To Serve All My Days {Exalted 2e}

[Lentrax]

The high heat of summer beats down upon the Blessed Isle. As is customary, the Prefecture of the Imperial Order has sent its Immaculate Monks upon their yearly pilgramages to attend to the tributes to the Gods necessary for the continued survival of the crops grown in the outer holdings of the Realm.

In the port city of Vaniton, you each awaken to a day that is already hot by Imperial standards. Ships are beginning to depart in the distance, and the noise from the docks is already a meddling buzz that energizes the noise of life in the city.

As you each head to breakfast, a young messenger comes in, bearing a message written in a neat hand upon a roll of tightly curled fine parchment.

Breaking the seal, a golden disc, you read the following message.

My friend,

I have at long last found you. I have searched for a very long time, and at last I feel I have found what we have long sought. It has been a long time since we have met, and now, at long last we have the opportunity to recover what we have lost long ago.

Meet me in the valley south of the Imperial Mountain.

We have much to discuss in light of the nature of our past relationship.

[Lord Raziere]

Mekana looked at the letter with suspicion. Vague mentioning of something lost. Referring to him as a "friend", telling him to meet in a remote location, discussion about a past relationship. Sounds a lot like some of his clients with high risk jobs who were professional and actually good at surviving to give him them more than once. Only the seal told him that this was...more. This could potentially be one of.....the Others. There is no one else crazy enough to put that kind of seal on a letter in this day and age. This could be his chance to get something done.

Or, Immaculate Trap.

The seal after all, was perfectly capable of forged by the Dragon-Blooded to make him think this was real. Paranoid? yes. But a wise man once said it isn't paranoia if they really were out to get you.

Especially when your living on their personal continent. You didn't live long as a criminal by being trusting. He went about his business as usual, eating breakfast then exiting the building as normally as he could. He decides to go anyways.
"No sense in not checking this out. Could be worth my time either way."
He muttered to himself, making his way with caution.

[horus42]

Demus thanks the messenger and opens the letter, scanning it briefly before putting it back down. He runs a calloused hand through his short, dark hair, thinking over the message. Few people in all Creation knew his true nature, and most of them were his family. It could possibly be a trap, but he had enough optimism left to think that his family wouldn't sell him out. And besides, they had no idea where he was. He could be in Chiaroscuro for all they knew.

Somehow, the handwriting seemed familiar. As if from a half-remembered dream. He resigned himself to at least check it out. If all else failed, he could talk his way out. Though he made sure to bring along his Cleaver, just in case things went South.

He stood up, and started off towards the port.

[Amaril]

Looking over the letter, Jin was thankful that one of his past incarnations had apparently learned to read at some point. Of all the changes that had come to him since his Exaltation, the memories were the strangest to adjust to. Just a month or two ago, he never would have imagined that he would be standing here, so far from home, thinking about past lives as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
The letter made him uneasy on principle. What kind of man did business through writing, without showing you his face? An untrustworthy one, to be sure. And yet...something about it seemed familiar, as though from a dream he had once had but forgotten the details of. And besides, what had he to fear from this? No-one outside his home knew that he was a Solar, unless word had somehow traveled this far before he had, which didn't seem possible. And even if it was a trap somehow, he was more than capable of defeating whoever was responsible.
Well, nothing ventured, nothing gained! he decided, and set off for the described meeting place, wondering what to expect.

[Lentrax]

As Demus nears the port, the din of commerce becomes a drone, then a cacophony. Being near ports most of his adult life, the noise doesn't bother him at all. Avoiding the hustle and bustle of the various ship's crews conducting their business, he finds his crew lounging about near a fish dealer.

[Lord Raziere]

Looking over the letter, Jin was thankful that one of his past incarnations had apparently learned to read at some point. Of all the changes that had come to him since his Exaltation, the memories were the strangest to adjust to. Just a month or two ago, he never would have imagined that he would be standing here, so far from home, thinking about past lives as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
The letter made him uneasy on principle. What kind of man did business through writing, without showing you his face? An untrustworthy one, to be sure. And yet...something about it seemed familiar, as though from a dream he had once had but forgotten the details of. And besides, what had he to fear from this? No-one outside his home knew that he was a Solar, unless word had somehow traveled this far before he had, which didn't seem possible. And even if it was a trap somehow, he was more than capable of defeating whoever was responsible.
Well, nothing ventured, nothing gained! he decided, and set off for the described meeting place, wondering what to expect.

