[Exalted, ?] Most High

[X] Acquire Defining Tie, The Lathe of Heaven
[X] Infallible Messenger
[X] Travel Without Distance
[X] Beg The Lily for help
[X] The Knight of Jade[Solar Circle, Ambition 3]
-[X] Focus on Administration
 
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[X] The Sundial Throne [Solar Circle, Ambition 3]
[X] The Star-Crowned Dragon of Heaven [Solar Circle, Ambition 3]
-[X] Upgrade Sepulchral Pearl to "Defining"
-[X] Beg The Lily for help
-[X] Infallible Messenger
-[X] Travel Without Distance


Luseng is fucked up without a good administration. Get the Knight first, and fix Luseng, and then anything else.

Edit: Changed vote, because we lack the funds to create the Knight without putting Luseng back into the red.
 
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[X] The Sundial Throne [Solar Circle, Ambition 3]
[X] The Star-Crowned Dragon of Heaven [Solar Circle, Ambition 3]
-[X] Upgrade Sepulchral Pearl to "Defining"
-[X] Beg The Lily for help
-[X] Infallible Messenger
-[X] Travel Without Distance
 
[X] Upgrade Sepulchral Pearl to "Defining"
[X] Infallible Messenger
[X] Travel Without Distance
[X] Beg The Lily for help
[X] The Sundial Throne [Solar Circle, Ambition 3]
[X] The Knight of Jade [Solar Circle, Ambition 3]
-[X] Focus on Administration


Luseng is fucked up without a good administration. Get the Knight first, and fix Luseng, and then anything else.
I still think that getting the Knight is non-optimal before either our financial situation is better or that we have access to the Emerald Mountain (which would also take care about the first problem). Even the administrative abilities of a 3CD level being could be a bit strained with our money situation deeply in the negative.
 
Is the dash before an option mean only one can be chosen out of a group? Because the one true path would be to take both the Lathe and Pearl.

-[X] Acquire Defining Tie, "The Lathe of Heaven"

Much needed Odyssial mindset. Going by the proposed Workings, people still insist to neglect self-improvement, so getting additional in-character incentive to grow stronger is the only way to counterbalance the movement towards personal weakness and keep Ulyssian from (by the standarts of Odyssial) mediocrity. You do remember that Anys Syn is still incoming, right?

Truthfully, except the hatred for Titans, which would mess up the relations with the Lily and Nilul, I do not see the presented Ties in negative light. Rather, I would love to see what effect they would have on Ulyssian. So taking both, as I already said, would be nice. Pearl simply NEEDS screen time, not to mention she is an ally that does not need buffing to be useful. The Lathe was already explained. And additional XP, of course. After throwing away every possible bonus to XP, that would be nice.

-[X] Infallible Messenger
-[X] Travel Without Distance

[X] The Sundial Throne [Solar Circle, Ambition 3]
-[X] Beg The Lily for help

Begging for help simply because it is the efficient course of action. The Intimacy strengthening is acceptable, even welcome.
I am against sinking more actions into the city, so the Sundial Throne for the most personal utility. Since it doesn't seem we're getting out of there any time soon, let's at least use the time optimally, by getting as much of it as possible. Also dodges the unnecessary complications of the more visible Workings.
 
'bout Lily, I have seen way, way more of her than I ever cared to. Didn't we turn down running off into the Threshold and faking our own death 'cause it would've meant owing Ayala a huge favor? Why is the Lily any better about that; Uly acknowledges IC that their interests aren't aligned. We can't even completely mitigate the favor if we deploy the Ghost-Water, which is a fucking stupid thing to do with the city in turmoil. Involving her is just asking for trouble.

Mainly because Ayala was an Infernal and at the time loyal to the Reclamation so we were worried about being forced to do something shady that would possibly be against the best interests of Creation whereas Lily is our friend who happens to be pretty honourable with Guile:1 and mainly just wants to protect the innocent and all that Jazz. Our interests actually do kind of align due to both of us wanting the best for the people of Luseng it's just our ethical systems are kind of in-conflict (utilitarianism vs deontological-based virtue ethics) but that's not totally insurmountable.
Is the dash before an option mean only one can be chosen out of a group? Because the one true path would be to take both the Lathe and Pearl.

