Based on the name of the Quest, it seems pretty clear that Ling Qi is going to be involved in this regardless? Just that she's actively cooperating with the Ministries rather than passively doing so, which alters the context of the events considerably.
[X] You may not like the priestess much, but she is not wrong here. Working within the Ministries bounds is important (Begin Laws Long Hand Political Quest)
[X] You may not like the priestess much, but she is not wrong here. Working within the Ministries bounds is important (Begin Laws Long Hand Political Quest)
I see this vote more as yrs letting us choose what LQ's role and competencies will be going forward. Going for the first option focuses more on actively being a spymaster/investigative specialist, whereas going for the second is more of a chancellor/diplomat approach focusing on getting existing systems to do what LQ wants.
Seemed fairly clear to me:
-Idol Days - Ling Qi will more directly pursue the attacker, who should be taking further action(they didn't know when to fold, and wouldn't know they got traced) along Hanyi's Idol Tour. Strategy would probably involve baiting them out with more performances and then tracking them back?
Very hands on, but to the priestess, this is going to be hella disruptive even if its all technically legal. Handling it privately also gives us more leeway as to how we want to resolve it, should we nab the culprit, whereas the Ministry has very definite opinions on what is going to happen to them.
Man the world of the idol industry sure is cutthroat!
-Laws Long Hand - Ling Qi will pursue the attacker through the ministry. File reports and hobnob with the right people to get the wheels moving. Understand the ministries(more than one is involved!) evidence standards and approach and work with them actively to nail the guy.
As the name suggests, this would likely be the slower approach, bureaucracies are not known for their agility, and a portion of them are likely to be disfavorably inclined towards Ling Qi's views, the ministries are likely leaning Imperial Conservative after all.
But they would have absolutely no mercy for someone pulling this shit. It's a good opportunity to build connections under Enemy Mine circumstances I think.
Granted, this is a lot of ifs to pull from a couple of lines.
[X] You may not like the priestess much, but she is not wrong here. Working within the Ministries bounds is important (Begin Laws Long Hand Political Quest)
[X] You may not like the priestess much, but she is not wrong here. Working within the Ministries bounds is important (Begin Laws Long Hand Political Quest)
[X] You may not like the priestess much, but she is not wrong here. Working within the Ministries bounds is important (Begin Laws Long Hand Political Quest)
[X] You may not like the priestess much, but she is not wrong here. Working within the Ministries bounds is important (Begin Laws Long Hand Political Quest)
I hope it's not that, this vote is too minor for this.
yrs shapes the quest narrative and LQ's capabilities with each vote. This is definitely too minor to be an irrevocable choice, yes, but it's a choice nonetheless.
And it's always worth keeping in mind what the outcomes of a choice will be. Especially since yrs tends to be the hands off, low explanation type of QM. He doesn't tend to explain choice consequences explicitly very often.
yrs shapes the quest narrative and LQ's capabilities with each vote. This is definitely too minor to be an irrevocable choice, yes, but it's a choice nonetheless.
And it's always worth keeping in mind what the outcomes of a choice will be. Especially since yrs tends to be the hands off, low explanation type of QM. He doesn't tend to explain choice consequences explicitly very often.
Adhoc vote count started by S.V[E]locity on Jul 8, 2021 at 10:23 PM, finished with 174 posts and 108 votes.
[X] You may not like the priestess much, but she is not wrong here. Working within the Ministries bounds is important (Begin Laws Long Hand Political Quest)
"I will naturally cooperate with the ministry of Law in all ways, but this matter is a personal attack as well," Ling Qi said frostily. "However, just because I am not acting on my own does not mean I will not be involved."
She was after all a direct retainer of the Cai clan. If she could not use that influence now it was useless. She did not think even Renxiang would see making sure any investigations were not lost or buried was wrong. Indeed, the mere fact that the heiress, through her, was watching should ensure it was not. Renxiang would probably tell her that it wasn't necessary though.
Chao Yanlin gave her a measuring look, but eventually gave a nod. "This is not my business, going forward. What is however, are the plans for the lesser festivals on your circuit. I believe a full review of your plans and 'my' advice is in order."
"On that, we agree," Ling Qi replied.
