Darzoni/CampaignsReflectionsS3
Session 3 Log
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So the three returned to Jade-Upon-The-River with Sarlk's students. Only to find yet another person has arrived at the Manse.
Damon leads the way to the stranger's residence. "He is certainly one of the Circle, he has that smell about him."
Rynel nods slowly, and looks over at the stranger. "Hmm."
Hulen nods to Damon, and then bows to the newcomer.
"Greetings. I am Hulen zan-Gon. You are...?"
Daikyu says, "My Name is Daikyu Matakara, I am a simple man, what I lack for in eyesight I make up for with my Martial arts. I have no memory of my childhood. Also, I am an assassin for the Guild."
Hulen says, "...sir? Is this perhaps the best place to mention that last bit?"
Rynel blinks. "Er, I'm Rynel, and Hulen here has a point."
And Whisper sits at the opposite end of the table, chowing down on bread.
Daikyu says, "My weapon of choice is my fighting chain."
Hulen says, "Not a bad weapon, although I prefer the serpent-sting staff."
Daikyu says, "my feet wield it more than my hands"
Damon leaves all of you to discuss matters.
Hulen nods. "Of course...now, this may seem a little disorienting, but we...ah, how should I put this...this place is familiar to you, yes?"
The group decides to journey to Rynel's Manse and take Whisper/Tsubasa along...
Whisper is .... well, he's quiet and doesn't cause much trouble. He wears a ragged cloak to hide his face.
The journey is uneventful going down river. There are stops and transfers along the way at very small villages, finally the last major stop is at Dragon's Jaw, the major port of An-Teng.
From here, it is a week's journey to the Manse.
Hulen says, "So...any last things we need for this journey, or are we ready to leave?"
Rynel hums. "Nothing I can think of."
Whisper shrugs.
Along the trek, there's a few fishing groups camped out. They mention that a entourage belonging to Dynasts had come through here.
Rynel asks for descriptions as they pass. And the fishermen describe a person familiar to Rynel, his sister.
And finally, they're at the manse. Lots and lots of water...
Rynel grumbles on their way there. "Great... Just perfect..."
Hulen says, "Hm...this could be trouble, yes..."
Rynel looks to Hulen. "More than you could guess. Trust me, I know. Unfortunately."
Rynel looks around. He mutters, "Home sweet home," and turns to the others. "Be on your guards. Theres a chance the Dynasts are here..." He looks around again, back towards his manse.
Hulen says, "Wonderful...well, the best we can do is try to secure this manse...you /did/ leave guards, yes? Although I doubt they could stand up to Dynasts."
Rynel glances at Hulen. "Of course I did, and I'm sure they couldn't. Especially if my hunches are correct."
THere are many courtiers and people about tending the manse grounds, particularly the impressive displays of water defying gravity... This was a first age Manse... designed by... oh, Hulen remembers a man showing him the ways in which it works from an Age ago. Kal Bax?
Rynel sighs. "Well, might as well head on in." He walks onward.
Sarlk is moving along with the two other exalted, looking around as he walk, eyes narrowed a little at his surrounding. Walking straight in the Manse of Dragon Blooded...that awfully sounds like walking in an lion's open maw.
Hulen follows. "...my, this is interesting. I'd swear I remember this..."
A servant shows up quickly at the entrance... "May I be of assistance, gentlem... Oh, Master Rynel... you haven't been killed? Very good!" He chuckles... "Good to see you sir..."
Rynel smiles and adds sarcastically, "No, I'm actually a ghost come back to haunt you... Of course I haven't been killed. Glad to be back. Any visitors while I was away?"
The servant bows.. "Yes... your sister and brother are here."
Rynel frowns. "When did they arrive, and did they say on what business?"
The servant continues. "They arrrived a week ago. They wanted to see if you were in, though I patiently explained to them that you were hiding from the Hunt."
The Big Man Sarlk lets Rynel speak and deal with this. It IS his home after all.
Meanwhile, the servant leads everybody into the Manse... wow... you're walking on some sort of glass with water running underneath it.
Hulen blinks. And stares for a moment. And mutters, "My, this will be...awkward..."
Rynel sighs. "How nice of you to explain that..."
Rynel says to Hulen in a whisper, "You're telling me."
The servant opens the BIG doors to the central chamber. "Announcing Lord Ragara Rynel and... companions." He wasn't introduced.
A young lady runs over to Rynel and gives him a too-friendly hug. "Oh Rynel! You're safe! I was so worried!" ... She's wearing funky armor Rynel -knows- was sitting in his family hall since he could remember.
