Threads Of Destiny(Eastern Fantasy, Sequel to Forge of Destiny)
- Thread starter yrsillar
- Start date
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Voted best in category in the Users' Choice awards.
- Location
- Florida
My interpretation of how the heart demon was born is this, she went off mainly on her own and improvised on the fly thus invoking the FVM and SCS insight when she went to tank the knife it further invoked the TRF insight and symbolically for her presenting something of beauty in this case is preserving Xiulan's life and the town's however when confronted by Zhengui that it was foolish and reckless the advanced insight about family tangled up the other 3 calling them into question.
When we gave the promise I believe that was also calling into question all 3 insights with the AM insight involving sincerity being the metaphorical hammer to make the heart demon.
Really the only one not involved in this mess imo was the Ending insight, we'd have needed to throw in a zombie of some kind in their to truly go FUBAR.
Turn 8: Arc 4-6
No, she was overthinking things again. It was an unnecessary flourish which didn't even offer much advantage.
"Hey she can learn!" Sixiang declared in amusement. "Honestly, just go down and start a conversation you big doof."
"Big Sis? Are we going down?" Zhengui asked, blissfully unaware of her indecision.
Yes, Ling Qi thought decisively, resuming her descent. She brought her scattered qi back together as well, returning her presence to a more normal 'background' level. Several people glanced up, the people she knew among them. Ling Qi offered a polite wave to Alingge, but landed by the training pit where Wang Chao and Liang He stood.
She landed gracefully in a flutter of wind, bringing her hands together to offer a polite greeting bow. "My apologies for the disturbance Sir Wang," the less involved were already going back to their own business. "But I have been looking to speak with you."
"Is that so," the stout young man said dubiously, peering at her from under his helm. He straightened up, resting his pike on the ground and offered a short bow himself. "Does something trouble our Lady Heir then?"
"No, nothing of the sort. It's just that recent events have led to some troubles that I was hoping for your aid with… But it can wait if I am interrupting something," she glanced at Liang He, who avoided her eyes. "I wasn't aware that you were acquainted with Sir Liang."
Wang Chao was still looking at her like she was a snake preparing to strike, but he cracked a slightly forced grin and clapped Liang He on the back regardless. "The Liang family are soldiers in my Wang clan's capital lands. He has been doing very well! When the barbarians came, he held a village alone until Core Sect reinforcement arrived.
"I would not take credit from the brave soldiers who manned the walls with me," Liang He said with a bow. He really seemed to have trouble looking at her. Had she scared him that badly at the end of the duel? Now she felt a little bad.
"...Yeah, you definitely make him nervous alright," Sixiang sighed.
"Congratulations on your achievement anyway. I know it couldn't have been easy," she said, smiling. Well, if Wang Chao was his friend, or grooming him as a retainer, then his previous annoyance made a little more sense. It couldn't hurt to compliment him too.
"Miss Ling's achievements were more impressive," Liang He replied sincerely, raising his head and finally meeting her eyes. "You not only held, but drove them off."
"Bah, you are too modest Liang He," Wang Chao complained. "But yes, I had heard that Miss Ling acquitted herself well against the barbarians as well."
"I appreciate your words," Ling Qi replied. She didn't play down her efforts, because why should she? "It was actually my experiences there which brought me to you Sir Wang."
"Is that so?" Wang looked a little annoyed. "I assure you, the Wang clan did our utmost against the incursion. The Sect was not the only place struck, you know."
Uh-oh, it looked like she had touched a nerve. Ling Qi spoke up hastily in reassurance. "I have no doubts about the Wang clan's defenses. It was actually your experience with such things that I was interested in."
"Oh," he said, seeming nonplussed, and his fading grin became genuine. "Hah, well, my apologies for assuming."
Beside him, Liang He gave Wang Chao a sidelong look.
"The incursion was my first real experience with a concerted enemy attack," Ling Qi replied, bowing her head. The bandits didn't count. "And I found myself at a bit of loss with how best to utilize my spirit Zhengui in such a battle."
