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.
Bao Qian
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- Who Knows
Thanks to the efforts of @Killer_Whale who paid real life money to commission me (WOW, a round of applause), we've got more art for FoD~
This time, the lucky character in question is Bao Qian!
This time, the lucky character in question is Bao Qian!
I've been thinking of what my preferred defensive tech for LQ would be. Here's what I've come up with so far
Waiting Campfire's Radiance
Projects would involve stuff like allowing friends to protect all of their own bond 4+ allies that are present or giving you an idea of which direction your bond 4+ people are and whether they are safe (with them getting the same information about you).
Thoughts?
Waiting Campfire's Radiance
Potency Increase 0/3
Balanced, Fire, ?
Keywords: Community, Persistence, Power/Gratitude (Power fits fine but I think Gratitude would be neat)
Antithesis: Isolation, Weakness, Endings
Art Type: Armor
Passive Effects:
+1 to Primary Armor Trait
Basking in Fellowship: G4
Type: Armor, Support
Duration: Scene
You and your close allies' (bond 3+) are bolstered by each others' presences, with each reducing burdens and weakening suffered blows. One's natural healing is also accelerated.
Flickering Ember Shield: G4
Type: Armor, Support
Duration: Stunt
A close friend within the area of Basking in Fellowship (bond 4+) may activate a defensive technique on your behalf as though you were them once per scene to defend against a particular attack. You may do the same for them.
Balanced, Fire, ?
Keywords: Community, Persistence, Power/Gratitude (Power fits fine but I think Gratitude would be neat)
Antithesis: Isolation, Weakness, Endings
Art Type: Armor
Passive Effects:
+1 to Primary Armor Trait
Basking in Fellowship: G4
Type: Armor, Support
Duration: Scene
You and your close allies' (bond 3+) are bolstered by each others' presences, with each reducing burdens and weakening suffered blows. One's natural healing is also accelerated.
Flickering Ember Shield: G4
Type: Armor, Support
Duration: Stunt
A close friend within the area of Basking in Fellowship (bond 4+) may activate a defensive technique on your behalf as though you were them once per scene to defend against a particular attack. You may do the same for them.
Projects would involve stuff like allowing friends to protect all of their own bond 4+ allies that are present or giving you an idea of which direction your bond 4+ people are and whether they are safe (with them getting the same information about you).
Thoughts?
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- Location
- New Brunswick, NJ
- Pronouns
- He/Him/His
Thanks to the efforts of @Killer_Whale who paid real life money to commission me (WOW, a round of applause), we've got more art for FoD~
This time, the lucky character in question is Bao Qian!
His smile was weirding me out, until I realized what it reminded me of. It's like that meme where Shang from Mulan is in a suit and the lyrics to I'll Make a Man Out of You are about getting down to literal business.Thanks to the efforts of @Killer_Whale who paid real life money to commission me (WOW, a round of applause), we've got more art for FoD~
This time, the lucky character in question is Bao Qian!
Now I cannot unsee this comparison.
- Pronouns
- He/Him
I like that it leans back into Ling Qi's "When I'm with friends I'm even MORE powerful" theme. It should have a solo portion however so that it doesn't become useless in a Liling chasing LQ down situation. I also believe it should specifically exclude LQ's spirit bonds because that would just increase the floor of the ability to already always be buffed.
I think another potential technique on the art could be a dispel relating to the campfire flaring up and the light pushing back the shadows/burning away negative effects. Or maybe another healing buff relating to food cooked together with loved ones over a fire.
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My immediate thought is that an isolated LQ shouldn't be particularly tough (not fragile but also not the absurd tankiness she currently has) but rather stupidly quick and sneaky. This would be partly based on her "retreat only so far" insight: once you're threatening her loved ones the gloves come off and she won't retreat anymore.
Maybe Wind Thief would become her Isolation based defense? It could pick up effects that trigger if she doesn't have any 3+ bonds in the area.
- Pronouns
- He/Him
I don't like the idea of having an armor art that is entirely useless in any situation. Conceptually/thematically it's fine, but what happens if LQ runs into something that just entirely ignores her ability to dodge? Does she just die? Armor arts should universally provide the main function even if it isn't very much in some situations. While I argued against increasing the strength floor with her spirits in my previous post I'm very against having that floor actually be zero or so close to it that it might as well be zero.
I am having difficulty understanding your position, why should a Community based Art ignore the Community she has spent great effort to build and then apply a static buff to deal with the resulting weakness?
Part of my reasoning for the Art is that she'd only ever be Isolated if she was either completely overwhelmed (hard-countered by a Cyan+ with an opposing Way) or she wanted to be (which is why other Arts should reward that decision)
Perhaps it shouldn't, but that just makes it a bad art even if it's decent in its area of focus.
Getting caught alone isn't an edge case, it's one of the goals someone going after Ling Qi is going to have in the first place. A hard counter is not the only way that can happen, just the most immediate.
Spending time on a defensive art that has a huge hole in it is a waste, especially when it's one that isn't hard to figure out and they'll be trying to exploit in any case.
eh, by targeting her when she is alone? that's what most would do. it's not like she's with her friends 24/7
She is actually. She has not been alone for a single second in over a year without that being imposed by a higher realm.
