Exalted: Lux Aeterna

[Orosboru]

A Tale of Nox

One Calibration, Nox drank deeply of Celestial wine and absinthe, and lay deep in his drunkenness, musing of the wonders he'd conceive tomorrow. Visions danced weakly behind his obsidian eyes, other selves whispered to him in memory and in foresight, and all of heaven was briefly in alignment with his whims and will.

He dreamed of Nyx, the most personable of the six maidens. She worked out the new strings of the loom, breathing life into fate from the dust of stars and comets. She had a smile and a whimsy, and was married to Asnan, Lord of the Pattern Spiders. She made his life and his servants an ease, and when the time came to war against their creators, he made his own exalted to fight against the Incarnae, and the revolution failed.

He dreamt of Anon, the silent brother. He had no name, no voice, no face but what was reflected in the eye of the beholder, for he was forged by the Jade Dragon from his pale shadows. He was a blackguard, and his siblings despised him as much as they loved his father. Sol was a mere upjumped star, he thought to himself, and warred with his father. The Maidens resisted him, fought him, loved him, but his rebellion was incomplete, and he fell to dust...

He dreamt of Qualia and Canon, who played the rook for Gaia. Cytherea consulted other powers, fearing that if she put too much of herself into the creation that it would be too alluring. She and He were the sides of the coin, one watching the wyld, and the other creation. Gaia flitted from one to another, as was intended, but her emotion never turned to love. When the Unconquered Moon called to revolt, the Dragonblooded were not there to fight for their cause, and they fell.

He schemed of Priori, who came to be first of all the Incarnae, heralding the greatest gods and telling the Primordials of their future glory. The Incarnae were wrought slowly over the course of aeons. There were many successes and failures, and Yu-Shan was peopled with the greatest gods never known. In the waning days of their rule, when the Wyld was calm and the world was dying, Malfeas sent his much beloved sons and daughters to the past, before he and his fellows turned their thoughts to the beginning.

And finally, in the dark hours of the morning, he slept. He stood up, and walked the quiet roads of Yu-Shan. He walked amongst the people, who could not see him. He heard the conversations of gods who could not hear him. He strode to his seat and walked to the loom. He crushed his fingers and shattered his feet. He broke his arms and legs. He grinded his ribs to fine powder, and sprinkled it above his corpse. And he was the Loom, and he whispered to all.

Then he woke up.

...

Human nature is what Heaven supplies.
- Xun Zi

...

Darkness falls.

Well, not so dramatically. The Daystar approaches the Quay of Twilight, where it will continue on to the Port of Night that hovers silently in space. Yu-Shan's gods and people will have rapturous parties until the sun rises, and perhaps even further. There are many in this wonder of wonders, this city of cities, who live in comfort and ease. But even in this cracked utopia, in the ruined pleasure halls of the Primordials, there are those who strive.

Winter dominates the climes of Creation, but their secret masters know it not. It is Ascendant Water, and the ice gods are rich in their panoply, their coats red with frozen blood. All across Creation, there are men cursing and praising the weather, gripped in the change of the seasons... But not Yu-Shan. The heavens never change. For better, or for worse.

The night is young. And we look to our heroes - about, or abed?

[Gareth3]

She is not a professional spy.

Pyu frowns at the woman standing in his museum. Her bland appearance and faded servant's uniform look odd against the replicas of legendary artifacts.

Right, so she's not here only to spy on us, and no-one's paying her on a regular basis. But you can't rule out some kind of deception?

She shrugs.

That's beyond my power. Within my domain, she seems fine. Nara-O has met with her several times, and I imagine Jupiter has been informed.

So what do they say?

Nothing. This isn't the Division of Transparency. Obsidian Child is still alive, which means it suits their purposes for her to live. Beyond that, we'll never know.

Pyu sighs in frustration.

There's so much more I need to ask her, and I can't get near her. You heard her, she said the demon offered her the power, like he had control over it. Can you imagine what the implications of that are?

They have their own little Jade Prison?

Pyu nods.

Something like that. Anyway, thanks for doing that. I'm going to the Loom to find out more.

I thought she was out of fate?

Pyu pauses at the door.

Oh, not her. I'm going to find the next mortal who will make the same deal.

[Aevylmar]

This, she thought, was the life.

Meli had worked her traditional shift. She was just working as an analyst, for now; her only field mission had consisted of following Battalion and being very very quiet. So she spent a while looking through reports of Abyssals and ghosts and plots and spies until she grew cross-eyed, sent summaries off to more important people, and had gone home, happy with a job well done.

It was dark, and she had time off; time to spend sitting on her own, comfortable couch in her own little townhouse, lit by absurd numbers of things that she was informed were better than candles because they wouldn't burn her house down, but shed light anyway. Time to cuddle up with a nice book and study precisely how to wrench a man's arm so that he impales himself on his own sword.

For Science, of course! All for science. And in the morning, she knew, she'd go back to work, and fill out forms, and sit in meetings, and maybe spar with her Sifu or get a letter from her father or go out to dinner with one of those interesting people who felt that Solars were important.

The night was young, and there were six pages of diagrams left before she could move on to the next technique.

This was the life.

[Kell_tamer]

"Predictable..." Is all she thought to herself,

This new world, everyone in neat order, doing their job, keeping the wheels turning, working by a clock. This was nothing like home.

The Obsidian Child looked out of her accommodations, she was not ungrateful for what the Sidereal had done for her. It was up and above better than the small hovel she shared with her familiar in Malfeas.

She thought to herself how a few short years ago she'd have killed to get up here just to mess around with the order, to corrupt the system. Probably die in the process.

The small infernal observed the peoples and the goings on. "My how things can change." She mused to herself.

A smile crossed her childlike face. "My how things will change..."

[Obscurejones]

It'd be unfair to say that Bartleby stalks. It would be difficult to call anything happening between two massive piles of paperwork as stalking.
"If you keep pacing like that you're going to wear a hole in your floor."
Pacing, now there's the word.
"This is fraudulently obvious. Kejak blacked out an entire damn day. Highest clearance. How did you let him get away with this?"
"It let us get our Solar into Yu-Shan. Securities's getting tighter, ever since five years ago and-"
"That's not the point. Whatever he's covering for is a huge problem for the Audit. I can't keep your little indiscretions in check if he's got a massive weapon hiding in the city... Sorry. That was out of line. But what were you thinking?"
"I couldn't have obstructed him anyway. Nara-O showed up. Along with the other two division heads that supported him."
Gods. If she keeps grinding her teeth like that she's going to have serious dental problems.
"Nara-O. That's... Rather dreadful, Ayesha. That's something large enough that we can't handle it. With respect, that's something we need on lock."
"I hate being browbeaten as much as you do. But something must be done."
"So you'll get someone on it, right?"
"Most of our manpower is supporting the Solars in Creation..."
Turning on a heel he points a finger towards his superior before thinking better of it and redirecting the errant digit to the ceiling, waving about in a wind only Bartleby's ranting can divine.
"We can't source this out to some scrub. It has to be one of the best."
"And a entire circle just Exalted somewhere in the Threshold. So this Solar has to be your responsibility."
"Still, tell me you're not going to let those Bronze bastards just flout the rules like this."
And that sigh. Probably something for the Faction Elder to get looked at. Although I suppose respiratory problems might come with that level of stress. It can't be easy to go tow to toe with Chejop Kejak on a daily basis.
"I have a trainee, but she's not going to be very useful in this investigation. I need you to do the grunt work. Pound the streets with your contacts. While you're managing the Zenith, you need to give me something I can use."
Thankfully there's a throne of half completed requisitions to cushion Bartleby's fall as he slumps over. And hand to catch his forehead as it falls from the weight of visions of yet more paperwork.
"So you're handing me a massive mystery and a spastic to keep an eye on. I always knew you hated me. Very well. But only because I want to see them squirm."
"Although my younger agents have... complained, about your lack of helpfulness, you will be rewarded for your help. Trust me. I'm authorizing you a Journey's plaudit. My own. You can commandeer any vehicle in Yu-Shan, short of the Daystar."
Bartleby's hand falls from his forehead to click his jaw back into place as it falls. An unstable grin spreads across his face as Ayesha flees through the nearest wall.
"...Maybe you like me. Alright, Boss. I'll see what trees me and the boys can shake."
With the distinctive click of a man used to wielding his pen to make others cry Bartleby starts up the first form of the night.
"To whom it may concern, pursuant to article 4, section ♉, sub section Avacado..."

[industrious]

Fourth Clever Victory

"...oh, come on."

He was a soldier to one of the Great Houses, a loyal bodyguard, and tireless on the campaign. He could sleep on the bare ground and witness the waning and waxing of the moon, the stars his ceiling and the night his blanket. He could sleep under the branches of ancient oaks, the knobs and gnarls of the wood pushing against his back. He could lay his head down upright, off-duty for less than an hour, and know that he would awaken before his shift began.

But this bed that Glass Knife had in his room had defeated him. How could he sleep upon a mattress that sucked him in, that continually molded itself to his form, that made the act of falling asleep less sleep and more about falling through a sea of pillows and blankets until he hit the solid wooden floors.

"Fine."

She'd probably be angry with him if he was caught sleeping on the floor again. But there was no helping it. He was a simple man, and that's all there was to it.

...Maybe just one of the blankets.

[Ifni]

Glass Knife

"... I couldn't believe she got away with it. And with Arivel in the room, too! But I suppose we all know she's Golden Reverie's favorite." The goddess leans against the pearly curve of the wall, sheer silk robes barely concealing her slender form.

"How did Xei react?"

"Oh, explosively, how else would you expect from Xei? I really don't know how she maintains her position..." The goddess pauses. "It's always good to chat, Glass, but am I bothering you? You look busy."

"Oh, no trouble, Veil." The Sidereal waves at the stack of papers sitting beside her. "There's not much more boring than checking and tweaking the parameters on the Dynastic genealogical forecasts; this has been a good distraction."

"You annoy someone?"

"Well, you know how Shogun Uvanavu can be..." with my Faction, the words unvoiced, "But no. The Powers That Be just decided I needed some more experience with desk work, I've been spending a lot of time out in the field lately. Management positions require it, apparently." She rubs her forehead. "And this isn't makework. A lot of the Lost Eggs coming in don't have proper records - bloody Fate tangles out in the Threshold. I'm going to have to go back to the primary sources for some of these."

The goddess winces, and for a moment there's genuine fear in her expression. "Better you than me." Only for a moment, though, and then her sunny smile reasserts itself. Jeweled Veil Of The Evening is... let's say, not the brightest star in the sky, although Livilla's patronage has gotten her a string of recent promotions. Privately Glass expects that she's heading for a fall, unless she toughens up a bit. But for the moment, she's both a good source of gossip and - more importantly - a good way to disseminate information. Tell Veil something and half Yu-Shan will know in a few days, especially if you imply that it's confidential. Implications tend to fly over her head, but she'll report any particularly juicy tidbits word-for-word to Livilla, who will spot subtext.

Clearly casting around for a topic of conversation that doesn't involve the word Loom, the light goes on in Veil's eyes as she comes up with, "Anyway! Tell me about your new... houseguest?"

Glass smiles, a little smugly. (Veil probably won't discern the slight increase in her heart rate. She needs to work on that before having this conversation with more perceptive people, though.) "Oh, you know... personal project. Picked him up in the Realm."

"So, is he any good?"

"Oh, he... learns very quickly." The smile becomes a faint smirk.

"Dynast?"

"Adoptee." (Fourth Clever Victory isn't a very Dynastic name, and pseudonyms would be asking for trouble.) "Talented, though."

"I bet!" The goddess snickers. "You don't get in trouble, for that kind of thing on company time?"

Glass barely avoids rolling her eyes. "Veil, remember where we work."

"... uh, yeah." A pause. "So, getting back to the original topic - do you think you can help me with that yeddim?"

"... sure. If the Lady of the Sighing Smile wants a firebreathing miniature yeddim for her party, who am I to argue?" The Joybringer snaps her fingers, and a small emerald spider skitters out of a corner and returns a moment later bearing a sheaf of forms. "Your problem would be if the fire got it classified as a weapons system, the munitions import regulations are horrific, and you don't want to treat it as a vomiting problem or it'll be quarantined until it dies of old age, but if you use the Importation Of Minor Goods form and just don't mention that the entity in question is alive then I bet you can get it in under your personal exemption... I mean, that thing can't have a well-established market value, and there's no problem with Essence-fueled firelighters. Kareli might raise an eyebrow if he reads the description, but he's had pretty bad luck with gambling recently, I'm sure a friendly ear -" and a vial or two of Quintessence - "would go a long way in persuading him to be helpful..."

It says something about your job, when smuggling a Wyld-mutated yeddim into a party because a jaded goddess wants an unusual cigar lighter is a genuinely welcome distraction.

Glass Knife sends the goddess off with the forms, and sits back in her swiveling chair, toying with her pen. She glances down at the stacks of reports and calculations.

Well, there's that cover story reinforced a bit more. And an excuse for why I have to check the Loom.

It's not even a lie. The records from the Isle are generally fine, with a few exceptions (the reports from Scarlet-Burning Sky, mostly; she can barely make out the atrocious handwriting through the mixture of dried blood and tobacco juice caked onto the pages), but the ones from the Threshold... mess doesn't begin to cover it. And since the Battle of Futile Blood, House Tepet's program is in shambles; someone needs to vet the Lost Eggs they're bringing in, and right now, that someone is her. Officially, at least.

She rests her head on one hand, the other tapping the sheet of paper with numbers scrawled over it apparently at random. No cipher to find here; the bulk of the information is nowhere except her mind. The numbers are just reminders, keys to the clues she's found so far.

She might have to bring Pyu in on this. He works so closely with the Loom, and he's trusted. He'll keep his mouth shut. But better to try on her own, first. Because she's not sure what she'll find, and until then, she's not sure she wants the rest of the Bronze to know.

But tonight... the night is young, and for the first time in a while, she doesn't have a Faction party or tea ceremony or performance to attend. (Events to which her guest is pointedly not invited, whether the organizers believe him to be her Dragon-Blooded student, or know the truth.)

Glass Knife puts away the reports she'd brought home from work, and heads upstairs to the rooms she'd set aside for Victory. The manse hums softly around her, but she barely notices it anymore.

She knocks on the door. "Victory? You awake in there?"

[industrious]

Fourth Clever Victory

Oh, crap.

"I'm awake! Give me a minute!"

Have to move the blanket (stupid, comfortable blanket), have to move the blanket, no, I'm not sleeping on the floor Glass why do you ask...

It definitely seems like a suspicious amount of time has passed for Fourth, though he can't tell the time in this place (how could he when the sun and moon and stars kept rising and setting at random?), but the blanket is messily thrown onto the bed and the muta* are quickly rubbed out.

His heart is pounding in his ears, and his clothes are rumpled, but he puts on a smile, and opens the door, and then the smile comes naturally.

"Hi!"

Please let there not be a splinter in his hair, please let there not be a splinter in his hair...

*dried tears/eye gunk

[Ifni]

Glass Knife

Glass smiles back as her student (friend? prisoner? research subject?) opens the door. It would be hard not to smile; that grin demands a reply. "Hey. So, I have the evening free for a change, and I was thinking we could..."

The Sidereal pauses, belatedly registering the details of Victory's appearance. "Did I wake you up? You look a bit rumpled." She peers past him at the bed and its disarray. "The house spirits are cleaning in here, right? I told them these were your rooms, but that shouldn't have caused them to stay out."

I was going to ask why he had splinters in his hair, but we're in a manse, it probably doesn't generate them :smallwink:

[industrious]

Fourth

"What? Oh...no. Not really, no."

Fourth Clever Victory is a terrible liar. Can't keep a straight face.

"Well, I was just trying to sleep, but I wasn't actually asleep yet. The sky is confusing here."

House spirits. Still not used to those, either.

"So...you have this evening free?"

[Ifni]

Glass Knife

"... I really have to teach you how to lie better than that." Her tone's fond, though, rather than rebuking.

"But if you're not too tired, I was thinking I could show you a bit more of the city. Get drinks and a nice dinner. Maybe go to the theater."

A small theater, one where they're not likely to meet other Sidereals, but in a sufficiently Bronze-friendly and middle-class area that harassment by disgruntled gods is unlikely. There are a couple not too far away.

"We wouldn't go far, but even in ten or fifteen minutes by dragon boat, there's a lot to see. Interested?"

[Gareth3]

Pyu walks briskly across the fog-shrouded moor to the Forbidding Manse of Ivy. Usually he'd linger in the stacks for a while, browsing books on his endless and varied obsessions. But he has no time for that tonight, and walks straight through to the Lotus, crossing thousands of miles in a single step and continuing to his cubicle.
Karoshi is at his desk as always. He appears as a acne-ridden, awkward boy in his late teens, wearing ill-fitting robes. His voice wavers and squeaks unpleasantly. Pyu has long since become used to this - a God of Meritocracy has to appear ugly and useless, to avoid bias when evaluting his performance. Karoshi's actual work is always perfect.

Get the Solar Exaltation protocols, and come with me to take notes. I'll be doing a new search on the fly, but I want it recorded for reference.

Uh... Are we looking for Solars or not?

No, something else.

Karoshi gathers up the scrolls and notebooks, and follows Pyu to the Loom itself. They barely glance at the bizarre architecture surrounding it, with people climbing both sides of staircases and turning upside-down as they walk along gangways. Both have been here many times, and are totally focussed on the Loom itself, the billions of threads spanning the interior. Pyu contemplates the Loom for a moment, then unrolls one of the scrolls.

I'm looking for a situation that could lead to a Solar Exaltation, but where the mortal didn't do her part. Ran away, gave up, took the easy option. I also need a demon being summoned into Creation, close enough that it can get to the mortal on the same day. I want to predict...

Pyu's voice trails off as he sees two figures appear on the other side of the Loom. One is a elderly, bald man wearing the robes of an Elder Sidereal and the other is a blonde, pale-skinned girl of about 12, wearing a pure white dress with gold decoration. The girl has a serene, contented expression. She seems to glow as if standing in strong sunlight, and the gold decorations sparkle. The Sidereal watches her warily, keeping his distance from her and stepping back when her arm swings towards him. The sign of Jupiter glows green on his forehead, and green light flickers randomly around him...

What's wrong?

When Pyu turns back, the two figures have vanished.

Nothing.

I'm not doing the Loom search mechanics in this post, since he was interrupted.

[Orosboru]

Every division has their watering holes, their houses of restraint, and their dens of vice and pain. The Chosen of Mercury have small shops of 'convenience' that are only open five minutes in a certain period of time during the day. The Chosen of Venus, in addition to their usual clientele, have secret boudoirs of aesthetic appreciation, where illegal experiences are bought and sold. The Chosen of Mars are spartan in comparison, their hot springs and ice baths having temperatures lethal to mortals. The Chosen of Jupiter seek secrecy through publicity, gathering openly in many places, but if they have their own secret pleasures, they do not speak of it. The Chosen of Endings have a delicately crafted series of dive bars and brothels that emulate the ones of creation, basking in the delicately crafted ambience of decay.

However, the Blue District is unique, for it caters to all tastes. Some conspirators believe that its halls were named after the book "The Lady Clad in Blue", and demonic influence still clings to the former pleasure houses of the Primordials. Streetwalkers who demand a king's fortune walk in robes of woven jade and jewels that sparkle with the inner fire of Meru. But the Blue District is home to more complicated, illicit pleasures, and privacy is assured to all parties involved.

The most expensive places trade in favours and knowledge. The Three Goddesses of Fealty, known as the Three Hags by those who frequent them, own a fortress-town in the middle of the Blue District. A host of lesser spirits and gods tend to their beautiful court, with food and men and woman pleasing to the eye. But only a rare few gain audience with the three matrons - and some who do never come back out.

One of the best restaurants is Cato's Fell, a revolving panorama built around a massive sword made of a alien material, which is crystalline and is cold to the touch. Their rooms are built to interact with the customer's essence, changing colours, smells, and even enviroment to suit their needs. They specialize in Southwest Creation fusion, a mix of spicy seafood and showy firedust barbeques.

You wouldn't call it a love hotel publicly, but for many purposes Zhu-Rong Palace serves the same purpose. Staffed by four hundred and forty-four mute eunuchs, the red scarlet alcoves of the main hall have seen countless intrigues and betrayals. A place of secret sighs and pillow talk, many secrets have been stolen and overheard - even a murder or two. But despite the flashing lights of essence, the spray of blood - the employees do nothing but write a invoice for the dry cleaning.

All these and more, await you... if you should like to see it.

[Kell_tamer]

Feeling cooped up the Child dons her Caul and makes her way out into the streets.

Taking in the sites, as she walked she passed into the blue district.

"Even in victory did some things stay close to their original roots" she thought to herself as she studied the architecture of the location.

Taking in a deep breath a sense of relaxation washed over her. At the moment there were no schemes, no tricks, no Dynasts to be put down. Right now she could just enjoy some of the simpler things.

She made her way past restaurants letting the smells wash over her, and the sight of spirits and people eating something other than the flesh of their brethren was a nice change of pace.

A chuckle escaped her lips as she passed Zhu-Rong Palace, places of the like were not uncommon in the demon realm, and it brought her no end of satisfaction knowing that even in heaven, the people are just as sexually depraved as the demons, well... almost.

She approached an overlook and sat down at a bench. Taking in all the sensory input she leaned back clasping her hands behind her head. Stretching her legs and crossing them at the calves, she reflected on her new situation. "A fiend could get used to this."

She grinned as she took in one of her simplest pleasures. People watching. Just watching the world move around her, and seeing what happened next.

[Gareth3]

Pyu turns back to his scrolls.

Single person, fate-altering action, multiply the event difficulties... Sorry, Karoshi, this will take days, and I have other priorities. Just write up the notes, and I'll get back to it later.

He hurries out of the Loom, careful not to look behind him. A hour on a dragon boat takes him to the Blue District, and the next stage in his plan.

...could use a charm to get a complete list of witnesses, but you were there, I thought you could tell me who to ask.

The god he is talking to doesn't look human at all, more like a huge jade golem. He strolls along the path, passing Zhu-Rong Palace. Pyu has to jog to keep up with him, as he turns to answer.

You have to understand, it was only the war gods and the Sidereals who actually fought him, everyone else was running away. No-one had time to study him.

I understand, but surely someone had the charm activated when he died. They would have seen- Obsidian?

Obsidian Child is sitting at a bench, alone. Rather than say, inside a soulsteel cube in the Forbidding Manse, guarded by the God of Fixed-Location Security.

When did they let you out?

[industrious]

Fourth

"Very."

This place was amazing. The food here was the best he'd ever tasted. The sights, so many gods and spirits in one place and the transportation and the smells and...

"...I still feel bad about you paying for everything, though."

Glass hadn't let him look at the prices, which was usually a bad sign.

[Kell_tamer]

Obsidian looks up when she hears Pyu's voice.

"Pyu!" She smiles as she stands up to greet the Sidereal who helped her out of the demon city and through the gates into heaven.

"They have given me a bit of a leeway on my leash, haven't seen any but I think there are probably thirteen or fourteen gods, and possibly a lion watching me at the moment, but pretty much so long as I am not causing issue, they seem to be fine with me moving around."

She looks up at the large golemlike diety. "Care to introduce me to your friend?"

[Gareth3]

Pyu looks around at the city.

I suppose that's safe enough. Come to think of it, I bet I know one of those gods. Hey Strzechow!

There is no response.