Mekana notices that someone is heading the same way as him. He inconspicuously turns down another path in the road, then soon doubles back so that he is then walking behind Jin the same way he is going. If Jin really was going the same way, then he might be a part of the trap, or if he isn't, then he will serve as someone to spring it first, hopefully. If he is an ordinary mortal that just happens to be walking along most of the path and will go a different direction at some point, then there will be no worries about his safety. Given the probabilities, Mekana figured that this guy was just a mortal who will soon head somewhere else anyways, walking behind so that another guy goes first was just a precaution.

And if he was an ordinary mortal who springs the trap? well thats what a bow of legend was for...

[horus42]

Demus walks over to the fish dealer's stall, his nose wrinkled at the smell. He calls out to his crew "Let's wrap it up! We're shipping out." He gathers them up and walks onto the deck of his ship, barking out orders as he finds his helmsman.

"Kaifeng, get us as close to the Imperial Mountain as you can. I've some business in the valley with... an old friend." He leaves it at that. The less the crew knows, the better. They're used to that arrangement, as they know that if they don't know what exactly he's up to when he's attending to private Solar business, they can't sell him out to the Wyld Hunt should the Immaculates come calling.

He stands on the deck, a small smile on his face, waiting to set sail.

[Lentrax]

The travel is slow for Jin and Mekana, and after you leave the city, you soon realize that both of you are heading the same direction.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Your ship sets off, rowing upriver. The travel is slow and languorous, but still faster than walking.

Soon, the city is just a large blur, and then it disappears altogether as you enter into a forest heading inland.

[Lord Raziere]

He is heading in the same direction. Suspicious. As the hours wear along, the silence becomes uncomfortable and Mekana just has to talk. Who knows? he might learn something about this man
"So...we seem to heading the same direction."
He said to Jin.
"I guess if we are going to travel this far along the same path, I might as well introduce myself. My name is Mekana Tajira, and I guess you could say I'm a traveling hunter."
He extended his hand as if to shake to Jin.
"What is your name, might I ask?"

[Amaril]

Jin starts a little as he noticed the stranger. "Ah, evening to you! Hadn't realized you were back there!" He grins and takes the stranger's hand, shaking it vigorously. "My name, you ask? You, sir, have the honor of addressing the mighty Akame Jin, fearless warrior and hero in the making! Get used to hearing it, because everyone will be telling tales of me soon!" He strikes his best heroic pose and laughs. "Now, where might you be going this fine evening, might I ask? If we are heading the same way, then no sense walking alone, is there?"

[Lord Raziere]

Hero? Ok. He seems to be delusional. But then again, he seems to be strong, or at least a good warning system in case of an attack: when he dies, his death cry will be the warning to run.
"It is...an honor indeed to meet you, Jin. I am headed towards a valley south of the Imperial Mountain."
No use challenging his delusion. Or maybe its a facade for some Immaculate spy? Perhaps they sent one of their newbies and they think this is how all Anathema talk or something. Either best to play along for now.
"No, Most Honorable Jin. No sense at all in walking alone. And what destination does a great hero such as yourself hope to arrive at along this road?"

[Lentrax]

Before Jin could answer, a flash of silver light arcs down from the heavens. The light is followed by an explosion that shakes the ground.

Aboard the ship, Demus sees the light, and waves lap up over the deck of the boat.

[Lord Raziere]

Thankfully, Mekana is paranoid and very on acting on reflex. As if like a sixth sense, his head suddenly whips up, sees it and suddenly on complete reflex he jumps backwards faster than naturally possible, away from the beam of silver light while drawing his bow, skidding to halt he looks up into the sky. What in Malfeas was that!? Was it some Immaculate Order weapon? No that wasn't their style. Dynast with some powerful relic he found? Or if its silver....and coming from the sky.....no....he discarded the possibility that Luna herself was trying to kill him. If that was true, he would've already be dead by now. So...who just tried to kill him?
"....What...was that? Hey Jin, O' Fearless Warrior, How about you go check it out first, I'll be right behind you."

