- Pronouns
- He
That wasn't Elder Tian, it was 'Chu Yan o' the Third' but I agree the crafter seem to take after their Elder. Focused upon perfection of craft above all else and quick to anger if you disturb them from their work.
The Path Unending (A Cultivation Quest)
- Thread starter Vesvius
- Start date
- Original
-
- Tags
- original xianxia cultivation quest
That wasn't Elder Tian, it was 'Chu Yan o' the Third' but I agree the crafter seem to take after their Elder. Focused upon perfection of craft above all else and quick to anger if you disturb them from their work.
This just continues to illustrate how strange mindspace of some disciples are.
Saying that I will "make it with my own hands" while meaning that my own hands includes my apprentice is downright alien, and a less charitable individual would call it "bad faith".
Something to keep in mind for the future.
Though the low cost should have been a warning sign.
Saying that I will "make it with my own hands" while meaning that my own hands includes my apprentice is downright alien, and a less charitable individual would call it "bad faith".
Something to keep in mind for the future.
Though the low cost should have been a warning sign.
On the flipside, we don't know how the conversation went down. I can easily see Disciple Asshole Customer demanding only 50 points for a commission and also demanding the work be done by Honored Elder Sister Ame Jichong, ignoring that having both those at the same time is unlikely. And we only have the asshole's words that the exact wording was used in the first place.
Seems rather straighforward to me. She promised to create the armor by her hands. Ordinarily, that means by herself.
But Jichong seems confused that her apprentice doesn't count valid as her hand. So, she's not acting in bad faith per se, but I do wonder what would an elder disciple specializing in law have to say about the matter, if this hypothetical disciple was contacted rather than Jichong's master who was in middle of his work.
The unsatisfied customer is a right prick, no doubt, but he has a point.
WhiteNights
Notorious Phoneposter
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Ooh, this is interesting.
I remember something coming up on discord that understanding anam interactions is one of our strengths.
So this gave me inspiration for a charm we can use - (note: there is so much speculation here I don't know if it would work)
Hive themed charm-
Steel hexagon plates each embedded/forged with a different anam type.
All the plates have a base of Bee anam (bit theoretical at this point, might ask ming hui for source on honey/beeswax )
And maybe a bit of wind anam to make them fly.
The plates float into formation to defend, using a bit of Pokémon types anam theory.
Kong zhi keeps a controller plate on him that is also embedded with Royalty anam - the Hive works to defend the queen.
Technically might be possible to add plates as needed. Can be possible to use as an archer charm rather then a defender charm
Once again, purely theoretical at this point and not something we can make anytime soon.
@Vesvius would this be possible?
Edit - hdvutd
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- Location
- Brazil
Yeah, while Jichong seems to be honestly confused, the dude should probably be entitled a refund.
Unless the apprentices counting as good enough is standard practice. Then it probably loops back around to him.
Unless the apprentices counting as good enough is standard practice. Then it probably loops back around to him.
There's no confusion. What she said was true - if the guy really wanted her to do it personally and not hand the work off to one of her apprentices, he shouldn't have offered a mere 50 sect points. That much sounds like a lot to us, but we're still only Ninth Circle, and to Ame Jichong that's not worth so much. On a day with a good exchange rate, APR would have been worth nearly that much, and it was a mere grade one charm.
So Ame Jichong put an apprentice she trusted on the job. Said apprentice constructed the armor to her satisfaction. The guy absolutely would have gotten a charm that was at least as good as what he paid out for it, and Ame Jichong's apprentice would have gotten some good rep for doing a good job. If the guy truly had doubts as to the quality, he should have demonstrated why it wasn't worth the money he paid, rather than nattering on about Ame Jichong not personally crafting it.
- Location
- Brazil
"Hey, would you craft me armor for 50 points?"
"Sure thing."
"Well I unders- wait, really? With your own two hands?"
"Sure thing."
They had very different definitions of one's own hands.
The customer is clearly a prick, but it's understandable why he is pissed. He was likely super excited for getting a higher ranking disciple to craft him armor, he had explicit confirmation that she'd do so, and then on the big day he finds out that no, that's not happening.
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Situation seems to me more a miscommunication between people. The customer might have thought he was negotiating with a person, when it turns out he was negotiating with an effective representative of a group. I guess it's like working something out with a foreman, assuming the foreman would handle it personally, but it turns out they delegated the task instead.
