Chronicle of the Scavenger Lands (Exalted 3E) - IC

[Esbilon]

"The only reasonable way to get to Aberuthven is by the river," Ysandre says after weighing the others' words. "We need Mara to tell us how heavily patrolled the river is, and if she can get us the ships we need to move all of our troops south. If not, perhaps it would be prudent to let the bulk of our forces travel south without us at a slower pace and meet up with them again later." Looking to catseye she adds, "can you let us travel there by sorcery?"

 

[Sherwood]

Ailera clears her throat, then says, "I must confess that I know little about armies and warfare. But I would think that a river, while a quick way to move the troops, might also be easy to be blockaded up, or at least, patrolled to keep an armed force from doing just what we are talking about. Is it going to be safe to move the troops that way? Are there any riverside hazards that would need to be addressed first?"

 

[jaydude]

At Ailera's question, Ysandre recalls that a number of hostile barbarian tribes are known to live on the eastern banks of the river, some of them including Wood Aspect outcaste Dragon-blooded among their members. That said, none of the tribes are big enough to threaten an army as large as Ryan and Ganzin's.

Ysandre also remembers that before her exile, Nalia possessed a navy that included 12 ballista-armed shallow-bottomed warships at its capital of Elua, as well as a number of catapults on the walls surrounding the city, serving as protection against river pirates and barbarians from across the river.

Spoiler: OOC

If you don't want to repeat the contents of this infodump, you can say something like "Ysandre tells the others what she knows."

 

[Esbilon]

If you don't want to repeat the contents of this infodump, you can say something like "Ysandre tells the others what she knows."

OOC: She does.

 

[jaydude]

D. Rex Psychie
As the discussion continues, an odd pair are wandering a little off the beaten track when they catch sight of the camp's fires and lights in the darkness of the evening. One of the pair is a masked man clad in a buff jacket who bears a medical satchel and a Grimscythe of Soulsteel, while the other is a young woman with white-gold hair, who wears a buff jacket of Starmetal and an Orichalcum Short Powerbow, and rides a unicorn; a mystical horse with a single horn sticking out of its head.

The two of you have only known each other for a short while, but you have both come to discover that you are two Solars reborn into Creation, and you subsequently decided to stick together out of a desire for mutual protection.

Now, as you look towards Ryan's camp, what do you wish to do?

 

[D. Rex]

"What say you that we see if they are willing to share a camp?" He said in his usual gruff voice, walking beside the horse.

They weren't likely bandits. If they were, they probably would have been set on by now, as well as lot more hooting and hollering to be heard. Simple travelers, most likely.

The doctor adjusted his hat and pulled down his cloth mask, revealing a clean shaven face, save for his sideburns. No need to arouse more suspicion when the two of them were already well armed.

"It would save us the trouble of setting up one ourselves."

Psychie

 

[Psychie]

Axtis looks down at her fellow Solar, then back at the flickering fire of the camp. "Well, couldn't hurt too much to ask. What's the worst that can happen?"

They could try to kill you, Majherri sends to her.

"Aren't you the fun one of the bunch, Majherri."

I try. But, between the three of us, we should be able to escape from them if they try and attack us. You are Solars, after all. And its not like I am some mere horse.

"You think so much of us, and yourself for that matter, you silly. Come on, Doc. Lets approach the camp and see if they feel like being neighborly."

Riding forward, she calls out in a loud voice, "Hail the camp! We are friends, and wish to approach."

 

[jaydude]

As the pair approach the camp, they are approached by two of Ryan's soldiers who have their hands on the hilts of their swords. Their eyes go to the artifact weapons carried by the pair, their nervous expressions suggesting they're familiar with such equipment, but they remain resolute in the face of their current situation.

"Hold. State your names and your business here." one of the soldiers says. A short distance away, the pair see a third soldier jogging into the camp.

This soldier heads over to where the other five Solars are conversing and making plans, and addresses Ryan. "Boss, two Exalts have approached the camp. I'm not sure what kind, but one of them carries a bow of Orichalcum, and the other has a large scythe made from some kind of...black metal."

Lyla blinks at this description. "This scythe you described...did it appear to have faces on it? Faces that looked like they were screaming, or otherwise in pain?" she asks, causing Quill to realize that she's describing Soulsteel.

Ryan's soldier looks surprised at this question. "I wouldn't know. I didn't get close enough to have a look." he says.

 

[Rykon]

"Reckon I'll see for myself." Ryan steps out of the tent and looks to both of the gateways to the camp. Once he'd recognized the strangers as his soldier described, he approached with a smile. "Greetings strangers. You've come upon the camp of the Crimson Fang Company. I am Commander Ryan Shepherd. What brings you to us this day?"

