Trial By Fire - Exalted 2e IC Thread

[Red Shadow Claws]

Resuming her human form, Sirocco touches ground near the assembled Solars. "It seems Filial Wisdom is possessed by that god you guys mentioned earlier. And he's putting some of his troops into positions around this tower. It doesn't look like they plan to assault us here, but they might serve to let him know we're leaving this place." And while she says so, she flexes her arms, as if they need some getting used to.

 

[Psychie]

Darian raises an eyebrow at the news. "If Filial is being possessed by this spirit, that might explain his erratic behavior. But in the meantime, we now have a horde of people watching the Tower. Is there a way out of here that won't be observed?"

 

[MasterDAF]

Viktor scratched his chin, thinking on how best the group could avoid detection by Filial's army. "Well," he offered, "if Relza is willing, perhaps you could borrow her Indomitable Conquest Platform? I helped the goddess get her skyship back into basic rudimentary working order while you were being healed. It's nothing beautiful, and there's still plenty to do to get it fully back to tip-top shape, but it'll run for now. And it features a sort-of camouflage paneling on the exterior that we've gotten working, so it might help keep you hidden from his forces while you sneak out."

 

[Rykon]

"These underways aren't out in the open either, I assume. For all I know, that ship could be what has the madman spooked. I'll wager he's putting on a show of strength just to keep his rabble placated. Or... perhaps he is deluded enough to think he dominates the board right now. Nevertheless, I'll trust the Goddesses' advice on moving about their city as they know it far better than us. I'm fine either way, so long as we don't leave the nest vulnerable."

 

[Sherwood]

Aarog looks over at Leeayta for a moment, waiting for some kind of signal from her. After a slight nod from the goddess, Aarog says, "The Towers all have entrances to the under city. Most of the ones in this Tower have been blocked off for security, but there is still a hidden way out that you can use to get to the Celestial Lions guarding the graveyard. We use these hidden paths in order to hunt and to bring more of our wild children here to begin the process of Awakening, and they should serve you well. In the meantime, I will gather up our other Awakened Dragon Kings and have them prepare the Tower for a possible attack."

 

[jaydude]

"Well, I think that settles it." Annika said. "With those tunnels, you lot should be able to get around unseen without my help, in which case I'll stay here and continue questioning the Abyssal."

 

[Psychie]

Darian idly chews on a thumbnail as she thinks. "Ok, so we will have Viktor and Annika staying behind in the Tower, while the rest of us goes to find these Lions? Does that sound right to everyone? I'd hate to leave someone out of the plans."

 

[jaydude]

"Hold on." Annika said. "If I'm to question the Abyssal about her master, I'll likely need Heaven here to remove the enchantment that's preventing her from speaking about him, unless someone else in this tower knows sorcery. Otherwise, I can wait and we can question her later. I'm in no rush."

 

[MasterDAF]

Viktor nods at Darian's summation, then looks to the Night-Caste as she speaks. "Actually Annika," he offered, "I know a small bit of sorcery myself. I doubt my knowledge is as thorough as Heaven's, but I'm proficient enough in the Emerald Countermagic spell to be of assistance if he decides to go with the rest of the group."

 

[Psychie]

Darian looks over at Viktor and asks, "Since you have some knowledge of sorcery, do you know what kind of curse is affecting the prisoner? Do you think that counter magic would dispel this safely?"

 

[MasterDAF]

Viktor shook his head side to side in response. "Sorry, not really. Going off the information Heaven and Annika provided, and the belching of worms from our prisoner, I would agree with them that this spell appears designed to prevent speaking of select subjects. Unfortunately my limited knowledge of the various sorcerous rites leaves some holes in my ability to predict any other alterations or deficits that might accompany such a spell."

