[The Lawgivers] PRELUDE: The City of Glass

[Bardlebee]

Chip Chip


Mist saw more wall where the glowing was coming from. In fact, it was a completely cracked wall! I seemed to be on its last leg and any small nudge of a stone or a loud explosion off in the distance would make it tumble down. Though, he heard something... a woman was making inaudible crying noises, then she said something to the affect "Don't hurt me, your free to go now". After thinking about it, Mist did not see the other rooms. It was quite possible the other dungeons spiraled down some stairs and linked to this tunnel.

 

[RetroCity]

MIST


As Much as Mist just wanted to take advantage of this situation to make a run for it. Hearing the woman cries and asking to not hurt her, was enough for him to want to at least go check it out. So he stepped and guided by the voice of the woman, he headed toward there and maybe some luck, Mist would have the occasion to check the other captives. If he could save one person, his trip wouldn't have been in vain.

 

[Bardlebee]

Mist notices that the voice is coming from a chamber room which is behind the cracked wall he found. He could not see in there, but he could destroy the wall.

Spoiler

Sorry that wasn't clear. The wall is crumbling and you can break it down, that is where the glow and the womans voice is coming from. Would you like to break said wall? I know this seems like.... rail-roadish but getting six dudes together has to be.

 

[Blackadder]

Rowan Lujan


Rowan had to act on impulse, as he'd been doing so often, and tried to clear the glass with a great leap.

 

[RetroCity]

Mist began cracking the wall to the best of his abilities to reach the woman.

 

[Reaver]

Asad


"There are many reasons we do not trust one another. Just as there are many reasons why we do not war with one another. Your men try to protect your prestige for that I can not hate. It is a sign of a loved chieftain." A look at Asalad. "The location of your son is the news I come with. Rumors given form enough that I will put up with slighted pride and the insults of those who know no better." A look at the Tri-Khan. "For I believe that he will enter the happy state of matrimony to my own tribe. A bold move to unite the tribes without doubt."

 

[Bardlebee]

Rowan gave a great leap! and successfully not only dodged the pane of glass which multiple people clapped at, probably thought it was a staged event, but balanced himself back onto the cart itself!


Mist moved one rock and with a loud crumble the wall fell apart. Roughly 6 foot gaping hole was there now and with that noise the caved in way that was once blocked fell as well. Perhaps it was the noise, perhaps it was fate but Mist now had a way out down the tunnel though unsure of where it led. In front of him he saw a woman now very surprised. It was "Ms. Sarhee" from before. She had tears in her eyes however they were a mix of joy and fear. The man that stood there now turned around. His head was bloodied from being hit in the head. He seemed to be a victim of these horrible tortures. They were both in a way looking victimized. The only way out was either down the rail tunnels that just now opened up, or fighting their way back out of this place. Since Mist was blindfolded coming down, he was unsure how many men and women guards he would have dispatch going up.... But those were the two options.


Layoro saw the man who broke the wall looking in curiously and confused. His face covered in dirt and bruises. It was dead silent at this time, both of them caught off guard.

 

[RetroCity]

MIST


"Fear not, I'm Mist and I will get you out of here, one way or another." Mist didn't know how many guards were out there and how many men he would need to fight to get out of this hellhole but one thing for certain. He couldn't just abandon them and make a run for it. So he grabbed the broken chains on the ground, ready to use them to strangle the guards and knock them out if he needed to, honor before death was what his father told him often. Plus what would his father think, if he let a defenseless woman and a bloodied guy alone. He peaked out around the corner and readied himself.

 

[Bardlebee]

Rolling Down The Hill!


Ajani is hoisted up and through the ceiling of this huge cavern! Is this some kind of First Age magic? He could literally see where the rocks were rolling off his capsule as he shot up through the ground! Suddenly like a piercing blade the he saw the sun. He covered his eyes it was so bright and warm to the touch. From all the noise the ground made to bring him here, all the screams of the people below him who are seeing the capsule now shoot up ten to twenty feet in the sky, all the sounds slowly drowned out and there was only the sun. It's gaze magnified by the barrier perhaps, but Ajani right then. Right there. Felt the warmth of the sun and felt as though someone was holding him for the first time as a child. This feeling came abruptly crashing down as he fell and hit the ground in the pod. Hitting his head against this cramped ceiling! The capsule then tumbled and began to roll down hill unceremoniously. After quite a few rolls Ajani tried to find the strength to not puke in this pod from the spinning, adding insult to injury. Barely he held his own and closed his eyes, bracing himself for the inevitable impact.


Cart Surfing


Rowan kept rolling down the hill, the speed would not let up due to the hill's steepness leading the the Tri-Khan's gates. Suddenly he saw a hole open up before him, hoping to not hit it he steered the cart around it. What popped out was a capsule the size of two men. A barrier made of a golden sheen was shown there along with two end caps also made of gold, though this was as much as he was going to see as it started falling and rolling right in front of him! Thankfully it was faster the Rowan but this was indeed another notch in the ever so strange day. They continued toward the gates of the Tri-Khan, preparing for the imminent impact.

 

[Seeker of the End]

Ajani


Ajani was barely able to maintain coherent thought as tumbled around in the golden capsule. All he could do was hope that he stopped soon, although such an event was extremely unlikely.


Honestly, he just gave up trying to reason behind what was happening to him and why it was happening a while ago. He just decided, to his resignation, to go with the flow and let whatever happen, happen.

 

[Bardlebee]

A Ladies Request


Seemingly to break the tension in the room Mist came in heroically to slay his way to the top. "Might I suggest us going down the tunnel instead? I don't know... one man....?" She looked at Mist in disbelief "I... I mean you may be able to.. I think there were about ten men out there in total until we got to the top..." Ms. Sarhee as she calls herself was hesitant to believe Mist and wouldn't like to start a confrontation that could get anyone killed. Though she was not a fighter, that much was for sure.