Tbh I suspect less "honest miscommunication" and more "malicious compliance" on Honored Elder Sister Ame Jichong's part. Sure, there's a bit about her staring at him in incomprehension, but there's also a note that she was personally offended and was capable of hiding it, unlike Honored Elder Brother Asshole Customer. And considering we know she's relatively patient with both Kong Zhi and her junior here, I'm inclined to assume she had provocation and wasn't just tricking the guy for no reason.
Among other things, consider that Vesvius works in retail, and where his sympathies would lie.
Some interesting worldbuilding tidbits - a bit more about the Northern Savages, a Free City (wonder if Xu Yun has been there) and more about how the Creator's Garden is structured - the Third Circles have Sixtes (and presumably Fours and Fives) under their command, and the Sixes have Eights (and presumably Sevens) under theirs. Not unexpected, but it would be interesting to see how it compares to other branches of the sect.
Among other things, consider that Vesvius works in retail, and where his sympathies would lie.
Some interesting worldbuilding tidbits - a bit more about the Northern Savages, a Free City (wonder if Xu Yun has been there) and more about how the Creator's Garden is structured - the Third Circles have Sixtes (and presumably Fours and Fives) under their command, and the Sixes have Eights (and presumably Sevens) under theirs. Not unexpected, but it would be interesting to see how it compares to other branches of the sect.
- Pronouns
- He/It/Argh!
Ame Jichong appeared to be annoyed at just the mention of Kwan Zedong's name. So there was conflict of some sort before the completion of this armour.
Perhaps it was that he had the audacity to request that Ame Jichong personally craft the item for him?
Or perhaps he has done something else previously to annoy Ame Jichong, and so she deliberately chose to interpret his request in a way that did not waste her time.
Perhaps it was that he had the audacity to request that Ame Jichong personally craft the item for him?
Or perhaps he has done something else previously to annoy Ame Jichong, and so she deliberately chose to interpret his request in a way that did not waste her time.
- Location
- Domino City
While Ame's statement about making a work with her own hands does sound a little misleading, it does make some sense when you think about it, price aside.
From what it sounds like, her underlings act not just as apprentices, but as hired hands: taking care of stud that's important, but beneath Ame, like gathering materials, refining ore, and working on minor projects.
I'm willing to bet Ame's confusion is due to the customer pitching a fit over what's effectively common sense. He's a 9th-level scrub offering enough for a decent set of armor, but not enough for an expert masterpiece. What did he expect, lavish treatment?
From what it sounds like, her underlings act not just as apprentices, but as hired hands: taking care of stud that's important, but beneath Ame, like gathering materials, refining ore, and working on minor projects.
I'm willing to bet Ame's confusion is due to the customer pitching a fit over what's effectively common sense. He's a 9th-level scrub offering enough for a decent set of armor, but not enough for an expert masterpiece. What did he expect, lavish treatment?
So I've been thinking about possible Sage Techniques that might be helpful.
First is techs that nonhuman disciples use to become human. Sela obviously knows these. Unclear if Tantoi and Lei are using a version but it's possible, and there are probably non-Elders in the sect who might need them. Likely to be rare as nonhuman disciples are rare, but there might be a standard tech in the archives for those that do happen. These seem like they'd be of limited use to us outside making us look normal.
Next would be general shapeshifting techs which could be adapted for our purposes. These would range from disguise techs to 'turn your flesh into a goo puddle under your control' type stuff. The latter would probably be quite powerful, maybe outside our reach, the former of limited use to someone of Kong Zhi's skillset.
Third would be a 'evolution' type technique. Something like the Seven Gates or Captain America serum or a 'Super Saiyan' form, designed to improve a human body as a whole. This would be pretty theoretical, but think of the effects something like Perfection/Life would have.
Fourth would be a multi-limb tech. If you have extra limbs, it's less important that one is messed up. Probably only good for the hand in that respect. A personal favorite, though, since it could be broadly useful, including use in crafting.
A fifth would be a body replacement tech. Body/limb of stone, diamond, fire, whatever. Basically overwrite the kukuni's changes with our own changes that would be more suited to us. If we assume it overwrites the body, a "Stone Warrior's Fist" or whatever might still be more usable than what we have now.
Anyone have any other ideas?
