LucidProp
Pocky Eating MafiaDoka
Don't worry, Ji Rong's Diplomacy -henceforth dubbed "Rongplomacy"- consists of the legendary Face-to-Fist Method, second only to the infamous Foot-in-Mouth Syndrome in terms of effectiveness.
Forge of Destiny(Xianxia Quest)
- Thread starter yrsillar
- Start date
- Original Fantasy
I would probably prefer to trade out the sect job for two minors.
-[] (MAJOR) Breakthrough x1
-[] (MAJOR) Breakthrough x2
-[] (MAJOR) Breakthrough x3 / Dragon Site
--[] (attached minor) Meizehn Minor if Dragon Site
-[] (MAJOR) Breakthrough x4 / FSS with Zeqing
[] (MAJOR) Cultivate EPC
--[] (attached minor) Check up on Su Ling and the Ma Sisters
-[] Visit Market
-[] 2x unattached minors
This gives us better odds of getting all 5 of our minors, since I've put the Dragon/Meizhen action first and still trains EPC.
-[] (MAJOR) Breakthrough x1
-[] (MAJOR) Breakthrough x2
-[] (MAJOR) Breakthrough x3 / Dragon Site
--[] (attached minor) Meizehn Minor if Dragon Site
-[] (MAJOR) Breakthrough x4 / FSS with Zeqing
[] (MAJOR) Cultivate EPC
--[] (attached minor) Check up on Su Ling and the Ma Sisters
-[] Visit Market
-[] 2x unattached minors
This gives us better odds of getting all 5 of our minors, since I've put the Dragon/Meizhen action first and still trains EPC.
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Sect job is pretty crucial for any training plans and would count as equivalent successes to an EPC training action.
Sorry, meant Xiulan.
Why would we want to do that? Training FSS now with Zeqing gives us a benefit of +15 dice - but even if we were to train FSS after we break through even without Zeqing's help, we would be getting +10 dice from the extra Yellow stone, and likely another +5-10 Yin dice from EPC, and possibly even +10 dice from using a virtual Green stone if we get that. So as far as I can tell, an FSS action this week is less effective cultivation-wise than the same action post breakthrough done on a week when we are training FVM with Zeqing or something like that. In contrast, an EPC action done now means we have an extra turn with EPC up, which means that a number of our actions get boosted by the EPC bonus.
The only advantage of rushing the Zeqing action I see is advancing the social link - and I can't help but think that that can wait. We are highly likely to spend the majority of the next three months training with Zeqing as it is; the marginal social value of an extra action with her seems quite limited.
Black Noise
Curious
- Location
- About 1AU from Sol
Once we break through we're gonna be training some music art every week with Zeqing for the rest of the year, so even with a week's delay we're still doing a major commitment there. It's a bit rude perhaps, but even Hanyi is like 3x as old as Ling Qi. Keep in mind they're likely a lot more patient than our more mortal friends.
They can hold another week while we secure a long term advantage that benefits not just us but Zhengui and Meizhen as well, and with only 11 weeks left after the next, every extra week helps.
On the more mechanical side, Zeqing major can't really have minors attach to it like dragon (Meizhen), mission (Zhengui) or EPC cultivation (MaSu, Suyin).
If we want to do her training at all instead of finishing EPC5, I'd prefer to have Zeqing training conditional on us achieving Bronze in 2 actions (~30%), with mission being the other conditional (~50%) and dragon as our committed 5th action so we can get the site and finally advance Meizhen minors again.
As for closed door, I've said before but we don't need it this week if we're lucky or fail utterly, and if we're in the ~20% case of in-between then we can do closed door or on week 41.
The only advantage closed door brings is improving the odds of EPC5, and having an easier time with attached minors. Not worth 2 of our unattached imo, not with market being a lock-in and friends we've neglected for over a month.
They can hold another week while we secure a long term advantage that benefits not just us but Zhengui and Meizhen as well, and with only 11 weeks left after the next, every extra week helps.
On the more mechanical side, Zeqing major can't really have minors attach to it like dragon (Meizhen), mission (Zhengui) or EPC cultivation (MaSu, Suyin).
If we want to do her training at all instead of finishing EPC5, I'd prefer to have Zeqing training conditional on us achieving Bronze in 2 actions (~30%), with mission being the other conditional (~50%) and dragon as our committed 5th action so we can get the site and finally advance Meizhen minors again.
