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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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Session 81 – The City Under the Mountain – Ganan (285XP 228DX, 285/224 spent; 20WhP 83GP 42SP), Jinabar (285XP 228DX, 276/220 spent), Gifty (???XP ???DX, ???/??? spent)

The cavern walls of Shining Kren glow from the shining yellow geodes growing out from the walls. Giant crystals cast the city in warm yellow light.

Our heroes stagger into the bright light of the city, shielding their eyes from the glare from the stones. The great grinding of Shining Kren’s tunnel car door resumes as the huge stone slab descends again behind them. Ganan transforms from living shadow, back to his solid state.

Indomitable Sky and Indefatigable Klar stride towards the Dragon-Blooded.

“Apologies,” Sky bows, her voice like honey, “We so rarely use this door: maintenance isn’t what it once was… the mechanisms can take a moment to work.”

Jin forces a smile, “Think nothing of it. I trust we pass your little audition?”

Sky bows again and seems to motion Klar forward to speak. The slate grey warrior shuffles forward uncomfortably.

“You performed… well. We were monitoring you. Truly you are Princes of the Earth.” Klar gives Gifty a salute, and she returns the gesture.

Sky speaks again, “The Conclave has considered your proposal. The pressing threat of the Locusts cannot be ignored. We shall accept your aid, but we have conditions.”

Ganan nudges his sister, “Locusts? I thought they were wasps?”

Jin turns her immaculate smile on Ganan and raises an eyebrow a fraction to silence him, before turning her attention back to Sky, “We would hear your conditions.”

Sky bows a third time, “Of course, but first, please accept our hospitality.” She motions for the Dragon-Blooded to follow her deeper into the city.

****

The city of Shining Kren is considerably larger than Hiram. Whilst the trading post was situated in a large cavern, with several off-shoot caves, Shining Kren is a multi-level network of caverns, the smallest of which large enough to swallow Hiram whole. The same, termite-like, towers dominate the architecture of the city, which is lit spectacularly by the glowing yellow crystals.

Green-eyed humans walk amongst the Jadeborn, lifting, working, bartering as they go about their daily business. Ganan stares open-mouthed at the city whilst Jin and Gifty keep a blasé façade.

Indomitable Sky leads the trio into a tower, and they proceed to the utmost floor via an anti-gravity lift. There they find a table set with a resplendent meal, Sky invites them to sit and eat.

****

“Shining Kren,” Sky begins as the Dynasts begin their meal, “Is a city blessed. Aside from the Dune People you have already encountered, we have few enemies beneath the ground. The human Underfolk are our trusted allies, and the Nameless Horde that menace so many of our kind is all but extinct in these parts.”

Something about Sky’s demeanor leads Jin to believe that there’s something the Jadeborn is withholding about the prosperity of Shining Kren, but the former magistrate holds her tongue.

“We are a peaceful city, protected by our impregnable walls. And by our lack of ambition. We do not make trouble for others, and they do not trouble us. Our few warriors devote themselves to fighting the dread Lintha at the behest of the Dynasts of An-Teng, else they are sent to Urvar, that the First City might better provide tribute for your Empress.”

Sky pauses and observes the Dynasts. Ganan stuffs fistfuls of exotic fruit into his mouth as the others regard the Artisan with dignified repose. Jin kicks Ganan under the table, causing the Dragon-Blooded to stop eating and motion for Sky to continue.

“This said, you are the first Dragon-Blooded to come to our city… in a long time. We dare not oppose the Dragon-Astride-the-World, but to survive beneath the Firepeaks, we have found it necessary to make alliances with… other powers.”

“The Lunars,” Ganan says, his mouth full of food. He wipes the spray from his mouth with the back of his hand.

Sky’s rocky features don’t allow them to wrinkle their nose, but the narrowing of their eyes and pinched mouth convey the same meaning, “Indeed.” The Jadeborn focuses their attention on Jin, “As you say, with the situation in the South escalating, we do not know how much longer our peace with the Wasp Queen will last. The Conclave would rather not provoke Golden-Leaf Liseli, but Mnemon’s Realm is a proven ally of the Jadeborn.”

