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Essence of Dynasty	By : JohnDoe Category: +A through F > Exalted RPG Views: 766 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
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Chapter List
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Session 2 – This Used To Be Faster – (Melody: M0/0/0 M0/0/0 P1/1/1 E1/0/0; Jin: M0/0/0 M0/0/0 P1/1/0 E1/0/0, 314: M0/0/0 M0/0/0 P1/1/1 E0/0/0)

Our heroes navigate the burning sands of the southern desert.

Melody guides her great ankylosaur, Clapper, as it bears her, her sworn sister, Jin, and their Alchemical ally, 314, over the treacherous, rocky, terrain.

Watchful Eagle, a nomad from the Sulik tribe, rides ahead, mounted on a camel.

Melody’s mount moves with impossible speed, it’s Essence-backed bulk flying across the desert sands. Though Watchful Eagle is a skilled rider, he is pushed to his limit trying to keep ahead of the Dragon-Blooded he is guiding. The party rides through the day, not stopping even for the blazing midday sun. Melody guides the guide, avoiding the worst of the terrain and the desert heat, blazing a new trail towards their unfamiliar destination. As the sun starts to set, a ferocious pack of Claw Striders, large, bipedal, predatory dinosaurs, crest a ridge and bear down on the riders. Melody interposes her Shieldback Lizard’s bulk between their guide and the pack, and directs the Circle over loose sands, more suited to the camel and Shieldback than the bipeds. After less than an hour’s chase, the Claw Striders break off to find slower prey, all except one dogged beast that follows until night falls and darkness overcomes the desert. The lone beast has no chance of overcoming the giant Shieldback lizard – to say nothing of three Exalted – but Melody tosses it a strip of dried meat as they make camp for the night. The vicious, man-eating, predator rubs its snout against Melody affectionately and curls up at her feet as Jin lights a campfire.

“Is that… even slightly safe?” Jin asks as Melody strokes the powerful, killing machine as if it were a kitten.

“No,” 314 answers for Melody, “It’s a Claw Strider. They were common in my time. They eat humans.”

“Mr. Toothy wouldn’t eat us! Maybe Mr. Toothy would eat the horrible Sirocco traitors or the akuma we’re hunting, but he’s perfectly safe around us!” She scratches the beast under the chin, and it makes a growling noise, not unlike a kitten’s mewing. “Aww… You’re just a big softy, aren’t you Mr. Toothy!”

“That is not normal.” Watchful Eagle comments, as he leads his worried camel to the other side of the camp.

Clapper senses the other animal’s discomfort, and shuffles his bulk in between his mistress’s new pet and the frightened prey animal.

Watchful Eagle returns to the Exalted, “At this pace, we should be on top of the marauders before they beak their morning camp.”

Jin nods, “Excellent.” (“Although, I’m sure traveling used to be faster…”)

Watchful Eagle shuffles and clears his throat, “What… is your plan?”

Jin and Melody exchange a glance. 314 leans his face into his hands and watches in anticipation.

Melody shrugs, “It’s a Wyld Hunt.”

Jin nods, “That’s pretty much the whole plan, yeah.”

“Mistresses, Saloy Hin and his reaving wind are not enlightened, as you are. They are bandits who pillage the land. I do not think they will answer your call to Wyld Hunt.”

314 frowns and looks to Jin and Melody, who clearly don’t have another plan, “We will convince him to help us.”

Watchful Eagle seems fearful about arguing with the Dragon-Blooded, but something about 314’s manner is reassuring enough for him to drop the matter. Melody and Mr. Toothy take the first watch as they rest for the night.

****

The night passes without incident, the Dragon-Blooded take down the camp and are on the road at first light. As Watchful Eagle predicted, they are on the Sirocco camp before the rogue legion has fully roused. The outline of The Breath of Fire can been seen beneath a tarp, loaded on the back of an ox-drawn wagon.

Saloy Hin, half-shaved, but armed and armored, comes to the edge of camp, flanked by four Dragon-Blooded bodyguards.

“Magistrate Jinabar, Admiral Melody, how unexpected to see you!” Saloy’s tone is jovial, but his smile has an edge of danger. Behind them the tarp is pulled from the Warstrider and Saloy’s men frantically work to get the great war-machine operational.

Jin bows, “General Hin, we bring urgent news: our former comrade Dragonsgift is a servant of Sondok. She has stolen an ancient Warstrider forged by Ligier. We believe that she’ll target you first – try to destroy that.” She points at The Breath of Fire.

Saloy Hin doesn’t turn, but he gives the slightest of bows, “Well then, I thank you for the warning.” He gestures for the Circle to leave.

“Don’t be a fool Hin!” Melody barks, “Whether she comes for you or not, this is Wyld Hunt! We need to rally with Paragon and the Lap. We need to be prepared to move on Chiaroscuro.”

Hin folds his arms across his chest, “I have explained my purpose in these lands already. You have your cause, Dynasts, I have mine. I need to find weapons to turn against the Locusts, I cannot give my most precious weapons away to hunt your demons.”

314 moves forward to speak. Hin’s guards react with fear and suspicion, raising their weapons. 314 makes a calming gesture, “I am Alchemical Champion Jade Caste Unit Three-Fourteen. This Hellstrider, the Demon Thamuz, is a weapon of unimaginable power. I am sure that whatever foe it is you face, these ‘Locusts’, that they are formidable indeed. You have a powerful force here, and if you are bent on finding yet more weapons, then your enemy must be terrible indeed. On my honor, I will assist you in your cause. After. It is critical that we stop Dragonsgift before she restores Thamuz’s full might. Time is not our ally.”

