Threads Of Destiny(Eastern Fantasy, Sequel to Forge of Destiny)
- Thread starter yrsillar
- Start date
- Original Users' Choice!
Voted best in category in the Users' Choice awards.
Huh, I expected a lot more influx of volunteers.
Sure, I'll do it myself (Oliver already threw the last one).
Sure, I'll do it myself (Oliver already threw the last one).
- Location
- FR
- Pronouns
- He/Him
No one wants to be responsible for a fail
Oliver_Twister
Idea-Man, He Who Shits Ideas
- Location
- West Africa
- Pronouns
- He/Him
No one wants to be responsible for a fail
I'm sure everything will be fine.
*Sweats profusely*
- Location
- FR
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Hey, you're a monkey, you can't sweat, that's the human special trait we unlocked in exchange for losing protective fur.
- Location
- Staring into the void
I'm happy to do it. (Assuming I'm awake when the roll is requested...)
Turn 18: Arc 5-1 Blood and Flowers
"We'll simply have to divert more translators to the project, and… hold a further meeting about 'obvious' things," Ling Qi said. "I will help train another few individuals in the White Sky tongue myself and ask that Emissary Khadne do the same. I am certain she will be reasonable."
"If Lady Ling would like to raise the matter. This one would be pleased to volunteer their time. Idle as this one yet is," Xuan Shi said.
"How generous of you," Jin Tae said. "Lady Ling, the matter of the insult is not to be forgotten."
"You are right about that," Ling Qi said. She considered Jin Tae for a long moment. He had not in any way impeded her. He clearly disagreed with her, but in the White Sky camp had shown solidarity in his silence. And while she thought he was wrong and knew that the Ministry was not invested in her success. She also knew more of her countrymen than she cared to admit would be on their side in the matter.
"I will inform Emissary Khadne of the need for mutual apologies over the matter… but I will also ask that the guard in question be censured by removal from any mixed detail."
Frankly, while their craftswoman had made an impulsive error, she couldn't help but see the response as excessive, even knowing there was cultivation damage involved. Also, from what she had gleaned of the White Sky's intent, they agreed with her assessment. Being taken out to 'cool her head' implied they thought it too hot. Similarly, they could quietly allow their woman to recover and work on other projects.
If she assessed the White Sky right, they wouldn't demand an announcement from the Imperials. If Ling Qi asked Khadne to make a statement as part of her apology she would be willing though. Their pride was not quite the same, stating aloud what they were going to do anyway wouldn't embarrass them.
On the other hand, the more belligerent among her group would see that as a concession, if a very small one. An oblique admittance of fault.
"I see," Jin Tae said. "Lady Ling is wise."
She could only feel the begrudging nature of the compliment due to her superior cultivation.
"That does seem to be for the best. However, you should be warned that further meetings and discussions will eat into work time," Xia Lin stated flatly. "The structure will be complete, but sections with rough or lacking flourish are possible."
Ling Qi grimaced. "I understand. I can only request that everyone give this matter their best, for the pride of the Empire, if nothing else."
"As long as you understand," Xia Lin said stiffly. Ling Qi gave the other girl a commiserating look. She could see the lapsed terror in her body language. She had been outright afraid that her Aunt would intervene back there, hadn't she?
…She mentally added a bottle of fine Xiangmen root cider to her apology gift.
"And I must thank you sir Xuan. I will send a missive to Lady Wang about your offer, but I am sure she will accept."
Wang Lian was not the type to be so prideful. She would probably be pleased to pick even a younger and less cultivated Xuan craftsmen's mind on the worksite.
"When a ship flounders, it is a good neighbor's duty to offer tow," Xuan Shi said.
He was rather pointedly ignoring Jin Tae.
"Unity among the provinces is to be lauded," Jin Tae said. "Shall I consider this matter closed then, Lady Ling?"
"I think so. I will write to Emissary Khadne and arrange matters with the workers. If the Ministry would like to pass an inspection over the meeting hall before the work resumes as well?"
Jin Tae glanced around, gaze falling back on Xuan Shi. "Inspector Cao will briefly examine the formations. The Ministry would not insult the Wang or the Xuan with less. Nor would we wish to impede the resumption of work. I do hope further collaboration will also go smoothly, Lady Ling."
