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

Voted best in category in the Users' Choice awards.
Yeah normally I'd go for the favor too, but I just know there will be a ton of angst over when to use it. It will just stress everyone out a ton so we might as well not get it lol.

Collecting favors is such a thematic thing to do though.

[X] One open ended favor from the Meng clan (Gain alternate option in future events which will bypass or greatly decrease costs or difficulty. Once.)
 
[X] Access to a Master Craftsmen in constructing a new instrument (Sets down the path to a new weapon talisman, focused on acquiring resonant materials)
[X] Ten years of service from a Meng Geomancer, for construction and tutoring (Opens special options in fief construction. Zhengui gets ideas)
 
[X] Notes and Writings from Master musicians of the Meng (New options and projects for creating and modifying arts)

[X] Ten years of service from a Meng Geomancer, for construction and tutoring (Opens special options in fief construction. Zhengui gets ideas)
 
[X] Notes and Writings from Master musicians of the Meng (New options and projects for creating and modifying arts)
[X] Ten years of service from a Meng Geomancer, for construction and tutoring (Opens special options in fief construction. Zhengui gets ideas)


Flute crafting and trade are both very tempting, but Ling Qi's musical knowledge is far too sparse and the Meng are just about the best place to get that knowledge from. We've got Bao contacts for trade and even potentially Lin Hai for crafting our last months at the Sect, but I don't want to pass up music twice in a row.
 
[X] Ten years of service from a Meng Geomancer, for construction and tutoring (Opens special options in fief construction. Zhengui gets ideas)

[X] Access to a Master Craftsmen in constructing a new instrument (Sets down the path to a new weapon talisman, focused on acquiring resonant materials)
 
[X] Notes and Writings from Master musicians of the Meng (New options and projects for creating and modifying arts)
[X] Ten years of service from a Meng Geomancer, for construction and tutoring (Opens special options in fief construction. Zhengui gets ideas)


Flute crafting and trade are both very tempting, but Ling Qi's musical knowledge is far too sparse and the Meng are just about the best place to get that knowledge from. We've got Bao contacts for trade and even potentially Lin Hai for crafting our last months at the Sect, but I don't want to pass up music twice in a row.
Just wanna put forward that Lin Hai is only fifth realm and we are unlikely to find such a high realm instrument crafter anywhere else in the province, perhaps the empire. The fact that the Meng are obsessed with music is why they have one in the first place.
 
Ok, this was a light chapter because it was mostly a presentation for the vote. But it is a really good vote.
I will try to give my arguments for each of them, but I may be biased as I have already choosen which 2 options I will vote for.

[ ] Notes and Writings from Master musicians of the Meng (New options and projects for creating and modifying arts)
This is the option we got from choosing the Weilu tapestry inside the Hui ring over Grandmistress Lei's works. It isn't the works of Grandmistress Lei herself, but it is second best. That's fair. Besides, I'm pretty sure the Meng would hace been quite a bit more... "insistent" on keeping that for themselves if we had chosen it. Our rep with them would have taken quite a blow if we had kept some for ourselves, which we totally would have.
The lack of Ling Qi's formal musical formation has already been brought up a few times, specially when talking with Bao Qian. I think it's about time Ling Qi learns about others musicians. Ones with a style most similar to her own are a great place to start. It would suck to pass up on chances to improve our music understanding twice in a row.
And strengthening and adding effects to our musical arts can only be beneficial. This vote is a winner for me.
Sidenote: confirmation that Forgotten Vale Melody comes from one of Grandmistress Lei's descendants.
Edit: It could also give bonus when creating our Frozen Soul Serenade succession art?

[ ] Ten years of service from a Meng Geomancer, for construction and tutoring (Opens special options in fief construction. Zhengui gets ideas)
Hah, I had actually suggested to ask for this when we arrived at the Meng manor. It's actually much better than what I had in mind. This would help Zhengui's cultivation with personal tutoring from a geomancer expert. Like us, Zhengui has been doing things by feel and experimentation, having a proper tutor would be a great way to tackle that. I had also thought if we couldn't get Renxiang's father to do it, but this works too.
It would also immensely benefit the security of our settlement. After choosing the High Danger option, I'm all for it. Furthermore, even if it isn't said explicitly, this option should also include the "closer ties with the Meng" benefit. I could say the sama from the previous one. Another keeper for me.

