MargardKazuki/SessionSeventeen
The group stays an extra week in Whitewall in order for Judas to finish up with his investigation to find the Shadow Serpent. He turns the information over and gets a reward for his troubles.
The group sets out of Whitewall, and on the first night, as the group settles down for the night, a group of about 2 dozen Icewalkers approaches from the East. They set up camp some distance away, and after a while, a single, well-armed, battle-seasoned warrior approaches the party. The warrior, a female, offers to trade the spoils from several Snow Hunters for coin and Imperial Jade -- Cloaks, Snow Hunter Maces, and talismen. The group buys up everything, and the grateful Ice Walker introduces herself as Sleeves of War.
The group is less tense about their trip on the road, since they have already experienced what the Road has to offer.
2 days after they have left the Fell behind on the road, a sudden winter storm blows through... at the end of summer. While snow piles up to either side, the flakes instantly melt into puddles on the Road, making it easy to continue seeing the road, though the carriage drivers slow down anyway. The lead carriage eventually comes to a halt and tells Mizugami that "something" has entered the road from the West.
When Mizugami looks out, he sees a 5-story tall bird of snow. He attempts to address it and it speaks back, apparently wanting to speak with Kazuki, the "Swordsman" that killed the Baron of Fog. The bird is a messenger from the Queen of the North, demanding tribute for the death of the Baron. Kazuki, being about as socially adept as a stubbed toe, turns back to Mizugami to help with negotiating with it, and Mizugami crafts a delicately worded insult to send back to the Fae Queen. The bird leaves with the message and the lack of tribute.
The group continues and finally reaches Wallport, where they stay for one more night with the Mnemon governors, before heading back home for Cherak.
The group barely has a chance to step off the boat upon their return to Cherak, when they are assaulted by an army ... of pages, waiting to deliver messages to everyone except Jahanna and Esley. The letter is from the Satrapy, informing the group of a new Jade Tax. There is now a significant tax for anyone carrying a Jade weapon, for sorcerers, and for Immaculates, enough to tap the funds of almost everyone in the group. Judas wants to try to argue the tax, but Mizugami pays for the difference that his funds cannot cover.
Back in Cherak, Jahanna follows up with Moro about the Tournament of Scarlet Grace; despite the advice that was given to her, perhaps unsurprisingly, she did not fare well in the final round. However, she succeeded in making it to the finals as a representive of the Margard family.
Ranka returns from her trip to Gem upon a chariot of clouds.
Crow calls a meeting to catch the group up on what has occurred in the city during their absence. The Hunt investigated and found an Abyssal. Though the Hunt destroyed the Abyssal, a large portion of the Old City was destroyed. House Ferem and Margard lost much property; many mortals lost their lives. Abyssals have the power to draw mortal lives to power their abilities, and Crow warns the group about that for future reference.
Reflections of Chaos has been approved to remain at the Palace, as she has already graduated. She will be serving as a member of the faculty, as Kazuki's special tutor. She hints that Rokumasu will be assisting her in his lessons.
Nellens Malaki is being brought in as the new Freshman rector, and he is a sorcerer who can teach Ranka and Soosilus during Virtuous Cloud's absence. The group tells Crow and Danic about their adventures. Danic strongly suggests that Kazuki never travels alone, if he is truly being targeted by the Fae. Mizugami and Kira are tasked with that duty.
The city has been ramping up in preparation for the arrival of the Tepet Legions in a few weeks. She warns the group to be careful. It is possible that some of the junior officers in the Legion may be jealous of some of the class for their accomplishments. Crow is willing to defend the students' honor.
Signs and portents in Gethamane say that that is the Bull of the North's next target.
It is the new school year! The freshmen are scheduled to arrive; Kazuki is out there to greet the incoming freshmen, Mizugami is scouting them for a good Speaker to the Lower Deliberative. Ferem Lasha is sunbathing in her Southern fashion, reading a book.
The first one to arrive is a conservatively dressed girl who steps out of her carriage dressed for winter... in the early part of the fall. She introduces herself as Zula, an Air aspect, recently adopted into House Ferem. She is shy and skittish, and nearly dives for cover when Mizugami first greets her. She is also from the South and knows of Ranka's position. She also seems cowed by the news Kira is of House Mnemon.
The next to arrive comes alone, wearing a buff jacket, carrying a duffle bag. He introduces himself as Soaring Wolf, from "Gethamane". Mizugami susses that Virtuous Cloud sent him to the College and told him to say that. He also knows Kuk, but he claims he is not like Kuk. He is a Wood aspect, very personable and seems willing to talk. He was originally from Cherak; he is older than most of his classmates, and he comes in knowing more Charms than most young Dragonblooded students.
At around noon, the third Dragonblooded comes by in a familiar looking carriage. Saiki is the one to step out first, followed by what can only be described as a younger version of herself. Her younger blood sister, Rika, had Exalted earlier in the summer; she was adopted by Saiki's Parents, and her blood parents were brought in as Patricians of House Margard in order to try having more children. Rika is a water aspect, and appears aloof and haughty, not really willing to talk to the others.
No one shows up during the afternoon; it is barely evening when the last student arrives with his entourage. He wears a black buff jacket, and his entourage is a half-dozen cute, mortal girls. He introduces himself as Jolson, whom Kira recognizes as one of the martial artists that Judas had recruited for his raid against the Dreameaten warehouse. He reveals that the girls around him are also martial artists who trained under the Master of the Violet Fist.
