SJE/Session52
Session 52
21st Ascending Air RY 769
The Watch Exalts gather on the lawn of Burning Feathers Estate as Celestial Lions ring the perimeter and await the warrant they need. A huge argument erupts amongst the Exalts as to who is setting them up. Orchid is very upset that after all her travails, sacrifices and battles, that the authorities still believe them to be enemies of the State.
“If people are going to treat me like a reality-destroying criminal after all I’ve done for them then I might as well destroy reality! That’ll show them!” she pouts.
Brand believes is Kejak Chejop who has set them up, but Orchid insists, that if it was him, they wouldn’t have been given the hot list warning. Alana points out that this argument has been going in circles, and they need more information. At the moment the are at the mercy of Heavenly law, and they need to become experts, fast!
So, they try Burning Feather. Who is a bit drunk and shouts at the Lions - “IS THE PARTY TOO NOISY? LET THE NEIGHBOURS COME HERE AND SHAY THAT!!” (Hic).
So, Alana remembers her advisor in the Cult- Ayesha Ura. One quick IM later, and no sooner has the message been sent, than the Sidereal is spotted landing on the grounds.
“I foresaw you would have need of me, and decided to hurry matters along” says a breathless Ayesha.
”Whats going on?” asks everyone else.
“At 9:23, a new Creation Threatening Event was flagged on the Loom of Fate by the Pattern Spiders. This was conveyed to the supervising Sidereal at 9:25. He forwarded it on to the Bureau of Destiny at 9:38. At 11:39, a Pre-Crime Warrant was issued for your arrest in order to prevent the Destruction of Creation. At 11:42, the CTE Hotlist was notified.”
“But we don’t want to destroy Creation. This is all a mistake” exclaims Shizu.
“Unfortunately the Loom of Fate shows that you are fated to destroy Creation sometime in the next few months. The laws of Yu Shan allow the Bureau of Destiny to arrest those fated to commit the very highest crimes- murder of an Incarna, or the end of Creation. And though I disagree, my colleagues have decided that they cannot take any chances with the fate of Creation at stake. You are now fated to be caught, have a trial and found guilty”
“Guilty! What kind of justice is that!” exclaims Orchid angrily
”The judge has yet to make up his mind. You will receive a fair trial. But the outcome is already written into Fate.”
“But cant we avoid it? Like if we were fated to be knocked down by a cart tomorrow, we could just stay indoors?”
“You can try to fight Fate, but Fate usually wins. Fate is all around us. It surrounds us, penetrates us, and binds Creation together.” Says Ayesha (Players beat GM for Stars Wars reference)
“But doesn’t that mean imprisoning us wont do any good?” ask the Solars
“Possibly not, but my colleagues need to do something. This is their attempt to change Fate- they will dispatch the Sidereal Convention of Cruel Fate and Untimely Death to take custody of you. That is our purpose- to fix Fate when problems like this crop up”.
“So, if all things are bound by Fate, can we use the Loom to see who made this Fate for us? We were set up” says an indignant Rav.
“Only if they are within Fate themselves. Demons and Fae and Primordials are not bound to the Loom of Fate, and cause disruption to the normal order of things- they are ‘outside of Fate’. Their actions cannot be predicted or accounted for on the Loom. Certain places such as the Wyld, Malfeas and Elsewhere are outside of Fate too. The Loom of Fate is partly outside of Fate- it needs to be, even though it produces all the Fate threads.”
“How about the Dead? And those Deathknights? And Shadowlands” asks Shizu, thinking of Orchids housemates.
“The Dead have a…. different Fate.” Ayesha continues “and possibly a few others are ‘outside of Fate’ too… but no…”
“What do you mean?” presses Shizu. “Please go on”
“Well its just urban legend, but certain ‘renegades’ in Yu Shan are said to have cheated fate and placed themselves outside it. But that’s just rumour” assures Ayesha.
“So, we could be outside of Fate if we went to this Loom?” says the Captain, catching up. “And change our Fate?!”
“er… yes.” Admits Ayesha “But that would be very dangerous and foolhardy”
”We could destroy it and be rid of this Fate nonsense” asserts the Captain boldly. “Where did you say the Loom was?!”
