Necromantic? A necromancer, according to Dungeons and Dragons, is one who communicates, raises, animates, creates and summons undead. This is a curse, a debilitating physical curse, but has no relation to raising or animating dead people.
I guess if you're reaching, corrupting dead spirits is the most necromantic thing the shaman did there.
This isn't Dungeons and Dragons, but frankly most of what the Shamen did would be Necromancy School in DnD. The Shamen was building constructs out of the dead and filling them with shadows, using death magic to sicken and curse, bind the souls of the dead to drive the spirits of the river mad, and curse and undermined the land with the malice of the dead.
Codex used the word specialise but the original comment only talked about having an opportunity to potentially learn necromancy from them. That wouldn't require a specialty in necromancy, just access to some knowledge of the subject.
We just saw their necromatic expertise, and it was impressive. A Yellow Cultivator managed a ritual that someone a step from Prism needed to use extreme measures against.
Codex used the word specialise but the original comment only talked about having an opportunity to potentially learn necromancy from them. That wouldn't require a specialty in necromancy, just access to some knowledge of the subject.
This isn't Dungeons and Dragons, but frankly most of what the Shamen did would be Necromancy School in DnD. The Shamen was building constructs out of the dead and filling them with shadows, using death magic to sicken and curse, bind the souls of the dead to drive the spirits of the river mad, and curse and undermined the land with the malice of the dead.
I concede that some of what the Shaman has done does have connections to the dead, so while it's not traditional necromancy as to how I envision it (raising the dead), I concede that it's a death magic thing he's doing.
It's still definitely not a thing I want Ling Qi to learn. If this magic requires us to kill people and use their remains like the shaman did, then I don't think I want any part of that
I concede that some of what the Shaman has done does have connections to the dead, so while it's not traditional necromancy as to how I envision it (raising the dead), I concede that it's a death magic thing he's doing.
It's still definitely not a thing I want Ling Qi to learn. If this magic requires us to kill people and use their remains like the shaman did, then I don't think I want any part of that
Eh, the big ritual isn't something I'm interested in, but the Bone Golems were neat. They had a voltron thing going, were made from animal bone rather then people which I'm fine with, and were actually both formidable and flexible. The curse was pretty solid too - it's a big stick that inflicts lingering wounds without being actually fatal, which makes it a good deterrent against peers. It sucks to get hit by, without actually crippling them.
Eh, the big ritual isn't something I'm interested in, but the Bone Golems were neat. They had a voltron thing going, were made from animal bone rather then people which I'm fine with, and were actually both formidable and flexible. The curse was pretty solid too - it's a big stick that inflicts lingering wounds without being actually fatal, which makes it a good deterrent against peers. It sucks to get hit by, without actually crippling them.
I'm pretty sure all of that was formations. Su Ling mentioned that his totem dolls were things that Suyin looked into, so I think it's safe to assume his bone golem was just a bunch of animal bones melded with formations as an autonomous doll. There's no reason to learn Shaman mojo to make something approximating it.
I'm pretty sure all of that was formations. Su Ling mentioned that his totem dolls were things that Suyin looked into, so I think it's safe to assume his bone golem was just a bunch of animal bones melded with formations as an autonomous doll. There's no reason to learn Shaman mojo to make something approximating it.
If you're talking about the Golem that beat Ling Qi up while she was shooting at the Tribesman, then that was the reanimated corpse of the Guardsman that disappeared whilst investigating the disappearances.
I'm pretty sure all of that was formations. Su Ling mentioned that his totem dolls were things that Suyin looked into, so I think it's safe to assume his bone golem was just a bunch of animal bones melded with formations as an autonomous doll. There's no reason to learn Shaman mojo to make something approximating it.
Though it is nice to have another reason to study formations. That'd be an awesome way to get autonomous and replaceable minions. Suyin might even be able to help!
"Some kind of puppet I think, it wasn't alive," Su Ling said warily, eyeing the sky along with Ling Qi. "Suyin was looking into stuff like that, she could only do the needles though." Su Ling paused then, peering into the distance. "...Hells. Fine, I have no more objections. No way is that not shady as shit."
I'm pretty sure all of that was formations. Su Ling mentioned that his totem dolls were things that Suyin looked into, so I think it's safe to assume his bone golem was just a bunch of animal bones melded with formations as an autonomous doll. There's no reason to learn Shaman mojo to make something approximating it.
And a doll made from bone probably gets bonuses if you have the right necromantic arts and leanings. I suspect Suyin would have to learn higher level formations and use more expensive materials to match the Shamen.
And a doll made from bone probably gets bonuses if you have the right necromantic arts and leanings. I suspect Suyin would have to learn higher level formations and use more expensive materials to match the Shamen.
Makes it a bit difficult for Ling Qi though, since most of her elements are not very solid or sturdy. Ice Golems are pretty much the only one that springs to mind.
Makes it a bit difficult for Ling Qi though, since most of her elements are not very solid or sturdy. Ice Golems are pretty much the only one that springs to mind.