As for closed door, I've said before but we don't need it this week if we're lucky or fail utterly, and if we're in the ~20% case of in-between then we can do closed door or on week 41.
The only advantage closed door brings is improving the odds of EPC5, and having an easier time with attached minors. Not worth 2 of our unattached imo, not with market being a lock-in and friends we've neglected for over a month.
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Arkeus
Crazy cat guy
- Location
- France
The advantage of closed door is not having a 50% odds of having to decide if we want to push back EPC5 to week 42 next week, unless we don't do Dragon this week. The only reason to do Dragon this week, apart from appraisal rush (unknown if it's possible before we see the market) is for Zhengui, which is a good reason but not good enough to have a significant risk of pushing back EPC5 to week 42, considering so much of our plans hinges on knowing what EPC5 give.
This doesn't even go into know whether there is a moon quest, which would arguably be of much higher important to get done quickly than spiritual (considering what last one gave).
- Location
- The United States
- Pronouns
- He/They
Truly Insane Idea Incoming:
We hook Bai or Cai up with the dragon. You don't need no abusive family when you're shaked up to a young god/ you're more useful to your family bonded to a monster.
We hook Bai or Cai up with the dragon. You don't need no abusive family when you're shaked up to a young god/ you're more useful to your family bonded to a monster.
What do you think the meizhen minor exist.
More seriously, meizhen is gay and Cai's asexual or the next best thing to it.
- Location
- USA
- Pronouns
- He/Him
There's more to our end state than power. Reputation and connections are important and I still think they're potentially harmed by doing dragon over Zeqing. Is it so bad to just commit to the mission(I confess I don't know what mission you mean; does it require 3rd realm?) and only meddle with the dragon after we're back in contact?
I mean, we get EPC5 week 41 on pretty much every state except if we don't do one of Mission/EPC training non-conditional Week 40. A mission would guarantee it, that's what I'd prefer.
Arkeus
Crazy cat guy
- Location
- France
From my understanding we need closed door to both have Dragon and epc training non-conditional week 40, though. Likewise, missions are a gamble on whether they have stealth or not. If we don't get EPC from Tower this week this means we need 3 EPC actions still between week 40 and 41, so in that case having only conditional EPC (and non-conditional mission is conditional EPC) week 40 means high odds of not having EPC5 week 41.
Even if we do get EPC from tower, we would still need 2 actions, so having only conditional EPC week 40 means needing to get lucky week 41 to get EPC5.
I feel with the right mission choices we can guarantee stealth, and Week 41 is an easy week for training EPC and/or taking a mission unless breakthrough crashes and burns (knock on wood right there though).
Arkeus
Crazy cat guy
- Location
- France
Well, we'll see what Tower gives first. If Tower gives no EPC we need three EPC actions by week 41 to have EPC5 then, and if it does give EPC we need 2.
I am not as optimistic as you about guarenteed EPC with mission as even a mission that had supposed stealth can go haywire, as seen with capturing storm spirit that didn't have stealth thanks to YR... and we don't know what missions does give stealth.
Beside, this doesn't change we need either 2 or 3 EPC actions by week 41 if we want EPC5 week 41, and we can't get non-conditional EPC week 40 unless we either don't get dragon or go closed door.
OTOH, we did choose to vote for the non-important minors last week, which means the important ones (Suyin, Han Jian, MaSu, Market) are all on the backburner.
EDIT: Oh, and Wolf mission also went haywire, though it was repalced by another stealth action.
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Alectai
Speaks Words of Wisdom... On occasion
Yeah, we probably need one more non closed-door week to clean up our last few minors before we put our nose to the grindstone again.
But the good news is that we can squeeze most of our neccessities out without a closed door session. Four breakthrough actions, with conditionals that scale down accordingly. We should probably manage to successfully grab EPC and FSS training, because we're reasonably likely to succeed at our goals with three attempts, with the fourth mostly just to lock it in. And if it fucks up? That's cool too, we can just dump one of the attached minors that turn anyway.
But the good news is that we can squeeze most of our neccessities out without a closed door session. Four breakthrough actions, with conditionals that scale down accordingly. We should probably manage to successfully grab EPC and FSS training, because we're reasonably likely to succeed at our goals with three attempts, with the fourth mostly just to lock it in. And if it fucks up? That's cool too, we can just dump one of the attached minors that turn anyway.