[horus42]

Demus shouts in surprise, and starts barking orders to his crew, ordering them forward.

"Whatever it was, there might be people hurt. We should go see if we can help them. My "old friend" can wait." He sets his jaw and scowls slightly, wondering what could possibly have done this. An angry god, maybe. Or a powerful Sorcerer. Maybe even a strange natural disaster. Whatever it was, he hoped that he would be able to face it, if it remained hostile.

[Amaril]

Jin lowered his arm from over his eyes as the silver light faded. Now what in the name of all the gods was that? He'd never seen or even heard of any weapon that could do that, if indeed a weapon it was...or perhaps magic of some sort? Well, he'd soon sort it out.
He strode towards the spot where the blast had hit, hefting his hammer and drawing his blade as he went. "Hey, hey, hey! What's all this about, then? You've got some nerve, attacking me without showing your face! Come out here and show me what you've got!"

[Lentrax]

From the impact site, a woman strides forward. Her long robes flow behind her the ends fluttering and snapping as she walks.

When she is twenty yards away, she stops and looks at both of you. When she speaks, her voice sings in your ears, honeyed and sweet.

We must yet wait. There is one other I must speak with.

At that she moves over to the stump of a dead tree that looks so much like a chair, that you think it must have been grown that way.

Minutes later, Demus arrives to see the strange group waiting for something.

[Lord Raziere]

What the Malfeas? This woman was already suspicious. He kept his bow trained on her.
"What is going on here? I don't know who you are, but this is all very suspicious to me. and even if this isn't a trap, there is no way we were the only ones who saw the light. But I think I know what this is about....or at least I think I know what its about with me, the other two I'm guessing its a similar situation, but who knows?"
Woman of great power plus Anathema/Solar status equaled something having to do with his Solar nature. Not hard math to do. Question was, what about the other two? He keeps his wording vague. Always approach with caution...you'd be an idiot not to do so...

[Lentrax]

She just smiles, her perfect ruby lips parting to reveal white teeth.

Just wait, my child. All shall be revealed to you.

[Amaril]

Jin watches in confusion at the woman's appearance for a moment before managing to get his head back on his shoulders. "Well," he says to her as he sheathes his daiklave, "if you're not here to cause problems, at least, then I guess I should apologize for drawing weapons on you. Sorry about that, sweetheart. Although a less explodey entrance might have helped."

[Lentrax]

The woman laughs. A deep, throaty, rich laugh that is as alluring as she is.

I never said I wasn't here to cause trouble. Though that really depends on you.

[horus42]

Demus runs down the gangplank, and arrives at the scene... It's most definitely not what he expected.

"What's all this, then? Who are you people?"

[Lentrax]

Ah. Good. You are here. The woman stands up, her robes flowing around her, revealing the shape of her form for each of you to see.

My name is Lotus. And I have come here to warn you to turn from the path you are on. Along this path lies only fear and misery, hate and death.

[Amaril]

"The path I'm on?" Is she telling me to abandon my fight? Jin shifts his grip on his hammer and steps closer. "Listen, darling, I don't know what it is you think I'm up to, but I've got news for you: nobody tells me what I shouldn't be doing. Not now, not ever. So unless you have something else to discuss, I for one am done here."

[Lentrax]

No, child. I warn you of what is to come should you all continue along the path you are all on. The stars have spoken, your fate is certain should you continue. Others would try to stop you. I will not. I merely speak to you of what I have seen in the stars.

[horus42]

"And why should we believe you? How do you even know who we are, or what we're up to?"

[Lord Raziere]

"....What kind of path do you mean? Do mean to turn aside from our literal path, or our figurative paths of life? Do you mean if we keep going down the road we WILL find a trap, or if we keep going down our FIGURATIVE roads we will find hate and death? Seen in the stars...well that figures. I've met thaumaturges who claimed the same. Didn't believe them until one said I would "Succeed so much that I would Fail." and turned out to be right. Cryptic thaumaturges, always acting as if they know everything and telling nothing...I'm guessing your like a thaumaturge then? Read the stars type, will be incredibly vague no matter what I ask? Ok, what do the stars say about the two men in front of me who you are also speaking to you, do they have any specific importance?"
He keeps his bow trained on Lotus. Never hurts to play it safe.

