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.
My understanding is that the MoI has influence over the Great Sect system and that three Sects of the Emeralds Seas where elevated to Great Sect status to guard against Cloud Tribe raids. Sucess of Ling Qi's and Cai Renxiang's project would mean an end of those raids and thus the reason for the three Great Sects of the Emerald Seas to remain Great Sects. We could probably gain some favor from the MoI by promising them Great Sect stuff.
- Pronouns
- They/Them
While my main concern was mechanical, I am a little leery of overall Imperial suspicion, and am not sure whether adding more 5th Realm Cultivators into the mix will really make the Embassy Town more stable, for all that it would reassure the Polar Theocracy that this is all done in earnest.
[X] Fully support White Sky desires including the emplacement of their sovereigns full court on a permanent basis (+2 White Sky Favorabilty, +1 Polar Theocracy favorability, -1 Ministry and -2 White Plume favorability.)
I'm convinced by the arguments that the White Sky earned a BIG concession after our side had a civil war on the front lawn of the embassy.
I'm convinced by the arguments that the White Sky earned a BIG concession after our side had a civil war on the front lawn of the embassy.
EternalObserver
eYe Gaze baCk
- Location
- The Void
[X] Use your momentum to push for a greater allowance for security forces and their support as well as more of their security infrastructure in the valley (+2 White Sky Favorability, -1 Ministry Favorability)
[X] Fully support White Sky desires including the emplacement of their sovereigns full court on a permanent basis (+2 White Sky Favorabilty, +1 Polar Theocracy favorability, -1 Ministry and -2 White Plume favorability.)
[X] Fully support White Sky desires including the emplacement of their sovereigns full court on a permanent basis (+2 White Sky Favorabilty, +1 Polar Theocracy favorability, -1 Ministry and -2 White Plume favorability.)
[X] Fully support White Sky desires including the emplacement of their sovereigns full court on a permanent basis (+2 White Sky Favorabilty, +1 Polar Theocracy favorability, -1 Ministry and -2 White Plume favorability.)
[X] Agree to push for a greater allowance of security forces for the White Sky (+1 White Sky Favorability.)
Adjusting to approval vote.
Option 1: +1 to an already good favorability rating, no penalties
Option 2: +2 to an already good favorability rating, -1 to one of our lower favorabilities.
Option 3: +2 to an already good favorability rating, shores up our lowest favorability rating in exchange for hits to already high ratings.
1 is a straight general buff.
2 is straight up a worse compromise that loses us stuff we need for stuff we don't need.
3 is attempting to fiat accompli the settlement vote because the two matching entourages already has the population of a small barony, automatically negating the minimalist embassy town options.
[X] Agree to push for a greater allowance of security forces for the White Sky (+1 White Sky Favorability.)
Adjusting to approval vote.
Option 1: +1 to an already good favorability rating, no penalties
Option 2: +2 to an already good favorability rating, -1 to one of our lower favorabilities.
Option 3: +2 to an already good favorability rating, shores up our lowest favorability rating in exchange for hits to already high ratings.
1 is a straight general buff.
2 is straight up a worse compromise that loses us stuff we need for stuff we don't need.
3 is attempting to fiat accompli the settlement vote because the two matching entourages already has the population of a small barony, automatically negating the minimalist embassy town options.
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- Pronouns
- They/Them
...I mean from a narrative perspective the security formations honestly seems pretty important? Frankly more important for the overall viability of White Sky presence in the Embassy Town than the full Court.
We already have combined security formations that was one of the early vote choices, More Security is one of those easy gut appeals but it reduces our maneuvering space in the final vote arc to require us to somehow appease both MoI AND Theocracy unless Jaromila pulls a miracle.
At least option 1 leaves us in a position to ignore the MoI next vote because at 3 unless we actually commit heresy they'd stay positive.
[X] Use your momentum to push for a greater allowance for security forces and their support as well as more of their security infrastructure in the valley (+2 White Sky Favorability, -1 Ministry Favorability)
Personally I just want the white plumes to like us more...
Edit:
[X] Agree to push for a greater allowance of security forces for the White Sky (+1 White Sky Favorability.)
Personally I just want the white plumes to like us more...
Edit:
[X] Agree to push for a greater allowance of security forces for the White Sky (+1 White Sky Favorability.)