The Twilight crafter crossed his arms over his chest, and rubbed his chin thoughtfully with his hand. "If I was to observe the prisoner myself, perhaps I could get a feel for how her essence has been manipulated and glean a better understanding of the curse itself. Under normal circumstances I could also consult the tomes I brought from Chiaroscuro, but they are currently stored in my shop back in Gwynnin so they won't be of any immediate help to us." He lower his hand and shrugged. "I'm certainly open to doing what I can, but ultimately if Heaven couldn't figure out the entirety of the curse than I doubt I'll be much more help than he."

Viktor let a small smirk tug at the side of his mouth. "As for the 'safety' of using counter magic to dispel the speaking safeguard, that depends greatly on how you judge magical backlashes and the danger they can pose." His mouth widened into a smile as he unfolded his arms and mimed an explosion with his hands. Chuckling, he continued. "Not to say anything catastrophic would happen, so you don't need to worry about that...most likely. But when a sorcerer uses counter magic to disrupt an existing spell, they are causing the very essence bound within it to be torn apart. This occurs through a process referred to as spell 'shattering.' This shattering can lead to all kinds of strange effects surrounding the target and those nearby, expanding as the circle of sorcery increases. Not all effects are lethal or dangerous, but all are relatively uncontrollable and happen regardless of the sorcerer or their target's desires."

He scratched the back of his head as a rumor he'd heard in Chiaroscuro occurred to him . "Supposedly, destroying a spell with more powerful counter magic from a higher circle of sorcery can cause the dispelled spell to dissipate in a much less extreme fashion. I can only work spells of the Terrestrial, or Emerald, Circle so I've never had the opportunity to test such an assertion. I believe Heaven to be a more accomplished sorcerer however, so maybe with some prompting perhaps he could test this rumor. I'm sure it would be preferable to our prisoner that she doesn't risk growing a second mouth during our removal of the spell, and it might provide us with some leverage to convince her to speak more freely."

 

[Rykon]

"Let's just start with trying to contact this master. Annika, think you can probe for information on what we could expect from a diplomatic approach? One way or another, this Deathlord threat needs to be addressed."

 

[jaydude]

"Okay." Annika said. "So do I have your blessing to remove the charm that's preventing the Abyssal from talking about her master, knowing what it's likely to do?"

 

[Rykon]

"If you have to, yes. Just make sure you take precautions to prevent collateral damage." Aredin replied with a nod. "As for those of us about to depart, I'm ready when you are. Let's try and make this quick."

 

[jaydude]

"I will." Annika said to Aredin, before turning to the Twilight Caste. "Viktor, if you're going to stay in the tower, would you mind helping me out with the Voice's questioning? Before you start looking at First Age stuff, I mean."

MasterDAF

 

[MasterDAF]

Viktor smiled in response to Annika's request. "Certainly, I would be glad to help where I can." He pushed his sleeves up, as though preparing to work on something, and nodded to his compatriot. "When you're ready, lead the way."

 

[jaydude]

"No time like the present I say. Even if all of us can live for hundreds of years now." Annika replied.

"See you all later." She said to the rest of the circle, as she and Viktor left to talk with the Abyssal.

 

[Sherwood]

Once more, the Circle splits up.

Those making their way out of the Tower are led by Leeayta down to the lost levels of the place. There are several corridors leading into the underways of the city, most of which have been blocked off to keep out intruders. Even so, there are several Dragon Kings down here keeping watch. The Lizard Queen leads you past the guards to one of the passages that are not blocked off.

As she leads you, she says, "The upper levels of the tunnels are not too dangerous, especially for a large group. It is not until you get deeper into the passages that rings get a little tricky. But we are not going deep, so that should not be a concern. Quickly now, follow me."

After about a mile of travel below ground, Leeayta leads you back above ground. The buildings in this part of the city have a different look to them, more comfortable to humans. A short distance farther and you come to a walled off section of the Octet. Leeayta looks over at the group and says, "Stay on the path and you will avoid the first layer of wards that were placed here to keep out tomb robbers. Come."