[Lentrax]

Three paths. Three choices. Three chosen of the Unconquered Sun. Yes. I know what you are. But the stars align against you. Come the Calibration, this world will forever change. Be you on the path of Destruction? Or the path of Salvation? Walk either path, and Fate stands against you. Walk the narrow path, the path of Remaining, and Fate is uncertain.

[Amaril]

"Well, Mekana is right--you are just being cryptic on purpose" Jin says with a smirk. "And I don't give a damn about what Fate says. My only fate is the one I make for myself."A thought strikes him, and he turns to the other two. "Is she telling the truth, though? About you two also being Solars?"

[Lord Raziere]

Mekana considered this. She already knew and revealed it. He saw no point in lying about his nature. Especially if they were allies against the Dynasts. His chances of survival were better in numbers.
"Yes. I am one of the Solar Exalted. I try not to advertise that though. As for the Paths....Destruction, Salvation, Remaining....or Screw It. Question is, which one is which? Do they mean Revenge, Justice and Survival? Like we could choose to do things destructively and violently or something, or do things in an attempt to be virtuous or something and both paths would be hard, or we could just try to survive and the future would be uncertain?"
Thats the thing about thaumaturge star-reading: its all about interpretations and hoping said interpretations were the right ones. Problem is, there is no guarantee you had the right interpretation and if you didn't, you ended up being screwed over because of it. but then again this is cryptic and vague he doubted he could interpret anything useful from it anyways. She might as well have said nothing, because he still has no idea what to do. Talking about all this in an airy abstract sense of paths was useless when a single path can go many places and destinations, they could be Remaining one moment then Salvation another, then Destruction the next. and that is assuming they don't just choose Screw It as Jin suggested.

[Lentrax]

Oh, yes, Mekana. Lotus purrs. They have a very personal importance to you. As does the one you are to meet in the valley of the Hidden Manse. And you, Jin. Your Fate has already been woven into the Loom. I give you the chance to change it now. Do not scoff at it.

[Lord Raziere]

"Or maybe, each Path refers to a different one of us? Three paths, three Solars, prophecy has a tendency to do things in patterns, therefore maybe each of us is walking a different path? One is walking a path of Salvation, another Destruction and a third Remaining."
Question is- which one? Mekana himself technically could fit in all three. He wanted to right the wrongs of the Usurpation- that could go either Salvation ways or Destruction ways, and up until he Exalted he had mostly been doing all that he could do to just survive. And even if they were all the same Path, how much would one's choices affect the others? But she said that Fate was already against them, meaning they were either on Salvation or Destruction already. And there is a great change coming to Creation- on Calibration. Which could mean any number of things.

Offering the choice- she was offering either to go ahead on path of Salvation/Destruction or to take the Easy Way Out and go with Remaining. Problem: there was not enough information about the difference between Salvation and Destruction.
"But there is one vital piece of information your not telling us: whats the difference between Salvation and Destruction? if all we have to go by is that fate will stand against us anyways,then what is the point of picking between three options? the way you phrased it, it sounds like we have two options instead: Hard Path or Easy Path. So I would like to know the difference between the two hard Paths before I make any decision."

[Lentrax]

The woman stands up from her chair and walks over to Mekana. She gazes into his eyes, then drops her voice to a muted whisper, so low only he could hear.

How do you know of the Great Prophecy? How could you possibly know what we have seen?

[Lord Raziere]

"What Great Prophecy? All that was honestly just logic, based on previous dealings with Thaumaturges who looked at star charts. the star-chart kind of thaumaturge loves to be interpretive about things, so you have to be just as interpretive back at them. and you seem to be the one telling us this Great Prophecy anyways. So either you just let something slip that you shouldn't, or you somehow just forgot the entire conversation we just had. and I don't think your memory is that bad. So tell me, what is this Great Prophecy?"
He smiled while lowering bow and arching an eyebrow.

