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2006-03-19T05:38:10Z

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== [[LunaHidesHerFace|Luna Hides Her Face]], Session Eight: Capitol Crimes ==

''Full transcript, minus out-of-character jabber, with only miscellaneous edits. Includes dice information.''

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Shining Blossom Empress smiles at Landrin and looks around at everybody. "Are we all friends now?"

Shadow Weaver stays silent, hrm.

Landrin smiles handsomely back. "Allies at least... as I get to know you, I hope the friendship will come."

Shining Blossom Empress: "Well, we can do that right now, if you're not busy."

Jesya sighs. "Gods, Michael even left the forge hot. Just another way we'll have to clean up after him."

Shining Blossom Empress: "We were about to take a look around the capitol with our friend, here."

Shadow Weaver nods, still playing the big looming guy.

Landrin nods. "And I admit I'm very interested in what you said about the governor being a usurper."

Shadow Weaver: "Hrrmwell, join us and we can talk on the way."

Shining Blossom Empress: "Better yet, somebody with your connections would be perfect to show us the sights. That way we can get to know each other a little better." :-)

Shadow Weaver smiles, although he's still very wary of this new guy.

Landrin: "Excellent."

Shadow Weaver makes a mental note, this guy's too slick. Grrr.

Shining Blossom Empress turns to Jesya. "What needs doing around here?"

Jesya: "Crap... I really want to come along, but maybe I should stick around here in case Michael comes back."

Shadow Weaver: "...Hey, in that case..."

Shining Blossom Empress: "Bah. If he does, he's just going to give you a load of grief. Are you sure you can handle him?" She lets her voice imply that god-bloods can be dangerous.

Shadow Weaver: "..... Hold this fer me, wilya?" He walks over to Jesya, takes her hand, and places the jade hammer's haft in it.

GM: *thump!* The goremaul crashes to the ground!

Shadow Weaver smiles, eyes twinkling with teasy-merriment. "...Gotta grip it with conviction, grrrl."

Jesya holds her aching wrist. "J-jeez."

Shadow Weaver grins and steps back.

Shining Blossom Empress watches, bemused.

Landrin: "I think the young lady lacks the... skill with Essence needed to wield such a weapon."

Shadow Weaver shrugs. "...Leave it there then. …We'll be back for it."

Jesya: "I'll, uh, shove it into a corner somewhere, yeah."

Shining Blossom Empress rolls her eyes, walks over and picks the thing up. She gives Jesya a rueful glance ("men!") and looks for a hiding place. "Is there someplace we can hide it?"

Shadow Weaver raises a brow, stifling a rude comment.

Jesya: "Back behind the tools in that corner, maybe, or in a cabinet up front."

Shadow Weaver watches the captain.

Landrin watches the girls' work with a wry smile.

Shining Blossom Empress has a lookie, and stuffs the hammer into the first reasonable spot. She reasons that nobody, save Mike, is gonna run off with it even if they find it.

Jesya: "All right. I'll hold the fort here, then... I'll ditch if Mike starts any real trouble, I promise, but I don't think he will. Not with me, I mean."

Shining Blossom Empress hugs the girl. "Take care of yourself. We'll be back."

Jesya hugs back.

Shining Blossom Empress: "I'll see if I can bring you back something nice." :-D

Jesya: "Good luck."

Shadow Weaver can't let an opportunity like this pass and steps forward as well, for a hug. :-P He hugs just a bit too long…

Jesya parts from Weaver with a shake of her head, but a smile tugging at her mouth.

Landrin: "Well, this sort of ritual must do wonders for morale." He grins. "Are we ready?"

Shining Blossom Empress shrugs. "We're all friends, see?"

Shadow Weaver: "Mmmkay cappy, lead on."

GM: He does so, heading out the back of the shop and through a new, curving course in the streets.

Shining Blossom Empress follows, looking around.

Shadow Weaver follows suit.

