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

[Sherwood]

Ailera peeks out at the patrol and raises up an eyebrow. In a quiet voice, she asks, "Is it normal for your night patrols on the streets to be so large? Or is this neighborhood considered to be a high crime area? Back where I come from, the only time we would see a group of guards that big is if they were expecting trouble."

 

[jaydude]

"Might be a show of force. After all, Quincel did become king under dubious circumstances, to say nothing of the friends he's made during his reign." says Ganzin. "And they do say that night is when us unlawful types are up and about."

The fang of guards soon disappears off down another street, leaving the area outside seemingly deserted. For about a few minutes, the interlopers have a chance to come out and explore, without being seen.

 

[Esbilon]

"Is five people to a patrol considered large?" Ysandre asks somewhat puzzled, "and no. We are close to the palace, this would be considered one of the safest places in the city normally. Regardless, the palace gatehouse should be fairly close, around the corner up there," she continues and points in the relevant direction. "At this time of night, the gate itself is likely to be closed and barred with a handful of guards on duty. Ailera, can you open a barred gate as easily as the lock on a strongbox? If so, I say we just walk in. Ideally, I can persuade the men to turn their backs on Quincel, but even if not it should be a simple matter to subdue them." She looks around at the assembled exalts, "when facing only a few mortals, I don't see the need for us to kill anyone, and these are my people despite their current loyalties. I want no one killed who does not need to die, is that understood?" she asks with steel in her voice.

 

[D. Rex]

"We will be hard pressed to take over a country without a few deaths. While I am sure we have the capability to stay lethal blows, it would be unfair to ask that of Ryan's men. " Zedradons pointed out.

"Should blood be shed, I shall ensure my focus on stabilizing as many lives as I can. Those on death's door will awake before they they have time to knock thrice. So fear not on that front, Ysandre. Your people are in good hands."

"However... know that this means my attention will not solely be on aiding this circle in combat."

 

[Sherwood]

Ailera looks at the gate, then back to Ysandre. "I can get the gate open, that is not a problem. I just don't know if I can just open it from outside just like a giant doorway, or if I'll have to go into the gatehouse and work the controls there. Either way, we'll get inside."

 

[jaydude]

There is no keyhole on the gate, but it consists of two large wooden doors reinforced with steel. By sliding a thin object - such as a blade - into the gap between the two doors, Ailera can try and gradually slide back the bolt holding the gate shut from the outside; to do so fast enough to avoid being spotted will be a difficulty 5 task, simply because of how awkward such a method is, and will require her to roll Dexterity + Larceny. If she - or anyone else - wishes to try and climb over the walls/into the gatehouse, this will be difficulty 3, and will require a roll of Dexterity + Athletics.

Whichever option is picked will also require a Dexterity + Stealth roll, representing efforts to avoid being detected by the guards on the way to the gate.

 

[Sherwood]

Ailera gives the others a little salute as she quickly and quietly begins to run across the intervening space to the gate, planning on using her Essence powers to unlock it for the rest of the troops to come in and occupy the place.

8 successes on my Stealth roll

 

[jaydude]

Ailera's approach to the door brings no shouts of alarm from anyone in the gatehouse, and with a touch of her hand, the thick bolt locking the gate shut slides back with barely a scrape of metal.

What do you want to do now? Try and slip through the gate by yourself, signal to the other Exalts, or something else?

 

[Sherwood]

Now that the gate is unlocked, Ailera will wave to the waiting Exalts behind her, ready to push open the gate once they start out towards her position.

 

[Rykon]

Ryan takes in a deep breath and channels his Essence in preparation for the battle to come. He steps forward slowly with the confidence of a soldier patrolling his route. Depending on how quick to react the soldiers were, he'd discern just how prepared this city was for the coup. For now, he poured his heart in soul into displaying the demeanor of a man delivering a message. A message that the guard duty at the gate was now over.

Beside him for now, would only be a small detachment, one not much larger than the street patrol that stepped by the catacomb earlier. Tannis, Ganzin, and their new addition Arumi would be on order to wait until they pass the gate or the engagement begins.

Activating Fivefold Bulwark Stance and Holistic Battle Understanding for when the fight starts.

 

[jaydude]

With Ryan and his men boldly striding towards the gatehouse, even in the dark it isn't long before a guard appears within one of the gatehouse windows.

"Halt! Who goes there?" the guard calls out to Ryan.

 

[Rykon]

"I am Commander Ryan of the Crimson Fangs. I have a message for the King and Queen." The Dawn says pointedly, not stopping to speak. He opened his way through the unlocked gate and stepped through. "We've been expected with great anticipation. I don't think it'd be wise to keep them waiting." Ryan concludes, an unsubtle hint of threat in his voice at this point.

Rolling to Intimidate. 7 Successes.

 

[jaydude]

Ryan hears a strangled yell of alarm from the guard when he just pushes the gate open, improbable as that might be due to the loud creaking noise the gate makes. That said, the guard makes no attempt to stop him, having presumably noticed the sheathed Daiklave Ryan has on him and mistaken him for a Dragon-blooded as a result. Nalia does largely follow the Immaculate Philosophy after all; had Ryan been recognized for what he actually was, the guard might not have minded dying in a futile attempt to stop him.

As Ryan and his men go through the gatehouse and emerge into the palace compound, they see a courtyard wide enough for fifty men to stand side by side in stretch out ahead of them to the royal palace itself, flanked on each side by high stone walls, behind which, Ysandre will remember, are the palace gardens.

Two guards emerge from the gatehouse after Ryan and his men, both visibly fearful despite the darkness. "The King's usually asleep at this time of night. The Queen sometimes stays up to work on documents, though." says one of them, the same one who spoke to Ryan earlier.