First is techs that nonhuman disciples use to become human. Sela obviously knows these. Unclear if Tantoi and Lei are using a version but it's possible, and there are probably non-Elders in the sect who might need them. Likely to be rare as nonhuman disciples are rare, but there might be a standard tech in the archives for those that do happen. These seem like they'd be of limited use to us outside making us look normal.
Next would be general shapeshifting techs which could be adapted for our purposes. These would range from disguise techs to 'turn your flesh into a goo puddle under your control' type stuff. The latter would probably be quite powerful, maybe outside our reach, the former of limited use to someone of Kong Zhi's skillset.
Third would be a 'evolution' type technique. Something like the Seven Gates or Captain America serum or a 'Super Saiyan' form, designed to improve a human body as a whole. This would be pretty theoretical, but think of the effects something like Perfection/Life would have.
Fourth would be a multi-limb tech. If you have extra limbs, it's less important that one is messed up. Probably only good for the hand in that respect. A personal favorite, though, since it could be broadly useful, including use in crafting.
A fifth would be a body replacement tech. Body/limb of stone, diamond, fire, whatever. Basically overwrite the kukuni's changes with our own changes that would be more suited to us. If we assume it overwrites the body, a "Stone Warrior's Fist" or whatever might still be more usable than what we have now.
Anyone have any other ideas?
Olorin
Legitimate Autist
Only that smoke sage techniques might be something worth pursuing. It would be more efficient to integrate and may have useful secondary effects.
- Location
- Austria
- Pronouns
- He/They
I have an academic degree in fine art and while art universities don't work this way anymore, something like this was completely normal a few decades ago for painters and other artists and still is for some disciplines.
For example Rubens had a workshop of art students and artists who painted the stuff he didn't want to do for whatever reason like the snakes on this Medusa (content warning for a bit of gore).
Or traditional japanese woodcuts where only the original concept has to be made by the original artist. The cutting of the wood and the printing itself can be done by other artists, but the print is still attributed to the artist (this is why you can get "original" prints by famous artists long dead for an reasonable amount of money).
Anyway, I liked this tale a lot.
- Location
- Ireland
Is it weird that I think Ame Jichong is the asshole here? She straight up mislead him and he started off trying to be polite. It was only after she acted obstinate that he got angry and he tried to resolve the situation by talking to her Elder rather then starting a duel or the like.
Quest
The Great One
- Location
- Everywhere
That barbarian. A duel would have at least been honorable.
- Pronouns
- He/It/Argh!
Another aspect to consider here is that Ame Jichong doesn't seem to value 'who' made the work, as much as the 'quality' of the work. (Hinted at by her reaction when Kong Zhi said who his Father was. That was not interesting to her. But the quality of his own Charm did.)
So asking Ame Jichong to create something with her own hands, might simply mean that it should be of quality that she would not be disappointed to produce. Ame Jichong indicates that Chai Ling is gifted at her work. Perhaps she considers this work to be almost as good as her own? And so why would it matter who made it?
So asking Ame Jichong to create something with her own hands, might simply mean that it should be of quality that she would not be disappointed to produce. Ame Jichong indicates that Chai Ling is gifted at her work. Perhaps she considers this work to be almost as good as her own? And so why would it matter who made it?
I4. A Harmonious Return (Commission)
Vesvius
The Wicked God
A/N: A big thanks to the 29 people who have pledged to me on Patreon! If you'd like to join them, you can do so here. If you'd like to check out the Royal Road crosspost, head on over and check it out! Leave a rating while you're there. It really does help me out.
We're back with the next to last commission of this cycle! This one was another very open-ended request: Kong Bi doing something when Zhi isn't around. It went to a place that I'm sure you all will enjoy!
---------------------------
If one were to look at the grand continent claimed by the Radiant Empire from the peaks of the heavens, their eyes would linger upon many glorious wonders. They would gaze upon the Brightmaple Mountains to the west, a range of stone peaks so grand that they seem to crown the land itself. They would stare at the deep blue of the Laughingstar Sea to the south and marvel at the millions of creatures that live within it. They would behold the Sunset Wastes to the east and stare in awe at the men and beasts that call the hard land their home. Their eyes would linger on the Cloudforge Plateau to the north and admire the never-ending battle between man and nature.
But when the invisible watcher is done beholding the glory of the natural world, their attention would be captivated by those wonders more man-made in nature. And so their eyes would drift towards the middle of the continent, and then slightly to the east until they landed on the greatest of the man's touches: Harmony. The capital city of the empire stretches nearly one hundred leagues from border to border, a sprawling monument to the best and worst of all mankind. It begins at the base of the Revenant Pillars before stretching north and east, crossing the Soundless Run and ending on the grassy plains.
