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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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Personally I think the most important think here is giving the feel of narrative continuity. The Revel/Reverie option would continue the narrative of what we've been focusing on in this specific arc--low art and the lower classes/ merchant classes, how there really is art and creation everywhere is you look because everyone creates something in their lives they wish to be proud of and everyone has a story.
The Gala/Fantasia option would tie this arc into other arcs, shed light on the pros and cons of the original ideal the Hui were aiming for, before it became twisted, high art, art becoming escapism vs Uncle Skelly's way of art/storytelling becoming reality.
Additionally, this option says we'll witness Fantasia, which is also the name of the fenland where Six's Grandmother, the Prism level Avatar of the Dreaming Moon we've met, lives. Coincidence? I think not. Here's a quote from Haunts of the Primal Forest:

"Fantasia, a stretch of fenland in the west which it is whispered once held the greatest dream palace of the Weilu clans and is now known to be the preferred haunt of the Moonlight Dancer a well known avatar of the Great Dreaming Moon. It is a place where the logic of dreams seeps into reality, and to merely navigate its foggy waters and pass through its shallows is a great achievement. It is said that the Meng clan may even use it as a testing ground for the greatest of their scions.
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Pretty cool, huh? I think it sounds cool...I know the Dream can become many things and this area, more than any, is quite malleable. However, since Threads has had such a problem with its meandering pace, I really think we should focusing on connecting themes from different arcs to thread them together so it feels like we're going in one direction.
 
[X] Whirl into the glittering Gala of crystal and light, the great ballroom, under the dome of Xiangmen's crown. Ignore the tarry darkness still clinging beneath the tables, the scorch marks upon the beautiful walls. Witness Fantasia.
 
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[X] Whirl into the glittering Gala of crystal and light, the great ballroom, under the dome of Xiangmen's crown. Ignore the tarry darkness still clinging beneath the tables, the scorch marks upon the beautiful walls. Witness Fantasia.
 
[X] Dive unto the dim, warm halls, where bodies are packed, where revelry abounds, where the halls are scented with food and sweat and life. Ignore the crawling shadows, the webs spun in corners, the strained smiles. Witness Reverie
 
[X] Dive unto the dim, warm halls, where bodies are packed, where revelry abounds, where the halls are scented with food and sweat and life. Ignore the crawling shadows, the webs spun in corners, the strained smiles. Witness Reverie
 
[X] Dive unto the dim, warm halls, where bodies are packed, where revelry abounds, where the halls are scented with food and sweat and life. Ignore the crawling shadows, the webs spun in corners, the strained smiles. Witness Reverie
 
[X] Dive unto the dim, warm halls, where bodies are packed, where revelry abounds, where the halls are scented with food and sweat and life. Ignore the crawling shadows, the webs spun in corners, the strained smiles. Witness Reverie
 
Maybe there's another way to put this....

[ ] Whirl into the glittering Gala of crystal and light, the great ballroom, under the dome of Xiangmen's crown. Ignore the tarry darkness still clinging beneath the tables, the scorch marks upon the beautiful walls. Witness Fantasia.

From the time of the first gala when Ling Qi picked up Phantasmagoria of Lunar Revelry, this has been the default. Option 1 here, in PLR, in Sixiang, has been sitting on the table waiting for us the entire time.

But we never touched it. It never resonated. Ling Qi never gave it a lot of thought. So, it's a bit hard to take seriously the idea that she would now. Call it the skepticism of inertia.

[ ] Dive unto the dim, warm halls, where bodies are packed, where revelry abounds, where the halls are scented with food and sweat and life. Ignore the crawling shadows, the webs spun in corners, the strained smiles. Witness Reverie

Here, we see a different but equally True distillation of Dreaming Moon's essence. And if anything, it's one Ling Qi is less comfortable with. But that's useful, because at least she's paying attention. Instead of indifferent, she's challenged by it. It forces her to actually look, and maybe see the deeper truths underneath. The deeper truths in her friend, Sixiang. And in herself.

It's also a context more tied to our recent thematic ponderings in general, which increases the likelihood and ease of weaving a compelling narrative. First option doesn't tie into our other goings-on all that much, it's just cool. But surface-level glam we never sink our teeth into has been the challenge PLR has always faced, and we've always failed.

Though admittedly there's probably a higher noise to signal ratio because there's more material floating around in the arena, which brings its own challenges. And if you just want a fancy Moon! party, that's a valid way to vote.
 
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[X] Dive unto the dim, warm halls, where bodies are packed, where revelry abounds, where the halls are scented with food and sweat and life. Ignore the crawling shadows, the webs spun in corners, the strained smiles. Witness Reverie
 
[X] Whirl into the glittering Gala of crystal and light, the great ballroom, under the dome of Xiangmen's crown. Ignore the tarry darkness still clinging beneath the tables, the scorch marks upon the beautiful walls. Witness Fantasia.
 