Activating Keen Sight Technique for 3m

 

[Esbilon]

More Exalts, Ysandre thinks with concern. While having more powerful people could greatly help her cause, it would also draw more attention to them and there was no guarantee these would be as accommodating as the rest of their small circle. Keeping these thoughts unspoken, she followed behind Ryan towards the camp entrance to see them for herself.

OOC: Ysandre is a fairly tall blonde woman who has an air of dignity about her. She has Awakened Carnal Demiurge active, bringing her Appearance stat to 6.

 

[Psychie]

From astride Majherri, she calls out to the guards, "I am Axtis Jen, this is Majherri, and and my other companion is Doctor Zedradon. We have been traveling for some time, and we are looking to share a campfire."

 

[Rykon]

Ryan turns to Ysandre and shrugs. He looks over to the corporal by the gate and says in almost a shout. "Well soldier, get 'em a seat and some food. I'm sure we'd all like to hear their stories."

A unicorn riding exalt with orichalcum and a doctor with a rather nasty looking scythe. This should be interesting.

 

[Psychie]

Axtis slides down from Majherri's back and looks at him, "Behave yourself. We are trying to make friends here."

I understand. Just let these men know that I am to be treated with respect. I am not some typical horse, after all.

"Yes, my sweet." She looks to the men that is escorting them. "Majherri is very smart, so all you need to do is ask him to do what you would like, and he should listen. I will be happy to compensate you for any feed that he eats." Turning to her human companion, Axtis says, "Come on, Doc. Lets go meet our hosts and thank them for sharing their campfire with us."

D. Rex

 

[jaydude]

At Ryan's order, the soldiers move aside to allow Axtis and Zedradon entry into the camp, where places at the campfire have been arranged for them.

Another soldier, deciding to take Axtis's word for it, asks Majherri to follow him to the paddock where Ysandre's horse and the group's pack animals are being kept. Using the same method he used to identify Axtis, the unicorn recognises Ryan and Ysandre as Solars, though their past lives are unfamiliar to him.

 

[Sherwood]

With her curiosity getting the best of her, Ailera would make her way over to take a look at their visitors and this unicorn that she hears the guards talking about. Fancy armor and bow, beautiful unicorn, and that 'doctor' has one hell of a nasty scythe in hand. Probably both of them are Exalts, then. We seem to be attracting them like flies to honey. I wonder what this pair brings to the table?

 

[Rykon]

Ryan stepped over to a stump by the campfire, offering a handshake to his guests before taking a seat. The light of the fire shined off the Orichalcum on his Daiklave, betraying his own nature as some sort of essence user. "Well met Axtis Jen, Doctor Zedradon. What brings you to our little neighborhood?"

 

[Esbilon]

With Ryan's invitation to bring the newcomers into their midst, the time to discuss strategy is over. There is no telling what these people's loyalties are, and even if they were not actively working against her, they might well be willing to sell her out if they learned there was a profit in it. Ysandre joins Ryan and the others at the campfire, for now content to observe in silence, trying to get a feeling for these people's hearts.

 

[D. Rex]

While not a smiley man, he did at least give his hosts a proper one in thanks. The man with the Orichalcum, a soldier of rank. Commander Shepherd. A lovely metal he wielded. An exalt among them, most likely. Or a mortal of the strength of being. While he might right it off as a fluke, the unearthly beauty of the other woman seemed to hint to to the former suspicion. For a mortal to attain such an aesthetic prime was a rare thing without otherworldly gifts.

"And a well met to you as well, Commander Shepherd."

As the doctor situated himself by the fire, he removed his hat and set it beside his satchel. Sitting down, he rested the grimscythe respectfully in his lap. Respectfully towards the soulsteel object, anyhow.

"We are but travelers. While the grand designs of each of our purposes may differ, we found safety in the likeness of our beings, as well as the camaraderie that it brings."

"As has been stated, I am but a Doctor. And such are how my whims are lead. I hail from Thorns, and have no destination in mind, but perhaps to return there one day." He said slowly, "But much work there is between now and then. My hands seek to heal, thus that is what I shall do. And as a gift in return for your hospitality, I shall offer such aid while I am present."

While his face was stoic, he had little to hide in his expression. His simple duty required no subterfuge or subtly. And should the path he tread be hard to follow, then those who seek his help may not find it. And that alone trumped the risk of danger that it may bring.

 

[Epiphany]

Like Ysandre , Catseye has been content to sit silently by the fire sizing up the newcombers. The Doctor's accent was suspiciously familiar, though, and his claim to her homeland makes it unmistakable. Rising from her seat, the Eclipse rounds the fire and sits next to him.

