Niakuni directs the dark-haired Ciaran to wait with the ropes. If there was trouble, she'd tug for her rope to be hauled up by the crewmen waiting in the Bounty, but otherwise she'd remain as a beacon to light the divers' return.

The two remaining Tya kick off the sea floor and swim nimbly to keep up with Zeru and Jadira. They're not even close to as fluid as his movements, but they are still experienced swimmers, and unburdened but for the lights they carry.

It takes about 6 minutes for the group to swim there, assuming Zeru slows down enough to let the others keep up. By the time they're halfway there, even those with less keen sight can start to make out what they're approaching.

It is a crystalline oblong object, standing straight up on the sea floor, buried in place by centuries of shifting earth and detritus. Shaped like a chrysalis, it towers at least a story above the divers' heads, large enough to house a scale of men in very close quarters. Upon its surface are glimmers of golden patterns inlaid into the crystal that could very well be orichalcum, and the translucent crystal (very much like that which covers the hull of the Dryad) sheaths a core of black jade. At first glance, there does not seem to be an opening or any sort of seam that might indicate how to open or manipulate the object.

The other thing the group notices, as they approach the vicinity of the object, is that none of the vibrant and alien sea life that surrounded them before is present. Even the sea sponges don't grow here, as if living creatures seem to deliberately avoid an area up to thirty yards radius around.

---

OOC: You can... try to do stuff to it! Touch it, observe it, damage its surface... You may or may not need to roll something, depending on what you do. Purely examining is probably Per+Awareness, looking and trying to analyze what you see is more like Int+Lore or Occult.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:48, Fri 21 Nov 2008.

Zeru uses his maneuverability to swing around it once or twice just looking for any protrusions or indents in the surface something that doesn't fit with the rest of the structure.

14:08, Today: Peleps Zeru rolled 4 successes using 4d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 8,3,8,10. Perception + Awareness.

Jadira doesn't move, but swims in place in front of the cocoon-like structure. The similarity to the Dryad in the crystal construction strikes her as important, and her eyes focus on the surface of the translucent material.

As a sorceress trained in the Realm's illustrious Heptagram, patterns in the flows of Essence are are a discipline she has both studied and learned to duplicate. Drawing from that body of knowledge, she lets her eyes trace the golden patterns, entering that trance-like prepatory state she assumes in the crucial seconds of smoothing, joining and organizing the flows to her will.

Of course, these patterns are static -- embedded in the crystal itself. But sorcery is sorcery, and though it may be untamed and unpredictable at times, the processes of harnessing and manipulating Essence to serve some purpose have largely remained unchanged over the centuries. Thus Jadira puts herself in the mindset of the sorcerer-artificers that built the wonder before her, trying to intuit their method and intention through the juxtaposition and repetition of the orichalcum lines.

Through this she might gain insight as to what the chrysalis is, how it works and what it might contain.

Zeru's eyes are particularly sharp and attentive, though the lighting this far down in the sea is dim at best. Circling the ancient structure, he finds several hairline cracks winding around it independently of the orichalcum patterns. Though the chrysalis is a construct, and many times larger than anything natural, it has still been built to emulate organic life. If it were to open along those cracks, it would very likely unfold into something much like a butterfly.

Zeru is able to pinpoint a couple spots on the crystalline surface where the orichalcum lines and the cracks coincide. The points are placed symmetrically on the structure, but too far to be touched simultaneously by a single human being.

Jadira meanwhile studies the structure in a more disciplined, academic fashion. She confirms quite readily that this structure was built in the pre-Shogunate era, a construct as ancient as the ship she and Lasuri now sail. What it is, however, takes more thought to understand. She can see that the cocoon is likely some sort of cache, the furled 'wings' of the chrysalis keeping the interior safe from elements and theft. She also has some reason to believe from the complexity of the patterns that the structure holds some sentience... and would react to the touch of Essence flowing into it.

Niakuni and Astrid remain a respectful distance away, carrying their deep-sea lanterns to give the Dragon-Blooded some light to work by.

Their expressions show them to be ill at ease. The lack of sea life in this region makes the Tya divers uncomfortable.

Zeru swims over to Jadira and motions for her to follow him...

Jadira takes a little while to respond, her concentrated too focused on the analysis. Once her focus changes, though, she panics a little bit at first, having nearly forgotten she is 300 yards underwater with how deeply she was focused on the patterns. Breathe, breathe... The gum is still working fine, or so she hopes.

Then she catches Zeru's gesture. What is it? She looks imploringly at the Water Aspect and swims closer. I'll have to channel some essence into this thing. Somewhere... She doesn't touch the chrysalis though, waiting to see what Zeru has found.

Zeru points out the connections between the cracks and the orichalcum... Then floats next to one... motioning for Jadira to do the same.

Jadira observes, then nods, and floats to the other intersection point... 'vertex' is the word that comes to mind.

This must be it. She looks at Zeru, nods, and presses her hand to the point he indicated. Verdant essence emanates from her palm as she channels a tentative tendril of essence through the crystalline surface.

Zeru watches the essence flow from her for but a moment...

ooc: do I need a check for this?

