It's funny, I remember the Fourth Realm Death Mirror, the black shard and some spore things. I kind of recall a poison lake with a truly magnificent, probably 5th realm spear resting on a tiny island in the middle of it which we just turned away from, because that seemed clearly there just to test people's composure in the face of phat loot.
But I don't remember the skeleton being on the same trip. Funny.
That skeleton is worth remembering now. Since it twitched. The one thing it wasn't supposed to do. I am very hopeful that this mission will take us past Halloween. October is already my least favorite month. I don't want to also deal with spooks in one my favorite reads this month.
We went there in the outer sect. It's where we got our darkness shard. The Royal Road version changed the scene a bit.
It's a Weilu corpse but not The Horned Lord. In RR Zhengui says that part of the spooky skeleton's name is "Nightmare of the Burning Glade". Not something I'm interested in dealing with.
Cultivating something from a Weilu Nightmare would be pretty interesting though. We're already a Dark/Dream cultivator, we've talked before about eventually pulling people into Dream with a Mist/PLR cross to single them out and terrorize them, and a Nightmare is an almost perfectly fitting theme for that. A dark, misty glade full of hostile spirits and beasts, the threat of the infernoblizzard, and aura/aria of fear and isolation is basically Ling Qi's entire build. If anything it'd just help her define the darker part of her already existing Domain while the lighter one is left unaffected by association.
We don't really know much about the spirit but it'd be pretty interesting to befriend an old remnant of the Weilu. It's not like the description excludes it from being nice, Zeqing was a spirit of Wintery Death and she was only mildly homicidal. They'd even fit with our menagerie if we really got along. We already have Renewal/Growth, Winter's Spring and Impermanence. They'd be a spirit of a lost legacy , if the burning glade gets to represent the destruction of the Weilu and the nightmare is the horror of that destruction, that'd give us even greater perspective on Ling Qi's theme of Endings and Renewal.
Cultivating something from a Weilu Nightmare would be pretty interesting though. We're already a Dark/Dream cultivator, we've talked before about eventually pulling people into Dream with a Mist/PLR cross to single them out and terrorize them, and a Nightmare is an almost perfectly fitting theme for that. A dark, misty glade full of hostile spirits and beasts, the threat of the infernoblizzard, and aura/aria of fear and isolation is basically Ling Qi's entire build. If anything it'd just help her define the darker part of her already existing Domain while the lighter one is left unaffected by association.
We don't really know much about the spirit but it'd be pretty interesting to befriend an old remnant of the Weilu. It's not like the description excludes it from being nice, Zeqing was a spirit of Wintery Death and she was only mildly homicidal. They'd even fit with our menagerie perfectly if we really got along. We already have Renewal/Growth, Winter's Spring and Impermanence. They'd be a spirit of a lost legacy , if the burning glade gets to represent the destruction of the Weilu and the nightmare is the horror of that destruction, that gives us a greater perspective on Ling Qi's theme of Endings and Renewal.
Okay so the Nightmare idea sent me down the rabbit hole. I was thinking on how to introduce Nightmare into Ling Qi's cultivation and I think it would fit pretty well into PLR+.
To me the Phantasmagoria is another manifestation of Ling Qi's fears, together with the shadowy figures of FVM/The Mist and now the beasts of BKSD they represent the predators of the world. Mist and Winter has always expressed Ling Qi's isolation and the hostility of the outside world and the monsters that inhabit her effects are the monsters she fears. Beasts and indistinct shapes prowl around her and she turns that against her opponents, but PLR represents the more civil predators of society. Guards, gangs, townspeople, nobles, they're all dangers to Ling Qi as much as any monstrous creature and PLR with it's jostling revel is as much leading people to their doom as it is protection and support for Ling Qi.
So what if we try to make that more explicit with PLR+. We add Darkness and Dream Keywords as well as Social, Manipulation, Mischief etc. and then introduce the themes of Moonless Saboteur's Smile (MSS) and the unlearned Evanescent Anthem of the Nights Parade (EANP) in a combat Art with Social bonus effects (like the Bewitching Maiden Cai Art which wasn't domain compatible).
