Ren Xiyang arrived at the Imperial Palace very early the next morning, when it was still fairly dark. He wore a training outfit and carried a small suitcase of clothes he needed for the day.
An Imperial servant took him to the Imperial training field, where Rian and his training instructors were waiting.
This wasn’t the first time Ren Xiyang had joined in, so he and the instructors were familiar with each other.
The instructors had a regimented, targeted training plan for Prince Rian. Sedaveria had a long history of combat mages, and thus numerous popular and longstanding combat styles, all with different philosophies, emphasis, and spells.
As a prince, Rian couldn’t fight in the rough instinctual-from-practice way that Ren Xiyang did.
Ren Xiyang found it interesting to follow these lessons too. Some techniques were useless or unnecessary for him, but occasionally he found good tips to improve his casting and fighting. It also allowed him to see different fighting techniques, giving him time to think of counters for them should he meet someone who knew that particular style.
Once the sun started rising, the training ended.
Ren Xiyang and Rian thanked the instructors. Then, they went back to Rian’s quarters. The servants who were supposed to take Earl Rosewood to a guest suite were familiar with this, so they waited outside.
Rian couldn’t shoo away his servants from his quarters, as some of them were preparing his bath. So he ushered Ren Xiyang into his study, which was empty, and closed the door behind him.
“Hello,” Rian said.
“Hi,” Ren Xiyang said.
Rian tugged Ren Xiyang to him. Ren Xiyang allowed the movement and—
Chu~
Their lips touched in a light kiss.
Rian smiled. Success. He didn’t maintain the kiss for long, but he wrapped an arm around Ren Xiyang’s waist to stop him from escaping. “We have some time,” he said suggestively.
Ren Xiyang’s expression was steady. “If you orgasm now, the Queen will definitely be able to see it on your face.”
Rian’s face stiffened. He did, in fact, know the meaning of embarrassment, and having his Imperial Mother know that was embarrassing. “…What about kissing?”
“Are you sure you can avoid becoming excited?”
“…”
Rian huffed. “Fine. Let’s have a bet about today’s duel.”
Ren Xiyang raised an eyebrow.
“The person who takes out the most kids gets to kiss the other person.”
Ren Xiyang raised his other eyebrow too. Regardless of who took out the most kids, Rian would not lose in the end.
“Alright.” Ren Xiyang held out his right hand, and Rian shook it in agreement.
“By the way, I prepared a new set of duelling clothes for you today.” Rian smiled, with that hint of mischievousness. “I think we’ll look great today.”
“If you say so…” Ren Xiyang smoothly dodged Rian’s attempted slap and opened the door again. “See you soon.”
“—Don’t forget your new clothes! Also, don’t wear them just yet! We’ll change right before the duel!”
“Hm.” Ren Xiyang accepted the new set of clothes from one of Rian’s servants and headed over to the prepared guestroom to bathe and get ready for breakfast.
When Alexius woke up, it was going to be another great day. He had been looking forward to this day as much as his birthday—his team duel against Ayden!
(Eh, Rian would be there too, unfortunately.)
He put on his prepared duelling outfit—he couldn’t wait—and headed to breakfast.
He was surprised to see Ayden at the breakfast table that morning. “Why are you here? Why didn’t you tell me? Sit with me!” he said, immediately coming over to him.
Rian raised an eyebrow. “Good morning, little brother.”
“Good morning,” Alexius said perfunctorily, before turning back to Ayden with big shiny eyes.
Ayden’s lips quirked up. “I was training with Prince Rian this morning. Are you ready for our duel today?”
Alexius felt a bubble of nervousness and excitement. “Ready!”
“Good, I look forward to it.”
Alexius beamed, especially as Ayden took a seat next to him. “You won’t be disappointed!”
The duel was scheduled for mid-morning. The Imperial duelling stadium started filling up early. A tall opaque shield covered the field, preventing anyone from seeing what the layout would be today.
In the duellist and referee backstage area, Alexius, Tierri, Adrienne and Günter encountered Rian and Ren Xiyang.
Alexius narrowed his eyes when he noticed Rian’s and Ayden’s matching outfits.
In all their previous duels, Prince Rian and Earl Rosewood would wear contrasting colours. This time, they wore identical duelling clothing, predominately white with red and gold accents. Alexius was torn between wishing he could wear the same clothing as Ayden, and struggling with his distaste for wearing the same clothing as Rian.
“Good morning, all,” Rian greeted with a knowing smile.
