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Threads Of Destiny(Eastern Fantasy, Sequel to Forge of Destiny)

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Alright so I'm just double posting to get this moving. I want to discuss domains and their influences on each over. Because I think with concrete proof that both Xiulan's and Meizhen's domains have gained bond traits is really interesting. Ok so they didn't start that way. As in, they weren't originally focused on bonds and connections. Our domain is based on connections. The hope of a house and such. Meizhen's is a fear domain, but the closer you are to her the less it effects you. Xiulan's seems to be a firepower increaser, and from WoG has some bond powers, probably competition based. From the original developments of these domains and others, I don't think it's regular to gain bond based powers. Like not truly rare or anything. Just not the usual, especially for the type of domain they seemed to originally start as. What both people have in common is an extremely close relationship with us. Now here is where it get interesting.

Domains are crafted and built by a couple of things. Which I mean insights build the domain but how, why and what insight is gained depends on the person, situation, area, art, cultivation, and mental state.

So where does our influence come in? I think it's reasonable to accept that it's our influence that leads/lead to the development of bond based powers for their domains (unless I'm totally wrong and this is a regular thing). The arts is the base, and nothing we could do could affect those, unless you count Meizhen's usage of earth arts that might be from our influence. So that's most likely not it. Wood is the element of connection, but both girls don't seem to have a wood element art, or at least one they would slot. We could make an argument for mental state? Maybe? That's harder to define. It seems really hard to define whether the area, who they are as people, the situation they gained their insight in as well. Cultivation (or at least prior cultivation) doesn't seem like it would lead to connection/bond based domains powers. We could have influenced them as people, and that honestly seems the likeliest one. But to that degree? Where their way started to include bond based power? Going into this, I had some half-hearted thoughts that maybe their is some kind of Domain rub off. But that just seems unlikely for many reasons.

So it is most likely that we effected them as people enough to effect their way. So I'm interested both where that is present in other relationships, from where they effected us to where Cai would effect ...(soldier boys name is? I'm blanking here).

Where does our domain change from what it would have been? Does this change how the power is expressed or what insights we would get? How close/ where in a relationship does the effect apply? Do all our friends have such an effect on our domain and vice versus? What about our spirits? I just feel like this is really important to understand.

Or I could be completely off base on all about all accounts. Either way writing all of this theory calmed me down. Sorry for the mini tantrum earlier. Anyway I'm
Interested to see where people agree/disagree with these theories/questions.
 
" regrowth from losses. " - Veekie.

that's the part of Wood that sounds like "I lost all my very close-but-unhealthy connections that used to dominate my world. Now I can regrow from losses and connect with LQ and perhaps other friends and it's okay"

Yeah sure, that's just a theory. But at least it's a Game Theory! Thanks for Reading
 
Leosky00 said:
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Where does our domain change from what it would have been? Does this change how the power is expressed or what insights we would get? How close/ where in a relationship does the effect apply? Do all our friends have such an effect on our domain and vice versus? What about our spirits? I just feel like this is really important to understand.
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One thing about speculation about "pure LQ" is that if your theory is correct about influential people changing ways/cultivation then we need to examine what other outcomes could have occurred and speculate from there. Here are some prompts

Meizhen rejects, Liling Accepts.
Both Reject. Become thief to keep up. Apprehended by CRX.
Reject All, become loner. Don't make waves. Thief silently, mildly. Spiderbao hides her successes, we could do similar.
Triple down on Xiulan in the absence of the monsters. Grapple with all that as handmaid to Lady Gu xP
 
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so the reason we have an acceptable social face is mostly due to Meizhen's intervention and we wouldn't have gotten more than Ji Rong from the Liling option. Then it would just be Us and Ji Rong willing to punish themselves enough to keep up with Liling. Liling has some ForbiddenBlood stuff, and I bet part of that could help our recovery from breaking our bodies pushing forward.

We don't know enough about Liling's corruption to know exactly how that would have influenced us, but Ji Rong would have been an easy friend. We likely would have ended up with more Moon-Stellar-Heaven type arts. Ambition and greed are well known to us, and we could have laced some Darkness in Ji Rong since. I mean. His idol Liling is a lil corrupt, so what's the harm in being honest with your desires? Our ranged bow-work was actually very helpful to assist in Ji Rong's rushdown/alphastrike strat, and we probably would have worked down that route. End up getting a Music Ranged Art to shoot doots better later on.

