The most important thing, is that we need to see what's Meizhen's possible idea. Until we know better what all our options are, we're just going to keep talking in circles.
And again, while Cai is offering us a really good deal, I'm still going to refuse to accept unless Ling Qi herself starts actually liking Cai. Ling Qi currently dislikes and somewhat distrusts Cai. We can't control Ling Qi's feelings, only her actions (otherwise we'd totally have voted for her to reciprocate Meizhen's feelings). Unless Ling Qi actually starts thinking of Cai as a friend, I'm gonna vote to refuse any offer of vassalage.
The most important thing, is that we need to see what's Meizhen's possible idea. Until we know better what all our options are, we're just going to keep talking in circles.
And again, while Cai is offering us a really good deal, I'm still going to refuse to accept unless Ling Qi herself starts actually liking Cai. Ling Qi currently dislikes and somewhat distrusts Cai. We can't control Ling Qi's feelings, only her actions (otherwise we'd totally have voted for her to reciprocate Meizhen's feelings). Unless Ling Qi actually starts thinking of Cai as a friend, I'm gonna vote to refuse any offer of vassalage.
Our options afterwards are exactly the same as our options now: "vassal or GTFO". We can either work in the sects, military or ministry directly serving the empress (an enemy of the Bai), swear to someone (vassal), or leave the empire (GTFO).
The big thing is that we know almost nothing about our actual options, and that the longer we wait the better our options would naturally be except for the CRX option, which is unique due to how unique CRX's position is. That has been said multiple times, that the longer we wait the more we could ask, and that CRX's position is unique, and that we know nothing.
Working for a sect also doesn't mean we aren't tied to a family: all Elders in all sects are tied to specific families, too. It just means more independence.
Things aren't "the same", simply because we will learn more about the actual conflicts in the empire and what we want to do. Which... we have no clue of, right now.
I feel I should clarify that Elder's are tied to families in the sense that they're usually members of noble families themselves. Their direct chain of loyalty still goes ->Sect Leader->Imperial Throne.
The most important thing, is that we need to see what's Meizhen's possible idea. Until we know better what all our options are, we're just going to keep talking in circles.
And again, while Cai is offering us a really good deal, I'm still going to refuse to accept unless Ling Qi herself starts actually liking Cai. Ling Qi currently dislikes and somewhat distrusts Cai. We can't control Ling Qi's feelings, only her actions (otherwise we'd totally have voted for her to reciprocate Meizhen's feelings). Unless Ling Qi actually starts thinking of Cai as a friend, I'm gonna vote to refuse any offer of vassalage.
This has nothing to do what what I was saying. We don't know that "it will be the same". All those options means very different things 'now' than 'later', and we don't know what those options means, either.
The most important thing, is that we need to see what's Meizhen's possible idea. Until we know better what all our options are, we're just going to keep talking in circles.
And again, while Cai is offering us a really good deal, I'm still going to refuse to accept unless Ling Qi herself starts actually liking Cai. Ling Qi currently dislikes and somewhat distrusts Cai. We can't control Ling Qi's feelings, only her actions (otherwise we'd totally have voted for her to reciprocate Meizhen's feelings). Unless Ling Qi actually starts thinking of Cai as a friend, I'm gonna vote to refuse any offer of vassalage.
As an aside, anyone planning to join a military or quasi-military organization because they want more freedom or independence is probably going to be disappointed.
I voted for a plan with double Cai actions. I'm just saying, if it gets to answering time and Ling Qi still doesn't like her, I'm gonna vote no on the vassalage thing.
The thread may vote to accept under the assumption that "this is the best deal we can get", and Ling Qi may then feel that it's worthwhile to jump on the opportunity even if she is personally still rather wary of Cai. Maybe she'll assume that as she spends more time with Cai, she could maybe grow to like her in the future, so it's fine to take the offer now, given what an amazing chance it is.
However, I feel like if the thread voted to do that, it would be a great disservice to Ling Qi. I don't care how awesome and wonderful the chance is, or how much it will benefit Ling Qi. Unless she actually likes the person she's going to swear loyalty to (likes in present, not "I think I may grow to like in future"), I will never vote for Ling Qi to accept any offer like that.
As an aside, anyone planning to join a military or quasi-military organization because they want more freedom or independence is probably going to be disappointed.
Keep in mind there is no option that doesn't have the military. Bai option has military, Xuan option has military, Xiulan option has military, CRX has it, Sect has it....
