cause just too little harm to society to warrant serious action against them, yet too much to ignore the fact that the lower classes of that society regularly suffer at their paws. At the same time, when it comes to training the young and the less gifted, ferocious beasts of lower developmental forms can be considered nearly ideal targets. They yield a fair amount of essence, yet are very easy to kill and possess no particularly nasty traits.

Camrad_RIP 26.07.26 в 17:54

Well, at the lower end of the species’ hierarchy, yes—because closer to the top of the first tier, these creatures also pull all sorts of nasty tricks. They’re quite capable of surprising- if not a gifted fighter ready for battle, then at least hunters who’ve come for the Fierce-Eater hides. Yes, their hides are highly prized by artisans—a very primitive yet easily obtainable material that, even without additional enchantments, repels water quite well and protects against negative energy. In some ways, these hides resemble mole hides in texture and quality, which is not surprising, given the nature of the ferocious eaters, who are essentially oversized moles.

Camrad_RIP 26.07.26 в 17:56

Or rather, a hybrid of moles with something canine and a hint of reptilian features, but that's more a question for bestiologists. Most importantly, they don't have the habits of moles and other similar creatures of burrowing into the ground or digging numerous tunnels. They are strictly terrestrial, pack predators, no more, no less. Sturgeon discovered a cohesive den, large and well-fed, born from the peaceful fusion of three or even four packs during hibernation, with his eyes, which darted in all directions away from the underground shelter.

Camrad_RIP 26.07.26 в 17:58

An extremely unpleasant target, even for a group of brand-new gifted ones. But that’s only if the gifted ones are completely new and haven’t been trained in anything yet. But among Sturgeon's Anchors, every single one has already advanced two levels in their talents, and Ilya will be there to back them up. In theory, he’s capable of not just taking out this whole rabble on his own, but also scattering them. And that’s not even counting Ryuek, who’s watching from the shadows and will only intervene as a last resort.

Camrad_RIP 26.07.26 в 18:02

Fifty adult specimens, plus about three dozen adolescents—the young ones—who scavenge behind the adults, gnawing on bones. Three large alpha individuals possessed special abilities characteristic of ferocious predators. Even without Ryuik’s analysis, Ilya had a rough idea of what tricks to expect from them, so the old man merely pointed out a few critical details, allowing the group to follow the earthling’s plan and not lose escense because of the assistance.

Camrad_RIP 26.07.26 в 18:14

There are practically no newborns or young creatures. They don’t give birth at this time of year, and the pack itself seems to have taken a beating from someone, having lost its young and left them to be devoured by those who forced them to gather into a single pack. This is, in general, a defining characteristic that distinguishes these creatures from beasts that have acquired some sort of special magical abilities. Among beasts, the prevailing instinct to care for their offspring is still observed, for the most part. A snow leopard mother will defend her cubs if she has even the slightest chance of doing so, and female bears are also notorious for their vicious temper toward anyone who comes near their litter.

Camrad_RIP 27.07.26 в 20:04

This even applies to the magical counterparts of these beasts—that’s the important part! But when it comes to fully-fledged creatures—not isolated mutants, but literally a tenacious, invasive, and aggressive species—they show very, very limited concern for their offspring. And first and foremost, the seasoned humaneaters will save not the pack, not the young, but themselves—for they are alone, and new females or males can always be found later. Ilya set a separate goal for this entire mission: to prevent the creatures from scattering, especially the leaders. If released now, they’ll become an even greater nightmare for the residents of the Ridge. It’s always nice to do a good deed, especially if you get paid a little for it.

Camrad_RIP 27.07.26 в 20:07

The standard quartet of anchors and the center of the cross—Ilya—head into battle, but only the four of them reach the entrance to the lair. Sleepy, who has remained in her cozy snow pit and is surrounded by a protective barrier of concealment amulets, will not engage in direct combat. She is already dozing, and her sleep is gradually enveloping the targets she has chosen. The quartet—consisting of Harlequin, the Soul Slayer, the Warlock, and the Wendigo in human form—moved correctly. Lacking sufficient experience, they sometimes made mistakes, but they were on the right track, methodically correct. Approaching from the leeward side, using one of the spire-like rocks as natural cover from the gaze of potential observers, and having smeared themselves with odor neutralizers, they were, on the whole, ready for battle.

