Activating the Valorous Fate-Consumption Engine, praying to the Pattern Spiders to enhance my conviction.
Performance (2) + Charisma (using Appearance instead, 5) + Conviction (5, spending a Virtue channel) + any Stunt dice, against Difficulty 1
Then rolling Charisma + Performance + Appearance...
"Well, I'm probably unknown to you unless Tines has been telling tales. If one of you is of strong nerve, I could use heaven's arts to truly show you I am what I say, but I suspect that doing so would only serve to turn your suspicions of subversion upon each other, if it did not drive you mad...
I spend some time in thought. "We're certainly the canny sort, and I wouldn't be surprised to find another couple faking their own deaths, here and there. But nonetheless, things are indeed dire, especially if the last survivor turns out to be just a ronin like I suspect." A moment later, a dark...
"The empire of the Mountain Folk would be neutral as far as she knows, but less than I might like. They do not trust the Exalted, and for good reason, but with the Realm compromised, they will likely be essential to our efforts. Bringing Mnemon into their territory without first pulling her into...
I wince at Rogosh's first question, as I think about how to word my response, remembering long nights under a hateful green sun, spent in discussion with my friend and former mentor. "It's not a matter of finding a weapon that can evince more destruction than her own. The Daystar, the Incarna if...
The Empress has been co-opted by the Ebon Dragon. The Empress holds access to the Sword of Creation.
The Ebon Dragon holds access to the Sword of Creation.
Words cannot express how bad this is.
Also heaven is under attack, the Ebon Dragon is probably filling the Realm with infiltrators...
I take a moment to think on that, as I continue to gather and set out props – hand mirrors in case my primary is targeted, edged blades that clip onto various folds in my dress and cloak for enhanced lethality, and other such odds and ends. Just in case.
"I think... we stay," I conclude, while...
Activating Echoes of Infinity (Free, with the Elder Sutra of Reflection.)
Activating Dreaming Pearl Courtesan Form (Free, with Echoes of Infinity.)
Activating Pearlescent Filigree Defense (Free, providing (Essence) Lethal and (2x Essence) Bashing soak.)
"Making some provisional assumptions... If Jupiter wanted us to share this information with the others, she would – or perhaps already has – done so. It is possible that we are being deliberately excluded... in the worst of possibilities, if we are at risk of sanction... however there's not much...