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Forge of Destiny(Xianxia Quest)

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I wonder how Art creation will be handled. And if it'll be similar to studying/modifying formations.
 
veekie said:
Passive effects:
-Enhanced stealth/larceny
-Enhanced defense in darkness
-Storage ring emulation

Shadow Mantle
-Calls up shadows to form a cloak of darkness.
-Enhanced armor
-Temporary storage space
-Acts like a candle that emanates darkness

Hungry Darkness
-Larceny Clash against inbound attacks, on success, attack is swallowed into the darkness
-Later upgrade lets you launch consumed attacks back out as a counterattack.

Dark Abduction
-Short/Medium range grappling attack from an enemy's shadow, then drag the target into the storage space.
-Later upgrade will silence, and conceal the target while you're at it, which makes the attack more subtle

Pool of Shadow
-Is perfectly good, just use yours :p

Shadow Substitution
-Pop into storage space, replace with something inside, which is glamored to look like you.
-Pop out an instant later as a shadow.
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Interesting. I intentionally didn't use Larceny, since I didn't want to make it too well suited to us. I think your use of storage space would make this a higher level technique. Hungry Darkness in particular lets you outright cancel attacks the way Shadow Spike did AND return them. Very powerful. Fantastic idea, mind you.
 
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Mmm, well, I worked with Darkness themes more or less. Darkness is not going to be very good at direct and long ranged attacks on its own, though Dark Wind would probably do freezing blasts?
 
veekie said:
Mmm, well, I worked with Darkness themes more or less. Darkness is not going to be very good at direct and long ranged attacks on its own, though Dark Wind would probably do freezing blasts?
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Well, I think claws of shadow are fine, but you could just give all the attacks drain effects like Essence Flensing from Dark Dreams.

Also, Grasping Shadows isn't earth or water, it's a near-clone of a wind/thunder technique after all. :p Elements can be fairly flexible.
 
veekie said:
Mmm, well, I worked with Darkness themes more or less. Darkness is not going to be very good at direct and long ranged attacks on its own, though Dark Wind would probably do freezing blasts?
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Ice and frost have been shown to be wind+water in the past, looking at the Blizzard Pin and Ice Wraith Art. Though there's this snippet from the prologue on the Minister's Death spirit. Thinking about it, Death might suit Li Qing's themes well indeed, as a tertiary element.

yrsillar said:
The thought caused the spirit bound within her to stir, its icy qi pulsing through her spinal meridians for a moment and intensifying the phantom breeze that blew around her person.
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Siual said:
Ice and frost have been shown to be wind+water in the past, looking at the Blizzard Pin and Ice Wraith Art. Though there's this snippet from the prologue on the Minister's Death spirit. Thinking about it, Death might suit Li Qing's themes well indeed, as a tertiary element.
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How awesome would it be to join MoI before retiring with Tai and starting up our own little necromatic cult in the Golden Fields? It'd be the perfect place to cultivate fire/death/sun
 
There there. Maybe CRX will have to send her ninja to Golden Fields to chase down some traitorous vassel and we'll get to team up with Lan Lan to fight them after the traitor gets turned into a mummy by g-g-g-ghosts!
 
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tricholysis said:
thread

why do you taunt me with things that ling qi will never have, just because Cai offered first ;_;
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I'm not sure what else you would want. Tai marriage in middle of fucking nowhere playing in the dirt with farmers(for someone that grew up on the streets i'm sure that prospect is just fantastic...) and exploring ruins no-one else can be bothered to go to... or Meizhen not!offer to join her poisonous family of arrogant backstabbers?
what else is there ? Staying in the Sect or going to one of the Ministries hasn't even been offered. And going rogue is by WoG not going to work.
 