Hin blinks, “It speaks? What manner of sorcery is this? You have traded demonic akuma for anathema automatons?”

314’s eyes narrow, “I am no Solar construct. I am Exalted, this body forged by Autochthon himself.”

Hin shakes his head apologetically, “I know nothing of Alchemical Exalted Champions and you know nothing of Locusts. I mean no offense, but my answer is still ‘no’.”

Jin tries a different tact, “It doesn’t make sense to fight a war on two fronts. You can hold off your Locusts to the South, but what will you do if your line of retreat falls to the demons? Turning down a mutual alliance against a common foe doesn’t make tactical sense: if the coast falls, then the merchants you’ve been looting will stop coming and you’ll be trapped. In other words,” She adds slyly, “We already know you’re going to help us. So, stop being coy and just name your price.”

Saloy Hin rubs his beard, “Fine, you want my help that badly? I want a full pardon. I want Sirocco reinstated as a Realm Legion under the Shogun. I want a writ from the new Empress, sanctioning my actions over the last seven years and charging me to continue my mission in the South indefinitely. I expect to keep The Breath of Fire. And I want backpay for my enlisted soldiers.”

Jin scoffs, “I meant name a reasonable price. Something that isn’t completely insane, that we could actually give you.-”

“Done.” Melody interrupts.

Saloy Hin chuckles open, “Just like that? ‘Done’? A Realm Admiral is a powerful position, but you’ll find your pull only goes so far-”

Melody holds up a finger to shush the rogue general as she communes with her Hearth, “Rey, Hin wants the Empress to pat his head and call him a ‘good boy’.”

Danireya smirks to herself in her office three-hundred miles away, “Done. I can guess his terms. You know my conditions. Hell, I’m feeling generous, tell him we’ll even give his fighting women their back-pay.”

“He actually asked for that. Called them ‘soldiers’ and everything. Super adorable, very PC.”

“And they say male fragility isn’t real!”

Melody shrugs and addresses Saloy Hin again, “Done. You’ll get your writ once Dragonsgift is stopped and her Warstrider is in Realm hands. You can keep the Breath for as long as you can keep it running – if you need to send it back to the Realm for maintenance, you’re not getting it back until the Empress thinks you need it back. She’s not a petty woman, undoubtedly your soldiers have bonded with the machine, if it needs to be deployed, it will be deployed under your command. You can continue to operate semi-autonomously, but raids on Realm Satrapies end today. If you want reinforcements against the Locusts, you take that up with the Shogun. And whilst you can continue to command your legion as you see fit, if the Realm carries out an operation in the South that needs your support, you will answer the Shogun’s call. This fiction, that you are operating her with Mnemon’s blessing, that plays. It makes Mnemon look powerful, and magnanimous. If we strip away your autonomy when we bring you back into the fold, then it makes the lie too obvious. But you still have to come to heel when called, or else that makes the lie too obvious. So, you get to sit in that sweet spot where you get to keep doing what you’re doing, and have the Realm pay you to do it. It’s a good deal. Don’t fuck it up.”

Saloy Hin blinks in confusion. Jin lets her jaw hang open in surprise. 314 nods appreciatively: it all makes sense to him.

Melody shrugs, “What? You didn’t think the Realm wanted its most powerful legion back? That we’d prefer saving face to stopping the Anathema? Making this deal increases our fighting force and makes Tepet Fokuf look like a fool. Did you think that the Empress wants to protect her predecessor’s reputation, or something?”

Saloy Hin uncrosses his arms and stands to attention, “Very well,” He calls to his soldiers to bring signal flares, “I’m not suspending my mission to jump at ghosts, but if we’re now back in the fold, then I will move my operations closer to Paragon and we will deploy to stop your akuma. When you find her. If we come under attack, we’ll send up flares and expect Paragonese aid.”

Melody takes the flares, “And if we find her first, we’ll signal you.”

“If you betray me-” Hin begins.

Melody cuts him off with another wave of her hand, “I am not a politician in the Imperial City. I am a soldier with a weapon in my hand. If I was going to ‘betray you’, I wouldn’t be standing here in the open whilst you power up your Warstrider. ‘Betraying you’ means fighting a legion of Realm troops, whereas honoring our alliance means trading a slip of paper for a fucking Warstrider. Why in the name of Mela would I betray you?”

314 clears his throat, “Thank you for the flares.”

Melody signals and they mount up to ride back to Paragon.

Jin shakes her head in disbelief, “Damn, and I thought I knew how to get things done.” Once they are clear of the camp she whispers to Melody, “Are we going to betray him?”

314 gives an audible, and unironic, gasp of shock at the suggestion.

Melody shrugs her shoulders, “Reya really will secure that writ. Right now, it doesn’t benefit us to betray him, and honestly, I don’t see how the situation could possibly change to make betrayal a smart move for us. Even if Dragonsgift wipes out his advance force here, the rest of his legion is still in Valen. So… no?”

Jin nods, “Cool… cool… that’s fine…” She thinks for a moment, “But, uh, I mean, should the opportunity arise… I mean, should the Breath be left unguarded… ?”

“Then the Realm will not be responsible for stealing one of our own Warstriders. What the wanted criminal Lady Magnificent does in such a situation, I certainly cannot be held responsible for. I’d like to hope it doesn’t come down to that, but if the situation changes…”

“And do you think he’s not going to betray us?” Jin asks, “I don’t think he expected us to take his demands seriously.”

“314 is right, he can’t afford to fight a war on two fronts. The Saloy Hin I know is no fool. If Mnemon’s rule proves weak, he might betray us in a decade or so, but I think we can count on him to come when we send these flares up.”

314 nods, “He had the bearing of an honest man.”

