Shallows/EotWImperialManse
For Quick reference:
Here is the Foundation page for The End of the World.
Here is the Introduction.
Here are links to the Characters.
Here are the House Rules.
Here are links to the Missions, as they are made available to the players.
Here you will find the additional elements about the version of Creation that The End of the world is played in. I call it Player Notes.
Here you will find the current disposition of the Sidereal Shards for this game.
Here are links to the Storyteller notes. (Players please refrain from visiting here.)
In my mind, the upper levels are a a huge palace, very Castle Amberesque with Asian accents. This part has the typical defenses, wall, moat of some sort more decorative than traditional, but no less functional, lots of essence fountains and displays and such. A long the wall, towers with some essence cannons manned by lazy guards who haven't faced a real threat their entire lives.
Inside, some palace guards, a few dozen dematerialized spirits who report to a senchenal (sp?) that oversees security. Probably an elite guard of Dragonbloods, and then the main guards as elite and/or god blooded. Likely a few automata available for emergencies.
There's a hearthstone chamber, extradimensional junk, blah blah blah
But really, that's all for show.
The Imperial manse your looking for is the second level 5 manse thats all below ground. Theres a secret entryway, that leads to the main section which handles the general monitoring of Creation and the various defenses. There are a dozen dragonbloods, some tame spirits, automotau defenders, and at least one Sidereal always present.
Yet you can't activate or really do anything up there, except watch what's going on and send a few holograms and such.
You need to pass through another secret chamer, that currently only the empress and a few others are aware of.
This leads to the Tomb of Horrors Exalted Style. (But mostly because my players enjoy a good dungeon crawl now and again.) None of this Invisible fortress wimpy action, stuff that takes out a solar if he's not paying attention. AND in order to access the main chamber no less than 2 mortal beings (exalted count) must sacrifice their lives/souls to open the central chamber. (Which is why none of the empresses team came out.)
This act of sacrifice must be voluntary, but it clears all current attunement, and allows the great seals to open. Inside is the master hearthstone chamber and control room for the defense grid.
Anyways, thats just my vision.