Ayashi said:
I'm not sure what else you would want. Tai marriage in middle of fucking nowhere playing in the dirt with farmers(for someone that grew up on the streets i'm sure that prospect is just fantastic...) and exploring ruins no-one else can be bothered to go to... or Meizhen not!offer to join her poisonous family of arrogant backstabbers?
what else is there ? Staying in the Sect or going to one of the Ministries hasn't even been offered. And going rogue is by WoG not going to work.
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Honestly, the Cai offer would be the best offer.... If we didn't have to make a decision right fucking now. But as things stand, Cai's offer is mutually exclusive to most other options that might be available to Ling Qi, and that irks me greatly, considering how much potential Ling Qi has. Now, there is still the possibility that Cai would understand wanting to find your own way before making lifelong commitments, but we haven't asked Cai about this, and I doubt we'll really know until we actually answer Cai's offer.

Honestly, I kind of want Ling Qi to point blank ask Cai why she's offering Ling Qi this position so early in Ling Qi's life. While I suspect we'll already know the answer, it would show Cai why Ling Qi's is acting the way she is around Cai: because Cai is forcing her to choose, and Ling Qi hates being forced. Period.

EDIT: Heck, writing all this out has made me realize that Ling Qi is being confronted with a lifelong decision at age 14! And this is in a setting where cultivators are expected to live centuries!
 
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Alectai said:
Pretty much every option is mutually exclusive to be honest.
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Including the Ministries, the Sect, and any other route Ling Qi might be able to pursue? Meizhen herself said that normally, retainers are only selected after they have a good service record, so cultivator's should be able to combine at least some of kinds of options Ling Qi is receiving. I don't know if we got it confirmed that Cai's offer is highly unusual, but it does seem like an extremely early decision. Like picking your career in middle school, with no room to change your mind.
 
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Year 43, week 36 Part 1
  • Threadmarks
    • -[X] Use: Highsun Pill; 3 RSS; 1 Yellow stone
    -[X] Purchase: Channel Cleansing Pill (2) + Heavy Rains Pill (10) + Gushing Spring Pill (2) + Flowing Rivers Pill (6) + Both Fire Pills (2+6) + Vigorous Sapling Pill (2) + Second Wood Pill (6) + Bear Marrow Elixir (4) + Bear's Heartsblood Elixir (10) + White Hart Elixir (6) + Steady Growth Pill (8) + Sturdy Oak Pill (18)
    -[X] Total resources consumed: 2 + 10 + 2 + 6 + 2 + 6 + 2 + 6+ 4 + 10 + 6 + 8 + 18 + 3= 85RSS, 1 YSS, 1 Highsun Pill
    -[X] EPC Bonus: Abyssal Exhalation
    -[X] Overflow -> Physical
    -[X] Major: Train at the Vent with Su Ling
    --[X] Arm Meridian
    --[X] Attached Minor: Invite Su Ling to join in and spar with the Ma Sisters. She could use some partners closer to her level, and more friends besides
    -[X] Major: Explore and Train with Golden Fields
    --[X] Thousand Ring Fortress
    --[X] Attached Minor: You never did get to go out have a night on the proverbial town with Xiulan, see if she's still up for that
    -[X] Major: Cultivate on your Own
    --[X] Argent Current
    -[X] Major: Research Dragons, and how they might be appeased
    -[X] Major: Do a Job
    --[X] Wolfpack Hunt: A group of rinefur wolves have moved into the wilderness at the base of the mountains. Numbering nearly a score, with an alpha at the first stages of grade three, they cannot be allowed to remain. Eliminate the pack. 3 points for each slain wolf. 15 for the alpha.
    --[X] Invite Gu Xiulan
    -[X] Minor: Work to Unlock the Puzzle Box
    -[X] Minor: Zhengui's pyre had begun to dim, shrinking no matter how much fuel you add. You should be there when he emerges
    -[X] Minor: Meizhen has been disappearing more often, she's even too busy to train this week. What is she up too?

    Ling Qi allowed her eyes to close as she let out a sigh of relief. Lowering herself into the hot scented water of the bath felt heavenly. The warmth seemed to seep in, right to her bones, easing away points of stress she hadn't even noticed. She felt like she could stay here soaking forever.