"As do I," she said. Because this surely wouldn't be the last problem the summit saw. "Now please excuse me everyone. I have much writing and talking to do."
She only had an hour before she was supposed to meet Ji Rong and Sun Liling after all.
Her first thought was to compare them to the Duchess' White Plumes, but there was very little commonality. Cai Shenhua's elites were a united face of gleaming steel and precision, absolute discipline in form. The soldiers outside of the Sun's manor were not that. They exuded extreme confidence and discipline but it was a different sort. They worked bright crimson red into their armor, but that was the extent of their uniformity. Each soldier bore armaments of bone, hide, metal, and wood that were clearly reagents from powerful beasts, but each soldier was unique in their trappings. One had a great slab of bone and tooth on their back, half of some beasts toothy jaw. Another had a spear that seemed like a slender green stem, tipped with a wicked stinger that stunk of acid. Another twin blades that were black metal, crackling with frost, yet were clearly organically grown talons affixed to handles of bone.
And that was not even getting into the extravagant intricacies of their armor. Not one was less than third realm either, mostly in the second or third stage. Ling Qi finished her brief scan of the men and women stationed on the manor grounds, and turned her attention to Ji Rong, waiting there at the door for her.
"Cutting it close aren't you?" he said. His retained a little bit of thuggish slouch to his posture, wore a scowl and crossed his arms. She knew they couldn't appear too friendly.
"I have arrived at the appointed time, Baron Ji," Ling Qi said coolly. "But I thank the Sun clan for receiving me so swiftly.
Not like they'd left her much time to set meetings, but that was the game.
"Yeah. We offer respect for the accommodations, but its better if we talk inside," Ji Rong replied, jerking his head toward the door. "You can follow me."
She offered a small bow, and let her brows furrow a little as he turned away without a word. It didn't bother her, but it was easy to let her general irritation with the last day show on her face. She followed Ji Rong inside, falling in beside him. "Has Princess Sun considered my proposal?"
"Yeah, I told her I could get my job done a hell of a lot better if you and her hashed out the big picture of what you wanted, and then let me handle the details, 'stead of making me run back and forth between you like some pasty clerk," Ji Rong drawled.
"I hope we can both minimize our inconvenience," Ling Qi said. Good, she would be able to see Sun Liling and make good on her end of their deal.
Ji Rong gave a grunt of agreement and gestured at the pair of guards standing before the internal doors ahead of them, who in turn opened them to allow Ling Qi and Ji Rong into the manors sitting room.
Sun Liling was already there, sitting, her arms behind her head as she balanced her chair on its back legs. She glanced to them as they entered, and the chair tipped forward, landing with a clunk. "Well, here we go, why don't we get this done with, huh? I've heard you're getting run ragged today, miss Baroness."
"It is a busy day for certain, Lady Sun," Ling Qi said, lowering her head. "Thank you for receiving me."
"You can thank Ji Rong. Not like I actually want to make his life a pain in the ass," Sun Liling said with a shrug. So, let's talk yeah. What're you looking for from us?"
"A few broad categories," Ling Qi said, observing the princess. She had to be careful with her senses, with how much she reached out. "Firstly information on passage through the mountains you mentioned. We would like to be able to compare with our guests."
"The ones who say they fought a 'flower demon' before huh?" Sun Liling said, a catlike smirk curling her lips. "Yeah I can see why you'd want that. Go on."
No answer yet. "Secondly. Any information the west may have retained about the barbarian religion after the conquest. It seems likely that this creature is one and the same with the old goddess of the red garden."
She kept herself relaxed, let her eyes look beyond the physical, the vague impressions of aura and qi. It was still… not easy, but she had walked enough in dream to know how to peek past the veil. It was an important skill for not stepping directly into something unpleasant.
The scent of blood was overwhelming. Ji Rong was not lying about the drums, the drums beating just behind the veil. But… he was wrong. It was not drums. It was a heartbeat. A vast, vast heartbeat, echoing from half a continent away. A heartbeat pounding through a conduit of blood, flowing into Liling.
It was a mighty cultivation art indeed, tapping into such a deep well of power, from so far away.
"Huh, not much of that left," Liling said, scratching at her cheek idly. "Gramps mostly wiped the ones in the center out y'know. The priests and all. Not like the commoners out in the sticks we let live know more than the average peasant knows about the great spirits, y'know."