Worth a try. Anyway, this is Ixtapelatoketl, Third-Rank God of Non-Magical Durabilty. Ix, this is Obsidian Child, she's fated to Exalt as a Secrets in a few years.

Ixtapelatoketl bends down and extends a mechanical-looking hand.

Pleased to meet you, Obsidian. Pyu and I were just-

-swapping war stories. Obsidian and I really have to catch up, but if you remember who that lookout was, get in touch with me.

Once the god departs, Pyu sits down beside Obsidian. He supresses his impulse to bombard her with questions. Young informants had a tendancy to freeze up if questioned too intensely.

What do you think of Heaven, so far?

[Obscurejones]

Bartleby's Manse, Office of the Auditor General, Betwixt Several Piles of Paperwork
"... pursuant to the relevant sections, full requisition of any notable incidents, focusing on eyewitness reports, following the aforementioned date."
That ought to do it. Now to do the little extras that Ayesha's no doubt expecting. With a little digging a window is procured, and Bartleby checks the time. Given rounds, season, and the Hags, probably best to check with Cal. Another sheathe of papers is sent flying as Bartleby digs through, finally unearthing a dusty worn leather satchel. A tissue wrapped treasure is quickly, and only slightly furtively, tucked into a coat pocket.
The Patrol of One, Cal, Celestial Guardian Lion, Old Work Friend to the Auditor General
Bartleby approaches the guardian of heaven with the ease of one who is confident in their working relation with the law. He's spent time enough filling out reports for the audit on Cal's behalf. Cal is a golden lion, much like its peers. Intricate golden bindings, faded with time, announce his deeds and honors in the reclamation of heaven. Her bright eyes flash as he spots Bartleby's approach.
"Evening Cal. Might I have a word?"
"The Unconquered Sun smiles upon us this day. What does the Chosen wish of me?"
"Nothing too onerous I hope. I'm doing a little work for the Audit trying to figure out if any regulations were broken during a blackout in the records. It's my working theory that something, or someone of importance was smuggled in during the break without the proper documentation. I was hoping to procure the help of the Lions."
Bartleby is quick to raise his hands in a sort of mock surrender, fending off any complaints before they have a chance to be spoken.
"I've already sent in my formal request for any incident reports following the blackout, but I was hoping you could keep an ear out if anything new pops up. All above board, you know me. Just let me know if any new incidents pop up. I'll make sure not to intervene in your duties. Documentation only."
"Our hands are tied, our mouths are shut, friend."
"Ah. The other side got here first. A shame. This gag order extends beyond the date in question?"
"I am told it extends "until the Kukla wakes."
"Ah. The usual subtle manipulations, then. As I said, a shame. Well, I'll make my requisitions anyway. No need to lose faith in the system even if it has none to spare for me."
Bartleby startles slightly as he remembers his pocket.
"Ah! Almost forgot. Picked this up on my last trip to creation- One moment- Got it!"
Bartleby plucks a small jade rock hammer from his pocket. As the light catches the artisanal work Cal flashes its eyes in attention.
"Ah..."
The orhalicum musculature of the deputy of heaven stiffens up.
"Jadeborn make. Thought you might like it."
"I will not be bribed."
Violet eyes flash furious for a moment as Cal reluctantly looks away. Still, Bartleby's expression hardens for only an instant before relaxing. Cal's suspicions are understandable, even if they hurt. Bribes are common enough in these matters. Still, he had though they'd understood each other well enough that the Lion'd know the difference.
"You know that I must be impartial in these matters."
"I wouldn't dare. It's a present. A gift, not a bribe. Naomi would kill me if I conflated the two, you know that."
"But in truth, such roughshod violation of our deputy duties..."
Cal sighs in a way a Lion sighs. That is to say, an air shaking, ear shattering roar. Bartleby's expression doesn't change as the displaced air rumples his suit. He's used to the sighs of Lions.
"I understand. But I make no imposition. I can do my own fieldwork if I have to. And I won't ask you to violate an order. There's no point to trying to complete this if I can't do it right."
With a little turn of his hand, the light that glints off the hammer shifts, leaving it looking for a moment utterly mundane. No bribe this. Just a gift between friends. No more. No less.
"So, thank you for your time, Cal. And if you'd like a souvenir of my time on Creation, it was bought for you."
"...There are several gods who traveled the same day the shutdown occurred. My office is honor bound to not speak."
There is an expression between a wince and acceptance that the honest man in a corrupt system tends to learn. Cal and Bartleby both wear it well.
"It is standard policy to apologize for any inconvenience in delays of travel."
Cal pauses. It's already bent the rules enough already.
"Cal, that's more than enough. I would prefer not to have to see your name on my next list of audits. But thank you. For what has been said."
With a gentle flex of its claws Cal picks up the hammer, reminded of a time where she had hands.
"Until next time, Cal."

[Kell_tamer]

Smirking a bit at the lie Pyu told, she shakes the hand of the Golem and gives a bit of a curtsy.

After he leaves, "Quick thinking, you'd make a pretty good fiend, just saying"

Not feeling the need to be all sneaky around him, Obsidian tells him exactly how she feels.

"But yes, Heaven is very beautiful, I can see why the Yozi are mad about not being allowed in it anymore. " a hint of homesickness does cross her demeanor. "However, and this is due to having lived there for four years, I kinda miss the green sun." She looks distant a moment then shakes her head as though coming back to reality.

"What about you? How have you been? What have you been working on? If I am allowed to know about obviously it." She leans casually against a railing along the overhang.

[Ifni]

Glass Knife

"Don't worry about it. Once we get you on the payroll, you can buy me dinner to celebrate." She smiles, and it would take someone more perceptive than Fourth Clever Victory - who though quick-witted was only a peasant soldier, not so long ago - to see the shadow behind her clear blue eyes.

"You can't go out like that, though. Change into something nice. I'll get the dragon boat ready." Her smile becomes a grin. "I think you're probably ready for a visit to the Blue District."

She turns away, and then pauses. "Just... remember. No talking about your Exaltation, or what you can do, under any circumstances. If people ask you questions about where you're from, tell them the truth, but no more than you have to."

But it should be safe enough; she doesn't intend to let him out of her sight.

[Gareth3]

Pyu leans back on the bench and stares out at the city, considering his response.

What I'm working on... It does involve things I'm not allowed to discuss, so I can't go into much detail. But I'm trying to find out about you. What you are.

He turns to her.

I've spent my whole life investigating ancient mysteries. The Bridge to the Nowhere, the Saigoth Gates, the- well, that's classified, I can't even say the name. But whatever you are is new, there are no records of anything like it. That means you might be able to help us with some old problems.

[industrious]

Fourth

"It'll be some dinner," Fourth says, smiling back. "I have a lot to thank you for."

"And no problem about that. I mean, I'm not really an Exalt."

He wasn't an Exalt, and this was one of the few things Glass Knife was wrong about. He knew what the Exalted were. Princes of the Earth, with command of the elements, and the most spiritually enlightened beings in Creation. And he knew what the Anathema who were their opposites were; demons possessing mortals. He was neither, and Glass Knife was...a Sidereal. Who, he guessed, was probably higher up on the Path, from what he had seen. And given that he was none of those things, then he was clearly just a man with additional ability.

But enough theology (which was not his strong suit at all, and he probably should talk things over with a monk or something). Choosing an outfit was a new experience for him, and he couldn't do it casually.

"Something nice" was something that Fourth was familiar with mostly as applied to other people. More important people than himself. What he had for most of his life was functional, was adequate, was useful. He never had more than one set of boots to his name.

But now...now things were different. He had his armor, which he had found lying abandoned in a back alley in Yu-Shan, untouched and unnoticed by all passerby. He had spent time buffing the blue crystal to a polish; had gone over every facet with rag and oil and seen his shattered reflection staring back at him in a thousand different ways and angles. It was the finest garb he had ever seen.

He had his weapon, too, that had appeared when he came to defend Glass Knife when she looked different (a disguise of some sort, he knew, but her explanation was just confusing); another tube of crystal and adamant, that fit perfectly between the grooves in his fingers as if crafted just for him, that was balanced as if it was made for his hands only. And it was: he knew, in a way past mere knowing, in a way more akin to reflex, that Duty was a gift, but from whom or what he didn't know. But it was his, and it was beautiful.

His pants were crafted of good wool, woven by hands more gifted than any Fourth had ever known, black as pitch, and perfectly sized to his frame. They, too, were a gift; from Glass Knife after his pants were shredded by the Anathema. He had talked her down from silk; he was no lord or Prince of the Earth.

He wore a sleeveless coat over his armor, not to hide it but because it, too, was a gift from Glass Knife. And this one, he couldn't talk her out of, nor, he admitted, did he want to. Black and loose and flowing on the outside, and a gorgeous sapphire blue lining (to match her eyes, he thinks when he dares, and never around her). It was a garment too fine for him, and he should have refused it, had known better than to accept it. But he was only human, and he was so tempted by its beauty, and the look in Glass Knife's eyes when he put it on for the first time. He wore it nearly every day.

Fourth Clever Victory looks at his image in the mirror (there was a mirror in his room, and when he first saw it he had stared at it, agape at the casual display of wealth it signified) and wonders if he is still the same man he was when he wore solid if old steel, when he wielded a spear crafted for everyone and no one, when his pants were patched by hand and he had no coat. And he vows, silently, that his gifts will not change who he is.

He moves to the front entrance, dressed in his finery, and his smile returns when he sees Glass Knife.

"How do I look?"

[Orosboru]

There are Sidereal aspirants, which is not the exact technical term but it will suffice for now. They have been correctly sighted by Overwatch and placed in protective custody, learning the ropes in a classical fashion, in the old style of training Celestial Exalts. Interns of great import, so to say. Although they are considerably more orthodox than Sidereals harvested as ronin, they are creatures of Yu-Shan's politics - and they have quickly adapted to the game.

They number five, a auspicious number - and certainly, they have bonded over their mutual potential. Tonight, they celebrate the youngest's birthday - with liquor, good food, and social climbers eager to grace their agendas with the presence of future Celestial exalts.

A rowdy party of hangers on roll with them through the Blue District. They having fun with their relative freedom compared to their Exalted peers, their abundance of free time. It will not last long, and they are cherishing it. The five split off. Three go into the landmark buildings, one remains in the Market Square, and the last takes a dragon boat to a unknown location.

The Square is the hub of the Blue District. A small marketplace catering to the desires of the patrons here have all sorts of weird fetishes and aids necessary for the various acts performed here. Food carts, fireworks, costumes, and even various carnival attractions set up shop here. Everything is tinged with a edge of eroticism - the packaging, the shop employees, even the shape of the stands.

A woman in the light purples of the Violet Bier of Sorrows rests next to a wall, alone. The various parasites have absconded with her more adventurous friends.

[Maugan Ra]

Warm Embrace of the Gentle Lotus ('Lotus' to his friends, and indeed anyone who didn't fancy having to recite the absolute mouthful that was his full name) is the sort of Sidereal who oftens finds himself used as a convenient example whenever someone in Yu-Shan ventures the rather scandalous opinion that maybe, just maybe, the Bureau of Destiny was not entirely infallible. He is, after all, well known for being perhaps the nicest, most laid back and above all happy member of the entire Five Score Fellowship, something that surely should have brought with it membership in the Cerulean Lute of Harmony. After all, everyone knows that the Chosen are predisposed towards their eventual positions from virtually the moment of their birth, so surely the fact that such a transparently serene individual ended up assigned to the Shieldbearers and not the Joybringers is a perfect example of divine error?

(They're wrong, of course - Lotus has a gift for the arts of war that is almost terrifying in its brilliance, and he really couldn't be happier with his present position, but few outside the Crimson Panopoly known either of those facts)

Either way, it is not unusual for the various divinities of Yu-Shan to see the Chosen of Battles out and about in the Blue District, enjoying his limited time off with near reckless abandon and an infectious enthusiasm. Right now, his mostly-aimless wanderings have brought him into the Square, a backpack full of assorted and slightly risque souveniers hanging off of one arm and a glass full of something absurdly alcoholic held in the other hand. He's not drunk, though - off duty or not, this is still a public area of Yu-Shan, and he doesn't completely disregard the reputation of his office. And as a result, his senses are still sharp enough to spot the young aspirant standing by herself over next to one wall. With a slight smile, he makes his way over to her.

"You look a little overwhelmed." he says with genuine warmth. "Everything going OK?"

[Kell_tamer]

She looks up at Pyu. "So who is it they would be sending me to to talk about my Exaltation? I assume there has to be someone in charge of this sort of thing up here."

She removes her caul for a moment as she wipes a bit of the moisture from her brow, her piercing violet eyes a reminder that she's not a mere child.

"Seeing that it is more than just who believes the most, and believe me I did all the prayers and rituals of the immaculate faith a mortal could in hopes to be blessed by a dragon, only to learn its an actual physical thing, there has to be someone who is an expert on it." She squints at the bright lights of the district, and resets her caul over her eyes to protect them from the light.

[Orosboru]

The aspirant is very jumpy. Nervous, in fact, she almost falls over."Oh, uh, good evening, sir - uh, Chosen." She hastily adjusts her beret to something resembling a snappy look. "Uh, I'm completely in control, sir. I'm not overwhelmed, dazzled, or gawking at anything." Her bag bumps against a table and the entire thing spills out. Countless pamphlets and manuals roll out on the golden floor. You notice a name tag that says: Hi! I'm Jenna! pinned on to the inside.

"Sorry, sir, I'll clean it up immediately!" She bends over and knocks over a tent post. A massive fireworks display cascades down on her, drowning her in red paper and packaged firedust.

"I'm okay!"

[Maugan Ra]

"So I see." Lotus says, watching with a raised eyebrow. With a casual motion, he drops his belongings somewhere nearby and starts helping the somewhat buried aspirant tidy up the damage.

"No need to call me 'sir', by the way. We're not on duty, and I'm not fond of ridiculous formality anyway. 'Lotus' will do. Anyway, how are you finding Yu-Shan? Beyond 'complicated and pretty', anyway."

[Obscurejones]

The Bureau of Journeys, Complaints Department, Standing in Front of a Massive Pile of Complaints
"Feels like home. You're sure this is all of them?"
"Relatively certain, Chosen."
Without turning his gaze from the pile, Bartleby pulls out a folded sheet of paper from his coat. With a snap of his wrist it unfurls into a three page document with several paper tags hanging off of it at key points.
"What is-"
"My receipt for the documents, your admittance that this may not be a complete collection, and a gift certificate for an orange smoothie. That last parts an obscure side effect of the transfers code. We've been trying to fix it."
With a click that echoes through the halls of the Bureau and fills the hearts of wicked men, women, and gods with dread, Bartleby starts up his pen and gets to work. Somewhere in this pile, there is the truth. Secrets that wicked men meant to hide. Battles fought in the shadows. Journeys through the dark. Serenity and peace taken at the price of transparency. And Bartleby will bring them all to an End.
"If you'll excuse me, I've got to get to work."

[Gareth3]

Pyu thinks for a moment.

We have experts on Exaltation, of course. But as I said, you're something new. Anything we tell you could easily be wrong, in your case. It's best that we start with what you know, then try to find out more.

He looks up at the Golden Barque, close to the middle of the Sky Dome.

Huh. I haven't eaten anything for 10 hours. Let's go to the Market Square and get some breakfast.

[Guancyto]

It was the waiting that was the worst part. Exile had a hard time keeping still, it paced to and fro across the most decadent carpet it had ever seen in all its years of life. If it hadn't had greaves on, it would have been like walking across something made entirely out of kitten fur.

It had already read and reread the books on its desk. The fact that the reading material most available to it was a variety of dissertations on marriage customs throughout Creation was... interesting, but said a lot of rather troubling things about why it had been brought to this place specifically. Naturally a marriage god might think that the answers to Exile's most pressing questions lay in marital bonds, but the mysterious Exalts that had helped her before would know better.

The heavy perfumes of the place and the sounds coming from adjacent rooms - not quite soundproofed enough for its exceptional hearing - were making it irritated. It had seen the incredible vastness of its buildings and its services, there surely had to be better places for it to stay.

It had already dismissed the girl sent to provide for it. A lovely young thing for a goddess - although being a goddess, Exile reminded itself, she may well have been thousands of years old and still would have looked that way. Had she intended to spark something? She certainly talked like it, draping herself over the golden four-poster bed and purring just so. And had nearly succeeded, but such was not something Exile had allowed itself. Even here. Especially here; although faint and washed away with the greatest of care, it could smell the blood beneath the perfumes.

It needed a walk. At least around the place, this "Zhu-Rong Palace" place. The little whisper from its armor suggested that it discover if their captors were worthy of such opulence, ivory and teak framing paintings on the walls, ebony statuettes depicting nymphs and fire-birds and goddesses. It silenced this whispering with a thought, as it had so many times before. Not here. Not now.

It was going for a walk, appointments be damned. It was one thing to be brought to the home of the gods, it was another to be cooped up like a fugitive. It had the key, it could come back when it liked.

Maybe around the courtyard...

[Orosboru]

"Oh, Yu-Shan's a dream! Well, not really a dream, it's not reminscent of the Wyld in the slightest - except the places where it is, I mean. It's so big and bright and beautiful in comparison to the world, but I don't think that pure gold is the most practical building material, because it's so soft without reinforcement-

Jenna takes a breath.

"Anyways, I don't spend much time outside my dorm but I'm glad that my friends took me out because the Blue District is so fascinating, especially Cato's Fell, did you know that it's a massive spire of adamant in the shape of a sword because the Unconquered Sun dueled a behemoth on these grounds, and shattered the blade into the golden grounds here? It's really cool.

Jenna breaths out. She suddenly realizes that the shopkeeper, a pouty fire elemental, is glaring at her.

"Oh, no! I'll pay for your trouble, shopkeeper! Your whole stock of firedust-based armaments has admittly little utility to me, but I'll purchase the lot if you don't tell anyone that I'm clumsy. Please? Pretty please?"

[Orosboru]

"Hah! Nothing's good enough for my friend, Ashton! How many rooms can I get on short notice?" A booming voice echoes in Zhu-Rong's main lobby. A large man, wearing the reds of the Crimsom Panoply of Victory, talks to a receptionist with a rapidly strained smile.

"Sir, we already have clients who desire their own privacy-"

"Didn't you know, little goddess? It's not every day that you get to witness a Exaltation!" He curls his blonde hair back. "Know this, for I am Beligerant Blade, Aspirant of the Chosen of Mars!" Confetti explodes behind him, and the sounds of a recorded trumpet echo in the distance.

"You're... a Sidereal?"

"Well..." For a minute, he looks almost peeved. "In two years. But trust me, when I'm Exalted, I shall remember your kind consideration and devotion to the Chosen, with my patronage and largess!" He recovers, a beaming smile returning to his lips.

The main lobby of Zhu-Rong palace is filled with red jade statues and banners depicting calligraphy of firey passions and muted lust, with braziers crafted to look like dragon maws. The occasional burst of flame comes from their mouths, and a grand clock made with petroleum burns down the hours, noting the change in time with a explosive chime.

Thick red shag carpets line the floors, with a massive coatrack and elsewhere shoe shelf near the front. Luggage and other items are carried by the eunuchs, who wear a deep blue uniform that is done in the Northern style. Thousands of iron-skinned candles line the dozens of chandeliers, giving off the scent of incense.

Outside, the massive wooden pillars painted red support the main veranda, where a cafe is situated to give a generous view of the Blue District. The obsidian steps to the top of the palace number one hundred and forty-four, each engraved with a changing symbol that tells a different story every day. Statues of lions and tigers and bears hold bells, which ring loudly on command, or if a especially high essence personage visits Zhu-Rong palace.

[Kell_tamer]

Obsidian Blinks as she see's the display of fireworks, and looks down at her hand knowing full well she did not sabotage anyone. She didn't feel any essence percolate through her body, and she glanced in a fountain to make sure she wasn't becoming horrible by just by presence alone, a light sigh of relief escaping her lips when the big black circle failed to manifest on her forehead.

"OK that was not my fault, much as i'd like to take credit for it..." It was true, she would have loved to have caused such a display, probably more, but for now it wasn't the time or place.

[Guancyto]

Exile treaded down the stairs with barely a clank, getting a few strange looks perhaps but it was very, very far from the strangest client that had ever walked the halls of Zhu-Rong. Indeed, the rest of the establishment was even more grandiose than Exile's own room; with the opportunity to look around, it suspected that its abode had been selected for being one of the most low-key in the place.

It was splendid. But Exile was a soldier, well used to standing among finery and wishing to sleep on rocks and moss. This was merely the most extreme example it had ever encountered - an in all probability, would ever encounter.

As much as the heart ached to admire it or to simply go wild with indulgence, if it could resist this, it could resist anything.

It was very far from easy. There, in the lobby, it saw a distraction, a man claiming to be a Sidereal haranguing the receptionist. Calling himself an 'aspirant.' That seemed a good way to keep its mind off everything else the place was presenting to it.

"Is there a problem here, Aspirant?" it asked, its voice as ambiguous as its form.

[Gareth3]

Pyu looks at Obsidian, confused.

You're nowhere near her, why would it be your fault?

He steps forward and helps Jenna clean up the fireworks.

[Ifni]

Glass rolls her eyes at Victory's insistence on his un-Exalted status. She really has to give him the lecture on how seriously to take Immaculate doctrines at some point. Teaching him how to read is higher on her mental priority list, though; it's not like a wide-eyed Lost Egg denying that he's a Prince of the Earth is going to raise many eyebrows.

She disappears downstairs, and is waiting for Victory when he arrives at the front entrance. She's changed into a silk cheongsam in shades of evening blue and dark indigo, and a matching jacket, both decorated with faint silver embroidery. A silver fillet holds back her short black hair. She's not wearing her sword, but as she lifts her hand and the sleeves of the jacket fall back, there is the glitter of starmetal around her wrists, and the soft gleam of the cloud-shaped blue-white gem that links her to her home.

An inadvertent smile flashes out, brief as lightning, at his question. "Like an Exalt," she says, tone faintly teasing, but approving as well. She studies him for a moment, and then nods. They'd tested him on the different magical materials early on, and she'd nearly given up hope of finding something that would reliably resonate, when he'd showed up with adamant armor that he'd apparently found in an alleyway. Suspicious, that, but she's learned to expect that kind of thing around Victory. Someone clearly likes him, even though the pattern spiders aren't talking.

It's convenient, though. Everyone knows adamant isn't truly a resonant material, so it comes across as vanity, Glass Knife being deliberately different. And he does look very fine in it, especially with the coat she bought him.

Glass extends her hand to Victory and steps up into the dragon boat. "To the Blue District, please. Let's start with drinks at Asakori-By-The-Falls."

The Blue District does have parks and 'natural' areas, they just sometimes feature... interesting... shapes. But Asakori should be a gentle introduction for Victory; while it's in the District, it's in its own little eddy of calm. There, a massive waterfall crashes down from crystal cliffs, raising a plume of white spray. The lights of the District refract through the crystal and swirling mists in a dazzle of rainbow colors; the paper lanterns bobbing in the air are barely needed. The floating restaurant set in the midst of the waters is peculiarly quiet, the crash of the waters muted by the air-spirits employed by the owner, blending into the soft music of flutes and wind-chimes. They echo back from the curved walls in strange harmonies, and occasional discords.

More to the point, the god who runs the bar there does amazing things with air and water whipped into foams, and drink ingredients from all over Creation and sometimes beyond. (If he describes a drink as bottled lightning, he's not being metaphorical - as Glass had discovered the hard way, back when she was young and naive.) It's not private, but it's not a bad place to relax after a long day at work, and most nights there won't be any other Sidereals there. It's cheap by Yu-Shan standards and considered a little garish, and the Square and more sophisticated delights are just across the bridge.

