- Location
- Ukraine
- Pronouns
- She/They
Just wanted to say that I really REALLY like this analysis
Threads Of Destiny(Eastern Fantasy, Sequel to Forge of Destiny)
- Thread starter yrsillar
- Start date
- Original Users' Choice!
Voted best in category in the Users' Choice awards.
- Location
- the internet
I know that Yrsillar said that we're skipping the family AP this turn but does that mean we're not gonna see a scene where LQ says goodbye to her mom and sis? I feel like even if its just a small moment, this scene would be really important in a narrative sense. I really hope we're gonna get to see them actually saying goodbye and not just LQ describing it in 2 sentences.
[
I am not sure. The family AP represents Ling Qi spending time with her family, a long time, a lot. Going for a hour of goodbyes isn't that much in a month, certainly not without the need to sleep
Turn 11 Arc 1-1: Preparations
"The situations you embroil yourself in never cease to amaze," Meizhen said dryly. The embroidery needles in her hands danced, picking out the stitching of a pattern depicting a violet serpent arranged in a spiral, on a background of blue.
"I can't wholly be blamed for this one," Ling Qi defended. Her own work was much slower going. Individual snowflakes on a field of black were a bit fiddly.
"Indeed, that a Meng would make such an offering is both encouraging and troubling," Cai Renxiang said evenly. The pattern of a sun crowning a stylized depiction of the tree of Xiangmen marked the pure white cloth in her hands.
"I suppose they cannot entirely be blamed for having dealings with the Sun," Bai Meizhen said grudgingly. Her needles stabbed into the cloth with a touch more force than necessary.
They all sat around a table perched on a rock outcropping at the base of Zhengui's hill. The air was cool and brisk, and the view was rather pretty. The leaves of the forest were a riot of autumn colors, the sky was still dark, but this far out the storm clouds were light.
Ling Qi glanced sidelong at her friend. "You know, Lady Meng said some things regarding their feelings on the Bai. Do you have any insights from the other side?"
Meizhen frowned a little. "...I do. My Aunt has been providing me with study material regarding historical diplomacy, which I have absorbed swiftly. One must pursue their ambitions diligently."
"Naturally," Cai Renxiang said absently, looking down at her project with a judging eye.
"Naturally," Ling Qi agreed, picking out the pattern of a new snowflake.
"The clan has, at times been somewhat… high handed with outsiders," Bai Meizhen admitted. "The Emerald Seas especially, it has often been seen somewhat negatively by my ancestors. The Meng bore the brunt of this."
"Not the Bao?" Ling Qi asked. Remembering maps of the province, she knew that the Bao shared a border as well."
"The Bao's expansion to their current borders was recent, they absorbed significant amounts of the Hui lands in the west during Mother's rise," Cai Renxiang commented.
"Ah, that makes sense," Ling Qi said with a nod. When she did look into history it was usually older things.
"Indeed," Meizhen said sourly. "So, while there have been border and trade disputes begun by both sides, I must reluctantly admit that many negative feelings for my clan among them are likely legitimately founded."
"I never imagined I would hear you say that," Ling Qi said in surprise.
"I would not, were I not in private, among trusted allies," Meizhen replied.
"Do you believe allowing them influence on this matter will trouble the Bai?" Cai Renxiang asked.
"I… am not yet an expert regarding the Bai clans internal affairs," Meizhen admitted with some frustration. "I do not believe my Aunt's supporters will be troubled. They are somewhat forgiving of petty grudges. Others are less so."
Ling Qi wondered what exactly counted as a petty grudge among the Bai, and what 'forgiving' meant. She still remembered Bai Suzhen praising Meizhen's kindness. "Do you think the Bai are interested at all in recent events?"
"My Aunt approves of Duchess Cai's swift subjugation of one of her enemies," Meizhen replied immediately. "Regarding your matter… I believe reception is mixed."
"Not unexpected," Cai Renxiang said, setting her needles aside. "As the saying goes however, Success needs no forgiveness."
"Indeed," Bai Meizhen replied.
It was at that moment that a fluttering paper message bird descended, landing before Cai Renxiang at the table. They fell silent as the heiress read the message.
"It seems that General Xia is arriving shortly. We will have to end our session prematurely."