"I am certain you're people retained something. I am not so foolish as to think that soldiers lack intellect. The West is a martial land, but you are not unthinking brutes," Ling Qi said.
"Hah, isn't that kind of you," Liling chuckled. "Really going to butter me up now?"
"I have never been the one to initiate our troubles," Ling Qi replied.
Liling's eyes narrowed, and Ling Qi felt the princess intent wash over her. The hunter. A woman who had never known a life as prey, never known what it was to be weak. That was the difference, the line that could never be crossed between them, only…
Only that wasn't true was it. That she could pick from the pounding drums, the qi invested in every pounding heartbeat. Even a tiger was once a cub, even a blood soaked hunter was once a helpless babe. No Life begins with might. Strength arises from weakness. Strength grows from frantic battle and desperate fear. The spilled blood that ferments into the intoxicating, barrier shattering elixir that is resolve, is spite, is hate.
How brittle are those who forget the fear of the weak.
Ling Qi blinked and managed to keep her reaction to that alone, against the meaning gleaned from a moment spent listening so closely to that heartbeat. "Thirdly is your territorial claims. We already spoke of this in public of course."
"Yeah, yeah, you wanna get everyone on the same page so we don't go stabbing your little buddies too and ruining your show here," Sun Liling said.
And though the scars had gone from Liling's face, Ling Qi could feel in the dense mist of blood that filled the dream here, the presence of crusted over scabs, never healed wounds, that felt… as if they had been split recently.
The blood was not all pouring in. Sun Liling was bleeding.
It was difficult, riding the line between material and liminal. Difficult to keep her focus, difficult to not give anything away. There was a limit to what she could manage, knowing that this conversation could not last forever. In the mist of blood, rippling with the force of a beating heart, Ling Qi saw three wounds most clearly. She saw them, connected to them, grasped understanding through her own cultivation. She could only begin to guess which might give Ji Rong the most useful information
[ ] The wound in the heart, the gash torn in Community (+1 Community XP)
[ ] The wound in the mind, the aching scars of Isolation. (+1 Isolation XP)
[ ] The wound in the soul, the eyes blinded by Power. (+1 Power XP)
"If Lady Ling would like to raise the matter. This one would be pleased to volunteer their time. Idle as this one yet is," Xuan Shi said.
"How generous of you," Jin Tae said. "Lady Ling, the matter of the insult is not to be forgotten."
"You are right about that," Ling Qi said. She considered Jin Tae for a long moment. He had not in any way impeded her. He clearly disagreed with her, but in the White Sky camp had shown solidarity in his silence. And while she thought he was wrong and knew that the Ministry was not invested in her success. She also knew more of her countrymen than she cared to admit would be on their side in the matter.
"I will inform Emissary Khadne of the need for mutual apologies over the matter… but I will also ask that the guard in question be censured by removal from any mixed detail."
Frankly, while their craftswoman had made an impulsive error, she couldn't help but see the response as excessive, even knowing there was cultivation damage involved. Also, from what she had gleaned of the White Sky's intent, they agreed with her assessment. Being taken out to 'cool her head' implied they thought it too hot. Similarly, they could quietly allow their woman to recover and work on other projects.
If she assessed the White Sky right, they wouldn't demand an announcement from the Imperials. If Ling Qi asked Khadne to make a statement as part of her apology she would be willing though. Their pride was not quite the same, stating aloud what they were going to do anyway wouldn't embarrass them.
On the other hand, the more belligerent among her group would see that as a concession, if a very small one. An oblique admittance of fault.
"I see," Jin Tae said. "Lady Ling is wise."
She could only feel the begrudging nature of the compliment due to her superior cultivation.
"That does seem to be for the best. However, you should be warned that further meetings and discussions will eat into work time," Xia Lin stated flatly. "The structure will be complete, but sections with rough or lacking flourish are possible."
Ling Qi grimaced. "I understand. I can only request that everyone give this matter their best, for the pride of the Empire, if nothing else."
"As long as you understand," Xia Lin said stiffly. Ling Qi gave the other girl a commiserating look. She could see the lapsed terror in her body language. She had been outright afraid that her Aunt would intervene back there, hadn't she?
…She mentally added a bottle of fine Xiangmen root cider to her apology gift.
"And I must thank you sir Xuan. I will send a missive to Lady Wang about your offer, but I am sure she will accept."
