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Threads Of Destiny(Eastern Fantasy, Sequel to Forge of Destiny)

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Zaealix said:
I have a slightly modified plan to apply here.
The Bandits are running towards the Boarder. We know Cai&Troops are coming up behind them. We need to lock them down.
I like the idea of basically visably deploying our FVM ahead of them to force them to evaluate this new threat.
either they plow into us and we begin wrecking them, or they stop and pause and buy us time.
Risk is getting the enemy Cultivators to charge into us, but on the flipside they probably don't have the mobility/perception combo to catch us, and an unknown threat in unfamiliar territory is quite terrifying...
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This is a little tricky, because FVM isn't too big to travel around if we deploy it ahead of them to act as a deterrent.

Alectai said:
[ ] Plan: The Night Parade of One Thousand Demons - Revision Two
-[ ] Approach to within a few hundred meters discreetly, layering defenses while on final approach (especially SES and TRF) and then activate Forgotten Vale Melody at maximum range, scale up to Traveller's End ideally before an organized response can be mustered, use Elegy to isolate the illusionist, and maintain defenses and PLR control effects while sneaking Hannyi and Zhengui into the mists to launch ambushes to chip away at the lower realm 'Bandits'. Stall them and contain them, but ensure that defenses are in place to endure a potential sneak attack from the third target. Respond to any surprises (Such as a backstab by third target on any allies) by detonating Traveller's End--boosted through Joyous Toast and Sixiang's support, and if anything remains intact, use all means necessary to contain any survivors until Renxiang and reinforcements arrive.
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If we can get close enough without being seen, it might be worth splitting up with Zhengui and Hanyi to set up a sort of pincer. Zhengui has an AoE grapple for within close range, and can probably win a strength contest vs most Reds and Yellows so if he does that first while Hanyi lures one of the Greens (ideally the melee guy) then it'll split the enemy between those who got caught and those who can keep going. Then we can deploy FVM on the other Green and some of the mooks so we don't have to worry about their synergy as much. Sort of a one-two punch of ambushes.
 
PrimalShadow said:
The Sect archives as a whole? Yes. One of the draws of the Sect is their extensive library. The Sect's ARCHIVE ONE, on the other hand? That I find harder to believe.


It wouldn't need to cover everything. We aren't actually that picky. Since we've placed the request, we've picked up Resist arts, Sensory arts, Social arts, Stealth/Movement arts - there is a lot that we would find useful, even if you judge merely by the arts we actually chose to cultivate, not just the ones we were tempted to pick up but didn't. Matching our elements is a bit trickier, but not excessively so; we generally want our arts aligned with Music/Darkness/Wind/Wood (roughly in that order, multiples encouraged).

I find it very hard to believe that the Cai would need the equivalent of an inter-library loan just to fit this level of specialization.
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I expect that this was a good opportunity to trade for good arts from the Bai using Ling Qi's good relationship with them as an extra bargaining chip.
 
fictionfan said:
Well are we making any assumption that the people in charge care at all about the scrubs or do we expect them to run and abandon them at the first sign of us?
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The group of 70 lower ranked combatants have some purpose to the three green realms, otherwise, they would have ditched them already. That purpose is, likely, to provide an edge against the forces that most assuredly will pursue them. I feel that as long as the group keeps providing the purpose that the greens have for them, the greens will keep with them even if it would be faster for them to ditch them.

It still may be the best bet to nuke the help and try and restrict the remaining greens, but I still think the ramifications of removing something that has been slowing the greens down should be considered.
 
Alectai said:
[ ] Plan: The Night Parade of One Thousand Demons - Revision Two
-[ ] Approach to within a few hundred meters discreetly, layering defenses while on final approach (especially SES and TRF) and then activate Forgotten Vale Melody at maximum range, scale up to Traveller's End ideally before an organized response can be mustered, use Elegy to isolate the illusionist, and maintain defenses and PLR control effects while sneaking Hannyi and Zhengui into the mists to launch ambushes to chip away at the lower realm 'Bandits'. Stall them and contain them by abusing our mobility and stealth, but ensure that defenses are in place to endure a potential sneak attack from the third target. Respond to any surprises (Such as a backstab by third target on any allies) by detonating Traveller's End--boosted through Joyous Toast and Sixiang's support, and if anything remains intact, use all means necessary to contain any survivors until Renxiang and reinforcements arrive.
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I don't think this is a good use of our spirits. They'll be much more helpful if we let them work together with us against the major threats. If we're separated, they could end up facing Greens by themselves, which could be dangerous with the explicit weaknesses of our spirits. Our AoE arts should be enough for everyone else, unless they're in a formation. If they are in a formation, attacking weaklings at random likely won't help.
 
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Thor's Twin said:
The group of 70 lower ranked combatants have some purpose to the three green realms, otherwise, they would have ditched them already. That purpose is, likely, to provide an edge against the forces that most assuredly will pursue them. I feel that as long as the group keeps providing the purpose that the greens have for them, the greens will keep with them even if it would be faster for them to ditch them.

