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

[Red Shadow Claws]

Quill feels abashed about his comments to Ysandre. He knew he had to straighten things out with her. Leaving it as a hanging argument could be bad, not just between them, but to the cohesiveness of the group. But for now, while she went inside to speak to Arumi, he can grab a chat with Zedradon.

"Master Zedradon, if you have the time, I would like to talk to you about your Scythe..."

 

[D. Rex]

Zedradon turned to look at Quill. "Did you find something out? By all means, I have plenty to spare at the moment. Is there somewhere you would like us to talk?"

To have found about about am artifact in such a short amount of time, let alone the bundle he was left with. Quill surely had a talent for such things beyond anyone Zed had known. The fellow Twilight indeed had a sharp mind, and the doctor liked that. He wondered if he had knowledge of value that could be shared to help Quill.

 

[Red Shadow Claws]

Quill smiles at the good doctor's surprise "You might be a Master Doctor, but my specialty is Knowledge. I have used whatever I could to delve into your Scythe. It was by far the most disgusting, and the most intriguing Artifact I've ever come across. That metal is not something I'm familiar with, and it seems to have the souls of people trapped inside it." He gives a dramatic pause, to give Zedradon time to digest it. "But the surprising part came about when I delved deeper into it. I encountered something I have never encountered. It seems that deep within the Artifact lies a powerful spirit. I wasn't able to connect with it, since I'm not attuned to it, and I wouldn't intrude on another's Artifacts in such a way. But i did learn that the Scythe is a thing of compassion and death. It can release and bind ghosts to it, and can call forth ghosts bound to it to serve you." Quill stops and looks at the dcotor dead in the eye, despite being shorter than him "To bind yourself to it, is to give these spirits hope, but also gives you the power to crush their hopes. If you wish to explore it's mysteries, I will be able to help, but I want you to be fully aware of what you're getting into."

 

[jaydude]

Within the cabin, Arumi again moves to the side to allow Ysandre space to sit down next to her, should the Zenith wish to do so.

"I don't know if the doctor said anything to you before you came in here." she says quietly, looking up at Ysandre. "But if you think I'm going to betray Lookshy for you and the rest of your kind, I would think again."

 

[Esbilon]

Ysandre sits down on the bed next to Arumi and places her back against the cabin wall so they can look at each other as well. "I don't want you to betray Lookshy," she says, once again catching the other's eyes and convey her conviction in the statement. "Despite appearances, I hope that we will one day stand shoulder to shoulder with Lookshy against the evils that threaten everyone in the East and indeed everyone in Creation." She reaches out to place her hand on top of Arumi's, "that's all in the future, though. For now I want to say that I am sorry for your loss."

 

[jaydude]

"I'm guessing that you weren't involved in the attack. I certainly didn't see you when me and my brother were searching this ship." Arumi replies, letting Ysandre touch her hand and almost smiling in spite of herself.

"In any case, I'm glad you have the sense to not expect me to join you after all that's happened." she says. "So what is it you want with me then? Why do you want to help me?"

 

[Esbilon]

"I was not," Ysandre agrees, a flash of anger coming across her face at the mention of the attack, "I was meeting with one of the local spirit courts at the time. If I had been here I would have argued against the attack, but I wasn't and the others might have gone forward without my approval regardless." She offers Arumi an encouraging smile and squeezes her hand lightly as she continues, "I want to help you because I believe that leaving you locked up here does a tremendous disservice both to you and to the people you could help if you were not here."

 

[jaydude]

A small grin appears on Arumi's face. "You seem to know a fair bit about me. Dare I ask how? Or is the ability to read minds just one of your powers?"

 

[Esbilon]

Ysandre withdraws Arumi's journal and offers it to her with an apologetic look. "Someone found this in the fortress and brought it along. I read enough of it to learn that you are someone I want to help and not a bloodthirsty murderer like you were made out to be. I am sorry that we met under circumstances that made it necessary."

 

[jaydude]

"My journal? Well I suppose I can't begrudge you for that in these circumstances." replies Arumi as she takes it back.

She then looks away from Ysandre. "Maybe you and your friends do want to help protect the East and Creation. But Lookshy will never accept you as allies. The General Staff might forgive someone attacking one of their checkpoints after some diplomacy, but they find out that there's a whole group of you together, they'll make it a priority to destroy you. Unless you can somehow meet with them and convince them otherwise, they'll always see you as the worst of monsters. I might be able to change a few minds if I was ever to return to Lookshy, but I would never be able to completely transform its worldview."