    "My, when was the last time you took the time to let your hair down, Ling Qi?" Gu Xiulan's voice broke through her reverie, and she opened her eyes to look at the other girl. The thick steam in the small private room they had rented was no real obstacle to her eyes, so she could clearly see her friend sitting perched on the polished wooden bench that wrapped around the perimeter of the room, still wrapped in a towel, with her hair hanging damply around her shoulders..

    Of course, her eyes quickly drifted to the thick cloth wrapping around the girls crippled arm, worn even now, seemingly impervious to the moisture in the room. "Too long," she replied, instead of voicing any of her thoughts. "You were right, though. This is a good way to cap off the night. What do they put in this water?"

    Ling Qi could feel traces of qi, and smell hints of medicinal aroma in the air, and she knew the feeling of relaxation seeping into her body could not be wholly natural.

    "I haven't the slightest idea," Xiulan replied with a careless shrug and an amused smile, which stretched the scars on her cheeks awkwardly. "I did not ask the chefs at the restaurant we stopped at which spices they used either."

    "You are such a noble," Ling Qi replied rolling her eyes as she leaned back against the edge of the bath. The smooth stone tile of the bottom felt much better than the rough floor of the natural spring. "Aren't you curious at all?"

    "Why thank you for noticing," Xiulan answered with mock courtesy. "And not particularly so. I will always have others to take care of such things for me. Why waste my time on it?"

    Ling Qi let her friends answer pass with only a good natured grumble in response, letting her head loll back as she stared up at the ceiling and the dimly glowing grey circle in the ceiling which provided the lighting. It had been pretty easy to convince Xiulan to come along with her tonight. The girls acerbic demeanor hadn't faded at all in the past weeks, but she reserved the majority of her venom for Fan Yu and Han Jian. Ling Qi had been mostly exempt from it.

    It had been odd and uncomfortable at first, wandering around the center of the city, surrounded by richly dressed mortals and lesser cultivators, practically in the shadow of the magistrates mansion. It made her fingers itch and her heart race. Some part of her still expected every guard they passed to seize her by the shoulders and throw her out, no matter that her cultivation exceeded all but a bare handful of the armored men and women they passed at their stations.

    Xiulan had walked along through the streets as if she owned them of course, haughtily staring down anyone whose eyes lingered too long on the scars visible behind her veil. Even with Ling Qi's lingering unease the evening had been fun. They had chatted about little things, lingering in various shops debating over the merits of minor things. Xiulan had purchased several vials of perfumed liquids and she had cajoled Ling Qi into purchasing a few new ribbons to work into her hair.
    It was all very frivolous, but Ling Qi found it difficult to begrudge the expense. Money just didn't concern her as much anymore, not when they had each traded a stone or two for a full jangling pouch of silver before even entering the market.

    "Did you fall asleep?" Xiulan asked dryly, once again shaking her loose from her thoughts. "Is the water truly so relaxing?"

    "Of course not," Ling Qi replied. The last time she had slept had been a little nap in the garden outside of Zhengui's pyre four days ago. She didn't have time for things like that. "I was just thinking about what I bought today."

    "Those ribbons?" Xiulan mused, moving to sit at the edge of the bath, letting her legs dangle into the partially opaque water. "I told you they would match your eyes quite well. You are going to have to spend more care on yourself if you wish to wear your hair loose though."

    "I know," Ling Qi huffed. Even now, without certain special oils, her hair tended to turn into a frizzy mess. "It's not fair," she grumbled. "Yours is always so shiny and straight."

    "Well of course," Xiulan said with a smirk. "But I have been taking care of it for years," she added, fingering the dark length of her hair. "You know," she began, eyeing Ling Qi critically. "If you lightened how much straightener you used, you might be able to pull off a bit of curl. It would look good I think."

    "Maybe," Ling Qi replied noncommittally, not entirely enthused about spending time experimenting to get an effect that looked presentable. Just making her hair behave like everyone else's was enough.

    "Only a suggestion," Xiulan replied carelessly as she slipped into the water, leaving her towel behind at the edge. Ling Qi noticed how she carefully kept her wrapped arm out of the water though.