Ranka tracks down Soosilus during the day, to ask what she found in Whitewall. What Soosilus found is the diary of a sorceror from the time of the Shogunate. While it isn't filled with heretical knowledge, it contains enough research material to learn two spells: Shadow Summon and the Curse of Slavish Humility.
Kira tells Ranka about the First Age artifact she bought, and about what she learned about the Bishop of the Chalcedony Thurible.
Kazuki tells Ranka about how bored he was. Rokumasu asks to go with her to speak with Jahanna about what she found. Jahanna tells Ranka about how the written history differs very much from Whitewall's accepted history. Rokumasu is there to clarify certain points.
Judas spends about a week looking into what happened in the fight between the Hunt and the Abyssal. He finds a large parcel of land in the Undercity that has been transformed into a Shadowland.
Mizugami decides that Soaring Wolf is the best candidate for Speaker to the Lower Deliberative; he is sorely underqualified, but Mizugami helps him with his speech. During the first meeting of the year, he wins the position hands-down. Ragara Fallows gets only two votes. Judas sleeps through the meetings.
On the first school day after the Meeting, Peleps Wanek is introduced as a transfer student to the Freshman class. He is coming in from the House of Bells, and owns his own Daiklaive. He had "removed" the captain of a Legion in order to lead the troops to defend a Cathac village -- and as a result, he was sent to College of the Fivefold paths, without an entourage, most likely as punishment, since he is not yet an adult.
A few days after Wanek's arrival, the first of the Tepet Legions arrive in Cherak aboard the Cheraki navy ships. The city celebrates their arrival. Mizugami takes the Rose Black around town to meet with the movers and shakers of the city, while Kazuki tags along for a day to hero worship.
That night, Jahanna asks Danic how she can find out who the other schools will be sending to the Tournament of the Scarlet Grace. Danic tells her that there are a couple of choices: 1) Since Jahanna herself cannot scout out these schools, she can try bribing people to give her the information or 2) she can hire spies from Cherak to go to these schools to collect information. Jahanna believes that spies are the better choice. Danic tells her that her classmates are good sources for personnel: Ranka, who has a spymaster on her payroll. Mizugami, for his social network, and Judas, who has a good information network in Cherak, are also good choices. In a pinch, House Peleps and Kira are choices since they have connections on the Blessed Isle. Kazuki is the last choice, though at the same time, perhaps the best choice, since he can talk to Saiki about looking into everything, and she is likely a better spy than anyone Ranka can hire.
Jahanna decides to speak with Ranka about having her spymaster take care of the task. He is willing to perform the task for every school except for the Heptagram. It has too many supernatural defenses that would be nigh-impossible for him. However, the new Rector and temporary sorcery teacher used to teach there, so Ranka will tap him for information instead.
Kazuki is being tutored by Reflections. Meanwhile, the Idiots go off to do their own thing. Kazuki asks Mahiro to oversee the deeds to the homes in the Glittering Smoke District. Mahiro, being more insightful, realizes that the slums are not the best income source, so she comes up with a plan to buy and sell homes in the upper-class districts instead, and that will bring in a source of income that can also go towards taking care of the homes in the Glittering Smoke area. Rokumasu helps to fund the first purchase; Daihama is tasked to do the repairs to turn things around quickly and at a good profit.
Rokumasu asks to be taken on as an instructor at the College. He is tasked with helping teach the remedial Exalts, including Kazuki. Daihama asks to be taken on part-time at the College as a handyman -- he is given the project of renovating Dunleavy Hall. Chisato, for her senior year, asks to join the Thaumaturgy track at the College to begin studies in that direction. Okagura asks Auspicious Dusk if he could apprentice under him to become Kazuki's majordomo; Okagura has a long way to go, but Auspicious Dusk accepts the request.
Hikaru has more-or-less become the best she can be as a mortal equestrian. Mizugami takes her into his payroll, and she becomes his stablemaster to help take care of his horses, and breed champion steeds to turn around a profit as well.
Kira takes Kazuki around town to visit various orphanages for her devious plan. She also asks to have courses in engineering and crafting added to her roster.
Ranka has her first classes with the new sorcery teacher, who seems to endorse demon summoning. He is pretty much the opposite of Viruous Cloud. Ranka is uncomfortable with the prospect, and speaks to Crow about it. Ranka is willing to learn about it as an intellectual pursuit to better understand the concepts, but she has no desire to summon any herself. Ranka tries to contact Virtuous Cloud to see when she will be returning, but for some reason, the Infallable Messenger cannot find her. It could mean that she is dead, or in another realm that is outside of Creation. Ranka isn't sure what to make of that, so she goes to the library to do more research.
She goes to research maps Cherak during the Shogunate era. It takes her a full month, and she finds Shigeko's diary, which lists the travel times between key landmarks in the city. She talks to Judas about her findings, since she notices that he was looking at the same books, and they collaborate to map out the undercity to try to find the location of the first age library.
Judas has been spending his time mapping out the undercity.
Mizugami asks The Rose Black for a couple of fangs of soldiers to acts as guards and bodyguards. The Rose Black assigns two fangs (10 soldiers) to be posted out of the Palace of Len Occam. They would still report to the Lieutenant of that area, but will otherwise help serve Mizugami's needs.
Kira is planning something devious.
It is in the end of the month when news of something strange is happening in Gethamane. A bright, golden light shines above the city that glows consistently night and day. The Golden Sky of Gethamane has appeared.
