Forge of Destiny(Xianxia Quest)
- Thread starter yrsillar
- Start date
- Original Fantasy
Sweet summer child...
- Location
- USA
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Yeah people are going to complain, but I think the people who are currently complaining and having changes made to the system to address those complaints will defend the system once we're in the new thread. In that case it's easier for the sydtem to stay thr same and build inertia so we don't constantly relitigate it.
I, at least, will be busy arguing for which skills we should train up or leave fallow.
- Location
- The Star Kingdom of Manticore
Uncomfortable Thoughts
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Wei Hai sighed as he heard his brothers name being called to the arena that Cai was going to demolish. Wei Hai could only hope that Jing's luck was good enough to be chosen as the other winner. There was good news in not being in the same arena though. This way there was a chance that they both could get through to the next round. That would allow them to pull ahead of their older cousins. Wei Hai had no delusions of besting Bai, Cai, or baroness Ling but the resources that would be sent towards Wei Jing and him should they get past the winnowing round would catapult them both in the race against their cousins. Wei Hai knew that if he could just link up with the other Cai supporters and then baroness Ling he would have a chance at getting past this trial. He glanced quickly at the person who he was hinging his hopes on and had promised a favor. Over the long months since the run through the mists Baroness Ling had not yet called on the favor he owed her. Wei Hai had started to think that she had forgotten him. Then he had heard whispers of what happened to Yan Renshu. How even after annihilating Renshu's power base baroness Ling had continued tracking him, slowly destroying more and more until Renshu was forced to ask for mercy. Someone that would plan and act against a person that by all accounts had nothing left was someone who would not forget what was owed to them. Wei Hai felt quite good about that fact though, having someone as highly placed as the honorable baroness Ling Qi remembering him could only be good. Wei Hai's thoughts on the matter of his connection to the Cai were interrupted when he felt the formations thrum around him.
Wei Hai looked around at the bleak cliff edge as snow slowly landed on him. Turning around he saw the mountain peak rising before being cut off by the clouds. He almost stumbled over the edge as he sensed the pillars of power raising. One had the same texture of the fertile earthy qi he was so familiar with, but so much more powerful. The other qi source had the texture of fog on your skin. Quickly looking around Wei Hai saw no one near him. As his eyes turned back towards the mountain he saw a vast inky blot expanding and moving away from him. With a flick Wei Hai brought out his bronze capped staff and began running towards the sound of music.
Wei Hai gritted his teeth as a dashed towards the sound of the infamous music of baroness Ling Qi. The music seemed to be moving away from him and towards the earthen pillar of qi. It appeared that baroness Ling Qi had decided to move towards the strongest in this arena. Perhaps there were more enforcers over in that direction. It would make the most sense to save a group then just lonely him, Wei Hai thought with a grimace. It was just so hard to tell where people were now. Wei Hai had always thought he had decent qi sensing skills but this trial was showing him how far he had to go. Anytime baroness Ling went near a group the qi in the area warped around her, stretching towards her until the entire area was just a blur of qi lines and textures. Wei Hai had never heard or sensed anything like it before. It almost seemed as if baroness Ling Qi was … drinking qi. Wei Hai stumbled as he turned a corner to fast. Feeling several faint qi sources nearby he dropped to the earth and dispersed his qi within the earth. He would have to rely on stealth to overcome such a large group even if they were weakened.
It took a little while before Wei Hai got up from his very wet and cold spot. The group wasn't moving. "What is going on?" Wei Hai mumbled as he slowly moved towards the group of qi sources. The group was spread out in seemingly random places. A few of them were simply shivering while Wei Hai saw one that looked like he had crawled towards the cliff edge before simply giving up. They barely even looked up as Wei Hai struck them down one by one.