Their arrival was marked by a plume of rising dust, visible from kilometers away. The northern road was cleared of traffic, commerce and civilian traffic alike coming to a halt as the cleared fields north of White Cloud village were made ready to receive visitors. Sect Head Yuan He waited at the entrance of the town. His flowing storm gray robe snapped and flapped in the blowing breeze. His intricately bound beard and naturally spiked white hair crackled with static, and the gnarled wooden cane clasped in his hands thrummed with power.
Far away in the sky, the kilometers long coils of a dragon churned among the storm clouds, and a rumbling that was not thunder could be heard from the black depths of the storm, where twin blue white lights burned at attention. Behind him was a small, gathered force of the Sect, eclectic in make up, core disciples all. They stood at attention, a multitude of weapons held on shoulders or sheathed at hips, the only commonality among them the silver sigil of the sect on their armor.
It took a great effort of will for Ling Qi not to shift uncomfortably; she and Cai Renxiang stood off to one side. They were not with the Sect, right now, they were not acting as disciples, but as the representatives of the Cai. Likewise, Bai Meizhen stood a step behind them, standing perfectly still with an imperious expression. As of right now, she was representing her clan if only because the Bai had not yet deigned to send a full representative to observe the military operations.
Ling Qi felt the earth shaking under her feet, not from thunder, but from the pounding of hooves. She felt the wind disturbed by the passage of many bodies.
The vanguard of the Cai force emerged from around the bend in the northern road. They came on horseback. The horses were armored in plated barding, hung with tassels of gold and white. Behind the lead horseman fluttered a banner of pure white, splashed with the official sigil of the Cai, a crimson butterfly emerging from a shattered cocoon, with prominent golden eyespots on its wings.
The rest of the force came behind. Each soldier bore armor of overlapping bands of flexible steel, enamelled in white. The soldiers in the frontmost ranks bore halberds with crimson tassels and golden blades, while the ones who came behind bore a saber at their hip and on their back was an immense thing that looked like the halfway point between a crossbow and a siege engine. In the rearmost ranks were more halberdiers, mingled with men and women who bore no obvious arms, but who wore crossed bandoleers lined with dozens of pouches.
There were one hundred of them. Eighty third realms varying from Appraisal to Threshold in power, accompanied by eighteen fourth realm lieutenants, bearing a second White plume on their helms. Two fifth realms rode among them as well, commanders distinguished only by the crimson cloaks on their shoulders and their aura of power.
At the center of the formation rode general Xia Ren herself. Armored in gold enamelled plate, her faceless silver helm flashed under the light of the crackling clouds. The spread wings of a heron marked her breastplate. The wind parted around the general and her warhorse as if cloven by a blade and not a drop of moisture or a speck of mud touched any part of the woman or her mount.
"By grandmother, what a bunch of creeps," Sixiang shivered, whispering in her head. "Can you feel that? The way they're cut off, the way they're not thinking for themselves?"
Ling Qi kept her expression even. She did see the eerie synchronicity of their movements. It wasn't just discipline, each soldier and each horse moved perfectly in synch with their fellows, and in her more spiritual senses, Ling Qi could not see anything individual about their auras, they felt like a single entity, a machine of gleaming clockwork, whose ticking heart was the General.
They felt unnatural to her senses, so recently attuned to the flows of Dream.
The White plumes flowed into the space left for them, hooves that glinted metallically churning the dirt. As one they dismounted and formed perfect ranks without a single shouted word from the officers or visible signal. Their armor gleamed and crackled with nascent power.
Cai Renxiang had told her the difference between a regular soldier of the Cai and a member of the White Plume's they were the most elite soldiers among the province's forces, and each one of the thousand bore equipment arms and armor crafted by the Duchess herself.
General Xia Ren stepped forward from the ranks to face Sect Head Yuan. "I come, commanded to render aid in the name of her grace," Xia Ren's voice was cold and dry, more mechanical than Renxiang had ever been at her worst. Her words were clipped and utterly without affectation or ornament. "I offer my full cooperation with your leadership. Sect Head Yuan of the Argent Sect."
"Not her subordination though," Sixiang whispered. "That is going to ruffle some feathers."
Indeed, for a moment, the air crackled with tension, and not a few core disciples subtly bristled. However, Sect Head Yuan He tapped his cane on the ground thoughtfully. "I, Yuan He do accept my liege's aid gratefully. Be welcome, General Xia of Xiangmen."