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On the contrary, closed door is absolutely necessary this week, our major actions are in serious shit right now and need sorting.
Arkeus
Crazy cat guy
- Location
- France
Let's be honest here, there is no 'cleaning up minors'.
I mean, We had 4 high-priorities minors we didn't do for multiple weeks (Han Jian, MaSu, Suyin, Meizhen) that we instead ignored for new shiny minor this week, and this is going to continue. It's not because we do the high priority minors we have now (Han Jian, MaSu, Suyin, Market, Meizhen) that there won't be a new one at the end of this week (Xiulan? Gu Tai? CRX?).
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- Location
- The Temple of the Winds
-Fixed-
Also, needs a second conditional in case of failure - white room - failure: FSS or Dragon site ?
Job => The Shambling Terror (Zhengui minor attached)? Imo it seems the only one that currently might offer stealth successes.
A fight against a third realm (with Zhengui) seems like a good idea in view of the tournament.
Personally i doubt the dragon site will only be a single (major) action to unlock
To be equally honest, there is also no 'cleaning up majors'. The last time we tried that was week 38, where closed door was billed as the solution to our major ills, and accomplished tragically little. The best that we can do in terms of training is move our timeline up a bit, giving us higher odds (but no guarantee) of finishing our more urgent tasks up a turn earlier.
I'm generally on board with closed-door this week, because I think that it is worth getting EPC one turn early in the rather likely case that we get Failure-Success-Success or Success-Failure-Success on our rolls. I absolutely oppose closed-door for something like getting the dragon-site or taking a Zeqing training action.
Getting FSS and doing the favors for FX isn't what I would call tragically little.
Especially after the salt those actions produced.
Year 43, week 39, final
"Are you sad big sister?" Gui asked, craning his neck to look back at her. Despite his lack of attention to the path ahead, his trundling gait didn't falter. Likely because Zhen's glowing eyes remained fixed on their path, despite resting his head on her shoulder.
Ling Qi just smiled, reaching down from her perch between his shell spikes to pat her little brother on the head. "I'm just thinking about some things. Don't worry about me."
"Big Sister should spend some time with pale one," Zhen hissed softly, his flicking tongue tickling her ear. "Or the burning one, she would be happier then."
"Xiulan or Meizhen?" Ling Qi replied bemused. "Maybe, I haven't seen much of Meizhen in a little while," she only saw Xiulan at the White Room, and it was difficult to recall what precisely happened in there.
"Oh! I know!" Gui chirped. "Bai Cui said that her sister was going out to bind another spirit!"
"Really?" Ling Qi asked, surprised. "When did that happen?"
"When Big Sister locked herself in the little room," Zhen replied, looking pleased with himself. "A little paper bird came, carrying a box for her."
"I didn't like it," Gui huffed, finally turning his eyes back to the front. "It felt cold and mean."
"Hmph, cowardly Gui is frightened too easily," Zhen said, turning up his snout.
"I wasn't scared!" Zhengui replied back with childish irritation. "Stupid Zhen, you were just trying to impress…"
Ling Qi closed her eyes as the two halves of her little brother bickered, leaning back against the stony surface of his shell. She could ask Meizhen about it later. Since her talk with Cai, she had been reflecting on things, wondering what she should really do about the many worries rising in her future. Once, she had thought growing strong would make things less complicated and difficult, but that foolish notion was long gone from her head.
Cai...made things difficult for her. She thought that she wanted to be a better person, but did she really? At least, did she want to be the kind of person who could follow Cai Renxiang, and uphold her ideals, her justice, in truth? She couldn't say. She wanted a home, and a family. She wanted to surround herself with friends… but how much did she really care about those that fell outside those circles? The gray mass of 'other' for which she found it difficult to even remember faces, let alone names.
Thinking back on her time in the city, for every face she remembered, every person she left behind… weren't there two or three more that she had hurt without thought? Did she really regret those things or did she simply resent the situation which had lead her to do so? Did she really regret ruining two people over a favor… or did she merely feel guilty because she knew some of her friends wouldn't approve?
She didn't know.
"Big Sister, I see it," Zhen's voice pulled her from her thoughts, and she opened her eyes.