Harmony's glory is far more than the landscape that it covers, however. Were it just some blanket of man that covered nature's bounty, it would not be nearly interesting enough to catch the heavenly watcher's eye. Enclosed within the capital's ivory walls are exemplars of humanity itself. There is the Emperor's Palace, a vast complex of obsidian and ivory that lies in the exact heart of the City. A dove's flight away from the Palace lies the Midnight Garden, a carefully cultivated copse of trees and flowers so dense that the only light to be found within comes from specially bred fireflies. The Garden lies only a brief carriage ride from Wheelmaker's Trail, where one can witness the darker sides of civilization first hand if they dare.
Those are just a few of the places that make Harmony a feast for the senses. Dozens more pack every street. Wonders beyond the comprehension of an ordinary farmer seem to grow on every corner to the point where a newcomer would swear that the streets are made of silver and the drains of diamond.
One place that a newcomer to Harmony would not go out of their way to see, however, is the compound of the Kong Clan. In fact, very few watchers, celestial or otherwise, would even give it a second look. It stands closer to the outskirts of Harmony than to the Palace and there is nothing exceptional about it's construction save it's notable quality. Aside from that, the only thing that would draw the eye of anyone is the compound's closeness to the Soundless Run. The small cluster of homes and buildings lies on the east bank of the swift-moving river with docks protruding from every major structure, giving the compound access to the waterways that other, more storied, homes can only dream of.
It's towards one of those docks that Kong Bi sails. Aboard a small river barge that looks more like a raft with sails, she stands at the front, eyes wide as she searches for the best place to land her craft. Her eyes land upon the pier extending from a small, squat building towards the center of the compound, but find it already full. A dozen vessels clog the waters, ruining any chance she has of a hasty docking.
That is, it would ruin the chance if she were anyone but Kong Bi. With a thought, the currents turn, and the raft is propelled forward. As it flies over the placid waters Kong Bi picks a target. She settles on a humble craft tied right next to the base of the dock. There are other, far larger craft she could focus on instead, but something about the smaller vessel offends her. After a moment's contemplation she realizes that it is the lacquering of the hull- a slipshod job at best, one that the shipwright clearly should have thought twice about before allowing his work to see the seas.
Well, it is simply Kong Bi's responsibility to deal with this blight, as it is her duty to deal with all such errors on the face of the world.
Moments before her raft collides with the boat, her hand darts for a pouch tied to her belt sash. Kong Bi's questing fingers dig into the fabric for the briefest of seconds before emerging once more, this time holding a small blue token. Without another thought she tosses it into the air, allowing the sun to catch the diamond dust laying in dozens of miniscule glyphs all around the dark wood. Soundlessly, the token slides beneath the water.
A split second later, a tentacle reaches up from the depths, dark blue and covered in pustules. It wraps around the offending craft before anyone can even register the movement. With a crack of wood and an alien howl, the boat is split in two. Shards fly everywhere and more tendrils reach up, engulfing the wreckage in a cold embrace.
With a sound not unlike a man devouring a bowl of noodles in one slurp, the wreckage is dragged under the surface of the water- leaving an open berth. Kong Bi sails into it without a moment's hesitation.
The moment her raft is secure she gestures at the water with two fingers. In answer, the river boils, and the blue token flies back into her hand. Kong Bi drops it back into her pouch and in the same motion plucks a silver talent from another. A flick of her wrist sends it arcing into the hand of a sailor who is staring, mouth open, at her- presumably the wreckage's owner.
She nods to him. "That should pay for the damages. May the stars shine down upon you until the end of your journey."
Then she brushes by him, dismissing the unfortunate and poorly-lacquered sailor from her thoughts, mind, and memory. He is of no further consequence.
The person that awaits Kong Bi at the end of the dock however, is of great consequence.. She is a small, slender woman with a face that was once more handsome than beautiful. Even now, after anam has brought her far beyond the realm of mere mortals, she retains a squareness to her jaw and a narrow set to her eyes that keeps her from classic beauty. Her hands are soft and delicate, free of both calluses and adornment save a single band of bronze around her ring finger- which she's using to drum a steady beat on her forearm as she stares at the destruction Kong Bi has wrought.
