Sea of Dream (Exalted 3 Campaign)

So many Chosen in one place. This can't be a coincidence. "That is . . . quite a valiant undertaking. I hardly know where to start on such a task. My skills are not in administration, but in a more martial arena."

"Mine, too. But, if you need someone cut down to size, I think that the two of us," Scorpion indicates her and Kiera, "can easily take care of them. Other than that, I'm in the same wagon in that I don't have the management skills to run a city. Not that I'm unwilling to learn, of course. Any good city needs a skilled general in charge of the military."

When Kiera sighs, Roshana unhurriedly puts her hand on the other woman's and gives it a light squeeze. As she withdraws her hand, she slides it away, letting each of her fingers find their way back along the valleys made by Kiera's. To a sighted person, Roshana would have made eye-contact and sent her message that way, but to the blind woman, this is her way of saying you are not plain, you are desired.

"Taking control of Champoor?" She asks, "while I am all for having the city arranged in a better way than it is, I don't see any of us leading a city, much less a city like Champoor. Do you have an arrangement in mind, or is this just the excitement of bringing us together mixed together with revolutionary zeal?"

"Now now. I said taking control. No one said we had to handle the day to day ruling of this place." Iago assured them, finger waggling. "We will find people fit to do these things, and we will make sure they are absolutely reliable."

A frown as he suddenly looked to the doorway. "Ilo's increasingly late though. He should have been reached by the Messenger."

Kiera muses, "Interesting. We will have to take some time to determine which of the nobles and businessmen in the area will be the best to work on, and in the process, have to come up with a list of obstacles to those chosen few being the ones pulling the strings for removal. It will take some time, unless one of our group here is already familiar with the major players in the area."

"I know quite a few of the city's rich and powerful, but I have never considered them in this light before. Even then, it will take some doing to find one who is both competent and conscionable."

The eternal shade was disconcerting, perhaps more so to someone who grew up nearer the sun and sky. Direction might not be altered, but perception was. That may have been part of the reason Diligent Ivy suggested he visit the Nighted City. "Light must reach even the darkest places, and to do that, you must know its people." Many of the residents seemed kind enough, once you showed them kindness, but they were clearly worried about those in power. That power was ever present, and spiritual and temporal forces pressed down on the spirit of the people. As Diligent Stylite turned a corner, his hand drifted to the satchel at his side, carrying the scrolls and tomes he had brought with him, both informative and inspirational. He knew he had to bring hope to those whose hearts were covered in shadow, but he could know do that until he learned everything he could from Champoor, and that would require the help of other Chosen.

Ah, there it was, the correct tea house. The priest smoothed his simple but well-made traveler's clothes, mostly browns and some whites. It would be good to make a positive first impression on the others that Iago had mentioned. An interesting one, Iago, although the son of Palanquin was not sure he'd ever met a mundane-seeming child of Ysyr. He headed inside and looked suitably confused enough for a waiter to approach him just as he spotted the collection of individuals he was looking for.
Waving off the attendant apologetically, he walked over towards the table, giving a bow towards to the table, "I profusely apologize for my tardiness." He smiled around at the group, taking in the new faces, "I am Dutiful Stylite. It is a pleasure to make all of your acquaintances."

Scorpion stands with a smooth motion and offers up a bow. "Welcome, Dutiful Stylite. I am called Scorpion, and the pleasure is ours to have you join us. Pull up a chair and enjoy some of this flavored water. I'm sorry; tea. I am more a good brew of beer kind of girl than this tea stuff."

Kiera lets out another sigh. "Please pardon my friend, she is not used to such refined beverages as tea, having punished her taste buds with strong alcohol. But, do join us. I am Kiera Valen, and I am looking forward to getting to know you better."

He nodded again, turning away to retrieve an empty chair from a now chairless neighboring table. Stylite muttered thanks as he maneuvered into place in the larger group. As he sat down, he placed the satchel on the floor next to his feet, carefully arranging the contents so that they laid most surely. Looking up, he scanned the group, perhaps wondering what all he had missed. His eyes stopped on Scorpion and a thought popped into his mind, "Beer has historically been essential for those in areas with a lower quality of water than tea-drinking areas, so it certainly has its own strengths. I grew up in more of a tea sort of place, myself, although the occasional festival would include all types of alcohol."

