Fantasy Saga of the Seven Sins - The Second Cycle

[Sherwood]

Darian nods, still shooting daggers with her eyes at Opal.

 

[Random Word]

Opal returns Darian's glare with relish, but doubt creeps into her mind unbidden. What if she wasn't lying about abandoning the Bronze Faction? She immediately rejects the notion out of hand, I need more reasons to hate her, not less. Insult her again, she'll say something else I can get angry about. Her eyes briefly stray from Darian's eyes to her lips, I bet I could kiss her from here before she knew what was happening; she'd never expect it. No, wait, hit her with no warning or explanation. She'll never trust me, and there will be no hope of repairing the damage. Can't; we'll end up destroying the restaurant and whoever owns this place doesn't deserve that.





Opal growls in frustration and falls face first onto the ottoman, covering her head with cushions in a mixture of rage, frustration, and despair. "Yes! Let's go! I need to be anywhere but here right now," comes the muffled yell as she bolts out of the restaurant, throwing the cushions at Darian without looking back, vaulting over a table and out onto the patio without breaking stride. She immediately feels better as she runs through the crowd and begins to relax, breathing a huge sigh of relief. Just five minutes away from her, please, Luna. I know I'm supposed to adapt, but she's going to drive me insane.


"I need to jump in a lake."

 

[Rykon]

Renost looks over to Viktor, then to Darian, "Well alright then." He said, standing up, handing the waiter more obols as he shouldered a jug of wine before exiting the building.

 

[WarDragon]

Viktor offers Renost an unconcerned shrug, though inside he fairly seethes with curiosity. What the Hell was that about? I'll have to ask her... later.


Not about to admit his ignorance of his companion's motives, he finishes his drink and stands up as well. "She is rather an... impulsive sort, my Opal, is she not?"


"Tell me, master Renost, you said that your views only half align with the Gold Faction... which half, might I ask?"

 

[Rykon]

"I don't believe in Solar rule as a definitive answer, merely the intrinsic right for all Exalts to exist. Cyclical murder and imprisonment of the assets that could have ended the great contagion and squashed the Balorian crusade was foolish, and to deny so in hindsight is more foolish." Renost stated, matter of factly. "I appreciate what the Bronze folks tried to do, every past incarnation of mine was Bronze, but to refuse to accept change and evidence against the viability of the plan is unacceptable. Creation deserves better than indirect rule by a shriveled stubborn brat with a penchant for lies, propaganda, and genocide."

 

[WarDragon]

"With that much, I am in agreement," Viktor says, his guards falling into step as they leave the restaurant. "The Solars had their chance, and their day is long past; Kejak has done no better, oh yes, I know of him. I suspect, however, that we would differ, rather significantly might I say, in just what that 'better' would be."

 

[Rykon]

"I see," Renost paused to pour some wine into a flask and begin drinking, "Judging from Opal's reference to being Brass faction, I don't imagine ideals influenced by Malfean dogma are likely to appeal to me, but I would hear your case and give it due consideration. It can't be much worse than Death Lord or Fae agendas at least."

 

[Random Word]

Opal climbs the fountain at the centre of the square and arches her back to douse her head and shoulders in the refreshingly cold water, pointedly ignoring the growing crowd gawking at her true form. It wasn't a lake, but it would have to do, unless she wanted to leave Creation entirely for a little while. The thought was tempting, but things weren't quite that bad. Yet.

 

[WarDragon]

Viktor snorts in contempt. "Malfeas," he says, the word dripping with scorn. "You need have no apprehension on that count, my good Vizier. I assure you, all ties I once possessed to Hell have been quite... thoroughly, one might even say spectacularly, severed. What designs and plans I hold are my own, not those of a pack of broken god-monster, howling mad in their inescapable prison."


"If it turns out that our goals align, you may learn more of them, and my true nature, in time. For now, does that satisfy you?"


"Opal, darling, you're making a scene."

 

[Sherwood]

Darian ponders what Viktor is saying. "So, if you are not a Solar and aligned with the Gold Faction, and you are no longer aligned with the forces of Malfias, who are you working for? Yourself? What do you believe in?" She hopes that it doesn't come across accusatory, because she is genuinely interested.