Jin nods graciously, “Of course, we understand perfectly. You are in a delicate position and the Realm is… not ideally poised to remove the Lunars from this mountainside. Naturally we would act with the appropriate… discretion? If you’ll allow us access to Urvar, we could conduct the entire operation covertly: the Lunars would never know.”

“Your presence on the mountain has already been noted,” Klar speaks, crossing his arms over his chest, “Something about ‘exterminating the Anathema filth’.”

Gifty shoots a dirty look at the oblivious Ganan.

“We would need certain guarantees. No Wyld Hunts, no proselytizing, no genocidal campaigns against the locals.” Sky follows Gifty’s look to Ganan.

Ganan stops eating and snorts, “Well, we’d need guarantees from you as well!” He grumps indignantly, “Like, no making us do all the work, then selling us out to the Lunars.”

“What my brother means to say,” Jin interrupts smoothly, “Is that your terms are perfectly acceptable, and that we look forward to working with you in a position of trust and sisterhood – as true allies. Great House Alinos is disciplined and professional.”

Jin pauses, closes her eyes for a moment then recites, doing a different voice for Gifty and Ganan:

“‘Let them flee,’

‘We should exterminate this filth whenever we get the chance – they’ll only be back, and in greater numbers. These mountains are Anathema territory.’

‘That’s exactly why we’re letting them go. All the traffic over the mountains is liable to be menaced. Three Dragon-Blooded cutting a killing spree is going to call every Lunar in a hundred miles.’

‘Then it’s better that we don’t leave witnesses alive!’

‘If one of the ‘Anathema’ quietly passed through a Satrapy, would that rouse the same response as if they murdered their way through the garrison? Would you prioritize a rumor over a trail of dead bodies?’

‘That’s a damn good point, killer.’

‘Whatever. It’s your expedition: lead on.’”

She clears her throat, “I applaud your intelligence gathering apparatus, but you’ll note that we did not carry out any campaigns of genocide. Every aspect of this venture is under precisely regimented control. Step-by-step. Word-by-word. House Mnemon may have had a reputation for its piety, but I can assure you House Alinos is nothing if not practical.”

Sky nods slowly, “We can clear a tower for your use. Allow you access to the tunnel car system.” Sky gives a disparaging look toward Ganan, “Obviously, as loyal tributaries to the Realm we would not ‘sell you out’ to the Lunars. We can provide consultants to help you navigate the tunnels and their dangers. Your expedition will have access to our markets to purchase food and supplies – at reasonable rates, of course. You will conduct your entire operation underground: there will be no dumping rubble on the surface, no hunting parties amusing themselves, no astrological surveys.”

Gifty waves dismissively, “This is in addition to the no Wyld Hunts, no proselytizing, no genocidal campaigns against the locals, rule.”

“Yes.” Klar booms, “Your conduct within Shining Kren will be, if you’ll excuse the pun, immaculate. We will accord you the respect due to the Princes of the Earth, and you will give the people of Shining Kren no reason to doubt the enlightenment, wisdom, and nobility of the Exalted.”

“You’ve met Dynasts before, right?” Gifty sniggers and raises an eyebrow.

“We have extensive dealings with An-Teng,” Klar gives Gifty a long, hard, stare. “Immaculate. Behavior.”

Ganan nudges Gifty, “But no Wyld Hunts.”

Gifty smirks, despite herself, and the two share a look.

“Moving on,” Jin says quickly, “The Jadeborn are…” Jin pauses, ruminating on the correct word, “Exotic. Dynasts respond to the unusual and powerful with an abundance of caution: the worst behaved Dynasts will put on a good public face when in unfamiliar surroundings, and by the time they are familiar enough to act like they do in An Teng, they’ll be several hundred miles down that tunnel, killing Dune Folk.”

Ganan makes a look of surprise, “That actually is true.”

Sky looks at Klar, “How encouraging.”

“Then it seems we’re in agreement.” Jin continues, “We’ll clear the tunnel for you and take the lost city as payment. Whilst we are working, we’ll abide by your terms, and gratefully take on your consultants.”

“We are willing to let you take the spoils of Dari, yes, if you can uncover it. But we are curious as to your intentions. What will House Alinos do with its spoils? And what do Cynis Jinabar, Tepet Ganan, House Saber Edge stand to gain from this venture?” Sky tents their fingers at studies them.