Spoiler

You may choose to slay your way to the top or go down the tunnel for another way for freedom. Sarhee as she calls herself is just pushing you towards and option she feels more comfortable with as she can't fight worth a damn

 

[RetroCity]

MIST


"Ten men? Thank you for the information. There could be twenty men the other way too or a whole garrison. I'd rather fight battles that I know about then the run the other way for a slight possibility of freedom." Mist remembered the tales of many Delzhan warriors who cut their ways through enemies even when most doubted them plus if it didn't get the attention of his family, he wasn't sure what else would.

 

[Ebon_Arbiter]

Takeno


The young scion of House Nellens and diplomat of the Realm, adjusted himself more comfortably, smiling to the compliments of the Tri-Khan, but stayed silent, to allow him to advance his conversation with the man that had just entered. His inquisitive eyes watched him carefully and he listened with interest to what he had to say. Apparently he was delivering information on the whereabouts of the Tri-Khan's son and that could be potentially very useful, if it could lead to his discovery and return to Chiaroscuro. This way, the political crisis would be resolved, stability would return and Takeno would probably return to the Realm, content that another diplomatic assignment was successfully concluded. What troubled him though was the fact that the Tri-Khan seemed to require that a team of Exalts should go and retrieve his son. Takeno was no exalt and he was not certain if there were enough Dragon-Blooded in Chiaroscuro that would be able to and willing to assist with such a task.

 

[JayTee]

Layoro


Layoro was largely at a loss for words. He had resolved himself to attempting to escape on his own or die trying, and now this woman comes along and sets him free. "I won't hurt you, thank you for freeing me." He said, rubbing himself where he had been injured to alleviate the pain. It was a minor injury, but it still stung. "Who are you? What is going on?" He asked, before stopping himself. "No, we'd best get out of here first before we discuss anything. Are you... fit to travel?" He asked, noticing for the first time her upset state.

 

[Blackadder]

Rowan Lujan


Rowan closed his eyes and began praying. "Please, Pasiap, Hesiesh, Sextes Jylis, Daanna'd, Mela... I am a devout Immaculate... if there is a way to clear my name and escape his situation, show it to me!" The crash coming would not be pleasant.

 

[Bardlebee]

Breaking Free






Mist makes the decision that he rather fights for freedom then run with his tail tucked behind his back. No matter if the other tunnel lead to immediate freedom or riches, he would be damned if he risked running into more men. At least this way it was a calculated risk and not simply a variable. With that decision the woman who he knew as "Ms. Sarhee" and the man who was once bound stood behind him at the ready. The man wouldn't prove to be very helpful however since he had no weapons, he was eerily quiet which was unnerving, though this could have been due to the bump in the head he received coming here. Mist peaked outside the door, there was an immediate stairwell that went straight up and curved, made of the same rough, grey stone the walls were made out of. It would explain why when he fell it happened upon another torture room when he fell and then broke through a wall below. It would seem some of the doors in the waiting room went down a stairwell. Stealthily they moved up the steps and were greeted by another iron door, this one however had a grated window of which was familiar to Mist. This was the same type of door they had in the main waiting room! Hopefully they weren't too far off or were very lucky and it was the same room.


*CLANG*


A force hit the door they were listening against and a quick look outside the grate showed a man grasping at his neck, blood spewing out violently. His desperate gurgles matched his shocked face as he stared at the same grey covered man Mist met earlier in the waiting room. The grey-covered man nonchalantly pulled a key from the dying guard’s pocket. The same man then proceeded to open the very door Mist was behind along with the other two of his retinue. Mist readied his weapon, unsure if he was with "Ms. Sarhee" or not. The grey-covered man opened the door and had surprise in his eyes "Lari--" he stops, his expression changing to calmness "errmm Ms. Sarhee I have cleared the way, but we can't go out the front as there are are far too many men. I had let one go free, it was beyond my power to stop him, and surely we will have all of the Undermarket on us shortly. I have found an escape hatch however and we may be able to fight our way up there. Please, Ms. Sarhee and..." the grey-covered man looks at Layoro and Mist "I suppose if you two can help we would be most appreciative, I don't imagine you want to be here either when all of Malfeas rains down on us." With that the man hurries away down the long hallway. Layoro finds a simple long sword from the guard and basic leather armor, it may prove to be a fitting disguise and with him having no defense it was better than nothing. The group followed the gre-cloaked man to a hall the curved to the right and to a crude wooden ladder, the group proceeded to climb it to another extended hallway forward which again ended in another ladder. However at the base of that ladder there were two guards standing there. With the hallway being roughly 10 feet wide it was going to be interesting fighting them. There was a brief silence as the guards looked at the group and vice versa before the grey man spoke "Si used desea matener sus almu, dopongin las frite! Me han conseckado los hombres poar loas escaleras, qué otro dos más?!"

Spoiler

If you care to keep your souls, you will lay down your weapons! I have reaped the men down stairs, whats another two more?!


The grey man keeps his blade up, blood of his enemies still dripping from it. The soldiers looked at each other, then back to the grey covered man. They dropped their weapons and slowly walked past the group with their hands behind their head. It seems whatever the grey man said worked. The group proceeded to climb up the ladder the men were blocking, up and up and up they went for some time, their mortal hands stressing from the continuous climbing. The grey man carried Ms. Sarhee on his back. Finally they came to a city grate that was made of crude iron, which was a stark contrast to what they saw in other areas of brilliant gold glass. The sun glowed onto their face in the noon-day of the sun. The heat being a welcome retreat from the cold underworld of this city and the horrors they inhabited. Just as they all clamored out of the tunnel they noticed they were on the cross-section of The Red Road and Merchant Street which was the very cross section that stood in front of the Golden Palace Tower that the Tri-Khan inhabited. This grate was expertly hidden behind one of the luxury homes made of brilliant glass that was clearly crafted by an exalt thaumaturge as anything below that there would be cracks in the workmanship. Most houses, or should I say near-mansion sized houses, were built by exalt artisans so it was no surprise and the placement of the tunnel didn't seem to be hidden in a shack of some sort, it was simply in a back ally way. Perhaps that was the point, for it to be as nondescript as possible. The group made their way quickly into the crowd in the cross-section of the street. The grey man turned to Mist and Layoro when it was apparent that they were safe and bowed gracefully "Thank you for protecting her on our way out. Please find us at the Larika Estates later and we will be sure to reward you--" he is abruptly cut off by screaming in the distance. It would appear that down the Red Road there was... a golden capsule? It was tumbling towards them at alarming speeds, as it got closer it was apparent there was someone in there! A barrier around it constantly was disrupted and was shining gold from the glass ground hitting it as it smashed through various merchant carts and hitting people who weren't fast enough. Behind it was a man on an orange cart violently managing to stay on and keep control of the runaway fruit-on-wheels. A strange and nearly comedic appearance to be sure, but Mist and Layoro had no time to laugh at it as they couldn't get out of the way either! Both men started to run away from it, their course heading towards the gates of the Golden Palace Towers! They ran and ran, pushing people out of the way watching as the guards at the gate prepared for impact, unsure whether to let the two men through who were being chased or to get out of the way of the huge five hundred pound, ten foot tall capsule. They decide on the latter and dive out of the way.