“We won’t go easy on you,” Alexius declared.
“This is a serious duel,” Günter said with a serious expression.
Tierri and Adrienne: “…” They inwardly sighed, feeling much older than their years.
Rian inclined his head. “I look forward to seeing your skills on the field.”
“Good, you’re all here,” Duke Mauveine hurried over, along with Viscount Obsidian and Duke Blewitt. Queen Mira and King Edric followed behind them at a more sedate pace.
“Tierri, come here, let me cast a shield for you,” Duke Mauveine said.
Viscount Obsidian nodded towards Adrienne.
“Alexius,” King Edric said.
Duke Blewitt didn’t need to say anything. Günter saw his cold expression and obediently walked over.
Duke Mauveine, Viscount Obsidian, King Edric and Duke Blewitt cast strong personal shields on their charges.
Meanwhile, Queen Mira stopped in front of Rian and Ren Xiyang.
“I hope I won’t see lightning from either of you today,” she said.
Rian blinked innocently. “Imperial Mother, the lightning last time was what King Augustus had gathered; we didn’t do it.”
“We’ve already agreed. I’ll use only fire, and Prince Rian only ice,” Ren Xiyang said.
Queen Mira glanced at Earl Rosewood. “Don’t break their personal shields.”
“We won’t.”
“Now stand still.” Queen Mira cast the personal shields on Prince Rian and Earl Rosewood. This way, she could monitor them.
Personal shields were technically not fire magic or ice magic. Instead, it was ‘normal’ magic or psychic magic. Under Ren Xiyang and Rian’s agreement, they couldn’t cast their own shields on top of Queen Mira’s. They would have to block with fire or ice or dodge all attacks
This conversation could be heard by the other duellists and their adults.
Alexius: “…” He wanted to protest and tell Ayden and Rian to use their strongest attacks…but he wasn’t stupid.
Duke Blewitt: “…” Was Queen Mira implying that his shield wouldn’t survive the attacks from those two teenage boys?
Duke Mauveine and Viscount Obsidian had a better understanding of their power versus Prince Rian’s and Earl Rosewood’s. They did the best they could under the constraints—knowing that personal shields couldn’t be super-strong, because they would affect the mobility and casting ability of the protected person.
King Edric ignored the conversation. He gave Alexius a fatherly pat. “Let me see what you have learnt.”
Alexius straightened. “Yes, Imperial Father!”
After the shields were cast, Duke Mauveine, Viscount Obsidian, Duke Blewitt and King Edric followed Queen Mira to the referee’s area. Since they were monitoring their charges’ shields, they would need to alert Queen Mira if the shields were hit with a lethal-level attack.
The full stadium became quiet when they saw the large group emerge from the waiting area.
Rian and Ren Xiyang stepped onto one platform. Alexius, Tierri, Adrienne and Günter stepped onto another platform.
The two platforms rose into the air.
“Today, we have the challengers, Crown Prince Rian and Earl Rosewood,” Queen Mira announced, her voice reaching every person in the stadium.
“On the opposite side, we have the defenders, Prince Alexius, Lord Günter Blewitt, Lord Tierri Mauveine, and Lady Adrienne Obsidian.”
“Crown Prince Rian Azure, do you agree to magically duel against Prince Alexius Azure, Lord Günter Blewitt, Lord Tierri Mauveine, and Lady Adrienne Obsidian?”
“I agree.”
“Earl Ayden Rosewood, do you agree to magically duel against Prince Alexius Azure, Lord Günter Blewitt, Lord Tierri Mauveine, and Lady Adrienne Obsidian?”
“I agree.”
“Prince Alexius Azure, do you agree to magically duel against Crown Prince Rian Azure and Earl Ayden Rosewood?”
“I agree!”
Queen Mira went through the rest of the agreements with Günter, Tierri and Adrienne. With all agreements in place, she said: “Then, take your positions.”
On cue, the opaque shield disappeared, revealing its contents.
This was the first time Ren Xiyang and Rian saw the field. This was not the first time Alexius and the others saw it—they had been practising in this very field over the last week.
It was a fairly “standard” new-type duelling field. There were multiple platforms in the air, lots of different rocks of various sizes and colours, multiple pools and little streams, and some ice spires and jagged ice rocks emerging from the water.
The two platforms lowered into place on either side of the field. The duellists stepped off their platforms and onto the field.
Queen Mira’s eyes swept between the two sides.
“Let the duel begin!”
