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The Redux of the Tale of a Falling Empire

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Prologue: Arrival in Kandara, Session 1, Scene 1
  • Prologue: Arrival in Kandara​

    Realm Year 763, before the Scarlet Empress's disappearance


    The heat of both summer and the not-too-distant south hangs in the morning air as the ship makes its way towards the harbor of Kandara. It's a big vessel, the kind used often by cargo merchants, with Realm flags flapping atop each of its three masts. And judging from the group of imperial triremes sailing alongside, it's clearly carrying something - or someone - of high value.

    Indeed, onboard the ship is Ragara Neva Kitava, the new Satrap of Kandara. Her appointment was largely the result of Blessed Isle drama; Mnemon - who considers being from House Ragara to be death at the best of times - was none too pleased when Kitava suddenly uncovered a means of summoning Second Circle Demons, fearing that she could soon be dealing with a sorcerous rival if the younger woman was not dealt with. As a result of this hostility - as well as distrust from some of the other Great Houses - the Scarlett Empress arranged for Kitava to be put in charge within Kandara, seeing it as a way to both keep her from becoming the center of a political shitstorm, and allow her to make use of the skills she acquired at the Spiral Academy.

    Accompanying Kitava are the four other Dragon-blooded who will serve as her satrapial staff. Tepet Manato, a House of Bells graduate assigned to take control of Kandara's Realm garrison. Ragara Neva Taeran, an assassin of sorts and Kitava's little sister. Ledaal Ferela, a veteran Dynast officially in charge of finances, but who may also have been appointed by the Empress to placate House Ledaal and their desire to keep an eye on Kitava. And finally there's Ragara Ramuron, Kitava's bodyguard who just so happens to be her brother-in-law through marriage to Taeran.

    ---

    The five of you will of course have been briefed on the city-state of Kandara prior to your journey. It's one of the Realm's oldest satrapies, and also one of the oldest nations formed after the Balorian Crusade, beginning as a settlement founded by survivors of both that and the Great Contagion. Since joining the Realm it has been ruled by House Hasuri, one of the Scarlet Dynasty's cadet houses. Though once part of the Realm's frontier, it has waned in strategic importance since the conquest of Snakehead in the east resulted in the Lunar Anathema and their beastfolk armies being pushed back further from the Blessed Isle, but it is still a wealthy territory with a people loyal to both the Scarlett Empress and the Immaculate Philosophy. And were Snakehead to fall, Kandara would once again become the Realm's first line of defense in the area.

    As your ship enters the harbor, it sails past a great bronze statue built upon an islet. It is of a man in Shogunate-style plate armor, both his hands holding a scale model of what is clearly some kind of daiklave, the weapon raised high in the air as if in a guard position. This, you will be told at some point, is Hasuri, the founder of the cadet house bearing his name, and the Fire Aspect who came to Kandara in its early days, saving it from destruction and becoming its first Dragon-blooded king.

    Looking all around you see that the harbor is a hubbub of activity, ships sailing to and from the docks, others having cargo loaded and unloaded. Your ship heads to a wharf that has been cordoned off from the rest of the area, forcing those who might wish to gawk at the new satrap to do so from behind a contingent of armed troops, both Realm soldiers and city watchmen. Waiting for you underneath a small pavilion are a group of three people, all of them with the same shade of jet-black hair and light-bronze skin, as well as adornments that mark them as essence users.

    The first of the trio is a young boy, no more than twelve or thirteen, wearing amber robes of high office along with an ornate gold crown, as well as a sheathed daiklave on his hip. Upon closer inspection, the hilt of the daiklave bears a strong resemblance to that of the weapon being wielded by Hasuri's statue. All of you quickly recognize him as Hasuri Boroma, the current king of Kandara ever since his father was killed during a Tyrant Lizard hunt gone wrong (with the grief causing him to Exalt as a Fire Aspect Dragon-blooded.

    The second is a woman around Manato's age, who displays an air of regal dignity in her bearing, but also a hint of kindness to her, as well as a strong resemblance to Boroma in her facial features. She wears a fine robe of dark-blue silk, and has her hair done up in an elaborate style that nevertheless allows some of it to reach past her shoulders. Around her neck is what appears to be an exquisitely crafted necklace of black jade.