Of course, given its location, most of its clientele work in the District. So the variety of clothing is wide, and often scanty - even before you get to the various entities taking their drinks while they swim - and the scented smoke that drifts on the eddies of the air will give you very interesting dreams if you breathe too deeply.

As they descend, she smiles at Victory, and says over the noise of the falls, "I was thinking we'd get drinks here, let you get a sense of the place, and then walk into the District proper. Cato's Fell is meant to have a new menu, so I thought we'd try that. Do you like seafood? And then there are plenty of places with shows to see..."

Although she'll have to steer him away from certain streets. Glass doesn't think Victory's quite ready for the Zhu-Rong Palace yet.

She sends the dragon boat off with instructions for a later meeting. As she leads the way inside, her smile becomes bright and glittering, starry blue eyes dancing in enigmatic amusement, as she checks out the clientele and glides gracefully toward the bar. (And watches, out of the corner of her eye, for Victory's reaction.)

[Kell_tamer]

Her nature kicking in momentarily, "oh no i mean i didn't set this up. I swear!"

She avoided the prospect of her ability to cause bad luck in those she wishes, not wanting to discuss it quite yet. Her realization of where she is kicking in and she moves to help as well.

"yeah this sort of thing is in our nature, the fiends and really anyone who uses the powers of the Shadow of All Things. to put it blunt, we're kind of jerks..."

Though she could easily put everything in place with her mind she avoided drawing attention to herself, doing things the manual way. "And while being a jerk is kinda the only thing i know, I want to be a jerk to all the right people."

[Gareth3]

Pyu frowns.

People with Ebon Dragon powers are jerks, yes. But that's because they're just sock puppets for the Ebon Dragon himself, without anything behind their eyes. At least, until you came along. You have free will, you can behave however you want. Creepy powers don't mean anything. You should see some of my friends powers, and they're good guys.

[industrious]

Fourth

There are no words.

To Glass Knife, perhaps, this is a gaudy, inexpensive place to hang out after work. Elder Sidereals and other gods might look upon it as crass. To Fourth, however...

Fourth Clever Victory was raised in the Blessed Isle, was raised close to and apart from wealth. His Exalted masters lived in an opulent manse, and he had seen the feasts that the Dragon-Blood were capable of, had even, on one occasion, partaken out some of House V'neef wine (half a bottle that had been deemed "unworthy" and thrown out).

Every day in Yu-Shan was a day filled with wonders he had never seen before. Every encounter outside of Glass Knife's manse (itself a palace) was one in which his expectations were shattered once more. This was the city of the gods, and he had no experience with godly living.

He knows, from experience, that he shouldn't be staring at everything.

He does so anyway.

[Kell_tamer]

"Well it certainly is a nice thought. but how about we go get that food." She smirks a bit.

"Maybe you can tell me a bit more about this place as we head to a restaurant." She glances back at him with a playful grin. "And I can tell you more about us over something nice and spicy."

Her features do a wonderful job masking her maturity, it actually makes it hard to believe that this girl at least according to her has killed an anathema and several dynasts. She even holds out her hand like a child reaching for a parent.

[Gareth3]

Pyu smiles uncertainly, and ignores her outstretched hand.

Food, right... I don't come here very often, too noisy. Cato's Fell is the only one I've heard of.

He points towards the giant sword in the distance, and they start walking towards it.

You said "us". So there are more like you?

[Ifni]

Glass Knife

Glass adeptly steers her way through the crowded bar/restaurant, guiding Victory along with her. A sharp elbow, adroitly wielded, gets them most of the way; the table she wants is taken, by a silk-robed god lingering over his glass, but a meaningful look is enough to make him drain the dregs rapidly and go to settle his tab.

It's on the balcony on the roof, with a good view over to the District proper, sheltered from the spray by a waxed paper screen, but still lit by the crystal-refracted light.

Glass goes through the menu, translating from the Old Realm. Not that Victory could read it, even without the language gap. Apart from advising him to stay away from the bottled lightning, she lets him make his own selection, as she idly watches the Market Square.

Sorry this post has no actual dialogue in it. Sleepy... but thought I'd try to offer a bit of setup.

[Kell_tamer]

She puts on a bit of a pout when he doesn't accept her hand, but shrugs it off. She understood that he might be hesitant to touch her much less grab a willing appendage, she places her hands into small pockets on her pants as she walks to keep step with him.

"yes, and not just Fiends. I don't have an exact count though, and what I do know is each one is backed by a different yozi. They call us the Green Sun Princes, probably in a mockery of the Solars who defeated them, they really don't like them, not a fan of them myself."

She glances around a bit nervously, she was in unfamiliar territory in a city where if she was found out by those not involved in the arrangement, she'd be hunted and killed. "Can we hold off on this till we're somewhere less public. Like does this restaurant have private booths or anything?"

[Orosboru]

"And who is this, so withered and worn in attire, that not look like the inhabitants of Creation. Does it live, does it breath, in a empty suit of armor, which calls to my attention on this starry night?" Belligerent Blade looks at the exile, dramatically turning. "Truely it is fate that we two have met, for I am needing of a person or persons to assist me in a matter most vital to the state. Are you interested? :smallbiggrin:

Jenna puts away her purse, a small lorry carrying off the fireworks."Uh... excuse me, Miss? Sir? If you're looking for a quiet place to talk things over... then Cato's Fell isn't the best place for that. It's booked for a party. Uh. For my friend. I can get you in, if you want, since you helped me. As thanks."

A man wearing the greens of the Forbidding Manse of Ivy knocks on Melinore's door. "Hello? Is anyone home?" He is wearing a mandarin's uniform with a brush box bound to his back with ropes. A thin moonsilver daiklaive sits on his side.

[Aevylmar]

There is a long pause, then Melinore opens the door. The room is full of books, she is carrying a book which she hasn't bothered to put down yet, and her hair is entirely unbrushed, uncombed and in absolute disorder. She's wearing

Fortunately, the claws on her gloves are retracted. Unfortunately, she is wearing the gloves.

"Oh! Sorry! Yes, someone is home. I'm Melinore Mirella, and it is the me who is staying here who is at home!" She attempts to disentangle her own sentence, fails, and settles for grinning infectiously at him.

"Come in! come in! What did you want to talk about?"

[Kell_tamer]

Obsidian glances back at the girl then to Pyu. "Up to you. I would personally prefer a bit of privacy. I think the public around here has heard enough already."

[Guancyto]

Ah. A bard of sorts. It must have been. It would be harmless enough to play along; Exile knew something of the honored art. "Do not be so quick to presume fate as your ally, red one," it said, nearly amused, "it may be that it has called upon this meeting for the failure of your misadventure, such are its caprices, for it brings men to ruin just as soon as it brings them to fortune.

But," it said, "speak your tale truly and this empty suit of armor, of many titles but no name, will listen."

Or maybe that was really how he talked. If so, Exile was going to learn more about flowery speech than it ever wished to.

[Gareth3]

Pyu thinks for a moment, then shrugs.

There's no real security either way, let's leave the interrogation until after the party.

He turns to Jenna.

Thanks for the invitation, we'd be honoured to attend. Who's your friend?

[Kell_tamer]

She chuckles a bit. "Fair enough."

She looks to Jenna, "Thank you." She flashes her a friendly smile. Whether its genuine or not only the child knows.

[Orosboru]

"Good evening, miss. Sorry to bother you at such a late hour, but I was told that you were a expert in these matters." The man steps into your house. "My name is Ash Scattered at the Mouth of the Ford, or Ashford for short." Ashford says his name as quickly as he can.

"I'm familiar with the Primordials-As-They-Were on a cursory level, but what I have come here to ask is for their creations." Ashford clears his throat. "The Ebon Dragon created the Unconquered Sun, it is known, and Luna was created by Oramus and Cytherea. But who made the Maidens? It is troubling, and Jupiter is silent on the matter."

Ashford takes off his silk shoes. "But why were no other Incarnae ever created? Was it a limitation of the celestial sphere, or another reason? The lower level archives have little to say on this matter, and I suspect that they may be expunged."

Ashford pauses, realizing he's ranting.


"Pardon my eagerness, Chosen. I just grasped the cusp of this mystery on this very night."

"Oh, Ashford..." Jenna pauses. "He's... what you would expect from a man from the Forbidding Manse of Ivy. All taciturn, suspicious, and bookish to the core. He doesn't keep any secrets from us, though. We're his friends, and the Loom says that he's going to Exalt tonight."" Jenna smiles. "The cost is going to reduce me to white rice and sea salt, but he's our friend, you know?" She sighs.

"My lord, or my lady, whatever you may be, I am glad that you take the time to listen to my chirping." Blade smiles even more radiantly. "I must tell good friend Ashford of the methods of tin and copper. Alas, my persuasive argument has not swayed his inky heart, so I must resort to other methods of persuasion."

Blade closes in conspiratorially. "I have the tools to a greater mystery, one that he searches even now, but it lies outside of his reach. Mine as well, but with a little aid from the right person..." He points at you. "So say you? Still interested?"

[Gareth3]

Pyu glares at Jenna.

Who says that about the Forbidding Manse?

He laughs.

Kidding, kidding! That sums us up pretty well. Ashford, hey? I've worked in Manse all my life, but I've never heard of him, not that that's a surprise. Obsidian Child here will exalt as a Chosen of Secrets too, in a few years. It'll be fascinating to see an Exaltation from the outside.

Pyu is thoughtful for a moment.

Any high-rank gods at the party?

[Kell_tamer]

Though not outwardly expressing it, obsidian is relishing in the lie that's being built around her. She loved watching such things spread out of control. It takes a careful mind to be able to properly keep a lie going, and she was very curious to see how this would turn out. At least curious and hopeful it wouldn't end with her getting some rather unwanted holes in her torso.

She was very eager to see an exaltation happen. Especially because her only experience with it was rather horrid and something she'd never want to live through again. Oh she'd do it in a heartbeat to get the power again, but doesn't mean she liked it.

[Maugan Ra]

"A new Exaltation, tonight? And a party, no less." Lotus exclaims with a delighted expression. "[color="DarkRed"]Well, this I have to see. Come on, let's go - I'll even help pay. Might as well get some use out of those wages.[/color"

Yup... should almost certainly have been a Serenity.

[Aevylmar]

Melinore smiles sunnily. "Pleased to meet you, Ashford! Make yourself at home! Though I'm really not the most expert expert. I just like reading."

She sits down on the most overstuffed chair.

"Anyway, though, those are two fundamentally different questions. We don't know who made the Maidens. I don't know who made the Maidens. There's dozens and dozens of convincing scholarly articles by brilliant authors, all of them logically consistent, which all purport to prove that each of a dozen different Primordials made the Maidens. The real question isn't who made them, but why whoever made them doesn't want to say, and so the best theories I've heard are Sacharavell, who can't talk right now, and She Who Lives In Her Name, who might think it a challenge to the hierarchy to boast."

She starts fiddling with her hair. "Or, of course, whoever did it might have gotten caught in the Three Spheres Cataclysm, or the memory of whoever did it might've, and it could be unknown and unknowable because of that."

"The other one's easier!" She says energetically, releasing the ringlet. "But you're starting with the wrong question. Why did the Primordials make the Incarnae that they did? It wasn't just for aesthetic appeal. And the simple answer is that they made the Sun to guard Creation - and because the Ebon Dragon was plotting, but the Ebon Dragon is always plotting, so things always have at least one reason other than his plotting to actually get done -" (an injunction she manages all in one breath) - "And they made Luna to give the Sun a break, and as a partner and foil to him. Because they needed protection from the Wyld, and the Primordials were too busy gaming to provide it, and then they needed a break from sunlight."

"And then," she asserts confidently, "As you know, we don't know why the Maidens were made. The most popular theory is that one of or some of the Primordials realized that they needed Fate to keep Creation running, that a bunch of independent gods couldn't do it, and that they needed Incarnae to run Fate, because no lesser being could and the Primordials had other things to do."

She relaxes. "So why would they need another Incarnate? The Sun and the Moon are enough to keep Creation alive, and the Maidens and Gaia are enough to keep Creation stable. They might have made a replacement for Gaia if she wanted to spend all of her time gaming, but she didn't, which is probably why she's the best Primordial ever. But they didn't need Creation to be interesting, because it was just there to keep them going and safe and whatnot, and they didn't need any more help entertaining themselves, because of the Games, and anything lesser can be done by lesser Devas and deities. So I guess they decided that Two-And-Five was enough."

She pauses, realizing she's been ranting continuously for probably far too long.

"Sorry, I just think this stuff is really neat."

[Guancyto]

So, there was something made of bronze involved. And a mystery to be solved. A great one! And a man named Ashford to be convinced of something. It was all terribly cryptic, but that seemed to be the way of things around here.

"I will continue to listen to your tale, smith of words," Exile said, the curiosity in its voice far from concealed, "if only in the hope that they may begin to make some measure of sense."

[Obscurejones]

I tried to get the 'package' in today, but there was a major holdup - black suits every, you dig?
Anyway, I'm complaining because our usual arrangement ****ed up.
I was standing in line and they had a triple duty guard of Lions. Siakal was there too, with her sharktooth great weapon.
Primordial War ****. Security measures I didn't even know existed almost caught our load.
They dragged out a adamant thingamagig that went beep boop on a wee little girl.
And after that, lol and behold Chejop ****ing Kejak giving everyone the eyeball.
Anyway, I've hidden the stuff for the gal on top of the hilt of Cato's Fell. You know, the large ass sword with a restaurant on it?
Send me some cool vibrations. Peace out.
Bartleby shivers a little at the thought of standing on the hilt. There are certainly those among the Maiden's Chosen who are light on their feet, capable of dashing across the threads of fate that cross the heavens, dancing on the head of a pen, or you know, climbing a ladder. Bartleby is not one of them. While he has a certain inborn agility, the prospect of trying to secure an illegal package placed on top of a magical skyscraper does not appeal to our intrepid office warrior.
"Danger, heights, potential for death. Sounds like the perfect opportunity for my new shining responsibility to prove themselves. Hopefully they're 'already studied the Sun's ancient and terrible methods of jumping really high."

I've picked up some of the information you've requested from the bugs we've put in all of the heavenly gates.
Hopefully, the postal service won't **** up again and deliver it to some farmer's village in the south.
Anyway, you told me to inform you of any sudden essence fluctuations noted by the flies, and they picked up a huge one, from the Realm.
Some sort of unknown signature, massive, but not like a elder Exalt or a senior god. It's remarkably similar to a recent Exaltation.
Anyway, they picked up another person's presence - a Sidereal's essence, but they're not accurate enough to give me a identity. It's definitely Journeys, I can tell you that.
And no, I don't trust you enough to meet you in person. It's dead drops or nothing.
P.S.
I'm calling in for the reimbursement of my Dragon Boat rental, which was waiting for me just outside the Meru gate.
All traffic was sealed off for twenty-four hours, as I am informed was caused by a pair of queue-jumpers.
By the time the two were dully processed, I had to pay a extravagant late fee.
Expect a invoice in the mail.

"Someone's been recruiting greedy idiots. Wonderful. Looks like he'll be setting records for the fastest a Chosen's managed to land in criminal penalty."
Pen and offending notes both tucked in a coat pocket, Bartleby finishes up a quick invoice for the missing documents and heads for the Blue District. Two birds with one stone. Or rather, two tasks with one Solar. Imagine the efficiency of the First Age.

[Arpista]

The Chamber of Pearl and Ivory is one of the most elegant rooms in the Star with a Thousand Facets... or at least, one of its mistress's favorites. Small enough to feel cozy yet large enough to be remarkably spacious, the walls of the triangular room are lined with bookcases, with rare gaps for the occasional window or, on the short arm of the triangle, a single door. The space between the triangles is scattered with armchairs (and the occasional loveseat), all upholstered in various shades of white and cream, with little tables of carved ivory or mother-of-pearl set conveniently beside them to hold spare books and notes or, for less studious guests, drinks. The ceiling above is glorious, an elaborate mural of the night sky, each individual star startlingly clear and bright – and precisely enough placed to allow a sage to calculate the date simply from the stars' positions. Iris Resplendent, who'd had it installed, could have done it without blinking; her heir, currently curled up with a book in an ivory silk armchair that made even her six feet look small, was well aware that without a star chart she would be hopeless, and generally solved the problem by simply not trying; she had more important jobs than figuring out what messages her past self might have encoded in a mural. (Oh darn, and Iris would have done so, too. Alright, I'll put that after her notes and the libraries and Ruby's lessons. On the bright side, by the point I'm done with the libraries, I should have the knowledge anyway...)

She flipped a page, brushing a lock of walnut-brown hair out of her eyes, and peered at the notes in the margins. The text itself was relatively normal – a study of the Crow, significance and omens thereof, and she was pretty sure the author had not been a Sidereal – but the notes in the margins, all in Iris's curling far-too-elegant-to-be-legible (yet, somehow, still legible) script, were anything but normal. She set the book down briefly, placing a thin sheet of ivory between the pages – one had to keep up appearances, after all, and besides the cup of them on the table made them the most convenient bookmarks – and noted down the page number under a column titled Unusual Data. With luck, what she found would reflect back on Iris's gathered notes, making them easier to sort. Without luck... one more book was still one more step towards understanding her predecessor's legacy.

With a sigh, she picked up her book and returned to reading.

[industrious]

Fourth

"...Wow."

All of this. This place, this restaurant, this menu (he didn't even know what any of those drinks were), and...

"Thank you," he says. "again. For everything. This is amazing, and wonderful, and...wow."

"So...Umm...the Midnight Marriage? (http://www.molecularrecipes.com/molecular-mixology/midnight-mary-3-aviary/)"

He liked midnight, he found. In this place, the sun and moon would always be rising and setting, but sometimes it was night, and the stars were out, and it was beautiful. It would have been even better without the stars, to see the night sky as if it were Calibration, but that, it seemed, never happened here.

Apparently, Calibration was "untidy."

"What did you do before you did what you do now?"

...Real smooth, Fourth.

"I mean," he stammers, verbally tripping over himself. "I'm a bodyguard. And before that I was in training for being a bodyguard. And when I was young, I always knew I'd be doing what my dad did and his dad did and his dad did, unless I really didn't want to do it. But what about you?"

[Maugan Ra]

Humming a merry tune to himself, Lotus strolls in through the doors of the Zhu-Rong Palace, guided by instinct and whimsy and the echoing voice of a potentially-irritable customer. He was having a good time right now, dammit, and apparently if he wanted to keep having that good time he'd need to head off a potential dispute before it's lingering poison ruined everything in the surrounding area.

He stops short at the sight of the one responsible, and sighs slightly to himself, casting an amused glance back at Jenna. Aspirants. Ah, to be that young again... still, they probably can't screw up as badly as I did, so that's something.

"Do they not teach the value of discretion in the academies these days?" he says in a light voice, stepping up towards Belligerent Blade. Between his uniform, the brilliant red of his eyes and the crimson trim to his clothing, there wasn't any real doubt as to what he was. "Aspirant, I can hear you from several streets away. And while a new Exaltation is indeed a glorious thing, please, don't stain the beginning of your companion's new career with such... antics. Wouldn't want people to think poorly of the Fellowship, now would we?"

His tone is casual and easy-going, but no one present can possibly miss the warning hidden underneath it.

[Ifni]

Glass Knife

"That's a good choice." She smiles faintly. "Much better than some of the ones I tried when I first came here. And don't... you don't need to keep thanking me, Victory."

She looks up at the waiter and switches to rapid-fire Old Realm. "We'll get your raspberry tea special, and a Midnight Marriage." Once the spirit's hurried away, she looks back at the Nocturnal.

Why did he have to ask that?

Most people in Yu-Shan recognize how rude it is, to ask a Sidereal what they were before they came to the Celestial City. Good or bad, that life is over, stripped away inexorably by the power of the broken Mask. But Victory... I keep forgetting how much he doesn't know.

"Ah, there's not much to tell. I was brought here when I was ten. And when I was a child... there wasn't really a tradition of employment for me to follow. Or if there was I didn't know about it; I never met my grandparents."

Mm. Good find industrious. Glass is ordering the first one on this page (http://www.molecularrecipes.com/molecular-mixology/aviary-cocktails/).

[industrious]

"Yes I do."

Fourth gestures vaguely around him.

"You brought me here. Not just to this amazing place for drinks, but to this city. You're letting me stay in your palace, and shown me such amazing, incredible sights that I would have never dreamed of. When I mess up, and I know that you get frustrated at how often I do, you don't yell at me or hit me. And you're this important person doing important things, and you still go out of your way to spend time with me."

He is not going to look at her in the eyes too long, he is not going to look at her in the eyes too long look away look away look away.

He turns his smile into one more humorous, tries to make a joke.

"Even if you think I need to learn my letters for some reason."

The drinks arrive and Fourth opens his mouth. Closes it. Opens it again. Closes it again. Reaches a hand out, takes a sip. Takes another. Tries very hard not to guzzle it all down...and succeeds.

And he has some tact. Glass doesn't want to talk about before. So he won't.

"I never knew my grandfather, either. An assassin killed him to get to the nursery."

[Ifni]

Glass carefully pours the steaming ruby liquid from the siphon into her glass, and taps the table with one lacquered fingernail as she waits a moment for it to cool. She smiles briefly at Victory's enthusiasm: the Midnight Marriage is a fun cocktail.

"I think I've yelled at you a few times. And if I haven't hit you recently then I need to ramp up the sparring sessions." Although he has been getting very good; he picked up the techniques he showed him with an ease exceeding most of the Sidereals she's trained with.

She glances, apparently idly, around the balcony, checking for observers. It's noisy and crowded - and their table is set aside a little way, and the screens will help. Still, better not to say too much in public. "I enjoy spending time with you. But your insistence that you're not important is about as frustrating as your continued clinging to illiteracy." She smiles faintly, obviously teasing - at least in part.

Oh Victory, don't look at me like that. Her elders would certainly be pleased with that unquestioning trust, that adulation - but contrary to what they'd expect, she hasn't done anything to arrange it. And to offer trust so freely is a serious weakness, one that will hurt him, if it's not fixed.

Her elders would be significantly less pleased with the degree to which Don't let him get hurt has become important to her, over the past few months.

She blows across the surface of her drink to cool it and takes a sip, as Victory mentions his grandfather's death. Her only reaction is a slight nod. "I imagine being in the midst of Dynastic politics as a mortal guard is very dangerous."

She pauses, and then offers, "For us - we leave it all behind when we come to Yu-Shan, in any case. The world forgets us soon enough."

There's silence for a moment, as she drinks. "Anyway, the Blue District is just across the bridge. You see the giant sword, over there? That's Cato's Fell, I was thinking about dinner there. And the Market Square is right there - you can see the shops from here. We can walk through there, have a look around... maybe buy something, if you see anything you like."

"Is there anything in particular you want to do?" Something in the tone of the question makes it seem that the Sidereal is asking about more than simply plans for the evening. But perhaps that's just imagination.

[industrious]

An infinity of possible answers flow through Fourth's head at Glass's question. Almost all of them are dismissed out of hand. Some congeal more clearly and distinctly.

I don't think I could ever forget you.

What would she do, if he actually said those words out loud? He'd never find out. He would never find out.

The answer he actually speaks comes without pause, and with a twinkle in his eyes. It's even true.

"Well, if you say that you're going easy on me when we spar..."

