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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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Xepheria said:
I present to you, the 'Crowd-Capturing Sash', or to Ling Qi, Ling Qi, the 'Sash of the substandard musician.'. Originally a tool gifted by a high ranking Hui to help his struggling son capture the hearts and minds of his audiences during his performances, the idea is that it allows the user to direct attention towards their created projections and Qi constructs.

We wouldn't be giving it to Ling Qi, though. This would be a talisman for Zhengui, allowing him to apply, in effect, a taunt to his constructs, like the roots and walls and lava fields that he throws up in battle. This would markedly increase both his options in battle, allowing him to direct attention and force people to engage with the happy-fun-time maze if they fail their checks.

In terms of fluff and the physical form of the talisman, I was trying to keep the idea plausibly Hui-ish, and more interesting than just 'number go up'. There aren't many things a human would wear that are also able to be worn by zhengui, so I settled on a sash, and the +Projection would be, originally, to help cover for the son's lack of skill. Moreover, the idea of a talisman commissioned for a shit musician by his rich dad is kinda funny, and Ling Qi would be so snobbish about it.

[X][talisman] Sash
-[X] +Projection, allows the user to apply taunt effect on projections and constructs
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I think this is a pretty good idea. Iirc getting enemies to actually focus on him rather than slipping around him is his main weakness, and besides maybe some sort of ranged grip ( alarm MK Scorpion) which would have it's own set of drawbacks, this might be the best thing for him.



[X][talisman] Sash
-[X] +Projection, allows the user to apply taunt effect on projections and constructs
 
[X] Claim the tapestry as part of your share and give the Meng right of first refusal(-.5 multiplier to loot auction value. +1 Meng opinion)

My submission:
[X][talisman] A Loupe with several lens options
-[X] Craft and Formations


Others that I like:
[X][talisman] Sash
-[X] +Projection, allows the user to apply taunt effect on projections and constructs

[X][talisman] Dream Drenched Compass:
-[X] Perceptiveness, Survival: A Navigational aid for use in the Liminal Realm

[X][talisman] A mirror that appears full of shimmering mist
-[X] Enhances abilities that involve shifting things in and out of Dream
 
[X] Claim the tapestry as part of your share and give the Meng right of first refusal(-.5 multiplier to loot auction value. +1 Meng opinion)
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I like the Zhengui and Six suggestions, but I feel like another direction may be better for Hanyi.

EDIT: This Hanyi idea from Neshuakadal is better than my original idea

[X][talisman] A triptych of a misty forest. If one looks closely perhaps they will see a small quartet of misty figures in the distance of the woods.
-[X] When sung too the triptych absorbs the sounds. A short while after the song ends the triptych will sing back to the user. It seems to be a way to study your own songs. The triptych does not hold onto the song for more than an hour.

and my votes for talismans for Zhangui and Six:

[X][talisman] Sash
-[X] +Projection, allows the user to apply taunt effect on projections and constructs


[X][talisman] A mirror that appears full of shimmering mist
-[X] Enhances abilities that involve shifting things in and out of Dream
 
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Not a fan of the Zhengui sash idea tbh. It feels like an attempt to make his CC too powerful and again create those problems of shutting down armies too hard. Which means it'll likely then be too weak and not allowed to do much (and ofc an aoe passive taunt effect will not affect 3rd realms).
 
So what will the reward be if we don't promise the tapestry to the Meng? Because there'll be an auction and more than that we'll get more money out of it, we'll have an opportunity to mingle with any Weilu traditionalists. Is there anything we'd want from them that's more valuable than +1 Meng opinion?

I'd rather we get Zhengui something made specifically for him rather than find something in a Dreaming/Hidden Moon cultivator's stash. Sixiang finding something here makes sense and it's the place for a Dream Scrying Mirror and other utility we need. Lets pick up some odds and ends that suit Ling Qi and where we are and let Zhengui get something that suits him at another date.

[][talisman] Liminal Scrying Mirror
-[]Intensive Focus when scrying, Dream Step Activation into the Dream

Scrying between the realms with Intensive Focus and a Dream Step tech for stepping through into the Liminal. We have one Art that requires a tool and we should have a Talisman for it. Mirrors are the foremost tool used for scrying, they're pathways into the Dream and even Moon idols are made of mirrors. We should have a mundane one at our person at all times let alone try to get a Talisman from the Dreaming/Hidden Hui with his own mirror setup. Without one we don't actually have a way to fully enter and exit the Liminal realm at will.
 
