TheCurse/TheDeceiver

The Deceiver

An Exalted Campaign by theCurse .

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Italics are read aloud.
Quicksilver Mist and the PCs have their own character sheets and their stats are not listed here.

Cast of Player Characters
One Who Yawns
Striking Cobra
Red Cloud
White Feather in a Strong Breeze
Silver Fox Dancing in the Moonlight

Act I

Introduction

In the First Age, all Creation was a place of peace and harmony. The mighty Exalted ruled over mortal men with a kind hand and struck at the enemies of the gods with a savage blade. But all Exalted were not equal. Greatest among them were the Solar Exalted, the chosen of the Unconquered Sun and rulers of Creation. But these champions were cursed by their enemies, tainted with cruelty. Their mighty empire, the Realm, began to crumble. The Terrestrial Exalted, the Dragon-Blooded, were the mighty soldiers of the Solars. They saw their masters descend into corruption and revolted. Decades of brutal war between the Celestials and the Terrestrials changed the face of Creation. The technology and knowledge of the First Age was lost. Though the Solars held god-like power, they succumbed to the sheer number of their enemies. And the Sidereals, Celestial Exalted, chosen of the Stars, and advisers of the Solars, aided the Dragon-Blooded in their uprising. It is now the Second Age of Creation, the Age of Sorrows. A new Realm has sprung up from the ruins of the old, clenched in the crimson fist of the Scarlet Empress. But now the Realm is in chaos, the Empress has disappeared, and the Solars are returning to claim their place as the rulers of Creation.

Yawn's Training
RY 768
Resplendent Air 7, Morning

Location

Unknown Hideout of the Cult of the Illuminated

Characters

One Who Yawns, Striking Cobra, Sidereal Tutor (Ascending Mind of Ivory)

Area

The hideout is underground, inside a large cavern. The hideout is a sturdy, spartan building. There is a sloping roof to keep the rain water that drips into the cavern from disturbing those inside, but there are no doors, merely portals leading into the structure and between rooms. There are two bedrooms, one has four small, stiff beds and little else. The other belongs to Master Ivory and nobody but her ever goes in there. The other room is bathing area, kitchen, and dining area. Meals are eaten at a long wooden table that dismantles to provide room if needed. The kitchen consists of a small stove and ample counter space. The bathtub seats one and has a curtain that extends around it to keep out prying eyes.

One Who Yawns

You awake, and you are rather stiff. Master Ivory has in the past few months begun to work you like a dog. The training which was, at first, even paced and generally enjoyable, has become an ever-renewing nightmare. Since your training in sorcery began, you have been questioning your choice to enter the tutelage of the Illuminated. As you toss aside the scratchy blanket and rise, you look across the room to the sleeping form of Striking Cobra. He had already been training under Master Ivory when you arrived and while he wouldn't know how to boil water without using Essence, he is well beyond you in terms of sorcery. Listening for the movement of your pet Simian, you instead hear a familiar splashing from the next room. Stepping out, you see a bathtub. It is surrounded by a curtain and behind that curtain, as you can tell by a shapely silhouette, is Ascending Mind of Ivory.

After she finishes bathing, Ivory will step out of the bath and dress before Yawn's eyes, if he doesn't turn them away (Temperance Check if he watches). She will wait until breakfast is prepared, but instead of eating she will merely watch him.

After eating, training will commence. Yawns will be asked to perform all of his charms and spells, if possible. Then Ivory will tell him to sit with her. She will tell Yawn that it is time for him to leave. Before he continues his training, he must go on a mission for her. He needs to pack.

A boat in Arjuf will take him where he needs to go. (If Striking Cobra has not awakened yet, he will be called for). Yawns will know the ship captain by a sparkling, pink rose pendant on her breast. Suddenly, Ivory will begin making a series of hand gestures and she will glow with a purple aura. A swirling cloud of white circles around her and then extends to encompass Yawns and Cobra. Light begins to change shape...

Ascending Mind of Ivory

Ivory is a Gold Sidereal of many years. She is a sorceress and helps train new Solars with an inclination towards these abilities. She is pale skinned and a handsome woman with very well-defined curves. Her hair is a mix of white, grey and, black, and extends to her shoulders. Her eyes are the color of pale moonlight and her lips tend to have a lavender tint. She dresses in loose white gowns despite her choice to live in chilly caverns.