Meizhen is a big proponent in Defense and rounded-cultivation. Liling is more about Biggaton and use Biggaton for everything. Ji Rong developed along that route and we beat his ass due to his lack of rounding. We'd have adapted a more specialized build, but our innate Yin and adaptable nature would have shifted both of them towards respecting supports/multirole and perhaps rounding themselves better.

if Liling had found the trial we got Zhengui from that would have been interesting. She is a commander by nature, and it was a trial for two. Would she have allowed her two non-monster allies go in together? Would she have had us duel for the power-right to enter? We don't know if Liling is as generous as Meizhen was for us, but I suspect not. But it would have been interesting to see what call she would make.

I think CRX still picks us up as a member of Emerald Seas. This of course, pushes and pulls against Ji Rong's wrongdoing. Would we have been lumped in? I'm not sure, we're a charge of hers unlike Ji Rong who "is just a bully and a murderer that needs to know his place". Would we have helped smooth out those problems? Would we have ended up against CRX in the civil war? Our build is *godawful* against Meizhen and CRX, but maybe the alterations to be less rounded and more focused allowed us to play a part in the rebellion? We'd probably still be put down, but I figure something would have happened involving our part to play. Meizhen + CRX can probably still pull the win out, but it would have been closer than our timeline.

Without earth surprise, I'm not sure Meizhen would win the tournament. In fact, if we made changes to Liling maybe she would have had something beyond raw Biggatons to help her. Of course, a more focused Meizhen would be more impressive. I don't know. Would be interesting to see Liling with a gift from Elder Ying instead of Meizhen.
 
Varder said:
That said, I'm not against getting Xiulan to turn down the recklessness... but is it Ling Qi's place to do so? Won't it just reek of hypocrisy? Ling Qi, who challenged Sun Liling, who challenged Cyan Spirits, who visited a Moon Rave, who took a knife to the throat. She's in no position to criticise anyone about dangerous feets. No, I think it's the place of her immediate family to remind her that power doesn't matter to the dead.
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Even if thats true
yrsillar said:
"I hardly have the time, the tournament will starting in a matter of days," Xiulan snapped irritably. "Ling Qi, we cannot all…"

"Interrupt, you can't let her get going," Sixiang murmured in her ear.

"You are more intelligent than this, Xiulan," LIng Qi replied flatly. "I do not know what it is like to have lightning on the brain," she began, eyeing her friends nigh blinding aura, and it's crackling radiant core. "But I know what the tempting whispers of the dark be like, if you don't keep clear head. Gu Xiulan, this is not you."

Xiulan scowled and opened her mouth to speak, but stopped herself a moment later, her eyes narrowing. Her aura shuddered, flickering wildly, and then the blazing furnace of her spirit dimmed, grounded and banked. "Spirits," Xiulan grimaced. "I am a bit of a mess, aren't I?" she mused opening her eyes, and looking down at her charred and soot stained gown. "...Oh ancestors above, Mother is coming for the tournament, if I appear like this…"

"It will be fine," Ling Qi said, patting her friend on her good shoulder. "It's nothing a night out and a good sleep won't fix. I just wanted to make sure you got that, before you ran out of time."

"Even now, I want to refuse and resume training," Xiulan replied with a grimace. "Perhaps Sister Yanmei was correct about including a calmer element in my repertoire."

"That might not be the worst idea," Ling Qi replied agreeably. "Will you be alright now though?"

"I think I will," Xiulan replied, looking down at her good hand, flexing her fingers as sparks danced between the digits. "I should thank you."

"Think nothing of it," Ling Qi replied dismissively. "Just do the same for me, if you would."

"Of course," Xiulan said, frowning. "Yes… of course. I suppose you had something in mind?"
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Xiulan will get it

Hypocritical or not, she'll understand the sentiment and that for all the stunts Ling Qi pulls, she does them Because she thinks they're manageable.

Not because she's desperate.

Setting aside any silly concerns about impeachable moral authority. Thats all well and good for us to aspire to, but Ling Qi has never been under any misconception of being some big example to aspire to.
 