 

[Rykon]

Renost took a moment to walk over to the crowd gawking at Opal leaping up toward the edge of the fountain as he called out to the spectators, "Cast thine eyes away from the Goddess my good people, for staring at her transcendent beauty too long may break your own soul in twain. Only her chosen priests have received enough blessings to withstand the shear might of her radiant mien, but lo I say unto you, offer your prayers unto the night's maiden that you might receive the blessing of her presence once more!" Renost removed his white cloak and handed it to Opal, assuming those shameless enough to gawk were now turning away in fear of her power.

Spoiler

Activating First Performance Excellency and Fateful Perfomance Excellency total of 10m 1w.


Effect: 14 Successes at a Manipulation+Performance roll Appearance 4 against the crowd's MDVs to convince them that she is a goddess and needs her privacy.

 
Renost turned back to the group mumbling, "The priest of the mighty god trick... a pathetic but necessary preventative for Wyld Hunt inquisitions."

 

[WarDragon]

"Myself, precisely, dear Darian," he says with a gracious nod and a smile that would do a shark proud. "And I am most definitely not a Solar... at least not in the sense you likely are thinking of," he says, just to muddle things a bit. "I have spent too much of my life working for the goals and plans of others. Now, having wearied of such, I have reached a point where I would see my own ambitions realized, my rightful place in the scheme of things restored. And, while I trust you will take no offense if I do not share them with you entirely, given the freshness of our acquaintance, I can say that those ambitions are not small ones."

 

[Sherwood]

"I understand. We hardly know each other, but I am quite interested in learning more about whatever kind of Exalt you are. I must warn you, though. Even if I do not associate with the Bronze, that doesn't mean that I will casually overlook any true threats to the safety of Creation from the Malfians. So long as you understand that, we might have something to talk about later on."

 

[Random Word]

Opal rebuffs the proffered cloak as she slips from the top of the fountain, shaking her hair out. She smiles at Renost, "Skillfully done, but they've already forgotten me." She gestures to the crowd, demonstrating her point - none of them seem to be paying any attention to her whatsoever, even as her features rearrange themselves into the odalisque form she had adopted earlier. "I apologize for forcing you to step in on my behalf. I believe my curt manner precluded us ever being properly introduced. My name is Fire-Kissed Opal; skilled sorceress who weaves no spells, masterful martial artist who knows no style, deadly predator who takes no life, tireless hunter whose prey does not exist. I am a collection of contradictions, as Luna intended. Some day you may give me cause to hunt you, but until that day it is my... pleasure to make your acquaintance," she declares, as if trying the word out on a Sidereal for the first time, ending with a theatrical bow.

Spoiler

3m - One of the Herd

 

[WarDragon]

"Pray, believe me... there is no one more willing than I to thwart the Yozis' plans for Creation," he says with a thin smile. "If our association continues amicably, I shall enjoy educating you on the topic."


Amirah was a creature of contradictions as well... I suppose that says a great deal for my taste in women.

 

[Rykon]

Renost chuckles giving a martial artist's bow, "Based on what I hear from your speach, and see in your actions, I would be flattered should you direct your hunt my way." he said with a wink before looking at the other two of their companions for a brief moment, "And by the way, I am Renost of the House of Battles, Sifu by trade. If you decide to start learning martial arts styles, let me know. If you are looking at learning sorcery though I can't say I'd be of much help to you, I'm only a dabbler." He finished with a smile.

 

[Random Word]

Opal laughs, "I said I don't weave spells, not that I don't know Sorcery," she replies dismissively, sitting by the side of the fountain and running her fingers through the basin. "As to the Martial Arts, should you best me in combat I will consider your offer of tutelage. I will demonstrate to you why I know no style when next I have the opportunity to fight Darian. Soon, I hope. If you're lucky you may see me hurl her out of Creation," she adds, her mood souring visibly. "I might leave her there, too," she mutters, darkly. She turns from the fountain and stares into his eyes with wary curiosity, "Let us not speak of her. I may not trust you, but you have demonstrated a willingness to go out of your way to protect me from my follies with no conceivable expectation of personal gain. This is no blood debt, but I consider myself to owe you a favour of your choosing. I've never been in debt to a Sidereal before, and I fear I may yet regret this dreadfully, but I will stand by my word unless you harm Viktor or request I in some way work against his interests."


Her eyes sweep the crowd and she scowls as she spots Viktor and Darian strolling through the square. "Loathe though I am to leave Viktor alone with her for any reason, I simply cannot be around her right now. I'm going ahead to the arena. You may join me or not as you please," she says over her shoulder as she begins stalking quickly away from Darian.