Red Cloud Meets the Zenith
RY 768
Ascending Air 27, Midday

Location

Icewalker Camp

Characters

Red Cloud and 4 Icewalkers, 12 Wyld Barbarians

Red Cloud

The mammoth knows. The animal has known your tribe from birth. You have followed its herd, protecting it from demise and taking what you needed. The Icewalkers are as natural as snow to its primitive mind. You respect and revere the beast, have devoted your life to it and with its help you have survived. But now its time has come and it will not go quietly.

Red Cloud and his fellow tribesman will have to take down the mammoth. Once it has expelled its last breath...

This is the life you have led, were born to lead. But all has changed. You see it in the faces of your tribesmen Last winter the tribe was attacked by the Ravagers. The surprise of the attack overwhelmed you as much as the your enemy's strength. Many died and it appeared that you would share their fate, but you suddenly changed forever. You felt the heat of the sun pour into you and explode from your eyes and mouth. Your veins were filled with molten iron as you tore your enemies asunder. When they were all slain, you were hailed as a hero, but since that day your kin have become increasingly suspicious of you. They know what you are and what it means. You are Anathema, possessed of an evil spirit. You will only end up destroying all that you love and all who harbor you. You feel that it is only a matter of time before they drive you off or you succumb to madness. While the mammoth is being prepared for its trip back to the camp, Wyld Barbarians attack. They should end up killing the other Icewalkers.

After the Barbarians are repelled, Red Cloud succumbs to a great fatigue. He has dreams of faraway lands and majestic cities, of great power and greater cruelty. Images of war and rebellion fill his mind. Center to many of these visions are others like himself, Anathema. One in particular, a slender, quiet man, handsome and kind-faced, wields two blades and fights by his side. When Cloud awakes, he sees a lone figure, seemingly drawn from shadow, in the distance, approaching. As he nears he realizes that it is the man from his dreams.

This man is Quicksilver Mist, who explains to him what they are and what their destiny is. He tells cloud of the usurpation and how he has remained in hiding for a thousand years. He asks Cloud to journey with him to the Blessed Isle to find the others of their Circle and embark on a quest to reclaim their honor.

If Cloud agrees, the scene ends. Otherwise, upon returning to the camp, the tribe sees that Cloud is alone and drive him from the village.

Wyld Barbarians and Icewalkers

Attributes

STR 3, DEX 2, STM 3, CHA 2, MAN 2, APP 2, PER 3, INT 2, WIT 3

Virtues

COM 2, CON 3, TEM 2, VAL 3

Abilities

Ath 2, Awa 2, Bra 2, Dod 2, End 2 (Wilderness+1), Med 1, Mel 2 (Axe+1), Per 1, Pre 1, Res 2, Soc 1, Ste 2, Sur 2 (Native Environment +1)

Base Initiative: 5
Weapons: Fist, Kick, Knife, Axe, Short Spear
Dodge Pool: 4/2
Soak: 3L/7B (armor) and 3L/4B (target shield), -2 Mob, +1 Difficulty to attack.
Willpower: 6
Health Levels: -0/-1/-1/-2/-2/-4
Essence: 1

Quicksilver Mist

Quicksilver is of a slender build and is clothed mostly in black (but with a short grey cape). He is pale with deep blue eyes. His hair is silver and cut short on the sides and long on top. Mist is actually now a Deathknight and is leading the incarnates of his previous circlemates into his own dastardly schemes.

White Feather Meets the Black Ship
RY 768
Resplendent Air 8, Evening

Location

Northwest of the Blessed Isle, pirate ship Chariot of the Ebon Sun

White Feather

The smell of the sea fills your lungs and you remember why you live this life: To be free, free from expectations and responsibilities you never asked for. You have chosen a new life and new responsibilities. You look at your crew, as noble and homely a lot as you'll find in this trade. Tonight they are grumpy and you are worried. There has been no work this week. If there are no marks tonight, you'll be forced to haul cargo or take passengers. You shudder at the thought and ask your first mate to take charge while you go to your quarters to think about your next move. As you make your way to the stairs, you hear a shout from the lookout.

The ship is the color of rose and is moving swiftly in your direction. It is moving against the wind with no paddlers but is still moving quickly. It looks luxurious. It is either a merchant ship or a pleasure cruiser. There is no escort.

