SJE/Session42
Exalted Session 42
Session 42 - Dangerous Liaisons
6 Ascending Air
After the meeting breaks up, Alana and Orchid decide that it's about time they paid some attention to fighting crime for once, as opposed to outlandish threats to the whole of Creation (Brand: "I've been fighting crime!", Orchid: "No, Brand, you've been committing them. There's a very fine line..."). As they proceed, at a watchman's leisurely pace, through the market, they run into a crocodile of orange-clad Immaculate worshippers, dancing their way through the crowd. The Immaculates have more on their mind, it becomes clear, than their usual tambourine-banging and dispensation of blessings and educational tracts. A wedge of muscular worshippers drives between Orchid and Alana, forcing them apart.
Alana's hot-headed cousin, Cathak Anaria, springs from the crowd of Immaculates, her twin red jade daiklaives already drawn. "You have evaded me for long enough, cousin! Now is the time of reckoning!" She adopts the distinctive stance of Fire Dragon style and charges. Alana shakes her head and draws her own daiklaive. "Oh, Anaria..." She murmurs as she slips a lightning-fast blow through her cousin's guard to strike her hard in the ribs with the flat of her blade. Anaria artfully falls back a step or two to avoid a second blow before narrowly missing Alana with her riposte.
The rest of the Immaculates crowd around Orchid, herding her away from the duel. She knocks the two closest down with a punch and a kick, giving herself some room to move. "I'm not sure that this is the proper procedure but, as the Captain would say, you're nicked!"
Anaria seizes the initiative, calling upon Hesiesh to aid her as she swings a series of perfect blazing blows. Alana backpedals desperately, parrying and dodging each attack as it comes in. As Anaria's momentum slows, Alana goes on the offensive. Anaria's Flickering Candle Meditation prompts her to leap over one low sweep, sidestep around the thrust that follows it and dive and roll away from a shoulder-high swing that would surely have decapitated her had Alana been making a killing attack.
Orchid is still hemmed in by Immaculates. One of the more cunning among them suggests to her that she could take them all into custody, they'd be willing to go to the watchtower right now. Orchid is too smart for this ploy, however, and silences him with a roundhouse kick to the head. As he staggers, Orchid gracefully pivots on one foot to recover her balance then leaps to his shoulders so that she can see what is happening between Alana and Anaria. And what she sees does not please her...
Anaria lashes out, snapping a few quick thrusts with her left-hand daiklaive at Alana's face. They are easy to parry, but they are only intended as a distraction to set up a more powerful overhead swing with her other hand. Alana rolls with the blow, letting her armour absorb its power but - even as the daiklaive rebounds - Anaria calls upon her Fiery Hand Attack and her daiklaive bursts into searing orange flame which leaps from the blade to ignite Alana's robes. Anaria, too, is wreathed in fire as her anima flares. Unlike her cousin, the Fire Aspect does not burn but revels in the power and glory of the flames that envelop her.
"Don't set my friend on fire!" Orchid screams, hurling a flurry of war fans at Anaria. They strike home and, though they only inflict a few shallow cuts, they distract Anaria for a moment. Alana takes the chance to counter-attack. She switches her grip to strike with her blade: "It was all fun and games, cousin, until you set me on fire..." Anaria dodges away easily, though, as the terrible burns that Alana is suffering take their toll.
The fight continues in this vein for some time. Orchid, leaping atop an abandoned market stall, peppers Anaria with hurled war-fans while simultaneously swatting aside the grasping hands of the Immaculate worshippers who try to drag her down. Alana, suffering terrible burns from her cousin's Fiery Hand Attack and burning anima, tries to close with Anaria and end this fight, but neither Cathak can lay a blade upon the other, their defences are so strong.
The deadlock is broken after Orchid - perhaps moved by the same dark muse that inspired her evil counterpart the last time she saw Anaria fight - takes a moment to write "Feel free to die!" on one of her fans. She hurls it past Anaria's attempt to dodge and inflicts a deep wound on her left leg. Alana - no longer actually burning, but just smouldering a little - and Anaria face each other, both barely able to stand. The two red-headed cousins stare at one another for a long moment, their eyes filled with anger. Anaria is the first to move, calling upon her last reserves of strength, she hurls herself at her cousin, screaming "For the honour of the Cathak!" Alana dodges and parries desperately, finally giving in to that famous Cathak battle rage. "DIE! DIE! DIE, you bitch! Kill, maim, slaughter!" She rants semi-coherently and, with a mighty double-handed swing of her daiklaive, cuts Anaria down!
