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Threads Of Destiny(Eastern Fantasy, Sequel to Forge of Destiny)

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And thus half the debate was thrown out the window.

So I'm gonna go ahead and guess it will be something like our Motion Boost.

Or maybe a hint towards a treasure/trial.
 
yrsillar said:
the boon is not an art. I wont say anything else
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Thanks for clarifying that then.

Looks then like a temporary bonus towards learning offensive or defensive arts? Or a site that'll support one or the other, or maybe just a skill boost (Which is the most important thing), and we're choosing between raising our offensive skills or our defensive ones?
 
[X] Accept the blessing of Fang

Changing to Fang in light of it not being an Art that might awkwardly be melee or compete with FSS+ or something. I think Fang is more in theme for LQ than Hide as a concept.
 
Yay!

Ok, as I said before if it wasn't an Art Hide is the best option.

If it's a buff we want to be doubling down on our strengths here. If it's insight we want it to be focusing on our core gameplay. If it's a talisman, well, we really don't want a weapon, and some kind of good skinshifting thing would be way better.

That being said, there's far less scope for either option to cause us trouble here, so it doesn't matter too much.
 
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yrsillar said:
the boon is not an art. I wont say anything else
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Oh how neat. Yay!

Alectai said:
Thanks for clarifying that then.

Looks then like a temporary bonus towards learning offensive or defensive arts? Or a site that'll support one or the other, or maybe just a skill boost (Which is the most important thing), and we're choosing between raising our offensive skills or our defensive ones?
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With the whole "And then you are a beast to run with the Hunt" trope common to this kind of experience and how we get to take it to the waking world and how powerful the King is, I expect a meaningful permanent boost.
 
[X] Accept the blessing of Fang

Since it isn't an art, I'm gonna switch back to fang. Because I want fangs.
 
One one hand, in terms of abilities or buffs the obvious guess with hide would be something stealth or shapeshifting related...

Otoh, if we get cute animal features then cute fangs would clearly be the best option...
 
Erebeal said:
One one hand, in terms of abilities or buffs the obvious guess with hide would be something stealth or shapeshifting related...

Otoh, if we get cute animal features then cute fangs would clearly be the best option...
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Hey. Ears are a part of hide, so what if Hide gives Blessings of Cute Ears?
 
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Alectai said:
Looks then like a temporary bonus towards learning offensive or defensive arts? Or a site that'll support one or the other, or maybe just a skill boost (Which is the most important thing), and we're choosing between raising our offensive skills or our defensive ones?
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I mean now that LQ is green we're learning about new abilities and mechanics that were yellows and reds are locked out of. That trend probably continues as your cultivation increases, so for all we know this guy is about to radically modify LQ in some way that we won't understand until she reaches a much higher stage.
 
yrsillar said:
Ling Qi huffed, feeling put out. "Some bodyguard you are."

He looked at her in confusion. "That was a lie though," he replied, befuddled. "You're probably stronger than me anyway and if it turns violent, neither of us can do anything against that," he bluntly stated, gesturing in the direction of the advancing darkness.
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...Shen Hu is not good at this social perception thing.

This is what Sixiang feels like.

yrsillar said:
Soon the smoldering fires nearby snuffed out, sparks extinguished in an instant, and even the flames burning on Vengeance guttered low. Ling Qi found it hard to breath, and her raw animal instincts screamed at her to run, to flee, to cower. It was only long acclimation to Meizhen's aura that allowed her to hold her ground without doing more than going pale and trembling.
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Thats a successful Resolve save there.
Which would be bad to fail because fleeing in the face of Primordial Predator usually means chased.

yrsillar said:
She understood then, that was coming was not something on the level of Zeqing, but something far beyond that. Now that it washed over her so powerfully, she could feel it. The spirits relative weakness… was down to the fact that this was but an echo of events long past. For all of its ferociousness and potency, it was faded, like the impression of a blinding light seen on the back of one's eyelids.
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Thats no Cyan.
That's...I think thats a White spirit thats feeling incomplete because the DREAM isn't big enough to begin to emulate it.
yrsillar said:
Towering over her, tall enough to look down upon any human. He was nonetheless slender and androgynous, similar to Sixiang's briefly held flesh and blood form in a way. Long, luxurious black hair tumbled down past his shoulders, loose and wild, kept from his face by curving, branched horns like a stags, which rose from his temples.

