[X][SCS] There is no peace in emptiness, no content in stillness. Stagnation is death; act, change, move, think, and grow until the very end.
[X][TRF] Branches and trunks bend and sway, but the roots must remain unyielding. Retreat only so far and then no more.
[x][SCS] There is no peace in emptiness, no content in stillness. Stagnation is death; act, change, move, think, and grow until the very end.
[x][TRF] Branches and trunks bend and sway, but the roots must remain unyielding. Retreat only so far and then no more.
[x][CDE] Do not slot Curious Diviners Eye
CDE insights are very blegh, as others have already said. CDE 1 is so vague as to be meaningless.
SCS 1 appeals to me on a personal level, plus it doesn't have a problem with relaxing, just with stagnation. She'd still happily take the occasional salon trip with her besties, she just isn't going to tolerate taking a week off to do nothing. SCS 2 feels sort of skeevy to me, and a bit dangerous. TRF 1 is perfectly fine, I like it, it's just I don't like it as much as TRF 2.
[X][SCS] There is no peace in emptiness, no content in stillness. Stagnation is death; act, change, move, think, and grow until the very end.
[X][TRF] Each scar is merely another ring in the making, from past pain arises new strength
[X][CDE] Do not slot Curious Diviners Eye
[X][SCS] Do not slot Sable Crescent Step
[x][TRF] Branches and trunks bend and sway, but the roots must remain unyielding. Retreat only so far and then no more.
[x][CDE] Do not slot Curious Diviners Eye
I can't really see any in character arguments against SCS1 tbh. While I personally don't disagree with the "be able to find contentment" arguments, I don't see them as being very in character...
… or at least that's what I was going to say.
And then I remembered the discussion we had back in Tonghou. A case can be made that Ling Qi absolutely understands the value of contentment. That her goal is to someday achieve that place of peace and security.
She just doesn't believe she can have that without being the very best like no-one ever was. She's not against settling. She's against other people being stronger than her.
... That'a the best argument against SCS I can come up with anyway.
[X][SCS] There is no peace in emptiness, no content in stillness. Stagnation is death; act, change, move, think, and grow until the very end.
[X][SCS] Darkness knows no barriers, and neither should your desires
Sable Crescent Step Insights
[][SCS] There is no peace in emptiness, no content in stillness. Stagnation is death; act, change, move, think, and grow until the very end.
[][SCS] Darkness knows no barriers, and neither should your desires
- Generally like the first best, fits LQ well and I don't see our cultivation necessitating we go out of our way to avoid or minimise the protagonist's defining traits. She's an intensely hard worker and for good or bad, it's got her where she is today. Well, that and her bonds... Also like that it plays into the dichotomy and cycles. FSS focusing on endings with mention of winter becoming spring, this describing endings that'd conclude without progression.
- On the second, like Alectai said, insights are all going to be compatible. Pretty sure they'd have to be since they're formed around LQ's growing understanding. It looks pretty vague but I guess it'd have to acknowledge the insight that home requires respecting more than one person's desires. So it'd be more about pushing boundaries? Would probably do more in rejecting lawful behaviour where feasible and also cultural norms.
Thousand Ring Fortress Insights
[][TRF] Each scar is merely another ring in the making, from past pain arises new strength
[][TRF] Branches and trunks bend and sway, but the roots must remain unyielding. Retreat only so far and then no more.
- First plays into cycle again I guess. Growth's a nice idea again but not sure the benefiting of past pain is much of a focus for LQ. Not so much now anyway. In and out of combat I'd expect evasiveness to be preferred.
- Kinda love the second. Not sure I get the focus on inflexibility when it's quite clear on bending being the general response. This is just building on the Yellow breakthrough where she accepted roots and wings, bonds and freedom. Really it's building on her her yearning for friendship and things worth fighting for that's been a focus since she first entered the sect.
Curious Diviners Eye Insights
[][CDE] Ignorance is no better than blindness.
[][CDE] Be always watchful. Foes and treasures alike may hide in the gaps in one's perceptions.
- A nice general sentiment but not sure it really resonates with LQ personally.
- I quite like the paranoia that comes with this, honestly. Plus the treasure talk kinda screams Hidden Moon to me, just not sure it's worth the insight slot.
[x][SCS] There is no peace in emptiness, no content in stillness. Stagnation is death; act, change, move, think, and grow until the very end.
[x][TRF] Branches and trunks bend and sway, but the roots must remain unyielding. Retreat only so far and then no more.
[x][CDE] Do not slot Curious Diviners Eye
@1986ctcel the first bracket tag for your TRF vote is a curly brace, not a square bracket.
