One of the biggest stumbling blocks to establishing anything substantial was the distances involved, the roughness of the terrain, the hostility of the tribes. It was one of the reasons they'd ultimately decided not to lean too hard on trade relations. Merely setting up the infrastructure to allow those things in any bulk would be a work of years at minimum, even ignoring the ongoing war.
This… was another complication, but it was also an opportunity. If she took Jaromila's words to heart, the White Sky lacked the fine glassmaking necessary for devices like this, but did desire such things. A small number of experts was much easier to move than a great caravan of goods. If their idea of a foreign quarter was to bear any fruit, then they would need something to provide an official draw.
"Meng Dan, may I ask what sort of compensation might satisfy your clan on this subject?" Ling Qi asked.
He cupped his chin, frowning deeply. "...That depends on several things."
He gave her a long look, in which she read his meaning. It would depend on the balance of internal Meng factions, who managed to tug at the clan heads ear, and convince him on this matter one way or the other. She took a deep breath. "Then if we go forward, I hope to speak with your uncle on the matter. I hope a reasonable price can be found."
Meng Dan considered, heard her unspoken question. "I believe that is possible, Lady Ling."
Cai Renxiang gave them a sharp nod. They didn't need to speak of the Ministry here, the difficulties there were obvious, but… not insurmountable. It would have to be sold carefully. Particularly if she could arrange for some up front information sharing, the General was interested in knowledge of their enemies below, the Wang would have an interest if only because learning the patterns of the sky was important for establishing agriculture and even geomancy in a new region. It would be helpful to building efforts.
Astronomer Wu observed them with polite confusion. "Ah, I suppose there is more to this? I had believed her Grace's interest was enough…"
"My honored Mother has chosen not to interfere overmuch here," Cai Renxiang said. "Her support is helpful, but the convincing lies with me. I will see your proposal presented, Astronomer."
"Oh yes, I suppose that makes some sense," he said, nodding quickly. "I apologize if this is troublesome."
"No more than the many other requests we will receive, Meng Dan said lightly. "Now Astronomer Wu, this Stellar qi radiating out, would you tellus what you said to me about its relation to some of current enemies?"
"Ah! Of course, the star stones and that… thing which so badly struck the Argent Sect Elder," The thin man said. "Well, from the scraps of the Elder's cassock I was able to examine and my observations, they are certainly similar energies. Not the same, but if I had to make an estimation they likely arise from a common ancestor. To think that some old tales of fallen stars might actually be true… It is quite shocking!"
Ling Qi shared a look with Cai Renxiang, drawing her eyebrows together. "And, has her grace shared the evidence turned up in our own explorations…?"
"Oh yes, the beast dust. That was much more similar to the southern energies," Wu agreed cheerfully. "Though much less potent. Well, I would need access to some further records but it really does seem some phenomena is increasing the intensity and activation of these phenomena. If they were always so common, I cannot imagine no scholar would have failed to observe them until now."
"I see, thank you Astronomer," Cai Renxiang said calmly.
"...What is known of starstone, and energies like it?" Ling Qi asked. "I use some amount of moon filtered stellar qi in my cultivation, but it is nothing so…"
Sickening. Foul. Destructive.
"Filtered stellar qi comes to us by way of the moon and sun, and has a significant role in a number of phenomena," Astronomer Wu said, falling easily into lecture. He looked quite pleased by the question. "It is wholly different made of this world by the time it reaches us."
"When She who became the Hidden Moon named the stars, she took from them their light, their poison, their foundation, and wrought of it the Adamant Filter, which shields the world from their malice when the sun is far away on campaign," Meng Dan said, pushing up his eyeglasses.
"Yes, the origins of all these systems lie in the temple tales, this humble scholar only explores their function," Astronomer Wu agreed. "Hm, it is known that unfiltered starlight is inimical to terrestrial materials, and particularly corrosive to formationcraft. That is true. But it is also destructive unto itself, or rather, terrestrial and stellar material are mutually annihilatory."