He wore a an emerald robe of many layers, that draped his form and rippled in the suddenly chill wind. Despite those trapping's of humanity though, there was something off. Even considering the billowy robe, the motion she could see of his legs beneath it was… wrong and his footfalls were more like the sound of hooves than any human feet. His handsome features and dark eyes seemed perfect, but the lines of it were subtly off, like a mask that did not fit quite right. The burning viridian light of his pupils reminded her unsettlingly of Cai Shenhua.

That was not even to mention his entourage. In his wake, trees writhed, nightmarish faces forming and disappearing in the lines of the dark, and the shadows seethed with hungry eyes that gleamed in the night. She saw predator and prey alike among the unnatural darkness, shadowed even to her gaze. Wolves stalked amidst stags, and the earth writhed with vermin under the hungry eyes of raptors perched in living branches. Behind him stretched a vast swarm of beasts, more than she could ever name. Yet there was something unreal about it, the vast menagerie, the forest made manifest, was eerily quiet and dim, and remained behind him, as if it were only his shadow.
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The Horned Hunter and the Wild Hunt.
Looks like most of the Hunt is just his Domain expression though?


yrsillar said:
"My King," Vengeance rumbled, awkwardly bowing his burning trunk in a fascimile of the human motion. "This brother has survived the others, to bring you the knowledge the Oathbreakers sought to destroy."

Ling Qi very quickly imitated his motion, clapping her hands together and bowing as low as she could manage. "This humble one greets your majesty, and asks for forgiveness to my intrusion."

The King did not reply, nor even glance her way, striding across the clearing to stand before Vengeance-for-Burning Grove. "Your vengeance will be done," he said calmly as he laid his hand upon the burning trees bark, flames parting around his slender fingers. "Your death avenged."

Ling Qi remained studiously silent, peering out from under her bangs, only for her eyes to widen slightly as Vengeance stilled, and his flames roared back to life, engulfing his form entirely in a lurid inferno. The sudden burst of ashen woodsmoke almost made her cough and gag. A moment later, she heard the King inhale, and flames and smoke alike were drawn in, reversing the explosion that had happened moments ago. When the flames faded, Vengeance-for-Burning-Grove was gone, and the King stood, a faint trickle of smoke rising from his lips.

"So that is where my wayward brother's final redoubt is hidden," the King mused, lowering his hand. His voice was musical and almost feminine, at odds with the atmosphere he exuded.
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And so now we know why the Prince was looking to kill Burning Tree. Destroying information.

Eaten for knowledge.

yrsillar said:
"And what possessed thee to remain, on this night of blood," he asked, casual and indifferent in tone.

Her mouth was dry, Ling Qi thought absently, as his shadow fell over her, and she felt the patter of countless feet as the carpet of mice and rats engulfed her feet, and the wraiths of ancient and hoary trees rose around her, their limbs heavy with birds, staring down at her with gleaming, hungry eyes. How long had it been, since she had seen the night as a mortal did, she wondered. "I want to understand what is happening," Ling Qi said with more confidence than she felt. "My lord I have…"

"What an amusing creature," he interrupted her breezily, taking a stride closer. "What does it matter to you, Magpie who wears the Crows plumes? Do you imagine that you can change the outcome of this night?"
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Yeesh, he's AMUSED.
And Magpie would be the Grinning Moon mark, with Crow as the Hidden Moon.


yrsillar said:
"Before emperor and empires, many Weilu strayed from the true path. Breaking old pacts, cutting wood beyond the limits of our oaths, building festering nests of stone like the foolish apes to the north. Breaking with the flow of the sun, the moon and the seasons, as if they could forge a new order for themselves."

"The King of the Forests tolerated this, for he loved his sons, and did not wish to raise a hand, and after all, their depredations struck such a tiny, tiny fraction of the vast Emerald Sea," The kings lilting voice held an edge of contempt.
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So things we learned:
-The civil war predated the Empire.
-The Zheng invented fortified settlements.
-The rift is rooted in Traditionalist vs Progressive, as predicted previously.
-The Progressives violated previously sworn boundaries with the spirits, as the need for wood and farmland grew and the utility of permanent housing versus the more temporary and seasonal homes became evident.

The violations were not apparently major, by human measures. But Spirits are strict with pacts made. Not one tree past the line and they mean it.