Wang Lian was not the type to be so prideful. She would probably be pleased to pick even a younger and less cultivated Xuan craftsmen's mind on the worksite.
"When a ship flounders, it is a good neighbor's duty to offer tow," Xuan Shi said.
He was rather pointedly ignoring Jin Tae.
"Unity among the provinces is to be lauded," Jin Tae said. "Shall I consider this matter closed then, Lady Ling?"
"I think so. I will write to Emissary Khadne and arrange matters with the workers. If the Ministry would like to pass an inspection over the meeting hall before the work resumes as well?"
Jin Tae glanced around, gaze falling back on Xuan Shi. "Inspector Cao will briefly examine the formations. The Ministry would not insult the Wang or the Xuan with less. Nor would we wish to impede the resumption of work. I do hope further collaboration will also go smoothly, Lady Ling."
"As do I," she said. Because this surely wouldn't be the last problem the summit saw. "Now please excuse me everyone. I have much writing and talking to do."
She only had an hour before she was supposed to meet Ji Rong and Sun Liling after all.
***
The manor assigned to the Sun was not remarkable. While the artisans had surely made their best effort to make the embassy housing as fine as possible, for a project like this and for structures which would go through many residents, a certain uniformity could not be avoided. Especially with the Sun being such latecomers. The guards outside did belong to the Sun family though, that was clear. It was her first time encountering the soldiers of 'the Butcher of the West'.Her first thought was to compare them to the Duchess' White Plumes, but there was very little commonality. Cai Shenhua's elites were a united face of gleaming steel and precision, absolute discipline in form. The soldiers outside of the Sun's manor were not that. They exuded extreme confidence and discipline but it was a different sort. They worked bright crimson red into their armor, but that was the extent of their uniformity. Each soldier bore armaments of bone, hide, metal, and wood that were clearly reagents from powerful beasts, but each soldier was unique in their trappings. One had a great slab of bone and tooth on their back, half of some beasts toothy jaw. Another had a spear that seemed like a slender green stem, tipped with a wicked stinger that stunk of acid. Another twin blades that were black metal, crackling with frost, yet were clearly organically grown talons affixed to handles of bone.
And that was not even getting into the extravagant intricacies of their armor. Not one was less than third realm either, mostly in the second or third stage. Ling Qi finished her brief scan of the men and women stationed on the manor grounds, and turned her attention to Ji Rong, waiting there at the door for her.
"Cutting it close aren't you?" he said. His retained a little bit of thuggish slouch to his posture, wore a scowl and crossed his arms. She knew they couldn't appear too friendly.
"I have arrived at the appointed time, Baron Ji," Ling Qi said coolly. "But I thank the Sun clan for receiving me so swiftly.
Not like they'd left her much time to set meetings, but that was the game.
"Yeah. We offer respect for the accommodations, but its better if we talk inside," Ji Rong replied, jerking his head toward the door. "You can follow me."
She offered a small bow, and let her brows furrow a little as he turned away without a word. It didn't bother her, but it was easy to let her general irritation with the last day show on her face. She followed Ji Rong inside, falling in beside him. "Has Princess Sun considered my proposal?"
"Yeah, I told her I could get my job done a hell of a lot better if you and her hashed out the big picture of what you wanted, and then let me handle the details, 'stead of making me run back and forth between you like some pasty clerk," Ji Rong drawled.
"I hope we can both minimize our inconvenience," Ling Qi said. Good, she would be able to see Sun Liling and make good on her end of their deal.
Ji Rong gave a grunt of agreement and gestured at the pair of guards standing before the internal doors ahead of them, who in turn opened them to allow Ling Qi and Ji Rong into the manors sitting room.
Sun Liling was already there, sitting, her arms behind her head as she balanced her chair on its back legs. She glanced to them as they entered, and the chair tipped forward, landing with a clunk. "Well, here we go, why don't we get this done with, huh? I've heard you're getting run ragged today, miss Baroness."
"It is a busy day for certain, Lady Sun," Ling Qi said, lowering her head. "Thank you for receiving me."
"You can thank Ji Rong. Not like I actually want to make his life a pain in the ass," Sun Liling said with a shrug. So, let's talk yeah. What're you looking for from us?"
