Winchester
Buzzzzzkill
- Location
- Creeping towards your ear
[X] The Underworld Pass
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
- Athens, Greece
- Pronouns
- He/Him/His
[X] The Cold Forest
- Location
- Charlton, NY
[X] The Cold Forest
[X] The Cold Forest
A Beginners Guide to Geomancy
Congratulations, curious student, for selecting this manual on the superb but oft forgotten art of geomancy. In the modern day, this storied and beautiful field has suffered much neglect outside of its home in the Celestial Peaks. There are many reasons for this, but such affairs are beyond the purview of this manual.
The first matter which must be discussed is a simple question. What is Geomancy. The answer is somewhat complex. Geomancy is not an art or a set of arts. You will find no techniques here, no exercises or meditations. Geomancy is not, despite misconceptions, a subset of the formation arts. It is in some schools, used alongside formation arts, and indeed a canny student will note that most formations masters use some elements of Geomancy in their composition and structure.
What is Geomancy then? If it is not arts, and it is not formations, then what use is it?
It is a method of arrangement. Geomancy is practiced through structure and planning. When an architect places a window to direct the flow of air, he practices Geomancy. When a scholar arranges his study just so to give himself that small bit of comfort that improves his performance, he practices geomancy. These are small expressions. Greater expressions would be the arrangement of city streets, and the design of road networks. In many cases, basic geomantic principles are no longer known as such and simply considered the proper way of doing things.
While this is certainly good for the health of all, it does present some problems in the study of the art.
Geomancy is fundamentally the art of patterns, and the use of such to manipulate various intangible forces of the world. A properly laid out home can deflect misfortune and spiritual malice. A fortress built to exacting geomantic specifications can withstand punishment far exceeding what its materials and formations would indicate.
The art of Geomancy has its origins in the son of the Sage Emperor, Qin De. Qin De was fascinated by the nature of the mountains in his Father's kingdom. We know now that the eponymous peaks of the Celestial Peaks are artificial, designed and built by the Dragon Gods in eons long past, but it is thanks to Qin De that we know this. What a sight, the Peaks must have been in the days before cataclysm when the world had not yet eroded them into more naturalistic forms. However, even in their damaged state, the work of the Dragon Gods offered many insights to Qin De. From them he extrapolated the work that would become the foundations of imperial Geomancy. When he ascended these principles became hardened against the chaos of a changing world.
In the days since, many scholars and princes have followed in Qin De's footsteps, deriving new proofs and patterns from the foundation he laid down. Some even, ascended, Joining the great Spirit Immaculate Angles Everlasting, patron of our art.
Truly great geomancy however, can be difficult and expensive to implement. The world outside of the Peaks is much less kind to our arts, the chaotic landscapes and spirit ecosystems can struggle against the strictures imposed by a well laid out city. In time, even in the Peaks, standards became less exacting as the need for quick expansion increased. In the Strife of Twin Emperors, many priceless stores of knowledge were destroyed and artifacts and fortresses broken or damaged, their patterns disrupted.
The second dynasty did not put much stock in our art outside of the basic principles which had become the bedrock of imperial architecture and so cities expanded, and roads and manors were built without concern for their disruption of the great patterns. This in turn weakened its effects and discredited Imperial Geomancers further.
There is hope however! Under the honored Emperors of the Mu dynasty, interest began to return. Under his Highness Emperor An, the Imperial Hammer Sect was restored to prominence, drawing new students, and now under Empress Xiang it seems, wishes to restore the practice further! Which, naturally is the source of the manual you hold.
So then prospective student, know that geomancy is relevant in most every aspect of one's life. For the beginner, it is best to begin in small ways. After studying the principles in this manual, adjust the furnishing and decor of your home, and observe the changes in the flows of qi and the improvement of your fortunes.
Then depending on your position and capabilities, you may move on to greater projects. You may alter the floorplan of your home, adjusting doors and windows to better guide and define spiritual energies. If you have the authority, the grounds of your whole estate may with time be changed, and all within may reap the prosperity of a properly laid out home. There has even been some study into applying geomantic principles to relations between people, but Scholar Kong, who pioneered this field, was unfortunately taken from the world before his work could be completed. Perhaps in time a student could resume this study!