GM: As you near the capitol, Landrin pauses. "I think I should go retrieve my gear if I'm to escort you in an official capacity. I'll need to step into the garrison for but a minute."

Shining Blossom Empress raises a brow.

Shadow Weaver does too, sounds like a double-cross.

Shining Blossom Empress: "...Okay. You do that."

Shadow Weaver nods...yeah, let's see what's what.

Landrin nods, and heads off to the barracks, a near neighbor of the capitol.

Shining Blossom Empress reasons that if he's back quickly, and alone, then he hasn't had time to lay a trap. She glances at Weaver, slightly nervous.

Shadow Weaver shrugs.

Shining Blossom Empress: "...Ready for a fight, my love?"

Shadow Weaver grimaces at the 'l' word.... but nods.

GM: Another of those glittering uber-wasps, or perhaps the same one, circles the capitol's towers and lands on the roof.

Shining Blossom Empress spies it, looks up.

Shining Blossom Empress: "Sooner or later, we need to have words with whoever's up there."

Shadow Weaver's eyes track it too. "....Y'recognize it?"

''Shadow Weaver FLASHBACK: ...silent, acrid wind and eerie green light...''

Shadow Weaver blinks at a memory-flash.

Shining Blossom Empress: "Recognise? It's a sparkly bug-thing. It doesn't look natural, which means somebody, probably a baddie, is using magic or something."

Shadow Weaver: "..... To keep an eye on things, yeah..." He waits quietly, trying to blend in. :-P

GM: A few minutes pass. The wasp perches there for a while, its iridescent antennae waggling in the air, and then climbs down and through a window.

Shadow Weaver hms, then leans over and whispers: "...if I ate one of those, I could get in like that."

Shining Blossom Empress ewws.

Shadow Weaver hehs

Shining Blossom Empress: "Couldn't you eat something less gross? Like a bird?"

Shadow Weaver: "...Or better yet... I could eat that smarmy captain."

Landrin approaches from your side, now girt in a red jade breastplate with a daiklave on his back.

Shining Blossom Empress: "If you fly up there like that, whoever's up there is going to try to control you."

Landrin: "Whom are we eating, now?"

Shadow Weaver: "Mmmkay, yeah..." He turns. "Chicken. Tonight. Ohh, you look...overdressed. Are we ready now?"

Shining Blossom Empress looks Landrin up and down. "Ooh, fiery." :-)

Shadow Weaver turns away, pretending to watch something else.

Landrin: "It does come with the heritage." He seems pleased by the remark. "Let's to it, then."

Shining Blossom Empress links arms with both blokes.

Shadow Weaver looks semi-ill, heh, but doesn't resist much.

Shining Blossom Empress looks from one to the other, craning her neck. "I never realised I was so small. This is like being in a well."

Landrin: "Ah, miss, this'd be better protocol for a dance, I think. I'll look forward to that occasion, but for now, just keep a pace behind."

Shining Blossom Empress: "Oh... okay." She lets him go.

Landrin nods and leads the way to the gate. A mere nod to the guards lets the three of you past--though the guards do seem to tense up as you go.

Shining Blossom Empress: "We were about to obtain a day pass when we spotted you, earlier." She adopts a haughty expression as they pass the guards, playing the role of wealthy tourist.

GM: The capitol traffic has reversed itself; more people are leaving than entering, now. The clerk issuing passes, off to the left a little, sits bored. One of those lanky, androgynous man-creatures with black fingernails – a Firmin – stands at his side, staring resolutely ahead.

Shining Blossom Empress wonders at the sight of demons seemingly accepted in the capitol.

Shadow Weaver noticed too. "Interesting staff you have here..."

Shining Blossom Empress frowns, thoughtfully.

Shadow Weaver: "Is that a servant?"

Landrin frowns too. "A new development since the arrival of Auditor Orodan. It puts the men very ill at ease."

Shadow Weaver: "Ah?"

Shining Blossom Empress: "Hard to justify, no?"

Landrin: "It is a sorcerer's right, but yes, I would not have it this way, were I in command."