As the elder Artist approaches, Kong Ru shakes her head. "Was that truly necessary?" she asks. "Could you not have simply jumped ashore?"
"Perhaps," Kong Bi allows. "But there was a statement that had to be made. Shoddy workmanship will not be tolerated."
Her words are said with conviction, as if she is speaking a universal truth. Ru just stands still for a moment, digesting the words, before her shoulders move in a small shadow of a shrug as she accepts this as one of the many Kong eccentricities that she shall never understand. "Very well," she allows. "I suppose you had to do what you had to do. Now, how was your trip?"
"Productive," Bi answers. She moves past the other woman into the building proper, drawing her into her wake. "My business was dealt with quickly and efficiently. Little Zhi shows impressive drive; you should be proud."
Ru's face is placid, yet something ripples beneath it's calm surface. "Of course I am proud," she answers frostily. "My son is nothing if not the model of dedication. If he had not learned your lessons, then they would not be worth learning." Then she pauses and tilts her head slightly to the side. "Your lessons were worth learning, yes?"
Bi bites the inside of her cheek and offers a slight nod. "Yes," she answers primly. "They were- else I would not have been sent in such haste."
"Wonderful," Ru answers. Her tone, however, conveys her complete lack of belief. "Though I cannot help but be concerned. To send you out so quickly… again, I must ask what was so important that you had to tend to it with such haste?"
"Ah ah," Bi answers. "Now that would be telling. And if Little ShuShu has not yet seen fit to inform you of such, then it would hardly be my place."
Ru looks decidedly unamused. "Auntie Bi," she says, stressing the familial title. "You have hardly thought twice about saying things that others would not in the past."
"Indeed!" chirps Bi. "And the fact that I am not doing so at this moment should be an important clue that tells you that such things are not to be spoken of- or worried about. I assure you, Little Zhi is… well."
The matriarch of the Kong Clan frowns at Bi's tone. "...is there something that you are not telling me?" she asks, voice guarded.
"Oh, of course," Bi answers, waving her concern away. "But I shall inform you and Little ShuShu together. Now, where is he? The loom?"
Ru nods and goes to take the lead, but Bi does not need guidance from a Lai to show her around her own clan's compound. She increases her speed again, pulling Ru along like a tugboat dragging a canoe through rough waters. As she walks, Bi glances over her shoulder. "I still cannot say I approve of sending Zhi to the Heart; it is such a dour place, and Fensui is no fun whatsoever. We should have had him sent to the Breath."
Kong Ru's eyes close in pain before they reopen, and she prepares herself to tackle the argument for the three hundredth time. "No, we should not have," she breathes out. "Your own daughter already represents the clan at the Breath. Another Kong sent there would have been superfluous- and it would have born the stench of favoritism. We cannot remain so tied to one sect that the others think less of us."
"Pfaw!" Bi snorts. "The Breath was good enough for me. It was good enough for Shushu. It would have been more than good enough for Zhi. He and Cui would have locked up the sect entirely by now had we sent them both!"
"And the Rose was exceptional for myself," Ru replies. "But I did not attempt to send Zhi there. Just because we have our own attachments does not mean we should allow them to cloud our eyes. But…"
Ru trails off. "You are attempting to distract me," she mutters. "Bi- Auntie Bi, what happened to my Zhi?"
"He is fine," Bi stresses. "More than fine in some ways; he has surrounded himself with a cadre that is enough to make me proud."
"I will learn of his friends later, but for now I need-"
"Yes, they are a strange mix. The Azure Gardens Twins, a barbarian from the Wastes, a northern sailor of all things, and there's even a little dancer girl! You would like her very much, Ru- she reminds me greatly of your sister."
As she speaks, the two enter a large room dominated by an elaborate wooden contraption. The monster of wood and cord stretches up to the very roof and out to meet each wall. On it's delicate fibers is stretched a long, half-woven cloth. Anam dances across the threads, pulling and tugging them into the proper order. At the base of the loom sits a sole figure moving the threads with twitches of his fingers and bare efforts of will.
Kong Ru does not notice their new surroundings. Instead, her face is pinched in pain.. "Ai or Rei?" she asks. "Wait, no, why do I bother to ask. Obviously it's-"
She pauses and shakes her head. "Bi," she says once more, steel in her voice. "Stop distracting me and tell me what has happened to my son!"