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I would recommend approval voting option 1 in that case. We don't need to spend MoI favor for White Sky when its already low and White Sky already is greatly in favor.
Enthusiast#117
This is not the Profile you are looking for
- Location
- United States
[X] Agree to push for a greater allowance of security forces for the White Sky (+1 White Sky Favorability.)
[X] Use your momentum to push for a greater allowance for security forces and their support as well as more of their security infrastructure in the valley (+2 White Sky Favorability, -1 Ministry Favorability)
These two are net +1 while the third option just breaks even.
[X] Use your momentum to push for a greater allowance for security forces and their support as well as more of their security infrastructure in the valley (+2 White Sky Favorability, -1 Ministry Favorability)
These two are net +1 while the third option just breaks even.
[X] Use your momentum to push for a greater allowance for security forces and their support as well as more of their security infrastructure in the valley (+2 White Sky Favorability, -1 Ministry Favorability)
Yeah, (2) does feel like it's maybe kind of a trap. It "feels" like a nice compromise, but it actually puts us in an awkward position where we've still got lots to negotiate around the embassy town and foreign quarter, but have limited room to maneuver around our most difficult parties (the MoI and PT).
- Location
- The Space Between
[X] Fully support White Sky desires including the emplacement of their sovereigns full court on a permanent basis (+2 White Sky Favorabilty, +1 Polar Theocracy favorability, -1 Ministry and -2 White Plume favorability.)
[] Agree to push for a greater allowance of security forces for the White Sky (+1 White Sky Favorability.)
I agree that option 2 is the worst mechanically, but it makes sense narratively.
I think I prefer the 3rd option overall though.
Having a Violet on site is already a given, we negotiated for Weeping Sentinel and a Violet from the Empire to be here. The interesting thing is the retinue, in which the Weeping already has a full retinue to bring over but an Imperial Counterpart might not necessarily have one.
The obvious answer to a Violet on site is seeing if The Builder of The Wang is interested in being on-site. Wang Lian is certainly interested in the new forms of formation and geomantic craft, as well as the concept of mobile cities. I think it'd make sense for the Wang to get pride of place, here, as a Violet head of clan potentially looking for more ways to expand themselves. In addition, we know the Wang do not want to be an Exterior Count, but an Interior Count. They want to have nice secure distanced borders so they can do their works in relative peace. A Violet is much less flexible than a Green, but not so intractable or inscrutable as a White. Getting a Count-Founder (not clan founder, the clans existed before they were raised to Counts) in on this before they firm themselves up at Prism would be excellent for the long term viability of the Summit/Embassy-Town. Sure it's only a small part of their cultivation journey in total (The Builder has a vision for their whole section of land to become built up), but the fact that it'd be part of that journey at all would make good precedent.
Especially because for the Wang to be true Interior Counts, there'll need to be a strong defensive line between themselves and The Wall. Having "The Builder" herself have a hand in the laying down of defenses at this far-southern town will be an excellent contribution towards that objective. The Embassy Town will be extremely well defended by two different civilizations, and will make an excellent bastion for our civilizations to draw strength from as both sides creep closer towards it. It's not just that, though.
Then we get to a retinue/spirit-court. Now I'm not one to judge, but I suspect that the Imperial Cultivator known as "The Builder" doesn't have an attendant spirit-court of Indigo's or Cyan's or a spirit court of any kind. This would leave multiple middle-high realm spots open to be shared among the remaining Count clans. There's room for a Luo, a Jia, a Bao and a Diao to round out the Emerald Seas "On Site Cultivators", and I'm sure we'd end up with interesting examples of all (The Builder being the hypothetical Wang representative).
The Meng, of course, lose out on a representative initially for having just had an unmanaged faction attempt treason.
The Meng will get a spot eventually, but there needs to be some distance from the attempted-treason as well as time for the Weeping to gather an additional Indigo to keep things at balance.
The Builder's Great Work involves the lands of the Wang directly, and so she won't be staying here indefinitely. This is a good thing, because it doesn't enshrine the point-of-pride as the Wang in perpetuity. They're simply in the best position to take advantage of the opportunity initially, but other Violets in time may find themselves drawn to challenge themselves on the frontier of Imperial Diplomacy. This is the makings of a dynamic Court in the south for Renxiang to manage. Of course the Duchess/Duke of the Cai will rule from Xiangmen, as there's no grander place in all the Emerald Seas. As a place to wrestle and learn and stretch though? As a place that may manage many lucrative deals? As a place where history will be written? As a place where boundaries will be pushed?
