Chapter One: Lilium [Knocking on Heaven's Door]

Standing just inside the door of the restaurant, Stratford was slightly confused as the darker-skinned Solar Exalt excused herself from the table and made to leave. An entirely dismissive nod was aimed his way, with a surprisingly cordial and uncaring remark issued as his only true reply. "Good fortune to you, traveller, I'm afraid that I cannot remain here to talk to you but I'm sure the good people of Lilium will be happy to help you with whatever service you find yourself in need of." and with that she was out of the door behind the Water aspect, who turned his head with a suspicious look after her before shrugging. If she didn't view him as a threat, he was in the clear. He flowed into the restaurant proper, twirling the chair abandoned by Feather away from the table and sitting in it amiably.


Stratford rolled the following in his 5 dice:


1, 2, 10, 10, 9


Using 7 as the target number, the roll resulted in 5 successes.


Addressing the woman who had started to eat, he again inclined his head politely before speaking, "Auspicious greetings." No sooner had he gotten those two words out of his mouth than there came a booming altercation from outside, an issued challenge about the Anathema and her fervent reply. Perhaps things wouldn't be so quiet after all. His options suddenly became distinctly limited: he could either remain inside and out of the way, risking the ire of being discovered and having not assisted in the capture of the Anathema; or he could chance involving himself in an unfamiliar situation and risk being recognized or end up burning bridges and offending the victor. It seemed that perhaps the better of the two choices was to hope that he could remain undiscovered, but with the advent of what was possibly the Wyld Hunt it was a pretty risky proposition: they would likely search the town and try to unearth any information they could.


"Well, this could be interesting," he commented, hoping that he wouldn't be associated with the Wyld Hunt - just because he was a Dragon-Blood didn't mean he held any of the same feelings as the Immaculate Order that seemed so distant here, putting him far more in line with the locals than the intruders. Little did he know that the woman opposite him was far from a local: of the town, region or even Creation. Beckoning the proprieter, he asked for a simple water before returning his attention to ...the mortal? He could only assume that she was, but he was a bit hazy on that matter, and felt that it was irrelevant at this point. The fact that she was still sitting inside eating spoke volumes, however, and piqued a part of his curiosity, and he couldn't help but ask, "Do you not find concern in the issued challenges? She is your hero too, is she not?"
 
Feather


Fourth was a bit surprised at the power behind the words of this solar. Had he not been able to use his willpower to stop it he would have bent to the will of this solar just now. Waves who was beside him also had felt it, and needed to use willpower of her own to keep from showing anything. This solar had the words to truly be a terrifying creature that was for sure. However, she did pick… and he would kill the opposite.


Flame burst from Fourth’s hands and consumed the child’s body in a matter of seconds. The mother screamed as she ripped from Waves’ grasp and ran to her child trying to put the screaming boy out. The magical flames would continue to burn however, melting the very flesh off the boy’s bones. No amount of water or tears would change that.


The body was dead…


Fourth watched the event, tears running down his wrinkled cheek as he did. The mothers cry’s filling an otherwise silent air. Fourth moved his gaze from the dead child back to the solar then, a final tear running down his cheek into his beard.


“Did you know Solar, this woman beside me happens to be my adoptive daughter. Her parents were my dearest friends, and when they passed I took her as my own. Do you want to know what happened to them Solar? I killed them. I killed them because they chose to side with people like you. They saw the good that your kind could bring and moved forward with only their hearts against the Realm, and I killed them for it. They didn’t realize it then, but if they had done as they intended they would have put the Realm into chaos and war. This woman you see beside me wouldn’t have grown up knowing the world she was in was safe. My child wouldn’t have grown up in a world that was safe… and as long as you remain in this village alive… the children here will no longer be safe. I am a blessing compared to the evil that would become these people if another would to come. Even if you are right, I know, and everyone here will know they are not safe with you here. By killing you, I will make them safe again Anathema. From people like me, and worseâ€, Fourth turned to nod to his daughter who noded back.


“Let us duel.â€
 
And so, with no fruition in his attempts the Deathknight could not find which way to go out of this time. He wasn't exactly familiar with this area int he first place, nor did he know the name. Though as an Abyssal, sleep, hunger and whatnot were required of him any longer. Sometimes to give himself the appearance of a normal mortal though, he ate without satisfaction flavor. He slept though fully awake behind the eyelids he had closed, such was the way those of damnation and turmoil. His time as a Devil, he had forgotten what such things were like before.

Sensory said:
Harbinger of the Fallen Midnight rolled the following in his 8 dice:
3, 1, 9, 9, 8, 3, 4, 5


Using 7 as the target number, the roll resulted in 3 successes.
Click to expand...
A unfamiliar presence crept up on him and his eyes gazed around to see. In the distance he could see three figures, not being able to tell what exactly they were doing. Still expressions ran high, and his interest were somewhat peaked. His body turned and squinting down to give him a clearer view of what was going down and he could hear the voice, albeit muffled, through their conversation.


If a fight goes down, it might be good for me. Of course he spoke for selfish desires. Seeing others blood without having to work was an easy way for the abyssal to regain any lost energy. Though he had a shred of humanity left in him, there was no way he could fight his urge as he was. The great curse really did a number on me. and so he moved closer, keeping himself cloaked and his face conceal, only a small opening in order to see the results of what would happen. Their exchanges still going on and his ears listening intently.


Let's see.
 
Silence reigned for a moment as Signum savored the taste of the meatloaf, thinking about the events going on around her. Hrm. That wasn't too bad, at least for food from Creation. Too bad she couldn't take some of the food from Yu Shan to Creation as sustenance; Ambrosia beat the shit out of mortal foods, and she had grown quite used to it. The flaavor of human food, while still pleasant, was... bland, meaningless; even things that she would have viewed as truly delectable as a child pre-Exaltation paled in comparison to how she ate now.


But this was not a time to be a persnickety connoisseur of mortal repasts. Her new Solar 'friend' seemed dead set on proving natural selection to be a simple fact of nature, doubly so for Solars, Signum... well, she was at a moral quandary. One relatively-minor aspect of her mission, cobbled on long after the important parts, had been to keep an eye on Feather. If viable. Those last two words flavored the mission in ways that little else could have: it was trite, tertiary at best. If it was viable to keep her alive, Feather might be able to do some good for Creation. Assuming the Loom of Fate was right; it was so often frustratingly vague on Exalts in general, and the problem was simply exacerbated by the simple fact that every time an Exalt used a charm, their fate warped to some degree.


Even something as simple as activating a simple social charm could have wide-spreading consequences, from rendering Feather's possible destiny completely defunct or sending her down the first steps of the path of an insane search for godlike power, a path eventually culminating in the complete annihilation of Creation. It was simply impossible to tell now, and there was far from enough time to take a leisurely stroll back to Yu-Shan, spend days or even weeks hunting through the Loom of Fate, and trying to get a vague idea on the Exalt's potential new future.


...And besides, Signum was a great believer in the process of natural selection. It had been working pretty well for the last few thousand years, after all; Solars who were idiots got killed, intelligent Solars ended up like the Bull of the North. Well, perhaps the phrase 'intelligent Solar' was an oxymoron in and of itself, but Lunars were an excellent example of Exalts with some degree of common sense; not nearly as influential nor as widespread in effect as Sidereals, but an equally vital task. Truth be told, Lunars were about the only damn kind of Exalt that Signum respected worth a damn outside of other Sidereals, and even then it was more because of their society than the individual aspects thereof; Lunars themselves tended to be as bestial as their forms would suggest, and it could be... difficult... to reason with them sometimes. Still, they were the only group of Exalts short of the Sidereals themselves who were still doing anything all that good for the world - the Terrestrials seemed to be too busy running things into the ground to bother, Abyssals were... well, Abyssals, and Solars were better left unmentioned.


She started. She was putting off the inevitable again, she realized. With a slightly audible sigh, Signum turned to her new acquaintance with a smile - and was struck by how out of place he looked here, competent but worn. Some sort of traveler, perhaps, possibly on the run. None of her business, technically, but they had met by the vagaries of fate.


And as a Sidereal, she knew that fate was rarely random.


"No, I'm afraid that she is simply living, walking proof of natural selection. Any intelligent Anathema would have either run like the wind, or at the very least, hidden. To simply walk out and challenge two competent Terrestrial Exalted, especially given that one of them is the Fourth himself, is little more than the height of irrational recklessness. Fitting of a Solar, don't you think?"