"A few broad categories," Ling Qi said, observing the princess. She had to be careful with her senses, with how much she reached out. "Firstly information on passage through the mountains you mentioned. We would like to be able to compare with our guests."
"The ones who say they fought a 'flower demon' before huh?" Sun Liling said, a catlike smirk curling her lips. "Yeah I can see why you'd want that. Go on."
No answer yet. "Secondly. Any information the west may have retained about the barbarian religion after the conquest. It seems likely that this creature is one and the same with the old goddess of the red garden."
She kept herself relaxed, let her eyes look beyond the physical, the vague impressions of aura and qi. It was still… not easy, but she had walked enough in dream to know how to peek past the veil. It was an important skill for not stepping directly into something unpleasant.
The scent of blood was overwhelming. Ji Rong was not lying about the drums, the drums beating just behind the veil. But… he was wrong. It was not drums. It was a heartbeat. A vast, vast heartbeat, echoing from half a continent away. A heartbeat pounding through a conduit of blood, flowing into Liling.
It was a mighty cultivation art indeed, tapping into such a deep well of power, from so far away.
"Huh, not much of that left," Liling said, scratching at her cheek idly. "Gramps mostly wiped the ones in the center out y'know. The priests and all. Not like the commoners out in the sticks we let live know more than the average peasant knows about the great spirits, y'know."
"I am certain you're people retained something. I am not so foolish as to think that soldiers lack intellect. The West is a martial land, but you are not unthinking brutes," Ling Qi said.
"Hah, isn't that kind of you," Liling chuckled. "Really going to butter me up now?"
"I have never been the one to initiate our troubles," Ling Qi replied.
Liling's eyes narrowed, and Ling Qi felt the princess intent wash over her. The hunter. A woman who had never known a life as prey, never known what it was to be weak. That was the difference, the line that could never be crossed between them, only…
Only that wasn't true was it. That she could pick from the pounding drums, the qi invested in every pounding heartbeat. Even a tiger was once a cub, even a blood soaked hunter was once a helpless babe. No Life begins with might. Strength arises from weakness. Strength grows from frantic battle and desperate fear. The spilled blood that ferments into the intoxicating, barrier shattering elixir that is resolve, is spite, is hate.
How brittle are those who forget the fear of the weak.
Ling Qi blinked and managed to keep her reaction to that alone, against the meaning gleaned from a moment spent listening so closely to that heartbeat. "Thirdly is your territorial claims. We already spoke of this in public of course."
"Yeah, yeah, you wanna get everyone on the same page so we don't go stabbing your little buddies too and ruining your show here," Sun Liling said.
And though the scars had gone from Liling's face, Ling Qi could feel in the dense mist of blood that filled the dream here, the presence of crusted over scabs, never healed wounds, that felt… as if they had been split recently.
The blood was not all pouring in. Sun Liling was bleeding.
It was difficult, riding the line between material and liminal. Difficult to keep her focus, difficult to not give anything away. There was a limit to what she could manage, knowing that this conversation could not last forever. In the mist of blood, rippling with the force of a beating heart, Ling Qi saw three wounds most clearly. She saw them, connected to them, grasped understanding through her own cultivation. She could only begin to guess which might give Ji Rong the most useful information
[ ] The wound in the heart, the gash torn in Community (+1 Community XP)
[ ] The wound in the mind, the aching scars of Isolation. (+1 Isolation XP)
[ ] The wound in the soul, the eyes blinded by Power. (+1 Power XP)
Last edited:
The wound in the soul, the eyes blinded by Power. (+1 Power XP)
this feels most right for Liling, given the recent realization about brittleness from forgetting what it's like to be weak. This is the wound that brittleness in Liling stems from, in my opinion
this feels most right for Liling, given the recent realization about brittleness from forgetting what it's like to be weak. This is the wound that brittleness in Liling stems from, in my opinion
Threnodist
occupying Haudenosaunee & Osage land she/her/hers
- Location
- Pittsburgh
[] The wound in the soul, the eyes blinded by Power. (+1 Power XP)
I think this is probably the most appropriate option to help Ji Rong (he's trying to convince his liege something is wrong, to do that he needs to know what exactly her blinders are), and I think it'll be the most interesting for us (I'm kinda sick of Community & Isolation options)
I think this is probably the most appropriate option to help Ji Rong (he's trying to convince his liege something is wrong, to do that he needs to know what exactly her blinders are), and I think it'll be the most interesting for us (I'm kinda sick of Community & Isolation options
)
Last edited:
- Pronouns
- He/Him
This is a very difficult vote. The two that most leap out at me are:
The wound in the heart, the gash torn in Community (+1 Community XP)
This is the one with the bigger picture impact, and the one most concerning in the long-term - Liling's pain from realizing how her great-grandpa has used her, and how far he's diverged from the Empire.