With the capsule catching up to Mist and Layoro they both look at each other briefly and with a strange familiarity. Layoro lays out his hands, cupped and ready for Mist. Mist places his foot in Layoro's hands while Layoro keeps his running pace. With a strong kick off Mist back flips with inhuman strength and grace, landing atop of the orange cart Rowan was steering causing him to almost fall! Rowan, to his surprise and with lightning reflexes grabs onto Mist's already outstretched hand, as if they rehearsed this motion a thousand times. Both men in those small moments looked at each other in a mix of confusion and shock, for they were complete strangers and yet they performed something the best of friends would have in sync. Only a matter of seconds went by as these feats of inhuman activity were performed. With the gate getting closer, Layoro does something that is suicidal. He stops. Something in his heart told him he was going to be fine. Time slowed to a crawl as he had mere nano-seconds to look up at the sun, its rays warmed him from the inside as he calmly turned around. As he turned he watched as women, men and children ran and screamed, their motions moved with such a slow pace it alarmed Layoro. He was moving so quickly that everything around him moved as if it was a moment in time. Seeing the capsule creep up to him like a snail was also alarming as prior it moved almost a hundred miles per hour. With grit in his teeth, feet planted firmly to the ground and his arms stretched out he presses against the time-slowed capsule. The sun seemed to provide such warmth and power at this time, that Layoro took it one step further. He felt four hands and arms come around his back, grasping onto his as if to say "I will help you.." with god-like strength Layoro lifts the capsule during its transit and slams it down behind it allowing it to continue its roll.


Layoro isn't allowed to smile or even feel a relief however as time suddenly went back into full motion. With an abrupt hit to the back of his knees Layoro feels his back fall onto the floor of this already overcrowded cart with Mist and Rowan, all three of the men funnily holding on for dear life. Ajani watched in horror as the gates blew to metallic shards, they were clearly not made of the same material as the palace. Several pieces of the gate hit all three of them men behind it making cuts all over their exposed legs and arms.


Impact with the golden palaces main doors was imminent. Its twenty foot golden glass doors so huge and looming became the center piece for their death scene, or so they thought.....


Meanwhile, In The Palace


The silence that fell on the main room of the palace was heavy when Asad spoke his words. The Tri-Khan's heart fell as was noticeable by his expression "I... I can't..." the Tri-Khan stammers in disbelief as he walks down to Asad. The portly short man bows, his jewels dangling from his plump, southern hat "I thank you a thousand times good sir. Now I will need exalts more than ever in this matter. The sands of the south are the most dangerous place in all of Creation at times... I just..." many in the room could tell the Tri-Khan was getting a bit teary eyed but no one said a word. The air in the room was silent more so out of respect than embarrassment for the Tri-Khan, he continues "Do you know of any Exa--" he is cut off abruptly by the sounds of metal twisting and exploding just outside, then before he can question it the large glass doors that lead into that main hall exploded into a shower of glass!!


All of time and space ground to a crawl as the large golden capsule and the three manned cart road into the main hall destroying many Second Age items at the same time. Both the Tri-Khan, Asad and a part of Gaze was in the way of this huge monstrosity that shattered the huge door. Takeno sprang into action with inhuman speed, speed he never felt before. Was it adrenaline or something else? He leaped in between the Tri-Khan and Asad pushing both out of the way, he went to give one final push to Gaze and as he turned Takeno noticed she already grabbed onto his arm. Complete fear was in her eyes as she gazed at him, it was too late however as she pulled her hand remained firm but it did not clear the capsule. Ajani, inside the capsule, feels a body getting crushed under its weight enormous weight. Everything was happening in these mere moments. To everyone else it was a split second, a fraction in time, the amount of time that an onlooker has to say "No!" before grimacing at the extreme impact. However this time took eons to the three men on the cart, Asad who just got pushed out of the way, Ajani stuck in the capsule, and finally Takeno who was now pronounced dead. The moment, the very time everything stood still was when the lip of the capsule smashed Takeno's ribs and destroyed his body. The moment the capsules lower back end got over the speed bump that used to be Takeno...


That is when time stopped.


As quickly as Takeno's life was stole from him, which much sooner was it regained, his body deflating and back to whole again violently. His cracked ribs were fixed, his organs healed. His body not just becoming whole again but, stronger than it ever was. With his right hand holding onto Gaze's, his body faced down with only the brilliant red carpet to greet him Takeno picks up his left hand and turns over to his back. Everything had stop. All time. He grabbed the back top of the capsule on its lip with his left hand, stopping its nearly hundred mile an hour pursuit in its tracks with super-human strength, the same capsule that just literally killed him. Looking up at Gaze from where his body used to be crushed on the ground, the look of fear was still on her face... then everything faded...