Wang Chao's thick eyebrows drew together. "The Xuan Wu? I would think it obvious."
Ling Qi restrained the urge to let her eye twitch in annoyance at his condescension. "My confusion regards how best to cooperate with him, given my preferred style. I was hoping for some advice on how to marry high mobility tactics with more stationary ones."
"Ah, I think I understand your trouble then," Wang Chao said. "I do not necessarily mind giving you some pointers Miss Ling, but…"
"Please do not worry on my account Lord Wang," Liang He said with a bow. "I do not mind postponing our spar."
Wang Chao shot him a frustrated look, though she couldn't quite say why. She didn't get the feeling that he was trying to blow her off… more like he didn't want Liang to excuse himself? That didn't make sense.
"Well then," Wang Chao said grudgingly, tapping the butt of his pike against the packed dirt. "Is the spirit with you? I need to get a look at what we would be working with. You don't mind if Liang tags along?"
"Not at all," Ling Qi replied. It was a small ask, and it wasn't like she disliked the other boy. "Actually. Do you mind if I invite Miss Alingge over as well then? I promised to show her Zhengui at Luo's last party."
He blinked in surprise and then nodded enthusiastically. "Certainly, let us make a little gathering of it then!"
"It's no trouble. I was a little surprised to see you here though. I didn't think still targets would offer anything to an archer of your skill," Ling Qi replied.
"It is the waking meditation, I believe you call it," the other girl replied. "Difficulty is not the purpose."
Something like what she did with sneaking around in her spare time, or composing music with her mother then, that made more sense.
"Mhmm, obviously no one would do anything if it didn't have cultivation benefits," Sixiang said dryly. Ling Qi gave them a mental swat.
"Miss Alingge, it is good of you to join us," Wang Chao greeted as they arrived.
"I have said that such formality is unnecessary for me, please leave off such things" the girl said cooly, not really friendly or unfriendly. Ling Qi wondered how they knew each other.
"It is inappropriate to refer to a lady by name alone," Wang Chao said, looking uncertain. Liang He, beside him, put a hand on his shoulder. They were a bit odd. Idly, Ling Qi wondered if the two of them were… like Meizhen.
"Do as you will then," Alingge said flippantly, looking to Ling Qi. "You have the Xuan Wu here?"
Ling Qi shook off her distracting thoughts and ignored Sixiang's fit of laughter. "His name is Zhengui," she said lightly, and gave her little brother the signal to materialize. There was an awkward silence as nothing happened, and Ling Qi felt her eyebrow twitch. She gave Zhengui a sharp mental prod.
"Huh-what, Gui is awake!"
She sighed internally at his exclamation as Zhengui began to materialize in front of them. At his full size, Zhengui loomed over them, eight meters long from one end of his shell and about a third of that at the shoulder, he stood over all of them, and Zhen arching his body over Gui's shell only made him seem larger. Ash drifted from his mouths and lines of fiery red pulsed in his shell as Zhengui struck a pose in the afternoon sunlight.
"I, Zhen greet Big Sister's human friends," Zhen said proudly, his tongue flicking and leaving heat ripples in the air.
"Hello!" Gui said in a cheerful chirp that was nonetheless a basso rumble due to his size.
"Such majesty," Alingge breathed. Her wide, almost sparkling eyes made the taciturn girl look ten years younger. "I did not imagine such a potent furnace of beast qi."
Ling Qi glanced at her askance, not entirely sure what she was referring too. Zhen was going to be insufferable in the next few days though.
"Indeed, a most impressive beast," Wang Chao agreed, examining Zhengui with a workmans eye. "Your fortune is truly enviable, Miss Ling."
"I suppose it is a good thing he was not included in our duel, else it would have been more one sided," Liang He chuckled in self deprecation.
"Yes, Zhen is very great, but he needs to learn to fight alongside Big Sister," Zhen agreed pompously, she could practically feel the serpent's ego swelling.
