Threads Of Destiny(Eastern Fantasy, Sequel to Forge of Destiny)
- Thread starter yrsillar
- Start date
- Original Users' Choice!
Voted best in category in the Users' Choice awards.
- Location
- the internet
I agree.But OTOH, there won't be a more non-threatening, low stakes situation than this. LQ needs 2 come out of her shell more and whatever happens here, CRX and Meizhen won't hold any social blunders against her. they know she's a social klutz. Anyway it doesn't matter now. quite clear which option has won.
- Location
- California
Not really or at least, I don't think there was a consensus on this. I voted for CRX and Meizhen since I like them as characters and we've barely seen Meizhen in this thread. I didn't specifically want to see their interactions with each other.
- Location
- United States of America
I'm honestly just curious about the book. There's no way that Cai Renxiang would simply leave it out if she didn't want to be asked about it. That's not saying that she wants to be asked about it mind you, just that if it was something she didn't want to talk about she would have put it away.
It's going to be something dumb like beginners guide to contract law revised 734th edition with preface written by Minister Tang
- Location
- United States of America
Hmph! Clearly we have different standards on what is interesting.
- Location
- UK
'Parenting and you; how to develop and maintain a healthy relationship with your child' by Sang Song, Fifth Edition.
- Location
- the internet
To succeed where her mother fails.
- Location
- UK
Or alternatively, fuel for a fantasy where the failure never was.
Ling Qi doesn't need low stakes social situations to practice in. That argument always struck me as dangerously risk-averse, the kind that routinely leads to off-kilter decisions that trip up narrative flow. The irony is that it frames the proactive vote in the same aversive tone that the more passive vote already has(which bothers me, but whatever). Also, like, Ling Qi is already a bit of a poking prodding pest when it comes to her friends. Not always, but there's solid history. This is hardly breaking new ground.
I'm just annoyed because insight into the context of Renxiang and Meizhen's relationship appears leagues more interesting and functionally useful than learning Renxiang's favourite book. Further, one of our biggest challenges right now is continual political ignorance compared to our peers. Given their status and objectives in the sect, it seems likely that their unalloyed conversation would have touched on such matters in ways they've never bothered to discuss with Ling Qi(because nobody ever discusses things with Ling Qi).
Moments of personal insight into other characters have been sort of lackluster lately since there has been no compounding effect or followup on the information. A character detail related to the infamously difficult to approach and stoic Cai Renxiang strikes me as likely to follow that mold. It already has, honestly. Her whole bureaucracy challenge from her mother subplot was witnessed, but not really engaged with. Which is fine, other characters don't need Ling Qi sticking her fingers into their business to make progress, but there were opportunities for her own development there too. And it's not like it's come up since, no asking "so, how'd that project of your mother's go?" or anything.
There's nothing wrong with asking about books, one of my bigger regrets in the quest is not poking books back in the last thread when we had the chance, but look at the nothingburger we had with Xuan Shi in this one. It was a fun adventure. Great even! But it had no conclusion and didn't set up context for future interaction, as seen in the SL option defaulting to the frustratingly impersonal-to-selfish standard of xuanwu training. Precedent leads me to expect minimal payoff for targeted character interrogation.
I don't know why we're here, basically. The narrative purpose of this event is unclear, but given history and simple numbers, casting wide seems the wisest course of action. So my preference is to split the difference in focus and throw the dice on getting information on two characters, plus maybe the sect/political situation in a broader sense, in hopes that there's some actual narrative buildup to something. Hell, even literally just actually paying attention to needlework honestly feels more likely to lead to some tangible plot thread than asking Renxiang about her favourite book.
---
But that's mostly arguing for why one vote's results might not be great. I should lobby for the other's benefits in a more compelling way.
I've seen people voting for the query because they want to do social good and this is a good environment. I don't disagree, but staying quiet in this context is also very social and good.