She didn't bother mentioning that Feather hadn't been fated to die here, for the simple reason that fate meant exactly jack shit right now - while not on the level of Solars, the Terrestrial Exalted were exactly that: Exalts. Their charms, too, warped fate without regard for fate, and it was entirely possible that Feather would end up a bloody smear on the ground of the village she so loved.


"Eh, why don't we go watch the carnage? Once the Anathema gets butchered, I'm sure that the Fourth and his friends will torch this quaint little village regardless of her 'noble' sacrifice." And yes, she did do that quotation marks thing with her fingers. As if the venemous sarcasm dripping from the word wasn't already obvious enough. "And I, for one, have no wish to be cut down by the Wyld Hunt when they're simply doing their job. No matter how distasteful it might be."


Signum rose, arraying the silverware atop the empty plate to signify that she was done. Just because the Wyld hunt was probably going to torch the place when - or if? - the Solar died didn't mean that she had to turn into a ravening, incoherent animal with no concept of table manners.


She wasn't a Solar, after all.


"Come now, it'll be amusing. One way or another."
 
Carus Lazaro rolled the following in his 5 dice:
6, 1, 9, 1, 5


Using 7 as the target number, the roll resulted in 1 successes.
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Thank god the screaming started. Carus had been worrying he’d actually gone to a peaceful, tea-sipping village that worshiped a bloody flower goddess or something. From above, he could see a crowd forming off near the village's entrance, surrounding two rather exotically dressed individuals, clearly Dragon-Blooded, who had apparently taken a kid hostage. Well, that was predictable, though the timing was unfortunate, the young Lunar thought to himself as the senior member, a dangerous-looking old man, called out loudly for the Anathema.


Well, thank goodness they're absolute idiots. After all, who would come running up to the slaughter? It seemed the danger was over for now. The solar had been warned and could cleanly es--Wait, WHAT. Carus nearly fell out of the air in sheer surprise as said solar (for who else could it possibly be) walked straight up and began chatting with her exterminators. He watched in absolute shock and horror as she delivered a pep talk to the village, clearly showing that she cared about "her" people. Please tell me she didn't just declare, in front of two willing and able hunters, that the village and its inhabitants matter for her? That's the single best way to get them killed! After all, she'd just displayed one of her weaknesses to the Dragon-Blooded who, if they had a wit of sense, would use it against her. She'd just nominated the villagers for use as weapons against her.


A few minutes of banter later and Carus was even less impressed; the solar was trying to bandy words with individuals ethically opposed to her existence, all the while declaring how much the village mattered to her. Oh, this is not going to end well. Sure enough, after a few minutes of mind games the invaders proceeded to torch one little kid, put in the way courtesy of our solar, something anyone could see was coming. It was apparent that things weren't going to get better, but at least there would be a quality spot of violence to lighten things up.


At this time, Carus was facing a conundrum. Right in front of him was everything--well most, to be fair--of what he hated about the Exalted, particularly Solars: someone convinced to kill herself and dragging all sorts of people in the middle. So clearly, he couldn't place himself at risk in helping this imbecile. However, this was the first Solar he'd found. There weren't very many and this one could prove vital in finding other, more reasonable specimens. So letting her commit suicide might extend his search by months, years even. What he needed was a way to interfere indirectly, something that couldn't be tracked back to him but could give the Solar an edge. And then it hit him. A Eureka moment! It would be tricky, but nobody could possibly blame him for what a bird did. Or rather, what a bird's bowels did. And if a reckless, insufferable Solar happened to be splattered, well, it'd be a stain in the course of duty. Wheeling around to about fifty feet, the non-falcon took careful aim, clenched, and released, dropping down two impeccably aimed missiles towards the combatants, one streaking straight towards the old man's face. He couldn't hit the young woman, of course. Targeting both Dragon-Blooded would be terribly suspicious. Plus, she was hot.

Unanticipated Not-falconshit Flurry Attack on Mean Old Man (Face) and then Obnoxious Solar.
Dex 3+Throw(5)-2(Flurry)=6


Carus Lazaro rolled the following in his 6 dice:


3, 6, 3, 4, 8, 9


Using 7 as the target number, the roll resulted in 2 successes


Carus Lazaro rolled the following in his 5 dice:


3, 9, 4, 9, 7


Using 7 as the target number, the roll resulted in 3 successes.
Click to expand...
 
Grinning at the woman's words, the Terrestrial reached up to run a hand through his hair as he chuckled, inadvertantly displacing the cerulean locks that he had so carefully tucked under earlier. She was acute, he'd give her that - he didn't know much of the situation, but it seemed as though he wasn't the only one bright enough to recognize the danger posed by the raiding party that had only been evidenced by the head. He knew all too well of the questionable practices evidenced by some of the Wyld Hunt here on the edges of the Threshold - there had been hushed rumours that were of course denied if anyone probed too deep, but still. One could only keep such atrocities silent for so long. The fact that the Exalt had gone out to meet the challenge was simply evidence of why the Solars had been so efficiently eradicated so long ago.


"I can only imagine," he replied to her first question, the grin still playing about his lips doggedly. "It is only fitting of a doomed aspect - it seems they are almost involved in a self-fulfilling prophecy." His remarks echoed the sarcastic disdain of the stranger. At her prompt to head outside to watch the unfolding events, he nodded his assent, standing and slipping his chair back into its place at the table. A short burst of laughter accompanied her jest that it would be amusing, the smile playing about his eyes as he followed her.


"We shall certainly see, shan't we?" he asserted, heading to the door and opening it for the lady politely. He gestured for her to pass through first, introducing himself almost as an afterthought, "Pleased to make your acquaintance, m'lady. Stratford St. Croix at your service. I can only hope my introduction doesn't come too late - we shall just have to see if we survive the day."


Striding close behind her out into the bright daylight, he used one hand to shade his eyes as he glanced into the center of town to see the unfolding heroic tradgedy. A boy and his mother were being held as some sort of selection, and as some result of their interaction the boy was burned into charnel within moments - his mother's scream rang through the hamlet and made even Stratford's constitution turn slightly. Much the better that he had nothing in his stomach. Suddenly he was filled with even more conflicting urges to both intervene or get the hell out of town: the last thing he needed was to be over-cooked. He liked to think that char-marks wouldn't fit his figure very well.


As the rather sizeable albatross he associated with swooped down from whatever thermal she'd been hovering on to rest on his shoulder, he glanced about for any other distraction he could notice. A moment and he would be back on his feet, but he had to admit that he'd taken a blow to the gut at the sight of a young one slaughtered for no reason other than the hypocritical wants and desires of the Hunt. He decided to display his own commentary, quietly muttering to his new companion, "Regrettable. For such an established guardian and protector of the village, she doesn't seem to know what she's doing at all. Typical back-woods hero. Funny how the folk heroes you run across in real life never seem to measure up to those of legend."
 
...She liked this young fellow rather more than the suicidal Solar, Signum decided. Seriously. He had been polite, and he didn't seem to be an idiot. Two things that the Dawn caste had miserably failed at. Was in the process of continuing to exceed her own record for failing at. Whatever. Point was, the guy hadn't insulted her yet, and he was sort of funny. She wasn't entirely sure how bright he was if he was sticking near her instead of running like they both really should have been doing, but it was hard to judge the poor sod for a tactical error that she was making just as readily as he.


Unfortunately, they managed to make it outside before the child's inevitable death. She'd known that one of the two would die in the showoff, though both of their threads ended today anyways, but... it was hard to actually prepare for a scene like that. Detached facts from the Loom of Fate were so perfectly impartial, free of emotion - abstract knowledge that two people would die was much easier to handle than actually watching a child melt. Probably not the best advertisement the Realm had ever gotten, but it did suggest that they were going to roast the village regardless - otherwise, he probably would have wanted to set himself up as well as possible in front of the villagers. Roasting one of them... not the best of ways to accomplish that.


"I've noticed that of heroes in general. Solars in particular. They tend to be..." Signum trailed off for a moment, trying to find a nice way to put it. Then she remembered that being a bitch was her specialty, and that she had certainly built up some karma for acting like a saint to that bloody Solar. "...Complete and utter drooling morons, generally completely suicidal and perfectly willing to sacrifice themselves for a vague, idealistic vision of reality. A vision that has never yet been realized, neither in the so-called First Age nor in the thousand and some years since. You'd really think they'd learn sometimes that boundless impetuousness and youthful idealism rarely beats a lot of angry color-coded elemental warriors. Most of whom, unfortunately or fortunately depending on your perspective, are significantly more intelligent than their former masters."