Ren Xiyang immediately leapt into the air, propelled by fire under his feet.
Rian formed a platform of ice, using more ice to raise it up to reach the top platforms.
Alexius dashed forward, flying to a nearby platform. He formed spears of ice and sent them flying towards Ren Xiyang.
Adrienne stepped under the shadows of the platforms. Her eyes darkened, as did the shadows.
Günter raised ice arrows from the water and targeted Rian.
Tierri raised his hands. At the same time, dozens of rocks rose into the air, smashing into other rocks and the platforms and creating a dangerous debris field.
BAM-BAM-BAM! Ice and rock thudded into Rian’s sudden ice wall.
Rian’s lips quirk up. So, they’re targeting me first.
He jumped off the platform, landing on a new ice platform.
Meanwhile, Alexius’s ice attacks hit the duelling field shield uselessly. Ren Xiyang hadn’t bothered to burn them with fire; he simply dodged, faster than Alexius could change the course of his attack.
Alexius and his friends had a clear set of plans. They identified the weaker challenger: Prince Rian. Adrienne, Tierri and Günter were to first take down Prince Rian, while Alexius held Earl Rosewood off. Then, they’d take down Earl Rosewood together.
The air in the field started to ‘sparkle’ as Alexius and Günter created hundreds of tiny ice shards, all moving at high speeds. If Rian or Ayden touched any of these, it would count as an attack!
Ice, rock and tendrils of shadows all shot towards Rian. The ice and rock struck his ice shields, but the shadows infiltrated right through, heading for Rian’s ankles—
FFSSH!! A ‘sword’ of fire cleaved through the air, melting ice and cutting off the shadow tendrils.
Rian jumped back and made large blocks of ice. Like large hands, they cleared away the ice knives in the air and made clear paths in the air.
Ren Xiyang immediately propelled himself behind them, as they cleared the area towards the other side of the field. He released a dozen fireballs that curved around the ‘shield’ of ice and headed straight for all four.
The four children immediately changed tactics. Alexius and Günter made ice shields to block the fire, while Tierri started lifting more and more rocks into the air using psychic magic. As he raised everything up, they cast shadows and darkened the field below. Adrienne grasped all the shadows and controlled them to reach out and entangle Rian.
Alexius and Günter then fractured their ice shields into shards and controlled both ice and rock to attack Ren Xiyang and Rian.
They did so without verbally speaking—they had set up a silent telepathy communication using psychic magic.
Alexius felt a rush of adrenaline and energy. His team was going well! None of their moves were wasted, targeting Ayden and Rian with accuracy. They just needed to be faster, and take down Rian quickly! Alexius quickly summoned sharp ice to push Ayden away.
Günter jumped into the air and shot fire and lightning balls at Rian. These were Rian’s weaknesses, Günter was going to get him!
Tierri switched out his direct-magic control of the rocks to fixed spells to keep them suspended in the air. This way, he could start a new set of spells to help his teammates: semi-invisibility through a combination of light and psychic magic. Just a little bit of misdirection would make Ayden’s and Rian’s attacks inaccurate and could save them from defeat.
Adrienne’s control of the shadows in the field spread. Tendrils of darkness laced the ground, the rocks, crawling up the undersides of the platforms and into the air. She couldn’t reach Ayden, but Rian was not too far away…
Thank you to “Ko-fi Supporter” (same supporter, multiple times!!) And thank you to everyone for coming this far~
By the way, I learnt this cool idea/framework about trying to make people do things.
The details are in a paper called The social alignment theory of power: Predicting associative and dissociative behavior in hierarchies, but let me summarise:
There are multiple tactics for making people do things for you. Some examples are: asking nicely, offering money, or using threats.
You can separate out two axes:
(1) tactics based on power and resources (e.g. financial)
(2) tactics based on inspiring people (i.e., getting others to freely want to do things)
You can have tactics that use a combination of both. You can have low, medium, or high ability to use different tactics (relative power, resources, relationships, etc.).
One theory is that many people start off trying to be nice, to inspire others. But if that doesn’t work, people then start trying to use more coercive tactics, like threats.
—
Different people/characters have different tactics at their disposal:
Ren Xiyang is physically powerful, rich with resources, has high status, and has a very strong ability to inspire people; the things he wants other people to do will benefit them too. This means that he has many tactics to make people do what he wants!!!
Meanwhile, King Augustus does not do well with the inspiring people part. Instead, he focuses entirely on coercive tactics based on intimidation.