 

[Rykon]

Renost's eyes narrowed for a moment as he looked at Opal, her challenge summoning up an instinct from childhood he had to deliberately suppress for the moment, visibly shaking off the instinct. With his mind cleared, Renost jogged up next to Opal, he took another mouthful from his wine flask and offered it to her, "I think you will find that I am more than capable in real combat. If you would be willing to find time for a sparring bout, I legitimately believe you will learn something useful."

 

[Sherwood]

Darian looks over at her fellow Vizier. "Just be careful what you teach her. Don't forget that the Sidereal Martial Art styles are forbidden to be taught to outsiders. No need to get yourself pulled up for disciplinary action."

 

[Rykon]

Renost turned to his fellow Sidereal, raising his voice, "My secretary handles my audits. Those who've tried have long given up on pinning me with any substantial infractions, as I've have played fair so far in training the newly Exalted."

 

[Random Word]

Opal accepts the flask gratefully and pours some into the goblet which materializes in her hand. She drinks like a parched traveller stumbling upon an oasis. "I'm not suggesting you aren't a formidable warrior, Renost," she replies between gulps, "I'm suggesting I am. I haven't survived this long by underestimating Sidereals," she adds, wryly. At the sound of Darian's voice unexpectedly close behind Opal becomes livid. She whirls on Darian in a rage, pressing the flask back into Renost's hands with far more force than is appropriate and practically lunges at the object of her ire. "Watcher's bloody tits, no one has made me want to hit them this much in decades! I need not stoop to learning your martial arts to defeat you," she screams, nearly colliding with Darian. "You are not the first of your kind to fall to me in their hubris," she snarls, teeth bared, punctuating her sentence by jabbing her finger into Darian's collarbone, "And you will by no means be the last."


Suddenly she realizes where she is and looks down at Darian's body brushing against her own, blushing furiously as a jolt runs up her spine. Her hand recoils as if burnt, and her eyes jump back up to meet Darian's. This only further reminds her of how close they are, and her face softens, eyes wide, lips parted slightly as the conflicting impulses to recoil in horror and push herself closer escalate to full scale war and her mind briefly grinds to a halt.

Spoiler

If you'd prefer to dodge out of the way of the near-collision, grab my hand before it touches you, or perform any action you see fit that your supernal reflexes or charms would permit then I'll cut off wherever you act and you can write the rest. At this point any reaction you take has Surprise at the very least, so you can get away with most anything, up to and including kicking me across the square.

 

[Lord-Leafar]

Saif moved through the crowd silently and inconspicuously, if anything could be said of his normal appearance was that he was mostly unremarkable, and he used that to his advantage. With the goal clear in his mind, he searches for any clues as to Marlon Trasti's whereabouts, if memory served him well the Trasti house operated in casinos around the city, the first of the breadcrumbs to follow. As one of these establishments comes into view, he adopts his stance into that of an unassuming beggar, stepping inside the gambling house to ask for a few coins from those wealthy men inside.

 

[Seeker of the End]

The moment that Saif even attempts to go near the Trasti Casinos he is almost immediately kicked out. It is clear that he doesn't have any money, so what would even be the point of letting him in. He would have had an easier time going in a rich client with money to spare. Otherwise nobody would even care.

 

[Lord-Leafar]

As the staff of the casino drags him out, Saif takes the opportunity to do a quick glance of the facilities in the building, windows, entry and exit points, the amount of people inside and their general distribution from his own vantage point, his sharpened senses capturing the most unique details in just a fraction of a second, enough time before he's forcefully dragged out, to which he offers no resistance. Once out he wanders away from the casino and into an alleyway nearby.

Spoiler

Activating Panoptic Fusion Discipline, 4m personal to be able to notice such things in a shorter amount of time. Rolling Per + Awareness +1 stunt dice to notice the details of the place. Depending on what info I get, that will define my next action. 5 sux total


[dice]5688[/dice]

 

[Seeker of the End]

The casino is filled to the brim with various patrons, most of them were somewhat wealthy to extremely wealthy. All of them vary in gender, but for the most part none of them seems to stick out. Several of the richest patrons were getting lucky consistently while everyone else was losing a lot of money. Perhaps they were on a winning streak?