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The Streetwalker's Guide to the Hierarchy

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Removing Doubt would go thematically so hard. Dorian, never hesitating.. ever henceforth.

I think Dorian absolutely could do mental gymnastics to put up his cause and play the well intentioned extremist. I'm willing to try my hand on it, but only if there's interest in the thread.
 
Birdsie said:
The Warlord - a six-armed abomination of a zombie, taller than a man, and only slightly pallid - stood over Dorian's shoulder, a crimson Visceral tendril connecting hand to Dorian's spine, casually transmitting the aforementioned 'genes' and 'symbiotic biomass' as Dorian tinkered on a new Artificer's Face, shaving off and polishing bits of wood; a meager copy-shadow of the original. There was some discomfort in allowing a creature such as this direct access to manipulating his form, although the Warlord didn't seem compelled to magically quell Dorian's unease; a fortunate sign, implying an absence of interest in employing further manipulations.
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Birdsie said:
The art of Viscerality blossomed in Dorian's veins once the Warlord finished, a passionate warmth inchoate with potential, like an embryo swimming in a spawning pool, yet to form into a concrete being, although slowly twisting and writhing with the shadows of shapes.
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They both got the basics of their respective arts but there's the potential to go far with them.

Birdsie said:
"This one is merely the humble Shi Lei," answered the man, an easygoing smile gracing his features. "Formerly of the Shattering Conceit Sect, now merely a traveler of this Street, ever in pursuit of Moksha at its end."
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Cultivator dude seems cool.

Birdsie said:
"Oh yes," the man said, waving a hand dismissively, and emitted a chuckle he cut deliberately short. "Too many of them to count, young Croft. I can tell, for instance, that your heart is deeply troubled by sorrow and hatred, and that you've committed evil and treachery in the name of your ambition - which, purely based on deduction, is revenge."
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He isn't exactly wrong to call out Dorian.

Birdsie said:
That word: 'Conceit.' The elder stressed it grandiosely as if its import was greater than Dorian was able to conceive. Curious.

"Conceit," he decided to press. "You removed Conceit from yourself?"

The man nodded. "As well as Anger, Greed, Jealousy, and Doubt. I am working on Ignorance next, but I fear it may take me a while."
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Cultivation seems really interesting.

Birdsie said:
"As I've said, you must be new," answered the cultivator, taking the question in stride. "Yes. Eventually, you learn to understand the song. It takes no magic, only experience and time. The Way is long and hides curiosities. We - the more experienced and ancient - have something of a society here, often crossing paths time and time again."

"Experienced and 'ancient?'"

"The Way grants immortality as a byproduct of attunement," the old man said. "A minor boon; it only works while traveling. I am nearly two centuries old, although I could've potentially lived to such an age with only my cultivation. I know of some without such arts, who've lived much longer than this paltry collection of decades." He chuckled.

"I see..."
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Now he's starting to understand just how common longevity is.


[X] Nature of Street Attunement - Ask Shi Lei about the nature of the Street and its purpose. More than sharing simple anecdotes, ask if he knows where it originated from, and what sort of other 'powers' it may confer. Your innate traveler's instinct certainly didn't inform you that you'd cease aging while traveling.

This is vital since it's very important to know how the Street works.

[X] Other Wayfarers - Apparently, you can encounter fellow travelers on the Street, a fact you weren't aware of until this fateful meeting. It'd only make sense to request advice on what to expect from others, and if he could explicate on some of the figures he'd mentioned. The other 'ancients.'

Knowing other travelers could be useful and connections are good for the social character to have.

[X] That Somber Place - That entire part of the conversation was really ominous. You have a bad feeling in your gut. Perhaps you should ask for more information?

Feel like this will have interesting results.
 