Before you can call the men to the deck, you hear a crash a thunder and the wind abruptly stops. Black clouds roll in on the previously clear sky and you see a darkness under the overcast. The clouds and the darkness seem to be following the yacht. After a few minutes, the yacht is closer and you can make out a ship closing in on it. The ship is ebony, or at least the color of it, with white trim (A successful Perception+Awareness roll at difficulty 3 reveals the white to be bone).

The rose ship is boarded by the crew of the black. You can see the brutal fighting and curse them both. This was to be your break. But perhaps you can pick off the survivors, if the wind picks up. Suddenly, a dance of light materializes on the rose ship and streaks of rainbow lightning seem to stream across it and towards the black ship. Men on and from both ships tumble into the water. Others are thrown into the air and some seem to explode in fire. As the ribbons of essence, that is what you now recognize it as—the same force that gives you your powers, drives toward the back of the ship, it is suddenly snuffed out. You can barely make out a lone figure. He is as dark as night against the night and you only catch glimpses of him in the lightning. He raises his hands and at the same time the water around the rose ship begins to bubble. Arms made of water, like the tentacles of a giant squid, reach from the deep and begin whipping at the crew of the rose ship, plucking some off and tossing them, merely crushing others into the deck. Soon all is left is a man dressed in bright colors that seem dull against the show of light dancing around him. The tentacles whip at him furiously but disintegrate as they touch him. Soon they disappear altogether, drawing back into the sea. The man in black steps onto the rose ship and charges towards the other sorcerer with blinding speed. The other man impossibly dodges and appears behind his enemy. Were it not for your superhuman senses, you doubt you could make out the battle, but your crew is watching just as intently. The man in black seems to have been caught off guard, but a sword appears in his hand, seemingly from nowhere. He spins around nearly in a full circle. The man in the brilliant colors tumbles to the ground. You see the blade shimmer and blink out of existence once more. As the man in black stands on the lifeless deck of the rose ship, you swear you feel his eyes upon you, though you cannot see them.

The black ship will begin to chase the Chariot. No matter what, they will eventually catch up. It's what being an ST is all about. The black ship is manned by zombies. Winged beasts will also emerge from the boat and begin to carry away the pirates. Eventually, the man in black will approach Feather.

You see now the long, priestly robes and the hood covering his face. Long hair, straight as bones and the color of silver feed from the hood and reach his waist. He is stalking toward you, heedless of the carnage around you.

If Feather attacks, well, continue accordingly until the man in black touches her forehead. She will feel a wave of dizziness and the world will spin like a black whirlpool.

You awake the next morning with a slight buzzing in your noggin. Pushing yourself up to your feet, you see that you're docked at some port, a Realm port by the look of things. (Roll Intelligence + Sail for the location, Difficulty 4). On the ship are the sleeping forms of several crewmates. They are just waking up as well. You ask your first mate what happened. He hasn't a notion himself. No one knows. They don't know how they got to port. (Reflexive Perception + Awareness, Difficulty 2 for the Rose Pendant adorning her breast)

Chariot of the Ebon Sun statistics are that of a large yacht.

The black ship has Soak 10L, Maneuverability -5, Speed 4, and is otherwise the same as a large yacht.

The Man in Black is Quicksilver Mist. He is a master of Sorcery and Necromancy but holds his most powerful magics in reserve.

Fox in the Magistrate's Chambers
RY 768
Resplendent Air 9, Dawn

Location

Arjuf, Blessed Isle

Location

The second-story apartment of Ledaal Jonis in his family's estate in Arjuf.

Fox

The rays of early morning light fall upon your fluttering eyes. The Unconquered Sun is calling. Or maybe it's just dawn. The large and luxurious bed provided a rejuvenation most low-born never experience. But you have always reached above your station. Turning to face the left side of the bed you see Ledaal Jonis, nephew of Ledaal Kemar, the Prefect of the Arjuf Dominion. The UnExalted paper-pusher was an easy-enough mark, but he didn't know anything particularly valuable. His lack of stamina was also a disappointment. He doesn't seem to be breathing.

An Investigation + Intelligence roll at difficulty 3 (or Intelligence + Medicine at Diff 1, but Fox couldn't apply a band-aid, so...) reveals that he is, in fact, deceased. Before Fox can dwell on the situation, she hears a knock on the door.

The individual on the other side of the door is Crimson Fist, Dragon-Blooded friend of Jonis. If she doesn't answer, he will eventually break the door down. In any case, he will see his friend's lifeless form and say something about his sources being accurate. He will call Fox an assassin whore and an Anathema. He will attack her unless she can weasel her way out of it. He is rather weak-willed and dimwitted for a Dragon-Blooded. In any case, she will meet her slave: Slipping Butterfly. Butterfly will suggest that his master leave on the first boat out of Arjuf. They will need to make it to the docks.