Edit: Sixiang lives in her head, remember?
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- Pronouns
- He/Him
Because its a bad art if it gives no effects at a time when you need it. Thematically it makes sense for it to zero out when she doesn't have any bonds around, but systematically its awful and why would someone actually choose to use it?
We're kind of arguing separate points here because you're arguing that her spirits should play into the art and its baseline should be near zero and I'm arguing they shouldn't and the baseline shouldn't be near zero. Functionally it means the same thing, but I'm thinking from a health of the system and simplicity of the art itself point of view while you're thinking from a more narrative focused point of view (as far as I can tell at least). I still like the idea of the art and honestly it fits LQ better than SNR does, but you asked for thought so I gave mine.
Sorry for being defensive. You are right, I asked for feedback and then just argued with you. That was wrong and I apologize.
A Dragon Dances to Strange Music Part 1
- Pronouns
- He/Him
"...g Qi? Ling Qiiiiiiii… Ling Qi! Wake up!"
"Wh- Sixiang? What happened? Are we still in the liminal?" Ling Qi asked blearily, sitting up and suddenly feeling strangely disconnected.
"I don't want to say I told you so, but…" Sixiang teased.
"Told me what? Where are we?" Looking around Ling Qi didn't recognize any of the scenery, strange floating islands and pale trees whose leaves were a riot of colors, a massive city that loomed in the distance to the South.
"Don't you remember? We were exploring in the liminal near nightmare territory trying to figure out if you were ready to dive in and you ended up getting caught in what must have been some kind of stasis trap," Sixiang explained, realizing Ling Qi really had no recollection. "I couldn't do much about the effects of the trap other than to try to push you out of the dream entirely. That forced both of us out here, wherever here is, but you stayed frozen. I had trouble manifesting a physical body so I've just been yelling at you for the past few hours."
"No wonder I have a headache then." Ling Qi grimaced, rubbing her head. She tried stepping back into the liminal and the headache increased to the point she almost passed out again. "I guess we'll have to put that exploration on hold for a while longer. I wonder how far from home we are." Ling Qi looked around again, but any clues on their location continued to elude her. She vowed to ask Xuan Shi for more information on foreign lands when she saw him next. "Do you think we ended up somewhere outside the Empire? The floating islands make me think this place might not be fully divided from the liminal," she mused.
"I don't think so?" replied Sixiang. "I'm having trouble feeling the liminal at all here so I think those are natural formations."
"Hmm, well either way our best chance for finding directions home probably lies in that city so we might as well get going." Ling Qi said with more confidence than she felt.
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"Apologies Mercy, but do you think it would be okay for me to go for a walk outside the city?" asked Lindon. He had spent some time in the cities of the Blackflame Empire, but almost all of it had been spent training alone or with Yerin. Being around all of these new faces on top of the Akura's expectations of him for the tournament were beginning to wear on him. He was used to expectations, but hordes of people struck him as unnatural.
"Oh sure! Just make sure to be back before the next round and that should be fine! I'll even cover for you if Aunt Charity asks where you went!" Blurted Mercy followed rapidly by a more sedate, "would you like me to tell Yerin when she's done cycling?"
Lindon felt a chill run down his spine and heat rise in his face at the twin mentions of the Sage of the Silver Heart and his… friend? Yerin. "No! Thank you, but I would like to be alone for a while, and please don't tell the Sage anything strange."
"Alright, have fun!" Mercy said cheerily. She hadn't left her handstand on top of Suu for the entire conversation.
"Are you done being embarrassed? Because I remember some of the Ghostwater researchers mentioned the view from the northside of Ninecloud City being spectacular before, you know, they got eaten? Do you wanna go? I do, we should go!" Dross suggested with typical irreverence. "I'm not sure why you're so worried about the Sage anyways! She's great! I hope she gives me another dream scale soon."
"Dross."
"But really sh-"
"Dross. Please." Lindon pleaded.
"Oh I'm making it worse aren't I. Now I'm embarrassed. Wait, no I'm not. That's still you."
Lindon ignored Dross as he took a smaller cloudship to the edge of the city and walked north.
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The scenery continued to amaze Ling Qi as she rapidly approached the city with Sable Grace, flitting from island to island. She saw seemingly living clouds playing between the islands and what looked to be flying ships far in the distance moving even faster than she was.
After a few hours and a few more failed attempts to step back into the liminal continuing to increase her worry, Ling Qi spotted a tall figure between her and the city before they noticed her with her combined wisp. It was the first person she had seen since she woke up so she began walking towards them intent on asking them about her disconnection from the liminal, maybe it really was a local phenomenon. As she approached she noticed it was a he, and he wasn't just tall, clearly well built under his robes, his ivory white arm was interesting too, but he ruined the entire aesthetic by scowling.
"Too bad he's not shirtless, a little drooling might help take your mind off your headache and you wouldn't have even noticed his face."
"I do not drool!" Exclaimed a vigorously blushing Ling Qi.
"Shall we ask Meizhen when we get back to the sect then?" replied Sixiang, not letting up.
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"Hey Lindon, look at that remnant!" said Dross after spotting the approaching figure.