Jin’s smile falters slightly, “I’m sure you’re aware of the recent unpleasantness on the Blessed Isle? House Cynis’s position is not what it once was. I’m trying to find my way into the Empress’s good graces. My brother is married to House Alinos’s foremost scion.” Jin motions to Gifty and takes a breath, realizing that she doesn’t actually know what Gifty hopes to gain from this, “And this achievement cements Gifty as the foremost archeologist of the age. As to what House Alinos will do with the treasures? The war has left bills to pay and the entire Satrapy system is in disarray – ventures such as this are necessary for the maintenance of the Realm.”

Klar speaks, suddenly and unprovoked, “You mean you don’t intend to strike back?”

Jin flicks a knowing look to Sky as she jerks a thumb at Ganan, “I feel your pain. Just try to remind yourself of how useful Klar is in other situations.”

Sky lays their hands flat on the table and looks seriously at Jin, “Much as I am perturbed by Klar speaking out of turn, I am more perturbed by the Realm’s willful blindness.”

Ganan pulls a confused face, “To be clear, we’re all talking about… Gem?”

Gifty sits a little straighter and Jin leans in with genuine interest.

Sky nods slowly, “I realize it is a distance away and that the Realm has other concerns. But it was you who pointed out the disruption to trade and the mutual threat posed to us. I am… prepared to act as an intermediary.”

Gifty pulls a confused face, “To be clear, an intermediary between the Realm and…?”

“Golden-Leaf Liseli, Wasp Queen of the Firepeak Mountains.” Sky says simply, “After you have successfully pillaged Dari – there’s no need to jeopardize that venture.”

Ganan blanks dumbly, “Uhhhhh…”

Gifty makes a rolling gesture with her hands, “Weeeee…”

Jin puts her chin on one hand and makes an off-hand gesture with the other, “That’s…”

(Klar snaps his fingers, “I see it now,” He turns to Sky, “They are all related.”)

Sky regards them carefully, “I get the feeling you don’t know.”

Jin’s false smile returns, “What is it I don’t know?”

Sky stands, “Follow me.” She leads them from the room and out of the tower.

(Ganan nudges Klar, “Is this one of those things where we walk for, like, an hour in awkward silence before some big reveal?”)

****

Indomitable Sky leads them through the city. Again, they see human merchants alongside Jadeborn workers as they pass into new caverns, lit by the same shining crystals. Armed Jadeborn warriors start appearing as they move towards their goal, obviously on patrol, the obviously guarding important structures – security gets tighter and tighter until Sky leads them to a central tower and takes them midway up it.

Sky hands Ganan a crossbow, “What do you make of this?”

Ganan inspects the weapon from all angles, “It’s good. Not one of yours – all metal. I’ve heard the Northern Barbarians utilize crossbows, but I’ve never seen a loading mechanism this complex outside of Mountain Folk design… Certainly no Realm forge made this. I imagine there’s a very wealthy Guilds-merchant behind this.”

Jin folds her arms across her chest and addresses Sky, “Are you saying this came from Gem? I’d heard the Despot was gathering an army, but I didn’t realize they had war materials rivaling Jadeborn construction.”

“Nothing comes from Gem,” Klar states definitively, “Not since the Locusts destroyed everything.”

Ganan passes the crossbow to Gifty, “So… not wasps?”

Sky speaks with great gravity, “Raiders who strip the land bare. Grand machines, belching black smoke slither across the desert. The Locusts fall on oasis settlements and strip them bare: every man, woman, and child; every brick-and-plank, the very soil from the ground and every drop of water. They fight with massed crossbow fire that has brought down Guild caravans and driven off Lunar bandits.”

Sky produces a stretched canvas over a wooden frame and passes it to Jin. The figure depicted does not look like a “locust” – it is a humanoid figure but dressed from head to toe in a one-piece suit, black as night, with armor plating not unlike an insect’s carapace. The figure’s head is encased in a helmet with bulbous eyes and a protruding respirator and in its hands is a repeating crossbow.