Depends on the limits of golem making via formations. Carving/writing formations on a solid substance seems like it would be easier than putting formations on shadow, ash, water, or moonlight. Like, shadow golems would be quite awesome, and would only serve to help Ling Qi be the best living nightmare she could be, but from what we have seen so far the low level formations are written on pre-existing physical mediums.
I would guess that it would be possible, but harder than an Ice Golem (the only solid element we have right now), since it would mean we'd have to learn how to draw on/in shadow or something.
Basically, the premise itself suggests an added layer of complexity.
Depends on the limits of golem making via formations. Carving/writing formations on a solid substance seems like it would be easier than putting formations on shadow, ash, water, or moonlight. Like, shadow golems would be quite awesome, and would only serve to help Ling Qi be the best living nightmare she could be, but from what we have seen so far the low level formations are written on pre-existing physical mediums.
I would guess that it would be possible, but harder than an Ice Golem (the only solid element we have right now), since it would mean we'd have to learn how to draw on/in shadow or something.
Basically, the premise itself suggests an added layer of complexity.
Personally I'm just interested in Ling Qi doing a tour of Cloud Tribe territory after her army service and picking up whatever she can and integrating it into the Imperial system. It's what Sun Shao did with the Garden of the Red Sun's native techniques and going around fantasy mountainous-Siberia would be rad.
Dead things used to be living things, used to move and act. I would be surprised if necromantic formations and arts don't thrive in the minion and self acting tool making. Like, I'm sure you can match it with dollmaking, but with your example of metal... I would expect it's expensive and time consuming to forge such a golem, where the Shamen was making dozens of them, maybe even hundreds of the little things, and they could act as both spies, watchdogs, and by voltroning brute muscle.
I think these kinds of arts are why the Sky Nomads are a threat, they're the strength the Shamans bring to bare, and so shouldn't be dismissed.
Did she not do just that? What I saw was a high-ranking cultivator casually sink kilometers of terrain, destroying the totem, the mad spirits, and containing the corruptive Qi curse from spreading. She may have been capable of simply obliterating the offending Qi outright, but the impression I got was that she intended to rehabilitate some manner of spirit involved. There was a line where Ling Qi felt Elder Ying was talking to more than just them.
Like, I'm pretty confident she could have obliterated the curse inside of Ling Qi and Su Ling with trivial ease, but the issue there is neither of them being sturdy enough to survive the effort. And if they were, the curse wouldn't be strong enough to linger.
Ling Qi grimaced slightly as she felt her knees tremble, the cursed qi in her system still hampering her every effort. She took a moment to adjust the weight of the bagshe was carrying on her shoulders to be less awkward and then hurried to catch up.
Han Jian and Gu Xiulan both shot her looks of concern from opposite sides of the path. Gu Xiulan had returned to their group training, but things remained awkward, she kept away from Han Jian, and avoided talking to him, instead paying more attention to Fan Yu. It seemed to bewilder the shorter boy, but he didn't exactly seem unhappy about it, Ling Qi thought. She was actually walking beside him now.
The usually abrasive boy had been positively cheerful, relative to his usual attitude since this weeks sessions had started. It probably helped that he had finally broken through to the second spiritual realm too. Han Fang was as inscrutable as ever, simply walking by Han Jian's side with their largest catch, a white furred stag, on his wide shoulders.
"Just a little twinge," Ling Qi said dismissively in response to their looks. "The last mission I was on got a little rough," she added.
"Well, if you're sure it's fine," Han Jian said carefully, he seemed a bit tired, there was a certain tightness to his expression and other signs of stress in his stance. "Do you want to pause for a minute?"
"Ling Qi does not require such coddling," Gu Xiulan said with a haughty sniff, not looking at Han Jian.
He simply sighed and nodded, adjusting his own load. Ling Qi glanced between them with concern, but as socially awkward as she could be at times, she could tell that this was not something that would be helped by her sticking her nose in. So instead, she chose to simply change the subject. "I've been meaning to ask, what do you think about the things going on around here lately? I don't know enough to know if all this stuff with Cai Renxiang is normal or not."
She caught Han Fang glancing at the white band pinned to her sleeve, and the similar one Han Jian wore. Surprisingly it was Fan Yu who spoke up first though. "It is not how the sects are supposed to be," he grumbled. "They are supposed to be free of such things."
"Well I wouldn't say that," Han Jian said carefully. "Blocks always form, it's just the nature of things… The Lady Cai is going further than usual though. The level of authority she is trying to build is higher than usual."
"And you are supporting it Brother Jian, just where is your pride as a son of Golden Fields?" Fan Yu shot back, looking disgruntled. It was weird seeing his stern expression almost immediately go soft and dopey when Xiulan smiled at him. Ling Qi rolled her eyes. Fan Yu was still an abrasive jerk, but she had a hard time maintaining her initial dislike for him. He was just too easily manipulated.
"Well, considering that Father agreed with my decision in our correspondence, and commended me for acquiring armor of Cai make, I'd say my pride is right where it belongs," he replied dryly, but there was something a bit sharp in his response, and Fan Yu lowered his head slightly. He sighed, brushing a hand through his hair, which had grown out lately, becoming a bit shaggy. "Golden Fields is still a long ways from doing things on our own. You guys know that."