"Just so," Wang Chao agreed. "Miss Ling was right to come to me, for I have much wisdom to share!" Ling Qi wondered if there was going to be space for the both of them. "Hm, how to test the beast's abilities though…"
Well, Ling Qi had a couple of ideas.
[] Suggest a spar, the three of them versus Ling Qi and Zhengui. [Gives Wang Chao a better idea of your combined abilities for better advice. Potential embarrassment and ego damage to Wang Chao, with knock on effects. Lower chance for Wang Chao to show off.]
[] Suggest a spar, but just Wang Chao versus Zhengui. [Less information to inform Wang Chao's advice. Better chance for Wang Chao to show off. Chat with Alingge]
"Hey she can learn!" Sixiang declared in amusement. "Honestly, just go down and start a conversation you big doof."
"Big Sis? Are we going down?" Zhengui asked, blissfully unaware of her indecision.
Yes, Ling Qi thought decisively, resuming her descent. She brought her scattered qi back together as well, returning her presence to a more normal 'background' level. Several people glanced up, the people she knew among them. Ling Qi offered a polite wave to Alingge, but landed by the training pit where Wang Chao and Liang He stood.
She landed gracefully in a flutter of wind, bringing her hands together to offer a polite greeting bow. "My apologies for the disturbance Sir Wang," the less involved were already going back to their own business. "But I have been looking to speak with you."
"Is that so," the stout young man said dubiously, peering at her from under his helm. He straightened up, resting his pike on the ground and offered a short bow himself. "Does something trouble our Lady Heir then?"
"No, nothing of the sort. It's just that recent events have led to some troubles that I was hoping for your aid with… But it can wait if I am interrupting something," she glanced at Liang He, who avoided her eyes. "I wasn't aware that you were acquainted with Sir Liang."
Wang Chao was still looking at her like she was a snake preparing to strike, but he cracked a slightly forced grin and clapped Liang He on the back regardless. "The Liang family are soldiers in my Wang clan's capital lands. He has been doing very well! When the barbarians came, he held a village alone until Core Sect reinforcement arrived.
"I would not take credit from the brave soldiers who manned the walls with me," Liang He said with a bow. He really seemed to have trouble looking at her. Had she scared him that badly at the end of the duel? Now she felt a little bad.
"...Yeah, you definitely make him nervous alright," Sixiang sighed.
"Congratulations on your achievement anyway. I know it couldn't have been easy," she said, smiling. Well, if Wang Chao was his friend, or grooming him as a retainer, then his previous annoyance made a little more sense. It couldn't hurt to compliment him too.
"Miss Ling's achievements were more impressive," Liang He replied sincerely, raising his head and finally meeting her eyes. "You not only held, but drove them off."
"Bah, you are too modest Liang He," Wang Chao complained. "But yes, I had heard that Miss Ling acquitted herself well against the barbarians as well."
"I appreciate your words," Ling Qi replied. She didn't play down her efforts, because why should she? "It was actually my experiences there which brought me to you Sir Wang."
"Is that so?" Wang looked a little annoyed. "I assure you, the Wang clan did our utmost against the incursion. The Sect was not the only place struck, you know."
Uh-oh, it looked like she had touched a nerve. Ling Qi spoke up hastily in reassurance. "I have no doubts about the Wang clan's defenses. It was actually your experience with such things that I was interested in."
"Oh," he said, seeming nonplussed, and his fading grin became genuine. "Hah, well, my apologies for assuming."
Beside him, Liang He gave Wang Chao a sidelong look.
"The incursion was my first real experience with a concerted enemy attack," Ling Qi replied, bowing her head. The bandits didn't count. "And I found myself at a bit of loss with how best to utilize my spirit Zhengui in such a battle."
Wang Chao's thick eyebrows drew together. "The Xuan Wu? I would think it obvious."