Jin doesn’t have a response to that, so changes the subject, “One more thing… Mr. Toothy is still following us, you’re not seriously going to try and bring him into the city are you?”

****

“Absolutely not, no!”

Watchful Eagle has split from the group to inform the Sulik tribe about the peace with Saloy Hin’s (now) Fourth Legion, Sirocco, and our trio of heroes have arrived at Paragon’s gates. Night has fallen, and the moon is high in the sky, bathing the city in its argent glow.

“Oh, come on,” Melody appeals to the mortal guards, “He’s completely tame!”

The guard captain splutters with indignation, “I saw you leave here yesterday morning. You did not have a Claw Strider with you! Meaning you have somehow acquired this feral beast in the last day. Meaning it is not tame!”

As if to prove the guard captain’s point, Mr. Toothy rests back on its haunches, ready to pounce and emits a menacing roar.

“Fine!” Melody spits through gritted teeth. She softens her tone and addresses the feral Claw Strider, “Take a lap Mr. Toothy. You are the best feral man-eater a girl could hope for. Yes, you are. Yes, you are.”

The Claw Strider purrs again under Melody’s ministrations, gives one last threatening hiss at the guards, then stomps off away from the city into the wilderness and the guards allow our heroes to enter Paragon.

314 gives a sigh of relief, “I cannot express how glad I am that that’s over.”

Jin gives the alchemical a sidelong glance, “You just had to jinx it, didn’t you. You big, metal, jinx.”

314 objects, “Actually, most of my body is made of alchemical clay…”

****

Our heroes proceed back to the Satrap’s compound, where they find Ganan waiting for them. He is dressed in drab, Paragonese grey, but the inner lining of his clothes is bright Tepet blue. He’s doing press-ups in the dark outside of the building, but rises smartly to attention as the Hearth approaches. Despite the intensity of his exercise, his enchanted necklace keeps him fresh and clean.

“You know you can use the wind to send messages to us, right?” Jin asks as she approaches. She gives her brother a tight embrace.

Melody shakes her head at him, “Tepet colors and a lovely shade of nothing.”

Ganan smiles weakly, “Reya wants me to wear them. Political climate means something about sharing power with the other Houses. And I can’t give you this over the wind.”

He hands Jin a weighty sack of silver coins.

“And it’s not even my birthday!” Jin jokes.

“There’s good news and there’s bad news.” Ganan starts, “We think we’ve found Gifty – turns out, it’s hard to keep a giant Warstrider secret.”

“Great!” Jin says with obvious amusement, “What’s the good news?”

Ganan scowls, “That is the good news! The bad news is, that we think she’s heading for Chiaroscuro. The city is a warzone, overrun with the unquiet dead, Sondok cultists, a handful of Delzhan that are too stupid to get out of the way, and a dozen Peleps traitors who don’t have the ships to sail West. Throwing a Warstrider into that is like throwing firedust on a bonfire. But, it will definitively tip the balance of power: instead of a city in anarchy, overrun by demons, it will be a demonic foothold in Creation. A beacon for every rogue demonologist or deranged cultist to flock to. The streets will run red with blood, and unbound demons will be turned loose like a plague upon the world.”

314 speaks, “I do not know this city of ‘Chiaroscuro’. Is it back the way we just came?”

Jin shakes her head, and with mock enthusiasm, “Much better! It’s in basically the opposite direction.”

314 scowls, “I do not see how that is better.”

Ganan adds, “If anything it’s worse.”

314 nods, “It will take longer for Saloy Hin to redeploy his Warstrider.”

“And you won’t be familiar with the terrain.” Ganan finishes.

Jin and Melody watch the exchange, “It’s like twins separated at birth.” Melody comments.

314 and Ganan pull identical faces of confusion.

“314 is over five-thousand-years older than me.”

“The Dragon-Blooded didn’t even exist when I was created.”

“We cannot possibly be twins.”

“It is a literal impossibility.”

Melody looks between the two large, muscular men, “Of course. How silly of me. What was I thinking?” She smirks, despite herself.

Jin sighs, “It’s less cute after you’ve lived with it for 14 years. Can we at least sleep for the night or do we have to head back out straight away?”

Melody doesn’t let Ganan answer, “Even at my best speed, it’s a three-day ride, and Clapper needs to rest. We’ll pick up some supplies in the morning then head out.”

Ganan nods grimly, “Gifty already has a decent head-start on you. I do not know how fast the Warstrider Thamuz is, but it seems certain she will reach the city before you do.”

Jin grits her teeth, “Are we even certain she’s going to Chiaroscuro?”

Ganan shrugs apologetically, “The Perfect’s spies have been on the look-out for Saloy Hin’s Warstrider and making regular reports. The latest reports put an unknown Warstrider heading for Chiaroscuro. If there is a third Warstrider in play here, it still must be investigated.”

“Sure, but does it have to be investigated, by us?”

“We could… summon your archons? Chiaroscuro marks an effective end to the Perfect’s reach. And I have no contacts in the All Seeing Eye, but I doubt Realm intelligence on the City of Broken Glass is accurate. I agree that chasing rumor and basic reconnaissance is beneath you, and if you have a better plan… we are the Princes of the Earth. There’s no need to run ourselves ragged when we can send agents on our behalf.”

Melody cuts in decisively, “There’s no-one we can call on who can take down a Warstrider. There’s no-one who can get to Chiaroscuro faster than we can. We could have sent a mortal messenger to Saloy Hin, but no mortal is going to be able to broker the kind of deal we just did. The ruins of Dari are of interest to the Empress herself. Delegata potestas non potest delegari. Move the archons, but we need to check this out ourselves.”