Jadira touches the surface of the chrysalis with her Wood Essence, and the once translucent crystal begins to pulse a warm green. There is a slight rumbling, as the warm glow spreads, swirling along the oblong structure until about half of it is glowing brightly, penetrating the gloom.

From his earlier observations, Zeru can see that the portion that Jadira has lit up is likely one of the two giant wings wrapped around to form the chrysalis cocoon.

[Private to GM: Jadira has lost 10 motes.]

---

OOC: Nope, no check needed!

Zeru follows Jadira's lead and pumps some of his warm blue green essence into the vertex that he found. He watches it spread throughout the wing, and hopes that by doing this they may have found a way to open it.

The chrysalis reacts to the second touch of Essence, one wing glowing a vibrant leaf green, the other an aquatic blue-green like the sea in the daytime. The sea floor continues to rumble -- more than a minor tremor now, enough to be felt in the water even without touching bottom. [Private to Peleps Zeru: Zeru loses 10 motes from activating the chrysalis.]

Slowly, as if waking from a long sleep, the wings spread open to reveal the space within, sea water pouring into the airtight space as it does so. The interior side of the wings are crafted of pure blue jade with streaks of orichalcum, and at the center of each wing is a shape much like a very large eye. But this is no mere mimicry: they are golden orbs that function as the senses of the manse, and they swivel to stare at the two that have opened the cache.

The interior is what appears to be a two-tiered workshop of wonders, the bottom platform connected to the top by a large central pillar of blue jade and crystal, with double sliding doors leading into it. The shelves and work surfaces are all smooth and crystalline, following the curve of the outer perimeter once protected by the folded wings. Tools of all shapes and sizes are kept in locked crystal cases, themselves of perfect construction and sturdy enough to work with the most difficult of materials.

The place where the two wings meet, the 'body' of the butterfly so to speak, is a proportionally large, oblong shape of white jade alloy, so smooth it could have been squeezed straight out of a tube. The butterfly's 'heart', located dead center between the wings, is a pulsing, faceted blue gem: a hearthstone.  From its head, mechanical tendrils unfurl themselves -- two antennae and a coiled tongue -- and extend like feelers to touch the two Exalts.

"Unknown trespassers of the deep," utters a sharp, crackling, androgynous voice straight into their minds. "You are not welcome here."

---

OOC: React if you wish, then roll a Join Battle.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:18, Mon 24 Nov 2008.

Zeru says nothing... but grabs his chain and sets it to spinning, its speed undiminished in the darkness of the water. In his mind however he thinks I have no quarrel with you, but I wish to examine this place.

20:42, Today: Peleps Zeru rolled 1 success using 3d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 2,2,9. Wits + Awareness.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:43, Mon 24 Nov 2008.

Uh oh, that's not good... Resolved to fight, Jadira shoulders her Essence Cannon and starts to circle around the workshop platforms, hoping to position herself for a clear shot of the giant butterfly construct when she gets a chance.

Now that the chrysalis is open, though, she focuses her powers of analysis on the manse guardian itself. Drawing again from her knowledge of First Age technology, from years of experience encountering, studying and handling such artifacts, she attempts to understand just what the construct is and any weaknesses it may possess.

Of particular interest to her is the hearthstone socketed into its body. Is that its power source? she wonders. Or is the butterfly's body where the Hearthstone actually generates?
This message was last edited by the player at 20:21, Mon 24 Nov 2008.

The simple answer to Jadira's question is both -- though, simply prying out the hearthstone would be a difficult action for someone not used to close quarters combat.

But what Jadira understands is that the butterfly guardian is both an integral part of the Manse's geomancy, and itself an artifact guardian with its own Artificial Intelligence. The Essence she and Zeru poured into it basically refilled its Essence battery and reactivated its 'heart'.

The construct moves swiftly through the water to meet the intruders, propelling through it in a manner similarly to a manta ray. It is at least 5 times as tall as a normal man, and nearly that broad, its wings and body armored in magical material -- a formidable opponent, even if it is old and in disrepair.

Skirting around the platforms, it approaches Zeru and lashes out with two tendrils that shoot out of its body where the butterfly's legs would be. The tendrils spark with electrical energy, one attempting to stun Zeru, the other to entangle him. Both miss as the Water Aspect dodges nimbly, giving both him and Jadira an opportunity to strike!

---

OOC: actions
tick 0 - Butterfly Guardian (missed!)
tick 1 - Zeru, Jadira

Zeru dodges the two tendrils and interposes his arm into the chain. It shortens the chain and when he removes it the chain flies straight up. He pulls the chain dragging the Jade ball down through the water sending forth a trail of bubbles as the water fills in the tunnel the speeding ball creates. Even underwater Zeru's fighting style is beautiful with the water aspect spinning and turning until his body was parallel with the sea floor. As the jade ball comes into range he kicks it forward with all his might sending it streaking towards the butterfly shaped adversary.

Jadira gets a fierce jolt of excitement as she realizes she'll be able to fire her 'baby' after a long time leaving it to rest. Of course, she is also conscious of the danger of her situation, and VERY aware of her current deep underwater state. But the armswoman can't help but be at least a little thrilled at the prospect of seeing what an Essence cannon might do to a pre-Shogunate automaton.