“I’m not sure I should tell you” says the worried Sidereal. “Look, I must be going before I’m caught. I was never here!”
Ayesha Ura does something complicated with her hands as she traces an intricate kata in the air, and yes… she was never there. Though the party have their memories of their conversation with her, they can never prove it happened.
So, still caught in the horns of a dilemma, Orchid decides to play one last contact card. She IM’s her mentor, the mysterious and enigmatic face-changing Inconstant Hierophant of Five-Fold Adamant Pedagogy. Minutes later, she receives a scroll message back. It reads
| “Look under the goblet in the gazebo. Eat the red pill”. |
Despite their understandable trepidation at approaching a dread gazebo Orchid and pals discover 6 red pills under the goblet. They are unsure as whether to take them. Could it be a trap or trick? Was the scroll message really sent by the Inconstant Hierophant? Is it his handwriting? Neurotic paranoia roams supreme.
“Bugger this!” shouts Brand, grabbing up a pill and swallowing it down, swiftly followed by the Captain.
“Pop” .
“Pop” .
Both Captain and Brand vanish. The others turn and look at each other, worried. (or slightly relieved in Orchids case). They test the air to make sure the duo haven’t just turned invisible. But no, they are gone.
But considering the certain fate that awaits them when the Celestial Lions get their warrant, they decide to risk it. The rest down their pills and promptly vanish… except Rav (who made 8 successes on a Resistance & Stamina roll).
“Where has everyone gone?!” wonders a lonely Lunar.
“Pop” . The pill kicks in.
The Exalts find themselves transported to a cramped hemispherical room, its circular walls filled with scrolls, books, technology, Artifacts, and maps. A corral of chairs and worn sofas in the middle are less cluttered and they settle there as they meet their host –a tall, black man in robes and looking a little like Samuel L. Jackson.
“Orchid, so good to see you again. And your friends, I know of course. I’ve been monitoring your situation- don’t worry, you are safe here. This is a no-room.”
“No-what?” says a cramped Captain.
“A no-room, a piece of Creation cut off from the Tapestry and looped in on itself. Inside this room, you are outside of Fate. None can detect your existence, your actions and thoughts a unaffected and undetectable by Fate.”
After commiserating with Orchid that her latest task will be difficult (winning the trust of Kejak Chejop), the Hierophant suggests that the only way to clear the Pre-Crime charges against them is to change Fate itself, so they are no longer responsible for Creations destruction. The group agree surprisingly quickly but ask how.
The Hierophant suggests that to break into the Loom of Fate building, either they need to distract the Celestial Lion guards and he will slip in to re-weave Fate. Or, he can provide the distraction, and the Circle slip in. Apparently in the First Age, hubris filled Solars demanded full access to anywhere in Creation and Heaven (they didn’t win on the Jade Pleasure Dome though). As such, the mighty wards protecting the Loom from any save the Maidens and Sidereals were modified to now permit those within the aura of an Eclipse Caste’s anima to enter. Those protocols have never been changed. He can also teach them the basics of Fate weaving, which Brand is increasingly intrigued by.
“Have you ever woven Fate?” Brand asks.
“Many years ago” admits the Hierophant. “But I have a dreamstone that will teach those of you who wish to learn. I need only touch it to your foreheads, and then you must sleep. When you awake, you will be able to weave fate. But the memory, like a dream will only last a day or two.”
Alana, Orchid and Brand volunteer to learn how to weave Fate and are soon fast asleep, dreaming of looms and endless thread and spiders.
Rav, Shizu and the Captain are at a bit of a loose end for the next few hours, as they make themselves at home in the Inconstant Hierophants sanctum.
“So, these No-Rooms. Hard to make?” Asks the Captain to the Hierophant.
“Very”
“Ok. Hey, what does this do?” asks the Captain, hefting a broken looking cannon
”It’s a Generalised Ammo Launcher artefact I could never get to work quite right- it will fire anything you put into the hopper.”
”Cool!” says the Captain, before being distracted by shiny green Jade Poleaxes which he asks to borrow.
Rav meanwhile is curious about the many eldritch and obscure tomes in the Hierophants collection. Impossible works, books out of legend, Histories of futures yet to pass- all are present. And still intrigued by the 6th planet seen on Kejak Chejops orrery, Rav begins to research. In a dusty tome, dating back to the Primordial era called “Of Secrets Best Unspoke” he finds mention of the 6th maiden- rumour and conjecture. But there is a name- Pluto.