The dark skinned woman has a less than happy expression as she says, "I never knew anything but dirty water growing up, when I was allowed to drink at all. It wasn't until . . . well, never mind. Normally I drink what I want now, and for some reason, I'm stuck drinking this flavored water instead of a real beverage like ale or beer. But, I'm not here for the drinks, I'm here for the company of this bunch." She seems to get into a better mood, almost as if forcing herself to forget a bad memory.

Kiera knows a bit of what Scorpion has gone through in her youth in the Vashni tribe, and feels sympathy for her friend. If she ever knew how I felt, it would probably offend her, with as strong willed as she is. Every time I feel as though I have suffered due to my lack of sight, I find someone that has experienced torture unlike anything I could imagine. What is the old saying? I was sad because I had no shoes, until I met a man who had no feet? "Yes, my friend, we can go to a bar more your speed after our business here is concluded. Perhaps I can keep you out of trouble for once."

"Trouble? Me? I'm the soul of innocence and purity! How can you say I would get into trouble? Ok, there was that one time where I told the ugly lady that if she were a whore, she'd have to pay the men to have them sleep with her, but that was just the one time." Scorpion gives a wide grin, knowing that there were a whole bunch more than just one time that she got in trouble, but who's counting?

Kiera can't help herself; she starts to laugh at her friend's comment. "You always know how to bring a smile to my face. Thank you for that. But for now, let us try to stay on topic, and begin to discuss our plans for the future."

Roshana smiles as she delicately lowers her cup from her lips. "I have always found it amusing that while people as a rule despise whores, they find it even more offensive to be thought a bad whore than a good one. That said, the quality of a whore is determined by many more traits than their looks. But I too digress, my apologies."

To the newcomer she extends her hand and says, "I am Roshana, and I am thrilled to meet another of Iago's extraordinary acquaintances."

The topic of sacred prostitution within many cultures sprung to mind, but Dutiful Stylite decided now was probably not the time to go into the details, when everyone was clearly trying to return to a previous discussion that he had interrupted. The most recent speaker was one of the most beautiful he had ever seen, comparable even to the natives of the City of Blue Gauze. He found himself smiling as he clasped her hands gently for a moment, "I am equally thrilled to meet you, although I am unsure if 'extraordinary' is quite the word with which I would label myself." Stylite released her hand, after perhaps a moment later than he had originally intended, and looked around at the others again, particularly towards Iago.

"I interrupted something, some planning, with my arrival. Please, do not let me delay it further. Is it something I can help with?"

Kiera tuns her face to regard Dutiful Stylite; looking away as she speaks could be considered rude, even if she can barely see the man. "We are beginning to explore the idea of raising a candidate of our choosing into control over the city. With my limited knowledge of the significant players involved, at the moment I can offer up little in the way of suggestions on potential allies or troublesome foes. Do you know much about the various noble houses of the city? Who would the people be willing to follow?"

The Resplendent Sun stared at her in silence for a few moments, blinking slowly, as if mentally sorting something in his mind. Suddenly he snapped his fingers and his eyes lit up, "Oh!" Reaching down to retrieve a book bound in a deep purple leather, he elaborated, " I may have something for that. Asha Vedenartha's Dawn of the Nighted City."
As he pushed the book onto the table, slowly displacing a few tea cups (including his own), the scholar shrugged and gave a helpless smile. "All of her works include substantial wordplay... although it hasn't always aged well since her death, 319 years ago. Anyway, she was a Prasadi scholar, a Daughter of Daana'd, and wrote extensively on all the areas around the Dreaming Sea."
He closed his eyes for a moment, visualizing, before opening again and instantly turning to a page heavily illuminated in gold and red.
"She wrote about..."

...In my travels, Champoor was always a grand place for trading and commerce. I found many items to take back with me to my Clan Hold. The city though has changed in tone all the more so with the birth of the Nighted City.