The only difference is what we would do after the military.
As an aside, anyone planning to join a military or quasi-military organization because they want more freedom or independence is probably going to be disappointed.
Hmm, for me, it's less about freedom, and more about choice.
Like, military has to happen. Similar to how rain falls and mortals have to eat. Obey the Empire's laws, because if not, it's way more trouble than it's worth. Basically, that kind of obligation to me, is an impersonal thing that more or less everyone has to deal with. Like weather and the need for resources to be comfortable.
Vassalage, on the other hand, is a bigger deal to me. It's like... The difference between breaking the law, and breaking a promise to a close friend. We're the ones choosing to make, or not make, the promise. If we choose to promise, we need to live up to it, because that's our choice. And I don't want to commit Ling Qi to that unless she's sure the person she's swearing to is worth the commitment.
For people looking for political freedom, I actually think the Bai are our best bet for that. We know they've lost lots of vassals and so have a lot of unmanned land so it's reasonable to assume that to sign on with them would lead to being given a large domain. They also have a full clan so compared to CRX would be unlikely to be interested in our presence in court.
I suppose they could be angsty about betrayal but it's not like the Bai are generally quick to action. Meizhen is known as overly emotional for a Bai and even she doesn't just act out randomly against suspected or confirmed enemies.
Keep in mind there is no option that doesn't have the military. Bai option has military, Xuan option has military, Xiulan option has military, CRX has it, Sect has it....
Keep in mind that certain people have touted working for the empress in the military or sect as if it were an alternative to vassalhood that had more freedom or independence...
Keep in mind that certain people have touted working for the empress in the military or sect as if it were an alternative to vassalhood that had more freedom or independence...
Have they? I don't remember anyone touting 'military route is more freedom', though obviously it might be more freedom than specific vassalage types. The sect route is not 'military route', and it would be a decision to make after the 8 years of military service anyway... so people would know what the military entails. Oh, and obiously the sect route is explicitly more freedom than vassalage.
I'd really like examples of people saying 'military is more freedom' and 'we should decide on military now'.
As is, I am just reading your post as "People will be surprised if, after 8 years of military, they vote for military and expect more freedom". Which is just plain weird.
Keep in mind that certain people have touted working for the empress in the military or sect as if it were an alternative to vassalhood that had more freedom or independence...
She'll ask again when we break through to Green. Unless I have something off, we plan to try and hopefully succeed in that her crossing that within the span of a month. That gives us about four weeks to interact with her to the point that we become pals in Qi's eyes, during which she has to compete with all the rest of our friends and Zhengui and there's no telling what sort of crises will pop up to distract from the situation. Qi is inherently suspicious of folks, particularly now that she knows Cai wants her to have a good opinion of her; it's pretty darn hard for her to compete with people that Qi has known from the start and have had forever in terms of practicing or proximity and trials to get close to.
If you're saying that you won't be voting to be Cai's vassal unless Qi considers her a good friend I don't think that you'll be voting for vassalage with Cai.
For people looking for political freedom, I actually think the Bai are our best bet for that. We know they've lost lots of vassals and so have a lot of unmanned land so it's reasonable to assume that to sign on with them would lead to being given a large domain. They also have a full clan so compared to CRX would be unlikely to be interested in our presence in court.
I suppose they could be angsty about betrayal but it's not like the Bai are generally quick to action. Meizhen is known as overly emotional for a Bai and even she doesn't just act out randomly against suspected or confirmed enemies.
This is particularly hilarious, because Meizhen herself thought it was a terrible idea. The Bais are infamous for being domineering on their vassals ever since the last bunch left. Their family Darkness inclination reacted very poorly with their vassals abandoning them so they're going to be utterly unreasonable for a few centuries at least about the freedom of their remaining vassals(which is why they aren't climbing back up, nobody new wants to join if they have a choice)
[X] Plan Unlock Argent Current
-[X] Grinning Moon Bonus -> Eight Phase Ceremony
-[X] Vent Bonus -> Argent Current
-[X] Overflow -> Physical Cultivation
-[X] Use From Inventory: 3RSS, 1YSS
-[X] Buy and Use: Channel Cleansing Pill (2), Heavy Rains Pill (10), Gushing Springs + Flowing Rivers Pills (2+6), both Fire Pills (2+6) = (28 total)
-[X] Train at the vent with Su Ling
--[X] Open Arm Meridian
--[X] (minor) Continue playing music with Su Ling to unwind, you felt a little better just from one session after all.
