That would be moving way the hell too fast. Marrying a barbarian, especially any time in the next few centuries, is a good way to get even slightly radical imperials to dismiss us as a lunatic or pervert. Just because Ling Qi can't take a Polar Nation husbando doesn't mean there won't be any though, maybe Hanyi will snag a nice boy someday.
That would be moving way the hell too fast. Marrying a barbarian, especially any time in the next few centuries, is a good way to get even slightly radical imperials to dismiss us as a lunatic or pervert. Just because Ling Qi can't take a Polar Nation husbando doesn't mean there won't be any though, maybe Hanyi will snag a nice boy someday.
I mean it's not like it hasn't happened before in imperial history. That Bai that the radiant serpent commissions are about marries someone from the thousand princes iirc, and she is well regarded. It's definitely a challenge that we may not want to take on, but it is feasible.
The empire was founded by a guy that would take a wife from each place he conquered afterall.
The problem with Bao Qian is he is avoiding any degree of vulnerability around us. He blames his own concerns on "society", if he brings them up at all. That's not a healthy basis for a relationship.
LQ has treated Xuan Shi quite poorly, which doesn't speak well of that relationship's long term potential. She routinely views him as fragile or in need of protection rather than respecting his competence.
Meng Dan and Xia Anxi have some shared interests and we have had good interactions with them. There's not much else to talk about with them.
Lao Keung might be a great husband for Ling Nuan. They both have revolutionary theming and a long term alliance between Meizhen's court and our clan wouldn't be bad. Not sure how the negotiations would work with the caste setup of the Bai being involved.
I mean it's not like it hasn't happened before in imperial history. That Bai that the radiant serpent commissions are about marries someone from the thousand princes iirc, and she is well regarded. It's definitely a challenge that we may not want to take on, but it is feasible.
The empire was founded by a guy that would take a wife from each place he conquered afterall.
Radiant Serpent was a White Caste Bai, not a street rat become Baron, and a very, controversial, figure in her lifetime.
Once we hit 5th realm, maybe we will be influential enough to get away with it, but unlikely to happen anytime soon.
Radiant Serpent was a White Caste Bai, not a street rat become Baron, and a very, controversial, figure in her lifetime.
Once we hit 5th realm, maybe we will be influential enough to get away with it, but unlikely to happen anytime soon.
We are on track to hit fifth realm around 40-50 ish and I can definitely see Qi waiting at least that long. There are obvious obstacles to such a marriage and we may not want to do it because of those obstacles, but it's not as impossible as implied.
Would we even want Xuan spirit blood in our kids? Wasn't there an issue with Zhengui disliking Xuan Shi because he instinctively saw him as part of a rival group of Xuan Wu?
We're not sure if it's because he's from another type of Xuan Wu or if it's because he's half seafolk. I expect that if we continue hanging out with him we'll find out.
I'm pretty sure that Xuan Shi's mom is a Storm Witch. Those too human-like to live underwater that we saw in the sea-folk sidestory. At least that was implieded when Xuan Shi met the cranky sword.
That would be the reason Zhengui calls him "nest-mimic".
About Meng Dan, I'm pretty sure he is just wating to get his grandmother's approval before formally presenting his courtship to Ling Qi.
Which will probably happen as soon as the diplomatic effort starts succeeding and Ling Qi proves to be more than "shine brigth and fast" rising star.
He seems genuinely interested in Ling Qi, at least.
Then there is Moon senpai. People were quite enamoured with him for a while. Too bad we barely see him because he is always about to die somewhere and we didn't choose his option back at the tournament.
The problem with Bao Qian is he is avoiding any degree of vulnerability around us. He blames his own concerns on "society", if he brings them up at all. That's not a healthy basis for a relationship.
The problem with Bao Qian, or anyone for that matter, is that anytime he tries to do something "romantic" or "relationship-like" with Ling Qi, she utterly panics and flails about. It's hard to get a nice atmosphere like that.
A good point in Bao Qian's favor is that he has gone great lengths to respect Ling Qi's wishes and accomodate her while still trying to advance the relationship.
