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.
EternalObserver
eYe Gaze baCk
- Location
- The Void
@FixerUpper @Apocalyptic Loon While it's not time to use omake points yet till the end of this voting phase, I will inform you of how much omake will help.
Spiritual: According to Black Noise, depending on the pill gacha, it could use a few
Physical: Is going to receive a massive boost from pills, so it's not needed in that area
All arts: Not anything omake can do about -Black Noise
All Attributes (Dexterity, Resolve, Manipulation, Composure): None of these are at a breaking point, not to mention they're expensive. Nevertheless it's appreciated if you do so
Academics: Average says it's enough to barely push to C, but could use a bit more to make sure
Formation: Average also says it's enough (a bit more on this side) to max. Points are appreciated
Survival: Needs above average roll to max so this skill probably needs it the most
Spiritual: According to Black Noise, depending on the pill gacha, it could use a few
Physical: Is going to receive a massive boost from pills, so it's not needed in that area
All arts: Not anything omake can do about -Black Noise
All Attributes (Dexterity, Resolve, Manipulation, Composure): None of these are at a breaking point, not to mention they're expensive. Nevertheless it's appreciated if you do so
Academics: Average says it's enough to barely push to C, but could use a bit more to make sure
Formation: Average also says it's enough (a bit more on this side) to max. Points are appreciated
Survival: Needs above average roll to max so this skill probably needs it the most
Tbh I wish we would hit White, mostly as it is kinda the core part of Xianxia for MC to reach the top.
Sect Route Advantages:
- You will be working under the guy who killed Ogodoi, that is a one of a kind opportunity
- Plotlines relate to Elders will naturally include the Sect Head, Xin+Jiao etc
- This would mean learning some powerful stuff from Elders which you wont ever get access to something equivalent during visiting Polar nation and allied tribes. <-- This will remain true as otherwise there is no big powerlevel tradeoff for going off to north.
- The Elders will actually be able to help with the heart demon. <-- although I guess yrs will figure out something in the other route for this too so eh.
- No char interaction issues
- Gan Guangli will have better time to shine here and considering he finally got the chance to get near CRX after all this time. t will be kind of shitty thing to do to deny him that.
- And no northern route wont as the culture of north is exactly what Gan Guangli is not gonna be meant for.
- TOURNAMENT ARC! - more importantly domestic connections.
- In this route we will have permanent advantage when it comes to domestic connections, kind of required for CRX.
- The domestic connections are not just Emerald seas, but the Empire as whole. So all ducal clans and maybe even the royalty.
- We will be able to finally have a tour of other sects, which I am very much looking forward too considering the Sect Promotionals.
- Argent Peak Sect relation, it is our first home after all.
- The fief claiming will still happen in this route, just delayed. We still are a baroness without a fief in this route afterall.
For the record, if we still go with diplomacy, I think we should not poach Su Ling and Li Suyin as it is clear the better path for them is the sect. I would rather not fuck up our friend's future just so that they are always next to us.
Also for Zhengui, the A-something girl form the Wang meetings was said to have something special when it comes to spirit bonds. I think that should help us with him.
Last edited:
[X] Plan: Drug-fueled adventure (+Explore, -RME Mod)
Xenophobia or not, wealth, resources and insights deriving from cultural exchange gives real tangible gains. And people want in on that.
So while its not going to be liked universally, those whose attentions are drawn favorably to this are likely to have loyalties more secure than the attentions drawn via tournament performance, since theres money and cultivation resources on the line, while in the tournament its mostly just attention earned as a star to keep an eye on, but unanchored because nothing at stake but kids pride.
Its an easier route in some ways for Ling Qi, since it relies on doubling down on a smaller number of connections than being conciliatory and accessible to many.
The risks I think, would likely be Liling getting to de-facto represent the Argent Sect, though amusingly she's going to be a bit salty at never getting her rematch with Meizhen if we lured her away.
-Gan positive association(how much?)