Breaking from his landscape induced daydream Lindon finally processed what Dross meant. It looked like the kind of remnant that would have been left by a sacred artist on a path of ice and dream, with piercing pale blue eyes and dark hair that did strange things with the sunlight. It also must have been left by a fairly advanced sacred artist, underlord at least, because it was hardly translucent at all except for around the edges where shadow seemed to drift off its body like smoke. Gliding through the sky and islands, it left no trace of its passing.
"Do you think it would yield any useful soulsmithing materials?" Lindon asked Dross, his mind revolting at the thought of letting anything useful go to waste.
"It should have some powerful bindings if nothing else."
Lindon cycled blackflame and prepared a Dragon's Breath.
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"He's not just tall, he's head and shoulders taller than me," Ling Qi realized as her wisp drew closer before she noticed his eyes glowing red. "Has he finally noticed me? That must be his own perce-"
"Ling Qi look out!"
Heeding Sixiang's word on instinct, Ling Qi slipped sideways as a line of what looked like black fire so dense it appeared solid pierced the air where she had just been standing and felt the edge of the bar disappear into Starless Night's Reflection. She called her flute, unleashing her fog and, as soon as there was enough, moved in the opposite direction the bar of fire had come from to build distance with the tall aggressor.
"I'm sorry I didn't warn you sooner, but he went from mostly calm and oblivious to attacking almost instantly." Sixiang explained.
"Don't worry about it, let's just focus on getting away and finding someone a little friendlier first." Ling Qi replied.
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Fog suddenly appeared out of nowhere and a sourceless, mournful melody filled Lindon's mind. Phantoms prowled at the edge of his vision with menacing, glowing eyes.
"Hey! This isn't normal fog! Cut that out!" Dross whined as the first phantoms began to appear and tear at Lindon's robes. "Wait, it's just an illusion… and poof, no more spooky mind effect!"
Despite the phantoms becoming less horrifying the fog still obscured Lindon's vision and he felt a strange chill in his cores, however when he switched to his Jade vision and saw the remnant attempting to slink away everything else, including the phantoms failing to hurt him, faded from his mind. "Reminds me of the giant octopi in Ghostwater inking to get away," He murmured, but he knew how to deal with that. A Burning Cloak gathered around him and his joints creaked as he prepared to launch himself at his slippery opponent. It had dodged a Dragon's Breath, but could it dodge a dragon's advance?
"Wh- Sixiang? What happened? Are we still in the liminal?" Ling Qi asked blearily, sitting up and suddenly feeling strangely disconnected.
"I don't want to say I told you so, but…" Sixiang teased.
"Told me what? Where are we?" Looking around Ling Qi didn't recognize any of the scenery, strange floating islands and pale trees whose leaves were a riot of colors, a massive city that loomed in the distance to the South.
"Don't you remember? We were exploring in the liminal near nightmare territory trying to figure out if you were ready to dive in and you ended up getting caught in what must have been some kind of stasis trap," Sixiang explained, realizing Ling Qi really had no recollection. "I couldn't do much about the effects of the trap other than to try to push you out of the dream entirely. That forced both of us out here, wherever here is, but you stayed frozen. I had trouble manifesting a physical body so I've just been yelling at you for the past few hours."
"No wonder I have a headache then." Ling Qi grimaced, rubbing her head. She tried stepping back into the liminal and the headache increased to the point she almost passed out again. "I guess we'll have to put that exploration on hold for a while longer. I wonder how far from home we are." Ling Qi looked around again, but any clues on their location continued to elude her. She vowed to ask Xuan Shi for more information on foreign lands when she saw him next. "Do you think we ended up somewhere outside the Empire? The floating islands make me think this place might not be fully divided from the liminal," she mused.
"I don't think so?" replied Sixiang. "I'm having trouble feeling the liminal at all here so I think those are natural formations."
"Hmm, well either way our best chance for finding directions home probably lies in that city so we might as well get going." Ling Qi said with more confidence than she felt.
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"Apologies Mercy, but do you think it would be okay for me to go for a walk outside the city?" asked Lindon. He had spent some time in the cities of the Blackflame Empire, but almost all of it had been spent training alone or with Yerin. Being around all of these new faces on top of the Akura's expectations of him for the tournament were beginning to wear on him. He was used to expectations, but hordes of people struck him as unnatural.
"Oh sure! Just make sure to be back before the next round and that should be fine! I'll even cover for you if Aunt Charity asks where you went!" Blurted Mercy followed rapidly by a more sedate, "would you like me to tell Yerin when she's done cycling?"
Lindon felt a chill run down his spine and heat rise in his face at the twin mentions of the Sage of the Silver Heart and his… friend? Yerin. "No! Thank you, but I would like to be alone for a while, and please don't tell the Sage anything strange."
"Alright, have fun!" Mercy said cheerily. She hadn't left her handstand on top of Suu for the entire conversation.
"Are you done being embarrassed? Because I remember some of the Ghostwater researchers mentioned the view from the northside of Ninecloud City being spectacular before, you know, they got eaten? Do you wanna go? I do, we should go!" Dross suggested with typical irreverence. "I'm not sure why you're so worried about the Sage anyways! She's great! I hope she gives me another dream scale soon."
