RttToFC/Session28

Beyond the Tomb of Five Corners - Session 28

Kuros: On the last game, if I remember rightly, we ended with you entering Yu-Shan

dakkareth: Indeed

Kuros: Nyara makes a follow-me gesture, and walks to a flight of green jade steps leading down from the balcony. The city itself stretches for as far as you can, with beautiful buildings unrivaled by anything in Creation

SonoftheMetalFlame follows, his eyes scanning everything they can.

Alyssa looks around casually, her eyes more focused upon those around them than upon the scenery.

Alyssa: "Not quite as I had envisaged it," she murmers very faintly.

Kuros: The stairs lead down onto a city street, though it looks as if it will take several minutes to reach the bottom.

Kuros: Nyara loks back at all of you. "So where is this item you're looking for? Do you have any ideas?"

Silk: In his clothes of finest Ambrosia-wrought silk 'Alraune' looks every bit as if he belonged here. There is even a hint of forgetfulness around him, though an extremely astute observer might notice that it is of a different sort than with an actual Sidereal.

Silk: "A quiet and unobserved place would be nice. We can make further ... inquiries from there."

Alyssa: "I suspect we may wind up criss-crossing the city before we can localise it," Alyssa warns.

Silk: (Silk has Easily-Overlooked Presence active)

SonoftheMetalFlame doesn't give any hint that he heard what Nyara said - he simply continues to look around.

Kuros: Nyara frowns slightly. "Well, I can afford to put you up in an inn in the city, though not a very fancy one..."

Silk: "Just a side street without too much traffic would be enough for the moment."

Kuros: Nyara continues down the steps. "You must remember that nearly everyone here is a God, some far more powerful than you...do not antagonize them if you can avoid it."

SonoftheMetalFlame simply nods.

Alyssa: "Generally good advice."

Kuros: You reach the end of the stairs, and emerge onto a magnificient street, Strange beings, some only remotely human looking, bustle by, all dressed in silks and clothing far finer than any you've seen before. The buildings and streets are clean and shining, looking brand new and free of litter.

Kuros: Nyara leads you through the streets, to an area where the buildings are a bit smaller, and the beings walking by are dressed a bit less fine. The home she leads you to is set on an entire city block, constructed of jade and marble, with several rounded towers poking up from the multi-level building.

Silk tries play the role his clothes mark him for, walking with confidence

Kuros: She enters through the open doors, and speaks briefly to a woman behind a massive desk. They exchange something, and she comes back, handing you each a key of green jade. "2nd floor, you have several suites there now."

Kuros: She gestures toward a large staircase leading up towards the second floor.

Silk takes the key, closes his hand and opens it again - the key is gone. He inclines his head slightly in thanks.

Alyssa: "Thank you," Alyssa says, accepting the key before she turns to the stairs and starts to climb.

SonoftheMetalFlame takes the key and nods his head, but does not speak.

Silk follows a few steps behind but is the first through the door and into the room to check it out. Not even Heaven is safe from his paranoia.

Kuros: The upstairs floor is just as opulent, with soft carpet and marble walls. The suites themselves are massive, with silk draped beds filled with huge cushions and pillows, magnificient wooden tables...

Silk: (assuming we'll all go into one room for now, since we all want to see what the orb might show us)

Alyssa: (makes sense)

Alyssa sinks into one of the sinfully comfortable cushions around a low table, lounging shamelessly. "I could get used to this," she admits with a chuckle.

Kuros: The windows are crystal clear, and draped with, again, silk covers

Nyara looks a bit embarassed. "This is all I can afford on my salary, I'm afraid."

Kuros: "And I don't want to use organization funds...those can be traced."

Silk: Once the door is closed, the curtains closed and his Observer-Unveiling Meditation gives the all-clear Silk produces the orb from somewhere within his clothes. "That is quite sufficient. Thank you, Nyara."

Silk: "Now, let us see ..."

SonoftheMetalFlame cracks a slight smile. "There is nothing to feel bad about."

Kuros: ( I assume you're looking into the Orb?)

Silk: (yes)

Kuros: The orb clouds briefly, and then clears, revealing a massive, ruined building. It occupies several city blocks, and you see collapsed towers and walls and homes within it. Even though it is collapsed, you see people bustling in and out, looking like they are carrying on business

Alyssa looks at the buildings around the ruin, trying to find memorable landmarks.