"I-"
From in front of the loom, a movement catches both women's eyes. As they watch, the figure operating the device flicks his fingers, tying the cords he was working with into a loose knot. Anam surges down the loom and back into his body, skittering over his flesh like an insect before sinking deep into his muscles. Once the light has retreated, he stands and turns.
The man operating the loom is as tall as Kong Ru is short and beautiful in ways his wife simply is not. His pate is shaved as bald as a stone, and it is only that choice that saves him from looking like a creature from the stories who would trade a night's warmth for a mother's first born. His hands are gnarled and twisted, one burned from an accident long ago, and on his finger he wears a matching ring of bronze.
Kong Shuren stares at his aunt and wife. Without a single motion, the air around him surges, and the door behind the two women slams shut. Anam floods the air, pressing down upon all three of them with the sensation of cool silk and musty pages. The sensation retreats just as quickly, and soon the only thing filling the air is the Kong Patriarch's sheer presence.
Though truth be told, that is more than enough.
His eyes are fixed firmly on Kong Bi. "Auntie," he intones, voice light and clear even as it presses down upon his elder. "Please. What has happened to our son?"
Kong Bi looks from one parent to another. One is a barely contained knot of nerves and tension. The other, a seemingly placid lake, though his anam and eyes tell a different story. The elder lets out a low breath and makes a placating gesture with both hands.
"Now, both of you. Calm down. Before I say anything else, I would like to stress one thing: Little Zhi is fine."
We're back with the next to last commission of this cycle! This one was another very open-ended request: Kong Bi doing something when Zhi isn't around. It went to a place that I'm sure you all will enjoy!
---------------------------
If one were to look at the grand continent claimed by the Radiant Empire from the peaks of the heavens, their eyes would linger upon many glorious wonders. They would gaze upon the Brightmaple Mountains to the west, a range of stone peaks so grand that they seem to crown the land itself. They would stare at the deep blue of the Laughingstar Sea to the south and marvel at the millions of creatures that live within it. They would behold the Sunset Wastes to the east and stare in awe at the men and beasts that call the hard land their home. Their eyes would linger on the Cloudforge Plateau to the north and admire the never-ending battle between man and nature.
But when the invisible watcher is done beholding the glory of the natural world, their attention would be captivated by those wonders more man-made in nature. And so their eyes would drift towards the middle of the continent, and then slightly to the east until they landed on the greatest of the man's touches: Harmony. The capital city of the empire stretches nearly one hundred leagues from border to border, a sprawling monument to the best and worst of all mankind. It begins at the base of the Revenant Pillars before stretching north and east, crossing the Soundless Run and ending on the grassy plains.
Harmony's glory is far more than the landscape that it covers, however. Were it just some blanket of man that covered nature's bounty, it would not be nearly interesting enough to catch the heavenly watcher's eye. Enclosed within the capital's ivory walls are exemplars of humanity itself. There is the Emperor's Palace, a vast complex of obsidian and ivory that lies in the exact heart of the City. A dove's flight away from the Palace lies the Midnight Garden, a carefully cultivated copse of trees and flowers so dense that the only light to be found within comes from specially bred fireflies. The Garden lies only a brief carriage ride from Wheelmaker's Trail, where one can witness the darker sides of civilization first hand if they dare.
Those are just a few of the places that make Harmony a feast for the senses. Dozens more pack every street. Wonders beyond the comprehension of an ordinary farmer seem to grow on every corner to the point where a newcomer would swear that the streets are made of silver and the drains of diamond.
One place that a newcomer to Harmony would not go out of their way to see, however, is the compound of the Kong Clan. In fact, very few watchers, celestial or otherwise, would even give it a second look. It stands closer to the outskirts of Harmony than to the Palace and there is nothing exceptional about it's construction save it's notable quality. Aside from that, the only thing that would draw the eye of anyone is the compound's closeness to the Soundless Run. The small cluster of homes and buildings lies on the east bank of the swift-moving river with docks protruding from every major structure, giving the compound access to the waterways that other, more storied, homes can only dream of.
It's towards one of those docks that Kong Bi sails. Aboard a small river barge that looks more like a raft with sails, she stands at the front, eyes wide as she searches for the best place to land her craft. Her eyes land upon the pier extending from a small, squat building towards the center of the compound, but find it already full. A dozen vessels clog the waters, ruining any chance she has of a hasty docking.