It still may be the best bet to nuke the help and try and restrict the remaining greens, but I still think the ramifications of removing something that has been slowing the greens down should be considered.
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we know that 2 enemy greens are green 2 and if we start with an A damage AoE and with our derived stats for the art, we might actually defeat them in one hit too. Even if that doesnt happen, TE also has the paralyze effect, which should give us enough time to setup PLR to keep them captured.
 
It is sort of funny. These 70 combatants are about equal with our whole class when we joined the sect. But in this fight our biggest worry is that the real threats will abandon them.
 
PrimalShadow said:
No; I just think in-character CRX is wrong to expect us to have guessed why the arts were taking so long to arrive, and out-of-character Yrsillar is wrong for implying the same if he is using CRX to express his own opinion there.
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well i wouldn't exactly blame him for feeling that people were being unreasonable given the amount of complaints that were sent over CRX and whether she had been doing enough for us
despite the fact she was responsible for supplying us loads of cash
 
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Huo Yuhao said:
I don't think this is a good use of our spirits. They'll be much more helpful if we let them protect us from the major threats. Our AoE arts should be enough for everyone else, unless they're in a formation. If they are in a formation, attacking weaklings at random likely won't help.
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It also concentrates us when we're badly outnumbered, risking encirclement. By splitting up into two threats that both must be engaged (But remember, Ling Qi's mobility is super and her buffs are area of effect), they're stuck in a bad position.

Ling Qi is still the chief threat though in this case, so she provokes the sneak attack that's probably coming. But more importantly, by maximizing the damage output (Again, Hannyi's offense is weak by our standards, but she's a third realm with an AoE Qi drain riding a snake-tortoise who roots everyone around him and auto-counters attacks to his friends. They're going to mulch the lower ranks but not be so great against the elites), we maximize their sustained damage and limit their strength in the event of a reversal--which is likely, they've planned for us, but it likely won't be super quick or perfect, and our recovery will be easier if their strength has been heavily depleted when it comes.
 
XkaliburRage said:
Are there any more plans to interact with the dragon further?
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I don't think so.

How likely is our mist to catch at least one of the greens? Because if we get at least one or maybe some of their spirit beasts I don't think that they will be over willing to abandon each other. Also possible that the one we catch might have the loot.
 
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In light of Alectai's own plan, Ive decided to throw together an alternative option for those who are wary of going loud when there's an assassin hanging in the wings

[X] Plan If It Bleeds...
-[X] Lean on all your skills to turn into a shadow and track the source of the false trails, the assassin who undou btedly serves as the trump card of that raiding force using your superior speed. Once you've located his inevitable location around his fellows, use all your skills in perception, tracking, and stealth to locate him remembering the techniques favored by Lu Feng (For obviously this is what Sun Liling was taunting you with) and ambush the assassin with your Spirits. Once you've engaged the assassin, begin preparing your full suite of arts for mass combat, then once you've confirmed the kill, take them with you to attack the main force by dropping Zhengui and Hanyi on them from above, while using PLR and Elegy of the Lost to isolate the relevant combatants, specifically the illusionist, and crush them with FVMs ultimate technique before holding out as best you can until reinforcements arrive.

In short...Basically, hunt down the Assassin and other unknown factors first, counter-ambush them while setting up Ling Qi's suite since this force is entirely disposable and thus whomever this assassin dude is he won't be on the level of a peer opponent, and once the fight is well in hand and the guy is about to fold, let Hanyi and Zhengui finish him off while Ling Qi proceeds to catch up to the main group and yeets on them with her full Death Cloud form now that they lack any outside trump cards to come in and backstab Ling Qi from the side.

The plan name is in reference to the masterpiece of eighties theater known as Predator ofc

fictionfan said:
How likely is our mist to catch at least one of the greens? Because if we get at least one or maybe some of their spirit beasts I don't think that they will be over willing to abandon each other. Also possible that the one we catch might have the loot.
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Pretty likely. These guys arent going to be the kind of noble scions that you see get sent out to the Sects for education. If anything, they're likely disposable Western Washout mooks, which given that the Western Armies excels in said mooks being able to make Third Realm consistently isn't that far a stretch or a particular waste of resources on their part.

If anything, the Assassin will likely be a Lu Feng-lite at the most. Probably a member of their branch house or something, and thus will fold within moments of Ling Qi turning her full attention on him. Hence why I planned for a counter-ambush.

We've seen what the expectations for a competent straightforward fighter and skirmisher of that level look like.

And we casually no-sold his ultimate attack while he was double teaming Ling Qi and Sixiang with his third realm bird, before nearly killing him on the counterstroke save for Elder intervention at least a full turn ago.

An Assassin on that level is going to go down much more quickly when he cant parry our exotic soul attacking bullshit.
 
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IICR, we can control the shape and flow of FVM mist yes? If so, there's no reason it shouldn't be able surround and trap the mooks while we confront the two greens with our spirits. The army would be lost and stuck in the mist the way those students were in the beginning of the tournament in FOD. Yes there are a lot more people to contain but we've also mastered FVM and our cultivation art as a whole by now. At best, it contains the scrubs long enough while leeching qi from them for LQ. At worst, it buys us a few minutes (at least 1 or 2 min) to confront the assassin and/or illusionist. Of course FVM may not be enough but that's why we should start PLR immediately after we finish FVM. Traveler's End will still be going which should be an immense help. Use SCS to dodge attacks as we play and like I said before, go in hard with FSS on the greens. Use Sixiang's help to break through the illusionist's tricks and touch him with CtE before he can counter. Given how lethal CtE touch can be (especially since we're not holding back) it should put him down for the count.

