Threads Of Destiny(Eastern Fantasy, Sequel to Forge of Destiny)
- Thread starter yrsillar
- Start date
- Original Users' Choice!
Voted best in category in the Users' Choice awards.
EternalObserver
eYe Gaze baCk
- Location
- The Void
[X] The messenger cadre.
mmmm, I don't like the whole "u have to be at the battlefield for stuff to be narratively interesting or exciting". Hence I'm going with this option.
Also I just like being messenger.
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- Location
- The Star Kingdom of Manticore
[X] The river villages.
[X] The river villages.
Time to rub the peasants' faces in how much better we are than them! And keep them from evaporating in the presence of any raiders, but that's not the important bit.
Time to rub the peasants' faces in how much better we are than them! And keep them from evaporating in the presence of any raiders, but that's not the important bit.
- Location
- Earth
[X] The river villages.
- Location
- The Maple Syrup Mountains
[X] The river villages.
Gonna analyze the options a bit, both tactically and narratively. Also assuming barbarian stuff happens regardless cause, well it'd be boring otherwise.
[] The river villages.
This option would involve protecting the length of a valley from barbarian raiding. Mobility is still a large asset. It specifically notes Zhengui so ought to have some narrative focus there. Seems most likely place for Shen Hu to hang out. I'm a bit worried by collateral damage to the farmlands between Ling Qi and Hanyi; Zhengui can prooobably repair living stuff he sets on fire, at least. Overall narrative of this option probably focuses on the ties between people and the responsibility of cultivators to mortals. Opportunity to actually examine barbarians seems really low.
[] The messenger cadre.
The generalized support option. Mobility is the biggest advantage here. Ling Qi will be sent all over with this one, touching on various different people but not having a great deal of contact with any of them. Might actually see Gu Xiulan during the mission if we pick this. Because Ling Qi is travelling all over, and will often be alone, this is the option with the most narrative flexibility in what kind of encounters Ling Qi has, but it's also the one with probably the lowest chance of assured, direct contact with the barbarians, making it something of a mixed case. Narratively, I'd expect this to examine themes of communal responsibility and the importance of a cog's role in a machine.
Using CDE for communication is nonsense talk; developing the necessary protocols don't make much sense if Ling Qi is the only person with the art, and the range is so short it's only a few minutes of flight time. The more realistic use of the art in this context is scouting out rendezvous points to see if they've been compromised before she drops by to hand off information.
[] The front line.
This option is a bit unclear in what it involves exactly, but probably fights. Mobility might be insufficient for keeping up with a Cyan's cruising speed, even if they're not flying. Teaming up with the big boss and cruising for trouble is appealing, but I have reservations. Beyond the whole keeping up thing, Ling Qi is identifying herself as the next strongest unassigned asset; it seems tactically questionable to pair that with the strongest asset on what is essentially a speculative assignment, when there are a variety of hardpoints to defend as the mission's main thrust. It appears something of a misappropriation of resources to commit Ling Qi to Guan Zhi's side. Narratively, this choice probably gives lots of contact with barbarians, but should be very restricted in the kind of interaction we can do or even attempt while we're babysat by a Cyan sect superior.
[X] The messenger cadre.
I'll be frank, I'm still sore over the prior missed opportunity, and so I am disinclined to settle for options more likely to present barbarians in their conventional understanding. Defending a village from raids or scouring the peaks for targets to hit like the fist of The Wall are unexceptional. This is the option that carries the highest chance of the unusual, of stumbling into an out-of-context context.
[] The river villages.
This option would involve protecting the length of a valley from barbarian raiding. Mobility is still a large asset. It specifically notes Zhengui so ought to have some narrative focus there. Seems most likely place for Shen Hu to hang out. I'm a bit worried by collateral damage to the farmlands between Ling Qi and Hanyi; Zhengui can prooobably repair living stuff he sets on fire, at least. Overall narrative of this option probably focuses on the ties between people and the responsibility of cultivators to mortals. Opportunity to actually examine barbarians seems really low.