Jin hands the picture off to her brother as she speaks, “The shore to the north is in turmoil. Demon cultists and Realm deserters menace trade. Guild convoys that make is as far as the Lap are haggard: easy prey for these Locusts. I don’t see the urgency behind siding with the Anathema to stop them. Let’s stop the demons and the dead things in Chiaroscuro before we march Wasp Folk alongside Realm Legions.”

Gifty sets down the crossbow as she takes the picture from Ganan, “I don’t know. The Despot was gathering an army: mercenaries, outcastes, Exigents… even Anathema, if the rumors are to be believed. They’re the largest purveyor of diamonds in Creation – the Despot’s wealth is enough to make a Guild Factor blush, and he’s stayed free of your Realm. If these Locusts have conquered Gem, with technology superior to that of the Jadeborn, this could be a threat to all Creation.”

Indomitable Sky bristles at the implication that Locust technology is superior to their own devices, but says nothing.

“I don’t know about allying with the Anathema,” Ganan says carefully, “And I think we need to focus on the task in front of us. But these machines are worthy of further study: driving the Anathema of the deep south to our shores requires redress.”

Jin hands the crossbow back to Sky, “I think we’re all agreed that we need to clear this tunnel first.” Her tone doesn’t leave room for argument.

****

The Dragon-Blooded finalize their agreements with the Jadeborn before heading into the marketplace of Shining Kren. Ganan’s silver was spent in The Lap, but the Jadeborn are happy to take Realm coinage to establish credit on behalf of House Alinos – though it empties Ganan’s coin-purse.

(“Sorry brother, a magistrate is sworn to poverty,” Jin adopts a look of false piety as she needles Ganan, “The Realm thanks you for your service.”)

Ganan makes a few esoteric purchases and retreats back to the tower allocated to them before sunset. There he conducts the rituals needed to draw forth an agata from hell, which he binds to travel to Paragon and deliver news of their success to the Satrap.

As the demon departs and the midnight hour passes, the Dragon-Blooded bed down for the night.

****

When morning comes, Gifty wakes them all early. Jin is disappointed to find that whilst their tower has conveniences such as heating, lighting, and running water, it does not have the machine that makes coffee. The Jadeborn city comes to life as the Mountain Folk rise to go about their business.

“Why in the name of the absentee gods of heaven have you woken me at this dragon’s forsaken hour!” Jin bellows as she starts to strap into her armor.

Ganan finishes the incantation to transmute his skin to bronze – already dressed, fresh and ready to go thanks to the purifying powers of his necklace – and raises a quizzical eyebrow to Gifty, “I have to side with Jin on this. We came to negotiate with the Jadeborn. We successfully negotiated with the Jadeborn. We’ve got a couple of weeks before the ‘legion’ starts arriving, why the early start?”

Ganan doesn’t even attempt to keep the contempt from his voice when he says “legion”, fully expecting the bulk of the fighting, physical labor, and mystic summoning to fall to him.

“We need to scout the over-land route,” Gifty says, as if her intentions were obvious.

Jin scowls, “I thought you said you didn’t want us making trouble all over the mountain?”

Gifty sucks her teeth, and with jaw clenched explains, “Shining Kren is in the mountains. We’re clearing a tunnel, thousands of miles long, which leads to Dijak, which is all the way off to the East. We need to leave the mountains and travel East to make sure that our work underground goes unmolested.”

Jin blinks at her slowly, “You want us to climb down the mountain, then walk half-way across the world to Kirighast? Through Creations least hospitable desert?”

Gifty forces a ridged smile, that looks more like a snarl, “Do you happen to remember the name our Jadeborn hosts gave to the lost city?’

Jin rises and flexes her muscles inside her suit, “I have an eidetic memory. She called it Dari.”

“And do you know of any other First Age cities given that same name? In the South? Between here and Kirighast?”

Drawing a blank Jin looks to Ganan.

Ganan shrugs, “There’s a Shogunate Poem – Dari of the Mists.” He makes a dismissive gesture, “City older than time, destroyed by the Anathema, sealed away from Creation by the Immaculate Dragons that its evil might never pollute the world. Etcetera, etcetera, etcetera.”

Gifty gives her father a look of disappointment, “I thought you studied history?”

Ganan bristles, standing straight, but still dwarfed by his daughter’s height, “I am an expert in the change architectural styles of the Dragon-Blooded Shogunate. The destruction of Dari predates the Shogunate, and it’s hard to study architecture if the buildings have been destroyed by Anathema, then banished from the world!”

