I'd like Grinning first. Narratively, LQ can go back to where a large portion of her psyche was formed and confront those fears.
Thematically, I'd like for LQ to espouse the characteristics of Grinning out of all of them.
Grinning, then Hidden, then Dreaming.
[] A gleaming tower of light and wood, vast beyond easy comprehension, a bastion of power that cast deep shadows indeed, even under the lightless moon.
[] The crumbling city of Tonghou, turned inward, shrinking by the decade, lit by the light of a grinning crescent.
Dealing with Ling Qi's past, which is itself growing increaingly irrelevent, but was nonetheless a formative part of her character, and where she learned the skills that helped her get her start at the sect and attracted the attention of the Grinning Moon.
[] A gleaming tower of light and wood, vast beyond easy comprehension, a bastion of power that cast deep shadows indeed, even under the lightless moon.
Examining the new world Ling Qi finds herself in as a vassel of the Cai, a world of power and grandeur she could never have dreamed of before coming to the sect. Particularly, the role of the Hidden Moon as Ling Qi strives to unravel the secrets of history and nobility in order to survive her new environment.
[] A little village in the hills, new and yet old, built upon layers of bones, but peaceful and full of laughter under the light of a waning moon.
Dealing more with the philosophical questions Ling Qi has been pondering as she constructs her domain and considers the future of her clan. Most notably, the concept of building a new life out of the ruins of the old.
I think the last appeals most to me. I've really enjoyed the running theme of Ling Qi studying the tragedies of the history of the Emerald Seas and her own personal experience, and using that to try to build a better future for herself and her family and friends.
On the other hand, we got some advice from Jiao before that linking your cultivation deeply to your job could be something to avoid. So personally would rather avoid linking the Moon quest scenario to the Cai.
Dealing with Ling Qi's past, which is itself growing increaingly irrelevent, but was nonetheless a formative part of her character, and where she learned the skills that helped her get her start at the sect and attracted the attention of the Grinning Moon.
Im sure all those relationship hangups and the constant insults and baggage said past gives her when interacting with the Emerald Seas nobility is only going to grow more irrelevant as marriage offers and growing importance in the Emerald Seas noble heirarchy grow more and more important for Ling Qi specifically.
[X] The crumbling city of Tonghou, turned inward, shrinking by the decade, lit by the light of a grinning crescent.
[X] A gleaming tower of light and wood, vast beyond easy comprehension, a bastion of power that cast deep shadows indeed, even under the lightless moon.
Mostly it is the light(Cai) and tower of wood(capital of the Emerald Sea is one heck of a big tree). So the shadows of the Capital of the Cai seems to be a valid interpretation.
Ok, so edited my Art History page with new PLR differences. For those who are wondering:
An art born from the nature of the dreaming moon, patron of artists and innovators, granted as a favor to one who impressed at her moonlit gala. This art calls upon the memories of that chaotic spiritual revel, allowing the user to use their qi to impress them upon the waking world, and move with the grace of a trueborn maiden of moonlight
Potency: Green 1
Potency Growth: Green 2(3) Green 3(6) Green 4(9)
Keywords:
Moon, Motion, Revelry, Yang
Athletics, Dance, Dexterity, Composure, Presence
Current Meridians: Legx2, Lung
Next Meridians: Lung(3), Leg(5), Leg(7), Lung(9)
Max Level: 9
Experience Needed: 150, 300, 450, 600, 800, 1000, 1200
Passive Effects
+2 bonus to all expression and socialize
+5 to Speed
+5 bonus to Physical Avoid
+3 bonus to Spiritual Avoid
+5 bonus to Dexterity when escaping grapple or confinement
+2 bonus to begin or maintain a grapple
-This Art uses Dance as mastery for all techniques
Illustrious Phantasmal Festival: B
Duration: Long
The foundational technique from which all others in the art arise. The user gathers their qi and the memories of their night of revelry and expels them through every available channel in a rush of power and gleaming many colored mist. Within Close range centered on the user, ghostly dancers ever shifting in form coalesce from the midst in a riot of color, laughter, music and movement. Amidst the revel the user is but one figure among many, and in its ever shifting tides, only those of sharp eye can even attempt to reach or strike the user directly. This technique may be renewed as if it were D rank at instant speed at the end of its duration. This technique allows for stealth and is an illusion effect, affecting all senses.