Sparring with Glass was fun. And when it came to the interplay of blade on blade, of clashing swords, of the cut and the slash and the stab...Fourth felt as brilliant and clever as his name suggested. And she enjoyed it, too.

"And this is your city, Glass Knife. I'll be amazed no matter where we go or what we eat."

He pauses.

"Unless it's something just incredibly disgusting. Like...I don't know. Rotten, curdled milk (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheese#Cultural_attitudes) or something."

That had been a popular dare when he was in training. Nobody ever took it.

[Ifni]

"Heh. I've been thinking, actually, that it might be useful for us to pay a visit to Lotus - the Shieldbearer you met when you first arrived, do you remember? There are things I can't teach you, and Lotus is a skilled warrior." The Joybringer grins slightly. "You could use some practice in fighting multiple opponents, stop you from getting too cocky."

And it would be good to have a second opinion on Victory's skills. And possibly a quiet way into the training resources of the Crimson Panoply - she suspects Victory might turn out to be very good at fighting large numbers of opponents, but they'll never know if she's the only one teaching him. (The Shieldbearers' training was not ever her favorite part of the curriculum, although she eventually managed to pick up some basics.) Yes, she's supposed to be keeping his existence and nature secret, but Lotus already knows enough to be dangerous; it'd be better to bring him up to date fully. Or that's what she'll tell the committee, if it ever becomes a problem.

"As for tonight, yes, I think we'll leave casu marzu (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casu_marzu) for another time. Some of the eastern tribes have distinctly odd customs."

"I hear one of the new opera companies has a couple of very good sword dancers. Perhaps there. But dinner first." Not work, for a few hours. Or mostly not. It can't hurt to familiarize Victory with this part of Yu-Shan - and the regulars here with Victory. What's familiar, after all, is easily overlooked.

Glass takes a long swallow of her spray-cooled drink. It is excellent; the tang of ginger and solidity of hazelnut and fresh coolness of mint and lemon complementing the sweetness of the raspberry liqueur. Not one of their most exotic offerings, but still a joy to be savored.

"How hungry are you feeling? Walk around a bit first, or straight to the Fell?" She frowns a little. "I didn't make reservations, but if they're too busy, there are plenty of other places around." Or she can try to fast-talk them into a table; that often works, at least so long as the place hasn't been booked out for a Gold Faction party or something, and if that happens she'll be beating a rapid retreat. The Gold does not need to know about Victory just yet: on that point she and Kejak are in complete agreement.

[industrious]

Fourth

"Is that a challenge, Glass?"

His tone is light, teasing.

"Do I need to send another Frenzied running for you?"

He finishes his drink (more slowly than he started, though that isn't saying much), and contemplates licking the glass. Not for long, of course. He isn't a barbarian, after all. It was just an amazing drink...

"Either way works for"

His stomach, at this point, kindly weighs in on the topic.

"...maybe dinner first?"

[Ifni]

Glass smiles. "All right. On the dinner, I mean; you can hold the Lunar." Her voice is deadpan.

She waves for the waiter, scans the bill, and casually tosses the requisite amount of Quintessence onto the table. Converted to Creation currencies, it would feed a family for a year. Here... it's the price of two drinks. She's not looking forward to the reaction when Victory finds out what the exchange rate actually is.

The Joybringer gets to her feet and holds out her hand to the other Exalt. "Shall we go check out Cato's Fell, then?"

[industrious]

Fourth

He gives her an informal salute as he rises.

"Yes, ma'am. Dinner, possibly followed by wrestling with Lunars."

Thankfully, the price of the drinks wasn't too bad, judging from the amount of...fluid vials (seriously? Heaven couldn't adopt proper coinage?) on the table.

"...And I might give the whole 'reading' thing a try there, too. Should be easy as snapping."

No, he probably wouldn't. But the look on her face would be priceless.

[Orosboru]

Belligerent Blade
“My apologies, chosen. I will be the picture of discretion, and no action of mine will besmirch the good name of the Fivescore Fellowship.” Belligerent Blade goes to a knee, bowing his head. “But my enthusiasm could not be contained, for my friend has come from the spring of his youth to the passionate summer of manhood! You see, my friend Ashford has been visiting the Baths of Venus for quite some time now! Such secret business he keeps from his best friends. I suspect a vision of loveliness is the temptation he keeps from us.” His eyes shine with fire. “As a fellow man – no, as a human being, we must do all we can to engender conflict, channel their energies towards suspicion, and ensure that the skeletons are rattled.”
“My plan is to stalk the baths and catch them in a meeting, for in truth, my trust is placed in an uncertain position.” Blade smiles. “I need more eyes than three to watch the entirety of the place. I’ll make sure that you’re compensated. I’ll even invite you as my personal guests to Ashford’s celebration. Interested? What do you make of my tale of lust and woe?”

Ashford
“I think there is reason to doubt that the Primordials were satisfied with the heavenly sphere.” Ashford remains standing, drinking from a flask at his hip. “We have the heaven and earth represented, the sun and the moon and the stars, but why does Luna carry the mantle of night? She is not the Sun’s opposite, wholly of herself. There are foreign realities and traitorous gods beyond the space of Yu-Shan, and there is no god to represent the emptiness around the core of creation. There is a Exaltation for every magical material – excepting dread soulsteel and constructive adamant.”

Ashford moves forward.
“I have evidence, however, that there was a plan. There is a broken symmetry in Yu-Shan. Take Yaogin, head of the Golden Barque. He is the paramour of Venus taken during the Primordial war. I have seen likenesses of him, deep within the bowels of Yu-Shan, that are older than the god himself. Why is this? And the dedication of the Baths of Venus was built on the ruins of a greater palace. All of the remaining proof has been scrubbed away by builders and workers, but the fact that something so associated with Venus is located in such a conspicuous void makes me think…”
“I think that Venus had a partner and foil, as well, as Luna is to the Unconquered Sun. And the proof of it is somewhere deep in the Baths.”

Jenna
Jenna goes white. “Oh, no prominent gods or anything! Just us aspirants and a couple of private friends. Very quiet.” She shyly smiles. “We’re going to celebrate his formal investure before he has to do his job. But honestly…” She lowers herself to a whisper. “As such a new Sidereal, his loyalties won’t be solidified just yet...” She gives Pyu a look. “Is it going to be a problem?”

Aspirant of Journeys walking on Storm Shadow's House

Storm Shadow hears someone walking on her roof, clumsily treading on the jade tiles, fumbling around the chimney. You hear several muted curses and the clang of a rappel. "Mercury-damn cheap steel, never buying from Nexus ever again..."

[Obscurejones]

Blue District, Zhu-Rong Palace, Close to Both a Hidden Solar and a Bronze Faction Chosen of Mars, Wishing He'd Hailed a Faster Taxi
Bartleby rocks back on his heels as he spots Lotus talking to- Oh god, please don't be, but you probably are- The Solar. Lotus, with a blur of thought the Bronze functionary's last few audits whiz through Bartleby's brain. Liked well enough by both factions, no signs of notable corruption, Bronze by virtue of philosophy and appreciation for peace rather than out of power grabbing. The subject of a running joke about how he should have been a Chosen of Venus. There certainly could have been worse choices for The Exile's first run in with the Bronze Faction. Standing to the side, Aspirant Belligerent Blade. No Audits yet, but likely knows their fellow Aspirant of Serenity.
"Lotus, Blade, pleasure to see you both. I've been hoping to run into one of the latest crop of Aspirants. If you could, please let Lawrence Navos Iselei know he's due for an Audit. My office, no later than mid day or I'll be forced to find him. That automatically increases the severity of the Audit, as per article ♏ of the constitution on Criminal Audit."
He takes a breath as he tries to make eye contact with his helmeted responsibility.
"Exile, I see you've been making new friends."
Bartleby may not be agile, but he has enough martial ability to have practiced slipping between his target and a threat. Drawing his pen and a clipboard from a pocket he holds them out to the seemingly vacant suit of armor.
"Bartleby. I'm to be your contact in Yu-Shan for the duration of your visit. I have some visa paperwork for you to sign. The second form is to backdate your application. You should just need to sign at each of the yellow tags. Any distinctive mark will work."
Yellow tags. Or possibly Gold. But hopefully close enough to yellow to escape notice.
"Once you've completed that task I need your help retrieving a nearby package. You're good with heights, I hope. Lotus, I suppose you could help if you wish. Although I'd need you to fill out a Class C Merit Action in Aid to the General Audit certification if you do."

[Orosboru]

A imperious looking human walks towards Glass and Fourth, affecting the style of Creation's Dynast, a faded Iselei hair pin keeping his long hair back. You notice that the background noise has largely faded away, and the cafe is nearly empty.

"Greetings, Glass Knife, Chosen of Serenity. I'm Lawrence Navos, junior aspirant of the same." He bows deeply. "If I could interrupt your..." He looks at Fourth, and struggles to find a euphemism. "Mutual acquaintance, I have a issue of some secrecy to relate to you. If I'm interrupting anything, then please excuse my rudeness, but it's about the blackout on the records a few months ago." He looks to the Sidereal, waiting for a reply.

[Maugan Ra]

"My good man, that sounds like an excellent way to spend an afternoon. And in repayment for the invite, and to fulfill those mentoring duties I hear we're meant to perform with regards to the new folks, let me help you learn a thing or two about spotting suspicious behavior." Lotus says to Blade, waving him up from his present kneeling position and indicating Bartlby and the unusual armoured figure.

"Note how our friend Bartlby here has interposed himself between us and his charge, whose choice of attire carries a certain anonymity with it. See also the talk of audits and paperwork - heavy weapons, when brandished at any Sidereal, and normally sufficient to make him back off. Finally, note the name - Exile - and the mention of a retroactive Visa, while observing that our lovely surroundings are in no way an official holding area or, indeed, anything very official at all."

There's not quite so much amusement in his tone now. "In summery, then... Bartlby, exactly who or what is it you've illegally smuggled into Yu-Shan?"

[industrious]

Fourth

Fourth blinks at the Aspirant.

"No need to worry about clearance in front of me, Nexos."


Activating Outside Consultant Technique to give myself Backing 2 in the Bureau of Destiny for 1 day. 5m, difficulty equal to the highest Backing in the Scene, rolling Charisma+Relevant Ability; I'll choose Linguistics, implying I'm in the Cerulean Lute as well.

[roll0]

[Kell_tamer]

Obsidian glances to Pyu. Being somewhat oblivious to sidereal politics she just figures he'll explain what Jenna is talking about later.

For now she just stays quiet and by his side till he lets her know where to go.

[Obscurejones]

Blue District, Zhu-Rong Palace, Close to Both a Hidden Solar and a Bronze Faction Chosen of Mars, Not Intimidated by a Shot in the Dark

"One, Lotus, I have done no such thing. As you well know I abhor the culture of graft and corruption your faction has seen fit to have as the status quo while they're been the dominant power in Heaven. Although I had thought yourself above such things as factional squabbling. Two, I resent your unfounded implications. Exile here is a guest of the Hags. I am facilitating his paperwork as a gift to my friends. I am not entirely sure what manner of being he claims to be. Hence the need for new paperwork for him. Three, is that no to the request for aid? A shame, that. A Chosen of Mars is a useful tool while investigating actual smuggling."
Bartleby twirls his pen between his fingers as he speaks.
"Four, I suppose the logical question in my case were we to be throwing around accusations is whether you or Blade are involved in his fellow aspirant's illegal tampering with the gates of heaven? If so, would either of you care to testify? I can't promise any sort of plea bargain but your cooperation with the Audit would be noticed."

[Arpista]

Aspirant of Journeys walking on Storm Shadow's House

Storm Shadow hears someone walking on her roof, clumsily treading on the jade tiles, fumbling around the chimney. You hear several muted curses and the clang of a rappel. "Mercury-damn cheap steel, never buying from Nexus ever again..."


What the...

The Chosen of Journeys replaces the ivory bookmark and closes her book carefully, setting it neatly on the table in the precise center of a pile of notes. She closes the notebook and places it neatly on top of the book. That gives her a little time to think.

Someone is trespassing. On my roof. My roof.

'Now if anyone comes knocking in an untoward manner you're to ask for Cal, got it?' That had been what... Bartleby had said, hadn't it? Right then. The paperwork backs me up. And if I can hear her, she can hear me. In which case...

Calmly, the Exalt raises her voice to a pitch at which it should be clearly audible through the open window. "That's odd. It sounds as if someone's on my roof. But of course, no one would be so impolite as to go climbing on someone's manse without even saying a word to her." Feather, if this is another one of your pranks, I swear...

[Obscurejones]

Blue District, Zhu-Rong Palace, Close to Both a Hidden Solar and a Bronze Faction Chosen of Mars, In the Throes of Swift Remorse
Bartleby pinches the bridge of his nose as what he just said hits home.
"Apologies, Chosen. It has already been an exceedingly long night. I have no reason to implicate either yourself or your young friend there in any criminal activity. It's just one of those evenings where people keep letting me down."
With a heavy sigh Bartleby pockets his pen.
"I understand your wanting to make a point to an aspirant of your own Caste, Lotus, but if you could refrain from disparaging my character in the future, I would appreciate it. As for my mention of the Audit, it comes as a result of my currently being involved in my duties. Apparently some idiot has been hiding illegal shipments above Cato's Fell. I had hoped to get some help in retrieving it, heights not being my strong point. From what I recall of your file, you're an honest sort, and I would not mind the help."
He nods to the armored figure over his shoulder.
"As I understand it there is nothing untoward about the Exile's stay in heaven. He is a guest of my friends, and I had hoped to help him with his entry. If it turns out his being here is a criminal act you have my word that I will prosecute those responsible to the full extent of both my ability and the law."

[Ifni]

Glass Knife

"I think that's Navos, sweetie," Glass coos, with a brief squeeze of Fourth's hand. Her voice is sugary sweet, with a distinctly patronizing overtone.

She turns to the aspirant, and her tone becomes sharper, cooler, impassive. "But certainly, I'd be happy to hear what you think is worth the interruption. Have a seat, Aspirant, unless you want to talk somewhere more private? We were about to head to Cato's Fell."

She briefly considers whether it's worth sending Victory away, in case the information is something he shouldn't hear - but imagining him wandering around alone and unguided in the Blue District almost causes a wince to escape.

Easy as snapping. Yeah. So, no.

The Sidereal switches briefly to High Realm, as she sits down again, leaning back and steepling her fingers. "Lawrence Navos Iselei, isn't it? And yes... you don't need to worry about Fourth." Her tone is faintly amused. "Trust me on that one."

She adjusts the paper screen next to the table slightly, and the sound of the waterfall picks up. She opens a hand, and in Old Realm says, "The floor's all yours." Go on, kid, impress me.

Presumably he hasn't found anything pertaining to her somewhat unorthodox entrance, or he wouldn't be bringing it to her, unless he's foolish enough to try for blackmail. He might have contacted a senior Bronze and been pointed to her - or this might be a sting of some kind. But playing innocent and keeping her cards close to her chest seems like the best choice in those circumstances.

If it matters, this is a Manipulation+Performance social attack, intended to make anyone listening underestimate and dismiss Victory in the current scene (because she's trying to protect his cover, and give him an opportunity to listen without being the target of questions, if it wasn't clear). Roll's in the spoiler if relevant. Appearance is 5 for figuring MDV bonuses/penalties.

[roll0] (Performance+Manipulation+Hidden Meanings specialty)
+possible stunt [roll1]
+ I'll spend 2m Personal to buy one success with the Excellency.
EDIT: 6 sux base, 7/7/8 with a 1/2/3-die stunt. Remember to adjust MDVs by the difference in our Appearance (to a maximum of +/- 3).

[Aevylmar]

Meli stops talking for a few seconds and starts twiddling her thumbs while she thinks. The grin remains on her face from start to finish.

"Someone to argue with!"

"Why does the mantle of night need to be represented by a unique incarnate? The mantle of day isn't; the Sun oversees it just as the Moon oversees night. And as for your other points, soulsteel isn't natural - there's a few old test pieces, and most of what you've got only showed up after the death of the Primordials. And Adamant was only reclassified as a sixth Magical Material recently; five-metal was how all the famous First Age things were made, and there's plenty of alloys that work as Magical Materials even if they aren't. Why is Adamant special?"

"Mind you, your point about Yaogin is reasonable, but not proof. Proof is hard. She tosses her head. "Maybe he decided to look like her last love, dead before the War. Maybe not - I'm new! And the Palace could have been Primordial."

She stands up, rising to her full (unimpressive) height.

"Now, give me five minutes to collect my things before we head over to the Baths. There's no way I'm missing the chance to check this out!"

[Guancyto]

Exile absorbs the lengthy interchange between the three men with neither complaint nor comment, although the intentions of the two men, a strange mix of comradeship and enmity, do pique its curiosity, and what paperwork is presented it merely makes a distinctive tear at each signature mark without reading the paper. If Bartleby has included any clauses including transference of ownership, he is now the proud owner of a lost Solar, free to good home.

"That is what the Three called me," it says by way of answer to Mugen Ra, "Exile. It is as close to who and what I am than any words I could give you, but you may also call me 'Outcast' if you prefer it."

It paused a moment, possibly in contemplation, and turned to Belligerant Blade and Bartleby, giving the same answer to both, "I would be willing to help you in your endeavor, so long as you understand that I may be more harm than help."

[Gareth3]

Pyu tries to hide his disappointment, and makes a dismissive gesture.

That's fine, we don't expect instant orthodoxy with the first anima flare. I'll talk to him, give him our side of the story. Does he know who his sifu is yet?

[Maugan Ra]

Lotus just smiles, and makes a small bow. "And that, Aspirant, is likewise a perfect defense and counter-attack. I feel positively humbled." he says with a grin. "My apologies for the unwarrented suspicion, Bartlby. Best of luck with your present assignment - I'm off duty right now."

He turns back to Belligerent Blade. "Now, about those Baths... I do feel compelled to warn you that, restrictions against violence aside, the consequences of getting caught peeping there can be rather severe. Not neccessarily negative, though, provided that you're possessed of a sufficiently skilled tongue." he pauses for a moment. "Huh. That sounded less unfortunate in my head. I blame our current surroundings."

[Orosboru]

Lawrence
Lawrence relaxes visibly as the fake clearance sinks in. "Glad to know that we're amongst fellows." He sits down on a chair next to your table. "A couple months ago, I've had a suspicious void in my memory on the day I returned from Creation from the Blessed Isle. It's been edging on the tip of my tongue for quite some time now, until I found a set of my own research that I had forgotten."

He presses a small chip of adamant, glowing faintly of (nocturnal? alien?) essence.

"Someone has hidden their presence, and I'm fairly certain that someone snuck into Yu-Shan that day. Every time I try to remember something, however…" His face grimaces in embarrassment. "I am feeling that I saw something that I was not meant to see, put it frankly. Adamant angels and perfectly inconspicuous cloaked people aside."

"I don't have enough evidence." Lawrence says quietly. "And every day I feel a little more crazy for following it up. But I feel that whatever happened that day is vital to the Bronze Faction's interests."

Blade

Blade reacts visibly to Bartleby's accusation. "What, Lawrence? No, he's a good man, no doubt. He just… well, you know, he puts a high price on Serenity." He scratches his head.

"Honoured Lotus, do you not realize that Mars has dominion over martial passion? The red glare in your vision, the impulse of the moment? It is not mere peeping, no. It is the familiar battlefields of the romantic, the ardour and lust coming together to be a magnificent sight. We should celebrate the human form, not be hiding it behind veils and cloaks." He smiles brilliantly. "And I thank you, Exile, for your armoured shell may prove to be instrumental in entering a portion of the baths. All shall be revealed in time."

A woman from the courtyard is shouting at Blade. "All things end in time, Jenna! But all artists need time to work!"


Ashford
"Adamant is special because it's the base of the grounds of Yu-Shan. Why would the Primordials use a mundane material to build their homes? But enough rhetoric. I seek proof."

Ashford smiles as he stands up, looking down at you.

"I would bring a towel, and some appropriate attire for the baths. If I am correct, then I must chip through some decorative tiling…" He pulls a small jade hammer from his pocket. "But we must be quick, for I have to attend my own surprise party."

Jenna
"The matter of his teacher is yet uncertain…" Jenna sighs, resting her head on her hands. "But I fear that tonight, Ashford might be pushed in… untoward directions."

She stands up from the ground.

"But if I had to pick a teacher for him, it would be someone… like you? Or someone with your sympathies." She hints subtly. "Speaking of which-"

She looks up the steps. "Blade, you big dummy! Have you gotten the reservations yet?"


Lime (on the roof)
The sounds from your roof cease.

A faintly feminine voice whispers down to you, in a rhyming fashion.

Nighttime is a friend of thieves,
Walking on the roofs and eaves,
But they chance to be discovered,
Be spotted and uncovered,
By a chance meeting of brothers.

I meant you no harm, my lady,
My business is anything but shady.
I came to ask for your aid,
If you want, you'll be paid,
Else unto the night I'll fade.

Bronze or Gold I care not for,
I seek opened locks and closed doors,
But there is a storm coming,
Full of strange hues running,
Which are beyond my base cunning.

My name to you is Lime,
I'm here just on time.
May I come in, little bird?
Have a few thoughts and words?
Before a war can be heard?

[Arpista]

Lime (on the roof)
The sounds from your roof cease.

A faintly feminine voice whispers down to you, in a rhyming fashion.

Nighttime is a friend of thieves,
Walking on the roofs and eaves,
But they chance to be discovered,
Be spotted and uncovered,
By a chance meeting of brothers.

I meant you no harm, my lady,
My business is anything but shady.
I came to ask for your aid,
If you want, you'll be paid,
Else unto the night I'll fade.

Bronze or Gold I care not for,
I seek opened locks and closed doors,
But there is a storm coming,
Full of strange hues running,
Which are beyond my base cunning.

My name to you is Lime,
I'm here just on time.
May I come in, little bird?
Have a few thoughts and words?
Before a war can be heard?

Not Bronze or Gold, so not Feather. An Independent? Reason to trust, but of course knows I am, so would say that to please me. And this is a decidedly odd way for business to be delivered...

Still. It could be someone's personal business and still be important. Storm raises her voice even as her mind traces over the rest of the rhyme. Tell me little bird was accidental - if someone bothered to figure the meaning of my name...

"I cannot say that climbing on people's roofs is a particularly good way to ask for aid, but by all means, come in and speak; I am intrigued. I do not need payment for doing my job-" No, she hasn't been in Yu-shan long, why do you ask? "-but do expect to know precisely why you desire my aid, and for what." Probably the manse. She rises to her feet, looking thoughtfully at the open window. You know, Lime is used to catch birds... "Should I assume you do not need an open door?" What caste, or is this a Sidereal at all...? I wouldn't have caught her if she was Secrets, surely...

[Gareth3]

Pyu laughs.

I can't be his sifu, I only know two martial arts charms!

He thinks for a moment.

My own sifu can't take a new student at the moment, but I'll see if one of his graduates can do it. I can certainly tutor him in other things: theology, demonology, history. Is there anything he's especially interested in?

[Ifni]

Lawrence
Lawrence relaxes visibly as the fake clearance sinks in. "Glad to know that we're amongst fellows." He sits down on a chair next to your table. "A couple months ago, I've had a suspicious void in my memory on the day I returned from Creation from the Blessed Isle. It's been edging on the tip of my tongue for quite some time now, until I found a set of my own research that I had forgotten."

He presses a small chip of adamant, glowing faintly of (nocturnal? alien?) essence.