Ahead of them, outlined in the dim light of the half moon in the sky above was the shape of graceful tower rising into the sky. The structure seemed oddly organic in profile, like the trunk of an ancient tree. Mysterious silver and blue motes of light danced gently around the tower, casting light on its smooth sides, unmarked by any mortal tool. Despite seeming unmarred at first sight though, it was obvious that what she looked upon was a ruin, some twenty meters up, the tower simply ended at a sharp angle, as if something had slashed through it and beyond, she could see the tumbled rubble of what she assumed to be the rest of the structure.
"...The music is so pretty, can we go in Big Sister?" Gui asked, something in his voice alarmed her though, there was a dazed sluggishness to it.
She glanced sharply at Zhen, and found his head swaying back and forth, mesmerized. If she concentrated, she could hear it too, the quiet sounds of a merry song drifting from the broken tower , if she squinted, she could see glimmers of silver light inside. She felt the music as much as heard it, carried as it was on moonbeams and starlight more than any physical sound.
Pulling on her connection to him, she dematerialized Zhengui, unfolding her legs to land on her feet as he let out a startled yelp. 'Sorry little brother,' she thought to him, along with feeling of apology. 'But I need you to stay safe for now.'
He was a good boy, she thought with a small smile as he grumbled in her head. She slipped into the shadow of a tree which stood at the edge of the clearing as she refocused on the tower, it was time to scout things out.
Ling Qi stole across the remaining distance to the base of the tower as little more than a blur of liquid shadow, flitting from the shade of one tree to the next until she crouched within the shadow of the towers entryway. Whatever door had once barred the way was long since gone, and inside, there was only cold, dusty stone. Even in her more spiritual senses there was naught but the faint strains of music from above.
A careful search turned up no active formations, nor any more mundane snares, and so she crept inside, peering carefully around the empty chamber within. Old leaves rotted in the corners and here and there were the marks of vermin that inhabited the place… a few low grade one rats, and their mundane cousins, nothing more. The same could be said as she crept through the rest of the base level, cold empty rooms, long since looted.
It made her feel unreasonably nervous as she approached the stair that wound up to the second level. The collapsed ceiling barring her way halfway up only raised her uneasy feeling further. Still with a bit of effort, she was able to shift a few broken chunks of stone, making enough space for her to slip through in shadow form.
The moment she passed through, entering the darkened stairwell beyond, she felt it. A frission in the air as if she had just pushed through a hanging sheet of gauze.
She no longer crouched in a decrepit stairwell, but rather in the entryway of shimmering hall filled with mist. The floor was polished to a mirror sheen, and fanciful fluted silver columns rose to hold up a ceiling of glass, baring the misty hall to the light of the stars and moon above. The architecture didn't hold her attention though.
The inhabitants did. Everywhere she looked she saw spirits. Clouds of fluttering fairies, their bodies little more than vaguely human shapes woven from silver wire, floating on wings of moonlight drifted about near the ceiling and fluttered over tables laden with succulent food and drink, where pale blue lilies and other flowers bloomed between dishes.
Across the mirror floor reveled a throng of other spirits, beautiful women and handsome men with gossamer wings and catlike eyes that burned with silver fire. Yet from one eyeblink to the next, things changed. A thing like a bipedal wolf in a gentlemans robes danced with a pillar of liquid silver in the shape of a woman. A mass of fluttering moths descended from a window and become an androgynous figure, it's face veiled behind feathery antennae, a towering humanoid of rough crystal taking its hand to lead it onto the floor. These, along with a thousand other sights which blurred before her eyes, made worse by the perfect reflection of the floor and the many mirrors hanging from the narrow columns.
She found herself reeling, a headache building behind her stinging eyes as she tried to make sense of the constantly shifting input with the music building in her ears, and the overwhelming intensity of the moon qi which rendered her spiritual senses all but blind.
She squeezed her eyes shut to cut out the worst and quickly cycled qi through her eyes and ears, channeling the effects of her Argent Mirror art, despite the cost in qi. As the calming and stolid qi spread over her thoughts, the headache lessened, but the scents and sounds around her didn't fade.
"Cousin! We had wondered when you might come!" Ling Qi's eyes snapped open in alarm, and she became aware that she had staggered while overwhelmed by sensation, stepping out onto the floor. Before her stood a woman, with eyes like deep black pools, marked only by churning sparks of unnameable color. She dressed in delicate silver finery that floated around her slender form like a cloud of lace and silk. Her hair drifted behind her in a cloud of rainbow mist chaotic and wild, somehow solid and not at the same time. She smiled welcoming at Ling Qi, apparently unperturbed by her presence.
