Prologue - Willful Expression of Conflict [Heaven's Descent into Darkness]

[Preus Kai]

To: Willful Expression of Conflict


From: Office of Hu Dai Liang, Division of Battles, Sub-Directorate of Exalted Warlords


You are directed to ensure that war between the icewalker tribe Cave Bear and the city of Shanarinara is declared before the first day of Calibration (see Case Number 4282-B-3954-187


Mission Profile:


22 Descending Fire, Shanarinara. This day sees the Cave Bear tribe camped a days march from the walls of Shanarinara with the intent of sacking the city. The city-dwellers have offered a copious bounty of furs, meats, and tools in exchange for the tribe abandoning their plans of battle. The ice walkers claim that the city-dwellers have bent knee to the restless dead and will stay their course if the inhabitants of Shanarinara do not rid themselves of their foul alliance with the undead. See to it that no manner of bribery or diplomacy interferes with the coming battle. Be advised that the Loom of Fate has prophesied that a young soldier involved in the initial skirmish will be gifted with a Solar Exaltation. This threat is to be eliminated when encountered.


Estimated probability of hidden undead presence: 88.12%

 

[Tikor]

Willful Expression of Conflict reclined in his Celestial Manse and set the notice down. Waiting Balm will get to lead the Aurochs next month it looks like. Unless I'm in that lucky 11.88%.


Standing up and looking around his expansive, decadent and currently empty magical house Willful continues thinking. And who writes these things, anyway? I'm to start the battle, but it gives no mention of which side to influence. Are the Endings so controlling that I can't help? And a Solar's popping up but we don't know which side?


Starting to pack his travelling bag Willful furrows his brow on what seems to be a constant problem these days. Solars. I'm going to have to watch out for those Gold crazies. I might not have lived it, but everybody knows they destabilize over time. No sense in letting a ticking time bomb run Creation. Not that I think the Dragon-Blooded have their heads screwed on right, but they're much easier to control when they go off the rails. I wonder what this Solar will do to tangle the Tapestry that he needs eliminated so soon after his Exaltation? Whatever it is I'll take care of it after he cools off from the initial Essence blast.


Looking at the contents of his bag Willful notices something is missing. And undead. I've got some bright morning for ghosts, but I'd best see what salt products are available in the market.


Setting the bag back down and grabbing some Ambrosia from a drawer Willful heads out to the Yu-Shan markets. On the way back I should stop by the Loom to pray to the spiders personally. That courtier destiny seemed like such a good fit for the last mission. But after the release of that dream crystal won't be suitable for much of anything...


-------------


<I put mechanics and OOC notes down here>. Willful is looking for a salted weapon so he can put corporeal undead to rest. Thantos hooked me up on the Thaumaturgy, thanks again. And I'm looking for a colorful heavenly market scene for giggles.

 

[Preus Kai]

The ride along the silver lane of the Quicksilver Canal Network was quick and pleasant. There were a few little gods that rode with Willful Expression of Conflict on the dragon boat, each making idle conversation to pass the time between boardings and departures, most remarking about the recent change of leader in the Games of Divinity.


The pilot of the watercraft bade Willful a good day as he stepped onto the docks of the celestial bazaar. Divine beings hawked wares and haggled over trinkets and baubles crafted of such exotic materials that the sight of such goods would still the beating heart of any merchant prince of Creation. Many a prayer exchanged godly hands as the business of the market place put even Nexus' fabled Market District to shame...


<<Perception + Bureaucracy to navigate the bazaar, or any other valid roll you'd like to make>>

 

[Tikor]

Willful


Willful bade the boat driver good day, then dove into the mass of divinity that was the Celestial Bazaar. Looking around the bazaar, but not seeing any obvious signage for the services he needs, Willful takes a different tack. Willful stops a low ranking spirit and asks him "Could you tell me if there are any Thaumaturges that could help me against the dead looking for business?"


------------


Perception+Bureaucracy (5) = 1 successes.


+ stunt dice?

 

[Preus Kai]

<< I'll roll one stunt-die for you, but after this YOU apply either a one or two die stunt bonus to your dice pools based on how awesome you think the description of your action would award you:


Results for 1 dice: 0 successes [ 6 ] (TN: 7)>>


Many of the gods attending the market are far too interested in their own dealings, but Willful Expression of Conflict manages to gain the attention of a child-like god as it passes by him.