Xia Ren nodded sharply, and swept off her helm. Her face bore similarities to Alingge's in general shape and structure. Her scalp was bare though, bearing only a slight layer of dark fuzz. A pair of faded geometric tattoos marked the general's cheeks, reminiscent of the Old tribe tattoos Ling Qi had seen. Her features were hard and scarred however, a thick line of scar tissue extended from her right temple down to the left side of her chin, and an ugly scar marked the flesh around her left eye. It almost looked as if an arrow had taken her there and been ripped out.
But Xia Ren's eyes were both intact, they were the color of liquid steel, and solid without pupil or iris.
The intimidating woman gave a short bow at the waist. "Sect Head Yuan is wise. Where are we to be quartered?"
"Space has been prepared on the Argent Peak," Sect head Yuan replied, naming the centermost peak of the Sect where Elders and their chosen core disciples lived. "My disciples will stable your steeds. I will show you the way. Do you require time for other business first?"
Ling Qi saw the way the old man glanced in their direction.
Xia Ren tilted her head, steel gaze falling upon them. "If the Sect Head allows. A simulacrum will be sufficient."
"By all means, General," Sect Head Yuan said. "Allow me to show you the way then."
Ling Qi felt the air in front of them carved apart, and the earth in front of Cai Renxiang split open. Before her eyes an exact copy of the general stepped out as if from a portal in the air. There was a brief shimmer of steel qi across her form, and to Ling Qi's senses the woman before her felt… hollow, like a structure of spun glass, filled with air.
She bowed low all the same when the woman's steel gaze fell upon her.
"Young Mistress, Lady Bai," General Xia greeted shortly. "Your continued good health is pleasing."
"It lightens my concerns that my gracious mother has assigned you to the southern border, General," Cai Renxiang said.
"It pleases the Bai to know that our allies are handling their affairs with rigor and competence," Meizhen said, bowing as well. "My Aunt apologizes for the lack of a more experienced observer."
"The Emerald Seas can stand on its own feet," The general said flatly. "But our allies concern is appreciated."
"Naturally," Bai Meizhen replied, raising her head. "The Bai offer our full confidence in your endeavors."
The older woman's eyes moved back to Renxiang, who stood patiently, waiting for the General to finish. "Young Mistress, her Grace has words which I am to convey to you in private."
Cai Renxiang's eyes widened marginally. "Very well, General. Is this regarding the task which faces us?"
"Partially," Xia Ren replied. The woman raised her right hand from her side. "Sergeant Xia Lin!"
Ling Qi felt the rush of displaced air that accompanied a swiftly moving cultivator as she partially raised her head. She saw a young woman standing behind and to the left of the General. She looked to be about the same age as Ling Qi, with similar cultivation. She was one of the halberdiers of the army, the weapon on her back gleamed in the dim sunlight. Her helm was under her arm, revealing a girl who looked somewhat like a younger Xia Ren. Her dark, curly brown hair was shorn at her ears rather than wholly shaved however, and her scars much less severe. There were only a few thin white lines across her cheeks and lips. Her eyes were a natural storm grey with only a few steely sparks.
"Sergeant Xia Lin will be your adjutant," the General said shortly. "Her grace has determined that excessive cultivation and preconceptions would be counter productive on your task. The Sergeant is the best of my soldiers in the Young Miss' generation."
"It is my honor to serve the heiress of Cai," Xia Lin said, striking her breastplate with her fist as she bowed low. "I will not fail to meet your expectations."
"I am certain that General Xia's recommendation is a good one," Cai Renxiang said. "I am certain you will be an asset."
Ling Qi thought that she saw the younger Xia's expression briefly become happy. It was odd, given that she still couldn't feel anything from her.
"There is the matter of the request you made of the Duchess however," Xia Ren continued, not missing a beat. Ling Qi shot Cai Renxiang a look, wondering what she was talking about. "However, her grace's reply is to be delivered in private."
Cai Renxiang looked briefly concerned, but then dipped her head. "I see. In that case, Baroness Ling, would you accompany the sergeant. It would be best for us to familiarize ourselves with one another."
"Of course, lady Cai," Ling Qi replied reflexively.
"If it pleases, I may stay as well," Bai Meizhen said smoothly. "It is a good for the Bai to continue familiarizing ourselves with our allies."
