Chronicle of the Scavenger Lands (Exalted 3E) - IC

[D. Rex]

"Even should they not answer the call. The seeds of truth may have already been planted. What they learn of our mercies here may spread. Though it might not be unwise to accept those willing to take the risk, or those without families. Sadly I can not yet heal death, so taking what extra soldiers you can may be useful. Turning the enemy against themselves, doubly so."

"As for leaving them locked up. We could buy ourselves some more time by hiding the key somewhere in the fort for the servants to find. Would give us an even greater head start. So long as we leave some food and water for them, of course."


Zedradon looked over at Ganzin and then to Ryan. "I ask that you leave her in my care. Not simply because of the impressive wound left on her. I can put her to work, and get her on the path of righting the wrongs she has done. I need a dedicated nurse anyway, as my bedside manners are atrocious and I cant rightly bother your men every time I need hands. And i feel that her saving lives and families can begin to make up for all the ones she took unjustly."

 

[Sherwood]

Inside the room with the servants, Ailera holds up her hands in a easing motion. "Relax. We are not the monsters that you think we are. There is no reason for us to wipe out all life here, so you are safe so long as you don't take up arms against us. But I do have a question for you. Is there a place that I can clean up at? I am not liking feeling so gross and covered with ick."

 

[Rykon]

"You may look after her physical condition, but I leave her subject to Ganzin's authority. They will work out this past grudge one way or another. I am confident there will be no shortage of work available to her."

 

[D. Rex]

Zedradon nodded and agreed. "Very well. Even should she do work for me, her being under Ganzins supervision will be for the best." So long as he doesnt kill her, of course.

 

[Psychie]

Axtis makes her way to find Ryan as he is giving orders about the disposition of the prisoners. She says, "There is at least one Exalt that has slipped away from the position he was in, trying to turn me into a pin cushion with is arrows. I doubt that he has the urge to commit suicide by attacking, but he may take advantage of any stray men if given the chance."

 

[Rykon]

"If we're still at risk of attack then we need to either track him down or secure the area. Do you know if he was mounted or on foot?"

 

[Psychie]

Axtis points to where the archer was before he vanished. "He was up there, on foot. I'm thinking he may be hiding inside the fort. I suggest we sweep the building to make sure that there are not any surprises waiting for us."

 

[jaydude]

Inside the room with the servants, Ailera holds up her hands in a easing motion. "Relax. We are not the monsters that you think we are. There is no reason for us to wipe out all life here, so you are safe so long as you don't take up arms against us. But I do have a question for you. Is there a place that I can clean up at? I am not liking feeling so gross and covered with ick."

The servant woman slowly gets back up to her feet, getting over her fear enough to look a little surprised at Ailera's request.

"Why yes. There's a bathing area for the officers, on this floor. If you come with me, I can show you where it is."

Elsewhere...
"I won't kill her, if that's what you're worried about." Ganzin says to Zedradon, while glowering at the doctor. "Not unless she gives me an excuse to do so."

Spoiler: OOC

Anyone wishing to search for the Dragon-blooded archer, please give me a Perception + Awareness roll.

 

[Psychie]

Axtis will keep her eyes open for the archer, and will go looking for him.

Only 1 success

 

[D. Rex]

"If she gives you an excuse to do so, Ganzin. There will be no objection from me. I have already given her the opportunity of a second chance. Should she choose to throw it away... I do not take kindly to those who take advantage of my kindness."


With that said. And the threat of another enemy looming. Zedradon joins Axtis in the hunt for this hidden exalt.

2 successes

 

[jaydude]

As the two Solars search the keep, they get the impression that the Dragon-blooded archer is attempting to hide from and evade them. This probably explains why neither of them spot him.

Spoiler: OOC

Anyone else want to roll to try and find him? He has 4 successes.

 

[jaydude]

In addition to the Solars, Ryan's men also search the building from top to bottom, but they too find no sign of the Dragon-blooded archer; he's managed to leave the fort unseen, and has either fled, or gone to ground outside. Axtis does find a small note within the fortress, and some instinct tells her that it could only have been written by the archer. It reads, 'YOU WILL PAY FOR MASARU'S DEATH, ANATHEMA'.

Besides the woman talking with Ailera, the servants are rounded up by Ryan's men during the search, and questioned about the Dragon-blooded archer. They reveal that his real name is Kusa, and that he, the sorcerer and the additional soldiers were reinforcements from the other fort across the river, bought over in anticipation of the night's attack. None of them saw where he went after the battle, though, and they don't appear to be lying.

The servants do have additional information about Kusa that they are willing to share - as the man was by all accounts friendly, and not one to shy away from fraternizing with mortals. They reveal that Kusa is from no gens, and that he is part of a Sworn Kinship, of which the late Masaru was a member. Arumi is also part of this Hearth, as are a Fire Aspect swordsman and an Earth Aspect commander in Lookshy's service, both of whom are currently deployed in the Hundred Kingdoms, as part of Lookshy's attempts to impose some sort of order there.

