Sidereals in Creation

[Sherwood]

At the Jade Pleasure Dome JayTee

Hui is being confronted by several self important gods that have been tasked with the job of keeping intruders out of the Games of Divinity and interrupting the playtime of the Incarnae. Oddly enough, it is Hui's escort that steps forward and begins to cite Celestial law, chapter and paragraph, about the rights and authority of the Solar Exalted, and that Hui does have the right by law to go inside and speak to the Incarnae. As he speaks, several other gods come over, drawn to see the resolution of the standoff. Finally, the one Lion is joined by several others flanking one of the Lesser Elemental Dragons. The large serpentine figure looks down at the guards at the entrance to the Dome and lets out a 'tisk'. "Do you not understand that the very city of Yu-Shan is under attack by the forces of Malfias? Your dedication to your orders is admirable, but foolish in the face of the facts. Stand aside! Or you will be forced aside so that this noble Exalt can plead his case to the Unconquered Sun!"

The various spirits and gods look to one another, then they finally step aside to allow you entrance. Hui is now joined by a full dozen of the Lions and the Lesser Dragon as you go inside. One of the Lions murmurs to you, "Do not allow yourself the distraction of looking at the game board. Your mind will be overwhelmed by the Games, and you will lose your focus." They lead you to where the assembled high gods are, and for the first time in thousands of years, a Solar is standing before the Unconquered Sun in the Jade Pleasure Dome.

Along with the US, you recognize Luna lounging on a divan drinking from a goblet, while Mars, Mercury and Jupiter all talk quietly amongst themselves. Several scantily clad men and women carry trays of food and drink, and several harpists play in the background. All talk and music comes to a halt as Hui approaches with the escorting Lions, but the sun god is still focused on the table in front of him.

What do you say to your god?


In Chejop's office Psychie , Blackadder , Red Shadow Claws

Monsoon heads over to the training mat and begins performing the familiar katas that you have learned so well over the centuries, and Valeren is looking over the office for signs of wards. As you do this, a hidden side door opens up and a Pterok Dragon King comes into the room. "Ah! I had hoped you would be back soon! There is . . . Wait, what are you doing here? This is the private office of my master, Chejop Kejak, not a point of interest of a tour of the city! Leave now before I summon security to have you taken out and cited!"

What do you do?

 

[Red Shadow Claws]

Blazing his caste mark, Monsoon continues with the katas while he speaks. "I'm afraid your former master will not be returning. He, along with most of the Five-Score Fellowship, has perished at the hands of the traitorous Scarlet Empress, with the aid of the forces of Malfeas. We have come here to see what info we might recover that might be of use to us, those who remain, to fight back."

 

[Psychie]

Valeren nods in agreement, motioning to the various Celestial Lions with them. "Do you think we would break into the offices of the head of the Fellowship without some critical reason? Especially with escorts of Lions in attendance? I do hope that I have learned not to be so stupid in my years in Yu-Shan. But since you are here, you might be able to assist us. We need all the files that apply to the Empress, and anything that there is here on Malfias plotting against us."

 

[JayTee]

"Father." Hui said, bowing respectfully to his spiritual patriarch. "I bring dire news. Agents of Malfeas have slain the Fivescore Fellowship, lead by the woman who once ruled the Scarlet Empire. We face dark times, and I ask only for your guidance and your blessing as I move against the enemies of Creation."

 

[Blackadder]

Meno didn't even pause his searching through information on the Immaculate Order, the All-Seeing Eye, and other critical Realm assets Kejak had sunk his grip into.

 

[Sherwood]

Spoiler

Sorry it has taken me so long to post this. Was planning on doing this earlier, but it has been an evil past few days, culminating in my car breaking down on me on the freeway today, leaving me stranded until my wife could come and rescue me, and AAA has towed my car to the shop to try and find out why the damn thing died on me. I have not been in my happy place today.

In Kejak's office

Meno is starting to go through files, and is quickly becoming overwhelmed by the sheer volume of data available to you about the Immaculate Order, the All Seeing Eye, and hundreds of other topics that you find. You could easily spend years looking through all of the documents here. You do find a massive tome of contacts and information sources that feed intelligence back to the Fivescore Fellowship, and to Chejop directly.

There are files on many of the returning Solars, activities of the Lunars, and a smaller but growing file on the Abyssals and the forces of the Underworld. There are also sizeable files on many of your fellow Sidereals, including yourselves and other members of the Gold Faction, some of it is disturbing stuff.

The Pterok looks flustered as the two Exalts continue to raid the files of the eldest of your order. "Wait! You must wait! Master Kejak likes his things in a very particular manner, and you are disturbing everything! If there is something in particular you are looking for, I can help you find it."


The Jade Pleasure Dome

Standing in front of the Unconquered Sun is a humbling experience for Hui. This is the first time since the Usurpation that a Solar has been this close to the leader of the gods, and he looks . . . distracted. He finally pulls his attention away from the table that he was looking at, and gives you a long look. Finally, he leans forward towards you and says, "What is this nonsense? The Sidereals slain? By agents of Malfias? Ha! I think not. I would have known of such an event from the sisters here." He motions towards the three Maidens that are present with a wave of one of his four hands.

At this point, Jupiter rises up and walks over to stand a short distance away from where Hui is. "Sadly, M'Lord, he is speaking the truth. All but five of the one hundred Sidereals have fallen this day, brought down by the very demons that You had locked up so long ago."