“Could be worse,” Ganan comforts, “You could be Alinos Kerin.” The others look blankly at him, “Kerin. She is in charge of the Dari dig. Wanted to shit-can three miscreants as wild, unknown quantities, but someone,” Ganan looks pointedly at his sister, “Convinced her to not only let the miscreants stay on, but to turn control of the mission over to them.”

Jin groans as she remembers that she is meant to be in charge of the Dari excavation now that they have discovered the city.

“Only the miscreants stole a priceless First Age Warstrider, then ran away.” Ganan finishes, “Not a good look for poor Kerin.”

314, who really isn’t following, nods, “After we have recovered Thamuz and dealt with Hin’s locust problem, we shall track down the Three Miscreants and teach them the meaning of responsibility!”

Jin groans again and buries her head in her hands. Melody lays a comforting hand on Jin’s power-armored back.

“You were working with your brother and a deep cover, demon worshiping traitor. Things turned out much better than expected, all things considered.”

Jin groans again, “At least we found the city?”

Ganan nods, “Reya’s taking over the salvage operation. So… Chiaroscuro?”

Melody nods, “Sleep now. Leave in the morning.”

****

In the morning, the Circle sets out on the main road for Chiaroscuro. Though Chiaroscuro is hundreds of miles away, many outlying settlements dot the once busy trade route. More traffic is heading towards Paragon than away from it, but our heroes are far from the only travelers on the road. By midday, Mr. Toothy has found the Circle once more, to Melody’s delight and Jin and 314’s consternation. The other travelers on the road stare in open fear and awe at the sight of the power armored Dragon-Blooded, the Alchemical Exalt, and the beastmaster with her giant demon-gold powerbow and pet Claw Strider.

Plotting a journey over hundreds of miles to a hostile city overrun by ghosts and demons in the midst of a warzone, by rights, should be a daunting task, but for Melody it’s a non-issue. At the end of the first day, our heroes camp at a caravansary. The citizens bear the mark of the Perfect of Paragon, branded upon their hands. Jin negotiates a fair price for lodging, and they bed down in relative safety.

The next day’s journey sees significantly fewer travelers on the road – refugees from Chiaroscuro have long since fled the City of Cursed Glass and few traders dare ply the roads where the Salmalin assassins work their deadly blades in Sondok’s name. Our heroes see a few battle-hardened Delzehn, desperate farmers, and ambitious Guild members, but they see more wild animals than people.

Melody steers them off-road as evening falls, and they set up camp in a defensible position. 314 dons his armor now they are far from civilization. Shapes move in the darkness as our heroes take turns keeping watch, but nothing – be it demonic assassin or hungry scavenger – dares disturb the camp.

In the morning, the Terrestrials hit the road once more and the great city of Chiaroscuro appears in the distance. As does… something else. Approaching from the opposite direction is a large precession. As both our heroes and the precession converge on the city, our heroes see that it is a caravan of elephants.

“That’s something you don’t see every day,” Jin remarks.

“Oh, good.” 314 nods.

Melody grunts and pulls Clapper up as they converge with the parade of elephants. From the lead elephant, a flamboyantly dressed man in orange and yellow silks, leaps from his howdah with a flourish.

(Jin leans into Melody, “By the Dragons, tell me we’re not that douchey?”

Melody smiles awkwardly as she brings Clapper to a halt and our heroes dismount.)

The stranger introduces himself in perfect High Realm, “Blessings upon you, We are Ophris Maharan Dansei,” The stranger bows again, “We had not expected to find fellow Children of the Dragons this far from home! Truly, this is a good omen.”

As Dansei speaks, a well-dressed (but much less flamboyant) man climbs down from Dansei’s elephant and walks to the Dragon-Blooded’s side.

Jin takes the lead, introducing herself and the others. Dansei looks at 314 with uncertainty for a moment, pulls a face that seems to say “you know what? Not the weirdest thing I’ve seen this trip!” and bows a third time.

Dansei turns to his Sage Caste attendant, “Make a note that on this auspicious day, did Our cousins from the Immortal Scarlet Queen’s Realm join Our holy cause. With the aid of their…” Dansei gestures at 314, Clapper, and Mr. Toothy, “Distinguished allies.”

Jin clears her throat, “Ah, no, hold that note. I don’t believe we’ve agreed to anything.”

Dansei makes a look of shock, his jaw falling open as he places a hand on his chest. His expression is melodramatic to the point of theatrical, but something in his eyes conveys that he is sincerely surprised, “This is a matter of Wyld Hunt,” Dansei says gravely. He snaps his fingers and his scribe steps forward.

“For the glory of Prasad, and in the name of the Immortal Scarlet Queen Who Rules All Creation, four Gods did sally forth to do battle against the vile sorcerer-prince of Ysyr, The Twice Damned Silken Claw. Mighty were the Gods, who commanded Fire, Earth, Water, and Air, and righteous were the servants of the Gods who fought with valor against the vile and twisted horrors of Ysyr. Silken Claw used sorceries most vile against the Holy Army of the Gods, and alas one of Our Master’s Exalted Brothers did give up their mortal form and return to divinity in the battle. When our master, the great Dansei of Clan Ophris finally bested Silken Claw, the heinous sorcerer spat a diatribe of lies to forestay his execution. Just as our Master was about to deliver justice, the Mark of the Blasphemous appeared upon the sorcerer’s brow and he escaped in a blaze of gold and blue light. Our master has given chase across many hundreds of leagues, and both of his Divine Companions fell and returned to divinity during the chase. And now we have come here, to the City of Demons, to slay Silken Claw once and for all. Honor demands that you render assistance to the Wyld Hunt.”

