The Fire Aspect listens to the bluff and very nearly finds it convincing. He pauses for a moment, actually considering the claim and taking note of the name Slivari gave as her own.

Then he shakes his head. "I'm sorry. While your claim does not completely lack credibility, we officers are trained to recognize that the Anathema can often be glib tongued and persuasive."

"We need some sign or symbol of your legitimacy. Then I will let you pass. Otherwise..." A blazing Essence spearhead blossoms from the tip of the patrol officer's fire lance, and his men ready their spears in a battle-ready stance.

---

OOC: Slivari's roll just barely got beaten by the leader's MDV. Instead of just letting you fail outright I'll give you one more chance to escape... give it your best shot, use WP, virtues. Slivari, you could potentially stunt performance: acting or storytelling (and use Perf excellency), or you could use socialize and elaborate on your lie about Tepet Rovena, play up that you're of higher social class than a mere soldier. Just some suggestions. :)

or you can just fight, or try to run right past'em!

"I don't quite think it worked"  Danae whispered back.  "Dontcha have some special skills or something you can toss in to make it work better?  I mean, I can probably sorta step on them--but if they're bringing siege weapons in--well, a Warstrider's pretty much a big suit of armor that I've just funneled a massive amount of my Essence through--if it gets hit, I'm gonna get torn up a bit--and I won't be able to put up much of a defense either...  I mean, if I go quick, I can make it--but..."

She frowned, then added.  "Why not go with something kind of truthful then?  Say we were asked to secure resources, and that there's no time to waste... Or whatever you want to do--I'll just get ready to not get us all killed if worst comes to worst...  No pressure?  Really, it's not my intent"

Slivari sighs when it becomes obvious her little attempt didn't work, this was what she got for trying to save essence for a later time. Running a hand through her light green hair she pushes it over her shoulder and searches her mind for something else she could toss at the suspicious dragon-graced

She frowns, maybe she could spin some sort of tale to convince them. " Listen there isn't time to be wasting! There is a dangerous Anathema on the loose but since you insist. I will tell you more of who I am and how I came to have this warstrider. I came here with a friend to secure resources, as we were looking over the aged Warstriders, the alert went out, the two anathema flew past us using their essence to attack and beguile others with their wicked talents. I'm lucky it didn't come in or I might not be able to stand here and waste time with you over small details. My partner left to help in a different area while I took the warstrider to assist my fellow dragons in capturing the anathema's, I do have an advantage since I saw them. Now I implore you man! step aside and let me continue on my way to help find and capture this loose Anathema before something terrible happens."



[Private to GM: Performance and Manipulation + Conviction (Dedication for getting through this)
Using Performance Excellency. 6 mote which gives 6 extra dice.

Today: Secret Roll: Dyron Slivari rolled 5 successes using 14d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 3,8,10,5,7,5,3,2,3,4,5,5,2,8. ]

The Fire Aspect listens pensively, considering every word. Grimly, he nods, depowering his lance. Touching his ear, he activates a communications device and speaks.

"Two uncollared Anathema reported loose in Floor B29, Lower Residential District, Sector C6, Manta! Fan out immediately in search of them!" he announces sternly.

"...Lady Rovena," he addresses the warstrider; not knowing the proper rank he defaults to a generic honorific. "I and my men will accompany you on your hunt. I am Lieutenant Valis Miru of the 33rd Red Jade Strike Fang, at your service."

"But I must insist, Lady, that by the ten minute mark we must immediately head for higher ground. The Tiger Sharks will take our place, and after that -- apologies, Lady. Of course you know the plan." He signals his men, "Move out, follow Lady Rovena!"

---

OOC: second attempt had slightly lower MDV--so you pass!

So you know the way to the nearest stairway or the nearest elevator. I figure Adela can decide which one is best (since she's piloting) and start moving now. I'll leave it up to both of you whether you'll try to lose the Strike Fang or not.

