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Continued from [[Recollections of Tea and Karma]] and [[A Tea Ceremony, Interrupted]] | Continued from [[Recollections of Tea and Karma]] and [[A Tea Ceremony, Interrupted]] | ||
− | '''Part 1: In the | + | '''Part 1: In the Petitioner's Hall; An Unexpected Turn of Events''' |
[[Grey Horizon]] could not help but sigh as he took his place at the back of the endless line in the Petitioner's Hall. Not but fifteen mortal minutes prior, he had been the delegate to a high-ranking member of the enigmatic Gold Faction. Now, he was just another petitioner consigned to wait in line until his plea could be heard. Unemployment is a dangerous state for a minor bureaucrat; it was not unknown for a functionary such as himself to starve from lack of essence long before the Placement Committees could approve a new appointment. | [[Grey Horizon]] could not help but sigh as he took his place at the back of the endless line in the Petitioner's Hall. Not but fifteen mortal minutes prior, he had been the delegate to a high-ranking member of the enigmatic Gold Faction. Now, he was just another petitioner consigned to wait in line until his plea could be heard. Unemployment is a dangerous state for a minor bureaucrat; it was not unknown for a functionary such as himself to starve from lack of essence long before the Placement Committees could approve a new appointment. | ||
− | Ahead of him in line stood | + | Ahead of him in line stood the minor southern pebble-god, a sort not known for their deep conversational skills. Grey steeled himself for a long wait. |
− | Three days later, something unexpected happened. | + | Three days later, something unexpected happened. |
+ | |||
+ | "I believe I can help you," said a soft, deep voice behind him. There was no mistaking the voice; Grey had spoken with Chokhan XVSSR the very morning that he had been dismissed from his post. | ||
"Kussir-san, it is good to see you." It was in Grey's very nature to be diplomatic, and he masked his bitterness well. "If you've changed your mind and wish to speak with His Excellency, I'm afraid I can't help you; His Excellency has dismissed me from his service." | "Kussir-san, it is good to see you." It was in Grey's very nature to be diplomatic, and he masked his bitterness well. "If you've changed your mind and wish to speak with His Excellency, I'm afraid I can't help you; His Excellency has dismissed me from his service." | ||
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"Such a waste. Such a terrible, terrible waste." | "Such a waste. Such a terrible, terrible waste." | ||
− | The Blue-Robed One - I dare not speak his name; I will call him merely The Agent - surveyed the wreckage. A pile of scattered ashes where once stood an ancient estate. Empty crates still smelling faintly of tea. | + | The Blue-Robed One - I dare not speak his name; I will call him merely The Agent - surveyed the wreckage. A pile of scattered ashes where once stood an ancient estate. Empty crates still smelling faintly of tea. Silence where once the bustling of commerce and the chittering of monkeys filled the air. |
− | Bare rock | + | Bare rock on slopes where once the finest Tea in all Creation grew. The Agent's master wept when the news arrived that this estate had burned. Wept! The Master was not one to weep over the fate of hundreds of thousands of mortals crushed under the mistakes of one or another overworked celetial bureaucracy. Yet he weeped for these workers, he weeped for the monkey, and he weeped for the tea leaves of this humble, ruined estate. |
− | The Agent could feel the a malignant glowering of essence from deep within the ravine. The Nameless God of the Nameless Ravine resented the outsider's presence. No matter; the Agent was not hear to treat with the Nameless God. The Agent was here to investigate the odd and unforseen flows of essence that welled up from the ruins. | + | The Agent could feel the a malignant glowering of essence from deep within the ravine. The Nameless God of the Nameless Ravine resented the outsider's presence. No matter; the Agent was not hear to treat with the Nameless God. The Agent was here to investigate the odd and unforseen flows of essence that welled up from the ruins. |