General Xia gave a short nod. "Practical. Sergeant, familiarize yourself with the local situation and mission parameters. If you would, Young Mistress?" She asked, extending her hand.
Cai Renxiang took the generals hand, and they were gone.
Ling Qi stared at Xia Lin, who stood at attention before her, studying Ling Qi just as Ling Qi studied her.
[] Keep things formal between you, show her around the Sect and discuss the mission and expectations, perhaps have a spar?
[] Be friendly, show her around and introduce her to your spirits. They will be members of the party too.
"I can't wholly be blamed for this one," Ling Qi defended. Her own work was much slower going. Individual snowflakes on a field of black were a bit fiddly.
"Indeed, that a Meng would make such an offering is both encouraging and troubling," Cai Renxiang said evenly. The pattern of a sun crowning a stylized depiction of the tree of Xiangmen marked the pure white cloth in her hands.
"I suppose they cannot entirely be blamed for having dealings with the Sun," Bai Meizhen said grudgingly. Her needles stabbed into the cloth with a touch more force than necessary.
They all sat around a table perched on a rock outcropping at the base of Zhengui's hill. The air was cool and brisk, and the view was rather pretty. The leaves of the forest were a riot of autumn colors, the sky was still dark, but this far out the storm clouds were light.
Ling Qi glanced sidelong at her friend. "You know, Lady Meng said some things regarding their feelings on the Bai. Do you have any insights from the other side?"
Meizhen frowned a little. "...I do. My Aunt has been providing me with study material regarding historical diplomacy, which I have absorbed swiftly. One must pursue their ambitions diligently."
"Naturally," Cai Renxiang said absently, looking down at her project with a judging eye.
"Naturally," Ling Qi agreed, picking out the pattern of a new snowflake.
"The clan has, at times been somewhat… high handed with outsiders," Bai Meizhen admitted. "The Emerald Seas especially, it has often been seen somewhat negatively by my ancestors. The Meng bore the brunt of this."
"Not the Bao?" Ling Qi asked. Remembering maps of the province, she knew that the Bao shared a border as well."
"The Bao's expansion to their current borders was recent, they absorbed significant amounts of the Hui lands in the west during Mother's rise," Cai Renxiang commented.
"Ah, that makes sense," Ling Qi said with a nod. When she did look into history it was usually older things.
"Indeed," Meizhen said sourly. "So, while there have been border and trade disputes begun by both sides, I must reluctantly admit that many negative feelings for my clan among them are likely legitimately founded."
"I never imagined I would hear you say that," Ling Qi said in surprise.
"I would not, were I not in private, among trusted allies," Meizhen replied.
"Do you believe allowing them influence on this matter will trouble the Bai?" Cai Renxiang asked.
"I… am not yet an expert regarding the Bai clans internal affairs," Meizhen admitted with some frustration. "I do not believe my Aunt's supporters will be troubled. They are somewhat forgiving of petty grudges. Others are less so."
Ling Qi wondered what exactly counted as a petty grudge among the Bai, and what 'forgiving' meant. She still remembered Bai Suzhen praising Meizhen's kindness. "Do you think the Bai are interested at all in recent events?"
"My Aunt approves of Duchess Cai's swift subjugation of one of her enemies," Meizhen replied immediately. "Regarding your matter… I believe reception is mixed."
"Not unexpected," Cai Renxiang said, setting her needles aside. "As the saying goes however, Success needs no forgiveness."
"Indeed," Bai Meizhen replied.
It was at that moment that a fluttering paper message bird descended, landing before Cai Renxiang at the table. They fell silent as the heiress read the message.
"It seems that General Xia is arriving shortly. We will have to end our session prematurely."
***
Their arrival was marked by a plume of rising dust, visible from kilometers away. The northern road was cleared of traffic, commerce and civilian traffic alike coming to a halt as the cleared fields north of White Cloud village were made ready to receive visitors. Sect Head Yuan He waited at the entrance of the town. His flowing storm gray robe snapped and flapped in the blowing breeze. His intricately bound beard and naturally spiked white hair crackled with static, and the gnarled wooden cane clasped in his hands thrummed with power.
