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

Voted best in category in the Users' Choice awards.
Ling Qi shared a considering look with the muse. While Ling Qi was the better musician, Sixiang was probably better suited to Hanyi's chosen theme.
So Ling Qi will improve the technical details of Hanyi's performance whereas Sixiang would focus on the potency of the theme itself. I'm inclined towad the latter as it improved the theme Hanyi has chosen.

Also I'd like to note that both groups are noted to have leanings, and that implies we're talking about the moderate factions whereas the other two groups are already decided on their opinion of Hanyi's performance due to politics.

[] Focus on improving her technical skill with Ling Qi (+Vocals, +Manip for Hanyi, improved reception from Imperial Leaning listeners.)
This would likely max Vocals if not outright increase it to A rank as a result. Furthermore this would give Hanyi B manipulation, and that would help her get what she wants in social settings I'd expect.
[] Focus on refining her theme with Sixiang (+Music, +Art, +Presence for Hanyi, improved reception from Weilu leaning listeners.)
The increase of Presence to A would likely make Hanyi take a dazzling the stage approach, and that raw force of nature is something that I'd expect to appeal to those with Weilu inclinations.

The art increase would be from F to D I'd expect, but what it might be is Hanyi making use of the fact that Six can store memories specifically images, and use that as inspiration to paint far off locations.

[] Focus on refining her theme with Sixiang (+Music, +Art, +Presence for Hanyi, improved reception from Weilu leaning listeners.)

So this is my inclination as it seems to give Hanyi more freedom to go where her inspiration takes her.
 
Based purely on the number's from Weilu and Imperial among the Luo and Wang there are simply more Weilu supporter's in general.
That and us already being more friendly with them it would be more of a success for Hanyi's album to practice with Six instead of us hitting the ground running as it were.
 
[] Focus on improving her technical skill with Ling Qi (+Vocals, +Manip for Hanyi, improved reception from Imperial Leaning listeners.)

I'd like to up Hanyi's manipulation, and for Ling Qi to be the one helping her directly.
 
I think Hanyi is likely to be kind of niche anyway. Having her more solidly in her niche seems like the way to go. Then, too, +Music/Art/Presence is going to help her with her branching out in a way that +Vocals won't.

From a pragmatic side, though, which skills does she use in support of her primary combat arts?
 
From a purely flavor perspective, it feels like it'd be really hard to argue that "technical skill" is the more compelling option to read about, and it seems like both Hanyi and Sixiang would enjoy theme refinement work a lot more than cleaning up the technical aspects. "Interesting, effects on character relationships, mechanics" are basically the three sides of the voting criteria triangle, and this feels like a blowout on two of those sides.
 
Based purely on the number's from Weilu and Imperial among the Luo and Wang there are simply more Weilu supporter's in general.
That and us already being more friendly with them it would be more of a success for Hanyi's album to practice with Six instead of us hitting the ground running as it were.
I am not sure those are indicative in general. Luo and Wang are supposedly border clans and thus geographically the furthest from the empire proper; on the other hand the Bao hold the land that connect Emerald Seas with the core so they likely have contacts in the Empire proper. From a province perspective the Weilu/Empire divide might be relevant but if we want her songs to sell outside the province then Empire leanings are probably more useful since Weilu are local only.
 
I think Hanyi is likely to be kind of niche anyway. Having her more solidly in her niche seems like the way to go. Then, too, +Music/Art/Presence is going to help her with her branching out in a way that +Vocals won't.

From a pragmatic side, though, which skills does she use in support of her primary combat arts?
I'm pretty sure she uses Presence as at least one of them. However, if you look at most of her stats aside from Presence and Vocals, they kinda suck. Not that different from when she was in Yellow realm. I can't help but feel we should bring up some of her other stats. As of right now, she barely looks like a third realm spirit.
 