One of Ling Qi's problems is her engagement with subjects tends to be pretty binary. She's either directly hands on, or she tunes out completely. With this vote, she's taking a backseat, but still actively paying attention to the proceedings, which is actually a pretty radical departure for her. Learning to listen without doing, or rather that listening is still doing, is something that would ease her transition into a more effective social operator significantly. Her toolset could really use it, from an enthusiasm standpoint if nothing else. She's been working on recognizing people as, like, actual people for a bit now, so it's a good time to try cementing it somewhat.
Last edited:
- Location
- Earth
[X] Focus on your needlework and watch your friend and liege, you've never actually seen much of their interactions, and you aren't sure you want to blunder into another difficult conversation.
- Location
- UK
[X] Focus on your needlework and watch your friend and liege, you've never actually seen much of their interactions, and you aren't sure you want to blunder into another difficult conversation.
- Location
- Staring into the void
Inserted tally
- Location
- New Brunswick, NJ
- Pronouns
- He/Him/His
Inserted tally
Turn 6: Arc 3-2
"I admit, I am a little curious as to what sort of book could distract you so, Lady Cai. You are not much inclined to leisure," Ling Qi said, picking through the pieces that had been made available for her to embroider. She was very glad that she had spent a little time with Sixiang earlier to refresh her memory on how this sort of picky stitching worked.
"Well, you've got the fingers, but I'm always here for ideas," Sixiang laughed.
"She is not wrong," Meizhen said evenly. She had selected a plain sash of dark green silk to work on, and was now rifling through the colored thread.
"I have had little time, it is true," Cai Renxiang replied, glimmering gold thread snaked into the air from the basket beside her, levitating in front of her eyes for inspection. "SInce I began my preparations for the Sect and entering public life, some matters have fallen by the wayside. Though I called it my favorite, in truth, this is the first time that I have had the opportunity to return to its pages in more than five years."
Ling Qi raised an eyebrow, she knew that Cai Renxiang was older than her by a few months, having turned sixteen in the last month, that would mean it was a book she had picked up at ten or eleven? If her liege was a normal girl, she would wonder what kind of storybook it was. As things were, well… Ling Qi did not voice that thought as she selected a dark blue hair ribbon for her project. "Please, my lady, do not keep us in suspense."
Cai Renxiang arched an eyebrow at her, but no rebuke was forthcoming. It seemed that this was a private enough affair that a little casual speech was acceptable. "It is titled, 'The Analects'. The text is a collection of short, anecdotal statements and exchanges between a first dynasty scholar by the name of Kung and his disciples, as well as surviving fragments from a number of other books authored by them. He was quite an insightful man in many regards, I think, I regret that the volume is incomplete."
"Hm, I feel as if I might recall the name, something to do with the early reforms of the ministry systems?" Meizhen mused, beginning her needlework.
"That effort was spearheaded by a student of the author's surviving disciple. The volume itself is rather obscure. My own is a mere copy of the original which Mother has in her personal library," Cai Renxiang replied as her needle threaded itself.
"Why incomplete then?" Ling Qi asked curiously. "I can't imagine that the duchess would stand for that."
"Even my honored Mother cannot pluck the lost words that dead men from ten thousand years past from the air," her liege replied, a very slight edge of dryness in her words. "The scholar Kung was a resident of the Chou province."
Meizhen winced, though her needles didn't falter. "Bai Wulin's third clash with Shang Tsung I presume?"
Cai Renxiang gave a shallow nod. "The province was thoroughly destroyed by the clash between the honored general and the Usurper. What I have only exists because one of the disciples was away in the capital on an errand at the time."
Even Ling Qi had picked up enough history to have at least a vague idea what they were talking about, the First Dynasty had ended in a civil war between branches of the imperial house, and the destruction of many archives and libraries. The Shang, as the usurpers had called themselves, were bent on destroying pre imperial and early imperial works.
