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.
Yes. Because Li Suyin saved the mission and because LI Suyin is unattached and looks, for all intents and purposes, to be unattached and potentially someone who will stay at Sect for years, if not for a lifetime.
Just think of 1000-500 and 500-1 as parallel tracks. We will never get above 500 because we cannot show enough commitment to the Sect. It is impossible because the Cai have our first loyalty and can pull us at any time and to all notices to the Sect, we and CRX will be gone in a year or so.
That's why there are a bunch of people stuck in the 500 - 600 rank that are ridiculously strong but have not yet shown the dedication and commitment to the Sect for the Sect to push them up to the "talented and committed track." I suspect Bao Qingling and Wen Cao both have that problem at the moment. They have the requisite cultivation and talent. If they want to stay at Sect, not only do they have to perform well, they have to clearly show they're there for the "long haul" and show loyalty to the Sect. Any high noble will probably have this problem, and the solution is literally they're going to do well in contribution to Sect and sit there for enough time that the Sect is like it's too embarrassing to keep you above 500 at this point.
This is Lin Hai's problem too. He's a known apprentice of Duchess Cai so they're basically slowrolling the dude as much as possible until it's basically impossible to not move him to a higher tier for fear of blatant insult. (As Lin Hai said, it's too embarrassing for the Sect to not move Lin Hai to elder status if he reaches violet. But they don't want to move him to elder status if they don't have to so he's an indigo Core disciple despite there being literal elders who are probably indigo and below him in cultivation and potentially, talent.) Like I'm pretty sure that even though they know we're not "theirs," if we or CRX reached Cyan and showed indications of staying at Sect, they'd grudgingly move us up because it's ridiculous to keep a Cyan in Inner Sect.
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Arkeus
Crazy cat guy
- Location
- France
A couple other things here is that, first, Suyin is going through the production track. She has been going through the ranks there fast, and is apparently considered very talented as a production student. That she proved herself in combat too is probably a really good sign, as even production track disciples need their insights, and those are by all hints easier to get through dangerous activities.
The second thing is that we can't complain that Ling Qi didn't get a huge boost post the fight when we consider Ling Qi immediately went above the sect's head afterward. The sect is definitely going to prioritise people who also prioritise the sect, that's normal.
The second thing is that we can't complain that Ling Qi didn't get a huge boost post the fight when we consider Ling Qi immediately went above the sect's head afterward. The sect is definitely going to prioritise people who also prioritise the sect, that's normal.
BTW, if we were unattached, we'd probably have moved into the top 500s after the river defense and/or cavern mission.
Su Ling is likely to find herself in the top 500s too relatively soon. Sect's just waiting for an opportunity there. Su Ling's issue is motivation (she's picked up some now), cultivation (her crafting isn't much home to write about at the moment but her divination is, and that will require some cultivation advancements to make better use of), and achievement (gotta take a mission and do well on the mission).
Su Ling is likely to find herself in the top 500s too relatively soon. Sect's just waiting for an opportunity there. Su Ling's issue is motivation (she's picked up some now), cultivation (her crafting isn't much home to write about at the moment but her divination is, and that will require some cultivation advancements to make better use of), and achievement (gotta take a mission and do well on the mission).
- Location
- New Brunswick, NJ
- Pronouns
- He/Him/His
Isn't Su Ling's main issue "unwillingness to make a long-term commitment to the Sect"? She's said several times that she doesn't want to be a lifer, she wants to learn, do her military service, and then get out, and the top 500 is for the long-haul disciples.
- Location
- Finland
Ok, the second Su Ling gets into top 500, we poach her to the Cai. 
Also do the same for Suyin, asap.
Su Ling might be more difficult, but there has to be something we can tease Suyin with, and she is very capable and talented so Cai should have no trouble finding work for her.
Also do the same for Suyin, asap.
Su Ling might be more difficult, but there has to be something we can tease Suyin with, and she is very capable and talented so Cai should have no trouble finding work for her.
The sect probably wants to make her commit to itself though. And unlike in Ling Qi's case, it doesn't have to compete with the Cai or another large scale force. I wouldn't be surprised if the sect does try to entice Su Ling to commit. More so during the war when her divining skills are even more useful versus the Shishigui.
- Location
- New Brunswick, NJ
- Pronouns
- He/Him/His
Yeah, I agree that they're likely to try to recruit Su Ling. I'm just unsure she's willing to be recruited; I can't find the most recent chapter where she talked about her reservations, but they seem pretty deep-seated. She doesn't really like the Sect's focus on itself and defense against barbarians, as opposed to defending peasantry against the constant issues of living in a deathworld.
Honestly, since being a wandering hero is something the Empire dissuades, I kind of suspect she might go into Imperial service. One of the Ministries has to have a "go fuck up monsters" role somewhere, right? If not, we might see her join the Cai (or one of the counts under the Cai) herself.
Xicree
Murder.Malice.Might
Ling Qi resembles that remark dammit!
DeusExBritannia
Red-White-Black-White
- Location
- Texas
He's such a JoJo character.
Now I need to know what everyone's Stands would be.
She's basically Taylor when you think about it.
- Location
- the internet
Well she's a lot more self conscious, self-deprecating and shy than Taylor was but I suppose there are some parallels.
- Location
- All around you.
- Pronouns
- Lord/Master/God
Edited Chapter:
Ling Qi Closed her eyes as she caught her breath. The dirt of the training field was warm under her feet, and the crackle of the small fires and patches of ice throughout the field loud in her ears. She was no Gan Guangli, but there was a certain peace in physical exertion. There was a comforting simplicity to it.
"Ho there, that last attack wasn't too much, right Miss Ling?" Wang Chao's voice boomed in her ears.
Ling Qi stood and smiled, idly brushing dust from her gown. She stood at the bottom of a crater, with the fading ripples of black lake water fading around her in the air. Zhengui stood beside her, ash streaming from both of his mouths. "Not at all Sir Wang!" she called to the top.
"The growth of your resilience is nothing short of absurd!" Wang Chao called back down, tapping the butt of his spear against the dirt. "I don't think any here will doubt tales of your exploits!"
"Hmph, who would dare call the sister of I, Zhen a liar," her little brother scoffed.
Ling Qi chuckled as the smoke and ash rising from the dirt under their feet began to form back into the wispy figures of dancers. The world blurred into a smear of conflicting color, and she stood on level ground once more, Zhengui beside her.
There were more people at the training field than there had been last month. Ling Qi recognized some of the new faces, people who had been in the caldera with them. Others had been brought along by those disciples. Ling Qi smiled politely to those looking their way.
"Hah, few enough," Wang Chao laughed, resting the haft of his spear on his shoulder.
"Lets not worry about rats in the corners during fun occasions, Sir Wang," Ling Qi said dismissively. "I hope you received some insights during our spar."
Wang Chao nodded agreeably. He was honestly not a complicated guy. Ling Qi wouldn't call him a friend, but she didn't dislike him either. "Your growth is a bit daunting Miss Ling. To think that you have already reach Green Threshold," he shook his head, looking frustrated. "Perhaps I need to seek permission from the family to take on more dangerous Sect duties as well!"
"I am sure the Sect would appreciate it," Ling Qi said, resting her hand on Gui's blunt snout. She couldn't bring herself to recommend it though. The image of the list in the Medicine hall flashed through her thoughts. "I think you are making good progress toward Bronze Formation."
"Sparring you does offer some insights," Wang Chao said thoughtfully. "How does one break through the surface of a lake, when the waters only close behind your strike?"
There were plenty of pithy replies, but Ling Qi could recognize the tinge of internal philosophical dilemma.
"Gui thinks Mister Avalanche is doing good at trying," Gui said helpfully.
"Ha, perhaps," Wang Chao said. "In any case, do you wish another round Miss Ling?"
Ling Qi glanced up at the sun, noting its position, and put on an apologetic smile. "Not today I'm afraid. I have an appointment with Core Disciple Lin about a talisman commission."
When she had returned from the court to find that man's seal stamped on her request, she hadn't quite been surprised.
Wang Chao's eyebrows rose. "Well, don't let me keep you then!"
On the path leading up to Lin Hai's home and workshop, Ling Qi stopped and blinked in surprise.
"Looks like Mr. Tailor double booked your appointment," Sixiang said in amusement.
There, on the porch which surrounded the main building, stood Li Suyin and Su Ling, the latter of whom stood with her arms crossed, looking suspiciously at everything around her.
"Ling Qi?" asked Li Suyin, looking down at her from the porch. "What are you doing here?"
Ling Qi let out a huff, glancing at the closed door of the workshop. "I have an appointment. What about you? I'm surprised that you would be commissioning a talisman, Li Suyin."
Her friend liked making her own things.
"She's getting a reward," Su Ling grunted, tapping her foot as Ling Qi mounted the stairs to join them on the porch.
"Really, it's too much, taking time from such an esteemed craftsman when I am not even spending my Contribution points," Li Suyin mumbled, plucking nervously at her gown.
"Oh come off it, Suyin," Su Ling replied, rolling her eyes. "You're the one that kept the initiation ceremony going after the Elder and the core disciples got dragged into a fight."
Ling Qi's eyebrows rose as she turned to look at Suyin, whose fidgeting only got worse. "Suyin?"
"I was just the one who happened to be there," Li Suyin said, looking away. "I was only following Elder Jiao's instructions. Anyone could have done the same."
She yelped as Ling Qi rapped her knuckles against the top of the girl's head. "Quit that," Ling Qi said, rolling her eyes. "I thought you'd moved past that kind of false modesty, Suyin."
