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Dynasty of Dovak	By : JohnDoe Category: +A through F > Exalted RPG Views: 4983 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 1
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Chapter List
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Session 72 – Reunion – Ganan (240XP 192DX, 235/186 spent; 20WhP 15GP 89SP), Melody (240XP 192DX, 235/183 spent), Jinabar (240XP 192DX, 236/183 Spent)

Our heroes, Tepet Ganan, Alinos Melody, and Cynis Jinabar, stand in front of the Gateway Tree – a mystic portal built in the First Age that links Creation to other realms of existence. Surrounding them is an army of beastfolk led by the god-blooded princess, Tinkara Dovak.

Tinkara grits her teeth, “Darios is dead. If I’m not the next in line and you don’t recognize Oka’s claim, then who is this so-called rightful king?”

A new voice, clear and bold, yet familiar rings out, “I am.”

All eyes turn and see the Wanderer standing tall. Only where the Wanderer is hunched and deferential, dressed in a traveling cloak, the man before them stands tall and proud, dressed in shining, silvery armor across his broad chest, and a gleaming warclub of Starmetal and Orichalcum slung at his side.

“Yochanan!” Tinkara exclaims in surprise.

Yochanan Dovak nods slowly, “Yes, little sister. I have returned. Oka will have discovered our presence here by now, follow me.” He turns and walks into the forest. Tinkara and her forces follow swiftly behind.

Melody gestures, “Do we…?”

“Oka’s forces are significant. We should avoid a direct engagement.” Ganan follows after Yochanan.

Melody mounts Clapper, Jin rounds up her archons, and they follow the bearfolk army.

Yochanan leads them to one of the hidden tunnels under Dovak – this is the first tunnel our heroes have found where the entrance is large enough to accommodate Clapper, but it is a tight fit. Another difference is that the walls of the tunnel glow with a gentle, yellow light. Yochanan leads them into a wide cavern.

Yochanan addresses those assembled in Riverspeak, “In ancient times two mighty heroes: a bear god and his wife, a radiant princess from a distant land, fled to the mountains to escape a terrible catastrophe. The princess raised a mighty tower to live in with her husband, and their children, and retainers. Over time refugees found their tower, and the princess added new towers, spiraling out into a great nautilus shape – and thus the city of Urza Arcus was founded. The bear god and his wife created an elemental guardian to always watch over the city, Tomomas, in the fashion of the storm gods of the princess’s distant homeland, for they had many enemies. And they created a tower at the foot of the mountain, and fortified it with a great wall, and set Tomonas’s palace overlooking it – and this Tower of Air and its Wall of Stone would be their trading post, their link to the outside world. Over time the heroes died and were interred, and they prophesied that one day they would return. And then, the Great Contagion came. A few of the hardiest children of the Bear God survived in Urza Arcus, and they rebuilt as best as they could. But the trading post was wiped out. It would be years before Dovak, my ancestor, would find the trading post and make it her palace – naming the city after herself. Refugees from the Great Contagion settled here and became the Dovaki. Dovak herself won the affection of Tomonas and her divine line ruled Dovak, until twenty years ago.”

Jin leans into Melody, “What happened twenty years ago?”

Melody shrugs.

Ganan answers, raising his voice, “When the Realm came.”

Yochanan shakes his head and turns back to the crowd, “When Ragara Haseti came. The Realm had sent missionaries here for a hundred years, and even before that great elemental heroes would rise, perhaps once a century one of their kind would come to Dovak. But Ragara Haseti won the loyalty of one of our most ancient gods – a consort of Tomonas, Lame Louve – The Edge of the Wolf’s Blade. Wolf’s Blade and Tomonas convinced King Darios to make Dovak a Satrapy of the Realm. I did not wish to see my birthright, and everything I had worked to build for two hundred years turned over to the Realm. Haseti challenged me, defeated me, and drove me from Dovak.”

“Hold up,” Melody interrupts, “Two hundred years?” The assembled bearfolk army leers at her.