Far away in the sky, the kilometers long coils of a dragon churned among the storm clouds, and a rumbling that was not thunder could be heard from the black depths of the storm, where twin blue white lights burned at attention. Behind him was a small, gathered force of the Sect, eclectic in make up, core disciples all. They stood at attention, a multitude of weapons held on shoulders or sheathed at hips, the only commonality among them the silver sigil of the sect on their armor.
It took a great effort of will for Ling Qi not to shift uncomfortably; she and Cai Renxiang stood off to one side. They were not with the Sect, right now, they were not acting as disciples, but as the representatives of the Cai. Likewise, Bai Meizhen stood a step behind them, standing perfectly still with an imperious expression. As of right now, she was representing her clan if only because the Bai had not yet deigned to send a full representative to observe the military operations.
Ling Qi felt the earth shaking under her feet, not from thunder, but from the pounding of hooves. She felt the wind disturbed by the passage of many bodies.
The vanguard of the Cai force emerged from around the bend in the northern road. They came on horseback. The horses were armored in plated barding, hung with tassels of gold and white. Behind the lead horseman fluttered a banner of pure white, splashed with the official sigil of the Cai, a crimson butterfly emerging from a shattered cocoon, with prominent golden eyespots on its wings.
The rest of the force came behind. Each soldier bore armor of overlapping bands of flexible steel, enamelled in white. The soldiers in the frontmost ranks bore halberds with crimson tassels and golden blades, while the ones who came behind bore a saber at their hip and on their back was an immense thing that looked like the halfway point between a crossbow and a siege engine. In the rearmost ranks were more halberdiers, mingled with men and women who bore no obvious arms, but who wore crossed bandoleers lined with dozens of pouches.
There were one hundred of them. Eighty third realms varying from Appraisal to Threshold in power, accompanied by eighteen fourth realm lieutenants, bearing a second White plume on their helms. Two fifth realms rode among them as well, commanders distinguished only by the crimson cloaks on their shoulders and their aura of power.
At the center of the formation rode general Xia Ren herself. Armored in gold enamelled plate, her faceless silver helm flashed under the light of the crackling clouds. The spread wings of a heron marked her breastplate. The wind parted around the general and her warhorse as if cloven by a blade and not a drop of moisture or a speck of mud touched any part of the woman or her mount.
"By grandmother, what a bunch of creeps," Sixiang shivered, whispering in her head. "Can you feel that? The way they're cut off, the way they're not thinking for themselves?"
Ling Qi kept her expression even. She did see the eerie synchronicity of their movements. It wasn't just discipline, each soldier and each horse moved perfectly in synch with their fellows, and in her more spiritual senses, Ling Qi could not see anything individual about their auras, they felt like a single entity, a machine of gleaming clockwork, whose ticking heart was the General.
They felt unnatural to her senses, so recently attuned to the flows of Dream.
The White plumes flowed into the space left for them, hooves that glinted metallically churning the dirt. As one they dismounted and formed perfect ranks without a single shouted word from the officers or visible signal. Their armor gleamed and crackled with nascent power.
Cai Renxiang had told her the difference between a regular soldier of the Cai and a member of the White Plume's they were the most elite soldiers among the province's forces, and each one of the thousand bore equipment arms and armor crafted by the Duchess herself.
General Xia Ren stepped forward from the ranks to face Sect Head Yuan. "I come, commanded to render aid in the name of her grace," Xia Ren's voice was cold and dry, more mechanical than Renxiang had ever been at her worst. Her words were clipped and utterly without affectation or ornament. "I offer my full cooperation with your leadership. Sect Head Yuan of the Argent Sect."
"Not her subordination though," Sixiang whispered. "That is going to ruffle some feathers."
Indeed, for a moment, the air crackled with tension, and not a few core disciples subtly bristled. However, Sect Head Yuan He tapped his cane on the ground thoughtfully. "I, Yuan He do accept my liege's aid gratefully. Be welcome, General Xia of Xiangmen."
Xia Ren nodded sharply, and swept off her helm. Her face bore similarities to Alingge's in general shape and structure. Her scalp was bare though, bearing only a slight layer of dark fuzz. A pair of faded geometric tattoos marked the general's cheeks, reminiscent of the Old tribe tattoos Ling Qi had seen. Her features were hard and scarred however, a thick line of scar tissue extended from her right temple down to the left side of her chin, and an ugly scar marked the flesh around her left eye. It almost looked as if an arrow had taken her there and been ripped out.