"That's what I told her," Su Ling grumbled, eyeing the doorway.
"…It's just too much," Li Suyin murmured. "I– There were so many other stronger, more experienced disciples about. And… so many didn't make it, when someone like me did."
Ling Qi's expression softened a little. She knew that Suyin hadn't really seen a fight like that before, or its consequences. "Even so, saying you don't deserve a reward at all is too much, Suyin."
"It's not just the talisman," Li Suyin said glumly.
"She's getting promoted into the upper five hundred," Su Ling said flippantly. "Can't think of anyone who deserves it more though."
Li Suyin huffed at her, it seemed that they had repeated this conversation several times already.
Before Ling Qi could reply further however, the door of the workshop slid open.
"Master Lin will see you now." Ling Qi's eyes fixed on the figure in the doorway as she spoke. She had glimpsed her before last time she had been here. The spirit wore the shape of a curvaceous woman with golden hair. She wore a gown of pale pink with a darker red underlayer. She had an air of deliberate dishevelment, her hair mussed and one side of her gown hanging carelessly off of her shoulders. Her feet were bare.
Five thick and fluffy golden tails waved lazily in the air behind her.
Su Ling was glaring again. The spirit didn't even glance at her.
Ling Qi bowed her head politely to the fox spirit. "Thank you Miss, is Sir Lin going to deal with both of us at once, or should I wait?"
"Master Lin will see you both," the fox spoke over her shoulder, she was already turning to lead them back inside.
Ling Qi shot Su Ling a quelling look and the girl huffed and turned her eyes away. Li Suyin gave her a concerned look but hurried to follow as Ling Qi followed the spirit inside.
"I do not think I received your name at my last visit," Ling Qi said politely. Glancing around at the darkened halls, it seemed as if the layout of the building had changed.
"You may call this one Luli," said the fox, not looking back. "It is as good a name as any for this one to wear."
"Tch, can't even give a straight answer to that," Su Ling grumbled under her breath.
The woman's gold furred ears flicked irritably. "Do not concern yourself little nightkin, you are certainly no kindred to the children of Dawn. It would please this one if we could exist in mutual silence."
Su Ling almost missed a step, but simply grunted and looked away when Li Suyin rested a hand on her shoulder.
The rest of the trip through the halls passed without words.
Soon they reached a room that Ling Qi found familiar, the wide chamber with the sliding doors at the rear. Luli vanished in a whirl of sunlight motes as they entered, leaving her friends looking around the room, searching for their host. Ling Qi remained quiet. She wasn't going to ruin Lin Hai's fun.
She had her grin behind her hand as the doors at the rear of the room jumped open with a bang, and her friends startled. Four beams of prismatic light shot forth from the dark interior, rays of light dancing across the room, and thick and colorful fog poured across the floor. The beams swept back, and they lit upon the figure in the center, casting him in stark relief.
Lin Hai stood there, one hand thrown out, the other splayed open in front of his face. He wore an open chested tunic of crimson silk, split down to his navel to show off his slim chest, a feathery black pibo wrapped around his shoulders, floating on unseen winds. He was also, fortunately, wearing much less tight pants, instead going for flowing silk that flared widely about his ankles and pointed slippers.
"Greetings to you, O seekers of beauty!" said the flamboyant man, lowering his hand to show his grinning face. He had a bit of color to his lips this time. "Lin Hai, weaver of the Dawn, welcomes you to his sanctum!"
"I wonder if I could pull off something like that," Sixiang mused.
Ling Qi brought her hands together, applauding politely politely as her friends stared blankly ahead. "It is good to see you again, Senior Brother Lin."
Li Suyin managed to bow as her brain caught up. "S-Senior Brother Lin, it is an honor to be allowed to make use of your time."
Su Ling's face was blank. It was the same sort of face she wore when Ling Qi invited her to do things.
Lin Hai chuckled, brushing the blue frosted tips of his hair out of his eyes as the light and fog faded away and more normal lighting filled the room. "No, no, it is always the honor of the craftsman to perform his work," he reprimanded lightly. "Raise your head young lady, I'll have no bowing and scraping here."
"Ah, as you say, Senior Brother," Li Suyin said, raising her head. She was trying so hard to retain her composure, but Ling Qi could tell that she was having a hard time categorizing Lin Hai. "Um, how precisely are we going to handle…"
Lin Hai blurred, his silhouette stretching, before snapping apart into two separate but identical figures. He raised a carefully manicured eyebrow.
"Try to relax a little huh?" Ling Qi nudged her friend's shoulder, before starting after the simulacrum on the left.
Su Ling shot her an unamused look as she followed after the still fidgety Li Suyin.
"What a good girl that one is," Lin Hai mused as she fell in beside him and they moved into his work shop, between skeins of cloth, tables and tools.
"Too good sometimes," Ling Qi sighed.
"Hm, hmm, no such thing I think," Lin Hai said. "It seems I must congratulate you young Miss, you held up quite well under your first experience at court."
"Did I?" Ling Qi asked. She remembered barely being able to keep her composure under the Duchess' scrutiny.
"You did, or so I have heard," Lin Hai mused. "It is not easy to deal with Master's interest, and you certainly gave her an opportunity."
Ling Qi frowned a little. She still wasn't sure how she felt about that. The Duchess having a dealing with the shishigui. Negotiating with barbarians was one thing, but monsters like that…
"Our clothes and finery are most important, young Miss, they show the world what we wish to be. It is not good to forget that more lies beneath," Lin Hai said.
Ling Qi blinked at the non sequitur.
"He's reminding you not to get too caught up in appearances," Sixiang whispered, and Ling Qi found a memory of a disturbing mundane town, deep beneath the earth, intruded into her thoughts.
"Still, while your words pleased many, it has not pleased the Sect," Lin Hai said softly. "I understand your reasoning. First Impressions are so terribly important, and if these foreigners of yours had been reported by the Sect's messengers first, things may not have gone so smoothly."
"Do you think I'm being foolish or naive?" Ling Qi asked quietly. She had been trying not to think about it much yet, but the Duchess had put a great deal on her shoulders with this assignment. If she was wrong…
"I think it costs us little to try, save for pride," Lin Hai mused. "And the Empire certainly has a surplus of that."
Ling Qi laughed a little.
"Now young miss, what sort of piece are you looking to commission today?" Lin Hai said as they arrived at a part of the workshop filled with jeweler tools.
"It looks like you already have an idea," Ling Qi said wryly. "But… I was thinking, some ear rings maybe?"
Lin Hai eyed her critically. "Hm, hm, I see some designs perhaps. Silver naturally, or mayhap platinum. Sapphire for highlights…"
The designer trailed off and shook his head, but she could still see his mind working behind his eyes. "And the desired effect?"
"Sense enhancement," Ling Qi replied immediately. She still remembered those dancers, still so easily able to slip out of her sight. She disliked being on the receiving end of that.
"Ah well, simple enough then," Lin Hai said, clapping his hands, tools, jewels and flasks filled with liquified metals began to float off the shelves and tables to whirl around the craftsman.
"Take a seat here, if you would," Lin Hai said, pointing to a softly padded stool.
Ling Qi took her seat and held still as tools began to take measurements of her ears, and around her head. "Senior Brother Lin, do you think there is anything I can do to prepare?" She honestly had no idea how she was going to handle this.
"You must sew your own success here," Lin Hai chuckled. "For it is your project, but… perhaps seek out those who have knowledge of dealings with foreigners? They do exist, here and there."
Ling Qi recalled her conversation with Cai Renxiang, hashing out her speech. Hadn't she mentioned that the Xuan dealt with foreigners? Xuan Shi certainly seemed like the sort to be interested in that sort of thing.
Well, that was an idea.
[] Speak with Xuan Shi when he comes to finish the work on your Mothers house. It will be the most comfortable for you both.
[] Xuan Shi could use more friends and contacts, he had met Suyin before too. Perhaps you could him a favor and introduce them again before asking a favor in turn?
Hmm. I don't have much of an opinion one way or the other, so I guess I'll make my choice once I've read through the discussion :Ü™
Edit:
[X] Xuan Shi could use more friends and contacts, he had met Suyin before too. Perhaps you could him a favor and introduce them again before asking a favor in turn?
Superfluous the.
There, on the porch
underlayer. She
hid
craftsman
Ah, as you say, Senior Brother,
have
a disturbingly mundane town, deep beneath the earth, intruding into her thoughts.
jeweler or jeweler's? I'm not sure.