-[X] Acquire Defining Tie, "The Lathe of Heaven"

Much needed Odyssial mindset. Going by the proposed Workings, people still insist to neglect self-improvement, so getting additional in-character incentive to grow stronger is the only way to counterbalance the movement towards personal weakness and keep Ulyssian from (by the standarts of Odyssial) mediocrity. You do remember that Anys Syn is still incoming, right?

Truthfully, except the hatred for Titans, which would mess up the relations with the Lily and Nilul, I do not see the presented Ties in negative light. Rather, I would love to see what effect they would have on Ulyssian. So taking both, as I already said, would be nice. Pearl simply NEEDS screen time, not to mention she is an ally that does not need buffing to be useful. The Lathe was already explained. And additional XP, of course. After throwing away every possible bonus to XP, that would be nice.

Are you crazy? Awakening an intimacy from the END of Odyssial's life where his thinking was most alien/complicated WILL result in Soul damage and possibly a weaker version of Totality (seriously it has Mental Strain: High)
 
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[X] The Sundial Throne [Solar Circle, Ambition 3]
[X] The Star-Crowned Dragon of Heaven [Solar Circle, Ambition 3]
-[X] Upgrade Sepulchral Pearl to "Defining"
-[X] Beg The Lily for help
-[X] Infallible Messenger
-[X] Travel Without Distance
 
Hmm. A little besides the current vote, but shouldn't Harmonius Academic Methodology allow us to add one topic as our new Lore speciality, as a new story milestone has begun? Quite useful that skill, as it currently gives us based on our current Essence +5 non-charm dice to all of our Lore specialities.
 
Are you crazy? Awakening an intimacy from the END of Odyssial's life where his thinking was most alien/complicated WILL result in Soul damage and possibly a weaker version of Totality (seriously it has Mental Strain: High)
Mm-hm. What about it? Anyway, the damage and schism were last officially mentioned at E4 IIRC. Ulysian can process more of the memories now, so the result is probably exactly is what is stated in the option - high mental strain. That's fine with me. You gotta give some things to get the others, and the changes to Ulyssian's priorities would be very much welcome right now.
 
Vote tally:
##### 3.21
[X] Upgrade Sepulchral Pearl to Defining
No. of votes: 21
Anasurimbor, Diller, TheOtherSandman, Ridiculously Average Guy, dragon, mrttao, CharlBaal, Kurowari, Thomasfoolery, afterthought53, MoebiusZero, meianmaru, WorldSlayer, BSRK Aditya, Wing101, Random Asian Person, aja318, 1986ctcel, Algalon, useofstrike32, Mishco

[x] Acquire Defining Tie, The Lathe of Heaven
No. of votes: 7
AZATHOTHoth, inawarminister, Reckless_Sun, Elero, Dark Lord Bob, Vitaris, Gerrou

[x] Acquire Defining Tie, Hatred of the Titans
No. of votes: 3
trekbook, Savonarola, SirLagginton


[x] Infallible Messenger
No. of votes: 24
Reckless_Sun, Diller, Ridiculously Average Guy, dragon, mrttao, Vitaris, trekbook, Savonarola, CharlBaal, SirLagginton, Kurowari, afterthought53, MoebiusZero, meianmaru, WorldSlayer, BSRK Aditya, Wing101, Random Asian Person, aja318, 1986ctcel, Algalon, useofstrike32, Gerrou, Mishco

[X] Travel Without Distance
No. of votes: 19
Ridiculously Average Guy, mrttao, Vitaris, trekbook, Savonarola, CharlBaal, Kurowari, afterthought53, meianmaru, WorldSlayer, Wing101, Random Asian Person, aja318, 1986ctcel, Algalon, useofstrike32, Gerrou, Mishco, Diller

[X] Shadows of the Ancient Past
No. of votes: 4
Reckless_Sun, dragon, Thomasfoolery, BSRK Aditya

