Trial By Fire - Exalted 2e IC Thread

[Rykon]

Aredin placed his arm around Darian's waist. "I'm a prince from a far away land on a honeymoon with my lovely wife here. We've come here hearing tales of the unique atmosphere and experience of Metagalapa and have come to see the sights and learn of its origins. These imposing companions of ours are my guards. Tell me, the trip has been long and we could go for a good drink, might there be a place where we can sample your people's culinary talents?"

 

[Sherwood]

Duncan looks at the two love birds with a tilt of the head and a slight smile. "Ah. Well. We don't normally get many visitors, but now we are ripe with them. Between you and our merchant guild allies, we have many strangers amongst us today." He turns to look at Blythe. "My dear, you are generally thought to be one of our best cooks; perhaps you could be persuaded to entertain our visitors and regale them with our history?"

The woman raises an eyebrow, then nods. "I have been known to spend some time in the kitchen, and my home is large enough to accommodate these newlyweds and their entourage. My residence is a bit up the Slope, so I hope you will not have a problem with the climb, especially with the thinner air at this altitude. If you would come with me? I will show you the way."

Issar eyes the group, paying special attention to Ragnar and Annika as the bodyguards for the two rulers, obviously sizing you up as a potential threat. He finally says, "Blythe, I would be remis in my manners if I did not escort you to help with the many questions that these travelers must have."

The woman doesn't miss a beat, but says, "Thank you, Issar. Between the two of us, we know all the lore of our unique home."

 

[Psychie]

Darian offers up a smile to the trio and says, "Thank you for your kind welcome. I must confess, I have never seen anyplace like this before. How many of you are there on this floating mountain, and how did you come to be up here in the first place? That alone must be quite the tale."

 

[D. Rex]

Ragnar, of course, was completely unarmed, but still armored. That Issar was sizing them up meant they were at least holding to their role right so far.

Ragnar would meet Issars gaze, keeping eye contact and giving a simple nod as if to say ' see you sizing me up and I dont mind'. The northlanders face did not hold any more malice to it than a shield. After all, he didnt want to start trouble. Simply to deter it.

 

[jaydude]

Keeping up her role as a bodyguard, and trusting Aredin and Darian to handle all the talking anyway, Annika would remain quiet, while also examining Duncan, Blythe and Issar with her Gemstone of Surface Thoughts.

(3 rolls of Perception + Awareness. 7 sux for Duncan, 5 for Blythe and 4 for Issar.)

 

[Sherwood]

Duncan's thoughts are: What brings Exalted here, now of all times? Are they rivals to the others? We must watch them carefully.

Blythe is thinking: Damnit Duncan! I am not a short order chef, and my home is not a place for kissy-faced tourists! He had best have a damn good reason for dumping this in my lap!

And finally, from Issar: The tall one is the obvious threat, but the smaller woman must not be discounted. She would not be a guard if she lacked any ability to fight. Besides, this prince is an Essence user. He may be the greatest danger to us, depending on what focus his training has gone.

The walk up the Slope is easy enough for the group, with Blythe taking the lead and Issar in the rear. As she leads you along, the woman glances over at Darian and says, "We number just over four thousand here, descendants of a old Shogunate Legion that got trapped here before the mountain lifted into the air. It was almost nine hundred years ago when it happened, during the Fae Invasion. Our ancestors were facing total annihilation at the hands of the Fae despite their training, outnumbered thousands to one."

From behind, Issar takes up the tale. "Their leader, Jyn Pygar, ordered his Legion to make their final stand on the high ground of this mountain, hoping for a miracle. It was at this point that their prayers were answered, but not in any way that they could have expected. Fire rained from the sky as the woman that would become Empress used her powers to scourge the Fae, burning the flesh from their bones. Then, there was a great rumbling in the heart of the mountain, and at this time, it lifted into the air, trapping Jyn Pygar and his men on the Slope!"

Blythe nods in agreement, then takes up the story once more. "The first few years were the hardest for them. If it were not for the strict military discipline of the Legion, they most certainly would have all succumbed to their fears and despair. But, with powers of the Exalts in their company, they were able to carve away at the Slope to make farmland and raise crops, and to make homes for the trapped soldiers here. Over time, our ancestors were able to tame the giant hawks that roost here, giving us the ability to range out and trade what little surplus we have with our neighbors, and there is the occasional flying ship from the Guild that comes to offer up trade with us for the things we cannot make ourselves.