>w
Ren Xiyang arrived at the Imperial Palace very early the next morning, when it was still fairly dark. He wore a training outfit and carried a small suitcase of clothes he needed for the day.
An Imperial servant took him to the Imperial training field, where Rian and his training instructors were waiting.
This wasn’t the first time Ren Xiyang had joined in, so he and the instructors were familiar with each other.
The instructors had a regimented, targeted training plan for Prince Rian. Sedaveria had a long history of combat mages, and thus numerous popular and longstanding combat styles, all with different philosophies, emphasis, and spells.
As a prince, Rian couldn’t fight in the rough instinctual-from-practice way that Ren Xiyang did.
Ren Xiyang found it interesting to follow these lessons too. Some techniques were useless or unnecessary for him, but occasionally he found good tips to improve his casting and fighting. It also allowed him to see different fighting techniques, giving him time to think of counters for them should he meet someone who knew that particular style.
Once the sun started rising, the training ended.
Ren Xiyang and Rian thanked the instructors. Then, they went back to Rian’s quarters. The servants who were supposed to take Earl Rosewood to a guest suite were familiar with this, so they waited outside.
Rian couldn’t shoo away his servants from his quarters, as some of them were preparing his bath. So he ushered Ren Xiyang into his study, which was empty, and closed the door behind him.
“Hello,” Rian said.
“Hi,” Ren Xiyang said.
Rian tugged Ren Xiyang to him. Ren Xiyang allowed the movement and—
Chu~
Their lips touched in a light kiss.
Rian smiled. Success. He didn’t maintain the kiss for long, but he wrapped an arm around Ren Xiyang’s waist to stop him from escaping. “We have some time,” he said suggestively.
Ren Xiyang’s expression was steady. “If you orgasm now, the Queen will definitely be able to see it on your face.”
Rian’s face stiffened. He did, in fact, know the meaning of embarrassment, and having his Imperial Mother know that was embarrassing. “…What about kissing?”
“Are you sure you can avoid becoming excited?”
“…”
Rian huffed. “Fine. Let’s have a bet about today’s duel.”
Ren Xiyang raised an eyebrow.
“The person who takes out the most kids gets to kiss the other person.”
Ren Xiyang raised his other eyebrow too. Regardless of who took out the most kids, Rian would not lose in the end.
“Alright.” Ren Xiyang held out his right hand, and Rian shook it in agreement.
“By the way, I prepared a new set of duelling clothes for you today.” Rian smiled, with that hint of mischievousness. “I think we’ll look great today.”
“If you say so…” Ren Xiyang smoothly dodged Rian’s attempted slap and opened the door again. “See you soon.”
“—Don’t forget your new clothes! Also, don’t wear them just yet! We’ll change right before the duel!”
“Hm.” Ren Xiyang accepted the new set of clothes from one of Rian’s servants and headed over to the prepared guestroom to bathe and get ready for breakfast.
When Alexius woke up, it was going to be another great day. He had been looking forward to this day as much as his birthday—his team duel against Ayden!
(Eh, Rian would be there too, unfortunately.)
He put on his prepared duelling outfit—he couldn’t wait—and headed to breakfast.
He was surprised to see Ayden at the breakfast table that morning. “Why are you here? Why didn’t you tell me? Sit with me!” he said, immediately coming over to him.
Rian raised an eyebrow. “Good morning, little brother.”
“Good morning,” Alexius said perfunctorily, before turning back to Ayden with big shiny eyes.
Ayden’s lips quirked up. “I was training with Prince Rian this morning. Are you ready for our duel today?”
Alexius felt a bubble of nervousness and excitement. “Ready!”
“Good, I look forward to it.”
Alexius beamed, especially as Ayden took a seat next to him. “You won’t be disappointed!”
The duel was scheduled for mid-morning. The Imperial duelling stadium started filling up early. A tall opaque shield covered the field, preventing anyone from seeing what the layout would be today.
In the duellist and referee backstage area, Alexius, Tierri, Adrienne and Günter encountered Rian and Ren Xiyang.
Alexius narrowed his eyes when he noticed Rian’s and Ayden’s matching outfits.
In all their previous duels, Prince Rian and Earl Rosewood would wear contrasting colours. This time, they wore identical duelling clothing, predominately white with red and gold accents. Alexius was torn between wishing he could wear the same clothing as Ayden, and struggling with his distaste for wearing the same clothing as Rian.
“Good morning, all,” Rian greeted with a knowing smile.