This should address people's concerns that by thinning out the army, we're taking away their weakness of a large, slow group.
So.
PLR overlapping with Traveler's End should keep the majority of the army stalled while we fight the heavy hitters. Honestly I don't think we should bother too much with the army, they shouldn't be that tough for us. If they are, set Zhengui and Hanyi on them and they'll be toast. I think we should free ourselves up to fight the greens especially because there's the mysterious third one out there. We have to be fully ready for an attack from that guy or the assassin and we can't do that if we're distracted by some scrubs.
If it turns out that the army formation is formidable and disciplined then Zhengui should do his explosive technique which should hit them pretty hard.
 
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Lena27 said:
This should address people's concerns that by thinning out the army, we're taking away their weakness of a large, slow group.
So.
PLR overlapping with Traveler's End should keep the majority of the army stalled while we fight the heavy hitters. Honestly I don't think we should bother too much with the army, they shouldn't be that tough for us. If they are, set Zhengui and Hanyi on them and they'll be toast. I think we should free ourselves up to fight the greens especially because there's the mysterious third one out there. We can't be fully ready for an attack from that guy or the assassin and we can't do that if we're distracted by some scrubs.
If it turns out that the army formation is formidable and disciplined then Zhengui should do his explosive technique which should hit them pretty hard.
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Either way, once the Assassin makes his move for Alectai's plan the Traveler's End bomb will go off and wipe out most of the mooks. Same thing in case the group has a dispel strong enough to break through SES, so Ling Qi will likely just drop said bomb during the turn TE still has before the dispel goes through.

Until then, they'll serve as ample Qi batteries for Ling Qi courtesy of PLR and FSS :V
 
[X] Plan: The Night Parade of One Thousand Demons - Final Mix
-[X] Get in relatively close discreetly, with relevant persistents activated (One with Shadow, perception and resist arts). Approach from the flank while activating Illustrious Phantasmal Festival and our dispel-resist suite, and then envelop the enemy formation in a Joyous Toast augmented Mist of the Vale at maximum spread, with Sixiang boosting the technique's Resist. Once enemy force is enveloped, isolate the Illusionist with the focused Elegy and cycle up to a boosted Traveller's End while keeping the enemy force contained in our zone, relying on Zhengui and Hannyi to assist in this. Maintain this posture as long as possible--moving as needed to re-ensnare or otherwise eliminate anyone who gets lucky, using the boosted Traveller's End detonation as a mass-paralysis contingency if we end up cornered or otherwise need to reset the battle state.
 
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Alectai said:
Approach to within sight of the targets
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From which direction? Behind? Or get in front of them and act as roadblock?

Raising Kittens said:
Turn 5 (next turn), we hit Green 3, master SCS, and work to scrunch SCS down to 2 Meridians - that's a total of 4 AP spent, 1 on learning the Art and three on Scrunching down to 1 Spine, one Leg.
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Is there any reason to spend any more effort on SCS if FotWT is just going to replace it?

notanautomaton said:
These are also bandits, and thus almost certainly have inferior arts to a noble of the Inner Sect.
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These are people engaged in banditry at the behest of the Sun, we do not know that they are "bandits". They could be guards or professional soldiers masquerading as bandits.

TehChron said:
this force is entirely disposable and thus whomever this assassin dude is he won't be on the level of a peer opponent
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We don't know that this force is particularly disposable. We can surmise a few things. (1) This is a move by the Sun. (2) The force couldn't be too powerful or it would give an excuse for Cai Shenhua to act directly. We can probably surmise that there was some effort in being deniable, but only to the extent of preventing Bai and Cai from retaliating (because Bai and Cai already know this was a Sun action, it's an open secret).

Throwing in a peak Green doesn't seem to violate any of these except maybe deniability, and it gives the Sun a chance to not only make the Cai and their policies look bad but also assassinate Ling Qi and Cai Renxiang, as well as significantly increasing chances of getting away with it which reduces both required level of deniability and disposability.
 
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Also, given that LFWT seems to be SCS+, that means that we will still want a second stealth art.

We'll want to check what it gives us first, but we will want one.
 
larkins said:
We don't know that this force is particularly disposable.
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They're "Bandits" that just raided and stole a package specifically for a Ducal House.

They're a deniable asset that is at risk for being mulched by the Duchess' own retainers in retaliation and in order to reclaim the stolen property.

If they aren't disposable, then the Sun are literal morons. Because then this would be a non-trivial investment that could totally be traced backed to them. Assuming that any competent leader couldn't pull a lizard's tail with them should they fail is just...madness, really. Utter madness, as it would inevitably lead to a massive escalation from Shenhua in retaliation for that kind of naked insult.
 
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