WaiyaddoNoDan/YouZhaoSession2

YOU ZHAO

Second Game Session

The PCs

WaiyaddoNoDan/RebornVermillionHavoc
WaiyaddoNoDan/Traveler
WaiyaddoNoDan/WuGoMaXa
WaiyaddoNoDan/KaksuaHino

The Guest NPCs

WaiyaddoNoDan/DorKashur, Dawn (deceased)
WaiyaddoNoDan/Qienzhiahi, Fair Folk
WaiyaddoNoDan/RegikiGuyo, Chosen of Battles
WaiyaddoNoDan/MeblaDul, Twilight (deceased)

Summary and Random OOC Info

On their first mission, the agents of YOU ZHAO found that the anomalies of fate they had to deal with were caused when a Solar named Dor Kashur was killed by a group of Sidereal-lead Dragon-Blooded. Now on their sophomore effort, Havoc, Traveler, and Wu-Go are joined by latecomer Kakasua Hino of the Bureau of Secrets as they infiltrate Kashur's grand manse in the East to find out why or how fate was damaged because of him. While there they run afoul of acid jets, an army of demons, acid jets, an irrationally narcissistic command console, and more acid jets. Not to mention the occasional explosion! As a follow-up, Havoc inquires with one of his coworkers in the Division of Battles, and goes with Traveler and Hino to learn what they can from a Dragon-Blooded general.

Briefing

All four Sidereals are mildly surprised when they walk into the briefing room to find it full of sleek, polished surfaces and dominated by a long, wide meeting table. The table itself has seats encircling it, each with its own Essence-powered display screen. The room is entirely at odds with the ramshackle, or even cheap, nature of much of the facility. Nuran is already seated at the head of the table, and asks the agents to sit down. He tersely thanks Kaksua Hino for making it this time.
The administrator briefly summarizes what the organization learned on its maiden mission. Specifically, that strange emanations that adversely affected both fate and Hollow's natural Essence flows seemed to derive from a Solar Exalt - Dor Kashur - that was killed in Hollow three years ago. Their new mission is:

• Infiltrate Dor Kashur's manse
• Learn any available information in the manse about Kashur's effects on fate
• Secure any artifacts within the manse. Failing that, ensure that they cannot be captured and used by anyone else

Nuran indicates on the main screen what little is known about the manse. It is a pyramid with a square chamber on top, with a transportation tube down to Kashur's audience hall. Halfway up each diagonal edge of the pyramid jets a great fountain of Essence, venting excess power from the capped demesne. He apologizes for the lack of further information, but explains that Kashur was increasingly secretive and paranoid as he grew older. The god wishes them good luck, indicates the appropriate gate to use, and directs them to Koku Obol for a copy of the map. He belatedly adds a warning: Dor Kashur was known to be very fond of acid.

The Manse

The foursome exit the gate in a sturdy outpost manned by Celestial Lions. They consult briefly with the guardians about the area, and are warned of recent Fair Folk incursions. All four Sidereals suddenly grow very wary. Traveler taps into the power of the Yellow Path to guide them (relatively) safely to their destination. They are on edge for the two days' hike, Havoc furiously chopping a path through the thick, tough underbrush. Despite their certainty that the mention of Fair Folk was inauspicious, they reach the manse unmolested. With the spectacular exception of the Essence fountains blasting visible energy up into the darkening twilight, nothing appears to be moving. Kaksua stalks silently up a shadowed side of the pyramid as the other three simply stroll up to the boxy top chamber. Still paranoid about the Fair Folk, by the time the agents get to the top of the pyramid they're expecting the Ebon Dragon to pop out and say, "boo!"
Instead, they find a rather convenient-looking transparent capsule (with room for all) resting at the top of a deep, narrow pit. The headstrong heroes squeeze into the elevator and head down... except for the Chosen of Secrets, who declares himself the rearguard. The three that go down first are trapped in claustrophobic darkness for long moments, until the capsule suddenly falls into a vast open hall: the audience chamber of Dor Kashur himself. The path to the gaudy throne is wide enough for twenty men to march abreast, and is flanked on either side with a double row of Angyelkae and Gilmyne, with the latter trapped in the ever-shifting steps of a dance to the harpists' music.
The rookie Sidereals are unnerved somewhat by the blatant and inelegant demonstration of the dead Solar's majesty.

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