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

Voted best in category in the Users' Choice awards.
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The prevailing arguments for putting Xia Lin in charge so far seem to be based around trying to give her a feeling of usefulness and inclusion.

The thing is that those are bad arguments for handing over field command in an unknown situation.

There are only 2 of us present. We don't have the force to go in guns blazing unless everyone in there turns out to be yellow or below. And even then if they take the formation down wrong deliberately or it gets damaged in any fighting we're at ground zero of a really big boom.

If this outpost is still occupied by the Hui, Ling Qi's stealthy approach is almost certainly better until we can at least ascertain numbers.

If it is not occupied by the Hui, then Ling Qi's flexible approach is still likely to be better to figure out what we're dealing with.

If we had more troops here then I might be tempted to hand over command. But as is Xia Lin is probably better in an advisory role, telling us where a barracks might be, probable command post locations if it is occupied etc.
 
The above vote determines the way that you approach the event encounters, the social dynamic between yourself and Xia Lin, and the overall outcome of the event.
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So the approach would probably be whether we do this as a by the book military scouting mission with Xia Lin or take a more subtle, by the vote adaptable approach with Ling Qi. Not a huge difference but it'll likely reveal something about Xia Lin if we chose that.

The social dynamic is more long term I think, in that we have to decide if we want to be equals with Xia Lin or establish ourselves as her superior. We can and will encourage her to be more individual either way, but do we want to do it as peers or as an authority. Sort of similar to how many interpreted the last vote with Zhengui, do we want be siblings leaning on each other or a mother guiding to what we believe to be the best for them?

I think Xia Lin leading is the knee jerk choice, she has more experience and it immediately encourages her socially. But I don't think this vote is the most important in the world so it's mostly a matter of personal preference.
 
People assume that Xia Lin is an Ultramarine that unerringly follows the code. I'd assume that a member of an ultra elite military campaign would be skilled at military improvisation.
 
[] Pass command to Xia Lin
[] Maintain command

i know quester instinct is to secure as much control/authority as possible, so I will probably argue against the popular choice:

Ling Qi doesnt seem to care all that much about this, so 'maintain command' will be mostly in-name-only, at least in my opinion.
Xia Lin does care about it a lot and i think she would be more happy with a clear command hierarchy.

I think that Xia Lin seems to feel like she is 'just an extra' instead of being an equal part of the group and i think that it would help her confidence in her own contribution, if we ceded command to her for the 'break a rock' mission. I think this option would be the better choice for integrating her into our group.

However, if we 'cede command' then we actually have to follow her lead, so we will likely go for a more martial approach to this partial-mission. So the upside of 'maintain command' would be more/different options or control over this mission.

I think developing our relation with xia lin is more important here and while she is more martial inclined, Xia Lin should also be good at what she does, so im not too worried about our job with her being in command, so I currently prefer the 'pass command' option
 
[X] Maintain command

I will go with this
 
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I think the soldier who is from the xia clan can handle the hui clan better. Just for the history, since the cai fought with the hui in the past Xia Lin ia basicle a marine from the cai
 
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[] Pass command to Xia Lin
[] Maintain command

The above vote determines the way that you approach the event encounters, the social dynamic between yourself and Xia Lin, and the overall outcome of the event.

Okay, so I'd like to start with pointing out that the mystery/secret-seeking aspects of our chosen themes for Ling Qi have a mixed history of seeing use, and this is a particularly on-point opportunity. A half-ruined hideout of a dead clan from a bygone, if relatively recent, era? Hits all the buttons.

Which is why passing the reins over to Xia Lin is something I'm uncertain about. I'm all for treating her with respect and even deference at the appropriate junctures, but not if it means ceding opportunity to embody our own character concepts. Especially ones that haven't had many opportunities to take the stage, previously. The Sect has been constraining when it comes to sleuthing/exploring. From a narrative and character perspective, it's not clear to me it makes sense to prioritize Xia Lin's dissatisfaction with her role in the group over pursuit of exploits that resonate with Ling Qi on a personal level.

Of course, this cuts both ways. Xia Lin is unlikely to pursue approaches that value abstract knowledge over, or even on par with, tangible results, which could lead to tension with Ling Qi's sensibilities. Ling Qi remaining in command and choosing to poke around for not immediately useful know-how could bother Xia Lin as well. There's no clear path to definitely getting along, in my opinion. Tension is built into their differing toolsets and values. Realistically, that tension plays out no matter which side we go with.