Melody makes a noise in her throat, “Hmm. Pass.”

Jin nods, “Yeah, it’s a ‘no’ from me.” She looks between Dansei and his scribe, “Venerable Dansei, nothing would give us greater pleasure than to assist you in your endeavor against the Anathema, alas,” And here she spreads her palms in a gesture of apology, “We are already engaged in the sacred Wyld Hunt seeking our own quarry.”

Dansei looks deflated and gives a solemn nod, “Many are Creations enemies in these dark days. It is good to see that Daughter of the Scarlet Queen is at least trying to keep the peace. Will you travel with Us? We make for the City of Demons,” He points toward Chiaroscuro, “Let us travel in common cause toward our mutual enemies.”

Jin and Melody exchange a look, nodding at each other. 314 gives a short bow of assent. Jin turns back to Dansei, “We would be honored to travel with you Ophris Dansei.”

The Exalted remount and Melody draws Clapper alongside Dansei’s war elephant. The procession is slower now that they are part of a convoy, but they still reach the outskirts of the city by the time evening falls. The outlying slums of Chiaroscuro are deserted, though a few of the towers of famous Chiaroscuro glass in the old city have wavering lights visible in the windows.

Dansei calls a halt at the edge of the city, and addresses our heroes from the back of his elephant, “My friends, the shadowlands of Chiaroscuro are not the place to enter at night. My servants will set up a camp with wards of salt, camp with Us this night as Our guests of honor.”

Jin nods graciously, and Dansei’s followers dismount and start setting up camp. Melody looks over the eerie ruins of the new city and she nudges Jin, “Hey… have you… learned… how to… see… spirits and whatever, since we fought Sondok?”

Jin smiles pointedly at Melody, “Have you?”

“Oh, fuck.”

314 clears his throat, “I can see and fight immaterial spirits.”

Jin’s smile turns genuine and she claps her hands together, “Well then, that all works out.”

314 clears his throat again, “One question, what’s a Shadowland?”

Melody opens her mouth, then stops herself as she sees a turbaned figure unloading an elephant. She stares at the woman trying to place her. 314 follows her gaze, shrugs, then goes over to introduce himself.

The woman looks up, startled, as the Alchemical thrusts out a hand, “I am Alchemical Champion Three-Fourteen, pleased to meet you. What’s a Shadowland?”

The woman stares at 314 with her brilliant green eyes, a look of confusion on her face. Dansei notices the exchange and decides to intervene, “Ah, I see you have met Our astrologer! She joined Our sacred Wyld Hunt when We passed through Varang. Ylva Wataru, this is 314 and his Dragon-Blooded companions Alinos Melody and Cynis Jinabar.”
Melody pulls a face, “Ylva… that’s an unusual name. Familiar somehow, have we met?”

Ylva bows low, “Has your Exalted Greatness ever traveled to the Varang City States?”

Melody shakes her head, “I have not. Fair enough. I have heard… much of Varangian astrology. What do the stars reveal about our future?”

“The astrology of the Anathema is hard to divine, for they are abominations in the eyes of Fate. But I have complete faith in the abilities of the Princes of the Earth – you shall be successful in your sacred mission.” Ylva bows again, though Jin reckons that she catches a smirk on the astrologer’s face.

Jin is about to press Ylva when something else attracts her attention. Dansei seems to be deliberately blocking her view, but she catches sight of a hulking figure, larger than 314, slinking away under a blanket. “Who’s the big guy?”

Dansei makes a dismissive gesture, “We have many servants, as befitting a Living God.”

Ylva shoots him a look, one eyebrow raised. She unsubtly gestures at 314, who waves back at her innocently. Dansei, almost imperceptibly shakes his head back at Ylva. Ylva then gestures at Mr. Toothy. Dansei gives a great sigh, “Honored cousins, if you can keep an open mind, We would be happy to introduce you.”

Dansei waves Melody and 314 over. Melody commands Mr. Toothy and Clapper to stay where they are.

Dansei clears his throat and motions for Ylva to fall in, “Prasad, as the center of civilization now that the Immortal Queen has left her throne, strictly separates individuals by caste. Varang,” And he vaguely gestures in Ylva’s direction, “Crudely apes this practice. The individual We are about to introduce you to defies the proper order of the Perfected Hierarchy. Lower than the basest Corporal yet higher than the most cherished animal. Blessed in a way few God-Blooded can match yet…” Words seem to fail the Dragon-Blooded as they reach the crude tent into which the large figure has disappeared, “We will be retiring to purify Our Essence. We must ask that you make no sudden movements. You are perfectly safe.” Dansei addresses the tent, “Klaw, attend me!”

A broad muzzle pokes out of the tent, followed by a flat, horned head. Two eyes, red as fire and flickering with malevolent intelligence are set back into the creature’s head, protected by ridged protrusions of bone. A hulking body, seven-foot tall and four broad with armored, crocodilian scales, follows the head. The fearsome beast sniffs at the air as it pushes its way from the tent.

Jin leaps backward flicking Calumny out to fighting length.

Melody shouts out in surprise, “Explosive elephant diarrhea! That’s a Desert Stalker!” She draws her orichalcum bow, but holds her fire.

“Desert Stalker’s aren’t real!” Jin shrieks hysterically.

314 strides forward and embraces the giant reptilian creature, “Klawthak! It is good to see a familiar face!”

“Threef, get clear! These things are killers!” Melody yells as she draws her bow, unable to get a clear shot.

The creature shrugs 314 off, throwing the mighty alchemical away, “Klaw. Not. Know. Al. Chem. Ic. Al.” Klaw growls as he crouches into a guarded position ready to charge at Jin and Melody.

