Trial By Fire - Exalted 2e IC Thread

[Psychie]

Darian smiles. "Thank you, my love. I will put this stone to good use."

 

[Sherwood]

Letting out a shriek of elation, Sirocco lands on the structure, and starts flexing her muscles to start clearing it up. Things hidden need to be uncovered, so that their secrets be learned, or so her Solar mate had told her repeatedly, and she was a, somewhat, dutiful student.

As Sirocco makes a few exploratory holes into the ground, you finally come across a large metal plate that is a few feet below the surface. Over the course of a half hour, you make several more holes and discover that this plate is the circular shape that is 150 feet across that the trees and other stuff have piled up on top of. You are not entirely sure what this plate is, but it does appear that someone has gone through a bit of effort to conceal it from view. In order for you to clear more of it, you'll need a sizable workforce to clear trees and soil over a large part of it in order to get an idea of just what you are dealing with.

 

[Sherwood]

As Darian was fantasizing about what she could do with a Sphere of Courtesan's Constellations, Annika was looking at the fortress in Chaing-Dav with a grimace, as more unpleasant thoughts went through her mind. The place looked like it could hold a few hundred members of the Red Piss Legion, and considering what the owner of the tea shop had said earlier, they likely had the support of the citizenry.

Still, Annika wanted to gather more information about the fortress, not intending to return to Rathess with so little to show for it. She had a look at the area surrounding the fortress, wanting to see if there was any way she could scout its exterior with less chance of being spotted by the guards.

Over the next hour, Annika is able to slowly work her way around the fortress and get a look at it from different angles. The information you are getting is interesting. It is very much a real strongpoint in the city, and you can see that the mundane construction has been upgraded with various runes and wards that will make it impossible for a spirit or ghost to sneak inside. From what you have seen so far, there is just the one main gate to enter/exit - unless there are hidden passages that you have not been able to yet see. There are guards visible on the walls, and the immediate area around the fort is cleared to keep someone from being able to use other buildings to gain access to the top of the walls. Not that it would be impossible to capture the place, but it would take a bit of work to do so.

 

[jaydude]

Turning away from the fortress, Annika would start looking for a nearby inn or tavern where she could stay the night. At midnight, she planned to return to the fortress and try to break in. She didn't hold any illusions about gathering any solid intelligence - she couldn't be sure if the fort's documentation would be in Riverspeak or a Realm language - but the least she could do was get a look at what was behind the walls, in order to get a more exact estimate of how many troops and other it personnel it held.

 

[Sherwood]

Turning away from the fortress, Annika would start looking for a nearby inn or tavern where she could stay the night. At midnight, she planned to return to the fortress and try to break in. She didn't hold any illusions about gathering any solid intelligence - she couldn't be sure if the fort's documentation would be in Riverspeak or a Realm language - but the least she could do was get a look at what was behind the walls, in order to get a more exact estimate of how many troops and other it personnel it held.

It doesn't take too long to be able to find a place to stay. Most of the rooms available are along the waterfront and right by the front gate, catering to the caravans that come to the city from time to time.

Please give me a Perception + Awareness roll, and a Larceny + Intelligence roll.

 

[jaydude]

Once Annika found an establishment and a room that were both to her satisfaction, she would pass the rest of the afternoon and the early evening away there, before seemingly retiring to her room for the night. When midnight came, she would don her vambraces and amulet alongside her daiklaves, while keeping the Globe of Transport in one of her pockets, in case she needed to use it in a hurry.

After making sure that the door to her room was locked, she would look through the room's window, and climb through it onto the building's roof once the coast was clear, kicking the window closed as she did so. Once on the rooftops, she would make her way towards the fortress.

 

[Sherwood]

Once Annika found an establishment and a room that were both to her satisfaction, she would pass the rest of the afternoon and the early evening away there, before seemingly retiring to her room for the night. When midnight came, she would don her vambraces and amulet alongside her daiklaves, while keeping the Globe of Transport in one of her pockets, in case she needed to use it in a hurry.

