1432 Word analysis/opinion
[X] King and Court
Well... I would honestly prefer a Companions + Tears - Gisena vote but I'll be going with this vote for now. It does cost slightly more arete that the other options, but I like the idea of Hunger simultaneously taking up the seriousness and responsibility of a monarch while also allowing the people around him to play a part in putting forth the interests of the people they lead.
I don't really like the current willingness Hunger has towards risking the lives of billions of people (as described in Rihaku's post at least.)
Furthermore, OaF has been a serious sore point for this thread for many moons, so I would rather allow at least some of SORD's anger to be abated on the rock of the forebear if possible.
Hunger's philosophy of Rule:
Who Dares, Wins ( Yeah I don't like this) I would rather Hunger's philosophy be something like:
A Band of Brothers stands as tall as the Weakest Link (Or something close to that)
This option is essentially the most "Cut Through" option on the table. And I think in this scenario being straightforward is probably our best shot at putting together something successful to carry us into the next week or so. Is this the option that stops Hunger from healing his Lung and whatnot thought? Because that's certainly something I don't like.
TLDR: BEEEEEG STATS, BEEEG RANK, BEEEEG COMPANIONS
This build is the most straightforwardly powerful while also providing solid benefits across our party. It doesn't seem to have any painful downsides unlike the other options which have thematic implications and either focus in on Hunger or one of the Companions without lifting up the party as a whole. It literally adds to every single stat we have, which would presumably include intelligence. So it isn't exactly lacking there when compared to Eye of The Storm.
Hunger has a family, and I want to protect ALL their smiles not just one!
Hunger's philosophy of Rule: Who Dares, Wins
[ ] King and Court
Once and Future I + Companions of the King [53 Arete].
If Aobaru is the chosen of myth, then let it be as he said. Who can challenge the King in the strength of his court? The Forebear's mantle looms in the eyes of his foes as a portent of doom inescapable, but to his allies it is the aegis under which all their peoples shelter. Manifold are his glories, and their slightest refraction sufficient to raise up champions among men.
Raises your Rank and immediately grants elevated Rank scaling with your own to your trusted allies... a powerful combination that allows for far greater scope of action across the cosmic chessboard of the Voyaging Realm. As this option fully intends to mitigate the Decimator's Affliction by destroying the Tower, both the strengths and weaknesses of the chosen characterization will be diminished. Good synergy with Once and Future; an additional +40% All Stats works well with +++++All Stats.
*Greatly improves the durability and effectiveness of all your party members
*Once and Future offers immense power, but your Rank will overshoot your stats, meaning that enemies your peer in Rank will tend to have higher stats - an Armament all full power has not only tremendous Rank but also incredible stats backed by the greatest bio-engineering that the Foremost could achieve at scale. They are also armed to the teeth with strategic-level weaponry appropriate to a star-faring civilization of ten thousand systems.
*Having +40% All Stats would help greatly with that.
*An additional +80% Rank gain would augment your future Progression. Rank will continue to be an uphill climb and Hunger needs all the multipliers he can get to maintain some semblance of rapid advance into the High Ranks.
While this option is the most expensive I do believe it should be completely worth it becasue it provides immediate abilities that not only protect our friends and allow them to close the gap a little bit, but utterly obliviates Bearic in terms of power so we're less likely to be worried about him when the time comes. Furthermore, it gives all of our companions including Aobaru a bit of a power-up and safety net
I would like to de-emphasize Hunger's recklessness, achieve some solid short-mid term power goals, and set the stage for a more equitable and considerate Hunger than the other two options represent overall.
[] Eye of the Storm
The Tears of Winter: Adorie +
The Opalescent Tower [50 Arete]
HOWEVER, the sheer potential in the long run based on simply having another companion and 1/4th Praxis exhaustion mitigation is extremely valuable. While this option is weaker from a total Stats and Rank standpoint it does allow a more hands off approach to Rulership than the other two options. Unfortunately it makes Hunger greedier and the thread is already pretty greedy on its own so I'm not super gung-ho about this option at first glance.
The main problems here are that it will rely on the thread picking up on the best progression options so we aren't steam-rolled by whatever threat Aobaru is supposed to face as the Chosen One.
