To Stand Against the Crimson Tide

[Sherwood]

Sjet wants to talk with the Lunar, but isn't sure he speaks Old Realm. So instead, she steps back to keep the big man between her and the turtle, miming interlocking her fingers and making a lifting motion, hoping that the other Exalt would pick up on what she is trying to convey.

Spoiler

OOC 13 Sorcerous Motes gathered so far.
Ancient Tongue Understanding active

Health Levels
-0 [ ]
-1 [ ][ ]
-2 [ ][ ]
-4 [ ]
Incapacitated [ ]

Essence: 1
Personal: 13 / 0
Peripheral: 33 / (23)
Committed: 10
Willpower: 8

Join Battle: 5 +3i

Dodge DV: 4
Parry DV: 3
Resolve: 3
Guile: 1

Soak
Natural: +3
VGF: +1
Armored: +8, +7 Hardness
Total: +12

Virtuous Guardian of Flame
Parry DV: 6
Per Roll: 10
Soak: 6
Health: 6 -0 levels

 

[Psychie]

Garret gives the girl a slight nod and gets ready to give her an alley-oop up and over the turtle.

 

[Equusheart]

Sayuri heard her brother's shouting behind her, but she was already racing across the flagstone pier. She frowned slightly at her brother's insistence for an honor guard. Darn it, Ryu, there was no time for that sort of thing. She heard the footsteps of the archers running behind, trying to keep up with her alone to fall behind.

Darting forward, her feet swiftly carried her along the inner edge of the docks. Dodging up and over the mooring lines of the other ships as she raced the one being towed from the harbor. Glancing over as she ran, she could see the turtle begin to speed up. Sayuri brought up her bow and slowed just enough so she could aim, drawing back an arrow and letting loose at the ropes attaching the turtle to the ship.

Aiming bow at rope: Dex + Archery + Specialty + Stunt Bonus = 5 + 5 + 5 = 15

6 successes = 54

 

[Sherwood]

Hoping that this is going to work, Sjet nods at the Lunar and rushes forward, planting her foot into the waiting hands and pushes off, trying to get enough height from his assistance to clear the obstacle.

5 successes in my roll

Spoiler

OOC 13 Sorcerous Motes gathered so far.
Ancient Tongue Understanding active

Health Levels
-0 [ ]
-1 [ ][ ]
-2 [ ][ ]
-4 [ ]
Incapacitated [ ]

Essence: 1
Personal: 13 / 0
Peripheral: 33 / (23)
Committed: 10
Willpower: 8

Join Battle: 5 +3i

Dodge DV: 4
Parry DV: 3
Resolve: 3
Guile: 1

Soak
Natural: +3
VGF: +1
Armored: +8, +7 Hardness
Total: +12

Virtuous Guardian of Flame
Parry DV: 6
Per Roll: 10
Soak: 6
Health: 6 -0 levels

 

[Psychie]

Seeing the girl rush forward, Garret decides to help her out with a powerful heave, hoping that she is going to be nimble enough to land on her feet. As he hurls her through the air, he shifts back into his beastman form and spins around to face the turtle to give it something to focus on besides the girl.

8 successes

Spoiler

Health Levels
-0 [ ] ([ ] DBT)
-1 [ ][ ][ ][ ][ ] - [ ][ ][ ]
-3 [ ][ ][ ][ ][ ]
Incapacitated [ ]

Essence: 1
Personal: 16
Peripheral: 38 / (27) /
Committed: 11
Willpower: 5

Dodge DV: 4
Parry DV: 6
Guile: 1
Resolve: 4

Join Battle: 9 +3i

Soak
Natural Soak: 5 (14 in DBT)
Armored Soak: +11, 10 Hardness
Combined: 16 (25)

 

[Random Word]

Sayuri

The arrow flies straight and true, cleanly slicing through one of the heavy ropes securing the turtle to the ship. Without this link the others become unbalanced and the ship drifts to the side, slowing its pace considerably and causing it to list dangerously.

Sjet

As your bruised and battered body soars through the air you consider the life choices that brought you here. The pain is breathtaking. A burning lance across your chest from where your shoulder meets the stone as you roll on impact. You feel Sayuri's careful binding of your wounds tear, and when you put your hand to the clean robe you were provided your fingers come away red. Through tears welling in your eyes you spot the ship and a blur that might be Sayuri running in the corner of your eye. You begin to run down the causeway to the central docks, every footfall sending a jolt of pain through your chest, every ragged breath like fire. You hear the twang of a great bow, see the ship list, drift off to the side behind the turtle, slow. You yell as best you can to the marines trying to recapture the ship, though it pains you greatly, and then from your outstretched hand you unleash your spell. Thousands of shards of obsidian tear through rigging and sails, embedding themselves in wood with a shower of splinters. The masked figures dive for cover or plungs into the ocean, abandoning the vessel. The turtle vanishes beneath the waves. You feel light headed as the surge of essence that sustained you begins to ebb.

