To be fair, the Glacier is likely the least dangerous spirit to entreat. No telling whther we'll be able to get permission to pass from them, but they're still the least likely to lash out at us in anger or on a whim.
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.
Black Noise
Curious
- Location
- About 1AU from Sol
Let's see;
Might be problematic for the same reason the fungus was, not clear from the description alone if this is a spirit of inevitability or one also of stagnation. Considering the UGM/glaciers angle it's likely just the former and we have nothing to worry about save a blanket refusal, which is a risk with various levels of bad consequences in all 3.
Most likely the high risk/high reward option, because it is in a sense the most personal to both LQ and Hanyi. Conversely, the spirit might not like this odd reflection of its nature that it sees, which would be bad.
Still, worth noting that Zeqing was a spirit of desire, and ultimately both chased after boys (the one that wrote FVM), and even ended up dealing with humans. If this one remains impartial we should be able to offer satisfaction of its curiosity for passage and perhaps a bit more.
With all three spirits it's worth keeping in mind that we're not that far from the area of power for the ice witches in general. I'd say the second is most similar to those from what we've seen of the one at the caldera, but obviously individual cultivator variance applies, and we should ideally pick an option that works both if dealing with a wild spirit and if it is one that dealt with humans (or distant kin) before.
Overall, I think all three have merit, but I find the second and third the most interesting in development direction:
[] Seek the stolid glacier.
[] Seek the smothering white.
(and among the two I'd go for the 3d because I'm a sucker for drama, though the margin is small for this sub-choice)
Untamed nature, a being of the sky. Allies with the third on their shared purpose of eroding the world it seems. Stylistically similar to the original wind thief, maybe a bit of revelry. Small risk that it favors the sky tribes and would thus see us unfavorably, but these should be wild spirits.
Here's our shot at insight into UGM's future development, the art that's iirc currently planned to become a thematic bridge to Zhengui and the only one of the three covered here where we don't have much instruction/inspiration.
Might be problematic for the same reason the fungus was, not clear from the description alone if this is a spirit of inevitability or one also of stagnation. Considering the UGM/glaciers angle it's likely just the former and we have nothing to worry about save a blanket refusal, which is a risk with various levels of bad consequences in all 3.
The one most like Zeqing, the purest expression of Cold. These spirits are indeed deadly but they should not be malicious. The question is how would a meeting with one go.
Most likely the high risk/high reward option, because it is in a sense the most personal to both LQ and Hanyi. Conversely, the spirit might not like this odd reflection of its nature that it sees, which would be bad.
Still, worth noting that Zeqing was a spirit of desire, and ultimately both chased after boys (the one that wrote FVM), and even ended up dealing with humans. If this one remains impartial we should be able to offer satisfaction of its curiosity for passage and perhaps a bit more.
With all three spirits it's worth keeping in mind that we're not that far from the area of power for the ice witches in general. I'd say the second is most similar to those from what we've seen of the one at the caldera, but obviously individual cultivator variance applies, and we should ideally pick an option that works both if dealing with a wild spirit and if it is one that dealt with humans (or distant kin) before.
Overall, I think all three have merit, but I find the second and third the most interesting in development direction:
[] Seek the stolid glacier.
[] Seek the smothering white.
(and among the two I'd go for the 3d because I'm a sucker for drama, though the margin is small for this sub-choice)
Sounds like a force of destruction. Best distracted rather than calmed.
If it comes to a fight this would be a show for our fliers though.
This SHOULD be the least likely to be aggressive, but the worst of the three once provoked. Its nature is inaction,but it is fundamentally implacable, once it set on a course you'd not deflect it.
Think of it as an avalanche. If you don't trigger it, its perfectly safe and will sit there indefinitely.
Sounds like the spouse of the storm...we know this type best, but a 'wild' Yukionna is a possessive being and might try to forcibly adopt Hanyi.
I'm leaning towards the Wind or Snow spirits, at the moment. They resonate the most with Ling Qi and Hanyi, and also just seem more dynamic and approachable, if not undangerous.
The Glacier has overlap with UGM, obviously, but meh. I'm just not that invested in UGM's inevitable glacier themes. I see a few people arguing it could be good for our project with Zhengui, but I strongly disagree. Ling Qi was exploring concepts like spring melt to explore the nature of icy endings giving rise to new beginnings. This glacier spirit is in an incredibly cold climate, and doesn't seem at all well suited for furthering the relevant understanding for our project with Zhengui.
The Glacier has overlap with UGM, obviously, but meh. I'm just not that invested in UGM's inevitable glacier themes. I see a few people arguing it could be good for our project with Zhengui, but I strongly disagree. Ling Qi was exploring concepts like spring melt to explore the nature of icy endings giving rise to new beginnings. This glacier spirit is in an incredibly cold climate, and doesn't seem at all well suited for furthering the relevant understanding for our project with Zhengui.
- Location
- CA
Seeking out the Smothering White feels like a bad idea, on account of Hanyi. She's mostly yukionna but not entirely, and I imagine the Uncanny Valley is as much a thing for spirits as it is for humans... And yet a big part of her identity is likely still tied up in Wanting To Be Like Mom. Having one of her mother's peers reject Hanyi's basic identity at this stage would be hurtful and distracting at a time where we don't want her hurt or distracted. It'll need to be addressed eventually, but it'd be better to have that be at a point where she's racked up more accomplishments and distinguished herself more from what her mother was.
TimEd
Meteor maker
route
I really don't want to go to the Zequing lookalike. Seems like it would just be the path to pain and lost expectations, especially if we see just how different exactly Zequing is compared to what is "normal", though that has its iwn benefits as well.