--[X] (minor) Try to explore the Argent Vent.
-[X] Train with the Golden Fields Group
--[X] Argent Current
-[X] Zhengui is growing restless, you should help him prepare a nest
-[X] Train with Meizhen
--[X] Eight Phase Ceremony
-[X] Take a job
--[X] Capture the Storm Spirits
-[X] Write a letter to mother
-[X] Head back up the mountain to visit Zeqing. You... should try not to hold a grudge
-[X] Find the time for a chat with Guangli, even if he is biased, he's probably the one who knows Cai best[/spoiler]
Ling Qi crouched over the glittering red and yellow growths at the edge of the vent, a length of sturdy cord dangling from her fingers. She had still retained one of her vault scouts from last week's actions at Sun Liling's fortress, and she had found herself at a bit of a loss as to what to do with the little thing. She didn't want to waste it's remaining operation time, but she wasn't going to need it for much this week.
In the end, her thoughts had gone to the vent, and the seemingly bottomless crevice she had rescued Zhengui from. She hadn't given it much thought really, though she supposed she could explore it, given her advances. Ling Qi was wary of getting caught in a space too small for her body though. Such occurrences had been… messy in Elder Jiao's simulations, not to mention painful.
Which had brought on this idea, it cost her no more than a trip to the supply house in the girls residences.
"Are you done screwing around with that?" Su Ling asked impatiently, breaking her out of her thoughts as she felt the bundle of bones at the end of the cord come to rest on something solid.
"Yeah," Ling Qi replied absently, giving the spool she had staked to the ground beside the vent a little twist to ensure it could turn properly. "I didn't know you were that eager for another concert," she added lightly as she stood and turned, dusting off the front of her gown.
Su Ling, seated on the ground with her sword across her lap, looked away. The other girl looked discomfited by the comment, scratching her cheek sheepishly. "It's a good focus for meditation. The third stage of the Insurmountable Crag art is kinda…"
Ling Qi nodded her understanding as she settled herself on the flat stone that was her customary seat. Mountain qi didn't really come too naturally to the other girl, so as much as Su Ling liked practicing her sword art, it was kind of an uphill struggle. In the case of Argent Mirror, the difficulty had been offset by how easily she took to Lake qi, but here she didn't have that advantage. "Well, it's not like I mind," Ling Qi replied lightly, idly running her fingers along the polished length of her flute, wondering what she should play.
"Yeah, I guess I'm glad you asked," Su Ling said as she closed her eyes. "I never would have thought you could do songs that don't make people's hair stand on end."
Ling Qi made an affronted sound, shooting her friend a dirty look. She knew the rough girl's jibe was friendly though, so she wasn't offended. "It's hardly my fault that the mountain seems to explode every other month," she huffed, raising her flute to her lips. She hadn't really made any proper songs yet, so she would just play what she felt.
The next couple hours passed in peace as she played and her friend meditated, ripples of dull grey mountain qi occasionally surfacing on the mirror polished blade of her sword. Eventually the drift of the sun ended their relaxation though.
As Ling Qi opened her eyes and lowered her flute, she could feel the tingling of a new meridian slowly forming down her arm, and felt a thrill of satisfaction at her progress. Elder Su had made clearing meridians sound hard, but while it was time consuming, she had never really found it difficult beyond the first few.
Su Ling's breathing was even, and her furry ears drooped low. Her friend almost looked asleep, though Ling Qi could tell that she wasn't. Her expression was melancholy though, and it made Ling Qi wonder. She mulled over her options, and much as usual, elected to take the direct path. "Do you want to talk about it?" She offered as she dismissed her flute back into storage.
Su Ling opened her eyes, giving Ling Qi a confused look. "About what?"
"Whatever has you down," Ling Qi replied simply. "Sad wasn't what I was going for with that one," she continued.
Su Ling looked at her for a moment and scoffed, looking away. "Since when are you all touchy-feely. 'S more Suyin's thing isn't it?"
"We're supposed to be friends, right?" Ling Qi replied dryly. "Of course I'd ask."
"I left you be when you came to the medicine hall with frostbite and a look like someone had pissed in your rice," Su Ling retorted, crossing her arms.
Now it was her turn to frown, she hadn't even noticed Su Ling was there at the time when she went in to get treated. "Yeah, well maybe I'd have liked you too," she shot back, feeling defensive.
