Trial By Fire - Exalted 2e IC Thread

[MasterDAF]

Cleaned up and out of his blacksmithing smock for the first time in a while, Viktor headed out towards the King's Tower to visit with the other individuals who announced intentions to meet. He was dressed in a brown studded-leather doublet fitted with brass clasps over a white flannel shirt, and cinched around the waist with a rough leather belt. On his bottom half darker-brown pants emerged from under the doublet, and tucked into his leather boots as they normally did. His appearance was so different from his normal "just stepped out from the forge" outfit that the few people he passed outside on the walk over had to do double-takes to make sure it was really him. He nodded and gave a friendly wave to those he recognized, acting as though nothing were different.

Before long he found himself at the tower, and promptly made his way to the audience chamber to share his exciting news concerning the completion of the rings with his circle-mate. He was surprised to see Annika already waiting there. "Long time no see, ma'am."

 

[Psychie]

Darian is feeling quite happy to be the host of this evening's dinner. She moves about, making sure that everything was in place in preparation of receiving her guests, looking forward to having them all in the same room in order to be able to discuss plans for the future with all the Exalts of Gwynnin together.

As the first of the group arrives, Darian is there in a beautiful gown to greet everyone. "Welcome, my friends. I am so glad to have you here. Let us enjoy our meal, then we can get to our business of the evening."

 

[Sherwood]

Aysik comes up to Darian and gives her a friendly hug. "Good to see you, my dear. It has been too long since my last visit. I have a guest to introduce; I hope you don't mind. This fellow is Durke, a mercenary leader that is looking for someone to hire on with." He leans in and whispers to you, "He also has an Awakened Essence, indicating that he's an Exalt of some kind. I don't suspect that he is a threat."

 

[Psychie]

"Thank you for the information, my old friend." Darian returns the embrace, then turns to face Durke. "How do you prefer to be addressed? As Captain Durke? Or just Durke? I do not wish to offend. But as a guest of Aysik and Dunbar, you are a welcome guest of mine. Please come in."

 

[Rykon]

Aredin stands in silence, admiring Darian for the beginning of the meeting as he shook hands and greeted guests. This was her night to shine after all. Though he was eager to discuss their plans for the future, he chose to savor this moment with friends, and especially his betrothed, in the wake of the beating he kept receiving at the hands of the dark stranger.

 

[MasterDAF]

Viktor met with his friends, exchanging pleasantries and briefly discussing his newest recruits and the crafting going on within the city to those who are interested to hear it. He was looking forward to discuss their plans for after the wedding. When everyone is ready to eat, he will gladly move to the dining area Darian has prepared.

"Go figure, the one thing I just can't make. 'Tis a shame, as I sure love good food!"

 

[jaydude]

"Ma'am? Oh there's no need for you to call me that. You've been a part of this thing for far longer than I have." Annika says to Viktor with a chuckle at his formality.

When Darian appears, the Night Caste can't help but smile at her, and think it unfair that the other woman cannot look in a mirror and see how beautiful she is. She also takes notice of Aysik and Durke, giving the middle aged man a look of curiosity. She watches as Aysik introduces him to Darian, overhearing Aysik's whisper about Durke being another Exalt, and her curiosity increases.

For her part, Annika is dressed in a light red shirt and pair of black breeches, both of them freshly washed, as well as a pair of recently polished leather boots. Her bracers are on her wrists, but her amulet is tucked away in her pocket, Annika not wanting to pry into anyone's thoughts right now. She decides to go over and talk to Aredin.

"Good to see you again, my lord." She says to him, giving him a polite smile and nod.

 

[Rykon]

Aredin snaps out of his pre-wedding stupor for the moment, and smiles, "Good to see you as well Annika." He raises a hand to his chin, examining the newcomer. "Durke, yes? Before we get started, I think we should all clear the air and properly do introductions." And here I was determined to leave this to Darian, but... This complicates things, I think. I need to know for sure before we can speak plainly. Aredin moved toward the door, sealing them in from the eyes and ears of the nosy. "This vision of loveliness is Darian, my betrothed, lady of Gwynnin, high priestess of the Unconquered Sun, and our host this evening. I am Aredin, lord of Gwynnin. This is Annika an adventurer of a sort, Viktor over there is our chief handyman and renowned smith, and I believe you are familiar with Dunbar and Aysik." Aredin made sure to go around the room as he spoke of each member of the circle. "Now, you seem like an experienced essence user. Might you be one of the Exalted? You have business with the children of the Unconquered Sun?" Aredin laid heavy emphasis on the words, mercilessly digging for a telling reaction from the road-weary soldier as he joined Darian at her side.