I think the main question is "Do we want to have Renxiang try to assist 5 of the ES Counts in working together at the Embassy Town" and uh, I think my answer is "Yes"
Snowblossom is ours. It's being developed as the land of a Cai retainer/direct-vassal, and we don't really want the Counts to get too involved in it until we've enough strength to push back against their influences. At the same time, we need the Counts to buy in both for the Greater Emerald Seas Identity project but also Renxiang's eventual push to depose Shenhua.
The Embassy Town is different from Snowblossom. It's the frontier for the Emerald Seas and the whole of the Empire to have a point of contact between ourselves and The Polar Nations. That's a place that should wear influences from each Count with pride, and put forth an idea of a coherent Emerald Seas Identity. This is an excellent opportunity to snowball the success of The Summit into having the foundations of a Court outside of Xiangmen. A place of influence outside of the existing power structures, that can be raised up to challenge the existing order of the Emerald Seas (once Shenhua's Order becomes increasingly untenable)
[] Agree to push for a greater allowance of security forces for the White Sky (+1 White Sky Favorability.)
I agree that option 2 is the worst mechanically, but it makes sense narratively.
I think I prefer the 3rd option overall though.
Having a Violet on site is already a given, we negotiated for Weeping Sentinel and a Violet from the Empire to be here. The interesting thing is the retinue, in which the Weeping already has a full retinue to bring over but an Imperial Counterpart might not necessarily have one.
The obvious answer to a Violet on site is seeing if The Builder of The Wang is interested in being on-site. Wang Lian is certainly interested in the new forms of formation and geomantic craft, as well as the concept of mobile cities. I think it'd make sense for the Wang to get pride of place, here, as a Violet head of clan potentially looking for more ways to expand themselves. In addition, we know the Wang do not want to be an Exterior Count, but an Interior Count. They want to have nice secure distanced borders so they can do their works in relative peace. A Violet is much less flexible than a Green, but not so intractable or inscrutable as a White. Getting a Count-Founder (not clan founder, the clans existed before they were raised to Counts) in on this before they firm themselves up at Prism would be excellent for the long term viability of the Summit/Embassy-Town. Sure it's only a small part of their cultivation journey in total (The Builder has a vision for their whole section of land to become built up), but the fact that it'd be part of that journey at all would make good precedent.
Especially because for the Wang to be true Interior Counts, there'll need to be a strong defensive line between themselves and The Wall. Having "The Builder" herself have a hand in the laying down of defenses at this far-southern town will be an excellent contribution towards that objective. The Embassy Town will be extremely well defended by two different civilizations, and will make an excellent bastion for our civilizations to draw strength from as both sides creep closer towards it. It's not just that, though.
Then we get to a retinue/spirit-court. Now I'm not one to judge, but I suspect that the Imperial Cultivator known as "The Builder" doesn't have an attendant spirit-court of Indigo's or Cyan's or a spirit court of any kind. This would leave multiple middle-high realm spots open to be shared among the remaining Count clans. There's room for a Luo, a Jia, a Bao and a Diao to round out the Emerald Seas "On Site Cultivators", and I'm sure we'd end up with interesting examples of all (The Builder being the hypothetical Wang representative).
The Meng, of course, lose out on a representative initially for having just had an unmanaged faction attempt treason.
The Meng will get a spot eventually, but there needs to be some distance from the attempted-treason as well as time for the Weeping to gather an additional Indigo to keep things at balance.
The Builder's Great Work involves the lands of the Wang directly, and so she won't be staying here indefinitely. This is a good thing, because it doesn't enshrine the point-of-pride as the Wang in perpetuity. They're simply in the best position to take advantage of the opportunity initially, but other Violets in time may find themselves drawn to challenge themselves on the frontier of Imperial Diplomacy. This is the makings of a dynamic Court in the south for Renxiang to manage. Of course the Duchess/Duke of the Cai will rule from Xiangmen, as there's no grander place in all the Emerald Seas. As a place to wrestle and learn and stretch though? As a place that may manage many lucrative deals? As a place where history will be written? As a place where boundaries will be pushed?