Kuros: The image zooms in to a figure sitting on a massive dias in the middle of the ruined building. He has a massive muscled upper body, black hair with a cruel, sloping brow. His lower body is that of a massive serpent, however, with dull, black scales. Around his neck, you see a golden ring on a chain.

Silk: examines the image carefully, memorizing pertinent details so he can reproduce it later

Kuros: Nyara looks at it, then sighs. "Oh. Oh dear."

Silk: (oh dear O_O)

Kuros: (You know who it is, Silk?)

Silk: (Amoth City-Smiter?)

SonoftheMetalFlame raises any eyebrow. "Oh dear?"

Alyssa: "He's a person of importance, I take it?"

Kuros: Nyara nods. "That is Amoth City-Smiter...god of destroyed and ruined cities..."

Kuros: "He is very powerful."

SonoftheMetalFlame nods. "He has likely heard of us, then."

Silk sighs. Even he has heard of this one.

Silk: "Of previous incarnations perhaps, but of these ones?"

Alyssa: "Can't say I know the name." Alyssa shakes her head. "Well it's apt for our goal. Although if all the parts are in the hands of the powers that be, then this is going to be far more exciting than even I imagined."

SonoftheMetalFlame: "Well, I have made arrangements to restore the ruined city near to Lake Udjarre."

SonoftheMetalFlame: "Or rather, I made the arrangements shortly before we left."

Kuros: Nyara shakes her head. "He won't like that. He is in the business of destroying cities...not restoring them."

Kuros: "He fosters barbarian tribes at the edges of Creation to ransack villages and towns to increase his power."

Alyssa: "Charming fellow. Lunars must love him."

Kuros: Nyara nods.

Kuros: "They are some of his strongest allies."

Silk: "So, assuming that ..." Silk checks his Observer-Unveiling Meditation again "... we don't try to simply take it from him by Stealth or force. What sort of deal would be in his character to make?"

Kuros: Nyara shrugs. "I have never interacted with him. I konw he is under investigation, though, by one of the premiere investigators in Yu-Shan..."

Kuros: "His activities have become such a problem that the Fair Folk are taking advantage of the chaos to invade more frequently."

Silk: "This investigator ... do you know him personally?"

Alyssa: "And he's only under investigation?" Alyssa asks incredulously. "Gods..."

Kuros: She shakes her head. "His name is Fleeting Maelstrom, serving Implacable Shining Barrator. That is all I know."

Kuros: "I could arrange a meeting with him, I am sure."

Silk: "Perhaps. Let us first consider our options, though."

Kuros: "Though perhaps Amoth would be willing to make an arrangement with someone able to take some of the pressure off of him..."

Alyssa: "...that bothers me." Alyssa says flatly.

Alyssa: "It sounds as if he is being investigated for good reason. If he endangers Creation, we would do no good by aiding him."

SonoftheMetalFlame: "Perhaps giving us Shebeth will further his cause."

Silk: "There is simple thievery. There is making a deal with him. There is blackmail, if we can find out more something that would ensure problems for him. There is doing the opposite, if we can somehow shield him from investigation. There is indirect dealing in favors via intermediary divinities. And finally there is force."

Silk: "His purview being the destruction of cities ... he'll like the Bull better than us. But the destruction of, say, Thorns would be in our interest - if not currently our ability to accomplish."

Kuros: Nyara shakes her head at the mention of force. "Using force against a god of his stature would be unwise."

SonoftheMetalFlame: "Definitely unwise."

Silk: "However unwise you may deem it - and I agree - it is an option that must be considered."

SonoftheMetalFlame nods. "I'm not saying we shouldn't consider it, but I doubt I will be convinced to agree to it."

Silk: "If all else fails ... the mere threat might be enough. Our Charms threaten final dissolution to him after all."

Silk: "But yes, we should focus on the other options first."

SonoftheMetalFlame: "So. What do we have to offer? The destruction of some important cities?"

Silk: "So. Thievery. I am fairly confident that I can evade his gaze, but less so that I can both take the fragment and safely get away."