That is, it would ruin the chance if she were anyone but Kong Bi. With a thought, the currents turn, and the raft is propelled forward. As it flies over the placid waters Kong Bi picks a target. She settles on a humble craft tied right next to the base of the dock. There are other, far larger craft she could focus on instead, but something about the smaller vessel offends her. After a moment's contemplation she realizes that it is the lacquering of the hull- a slipshod job at best, one that the shipwright clearly should have thought twice about before allowing his work to see the seas.
Well, it is simply Kong Bi's responsibility to deal with this blight, as it is her duty to deal with all such errors on the face of the world.
Moments before her raft collides with the boat, her hand darts for a pouch tied to her belt sash. Kong Bi's questing fingers dig into the fabric for the briefest of seconds before emerging once more, this time holding a small blue token. Without another thought she tosses it into the air, allowing the sun to catch the diamond dust laying in dozens of miniscule glyphs all around the dark wood. Soundlessly, the token slides beneath the water.
A split second later, a tentacle reaches up from the depths, dark blue and covered in pustules. It wraps around the offending craft before anyone can even register the movement. With a crack of wood and an alien howl, the boat is split in two. Shards fly everywhere and more tendrils reach up, engulfing the wreckage in a cold embrace.
With a sound not unlike a man devouring a bowl of noodles in one slurp, the wreckage is dragged under the surface of the water- leaving an open berth. Kong Bi sails into it without a moment's hesitation.
The moment her raft is secure she gestures at the water with two fingers. In answer, the river boils, and the blue token flies back into her hand. Kong Bi drops it back into her pouch and in the same motion plucks a silver talent from another. A flick of her wrist sends it arcing into the hand of a sailor who is staring, mouth open, at her- presumably the wreckage's owner.
She nods to him. "That should pay for the damages. May the stars shine down upon you until the end of your journey."
Then she brushes by him, dismissing the unfortunate and poorly-lacquered sailor from her thoughts, mind, and memory. He is of no further consequence.
The person that awaits Kong Bi at the end of the dock however, is of great consequence.. She is a small, slender woman with a face that was once more handsome than beautiful. Even now, after anam has brought her far beyond the realm of mere mortals, she retains a squareness to her jaw and a narrow set to her eyes that keeps her from classic beauty. Her hands are soft and delicate, free of both calluses and adornment save a single band of bronze around her ring finger- which she's using to drum a steady beat on her forearm as she stares at the destruction Kong Bi has wrought.
As the elder Artist approaches, Kong Ru shakes her head. "Was that truly necessary?" she asks. "Could you not have simply jumped ashore?"
"Perhaps," Kong Bi allows. "But there was a statement that had to be made. Shoddy workmanship will not be tolerated."
Her words are said with conviction, as if she is speaking a universal truth. Ru just stands still for a moment, digesting the words, before her shoulders move in a small shadow of a shrug as she accepts this as one of the many Kong eccentricities that she shall never understand. "Very well," she allows. "I suppose you had to do what you had to do. Now, how was your trip?"
"Productive," Bi answers. She moves past the other woman into the building proper, drawing her into her wake. "My business was dealt with quickly and efficiently. Little Zhi shows impressive drive; you should be proud."
Ru's face is placid, yet something ripples beneath it's calm surface. "Of course I am proud," she answers frostily. "My son is nothing if not the model of dedication. If he had not learned your lessons, then they would not be worth learning." Then she pauses and tilts her head slightly to the side. "Your lessons were worth learning, yes?"
Bi bites the inside of her cheek and offers a slight nod. "Yes," she answers primly. "They were- else I would not have been sent in such haste."
"Wonderful," Ru answers. Her tone, however, conveys her complete lack of belief. "Though I cannot help but be concerned. To send you out so quickly… again, I must ask what was so important that you had to tend to it with such haste?"
"Ah ah," Bi answers. "Now that would be telling. And if Little ShuShu has not yet seen fit to inform you of such, then it would hardly be my place."
Ru looks decidedly unamused. "Auntie Bi," she says, stressing the familial title. "You have hardly thought twice about saying things that others would not in the past."
"Indeed!" chirps Bi. "And the fact that I am not doing so at this moment should be an important clue that tells you that such things are not to be spoken of- or worried about. I assure you, Little Zhi is… well."
The matriarch of the Kong Clan frowns at Bi's tone. "...is there something that you are not telling me?" she asks, voice guarded.
"Oh, of course," Bi answers, waving her concern away. "But I shall inform you and Little ShuShu together. Now, where is he? The loom?"