"Spiritual Cultivation | 1212 Dice
10 7 3 7 1 9 9 6 8 10 8 5 9 2 5 6 4 3 2 6 9 10 2 2 4 7 1 3 9 4 4 10 9 7 7 1 6 9 6 5 2 6 7 7 1 1 1 2 10 4 3 10 1 4 5 9 4 6 7 5 3 2 3 8 4 5 9 6 3 4 4 4 9 2 8 7 3 5 6 2 8 10 9 8 1 8 1 5 4 7 8 6 6 1 7 1 10 8 3 2 5 10 2 6 5 8 1 2 9 2 4 2 8 6 2 8 6 8 1 7 8 9 8 7 5 6 4 6 2 10 2 10 7 9 4 8 8 3 4 5 8 3 8 5 5 2 8 6 3 6 4 6 10 8 7 1 5 3 9 4 1 4 9 1 7 6 7 8 7 7 5 5 10 8 3 4 4 5 3 4 4 10 7 2 8 4 6 5 6 9 5 2 6 3 1 4 3 9 1 3 8 4 9 5 2 3 4 3 6 3 10 7 9 6 5 7 4 9 10 7 9 6 3 9 1 9 8 7 4 3 10 1 9 7 7 10 6 5 10 7 7 8 9 1 3 1 10 4 4 1 7 7 2 6 9 1 10 3 5 2 6 2 7 10 7 4 4 5 1 10 2 1 7 4 3 2 3 9 3 1 9 8 2 5 7 10 9 2 6 8 7 8 1 8 3 7 7 9 8 6 10 4 2 5 3 7 2 2 3 8 10 9 8 8 9 10 8 8 2 3 7 3 9 10 9 2 1 5 5 6 4 9 5 8 10 9 7 6 10 2 2 8 6 10 2 5 2 4 6 10 8 4 10 5 10 7 1 10 9 7 7 8 4 6 1 9 10 1 9 5 6 2 5 5 2 8 5 1 6 4 2 5 4 6 5 3 1 1 8 9 7 1 2 8 1 2 3 4 9 7 10 8 8 3 2 3 10 10 1 3 9 9 7 10 6 2 6 3 9 2 10 4 9 6 9 10 6 9 7 6 10 4 8 3 4 8 6 3 8 9 5 2 4 4 9 4 4 8 6 5 6 8 9 10 8 3 6 6 1 4 2 6 1 9 5 3 3 1 3 8 5 10 10 5 5 8 7 7 7 10 5 1 5 1 9 4 2 2 7 9 9 7 5 4 2 2 1 2 1 9 6 4 9 7 7 7 6 5 4 6 3 4 1 8 8 5 10 6 2 10 9 4 5 5 6 2 3 2 10 5 1 6 2 7 4 8 4 2 9 10 4 7 2 5 1 6 7 8 8 1 4 2 6 5 8 6 4 5 3 3 6 3 9 5 5 2 2 7 3 3 9 6 6 4 10 1 4 7 7 3 2 5 9 1 1 5 7 8 1 10 4 10 2 1 1 10 10 10 10 6 8 3 4 3 2 7 6 10 8 7 2 1 5 1 4 4 8 7 6 3 10 6 8 8 8 1 10 10 10 2 2 7 4 10 7 1 6 1 2 5 3 2 2 5 9 8 6 6 4 1 9 1 8 4 4 7 2 3 10 8 10 8 5 1 8 3 4 8 5 8 7 2 6 1 3 8 5 3 1 9 3 2 10 10 9 4 7 3 1 2 3 9 7 3 10 5 1 8 3 1 4 10 5 10 8 10 8 2 4 2 1 5 10 1 4 2 6 4 1 1 8 10 7 6 5 3 7 4 3 7 7 8 3 9 5 8 8 9 10 5 6 5 8 10 8 10 8 4 9 6 1 3 9 4 4 9 4 5 1 6 4 5 10 5 10 3 1 2 7 9 4 5 8 6 3 8 9 4 1 2 6 1 4 3 7 7 8 3 6 4 2 1 9 9 9 5 2 5 2 3 7 10 4 4 6 10 5 5 10 6 6 9 3 3 7 8 4 3 3 10 2 10 1 2 8 3 1 4 1 9 10 8 10 6 9 10 5 8 8 5 9 2 10 8 8 6 5 1 2 9 3 1 1 4 3 2 4 8 8 5 3 9 4 6 10 5 7 9 1 6 10 3 4 5 5 7 10 8 8 2 9 1 6 5 2 3 1 4 6 2 5 7 5 1 9 2 7 9 7 1 3 7 2 3 8 3 5 4 5 10 6 1 6 3 9 4 10 7 8 3 9 7 5 4 6 2 1 4 5 1 6 3 2 2 9 5 8 3 2 2 6 9 5 10 10 10 7 2 7 7 4 4 6 8 6 3 3 9 8 5 1 6 3 9 3 2 10 6 4 9 4 7 6 3 3 10 9 6 2 10 4 8 1 4 10 3 9 6 5 6 10 7 6 5 1 9 6 7 6 8 4 5 4 6 9 7 3 1 5 7 5 10 3 3 1 4 2 8 8 9 10 5 5 1 1 1 8 9 9 10 6 7 10 3 2 5 9 3 10 10 6 10 4 7 2 1 5 4 10 2 7 9 8 8 8 10 7 6 1 4 7 7 6 6 10 3 2 8 2 2 10 9 4 6 7 5 5 5 6 2 10 1 5 4 3 5 8 4 9 4 9 2 10 6 9 9 6 2 4 8 7 7 2 6 8 6 1 4 2 3 3 9 6 1 6 5 4 3 3 1 1 5 5 7 1 4 8 5 7 6 3 5 2 4 5 2 4 7 9 10 3 3 6 5 9 3 9 8 1 6 8 10 5 7 10 3 10 7 7 10 3 9 9 3 7 10 10 10 1 7 3 5 6 10 3 8 1 7 10 9 4 3 1 3 1 3 7 4 3 10 3 10 9 9 1 1 5 3 4 9 7 10 2 9 1 2 6 10 1 7 2 5 | 606 Successes
Rerolling 117
10 3 4 1 10 4 7 8 5 4 2 10 7 9 4 6 8 4 6 3 6 2 9 7 6 3 6 3 10 10 1 1 8 10 10 2 4 6 6 2 8 8 4 2 4 7 7 4 4 6 10 7 6 9 10 6 8 5 9 2 2 2 4 6 9 10 7 4 6 8 9 5 8 7 3 8 8 2 7 6 8 8 6 5 9 5 10 1 10 1 8 1 3 8 6 5 9 3 4 10 5 10 10 5 10 10 5 2 10 8 7 3 10 6 7 5 8 | 47x2=94 Successes
700x1.1=770 Successes
913/6000
Physical Cultivation | 1616 Dice
7 5 8 8 10 4 9 4 6 1 6 6 2 7 10 7 2 9 8 9 8 4 5 9 3 4 4 9 5 8 2 3 3 2 6 7 4 10 10 8 10 9 4 3 2 6 4 5 1 2 8 2 5 1 4 1 7 8 8 9 7 7 5 6 2 9 9 8 2 1 10 2 7 1 3 5 8 5 5 6 7 10 2 8 7 1 1 4 5 2 6 10 5 2 8 10 8 4 8 10 4 1 2 5 9 10 1 7 8 5 3 9 5 7 10 1 5 9 5 4 10 8 9 4 10 2 3 5 3 5 9 6 3 4 10 3 10 2 10 9 1 2 8 5 3 6 4 4 2 8 10 2 8 9 4 5 10 4 7 3 4 9 1 5 9 4 10 7 8 10 2 1 8 9 10 9 1 9 10 10 4 5 4 2 10 1 7 7 4 3 4 3 5 6 3 8 10 2 6 2 10 6 9 1 10 8 4 9 3 6 6 7 8 8 1 4 2 4 3 5 2 8 7 3 5 9 9 8 5 1 9 8 3 4 8 6 9 1 3 5 8 3 1 2 1 2 10 6 6 3 10 2 7 5 4 10 4 4 1 9 5 7 5 2 7 4 7 10 4 6 1 6 9 10 3 9 10 8 2 1 6 7 8 1 5 1 1 7 8 8 5 9 10 4 5 9 5 9 10 1 6 10 5 9 7 6 5 2 2 9 8 9 3 10 5 7 9 2 10 3 8 8 3 7 5 2 9 1 7 7 6 2 3 2 4 3 8 1 3 9 2 8 1 1 7 8 10 4 10 2 5 10 9 6 8 5 3 10 5 6 2 2 9 9 6 6 8 9 1 6 2 1 2 4 9 1 10 7 10 5 10 1 8 4 4 5 5 6 3 1 5 7 1 6 7 10 7 3 5 8 9 3 1 4 10 2 4 8 10 5 2 6 8 10 6 4 9 10 3 7 10 8 2 7 8 2 4 4 10 8 8 3 1 2 3 9 6 7 2 9 7 1 2 1 9 10 3 5 9 7 1 8 10 5 5 1 10 2 9 7 4 5 5 6 4 1 2 9 1 9 10 1 1 8 3 2 10 8 3 1 6 6 7 1 4 2 10 8 1 1 7 9 6 1 9 7 6 10 1 2 10 2 5 7 8 1 8 4 7 8 6 5 2 6 4 4 10 8 1 8 9 10 9 9 3 3 9 4 3 1 3 8 4 5 5 10 4 1 4 4 8 3 6 9 7 4 6 8 8 3 10 4 1 6 9 3 7 1 1 9 3 5 1 5 4 6 5 1 5 6 10 4 7 2 10 2 3 8 1 4 6 6 5 3 1 8 2 6 9 5 2 9 6 4 8 3 4 9 10 10 7 7 1 2 4 3 4 10 9 7 4 2 3 8 9 4 3 6 10 8 1 10 7 4 6 7 7 7 7 7 4 8 7 4 4 5 2 8 7 4 9 5 4 6 8 2 4 1 3 1 2 1 8 5 8 6 7 8 8 8 8 3 8 6 3 9 5 2 9 3 2 9 3 2 3 2 9 4 6 1 10 8 4 7 4 9 4 10 8 5 2 4 6 2 3 4 2 1 10 9 7 2 1 3 5 6 9 10 3 2 2 9 7 6 1 8 8 7 3 3 2 6 5 2 10 3 7 4 7 10 1 2 7 4 8 10 8 10 3 2 3 1 5 9 2 6 1 4 3 1 4 7 10 10 4 4 4 1 3 6 1 6 5 9 7 1 1 1 8 3 6 9 4 5 8 6 5 9 7 3 10 6 5 1 