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.
[X] Fortress up with Zhengui around the starstone, drive the barbarians away from it and try to eliminate any who would interfere with Renxiang's duel.
I feel like the other choice leads to both of us getting dogpiled by fully buffed enemies. And we probably can't win that while trying to duel someone. This way we hopefully won't. Plus we are a huge pain to dislodge once we get setup and stalling for time is what we need now. The only thing I worry about is not giving her enough defensive buffs. I hope we will be close enough to give some cover even if it isn't focused.
I feel like the other choice leads to both of us getting dogpiled by fully buffed enemies. And we probably can't win that while trying to duel someone. This way we hopefully won't. Plus we are a huge pain to dislodge once we get setup and stalling for time is what we need now. The only thing I worry about is not giving her enough defensive buffs. I hope we will be close enough to give some cover even if it isn't focused.
Arkeus
Crazy cat guy
- Location
- France
Should be a Violet/Prism given patriarch count clan, but assassinating a Violet/Prism from outside their city is all kind of ridiculously insane. Even Jiao considered assassinating a violet impossible in his flashback when he backstabbed his father, and that wasn't with multiple defensive layers between them (city walls/wards, palace walls/wards, meditation chamber wards/walls).
Zwobot
Pure Lazy
- Pronouns
- She/Her
On a less serious note... Drop-Turtle, followed by (magically) headbutting the plot rock. She shoots! She scores! This sequence was hilarious. I can imagine her sitting down later with CRX and Meizhen and getting ribbed for her nonsense.
- Location
- The Star Kingdom of Manticore
I agree with you.
I do want to bring up this point though. Looking back on the text, it doesn't say that the Patriarch died from the attack. It just struck him in the middle dantain. I don't doubt he did die from the attack. The text just doesn't make the death obvious or how long it took the Patriarch to die from the wound.
- Location
- some computer lab
[X] Fortress up with Zhengui around the starstone, drive the barbarians away from it and try to eliminate any who would interfere with Renxiang's duel.
playing crowd control is our role here, all rushing to CRX will do is get us dogpiled by the peer opponent with green backup while fighting a foe 3 stages above us.
playing crowd control is our role here, all rushing to CRX will do is get us dogpiled by the peer opponent with green backup while fighting a foe 3 stages above us.
- Location
- Florida
[X] Fortress up with Zhengui around the starstone, drive the barbarians away from it and try to eliminate any who would interfere with Renxiang's duel.
Secure the star stone from being taken in the confusion and protect Renxiang from being flanked.
Secure the star stone from being taken in the confusion and protect Renxiang from being flanked.
Jensaarai
Sing Victory Everlasting
- Pronouns
- They/Them
And isn't the middle dantian a pretty important part of cultivating shen, and really just being an immortal past green?
Cecylene
Eternal Idea Engine
- Location
- Massachusetts
- Pronouns
- He/They
We've moved the Starstone out of the area of influence and there is realistically one person who can remove it from us outright at this time and he's the one we are trying to kill. Should the others attempt to just VTOL the thing out of there we just got an art that let's us fly and Orbital-Drop Zhengui is an effective maneuver against someone forced to cart around a three-story tall chunk of "Fuck You Magic". We can take the minute to kill the only person capable of performing an immediate "Objective Failed" as well as freeing up our Disrupter/AoE Damage dispenser who can rebleach the ground around the Startsone to prevent Shishigui fuckery the better since it is clear the stone is going to keep melting the stuff from it's raw nature. We also need her to help lead the Sect forces since she's specialized as a commander and Guan Zhi is tarpitted with the other Cyan and the less qi CRX spends fighting the G7 the more she has to spend on force multiplying our reinforcement.
Plus Ling Qi is aware of how horrific Liming gets if forced to activate and while CRX can certainly punch up it's always going to be a slog since the dude has an automatic +30 on her for everything from cultivation bonuses alone. We're both a retainer and friend, and helping her remain both in control and to command sect forces would be huge for her and ourselves.
[X] Assist Cai Renxiang immediately, bringing your spirits with you. Ducal heiress or no, he has three stages on her. He seems to be the only one who can immediately pull the starstone out of play anyway.
Plus Ling Qi is aware of how horrific Liming gets if forced to activate and while CRX can certainly punch up it's always going to be a slog since the dude has an automatic +30 on her for everything from cultivation bonuses alone. We're both a retainer and friend, and helping her remain both in control and to command sect forces would be huge for her and ourselves.