This brings startled cries from Mercury and Mars. "What is this, sister? You knew of this, and just now we are learning of this disaster from a visiting Solar? How long have you known of this?" It looks like Mars is ready to raise her hands against her sister right here and now, and Mercury is not far behind in her own anger.

By now, the Sun God has finally pulled his attention completely away from the Games and is now focused completely on the Gods (and Solar) around him. "How is this possible? Is not Yu-Shan secure? Doesn't our ancient enemies of the demons remain locked securely in their prison?" He looks about, then levels a stern glare at Jupiter. "And where are your other two sisters? What mischief have you been plotting?"

 

[JayTee]

"The Scarlet Empress leads the demons in their new conquest. I know not of what she can do, but as someone who can draw upon the wealth of much of Creation, I imagine her resources vast and her ambitions large." Hui said, trying to answer as best he could with what little he knew.

 

[Sherwood]

In the Offices of Chejop Kejak

As the Pterok is sputtering about how his precious filing system is being violated by Valeren and Meno, a statuesque woman bushes aside the security forces of the Celestial Lions that are watching everything going on. This woman just happens to be Saturn, the Maiden of Endings. She nods at the three Exalts in the office. "I suspected that I would find you here. While you might be able to find some nuggets of information in those files, and yes, when you do have more time you should look them over, right now you are running behind the clock compared to the Demon Empress and her lover. There are more important things to be working on right now, most importantly, gathering up enough Exalts and weapons to challenge the Demon Empress and retake the Sword of Creation from her."

Saturn walks over to a blank section of the wall and presses her hands to various points on it, and suddenly, the concealed door in the wall opens. "Chejop had more than a few secrets, many of which he kept in here. You might want to check to see what aces that were kept hidden here. I will tell you that there are a few different courses that you can explore. First, you can try to rally the forces in the Threshold under one banner. In order for you to do that, you'll need a focal point, somewhere to become your fortress against the forces of the demons. There is such an item that is already there that Chejop has information on: a Directional Titan located underneath the rock and rubble of Mount Metagalapa. Use the activation codes in his files to bring the sleeping giant back to life, and use it as a magnet to draw in as many Exalted as you can.

Next, there is the incursion in the South from inside the Great Maker, Autochthon. If you can gain their trust, and aid them in restoring their sleeping God, you will have a powerful ally to call upon. In order to do that, the first step in that journey would be to locate the Eye of Autochthon, currently located in the city of Rathess.

There are other options available to you, but whatever course you take, make your decision quickly. Even now, the Demon Empress is plotting her next move."

Red Shadow Claws Psychie Blackadder

 

[Psychie]

Valeren can feel her jaw drop open when the Incarne enters the office. She had met her own Maiden several times, but to be confronted with Saturn acting as if the past few hours had not happened. Ninety five members of the Fellowship has fallen, and she just walks in here like . . . like nothing was wrong?! Am I the only one that thinks that there is a problem with that? "M'lady, with all due respect, what is going on here? You are acting like you just decided to drop in on a Sunday afternoon for a cup of tea! We have been nearly wiped out! Don't you understand? Everyone is dead! Where were you and your sisters when the Fellowship was being murdered by this Demon Empress?"

 

[Blackadder]

"Restrained by Fate, I imagine." Meno understood Valeren's upset, but having worked for centuries within the Violet Bier, he understood the blase attitude that had been fostered to those overseeing countless deaths and other endings. All the more so when one's divine nature encompassed it. To the Pterok, he turned. "Bring us the files on that Titan, at once."

 

[Sherwood]

The Maiden looks at Valeren with a stern glare. "I understand that this is a trying time for you, but you will always speak to me with respect, or you will suffer my own anger that I am feeling at this time. This war is a larger threat than you can comprehend. Right now, the Demon Empress is thinking she has moved us into checkmate, and will no longer expect a decisive response from Yu-Shan. Surprise is on our side, but time is not. The longer you spend wailing about and bemoaning your misfortune, the more time that your foe has to prepare her next move. Now, I must go to the Jade Pleasure Dome. It seems that my sisters and I are the targets of the Unconquered Sun's rage, and must now try to calm him down enough to see to the next step in this war." With that, she turns and heads out, a woman on a mission.

The Pterok is understandably rattled by the events taking place around him, but when Meno gives him the order to retrieve files, he jumps into action. "Yes, sir!" He shuffles into the hidden office and soon comes out with a couple of crystal data readers. The data files include command codes for the Titan, along with activation codes for what looks like thirty of the Thousand Forged Dragons that are supposedly onboard the great battle station.


At the Jade Pleasure Dome

As the Unconquered Sun is beginning to rage at the three Maidens that he is faced with, Hui can feel a gentle touch on his shoulder. Looking over, you can see that it is Venus, even more beautiful in person than you have ever imagined. "Come with me. For your safety, you should leave for now. Sol doesn't get this angry very often, and soon enough he will calm down enough to listen to reason once more. Until then, he is a danger to all that are around him. Go back to the other survivors. They will soon need your aid in the next steps of preparing for war." She gently takes you hand and pulls you towards the exit, moving silently in her luxurious robes. "Hui, you have done more to break the hold of the Games of Divinity from the mind of your God than any of us could have hoped for. Thank you. Now go."

 

[JayTee]

Discontent that Hui was not able to at least Speak with his god, Hui was nonetheless happy to know that he had rendered him a boon of sorts. Nodding silently to Venus, Hui made his way back to his fellow Exalted.