Luckily, instinct took over for Ling Qi's still somewhat dazed thoughts, and she recalled the fundamental axiom of being found in a place you didn't belong. "Of course. I wouldn't have missed it," she said, keeping her voice light. When caught, pretend you belonged if possible.
"I was a bit surprised honestly," Ling Qi felt a prickle of alarm as the woman took her hand, insistently leading her further into the room. It didn't feel right, but for the life of her she couldn't see anything wrong with the woman's perfectly manicured digits, save perhaps the length of her nails. It didn't matter for the moment, she was surrounded after all. "Auntie Xin so rarely attends these kind of things after all," the woman chattered on, glancing back at her with a vulpine grin.
That at least relieved her a little, Xin had given her the map and knew this place, so perhaps it really was just that she was expected. "I suppose she isn't here then?" Ling Qi asked politely. "Ah… might I ask where we are going?" She continued carefully, the woman was leading her through the crowd, toward the far end of the hall, where music pulsed more loudly in her blood. She could feel herself stepping more lightly, filled with a frenetic energy.
"Why to the stage of course," the woman said, giving a delighted laugh as she wove through the every changing spirits. "You are going to be performing tonight after all!"
"What," Ling Qi asked flatly, her eyes widening in alarm as they reached the end of the floor, where a raised stage. "I don't have anything prepared for something like this!" she exclaimed, forgetting her more serious worries. "I can't just…." The womans grip was implacable though, and she found her feet sliding across the floor without resistance even as she stopped walking.
"Hush little cousin, and quiet your fear," the woman glanced back, still smiling . "An artist must always be able to improvise."
Ling Qi's eyes widened in alarm as the spirit, no, the Dreaming Moon, pulled her closer and then spun her twice, laughing as the world blurred around them. Ling Qi let out an inelegant yelp as she was bodily flung onto the stage, landing in a crouch only due to practiced reflex. Her eyes widened and a tremble went up her spine as she found the eyes of the hall on her, and a rumble of words and cheers began to rise.
Ling Qi stilled herself, forcing down her fear. If playing for a concert hall worth of moon spirits was the trial… then fine. She still felt disoriented, and her blood still pounded in her ears, lunar qi overflowing from her meridians and dantian, soaking into her and filling her with a frantic energy. What choice did she have though?
She raised her flute to her lips, not certain when she had taken it out, and the evening dissolved into revelry. A blur of song and faces, human and inhuman. The taste of sweet wine and delicate treats. She remembered standing on Zhengui's back as he balanced on his hind legs, laughing while she sang and spirits clapped. She remembered dancing with… any number of things.
Phantasmagoria of Lunar Revelry Jade Slip acquired
Her last memory though, was of returning home...
[] On the back of a silver winged moth with lovely, silken fuzz like a pillow made of dreams
[] Leaning on the shoulder of a laughing girl with hair that shimmered in the colors of a rainbow
[] Meizhen has done a lot for you, tell her about the Dragon and the Valley, let her do as she wants with it.
[] You haven't just... talked or spent time with Meizhen lately what has she been up to? Invite her out, you've thought of some songs she might like
[] Look in on Su Ling and the Ma Sisters, see how they're getting alone
[] Zhengui's efforts are coming along well, but Gu Tai mentioned that he might be able to help, take him up on it
[] Take Cai up on the implicit offer, have a chat about tea or... sword techniques, or something less serious
[] Speak with Han Jian, about Argent Storm and the Golden Fields. What is his home like?
[] Explore your new access to the inner market
Ling Qi just smiled, reaching down from her perch between his shell spikes to pat her little brother on the head. "I'm just thinking about some things. Don't worry about me."
"Big Sister should spend some time with pale one," Zhen hissed softly, his flicking tongue tickling her ear. "Or the burning one, she would be happier then."
"Xiulan or Meizhen?" Ling Qi replied bemused. "Maybe, I haven't seen much of Meizhen in a little while," she only saw Xiulan at the White Room, and it was difficult to recall what precisely happened in there.
"Oh! I know!" Gui chirped. "Bai Cui said that her sister was going out to bind another spirit!"
"Really?" Ling Qi asked, surprised. "When did that happen?"
"When Big Sister locked herself in the little room," Zhen replied, looking pleased with himself. "A little paper bird came, carrying a box for her."
"I didn't like it," Gui huffed, finally turning his eyes back to the front. "It felt cold and mean."