Su Ling looked away, uncomfortable. "...You have other people for that."
Ling Qi frowned. She… didn't really. She loved Meizhen as a friend, but she had no desire to bare any part of her past to the highborn girl. The thought of doing so made her deeply uncomfortable, and the thought of burdening Xiulan or Suyin with her complaints didn't exactly fill her with joy either.
"...It's nothing important," she looked back up, to find Su Ling looking at her, with a sort of unhappy realization on her face. "It's just ah… what's the word," she frowned, drumming her fingers on her knee. "It's just nostalgia."
Ling Qi looked at the other girl for a moment, toying with the end of her braid. "It seems like every time I start to trust someone more powerful than me, they pull something shitty," the vulgarity passed her lips without thought, rare as that was for her these days. She could remember the panic in the back her thoughts in the aftermath of the incident with Meizhen. The part of her that suddenly wanted to panic and flinch away from every contact, even more now that the illusion of safety was shattered. She had pushed it aside and down, but it still worried at her.
Then Zeqing had come along and flung her into a deadly blizzard, shattering the comfort that she had started to take in the presence of an older figure. She could recognize that she had started to latch onto the snow woman in a small way, her mastery of Argent Mirror wouldn't let her ignore that.
Su Ling looked up at the sky deliberatively for a few seconds before looking back. "I can get that," she said quietly. "Not quite like you do, but fuck, nobody is the same when it comes to that kind of thing." The vulgarity seemed a little forced in that line.
"Guess so," Ling Qi mused. She supposed it all came back to Mother, and the ugly argument that had lead to her fleeing to the streets. Or the conversation she had witnessed which had triggered it. It seemed foolish of her looking back. Those memories took on a different cast when looked at with the eyes of an adult.
She had a few reasons to pay Tonghou city a visit, it seemed.
"That's a scary look," Su Ling said, drawing her from her thoughts. "Got someone you're gonna kill?"
"Maybe," Ling Qi replied slowly. "How about you?"
"Sure," Su Ling replied. Meeting her eyes dead on. "Got a list, ending with that murderous furry bitch."
"Guess that's something we have in common," Ling Qi replied lightly. "Let me know if you need a hand."
Su Ling stood up, dusting off her pants. "...I might at that. Should probably get going though. Got a lot of work yet."
"The same," Ling Qi sighed, copying her friend. "Until next time?'
Rerolling 4
10 4 8 7. 1 success. 2 auto. 32 successes
32/24. Arm Meridian Open!
8 to Physical cultivation
34/180
Ling Qi was quite busy this week, but she was glad she could unwind a bit by relaxing with Su Ling. Her efforts to explore the vent were slow going, the construct kept getting caught in places or losing its grip on the stone, leaving it dangling from the end of the cord. She kept prodding it forward though.
That was more a diversion than anything though. Zhengui demanded a great deal of her attention this week, his appetite growing far beyond previous weeks. The little fellow practically inhaled cores, and the less said of the massacre of the fruit platter she purchased for him the better. The garden at her home also lost one of its flower beds as Zhengui took to digging out a hollow with frenetic energy. Given her study, it was obvious what was happening. It was still worrying to see though, Zhengui had a single minded air about him and his responses when spoken too were vague at best as lost himself in a fugue.
Ling Qi was able to figure it out though, and quickly set about purchasing a great deal of high quality wood, straw and other plant based kindling to line his growing nest with. Gathering enough to fuel a pretty huge bonfire. She burned further income providing materials for security formations around the garden, well aware that Zhengui would be helpless in his hibernation.
Finally though, her spirit had buried himself under a mound of dirt and shredded plant matter, and the feel of his thoughts grew muted and indistinct. The kindling began burning a short time later, flames shot through with lines of emerald green greedily consuming the offerings in the pit that had once been a flowerbed.
Once matters with Zhengui were settled, Ling Qi was able to give her other tasks more attention. It had been more than a month since she had picked up the jade slip for Argent Current, and it was high time that she actually put it into practice.
Rerolling 5
3 4 6 3 5. 4 successes. 5 auto. 43 total
43/20 Argent Current, First Flow learned.
The First form of the Argent Sects melee combat arts. Combines the devouring nature of fire with the persistence of water to break through enemy defenses and bolster allied assault into an unstoppable flow.
