Session Start: Sat Apr 19 19:58:24 2003 Session Ident: #pvpexaltedrp [19:58] * Now talking in #pvpexaltedrp [19:58] * Topic is 'Exalted: this is my call I belong to You, this is my call to sing the melodies of You, this is my call I can do nothing else, I can do nothing else ' [19:58] * Set by Storyteller on Fri Apr 18 02:43:01 [20:08] * DarthTom (~ltermac@HSE-QuebecCity-ppp3499576.sympatico.ca) has joined #pvpexaltedrp [20:49] * DarthTom is now known as JarJarTom [20:50] * Tabius (~web-Guest@ip68-108-129-116.lv.lv.cox.net) has joined #pvpexaltedrp [20:50] * JarJarTom is now known as DarthTom [20:53] * Manxcat (manxcat@wv-mltn-ubr-c-024-159-089-167.charterwv.net) has joined #pvpexaltedrp [20:55] * Tabius (~web-Guest@ip68-108-129-116.lv.lv.cox.net) Quit (Quit: Leaving) [20:59] * GoldenH is now known as Storyteller [20:59] * Manxcat is now known as Nika [21:00] * DarthTom is now known as Vanal [21:00] * Tabius (~web-Guest@ip68-108-129-116.lv.lv.cox.net) has joined #pvpexaltedrp [21:01] sooo... where do we want tos tart tonight? [21:02] Tos Tarts.......never heard of those, are they good, do they come with sprinkles? [21:02] hnh? [21:02] (*I was making a joke about your mispelling ;-) [21:02] heh [21:03] argh there are only 4 people here. [21:03] * Mayumi seeks cover as Gh readies the xp docking hamer of doom. [21:03] * Storyteller is displeased [21:04] * Nika is here this time, please no hammers [21:04] * Mayumi is now known as Cicada [21:04] Nika, why don't you describe your character and background with the rest of the folks while I decide how much XP to dock people who aren't here [21:04] (*Is having problems remembering who Nika and Mayumi are.... [21:04] acht........ ;-) [21:05] Still unsure who Nika is? [21:05] my char is Mnemon Nikademus, sorcerer, teacher, and part time wyld hunter [21:05] Guy with the sled ? [21:06] the sled belongs to Mnemon Juniper [21:06] the ponce who was hiding behind me when the lion hit [21:06] guy with the flying cape [21:06] and folks wonder why Van dislikes mnemon [21:06] * Werlynn (~Werlynn@ool-182dcd08.dyn.optonline.net) has joined #pvpexaltedrp [21:06] Because they are intelligent tacticians? [21:06] heh, no mnemon is just smart enough to let Cathak do what they do best, beat ass! [21:07] How does your character look, manx [21:07] everyone describe how their characters look [21:07] let me somewhere were I can fly, and I can fight just fine [21:07] if you have any questions ask me! [21:08] * Cicada (Hikari@62.79.86.136) Quit (Connection reset by peer) [21:09] Nika is a average hight, thin fellow, white hair, pale skin, dresses in monochrome, black with white accents. and always looks like he has somewhere else to be [21:09] air aspect? [21:09] yes [21:09] Cathak Tabius 6'1" 160lbs with a medium build [21:09] Note: Jynaru by now will have interrogated the water spirit. He was in fact captured by the bone lion on the way here from the realm. He's been stuck in the bone lion, which has been swimming circles around the island for months, trying to find a way in [21:09] Tabius seems always to be dressed to the height of fashion for whatever occation it may be, but he usually wears a white jade and platinum headband with a gem of some kind over the forhead. [21:10] * Vanal is still tall, loud, and proud. A full 6 feet tall and now hitting roughly 170 lbs in weight. He's got a heavy, muscled build, a neatly trimmed goatee, and short hair. Since he's on a ship, he's shucked his armor for the time being, and now is going around in the realm equivalent of his fatigues [21:10] and the oliphaunt-hide coat he got from the island [21:10] Tabius seems always to be dressed to the height of fashion for whatever occation it may be, but he usually wears a white jade and platinum headband with a gem of some kind over the forhead. [21:10] People, even Exalted, seem to be taken in by the aura of awe and respect that Tabius seems to carry about himself. [21:11] (*ie the heartstone of Grace) [21:11] (Here's one Exalt who hasn't been...snooty bastich *g*) [21:11] Also, I don't know how many of you know, but Shel Stormwind was Juniper's captain [Juniper acting as Admiral] and Maris convinced her to stay on the island as his queen. [21:11] Ah [21:11] groovy [21:12] also none of the women on the ship are Tya [21:12] * Nika is never without his