SJE/Session77
Exalted Session 77
An Interesting Proposal
15th- 22nd Descending Water RY769
In Gem, Brand finishes designing his secret volcano base for Mount Dhoon- he's gone with the traditional rocky walkway out into the lava caldera and if the volcanic granite can be ground to mirror-quality around the lip of the rim, then he can focus sunlight into the lava and create his Orichalcum forge. So he spends a week summoning Elementals and gives them the plans to follow. He leaves, confident that nothing could possibly go wrong!
As to the incoming Army of the Roseblack, the Watch Exalts decide to investigate. Rav flies and Nascent races north to spy out the oncoming force. Nascent squints his eyes against the harsh Southern sun and sees that yes, it is an army. Yep, definately an army- he'd recognise one anywhere. (Gets zero success on a War + Perception roll). Rav's higher position and eagle eyes (literally) picks out a bit more detail- the approaching Legion has clearly been reinforced- more like 15,000 men than 10,000. Vast numbers of wagons and supply train are guarded fiercely, while nearly 1,000 men march ahead to set up the camp for the rest of the army - not so much a camp, but a full wooden palisade fort, with trenches, defences and walls!
Travelling parallel to the Imperial Legion, Rav also spots another great dust cloud some 20 miles away- it is the Army of Paragon who march with equal discipline, but lack the Imperial Army's techniques and training- no fortress for them each night, and their supply caravan is strung out halfway to Paragon itself, though fiercely guarded by desert nomads bound to the will of the Perfect.
Shizu is sent to infiltrate the Legion encampment, to gather information and to answer the question on every Gem Exalts lips is "What do they want?". Somehow sensing a ward on the pallisades, Shizu invokes ninja charms to sneak through the gate behind some returning cavalry. Looting the laundry for a spare uniform and invoking "Easily Overlooked Presence" she sneaks around listening to the men ("bloody sand everywhere in the South. Cant wait to get to Gem- supposedly they got these huge Portobello mushroooms that grew to the size of dinner plates in the caves and tunnels. Wont be no sand in them") and to the officers ( a fairly hardbitten and morose lot) and finally spies an well travelled tent from which a green flag with a black rose on it flies.
Sneaking past the guards, Shizu invokes enough Stealth Charms for every person on Creation to ignore her until the end of time, and boldly steps through the tent flap. Thats when the wards activate, and suddenly mere blades of grass grow and swell into huge vines that seek to entrap Shizu in their coils. Fortunately Surprise Anticipation Method is Shizu's friend and she leaps clear into the tent. A dark haired woman in green uniform looks up "What are you doing in my tent?" "Sorry, wrong number!" comes back Shizu, leaping out, to shouts of "Guards- get her!". Shizu bolts across the parade grounds, half an army in pursuit. Legionnaires throw pilums at her- she dives. Captains swing swords at her- she ducks. Fire Aspects hit her with Elemental blasts- she burns.
Set on fire once more, the flames and agony lend speed to Shizu's desperate jump across the walls (an alarm ward goes off) and she races across the desert, cavalry in hot pursuit! Nascent spots Shizu's peril (he's been patrolling in the vicinity, dodging Realm patrols) and races forward at an almighty pace. Shizu leaps up and Nascent sweeps her to the saddle, his horse doing a spot U turn at over 160mph.
Back at camp, the Watch Exalts (Alana, Rav,Brand, Captain, Shizu and Nascent - a full house!) discuss their options. The Captain votes "Charge!" but is swiftly overruled by Commander Ravitsu. Brand (still in mad inventor mode) suggests that the way to remove Gem vulnerability to seige (its water shortage) would be to build a canal from the Inner Sea to Gem, possibly draining the Inner Sea in the process. But thats a small price for progress! This to is shelved, though Brand works on intial plans (He gets a map and draws a straight line from the Inner Sea to Gem).
Its decided that an emissary needs to be sent to the Realm army to ask them their intentions. The perfect middleman is suggested (over Alana's objections) the ever drunken Cathak Aron who is technically the Realms military represnetative in Gem. He is duly fetched by Brands new elemental ally Thunderbird 2, and the Watch try to educate him on what is going on. But he's still drunk, and tells everyone "Thisshh ish my coushin.. 'Lana, and I realy, weally, really luv her. And you too. Coming fer a drink Ibrahim?" Eventually despairing of parting him from his alcohol (his sweat is about 80-proof anyway) he is sent off to say hi to the Roseblack ("A Wood Ashpect? Yu should shee the melons on her!")
On his return, he has a "verry, werry important shekret! The Armysh hear to capshure you alive!" <trans: "I have a very important secret. The Army is here to capture you alive!">
This is puzzling news for the Watch who all expected the Roseblack to be here to kill them a lot more dead. So its decided a negotiation must be started. Cathak Aron is sent to make the necessary arrangements and its agreed that both sides will draw up their forces 2 miles apart. Then each side can send a 2 person unarmed delegation to meet in the middle. Rav and Alana ride out from their 7 man band (the Watch plus Aron)- spread across the horizon in front of them like the film Zulu is the endless Realm Legion. 2 figures ride out from that vast force- the dark haired and green armoured Roseblack and a familiar figure- General Ledaal Takei with whom the PC's had co-operated with in Solaria. Introductions are made
"General Tepet Ejava, we have heard a great deal about you. We are wondering why your army is headed for Gem, the city we are sworn to protect?" ask Rav
"Your reputation precedes you... " starts the Roseblack
("Whats she saying about my fiancee!?!" says an indignant Shizu who is reading lips a mile away with her Awareness charms and relaying to the Captain, Nascent and Brand)
"Indeed you reputation has reached as far as the Imperial Senate itself. My superiors have tasked me with the mission to escort you back to the Blessed Isle as our guests. You would need to surrender to us, but you will be well treated"
"And what would happen to us when we reach the Imperial City"
"I say this honestly- I do not know. My superiors have not told me of their plans for you. Given that you are Anathaema, I suspect they will seek your deaths. But if you surrender to us, it will mean we dont have to beseige Gem and capture you by force."
"And what of the Paragonese army that follows you?"
"The Paragonese have volunteered to assist us and garrison Gem if we had to take it."
"The Paragonese have long been our enemies- they would conquer Gem on your coat tails!" says Alana
"The Perfect is an obedient vassal of the Realm. Paragonese forces will withdraw home at my command. If you surrender to me, the Realm will guarantee Gems safety."
"How can we trust you?"
"The Realm has only 2 interests with Gem- the flow of tribute which the Despot has always ensured prompt payment, and the presence of so many Anathaema in one city. If you surrender then our interest in Gem is complete."
"We will need time to consider your offer..."
("Rav's selling us down the river!" exlaims the Captain)
"Then let us meet back here in 24 hours with your answer"
"Agreed!".
So ends Session 77
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