Fire, Water, Balanced
Current Meridians: Heart, Arm
Needed Meridians: Arm(3), Heart(5)
Passives
The user and allies within twenty five meters gain +2 dice on physical attacks
The multiple attacker penalty increases by one for the user and all allies within twenty five meters.
Damage to armor durability inflicted by the user is increased 1.5 times, or by one whichever is greater.
Scalding Stream: oo
Cost 4 Qi
Channeling their boiling qi into a strike, the user washes away a foe's defenses. The user gains a +3 bonus to their attacking die pool with a melee weapon. The attack is granted armor piercing one, and deals one additional damage on a success. Additional damage may not be blocked by qi negation. In addition the enemy receives a -2 penalty to their physical defense pool for three turns. If an enemy with this penalty is struck again by Scalding streams, this penalty stacks up to three times(Max -6) renewing the duration each time.
Pressure Crack: ooo
Cost: 6 qi
Uttering a command or encouragement to their allies, the user fills themselves and up to three allies within twenty five meters with vigor and determination to strike down their foes manifesting as rising steam. Grants a three die bonus to the offensive pools of all affected allies for three turns. Allies who attack the same foe as the the user add an additional point of damage to their successful attacks which cannot be blocked by qi negation. In addition, for each ally who attacks the user's target, the user gains +1 die bonus to their offensive clash against the target the following turn. This effect may only apply to a single target at a time.
It was surprisingly easy to pick up during the training sessions between rounds of careful exploration with Han Jian and the others. Argent Current was an art with the singular focus on striking a single point again and again until it shattered, like a river breaking through a dam, it also rewarded working together with other users of the technique, as she found when working with Xiulan. If both of them used the second technique, the qi they poured into it reinforced itself building off both of their efforts to greater results.
Their efforts at exploration also finally bore some fruit this week as they discovered a set of caverns behind a small waterfall rich in earth and water qi… and littered with bones, not all of which looked animal. As it was late in their last scheduled time together by the time they found it, it was agreed that they would hold off on plumbing the depths just yet.
+4 Sect Points
Ling Qi's efforts with the vent bore a bit more immediate fruit, as after many false starts and failures, her scout finally found the bottom of the vent. It was nothing grand, simply a small chamber a bit over a meter across, filled with a bubbling pool of what looked like liquid silver. It was the source of the mist which rose from the vent like steam. Ling Qi collected a few vials full of the stuff via her scout, noting with a bit of concern that the constructs bones seemed to be petrifying with exposure to the liquid. The fourth time she sent it down, it came back up as a fossilized sculpture.
She made sure not to directly touch the stuff.
It did feel like it was full of incredibly potent qi though, so she left it to Su Ling and Li Suyin, to see if they could make anything of the stuff.
Despite all that though, Ling Qi found her thoughts turning back to her Mother again and again, even as she contemplated meeting Zeqing again. She felt that their communication was going well, that they were reconnecting, and that made her happy, but all the same…
She remembered the night she had run away, had left her home of eight years for the last time.
She remembered the feeling of betrayal, fright and panic that had consumed her younger self's thoughts. Mother had been all she had, and she was supposed to protect her. Now that she thought on it, her first lessons on how to stay quiet and out of sight and notice had come from her Mother. It hadn't been enough though, not back then.
She remembered how much it had hurt to listen to her mother talk about her like some piece of meat or fatted calf at market. How much it hurt to have her Mother smile and titter at the big leering oaf whose disgusting eyes had fallen on her, to have her act like the only problem was Ling Qi not being 'ready'.
Looking back with older eyes though, she could remember the bruises on Mother's neck the next morning, and the hitch in her step. She could recognize the vapid flirtations as a distraction, and the way her Mother had snapped at her in the morning exhaustion. Su Ling had accused her of missing things before and she wasn't wrong. Even as child, Ling Qi knew she had a bad habit of tunnel vision
It had been years since she had even thought about it, and she had never really questioned or examined her own thoughts. She had a good excuse of course, the streets gave little time for introspection… or maybe until now, she hadn't wanted to acknowledge it. The fact that the basis of so much of her hardship was a wrong
She was a stubborn girl, she knew that well enough.
...She couldn't regret it though. Even if she could no longer really blame her Mother, the fact was that she would never have been safe with her either. She could acknowledge now that Mother had been barely more than a girl herself. Even now she should only be a bit over thirty, whatever aging effects her conditions might have had. Could she have avoided ending up the virtual property of some overstuffed merchant or petty mortal official if she had stayed?