Crimson Fist
STR 4 DEX 3 STA 4
CHA 3 MAN 2 APP 4
PER 5 INT 1 WIT 1
BRAWL 4, MELEE 4, RIDE 4, DODGE 4, PRESENCE 4, SOCIALIZE 4, LINGUISTICS 1, LORE 1, THROWN 3, ENDURANCE 4, RESISTANCE 4
Compassion 3, Conviction 2, Temperance 1, Valor 3
Willpower 6 (-3 where his appetites are concerned)
Soak 4B/2L
Essence 2
Health -0/-1//-1/-2/-2/-4/I
Nature: Hedonist

One Who Yawns Arrives at the Docks
RY 768
Resplendent Air 9, Morning

Yawns and Cobra

The city of Arjuf is grander than you had ever imagined. The criss-crossing of streets, the dragon-blooded resplendent in their jeweled battle short, the entire place seems alive with a nervous vitality you had never experienced. After being whisked to the mountains near the border of the Arjuf Dominion (you'll have to learn that spell..), you hiked to Numino and spent the night. You arrived in Arjuf last night, but as per your Master's orders, you waited until dawn to go to the docks and look for the captain with the rose pendant. You're approaching the docks now.

Yawns looks at the various ships but spots the rose pendant on the breast of a female captain. He should probably go check it out.

Quicksilver and Cloud arrive in Arjuf and walk to the docks. There, Quicksilver says he senses the aura of their comrades and leads Cloud to the ship.

When Fox is at the docks, she sees the pirate ship and Butterfly says that it would be the most inconspicuous choice.

White Feather will probablly be rather confused and unreceptive to passengers. Mist will explain everything (well, almost everything...). When he hears about White Feather's story, he suggests they investigate.

If they don't pick up the speed, a group of soldiers and Crimson Fist march toward the docks.

On the Sea

The heroes will come upon the wreckage of the rose ship. Mist, if no one else, will uncover the captain's log which details that its next two destinations were Arjuf and Nexus. Everyone will probably decide to go to Nexus.

After a few days of journeying, well... SEA MONSTERS!

Sea Monster: Humanoid, scaly fish thing.
STR 4 Dex 7 STA 4 3WP
H: -0/-1/-2/I
Attack: Bite: 6/6d/8L, Claw: 8/7d/6L
Abi: Athletics 4 (Swimming +3), Dodge 3 (Swimming +3), Brawl 3, Intimidation 4

Now everyone gets 12 XP + bonuses to augment their characters and reflect their training on the ship. On to Nexus!

Outcome

Before play, Striking Cobra's player changed his name to "Strika." He was quite proud. He also didn't show up for the session... One Who Yawns' player, ironically, slept through most of the session. Everything else went marginally well, though I did, as usual, have trouble with combat (too many variables!).

All of Cloud's buddies died. He decided to go on the journey but was told by his tribesmen to never return. He didn't seem to mind.

Fox nearly suffered a beating at the hands of Crimson Fist. He wasn't buying her story at first, but she used "Heartfelt Compassion Method" and escaped.

White Feather was rather upset with her situation. When she found the Rose Pendant, she took it off and put it in her pocket. I don't understand the rationale for that action, but I can work around it. I had planned for that eventuality.

Once everyone was together and on the ship, Quicksilver explained the situation. The circle sailed to the area of the battle. The sea monsters were almost too much for some of them to handle. Strika cast Obsidian Butterflies and nearly turned everyone into sliced Solars. He quit playing after this session. I'll probably have the crew leave him behind.

Comments

Comment here.

Act II

Quicksilver Mist quickly takes charge of the group and the ship. His long list of seafaring charms and leadership qualities make the trip much quicker, but how will White Feather react to such an obvious threat to her authority?

The circle passes the mighty city of Lookshy. In the distance can be seen the rising cliff and portion of town at the bottom of it. Perception (3) and they can see the lifts.

They will arrive at the docks at night. Investigation into the rose ship will begin. Unbeknownst to the heroes (but knownst to me), a Bronze Sidereal is waiting for Fox, sent as an extension of the Wyld Hunt by Crimson Fist. He will first engage Fox as a friend, attempting to woo her.

The group arrives at the Nexus...