“Two hundred years ago,” Yochanan answers, “Wolf’s Blade convinced Tomonas that his elemental blood had run thin in the Royal House of Dovak. Tomonas struck the heir apparent, Darios Dovak, with a bolt from his warclub, and when Darios staggered to his feet he found he had been blessed with immortality, and that he held a babe in his arms: me. It took a hundred years for Tomonas to gather enough power to sire my sister by the same fashion.”

A murmur of approval comes up from the bearfolk.

“Ha!” Melody taunts Ganan, “Reya’s sugar-baby is OLDER than you!”

Jin sniggers.

“I have returned to save Dovak, and Urza Arcus, from the clutches of the dead and the depreciation of the Realm. These three heroes have agreed to help me. Together, we will return your homes to you and end Oka’s reign of cruelty.”

The bearfolk give a cheer and Yochanan waves the Dragon-Blooded and Tinkara into an alcove off the main cavern.

Melody wags a finger, “I don’t remember agreeing to help you take the throne, Yochanan.”

“I realize you don’t remember it, but you did,” Yochanan replies. Melody tries to size him up: though it is certainly in his interests to lie, Melody gets the impression that he is being honest.

Jin clears her throat, “I know I agreed to come to Dovak. But I don’t believe that you could convince us – especially him – that you are more fit to rule Dovak than the Dragon-Blooded.”

Yochanan nods solemnly, “What did you see in Dovak?”

Ganan folds his arms across his chest, “It’s overrun by the dead. Undead watchmen, spirits, and craftsmen: they’re importing large amounts of copper, rock, and corpses. Cynis exiles are helping them, I don’t know why, but they seem more concerned with debasing themselves than governing. They’ve taken the Rulinsei Satrap hostage. Oh,” He turns to Jin, “And I saw your friend, Lady Magnificent – she was casing the palace.”

Jin nods, “With House Cynis here in strength, that makes sense: she’s taunting us. The dead are led by The Gift of Merciful Silence. I’ve never met a Deathknight before, but he is one, of that I am certain. From inference, he’s your son – Oka Dovak. There’s as strong family resemblance. And he’s looking for the two of you.” She gestures at Tinkara and Yochanan. “He keeps court with the nobles and Cynis hangers-on. But also with stranger beasts. Undead and a… I don’t know what, but it’s quick and it’s powerful. She pauses and pulls a face, “And…”

Jin hesitates, but Yochanan gestures for her to continue, “The stranger thing… it said something… ‘Show deference to the master’s favored servant’. At first, I thought it was talking about itself… but I think the ‘favored servant’… is Oka. Which means the ‘master’…”

“Is the Mask of Winters,” Ganan finishes. He looks at Yochanan, “That’s why I agreed to help you. I remember now. The Mask of Winters has been driven from Thorns, but if he can gain control of the Heartrot Tree then he can open a new path to the Underworld. We can’t hold Thorns: it’s a shadowland, blighted. All we can do is evacuate it – sending waves of refugees into already unstable Jiara or into the Scavenger Lands which is already flooded by Lookshyans.”

“And who knows how many spies and saboteurs are among them.” Melody adds, wrinkling her nose, “If the Mask of Winters can rebuild in Dovak, he’ll re-emerge stronger than ever and be able to just walk back into Thorns.”

Ganan nods, “Thorns is on the shore, open to Realm attack. The entire Vermilion Legion is encamped there. With the losses he suffered at Lookshy, he can’t drive us off. But Dovak is far from the shore, where the Realm can’t attack him. One flank guarded by Ma-Ha-Sachi. Lookshy to the North destroyed. Jiara to the West, still unsettled by the Anathema rebellion. And the South means fighting through demon uprisings and Ahlat’s forces whilst exposing our lines to the traitors in Prasad. I am willing to surrender Dovak to Yochanan if it means saving the East.”

“Damn it,” Jin spits, “I suppose if we’re saving the entire East from a Deathlord that’s worth one Satrapy.” She produces the skin that Oka gave her, “He’s killed a lot of the Dovaki nobles, who, like you two, all have dark skin. But Oka’s skin is white. He’s as pale as Reya,” She looks at Ganan, “And his eyes are bright blue.”

Ganan looks at Tinkara and Yochanan: their eyes are brown. He addresses Tinkara, “You told Reya that Oka’s mother died in childbirth.”