Actually, I think that we ought to honor our elder:

[X] Nature of Street Attunement
[X] That Somber Place
[X] Other Wayfarers
[X] Write-In: Craft Traveler's Leather as thanks to esteemed Elder, as thanks to his invaluable aid

Traveler's Leather - Rugged and patchwork leather come together to farm hard yet surprisingly gentle visage of this mask. As it nature should be, it was made of what supplies weary traveler had on their hands, fit to protect from sharp winds. This mask covers upper half of the face, leaving mouth and Elder Lei's magnificent beard exposed. It endures, as its user makes onwards:
  • Walk: Traveler's Leather basic ability is protection from elements and other harm as user travels towards their goal. Should you encounter Somber Place, Mask can be overcharged to reach Street once more; this will crack the mask. Future repairs are left up to their user.
  • Vistas: Long is a road, yet with every step a new sight is to be seen. This allows users to fully appreciate sights they encounter. It is hard to bend this power to useful purposes; it is fully intended as source of joy
  • Destination: Yet all roads must come to and end. Mask will offer user infrequent but often useful hints regarding the nature of their goal or how to reach it. Should the goal be reached, Mask will detach itself from its user never to be put on again by that person, for its master is not traveler anymore
This will probably reduce amount of info by a certain amount, however it would pay back a part of gift Lei gave us. While power itself shouldn't be too impressive for one of his stature, I'm sure he would appreciate it as a token of good will.
 
[X] Magics He Knows
[X] That Somber Place
[X] Write In: Get a quicker overview of the remaining topics, breadth over depth.
 
[X] Nature of Street Attunement
[X] That Somber Place
[X] Other Wayfarers
[X] Write-In: Craft Traveler's Leather as thanks to esteemed Elder, as thanks to his invaluable aid
 
Birdsie said:
*Jealousy - Weirdly enough, Arts here often revolve around plant life. Theories abound as to why.
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Envy is a synonym for jealousy. A particular expression to indicate a jealous individual is to call them 'green with envy'. Someone well-versed in handling plants and herbs is called to have 'a green thumb'.

Generations of smooth-brained cultivators spit blood and crush their foundation at the sight of such insight. Clearly, puns are the deepest lore.

On more serious terms...

[X] Nature of Street Attunement
[X] That Somber Place
[X] Other Wayfarers
[X] Write-In: Craft Traveler's Leather as thanks to esteemed Elder, as thanks to his invaluable aid
 
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[X] Nature of Street Attunement
[X] That Somber Place
[X] Other Wayfarers
[X] Write-In: Craft Traveler's Leather as thanks to esteemed Elder, as thanks to his invaluable aid

I don't like Dorian trying to sever parts of his personality. Seems dull, first and foremost. Reducing someone to an automaton, essentially.
And info on the Street is something we won't get outside of the Street, and it's more universally applicable, considering that Street is our life now.
 
[X] Nature of Street Attunement
[X] That Somber Place
[X] Other Wayfarers
[X] Write-In: Craft Traveler's Leather as thanks to esteemed Elder, as thanks to his invaluable aid

I'm fine with this as long as we craft it last to ensure we don't run out of time before our questions are answered.
 
[X] Nature of Street Attunement
[X] That Somber Place
[X] No Regrets..
-[X] Dorian tells Shi Lei he does not regret his actions. Invite him instead, to see the bigger picture.
-[X] It was a world, where all life was fated to undeath.
-[X] As he learned the true nature of the world, he saw the shape of the future.. An utopia, where the living and the undead danced hand in hand. Where humanity evolves beyond the shackles of mortality.
-[X] The undead did not seek to eradicate humanity. They are the humans in a sense, and sought to live as their own people. Their goals were not of conquest. You are confident they will grow beyond their primal instincts into a civilization.
-[X] No, the true threat to humanity was Vampirism and their shadowy dominion over humanity. A cycle of predation and control, who wrought so much suffering onto that world through their hubris. Justice, must be served. And so Dorian acted.
[X] Write-In: Craft Traveler's Leather as thanks to esteemed Elder, as thanks to his invaluable aid.