[ ] One hundred year trade agreement for duty free imports from your fief (More options if trade begins with the foreigners, closer ties with the Meng)
This one feels a little too bleak. I understands the objective benefits, but it's too long term to be actually appealing. Even if we start doing some trade with the South Pole, it's going to be a few rare specialties at first, and not all of them will go through Meng lands. it's minimal benefit in the first 30 years or so. In 90 years, when our fief is flourishing, we might lament "Man, I really wish we had that Meng agreement now. It would save us so many taxes"; but I would rather get something that helps us get to that point in the first place.
Also, as Ling QI said, we have an open quest to rebuild the trade route from Black Lotus Mountain. That could be enough help for the nascent commerce we will have for a while. After implying that we were playing to take care of that, the nobles could resent us if we simply jump ship to a better deal. Our reputation isn't still the best, I want to get along with our neighbours at least up to Central Valley.
Sidenote: the Bao won't like this agreement because it will mean that all the South Pole shinies will go through Meng lands first instead of theirs. That won't be enough for them to pull off the project, but they won't like it. Honestly, this is the option that most benefits the Meng instead of being something just for us.

[ ] Access to a Master Craftsmen in constructing a new instrument (Sets down the path to a new weapon talisman, focused on acquiring resonant materials)
This is... interesting. Getting an instrument made by a 6th realm artisan is great, though it's dependent on which materials we get for it. The only reasonable expectation is that the materials we are able to get are 4th grade at most, or not even that if we can't use Shen. So only 3rd grade. 3rd grade materials worked by a 6th grade artisan is still great, but people better not expect a national treasure out of this. Of course, we would still need to spend actions to get those 3rd grade materials anyway.
And that's what worries me. I have already read people saying that we can combine the search for materials with other actions, like the Sect one. I'm not sure i want to dilute the narrative of a bunch of actions by shoehorning adquiring materials in them.
Above all, I'm afraid that this will simply add a new "flute material option" in each reward vote from here on. So we will have to give up in the rewards we would have normally had in order to get them. Because even if we don't and get the normal reward, that's just kicking the problem down the path. It would be awful the read the same discussion every time about if X material is worth it or if we should wait for another one to show up.
I don't know if the Moon Quest will directly gives us a flute, but it will be more likely to do so if we don't choose this option, even if the flute won't be as good. I also see it as a kind of "foundation vs power up" situation, so I would rather get the foundation (aka Music notes).

[ ] One open ended favor from the Meng clan (Gain alternate option in future events which will bypass or greatly decrease costs or difficulty. Once.)
I don't like this option because it's too nebulous. As Ling Qi herself pointed, this could turn out to be great, or a waste. Specially, since the Meng are already likely to support us as long as we don't try anything too crazy. Even more so as we will keep improving our rep with them.
And I'll be honest, I really, really, REALLY don't want an argument to unfold every time the option comes up in a vote and people fight over if that is the "right time" to use it or if we should reserve it for a better opportunity. Just no.

So, as a summary, my picks are
[X] Notes and Writings from Master musicians of the Meng (New options and projects for creating and modifying arts)
[X] Ten years of service from a Meng Geomancer, for construction and tutoring (Opens special options in fief construction. Zhengui gets ideas)
 
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[X] Notes and Writings from Master musicians of the Meng (New options and projects for creating and modifying arts)

[X] Ten years of service from a Meng Geomancer, for construction and tutoring (Opens special options in fief construction. Zhengui gets ideas)
 
[X] Access to a Master Craftsmen in constructing a new instrument (Sets down the path to a new weapon talisman, focused on acquiring resonant materials)


[X] Notes and Writings from Master musicians of the Meng (New options and projects for creating and modifying arts)
 
Geomancer is a no brainer, since it, when combined with our Wang connections we've already secured, is exactly what we need to really solidify the neo-weilu project we're pushing. And along those lines, I think it's important as a musician for Ling Qi to start engaging with the cultural context and theory of music around her as well.

[X] Notes and Writings from Master musicians of the Meng (New options and projects for creating and modifying arts)
[X] Ten years of service from a Meng Geomancer, for construction and tutoring (Opens special options in fief construction. Zhengui gets ideas)
 
[X] Notes and Writings from Master musicians of the Meng (New options and projects for creating and modifying arts)
[X] Ten years of service from a Meng Geomancer, for construction and tutoring (Opens special options in fief construction. Zhengui gets ideas)

I think the flute is probably stronger mechanically, but the musicianship stuff is more interesting narratively.
 