    "...Are you feeling better then?" Ling Qi asked quietly. She was hesitant to bring such things up, but she felt that, in the end, nothing good would come from ignoring it.

    Xiulan shot her a heated look, which she met steadily, not backing down. "I have gotten used to it, for the most part," her friend replied in a low voice. "As much as one can. It is more than worth it."

    "That's good," Ling Qi replied, holding in a grimace at the somewhat brittle edge to the girls tone. "I don't just mean the physical stuff though, or I guess…" Ling Qi fell silent, struggling with her wording. "How are you holding up with… everything."

    Xiulan didn't answer looking down into the water instead. Ling Qi didn't press further, hoping she had not offended the prickly girl.
    "Mother is horrified at what I have done to myself," when Xiulan spoke up, it was quiet, she didn't sound like the bombastic and confident girl Ling Qi had gotten to know. "Father… I think Father understands, but even he thinks that I have gone too far, that I gamble too much and too freely."

    Ling Qi remained silent, letting her friend work out what she wanted to say.

    "And that is not even considering what he might say if that Fan Yu had a spine to his name," she added more venomously. "I know I have broken with propriety, that I have been incredibly rude and insulting… I just cannot bring myself to care!" The water around her bubbled with heat for a moment before she took a deep breath.

    "I can't say that I really get all of that," Ling Qi replied slowly, perhaps on an intellectual level, since she understood how one was supposed to behave. It wasn't part of her the way those things were for a born noble though. "Didn't you used to say things about a lady maintaining her composure though? Even if you don't like it."

    Xiulan sunk a bit further into the water, her expression darkening further. "I did, didn't I?" She asked rhetorically. "I was always a poor student when it came to Mothers lessons," she added bitterly. "Yet another thing Yanmei is my superior in."

    Ling Qi grimaced. "I don't think you can really be blamed too much for losing it a little in the past couple months," she replied consolingly.

    "It has not been merely since this happened though!" Xiulan replied hotly, gesturing at her scarred face. "Ever since I came here, it seems that I have been forgetting myself, ignoring the things Mother taught me about how a proper woman of the empire should act. I…" her shoulders slumped and her voice grew lower. "I have been acting little better than a barbarian at times. Is that why Jian rejected me outright so suddenly?"

    "I don't think so," Ling Qi replied uncomfortably. "I think… he is just trying to take his duties more seriously, you know?"

    "While I continue to act like a child," Xiulan said glumly. "Hmph, I suppose it is no wonder."

    "I don't think there is anything wrong with being upset," Ling Qi replied carefully. "About losing something you've wanted for a long time… but you do have to move past it eventually."

    "Look at you, playing counselor," Xiulan huffed. "You are too patient for your own good. Sometimes I wonder if you are some long lost cousin of Mothers."

    "Probably not," Ling Qi replied dryly. "If you're thinking silly things like that, maybe you should go cool off."

    Ling Qi just hoped her friend would be able to reign herself in a little in the future. She had a bad feeling things would get messy if she didn't.

    Her hopes were borne out somewhat, as the next days training with Han Jian and the others passed without significant trouble. Xiulan seemed to be making an effort to retain her composure and not snap at anyone. It seemed a close thing at times.

    Talent 6 + 5RSS + 25YSS + GF group 5 + Pills 6 + Spine 4 + Zhengui 5 + Site 6 = 62 dice
    9 2 1 2 1 5 5 7 6 1 5 8 7 3 8 3 9 8 1 4 8 1 5 3 6 9 7 2 9 7 9 10 1 1 3 3 5 10 2 2 10 6 9 6 8 9 10 9 6 2 4 5 3 8 7 8 6 4 1 7 2 1. 31 successes

    Rerolling 9
    6 9 2 4 6 10 6 8 8. 2 successes. 33 total
    157/150. Fourth Pulse acheived. Fifth locked until Early Green

    7 to physical
    137/180

    Passives
    +4 die to physical defense pools of the user and all allies within forty meters
    +3 dice to stamina and resolve tests of the user and allies within forty meters
    User gains a three die bonus vs poison and disease effects
    User and all allies within forty meters have their armor ratings improved by one