Long Hand of the Law Quest Begun
***
Running through the plans for the rest of the tour took the rest of the evening and well into the morning, but by the end everyone was satisfied that the plans were correct. It seemed their saboteur hadn't seen a reason to mess with them. Ling Qi supposed that made sense. If the initial festival had been ruined there would be no need to sabotage the follow up rituals.
The Priestess Chao had left the moment that the last ritual was reviewed, leaving her alone with Hanyi and Bao Qian.
"Please accept my sincerest apologies, my diligence was lacking," Bao Qian said, being the first one to break the silence.
"Nah, it'd be like totally crazy to expect you to check for something like that, right?" Hanyi said dismissively.
"Even if you had noticed a difference in the ink sooner, it wouldn't have necessarily been suspicious," Ling Qi said. "I don't think it's really healthy to live in a way that you perform divinations on every little thing."
"Nonetheless, I will be more careful, this endeavor has turned out more important than I had thought it would be," Bao Qian grumbled. "Ugh, the licensing and inspections from the Ministry of Spiritual Affairs…"
"Why weren't they involved?" Ling Qi asked. "Once you two had decided to look into this kind of performance."
"As we were only acting as guests of Viscount Chao, supplementing his own priests, it fell into a grey area of the laws. I had intended to build up a little more and make sure the business was viable before seeking the Ministries approvals."
"Plus it sounded like a big pain," Hanyi said, around another mouthful of crunching fairy.
"Hanyi," Ling Qi said, and the young ice spirit wilted and closed her mouth. "Well, what can I expect to need done?"
"Some testing, as a Baroness you technically have license to act as a priest, but your lack of a fief makes the matter more confused," Bao Qian mused. "Her grace has recently granted the ministries some additional privileges in investigating nobility… they will likely wish to exercise it."
"But I suppose they won't want to be unfair to the heiress or her retainers either," Ling Qi said with a frown. "More of a 'look how fair and effective' we are kind of thing?"
"Mm, I'm gonna have to study aren't I," Hanyi said forlornly. "I know that look Big Sis."
"We'll both have to polish up a little," Ling Qi said, patting her head consolingly. Her knowledge of Spirit Kenning was… unorthodox. The Ministry of Spiritual affairs was a very Imperial organization from her understanding.
"I will cover any fees that might accrue, if only to make up for my error," Bao Qian said.
"And what do you intend to do about the perpetrators?" Ling Qi asked idly.
Bao Qian's nostrils flared, his own irritation clear."My father has contacts within the Ministry of Communication. I am certain that they will understand how upset he might be to learn that individuals have trampled upon their hard fought neutrality."
Ling Qi laughed. That was helpful. "I will focus on the Ministry of Law then. Lady Cai has a good relationship with them."
"A pleasing plan. But, if I may have your leave, I have another meeting I need attend too," Bao Qian said, standing.
"Go ahead," Ling Qi said absently, she didn't watch him go. "How are you Hanyi, it was your show."
Her junior sister's smile faded. "I'm mad, but I'm also scared. Somebody tried to use me to hurt Big Sis," she muttered.
"You can't blame yourself for that," Ling Qi said.
"I'm not sure you can say that," Sixiang, who had been keeping quiet interjected.
"I get that, it's why I'm mostly mad," Hanyi huffed, crossing her arms. "But you know, I'm also really happy, cause the show went well."
"And that makes you feel a little bad too," Ling Qi said wryly.
"Yeah, it just feels really great to perform you know? You can feel all those people paying attention to you. Not just all those noble guys, but like the workers and the people outside and even the spirits,"Hanyi sound, her voice sounding a little dreamy. "And it's like they're all here for you. But now I know doing it is gonna make more people try to hurt you."
Ling Qi opened her mouth and then after a second, closed it. "You shouldn't think of it that way."
"Well how should I think of it then?" Hanyi challenged.
"You shouldn't give up what makes you happy," Ling Qi replied. She rolled her shoulders feeling a bit of tightness there. "I won't say you shouldn't worry, or that you shouldn't think about how what you're doing could hurt someone, but you can't just give up on something because of what an enemy might do."
"You're my Big Sis though," Hanyi muttered, looking down. She fiddled with the locked hanging from her neck.
"And you're my junior sister," Ling Qi replied. "Family can't…. Family can't just go one way."
"But you do everything," Hanyi huffed.
"That's not true," Ling Qi said firmly. "Because you know what we learned today?"