[Lentrax]

No. Your wordage was too specific to be anything other than foreknowledge. you already know things you should not.

She pulls away from you then turns to stride back to the chair stump.

You had the right to know to begin with.

Very well. Swear to me upon your Exaltation. Swear upon your very Essence that you will not reveal my words to another living soul for as long as you live.

[horus42]

Demus frowns, taking a few steps back. "This is... fairly strange. I'm uncertain what all of this means, but I assure you, Lotus, I'll consider your words. I don't want to bring harm to anyone."

[Lentrax]

I will do what I can, but there are some things I cannot reveal to you. Now, swear your oath to me.

[Lord Raziere]

He considered it. He could swear and potentially learn something. But then again, he could not and not be bound by a potentially problematic oath. This sounds like one of those supernatural oaths if his knowledge of the occult was correct. But no one really ever asked him to swear an oath like that before; he was an underworld bodyguard at best and silent assassin at worst and was hired by Dynasts because he was disposable and plausibly deniable, if he screwed up, the Dynast who hired him could just say "as I would ever stoop to hiring such a lowly servant for a such a task" or something like that and then he'd get executed. It wouldn't matter what he said, no one would believe his word over theirs.

And now this strange riddle-spouting woman is trusting him to give it. No one ever trusted him that much before. He could be paranoid and assume its to screw him over some more....
"I swear by my Exaltation, my Essence that I will not reveal your words to another living soul as long as I live."
He said while banging his chest with his fist. He didn't want to distrust anymore. He wanted change. He wanted to make something better for once, rather than just survive. If he needed this information to do so...

[Amaril]

Jin glances around at the others in puzzlement. He has a funny feeling he's missing something here, but dismisses it as irrelevant. "Well, I don't really know what all this is about, but fine--I swear by my Exaltation and my Essence that I will not reveal your words to another living soul for as long as I live" he intones, banging his fist to his chest as Mekana did.

[Lentrax]

Lotus nods solemnly at both of you, and then turns to Demus.

And you?

[horus42]

Demus frowns, but nods.

"Very well, I swear. No one will know what happened here."

He hopes that nothing makes him regret this decision.

[Lentrax]

Upon your Exaltation and by your Essence?

[horus42]

The Eclipse Caste purses his lips and rolls his eyes, though he immediately regrets it. Lotus was clearly very distressed, and it was uncouth of him to belittle her concerns so quickly.

"Very well. I swear it upon my Essence and Exaltation, you have my word. And I am an Eclipse Caste, you know. I could sanctify the oath, if you'd like."

He holds out one calloused, weathered hand.

[Lentrax]

Yes. Please sanctify all the oaths. My end of the bargin will be to provide as much information as I can without violating the oaths of my station.

When Remus is finished, Lotus sits back, reclining slightly.

Very well. It begins with the Great Prophecy. This prophecy was seen by every one of us. But what is unique about it was that we could each see something different.

Vastly different. You are all destined to go mad. The Great Curse, cast down upon all the Exalted by the Primordials for daring strike them down.

We have forseen three paths. The Path of Gold, of Bronze, and of Darkness.

The prophecy concerns how Creation will end.

[Lord Raziere]

Mekana, raised in the Second Age-especially as a poor man- has no idea of what a Primordial even is. He has some vague idea of what say, the Yozis are, that they are some powerful demonic things that you shouldn't make deals with, or that the Neverborn are some vague things that ghosts worship, or that Solars ruled a golden age that the Dragon-Blooded cast them down for some reason, but he lacks knowledge of the Dawn War. He however keeps focused on the important part, whatever a Primordial is, is not the important part, the important part is this Curse and the Prophecy.
"So we have some Great Curse made by something called Primordials, and three paths, Gold, Bronze and Darkness. this sounds a lot like the three paths you just talked about: Salvation, Destruction or Remaining. and I take it the Great Curse somehow influences these paths towards the destruction of the world somehow?"

[horus42]

Demus nods, and a bright golden sigil bursts into light on his forehead, a small golden disc inside a circle of the same color. Flickering light surrounds him, and power thrums through the bodies of all people present.