She leaned up against the sun-kissed wood of the resturant, idly fiddling with a lock of hair.


"I'm surprised, though. I would have pegged you as part of the Wyld Hunt, given that I don't see many competent, martial young men arriving at this backwater village too often. Picking up chicks in resturants does tend to work better with a wider populace after all." Signum smiled a moment, though it was slightly less pleasant than before. It was still neutral enough, but their was an edge to her serene gaze as she stared at the scene before her. "Though I do find myself wondering why one would need to hide blue hair. I may be a bit rustic on my lore of human cultures, but as I recall, there is only one group on this continent that consistently has blue hair and would make a significant effort to hide it. Especially at a time like this."


Strictly speaking, she didn't care. Whether he was just some islander or really a Water aspect, she hadn't felt any particular killing intent from him yet, and truth be told, her own safety was just about the only thing important to her in this village - Abyssal aside, of course. Signum was, however, curious - and what Signum want, Signum GET.


"...But don't mind me. Merely idle thoughts; it is not my place to question your motivations nor your place here, given that I'm at least as well out of place. My name is Signum. It's pleasant to meet what another intelligent life form; something apparently quite rare here. In fact, I fear you would be the single most intelligent life form in this place. I have a sinking feeling that that damn haw-Strix circling overhead is more intelligent than the lot of them."
 
Having only encountered one Solar in his past (briefly), and having in due course swindled the woman of a rather valuable hearthstone which he later bartered for a grand sum of jewels and jade, Stratford was not one to disagree with the woman on the matter. Granted, this was only his second interaction with one of the servants of the Unconquered Sun (which had ever-so-aptly been conquered for almost a thousand years) but even still the attitude he was beginning to develop about the 'most powerful' Exalts in Creation was that they were entirely undeserving of their extraordinary potential. Wasted potential, in more cases than none if history had anything to say about the matter. "A description that doesn't seem to be far off in the least," he consented, his hand reaching up to calm his spooked seabird.


The woman then proceeded to analyze his presence in the village and his identity, feigning disinterest while obviously thinking about the possibilities to the point where she had several alternatives simmering beneath her collected surface - and she even made the association between himself and the Hunt. "I see I've been called out. If it suits you to know," he started, considering as he continued the wisdom of continuing to put up a bluff or laying himself bare, and of course all the shades of grey in-between. Enigmatic seemed the clear choice until he could determine the nature of the female, and so he continued in the same tone, although with a slightly neutral undertone, "There's nothing entirely uncommon of a traveller ensuring his own protection on these backwood roads - highwaymen are not unheard of in these parts. Not to mention the wood spiders, among other dangers. I would hope all the other young men on their way to see more of creation would also be as prepared and capable as I have proven to be so far."


He was actually taken slightly aback at her astute pointing out his hair colour - either as a further tactic to discern his identity or perhaps just friendly banter while trying to appear somewhat impressive. Eiter way, it succeeded in catcin him somewhat off his guard; even though he had noted the fading dye earlier it still seemed too early for people to begin recognizing the tell of his Exaltation. Something in her wording made him quirk an eyebrow though, off his guard as he was, and he couldn't help but repeat part of what she'd said to him. "Rustic on your human lore?" he questioned vaguely, letting that hang in the space where his explanation of his cerulean locks should have gone.


It was indeed curious that she mentioned there was only 'one' group with such a tell when he could think of three - tribes from the island nations of the West had hair of all manner of hues, not merely Water aspect Dragon-Bloods. He left her guessing, which would of course have to do for now. His skin was bronzed enough from his sea-faring and travelling that he could almost pass as a native of the West without too much examination; some of them could be fairly light, so the fact that he wasn't a coconut brown shouldn't have raised too many additional questions.


She then continued by admiring his wits being gathered about him rather than scattered all over the region like some other exalts in the area he could mention. It was flattering, but he couldn't let her two-pronged womanly wiles get to him: probing one moment, then flattering the next as though he wouldn't catch on that she was merely trying to loosen him up to probe some more. She was intelligent herself, and wits moreso than brawn were something he had learned could be fearful in and of themselves. He didn't like being the object of scrutiny, although he didn't mind this particular attention - it was a conflict that raged in his motivations.


"Signum, an interesting name. Would you deign to enlighten me as to where such an interesting moniker hails from?" he inquired, doing a little probing of his own. He was a little unsettled by her, if he was to be honest, and so it was almost as though they were caught in a battle of wills for the truth. He expected nothing more than a lie, although to be fair he had provided nothing more than evasive and not completely honest answers of his own.


Turning away from her again, he observed the situation in the center of town escalating, with the aforementioned Strix hovering above the scene as a grim omen. They were seen as signs of bad luck, although he had to question the validity of such associations, perhaps today was not the day to take even a simpleton's advice for granted. As things began to unfold for the worse with the Solar doing nothing to appease the situation that he could see, the case for fleeing became better and more soundly founded in his mind. "I would hazard a guess that it might be a great time to skip town about now," he suggested, idly wondering if the entire hamlet was already surrounded. "The rest of the Hunt can't be far, but perhaps a start will be enough to keep them behind us. I would be honoured to escort you, m'lady - I would be hard-pressed to abandon such a nobly intelligent woman to her own devices in the wake of a razed town. Shall we?"
 
Oh, this was fun!


"Ah, yes. I do apologize if that was worded oddly; I tend to be a touch distant, given that I lambast them as happily as I do Exalts. Most mortals are idiots, as are most Exalts. It's quite unfortunate that the process of Exaltation doesn't seem to cure stupidity and short-sightedness, or the wonders of the First Age might have lasted forever. Well, that, and we wouldn't have spent the last millennium playing whack-a-mole with newborn Solars. Maybe they'd even grow the sense to stop coming back!"


...Well, no one said that she needed to be diplomatic about her positions on Solars. Or humans. Or Dragonblooded for that matter, though she was intentionally keeping the bitch meter down a few notches to keep from driving her interesting new acquaintance off too quickly.


"At least I'm not a Solar."


Yeah, not diplomatic in the least. It did continue to evade the question of what she WAS, though. Two could play at being enigmatic bitches, and Signum had forty years experience on him.


"But you do raise an interesting point, Stratford St. Croix. By all rights, we should certainly be running like children caught with our hands in the cookie jar. Sadly, I'm under the impression that the Wyld Hunt has a tendency to surround targets as best as possible, particularly static ones such as this village, and cut down anyone trying to escape. Simply because we can't see them doesn't mean that they aren't there, of course, looking for poor, innocent villagers to butcher, maim, skewer, and inflict various other unpleasantries on."


She shrugged, unperturbed.


"You're welcome to brave it, but I would recommend against it. If this particular commander is as good as his word, he might leave the village alone after disposing of our mutual acquaintance. If not, perhaps we could make a break for it once the rest of the Hunt is already busy butchering the rest of the civilians. Unfortunate for them, certainly, but fortuitous for us. I do hope that you're quick on your feet; you may need it on this auspicious afternoon."


As Signum prattled on, though, she considered Stratford's words. They had been phrased... carefully, that much was obvious. Very clearly. He was nervous about being questioned, that much was similarly obvious in his defensive posture and response. But why? It was possible that he was a thief or brigand, or possibly on the run for something else. Probably not a brigand, though - she didn't get the desperate, cutthroat air that most of them seemed to give off. The Wyld Hunt certainly hadn't come here for him, so that couldn't be it, and he definitely wasn't a Solar - too many neurons firing. He could be from those island folk; she wasn't especially familiar with them, but given her massive stock of knowledge, she was vaguely familiar with them - but at the same time, he hadn't taken the easy out she'd given him. She'd very clearly said on this continent, hinting that there were others, and yet he had chosen to avoid that option and avoid the question entirely.


Curiouser and curiouser. Perhaps he was merely a poor liar, and unbalanced by one of her earlier queries or his own nervousness, opted to dodge the question rather than deflect it. That just raised more suspicion, of course - no one would intentionally pick that option unless they had something to hide. Annoyingly, she couldn't recall anything about a Stratford St. Croix from the mission parameters, and that was annoying her nearly as much as that fucking Solar about to take on two goddamn Terrestrial Exalted, one of which was known even in Heaven for his unusual prowess, all the while incriminating her village and quite nearly asking him to torch the place.