[X] Demon of the Second Circle
No. of votes: 3
Elero, SirLagginton, MoebiusZero

[X] Invulnerable Skin of Bronze
No. of votes: 2
Dark Lord Bob, Thomasfoolery

[X] Mists of Eventide
No. of votes: 1
Elero


[X] Beg The Lily for help
No. of votes: 21
Anasurimbor, Elero, Diller, Dark Lord Bob, Ridiculously Average Guy, dragon, mrttao, CharlBaal, Kurowari, Thomasfoolery, afterthought53, MoebiusZero, meianmaru, WorldSlayer, Wing101, Random Asian Person, 1986ctcel, Algalon, useofstrike32, Gerrou, Mishco
-[x] write in: offer the legion to protect her people
No. of votes: 1
dragon
-[X] Send Armies to protect her people
No. of votes: 1
WorldSlayer

[X] Don't Beg The Lily for help
No. of votes: 4
Vitaris, Savonarola, SirLagginton, aja318


[x] The Sundial Throne[Solar Circle, Ambition 3]
No. of votes: 22
Reckless_Sun, Anasurimbor, Elero, Diller, Dark Lord Bob, dragon, mrttao, trekbook, CharlBaal, Kurowari, Thomasfoolery, meianmaru, WorldSlayer, Wing101, Random Asian Person, 1986ctcel, Algalon, useofstrike32, Gerrou, Mishco, MoebiusZero, BSRK Aditya

[X] The Star-Crowned Dragon of Heaven[Solar Circle, Ambition 3]
No. of votes: 9
Diller, Usernames, meianmaru, Wing101, Random Asian Person, 1986ctcel, Algalon, useofstrike32, Mishco

[X] Buff Moon[Solar Circle, Ambition 3]
No. of votes: 2
Anasurimbor, Emerald Oracle

[X] A Dragon of the West[Solar Circle, Ambition 3]
No. of votes: 6
Orm Embar, dragon, Vitaris, Savonarola, Alectai, SirLagginton

[X] The Knight of Jade[Solar Circle, Ambition 3]
No. of votes: 4
Ridiculously Average Guy, afterthought53, WorldSlayer, aja318
-[X] Focus on Administration
No. of votes: 3
Ridiculously Average Guy, WorldSlayer, aja318
-[X] Focus on Combat
No. of votes: 1
afterthought53

[X] The Temporal Blazon [Solar Circle, Ambition 2]
No. of votes: 2
Ridiculously Average Guy, afterthought53
 
Are you guys sure about taking Pearl as Defining? I'm not certain you quite fully understand the implications of that. She would become the MOST important character in Ulyssian's life, and since you haven't seen her in several months, that would look extremely weird and possibly creepy. If you had to choose between saving her and saving Moon, you'd be far more likely to choose her.

Honestly, you're afraid of a little Mental Strain? You're an E5 Solar, for Heaven's sake!

Hmm. A little besides the current vote, but shouldn't Harmonius Academic Methodology allow us to add one topic as our new Lore speciality, as a new story milestone has begun? Quite useful that skill, as it currently gives us based on our current Essence +5 non-charm dice to all of our Lore specialities.

It actually gives non-Charm successes.

Hm, if you guys spend this action buffing Moon with a high-potential low-immediate impact ability, as is looking popular, that somewhat does not fit with the mindset of acquiring resources that would be useful if Syn attacks. She is much less likely to be as strong as a 3CD (or stronger) when Syn attacks, unless you think Syn is not going to attack for 2+ years.
 
[X] Acquire Defining Tie, The Lathe of Heaven
[X] Infallible Messenger
[X] Travel Without Distance
[X] Don't Beg The Lily for help
[X] The Knight of Jade[Solar Circle, Ambition 3]
-[X] Focus on Administration

Yes, awakening Pearl's defining intimacy would be very hard to explain, and raises a great many problems with her still at Seacrown and not having rewoken all of her memories or reciprocated the Intimacy. It also I guess wins Pearl the waifu war, at least until we meet up with Lealope again at which point it probably becomes a three way tie (or maybe just a threesome). Since I'd rather not have Ulyssian come off as some kind of creepy stalker lunatic or just completely awkward especially around Moon and Nilul, we should forebear.