Hulen looks around. Obviously a water-elemental manse, from the outside - and now he realized that he was remembering that, for some reason - so, the inside would be equally water-full, yes? And then he stares at the young woman. This is unexpected.
Rynel hugs back. "Hello, Sasaki." He looks the armor over. "Wasn't that..?"
Sarlk is midly impressed by the looks of the Manse, gazing around as he walk, letting out an silent whistle. That's is sure a damn whole lot of water around thoses parts. He then look down at the armored lady, tilting his head lightly. Whozzat?
In enters the much lionized (well, compared to what Rynel ended up doing) Volagio. "Brother! I'm glad to see you... because Sasaki will not stop talking about you." He rolls his eyes. "So... have you found a way to cleanse yourself of the taint yet? Mother still has high hopes for you, you know."
Rynel looks over. "Hello, Volagio. Good to see you. Not quite, no. Though, I'm sure if the Hunt would ease up a little it'd be a bit easier to get around and look." He turns to Hulen and Sarlk. "These are my brother and sister, Volagio and Sasaki. Volagio, Sasaki, these are Sarlk and Hulen."
Hulen bows. And mutters, out of the corner of his mouth, "Your sister?" You heard stories, yes, but...well, really...that's still unexpected, isn't it?
Sasaki bows politely... Volagio ahs... "Well, I hope they don't cause trouble... we could be put to death just for letting you be here, brother." He shakes hands with Sarlk and Hulen, probably wincing when Sarlk shakes it.
Sarlk blinks to himself, his gear working in the head. Oh, right. The Master Spear warrior gives a slow nod in greetings and indeed shakes hands with the man. Not his fault if his grip is strong, mon! He's just drank a lot of milk when he was a kid? Miestur Teet, an Monk back in his child hood, always told him that!
Rynel gives Hulen one of those, 'We'll talk about it later' looks. He turns back to them. "So, other than a spontaneous visit, what brings you two out here?"
Whisper just sort of stands there looking around and appearing mildly disgusted by all the servants running around.
Volagio nurses his hand that he shook... "Ah yes, when Mother heard of your problem, well, we were sent here to claim your manse for her."
Saskai gives Volagio an evil glare, then sighs. "Sorry, but... it's true."
Rynel raises an eyebrow. "Oh? Well, if she still has such hopes for me, then why does she wish to claim my manse?"
Sarlk merly watch things unfold, his eyes darting from the other Solars to the 'brother and sisters'. He looks not terribly smart right now.
Volagio says "Politics as usual... House Cathak wants this manse because of it's location. Speaking of politics, Mother is finding... suitors ERK!" Sasaki punches Volagio in the torso, knocking the wind out of him... "ow..."
Hulen rolls his eyes. Politics. Booooooring...
oO ( Violent woman, that. ) Oo Sarlk expressionlessly thinks at that display.
Sasaki smiles politely as Volagio tries to get a second wind. "She's trying to marry me off, but I don't want anyone but you!"
Sarlk blinks again, looking back and forth bettewn the two. Wait, 'want anyone but you'? Arent thoses twos are sisters?
THe Spear Master take a moment to calculate what that means, and comes to the following conclusion:
Dragon-Blooded are fucked up.
Rynel stifles a laugh at the hitting of his brother. "I'm very much aware of that, Sasaki, but in my present condition I don't think that would be possible, or advisable." He likes her, just not like that. "Do what's best for the family, even if you don't like it, at least in this case." He looks at the armor again. "Where exactly did you get that?"
Sasaki ohs... "I got it from the family Manse. I think mother said it was passed down from our honored ancestor who slew Anathema with it."
Hulen, while outwardly calm, is currently trying to figure out how the hell they're going to get out of this without killing at least this nice, if somewhat confused and mildly disturbing girl.
Rynel nods. "I knew I recognized it." He turns back to Volagio. "Well, as much as I /hate/ displeasing Mother, I can't turn over the Manse. Its essential to my current goals."
Sasaki looks slightly sad... "What do you want to do, brother?"
Sarlk just keep being a witness of this, looking around the room again. He's keeping his mouth trap. Gotta keep his mouth trapped....
Volagio picks himself back up. "... ... ... It's good to breathe again... whew." He dusts himself off. "Well, at least let Sasaki know where you are so she can send letters..." He thinks to himself... (And so the bitch will shut her trap about you for once.)
Whisper stands there like the enigma he is, waiting for something to happen.
Sarlk's gaze move over the Mute Zenith, blinking a moment. He just...stares.
Hulen waits. And mutters, "So. Uh, what are we going to do now?"
"Less standing around in silence like this would be a good idea." Sarlk comments.