Gifty holds up the back of her hand, “The Solar Anathema who ruled over Dari crafted a magical staff to focus his power. This staff branded the backs of his subjects hands and compelled them to follow his laws. The ruins of Dari were indeed sealed from the world, until the Great Contagion, when the wards failed and a mortal man stumbled into the ruins and found the staff. This man has lived a charmed life ever since, using the staff to found a new city called…”

“Paragon.” Ganan and Jin realize at the same time.

Gifty nods and continues, “The Perfect sends out enterprising scavengers to the ruins on the surface, outside of Paragon, looking for fragments of ancient relics. They don’t find much these days. But if Dari is our underground city…?”

“They’re looking in the wrong place,” Ganan muses, “They should be looking underground instead of picking through the surface ruins. We could find treasures the like of the Perfect’s Scepter.”

“But we need to Stormwind from here to Paragon. Make sure there’s not another way into the tunnel.” Jin surmises.

Ganan nods slowly, “It’s fortuitous. We have a base here. We have a base in the Lap. And we have a base in Paragon. Obviously, clearing the car tunnel remains our optimal choice: it’s likely the Perfect would have found any overland route to Dari over the past few centuries – if one existed. But this certainly makes the logistics of our work easier.”

****

The Dragon-Blooded secure fresh traveling supplies then head down back down the mountain. Despite being shown an alternative way out of the city, which deposits them closer to the base of the Firepeaks, it is nearly mid-day before Dragonsgift summons up a Stormwind Rider to whip them off to Paragon.

The massive form of the Penitent is visible in the distance as they race over the Southern plains – not arid enough to be called desert, though this far from the Lap it’s hardly a green and pleasant land. No plumes of black smoke or ominous war machines can be seen to the south, but by mid-afternoon there’s clearly something up ahead of them to the East.

Gifty points out a fang of soldiers in Realm garb, and slows the Stormwind Rider. The mortal scouts turn and flee as Gifty approaches – a futile gesture if the Dragon-Blooded had meant them harm. Gifty lets them run, correcting her course to head back towards the something – now that they are relatively sure it’s an encamped Realm Legion.

The walls of the hastily erected camp are now clearly in view. As is a giant behemoth of metal that rises at their approach, standing a clear thirty feet tall as it looms over the mortal army encamped below.

“Well, well, well,” Gifty shouts over the noise of the whipping Stormwind, “It looks like the Realm has unlocked its Warstrider arsenal.”

Jin grits her teeth, “That’s not the Realm.”

The Warstrider squares off to the approaching Stormwind and lumbers towards them. It’s posture isn’t inherently hostile, but the massive ballista mounted to its arm looks like it would do some damage if the war-machine opened fire.

Gifty lightly touches down a good distance from the camp as the Warstrider strides forward to meet them. A delegation of Dragon-Blooded offices march smartly at its feet, and their honor guard of mortal soldiers run double-time to keep pace.

Jin fastidiously straightens herself out as she gives a quick, hushed briefing to her comrades, “The Old Empress deployed her Warstriders to the Threshold but rarely, so most of them were locked away when she disappeared. Likewise, when the Legions were recalled, most of the Legions came back. It’s not a coincidence that the Legion that didn’t come back was the same Legion that had been lent a Warstrider – the Seventeenth Legion, Sirocco. Just let me do the talking.”

Gifty raises an eyebrow and makes an “after you” gesture.

The Warstrider snaps neatly to attention as the Dragon-Blooded enter conversational range.

“General Hin, it’s an honor. My sister Gracious Pealing Melody speaks highly of you.” Jin salutes the leader of the Dragon-Blooded.

General Saloy Hin does not return the gesture, “I don’t see why an Alinos Admiral would have anything nice to say about a deserter. You are?”

Jin bows theatrically, “Cynis Falen Jinabar, Imperial Magistrate, at your service general.”

Saloy Hin smiles, “A Cynis magistrate?”

Jin returns the smile, “I’ll admit, being exiled from the Blessed Isle isn’t exactly conducive to performing the duties of a magistrate, oh well!” She approaches him slowly, her arms splayed to show she is unarmed.

