Considering this is a woman who can likely double CRX's entire cultivation stipend in addition to providing actually meaningful political support to CRX those arguements need to be primarily focused around how she isn't attempting to dominate the narrative and how her grandson is going to be properly subordinate to CRX's desires without her outright stating that he will still be pushing the Meng's Agenda as hard as he can. The biggest thing that might risk her grandson being accepted as a retainer isn't what he can't bring to the table, but the baggage he absolutely cannot leave behind.
Also tally since it's been two hours even though we're all aware of the results:
Adhoc vote count started by Pathos on Sep 25, 2020 at 12:33 AM, finished with 270 posts and 98 votes.
[X] Accept the offer, you can convince Renxiang and sponsorship from even a faction of a count house is a valuable thing.
If she spoke for it, Ling Qi knew Cai Renxiang would accept the deal. Normally, she might be able to influence her liege's thoughts one way or the other, but right now, she was in a unique position. She was the one with the invitation. Certainly others might be able to better parley with these foreigners, but she was the only one whom they knew could even open a dialogue. If she declined this, and spoke to Cai Renxiang about not wanting to endanger the main task, she thought the heiress would listen.
But, Ling Qi thought, this was an opportunity. The Meng were notoriously closed off, much like the Bai had been. A chance to begin a good relationship with one of their main family was not to be scoffed at. Perhaps there was some additional motive as well, but Ling Qi did not believe that outright sabotage was on the table.
"I will speak in favor of your offer, Lady Meng, although Lady Cai must have final say," Ling Qi said humbly.
"Naturally," Meng Diu agreed, dipping her head in acknowledgement.
"If I may," Ling Qi began carefully. "May I know something of your grandson, so that I may speak more clearly in my recommendation?"
"Meng Dan is a scholar," Meng Diu said, turning her gaze back to the rest of the guests. "And attends the Blue Mountain Sect, he follows the Way of the Hidden, with more singularity than yourself."
Sixiang chuckled in her head, and Ling Qi coughed uncomfortably. She didn't think Meng Diu was speaking directly against her scattered focus, but still. "I see, you believe his knowledge will be useful then?"
"That child has always been focused on the past, to his detriment at times," Meng Diu said musingly. "However, his mind is sharp and his ability to collate and analyze large amounts of information into useful form is exceptional."
"Well, given your arguments for doing this, that kind of thing does seem useful," Sixiang mused. "You're probably gonna be asked to go over every word and gesture they make with a fine toothed comb when you report in."
It seemed like it, Ling Qi thought. "Thank you very much, Lady Meng."
Again she gave a shallow nod. "Indeed. You may take your leave now, Baroness. The performance will begin soon, and I am certain that you would rather be in the company of peers."
"I would not reject Lady Meng's company," Ling Qi said, standing and giving a polite bow. "But I will thank you for releasing me to see to my other guests."
The older woman dismissed her with a wave of her sleeve. "Go, we may have more to speak of in the future."
One more bow, and then Ling Qi turned to leave, not letting the sigh of relief that wanted to escape out into the world. Leaving the range of the Meng's domain, she was soon greeting guests again, but only for a short time before she took a conspicuously empty seat next to Meizhen.
"You are well?" her friend asked evenly. She didn't turn her head from the stage as the lanterns arrayed around the room began to dim, signalling that the performance was nigh.
"Yes, just some negotiations," Ling Qi said, leaning back in her seat as she mentally prodded Zhengui to wakefulness. "I'll tell you about it later."
Meizhen raised an eyebrow, glancing her way, but made no more of it.
The curtain on the stage rose. If Ling Qi wasn't intimately familiar with her aura, she might not have recognized Hanyi. Her hair was done up and threaded through pale white flowers, and somehow, between the lightning and the cosmetics, her deathly pallor looked ethereal instead. As the curtains rose, Hanyi stepped forward, her hands clasped together, and began to sing.
Ling Qi breathed out, and let the melody wash over her and carry her away.