"We have since had the opportunity to leave Mount Metagalapa and to return to the ground below, but how can we abandon everything that our forefathers worked so hard to build? Besides, the view up here is one that cannot be matched anywhere else in Creation!"

 

[jaydude]

"You got that right." commented Annika with regards to the view as she followed the other trio, taking note of Duncan's thoughts about them being "rivals to the others".

"Had any particularly interesting visitors lately?" she asked Duncan politely while reading his surface thoughts again, wanting to try and learn more about these "others".

(Perception + Awareness roll. Only 2 successes)

 

[Sherwood]

Duncan replies, "Yes, we have other outsiders on the Slope, visitors from the Guild, bringing much needed supplies for trade. They have many craftsmen with them, making some things to order with the supplies that they have brought along with them." His thoughts support that statement, thinking about getting his wife a pretty trinket or two to earn brownie points for their next argument.

 

[Psychie]

Darian pauses as they are climbing up the side of the mountain to look out at the incredible view, feeling a bit of wonder at the sight. "Truly, this is an amazing view. It must never get old." She turns back and continues to walk along with the others.

 

[Sherwood]

Blythe gives Darian a smile. "Sometimes it takes a newcomer to the Slope to help remind us of that." As you walk, you can see that the bulk of the buildings here are made of rock that looks as if it has been molded by Essence; there are no signs of tool marks to indicate that the structures were ever worked by hand.

When you are about halfway up the mountain, your guide stops in front of a fairly ornate building, covered in vines and plants of all kinds. She gestures, "This is my home. I was not expecting visitors, so please be kind and don't judge. Come in, and be welcome. I will have some refreshments served while you relax."

Inside, the hard rock is muted by colorful tapestries and paintings, along with more plants with colorful blooms. It is a very warm and inviting home.

Two teenage girls come out and stop at the sight of strangers in the home. One says, "M'lady?"

Blythe quickly tells the two that you are a visiting pair of royalty, and that she is going to be playing host to you for a time. "Please bring out some refreshments for our guests."

 

[Rykon]

Aredin smiles warmly and takes his seat slowly, "So do your people tend to do business with the guild often? Does that mean their silver has any value to you?"

 

[jaydude]

As Aredin addressed the others, Annika would take one of the chairs next to him, thinking that Darian would sit at his other side, and that Ragnar would sit next to her (Darian).

 

[D. Rex]

With Annika on the Kings side, Ragnar took the other with Darian, as she had expected.

( Psychie Darian could decline, of course) Being in the role he was in, he would kindly pull out the chair for Darian and scoot her in, as one would for a respected Lady. Which, of course, she was, whether this was a role he was playing or not. And just because he was a barbarian didnt mean he hadn't learned any manners(not a lot but enough).

He would wait to sit down until Darian was settled.

 

[Sherwood]

Aredin smiles warmly and takes his seat slowly, "So do your people tend to do business with the guild often? Does that mean their silver has any value to you?"

Blythe nods. "While we are fairly self sufficient here, there is a understandable lack of certain goods that other people of Creation take for granted. We do have the ability to make much of what we need, some items are just beyond us. It is fortunate for us that the Guild is willing to make the occasional trip up here to do business, because our means of getting back to the surface is limited to how much our hawkriders can bring with them."

 

[Rykon]

Aredin nodded, "I see. I realize that you all don't trade much with the world below, but I would like to compensate you kind people for your hospitality and indulging our curiosity. Is there any sort of recent need or trouble we could perhaps help with? My wife and I may enjoy the high life, however, we wouldn't have honeymooned here if we didn't have a taste for adventure now and again." Aredin shared a smile with Darian, taking her hand and pausing to admire just how far they'd come together over the last few years.

 

[Sherwood]

Duncan lets out a smile. "There is little enough excitement here on the Slope. Especially after living here so long, there are no hazards to us anymore. If you wish excitement, you came to the wrong place. But there is nowhere else in Creation that can match the quiet beauty of our home."

 

[Psychie]

As they sit, enjoying the drink that Blythe has so kindly provided, she decides to try and hear what is going on outside the building by cranking her hearing up to its max with her Personal Essence fueling the Charms. What can I hear?

Spoiler

Total of 12 successes to my hearing Perception roll

 

[Rykon]

Aredin exchanges a quick glance to Annika, somewhat suspecting he's been fed a dodgey line given their intel on Abyssal interests. He distracts from the glance with a theatric shrug and then lays a small satchel of a half dirham in silver (200 Dinar coins) clanging on the table. "Then I s'pose this will have to do as thanks for your hospitality and warm welcome. Again, I know you normally don't get a high volume of trade, but with the guild here now, it may be of some luxury to you all for a time." He then scanned the room with less intent while fishing for his next line of questions.