    Deepwood Vitality: oo
    Cost 6 qi
    Instant
    The user channels their qi into the earth, spreading like a great tangle of roots to link with up to five allies. On activation the user and each target are granted two temporary health boxes and a three die bonus to physical defense for four turns. In addition if the user or an ally is under a negative effect, this technique clashes against the effects caster and dispels the effect on success. This roll receives a three die bonus. Temporary health boxes receive damage first, and disappear upon being used. Temporary Health boxes do not stack

    Ten Ring Defense: oo
    Cost: 4 Qi (initial)
    Instant
    This user fills themselves with the vital qi of the great forests to protect themselves and their allies from harm. Grants the user a three die bonus to physical defense for five turns. In addition the first two points of damage the user suffers each round is downgraded one stage. Aggravated becomes lethal, lethal becomes nonlethal, nonlethal is negated. In addition the user may expend three qi to negate 1 point of damage, even from attacks which bypass normal negation. This effect may be used on allies within range. If the user is not damaged in a turn in which this art is active, they recover two qi. This effect only occurs in combat.

    Hundred Ring Armament: ooo
    Cost: 8 qi(initial)
    The user armors themselves and their allies with the iron bark of primeval forests. The user is granted armor 2, which stacks with any equipment they may be wearing. This effect may be extended to up to five allies, for an additional four qi each time. The armor granted by this technique may only be bypassed by perfect damage. This effect lasts 3 turns.

    Fifth Pulse -/- Locked until early green

    Of course, Ling Qi could hardly judge her friends success, as halfway through, she felt the twinge from the minor alarms she had set around Zhengui's pyre, made to break if his qi flared above normal levels for his dormant state. She only took the time for a hasty apology and excuse before rushing back as fast as she could manage.

    The pyre had burned down when she arrived, no longer a towering bonfire that rose more than two meters in the air, it now guttered low, dull red embers burning atop scraps of wood heaped on a small hill of gray ash, held within the solid fire baked clay of of the firebreak she had set up around it during construction.

    More importantly, she could feel the pulsation of her spirit beasts qi no longer masked by the fire and qi infused wood she had used to build and maintain the fire. Ling Qi settled to the ground beside the pit, hands resting on the warm surface of the clay walls as she peered down worriedly. Everything she had read indicated that all this was natural, but she couldn't help but worry.

    Ling Qi was often so busy that it was difficult to think about things outside her many tasks, but she could admit that the niggling worry in the back of her thoughts which had never quite gone away was rising to the fore, now a change was occurring. The ash from the fire formed a thick blanket of heavy qi, which prevented her from clearly sensing Zhengui. Had he broken through successfully? Could spirit beasts even fail like humans could? Would he have changed, while buried down there under the ash?

    The grey hill at the bottom of the pit shifted and Ling Qi leaned forward, brows drawn together in worry. "Zhengui? Can you hear me?" She called. "Are you ready? Do you need more fuel? I can…"

    The ash exploded outward, and Ling Qi flinched as it enveloped her, stinging her eyes and getting caught in her throat. That surprise left her entire flat footed as a heavy, stonelike mass smashed through the clay wall and bowled her over.

    "Mother!" a deeper but still recognizable voice rumbled in her ear as the heavy weight settled on top of her, pinning her legs in place. "Mother, where are you?"

    "Oaf, you're sitting on her," a more sibilant voice spoke from further back. "Stand up and let Big Sister up."

    Ling Qi let out a huff, she had been worried for nothing. He hadn't changed at all, even if she would have to have a talk with Gui again, she was definitely no mother. Cool qi flooded her limbs, and Ling Qi flowed out of confinement, growing solid again as she crouched in front of her no longer little spirit, a smile on her face. "Little Brothers, you've been asleep for too long," she scolded playfully.

    Gui blinked his big emerald eyes at her. He was now more than two meters long, and half that across. The blocky dull edged spikes of his shell rose high enough to reach the bottom of her chest from standing height. He still pushed his blunt, scaly head up against her hand in the same way when she rested it on his head. "I was dreaming!" he chirped, though it couldn't really be called that anymore. "It was very hard to find the path home! But I wanted to come back to you!"