 

[Esbilon]

"I know," Ysandre answers Arumi's dire prediction. "At least not now. In time we may change their view, hopefully by proving ourselves a force for good, or perhaps more likely by something worse showing up and convincing them that we're the lesser evil. Changing your mind about us is a start, but it seems you already view us in a not unfavorable light. Why is that?"

 

[jaydude]

"Because while I was growing up, I was taught that Anathema were those who had been corrupted by dark power, who made deals with demons, dark gods and creatures of the Wyld, who were willing to commit countless atrocities for their own ends, and who were utterly devoid of any redeeming qualities." answers Arumi. "And then one of them saved my life."

 

[Esbilon]

Ysandre nods. "Not to dissuade you from that thought, but your life was only a danger because a group of them attacked you. Not everyone would have drawn the same conclusion as you did."

 

[jaydude]

Arumi gives a nod of her own, to acknowledge Ysandre's words. "I know they attacked us, but that sort of proves my point, I feel. If everything I'd been told about Anathema was true, and I was attacked by a group of them with intent to kill, why would one of them try to save me after the battle was won? Surely it would if been far easier for them If I died."

 

[Esbilon]

An amused smile forms on Ysandre's face, "a fair point. I'm glad you have this perspective on things. With this new perspective, what do you want to do?"

 

[Sherwood]

While Ailera is somewhat curious as to what is going on with the prisoner, she is hardly the skilled negotiator that Ysandre is, and would probably do more harm than good if she were to get involved in questioning her. Besides, she has enough on her mind right now with the sudden reappearance of the Sidereal that attacked her in the gatehouse. What was she to do about him? From what he said, he was not about to stop his efforts to recruit her to work with him for 'the good of all Creation'. Why her? And what did this man expect her to do? Perhaps she needs to talk to someone else that might have more knowledge of these things.

 

[jaydude]

An amused smile forms on Ysandre's face, "a fair point. I'm glad you have this perspective on things. With this new perspective, what do you want to do?"

"Would it be too much to ask that you let me go once I've recovered?" asks Arumi, giving Ysandre a look that suggests she'd fully understand if this wasn't an option.

"If I'm ever free, I think I'd most likely try and return to Lookshy." she says. "I wouldn't join a Wyld Hunt again, but even if the Immaculate Faith is all wrong, Lookshy's still my home, and as the most powerful entity in the Scavenger Lands, it's the best hope for bringing peace to the area."

 

[Esbilon]

"I'm afraid it would," Ysandre concedes. "And do you truly think that Lookshy is the best hope for peace in the Scavenger Lands?" She continues, challenging the other woman's belief in her home city, "It has been more than seven centuries with Lookshy as the prime military power in the region, and the only reason we can say it is more peaceful now than then is that it was founded immediately after the Faerie Invasion. I understand your patriotism, but if peace is what you want, Lookshy cannot lift that task on its own."

 

[Psychie]

As everyone is settling in after the fighting is over, Axtis goes to find Majherri. "How are you, my friend?"

Well enough, for having to sit here on this boat while you were out gallivanting and having fun. Not that I'm bitter at all, or bored. Or worried for your safety or anything.

Axtis laughs. "I'm sorry. Next time I'll make sure to ride you into the fight, and then I'll rain arrows down on our foes from above!"

<Snort> You could have done that this time, you know. <sniff sniff> Are those sugar cubes and an apple I smell?

"Yes, you greedy gut. I knew that you would be upset, so I brought you a snack to apologize for leaving you behind."

Apology accepted. You know that I can't stay mad at you.

 

[D. Rex]

Quill smiles at the good doctor's surprise "You might be a Master Doctor, but my specialty is Knowledge. I have used whatever I could to delve into your Scythe. It was by far the most disgusting, and the most intriguing Artifact I've ever come across. That metal is not something I'm familiar with, and it seems to have the souls of people trapped inside it." He gives a dramatic pause, to give Zedradon time to digest it. "But the surprising part came about when I delved deeper into it. I encountered something I have never encountered. It seems that deep within the Artifact lies a powerful spirit. I wasn't able to connect with it, since I'm not attuned to it, and I wouldn't intrude on another's Artifacts in such a way. But i did learn that the Scythe is a thing of compassion and death. It can release and bind ghosts to it, and can call forth ghosts bound to it to serve you." Quill stops and looks at the dcotor dead in the eye, despite being shorter than him "To bind yourself to it, is to give these spirits hope, but also gives you the power to crush their hopes. If you wish to explore it's mysteries, I will be able to help, but I want you to be fully aware of what you're getting into."