SonoftheMetalFlame: "I would prefer not to risk our lives. Perhaps stealing would be best as a secondary plan."

Silk nods. "It is essentially the same as force, though of a different sort than a martial intervention."

Silk: "I wouldn't like to see Creation weakened and cities destroyed that are not irrevocably taken by our enemies."

Kuros: Nyara says, "Stealing from a god is considered a crime. Just so you know..."

Silk: "I'm less concerned about my civic standing in Yu-Shan than about the risk posed to my person and our goals."

Alyssa: "This investigation you mentioned, Nyara. How long might it last, and what consequences might he suffer from it?"

Kuros: She shrugs. "It could last years, decades even. If he is found to be causing the destabilization of reality, he could be potentially be removed from his position..."

Kuros: "But Heaven moves slowly."

Kuros: "And he has many powerful friends."

Alyssa: "Hmm. So much for using that to confiscate the blasted thing."

Alyssa: "I suppose it wouldn't hurt to see what he'd want for it, although I suspect it would be a price higher than I'd wish."

Silk: "Well, if we could somehow gain powerful incriminating information ..."

Kuros: "But if Maelstrom had proof of his wrongdoing...that could move things along."

SonoftheMetalFlame: "I'm sure that gaining incriminating information would be effective, but I don't know that it would be wise to get involved in intrigue in Heaven. I am certain that the gods have more practice than we do."

Alyssa: "Just a smidgin," Alyssa observes sarcastically. "Which doesn't mean it couldn't be done."

Silk: "What sort of evidence would be sufficient to do lasting damage to him?"

Kuros: Nyara shrugs. "I do not know. We would have to ask Maelstrom."

Alyssa: "Speaking to Maelstrom seems like the best course of action. If nothing else, he'd know Amoth better than us. Of course... where do his symapthies lie?"

Kuros: "He is a Celestial Lion, and from all accounts, not corrupt as many of the others are..."

Kuros: "His interest is probably in the laws of Yu-Shan

Silk: "Not generally set against Solar Exalts then?"

Kuros: "No, I wouldn't think so. The Celestial Lions are not generally anti-Solar Exalted."

SonoftheMetalFlame: "Then we agree that speaking with Maelstrom should be our first course of action?"

Alyssa: "It has my vote."

Silk nods. "Even if we try to make a deal, having more information would be helpful. If this Maelstrom is not corrupt then the costs involved in having the advantage of his expertise are unlikely to be crippling."

Silk: "Can you arrange a meeting then, Nyara?"

Kuros: Nyara nods. "It may take some time...I'll return when I have news."

Kuros: She departs from the room.

Alyssa shakes her head. "She seemed to feel that this is some waterfront dive. I have to wonder what a palace would look like."

Silk: "It IS the city of the gods. And gods live for their own self-aggrandizement above all."

Silk looks at his clothes. "I don't think there is anywhere in Creation except maybe the Imperial Manse where I would not stand out as much as if I'd flared my anima in this. But here it barely registers."

SonoftheMetalFlame nods. "This city is nothing if not opulent."

Alyssa: "May as well enjoy ourselves as best we can, we'll doubtless be roughing it in the future - assuming that we have one of course."

Silk: "One way or another. Celestials ... re-iterate."

Kuros: (You guys can do stuff in the city if you want, then we'll move on when you're ready)

SonoftheMetalFlame: ( I have nothing that I wish to do in the city. )

Silk: Silk would try to find an appropriate library to look up the details of certain artifacts.

Alyssa: (no plans, I can move on)

Kuros: OK

Kuros: The day passes, and night comes on. You hear the sound of massive parties from all around, and outside the window, you occasionally see crowds of drunk gods parading through the streets

Kuros: (Actually, there is no night in Yu-Shan)

Kuros: (So about the time it WOULD be night in Creation...)

Silk: (what Incarna is in the lead at the time?)

Kuros: (The Unconquered Sun!)

Kuros: (He's kickinass)

Kuros: There is a knock on the door

Silk: Late in the evening when the Sun is high in the sky Silk returns an almost imperceptible smile playing around his lips. His heavenly robes look perhaps just a little more impressive, though the theme is still understated grace, not overt ostentatiousness.

Kuros: (No one has Cult backgroundk right?)