wings of the raptor cloak, and blue jade dakilave "Utterswift", also upon his forehead is a jade circlet set with a brilliant green stone, that seems to grow and shift as you watch it [21:12] tabius make a per + occult for that stone [21:12] Dice Script Active [21:12] * Cicada (Hikari@62.79.87.195) has joined #pvpexaltedrp [21:12] wb [21:13] Tala is a beautiful young woman who could not be mistaken for anything but an Exalt of the water aspect. The smooth, hypnotically graceful way she moves and her bluish-aqua colored skin speak well of her bloodline. Her head is shaved clean in the manner of an Immaculate monk. When the sun hits her in the right manner it even appears to gleam as if reflecting off of a pool of water and she smells like the fresh clear water of a running [21:13] She dresses in the simple robes of an Immaculate and those who know can tell from the belt she wears tha [21:13] !exa 18 [21:13] Tabius (18) 10, 9, 10, 2, 4, 1, 10, 5, 2, 1, 9, 10, 5, 1, 7, 1, 10, 8, Successes : 14 [21:13] that she is of the second coil. Adorning her neck is a torc crafted in the form of a sea serpent from blue jade. Set in the torc is a dark green, almost black gemstone. When she fights she dons a pair of fingerless leather gloves which each have 3 black jade blades extending from the knuckles. The right glove has a jade setting containing an opaque red stone with streaks of dark silver. Otherwise the gloves are kept in a leather wrap [21:13] * Werlynn is now known as Tala [21:14] ok there's only one gem like that on the isle. It's somewhat north of the imperial city, right Nika? [21:14] right [21:14] its' the gem of ... can't remember the name [21:14] * Storyteller goes to boot the other computer up [21:15] incomparable wellness [21:15] * Tabius barely keeps his jaw from dropping to the ground as Nika obviously has massive support from his house. [21:15] it pays to be close to grandma Mnemon [21:16] (*no shit ;-) *) [21:17] anyhow i'm about ready. anything you want before I start? [21:17] An arm and a leg? :) [21:17] ermmmm is Juniper going to brief us on the state of the realm? [21:18] Also, can Tabius SCounterspell the damn Lion? [21:18] yea [21:18] * Storyteller will start with Tabius counterspelling the lion, after vanal rakes all the pieces together. it would behoove you to be near him. [21:20] allright. it's the morning after you've all got on the boat. [21:20] (*oh goody*) [21:20] you've tried to sleep, but mysteriously, found yourselves not tired. [21:20] still yuo recover as if you have had a full night's rest [21:21] Vanal is holding a broom, next to a large pile of bones [21:21] "I don't see why *I* had to clean this thing up." [21:22] "Because cousin, it reforms and will come after us again and again unless we destroy every piece of it or it is counterspelled" [21:22] "Well at least I hope about the second part." [21:22] "I understamd that. But why *ME* ?" [21:23] "I did my part by smashing it into itty pieces." [21:24] "You aren't wounded, arn't missing limbs, can beat ass, and are Cathak." [21:25] "That's fine...but I'm NOT A JANITOR !" [21:25] * Vanal waves the broom for emphasis [21:25] "The janitors are busy making sure that demon's claws aren't digging a hole in the side of the ship.' [21:26] * Cicada is in her cabin, more or less confined by her handicap as Sanyet has taken to walking the deck and brooding by himself. [21:26] "Anyways, lets get on with this chore so we can get it overwith." [21:26] "Are all the bones there?" [21:27] "Yes, they're all bloody there." [21:27] * Nika is in flight if we're far enough away that thats safe, if not he's pacing the deck everyonce in a while stopping near the cleanup to watch [21:27] Nika, what is your maximum speed. [21:27] * Vanal mutters a few very unflattering things about mnemon under his breath [21:28] countermagic! [21:28] * Tabius looks at Vanal with a hard stare because he knows what he is talking about even though its under his breatyh./ [21:29] 75yards/turn [21:30] * Tala leans against the rail, staring out over the ocean [21:30] * Tala 's thoughts are lost deep in the ocean [21:32] cast the spelllll [21:32] * Cicada is carefully looking over her belongings, one item of clothing at a time, her movements clumsy because of having only one arm. [21:32] * Tabius waives his hands in a mock