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

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[X] The wound in the heart, the gash torn in Community (+1 Community XP)

Though am happy with all 3. May this bode lilings heel-face turn :3
 
yrsillar said:
"I want you to look, and listen when we set up this meeting," Ji Rong said. "And tell me what you see. There's something off."

"Why do you think that?"

His expression screwed up into a scowl. "There's something fucking wrong in the jungle. Okay. Something nobody there notices, or at least nobody talks about, it's like… like these drums always beating in the back of your head. It doesn't feel bad, it makes your blood pump fast, makes your qi flow smooth, makes you feel like you can fight anything and anyone. It took a long time to even notice it, but it's there, it's always there. And it only gets louder."

He took a deep breath. "And when Liling came back from training with her gramps, came back a whole stage up, she was different…

And it feels like the drums came with her."
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Okay, so this is what Ji Rong asked for. After the trip with Sun Shao, something about Liling was different, and the only thing he's noticed is that the Jungle's heartbeat goes with Liling.

Now, firstly, I want to ward off any arguments that Power is the best option because it's the one Ji Rong would understand best. Ling Qi is all about [COMMUNICATION], and if we can't make him understand certain parts, then we're doing something wrong.

Now, looking at the current options:

[ ] The wound in the soul, the eyes blinded by Power. (+1 Power XP)
This option feels like it addresses the effect and confirms something Ji Rong has suspected, which is that Liling has been supercharged on Jungle Juice. It may confirm suspicions, but Ji Rong isn't dumb and can make this connection independently. He's already found a lot of the clues.

Furthermore, doesn't give a lot of actionable information because he can't actually DO anything about this problem unless he wants to challenge a White and his GS-level waifu.

[ ] The wound in the mind, the aching scars of Isolation. (+1 Isolation XP)
Now, this tells Ji Rong that Liling has been scarred by Isolation. It doesn't tell him what CAUSED the Isolation, just that she's been forced into a position where she can't rely on others and express herself. It's very actionable in that he can actually act on the information. The problem, though, is that Ji Rong is ALREADY doing things that can help, which is being there for Liling and being a safe place for her.

That, in my opinion, doesn't make it actionable because it doesn't change anything apart from maybe encouraging Ji Rong to try and be more of a safe space. And considering that this has been happening for a while now and he's received no response, I'm guessing there are limits to what he can do with Isolation.

As veekie pointed out too, Liling might not react well to more prying and trying to be close too.
[ ] The wound in the heart, the gash torn in Community (+1 Community XP)
This is the option that addresses something intimately tied to all the other options. The betrayal by Sun Shao. The betrayal causes Isolation from others because of the secrets, and the betrayal directly results in the Sunflower supercharge.

Itt's not as actionable as Isolation, in that it gives a solution immediately. However, it gives a goal he can work towards and actually fix. Furthermore, it gives NEW information because he can notice that the Jungle follows Liling, and that the Sun clan has some fucky, isolation-inducing shenanigans that can help Liling skip a stage. Still, he doesn't know Sun Shao betrayed Liling in one of the worst ways possible.

However, this is a good piece that can help him develop the full picture and answer his concerns. What changed? Liling was betrayed by her family, something she values highly. Everything else stems from there.


[X] The wound in the heart, the gash torn in Community (+1 Community XP)

I think Community is the best option because it gives Ji Rong NEW information that he can't find out on his own. I think it's the best option because it's the only one he can actually act upon, without retreading old ground.

But most importantly, I think Community is the best option because it answers the root cause of WHY a problem exists. By giving him that answer, he'll be able to piece everything together, And only then can he start thinking up solutions that can fix it.



 
[X] The wound in the heart, the gash torn in Community (+1 Community XP)

It feels best, to me, that Ji Rong understand what the root cause of the problem is. He's seen what happened and he's heard the heartbeat, but he doesn't even know the name of his true foe. He's lost and frustrated, not even having a direction to move in, and this will let him know what to study, who to talk to, what puzzles he needs to seek out and figure out in the first place.
 
[X] The wound in the soul, the eyes blinded by Power. (+1 Power XP)

This narratively makes the most sense given the immediately preceding insight about forgetting what it is like to be weak.

I don't think the community or isolation ones make sense in the context of Sun Liling who is far from cutting herself off from people as exemplified with her Grandfather and Ji Rong.
 
[X] The wound in the heart, the gash torn in Community (+1 Community XP)
 
[X] The wound in the heart, the gash torn in Community (+1 Community XP)
[X] The wound in the soul, the eyes blinded by Power. (+1 Power XP)
 
[X] The wound in the soul, the eyes blinded by Power. (+1 Power XP)

I don't think community or isolation are better here.
 
Armani107 said:
[X] The wound in the soul, the eyes blinded by Power. (+1 Power XP)
I think LQ needs to be less passive and look towards becoming more assertive in her actions. I think at least for now I'd prefer to see her make some differently themed choices from what I have seen dominate her themes. I want to see her become a Power unto herself with all of the Responsibility that comes with that rather than leaning on the convictions, and morality of others to guide her like Cai Renxiang. That's my thought anyways.
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Ling Qi's already touching on Power a lot. She's re-engaged with it during the Tribulation ™. Since then, she's touched on it with Jiao, it will contemplate it this turn with Primacy of Beasts, and then will continue it next turn if we vote for Winter's Crown next turn.

Threnodist said:
[] The wound in the soul, the eyes blinded by Power. (+1 Power XP)



I think this is probably the most appropriate option to help Ji Rong (he's trying to convince his liege something is wrong, to do that he needs to know what exactly her blinders are), and I think it'll be the most interesting for us (I'm kinda sick of Community & Isolation options :()
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Unfortunately, Community and Isolation are two of Ling Qi's core concepts, so they heavily impact how she views the world.
 
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