It was with those thoughts in mind that she put her brush to the page
Mother,
Your concern makes me happy, and I will keep your advice in mind. While I won't claim to have not made any mistakes, I have learned to step a little more lightly. Bai Meizhen, my friend and I have had some difficulties, but we have reached an understanding of each other I think, though I sometimes exasperate her.
Also, you are not so old Mother, so none of that.
I would like to thank you for your gift, it is beautiful, and I am happy to use it as a tool in my endless quest to keep my hair in something like good order. As for the situation which lead me to my spirit companion… it is a bit of a long story. Suffice to say that I made a good impression on his father, who asked me to care for Zhengui on his behalf.
Turning from lighter things for a moment… Mother, is there anything wrong? Is there anyone giving you trouble? I can recognize when you are avoiding a subject you know. I know you likely do not want to trouble me, but I would appreciate it if we could be candid at least with each other. If there are problems, I am not helpless to confront them, even here.
I am not really certain of including the details in the letter, but suffice to say, that I have earned a few favors from my peers.
I shall put aside the subject for now, and I will not make any demands but… even if it was cut short, you did raise and care for me. I will not forget my obligations as a daughter.
Returning to lighter things, might you consider sharing your compositions with me? I have become pretty skilled at the technical aspects, but I'm afraid my repertoire is still pretty limited, and my composition skills lacking the refinement of use. I have been advised to work on creating my own pieces if I wish to continue mastering the musical arts, and I was hoping for your advice on the matter.
Your daughter, Ling Qi
Gazing down at the drying ink of the third draft or so, Ling Qi pursed her lips. Letters were very limiting, especially when she had an inkling that they weren't entirely private. She would definitely have to visit Tonghou in the future. There would be a break after the tournament, regardless of results… she would just have to wait until then.
If you're saying that you won't be voting to be Cai's vassal unless Qi considers her a good friend I don't think that you'll be voting for vassalage with Cai.
*shrug* I'm not sure we're actually breaking through that soon, but yeah, this is basically right. Ling Qi being friends with Cai is my fundamental requirement for even considering accepting vassalage to her. I may still vote no, if I feel like the Meizhen option is better. But Ling Qi liking and trusting Cai is the bare minimum before I'll accept swearing loyalty to her.
This is particularly hilarious, because Meizhen herself thought it was a terrible idea. The Bais are infamous for being domineering on their vassals ever since the last bunch left. Their family Darkness inclination reacted very poorly with their vassals abandoning them so they're going to be utterly unreasonable for a few centuries at least about the freedom of their remaining vassals(which is why they aren't climbing back up, nobody new wants to join if they have a choice)
Meizhen knows we wouldn't get along with her family. We wouldn't like them and they wouldn't like us. We don't know how unreasonable they are, it just sounds like more of your habit of sweeping elemental statements. Looking at elemental bias, the Bai are also water users and I'm pretty sure their Sublime Ancestor is more water aligned than darkness aligned so surely they're adaptable enough to not just drive everyone away when their attitude hasn't worked in the past?
the user fills themselves and up to three allies within twenty five meters with vigor and determination to strike down their foes manifesting as rising steam.
Ling Qi crouched over the glittering red and yellow growths at the edge of the vent, a length of sturdy cord dangling from her fingers. She had still retained one of her vault scouts from last week's actions at Sun Liling's fortress, and she had found herself at a bit of a loss as to what to do with the little thing. She didn't want to waste it's remaining operation time, but she wasn't going to need it for much this week.
In the end, her thoughts had gone to the vent, and the seemingly bottomless crevice she had rescued Zhengui from. She hadn't given it much thought really, though she supposed she could explore it, given her advances. Ling Qi was wary of getting caught in a space too small for her body though. Such occurrences had been… messy in Elder Jiao's simulations, not to mention painful.
Initial reaction: I really like how we bonded with Su Ling over future murder. And I think Su Ling is noticing how actually alone we are. It's nice she's realising we're not just a cultivation machine, and actually have feelings.
@yrsillar, shouldn't AC1 cost 15 considering it's a support art? So... 15 for AC1, 25 for AC2, a total of 40... so we should have AC2?
Also, a clarification: from what I am seeing, Pressuring Crack works like Encircling Wind, in that the bonus die does not work for Ling Qi? I'd also like to check: the passive bonus to physical works for archery or sound blasts with a flute? It seems to be working for archery from the language, but not the flute.
OTOH, we can use Scalding streams with our flute right?