Ling Qi restrained the urge to let her eye twitch in annoyance at his condescension. "My confusion regards how best to cooperate with him, given my preferred style. I was hoping for some advice on how to marry high mobility tactics with more stationary ones."
"Ah, I think I understand your trouble then," Wang Chao said. "I do not necessarily mind giving you some pointers Miss Ling, but…"
"Please do not worry on my account Lord Wang," Liang He said with a bow. "I do not mind postponing our spar."
Wang Chao shot him a frustrated look, though she couldn't quite say why. She didn't get the feeling that he was trying to blow her off… more like he didn't want Liang to excuse himself? That didn't make sense.
"Well then," Wang Chao said grudgingly, tapping the butt of his pike against the packed dirt. "Is the spirit with you? I need to get a look at what we would be working with. You don't mind if Liang tags along?"
"Not at all," Ling Qi replied. It was a small ask, and it wasn't like she disliked the other boy. "Actually. Do you mind if I invite Miss Alingge over as well then? I promised to show her Zhengui at Luo's last party."
He blinked in surprise and then nodded enthusiastically. "Certainly, let us make a little gathering of it then!"
***
"Many thanks for your invitation," Alingge said as she strolled with Ling Qi to the empty end of the training field they had decided on."It's no trouble. I was a little surprised to see you here though. I didn't think still targets would offer anything to an archer of your skill," Ling Qi replied.
"It is the waking meditation, I believe you call it," the other girl replied. "Difficulty is not the purpose."
Something like what she did with sneaking around in her spare time, or composing music with her mother then, that made more sense.
"Mhmm, obviously no one would do anything if it didn't have cultivation benefits," Sixiang said dryly. Ling Qi gave them a mental swat.
"Miss Alingge, it is good of you to join us," Wang Chao greeted as they arrived.
"I have said that such formality is unnecessary for me, please leave off such things" the girl said cooly, not really friendly or unfriendly. Ling Qi wondered how they knew each other.
"It is inappropriate to refer to a lady by name alone," Wang Chao said, looking uncertain. Liang He, beside him, put a hand on his shoulder. They were a bit odd. Idly, Ling Qi wondered if the two of them were… like Meizhen.
"Do as you will then," Alingge said flippantly, looking to Ling Qi. "You have the Xuan Wu here?"
Ling Qi shook off her distracting thoughts and ignored Sixiang's fit of laughter. "His name is Zhengui," she said lightly, and gave her little brother the signal to materialize. There was an awkward silence as nothing happened, and Ling Qi felt her eyebrow twitch. She gave Zhengui a sharp mental prod.
"Huh-what, Gui is awake!"
She sighed internally at his exclamation as Zhengui began to materialize in front of them. At his full size, Zhengui loomed over them, eight meters long from one end of his shell and about a third of that at the shoulder, he stood over all of them, and Zhen arching his body over Gui's shell only made him seem larger. Ash drifted from his mouths and lines of fiery red pulsed in his shell as Zhengui struck a pose in the afternoon sunlight.
"I, Zhen greet Big Sister's human friends," Zhen said proudly, his tongue flicking and leaving heat ripples in the air.
"Hello!" Gui said in a cheerful chirp that was nonetheless a basso rumble due to his size.
"Such majesty," Alingge breathed. Her wide, almost sparkling eyes made the taciturn girl look ten years younger. "I did not imagine such a potent furnace of beast qi."
Ling Qi glanced at her askance, not entirely sure what she was referring too. Zhen was going to be insufferable in the next few days though.
"Indeed, a most impressive beast," Wang Chao agreed, examining Zhengui with a workmans eye. "Your fortune is truly enviable, Miss Ling."
"I suppose it is a good thing he was not included in our duel, else it would have been more one sided," Liang He chuckled in self deprecation.
"Yes, Zhen is very great, but he needs to learn to fight alongside Big Sister," Zhen agreed pompously, she could practically feel the serpent's ego swelling.
