JustAddWater/Session5Sum
Session 5 - The Right Hand of Power and the Left Hand of Fate
Or: Visitations and Vivisections
Making sure that the Abyssal is well drugged and wrapped up in Hidden Crystal's cloak (plausible deniability is one of the core tenets of BoD operations), the Sidereals step through the gate to Yu-Shan, the Heavenly City. Due to an unfortunate smudge on the documents the Celestial Lion in charge is unable to tell, whether it was three, four or five Sidereals, who were supposed to come through and he leaves it at a grumbling remark over 'making a note of this'. Silent Sunset cheerily suggests, he mention the paperwork's poor treatment as well, which he does - but he pins the blame on Jiang Chou!
Taking an aerial rikshaw the five of them make haste to Jiang's spartanic house, where they strip the Daybreak of her armor, clothe her in a pink tunic (everybody pointedly avoids to ask Jiang, just what he had it around for) and chain her up in the basement. The Chosen of Secrets serves bowel-medication tea (an interesting taste, the clueless Silent remarks) and puts off starting to 'heat the pokers' due to the others' insistence. Instead he writes a note to Lytek about their splendid capture, while Platinum Sky Lover argues that they should get the Abyssal behind Orichalkum bars.
Eventually Weeping Glass comes around and sipping the water Silent offers her seems mostly disappointed at the lackluster surroundings. She was expecting a grand and terrible dungeon at the least! Jiang immediately launches into a series of threats and dire predictions, citing his own considerable ability at providing pain as well the dread powers of certain gods of Interrogation. His slaps are punctuated by poison secretions resulting in not a small amount of pain and dizzyness on part of the prisoner.
Silent Sunset, in the role of the 'good cop' then eases her uncomfortable bindings and tells Weeping Glass, that there are other, better possibilities for her than to suffer needlessly for a cause not her own. The Sidereals can help her! Indeed, as Platinum Sky Lover interjects, they can help her find a way to redemption, help her cast off the black shackles of her Lord! But alas, that path of argument runs into a dead-end as Weeping Glass is far from honest repentance and the mentioning of her lover Sour Ice Phoenix' ghost inspires great anger in her. Silent's tries to reassure her that death meant release for her backfire grandiosely, as the Daybreak reveals, that Abyssal souls fall unfailingly into Oblivion - something that's outside even the shocked Silent's encyclopedic knowledge of Death and, indeed, Anathema to the ends that are Saturn's gift.
Still, as the others go outside to meet Lytek arriving with great display, the Abyssal opens up to Silent Sunset's and Hidden Crystal's proposals - facing vivisection at the hands of the Daimyo of Exaltation she promises to talk, if the Sidereals save her from that fate. In fact, she explains after hearing that Silent supports neither Gold nor Bronze Faction, that's the only way they are going to get the whole picture - as Lytek will silence her to prevent certain information from getting out. Confused the Sidereals try to stall the Glowing God and eventually manage to accompany her to his facilities for further interrogation.
While Jiang Chou distracts Lytek with paperwork (and searches through his papers - twice!) a confusing matter gets more confusing still. According to Weeping Glass it was one of of Sorrowful North's tasks to investigate, how the Bodhisattva Anointed with Dark Waters was able to find and open the Jade Prison, and he'd found a connection leading back to heaven. His death comes as a surprise to her - she had assumed, that he hadn't come to Skullstone due to mistrust of his fellows and thus survived. The other missing Sidereals had come to either rescue or assassinate Red Stone Rising, who had been granted sanctuary by the Silver Prince in return for information and assistance. Naturally the Deathlord's forces took offense at that ...
Where Silent Sunset sees a matter worthy of looking into, Platinum Sky Lover sees only a servant of Oblivion sowing lies and distrust to save her life. On Jiang's return he immediately agrees, voting to let Lytek strip the information from her shard. Weeping Glass' helpful proposal to expound on Creation's Life Expentancy and the inevitable victory of her masters does not help her case. The disagreement quickly devolves into shouting match between the four Sidereals, with Platinum putting a gag into WG's mouth to stop her grating words, Silent disagreeing, Jiang pulling it out again, Platinum storming off in anger, ... the Great Curse is strong in them, indeed. Finally as calm is restored the vote comes down as two against two: Hidden Crystal would rather hear both parties' positions and Silent Sunset maintains, that nothing is lost in delaying Lytek for a day or so to check out the Abyssal's story - and if there IS something to it ... Knowing the finality of Endings the two Chosen of Saturn hesitate to deal them out too readily.
There being no consensus the four naturally chose to let Fate decide. Under Weeping Glass' horrified looks Jiang Chou provides a jade coin and Silent leads a prayer to the five Maidens for guidance. The coin is tossed, the result deftly manipulated, and the Chosen of Secrets proclaims Destiny's judgement: Death to the Enemy of Heaven! The circle troops out, Silent remaining with the Daybreak to ease her passing with pain-deadening drugs. There is no need for her to be aware of being vivisected after all, nor for her End to be in agony.