The broken body of the badly-wounded monk crashes to the sandy floor. She is alive... just. But she is too badly injured to fight on. Alana catches Orchid's eye, to stop her just as she is poised to finish Anaria off with one more throw. Orchid isn't convinced: "Are you sure? To spare the life of one Immaculate who is trying to kill us may be regarded as a misfortune, to spare two looks like carelessness..." But Alana is adamant that there will be no killing. Orchid takes out her frustration on the remaining Immaculates, scattering them and commanding them to run off back to Master Tanaka and tell him what they have done.
Once Anaria's fiery anima has faded, Alana & Orchid take her to the Granite Watchtower, where Brand's remodelling project goes on apace. Anaria is the first guest in the refurbished cell-block. Shizu can't help noticing that the stairs haven't been remodelled yet, and is surprised to learn that, under the Municipal Premises Reform Act of 757, staircases in Watch buildings are exempt from health and safety regulations. This explains why the officers often talk about prisoners falling down the stairs, but Shizu can't help wondering why they don't just fix the stairs anyway...
There is much discussion of what to do about Anaria. Certainly, the charge sheet is long - arson, assaulting an officer of the Watch, attempted murder, resisting arrest - but Brand is worried that the Immaculates might fall outside the Watch's jurisdiction.
Brand: "This might be a diplomatic incident."
Alana: "Oh, no, she was very undiplomatic indeed..."
The circle crosses town to the Immaculate Temple, to put their own side of the story to the senior monks. They are surprised to find a heated argument in progress. On one side, the orange-robed followers of Hesiesh's teachings are arguing that the Anathema must be destroyed NOW! On the other hand, a crowd of blue-robed disciples of Mela insist that prior best practice must be followed, that it is foolish to rush in prematurely, before full preparations can be made. The Captain nudges Orchid in the ribs and sniggers "Looks like a mass debate!"
The debate slowly grinds to a halt as the monks notice the Solars' presence. There is a tense face-off. The Immaculates are unwilling to attack now that the only Dragon-Blooded monks in Gem have been incapacitated, but that doesn't mean that they're willing to cooperate. As Orchid picks out a few of the monks who she recognises from this morning's brawl, Brand takes them into custody.
Shizu, meanwhile, asks after Master Tanaka, but is only told that he is still "indisposed" and cannot receive visitors. She leaves another fruit basket for him, with more best wishes for a speedy recovery.
By the time everyone return to the Granite Watchtower, a swarm of expensive lawyers have arrived from the Immaculate Order. There is one for each of the orange-robed monks, and a whole team just for Anaria. The circle cruelly directs them to Commander Ravitsu's office, well and truly spoiling his afternoon. Brand realises that he will have to come up with solid evidence for this case so, spurning Captain Ibrahim's offer to rustle up a few 'professional witnesses', he quizzes Alana & Orchid on the morning's events and gathers what forensic evidence he can. He sends word of events to the palace, so that the Despot and his staff will be prepared for any diplomatic backlash.
Orchid keeps her appointment with Lord Trasti - after much verbal fencing and cattiness, she negotiates a bridging loan for the next 30 days which should give her the funds to hire an accountant and sort out her household finances. She is keenly aware that the only collateral for the loan is her own person. The consequences of non-payment could be dire!
When she returns - via her favourite salon (because she's worth it) - she and her friends prepare themselves to face dinner with the Abyssals. After lining their stomachs with a family-sized bucket of the Colonel's Special Recipe Fried Ostrich, they wonder if Alana, who is too injured to attend, and Ravitsu, who is unable to free himself from the clutches of the Immaculates' legal team, might not be the fortunate ones after all.
At Orchid's house, they venture into the gothic gloom of the Abyssals' side of the building. A seemingly interminable walk down a corridor paved in black marble brings them to a dining room, luxuriously furnished in a colour scheme featuring black, silver and - just to be on the safe side - a little more black. Here, the Knight of Dark Renown, the Lord of Silent Repose and the Maiden of the Mirthless Smile await them. As the latter grins, reclining on the couch to best show off her curves, she lets her Irresistible Succubus Style sweep over the Solars. Brand and Shizu feel a momentary wave of attraction to her, but shrug it off with an effort of will. Orchid, though... Orchid, of all people, is completely overcome.