...Or... perhaps he was actually affilliated with the Wyld Hunt. No, she realized, that was highly unlikely - if he was, she wouldn't have noticed him, and he would have been far less obviously out of place. Unless he was a horrendously incompetent spy, but that, too, was unlikely - the Fourth wouldn't have used someone so incredibly atrocious as a spy in that capacity. She'd done some research on the elder Terrestrial, and quite frankly, she respected him more than anyone else in several hundred miles of her current position. So, that left Water aspect. And as the old saying went; when you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.


...So... what did that mean, exactly? A Water aspect, apparently on the run for some reason? Curious, if not strictly connected to her mission. Truthfully, the connection, if any, was tangential at best - but she was curious, and to quote a very wise woman: what Signum want, Signum GET.


"An interesting answer. You certainly look as if you come from the West, and yet you casually deflected the question with quite some degree of grace. More grace than one would expect from an islander; as I've been given to understand, they have a less stratified society, with considerably less emphasis on high society. Or society in general, if you believe some of the rumors bandied about at dress parties and the like. Dynastic society, though. They're far more socially adept, quite clever with their words and tongues. Of course, that would be simply silly of me to accuse you of, since don't seem to have your head so far up your ass that sunlight is but a distant memory - and besides, Dynasts tend to avoid backwater towns like this."


"Unless, of course, they happen to be fleeing for their lives."


Signum's smile once more assumed a serene state as she closed her eyes once more. Damn, but that sun felt good. After a moment, she turned halfway to her new friend, eyes, still closed, still smiling in a decidedly non-threatening way. Frankly, she just wasn't cut out for looking particularly intimidating in the first place, and smiling tended to make her look flat-out harmless. Hence why she did it so rarely, and generally only to take people off guard. Not that she expected Stratford to be taken off guard after what she'd just said, as he had every right not to be, but dammit she was making a vague effort not to drive him off within two minutes of starting to talk to him, and if looking non-threatening would help, she could suck it up and Just Do It. For once.


"I'm a researcher. It is... in my nature to be curious, simply for my own benefit. Why grass grows, why the Solars of old were overthrown, why current Solars are such idiots, how they haven't been driven extinct by natural selection, as our lady friend seems so keen on testing, and what makes people tick. I just enjoy puzzles, I suppose, and the solving thereof. Ah, and to answer your question: the name isn't particularly important, I don't think. Do you make a habit of wondering why you're named Stratford St. Croix, rather than, say, Cathak Nihilus? Feather, uhh..."


She trailed off, feigning having completely forgotten the Solar's needlessly long title. Well, it wasn't hard to feign, given that she had pretty much forgotten it, but that wasn't the point here.


"...Well... whatever she said her name was, Radiant Feather Duster or something. Whoever bestowed that name on her was either a sadist or an idiot. Depending on whether someone else gave it to her, or she applied it to herself."
 
That child she could not take her eyes off him even for a second. Screams that stretched into eternity and wails that would forever stay with her, tears ran down her own cheeks as she stood there watching in helpless despair as soon the writhing and agony of the young boy came to an end, the cries for help dimming into a croaked gasp and barely perceptible twitching. Soon this macabre spectable came to an end with a motionless silence. The small chared skeleton laying there soundlessly she could not force her gaze away.


This is my fault.


No! It is not! This monster in the guise of man did this!


You made a choice, Feather.


I made the right choice, his callous disregard for life is what killed him.


Your inaction is the true cause of his demise, Feather.


I refuse you.I REFUSE YOU!


And with that she came back to her senses, gulping softly as she pressed a hand to her forehead, gazing at the man now challenging her to a duel, extreme hatred and disgust painting her features even as she held back through a small miracle of willpower.


For now she knelt down next to the woman sobbing next to the tiny skull, mourning her loss and whispered into her ear urgently "I beg you Clara, go fetch the good Goddess of Lilium in this dire hour and request her help so that she may help us evacuate the village, a boon to her for it I promise. Now go. Go!" she then stood as if nothing had happened, acting all the while as if she had only been comforting her, the Fourth ever the honorable 'gentleman' in his own twisted way waiting for her to finish as once again she faced him, this time although she wished the time for words to be at an end she still answered him, if only to delay him while Clara ran away to do her bidding. She knew that Clara's faith would never be hers again, but at least she would do this last favor for her. For that she would forever owe her.


For her son, she would even owe her the very life that is her own.


But for now, a time for words was upon her yet again despite her better wishes "You make up threats, create a world of strife and misery, carnage and mindless meaningless bloodshed and then you have the gall, the sheer audacity, to blame this on me? Do not presume your hand so pure and mighty, you worthless twisting maggot festering upon the corpse of your hellish blasphemous gods! YOU BRING SHIVERS TO THE SPINES TO THE DEMON KINGS! You nameless wretch." she raised her hand calmly even as she could feel righteous wrath coming forth from deep within her soul.


"I have watched you and I have found you... wanting." and with those words the strange hawklike tattoo upon her left arm shimmered and danced, a bright shower of light spiralling forth and coalescing into her awaiting hand, rapidly taking the form of a great and sharp blade, heavy to any other than the Exalted and most at home in her own.


"Righteous Immaculate Sentence, it is time for us to cleanse this evil scourge!" and as she said that, something got on her chest, splashing from the Fourth's location. Was this... bird poop? How disgusting! She made a face before gazing at her opponent. Should she use this opportunity to attack him while blinded? He did start the duel now but could she take the risk of having him send off his daughter to slaughter the innocent villagers?


Perhaps this foolishness and her sentimentality would cost her her precious life but she could not bring herself to put the villagers' life at risk a second time like she had just now. This was her atonement.


And should she perish, she would know no regret. Standing at the ready and steadfast, she guarded herself tightly, readying herself.


She would be as a divine shield for her people, for such was her promise to herself.


As I stand at the brink of extinction


As my flame languish into deepest pit


As my soul withers away in darkness


As I find myself lost without Sun's warmth


I yield not to the sharp blade of death


I gaze upon the immaculate truth eternal


I embrace the Unconquered Sun's will


I shape myself into shield intemporal


There is no fear


There is no fear


There is death afoot here


There is death afoot here


Tis' my home I defend


Prayer for the Guardian
 
Everyone Involved with the Fourth


As the woman listened to your command to get the goddess she hurried off to the center of town, for the statue at the center. Waves turned and walked after her, seeming to be in no big hurry to catch up with the woman.


The bird turd would fall from the sky splashing into the monks face. It was a surprising hit, and even Fourth didn't see it coming at all. Still, the duel was started and you had your chance to attack. He grumbled as he attempted to get it off his face. This was a most horrendous way to end such a scene. Way to kill the mood man. Either way, its time to roll a join battle.


In general


The woman Clara made it to the statue, and bowed before it. She knew no other way to get in contact with the god then this. Before she could do anything however, she was struck three times in the back, causing her to collapse to the ground passed out. Waves stood over her looking at the statue. By Immaculate law, now that this city was part of the realm, things like this were not to be allowed anymore. Though she didn't speak this the reason it could be assumed this was why she did what she did next.


Stepping on the lilium flowers that grew around the statue, Waves took a stance. She took a large breath focusing her essence before punching the statue with her right hand. For a second nothing happened and silence seemed to fill the air. Then a crack appeared across the statue. Another second passed and the statue started to crack violently. Within the next few seconds after that it had crumbled to the ground.


Waves looked around for more things she needed to change in order to make this place 'Realm Friendly'. Her sights setting on the picture of the tree hanging from the inn door. Again, Immaculate law was going to have to set in. She stretched her fingers before making a fist again, walking forward this time to the bar.


Edit: Finishing this post up.


Her eyes took notice of the two strangers outside of it. It wasn't hard to tell at least one of you wasn't from this village, though the dragon blooded was much better to fitting in it appeared. Still she didn't have reason to attack you just yet. Even if she did, it would be under the assumption you were mortals. Still, she didn't seem to be one to like people in her way. Might be a good time to find someplace else to stand.
 
Peering at his new acquaintance, Stratford felt his unease lessen by a negative amount as she continued to bandy words and furthermore 'attempt to look harmless.' However, a true con wasn't ever successful unless he was able to judge other people within a few moments and then capitalize upon their inherent weaknesses - a failure to assess them properly could blow great opportunities. The way she was almost, the thought nearly galled him, humoured him could lead him to agree that she was harmless for now; she was intelligent enough to know that perhaps a possible ally was worth holding her tongue and her blades and instead apparently flouncing some of her 'views' before him. Whether or not he could trust that they were actually her views was another story, but at the moment he doubted the relevancy of the matter. The one thing he could guess was that she was not human, whatever she was.