Saloy Hin returns the gesture, which only draws attention to the massive daiklave at his hip, and steps forward, away from his men and the Warstrider. “What brings you to this corner of the desert? My soldiers have reported more than one Stormwind crossing this stretch of desert in recent weeks. It must be terribly interesting to you.”

Jin starts to circle Saloy, who turns with her until their positions are reversed and Jin’s back is to his troops, “I’m based out of the Lap these days, but I’ve got family in Paragon. We’ve been hearing some disturbing rumors coming from the South, so I’m racing back and forth across the desert, trying to put a little expedition together.”

Saloy Hin raises an eyebrow, “Rumors from the South?” He prompts.

Jin circles again back, swapping sides once more, “All trade with Gem has stopped. All of it. No Guild caravans. No independent merchants.” She tosses her head casually up at the Warstrider, “Rumors of great machines killing anyone on the roads. Between the demons in Chiaroscuro and the Anathema in the Firepeaks, my positions in the Lap are already being squeezed: I certainly hope you’re not the one behind these attacks?”

Saloy Hin’s features turn dark, “You mean you haven’t heard the rumors?”

Jin spreads her arms open again, “I’ve heard nothing but rumors. Do you have something concrete for me?”

Saloy Hin looks over Ganan and Gifty, then he tries to circle with Jin again. She stands still allowing the outcaste General to walk around her, “Here in the north, the Perfect of Paragon reaches out in all directions. Paragon’s armies venture further afield than ever before as he expands his dominion outside of his city. The rumors are, that he’s looking for something.”

Jin smiles a genuine smile at calling this area of Southern Creation “the north” – a truly provincial attitude, “Which explains why you’ve taken a break from killing the innocent traders of Gem – you want to find whatever it is before the Perfect. Do I have time to run a caravan to Gem and back before the next round of slaughter?”

Saloy Hin stops behind Jin and lays his hands on her shoulders. Ganan rips his tetsubo from the Earth, but Gifty stops him before he can rush forward. Seemingly oblivious, Hin speaks very quietly to Jin, “That is not of my doing. A pestilence. A plague of locusts in the shape of men has descended on Gem. Their iron snakes strike out into the desert, consuming everything in their path. Their arrows swarm over caravans and villages alike. Gem is lost. As is every settlement on the diamond road up to Valen. I have journeyed north looking for something to turn the tide.”

Jin relaxes, surely then, this is simply a provincial affair. “I suppose these snakes breathe black smoke?”

General Hin releases her shoulders and walks back in front of her, “You have heard the rumors. Well, they are true: I have fought the Locusts myself. Heed my words, Imperial Magistrate: I spent my youth fighting the wars of the Old Empress in every corner of Creation, but never have I seen the like of these Locusts.”

“I will take that under advisement,” Jin takes a step back, “I have no interest in seeing the Perfect get what he wants. And if your brave soldiers are going to stop some marauding army from laying siege to the Lap, then you’d be doing me a favor. So, what do you say to us parting ways as friends?”

Hin looks over to Ganan and Gifty, and motions them forward with one arm as he places the other around Jin’s shoulders, “I would like nothing better than for us to part as friends. In the morning. After all, it is late – you must accept my hospitality, and at least give me the chance to recruit a magistrate of your caliber into Sirocco.”

Ganan’s eyes narrow, “He means to poison us and murder us in our sleep.”

Gifty scoffs and shakes her head, “Relax. His army is already encamped for the evening. He just doesn’t want us running off to the Perfect and attacking him in the night.”

****

The rogue legion’s camp is not extravagant. Clearly, they have been deployed for days, if not weeks. But the fare and lodgings our heroes are offered are adequate by the standards of the Dragon-Blooded. The legion’s officers salute them, and share tales about Chiaroscuro (where the spirits of the dead and cultists of Sondok continue to do battle amidst the city’s broken spires). They are reluctant to speak of the Locusts to the South, and our heroes do not push them.

Despite Ganan’s misgivings, the camp awakens just before dawn having made no attempt on our heroes’ lives. Jin welcomes the hot coffee that’s presented to them even as Gifty casts Stormwind Rider – the rogue legion keen that their guests depart before seeing which direction their forces will be heading in.