We have Illustrious Phantasmal Festival which gives a bonus to Avoid, where society protects Ling Qi and her allies. But it also gives MSS's social buffs to Qi and her friends as the phantoms become courtiers in social situations. Instead of Lunatic Whirl jostling enemies it's a Nightmare Parade when the peaceful shades reveal having hostile intent all along like Ling Qi's has feared of other people, doing damage/Qi drain as they trick chosen enemies to their doom through some effect while also giving MSS's buff to Ling Qi's S. Perception and Manipulation tests. Joyous Toast could share the theme of EANP which was an early version of BKSD and increased the potency of the user's Music (+Dance and Art) Arts. Or we do something novel with it.
And then finally to Ephemeral Dreamlit Dancer. The first part of the Tech is a good dodge ability which I don't have anything to comment on except it's sort of in Joyous Toast's position where we can keep it, do something new or move it elsewhere. The second more interesting part is when we pull people into the shallows of Dream to teleport. Only now with our Dream Step skill maybe we can go deeper. We pull people into the Dream and create a sanctuary. It serves the same purpose a home does in Ling Qi's cultivation giving a chance to escape the hostility of the outside world with some defensive bonuses, but we could also turn it into a nightmare because just as it's difficult to enter our sanctuary it's just as difficult to leave. We choose up to ~five other people to bring with us and enemies that fail a save are trapped for the duration, subject to debuffs and fighting Ling Qi in her home turf. It becomes a group teleport, an escape room, a way to enter the Dream, a short travel through Dream paths, a hard social screen for private conversations, a way to isolate enemies for duels and a way to stealthily (PLR isn't Music) abduct people without anyone noticing.
All in all it becomes an Art that more clearly represents Ling Qi's views on being part of society, both positive and negative. And it utilizes her Dream Step to both create a representation of a home and combine her Darkness/combat build with Dream. And it's all based on things Yrs have already offered.
Not sure if this is sincere and it means that she did legit not feel uncomfortable, OR if it is the opposite and it's a case of "the lady doth protest too much..." Why would she be so passionately denying something she wasn't accused of?
I think it's just Ling Qi exploring how she feels about public displays of affection. So far her estimate is "makes me uncomfortable when it's romantic, doesn't when it's not" with a degree of confidence that lets her use reflection on that feeling as data for social analysis.
I think it's just Ling Qi exploring how she feels about public displays of affection. So far her estimate is "makes me uncomfortable when it's romantic, doesn't when it's not" with a degree of confidence that lets her use reflection on that feeling as data for social analysis.
It's a move he could only use when he was very low hp, or none. He never got to that point before Liling murked us in our fight, since he is very tanky and we had buffed him even further with TRF.
Precious too tanky to use E X P L O S I O N, basically.
It's a move he could only use when he was very low hp, or none. He never got to that point before Liling murked us in our fight, since he is very tanky and we had buffed him even further with TRF.
Precious too tanky to use E X P L O S I O N, basically.
It's a move he could only use when he was very low hp, or none. He never got to that point before Liling murked us in our fight, since he is very tanky and we had buffed him even further with TRF.
Precious too tanky to use E X P L O S I O N, basically.
Yeah literally he never gets to that point in quest, he's too durable to get there unless the attack would take out Ling Qi already. Thats why he's working on taunt and aggro management skills.
"This is a fine blend, very rich," Meng Dan said, setting his cup down with a faint clink.
Around them, the mild susurrus of conversation from the rest of the Inn's common room provided a pleasant background. The room was open and airy, with pleasant lighting. The scents wafting from the kitchen added the homely atmosphere. Most of the guests were disciples and servant cultivators, messengers and drivers. Ling Qi and Meng Dan sat at a small table in the corner.
She had been surprised when Meng Dan had ordered a table rather than a room, but she couldn't say that she objected.
"It is pleasant enough," Ling Qi admitted. She had come to enjoy cold brews, and more bitter blends. It was all still frippery in her mind, but one could not spend so much time learning the art of tea making without developing some preferences.
Meng Dan's air of amusement didn't waver one bit. They had spent the last few minutes while their tea was brewing in companionable silence. Watching him during that she had seen his attention drift from table to table observing their fellow guests one after another. Not for a moment did he ever seem less than pleased with what he saw.
It made her wonder precisely what he was seeing.