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veekie said:
Can't, Xiulan is almost completely opposed to Lake even on the most cursory inspection.
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She is... not? I mean, I agree I don't see her getting lake now, but that's because of specific context that makes it harder, but beforehand she was basically perfect for Lake, and it could still definitely be argued for her to get it.

If she had rolled better on her tribulation, or had not gotten it, or had Ling Qi actually talk to her after it instead of shunning her, Lake would have most likely been the go-to element for Xiulan to get to. Not for the whole 'stillness' aspects, obviously. For the enjoying life and hedonistic aspects, though? you damn bet that Xiulan would really fit Lake.

Elements aren't just 'one thing'. The same way that Darkness is ambition and greed for Ling Qi, but also can be much nastier things for others. In fact, it's probably not the 'Stillness' aspects of Lake Su Ling herself rejected, as arguably Mountain has similar ones there. It's the aspects Xiulan would go for Lake for that Su Ling hated. People interpret elements differently, and Xiulan's interpretation of Lake is actually a big, big part of what drives her.
 
she also likes putting up appearance and the deceptive/hidden parts of Lake would fit her hiding her self-abuse from those she cares about. So I hope that she doesn't get Lake that'd be ominous to me xP

Su Ling hated the Deception and hidden aspects of the Lake Qi that helped guise the cold fires of devouring. If she's gonna burn out injustice she wants to burn it in it's face. "Truth does less good than lack of truth disguises evils" sorta. It's not like Truth is somehow always good it's that Untruth is better suited to masking injustice and predation. For Lanlan it'd be indulging in exuberant joyous life sure, but it'd also be about disguising or hiding the cost of getting there. That's like, a great xianxia villain trope right? Tear away the curtain and underneath is a withered scorched skeleton with lightning for blood and the only reason she's alive is sheer burning Resolve
 
Rather than tossing around semi-obsolete arts that aren't hers to give, Ling Qi might try furnishing Gu Xiulan with a more appropriately Ling Qi parting gift. More than most things, she is a musician. Ling Qi could grab that Bao guy to record a piece in jade to give to her friend. Three protests immediately leap to your lips, obviously. Ling Qi is uncomfortable with the notion of immortalizing her Music outside her self, Gu Xiulan has proven herself an... inattentive audience in the past, and what's a song supposed to accomplish in any case? Let's look at why those concerns are not an obstacle to a musical gift.

First off, it's precisely because Ling Qi has reservations that the gift would be especially meaningful. Pushing her own boundaries for her loved ones is also slap dab in the middle of her SCS insight and broader family focused Way. And it's not like it's a sacrifice she'd be making, just something she's a bit uncomfortable with but that doesn't harm or diminish her in any way. On a meta level, it'd also be nice to see Bao roped into focus and give him pretty stark exposure to Ling Qi's inner character.

Secondly, it is obvious that Xiulan would pay no attention to songs on such pedestrian matters as sightseeing among mountains; that's more the speed of someone like Shen Hu. Playing to this audience requires a more impressive subject: Gu Xiulan. Fortunately, Ling Qi has pretty close knowledge of that subject, and has been around for many of her feats and trials, not least of which is the fiery girls recent stand against wave after wave of impure spirits while astride a legendary beast. There's a lot to work with, and Xiulan's naturally inclined to appreciate the subject matter.

Lastly, most importantly, what's the point anyway? Well, foremost the point of a heartfelt gift is, uh, giving a nice thing to a person? Doesn't need to be more to it than that. But if that doesn't cut it for you, consider that the message of the song would be sincerely heartfelt by definition of the medium and from a person she truly trusts. And also Ling Qi isn't a jerk. Consider what we know of Xiulan's upbringing; a sincere and uncritical "Yer awesome, bro" from someone she respects isn't something I'm sure she's had before. We'd be just handing her a permanent one she can keep in her pocket. Of course, just because it's honest and not critical doesn't mean it can't challenge her or make suggestions to her in other ways. If the melody extends into the future, there's material Ling Qi can draw on. Yanmei's fires, the scale and awesome presence of the prism dragon's power, the efficacy of her steadfast flames when bolstered by Zhengui's Wooden backing.... (Hint hint) Heck, Ling Qi could even slip in some rueful acknowledgement of Xiulan's very successful team up with the growing boy, assuming poking her twoards Wood is something Ling Qi actually thinks might be productive.

In any case, I'd rather be leaving Xiulan with something that comes from Ling Qi's heart than something she happens to have on hand anyway.
 