"Someone has hidden their presence, and I'm fairly certain that someone snuck into Yu-Shan that day. Every time I try to remember something, however…" His face grimaces in embarrassment. "I am feeling that I saw something that I was not meant to see, put it frankly. Adamant angels and perfectly inconspicuous cloaked people aside."

"I don't have enough evidence." Lawrence says quietly. "And every day I feel a little more crazy for following it up. But I feel that whatever happened that day is vital to the Bronze Faction's interests."

"Interesting. May I have the chip?" Glass turns it over between her fingers, studying it thoughtfully. But this isn't anything obviously to do with their entrance into Yu-Shan, Victory hadn't possessed his armor at that point, and artifacts don't chip anyway. Planted?

"What's this about adamant angels and cloaked people? You think they're false memories? In any case, you were right to bring this to me, Navos."

[Kell_tamer]

Obsidian child checks her nails as the conversation has little to nothing to do with her.

[Gareth3]

Pyu notices Obsidian Child becoming distracted, and seems to get an idea.

Excuse me for a moment, Jenna.

He takes Obsidian out of earshot, and speaks to her quietly.

I'm trying to recruit Ashford for our... side, let's call it. Only our side knows about you, so he doesn't know anything. There are various ways to convince him to join us, but I thought you might be able to help. Would you be willing to demonstrate your powers to him, in a way that makes it clear you're not an Akuma? We could show him just enough to get him curious, then make him join us to learn what's going on.

[Kell_tamer]

She smirks. Buy me dinner and its a deal.

She whispers to him.
I could even put on a caste mark show for him if you really want. Or I can be veeerry persuasive if you just need someone to consider it. I've convinced Dynasts to give up their positions of power before. Granted I killed them after but the point stands.

[Aevylmar]

Meli blushes briefly. "Got it! Be with you in a moment!"

She flees upwards to her room to change.

She's packing her Cache Egg with all her normal misc. useful stuff, including weapons. Because obviously.

On the other hand, her swimsuit is one of those old-fashioned things that reveals less than normal clothing, so Ashford may be disappointed. :smalltongue:

[Gareth3]

Pyu steps back, alarmed.

Don't do anything with permanent consequences! Just a couple of flashy things that an Akuma couldn't do. Different kinds of powers, I'll let you choose.

[Kell_tamer]

She looks up at him. It's not like i'm going to sleep with him.

She chuckles a bit.

I just meant talk. I have a bit of a silver tongue when i need to convince someone.

She gives him a bit of a grin.

Whatever you need me to do boss just say the word.

[Gareth3]

Pyu nods.

Right, we need something distinctive, that a Sidereal or a spirit couldn't do. You know the most about your own powers, I'll let you decide.

He returns to Jenna.

Sorry for the interruption, was there anything Ashford was especially interested in?

[Maugan Ra]

"Blade, if you wish to visit the baths and meddle in your friend's love life, then at least admit it. Don't try to bring your official duties - or what will be your official duties - into it. " he pauses. "Sheesh, look at me, acting all responsible. Anyway..."

He returns his attention to the goddess Blade was initially speaking to. "For the record, are there any available rooms? "

[industrious]

Fourth Clever Victory

Fourth's hand makes a fist under the table. He finds that it's shaking. The Nocturnal breathes in. Breathes out. The fist is released.

As the Sidereal and Aspirant discuss, he remains in the corner of the booth, quiet and unnoticed.

[Orosboru]

Lawrence

“Just… improbable. It sounds stupid, doesn’t it?” He hesitates. “It’s been occupying my thoughts for sometime. It’s probably nothing.” He spins a pen in between his fingers. “I thank you for your time, on such short notice.” He stands up. “If I find something more substantive than a piece of the firmament… then I’ll speak to you.”

He looks down at Fourth with something resembling pity, and walks out.

Lime

A woman covered in odd steel, with various bits and pieces sticking out from odd angles, descends from the roof, a broken arm hanging limply from the sides. Then you realize that it is not a human being – a huge cavity in its chest is a crude container for a projector.

“Sorry for the poetry, but I felt that it was appropriate.” An amplified voice through a tinny speaker echoes in your room. “I’m not actually physically here – I’m somewhere else, planning a party, but I need to speak to you about your past self. In person.” The robot crudely smiles. “You’re going to have to take me at my word. Don’t shoot the messenger, please.” The robot raises its arms. “But you must have questions. I can answer a few of them, if only to excuse my outrageous invasion of privacy.”

Jenna + Blade

“Ashford is interested in…” Jenna pauses as she watches Blade argue with the god-secretary. “A lot of things. You can’t say for certain one thing or another. But they’re all connected in some way that only a few understand. He sees conspiracies in everything, from language to food to the way the pool party certifications are written. Give him a mystery…”

“No.” The goddess says, slamming the book in Blade’s face. “We simply have no room for the likes of you.” Blade’s face is all red and puffy. His nostrils are blowing steam, literally. However, he keeps his composure and sighs a great sigh, like a balloon being deflated.

With a walk of dejection he descends the steps, idly talking to his two companions. “I suppose you couldn’t use…” He looks at Lotus. “Perhaps I should have asked Jenna to do it, but…” He sighs again. “Have you ever had a problem where you wanted to do something and you’re leading the charge, and no one is following?” He turns to Exile. “I wanna do awesome things. I want to change the world!” He pumps his fist. “If only I could convince people that I could.” He slumps.

“There weren’t any, huh?” Jenna takes a few steps up.
“Yeah.” Blade says sullenly.
“Ah, cheer up. I’d like you to meet my newest acquaintances, Pyu and Obsidian.” Jenna points to the two. Blade perks up with a smile.
“Ah, more guests for the party? Excellent! This is the noble Exile, far from the motherland of his birth, wreathed in shadow, a noble blackguard! And this is the revered Lotus, my senior and my superior.”

Ashford

Ashford waits for you outside, an mysterious package wrapped near his feet. He’s talking to some friends…

“Hello? Hey, Lime. Yeah, I already knew what you were doing, you know. I make a living knowing a lot of things. I’m going for a detour around where you are at the baths, so I’ll be there in a short while. Make sure you don’t book it for the entire night, okay? I’ve… pretended to like chocolate, you know that? I prefer… well, that’s a secret, isn’t it?”

“No, I don’t have a secret swain, or anything sordid like that. I’ll call you back.”

[industrious]

Fourth

When he speaks, it's in flawless, if Low Realm-accented, Old Realm. It was going to be a surprise for her. Whether or not she actually was surprised now is irrelevant.

"...I'm afraid, Glass Knife, that I'm not feeling very well at the moment."

His voice is remarkably calm, all things considered. His smile is far too tight, and it doesn't reach his eyes, but those are details he isn't particularly concerned with.

"And it seems that you have important work to do."

He's too polite to rage, and he's too stupid to actually help her, so he'll do neither.

[Aevylmar]

Meli changes, looks out the window, sees Ashford, changes again, collects her arsenal, put on her gloves, and returns again.

She's wearing a stereotypical ninja outfit in the kind of black that almost shines in the dark, with her lavender greatcloak turned inside-out to the non-shiny side. She has the kind of belt with lots of tiny pockets that hold various useless things.

She taps him on the shoulder and whispers loudly. "Hey! Ashford! We ready to go? I've got my grappling hook! Did you bring yours?"

This is an infiltration. She's going to be infiltrate-y.

Surprisingly, she actually has seven stealth dice. But she would make a terrible Secrets.

[Gareth3]

Pyu looks thoughtful.

Conspiracies and mysteries...

He searches his pockets, and eventually finds a piece of paper which he doesn't show to anyone.

I do have something he might be interested in.

Pyu greets the newcomers, but looks uncertainly at the Exile.

If you don't mind me asking, are you a spirit, or a Sidereal?

Activating Telltale Symphony (Same as All-Encompassing Sorceror's Sight, but sound instead of vision.) Duration one hour. Perception+Occult: What sort of creature is Exile? [roll0]

[Kell_tamer]

Child waits by Pyu, she glances up as he pulls out the sheet, but figures she could coax the contents of it out of him later. Her grumbling stomach was becoming more of the concern at the moment.

[Guancyto]

"A child practices his swordplay with a length of wood. His father looks on with pride. 'He will find glory,' he says. His mother weeps at the sight. 'He will find his death,' she says." Exile inclines its head slightly towards Blade, palming a key and offering it, "you should be allowed to play at love and conflict, my son."

Its tone turned from soft to stern, "so long as you understand that it is only a game. You need not seek out true conflict, it will find you in its own time. Pray it does not find you unprepared."

It regards the newcomers, Jenna, Pyu, Obsidian Child, all in turn, and all impassively. "I am the Exile, the Outcast," it said to Pyu, "I am here to find destiny. I am no less and no more than that."

[Kell_tamer]

Child looks up at him. So "Depressing Name", is that really the sales pitch you're going with? She sniffs a bit as she runs her finger past her nose. Bit bleak for heaven isn't it?

She leans forward a bit. You're name is literally Rejected, the Rejected. She leans back up and puts her hands in her pockets. Tell me your parents didn't hate you that much.

[Gareth3]

Pyu laughs at Obsidian's taunting.

I don't think you'll get much more out of him. He's probably the God of Enigmatic Armoured Figures or some such.

He turns to Exile.

Pleased to meet you, and I hope you find your destiny. Anything we can do to help?

[Maugan Ra]

"Revered? Don't think anyone has ever called me 'revered' before." Lotus says, chuckling. He glances at the others.

"And hey, we can't all have snappy and positive sounding names. I mean, my full name is 'Warm embrace of the Gentle Lotus', which is an unbelievable pain to write on official forms - there's never quite enough space." he says with a grin. "So don't go taunting folks for something as minor as that. Lots of very touchy divinities in Yu-Shan, might take offense."

[Guancyto]

Exile is not a touchy divinity. If they want to make light of its title, it is no stranger to the humor of the gallows. "I had a name once," it says with positively grave seriousness, looking down at Obsidian Child, "we frolicked together in sunlit meadows, cool wind in our hair, until it took its leave of me. If you see it, could you ask it why it never comes to call any more?"

It considers a moment, and nods politely to Pyu. "We are well met. Although unless you can find my greatest enemy, who can present the answers I seek, before I have even discovered what the questions would be, there is little help to be had. I am grateful for your offer."

[Kell_tamer]

Child audibly laughs out loud, even drawing forth a few snorts, she grabs her sides while giggling.

She looks back up with a big and genuine smile on her face.
I like you, you're silly!

She wipes the small tears of laughter from her eyes. Oh my I needed that. You're OK in my book Exile. Goofy name and all!

[Gareth3]

Pyu frowns, try to understand the Exile.

Who's your greatest enemy?

[Arpista]

Storm rises and moves to the window, looking out at the construct. My past self. It's always my past self. Well, not surprising. I'm still in the unfinished business stage. Still... it struck her as an interesting coincidence that following the request would also cause her to leave her manse alone. "Certainly. Why did contacting me about the manse require climbing on my roof? I have a front door. It has a bell hanging outside. If you ring the bell, someone will hear and come answer. It's usually quite a functional system." All of which was true; the bell was made of crystal and edged with silver, and had a very pretty tone. It was also firmly attached to the wall next to the door, which Storm considered sensible; even in Yu-shan, she did not consider leaving valuable things lying around on the street to be prudent. Apparently, Iris had agreed. "And I don't suppose you'd care to go into more detail about what you'd like to speak to me about, beyond my last incarnation? Or what precisely you meant about a war?"

[Guancyto]

"I am glad you think so," Exile remarks to Obsidian Child without a trace of irony.

"And as for my greatest enemy, that is also a mystery to me. It could be some grand cosmic being, it could merely be myself. It is a long road, I suspect, but one I will see through to the end."

[Gareth3]

Pyu tries to conceal his irritation.

Er... sounds like a real challenge. Good luck.

He turns back to Jenna.

When does this party start, anyway?

[Obscurejones]

The Blue District, Exiting Zhu-Rong Palace, Mildly Amused and Mildly Annoyed
Bartleby fixes a dull disappointed glare at Blade as the young aspirant takes care to introduce Lotus and the Exile.
"And I'm Javert. Bartleby, actually. A little joke, possibly the wrong crowd for it. Don't worry about it, miss. A fellow aspirant, I take it? If you could, I suspect your boisterous bruiser of a brother, albeit in arms, failed to take my meaning a moment ago. If you see your fellow aspirant Lawrence Navos Iselei, soon to be of Journeys, Stars Willing, let him know he is due at the Paper Trail's End by midday for an Audit."
The stare sweeps the assembled, settling on the armored behemoth of a hidden Exalt.
"As for you, Exile, if you wish a more permanent residence my home is of course open to you while I help you requisition anything you may need for your stay. Now if you'll all excuse me, duty and some rather dastardly climbing call this particular civil servant."
With a slight bow to his fellow Seers Bartleby vacates, making surprisingly swift tracks for Cato's Fell, and the illegal shipment it promises to hold.

[Kell_tamer]

Child just looking to incite more emotions for the sake of emotions chimes in, thrusting an accusatory finger at Bartleby OH NO ITS THE BORING POLICE OF HEAVEN! She frantically looks back at Exile from behind her caul. QUICK EXILE RUN BEFORE HE TAKES AWAY YOUR CHIPPER AND SUNNY DISPOSITION! She gets behind exile and starts fake pushing. Quickly now, I've seen what they do! They talk boring things like taxes and audits! Then they draw you in then before you know it you have lost your sense of humor and are fine drinking honey water and eating tofu... WITHOUT ANY SAUCE!!!!

[Obscurejones]

The Blue District, Exiting Zhu-Rong Palace, Just Busy Enough to Still be Petty
There is a refined smirk that comes with years of being a paper pusher with a modicum of power. It is not the outright grin of someone about to lord power over another, nor the grimace of someone offended by the iniquities of the powerful. Rather it is a slight upturn of the corner of one's mouth that says, "You? You are going to wait in a lot of lines and fill out a lot of forms. And if you do any of it wrong you will be doing it again and again until all you love is dust. And then we will send it to committee."

"How delightfully colorful. Pyu, is it? Chosen of Secrets. Your file shows no cause for suspiscion and mentioned some recent acquisition of yours. That would make this charming woman your guest, I assume. I likewise assume you could provide if asked her visa, certificate of residency, and other assorted paperwork. Knowing of course, that even given the recent increase in your political capital that not being able to provide said papers would be considered due cause for suspicion of smuggling and therefore cause for a Criminal Audit.

They are terribly dull affairs, miss. All paperwork and exiling. Very little fun to be had."

[Kell_tamer]

Though they can't see her widening eyes under the caul, they are dinner plates at the moment as far as the potential can she just opened.


I thought heaven was supposed to be sunshine and rainbows and people eating unicorns and pooping happiness. Whats with all the forms and files and audits? And seriously criminal activity?

She leans against exile with her elbow like he were more furniture than person. resting her head on her hand she looks at Bartleby. And aren't the big gods supposed to be here? Doesn't the Sun ever come around to say hi?

[Maugan Ra]

Lotus snorts. "Oh, he does, from time to time. At festival times and the like, usually. Pretty swell guy, all told. At the very least, he tends to be polite enough to do so publicly. The other Incarnae... not so much." he says, and glances at Blade. "I may have mentioned confidence that you couldn't possibly screw up your initiation period more than I did. That's sort of connected. Shortly after I exalted, back when I was far too full of myself, I accepted a challenge to a duel from a remarkably beautiful young woman, who apparently took some exception to my demeanor."

He coughs. "Turned out to be Venus. Fortunately, she was kind enough to leave me with all of my limbs. Taught me a few valuable lessons about taking myself too seriously into the bargain."

[Guancyto]

"I will call on you if I need anything, Bartleby," Exile said mildly, letting Obsidian Child lean on it without complaint, "I hope the opposite is also true."

It put a hand to what was presumably its chin at the talk of dueling with Venus. "Does that happen often, Venus proposing duels? It would be quite something to see, or even to lose."

[Maugan Ra]

Lotus shrugs. "They don't generally propose the contests, no. Not a lot of point in it, considering how massively they outclass everyone else. If you want to see similar sorts of things... Saturn generally holds a contest with Ignis Divine every year during the main festival. The big guy always wins, but it's not the final result people watch the contests for."

"Beyond that, well, Mars can often be found in the Crimson Panoply, where I work. She teaches lessons sometimes, be it fighting a show duel or giving a more traditional lecture. That's always interesting... could probably invite a few folks along next time I hear she's around, if you're determined to explore the possibility."

[Gareth3]

Pyu cringes at Obsidian's antics, but isn't close enough to stop them. He turns to Bartleby instead.

If asked, I would express shock and outrage that a visa was being demanded of one fated to become a Chosen of the Maidens. Aspirants have had the absolute right to enter Yu-Shan since the end of the Primordial War, and asking such an ignorant question would cast the questioner in a suspicious light indeed.

Pyu smiles.

But you didn't actually ask for her visa, right? This is all just hypothetical?

Manipulation+Bureaucracy to get Bartleby to drop the subject. [roll0]
Everything he says was just made up on the spot, and isn't supposed to be real in the setting.

[Obscurejones]

The Blue District, Directly Outside Zhu-Rong Palace, Robocop Reborn
Bartleby's smirk doesn't merely evaporate. There is an audible snap as it flies from his face, replaced by a carefully maintained icy determination. There are few things less amusing to Bartleby then an attempt to lie about the laws of heaven.
"Ah. You are of course aware that there is no such exemption for the Maidens fated Chosen. Which would imply that in our hypothetical, you would be attempting to deceive an officer of the law as to the laws he enforces. Which in our hypothetical, would lead to a direct request for her papers, a detailed record of her supposed Aspirational ambitions, and your presence as your grossly incompetent attempt to break the Laws of Heaven was entered into your records. Hypothetically, Chosen."
It would be difficult to say if Bartleby's pen was in his hand when he began speaking. It is certainly there now. He turns to Obsidian, examining her with shark like dead eyes.
"Outside of the realm of possibilities unrealized I do wonder your role, Miss. Are you an aspirant as your friend clumsily attempted to imply? I doubt it, or his attempt would not have been so blatant."

[Kell_tamer]

She looks at bartleby a moment. She draws upon her personal manipulation of essence to lace these words with the dark lies of the ultimate darkness himself.

Why would I be anything else good sir? I may be childish, but you must admit i should get it out of my system before I become Exalted and therefore lose much of my freedom to be, human, as it were. Pyu here was asked the help me get a feel for heaven and while my action may be giving him a hard time, I assure you it is merely just me being mortal for just a little while longer.

She lifts her caul a moment, it now resembling a sort of headband. her big violet eyes giving a puppy dog face as she looks at the man.

Can you really fault a girl that?
She quivers her lip just a bit for full effect.

She's lying through her teeth. and as such is bringing the full force of the ebon dragon excellency down upon this.
22 dice Manipulation + Pesence +2 lying +10 Excellency
Appearance 4 for what its worth.
[roll0]

[Gareth3]

Pyu sighs.

In the Ludic Declaration of Old Realm Year 0, The Unconquered Sun stated that Yu-Shan was the permanent and inalienable home of all Celestial gods not Forbidden, all Chosen of the Maidens, and all those fated-

He breaks off as Obsidian starts talking, staring at her and waiting for her to finish.

Er... Yeah, leave her alone...

[Orosboru]

Lime
"Due to a few... restrictions I have had from birth, I am not allowed to pass through doorways, and even then, not without permission of the owner of the estate." The image shrugs. "The reason why? It escapes even me." Lime smiles.

"You have lots of friends, Storm Shadow. Some you don't even remember, or ever have known." She winks. "I'm late to the conspiracy, but it sounds like you have woven a tangled web of conspiracy and lust. Mostly the former, a bit of the latter." Her face turns serious. "I think someone is trying to kill the Sidereal aspirants, and pin the evidence on one party or another. The consequences would be... tragic, wouldn't it? You wouldn't ever hear from me again, for one."

Jenna + Blade
"Well, we have to go ask Lime. She's the one managing everything." Jenna says quickly. She turns to Bartleby. "I assure you, sir, that Lawrence has nothing but the best interests of Yu-Shan at heart. If you would give him a chance to resolve whatever trouble he is in privately, I would greatly appreciate it."

"Ah, I wouldn't put it above him, you know? He's got eyes and ears everywhere! Eventually he'd get his head stuck in something bigger than he can chew." Blade smiles. "But he's my brother." His voice gets a little stern.

Jenna tries to lighten the mood. "Ah, Lime is waiting for us at Cato's Fell. She's probably already finished with her business. We're going to surprise Ashford in a hour or so. Do you honorable sirs and madam..." She weakly glances at Bartleby - "Wish to come with us?"


Ashford
You two walk in the streets of the Blue District, the celestial boat that carried you to the terminus quickly disappearing. The festive atmosphere is perpetually unending, the lights of fires and the sound of crackling explosions lighting the night. After a certain ways, Ashford turns white and slowly strides into the crowd, attempting not to be noticed.

"Ah... my friends seem to have gotten past the receptionist I bribed to detain Blade earlier than I expected. Bartleby also might be a problem. Try to be inconspicuous."

(either dex + stealth or manipulation + performance)

[Gareth3]

Pyu looks relieved as Jenna interrupts.

Yes, let's go.

He turns to follow Jenna, and motions for Obsidian to come along.

[Kell_tamer]

Before Bartleby can respond, she nods at Jenna, That would be a grand idea!

She quickly sidles up to Pyu.

[Guancyto]

"There was something you needed to do there," Exile inclined its head to Bartleby, "I will aid you if I can."

[Obscurejones]

The Blue District, Directly Outside Zhu-Rong Palace, Robocop Reborn
Bartelby's eyes narrow just slightly, but the smile creeps back onto his face and the light returns to his eyes.
"Fascinating. You, contrary to a Chosen of Secrets, are either an effective liar or better at conveying the truth. Useful skill to have either way."
He glances to Jenna, pocketing his pen smoothly as he does so.
"I have business at the Fell, and would not mind a chance to meet your fellow aspirants. Besides, if a new chosen is to Exalt tonight he ought to at least get a chance to meet a student of a different philosophical approach to our duties."

[Aevylmar]

"Right!" she whispers enthusiastically.

Then she's gone, vanishing into the crowd near Ashford. Surprisingly, her ninja outfit and greatcoat actually blend into the crowds of Yu-shan revelers; nothing is too strange to be normal in the city of the gods.

Dex+Stealth, since she has the Manipulation of a beastman. Seven base plus one stunt. [roll0]

[Arpista]

Lime
"Due to a few... restrictions I have had from birth, I am not allowed to pass through doorways, and even then, not without permission of the owner of the estate." The image shrugs. "The reason why? It escapes even me." Lime smiles.

"You have lots of friends, Storm Shadow. Some you don't even remember, or ever have known." She winks. "I'm late to the conspiracy, but it sounds like you have woven a tangled web of conspiracy and lust. Mostly the former, a bit of the latter." Her face turns serious. "I think someone is trying to kill the Sidereal aspirants, and pin the evidence on one party or another. The consequences would be... tragic, wouldn't it? You wouldn't ever hear from me again, for one."

Restrictions? What is - an aspirant? What in the...

Aspirants were unusual people, of course. But this was starting to sound entirely outside the norm.