"Say it's our first priority to secure the resources" Danae whispered back.  "I don't mind if they follow us for a while--but that it woudl be better if they spent their efforts searching for the Anathema as opposed to providing escort to a war machine...  We'll try taking the stairs though--we'll probably have to get clearance for the elevator, and that'll probably require a visual--and until I get a second of free time to pry these collars off, we can't stick around down here when that 'Purge' happens--Tiger Shark armor is used for underwater operations, and these things aren't environmentally sealed, we'll all drown for sure if we're caught down here when that happens.

And with that said, Danae tilted her head down, the warstrider matching the movement as well as it's clumsy construction and hasty repairs could, and began making way to the stairway
This message was last edited by the player at 00:23, Mon 10 Nov 2008.

For now, the 33rd Strike Fang follows the orichalcum warstrider without complaint. One positive to their escort is that none of the other patrols they meet stop to question them along the way.

Meanwhile, the situation continues to devolve throughout the residential district. "T-minus twenty minutes until purging commences," comes the latest ominous announcement, sparking a riot that even the well-equipped and organized Five Coils Peace Officers find challenging to put down. A mad, screaming throng of residents who have refused to be herded neatly are now clogging the main road leading to the stairway. They've started to realize that they're very likely not going to be saved -- or that the intent was never to save them at all!

Some have turned on the armored peacekeepers, while others are simply pushing and trampling over their peers for even the chance at getting upstairs. The response from the Peace Officers has turned from an attempt to pacify into all out violence: volleys of arrows and Essence blasts tear through the crowd, felling ordinary men and women and children without any care for distinction, and those who manage to surge close enough to attack find themselves little match for the fire lances, shock pikes and essence whips of the front lines.

Danae pilots her warstrider to the edge of the rioters until she realizes she will either have to force a path through the riot or attempt a detour. "Are you sure the Anathema came THIS way, Lady?" Valis Miru shouts up, struggling to fend off the mortals that have begun to crowd their group. The rioters apparently think the warstrider is another, greater measure to beat them down, and are crazed and desperate enough to try and overwhelm it!

---

OOC: Okay... the warstrider is basically being clinched by a group of about 10 mortals dogpiling on it. Only 2 successes, though. Your dodge DV is pretty much useless in the warstrider, but you still parried them off. You have an action to decide whether you'll push through, try to find a detour to the stairs, or try another route (the elevator, or search for a lesser known stairway.)

Slivari watches the chaos with wide eyes, her expression going from shock to anger to deep sadness for she knows there isn't much she can do for the desperate people. Its terrible how they can so coldly kill their own people.

She growls a curse when they turn their attention to the warstrider. " These people can't be serious!" she mumbles as she shifts slightly so she is more secure. She glances at Danae " I'm guessing that if we don't do something they might just damage us or something right? What do you want to do? As much as I hate this option do you think you could push through them? Or should we try the elevator or something? Is there another staircase? you know one we don't have to spend forever looking for" She was quiet for several moments. " We don't have much time....Danae do whatever you can do get us up there please..." Slivari felt terrible for saying those words, she felt as if she were no better then those officers shooting down children and their parents. She forced herself to watch, so she could always remember how cold they were and not be tempted to show mercy if the chance presented itself.

"... Actually, I've got an idea" Danae muttered after escaping the press of the people present, and taking a new detour, this time towards one of the 'Lesser Used Elevators'.  "No matter how you slice it--if we just run out and save our own skins--we're pretty much going to deserve the whole 'Anathema' title they've got us stuck with...  I mean, freedom's wonderful and all--but should it really come at the cost of 'Everyone' from the entire water-sector, who isn't either properly equipped, or a Water Aspect?"

Having escaped from the crowd proper, and taking a look back at the group's 'Company', she took a second to consider.  "So--most of the forces are down here watching the riots...  If we can take this opportunity to get up to the administration floor of the Water sector--I think we can stop the purge before it actually kicks off...  Of course, that's going to mean we'll probably have to fight our way through the guys down here... I can hold my own basically, but if you're not much of a fighter yourself, you'll have to let me take the lead--I'll see if we can settle down in a sufficiently close quarters though that the 'Strider' can block any pursuit though--if we get that far anyway..."