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dycouza said:
[X][talisman] Liminal Scrying Mirror
-[X]Intensive Focus when scrying, Dream Step Activation into the Dream
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I feel like this is trying to do too many things at once? Like focus on dream step stuff or scrying, not both.

Also not sure what it's trying to do with scrying? We already use Intensive Focus on our scrying perception tests.
 
[X] Claim the tapestry as part of your share and give the Meng right of first refusal(-.5 multiplier to loot auction value. +1 Meng opinion)

I want to explore geomancy with Zhengui. This would be a talisman we use together.


[X][talisman] Feng Shui Compass

-[X] Formations, This is a feng shui compass designed to assist the user with Geomancy.

I will also vote for other utility stuff


[X][talisman] Dream Drenched Compass:
-[X] Perceptiveness, Survival: A Navigational aid for use in the Liminal Realm


[X][talisman] Liminal Scrying Mirror
-[X]Enhances scrying and allows one to peer and step into the Liminal Realm

[X][talisman] A mirror that appears full of shimmering mist
-[X] Enhances abilities that involve shifting things in and out of Dream

edit: Not mine but I like it

[X][talisman] A triptych of a misty forest. If one looks closely perhaps they will see a small quartet of misty figures in the distance of the woods.
-[X] When sung too the triptych absorbs the sounds. A short while after the song ends the triptych will sing back to the user. It seems to be a way to study your own songs. The triptych does not hold onto the song for more than an hour.
 
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Erebeal said:
Not a fan of the Zhengui sash idea tbh. It feels like an attempt to make his CC too powerful and again create those problems of shutting down armies too hard. Which means it'll likely then be too weak and not allowed to do much (and ofc an aoe passive taunt effect will not affect 3rd realms).
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It doesn't have to be aoe, right? The taunt could be single target, or 2-3 targets. I don't see any reason why that wouldn't work narratively, and ofc zhengui already has lot of aoe.
 
ReignTorrential said:
It doesn't have to be aoe, right? The taunt could be single target, or 2-3 targets. I don't see any reason why that wouldn't work narratively, and ofc zhengui already has lot of aoe.
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My feeling then is that then you're just looking for some kind of talisman that allows you to cast a taunt, rather than something that's adding taunt fields to your constructs.
 
Erebeal said:
My feeling then is that then you're just looking for some kind of talisman that allows you to cast a taunt, rather than something that's adding taunt fields to your constructs.
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The whole point is that we want enemies to be forced to interact with Zhengui's constructs. And I think it works much better narratively and mechanically to attach the taunt to his constructs, instead of introducing a completely new and unrelated taunt effect.
 
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ReignTorrential said:
The whole point is that we want enemies to be forced to interact with Zhengui's constructs. And on top of that I think it works much better narratively and mechanically to attach it to his constructs, instead of introducing a completely new and unrelated taunt effect.
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I don't think that people have been able to avoid interacting with his constructs that much. The real problem is that Hanyi is just so much more appealing of a target than everyone else that she gets focused down in a strike or two. Immaterial spirits like Sixiang, on the other hand, never seem to get targeted.

If Hanyi was tougher then Zhengui taunt would be much less important.
 
pandadogunited said:
Have been reading this on royal road and I can't find a mention of what the white room does. What does it do?
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It's mostly useful for helping clear out meridians and other similar cultivation blocks. It's really more designed for higher realms - we just get enhancements to meridian opening and base spiritual/physical cultivation from it (and with our talent and resources we didn't really need any help with meridians at the time).
 
Erebeal said:
I feel like this is trying to do too many things at once? Like focus on dream step stuff or scrying, not both.

Also not sure what it's trying to do with scrying? We already use Intensive Focus on our scrying perception tests.
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I was trying to narrow down the uses to get away with more powerful effects within those uses. A +20 Perception is okay, +10 Perception and Dance is nice but +30 scrying and the ability to enter the Liminal is cool. A mirror isn't useful for passive Dream Stepping but peering into the liminal when you're trying to take an action to enter it is. And I don't want a Perception Activation on scrying checks because that's not fun either. The fun-ness of two activations in one at the cost of a more general stat buff. I want the mirror to have an identity.
 
[X] Claim the tapestry as part of your share and give the Meng right of first refusal(-.5 multiplier to loot auction value. +1 Meng opinion)

[X][talisman] Dream Drenched Compass:
-[X] Perceptiveness, Survival: A Navigational aid for use in the Liminal Realm

[X][talisman] Sash
-[X] +Projection, allows the user to apply taunt effect on projections and constructs

I'll check back tomorrow to see what other talismans have been submitted.
 
