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The Fajadi Affair of Descending Fire RY 768 (Exalted 3e Dragon-Blooded) (IC)

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A time and place of meetings: Descending Fire, where the warmth of Summer blends with the cooling of winter to form Autumn; The Northwest, where the frigid reach of the Elemental Pole of Air is washed over by the temperate waves of the Pole of Water; Finally, Fajad's South Bank Bazaar, where the materials vivisected from the Behemoth Pyrevein, buried deep under the northern shore, are introduced to the markets of Creation.

The South Bank Bazaar is a focal point of Fajad. It has most goods one might need to buy, even materials not pulled from the still-living body of a titanic ancient beast. While the nation and people as a whole may be suffering from an economic recession, you wouldn't know it here. Alongside the currency and goods passed from hand to hand, words and wisdom move from mouth to ear in the numerous salons that line the byways through and around the market. These salons generally have large floor to ceiling windows that can be opened up on lovely days like today to allow fresh sea air and sunlight into the cushioned and columned depths where conversations are had over a variety of stimulants, be they brewed, chewed, or smoldered and inhaled to your personal preference. In Fajad alcohol is not to be consumed in public, and while it can be found sold in market stalls, many households still abstain in private, at least here on the predominantly Abhari Southern Peninsula. Between the bustling market and murmuring salons marabouts stand on small platforms and share the words of their prophets for any and all that would listen. On busy days like today Qadis can be seen dotting the masses, immediately apparent by their dress: layered robes, mail, and plate, looking halfway between ceremonial garb and vestments for battle, projecting God's judgement where it may be needed.

The adjacent harbor is home to the slips and docks dedicated to The Realm, where currently one of the ships earmarked for Tribute is moored, with a Talon from the Cathak Legions to escort it. The talon, and its accompanying talonlord, are turning the somewhat humble pier into a petite parade ground. A modest retinue receives them, including Satrap Cathak Mei and Garrison Commander Mnemon Senesh. Despite the talon lords attempts at ceremony, this is not meant to be any kind of event. Any pomp and circumstance surrounding the tribute would come later.

Plenty to see and do for a young Dynast all within sight-line and ear-shot of one another. What do our scions find themselves up to today, and who are they with?
 
Ledaal Tomiko watches patiently with a slight smile as she stands on the ship while the talon of troops from House Cathak make their way down the gangplank and try to come to some kind of formation on the docks. Once the way is clear, she carefully makes her way down the plank to the shore, feeling the stability of land for the first time since starting her journey here. Time to find a room and get a good, hot meal. Preferably one that doesn't involve lots of fish. I am so tired of fish.

Setting an easy pace, Tomiko slowly works her way through the crowds to find a suitable place to freshen up.
 
Truly, welcoming a Tribute Ship from home, even a Cathak one, is far more about being seen than it is about seeing. To that end, Mnemon Sayan has dressed in new robes of the finest imported silk, dyed in blues and whites, the colour shifting tastefully between the deep dark of the sea, the white of the surf, and the pale beauty of the air. Her long, white hair is artfully arranged on her head in a manner that is almost entirely incompatible with actual work or indeed fighting. Her delicate eyes move from face to face, and though they see more than most, their act is primarily for making eye-contact with others as a way of introduction, and of being noticed as more than a pretty face in a crowd of pretty faces.

Yes, to the young Dynast, this is entirely about being seen. She has little interest in the quality of the soldiers (and is not a particularly skilled judge of such things in any case), rather her role here is to show herself to be in support of the Cathak satrap on behalf of House Mnemon, and present a unified Dynastic front to the local population. When it comes to parades, this is a pale imitation of the real thing. She was there when Mnemon herself marched her new legions through Mnemon-Darjilis on their way to Jiara, and this paltry showing does not even begin to compare. Still, in truth it is a good thing that such a small force is sent to guard the tribute, she reflects, it means that the Cathak leadership considers the situation here safe, that a show of force is not needed. Not yet at least, she adds to herself as her gaze takes in the many proselytizers in the market. That can of worms may well insist on opening itself rather sooner than the Order is ready to deal with, something she must send word home of. Again.