− | The Agent waited until night fell, and under a moonless sky, the starlight revealed what was hidden by the blinding light of day | + | The Agent waited until night fell, and under a moonless sky, the starlight revealed what was hidden by the blinding light of day. Indeed, a remarkably pure shaft of Essence emanated up, from the very center of the ruined hall. |
− | "So | + | "So pure... but it's not a Shadowland." He stretched out his hand towards the wellspring of energy. "Pure, so pure..." |
− | A flash of light | + | A flash of light, and he found himself in the center of a spartan, yet immaculately built hall. Every inch of every wall stood covered by scrolls of exquisite calligraphy, the likes of which few had seen. In the center of the room stood a small iron tea kettle upon a stand the tea kettle was clearly the source of essence fountain. The Agent reached for the kettle - |
− | - And then a robed Monkey wielding a shimmering Orihalcum tetsubo clubbed him on the head. The world exploded in pain. | + | - And then a robed Monkey wielding a shimmering Orihalcum tetsubo clubbed him on the head. The world exploded in pain. |
'''Part 3 Subpart 1: In Which (Very) Recent History Is Amended''' | '''Part 3 Subpart 1: In Which (Very) Recent History Is Amended''' | ||
− | - And then the Agent ducked just in time as a Monkey wielding a shimmering Orihalcum tetsubo attempted to club him on the head. The Agent spun, and drew a dagger from his robes, only to see a second robed Monkey | + | - And then the Agent ducked just in time as a Monkey wielding a shimmering Orihalcum tetsubo attempted to club him on the head. The Agent spun, and drew a dagger from his robes, only to see a second robed Monkey leap from behind the first and strike his kneecap with an orihalcum staff. The Agent crumpled to the ground, helpless. |
'''Part 3 Subpart 2: In Which A Further Amendation Is Implemented''' | '''Part 3 Subpart 2: In Which A Further Amendation Is Implemented''' | ||
− | - And then the Agent ducked just in time as a Monkey wielding a shimmering Orihalcum tetsubo attempted to club him on the head. The Agent spun and raised his knife, sidestepping and fouling the strike of a second monkey - this one armed with | + | - And then the Agent ducked just in time as a Monkey wielding a shimmering Orihalcum tetsubo attempted to club him on the head. The Agent spun and raised his knife, sidestepping and fouling the strike of a second monkey - this one armed with an orihalcum staff. |
− | By now, the hall was filled with the elusive glimmer of starlight essence. The Agent drew his second knife, as the two monkeys circled him warily, their glimmering weapons held high. They held this pose for five agonizing minutes, until a voice cut through the silence. | + | By now, the hall was filled with the elusive glimmer of starlight essence. The Agent drew his second knife, as the two monkeys circled him warily, their glimmering weapons held high. They held this pose for five agonizing minutes, until a voice cut through the silence. |
− | "[[Raging Panda]]! [[Leaf-Catcher]]! Have you no manners? Offer the guest some tea!" Both Monkeys abruptly shifted from their forepaws to their prehensile tails, then clasped their forepaws together and bowed deeply. | + | "[[Raging Panda]]! [[Leaf-Catcher]]! Have you no manners? Offer the guest some tea!" Both Monkeys abruptly shifted from their forepaws to their prehensile tails, then clasped their forepaws together and bowed deeply. |
To the Agent's great surprise, he recognized the speaker. "You are Grey Horizon, His Excellency my master's former delegate to the Bureaucracy." | To the Agent's great surprise, he recognized the speaker. "You are Grey Horizon, His Excellency my master's former delegate to the Bureaucracy." | ||
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'''Part 4: In Which An Assassin, A Bureaucrat, And Two Monkey Sit Down And Have A Civilized Conversation''' | '''Part 4: In Which An Assassin, A Bureaucrat, And Two Monkey Sit Down And Have A Civilized Conversation''' | ||