Yochanan answers, “When the Realm came, Wolf’s Blade was unconvinced that Tomanas’ power was enough. She… seduced me and I get a child upon her. She brought the child to term, and abandoned him with me, as is her fashion.”

“Aaand? Is Wolf’s Blade is pale with blue eyes? Help me out here.” Jin shrugs, looking at Ganan.

“Wolf’s Blade is Reya’s grandmother – Nanals.” Ganan says without looking away.

“Hang on,” Melody says, “Doesn’t that make The Gift your uncle?”

“No!” Ganan barks.

“It makes him Reya’s uncle. He’s Gan’s uncle-in-law,” Jin quips, “That means they can still bang.”

“I have no interest in ‘banging’ an Anathema!” Ganan shouts, losing his cool.

“Really?” Jin asks as she looks Yochanan up-and-down, “Because, damn…”

“My brother-” Tinkara begins.

Jin cuts her off, “Has an orichalcum club, can rewrite memories, can break into my secure quarters, appear in three places at once, and can move a four-ton Shieldback a thousand miles in a day. Don’t insult my intelligence. Oka has us outnumbered and outgunned. We need to take stock of our assets. I’ve worked with your kind before: frankly I’m surprised my brother hasn’t ripped your head off already, but I suppose he really wants to stop the Mask of Winters.”

“Your brother has his own theories as to what I am. I do not consider myself ‘Anathema’: I am Exalted.”

“Be that as it may,” Ganan interjects addressing Tinkara, “I assume this is only an elite strike force, and you have a much larger army available to you? Because otherwise this entire venture is folly.”

Tinkara speaks with notable irritation, “My soldiers are few, but they are loyal. And the people will rise-up against Oka.”

Jin stands, “Well it was lovely seeing you again. Best of luck stopping the Mask of Winters… you are going to need it.”

“I have an army,” Yochanan says. The tone of his voice makes Jin sit back down.

Melody studies the look on Tinkara’s face, “Okay, where is it? And what do you need us for?”

“My army,” Yochanan says, deliberating on every word, “Requires Exalted commanders. The three of you have proven yourselves: you’ve fought, not just for your Realm or Dovak, but for Creation. And not against brigands and hobgoblins, but against one of the most feared demons of the Demon Realm. And you have held your own against my son.”

Melody looks to Ganan, expecting him to scoff at that last remark, but he says nothing, so she reiterates her first question, “Okay, where is it?”

Yochanan turns to Tinkara, “Tell your troops to stand down.”

Tinkara gives a signal and the bearfolk sheath their weapons. Yochanan does something imperceptible and the lights of the cavern dim. A clattering noise can be heard, even after all these months Ganan and Melody recognize it from when they Stormwinded through the tunnels with Reya: Melody’s hand twitches uneasily, wanting her bow but she resists the urge. From every entrance into the tunnel comes one of the great metallic insects like the one killed by Sondok. On their backs are howdahs and riding the howdahs are strange rocky Creatures armed with wicked looking crystalline pikes and crossbows.

“Jadeborn!” The heroes exclaim in unison.

Yochanan nods, “I have three thousand Jadeborn warriors pledged to our cause.”

Ganan’s brow furrows, “I didn’t know there were three thousand Jadeborn warriors.” He mentally runs through the troop numbers he saw in Dovak, “That could work.”

“Indeed,” Yochanan smiles, “The Jadeborn labor under a curse levied by the Solars of old. They cannot march under Creation’s sun, save under the command of the Exalted. But we can’t risk a direct engagement: Dovak is my home and I have no desire to rule a Shadowland. We need to draw Oka out, not risk a bloodbath in the city. Additionally, it will take a few days for me to assemble my full force.”

“So… we sit on our asses for a couple of days?” Melody asks.

“Maybe not,” Tinkara smiles slyly, “Oka is due to travel to Urza Arcus. Tonight. At sunset. We hit him with everything we’ve got and we won’t need your army. He takes the overland route: we can ambush him as he leaves the old Shaz mine – I have an ally waiting, but I didn’t like our chances… but with the five of us…”

Melody smiles from ear-to-ear, “What do you say, Gan? Rematch?”