***
A soft wind blew, cold and brisk. The flakes began to fall, dancing like airy crystals under the pale silver light of the moon. The cold wind blew from the mountain high, where lives cold eternal and with it descended the maiden. Daughter of ice, maiden of winter. With a train of purest white, and lilting song descended the maiden to the valley below, and with her came the snow.
Peace, Peace, whispered the wind.
And the snow did fall.
Branches bare of leaves swayed in the soft wind, cold wind, and withered grasp whispered along to the maidens song as the flakes fell, to paint the world in white. Across the valley brook danced the maiden, with long hair of black, woven with crystal flowers. In her steps trailed calm, burbling waters falling silent under the spread of ice. In the forest around did the tall and tired trees bow at her passing, branches heavy with snow. They passed into slumber well earned through the year, and the creaking of wood joined the song of the wind and snow.
Under falling snow the detritus of fall hid away, painted smooth by drifting white. Under maidens feet did signs of toil vanish, leaving only a land pristine and stark. Under the light of the moon, the maiden sang the silence of winter sleep. O beautiful maiden, most lovely of all; gone was the wilting decline of autumn, and distant were the chaos of spring and the toil of summer!
O winter, time of preservation and tales, when all the world quiets. O winter, when the people gather and share the spoils of a year hard won.
O winter, time of remembrance, when past becomes present in the mind, and memories of days gone by warm the soul. O winter, the time of cherishing, to hold tight what you have in the face of the cold.
O winter, who lives eternal upon the high mountaintop, forever and ever.
Outside danced the maiden, her train was the wind, and her laugh the rattle of window frames and the groan of roofs heavy with snow. Outside was the maiden, who would never return home. Daughter of ice eternal, the drifting snow and the whispering wind, who belonged now to the valley below.
***
Ling Qi breathed deep as the song went on, the image's of deepening winter dancing in her minds eye. Hanyi had been a little dishonest, to say that the maiden was not her. That was fine though, Ling Qi thought. It had taken a great deal of prodding from Sixiang to really tease things out.
"I guess I just think I've been trying too hard to be different from Momma," Hanyi had said dejectedly. "I want to do new things, and live like she said, but I still want to be her daughter, you know."
"I don't think there's anything wrong with that," Ling Qi had said. "It can be hard to find the right balance, between who you were, and who you want to be."
"Especially when most of us can't even easily really say what we want to be," Sixiang had mused, their voice a chime among the hanging ice.
Hanyi had nodded, scuffing her foot in the dirt. "...I'm not like Momma, but I'm still the winter. I don't think I can be anything else, not really. I don't really wanna be."
"And there's nothing wrong with that," Ling Qi had said, resting her hand on her shoulder. "So, let's figure out how to work that feeling in, okay?"
Ling Qi closed her eyes as the song reached its finish, a clash with the oncoming spring, a doomed battle that the maiden could not win, with the spring came the melt, and the rain, deluge and chaos.
But winter would be back, and peace with it, if they only endured.
Polite applause rang out through the hall. Ling Qi gazed around her, and saw that the guests seemed all in good humor. Most did not seem particularly excited or touched really, but here and there were a few.Beside her, Meizhen offered quiet applause with a thoughtful look, and somewhere behind them, she heard Wang Chao giving loud approval.
Peering out of the corner of her eye, she saw Meng Diu, her expression indecipherable. Yet, as she watched, she saw the older woman shake out her sleeves, revealing dainty hands as powder white as her face. She clapped three times.
On the stage Hanyi beamed as she lowered her upraised hands, and bowed to the audience as the curtain fell.
In the time after the show, Ling Qi got around to mingling with the rest of her guests. Hanyi stayed at her side the whole time, and was unfailingly well behaved. Sweet almost. It actually took Ling Qi a bit of effort not to laugh at what an inaccurate picture these young men and women were getting of her spirit, but she wasn't going to ruin Hanyi's fun
Eventually, things wound down, and guests got on their way, leaving Ling Qi with her spirits, and bao Qian backstage. Hanyi sat balanced on Zhengui's back, who had shrunk himself down to the size of a big dog to avoid doing any damage, and Bao Qian stood before them, counting out the nights proceeds.