But Xia Ren's eyes were both intact, they were the color of liquid steel, and solid without pupil or iris.
The intimidating woman gave a short bow at the waist. "Sect Head Yuan is wise. Where are we to be quartered?"
"Space has been prepared on the Argent Peak," Sect head Yuan replied, naming the centermost peak of the Sect where Elders and their chosen core disciples lived. "My disciples will stable your steeds. I will show you the way. Do you require time for other business first?"
Ling Qi saw the way the old man glanced in their direction.
Xia Ren tilted her head, steel gaze falling upon them. "If the Sect Head allows. A simulacrum will be sufficient."
"By all means, General," Sect Head Yuan said. "Allow me to show you the way then."
Ling Qi felt the air in front of them carved apart, and the earth in front of Cai Renxiang split open. Before her eyes an exact copy of the general stepped out as if from a portal in the air. There was a brief shimmer of steel qi across her form, and to Ling Qi's senses the woman before her felt… hollow, like a structure of spun glass, filled with air.
She bowed low all the same when the woman's steel gaze fell upon her.
"Young Mistress, Lady Bai," General Xia greeted shortly. "Your continued good health is pleasing."
"It lightens my concerns that my gracious mother has assigned you to the southern border, General," Cai Renxiang said.
"It pleases the Bai to know that our allies are handling their affairs with rigor and competence," Meizhen said, bowing as well. "My Aunt apologizes for the lack of a more experienced observer."
"The Emerald Seas can stand on its own feet," The general said flatly. "But our allies concern is appreciated."
"Naturally," Bai Meizhen replied, raising her head. "The Bai offer our full confidence in your endeavors."
The older woman's eyes moved back to Renxiang, who stood patiently, waiting for the General to finish. "Young Mistress, her Grace has words which I am to convey to you in private."
Cai Renxiang's eyes widened marginally. "Very well, General. Is this regarding the task which faces us?"
"Partially," Xia Ren replied. The woman raised her right hand from her side. "Sergeant Xia Lin!"
Ling Qi felt the rush of displaced air that accompanied a swiftly moving cultivator as she partially raised her head. She saw a young woman standing behind and to the left of the General. She looked to be about the same age as Ling Qi, with similar cultivation. She was one of the halberdiers of the army, the weapon on her back gleamed in the dim sunlight. Her helm was under her arm, revealing a girl who looked somewhat like a younger Xia Ren. Her dark, curly brown hair was shorn at her ears rather than wholly shaved however, and her scars much less severe. There were only a few thin white lines across her cheeks and lips. Her eyes were a natural storm grey with only a few steely sparks.
"Sergeant Xia Lin will be your adjutant," the General said shortly. "Her grace has determined that excessive cultivation and preconceptions would be counter productive on your task. The Sergeant is the best of my soldiers in the Young Miss' generation."
"It is my honor to serve the heiress of Cai," Xia Lin said, striking her breastplate with her fist as she bowed low. "I will not fail to meet your expectations."
"I am certain that General Xia's recommendation is a good one," Cai Renxiang said. "I am certain you will be an asset."
Ling Qi thought that she saw the younger Xia's expression briefly become happy. It was odd, given that she still couldn't feel anything from her.
"There is the matter of the request you made of the Duchess however," Xia Ren continued, not missing a beat. Ling Qi shot Cai Renxiang a look, wondering what she was talking about. "However, her grace's reply is to be delivered in private."
Cai Renxiang looked briefly concerned, but then dipped her head. "I see. In that case, Baroness Ling, would you accompany the sergeant. It would be best for us to familiarize ourselves with one another."
"Of course, lady Cai," Ling Qi replied reflexively.
"If it pleases, I may stay as well," Bai Meizhen said smoothly. "It is a good for the Bai to continue familiarizing ourselves with our allies."
General Xia gave a short nod. "Practical. Sergeant, familiarize yourself with the local situation and mission parameters. If you would, Young Mistress?" She asked, extending her hand.
Cai Renxiang took the generals hand, and they were gone.
Ling Qi stared at Xia Lin, who stood at attention before her, studying Ling Qi just as Ling Qi studied her.
[] Keep things formal between you, show her around the Sect and discuss the mission and expectations, perhaps have a spar?