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[X] Claim the tapestry as part of your share and give the Meng right of first refusal(-.5 multiplier to loot auction value. +1 Meng opinion)

[X][talisman] A triptych of a misty forest. If one looks closely perhaps they will see a small quartet of misty figures in the distance of the woods.
-[X] When sung too the triptych absorbs the sounds. A short while after the song ends the triptych will sing back to the user. It seems to be a way to study your own songs. The triptych does not hold onto the song for more than an hour.

A talisman idea for Hanyi. The idea is that she wants to be a singer so this is a talismen that lets her workshop her own songs. Just an idea for something that isn't 'numbers go up' for Hanyi.

Edit: Other ideas I like.
[X][talisman] Practicioner's Divining Rings, a set of large inscribed rings that offer much of the benefit of a more traditional stationary scrying setup for the practitioner on the move.
-[X] When channeling a divination art across the rings, they serve to stabilize and enhance the connection offering the user much finer control, and additionally aid in piercing any illusions or barriers that may bar one's sight.
 
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dycouza said:
I was trying to narrow down the uses to get away with more powerful effects within those uses. A +20 Perception is okay, +10 Perception and Dance is nice but +30 scrying and the ability to enter the Liminal is cool. A mirror isn't useful for passive Dream Stepping but peering into the liminal when you're trying to take an action to enter it is. And I don't want a Perception Activation on scrying checks because that's not fun either. The fun-ness of two activations in one at the cost of a more general stat buff. I want the mirror to have an identity.
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Mmm, I'd argue that a passive "make scrying better" effect is one of the few passives that could actually work fine - because we'd be actively using the mirror to scry in the first place. It would be getting visibly used.

That being said, yeah, I agree that a "can also scry into the Liminal" effect would be cool.

I'm all for a mirror that gives idk "enhances scrying and allows one to look into the Liminal Realm when using it"... but I don't get that from your description right now?
 
[X] Mask of the Dramatic Entrance
-[X] Gives +Stealth, upon Stealth breaking (whether by user choice or enemy detection) switches to a lesser bonus to Projection and applies a free taunt effect to all enemies that can observe the user. Taunt may be reactivated every other turn for a qi cost.

I couldn't think of a practical stealth talisman for Zhengui, so I made a meme one instead.

Edit: Though on second thought I think this could actually work.
 
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Erebeal said:
Mmm, I'd argue that a passive "make scrying better" effect is one of the few passives that could actually work fine - because we'd be actively using the mirror to scry in the first place. It would be getting visibly used.

That being said, yeah, I agree that a "can also scry into the Liminal" effect would be cool.

I'm all for a mirror that gives idk "enhances scrying and allows one to look into the Liminal Realm when using it"... but I don't get that from your description right now?
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I don't really want to give Yrs a detail description of what I had in mind. I mean I'd like to but I'm not comfortable about writing lines when he asked for one skill. It's breaking enough conventions as is and I don't want to be rude.

Yrs' thoughts on whether we should be able to scry into the Liminal with a Liminal Scrying device that allows stepping between the realms is his prerogative. The buff should be useable for both realms anyway. And he has himself written that mirrors are used for entering the Liminal so I leave that up to him and not the voters. How would you write it? It may still be edited.
 
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[X] Claim the tapestry as part of your share and give the Meng right of first refusal(-.5 multiplier to loot auction value. +1 Meng opinion)
 
dycouza said:
I don't really want to give Yrs a detail description of what I had in mind. I mean I'd like to but I'm not comfortable about writing lines when he asked for one skill. It's breaking enough conventions as is and I don't want to be rude.

Yrs' thoughts on whether we should be able to scry into the Liminal with a Liminal Scrying device that allows stepping between the realms is his prerogative. The buff should be useable for both realms anyway. And he has himself written that mirrors are used for entering the Liminal so I leave that up to him and not the voters. How would you write it? It may still be edited.
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I'd just say "enhances scrying and allows one to look into the Liminal Realm when using it". Like, I don't really know how to parse the current description.
 
yrsillar said:
"I am being somewhat presumptuous, I know," Meng Dan shrugged. "Putting my own belief upon you. But I think it is a sad thing to have no roots."

"...It's fine, and thank you I think," Ling Qi said after a moment. Some names looked a little familiar, had there not been a few talismans with that name etched upon them, and a sculpture matched to that one?

It might not be the worst thing, to put those in her claims.
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I regret not voting for the other option.
 
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