summoning motion, says a few words that are unnecessary and then puts his will into unweaving the spell that is present before him. [21:33] * Tabius anima flairs to a huge PIRE as essence whips about his body in the form of tongues of flame. [21:34] The magic from the countermagic erupts from Tabius momentarily, into the pile of dust that was the bone lion. after a short spiral of essence, the pile of the bone lion looks much like it did before, only somewhat less ominous [21:34] * Tala turns and stares at the great pyre of flame on the open deck of the ship, eyes wide [21:35] "Vanal?" [21:35] * Vanal whirls around, on edge [21:36] A tall, muscular man with a icy complexion stands before vanal, wearing a uniform much like Vanal's [21:36] Juniper stares in shock, which he ignores. [21:37] "Yarna ?" [21:37] * Vanal cracks into a smile [21:37] He smiles and clasps your hand. [21:37] * Vanal shakes it heartily "What the Hell are you doing out here, scalemaster ?" [21:38] "Tracking you down, m'Lord." [21:38] * Tabius immediatly goes into a defensive posture hand on hilts. [21:38] "How did...." [21:38] "Relax ! " [21:38] "It's one of my officers." [21:38] "Good to see you again." [21:39] "But where did he come from Vanal?" [21:39] Yarna has a massive white jade daiklaive strapped to his back, but no armor. [21:39] "I've been in the hold," he saids sadly. "They hadn't found me yet." [21:39] "How the FUCK did you hide this long ?" [21:40] "I've lived this long, and it's not all from swordplay." [21:40] "Point taken." [21:41] "We're not at sea anymore?" [21:41] "We are...kind of." [21:41] "Hm." [21:41] "Don't ask." [21:41] "so what the Hell are you doing here ?" [21:41] He nods matter of factly. [21:41] "Why'd you stow away ?" [21:41] "I'm here to report, sir." [21:42] "...you stowed away for over a month, hiding in the hold of a ship...to REPORT ?" [21:43] "What the HELL could be that important ?" [21:43] * Tabius stares at Yarna a bit harder than normal. [21:43] "Sir! I haven't been here the whole month. Your commander made a deal with a spirit. Sir, it is of the most dire importance for you to return back to the realm." [21:44] "And when you get there, you must hold Mnemon Juniper guilty of treason against house Cathak." [21:44] "WHAT ?!" [21:44] "Now wait just one minute..." [21:44] "Quiet! I'm giving my report." [21:45] "I left before it.." [21:45] "Patience Juniper, let him discharge his duty before we get into particulars" [21:45] "And used spirits to burn the place down." [21:46] Juniper sighs and waits for Yarna to finish his report. [21:47] "Sir, after you left, the Cathak Barracks were burned down, along with the Ledaal and V'neef manors." [21:47] "House Peleps also suffered a light raid. But Mnemon Juniper's manor remained unscathed, only to be found empty when investigators were sent." [21:48] * Tabius thinks that the loss of the V'neef manors wasn't a bad thing of the V'neef died in it. [21:48] "...how many people died ?" [21:48] "A few dozen at most. All slaves." [21:48] * Vanal nods [21:49] "Okay, nothing major." [21:49] "Sir. Also, we have been unable to track down Lord Renig." [21:49] * Tala listens to the soldier's report [21:49] "Renig went AWOL ?" [21:49] "He dissapeared after the barracks were burnt down with his scale." [21:49] "He took *CATHAK* troops with him ?" [21:49] Yarna nods solemnly [21:49] "I'm busting him down to FANGLORD when we get back." [21:50] "Yes sir." [21:50] "Okay....for the barracks...when did you leave, Juniper ?" [21:50] "Exact date." [21:50] Juniper looks at Vanal accusingly. [21:51] "I have a responsability to my unit to find out who did it, Mnemon !" [21:51] "This can wait till we get back, can't it?" [21:51] "Right after the fires were reported. But I had nothing to do with it! I knew that I had to track all of you down before the city was locked down and the anathema got away." [21:51] "I see." [21:51] * Vanal scowls [21:51] "You did defeat them, correct?" [21:52] "Yarna, you know there's not enough evidence to link her to the fires." [21:52] "Sir, the best investigators of the realm were called in. There could have been no other culprit." [21:52] "When did Renig disappear ?" [21:53] * Vanal pinches the bridge of his nose [21:53] "Right after the fires was the best guess. But nobody saw him or his men