Danae extracts her warstrider from the throng of rioters being systematically slaughtered. Though she puts her first thoughts and efforts into a plan to save them, forcing herself to retreat while they are being slaughtered still fills her with frustrated rage at her inability to help them now!

[Private to Danae Adela: 16:03, Today: Gatekeeper, on behalf of Danae Adela, rolled 6 successes using 3d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 10,10,10. <-- ouch, ouch, OUCH! The one time you'd want the dice to roll badly, they roll well. You get 6 points of limit, however you won't get it again for this scenario so at least you know you won't limit break yet.]

Fortunately, she maintains control of her emotions and starts piloting her way toward the nearest district elevator. Valis Miru and the 33rd Strike Fang find themselves caught struggling to free themselves from the tail end of the rioting, trying to follow. Miru shouts over the rioting, "Wait, Lady Rovena! Where are you going??" before he starts to realize that the person in the warstrider isn't actually hunting for Anathema -- she's looking for a way upstairs!

Danae and Slivari hear Miru broadcast another communication as they pull into a side street and keep moving. "Possible rogue warstrider, designation double-0-13-Common, headed toward District Elevator 1! Available units prepare to intercept!"

---

OOC: Battle coming up by the next post or two. You still have some time to potentially activate anima, scenelong charms, whatever you've got. Your odds are better though, there's fewer available to intercept, so don't freak out too much ;)
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:21, Sat 29 Nov 2008.

"I guess that was a slightly reckless plan, was it?"  Danae sighed while shifting the Warstrider's weapons into a slightly more offensive posture, even as she glances over her attackers.

"These are--as I mentioned, really bad for taking on small people... Then again, a single hit'll clean their clocks--so I guess we've got to hope for the best now, don't we"

Slivari had been so shocked by Danae, for the first time in her life words has completely failed her.

After the crazy plan was in motion she looked at Danae, sarcasm in her voice " Reckless plan? I'll say! what were you thinking?!" she fell silent, it wasn't like yelling at her would help at this point. " Look I am no fighter, so I really hope this giant thing can clean their clocks as you said, otherwise..."
This message was last edited by the player at 01:50, Sun 16 Nov 2008.

"There he is!" shouts a voice from ahead of the warstrider. Slivari and Danae see a group of six headed toward them: two in sentinel defense force armor, and four in ashigaru armor, all wielding shock pikes. From the armor make, Danae is certain these are all mortals: very well equipped heroic mortals, but mortals nonetheless.

"Come on, this is our chance to prove our mettle!" shouts their leader, one of the sentinels. "FIRE!" The two more heavily armored mortals maintain a front line defense while the four behind execute a flawless coordinated attack, discharging energy from their shock pikes at range!

---

OOC: actions
tick 0 - sentinels, ashigaru (coordinated attack)
tick 1 - Danae and Slivari (note: I will allow for Slivari to use her thrown attacks from the protection of the warstrider, if she wishes.)

Currently the small force in front of the warstrider is 50 yards away. The coordinated attack succeeded surprisingly well, so parry DV is at -5 (-1 from shock pike at range, -4 from coordination). The warstrider is at 0 DV but Danae may use a charm to improve DV or perfect defend (but note: there's 4 attacks to PD against, 3 at 6 sux and 1 at 4 sux.)

Note that damage taken by the warstrider will be distributed: basically Danae and Slivari will share damage so it's kinda more like you have 20 HL total.

"Hello!"  Danae called out as her own weapon nimbly worked to deflect the worst of the oncoming shock-bolts, "I'm Hardly the one murdering your own people here!  It's funny how you blame us for all that's occuring..."  At that point, the worst of the barrage over and done with, Danae twisting the chopping sword in one hand then, and settling it into a fighting posture.

"Don't hold me responsible for your lives then!"

With a single sweep at that point, Danae dropped the Warstrider low, and delivered an arching blow, aiming to knock two of the ashigaru equipped soldiers aside.