"The pale pink would be a good contrasting color to add," Sixiang mused as Ling Qi picked through the threads.
"So, what is the book about though?" Ling Qi asked idly as she took Sixiang's advice, adding the spool to the colors she had picked out, now she just needed a pattern.
"The scholar's musings on the foundational elements of society and governance, and how they arise from the vagaries of interpersonal relationships," Cai Renxiang replied idly. Already the shapes of golden and black butterfly wings were taking shape on the silk in her hands. "I find that I have a new perspective on things with this reading, and have ignored some insights to my detriment."
Ling Qi would hope so, that didn't sound like the sort of thing a ten year old was really equipped to parse, no matter how prodigious. She was not going to say so though.
"I believe you have have done better in your tasks than could have been reasonably expected, given the chaotic elements at play," Meizhen replied. "It is good to be critical of oneself, but only to a point."
Cai Renxiang dipped her head slightly in acknowledgement. Ling Qi got the feeling that Meizhen had said as much before. "I disagree of course. My failures arose from inflexibility, presumption, and compromise of my ideals. As the Scholar Kung said, 'One who has committed a mistake and does not correct it is committing another mistake'."
"A fine statement indeed," Meizhen replied blandly. "Learn from the past certainly, but keep your eyes forward, lest the future plant a knife in your back. The past is inviolate, you cannot change it, only act on things as they are."
"You speak as if I am a madwoman, ready to destroy myself in battling the flow of time, and not one merely engaging in self reflection," Cai Renxiang said with faint exasperation.
"You have corrected your errors in perspective, and reflected quite enough. I merely worry that you will mire yourself in such musing and become your own obstacle," Meizhen shot back.
Ling Qi watched the two girls speak quietly, the dynamic was a little different than she expected. It was strange, her liege seemed a bit more… personable, with Meizhen. Some old ember of jealousy flared in her heart, though for what she wasn't sure. "While I can't speak for my lady. I have found some success in self reflection."
"Grudgingly," Sixiang added in amusement. "And with much prodding."
"And I will not gainsay the value of that," Meizhen replied with a huff. Glittering silver threads had begun to create an intricate geometric pattern on the silk in her hands. "We, the Bai are engaged in such matters ourselves at the moment."
"The branch clans are continuing to be troublesome?" Cai Renxiang asked carefully.
"The Violet Corals have been convinced to accept infrastructure funding to expand their coastal holdings, but the Blue Cobra and Yellow Boa remain aligned with other members of the family. That is not to speak of the troubles the Green Asp are making regarding the incident. Many are still not taking the opening of borders and the exchanges between provinces well."
Ling Qi gave her friend a worried look. They did not talk politics much, but that did not sound good.
"Worrying, The Meng and some elements of the Diao have been making dissatisfied noises as well, according to the reports Mother allows me. Of course, Minister Linqin will not allow too much defiance from within her clan, but the Meng are a concern," she said before looking to Ling Qi. "How have your meetings with the Bao gone?"
"We have not discussed politics much," Ling Qi admitted, noting the interested look she received from Meizhen as well. She glanced down at her work to buy a moment to compose her reply, noting with some frustration how clumsy her own project looked compared to theirs. The snowflake pattern that she was working at was good for mortal work, but it seemed dull compared to the shifting pattern Meizhen was working on, or the nigh living butterflies that fluttered across the pale blue cloth of Cai Renxiang's piece. We spent the time discussing more financial matters. However… Bao Qian seems like a talented young man, it does not seem like a wholly idle offer."
Meizhen hummed giving her a suspicious look, of course her friend would detect her mixed feelings on the matter. "Miss Bao seems to believe that her brother is serious about the matter," she said.
"A hopeful sign. The true intentions of the Bao clan can be somewhat difficult to pin down. They were among the last of the counts to give open support to Mother against the Hui, but were among the most enthusiastic in the aftermath." She shook her head. "That reminds me of the matter which lead to my invitation however, Ling Qi. You require further outfitting."