After making sure that the door to her room was locked, she would look through the room's window, and climb through it onto the building's roof once the coast was clear, kicking the window closed as she did so. Once on the rooftops, she would make her way towards the fortress.

As Annika is heading for the tavern where she eventually finds a room, you get the feeling that you are being followed. Casually looking back, you start to see a pair of faces in the crowd more often than coincidence can explain. Later on as you are enjoying a cool drink and a meal at your table, there is another moment where you catch sight of one of these familiar faces with a group of people playing Gateway and laying bets. Finally, once you hit the rooftop, you can see a flicker of a match from across the street from someone possibly watching the front of the tavern.

When you head out on your way to the fort, please go ahead and give me a Dex + Stealth roll to slip away unseen. If you wish to boost this roll with a Charm, feel free to let me know.

 

[jaydude]

Having noticed the lit match, Annika sighed in response to this new complication, having thought that she hadn't done anything to give the game away. Then she shrugged and set off across the rooftops, intending to lose whoever was following her before she reached the fortress. As she did so, she channeled a bit more of her personal essence into a charm that would make her easier to overlook, if not completely invisible to her pursuer.

[Using Easily Overlooked Presence Method for 3m personal essence.]

Spoiler: Annika stats

Health:
-0: 00
-1: 000
-2: 0000
-4: 0
Incapacitated
Personal Essence: 4/17
Peripheral Essence: 31/42

 

[Red Shadow Claws]

As Sirocco makes a few exploratory holes into the ground, you finally come across a large metal plate that is a few feet below the surface. Over the course of a half hour, you make several more holes and discover that this plate is the circular shape that is 150 feet across that the trees and other stuff have piled up on top of. You are not entirely sure what this plate is, but it does appear that someone has gone through a bit of effort to conceal it from view. In order for you to clear more of it, you'll need a sizable workforce to clear trees and soil over a large part of it in order to get an idea of just what you are dealing with.

Taking to the air again, Sirocco flies, and gathers up a workforce of Dragon Kings, to help her uncover whatever it is that's hidden. She wants to be know a bit about what it is before she tells the Solars about it.

 

[Rykon]

Aredin spent another moment letting his wife's charm overwhelm him before his conscious thought returned a smirk to his face. "Despite all the work and pain that lead us this far, this is still our honeymoon. So, let's take the rest of the day to ourselves. I have something I want to share with you while it's still time." He said warmly, offering his arm to escort as he always had.

This time though, things were different. Darian had her sight. Nevertheless, the Eclipse caste would lead his beloved out to the steps of the Pyramid of the Setting Sun just as the Daystar made its final push to reach the horizon. "Such a thing is easy to take for granted. Glad we didn't miss it." He added with a bright grin.

"I know we don't have a band like we did at the wedding, but would you care to dance regardless?" Aredin gave a formal bow, just as he had at their reception. Part of him still regretted that she couldn't have seen that great spectacle. However, this day deserved it's own celebration and he wouldn't want her to miss it either.

 

[Sherwood]

Having noticed the lit match, Annika sighed in response to this new complication, having thought that she hadn't done anything to give the game away. Then she shrugged and set off across the rooftops, intending to lose whoever was following her before she reached the fortress. As she did so, she channeled a bit more of her personal essence into a charm that would make her easier to overlook, if not completely invisible to her pursuer.

[Using Easily Overlooked Presence Method for 3m personal essence.]

Spoiler: Annika stats

Health:
-0: 00
-1: 000
-2: 0000
-4: 0
Incapacitated
Personal Essence: 4/17
Peripheral Essence: 31/42

Annika is able to slip away unobserved, and soon you are looking at the fort from the nearest building's roof. The outer wall is roughly thirty feet high, made of smooth stone to help prevent people from being able to climb up the walls. From where you are, you can see that there are lamps spaced evenly across the walls to help provide illumination for the guards, and at the moment, you can spot only two guards on your side of the wall.

It is clear from your observations that you will have to use some sort of Charm to be able to get close enough to the wall to be able to climb up. What do you wish to do?

 

[Sherwood]

Taking to the air again, Sirocco flies, and gathers up a workforce of Dragon Kings, to help her uncover whatever it is that's hidden. She wants to be know a bit about what it is before she tells the Solars about it.