Just wanna put forward that Lin Hai is only fifth realm and we are unlikely to find such a high realm instrument crafter anywhere else in the province, perhaps the empire. The fact that the Meng are obsessed with music is why they have one in the first place.
He may be a 5th realm, but he's right on the edge of breaking through to 6th, and he's been taught by Cai fucking Shenhua. I'm not sure he's as quite good as a 6th realm crafter who specializes in instruments, but I doubt the difference is as big as you think.
 
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[X] Notes and Writings from Master musicians of the Meng (New options and projects for creating and modifying arts)

[X] Ten years of service from a Meng Geomancer, for construction and tutoring (Opens special options in fief construction. Zhengui gets ideas)
 
[ ] One hundred year trade agreement for duty free imports from your fief (More options if trade begins with the foreigners, closer ties with the Meng)

This has potential but it does run into two major problems. The first is we don't know if we will be able to create trade deals with White Sky and friends to make it profitable. The other problem is that it would bump up into our ideas for the Black Lotus path and make it less profitable to go after finishing that up. It hinges a bit too much on potential in the future to be worth taking and isn't good enough on it's own to begin pursuing I think. We can probably safely discard this option.

[ ] One open ended favor from the Meng clan (Gain alternate option in future events which will bypass or greatly decrease costs or difficulty. Once.)

This is possibly the most dangerous pick. Like others have stated it could easily become the thing in our back pocket that we keep pushing off using over and over again to either maximize it's value or because we forgot about it or because we can't agree on what to use it for. Let's not give ourselves something new to fight over.

Now onto the actually good options to choose from.

[ ] Access to a Master Craftsmen in constructing a new instrument (Sets down the path to a new weapon talisman, focused on acquiring resonant materials)

This has some good and bad to it. The bad is it doesn't really have narrative weight and could potentially just be something that gets tacked onto some of our other adventures, grabbing materials and then just shipping them off to have our flute made. The good, it does open up the quest to start working on our new flute now and it's being made by basically the best there can be to make it.

[ ] Notes and Writings from Master musicians of the Meng (New options and projects for creating and modifying arts)

It's been noted that we need to expand our musical repertoire and understanding, this is a good way to do so. It also opens the door for us to start creating and modifying the arts we really actually want and to drop the things we don't use or are not very fitting for us. On the other hand we do have more than enough choices for arts it seems and creating new ones could be... contentious... Still one of the better options in my opinion.

[ ] Ten years of service from a Meng Geomancer, for construction and tutoring (Opens special options in fief construction. Zhengui gets ideas)

Can anyone think of a single potential downside to this?

My picks are going to be the Notes and Geomancer because one is the obvious choice and sometimes I enjoy stirring the pot.

[x] Notes and Writings from Master musicians of the Meng (New options and projects for creating and modifying arts)
[x] Ten years of service from a Meng Geomancer, for construction and tutoring (Opens special options in fief construction. Zhengui gets ideas)
 
He may be a 5th realm, but he's right on the edge of breaking through to 6th, and he's been taught by Cai fucking Shenhua. I'm not sure he's as quite good as a 6th realm crafter who specializes in instruments, but I doubt the difference is as big as you think.
I mean the Gulf between fifth and Sixth realm is massive. Only one has access to their third daitain and sovereignity afterall. That's one of the biggest jumps in all of cultivation. Plus Lin Hai is a tailor. He might be able to make a good flute, but it's not gonna be anywhere near a violet specialists quality.
 
[X] Notes and Writings from Master musicians of the Meng (New options and projects for creating and modifying arts)

[X] Ten years of service from a Meng Geomancer, for construction and tutoring (Opens special options in fief construction. Zhengui gets ideas)
 
[X] Notes and Writings from Master musicians of the Meng (New options and projects for creating and modifying arts)

[X] Ten years of service from a Meng Geomancer, for construction and tutoring (Opens special options in fief construction. Zhengui gets ideas)

Geomancy is a no brainer...and Ling clan arts are dangerously scattershot at present. We need the guidance to make them
 
[X] Ten years of service from a Meng Geomancer, for construction and tutoring (Opens special options in fief construction. Zhengui gets ideas)

[X] Access to a Master Craftsmen in constructing a new instrument (Sets down the path to a new weapon talisman, focused on acquiring resonant materials
 
[X] Notes and Writings from Master musicians of the Meng (New options and projects for creating and modifying arts)

[X] Access to a Master Craftsmen in constructing a new instrument (Sets down the path to a new weapon talisman, focused on acquiring resonant materials)

Either one of these sounds quite fun
 
Geomancer is a shoe-in, so it's between Flute and Music.