[] Be friendly, show her around and introduce her to your spirits. They will be members of the party too.
55 resource dice to spiritual and Physical cultivation
2.5 times multiplier to Argent Arts cultivation
1.5 times multiplier to balanced art cultivation
1 virtual Green Stone per week of cultivation (4 total)
+1 to each experience die rolled for base attributes in a turn.
2.5 times multiplier to Argent Arts cultivation
1.5 times multiplier to balanced art cultivation
1 virtual Green Stone per week of cultivation (4 total)
+1 to each experience die rolled for base attributes in a turn.
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- Location
- Charlton, NY
Huh.
Ok, so. Xia Lin is a member of a hyperconformist cultivator unit. This is going to cause friction eventually, I just know it. Edit: That line about not thinking for themselves, especially makes me think this.
Informalisms can wait for later, I think; our first impression should be formal enough that she won't immediately have an issue with us.
Ok, so. Xia Lin is a member of a hyperconformist cultivator unit. This is going to cause friction eventually, I just know it. Edit: That line about not thinking for themselves, especially makes me think this.
Informalisms can wait for later, I think; our first impression should be formal enough that she won't immediately have an issue with us.
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If we're going to bond with the Bodyguard, Ling will prefer introducing her spirits. A higher social rank means we can buff her further in combat.
- Location
- France
We should be formal first. Informal for a first meeting isn't the best, especially with the feel of the army. Also we might spar and gain more insights about Xia Lin and the soldiers.
- Location
- US
[] Keep things formal between you, show her around the Sect and discuss the mission and expectations, perhaps have a spar?
I think things will backfire if Ling Qi comes off as too informal. If she wants to start the groundwork of making an ally, then she should play to what a super conformist martial warrior would prefer. Namely, professionalism and martial prowess.
I think things will backfire if Ling Qi comes off as too informal. If she wants to start the groundwork of making an ally, then she should play to what a super conformist martial warrior would prefer. Namely, professionalism and martial prowess.
NoxOfUmbra
Shadow of the night
- Location
- Colombia, South América
- Pronouns
- He/Him/His
[X] Be friendly, show her around and introduce her to your spirits. They will be members of the party too.
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- Location
- Germany
So this is the adjutant. Ling Qi notes her to seemingly become happy. I wonder why Ling Qi can´t read their expressions. Are these Soldiers just expressions of General Xia Ren? Either way this Adjutant should be introduced to Ling Qiness as soon as possible in order to familiarize herself with now, rather than later. If the Witner Lady is anything to go by, bluntness and honesty will be appreciated. The hollow starqi will not be appreciated, afaik.
That is why I tend towards:
[] Be friendly, show her around and introduce her to your spirits. They will be members of the party too.
Alectai
Speaks Words of Wisdom... On occasion
Mmm, yeah, it's a tough call to make. Option 1 on the surface gives her what she was told to do, but also feels like Ling Qi's backsliding a bit in the face of something that spooked her? (The coordinated Way thing and her struggling to look beneath to see the people beneath and all).
Option 2 meanwhile is more in line with how Ling Qi's trying to be--and more importantly, introduces assets that aren't automatically going to be introduced in option 1.
Option 2 meanwhile is more in line with how Ling Qi's trying to be--and more importantly, introduces assets that aren't automatically going to be introduced in option 1.
Mother Nyx
Mother of Elpis
- Location
- The Kei Klub
- Pronouns
- She/Her
[] Be friendly, show her around and introduce her to your spirits. They will be members of the party too.
I call it... Party Time.
I call it... Party Time.
Oof, I wanna spar, but also introduce our fam.
Decisions, decisions...
Decisions, decisions...
It's a social defense art. It stops enemy cultivators from seeing their emotions from afar by looking at their auras and its also vaguely unnerving to those who are used to relying heavily on such senses (see Sixiang) so its very useful to both conceal the state of the unit's morale and degrade the enemy's morale.
Giving the impression and cultivating a reputation for being Unbreakable not only makes the enemy break first, which is very important in premodern melees, but makes them less eager to fight you in the first place. They probably have some arts to enhance morale directly as well but those wouldn't be on outside of combat.
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- Location
- Canada
It seems she wants to be useful more than anything else. I can honestly see a scenario where explaining to her how we are more effective the better we know someone, would lead to her being more willing to being friendly. Though that isn't what the vote is for, so I'm still undecided on the vote.