Silk: (nope)

SonoftheMetalFlame: ( Nope. )

Alyssa: (nope)

Alyssa has been indulging a little in heavenly (but not Celestial) wine. She's impressed.

Kuros: There's a knock on the door

Kuros: It then opens, and Nyara slips on, shutting it behind her

Alyssa: "Good... evening I suppose?"

Kuros: "Yes, it can be a bit disconcerting."

Kuros: "Sometimes we have night for days when Luna is in the lead."

Kuros: "Do you know about the Games of Divinity?"

SonoftheMetalFlame nods. "I know some."

Dice are rolled.

Kuros: (You're all apparently experts on the GoD. =P)

Kuros: "Well, I got us a meeting with Fleeting Maelstrom. It took some doing, but he is extremely interested in auditing Amoth...apparently, there have been far more Fair Folk incursions in the past few months than ever before."

Kuros: "And the aid of a circle of Solar Exalted could be just the thing he needs."

Alyssa: "That sounds promising."

Alyssa: "When are we to meet with him?"

Kuros: We can see him tommorrow, after we get some sleep. His office is in the Palace of Sublime Justice, some ways away."

SonoftheMetalFlame nods. "Very well."

Silk: "Then we will pay him a visit when ... well, whatever Incarna is in the sky tomorrow morning."

Kuros: Nyara nods, and goes off to her room.

Alyssa takes a bottle of wine back to hers.

SonoftheMetalFlame bows and heads to his room.

Silk: Silk wishes the others a good 'night' and goes out again. He hardly seems to sleep at all these days.

Kuros: The next "day", which is actually dark, as apparently Mars has taken the lead in the GoD

Alyssa rises only reluctantly, having something of a hangover.

Kuros: Nyara leads you out of the inn, and towards one of the canals that runs through the city. Part of it is filled with a shining golden liquid, while the rest is filled with silver. Various boats and crafts whiz by and truly stupendous rates of speed

SonoftheMetalFlame follows closely.

SonoftheMetalFlame: "I didn't realize that transportation was so... rapid."

Kuros: Nyara smiles. "Yu-Shan is huge. We have to have ways to get around quickly."

Kuros: She walks over to a man standing next to a small, dragon-shaped boat, and money changes hands.

Kuros: She waves you over, and steps on to the boat

Alyssa follows her, being very careful about where she puts her feet.

SonoftheMetalFlame carefully steps onto the boat, making sure not to fall into the river.

Silk: Silk can't quite hide his amazement himself. He should like to have such means of transport.

Kuros: Nyara touches the head of the dragon boat as it rocks slightly. "Do try not to fall in. The canal gods like to...play...with people who do."

Alyssa: "Oh wonderful."

Silk: "Figures," Silk mutters darkly.

Kuros: She taps the dragon's head, and the boat moves over into the golden lane, and begins to move at a truly amazing rate of speed. So quickly that the surroundings dissolve into a blur

Alyssa grips her seat, knuckles white.

Kuros: "Maelstron was kind enough to provide us with pass to use the gold lane, which is much faster."

SonoftheMetalFlame looks around and cracks a smile, but says nothing.

Kuros: Perhaps ten minutes later, the boat slows, and docks in a much more magnificient part of the city

Alyssa: "Are there any subjects we should avoid? Offending Maelstrom would be deeply unfortunate?"

Kuros: Every building takes up no less than five or six blocks, and all are made of orichalcum, moonsilver, or jade and marble..

Kuros all are unique and elaborate, some towering hundreds of feet into the air

SonoftheMetalFlame loses his smile and his face turns to an expression of awe. He sits, motionless.

Silk: "Even getting away with the doorknob would be worth the effort here," Silk quietly says to Son.

Kuros: Nyara leads you through the maze of buildings, to a massive building composed of golden orichalcum and jade, surrounded by the massive celestiallions, far taller than each of you

SonoftheMetalFlame glances at Silk. "I feel like I'm committing a crime just by looking at this."

Kuros: The building has massive towers stretching into the sky, and you see what looks like people riding carpets flitting around the tower

Alyssa: "The value - not merely financial, but in what could be done with it - of the material would be incalculable," Alyssa notes, inhuman control masking any visible sign of her astonishment.