Ling Qi felt awkward as everyone else lowered their eyes for a moment, with expressions varying from chagrin, to irritation, or simple somberness. "Isn't she the heir to the province though? I mean doesn't this sort of thing happen pretty often when those kind of people show up at the sects?"
Han Jian shook his head slightly. "Cai Renxiang's situation is unusual. Ducal clans are usually much, much larger than the Cai. Someone her age would never be the heir normally, but the Duchess Cai does not have any living siblings, nor any other children," he explained. "Even when heirs are young… it usual isn't really a settled matter, you know?"
Ling Qi frowned but nodded, she got what he was trying to say. Usually a young heirs position in the clan wouldn't really be absolute the way Cai Renxiang's was… though she recalled that the girl herself didn't see her position that way. She didn't speak up about that though.
"She has made the sect a duller place," Gu Xiulan said irritably. "Still, I suppose we can still find our entertainment," she said, shooting a grin at Ling Qi, which she returned, remembering the frustration on the faces of those who had lost to Gu Xiulan, and the expressions of her own targets the next day, it made up for the markdown she had sold the stolen talisman's for somewhat worth it.
"Well things are probably going to get rough before the year is out. Even with her position, the older outer disciples aren't just going to knuckle under peacefully, and Sun Liling isn't gonna be in confinement forever," Han Jian reminded them. "I have a feeling things are gonna boil over again before things settle," he added with a wry smile. "I have a feeling everyone will get their fill of violence by the time the tournament comes around."
Ling Qi gave him a thoughtful look, he sounded more determined than usual there. Fan Yu's expression had darkened again, his grip on his own bag turning his knuckles white at the mention of the tournament. Gu Xiulan's expression had changed as well, teeth bared in something that was definitely not a smile, even as a few strands of her hair let off wisps of smoke.
It seemed at least some of her friends hadn't given up on the inner sect. She glanced at Han Fang, but he showed no indication of nerves or determination, simply walking calmly at Han Jian's side. He was fully in second realm as well at this point… and not too far behind Han Jian, she thought, who had recently gotten to the mid point in both realms. She couldn't read the bald boy though.
Maybe she should consider trying to get to know him again. For now, she would just focus on training, and doing her best to work through her current handicap.
Under the effects of the elixirs and pills she was using, which had taken a rather large bite out of her funds, she found her cultivation continuing to steadily rise, even as her dantian expanded. The growth seemed almost glacial compared to how quickly she had shot up in the first months of her cultivation, but she was pretty sure she was still doing well. She was nearing another plateau with her physical cultivation after all.
Her spiritual cultivation had a long way to go though, and her meditations at the vent seemed a little… empty with Li Suyin's absence. The other girl was apparently focusing on a job, and receiving some tutoring which kept her very busy, so they rarely saw one another.
It did leave her some time to actually try and talk with Su Ling though. She was still a little unsure of where she stood with the girl in all honesty. It could be a little difficult to try and get at what Su Ling actually thought under her bluster and coarseness.
Which of course, lead to where she was now, leaning against a tree while she watched Su Ling skin and clean the corpse of a rather large bear. She had helped the girl haul the thing out of the pit she had used to trap and kill it, but she stood aside to let the more expert girl work. She wrinkled her nose a bit at the smell that rose from the partially skinned corpse.
"Does it always take this long?" She asked, watching the other girl rinse the gore off her hands before returning to the task of freeing the hide from the flesh and muscle beneath.
Su Ling shot her a flat look. "If you want to use everything, yeah, it does. There's not really any way to speed up this kinda thing that I know of. Who knows though, maybe you can buy yourself a magic skinning knife or something," she replied flippantly.
"Probably not," Ling Qi grimaced. "It's everything I can do just to keep up with the cost of cultivation medicines most of the time."
Su Ling grunted, which Ling Qi took as agreement. She remained silent after that, watching the fox girl's deft hands as she took the beast apart with practiced ease, wrapping and storing it with the materials she had brought along. "Why're you doin this anyway?" Su Ling broke the silence, not looking up from her work.
Ling Qi blinked, cocking her head to the side. "Well, these are good skills to have, right? I need beast cores for the spirit beast I'll be raising soon."
I already showed you how to harvest the cores," Su Ling pointed out. "And it's not like you can't just haul the rest to market. 'S not like you really go out hunting for income after all, the difference in payout isn't that much for you."
Ling Qi frowned, crossing her arms. "Well, sure I guess. It's still good to know for when I need it," she defended. "Besides, we've known each other for awhile, but we haven't exactly talked much. That mission was… not the best situation, but I was hoping to get to know you better."
Su Ling looked up as she reached for a waterskin to rinse her bloodstained hands with. "Yeah, that's what I don't really get. Why now? We don't exactly have anything in common," she said bluntly.
"Why do I need a reason?" Ling Qi replied defensively. "And… well it's kinda nice to chat with someone who I don't have to worry about my words with, you know?" She added more quietly.
"Really, I wouldn't have figured," Su Ling replied, turning to actually look at her. "Outta all the commoners here, you're the one who slipped right into place with the noble types. I figured you were makin a break."