So from the Prince's perspective, mad beast is about right. Not enough Spirit Ken.


yrsillar said:
"Yet many were unhappy with our wayward brethren, and so when he passed, it was the Elder Brother, who walked the true path, who was crowned. When he politely requested that the foolish ones tear down their ugly blights, and return to the true way… they refused, how mad of them." All around him wolves snarled and birds cried, the dulled cacophony of the forest rising in fury.

Ling Qi felt a sinking feeling in her stomach, even as she remained silent, despite the pain of the King's fingers digging into her shoulder, as fury began to leak into his voice.

"They bought metals and stone from serpents and apes, and laid siege to our most sacred temples. They pillaged and killed their own kin and defied the holy conclave of kings. Yet, when this King reached the peak, gathered the scattered courts to war, and awoke the Sea. what good did it do?" The king continued contemptuously. "The followers of truth have scoured them from the land and cast down their blights, regrown the sullied groves on the flesh and blood of chattel and traitor alike. Now, only one foolish man remains unrepentant. It is my brother and nephews who I hunt this night, little dreamer."
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Well...literal revolution caused by the Agriculture Revolution then. But crushed despite material advantages from imports.


yrsillar said:
"Because I need to understand, if I am to survive," the words came to her lips unbidden. "Even if I am small, my actions can affect the paths of the mighty and draw their attention."

"A good answer," replied the King, stepping closer still. "Very well, a boon then, for shortening this nights dance."


Ling Qi bit her lip as she felt the King's sharpened fingernails dig into her skin, drawing blood. "I see, thank you very much your majesty. I understand now."

"Thou do not little dreamer," he said easily. "But you will, when you join us on our hunt. Only then will thy boon be granted. Pray that the understanding does not break thee."

Ling Qi felt her throat dry up, but she knew that this was the position she had put herself in. She could not refuse. "You honor me," he voice sounded like a raspy whisper to her own ears.

"This King does not," he replied sounding vaguely amused, without masking the murderous fury behind his gaze. "What interesting customs the future holds."


Ling Qi could only remain silent, her lessons on etiquette contained no response to that.

"Thy boon was a paltry one, given thy service," The King mused. "New hunter, this king offers thee a blessing of fang or hide, which will carry even unto the waking world. Choose now, and let the hunt begin."
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Pay attention here.
This is about how Ling Qi affects the Hunt. AND of course the loot. Because the King understands that we don't treat the Dream seriously

[] Accept the blessing of Fang

To be the Fang of the Wild Hunt, to join it to kill. I don't think we'd get to choose WHO we kill, but probably How.
Anticipated to be the most traumatic.

[] Accept the blessing of Hide

To be Safe in the Wild Hunt. To join it to be safe from the King's wrath.

[] Ask for something else, despite the risk
-[] Ask that Shen Hu be spared the hunt
[] Ask for something else, despite the risk
-[] Ask that Shen Hu and any mortals be spared the hunt

To dare to affect the paths of the mighty. Might well cost us a reward altogether, but its strong character development.

Does Ling Qi stand true by her friends when push comes to shove? Does she stand true by Cai's ideals?
Whatever happened to those saying this is how best to protect mortals anyway, now that the Hunt is on?

I'd note the King's vengeance is specifically against the Prince and the other nobles, all cultivators. The request technically does not cross him directly.

However its definitely beyond the scope of the boon. Do we dare?
Do we care?
 
veekie said:
So it persists past the dream and is permanentish.
Sounds like a mutation or a talisman. Weapon or armor
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Yeah but a Talisman is dumb based on the idea of my read on what sort of incentives yrs is operating under.

Namely in my opinion; "I have to design this boon so that it reads as powerful, and so that it actually is powerful. It interfering with the rest of the build is only somewhat acceptable and mostly a headache if I go too far. It needs to be relevant to the story I want to tell for a long time and not obsoleted by progression anytime soon. It being something forgettable would be bad."

And that's the thing with Talismans. They are usually forgettable equipment, because equipment is not the focus of Cultivators and Forge Xianxia and are basically so far designed to become obsolete under progression.

Weapons would be a little better, given the example of our Domain weapon and a replacement would be amusing, but like ech. SMB would be reduced to an heirloom then for Biyu or a secondary tool for Ling Qi when she is able to wield multiple DW's.
 
yrsillar said:
A moment later, she heard the King inhale, and flames and smoke alike were drawn in, reversing the explosion that had happened moments ago. When the flames faded, Vengeance-for-Burning-Grove was gone, and the King stood, a faint trickle of smoke rising from his lips.
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Is that another Hidden Moon death divination? Jiao has his Blade Memory Formation that lets him mine corpses for information via their death wounds. Is this "kill and eat remains" thing of the King another method learned from the Hidden Moon? If Ling Qi continues with her devotion to the Hidden Moon and her ways, will she eventually learn a death divination method?