****

They trek through the tunnels, the Dynasts riding on Clapper. Yochanan’s warriors are not talkative and Yochanan seems taciturn. Using the tunnels, they intercept the overland route as the sun is setting. Melody sends out scouts and identifies a good ambush spot. Tinkara disappears to find her mysterious “ally”. Jin’s archons seem to slip from sight when no-one is looking –integrating themselves with their new allies or disappearing for more covert missions until only Mott remains by Jin’s side.

“You know this is obviously a trap?” Yochanan says at least as the sun starts to set.

“Undoubtedly meant to draw out your sister and her meagre force,” Ganan agrees, “But they won’t be expecting us.”

Yochanan motions to the scale of Mountain Folk he has brought with him, “If you think this can work, then you take command of my troops, Tepet Ganan. I won’t be walking into so obvious a trap.”

Ganan nods in acknowledgement.

“There’s not as much cover as I’d like,” Melody laments, “I’ll take position there, we can put the Mountain Folk behind that bluff – they’ll have a good vantage point. Gan, you engage head on. Jin can cover the escape. Tinkara and her forces will just have to hang back.”

“Or,” Ganan suggests, “We put Tinkara and her force up front, you take the bluff, and we set up Jin and the Mountain Folk to rain down fire from that position. I’ll stand on the ridge and cut off their escape.”

Melody shakes her head, “You’ve seen Clapper. I need that cover so I have room to maneuver – the bluff would pin me down.”

“But it’s a better vantage point for a single sniper,” Ganan counters, “And if we put the Mountain Folk there, they’ll be able to take Oka’s entire flank. I’ve done this with Tyrant Lizards, I think I can get you cover for Clapper.”

Melody looks at Ganan suspiciously, for a moment, “Fine, we’ll try it your way.”

“Oka Dovak is a capable warrior,” Ganan continues, “He managed to hold his own against myself, Tinkara, Nula, Reya and her elemental all at the same time. And he has had a year to grow stronger. And he no doubt expects to be ambushed by Tinkara’s forces – so he will be prepared for battle. We should fight to kill: if we pull our blows, we will die. But if we incapacitate Oka, if we can take him alive, we should.”

Melody nudges Jin in the ribs, “Gan advocating taking someone alive? Is this bizzarro world?”

Jin turns her nose in the air and storms off as Tinkara arrives with a dog the size of a large tiger, its eyes burning red, padding beside her. “I believe you know Qiqirn.”

The Dog of Unbroken Earth growls at Ganan as it approaches. Ganan stares blankly at it.

Tinkara can’t believe that Ganan doesn’t remember the beast, “This is the god who nearly killed you, Qiqirn? When you first went to meet Tomonas?”

“I remember well the taste of your flesh, road builder!” The giant dog god growls.

Ganan turns to Melody, “Do you remember Qinqir here?”

“Qiqirn!” The god barks.

“Yes, as if that’s better,” Ganan mutters, “Anything?”

Melody shrugs, “Doesn’t look familiar.”

“Melody wasn’t there!” Tinkara rants.

“Well, it’s a pleasure to fight by your side against the Anathema, Qiqirn.” Ganan gives a short bow.

The Dog of Unbroken Earth looks ready to pounce on Ganan right there as Tinkara silently seethes.

“Gan go after Jin,” Melody suggests, charmingly interposing herself between Ganan and the angry divinities.

Ganan shrugs and walks into the woods after his sister. His approach is not subtle, but it is swift. Jinabar decides not to flee from him, she keeps her back turned to Ganan and calls out.

“Go away!”

Ganan sighs, “I’d love to, but the others say I have to come after you. What’s wrong?”

Jin grits her teeth, “Is there anything you wouldn’t do for that woman?”

Ganan is nonplussed, “Melody? She-”

“Danireya!” Jin snaps, wheeling round on him, “You’ll kill our family without hesitating, but her family you want to take alive when they’re Anathema! You won’t write to me, but you’ll write to her family! This last year has been hell for me! I needed my brother! And where do I find you? Dovak! Fucking, bloody, Dovak!”