8 4 8 6 10 9 4 5 1 9 8 4 8 1 9 8 3 5 7 4 1 2 8 5 2 8 3 2 5 6 7 7 6 3 8 10 3 10 1 5 8 5 8 4 3 10 1 8 7 10 4 5 6 10 1 1 5 10 4 1 2 2 1 6 7 2 1 7 1 3 9 10 4 6 10 1 3 4 7 8 6 5 10 6 10 3 8 5 8 8 2 1 9 4 5 9 7 5 8 5 6 6 6 1 9 7 6 5 1 1 6 5 8 7 4 4 9 6 6 8 7 4 10 5 7 8 10 1 6 8 3 2 10 1 8 3 4 7 5 2 10 1 6 4 1 9 9 4 5 5 3 7 2 9 6 5 10 9 4 3 1 7 1 7 8 6 4 8 6 9 9 9 2 2 10 6 1 6 3 3 2 2 7 8 1 8 10 6 9 8 8 6 3 3 8 10 7 6 2 6 3 2 4 3 3 3 4 3 3 10 7 1 7 3 10 5 10 7 6 1 8 3 6 8 9 8 7 10 9 10 6 9 1 1 9 6 3 7 7 6 9 9 3 10 2 3 3 8 4 2 9 10 9 7 10 7 5 2 2 8 7 10 7 6 1 2 2 1 9 4 2 4 4 9 6 2 4 2 2 8 8 3 7 1 3 6 10 5 7 3 5 8 4 10 9 5 4 9 10 5 9 9 6 2 4 7 2 2 6 10 6 10 8 1 3 10 4 3 9 6 2 8 10 9 2 8 6 8 9 4 8 4 2 6 3 5 2 3 3 3 7 6 10 2 4 1 8 7 2 4 8 1 2 10 9 9 4 3 4 10 3 3 10 4 10 6 10 5 7 7 3 3 7 6 7 7 4 1 2 8 4 4 4 9 2 1 10 7 2 9 7 10 9 9 3 5 3 6 10 1 4 7 5 8 10 3 5 7 1 10 1 5 5 10 8 8 3 9 3 7 5 7 1 8 8 4 10 4 6 8 4 4 10 6 8 9 3 10 4 5 2 9 7 2 4 5 5 1 2 10 9 3 10 5 3 7 3 9 6 9 6 5 7 7 1 5 8 9 1 8 6 1 5 7 2 1 7 7 7 7 9 3 4 5 5 8 5 9 2 2 3 10 6 3 2 7 7 1 1 7 9 10 2 8 9 2 1 7 7 10 3 10 8 7 8 7 9 10 2 3 1 7 4 2 1 2 7 7 5 2 7 8 7 5 7 1 4 7 9 7 1 6 10 4 2 3 5 6 8 2 8 1 10 6 10 3 2 1 2 4 3 5 5 10 9 6 6 5 9 4 8 7 3 6 4 1 6 6 6 9 2 4 9 2 6 10 3 5 8 9 7 9 5 1 4 9 3 3 1 7 7 4 4 2 4 8 6 5 8 1 9 8 5 8 9 6 6 6 9 6 3 4 2 4 10 7 2 2 8 10 4 3 4 1 8 9 10 8 5 10 4 6 8 7 7 6 9 5 5 6 2 4 8 8 10 4 1 7 4 6 7 8 2 4 1 1 9 1 7 2 4 9 8 10 10 3 4 8 1 5 3 8 5 4 8 7 8 4 6 3 8 6 6 9 3 9 5 4 9 6 4 9 2 7 8 9 1 9 7 10 6 1 6 10 1 1 10 6 5 9 10 4 7 8 5 7 4 6 10 3 7 5 2 1 6 2 9 7 2 8 9 6 8 5 6 5 2 2 7 3 7 2 7 9 3 1 9 7 6 2 6 2 4 6 5 2 10 4 3 1 1 7 9 8 1 1 6 10 7 1 10 2 2 7 6 8 10 9 8 2 7 6 5 5 9 6 7 1 9 5 1 4 3 2 5 7 3 8 1 10 4 2 5 9 6 6 7 8 8 3 6 6 3 9 4 2 3 5 1 4 8 5 | 791 Successes
Rerolling 164
1 6 3 1 5 3 10 4 10 1 10 10 6 10 4 9 3 8 8 3 1 3 7 5 9 10 2 9 1 7 4 6 2 2 7 7 3 7 6 5 5 1 1 10 1 3 10 4 4 9 8 9 2 1 1 9 1 6 6 9 6 7 2 7 10 5 8 3 7 10 7 6 1 4 2 4 5 6 9 8 1 5 9 10 5 9 8 3 9 8 2 5 7 8 7 7 8 8 4 2 4 3 2 9 8 8 8 8 3 10 8 1 3 9 3 4 5 1 6 5 6 6 4 4 8 3 3 6 4 3 1 9 5 1 2 10 8 3 9 4 10 5 6 9 3 10 1 9 2 8 6 3 8 4 9 3 6 7 8 7 6 10 3 10 | 78x2=156 Successes
947x1.1=1041
3403/4800
10 7 3 7 1 9 9 6 8 10 8 5 9 2 5 6 4 3 2 6 9 10 2 2 4 7 1 3 9 4 4 10 9 7 7 1 6 9 6 5 2 6 7 7 1 1 1 2 10 4 3 10 1 4 5 9 4 6 7 5 3 2 3 8 4 5 9 6 3 4 4 4 9 2 8 7 3 5 6 2 8 10 9 8 1 8 1 5 4 7 8 6 6 1 7 1 10 8 3 2 5 10 2 6 5 8 1 2 9 2 4 2 8 6 2 8 6 8 1 7 8 9 8 7 5 6 4 6 2 10 2 10 7 9 4 8 8 3 4 5 8 3 8 5 5 2 8 6 3 6 4 6 10 8 7 1 5 3 9 4 1 4 9 1 7 6 7 8 7 7 5 5 10 8 3 4 4 5 3 4 4 10 7 2 8 4 6 5 6 9 5 2 6 3 1 4 3 9 1 3 8 4 9 5 2 3 4 3 6 3 10 7 9 6 5 7 4 9 10 7 9 6 3 9 1 9 8 7 4 3 10 1 9 7 7 10 6 5 10 7 7 8 9 1 3 1 10 4 4 1 7 7 2 6 9 1 10 3 5 2 6 2 7 10 7 4 4 5 1 10 2 1 7 4 3 2 3 9 3 1 9 8 2 5 7 10 9 2 6 8 7 8 1 8 3 7 7 9 8 6 10 4 2 5 3 7 2 2 3 8 10 9 8 8 9 10 8 8 2 3 7 3 9 10 9 2 1 5 5 6 4 9 5 8 10 9 7 6 10 2 2 8 6 10 2 5 2 4 6 10 8 4 10 5 10 7 1 10 9 7 7 8 4 6 1 9 10 1 9 5 6 2 5 5 2 8 5 1 6 4 2 5 4 6 5 3 1 1 8 9 7 1 2 8 1 2 3 4 9 7 10 8 8 3 2 3 10 10 1 3 9 9 7 10 6 2 6 3 9 2 10 4 9 6 9 10 6 9 7 6 10 4 8 3 4 8 6 3 8 9 5 2 4 4 9 4 4 8 6 5 6 8 9 10 8 3 6 6 1 4 2 6 1 9 5 3 3 1 3 8 5 10 10 5 5 8 7 7 7 10 5 1 5 1 9 4 2 2 7 9 9 7 5 4 2 2 1 2 1 9 6 4 9 7 7 7 6 5 4 6 3 4 1 8 8 5 10 6 2 10 9 4 5 5 6 2 3 2 10 5 1 6 2 7 4 8 4 2 9 10 4 7 2 5 1 6 7 8 8 1 4 2 6 5 8 6 4 5 3 3 6 3 9 5 5 2 2 7 3 3 9 6 6 4 10 1 4 7 7 3 2 5 9 1 1 5 7 8 1 10 4 10 2 1 1 10 10 10 10 6 8 3 4 3 2 7 6 10 8 7 2 1 5 1 4 4 8 7 6 3 10 6 8 8 8 1 10 10 10 2 2 7 4 10 7 1 6 1 2 5 3 2 2 5 9 8 6 6 4 1 9 1 8 4 4 7 2 3 10 8 10 8 5 1 8 3 4 8 5 8 7 2 6 1 3 8 5 3 1 9 3 2 10 10 9 4 7 3 1 2 3 9 7 3 10 5 1 8 3 1 4 10 5 10 8 10 8 2 4 2 1 5 10 1 4 2 6 4 1 1 8 10 7 6 5 3 7 4 3 7 7 8 3 9 5 8 8 9 10 5 6 5 8 10 8 10 8 4 9 6 1 3 9 4 4 9 4 5 1 6 4 5 10 5 10 3 1 2 7 9 4 5 8 6 3 8 9 4 1 2 6 1 4 3 7 7 8 3 6 4 2 1 9 9 9 5 2 5 2 3 7 10 4 4 6 10 5 5 10 6 6 9 3 3 7 8 4 3 3 10 2 10 1 2 8 3 1 4 1 9 10 8 10 6 9 10 5 8 8 5 9 2 10 8 8 6 5 1 2 9 3 1 1 4 3 2 4 8 8 5 3 9 4 6 10 5 7 9 1 6 10 3 4 5 5 7 10 8 8 2 9 1 6 5 2 3 1 4 6 2 5 7 5 1 9 2 7 9 7 1 3 7 2 3 8 3 5 4 5 10 6 1 6 3 9 4 10 7 8 3 9 7 5 4 6 2 1 4 5 1 6 3 2 2 9 5 8 3 2 2 6 9 5 10 10 10 7 2 7 7 4 4 6 8 6 3 3 9 8 5 1 6 3 9 3 2 10 6 4 9 4 7 6 3 3 10 9 6 2 10 4 8 1 4 10 3 9 6 5 6 10 7 6 5 1 9 6 7 6 8 4 5 4 6 9 7 3 1 5 7 5 10 3 3 1 4 2 8 8 9 10 5 5 1 1 1 8 9 9 10 6 7 10 3 2 5 9 3 10 10 6 10 4 7 2 1 5 4 10 2 7 9 8 8 8 10 7 6 1 4 7 7 6 6 10 3 2 8 2 2 10 9 4 6 7 5 5 5 6 2 10 1 5 4 3 5 8 4 9 4 9 2 10 6 9 9 6 2 4 8 7 7 2 6 8 6 1 4 2 3 3 9 6 1 6 5 4 3 3 1 1 5 5 7 1 4 8 5 7 6 3 5 2 4 5 2 4 7 9 10 3 3 6 5 9 3 9 8 1 6 8 10 5 7 10 3 10 7 7 10 3 9 9 3 7 10 10 10 1 7 3 5 6 10 3 8 1 7 10 9 4 3 1 3 1 3 7 4 3 10 3 10 9 9 1 1 5 3 4 9 7 10 2 9 1 2 6 10 1 7 2 5 | 606 Successes