    The third of the trio, stood on Boroma's left, is a man around Taeran's age. He has the look of a seasoned soldier; tall and well-built - as indicated thanks to the sleeveless ochre-colored buff-jacket he wears - and stood to rigid attention with eyes that are the picture of alertness and focus. Were Ramuron to look at the man, he'd quickly sense something similar about him, before realizing that he too is a bodyguard. On his left arm he wears a gauntlet that appears to be made from Red Jade, clearly an artifact of some kind, but he carries no visible weapon.

    With the help of the dockworkers, the crew of the ship moor it at the wharf, and a wooden gangplank is lowered down to allow you all to disembark. With the sound of it landing against the stone of the wharf, your tenure - as well as your tale - has begun...
     
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    Session 1, Scene 2
  • Boroma smiles at Kitava's request of his mother. "I am sure my tutor will not object to me cutting my lesson short in favor of some practical experience." he says. Muntazir and Itsala meanwhile bow their heads and assure the satrap that they will have carried out her orders by the time she meets with the king and his regent.

    Elsewhere, the attendant - a young woman with chestnut-brown hair - bows her head at Manato's question. "I believe this one's name is Northern Wind, my lord." she replies, a faint blush on her cheeks from having the handsome Dynast address her. From the horse's snow-white coat and light blue mane, it doesn't take much effort to guess what might have inspired the name.

    Once Kitava is settled within the palanquin, and everyone else has picked out their means of transportation, the five of you embark on a procession through the city, Kitava at the head, Boroma and the other two riding behind her, clearly intended as a show of unity between king and satrap. Masses of people, some admiring or excited, others simply curious, throng the streets on either side in the hope of catching a glimpse of the new satrap, though the presence of mounted Realm soldiers and city watch prevent them from getting too close. As she travels, Kitava and the rest of her entourage notice that at first glance, Kandara already seems to be doing well; most of the people they see, even those less well-off, look reasonably well-fed, healthy and contented.

    Gradually, the procession winds its way towards a great gate within a tall and immensely thick wall of stone. Boroma and Netara explain that this is the second of three encircling walls within the city (the first one enclosing the entire settlement) , with each one being built as Kandara expanded beyond the previous barrier. On each side of the gate rests a stone statue of the king at the time of the wall's construction, another figure in what appears to be artifact armor, wielding the same daiklave being carried by Boroma. The gate to the next and last wall is much the same, only with statues of a different king on either side. Clearly the Kandarans and their rulers take a great deal of pride in their previous Dragon-blooded kings.

    The gates are pulled open, and the procession enters into the central area of the city, which Netara refers to as the "Dragon District". According to her, this is the area where the city-state's rulers, nobility and wealthiest citizens reside, and it shows in how different it is from the previous parts of the city; whereas the residents there had to contend with apartments, small townhouses and narrow streets, even the smallest dwellings in the Dragon District have their own walled gardens, while the largest ones are mansions that border on being small palaces, and all are interconnected via wide avenues.

    Eventually, Boroma, Kitava and their respective revenues come to the Royal Palace, the largest building in the Dragon District, with its own encircling wall and moat, and a roof containing five large onion domes of gold. The sides of the road between the gate in the wall and the palace's main entrance are lined by at least a dozen stone statues, each one a previous ruler of Kandara. All but two of them are men; Netara explains that in contrast to the Realm, Kandara is more of a patriarchal society, with the eldest surviving son of the previous monarch inheriting the throne ahead of any older sisters. The pair of statues that depict women represent queens who had no surviving brothers when the previous ruler died or abdicated. Including Hasuri, most of the older statues are of warriors clad in artifact armor, with many of them wielding the daiklave that Boroma currently carries, apparently a house heirloom. The more recent statues depict far less militant rulers; they wear royal robes rather than armor and do not carry weapons, giving them an air akin to that of statesmen, rather than soldiers. Clearly the typical role of Kandara's ruler changed at some point in history.