Ling Qi furrowed her brow. "So just as it crumbles things of the earth, it is destroyed in turn this way?"
"That is the theory, but I will admit it is an old and dusty one, due to lack of rigorous study. Starstone and similar have only appeared very occasionally from the wall, and until Ogodei, it was last recorded in any significant quantity during the strife of Twin Emperors. The Usurper Shang was said to have found a method of using it as fuel for his devices and wonders, producing power that no spirit stone furnace or injector could match," Astronomer Wu said cheerfully. "Well there are very few records from that period or before, due to the awfulness that followed.."
The Strife… that was the transition between the first and second dynasty, where the empire had been split in supporting the two twin brothers vying for the throne. It was said to have lasted a thousand years, had destroyed the Sage's direct descendants entirely and ruined great swathes of the Empire.
"Where in the world would he find such things, " Ling Qi wondered.
"If answers to that exist, then I do not have access to such things," the older man said. "...And it is a bit on the edge of my field."
"The Theory continues that, because unfiltered stellar qi destroys and is destroyed by mere contact with the terrestrial, its remnants from the time of creation must have largely withered away by the modern day," Cai Renxiang spoke, crossing her arms. "Obviously mistaken."
"Indeed, indeed," Wu agreed cheerfully. "Though from the shards of that stone which remained at the Caldera, and from looking at records of what was recovered from Ogodei's battles, the stellar material used by the nomads is…impure. It is somehow mingled with terrestrial material. It was theorized that this is merely part of the decaying process, a temporary and unstable state, and that may be so, but it is not a subject given much study…"
"I suppose that will have to change, given the increasing amount showing up in unwanted places," Meng Dan said mildly. "I have read Lady Cai's reports on this… Labyrinth within the glacier you have discovered. Will you be plumbing it soon?"
"Relatively, I'm sure," Ling Qi replied dryly.
"Relatively, of course," Meng Dan chuckled. "Will the study of any artifacts or treasures be done here then, or will they be sent back to the capital?"
"I hadn't really considered that," Ling Qi said. "But I suppose the right facilities are being put up…"
"It is a distant concern," Cai Renxiang said with a frown. "Some months out, to even begin, but…"
"Well, I would of course be pleased to have real stellar materials on hand to study for certain," Wu said. "Of course as proud as I already am of the facilities, they are still much inferior to the workshops of the Xiangmen."
"Indeed, though I expect there will be a rather longer wait for results. Unless something truly catastrophic were to occur, enough to move Mother to intercede directly, there would be many other tasks and studies ahead."
"That titan who appeared at the caldera is not catastrophic?" Ling Qi asked incredulously.
"You would imagine, but no," Renxiang retorted.
"Academia is a slow moving battlefield, where every skirmish may take years or decades," Meng Dan said lightly. "So far as I know most consider it to be merely a dangerous high realm or spirit beast. Certainly something to be alarmed by, but military business, not theirs."
"Yes, I suppose the young sir is right," Wu said weakly. "It can be difficult to get new projects into the highest workshops. The overseers and administration is quite stubborn. Although the Ministry of Integrity has shown some interest in the materials as well."
"Ling Qi, it may be a minor matter now, but it is best settled on soon, that proper arrangements may be made. It is my opinion that using local facilities for anything we might find in our explorations will be the superior option. You are free to convince me otherwise."
Ling Qi considered for a moment. Did she disagree?
[ ] No. In addition to potentially being a another bone to toss to the Meng, as a high profile project for their facilities here, you would rather receive results in a more reasonable time frame. (Faster turnaround on Labyrinth Loot, Smaller bonus for identification and safety. Reformer/Conservative Meng like this)
[ ] Yes. Little enough is known, and the facilities at the capital are superior. She would like to get use out of any treasures sooner rather than later, but she would like to be certain of their safety even more. (Slower Turnaround on Labyrinth Loot, higher rolls for identification and safety. MoI likes this)