[X][SCS] Do not slot Sable Crescent Step
[X][TRF] Branches and trunks bend and sway, but the roots must remain unyielding. Retreat only so far and then no more.
[X][CDE] Do not slot Curious Diviners Eye
[X][SCS] There is no peace in emptiness, no content in stillness. Stagnation is death; act, change, move, think, and grow until the very end.
[X][TRF] Each scar is merely another ring in the making, from past pain arises new strength
[X][CDE] Do not slot Curious Diviners Eye
That has nothing to do with dealing with her issues. It's literally just "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger" and we already have a similar insight from FVM.
For reference, here's our previous domain insights:
-Sincerity is the measure by which the worthiness of the self and ones guests should be measured.
-There are endings and Endings, only the very last one is final. Just as winter ends in spring, small endings are new beginnings.
-Though a path might be hard and lonely, it has worth if you can present something of beauty to those you care for at the end.
Sable Crescent Step Insights
[][SCS] There is no peace in emptiness, no content in stillness. Stagnation is death; act, change, move, think, and grow until the very end.
SCS1 is very ambitious, and in quite a LQ style; the endless frantic striving ever upwards. A potential downside is a complete rejection of the silent/still/serene aspects of Darkness, and SNR certainly shows there is power to be drawn from those. Here's the text for SNR for reference:
Starless Night's Reflection
In the Thousand Lakes, the infinite depth of the night sky is reflected from one thousand mirrors, displaying infinite emptiness extending beyond the heavens and into the depths of the earth. In meditating upon this conceptual void, the user seeks to become such a mirror, combining the formlessness and absorption of darkness with the rippling serenity and infinite depth of the lakes. Enemies striking the user and their allies find their weapons and techniques sinking into the shadows, to vanish, doing no more harm than they would if they slashed the waters of mighty Lake Hei, or aimed their malice at the starless sky.
Keywords
Darkness, Lake, Reflections, Stillness, Silence, Void, Yin
Composure, Dark, Fortitude, Lake, Resilience, Resolve, Stamina
Is it inherently incompatible with the core message of SCS1? I'm not sure; SNR seems to be about formlessness, absorption, and serenity as aspects that prevents harm to oneself and ones' allies. While it is certainly Stillness and probably Emptiness, it sure doesn't seem like Stagnation, which I'd mark as the core rejection of the SCS insight.
That said, even if the first insight renders SNR incompatible, the gain will be a core insight that instills a great ambition and drive to move forward. An insight of this type seems mandatory if we want to push to the higher reaches long-term, and the short-term "cost" of 390ish domain xp, while it isn't nothing, it's manageable when we have ~4500 lined up besides it in things we plan to train already. (The long-term "cost" of great ambition seems like something we're managing fine atm what with family AP).
[][SCS] Darkness knows no barriers, and neither should your desires
SCS2 is... wild. It is about letting nothing stand in the way of your desires, an intense sort of willpower. This can be both good and bad, for obvious reasons both, and it is distinct from the first insight in that it doesn't add a new ambition to pursue. In this sense, SCS2 is like the insight from FVM3; it helps walking a chosen path but unlike SCS1 doesn't specify this path must be about action, change, movement, thought and growth.
Unlike the FVM insight it offers no built-in self-restraint; it is the lowering of inhibitions to pursue one's desires. If we know to show restraint and aim our goals in a way we won't regret then this insight will serve us well.
I'm not sure there's a strong argument not to take any of SCS's insights. Both seem to be the kind of Drive/Ambition-enablers that really set the groundwork for a path that can lead one to the peak of cultivation, as appropriate for the initiate form of the Way-founding Art of one of the Grinning Moon's aspects. Both insights have costs associated with them but in this case I think it's better to pick one than settle for lesser ambition.
Thousand Ring Fortress Insights
[][TRF] Each scar is merely another ring in the making, from past pain arises new strength
TRF1 is an insight about growth from setbacks, the kind we've experienced (childhood, blood moon dream, this bandit hunt) and will continue to experience and continue to encounter difficult situations and the ugliness of the world. It has nice synergy with FVM's insight, letting us not only bring beauty back from a hard and lonely path but to grow stronger from the experience.
Overall a fairly solid investment into future growth potential, provided we walk a difficult path in life where hardship is common, and with us following Cai it seems all but guaranteed, especially with Xin's warning about this path.
[][TRF] Branches and trunks bend and sway, but the roots must remain unyielding. Retreat only so far and then no more.
TRF2 is about having a bottom line. A set of principles we will not compromise on. This can be good and bad; Having such a core combined with Mirror's insight will make LQ less susceptible to trauma of the kind we've seen in Blood Moon dream. On the other hand it seems redundant with SCS2; both don't specify what values must be pursued, with TRF2 giving the same ability to stick to one's convictions without the added utility of pursuing one's ambitions.