Inside, the first of the tombs are less ornate and gaudy, but still impressive, marking them as the resting place for fallen Dragon Blooded. The whole place reeks of magic, and even the very rocks that form the path you are on have spells worked into them. Carefully making her way through, Leeayta does not linger here but instead heads farther into the graveyard. Farther in, you can see the tombs becoming more grand, marking where the Celestial Exalted lie in their eternal rest.

From somewhere in front of you, you hear a gravelly voice say, "If you are here to pay your respects to the fallen hero's of ages past, you are welcome. If your intent is to rob the tombs, let me assure you that it would not be a wise decision."

Stepping out from the shadows is a lion the size of a small horse. It takes a seat on the path in front of you, it's gaze taking in the group.


Inside the Tower, Annika and Viktor return to see your prisoner. She is still lying there on the ground under the watchful eye of several of the Dragon Kings. They step back to give you more room to question the Abyssal.

 

[Rykon]

Aredin flashes a fairly dim glimmer of the mark of the eclipse, just enough to back his diplomatic status without raising alarm to the Mad Solar. "I actually came here to speak with you and your friends. We have some information on a spirit fugitive by the name of Han Tha and I was hoping we could find a way to work together in apprehending or annihilating him." Aredin stated bluntly, though notably stopping before any actionable intelligence was uttered. He was hoping to read the lion's reaction and gauge the character of these long-lived guardians, both in how they would approach a known Solar and the news of Han Tha.

"Ah, I get ahead of myself though. I am Lord Aredin of Gwynnin, this is my wife High Priestess Darian and our Vizier Dunbar of the Sidereals."

 

[Sherwood]

The Lion bows its head slightly in greeting before saying, "I have heard that name before, a wanted criminal in the Celestial Hierarchy. This is a spirit that has been hunted for a thousand years, and you say that you have found him here? How do I know you are telling me the truth?"

Dunbar offers up a polite bow of his own to the Lion, and says, "Let me assure you that we have high confidence that the Solar Filial Wisdom has either been corrupted to work willingly with this dark god, or he has been possessed by Han-Tha. Either way, word has been sent to Yu-Shan to my own teacher, and he is in his way here now, and is expected in the city of Rathess in three days. Having the help of the noble Celestial Lions would make our effort to bring this criminal to justice much easier, thanks to the formidable fighting skills of the Lions of Yu-Shan."

The Lion chuckles as it shakes its head. "You certainly know how to lay on the flattery. I will discuss this with my fellow guards here, and we shall give you an answer shortly."

As you watch, a second Loon comes out of hiding in between two of the buildings, and they trade a look with one another. The second one says, "Let me assure you that we will give this a full and measured discussion. We shall be discussing this with our fellow Lions in Yu-Shan, and if your story is true, you will be joined by the guardians of the Celestial City."

 

[Psychie]

Darian offers up a bow of her own. "We thank you, noble Lions, for the audience. Let me assure you that what we say is true, and once you do some investigating, you will discover that everything we have said is true. The Exalt Aysik Vaysel has been in contact with us, and he is on his way right now."

 

[jaydude]

Annika looked at both Heaven and Viktor. "Well, do you want to start looking at her?" She asked, gesturing to the captured Abyssal.

 

[MasterDAF]

"Yes, let's." Viktor replied quietly, approaching the Abyssal prisoner slowly and cautiously. He wasn't sure what this strange Exalt was capable of, and did not plan to lower his guard around her anytime soon.

The Twilight crafter stepped around their captive, looking closely for any kind of signs or bodily symptoms that might give a hint towards the ritual ingredients used to call forth the magic binding her tongue.

[Can Viktor make an Intelligence+Occult roll to see if any observations help him recognize the spell and it's strictures?]

 

[Sherwood]

MasterDAF please give me a roll to try and identify the spell.

 

[MasterDAF]

[Spell Recognition Roll: 5 Intelligence + 5 Occult = 4 Successes]