"Hmph, cowardly Gui is frightened too easily," Zhen said, turning up his snout.
"I wasn't scared!" Zhengui replied back with childish irritation. "Stupid Zhen, you were just trying to impress…"
Ling Qi closed her eyes as the two halves of her little brother bickered, leaning back against the stony surface of his shell. She could ask Meizhen about it later. Since her talk with Cai, she had been reflecting on things, wondering what she should really do about the many worries rising in her future. Once, she had thought growing strong would make things less complicated and difficult, but that foolish notion was long gone from her head.
Cai...made things difficult for her. She thought that she wanted to be a better person, but did she really? At least, did she want to be the kind of person who could follow Cai Renxiang, and uphold her ideals, her justice, in truth? She couldn't say. She wanted a home, and a family. She wanted to surround herself with friends… but how much did she really care about those that fell outside those circles? The gray mass of 'other' for which she found it difficult to even remember faces, let alone names.
Thinking back on her time in the city, for every face she remembered, every person she left behind… weren't there two or three more that she had hurt without thought? Did she really regret those things or did she simply resent the situation which had lead her to do so? Did she really regret ruining two people over a favor… or did she merely feel guilty because she knew some of her friends wouldn't approve?
She didn't know.
"Big Sister, I see it," Zhen's voice pulled her from her thoughts, and she opened her eyes.
Ahead of them, outlined in the dim light of the half moon in the sky above was the shape of graceful tower rising into the sky. The structure seemed oddly organic in profile, like the trunk of an ancient tree. Mysterious silver and blue motes of light danced gently around the tower, casting light on its smooth sides, unmarked by any mortal tool. Despite seeming unmarred at first sight though, it was obvious that what she looked upon was a ruin, some twenty meters up, the tower simply ended at a sharp angle, as if something had slashed through it and beyond, she could see the tumbled rubble of what she assumed to be the rest of the structure.
"...The music is so pretty, can we go in Big Sister?" Gui asked, something in his voice alarmed her though, there was a dazed sluggishness to it.
She glanced sharply at Zhen, and found his head swaying back and forth, mesmerized. If she concentrated, she could hear it too, the quiet sounds of a merry song drifting from the broken tower , if she squinted, she could see glimmers of silver light inside. She felt the music as much as heard it, carried as it was on moonbeams and starlight more than any physical sound.
Pulling on her connection to him, she dematerialized Zhengui, unfolding her legs to land on her feet as he let out a startled yelp. 'Sorry little brother,' she thought to him, along with feeling of apology. 'But I need you to stay safe for now.'
He was a good boy, she thought with a small smile as he grumbled in her head. She slipped into the shadow of a tree which stood at the edge of the clearing as she refocused on the tower, it was time to scout things out.
Dex 6 + Stealth 6 + Speciality 1 + Passives 0 + Equip 6 (Robe 2+ Slippers 2 + Band of Occulision 2) + Buff 4 (EPC 4) + 2 autos (SCS)= 23 dice +8 autos.
1 5 9 10 9 2 6 3 3 2 4 7 3 5 5 8 10 8 9 5 7 7 9. 11 successes. 19 total
1 5 9 10 9 2 6 3 3 2 4 7 3 5 5 8 10 8 9 5 7 7 9. 11 successes. 19 total
Ling Qi stole across the remaining distance to the base of the tower as little more than a blur of liquid shadow, flitting from the shade of one tree to the next until she crouched within the shadow of the towers entryway. Whatever door had once barred the way was long since gone, and inside, there was only cold, dusty stone. Even in her more spiritual senses there was naught but the faint strains of music from above.
A careful search turned up no active formations, nor any more mundane snares, and so she crept inside, peering carefully around the empty chamber within. Old leaves rotted in the corners and here and there were the marks of vermin that inhabited the place… a few low grade one rats, and their mundane cousins, nothing more. The same could be said as she crept through the rest of the base level, cold empty rooms, long since looted.
It made her feel unreasonably nervous as she approached the stair that wound up to the second level. The collapsed ceiling barring her way halfway up only raised her uneasy feeling further. Still with a bit of effort, she was able to shift a few broken chunks of stone, making enough space for her to slip through in shadow form.
The moment she passed through, entering the darkened stairwell beyond, she felt it. A frission in the air as if she had just pushed through a hanging sheet of gauze.