Technically speaking, neither was he, so in that regard he had nothing to either hold against her or fret over. No matter how 'powerful' she might have been as, well, whatever-she-was, he was confident in his ability to judge the situation as it hurtled his way like a madman standing before a train let off the tracks. While in all certainty it might crush him, there was just as much chance that it would miss entirely to come to an abrupt halt. Time would tell. Her point on the validity of running was a good one, although he could still see the merit to it: he wasn't quite ready to give up on such an intruiging woman just yet. Or he wasn't ready to turn his back on her, one or the other. If one examined his true motives for offering to accompany her, it was partly to keep an eye on this 'Signum,' as whatever she was it was the more prudent option not to allow her to wind up biting him in the - well, no, perhaps he wouldn't mind that so much.


"Perhaps you are right. It seems as though there might be little choice but to hope to flee in the madness - there is something of his too-calm visage that sets me on edge. Aside from the obvious slauther, of course," he observed neutrally, tilting his head as he examined the scene again for a moment. It was then that she continued with her own observations on his nature, and it seemed that he could be just as undiplomatic as she, as he remarked flatly, "It seems that perhaps I have been once again caught out. I find it most perturbing that such an observant woman is left to her own devices to worry away at innocent wandering vagabonds." There was an edge of teasing in his voice, a slight smirk splayed across one corner of his mouth as he continued, "Alas, I feel perhaps it is wisest I take after your flat-handed example and do away with roundabout pleasantries. You find yourself in the presence of a Water Aspect from the West - right on both counts m'lady. I see no reason to conceal it any longer, your maliciousness seems to be clearly displayed elsewhere. Whether I can trust it - well, perhaps a gambler must trust his luck."


He wondered against hope for a moment if such an admission would damn him or earn the honour of similar admissions of the other non-mortal; while the dance was good and fine, he had to wonder what sort of ally he had actually been making in case it came time to flee. While he could defend her if he needed to, it would be much easier to escape through his own wiles and stealth rather than risking the ire of the Hunstmen ready to slaughter the lot. "A researcher indeed - and might I ask of what nature or aspect? You are clearly not of mortal stock, or perhaps all the mortals I have dealt with haven't been nearly as educated or versed as yourself. Fitting of a researcher maybe, but an extraordinary one at that - if that's the case. I do hope you will excuse my rudeness for putting you on the spot."


Waiting for a reply with one eyebrow cocked, he couldn't help but notice the approach of Wave, the younger of the two Huntsmen who entered the hamlet. Heading straight for the tavern, he reached out to grip Signum's arm just above the elbow gently, turning her to face the other Water aspect as he turned away as though whispering in a lover's embrace. Under his breath, he whispered to the immortal, "Might it be time to reassess how we feel about jumping the theoretical ship? I beg your forgiveness but we may not have further options shortly." Suggesting physically that she play along, he looped an arm around her waist as a townsperson might escort a young belle, strolling as casually as he could into the street and away from the younger woman's newly acquired target. His seabird pet took to the air at his turn, flapping over to rest on the wall of the village, peering down with its beady eyes upon the unfolding scene.


(Wits 3 + Performance 1)


Stratford rolled the following in his 4 dice:


3, 2, 5, 6


Using 7 as the target number, the roll resulted in 0 successes.
 
Oh. Well. That was a little disappointing, maybe; she'd been enjoying the battle of wills. Granted, it was mostly her fault that it was over, what with her subtlety having taken a screaming plummet at some point in the last few sentences. Oh well. At least the poor sod wasn't running away, though it wasn't too hard to tell that he was somewhat uncomfortable at being found out. But the exact reasons he'd absconded from whatever his previous life had been weren't particularly important to her for the time being; she'd gotten what she wanted, the Terrestrial seemed amused by her, if nothing else, and he hadn't stabbed her in the face yet. That was good.


The psychotic Wyld Hunt bitch coming over, not so good.


Still, Signum couldn't keep an small, amused smile frm creeping onto her face, somewhat more genuine than her earlier false attempt. The Water aspect was quite observant as well. She hadn't been wrong to start that discussion with him - it seemed that her verbal 'victory' would be Pyrrhic at best if she didn't manage to satisfy him with her own answer. But this was no time to berate herself; they really ought to move out of the way.


"It seems that I'm not the only one with a penchant for curiousity. Since you answered my question despite my impoliteness, I suppose that I'm constrained to answer yours as well. I'm afraid that I'm nowhere near as divine as even a Terrestrial, sadly; the technical term, I believe, is 'God-Blooded.' Mortals with some degree of divine blood in them, if you aren't familiar with the term, though nothing on the level of an Exalt. But rather than examing my sordid family tree, perhaps we ought to be moving out of the way. I've no idea why a picture of a tree would annoy the lady there enough that she feels the need to destroy it as well, unless she recently ran into one on the way here, but I'd really rather not find out firsthand."


She accepted his arm with a raised eyebrow, but realized what he was doing a moment later and went with it, leaning her head against his own as they walked to further the deception. And so she could keep talking. Nothing was more important than that.


"As for what I study? I believe that I already mentioned it; cause and effect. How things work, why they work. How history happened according to books, how it really happened, and what the effects were on the timeline. I find it all fascinating. Please pardon my lack of tact, though - after dealing with a Solar for several minutes consecutively, I found myself desperate to convince myself that I wasn't a complete idiot for not making a dash for it when she first started threatening me. Truth be told, I'd thought that she was merely an impressive woman until she started the whole intimidation act, which itself clued me in. Solars. Can't even pretend to be intelligent to throw off suspicion..."


Signum trailed off for a moment, watching the bird watch them. A seagull? This far from the, well, sea? It didn't seem pertinent enough to talk about, and what would she say about it anyways? "Oh, hey. Now that I've accused you of being a criminal and forcibly outed you as a Terrestrial Exalted, I'm going to start accusing you of watching me with a seagull?" No, any stupidity she had doubtless absorbed from the Solar via osmosis hadn't been nearly that overpowering. Maybe it was just a seagull. Or maybe it was this St. Croix's familiar. Or perhaps it was the Lunar that she had been told would meet up with them sometime today or tomorrow, simply arriving a bit earlier than initially expected. Ifs and Ands and Buts. She was walking down a metaphysical yellow brick road to lunacy, and she simply didn't have time for all this bullshit.


"...I wish that the two of them would start fighting. It would be grand for drawing attention of of us - attention that, I fear, your little stunt may have just attracted."


She pondered the issue silently, considering what would be the best thing to do for the time being. It would be quite hard to outdo his attempt, given that she had absolutely no aptitude whatsoever for making a fool of herself and didn't plan on botching the attempt to make things even worse, and it was really rather hard to stealth in broad daylight. Signum sighed, then began muttering quietly in Old Realm. One way or another, she needed to prepare for the possibility of an oncoming altercation, and she did not plan to be entirely unprepared.


As the invocation continued, she could feel the familiar rush of power overflowing within her, Essence spilling out momentarily and mixing with the air around her as she began to twist the iron bounds of Fate. It wasn't flashy, barely an imperceptable distortion to anyone other than Stratford - though he would undoubtedly feel the eruption of Essence, being within the affected zone - but it would give her a chance to react better if or when things went down the drain.


After a moment of pondering, though, Signum decided against summoning her spear just yet. She could do it quickly enough to react to an unexpected attack if absolutely necessary, but doing it now would betray her otherworldly abilities to people other than St. Croix; he at least already thought he knew what she was, whereas everyone else in the vicnity probably just thought she was an odd mortal. Let them think that. They would die believing a pleasant lie.


...For some reason, that sentiment didn't bother her as much as she had thought it might. Her focus was rather more on her new acquaintance and the Realm dog behind them, considering how best to extricate herself and Stratford from this situation.
 
Revenge usually tends to be an overrated, dangerous exercise. Petty revenge, however, is an entirely different business. It's perfectly safe, absolutely hilarious, and feels damn good. So I'm sure you can all understand how that splat was the most beautiful, euphonious masterpiece ever heard in all creation. Slowly, tantalizingly, unthwartably, the large, mushy bird-droppings had gracefully descended, unnoticed until impact. The first smeared itself all over the venerable sadist's face, covering his eyes and nose; birdshit, for those of us not blessed with an active farm to maintain, numbers among the more...potent perfumes in the world. It comes out in all sorts of fancy colors, depending on diet, and ohhhh did this look like a beautiful perversion of modern art. The old man immediately started and tried to scrape it off of his face. Haha, sucker! For those of us not blessed with dozens of farm chores every day, fowls' foul feces are virtually impossible to wipe off due to the composition. No, such an attempt just propagates the pasty stuff EVERYWHERE, carrying it to everything one has the incredible misfortune to touch. The second such splat, though not as side-splittingly incapacitating, was still bloody brilliant. The wonderfully comedic Solar didn't even bother trying to wipe it off and appeared to just accept her lot in life.