Lunatic Whirl: C
Duration: Persistent
Usable only while Illustrious Phantasmal Festival is active. The ghostly dancers gather around an intruder in the festival, laughing, singing and demanding a dance, forcing them to join the revelry. The dancers seize their arms and hands, dragging them through the chaotic revelry. Though the dancers will do no harm to their captive, the frenetic pace of the revelry is highly draining, and victim finds their qi dribbling away, while the sights and sounds of the revel cloud their minds and steal the strength from their limbs. So long as their hands lie in the grasp of the dancers, they will also find the meridians in their arms blocked and unusable.
Passive Effects
+2 +5 bonus to Dance, Music, art and speech +5 +10 to Speed +5 bonus to Physical Avoid +3 +5 bonus to Spiritual Avoid +5 +10 bonus to Dexterity when escaping grapple or confinement +2 +5 bonus to begin or maintain a grapple
-This Art uses Dance as mastery for all techniques
Illustrious Phantasmal Festival: B
Duration: Long
The foundational technique from which all others in the art arise. The user gathers their qi and the memories of their night of revelry and expels them through every available channel in a rush of power and gleaming many colored mist. Within Close range centered on the user, ghostly dancers ever shifting in form coalesce from the midst in a riot of color, laughter, music and movement. Amidst the revel the user is but one figure among many, and in its ever shifting tides, only those of sharp eye can even attempt to reach or strike the user directly. This technique may be renewed as if it were D rank at instant speed at the end of its duration. This technique allows for stealth and is an illusion effect, affecting all senses. The festival counts as an additional combatant for the purposes of determining multiattacker bonuses
Lunatic Whirl: C
Duration: Persistent
Usable only while Illustrious Phantasmal Festival is active. The ghostly dancers gather around an intruder in the festival, laughing, singing and demanding a dance, forcing them to join the revelry. The dancers seize their arms and hands, dragging them through the chaotic revelry. Though the dancers will do no harm to their captive, the frenetic pace of the revelry is highly draining, and victim finds their qi dribbling away, siphoned to the user while the sights and sounds of the revel cloud their minds and steal the strength from their limbs. So long as their hands lie in the grasp of the dancers, they will also find the meridians in their arms blocked and unusable.
Joyous Toast: C
Duration: Immediate
Usable only while Illustrious Phantasmal Festival is active. The guests of the festival raise their voices and cups and stamp their feet in joy, roaring encouragement for the user and their allies and jeering at their foes. The next music, dance or art based technique used by those affected is treated as if it is one rank higher for determining effects.
Passive Effects
+5 +10 bonus to Dance, Music, art and speech
+10 to Speed
+5 bonus to Physical Avoid
+5 bonus to Spiritual Avoid
+10 bonus to Dexterity when escaping grapple or confinement +5 +10 bonus to begin or maintain a grapple
-This Art uses Dance as mastery for all techniques
Illustrious Phantasmal Festival: B
Duration: Long
The foundational technique from which all others in the art arise. The user gathers their qi and the memories of their night of revelry and expels them through every available channel in a rush of power and gleaming many colored mist. Within Close range centered on the user, ghostly dancers ever shifting in form coalesce from the midst in a riot of color, laughter, music and movement. Amidst the revel the user is but one figure among many, and in its ever shifting tides, only those of sharp eye can even attempt to reach or strike the user directly. Within it's confines the senses of enemies are confused, penalizing perception. This technique may be renewed as if it were D rank at instant speed at the end of its duration. This technique allows for stealth and is an illusion effect, affecting all senses. The festival counts as an additional combatant opponent for the purposes of determining multiattacker bonuses.
Lunatic Whirl: C
Duration: Persistent
Usable only while Illustrious Phantasmal Festival is active. The ghostly dancers gather around an intruder in the festival, laughing, singing and demanding a dance, forcing them to join the revelry. The dancers seize their arms and hands, dragging them through the chaotic revelry. Though the dancers will do no harm to their captive, the frenetic pace of the revelry is highly draining, and victim finds their qi dribbling away, siphoned to the user while the sights and sounds of the revel cloud their minds and steal the strength from their limbs. So long as their hands lie in the grasp of the dancers, they will also find the meridians in their arms blocked and unusable. Each usage of Lunatic Whirl may target up to three enemies, no more than six enemies may be under the effect of Lunatic Whirl at a time.