"There are other commoners here, beside Ji Rong?" Ling Qi asked, the words slipping out a moment before she thought better of it. "...That probably makes your point, doesn't it?" She added sheepishly
Su Ling waved a hand dismissively. "Nothin wrong with that. It's just why I figured we were on different paths you know? Then you started followin me around," she said with a shrug. "Besides, it's kinda inevitable given how ridiculously fast you've shot up."
Ling Qi nodded, accepting her words. "I suppose. I don't really see how that means we're on different paths though."
Su Ling grimaced and glanced at the remains of her kill, little more than bloody bones and offal at this point. "Look, I'm not saying that we aren't friends of a sort. You have Suyin's back, and I respect that. Heck, as long as I didn't get into it with somethin dumb, you'd probably back me up, I think."
Ling Qi nodded, furrowing her brows. "So what's your point?"
Su Ling scowled and distractedly brushed a few strands of hair out of her eyes. "I guess, that technique you gave me… it made me think, you know? I don't care about all the politics and stupid games Immortals like to play. I don't care about governments and empires, and clans 'n shit," she said, stumbling once or twice. "But they have one thing right. Mortals need all the protection they can get. From monsters, from us, even from themselves. Especially kids who don't even have a say in the shit they deal with."
Ling Qi stared at her for a moment, that was the most she had ever heard Su Ling say at once. "I'm still not sure I understand where that separates us," she could see where Su Ling was coming from. She had no doubt the girls own childhood had been at least as, if not more shitty than her own.
"What was the kid's name?" Su Ling asked, crossing her arms and giving Ling Qi a patient look. There was a beat of silence between them as Ling Qi narrowed her eyes, she was sure she had heard it mentioned… "How about his dad? You know the guy bowing and scraping to us?"
"...I get it," Ling Qi replied. She glanced to the side. "Well, no, I suppose I don't really get it," she admitted grudgingly. "It's not like people are better for being poor or powerless or whatever. I don't think I could handle worrying about everyone, not when I'm still trying to just worry about a few, you know?" She had spent years focused only on herself and her own survival, she wanted to be better than that, but she was still working out what that meant.
Su Ling grunted and turned back to her task, gathering up the bones to be bundled. "And like I said, that's fair. I just wanted to get a real answer out of ya. You've gotten to dancing around with words too much. You can tag along as you like. I don't mind showing you stuff."
Ling Qi sighed, it seemed she and Su Ling had different goals. She was rather surer that she had the other girls friendship, such as it was, but she had a feeling growing any closer would be hard.
Su Ling was not the only rarely spoken to acquaintance she spent time with either, she had not forgotten her promise to Meizhen, and so she needed to speak with Cui. Luckily the serpent had taken to resting on the stones near the kiln she had built for her egg, so she could tend to that at the same time. The green veined egg rocked back and forth occasionally now, and throbbed with qi, sucking in heat voraciously and requiring more work to keep the kiln burning. She thought it would likely hatch soon, if she focused on feeding the kiln.
For now though, it was simply important that she could prod Cui for ideas and information on Meizhen's likes while caring for the egg. The sometimes small snake wasn't too reticent about it thankfully, though she did require some minor bribery in the form of a couple of beast cores from her hunting. The answers she got were a little sparse though, simply because it seemed that Meizhen did not often do things 'for fun'.
However… Cui was still able to give her some ideas. She would just have to find a reasonably sized lake, there had to be one around here somewhere, right?
For now though, she refrained from speaking of her plans to Meizhen, who seemed to have little enough time for such things. She was finishing her breakthrough to bronze after all. Still, her friend was still able to give her a few bits of useful advice before retreating into seclusion, which allowed her some insights into her effort to master the next phase of the Eight Phase Ceremony.
As she cultivated, and drank in the celestial qi, she was able to reflect on the moon and what it meant as an element of qi. It was, at its core, an element of change, one that meant little in and of itself, but which altered other elements it was applied to, creating new variations of other elemental qi. Each phase of the moon was thus different, representing many things. The waning crescent, the phase which colored her version of the ceremony, was one which symbolized mystery as all the phases did, and acts performed out of the light. It was cunning and whimsy, the desire to trick and steal, leaving one's victims scratching their heads and cursing the shadows. It was darkness and wind, tempered by guiding moonlight
She was not yet sure how deep she wished to delve into that, and something told her she would have a choice to make at the next phase. Research into the nature of the other phases would probably grant her further insight into the hole in the art she still found herself unable to illuminate. There was certainly something else that she was not yet able to comprehend, and yet it felt different each time she contemplated it, as if awaiting a decision of hers.
Effects
-Adds seven dice to Spiritual Cultivation until Early Green
-Adds five dice to Physical cultivation up until Early Bronze
-Adds five dice to the cultivation of all Yin aspected Arts
-Adds three automatic successes to all qi increase rolls
-Grants the user a single 'virtual' stone of up to Yellow grade per week
-Grants the user two additional dice on Stealth and Larceny checks performed at night
-Allows the user to bind spirits of up to Grade two
-Allows the user to recover up to twenty qi once per night.