[Roll Stamina + Resistance to withstand the gauntlet you've just put your body through! Difficulty 3. Lose 1 WP for every point you miss by. If you pass, you don't pass out! Don't forget your wound penalty.]

Garret

As the girl lands in a roll and stumbles to her feet, the turtle vanishes, replaced once again with the masked figure. He gives you a look. "You really don't care, do you? I'd heard your people were mad dead-worshippers with no regard for the living, but it's another thing to see it. The woman's half dead! I can smell her blood from here! You could have killed her! And for what? Someone else's treasure?" He shakes his head, disappointed. "I know when I'm bested." He bows his head with a curious mix of respect and disgust, and moves to walk off the dock into the water.

[Unless you want to intervene, he'll disappear into the water.]


Next Scene!

Fortress of Sunkissed Petals - Everyone -

The Saint of Valour waits outside as the sun begins to set. You have been summoned before the Counted and the Choir this evening, once the sun retreats and the ghostly denizens of the city can enter the world of the living. Until then, you are provided an honour guard and scrounged fare for an impromptu picnic between the stacks of the wondrous library, beside the orichalcum spiral staircase that leads to the black pearlescent sphere where Sjet drew her Second Breath. Thousands of tiny golden crabs stare down at you from the shelves. They've brought plates and cups of polished radiant crystal that shines like rainbows, and swiftly cart away every stray crumb in their pincers with what might be dirty looks.

Ryu is incensed at being left at the door, and the Saint looks unnerved, but finally acquiesced to Sjet's demand that the newly formed Exalted host be granted a chance to talk amongst themselves in peace before the audience.

[Ryu and the Saint will push on behalf of the city to nominate an observer to listen to your conversation and report back, as with the exception of Sayuri (And Droplets, when she was alive and much younger) you have yet to have an audience with the Counted and Choir to determine your loyalty and character. Do you prevent this or argue against it?]

 

[Sherwood]

Stamina + Resistance is only five dice, so I am rolling only three due to my wound penalty and stunt.

One success

 

[Sherwood]

Pain flashes through her body as she hits the ground, enough to make her collapse on the ground in tears. Damn, don’t do that again.

 

[Psychie]

Earlier

Garret leaves the stranger to slip into the ocean as he turns his attention to the sobbing Exalt. He gently scoops her up in his arms, feeling her body shake as she cries.

He says to her in as soft of a voice he can manage, “It’s ok. I’m here, and I won’t let them hurt you anymore. You did a very brave thing there, but you sure still hurt and you have to take better care. We need you.”

He rises and carries her back to the others.

Later on

Sitting in the manse, Garret is back in his human form, looking around at the stacks of books with wonder in his eye. He looks to Sjet and says, “This room is truly a treasure. I’ve never even heard of a place with so many books. Have you read all of them?”

 

[Sherwood]

At the manse, Sjet gently sits down in her favorite seat that she would use for reading, this time seeing the room around her with new eyes. She offers the others a place to relax and says to the big man’s question, “I’ve read most of them, but not all. There are still secrets that this place holds in store for me to uncover. But that is a discussion for another time. Tell me, what is your name?”

 

[Psychie]

“Garret Jacobs.” He looks around at the rest of the assembled Exalts and says, “What about all of you? I know little Sjet here, but not the rest. What are your names, please?”

 

[Equusheart]

Through the panting from her run, Sayuri breathed a sigh of relief as her arrow shot true, severing the main rope attached to the sea turtle. While she was concerned by how the ship seemed to list to one side, she was relieved that it wouldn't be leaving the harbor. At least not any time soon.

Sometime later, Sayuri sat neatly on a felt cushioned chair in the library with the other Exalted. She held a cup of tea that someone had brought her, occasionally sipping at it to help ease the tensions from earlier. When one of the little golden crabs would stop to look at her with what Sayuri might read as a look of concern and annoyance, Sayuri would simply give it a reassuring smile, as if to say she wouldn't dare spill a drop while in the library.

She turned her attention back to Sjet and the others as introductions were made.
"I am Sayuri of House Akechi," she replied as the man, Garret, gave his name. She gave a nod of her head in a small form of a polite bow.

 

[Sherwood]

Sjet smiles at Sayuri and nods. “Welcome all.” She reaches out to take a drink being proffered by one of the little crabs and sips at it. “I don’t know about the rest of you, but I feel that we are going to have to work together in order to stop the next attack of the Bronze Tide. Having so many of us Exalt during the defense of the city was unexpected, but that was a one time affair and we have to expect that the enemy will be back in force and ready to deal with us. We will have to find a way to rally the troops of the city to fight. Anyone have any thoughts on this that they care to share?”