In the following chapters we will explore the fundamental principles of geomancy. Many of the things in the following chapter may seem obvious to an educated reader, but this manual implores that you study the principles carefully all the same. To advance in the Art of Geomancy, it is necessary to understand the mechanics behind these principles, even if they are considered common sense in the modern day. Study and understand the proofs behind each principle and then perform the thought exercises presented in each chapter, and you will begin to understand how each concept applies and can be adjusted to real world conditions.
Continue your study of the principles compiled here, you will begin to understand the emerging greater patterns of the art, which begin at details as small as the placement of a table, and scale all the way to the shape of mountains and the flows of rivers.
--The introduction to the Beginners Guide to Geomancy manuals produced at the direction of the Imperial Court.
Special thanks go to my Cyan patrons: Alaco, Alectai, Gregory O'Niell, Leviathan, NotAlwaysFanfic, Pickle and Vanguard_D, and everyone else that supports me!
If you want more to read, check out my Patreon! Patrons get first dibs on RoyalRoad chapters, early access to commisions, and can vote on the monthly bonus update I write for RoyalRoad. plus, you can check out the Discord, where folks can chat about the story.
Also worth looking at is Tales of Destiny, where I post supplementary materials, like short stories, worldbuilding, maps, and more! New informationals and art has been posted to Tales.
The first matter which must be discussed is a simple question. What is Geomancy. The answer is somewhat complex. Geomancy is not an art or a set of arts. You will find no techniques here, no exercises or meditations. Geomancy is not, despite misconceptions, a subset of the formation arts. It is in some schools, used alongside formation arts, and indeed a canny student will note that most formations masters use some elements of Geomancy in their composition and structure.
What is Geomancy then? If it is not arts, and it is not formations, then what use is it?
It is a method of arrangement. Geomancy is practiced through structure and planning. When an architect places a window to direct the flow of air, he practices Geomancy. When a scholar arranges his study just so to give himself that small bit of comfort that improves his performance, he practices geomancy. These are small expressions. Greater expressions would be the arrangement of city streets, and the design of road networks. In many cases, basic geomantic principles are no longer known as such and simply considered the proper way of doing things.
While this is certainly good for the health of all, it does present some problems in the study of the art.
Geomancy is fundamentally the art of patterns, and the use of such to manipulate various intangible forces of the world. A properly laid out home can deflect misfortune and spiritual malice. A fortress built to exacting geomantic specifications can withstand punishment far exceeding what its materials and formations would indicate.
The art of Geomancy has its origins in the son of the Sage Emperor, Qin De. Qin De was fascinated by the nature of the mountains in his Father's kingdom. We know now that the eponymous peaks of the Celestial Peaks are artificial, designed and built by the Dragon Gods in eons long past, but it is thanks to Qin De that we know this. What a sight, the Peaks must have been in the days before cataclysm when the world had not yet eroded them into more naturalistic forms. However, even in their damaged state, the work of the Dragon Gods offered many insights to Qin De. From them he extrapolated the work that would become the foundations of imperial Geomancy. When he ascended these principles became hardened against the chaos of a changing world.
In the days since, many scholars and princes have followed in Qin De's footsteps, deriving new proofs and patterns from the foundation he laid down. Some even, ascended, Joining the great Spirit Immaculate Angles Everlasting, patron of our art.
Truly great geomancy however, can be difficult and expensive to implement. The world outside of the Peaks is much less kind to our arts, the chaotic landscapes and spirit ecosystems can struggle against the strictures imposed by a well laid out city. In time, even in the Peaks, standards became less exacting as the need for quick expansion increased. In the Strife of Twin Emperors, many priceless stores of knowledge were destroyed and artifacts and fortresses broken or damaged, their patterns disrupted.
The second dynasty did not put much stock in our art outside of the basic principles which had become the bedrock of imperial architecture and so cities expanded, and roads and manors were built without concern for their disruption of the great patterns. This in turn weakened its effects and discredited Imperial Geomancers further.