After rounding up a dozen of the Raptoks, they come out with Sirocco to take a look around the field of trees where this metal plate is. They begin to dig, and after about two hours, a good size portion of the mysterious thing has been uncovered. Right now, the sun is beginning to set, and your volunteers are getting tired.

Now that there is more of the disk uncovered, Sirocco can see lines in the metal in a spiral shape. With a sudden flash of insight, it looks like this is a door that is built to iris open. You are not seeing any way to open the door at the moment.

 

[Red Shadow Claws]

Sirocco thanks the raptoks, who helped her, and tell them she must get the Solars, to see, and study this finding. And with a bow to them, she launches into the air, her form changing once more into her spirit animal, as she makes a direct flight to the Pyramid of the Sun.

 

[jaydude]

Assuming that her Easily Overlooked Presence Method charm was still in effect, Annika would move towards the fortress wall while keeping an eye on the guards. Once at the wall, she would examine it to see if it would be at least possible to climb.

 

[Psychie]

Darian lets herself be swept up into her husband's arms, reveling in the moment. She holds him close, looking up into his face with an expression of love. Leaning in for a kiss, she feels herself just melt into his arms, feeling very content.

Pulling back, Darian beings to dance, letting her clothes shift and change into a silken wrap, thick enough to cover her, but thin enough to hint at the beauty hidden underneath. Using all of her talent, she twists and moves, feeling her heartbeat strong in her chest. As she dances, she will slowly let the silk wrap slip down her shoulders to expose more and more of her pale skin, teasing the man she loves.

Suddenly, she lets the silk whip out to wrap around Aredin's waist, pulling him in close. Pressing herself up against his chest, Darian delivers a passionate kiss as she claws at his clothes. "We have won a major victory here this day. What better way for us to celebrate, than to be together here, wreathed in the rays of the setting sun?"

Fade to black.

 

[Sherwood]

Assuming that her Easily Overlooked Presence Method charm was still in effect, Annika would move towards the fortress wall while keeping an eye on the guards. Once at the wall, she would examine it to see if it would be at least possible to climb.

Moving quickly and silently, Annika runs across the grassy field around the fort to the wall. Once you get there, you can see much better the smooth, polished stone rising up above your head. Whoever built this did a good job; the only way for you to get to the top of the wall is to either use some sort of grapple or ladder, or use magic that would allow you to run or fly up and over.

 

[jaydude]

Annika sighed; she'd never be able to climb up that wall. And with that, the only other way she could get into the fortress would be to steal a guard's uniform and pose as one of them, and there would likely be passwords and other security checks to prevent that sort of thing. She could probably make it work, but that would require a few days of study and preparation at the least, and the others would be expecting her back in Rathess soon.

There was nothing else for it; she'd have to return with what information she'd managed to obtain. Returning to the rooftops, Annika would make her way back to the room she'd rented, keeping an eye out for whoever had been following her earlier.

 

[Sherwood]

As a hot, sweaty and dirty Sirocco is flying back into the city from the dig site, Darian and Aredin have had their own hot and sweaty time at the top of the Pyramid of the Setting Sun. When the Lunar comes flying in, you are able to spot the two Solars, now dressed and relaxing, at the top of the Pyramid. It just takes a quick course change to bring you over to see the love birds.

MasterDAF , what is Viktor doing during all this time? Are you still examining the golden door in the Great Pyramid with Leeayta and Dunbar?

 

[Sherwood]

Annika sighed; she'd never be able to climb up that wall. And with that, the only other way she could get into the fortress would be to steal a guard's uniform and pose as one of them, and there would likely be passwords and other security checks to prevent that sort of thing. She could probably make it work, but that would require a few days of study and preparation at the least, and the others would be expecting her back in Rathess soon.

There was nothing else for it; she'd have to return with what information she'd managed to obtain. Returning to the rooftops, Annika would make her way back to the room she'd rented, keeping an eye out for whoever had been following her earlier.