~Takeno's Vision~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


But, that does not matter as his vision quickly comes back, but is in the body of a woman? Her mocha hands were beautiful and powerful. You see her with a large scepter and to her left she sees a man who is covered in fur. Slowly however he turns back into a normal human and looks at you. "My sweet, perhaps this social project has gone on long enough" he says looking at a large orb in his hands made of crimson red, silver, and gold colors. It was at this time that you notice you are sitting in a throne room, elaborate and powerful. Air is being conditioned to the perfect temperature with ventilation that you have never seen before. The language that this man spoke was not something you have ever heard, but could understand him perfectly. "You want more and more to control the stately order, I feel you are slowly slipping into madness" he seems to be pleading with you. No one else is in this grand hall and it seems that he wanted a private audience with you. All of these small nuances such as this come floating in weakly "We must show them the way. That is the final law, you either are with me or against me!" she says with command at the beast-like man. He winces back in adherence "So be it my love..."

Just then your vision is changed to a great vast of land filled with glittering silver sand. It is unnatural and you see an army, encased in a solid material like gargoyles or statues. It would seem if someone were to take them out of this spell they would be fighting again right away. Everything is in dead motion here.


Your vision is then moved toward a scepter sitting in the vast sands of silver. It was a gold staff with a decoration of an eye in the top of it. Then a voice comes from all directions, large and powerful "You were once the dignitary for many lands, bringing people together under one banner. Now those lands are separate and in ruin. Show the world the kindness and power of the Unconquered Sun. Make them realize the web of lies and propaganda they have been fed. ECLIPSE them with your political and social mastery and bring an end to the Time of Tumult!


However, this message felt... per-recorded as another voice that was not as handsome and powerful spoke in Takeno's ear, his vision now gone to black. "You will now do my bidding. I will send for one of my DeathKnights to come pick you up. Your training begin--" the voice cuts off however and your vision is abruptly taken back to where Takeno died and was reborn.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


The explosion of Takeno's black exaltation destroyed the carpet he was on, though with time slowed as it was the flames barely filled his back as Ajani looked at him in disbelief. As the dark flames crept up his shoulders and with Gaze still holding onto his hand locked to the slowness of time, Ajani's vision blurred and fades as well...


~Ajani's Vision~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


His hearing returns, but it’s not that of the calamity of shattering glass and screaming nobles, but that of a sea. He feels the waves crash up and down and his vision finally comes to. He is looking through the eyes of another person. A man decorated in medals and gleaming gold armor with suns ordained all across it stood there. Finally he notices he is on a ship and is at the very head looking out to some islands heading east. This ship was familiar however; in fact it was the very ship he saw prior while in the golden capsule! The man was tracking something on a map on the upper deck, an island to the east of creation. This map however looked much bigger than what creation actually is today. Ajani, just as well as this ship captain, know that the book you have been looking for is in those mountains and retrieving it means finally unlocking Solar Circle Sorcery. A ship mate comes up behind you, his boots hitting to deck can easily be heard on the currently calm seas "Captain, your men have been rowing for weeks..." he says apprehensively "They just want rest... they have sent me to.." his words get cut off as the man ordained in the gold armor swings around and stabs the ship mate in the chest and sends him over board with one fail swoop. All that remained in your mind was that book, the obsession. You once again look out to the far sea. You realize you just killed a man in a fraction of a second. You realize that the troops saw what happened. That is why they obey you though. You are the ruler of this ship. This is your island on the ocean.

​

The vision and sounds of the sea subside and you are left with an empty boat made of a brilliant gold color. A book of gold can also be seen in front of you on this ship, but barely out of your reach. You see visions of you choking someone, a neck familiar to you but the woman's face is obscured. Your vision again goes black. Just then a voice comes out to you, deep and powerful "Your greed for knowledge pushed you to the edge. No man’s life was equal to your obsession. Your thirst for power grew. Come back finally my sun child and be one again, may you not repeat the evils that your ancestors once laid upon you. Go now, TWILIGHT!


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Finally, what seemed like hours were mere fractions of a second when Ajani's mind spoke to him, filling his head with First Age knowledge and voices of the past replaced old memories. His body became stronger, his mind sharper and an explosion of flame made Ajani into a ten foot sized essence powered light. His body could not be seen inside it, just pure golden light shown out from it. The capsule was turning at its momentum, while Takeno still had a firm grasp, the inertia of the large device's bottom end swung around and was going to hit Asad's newly placed location where Takeno had pushed him out of the way. However with time slowed to the six there was enough sight to see the oncoming capsule. Asad knew, not thought, but knew he could stop this huge device. Knowing that any normal mortal would be crushed as Takeno did Asad laid out his arms, the noon-day sun shining on him from the now shatter doorway.. The warmth and strength of the sun was daunting at first, but then it was familiar as his mind and body faded to another place...


~Asad's Vision~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


His muscles tense and become stronger, seemingly for no reason at all. After all the traveling he was feeling tired and worn out, his mortal body labored by all the sun exposure but that seems to have disappeared in an instant. The knowledge of battle comes pouring into his mind like a faucet of water set on high and cannot be stopped. He gets visions of battles in the northern lands of Creation. At least that's what he thinks it is as there are ice mountains and frozen waste lands around him. By now Asad notices he is no longer in the throne room of the Tri-Khan but on a battle field of frozen tundra. The armies of thousands of feral men and women are headed towards him in a thunderous cloud that seems to cover the sheer ice in darkness. Asad looks down and see your hands are of that of a man. After some time you realize you are peering through the eyes of someone that is not yourself. The man that you are looking through gets on his horse of gleaming armor and of a fine breed. He turns to view a huge army of what seem to be common folk and he speaks "For too long these people have taken your lives! Your homes and your freedoms!" He shouts out loud. Asad can see the tens of thousands of common soldiers nodding their heads in agreement "For too long they have taken what you have sown! Your harvest, which is the hardest to come by in these unforgiving climates!" he shouts again with vigor, the response of the crowd can be seen nodding and more shouting back in approval. "Well I say we make these sons of bitches reap what they have sown! Let us show them they're benefits from they're HARVEST!!!" he shouts bringing a large Daiklave in the air made of a strange gold substance. The crowd is going nothing short of wild and they all lift they're spears and pitch forks.


