The Solar starts to shift, readying to disengage his shield and try his hand at crushing the Terrestrial’s skull again, when he hears the call to break off the attack. The droning of the monks song seeps into his skull, unwittingly smoothing out the angry thoughts that first guided his actions.

Stop. Think. This is not the battle. This is a trap and we’re already caught in it. One down, the rest engaged. There is no retreat with this. Not without something else to occupy them...

From the edge of his vision, he catches the flash of Higaru's weapon as the man boldly rushes in to attempt a rescue of his comrade. If there was ever a time for a smokescreen, it was now. Shield to shield, he shoves forward against the Terrestrial, violently throwing his superior weight and strength against her without warning.

Light begins to pour out from his body. Streams of steel-gray essence flush through the air. Billowing like smoke into a hollow glass sculpture, the image of a lion with a mane of blades fills the air above him. The shadow Tycho casts over the Jade Officer grows and grows. His hideous, alien form is sucked into shadow while his watery-gray eyes gleam harshly with inner light. Dark shapes wave through the air around him as though something large and sinister was unfurling from within his mechanical form. A thing of terror incarnate, he looks to the mortals still bowed in prayer around them.

"RUN!" he snarls at the bowing mortal masses around them, his voice amplified through the lion’s tawny throat into a glass-shaking roar! "ALL OF YOU! RUN OR BY THE DRAGONS, I’LL CRUSH YOU WHERE YOU STAND!"

---------
OOC: Activating Dawn Caste Anima + Mob Dispersing Rebuke (goodbye motes D=) on the mortals bowing down in prayer in an effort to counter-act the monk’s song and start a stampede through the streets. Hopefully that’ll give us cover and further disrupt the Terrestrials.

Higura pushes ahead of the acolytes as the refugees fill in the space he leaves, keeping the acolytes busy. The Sidereal's blade moves fluidly from his scabbard, cutting a bloody slash into the two junior monks between him and Nanaret. (2L damage each. All the juniors except one are at -1 wound level.) Swiftly they whirl to face him, leaving the Lunar Anathema for their master to handle.

The Earth master nods, encouraging this notion. "Stop the others," he utters, his anima rippling outward in the shape of a pentagonal prayer column of pure ivory, writ with holy sutras praising Pasiap. White energy ripples from his palm as he strikes Nanaret full on the chest--knowing she cannot and will not resist. His second blow is a low kick, sweeping her feet from under her, and the Lunar comes crashing helplessly down to the ground. (Nanaret has 4B total wounds, prone and still paralyzed.)

Seeing Third about to flee, two of the harmonizing Water monks bear down on it with claws extended -- but it is ready for them, dodging both claw slashes so closely it feels the razor sharp tips tug at its clothing. Another pair leaps for Higura, who parries them handily. Yet another bears down on Turtle, but his hide is just much too tough for their meager claws to penetrate. (All defended, nice!)

Only then does Tycho's Essence surge forth fully realized, his command uttered in a floor-shaking roar!! Willfully braving his fearsome demeanor, the senior Water monk decides to concentrate his attack on the half-machine that has become the most significant threat. Jade claws flash nimbly to bite into his upper torso, while the female Peace Officer hefts her flame-touched power mace in an overhead swing to forcefully 'persuade' Turtle to drop her comrade! [Private to Alus Tycho: Decided to have the Peace Officer hit Turtle instead. Against the claw attack, you've got 5 DV right now, with the charm use, and +2 for the Dawn anima. So 12 sux versus 7 DV. The most you can do is stunt and spend a WP, but the hit will still go through -- can't use a charm to add defense since you already used one.] [Private to Grinning Turtle: 9 sux in, damage +10L. So, 19 dice damage vs 13L soak.] (Turtle takes 2L damage.)

But whatever Tycho has done has shattered some of the hymn's compulsive effect. The aura he radiates speaks to an instinct much baser than the desire to pray, to venerate, to remain calm in the face of certain death. They begin to stir from the song-induced haze, their faces once more filled with the knowledge of true, unbridled fear! "RUN!" demands his voice, and over half of the scattered mortals start staggering to their feet, fleeing away from him toward the stairway!

---

OOC: Ack, I realized Turtle is the only one that didn't post yet before I said "wait". :( Well, Turtle is slower than the others, though. I guess it works out. [Private to Grinning Turtle: Hope I didn't throw you off from posting. Anyway... When you do act again, the male Peace Officer got 5 sux on his opposed clinch roll.]

The timing on the charm Tycho used is odd. Usually it's supposed to only work in social combat, in long ticks (1 minute each). What I think I'll do, instead, is just rule that it's allowed use in normal combat time as well. It's just 3 short ticks instead.
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:50, Sat 06 Dec 2008.