afterwards." [21:53] * Vanal nods [21:53] "Besides Renig, the Lady V'neef herself, SlickWind the spirit and his cronies, and the list goes on and on" [21:54] "I saw the bodies of the raid on house Peleps myself, sir. They weren't one of ours." [21:54] "Not to mention Bloom-boy." [21:54] * Vanal nods [21:54] "And were they Mnemon ?" [21:54] "They were not!" [21:54] Yarna gives Juniper a sidelong glance. [21:55] "They did not bear the colors of any house I know." [21:55] "Describe them, please." [21:56] * Cicada slowly collects a few hairs from her old, torn set of clothes while humming ancient words in a low droning tone, making the already stiffling air in the cabin feel even thicker. [21:56] he does so. they seem rather normal of the realm, unremarkable soldiers. [21:56] Cicada roll perception + investigation [21:56] !ex 5+1 (WP for autosux) [21:56] Cicada (6) 2, 4, 7, 6, 10, 5, Successes : 3 [21:57] * Storyteller nods. the spell completes itself.... [21:57] " [21:57] (four sux, I suppose) [21:57] "Fucking A...I'm a damned soldier, not a cop." [21:57] Yarna nods. [21:58] "Look, I trust your judgement, but I KNOW I don't have all the facts here." [21:58] "So let's hold off on this stuff for now." [21:58] "Sir. House Cathak requires you to lead the talon. We must return to the realm immidately." [21:58] "We're headed there as we speak." [21:58] * Tabius nods at Vanals statement. [21:58] Yarna nods, pleased. [21:59] "so how are the other scalemasters ?" [21:59] * Tala is now known as Werlynn [21:59] * Werlynn (~Werlynn@ool-182dcd08.dyn.optonline.net) Quit (Quit: ) [22:00] * Cicada staggers from her cabin and emerges on the deck, squinting against the sun and trying to find Sanyet as she supports herself while trying to get used to having limbs on her right side again. [22:00] Gehn is in charge of the talon in your aspect. Urat is still in charge of her scale, and is working to train another to replace Renig." [22:00] * Tabius looks at Juniper remember her comment about going a 100 miles an hour in bed and smiles confidently. [22:01] Sanyet turns to stare at Cicada as she comes onto deck. [22:01] "Good. We've got a serious manpower problem, though." [22:01] * Cicada smiles wealky to Sanyet and nearly stumble as she rushes too much in a few steps. [22:02] Yarna nods in agreement. [22:02] "I'll assume you didn't hear about poor Irin." [22:02] "Sir? Irin... went with you." [22:02] "She isn't coming back." [22:02] * Vanal sighs sadly [22:03] Yarna understands immidately. "I understand, sir." [22:03] Sanyet watches Cicada for a while, almost smiling, but then stops and quickly turns back to looking out over the sea. [22:03] * Tabius finish's smiling at Juniper and heads topside to bask in the sunlight. [22:04] "How long have you been here, Yarna?" [22:04] Yarna looks at Vanal. [22:05] "Go ahead. She pulled out asses off that miserable rock. I think she deserves to know that much." [22:05] he nods. [22:05] "I have been here for three months." [22:05] * Cicada 's smile dies like drop of dew in a bonfire, and she stands a few steps away from Sanyet, not daring to get any closer. [22:06] "Ah, then you've missed quite a lot. [22:06] Sanyet looks up, still out over the sea, letting the wind tousle his hair gently. But then he looks back down, holding onto the railing quietly. [22:06] * Vanal scratches his beard [22:07] Juniper smiles sadly. [22:08] "Since then, house V'neef has openly allied itself with the Regent, leaving our two houses to follow. And we have not." [22:08] [22:08] "I think I should explain the whole thing. Over lunch?" [22:09] "...poltics. " [22:09] Tabius, you arrive on deck, seeing Cicada standing behind Sanyet! [22:09] "I joined the legions to AVOID politics..." [22:09] * Vanal scowls [22:09] "You should know better than ignore your heritidge, Cathak Vanal." [22:10] "...I'm not naive." [22:10] She smiles. [22:10] "Sanyet... Please... Don't do this to me.. Shout at me... yell.. strike me... kill me even. Just don't ignore me like that. Please." [22:10] "I'll prepare myself then. In the meantime... it's a long way down." [22:11] Juniper smiles and turns, going farther into the depths of the ship & out of sight [22:11] * Vanal scowls [22:11] "..... like what you did to me?" [22:11] * Nika has been sitting on deck reading a book, but looks up as cicada begins to