Well, here goes. The Wood Aspect gives a few strong kicks with her swim fins to propel her through the water, circling to one side of the melee. She didn't want to hit Zeru with the beam, after all. And I need to let him know to hit the Hearthstone, too...

Still drifting from the force of her kicks, Jadira levels the cannon at the butterfly guardian, aligning the barrel at an angle as she floats into position. All that remains is to wait for the perfect window, as Zeru's kick pushes him away from the front of the construct, and its glowing blue heart is revealed to her...

Now!

And a concussive blast of verdant Essence rushes from the barrel, surging unhindered through the sea toward its mark.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:50, Tue 25 Nov 2008.

The butterfly guardian makes a poor attempt at edging out of the way, but Zeru's combat prowess is peerless. The jade ball slams right into one of the wing joints, damaging the connecting fibers there. (2B) [Private to Peleps Zeru: You also got +2 stunt, so get back essence!]

The cannon, on the other hand, hits -- but at the last moment the guardian generates some sort of filmy force shield, like a hardened bubble, and the majority of the damage splashes away from the heart. (1B)

"Intruders," the AI transmits coolly into the Exalts' minds. "I will be required to exert greater force if you do not withdraw now."

---

OOC: Ew, Jadira rolled bad damage. You guys get the feeling that even though it's dented, it's probably got a good amount of endurance left to it.

Also, oops, I realized you both have great speed, and go before it can move again... So ignore guardian's attack rolls I just made. (Good for Zeru, too, 'cause it would've clinched him.)

actions
tick 5 - Zeru, Jadira
tick 6 - guardian
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:52, Tue 25 Nov 2008.

We will not let you impede us guardian of this manse. Under the Cobalt Alliance we will take control of this Manse. Zeru thinks towards the butterfly thing. His movements seem staggered, like he's drunk or gotten the bends. The only thing is, that no matter the movements of his body his chain spins perfectly over his head caught along the rim of a whirlpool that seems to surround Zeru. He kicks the chain forward in a manner that appears to miss the butterfly guardian before back-flipping in the water pulling hard on the chain looking to strike it on the back of the fragile wing connections.

OOC: Activating Doldrums induced tempo... and my anima's probably flaring, a swirling whirlpool. Butterfly's DV is minus 2, and if I deal damage Jadira hits it at a minus 1

[Private to GM: 19:55, Today: Peleps Zeru rolled 7 successes using 10d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 7,7,8,10,9,1,9,4,2,6. Doldrums induced tempo. ]

The end of Zeru's chain strikes true, but still does not more than fray a few of the butterfly's wing-connectors. (1B) However, it is still enough to cripple its movement slightly, giving Jadira an even better chance to strike. (DV 2)

[Private to Peleps Zeru: another +1 stunt :)]
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:52, Tue 25 Nov 2008.

Yes! Jadira finds herself cheering Zeru on as his fighting chain seems to slow the butterfly guardian's motions. Better not waste the opportunity...

Kicking upward this time, well above Zeru's head, she angles her cannon downward for a clear shot at the heart. Give it all you've got, baby! Steeling her arms and body for the backlash, she activates the trigger, pouring all the Essence she can muster into the blast.

The cannon discharges its green energy beam with enough concussive force to push her backwards through the water. Palpable shockwaves ripple through the seawater in its wake, Jadira's added essence actually smoothing and refining the trajectory, condensing the beam without hindering its power.

The energy blast strikes the heart, the filmy shield inefficient to hold back the sheer power that Jadira levels at the construct. (10B! ow!) The butterfly construct is heavily damaged, now, the glowing blue gem dimming and flaring erratically. As the Exalts watch, they actually see some of the interior fibers showing through the cracks in its outer shell weaving themselves back together, trying to regenerate the damage.

"....zzzt.... Heavy structural damage... destruction imminent... fffzzzt... Protect the Manse at All Costs..."

Three tendrils thrust out toward Zeru, sparking weakly now. Two of them flail ineffectually to touch the slippery Water Aspect, while the third threatens to seize him, wrapping tight around his arms.

---

OOC: If you're wondering, it has PoM but just used (almost?) all its actions... it's pretty weak now, though. -4 wound levels.

Edited 'cause Zeru wished to stunt defense. :)
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:51, Wed 26 Nov 2008.

Zeru's anima of a whirlpool surrounds his body, but Jadira and the Tya can see a blur of bubbles as he begins to spin, his hands sticking out from the sides of the anima. His spin gets exceedingly fast and his body flips upside down his hands cutting through the water like two knives. The constant refilling of the vacuumed space leads to an onslaught of bubbles, a curtain of oxygen that would displace his true location. When the butterfly attacks Zeru subtly slides upwards keeping his body tight in a ball to avoid being a target in the shroud he created.

The third tendril, try as it might, cannot find purchase on Zeru's whirling body, nor pinpoint his location in the spray of bubbles.

---

OOC: actions
tick 6 - Butterfly guardian (miss)
tick 9 - Zeru, Jadira