Inside the Great Maker - Exalted IC

[Arynne]

Unexpected Flowering follows Needle off the tram and returns the other Jade Caste's bow of greeting, making eye contact and smiling to cover the awkward moment when neither of her companions seemed inclined to respond. When Needle addresses Strength, Flowering is content to fade into the background a little, while taking her own turn checking out their surroundings.

 

[Sherwood]

Strength of the Populat shakes her head. "No, I have not been briefed on your trip other than being told that you were to pick up a pair of scientists doing classified work and return to Ein. I can escort you to where your charges are waiting for you, though. If you would please come with me?" She turns on her heel and heads for one of the hallways leading out of the tram station.

The layout of the Yugashi metropolis is very different from what you are used to in Ein; where your own city is perched in the middle of a series of support beams that resemble a giant spider's web, this city is planted firmly on the ground, with its more secure passages leading deep below the surface of the city. People here respond to the presence of four of the Champions of Autochthon with the same level of respect, though, and those in the passageways part before you to allow you free access to the center of the passage.

As you walk, Strength is quiet unless spoken to, and then she is very clipped and precise with her responses to your inquiries. From just a cursory meeting with her, you suspect that she has somewhat high levels of Clarity, bringing her closer to the heart of the Machine God than many others.

She guides you to a door that whooshes open for you to reveal your two scientists, a man and a woman, in the midst of a intense and very animated conversation. They immediately fall silent as you enter, looking relieved to see that it is you, and Strength of the Populat stays outside to allow you to speak privately with the scientists. The woman steps forward and bows. "Ah, Champions! You have finally arrived. I am Newton-10, and this is Cayde-6. I do hope that this is important; we were pulled from our work at a very critical moment in our research. But we understand that the needs of many are dependent upon us getting our data back to Ein as soon as possible."

Cayde doesn't look as happy, and says, "We might just end up missing the final breakthrough of our work for this. It had best be important for us to leave now." He continues to grump under the glare he's getting from Newton.

She says, "Pay no attention to him. He is simply wanting to hog all the credit for the work done and be here to bask in the glory of a job completed in person, and not have to stop what we are doing to bring the current level of our research back home. But, it would be nice to stay just a little bit longer. Yugash is about to make the first attempt to break the Seal using our work." She does look hopeful that you will allow them to linger, but you do have your instructions to return them and their data files to Ein quickly and in one piece.

What do you do?

 

[Arynne]

"How much longer is 'a little bit'?" says Flowering, raising an eyebrow. "You know that Kamak also needs you and your data, and Kamak's needs take priority over the gratification of intellectual curiosity."

 

[Psychie]

Needle nods in agreement. "Yes, we do have a responsibility to get the two of you back to Ein for the research being done there."

 

[Sherwood]

The two scientists look crestfallen at this, but slowly nod. Newton says, "Ah, yes, that is true. Our duty to Ein does come first. We should leave and enjoy the fruits of our labor back home as we make our own Gateway."

Cayde does offer up a few minor complaints, but his heart is not really in it. He finally lets out a sigh of resignation, saying, "Very well. The sooner we get back, the better. How are we traveling? I wish to go over my research again. There are so many variables, I want to make sure that I have everything accounted for."