Rynel frowns. "To remove this.. 'Taint', as mother might call it, if you would like one of my long term goals." He looks a bit not happy with this reason, but doesn't want to cause anyone here to suffer from the truth.
Sasaki ohs... "Well, I hope you do, because then we can get married and I won't have to meet all these pompous House scions at parties anymore." She looks disgusted. "Especially that Ledaal Amahara. Always bragging about how he's going to put your head on a pike outside his manse."
"Lovely fellow." Sarlk comments, idly.
Hulen.oO(Happy families is not a Dynast's game, is it?)
Rynel sighs. "Yes, hes thoroughly convinced that I cheated in that competition. Though, I don't blame him for disliking me for the whole eye thing."
Volagio grumbles something about Amahara. "I -really- don't like him either. I hope you kill him, Rynel."
Hulen mutters, "I assume that's one of your long-term plans, too."
Suddenly, Rynel flares like a burst of sunlight, blinding people present. In a scary voice, he says, "BEWARE THOSE WHO SLUMBER FITFULLY IN THE LAND OF TWILIGHT, THEY DREAM ONLY OF OBLIVION. THE HOUSE OF SCARLET WILL TOPPLE BEFORE THEIR DREAMS."
Whisper shields his eyes... "..."
Then Rynel is normal again... and probably wondering what happened.
Hulen covers his eyes during the sunburst. Well, there goes any cover.
Sarlk has returned into staring at Whisper, annoyingly at that.
Until Rynel becomes stupid, semi-blinding the poor Dawn Caste solar! He was told multiple times when he was a child to NEVER look directly at the sun. The Warrior levels an arm to protect his eyes.
When it'S finished, he just blinks confusedly. "Alright, what theDarzoni/HECK/ was that about?"
Rynel blinks at Sarlk. "What was what?"
Sarlk says, "THAT."
Rynel says, "What?"
Volagio squints, trying to recover his vision... "I think you need to leave."
Sarlk let out an grunt. "You were all shiny. And spoke really weirdly."
Hulen says, "Well. This is turning into a very pleasant visit, isn't it."
Rynel looks around. "... I did?" Sigh. "Not again." He looks over at Volagio and sighs once more. "I'm sorry, but you aren't the master of this house."
Hulen says, "If it helps, I can remember what you said."
"Whaddya MEAN /again/?" Sarlk replies, scratching his head.
Rynel sighs. "Well, last time that happened, Amahara attacked me and lost his eye."
Volagio shakes his head... "No no no... you don't understand..." A door bursts open across the room and in comes somebody with a jade arm and in a jade reinforced buff jacket accompanied by five monk-like people with tell-tale signs of Terrestrial Exaltedation. "WHAT IS GOING ON AROUND HERE?" He bellows.
Rynel turns around and looks at the newcomers.
Hulen shakes his head. "Well, I can't say I'm /surprised/, but I wish I could."
Sarlk turns like an burst of wind at the sudden entrance of the people, reaching toward his spear on his back, gritting his teeths. But he's not drawing the weapon out /yet/. It's more a reflex right now.
"Oh." He simply says at the intention of Volagio.
Rynel says, "Can I help you gentlemen?"
Shuri grabs Volagio by the collar and -lifts- him off his feet. "WHAT WAS THAT LIGHT? ARE THERE ANATHEMA HERE, IN -YOUR- HOUSE'S SANCTUM?"
Rynel looks at Shuri. "Why does everyone assume that this is his house?"
Volagio errs... glancing to Rynel as if to say (GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE BEFORE HE REALIZES WHO YOU ARE). Sasaki quietly blocks Shuri's view of Rynel to give her brother more time to escape.. "No Shuri... just some guests from The City of the Steel Lotus wishing to pay homage to their benevolent lords..."
Rynel gives the others one of those TIME TO GO looks, and quietly ushers themselves out. If they follow, we'll kick some ass.
Hulen follows. Because attacking Dynasts in the middle of an ancient manse is /stupid/ with a capital D.
Sarlk let out a soft grunt and follows the other. Man, he could have took on 'EM all, damnit! Okay...maybe not...BAH! NEXT TIME, GADGET! NEXT TIIIIIIME!
The butler helps you guys escape through one of the water tunnels under the Manse... so you're not seen leaving. "Here, have these teeth, they will let you breathe water if placed under your tongue."
Hulen nods. He'll have to study them when he gets back home.
Rynel nods. "Thank you."
Rynel goes for the water tunnels! Blub.
Hulen dives in. At least with water breathing, this shouldn't be /too/ dangerous.