"'A tangled web of conspiracy and lust'? Are you sure you aren't confusing me with an Oracle, or perhaps a Joybringer? This doesn't sound at all like me." Storm Shadow folds her arms, frantically running through her memories of all the notes she's read since she first came into her responsibilities. Iris, you could have warned me! "All I want to do is do my job." Except that killing Sidereal aspirants would eliminate functionaries that Heaven desperately needed, forcing their departments to wait long years for their reincarnations to grow up... not to mention, it's murder. Her voice takes on a formalized aspect. "What reasons do you have to consider the aspirants under threat, and how immediate is this threat? Have you contacted celestial authorities?" Of course she won't have, no one ever does, but that isn't the point; one has to ask. "You are an aspirant yourself?" A rather immediate question, a bit ahead of why does an aspirant have restrictions on passing through doorways. "Do you need help?" The Sidereal keeps her voice formal, her manner business-like, determinedly hiding the frustrated wail in her mind.

Iris...!

[Kell_tamer]

Child whispers to Pyu.

man you are awesome at the whole making things up. you totally had my back there.

A smirk crosses her face as she looks up at him.

[Gareth3]

Pyu frowns, and whispers back.

I'd rather not do that, if possible. Tell me if you actually get some paperwork, so we don't have to keep bluffing.

He moves away from the Exile, and beckons Obsidian over.

Can you sense anything about our armoured friend there? There are gods and Sidereals who wear concealing armour all the time and talk in riddles, but I know them all. I work with most of them. This guy is either a public figure hiding something, or some kind of infiltrator.

[Kell_tamer]

She whispers back up to him.

I bet you right now someone is having the exact same conversation about me. The difference is more than just one guy knows him.

if you are worried, He's no Green Sun Prince I know of. And while i'm not privy to such information I don't recall anyone getting an akuma up to heaven recently.

We'll just have to wait and see a bit on him to figure him out.

[Gareth3]

Pyu nods silently, and continues following the group.

[Ifni]

Glass Knife

The practiced, polished smile fades from the Sidereal's face, once she's sure the aspirant has left. She studies Victory for a moment, then reaches out to lay the glittering adamant chip on the table between them, with a faint clink. Softly, she says, "It is important, when people are prying into the day you entered Yu-Shan."

She switches to Old Realm, her tone measured, each word carefully enunciated: acknowledging his accomplishment, albeit without overt praise. "Do you know why I acted as I did, in front of Navos?" Her tone is neither accusing nor defensive, only questioning. "Are you angry because you don't understand, or because you do?"

[industrious]

Fourth

"I don't understand." he says quietly, still speaking Old Realm. "I'm not clever, like you or Navos. I'm not a scholar, or a Dynast."

"But you're talking about me, Glass, and I don't know what's going on, and you're making plans and talking over my head and I'm just...there. I'm not part of the conversation or..."

No. He isn't going to go there.

He is of the Immaculate Faith. Self-denial is a bosom companion.

"...You tell me I'm Exalted, Glass. You tell me I'm special. And then you act like I'm the entertainment at a burlesque."

[Ifni]

Glass Knife

"You are clever, Victory. As your name proclaims." Glass smiles faintly; she's still speaking Old Realm, slow and careful to make sure he understands. "And you are not just special, you are... unique, to my current knowledge. Something new under the Sun. Which a great many people in this city would see as either a danger to be neutralized, or an opportunity to be exploited. Perhaps I haven't made it clear enough, but Yu-Shan is... it's pretty, yes, but not without its perils."

The Sidereal sighs. "It might have been unnecessary in this case. Navos seems like a decent kid. But no matter what he says now, allegiances can shift pretty dramatically with Exaltation, and later."

She folds her hands, and gives Fourth a level look, as she continues, "I was trying to give you a shield, Victory. Or a cloak of invisibility, if you prefer. People believe what they want to believe, or what they fear to be true. And people generally like to think badly of others; it lets them excuse their own failings. Pity is a safer reaction than curiosity or envy, for a newcomer to Yu-Shan, especially one whose background might not hold up to close inspection. The simplest way to go unseen is to fit into people's prejudices, so you can be easily dismissed; to let their own preconceptions do the job for you." Her tone is matter-of-fact, without any trace of bitterness or irony. It's just practical advice, after all.

She pauses, and adds more tentatively, "I am sorry if you were hurt, though. I wasn't expecting to have to deflect attention from you here."

[industrious]

Fourth

"Clever Victory was my great-grandfather," he snaps. "I just inherited the name."

There is a pause. Fourth closes his eyes, exhales, opens them again. He's noticeably calmer afterwards

"...I'm sorry for that outburst. You're trying to protect me, and I shouldn't be ungrateful. But you could have told me all of this before, and you could have given me some sort of warning. What's done is done, though."

"...So, what was he talking about? What's the Bronze Faction? What's an aspirant? And why is a chip of the same material as my armor so important?"

[Orosboru]

"Ah, don't be panicking or anything!" Lime waves her hands. "I'm a aspirant, destined to be a Sidereal, so don't worry about me being imperceptible or anything. I work in the Auditor-General's office, and I get a lot of information. My boss is pretty..." She struggles to find the word. "Honest. So the evidence stays in the evidence box. I have a few friends that I've talked to, but I think I'm seeing a bigger picture..."

She trails off.

"Um. Your past self is important to you, isn't it? When they gave out all the inheritances, I got a journal with the poem I just recited in it. It mentioned you. Said that you were a person I could trust." She stops. "I-I can't say much more. It isn't secure here. Can you come meet me? In person?"

[Arpista]

Was I panicking? Storm watches Lime, or Lime's projection. She mattered to Iris, or her past self did. Did she? I suppose I ought to watch out for her, then, but...

"My past self is very important to me... she just wasn't planning to die, so she seems to have left me missing a number of details." Storm hesitates. Probably better not to get into the rest of it, here and now, especially if the channel isn't secure. "And yes, you can trust me - at least as long as you're not up to anything nefarious." The Sidereal smiles reassuringly. Joking...?

"Where do you want me to meet you?"

[Ifni]

Glass Knife

Glass sits back in her chair, a flicker of relief in her eyes. "Thank you, Victory. No need to apologize; at least you kept it discreet."

Let's handle the easy question first. "An aspirant is a mortal who is destined to receive Sidereal Exaltation. When we find them in advance, we bring them to Yu-Shan for training. We try to find them as infants, but when other Essence-users become involved, it becomes more difficult to predict. Lawrence will probably Exalt soon - hmm. I can check that." She curls one finger and a small emerald spider skitters onto it. "When is Lawrence Navos scheduled to Exalt?"

She looks back at Victory. "The Bronze Faction - that's a much longer story. But in brief, there are disagreements among Sidereals on certain policy issues relating to Creation. The Bronze is the largest and most prominent faction, and has supported the Realm since its inception. The Gold Faction is the next largest, is not friendly to the Realm, and has been experiencing something of a resurgence since the re-appearance of the Solar Anathema. They believe the Solars can be co-opted, controlled." She shrugs slightly. "Most of the Bronze, myself included, thinks they're insane. The Solars nearly destroyed the world, long ago. But their message appeals to some."

"And as for the chip and why it might be important..." Glass smiles, and pushes the glittering chip across the table toward the Nocturnal. "I don't know. Take a look; can you figure anything out from it?"

Efficient Secretary Technique seeking information on Navos' scheduled destiny.

[industrious]

Fourth

Fourth does not try to smash the spider when it emerged. The first time Glass had sent the creature out, he might have. Maybe.

"But...they're demons! Possessing humans! Demons! You can't control demons; they're...demons. And they seduce and corrupt and destroy...everything. Because demons."

There was a great deal that Fourth did not know. A not insignificant portion of that knowledge was the extent of his ignorance.

Idylly, he begins to toy with the chip, letting it dance between his knuckles and spin between the spaces between his fingers. He relaxes, not looking at the adamant crystal but focusing inward; his eyes unfocus, his shoulders droop slightly, and the chip twirls at his unconscious effort.

Glass sent out gem spiders to gather data. He...he merely needed to ask the question, and think and ponder, and he'd be told in a voice that was both pained and comforting, like an arthritic grandfather.


Spending a Willpower to ask "What is the importance of this chip" via Whispers.

[roll0]

[Orosboru]

Lawrence Navos Iselei will Exalt on the twenty-fifth day of Resplendent Earth, where he will present his nephew Koyo, on his fourth name day, his grandmother's armour. Calling on to Venus's house, of the aspect of the Ewer.

Nox whispers softly to you in the voice of the crowd.

"...a stranger? A six pack, you shall not be alone. Sullen lances hide the eyes of heaven. no Maker of mine."

[industrious]

Fourth Clever Victory

"...I'm getting nothing I can understand. Six people...something about the eyes of heaven...I don't even know what adamant is for, normally."

He shrugs, and passes the chip back.

"...Could you do that thing where you talk and I listen and feel better afterwards?"

[Ifni]

Glass Knife

"Six? Hmm. Usually five is the metaphysically significant number, but adamant breaks the pattern. Which may be why it's important. Something hidden...? Perhaps that's why you resonate with it. If someone else came in the same day that we did - hmm. A piece of the firmament, Lawrence called it."

People sneaking into Yu-Shan - could be a Solar or Lunar, or something darker; could be a powerful demon. Mortal seems unlikely, except perhaps for a powerful god-blood; sometimes they come looking for their parents. Adamant angel doesn't describe Victory, but maybe someone like him...? Perfectly inconspicuous could be... most kinds of Exalts, honestly, although the fact that Lawrence remembers them suggests the guise wasn't as perfect as all that. If it's a true memory, and not implanted.

"The Chosen of Secrets are called Heaven's Eyes. It might be associated with their research, I suppose. I know a scholar, Pyu, he's loyal to the Bronze, and very good with the Loom. Maybe..."

The Joybringer breaks off to smile slightly at Victory. "Not sure if this is what you wanted or expected, but ah well."

She palms the chip of adamant, slipping it into an inner pocket of her sleek silk jacket. "Something to investigate further, certainly. But for now - shall we go get that meal?" She offers him her arm.

"Oh. One other thing, Victory. It's probably best not to talk about the Anathema in public, as it has the potential to land you in a messy political tangle. I can tell you more about the history when we're back at my house, but suffice it to say that a lot of the gods here have very long memories, and as I said, there are factional divisions among the Sidereals as well."

[industrious]

Fourth

"You're the scholar, not me. And I think dinner would be...great."

He rises then, and after a moments hesitation, offers his hand to his companion.

"If our story is...ah...as you say, then we...should probably act the part. You know. And everything."

[Ifni]

Glass Knife

Glass raises an eyebrow at Victory, but takes his hand. "If you're planning to get revenge by embarrassing me in public, just remember what I said, all right?" But she's smiling, and her tone is light.

The ease and unguardedness of that smile fades as she looks toward the stairs, to be replaced by... well, ease. And a careless poise, and confidence bordering on arrogance. The guardedness is all below the surface. "To Cato's Fell, then. And I'll show you a little of the Blue District along the way."

[industrious]

Fourth

"Why Glass..."

He's smiling far too broadly to be innocent, and his eyes gleam in the flickering light of the bar as he raises their joined hands to his lips.

"...whatever do you mean, dear?"

[Kell_tamer]

As they walk child makes small talk with Pyu. Mostly to blend in, somewhat to actually try to get to know the guy who stuck his neck out for a backstabbing little git such as herself.

So how long have you been Exalted? She asks the question very casually as she walks with her hands in her pockets.

[Gareth3]

Pyu looks surprised at the question, as if he's not used to being the subject of curiosity.

Er, coming up about five years now. But I've been in Yu-Shan nearly all my life, they took me when I was a baby.

He's suddenly thoughtful.

You'll want to avoid asking Sidereals about their life before Yu-Shan, it's sort of a taboo subject here. I didn't really have one, so I don't mind. What about you? I know how long you've been Exalted, but how old-

He looks at her for a moment.

Perhaps I should ask, how long ago were you born?

[Kell_tamer]

She looks up at him a moment, then back ahead.

I'm 16 There is a tiny bit of bitterness in her voice, but it passes as she moves on with it. I had my exaltation woven in when I was 12. Haven't aged since, learned I won't age at all.

She shrugs a bit.
Useful for dealing with Cynis dynasts... She continues walking whether or not the comment causes him pause.

[Gareth3]

Pyu nods, as if he half-expected the answer.

Exaltation aging supression. It happens to most Exalts, but since they usually Exalt as adolescents or young adults, they don't see it as a problem. In your case, though...

He thinks for a moment.

I don't think any Sidereal could help you, but there could be a god who could change your body to match your actual age, if you wanted.

[Kell_tamer]

She shrugs a bit. It's a nice thought, but for now it isn't a big deal, and being a kid has certain advantages.

She smiles up at him though, Thank you for offering though.

[Gareth3]

Pyu nods, but still looks disturbed.

[Orosboru]

The Baths of Venus

Made in a moment of idealism, or perhaps a moment of despair, after the usurpation Venus made the request of serenity to all the races of the world. And indeed, no such conflict will ever arise here, to those that would risk her ire. Diplomacy rules the day, in rooms of steam and bubbling hot springs. In many ways, it is similar to the communal baths of Whitewall, as Yu-Shan is similar to the cities of Creation.

Rainbow-tiled pieces of jade serve as the entrance, a vast entrance room giving either public notice or privacy through hundreds of hidden and public entrances. Yaogin manages this place personally, although in the past hundred years he has never occupied his office. In his absence, a assortment of gods under his office maintain the baths, and several areas of this place have fallen into disrepair. The baths change and defy any attempt at mapmaking, making secluded alcoves and large cold seas with the changing of the victors of the Games of Divinity.

It is hard to characterize any room, but in general the artisans who devoted their time here took heed of her domain. Scenes of peace, of hope, and of love add to the many pluripotent scents that waft through the heated braziers in the floor. A clever person can see that there was a floor plan once, but to what logic there was, no one can say.

"Are you ready?" Ashford says to you at the outskirts of the building.

Cato's Fell
Made in the wake of the Primordial War, named after a fallen Solar Hero who disarmed a doughty Primordial and made it flee the field. The great adamant sword regrows in a attempt to return to its original condition, which is kept back by a army of jade mauls and moonsilver picks. A enterprising god has set up a restaurant here, a refugee from the Great Contagion making his new domain in the dizzying array of new cooking style arising from the diaspora of the Balorian Crusade.

One such style is preserved here. Seafood barbequed over coarse firedust mixtures enhances the flavour to a spicy end, giving it a heat that lasts for days. The food steams for a long time, and keeps around the same, making it a popular take-out food for the poor and the studious alike. The western penchant for raw, bloody ingredients is tempered by the southern style of drying and preservation, making a unpredictable combination of both.

Dragonblood chic is the general theme of items here, with many artifacts of the Shogunate decorating the halls of the restaurant. Massive panoramas of life during the shogunate decorate the adamant windows, which change with the winner of the Games of Divinity.

A bookish, homely girl with electric blue hair sits by herself in the lobby. A pair of silk trousers that go to her ankles is complemented by a bizarre corset, which a additional two artificial arms extend out to assist her in her work. She is talking to someone else when you come into the entranceway and she quickly hangs up when you approach.

"Hi Jenna, Blade, I think we're almost done..." She trails off when she sees Bartleby. She blushes. "Hi, uh, Boss."

"Lime, did you get this place booked?" Blade asked. "For I must admit, I was less successful than I hoped.

"I did indeed!" Lime says. She looks very nervous, in person. "Uh, are you guys ready to go?"


Lime

"I have a prior engagement. Can you meet me at the Palace of the three hags? I'm bringing a guest, so don't be alarmed, okay? He's kinda weird."

The image of Lime crackles up as she jumps out of her seat.

"Oh, it's Bartleby! And I haven't even changed-"
The call terminates. The robot slumps over in your house.


??? (Glass & Fourth)
Along the way to the blue district, there are many homeless and unemployed gods that forever infest the outskirts of the place. Gambling and prostitution invite them as they do in Creation. Even though they live as mortal kings would, they still curse their relative poverty, looking very foolish to some eyes.

However, you pass by one, and you almost leave... but Fourth feels something.

Fourth feels strength. He feels, for the first time in a great while, that he fits into a great scheme of things. Images and sensations of the role of herald of the gods stir is spirit, and his caste mark almost pops out shining from his head.

The man (for it is surely a man) is genuinely shabby, not like these foolish gods who cry poverty in silks and lace. A patchwork of linen and hemp bound together with twine and tar keep his entire body obscured from sight. He watches you silently as you go along.

[Kell_tamer]

As she nears the restaurant, Obsidian's hands release from her pockets and she picks up her pace as she smells the air.

Oh my that smells wonderful. Much better than typical demon cuisine.

[industrious]

Fourth

"Hold on a second, sweetie."

Fourth hasn't used Glass Knife's name since they've left the restaurant. Rather, it's been all "dear," "darling," "sweetie" and all manner of saccharine sweet pet names, and very close physical contact the whole way forward.

He kneels before the man? god?, and looks him straight in the eyes.

"Who are you," he asks, handing him a small vial of Quintessence.

[Orosboru]

???

The shadowed man does not go for the quintessence immediately. He looks up to you, soft dark eyes gleaming with stars. He speaks a very accented Old Realm, which is hard to decipher even for experienced users.

Needs: Linguistics (Old Realm) and a successful (Int+Linguistics) roll, with three degrees of success.
"Blessings and peace of the Maker upon you, Chosen of Nox. I am Harmony of the Geared Lotus. May all your paths lead to success."
However, to a uninitiated listener, the word "Autochthon" is quite clear.

[Ifni]

Glass Knife

Glass has largely ignored the beggars; she has little sympathy for them. In any case, she's been distracted by Victory's increasing, er, enthusiasm for his role. She's gradually realizing she appears to have underestimated his yen for over-the-top acting.

Still, she's rather expert in such matters herself, and so she smiles and returns the sugary epithets and lets herself slip into the familiar persona of the Musician. Joy in life, and she actually is enjoying herself, albeit with a faint tinge of embarrassment.

She pauses as her companion goes to kneel before the beggar, tapping her foot impatiently. Although at a closer look she can see why he caught Victory's eye - he actually looks like a beggar, hmm. Part of his domain?

Her attention sharpens at the strange accent. Old Realm, spoken like a native, but not the Yu-Shan dialect, nor any of the variously debased versions spoken by sorcerers and sages of Creation below. ... Dragon Kings? ... Mountain Folk? ... Malfeas?

At the word Autochthon the Sidereal stretches her shoulders and casually glances around, as if in bored impatience - checking for other witnesses, or listeners close enough to hear.

Int+Linguistics [roll0]
1-die stunt: [roll1]
EDIT: 5 sux, time to read spoilers!

[industrious]

Fourth

"Thank you, Harmony of the Geared Lotus," he says, barely understanding the thick accent.

"I am Fourth Clever Victory, but I do not know what I am, nor who Nox is."

[Ifni]

Glass Knife

It takes a moment, as Glass pieces together the soft-spoken syllables and focuses on adjusting her ear to the stranger's accent. She pales. Just slightly, barely noticeable, but still.

Chosen of Nox.
Who the **** is Nox?
And how did Victory know?

But Victory is asking the right questions, so she doesn't go over to join the conversation yet, just stands watching them and radiating strained tolerance ("You know, he will insist on trying to help beggars...") for the benefit of any passers-by.

The Great Maker. Jadeborn? Their use of adamant had put them on her list of points to investigate, but it had been a rather long list.

I think it just got shorter.

She surreptitiously palms the emerald spider and whispers to it, "Any information you can find on Harmony of the Geared Lotus."

Efficient Secretary Technique basically doing a google search on Harmony of the Geared Lotus. OOC, I expect this to fail, but we'll see!

[Orosboru]

Harmony

"Iaa! Greetings, child of Adna, but it would not be suited for my mission for your mother to know that I am here. Please, for the moment, cease your inquiry." Surprisingly, the spider acknowledges his request and returns to the place it came.

The shadowed beggar turns to Fourth.

"We have respect for the Broken Lord's name, for the wrought of steel-incites-the-makers-ire, so does the artifice made from gods. We do not wish for conflict between our two parties, generous herald." You detect the hint of a smile behind his face.

"As to who you are... you are a hero, a swift arrow, a marathon, a tense bow. But the question one must ask himself is what message you carry in your heart." He puts a hand to his chest. "But speak revelation, and we will listen."

[Ifni]

Glass Knife

Glass glances down at her spider in surprise and a little betrayal. That is... not supposed to happen. But Victory can manipulate the Loom, and that's not supposed to happen either.

She walks over to the pair, and crouches down, smiling at the stranger, sapphire eyes curious. "It seems you're the one who's speaking revelation, Harmony of the Geared Lotus. Greetings. I am called Glass Knife."

"Can you tell us of the Broken Lord and his heralds? It's not a story I'm familiar with, and one I suspect might be well for us to know."

I'm pretty sure Occult 2 + Lore 3 is still not enough to have any idea about Nox, but let me know if I'm wrong on this, Oros.

I assume I read 'artifice made from gods' as starmetal, do I know anything about steel-incites-the-maker's-ire?

[Orosboru]

Harmony

"The Broken Lord is not to be spoken of. He cloaks himself in myth and legend, if he was in truth never there at all. He was Calibration King and Harbinger of Night, before he committed his crime, and was bent and crushed." The beggar says calmly. "Trust rarely comes to me, but I feel like I've known you all my life..." The beggar looks at Fourth. "The inspiration of man-machine protocols came from the resemblance of the fluctuations of creation. In all such images we are claimed to descend, or to predeceed, nocturnals whose wild imagination was tempered by the Maker's breath, who improved all to perfection. What means this to you, I can only hope it does."

[Ifni]

Man-machine protocols? Resemblance of the fluctuations of Creation...

A piece of the firmament, Lawrence had said.

Something beyond...?

Nox, and so... Nocturnals? Calibration King, and Harbinger of Night, who committed a crime and was broken for it - one of the forbidden gods?

Glass tries not to hyperventilate, and not to look at Victory, as her mind inescapably presents her with the phrase forbidden Incarna.

Oh, officially the forbidden gods are all bound or destroyed. But there are always stories about what lurks in the dark places beneath the world... where the Jadeborn dwell, and work their adamant...

"You're not from around here, I presume?" she asks casually. A safe leading question, given what he's already said, as she tries to gather her thoughts.

Wild (and half-correct) theorizing go!

[industrious]

Fourth

He's very calm outwardly as Harmony tells him these things. Tells him where his power comes from. Tells him stories of a god brought low. Speaks of things he does not understand, that, he knows should shatter his worldview. And yet...

And yet, these tales do not shock him. They feel familiar, like a nursery tale forgotten, like the grooves on Duty even as he held it for the first time. They feel right.

"I know this," he says. "Like I know things in dreams, and merely needed to be reminded. But how do you know this, Harmony? And how can I thank you, for telling me what I am?"

[Orosboru]

"Such words are freely given. I would not ask you for any boon or service, indeed." The beggar smiles. "The real question is not where humanity springs forth, but where it goes. A unique narcotic of life and experience, which for some must always remain apart with intrigues and secretive masks and guises." The beggar turns to the Sidereal. "So, I cannot tell you of the fairness of my city, the ethic of its men or women, for it would seem flat, a construction, a whimsy of time. I could tell you the width, the breadth, the height, the shape and size and colour which fits in maps and blueprints, but I could not tell you what they said, or what they did. In truth, I am a faceless man. I am a watcher in the depths, and I come from a unknown place to be where I must *be.*

"And for this reason, I know the truth of many things, and I can relate to you this fact now."

I might be abusing my mysterious stranger quota, but they're too damn useful. At least this time it isn't a fae or a jadeborn. :P

[Aevylmar]

Meli cheerfully salutes Ashford with a smile. "Ready as I'm going to be!"