    Zhen rose from his resting place on Gui's back to nuzzle at her cheek with his warm snout, lines of light burning between his scales. "Only because of me. Silly Gui would have gotten lost many times," his serpentine half bragged. He too had grown much, over two meters of serpentine body extended from the rear of Gui's shell, making him longer than his lower half, if much smaller overall.

    "Zhen wanted to sleep longer. Lazy Zhen," Gui accused from below. "I finished by first dream much sooner!"

    "You did not!" Zhen hissed, drawing away from her to glare down at his other half. "Clumsy Gui probably did not even find answers!"

    "Settle down," Ling Qi scolded, tapping Zhen on the snout. "I'm just glad that your back. You've gotten so much bigger now," she mused. "I won't be able to carry you anymore.

    "I can carry Mo…" Gui caught Zhen's eye. "I can carry Big Sister now. I've gotten really strong!"

    Ling Qi let the slip pass, her grin not fading as she leaned down to wrap her arms around Gui's stubby neck, and Zhen hurried to pile on, coiling around her shoulders. "I bet you can. We'll definitely have to try it out."

    Ling Qi could admit to herself that she took a certain pleasure in the expressions of her fellow disciples as she rode out of the residential district, mounted on Zhengui's back. Being blatant was kinda fun sometimes.

    Even if it was a really uncomfortable and awkward seat. Thankfully they kept it slow and she didn't fall off. That would have been kind of embarrassing.


    Cultivation
    Early Yellow(4)
    Early Silver(4)
    Physical
    Strength: oooo
    Dexterity: oo
    Stamina: ooooo o

    Mental
    Intelligence: ooo
    Wits: ooo
    Resolve: ooooo

    Social
    Presence: ooo
    Manipulation: oo
    Composure: oooo

    Advantages

    Health:
    [ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ]

    Qi: 35

    Speed: 18

    Initiative: 12

    Armor: 5 (15/15)

    Skills
    Athletics: ooooo
    Stealth: ooo
    Survival: oooo
    Empathy: ooo
    Intimidate: ooo

    Masteries:
    Natural Weapons: oooo
    Power: ooo
    Toughness: ooooo
    Resilience: oooo

    Weapons:
    Gui Chomp: DV 3
    Zhen Bite: DV 4.

    Abilities:

    Blooming From Ash

    Passives:
    +4 dice to physical and spiritual defence
    +2 to perception and survival rolls in plant life heavy regions
    + 2 on all Stamina and Resolve tests
    1 qi per round regenerated when not moving

    Ingraining Roots: oo
    Cost 4 qi
    Zhengui channels his qi through the roots of the plant life around him, allowing him to better sense his surroundings as well as drawing in further strength. While active, Zhengui's speed is reduced by half, but he gains a four die bonus to perception rolls, his armor increases by one and he gains a four die bonus on all defences. In addition Zhengui may spend two qi to regenerate his armors durability by one as a free action while active. Lasts four turns.

    Eternal Vitality: ooo
    Cost 6 Qi.
    Instant
    Zhengui's draws on the concept of regrowth and renewal to seal his wounds and break the power of enemies over him. This art allows Zhengui to heal one point of lethal or nonlethal damage, or reduce one point of aggravated damage to lethal damage. Alternatively, he may use this to dispel a negative effect on himself or Ling Qi on a successful clash, which receives a three die bonus.

    Stone in the Soil: oo
    Cost 4 qi
    A technique granted by Zhengui's bond with Ling Qi. Allows Zhengui to rapidly bury himself in loose soil, temporarily appearing as little more than a large spiky boulder. Grants a three die bonus to stealth and a four die bonus to attack against unaware targets. Lasts until revealed.