"It's always a pleasure to meet someone else who survived," she says, smiling warmly and reaching out a hand to clasp or shake. "How did you escape the fall? Were you already away from home when it happened? I'm Catseye Kian. So you're a doctor? No shortage of need for your work. Especially with conflict on the rise throughout the Scavenger Lands. I can see you already know Exalts are rising in these lands," she comments, lifting an eyebrow at his grimscythe. "Have you met any of them who are friendly?"

 

[Rykon]

Ryan was rather taken aback by the torrent of energy behind Catseye's inquiry. With a stifled chuckle he sat on his stump and filled wooden bowls with the night's stew and passed them around to their guests. Eventually everyone, circle included, would be offered warm food. It was not a courtly feast but for a traveler it was a nice reprieve from the trials of the road.

 

[D. Rex]

The doctor was a little surprised at the forwardness of this other woman. But her very first words told him why. And her words where felt by him as well, "That it is, Lady Kian." He said to her, taking her hand in turn. After such an atrocity that befell the city, seeing anyone able to have made it out alive was indeed a miracle. And only those whose heart had died in Thorn would not be able to feel the relief of knowing another soul had made it out.

"I did not escape the fall. I was there when HE came. And like the rest of the citizenships, even my attempts at flight were quelled viciously. We, and the city, were subdued before we even knew what happened. I was stuck there."

"However, the spirit of it's people were not broken so quickly. Some of it's people, the heroic and brave, worked hard to get people out, while others gave their lives so that they would not be hunted down. I was among those tried to help those who could not escape. The city knew blood and sickness intimately, and very few of us were left to help staunch their afflictions. But it was a task I would not have been able to do if not for those who were noble enough to lend aid from outside the city."

As a bowl of stew was passed his way, he took it gladly, and continued his little story. "But little good it did. As I came to learn, much of the cities suffering, as well as its false hopes, were by the design of the Mask of Winters, and his grip of the city was far tighter than I could have imagined."

"I was taken by his Knights, when they learned of my deeds, and forced to use my talents for his benefits at the expense if the people. I worked under the DeathLord, and it was his own hubris that led to my escape. That he thought he could act against a working of the Unconquered Sun himself instead of killing me when he saw His light shine on me."

"Most of the exalts I have come across where those in Thorns, and they were of those who turned their back on the Sun. Two friendly souls I have met. One I helped bring to peace and return to glory, the other is my companion Axtis Jen."

He followed her gaze to the grimscythe in his lap. And he ran a finger across the flat of the blade."This. This is but a requisition from one such unfriendly exalt. One whose sloth was his folly. I felt that I could give the souls within a new purpose. And a future not to be abased by their horrid designs, but instead one that may at least bring it peace."

 

[Psychie]

Axtis gives her companion a sad smile. "It would seem that every Exalt I come across has some sort of sad story to tell about their life. I personally lost my family when I got my Second Breath, banned from my community as a monster. If it were not for Majherri, I don't know what I would have done with my life. He has helped to guide me through many trials over the years. Then, we ran across our good doctor here, and the two of us have been traveling companions ever since."

 

[jaydude]

"Probably a bad time to mention what happened to your friends and my village." Ganzin whispers into Ailera's ear with a grin, trying to add a bit of levity to the situation.

"So I take it you're not going to consider selling your unicorn to me? They fetch quite hefty prices in Nexus, you know." Lyla says to Axtis once the Dawn archer is done talking, before letting out a chuckle. "I'm joking, by the way."

She then clears her throat, before addressing both Axtis and Zedradon. "My name is Lyla. I'm with the Guild, and besides the soldiers, I'm probably the only mortal within this camp. Also, I'm somewhat involved with Ryan here."

 

[Rykon]

Ryan smiled as everyone shared their stories, letting the warm light and crackling sound of the fire draw him into a nostalgic stupor of sorts. Once the others came to speak, he took a small measure of happiness in Lyla's trust to speak of their budding relationship. Even with that warmth in mind, he turned back to their guests to ask his own questions.

"You two admit to being Solars rather quickly." Ryan let the mark of the Dawn ignite upon his brow. "That saves us quite a lot of time asking how you wield those weapons of yours though. Everyone here has stories much like yours. Tales of being driven from your home. Whether it's due to your exaltation, invaders from other lands or other worlds, or a foul betrayal by one's kin. I find myself curious though. What is it you two are looking for out here?... Do you have the resolve to fight for what you lost?... Against those who wronged you?" Ryan asked sincerely, curious to discern the quality of these two strangers by the light of the dancing flames.

 

[Psychie]

Axtis lets out a chuckle. "Well, one of Mahjerri's gifts is to be able to read the wind of various beings we run into, and communicate that with me. He told me you were Exalts right away. That, along with your own weapons there," she nods at Ryan's sword, "kinda gave it away that we weren't dealing with a bunch of ordinary people."