Third Phase 13/100
It was this thought, and her breakthrough happening only a couple of days into the week that led to her once again spending her evenings at the archives. She had the free time after all, and the shaman's bags weren't going to unlock themselves. She hadn't studied them in depth, but the locking characters stitched into the leather had given her a very dangerous vibe. Besides, it was about time that she actually picked up something practical.
Of course, actually doing anything beyond practicing her calligraphy and memorizing lists of common characters proved a little more difficult than that. She wasn't really sure where to begin, and often found herself staring in frustration at pages upon pages of theorycrafting above her understanding. Or even worse, simply rereading things she already knew. She felt an increasing desire to kick whatever disciple was in charge of organizing this place.
As the night wore on, with her finding little progress, her gaze drifted toward the only other disciple present at the moment. Xuan Shi was in his normal spot, nose buried in a book, like he usually was at this hour. Her eyes drifted to the white band on his arm, contrasting starkly with his black robes. They were basically allies, right? Asking for a little advice wasn't unreasonable. She didn't precisely like it, but she supposed it couldn't hurt. Besides, of the people remaining on the 'council' he was the only one she hadn't really spoken too. Huang Da's continued existence was ignored. As it should be.
After a moment, she gathered the books she had been perusing under her arm, and made her way over to the boys table. Glancing at the book he was reading she paused. It had a weird title, what kind of book was titled 'Voyages of Yu Long: Mists of the Raven Isle'. She ignored it for the moment, it wasn't the point. "Excuse me," she spoke up politely as she reached his table. "May I ask you something?"
It took several seconds for him to look up from the thin book in his hands, which was a little annoying, but it gave her a moment to study him. The odd boy's conical hat was resting atop a stack of books, so she was able to get a better look at his face. His hair was short and black, but had a slight greenish tinge when the light hit it right. His features were as blocky and plain as she remembered, but his complexion was darkly tanned where it wasn't outright scaled. The high collar of his robe still concealed the lower part of his face though. "Miss Ling," he responded with a slight nod. "What knowledge eludes you?"
"I was hoping you could point me to a good starting point for more more practical formations knowledge," she explained. "I have a fairly firm grasp on the basics at this point, but I am having a little trouble advancing." She was back to speaking formaly again, but this didn't seem like a good time to be casual.
He stared at her for several uncomfortable seconds, she almost began to fidget before restraining herself. "What branch?" He asked shortly. "The paths formation are not as the sands of the beach, but still they are many. What do you seek?"
She blinked and then frowned, glancing to the side in thought. What did she actually want out of her formations knowledge? "...Security I think. The techniques you need to protect places and things," she said after a moment's thought, both because it would be nice to protect her own things… and because it would make her own efforts at acquiring goods more fruitful. She had turned down a couple of targets because she had noticed security she wasn't sure she could deal with.
He made a thoughtful sound and reached out, tapping his finger against a particularly heavy tome on the shelf beside him. "Constructing defenses is often an arduous task, but if that is miss Ling's decision, your foundation materials lie here."
She nodded, taking the heavy tome, a few months ago she probably would have winced at the weight. "...May I ask you one other thing?" she asked, despite her better judgement. At his raised eyebrow, she continued. "Why do you talk like that?"
He regarded her silently for a moment, not seeming offended as she was worried he might, but not answering either. This time she did fidget a little as the uncomfortable moment wore on. "Reputation and words are a power to themselves. Expectations are to be met and maintained, are they not?"
She stared back at him as he lowered his eyes back to his book and flipped a page, clearly dismissing her from his thoughts. So… he talked like that because he was expected too? Weird. She shook her head at the strangeness of it, and turned away to head back to her table and study.
He was right, the book he had pointed out was a well laid out and relatively easy to understand resource, even if the lettering was tiny and the text dry. It would probably take her a few nights to get through it. Thankfully, with the ice somewhat broken, she was able to prod the odd boy into answering questions every so often. Sometimes she even understood his answers without puzzling over them for a quarter hour.
His accessibility offered another benefit as well, she had been trying to think of how to bring up the idea of pushing the wolves out of the site she had discovered, but thus far she had not been able to speak with Cai Renxiang about it. The other girl seemed to always be busy with something, and had not been back to her home all week.
So the following night, she sat down across from Xuan Shi, and explained her proposition. He seemed patient enough to listen to the whole thing thankfully. His expression, what little of it was visible, however, was not great for gaging his reaction. The odd boy just wasn't very expressive.
"The Lady's concerns are many and growing, like the blossoms of a Bog Gorger in the season of rains. A task such as this… it would not draw her eye," he replied with a frown after listening to her. "Cultivation sites may be used by many, but you do not wish to share it with all, I would guess?"
"Well, no," Ling Qi admitted. "But she uses heaven arts herself, right? It would be useful too her," she pointed out.
"Light is the realm of the Cai, and the Heavens too, it is true," he responds simply. "Is the qi so potent that it would earn such personal attentions?"
Ling Qi bit her lip thoughtfully, fingers drumming on the table. "It is… probably the second best site I have found," she replied after a moment. "The best is responsible for much of my growth."
He made a thoughtful sound, closing his eyes. "I may have an interest, and so might the Huang, The Guiding Moon has long smiled upon the Xuan in our stewardship of the Savage Seas. If it is truly potent… perhaps. The Lady Cai takes her tea for one half hour precisely from noon at the Floating Blossom Teahouse in the town below. You might find her there."
