Editing Oath-Graven Diamond:Act1

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== Mercuryday, 4th of Ascending Wood, RY 768 ==

== Mercuryday, 4th of Ascending Wood, RY 768 ==

<P>I have had no time to write recently, as the Wyld Hunt caught up to east of Paragon, forcing me to flee for Chiaroscuro.  I feared I would not make it.</P>

<P>I have had no time to write recently, as the Wyld Hunt caught up to east of Paragon, forcing me to flee for Chiaroscuro.  I feared I would not make it.</P>

<P>I decided to make my stand at the Chasm of Seven Sighs, a great rift crossed by innumerable bridges.  I crossed on one of the strongest looking spans and left my horses on the far side, then awaited the Wyld Hunt.  Across the rickety bridge I faced my foes, a full talon of archers and footmen led by three dragonbloods.  A Water-element lead the troop, with a Wood and a Fire subordinate.  The Fire approached me across the bridge, leading a scale of footmen.  I suppressed a twinge at that.  Perhaps he was Cathak, a member of my former family... but I had no choice.</P>

<P>I decided to make my stand at the Chasm of Seven Sighs, a great rift crossed by innumerable bridges.  I crossed on one of the strongest looking spans and left my horses on the far side, then awaited the Wyld Hunt.  Across the rickety bridge I faced my foes, a full talon of archers and footmen led by three dragonbloods.  A Water-element lead the troop, with a Wood and a Fire subordinate.  The Fire approached me across the bridge, leading a scale of footmen.  I suppressed a twinge at that.  Perhaps he was Cathak, a member of my former family... but I had no choice.</P>

<P>In fear of my life, I snapped the ropes supporting the bridge and prayed to the Unconquered Sun that my Monkey Stone would give me the agility to survive this.  I swung away on the remains of the bridge while the troops on the edge of the chasm assailed me with arrows.  None struck home, but I had other troubles.  The Fire dragonblooded had leaped clear while his mortal troops fell to death, and attacked me as I hung from the ruins of the bridge.  What speed, what strength grants the Unconquered Sun to his chosen! When I saw the flash of fire, I thought for a moment it was some technique of the dragon-blooded, but then I saw the look on his face--the cloud of flame was not his, but emitted from the firewands of a new combatant!  I blocked the dragonblood's attack and made my way back to the top of the bridges before calling Ten Thousand Falling Tears back to my hand.  Whether allies or no, I would not refuse the help of those opposed to my enemies.  At that moment, the leader of the Talon raced across the bridge to meet me.  I called upon all my strength to fend off her furious attacks, hardly noticing the reactions of those around me.  As decades-worth of sunlight bleached the bridge planks, I knocked aside her blows and responded with attacks of my own.  She managed to land a few strikes, but in the end Ten Thousand Falling Tears no longer thirsted.</P>

<P>In fear of my life, I snapped the ropes supporting the bridge and prayed to the Unconquered Sun that my Monkey Stone would give me the agility to survive this.  I swung away on the remains of the bridge while the troops on the edge of the chasm assailed me with arrows.  None struck home, but I had other troubles.  The Fire dragonblooded had leaped clear while his mortal troops fell to death, and attacked me as I hung from the ruins of the bridge.  What speed, what strength grants the Unconquered Sun to his chosen! When I saw the flash of fire, I thought for a moment it was some technique of the dragon-blooded, but then I saw the look on his face--the cloud of flame was not his, but emitted from the firewands of a new combatant!  I blocked the dragonblood's attack and made my way back to the top of the bridges before calling Ten Thousand Falling Tears back to my hand.  Whether allies or no, I would not refuse the help of those opposed to my enemies.  At that moment, the leader of the Talon raced across the bridge to meet me.  I called upon all my strength to fend off her furious attacks, hardly noticing the reactions of those around me.  As decades-worth of sunlight bleached the bridge planks, I knocked aside her blows and responded with attacks of my own.  She managed to land a few strikes, but in the end Ten Thousand Falling Tears no longer thirsted.</P>

<P>I near swooned with relief as the fire-aspect fled with the remains of his troops, for I had but precious little left to battle him with.  I realized the wood-aspect had been slain without my noticing--it seemed I owed my life twice over to this strange, tattooed man.  No, this man... and his shadowy friend.  Eino and the Masked Fox introduced themselves and revealed their caste-marks, and I realized I was among friends.  I fear I was quite tongue-tied; I had never expected such fortune.  Of course, our meeting had little to do with fortune after all, though perhaps the fortune was in Eino and the Fox's search for me, itself.  My weapon I dismissed to the Elsewhere until further need while the Masked Fox summoned a powerful traveling-spell.  I bound the eyes of Floating Dream and Cloud Shadow to prevent them panicking as the ground fell away, and we left behind the gorge with a sigh of relief.  I shall sleep well tonight. Tomorrow perhaps I shall have a new tunic tailored.</P>

<P>I near swooned with relief as the fire-aspect fled with the remains of his troops, for I had but precious little left to battle him with.  I realized the wood-aspect had been slain without my noticing--it seemed I owed my life twice over to this strange, tattooed man.  No, this man... and his shadowy friend.  Eino and the Masked Fox introduced themselves and revealed their caste-marks, and I realized I was among friends.  I fear I was quite tongue-tied; I had never expected such fortune.  Of course, our meeting had little to do with fortune after all, though perhaps the fortune was in Eino and the Fox's search for me, itself.  My weapon I dismissed to the Elsewhere until further need while the Masked Fox summoned a powerful traveling-spell.  I bound the eyes of Floating Dream and Cloud Shadow to prevent them panicking as the ground fell away, and we left behind the gorge with a sigh of relief.  I shall sleep well tonight. Tomorrow perhaps I shall have a new tunic tailored.</P>