“Taking Oka alive is nothing to do with him being Nanals’ son,” Ganan begins slowly, “Tinkara has always asked us to capture and not kill. And he can tell us what the Mask of Winters is planning. And he can help us win over the court and lay the dead to rest.”

Jin scoffs and shakes her head in disbelief.

“I didn’t write to you…” Ganan falters, “I didn’t know what to say. ‘Sorry I killed everyone you care about.’” He shrugs, lamely, “I know I hurt you. And… I am sorry for that. But I’m not in Dovak for Danireya. If it’s for anyone then it’s for Tepet Ejava.”

Jin’s eyes flick up at the mention of her heroine, “Don’t you mean your new mom?” She rues, bitterly.

“I’ve never left your side, sister,” Ganan’s voice drops to a hush, “I know we’ve drifted apart, but you’re the one who keeps going away. I’m right here: stay with me. I’ll get you adopted into House Tepet.”

“I keep going away!” Jin baulks, “I was fourteen! I was going to school! You were the dragon’s damned adult! You should have-”

Ganan looks at her, his eyes wide and shining with emotion. And Jin realizes that he is trying to do what she wanted him to do 31 years ago. She sighs.

“I can’t… stay with you,” She says slowly, “I have business to take care of on the Threshold.”

“Yes, I’ve met her,” Frustration is evident in Ganan’s voice, “Who knew there was someone in Creation more irritating than you are? After we’re done with the Mask of Winters, we’ll see where we stand… but honestly, it seems our goals and Lady Magnificent’s align. I know you won’t want to hear it, but maybe we could work together?”

“You want to work,” Jin says slowly, “With the bane of House Cynis? The woman I’ve dedicated my life to bringing to justice? This is an apology?”

“I… wait… we’re Dragon-Blooded,” Ganan stumbles awkwardly, “And even if we don’t like each other, or have done each other wrong in the past, there’s a bigger threat.”

Jin folds her arms over her chest, “What the hell did she say to you?”

“Nothing!” Ganan snaps on reflex.

Jin makes a dismissive gesture and pushes past Ganan to walk back to the others, “Fine.”

“Wait!” Ganan cries, “Wait. It’s not why I’m saying we should work with her. She’s against Cynis and Cynis are for the Deathknight. But she said… she knew…” Ganan sucks his teeth and takes a deep breath, “She knew my son’s name.”

Jin turns and gives Ganan a withering look, “We all know Muli’s name. You remembered to write me that one.”

“Honas,” Ganan chokes out, his voice breaking, “My other son. Honas.”

Jin’s not expecting this. Her expression softens and she approaches her brother gently. “I didn’t know you-”

“He’s dead. Or, I mean...” He takes a deep shuddering breath, “It’s rare for our kind. But sometimes…” He swallows hard, “The baby isn’t… born. Alive.”

Jin throws her arms around her brother and holds him tight, “Why didn’t you ever tell me you big idiot!”

Ganan awkwardly holds her close, “I’m not good at… that. But I want things to be different. With us. Now.”

Jin releases him and makes a puzzled face, “But wait, you had the twins…”

“A mortal child can happen to anyone. We thought it was better to… not wait…” Ganan drifts off, “I never expected twins. Or for either of them to Exalt, never mind both.”

“Let’s get back, you want me and Mott with the Mountain Folk, right? I look forward to seeing your strategy play out.”

****

Meanwhile

Melody approaches Tinkara as Ganan stomps off into the woods after Jin.

“Mighty god Qiqirn, will you give us a moment?” Melody beseeches, giving a slight bow.

The Dog of Unbroken Earth gives a snort. Jin’s archon, Mott, is suddenly at the dog’s side, leading him a few paces away.

Melody catches Tinkara’s eye: nothing in the princess’s demeanor makes her look like she’s open to talk to Melody. “I know what Reya did. I’m sorry. I had no idea she was going to-” Melody breaks off mid-sentence as Tinkara unslings her weapon and seethes silently at her. Melody throws her hands in the air and takes a step back, “She cursed me too. I couldn’t talk about it; couldn’t do anything about it. Same curse, with maggots and everything. And I know it doesn’t help but I’m sorry, and part of why I’m here is to make things right.”

