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Threads Of Destiny(Eastern Fantasy, Sequel to Forge of Destiny)

Voted best in category in the Users' Choice awards.
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Secrets exist for Ling Qi to find out.


[X] It can't hurt to try. The Weilu are ancient after all, surely most everyone had a drop or two of their blood in them. Imagine how useful it would be, to claim some ancient connection.
 
[X] It can't hurt to try. The Weilu are ancient after all, surely most everyone had a drop or two of their blood in them. Imagine how useful it would be, to claim some ancient connection.
 
[X] It can't hurt to try. The Weilu are ancient after all, surely most everyone had a drop or two of their blood in them. Imagine how useful it would be, to claim some ancient connection.
 
[x] It can't hurt to try. The Weilu are ancient after all, surely most everyone had a drop or two of their blood in them. Imagine how useful it would be, to claim some ancient connection
 
[X] There was no need for it. The character for Ling meant 'Zero' and that is what she had started as. If there were any lineage she would claim, it was her teachers, claimed through her own effort.
 
[X] It can't hurt to try. The Weilu are ancient after all, surely most everyone had a drop or two of their blood in them. Imagine how useful it would be, to claim some ancient connection.
 
[X] There was no need for it. The character for Ling meant 'Zero' and that is what she had started as. If there were any lineage she would claim, it was her teachers, claimed through her own effort.
 
Killer_Whale said:
Traditionally, human genetic morphology has darker skin in locations where there is higher exposure to sunlight. Such as equatorial zones, and to a much lesser degree, polar regions. But cultivation allows for much greater travel, so people being a long way from their ethnic origins is quite feasable.
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While that's true, I expect that living in the air and on top of mountains, high altitude plateaus, and the like would have a similar effect as there is less atmosphere to absorb those pesky ultraviolet rays. But as I said, this supposition of mine has no basis in fact whatsoever, being more grounded in narrative causality: it may be true because it drives conflict pretty well, making Ling Qi a child of both worlds and allowing Yrs to drop surprise blood relations on the other side of the trenches. This could work as well with the Shishigui, if they weren't so obviously nonhuman.

TimEd said:
Which is exactly my point? I would rather Ling Qi not tie herself to any ancestral name she learns when poking the thing.

The comment you replied on was a reply to someone who tried to tie it to Ling Qi's curiosity and whimsy which while technically correct, also ignores the fact that this vote as you say, sets precedence to what Ling Qi's character will think or do afterwards.

And as I said again, I would rather follpw through on the choice to not pick Lei (or have Ling Qi chart her musical journey "alone" without the notes as guidance) except this one just deals with ancestry.
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I'm sorry if I misunderstood your words, but when you said
TimEd said:
If it was just that, then this would not have been a vote in the first place. After all, its not like Ling Qi would lose/gain anything if she did so right?

But it IS a vote, meaning that it matters what Ling Qi decides to do.
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I interpreted it to mean "there's no way Yrs would put this to a vote if it wasn't immediately relevant to the plot", which I strongly disagree with. If you were actually arguing something else, I completely missed it.
 
[X] It can't hurt to try. The Weilu are ancient after all, surely most everyone had a drop or two of their blood in them. Imagine how useful it would be, to claim some ancient connection.

Time to find out if old coots from mom side or dad side are somehow revelant.
 
Adhoc vote count started by EternalObserver on Dec 12, 2020 at 11:11 PM, finished with 232 posts and 91 votes.
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[X] It can't hurt to try. The Weilu are ancient after all, surely most everyone had a drop or two of their blood in them. Imagine how useful it would be, to claim some ancient connection.
 
[X] It can't hurt to try. The Weilu are ancient after all, surely most everyone had a drop or two of their blood in them. Imagine how useful it would be, to claim some ancient connection.
 
[X] It can't hurt to try. The Weilu are ancient after all, surely most everyone had a drop or two of their blood in them. Imagine how useful it would be, to claim some ancient connection.
 