- Location
- foraging for beans
Hmmm, I wonder if Xia Lin is a potential replacement for Gan if he fails his redemption arc. "Best of my soldiers in [your] generation", and she certainly seems like she's being trained for that military/commander roll that Gan is trying to fill. And General Xia is certainly a trusted Cai retainer already.
Dunno about this one though, but I'm leaning towards formality. I just don't see Xia Lin as being someone who'd appreciate breaking established social conventions. And we don't want to put her off, for domain reasons if nothing else.
Dunno about this one though, but I'm leaning towards formality. I just don't see Xia Lin as being someone who'd appreciate breaking established social conventions. And we don't want to put her off, for domain reasons if nothing else.
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- Location
- United States
[] Keep things formal between you, show her around the Sect and discuss the mission and expectations, perhaps have a spar?
Too many unknowns. Better play it safe.
Too many unknowns. Better play it safe.
Black Noise
Curious
- Location
- About 1AU from Sol
Relevant bit:
So to me the question is about what's the better way for the two to get familiar with each other; a spar might be what Xia Lin is more comfortable with, but the second option has LQ act like someone welcoming a guest into their home. Currently undecided but leaning for a more friendly approach.
EDIT: also in terms of why she's joining; this isn't a military unit, this is a diplomatic envoy and it'll benefit all of us if our relationships aren't working just off a chain of command.
So to me the question is about what's the better way for the two to get familiar with each other; a spar might be what Xia Lin is more comfortable with, but the second option has LQ act like someone welcoming a guest into their home. Currently undecided but leaning for a more friendly approach.
EDIT: also in terms of why she's joining; this isn't a military unit, this is a diplomatic envoy and it'll benefit all of us if our relationships aren't working just off a chain of command.
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i am thinking the uniformity of their aura is a cover against social or perception arts from identifying officers during battle or something
Deadly Snark
Tryhard As Fuck
I dont understand this argument. If she's the military aid to a diplomatic envoy, and thus she's useful because she provides the military mindset needed to present a complete picture, why is it somehow not good for her to work based on a hierarchy? She's not amongst equals no matter what we say, she's here to serve the Heir to the province.
Professionalism works perfectly fine in this context, though yes in the future it might be useful to build a closer relationship. But there is nothing wrong for that to be build upon a bed of professionalism.
- Location
- United States of America, Michigan
Hmm I wonder if Ling Qi is just taking a mental screen preventing others from seeing the Plum Squads thoughts to mean that they have no thoughts?
I guess the thing is that superficially vote 1 looks like the obvious choice. It's proper, we do our job, we get information, everyone plays out their role....
Option 2 though is slightly more off the wall, and involves LQ taking the opportunity of the bosses not being around to do something that Renxiang couldn't do to get a better feel for Xia Lin's character. In that sense, one could look at it as a deliberately manipulative social play.
Option 2 though is slightly more off the wall, and involves LQ taking the opportunity of the bosses not being around to do something that Renxiang couldn't do to get a better feel for Xia Lin's character. In that sense, one could look at it as a deliberately manipulative social play.
- Location
- foraging for beans
I'm more of the opinion that Xia Lin is someone who is fundamentally more comfortable if her relationships are working off some sort of chain of command. She certainly seems like the military type.
LQ will probably get more about her character and mindset by putting her off balance and out of her comfort zone with option 2, but I think that there's a decent chance that doing that will make Xia like LQ less.
I would hope that we don't come off as manipulative, both because we do try to be sincere and because I doubt Cai troops look on manipulation well. The whole start of the Cai was a fight to destroy manipulative control. Though I agree it might be a bit surprising for her.
NoxOfUmbra
Shadow of the night
- Location
- Colombia, South América
- Pronouns
- He/Him/His
I'm in favor of being friendly for the fact that it gives more information on Xia Lin than the other option, give us a way to know her better and how far is she willing to go with informalisms. It's better doing it now that we are safe, getting a feel of her character so we can plan for the diplomatic meeting. I want to know Xia Lin, not the sergeant that Shenhua sended us.
Also, being friendly is what have gained us our best friends, not the opposite.
Also, being friendly is what have gained us our best friends, not the opposite.
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