 

[jaydude]

Annika recognises what Aredin is attempting to do, and walks away from him and Durke before she slips on her hearthstone amulet, trying her best to make sure no-one else notices her doing so. Once it's on, she focuses on Durke, trying to read his surface thoughts.

 

[LowRollLyfe]

Durke responds with a small nod. "Thank ya' kindly ma'am, Durke will do just fine. I'm terribly sorry m'lady, but I don't seem to recall your name." Gosh, I hope this meetin' goes quick. Could really go for whatever that man was roastin' in the market...wait, focus Durke, this is important. We gotta get this job, can't appear dumb to these refined folk.

 

[Psychie]

"Pardon my rudeness. Please, call me Darian. No need for titles here."

 

[jaydude]

Nearby, Annika narrowly restrains the urge to shake her head and gasp in exasperation, having failed to hear anything of use from Durke's mind, and turns to Aysik and Dunbar.

"Aysik." She greets the more familiar Sidereel with a polite nod, before grinning. "You'll no doubt be pleased to hear that I've figured out why you sent me over to this specific part of Creation. You're trying to form us into a Solar circle, aren't you?"

 

[LowRollLyfe]

"Nice to meet you Darian but, if you don' mind, I would be doin' a disservice to a woman as beautiful as you if I didn't call you a lady." Durke responded, raising from his slight bow. Good job, you're doin' well. Just need to keep my focus and...oh crud, what did he say?

Durke is lost in his thoughts for a moment, only to look up and find Aredin already speaking to him. His eyes dart around the room, searching for a clue as to what his host had just said, then Durke realizes that he is being introduced to the people assembled before him and his shoulders relax and drop down. Children of the Sun? He talkin' bout those people in the Realm, those...dragon-people? Could he be talkin' 'bout what happened...that day? Is this some sort of test to get the job? Durke's brow furrows as he looks Aredin up and down. "Now, you are right about one thing, I can use essence...but I don't know what you mean when you say sun children. You all in some kinda priestly group?"

 

[Rykon]

Aredin seems a thrown off by the response. If he was into any sort of Immaculate teachings, I'd swear a statement that obvious would have elicited more than this. Backwater outcaste maybe? God child? Ugh... this is rough. He thought to himself, then stumbled into more questions to ascertain his current state of beliefs. "Uh... well yes, I s'pose you could say that. Our patron deity has been vital to our success. Though you have me curious. As an essence user, are you a Dragon-Blooded or maybe a sorcerer?"

 

[LowRollLyfe]

"Now I know you are jokin'! Me, a Dragon-Blooded?!" With that, Durke throws his head back and barks out a laugh. "M'lord Aredin, I have seen a few of them in my past battles and you don't see me trottin' in here with that colorful and fancy armor of theirs. Is this some test you play on folks?" This lord is an odd fellow, ain't he? Guess that's not too surprisin' , comin' from these religious types; those monks I saw back near Grey Falls talked weird too.

Durke pauses for a moment, then returns his sight back to Aredin, "I ain't gonna lie to you m'lord, I don't really know why I have the abilities that I do. I near about died in a battle and had some kinda' dream while on the edge o' death. When I woke up, the world was...different."

 

[Rykon]

With this information, Aredin decides his risk is sufficiently low and exerts enough essence for his caste mark to show for a short moment. "Does this mark and light mean anything to you?" On his head was a white-gold ring around a like colored disc, reminiscent of a bullseye target.

 

[LowRollLyfe]

Durke stares hard at the mark, a questioning look on his face. "So, you are like me eh?"

With a little bit of essence, Durke lights his sun-burst caste mark on his forehead. "I wonder, what does this mean to you? It feels like you know somethin' that I don't." Durke points to his forehead as he asks his question.

 

[Psychie]

Darian smiles again. "We seem to have another Solar in our midst." She spends a mote of Essence to illuminate her own Caste mark. "We have been given a gift. It is up to us how we use it. Aredin, Viktor and I have made our choice, and now we offer our hands to you, Annika, and to you, Durke. Join us in our work to restore a Solar Empire to Creation once more. It will be hard work, filled with challenges that we cannot even now imagine. But the rewards will be great, and we all have the blessing of our God, the Unconquered Sun. Except for Aysik and Dunbar, of course. They have been Chosen by a different master, but they have seen our potential, and wish to work with us to bring our vision to fruition."

