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

I am voting for the option that does less collateral damage, but either way I am willing to throw points at this problem.

Sounds like these beavers had a pact with the peak tribes which were the forefathers of the white sky to keep a dead giant (which we had hints of in the white sky citadel) trapped.

[X] Allow Gan Guangli to play the bait, while you play the deadly wraith, trapping and killing it once it engages him. (70% success. Beast slain, low risks of collateral damage. Less intelligence on similar creatures.)

I think risking damaging our neighbors isn't really acceptable

yrsillar said:

"Changin, son of Chalun greets the Lord and Lady of the Peaks in grandfather's stead. Have you come at last to complete the pact?"
…
"Our forefathers have told stories of the forest people. You are here to claim these lands?" Changin asked. There was a bitterness in his voice.

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Note that Changin first referred to Ling Qi and Gan Guangli as people of the Peaks, different from the forest people. Of the 4 tribal peoples in the Emerald Seas and Mother Mountains regions, only the Mountain and Cloud Tribes should be associated with the high peaks. Since the Cloud Tribes should have been regular sights here before the Argent Sect pushed their genocidal campaign this far south, and therefore Changin should not have mistaken Ling Qi and Gam Guangli for Cloud Tribe, the most likely identity for the pacemakers are the Mountain Tribes.

The only early historical names from the Mountain Tribes are Sudica, Fryja, and the Khan Queens (who were, presumably, the original leaders of the Mountain Tribes before Sudica instituted the Confederation system). Perhaps Sudica, or another Khan Queen, made a bargain but then was banned from returning here when the Cloud Tribes' Sky, Metok, forced the Crone (and thus her subordinate ice spirits) to retreat back into the southern edge of the continent?

yrsillar said:

Ling Qi briefly thought back to the quarry in the underworld, which had revealed a great spinal column, taller than a tree and half buried.

The unsettling feeling only increased as she focused on what seemed like a small hill, but was in fact the top half of a humanlike skull of titanic size. Its soil and stone choked sockets staring blankly.

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…say, is that a remnant of the giants that the Mountain tribes warred against?

yrsillar said:

No the glacier itself, and… through it the river? Yes, that seemed right.

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The leader of the spirit court is the glacier and the river, which further suggests that the pact makers were Mountain Tribe, since they derived their power from bargains with ice spirits. They are also asleep, like the spirit lord in the Cathedral of Winds. Probably a magnificent ally, if we can get it, as well as a mentor like Zeqing for Ice and Geomancy.

Y'know, I have to wonder, what was this place's relations with the Cloud Tribes? This place has been dying for literally 2 centuries. The post-Odogei genocides were 4 centuries ago, this region should have been, and was, repopulated for ages. The Cloud Tribes have interests in the river valleys, as graze if nothing else, and it's a small leap to conclude that they manage and jealously lord over their territory (else there would be extant Hill tribes living in the Wall; only reason there wouldn't is that the Cloud killed or assimilated them). I can't think that this prison — which extends even to the skies that the Cloud Tribes claim — wouldn't affect them. Shouldn't there be signs of human presence? Something to denote that the Cloud Tribes had dealings with this spirit court, whether to help or hinder?

yrsillar said:

There was a vast working under their feet, something in the earth and the trees and the stones and even the sky. A pattern that was not merely the natural flow of the world, but it was broken. The beasts release of qi was little more than a simple ping, lightning it up for all to see.

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A Geomantic megaproject from early history. I wonder if we could get that Meng Geomancer here to study, repair, and refine it? On their own dime, even, as part of a research subject?

(Also, probably a nice diplomatic chip to bargain with in the talks with the White Sky, from as something we want from them and something we could give them. A piece of their history that could be reclaimed and used as a vehicle/monument to alliance.)

yrsillar said:

She saw the slim shapes of river otters flashing beneath the surface and peaking from the ponds, and other smaller furred rodents in various shapes and sizes as well as frogs and toads, some of which were quite large.

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…river otters 🦦 are some of the cutest animals on the planet. please say it's possible that we could get a colony going in Snowblosssom lake yes yes?!?

lioli said:

river otters 🦦 are some of the cutest animals on the planet.

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All Otters wake up every day and choose gang violence. As cute and necessary as they are, they're awful, awful, awful existences.

lioli said:

Y'know, I have to wonder, what was this place's relations with the Cloud Tribes? This place has been dying for literally 2 centuries. The post-Odogei genocides were 4 centuries ago, this region should have been, and was, repopulated for ages. The Cloud Tribes have interests in the river valleys, as graze if nothing else, and it's a small leap to conclude that they manage and jealously lord over their territory (else there would be extant Hill tribes living in the Wall; only reason there wouldn't is that the Cloud killed or assimilated them). I can't think that this prison — which extends even to the skies that the Cloud Tribes claim — wouldn't affect them. Shouldn't there be signs of human presence? Something to denote that the Cloud Tribes had dealings with this spirit court, whether to help or hinder?

