[X] "Jin!?" (Surprised)
I think the Jin are better described as noteworthy for being a lineage which didn't allow its greatest members' works to remain as black boxes. They instituted a strong culture of recording and sharing every detail of how each and every Jin charm was made - it's hard to overstate how important that sort of thing is, in terms of fueling further innovation and the craft as a whole.(For the record, the Jin are good at mass production, where the Kong are artisans who make masterworks, but each one is unique. Different approaches for different problems.)
Really?
Because the wistful option reads to me like voting to play Jin Yahzu and his apparent family member like a spirits damned fiddle, turning them to our purposes and making them serve our ends.
See, here's the thing about xianxia settings; acting on emotional claptrap like calling the manipulative option spineless revisionism is a good way to start bloody family feuds. If that's how you want to go, I want some kind of proposal for how we can turn the antagonistic route to profit.
is going to play someone like a fiddle. By pretending to be wistful for their rivalry.An Uncomfortable Authenticity: Kong Zhi approaches wordplay much like a dog approaches advanced mathematics: with enthusiasm and energy, but not so much skill. But when he speaks the unvarnished truth, he succeeds nonetheless. As long as he speaks with blunt, open honesty, Kong Zhi gains a +1 to his Social Talent for all social roles. However, he is horribly uncomfortable with anything else. For any social rolls in which Kong Zhi attempts to obfuscate or alter the truth in any way, and for all Bluff rolls, he suffers a -1 to his Social Talent instead.
apply the Mo approach: publicly offer the olive branch (be polite), so that any future antagonism on his part is public perceived as being unjustified.
I'm kind of surprised he recognized us then! We, uh, look pretty different.[X] "Jin." (Polite)
Wait, did he get kicked out before our whole Talon Creature/Fractal View arc? So he has no context for why we're now cosplaying as the Grim Reaper? That's hilarious!
Though if they're primarily Zuan subordinates it makes it odd that Jin wasn't helping the Zuan heir. Maybe their methods are too sloppy for them?I think we may have to confront the hard truth that the Jin are long term subordinates of the Zuan and their highly refined and deeply considered methods are perfectly in line with the Zuan ways of cultivation. They plan out, justify, and record everything. They do what they think is optimal, even when that means forgoing unique opportunities. For example, Kun would have passed up the world stream if he was fully following the Zuan Way. Philosophically the Kong / Siani way of seeking novelty and embracing diversity is in natural opposition to this rigid and disciplined mentality.
It's going to be a long term issue if we get Zuan patronage for our family, and realistically that's the only noble path we've left open.
I'm kind of surprised he recognized us then! We, uh, look pretty different.
So now that "polite" has a comfortable lead over "wistful", anybody interested in giving dismissive/surprised/angry a chance? (if people actually are, check the tally carefully, since tactical voting is mandatory in this quest)