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

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yrsillar said:
It was an odd little charm carved from a light wood which Ling Qi didn't recognize. Under her spiritual senses it seemed drenched in the qi of the sea. Wrapped around the wooden idol was a lock of dark hair, bound by twine. "A keepsake of mine father, but the carvings seemed familiar to some of the descriptions in Elder's work."

"Sea folk work," grunted the sword. "Northeastern region. Done by the Storm folk, their surface colonists going by the material
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The Storm Witches of the Under the Sea sidestory? It has long been speculation that Xuan Shi's ancestry runs also through the Sea Folk in addition to the Xuan bloodline, and this tidbit seems to add more evidence in support of that theory. (Can't be from the wreck mentioned in the sidestory: that should have been in the western region of the Sea Folk's territory. But where else could a Xuan captain obtain a Sea Folk talisman?)

Unless it's a war trophy -- seems kinda odd for Xuan Shi to value it so, though -- this charm looks like a token from a Storm Witch to Xuan Shi's father, an especially intimate one, too. The lock of hair seems to probably be from the Storm Witch, since the Xuan grow little hair and the sole Storm Witch we've seen had overgrown dark hair as a mark of their separation from the undersea folk.

(Also, note the word 'colonist.' The explanation for the Storm Witches given in the sidestory was that the Storm Witches are exiles; that the sword thought they were outposts of the Sea Folk is another expression of the Empire's self-centered perspective.)
 
[] Interrogate why he feels the need to do this with a dangerous and deceptive spirit


Why seems a far more pertinent question to ask than What. Understanding his feelings behind this is a better path. Because then it will more naturally allow us to work on the how with him.
 
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Uummmm... Sea folk... Storm folk... Maybe greeks?

[] Interrogate what his plan is, and how he intends to change the nightmare.
[] Interrogate why he feels the need to do this with a dangerous and deceptive spirit
 
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But if we understand the why, then maybe we'd understand him better and thus LQ would be able to be in a better position to assist him, if he asks for it. Aaaaugh.
 
[] Interrogate why he feels the need to do this with a dangerous and deceptive spirit

While potentially an awkward conversation, I think that LQ getting a broader perspective on Xuan Shi's motivations could be really helpful for her going forward. Both specifically regarding Xuan Shi and also just in general.
 
My feeling is "why" is more important here. Xianxia, Way stuff - it's the Why that's key. Narratively, this is Xuan Shi character development content - Why seems most relevant there. And, finally, I suspect it's probably more interesting.
 
So I understand there might be some concern over whether asking why is somehow more aggressive a position than asking how
Though I personally don't get the reason for that
As well as some general concern over the tone of the discussion with Xuan Shi in general

Discord said:
CrimsonOddball — Today at 3:01 PM
Hey Yrs
Is asking Xuan Shi why he's doing this whole thing with Kongyou going to lead to some big attack on his ideals and intelligence?

Yrsillar — Today at 3:05 PM
no, ling qi's a bit mad but they're still basically friends

CrimsonOddball — Today at 3:07 PM
So if option A is chosen it's just like
Genuinely just trying to ask why because she wants to understand his motivation right?
There might be some discussion, but she isn't actively trying to tear him down because she disapproves or anything

Yrsillar — Today at 3:07 PM
there might be some friction or arguement but that goes for both choices
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Figured I might as well just cut through audience interpretation and talk to the source
Bottom line is that no, option A isn't arbitrarily more aggressive than B
And neither option is going to somehow evolve into an attack on his personal ideals and intelligence
 
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[] Interrogate what his plan is, and how he intends to change the nightmare.

My gut instinct is this. We've personally participated in the changing of a dream spirit, so it is likely that we have insights on the matter that Xuan Shi would appreciate if his plan is to succeed.
 
[X] Interrogate why he feels the need to do this with a dangerous and deceptive spirit

Xuan Shi's story so far has been defined by his desire to pursue the Elder's book and find adventure and companionship of his own. And now we're sort of at a place where he has friends and has yet to figure out what his own adventure should be. I feel we've got a good idea of why stories are important to him, and how he plans to change Kongyou is probably along the lines of the 'teach the evil companion morality' trope. So rather than asking what he'll do which we'll probably learn eventually, why not ask what drove him to Kongyou in the first place, why he's pursuing this and what it really means. With added bonus that we get to see a more offended Ling Qi acting out her thing about Sincerity which'd add some spice. Idk, maybe I don't really care for Xuan Shi and don't want to get more invested in this plotline.
 
[X] Interrogate why he feels the need to do this with a dangerous and deceptive spirit

In a weird way Xuan Shi seems kind of like a foil for us. He's the dreamer with the nightmare spirit, we're the nightmare-haunted girl with the dream spirit. We embrace honesty to a sometimes brutal extent, Xuan Shi allows what-ifs and could-have-beens to color his actions as much as facts.
 
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[X] Interrogate why he feels the need to do this with a dangerous and deceptive spirit

Here's my thing. First of all, Xuan Shi may not feel comfortable or wise in laying out his full plan of "here's how I plan to change Kongyou" with Kongyou listening to the whole thing.

Second... I feel like the "how" matters less. Xuan Shi is a smart boy; I'm sure he can come up with a decent plan if he wants to and did some research. Whatever he's thinking, decent chance there's no flaws in it that Ling Qi will immediately spot. The "why" question is much more interesting.

LimitlessMemes said:
I wish there was an option to just trust Xuan Shi to know what he's doing.
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That option is asking him "why" because we're not questioning his competency, just trying to understand him and his drives better.
 
[X] Interrogate why he feels the need to do this with a dangerous and deceptive spirit
 
[X] Interrogate what his plan is, and how he intends to change the nightmare.

Eh, who are we to question someone else's Way? Ling Qi is hardly a fount of orthodoxy.
 
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