Shizu too cases the joint, looking for easily palmed valuables. But like a Disney movie of the week, he too learns that the most valuable prize is knowledge and dives into the books to learn more about the First Age and the Unconquered Sun. Shizu alas does not have Rav’s Library Use skillz., and winds up with the massive 30 volume “Creation: A History” . He starts at the beginning.
“IN THE BEGINNING THERE WAS THE WYLD. THEN THE PRIMORDIALS CAME FORTH, AND THE WYLD SHRANK BACK…” (as narrated by David Attenborough.
Shizu skips to volume 6
“AND YEA, DID THE SMALL GOD AHLAT DID COUNT THE NUMBER OF WALRUSES WHO DID MATE. IN THE NEXT SEASON HE DID COUNT AGAIN, AND THE NUMBER WAS LESS. AND YEAR ON YEAR, DID THE WALRUS GROW FEW. AND AHLAT DID SENT REPORT TO YU SHAN, BUT NONE WOULD HEAR HIM. AND AHLAT GREW WROTH. AND NEXT YEAR, THERE WERE FEWER WALRUS AND STILL NONE WOULD HEAR HIS LONE CRY IN THE WILDERNESS”
On and on and on…..
“Must never mention this Ahlat” thinks Jaq.
Eventually, the trio of dreamers awake.
“WOAH! I know Craft Fate!” exclaims Brand, Keanu-style.
All around Orchid, Alana and Brand, the after-effects of their sleep teaching spill over onto their vision. Everyone is connected together by endless threads that disappear off into the sky. Everything and everyone is interconnected by these invisible threads, like Gerry Anderson marionettes. Reality is laid bare before them, and it is Thunderbirds!
Orchid asks her Mentor about her compatriots- The Captain and Shizu in particular- “Did they behave?”
“Oh yes – they were courteous and polite. We had a nice conversation”
“With the Captain!?” exclaims a baffled Orchid.
“Remember, this room is outside of fate and the normal course of reality.” explains a mischevious Hierophant.
So, prepared at last (Brand has bought 4 dots of Craft Fate with xp, the others have bought 1 dot and makes do with the 2 ‘phantom’ dots the dreamstone has imparted onto their minds. The Captain has borrowed a jade poleaxe and Shizu might have something too.) the band of Exalts make ready to march on the Loom of Fate and change Destiny itself!
A portal from the No-room leads them back onto the streets of Yu-Shan, filled with assorted Gods. The Hierophant splits off to the left and is soon out of sight, readying his ‘distraction’.
The Watch Exalts- Captain Ibrahim Al Amarah (Dawn), Cathak Alana (Zenith), Shizu Quiet Shadow (Night), Burning Brand (Twilight), Floating Summer Orchid (Eclipse) and Commander Ravitsu Cail (Changing Moon Lunar) boldly march down the street towards the Loom of Fate in line. Their determination written across their faces. Their resolve, unshakeable! Nothing can break their purpose!
Gods part, as the Exalts march towards their Destiny. But who is that ahead? White face, stripey shirt? Beret? Painted smile/frown? And its waving silently at Shizu?
The Captains heart stops as he sees the object of his obsession before him- the Great Mime. The Arch-conspirator behind the Captains conspiracy theory of all that is wrong in Gem! It is “…” Gawd of Mimes!
OOC - “Genius!” from Ravs player.
Torn in two by his competing motivations, the Captain is lost in inner turmoil, as the others try to force him past. With anguish, the Captain realises that he cannot take the time to bring justice to the Great Mime Enemy. So he does a surprising thing…
“WAIT HERE” snarls the Captain, as he mimes handcuffing the Gawd of Mimes to a railing. The Captain miming? Truly, if you fight the enemy for too long, you become the enemy….
Meanwhile, great green flares of light rise into the Yu Shan sky, about half a mile to the left. Screams and shouts fill the air, as panicked Gods scream “Malfeas! Malfeas is coming!!!”