- Location
- United States of America
I'm leaning towards this option. Since we are going South, it stands to reason to entreat with the spirit further to the south. Additionally, I feel that it is a possibility, certainly more likely than the other spirits, that the Wind would know of the people that we are trying to contact which might give us some necessary leverage given the Sliver of Iron in our possession.
Yeah, I'm kind of concerned about not!Zheqing being a wilder more dangerous version of Zheqing, with an even more voracious hunger, and trying to eat Hanyi. I'm leaning towards Wailing Wind atm, given Ling Qi's natural talent in that direction. I'd be open to giving Hanyi the choice of who we first approach too.
That said, even if it should turn out that Ling Qi doesn't need to, I think it would be illuminating for Ling Qi to meet them all during this journey, not just the one we choose to meet first.
That said, even if it should turn out that Ling Qi doesn't need to, I think it would be illuminating for Ling Qi to meet them all during this journey, not just the one we choose to meet first.
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My feeling is that this is giving a bit of an intro to (some of) the different styles that different ice witches might follow.
- Location
- At the end of the world
I'd advise against that. Remember Sixiang commenting that Zheqing wanted to eat both Ling Qi and her own daughter, it's in her nature to End things. But she restrained herself because she wanted the best for Hanyi and Ling Qi. In the end it caused her to break and almost kill both. I doubt wild!Zheqing will have any second thoughts of what to do. Moreover there is a chance that Wind spirit will interfere and we would need to negotiate with two spirits instead of one.
- Location
- Canada
If that's the case, then I'm fine with that, if it is an optimal choice and it gives us a personal bonus I'm more than fine with that. I just didn't want to pick it solely on the basis that we would benefit from it.
Though, can I ask what makes you think it is less likely to lash out? Is it just a themes thing; like glaciers being destructive, but deliberate and slow? Which after you brought it up is something I agree with. The themes of snow and biting wind are obviously more dangerous in comparison.
Yeah, glaciers are slow to change. I expect the spirit to be stubborn but unlikely to attack us.
And the yukionna and the storm dance together. If we talk to the storm the yukionna might go yandere at us
I feel like #3 is the straight-forward, most obvious answer, but I feel more drawn to #1 to be completely honest. Maybe trying to negotiate with another Zeqing would be easier, but they might also freak out over Hanyi, and getting more insight into wind might be neat.
As for #2 I guess the whole solidity thing means it won't attack us but it also won't give a damn about helping us in any way.
As for #2 I guess the whole solidity thing means it won't attack us but it also won't give a damn about helping us in any way.
I think the Yukionna is probably the most dangerous one to interact with for Ling Qi. Because her experience with such things is with Zeqing who was not very standard for her kind. Going in expecting Zeqing probably wouldn't end well.
That said, I'm also not too sure she'd be wanting to nom on Ling Qi and Hanyi. They probably don't have the same "Those are mine" quality that made them so tempting to Zeqing.
That said, I'm also not too sure she'd be wanting to nom on Ling Qi and Hanyi. They probably don't have the same "Those are mine" quality that made them so tempting to Zeqing.
- Location
- At the end of the world
From what I understand yukionna is more territorial like Zheqing was, whereas Wind is fickle and flying anywhere it wants. But yeah I think there is higher than zero chance that you're right.And the yukionna and the storm dance together. If we talk to the storm the yukionna might go yandere at us
On the other hand they also would be least likely to be moved by argument or placation if decide they don't want to let us through
- Location
- UK
- Pronouns
- They/Them
Third seems the most likely to lead to drama which could be fun and interesting but doesn't seem a responsible plus in character. First also seems like it could easily turn aggressive. I expect all three could but the glacier reads the safest bet to me.
i.e. boring
Though we also know from experience that actually talking to spirits like the glacier can be problematic, which could be a reason to try for one of the others.
- Location
- Canada
Our objective here isn't to get buffs to our arts, as nice as that would be. I think the least likely to actually attack us is probably the Glacier, and therefore we should recommend talking to that one in order to achieve our goals and pass through the storm.
- Location
- Staring into the void
I'm leaning towards the wind.
[] Seek the smothering white.
While we are near White Sky lands and they might have understandings with these winter spirits that gives them some protection, those understandings probably don't extend to foreigners and that's exactly the kind of loophole spirits love to exploit. I'm inclined to go with the snow spirit. The winter wind spirit seems to be too volatile to deal with, and the glacier to immovable if it doesn't want us to let us through. We have the most experience with spirits of that kind and though this one is probably hungrier than Zeqing, it's what we know best.
While we are near White Sky lands and they might have understandings with these winter spirits that gives them some protection, those understandings probably don't extend to foreigners and that's exactly the kind of loophole spirits love to exploit. I'm inclined to go with the snow spirit. The winter wind spirit seems to be too volatile to deal with, and the glacier to immovable if it doesn't want us to let us through. We have the most experience with spirits of that kind and though this one is probably hungrier than Zeqing, it's what we know best.
The question we should also ask perhaps is what would be most helpful for actually passing through...
From one angle, the glacier could be seen as a road, and if it's cool with us then that could be helpful. From that angle it could be seen as the safest path to just have to deal with one not particularly aggressive spirit. Otoh, would it stop the storm and snow from making our lives difficult? Hard to say. If we don't go on the glacier ofc then it's not a problem and could be ignored.
The storm and and the snow appear somewhat interrelated. On one hand, the goodwill of one might allow us to pass through safely. Otoh, talking to one might draw the attention of the other and complicate matters...