“I…” Tinkara begins, her warclub still in-hand. A wave of nausea hits her and she raises her other hand to her mouth, “Don’t want to talk about this.”

“Okay,” Melody says. She takes another step back and lowers her arms, “Sorry to hear that your father died. The old king was… well he wasn’t as capable as you are, but he was a good guy.”

Tinkara nods slowly, but her expression doesn’t soften, “He was.”

“And, uh, must be nice to have your brother back?”

“It is.”

“Any… any new royal Dovaks born whilst we’ve been away?” Melody smiles weakly.

Tinkara grinds her teeth, “One.” She spits out. A look of surprise comes over her face: she doesn’t feel nauseated, “One,” She repeats, “A new princess.”

“Really?” Melody says, surprised: not exactly sure if she should be relieved or more anxious, “I… hoped, but I never really expected that… I mean, it is…?” She trails off knowing that Reya’s curse won’t let Tinkara tell her who the father is, “It’s your child, right?”

“It-” Tinkara raises a hand to her mouth, “Is.”

“Right, right, sorry.” Melody frantically waves at her to stop talking, “We can, I can, help you. With that. With her… if that’s what you want.”

“It’s not.” Tinkara says firmly, “I don’t want my family to have anything to do with yours.”

“Well, your nephew is my uncle, which makes you… my great aunt? So, if you think about it...”

“We are not one big, happy family!” Tinkara snaps jabbing a finger at her, “And this is not some redemption arc for you! We are working together to save the world and that is all. I will never forgive you or the Realm.”

Melody nods, “That’s your right. I can’t make you forgive us. But if there’s anything I can do-”

“There isn’t.” Tinkara says, turning her back and walking away.

****

Hours pass then finally the signal comes. A phalanx of zombies marches along the road. A carriage borne by the dead carried in their midst. A bright moon bathes them in eerie light.

The dead turn a corner and face Tinkara and her divine ally. They let out a low moan.

Suddenly the ground gives out from under them. The carriage falls into pit with sloping sides. Walls block the roads with a great curtain giving Melody cover. Crenulations line the pit, giving the archers a safe place to rain fire down on the dead. Ganan takes Earth Dragon Form – his anima a roaring bonfire of white light.

Jin breaks cover from the woods and runs to the crenulations. She stretches out her palm and blasts the zombies below with a bolt of fire – lighting up the darkness with her bolt of elemental energy.

Melody urges Clapper round the wall as she sends arrows raining down into the pit. Zombies fall like wheat before a thresher. Bodies collapse and the entire line falters.

The zombies set the carriage down and start climbing the walls of the pit. They give a low moan as the Exalted are still out of reach.

The Mountain Folk bring their crossbows to bear. Bolts slice through the remaining zombies as the dead are thoroughly dispatched.

Tinkara and Qiqirn approach the edge of the pit and stand ready.

There is an eerie, deathly silence from the carriage. The Mountain Folk shelter behind their stony cover. The doors on the carriage creak open and two figures exit. Neither are The Gift of Merciful Silence. One is a man carrying a Soulsteel scythe with a buff-jacked reinforced with Soulsteel plates. The other is a woman wearing black leathers adorned with silver skulls with a wicked looking pair of flame pieces in her hands. Her beauty is stunning, yet eerie – her armor looks more like lingerie than protective clothing, her skin is deathly pale, and her eyes have a wicked gleam. Even through the gloom, Jin recognizes them both from Oka’s court. Ganan recognizes them as well.

Ganan cracks a smile and runs into the pit, “Whims!” He shouts immediately recognizing the figure closest to him.

“Kill him!” Midnight Flamebough orders, without looking round. She sights Tinkara and fires. A cloud of blue dust spurts from the weapon, ignited a fraction of a second later by a bolt of red lightning, creating a massive, roaring, purple flame. Qiqirn leaps in front of the blast, taking it full on and drops to the ground. The mighty god twitches as its body smolders then lies still.

Whims-of-the-Flesh falls on Ganan swinging his scythe through the air in a deadly blur. Ganan steps back against the onslaught, but the pit is a lot harder to climb out of than it is to climb into.