Over the course of the trial Wei Hai saw vibrant and healthy qi sources get buried by the overwhelming strength of baroness Ling's qi, but those sources were still left standing when she left. They were weakened, almost sickly after baroness Ling left. Wei Hai saw more and more faces of terror and hopeless as he tried to meet up with his fellow Cai supporters. The thoughts of why started to dominate Wei Hai's mind. Why would baroness Ling inflict such terror on people? As he felt a growing terror gnawing at the back of his mind uncomfortable thoughts began to seep into his brain. The rumors he had heard about Renshu began to take a different light. What if Ling Qi simply enjoyed the pain and suffering of others? She did spend a great deal of time with the Bai. These thoughts and worse circled around Wei Hai's mind as he dashed around the cold snowy hell he had found himself trapped in. Instead of trying to link up with others Wei Hai blindly rushed away from others trying to appear as small and unappetizing to the monsters ripping each other apart. When Wei Hai felt that earthen qi erupt next to him though he knew his time was up. Wei Hai's last thoughts as he tumbled towards the misty abyss was a simple prayer to the Bountiful Earth that Ling Qi would forget all about humble Wei Hai and for Ling Qi's terrible attention be brought to some other fool.
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A.N
So this is a story idea that wouldn't leave me alone because Ling Qi totally remembers Wei Hai from Growing Pains Fin, right? I mean surely I am not the only one that remembers he owes a very opened ended favor. Hopefully I conveyed the changes in opinion Wei Hai went through over the course of his trial. I also don't know the official relation between Wei Hai and Wei Jing, the poor sod who got Meizhen during the round of 16, but right now I am thinking that they are twins. Reason? Because I am a twin. It's why Ma Jun and Ma Lei are some of my favorite characters even though they had so little screen time. Please critique!
@yrsillar An omake for the omake throne.
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Wei Hai sighed as he heard his brothers name being called to the arena that Cai was going to demolish. Wei Hai could only hope that Jing's luck was good enough to be chosen as the other winner. There was good news in not being in the same arena though. This way there was a chance that they both could get through to the next round. That would allow them to pull ahead of their older cousins. Wei Hai had no delusions of besting Bai, Cai, or baroness Ling but the resources that would be sent towards Wei Jing and him should they get past the winnowing round would catapult them both in the race against their cousins. Wei Hai knew that if he could just link up with the other Cai supporters and then baroness Ling he would have a chance at getting past this trial. He glanced quickly at the person who he was hinging his hopes on and had promised a favor. Over the long months since the run through the mists Baroness Ling had not yet called on the favor he owed her. Wei Hai had started to think that she had forgotten him. Then he had heard whispers of what happened to Yan Renshu. How even after annihilating Renshu's power base baroness Ling had continued tracking him, slowly destroying more and more until Renshu was forced to ask for mercy. Someone that would plan and act against a person that by all accounts had nothing left was someone who would not forget what was owed to them. Wei Hai felt quite good about that fact though, having someone as highly placed as the honorable baroness Ling Qi remembering him could only be good. Wei Hai's thoughts on the matter of his connection to the Cai were interrupted when he felt the formations thrum around him.
Wei Hai looked around at the bleak cliff edge as snow slowly landed on him. Turning around he saw the mountain peak rising before being cut off by the clouds. He almost stumbled over the edge as he sensed the pillars of power raising. One had the same texture of the fertile earthy qi he was so familiar with, but so much more powerful. The other qi source had the texture of fog on your skin. Quickly looking around Wei Hai saw no one near him. As his eyes turned back towards the mountain he saw a vast inky blot expanding and moving away from him. With a flick Wei Hai brought out his bronze capped staff and began running towards the sound of music.
Wei Hai gritted his teeth as a dashed towards the sound of the infamous music of baroness Ling Qi. The music seemed to be moving away from him and towards the earthen pillar of qi. It appeared that baroness Ling Qi had decided to move towards the strongest in this arena. Perhaps there were more enforcers over in that direction. It would make the most sense to save a group then just lonely him, Wei Hai thought with a grimace. It was just so hard to tell where people were now. Wei Hai had always thought he had decent qi sensing skills but this trial was showing him how far he had to go. Anytime baroness Ling went near a group the qi in the area warped around her, stretching towards her until the entire area was just a blur of qi lines and textures. Wei Hai had never heard or sensed anything like it before. It almost seemed as if baroness Ling Qi was … drinking qi. Wei Hai stumbled as he turned a corner to fast. Feeling several faint qi sources nearby he dropped to the earth and dispersed his qi within the earth. He would have to rely on stealth to overcome such a large group even if they were weakened.
It took a little while before Wei Hai got up from his very wet and cold spot. The group wasn't moving. "What is going on?" Wei Hai mumbled as he slowly moved towards the group of qi sources. The group was spread out in seemingly random places. A few of them were simply shivering while Wei Hai saw one that looked like he had crawled towards the cliff edge before simply giving up. They barely even looked up as Wei Hai struck them down one by one.
