That was really fun! It's cool how Qi is making a crown of ice with a star at the center to show her authority! And the fewer layers probably makes it more potent. "This land is mine through the authority the Duchess Cai, High priestess of all the emerald seas, and through her the Empress and the Celestial Dragon herself." And then she grants that authority to her little sister. Quite the boost.
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.
- Location
- Washington
I suspect it's not JUST that there's devolved authority from all the way up to the empress (although it absolutely contributes), but the mere existence of a Hierarchy at all. "I'm acting on the authority of someone who's acting on the authority of someone. Now there's a spiritual pull for YOU to start acting under MY authority as well."
Tasoli
Life is for Living
- Location
- Behind the Keyboard.
What was the vote that won for Hanyi establishing hierarcy anyway? I forgot.
Honestly I would like it if such votes were to sticked up top of a update when they come along because there is too much time between voting for something and it showing up on an update. A reminder would be great.
Honestly I would like it if such votes were to sticked up top of a update when they come along because there is too much time between voting for something and it showing up on an update. A reminder would be great.
kfrar
Aspiring Encyclopedia
We revoked the fairies' kneecap privileges.
Tasoli
Life is for Living
- Location
- Behind the Keyboard.
As opposed to?
kfrar
Aspiring Encyclopedia
Finding weaker fairies and training them to be loyal employees from scratch.
Thebigpieman
I've got this, I think.
- Location
- United States
It was more Hanyi creating faeries through her own power from my understanding.
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Jiven
With the power of the moon...
- Location
- Strasbourg, France
Oh god i didn't make the connection!
Yes, bully the 9balls, it's only right.
Happy to see that the healing is going so well.
I feel like Ling Qi has grown a lot by thinking about this. Honestly for all her monstrosity I respect Shenhua for knowing that she can't see her dreams fulfilled and leaving it to her daughter.
I feel like Ling Qi has learned from Jiao not to attach her Way to closely to someone else and that there is no real endpoint or point where things are truly fixed. Also her developing her own song has the vibe of creating her own Art on her own.
That's a really cool concept and was pulled off through Ling Qi's position and Spirit Arts.
kfrar
Aspiring Encyclopedia
Pretty sure Hanyi's not that swole yet:
In practice, there wouldn't be that much difference, because a fairy that weak that Hanyi raises from scratch is probably going to act like an extension of her will anyway, but baby green Hanyi isn't quite an ecosystem to herself just yet.
- Location
- Staring into the void
We should learn ASA to speed up the recovery even faster.
BagFullOfLizards
Some bag, mostly lizards
- Location
- A bag
I wasn't following the name debate, what's the meaning of the one that won?
- Location
- The United States
- Pronouns
- He/They
We should learn ASA to speed up the recovery even faster.
I've never had a meme trigger nostalgia before, but for some reason this one took me straight to "I was there, Gandalf. I was there 10 thousand pages ago."
- Location
- Staring into the void
Idea for the name first mentioned here.
Threads Of Destiny(Eastern Fantasy, Sequel to Forge of Destiny) Original - Users' Choice!
Lu4/dew is pretty good. I like dew, as it's beautiful, related to snow and blossoms, and certainly plentiful in a misty town under a waterfall. Lu4 also means roads or journeys, so rather than an endpoint like 'edge' or 'rim' type names it's something where you can journey past or through. (It's...
forums.sufficientvelocity.com
Diary of Fen Xiang, Scholar
- Location
- FR
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Diary of Fen Xiang, scholar.
45th year, the First month of Her Majesty Mu Xiang's reign.
8th day
To my surprise, my section director came to me with an offer of possible reassignment a week after the New Year's festival. After my failed breakthrough to the Green Realm fifteen years ago, I expected my career to stagnate. My skillset as a surveyor has become redundant in the Capital lands, as all the hidden veins the Hui and their subordinates kept for themselves were rediscovered, which, combined with my age and the damages I caused to myself, explains why I have been affected to the Geomantic Record subdivision of the Archive of the Ministry of Works.
However, it appears Minister Diao has ordered a search of the Ministry's personnel for lower-realm surveyors with expansive theoretical knowledge to be auditioned, and if found satisfactory, affected to a surveyor cadre under the orders of none other than Lady Cai Renxiang, the Heiress. I intend to submit myself to this audition, with the agreement of my subsection head. One last adventure, I think, before I rest. This old man still has that in him, even now.