Rerolling 117
10 3 4 1 10 4 7 8 5 4 2 10 7 9 4 6 8 4 6 3 6 2 9 7 6 3 6 3 10 10 1 1 8 10 10 2 4 6 6 2 8 8 4 2 4 7 7 4 4 6 10 7 6 9 10 6 8 5 9 2 2 2 4 6 9 10 7 4 6 8 9 5 8 7 3 8 8 2 7 6 8 8 6 5 9 5 10 1 10 1 8 1 3 8 6 5 9 3 4 10 5 10 10 5 10 10 5 2 10 8 7 3 10 6 7 5 8 | 47x2=94 Successes
700x1.1=770 Successes
913/6000
Physical Cultivation | 1616 Dice
7 5 8 8 10 4 9 4 6 1 6 6 2 7 10 7 2 9 8 9 8 4 5 9 3 4 4 9 5 8 2 3 3 2 6 7 4 10 10 8 10 9 4 3 2 6 4 5 1 2 8 2 5 1 4 1 7 8 8 9 7 7 5 6 2 9 9 8 2 1 10 2 7 1 3 5 8 5 5 6 7 10 2 8 7 1 1 4 5 2 6 10 5 2 8 10 8 4 8 10 4 1 2 5 9 10 1 7 8 5 3 9 5 7 10 1 5 9 5 4 10 8 9 4 10 2 3 5 3 5 9 6 3 4 10 3 10 2 10 9 1 2 8 5 3 6 4 4 2 8 10 2 8 9 4 5 10 4 7 3 4 9 1 5 9 4 10 7 8 10 2 1 8 9 10 9 1 9 10 10 4 5 4 2 10 1 7 7 4 3 4 3 5 6 3 8 10 2 6 2 10 6 9 1 10 8 4 9 3 6 6 7 8 8 1 4 2 4 3 5 2 8 7 3 5 9 9 8 5 1 9 8 3 4 8 6 9 1 3 5 8 3 1 2 1 2 10 6 6 3 10 2 7 5 4 10 4 4 1 9 5 7 5 2 7 4 7 10 4 6 1 6 9 10 3 9 10 8 2 1 6 7 8 1 5 1 1 7 8 8 5 9 10 4 5 9 5 9 10 1 6 10 5 9 7 6 5 2 2 9 8 9 3 10 5 7 9 2 10 3 8 8 3 7 5 2 9 1 7 7 6 2 3 2 4 3 8 1 3 9 2 8 1 1 7 8 10 4 10 2 5 10 9 6 8 5 3 10 5 6 2 2 9 9 6 6 8 9 1 6 2 1 2 4 9 1 10 7 10 5 10 1 8 4 4 5 5 6 3 1 5 7 1 6 7 10 7 3 5 8 9 3 1 4 10 2 4 8 10 5 2 6 8 10 6 4 9 10 3 7 10 8 2 7 8 2 4 4 10 8 8 3 1 2 3 9 6 7 2 9 7 1 2 1 9 10 3 5 9 7 1 8 10 5 5 1 10 2 9 7 4 5 5 6 4 1 2 9 1 9 10 1 1 8 3 2 10 8 3 1 6 6 7 1 4 2 10 8 1 1 7 9 6 1 9 7 6 10 1 2 10 2 5 7 8 1 8 4 7 8 6 5 2 6 4 4 10 8 1 8 9 10 9 9 3 3 9 4 3 1 3 8 4 5 5 10 4 1 4 4 8 3 6 9 7 4 6 8 8 3 10 4 1 6 9 3 7 1 1 9 3 5 1 5 4 6 5 1 5 6 10 4 7 2 10 2 3 8 1 4 6 6 5 3 1 8 2 6 9 5 2 9 6 4 8 3 4 9 10 10 7 7 1 2 4 3 4 10 9 7 4 2 3 8 9 4 3 6 10 8 1 10 7 4 6 7 7 7 7 7 4 8 7 4 4 5 2 8 7 4 9 5 4 6 8 2 4 1 3 1 2 1 8 5 8 6 7 8 8 8 8 3 8 6 3 9 5 2 9 3 2 9 3 2 3 2 9 4 6 1 10 8 4 7 4 9 4 10 8 5 2 4 6 2 3 4 2 1 10 9 7 2 1 3 5 6 9 10 3 2 2 9 7 6 1 8 8 7 3 3 2 6 5 2 10 3 7 4 7 10 1 2 7 4 8 10 8 10 3 2 3 1 5 9 2 6 1 4 3 1 4 7 10 10 4 4 4 1 3 6 1 6 5 9 7 1 1 1 8 3 6 9 4 5 8 6 5 9 7 3 10 6 5 1 8 4 8 6 10 9 4 5 1 9 8 4 8 1 9 8 3 5 7 4 1 2 8 5 2 8 3 2 5 6 7 7 6 3 8 10 3 10 1 5 8 5 8 4 3 10 1 8 7 10 4 5 6 10 1 1 5 10 4 1 2 2 1 6 7 2 1 7 1 3 9 10 4 6 10 1 3 4 7 8 6 5 10 6 10 3 8 5 8 8 2 1 9 4 5 9 7 5 8 5 6 6 6 1 9 7 6 5 1 1 6 5 8 7 4 4 9 6 6 8 7 4 10 5 7 8 10 1 6 8 3 2 10 1 8 3 4 7 5 2 10 1 6 4 1 9 9 4 5 5 3 7 2 9 6 5 10 9 4 3 1 7 1 7 8 6 4 8 6 9 9 9 2 2 10 6 1 6 3 3 2 2 7 8 1 8 10 6 9 8 8 6 3 3 8 10 7 6 2 6 3 2 4 3 3 3 4 3 3 10 7 1 7 3 10 5 10 7 6 1 8 3 6 8 9 8 7 10 9 10 6 9 1 1 9 6 3 7 7 6 9 9 3 10 2 3 3 8 4 2 9 10 9 7 10 7 5 2 2 8 7 10 7 6 1 2 2 1 9 4 2 4 4 9 6 2 4 2 2 8 8 3 7 1 3 6 10 5 7 3 5 8 4 10 9 5 4 9 10 5 9 9 6 2 4 7 2 2 6 10 6 10 8 1 3 10 4 3 9 6 2 8 10 9 2 8 6 8 9 4 8 4 2 6 3 5 2 3 3 3 7 6 10 2 4 1 8 7 2 4 8 1 2 10 9 9 4 3 4 10 3 3 10 4 10 6 10 5 7 7 3 3 7 6 7 7 4 1 2 8 4 4 4 9 2 1 10 7 2 9 7 10 9 9 3 5 3 6 10 1 4 7 5 8 10 3 5 7 1 10 1 5 5 10 8 8 3 9 3 7 5 7 1 8 8 4 10 4 6 8 4 4 10 6 8 9 3 10 4 5 2 9 7 2 4 5 5 1 2 10 9 3 10 5 3 7 3 9 6 9 6 5 7 7 1 5 8 9 1 8 6 1 5 7 2 1 7 7 7 7 9 3 4 5 5 8 5 9 2 2 3 10 6 3 2 7 7 1 1 7 9 10 2 8 9 2 1 7 7 10 3 10 8 7 8 7 9 10 2 3 1 7 4 2 1 2 7 7 5 2 7 8 7 5 7 1 4 7 9 7 1 6 10 4 2 3 5 6 8 2 8 1 10 6 10 3 2 1 2 4 3 5 5 10 9 6 6 5 9 4 8 7 3 6 4 1 6 6 6 9 2 4 9 2 6 10 3 5 8 9 7 9 5 1 4 9 3 3 1 7 7 4 4 2 4 8 6 5 8 1 9 8 5 8 9 6 6 6 9 6 3 4 2 4 10 7 2 2 8 10 4 3 4 1 8 9 10 8 5 10 4 6 8 7 7 6 9 5 5 6 2 4 8 8 10 4 1 7 4 6 7 8 2 4 1 1 9 1 7 2 4 9 8 10 10 3 4 8 1 5 3 8 5 4 8 7 8 4 6 3 8 6 6 9 3 9 5 4 9 6 4 9 2 7 8 9 1 9 7 10 6 1 6 10 1 1 10 6 5 9 10 4 7 8 5 7 4 6 10 3 7 5 2 1 6 2 9 7 2 8 9 6 8 5 6 5 2 2 7 3 7 2 7 9 3 1 9 7 6 2 6 2 4 6 5 2 10 4 3 1 1 7 9 8 1 1 6 10 7 1 10 2 2 7 6 8 10 9 8 2 7 6 5 5 9 6 7 1 9 5 1 4 3 2 5 7 3 8 1 10 4 2 5 9 6 6 7 8 8 3 6 6 3 9 4 2 3 5 1 4 8 5 | 791 Successes
Rerolling 164
1 6 3 1 5 3 10 4 10 1 10 10 6 10 4 9 3 8 8 3 1 3 7 5 9 10 2 9 1 7 4 6 2 2 7 7 3 7 6 5 5 1 1 10 1 3 10 4 4 9 8 9 2 1 1 9 1 6 6 9 6 7 2 7 10 5 8 3 7 10 7 6 1 4 2 4 5 6 9 8 1 5 9 10 5 9 8 3 9 8 2 5 7 8 7 7 8 8 4 2 4 3 2 9 8 8 8 8 3 10 8 1 3 9 3 4 5 1 6 5 6 6 4 4 8 3 3 6 4 3 1 9 5 1 2 10 8 3 9 4 10 5 6 9 3 10 1 9 2 8 6 3 8 4 9 3 6 7 8 7 6 10 3 10 | 78x2=156 Successes
947x1.1=1041
3403/4800
Ling Qi Closed her eyes as she caught her breath. The dirt of the training field was warm under her feet, and the crackle of the small fires and patches of ice throughout the field loud in her ears. She was no Gan Guangli, but there was a certain peace in physical exertion. There was a comforting simplicity to it.