“Holy Mother of Dragons and all her whacky nephews! That thing can talk!” Melody yells, allowing her bow to go slack.

Klaw relaxes slightly, a look of uncertainty coming over its face as its eyes take in the gleaming demon-gold.

Dansei interjects, “Klaw! Kneel!”

The great beast drops to one knee and bows its head.

Dansei continues, “We in Prasad have heard rumors of the reptiles that walk like men. Savage killers. Imagine Our surprise when We found one who could speak? Klaw recognizes Our divinity as the Unconquered God of Fire and serves Us faithfully. He is a fierce warrior, but no danger to you for as long as you enjoy Our patronage.”

314 cocks an eyebrow at the ‘Unconquered God of Fire’ part, “This is Klawthak, one of the greatest artificers and warrior-priests in Creation. My mentor.” He turns to Jin and Melody, “This is an Anklok.”

(He repeats his dinosaur miming from the Paragon ice-shop. Jin and Melody exchange an “oh”.)

“Wait,” Jin cocks her head to one side, “Klaw is five-thousand years old?”

“Dragon-Kings reincarnate.” 314 explains, “They retain their memories when they are reborn into new flesh. More-or-less. It can take decades for them to fully recover their sense of self.”

Ylva clears her throat, “I have never heard Klaw use a four-syllable word before. And I don’t believe anyone introduced 314 as an ‘Alchemical’.”

Klaw snorts.

314 beams, “He does remember me!”

Dansei strokes his chin, “Curious! Perhaps you are correct.” He addresses the kneeling Anklok, “As Our guests have already seen you, you may as well patrol the camp. Make sure none intrude on our position. Raise the alarm if we are attacked.”

Klaw nods once, rises, casts a resentful look at our heroes, then stalks off to patrol the camp, quickly disappearing into the gloom of twilight, moving with the silent grace of an apex predator.

Dansei does not turn as he addresses our heroes, “Now, We must cleanse Our Essence. So the Pure Way of Prasad teaches: if One fails to purify Oneself, One could come to forget their position in the Perfected Hierarchy.” And with that he leaves our heroes alone with Ylva.

Melody wrinkles her nose, “Did he just say that talking to us makes him feel like less of a god? And I thought Immaculates were wound too tight.”

“I think it was talking to a Dragon King that’s made him feel dirty.” Jin says, (then under her breath adds, “By Daana’d, I’m glad this armor is designed to be peed in.”)

Ylva speaks, startling the Dragon-Blooded who have forgotten she’s there, “From my experience, my ladies, I would encourage you not to take anything a Dragon-Blooded says too personally. Be they Prasadi or Dynast.”

Melody shoots her a look, “I don’t know how they do things in Varang-” she begins in a warning tone.

314 shifts into a defensive posture, which Jin immediately recognizes as she steps in to diffuse the situation.

“Good advice, Miss Wataru. It’s unwise to allow anyone to rattle oneself.” Jin says pointedly.

“Hmm.” Is the best Melody can manage in response.

Ylva looks the Dragon-Blooded over, and makes to go, “By your leave, mistresses?” Jin nods, fractionally, and Ylva departs.

Jin watches Ylva leave before addressing Melody, “Not like you to jump down a mortal’s throat: pressures of the Dynasty getting to you?”

“No, I…” Melody pulls a face of confused consideration, “I really don’t like her for some reason.”

“You just met her!” Jin objects.

“I-” Melody starts, but she can’t think of a rational way of ending her sentence, “Suppose you’re right. We’ve been on the road a lot. I’ve got responsibilities mounting up back home. And little Iohan. I wouldn’t even be here if it wasn’t for that jumped up little twerp from Mnemon’s special taskforce directive, what’s-his-name?” Melody sighs, “It’s just stress. And camping out in a city full of ghosts and demons – with a damned Solar in the mix – is not helping.”

Jin continues casually, “Did you pack enough salt to completely circle off our camp when we split off from Dansei?”

“Good night, Jin.” Melody says trumping off back to Clapper.

****

The elephants bed down behind a six-inch high “wall” made of packed salt that rings the camp, and Dansei’s army of retainers set up crude tents next to their mounts. As Jin and Melody bed down for the night by Clapper, 314 goes looking for Klaw.

He finds the Dragon-King brooding at the edge of camp, his red eyes scanning the city for danger. 314 approaches, his footfalls heavy. Klaw sniffs the air and but does not comment as the Alchemical comes up behind him.

314 keeps his voice low, “Klawthak, do you remember me at all?”

Klaw doesn’t respond for a moment, “Klaw. See. Pictures.” He taps his skull with a thick, clawed finger, then gestures at the city before them, sketching a skyline that no-longer exists. “Not. See. You.” Another long pause, “But. Remember. Klawthak name. Working. Hands. Remember scent. Old scent. Al. Chem. Ic. Al.”

Klaw’s posture relaxes a fraction, though he still doesn’t turn to look at 314. The Alchemical stands shoulder to shoulder with the Dragon-King, and looks out into the night, “What happened? I went into stasis. We were to attack Dari. I was never woken up.”

“Old scent.” Klaw repeats shaking his head, “Many years. Not many pictures.” Another long pause, but 314 can’t think of anything to say. Klaw speaks again, “You first. Alchemical. Klaw not see. Not remember. Others.”

“You haven’t seen any other Alchemical Exalted in five thousand years?” 314 repeats back, incredulous.

“Not remember everything. But Klaw sure.”

314 is about to respond when something catches his eye. Klaw seems to see it too, taking up a great warclub. Forty-odd corpses, wielding weapons made from the indestructible glass of Chiaroscuro are advancing on the camp. In the center of the group, a black robed necromancer unmistakably is driving them forward.