When the camp is just a dot on the horizon, Ganan shouts over the wind to Gifty, “You think we should warn the Perfect that there’s a rogue legion out here?”

“Fuck the Perfect.” Is Gifty’s succinct response.

****

Our heroes complete their journey to Paragon. There’s no obvious access to the tunnels below, though they do pass the mist-shrouded surface ruins of Dari.

Ganan clears his throat, “Could we accept the hospitality of-?” He starts before Gifty cuts him off.

“Yes, we can stop and see your wife.”

****

The Dragon-Blooded are not dressed for Paragon. Their colorful clothing marks them immediately as outsiders in this land of drab grey and sensible dune wear. The guards at the city gates do not even try to intercept a sorcerer blasting into the city atop a subservient dust-devil, though they do cast reproving looks toward the Dragon-Blooded.

Udi meets them in the street as they make a beeline for the Satrap’s quarters. Gifty sets them down, dispersing her magic.

“What’s gone wrong?” Udi asks, Gifty, sparing a half-smile for her hearthmate Ganan.

Gifty looks sidelong at the tiny woman in front of her, “Do I know you?”

Ganan clears his throat, “Tepet Dragonsgift, my hearthmate Ledaal Ludila. Ledaal Ludila, my daughter, Tepet Saber-Edge Dragonsgift.”

Udi shakes her head in disbelief, “She’s messing with you, Gan. You don’t think I was with Aharon for all that time and never met his daughter? Who looks just like him? I like the Tepet bit though, that’s a nice touch.”

Gifty gives an exaggerated sigh, “We could have ran that bit out for months, Udi.”

Udi waves for them to follow her, “The Satrap and Garrison Commander are on exercises.” Udi explains as she leads them into the Satrap’s quarters where Lezabe and Raenyah are being watched over by Udi’s staff. Raenyah seems oblivious to them, but Lezabe turns and stares as they enter the room.

Ganan lifts his daughter and looks down at his granddaughter, “Where’s Nula?” He asks.

“Satrapal Advisor Alinos Nula left this morning after we received intelligence that the Rogue Legion of Saloy Hin had been sighted. Paragon has been expanding our military sphere of influence, which renders us vulnerable should General Hin turn his forces against us.” Udi pauses, “Just as well – she’s still mad at you for calling her fat.”

“Well…” Jin responds, “Saloy Hin is certainly in the field. And he has a Warstrider. We didn’t see the entire Legion though – he believes the Perfect is looking for something in the ruins and he wants to get it first.”

Udi smiles ruefully, “Well, that’s no secret. The Perfect has been obsessed with finding the same thing for hundreds of years: and now Reya has convinced him we’re going to find it – the Orb of Peace and Order. We’ve made some progress in that regard.”

“We’ve made some progress on our project too. That’s why we’re here.” Jin says, “I trust you got Ganan’s message?”

“Everything is progressing as planned. Alinos forces are on route and will be with you within the planned timeframe. But what brings you here?” Udi fixes Jin with a hard stare.

Ganan kneels down to get a better look at his granddaughter.

Jin raises a hand, casually, “Nothing bad. There’s not a lot we can do until our forces arrive, so we’re scouting the area. Making sure we’re not going to be interrupted by rogue legions or locust armies.”

“Locust Folk? I don’t think they exist!” Udi chuckles.

Jin makes a fifty-fifty gesture, “They seem to be a regional threat in the deep South. We believe they’ve conquered Gem.”

Udi raises an eyebrow, “Quite the feat for beastfolk.”

Ganan pulls a face, “Locusts are associated with Cecelyne. Could be demonic.”

“That… would make sense…” Jin ruminates.

Udi makes a dismissive noise, “You can’t be serious!”

“Gem has fallen,” Jin says decisively, “We have reliable witnesses – these Locusts exist. What they are, where they come from is up for debate. But they’ve not been seen in the Lap, and if they’ve not been seen here, we can be confident that they’re only a regional threat.”

Udi’s smile falters, “You’re serious? You flew all the way out here looking for Locusts?”

“Our activities in the Lap will take us East, and you’re our only ally and last safe stop before Chiaroscuro. Some new force crawls out of no-where and annihilates a city? Don’t get me wrong, if we could start work, we’d be working. But we need our forces from the Blessed Isle for that, so, reconnaissance.”