The three foot tall being's face and clothing are dirty and unkempt, but it wore a broad smile and a happy-go-lucky demeanor.


"Hey there. I'm Gustav, patron deity of 'street urchins and raggamuffins that live with hope'." The godling extends it's small hand, a cloud of dirt hovering about him like an anima banner. "You looking for mojo against the undead? I know just the god you'd want to speak to. C'mon, follow me!"


The child-god dashes through the crowded market square, taking a corner and entering an alleyway, motioning for Willful to catch up.


<< Any roll you want to make is up to you>>

 

[Tikor]

----------


Duly noted on the stunt dice. I think keeping up with the god is an unrolled action, since he's not trying to lose me. Where does he lead me?

 

[Preus Kai]

Weaving to and fro between the ordered chaos of the heavenly market, the urchin-god leads Willful past a number of stalls and barkers that seem to be suited well enough to provide him with the goods he seeks, but the dirty little god keeps waving at him to follow.


"Trust me, I know just the place you're looking for!" Willful's guide exclaimed. Taking a number of side alleys and short-cuts, the throngs of consumer-gods thinned out as the pair entered the "slums" that bordered the bazaar. There was commerce here, sure, but most of the gods looked indigent or lost, and none of the wares seemed to be on par with the glorious goods available in the district they were just in.


Slowing down, Gustav spoke quietly to Willful Expression of Conflict. "OK, this is the place. There's an ancient god here who fell from his height of power right after the Contagion, but he's the top god to talk to about weapons that combat the dead. Lot's of us don't even know name, but we all call him Whispers."


Nodding inconspicuously towards a darkened doorway, the little god spoke in a hushed tone. "He does his business in there. It's really creepy, so no one ever goes in without a good reason." Beaming a mischievous grin at Willful and extending a small hand for compensation, Gustav bids him well in his endeavors.

 

[Tikor]

Willfull gives the small god a drop or two of Qunitessence out of his pouch and his thanks. Standing at the precipice he waits for the little god to head back to the better part of town while he thinks to himself.


Whispers, eh? I've heard of those too intimately connected to the Void saying they are plagued by voices they sometimes call 'whispers'. I hope that's just a coincidence.


Willfull looks around, becoming more wary as his thoughts drift down dark possibilities. I'd best be careful, who knows who I'll be on the wrong side of just for visiting this craftsman.


Sparing a bit of Essence to give him some warning should trouble be of the more immediate type, Willful enters the building.


---------------


I activate Prior Warning. What do I see once I enter?

 

[Preus Kai]

The door frame of Whispers' shop was etched with ancient runes of warding and a waft of herbs welcomed Willful Expression of Conflict as he entered. The shop was sparsely lit by braziers that cast an eerie shadow across the floor and walls. Near-empty weapon racks line the walls and a figure dressed in a black funerary cloak and wearing a First Age plague-bearer's mask stands behind a booth, it's window covered by long strings of ivory beads that wave slightly in an unfelt breeze.


There is something not quite right about this place. The fire that lights the area is a cold, pale white and it whimpers like a frightened child. The weapons set on the racks are well-worn, some even broken to pieces, and the herbal scent is recognized by Willful as an incense to ward of ghosts.


The beaked, eyeless mask of Whispers turns towards Willful and a sound like a whisper carried on the wind welcomes him to peruse the sundries.


----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


<<Prior Warning hasn't picked anything up yet, but it's still on for 5 hours so I'll keep that in mind. Also, if you could please update your Essence pools, Willpower, and such at the end of your posts I'd be most grateful =]>>

 

[Tikor]

Willfull, hopeful


Willfull nonchalantly ignores the sense of dread in the room, comforted by his Charm's warning. He walks right up to the counter and says conversationally "Whispers, I hear you can arm one to fight the Undead. I'm on the Conventions on Deathlords and might be interested in your services if you could show me a persuasive demonstration."


Where have I seen that mask before?


-----------


I don't think this is Social Combat. Please correct me if I'm wrong.


Willfull has enough knowledge to know that fraudulent enchantments exists but not enough to be able to be confident checking an enchantment's verification.


Willfull's memory is teased by a passage he read about the Great Contagion that he can't place.


Personal 12/18 (6 committed to Prior Warning)


Peripheral 28/37 (9 committed to Artifacts).


The rest maxed.