Shadow Weaver: "The Governor doesn't intervene?"

Shining Blossom Empress: "Does it look like it?"

Shadow Weaver: "....No, admittedly."

Shining Blossom Empress whispers, "Can YOU summon one of those things?" She thinks Weaver should see about summoning one of those Firmin to do some spying for us.

GM: You pass through the high archway into the capitol's entrance hall, beyond the courtyard. The ceilings soar above you, and myriad bureaucrats crisscross in front of you, talking and arguing.

Shining Blossom Empress looks up. Her jaw drops. "Wooowwwwww."

Shadow Weaver opens his mouth to answer, but instead gawks too.

GM: There are guardsmen scattered about as well, mostly watching over the proceedings at a long table immediately ahead, where clerks and visitors exchange frightening quantities of Greyfalls parchment.

Shadow Weaver: "...What are all these people DOing?" He stares, bemused.

Landrin: "Mm, this is the lowest tier of the bureaucracy. Citizens filing for permits of various sorts--applying for market space on the promenade, paying fines, that sort of thing."

Shining Blossom Empress: "It's almost surreal..."

Shadow Weaver almost says it's scary.

Shining Blossom Empress: "Remind me not to apply for anything."

Shadow Weaver looks round for any more of the Auditor's overseers.

Landrin: "But that, I suspect, isn't what you're most interested in. Let's head this way." He turns to the left, parallel to the table, toward a long hallway.

Shadow Weaver follows, wary.

GM: A clamor of indignant voices bubbles up in the hallway ahead.

Shining Blossom Empress follows, too, glancing back at the controlled chaos – then erks and leans around to see ahead.

Shadow Weaver stays close on Shine's heels, hrm, something's not right here...

GM: A knot of a dozen or so visitors spills out of the hallway entrance as you draw near. They look irritated. A very wall of soldiers approaches the main hall, sweeping the corridor clear of those standing around!

Landrin: "What the..."

Shining Blossom Empress: "Closing time?"

Landrin frowns. "It shouldn't be, no. There's at least half an hour, maybe more, left."

Shadow Weaver: "Feck, that's for us!"

Shining Blossom Empress reaches inside her cloak, hand behind her back, for her knife.

Shadow Weaver grabs Shine's wrist and pulls her back into a recessed doorway!

Shining Blossom Empress: "No, Weaver, it could be – eek!"

Landrin, meanwhile, holds steady. He is the captain, after all. "Good afternoon, men. What's the meaning of this?"

Shadow Weaver starts to mouth a concealment-spell he used often near the Wyld.

GM: One of the soldiers steps forward and aside. Through the breach marches the green-robed Auditor, a wicked grin on his face.

Shadow Weaver: "..... Dear Luna, cover me and mine with Rykan's all-concealing cloak, that our enemies may see past us and see nought."

Shining Blossom Empress thinks Landrin's in trouble.

Shadow Weaver keeps himself stock-still, barely breathing.

Soldier (in a rehearsed-sounding voice): "Captain Cathak Landrin, you are under arrest upon charges of sedition and conspiracy to desert."

Landrin: "What..." His eyes flash. "Auditor, is this your game?"

Shining Blossom Empress whispers, "Weaver, we can't let them arrest him!" She has a sudden dark suspicion. "If this is Michael's doing... grr."

Shadow Weaver narrows his eyes and whispers back, "...Why not? …Hmm."

Shining Blossom Empress blinks. "I don't know, just... I don't like it."

Auditor Orodan: "I don't play games, Landrin, though you, apparently, do." He glances to the side. "Men, seize him. And spread out to search for any of this traitor's... associates."

Shining Blossom Empress strides boldly into view and marches toward the conversation, chin up, eyes hard, everybit the noblewoman.

Shadow Weaver's heart skips a beat, what the-?!

Shining Blossom Empress: "You there! What's going on?"

Shadow Weaver stays in concealment but 'produces' his daiklave...

Landrin, Orodan, soldiers: "...?!"