Suddenly a thunderous sound comes from behind the army in rhythm of a giant running. What can be seen behind the man's commoner army is a huge mechanical beast of epic size. The armor is in excellent condition in its sheen white appearance. The jagged edges of armor make it look like a menacing beast of battle! The man on the horse rides between his army, who are in kind shouting and cheering even though the other force of feral beasts of the thousands are still charging in from a mere hundreds of feet away. The man looks up at the beast, which is easily towering a fifty or more feet high. A feeling of pure joy overcomes him as he thinks to himself "This is mine."

​

Suddenly your vision darkens and you see the same beast of armor encased in ice. You feel cold. You see through the same man’s eyes again, only this time you see a man that was a hybrid polar animal. You are choking him screaming "I TRUSTED YOU!! I TRUSTED YOU!!" his body already dead from your battle. The rage you feel in your body is overwhelming. Your sight again goes black. And suddenly you hear a voice from all around you "Once great and noble warlord is now nothing but a shell of his former self. You have been wronged as being shown to be demons, anathema, and heretics. It is your duty to show the power of the Unconquered Sun once again to the people! Bring the truth of why you are NOT demons and murders. Lead them into battle into a new day of creation! You are my general, you are my DAWN!


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Asad slammed his hands against the capsule and it immediately stopped, golden light pierced his eyes from it though and the man that was now in there wasn't visible anymore. Rowan watched the flakes of fire creep around Asad's feet while he tumbled upside down in the air, completely smelling of citrus and sweat. The three men that were on the cart were now going their separate ways whether they liked it or not, on a trajectory of hitting various unbreakable glass objects. Time stood still for Rowan as well and it was a strange feeling of inertia to see it upside down. Rowan saw he was traveling for the throne so he did what he felt natural; he attempted to stop himself by doing a back hand spring off of it. Once his hands slowly but surely hit the throne his vision went dark...


~Rowan's Vision~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


The room disappears just as the silence appeared. However suddenly he sees himself moving across rooftop to rooftop. He was making leaps that are impossible for a human. 100 feet. 300 feet. 500 feet. After some time Rowan finally notices that he is not inside his body but is peering through the eyes of another. The person he is looking through looks to her right and left and various ninja like shadows can be seen through the moons silhouette. In fact this is the first time, after Rowan's eyes adjusted, that he notices it is night time. There are trees as far as he can see, but this is all around the outskirts of this large city. Still bounding from roof to roof he could see these silhouettes converge on one final building in the middle of the city. It was as tall as fifty floors.


Though he is only peering through the woman's eyes, who he could tell from various glimpses she was wrapped in dark ninja-like clothing, he could feel the movement of the winds and the feelings she was feeling. Rowan noticed after some time from her waving signals to the other night-mates that she was the boss of this operation, but for what?


Finally they get to the main building. Then Rowan hears a sound and whips her head to the ground where a guard is standing, peering at Rowan's new body. However he seems to not see her even in the back drop of the moon. Smugly she smiles, knowing that she is quite literally invisible. She takes out her bow and jumps onto the next ledge which is the large building. She is still at least twenty feet up and begins ascending. Quietly she finally gets to the top floor. A candle is dimly lit, showing the shadow of someone meditating. She opens the rice window very slowly and steps in, then bluntly says to the man who is seemingly unaware of her and sitting looking away perhaps even praying "You are responsible for the deaths of hundreds of children, knowingly sending out drugs that were made for children to cure a sickness, all in the gain of a few jade." The man is silent, until finally "I see the deliberative has found out, truly there is nothing is outside of your reach" he says quietly, obviously giving himself up before continuing "You being the head of the solar spy network has its perks, eh?" he says and turns to look at you, but suddenly the sounds, feelings, and sight all goes black and quiet.

You see suddenly see trees, trees as far as the eye can see. Looking up you see a bow, cape, and gloves hanging on some branches. Pieces of armor are thrown around and there is blood everywhere. Then you hear a voice from outside the woods that seems to come from all directions, it is loud, deep and penetrates your very soul "You have been wronged. You must reclaim order in these desperate times. You are the killer of the evening, master of shadows, and the leader of the Hidden Suns. You are my precious NIGHT!


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Rowan's vision comes back to the calamity of here and now, glass crashing, people screaming, and a throne chair that was about to smash him. He quickly grabs the top of the chair by one of the spokes of the sun at the top. He then flipped and stood on top of its peak with one foot. Mist did not have time to be amazed beyond the face that everything moved so slowly, he began to see fire of gold move up Rowan's legs. He had enough time to leisurely look at the impending pillar made of multicolored silver and gold glass. He knew if he prayed, he would get out of this alive. So with that he met his hands and fell into darkness and lost all energy...


~Mist's Vision~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


As he is pulled from his body and placed in a market place, surrounded by crowds of people. There is a feeling of inertia as he realizes he is looking through the eyes of someone else, but feels and hears everything this man does. He has no control over his actions however, so all he can do is helplessly watch what is unfolding. He can tell that he is obviously not in Chiaroscuro anymore, or... was he? He stands atop a gleaming red glass road that is in perfect condition, quite like the main red glass road in the city. It would seem he is in the middle of a market place and can hear strange sounds and sights that Mist has never yet witnessed, such as people freely getting water from a well without manual labor and street lights that seem to be lit by no real means. After some looking around Mist finally realizes that there is a situation at foot as his feelings go from wonder to complete seriousness. The entire market has gone dead quiet and Mist can finally hear the voice of his new body come in "This man has done nothing wrong to your people! He does not have to follow the doctrines of the Sun if he does not want to. This is NOT the ideal of how we want things here!" he shouts and Mist can see his body pointing to a man who seems to have been beaten up, though he does not know this man’s religion he seems to be healthy and alive "But your actions have shown that we must follow the Sun more! Why can't you see that!" a voice rings out from the crowd, though he cannot be seen the entire crowd cheers in agreement "We... NO LONGER NEED THE SUN FOR OUR HELP!" you shout and rays of gold stream out from you. The entire crowd hides they're faces in fear. Suddenly the entire crowd bow and say in unison "The Unconquered Sun is no longer important" over and over. The man stands there, fists at his sides and happy with his work, for he felt he was the new god.

