[X] Plan: Cai Mountain Ski Lodge
[X] Plan: House and Home
Approval voting because I can't decide which plan I like more.
[X] Plan: House and Home
Approval voting because I can't decide which plan I like more.
-
Going forward, links to content from Twitter (now X) will no longer be embedded. Pre-existing links should not be affected.
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.
[X] Plan: Cai Mountain Ski Lodge
- Location
- The Maple Syrup Mountains
[X] Plan: Cai Mountain Ski Lodge
- Location
- FR
- Pronouns
- He/Him
I have some objections to doing hamlet right away, but I guess it makes narrative sense.
However, I just hope everyone's aware that it means we'll need to do cai wealth (resources) the following month. If we try to do 2 big projects like, say, boats and snowblossom meditation next month, we'll end up with not enough resources the following month to do even the smallest available project (ie, population drive).
However, I just hope everyone's aware that it means we'll need to do cai wealth (resources) the following month. If we try to do 2 big projects like, say, boats and snowblossom meditation next month, we'll end up with not enough resources the following month to do even the smallest available project (ie, population drive).
- Location
- India
- Pronouns
- He/His
- Location
- FR
- Pronouns
- He/Him
It's the number of years since the coronation of the current Empress
- Location
- The Star Kingdom of Manticore
[X] Plan: Cai Mountain Ski Lodge
-[X] Hamlet Upgrade Project
-[X] Call on Cai Clan Wealth (Rush)
-[X] Hamlet Upgrade Project
-[X] Call on Cai Clan Wealth (Rush)
Sure, but doing hamlet first let's us see what our actual options for projects are and plan things better than putting it off and doing resources first.
It doesn't have to be next month if we do small projects though. We need to do a lot of PD to make use of the higher pop cap anyway.
I was thinking:
- next month: PD + FBC
- technically, SM slightly beats FBC but that requires stripping our fields
- the month after that: PD + CoCW
- Location
- FR
- Pronouns
- He/Him
I'm more of the opinion that we should look for happiness boosts and permanent population from bigger projects... Especially since pop drives projects are going to have increasing prices. I think stripping the fields is the correct move here.
Edit: to make sure everyone knows how this works, from Hamlet onward, we get "effective manpower" by multiplying our hapiness by our "real manpower". That means that since we're taking hamlet, we're getting our 10 permanent manpower to replace our hirelings. The effective manpower calculation will be happiness x real manpower, so 110% x 10=11 effective manpower. I'm assuming we'll not be counting fractional manpower or rounding, but even with that, getting 10 happiness is just as valuable as getting a permanent manpower, and it'll become more valuable as our manpower increases.
Last edited:
Enjoyed the last chapter, but also wish Renxiang's insight was something we hadn't seen before, that challenged Ling Qi. This was nice and reassuring, but I also want Ling Qi's peers to poke her betimes.
- Location
- The Space Between
I'm not sure we know enough about those in our immediate orbit's Ways that would challenge us, since we broadly agree with those we're getting along with. LQ has a very unorthodox way, so she's already been pressured on the most common interpretations and ideas. Heck, even BrotherDarksong pressured her on the most common of Imperial hierarchy interpretations (one must dominate and suborn the other). We're stuffed with paradox, and we tribulate a lot of people around us through our actions and determination.
I think an obvious Way disagreement (or at least policy disagreement) would be Meizhen on the handling of Yan Renshu. Not killing him gave him the opportunity to make more Choices, and with those choices he's gotten a lot of people killed. So there's a tension to be decided on for when someone should be denied Choice that LQ hasn't had to interrogate. We have a couple Insights that state that different scenarios may be similar, but require different actions. We've not, generally, been pushed to define precisely where those boundaries are right now. I think the Choice to kill/maim/deny-Choice is a place we don't have clearly defined since most/all of our killing has been very clear cut. Yan Renshu is an interesting case study for our Way, because he was still a kid. It's one of the primary arguments for leniency we had at the time.