Joyous Toast: C
Duration: Immediate
Usable only while Illustrious Phantasmal Festival is active. The guests of the festival raise their voices and cups and stamp their feet in joy, roaring encouragement for the user and their allies and jeering at their foes. The next music, dance or art based technique used by those affected is treated as if it is one rank higher for determining effects.
Passive Effects
+10 bonus to Dance, Music, art and speech +10 +15 to Speed
+5 bonus to Physical Avoid
+5 bonus to Spiritual Avoid
+10 bonus to Dexterity when escaping grapple or confinement
+10 bonus to begin or maintain a grapple
-This Art uses Dance as mastery for all techniques
Illustrious Phantasmal Festival: B
Duration: Long
The foundational technique from which all others in the art arise. The user gathers their qi and the memories of their night of revelry and expels them through every available channel in a rush of power and gleaming many colored mist. Within Close range centered on the user, ghostly dancers ever shifting in form coalesce from the midst in a riot of color, laughter, music and movement. Amidst the revel the user is but one figure among many, and in its ever shifting tides, only those of sharp eye can even attempt to reach or strike the user directly. Within it's confines the senses of enemies are confused, penalizing perception. This technique may be renewed as if it were D rank at instant speed at the end of its duration. This technique allows for stealth and is an illusion effect, affecting all senses. The festival counts as an opponent for the purposes of determining multiattacker bonuses.
Lunatic Whirl: C
Duration: Persistent
Usable only while Illustrious Phantasmal Festival is active. The ghostly dancers gather around an intruder in the festival, laughing, singing and demanding a dance, forcing them to join the revelry. The dancers seize their arms and hands, dragging them through the chaotic revelry. Though the dancers will do no harm to their captive, the frenetic pace of the revelry is highly draining, and victim finds their qi dribbling away, siphoned to the user while the sights and sounds of the revel cloud their minds and steal the strength from their limbs. So long as their hands lie in the grasp of the dancers, they will also find the meridians in their arms blocked and unusable. Each usage of Lunatic Whirl may target up to three enemies, no more than six enemies may be under the effect of Lunatic Whirl at a time.
Joyous Toast: C
Duration: Immediate
Usable only while Illustrious Phantasmal Festival is active. The guests of the festival raise their voices and cups and stamp their feet in joy, roaring encouragement for the user and their allies and jeering at their foes. The next music, dance or art based technique used by those affected is treated as if it is one rank higher for determining effects.
Ephemeral Dreamlit Dancer: C
Duration: Short
Having begun to understand the nature of the dreams, the user flits from place to place, shrouded in the phantoms of paths not taken. While active the users speed is increased significantly. Techniques which would still hit the user have a chance(decreasing based on the attackers perception) to simply fail, shattering instead some of the dreamlike phantom images the user is shrouded in. Each use of this technique generates two 'charges' which do not stack with additional uses.
As we knew, JT is really strong. Ephemeral Dreamlit Dancer is a very good +2 perfect dodge for C rank whose weakness is that it depends on enemy perception (hoping @yrsillar makes it that stealth derived attribute make it more effective even when not stealthed), and it lasts for a short duration as well as greatly increase our speed.
Its direct competitor is Deepwood vitality, which is a perfect armour on both Ling Qi and allies as well as a dispel attempt. EDC seems like it would be better for self if we can be certain it actually works, though obviously DWV is better for groups.
Apart from that, I would say I am surprised no techs improved for PLR5 given it got a new meridians as well as being the soft capstone for appraisal. Likewise, the passives are very lackluster. My guess is Yrs realized he had been too nice on arts.
[X] A little village in the hills, new and yet old, built upon layers of bones, but peaceful and full of laughter under the light of a waning moon.
[X] The crumbling city of Tonghou, turned inward, shrinking by the decade, lit by the light of a grinning crescent.
[X] The crumbling city of Tonghou, turned inward, shrinking by the decade, lit by the light of a grinning crescent.
The specter of Tonghou hangs over us still. As evidenced by our interaction with the Headmaster of the Sect during the Temple Trial. Our experiences there have shaped us and broken us into who we are now. We can not build a strong future, without resolving the crumbling foundation of our past experiences.
Our insights into the Curious Diviner's Eye has led us to appreciate the past for the lessons we can learn from it. Let's now apply that insight to ourselves and learn from our past so that we can become better for it.
(Also, I really like grinning and want to reflect the tricksy nature of the moon more than we currently do. Additionally, a scenario lit by the grinning moon is the most likely scenario to get an advanced stealth skill, which I really, really want.)