“Ghosts. Inside. Bodies.” Klaw growls, immediately recognizing that the corpses are not mindless, but rather being ridden by malevolent intelligences.

A familiar voice is suddenly in 314’s ear, “The ghosts can’t cross the salt wards, but the dead bodies can certainly be used to destroy the wards.” Ylva says, “I don’t think we need to wake the rest of the camp for this – I am sure the three of us can take care of this.”

“You are an astrologer who can fight spirits?” 314 asks incredulously.

Ylva wraps her hands in carefully penned prayer strips, “One does not have to be a prophet to know that one should be prepared if traveling to Creation’s most dangerous city.”

Klaw’s warclub, made of impossibly sharp obsidian attached to a white jade core by orichalcum filament, suddenly bursts into flame, and the Anklok charges forward across the salt wards.

(“Wow!” 314 exclaims, “A flaming weapon!”

Ylva shrugs, “Meh, it gets old.”)

Klaw smashes into the enemy battleline. His warclub cleaves one of the ridden bodies clean in half. The spirit inside ignites in burning soul-fire: writhing as it is immolated by the holy flames.

The necromancer at the heart of the zombies acts, directly the horde to swamp Klaw from all directions. The shards of enchanted glass are deflected by the thick scales of the Dragon-King. The necromancer’s dark eyes narrow as they begin to chant.

314 stretches out his hand, summoning the Justice Blade to hand, lashing out with the great weapon in broad, spirit cutting strokes. The dead drop, sundered body and soul by the Alchemical’s ferocious attacks. “They are like olchilik?” 314 asks as he fights his way to Klaw’s side.

Ylva paces forward, her face a mixture of fury and passion, her every movement embodying perfection beyond the dreams of gods as she oozes with dangerously addictive allure. She punches the closest of the undead with a fierce right hook. The impact of the blow reverberates through the dead flesh and impacts upon the spirit within, knocking them out cold and clean out of the dead body (which the collapses to the floor in a heap).

The necromancer continues to chant and dark shadows start to gather around them.

A couple of the dead turn to make for Ylva… but fall still, unable to bring themselves to attack her, swaying as if in a mindless trance. The rest continue to attack Klaw. Their weapons are crude – nothing more than shards of glass without even the crudest of hilts – and they cut into the unfeeling flesh of their dead hands. Klaw hisses as the blows rain down upon him.

The necromancer starts to float above the ground as their dark power builds.

“Get that necromancer!’ Ylva shouts, lashing out with a flurry of blows against the dead, punching and kicking at the corpses, sending them reeling back.

The necromancer takes aim at 314 and Klaw and throws their arms forward. Thousands of obsidian butterflies erupt forward. A pair of possessed corpses in the path of the butterflies are torn to shreds, leaving disembodied ghosts standing unharmed in the attack’s wake. The butterflies cut against 314’s armor and Klaw’s hide, drawing blood as hundreds of blade wings beat against the heroes. The tirade smashes against one of the salt blocks, shattering it, and creating a path into the camp.

“Forward!” The necromancer hisses. The army of the dead respond by surging over their bodied foes, but 314 and Klaw easily fend them off.

Klaw bellows and rushes for the necromancer, shoving the dead aside with his massive bulk. He brings his warclub down in a flaming arc, burying his weapon deep in the necromancer’s chest. The necromancer reels back as their robe catches fire, and the wound oozes thick, black blood.

314 still doesn’t understand exactly what a ghost is, but he does understand that the camp is asleep and vulnerable. With guard breaking precision, he lays into the ghosts, first cutting down the two disembodied foes before him before cleaving into the ridden dead all around him. Though immortal, the ghosts still feel something like pain, and seeing the Exalted barrel through their ranks as an unstoppable colossus causes them to falter.

“The salt wards are broken! Feast on the living!” The necromancer commands, and the dead seem to find their nerve once more.

The dead shamble past our heroes for the gap in the salt ward. 314 seems to take up more space than should be possible, his very presence slowing the advance of the dead as they surge past around his killing blade.

“You Salmalin fools will not live to see the light of another day!” The necromancer hisses at Klaw as they build necromantic power once more.

There’s a bone crunching snap as Ylva rushes at the necromancer and buries her fist in the necromancer’s spine. The robed figure goes slack on Klaw’s flaming club.

His blood up, Klaw rips his warclub free and lays into the undead, lashing out at them as they move away toward the camp.

With Exalted excellency 314 decisively lays into the dead once more with their guard breaking attack. The remaining dead are effectively scattered.

Ylva makes her way back to the salt wards and picks out the shattered butterflies as she shores up the cracked cake bricks. Klaw gingerly steps back over the line and 314 follows.

“Will that still work?” 314 asks, pointing to the broken ward.

Ylva looks up at 314, “Yes. Any line of salt or germinated grain will stop the lesser dead. Having the salt in brick form just makes it easier to set up camp.”

314 notices the sign of Jupiter glowing green under Ylva’s turban. “You’re a Sidereal?”

Ylva brings a finger to her lips.

“Secrets.” Klaw growls. 314 isn’t sure if it’s a confirmation or a threat but nods in response.

“Get some rest,” Ylva continues, “There will be no other attack tonight.”

Klaw slopes off back to his tent. 314 dawdles for a moment before returning to Jin and Melody.

****

Come the morning, 314 straps on his crossbow. Jin groggily rubs the sleep from her eye and Melody checks on her dinosaur army. The trio set out to find Dansei and find him in conference with his Sages.