[X] Assist Cai Renxiang immediately, bringing your spirits with you. Ducal heiress or no, he has three stages on her. He seems to be the only one who can immediately pull the starstone out of play anyway.
The three remaining Cloud Barbarians were moving to secure it, and the fights lasted almost long enough for reinforcements from either side to start arriving
Plus theres the issue of the White sky taking a more active role in the battle to consider as well with it being unlikely for them to step in to save the Shishigui that just leaves three possible actions for them to take if they change from their current stance:
1) Fuck with the rock (Unlikely)
2) Fuck with the Cyan fight (Plausible)
3) Kidnap Hanyi (???)
Once reinforcements arrive we can bounce back from the second possibility no matter what stance we take
But if Ling Qi is distracted by managing the dancers and assisting Renxiang with putting the G7 down, she isn't going to have room to respond to any actions taken to running off with stuff that belongs to her.
Whereas the holding action on the Starstone still keeps the attention of the majority of enemy units there focused squarely on her, which is the best way to help with Renxiangs duel:
By keeping it a duel
No matter what we do that G7 isnt dying quickly
Plus theres the issue of the White sky taking a more active role in the battle to consider as well with it being unlikely for them to step in to save the Shishigui that just leaves three possible actions for them to take if they change from their current stance:
1) Fuck with the rock (Unlikely)
2) Fuck with the Cyan fight (Plausible)
3) Kidnap Hanyi (???)
Once reinforcements arrive we can bounce back from the second possibility no matter what stance we take
But if Ling Qi is distracted by managing the dancers and assisting Renxiang with putting the G7 down, she isn't going to have room to respond to any actions taken to running off with stuff that belongs to her.
Whereas the holding action on the Starstone still keeps the attention of the majority of enemy units there focused squarely on her, which is the best way to help with Renxiangs duel:
By keeping it a duel
No matter what we do that G7 isnt dying quickly
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- Location
- At the end of the world
Hmm, from where votes going I guess next time we will see something beautiful: Ling Qi at her strongest. We can trust Cai Renxiang with boss shishigui. Our battlefield is different, Ling Qi became ultimate bait and have defensive position with her spirits, now she only have to rump up her control field.
Also some music for optimistic mood.
Also some music for optimistic mood.
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TURNS OUT ARCHERY IS GOOD WHO KNEW OL ORKUS KNEW
Jensaarai
Sing Victory Everlasting
- Pronouns
- They/Them
CRX is a g5, right? Wasn't she about two or three stages lower than the Bai Guy from a while, who IIRC she pretty effectively handled once Ling Qi slowed his retreat.
Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but Ling Qi is a g4 in at least spiritual, and she's not nearly as good at punching up as CRX, so I somewhat doubt how much help she'd be in the fight, versus keeping aggro around the starstone and partially away from CRX.
Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but Ling Qi is a g4 in at least spiritual, and she's not nearly as good at punching up as CRX, so I somewhat doubt how much help she'd be in the fight, versus keeping aggro around the starstone and partially away from CRX.
Renxaing is G4
Isnt giving up Archery now better than investing into it only to sacrifice it when getting to Cyan instead?
Jensaarai
Sing Victory Everlasting
- Pronouns
- They/Them
Yeah, you're right. I just vaguely recalled that Ling Qi still felt a gap in their cultivation, but didn't remember the details.
I... think the rest of my post still stands valid though?
Light
- Location
- The Star Kingdom of Manticore
Light
Wind blew over the edge of the caldera. Hisham soothed his soul brother. Everyone was anxious. Anxious as when a favored son went to look for their bond. Four eyes peered through the familiar embrace of the storm, searching for a glimmer of wrongness. A glimmer that the lowlanders would interrupt the event. Running his hands down his soft fur leached away anxiety. There was nothing wrong yet. Just rain, wind and the shadows between them.
It was clear that Twelve Star's did not believe the good intentions of the Gnawers. Good intentions might give too much credit, Hashim thought privately. There was a common enemy though, that was enough. They would be stronger acting together. Surely the Twelve Stars would see that. Fierce wind blew and Hisham shifted his hoofs to better catch the currents that swirled around. It was uneasy, being so close to the lowlanders. Just a couple mountains away and one would see evidence of their greed. Squat ugly buildings carved from Mother's bones. Deep pits eating away and Mother. Hisham rolled his head letting his mane flow through his fingers. Calm. Calm. He couldn't allow himself to become blinded by anger. Not now. Not so close to getting the Twelve Stars to move. He needed to be alert. To watch the rain and winds for anything wrong.