The Captain has been strangely oblivious to all this, gawping around the richly-furnished room. Finally, his gaze takes in the luxurious cleavage of the Maiden of the Mirthless Smile. "Nice upholstery!" He comments, a lascivious gleam in his eye. The Maiden favours him with a toothy smile, a shockingly red tongue darting out to lick her lips: "And you... So yummy, I could just eat you up." Orchid, jealous, glares at him, demanding in an undertone, "Captain, what about your wife?"
The developing argument is derailed by the Lord of Silent Repose who, resplendent in his gothic finery, welcomes the Solars to his humble soirée and summons a bevy of ghostly servants to distribute wine and hors d'oeuvres. Shizu and Brand are more than a little dubious about the origin of the paté, so elect to stick with the cheese.
As the wine is poured, Orchid, hanging on the Maiden's every word, is happy to go along with her recommendation. As the Maiden hands over a glass of O+ - "Very fresh. Straight from the tap!" - Orchid allows her hand to linger upon that of the Maiden, gently caressing her cold Abyssal flesh. Despite Orchid's brave attempts to praise the wine - "Very... erm... full-bodied..." - her friends content themselves with the house red.
The Captain, feeling more relaxed now that he has some booze in his hand and safe in the knowledge that Alcohol-Resisting Prana will stop him from doing anything too foolish, turns to small talk. He brings up a subject that has been on his mind. "So. Were you thinking of leaving Gem anytime soon?" The Maiden deflects his question with vague allusions to missing the Underworld but being constrained by the demands of the Lord of Silent Repose's ambassadorial duties.
Orchid seems keen to know more. "You come from the Underworld? That's so fascinating..."
"Ah the Underworld," the Maiden waxes lyrical. "So much passion, so much memory - it is like travelling back through ten thousand years of history recorded in the cities and peoples of the Dead”
Captain Ibrahim is abesntly munching on a vol au vent. “Sounds interesting... You are going back soon, right?”
Orchid glares at the Captain and desperately tries to keep the conversation on track. "So what do the people of the Underworld enjoy?"
"Oh, much the same as the living," the Maiden murmurs seductively. "Companionship, food, to be remembered..."
This merely provides another opportunity for Captain Ibrahim's non-too-subtle hinting. "How about going home? I'm surprised you're not wanting to get back yourself. Don't let us keep you."
"Captain, don't be so rude!" Orchid chides him. "How can you ask our charming guests to rush off just as we're getting to know them a little better?"
Captain Ibrahim is utterly bemused. Is this Orchid talking? Hasn't she just spent days complaining about the Abyssals and wanting rid of them? He is distracted from his line of thought as a lead gong tolls to call the party to table. The first course is served - sweetmeats of rather enigmatic provenance. The Captain sniffs dubiously at one of them and asks the Maiden of the Mirthless Smile "What are these from? Cow?" This earns a swift rebuke from Orchid, who kicks him under the table, remarking sotto voce "Don't call her that!" The Maiden ignores this bickering, save for a slight widening of her smile, as she explains: "They're from hommes de terre..."
At the other end of the table, Brand talks shop with the Knight of Dark Renown. "So, how's Gem then? Seen the sights?"
"I very much enjoy your mausoleums." The Knight intones from behind the mask of his silver helm.
"Yeah... Erm, full of dead people. I mean restful dead people who aren't moving around. Peaceful that, eh?"
"The dead are a skilled and tireless workforce. With necromancy, you could summon an army of ghosts to finish rebuilding your watchtower in a single night."
They settle into a detailed discussion of architecture, both mundane and arcane, and of necromancy.
Shizu, rather nervously, begins a conversation with the Lord of Silent Repose. "So how's Gem working out for you?"
"Is it not amusing how things turn out?" The Abyssal ambassador drily observes. "It is such a short time since I was a... guest... in your watchtower and you were a mere watchman. And now look at us..."
"Well, since getting out of prison, at least you seem to have turned your back on a life of crime."
"Thankfully, these early difficulties have been cleared up and normal diplomatic relations have been restored for the most part."
Brand cannot help overhearing. "Been having problems with the Immaculates, then?" The Lord of Silent Repose is dimissive. "Not at all. We even invited some of them to dinner, but they refused." He sighs. "Some people are so narrow-minded..." He compares notes with Brand and Shizu on the harrassment that they have all suffered from the Immaculate monks, prompting Shizu to observe that "All the Exalts in Gem need to learn that they're not above the law."
The Lord of Silent Repose snorts derisively. "These Dragon-Blooded must learn that their order is dying. The Realm is a sick, wounded beast and must be put out of its misery. Its age has passed, and now a new order must rise from the ashes. Don’t you agree?"