I'd prefer the Music, because it's something that helps our whole clan. I wonder how intelligible the notes would be to a Red like Qingge? Music, and Expression/Art in general, seems like an excellent way to connect those of different power levels. Getting some notes as a basis for what we develop allows the old conservatives to claim some pride in our actions, so long as they don't find our personal derivations/fusions insulting.

I think the same thing could be said about the Meng Geomancer. They will teach 6 of us? Well Zhengui and ourselves are shoe-ins, but I believe Lady Renxiang herself will also be a student of this style of civic design. She's already been taught at the knee of her father, the premier modern-ES civil engineer, and through this she'll be able to know quite a bit about the Meng's actual Geomantic ideas.

We'll have the Diao-taught Renxiang's guidance, Wang infrastructure workers, Meng Geomancy knowledge
of the Count Clans we're missing
Bao (mining experts, likely to be included if Bao Qian can find a profitable venture at our fief)
Luo (herding experts. We know that Yu Nuan will be herding at our fief, so we'll need to see how we can accept some of their knowledge)
Jia (unknown, some sort of military focus?)

I would definitely be surprised if Renxiang didn't take this opportunity to learn more of the Meng style (unless she already knows it?). I'd also be excited to know who the others in our class would be! Sounds like a great time!

[X] Notes and Writings from Master musicians of the Meng (New options and projects for creating and modifying arts)

[X] Ten years of service from a Meng Geomancer, for construction and tutoring (Opens special options in fief construction. Zhengui gets ideas)

Voting this for now. Could be convinced to go for the talisman
 
I mean the Gulf between fifth and Sixth realm is massive. Only one has access to their third daitain and sovereignity afterall. That's one of the biggest jumps in all of cultivation. Plus Lin Hai is a tailor. He might be able to make a good flute, but it's not gonna be anywhere near a violet specialists quality.
He's not just a tailor, he's made us jewelry before. I agree that I don't think it will be as good, but if we get him to make a flute for us it'll probably be a respectably close second best. It's also good to remember that we're still Green and whether we get a flute made by a Violet instrument specialist or a Peak Indigo who's the apprentice of the Empire's greatest living crafter it's going to be fucking amazing for our level.

By the time such a flute is under-leveled gear for us we'd be a freaking Viscount and hopefully have the funds to commission an upgrade.
 
[X] Notes and Writings from Master musicians of the Meng (New options and projects for creating and modifying arts)
[X] Access to a Master Craftsmen in constructing a new instrument (Sets down the path to a new weapon talisman, focused on acquiring resonant materials)

This only benefits Ling Qi personally, but personal power is extremely important. Pluss, new arts will be helpful for any descendents as well
 
Geomancy is a given. Favor is poor idea from a quest perspective. Trade we didn't pick that option so no point in trying to walk it back now. Which leaves the second option between music and flute, with the latter sounding more interesting overall to me.

[X] Ten years of service from a Meng Geomancer, for construction and tutoring (Opens special options in fief construction. Zhengui gets ideas)
[X] Notes and Writings from Master musicians of the Meng (New options and projects for creating and modifying arts)
Ya know u just said latter. Did you mean to vote for Flute? Or did you mean to say former, aka music?
 
[X] Access to a Master Craftsmen in constructing a new instrument (Sets down the path to a new weapon talisman, focused on acquiring resonant materials)

[X] Ten years of service from a Meng Geomancer, for construction and tutoring (Opens special options in fief construction. Zhengui gets ideas)
 
[X] Access to a Master Craftsmen in constructing a new instrument (Sets down the path to a new weapon talisman, focused on acquiring resonant materials)

[X] Ten years of service from a Meng Geomancer, for construction and tutoring (Opens special options in fief construction. Zhengui gets ideas)
 
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