He felt it more than saw it at first. It rippled the wind. Muttered conversations ceased for an instant. Hisham twisted his upper half to see what had happened. The stone rippled in his eyes. How many years as a youth did he spend looking for a flake? For a sliver? For a mote? Even a mote of a stone would bring glory to his family, would bring strength to his tribe. To imagine such a piece existed. If one could call a small boulder a piece. Yes, he could barely see the twitches from the Twelve Stars. This would secure the alliance. It was painful, soul breaking, to give up such treasure. The Y'lith'kai promised more, but it was difficult to imagine there was more stone than this in all of Mother's creation. A nudge from his soul brother reminded him of his duty. He needed to watch the rain, winds and shadows. He turned away focusing all four eyes on the perimeter. Now wasn't the time to marvel. He had a duty.
An eagles cry is a thing to behold. Bouncing across mountains, one would hear it miles and miles away. It had a quality to it, a quality many things lacked, to cut to the soul, to split the barriers of the mind. The power to be heard. An eagle will never cry unless it means to. Unless it means to be heard. The cry that split the caldera had Hashim twisting on his soul brother, desperate to find the cause. An orb descended. It had a singular color that could not be described. Blacker than a starless and moonless night. Blacker than the deep caverns where one could hear the beat of Mother's bones. Blacker than a lowlanders heart. All four eyes whirled around. Pebbles, rocks, and men started to float towards it. Hashim looked up. Who had attacked?Instead he saw the clouds melt away. Light. Burning light. Beautiful light. In a second that stretched on, refusing to move like all things must, Hashim remembered.
He remembered cold winter nights nursing his mother back to health. Of crisp summer days laughing with his brother as they dashed through the village. Of tears, as his brother lay unmoving on his blankets, pale with skin draped over bones as he was consumed by a demon. Of meeting his soul brother and the joy of finally becoming whole. Of warmth, as he buried his face into his fur to protect against the sudden snow storm. Of beauty, as he sat on a mountain's peak and watched the sun rise, rays and warmth dancing throughout the peaks in a shimmering cascade.
Hashim reached down to feel his soul brother's fur one last time. To stroke the beautiful fur that sparkled when the sun hit it just right. To feel the bond. His wholeness. He never made it. Light. There was no sound. No feeling. Nothing.
Hashim departed to seek the stars, a victim of lowland greed.
A.N.
Omake for the Omake throne @yrsillar
I feel a little bad about posting so many omakes so quickly. I have been feeling inspired lately, so apologies everyone. Please enjoy reading this as I enjoyed writing it.
Wind blew over the edge of the caldera. Hisham soothed his soul brother. Everyone was anxious. Anxious as when a favored son went to look for their bond. Four eyes peered through the familiar embrace of the storm, searching for a glimmer of wrongness. A glimmer that the lowlanders would interrupt the event. Running his hands down his soft fur leached away anxiety. There was nothing wrong yet. Just rain, wind and the shadows between them.
It was clear that Twelve Star's did not believe the good intentions of the Gnawers. Good intentions might give too much credit, Hashim thought privately. There was a common enemy though, that was enough. They would be stronger acting together. Surely the Twelve Stars would see that. Fierce wind blew and Hisham shifted his hoofs to better catch the currents that swirled around. It was uneasy, being so close to the lowlanders. Just a couple mountains away and one would see evidence of their greed. Squat ugly buildings carved from Mother's bones. Deep pits eating away and Mother. Hisham rolled his head letting his mane flow through his fingers. Calm. Calm. He couldn't allow himself to become blinded by anger. Not now. Not so close to getting the Twelve Stars to move. He needed to be alert. To watch the rain and winds for anything wrong.
He felt it more than saw it at first. It rippled the wind. Muttered conversations ceased for an instant. Hisham twisted his upper half to see what had happened. The stone rippled in his eyes. How many years as a youth did he spend looking for a flake? For a sliver? For a mote? Even a mote of a stone would bring glory to his family, would bring strength to his tribe. To imagine such a piece existed. If one could call a small boulder a piece. Yes, he could barely see the twitches from the Twelve Stars. This would secure the alliance. It was painful, soul breaking, to give up such treasure. The Y'lith'kai promised more, but it was difficult to imagine there was more stone than this in all of Mother's creation. A nudge from his soul brother reminded him of his duty. He needed to watch the rain, winds and shadows. He turned away focusing all four eyes on the perimeter. Now wasn't the time to marvel. He had a duty.