The two warriors, thus marked, were now bracing for their impending conflict, trying to look oh-so-serious and full of faux-righteousness. It's a lot harder to look like an awesome badass engaged in the most somber of fights when you're speckled in someone's droppings.


Feeling MUCH better, Carus surreptitiously soared a bit out of the way, just in case he'd really pissed someone off. People tend to take offense at the strangest things, don't they? Silly people. As he drifted to the side, he saw a woman dramatically run up to an alter and begin pleading for help. Shortly thereafter, she was introduced to blunt-force-trauma, everyone's best friend. Ahhh, silly incompotent people. If you have to start begging for help, then you're definitely over your collective heads and might seriously consider blind panic. It's a viable strategy and makes life much easier.


As much fun as petty snarkery was, it was about time for him to stop tapping his inner teenager and actually do something that mattered. Or at least start preparing to think about maybe doing something that mattered, should circumstances call for it. Looking over the village, Carus searched for a relatively isolated location, one where people wouldn't see him and casually drifted towards it, minimizing his profile and preparing to land in the shadows. Given his tiny size and the rather..tumultuous commotion in the center, it shouldn't be all that hard. Nothing like rampaging homicidal demigods for a distraction.

Stealth+Dex Hiding Roll, not including pre-stunt/size/distraction modifiers


Lazaro Carus rolled the following in his 7 dice:


3, 7, 10, 10, 7, 5, 2


Using 7 as the target number, the roll resulted in 6 successes.


(Accidentally included my dex and stealth, not animal's, so disregard last 2...which makes no difference)


Join Battle


Lazaro Carus rolled the following in his 5 dice:


4, 8, 5, 2, 8


Using 7 as the target number, the roll resulted in 2 successes.
Click to expand...
 
"Impressive." He stated to both of the Dragonblood as they seemingly ruthlessly did what they wanted. The old man burning the child alive in a matter of seconds and the other one be able to smash through the large statue in two hits were quite the interesting feats to say the least. In the world they lived in today, there was always going to be destruction so long as the Exalted exist. Solars, Lunars, Abyssals, and even the Dragon Bloods, all of these powers that were given could be use both ways. To protect someone or to just destroy your enemies, in which case the Dragon Blood seemed rather fond of.


Throughout his service of the Mask of Winters, he was required to reign death and oblivion over all enemies that oppose him, the Patrons of Death and the inevitable Abyss. No matter who it was, though he particularly faced quite the number of Dragon Blood before he left. His mouth opened and he began to chuckle to himself remembering all the ones he had slain with a simple strike of his blade. Both his blues eyes switch in between the Fourth and Waves, curious as to which one was stronger. Despite his old age, he was able to demolish that child with in a matter of seconds while the other took a few tries, with effort into it, to destroy the statue that woman prayed too.


Though he heard the Fourth wanted to fight the Anathema in a duel and while he didn't care for either of them, he had a shred of humanity left in him. He would interfere in their fight but instead, his target laid on the one whom was approaching the bar.

Harbinger of the Fallen Midnight rolled the following in his 8 dice:
7, 5, 3, 7, 3, 10, 1, 10


Using 7 as the target number, the roll resulted in 6 successes.
Click to expand...
And with a menacing grin that emerge on his face as lapse his hands together. "It's time to strike, Desiver." And within moments of the necromantic energy that hand been forming in his palms, he extended and it began to take form and materialize into a black power bow.


"Really. How pathetic."

Accuracy said:
Harbinger of the Fallen Midnight rolled the following in his 12 dice:
10, 3, 6, 3, 10, 1, 6, 7, 4, 3, 8, 6


Using 7 as the target number, the roll resulted in 6 successes.
Click to expand...
As he assumed his position, pulling the string back as the chaotic energies began to form once more into a blackened arrow, and he fired it, aimed right at the chest of the Dragon Blooded female.
 
With a simple breath she felt herself reaching toward the Essence flowing within her. This shard of the Unconquered Sun's very might, pulsating within her with invincible and undaunted power, she knew it would not fail her.


She needed to know that, she kept her gaze upon the Fourth even as his daughter went upon her merry way, she had not expected this but for now she could only do her best, crying out inside her for Gentle Emerald Leaf's presence, only she now could stop this cruel fate she had brought upon the village with her presence.


Even as she heard Clara's gurgled cry for help quickly followed by her body falling with a loud thump on the floor she let it not touch her resolve. If she didn't do anything right now they would all be doomed, not just her but the entire town. But what could be done? This 'daughter' of his with eyes as winter would not stop anytime soon and she could not part her sight from the Fourth for even the slightest instant for fear that death would find her with a single breath should she let her emotions get the best of her again.


Unconquered Sun, forgive her for she was about to do something very foolish. And with that the speed of the gods followed her every movements, dashing toward her opponent with unleashed divine fury, going for his throat as she called upon her own secret reserves to enhance her strike into one as deadly as the gaze of an Heavenly Tigers, holy retribution crackling like a blaze upon her still pained face.


As a Bronze Tiger she knew no other way no, the time for the Hungry Tiger Technique was afoot, the shimmering blade of white and gold, pulsating with glorious radiance from within exploding with her own essence the moment she touched something, promising to reduce whatever it was to dust and bloody smears, the shower of light bright as dawn focusing upon the very striking point.


Deep down even though her opponent was blinded she knew that this would never be enough to take him down, but she could no longer endure his presence and if only to distract him from her real plan, this had to be done. On the slightest chance that it would work.


A dreamer unrepentant.


Would she look kindly upon herself once all was said and done and the Favor of Heaven was made explicit?


Her strangely unfamiliar silence would be answer enough for the time being.


---------------


Computer crashed before I could copy/paste the result of the Join Battle roll.


Join Battle


28/08/2009 14:26:01 - Feather


Rolled Dice: 6


Target Number: 7


Number of Successes: 2


Name of the roll: Join Battle


Melee Attack using Hungry Tiger Technique


That would be Feather's Declaration of Attack, now waiting for the Fourth's response before rolling.
 
Realizing his inept attempt to appear innocuous had failed entirely - due mostly to the fact that he was still wearing a sword on his belt - Stratford listened to the woman under his arm. Her words were sensible, and it seemed that they were entirely in agreement on their next courses of action. Whatever the intentions were of the other water aspect that was flowing toward them like a river just beginning to spill over its banks, neither of them were either curious or suicidal enough to stick around to find out. But where to go next, he wondered vaguely? The hamlet was circular in layout - knowing their destination would take half a glance in any direction other than, say, staring up into the sun directly. Realizing the inherent danger of the situation was indeed growing exponentially with every moment not spent fleeing, it appeared it would soon be time to draw weapons himself if he hoped to survive the onslaught.


Continuing to chatter idly with Signum, he nudged his mundane sword with an elbow to knock it slightly askew - it twisted on his belt slightly, pushed further from his grip around his waist. Now he looked somewhat actually harmless and inept - his 'weapon' would be difficult to grasp in time to parry an oncoming attack if he was being sized up by the entity behind them. He daren't look, but he almost thought he could feel the burning weight of her stare on the back of his head. Made up or not, he reflexively tensed and released his legs as he walked as a subtle, unseen way to prepare himself for the swift movements he may have been resorting to shortly. His daggers were still in his boots, concealed, but at but a thought they would spring to his hands for him to throw expertly.


"M'lady, you are certainly one interesting individual. I believe the term is 'chutzpah,' as I understand it. Your willingness to hang in and cope with this rapidly spiralling situation speaks to your courage, or perhaps you and the Anathema have more in common than you'd like to realize. I highly doubt the latter is the case, although I fear the former may be too flattering for our short acquaintance," he commented, smirking slightly.


His eyes widened barely when he noticed the slip of Essence that almost imperceptably issued forth from his companion, surrounding her as she appeared to sum the situation's best possible scenario up in but one simple phrase. "...I wish that the two of them would start fighting. It would be grand for drawing attention of of us - attention that, I fear, your little stunt may have just attracted."


"I seem to be the one with more in common with the Solar than you. It has been far too long since I have been brought to the brink of bungling things. I must disclose that my nature tends to veer against such foolhardy gestures, yet there they are."