45th year, the Second month of Her Majesty Mu Xiang's reign.
The Cai clan is swift to move when it chooses to be. I was selected after three rounds of interviews, including a final one through letters exchanged with the young mistress Cai. Her favorable response came the same day as the carriage that carted me off to the Wall, as I was told it would. My personal effects have been put in storage in a warehouse in Manaoshan for now, at my request. I will have them transferred once permanent housing is put up in this Snowblossom.
I arrived at a textbook-perfect example of what a town's precursor outpost should look like. I initially worried about the long-term viability of a settlement so far south, as mortal habitation requires local food sources, but the presence of a meltwater lake is reassuring, and I am informed that some heat source underground prevents the ground from turning to permafrost, making the perspective of agriculture closer than one would think. I assume exploring this phenomenon will be my first assignment.
45th year, the Third month of Her Majesty Mu Xiang's reign.
5th day
When I was told that I would be assisted by one of Her Ladyship's young retainers' younger brother, considering their ages, I thought I would be saddled with a boy with an enthusiasm for geomancy and planned to humor him a few days before requesting the honored Baroness Ling finds a tutor with less work to do. Then, I met Lord Zhengui.
As a spirit of growth and destruction heavily aligned with both plant life and the fires of the Nameless Mother, he was able to guide us in following the veins of heat underground with disconcerting ease. He also regaled us with tales of his previous adventures with Lady Ling as we trundle along the veins of heat, and I must admit that I, for one, am happy of his presence. It is not often that a simple group of scholars and surveyor like the one I was given to command benefit from the protection of a being able to fortify a full village in the face of waves of disease spirits, to say nothing of the sheer usefulness of his instincts for our work.
20th day
We started by working out the limits of the Vein's influence. It appears they do not extend far west, along the run of the river's main tributary.
45th year, the Fourth month of Her Majesty Mu Xiang's reign.
10th day
The work goes on. We've been able to determine that the veins of the earth cover a large portion of the fief indeed, from the Saline Grotto Lady Ling uses as a cultivation site to the foot of the Thunderclap Mountain, and expending far to the south. Young Lord Zhengui believes a node of the veins can be found under the mountain, but the place is forbidden to us by order of Lady Cai. It is strongly suspected that it is an intermittent gazing ground for a family of qilin, which would explain our Young Lord's complaints about the veins "tasting like thunder" near it.
15th day
We have found another node, on the side of a hill overlooking the western side of Snowblossom lake. It has a magnificent view on the lake, the rapidly-growing outpost, and even the pass in the east where the road turns south again, to the location where a summit with southern barbarian is being prepared by Lady Cai and her retainers.
I counseled the Young Lord to show patience and finish our survey before he starts inspecting the node in details. Thankfully, he heeded me. I do not believe we would be able to finish our work in the time Lady Cai gave us otherwise, and I do not wish to be the first to announce delays in a project to Her Highness.
20th day
I had cause to briefly speak with the young Bai Lord who has been assisting on the security of the camp. He and his men have been polite and helpful, with only hints of the rumored arrogance of the citizens of the Thousand Lakes. Apparently, Young Lord Zhengui approached him to ask about the practicalities of inspecting the region south of the lake for our work. He assures me that he and his soldiers can create a temporary system of ropes and pulleys to haul my team and I up the cliff and back down. When I asked about the way Zhengui's passage could be arranged, he dismissed my concerns politely. Perhaps Lady Ling will be visiting soon, and she'll be able to assist by taking him in her dantian before flying over?
21st day
Well. I believed myself well-traveled, and used to unusual sights. I now stand corrected. Seeing a Red Bai standing on a hill, his body shining with lightning, catching the Young Lord Zhengui under his chest, and just…. Throw him over the cliff face had me flabbergasted for a while. I believe I am justified in that regard. At least, it appears the Young Lord does not mind. I believe I heard him giggle when I asked him about his health.
23rd day
It is the first time I've seen the young lord show signs of anger. He seems to strongly disapprove of the great fourth grade beast we've been warned of when I inquired about dangers south of the great cliff wall. I believe I heard Gui in particular mutter about it "hogging a good thing and not even use it well". A third node of the earth's vein has been located, but I do not think it will be accessible before that thing has been destroyed.