Ling Qi nodded, returning to her studies, it would have to do for now.
Thieves Monument Formation: oo
Non Combat
A common formation which, when inscribed into a lock, inflicts complete paralysis upon unauthorized tinkers. Triggers if the target fails to get a minimum of eight successes on a larceny test when attempting to open the lock. Clash for blinding effect is fifteen dice. Target receives a penalty to defense for each success less than eight on their attempt. Paralysis lasts one hour
The next day she went down to town at the appropriate time, waiting until the heiress finished her tea time before approaching her. She made her case, speaking of Xuan Shi's tacit support, the severe girl politely considered her words, but she was able to tell that the heiress was distracted by other concerns.
She was given permission to use a few lower members, as well as anything else she could gather… but it was clear that Cai Renxiang herself considered it a minor matter. That was a little disenheartening, but she thought that between herself, Xuan Shi and Han Jian's group, who she was fairly sure she could convince of it, the task was possible. Particularly with a few more bodies on the front line.
She shook her head at that thought as she headed back up the mountain. Maybe Su Ling was right, that was an odd and callous thought, maybe she was getting a little disconnected from things.
She tried not to worry to much about it for now, she had a lot to do today, but the first thing was picking up her flute, which should be done today.
Ebony Heartswood Flute: A fine instrument, beyond the abilities of mortal craftsmen. Made of dark wood lacquered black and edged with silver, this flute channels qi into sound with great ease. Sturdier than any mortal steel. Contains the memory of Ling Qi's original flute. Adds two dice to all offensive clashes when used for music based arts and reduces the cost of darkness arts by 2, to a minimum of 1. +2 on all Expression tests.
-Haunting Echoes: By spending four qi, the user may cause the flute to continue playing on it's own for one turn
The smooth and polished wood felt cool in her hands, and the mouthpiece felt familiar to her, even under the layer of lacquer and gilt. Even remade, it was still her flute. She happily replaced the simple flute she had used until now, and as she set out to plan both hunt and celebration, she felt much more at ease, knowing it was once more at her side.
The second of the tasks was both easier and harder. Easier because she had managed to make all the preparations she needed using the proceeds of her hunting with Han Jian, and harder because she actually had to convince Meizhen to follow her out into the wilderness.
She wasn't going to fail though, not with the effort she had put into setting things up. Her opportunity came late in the week, when Meizhen finally emerged from seclusion. Her friend had changed subtly since she last saw her, her hair was a few centimeters longer, and her movements even more graceful and flowing. Most noticeably, the little patches of white scale on her neck and the back of her hands had grown less noticeable… though that might be because her complexion had become even more unnaturally white, Bai Meizhen looked ever more like some spirit princess from a story.
Her friend had still seemed a bit off balance, so it wasn't too was easier than usual to get her to follow along, under the premise of having something to show her that she needed to see. It wasn't even a lie really.
It was a little harder to keep convincing her as they descended the mountain though. Ling Qi was not about to give up at this point though, despite her friends increasing irritation, and the knowledge that she couldn't exactly pull her now fully third realm friend along if she actually stopped.
Still, soon enough they approached the little lake Ling Qi had found.
"This is growing absurd," Bai Meizhen grumbled, seeming to practically float above the root tangled ground with her smooth movements. "You can at least tell me why this is so important, can you not Ling Qi?"
"I rold you that we're just about there," Ling Qi responded with a grin. "Please, it's just up ahead."
"I still do not see why we needed to come immediately after my breakthrough," her companion responded cooly. "Could this not have waited? I had barely the time to bathe."
"Nope!" Ling Qi replied brightly as she stepped out past the treeline to the shore of the little lake. "Because you would have made yourself busy again. I told you we were going to celebrate your breakthrough, didn't I?
Meizhen blinked as she stepped out of the trees as well, her her white gown drifting a bit in the breeze. Ling Qi watched as she scanned the rippling waters, made rosy by the light of the setting sun. Her gaze soon drifted to the shore, where a small boat was tied to a sapling. "What is this?"
"Cui told me you missed swimming," Ling Qi responded cheerfully. "And the fishing too. Said you liked stuff fresh," she added. "So I figured I could find a place where we could relax for the afternoon, since you wouldn't like an actual party or anything. I even practiced with the boat, and made an offering to the lake spirit of the lake, so you don't need to worry about anything." Getting nets and fishing line rated for grade one beasts had been a little pricey too, more than the boat really, that had just been a pain to transport.
Bai Meizhen stared at her for several seconds, and then looked back to the lake, expression unreadable. Ling Qi shifted from foot to foot, feeling a little nervous as the silence stretched. Had… had Cui steered her wrong again? She had thought it wouldn't be a problem now that they could talk properly.
Then Meizhen raised her sleeve to cover her mouth and made a soft sound, her shoulders shaking. At first Ling Qi was nonplussed, but it quickly became clear her friend was laughing, it was almost giggly, though her mind rebelled a bit at applying that term to Bai Meizhen. The sound was soft and had a sibilant quality to it, but it wasn't unpleasant.