So what would we do differently if we had more power at that moment of choice? Would we make the same choice? What if we were in a position of responsibility for the sect? Would we plunder his mind, denying his right to have Secrets in order to double check he wouldn't be a threat to the sect? Would we do as Meizhen counseled and just kill him? Are we someone that would rather make others pay the price for our mercy, or would we rather trespass and/or transgress in some of our Perception in order to make collective safety more comprehensive?
That last question is a similar false dichotomy to what was presented by BrotherDarksong, and is likely common for higher Imperial cultivators. Dichotomies of behavior that often miss human (and humane) nuance in exchange for powerful conviction for their Way. Still, it's a question that needs an answer. Even if that answer isn't one of the two options presented.
The Bai answer is Kill, obviously. The conviction probably helps keep the path of cultivation uncluttered, even as it complicates interpersonal interactions by being the answer Yao had for near everything. But I think it's an interesting case that could have hypotheticals that push to ask "what would LQ do" in a variety of power dynamics, there.
~~~~
Other than that I think Xuan Shi and GG might have interesting things to say about Fictions and Stories. We have an insight that reads:
"It is the artist's duty to question. The trickster's role to make fools of the mighty. Hold the mirror to history and tradition, and reveal their absurdities.(Creation, Expression, Truth)"
but what about those stories which reinforce histories/traditions? What about art that comforts or connects? What is the artist capable of outside of just their duty? And must all Artists do this duty? Can one be a good Artist without fulfilling their duty?
Might be others with interesting story/art Insights in our circle, but I'm not sure we know for sure about any of them other than Xuan Shi. GG is just a guess of mine
I think an obvious Way disagreement (or at least policy disagreement) would be Meizhen on the handling of Yan Renshu. Not killing him gave him the opportunity to make more Choices, and with those choices he's gotten a lot of people killed. So there's a tension to be decided on for when someone should be denied Choice that LQ hasn't had to interrogate. We have a couple Insights that state that different scenarios may be similar, but require different actions. We've not, generally, been pushed to define precisely where those boundaries are right now. I think the Choice to kill/maim/deny-Choice is a place we don't have clearly defined since most/all of our killing has been very clear cut. Yan Renshu is an interesting case study for our Way, because he was still a kid. It's one of the primary arguments for leniency we had at the time.
So what would we do differently if we had more power at that moment of choice? Would we make the same choice? What if we were in a position of responsibility for the sect? Would we plunder his mind, denying his right to have Secrets in order to double check he wouldn't be a threat to the sect? Would we do as Meizhen counseled and just kill him? Are we someone that would rather make others pay the price for our mercy, or would we rather trespass and/or transgress in some of our Perception in order to make collective safety more comprehensive?
That last question is a similar false dichotomy to what was presented by BrotherDarksong, and is likely common for higher Imperial cultivators. Dichotomies of behavior that often miss human (and humane) nuance in exchange for powerful conviction for their Way. Still, it's a question that needs an answer. Even if that answer isn't one of the two options presented.
The Bai answer is Kill, obviously. The conviction probably helps keep the path of cultivation uncluttered, even as it complicates interpersonal interactions by being the answer Yao had for near everything. But I think it's an interesting case that could have hypotheticals that push to ask "what would LQ do" in a variety of power dynamics, there.
~~~~
Other than that I think Xuan Shi and GG might have interesting things to say about Fictions and Stories. We have an insight that reads:
"It is the artist's duty to question. The trickster's role to make fools of the mighty. Hold the mirror to history and tradition, and reveal their absurdities.(Creation, Expression, Truth)"
but what about those stories which reinforce histories/traditions? What about art that comforts or connects? What is the artist capable of outside of just their duty? And must all Artists do this duty? Can one be a good Artist without fulfilling their duty?
Might be others with interesting story/art Insights in our circle, but I'm not sure we know for sure about any of them other than Xuan Shi. GG is just a guess of mine
Last edited:
The Littlest Snakepit
The training hall of the palace of Zhengjian was steeped in history, of knowledge passed and martial vigor extolled. Under its high rafters and the columns bearing the twisting silhouette of Grandmother Serpent, countless generations of White Serpents had tamed their instincts and gone from biting hatchlings to the proud, regal and eternal rulers of the great Thousand lakes province.
What violence these halls had seen, that the painted black eyes of the serpentine sculptures worked into its columns gazed down with a grim and palpable approval.