Kuros: One of the Lions approaches who, it's orichalcum feet ringing against the ground as it steps.

Kuros: "Name and business?"

Silk: 'Alraune' lets Alyssa take the lead, both in position and figuratively.

Kuros: Nyara steps forward, "Nyara Sunswept and companions, here to see Fleeting Maelstrom at his invitation."

Kuros: The lion tilts his head and nods, gesturing with a paw for you to go through the massive entrance way

Silk does not go first but takes the position at the rear

Alyssa follows Nyara's lead

Kuros: Nyara steps through the entrance way, and heads into the building. The interior is just as opulent as the outside, with precious gems used as decorations, and softly glowing magical lights illuminating the interior

Kuros: She elads you through the hallways, to a massive set of orichalcum doors, which swing open as you approach. Inside is a huge room, with a massive celestial lion sitting on a pile of plush, red silken cushions behind a massive wooden desk.

Kuros: Around his neck is a golden pendant with bits of jade set into it. Unearthly tall females dressed in flimsy silk robes, who are very thin (they look rather like voluptous grasshoppers) are pacing around him with shimmer clothes, polishing his orichalcum mane.

Kuros: A pair of spectacles sit on the bridge of his nose as he flips through pieces of paper with his massive paws

Kuros: The lion smiles a bit as you enter, revealing fangs as long as your legs. "Welcome."

Alyssa: "It is an honour," Alyssa says, bowing courteously.

Silk bows respectfully

Kuros: Nyara bows. "Thank you for agreeing to see us. I'm Nyara, as you know..."

Kuros: The lion inclines his head, and says, "And who are the rest of you?"

Kuros: He gestures with a paw, and the doors gently close behind you

SonoftheMetalFlame bows. "I am Son of the Metal Flame. Thank you for seeing us."

Alyssa: "Alyssa of the White Vines."

Silk: "I am called Alraune," Alraune introduces himself. "It is a pleasure to meet you."

Kuros: "Ah, you were the ones responsible for returning Pluto."

Kuros: "Impressive feat."

Kuros: He chuckles, a low, deep sound that shakes the air.

SonoftheMetalFlame smiles, but says nothing.

Alyssa: "It was an interesting experience," Alyssa concedes.

Kuros: "And now you're here, potentially embarking upon another path that has the potential to shake Heaven...."

Kuros: He sets the piece of paper he was studying down.

Kuros: "Leave us, my dears."

Kuros: The grasshopper-women bow, and disappear into the back of the room, ducking to avoid the arches

Kuros: "So what is your interest in Amoth?"

Alyssa: "Tangental," Alyssa admits. "While I don't admire his practises, our principle concern is that he possesses part of an artifact that we intend to repair."

Silk: "Not that we would not like to see an end put to certain alleged activities of his."

Kuros: "And what artifact is that?

SonoftheMetalFlame: "It is something that belonged to our previous incarnations."

Alyssa: "I don't recall it having a name, but it would seem that our... predecessors... created it as part of their security. Frankly, there are others seeking to obtain it and we are as much concerned with denying them possession as we are in taking it for ourselves."

Kuros: "I see."

Kuros: "Currently, Amoth is a Sub-Director in the Bureau of Humanity."

Kuros: "However, he wants to be head of the Bureau. To that end, for the past several years, he has been undermining Wun Ja, the current head."

Kuros: "He supports barbarian tribes, particularly those under the control of the Lunars, near the edges of the Wyld. He encourages them to destroy villages, towns, any sort of civilization they find."

Kuros: "And of late, it has gotten worse. He is getting close to achieving his goal."

Kuros: "The more towns he destroys, the more powerful he becomes."

Kuros: "You understand?"

Silk nods, mentally adding one 'Amoth City-Smiter' to the list in his little black book

Alyssa: "Indeed. We do not support that agenda."

Kuros: "I'm sooo glad to hear that."

Kuros: The lion smiles again.

Kuros: "It gets worse, however. THe destabilization in the East has gotten so bad that the Fair Folk have been making incursions.

Kuros: "This, of course, cannot be allowed. But as yet, I have been unable to find proof that he is behind it all. If I could, he could be...dealt with."

Silk: "What would constitute sufficient proof in the courts of Yu-Shan?"