Would we even want Xuan spirit blood in our kids? Wasn't there an issue with Zhengui disliking Xuan Shi because he instinctively saw him as part of a rival group of Xuan Wu?
Naw, Xuan Wu are just territorial. Zhengui felt the need to defend his turf...up until they actually got to know each other better. I'd hazard a guess that Xuan Wu raised together are relatively amiable, but they don't have good instincts for those not of their community.
Ok so like this is going to sound stupid, but I binge read this very recently, and struggled at times with names. Could some kind soul give a cliff notes on the current husbando candidates?
Ok so like this is going to sound stupid, but I binge read this very recently, and struggled at times with names. Could some kind soul give a cliff notes on the current husbando candidates?
Xuan Shi - Turtle boi interested in formations. Currently trying to change a nightmare into a dream. Likes LQ.
Bai Xia Anxi - Part of Meizhen's retainers. In the Violet Corals? I don't remember the bai castes. Musician. Astronomer. Diplomat. A bulliable scrub that thinks the sea is better than the sky.
Bardbarian - Barbarian who used music. We fought him. He ran away. I remember nothing else.
Sixiang - For some reason, people think Six is a possible husbando. They're LQ's Dream spirit and therapist. Weirdly responsible for a Dream/Moon spirit. Has an ongoing existential crisis about it.
Meng Dan - Frat boy from the Blue Mountain. I'm sorry but that's the only way I can describe him. Has a quiet Hidden moon little sister iirc. Likes books and history. Don't remember anything else
Bao Qian - A possible suitor trying to court LQ. Key word trying. It's not been going well. He's respectful and takes things at LQ's pace, but is also kinda distant too. Our business. Sells Zhengui's ash, possible recordings from us, and is Hanyi's manager.
Bai Lao Keung - Beefy snek. Suzhen probably sent him away because of some of his views. Soldier with radical views. Personally, I think he's Sun Shao 2.0.
I have no idea how you get the idea of "frat boy" from Meng Dan. Anyway he's soft-spoken and has a good sense of humor, and has connections to the Hidden Moon himself, not just through his sister. Imo he's husband candidate number one as soon as he throws his hat in the ring.
I have no idea how you get the idea of "frat boy" from Meng Dan. Anyway he's soft-spoken and has a good sense of humor, and has connections to the Hidden Moon himself, not just through his sister. Imo he's husband candidate number one as soon as he throws his hat in the ring.
I think it was when he drunk the guards at the WS under the table? And the whole Blue Mountain vibe too. That's when that mental image solidified in my mind
Bai Lao Keung - Beefy snek. Suzhen probably sent him away because of some of his views. Soldier with radical views. Personally, I think he's Sun Shao 2.0.
Thanks, I'm so bad at names I'm just trying to mentally sort everything now that I've caught up. I remember people for what they did in the story not their name lol
And, for the ship that sunk before it was even built, Shen Qi. He would have been a good lieutenant 😔. Everyone has minions but LQ. And he can be bullied too. But we didn't get to know more about him and he died
According to the side stories, it was Gu Xiulan who had a blooming bulling romantic ship with Shen.
I'm pretty sure she left before he died, though. So I don't think we ever knew how she reacted to the news. Unless it's in that Xiulan's spin-off that is going on in patreon.
"I suppose I have to hope enough people are enraptured by what could be to counterbalance any disagreements about what was," Ling Qi said.
"Guess I'll just have to hope your as good at the hustle as you are at the flute," Yu Nuan said, casting her gaze up at the sky.
"Is it a hustle if you believe what your saying?" Ling Qi asked mildly.
"It's especially a hustle then," Yu Nuan quipped back.
"Such a cynical junior," they both looked up to see Bian Ya approaching them again. "But I am glad you took my advice to heart, positive bonds are far more stable than negative."
No one wanted to see themselves in failures, it was better to show a model of success and direct people towards it. Those had been the older girl's words. Ling Qi wasn't sure it was as definitive as that, but for this project she agreed.