It was the duty of all White Serpents to enforce the natural order, to enforce the hierarchy of strength, lest their world grow soft and chaotic, and allow rebellion to forment.
Still, Bai Meizhen allowed, looking down at her hands, it was not pleasant to be the one whose weakness was enforced.
"At least you know to lower your eyes properly, sister. I applaud your attention and diligence to our lessons," her cousin Nuying said, her arms folded behind her back. She looked ridiculous in Bai Meizhen's opinion. At twelve her cousin's face was still too soft and her waist too plump to have an adult's effortless elegance.
"I acknowledge you, sister. You placed first in the exercise, did you not?" Bai Meizhen said dully. The little competition the instructors had arranged in the gardens, to navigate Elder Zhongyun's playful labyrinth… it had been an enjoyable exercise. Even holding back at the end.
"You show it strangely. No you humiliate me, how obvious it was you were not taking things seriously. You made my victory ash."
She raised her eyes dully. Bai Meizhen was tired of this, tired of her. She did not have the energy for these games today. "And would we not be here regardless if I had won, as we both know I could have?"
There was an intake of breath. They were not alone in the training hall. Nuying always had allies. The sons and daughters of other white serpents in her mother's faction. There were only two today. She must have hurried here when one of her little eyes had noticed Bai Meizhen returning a scroll to the archive.
"You are too undisciplined, Bai Meizhen," her cousin said after a moment. "We both know you are too soft to lead. You are a cringing shadow. I wonder that your scales are not green. Your place is not at the peak of anything."
Bai Meizhen dully observed the other two young white serpents, so lazily surrounding her. There was no point in attempting to make a dash for it. She had not mastered her movement art well enough. She wished Cui was here, but she was not allowed to bring her to the training hall.
"Things did not have to be this way. It is you who bit the hand I extended," Bai Nuying said coldly. "A follower should follow."
"A leader should be strong in their merits, as the tale of Bai Lijie tells us," Bai Meizhen replied silkily.
Bai Nuyings golden slitted eyes widened, the pupils shrinking. "Better that than a pathetic coward, who bowed her head to the axe without complaint."
She went silent, her mind blank, and felt her hands tremble.
"Hmph, going to cry again Sister? One would think you would grow up."
Bai Meizhen felt strangely fuzzy, almost as if she were standing outside of her own body. It felt like the painted eyes of the serpents adorning the hall were staring down at her, black and pitiless in their disapproval, silently setting her blood aflame.
Crack
Bai Nuying staggered back, her hands flying up into defense, even as her stumble turned into a slide, feet fanning out into a solid defensive stance. Her eyes burned with humiliated fury. A single drop of ruby blood dusted her upper lip, her ugly nose was even more piglike than before. "You. Dare."
"I am sorry sister. Did you not come to the training hall to trade pointers," Bai Meizhen hissed, not bothering to avert her gaze any longer. She reset her stance, drawing her open palm back in, closer to her chest.
She could have used a proper knife hand, aimed for the throat. She could have had Nuying on her knees, if not in the medicine hall.
And the other girl knew it.
Bai Meizhen took satisfaction in that, as her cousin and hangers on closed in.
Her eye swollen shut, her ribs aching, her lips feeling strange and puffy. She thought at least one of her fingers might be fractured.
Of course, for starting the fight, she had been the one caned as well. It would have been worse if she had actually crushed her miserable thug of a cousin's windpipe as she'd been tempted to do.
She would be allowed a healing paste and elixir before sleep most likely, but until then, punishment.
She wasn't sure what was worse, Nuying's sneer as she spun the tale in her favor, or the pitying hangers on trying to talk to her on the way back. What just because she had finally lost her temper, she was to believe that there was suddenly sympathy, they were not simply looking for the chance to hurt her as well and earn favor with Nuying?
No. She'd dismissed them as they deserved for such obvious plotting.
She had already learned to stand alone, save for Cui. Save for her Aunt, and Aunt Suzhen was far far too exalted for her to waste their precious moments together speaking of this.
The servants scattered as she entered the house, flitting away like well trained shadows. Good, they did not deserve her ire. She stalked down the halls, toward her bedroom.