Ling Qi blinked, not quite sure what to make of that. "I beg your pardon Lady Cai?"
She caught the faintest touch of a smirk on Bai Meizhen's lips for a fraction of a second. "I believe what Cai Renxiang wishes to say is that it is past time for you to acquire further accessories."
"I approve of your desire to remain at top battle potential at all times," her liege continued seriously. "However, it is possible to retain your potency while not presenting too stagnant an image."
Sixiang started giggling, the traitor. This was happening it seemed. She had thought she was past this. "...I see, might I ask what your plans are, my Lady?"
"I have scheduled an appointment with Lin Hai, the man who designed your gown in its original state," Cai Renxiang replied crisply. "The three of us will proceed to his workshop on the last day of the month. I wish you to be equipped before your latest assignment."
Ling Qi frowned, it was true that her next scouting assignment would see her detached with a small group to defend an outlying mining village in Sect territory, so she would be away for some time, but she did not see what the hurry was, unless…
Meizhen chuckled, and even Cai Renxiang looked very briefly amused. "Yes, we will be acquiring more than just mundane accessories. The both of us require improved Talismans. Mother has given me a small dispensation for that purpose."
"And in a gesture of trust, Aunt Suzhen has agreed to fund a commission from an Emerald Seas Master," Bai Meizhen added. "So I am not merely along to prevent you from doing something… silly."
"What is that supposed to mean?" Ling Qi asked, giving her friend an aggrieved look.
"The last time you commissioned pieces for yourself, one of them was that silly hairpiece that spat blinding dust," her friend said with a sniff. "I will see you becoming dignified, even if I must hold your hand the entire way."
"That aside," Cai Renxiang said, cutting off any potential squabbling. "Consider what kind of piece you wish for over the next few days, there are many options, while Lin Hai is not my Mother, able to spin a peerless blade from thread, he is nonetheless not limited to wholly cloth goods."
Ling Qi shot Bai Meizhen a slightly sour look, but her friend did not look sorry at all. "Of course Lady Cai, thank you for your invitation."
Alright gentlefolks, its time for something scary, an equipment vote. Now I'm not going to ask you to design talisman's wholesale again. What I want you to vote on is merely the type of object you want(hairpiece, ring, sash etc.) and the primary derived attribute you would like it to enhance(P.Hit, Resist, S. Avoid, etc.). Votes should look like this
[] Object type
-[] Derived Skill
This is going to serve as a good place to introduce the new way of handling accessory talisman's, namely giving them a little more story presence, so whatever you choose, I will try to come up with something interesting for the item to do.
"Well, you've got the fingers, but I'm always here for ideas," Sixiang laughed.
"She is not wrong," Meizhen said evenly. She had selected a plain sash of dark green silk to work on, and was now rifling through the colored thread.
"I have had little time, it is true," Cai Renxiang replied, glimmering gold thread snaked into the air from the basket beside her, levitating in front of her eyes for inspection. "SInce I began my preparations for the Sect and entering public life, some matters have fallen by the wayside. Though I called it my favorite, in truth, this is the first time that I have had the opportunity to return to its pages in more than five years."
Ling Qi raised an eyebrow, she knew that Cai Renxiang was older than her by a few months, having turned sixteen in the last month, that would mean it was a book she had picked up at ten or eleven? If her liege was a normal girl, she would wonder what kind of storybook it was. As things were, well… Ling Qi did not voice that thought as she selected a dark blue hair ribbon for her project. "Please, my lady, do not keep us in suspense."
Cai Renxiang arched an eyebrow at her, but no rebuke was forthcoming. It seemed that this was a private enough affair that a little casual speech was acceptable. "It is titled, 'The Analects'. The text is a collection of short, anecdotal statements and exchanges between a first dynasty scholar by the name of Kung and his disciples, as well as surviving fragments from a number of other books authored by them. He was quite an insightful man in many regards, I think, I regret that the volume is incomplete."