As for SCS1 compatibility, it may clash with its aspects of change and growth, or it may restrain the worst tendencies of that Wind-like insight. Hard to say what the long-term outcome of taking both would be.
As noted before, SES seems to have quite a bit of thematic overlap with both TRF and FVM, so it can make sense to wait for insights from that. UGM should have determination and persistence-themed insights too. Otherwise, TRF1 should be a fairly safe choice given where we're heading, and TRF2+SCS1 is bound to cause interesting conflict later (which may cause us to get locked-out of higher cultivation but well those are the risks).
CDE1 is deceptively simple, but in some cases simple isn't bad. This insight is about the pursuit of Truth and Knowledge, the inherent understanding of why it's called "walking blindly into danger". Given our proclivities so far and tendency to find ourselves neck-deep in things trying to kills us, an insight that facilitates a mindset to at least know what we're getting into would be neat.
On the other hand, it somehow worked out fine before; I'm sure it'll stay fine when we add some SCS-insight shaped rocket boosters to the mix.
[][CDE] Be always watchful. Foes and treasures alike may hide in the gaps in one's perceptions.
CDE2 is interesting. I think this insight has immense potential to shine in our social interactions with humans and spirits alike, something likely to stay with us for possibly the rest of our lives.
HDW is the social-connections art so why is CDE getting the cool social-enabling insight . More seriously, we're very likely to pick up CDE+ and further pursue this Secrets themed art which aligns with our patrons, and both insights seem good. The reasons not to vote for one of them is the seeming simplicity of CDE1, hope that HDW has something better, desire to save space for insights from our other arts, or not wanting to make insight a core aspect of who LQ is.
Further Considerations and Overall impressions
We currently have 4 free insight slots, are likely to get 2 more soon, and probably another 2-4 (total 8-10) by the time we master our new arts in Green 5. Domain Votes (including this one):
+ SCS
+ TRF
+ CDE
- HDW
- SES
- ENM (if we pick it up, or something else for the role)
- PLR
- SNR (if not locked out)
- UGM
- BKSD
- Some social art if we pick it up
Between all of those we'll be forced to skip 1-3 of the insights so overall we have a rather broad selection and aren't yet at a point where slot scarcity is a major consideration (unless cultivation arts give insights, which they probably shouldn't be, but even that is +1-2 skips/arts).
Of our current insights:
SCS we want one of them, probably SCS1 if we aim for White+. We can probably get something SCS2-like from UGM. Yes it risks invalidating SNR which is bad because adding some if its insights together with SCS1 would be a much more productive balance than TRF2, especially since SNR uses the themes of stillness/void to shield oneself and one's allies.
TRF we should either get TRF1 or skip, hoping for something useful in SES/SNR/UGM. I'm leaning towards TRF1 so as to get some form of self-growth that would synergize with like 2 of our current insights as well as SCS1.
CDE seems like a pick between 1 and 2, skip isn't very attractive here. Leaning CDE2 for refining the outlook we currently have with the Mirror insight (sincerity-only), and the overall social potential which we may be further refined with HDW in a useful and unifying way (though that may be too many social insights, and on the third hand we are do have a house/family/community core insight we build around so 3-4 social insights is potentially fine, especially when it's from ~21 total at Domain S).
Overall my vote would be this (SCS1+2, TRF1, CDE2+1): [X][SCS] There is no peace in emptiness, no content in stillness. Stagnation is death; act, change, move, think, and grow until the very end.
[X][SCS] Darkness knows no barriers, and neither should your desires
[X][TRF] Each scar is merely another ring in the making, from past pain arises new strength
[X][CDE] Ignorance is no better than blindness.
[X][CDE] Be always watchful. Foes and treasures alike may hide in the gaps in one's perceptions.
Edited post-Alectai arguments, of which some are good. Especially the desires-themed advanced insight making SCS2 much more appealing (I'm still voting SCS1 for reasons of "I think it'll make for a more fun story").
Standing up and holding instead of running has been involved with many of our greatest triumphs. While folding and submitting to others and not holding our ideals are some of our biggest shames. TRF 2 makes great character growth, a capper to the arc of "will we run away or let them die" we've had. TRF 2 makes dream come true
[X][SCS] Do not slot Sable Crescent Step
[X][TRF] Branches and trunks bend and sway, but the roots must remain unyielding. Retreat only so far and then no more.
[X][CDE] Do not slot Curious Diviners Eye
[X][SCS] Darkness knows no barriers, and neither should your desires
[X][TRF] Branches and trunks bend and sway, but the roots must remain unyielding. Retreat only so far and then no more.