26th day
I had been wondering about the way the Young Lord would be getting down the cliff… He had been assuring me that Lord Bai had a plan. Apparently, the plan was to simply drop him in the lake from the top of the cliff face. Young Lord Zhengui was unhurt (I do not think there's many things that could hurt him, at this point) but he has been…. Meditating ever since, as he had to be hauled out of the water. His presence and his…. Temper caused a great eruption of steam, and Zhen has refused to acknowledge the presence of Bai Lao Keung all of today, while Gui was uncharacteristically short with him.
28th day
The Young Lord says he is now certain the heat underground is from fire qi from some mineral partially dissolved in the water. He believes he can nudge it to either fully dissolve in the water or suffuse the earth. We will need Lady Cai or one of her retainers to decide. Either way, untangling that geomantic knot should bring more heat to the surface, which should help the productivity of the farms that are being built on the lake-shore.
I am satisfied by our work for now. I think our next task will be to see to the creation of a temporary quarry to support the intense infrastructure building in the outpost. There's talk of constructing the beginnings of a manor already, and that will require stones, preferably from the region. Work for another day.
@yrsillar omakke for the throne !
45th year, the First month of Her Majesty Mu Xiang's reign.
8th day
To my surprise, my section director came to me with an offer of possible reassignment a week after the New Year's festival. After my failed breakthrough to the Green Realm fifteen years ago, I expected my career to stagnate. My skillset as a surveyor has become redundant in the Capital lands, as all the hidden veins the Hui and their subordinates kept for themselves were rediscovered, which, combined with my age and the damages I caused to myself, explains why I have been affected to the Geomantic Record subdivision of the Archive of the Ministry of Works.
However, it appears Minister Diao has ordered a search of the Ministry's personnel for lower-realm surveyors with expansive theoretical knowledge to be auditioned, and if found satisfactory, affected to a surveyor cadre under the orders of none other than Lady Cai Renxiang, the Heiress. I intend to submit myself to this audition, with the agreement of my subsection head. One last adventure, I think, before I rest. This old man still has that in him, even now.
45th year, the Second month of Her Majesty Mu Xiang's reign.
The Cai clan is swift to move when it chooses to be. I was selected after three rounds of interviews, including a final one through letters exchanged with the young mistress Cai. Her favorable response came the same day as the carriage that carted me off to the Wall, as I was told it would. My personal effects have been put in storage in a warehouse in Manaoshan for now, at my request. I will have them transferred once permanent housing is put up in this Snowblossom.
I arrived at a textbook-perfect example of what a town's precursor outpost should look like. I initially worried about the long-term viability of a settlement so far south, as mortal habitation requires local food sources, but the presence of a meltwater lake is reassuring, and I am informed that some heat source underground prevents the ground from turning to permafrost, making the perspective of agriculture closer than one would think. I assume exploring this phenomenon will be my first assignment.
45th year, the Third month of Her Majesty Mu Xiang's reign.
5th day
When I was told that I would be assisted by one of Her Ladyship's young retainers' younger brother, considering their ages, I thought I would be saddled with a boy with an enthusiasm for geomancy and planned to humor him a few days before requesting the honored Baroness Ling finds a tutor with less work to do. Then, I met Lord Zhengui.
As a spirit of growth and destruction heavily aligned with both plant life and the fires of the Nameless Mother, he was able to guide us in following the veins of heat underground with disconcerting ease. He also regaled us with tales of his previous adventures with Lady Ling as we trundle along the veins of heat, and I must admit that I, for one, am happy of his presence. It is not often that a simple group of scholars and surveyor like the one I was given to command benefit from the protection of a being able to fortify a full village in the face of waves of disease spirits, to say nothing of the sheer usefulness of his instincts for our work.
20th day
We started by working out the limits of the Vein's influence. It appears they do not extend far west, along the run of the river's main tributary.
45th year, the Fourth month of Her Majesty Mu Xiang's reign.
10th day
The work goes on. We've been able to determine that the veins of the earth cover a large portion of the fief indeed, from the Saline Grotto Lady Ling uses as a cultivation site to the foot of the Thunderclap Mountain, and expending far to the south. Young Lord Zhengui believes a node of the veins can be found under the mountain, but the place is forbidden to us by order of Lady Cai. It is strongly suspected that it is an intermittent gazing ground for a family of qilin, which would explain our Young Lord's complaints about the veins "tasting like thunder" near it.
15th day
We have found another node, on the side of a hill overlooking the western side of Snowblossom lake. It has a magnificent view on the lake, the rapidly-growing outpost, and even the pass in the east where the road turns south again, to the location where a summit with southern barbarian is being prepared by Lady Cai and her retainers.