"And this is you're share, young Miss," he said, Bao theatrically as he placed a small pouch in Hanyi's hands. "A wonderful first performance certainly. I hope you are ready to compose more songs in the future."
"Uh huh!" Hanyi said excitedly, tugging the drawstrings of the pouch open, inside were many glittering yellow stones and a single green one, shining like an emerald.
Hanyi gains 1 green stone, 75 Yellow Stones
"That's surprising, for just entrance fees. How does this place stay open, charging in green stones?" Ling Qi asked curiously. It didn't seem like the clientele was that wealthy.
"They do not," Bao Qian admitted. He cast her a searching look. "However, Lady meng approached me to commission the first recording. That includes Miss Hanyi's part of the initial fee."
"Oh! Somebody is wanted to buy my song already! Isn't that great Big Sis?" Hanyi said happily, picking through and counting her stones.
"Mmhm, Hanyi is good!" Gui agreed cheerfully.
Bao Qian gave her a look, and Ling Qi just smiled. "I'm glad, you'll definitely be really popular," Ling Qi said, reaching down to muss Hanyi's carefully arranged hair. "Did anyone else see Lady Meng buy?" She asked bao Qian.
"They did, though I am certain no one immediately recognized her. She was quite restrained," Bao Qian said shrewdly. "I shouldn't be surprised if word gets around however. I may have to prepare more materials."
Ling Qi nodded absently. She was definitely involved in matters beyond the Sect now, it was way too late to go back.
240 to Spiritual
100 to Spiritual
100 to Physical
568 Domain XP
Month Vote Time!
Funds
Income:
Sect: 3 Green Stones 60 yellow
Liege: 4 Green Stones
Bao/Zhengui Deal: 4 green stones 20 Yellow
Expenses:
Household Expenses Increase! (Pills/Medicines)
Cost defrayed by Cai contacts
+4 Red Stones per month
Household: 10 red stones
Spirits: 2 Green Stone -Paid by Cai
131 Red Stones
617 Yellow Stones
15 Green Stones
162 Sect Points
140 Contribution Points
How many stones will you use?
8 Free Green stones automatically used due to cultivation arts and sites
[] Additional Stones
How much will you invest in pills and medicine this month?
[] High- 20 dice for 25 (40-15) red stones per action. Provided freely by Cai Renxiang
[] Very High- 30 dice for 35(75-15) red stones per action
Due to the Journey this month, Ling Qi will only have 15 AP and thirty Skill dice to spend. Family AP is suspended for one turn.
In addition cultivation sites are unusable this turn
What would you like to cultivate this month? (Select 1 subvote per category)
[] Physical Cultivation
[] Spiritual Cultivation
[] Meridian
-[] Head, Heart, Spine, Arm, Lung, Leg
[] Art
[] Unlearned Art (replace with desired art
Resistances:
Damage Reductions: D vs Cold, E vs Dark
Ling Qi Domain (Bond 3, ranks modified by potency realitve to LQ):
- immune to compulsion or illusion-caused action against Bond 3+ for Effect Rank < B
Utility:
Stealth: D
Combat Perception: D
Social Perception: D
Poise: D10
Defense:
Physical
- Avoid: C15-B (+15 LQ active domain)
- Armor: D15-C15 (+10 TRF aura, +10 Zhengui Way)
-- Midnight Scattering: +40 once per combat (B5-B25)
Spiritual
- Avoid: C5-C15 (+10 LQ active domain)
- Armor: C20-B5 (+15 LQ active domain)
Offense:
Dance: (Physical)
- Hit: D10
- Penetration: C
Spiritual (Vocals)
- Hit: (Manipulation C, Vocals B) = C15 + FPS 15, LWM 10 = B10
- Penetration: (Presence B, Vocals B) = B + FPS 20 = B20
Way
-N/A-
Lonely Winter Maiden
Passives:
+10 to Spiritual Hit
+20 to Health
+25 to Spiritual Armor
+10 to Speech(conditional)
Enrapturing Silhouette: C
Using this technique Hanyi draws the attention of targets at Far range to herself. She may target up to five creatures. On success the targets must move toward Hanyi at full base speed and cannot attack her until after her next action. The target receives a large penalty to their Avoid while under this effect, which lasts for a Short time. This effect may be renewed freely on affected targets at E rank cost if uninterrupted.