“Whims, it’s me!” Ganan cries, amazed that his friend has turned on him.

Melody trains her bow on Flamebough and sends an arrow streaking straight for her. Flamebough twists, and the arrow flies straight past her as she seems to step into her own shadow and disappear.

Jin blasts Ganan’s attacker with a burst of flame. A blood red aura of light surrounds the Liminal. A burst of bloody mist surrounds Whims as his stitches seem to come apart at the seams. The fire of Jin’s elemental bolt strikes the blood mist, coagulating the droplets into the air and forming a disgusting, burning scab… but leaving Whims unscathed.

Ganan steps inside Whims’s swing, turning his tetsubo upward and striking from inches away, “Whims, don’t you recognize me? It’s Breaker, your friend!”

He clouts his former ally with his tetsubo smashing him back off the ground. Whims’s neck cracks and bends upward at a grotesque and inhuman angle. His joins pop, twist unnaturally and extend outward, raising him up like some horrid, four-legged creature.

“You are not my friend, Dynast!” Whims spits, “You left me for dead!”

Whims scurries forward on all four limbs, trailing his scythe like an unnatural tail. He spins, flicking up in the air, lashing out with the scythe from an unexpected angle. Ganan interposes his tetsubo and steps to one side, trailing the outer edge of the pit as Whims lands behind him.

Tinkara dives into cover with the Mountain Folk.

The circles of inky blackness a figure wreathed in shifting shadows appears behind the carriage aiming at Jin and the Jadeborn. She fires. Black devils with golden wings of fire spurt from her weapon and dance across the parapets, wracking those hiding behind. A swirling vortex of cobalt and gold flames engulf Jin and the others, and from within the pyre Jin hears the taunts of disembodied voices urging her to repent her sins and surrender. Surrender to the power of death… or burn.

“Burn this bitch!” Jin screams through the pain as the flames engulf her. Her anima surrounds her rising as a giant dog of howling flame. She extends her palm and fires a blast of flame at the shadowy figure.

The figure turns and the steps directly into the path of Jin’s bolt of flame. The fire seems to shatter into a dozen pieces as it is deflected around her body.

The Mountain Folk break and run and Tinkara futilely tries to call them back.

Melody fires an arrow at the shadowy figure. They turn at the last moment, dropping a flame piece and snatching Melody’s arrow from the air. The arrow explodes into thorns. The shadowy figure gives a cry of pain as the thorns unexpectedly pierce her skin.

“Firstly,” Ganan says, “I thought you were dead. Secondly…” Ganan hammers Whims with a full body hit, spins in the air with impossible speed and hits him again, sending him smashing into the carriage, which breaks into splints as Whims lands bodily against it, “I’m sorry!”

Melody fires again, Clapper’s steady rhythm perfectly correcting her aim. The arrow bites deep into the shadowy figure’s chest.

Jin takes a steadying breath, fighting through the burning pain of her wounds. She levels her palm again and fires another bolt of flame at the shadowy figure. She dodges, and Jin’s elemental bolt hits the wooden carriage, igniting it. Thick black smoke rises from the lacquered wood in an obstructive fog.

The shadowy figure aims at Melody, grains of demonic firedust streaming from her wounded hand into the barrel of her remaining weapon.

“Oh, fuck this!” Jin says leaping into the pit. She fires one last blast of flame: the smoke from the burning carriage does nothing to obstruct her vision as Essence smooths the path of the blast. The flames smash against the shadowy figure and driving her back a step.

Ganan dashes forward and grabs Whims by the ankles, pulling him out of the fire.

Melody snaps another shot at the shadowy figure who bends and allows the arrow to fly harmlessly past her.

The shadowy figure raises her flame piece and points it at Melody. Three silvery rings spin around Melody forming an array of concentric circles. The figure blasts down the rings and purple fire smashes into Melody.

As Melody reels from the flames, Jin leaps into the smoke. Calumny, hidden in the palm of her hand, extends to full length as Jin tears forward smashing her wrackstaff down on the shadowy figure who crumples to the ground. Jin quickly collapses her weapon again.