speak. he goes back ot his book but is clearly still listening [22:12] "...wonderful...Cathak and Mnemon are moving in step. Someone up there hates me." [22:12] Yarna nods. [22:12] "...sweet Mela, I'd kill for a drink right now." [22:12] "Sir, there is some good stuff down in the cargo hold." [22:13] (deck) "It was my fault, I know... I acted impulsively, selfishly and stupidly. But when I had to leave you behind. I just knew.. knew that I could never be without you." [22:13] * Vanal smirks "I knew that much. That's not the issue at hand." [22:13] /me stands there in shock at Cicada being whole, then goes and sits on a barel and waits for her and Snayet to get finished. [22:14] Yarna nods. "My lord, Cathak and Mnemon will never ally against the Regent. But we do have support against the Throne if we need it." [22:14] "you realise that what we're discussing is treason, right ?" [22:14] Yarna smiles. [22:15] "In the realm, treason is being spoke in every bathouse." [22:15] "What, wasn't my farm good enough for you? What's back in the realm for you? A life of a slave? Oh, wait, they didn't know your secret...." [22:16] [sarcasm!] [22:16] "I'll lay jade to jewels that that anathema bastard is at the core of this." [22:17] * Cicada recoils as if struck. [22:17] "Your farm was paradise for me." [22:17] sanyet turns [22:17] "Then what are we doing here?" [22:17] he waves at the empty ocean of the west that surroudns you all, not a single island in sight. [22:18] "We are going to the Realm.. I have to fulfill my last duty.." [22:18] He sighs, and turns back [22:18] " [22:18] "And silly me, thinking that he'd ride home, sound the horn, and have the imperial war machine tromping out to slaughter that bastard once and for all." [22:19] "You have duty to a man that would have you as his slave.' [22:19] *we'd [22:19] "I thought we had agreed to stay." [22:20] "I wanted to stay. But I knew couldn't. You knew I knew I couldn't." [22:21] * Retrieving #pvpexaltedrp info... [22:21] "My duty is no longer to anyone but my husband. But I have one more obligation." [22:21] "A duty to myself." [22:22] sanyet curses something, a mix of seatounge and old realm [22:22] "I knew. How could I not? They told me straight out." [22:23] "They? The Sidreals..?" [22:23] He nods. [22:23] "What did they tell you..?" [22:24] "They told me to go with you and claim my destiny." [22:24] he smiles. [22:24] "I guess you've claimed my destiny for me." [22:24] "Wha.. what...?" [22:24] "What, do you think they think they are anathema?" [22:25] "No.. not like that." [22:25] "Have I caused you to harbor nothing but hatred for me...?" [22:25] "No... they said, don't try to change things. But I tried anyhow." [22:25] Sanyet shudders [22:26] "no. I can't hate you." [22:27] "I am sorry, my love. I swear I never meant to cause you harm or pain." [22:27] "I swear so on my life." [22:27] "I know. I know." [22:28] "And yet, grief seems to be all I give you." [22:28] "If I didn't know, I wouldn't be here Cicada." [22:30] "I guess I don't deserve my soul." [22:30] "Sanyet.. I know what you have been considering these hours.. But please promise me one thing." [22:30] * Tabius (~web-Guest@ip68-108-129-116.lv.lv.cox.net) Quit (Client exited) [22:31] "If you make up your mind... then take me and your daughter with you. We'll follow. Just don't leave us behind." [22:32] "No Cicada.... even if I wanted to, I couldn't leave you. No matter how hard I try, I can't escape my fate." [22:32] * Cicada was actually suggesting suiciding together, but what the hell. [22:33] * Storyteller supposes that's a rather odd way to go about suggesting that but what the hell :) [22:34] [he's not really listening to you, you know] [22:35] anyhow, it's time for lunch. [22:35] "Sanyet, Araianna is already aware. She does not commune with me yet. But she knows her father and warns me when he is in danger." [22:36] "Can we not try to change destiny together? For her sake?" [22:36] Sanyet, listens, confused, while Mnemon's servents begin setting up lunch on the deck, not far away, providing chairs for everyone as they have been standing around watching Cicada and Sanyet all this time. [22:37] "I've tried, Cicada. I don't believe I can do it. I don't even know if it would be wrong to do it." [22:37] "Then lets try to stop worrying about and