[Private to Gatekeeper: Dipping Swallow Defense to bring my PDV back up to it's base, plus any stunts--My attack will involve a two-attack flurry aimed at the ashigaru troops with the chopping sword.]
This message was last edited by the player at 00:51, Tue 18 Nov 2008.

[Private to Danae Adela: +1 stunt... erp, unfortunately with the warstrider chopping sword, your PDV is only 4... so, you only get 5 max. however, it's enough to make the last pike miss.]

Three blasts of energy rock the warstrider, most of it absorbed by the massive metal body, but Danae and Slivari still take minimal damage (1L each). The fourth shock pike blast is neutralized by Danae's massive chopping sword.

She strikes back, sweeping the heavy blade at the ashigaru. They scramble, using the advantage of their smaller size to duck away from its reach.

"Keep your distance!" their leaders command, maintaining a steady backward march as they ready for another volley of blasts.

---

OOC: Looks like both Danae and the mortals act again on tick 5. Since Danae is Exalted, though, I'll let her take another action before they do. Slivari may still act as well if she wishes, but don't let that stop you Danae, you can assume she holds her action if you post before her.

(Sorry, I had nearly forgotten about the -3 dice for size! but you can see from my mistaken rolls that if you DO get to hit any one of these guys, they'll just splatter. :P)

Slivari growled in frustration, this wasn't going as well as she had hoped and those dragon-graced being smaller then the Warstrider obviously made it more difficult to harm them. She had to find a way to help, while she might not be much of a fighter she was decent with her throwing knives and even knew a trick or two that might help in out.
" Okay, here I go"

Pulling a throwing knife out of her boot she smirks, she had always kept a few on her person just in case she needed to help defend her master. Well now she supposed he was her former master.


[Private to GM: Howdy GM, you mentioned I could still use my throwing attacks, so I am gussing its alright for me to use Cascade of Cutting Terror against the little dragons.
Heh... so much for awesome blades of doom.....apparently the dice gods hate me right now.


You botched using 7d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 ((1,5,2,1,3,4,5)).
 I don't know if you prefer I act out my botch or if your like my table-top GM and enjoy being evil and deciding it for yourself. :\  Be gentle? ]

[Private to Dyron Slivari: Oh no, that sucks! Well, I gave you an extra die for a stunt, just for trying, and it rolled a 10. So, 2 sux, doubled to 4. ST trumps bad dice! Ha! ;)]

Fortunately for Slivari, none of the group in front of her and Danae are actually Dragon-blooded, just well-equipped mortals. When she tosses her throwing knife, it splits into a multitude of golden knives that swarm and pierce her opponent, one of the sentinel armored leaders. Unfortunately, most of it is absorbed by his armor, but he does take 1L damage.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:18, Thu 20 Nov 2008.

"FIRE!" The sentinel leader shouts valiantly, but his men are apparently shocked by the sight of a warstrider up close. They just can't manage to coordinate their shock pike blasts at all.

Nonetheless, the disjointed array of energy blasts that streaks toward the warstrider is still basically accurate. Only one shot goes off wildly -- the other four will definitely impact unless Danae acts to avoid them. [Private to Danae Adela: Your Parry DV is currently 3 and the attacks coming for you are 5 sux, 5 sux, 6 sux, 4 sux. If you use Dipping Swallow you'll only get a max of 4 Parry DV so that'll reduce the # of hits to 3. But if I were you I'd save your charm use for a melee excellency, since it can both raise DV and add successes to attack. You can post both the defense and your next attack in the same post to speed things up.]

---

OOC: BTW, this thread is really just too slow compared to the others. :/ I'll have to start summarizing the combat and determining the PCs' actions myself, if the responses don't start speeding up soon.

That way the thread can move on toward the next goal. The other groups will be converging on B29 pretty soon.
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:37, Thu 20 Nov 2008.

"Kind of a bit worse then I expected..." Danae muttered, glancing over to the side, and reaching out for a chunk of wall that had been damaged by the few attacks that had been blocked earlier, then with a quick movement, pulled it out, and hurled it in the direction of the attacking soldiers--while she doubted it would hurt them, it should distract their aim enough--hopefully, that she'll be able to defend herself a little better then before.