Kuros: "In the East, we suspect he is behind a band of three Lunars, who call themselves the Brothers. They rule a large barbarian tribe."

Kuros: The lion's smile gets wider.

Kuros: "I want you to find out if they are involved, capture them, and bring them here to testify."

Kuros: "And, incidentally, repel any Fair Folk that have made their way into the area."

Kuros: "In return, I will see that you get what you want from Amoth when he is arrested."

Alyssa: "I do not see any reason not to accept your terms. Gentlemen? Do you have any concerns?" Alyssa asks Son and Almaurne.

SonoftheMetalFlame: "You are confident that these Lunars are under Amoth's control?"

Silk: "My question stands," Alraune says. "What else would constitute sufficient proof?"

Kuros: He nods. "I've intercepted several communications."

Kuros: "A confession from Amoth would do nicely."

Silk nods as if that was a possibility to be seriously considered. "Any other possibilities?"

Kuros: "Or a mound of circumstantial evidence. Communications records, testimony from his servants, that sort of thing."

Silk: "These Lunars ... I assume you have some intelligence on their capabilities, resources and current whereabouts?"

Kuros: He nods.

Kuros: "They're young, but are rapidly making a name for themselves in the Silver Pact."

Kuros: "Their tribe is close to a thousand now, and they are breeding beastmen very quickly."

Silk: "Would one of them suffice as witness, or do you need all three?"

Kuros: "Three would be best..."

Kuros: "At least two would be neccessary for me to make a solid case."

Silk: "Is their willingness to testify required? That may be harder to accomplish than merely capturing them."

Alyssa: "My understanding is that the judicial process of Yu Shan is sometimes drawn out, due to the necessary thoroughness. In your expert opinion, how long after the testimony is provided would you be able to obtain the item for us?"

Kuros: The lion smiles. "Things can be chaotic during arrests...things get lost or misplaced...Im' sure you know how it goes."

Kuros: "And we have methods to compel truthful testimony."

Silk nods to Alyssa, indicating his satisfaction with the parameters of the agreement.

SonoftheMetalFlame also nods.

Alyssa: "That being so, your terms are most acceptable to us. Are there any other details that we should be aware of?"

Kuros: "The Fair Folk leader in that area...he calls himself the Duke of the Seven Waters. He is powerful among his kind."

Kuros: "Do not underestimate him."

Silk: "Actually there may be one more thing ... Exalts, especially Lunar Exalts, are difficult to safely restrain. I am sure however that you possess the means to do so - that would be most helpful in assisting you in this matter."

Kuros: The lion raises one orichalcum eyebrow.

Kuros: "The means do exist, but I am sure you appreciate that I cannot just give them out."

Kuros: "I suggest beating them unconscious, personally. I find that to be very effective."

Alyssa allows her lips to curl in amusement. "Thank ou for your time then. We will be abour the matter."

Kuros: "Is there an Eclipse amongst your number?"

Silk: "I understand completely. Would it be possible then for an agent of yours to meet us after the capture with those means, be it within Creation or upon arrival in Yu-Shan?"

Kuros: He nods. "I'll pass word to the guardians that you're to be assissted immediately upon arrival."

Alyssa: "Regretably, there is not."

Kuros: "Ah, well, we can make do without it."

Silk nods. "Understood." Thinking to himself how nice it is to work with professionals.

Kuros: His eyes go blank for a moment, and then one of the doors in the backopens, and one of the grasshopper-women come in

Kuros: She is carrying a jagged crystal in her hands. She approaches, and sits it on the desk between you all and Maelstrom

Kuros: "This will seal our promise, much as an Eclipse caste can."

Kuros: "I assume you have no objections?"

SonoftheMetalFlame approaches the desk.

Silk: "As a conditional agreement, service provided for service provided."

Silk: (ie, not 'we will do this' but 'if we will do this then you will do this')

Kuros: "Place your hand upon the crystal, please."

Kuros: He places his massive, golden paw gently on the crystal.

Alyssa places her hand upon the crystal unhesitatingly.

Silk adds one hand gloved in white silk gloves

Kuros: Nyara steps forward and places her hand there as well

SonoftheMetalFlame places his hand upon the crystal.