Shining Blossom Empress points at a randomly selected guard. "Don't you people have anything better to do that stand around like waxworks? Shoo!"

Guard: "We're arresting a traitor, ma'am--"

Shining Blossom Empress claps her hands. "Go polish your swords or something."

Shadow Weaver grins to himself, giving his head a rueful shake.

Shining Blossom Empress: "A traitor?" She looks critically at Landrin. "Looks like a shining example of Dragon-Blooded loyalty to me."

Orodan rounds upon you. "Hmmhmm! What have we here? This is court business, ''miss''... identify yourself if you don't wish to be escorted out."

Shining Blossom Empress physically recoils, as though she's stood in something.

Shadow Weaver judges his distance to Orodan...

Shining Blossom Empress: "Court business? And what are you supposed to be, the court jester? Comic relief, to ease the tension?"

Orodan: "This is a 'shining example' of Anathema-inspired corruption I came to root out. Hold your tongue, you may not speak to Capitol officials in such a manner!"

Shining Blossom Empress knits her brow, thinking. "OH! Yes, I've seen you. You were with the Governor this morning..." She turns conversationally to the nearest guard. "I thought he was a pet monkey or something..."

Shadow Weaver gulps back a laugh! :-P

GM: Two soldiers try to carry out their orders against Landrin, at least, but he smirks. A red glow spreads out from him, and shapes of men flicker in the air beside him.

Orodan (enraged!): "Seize her too, you fools!"

Shining Blossom Empress: "Don't you Dare!"

GM: The soldiers, confused but knowing their leader is not one to disobey, start to surround Empress and Landrin.

Shining Blossom Empress: "You take orders from this imbecile over your own captain?"

A soldier, growling, spear lowered: "He's not our captain until a court-martial clears his name!"

Shining Blossom Empress: "Just wait until my father hears of this!"

Shadow Weaver shifts his grip on the daiklave to an underhanded one and / LEAPS! from concealment, roaring! / scraping the tip of the sword over the flagstones, he stays low and swings a vicious upswing / slashing Orodan from crotch to sternum!

Shining Blossom Empress: "...Or him."

Shadow Weaver: "...By Luna you ''IRRITATE'' me!"

Orodan reels back in a gout of blood! / But surgeons' knives suddenly protrude from his flesh / sewing up the wound in an instant. / The sesseljae chitter excitedly!

Shining Blossom Empress points. "Ye gods, he's full of demons!"

Shadow Weaver stares aghast at the crawling mass! "You foul creature!"

[*] Shadow Weaver rolls 4d6 to slash him to buggereens : (3) (4) (5) (2) = 4 successes.

[*] Shadow Weaver rolls 3d6 to stay intact: (3) (4) (3) = 3 successes.

[*] Orodan rolls 5d6 defense: (3) (2) (6) (5) (4) = 4 successes.

GM: [He didn't have enough dice to get through your roll; it's a wash. Mooks are Threat 20, Damage 2]

Shining Blossom Empress: "Watch where you poke that thing!" / She snags the proffered spear from the guard's hand, / explodes his chest with a snap-kick that buckles armour, / and uses the momentum to leap high over the line of speartips. / She lands low and swings the spear around in a wide slicing arc through a dozen hamstrings. / "...Somebody could get hurt!"

[*] Shining Blossom Empress rolls 5d6 of smackage: (1) (6) (1) (4) (2) = 4 successes.

[*] Shining Blossom Empress rolls 3d6 of defence: (3) (3) (3) = 3 successes.

GM: A guard lunges at Landrin, but there's a *whoosh* of flame / and suddenly the guard has speared one of his companions! / Landrin draws his daiklave and salutes the fallen man. / "May those who deserve to lead, rule!"

[*] Landrin rolls 4d6 attack: (4) (2) (6) (1) = 3 successes.

[*] Landrin rolls 3d6 defense: (2) (5) (6) = 2 successes.

GM: [Mooks down to Threat 13, Exalts unharmed.]