"Dross."
"But really sh-"
"Dross. Please." Lindon pleaded.
"Oh I'm making it worse aren't I. Now I'm embarrassed. Wait, no I'm not. That's still you."
Lindon ignored Dross as he took a smaller cloudship to the edge of the city and walked north.
-------------------------------------------------------------
The scenery continued to amaze Ling Qi as she rapidly approached the city with Sable Grace, flitting from island to island. She saw seemingly living clouds playing between the islands and what looked to be flying ships far in the distance moving even faster than she was.
After a few hours and a few more failed attempts to step back into the liminal continuing to increase her worry, Ling Qi spotted a tall figure between her and the city before they noticed her with her combined wisp. It was the first person she had seen since she woke up so she began walking towards them intent on asking them about her disconnection from the liminal, maybe it really was a local phenomenon. As she approached she noticed it was a he, and he wasn't just tall, clearly well built under his robes, his ivory white arm was interesting too, but he ruined the entire aesthetic by scowling.
"Too bad he's not shirtless, a little drooling might help take your mind off your headache and you wouldn't have even noticed his face."
"I do not drool!" Exclaimed a vigorously blushing Ling Qi.
"Shall we ask Meizhen when we get back to the sect then?" replied Sixiang, not letting up.
-------------------------------------------------------------
"Hey Lindon, look at that remnant!" said Dross after spotting the approaching figure.
Breaking from his landscape induced daydream Lindon finally processed what Dross meant. It looked like the kind of remnant that would have been left by a sacred artist on a path of ice and dream, with piercing pale blue eyes and dark hair that did strange things with the sunlight. It also must have been left by a fairly advanced sacred artist, underlord at least, because it was hardly translucent at all except for around the edges where shadow seemed to drift off its body like smoke. Gliding through the sky and islands, it left no trace of its passing.
"Do you think it would yield any useful soulsmithing materials?" Lindon asked Dross, his mind revolting at the thought of letting anything useful go to waste.
"It should have some powerful bindings if nothing else."
Lindon cycled blackflame and prepared a Dragon's Breath.
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"He's not just tall, he's head and shoulders taller than me," Ling Qi realized as her wisp drew closer before she noticed his eyes glowing red. "Has he finally noticed me? That must be his own perce-"
"Ling Qi look out!"
Heeding Sixiang's word on instinct, Ling Qi slipped sideways as a line of what looked like black fire so dense it appeared solid pierced the air where she had just been standing and felt the edge of the bar disappear into Starless Night's Reflection. She called her flute, unleashing her fog and, as soon as there was enough, moved in the opposite direction the bar of fire had come from to build distance with the tall aggressor.
"I'm sorry I didn't warn you sooner, but he went from mostly calm and oblivious to attacking almost instantly." Sixiang explained.
"Don't worry about it, let's just focus on getting away and finding someone a little friendlier first." Ling Qi replied.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Fog suddenly appeared out of nowhere and a sourceless, mournful melody filled Lindon's mind. Phantoms prowled at the edge of his vision with menacing, glowing eyes.
"Hey! This isn't normal fog! Cut that out!" Dross whined as the first phantoms began to appear and tear at Lindon's robes. "Wait, it's just an illusion… and poof, no more spooky mind effect!"
Despite the phantoms becoming less horrifying the fog still obscured Lindon's vision and he felt a strange chill in his cores, however when he switched to his Jade vision and saw the remnant attempting to slink away everything else, including the phantoms failing to hurt him, faded from his mind. "Reminds me of the giant octopi in Ghostwater inking to get away," He murmured, but he knew how to deal with that. A Burning Cloak gathered around him and his joints creaked as he prepared to launch himself at his slippery opponent. It had dodged a Dragon's Breath, but could it dodge a dragon's advance?
A/N: This omake could be considered a mild spoiler for anyone reading or planning to read Will Wight's Cradle series (it's awesome you totally should) that hasn't finished Uncrowned. Consider yourself warned! Also @yrsillar another omake for the omake throne!
Please be critical! I feel like I wrote the characters true to themselves, but I could be wrong and I'm sure there are plenty of grammatical errors throughout the work.
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- Location
- the internet
I saw that people already pointed out to you on Discord that her version of FVM does damage just like the original. I would edit that part so it portrays her domain accurately. Physical damage would probably make Linden start Dragon's Advance sooner, knowing him. That's fine though, u can just start writing the battle scene! I wanna see them face off lol.
Turn 13: Arc 7-4
"I think I would prefer the soil studies," Ling Qi said, considering it for a long while. She was likely still a few years from her Cyan, fourth realm breakthrough, while she would be establishing her home sometime this year. One thing she had learned well was that benefits and good fortune built on each other, like a ball of snow rolling downhill. That was why the great families were great, even if they had a bad generation the sheer inertia of their power would keep them rolling.
She intended to make sure her family had as much of that inertia as she could.
"A fine choice," Xia Lushen said with an amiable nod. They exited the hall which passed under the stands stepping out into the sun outside the arena. The lands of the Ling will never suffer from parasites and weeds."
There was something vaguely malicious about the way the smiling old man pronounced those words, but given the Bai's proximity to the western jungles, she could hardly fault him for that. "I am certain that Sir Xia's studies will be more than enough for the calmer lands of the wall."