Ru nods and goes to take the lead, but Bi does not need guidance from a Lai to show her around her own clan's compound. She increases her speed again, pulling Ru along like a tugboat dragging a canoe through rough waters. As she walks, Bi glances over her shoulder. "I still cannot say I approve of sending Zhi to the Heart; it is such a dour place, and Fensui is no fun whatsoever. We should have had him sent to the Breath."
Kong Ru's eyes close in pain before they reopen, and she prepares herself to tackle the argument for the three hundredth time. "No, we should not have," she breathes out. "Your own daughter already represents the clan at the Breath. Another Kong sent there would have been superfluous- and it would have born the stench of favoritism. We cannot remain so tied to one sect that the others think less of us."
"Pfaw!" Bi snorts. "The Breath was good enough for me. It was good enough for Shushu. It would have been more than good enough for Zhi. He and Cui would have locked up the sect entirely by now had we sent them both!"
"And the Rose was exceptional for myself," Ru replies. "But I did not attempt to send Zhi there. Just because we have our own attachments does not mean we should allow them to cloud our eyes. But…"
Ru trails off. "You are attempting to distract me," she mutters. "Bi- Auntie Bi, what happened to my Zhi?"
"He is fine," Bi stresses. "More than fine in some ways; he has surrounded himself with a cadre that is enough to make me proud."
"I will learn of his friends later, but for now I need-"
"Yes, they are a strange mix. The Azure Gardens Twins, a barbarian from the Wastes, a northern sailor of all things, and there's even a little dancer girl! You would like her very much, Ru- she reminds me greatly of your sister."
As she speaks, the two enter a large room dominated by an elaborate wooden contraption. The monster of wood and cord stretches up to the very roof and out to meet each wall. On it's delicate fibers is stretched a long, half-woven cloth. Anam dances across the threads, pulling and tugging them into the proper order. At the base of the loom sits a sole figure moving the threads with twitches of his fingers and bare efforts of will.
Kong Ru does not notice their new surroundings. Instead, her face is pinched in pain.. "Ai or Rei?" she asks. "Wait, no, why do I bother to ask. Obviously it's-"
She pauses and shakes her head. "Bi," she says once more, steel in her voice. "Stop distracting me and tell me what has happened to my son!"
"I-"
From in front of the loom, a movement catches both women's eyes. As they watch, the figure operating the device flicks his fingers, tying the cords he was working with into a loose knot. Anam surges down the loom and back into his body, skittering over his flesh like an insect before sinking deep into his muscles. Once the light has retreated, he stands and turns.
The man operating the loom is as tall as Kong Ru is short and beautiful in ways his wife simply is not. His pate is shaved as bald as a stone, and it is only that choice that saves him from looking like a creature from the stories who would trade a night's warmth for a mother's first born. His hands are gnarled and twisted, one burned from an accident long ago, and on his finger he wears a matching ring of bronze.
Kong Shuren stares at his aunt and wife. Without a single motion, the air around him surges, and the door behind the two women slams shut. Anam floods the air, pressing down upon all three of them with the sensation of cool silk and musty pages. The sensation retreats just as quickly, and soon the only thing filling the air is the Kong Patriarch's sheer presence.
Though truth be told, that is more than enough.
His eyes are fixed firmly on Kong Bi. "Auntie," he intones, voice light and clear even as it presses down upon his elder. "Please. What has happened to our son?"
Kong Bi looks from one parent to another. One is a barely contained knot of nerves and tension. The other, a seemingly placid lake, though his anam and eyes tell a different story. The elder lets out a low breath and makes a placating gesture with both hands.
"Now, both of you. Calm down. Before I say anything else, I would like to stress one thing: Little Zhi is fine."
- Location
- scrabbling
more bald
I detect theme
I detect theme
WhiteNights
Notorious Phoneposter
- Pronouns
- She/Her
The consequences of when you keep burning your compound up - the narrator insults you
Either we inherited our mothers looks, or our father integrated more beauty techniques.
Reminds me of vestiges. Hmmm
Overall a great piece. I love the kong family interactions and the look at the radiant empire
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- Pronouns
- He
One of his hands was burned but both are described as gnarled and twisted. Is this all the result of one incident or several? Are the gnarled hands from age, calluses or scarification?
- Location
- Philippines
So the Kong are a neutral clan? Make you wonder if some of they're masterpiece have trades blows