"Hm, I think he might just like people watching, but there's more to it of course," Sixiang whispered. Their voice was more 'quiet' than usual, since it seemed possible that Meng Dan could overhear them.
"So," Ling Qi began, swirling her tea in its cup. "I'm curious about what insights you have on the hill tribes. Lady Meng indicated you have some specialty on the subject."
"It is a subject of significant interest to me," Meng Dan said lightly. "To begin I must unfortunately turn the question around. What do you know of the province's past, Baroness? I would hate to waste precious time explaining things you already know."
Ling Qi dipped her head, that was fair enough. "I know that the Weilu were primarily a northern polity, although they had interests in the south."
The Blue Moon Sect that Meng Dan belonged to was one, formerly a great temple of the sun and moon. Then there was the site of the Bloody Dream. The Weilu rebels may have fled to it, but it was still a point of interest. There was also the tomb on Sect lands, where a horned skeleton stood, bleeding forever in a maze of broken space.
In the depths of her dantian, Ling Qi felt her domain blade stir at the memory. She closed her eyes for a moment before continuing on. "I know at some point that they had a civil war, and that the groups that lived to the South of the Weilu were independent and had their own traditions. Under the Xi clan, they were gradually brought into the Empire."
"A simple summary, accurate as far as it goes," Meng Dan mused. "I am surprised you know of the Mason's war. It is not a commonly taught subject."
It took only a second to make the connection. "Mason's… because the rebelling faction was using stone building materials and practicing northern city building.."
"Quite," Meng Dan seemed pleased. "It was as much a religious schism as a practical matter, given the spiritual pacts in those days. Might I ask where you got your information?"
"There is a location steeped in Dream that causes some events from the war to play out again and again," Ling Qi said quietly, flashes of blood and death in her memory. For a second she tasted blood on her fangs again. "Under the auspices of the Bloody Moon."
"Ah," Meng Dan grimaced. "Well it is a shame you had to experience such a thing."
"I would think a historian would be more excited for a primary source," Ling Qi said wryly, dismissing the lingering discomfort from her thoughts as best she could.
"I would be, save that such… records have their own distortions," Meng Dan replied. "The will of the Great Spirit's involved, the participation of dreamers in the events… Are you familiar with Master Lao's First principle of the liminal?"
"My study of dreams has not been academic," Ling Qi admitted.
"Of course," Meng Dan mused. "The First principle is, observation of a dream alters a dream. Memories and dreams are fundamentally personal, and viewing another's memory inherently alters it as it is filtered through your perceptions. That is before actual personal interaction with the events is considered. In the case of long lasting phenomena such as you describe…"
"It will have been viewed many, many times," Ling Qi said slowly. "Do you mean to say that what i experienced was false?"
She wasn't sure how to feel about that.
"I am certain that the general shape of events is correct, but I would not trust the details, no," Meng Dan replied, tracing his finger around the rim of his cup thoughtfully. "False is the wrong word."
Ling Qi was silent for a long moment. "I suppose I had thought in light of such things that determining the truth of history should be easy."
"Unfortunately not, we have many resources, but none are perfect," Meng Dan said, gaze scanning around the room again.
Ling Qi let out a sigh, despite it being a little rude. "The tribes then?"
"Not anything like a unified culture," Meng Dan replied, switching subjects easily. "Common parlance calls all who lived south of the Weilu and North of the Cloud tribes Hill Tribes, but this is misleading."
"I had some inkling," Ling Qi replied. "There was a group that lived high in the mountains and practiced self mortification, nomadic groups and settled groups in the hills."
The burning library of lost knowledge she had briefly browsed on her trial of the moons had been helpful.
Meng Dan's perpetually amused expression didn't fade, but he did give her an assessing look. "Quite, why recently, the library discovered a number of old Xi era poems. The translation butchered the meter but they have been informative."
Ling Qi very carefully did not react at all. "How fortunate."
He hummed to himself, but didn't pursue the subject further. Instead, he began to pour a second cup of tea before the empty seat on his side. "In any case, getting back on subject, the grouping known as the Hill tribes consisted of three major groups. There were the nomadic tribes, the settled tribes, and the mountain tribes. However…"
"However?" Ling Qi asked, raising an eyebrow.
"This is not considered polite conversational material, but…" Meng Dan began, an twinkle of humor in his eye.