Her eye is caught by the woman walking off the ship after the soldiers have finished their marching and aspirations of significance. She has the look of an Immaculate about her, though her dress is in contrast with that presumption. Someone who has trained at the Cloister, but moved elsewhere, perhaps? Someone outside the dynastic politicking, she amends as the other moves past the assembled dignitaries, ignoring them in favour of the city beyond.
 
Cathak Alys stands tall and proud as she looks over the House guards as they form up on the dock for inspection. While she is not the commander of this particular group of soldiers, she has been recently involved in the training and deployment of some of the House Cathak troops and is very much interested in how they present themselves to the Garrison Commander and the Satrap. Stepping forward, she moves to make her greeting to the two Realm representatives.

"Cathak Mei! Good to see you once more. How long has it been? What, three, no, four years? Being the Satrap here certainly agrees with you. I hope you received my letter saying that I was coming here on this ship? No need to make any special arrangements for me; I'll probably end up staying in the barracks with the rest of the troops. Garrison Commander Mnemon Senesh. I don't believe that I've had the pleasure of meeting you before. I am Cathak Alys, and I am honored to meet you." She offers up a respectful bow. "I do look forward to getting to know you during my stay here."
 
Zakasuke peers over the harbor, just returning to town from a ruin nearby. Kumosan dove in slowly at the docks, staying roughly a yard above the walkways as the young sorcerer silently sat crossed legged atop his misty vessel. Though a book lay open in his lap, he scanned the area still committing it's layout to memory. A few lazy moments pass before he notices his fellow Exalted exchanging words at the landing. Thinking it uncouth to interrupt the business of the Satrap and her house, he stopped to ponder what the nature of such a high profile arrival might be. 'I wonder what moves they're planning to deal with the obnoxious cult here. Knowing my peers though, I doubt such talk would grace the open air of the streets. Disappointing... One thing at a time I suppose, the peacocks have to entertain the sheep after all, else they go back to stirring up trouble.'

Kumosan, raised in elevation a bit more, reaching about level height with the second story of some nearby warehouses as it skirted the edges of the gathering. Zakasuke then spotted what appeared to be a proper patron of the Immaculate Order standing near the garrison commander, his mind easing somewhat from the anxiety this place that weighed upon him, before directing his ride toward that direction, making sure not to catch her by surprise. "I, um... I hope I'm not imposing, but are you..." Zakasuke's whispered inquiry came to a pause as recognition came upon him. "Oh, it's you Sayan. Glad to see a familiar face." Zakasuke's usual solemn face relaxed, even attempting a smile. though still visibly uncomfortable in the presence of a crowd. Kumosan, lowered almost to the ground, leaving his head just a bit below eye level.
 
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"Peleps Zakasuke," Sayan greets the young sorcerer in return, bowing her head slightly as is appropriate to a Dynast of slightly lower standing. Somehow managing that feat without upsetting the artful arrangement of her pure, white hair. "What brings you to the harbor on this beautiful day?"
 
Zakasuke bowed his head in acknowledgment, "Well...I heard about some newly discovered ruin roughly a couple day's walk that way." he gestured with his thumb at 75 degrees East. "Found a cool relic, but I was hoping for a little more. With that done, I stopped to see if I could make myself useful while I'm out here on vacation." he paused for a moment to take a sip from a water skin. "How about you, what brings a radiant lady of your standing out to this corner of creation?" He asked, trying to sound polite, though still feeling uncomfortable in rituals of pleasantries.
 
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"Why, working for the good of the Realm and Creation, of course," she answers with a knowing smile. Of course everything a dynast does is for the good of the Realm, and of course everything that is good for the Realm is good for Creation. "I have been given charge by my family over a Manse here in the city, and I have the honor of assisting my dear cousin Senesh with the humdrum of maintaining a strong presence in the satrapy. Though we see little action on the battlefield, humble functionaries like myself are part even of a garrison like this."
 