Note, this isn't an option asking for cultivation. Merely, to steel Dorian's convictions and stand up against Shi Lei's scrutiny. If that convinces him to open up more about the other stuff, well..)

Alternatively, if we want to do this in plan voting style..

[X] Plan Gaslight
-[X] Nature of Street Attunement
-[X] That Somber Place
-[X] No Regrets..
--[X] Dorian tells Shi Lei he does not regret his actions. Invite him instead, to see the bigger picture.
--[X] It was a world, where all life was fated to undeath.
--[X] As he learned the true nature of the world, he saw the shape of the future.. An utopia, where the living and the undead danced hand in hand. Where humanity evolves beyond the shackles of mortality.
--[X] The undead did not seek to eradicate humanity. They are the humans in a sense, and sought to live as their own people. Their goals were not of conquest. You are confident they will grow beyond their primal instincts into a civilization.
--[X] No, the true threat to humanity was vampirism and their shadowy dominion over humanity. A cycle of predation and control, who wrought so much suffering onto that world through their hubris. Justice, must be served. And so Dorian acted.
-[X] Write-In: Craft Traveler's Leather as thanks to esteemed Elder, as thanks to his invaluable aid.
 
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_brightwing said:
[X] Nature of Street Attunement
[X] That Somber Place
[X] No Regrets..
-[X] Dorian tells Shi Lei he does not regret his actions. Invite him instead, to see the bigger picture.
-[X] It was a world, where all life was fated to undeath.
-[X] As he learned the true nature of the world, he saw the shape of the future.. An utopia, where the living and the undead danced hand in hand. Where humanity evolves beyond the shackles of mortality.
-[X] The undead did not seek to eradicate humanity. They are the humans in a sense, and sought to live as their own people. Their goals were not of conquest. You are confident they will grow beyond their primal instincts into a civilization.
-[X] No, the true threat to humanity was Vampirism and their shadowy dominion over humanity. A cycle of predation and control, who wrought so much suffering onto that world through their hubris. Justice, must be served. And so Dorian acted.
[X] Write-In: Craft Traveler's Leather as thanks to esteemed Elder, as thanks to his invaluable aid.


Note, this isn't an option asking for cultivation. Merely, to steel Dorian's convictions and stand up against Shi Lei's scrutiny. If that convinces him to open up more about the other stuff, well..)

Alternatively, if we want to do this in plan voting style..

[X] Plan Gaslight
-[X] Nature of Street Attunement
-[X] That Somber Place
-[X] No Regrets..
--[X] Dorian tells Shi Lei he does not regret his actions. Invite him instead, to see the bigger picture.
--[X] It was a world, where all life was fated to undeath.
--[X] As he learned the true nature of the world, he saw the shape of the future.. An utopia, where the living and the undead danced hand in hand. Where humanity evolves beyond the shackles of mortality.
--[X] The undead did not seek to eradicate humanity. They are the humans in a sense, and sought to live as their own people. Their goals were not of conquest. You are confident they will grow beyond their primal instincts into a civilization.
--[X] No, the true threat to humanity was vampirism and their shadowy dominion over humanity. A cycle of predation and control, who wrought so much suffering onto that world through their hubris. Justice, must be served. And so Dorian acted.
-[X] Write-In: Craft Traveler's Leather as thanks to esteemed Elder, as thanks to his invaluable aid.
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is this gaslighting ourselves?
 
You know what sure why not. I might change my vote if something changes my mind but I probably wasn't gonna vote here anyways.
[X] Plan Gaslight
 
[X] Nature of Street Attunement
[X] That Somber Place
[X] Other Wayfarers
[X] Write-In: Craft Traveler's Leather as thanks to esteemed Elder, as thanks to his invaluable aid
 
So I guess we do want Dorian to have regrets? That's not a bad narrative as well, ramp down on the ruthlessness.

A different sort of hard of core character.
 
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