just do as we find right." [22:38] "Heavens know that I will blame myself to my dying day for what I did to you, though." [22:39] sanyet sighs quietly and pulls cicada to him, looking down over the ocean together [22:40] Mnemon arrives, carrying a satchel of scrolls and quills. [22:40] She spreads them out over the tables while her servants bring the food [22:41] * Cicada leans into the embrace and enjoys having two arms again. [22:41] "Very nice...what's this all mean ?" [22:42] "It means that very shortly, the Realm is going to have it's very first civil war. Please, have a seat." [22:42] * Tabius (~web-Guest@ip68-108-129-116.lv.lv.cox.net) has joined #pvpexaltedrp [22:43] * Vanal nods and plunks down rather heavily in his seat [22:43] "Keep in mind that I joined the Legions to PROTECT the Realm, so you'd better be damn convincing." [22:44] * Tabius sick of the conversation going on in front of him heads downstairs to find Juniper. [22:45] * Nika pulls up a chair and delicately sits sipping a cup of water. the only food he seems to want [22:45] Mnemon = Juniper [22:45] * Cicada and Sanyet holds each other for a long while, then he supports her over to a seat at the table and sits next to her himself. Though they are quiet and not looking at each other they are at least holding hands. [22:47] Each of you have a map of the realm, which has been marked with realm holdings, etc. Quietly, she sits down at her end of the table, and helps herself to a bit of soup [22:47] "I think the best thing to start with is when you left [22:47] [22:48] [22:48] * Cicada whispers descriptions of people and places to Sanyet so that he can follow what is going on. [22:49] "I don't know who set fire to the manors, but I do know I had to get out of there. So I did, but I stayed in the area. None of you came back, and the immaculate party had been declared missing." [22:49] * Vanal nods [22:50] "The fire actually didn't happen until right after the spirits had been defeated, so most of the city was empty. It might have been bandits, but the Tepet legion had dealt with them quite effectively." [22:51] "I waited around a few weeks until I discovered that Cicada was no longer even on the Blessed Isle, so I realized that all of you must have shared in some fate." [22:52] "But in that time, already the seeds of discontent had begun to grow. Tepet forces took the most losses in the battle." [22:52] "They had brought with them a treasure trove of artifacts from the first age, and the spirits nearly destroyed them." [22:53] "At the end of the battle, only a talon remained. This talon has since been recalled to the Imperial City, and is now acting as the Regent's private guard." [22:55] "I only later learned that due to my absence, house Mnemon and V'neef had been blamed for the que, claiming that V'neef had orchastrated the entire thing in order to elicit sympathy. House Peleps of course did nothing to stop this, and quickly, events escellated." [22:56] * Tabius nods unhappy with what is shaping up. [22:56] "Things quickly have gone out of control from that point." [22:56] "I'll bet." [22:57] "House V'neef, and house Mnemon, in order to solidify their position, bargained a treaty with the Regent." [22:57] Juniper looks distastefully at one note. [22:59] "In exchange for immunity, they pleged their loyalty to the throne. The price: Lady Ailset. The sorcerers of the heptagram used some sorcery to transform her into some kind of mockery of Jylis. Faukof, to say the least, was immensly pleased." [23:00] "...how very lovely." [23:00] * Vanal blanches [23:00] * Tabius jaw becomes hard set but his eyes grow a little wide. [23:00] "I wouldn't wish my worst enemy as that wanker's bride." [23:01] * Vanal looks at the wine in front of him...and mutters 'Fuck it' and downs a gulp [23:01] "House Ragara was only too quick to join in on this alliance. Their financers in the deliberative are now the Regent's favored servants. At least now there is some mind behind the continuous spending in the Realm." [23:02] * Vanal scowls [23:02] "What about Cathak and Cynis ?" [23:02] "The houses of Cathak and Ledaal were greatly displeased that the two houses which were responsible for such destruction got away without any penalty. Thus, they allied with House Peleps." [23:03] "If those houses should decide to