"You began a fight."
Bai Meizhen's shoulders stiffened. That soft, sleepy voice.
"My honored Father. Your daughter greets you and apologizes for her condition," she turned and bowed, despite how much it hurt.
He looked down at her from the shadow of a column, dark bags under his half focused eyes. Even now he wasn't upset. Nothing dark and furious roiled under his skin the way it had with Nuying's minder when they had broken things up.
Not even a passing expression on his blank face, just the same exhausted half frown.
"You've dealt with much. This is the first time you have started a physical fight," he said instead, placid as a cow.
She squeezed her eyes shut. She knew his word was worthless against a White Serpents, but could he not at least have shown up for her punishment, and said anything, if he was free.
"Someone has to defend Mother's honor," she whispered.
Her heart was beating so hard, the hot fury of that moment returning. It felt like the world was twisting, bent out of alignment. Like everything was losing form and the world around was a dull grey void.
And it passed, a moment's hallucination. Father scratched the stubble on his chin. She almost imagined a spark of feeling in his eyes. "Meizhen… I already spoke with the apothecary. There is an elixir waiting in your room."
"I was instructed to contemplate my error until the dusk," Bai Meizhen said. If she defied her instructor, they would certainly…
"Haaaah? That doesn't sound right," Father said.
She blinked… she was tired. Yes, of course it was fine to take an elixir now that she'd come home. Her instructor had said so.
"If I may then, Father."
"Go," he said quietly, turning away.
Hou Zhuang sighed, his shoulders sagging.
Even if there were something so worthy as love within him, he could never love the Bai, these vicious ever quarreling serpents.
Meilin had seen something better though. He trusted her… He had to trust her, for these bones to be worth anything.
His daughter deserved better.
What violence these halls had seen, that the painted black eyes of the serpentine sculptures worked into its columns gazed down with a grim and palpable approval.
It was the duty of all White Serpents to enforce the natural order, to enforce the hierarchy of strength, lest their world grow soft and chaotic, and allow rebellion to forment.
Still, Bai Meizhen allowed, looking down at her hands, it was not pleasant to be the one whose weakness was enforced.
"At least you know to lower your eyes properly, sister. I applaud your attention and diligence to our lessons," her cousin Nuying said, her arms folded behind her back. She looked ridiculous in Bai Meizhen's opinion. At twelve her cousin's face was still too soft and her waist too plump to have an adult's effortless elegance.
"I acknowledge you, sister. You placed first in the exercise, did you not?" Bai Meizhen said dully. The little competition the instructors had arranged in the gardens, to navigate Elder Zhongyun's playful labyrinth… it had been an enjoyable exercise. Even holding back at the end.
"You show it strangely. No you humiliate me, how obvious it was you were not taking things seriously. You made my victory ash."
She raised her eyes dully. Bai Meizhen was tired of this, tired of her. She did not have the energy for these games today. "And would we not be here regardless if I had won, as we both know I could have?"
There was an intake of breath. They were not alone in the training hall. Nuying always had allies. The sons and daughters of other white serpents in her mother's faction. There were only two today. She must have hurried here when one of her little eyes had noticed Bai Meizhen returning a scroll to the archive.
"You are too undisciplined, Bai Meizhen," her cousin said after a moment. "We both know you are too soft to lead. You are a cringing shadow. I wonder that your scales are not green. Your place is not at the peak of anything."
Bai Meizhen dully observed the other two young white serpents, so lazily surrounding her. There was no point in attempting to make a dash for it. She had not mastered her movement art well enough. She wished Cui was here, but she was not allowed to bring her to the training hall.
"Things did not have to be this way. It is you who bit the hand I extended," Bai Nuying said coldly. "A follower should follow."
"A leader should be strong in their merits, as the tale of Bai Lijie tells us," Bai Meizhen replied silkily.
Bai Nuyings golden slitted eyes widened, the pupils shrinking. "Better that than a pathetic coward, who bowed her head to the axe without complaint."
She went silent, her mind blank, and felt her hands tremble.
"Hmph, going to cry again Sister? One would think you would grow up."