Kuros: "I agree to provide you with the artifact from Amoth that you seek in return for your capture of at least two of the three Lunars known as the Brothers, and the elimination of the Fair Folk known as the Duke of the Seven Waters if he is present in the area. Agreed?"

Silk: "A favor for a favor, nothing for nothing," Silk agrees.

Alyssa: "We will seek to capture at least two of the three Lunars and to eliminate the Duke of the Seven Waters if he is present, in return for the artifact currently held by Amoth."

Kuros: The crystal flashes, and golden tendrils snake out, and wrap around each of your wrists tightly, before fading into nothingness

Kuros: "Done, then."

Kuros: Maelstrom smiles broadly, and removes his paw

SonoftheMetalFlame smiles, removing his hand. "That is a most useful artifact."

Silk watches the event through a black-rimmed monocle that has suddenly appeared before one of his eyes

Kuros: "They are not common here, but some of us find them useful."

Silk nods. "They seem to be, indeed."

Kuros: "Violating the agreement would end...poorly...for any of us

Kuros: (OK, this is a good stopping point)

Kuros: (And we'll hopefully wrap this segment next week!)

Silk: Three Lunars and one FF? We'll have to work quickly to do that in one session :)

Kuros: and maybe a Surprise Villain!

Kuros: You never know

Silk: Heh. We did poorly with the last on those :p

Silk: so, XP? ;)

Kuros: 8xp

SonoftheMetalFlame: Wahoo

Kuros: did anyone see Amoth coming? =P

Alyssa: not until you described him

Silk: Not until then, yeah.

Kuros: took me awhile to find an appropirate god

Alyssa: he certainly fits the situation

Silk: He's one of those you never feel bad screwing over :D

Silk's little sidequest

Silk: After a preparatory period of about an hour where Silk meticulously shrouds every aspect of himself from the possibility of being remembered for any length of time Silk sets out into the streets of Yu-Shan.

Silk: (Vanishing from Mind's Eye, in case he gets unwanted attention)

Silk: Now the heavenly city is a strange and frightening place, but in the end it IS just another city. And Silk knows how to deal with foreign cities. You find a guide.

Silk: Even gods need money of sorts and there must be some who are not too proud to show a half-mortal around for a little bit of personalized prayer.

Silk: (looking to find a god, either umemployed of with a purview pertaining to this. A god of city guides?)

kuros: You find an older man, dressed in silk that would be expensive in Creation, but is poor here in Yu-Shan, standing by the quicksilver canal. You were directed to him as a guide for this area of the city.

Silk: (do I know his name?)

kuros: (Faelin!)

Silk approaches the man, bowing politely once he acknowledges him. "Honored Faelin, wise citizen on the Heavenly City. This one is in need of guidance through this beautiful realm and you are said to be the god to approach for that."

kuros: He looks up at you and sniffs, holding out his hand.

Silk: "For your time I can pay in jade, if you like ... or in efficacious prayer, directed personally to your worthy self. As you would prefer."

kuros: "Ha! Jade! You're new here, aren't you?"

kuros: He snickers

Silk: (2m to exempt him from Vanishing from Mind's Eye, btw)

kuros: "Prayer would interest me.. particularly if you have followers..."

Silk: "I have none, but you be assured that my prayers will be worth that of dozens of mortals."

kuros: "Ask your question, as long as I do'nt have to get up."

Silk: "I seek a library, one that details the workings of artifacts such as commonly in use in what is sometimes called the First Age. Preferably one not too distant and not too difficult to access."

kuros: He scratches his chin. "The closest one would be Second Structure of Reference and Knowledge..."

kuros: He gives you directions

Silk bows. "Thank you, honored Faelin."

Silk: And he strikes the law he has passed, allowing the god to remember him, from the books.

kuros: He nods and goes back to watching the Canal

Silk follows the directions to the Second Structure of Reference and Knowledge

kuros: THe building is a typically massive building, composed mainly of soaring towers with flapping flags atop each one

kuros: As you enter, there is a massive desk tended by several people in purple robes, and shelves of books stretching back as far as can been seen

Silk approaches confidently, trying to catch one of the librarian-gods alone or if that is not possible, asking to speak with one of them

kuros: One of the figures looks up as you approach. He has a hairless face and pale skin. "Yes?"