That was the theory anyway--as she proceeded in following this up with another swipe of the sword, trying to target the apparent leader of the opposing group.

[Private to Gatekeeper: 2m Second Melee on each attack to bring my DV up a bit, + my stunt. 4m on my attack, targetting the one who's been coordinating the others]

Slivari lets out a small happy squeak, her arm shooting skywards then she brings it back down in a gesture of triumph!

" Yes! I was so scared I wouldn't be able to do anything" Feeling more confident in her abilities She holds on tight, admiring Danae's ability to control the warstrider she knew if she had been foolish enough to take one of her own, they would be in even deeper trouble.

" Come on Danae, you can do this" Her voice is soft but encouraging. As Danae deals with the oncoming attacks, Slivari prepares for another try at attacking those annoying mortals below. Again she pulls out a Dagger from her boot, placing a kiss on the tip she closes her eyes and then prepares to use her power once more.

[Private to GM: You rolled 1 success using 7d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 ((3,5,2,8,2,6,3)). -.-; Its official the dice hate me :P]

Danae makes an amazing comeback that turns the tide of the battle. With a boost of essence, the Dawn Caste hurls the chunk of wall, deflecting every one of the chaotically aimed shots.

As the leader fumes in frustration at his men's lack of cohesion, he finds a gigantic chopping sword coming straight for him. It slams into his body with a sickening crack (10L damage, from 22 dice rolled, just... nasty!) If he were not armored in magitech alloy, he would have been bisected. Instead, his body implodes on the inside of his armor in a rather messy display of gore, and is flung several yards away with a squelchy thud.

The remaining armored mortals look at one another speechlessly... and turn to RUN as Slivari's rain of golden knives barely misses their heels! (Remaining mortals failed Valor check.) Danae can now continue piloting towards the elevator, but expect more opposition coming!

---

OOC: thanks for the prompt replies! Danae did great this time. Slivari, the dice really do hate you. Maybe use WP or virtues next time?

Anyway, there's a couple shock pikes on the ground the group left behind, dunno if either of you would want those for when you're no longer in the warstrider.

You could also potentially take that sentinel armor but. uh, it's going to need some cleaning. (ew.)

"Err...  A bit much... But I guess that's what happens when you stand against something like this with infantry..."  Danae noted with a blanche, before picking up a pair of discarded Shock Lances, and turning the warstrider around and towards the elevator from before--if she was quick, she might even be able to beat the majority of Five Coil's defenders to the punch--and if she was really quick, it might even be possible to stop the so-called 'Purge' they were planning for here!

Well, hopefully anyway, she'd be pretty upset if she failed there...

The warstrider quickly covers the urban terrain, covering nearly half a block with each pair of strides. It seems that the fleeing mortals have managed to warn their fellows off from confronting the 'strider directly, so they proceed mostly unhindered... for now. Whatever forces are remaining are undoubtedly gathering at the elevator to cut them off, and the only way to be sure of escape is to get there before them.

As Danae continues to run, carrying Slivari and her captured materials in the warstrider, the two Exalts hear a sound entirely unlike the harsh klaxons and emotionless announcements for the purge. It is the grandiose, stirring performance of an Immaculate choir, broadcast through every available public channel. The voices sing mellifluous paeans to the enduring glory of the Immaculate Dragons, and in particular to Danaa'd, the Immaculate Dragon of Water, to whom the Water District is dedicated.

Then another voice, a calm, measured baritone -- a real speaker, not a magitech AI -- intones over the layered choir harmonies. This voice is not broadcast, but merely amplified from a source Danae and Slivari are certain originates back toward the riot they left. "Be not afraid, for the Immaculate Word is Law! Obey the will of the Immaculate descendants, the Dragon-Blooded who guard your safety and protect you from wickedness! Citizens of the Coils, put down your weapons and your fears, for your peaceful cooperation is for your good and the good of all!"