Stratford stopped talking just as he felt another flow of Essence in the vicinity - turning to look over his shoulder, he anticipated it to be the Dragon-Blood behind them, yet instead noticed a dark power bow manifest in the hands of a cloaked man he hadn't seen before down the street. He appeared to mutter to himself and then fired the weapon, aimed at the Water-Aspect behind them. Not looking away just yet, he quickly shifted his arm around Signum so that she would also look to see at his nonverbal suggestion.


"It appears that perhaps we have the distraction we need after all. May I suggest finding safe cover now?" he quipped quietly, relaxing now that the possibility of a battle that he was involved in had apparently waned. After half a beat, he added, "Anyone else we don't know about going to show up? Was there some sort of supernatural sanction meeting today that I didn't get an invite to? Next thing you know the Wyld will be dropping in. If the insanity already exhibited is any indicator, it will be dropping in just to borrow a cup of milk and the blood of three virgins."
 
Everyone dealing with the propriety-challenged Waves

Pertinent Actions and Moves Rolls (in order)
Manip+Investigation vs Jean's 0 and Signum's "We're a Couple" deception
03/09/2009 21:49:31 - Waves


Rolled Dice: 6


Target Number: 7


Number of Successes: 3


Name of the roll: Manip+Investigation
Click to expand...
2 Motes on Lightning Mental Armament (Allows characters to react, at a penalty, to unexpected attacks)


3 Motes and 3 rolls of Martial Arts Excellency against Forerunner's Unexpected attack=1 Success

Join Combat
Dragon of Waves rolled the following in her 11 dice:


9, 10, 6, 10, 5, 7, 1, 10, 3, 7, 4


Using 7 as the target number, the roll resulted in 9 successes.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Waves basked in the glorious perfume of roasted heretic that washed over the town. Ahhh, what a wonderful way to start the day by making infidels pay. After wafting in the wonderful scent, she turned her glare back towards the massacr--business at hand: the heathen pub and its foolish pagan rubberneckers congregating outside. As she strode forward, two particular blasphemers caught her eye, a woman and an armed man that appeared...normal enough, but definitely didn't seem local. Perhaps they weren't guilty of the same trespasses as these vile rebels? Or perhaps not! These troublemakers could be up to all sorts of shenanigans.


As she approached, the man tensed up and instantly grabbed the woman, trying to appear as nonchalant as possible, even engaging in some stilted conversation. But these tricks didn't fool her watchful eyes, no! And she, mostly due to education deficiencies, could only think of one reason that anyone would try to deceive her! Unbelievers! The ever-unthinkingly-faithful Dragon of Waves took a giant, grandiose step forward towards the two miscreants, trying to remember if she'd oiled her chains and cleaned off the rack after its last use.


However, her thoughts on the impending inquisition were rudely interrupted by a sudden tingling in the back of her head, indication that something was sorely wrong. The sudden twanging sound didn't hurt either. Waves suddenly whirled around to spy distinctly shady-looking figure toting a large, black bow...the kind that healthy, terrestrial-fearing mortals can't even wield. A large black arrow, presumably fired by the big black bow, was streaking towards her, obstructing her righteous cause and the work of the just. Years of hard-earned reflexes kicked in and Wave's wrist-guards started to glow brilliantly; her hand snapped out as her body spun, slapping the arrow safely to the side as she stared, her mind rushing at tortoise-blinding speeds to the inescapable conclusion. The righteous warrior mind filled with anger and rage and wrath.


OOC: Join Battle for the two bystanders? I'll retropost the revised results


9-Dragon of Waves


8-Harbinger


?-Signum


?-Stratford
 
Something happened then. Call it fate, call it luck, call it whatever you want but you would all get the chance you needed. A chance for freedom...


Though freedom… It never comes without a price.


A single arrow flew across the air, a trickle of flame coming from the tip as it did. The arrow flew until it hit a building nearby where Fourth and Feather were currently. It didn’t take long for the building to ignite in flames. The sounds of armor and men could be heard then a second later, as the full power of the massive wyld hunt was on its way to the village. Fourth looked more disturbed by the change of events than anyone else however, and spoke quickly as he prepared to fight.


“Damn that boy… I told him to stay where he was… It seems I have to end this quickly…â€


Though, with the hunt now only a short time away it would seem as if you were all doomed, it would in fact be the next event that would give you all the ability to get away. Literally, the gods intervened.


A small wind passed you all, blowing from the outside of town and into the center. As it approached the center of town the winds seemed to pick up focusing around the fallen statue and causing many of the pedals of the lilium flowers around the fallen statue to get caught in the whirlwind that was now focusing on that very spot. The pedals seemed to take shape, and the wind seemed to gain life of its own as the image of a woman seemed form in the center of the town.


Suddenly, it all stopped, and in the place of the pedals now stood a woman whose very beauty was without question one of the greatest any of you had ever seen. She wore a dress that seemed to be made of the earth itself, and carried a strong smell of the flowers for which she was god of. Before you all now stood the goddess Lilium. She moved from where she stood, walking forward to Fourth.


“I can no longer watch as you destroy my village children of the dragons. You came here originally for me, and so I appear to you.â€


Fourth sighed as he saw the goddess, it appeared it was going to be like this. There was only one thing he could do now to assure everything continued the way he wanted it to go. It wasn’t the result he wanted but given the current circumstance he was going to have to accept this. He spoke to all of you as he turned to face the goddess.


“It appears you have all caught a break Anathema. I can’t hope to fight you all, and the goddess before my child is upon us, and I do not wish for him to see the mess that was made here. Instead I’m offering you all a chance to leave, head to the opposite side of the town and into the forest. If you head off now, you might only see the resistance of a few of our forces who are on guard. If you stay however, you will incontinence me, as well as face certain death. My hunt is rather large, and you will be easily whipped out from the raw power. The goddess is the only one who needs to stay…â€


Waves back down moving away from you all with her front to you, seeming to be weary of anyone attacking her, though Fourth didn’t seem to care as much as her. It seemed Fourth was very confident in you running, something that may have been from sheer cockyness. Though it didn’t take a genius to realize the earthquake sound of metal coming from the forest meant the hunt was of a tremendous size.


The goddess spoke again, though she spoke more to feather as she moved closer to Fourth. Her words where soft, and even as she seemed to be rather assertive she had the grace and wonder that only a god like her could have pulled off.


“Go child of the sun. Your fate is not to die here. This city has greatly benefited from your help, and it will never be forgotten. Please, trust me, and leave childâ€, she said before addressing everyone she knew about so far. “All of you, you must leave at once. I’ve seen this hunt, and there is no escape if you stay.â€


As she spoke Waves took her place beside her father.


Now was your chance to leave, and believe me it is a damn good idea to do so. There no hope if you stay, and all of you know it in your hearts. Pride, loyalty, none of this mattered if you were dead. If you wanted revenge it would come, but for now. Know when your outclassed.


((Again its a stretch, but lets just move on. I'm sorry i was outtie for so long again. We can get this story back on track tho, just ive me a little bit to put all the pieces back in the places they need to be. I realize i ignored a lot of shit, but like I said I'm just putting this all back in my control to move for now. I feel like my hands slipped off this right now after being gone, so i need my solid grip back on. Forgive me for any inconvenience till then.))
 
The Fourth would easily parry Feather's deadly blow with a simple slap of the hand, knocking her aside, tumbling down to her knees as she quickly stood back up for more. Then came the arrow and the rapidly spreading blaze, scorching heat washing off in waves on Feather's face as she stared helplessly at the burning house, gritting her teeth, ready to strike with double the fierce wrath only to take pause as she heard a sound in the wind.


As if clear bells gently tingling in a bed of leaves.


Gentle Emerald Leaf was nearby and perhaps this day would not yet be lost, but again this was only foolish hope as many words were exchanged but little was done. Abandon? Give up? Leave and retreat?


Cowardice. Cowardice. Cowardice. COWARDICE!


Her daiklave returned to its place of rest, melting back into the comfort of her chocolate brown skin and tender flesh, as she closed her eyes painfully, averting them for an instant even as the Fourth and Lilium's beloved Goddess spoke together. The Fourth's ultimatum came with a stinging echo of memories.


So presomptuous and arrogant but most likely right. Why could she never do anything right? Why was she so weak? How could this power never be up to the task? There was no blaming the Unconquered Sun, his exaltation was the strongest in the whole of Creation, she knew it from personal experience.