Once, the city was full of light and order upheld by the faith of Gilded Light as the City God. His priests held the peace and justice of the city. Great judges of pure conviction that made the coin flow and the justice firm. Gilded Light was a god much rejoiced until the changes of Heaven brought about the Darkness.

Few know this but the original Censor of Heaven for our great region was the Dragon Neuanapol, born of the Earth and forever patient. He was accused of laziness and thus it was that Heaven recalled Neuanapol. The mighty dragon left, likely to be bogged down in the Celestial Bureaucracy. So it was that the vulture, the lamprey that we call Tenepeshu took the seat and built her Court of Secrets.

Night has come to beautiful Champoor. The city whose roofs once shone with beautiful mosaics as signs of wealth and prayer is swallowed in shadow. The merchants buy more and more lamps. The people cry out to Gilded Light but his efforts grow weaker as the prayers of criminals are answered more and more in the name of Tenepeshu. So called Sacred Societies form and beat the priests of Gilded Light.... his name drifts unto Forgotten Light. The Sun does not shine within the city. We are at the mercy of the corruption of the replacement dragon.

Heaven turns a blind eye, either out of ignorance, incompetence or even... graft. I know not which yet though the third seems most likely with the wicked nature of the Dragon Queen. Champoor is hers now and she will choke the sunlight form it for all time if she can to continue her reign in Darkness... The people have lost hope in the Light. They yearn for the restoration of Neuanapol as the true Censor.
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Excerpt Dawn of the Nighted Citypt from Dawn of the Nighted City
Asha Vedenartha

He pointed to various drawings around the edge of the illuminated tome that highlighted points in each section. "... the original City God, Gilded Light, who was respected for the just and peaceful rule created by his priests, was overshadowed by the Dragon Queen of the Court of Secrets. She seized control after the Censor of Heaven was called away, due to accusations of laziness, which Vedenartha implies were dubious at best. The Sacred Societies, that serve Tenepeshu and the members of her Court, funneled the prayers of the city to their mistress, rather than Gilded Light, and physically attacked the priests that lead the city. Whether we seek out Forgotten Light, as he is now known, or to try and return the proper Censor, either seems possible. The Celestial Bureaucracy is far from heavenly in their efficiency, and the corruption that Tenepeshu preys upon would certainly be an obstacle."

The Pillar of Heaven looked around at his companions, somewhat questioningly. "Either could be our ally, in the right circumstances, but they are not equally accessible." He leaned back from the book, allowing the others to examine it if they so desired.

Kiera listens carefully as her fellow Chosen reads from his book. "The question that comes to mind for me is, which one would the people be more willing to accept? Any campaign to place one or the other into power will also have to include a public relations effort to get the people behind our candidate. I would hate to put that kind of effort in and have it doomed to fail because we chose a horrible despot that will try to crush the will of the people."

"Forgotten Light is a good individual to start with." Iago observed. "And the Magistrate is attempting to reform the city, but is horribly outclassed. Perhaps we might aid her, but must nonetheless secure our leverage over her as well."

Dutiful Stylite nodded in response, smiling at the thought of doing some real good throughout the Nighted City. "If we discover that Forgotten Light is as virtuous as Vedenartha describes, I'm sure I would be able to convince more of the locals to offer him their prayers, which would in turn empower him while helping to improve the city. The support of more of the populous would surely help not only the Magistrate's reform efforts, but demonstrate how beneficial our assistance can be, to all involved."

Scorpion nods as she reaches out to grab a pastry sitting on the table. "I like it. Lets start to focus on these two. We can see who is the big obstacles to this Magistrate to clean up the city. I would love to find some criminal overlord that is making trouble, and cut him down to size with Samiel."

Roshana looks at Scorpion with a look of sadness marring her perfect face, "if only it were that simple. Although there are certainly criminals whom the city would be better off without, there is no single, monolithic evil, in Champoor, the system is corrupt, and the system is what must be changed in order to bring about a new dawn. That said, we will surely need your sword arm before we are done."