There is hope however! Under the honored Emperors of the Mu dynasty, interest began to return. Under his Highness Emperor An, the Imperial Hammer Sect was restored to prominence, drawing new students, and now under Empress Xiang it seems, wishes to restore the practice further! Which, naturally is the source of the manual you hold.
So then prospective student, know that geomancy is relevant in most every aspect of one's life. For the beginner, it is best to begin in small ways. After studying the principles in this manual, adjust the furnishing and decor of your home, and observe the changes in the flows of qi and the improvement of your fortunes.
Then depending on your position and capabilities, you may move on to greater projects. You may alter the floorplan of your home, adjusting doors and windows to better guide and define spiritual energies. If you have the authority, the grounds of your whole estate may with time be changed, and all within may reap the prosperity of a properly laid out home. There has even been some study into applying geomantic principles to relations between people, but Scholar Kong, who pioneered this field, was unfortunately taken from the world before his work could be completed. Perhaps in time a student could resume this study!
In the following chapters we will explore the fundamental principles of geomancy. Many of the things in the following chapter may seem obvious to an educated reader, but this manual implores that you study the principles carefully all the same. To advance in the Art of Geomancy, it is necessary to understand the mechanics behind these principles, even if they are considered common sense in the modern day. Study and understand the proofs behind each principle and then perform the thought exercises presented in each chapter, and you will begin to understand how each concept applies and can be adjusted to real world conditions.
Continue your study of the principles compiled here, you will begin to understand the emerging greater patterns of the art, which begin at details as small as the placement of a table, and scale all the way to the shape of mountains and the flows of rivers.
--The introduction to the Beginners Guide to Geomancy manuals produced at the direction of the Imperial Court.
Special thanks go to my Cyan patrons: Alaco, Alectai, Gregory O'Niell, Leviathan, NotAlwaysFanfic, Pickle and Vanguard_D, and everyone else that supports me!
If you want more to read, check out my Patreon! Patrons get first dibs on RoyalRoad chapters, early access to commisions, and can vote on the monthly bonus update I write for RoyalRoad. plus, you can check out the Discord, where folks can chat about the story.
Also worth looking at is Tales of Destiny, where I post supplementary materials, like short stories, worldbuilding, maps, and more! New informationals and art has been posted to Tales.
- Location
- Charlton, NY
Basically, feng shui.
- Location
- The Star Kingdom of Manticore
Yes, if Feng Shui also involved moving mountains and rivers.
globalwarmth
ruining the weather.
- Location
- Polar ice caps
Well IRL China is building islands in the south sea...
This seems like architecture, which makes me wonder if there are geomancers that forget that people have to actually live in the territories that they are shaping.
So he was definitely either assassinated or kidnapped, right?
CRX has mentioned him before, he died when the city he was in got collateral damaged by a pair of violet generals and their armies during the Strife.
- Location
- The United States
- Pronouns
- He/They
Oh dear.
Of course Renxiang knows exactly who an obscure scholar who specialized in using geometry and patterns to make sense of socialization is.
DeusExBritannia
Red-White-Black-White
- Location
- Texas
Sociology? Or perhaps social engineering?
An Unusual Applicant
- Location
- United States of America
An Unusual Applicant: Creative Applications of Fire
Shuffling over to his seat, Wao Lu tried mustering the energy to feel… anything really. Last night had been scheduled cultivation time, and it had gone poorly. He could feel that he was scraping at the yellow realm in spirit and body, but it had been almost a month and he still couldn't get over that hurdle. Even with Zhengui's help. While Wao Lu's initial reaction towards Zhengui after getting a basic sense of the qi around him didn't bear remembering, Zhengui seemed genuinely interested in providing potent fruits, vegetables, and herbs which could be traded for spirit stones or more directly for pills and elixirs. All for the low cost of tutoring time, and friendship he supposed. Really, it was a wonder why more people didn't try to cozy up to a cyan level spirit beast willing to grow potent ingredients. Maybe it was because of Ji Cao. The poor fool still hadn't recovered from those burns.
Sitting down at his desk, he surveyed the class. It wasn't a large room, a bit too small to fit Zhengui which is why Zhen snaked through an open window to participate while Gui either rested or ate. Or ate while he rested. He seemed to do a lot of that. Which was fair, given his focus on geomantic principles and what was being taught here. While this class had some intersection with the geomantic principles, it was more focused on siege warfare and the logistics involved. Then Senior Brother Shi formed from the marbled flooring, and surveyed the class to ensure all the students were in attendance.