    "It was after the conquest of Snakehead in the east." explains Boroma, assuming this is bought up. "Before then, our people frequently had to contend with Lunar Anathema in the area. Now they have been pushed back, and our kings do not necessarily have to be warriors and generals if they wish to see Kandara outlive them."

    "The current satrap of Snakehead will be one of the guests attending the inaugural feast this evening." says Netara. "From what I have heard, she is a daughter of the head of House Cathak, and a much respected figure on the Blessed Isle."

    In front of the entrance to the palace, you see a group of House Hasuri servants stood ready to receive you, a young woman at the head of their group. Along with amber eyes, she has the Hasuri skin and black hair, and in contrast to the servants in their uniforms, she wears a sleeveless noblewoman's robe of dark-red silk, along with wristbands and a necklace of fine platinum. The palace servants clearly show deference to her, watching as she bows to Kitava and her entourage.

    "Greetings, Lady Kitava. I am Hasuri Hudia." she says, giving the Air Aspect a wide grin. "I'm something of a majordomo with regards to this palace, in that I manage the vast majority of events that take place here. I currently have a magnificent inaugural dinner lined up for you and your staff, but for the moment, the servants here will be more than capable of getting you settled into your rooms at the palace."

    With Kitava (and presumably Ramuron)...
    D. Rex D. Rex Random Word Random Word

    As befitting a satrap, her bodyguard and said bodyguard's wife, Kitava, Ramuron and Taeran are given their own suite of rooms within the palace, including two bedrooms, an en-suite bathroom, and an office with an antique desk, bookshelves containing all manner of records, and a number of comfy chairs and sofas for those with business to discuss with the satrap. Once Kitava is settled in, Netara comes knocking on the door to her office, Boroma and Janhuren in tow.

    "Lady Kitava. I trust you are all settled in here?" asks Netara, the expectation being that the two of you and her son will be discussing Kandara's future.

    To be honest, I don't really have any ideas on what could be improved about Kandara at the moment, and I don't want Kitava to embarrass herself by ignorantly proposing things that House Hasuri has already implemented. Perhaps you could suggest ideas you had in mind in some OOC medium, and I'll consider whether or not it would make sense for them to not already be in place?

    With Manato...
    Rykon Rykon

    Manato is directed towards a walled encampment located on the northeastern edge of the city. Riding there on Northern Wind, he quickly takes notice of the encampment's keep, barracks area, armory, and a training ground upon which at least two dragons' (1,000 people) worth of soldiers are practicing battlefield manoeuvres under the supervision of their officers. As the Fire Aspect approaches, a man in the attire of a senior officer comes towards him on his own horse, pulling up short once he's close enough for the two to speak normally to each other.

    "Greetings, Tepet Manato. I am Cathak Sanda, current acting commander of the Kandara garrison. I understand that we are now subordinate to you, though." he says, giving a crisp salute. At this close distance, Manato sees that the other man is roughly half a decade younger than him, and clean-shaven with a few strands of dark-brown hair peaking out from under his helmet.

    With Ferala...
    Chowlett Chowlett

    Much like Kitava, Ferela is given her own set of rooms near those of the satrap. As a matter of fact, they're the same ones she had during her previous tenure in Kandara. As she reacquaints herself with them, she discovers an inconspicuous piece of paper hidden under one of her bed's pillows. Were she to read it, she sees that it contains a small list - or rather a reminder - of the closest and most important members of her information network, as well as brief instructions on how she can communicate with said network. Namely, there are a handful of Hasuri servants who can be trusted to deliver written messages between the two, as well as a tea-shop within the Dragon District that can serve as a location for dead drops.

    With Taeran
    WlfSamurai WlfSamurai , do you want to have Taeran begin investigating the seedy underbelly of the city? Or do something else for the moment?
     
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    Session 1, Scene 3
  • Having made her deal with Taeran, the woman in black stands up from her table. As she does, Taeran immediately notices the cudgel she wears on her waist, previously obscured from view by the table and her body. Both the shaft and the head of the cudgel are made of Black Jade, and the latter is shaped like the head of a fox, with two claw-like protrusions that look like they could aid with climbing. Whoever this woman is, she's clearly an Essence-user, which no doubt provides some explanation on how she's been so successful.