"What, did Cui lie to me? We don't have to do this," Ling Qi said, feeling a bit uncomfortable as she looked away. "I just… I wanted to do something nice for you."
"It...It is fine," Meizhen replied, lowering her billowy sleeve, a small smile on her lips. "It is just… I have not done something so childish in years. Only Cui would suggest such a thing."
"So… it's a no go?" Ling Qi asked, frowning. She had spent a lot of time looking for a nice isolated place too, figuring Meizhen would like some privacy to go swimming.
"...Perhaps just this once, as an indulgence. It would be a shame to reject your efforts," the pale girl said after a moments pause, the humor fading from her voice. "You said you knew how to use the boat? I'm afraid the ones I am familiar with powered by qi in one form or another."
Ling Qi nodded, her smile returning. "Yeah, it took a little practice, but I can probably manage not to tip us over." She was glad that Meizhen was fine with this, for all her confidence, she had feared her friend would reject the idea. "So don't worry, after all, this one is powered by Qi too."
Bai Meizhen gave her a flat look. "That was terrible."
Well, yeah it was. It had sounded better in her head. So she simply smiled sheepishly and headed down to the shore, followed by her friend. They spent the rest of the afternoon out on the lake, it was relaxing, even if Meizhen had to show her how to not tangle herself up with the line. It was a little more difficult to coax Meizhen out into the water, but after Ling Qi had dived in, stripped to the bottom most layer of her gown, the other girl had reluctantly followed.
Ling Qi envied her friends grace in the water, but she supposed it was expected, and besides, she wasn't so ethereal and elegant once Ling Qi had a chance to mess with her a bit. Even the taciturn girl could help but retaliate against her splashes and horesplay. Things got a little awkward again when they actually managed to catch something. If only because it was honestly a little disturbing to watch her friend swallow a still wriggling fish whole, and hear it's bones crunching as they were crushed in her throat.
She managed not to react though, and she was glad, she had a feeling Meizhen had only eaten in front of her because she had forgotten herself after playing around.
Still her friends dietary oddity aside, she had a lot of fun, just playing around in the water and relaxing with her back against the other girls in the boat. Eventually though, the sun sunk all the way below the horizon, and they settled back on the shore, sitting side by side, with their legs dangling out in the water.
"Thank you Ling Qi, this was… nice," Bai Meizhen said quietly, her hand resting atop Ling Qi's own on the ground. Her snow white skin looked even more ethereal here, damp and under the light of the half moon above.
"No problem Bai Meizhen," she replied. "You've… done a lot for me. You still do. I'm just glad that we're friends."
"As am I," Meizhen said quietly. "...I would not be averse to you calling me by name, at least in private."
Ling Qi blinked, then smiled, glancing at her friend, she didn't really think about it, but that was kind of a big deal for someone like her, right? "Sure thing. You can do the same with me."
"Would you turn this way for a moment then, Qi?" She asked quietly.
Curious Ling Qi did so, turning her eyes away from the stars to look over at her friend, who was leaning forward and…
Her lips were cool and dry, and had a faint coppery taste. The blood from the fish earlier she supposed. It only lasted a few seconds, and she felt Meizhen pulling away, removing her hand and drawing her legs up to her chest.
"My apologies, that was deeply inappropriate. I hope you can forgive me," she said softly, looking out across the lake.
Ling Qi's first response was an odd, slightly strangled sound. Her second attempt was a bit better. "I… you… I mean. It's fine, I guess?" it sounded like a question to her own ears. "I just… I don't… I like men," she said, blushing hotly as she turned away. That was… if it was anyone else she would have screamed, or slapped them or something, probably worse really, if she had a knife. She didn't know what to do here.
"I know," Meizhen said plainly. "It will not happen again. I can only ask that you forgive my… poor impulse control. Grandfather always said I was too emotional," she sighed. "I am sorry. I did not mean to ruin things."
"No, It's… don't worry about it," Ling Qi muttered. She was a little angry, she didn't like being taken advantage of like that. It was Meizhen, her best friend though. "I guess it's my fault too for pulling you out here when you were tired, sorry Meizhen."
Her friend hummed softly, giving her a worried look. Ling Qi managed to smile though, hoping they could just dismiss the whole awkward moment. Meizhen seemed to relax a bit at least. "Yes, I apologize again. Perhaps we should head home. A few hours sleep might do me well."
And so, on that somewhat unsettling note, the night ended.
The following days, Ling Qi threw herself into training and meditation as well as gathering people to drive out the wolves. That in itself turned out a bit anticlimactically, particularly since Meizhen insisted on coming along as an apology once she caught wind of what Ling Qi was doing. With the numbers and strength gathered once she convinced Han Jian to come along… well they made short work of the couple of wolves they ran across at first, but it seemed to spook the pack, and there was no sign of them once they reached the site, nor in the area around it, beyond a couple of other stragglers. They were still worth a few spirit stones at market though, even if the sum was pretty small when divided up.
+15 Red Spirit Stones
Still, success was success, and it was not the last one Ling Qi had that week, as she found her senses sharpening from the constant exposure to Argent Qi.