Bai Meizhen felt strangely fuzzy, almost as if she were standing outside of her own body. It felt like the painted eyes of the serpents adorning the hall were staring down at her, black and pitiless in their disapproval, silently setting her blood aflame.
Crack
Bai Nuying staggered back, her hands flying up into defense, even as her stumble turned into a slide, feet fanning out into a solid defensive stance. Her eyes burned with humiliated fury. A single drop of ruby blood dusted her upper lip, her ugly nose was even more piglike than before. "You. Dare."
"I am sorry sister. Did you not come to the training hall to trade pointers," Bai Meizhen hissed, not bothering to avert her gaze any longer. She reset her stance, drawing her open palm back in, closer to her chest.
She could have used a proper knife hand, aimed for the throat. She could have had Nuying on her knees, if not in the medicine hall.
And the other girl knew it.
Bai Meizhen took satisfaction in that, as her cousin and hangers on closed in.
***
It was sore.Her eye swollen shut, her ribs aching, her lips feeling strange and puffy. She thought at least one of her fingers might be fractured.
Of course, for starting the fight, she had been the one caned as well. It would have been worse if she had actually crushed her miserable thug of a cousin's windpipe as she'd been tempted to do.
She would be allowed a healing paste and elixir before sleep most likely, but until then, punishment.
She wasn't sure what was worse, Nuying's sneer as she spun the tale in her favor, or the pitying hangers on trying to talk to her on the way back. What just because she had finally lost her temper, she was to believe that there was suddenly sympathy, they were not simply looking for the chance to hurt her as well and earn favor with Nuying?
No. She'd dismissed them as they deserved for such obvious plotting.
She had already learned to stand alone, save for Cui. Save for her Aunt, and Aunt Suzhen was far far too exalted for her to waste their precious moments together speaking of this.
The servants scattered as she entered the house, flitting away like well trained shadows. Good, they did not deserve her ire. She stalked down the halls, toward her bedroom.
"You began a fight."
Bai Meizhen's shoulders stiffened. That soft, sleepy voice.
"My honored Father. Your daughter greets you and apologizes for her condition," she turned and bowed, despite how much it hurt.
He looked down at her from the shadow of a column, dark bags under his half focused eyes. Even now he wasn't upset. Nothing dark and furious roiled under his skin the way it had with Nuying's minder when they had broken things up.
Not even a passing expression on his blank face, just the same exhausted half frown.
"You've dealt with much. This is the first time you have started a physical fight," he said instead, placid as a cow.
She squeezed her eyes shut. She knew his word was worthless against a White Serpents, but could he not at least have shown up for her punishment, and said anything, if he was free.
"Someone has to defend Mother's honor," she whispered.
Her heart was beating so hard, the hot fury of that moment returning. It felt like the world was twisting, bent out of alignment. Like everything was losing form and the world around was a dull grey void.
And it passed, a moment's hallucination. Father scratched the stubble on his chin. She almost imagined a spark of feeling in his eyes. "Meizhen… I already spoke with the apothecary. There is an elixir waiting in your room."
"I was instructed to contemplate my error until the dusk," Bai Meizhen said. If she defied her instructor, they would certainly…
"Haaaah? That doesn't sound right," Father said.
She blinked… she was tired. Yes, of course it was fine to take an elixir now that she'd come home. Her instructor had said so.
"If I may then, Father."
"Go," he said quietly, turning away.
***
It was not trivial, changing the event. If Bai Zhilan had invested herself it would have been impossible. Even this was a risk.Hou Zhuang sighed, his shoulders sagging.
Even if there were something so worthy as love within him, he could never love the Bai, these vicious ever quarreling serpents.
Meilin had seen something better though. He trusted her… He had to trust her, for these bones to be worth anything.
His daughter deserved better.
- Location
- Staring into the void
I'm guessing this type of reverse causality is small enough that brother time lets it go.
I think he's changing how Meizhen (maybe some others) remember the event, rather than changing what happened in the first place. This requires some effort since the Bai have a whole lot of power=authority spiritual ascensions and backing. He's overriding the orders of Bai Zhilan, who is presumably an elder of some standing, well above both he and Meizhen.