"Indeed," he mused. "Although…"
He frowned, gazing back over his shoulder into the arena. "Regardless, you will be well defended from encroachment. I do not have the items on my person, would an exchange at the end of the tournament be acceptable?"
"Of course," Ling Qi said. "Thank you for all of your consideration, sir Xia."
"No worries," he chuckled. "But I am certain you have your own business to attend to."
Ling Qi nodded agreeably and bowed respectfully to the senior Bai as they parted ways, making her way down the path toward the guest pavilions. The trouble was her plans were now unsettled. She'd meant to remain with Renxiang and the others until her appointment with Wang Chao and Xuan Shi.
"Bit of a conundrum, maybe walk around a bit? You do have that dossier to look through," Sixiang said. "Besides, I'm sure you can find some good fortune underfoot."
I'm hardly going to trip over opprtunnities, Ling Qi thought. Restraining her urge to roll her eyes. Honestly it wasn't a bad idea though. Just observing the nobility of the Emerald Seas while she analyzed the information she had been given wouldn't be a bad way to spend some sudden free time.
"You're helping me process and analyze everything," Ling Qi said under her breath.
"Whaaat," Sixiang complained. "It's all boring stuff though."
Too bad, Ling Qi thought. This is what they signed up for it.
"Pretty sure I didn't sign anything," Sixiang grumbled.
Ling Qi chuckled, a small smile on her lips as she joined the crowds among the pavilions.
It was probably the biggest by area though, Xiangmen aside, said to sprawl widely across the hills and valleys and fens. It was called Labyrinthine for a reason though, Meng works, and the original spiritual nature of the region meant that pathways were never quite stable, and which districts neighbored others changed at times. Hou Zhuang;s information said that there was an order to this, but his observations and information hadn't been able to discern it.
The Meng did not use normal imperial warding methods against spirits for this reason, but had their own systems of spirit traps and mazes which they guarded jealously. The other settlements in the north of the region were similar, if on a smaller scale. Meng architecture often used raised walkways due to the marshy ground, where they did not build directly into particularly old growth trees like Xiangmen in miniature, and favored loops and rounded shapes over straight lines and shapes. This informed their thinking, or so the common knowledge said.
In the south, in the lands gifted by the fallen Hui after the Duchess' war, things were different. The former counts of the region had been more imperial leaning and so the settlements there were built accordingly. The meng were attempting to integrate and overhaul the infrastructure but it was slow and halting. Hou Zhuang's notes indicated this was due to a conflict within the Meng's ruling halls on how the matter should be handled.
This, he determined, was partially due to some vestigial old weilu structures. Namely the practice of having small circles or councils in the place of individual leaders. More than half of their viscounties were headed by branch clans, and the lines were blurry. In the modern day this amounted to advisors and vassals having more sway than was normal. Sometimes lofty isolationist silence was what it seemed to be. Sometimes it was internal paralysis.
Ling Qi wouldn't have believed an imperial clan could be like that, but recently, she had been finding her conceptions on what authority was, challenged more than she liked.
"Well, its not all bad right?" Sixiang mused. "If one person is messing up but it takes three to make a decision, it can reign in the one bad guy right?"
She supposed that wasn't wrong, but the way people worked, she was pretty sure that just meant a bunch of arguing and nothing getting done as everyone selfishly pursued their own gain. Then again… clearly such things existed and least sort of worked. Perhaps she simply didn't have enough experience.
"One day I'll chip a little more of that cynicism off of you," Sixiang grumbled
The mountain might be worn down by the river, but it would take ten thousand years, Ling Qi thought, smiling self deprecatingly. She looked up from where she stood by the refreshments table in a wide airy pavilion. It belonged to a southwestern viscount, and she had drifted in here to mingle and make nice for awhile. They certainly had a good array of ciders and juices at least, Ling Qi mused. The families main income came from their orchards if she recalled…
Her thoughts were interrupted as her gaze panned across the gathered nobles and servants, and found her gaze falling on a familiar figure. Meng Diu stood talking with the elderly host of this little gathering. Her heavy makeup done up a little differently than the last time Ling Qi had seen her. She spoke softly with the viscount, and naturally Ling Qi could not make out what they were saying.
That woman was surprisingly good at moving unnoticed. As she watched the viscount bowed and she inclined her head before they split off, and Meng Diu caught her eye.
"Hmph, what did you say about opportunities?" Sixiang asked smugly.
It doesn't count if a person is arranging them, Ling Qi grumbled in her head.
Ling Qi lowered her eyes, and then inclined her head, beginning to stroll toward the arrangement of flowers in the center of the pavilion.
Soon Meng Diu stood beside her. Though the older womans artfully arranged hair barely came up to her shoulder, Meng Diu's presence made her seem rather larger. The open paper fan in her hand shaded the older womans mouth and nose.
"My grandson's services proved useful, did they not?" Meng Diu said without preamble. She appeared to be examining the large flower arrangement before them.
"Meng Dan proved a noble young man and an incomparable scholar," Ling Qi agreed. His talents were very useful for gathering information."