"What?" Hanyi asked, cocking her head to the side.
"That someone thinks what you're doing is important. Maybe they think you're supporting things with the Ice people, maybe they think you're influencing the temples in my favor, or maybe they just don't like my name getting out," Ling Qi said. "I don't know about you, but I'm feeling like proving them right."
Hanyi blinked and then slowly smiled, it was a sly spiteful thing much like the one she had worn in their first game of tag. "Yeah, I like that idea too Big Sis."
In her chest, Ling Qi felt a knot of tension that she had begun to forget about begin to loosen.
Hanyi
Cultivation:
Foundation Green (9)
Appraisal bronze (8)
Lonely Winter Maiden (G): 10
The daughter of ice, the daughter of Endings. Your existence offends the natural, and unsettles those who know to look. The vanished child, the dream lost in the dark, the hope extinguished by cold, her songs call upon the deepest desires in human hearts. Hanyi may at any time begin to sing emanating an enthralling effect that draws foes toward her and makes them unable to attack her. Primary Offense
Winter's Heart (G): 4(5)
The song at the coldest, deepest depths of darkness resonates in your heart and voice. Words raised in anger cut like the harshest blizzard, the deepest cold brings only comfort and memories of home. Lost life flows to your lips like the sweetest nectar. Winter gathers about you like a mantle and where you go cold follows in your step. Cold drains the energy from effects which would harm you and enhances the penetration of your own offense arts. Immune to damaging darkness and cold effects. Primary Armor
Singer of the First Snows (G): 5
Lightly, softly goes the steps of the winter's first dance. Being no more than a chilling breeze, scattered flakes dancing in the sky, the touch of the base earth is avoided. Primary Dodge
Idol of Ice (G): 2(3)
Winter comes and all the world goes to rest. At warm hearths all the land huddles together for celebration and leisure. You seek to be the center of every interaction, one way or the other. Primary Social
Active Abilities
Hoarfrost Refrain
Potency G2
Type: Cold, Attack, Area, Toxin
Duration: Stunt
The howl of of a blizzard in the depths of winter. The scream of the wind that flenses flesh. The cold that saps away the last light of life slow and irresistible.The song tears and freezes the flesh of the singer's enemy and scours the flesh of those nearby. The chill spreads through the blood and meridians of the primary target, carrying the chill deeper still, like a frigid poison seeking the heart of its victims' warmth. The chill clings long after the technique ends, the insidious cold crawling ever closer to the victim's heart until at last it stills or the technique is dispelled.
Call to Ending
Potency: G2
Type: Attack, Cold, Finisher
Duration: Stunt
The final verse of the Serenade is a quiet, sad thing, lacking the furor of earlier verses. Upon singing it, a single target which suffers from Hoarfrost Refrains cold feels a terrible pain as the chill infecting them grows to a terrible potency, and every last shred of heat flees their body. The damage to spirit and body is immense. Should the singer lay hands upon the victim however, no defense may save them from the cold. In this condition, the technique is treated as having a Potency of G4 and ignores lower ranked defense techniques.
Snow Maiden's Embrace
Potency G4
Type: Cold, Bind, Drain
Duration: Stunt
The lonely winter maiden calls and the lost answer, trudging hypnotized toward the singer. When at last they stand before her, she embraces them and all the pain disappears. When a target under the effects of the Lonely Winter Maiden Trait is touched they are bound in place and continuously drained of Qi, and then health, healing and invigorating the user.
Crystal Flake Mirage
Potency G2
Type: Avoid, Anti-Finisher
Duration: Stunt
The first snows of winter, light and airy, swirling in the sky as dancing mirages. Being struck with a decisive blow, the user's physical form shatters into a thousand crystals of ice and snow, only for them to reform unharmed at an ally's side.
Equipment
Pale Night Gown
An elegant white dress with a midnight blue underlayer and swirling embroidery patterns reminiscent of wind and clouds. With a full length hem, flowing sleeves, and a closed collar, it is perfect for a demure young lady.
+1 to Primary Armor
Activation: Once per scene negate damage from a technique of G2 potency or lower
Argent Remembrance Locket
A small teardrop shaped white jade locket on a silver chain, which opens to show a portrait. A lesser type of the sympathetic talisman developed by Argent Sect's craftsmen, it draws on the bond between two people to grant confidence and poise to the wearer, typically a child, younger sibling or significant other.