She no longer crouched in a decrepit stairwell, but rather in the entryway of shimmering hall filled with mist. The floor was polished to a mirror sheen, and fanciful fluted silver columns rose to hold up a ceiling of glass, baring the misty hall to the light of the stars and moon above. The architecture didn't hold her attention though.
The inhabitants did. Everywhere she looked she saw spirits. Clouds of fluttering fairies, their bodies little more than vaguely human shapes woven from silver wire, floating on wings of moonlight drifted about near the ceiling and fluttered over tables laden with succulent food and drink, where pale blue lilies and other flowers bloomed between dishes.
Across the mirror floor reveled a throng of other spirits, beautiful women and handsome men with gossamer wings and catlike eyes that burned with silver fire. Yet from one eyeblink to the next, things changed. A thing like a bipedal wolf in a gentlemans robes danced with a pillar of liquid silver in the shape of a woman. A mass of fluttering moths descended from a window and become an androgynous figure, it's face veiled behind feathery antennae, a towering humanoid of rough crystal taking its hand to lead it onto the floor. These, along with a thousand other sights which blurred before her eyes, made worse by the perfect reflection of the floor and the many mirrors hanging from the narrow columns.
She found herself reeling, a headache building behind her stinging eyes as she tried to make sense of the constantly shifting input with the music building in her ears, and the overwhelming intensity of the moon qi which rendered her spiritual senses all but blind.
She squeezed her eyes shut to cut out the worst and quickly cycled qi through her eyes and ears, channeling the effects of her Argent Mirror art, despite the cost in qi. As the calming and stolid qi spread over her thoughts, the headache lessened, but the scents and sounds around her didn't fade.
"Cousin! We had wondered when you might come!" Ling Qi's eyes snapped open in alarm, and she became aware that she had staggered while overwhelmed by sensation, stepping out onto the floor. Before her stood a woman, with eyes like deep black pools, marked only by churning sparks of unnameable color. She dressed in delicate silver finery that floated around her slender form like a cloud of lace and silk. Her hair drifted behind her in a cloud of rainbow mist chaotic and wild, somehow solid and not at the same time. She smiled welcoming at Ling Qi, apparently unperturbed by her presence.
Luckily, instinct took over for Ling Qi's still somewhat dazed thoughts, and she recalled the fundamental axiom of being found in a place you didn't belong. "Of course. I wouldn't have missed it," she said, keeping her voice light. When caught, pretend you belonged if possible.
"I was a bit surprised honestly," Ling Qi felt a prickle of alarm as the woman took her hand, insistently leading her further into the room. It didn't feel right, but for the life of her she couldn't see anything wrong with the woman's perfectly manicured digits, save perhaps the length of her nails. It didn't matter for the moment, she was surrounded after all. "Auntie Xin so rarely attends these kind of things after all," the woman chattered on, glancing back at her with a vulpine grin.
That at least relieved her a little, Xin had given her the map and knew this place, so perhaps it really was just that she was expected. "I suppose she isn't here then?" Ling Qi asked politely. "Ah… might I ask where we are going?" She continued carefully, the woman was leading her through the crowd, toward the far end of the hall, where music pulsed more loudly in her blood. She could feel herself stepping more lightly, filled with a frenetic energy.
"Why to the stage of course," the woman said, giving a delighted laugh as she wove through the every changing spirits. "You are going to be performing tonight after all!"
"What," Ling Qi asked flatly, her eyes widening in alarm as they reached the end of the floor, where a raised stage. "I don't have anything prepared for something like this!" she exclaimed, forgetting her more serious worries. "I can't just…." The womans grip was implacable though, and she found her feet sliding across the floor without resistance even as she stopped walking.
"Hush little cousin, and quiet your fear," the woman glanced back, still smiling . "An artist must always be able to improvise."
Ling Qi's eyes widened in alarm as the spirit, no, the Dreaming Moon, pulled her closer and then spun her twice, laughing as the world blurred around them. Ling Qi let out an inelegant yelp as she was bodily flung onto the stage, landing in a crouch only due to practiced reflex. Her eyes widened and a tremble went up her spine as she found the eyes of the hall on her, and a rumble of words and cheers began to rise.
Ling Qi stilled herself, forcing down her fear. If playing for a concert hall worth of moon spirits was the trial… then fine. She still felt disoriented, and her blood still pounded in her ears, lunar qi overflowing from her meridians and dantian, soaking into her and filling her with a frantic energy. What choice did she have though?