Though it does not affect them, the Solars can feel the Essence-powered compulsion poured into those words, and through the choir performance that fills the entire Residential Level in song.

---

OOC: Danae, let's have a Stamina + Resistance roll. This isn't the 'warstrider fatigue' roll yet -- you're still running on adrenaline! Instead it's a roll to help me determine whether you can push on faster, and how fast. (I won't totally make you stranded if you botch. But again, WP/Virtues would help!)
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:36, Sat 22 Nov 2008.

"T-minus fifteen minutes until purging commences," comes the next Five Coils announcement, nearly drowned out by the hymns pumping through the district speakers.

Unperturbed by the hymns and preaching, Danae presses on resolutely, her body defying even her own expectations as she bounds through the streets, leaping over obstacles and cutting corners wherever she can. It's a tiring job, with the massive size of her orichalcum-plated warstrider, and she finds herself sweating and breathing heavily with the effort.

Slivari, lucky her, is stuck in a cramped space inside the 'strider holding Danae's equipment and holding on for dear life.

Three minutes later, they reach the street housing the second district elevator. The elevator itself is not hard to miss: a smooth cylindrical column that extends from floor to ceiling, glowing with power lines the blue-green of Water essence. In front of it, though, is the real problem: an aquatic warstrider, crafted entirely in black jade with a pair of gigantic hook swords, accompanied by four figures in suits of skin-tight articulated plates adorned with black jade amulets. The suits, Danae recognizes to be armors of elemental inurement, made for surviving underwater environments. They each carry weapons that reflect their Aspect and preferences: one a daiklave, one a powerbow, one a goremaul, one a serpent-sting staff.

Oddly enough, there is a sixth individual sitting atop the warstrider's shoulder. A woman of long silvery hair who, unlike the others, appears all but unarmored, wearing bracers and anklets of blue jade and dressed in an ice-blue kimono patterned with snowdrop blossoms.

At about the same time that Danae and Slivari see the force awaiting them down the street, another group bursts out from a shrouded set of stairs leading into the very same street...

---

OOC: With her last roll Danae shaved a couple minutes off how long it would've taken to get to the elevator. At this post, you have about 12 minutes left till purge begins.

Reva, Xurizu, Dashu: You're the 'lucky' group! you've just emerged two floors up, right into what will soon be another combat. :P On the other hand, you're very close to an elevator! Reva, you can't see Slivari yet, she is actually *inside* the warstrider with Danae. So Slivari will have to react to you before you can talk to her.

You all also hear the Immaculate hymns being broadcast throughout the floor, as detailed in the last post.
This message was last edited by the GM at 10:22, Thu 27 Nov 2008.

"... Wonderful" Danae deadpanned at that point, assessing the opposing group.  "Other side definately outgears me...  But it can't really be helped, we'll have to go through them--the guys with the armor won't be terribly dangerous...  But the warstrider...  I'm going to have to disable it before we move up--it looks well equipped enough that it would be able to pursue us, even if we managed to bypass it...  And this hunk of metal won't be holding together much longer..."

Taking another deep breath, Danae readied her own machine's weapons.  It would be difficult...  But if she was quick and sure, she might be able to get a few decent hits off.  At the least, the guys on the ground didn't seem overly well armed...
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:00, Wed 26 Nov 2008.

As she reaches the top she could see the foes waiting. As she glanced over each she cursed. She could guess some aspects, but who was that one sitting? She didn't have weapons, or armor, a true warrior, and most likely a Water Aspect. She nodded to herself, if this came to blows, she already knew who she would fight. A soft whisper to her allies, "I got the one on top. If it comes to that." She placed both feet on the ground, and took a deep breath. She pushed away the world weary thoughts and only allowed the hopes of a better life to stay. She thought mostly of her sister. She would met her again, be with her again. No blade shall stand against her. No force shall mar her flesh and stop them meeting. Childhood memories and lost wishes cloak her. She smiles, and hope alone keeps her safe.

[Private to GM: Down 6M, Damit! Spending 5M, Optimistic Security, So now down 11M, and 1WP, Ugh]