Mournful Lullaby: D
Usable only against those caught in the effects of Enrapturing Silhouette, this technique receives a significant bonus to hit against such targets. Targets of this effect receive penalties to All Hit, Avoid, and Initiative, which stack with each application.
Snow Maiden's Embrace: C
With either full embrace or a clasping of hands, Hanyi draws a beguiled foe to their doom. As long as Hanyi maintains physical contact with the target, dealing D rank damage and C rank qi drain, and restoring a portion of that to Hanyi (E rank health restore, D rank qi restore), who can receive temporary qi or health exceeding her maximum by up to one letter grade. Enemies reduced to zero qi begin to suffer C rank damage each turn instead.
Frozen Peak Serneade
Passives:
+20 To Spiritual Hit
+25 to Spiritual Penetration
+10 to Initiative
+10 to Health
B rank damage reduction against Cold
D Rank damage reduction against Dark
Springs End Aria: D
Duration: Short
The first notes of the users song herald the end of warmth, draining the heat from the area and around them and crystalizing the moisture in the air into snow and ice. Enemies Close to the user find their qi growing sluggish, sapping their spiritual defenses and bolstering the singers own. Qi expended in failed assault of the singer drains away (F rank qi drain), flowing into the singularity of cold created by the singers voice. Those whose dantians have been fully drained find their flesh frosting over and their blood running cold as they are lulled into the final sleep.
--Echoes of Absolute Winter: B
Duration: Special
A technique used in tandem with Aria of Springs End, if activated at the same time, the Aria carries an echo of true winter, stilling the very air around the singer with its freezing chill. Attacks targeting the user, or which have an area of effect overlapping with Aria's have their penetration reduced by one rank as the cold devours the energy of the technique or attack. Similarly, Cold or Dark techniques used by the singer against those in range of Aria have their Hit or Penetration enhanced by one rank, as chosen by the user.
Hoarfrost Refrain: C
Duration: Immediate
Damage: C
The user's song rises into the howl of of a blizzard in the depths of winter as they focus the expression of their will upon a single enemy. Mastery of the art shows that the second and third techniques of the Serenade are one whole. The song tears and freezes the flesh of the singers enemy, and spreads through their blood and meridians, carrying the chill deeper still, like a frigid poison seeking the heart of its victims warmth, inflicting D rank qi drain, and granting the user E rank qi regen so long as the effect remains. The chill clings long after the technique ends, the insidious cold crawling ever closer to the victim's heart until at last it stills or the technique is dispelled.
The mere echoes of the Refrain lash all foes within Close range, though the damage and qi drain is reduced by one rank and slowing flesh and spirit alike, though the echoes lack the persistent damage/drain of the which the main target suffers.
Call to Ending: B
Duration: Immediate
Damage: B(Special)
The final verse of the Serenade is a quiet, sad thing, lacking the furor of earlier verses. Upon Singing it, a single target which suffers from Hoarfrost Refrains cold feels a terrible pain as the chill infecting them grows to a terrible potency, and every last shred of heat flees their body. This effect ignores armor, and the damage dealt changes based on the distance between the singer and the target. At Close distance it deals the baseline damage, with each range increment out to very Far reducing it, and each increment closer increasing it. However, should the singer lay hands upon the target when activating the technique, damage is increased by a full letter rank.