wage war, their armies far outnumber all others." [23:03] "Sesus has as many legions as Cathak does...what about them ?" [23:03] "Cynis has openly allied itself house Mnemon." [23:03] "As has Sesus." [23:04] "Well...this is going to but a nice strain on my future wedding." [23:04] *put [23:04] "My apologies, Cathak Vanal. But that is one of the reasons I need to bring you all back." [23:05] "I was kidding. In short :The Realm is going to Hell." [23:05] "You all represent the strongest blood-links between the two factions. If we hope to ignore a war with those three houses, we will need your help." [23:05] she nods. [23:06] "The regent has put a lock on your lands on property. Until you arrive in the Imperial City, none may touch that which you own. He has seemed rather intent on this point, oddly since none of his advisors has spoke a word of it." [23:07] * Tabius finds this very courious. [23:07] * Cicada becomes silent and Sanyet feels the sudden shiver of her body. [23:07] "I assume your hearthstones have not shattered." [23:08] * Cicada and Sanyet throw each other a frightened glance. [23:08] * Tabius smiles at Juniper knowing his have not. [23:08] "Well, last I heard, people still find me drop-dead gorgeous, so nope." [23:09] Sanyet nods sadly [23:10] "Anyhow, that's what has happened in brief. I only hope that I've proved my worth to my house by rescuing the lot of you." [23:11] "So Cathak, Ledaal, and Pheleps agianst the rest, right?" [23:11] "If anyone were to ask my opinion...which I note they're not...I have the perfect suspect for all this." [23:11] Juniper nods. [23:12] (what was the name of bloom's province, again ?) [23:12] * Tabius looks at Vanal, "RedBloom" [23:12] "Bingo." [23:12] [Sion? I think] [23:13] (we don't know the location. Cic is carrying some hints to it) [23:13] (it wa spointed out on a map) [23:13] (general area, yes) [23:13] (which is what a province *is*) [23:13] (as in the south eastern Blessed Isle) [23:13] [it was smewhat northwest of Sion] [23:14] "Has this area been affected all that much ?" [23:14] * Vanal points to Bloom's area of the isle [23:14] Mnemon shakes her head no. [23:14] "remained politically stable ?" [23:15] "Most of the news I have heard has revolved around the imperial city." [23:15] "hm" [23:15] "It's as stable as anywhere else right now." [23:15] "I'm no negociator. We need to track down the real culprit." [23:15] "So the rest of the Blessed Isle is largely at peace. Or merely holding its breath, at least?" [23:16] Mnemon nods. [23:17] "Except for Cathak, Ledaal, and Peleps, there is no official alliance. The regent has been calling in prefects from around the realm and having them swear loyalty to the Empress, to him, and to the realm. That is really the only event of note going on outside of the Great Houses." [23:18] * Tabius is thinking that RedBloom being the key is what needs to get taken out and ECE'd. [23:18] (ECE ?) [23:18] (*Eternal Cyrstalin Encasement*) [23:19] (ah) [23:20] "Well, I'm all game for ideas." [23:20] Juniper eats in relative silence, as it is clear that she intends to bring you all in front of the prefect. [23:20] "Tabius is carrying a clue to the identity of the two Dragon-Bloods acting as a front for Red Bloom. It only has to be analyzed by an astrologer." [23:21] * Vanal lights up a cigar [23:21] "Find their identity and we find Red Bloom's province." [23:22] * Nika leans in at the mention of astrologer "I am a capable astrologer, perhaps I can help?" [23:22] "Yes." [23:22] "Then let's do this thing." [23:22] "Well its what we do After we find him thats the problem." [23:22] roll stamina + endurance or be really hungry [23:23] * Cicada does not mention her own copy of her liniage reading just yet. [23:23] * Tabius finds something to eat. [23:24] "Red Bloom's henchmen are the two parents of the last person of that line." [23:25] * Storyteller notes that there's plenty 'o food here. it was made for lunch. [23:25] * Cicada eats without much enthusiasm, the break between her and sanyet anything but mended. [23:26] Sanyet eats slowly as well, just waiting to see what all the dragon blooded are up to. [23:26] * Nika picks and nibbles, but drinks more than anything [23:26] * Vanal munche son some food and observes [23:27] hmm so what are you all up to [23:28] "We need something