"Ho there, that last attack wasn't too much, right Miss Ling?" Wang Chao's voice boomed in her ears.
Ling Qi stood and smiled, idly brushing dust from her gown. She stood at the bottom of a crater, with the fading ripples of black lake water fading around her in the air. Zhengui stood beside her, ash streaming from both of his mouths. "Not at all Sir Wang!" she called to the top.
"The growth of your resilience is nothing short of absurd!" Wang Chao called back down, tapping the butt of his spear against the dirt. "I don't think any here will doubt tales of your exploits!"
"Hmph, who would dare call the sister of I, Zhen a liar," her little brother scoffed.
Ling Qi chuckled as the smoke and ash rising from the dirt under their feet began to form back into the wispy figures of dancers. The world blurred into a smear of conflicting color, and she stood on level ground once more, Zhengui beside her.
There were more people at the training field than there had been last month. Ling Qi recognized some of the new faces, people who had been in the caldera with them. Others had been brought along by those disciples. Ling Qi smiled politely to those looking their way.
"Hah, few enough," Wang Chao laughed, resting the haft of his spear on his shoulder.
"Lets not worry about rats in the corners during fun occasions, Sir Wang," Ling Qi said dismissively. "I hope you received some insights during our spar."
Wang Chao nodded agreeably. He was honestly not a complicated guy. Ling Qi wouldn't call him a friend, but she didn't dislike him either. "Your growth is a bit daunting Miss Ling. To think that you have already reach Green Threshold," he shook his head, looking frustrated. "Perhaps I need to seek permission from the family to take on more dangerous Sect duties as well!"
"I am sure the Sect would appreciate it," Ling Qi said, resting her hand on Gui's blunt snout. She couldn't bring herself to recommend it though. The image of the list in the Medicine hall flashed through her thoughts. "I think you are making good progress toward Bronze Formation."
"Sparring you does offer some insights," Wang Chao said thoughtfully. "How does one break through the surface of a lake, when the waters only close behind your strike?"
There were plenty of pithy replies, but Ling Qi could recognize the tinge of internal philosophical dilemma.
"Gui thinks Mister Avalanche is doing good at trying," Gui said helpfully.
"Ha, perhaps," Wang Chao said. "In any case, do you wish another round Miss Ling?"
Ling Qi glanced up at the sun, noting its position, and put on an apologetic smile. "Not today I'm afraid. I have an appointment with Core Disciple Lin about a talisman commission."
When she had returned from the court to find that man's seal stamped on her request, she hadn't quite been surprised.
Wang Chao's eyebrows rose. "Well, don't let me keep you then!"
***
On the path leading up to Lin Hai's home and workshop, Ling Qi stopped and blinked in surprise.
"Looks like Mr. Tailor double booked your appointment," Sixiang said in amusement.
There, on the porch which surrounded the main building, stood Li Suyin and Su Ling, the latter of whom stood with her arms crossed, looking suspiciously at everything around her.
"Ling Qi?" asked Li Suyin, looking down at her from the porch. "What are you doing here?"
Ling Qi let out a huff, glancing at the closed door of the workshop. "I have an appointment. What about you? I'm surprised that you would be commissioning a talisman, Li Suyin."
Her friend liked making her own things.
"She's getting a reward," Su Ling grunted, tapping her foot as Ling Qi mounted the stairs to join them on the porch.
"Really, it's too much, taking time from such an esteemed craftsman when I am not even spending my Contribution points," Li Suyin mumbled, plucking nervously at her gown.
"Oh come off it, Suyin," Su Ling replied, rolling her eyes. "You're the one that kept the initiation ceremony going after the Elder and the core disciples got dragged into a fight."
Ling Qi's eyebrows rose as she turned to look at Suyin, whose fidgeting only got worse. "Suyin?"
"I was just the one who happened to be there," Li Suyin said, looking away. "I was only following Elder Jiao's instructions. Anyone could have done the same."
She yelped as Ling Qi rapped her knuckles against the top of the girl's head. "Quit that," Ling Qi said, rolling her eyes. "I thought you'd moved past that kind of false modesty, Suyin."
"That's what I told her," Su Ling grumbled, eyeing the doorway.
"…It's just too much," Li Suyin murmured. "I– There were so many other stronger, more experienced disciples about. And… so many didn't make it, when someone like me did."
Ling Qi's expression softened a little. She knew that Suyin hadn't really seen a fight like that before, or its consequences. "Even so, saying you don't deserve a reward at all is too much, Suyin."
"It's not just the talisman," Li Suyin said glumly.
"She's getting promoted into the upper five hundred," Su Ling said flippantly. "Can't think of anyone who deserves it more though."
Li Suyin huffed at her, it seemed that they had repeated this conversation several times already.
Before Ling Qi could reply further however, the door of the workshop slid open.
"Master Lin will see you now." Ling Qi's eyes fixed on the figure in the doorway as she spoke. She had glimpsed her before last time she had been here. The spirit wore the shape of a curvaceous woman with golden hair. She wore a gown of pale pink with a darker red underlayer. She had an air of deliberate dishevelment, her hair mussed and one side of her gown hanging carelessly off of her shoulders. Her feet were bare.
Five thick and fluffy golden tails waved lazily in the air behind her.
Su Ling was glaring again. The spirit didn't even glance at her.
Ling Qi bowed her head politely to the fox spirit. "Thank you Miss, is Sir Lin going to deal with both of us at once, or should I wait?"
"Master Lin will see you both," the fox spoke over her shoulder, she was already turning to lead them back inside.
Ling Qi shot Su Ling a quelling look and the girl huffed and turned her eyes away. Li Suyin gave her a concerned look but hurried to follow as Ling Qi followed the spirit inside.
"I do not think I received your name at my last visit," Ling Qi said politely. Glancing around at the darkened halls, it seemed as if the layout of the building had changed.
"You may call this one Luli," said the fox, not looking back. "It is as good a name as any for this one to wear."
"Tch, can't even give a straight answer to that," Su Ling grumbled under her breath.
The woman's gold furred ears flicked irritably. "Do not concern yourself little nightkin, you are certainly no kindred to the children of Dawn. It would please this one if we could exist in mutual silence."
Su Ling almost missed a step, but simply grunted and looked away when Li Suyin rested a hand on her shoulder.
The rest of the trip through the halls passed without words.
Soon they reached a room that Ling Qi found familiar, the wide chamber with the sliding doors at the rear. Luli vanished in a whirl of sunlight motes as they entered, leaving her friends looking around the room, searching for their host. Ling Qi remained quiet. She wasn't going to ruin Lin Hai's fun.
She had her grin behind her hand as the doors at the rear of the room jumped open with a bang, and her friends startled. Four beams of prismatic light shot forth from the dark interior, rays of light dancing across the room, and thick and colorful fog poured across the floor. The beams swept back, and they lit upon the figure in the center, casting him in stark relief.
Lin Hai stood there, one hand thrown out, the other splayed open in front of his face. He wore an open chested tunic of crimson silk, split down to his navel to show off his slim chest, a feathery black pibo wrapped around his shoulders, floating on unseen winds. He was also, fortunately, wearing much less tight pants, instead going for flowing silk that flared widely about his ankles and pointed slippers.
"Greetings to you, O seekers of beauty!" said the flamboyant man, lowering his hand to show his grinning face. He had a bit of color to his lips this time. "Lin Hai, weaver of the Dawn, welcomes you to his sanctum!"