"Regardless, let's get to the final preparations," Ling Qi said. "We have a show to put on."
***
The stage rose from tightly woven roots and vines, pale green shading into a rich dark brown as bark grew in. It filled the width of the field. Disciples began to arrive, drawn by the curious sight. With drinks and food in hand, shuffling awkwardly between the many beasts drawn by the concentration of Zhengui's qi. Pillars and risers and rafters shot up like new shoots in spring, and were swiftly covered by glittering curtains of dark purple, casting it all in shadow and concealing the figures of those on the stage. A show, by one of their hosts, the word disseminated, a grand performance of many of the Inner Sect's musician disciples, a send off to one of their own.
What kind of performance would it be they wondered, what could need such a grand set up? A play, which one? There were many popular theater troupes these days, and many playwrights. Something old many said, to fit the theme of the party. Something poorly understood and ill thought out, grumbled some, who found the whole business crude or insulting or both.
Yet, as time wore on and the sounds of set up and movement behind the curtain began to fade, the guests, enthusiastic, reluctant or merely interested began to gather, for, if nothing else, it was where everyone was going, and it would not do to be left out.
It began with a rumble of thunder, the drifting clouds overhead growing dark and swelling with moisture and flashes of heavenly power. Then, with the cooling of the air, the wind did pick up, and tendrils of mist flowed from beneath the curtains, thin and wispy, but spreading swiftly through the field. The curtain rose upon a scene in shadow, light bending, making the stage far larger than it was. A towering grove of titanic and primeval trees, with the ground strewn with countless bones. The low bass notes of a playing lute became the rumble of great beasts. Briefly glimpsed figures of costumed disciples, could be seen before the strumming music bent their shadows into beastly titans
A shaggy head and jagged horns, twisted and broken many times, the Stag God, spoke in a voice of thunder, of lowly men who no longer knew their place, of the leader who raised them above their station, and filled the minds of the forest people with defiance. He spoke of far away lands where the gods were falling one by one, to the machinations of man.
And a chorus rose to match the music, intertwining with the actors voices to boom and shriek. The shadow of vast wings wide enough to blot out the sky, the prideful call of the Eagle God, who laughed off the Stag Gods cowardly fears, and declared that the storm of his wings alone would end this nonsense.
Crimson eyes in the dark, a great and terrible wolf surrounded by his lessers, the Wolf God, who snarled of kin stolen by trickery made weak by luxury, whose submission was an insult to his strength, who would need exterminating alongside the humans for the strength of the pack. A mountain stirred and rumbled, muscle and fur and power, the Bear God, vowed to end the noise of squabbling human life which disturbed his slumber.
A hissing voice of thousands joined the chorus, the buzzing of insects and the chittering of rats, The Vermin God agreed to lend their might, for man was growing wise and canny in the protection of their stores, and food would grow scarce all too soon.
Food would never be scarce, so long as they existed declared the next, a lazing shadow that lay across a mountainside like a divan, the Tiger God looked down imperiously upon the others, and when the others turned voices of annoyance upon them, the flick of their tail was a crack of thunder. Let none doubt their resolve, for like the Wolf God, they had wayward kin in need of punishment.
Let it all be washed away, like the floods of old! Declared a burbling voice, a shadow in the waters, the River God, that degenerate offspring of the fallen old gods demanded, and received contempt from his fellows as was customary, weakest of their number, even the bold and stupid Eagle God thought him foolish.
And so none paid mind to the smallest of their number, cunning and cruel, the Spider God watched his fellows in silence as the march began.
And as the music rose, the view upon the stage panned up into the clear blue sky.
***
"What a founding tale you southerners have," Bai Meizhen said, observing the play of illusion, and music with some amusement.
"It's convenient," Bao Qingling said sourly, her expression neutral. "Their number means the playwright always has enough figures to spread undesirable traits across, though there are commonalities.."
"Who would dare alter a founding tale?" Xiao Fen asked, tilting their head.
"We aren't the Bai, the original tales are long lost, your friend merely chose the orthodox Cai version."