[] The messenger cadre.
The generalized support option. Mobility is the biggest advantage here. Ling Qi will be sent all over with this one, touching on various different people but not having a great deal of contact with any of them. Might actually see Gu Xiulan during the mission if we pick this. Because Ling Qi is travelling all over, and will often be alone, this is the option with the most narrative flexibility in what kind of encounters Ling Qi has, but it's also the one with probably the lowest chance of assured, direct contact with the barbarians, making it something of a mixed case. Narratively, I'd expect this to examine themes of communal responsibility and the importance of a cog's role in a machine.
Using CDE for communication is nonsense talk; developing the necessary protocols don't make much sense if Ling Qi is the only person with the art, and the range is so short it's only a few minutes of flight time. The more realistic use of the art in this context is scouting out rendezvous points to see if they've been compromised before she drops by to hand off information.
[] The front line.
This option is a bit unclear in what it involves exactly, but probably fights. Mobility might be insufficient for keeping up with a Cyan's cruising speed, even if they're not flying. Teaming up with the big boss and cruising for trouble is appealing, but I have reservations. Beyond the whole keeping up thing, Ling Qi is identifying herself as the next strongest unassigned asset; it seems tactically questionable to pair that with the strongest asset on what is essentially a speculative assignment, when there are a variety of hardpoints to defend as the mission's main thrust. It appears something of a misappropriation of resources to commit Ling Qi to Guan Zhi's side. Narratively, this choice probably gives lots of contact with barbarians, but should be very restricted in the kind of interaction we can do or even attempt while we're babysat by a Cyan sect superior.
[X] The messenger cadre.
I'll be frank, I'm still sore over the prior missed opportunity, and so I am disinclined to settle for options more likely to present barbarians in their conventional understanding. Defending a village from raids or scouring the peaks for targets to hit like the fist of The Wall are unexceptional. This is the option that carries the highest chance of the unusual, of stumbling into an out-of-context context.
- Location
- California
Shen Hu totally has back dimples.
- Pronouns
- They/It
[X] The messenger cadre.
- Location
- Staring into the void
Inserted tally
[] The front line.
I would be inclined to do this, however, we haven't been given enough info on what exactly our CO is doing. Is she bringing a regular detachment with her? If so, this is exactly where we fit in as a scout attachment. Is she going off solo? Then no, this isn't our place, as a single Green 2.5 provides minimal marginal improvement to a (mid? high?) Cyan and likely a liability.
[x] The river villages.
[x] The messenger cadre.
I would be inclined to do this, however, we haven't been given enough info on what exactly our CO is doing. Is she bringing a regular detachment with her? If so, this is exactly where we fit in as a scout attachment. Is she going off solo? Then no, this isn't our place, as a single Green 2.5 provides minimal marginal improvement to a (mid? high?) Cyan and likely a liability.
[x] The river villages.
[x] The messenger cadre.
- Location
- The United States
- Pronouns
- He/They
- Pronouns
- He/Him
[X] The river villages.
Pretty easy decision for me. As I've said, protecting mortal civilians is a cool thing for Ling Qi to do, some lovely flexing of her "line in the sand" insight from TRF. We don't have really any good reason to believe that the most powerful member of our group would require or truly benefit from help, no indication that this is a super important area that is currently undermanned. I just do not see very many sensible reasons to go for it.
Pretty easy decision for me. As I've said, protecting mortal civilians is a cool thing for Ling Qi to do, some lovely flexing of her "line in the sand" insight from TRF. We don't have really any good reason to believe that the most powerful member of our group would require or truly benefit from help, no indication that this is a super important area that is currently undermanned. I just do not see very many sensible reasons to go for it.
It also builds nicely off her failure to stand up for the civilians and Shen Hu in the King of the Forest arc, if people are looking for character opportunities.