"Hm, I feel as if I might recall the name, something to do with the early reforms of the ministry systems?" Meizhen mused, beginning her needlework.
"That effort was spearheaded by a student of the author's surviving disciple. The volume itself is rather obscure. My own is a mere copy of the original which Mother has in her personal library," Cai Renxiang replied as her needle threaded itself.
"Why incomplete then?" Ling Qi asked curiously. "I can't imagine that the duchess would stand for that."
"Even my honored Mother cannot pluck the lost words that dead men from ten thousand years past from the air," her liege replied, a very slight edge of dryness in her words. "The scholar Kung was a resident of the Chou province."
Meizhen winced, though her needles didn't falter. "Bai Wulin's third clash with Shang Tsung I presume?"
Cai Renxiang gave a shallow nod. "The province was thoroughly destroyed by the clash between the honored general and the Usurper. What I have only exists because one of the disciples was away in the capital on an errand at the time."
Even Ling Qi had picked up enough history to have at least a vague idea what they were talking about, the First Dynasty had ended in a civil war between branches of the imperial house, and the destruction of many archives and libraries. The Shang, as the usurpers had called themselves, were bent on destroying pre imperial and early imperial works.
"The pale pink would be a good contrasting color to add," Sixiang mused as Ling Qi picked through the threads.
"So, what is the book about though?" Ling Qi asked idly as she took Sixiang's advice, adding the spool to the colors she had picked out, now she just needed a pattern.
"The scholar's musings on the foundational elements of society and governance, and how they arise from the vagaries of interpersonal relationships," Cai Renxiang replied idly. Already the shapes of golden and black butterfly wings were taking shape on the silk in her hands. "I find that I have a new perspective on things with this reading, and have ignored some insights to my detriment."
Ling Qi would hope so, that didn't sound like the sort of thing a ten year old was really equipped to parse, no matter how prodigious. She was not going to say so though.
"I believe you have have done better in your tasks than could have been reasonably expected, given the chaotic elements at play," Meizhen replied. "It is good to be critical of oneself, but only to a point."
Cai Renxiang dipped her head slightly in acknowledgement. Ling Qi got the feeling that Meizhen had said as much before. "I disagree of course. My failures arose from inflexibility, presumption, and compromise of my ideals. As the Scholar Kung said, 'One who has committed a mistake and does not correct it is committing another mistake'."
"A fine statement indeed," Meizhen replied blandly. "Learn from the past certainly, but keep your eyes forward, lest the future plant a knife in your back. The past is inviolate, you cannot change it, only act on things as they are."
"You speak as if I am a madwoman, ready to destroy myself in battling the flow of time, and not one merely engaging in self reflection," Cai Renxiang said with faint exasperation.
"You have corrected your errors in perspective, and reflected quite enough. I merely worry that you will mire yourself in such musing and become your own obstacle," Meizhen shot back.
Ling Qi watched the two girls speak quietly, the dynamic was a little different than she expected. It was strange, her liege seemed a bit more… personable, with Meizhen. Some old ember of jealousy flared in her heart, though for what she wasn't sure. "While I can't speak for my lady. I have found some success in self reflection."
"Grudgingly," Sixiang added in amusement. "And with much prodding."
"And I will not gainsay the value of that," Meizhen replied with a huff. Glittering silver threads had begun to create an intricate geometric pattern on the silk in her hands. "We, the Bai are engaged in such matters ourselves at the moment."
"The branch clans are continuing to be troublesome?" Cai Renxiang asked carefully.
"The Violet Corals have been convinced to accept infrastructure funding to expand their coastal holdings, but the Blue Cobra and Yellow Boa remain aligned with other members of the family. That is not to speak of the troubles the Green Asp are making regarding the incident. Many are still not taking the opening of borders and the exchanges between provinces well."