Awe man! Water! And wearing some kind of /funky teeths/. Sarlk follows the others in the water, grumbling a bit to himself.
Rynel pockets his tooth. He'll stick with his hearthstone.
On the way back... well, you come across an abandoned cart that looks like it was attacked by bandits.. How do you know this? Because the bandits are looting the corpses.
Rynel pulls his bow. "Hold, thieves!"
Oh fun. FUN.Darzoni/FUN/! Just what they needed. Bandits looting some poor people -- that they likely killed themselves.
The Dawn Solar let out a grunt and lean his spear behind his back, his arms rested on each sides of the weapon. "HEY. DUMBASSES." He shout out.
Hulen reachs for his new staff. "Greed is very bad for your minds and spirits, you know."
The bandits pause.. momentarily. "Yeah well, we'll take our greed and run, thank you very much." They start to leave casually, laughing. "What're three guys going to do against fourteen of us anyway?"
Hulen says, "Hardly seems fair, true. But perhaps you could find another few men?"
Rynel says, "This," and fires at one of the bandits, activating a small sorcerous ability to fire multiple arrows with one.
THUNK THUNk... one goes down, screaming and mewling helplessly. Another simply gets it right in the heart and dies... the third is missed.
Sarlk peers at the other solars, raising an eyebrow. "Alright, kids. After we do something about thoses idiots, I'm goin' to have to teach you /proper/ things to says before charging head on in a swarm of little turds." He grab his Spear andDarzoni/SLAM/ it on the ground. He reach to his back and take out the big package he's been carrying around for a while and unfold..
An large, shiny, wonderous Dire Lance.
Which he point at the bandits, grinning wide. "A lot of stuff, man! A tons of stuff!"
"What? What was that?" Sarlk says, lending over an ear to the bandits with his hand covering it. "I'm I understanding that you are running away after slaughtering some poor people for money? And not except an asskicking for it?" He mockingly states...before rushing into a made dash, spear in hand.
"LET ME AND AURORA ARC SHOW YOU THAT CRIME JUST DOSENT PAY!" He slam his spear in the ground infront of himself and uses it to propels himself like a cannon ball on the back of one of the bandits, thanks god for kicks!
But as if it wasent enough, the solar swings down his spear with the gathered momentum on anoter.
One goes down, unconscious from the kick... the speared one is... very very dead. The artifact weapon simply breaks his skull open, causing the man to drop extremely suddenly like a doll thrown by a child in a tantrum.
Hulen drops into Snake Stance. A very bizarre look, really. His caste mark starts to glow, and his head and upper body are leaning back. He is swaying hypnotically. And then...he leaps forward, and swings the staff out. The white staff curves towards one of the bandits.
"We'll have to match that mental flaw with bodily ones, of course. Must maintain a proper balance, you see."
Another bandit dies screaming as his bones break and shatter from the jade serpent staff.
The bandits run screaming, scattering to the hills.... It would be possible to finish them off, but what is the point? Twould be far simpler to track them down to their lair and destroy them utterly so they never menace travelers again.
Rynel checks the bodies to see if anyone isn't dead, and to see if he can figure out where they came from.
A bandit was hit in the spine by one of Rynel's arrows and cannot move.
"I CAN'T FEEL MY LEGS!"
Rynel says simply, "Good."
Hulen says, "Be silent. Your legs are the least of your worries."
Rynel goes over to the bandit, and tries to persuade him to tell us where the rebel base is, and its not on Dantooine! ...Okay, so their hideout, whatever.
Sarlk wave his large spear menacingly at the fleeing bandits, shouting things like 'BUNCH OF PANSIES' or 'COME BACK HER YOU LITTLE TURDS' or maybe even 'I'M GOING TO SHOVE THAT THING UP YOURS BASTARDS!'.
If you want him for interrogation, you'll have to tap him on the shoulder, fellow Exalted.
Rynel crouches. "Well, it wasn't a very smart thing to do, attacking innocent people like that. I have half a mind to kill you, and half a mind to make you suffer even more. But maybe if you tell me what I want to know, I won't let him," gesturing to Sarlk, "interrogate you. He'd have much more fun."
THe bandit gives the location of the lair, how many bandits there are, and the locations of the traps.
And cries for his mother.
Rynel stands up. "Thank you for your cooperation."
Rynel goes around behind him and breaks his neck.
Sarlk finnaly calms down, grunting back over the now over interrogation, eyeing the other two Exalts. "So. What's up?"
Hulen is still oddly serpentine in his movements. "We know where they are. We will destroy them. Take out the nest."
Rynel nods. "Lets go."
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