SJE/Session16
== Exalted Session 16 ==
Having looked at the various agendas and countdowns to apocalypse, I realised that most of the immediate threats had been dealt with and the PC’s could take a little time to deal with their personal goals and missions.
Ravitsu explored the desert and mountains surrounding Gem, learning of the flora and fauna native to this inhospitable terrain. Soaring high above as an eagle, he spots, swoops and devours the heartsblood of a sand swimmer and Gecko Lizard, before transforming into Cheetah form and bringing down a wild horse and later a camel, add their shapes to his library.
Flying around, Rav then spots some large winged creatures to the west, flying over the mountains. Its 3 blue and red- plumaged Hawkmen, - Beastmen with beaked hawk head, covered in feathers, feet ending in talons, but with both wings and arms (&hands & bows). After some dominance challenges from the newcomers, communication in the hunting language (long forgotten in Rav’s Past Memory) shows these strangers seek the ‘Progenitor’ in the city below (Gem). Rav denies being the Progenitor and warns the hawkmen (or ‘People of the Wing’ as they call themselves) away from his territory- Gem. Rav remembers a past life encounter with a similar band of birdman beastman back in An Teng, 700 years ago. Perhaps he did have something to do with their creation?
On the ground, Orchid finally gets employed by Mother Sahlak. Sahlak sends her to th Diamond Palace in a Palanquin to meet Lady Rankar (Great Aunt Marigold) and inscribe a Spirit binding ward and 3 peripheral circles surrounding the central circle. Orchid is curious at this strange alliance of Despots aunt and the Brothel & Dreampalace monopolist of Gem. Using a new charm, she discerns that Aunt Marigolds true motivation in speaking with her and hiring her is to discover how good a thaumaturge Orchid really is. So, she plays it up and does a pretty good job on the wards. Sahlak promises more work in the near future
Jaq has meanwhile used his underworld contacts to issue a challenge to the ‘other’ Black Mouse that they cannot steal the Fire Ruby of the Dragons from around Master Ledaal Tanakas neck. Jaq then cases the Immaculate Temple and spots a suspicious entry by a supposed beggar. The game afoot, Jaq heads in and tries to gain access to Tanakas apartment. Unfortunately, he triggers an alert (a monk spots him behind a statue to the Dragon of Earth. “What are you doing my son?” “Cleaning!” exclaims Jaq. “In black pyjamas? GUARDS GUARDS!” shouts the mnk before Jaqs ninja cleaning squad excuse can be heard)
Dodging the alert Solid Metal Gear style, Jaq gets close enough to Tanaka to steal the pouch from around his neck, and flees the temple, tossing back a black Obsidian Mouse keepsake at his pursuing, chakram throwing monk pursuers. At last he makes it back the safety of his lair and views his prize. Opening the pouch, expecting to find the Fire Ruby, one of the Great Treasures of Gem, Jaq instead discovers a Black Mouse figurine! He has been beated to it again by the other Black Mouse! (Later investigations indicate that this lecherous fake, might be Dashing Hare, con men, seducer who pretended to be the envoy from Halta at the Ambassadors Reception.
Brand has grown obsessed with his new toy- a retractable Soulsteel Direlance (think Mimbari fighting pike). For hours he sits in the Granite Tower (on his day off too!) expanding the pike “Vhish”, then retracting it “Vhirrr..”
“Vhish-Virr.”
“It goes out (“Vhish”), It goes in (“Vhirr”)
“It goes out, it goes in.” </i>
“Vhish-Virr.”
“It goes out, it goes in.”
“Vhish-Virr.”
“It goes out, it goes in.”
“Vhish-Virr.”
“It goes out, it goes in.”
“Vhish-Virr.”
“It goes out, it goes in.”
“Vhish-Virr.”
“It goes out, it goes in.”
“Vhish-Virr.”
“It goes out, it goes in.”
“Vhish-Virr.”
Etc.
Finally Orchid interrupts and gets Brand thinking. They plan on learning more about the magic of Gem- exploring and warding the undertunnels and lava tubes of Gem, sealing them off from evil. Orchid does a quick Geomantic survey, seeing how the local Essence flows go up the mountain, gathering around the crystalline towers of the Diamond Palace. Eddies and swirls and counter currents rage through the Street of Small Gods- especially the Temple of 5 Harmonious Dragons and the Snake Tower.
Brand meanwhile tries to do a bit of recruiting for the Watch, coming up with a great socialist-realist poster. Argument flares over an appropriate message
“Gem City Watch- We know where you live”
“Gem City Watch- Putting the Cop back into Corruption.”
“Police Brutality- its not just a job, it’s a way of life!”
“Gem City Watch- the Watch the City deserves”
“Gem City Watch 1, Obsidian Thieves Guild 0”
“Gem City Watch- it’ll make a Man of you” (picture of Jaq)
“Gem City Watch- Fashion Police!” (picture of Captain and Orchid)
Brand then convinces the others to help hunt down Quiet Fox (now in hiding). His expert investigations reveal that only the psychopath Five Knives, his lieutenant knows where Quiet Fox’s hideout is.
So Rav, Brand, Orchid and Jaq posse up, dress down and head for the roughest, toughest, hive of scum and villainy in all of Gem. A cesspool of a place, a haven for murderers, thieves, rapists and villains in the worst part of the Hot District known as the Camels Bottom. Watch officers don’t come down here unless deployed in battalions.
Unfortunately Orchid and Brand look like off duty cops (even in disguise!) and attract the wrong crowd. A mob forms around them as Jaq and Rav (in city dog form) slip off to the Camels Bottom. Jaq goes in first to scoop the place out, but even his Easily Overlooked Presence Method withers and dies under the intense scrutiny of the tavern patrons for any stranger entering. The room hushes, the music dies and even the guy bleeding to death in the corner quiets down to fix a suspicious glare on Jaq.
Having spotted Five Knives, Jaq tries to duck out, but Five Knives has spotted him back and recognised him as a cop. One dagger to the back later, Jaq flees out and evades pusuit as dog-form Rav slips in. He runs in, avoiding kicks, and snatches up Five Knives coin pouch in his canine jaws before fleeing. But Five Knives is the sort to kill a dog (“A dogs got no reason to live!”) and more hurled daggers follow. Rav is slightly injured and flees back out, luring Five Knives and his two bravos into a deserted alley.
Jaq hurls his knives at the bravos, pommel ends knocking them unconscious. Meanwhile Rav gets behind Five Knives, transforming back to human form and extruding his morphic Moonsilver direlance to clinch Five Knives across the throat and strangle him into unconsciousness!
Jaq and Rav then extract the target while Brand and Orchid flee and fight the mob of criminal Hot Districters, escaping but at the cost of 3 deaths and a maiming to a now angry mob.
We rest there, concluding on the 23rd of Descending Fire. 5 Days to Calibration.
“Beep- Beep- BEEEEP!”
Other News-
-Martial Artists have begun gathering for the Calibration MA tournament. First prize is an Apple of the Gods.
- Lord Steward Valtess has accepted the post of official Gem envoy to the court of the Necromancer Lord First & Forsaken Lion. (breathing optional. GCW go down to see him off and mock)
- Rumour has it, “Captain Ymes is now head of Replenishment and Replacement Janitorial Division of the Despots Scorpion Pits…”
“Paragon is going to invade, this time for sure”
“the price on the Black Mouse’s head has just reached One Million Silver Pieces!”
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