She leans forward to help emphasize her words. "We plan on going to Rathess and use that old city as our new capitol, and we will raise up our banner to all of Creation, calling all Celestial Exalted to join us in our dream. As I said, it will be hard, but we would not have been Exalted if we were not ready for the challenge."

 

[Sherwood]

Aysik lets out a low whistle. "You certainly have big dreams, and you will have your work cut out for you. But, you are Solar Exalted, and if there is anyone that can do what you plan, it is you. What can we do to help?"

 

[jaydude]

Before Aysik can answer Annika's question, the pair are interrupted by the dialogue going on between Durke and Aredin, as the latter tries to get the former to say whether or not he's a Solar. Finally, Aredin decides to just display his caste mark, to which Durke reveals one of his own; a small golden ring with eight short lines surrounding it, like a shining sun.

Darian then shows her own caste mark, a golden circle, and then leans forward, asking Annika and Durke if they will be willing to join her, Aredin and Darian in their goal of establishing a new Solar Empire. Annika remains silent at first; she'd gotten a general impression that the two of them were planning to expand their influence over Creation, but she didn't realize that their plans had such a grand scale. Aysik is the first to speak - looking just as surprised as Annika feels - and the Night Caste decides to remain silent, to allow Darian and Aredin to answer the Sidereel.

 

[MasterDAF]

Viktor held back a smile as he listened to the odd dialogue between Aredin and Durke. What an interesting caste mark, almost like the sun when risen to it's peak. If I remember from my readings at Sahim's library, that denotes the Dawn caste. Warriors and generals, I believe? I suppose we'll see what this newcomer can do, in time. Can't hurt to have extra protection on our journey to Rathess.

He nodded along in agreement as Darian invited Annika and Durke to join their fledgling empire. His golden half-filled disk glowed faintly above his brow as he let a mote of essence slip into it. Viktor felt no need to say anything himself, as his circle-mates tended to be well accomplished in such skills. He revealed his caste mark as a sign of solidarity with his soon-to-be Emperor and Empress, and to lend credibility to their words in case either Annika or Durke were skeptical.

 

[jaydude]

Seeing Viktor also displaying his caste mark, Annika does a mental shrug as if to say why not, and shows her own. She isn't wearing her Heaven's Glory Shroud right now, and so it's a simple matter for her to channel her Essence and make her mark glow. It's a ring larger than Durke's but with nothing surrounding it, and gives the impression of a hidden, or absent sun.

She continues to remain quiet, waiting for the Eclipse and the Zenith to reply to Aysik.

 

[Rykon]

Aredin held Darian's hand softly and smiled, "It's because of you two that our paths crossed. All of the pain, fear, and anxiety of my early days would have all been worth it just to get us here. I would like to offer you the role of Grand Vizier Aysik, as well as a vizier role for Dunbar. There is so much preparation to be done if we are to work toward reclaiming Rathess and healing Darian's sight. In the meantime though, any chance you two know of some Solar sympathizing martial artists that would found dojos here?"

 

[LowRollLyfe]

Durke looked at every person gathered in that room, letting all this new information slowly sink in. So, this be a blessin' given to me by the Sun god. And these folk want to create a new empire?...This could work. It's better than wanderin' around, tryin' to better this place through luck and circumstance.

"It's feelin' like this meetin' is more fate than chance." A smile splits Durke's bearded face. "Alrighty than, I'll join you in buildin' your empire. As long as you stay honorable and true, you'll have my strength." As he says this, Durke stands at attention and slams his right fist into his heart to salute the lord and lady.

"...just one thing. I can offer my services but my company are free men and I will need to tell them about, well, everythin'. If you can assure them pay and a future 'ere, I'm sure most will join the empire."

 

[Sherwood]

Aysik nods. "Money is not a problem. You'll have plenty of resources to be able to equip your men in the very best of equipment. Also, Aredin's idea of a training dojo is quite workable. In fact," he takes a sip from his wine before going on, "there is an existing training center in the South that the Gold Faction of the Sidereals use to teach other Solars how to use their powers. I can pull some strings to have the trainees come here, along with their instructors. We can turn this into quite the empire, but there will be a risk involved. Bring too much attention to yourselves, and the Realm and their Wyld Hunt fanatics will come calling."