"I wonder about that," Bai Meizhen mused, a smile playing on her lips. Ling Qi was rarely orthodox.
***
Words died down as the glittering blue sky of the stage panned down to a brighter set, though light rain fell upon the stage, a soft background of strings and bells transformed into the patter of rain.
Under the rain, a new voice rose in strident song, tall and athletic, garbed in the royal finery of an age long past, hides dyed in dark greens and blacks, a headdress of horns, a dusky skinned and androgynous features, there Tsu sang the first lines of the scene, his hands thrown out wide, before an audience of phantoms, the gathered and fearful people of the forest.
And despite the song and illusion it was clear it was their hostess.
***
A tall thin young man frowned up at the stage, brows furrowed, lips pressed together in a thin line.
"You are displeased, Sir Meng," observed his companion. A young woman with fang like tattoos on her cheeks and rough hide garb. She leaned against the broad side of a stag,
"How can I not be," Meng De replied. "There is a reason that the great diviner is portrayed as a voice offstage in such plays. It show immense ignorance to do otherwise. It puts all of this shallow imitation in the light it deserves."
The girl, Alingge, child of the dwindling hill tribes observed their host confronted another in similar finery, the riddle game, the bond of forest and hill, and claimed his victors right not as king but brother. Her lips twisted in a slightly bitter smile. "And if it is not ignorance?"
Meng De looked as if he had bitten into a lemon. The idea that members of his own clan would support such a thing, that the subversive children of Meng Diu would have fallen so far.... "Then that is worse. Tsu was no mere man, it is an insult to even imply that you aspire to take or improve on his labor.."
"Hm," the girl replied, and did not take her eyes from the stage.
***
Unity, communication. The gathering strength of an alliance, kin and not, the people of the land marshaled against the coming of the beasts. The diviner sang the future, and bent the ear of every tribe, a swelling confederation of forest and hill. At last did he turn his eyes south, to the mountains. There astride his brother, the noble Horned Lord he came to the foothills of a great fiery mountain, where ash rained like snow, and met with the great lord of the skies Khan of the Clouds. And here he found only stubborn pride, his words and gifts spat back, his warning laughed off. Let the Beasts come declared the Sky, we are mighty, the hunters of Dragons, and our arrows alone will slay them.
And Tsu was assailed by those arrows, those slings, those stinging bolts, and he bore them with strength and dignity as he retreated, raising no hand to his fellow men, for in their pride they had wrought their downfall, if not this age, then in another. And in his restraint he sowed the Clouds with doubt.
***
"A token of support, how kind of her," Luo Zhong said, wearing the faint smile that was as much a part of him as his shoes or his cloak.
"She's a good ally," laughed Wang Chao. "But a bit of a show off! I can't say I dislike it."
"Hm," Luo Zhong said. "Do you actually believe you can tame the Clouds, when no other could?"
"Ah, the details are over my head," Wang Chao shrugged, scratching at his bristly chin. "But men are men, aren't they? Let in the ones who are sensible, crush the rest. No waste, eh?"
"You know, I never can tell if you are profoundly idealistic, or profoundly simple," Luo Zhong said, for a moment, showing a real expression on his handsome face. Befuddlement.
"I know what I am Luo! Someone has to break things down before my kin build them up!"
***
It was in the cold mountain peaks that Tsu came to rest and tend to his wounds, and there met the aid of the mountain people, the dwellers of icy fields and frozen caves. There again he spoke, and here the people listened. The shaking of the earth was the gathering of beasts, the growing ferociousness of a land awakened against all.
Here too his words were heeded, and though the Mountain folk were away and few, warriors marched with Tsu all the same.
***
"Huh, is that part usually in there, it seems kinda convenient," Ma Lei said, scratching her head. She was really glad for her sis, getting to do stuff with like this! But she really wished they'd get on to the fighty bits. The volley of the Cloud nomads had been a really cool effect though! She was pretty sure she could recognize Jun's effects in the rain and wind.