    Endless Gray Rain
    Passives
    4 additional armor against fire based attacks
    +2 dice on physical attacks
    Adds one armor piercing the attacks

    Blood Boiling Venom: oo
    Cost 4 Qi
    Instant
    Zhengui strikes with venomous fangs injecting a terrible, deadly heat into the target. Grants four die bonus to Zhen's bite attack. In addition upon successfully dealing damage, the target is poisoned, taking two fire damage each turn for three turns unless dispelled. While poisoned targets suffer a two die penalty on defensive and offensive clashes.


    Ashfall: ooo
    Cost 6 Qi
    Instant
    Zhengui expels ash from both of his mouths, filling the sky with falling gray dust. The ash cloud extends for fifteen meters around him and persists for fhree turns in that space. While Zhengui and Ling Qi are immune to the effects, others within the ash suffer a DV 2 fire attack each turn with a two die bonus, and suffer a two die penalty to perception and offensive clashes against Ling Qi or Zhengui. Zhengui may use this art multiple times, to expand its area. Three stacks may be active at a time.

    Boiling Shot: oo
    Cost 4 qi
    Zhen gathers his venom and spits, launching a ball of corrosive superheated venom up to thirty meters. This attack is DV 6 and fire based, dealing one additional bonus damage on a successful hit. The bonus damage cannot be blocked by normal qi negation, and repeats on the following turn.

    Upkeep Cost 8->13
    +10 dice to cultivation of Fire Arts
    +10 dice to the cultivation of Wood arts
    +2 Armor vs Fire damage
    +2 dice on all power/expression based offensive clashes
    +1 health box
    Zhengui's presence in spiritual form was much like a warm blanket, constantly wrapped around her shoulders. She would never be caught wholly alone again, and that thought was comforting. It did make her consider though. Meizhen had been present less and less often of late, to the extent that she had begun to miss their training sessions.

    That was a little worrying. Particularly since the girl had not made any excuse for it. Her friend could be incredibly frustrating at times, taking reticence to the extremes that she did. Bai Meizhen did stop at their home at least once a day though, late at night. So after spending the day ranging about with Zhengui and working out the final kinks in her cultivation of her sole wood art, Ling Qi returned home, and settled in to wait in the front room.

    Zhengui had gone to nap in the garden, so Ling Qi decided to simply prepare tea for Meizhen and herself. It had been awhile since they'd taken a cup together, and she'd come to appreciate it a little more after spending so much time around Cai Renxiang in the last few weeks.

    She had guessed the times correctly it seemed, as she heard the sound of the front door opening only a minute or two after she poured the first cup.

    Ling Qi took her first sip as she heard the door close, and heard Meizhen's faint, even footsteps on the wooden floor of the entry hall. As Meizhen stepped into her view, Cui coiled loosely around her shoulders, Ling Qi met her eyes. "Welcome home, do you think you'd like a cup?" She asked, gesturing to the seat across from her.

    Bai Meizhen paused a moment, her brows slightly furrowed as she regarded Ling Qi. "...I suppose," she replied, even as Cui flicked her tongue dismissively and looked away. "What brings you to the house at this hour?" She asked as she stepped into the dining room and settled herself elegantly across from Ling Qi. "You are usually out taking in moonlight at this hour."

    This was cutting into her meditation a little, Ling Qi knew, but she could afford it. She was nearing the point where further cultivation was stalled until her breakthrough anyway. She carefully poured a cup and pushed it toward Meizhen before answering. "Even I take breaks now and again," she replied lightly. "I thought it would be nice to brew a pot of this again. It's been awhile."

    Meizhen leaned forward to take the cup from her, taking care to avoid brushing her fingers over Ling Qi's. In a moment of relative expressiveness, Meizhen closed her eyes and inhaled deeply from the steam rising over the cup, some of the tension melting from her shoulders. "It has, though I recall you used to find the flavor rather repulsive."

    "It grew on me," Ling Qi said with a shrug. "Maybe my taste improved?"

    "Likely enough. You have the senses to appreciate the flavor now," Meizhen replied.

    Ling Qi made a sound of agreement, eyeing her friend over the rim of her cup as she sipped. "What has had you so busy anyway? I don't mind if you need some time to yourself, but I admit. I'd like to know why. Sun Liling is probably hurting for a victory, you know? Going off by yourself can be dangerous."