If Zedradon permits it, some of Ryan's men will strip Arumi of her damaged armor, leaving her in just the shirt, trousers and boots she wears beneath it, and take her back to Oswin and the Silver Mermaid. While searching the keep, Ryan's men come across a pair of Stoneheart Coffers - White Jade boxes the size of large chests - with a sign on the wall behind them that reads 'Confiscated Artifacts'.

 

[D. Rex]

Zedradon did allow them to strip the damaged armor away gently. Would be better for her anyway. However the Doctor advised against transporting her without exalt supervision or a suitable security detail. Not because of Arumi herself... she was in no condition to move, and would need a form of stretcher after all. But that the terrestrial Archer was still at large. While it would be hard pressed for him to transport Arumi in the state she was in, he would not put it past him to try and rescue her. But hopefully the archer had the sense to let her heal a bit before he tried such a stunt.

Meanwhile, as the lookshy soldiers where being herded to the dungeon. Zedradon would round up medical supplies from the keep and deliver them to the dungeon. Explaining to the servants how to reapply bandages and administer pain relief and disinfectants. As well as seeing that fresh water was gathered.


Zedradon would do one more round of checking on any if the soldiers, liokshy and Ryan's, in case he missed any injuries before returning to the keep proper to restock himself and Ryan's companies medical supplies. Happening on the white jade chests with Ryan's men grouped around.

"Dont be shy. Open them. It looks like you all found a pretty prize."

 

[jaydude]

"We tried, but they're locked. And we can't find the keys." replies one of Ryan's men.

 

[D. Rex]

"Did you ask the servants?" Zedradon inquired.

 

[Psychie]

Axtis chuckles. "We also have Ailera. She could probably open the chests, once we find her, that is."

 

[Sherwood]

At this point, Ailera comes walking up, with her hair still wet from her rinse off. "I heard my name. What's up? Ooooh! Pretty chests! What's inside?"

 

[Psychie]

Axtis chuckles again. "We don't know yet. They are locked. Can you open them?"

 

[Sherwood]

With a happy smile, Ailera rubs her hands together. "I can give it a shot. Let me at em." She examines the boxes in case their locks are simple mortal design, but she fully expects them to be magically locked somehow.

I'm going to try a Int + Larceny roll to examine the locks

6 successes

 

[jaydude]

Examining the locks of the Stoneheart Coffers, Ailera sees that they are far, far more robust than anything she has seen before. Then again, she is a Night Caste Solar...

(Picking the lock of a Stoneheart Coffer is difficulty 7.)

 

[Sherwood]

Ailera raises an eyebrow. "Wow. These are some serious locks. This would be a problem if it were not me we're dealing with. But since I'm so awesome . . . " She reaches down and opens the first chest. "Poofta! Its done!"

Spoiler

With my Charm of Lock Opening Touch, as long as it is a regular, non-magical lock, it should just pop right open.

The Exalt may open a mundane lock simply by touching it and paying five motes. Alternately, she may challenge a sorcerous lock with her picking tools, paying one mote to gain double 9s and (Essence) automatic successes.

 

[jaydude]

"Heh. You show-off." says Ganzin as he enters the room, a thin red aura around his body as he grins at Ailera.

There is no magic on the lock, and so Ailera opens the first Stoneheart Coffer to reveal a Belt of Shadow Walking lying on top of two folded Reinforced Buff Jackets, one reinforced with Green Jade, the other with Red Jade.

"Ooooh, nice." says Ganzin, peering inside the Stoneheart Coffer at the treasures within, his eyes drawn to the Red Jade Buff Jacket.

 

[Sherwood]

Ailera grins at Ganzin. "What, me? A show off?" She bats her eyes at the Dragon Blood demurely, then bursts out laughing. "Well, maybe a little. I am liking that Belt. It would be a nice addition to my wardrobe. Lets see what is in the other chest." She shifts over to the chest and repeats the process, pulling open the lid to see what's inside.

 

[D. Rex]

Saved the trouble of key hunting, he peeked inside with the others. Spotting the two jade coats he nodded. "I certainly would not mind a coat that doesnt smell like a dead man." Zedradon commented. Seeing Ganzin eye the red one, it was fine by him. Green was more of his color anyway.

While Aelira busied herself with the other chest, the good doctor pulled out the revealed artifacts. Handing them to Ganzin to decide what to do with, and seeing if there was anything hiding in their fields or underneath them.

"Ryan might be able to make use of these chests themselves too."

 

[jaydude]

Ganzin lets out a laugh of his own at Ailera's antics, before taking the jackets and belt from Zedradon. "If you two are happy with the belt and green armor, I'll have the red one." he says.

Within the second chest, Ailera see a pair of Green Jade Short Daiklaves, a Red Jade Grand Daiklave, a Blue Jade Infinite Chakram, as well as an Orichalcum Breastplate and a pair of Orichalcum Bracers, one of which has a socket for a single Hearthstone. There's nothing else in either of the chests.

"They must send whatever artifacts they've no intention of returning back to Lookshy. This lot must be a recent haul." says Ganzin, coming over to look at the contents. "Ryan and Axtis can probably make use of the breastplate and bracers. As for the weapons, we can have Lyla sell them the next time we run into her, if we're not going to use them ourselves."