Maiden of the First Snow
Passives:
+20 to Speed
+15 to Physical Avoid
+15 to Spiritual Avoid
Wind from the Peak: C
Duration: Long
Like the cold wind of the first winter morning, spreading across the land, the user flies from place to place as unfettered as the wind. Grants a bonus to large bonus to physical avoid, as well as a significant bonus to speed.
Crystal Flake's Mirage: C
Duration: Immediate
The first snows of winter, light and airy, swirling in the sky as dancing mirages. Being struck with a decisive blow, the user's physical form shatters into a thousand crystals of ice and snow, only for them to reform unharmed within a Far distance. This technique negates the damage of a single technique of C rank or lower, and significantly reduces the damage of higher ranked techniques.
-N/A-
Equipped Talismans:
An elegant white dress with a midnight blue underlayer and swirling embroidery patterns reminiscent of wind and clouds. With a full length hem, flowing sleeves, and a closed collar, it is perfect for a demure young lady.
+25 to Physical Armor, +15 to Health, +5 to Poise and Speech
-Midnight Scattering: Once per combat, the user may activate the dress, which turns briefly black. They gain a +40 Bonus to physical armor against the attack which is currently hitting them.
A small teardrop shaped white jade locket on a silver chain, which opens to show a portrait. A lesser type of the sympathetic talisman developed by Argent Sect's craftsmen, it draws on the bond between two people to grant confidence and poise to the wearer, typically a child, younger sibling or significant other.
This Locket contains a portrait of Hanyi seated on Ling Qi's lap. Hanyi is smiling brightly.
From the first actual novel I ever read (the Hobbit), I have never been able to really enjoy songs (in writing). Something about it makes my eye glaze over, no matter how well done it may be.
+60 dice to Spiritual Cultivation until Green 5
+60 dice to Physical Cultivation until Green 5
+55 dice to the cultivation of Yin Arts
+50 dice to the cultivation of Moon Arts
1/8 of XP gained through permanent cultivation bonuses added to Domain XP
Grants the user 2 virtual Green Stone per week(8 per turn)
Allows the User to Bind Spirits up to Grade Three
Reduces Upkeep of Spirits by 4 per spirit
10 Qi cultivation dice per turn up to S Rank
-Increases growth rate of bound spirits(effects increasing with Bond Level)
We should be getting 8 virtual GGS per turn. IIRC we can only ever use 4 stones per week or 16 per month meaning that together with our effective 8 GSS from CRX and the sect we are cost neutral for the month while cultivating at maximum capacity. At the next level of the art we are even starting to make serious bank due to having 12 virtual GSS, thus freeing up GSS for talismans and pills.
2: Liao Zhu
495: Li Suyin
514: Bao Qingling
574: Wang Chao
580: Wen Cao
600: Ruan Shen
601: Bian Ya
625: Luo Zhong
657: Cai Renxiang
672: Ling Qi
675: Bai Meizhen
700: Xuan Shi
702: Kang Zihao
706: Sun Liling
720: Ji Rong
744: Yu Nuan
750: Du Feng
803: Su Ling
2: Liao Zhu
495: Li Suyin
514: Bao Qingling
574: Wang Chao
580: Wen Cao
600: Ruan Shen
601: Bian Ya
625: Luo Zhong
657: Cai Renxiang
672: Ling Qi
675: Bai Meizhen
700: Xuan Shi
702: Kang Zihao
706: Sun Liling
720: Ji Rong
744: Yu Nuan
750: Du Feng
803: Su Ling
Aren't bribes necessarily supposed to come before the agreement? It's more of a show that she's willing to give back for favors done. Equivalent exchange.
Aren't bribes necessarily supposed to come before the agreement? It's more of a show that she's willing to give back for favors done. Equivalent exchange.
Aren't bribes necessarily supposed to come before the agreement? It's more of a show that she's willing to give back for favors done. Equivalent exchange.
ehh.... It was bribe ish, but also nowhere near the level one would expect for arranging a ducal retainer. And also nowhere near the level for repaying the favor we are doing her. It was a show of support certainly.