“Ophris Dansei,” Jin begins, “Thank you for your hospitality. We must now part ways to see our respective quarry. Should you need us, we will endeavor to come to your aid. And if we find your Anathema, we will send word on the wind.”

Dansei nods graciously, “Likewise, though I do not imagine it will be hard to find a Warstrider in the city.”

Jin returns the nod and the trio depart on the back of Clapper, picking their way through the ruins of the city.

314 is the first to say it, “Did either of you mention a Warstrider?”

“We did not,” Melody responds.

314 nods somberly, “That’s bad right?”

Jin nods in confirmation, “Yes, that’s bad.”

314 pauses for a moment, “Ylva Wataru is a Sidereal.”

“Dragons damn it!” Melody curses, “I knew she looked familiar.”

“The demonic cultists are based on the docks,” Jin says, “I should scout ahead, gather intelligence.”

“And we should?” Melody asks.

“Cause a distraction. Draw them off to the East side of the docks, whilst I sneak in the West. If a Warstrider comes out to kill you, run away.” Jin says, “I’ll scope out where Gifty might be hiding, get an idea for their numbers.”

“For the record, this is a bad plan, but as I get to kill demon cultists, sure. Threef?”

“My designation is Alchemical Champion Jade Caste Unit 26x12 And Two. I have no objection to being called ‘Three-Fourteen’ but ‘Threef’ is not dignified.”

“I’ma take that as a ‘yes’.” Melody says as she steers for the opposite side of the docks.

****

Melody links minds with her Hearthmates.

****

Jin falls into the water, dissolving her body to liquid as she sneaks into the docks. She cuts through the water like a knife, probing the harbor’s ancient defenses and bolt holes.

****

Melody isn’t the best at telling the difference between demonic cultists and death cultists, but she recognizes a Blood Ape when she sees one. She and 314 fire arrows at the demons guarding the docks, alarms are raised and Salmalin warriors pour forth to deal with the attack.

Melody keeps Clapper at a distance as they pepper the cultists and their demons with arrows. When one Blood Ape manages to close the distance, Mr. Toothy pounces on him, tearing out a chunk of flesh, and Clapper finishes the demon with a powerful tail swipe.

****

As the forces of Sondok respond to the attack, Jin sneaks back onto land. Moving with a fluid grace, she slips past locked doors as she pokes around the hidden base.

In the third warehouse she searches, she finds what she is looking for. Though she doesn’t see Dragonsgift, she does see the Hellstrider Thamuz. A wooden frame has been erected around the warmachine, the better to provide maintenance.

The crew of demon cultists tending to the machine have no chance of seeing the God-Dragon who skulks through their hidden base, but the eyes of the Hellstrider seem to follow Jin wherever she goes.

****

Melody breaks off the attack, heading deeper into the city, hoping the cultists won’t follow, as she brings 314 up to speed.

****

Thoroughly creeped out, Jin quietly slips away and picks her away back through the city to rendezvous with Melody.

She meets up with Melody just as Melody is sending Mr. Toothy back out into the wild.

“You did well, but this city is no place for you boy. You need to be free. Be free.”

Mr. Toothy snaps his jaws at Jin as they pass. Melody wipes a tear from her eyes.

“So, found it. It’s in the middle of their base in the most heavily defended area.” Jin smiles, “Plan of attack, captain my captain?”

“I suggest you don’t attack the Salmalin head on,” A familiar voice calls out. Our heroes look up and see a familiar figure squatting on the rafters of the building above them. Harmonious Jade drops to the ground with cat-like grace, “But I’m sure we can work something out.”

****

Melody has an Exalt Event for meeting a Dragon-King for the first time.
This triggers an Exalt Group Beat.
Jin has an Exalt Event for convincing Saloy Hin to join their cause with her passionate speech.
314 has an Exalt Event for his sheer hard-work defending the group from the dead.

Melody has a Personal Event for increasing her reputation as a wayfinder with the Sulik tribe.
Jin has a Personal Event for successfully infiltrating the Salmalin base.
314 has a Personal Event for reuniting with Klawthak.
This triggers a Personal Group Beat.

The group does not hit any Major Beats.
The group earns a Minor Beat for finding the missing Warstrider.

Melody spends a Personal Milestone to develop a new Justice Intimacy of “Ylva Wataru (Distrust)”.
Melody spends an Exalt Milestone to buy Safety Among Enemies.
Melody spends a Minor Milestone to buy Monkey Leap Technique.

Jin spends a Personal Milestone to develop a new Wonder Intimacy “Ylva Wataru (Curiosity)”.
Jin spends an Exalt Milestone to buy Dragon Surmounts Waterfall.
Jin spends an Minor Milestone to buy Spirit-Cutting Glance.
Jin spends a Personal Milestone to develop a custom mode for Spirit-Cutting Glance. “Spirit Detecting Mirror: The Dragon-Blooded may perceive dematerialized spirits in reflective surfaces without activating this Charm, though they may not target the spirit with an attack.”

314 spends a Personal Milestone to develop a new Justice Intimacy of “Ylva Wataru (Ally)”.
314 innovates a new Evocation for the Justice Blade and purchases it with an Exalt Milestone (via Living Artifact):
None Escape Justice
When an opponent the wielder has previously targeted with an attack using the Justice Blade moves away from them, they may spend 1 Power to reflexively move one Range band
directly toward them if they have the physical means to do so, even if they has already moved this round. This evocation may be used even if their target has concealed themselves, though it does not grant exact knowledge of the target’s location. The wielder’s next attack against an enemy targeted with None Escape Justice ignores half their Defense, if withering, or half their soak, if decisive.
314 spends a Minor Milestone to buy Flow Like Blood.
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Essence of Dynasty