Awakening the tie of hatred of the Primordials on the other hand strikes me as highly counterproductive. It is almost certainly a malus toward Infernals and Abyssals, and an Infernal and an Abyssal are two of our strongest allies. There may be ways to use demonic resources and to obtain further Infernal allies that would greatly facilitate our goals. And a commitment to inflicting infinite torment on a beaten enemy hardly sits very well with me. The Primordials had to go but torturing them serves no purpose other than placating Odyssial's fury, and Ulyssian is not Odyssial. And Odyssial certainly had a full measure of vengeance. It's time to leave that Intimacy in the past.

That leaves the Lathe of Heaven. At Essence 5 Ulyssian is massively better prepared than he was upon Exalting. The strain will be considerable but it won't alter behavior so much. The bias in favor of seeking personal power instead of coalition-building is unfortunate; but after a point Ulyssian does have to become strong enough to deal with Anys Syn and the Handsome Monkey King. Coalition-building and alliances are still important to keep Creation intact while he does that and to provide him with the resources necessary to pursue greater Workings. They can also insure that he isn't distracted as much putting out every single fire by himself.

That said I am really kind of disappointed Philosopher-King lost; we need to leave Luseng yesterday, and instead we're doubling down on this because "muh Realm." As if we've even done anything to influence the Realm or build a coalition capable of winning the Civil War. And this sitting around and waiting for something to happen is only going to invite a disaster in the end. So I am very much in favor of putting in place a replacement Construct that can continue to rule Luseng in Ulyssian's absence. The time-dilation workings are only efficient if we plan to stay in place and under the circumstances I think that is not a good idea. Lealope and Odyssial's caches are too important, pretending to be a Dragonblooded shackles Ulyssian too much, and the plan to "explode outward" allows the situation in Creation to deteriorate too much in the meantime for no particular reason other than favoring the people of Luseng in particular over all the people of Creation. If we have a duty to Luseng we should discharge it and then get to work actually saving all of Creation and not just some of it.
 
Are you guys sure about taking Pearl as Defining? I'm not certain you quite fully understand the implications of that. She would become the MOST important character in Ulyssian's life, and since you haven't seen her in several months, that would look extremely weird and possibly creepy. If you had to choose between saving her and saving Moon, you'd be far more likely to choose her.

Honestly, you're afraid of a little Mental Strain? You're an E5 Solar, for Heaven's sake!



It actually gives non-Charm successes.

Hm, if you guys spend this action buffing Moon with a high-potential low-immediate impact ability, as is looking popular, that somewhat does not fit with the mindset of acquiring resources that would be useful if Syn attacks. She is much less likely to be as strong as a 3CD (or stronger) when Syn attacks, unless you think Syn is not going to attack for 2+ years.
Hmm. This might me want to change to The Lathe of Heaven and some other Working than my own write-in... I'll post more when I get to my computer.
 
Are you guys sure about taking Pearl as Defining? I'm not certain you quite fully understand the implications of that. She would become the MOST important character in Ulyssian's life, and since you haven't seen her in several months, that would look extremely weird and possibly creepy. If you had to choose between saving her and saving Moon, you'd be far more likely to choose her.

Too much Pearl is still better than no Pearl! :mad:
More seriously, I want to have her around when Syn comes. I want to have holier-than-thou attitudes!

Hm, if you guys spend this action buffing Moon with a high-potential low-immediate impact ability, as is looking popular, that somewhat does not fit with the mindset of acquiring resources that would be useful if Syn attacks. She is much less likely to be as strong as a 3CD (or stronger) when Syn attacks, unless you think Syn is not going to attack for 2+ years.

Will Syn be really that much trouble?
 
[x] Acquire Defining Tie, Hatred of the Titans
The Titans and the Neverborn are already going to be enemies so this is understandable, and while this would lower relations with those that serve them we should still be able to form ties with Abyssals and Infernals if they turn their back on their master's goals, which is inevitable, at least for Infernals.

[X] Don't Beg The Lily for help
While the extra successes will most certainly help, this would actually cause us to owe her something when we are already planning to leave later on.