Then, there was only one possible way to explain this discrepancy. The base material upon which this glorious exaltation was placed, her very own soul, was not up to the task. The flaws, the imperfection, the weakest link was herself. Again and again, she felt, she proved unworthy of this gift. If she were a woman of lesser will she would have given in to despair right there and then, but the voice of her precious friend invigorated her as she came close to her, the heroic Solar grasping gently at Gentle Emerald Leaf's hand, stepping closer.


"... Leafy...." she said weakly before growling softly in frustration, going on "Please don't die on me. Please don't let anyone else die today. I'm sorry I failed you, I'm sorry I'm such a goddamn failure." she suddenly embraced the elegant Goddess tight, something she had never done before "I'll miss you." and with that she turned around, though not without one last glare to the Fourth.


"One day I will force you to face your own sins, monster. And you will atone for them. You will fear and you will scream and you will repent. And then you will be released from this mortal coil into the cleansing embrace of the Unconquered Sun. I'll make sure of it." and with that she dashed into the forest, only her aware of the secret paths known to the villagers that allowed one not to get horribly lost in the thick and mysterious tall grass, signing the others to follow her as she ran past them, if they ignored her then they would be left to their fate. Even her boundless compassion felt strained under the weight of her guilt and remorse right now, ghostly images almost material dancing before her eyes, almost as if the world itself was naught but a dream of the retreating warrior.


Once she was gone from sight but not from earshot, one could hear a booming voice screaming to the uncaring Gods in Yu-Shan, even as she kept sprinting as fast as her healthy legs would let her.


This time, there was no holding back the grief.


And nowhere to run.
 
She was going to rape, flay, and kill whoever warned her about a 'small, 40 man Wyld Hunt.' There would be blood, pain, death, and everyone that they ever knew or loved would die before them as they suffocated on their own BLOOD.


In short, Signum was not a happy camper. Everything about this goddamn mission was going awry simultaneously, and now she hadn't even gotten to rip someone's face off. After a few moments of contemplation, however, she realized that these developments had little to do with the overall flow of events; Feather had been driven from her village and it would be sacked, Harbinger had been forced to at least temporarily join their little party, and a potentially-useful Dragonblooded had joined up. The Dragonblooded, that St. Croix fellow, hadn't been expected - but he seemed to be a decent sort, if nothing else. Besides, someone had to be weaker than her in the damn party; all those freaking Solars and Abyssals had so much damn raw power it made her want to scream. Sidereals really were gimped in that department. At least they still had working brains... unlike Solars.


But she was getting off topic - the Fourth was a patient man, but events were conspiring to rob them of their short reprieve. With the unexpectedly titanic Wyld Hunt's incursion, they had to get the hell out of there, and now. And of course, they had to get Harbinger of Failing All Night to join the group...


Signum sighed, her shoulders sagging momentarily, before straightening up once more. No time to complain now; she'd save that for the next mission report.


"Yes, my friend, I feel that now would be an excellent time to make ourselves scarce. If you'll pardon me for a moment, though, I probably ought to go invite that dark-garbed man to join us; I have a feeling that he might be helpful, in one way or another."


She quickly made her way closer to Midnight, trusting that he wouldn't remember her - the Arcane Fate of the Sidereals combined with the years since he had last seen her should do the trick, but you never quite knew with Solars and their corrupted counterparts.


"Would you care to join us, sir? I doubt that escape will be so easy as simply walking away, and it might be easier were we to pool our talents, at least for the time being."
 
"My aim's off."


He watched at her enhance reflexes were able to allow her to dodge the chaotic shot from his bow, but while she chose to go about and make herself more vulnerable with her shouts, he was preparing to materialize his essence into a another arrow and fire.


That's to say before another being had entered the facility, which prevented Harbinger from re-shaping his Essence and he was curious as to who it was. Alas though, with the Fourth speaking of more than one Dragonblood, Harbinger knew he didn't have possible chance of fighting and killing them in any way. The odds were simply too much against him, and so he began turning around still with the essence both radiating his dark energy in his hands.


"A shame. I thought it be a blood splash today." And so he was about to leave, had it not been for the strange woman approaching him. His brow perked up but he did not allow her to see past his somewhat torn cloak. "Heh. Join you? And by why would you offer a stranger such a thing" He started, somewhat sarcastic about the offer. Why were people so nice in the day and era? Why did they feel a need to help everyone else around them? Why was that woman willing to get trampled by the Dragonblood for burning a child that wasn't his?


Though he had regain some of his humanity, he still didn't see why this world operated by people like them. Yet he yawned as he stretched his arm out for a brief second, giving the illusion that he maybe tried. "Lead the way."
 
"Well, it was either... I stick with you, or... I stick with the dingbat who just got a kid killed by completely failing to understand the very concept of 'traps' or 'hostages.' What a wonderful world we live in, that one of the glorious god-kings of old, luminescent beacons of perfection and might, are less reliable than an envoy of the dark abyss."


Signum knew that she only had a relatively short time to get Harbinger's attention, and while she would have much preferred to completely deflect any and all suspicion off of herself, it was worth incriminating herself as knowing more than she should if only Midnight would pay attention to her, if only for the short time they'd be spending together. The designs of Heaven were too important for her to be overly cautious, especially with stakes like these.


"But I digress. My offer was neither a plea for help, nor was I patronizing you; I am simply well aware of the combat prowess of an Abyssal, and felt that we would both be better off were we to stick together for the time being. All the unholy power in the world won't save you if you get blindsided, will it?" She grinned, slightly more at ease now that she was relatively certain that Harbinger hadn't turned into a hair-trigger lunatic since she'd last seen him. "But hey, let's get out of here. We can do the whole 'friendly chat over a cup of tea' thing when we aren't on the run from a group of color-coded idiots with too much firepower."
 
A lot had happened in a very short period of time, and Stratford's quick wits were turning like cogs in his head as quickly as they would go to keep him on top of the situation. People were dying, arrows were flying and Signum had done something with essence, which wasn't entirely expected even though he knew everything seemed to be spiralling further out of control with each passing minute. As the Fourth announced that the Goddess was his main target and everyone else should get the hell out of Dodge, he found he couldn't agree more - when Signum decided to go chat up a new dark figure. Where he had come from and who he was were both mysteries, but he could be sure at the least that the figure had some issue with Dragon-Bloods, after his assault on Waves that had been knocked aside and then disregarded. He had let her pass, however when the Fourth had called for her: what was that?


"Helpful? I have this premonition that it's easier to catch three than two, but perhaps that's just me," he answered his acquaintance cynically, raising his arm as he did so. The seabird perched on the city walls swooped down to perch on his arm, and he cradled her against his chest without a word as more arrows began to sail into the village. Hearing the God-blood speak to the new man, (wasting time, he thought), he heard her mention the word Abyssal and something of his constitution went awry. A tainted Solar? So the... thing was a brainless beast and she wanted it to tag along like a pet? It agreed in short order however, and it seemed time for someone to take the lead. Noticing that none of them had begun to actually move, he took the initiative and headed the opposite direction of the main gate they had come through, toward the second entrance to the city he had noticed.


The road continued through Lilium toward the forest, where there would be cover most importantly. Not waiting to see if they followed him or not, he strode quickly, pacing just under a run as he called out, "Time to go, come along, m'lady." Deciding it was perhaps a good idea to stay on the good side of the flesh-consuming beast the God-blood had made acquaintance with, he waited to see if they were keeping up with him before nodding prefunctorally and offering the slightest of a drawn smile. He could feel his face pale somewhat at the notion, but he tried.


"All in favour of running?"
 
Mood


You all leave, heading into the forest now where you could get away safe. Behind you the sounds of fighting break, though it only last for a few seconds. Though you are all much too far away to see the outcome of the fight you may notice a small detail as you make your way through the forest. The Lilium flowers that were scattered here and there in the forest withered away and died. Now wasn’t the time however.


That was because now you had to defend yourselves. Ahead of you, you could see around ten knights of the Hunt, making their way toward you from your escape route. They didn’t have anything special in their armor to make you believe they were anything but mortal men, but still they were trained to kill you. It seemed getting away was going to be a bit more of a problem then you might have originally thought, but it would always make a good excuse to relive some stress you might be feeling.


{Perception + Awareness. Difficulty 1}


If you succeed in this roll you would also see something else past the guards. Another being, fighting with a large scythe weapon against five others was easy to see for anyone looking. Though making out this other person was a little hard to do right now. Still, perhaps you would all receive some help for this fight? Not that you need it. I mean seriously.
 
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