"I wonder if I could pull off something like that," Sixiang mused.
Ling Qi brought her hands together, applauding politely politely as her friends stared blankly ahead. "It is good to see you again, Senior Brother Lin."
Li Suyin managed to bow as her brain caught up. "S-Senior Brother Lin, it is an honor to be allowed to make use of your time."
Su Ling's face was blank. It was the same sort of face she wore when Ling Qi invited her to do things.
Lin Hai chuckled, brushing the blue frosted tips of his hair out of his eyes as the light and fog faded away and more normal lighting filled the room. "No, no, it is always the honor of the craftsman to perform his work," he reprimanded lightly. "Raise your head young lady, I'll have no bowing and scraping here."
"Ah, as you say, Senior Brother," Li Suyin said, raising her head. She was trying so hard to retain her composure, but Ling Qi could tell that she was having a hard time categorizing Lin Hai. "Um, how precisely are we going to handle…"
Lin Hai blurred, his silhouette stretching, before snapping apart into two separate but identical figures. He raised a carefully manicured eyebrow.
"Try to relax a little huh?" Ling Qi nudged her friend's shoulder, before starting after the simulacrum on the left.
Su Ling shot her an unamused look as she followed after the still fidgety Li Suyin.
"What a good girl that one is," Lin Hai mused as she fell in beside him and they moved into his work shop, between skeins of cloth, tables and tools.
"Too good sometimes," Ling Qi sighed.
"Hm, hmm, no such thing I think," Lin Hai said. "It seems I must congratulate you young Miss, you held up quite well under your first experience at court."
"Did I?" Ling Qi asked. She remembered barely being able to keep her composure under the Duchess' scrutiny.
"You did, or so I have heard," Lin Hai mused. "It is not easy to deal with Master's interest, and you certainly gave her an opportunity."
Ling Qi frowned a little. She still wasn't sure how she felt about that. The Duchess having a dealing with the shishigui. Negotiating with barbarians was one thing, but monsters like that…
"Our clothes and finery are most important, young Miss, they show the world what we wish to be. It is not good to forget that more lies beneath," Lin Hai said.
Ling Qi blinked at the non sequitur.
"He's reminding you not to get too caught up in appearances," Sixiang whispered, and Ling Qi found a memory of a disturbing mundane town, deep beneath the earth, intruded into her thoughts.
"Still, while your words pleased many, it has not pleased the Sect," Lin Hai said softly. "I understand your reasoning. First Impressions are so terribly important, and if these foreigners of yours had been reported by the Sect's messengers first, things may not have gone so smoothly."
"Do you think I'm being foolish or naive?" Ling Qi asked quietly. She had been trying not to think about it much yet, but the Duchess had put a great deal on her shoulders with this assignment. If she was wrong…
"I think it costs us little to try, save for pride," Lin Hai mused. "And the Empire certainly has a surplus of that."
Ling Qi laughed a little.
"Now young miss, what sort of piece are you looking to commission today?" Lin Hai said as they arrived at a part of the workshop filled with jeweler tools.
"It looks like you already have an idea," Ling Qi said wryly. "But… I was thinking, some ear rings maybe?"
Lin Hai eyed her critically. "Hm, hm, I see some designs perhaps. Silver naturally, or mayhap platinum. Sapphire for highlights…"
The designer trailed off and shook his head, but she could still see his mind working behind his eyes. "And the desired effect?"
"Sense enhancement," Ling Qi replied immediately. She still remembered those dancers, still so easily able to slip out of her sight. She disliked being on the receiving end of that.
"Ah well, simple enough then," Lin Hai said, clapping his hands, tools, jewels and flasks filled with liquified metals began to float off the shelves and tables to whirl around the craftsman.
"Take a seat here, if you would," Lin Hai said, pointing to a softly padded stool.
Ling Qi took her seat and held still as tools began to take measurements of her ears, and around her head. "Senior Brother Lin, do you think there is anything I can do to prepare?" She honestly had no idea how she was going to handle this.
"You must sew your own success here," Lin Hai chuckled. "For it is your project, but… perhaps seek out those who have knowledge of dealings with foreigners? They do exist, here and there."
Ling Qi recalled her conversation with Cai Renxiang, hashing out her speech. Hadn't she mentioned that the Xuan dealt with foreigners? Xuan Shi certainly seemed like the sort to be interested in that sort of thing.
Well, that was an idea.
[] Speak with Xuan Shi when he comes to finish the work on your Mothers house. It will be the most comfortable for you both.
[] Xuan Shi could use more friends and contacts, he had met Suyin before too. Perhaps you could him a favor and introduce them again before asking a favor in turn?
Hmm. I don't have much of an opinion one way or the other, so I guess I'll make my choice once I've read through the discussion :Ü™
Edit:
[X] Xuan Shi could use more friends and contacts, he had met Suyin before too. Perhaps you could him a favor and introduce them again before asking a favor in turn?
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So it seems the Sect is a tad upset we did not go to them with the Info about the neutral barb party but hey just like the duchess and prime minister we might become well known alumina so They don't want to burn bridges.
- Location
- Finland
We also just got headpats from the duchess and an important mission, they really do not want to burn bridges, and not just because of our potential.
Cultivators' Stands are their domains and/or spirit companions.
It seems it mostly reflected in missing out on some of the rewards we might have gotten otherwise, in exchange for ensuring the mission goes as we hope rather than as pride and vengeance suggests.
They're annoyed, but we went with our sworn loyalty, did our part above what was needed, and theres little they can say about that.
(Besides the main reason we want to climb the ranks is to please Shenhua and Shenhua is pleased)
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- Location
- New Brunswick, NJ
- Pronouns
- He/Him/His
Yeah, I think we'll just not get as big a promotion bump as we would otherwise. I expect to land in the 680s; previously, based on our promotion after the last mission, I had been expecting to go clear into the 651-675 tier, but now I think that's not happening.
Elder tutoring will be nice, but obviously I'm really bummed about missing out on free third floor archive access
Varder
Tired Cultist
- Location
- Hell
Isn't that kinda backwards? I rather think Ling Qi would block precision strikes, shrug off AOE and dodge most impacts.
I wonder if Youxia as a concept exists in the empire (either in actuality or through tales). The empire as an institution wants all cultivators tied down to the existing power structure, but the Imperial seat ability to project power over the other provinces is probably incredibly limited.
Admittedly, if there is any singular province that lends itself to wandering cultivators it's probably the Ebon Rivers.
EternalObserver
eYe Gaze baCk
- Location
- The Void
probably in the next update. Lin Hai time is not over yet
Thief of Winds
There are many legends which predate the formation of the Empire, and very few material artifacts. While the scholastic orthodoxy often dismisses such legends for their lack of clarity and the caginess of the spirits involved, the Dust of Ages Sect contends that through study and comparison of the regional tales it is possible to discern historical events which occurred before, during, and in the aftermath of the age of Dragons.
To support our assertion, let us see the following piece. The Legend of the Thief of Winds is one which persists across a great deal of the Empire, examples of legends fitting this framework exist in every province, save for the Savage Seas. While the details vary from place to place, the overall framework of the legend is remarkably consistent.
Below is the most common form of the legend, annotated for further analysis.
We tell the tale of the Thief of Winds, defier of men and defier of gods.
When the world was new and the people had not learned to mark the movements of the sky, the world was without law. Seasons came and went without order, winter following spring and summer following fall, without rhyme or reason. It was difficult to live in such a way, but the people persevered.
Though slain by their foes, Father and Mother still cared for their children. Brother Sun and Sister Moon hung in the sky. Mother's love, the soil, gave rise to life, that her children could eat. Father's breath, the wind, guarded against stagnation. No spring was eternal, but neither did winter's snows persist forever. Through Father's cleverness and Mother's determination, the people learned to live
But the world did not belong to their children alone. Many parts of the enemy had stained creation, blood and bile, bone and flesh. From these arose the woes of the people; sickness and death and impurity. From these arose Beasts.
Yet Beasts were not as the stars, not things from Outside, who sought only destruction. Beasts were of the earth and the sky, the moon and the sun. They were the unwanted children, born from death. They coveted the gifts that had been given to the people, and schemed to rule that which was theirs.
From the Beasts[1] arose Kings and then Gods, and the people did suffer. They were not mighty, having never been made for war. So Beasts came upon the people and came to rule them, unassailable in might. They chained the gifts of father and Mother, and hid them away in their vaults. They came for the people, reeling in their barren homes. Many were devoured, many were hunted, and many more came to serve. For the mightiest and wisest of beasts knew that should the Eldest despair for their siblings, they would turn their faces from the world, and there would be only the laughter of thirsting stars.[2]
Uncounted ages passed in misery and bondage for the people, and the Beast Kings grew fat from the world's bounty. They warred and feuded and quarrelled, but never so much that their power wavered. In the comfort of their might, the Gods grew slothful, loath to rise from their thrones. The mighty artifice of mind and spirit which had carved their domains turned to idle things, and soon in the halls of the gods there was only decadence.
Among the people of this time there was born a girl.[3] She was not strong of arm, nor sharp of eye. She was not born to the great servant families which had arisen to grow fat off the scraps of Gods. She was a clever girl however, and most important of all, she was not content. The people, held so long in bondage, had long forgotten ambition, they had forgotten hope.
It had been stripped from them, one man and woman at a time, by claw and fang
But the girl was not willing to live so, and thus she plotted.