[X] Dive unto the dim, warm halls, where bodies are packed, where revelry abounds, where the halls are scented with food and sweat and life. Ignore the crawling shadows, the webs spun in corners, the strained smiles. Witness Reverie
 
[X] Whirl into the glittering Gala of crystal and light, the great ballroom, under the dome of Xiangmen's crown. Ignore the tarry darkness still clinging beneath the tables, the scorch marks upon the beautiful walls. Witness Fantasia.
 
[X] Dive unto the dim, warm halls, where bodies are packed, where revelry abounds, where the halls are scented with food and sweat and life. Ignore the crawling shadows, the webs spun in corners, the strained smiles. Witness Reverie
 
[X] Dive unto the dim, warm halls, where bodies are packed, where revelry abounds, where the halls are scented with food and sweat and life. Ignore the crawling shadows, the webs spun in corners, the strained smiles. Witness Reverie
 
[X] Dive unto the dim, warm halls, where bodies are packed, where revelry abounds, where the halls are scented with food and sweat and life. Ignore the crawling shadows, the webs spun in corners, the strained smiles. Witness Reverie
 
[X] Dive unto the dim, warm halls, where bodies are packed, where revelry abounds, where the halls are scented with food and sweat and life. Ignore the crawling shadows, the webs spun in corners, the strained smiles. Witness Reverie

I'm halping!
 
[X] Dive unto the dim, warm halls, where bodies are packed, where revelry abounds, where the halls are scented with food and sweat and life. Ignore the crawling shadows, the webs spun in corners, the strained smiles. Witness Reverie
 
[X] Whirl into the glittering Gala of crystal and light, the great ballroom, under the dome of Xiangmen's crown. Ignore the tarry darkness still clinging beneath the tables, the scorch marks upon the beautiful walls. Witness Fantasia.

I have no idea which is better, but this is what I want to read. :D
 
We're not gonna be in the Big City for long. Let's see the glitz and the glamour!
 
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[X] Dive unto the dim, warm halls, where bodies are packed, where revelry abounds, where the halls are scented with food and sweat and life. Ignore the crawling shadows, the webs spun in corners, the strained smiles. Witness Reverie
 
[X] Dive unto the dim, warm halls, where bodies are packed, where revelry abounds, where the halls are scented with food and sweat and life. Ignore the crawling shadows, the webs spun in corners, the strained smiles. Witness Reverie
 
And now that the option I've been pushing has pulled ahead a little bit, I feel guilty! They're both good choices, and the first one is genuinely tempting for what it offers. There's no wrong choices here.

Other than the one we already excluded. That would have been a terrible choice.
 
[X] Whirl into the glittering Gala of crystal and light, the great ballroom, under the dome of Xiangmen's crown. Ignore the tarry darkness still clinging beneath the tables, the scorch marks upon the beautiful walls. Witness Fantasia.
 
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Xuan and Gan Sketches+Song
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    • So clearly we've got some readers hankering for more Xuan Shi content.


    And to cap it all off, a work song from the Savage Seas!

    Ho, away, to distant seas,
    We sail and earn our pride.
    Farewell to home and clan we call,
    On Brother's back we ride!

    Away-hey! Away-hey! The captain's hat is whole!
    Off'rings to the Guiding Moon as we're parted from our shoal.

    Clear horizons, plain to see.
    In joyful work we sing!
    No mooring now to hold us down,
    Our victory shall ring!

    Away-hey! Away-hey! The captain fills our bowl!
    Thank the gen'rous Guiding Moon for respite from our shoal.

    Long unchanging weeks at sea
    Our freedom lingers on
    Horizon's squall is looming dark
    Turn' back is long foregone

    Away-hey! Away-hey! The captain's fine control!
    Beseech the gentle Guiding Moon to shelter our fair shoal.

    O'er tow'ring wave and howling wind
    Our Brother brings us through.
    The Savage Seas to th' mighty Xuan
    Will ever pay their due!

    Away-hey! Away-hey! The captain's flaring soul!
    And we pray to Guiding Moon to see us back to shoal.

    A solid berth shall welcome us
    Though not a friendly face.
    Brother Xuan protect us all
    Till we sail forth from this place.

    Away-hey! Away-hey! The captain's home-scent skoal!
    But there's yet many Guiding Moons till we see again our shoal.

    With armor patched, our Brother fed
    To home our course is set
    Coffers full and souls alight
    O the hatchlings we'll beget!

    Away-hey! Away-hey! A crew returning whole!
    Captain's friend, the Guiding Moon, will see us back to shoal!

    Away-hey! Away-hey! Our crew returning whole!
    Our captain's light, the Guiding Moon, will see us back to shoal!

    @yrsillar omake for the omake throne <3
     
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