[X][SCS] There is no peace in emptiness, no content in stillness. Stagnation is death; act, change, move, think, and grow until the very end.
[X][TRF] Each scar is merely another ring in the making, from past pain arises new strength
So anyway, here are some arguments against SCS's first insight, both in terms of mechanics and narrative:
[][SCS] There is no peace in emptiness, no content in stillness. Stagnation is death; act, change, move, think, and grow until the very end.
I'm sure this has been gone over before, but this insight seems to contradict the themes of Starless Night's Reflection (SNR), our planned eventual replacement for TRF and main defensive art in the future. I believe it is a near certainty that slotting this insight from SCS will prevent us from slotting SNR and from gaining domain experience while training it.
This is the description of SNR (I've bolded the relevant parts here):
Starless Night's Reflection
In the Thousand Lakes, the infinite depth of the night sky is reflected from one thousand mirrors, displaying infinite emptiness extending beyond the heavens and into the depths of the earth. In meditating upon this conceptual void, the user seeks to become such a mirror, combining the formlessness and absorption of darkness with the rippling serenity and infinite depth of the lakes. Enemies striking the user and their allies find their weapons and techniques sinking into the shadows, to vanish, doing no more harm than they would if they slashed the waters of mighty Lake Hei, or aimed their malice at the starless sky.
Potency: Green 2
Potency Growth: Green 3(3), Green 4(6)
Max Level: 6
Keywords
Darkness, Lake, Reflections, Stillness, Silence, Void, Yin
Composure, Dark, Fortitude, Lake, Resilience, Resolve, Stamina
Needed Meridians: Spine x3, Heart x1(1), Heart (3), Spine (5)
Experience: 300, 400, 500, 700, 900, 1100
The two main themes that SCS's first insight contradicts, emptiness and stillness, are directly mentioned in prominent areas of SNR's description. The hints here cannot be anymore blatant.
It is not the end of the world if we choose this insight. We will likely still train SNR, but we will lose 390 domain xp (according to Black Noise on Discord) and will not be able to slot the art. Personally, I also do not narratively like the idea of training an art that would directly contradict our domain.
Additionally, I'm skeptical of how this insight will develop our domain. There are advantages to constant change and movement, but Ling Qi's domain represents her home. This insight will mean that there will be a greater emphasis on change and growth in Ling Qi's home. This is good in a number of ways - change and growth in her home will be necessary as Ling Qi grows in strength and power. There is always a sacrifice, however, and this insight likely means that the beneficial aspects of stillness will be sidelined in her home. In my opinion, Ling Qi's home should be a place for her to escape the daily struggles of her professional life. Cultivation already exemplifies change and growth, and Ling Qi's role as CRX's vassal will only further magnify these themes. I don't think it's a good idea to bring these themes into Ling Qi's home as well, at least not more than necessary.
[X][SCS] There is no peace in emptiness, no content in stillness. Stagnation is death; act, change, move, think, and grow until the very end. [X][TRF] Each scar is merely another ring in the making, from past pain arises new strength [X][CDE] Do not slot Curious Diviners Eye
[X][TRF] Branches and trunks bend and sway, but the roots must remain unyielding. Retreat only so far and then no more. [X][CDE] Do not slot Curious Diviners Eye
[X][SCS] There is no peace in emptiness, no content in stillness. Stagnation is death; act, change, move, think, and grow until the very end.
[X][TRF] Each scar is merely another ring in the making, from past pain arises new strength
[X][CDE] Be always watchful. Foes and treasures alike may hide in the gaps in one's perceptions.
On further thought while I was waiting in line to buy my dinner for work tonight, I have determined that this is the correct path. be advised this is me pitching for the team I think is best and why I feel that way not a detailed literary analysis
[X][SCS] Darkness knows no barriers, and neither should your desires
[X][TRF] Branches and trunks bend and sway, but the roots must remain unyielding. Retreat only so far and then no more.
[X][CDE] Ignorance is no better than blindness.
Now, you might be asking. "Oh noes alectai what are you doing you're ruining everything forever" But hear me out.
Each and every one of these Domain Insights is compatible with what we've already hammered into place. Let's go review those right now.
-Sincerity is the measure by which the worthiness of the self and ones guests should be measured.
-There are endings and Endings, only the very last one is final. Just as winter ends in spring, small endings are new beginnings.
-Though a path might be hard and lonely, it has worth if you can present something of beauty to those you care for at the end.
-One person's desires cannot, alone make a home nor a family.