Silk: "I seek to look up a small piece of information. What is the protocol for that?"

kuros: He looks you up and down doubtfully. "Are you a god?"

Silk: "Is that a requirement?"

kuros: "If you want to check out books, yes."

kuros: "Otherwise, you'll have to remain here to read it."

Silk nods. "That will not be a problem."

kuros: He sighs. "Then what are you looking for?"

Silk is not misrepresenting himself exactly, merely playing on the gods expectations. If not a god, then an Exalt. And what sort of Exalt would one expect to meet in Yu-Shan?

Silk: "Information pertaining to an artifact, commonly called a Harness of Infinite Utility. The ..." he lowers his voice an infinitesimal bit. "... Orichalkum version."

kuros: The god reaches under the desk and withdraws a roll of parchment

kuros: "This says that you're responsible for any books or scrolls you lose your damage.

kuros: "Place a drop of your blood on the bottom, please."

kuros: He is apparently telling the truth

Silk: "Naturally," Silk replies, letting a small drop of blood fall onto the paper.

kuros: The blood flashes blue and fades into the parchment. The man snaps his fingers, and what appears to be a giant blue mosquito flits over.

kuros: The man whispers some to it, and it buzzes off

Silk: And he watches and listens very, very carefully where the parchment is stowed after that.

kuros: "Go have a seat, the tender will bring you any pertinent books."

Silk nods and takes a seat, still covertly keeping an ear on that particular piece of parchment.

kuros: With that, the librarian walks back into the stacks of books

kuros: And you lose track of him

Silk: (does he keep the paper with him?)

kuros: He has it with him when you last see him

Silk waits

kuros: After a few minutes, the mosquito creature buzzes over to your desk, carrying several books with its legs. It sets them gently on the table, and buzzes off

Silk begins the arduous process of finding or piecing together something like a user manual for the Harness.

kuros: (We'll say you piece together enough information to construct a user manual)

Silk makes notes to keep for later, then returns his books.

Silk: After visibly leaving the library Silk returns invisible even to the eyes of the gods. It may not be strictly necessary to recover his acceptance of the library rules, but .. why take chances? Why not test his abilities here?

Silk: (Easily Overlooked Presence Method + Concealing Mind Shadow + Hidden Sun Prana)

Silk: (oh right, and a different appearance underneath the stealth charms with Perfect Impenetrable Disguise. Overkill? What is that?)

kuros: (Heh, if you're sure you want to do that...)

Silk: ("What could possibly go wrong?" :p)

kuros: OK, you're in the library, invisible

kuros: The figure is back at the desk, without your parchment in his hand

kuros: In an attempt to speed this up, since I am running out of time..

kuros: you aren't goign to easily be able to find the parchment, as there are literally tens of thousands of parchments and books

kuros: and you didn't see where he put it

Silk: Approaching the librarian from behind Silk gives his robe an almost imperceptible tug, as might come from an errant gust of wind coming through the doors opening this very moment, and listens for the sounds that would indicate that the parchment is still within his robe.

kuros: He doesn't have it on him

Silk: If he doesn't have it Silk will go on an exploratory tour of the library, trying to narrow down the places where it might be. Looking for keywords like 'contracts', 'agreements', 'archive' and such. He is well aware that he might not be successful, or at least not quickly, but that does not deter him. He has some time to spare ...

kuros: If you start moving things around, you're likely to get noticed

kuros: There are constantly the mosquitos and librarians walking around

Silk: As what would be evening in Creation comes closer Silk abandons the search and returns to the Circle. There may be something linking to him here now, but the danger is not great. No one here will remember him anyway.

kuros: (OK, we can end here)

Silk: Yup :)

kuros: Now I have your blood! Ha ha!

kuros: laughs evilly

Silk: Have fun with it ;)

Silk: Not easy to put together Silk with Unnamed Exalt Whom Nobody Can Remember.

kuros: oh, I have my ways

Silk: Wait, actually that does sound a lot like him. Thankfully like a lot of Sidereals as well :p

kuros: I have plans for your character

kuros: Muhahahahah!

Silk: Silk has plans for the world you've created, so it all evens out ;)