*Grants increased INT, Apocryphal mitigation, and reduced Praxis exertion alongside the benefits to general capability.
*Wielding both the Jewels and the Fortress of House Mirellyian, the snows of winter clasped to the endless sky, Hunger will gain the Title
[King of Winter] upon completing Once and Future I.
*Naturally he must be accompanied by its final scion as well. It would be rather unkind to take possession of her Artifacts without looking out for her well-being.
*Recruits
Adorie Mirellyian as a companion. She is an exceptionally capable administrator, orator, lore-master and vocalist, and would be happy to run your territories for you or help you research further Empyreal Signs.
These are the positives for me. It provides a thematic Title which will probably give us more Rank, adds a very competent civil servant directly to our deck, and allows for some nice kingdom/polity building and longer term INT and training benefits. Overall, a solid build and something I would like, however I do think Gisena might be a better fit for the artifact but that's just my opinion.
TLDR: FANTASTIC LONG TERM TRAINING P R A X I S, also allows for more possibilities when we need to use Praxis more often, gives us another family member
, mitigates Apocryphal and allows us more room to breath, and gives us a whole ruling family in direct connection to ourselves. This option most visibly ties the Real of Myth to us in a way that will likely echo across the Voyaging Realm. So it certainly has benefits. I just don't think these are things we can't simply gain overtime with social votes and actually building a relationship with the princess as we have with other characters. (Of course this assumes the thread will put time into doing that).
[ ] All Under Heaven
Once and Future I +
The Opalescent Tower [48 Arete]
I DO NOT like this option for two reasons. It focuses almost exclusively on Hunger, and it denies Hunger the mitigation he was seeking in the first place. That just seems really frustrating and I don't want to have to race against time to defeat/mitigate Decimator when we literally came here to do that. Since Chains is something we now have to take into consideration i don't think we want to be dealing with Ber, Aobaru's Nemesis Escalation, and the decimation all at one time with a possible Apocryphal Onslaught in the wings as well. Generally speaking I think I can say that I'll be looking for the smallest death chance and least stressful options overall as my main goal. I mean, I love a good death chance in appropriate scenarios but i certainly don't want them constantly when we don't have to have them.
*Great immediate power and potential. Spends the least Arete of the options, potentially leaving room for All-Defeating Stance in the near or medium future.
*A powerful hybrid build that combines Rank with social and defensive stats.
*Grants access to Empyreal Signs which offer potent magical effects.
*Though he only has two days to find a solution, Hunger has immense power with which to pursue the task. Still, he will need to find a solution quickly, Rank alone is unlikely to suffice. The Empyreal Signs can overcome the tyranny of distance in the Voyaging Realm, but are unlikely to offer a direct solution to the requirements of the Huntress' Moon.
*Overwhelming power and majesty will allow Hunger a realistic chance to deal with the Lord Protector directly, if he so chooses.
*You should really get Iridescence to take advantage of those Evening Sky Protection +s.
This option does provide some very good power increases and doesn't take as much of a gamble as Eye of the Storm does. It provides rank, serious magical effects at our level, T E L E P O R T A T I O N in a way, grants M A J E S T Y and P O W E R, and puts us on a path to get some other small but synergistic options like Iridescence.
Unfortunately this option gives us TWO DAYS to figure out some mitigation, which I don't like at all. Also the characterization falls flat for me. I really would love some more upgrades for Evening Sky, but not at the cost of other opportunities and an increase in thread pressure to make snap decisions. Being cool under pressure is fantastic, but I would rather just not have such pressure if I can help it.
TLDR: MAGIC, T E LE P O R T, THICC PROTECTION AND SOCIAL
This option has variety and magic at the cost of possible stressors.
Ultimately I'm probably going to stick with King And Court unless I get convinced that the character consequences of the other options won't be as bad, or if I can be convinced to believe that the other options will be navigated in a synergistic and productive manner as everyone in the thread jockeys for their own paths forward with these options. The first option just lays a lot of arguments to rest while also setting the groundwork for a Hunger that is ready to enter the Human Sphere, or at least pretty close.