 

[Random Word]

Outside the Manse, a few minutes prior:
Nott

Ryu claps a leather-gloved hand on your shoulder and leans in conspiratorially, smelling of sweat, blood, and pipe smoke. "You did well in that battle. You've a keen eye and a quick foot. Keep watch over the Lady Akechi for me, and if anything goes wrong, you come running." He looks darkly at Droplets as he says this, "That one gives me the shivers. Take a look around the fortress while you're in there and report back what you see, but don't let her out of your sight, you hear me? Good man." He nods and pushes you off after the band of Exalts heading into the fortress door. In a nearby tree a crow settles. It's been following you since the Cothon, and watches Droplets with unsubtle intensity.

 

[Red Shadow Claws]

Droplets pulls back the hood of her tattered cloak "My new name is Droplets of Blood in the Chilly Wind, or Droplets for short. My old name is irrelevant, as it has been discarded when I was offered this Exaltation. As far as the Bronze Tide are concerned, yes, I agree, we need to work together, and rally the troops. If you want, I could, with time, raise up an army of the dead, from those fallen in combat, from both sides, to serve as another layer of protection, but even if not, I'd go to the Underworld, and have a direct chat with the ancestor spirits, and see if we can get their help in protecting the city."

 

[Red Shadow Claws]

Seeing as the silence stretched, she added "Garret, I don't know why or how, but you seem to be vaguely familiar, though my memory seems to be hazy on circumstances, and for some reason, your face seems off from what my memories show. Any idea what's that about?"

 

[Psychie]

Garret looks over at the strange woman that he has such a strong attachment to and says, “To tell the truth, this has been driving me crazy ever since I saw you. I have this strange connection to you, feeling like I have known you all my life, but we’ve never met. That much I’m certain of. I was sort of hoping that you would have some sort of answer for me about this.”

 

[Sherwood]

Sjet looks between her mother and Garret, pondering what she has just heard. Then, she lets out a little giggle. "If what you are saying is true, then I would have to guess that the two of you possess the special bond that the Solar and Lunar Exalted have with one another." She points at the two, and adds, "If that is true . . . I will have to do some reading to try and understand how it is possible for a non-Solar to have this bond with a Lunar Exalt. Unless that means . . . Mother, you may have a version of the Solar Exaltation. It must be that for you two to have this connection."

 

[Psychie]

Garret looks somewhat confused. He is not stupid by any manner, but the details that the little Solar is talking about is far beyond his knowledge. He says, "What does that mean? We are somehow connected? Am I supposed to be some kind of . . . hell, I don't know. A servant? Bodyguard? Something else?" He leans forward with a mix of curiosity and trepidation. What if I am supposed to be some kind of servant? What then?

 

[Sherwood]

Sjet shakes her head. "No, not a servant, more along the lines of a companion and bodyguard. Some Solars and Lunars are simply friends and allies, while others, like Desus and Lilith, become husband and wife. I am only saying that this is the most probable explanation that comes to mind." And I certainly do not want him to become my mother's lover. The whole idea of that is just . . . eeew! I know my mother had sex to have me, but I absolutely do not want to know about it!

 

[Psychie]

Garret takes a long look at Sjet to see if she's joking, trying to pull his leg somehow. But he sees no sign that this is a quick laugh at his expense. This might actually be true. But I don't even want to think about being married!!!

 

[Red Shadow Claws]

Droplets looked at Sjet with an incredulous look. She herself was sometimes surprised at the things she almost instinctively knew, but this was another level. And yet, it somehow felt correct. To reassure the Lunar she added. "Whatever bond we have, it's what WE make it to be. And I have no desire for a servant, those I can find plenty, whether among the dead or the living. You're an Exalt, and even if I my first encounter with a Lunar didn't go very well" and she pauses to rub the wound that the Lunar had given her with his spear "that doesn't mean I hold any enmity to you, or think little of you."

 

[Psychie]

Garret feels a touch of relief at this, saying, "Good to know. I have no problem in working with you, either, Ms. Droplets. I'll keep up my part of this bond by keeping you and your daughter safe. Speaking of . . . Sjet, you took one hell of a hit out there today. Does this manse of yours have some armor that you could use to keep you whole and in one piece? It would make it easier on us to keep you alive."

 

[Red Shadow Claws]

Droplets smiles at Garret "You can be sure that this will be mutual, and I will keep you safe as well. I might not be as formidable as you are in physical combat, but there are other threats you might not be as equipped to deal with."

 

[Equusheart]

Sayuri sat and listened to the conversation in silence, slightly curious as to the topic. Eventually she turned her attention away. Setting her now empty teacup to the side, she picked up one of the golden crabs and held it gently in the palm of her hand. Making soft cooing sounds of approval, she stroked it's hard shell with a finger, much like petting a cat.