She raised her flute to her lips, not certain when she had taken it out, and the evening dissolved into revelry. A blur of song and faces, human and inhuman. The taste of sweet wine and delicate treats. She remembered standing on Zhengui's back as he balanced on his hind legs, laughing while she sang and spirits clapped. She remembered dancing with… any number of things.
Manip 6, Expression 7, Equip 2, FVM 2. 17 dice. 8 auto(7+spec)
3 8 10 7 6 7 10 6 6 5 9 9 7 7 7 7 9. 12 successes. 20 total
3 8 10 7 6 7 10 6 6 5 9 9 7 7 7 7 9. 12 successes. 20 total
Phantasmagoria of Lunar Revelry Jade Slip acquired
An art born from the nature of the dreaming moon, patron of artists and innovators, granted as a favor to one who impressed at her moonlit gala. This art calls upon the memories of that chaotic spiritual revel, allowing the user to use their qi to impress them upon the waking world, and move with the grace of a trueborn maiden of moonlight
Attribute: Moon, Yang
Initial Meridians: Legx2, Lung
Attribute: Moon, Yang
Initial Meridians: Legx2, Lung
Her last memory though, was of returning home...
[] On the back of a silver winged moth with lovely, silken fuzz like a pillow made of dreams
[] Leaning on the shoulder of a laughing girl with hair that shimmered in the colors of a rainbow
Strength 20/20 New dot gianed!
Stamina 10/35
Resolve 3/35
Presence 7/20
Composure 2/35
Formations 3/21
Occult 1/15
Larceny 5/21
Ride 2/6
Survival 10/15
Empathy 15/15 New dot gained!
Expression 5/42
Persuasion 3/15
+10 successes to qi
+19 to EPC
+5 to AC
Stamina 10/35
Resolve 3/35
Presence 7/20
Composure 2/35
Formations 3/21
Occult 1/15
Larceny 5/21
Ride 2/6
Survival 10/15
Empathy 15/15 New dot gained!
Expression 5/42
Persuasion 3/15
+10 successes to qi
+19 to EPC
+5 to AC
Income: 115 Red Stones
You have five major actions and three minor. However, I will allow up to two minor actions which are tied to major ones. Weekly plans should be separate from the vote above.
[] Train at the vent with Su Ling
-[] Any
[] Train Music arts with Zeqing
[] Take a job
-[] Specify
[] Visit the Archive
-[] Search for a technique
-[] Study or improve formations
-[] Study another subject
[] Attempt to placate the Dragon of the Valley
[] Cultivate in the White Room
-[] What?
-[] With who?
[] Cultivate on your own
-[] Physical
-[] Spiritual
-[] Qi
-[] Meridian (which one?)
-[] Art(Which one?)
[] Attempt Breakthrough
[] It's probably time to talk to Li Suyin about yourself, your afraid the girl might have some wrong ideas about youYou have five major actions and three minor. However, I will allow up to two minor actions which are tied to major ones. Weekly plans should be separate from the vote above.
[] Train at the vent with Su Ling
-[] Any
[] Train Music arts with Zeqing
[] Take a job
-[] Specify
[] Visit the Archive
-[] Search for a technique
-[] Study or improve formations
-[] Study another subject
[] Attempt to placate the Dragon of the Valley
[] Cultivate in the White Room
-[] What?
-[] With who?
[] Cultivate on your own
-[] Physical
-[] Spiritual
-[] Qi
-[] Meridian (which one?)
-[] Art(Which one?)
[] Attempt Breakthrough
[] Meizhen has done a lot for you, tell her about the Dragon and the Valley, let her do as she wants with it.
[] You haven't just... talked or spent time with Meizhen lately what has she been up to? Invite her out, you've thought of some songs she might like
[] Look in on Su Ling and the Ma Sisters, see how they're getting alone
[] Zhengui's efforts are coming along well, but Gu Tai mentioned that he might be able to help, take him up on it
[] Take Cai up on the implicit offer, have a chat about tea or... sword techniques, or something less serious
[] Speak with Han Jian, about Argent Storm and the Golden Fields. What is his home like?
[] Explore your new access to the inner market
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- Location
- United States of America
Well... that happened!
- Location
- Somewhere!
- Pronouns
- She/Her
[] On the back of a silver winged moth with lovely, silken fuzz like a pillow made of dreams
Moff
Moff