"It's done. Any here who breaks their word will face the wrath of Sol Invictus himself."

He then listens to Lotus explaining the Prophecy. "I don't believe in destiny. The world may end one day, but I'm sure it won't have anything to do with me. Who says that this supposed "Great Curse" will affect all Solars, even in the future? How do you know it didn't only drive the first generation of us mad, and then was no more?"

Inquisitive by nature, Demus asks questions. It help to have all the information possible, after all.

[Lentrax]

Because we know how Exaltation works. We do not know who is chosen, but we know how the process is done. The Primordials tainted the Shards of Exaltation that reside within your soul.

As to paths, yes. They do correlate. But at the same time they do not.

She holds up a hand to stave off questions about ambiguity.

Each of the Visions, leads to the end of Creation. The difference is to how.

The Vision of Darkness. We did nothing, and the world was destroyed by the madness of the Sun's Chosen. Torn apart by chaos, and fed upon by the Wyld.

The Vision of Gold. We tried to aid the Chosen, to try and heal them. This is the most disputed of the visions, for everyone who sees it sees something different. But the result is the same. If we fail, the Solars turn upon each other, unleashing weapons of Essence that destroy Creation, and leave it vulnerable to the Wyld,

Lotus turns her head to the side for a moment, collecting her thoughts.

The Vision of Bronze. This is not going to be easy for you to hear. You know of the Usurpation? When your Terrestrial allies and supporters tuned upon you and slew many of you in one stroke?

It was because of the Vision of Bronze.

In this vision, we gave Creation its only real chance. 300 golden swords, held aloft by gleaming hands. Each of them stayed by hands of Star and Metal. With no one to unleash the weapons of the Solar Empire, no destruction could be wrought upon Creation.

These visions were the worst things any of us could have ever seen. They caused months of endless debate amongst ourselves. it almost caused a war amongst us as we tried to determine which course was correct. But of course, now you know which path we chose.

[horus42]

Demus strokes his beard, looking thoughtful as he listens to Lotus' explanation. As far as he could tell, she wasn't lying, nor did she have reason to. As impossible as it seemed, she had to be telling the truth.

"Well that's troubling, to say the least. So there's nothing we can do? No way to avoid this darkness that dwells within us? Even our deaths would only delay disaster until our next incarnation goes mad?"

This was a frankly terrifying thought. He had always assumed he was given this power to do good in the world, and it's certainly what he tried to do with it. But with this revelation, it was possible that he'd been hurting people without realizing. Who was to say he hadn't already succumbed? He tried to keep calm, to not show the panic on his face. Rationality was his lone bulwark against insanity. He couldn't afford to forsake it.

[Lentrax]

Worry not, Child. You have neither the power nor the Essence to seriously harm Creation yet.

[Lord Raziere]

"So wait, your telling me, this whole thing happened because you guys- whoever you are- saw three visions and you decided the best one was killing all the Solars, ending a golden age, with the Terrestrial Exalted put in their place? I was planning to right the wrongs of the Usurpation on puppets who had no clue that they were being used? Suddenly I'm less eager to overthrow the Realm. If what you told me is true, the Dragon-Blooded aren't the ones to blame for all this."
But still, that meant there WAS someone to blame for the tormented life he had. These Primordials. They were the ones that wrought this Great Curse thing in the first place. The....whoever....had only acted out of what sounds like the best of bad options. But then again, this is coming from the.....whose?....side of the story. They might just be spinning it in a manner that keeps them from being killed. But still. Primordials.
"So. Primordials. Never heard the name. They seem to be the....how to say it....the thing that sticks out as the trouble-causing thing in all this. Think we should try and see if we can get them to lift it? and no, I don't know what those are, not all of us have seemingly unlimited stores of knowledge like you."

[horus42]

Demus nods appreciatively towards Mekana. "It's worth a shot. As long as we approach with peaceful intentions, the power inherent to my Caste can protect us from harm."

Though he wasn't sure if this power could still provide its protection against creatures so powerful. From the way Lotus described them, it was possible that these "Primordials" might be more powerful than Sol Invictus himself.