Over the course of the trial Wei Hai saw vibrant and healthy qi sources get buried by the overwhelming strength of baroness Ling's qi, but those sources were still left standing when she left. They were weakened, almost sickly after baroness Ling left. Wei Hai saw more and more faces of terror and hopeless as he tried to meet up with his fellow Cai supporters. The thoughts of why started to dominate Wei Hai's mind. Why would baroness Ling inflict such terror on people? As he felt a growing terror gnawing at the back of his mind uncomfortable thoughts began to seep into his brain. The rumors he had heard about Renshu began to take a different light. What if Ling Qi simply enjoyed the pain and suffering of others? She did spend a great deal of time with the Bai. These thoughts and worse circled around Wei Hai's mind as he dashed around the cold snowy hell he had found himself trapped in. Instead of trying to link up with others Wei Hai blindly rushed away from others trying to appear as small and unappetizing to the monsters ripping each other apart. When Wei Hai felt that earthen qi erupt next to him though he knew his time was up. Wei Hai's last thoughts as he tumbled towards the misty abyss was a simple prayer to the Bountiful Earth that Ling Qi would forget all about humble Wei Hai and for Ling Qi's terrible attention be brought to some other fool.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A.N
So this is a story idea that wouldn't leave me alone because Ling Qi totally remembers Wei Hai from Growing Pains Fin, right? I mean surely I am not the only one that remembers he owes a very opened ended favor. Hopefully I conveyed the changes in opinion Wei Hai went through over the course of his trial. I also don't know the official relation between Wei Hai and Wei Jing, the poor sod who got Meizhen during the round of 16, but right now I am thinking that they are twins. Reason? Because I am a twin. It's why Ma Jun and Ma Lei are some of my favorite characters even though they had so little screen time. Please critique!
@yrsillar An omake for the omake throne.
BungieONI
Seven gremlins in a trench coat
- Location
- Lickwidget
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Heh. Nah Wei Hai, poor guy, it's worse. She just completely misses that she is inflicting such terror.
I like this good omake!
I keep wishing for more perspectives like this, ngl
DonLyn
Verified Soulless Bureaucrat
Speaking of forgotten: did we ever investigate the 'cool feeling' we got from our Mother's comb?
- Location
- earth
Point. Maybe we could look at that now we're Green and not training like a madwoman for the tourney?
I completely forgot about him until a few months ago when I re read the quest and got reminded of his existence.
Alectai
Speaks Words of Wisdom... On occasion
It's Book Two content we were told.
He had something like three lines of text, 2000 thread pages ago. Completely forgetting about him is totally understandable.I completely forgot about him until a few months ago when I re read the quest and got reminded of his existence.
fictionfan
Please sir, may I have some Meows?
- Location
- Tempe, AZ
I wish that I could read the quest in the alt universe where that was the case.
DonLyn
Verified Soulless Bureaucrat
I feel the same.
Still, Ling Qi now works for the Clan that rules the state the sect is in. If things ever get slow (HAH!) she might me able to convince people to allow her to act as a liaison or something.
Well, that's what fanfiction is for, right? Now all we have to do is make this quest popular enough that someone decides to write that AU.
I wish I could go a month without some fresh face whining about this.
At least it change from lakegate.
Kai Merah
Hound Hearted Hedonist
- Location
- Somewhere in the corners of my imagination
I'd like to read an alt!universe of this quest where we got Liling instead of Meizhen as a roommate. I know we've got some omake of that already, but I'd like to read more about it. I feel like everything would be so different, and it'd be fascinating reading Ling Qi's character arc with Liling as her primary influence instead of Meizhen.
A month ago, i would have hated the Lady Cai decision. But then I read a story called "Peerless Father" and a specific scene in it changed my mind.
She is the best choice for our ambition. Tying ourselves to the house of one of the few White cultivators means we will not be limited in our future options.
Yes, I would enjoy exploring tombs or traveling forests, but their is only so far that path can take us. Yes their are obstacles to choosing the house with the abusive Star Mom. Yes we are going to chafe against the bondage of high society. But I think it will be worth it to persevere.
We have a family to think about. We can't limit our, and their, chances for ambition. Our sister now has more opportunities. Our house has ground to grow on.