I counseled the Young Lord to show patience and finish our survey before he starts inspecting the node in details. Thankfully, he heeded me. I do not believe we would be able to finish our work in the time Lady Cai gave us otherwise, and I do not wish to be the first to announce delays in a project to Her Highness.
20th day
I had cause to briefly speak with the young Bai Lord who has been assisting on the security of the camp. He and his men have been polite and helpful, with only hints of the rumored arrogance of the citizens of the Thousand Lakes. Apparently, Young Lord Zhengui approached him to ask about the practicalities of inspecting the region south of the lake for our work. He assures me that he and his soldiers can create a temporary system of ropes and pulleys to haul my team and I up the cliff and back down. When I asked about the way Zhengui's passage could be arranged, he dismissed my concerns politely. Perhaps Lady Ling will be visiting soon, and she'll be able to assist by taking him in her dantian before flying over?
21st day
Well. I believed myself well-traveled, and used to unusual sights. I now stand corrected. Seeing a Red Bai standing on a hill, his body shining with lightning, catching the Young Lord Zhengui under his chest, and just…. Throw him over the cliff face had me flabbergasted for a while. I believe I am justified in that regard. At least, it appears the Young Lord does not mind. I believe I heard him giggle when I asked him about his health.
23rd day
It is the first time I've seen the young lord show signs of anger. He seems to strongly disapprove of the great fourth grade beast we've been warned of when I inquired about dangers south of the great cliff wall. I believe I heard Gui in particular mutter about it "hogging a good thing and not even use it well". A third node of the earth's vein has been located, but I do not think it will be accessible before that thing has been destroyed.
26th day
I had been wondering about the way the Young Lord would be getting down the cliff… He had been assuring me that Lord Bai had a plan. Apparently, the plan was to simply drop him in the lake from the top of the cliff face. Young Lord Zhengui was unhurt (I do not think there's many things that could hurt him, at this point) but he has been…. Meditating ever since, as he had to be hauled out of the water. His presence and his…. Temper caused a great eruption of steam, and Zhen has refused to acknowledge the presence of Bai Lao Keung all of today, while Gui was uncharacteristically short with him.
28th day
The Young Lord says he is now certain the heat underground is from fire qi from some mineral partially dissolved in the water. He believes he can nudge it to either fully dissolve in the water or suffuse the earth. We will need Lady Cai or one of her retainers to decide. Either way, untangling that geomantic knot should bring more heat to the surface, which should help the productivity of the farms that are being built on the lake-shore.
I am satisfied by our work for now. I think our next task will be to see to the creation of a temporary quarry to support the intense infrastructure building in the outpost. There's talk of constructing the beginnings of a manor already, and that will require stones, preferably from the region. Work for another day.
@yrsillar omakke for the throne !
Last edited:
- Location
- Michigan
Love the different perspective on Zhengui. I still think of him like when he was first born. He's making his own path now, just lke Hanyi
Hanyi wanting to appear as a sophisticated lady, but really underneath she has the personality of a mob boss. I've enjoyed reading her.
Turtle-snek go WHEEEEEEEE!
Turtle-snek go not WHEEEEEEEE!
- Location
- FR
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Zhengui famously hates being dropped on water... And this time it wasn't Ling Qi doing it. (Also, We'd need to ask yrs, but I doubt he's the best swimmer.)
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That sounds a lot like "not WHEEEEEEEE!" to me.
- Location
- Finland
But now you're repeating yourself.
And yes, Hanyi's journey into the winter kingpin she is meant to be is a joy to read.
He liked the fall.
The splash at the end less so.
Typo for Young here/
Kinda? Depends on which flavor of Spiritualism you add her to, I guess.
Imperial style probably does lean on the Empress, or rather the Sage Emperor's dragon mom, given we know there is a whole spiritual court centered around her.
Weilu style probably leans more on Xiangmen. Either way, things go through Renxiang and Cai Shenhua.
PowerLeca
Rapidly aging
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Hehehehehe, I just know GG had a great chuckle at these two. BLK and his various effective methods of "driving back the larger lake beasts".
Whether Zhengui was the "lake beast" or the method of driving them back, only BLK may know!
Zhengui maybe sunk far enough to get a closeup introduction to Snowblossom!
globalwarmth
ruining the weather.
- Location
- Polar ice caps
Gui should use more pumice in his shell. That rock floats and is consistent with volcanic activity