She looks around. She's going to need to follow him, but she hasn't been here before, and she always likes to get a good look at interesting places.

[Arpista]

Lime

"I have a prior engagement. Can you meet me at the Palace of the three hags? I'm bringing a guest, so don't be alarmed, okay? He's kinda weird."

The image of Lime crackles up as she jumps out of her seat.

"Oh, it's Bartleby! And I haven't even changed-"
The call terminates. The robot slumps over in your house.



"I'll be there-" Storm stops as the robot slumps, the call disconnecting. Bartleby. Well... she should be safe... The Sidereal tries to dispel the odd feeling of foreboding the conversation has left with her, and clears her throat.

"Irethusra?" The ex-city goddess is usually listening. "I appear to have some urgent business, and need to head out. If you don't mind, would you see that our visitor, if it reawakens, is either entertained properly or escorted out, as it chooses?" She eyes the broken arm critically for a moment... but no; she's not Iris, after all, and she doesn't want her first tries at fixing broken magitech to be on someone else's robot. Especially not given her limited experience with fixing broken anything. "I'll probably be back in a few hours; I'll try to let you know, if not. Nothing should be wrong, but... keep an eye out, just in case." She's almost sure Lime was sincere... but even so, it's worth watching out; Storm is involving herself in what is quickly beginning to resemble intrigue, and that does lead to a not insignificant risk of trouble following her home.

Cleaning up and changing into something appropriate for the Blue District (saffron-colored overdress over deep purple Essence silks, concealing a Starmetal breastplate because one couldn't be too careful - especially when one was going to stop a potential assassination) took another several minutes, but not much more. Storm Shadow made a last check that she had everything she needed - including a book and plentiful notepaper, in case she had to wait - and then headed off for the Palace of the Three Hags, with the typical speed expected of one of Heaven's Messengers who does not want to get arrested, but does have someplace to be and rather too little time to get there in.

[Ifni]

Glass Knife

Victory knows this? As if he only needed to be reminded... what else is hidden within his memories, and his Exaltation?

She forces herself to focus on Harmony of the Geared Lotus, to smile faintly. "A faceless man, a broken mask? Yes, we know about such things here. And do you know, then - why you must be in the heights, not your accustomed depths?

The Sidereal draws the adamant chip from her pocket. "Is this yours, incidentally?"

[industrious]

Fourth

"Whether or not you ask for it, I'm in your debt. While I wish to know more, you have already given me much."

He now has questions for Glass as well, too. But that can wait for dinner.

[Orosboru]

Harmony
"...no. It is not mine." Harmony spots the chip. "I come here to eradicate a apostate, to give the mercy of dissolution to one's person. It is my swift and solemn duty to eliminate such threats."

"But I have somewhere to be, for I must speak to another." The beggar stands up. "Perhaps we'll meet again, fair pair, but I go to seek my quarry, come what may."

The Baths
You two are certainly a odd pair indeed. Doubtlessly, there will be rumours of your relative proximity in such a vulgar place for a long time. Titters and odd looks mark your passing, vague figures in the steam and smoke, but the pursuit of knowledge is everything.

Ashford makes his way with you through the abandoned portions of the baths. Alien geometries with weird, nonhuman entranceways and exits mark the distortion of neglect. The adamant base of Yu-Shan pokes through the tiling, gleaming darkly in the hot mist.

"It changes day to day now," he says quietly. "It's fascinating. You could spend years trapped in here if you didn't know what was going on." Ashford turns on his flashlight. "We're going into a section that's pretty cold. If you can't handle it, then we should go back and get something warmer."

You're in a natural cavern, carved into the base of Yu-Shan, and it is *cold* The water here is barely above freezing, and icicles as long as a man jut from the ceiling. A broken down wall sits on the other side, with a lantern and a makeshift desk set up here. "That's from my last trip here," Ashford says. "There should be some firedust warmers there..."

"My my, who's there?" A pair of glowing eyes emerge from the gloom. A sultry, dark voice crawls and echoes in the cavern. "I have grown accustomed to being alone."

Ashford is so surprised, he almost stumbles. "Who are you?"

"A... hero, of sorts. But say," She looks at Meli. "Who do you guide, little man, that carries such cold steel?"

[Ifni]

Glass Knife

"I do hope we'll meet again," Glass agrees blandly. "If you need a place to stay, I'll offer the hospitality of my manse -" She gives him the address.

"But perhaps we could accompany you? What's the nature of this... apostate? Why are they a threat? We might be able to help."

[Kell_tamer]

Child glances back at Pyu. She tilts her head at his expression. Did I say something? You look like you just ate a whole lemon.

[Gareth3]

Pyu shakes his head and attempts a smile.

No, it's fine.

He turns to Lime.

Sorry, I was miles away. We're ready.

[Kell_tamer]

She leans her head forward looking up at him as if to say "uh huh, sure..."
... ok...

She knows something is up but shrugs and moves on with him.

[Aevylmar]

The room is cold, but Meli's coat is warm, and full-body ninja suits are actually really comfy. Nor is she surprised at the creepy voice; such things happen on adventures.

She smiles at its general direction, and zooms in with her ninja monocle as she talks. Just because you sound strange doesn't mean there's anything wrong with you. "Hi! I'm Meli! He's showing me around because he thinks there might be an eighth Incarnate, and I think he's wrong and so science! You say you're a hero? What kind of hero?"

Her Dragonfly's Ranging Eye lets Meli relocate her own vision to any point within 40 yards within her own line of sight, and gives her Essence Sight.

She's using it to try and look more closely at wherever the voice is coming from.

[Guancyto]

Seemingly taking little notice of whatever has transpired between Pyu and Obsidian Child, Exile inhales deeply. Huh, so at least something with a physiology. Maybe.

"Is that... firedust?" it seems mildly perturbed as well as curious, "you can cook with it?"

[Kell_tamer]

As they get to the door, Child begins observing the people, seeing how they behave and how they interact. If none of the others decide to speak up she fully intends to get them in herself through some carefully fabricated speeches. As it stands she merely observes the happenings. Her violet eyes perceiving the world fully through her caul.

She listens to dialogues, watches body language, looks to see who are the gatekeepers and who are those requesting entry, and most of all, observes reactions to see which are favorable and which are not.

Perception + Investigation I believe would be the roll, if not please correct me. but 5 dice regardless, [roll0] and stunt if awarded, [roll1]

[Orosboru]

WIP

The Baths of Venus
"Heroes are the fruit of the tree of life, watered with innocent blood and the graves of those who oppose them." The voice speaks softly. “Although men may be brittle, and men may break, there is only one thing that will show the true steel.” A dim blacklight slowly turns on, casting a sterile violet pall over the bath.
The floor is tiled with adamant plates, elaborate etchings depicting some sort of grand celebration, but the water is too cloudy to see it properly. Despite this bath’s vast size, it appears that it was fitted for only one individual. An overgrown throne, awash in the deepest part of the pool, occasionally pokes out from the deep.
“But who am I? Let me say that I am not you think I am. I wear the borrowed skin of riddles, speak in mysteries to the mystery-makers, but it is no more me than you are the clothes you deign to wear today. I have been a lord, I have been a slave, and I have been broken and made renewed. In this existence, I have been assumed many roles and many insights, all in the service of a greater master.”

“But that it is not what I am.”

“The baths of Venus are always warm, though it be through steamy rooms or steamy thoughts. But here, there is no warmth. Here, it is irrational. Here, I meditate under a waterfall of my thoughts. Here, I find myself in the unnecessary, in the audacious. I am a hero falling into their own grave.”
The voice, despite the light, remains hidden. “And you are?”


Obsidian, Bartleby, Pyu, Exile
The Southwestern cuisine is packed up in small wooden crates support with card inserts, enough to burden even Beligerant Blade’s strength. He is dwarfed by vaguely-firedust smelling barbeque takeout, which makes those familiar with it nervous. A warning is written on the side, saying that exposure to flame or dragonblooded essence flux will cause the food to explode.

“Firedust varies in strength, you know.” Jenna says to child. “Here, they go to the firedust that drifts to Creation, further away from its source, so that they can treat it with chemicals so that they can put it on a grill. But it doesn’t last long, so you’re advised to have friends in a bomb squad if you regularly have leftovers.”
Jenna and Beligerant Blade lead the party through the streets of the Blue District. Red light shines over the entire district, the passionate play of the gods reaching ever soaring heights. You receive many offers from demure godling to join their revels, eager to have the pleasure of amusing the Chosen, but respectfully observe distance when Jenna says they have a prior engagement.
Lime seems a little distracted, and very nervous. She doesn’t speak to Bartleby, keeping very quiet and observing formality as strictly as possible. She occasionally touches her glasses on the side, always looking from side to side.
Eventually, you make it to the Palace of the Three Hags.


The Palace of the Hags
The grand palace of the hags is the former residence of the Goddess of the Peligial Race, a dolphinlike people based on the dissection of the first Clay Man of Autochthon. The rooms are vast, with huge upper floors, for it was intended for the use of the goddess’s favourites and pets to indulge in their aquatic revels. Now, in lieu of water from the Elemental Pole in the west, flying rings are loaned to the visitors of this place to go as they please in the atrium. Floating furniture and winged servants assist first-time flyers into what they are accustomed. Works written about aerial pleasure pursuits, which are too indecent to be written here, line the shelves on the upper floor.
Many services such as prostitution and gambling are offered here, but in truth, they are only tenants here, not part of the Three Hags proper. The Three Hags indulge in their hobby (and also make considerable influence besides) because their rituals pertaining to their domains are incredibly useful to the Exalted for rejuvenating their spirits. They make exclusive residence in the peligial sanctum, which is filled with alien art of curved, coloured glass sculptures filled with molten lava, shining brightly in the darkness.
A reservation has been made for one Ragara Lime, which occupies thousands of cubic feet in the middle of the atrium. A massive assortment of floating alcohols and other social lubricants float in midair. Surfaces for those picky about the sensation of sitting without actually sitting on anything carry objects that are not able to be floated in midair – namely, the birthday cake.
Cakes in Yu-Shan are ‘the official celebratory confection for one celebrating their renewal of their existence,” after beating out cupcakes, ice cream, cookies, and pancakes in a bloody civil war. Unlike the mortal candles made of wax and beef tallow, heavenly lights are made of essence, and can be imprinted with all sorts of scents and special effects. It would be better to describe them as fireworks for their versatility. A cultural trend of sending subtle messages through ones’ choice of lighting their residences has been solidified by both their usefulness and their attractive appearance.

In this case, however, they are simply celebratory, and simply read: “Congratulations, Ashford.”


Fourth and Glass
"The apostate has tainted my homeland, bolstering our enemies and weakening our resolve." Lotus says quietly. "She has some desperate desire, unknowable and unthinkable to the sane, and she comes to Heaven for one reason: to find someone to heed her siren call of oblivion."

"I have made a contact of one of her targets, who even now fears for her life. I am scheduled to meet her in one of her houses of lust and improprietry. If you wish to assist me, you may."

Where's everyone?
Storm Shadow, Obsidian, Bartleby, Pyu, Exile, and the NPCs Lime, Jenna, and Beligerant Blade are at the Palace of the Three Hags.

Ashford and Meli are with a unknown stranger in the Baths of Venus.

Fourth and Glass are with Lotus in the outskirts of the Blue District.

[Ifni]

Glass Knife

Oh, gods. She'd been hoping to hold off on introducing Victory to Yu-Shan's 'houses of lust and impropriety'. (Quite apart from anything else, given his apparent enthusiasm for playing up the cover story, it might give him material.) But on the other hand - letting Harmony out of her sight would be clearly negligent at this point, especially given what he's said about his goals. And if he can lead them to this 'apostate'... that's probably important, if she's infiltrated Yu-Shan, especially if Harmony isn't misusing the term 'Oblivion'.

You know which way you'll end up going on this.
Yeah, but can I at least have a moment to mourn for my evening off?

And of course she left her daiklave at home. She really should've known better, given Victory's presence.

Glass glances at Victory. "You okay with deferring our dinner plans for a bit?"

[industrious]

Fourth

He straightens his back, and he leaves the part of fool fully behind.

"You're going to need a weapon," he states, very matter of fact. "If that marketplace isn't too far, we can get a sword and shield for you, since your daiklave is at the manse."

[Kell_tamer]

Child listens to Jenna, nodding as she talks.

As the gods invite them she resists the urge to join in and get more surrounded by the culture. She knows now is not the time.

She follows along continuing her observations.

[Ifni]

Glass Knife

Glass shrugs slightly, and stands up from her crouch. "I can fight bare-handed if need be. But yes, the marketplace is close... if you don't object, Harmony? If your apostate is dangerous - I do fight better with a blade."

Of course, the kind of blades and shields she's likely to find in the Blue District... may lend a new meaning to exotic weaponry.

But she's not going to blow half her week's salary again like she did at that stall in Chiaroscuro. Absolutely not.

[Arpista]

Well. Now what?

Storm Shadow arrives at the palace, politely thanks the attendant who offers her a ring, and draws it on. She's not habituated to flying, but neither is it her first time; she pushes off carefully and floats, adjusting to the sensation of nothing beneath her feet oh gods she's going to fall fall fall as she looks around. It's never a pleasant sensation, but she can live with it; she reminds herself firmly that she didn't fall last time, did she, and she's only a couple feet off the ground, even if she did fall she would only embarrass herself, not be seriously hurt. The reminders help, especially that last one; the fear subsides, and Storm is able to pay a little more attention to looking for Lime.

Now, where would she be? Storm glances past the reserved area, wondering as she does what it's for - Lime only mentioned one guest - wait. Planning a party. Maybe... or maybe not; Lime didn't say the party was here, and Yu-Shan is a big place. Could just be a coincidence.

She hovers carefully a foot and a half above the floor and scans the great, crowded space for the figure from the projection. Hopefully, of course, Lime will find her first; it's crowded, and 'little bird' or not, eagle eyes have never been Storm's specialty. On the other hand, Lime is only an aspirant, and sounded harried. Looking around herself can't hurt, just in case.

Let me know if you'd like Perception+Awareness to find Lime? Storm's only got 4 dice, which is why she says she's not very good at it - I'm more depending on her hovering obviously near the doorway, looking around, as a clue to Lime. OTOH, the reserved area itself should be pretty obvious, so it may not be hopeless...

[Gareth3]

Pyu accepts the flying ring, but waits for Obsidian to get hers before putting it on.

Just push off from the ground. You'll feel like you're falling, but it's perfectly safe. Even if the ring completely failed, someone could just use a charm to catch you.

[Kell_tamer]

Obsidian takes the ring and puts it on. Being a tiny Exalt, it wasn't uncommon for demons to prey upon her physical weaknesses to mess with her, and being brought up into the air through flight was usually one of the ways. At least this time she wasn't being tossed around. She pushes off the ground and up and lets the ring do its work.
The thought crossed her mind, she can telekinetically lift things, could she lift herself. She'll have to try when she's not in public.

[Gareth3]

Pyu puts on his ring and smoothly rises up towards the reserved area. Being raised from infancy in Heaven, he's totally comfortable with flying. He thinks to himself that he's probably flown more than he's fallen, so the sensation never feels like falling to him.

[Aevylmar]

"I'm me," Meli says simply. "I'm a scholar and a Sidereal and a martial artist and an end-person and a cheerful person and a priestess and a daughter and I'm me. I think you're more than just a hero, though I can understand why you put that first - being a hero sounds like fun!"

She smiles. "So, anyway. Do you know anything about this extra Incarna? I'm curious!"

[Guancyto]

A flying ring. Exile took one, but took a bit of time looking at it, then to the rather extravagant displays, then to the strange confection at the center of it all.

One did not join the ranks of the Sidereal Exalted every day. Taking some care to hide what might hypothetically have been a hand underneath, it slipped it on, with the gauntlet going back on afterward.

The positively undignified flailing of its arms that resulted from Exile hovering a foot in the air was certainly quite a sight. Obviously someone or something new to the sensation, it looked to Pyu, Obsidian, anyone.

"This is... not quite intuitive," it said as absolutely calmly as it could.

[Gareth3]

Pyu immediately flies over to help the Exile, holding him steady. Careful not to be seen by the Exile, he glances at the armour and tries to find chinks in it that reveal who or what is underneath.

You'll be fine, just go back down and push off again. There. First time with a flying ring?

Perception+Investigation "What does the Exile look and feel like close up?" [roll0]

[Kell_tamer]

Child moves toward Pyu. So is this how you sweep a girl off her feet? you know its just a figure of speech right? She floats off with a mischievous grin on her face.

[Guancyto]

Set astray perhaps by the motion, an effect of the ring or perhaps by a gap, Pyu can see a small lock of straight, deep red hair has found itself outside Exile's helmet. It slips back inside a moment later, and if he hadn't been looking for it he wouldn't have seen it.

"Yes," Exile said gratefully, sinking down to attempt to push off again, "it's like learning to ride a wolf when your instincts tell you you're riding a horse." The flailing was a little organized, had it been trying to flap?

Pushing off, Exile seemed a little more controlled this time. Still shaky, and doing its best to keep away from the decorations, lest it destroy them without meaning to.

[Gareth3]

Pyu keeps his face carefully blank as he sees the hair. He makes sure Exile is moving steadily before turning his attention to Obsidian.

You're very good for a beginner.

[Kell_tamer]

Obsidian floats by and flicks his ear. Bet you say that to all the girls you like

[Gareth3]

Pyu groans.

Very droll.

He looks around at the vast open space.

Quit the jokes and help me out for a moment. I want to find a high-rank god here who can use charms to observe Ashford getting his Exaltation. There's none in the party itself, but there could be one somewhere else. Look around and see if you can find one.

Pyu looks around himself, but continues rising up towards the reserved area.

Activating Telltale Symphony, 5 motes. Perception+Occult: "Is there a god here who is likely to have the charm Amethyst Awareness?" [roll0]

[Kell_tamer]

She frowns a bit. No fun. Fine. What am I looking for? If you wanted me to find a demon then sure but I'm rusty with gods.

[Gareth3]

Pyu hesitates for a moment.

Uh... Sidereals and Aspirants all look like normal humans and they're mostly young-looking. Look for older people and people who don't look totally human. You might have some... unique talents to help you pick them out.

[Kell_tamer]

You mean like my essence sight? or as it's more formally called by She who lives in her name's chosen, Essence Dissecting Stare. She whispers to him. She activates it using her personal resevior, hoping she doesn't have to do much more for a while while it restores.

what specifically should i be looking for with it??

[Gareth3]

Pyu whispers back.

Just point out high-essence people, I'll take it from there.

[Kell_tamer]

Ok handsome, for you i'll do it. She is simultaniously determined to help him and mess with him... or is she messing with him? She's a fiend so probably, but she's also pretty messed up so she could be serious.

She starts examining people through her essence sight. She does it by flying around passing people like a kid who was introduced to a new sensation keeping her eyes hidden, but secretly observing everyone with a passing glance while she giggles like a schoolgirl.

according to the book its intelligence + occult to determine a persons essence. i'm only rolling once.
[roll0]

Also, she's messing with him for the record.

[Kell_tamer]

She nudges pyu and whispers to him.

our armored friend is exalted. And that god there is the strongest one i can see. she points to one of the gods in the area.

however she can she communicates Essence 4...

[Gareth3]

Pyu thanks Obsidian, and floats over to the god she indicated.

Perception+Occult for anything about the god she pointed out. [roll0]

[Kell_tamer]

Child growing bored with Pyu's lack of response sets her sight on the flailing armored being with them.

She floats up above him and then aligning behind him lets herself move into a position like a lounge singer resting on a piano, using his back as the piano.


So, big stuff, she whispers to him, Visit Malfeas lately? I'm wondering how one gets helltech like that in heaven. She runs a finger slowly along the armor. you seem to have suddenly made me very interested in you. you and this beautiful armor. Feel like talking about it sometime? maybe over wine? or would you prefer Chalcanth? I could use a ... person like you. Got a feeling you have some other, talents you aren't letting on about. She leans close and whispers quietly to where his ear would be What do you say, Chosen?

[Guancyto]

Exile remains impassive despite being used as a leaning post, concentrating instead on remaining steady with the change in weight that comes with Obsidian leaning on it. The flailing is minimal now!

"You are playing a dangerous game, Child," it rumbles quietly, "but if we come upon the chance to talk, we may talk."

[Kell_tamer]

A grin crosses the child's face.

More dangerous than you could possibly know Chosen. She floats off his back and to his front. lifting the the caul from her eyes, and with an almost flirty wave she winks at him. We'll definitely talk later.

Replacing the caul, she floats off to rejoin Pyu in his quest to talk to a god who can actually do stuff.

[Gareth3]

Pyu turns to Obsidian, puzzled.

What was all that about? Did you learn anything about him?

[Kell_tamer]

She looks up at him. Nahh, too public to discuss. Going to chat with him later. She looks over at the god. Any luck getting their attention?

[Gareth3]

Pyu nods.

That's fine, I'll talk to you about it later. That god seems to be ignoring us. See if you can get their attention.

[Obscurejones]

The Palace of the Hags, Breathing a sigh of Relief
There is a jittery frantic energy to Bartleby's passage from the Fell to the Palace of the Hags. He seems to bounce from manic to severe, twirling his open betwixt his fingers in a nervous tic. However he knows Lime it becomes obvious to anyone who cares to observe that her presence in their party in unnerving him. When they finally arrive at the palace he grabs one of the waiting rings almost desperately, kicking off the floor and soaring in search of hsi old friends. Better their jabs and japes then this annoying uncertainty. As he soars he keeps an eye out for Lawrence Navos Iselei.

[Kell_tamer]

A smirk comes across Child's face. Not a problem.


Child puts the caul into her pocket and immediately starts flailing like she lost her control and floats right into the god making it look like she was trying to avoid them.

Oh my! I'm so sorry! I'm not used to this!

[Orosboru]

The Market of Furious Commerce

Yu-Shan has expensive tastes, spanning heaven and earth, and all must be sought to sate them. Fetishes, reliquaries, scented oils and braided incense, medicine to stoke passion and to remove it, leather of the sacred cows of Ahlat. The Bureau of Abstract Matters has taken this domain from the Bureau of humanity, claiming that the general aesthetic of all the gods has moved away from the earthly plane.

Everything in Yu-Shan can be said to be priceless, a king's ransom, but a permit for one of these stalls would beggar even the most senior of officials. A currency of bribes, favours, blackmail and extortion are all tied in a intricate web of deceit. As such, the 'temporary' stalls are more or less permanent.

But for a weapon?

A truclee importer who has named himself Reflection of the Moon-Raked Water is the only seller who is allowed to sell 'ornamental weapons' in the Blue District. Elaborate weapon racks with glamors as thick as honey depict replicas of ancient First Age and Shogunate artifacts, with a brief bio of their Exalted Bearers. Authentic military garb for all sorts of famous units, albeit a bit more scantily clad than otherwise be protective - is available on huge metallic racks.

Dressed in homoerotic gladiator gear with glistening oiled muscles, Moon-Rake approaches Knife.

"Hello, my good customer! I am in total regret that your Luthan singing bass has not come in, despite my orders to whip the slaves twice as hard. What can I get for you?"

The Palace of the Three Hags

Storm Shadow is lightly poked from behind by a floating paper boat, carrying a shot of rum with a slice of lime jauntly set on the side. The boat swims through the air, past the big party in the middle, to a small alcove on the side.

Bartleby spots his trainee wallflowering it as usual - hiding from the main festivities, away from the center of attention. Another Sidereal is going to her chamber - something's unusual is going on here...