    "I'll see you around." the woman in black assures the white-haired Dynast. "Oh, and in case you want a name to refer to me as, you can call me the Black Fox. I imagine many in this city will know of it."

    With one last smile, the woman turns around and walks towards the staircase in the back of the establishment, no doubt to make use of the prostitute she hired.

    Later...
    The inaugural feast to celebrate Kitava's appointment and arrival is due to be held in the evening. Hasuri Hudia is fully occupied with the preparations for it, while Netara and Boroma are much the same with their own duties, though the latter two do try and make time for anyone who wishes to talk with them. Janhuren sticks close to Boroma, not letting the young king out of his sight.

    In addition to those four, two more members of House Hasuri can be found within the palace. One is Hasuri Nansho, an Earth Aspect ancestor of Janhuren's far into his third century of life (late 200's). A grey-haired and scarred veteran of war, age and an accumulation of wounds have forced him to take up a retirement role as both the head of the security for the palace and the commander of the palace guard. Though somewhat dour-looking, and very much serious about his job, he comes off as a good bit more relaxed than Janhuren, and is perfectly happy to share war stories over a cup of tea or game of Gateway.

    The other member of House Hasuri is Hasuri Karudo, a Fire Aspect in his fourth decade and a long-time member of the Wyld Hunt. As he proudly states to anyone who asks, he has travelled and helped kill many Anathema across both the near-South and the Scavenger Lands, such is his dedication to the hunt. Along the way he has acquired both a Red Jade Direlance and a distinctive suit of Red Jade Articulated Plate styled in the manner of a dragon, both of which, he reveals, he can summon to his side in a burst of flames out of thin air (Arsenal-Summoning Gesture). Prior to the start of the feast, he spends most of his time in a palace courtyard, training with his direlance as if preparing for his next hunt.

    The time before the feast also provides an opportunity for Kitava and her staff to brush up on the various guests who will be attending. Most of them are just the wealthiest and most influential mortals in Kandara (whom Kitava can veto and invite as she pleases), typically long established merchants and noble families, but then there is Cathak Cainan Valina, the satrap of Nagaraja.

    A daughter of House Cathak's current head, Valina has been alive about as long as Ferela, and she is said to be almost a mirror image of the Scarlet Empress, a masterwork copy in which a bit of artistic licence was taken. She is wise, beautiful, charming, a natural leader, and talented in a variety of fields, but at the same time there is a lot of her father in her. Since graduating from the House of Bells at the top of her class, she has spent much of her life fighting to protect and expand the Realm, both serving with distinction in the legions, and riding with the Wyld Hunt. She is fearless in battle, the mastermind of many military victories, dedicated to the Realm and her duties, and ruthless when necessary. She is very much beloved and respected on the Blessed Isle, with even the Scarlet Empress said to have taken a liking to her. Were it not for the fact that the Empress is not expected to choose her heir for over two centuries, many would no doubt put her forward as a successor to the Scarlet Throne.

    Whatever the reports and rumours say, Kitava and the others will have a chance to see Valina for themselves within the palace's front courtyard early in the evening, when she approaches them at the head of her own small entourage, riding a magnificent white simhata. After she dismounts from the lion-horse with the kind of elegance that only the military can teach, the Kandara-based Dragon-blooded soon see that the reports are at least true in regards to Valina's appearance. The satrap of Nagaraja is a woman as tall as most men, with long red hair that has been meticulously combed straight and allowed to grow down her back to her waist. Her face has yet to bear any blemishes of age and is even largely bereft of scars, aside from a small nick above the corner of her left eye. The Cathaks being as practical as ever, she wears boots and gloves of fine leather, and an ankle-length crimson robe that looks like it could do triple-duty as light armour, riding gear and fine formal wear. Beneath the clothes, there is clearly a thin layer of muscle on Valina's body.

    There's little time to admire Valina for those so inclined, as immediately after dismounting, she walks towards Kitava with the confident - but not arrogant - stride of the career general, before clasping her hands and bowing in greeting to her fellow satrap.

