[X] Be friendly, show her around and introduce her to your spirits. They will be members of the party too.
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.
EternalObserver
eYe Gaze baCk
- Location
- The Void
Insert Tally
- Location
- Ukraine
- Pronouns
- She/They
Fair 'nuff. Guess I'm giving more weight to the whole "might make her uncomfortable which she will not show because Ling Qi is her contextual social superior" argument.
And yeah, this is not about Xia Lin, this is about Ling Qi. You said it well - we need to worry about Ling Qi not backsliding more than we need to worry about this random new character's comfort, IMHO.
Last edited:
[X] Be friendly, show her around and introduce her to your spirits. They will be members of the party too.
- Location
- All around you.
- Pronouns
- Lord/Master/God
Edited Chapter:
"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 marking the pure white cloth was her project.
"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.
Behind him, 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 sync 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 about 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.
HELP, I've fallen into HPMoR and can't get out! Yrs' quality of writing allows me a short reprieve but it's not enough!
Also damn, there were a lot more kinks in this and more severe than usual, too. Guess I'll actually ping Yrs for this. @yrsillar
Regarding the vote. Hmm, both options have their merits. I can't really say which I like more and since I have aforementioned problem I won't be reading the arguments, so I guess I'll sit this vote out :Ü™
»a pattern depicting a violet serpent« or »violet serpents arranged in a spiral«
Two sentences probably melded in this one. »marking the pure white cloth was her project.« or »marked the pure white cloth as her project.«
Behind was a small, gathered force
You either need a connective word or change the comma to a semicolon. »shift uncomfortable; she and Cai Renxiang« or »shift uncomfortably, while she and Cai Renxiang waited off to the side.« or »shift uncomfortably, as she and Cai Renxiang stood off to one side.« Mm, modifying the sentence structure this way calls for a change in terminology.
deigned to send
sigil of the Cai, a crimson butterfly
enamelled
eighty […] accompanied […] helms
Xia […] enamelled
Either »Dream« or »dreams«
Cair Renxiang hat told her about the difference between a regular soldier of the Cai and a member of the White Plume's, they were the most elite
, Sect Head Yuan of the Argent Sect
Qi
Renxiang
Some word is missing here. I guess it's something along the lines of »a brief shimmer of steel qi«
southern border, General
Very well, General.
Of course, lady Cai
"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 marking the pure white cloth was her project.
"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.
Behind him, 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 sync 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 about 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.
Also damn, there were a lot more kinks in this and more severe than usual, too. Guess I'll actually ping Yrs for this. @yrsillar
Regarding the vote. Hmm, both options have their merits. I can't really say which I like more and since I have aforementioned problem I won't be reading the arguments, so I guess I'll sit this vote out :Ü™
- Location
- A bed
Question: Do we know in or out of character how big and what shape the world is? The question came to me when I was rereading the chapters on the King of Explorers and now I can't get it out of my head.
NoxOfUmbra
Shadow of the night
- Location
- Colombia, South América
- Pronouns
- He/Him/His
I dont remember for sure, but i'm pretty sure that just Emerald Seas is the size of China. So you can go from there
EternalObserver
eYe Gaze baCk
- Location
- The Void
Along with what Nox said, here's a map for reference
Threads Of Destiny(Eastern Fantasy, Sequel to Forge of Destiny) Original - Users' Choice!
I present to you all the past week's worth of effort - nothing less than a fully-realised world map for Forge. Do note that it's an equirectangular projection, so things at the poles appear much larger than their equivalents at the equator. Please note that the civilisations on here are not...
forums.sufficientvelocity.com
- Location
- Florida
At least several time's bigger than earth, shape of the world... ehh well that's unknown, Might be the shape is constantly changing since it's a fundamentally broken world maybe its a flat world with a turtle holding it up, it might be a cube for all we know.
The Empire only know's so much and consequently the same applies to us so we have to guess on scattered sources or from the great spirit's themselves.
The Empire only know's so much and consequently the same applies to us so we have to guess on scattered sources or from the great spirit's themselves.
Actually, if you take the distance key on the political maps, and compare it to the distances between locations on the world map, it should be pretty easy to figure out how big the world is.
The results I get are that the world has a circumference of between 40,000 - 45,000 km, so about earth size, it seems.
The results I get are that the world has a circumference of between 40,000 - 45,000 km, so about earth size, it seems.
- Location
- Finland
That kinda depends on how accurate the map is, and how complete.
There could be ten times more world outside the map borders.
Well there is always the old way of measuring shadows
- Location
- Finland
In a world where laws of physics can vary by zip code?
Good luck with that.
In a world where laws of physics can vary by zip code?
Good luck with that.
Do it where the geometrician Great Spirit ascended from.
EternalObserver
eYe Gaze baCk
- Location
- The Void
nah, I did the same for the Celestial Empire map, which seemed like it was about the size of Asia.
The world is definitely much bigger than Earth, if one considers Emerald Seas to be the size of China
As far as I can tell, the Celestial Empire is the size if Asia, but a bigger fraction of the world is covered in land, so it gets cancels out.
EternalObserver
eYe Gaze baCk
- Location
- The Void
Doesn't that just proves the point of FoD world being bigger than Earth
- Location
- Ukraine
- Pronouns
- She/They
We have the world map:
forums.sufficientvelocity.com
The Empire we're currently in is that small trapeze in the south sandwitched between a mountain chain to the east (probably the end of the Sun jungle) and the enormous black desert to the west (not all of it is, or was back then, the Empire). You can see the Celestial Peaks in the middle.
Threads Of Destiny(Eastern Fantasy, Sequel to Forge of Destiny) Original - Users' Choice!
I present to you all the past week's worth of effort - nothing less than a fully-realised world map for Forge. Do note that it's an equirectangular projection, so things at the poles appear much larger than their equivalents at the equator. Please note that the civilisations on here are not...
forums.sufficientvelocity.com
The Empire we're currently in is that small trapeze in the south sandwitched between a mountain chain to the east (probably the end of the Sun jungle) and the enormous black desert to the west (not all of it is, or was back then, the Empire). You can see the Celestial Peaks in the middle.
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I meet if less surface area is taken up by ocean, the continents can be bigger, although that is obviously very hard to calculate.
Use the globe here as reference since that is a lot more useful than the distorted map. From there given the Empire is the size of Asia and yet occupies such a small part of the planet we can conclude this world is far bigger than Earth.
The continent of the Empire is the biggest, makes up somewhere between a third and half total land area of the world I think, and should be itself somewhere around half again total land area of the Earth. Or to put it another way a third again the size of the Pacific. Though speaking of the Pacific see that awesome Storm in the map? That should be only a little smaller than the Pacific, probably around the land area of Earth.
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- Location
- New Brunswick, NJ
- Pronouns
- He/Him/His
If you calculate based on the Emerald Seas political map, which has scale included, the total size of the world is around 10x larger (in surface area) than Earth. @Xepheria said he was working from a model of 8x larger when making the world map. This fulfills the xianxia trope of "world is larger than ours" without going too crazy.