    Meizhen favored her with a flat look.

    Ling Qi waved off her nonverbal response. "I hide, she only caught up to me because I was being incautious and that ass Renshu was tailing me. You don't exactly disguise your presence anywhere you go."

    "It would be beneath me to do so," Meizhen replied with a frown. "Skulking is best left to the lesser branches of the family," Ling Qi simply nodded, not taking insult, since she knew the girl didn't mean any. "If the barbarian wishes to confront me on my travels, she may. I will meet her with my full force."

    "I know you will," Ling Qi replied with a smile. "But all the same… she's been getting trickier, hasn't she? I wouldn't put it past her to jump you with her whole faction at this point."

    "What is left of it perhaps," Bai Meizhen scoffed as Cui dipped her head down, stealing a taste of the tea, as she had done when she was smaller. "But I do see your point. Trusting in the honor of a Sun, is a bit foolish," she frowned. "I suppose I imagined that she would have more pride than that."

    "Maybe she does," Ling Qi replied with a shrug. "What have you been doing that's so important anyway? Did you find a really good site to cultivate at?"

    Meizhen looked away, seeming hesitant to answer. Ling Qi simply regarded her friend patiently. She would drop it if the other girl asked her too, but until then she was going to ask.

    "I have taken it upon myself to eliminate the threat which Yan Renshu represents," the pale girl answered after several quiet moments. "I may be overstepping my bounds to an extent, but if you are too soft hearted to do so yourself, as your friend. I feel I must do so."

    Ling Qi blinked, that wasn't quite what she expected, but there was something weird about the way she had phrased that. "Well I guess I don't mind, but I'm not sure what you mean by overstepping your bounds. You can beat up whoever you want, can't you?"

    "...He is your prey," Meizhen answered, staring at her as if she had said something dumb. "You took it upon yourself to ruin him. I do not understand why you stopped, and I apologize if you had some longer plan, but you cannot leave an enemy half defeated like that," she frowned. "I had assumed you to simply be squeamish about finishing things…"

    "I don't think we can get away with killing him," Ling Qi replied slowly. "He's already about as neutralized as he can get, isn't he?"

    Meizhen studied her for a moment. "Ling Qi, who do you imagine would retaliate if that boy were crushed entirely? Death may be a step too far, here in the sect,, but he still retains the resources to do harm."

    "I guess I kinda figured it wasn't that important," Ling Qi replied sheepishly. "I mean, he managed to screw with my one mission, and he lead Sun Liling to me, but I've taken steps against that."

    Cui flicked her tongue disdainfully at her, and Meizhen sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "...I have located his primary remaining lairs. Would you like to come along, so that I may show you the proper treatment of an enemy without sufficient connections?"

    Ling Qi frowned, that sounded pretty… ominous, if she was honest. She was no moral paragon herself, but she had an inkling that Meizhen was not exactly… kind outside of their friendship.

    [] Go along with Meizhen, you don't much care what happens to Yan Renshu, but you would rather she have backup. He's tricky.
    [] Go along with Meizhen, you should probably convince her not to go overboard, and she could use backup besides
    [] Stay behind, she can do as she likes
    [] Stay behind, but try to convince her not to do anything… permanent

    AN: Going with Meizhen will result in replacing the wolf hunt action with a 'destroy Yan Renshu' action. Sorry for the wait on this. Hopefully you all will accept the excuse of the holiday.
     
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    • He's well over my vileness horizon. While I wouldn't want to kill him, breaking his power so he can't keep playing these games doesn't bother me.

    [x] Go along with Meizhen, you don't much care what happens to Yan Renshu, but you would rather she have backup. He's tricky.
     
    [x] Go along with Meizhen, you don't much care what happens to Yan Renshu, but you would rather she have backup. He's tricky.
     
    FUCKKKKKKK YES!

    ZHENGUI IS BIGGER THAN A SMART CAR!

    HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH

    WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

    ALSO THOSE POWER AND EXPRESSION PASSIVES!
     
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