Ling Qi gave her friend a worried look. They did not talk politics much, but that did not sound good.
"Worrying, The Meng and some elements of the Diao have been making dissatisfied noises as well, according to the reports Mother allows me. Of course, Minister Linqin will not allow too much defiance from within her clan, but the Meng are a concern," she said before looking to Ling Qi. "How have your meetings with the Bao gone?"
"We have not discussed politics much," Ling Qi admitted, noting the interested look she received from Meizhen as well. She glanced down at her work to buy a moment to compose her reply, noting with some frustration how clumsy her own project looked compared to theirs. The snowflake pattern that she was working at was good for mortal work, but it seemed dull compared to the shifting pattern Meizhen was working on, or the nigh living butterflies that fluttered across the pale blue cloth of Cai Renxiang's piece. We spent the time discussing more financial matters. However… Bao Qian seems like a talented young man, it does not seem like a wholly idle offer."
Meizhen hummed giving her a suspicious look, of course her friend would detect her mixed feelings on the matter. "Miss Bao seems to believe that her brother is serious about the matter," she said.
"A hopeful sign. The true intentions of the Bao clan can be somewhat difficult to pin down. They were among the last of the counts to give open support to Mother against the Hui, but were among the most enthusiastic in the aftermath." She shook her head. "That reminds me of the matter which lead to my invitation however, Ling Qi. You require further outfitting."
Ling Qi blinked, not quite sure what to make of that. "I beg your pardon Lady Cai?"
She caught the faintest touch of a smirk on Bai Meizhen's lips for a fraction of a second. "I believe what Cai Renxiang wishes to say is that it is past time for you to acquire further accessories."
"I approve of your desire to remain at top battle potential at all times," her liege continued seriously. "However, it is possible to retain your potency while not presenting too stagnant an image."
Sixiang started giggling, the traitor. This was happening it seemed. She had thought she was past this. "...I see, might I ask what your plans are, my Lady?"
"I have scheduled an appointment with Lin Hai, the man who designed your gown in its original state," Cai Renxiang replied crisply. "The three of us will proceed to his workshop on the last day of the month. I wish you to be equipped before your latest assignment."
Ling Qi frowned, it was true that her next scouting assignment would see her detached with a small group to defend an outlying mining village in Sect territory, so she would be away for some time, but she did not see what the hurry was, unless…
Meizhen chuckled, and even Cai Renxiang looked very briefly amused. "Yes, we will be acquiring more than just mundane accessories. The both of us require improved Talismans. Mother has given me a small dispensation for that purpose."
"And in a gesture of trust, Aunt Suzhen has agreed to fund a commission from an Emerald Seas Master," Bai Meizhen added. "So I am not merely along to prevent you from doing something… silly."
"What is that supposed to mean?" Ling Qi asked, giving her friend an aggrieved look.
"The last time you commissioned pieces for yourself, one of them was that silly hairpiece that spat blinding dust," her friend said with a sniff. "I will see you becoming dignified, even if I must hold your hand the entire way."
"That aside," Cai Renxiang said, cutting off any potential squabbling. "Consider what kind of piece you wish for over the next few days, there are many options, while Lin Hai is not my Mother, able to spin a peerless blade from thread, he is nonetheless not limited to wholly cloth goods."
Ling Qi shot Bai Meizhen a slightly sour look, but her friend did not look sorry at all. "Of course Lady Cai, thank you for your invitation."
Alright gentlefolks, its time for something scary, an equipment vote. Now I'm not going to ask you to design talisman's wholesale again. What I want you to vote on is merely the type of object you want(hairpiece, ring, sash etc.) and the primary derived attribute you would like it to enhance(P.Hit, Resist, S. Avoid, etc.). Votes should look like this
[] Object type
-[] Derived Skill
This is going to serve as a good place to introduce the new way of handling accessory talisman's, namely giving them a little more story presence, so whatever you choose, I will try to come up with something interesting for the item to do.