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A song does seem to work. Ling Qi's reservations are well known to her friends so its particularly meaningful.

Would take AP maybe?
 
AbeoLogos said:
Consider what we know of Xiulan's upbringing; a sincere and uncritical "Yer awesome, bro" from someone she respects isn't something I'm sure she's had before. We'd be just handing her a permanent one she can keep in her pocket. Of course, just because it's honest and not critical doesn't mean it can't challenge her or make suggestions to her in other ways.
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I like the sound of that, and Xuilan having this little piece of Jade around her neck which has our song for her in that she can use at any time not only sounds very sweet but could also act as moderating influence in times when she needs it.

I would have been happy to give up an AP or 2 practising Wood with Xuilan if making the suggestion involved it, but this could be a far more effective use of our time and a safer bet besides.

Plus all for pushing Ling Qi out of her comfort zone in this respect.

I suppose it's just down to how long Ling Qi actually has before Xuilan leaves, how soon Xuilan will tell her she's leaving and how busy Ling Qi will be with sect matters that will decide if we even can do anything.
 
I strongly agree with the idea of giving Xuilan a copy of a song. Also, didn't we just free up 1 AP from losing tutoring? If so this would be an ideal use of it.
 
Technically, we could always mail the thing to her later, it just wouldn't be quite as satisfying for us without seeing her reaction. (Unless someone paid for an interlude....)

Unsure of the status of the 1 AP given the turmoil and martial obligations to the sect, but it'd be neat.
 
For maximisation of Xuilan we could give it to her in person and then have an interlude where she listens to it :p

Then again, if we're giving it to her in person would it make more sense to just perform it for her then pass her the jade when done?
 
I agree that we could give it later, but now would be better both for narative and voting reasons. I fear that this would become another thing that we want to do, but is never quite as important as some mission or something else. We managed a pretty great song in 3 days (with help yes), so hopefully we can make time to do it now.
 
Yeah this sounds really good. It's deeply personal, connecting and something that she can always carry/use. What's interesting is maybe making more than a song? Like it really depends on the ap and how long we have. But an album, or a couple of songs would be cool. I can feel my dream of renowned musician Qi rising.

Also if we get a projection with this, we can make the first music video. This all really ties together, and in a better way than TRF, and it's extremely personal and xiulan knows that (which she will appreciate). I also really like the idea of a couple of songs, for maybe praising, challenging, training BMX and other uses. While if a vote comes up I'll vote for TRF giving, but if it's between this idea and TRF I'm absolutely choosing this one.
 
I've been continuing to think and I think we can do even more. So we already know that music can be copied into jade talismans, and copied. That means whatever music we put on a talisman we can copy. So first, this really depends on time available/AP required. I like my idea of an entire album, songs for diff moments (like training, pick me up, ect). But I have a better and probably easier to pull off. So we can at our level make an art. And if we did it would be music. I'm not saying to make an art, but it would be cool to make a song as full as our domain/ourselves as possible. Then one for each of our friends domains/themselves (if possible). Then have a necklace with these songs attached, one for each friend. Then we give them out to our friend group. So xiulan would get ours, hers, Han Jians? And maybe Meizhen. Ours would have maybe ours? And all of our friends.

Probably a combination of too intricate/time taking and not worth doing for everyone. I just find the idea interesting.
 
The more I think about it, the more I want to see Bao Qian and Xuan Shi competing over who can provide Ling Qi with the best recording media. Also, one of them should pull a primer on Music formations out of their butt and give it to her.
 
Although, to be honest, music formations would be awesome. Not something that Ling Qi could likely ever do, but forming different formation effects from the playing of music in specific areas could produce interesting effects.
 
Thor's Twin said:
Although, to be honest, music formations would be awesome. Not something that Ling Qi could likely ever do, but forming different formation effects from the playing of music in specific areas could produce interesting effects.
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While she hadn't been able to do much with formations since the format change, Ling Qi IS supposed to be pretty good with them for someone who isn't actually Production.
 
veekie said:
While she hadn't been able to do much with formations since the format change, Ling Qi IS supposed to be pretty good with them for someone who isn't actually Production.
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That's more focused on breaking them or avoiding them. Because formations are annoying to someone who wants to stealth through protected buildings.
 
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