From the first actual novel I ever read (the Hobbit), I have never been able to really enjoy songs (in writing). Something about it makes my eye glaze over, no matter how well done it may be.
Can I recommend reading it out loud? The same thing always used to happen to me as well, but there is something about reading it out loud that makes you focus and leads to a higher appreciation of the song/passage. For me my brain natural wants to skip ahead to words further down the sentence before I get to them, so if I am reading something especially tense or important/interesting, I force myself to stop and really focus on what is happening.
If you do it, let me know if it helps you feel more immersed, I'm curious if it's just me, lol.
I would not worry about it. She got into the inner sect, its not like she is going to be kicked out. Her goal isn't to advance as fast as possible so it makes sense for her to not involve herself in missions unless directed.
It very well might be that she's doing nothing, as far as the sect are concerned. If she's spent all this time protecting and patrolling the local town, I can see her getting bumped down by more active disciples.
"Meng Dan is a scholar," Meng Diu said, turning her gaze back to the rest of the guests. "And attends the Blue Mountain Sect, he follows the Way of the Hidden, with more singularity than yourself."
"That child has always been focused on the past, to his detriment at times," Meng Diu said musingly. "However, his mind is sharp and his ability to collate and analyze large amounts of information into useful form is exceptional."
A boy that shares Ling Qi's ideas of the Hidden Moon? Well okay then! This honestly seems great, I hope he'll eventually offer opportunities to develop that part of our cultivation. Maybe share RME+ Deluxe Edition or some similar Hidden themed Arts as well to make up for our not really giving the Hidden Moon as much weight as the others.
O winter, time of preservation and tales, when all the world quiets. O winter, when the people gather and share the spoils of a year hard won.
O winter, time of remembrance, when past becomes present in the mind, and memories of days gone by warm the soul. O winter, the time of cherishing, to hold tight what you have in the face of the cold.
O winter, who lives eternal upon the high mountaintop, forever and ever.
I honestly can't wait for when we get our fief and can build a home with our spirits. Imagine Gui's garden flourishing until Hanyi descends from the mountain to cast the valley in a peaceful snow. Zhen's warmth melt the snow to let the spring revitalize the land.
2: Liao Zhu
495: Li Suyin
514: Bao Qingling
574: Wang Chao
580: Wen Cao
600: Ruan Shen
601: Bian Ya
625: Luo Zhong
657: Cai Renxiang
672: Ling Qi
675: Bai Meizhen
700: Xuan Shi
702: Kang Zihao
706: Sun Liling
720: Ji Rong
744: Yu Nuan
750: Du Feng
803: Su Ling
Bao Qian gave her a look, and Ling Qi just smiled. "I'm glad, you'll definitely be really popular," Ling Qi said, reaching down to muss Hanyi's carefully arranged hair.
A small teardrop shaped white jade locket on a silver chain, which opens to show a portrait. A lesser type of the sympathetic talisman developed by Argent Sect's craftsmen, it draws on the bond between two people to grant confidence and poise to the wearer, typically a child, younger sibling or significant other.
This Locket contains a portrait of Hanyi seated on Ling Qi's lap. Hanyi is smiling brightly.
2: Liao Zhu
495: Li Suyin
514: Bao Qingling
574: Wang Chao
580: Wen Cao
600: Ruan Shen
601: Bian Ya
625: Luo Zhong
657: Cai Renxiang
672: Ling Qi
675: Bai Meizhen
700: Xuan Shi
702: Kang Zihao
706: Sun Liling
720: Ji Rong
744: Yu Nuan
750: Du Feng
803: Su Ling
Previously furiously learning penmenship in a closet and getting yelled at by a core student. Probably now furiously throwing bones into a fire and getting yelled at by a core student.
Apparently bailing out a shitton of Sect disciples from a killing field and obligating the foe to deploy a secret weapon gets you loadsapoints, even with the mild annoyance.
I do note though that we never got SP or CP from the previous mission?