​

Suddenly Mist is pulled from this man’s vision and falls onto a ledge of what seems to be a mountain. Though he does not get hurt from the fall he immediately notices that it isn't actually a mountain... but there are clouds below him? he looks back behind himself, away from the ledge. He could see a huge fortress which is the largest castle he has ever seen. Looking back down again he realizes that this isn't a mountain, or a land mass.... but a floating city! The clouds finally clear and he can see The Realm straight below, though it looked different from what he imagined...


The image is quickly taken away and he hears a voice in darkness, loud and powerful "You strayed away from the light for so long, you felt you could be the Sun himself. Though this is no fault of your own you must now repair what the Solar's have broken. The Solar's are not demons, they are not evil beasts. Learn about your heritage and become the ZENITH I know you to be!"


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


With his hands met together and head bowed in prayer, his trajectory stopped! He slowly floated down to the ground, his cloak and southern desert clothing billowing in an untouchable wind. Layoro sees this as well though again was not able to appreciate its beauty, four people slowly in this time sync exalting before him and one other.. exalting into something else. The fires on all five of these people filled the room with impossible light and at this point, even with time slowed he could not see in front of him. There was gold everywhere save for the black bomb-fire that shrouded some of it, that black fire only proved to darken the areas he couldn't see due to the light! Here Layoro was, flying into something he couldn't see, but at least it was slow and he could think about the process... finally his vision blurs...


~Layoro's Vision~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Layoro's vision comes back to life as he is pushed into a throne room. He sat atop a golden throne of impossible make. It cooled his back and mechanical, but soft hands rubbed his shoulders as he boringly listened to a dirty peasant rabble on about something, a flight of stairs below him. "We plead for you. If we may be so bold sire... the Deliberative has gone a strange direction, perhaps you can talk--" the apprehensive peasant is cut off by Layoro's new voice in a man's body he's never seen before "ENOUGH!!" he said, laying on this chair lazily. The king of sorts got up and walked to the window which swiveled open magically to his essence-presence. He looked out and was a mile high above the clouds in a huge fortress! "The Deliberative will listen to me and only me alone. To call them 'strange' is to call me strange...” he said in a low but sinister voice. The man walked back to the top of the flight and stood in front of his throne. Looking out Layoro could see a huge expanse of a throne room that would rival the size of a small farm. Gold pillars lined the walls with silver marble flooring. There were good looking women bathing naked in a far section and others laughing and drinking in another. This throne room clearly became a multipurpose playground to this king. The king slowly moves down to the man, he was now a little more recognizable with the amount of height Layoro earlier had on him. The king reached down on the base of the old man's neck and asked "Now, who are you again?" In a not so nice tone "I'm the fortress elder...." he said sheepishly, almost knowing what was to happen. With a flick of the king’s wrist the man was dead. The king smirked and walked over his body, slowly disrobing while he walked towards the ladies in the essence-powered hot-pools lined with gold. As he walked he said under his breath with dark humor "I guess there is a new town elder"

​

Layoro's vision then went black and heard a huge, booming voice from all angles "You were once a proud king of a nation, part of a Deliberative to proud kings. You became too powerful and lost your way. Bring Creation back to its former glory and bring back the Solar Deliberative in a new and just form! Go forth and ECLIPSE them with your social powers and nation joining prowess!


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Layoro then reflexively said "STOP!" his voice being heard throughout the entire hall of the Tri-Khan. All the light, all the glass flying through the air fell from its earlier trajectory that would have hurt many people, fell to the ground vertically and breaking its horizontal stride. All the people screaming and the various Second Age items smashing. All the soldiers rushing for the room and all the people down the Red Glass Road stopped. But this time it wasn't because time froze for all of our six heroes, it was because Layoro said so. Everything was in real time and the very voice of Layoro was heard all across the halls and down for an impossible length down the red road as if it was his conduit. As clear as a trumpet in the noon-day sun his voice shattered everyone’s fortitude and whatever anyone was doing was less important than this, this very moment.


The light from all the newly minted exalt shone on for a long time, but there was vision. There was no sound however, as Layoro said there not to be. Except one slow clap, coming from the throne. There stood the Tri-Khan clapping slowly with a huge grin "It looks like I've found my exalts..." he said and laughed joyously.

 

[Reaver]

Asad


Taking a step back Asad looks at his hand. The golden light glittering off it entices him for a moment before he frowns. This, this will make things interesting. I am not sure how my love will react but, but I need to redeem myself. Or what was me at one point. Looking at the Tri - Khan. "Exalted of the Sun, so called Anathema. Are you sure you wish to risk the wrath of the Realm by dealing with us?" A look at the others then a slight grin. "I at the very least will go, it will make for good songs for my warriors."

 

[Seeker of the End]

Ajani


Ajani sharply exhaled as the Exaltation filled his body. He was bent over, panting as the light subsided.


"Was that... me?" he asked himself. But he knows that answer, that WAS the past holder of the Exaltation that he bore within his soul. He was him, yet it was not.


"I... I did those things?" he asked himself. He understood now why the Solar Exalted were known as Anathema, to do those vile things... The things that he did left a sick feeling in his chest.


Hardening his resolve, Ajani took his sword and cut his palm with the razor edge. Dabbing both fingers in blood as the wound sealed, he traced down vertically from his eyes before striking three diagonal marks on both sides of his cheeks, starting at the first lines and moving towards the back of his head.


"I swear upon myself, all that I am, was, and will become, if I ever allow myself to fall to that level again I shall take my own life without any hesitation." The lines of blood quickly faded, fading away, leaving clear skin. Ajani felt a rippling sensation upon his skin as he took that oath to himself.