Also, I'm iffy on what the social dynamic ramifications of either option really even are. Easy reading is passing command represents a commitment to treat her as a peer, and maintaining command represents... not that? The second choice doesn't have intuitive positive intention behind it, imo. Thing is, I'm not sure how much intention survives contact with the challenges we encounter anyway, due to aforementioned tensions.
 
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yrsillar said:
Ling Qi kept a tight leash on her qi as she explored the forest, not letting her power leak out into the surroundings as she made her silent way through the branches. She didn't even flex her aura when faeries swirled close to toy with her hair, or wood spirits clung to her hems with little claws of sap and bark, letting her carry them for a time before dropping onto new trees or rare patches of unoccupied soil. It made it easier to listen. It made it easier to here the meaning in the soft song of wind in branch and the rustling of needles. The trees here were old and gnarled things, jealous of their places in the vale. For all the apparent silence and tranquility, the whispers of bark and root were harsh things, a silent competition and jostling for soil and sunlight.
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I really liked this part where we are interweaving a bit of our stealth with our skill for understanding spirits and our skill with music. It's a nice touch.
 
AbeoLogos said:
Okay, so I'd like to start with pointing out that the mystery/secret-seeking aspects of our chosen themes for Ling Qi have a mixed history of seeing use, and this is a particularly on-point opportunity. A half-ruined hideout of a dead clan from a bygone, if relatively recent, era? Hits all the buttons.

Which is why passing the reins over to Xia Lin is something I'm uncertain about. I'm all for treating her with respect and even deference at the appropriate junctures, but not if it means ceding opportunity to embody our own character concepts. Especially ones that haven't had many opportunities to take the stage, previously. The Sect has been constraining when it comes to sleuthing/exploring. From a narrative and character perspective, it's not clear to me it makes sense to prioritize Xia Lin's dissatisfaction with her role in the group over pursuit of exploits that resonate with Ling Qi on a personal level.

Of course, this cuts both ways. Xia Lin is unlikely to pursue approaches that value abstract knowledge over, or even on par with, tangible results, which could lead to tension with Ling Qi's sensibilities. Ling Qi remaining in command and choosing to poke around for not immediately useful know-how could bother Xia Lin as well. There's no clear path to definitely getting along, in my opinion. Tension is built into their differing toolsets and values. Realistically, that tension plays out no matter which side we go with.

Also, I'm iffy on what the social dynamic ramifications of either option really even are. Easy reading is passing command represents a commitment to treat her as a peer, and maintaining command represents... not that? The second choice doesn't have intuitive positive intention behind it, imo. Thing is, I'm not sure how much intention survives contact with the challenges we encounter anyway, due to aforementioned tensions.
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Good point on the Hidden Moon Aspect opportunity, from a personal standpoint Ling Qi has much to gain by retaining initiative; but I don't see Xia Lin being "unlikely to pursue approaches that value abstract knowledge over tangible results". This is a scouting mission, so information is results in itself. The main effect of ceding command, from the perspective of "the way that you approach the event encounters" and "the overall outcome of the event", is that we are more likely to take a confrontational (as opposed to diplomatic) approach to any spirits that we find inside. from the perspective of "the social dynamic between [Ling Qi] and Xia Lin" I have understood, mainly from Sixiang's social prodding, that she seems superfluous outside of a rigid command structure when going on a mission with a companion that has seniority, the trust of her superiors, and whose skillset matches the mission much better than hers. It's not immediately obvious, though that ceding command will result in a positive outcome in this aspect, because she may see us as shirking responsibility when encountering dangerous situations as easily as she could become grateful over being appreciated. I haven't gotten a read from her that she'd have the pride to resent LQ for humoring her with command, which could be the case with several of our past acquaintances. Right now, I'm tending towards retaining control, but it's a close thing.

[] Pass command to Xia Lin
[] Maintain command
 
[X] Maintain command

I'd prefer to see the next update focused more on the scouting, exploring, and diplomacy side of things, so I'm voting to maintain command. I'm just not that into the bunker-clearing theme that I think letting Xia Lin take the lead would result in.
 
[X] Maintain command

Seems like a good chance for Ling Qi to sneak around and find some old info on the Hui clan.
 
[X] Maintain command
Xia seems to treat inferior/superior as close to absolute. If we find problems with her approach before she hands command back, I foresee a lot of friction.
 
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