At once, a dozen Celestial Lions race from their position at the Loom of Fate building (a small, round, non-descript place) to counter this unprecedented Demon Incursion. But one, lone Lion remains behind, a last guard on the door to the Loom of Fate. It is the last obstacle between them and the Loom.
Shizu offers to distract it away, but Orchid instead thinks she can reason with it. Marching towards it, the Exalts stagger as it recognises them and roars for them to “STOP NOW! YOU ARE UNDER ARREST” . The force of its obedience charms, stops them momentarily before they muster the will to press on.
“We are Solars, defenders of Creation! We could no more harm Creation than you. Let us pass!” social attacks Orchid (with assistance from Rav, Alana and Brand)
“DROP YOUR WEAPONS AND GET DOWN ON GROUND” orders the Celestial Lion, COPS-style as he roars for back up. More willpower burned….
Captain and Shizu notice incoming Lions, as the others desperately plead to be let in
”If you don’t, then all of Creation will be destroyed! Let us in now, and we can stop this demon attack!” convinces Orchid.
Under the withering barrage of desperate pleas, outrageous bluffs and 15 success social attacks, even the stalwart Celestial Lion, must bend.
“VERY WELL, YOU MAY PASS, BUT WE MUST MAKE IT LOOK LIKE YOU FORCED YOUR WAY” he whispers.
So the Exalts launch into a co-ordinated group stunt. The Celestial Lion launches itself high above Orchid who hurls her war fans to ping off its side harmlessly “AARGH!” , Rav roll under, the Captain and Alana bat at it with their weapons as Shizu launches a dagger just over its head. Brand walks under the leaping Lion, lighting a match on its belly as he does. Putting the match to a magically appearing cigar, he earns the 3dice stunt bonus for uttering the immortal words “I love it when a plan comes together!”
Orchid flares her anima banner as they pass through the door to the Loom of Fate- her golden aura holding back a lethal ward response that would have turned anyone else into smoking ash.
Inside they find the Escher-like architecture of the Loom of Fate- all walkways and stairs and balconies at impossible angles to each other, gravity a forgotten concept. Dominating the middle of the room is the great mass of threads and Essence that makes up the Tapestry of Fate stretching as far as the eye can see. Only the three learned in the ways of fate weaving can make head or tale of it.
Orchid looks in an searches for Northolm. Amongst the infinite interlaced threads of the snowbound north she finds fascination in one small, perfectly beautiful crystalline snowflake. Alana looks in and sees the threads representing the childhood home she grew up in- the intersecting jade and mortal threads of its occupants over the years, the tangle of disrepair and decay as it is abandoned, and then in the future, new threads of restoration as some makes their home there again, straightening out its future threads once more.
Rav looks across the room and sees on an upside down balcony a female Lunar clad in silver plate looking like her brother. Accompanied by Shizus twin brother, a female Captain, Brand and male Cathak. Orchid looks much the same. Could these be other Gem City Watch Exalts from an alternate reality?
Brand meanwhile has the best perception of the Tapestry. Looking around, he sees familiar threads- those of the Despot, the Dragons Rest bar, the mines of Gem, his old home, silver and gold threads for the Exalts he knows…. But they are not woven together as one neat geographical location, but instead seem to cross and intersect all over the Tapestry. Only at the bottom do they bunch together in a great tangled knot that ties the whole of the tapestry together in one great ball. And beyond that? …. Nothing.
Now they know where the problem is, the group begin to leap from balcony to balcony to reach the nexus point where Fate ends.
As they do, a voice shouts out from above.
“Stop! Don’t touch that, or you’ll destroy us all!”
5 figures, flaring animas of green, blue, red, yellow and violet, eyes full of stars move to intercept. It is the Convention of Cruel Fate and Untimely Death-
Heru Marr Elder Chosen of Jupiter martial artist. Sad Ivory, the white clad ninja and Assassin of Fate (Saturn), Alente Fachion, Chosen of Venus, the Westerner Basking Shark (Mercury) and the starmetal armoured Olaf the Wild, Chosen of Mars.
Will Rav, Shizu and the Captain be able to hold off 5 Sidereals as Alana, Orchid and Brand re-write Fate? Will they be in time to save Creation?
Find out, next episode as Solars vs. Sidereal battle it out for the Fate of Creation!
SJE
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