After ensuring that all were here, Senior Brother Shi began the instruction scheduled for the day. It was a refresher and an expansion on the effects terrain had for logistic preparation both for defending and attacking hard defensive points. How various spirits of the land could prove to be a hindrance or help was interesting to consider, especially in regards to how a defender could use geomancy in the wider territory to induce the spirits towards specific courses of action. But, as always with Senior Brother Shi, the lecture turned towards more practical application exercises of their lessons. With a gesture, a large table rose from the marble flooring. On the top of the table was an intricately carved and decorated war map, complete with miniature trees rustling in an invisible wind, rivers the color of sapphires flowing lazy routes through the map, and an assortment of towns surrounding a formidable fortress in the center of the map. All of which seemed to be assorted according to some… geomantic principles. Certainly more advanced principles than what their class was at. Today though, if the pattern held, it would be Zhengui's turn to engage with the class.
"Now, Honorable Zhengui," Senior Brother Shi began, tapping the map with a long pointer stick, "please assume a standard siege force, based on your studies of logistics, is approaching the fort outlined here on this map. Assume, as well, that the fort is set up to the basic principles of geomancy that you have been studying but only has a skeletal crew to man and protect it. How would you go about protecting the fort?"
A snort of fire burst from Zhen's nostrils as his eyes turned to focus on the map in front of him. It was almost hypnotic to see the slowly waving serpent just focusing on a singular item. After a long moment of silence, Zhen began to speak.
"Where are the soldiers coming from?"
"Hmmm… assume from the top of the map."
"Then retreat all the villagers from the towns. Move them past the bottom of the map. Then burn everything in the path the enemy is coming from and everything around the fort. Oh, that is after some forging is done to supplement the fortress supplies."
Slowly the whole class turned around to look at Zhengui, who was, perhaps unsurprisingly, preening at the attention.
"What?"
"Burn the ground the enemy is coming from and the area around the fort. Typical Imperial siege logistics place heavy emphasis on foraging for food around the target which the burning denies them. And humans have difficulty marching in fields of ash, chokes up their lungs which slows them down."
"You do realize that you will be turning all the infrastructure around the fort useless, don't you?"
"Yesss…? We'll have the chance to regrow it so it's not that big of a deal. We might be able to do it better next time! It's perfect!"
"No, no, no. Such a strategy would destroy the geomancy of the land and would take ages to recover correctly! There are other perfectly acceptable strategies that wouldn't have such a high cost."
"High cost? The land would need to be renewed eventually anyway, might as well use the process to stop invaders. We would think it more of a benefit than cost!"
Wao Lu kept his attention bouncing between Zhengui and Senior Brother Shi as the lecture and class devolved into a singular debate about the merits and demerits of burning entire fields, forests, and farms to ash in order to stop an invading army. He had an inkling suspicion that this was not the topic Senior Brother wanted them to take away from this, but it was intriguing. If one was willing to shoulder the cost.
A/N: This omake came from the idea of Zhengui learning about scorched earth warfare. Something that he may be more willing, or at least suited to, than most. How effective it is given cultivators is probably debatable though, but the idea wouldn't let me go.
@yrsillar another omake for the omake throne!
Shuffling over to his seat, Wao Lu tried mustering the energy to feel… anything really. Last night had been scheduled cultivation time, and it had gone poorly. He could feel that he was scraping at the yellow realm in spirit and body, but it had been almost a month and he still couldn't get over that hurdle. Even with Zhengui's help. While Wao Lu's initial reaction towards Zhengui after getting a basic sense of the qi around him didn't bear remembering, Zhengui seemed genuinely interested in providing potent fruits, vegetables, and herbs which could be traded for spirit stones or more directly for pills and elixirs. All for the low cost of tutoring time, and friendship he supposed. Really, it was a wonder why more people didn't try to cozy up to a cyan level spirit beast willing to grow potent ingredients. Maybe it was because of Ji Cao. The poor fool still hadn't recovered from those burns.