“We won’t go easy on you,” Alexius declared.
“This is a serious duel,” Günter said with a serious expression.
Tierri and Adrienne: “…” They inwardly sighed, feeling much older than their years.
Rian inclined his head. “I look forward to seeing your skills on the field.”
“Good, you’re all here,” Duke Mauveine hurried over, along with Viscount Obsidian and Duke Blewitt. Queen Mira and King Edric followed behind them at a more sedate pace.
“Tierri, come here, let me cast a shield for you,” Duke Mauveine said.
Viscount Obsidian nodded towards Adrienne.
“Alexius,” King Edric said.
Duke Blewitt didn’t need to say anything. Günter saw his cold expression and obediently walked over.
Duke Mauveine, Viscount Obsidian, King Edric and Duke Blewitt cast strong personal shields on their charges.
Meanwhile, Queen Mira stopped in front of Rian and Ren Xiyang.
“I hope I won’t see lightning from either of you today,” she said.
Rian blinked innocently. “Imperial Mother, the lightning last time was what King Augustus had gathered; we didn’t do it.”
“We’ve already agreed. I’ll use only fire, and Prince Rian only ice,” Ren Xiyang said.
Queen Mira glanced at Earl Rosewood. “Don’t break their personal shields.”
“We won’t.”
“Now stand still.” Queen Mira cast the personal shields on Prince Rian and Earl Rosewood. This way, she could monitor them.
Personal shields were technically not fire magic or ice magic. Instead, it was ‘normal’ magic or psychic magic. Under Ren Xiyang and Rian’s agreement, they couldn’t cast their own shields on top of Queen Mira’s. They would have to block with fire or ice or dodge all attacks
This conversation could be heard by the other duellists and their adults.
Alexius: “…” He wanted to protest and tell Ayden and Rian to use their strongest attacks…but he wasn’t stupid.
Duke Blewitt: “…” Was Queen Mira implying that his shield wouldn’t survive the attacks from those two teenage boys?
Duke Mauveine and Viscount Obsidian had a better understanding of their power versus Prince Rian’s and Earl Rosewood’s. They did the best they could under the constraints—knowing that personal shields couldn’t be super-strong, because they would affect the mobility and casting ability of the protected person.
King Edric ignored the conversation. He gave Alexius a fatherly pat. “Let me see what you have learnt.”
Alexius straightened. “Yes, Imperial Father!”
After the shields were cast, Duke Mauveine, Viscount Obsidian, Duke Blewitt and King Edric followed Queen Mira to the referee’s area. Since they were monitoring their charges’ shields, they would need to alert Queen Mira if the shields were hit with a lethal-level attack.
The full stadium became quiet when they saw the large group emerge from the waiting area.
Rian and Ren Xiyang stepped onto one platform. Alexius, Tierri, Adrienne and Günter stepped onto another platform.
The two platforms rose into the air.
“Today, we have the challengers, Crown Prince Rian and Earl Rosewood,” Queen Mira announced, her voice reaching every person in the stadium.
“On the opposite side, we have the defenders, Prince Alexius, Lord Günter Blewitt, Lord Tierri Mauveine, and Lady Adrienne Obsidian.”
“Crown Prince Rian Azure, do you agree to magically duel against Prince Alexius Azure, Lord Günter Blewitt, Lord Tierri Mauveine, and Lady Adrienne Obsidian?”
“I agree.”
“Earl Ayden Rosewood, do you agree to magically duel against Prince Alexius Azure, Lord Günter Blewitt, Lord Tierri Mauveine, and Lady Adrienne Obsidian?”
“I agree.”
“Prince Alexius Azure, do you agree to magically duel against Crown Prince Rian Azure and Earl Ayden Rosewood?”
“I agree!”
Queen Mira went through the rest of the agreements with Günter, Tierri and Adrienne. With all agreements in place, she said: “Then, take your positions.”
On cue, the opaque shield disappeared, revealing its contents.
This was the first time Ren Xiyang and Rian saw the field. This was not the first time Alexius and the others saw it—they had been practising in this very field over the last week.
It was a fairly “standard” new-type duelling field. There were multiple platforms in the air, lots of different rocks of various sizes and colours, multiple pools and little streams, and some ice spires and jagged ice rocks emerging from the water.
The two platforms lowered into place on either side of the field. The duellists stepped off their platforms and onto the field.
Queen Mira’s eyes swept between the two sides.
“Let the duel begin!”