"This pleases me," she said softly. "That child often becomes too wrapped up in his texts, it is good to see that he may apply his talents elsewhere."
"In fairness, much of his work did end up taking place in a library of a sort," Ling Qi said.
"Yes, that creatures ring," Meng Diu said frostily, her fan's lazy waving picking up for a moment. "Truly the Gods love their games."
Ling Qi glanced her way. It wasn't in fashion to refer to the great spirits that way. "So I have learned. Still in this case, the outcome was good."
"Yes," she agreed. "That tapestry… you are wise to sell it baroness. It would only bring you trouble. I hope that my clans price will prove acceptable."
"So do I," Ling Qi said after a moment's thought. "It would hurt me to disappoint you, when you have been so kind."
That finally drew a thin smile from the older woman. "Baroness Ling is developing well.."
"Lady Meng is generous," Ling Qi said. "But if I may, there is a question I would like to ask you."
"Ask it," Meng Diu replied, her fan snapping shut and disappearing into her voluminous sleeve. She turned to fully face Ling Qi.
"If I am to consider my options properly I must know the dispositions of my allies," Ling Qi said carefully. "How much strength does the interest in my projects hold in the councils of the Meng?"
Meng Diu met her eyes, and Ling Qi held her steely gaze, straightening her shoulders as she faced the pressure of the higher cultivator. She loosened her grip on her own nascent domain, allowing her song to compete with the slow steady melody of Meng Diu.
"More than we have had in centuries," Meng Diu said plainly, the pressure of her presence receding. "Your Duchess' rise broke many things. It broke many people. This included my Father, who came to her call under the Divine Tree. My brother resents this, I do not. My Father was right to come, and right to die to burn the webs which choked this province."
"I see," Ling Qi said, reassessing things. She knew Meng Diu was sister to the current Meng clan head even without Hou Zhuang's information.
"It is not enough to simply live by the old ways. They must be developed. On our terms, not that of outsiders," Meng Diu said. "Our land is not the Artificial cradle of the Peaks, our ways are superior for this land. It is not enough to sit behind our mists and sing while the world passes us by."
"I do not disagree," Ling Qi said."Isolation serves no one."
Those words rang with something deeper than words, a chord of her spirit.
Meng Diu nodded slightly turning back toward the flower arrangement. "One in four of those whose voices matter, but success in our ventures grants legitimacy. Most can be convinced. We are not exempt from the charge that is in the air. The knowledge that the world is turning. Some oppose us, turning even further inward, but this path is not yet set in stone."
"I understand," Ling Qi said slowly. In reaching out, those who wished to keep up with the world on their own terms hoped to gain further legitimacy for their movement. In this she, or rather Cai renxiang could be a rallying point. Look at us, their actions could say. The ways of our ancestors may still change the path of the province. "I will keep that in mind."
Another slight nod. "Good, on to happier things."
"Happier things?" Ling Qi said, tilting her head.
"I have decided that I quite enjoy winter music. A passing whim I am sure," Meng Diu said. "I would like to offer patronage for your junior sister."
Ling Qi's eyes widened fractionally. "You honor me, Lady Meng. What did you have in mind?"
"Two possibilities," she replied. "I may see the southwest opened to you, or I may promote you in the capital."
Ling Qi contemplated her words. She could tell by tone and emphasis on words that Meng Diu would prefer the former. Ling Qi could see why, her… 'brand' would be helpful and she had just learned that the Meng clans traditions were… spotty in the south.
On the other hand, promotion in the capital… that could do a great deal for her. She understood what Meng Diu was doing, this offer made it clear that the woman was willing to help her and be done with it, but she was also open to further cooperation.
[] Open the southwest (Lesser boost in popularity for Hanyi, may boost Weilu Reformer support in long term. Bond 1 with Meng Diu)
[] Promotion in the capital (High boost to Hanyi popularity, no change in reformer support)
She intended to make sure her family had as much of that inertia as she could.
"A fine choice," Xia Lushen said with an amiable nod. They exited the hall which passed under the stands stepping out into the sun outside the arena. The lands of the Ling will never suffer from parasites and weeds."
There was something vaguely malicious about the way the smiling old man pronounced those words, but given the Bai's proximity to the western jungles, she could hardly fault him for that. "I am certain that Sir Xia's studies will be more than enough for the calmer lands of the wall."
"Indeed," he mused. "Although…"
He frowned, gazing back over his shoulder into the arena. "Regardless, you will be well defended from encroachment. I do not have the items on my person, would an exchange at the end of the tournament be acceptable?"
"Of course," Ling Qi said. "Thank you for all of your consideration, sir Xia."
"No worries," he chuckled. "But I am certain you have your own business to attend to."
Ling Qi nodded agreeably and bowed respectfully to the senior Bai as they parted ways, making her way down the path toward the guest pavilions. The trouble was her plans were now unsettled. She'd meant to remain with Renxiang and the others until her appointment with Wang Chao and Xuan Shi.
"Bit of a conundrum, maybe walk around a bit? You do have that dossier to look through," Sixiang said. "Besides, I'm sure you can find some good fortune underfoot."