Zakasuke nodded, feeling like he should have expected a practiced response. He pointed to the stone on the pommel of his daiklave, "Maybe I'll find a decent threshold manse for myself one day." He added with a small sigh. "Anyhow, seeing as you and the Cathaks there hold authority here, I am at your service. It's been rather tedious what with the cleanup that had to be done up here, so you'd be doing me the favor of alleviating boredom. Hm.... is that... Alys?" with that he'd stow the book laying open in his lap into his belongings and step down from the wafting cloud seat.
 
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Tomiko pauses on her way to find a quiet room when she spots the Cirrus Skiff and passenger come floating down. She looks over in curiosity, wondering who is on it. Shielding her eyes from the glare of the sun, Tomiko recognizes Zakasuke talking to someone from House Mnemon that she has seen before, but whose name is escaping her. I should go over and be sociable.

She heads over and pauses a short distance away from the two, giving them a moment to spot her so she doesn't interrupt their conversation. With a pleasant smile, Tomiko says, "Hello there. It has been quite a while since I have met either one of you. How are you doing today?"
 
Zakasuke bows to the magistrate once she approaches. "Oh, uh... Well, I'm doing better knowing a devout member of the order is present." he stated bluntly, not too subtly showing his disdain for the local heresy following their proclaimed one god and his prophets. With a wave of the hand, the cirrus skiff departed to lurk amid the rooftops to await further orders. "If you don't mind my asking, are you here on official matters as well magistrate Tomiko?"
 
Tomiko nods. "I have been asked to come and provide my investigative expertise to a number of different cases here, ones that require a delicate touch. I hope to also be able to share the good word of the Immaculate Philosophy to the people here."
 
"I see. Glad you made it out here alright. As I was telling Lady Sayan here, my personal business here is completed, so feel free to call if I can be of assistance to your efforts. Otherwise, I'd probably be spending my vacation just reading I guess..." Zakasuke trailed off, scratching at the back of his head somewhat uncomfortable as the view of the crowd comes back into focus for a moment. His anxiety grew somewhat, but just resting his hand upon the pommel of Crashing Sky seemed to fill him with a measure of courage, small though it was.
 
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Ragara Axan was in no hurry to get off the boat. It was his first time traveling beyond the shores of the Blessed Isle, and he took the time to note the differences. He didn't care much for the makeshift military parade, but he was curious about the people of this satrapy. And so, it was only now that he started making his way off the ship, his 8 foot tall figure certainly drawing attention.

He didn't know anyone here, but then he saw Peleps Zakasuke, whom he remembered from his time at the Heptagram. They weren't in the same year, but during their time there, they did share some general classes together, so he made his way towards him, the better to see a somewhat familiar face.
 
"The assistance of someone with your special talents will surely be welcome, Peleps Zakasuke," Mnemon Sayan says with a smile anyone who saw it would swear was genuine. "And I too am of course at the disposal of the Imperial corps of magistrates in general and yourself in particular, Ledaal Tomiko," she adds with rather more warmth entering her voice, making the feel of it not unlike a perfectly tempered bath.

She throws a glance through long, delicate lashes at the giant of a man stepping off the ship after all others have departed. "Do you two know who that man is?"
 
Zakasuke waves to him saying his name aloud. "Ragara Axan, professional architect and artificer. I'm surprised you headed out this way." his voice seemed to flatten a bit as the gathering of Dragon-Blooded grew larger, though it helped for some of them being fairly familiar to him. 'I wonder if he came to look at that ruin as well.' he thought to himself.
 
Axan waves to Peleps Zakasuke, and heads towards him. "Greetings Zakasuke, I am glad to see you here. This is my first time outside the Isle, and I am in no hurry to go at it alone, But I think it is time for me to travel some, and maybe find components worthy to be included in my work, or demesnes to claim and raise Manses on top, you know, the usual business." And then he turns to the two ladies next to Zakasuke, one of them clearly an Immaculate Monk. "And greetings to you two as well. I don't think we've had the pleasure of meeting before."
 