    "Lady Kitava. It is truly an honour to be in the presence of you and your staff. Kandara will no doubt be in good hands." she says warmly. Whether she's being honest, or just trying to flatter the Air Aspect, it sounds very much like the former. Valina does not appear the type to rely on false compliments too heavily. In fact, some instinct tells Kitava that the main reason Valina hasn't congratulated her on her appointment is because she thinks it might be a sore point for the Air Aspect, given the circumstances behind it.
     
    The Hunt for Steelscale, Session 2, Scene 1
  • Session 2: The Hunt for Steelscale​

    Chowlett Chowlett D. Rex D. Rex Random Word Random Word Rykon Rykon WlfSamurai WlfSamurai

    Valina stays in Kandara for a couple of days, often joining Kitava and Ramuron in their suite to discuss things like philosophy, politics and history. The two satraps don't always agree, but the both of them clearly have well thought-out and researched opinions on their subjects, and when the Cathak woman leaves to return to her own satrapy, she does so with a good deal of respect for Kitava.

    Three weeks pass without trouble, allowing the new satrap and her staff to become better acquainted with their new duties. Karudo departs a few days after Valina to join a Wyld Hunt being called within the area; as the targeted Anathema flees north towards the Scavenger Lands, it becomes clear that he will be gone for at least a couple of months. Boroma and Netara continue to rule under Kitava's supervision, and Sanda compiles a list of tyrant lizard sightings over the last couple of years, while a collection of astrologers are hired to begin reading the stars for any sign of Steelscale. None of the witness reports in recent months mention a grey tyrant lizard, but the astrologers do manage to pick up faint readings of an "unusual" beast of that nature only a few days ride from the city. It can't be said with certainty whether this is Steelscale however, until this afternoon.

    A mortal landowner with a farm roughly one day's ride away comes to Kandara upon an exhausted-looking horse, one that was evidently pushed to travel at high speed. The man riding it doesn't look much better, tired and nearly shocked out of his mind. Upon being questioned by the guards at the city gate, he explains that he woke up one night to discover that a grey tyrant lizard had inexplicably snuck into the middle of his ranch and started devouring his sheep. The gigantic reptile soon caught sight of the landowner, and immediately abandoned its feast in order to chase him down; it was all the man could do to get on his horse, lure the beast away from his home and family, and then escape with his life to bear witness. His report on what the beast looked like is compared with what Sanda remembers from the failed hunt, as well as the most recent astrological readings. It all matches; this grey tyrant lizard is almost certainly Steelscale.

    The captain at the gate naturally gives orders to relay the story to Manato, but he also commands one of his men to bring word of it to the palace, allowing Kitava and the rest of her staff to hear it as well (assuming of course that Manato doesn't pass on the news himself). How do you all react to this information?
     
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    Chapter 1: Weakening Foundations, Session 3, Scene 1
  • Chapter One: Weakening Foundations​

    Realm Year 764, after the Council of the Empty Throne and the Sack of Thorns


    Officially, the Scarlet Empress has gone into meditative seclusion, and will return to her throne in due course. But the truth is an open secret among the Realm's Dynast community; after all, the Empress would surely have thought to appoint an interim ruler if she willingly planned to be gone for so long, and and this would not be someone like Tepet Fokuf. Conversation on the Blessed Isle so often turns to what should happen if the Empress never returns, with some among the Great Houses starting to look at the Empress's throne with ambition and desire that would once have gotten them killed. It gets to the point that when the Satrapy of Thorns suddenly falls to a ghostly being known as the Mask of Winters, no-one from Fokuf downwards seems to do anything about it, seemingly being more concerned with the empty throne in the Imperial Palace.

    As if compounding matters, the period after the Empress's official disappearance is marred by a massive surge in Anathema appearances and activity. It's only to be expected that the Silver Pact - that Threshold-spanning cabal of monstrous, feral Anathema - would see the Empress's disappearance as an opportunity to advance their aims more easily, but the other main type of Anathema, the ones with powers based around the Unconquered Sun's light and excellence, begin appearing in far, far greater numbers than before. The Wyld Hunt runs itself ragged trying to keep all these new Anathema in check, with Karudo and Jontom not being seen in Kandara for weeks at a time. No Anathema appear in or near Kandara - at least according to Taeran and Ferala's respective spy networks - but the efforts of the Wyld Hunt barely seem to be enough to contain the chaos, and with the Realm's Dragon-blooded becoming more concerned about the situation on the Blessed Isle, anti-Anathema efforts and support are only expected to weaken over the next few years.