Brand certainly does not agree. "How about saving it instead?"
"Why save it? So that ten thousand Dragon-Blooded can betray you once more? Do not think that Gem is beyond their reach. What of the Wyld Hunt? And I have heard that the legions may be on the move in the South -"
The Lord of Silent Repose's rant is interrupted as, outside, the whole western horizon is lit up by colossal flashes of orange, purple and green light which illuminate the dining room through the open window. The diners' attention - with the exception of Orchid, who is still fixated upon the Maiden of the Mirthless Smile - is drawn to the sky outside, where the clouds roil and tremble as multi-coloured lights play across them. Brand and Shizu are worried - whatever this phenomenon is, it represents an almost inconceivable expenditure of Essence - each coloured flare is a distinct and enormous burst of Essence. And it's coming from beyond the mountains to the west, right where they left the Autochthonians...
The Maiden of the Mirthless Smile slinks up to Brand as he watches, taking his arm. "I've been meaning to say, Brand, that we've been very impressed with you. It has been most... encouraging... to see someone with such vigorous views on the punishment of offenders." She takes Brand's arm. "If there's ever anything we can help you with, you must-" Her attention is drawn by a particularly glorious burst of Essence on the horizon. She sighs and rests her head on Brand's shoulder, prompting a murderous glare from Orchid. If looks could kill, everyone in the room would be in mortal danger... ”Destruction is so beautiful. Don’t you agree?” The Maiden asks Brand. Orchid glides up, placing her hand on the Maiden's free shoulder. "It is not nearly as beautiful as your eyes." She looks daggers at Brand behind the Maiden's head, silently mouthing at him to "Go. Away."
Just as it seems that Orchid is considering genuine violence, the Lord of Silent Repose breaks the tension by calling in the main course. It is the evening's pièce de resistance - furnace rhino steaks marinated in scorpion venom. "They have been allowed to graze only in Shadowlands," he explains. "For that unique soulsteel flavour."
The Maiden of the Mirthless Smile offers round more wine. Orchid ("I'm feeling most adventurous tonight...") goes along with her suggestion once more, the vintage is a cheeky A- this time. Again, Orchid just about manages to force down the coppery beverage. As for the meal, almost everyone finds it just a touch too piquant. Everyone, that is, except for the Captain who insists on adding a generous dollop of his uncle's favourite fire-pepper sauce, which he just happened to have with him. It smokes ominously on the plate and quickly blackens the silver cutlery. "You know you've added just the right amount," the Captain observes. ".When it starts to melt the spoon." He tucks in with apparent delight.
The rest of the meal passes with little incident until, over dessert (devil's-food cake) and 'soul liqueurs' - a deep black drink, which emits fitful wisps of smoke and never seems to quite stay still in the glass - Orchid proposes a toast...
Orchid: "To our hosts, whose hospitality is only exceeded by their charm and beauty."
The Maiden of the Mirthless Smile: "To friendship and new beginnings."
Shizu: "To life."
The Lord of Silent Repose: "To death."
Captain Ibrahim: "To life again. You know, reincarnation and all that!"
After one final food-related horror in the form of After Eight mints - which, curiously, Shizu seems to like, prompting Captain Ibrahim to add to his growing collection of "evidence that something's not quite right with her" - dinner is finally over. Orchid seems rather keen to usher Brand, Captain Ibrahim and Shizu out of the house. Brand and Captain Ibrahim share a dubious glance over her head as she shoos them down the corridor.
Brand, hoping to encourage Orchid herself to get out of the house, suggests that they could get down to the Granite Watchtower nice and early, to investigate that great big Essence blow-out that lit up the sky. She vaguely agrees to whatever he says as she all but shoves him out into the street, but it's obvious that she's not listening at all.
Captain Ibrahim wonders whether Orchid wouldn't like him to stay. "You know, make sure that lot aren't up to no good. And I wouldn't mind a look at how you've redecorated your side of the house..." He ventures desperately as Orchid tries to close the front door on him. His suspicion that something is very, very wrong is confirmed when Orchid doesn't even rise to the bait and snap at his leeringly suggests that she spends the night at his place. He is left outside, puzzled and wondering whether he should go and get Ravitsu and Alana to come and help with this. He knows Orchid gets on well with them. Maybe they can talk some sense into her.
Inside, Orchid shuts and firmly locks the door on her circle-mates...
Return to SJE