"Regional human physiology did not diverge until the introduction of beast blood," Yinhui said, blowing softly on a cup of tea. Around the just materialized spirit, a fading silver light suffused the air.
Ling Qi pursed her lips. "You are saying the Weilu were Hill Tribes themselves."
"I am saying that academic distinctions aside, there were few hard lines between the cultures of the Emerald Seas in the pre-Tsu era," Meng Dan replied. "There are numerous records of Weilu mingling with tribesman, allying and warring in turns even after the Diviner's rise. What scattered records remain show a great migration of the southlands in the face of advancing ice and the end of the dragons. It was only after arrival that differences began to show."
Ling Qi frowned, wondering just how far that went. "Advancing ice huh, that sounds like it may be relevant."
"Indeed," Meng Dan replied, seeming delighted. He rested a hand on Yinhui's head, in human form she was tiny, shorter even than Li Suyin. "The mountain folk are our likely link. We have few enough records of them, it seems that they were well into decline by the time of Tsu, with most of their people following the glacial ice back into the Wall. They are the most mysterious of the three groups."
"But you have something, obviously," Sixiang drawled aloud, materializing in the chair beside Ling Qi. They leaned forward, elbows on the table. "Man, you're theatrical. You sure you're not one of ours?"
"He is not," Yinhui said softly, not looking up from her cup.
Meng Dan chuckled, rubbing the spirit's head affectionately. Ling Qi eyed the both of them, wondering if he was like Elder Jiao… but that didn't seem right. She was hardly experienced in that kind of thing, but his affection seemed more like a sibling's.
It hadn't made her uncomfortable after all.
"I do in fact have something. In my own researches and expeditions into the Deep Archive, I turned up a partial journal, and some fragments of a treaty signed by the Successor of Tsu, marrying one of his daughters to the son of a Queen of the 'Frozen Sky'. The journal is that of a court diviner and contains a number of observations on the young man in question and his people. I have since been able to collate further information."
"How useful," Ling Qi mused, sharing a look with Sixiang. She was almost certain that he was referring obliquely to a moon quest of his own. "What happened to them?"
"Unknown," Meng Dan replied, some mild frustration bleeding away his humor. "They were a significant polity, but the next records a bare few centuries later refer to them as a remnant. My Professors concluded that they had simply gone the way of the others, assimilated or destroyed by the Cloud Tribes in their southern migrations."
"Then your report occurred," Yinhui said.
"Just so," Meng Dan said. "Rather convenient, no?"
"Convenient, yeah," Ling Qi said slowly. She was beginning to feel even more nervous. It seemed very much like whatever was happening, even Great Spirits had an interest.
AN: This is gonna be a lengthy one, so I'm splitting it here, next update will be on Tuesday.
Sorry, I forgot about the update, but I had to beat loli souls :Ü™
I still just don't get how someone can read almost the entirety of FoD, including all the characterization of both Meizhen and Sun Liling, and then have your take of the conclusion of the final fight UNIRONICALLY be like "Nice, sexy girls mud wrestling. UwU me likes it". I thought it was just the inevitable joke until people started defending it.
They fought with arts until they ran out of qi and then they switched to weapons, then they fought with weapons until their weapons broke or were lost at which point they started tearing into one another with fists and nails and teeth. How this translates into becoming the Queen of Mudwrestling Competition is so weird. Are we now supposed to be glad that the specialists on RR haven't started joking that with her white dress and her water armor/mantle art, every time Meizhen fights it could turn very quickly into a wet T-shirt contest. This isn't an Ace Arriande fiction...
I still just don't get how someone can read almost the entirety of FoD, including all the characterization of both Meizhen and Sun Liling, and then have your take of the conclusion of the final fight UNIRONICALLY be like "Nice, sexy girls mud wrestling. UwU me likes it".
I still just don't get how someone can read almost the entirety of FoD, including all the characterization of both Meizhen and Sun Liling, and then have your take of the conclusion of the final fight UNIRONICALLY be like "Nice, sexy girls mud wrestling. UwU me likes it". I thought it was just the inevitable joke until people started defending it.