    Across the Threshold, the Great Houses begin increasing taxation of the Realm's overseas territories, draining them of coin and resources in anticipation of future trouble on the Blessed Isle. Kitava's business sense and standing within House Ragara means that Kandara is largely spared the economical trouble starting to afflict other satrapies, but even she can't escape the squeeze; her creditors push for higher interest rates on their loans - both new and outstanding - and it's been made clear to her that someone lower down in the pecking order would get far less in terms of financial help and leniency. Indeed, Ramuron has been ordered to abandon his post in Kandara and return to the Blessed Isle, Ragara Benoru apparently thinking he'll be of better use there. And this is only the initial phase of the Scarlet Empress's disappearance; if she doesn't return, Kitava's instincts tells her that things are only likely to get worse in this regard.

    It isn't just her. Manato, Taeran, Ferala and Jontom...they all get the feeling that the Dragon-blooded are about to face their greatest challenge since the Balorian Crusade.

    ---

    It's late one evening, a time at which Kitava and her Hearth would typically be able to take a well-deserved rest after a good day's work. Nothing out of the ordinary has happened, aside from Taeran's "old friend" the Black Fox informing her that an individual calling themselves the Shrouded Rose has been observed investigating the outlaw scene in Kandara, much like how the Air Aspect herself did when she first arrived in the city. So when messengers come to each member of the Circle with an urgent request to gather in the palace meeting room, it's clear that there's something serious going on.

    Since the original members of Kitava's Hearth first met him, King Hasuri Boroma has grown a little, his voice has deepened, and he's obtained both wisdom and confidence befitting a young ruler who wants to do right by his people, family and overlords. Right now though, as he, Netara and Janhuren are sat down at the meeting room's large table to await the arrival of the satrapial staff, he's looking uncharacteristically grave, and the expressions of his mother and bodyguard are no different.

    "I've just got word from Nagaraja." Boroma says, once everyone's sat down. "Cathak Valina is dead, and the city of Snakehead has fallen to Lunar Anathema."
     
    Session 3, Scene 2
  • As the rest of the Dragon-blooded head off to catch some sleep, Ferala sends word to her contacts to gather whatever information they can on Cathak Rulang, and have the information ready for her the next morning.

    The sun rises upon a peaceful Kandara, the mortal populace blissfully unaware of the situation in Snakehead. In terms of new information for the Hearth, the palace servants assigned to keep an eye on Rulang report that he appears somewhat agitated and anxious - which is probably a reasonable reaction for someone who narrowly survived a city sacking carried out by Anathema - and that he asked them to pass on news of Nagaraja's fall to Kitava and Boroma. He has kept to his room and has not made a request for an audience yet, having possibly assumed that the people in charge plan to question him in their own time by this point.

    ( Chowlett Chowlett , to represent the attempt to gather more information on Rulang, go ahead and roll Attribute + Embassy, with 3 additional dice for your Contacts Merit.)

    At the same time, the Hearth's various informants have news of the Shrouded Rose, that mysterious newcomer who arrived in Kandara yesterday. She's a youngish-looking woman with wavy, bark-brown hair, and according to reports, last night she walked into the hideout of one of the city's bigger criminal gangs and took control of it, deposing the previous leader via a hard blow to the head. Since then, word is that she is looking to expand her gang's influence and power within Kandara, offering large amounts of silver to other groups in exchange for their allegiance, and bringing a green jade wrackstaff to bear against those who refuse to co-operate with her. The Black Fox herself has been courted by this woman, and she suspects the Shrouded Rose to be an Exalt of some kind, most likely a Dragon-blooded of the Wood Aspect. As for her intentions, she guesses that the Shrouded Rose is seeking to establish herself as a major figure in the criminal underworld, and she suspects that her reason for doing so is more than just greed.

    What does everyone wish to do today?
     
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