I think the main question is "Do we want to have Renxiang try to assist 5 of the ES Counts in working together at the Embassy Town" and uh, I think my answer is "Yes"
Snowblossom is ours. It's being developed as the land of a Cai retainer/direct-vassal, and we don't really want the Counts to get too involved in it until we've enough strength to push back against their influences. At the same time, we need the Counts to buy in both for the Greater Emerald Seas Identity project but also Renxiang's eventual push to depose Shenhua.
The Embassy Town is different from Snowblossom. It's the frontier for the Emerald Seas and the whole of the Empire to have a point of contact between ourselves and The Polar Nations. That's a place that should wear influences from each Count with pride, and put forth an idea of a coherent Emerald Seas Identity. This is an excellent opportunity to snowball the success of The Summit into having the foundations of a Court outside of Xiangmen. A place of influence outside of the existing power structures, that can be raised up to challenge the existing order of the Emerald Seas (once Shenhua's Order becomes increasingly untenable)
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[X] Agree to push for a greater allowance of security forces for the White Sky (+1 White Sky Favorability.)
[X] Use your momentum to push for a greater allowance for security forces and their support as well as more of their security infrastructure in the valley (+2 White Sky Favorability, -1 Ministry Favorability)
[X] Use your momentum to push for a greater allowance for security forces and their support as well as more of their security infrastructure in the valley (+2 White Sky Favorability, -1 Ministry Favorability)
Awwwwww.
Ahhhhh my heart.
Okay respectful king, I see you.
Truly when people were mentioning Bao boy would pop up because of this I had doubts because I figured he'd be off doing business somewhere else before he could come all the way down. But seeing him immediately appear in LQ's time of need is rather heartwarming.
As for the vote, lots of good arguments on all sides so I'm not mad at any of them winning.
[X] Fully support White Sky desires including the emplacement of their sovereigns full court on a permanent basis (+2 White Sky Favorabilty, +1 Polar Theocracy favorability, -1 Ministry and -2 White Plume favorability.)
I'll throw my vote here just because I think it's worth the risk to try kick starting the foreign quarter a bit and get some of the losses out of the way ahead of time.
Winged One
Not the Simurgh
- Location
- definitely the ground
- Pronouns
- They/Them/It
[X] Use your momentum to push for a greater allowance for security forces and their support as well as more of their security infrastructure in the valley (+2 White Sky Favorability, -1 Ministry Favorability)
[X] Agree to push for a greater allowance of security forces for the White Sky (+1 White Sky Favorability.)
[X] Agree to push for a greater allowance of security forces for the White Sky (+1 White Sky Favorability.)
- Location
- The Maple Syrup Mountains
[X] Agree to push for a greater allowance of security forces for the White Sky (+1 White Sky Favorability.)
[X] Use your momentum to push for a greater allowance for security forces and their support as well as more of their security infrastructure in the valley (+2 White Sky Favorability, -1 Ministry Favorability)
[X] Use your momentum to push for a greater allowance for security forces and their support as well as more of their security infrastructure in the valley (+2 White Sky Favorability, -1 Ministry Favorability)
[X] Fully support White Sky desires including the emplacement of their sovereigns full court on a permanent basis (+2 White Sky Favorabilty, +1 Polar Theocracy favorability, -1 Ministry and -2 White Plume favorability.)
[X] Agree to push for a greater allowance of security forces for the White Sky (+1 White Sky Favorability.)
[X] Agree to push for a greater allowance of security forces for the White Sky (+1 White Sky Favorability.)
[X] Fully support White Sky desires including the emplacement of their sovereigns full court on a permanent basis (+2 White Sky Favorabilty, +1 Polar Theocracy favorability, -1 Ministry and -2 White Plume favorability.)
Getting PT to 2 in case we need to lose one later seems worth the drop. As well as greater White Sky presence leading to greater reciprocal Imperial presence which enlarges embassy town, makes sense to me. But the others aren't bad either. We're in a good spot!
Getting PT to 2 in case we need to lose one later seems worth the drop. As well as greater White Sky presence leading to greater reciprocal Imperial presence which enlarges embassy town, makes sense to me. But the others aren't bad either. We're in a good spot!