"Just so," Wang Chao agreed. "Miss Ling was right to come to me, for I have much wisdom to share!" Ling Qi wondered if there was going to be space for the both of them. "Hm, how to test the beast's abilities though…"
Well, Ling Qi had a couple of ideas.
[] Suggest a spar, the three of them versus Ling Qi and Zhengui. [Gives Wang Chao a better idea of your combined abilities for better advice. Potential embarrassment and ego damage to Wang Chao, with knock on effects. Lower chance for Wang Chao to show off.]
[] Suggest a spar, but just Wang Chao versus Zhengui. [Less information to inform Wang Chao's advice. Better chance for Wang Chao to show off. Chat with Alingge]
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- Location
- New Brunswick, NJ
- Pronouns
- He/Him/His
...Liang He has it bad for Ling Qi and Wang Chao is trying so very hard to wingman. This is adorable. I love it like oxygen.
Two bros, chilling on the training fields, not five feet apart so they might be gay!
- Pronouns
- He/Him
[] Suggest a spar, but just Wang Chao versus Zhengui. [Less information to inform Wang Chao's advice. Better chance for Wang Chao to show off. Chat with Alingge]
The point is to diplomance him, the risk of offending his pride is too big to risk just to get a bigger squad tactics skill increase.
The point is to diplomance him, the risk of offending his pride is too big to risk just to get a bigger squad tactics skill increase.
- Location
- Earth
[] Suggest a spar, the three of them versus Ling Qi and Zhengui. [Gives Wang Chao a better idea of your combined abilities for better advice. Potential embarrassment and ego damage to Wang Chao, with knock on effects. Lower chance for Wang Chao to show off.]
If he has too much of an ego better to find out now than later
If he has too much of an ego better to find out now than later
globalwarmth
ruining the weather.
- Location
- Polar ice caps
[] Suggest a spar, but just Wang Chao versus Zhengui. [Less information to inform Wang Chao's advice. Better chance for Wang Chao to show off. Chat with Alingge]
lets do double duty and not burn bridges
lets do double duty and not burn bridges
- Pronouns
- He/Him
So "almost" is obvious, and is the next one just "eyes"?
Either way, sweet to see Alingge fangirling.
Damn, I didn't even realize this. Think you are correct, and this is just another instance of Oblivious Qi.
This was my first thought, actually.
Probably should let him show off, from what we seen stroking his ego is by far the fastest way to get in his good book.
- Location
- France
[] Suggest a spar, but just Wang Chao versus Zhengui. [Less information to inform Wang Chao's advice. Better chance for Wang Chao to show off. Chat with Alingge]
Rexiang asked that Ling Qi make friends among the nobles, and specially with Wang Chao. Ling Qi could always make more friends and acquaintances among the Emerald Seas noblility and it's fun to see her in social situations. Let's think of it at training our social stats if we want direct benefits.
Rexiang asked that Ling Qi make friends among the nobles, and specially with Wang Chao. Ling Qi could always make more friends and acquaintances among the Emerald Seas noblility and it's fun to see her in social situations. Let's think of it at training our social stats if we want direct benefits.
Jensaarai
Sing Victory Everlasting
- Pronouns
- They/Them
I'm in the same boat as LQ. Sword boi likes her?
I am with LQ here. Not sure what Alingge is talking about. Is it a clan thing for her? Or just another "everyone knows so no one tells the commoners" thing?
Sucha a dramatic boik. Where did he learn such things! Meizhen and Cui have some explaining to do!
I'm thinking that our second meeting with Sword Boi should not include*another* spar
- Location
- Europe
I wouldn't be surprised if Wang Chao also had a thing for Alingge, that would explain why he got so enthused when she was also invited. Basically a chance at a double date for him and his bro, each with a prospective crush.
With that in mind he is likely to appreciate a chance to show of. Though showing off in front of his gay lover would probably be cool with him too, if that were the case.