Pretty neat, this method though. It both gets rid of the corpse as well as give him information. I take it, as well, that this divination method is also kin to that the prince mentioned in the previous update, where he accused Ling Qi of having mentors that killed and desecrated the corpses of his brothers for their arts. Pity that it probably is banned via Ministry of Integrity in the modern day — this sort of thing sounds like it veers too close to incentiving killing Imperial cultivators for the Empire's liking.

yrsillar said:
"What does it matter to you, Magpie who wears the Crows plumes? Do you imagine that you can change the outcome of this night?"
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Magpie clearly marks the Grinning Moon influence, and Crow marks the Hidden Moon patron pick from EPC, in keeping with the stereotypes of thieving Magpies and curious Crow.

It's really scary how there's hints that this King guy understands he is just a dream figment but also knows post-Empire things, if incompletely. The hypothesis that he is a fragment of an Ascended Great Spirit is interesting: it raises the question of where else does he intrude upon the physical world.

yrsillar said:
"Before emperor and empires, many Weilu strayed from the true path. Breaking old pacts, cutting wood beyond the limits of our oaths, building festering nests of stone like the foolish apes to the north. Breaking with the flow of the sun, the moon and the seasons, as if they could forge a new order for themselves."
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Ah, theory that the prince was part of a faction that sought to clearcut the forest to intensify agricultural operation, thereby enraging the forest, confirmed.

Interesting, though, that this guy thinks stone buildings are bad ways of living. I wonder... perhaps, after the Weilu submitted to the Sage Emperor, did some of them adopt some Heavenly Peaks traditions and construct cities of stone? And then, they disappeared and the Xi, who kept as least in part with the old ways, literally living within trees, took their adherence as justification for their survival?

Actually, what did the Sage do to bring the Weilu on-board? I remember WoG that he fought with the Serpent for the Bai and drank with the Monkey for the Zheng, but did we get anything about the Horned Lord for the Weilu? How did cities of stone flourish and thrive? Were they all post-Weilu disappearance?

yrsillar said:
They bought metals and stone from serpents and apes, and laid siege to our most sacred temples. They pillaged and killed their own kin and defied the holy conclave of kings.
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This mention of "kings" — plural — is a fascinating morsel of information. In the modern day, the duke is practically the king of the province. Are these kings the equivalent of the duke, as basically absolute rulers of their domain? Or are they more like an equitable council of counts, with the Weilu patriarch first-among-equals?

(I imagine the defilement was basically bringing in metal to the place. Holy site requirements can be frustratingly strict and petty sometimes.)

(Also, what did the Bai and Zheng do while the Weilu were caught up in their civil war? I can't imagine the Zheng raiders wouldn't take advantage of of the disorganization of the period, and while the Bai are isolationist, surely they're opportunistic enough to do something with the situation, right? Would Ling Qi be able to find stuff about this in their archives?)

[x] Ask for something else, despite the risk
-[x] Ask that Shen Hu and any mortals be spared the hunt

Solely because the idea of Ling Qi gaining fangs is agonizingly tempting. Just think: Ling Qi gets fangs, like a Bai! How Meizhan's heart would flutter! How Cui will suddenly understand why her cousin likes Ling Qi so much! how Ling Qi would further break Meizhan's heart by demonstrating the dream that she'll adapt and thrive in the snake pot of Bai internal politics but the dream was already broken before it even began.

It's wonderful. Too wonderful. And that's why I can't let myself vote for anything else that's not Fangs.

(Also, funny thing. If we had voted to help the prince, or gone to the village, it would have been entirely possible Ling Qi would be facing off against this fragment of a White. Isn't it nice to think about such wonderful possibilities!)
 
jacobk said:
There's an outside chance he spins off a murdertree for us to take home.

It might seem a little excessive, but this whole event is the result of a crit and we've passed at least a resolve test to get to this point.
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Given dice are not a thing anymore, "resolve test" has no basis beyond pointing out that Ling Qi managed to keep it together.
 