The wound in the soul, the eyes blinded by Power. (+1 Power XP)
But this one better fits Ji Rong's request, Liling's damage from being forcibly adopted by the Sunflower Goddess and having her body and soul warped.
The wound in the heart, the gash torn in Community (+1 Community XP)
This is the one with the bigger picture impact, and the one most concerning in the long-term - Liling's pain from realizing how her great-grandpa has used her, and how far he's diverged from the Empire.
The wound in the soul, the eyes blinded by Power. (+1 Power XP)
But this one better fits Ji Rong's request, Liling's damage from being forcibly adopted by the Sunflower Goddess and having her body and soul warped.
Remember, there's a two hour moratorium.
- Location
- Central Europe
The last one about Power feels like the most interesting one, however a part of me suspects that the first two, Community and Isolation, might end up providing more useful intel for Ji Rong.
Edit: "Useful" in the sense of trying to make Sun Lilling more person and less man-eating plant.
Edit: "Useful" in the sense of trying to make Sun Lilling more person and less man-eating plant.
Last edited:
- Location
- United Kingdom
At a guess the first is Shao's lies about the Sunflower Goddess, the second is not being able to talk to anyone about it(?) and the last I'm less sure on. Something about how they're not actually the conquerer's of the Red Garden, which is a blow to what she saw as their strength?
- Pronouns
- They/Them
I think it also stems from larger and longer-term divides. Sun Lilling has always had certain hangups about and obsessions with power. Even before the bullshit done to her, she was a miniature Warlord... admittedly so was Renxiang in one sense with better PR and more rules.
Power and the way it blinds has been a problem BEFORE a Goddess absolutely fucked her over with power.
Power and the way it blinds has been a problem BEFORE a Goddess absolutely fucked her over with power.
[ ] The wound in the heart, the gash torn in Community (+1 Community XP)
Awesome chapter. To peek into Sun Liling's tore and shredded cultivation, to witness the wounds that her grandfather and the Goddess inflicted upon her.
Any of the options would be good, but I think I prefer this one.
To explore the twisted concept of family Sun Liling was subjected to, the betrayal she must have felt.
I think that will resonate nicely with Ling Qi's recent Insight about how perfect safety doesn't exist, how forming bonds means opening yourself to be betrayed and hurt.
Awesome chapter. To peek into Sun Liling's tore and shredded cultivation, to witness the wounds that her grandfather and the Goddess inflicted upon her.
Any of the options would be good, but I think I prefer this one.
To explore the twisted concept of family Sun Liling was subjected to, the betrayal she must have felt.
I think that will resonate nicely with Ling Qi's recent Insight about how perfect safety doesn't exist, how forming bonds means opening yourself to be betrayed and hurt.
- Pronouns
- They/Them
I think there could be something interesting with power and weaknesses, considering the way that her Power *will* risk getting in the way of all of her other ideals time and again, and thinking about what it means both to be under it (which Ling Qi in one sense will be for a long time) and to possess it over others (as she has for, by this time, 1.5 Quests.)
Umm ... that was the losing vote option? And not by a little.
Anyway, for the vote options, in reverse order.
[ ] The wound in the soul, the eyes blinded by Power. (+1 Power XP)
First, I'm concerned that people might vote for this just because "soul" is special. Although we dabble in Power (and in fact its XP is tied for 4th with Want and Motion), it is not really core to Ling Qi's way, and I'm mildly concerned that our answer might be weaker if we focus on this. There's also an argument that it might be mechanically slightly better, but in this case I disregard that in favor of the context. Our own eyes are involved here but that's not the same as the eyes in this option.
[ ] The wound in the mind, the aching scars of Isolation. (+1 Isolation XP)
This one, having Isolation, would likely be the most "Ling Qi" answer, thus probably deeper (though do we have to worry about projecting too much of ourselves there?). You can take the girl out of the streets but you can't take the streets out of the girl. Scars are mentioned too I guess.