Udi relaxes, swayed by Jin’s speech, “Very logical. I’m only sorry that you missed Reya. Not that Ganan seems to mind.”

Ganan looks up from playing with the children, “Well… it’s as Jin says, we can’t actually start work yet…” He clears his throat, “I mean, Paragon is a good a place as any to wait?”

“Absolutely not!” Gifty snaps quickly, “We need to get back West. We don’t want to be drawn into Paragon’s hunt for the Orb or into war with Saloy Hin. Your time is better spent building us tools for our venture than wasting away in Paragon eating dates. We should be getting back.”

Ganan grits his teeth and sets his child down.

Udi rises and shows them out, “Reya will be disappointed to have missed you. I must insist that you not Stormwind within the city limits.”

****

Gifty Stormwinds them back to the Lap. There they return to the Saber Edge mansion, then restock and resupply to return to Shining Kren.

Jin corners Ganan alone in a guest bedroom.

“Did you see many peasants working the fields on the ride here?” She asks directly.

Ganan shrugs, “Some. Not a lot. I was looking out for Anathema.”

Jin sucks her teeth, “And did you see many peasants in town on the way up to the mansion?”

Ganan’s brow wrinkles, “No… but that’s because Gifty says…”

“They’re all working the fields?”

Ganan counts off on his fingers, “But we didn’t see-”

“So, back to my original question: where the hell is everyone?”

“Gifty says… wait…” Ganan stares at his sister, “Are you saying that Dragonsgift is… hiding something about the city from us?”

“Who do we know in the Lap, outside of this house?”

“The Triumvirs?”

“Replaced, except Cathak Sijip. Vallish Macotri? Dead. Tever Marsune? Dead. Sesus Deron? Dead. You want me to start listing the people I know here? Because that’s a long list and every single name ends the same way.”

“Everyone we know in the Lap can’t be dead!”

“So, where are they?”

Ganan throws his arms in the air, “I don’t know! Maybe they are dead! There was a civil war!”

“A Dragon-Blooded hostage is worth a lot of Jade. I’ll grant you that a lot of mortals were killed in the collateral of the civil war, but outside of the bloody rampages of a few savages, most of us survived.”

“Obviously, you have a theory then, so why not just tell me? Where is everyone then?”

Jin fixes her brother with a long look, “They’re dead.”

“But you just said-”

“I don’t think they were killed by other Dragon-Blooded. And the fact that the Lunars are hiding in the mountains, instead of raining fire on a weakened Lap suggests it wasn’t them either.”

“Just. Say. What. You. Mean.” Ganan spits, “You think it was these… ‘Locusts’?”

Jin shakes her head, “The Locusts seem to be based in the Deep South. I think this is the same threat we faced in Kirighast. The threat that overran Chiaroscuro. The very reason the two of us started working together again.”

“Sondok?”

“Sondok.” Jin nods.

“But why would Gifty be helping Sondok? Why would Sijip be helping Sondok?”

“That, I don’t know. Just keep your guard up, your eyes open, and your mouth shut.”

Ganan nods mutely, and Jin leaves the room. Gifty, hiding in the room next door, takes her palm from the wall – having heard everything thanks to the gifts of the Dragons.

****

Come morning, the Dragon-Blooded pick up their supplies from Hoxie, Gifty’s head servant. Ganan finds this unremarkable, but Jin can’t resist commenting.

“So convenient to have everything delivered. We don’t have to see a single street of the city this way.”

Gifty raises an eyebrow, “I’m sorry, did you want to shop? Father and I are keen to get back to the tunnel. Unearth lost relics of the First Age. Save the failing fortunes of House Alinos. Kill some subterranean horrors.”

Ganan’s face lights up as Gifty lists all his favorite things. Jin clears her throat, which brings him back to focus. Ganan opens his mouth to speak, then closes it again.

Gifty motions them outside, “Shall we?”

Jin walks outside and Ganan follows her. Gifty flies them back to the base of the Firepeaks and they re-enter Shining Kren by the secret entrance shown to them by the Jadeborn.

****

Ganan spends 8XP to train Chaos Warding Prana.
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Dynasty of Dovak