The girl lived in the palace of the greatest gods, carved from the Earth's bones, there she served, and there she watched. The Gods were indolent, living only to feast and rut, but their power was still beyond compare.[4] The girl knew, in her heart, that their power could not be opposed by the people. Many had tried, all had died.
But the gods were lazy and arrogant, and their artifice had decayed. Their halls and vaults were kept clean only through the endless work of her people, and she, a simple cleaning girl, came to know their ways very well, and her memory was long. She listened to the boasting of bloated gods, and came to know of the treasure that was hidden in their vaults. The Bag of Winds, which the first of the Gods, long dead by now had crafted to entrap Father's breath, and bring all the world outside of their lands into stagnancy.
On the day that she observed a God leave the vaults, not bothering to speak the full binding ritual upon the door, the girl hatched her plan. That night there was a great feast with many Gods in attendance. The girl attended to her masters, cleaning their messes as they drank and roared and caroused. Only as the revel reached it's height did the girl slip out, carrying with her a serving of the most potent wine, meant only for the greatest of Gods. Come morning it would be missed, and her life would be forfeit for it's theft.
She did not intend to be here come morning.
To the vault she slipped, using the little ways of the servant to slip between the rotting wardings of the gods, and came at last to the vault, where a single unfortunate lesser god stood watch, stewing in anger at missing the feast.
There, she approached openly, and offered the God the wine, inferring that it was a gift from a sympathetic peer. The greedy and undutiful god drank the wine immediately, and fell into a deep slumber.
There then were only the vaults, carven gates wrought from all the riches of the earth, warded by ten thousand locks. Yet, for all the gods might, their indifference had rendered their artifice meaningless.
Inside the girl found treasures beyond counting, but she had eyes for only the Bag of Winds, bulging with the captive power of Father. With her prize before her at last, the girl drew forth a knife, and carved the the bag asunder.
She laughed as the winds tore loose, tearing the vault asunder and bursting the door, such that the mighty vault boomed open and shattered, scattering the treasures back into the earth. The winds howled, tearing through the halls of the gods, even as they cradled the girl like the hands of a Father.
Only then did the wine sodden and fattened gods see their folly. They roared and raged, struggling to rise from their thrones. The girl laughed even louder to see their comical struggle. How foolish the Gods seemed and how petty, heaving and flopping about!
But the girl's mocking laughter did what the theft did not, it struck the Gods pride, a sin which the mighty never forgive. The halls of the gods were torn asunder by their rage, some semblance of their past glory girding their limbs as they roared into the sky after her, doggedly chasing her heels.[5]
But the wind was not without mind any longer, and the girl was no longer bound by her weakness of body. She rode the wind and she became it, laughing at every attempt to contain her. The girl's laughter rang out one last time as she flew high into the sky, as if to soar to the sun itself.
There, burning with the light of the sun, the winds became four, and the gods were cast down to break upon the earth. The girl was no more and there was only the winds, North, South, East, and West.
In the night, when the wind whispers through the trees, it is her voice that you hear.
To support our assertion, let us see the following piece. The Legend of the Thief of Winds is one which persists across a great deal of the Empire, examples of legends fitting this framework exist in every province, save for the Savage Seas. While the details vary from place to place, the overall framework of the legend is remarkably consistent.
Below is the most common form of the legend, annotated for further analysis.
***
We tell the tale of the Thief of Winds, defier of men and defier of gods.
When the world was new and the people had not learned to mark the movements of the sky, the world was without law. Seasons came and went without order, winter following spring and summer following fall, without rhyme or reason. It was difficult to live in such a way, but the people persevered.
Though slain by their foes, Father and Mother still cared for their children. Brother Sun and Sister Moon hung in the sky. Mother's love, the soil, gave rise to life, that her children could eat. Father's breath, the wind, guarded against stagnation. No spring was eternal, but neither did winter's snows persist forever. Through Father's cleverness and Mother's determination, the people learned to live
But the world did not belong to their children alone. Many parts of the enemy had stained creation, blood and bile, bone and flesh. From these arose the woes of the people; sickness and death and impurity. From these arose Beasts.
Yet Beasts were not as the stars, not things from Outside, who sought only destruction. Beasts were of the earth and the sky, the moon and the sun. They were the unwanted children, born from death. They coveted the gifts that had been given to the people, and schemed to rule that which was theirs.
From the Beasts[1] arose Kings and then Gods, and the people did suffer. They were not mighty, having never been made for war. So Beasts came upon the people and came to rule them, unassailable in might. They chained the gifts of father and Mother, and hid them away in their vaults. They came for the people, reeling in their barren homes. Many were devoured, many were hunted, and many more came to serve. For the mightiest and wisest of beasts knew that should the Eldest despair for their siblings, they would turn their faces from the world, and there would be only the laughter of thirsting stars.[2]
Uncounted ages passed in misery and bondage for the people, and the Beast Kings grew fat from the world's bounty. They warred and feuded and quarrelled, but never so much that their power wavered. In the comfort of their might, the Gods grew slothful, loath to rise from their thrones. The mighty artifice of mind and spirit which had carved their domains turned to idle things, and soon in the halls of the gods there was only decadence.
Among the people of this time there was born a girl.[3] She was not strong of arm, nor sharp of eye. She was not born to the great servant families which had arisen to grow fat off the scraps of Gods. She was a clever girl however, and most important of all, she was not content. The people, held so long in bondage, had long forgotten ambition, they had forgotten hope.
It had been stripped from them, one man and woman at a time, by claw and fang
But the girl was not willing to live so, and thus she plotted.
The girl lived in the palace of the greatest gods, carved from the Earth's bones, there she served, and there she watched. The Gods were indolent, living only to feast and rut, but their power was still beyond compare.[4] The girl knew, in her heart, that their power could not be opposed by the people. Many had tried, all had died.
But the gods were lazy and arrogant, and their artifice had decayed. Their halls and vaults were kept clean only through the endless work of her people, and she, a simple cleaning girl, came to know their ways very well, and her memory was long. She listened to the boasting of bloated gods, and came to know of the treasure that was hidden in their vaults. The Bag of Winds, which the first of the Gods, long dead by now had crafted to entrap Father's breath, and bring all the world outside of their lands into stagnancy.
On the day that she observed a God leave the vaults, not bothering to speak the full binding ritual upon the door, the girl hatched her plan. That night there was a great feast with many Gods in attendance. The girl attended to her masters, cleaning their messes as they drank and roared and caroused. Only as the revel reached it's height did the girl slip out, carrying with her a serving of the most potent wine, meant only for the greatest of Gods. Come morning it would be missed, and her life would be forfeit for it's theft.
She did not intend to be here come morning.
To the vault she slipped, using the little ways of the servant to slip between the rotting wardings of the gods, and came at last to the vault, where a single unfortunate lesser god stood watch, stewing in anger at missing the feast.
There, she approached openly, and offered the God the wine, inferring that it was a gift from a sympathetic peer. The greedy and undutiful god drank the wine immediately, and fell into a deep slumber.
There then were only the vaults, carven gates wrought from all the riches of the earth, warded by ten thousand locks. Yet, for all the gods might, their indifference had rendered their artifice meaningless.
Inside the girl found treasures beyond counting, but she had eyes for only the Bag of Winds, bulging with the captive power of Father. With her prize before her at last, the girl drew forth a knife, and carved the the bag asunder.
She laughed as the winds tore loose, tearing the vault asunder and bursting the door, such that the mighty vault boomed open and shattered, scattering the treasures back into the earth. The winds howled, tearing through the halls of the gods, even as they cradled the girl like the hands of a Father.
Only then did the wine sodden and fattened gods see their folly. They roared and raged, struggling to rise from their thrones. The girl laughed even louder to see their comical struggle. How foolish the Gods seemed and how petty, heaving and flopping about!
But the girl's mocking laughter did what the theft did not, it struck the Gods pride, a sin which the mighty never forgive. The halls of the gods were torn asunder by their rage, some semblance of their past glory girding their limbs as they roared into the sky after her, doggedly chasing her heels.[5]
But the wind was not without mind any longer, and the girl was no longer bound by her weakness of body. She rode the wind and she became it, laughing at every attempt to contain her. The girl's laughter rang out one last time as she flew high into the sky, as if to soar to the sun itself.
There, burning with the light of the sun, the winds became four, and the gods were cast down to break upon the earth. The girl was no more and there was only the winds, North, South, East, and West.
In the night, when the wind whispers through the trees, it is her voice that you hear.
- This is the most common divergence point in regional legends. Tales from the northern portions of the stories reach will tend to speak of dragons rather than beasts. It is possible then that the event's this story represents occurred during the transitory period between the pre-draconic and draconic eras. It is just as likely however that it is simply a distortion wrought by loss of cultural memory.
- It is interesting the degree of agency accorded to great spirits in the oldest of tales, indicating that their role may have once been a more active one.
- It is the unusual consistency of character which we believe is the strongest evidence for the actual occurrence of the events. Other details may change, but the description of the Wind Thief remains the same, despite cultural differences in what are considered virtues
- The matter of the Gods specific vices on the hand, varies heavily between tellings to match whatever vices are most heavily frowned upon. For example, in Ebon Rivers versions of the story, it's the Gods unwillingness to fight and strive against one another that is vilified.
- The use of laughter and mockery to stir the gods to wrath is also common to all known versions of the story. Proponents of dragon theory believe this a mark in their favor. It is well known after all, the pathological response mocking laughter from a perceived inferior induces in Dragons of all kinds.