[x] Suggest a spar, but just Wang Chao versus Zhengui. [Less information to inform Wang Chao's advice. Better chance for Wang Chao to show off. Chat with Alingge]
With that in mind he is likely to appreciate a chance to show of. Though showing off in front of his gay lover would probably be cool with him too, if that were the case.
[x] Suggest a spar, but just Wang Chao versus Zhengui. [Less information to inform Wang Chao's advice. Better chance for Wang Chao to show off. Chat with Alingge]
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[x] Suggest a spar, but just Wang Chao versus Zhengui. [Less information to inform Wang Chao's advice. Better chance for Wang Chao to show off. Chat with Alingge]
Lets remain friendly with them, or try to...
And just what impression did Ling Qi leave that they all react thus?
Lets remain friendly with them, or try to...
And just what impression did Ling Qi leave that they all react thus?
fictionfan
Please sir, may I have some Meows?
- Location
- Tempe, AZ
Is there any chance we might lose? I mean it is three against 2. A loss actually might be the best outcome since it makes them feel better and teaches us more.
I'd say we want to make friends with him more than we want better advice now. Plus if we make friends we will talk to him more and get more pointers naturally. I think this is a better long term solution.
[] Suggest a spar, but just Wang Chao versus Zhengui. [Less information to inform Wang Chao's advice. Better chance for Wang Chao to show off. Chat with Alingge]
[] Suggest a spar, but just Wang Chao versus Zhengui. [Less information to inform Wang Chao's advice. Better chance for Wang Chao to show off. Chat with Alingge]
Jensaarai
Sing Victory Everlasting
- Pronouns
- They/Them
You mean why Sword boi's all shy? She hit him with that song of Ending move as the finisher in their duel. Fucked him up pretty badly.
Arkeus
Crazy cat guy
- Location
- France
[] Suggest a spar, but just Wang Chao versus Zhengui. [Less information to inform Wang Chao's advice. Better chance for Wang Chao to show off. Chat with Alingge]
Yeah, the goal here is to begin a connection with the Wang. It would be nice to have more information on tactics, obviously, but that's secondary. This is giving Han Jian flashbacks, and so Ling Qi should try to better handle this.
Yeah, the goal here is to begin a connection with the Wang. It would be nice to have more information on tactics, obviously, but that's secondary. This is giving Han Jian flashbacks, and so Ling Qi should try to better handle this.
[] Suggest a spar, but just Wang Chao versus Zhengui. [Less information to inform Wang Chao's advice. Better chance for Wang Chao to show off. Chat with Alingge
Getting tips on how to synergize with Zhengui is incidental to the actual point of making friends with Wang Chao. He's already shown he's super defensive about his pride so showing him up is not a great idea. Plus it'll give us an excuse to talk to Alingge and ignore a male character as is our wont
Getting tips on how to synergize with Zhengui is incidental to the actual point of making friends with Wang Chao. He's already shown he's super defensive about his pride so showing him up is not a great idea. Plus it'll give us an excuse to talk to Alingge and ignore a male character as is our wont
Sirrocco
Pedantic
[] Suggest a spar, but just Wang Chao versus Zhengui. [Less information to inform Wang Chao's advice. Better chance for Wang Chao to show off. Chat with Alingge]
...because the insight we can get from this is so not the point. This is about developing social ties... and giving the man a chance to show off is absolutely part of that
I actually kind of think that Wang Chao might be into Alingge? Or he at least wants to cultivate a closer relationship with her in some way. His sudden enthusiasm for the suggestion of including her suggests it, and the weird-but-not-hostile awkwardness between them suggests something similar as well. Thus the value of letting him show off.
...because the insight we can get from this is so not the point. This is about developing social ties... and giving the man a chance to show off is absolutely part of that
I actually kind of think that Wang Chao might be into Alingge? Or he at least wants to cultivate a closer relationship with her in some way. His sudden enthusiasm for the suggestion of including her suggests it, and the weird-but-not-hostile awkwardness between them suggests something similar as well. Thus the value of letting him show off.