[X] It can't hurt to try. The Weilu are ancient after all, surely most everyone had a drop or two of their blood in them. Imagine how useful it would be, to claim some ancient connection.
 
[X] It can't hurt to try. The Weilu are ancient after all, surely most everyone had a drop or two of their blood in them. Imagine how useful it would be, to claim some ancient connection.
 
[X] It can't hurt to try. The Weilu are ancient after all, surely most everyone had a drop or two of their blood in them. Imagine how useful it would be, to claim some ancient connection.
 
[X] It can't hurt to try. The Weilu are ancient after all, surely most everyone had a drop or two of their blood in them. Imagine how useful it would be, to claim some ancient connection.
 
[X] It can't hurt to try. The Weilu are ancient after all, surely most everyone had a drop or two of their blood in them. Imagine how useful it would be, to claim some ancient connection.

Odegei! Odegei! Odegei!
 
[X] It can't hurt to try. The Weilu are ancient after all, surely most everyone had a drop or two of their blood in them. Imagine how useful it would be, to claim some ancient connection.

I suddenly want to use the tapestry to make a survey on Weilu heritage, get everyone in ES to touch it and record just how widely the bloodline has spread.
 
Valmond said:
I suddenly want to use the tapestry to make a survey on Weilu heritage, get everyone in ES to touch it and record just how widely the bloodline has spread.
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Having so many filthy commoners defiling the tapestry with their plebian hands is sure to make any long dead Hui zombies screech from their mother's basement and come charging right at us.

I approve of this efficient loot acquiring scheme!
 
Agreed if those filthy commoners even want to see it we can charge them, even more to prove if they have any Weliu blood in them but that unlikely.

"Weliu Ancestral Tree" now even commoners can see if blood of Weliu flows through them.
 
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[X] It can't hurt to try. The Weilu are ancient after all, surely most everyone had a drop or two of their blood in them. Imagine how useful it would be, to claim some ancient connection.

Wilful ignorance is something I have trouble accepting in a narrative, not caring is one thing. Being unwilling to spend the effort or resources is another. But choosing not to look doesn't make it not exist, it just makes you not know.

yrsillar said:
The Somnolent Seas Sect has existed in one form or another since the early days of the empire. A number of the Hermit King's line were gathered upon the peaks shortly after the Isle passed into slumber and were took of roles as caretakers of the slumbering serpent resting on the highest peak. The highest peaks of the isle are not stone or soil, but the shell of an Ancestor, carved only with the coaxing and consent of their descendants. So mighty a fortress as this could not help but become important.

In time the Xuan moved their most precious artifacts and libraries into its halls, one clutch hold at a time, this was the origin of the House of the Sleeping Serpent. With so much knowledge gathered in one place, scholars soon followed, and the Dukes of the time formed traditions, ceremonies and tests for entry as learned men and women from across the empire trickled in, seeking to immerse themselves in the sublime library.

Over time, many important grandmasters arose here, bringing prestige and honor to the Savage Seas when they chose to remain often adopted or married into the Xuan clan, but still the tests were strict, and the applicants remained relatively few. Under Duke Xu in alignment with the policies of Emperor An the Somnolent Seas Sect was organized from among those who lived in the shadow of the House, scholars and students who had not yet earned their place, and headed by members of the House in good standing, graciously sacrificing their own research time to teach and guide newer generations.

This policy has been a great success, as the less strict preliminary Sect program draws new talent from even the furthest flung isles as well as the more discerning individuals from the south. By expanding the pool of applicants and providing guidance from within the House, much prosperity has been brought to the shore of the Isle.
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Interesting bit on this Sect. They're ALREADY receiving ducal sponsorship and always have.
All the change from a Xuan Sect to an Imperial Great Sect did was force them to recruit from commoners....and with the examination criteria, its still as exclusive as before - not many commoners are going to pass the pre-U course without extensive academic background or great talent.
yrsillar said:
Member of the House of the Sleeping Serpent: Working directly at the behest of Duke Xu and the Xuan clan, in one of the most complete libraries in the empire is naturally the highest prize to be sought by those attending the Somnolent Seas Sect.
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...oh wow, the Xuan straight out poach the best graduates.
yrsillar said:
Ling Qi reached down to pluck the book which had caught her eye from the shelf. It was a massive thing, as thick as one of Reniang's unabridged legal codes and bound in supple green leather, with it's title inked in shimmering characters that flowed from silver to gold and back. Ling Qi moved to open it and take a peek at the pages inside… only for the cover to resist her. She frowned, and tried to simply flip it open to the middle, but the pages stayed as they were as if she was only holding a stone sculpture of a book.