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Historically speaking, the Cloud Tribe response to "Bad Juju is happening" is to go "Lol, lmao" and just fuck off somewhere else. That's what they did back in the time of the Beast Gods, and that's what they've done for most other crises. It's fairly telling that literally everyone else at least heard Tsu out when he came around with a plan, but the Cloud Tribes went "Lol they can come at us if they think they're fuckin' hard enough."

Sure, it's good grazeland, but it's not like it's worth putting actual effort keeping it when there's plenty of other graze to be had elsewhere, and if someone's sitting on it, you can just knock them off anyway.

[ ] Allow Gan Guangli to play the bait, while you play the deadly wraith, trapping and killing it once it engages him. (70% success. Beast slain, low risks of collateral damage. Less intelligence on similar creatures.)
Leaning this, since we might be able to pump the beavers for more intel while we hang around and maybe see if Zhengui is willing to help the great Dam be rebuilt anew.

[X] Take point yourself soaring up to meet in in the sky. Trapping its attentions in your mist and illusions, give Gan Guangli the time to set up his technique. (50% success. Beast captured or slain depending on degree of success. Higher risk of damage. More intelligence on similar creatures)

Oh look, it's been 2 hours.

[X] Allow Gan Guangli to play the bait, while you play the deadly wraith, trapping and killing it once it engages him. (70% success. Beast slain, low risks of collateral damage. Less intelligence on similar creatures.)

Keeping collateral damage low is only polite

[X] Take point yourself soaring up to meet in in the sky. Trapping its attentions in your mist and illusions, give Gan Guangli the time to set up his technique. (50% success. Beast captured or slain depending on degree of success. Higher risk of damage. More intelligence on similar creatures)

GRINNING! MOON!!

[X] Allow Gan Guangli to play the bait, while you play the deadly wraith, trapping and killing it once it engages him. (70% success. Beast slain, low risks of collateral damage. Less intelligence on similar creatures.)

But I don't mind if the other option wins.

[X] Allow Gan Guangli to play the bait, while you play the deadly wraith, trapping and killing it once it engages him. (70% success. Beast slain, low risks of collateral damage. Less intelligence on similar creatures.) Leaning this, since we might be able to pump the beavers for more intel while we hang around and maybe see if Zhengui is willing to help the great Dam be rebuilt anew.

[X] Allow Gan Guangli to play the bait, while you play the deadly wraith, trapping and killing it once it engages him. (70% success. Beast slain, low risks of collateral damage. Less intelligence on similar creatures.)

Don't want to start a zoo yet. Not sure who'd even agree to be the keeper. Beavers probably willing to give us intel after we don't contribute to destruction of their already stressed infrastructure.

[X] Take point yourself soaring up to meet in in the sky. Trapping its attentions in your mist and illusions, give Gan Guangli the time to set up his technique. (50% success. Beast captured or slain depending on degree of success. Higher risk of damage. More intelligence on similar creatures)

Powah!

[X] Allow Gan Guangli to play the bait, while you play the deadly wraith, trapping and killing it once it engages him. (70% success. Beast slain, low risks of collateral damage. Less intelligence on similar creatures.)
Ling Qi is many things, but hopefully not a dam-wrecker.

[X] Allow Gan Guangli to play the bait, while you play the deadly wraith, trapping and killing it once it engages him. (70% success. Beast slain, low risks of collateral damage. Less intelligence on similar creatures.)
Minimizes risk to our new neughbours, and looks cool as hell, what's not to like.

[X] Allow Gan Guangli to play the bait, while you play the deadly wraith, trapping and killing it once it engages him. (70% success. Beast slain, low risks of collateral damage. Less intelligence on similar creatures.)

Btw the glacier seems like a perfect place to park Hanyi eventually, to help with the seal etc. This fief is amazing for us. Gotta get rid of the gribblies first though

[X] Take point yourself soaring up to meet in in the sky. Trapping its attentions in your mist and illusions, give Gan Guangli the time to set up his technique. (50% success. Beast captured or slain depending on degree of success. Higher risk of damage. More intelligence on similar creatures)

[X] Allow Gan Guangli to play the bait, while you play the deadly wraith, trapping and killing it once it engages him. (70% success. Beast slain, low risks of collateral damage. Less intelligence on similar creatures.)

[ ] Allow Gan Guangli to play the bait, while you play the deadly wraith, trapping and killing it once it engages him. (70% success. Beast slain, low risks of collateral damage. Less intelligence on similar creatures.)

Edit: Undid vote, revoted later in thread

[X] Allow Gan Guangli to play the bait, while you play the deadly wraith, trapping and killing it once it engages him. (70% success. Beast slain, low risks of collateral damage. Less intelligence on similar creatures.)