Sitting down at his desk, he surveyed the class. It wasn't a large room, a bit too small to fit Zhengui which is why Zhen snaked through an open window to participate while Gui either rested or ate. Or ate while he rested. He seemed to do a lot of that. Which was fair, given his focus on geomantic principles and what was being taught here. While this class had some intersection with the geomantic principles, it was more focused on siege warfare and the logistics involved. Then Senior Brother Shi formed from the marbled flooring, and surveyed the class to ensure all the students were in attendance.
After ensuring that all were here, Senior Brother Shi began the instruction scheduled for the day. It was a refresher and an expansion on the effects terrain had for logistic preparation both for defending and attacking hard defensive points. How various spirits of the land could prove to be a hindrance or help was interesting to consider, especially in regards to how a defender could use geomancy in the wider territory to induce the spirits towards specific courses of action. But, as always with Senior Brother Shi, the lecture turned towards more practical application exercises of their lessons. With a gesture, a large table rose from the marble flooring. On the top of the table was an intricately carved and decorated war map, complete with miniature trees rustling in an invisible wind, rivers the color of sapphires flowing lazy routes through the map, and an assortment of towns surrounding a formidable fortress in the center of the map. All of which seemed to be assorted according to some… geomantic principles. Certainly more advanced principles than what their class was at. Today though, if the pattern held, it would be Zhengui's turn to engage with the class.
"Now, Honorable Zhengui," Senior Brother Shi began, tapping the map with a long pointer stick, "please assume a standard siege force, based on your studies of logistics, is approaching the fort outlined here on this map. Assume, as well, that the fort is set up to the basic principles of geomancy that you have been studying but only has a skeletal crew to man and protect it. How would you go about protecting the fort?"
A snort of fire burst from Zhen's nostrils as his eyes turned to focus on the map in front of him. It was almost hypnotic to see the slowly waving serpent just focusing on a singular item. After a long moment of silence, Zhen began to speak.
"Where are the soldiers coming from?"
"Hmmm… assume from the top of the map."
"Then retreat all the villagers from the towns. Move them past the bottom of the map. Then burn everything in the path the enemy is coming from and everything around the fort. Oh, that is after some forging is done to supplement the fortress supplies."
Slowly the whole class turned around to look at Zhengui, who was, perhaps unsurprisingly, preening at the attention.
"What?"
"Burn the ground the enemy is coming from and the area around the fort. Typical Imperial siege logistics place heavy emphasis on foraging for food around the target which the burning denies them. And humans have difficulty marching in fields of ash, chokes up their lungs which slows them down."
"You do realize that you will be turning all the infrastructure around the fort useless, don't you?"
"Yesss…? We'll have the chance to regrow it so it's not that big of a deal. We might be able to do it better next time! It's perfect!"
"No, no, no. Such a strategy would destroy the geomancy of the land and would take ages to recover correctly! There are other perfectly acceptable strategies that wouldn't have such a high cost."
"High cost? The land would need to be renewed eventually anyway, might as well use the process to stop invaders. We would think it more of a benefit than cost!"
Wao Lu kept his attention bouncing between Zhengui and Senior Brother Shi as the lecture and class devolved into a singular debate about the merits and demerits of burning entire fields, forests, and farms to ash in order to stop an invading army. He had an inkling suspicion that this was not the topic Senior Brother wanted them to take away from this, but it was intriguing. If one was willing to shoulder the cost.
A/N: This omake came from the idea of Zhengui learning about scorched earth warfare. Something that he may be more willing, or at least suited to, than most. How effective it is given cultivators is probably debatable though, but the idea wouldn't let me go.
@yrsillar another omake for the omake throne!
- Location
- The Star Kingdom of Manticore
That is certainly something I am interested in. Zhengui seems to have a fundamental understanding of geomancy. Adding formal knowledge to that could really improve his skills.
- Location
- United States of America
I personally think that with the advantages that Zhengui already possess in understanding Geomancy, he could be devastating in combat or potent in construction with the application of more knowledge. Given the most recent side story, constructing battlefield constructs with geomantic principles in mind could make those constructions punch above their weight, which would be awesome.