Upon your return to your room at the tavern, you can see that there is still a person lingering in the doorway across the street, watching the front of the tavern. You suspect that the person is there watching for you to come out the front door.

Do you head downstairs to check and see if there are still people in the common room, or do you call it a night and wait until morning to venture forth once more?

 

[jaydude]

Overtaken by curiosity, Annika would try to get a better look at the person stood in the opposite doorway, while also keeping out of their sight.

 

[Red Shadow Claws]

As a hot, sweaty and dirty Sirocco is flying back into the city from the dig site, Darian and Aredin have had their own hot and sweaty time at the top of the Pyramid of the Setting Sun. When the Lunar comes flying in, you are able to spot the two Solars, now dressed and relaxing, at the top of the Pyramid. It just takes a quick course change to bring you over to see the love birds.

Sirocco lands near the two love birds, and assumes her human form. It would be bad form to take on her war form near them. As it would imply she does not respect them, but she doesn't bow. Instead, she inclines her head at them, and says "Aredin, Darian, I have found a door hidden in the forest around here, one that I am not sure how to open, but I thought it best to just uncover it first, and then call the rest of you to come and examine it."

 

[Rykon]

The young couple was resting atop the pyramid gazing at the stars as their lights began to pierce the veil of daylight. Once the fullness of the constellations began to reveal themselves, Aredin started pointing them out to Darian and begin sharing what stories he knew of the night sky and old sailors myths regarding the stars he'd heard as a small child. "I mostly just remember how superstitious they all were compared to people we've met elsewhere. There was a night this one here, the Mast, passed over both the Captain and the Messenger in one night. I swear the looks and shouts of panic the next day were priceless. Everyone was constantly looking for something to fall on top of them." Aredin finished with a soft chuckle and remembering smile. The image of a cat landing from a short hop only to scare his neighbor's mom into instant shrieks had always put him and Kuridin in stitches. "Thankfully no one at home was hurt, but you would have thought they expected the underworld to open up and swallow them at the slightest slip of the hand."

Once Sirocco had arrived amidst the idle stories, Aredin leaned his head up at her report, but remained as he was otherwise. "Another one? Mind if we check it out in the morning? I'm sure the first age horrors locked beneath this city won't be able to tell the difference." He added casually. "I'm just hoping this one isn't holding more prisoners that'd really like to kill us. Thanks for the heads up."

I have traded soul-crushing troubles for trapdoor paranoia. Aredin thought, then remembering the memory he'd just shared with his wife. ...I'm just going to bury that irony. The newly minted lord of Rathess held his lady more snugly and just whispered in a quiet sigh. "Even still, I'd say just this moment has been worth far more than all the sorrows thus far twice over."

 

[Red Shadow Claws]

Sirocco smiles at Aredin's words "Of course, if the mighty Aredin is too afraid to examine a door in the darkness, who am I to force him to do it? After all, those horrors might just decide to unlock the door from the inside during the night, and sneak out, but it is far better that my lord and lady get their sweet night's rest..." Her tone is oh so serious, but you can see the playfulness in her eyes, and she actually winks at Darian. and before he can answer, she shifts into her spirit form, and flapping her wings, it seems like she hovers in place, but that lasts for just a heartbeat, before she flies off, looking for Viktor or Heaven to tell them about her discovery.

 

[Sherwood]

Overtaken by curiosity, Annika would try to get a better look at the person stood in the opposite doorway, while also keeping out of their sight.

The person in the doorway is a man, about six feet tall, rather fit and athletic with dark hair and features. He is definitely someone you have seen about town, dogging your footsteps, one of several people that have been trading off the task of shadowing you.

Go ahead and give me a Perception + Awareness roll to try and get any more details of him.

 

[Psychie]

Darian does her best to hide her smile at the witty comments from Sirocco, and instead does her best to at least look like she is taking Aredin's side, but wanting some details on the door before they dismiss the other Exalt. "You say that you spotted another door? Where is this one located? How large is it, and does it seem to be made from the same kind of blend of Magical Materials that the one we found in the Great Pyramid of the Sun? It is most likely not going to be an immediate problem, and one that will be better addressed in the light of day."