I could try and get them to think we're trying to prevent some villain from sinking the mountain in a catastrophic freefall. Eh, maybe that's a bit much this early. Still, something here doesn't quite sit right with me. "If you don't mind my asking... Have the people here paid much mind as to why the mountain rose into the sky? How it remains in the sky, perhaps? This is but one leg of our journey and we would like the chance to really get a good look around if it's not too intrusive to you and your good neighbors here."

[Rolling Socialize to sniff for deception, only 4 on 13 dice. What a bummer. Note the 3 die specialty was applied.]

 

[Sherwood]

Darian can hear from the other room the two serving girls talking.

One says: "I wonder who these new people are!"
The other says, "I know! So many strangers here all at once. Getting to see some new faces. Its exciting!"
"Hand me the peppers, will you? Thanks. Do you think that they are more merchants looking to buy from the old cache of Artifacts from the old days?"
"Could be. Its not like those old relics are doing anything other than collecting dust."
"Lets get these snacks to mom. She is probably wondering what is taking us so long."

With that, the door to the other room opens up and the two girls come into the room once more, this time carrying trays of food. "Here you go. I hope you enjoy! Is there anything else we can bring in?"

Blythe says, "No, not at the moment. Thank you."

 

[Sherwood]

I could try and get them to think we're trying to prevent some villain from sinking the mountain in a catastrophic freefall. Eh, maybe that's a bit much this early. Still, something here doesn't quite sit right with me. "If you don't mind my asking... Have the people here paid much mind as to why the mountain rose into the sky? How it remains in the sky, perhaps? This is but one leg of our journey and we would like the chance to really get a good look around if it's not too intrusive to you and your good neighbors here."

In response to this question, Duncan replies, "We have wondered that for many years, but there are few answers that we can ferret out. The prevailing theory is that it is a remnant of Wyld energy that was never purged when the Fae invaded all those years ago. There was a team of savants that once traveled here, many years ago, but they were never able to come up with any idea besides that one as to why the mountain is still afloat."

 

[Red Shadow Claws]

Sirocco was in bird form when the group arrived, pretending to be a bird of prey in the regal couple's entourage. Shortly after, she would give Heaven the agreed sign to let her fly, and explore the mountain, seeing what she can see with a bird's view.

 

[Psychie]

Darian leans over and nuzzles Aredin's neck and gives him a kiss, then whispers in is ear, "The girls in the other room are the daughters of Blythe. They are wondering if we are here to try and buy some of the old cache of artifacts that they have in storage from before the mountain took off in competition of the others from the airship. What we are looking for may be in there." With one more kiss, she leans back with a smile.

 

[Sherwood]

Sirocco was in bird form when the group arrived, pretending to be a bird of prey in the regal couple's entourage. Shortly after, she would give Heaven the agreed sign to let her fly, and explore the mountain, seeing what she can see with a bird's view.

As Sirocco flies about, slowly circling the mountain, you get a good look at the tiered gardens, switchback trails up and down, and the homes made mostly from rock that has been molded by Essence.

Please give me a Perception + Awareness roll.


Inside Blythe's home, refreshments are served for you; a mix of fermented fruit juice and baked pastries. It is quite refreshing. As you are enjoying your snack, Duncan looks over at Blythe and says, "I must be on my way to check on our other guests. Don't wish to leave them unattended for too long. They might try to buy us out of all of our crops!" Looking back at the Circle, he says, "I will meet with you later on to make sure that you are having a pleasant honeymoon. Until then . . ." He then walks on out, leaving you alone with Blythe and the two teenage girls that are serving your food.

 

[jaydude]

Annika would give Duncan a nod as she watched him leave.

 

[Rykon]

Aredin smiles at Darian's kiss, listening carefully as she whispered what she'd learned. He let out what would sound like a very long, quiet sigh, but truthfully he'd articulate it to a very faint whisper. "Dunno if it'll be that easy, but worth a shot."

He turned to Blythe deciding to confront the issue, "I realize we may seem like a bumbling married couple too distracted by marital bliss to pay much mind to that blatant lie, but I have to ask how dumb do you think I am? What guildsman goes to the expense of procuring a bleeding airship to make a run for crops, hm?" Aredin let a Jade obol fall from a small pocket in his sleeve into his palm before he started rolling it across his knuckles. "I'm a little put off to think that whatever it is you're really selling, you don't believe I could match or beat their price."