Passive Effects
-Allows training of the 'Resilience' Mastery
-Provides three dice to all tests and clashes to resist or bypass illusion effects
-Provides a one die bonus to composure and resolve tests
-Allows the user to know the cultivation realm living things within fifty meters. Exact level can be determined in targets of the same realm or lower than the user.
Serene Reflection: oo
Cost: 5 qi
Instant
The user balances and cycles their qi, expelling external influences. Dispels a single negative effect of two dots or less from the user, and grants three additional die to spiritual defense against the effects caster for two turns.
Discerning Gaze: oo
Cost: 4 Qi
Channeling qi into their senses the user greatly enhances their ability to discern the truth of the world, gaining three additional dice on all perception and empathy tests for five turns, in addition if the user is under the effects of an illusion or other sense affecting technique, they receive an immediate attempt to break out of it, with a two die bonus.
Second Reflection 0/- Requires Head Meridian
When she took the time to complete the next reflection, she found herself thinking over past events. Su Ling's words came back to her, as did her actions since her trauma induced vision. Had she been more affected by her elements than she thought. On reflection… she did feel like she had changed of late. Was that due to her techniques, or simple evolution of the self though?
She wasn't sure, but she did resolve to be more mindful of such things in the future.
The other thing which her self reflection brought up was more recent. Meizhen and what had happened at the lake. She… did not feel that way. She did not think of Meizhen as anything more than a good friend, and had felt nothing but surprise and confusion during that moment… but it made it clear that her friend did feel differently, beyond the teasing hints of others.
...Even the clarity of the Argent Mirror did not grant her knowledge of what to do about it though.
[] Train by hunting with Han Jian and his group
-[] Physical or art
[] Spend more time with your egg, to ensure you are present when it hatches
[] Continue ruining the days of those associated with Kang
[] Take your lessons with Elder Ying
-[] Select two subjects
[] Train at the vent with Suyin and Su Ling
-[] Any
[] Take a job
-[] Specify
[] Visit the Archive
-[] Search for a technique
-[] Study formations
[] Train with Bai Meizhen
-[] Any
[] Cultivate on your own
-[] Physical
-[] Spiritual
-[] Qi
-[] Meridian (which one?)
-[] Art(Which one?)
You have THREE minor actions. TWO minor actions may be traded for one additional major one. In addition, up to one additional minor action may be attached to a Major action as a subvote, provided both involve the same character.
[] It's about time you and Gu Xiulan got to those challenges you never got to do
[] Help Su Ling hunt stronger beasts and gather rather rarer herbs
[] Spend time with Han Jian, you want his perspective on what happened
[] Continue getting to know Xuan Shi, he was a helpful and reasonable sort
[] Huang Da has been quiet these past weeks, it's making you nervous, look into what he's been up too.
[] Speak with Gan Guangli, it can't hurt to get to know him better, and you can see how things are going for Cai's group
[] Head to the market.
[] Try to figure out the locking formations on the bags you looted from the shaman
[] Speak to Meizhen about what happened. You... need to clear the air between the two of you.
[] Swing by the medicine hall to visit Li Suyin. How has she been doing?
Two Hour moratorium, as usual guys. Mission board will get a proper update soon. Sorry this one took so long.
So, time to get our Elder Tips since the egg's likely going to hatch this turn (Given how we're getting an action to watch it an it's been saying that it's close to hatching for a bit now), so we spend some time on Spirit Beast Rearing and maybe a defensive art? Being present for that plus the elder stuff'll eat up two of our Majors and one of our Minors.
New flute upgrade's pretty good too! A solid all around upgrade, plus an autoplay function to extend our duration another turn! (Oh, but you've got Spiritual listed as Early Yellow for the EPC upgrade, when it should be Early Green)
Hmm, we're also going to need to open another Head Meridian for Argent Mirror.
"She has made the sect a duller place," Gu Xiulan said irritably. "Still, I suppose we can still find our entertainment," she said, shooting a grin at Ling Qi, which she returned, remembering the frustration on the faces of those who had lost to Gu Xiulan, and the expressions of her own targets the next day, it made up for the markdown she had sold the stolen talisman's for somewhat worth it.
...She is aware that the Sect is all but surrounded by hidden tests, rewards, and enemies to fight, right?
I suppose you do have to find them first, and it can be dangerous if you don't have a diverse set of skills or team with you, as opposed to fighting a known classmate.
She was not yet sure how deep she wished to delve into that, and something told her she would have a choice to make at the next phase. Research into the nature of the other phases would probably grant her further insight into the hole in the art she still found herself unable to illuminate. There was certainly something else that she was not yet able to comprehend, and yet it felt different each time she contemplated it, as if awaiting a decision of hers.
I think I finally know something important enough to spend a tutoring session on. We need to choose which moon we follow before the version of Eight Phase we cultivate chooses for us. I don't want to follow our current path to far, the Thieves Moon gives every indication of being nasty, and ignorance... is not safe.
I suggest any plan we make has
[]Hire a Tutor
-[] Eight Phase Ceremony
so that we can get taught properly. Because we're edging onto dangerous shores of other people, Greater Spirits maybe but still people, making our choices for us.