This Locket contains a portrait of Hanyi seated on Ling Qi's lap. Hanyi is smiling brightly.
+1 to Primary Social Trait
89 people have voted [X] You may not like the priestess much, but she is not wrong here. Working within the Ministries bounds is important (Begin Laws Long Hand Political Quest)
"I will naturally cooperate with the ministry of Law in all ways, but this matter is a personal attack as well," Ling Qi said frostily. "I will be taking steps myself to assist any investigations."
She was after all a direct retainer of the Cai clan. If she could not use that influence now it was useless. She did not think even Renxiang would see making sure any investigations were not lost or buried was wrong. Indeed, the mere fact that the heiress, through her, was watching should ensure it was not. Renxiang would probably tell her that it wasn't necessary though.
Winter's Heart (G): 4(5)
The song at the coldest, deepest depths of darkness resonates in your heart and voice. Words raised in anger cut like the harshest blizzard, the deepest cold brings only comfort and memories of home. Lost life flows to your lips like the sweetest nectar. Winter gathers about you like a mantle and where you go cold follows in your step. Cold drains the energy from effects which would harm you and enhances the penetration of your own offense arts. Immune to damaging darkness and cold effects. Primary Armor
To confirm, we've been trying to find a better defensive technique for a while, right?
Has anyone put an ice-based successor to Thousand Ring Fortress on the table, yet? Thousand Layer Glacier, or something? Because if Winter's Heart can be used as armor like this, I feel like the idea has potential.
Well remember whatever is listed here is Hanyi's armor tech, not ours. But we have Starless Night's Reflection which is pretty good for now. It does the job stat-wise and definitely holds up during fights. SNR has an anti-finisher and armor techs and everything we need. We can alter it after we make our first major successor art with FSS and follow up with a personal art. I feel like we have a lot of plans on our plate right now, there are so many plot hooks and obligations...we don't need to concern ourselves with changing arts if we stuff that does the job.
Well remember whatever is listed here is Hanyi's armor tech, not ours. But we have Starless Night's Reflection which is pretty good for now. It does the job stat-wise and definitely holds up during fights. SNR has an anti-finisher and armor techs and everything we need. We can alter it after we make our first major successor art with FSS and follow up with a personal art. I feel like we have a lot of plans on our plate right now, there are so many plot hooks and obligations...we don't need to concern ourselves with changing arts if we stuff that does the job.
Oh, I know this is Hanyi's sheet, but we do have Winter's Heart as a trait ourselves along with a project to strengthen it, so I figured it was relevant. As for SNR, I thought there was discussion about how it didn't feel right for the long run, but I'll accept that an upgrade or replacement is low on the priority list.
"Hanyi," Ling Qi said, and the young ice spirit wilted and closed her mouth. "Well, what can I expect to need done?"
"Some testing, as a Baroness you technically have license to act as a priest, but your lack of a fief makes the matter more confused," Bao Qian mused. "Her grace has recently granted the ministries some additional privileges in investigating nobility… they will likely wish to exercise it."
"But I suppose they won't want to be unfair to the heiress or her retainers either," Ling Qi said with a frown. "More of a 'look how fair and effective' we are kind of thing?"
When government organizations are given authority they are loath to give any back, and for all her faults Shenhua isn't someone who will keep something on the books if it has no use, which encourages them to be proactive in using their authority. So the reason for the pause by Bao Qian is due to him in broad terms knowing privileges like these are part of the unending war over the threshold of what is an internal clan affair, and even clans who seek a more unified Emerald Seas are weary of such things.
"You're my Big Sis though," Hanyi muttered, looking down. She fiddled with the locked hanging from her neck.
"That's not true," Ling Qi said firmly. "Because you know what we learned today?"
"What?" Hanyi asked, cocking her head to the side.
"That someone thinks what you're doing is important. Maybe they think you're supporting things with the Ice people, maybe they think you're influencing the temples in my favor, or maybe they just don't like my name getting out," Ling Qi said. "I don't know about you, but I'm feeling like proving them right."
Hanyi blinked and then slowly smiled, it was a sly spiteful thing much like the one she had worn in their first game of tag. "Yeah, I like that idea too Big Sis."
In her chest, Ling Qi felt a knot of tension that she had begun to forget about begin to loosen.