They fought with arts until they ran out of qi and then they switched to weapons, then they fought with weapons until their weapons broke or were lost at which point they started tearing into one another with fists and nails and teeth. How this translates into becoming the Queen of Mudwrestling Competition is so weird. Are we now supposed to be glad that the specialists on RR haven't started joking that with her white dress and her water armor/mantle art, every time Meizhen fights it could turn very quickly into a wet T-shirt contest. This isn't an Ace Arriande fiction...
I personally find it hilarious lol. I just imagined them punching the teeth out of each other and someone commenting like 'sexy girls mud wrestling UwU'. I laughed so hard. I had no idea people actually had an argument about it too. Dear lord.
I still just don't get how someone can read almost the entirety of FoD, including all the characterization of both Meizhen and Sun Liling, and then have your take of the conclusion of the final fight UNIRONICALLY be like "Nice, sexy girls mud wrestling. UwU me likes it". I thought it was just the inevitable joke until people started defending it.
"So…" Ling Qi began pondering the last several minutes of conversation. "Let us grant that I believe your studies are relevant to our task."
"Most generous of you, Baroness," Meng Dan said, resting his chin in his hand.
"What skills do you have to offer to my Lady in the field?" Ling Qi asked politely, ignoring his interjection.
"Mm, I agree, you'd obviously be a real good study buddy, but how're you're practicals?" Sixiang asked flippantly. Normally, Ling Qi wouldn't be so casual, but she thought she had a decent measure of Meng Dan now.
"While I do not spend a great deal of time in the wilderness, the Deep Archive is not so very different for cultivators of our level," Meng Dan replied smoothly.
"That's the second time you've mentioned that," Ling Qi said with a frown. "What is the 'Deep Archive'?"
"Scholar Ling is familiar with the struggles of the Argent Sect librarians," Yinhui said softly. "Argent Sect's archive is a very young library.."
Ling Qi hummed to herself. She was aware that plenty of the older books and scrolls had some bite to them, and the archivists had to do significant work in keeping everything orderly and peaceful.
"Blue Mountain Sect's Library of the Diviner is one of the oldest surviving structures in the Empire," Meng Dan continued. "And has at times been left understaffed."
"The stacks are as deadly as any bramble patch huh," Sixiang chuckled.
"Just so," Meng Dan agreed. "There are many wings and sub basements which are essentially naturally reinforcing spirit ecosystems, some of which extend entirely or partially into the liminal. When I describe making an 'expedition' into the Deep Archive, I am not making use of hyperbole."
Ling Qi nodded slowly, she knew that all things developed spirits in time, so a building that, by inference, dated back to the Tsu the Diviner, the half mythical founder of the Emerald Seas, would likely be strange indeed. "That is fair enough. So you have experience with survival skills and spirit negotiation then."
"I would humbly claim some proficiency, yes," Meng Dan replied. "However, I believe my greatest skill, and the asset which I could provide to your Lady, is my ability to organize, decipher and interpret large amounts of information."
"Most cultivators can claim to be able to quickly absorb information," Ling Qi pointed out.
"Knowledge and understanding are separate tasks," Yinhui said, barely touching her teacup to her lips.
"Just so. It is indeed trivial for any cultivator of the third realm to memorize great reams of information," Meng Dan said, pushing his glasses up. "But the skill of dissecting, discarding and interpreting that information into useful data is another. One which, and I mean no offense, Lady Cai's small court yet lacks in it's retainers."
Ling Qi hummed to herself, drumming her fingers on the table as she met Meng Dan's eyes. Behind her eyes, she felt Sixiang focus as well. To her eyes, Meng Dan seemed sincere. His perpetual smile and manner did seem a little condescending, but it did not feel… malicious in the way it could for some individuals.
She didn't get the feeling that he thought he was better than her.
Ling Qi traced her finger along the edge of her tea cup. "One more question. What is it exactly that you find so funny, Sir Meng?"
His smile became a little thinner, his eyes practically twinkling with humor. "Lady Baroness, when you study people and their institutions as closely as I, laughter is the only rational and healthy reaction."
Ling Qi nodded simply. Whether she agreed or not, those words held the thrum of Truth. His Truth at least.
***
"Your impressions?" Cai Renxiang asked crisply as they faced one another beneath the evening sky. They stood in an empty training field, a small field of grass atop a steep cliff.