[ ] The wound in the heart, the gash torn in Community (+1 Community XP)
Community is a middle ground of sorts, something that Ling Qi puts a lot of effort into (tying Isolation for first place XP-wise), despite it not exactly coming naturally to her. Also, "heart" is the only component mentioned directly in the chapter, since it's tied to Sun Liling's blood arts. Thus, I'm leaning toward this one.
Last edited:
- Location
- Space
We should bear in mind that we're getting this information for a particular person. Power feels the most important in the abstract, but I think there's a good chance that Ji Rong will have more to work with based on one of the other two.
Yea, I'm kinda in the same boat.I'm kinda sick of Community & Isolation options
kfrar
Aspiring Encyclopedia
While it's not as spicy, I feel like Isolation might give us tools to help Ji Rong better bond with Liling, which is probably what we actually want. The fact that Ji Rong needs us to read Liling's mind to find out what's wrong instead of, you know, asking her, bodes poorly in terms of Liling's support systems and long-term stability.
Also, let's be honest, it's been a hot minute since we've actually picked an Isolation option. Community and Power, all the time, but we rarely actually choose Isolation.
Also, let's be honest, it's been a hot minute since we've actually picked an Isolation option. Community and Power, all the time, but we rarely actually choose Isolation.
[ ] The wound in the heart, the gash torn in Community (+1 Community XP)
Betrayal most deep, Ji Rong learns someone she is close to and trusts betrayed her in some way, its something he could investigate further, but the line only leads to Sun Shao.
And that is clue enough.
[ ] The wound in the mind, the aching scars of Isolation. (+1 Isolation XP)
Her secrets and the clan secrets forged a distance where she could be open before.
He can address this certainly, by personal connection but it would not progress towards root causes because Liling isn't going to react well to prying into clan secrets without a bond in excesss to her clan. Useful though, he can make her feel better immediatelty.
[ ] The wound in the soul, the eyes blinded by Power. (+1 Power XP)
The new set of quirks and tendencies rooted in the Sunflower's influence.
Extremely informative about the root cause, but theres basically nothing he can actually DO about it.
I think Community is a good mix of actionable and informative. He doesn't need to know the metaphysics. He just needs to know someone she trusts betrayed her deeply.
Betrayal most deep, Ji Rong learns someone she is close to and trusts betrayed her in some way, its something he could investigate further, but the line only leads to Sun Shao.
And that is clue enough.
[ ] The wound in the mind, the aching scars of Isolation. (+1 Isolation XP)
Her secrets and the clan secrets forged a distance where she could be open before.
He can address this certainly, by personal connection but it would not progress towards root causes because Liling isn't going to react well to prying into clan secrets without a bond in excesss to her clan. Useful though, he can make her feel better immediatelty.
[ ] The wound in the soul, the eyes blinded by Power. (+1 Power XP)
The new set of quirks and tendencies rooted in the Sunflower's influence.
Extremely informative about the root cause, but theres basically nothing he can actually DO about it.
I think Community is a good mix of actionable and informative. He doesn't need to know the metaphysics. He just needs to know someone she trusts betrayed her deeply.
Last edited:
Winged One
Not the Simurgh
- Location
- definitely the ground
- Pronouns
- They/Them/It
Hm... rereading the bit right before the vote, I think Ji Rong would find Power more comprehensible than the other two. LQ narrates about trying to understand wtf is wrong with Liling through the lens of her own cultivation, and Power is probably the only concept we have in common. I believe it's most directly related to the Jungle's influence on her. However, the wound in the heart, that LQ sees through the lens of Community, is probably the pain of the Butcher's betrayal, and speaking of it most likely to result in prying Liling away from him. The Jungle herself probably has her hooks in too deep to get out without crippling herself. Yet that's a choice Liling could make, if she so chooses.
- Location
- Canada
Well you are quoting that line in isolation of the rest of the conversation as well as the literal next thing Ling Qi says
The vote was to seek better work practices for the sake of eliminating friction and fostering better understanding
And that's literally what the update outlines will happen, they're going to start hosting more meetings and discussions between the workers to ensure misunderstandings like this don't happen again
Adding more translators on is just part of that, I'm not sure how you expect them to discuss with each other without being able to understand each other after all