Camrad_RIP 27.07.26 в 20:10

Lishka and Chizhik, the squad’s Warlock, were both a bit unsettling, but Ilya was only truly troubled by the latter. Short and slight of build, with a slightly stooped posture that made him seem even smaller, he was a rather jumpy and emotional fellow. When the Earthling looked at this young man, he was reminded of a candle flame flickering in the wind, yet ready at any moment to turn into a raging inferno. Some might mistake his mannerisms for cowardice, but from Ilya’s perspective—having worked with this guy—he actually had an overdose of courage. In battle, he becomes completely reckless—and he was like that even before the ritual; it’s not a personality shift. If only he could be rid of his suspicious nature and his panicky fear of letting his comrades down or failing to live up to expectations.

Camrad_RIP 27.07.26 в 20:18

In stark contrast to him, Grosh the Soul Slayer was completely calm and gave no outward sign of the turmoil he was feeling. Only his heart was pounding wildly in his chest. Quite large, taller than average, and naturally well-built, he had been working as a bouncer at a very respectable establishment before all this chaos began. And “respectability” meant that at the “Anchor Chain,” men in his line of work were required not only to have muscles, a menacing face, and the ability to pocket a troublemaker’s wallet without the security getting on their case, but also tact, the ability to assess a situation, and the skill to defuse a conflict.

Camrad_RIP 27.07.26 в 20:23

A battered face and a nose that’s been broken several times are, however, part and parcel of his line of work, giving him a truly menacing appearance—yet he’s actually a very kind person, as long as you don’t provoke him first. He’s the perfect fit for the Soul Slayer class; they all need that very phlegmatic disposition—just like the Marauders—and in many ways, it plays an even greater role than the mental resilience index. It’s precisely that slight air of indifference and even sluggishness that will help compensate for the sharpness and impulsiveness of these two classes’ perceptions.

Camrad_RIP 27.07.26 в 20:25

They advance to their assault position in strict accordance with the rules of small-group tactics, having first prepared their future positions and compromised the enemy’s positions. Four large alchemical containers—not even vials, but jugs—are quickly emptied. Two of the containers release a viscous gas that is physically very inert; it is partly a sleeping potion and partly a debilitating tonic that reduces muscle tone and reaction speed. The “Will” effects embedded in this substance—from the “Directed Elixir” aspect with four steps—serve as a sort of homing mechanism. The mixture itself breaks down into smaller clouds and is drawn toward an external heat source.

Camrad_RIP 09.08.26 в 19:53

The average ++Fiery Eater is a very hot creature. Their body temperature comes very close to forty-two degrees, and often exceeds that limit if their metabolism has already become partially or completely magical rather than biological. As a result, in their entire group, only Chizhik—who is also a fiery fellow—could have become a target for this scum, but he had put on a simple amulet to suppress his thermal signature, as, in fact, had the rest of their group. Twenty minutes of waiting, buried deep in the snow, after which they can continue. This won’t take out the aggressive creatures, nor will it even slow them down much. But it will make Sleepy’s job even easier, and it will give the assault team a few extra grains of sand’s worth of time to react.

Camrad_RIP 09.08.26 в 19:55

The active phase begins once again with alchemy. The remaining jugs emit a black, thick, and resinous cloud of smoke that reeks of burnt flesh, thereby attracting creatures. It draws them in with an unnaturally strong pull. It also conceals human silhouettes, blurring their position in space. And yet, to the human eye, the smoke is completely transparent, thanks to the potion taken—or rather, dripped—into their eyes beforehand. It smelled absolutely awful, but Toria had firmly internalized Ilya’s lessons. The potion’s taste and aroma were the very last considerations, unlike its direct functionality and safety for one’s health. Moreover, the smell quickly dissipated, leaving no trace, unlike the potion’s effect—or rather, the dual combined composition created through the “Reaction Division” with its three steps.

Camrad_RIP 09.08.26 в 19:57