Because of the three princess's, only one has a family that loves her. Hate Sun all you like, but they care about their family, and that is something that speaks to Ling on a deeply personal level.
She is the best choice for our ambition. Tying ourselves to the house of one of the few White cultivators means we will not be limited in our future options.
Yes, I would enjoy exploring tombs or traveling forests, but their is only so far that path can take us. Yes their are obstacles to choosing the house with the abusive Star Mom. Yes we are going to chafe against the bondage of high society. But I think it will be worth it to persevere.
We have a family to think about. We can't limit our, and their, chances for ambition. Our sister now has more opportunities. Our house has ground to grow on.
All of us like Bai, some of us like Cai, and most of us hate both of their families. I suspect that in the future we're going to come into conflict of a...personal motivational.
Because of the three princess's, only one has a family that loves her. Hate Sun all you like, but they care about their family, and that is something that speaks to Ling on a deeply personal level.
Shinr
Lurking since December '98
From my understanding, the main complaints against Cai and other Ducal paths is that it chains LQ, reduces exploration options and drags LQ into the in-universe politics, but as far as I can see all of alternatives do that:
Default Path > Be subordinate to the Army for years to pay back the tuition debt you owe the Empire, and any exploration is at risk of being vetoed by your superior, and as LQ goes up the ranks she gets more responsibilities and gets dragged into politics;
Sect Path > My impression is that most of time we will be simply one of cogs that runs the sect cultivation machine, cutting at our own time to explore and cultivate. And as we go up the sect ladder we will be dragged into in-sect, inter-sect and Empire politics;
Non-Aligned Barony Path > I don't think this is even practical. If your newly minted Barony is near or within an established Duchy, only a greater Imperial influence can prevent you from becoming a de-facto part of it and I see no reason for them to be that generous. If you are in vicinity of two Duchies, you will get dragged into their border spats. If you are far away, you are basically on suicide mission.
Default Path > Be subordinate to the Army for years to pay back the tuition debt you owe the Empire, and any exploration is at risk of being vetoed by your superior, and as LQ goes up the ranks she gets more responsibilities and gets dragged into politics;
Sect Path > My impression is that most of time we will be simply one of cogs that runs the sect cultivation machine, cutting at our own time to explore and cultivate. And as we go up the sect ladder we will be dragged into in-sect, inter-sect and Empire politics;
Non-Aligned Barony Path > I don't think this is even practical. If your newly minted Barony is near or within an established Duchy, only a greater Imperial influence can prevent you from becoming a de-facto part of it and I see no reason for them to be that generous. If you are in vicinity of two Duchies, you will get dragged into their border spats. If you are far away, you are basically on suicide mission.
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Himmelhand
Giant Sinkhole 2020
- Location
- Midwestern US
Thinking of things with the barony, we haven't really intersected much with the mortal world "on-screen" barring some limited exposure in town and the early trials.
What will that be like when we actually have a fiefdom to run and we're really interacting with mortal retainers and subjects? It will be interesting to explore the realities of that dynamic, and we will probably have to be very hands on in the early stages.
- Location
- The Temple of the Winds
I believe the opposite. CRX didn't hire Ling Qi for her to waste her time on a fief's minutia, but as a tool to help her with her problems and goals. CRX will want to keep Ling Qi close on hand.
If anything we'll have a regent whom we can give some overall directives once in a while.
CRX and the Sect paths are probably tied at being the least involved with fief and mortal management. If you wanted that then it's the Gu Path that focused on that (along with territory reclamation and exploration).
If anything we'll have a regent whom we can give some overall directives once in a while.
CRX and the Sect paths are probably tied at being the least involved with fief and mortal management. If you wanted that then it's the Gu Path that focused on that (along with territory reclamation and exploration).
Shinr
Lurking since December '98
I thought the Empire granted us a Baroness title with an expectation that we will develop a Barony?
Alectai
Speaks Words of Wisdom... On occasion
No, we got the title automatically by way of being a Third Realm Cultivator before the age of 20. The Baron title doesn't automatically come with land.
Viscount and above does, but minimum rank for a Viscount is Fifth Realm, and by that point, you generally need to have some industrial level of income to feed your cultivation to that point in the first place.
Pretty much only Ducal Houses can afford Fifth Realm and above as personal Retainers rather than just as vassals, and look who we just hooked up with!
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