Ganan and Melody cautiously approach.

“Is she dead? I mean, really dead?” Ganan asks, “I thought I already killed her.”

“Well,” Melody says confidently, before plugging the body with a trio of arrows. The corpse evaporates into an acrid black smoke, “Now she is.”

“Harumph!” Ganan clears his throat, “Did you get a good look at her forehead? She’s the one – one of Hell’s Deathknights. They don’t have the same marks as the Solar Anathema.”

“I saw nothing but shadows,” Jin rues, “Sorry about your, uh, friend.”

Ganan makes a dismissive gesture.

Melody looks over at Whims’s corpse, “Yeah, he’s dead.”

“He’ll be fine,” Ganan says, “Although…” He walks over to Whims’s body. The ghost-hunter certainly looks very dead. Ganan nudges the corpse with his foot. Whims does not move. Ganan crouches by Whims’s body and starts digging through his pack. It doesn’t take long for his fingers to find the band of white jade and Starmetal. Ganan pushes his Essence into the Collar, feeling it come to life in his hands, before slipping it on Whims’s lifeless body. He picks Whims up and hoists him over his shoulder.

Yochanan, having rallied the Mountain Folk, looks down at them from the top of the pit. The Mountain Folk level their weapons on Ganan. Yochanan speaks:

“Midnight Flamebough and Whims-of-the-Flesh. Two of the Gift’s most powerful and demented servants. Put the body down, Tepet Ganan and allow us to finish this.”

Ganan sets his jaw and looks up out of the pit, “It’s over. I’ve got him.”

“You’ve incapacitated him. He is unlike lesser zombies: he will return to life and the service of his dark masters.” Yochanan points, ostensibly at Whims, “That is what a real Anathema looks like. An affront to life itself.”

Jin turns to Ganan, “That’s a pretty compelling argument.”

Melody gives Ganan a sympathetic look, “That thing isn’t your friend. It’s a dead monster wearing your friend’s face.”

“Whims was like this when I first met him. He’s a ghost-hunter. He’s worked with Immaculates. I have read about his kind: he’s no Deathknight. He’s not anathema.” Ganan sets one foot behind the other.

Melody wrinkles up her face, “I mean… he looks like-”

“I don’t care what he looks like!” Ganan snaps, “It’s rare, but I’ve read about his kind. They exist to hunt the dead. He will be a useful ally.”

“When he’s alive… again?” Melody questions slowly.

Jin shrugs and levels her palm at her brother, “If it looks like a Deathknight and fights beside a Deathknight…”

“Whims wanted to kill Flamebough when we were trapped in hell. I thought I’d killed her, and I thought she killed him: clearly, I was mistaken on both counts. But we know the Anathema wield powers that twist the mind: if Flamebough was only posing, who knows what she could have done to twist his mind in the depths of Malfeas? Now she’s dead…”

“Probably.” Yochanan folds his arms across his chest, “Now that she’s probably dead.”

“Now that she’s probably dead, he’s probably on our side. And even if he’s not, he’s under my control. I vouch for him.”

Melody shrugs, “Fine. Good enough for me but keep it away from me unless you want it filled with arrows.”

“It’s an Anathema, and I’m going to kill it.” Jin says resolutely.

Melody smiles at her and shrugs, “So because Yochanan, the person you said was an Anathema, says so, you’re going to kill your brother’s ally? That makes sense.”

The moon illuminates them overhead. Jin drops her arm. (Mott makes a gesture telling Ganan they have their eye on the Liminal.)

“I suppose,” Jin says, looking up exaggeratedly at Yochanan, “We don’t have so many allies that we can afford to casually kill each other.”

Yochanan looks down on them, then turns away from the pit. The Jadeborn archers walk away with him.

“Okay,” Melody says, retrieving the flame piece Flamebough dropped on the ground, “How do we get out of this pit?”

****

Ganan shapes the sides of the pit into an earthen staircase (10SP) and starts to train Melody in how to set her voice on the wind.

****

Jinabar spends 8XP to train Perfect Climbing Attitude.
- 78
- 79
- 80
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Dynasty of Dovak