"Greetings, small human! I am one of the proprietors of this great hal, and your hostess this evening. Today's Tuesday, so my name is Tied Bonds of Secrets Untold, Goddess of Gifts! Are you a guest here today? Have you been served your monkey's head of jelly? Have you been downstairs to the Pit of Despair? What can I do for you? She walks forward. "Here's a gift from me to you - a authentic fortune cookie, written by Ayesha Ura herself!" She presents to you a heavenly cookie.

Blade and Jenna are taking out the dishes, setting them up on floating marble blocks. They'll be a bit.

The Baths of Venus

"You know how truly wondrous is the fact that a god emerges from the physical presence of anything? The greater their domain, the more powerful they are. But Incarnae do not spring from the physical. They are created. From dust and motes and will. There could be a incarnate of Creation, but none saw fit to do so. A incarnate of humanity, perhaps? But such duties are covered in the Bureaucracy. Perhaps it was its purpose, to limit the power of the gods."

A woman emerges from the darkness. A black towel covers most of her body, which is pale and statuelike in its pallor. She doesn't seem to be bothered by the cold at all. Her hair hangs off her head like seaweed, floating on the surface like the arms of a octopus.

"How did you find this site?" Ashford asks.

"It called to me." She says. "As it did you. A dead god whispers here."

[Ifni]

The Market of Furious Commerce

Glass glides into the stall and nods to the proprietor. "Ah, hello, Moon-Rake. How's business? I see you got those ironwood-mail bikinis in; did you solve the splinter problem?"

"Anyway, I find myself in the market for a sword. Has to accessorize properly, of course. Perhaps in a Southern style? Although of course Realm craftsmanship is always nice."

Out of the corner of her mouth she mutters to Victory, "Take my advice and stay clear of Aisle Three."

Because it's going to come up:
[roll0] Temperance vs her vice for collecting trashy souvenirs.
EDIT: Rolled in the OOC and botched :smalltongue: So, er... Oros, I leave it to you to determine what horribly tasteless piece of merchandise she's going to decide she Must Have.

[industrious]

Fourth Clever Victory

He looks at the wonders of the Market...and shrugs.

Yes, it sold things that he had never seen before, and the customers didn't necessarily look human, and it was bigger than any he had seen before. But it was still, ultimately a market.

The people there on the other hand...his struggle was not to stare at them, not the wares. And one might be considerably more rude than the other.

"Why? What's in Aisle Three?" he says leaning against a rack of replica daiklaves.

"Also, that is not what the Cathak legions wear. Why would they leave a hole in the middle of the chest; that's just completely impractical."


Ornamental means dress uniform, in his opinion. He's too simple to tempt, really.

[Aevylmar]

Meli mentally flicks her monocle on as she continues to chat. Just because the hero lady seems nice doesn't mean all's well. "I do know that, in fact, but thank you anyway!" There's no irony in her voice; she really means it. "It's amazing how the Essence goes all impressive and stuff is made out of nothing and whatnot. And what's this about dead gods whispering? I thought only dead Primordials whispered, though I've never actually heard them. Almost once, though."

Her ninja monocle gives her Essence Sight. If the 'hero lady' is an actual non-Sidereal Exalt or some sort of strange unknown being, she'll move quietly to Defend Other Ashford, or at least so she'll be able to react fast enough to do so if the hero lady turns out to be crazy.

[Gareth3]

Pyu bows to the goddess in midair.

A pleasure to meet you, Goddess of Gifts. It's appropriate that you're here, with Ashford about to receive the greatest of gifts.

He moves a little closer, and speaks quietly.

Actually there is something you can do for me. I'm trying to study the process of Celestial Exaltation, and Ashford is my subject. I'll be observing him with my own charms as he Exalts, but if you have any ability to detect Essence, it would really help me if you observed him too, and told me everything you saw.

He moves even closer, and speaks even softer.

Strictly speaking, Ashford doesn't know I'm studying him, so let's keep this discreet.

Charisma+Prescence to convince her to help me: [roll0]

[Ifni]

Glass Knife

"Well, last time it was where he was keeping the razor-spiders... was being the operative word. Did Pest Control manage to find all the escapees eventually, Moon-Rake?"

Glass steps over to one of the displays to examine a weapon that is... something like a chakram, but with more spikes than seems strictly functional, while she waits for Moon-Rake to finish the obligatory (and slightly overdone) Moment of Careful Thought and re-assume the appropriate shark-like salesperson's smile.

[Kell_tamer]

Child makes it like she begins stabilizing herself and looks at the goddess. Thank you. She moves herself nearer to Pyu and decides its best to let him talk as she would only try to mess around with things.

[Kell_tamer]

While Pyu does his thing, curiosity gets the better of Child and she opens up her fortune cookie. She ponders what fortune one sitting outside of fate could have.

[Arpista]

Storm turns as the paper boat pokes her, startled, then smiles when she sees the drink - and, more specifically, the slice of fruit. Tasteful. I think I like her. She moves out of the boat's way immediately, glancing curiously around again at the hall, then starts moving - here and there, peering at the floating furniture or the guests or the market stalls like a curious tourist. After all, she's only been here once before. Perfectly reasonable to look around, isn't it? She pauses now and then to smile at a familiar face, or watch a game of chance for a moment or two before once more darting away. (Golden balls fly through a three-dimensional maze. A gambler swears under his breath as a golden ball ricochets off an ivory wall to strike a circle of green essence and vanishes; the calm smile of the god running the game never changes as he holds out his hand for his pay.)

Storm's dark eyes never rest on the little paper boat for long, but it is always visible as a flicker in the corner of those eyes - and, however subtle she's being about it, the Exalt's movements are steadily (and, given her wandering course, surprisingly quickly) carrying her towards the alcove.

Manipulation + Performance. Nothing suspicious going on here, no siree! Assuming a one-die stunt...

[roll0]

[Orosboru]

(I've decided to do more piecemeal updates, so that you don't have to wait as long.)
The Market of Furious Commerce

Moonrake casually strolls and picks up a small spindle of thread from his shelf.

"This is... alloyed monofilament wire made out of the magical materials of orichalicum and starmetal. It can be woven into more mundane cloth, it readily accepts alteration by charms, and is otherwise perfectly undetectable by many means." He extends the lethal wire out. "If you take the time to attune to it, which in this case... is not very long." He channels a bit of essence into it. It shapes into a poofy top hat. "It becomes a fashionable piece of clothing for Exalt on the go." He retracts it back into the spool. "Why don't you give it a try?"

[Ifni]

Glass Knife

Glass reaches out reflexively, despite herself. Ooh. Monofilament wire! She's seen ribbon-swords, at some of the demonstration matches... and the hat! That hat!

"As I said, I'm actually looking for a sword," she replies, frowning at the Fae. It's not a very convincing frown, though. "Do you just have a thing for dressing up Sidereals? But I suppose I can give it a try..."

She channels a little Essence into the spool of wire, imagining -

Hats, hats, glorious hats! Do you remember the one that Dynast was wearing at the clawstrider race near Chiaroscuro...

No! Bad imagination! Sword, she's here looking for a sword, and possibly a buckler...

Stupid Temperance botches.

[Orosboru]

Moonrake looks very sad for a moment, before bursting into a melody.

"We wear our hats as we do our faces, ordering us in our minds as it does our places. My role may be to seem a joke, a fluttering man of fancy with a lacey yoke. But make no mistake man of the Realm, that there are things that will by nature simple emotion overwhelms. But what else can I be, other than the salesman you see? I have gimcracks, trinkets, souvenirs, exotic varieties of all kinds, but nothing that will satisfy what comes to mind. I do not sell love, or soaring hopes or fluttering doves. I sell the brutal instruments of the body's surrender, to unshackle the inhibitions of him, it, or her. So in Aisle Three, you see, everything's free! - for those who have yet to do great deeds." He points to Fourth.

[industrious]

Fourth

"I see. Glass, oh love of my life, darling...can you help me take a look?"

He hopes that the language will snap her out of it, They were still on a mission. And she still needed a sword.

And she looked more than fine enough without a hat.

[Ifni]

"... mm?"

Glass looks up from her absorption with one of the mirrors, adjusting the plumed hat that's adding at least two feet to her height.

Wait, what did he call her?

For a moment her face goes a little frozen. She hadn't expected oh love of my life to feel that much like a kick in the guts. But right. Yes. Cover story, mission, job to do.

... perhaps a smaller hat.

"Really? Now you're doing loss leaders, Moon-Rake? Darling, as a general rule, I advise treating truculee propositions with extreme caution." Still, she walks over toward Aisle Three - not taking Victory's hand; he might need it free for his sword. "But I'll help you look."

[industrious]

Fourth

The two head deep into Aisle Three, where Fourth turns to face Glass.

"Glass," he says softly. "as...interesting as that hat is, we are here just for a sword. For the Apostate slaying. And our friend doesn't seem like the type to wait for us, honestly."

"...Not that you look badly with the hat. Because you don't. But you can get it later, maybe?"

[Ifni]

Glass Knife

"If we could find a handle for it, I think it might be possible to make this into a sword. Or an urumi, at least."

"... which is a martial arts weapon. They're fairly rare, you might not have seen one yet."

The Sidereal looks around the glowering depths of Aisle Three. "Still, you're correct. But Fae can be... difficult. Going along with his little song-and-dance might actually be the fastest way to find something."

She eyes the shelves around them rather suspiciously.

(She has also not removed the hat.)

[industrious]

Fourth

"Alternatively," he says quietly. "I could Make you a sword. That would be much quicker."

The capital letter spoke more than enough between the two of him. Fourth didn't mention his...talent often, if only because Glass had reacted so strongly when he showed her the first time.

With a finger, he tilts the hat upwards, so that her face is less covered in shadow. He takes a soft step back immediately after.

"Glass...I will believe whatever you tell me. Is that...hat really going to be turned into a weapon?"

[Ifni]

Glass Knife

Glass winces, but doesn't reject the idea immediately. "... perhaps. But let's try to avoid the necessity. We might end up fighting in front of witnesses. As for the latter - well, let's see."

She prods tentatively at an apparently innocent short stick of dull, dark golden metal lying on a nearby shelf. It's aged, tarnished, not quite regularly shaped - its appearance is rather like gnarled wood, although it glitters oddly in the light. When she flicks it with a thumbnail, the soft tone echoes for a while before fading.

After a few cautious pokes don't cause it to unfurl into some kind of terrifying mechanical wasp (that being about the least disturbing option that immediately comes to mind), Glass picks up the stick, brings it up next to her hat, and concentrates. Just like returning the monofilament to its spool, but instead wrapping around the handle.

Draw the fine threads together, spinning them with Essence and the will. Not an orb web, but a fine wire strand, as a spider might weave to descend from a height. Or imagine a plucked sanxian string, resonating with a note and its harmonics, braiding together the shivering sounds.

She catches her tongue between her teeth as she focuses, shaping the gossamer strands against the diamond knife of her concentration, trying to remember the precise balance and construction of her teacher's floating ribbon. The tip is heavier, she thinks... she coils the strands on themselves there, doubling and redoubling them, circling the metallic fiber into a glittering knot with a razor-sharp edge.

Well, that's the idea, anyway. After a few minutes, she opens her eyes to see what she has wrought.

ST gave me vague guidelines for this, so...

Rolling Int+Craft to try to unravel the hat and reform it into a Floating Ribbon (artifact version of the urumi, "possesses a nine foot long, silk-thin blade of alloyed magical material attached to a carefully weighted handle"). The filament is a wire made of alloyed magical materials, so we have the raw materials!

Spending 1 WP for an autosux.

Int+Craft [roll0]

Possible stunt: [roll1]

Up to the rest of you whether the second die matters I get WP back :smallwink:

EDIT: 6 sux, in any event.

[industrious]

Fourth

"...Wow."

He observes Glass's working in silence, afraid that if he speaks, she'll lose focus. Concentration.

"So," he remarks afterward. "What martial arts styles use the urumi?"

[Ifni]

Glass Knife

"The sword style I've been learning is versatile enough to encompass everything from a knife to a grand daiklave; this should work, too."

"Aside from that -" Don't flush, don't let your voice change, it's a perfectly legitimate style, even if those who aren't Chosen of Serenity tend to snicker about it... "- there's a secret style that employs it. My sifu knows it. But it requires considerably greater refinement of Essence than I've achieved."

Kinda need input from the ST at this point to know if I'm holding an urumi, a hat, or something different :smalltongue: I can edit, ST, if you can tell me the answer in the OOC thread.

[industrious]

Fourth

He nods sagely.

"So...like the Immaculate Martial Arts, then. And all the fasting and meditating the monks do is how they refine their essence. But you're too busy to do so, so that's why you haven't learned it."


I like irony. And ignorant-and-wrong Fourth is just fun to write.

[Ifni]

Glass Knife

"Well, sort of." She pauses. Because letting Victory remain in ignorance has worked out so well so far. "... not really."

"The Dragon-Blooded can't easily learn the kinds of styles we use. Hence the fasting and meditating. Well, and to develop spiritual and physical discipline, of course."

"The secret styles are something... different. As far as we know, only Sidereals can learn them." (That's a lie, of course. But she can't imagine a situation where it would be important for Victory to know that Solars can learn the advanced styles.) "For the moment, at least, it's probably best if you don't tell anyone I mentioned them."

[industrious]

Fourth

His mouth drops open.

"Hold on. If by 'we,' you mean 'the two of us'..."

He brings his hands up, palms facing each other, fingers extended and elbows widely gesticulating (though "flailing near his body" would also be accurate). His eyes are wide and wild, his mouth is open and grinning, lips curled back to reveal teeth.

"I CAN LEARN IMMACULATE MARTIAL ARTS?!"

He's whispering, but very loudly. As giddy as a young child being informed that he would receive a new toy. Only the toy was, according to the Immaculate Faith Fourth still believed in, enlightenment through martial essence.

"I'm actually a person capable of doing that?!"

[Ifni]

Glass Knife

"Yes. Yes you are." Almost against her will, the Joybringer's lips curve in a smile at the Comet's enthusiasm - and in amusement at the particular mode of its expression. "I told you that you were Exalted, Victory." She glances along the aisle, and moves casually so she can see anyone waiting just beyond the corner.

"Is that what you want? To learn an Immaculate style? The Five Glorious Dragon Paths are elementally aspected, they were designed for the Dragon-Blooded - there are other styles, similarly powerful, that might suit your Essence as well or better. But if you'd like to study an Immaculate path, I... think it could probably be arranged."

They're probably the most-studied styles in Yu-Shan, given their utility when posing as Terrestrial; surely she can find someone trustworthy to teach him. Surely her superiors would see how useful it could be. It would even fit the cover story, more or less; she'd have some nominally work-related reason for bringing a Dragon-Blood to Yu-Shan, and martial arts training could qualify.

[industrious]

Fourth

"You said, but I'm not...from the Dragons. But I can walk one of the Five...or all of the Five...or..."

Eventually, the flailing slows down, and the grin fades, but the smile remains, eyes aglow in delight.

"...no. I can, and that's amazing, but I shouldn't. I'm not from the Dragons, so I shouldn't. Everything has its place, and whatever mine is...it's not as a Prince of the Earth. Not as a Dynast."

[Orosboru]

The Baths Of Venus

"You do not hear... their voices? Their screaming, wailing, laughing voices?" A cough. "You will, in time, in the sweet rot of time, know the death cries of your loved ones, and the caress of the forge."

A dark Zenith symbol erupts in cold and the water.

"Oh, Saturn." Ashford says.

Pyu
"Oh, but how could I resist such a charming Chosen?" Tie smiles at you. "Of course I'll help you! We serve all kinds of fetishes, and we have a deluxe range of voyeuristics tools to help you observe the choicest of youths to serve your pederasty. If you should require pillows of ungiven consent, or a muffled private room, then you're going to have to find somewhere else. This is a place of morals." Tie says sternly, wearing a low-cut bondage dress and a whip in her hand.

Fortune Cookie
It is determined that the bearer of this cookie will have an astronomical chance of violent death in the form of angry gods, demons, Exalted, and/or Fae. It is determined that the bearer is needing to assert herself more often and take their own initiative in seeking adventure. It is determined that a slow, passionately burning romance is in their future. It is determined that drinking more than four alcoholic drinks will lead to opportunity in a favourable chance.

Alcove (Storm Shadow and Bartleby)

Lime sits alone, with a hood draped over her head. A small cup of rice wine sits next to a roaring brazier. Two other cups sit next to the bottle, upended face down. Her biomechanical arm is fretting, twisting her light hair in elegant braids before undoing them again.

"Oh, hi, Storm Shadow." A box made of oak, varnished with lacquer, sits on the table. "Thanks for coming."

Bartleby feels a little suspicious. What's going on..? (He's going to have to roll perception + awareness to see Storm Shadow.)



The Market of Furious Commerce

Lotus hangs in the shadows, silently listening to your conversation, but he is suddenly accosted by the merchant himself.

"Ah, yes, stranger. I see that you have little need for my wares. What brings you to the halls of Yu-Shan today?"

"..."

"Ah, I see. Allies, huh? Well, any port in a storm."

"..."

"Cat got your tongue? Ah, forget it. You wouldn't get half my metaphors anyway."

Fourth walks into a impressive aisle bristling with weapons of all kinds. One of them, however, calls out to him, yearning to be wielded.

(Roll Essence + Integrity. Roll high. Virtue channel is free.)

[Ifni]

Glass Knife

"Not as a Dynast, no." Glass smiles faintly and shrugs, studying the... urumi? in her hands. It looks like what she was aiming for, more or less, although the long slender flexible blade is wrapped with entwining threads of cerulean and saffron. She's almost sure she hadn't envisioned that feature.

She makes an experimental pass through the air with the whip-sword, frowning slightly as she tests its balance. The handle isn't quite right.

"For the rest - I think your place may be what you make it. But it'll be interesting to find out how much more Lotus has to say."

The Sidereal goes over to rummage in a crate labeled with a discount sign. "Might just try to find a knife or something, in case this doesn't work as intended..."

[industrious]

Fourth

He's silent at Glass's words. Not because he has nothing to say, but because he has nothing he's willing to. Cliches and worse.

He's surrounded by weapons from across Creation, great and gaudy things...and he only needs one. There wasn't any need to have anything more than what one needed, really. He had Duty, that strange weapon whose name he had known before he had seen the inscription on its side. He needed no other.


Wits+Integrity: [roll0]
Channeling Temperance: [roll1]

[Kell_tamer]

Child blinks a second at the cookie. My how very passive aggressive of you cookie, but who am i to turn down underage drinking?

she glances over at Pyu.
Also, totally did not realize you were into kids. Not judging, but just saying. she nudges him with her elbow.

She flags down a god, preferably one with a tray of booze. Hi, Five of whatever will get me acting like a Cynis Wood Aspect in as short of time as possible, He's paying. She points to Pyu.

[Guancyto]

So long as they were only waiting, Exile was going to get in on this 'fortune cookie' business, maybe it would have some clue as to the future.

Or, maybe it would have a recommendation to drink more. Exile didn't really care for that idea, but one did not choose one's destiny. In any case, it floated up to the place Child had left and got a few of its own.

[Gareth3]

Pyu grits his teeth.

Sorry for the misunderstanding, but I don't think you can help me.

When Obsidian places her drink order, he shakes his head.

Sorry, Obsidian. No alcohol.

Pyu turns to the god.

You'll have to excuse her. She's in her teens, but her body stopped developing when she was about 12. Including her liver. Some side effect of being fated to Exalt, perhaps, or maybe a Wyld mutation. In any case, she won't be able to tolerate alcohol any more than a normal 12-year-old.

[Kell_tamer]

Excuse me...

Child grabs the sleeve of Pyu's outfit and pulls him out of earshot of the gods.

she leans in and rather agitatedly whispers.

This may come as a shock but I have sort of a time table here to work on. This whole waiting to watch a kid exalt isn't going to help anyone. You really want to know what I found out? It's something the Big Guy with four arms needs to know. The Shifty one might want to hear too. It involves her old flame...


She was eschewing her normal methods of misdirection and being about as subtle with Pyu as a brick is to a shop window.

[Gareth3]

Pyu whispers back.

I fail to see how alcohol poisoning is going to help you with that. If you're so desperate to pass the information along, tell me. I know a trick that will let Nara-O find out in seconds, and he can approach the Sun directly.

He looks back at the god, sighs, and turns back to Obsidian, still whispering.

And I'm not just idly curious about the Exaltation. I'm going to find someone else who Exalts in the the same way you did, and observe them. I need Ashford as a known Exalt to compare him with.

[Kell_tamer]

She raises an eyebrow. you mean you don't do everything that slips of paper in cookies tell you to?

she leans back in whispering
you did get that i was talking about having seen Gaia personally right? as for your secrets god, technically we're safe now as you are the only person who actually knows. I'm outside fate thus outside his purview period. I stopped being a person four years ago. Unless his purview does cover stuff like that. There's another reason I need to talk to the Big Guy myself though. And if you have any semblance of respect for the concept of secrets you will not press that matter. I will even make a Fiend oath bind saying i will not raise a hand against the Sun if i have to, but its not my intention. My business is my own.

[Gareth3]

Pyu clutches his head.

I really don't know where to begin.

He straightens up, and speaks in his normal voice.

First of all, it is possible that a fortune cookie in Heaven could contain an actual, predictive fortune. However, and stay with me here, it is possible that someone just made something up and put it in a cookie. You understand?

He lowers his voice to a whisper.

Second, Nara-O is the God of Secrets Known Only to One Person. If I have a message I need to get to him, I just invent a secret about it and don't tell anyone else. If you're right that you don't count as a person, he already knows you met Gaia. But I don't think that's true, I think you're still a person even if some magic doesn't work on you. You and I, and maybe Gaia herself know, so it falls outside his domain.

Pyu counts off the points on his fingers.

Third, Nara-O is our ally, he's the reason you're alive. You can trust him, and it's far easier for him to get in touch with the Sun. I'm not even allowed in the Dome. Fourth, if you really have to meet the Sun yourself, let's stop wasting time at this party and go set up a meeting. Fifth, I don't care what you are, you're not a threat to the Sun. He could kill you before you blink.

[Kell_tamer]

She looks at him with a bit of indignation.

her whisper takes an almost hissing tone.

Okay, first the cookie thing was a joke. Second it was ultra specific. Third, ... don't really have a third. Fourth, yes I have my reasons for wanting to talk to Conky...

Fifth, i was just making a point that i have no intention to mess anything up unless that thing is big black and a dragon.

[Gareth3]

Pyu makes a calming gesture.

Fine, fine.

He thinks to himself, talking out loud.

Most people use the God of Unexplained Requests for this kind of thing, but I don't want to go near that freak unless I have to... Ah-hah. I think I can help you.

He rolls back his sleeve, and a small spider apparently made of emerald appears on his arm. He whispers to it and it disappears.

Efficient Secretary Technique: "When and where was the last sighting of Gaia's humaniform jouten?"

[Kell_tamer]

She glances at the scene that just happened. in a quiet tone she chimes in. and you talk to bugs. interesting. only bugs i talk to are Sesselja. They are awful at holding conversations, but make great companions when you know you are going to be stabbed later in the day.

[Gareth3]

Pyu chuckles.

How do you know you're going to be stabbed?

[Kell_tamer]

She shrugs. Healthy paranoia?

[Gareth3]

Fair enough.

Pyu looks around at the others.

When does this Ashford guy get here, anyway?