Turtle doesn't give any indication that the blow from the flaming mace inconveniences him in the slightest, nor does he seem to have even noticed the lesser monks attempting to pierce his thick hide.  Indeed, the damaged skin begins healing almost immediately, already halfway healed before the wound slowly registers in Turtle's mind.

However, he does obviously note the monk ruthlessly continuing his assault on the obviously helpless Nanaret, as well as Third's instruction.  Seeing the unknown ally Turtle doesn't recognize draw away the attention of the lesser monks around her, even the slow Lunar realizes that the sudden gap provides an opportunity.  Swelling with righteous indignation at the treatment of his fellow Lunar, Turtle gives a wordless bellow.  The monstrously powerful turtle-man tosses away the Dragon-Blood he had grabbed as if he weighed no more than a straw doll, spinning him directly into the other Peace Officer who had only moments ago scored the slight wound in his side.

As he casually discards the Dragon-Blooded officer, the white Full Moon mark on Turtle's brow blasts outward, engulfing him in a blaze of white moonlight, no doubt a foreign sight to the earth-bound dwellers of Five Coils.  The radiant glow appears to give him speed, far more than such an awkward form should possess, and he swiftly streaks to the fallen Lunar.  Gently scooping her from the ground with both hands, the turtle-man tries to carefully shield her form from any further attacks as he begins to weave his own way through the mass of attackers.

[Private to Gatekeeper: No, that's all right - I should have posted last night, but I was far too tired when I got home.  Sorry about the delay.

First, healing 1L through Halting the Scarlet Flow.  Free since it's part of his DBT at the moment.

Splitting the current action 2 ways.  First is a clinch, spending 6 motes on the Second Strength Excellency for 3 successes, total 8 successes.  He breaks the clinch, shoving his target into the other Peace Officer who just attacked him - not aiming for damage, instead hoping to provoke a knockdown check from both and discourage them from pursuing immediately.

Second action is moving to and grabbing Nanaret with a Miscellaneous Action, then moving in the direction Third indicated until the Speed 6 Clinch expires.  Just hit the 11+ anima banner level, so the Full Moon anima activates itself, doubling movement to 8 yards/tick.

I'm also hoping that since Turtle's giving some effort to shielding Nanaret, she benefits from at least a couple of points of DV from cover, though this situation isn't covered in the rules.]
This message was last edited by the player at 10:25, Fri 05 Dec 2008.

Frozen in place, Nanaret is unable to react to anyone and anything around her. But Ranavalona spits and rages, howling her frustration at the Earth monk. The Lunar's dark eyes flash silver as the Bitch Queen's voice issues out from Nanaret's tongue. It is like two voices speaking in tandem: the proud, stacatto speech of the gladiatrix and the harsh, guttural syllables of the Queen, a jarring blend of fierce and rough, sharp and distorted.

"Pathetic bellycrawler, spawn of the earth, you will regret the day you have laid a hand upon me!" she half utters, half screams toward the Earth master. Her limbs jerk spastically, as if the Lunar struggles against an unseen force, thrusting her will against the Essence that holds her.

The mad ravings of Nanaret's 'second personality' are difficult to take seriously, with the Lunar's current immobilized state. Fortunately, it does not hinder Turtle from aiding her in the slightest, her tirade continuing unabated as he carries her away.

"Do you understand who I am?! I am the queen of the distant forest, the diva of destruction who smote rivers of blood upon the southeastern marches, who built her throne from the skulls and bones of those who dared stand in her way! I am Ranavalona! My reign has waited a thousand years to rise again!"

Turtle hurls the male Peace Officer at his comrade, forcing her to throw her arms up. She manages to stay upright, but the man falls prone at her feet. She wobbles where she stands, briefly stunned by the impact. (-2 to actions for 6 ticks)

Grabbing the other Lunar is not an effort for the Full Moon, whose burst of speed pushes him through the junior monks and the acolytes still fighting with the refugees. The monks find themselves forced to split their attention between the pandemonium Tycho has caused, and the Anathema getting away...

---

OOC: actions
tick 8 - Higura, Turtle, acolytes (far)
tick 9 - Tycho, senior Water monk, refugees
tick 10 - Earth master, junior Water monks, acolytes (near)
tick 11 - Third (assumed dashing), female Peace Officer, Wood monks (start firing)
...
tick 14 - Nanaret can move again.