In short, the lesson we've been taught so far here is "The world is hard, and full of terrors. It may not always work out the way you want it to--but if you keep trucking along and moving forward, you can make something wonderful out of it."
So, how do these new Insights interact with this?
"Darkness knows no barriers, and neither should your desires"
It recognizes that the obstacles of the world, the practical realities that stand before you--should not stop you from desiring something better, something more wonderful than what you had before. Barriers are an abstraction of the mind, the truth is that everything can be overcome should your desire and efforts be up to the task of advancing. More importantly however, is the interaction this has with our Advanced Insight, which innately recognizes that "The desires of one person alone can't create a place I belong". The desires of the community are as much a part of this Way as the desires of the individual.
We're a commoner who's gotten onto the crazy train, and has gotten connected to the highest echelons of power through hard work and labor. If we--for even an instant allow ourselves to be daunted by the obstacles that stand before us, then we're going to run into problems. Instead, we flow past and through them, uncaring of what common logic states, because our desires should not be restrained by something as banal as common sense and traditional wisdom.
This is the ultimate crystallization of what Ling Qi has said in the past when confronted with the highest echelons of power. Not fear, not restraint--but a steady resolve that the climb goes ever onward, and change is the only truth of the world.
"Branches and trunks bend and sway, but the roots must remain unyielding. Retreat only so far and then no more."
It is the bottom line, the recognition that one must be flexible to avoid harm--that sometimes it is better to cede ground than to stand it. But it also internalizes the lesson of Zhou--where one recognizes that there is a final line to be drawn in the sand that all force be spent to preserve. When one's home and all they care about are at stake, then even the most timid of mice have little choice but to fight like lions to preserve that last line in the sand.
Humans are social creatures, and for all that Ling Qi is excellent at the whole in-group, out-group thing--she's also been learning over the course of her time as a Cultivator that there are things she cares about so much, so deeply, that to surrender them is anathema to her. She's often been equated to mice, and that's not wrong, but mice are the most fearsome foes of all when backed into a corner.
And that's precisely what this encourages. "Fight, evade, trick, compromise, bend--but if someone intrudes on your bottom line, fight like a god incarnate to preserve it." It permits the flexibility of thought we always want while still preserving the bottom line--and those are no small things when interacting with the other aspects of her Domain so far--which acknowledge that there's pain and suffering on a path--but as long as you have something good and righteous to present at the final end of it all, then your journey wasn't in vain. This insight grants the strength of mind and character needed to ensure there will be something to offer your works towards at the end of the day.
And finally, the real surprise contender right here.
"Ignorance is no better than blindness."
It's pithy, it's generic--it's almost an ice cream koan... But that doesn't mean there isn't truth to it, in the inquisition of the Hidden Moon and how it interacts with the rest of our domain. Because so much of Ling Qi's domain so far is utterly reliant on sincerity, on desire, and on those little ephemeral feelings that keep getting in the way of one's attempts to become god-queen of all creation. These are all complicated and mysterious feelings that are hard to gain insight into--and one theme that's been present throughout the story so far is how many problems crop up when people aren't communicating with each other properly.
The whole Golden Fields implosion? Yes, part of it is that Han Jian kept waffling until things were about to catch fire--but the other half was that he was utterly unable to communicate his feelings to Xiulan until it was too late to do it gracefully. Lakegate? It's Meizhen misinterpeting Ling Qi's signals, and Ling Qi being ignorant enough that she didn't realize Meizhen's own feelings. Half of our still lingering issues with Cai Renxiang can be boiled down to our fundamentally different backgrounds and trying to find common ground between them.
Ling Qi is ignorant, this is truthful. But she's also learning to reflect on her own actions and experiences and drawing some nuggets of wisdom from it. I propose that this is little more than shining the light of the Mirror outwards--to illuminate others, and to work towards understanding those desires that Ling Qi knows are also required in order to create a home she can be happy and satisfied within.
Plus, from a purely practical standpoint, we know CDE has direct successors, and I believe it was also stated that direct successors can improve on a base Insight as well. I think this is a good foundation to set, and it still leaves a spot open for Harmony in the days ahead, and after that and SES, we're pretty much going to be good on Domain Insights until far enough along that we'll have some brand new slots open once again.
[X][SCS] Do not slot Sable Crescent Step
[X][TRF] Branches and trunks bend and sway, but the roots must remain unyielding. Retreat only so far and then no more.
[X][CDE] Do not slot Curious Diviners Eye
[X][SCS] There is no peace in emptiness, no content in stillness. Stagnation is death; act, change, move, think, and grow until the very end.
[X][TRF] Each scar is merely another ring in the making, from past pain arises new strength
[X][CDE] Ignorance is no better than blindness.