Ren Xiyang immediately leapt into the air, propelled by fire under his feet.
Rian formed a platform of ice, using more ice to raise it up to reach the top platforms.
Alexius dashed forward, flying to a nearby platform. He formed spears of ice and sent them flying towards Ren Xiyang.
Adrienne stepped under the shadows of the platforms. Her eyes darkened, as did the shadows.
Günter raised ice arrows from the water and targeted Rian.
Tierri raised his hands. At the same time, dozens of rocks rose into the air, smashing into other rocks and the platforms and creating a dangerous debris field.
BAM-BAM-BAM! Ice and rock thudded into Rian’s sudden ice wall.
Rian’s lips quirk up. So, they’re targeting me first.
He jumped off the platform, landing on a new ice platform.
Meanwhile, Alexius’s ice attacks hit the duelling field shield uselessly. Ren Xiyang hadn’t bothered to burn them with fire; he simply dodged, faster than Alexius could change the course of his attack.
Alexius and his friends had a clear set of plans. They identified the weaker challenger: Prince Rian. Adrienne, Tierri and Günter were to first take down Prince Rian, while Alexius held Earl Rosewood off. Then, they’d take down Earl Rosewood together.
The air in the field started to ‘sparkle’ as Alexius and Günter created hundreds of tiny ice shards, all moving at high speeds. If Rian or Ayden touched any of these, it would count as an attack!
Ice, rock and tendrils of shadows all shot towards Rian. The ice and rock struck his ice shields, but the shadows infiltrated right through, heading for Rian’s ankles—
FFSSH!! A ‘sword’ of fire cleaved through the air, melting ice and cutting off the shadow tendrils.
Rian jumped back and made large blocks of ice. Like large hands, they cleared away the ice knives in the air and made clear paths in the air.
Ren Xiyang immediately propelled himself behind them, as they cleared the area towards the other side of the field. He released a dozen fireballs that curved around the ‘shield’ of ice and headed straight for all four.
The four children immediately changed tactics. Alexius and Günter made ice shields to block the fire, while Tierri started lifting more and more rocks into the air using psychic magic. As he raised everything up, they cast shadows and darkened the field below. Adrienne grasped all the shadows and controlled them to reach out and entangle Rian.
Alexius and Günter then fractured their ice shields into shards and controlled both ice and rock to attack Ren Xiyang and Rian.
They did so without verbally speaking—they had set up a silent telepathy communication using psychic magic.
Alexius felt a rush of adrenaline and energy. His team was going well! None of their moves were wasted, targeting Ayden and Rian with accuracy. They just needed to be faster, and take down Rian quickly! Alexius quickly summoned sharp ice to push Ayden away.
Günter jumped into the air and shot fire and lightning balls at Rian. These were Rian’s weaknesses, Günter was going to get him!
Tierri switched out his direct-magic control of the rocks to fixed spells to keep them suspended in the air. This way, he could start a new set of spells to help his teammates: semi-invisibility through a combination of light and psychic magic. Just a little bit of misdirection would make Ayden’s and Rian’s attacks inaccurate and could save them from defeat.
Adrienne’s control of the shadows in the field spread. Tendrils of darkness laced the ground, the rocks, crawling up the undersides of the platforms and into the air. She couldn’t reach Ayden, but Rian was not too far away…
Thank you to “Ko-fi Supporter” (same supporter, multiple times!!) And thank you to everyone for coming this far~
By the way, I learnt this cool idea/framework about trying to make people do things.
The details are in a paper called The social alignment theory of power: Predicting associative and dissociative behavior in hierarchies, but let me summarise:
There are multiple tactics for making people do things for you. Some examples are: asking nicely, offering money, or using threats.
You can separate out two axes:
(1) tactics based on power and resources (e.g. financial)
(2) tactics based on inspiring people (i.e., getting others to freely want to do things)
You can have tactics that use a combination of both. You can have low, medium, or high ability to use different tactics (relative power, resources, relationships, etc.).
One theory is that many people start off trying to be nice, to inspire others. But if that doesn’t work, people then start trying to use more coercive tactics, like threats.
—
Different people/characters have different tactics at their disposal:
Ren Xiyang is physically powerful, rich with resources, has high status, and has a very strong ability to inspire people; the things he wants other people to do will benefit them too. This means that he has many tactics to make people do what he wants!!!
Meanwhile, King Augustus does not do well with the inspiring people part. Instead, he focuses entirely on coercive tactics based on intimidation.
>w