Shadow Weaver rrrumbles loudly, the feral growl gradually deepening in tone as his appearance shifts, the daiklave flowing along his now furred forearms to form foot-long wicked claws. / "RRrrrrrr, abominations like you do not deserve Luna's mercy, die!" / Weaver launches his lupine hybrid form at Orodan, fang-filled jaws wide, claws streaking high and the diagonally, cutting through flesh, gristle and bone / the attack severing Orodan's head from his torso, his life-blood jetting out high to paint the ceilings crimson! / "Eat THAT, you wretched spawn!"

GM: [Veto the decapitation. That's a coup de grace description.]

Shadow Weaver: [Take an arm off at the shoulder instead.]

Orodan gestures with his remaining hand / shimmering vines writhing in the air around him. / A stream of obsidian knives shoots from his palm / scoring Weaver's whole torso in a thousand cuts!

GM: [Orodan spends for his Charm.]

[*] Orodan rolls 7d6 D-B reflexive: (5) (1) (6) (1) (3) (3) (5) = 6 successes.

[*] Shadow Weaver rolls 6d6 to lop off a big chunk of Orodan: (5) (2) (5) (5) (4) (3) = 6 successes.

[*] Shadow Weaver rolls 4d6 to avoid becoming a pincushion : (6) (6) (3) (4) = 2 successes.

GM: [Orodan devotes all his successes to defense! He's down one from Charm, Weaver unhurt.]

Shining Blossom Empress lashes a low kick at the nearest guard; / his knee snaps like a twig. / She grabs him as he falls, / swings him around, and flings him at his friends, bowling them over. / She whirls into a solid, threatening stance with the spear, wreathed in blazing anima. / "Face me, then, worms, and know Death!"

[*] Shining Blossom Empress rolls 5d6 attackage: (1) (1) (1) (3) (6) = 4 successes.

[*] Shining Blossom Empress rolls 3d6 self-preservation: (4) (2) (2) = 3 successes.

Landrin parries three spears, locking weapons with the last. / He stares into the guard's eyes. / "Dathon. Tch, you had promise." / Sliding his blade up the spear, he decapitates the poor fool!

[*] Landrin rolls 4d6 attack: (2) (1) (4) (4) = 4 successes.

[*] Landrin rolls 3d6 defense: (1) (4) (4) = 3 successes.

GM: [They're down 8, 5 Threat left.]

Shadow Weaver lunges forth and snags Orodan's wrist, his vicious claws piercing through bone and tendon, then pulling him close in a deadly embrace! / "Your tricks will serve you nought, you bug-filled sack of slime! Meet Luna's fangs!" / Weaver-wolf darts in, muzzle wide, jaws clamping down at the junction of shoulder and neck, inch-long fangs sinking DEEP / and tearing, gouging a great gap in Orodan's torso, cracked ribs protruding, blood gouting everywhere! / "Die, Luna damn you!"

GM: The sesseljae scamper to the defense, closing each gash right behind your claws. / Orodan sneers defiantly in your face, / his anima cutting into your flesh like a plant putting down roots! / "Invoke your heathen god all you wish! / The Elemental Dragons confer the only true power in Creation!" (V)

[*] Orodan rolls 8d6 reflexive: (6) (5) (3) (6) (5) (6) (6) (3) = 4 successes.

[*] Shadow Weaver rolls 7d6 to bite out a huge chunk: (5) (6) (1) (5) (2) (5) (1) = 6 successes.

[*] Shadow Weaver rolls 4d6 to remain unscathed, heh: (3) (6) (2) (2) = 3 successes.

GM: [Auditor gambles on another round--all defense! He's down to 1, Weaver unscathed!]

GM: Soldiers ring Landrin, looking wary. / He says magnanimously, "Lay down your weapons!..." / Jabbing backward under his left arm, he impales one behind him through the gut. / "...Or end up like him."

[*] Landrin rolls 4d6 attack: (1) (1) (6) (2) = 3 successes.