An eagles cry is a thing to behold. Bouncing across mountains, one would hear it miles and miles away. It had a quality to it, a quality many things lacked, to cut to the soul, to split the barriers of the mind. The power to be heard. An eagle will never cry unless it means to. Unless it means to be heard. The cry that split the caldera had Hashim twisting on his soul brother, desperate to find the cause. An orb descended. It had a singular color that could not be described. Blacker than a starless and moonless night. Blacker than the deep caverns where one could hear the beat of Mother's bones. Blacker than a lowlanders heart. All four eyes whirled around. Pebbles, rocks, and men started to float towards it. Hashim looked up. Who had attacked?Instead he saw the clouds melt away. Light. Burning light. Beautiful light. In a second that stretched on, refusing to move like all things must, Hashim remembered.
He remembered cold winter nights nursing his mother back to health. Of crisp summer days laughing with his brother as they dashed through the village. Of tears, as his brother lay unmoving on his blankets, pale with skin draped over bones as he was consumed by a demon. Of meeting his soul brother and the joy of finally becoming whole. Of warmth, as he buried his face into his fur to protect against the sudden snow storm. Of beauty, as he sat on a mountain's peak and watched the sun rise, rays and warmth dancing throughout the peaks in a shimmering cascade.
Hashim reached down to feel his soul brother's fur one last time. To stroke the beautiful fur that sparkled when the sun hit it just right. To feel the bond. His wholeness. He never made it. Light. There was no sound. No feeling. Nothing.
Hashim departed to seek the stars, a victim of lowland greed.
A.N.
Omake for the Omake throne @yrsillar
I feel a little bad about posting so many omakes so quickly. I have been feeling inspired lately, so apologies everyone. Please enjoy reading this as I enjoyed writing it.
- Pronouns
- He
[X] Assist Cai Renxiang immediately, bringing your spirits with you. Ducal heiress or no, he has three stages on her. He seems to be the only one who can immediately pull the starstone out of play anyway.
Cecylene
Eternal Idea Engine
- Location
- Massachusetts
- Pronouns
- He/They
We cannot predict White Sky's actions at this time, to be conservative and predict the worst we would have to assume that if they do act it will be either to secure the stone if we aren't there or to attack CRX if we don't support. They have the initiative to decide as we aren't going to fuck with them, and so acknowledging that we cannot make any decision without White Sky being able to selectively counter it we can ignore their input at this juncture as we can do literally nothing about it without provoking a more targeted response.
Because even if they go for the stone, even if the other assembled groups want to go for it only the Shishigui have the capacity to remove it from our reach by sinking it into the Earth. Everyone else would at best be attempting to carry/haul/move it physically and that we can address. CRX has her Dispel and Bleach techs and we have our Yeet and anti-movement and Flight techs to deal with those actively on the stone. We've secured the stone against instant-removal techniques, we need to remove the one person who can perform them so that we can focus on keeping it under our control.
And yes, a G7 isn't going to die easily but CRX is the one who can maximize the effectiveness of our Sect reinforcements and trading Ling Qi's blood and qi for CRX's which can more easily be translated into strategic-level buffs like the Bardbarian is? That's going to be big, especially because again CRX has dispel techniques which can start stripping the Bardbarian's efforts.
She is a Commander/Disrupter with her build of Buff/Long Range AoE/Dispel techniques, as you said with both our reinforcements and theirs are starting to arrive and we currently have our two major buffer/dispellers tied up in other fights or handling the perimeter.
She was G3 vs. G5 with our explicit and active support which she handled well enough because he was also planning to evac due to mounting debuffs, CRX is now facing an additional cultivation gap here so that adds another +10 Ranks to everything the Shishigui has and she is facing this one largely alone if we don't get involved as we aren't tossing on our Debuff suite into the mix.
For reference to the last "punch up" fight and the plan that had her fighting him "alone"
She really wasn't fighting him alone.
They're not going to assist something they straight up called a demon directly
That is a prediction we can safely make
Which is why she'll be fine dueling the ground-bound and Construct-using G7 Shishigui.
Based on what?
How do you know such a trade would occur when theres still Dancers about?
So what?
One minor but really interesting thing I noticed was the ice lady is a foreigner, not a barb. Seems like she is inclined to think of the ice lady as a person, not some not quite human thing like the cloud tribe. That is cool, and possibly worrying. But it is a fun detail.