[x] The Sundial Throne[Solar Circle, Ambition 3]
This would be the best option to maximize our time and training ability and ensure that we can get more workings to hep Luseng in our absence.
 
Yes, awakening Pearl's defining intimacy would be very hard to explain, and raises a great many problems with her still at Seacrown and not having rewoken all of her memories or reciprocated the Intimacy. It also I guess wins Pearl the waifu war, at least until we meet up with Lealope again at which point it probably becomes a three way tie (or maybe just a threesome). Since I'd rather not have Ulyssian come off as some kind of creepy stalker lunatic or just completely awkward especially around Moon and Nilul, we should forebear.

It won't be hard to explain. The truth will pretty much do it. And, the intimacy is not a romantic one. So, Pearl is not winning the waifu war. After all, we are not awakening Lea's intimacy. Next, why on earth will it make things awkward with Moon and Nilul? It will be awkward with Pearl, but Moon and Nilul have not exactly become less important.
 
Are you guys sure about taking Pearl as Defining? I'm not certain you quite fully understand the implications of that. She would become the MOST important character in Ulyssian's life, and since you haven't seen her in several months, that would look extremely weird and possibly creepy. If you had to choose between saving her and saving Moon, you'd be far more likely to choose her.

It won't be hard to explain. The truth will pretty much do it. And, the intimacy is not a romantic one. So, Pearl is not winning the waifu war. After all, we are not awakening Lea's intimacy. Next, why on earth will it make things awkward with Moon and Nilul? It will be awkward with Pearl, but Moon and Nilul have not exactly become less important.

There are these called implications; they are not explicitly spelled out but heavily hinted at, or follow as likely consequences of a set of conditions. If Pearl is the MOST IMPORTANT character in Ulyssian's life, and a waifu candidate as Rihaku has repeatedly said... well do the math. She may not actually win outright, but her prospects are, shall we say, significantly boosted. And all of this very sudden, very obsessive behavior toward Pearl coming out of nowhere is very likely to be offputting to Moon and Nilul; Rihaku outright says it will look extremely weird and possibly creepy.
 
[X] Acquire Defining Tie, The Lathe of Heaven
[X] Infallible Messenger
[X] Travel Without Distance
[X] Don't Beg The Lily for help
[X] The Knight of Jade[Solar Circle, Ambition 3]
-[X] Focus on Administration
 
[X] Acquire Defining Tie, The Lathe of Heaven
[X] Infallible Messenger
[X] Travel Without Distance
[X] Don't Beg The Lily for help
[X] The Knight of Jade[Solar Circle, Ambition 3]
-[X] Focus on Administration
 
There are these called implications; they are not explicitly spelled out but heavily hinted at, or follow as likely consequences of a set of conditions. If Pearl is the MOST IMPORTANT character in Ulyssian's life, and a waifu candidate as Rihaku has repeatedly said... well do the math. She may not actually win outright, but her prospects are, shall we say, significantly boosted. And all of this very sudden, very obsessive behavior toward Pearl coming out of nowhere is very likely to be offputting to Moon and Nilul; Rihaku outright says it will look extremely weird and possibly creepy.
Oh, her prospects are boosted in the sense that she will get more screen time, but I doubt Rihaku will force a romance plot with her unless we explicitly vote for a romance with her. In other words, for the intimacy to change to a romantic one, we will get a vote first. I in fact doubt our intimacy with Moon will become romantic without us explicitly going for it.

Second, I agree it will look weird and possibly creepy to Pearl (because we will try our best to get her to Luseng), but not to Moon or Nilul. We will not be ignoring them, or something.
 
People going with Lathe, be warned. Picking this choice means that we will go ahead and try to implement the Lathe. Granted, I trust Odyssial's judgement a lot more now, after having seen his customized Limit Break (it is pretty reasonable, all things considered), but I don't trust him THAT much. Are you sure you want to commit to the Lathe with knowing so little? It will be a DEFINING tie!
 
-[X] Upgrade Sepulchral Pearl to "Defining"
-[ ] Infallible Messenger
-[ ] Travel Without Distance
-[ ] Don't Beg The Lily for help
 
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