-Hates her mother and by extension those preying on the weak.
-Protect the little people who are ignored and trodden on by the mighty.
I don't think a Sect career works for her, but she DOES seem like a possible recruit for a Ministry.
I think the big force in play here is profit ultimately.
Xenophobia or not, wealth, resources and insights deriving from cultural exchange gives real tangible gains. And people want in on that.
So while its not going to be liked universally, those whose attentions are drawn favorably to this are likely to have loyalties more secure than the attentions drawn via tournament performance, since theres money and cultivation resources on the line, while in the tournament its mostly just attention earned as a star to keep an eye on, but unanchored because nothing at stake but kids pride.
Its an easier route in some ways for Ling Qi, since it relies on doubling down on a smaller number of connections than being conciliatory and accessible to many.
The risks I think, would likely be Liling getting to de-facto represent the Argent Sect, though amusingly she's going to be a bit salty at never getting her rematch with Meizhen if we lured her away.
Could go either way really, we hadn't talked to her in an in depth manner in a while, so her scant values seem to be:
-Gan positive association(how much?)
-Hates her mother and by extension those preying on the weak.
-Protect the little people who are ignored and trodden on by the mighty.
I don't think a Sect career works for her, but she DOES seem like a possible recruit for a Ministry.
Last edited:
CedeTheBees
Probably high right now
- Location
- Somewhere
- Pronouns
- They/Them
[X] Turn 12 plan: Why are all my skills capped
Make the vote counts perfectly balanced.
As all things should be.
Make the vote counts perfectly balanced.
As all things should be.
Last edited:
Aranfan
Team Plasma Grunt
Fully agree. We want to offer Su Ling a place to grow stronger in preparation for her mum, and a place she can protect the little people of once we get a population in fief. Absolutely not try to force her into anything, after all, one person's desires alone cannot make a family. If she prefers the sect, then that's fine. We might even be able to convince her come by after her time with the sect is over.
[X] Plan: take Pills like Water
[X] Turn 12 plan: Why are all my skills capped
[X] Turn 12 plan: Why are all my skills capped
It it also a good idea to keep the initial contact team when you mesh that well.
Do we get a new map??
I just wanna give him a volcanic vent in the ice. Make a little oasis for himself.
I'm dubious of the last two here. The special insights and sites from being in such a different environment (especially given LQ's bizarre luck) are far more likely to give us more power and be helpful with the heart demon than remaining in the Sect. Shenhua disappeared into the South before returning to ES politics later. I doubt we'll be White by 50 but in depth interactions with foreign systems is an immense advantage to our cultivation.
As I see it, the choice is between
1. The Ice Lady Diplomacy route giving us power and a long term career with tremendous potential for growth
2. The Sect route giving us much more in the way of political connections and not needing to choose a career right now.
As for Gan Guangli, I think people are mistaken that he would do better in the Sect route. His Way seems to be a long series of indignities inflicted upon him. If anything, going with the Sect is going to stifle him as he will be sheltered from the harsh lessons that life is trying to teach him. Admittedly this is a very bleak view of what's in store for him but I think its accurate. The lessons from the southern men are likely going to be extremely valuable for him, though I doubt he will adopt them all uncritically.
Last edited:
EternalObserver
eYe Gaze baCk
- Location
- The Void
- Location
- Washington
All well and good, but the post I was replying to was talking about prestige specifically, and prestige specifically is absolutely going to be undercut by imperial xenophobia.
Prestige for the southern route is actually a bad thing. Some Count clans could definitely sideline us quite effectively if they think what we are doing is valuable. We want to be thought of by the nobility as eccentrics squandering their obvious talent in the wilderness working with barbarians right up until we show up in court as their equals, if not their superiors.
Given her own history Shenhua will know exactly what we are doing and view it as worthwhile but obscurity to the wider empire is our ally here.
- Location
- Finland
Count Clans can't simply sideline us, because doing anything here needs 2 things.