"Now..." Ajani pondered, "How do I get out of this thing?" he quickly made towards the end of the capsule and frowned. "I think it was this button..." he muttered as he pressed the Dawn symbol again.

 

[RetroCity]

MIST


Mist wasn't quite sure if it was a strange twist of fate but he never felt so much stronger and confident than he did at this very moment. He saw the visions of him leading people and them worshiping him as if he was a god. It couldn't be, had he become one of the Anathema? Strangely this didn't feel quite wrong, quite the contrary. He never felt better in his life and healthier. The people around him all had exalted at the same time as him. He then remembered that they were in the throne room surrounded by guards and Thri-Khan sitting on his throne.


He looked at the others present and looked at the golden aura engulfing him, while clenching his fist.


"I have just seen strange and wonderful things. I suppose you don't plan to just let us go heh?"


Surrounded by so many guards, he should have been afraid or nervous but somehow...his exaltation had removed many of his anxieties and doubts.

 

[Ebon_Arbiter]

Takeno


As the golden capsule smashed into the palace Takeno's life changed forever. By chance of luck, whim of fate or maybe even more mysterious reasons, he felt an increased awareness of the situation that was rapidly evolving before him. His thoughts were to make sure that all those present were safe. If the Tri-Khan was killed by this immense sphere, things would go very bad for all of them. If his friend, Earth Shattering Gaze was harmed, he might not be able to live with it. He sprang into action, like an uncoiling serpent of the eastern jungles and pushed them out of the way, alongside Asad the newcomer tribesman.


He felt content, even as the capsule's weight crushed his bones, that for once in his life he'd managed to be fast and strong enough to protect Gaze, even though she was the dragonblooded and he a mere mortal. His eyes displayed all his sympathy and adoration towards her, even as he pushed her out of the way, even as she held his hand, while he was being crushed. That and also another thought were present in his mind at that moment. A thought of wasted potential, a thought of all that he wanted to be and all that he ever hoped for, being crushed beneath the weight of the rolling capsule. A thought of all the things that he wanted to live, of all the love that he wanted to give, of all that he wanted and perhaps some day would have achieved. All snuffed out like a candle's flame blown away by the chilling wind of death, whose icy grasp had now a firm grip on Takeno.


He wished he wouldn't die, he wished that he could live on, that he'd continue to be strong for those he loved, for those that depended on him, for his House, his family, for the Realm, for Creation itself. He wished - perhaps selfishly - that he could live and make his potential true, forge his destiny anew. And he would accept any price to pay, for that. He merely wished to be granted such a chance, such an opportunity.


His vision became blurry, as he witnessed that strange exchange between a woman bearing a magnificent scepter and a man akin to a beast. He saw and heard things and felt as if it was him who should be there, or him who had been there, in Ages past. But it all somehow seemed wrong, fake. As if it was a leftover, hollow message, disconnected from the exact nature of the black power that overtook him and reshaped his being anew. He was crushed to his death yet now he was alive. Or it seemed that he was alive. He felt strength coursing in his veins. Strength that he didn't knew he possess, strength and vitality that he had never thought imaginable. Now maybe would be the time to extend his hand and grasp at his destiny, seizing the chance for something bigger, something greater.


Then the cold voice resounded in his very soul, chilling his blood to the bone. It cut through the previous vision and impose its iron will by its tone and menace. Takeno felt that he had a new master or someone who somehow deemed himself to be his new master. And a deathknight - whatever that could be - was coming for him. Coming to get him and start him on his training. Training...that was the only part that somehow seemed to alleviate the total confusion that was reigning presently in Takeno's mind and soul. Learning things, honing his skills, discovering his true potential was something that deeply intrigued him.


Thus he rose to his feet, marvelling at the black flames that played about his shoulders and looking to Gaze, as if saying "Do not worry. I can be strong now for both of us". Then he surveyed the room and was almost blinded by the brightness around him. It seemed that others in the room had erupted into fountains of fire and sunlight and the dreaded stories of Anathema came back to his mind.


He stood there, hearing Tri-Khan's remark and looked wearily to the others, his voice cold and sorrowful as he spoke.


"I wish I can help you Tri-Khan, but I'm afraid that someone will be soon coming for me. And I do not mean the forces of the Realm, once they learn what happened here, either".

 

[Blackadder]

Rowan Lujan


The visions were strange and shocking. Rowan had been brought up his whole life a citizen of the Realm, taught by the Immaculate monks in the schools and their teachers were most certainly clear. But this woman who was him but not - she seemed real, too real. And none of this matched the scriptures at all, much less any Realm history.


Then the commanding voice, one he recognized intuitively to be that of the Sun, no imposter could impersonate His perfection - where did that part come from? - but he understood now. The Immaculate Philosophy said the Anathema stole from the Sun and the Moon for power, the Dragon-Blooded were the righteous and natural rulers of Creation.


This power was freely given, not robbery. The Immaculates lied there. The Solar Deliberative - the term he suddenly had - were the true rulers of Creation. The Immaculates lied there. And now a burden lifted off his conscience, partially anyway, the part that came from fleeing from those one had once supposed to be demi-gods and enlightened ones.


But mere pride and selfish vanity had prompted murder of his family, and the Dragon-Bloods were not inherently righteous, the final Immaculate lie. All lies.


Finally, Rowan was able to take in the scene. Five lights, golden infernos from him and four others... and the anti-light of a sixth, the Tri-Khan's guest, he surmised. Dark as death. "Be it Realm or someone else... I appreciate the generosity, great Tri-Khan, but are you prepared for the consequences of what you're saying? I wouldn't want to bring anything on your head or the people of Chiascuro."

 

[JayTee]

Layoro was struggling with what he had seen, unsure of what exactly had gone through his mind. He was familiar enough with the Dynasts that he was largely desensitized to corruption in politics among the Princes of the Earth, but that was something else entirely. He wished he had more time to think on what he had seen, to puzzle it out and uncover it's meaning.


Then the Tri-Khan spoke, and the world started moving again.


