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

Voted best in category in the Users' Choice awards.
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JowKeen said:
Meizhen is potentially the front runner for Heir of White Bai Clan. Her insights here are important, because in societies with Warrior Scholars like this setting you *really* need a robust understanding of the power of the commons or you'll eventually get rebels. Scary rebels.
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Minor quibble, Meizhen is far, far, far behind.
Suzhen is the front runner, then theres a large number of Violets and Prisms.
Meizhen is only relevant because she's Suzhen's favorite kid and also publicly beat the ass of a Sun.
 
JowKeen said:
Meizhen is potentially the front runner for Heir of White Bai Clan.
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She really isn't. For one thing her aunt is the current heir and that will change by virtue of the aunt becoming the head there is a major problem in Meizhen becoming the heir. Meizhen for all we love her is only half Bai. There is no way for her to be the heir as the other Bai will rally quickly and ruthlessly to stop anyone with only half Bai blood from being the heir.
 
[X][Dress] Phys. Armor, Health
[X][Talisman] Poise

Kind of because Hanyi looking cool is probably something she'd prefer over understand others better.
 
yrsillar said:
Meizhen pursed her lips, looking away. "It is impossible to relate to others without hurting and being hurt in turn. We fear, and we are feared," her words sounded final, as if to her it was some absolute truth. "But pains and fears have worth, when they bring us the happiness of companionship. There is more to strength than raw might."
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While it's not certain these are all Insights word for word they are all things Meizhen has learned in the last year. But while they are translated here to be about companionship they also showcase her changed perspective on the Bai. Meizhen has come to believe that the fall of the Bai and her mother's execution is a source of strength for her, as something that taught her what the Bai lacked. The Bai were mighty but their defeat revealed weaknesses. It is impossible to learn without pain and thus pain has worth. Meizhen used to cultivate an unbreakable defense like what she believed the Bai should have, but she adapts and grows stronger every time it fails.

She used to think fear was enough but now she understands that even fear must be tempered. It's uncertain exactly what the Insight is but the wisdom to fear is arguably what the Bai lacked. Rulers must still be feared and she hasn't stopped cultivating the concept, but nowadays she builds alliances beyond keeping those below her to afraid to rebel. She has learned to understand people through fear, their fears and why they should be feared themselves. Knowing someone's fears is an incredible tool in diplomacy because fear is the other end of want.
 
[X][Dress] Phys. Armor, Health
[X][Talisman] Social Perception

Again, the Talisman choice isn't about forcing character development, it's about helping keep Hanyi from being played for a fool.
 
dycouza said:
While it's not certain these are all Insights word for word they are all things Meizhen has learned in the last year. But while they are translated here to be about companionship they also showcase her changed perspective on the Bai. Meizhen has come to believe that the fall of the Bai and her mother's execution is a source of strength for her, as something that taught her what the Bai lacked. The Bai were mighty but their defeat revealed weaknesses. It is impossible to learn without pain and thus pain has worth. Meizhen used to cultivate an unbreakable defense like what she believed the Bai should have, but she adapts and grows stronger every time it fails.

She used to think fear was enough but now she understands that even fear must be tempered. It's uncertain exactly what the Insight is but the wisdom to fear is arguably what the Bai lacked. Rulers must still be feared and she hasn't stopped cultivating the concept, but nowadays she builds alliances beyond keeping those below her to afraid to rebel. She has learned to understand people through fear, their fears and why they should be feared themselves. Knowing someone's fears is an incredible tool in diplomacy because fear is the other end of want.
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I think its sort of like...Fear is a useful crutch that buys stability.
Spend that stability well to make something more lasting.
 
dycouza said:
While it's not certain these are all Insights word for word they are all things Meizhen has learned in the last year. But while they are translated here to be about companionship they also showcase her changed perspective on the Bai. Meizhen has come to believe that the fall of the Bai and her mother's execution is a source of strength for her, as something that taught her what the Bai lacked. The Bai were mighty but their defeat revealed weaknesses. It is impossible to learn without pain and thus pain has worth. Meizhen used to cultivate an unbreakable defense like what she believed the Bai should have, but she adapts and grows stronger every time it fails.

She used to think fear was enough but now she understands that even fear must be tempered. It's uncertain exactly what the Insight is but the wisdom to fear is arguably what the Bai lacked. Rulers must still be feared and she hasn't stopped cultivating the concept, but nowadays she builds alliances beyond keeping those below her to afraid to rebel. She has learned to understand people through fear, their fears and why they should be feared themselves. Knowing someone's fears is an incredible tool in diplomacy because fear is the other end of want.
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It really seems like the Bai embodied the lessons about fear and love in Machiavelli's The Prince ("If one cannot be both, it is better to be feared than loved." to paraphrase). The Bai were feared, and thus maintained their legitimacy, right up until they were hated, and the first charismatic leader that appeared usurped them, which is the other big takeaway from the text; "Nevertheless, a prince ought to inspire fear such a way that, if he does not win love, he avoids hatred."
 
LETS GET SOME TALLY
Adhoc vote count started by Lena27 on Mar 21, 2020 at 6:47 PM, finished with 118 posts and 51 votes.
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I have changed my mind and think that poise or a combat talisman works better for Hanyi.

[X][Dress] Phys. Armor, Health
[X][Talisman] Poise
[X][Talisman] Spiritual Hit
[X][Talisman] Resist
 
[X][Dress] Phys. Armor, Health
[X][Talisman] Phys. Armor
[X][Talisman] Phys. Avoid
[X][Talisman] Health
[X][Talisman] Spiritual Hit
[X][Talisman] Resist
 
With Ling Qi aggressively volunteering and Meizhen being forced to keep only to defense is it possible that we might actually overtake her in the rankings?
 
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