BungieONI said:
Weapons would be a little better, given the example of our Domain weapon and a replacement would be amusing, but like ech. SMB would be reduced to an heirloom then for Biyu or a secondary tool for Ling Qi when she is able to wield multiple DW's.
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@AbeoLogos's idea about Hide modifying our robes is highly unlikely, but would be the most hilarious thing ever just to see Renxiang's reaction.

... a nice furry mantle would go really well with the ice aesthetic we get from Zeqing though
 
Erebeal said:
Otoh, if we get cute animal features then cute fangs would clearly be the best option...
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Nice fur would also be cute.

Ultimately if it isn't an Art, and therfor will not be competing for actions in fights, i don't really care much which we get.
I do think that Fangs imply close melee physical combat hence there's a good chance the result will be useless, so i'm going to keep with the Hide option which will be useful no matter what it gives us.
 
Well, if you want a long-ish term boon, then Fang and Hide could be upgrades to our Domain weapon or Cai robes. Both are pieces of equipment that aren't going to be obsolete any time soon. Even after we hit Cyan and we can use the full potential of our Domain Weapon, I don't expect us to be picking up a replacement on any kind of rapid basis.

And as @Erebeal points out, having an echo of a White "True" Weilu of antiquity messing with our Cai robe would be the height of hilarity.
 
BungieONI said:
Yeah but a Talisman is dumb based on the idea of my read on what sort of incentives yrs is operating under.

Namely in my opinion; "I have to design this boon so that it reads as powerful, and so that it actually is powerful. It interfering with the rest of the build is only somewhat acceptable and mostly a headache if I go too far. It needs to be relevant to the story I want to tell for a long time and not obsoleted by progression anytime soon. It being something forgettable would be bad."

And that's the thing with Talismans. They are usually forgettable equipment, because equipment is not the focus of Cultivators and Forge Xianxia and are basically so far designed to become obsolete under progression.

Weapons would be a little better, given the example of our Domain weapon and a replacement would be amusing, but like ech. SMB would be reduced to an heirloom then for Biyu or a secondary tool for Ling Qi when she is able to wield multiple DW's.
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Observe the Gown and Singing Moon Blade.
lioli said:
Is that another Hidden Moon death divination? Jiao has his Blade Memory Formation that lets him mine corpses for information via their death wounds. Is this "kill and eat remains" thing of the King another method learned from the Hidden Moon? If Ling Qi continues with her devotion to the Hidden Moon and her ways, will she eventually learn a death divination method?

Pretty neat, this method though. It both gets rid of the corpse as well as give him information. I take it, as well, that this divination method is also kin to that the prince mentioned in the previous update, where he accused Ling Qi of having mentors that killed and desecrated the corpses of his brothers for their arts. Pity that it probably is banned via Ministry of Integrity in the modern day — this sort of thing sounds like it veers too close to incentiving killing Imperial cultivators for the Empire's liking.
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Bloody Moon Divination art. It gets rid of the evidence and gives you information on the next target in your rampage of revenge.

Perfect for an avenger.
lioli said:
Interesting, though, that this guy thinks stone buildings are bad ways of living. I wonder... perhaps, after the Weilu submitted to the Sage Emperor, did some of them adopt some Heavenly Peaks traditions and construct cities of stone? And then, they disappeared and the Xi, who kept as least in part with the old ways, literally living within trees, took their adherence as justification for their survival?
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Sounds like a pact with the Forest for shelter in exchange for forsaking living in stone caves.
It probably seemed like a better deal prior to masonry.
lioli said:
This mention of "kings" — plural — is a fascinating morsel of information. In the modern day, the duke is practically the king of the province. Are these kings the equivalent of the duke, as basically absolute rulers of their domain? Or are they more like an equitable council of counts, with the Weilu patriarch first-among-equals?
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Think tribal kings I think. The Weilu were apparently an allied confederacy of tribes.

Their structure sounded a lot like fantasy North American Indians
lioli said:
(Also, what did the Bai and Zheng do while the Weilu were caught up in their civil war? I can't imagine the Zheng raiders wouldn't take advantage of of the disorganization of the period, and while the Bai are isolationist, surely they're opportunistic enough to do something with the situation, right? Would Ling Qi be able to find stuff about this in their archives?)
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The Bai are isolationist NOW. They didn't always do that. Also sounds like they supplied the rebels probably in the hopes of disruption opening up opportunities.
 
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