I'm hardly going to trip over opprtunnities, Ling Qi thought. Restraining her urge to roll her eyes. Honestly it wasn't a bad idea though. Just observing the nobility of the Emerald Seas while she analyzed the information she had been given wouldn't be a bad way to spend some sudden free time.
"You're helping me process and analyze everything," Ling Qi said under her breath.
"Whaaat," Sixiang complained. "It's all boring stuff though."
Too bad, Ling Qi thought. This is what they signed up for it.
"Pretty sure I didn't sign anything," Sixiang grumbled.
Ling Qi chuckled, a small smile on her lips as she joined the crowds among the pavilions.
***
Tiangong, the Labyrinthine Realm, this was the capital of the Meng lands. Said to have been won from the hands of a mighty spirit of chance and fate in a game by the founder of the Meng long ago, this was the deed for which he was granted leave to found his own branch clan. Despite being one of the provinces oldest settlements, it was the third smallest of the county capitals. Only the Jia, who had built a city wholesale after the Duchess' victory and had harsh residency requirements, and the Luo who as a rule simply did not gather often in permanent cities, were less populous.It was probably the biggest by area though, Xiangmen aside, said to sprawl widely across the hills and valleys and fens. It was called Labyrinthine for a reason though, Meng works, and the original spiritual nature of the region meant that pathways were never quite stable, and which districts neighbored others changed at times. Hou Zhuang;s information said that there was an order to this, but his observations and information hadn't been able to discern it.
The Meng did not use normal imperial warding methods against spirits for this reason, but had their own systems of spirit traps and mazes which they guarded jealously. The other settlements in the north of the region were similar, if on a smaller scale. Meng architecture often used raised walkways due to the marshy ground, where they did not build directly into particularly old growth trees like Xiangmen in miniature, and favored loops and rounded shapes over straight lines and shapes. This informed their thinking, or so the common knowledge said.
In the south, in the lands gifted by the fallen Hui after the Duchess' war, things were different. The former counts of the region had been more imperial leaning and so the settlements there were built accordingly. The meng were attempting to integrate and overhaul the infrastructure but it was slow and halting. Hou Zhuang's notes indicated this was due to a conflict within the Meng's ruling halls on how the matter should be handled.
This, he determined, was partially due to some vestigial old weilu structures. Namely the practice of having small circles or councils in the place of individual leaders. More than half of their viscounties were headed by branch clans, and the lines were blurry. In the modern day this amounted to advisors and vassals having more sway than was normal. Sometimes lofty isolationist silence was what it seemed to be. Sometimes it was internal paralysis.
Ling Qi wouldn't have believed an imperial clan could be like that, but recently, she had been finding her conceptions on what authority was, challenged more than she liked.
"Well, its not all bad right?" Sixiang mused. "If one person is messing up but it takes three to make a decision, it can reign in the one bad guy right?"
She supposed that wasn't wrong, but the way people worked, she was pretty sure that just meant a bunch of arguing and nothing getting done as everyone selfishly pursued their own gain. Then again… clearly such things existed and least sort of worked. Perhaps she simply didn't have enough experience.
"One day I'll chip a little more of that cynicism off of you," Sixiang grumbled
The mountain might be worn down by the river, but it would take ten thousand years, Ling Qi thought, smiling self deprecatingly. She looked up from where she stood by the refreshments table in a wide airy pavilion. It belonged to a southwestern viscount, and she had drifted in here to mingle and make nice for awhile. They certainly had a good array of ciders and juices at least, Ling Qi mused. The families main income came from their orchards if she recalled…
Her thoughts were interrupted as her gaze panned across the gathered nobles and servants, and found her gaze falling on a familiar figure. Meng Diu stood talking with the elderly host of this little gathering. Her heavy makeup done up a little differently than the last time Ling Qi had seen her. She spoke softly with the viscount, and naturally Ling Qi could not make out what they were saying.
That woman was surprisingly good at moving unnoticed. As she watched the viscount bowed and she inclined her head before they split off, and Meng Diu caught her eye.
"Hmph, what did you say about opportunities?" Sixiang asked smugly.
It doesn't count if a person is arranging them, Ling Qi grumbled in her head.
Ling Qi lowered her eyes, and then inclined her head, beginning to stroll toward the arrangement of flowers in the center of the pavilion.
Soon Meng Diu stood beside her. Though the older womans artfully arranged hair barely came up to her shoulder, Meng Diu's presence made her seem rather larger. The open paper fan in her hand shaded the older womans mouth and nose.
"My grandson's services proved useful, did they not?" Meng Diu said without preamble. She appeared to be examining the large flower arrangement before them.
"Meng Dan proved a noble young man and an incomparable scholar," Ling Qi agreed. His talents were very useful for gathering information."
"This pleases me," she said softly. "That child often becomes too wrapped up in his texts, it is good to see that he may apply his talents elsewhere."
"In fairness, much of his work did end up taking place in a library of a sort," Ling Qi said.
"Yes, that creatures ring," Meng Diu said frostily, her fan's lazy waving picking up for a moment. "Truly the Gods love their games."
Ling Qi glanced her way. It wasn't in fashion to refer to the great spirits that way. "So I have learned. Still in this case, the outcome was good."
"Yes," she agreed. "That tapestry… you are wise to sell it baroness. It would only bring you trouble. I hope that my clans price will prove acceptable."