I am not sure those are indicative in general. Luo and Wang are supposedly border clans and thus geographically the furthest from the empire proper; on the other hand the Bao hold the land that connect Emerald Seas with the core so they likely have contacts in the Empire proper. From a province perspective the Weilu/Empire divide might be relevant but if we want her songs to sell outside the province then Empire leanings are probably more useful since Weilu are local only.
That's a bit bigger than what we can currently do, right now were helping her get off the ground first with a small party in the sect so leaning locally would be the logical conclusion, I also imagine the Meng have heavy Wielu influence so they'd also like this
 
[X] Focus on refining her theme with Sixiang (+Music, +Art, +Presence for Hanyi, improved reception from Weilu leaning listeners.)
 
[X] Focus on improving her technical skill with Ling Qi (+Vocals, +Manip for Hanyi, improved reception from Imperial Leaning listeners.)
 
[X] Focus on refining her theme with Sixiang (+Music, +Art, +Presence for Hanyi, improved reception from Weilu leaning listeners.)
 
[X] Focus on refining her theme with Sixiang (+Music, +Art, +Presence for Hanyi, improved reception from Weilu leaning listeners.)
 
[X] Focus on improving her technical skill with Ling Qi (+Vocals, +Manip for Hanyi, improved reception from Imperial Leaning listeners.)

[X] Focus on refining her theme with Sixiang (+Music, +Art, +Presence for Hanyi, improved reception from Weilu leaning listeners.)
 
[X] Focus on improving her technical skill with Ling Qi (+Vocals, +Manip for Hanyi, improved reception from Imperial Leaning listeners.)
 
[X] Focus on refining her theme with Sixiang (+Music, +Art, +Presence for Hanyi, improved reception from Weilu leaning listeners.)

I am fine just doubling down on "yay the Weilu-leaners think we're great," but more to the point I think refining her theme will yield more interesting results than improving her technical skills.
 
[] Focus on improving her technical skill with Ling Qi (+Vocals, +Manip for Hanyi, improved reception from Imperial Leaning listeners.)
[] Focus on refining her theme with Sixiang (+Music, +Art, +Presence for Hanyi, improved reception from Weilu leaning listeners.)


Three metrics of analysis immediately jump to mind.

1. Time:
This is easily the least compelling because of handwavium, but someone might consider that Ling Qi is generally pretty busy, while Sixiang generally isn't. The implication is both Ling Qi and Sixiang will be helping, this is just where the focus is. Sixiang has more free time, ergo it's more Efficient for them to be the primary helper on the project.

2. Mechanics:
A contest of gains. Vocals/Manip vs Music/Art/Presence. That might initially look lopsided, but Vocals is her primary "do things" skill, while Music more broadly and Art would be skills that don't really impact her performance, but do broaden her horizons. So it's a matter of focus there. The question of Manip vs Presence is a more even one. Personally, I favor Manip for her on a mechanical level because it's important to the use of Lonely Winter Maiden, which is her tactically more useful art imo. The stat is also the lower of the two, at the moment.

It's also how she eats things and "plays" with her food. Considering her talk in this update, that approach seems to be her preference for now.

3: Marketability:
Imperials v. Weilu. Quick note, but the vote is phrased as which has recieved reception, but it doesn't say anything about the other being worsened. It's purely an additive exercise, which makes sense given the context. By default, we can probably assume a heavy leaning to the latter over the former, by virtue of Hanyi's nature as a spirit. We don't have a super clear idea of what marketing efforts Bao Qian has gone through, but this should hold as true.

Considering her theme is still going to be in the style preferred by Weilu cultural adherents regardless, nature themes and all, shoring up the technical skills that imperials might appreciate seems fine. If they want to delude themselves into thinking we're "civilizing" her or something, they're welcome to think so. It's unambiguously ambiguously true, but they can have at it. Same goes for the Weilu, tbh.

Ling Qi is destined to tweak the noses of all parties' expectations, so I'm not particularly worried how things build out exactly. I guess I'm saying I don't have a strong preference for this vote. My slight preference is this:

[X] Focus on improving her technical skill with Ling Qi (+Vocals, +Manip for Hanyi, improved reception from Imperial Leaning listeners.)
 
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[X] Focus on refining her theme with Sixiang (+Music, +Art, +Presence for Hanyi, improved reception from Weilu leaning listeners.)
 
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