Tomiko gives a bow to the new arrival. "Greetings to you, good sir. I am Ledaal Tomiko. I do remember seeing on the ship, and I apologize for not making your acquaintance. I must have been too wrapped up in my books to get out of my cabin very often." She looks around at the harbor around them with a pleasant smile. "I have traveled out of the confines of the Realm several times, usually plying my skills as an investigator and magistrate. But it is my first time here in Fajad. I look forward to getting to know the people here, and share with them the teachings of the Immaculate Order."
 
"This a pleasure to meet you Ledaal Tomiko. I am Ragara Axan, and am only a milding artificer, but am an archtiect and Geomancer." And he says it with obvious pride at being one. "And no need to apologize, I spent most of the trip in my own cabin, being sea sick."

I even added a minor negative tie to sea travel as an intimacy
 
Zakasuke smiled, though with a mild hint of disappointment. "Speaking of demesnes, I was at a nearby ruin, thinking there might be a tomb to clear out for a private manse. I only found this though." Zakasuke pulled a ceramic vessel flute out of a cargo pocket in his pants leg, obviously colored by powdered blue jade mixed into the clay before it was fired. upon its mouthpiece is a metal band with a dragon crest set in wishmetal. "That said, if we can find a place I'd like to tag a long and see if I can help. If nothing else, I could draw out some spirits from its font of power to help us cap it."
 
Axan's eyes light up "Why of course, I would love to work with you. In Geomancy we learned how to do it ourselves, without the use of Sorcery, or at least, I wans't taught that, probably because I didn't seem to grasp Sorcery, but perhaps cramming so much lore about spirits is needed to study Sorcery, so maybe you can help me with that." Going off a tangent, Axan fails to realize that he just publicly mentioned that he might want to learn Sorcery. Then again, he studied in the Heptagram, where it was expected of one to learn that.
 
Zakasuke just scratches at the back of his head, face flushing mildly. "Oh, I couldn't cap it with a spell or anything, I just summon elementals for extra hands in hard labor. I also keep a few friends on hand for minor tasks." With a tap of his coat pocket, a tiny black lizard poked his head up with a large yawn. "This is Enshu, a very minor fire spirit I keep to stay warm in the cold. Enshu, wanna show off your stuff there little buddy?" The tiny reptilian form wriggled out of the pocket and hopped into his master's palm. Enshu rolled into a tiny ball. His scales seemed to weave into the appearance of a faceted gemstone with a tiny fire roaring red light from the center. The area around them seemed to gently rise in temperature as if they sat in the hearth room of a cottage.
 
Tomiko's eyes light up in interest. "Exploring some old ruins sounds like it would be a fun diversion from the work that I have been sent out here to do. If you would like an extra set of eyes to look about the place, just let me know."
 
"You must all be weary from your long travels, though," the elegantly dressed woman who has so far not introduced herself to Axan offers politely, "allow me to host you all for the evening," she adds with a smile. "I am Mnemon Sayan, and have the honour of managing my grandmother's property in the city. It is more than sufficient to give you all something of the comforts of home on this day."
 
"If Zakasuke wants us with him to explore this ruin, I would definitely be up for it." Axan did slightly choke when he heard the Immaculate Monk expressing desire to go with them. He knew many of them disdained the use of Sorcery, and while he wasn't a sorcerer, he did go to the Heptagram, and as far as many in the Realm were concerned. that was one and the same.
He then turned to Mnemon Sayan, and did a half-decent bow. "If you would be so kind, I do not wish to impose, and am still slightly suffering from sea-sickness, so I would prefer to stay at an inn, if you could recommend one." He seems to pointedly refrain from looking at her, and one can see a blush on his face. He was taken aback by her beauty, and was finding it hard to be around her and not be distracted by her beauty.
 

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