1. Good will and trust of the White Sky.
2. Good will and approval of the Duchess.
Trying to sideline us, if we go the emissary route, is likely to loose them 1, and loosing 1 is going to loose them 2.
Sure, they could try, might even succeed, but it is not a simple thing, or free of risk, or something we can't effectively fight.
The way i see it, sect and tournament arc is frontloaded with rewards in prestige, while somewhat weak on the insight department.
While going diplomacy route we will get loads of prestige later, once people realise how valuable we are doing is, and gains us new insights easier from having to confront our preconceptions and prejudices.
1. Good will and trust of the White Sky.
2. Good will and approval of the Duchess.
Trying to sideline us, if we go the emissary route, is likely to loose them 1, and loosing 1 is going to loose them 2.
Sure, they could try, might even succeed, but it is not a simple thing, or free of risk, or something we can't effectively fight.
The way i see it, sect and tournament arc is frontloaded with rewards in prestige, while somewhat weak on the insight department.
While going diplomacy route we will get loads of prestige later, once people realise how valuable we are doing is, and gains us new insights easier from having to confront our preconceptions and prejudices.
Last edited:
- Location
- The Maple Syrup Mountains
Something I caution about this is that even if we go for the Intersect Tourney we still break from the Sect relatively soon. There are still reasons why staying with the Sect that extra time might be useful, but in terms of broader arcs it's probably best to see the Intersect Tourney as 'pass up Polar Gates diplomacy focus, see what other opportunities come our way'. It's unlikely imo that we'll see especially deep or prolonged interaction with the higher-ups in the Sect in any of our paths.
Last edited:
Maybe the Bai aren't the best measuring stick to evaluate whether a position with outsiders is worthwhile or not.
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Exactly. The way I see it it's more a choice between choosing this career path now and delaying 8 months to see what opportunities might arise later. At the end of the day 8 more months at the sect are not gonna make a huge difference in our cultivation. And there's a war going on. It's highly unlikely that the two prisms will have time for us, especially since they already know we won't be staying with the sect anyway. Honestly I feel like if we prioritize right we can cram all the sect specific possibilities in the 6-7 months we've got left.
The only higher-up that I can see making time for us is Xin, and I think chances are good we'll get her help even after we leave the sect no matter the path we choose.
TL;DR This is more of a yes/no vote on the ice nation route. The sect isn't really an alternative more of a deferment.
Arkeus
Crazy cat guy
- Location
- France
If we go intersect tourney we are are explicitly getting unique quests and interactions with the elders and higher up of the sect, as well as explicit opportunity to make long term alliance with it.
The sect group not only offers deeper ties with the sect, but also deeper ties with Empire VIP. There will likely a potential Xuan or Jin or Zheng arc in intersect, as well as opportunity to make long term contacts with other counties outside of the Emerald Seas.
While it is definitely true the sect itself isn't an alternative to the polar nation diplo route, it is completely false that the sect doesn't open up an alternative to the polar nation diplo route, and alternative that is also explicitly considered more worthy by Imperial Traditions:
- Location
- Greece
Guys, gals and other pals who are worried about cast change... keep in mind, there will still be a cast change at either choice, "remain in the Sect" will just keep it off for a while. (admitedly, a chonky while considering how long 8 turns are in this quest, but still...)
Last edited:
- Location
- Washington
As I trust that yrsillar is not pulling a bait and switch or lying: there will be less of one.
- Location
- Greece
I took "greater access" to mean "8 more turns of access before the upset, possible chance to retain more due to the fact we'd have achieved higher social scores around the board"
- Location
- Washington
As I said, I trust yrsillar is not pulling a bait and switch.
- Location
- Greece
?Its not a bait and switch though? To me, the meaning is clear, even if my conclusion is different than yours. That would make it, at worst, an unintentional misunderstanding...
Actually, maybe we could just ask @yrsillar which one of us read this right?