[*] Landrin rolls 3d6 defense: (6) (6) (4) = 1 success.

GM: [Landrin down 1 Essence, mooks at 2 Threat remaining.]

Shining Blossom Empress runs, leaving a trail of sparkling anima in her wake, / plunges the spear into a guard's chest, / grabs another as she passes, dragging him backward, / snaps his back over her knee with a sickening crunch and dumps him, twitching, to the floor. / She backflips, launching spinning blades, / and lands gently as a feather beside Landrin. / "Yield or die!" (V)

[*] Shining Blossom Empress rolls 6d6 of attack: (6V) (6) (1) (6) (6) (1) = 2 successes.

[*] Shining Blossom Empress rolls 3d6 defence: (6) (3) (2) = 2 successes.

GM: [Mooks are dispersed, but you're up 1 Limit!]

GM: The scattered handful of remaining guards variously lay down arms and flee.

Shadow Weaver gathers the Auditor to his chest, claws biting deep into his torso, piercing lungs, organs and soft tissue, / his voice low as he almost whispers, "..... Console yourself with the thought... that your flesh will feed me, feed Luna, and thus add to our strength... " / The wolf sinks into a crouch, pulling Orodan with him, as if down to his doom. With a mighty grrrowl he plunges his blood-soaked muzzle deep into the Auditor's open shoulder, razorsharp teeth closing on anything in reach, ripping, gouging! / Muffled: ".... Bleed, bleed and die, you bastard..."

Orodan coughs and chokes words of power, / a thin smile crossing his paling face. / "Even if I die, the Dragons will reward me with a brilliant reincarnation!" (V) / Essence shimmers in the air above Weaver / and a glittering bladed chain materializes, fastening itself around the Lunar's neck!

[*] Shadow Weaver rolls 7d6 to taste sweet heart's blood : (5) (1) (5) (5) (3) (2) (6) = 6 successes.

[*] Orodan rolls 8d6 reflexive in a last gasp: (6) (2) (6) (4) (5) (1) (6) (2) = 5 successes.

[*] Shadow Weaver rolls 4d6 to laugh off all puny attacks : (4) (2) (2) (5) = 4 successes.

GM: [All poured into offense takes Weaver down 1 Essence, and Orodan's gone.]

GM: The guillotine constricts around your neck, but the sorcerer wilts in your deadly embrace.

Shadow Weaver snarls and claw-paws at the terrible wound, working his muzzle in deeper until, with a triumphant growl, he shakes his gore-covered head free and raises his jaws in victory, Orodan's still-pulsing heart clenched in the vice of his teeth! With a loud, and very final ''snap!'', the heart diappears down his gullet!

Shining Blossom Empress turns to Weaver and pales slightly. "Quick, ask him some questions! ...Never mind."

Shadow Weaver mnches, raises a brow. "..........."

Landrin looks a little discomfited, but keeps his wits about him, looking around the scene. "Well, that settles my allegiance, I suppose. Shall we withdraw for now?"

Shining Blossom Empress quickly nods. "You can show us around some other time... after we get rid of the Governor."

Landrin wipes his blade on a soldier felled by one of Empress's bonebreaking blows, and secures it again on his back. "Not back through the main hall, the front guard will have formed up. Pick a window and let's go!"

Shining Blossom Empress yawns daintily, then points to the nearest.

Shadow Weaver crouches, then leaps up to the windowsill, in one bound.

Landrin watches the others' back as they proceed. His anima flickers with images of a legion of soldiers as he faces the shocked bureaucratic horde. "This Governor is illegitimate, ladies and gentlemen. Defy her and live with honor, or snivel and obey, spineless and unworthy!"

Shining Blossom Empress: "Normal service will resume shortly. Thank you for your patience." She bows.

Shadow Weaver has the better view, rrawrr.

Shining Blossom Empress did it for Weaver's benefit.

== End Session Eight ==

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=== Comments ===

LunaHidesHerFace/SessionEightRaw - Revision history

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