In her arms, the tremendous tome let out something like a whispery growl, like a cat who had just had its fur rubbed the wrong way.

"Do be careful Miss Ling," Meng Dan said. She was a little startled when he snatched the book right out of her hands, even taking a full step back. Meng Dan on the other hand wasn't looking at her at all, instead running his fingers soothingly up the books spine. "Tome's like this require a tender touch."

Ling Qi stared blankly at him for a second, only to glance down as she felt a tug at her sleeve. Yinhui looked up at Ling Qi, and very slowly shook her head. "Please excuse him, Scholar Ling. He is right though it is best to be careful with old books. They are often very picky."
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Ling Qi: "I am *not* going to start a fistfight with a book!"
yrsillar said:
The chamber's existence, bolstered by Sixiang, lasted for nearly half an hour. Unable to put things into storage while in the space they were forced to physically carry things out. However, even with their abilities limited within the ring, they were able to save most of the materials that had not already fallen into the void. It was thanks to both Ling Qi's speed and Meng Dan's ability to swiftly organize their loads for maximum efficiency that they managed to save most of the materials that had not already fallen into the void.

It still hurt to see so many talismans, books and works of art go. She had earned these damn it all. LIng Qi huffed as she sat the last pile of items down, watching a handful of hairpins and jewels go rolling across the floor.
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The loot! So close and yet so far!

...did the items just fall out of the Liminal in random places if they have enough durability/enlightenment?
yrsillar said:
Ling Qi turned up her nose as she wound around the transported shelves. That wasn't the point. While most of what they had brought up weren't particularly potent, they were all clearly cultivator work. Paintings which moved with inner animation, and sculptures which felt almost real to the touch. She had lost count of the number of second and third grade talisman accessories mixed in among items whose power was fully in the sheer quality of their craftsmanship.
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Well. That certainly bulks out the Ling Clan's treasures collection!

yrsillar said:
"What did you…" Ling Qi began as she rounded a shelf, only to stop and blink. Meng Dan stood before the great tapestry unrolled haphazardly over piles of parchment and paper. The sight took her breath away. Before her eyes the eaves of Xiangmen moved and the stars twinkled amongst its canopy. Among the leaves, along the branches, twining down the trunk were hundreds of names picked out in gold and silver stitching.

Meng Dan stood before it, the book which had taken from her still cradled in his hands, but now, the cover was open, revealing a beautiful watercolor illustration of a wise looking sage, garbed in resplendent robes which were vibrant with flowers and plant life. A crown of stars shone about his head, in the shape of great antlers. She knew without doubt that it was intended to be a depiction of Tsu the Diviner, the artists intent was utterly without doubt.

"It seems that the tapestry is a companion piece," Meng Dan said, staring intently at the cloth. "And look at this."

He reached out, pressing his finger against the the tapestry and before her eyes, the names changed seeming to zoom like startled birds across the tapestry until a whole new set of names became clear. Directly under his thin finger was the name 'Duzhi'.
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...thats a literal family tree.
 
[X] It can't hurt to try. The Weilu are ancient after all, surely most everyone had a drop or two of their blood in them. Imagine how useful it would be, to claim some ancient connection.
 
[X] It can't hurt to try. The Weilu are ancient after all, surely most everyone had a drop or two of their blood in them. Imagine how useful it would be, to claim some ancient connection.
 
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