Ling Qi shifted, adjusting her footing, along with the grip on the blade in her hand. She had reached the vague point of 'good enough' with blades. Yet, sometimes she still faced Cai Renxiang like this, without techniques or active arts.
Some people had odd ways of relaxing.
"I believe both of them will be assets in different aspects," Ling Qi mused as she slid forward, bringing her blade up in a textbook perfect upward slash.
She was met by a similarly perfect deflection, metal sliding off of metal. Ling Qi turned with the motion of the slash, ducking beneath the countering blow. They were only moving a bit faster than mortals. This wasn't even a spar really, just moving meditation.
"I am not concerned with Meng Dan's intentions, and Xia Lin is…" Ling Qi began.
"Loyal." Cai Renxiang said shortly. "General Xia is unwavering in her devotion to my Mother, she would not give a recommendation lightly."
Twice more their blades clashed. Cai Renxiang pressed forward, her style was offensive and overbearing. Ling Qi retreated and circled, the saber style she practiced in moments like these was more than a little dance like. There was no reason to be inefficient after all.
"And your business?" Ling Qi asked. The General implied that Renxiang had made a request of her Mother. That seemed… odd.
There was the faintest waver in the upheld edge of the practice blade in Renxiang's hands. "...It is because of the two of you."
Ling Qi blinked, her knees bending as her upraised blade absorbed the force of Renxiang's downward sweep. She tilted the blade, letting it slide off of her and circled left. "Meizhen and I?"
The heiress' nod was stiff. "Accepting and reacting to my Mother's directives is not enough. My failure in finding insight is proof of this."
Ling Qi remembered the very awkward tea party where that had come up and held back a grimace. "I did not mean to unsettle you so."
"You were… not wrong. If I damage myself unnecessarily in the course of my duty, this is also a disservice to those I am responsible for," Cai Renxiang stated coolly. "So… maintenance of the self."
Ling Qi stepped back as Renxiang did, letting the saber fall to her side. "I'm glad, Lady Renxiang. You haven't answered though. Evasion is unlike you."
"I chose to make a selfish request," Cai Renxiang said. For a moment, the girls normally overbearing presence shrank. "Gan Guangli will be accompanying us on this journey."
Ling Qi blinked, then smiled. "That's great! It will be good to have another familiar face along."
"I could likely have secured further material support for you and our expedition, if I had not spent my capital so," Cai Renxiang said bluntly.
Ling Qi's smile faded. "Lady Renxiang, my stipend is generous enough. I am not going to begrudge you this. Although naturally, I will accept any further windfalls."
"Naturally," Cai Renxiang said dryly.
She would not pretend that she really understood the heiress reasons. She knew that even if both of them would deny the title, Cai Renxiang and Gan Guangli were friends. "When will he be meeting us?"
"Tomorrow," Cai Renxiang replied, bringing her saber up to rest on her shoulder. "We are departing in two days time. I wished to speak with you regarding that. I believe it would be good to undergo some manner of group exercise before our departure, to test our cohesion. I am inclined to a military exercise, given the presence of the Generals forces, but I would know your thoughts."
Ling Qi hummed thoughtfully to herself as she followed her liege over to the weapon rack to deposit her saber. 'What do you think Sixiang'
"Maybe something a little less regimented?" Sixiang mused. "You've got a couple days, maybe use your map and have a mini-expedition?"
[] Agree with Renxiang's suggestion, a military exercise, overseen by the White Plume (++combat cohesion, ???)
[] Suggest Sixiang's idea, an expedition in miniature. (++Social Cohesion, ???)
"Just so," Meng Dan agreed. "There are many wings and sub basements which are essentially naturally reinforcing spirit ecosystems, some of which extend entirely or partially into the liminal. When I describe making an 'expedition' into the Deep Archive, I am not making use of hyperbole."
[] Suggest Sixiang's idea, an expedition in miniature. (++Social Cohesion, ???)
We're good on combat power and all going well, this is set to be a diplomatic mission. Let's boost that social cohesion and see some of the skills we're more likely to need.
The focus here should really be on the characters and developing their dynamic IMO, and that best does that. The military exercise seems like something that could easily lose sight of that, given all the other people and things involved.
[] Suggest Sixiang's idea, an expedition in miniature. (++Social Cohesion, ???)
What can you do?