Gun Jun, the guy her sis was so sweet on, watched raptly, his eyes darting around to the figures on the stage. Poor guy was standing at drill attention, he really needed to learn how to relax. "The diviner was always said to have been healed by mystics in the south, but it's usually portrayed as far flung hill tribes. Most scholars tended to say that it represented peoples that were later wiped out by the Cloud Tribes."
"Huh, is that so?" Ma Lei wondered. She wondered who was right? Well, she'd side with Lady Ling if anybody asked. She was just lucky to be here, all of them were. The Sect had quietly added fifty new slots to the Inner Sect, 'provisional ranks' and scooped up a bunch of people like them. Third realms and high seconds stuck in the Outer.
She'd not have gotten here without the Cai, Lord Gan and Lady Ling. If they thought the Empire could talk to these folks, they were probably right.
Oh! The music was getting dark! Things were about to get good!
***
At last the great confederation of tribes, the alliance of men stood among the roots of Xiangmen, the Heavenly Pillar, the great spirit of the wood and dell. Abundance spread with its roots, and here Tsu made is most fervent plea, for though they had the warriors to fight, their kin would not survive the reckoning unprotected. Only here, in all the lands could mortals survive a war of gods.
Tsu stood at the trunk and spoke long and passionately, of their peoples need, of their peoples devotion. That he would lead them, protect them, guide them to care for wood and dell, to preserve always these Emerald Seas, as mighty Xiangmen had done once, in the Age of Woe, where its canopy had sheltered all life from the falling stars and the wrath of the earth.
Once again, ruin was coming, once again, he begged for the succor of the heavenly pillar, and promised that their children and their children's children would live to give back.
Tsu spoke and prayed and pleaded for seven days and nights as the rumbling of the earth grew harsh as the world began to darken as hurricane winds tore the trees and titan footfalls crumbled the earth.
And at last, ancient bark did flow like water, a hollow and passage among the root and the people streamed in calling their prayers, their thanks to the great tree. Tsu gave voice to his exultation and rejoined his warriors, whose fierceness and valor grew beyond words, knowing that their kin were safe, so long as they held.
And the beast gods came for them. First of all Impudent and thoughtless Eagle God, whose wings covered the sky and whose shriek alone struck men dead, the sound enough to pulp flesh and shatter bones.
And Yet the Titan of the air was alone, flown ahead of his allies, for glory and pride. Tsu met him in the sky among the rain and the storm, and there he was halted. For though Tsu was no warrior, his mind was sharp and his hide was tough, and he knew the nature of his foes.
And so ten thousand grapnels and ropes and bindings dragged the Eagle Down to earth, for he had eyes only for the foe and not the insects beneath him.
And when his death was struck, it was not by Tsu, nor the Horned Lord, but by the hands of lowly warriors.
Eagle God's Dirge: G3
Type: Construct, Attack, Area
Duration: Stunt/Scene
The fastest of the beast kings, the Eagle God, lord of those who flew and preyed on the world below was an impetuous beast, and dove into battle before all the others. If this technique is activated without Primal War Calling, that technique activates freely the next time you use a technique.
On activation, the user plays an ear splitting high note and the Eagle God flies again, if only for a moment. The initial cry is an area attack against nearby enemies. And is followed by a single target attack as the construct dives into a foe and carries them away in its talons, dashing them against the ground at the end of its flight.
When the construct completes its charge, the user may then choose to expend it in a burst of qi as the Eagle God falls. Allies within the scene are filled with a powerful resolve and a burst of speed. Increase the rank of allied defense trait by one. Increase the potency of any allied movement arts used in the scene by 1.
Once the secondary effect is activated, the Eagle God's Dirge cannot be used again during the scene.
And standing atop the corpse of a god, even the least of men ceased to be lowly.
And so it went, a grand finale in more ways than one, noise and thunder to be remembered for months to come.
An announcement of intention that few would forget. A gauntlet laid down, a guarantor of success.
***
For the first time in a long time, Ling Qi felt sweat on her brow as the curtain closed. She only hoped she wasn't overestimating herself.