Being of Royal Blood, Layoro chose to be silent at this moment. While he had left his family (and apparently exiled, given how murder was an acceptable option for him), it still would be best if he watched how things unfolded for now.

 

[Bardlebee]

The Second Breath


The crescendo of hundreds of exotic powders being loaded into equally powerful flame wands and a few First Age weaponry started a low 'whuurr' sound above them. The group of newly minted god-touched looked up above this large throne room of golden glass and saw four floors of balconies lining it. Atop these balconies there were soldiers shoulder to shoulder lined with flame wands and a large multi-pronged green device on a swivel with a man sitting on it, hanging atop the ceiling. It was prior disguised to be a chandelier. The prongs spun with green energies circling around it. The several pieces of glass from the door lay across the throne room in large chunks, some aids begun to pick it up while the assailants were held captive, or at least an attempt to keep them from attacking the Tri-Khan. Asalad of the of the Cactus Snake clan and third in line for the Tri-Khan spoke "Great Tri-Khan, these six are a front to everything the immaculate order stands for, they should be destroyed!! Forgive me for saying so, but I will make a fitting Tri-Khan. We need not the help of demons!! Is this how your son would wish to be found?!" Asalad said on a topic that was obviously a point of tension between him and the Tri-Khan "I am aware of how the Immaculate Order reacts to our Golden friends here, though I don't know much about the sixth...." he looks at Takeno with curiosity "He seemed like a kind fellow..." Tri-Khan murmured to himself "Good Takeno, trust me, I understand you wait for someone to find you... well I don't understand, but I can empathize.." The Tri-Khan smiles changing the subject. His face told a different story though. "If I see those who seek you I will send them on your way... I promise. But please do me this favor, from a dying old man..."

Spoiler

Takeno and Rowan is successful on bureaucracy roll to see that the Tri-Khan and Asalad have a tenuous relationship. Asalad's comment and tone plays out that he would rather be Tri-Khan and doesn't truly want to keep the status quo


Ajani presses the golden seal at the top one more time and it glows with the same color as his essence. The entire capsule dissolves into bubbles of gold and silver! One last strip of gold remains that belonged to the top of capsule, it shrinks and immediately coils around Ajani's forum like a snake. It is a thin piece of gold but made of very sturdy material. It is easily taken off by unwrapping it. There are designs of suns and the story of a great ship captain is told on its carvings. Intrinsically Ajani knows how to use it:





You just mash your fists together in front of you. It will unravel and wrap around you, creating the two pads and then encasing you in the barrier. I don't have the soak yet, but I will tell you later. You may use this device to fly anywhere you want. Beyond its soak though it doesn't give much for defenses or emergency hatches, if it break, you fall.


The Tri-Khan continued listening to the explanation of the sun-children. About the Anathema and the Realm coming down on Chiaroscuro. "I understand your concern for my well being. But I know not what you speak of, I simply see Lost Eggs in front of me." the Tri-Khan says with a very over-naive voice. He knew what you were but it was obvious he wasn't concerned about Realm backlash. "The Realm is to busy to look into some matter of me hiring some Lost Eggs, they won't need to see you to recruit you. Don't worry. I trust that our friend Gaze here will remain quiet as Takeno and her seem to be close." with that comment Gaze seems unmoved. Her expression this whole time is that of complete disbelief, keeping her eyes on Takeno constantly. The Tri-Khan continued after noticing she was refusing to speak "In any case, it is a simple matter and I can arrange for some transportation if you'd like. There are no Wyld Hunt's happening in Chiaroscuro without my knowledge and I can assure you there better not be without my permission. So, please do me this honor in finding my son, the south hangs in the balance for it. Trust me my friends, someone told me this day would come and I trust this person with his information, I will not give his name though has he did not impart it onto me.."


With those final words, Shattering Gaze walked out, her green eyes seeming to water a little. Her face showing frustration and anger. A mix of emotions.

 

[Bardlebee]

Ajani's Tattoo's


With the inspection of Ajani's new First Age wonder strapped to his arms. He noticed something while the Tri-Khan talked at length about how he didn't care about Anathema being in the middle of his Throne Room. As strange as that was he saw something strangers. All the tattoo's on his body, the markings that used to define his past and who he was... started to move. The wiggled and shifted at different angles. He felt... he could move them... change them into different colors even! A voice came into his head, the same one from his vision and spoke "Your past no longer will define you, so shall not the markings on your body." the voice drowned out all other sounds and immediately went silent, bringing the background noise back to normal.

 

[Seeker of the End]

Ajani


Ajani gaped at the markings upon his body at confusion and at the voice that resounded in my head. 'I could get rid of them,' Ajani thought to himself. The thought of being freed from his past was extremely appealing to him. But if he got rid of the tattoos for good, will he forget about his past?


'My past defined who I am. I stood in adversity and remained strong and grew from that. I cannot possibly take that away.' Ajani thought to himself as he took note of the shifting tattoos, 'If I forget who I am, if I allow myself to fall into the lure of power, then I will be no better than my past self. I will not allow myself to fall to that level ever again." With his mind decided, Ajani concentrated and made the tattoos a transparent color. He would always know that they were there, but others would not be able to see them.


"I do not blame the Realm for labeling us Anathema." Ajani stated, his voice heavy with the weight of knowledge and experience. It almost seemed wrong for a boy as young as him to speak those words, "I have seen the crimes that some of us committed in the 'Glorious First Age' and even now it sickens me. During that time we deserved to be slaughtered as demons of the vilest nature, but the First Age is now past, buried within the sands of time. This is the Second Age of Creation.


The Solar Exalted are reborn with the tainted memories of the past upon us. We shall not allow ourselves to forget the crimes that we committed during the First Age. We became tyrants, monsters, and demons. We spat upon Ignis Divine, the being that gave us our Exaltation, in our infinite hubris. We shall not allow ourselves to fall to that level ever again. I took an oath that if I ever allowed myself to become who I was before, I would take my own life without hesitation." Ajani stated, "You have my word upon myself, upon my own title as Angra Mainyu, and upon my name, Ajani Zoroastra."