"So do I," Ling Qi said after a moment's thought. "It would hurt me to disappoint you, when you have been so kind."
That finally drew a thin smile from the older woman. "Baroness Ling is developing well.."
"Lady Meng is generous," Ling Qi said. "But if I may, there is a question I would like to ask you."
"Ask it," Meng Diu replied, her fan snapping shut and disappearing into her voluminous sleeve. She turned to fully face Ling Qi.
"If I am to consider my options properly I must know the dispositions of my allies," Ling Qi said carefully. "How much strength does the interest in my projects hold in the councils of the Meng?"
Meng Diu met her eyes, and Ling Qi held her steely gaze, straightening her shoulders as she faced the pressure of the higher cultivator. She loosened her grip on her own nascent domain, allowing her song to compete with the slow steady melody of Meng Diu.
"More than we have had in centuries," Meng Diu said plainly, the pressure of her presence receding. "Your Duchess' rise broke many things. It broke many people. This included my Father, who came to her call under the Divine Tree. My brother resents this, I do not. My Father was right to come, and right to die to burn the webs which choked this province."
"I see," Ling Qi said, reassessing things. She knew Meng Diu was sister to the current Meng clan head even without Hou Zhuang's information.
"It is not enough to simply live by the old ways. They must be developed. On our terms, not that of outsiders," Meng Diu said. "Our land is not the Artificial cradle of the Peaks, our ways are superior for this land. It is not enough to sit behind our mists and sing while the world passes us by."
"I do not disagree," Ling Qi said."Isolation serves no one."
Those words rang with something deeper than words, a chord of her spirit.
Meng Diu nodded slightly turning back toward the flower arrangement. "One in four of those whose voices matter, but success in our ventures grants legitimacy. Most can be convinced. We are not exempt from the charge that is in the air. The knowledge that the world is turning. Some oppose us, turning even further inward, but this path is not yet set in stone."
Meng Clan: 0
--Weilu Conservatives(50%): -1
--Weilu Reactionaries(25%): -2
--Weilu Reformers(25%): 2
--Weilu Conservatives(50%): -1
--Weilu Reactionaries(25%): -2
--Weilu Reformers(25%): 2
"I understand," Ling Qi said slowly. In reaching out, those who wished to keep up with the world on their own terms hoped to gain further legitimacy for their movement. In this she, or rather Cai renxiang could be a rallying point. Look at us, their actions could say. The ways of our ancestors may still change the path of the province. "I will keep that in mind."
Another slight nod. "Good, on to happier things."
"Happier things?" Ling Qi said, tilting her head.
"I have decided that I quite enjoy winter music. A passing whim I am sure," Meng Diu said. "I would like to offer patronage for your junior sister."
Ling Qi's eyes widened fractionally. "You honor me, Lady Meng. What did you have in mind?"
"Two possibilities," she replied. "I may see the southwest opened to you, or I may promote you in the capital."
Ling Qi contemplated her words. She could tell by tone and emphasis on words that Meng Diu would prefer the former. Ling Qi could see why, her… 'brand' would be helpful and she had just learned that the Meng clans traditions were… spotty in the south.
On the other hand, promotion in the capital… that could do a great deal for her. She understood what Meng Diu was doing, this offer made it clear that the woman was willing to help her and be done with it, but she was also open to further cooperation.
[] Open the southwest (Lesser boost in popularity for Hanyi, may boost Weilu Reformer support in long term. Bond 1 with Meng Diu)
[] Promotion in the capital (High boost to Hanyi popularity, no change in reformer support)
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- Location
- The United States
- Pronouns
- He/They
Further cooperation, please.
- Location
- foraging for beans
[] Open the southwest (Lesser boost in popularity for Hanyi, may boost Weilu Reformer support in long term. Bond 1 with Meng Diu)
I'm a fan of more cooperation with Meng Diu specifically, and of the idea of the Weilu reformer project more generally, so this has my vote. I also think it better plays into LQ's roll as CRX's diplomat to the Weilu faction to get in good with the sister of the Meng clan head.
I'm a fan of more cooperation with Meng Diu specifically, and of the idea of the Weilu reformer project more generally, so this has my vote. I also think it better plays into LQ's roll as CRX's diplomat to the Weilu faction to get in good with the sister of the Meng clan head.
Is this the Imperial capital, or the provincial capital?
.....this is a hard one. Do we want to gain Meng's favor or do we want to raise Hanyi, thus us, popularity more in the overall province? I am leaning more towards the Meng as they have the most of what we needs to advance our techniques, but this is still just the start of the Meng section, there has to be some more opportunities.
- Location
- The Star Kingdom of Manticore
A good question, and really important I think.
NoxOfUmbra
Shadow of the night
- Location
- Colombia, South América
- Pronouns
- He/Him/His
[X] Open the southwest (Lesser boost in popularity for Hanyi, may boost Weilu Reformer support in long term. Bond 1 with Meng Diu)
She helps us and we help her.... + I don't think we want to throw Hanyi into a viper's nest, with all the respect to the Bai
She helps us and we help her.... + I don't think we want to throw Hanyi into a viper's nest, with all the respect to the Bai
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