− | Grey Horizon bowed deeply. "And you are [[The Azure Hand]] of His Excellency, my former master. I regret to inform you that my current master is away on an errand. As a consolation, can I offer you some tea? It's Five-Fold Monkey-Picked, steeped in waters from the River of Stars." | + | Grey Horizon bowed deeply. "And you are [[The Azure Hand]] of His Excellency, my former master. I regret to inform you that my current master is away on an errand. As a consolation, can I offer you some tea? It's Five-Fold Monkey-Picked, steeped in waters from the River of Stars." |
The Agent put away his knives. "Tea would be most welcome, and Five-Fold Monkey Picked is scarce these days. You do me great honor by offering it." | The Agent put away his knives. "Tea would be most welcome, and Five-Fold Monkey Picked is scarce these days. You do me great honor by offering it." | ||
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"Domo arigato gozaimasu". The Agent drunk deeply. The tea was excellent; transcendent and quaffable. Unsurprisingly, it was laced with essence. Surprisingly, the essence was... "Solar! This is Solar essence!" | "Domo arigato gozaimasu". The Agent drunk deeply. The tea was excellent; transcendent and quaffable. Unsurprisingly, it was laced with essence. Surprisingly, the essence was... "Solar! This is Solar essence!" | ||
− | "Ah, yes it is," said Grey. "The Unconquered Sun himself has given my master [[Chokhan Fifteenth | + | "Ah, yes it is," said Grey. "The Unconquered Sun himself has given my master [[Chokhan Fifteenth Sun Shatters the River]] rights to wear the Solar anima of his son, the Dawn Caste known as The [[Nameless Ravine]]." |
The Agent frowned. "My master will be deeply puzzled to hear this. How is it that a mere mortal's shade was given such a magnificent boon?" | The Agent frowned. "My master will be deeply puzzled to hear this. How is it that a mere mortal's shade was given such a magnificent boon?" | ||
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The Agent's frown deepened. Grey continued. "The bodyguards were a gift from the god Monkey, who needs no introduction. The tea kettle was a gift from Urchai-kun, who appreciated my master's diligent appreciation for tea. Other gods gave him gifts as well; a fine brush from Eiji-Happo, and a pair of sandles from the Patron of Missionaries." | The Agent's frown deepened. Grey continued. "The bodyguards were a gift from the god Monkey, who needs no introduction. The tea kettle was a gift from Urchai-kun, who appreciated my master's diligent appreciation for tea. Other gods gave him gifts as well; a fine brush from Eiji-Happo, and a pair of sandles from the Patron of Missionaries." | ||
− | The Agent's frown was now an outright scowl. He asked "And where did the funds come from to elevate him in the first place? In this Time of Tumult, the bureaucracy can ill afford to invoke the | + | The Agent's frown was now an outright scowl. He asked "And where did the funds come from to elevate him in the first place? In this Time of Tumult, the bureaucracy can ill afford to invoke the Charms of Apotheosis." |
"Ahh..." Grey Horizon hesitated, and then made another bow. "I believe they withdrew the funds from an improbably large slush fund that His Excellency Your Master (also His Excellency My Former Master) had accumulated over the years. When I was in charge of the registers, it was documented in the six-hundred-and-fourteenth scroll in the ninety- ninth Room of Records." | "Ahh..." Grey Horizon hesitated, and then made another bow. "I believe they withdrew the funds from an improbably large slush fund that His Excellency Your Master (also His Excellency My Former Master) had accumulated over the years. When I was in charge of the registers, it was documented in the six-hundred-and-fourteenth scroll in the ninety- ninth Room of Records." | ||
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The Agent stepped out into the night. When the Leaf-Catcher closed the door behind him, the sanctum - and all traces of the essence-wellspring - vanished into the desolace of the ruined plateau. | The Agent stepped out into the night. When the Leaf-Catcher closed the door behind him, the sanctum - and all traces of the essence-wellspring - vanished into the desolace of the ruined plateau. | ||
− | |||
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[[Heaven's Mandate]] | [[Heaven's Mandate]] |