Zedradon clasped his hands behind his back as he listened. "Soulsteel, they called it. I have seen it in a number of hands of the tainted. And have witnessed some the vile procedures as to its making." He explained. "But you are correct in that it does have souls within. Such is its main ingredient. Specifically those who are tortured. And the Smith's will go to great lengths to see them ripened to that end."

"Its one of the reasons why I took it with me. And hold onto it even now. I can see their faces in the glimmer of the steel, contorted in pain. It brings great anguish that my hands can't heal them like I can the living."

Zedradon met the craftmasters gaze. "If you are able to help me bring them even a modicum of hope and relief, I would be greatly in your debt."

"That you have presented this chance, There is no way I can not take it. With your help, maybe, just maybe, we can untwist the villainy that created this metal and the pain caused. What must I do?"

 

[jaydude]

"I'm afraid it would," Ysandre concedes. "And do you truly think that Lookshy is the best hope for peace in the Scavenger Lands?" She continues, challenging the other woman's belief in her home city, "It has been more than seven centuries with Lookshy as the prime military power in the region, and the only reason we can say it is more peaceful now than then is that it was founded immediately after the Faerie Invasion. I understand your patriotism, but if peace is what you want, Lookshy cannot lift that task on its own."

"What would you have me do then, if you don't believe that me returning to Lookshy will be enough?" asks Arumi, looking into Ysandre's eyes.

 

[Red Shadow Claws]

Zedradon clasped his hands behind his back as he listened. "Soulsteel, they called it. I have seen it in a number of hands of the tainted. And have witnessed some the vile procedures as to its making." He explained. "But you are correct in that it does have souls within. Such is its main ingredient. Specifically those who are tortured. And the Smith's will go to great lengths to see them ripened to that end."

"Its one of the reasons why I took it with me. And hold onto it even now. I can see their faces in the glimmer of the steel, contorted in pain. It brings great anguish that my hands can't heal them like I can the living."

Zedradon met the craftmasters gaze. "If you are able to help me bring them even a modicum of hope and relief, I would be greatly in your debt."

"That you have presented this chance, There is no way I can not take it. With your help, maybe, just maybe, we can untwist the villainy that created this metal and the pain caused. What must I do?"

Quill nods at the doctor's words. "To do that, we will need to hold it aloft. It will be held by you, with my hands on yours, and I will pour my essence into you, doing my best to unlock a deeper connection between you and the Artifact, Emancipation."

 

[D. Rex]

Quill nods at the doctor's words. "To do that, we will need to hold it aloft. It will be held by you, with my hands on yours, and I will pour my essence into you, doing my best to unlock a deeper connection between you and the Artifact, Emancipation."

"Understood. Then let us retrieve it so that we may do just that." Zedradon said.

"Emancipation. Such is the name it chose? Then I shall have to live up to the expectations it has chose."

Spoiler

jaydude When Zedradon refines his attunement with the grimscythe. I will add a Minor tie of Freeing Slaves to his Intimacies.

 

[Red Shadow Claws]

Quill walks to his chamber, with the doctor following. And when they reach there, he picks up Emancipation from the top of the pile of Artifacts lying on his desk. He hand sit to Zedradon, and as they lift it up, he pours his essence into them, doing his best to unlock the secrets of the weapon.

As he does so, his anima starts to glow around him.

Spoiler

Spending 15m and 1 wp on Wake the Sleeper, and 5m on a Lore Excellency.

so, 15 dice on the roll

10 successes, Because it's a 3 dot Artifact, that means that 3 Evocations are unlocked.

 

[Esbilon]

"What would you have me do then, if you don't believe that me returning to Lookshy will be enough?" asks Arumi, looking into Ysandre's eyes.

"I expect to soon find myself in need of skilled officers. I would make you one of them if you continue to impress me," Ysandre answers, keeping Arumi's gaze steadily. "If you would rather not serve under a banner other than Lookshy's, Zedradon - the healer - suggested that you help him with the sick and wounded we will meet in our travels."