 

[Rykon]

"I'm sure she does." The commander said flatly. He gave the guardsman a grave expression. "As for you and your friends here. I recommend you make your way home." While Ryan, and his Daiklave, kept the attention of the two gate guards the rest of his company should see the sign of his passing through the gate and start their orderly march up to and through its opening.

 

[D. Rex]

Zedradon will be travelling with Ryan's battlegroup towards the front, and would be advancing with him. As requested he had the intent to serve as a field medic to keep as many lives on both sides alive as possible.

Zed knew the other exalts should be able to handle themselves without inflicting undue damage. Zed expected most of the injuries to take place once the army began their conflict. Thus it would be where he would be most needed in this role.

 

[jaydude]

The two guards might have been willing to overlook a Dragon-blood barging into the palace grounds with a small escort to deliver a message to their sovereign. When they see that Ryan has bought a small army to the gates however, it's a very different story.

"You! What's the meaning of this?!" demands one of the guards as he and his compatriot level their poleaxes at Ryan.

"Sound the alarm!" the second guard shouts. Seconds later, a loud bell starts ringing urgently from within the gatehouse.

 

[Red Shadow Claws]

Quill stays with the main body of Ryan's troops. His weapon is still stashed Elsewhere, until it will be needed. No need to have a big target painted on his forehead. At least not yet. He wasn't sure how much his skills will be needed in the coming conflict, but it was best to perhaps save him as a wild card. In case they needed one...

 

[Esbilon]

Throwing back the hood of her cloak, Ysandre steps up past Ryan and addresses the guards, "stand down soldier," the young queen orders with steel in her voice. "Quincel's days are over, but there is no need for good men of Nalia to spill their blood for a usurper. I am my father's heir, and the man you call king merely a usurper!"

 

[jaydude]

At the sight of Ysandre, both the guards appear more shocked than they were before. Whoever's ringing the bell must also have seen her, because the sound of it immediately disappears.

"Princess...Ysandre?" asks one of the guards, who lowers his poleaxe.

"Isn't she the one who consorted with demons and murdered the last king?" asks the other guard in a suspicious tone, keeping his weapon ready to swing.

"I don't believe she committed regicide. But I know for a fact that what the Immaculate Order has taught you is wrong." Arumi declares, stepping forward to stand next to Ysandre, Black Bite in her hand. "Those you call 'Anathema' are not champions of dark powers, but heroes chosen and empowered by the Incarnae. And they are not universally evil."

The first guard appears hesitant to believe this, while the second looks totally unconvinced. "And just why should I believe you?" he asks.

Arumi looks at Ysandre. "I think you're going to have to bring them around, your majesty. From what I've learned, your Caste is the one best suited to winning people over." she says.

As this conversation is taking place, all the gathered exalts get the impression that the rest of the guards in the gatehouse are listening in on it, owing to the mention of Ysandre.

 

[Esbilon]

"I am Ysandre de la Courcel and as you should know my father's chosen successor," she repeats, "I did not murder him and I certainly did not consort with demons or any other enemies of the realm. Yet my brother chased me from my home on pain of death and gave over the kingdom to death, terror and a foreign queen who all but rules in his stead."

 

[jaydude]

Both guards still appear uncertain, but then a third figure emerges from the gatehouse. A slightly older man, wearing the uniform and armor of the guards, but with a badge of rank marking him as the leader of the gatehouse troops.

"You two. Stand down." he orders.

"But...but captain! We're sworn to protect the king of Nalia!" the second guard protests.

"We're sworn to protect the rightful ruler of Nalia." replies the captain, before he turns to Ysandre. "I won't mince words, your highness. You succeeding your father would go against decades of our kingdom's traditions. But on the other hand, while I might not be privy to everything that happens at court, I am aware that your father wished for you to succeed him. And as far as I'm aware, no-one disputed his claim of being the rightful ruler of Nalia. To disregard his wishes would be akin to oathbreaking, I fear."

A look of relief appears on Arumi's face, as the captain continues speaking. "Officially, you were declared illegitimate following your father's death. But after hearing what I have of you, the idea that you would murder him for whatever reason, or serve dark powers, does not sit well with me."

He then chuckles wryly. "Besides, I think we've lost the gatehouse by this point, what with you somehow getting it open and sneaking an army to it." he says. "How did you open it, anyway?"

 

[Rykon]

"It's not my place to reveal a friend's trade secrets," Ryan replied with a sigh. "For now, we need to focus on ending this cycle of subjugation and chaos. Let's move."

 

[Esbilon]

"We live in a world of magic, Captain," Ysandre answers, "what you saw was an example of that. I thank you for your loyalty to my father and the realm, and for sparing us the pain of fighting loyal Nalian soldiers." With that, she starts off towards the area of the palace that once housed her father and now must surely house her usurping brother.

 

[jaydude]

"That bell will have gathered the attention of the other guards within the grounds. I should be able to talk some of them out of fighting, though." replies the captain, before he runs off in a different direction.

As Ysandre heads towards the palace, Arumi follows her closely, while the Crimson Fangs move through the gates and proceed to start taking control of the palace grounds. A few of the guards attempt to fight the invaders, but thankfully for Ysandre, they are overpowered without suffering any wounds that Zedradon can't treat. Once all of Ysandre's allies are inside, the gates to the grounds are once again closed and bolted, cutting the grounds off from the rest of the city

---

"Come on. Melisandre will have heard that bell ringing if she's really awake at this time of night." Arumi says to Ysandre with a hint of urgency, as the two Exalts move through the courtyard. When they get to the main entrance of the palace building however - a set of ornate, yet sturdy wooden doors as large as those at the wall - they find it locked from the inside.

 

[Esbilon]

"Ailera," Ysandre calls out and looks around for the Night Caste. "We have need of your skills again."