Lunar Fury - Exalted 3e IC

[Psychie]

Before seeing the others off, Gwen stops them and says, "Are we going to go ahead and wait to leave until tomorrow morning, then? A Sacred Hunt will take several hours, and it will be late afternoon before you are done and back."

 

[jaydude]

Before seeing the others off, Gwen stops them and says, "Are we going to go ahead and wait to leave until tomorrow morning, then? A Sacred Hunt will take several hours, and it will be late afternoon before you are done and back."

"If the others would rather leave immediately, we can do so." said Selket. "I'm sure we'll be able to pick up new forms along the way."

 

[Sherwood]

Rocky looks at the group and says, "I have my things that I will need with me, so I can leave at any time. Just say the word."

 

[Rykon]

"I think we need to take care of this fairly soon while we're still in the heart of the east. Climbing critters grow more and more scarce the further north we go. I dont know if we'll all be able to perform hunts while traveling without the same delay. I'm open to alternatives if you have a better idea though." Toun offered.

"Worst case scenario, I don't mind starting the journey this evening. Did you have something you wanted to do in the meantime?"

 

[Aranfan]

Rocky looks at the group and says, "I have my things that I will need with me, so I can leave at any time. Just say the word."

"I'll need to go find one of those gecko things you mentioned." Two Mornings says. "See you soon."

She gives him a hug and then shifts into a tiger as she moves away.

 

[D. Rex]

Hazel would go find somewhere to sleep. And while this wasnt a normal sleeping habit for her, she pulled out Nocturn. And in her tired stupor, wasted a few minutes rearranging the Hearthstones to so as to fit the bulbous gem of wellness into a socket so that it would resonate and work. She did end up finding it, pairing it with the tree shield gem on Nocturn itself, replacing the Heirophants eye.

Once the hearthstone began to glow, she wrapped her arms and legs around the large rifle, and fell asleep where she lay. Too tired to dream. Too tired to nightmare. Sleep now.

 

[Sherwood]

Another full day passes as the Circle wrap up their Sacred Hunts. Evening falls, then everyone turns in for the night to get a full rest before setting off once more in the morning on the long trip to the far north, this time with Rocky joining the party.

The trip will be a long one, taking several weeks to get to the Tomb of the Lunar Priestess. Will you travel straight there, or do you wish to make any stops along the way? You do not need to stop for supplies; after all, you have plenty of food for the trip out and can hunt for fresh meat along the way if you so choose. It is all up to you. I just need to know.

Rykon D. Rex Psychie jaydude Aranfan

 

[jaydude]

The trip will be a long one, taking several weeks to get to the Tomb of the Lunar Priestess. Will you travel straight there, or do you wish to make any stops along the way? You do not need to stop for supplies; after all, you have plenty of food for the trip out and can hunt for fresh meat along the way if you so choose. It is all up to you. I just need to know.

I say we head straight for the tomb with no delays, as long as Toun's okay with that.

 

[Rykon]

"There's a few animals up north I'd like to hunt, but that can wait for another time. If we run across an ice weasel or a snow lion I'll make the kill. Otherwise, I'm content to make this as quick as possible."

Toun turned to the other members of the circle, notably Gwen since she held far more financial interests than the rest. "Anyone else have business to tend to on the way?"

 

[jaydude]

Selket shook her head. "Nope. I'm just as happy to get this over and done with swiftly." she said.

 

[Psychie]

Gwen thinks for a moment, then says, "I wouldn't mind stopping at Greyforks so I can post a few letters, but other than that, I have nothing pressing that needs to be attended to. Lets make as best time as we can, and perhaps along the way, I can have Toun teach me to take on some larger forms like his, so eventually I can spell you off from the task of flying us all."

 

[Rykon]

"Sounds fine to me. For a journey this long, making a pit stop at Greatforks shouldn't be a noticeable delay."

"As for the matter of travel, I don't mind carrying the circle. Though, I certainly don't mind sharing what I've learned either." Toun said with a smile, appreciating the thoughtfulness of Gwen's offer to learn for his sake.

 

[Aranfan]

"I'm good. I don't have any business to attend to. I'm not sure It would be a good thing for me to be around Great Forks, if what I've heard about it is true." She frowns.

 

[D. Rex]

Hazel is present, but has fallen back asleep. Undoubtedly she would have chosen haste as their approach strategy.