that will keep a Solar incapacitated for half a day." [23:28] "Don't ask much, do you." [23:29] "You could keep him knocked out." [23:30] "He has a slight thing about staying down." [23:30] "Namely, he doesn't." [23:30] Juniper "Hmm" [23:31] * Cicada half rises. "Forgive me, I don't feel so well." [23:31] "Who is Red Bloom?" [23:31] Juniper nods [23:31] "I'd like to talk to you later tonight, if that's possible." [23:31] * Vanal raises an eyebrow [23:32] *sanyet gets up, helping Cicada stand. [23:32] * Vanal bites his tongue, too [23:32] "Yes, Lady Juniper. I would be delighted to." [23:33] She smiles gently and nods [23:33] "I'd never heard that name before." [23:33] "He is a Solar who is causing the majority of the problems you have been discribing, in my humble opinion. [23:34] "An anathema? In the realm? One of those that were reborn recently, he shouldn't be too hard to subdue." [23:34] "what did baldy and monk-guy call him again ? Cecil ?" [23:34] She considers, shaking her head. [23:35] * Cicada lets herself be led by her husband. "Sanyet, it feels wrong. The baby, my belly. I fear something bad has happened." [23:35] Sanyet comforts Cicada [23:35] "It will be a healthy child. It's written in the stars." [23:36] "As surely as I am doomed, she will live a healthy life." [23:36] "I know. You have told me before. But since I worked that sorcery it has felt wrong..." [23:37] "Hardly Lady Juniper, I have seen the working of sorcery well beyond anything I can work or the Mnemom matriarch/ [23:38] Sanyet goes downstairs with Cicada to try and figure out what exactly went wrong [23:38] "He met us in the woods with a group of Greater Minions of the Eyeless Face for one." [23:39] "The what?" [23:39] Mnemon looks confused [23:39] "With him are a group of at least experienced Anathema as well. They took us with the aid of the Minions" [23:40] * Tabius considers for a moment, "I will show you the lesser version once we are in the realm as we do not have the clay needed onboard ." [23:40] "How long has the solar been around?" [23:41] "Needless to say he commands the magics of the solar of the first age and will be no easy prey." [23:41] "And he's..." [23:41] she flounders around for the right page [23:42] "....got in his thrall the Prefect of a Province of the Empire." [23:42] Juniper looks up. [23:42] "And two dragon blooded....?" [23:43] * Tabius looks sad, "And more that I have born eye witness to." [23:44] Juniper shakes her head. [23:44] "One of the reasons we were captured is because he layed sorcery on Tei exchanging his personality with one of his own, leaving us betrayed by a bodym but not the soul. [23:44] "It would take all of the realm together to defeat such a power." [23:45] "Perhaps, but not necessarily." [23:46] "If we can isolate his followers in small groups without his direct aid, we can subdue them, Encase them, and remove them from possible reclaimation. [23:46] Juniper nods [23:47] "We'll have to watch. Perhaps we could.. convince.. the prefect to help us." [23:47] er, regen [23:47] regent [23:50] "What do you think of the Regent dear Juniper. Is he the kind of man that would believe such a tale? [23:50] "Would he not just send it to the Deliverative, where it would be laughed out of the Imperial City?" [23:51] "Bloom having control of a Prefect has automatic influence in the Deliberative" [23:51] "That influence would hold true should anything politicaly incited agiansts his interests be put to the floor. [23:51] "The regent has been acting more independantly of late. And those who speak in his ear can be bribed." [23:52] "Besides, he obviously has some plan for you. Perhaps it would be wise to use that to your advantage." [23:52] "As you say Juniper, what works for us, works against us as well unfortunately." [23:53] "Yes, I have been thinking long and hard on that." [23:53] "Knowing that we have disappeared and having plans for us upon our return implies he knows such will happen." [23:53] juniper nods. [23:54] "We only recently found out we could leave the island, which means that the Regent has access to magics or is advised by those that do that could find out such. [23:54] "If you ever have need of House Mnemon, Cathak Tabius, remember that we are here." [23:54] * Tabius smiles at Juniper thinking once again fond thoughts. [23:55]