 

[Sherwood]

It is a long, relatively boring flight north, with little to do as Toun wings along. As the miles go by, the temperature gets colder, and soon enough you start to see snow and ice on the ground as you travel, making camping at night a chilly affair.

Soon enough, you have come to the general location of the Tomb, and need to descend down to begin the process of hunting for the exact location of the entrance. Thanks to Raksi's detailed directions, it does not take too long before you find yourselves standing before a massive door made of the various magical materials. This is it.

 

[Rykon]

Toun lies down upon the ground to let everyone disembark. The massive bulk of his enlarged white fox form slipping away to his human shape, wrapped in the familiar comfort of his cloak. He reveled in the chilling wisps of wind nipping at his face.

"How I missed this..." he whispered into the wind. "Well, I can either resume the gargantuan fur coat form or we can make our way inside. Who has the keys?"

 

[Psychie]

Gwen steps forward with the box in hand. "Here they are." She opens the box and passes out the two larger keys, keeping the very tiny one in hand herself. "I'll go into the keyhole with this one. Just give a shout out to me when you are ready to turn the keys and unlock the door."

 

[Aranfan]

"Brr, this is cold. How do you stand it Toun?" Two Mornings has her warmer activated, yet is still kvetching. "Is this what it felt like for you down south? Just with heat instead of cold?"

 

[Rykon]

"Brr, this is cold. How do you stand it Toun?" Two Mornings has her warmer activated, yet is still kvetching. "Is this what it felt like for you down south? Just with heat instead of cold?"

Toun had waited for the others to take ownership of the keys, but if none stepped forward he'd grab the one closest to his hand.

He turned to Two Mornings with a grin. "We have a high-fat mostly carnivorous diet up here compared to other places that may rely more on starchy crops. Eatin' southern food left me comparably weak just from the lack of substance. Whereas here we have foodstuffs that warm the body and spirit. Alas, I lack some of our favored seasonings for mammoth steaks, but a little sea salt goes a long way. That and wearin' the furs of a native beast makes a great difference for travelers up here."

"Anyhow, let's not delay. I'll count down from three then we all turn the keys when I say 'Go' alright? The count is just to get you prepared. Everyone got that?" Toun looked to the circle and nodded to Gwen. "Think you'll be able to hear us in there?"

 

[Psychie]

Gwen nods, then heads to the wall with the keyholes in it. Finding the largest of the holes, she holds the key in one hand as she shifts into her spider form. Scurrying up the wall, she slips into the fake keyhole and slowly works her way back towards the actual keyhole. Spending the needed motes to prepare the key for its job, Gwen carefully inserts it into the locking mechanism and waits for Toun's word to turn the key.

 

[Aranfan]

Taking the third key, Two Mornings goes to the last keyhole and signals her readiness.

 

[Sherwood]

With all three Keys in place in the correct slots, it is now time to see if Raksi's intel on the Tomb is correct. On the count of three from Toun, Two Mornings, Gwen and Toun all turn their Keys. A series of audible 'clunks' can be heard and felt through the ground as the massive door unlocks and swings open, with no sign of any traps or wards going off to do you any harm.

Before moving into the dark chamber that lies beyond the door, Rocky goes up to Two Mornings and places a gentle hand upon her shoulder. "I know that this was supposed to have deactivated the death traps inside, but still, be careful and come back out. I don't want to see you hurt in there."

The chamber just beyond the door is dark as the blackest night, with just a touch of light coming in from the open door.

 

[Aranfan]

Before moving into the dark chamber that lies beyond the door, Rocky goes up to Two Mornings and places a gentle hand upon her shoulder. "I know that this was supposed to have deactivated the death traps inside, but still, be careful and come back out. I don't want to see you hurt in there."

Two Mornings hugs him back, "Don't worry," She says softly, "I'll be careful." As she breaks the hug she smiles impishly at him before turning to enter the building.

 

[Psychie]

Crawling out of the hole, Gwen once more takes on her human form and slips the tiny Key into her pocket for safekeeping. Peeking through the door into the darkness beyond, the Changing Moon spends a mote of Essence to flare her Anima banner to provide a source of light. "Well, it appears that the first barrier has been defeated safely. Shall we enter and see what lies beyond?"

 

[jaydude]

"Right behind you." said Selket to Gwen, keeping her senses primed for any hint of danger.