Smiling softly as soon as Grinning Turtle seems to catch on, Higura nods sharply towards the towering man, a deeply grateful gesture that carries much more meaning that words could - especially on a battlefield. Unwilling to let the advantage go to waste, the doctor turns around quickly, moving to cover his new ally's retreat in the hopes of buying him and his precious burden more time.

With quick arcs of his sword he cuts a barrage of swift, precise strikes meant to hinder the advance of pursuit for only a second or two. Just enough, he hopes, for the massive man to make his advance with less chance of pursuit. With that, he quickly takes a step back, then another, and another... Picking up the pace, he turns around, starting to retreat alongside his new ally, and casting a glance towards Ranavalona as he starts to run towards the direction Third indicated.

"Always the same rhetoric, Highness, no matter how often we speak." He begins, his words cut at strange places due to his running. "And the answer is still the same. Your 'reign' has waited a millenia, but it will have to wait even longer, I am afraid. In the meantime, enjoy your 'transport' - it might be some time before you can enjoy such servitude again."

[Private to Gatekeeper: Two regular strikes, and then retreat alongside Turtle. Also, purposefully trying to piss off the Queen while Nanaret is immobilized, just so she exerts herself and looses some of her strength and thus her control on Nanaret. Yes, Higura is a crafty bastard. >_>]

Third continues it's flight, smoothly stepping between the blows of the monks. It does not let the blows come so close because that is the most it could dodge, it lets them come that close because it expends the least effort. It looks over it's shoulder as chaos erupts, trying to make sure that the others do not lose sight of it. "Marshal your strength, there may still be enemies ahead." One could almost swear that the blank-faced Third has a slight smile on it's face.

Still shouting and hurling threats, Tycho watches the crowd begin to awaken and stir around him. It is too late though to block the path of the Terrestrial monk who deftly weaves the machine-man’s way however. Out of the roaring light of Tycho’s anima, there is a rattle and snap of unclamping metal plates. Arms still upraised, Tycho turns into the on coming rake of the dragon’s claws as if he invites the blow to strike him. Which, indeed, he does. The monks claws strike and strike deep; deep because at first they strike nothing at all. Maintenance panels upon his body open, the monk’s hand all but vanishes into Tycho’s body, unbalancing the force and direction of the Terrestrial’s blow. As soon as he feels the tips of the claws have begun to scrap against the inner mechanisms of his body, Tychos arms come down swiftly and the plates snap close with a violence that will snap even a dragon’s fingers off if the monk does not pull them back. [Private to Gatekeeper: Sorry for taking so long. I've been really out of sorts the last week or so. Anyways, defense stunt and spending willpower as well. Might as well try to reduce the damage as much as I can, after all.]

It is difficult to miss the massive form of Turtle shoving through the crowd and the Terrestrial monks to cart off his friend. Tycho can see that the retreat is on and finds that he has little desire to stay and face the wraith of the Terrestrial's on his own. Putting his shield between them, Tycho backs off swiftly from the monk, the sphere of his influence seeming to shrink back to allow the fleeing tide of the crowd spill in between them. A wall of mortal bodies at least briefly separating them, Tycho does not hesitate to turn and run after the others as they head off down the street.

------------------------------------------
OOC: Defense stunt, then attempting to disengage and flee with the others as Tycho's action this turn. Er, hopefully providing that is an option under the circumstances.

   Saffron has remained focused on her charges, avoiding the necessity of battle and the cold brutality of the Immaculates that fill her with repressed rage. A rage that will be channelled later into creation. She urges her refugees to go for the exit - helping those up that falter, offering encouraging words to those who want to quit, refusing to allow any to remain behind.

The senior Water monk very nearly gets his claws trapped in Tycho's metal body as it unexpectedly snaps shut. But the tempered black jade cuts through the plates on the way back. More fluid grace than brute force, the claws sever metal and cut through sensitive gears and connectors as cleanly as if it were penetrating soft flesh. A yellow gold liquid spurts from the wounds the monk leaves behind, then slows to a slow oozing as the rest of his system whirs and hums into overdrive to compensate for the damage. (3L damage. Bad ping, bad!)

The Exalts begin to extract themselves from battle. Higura's blade slips past the claws of one of the junior monks, thrusting through his armor beneath the collarbone (2L more damage, total of 4L for this one). The other monk parries just in time, as the Sidereal backs away to join his new allies in the retreat.

Third is the one furthest ahead, slowing his steps just enough so he remains in sight. Turtle is next, carrying with him the paralyzed, ranting form of Nanaret. The Earth Monk still comes for him, barreling through the refugees with single-minded force, his very proximity overwhelming enough to knock a few of them away -- or at the worst, on their feet. Launching into an Essence-powered flying kick, he drills both feet towards Turtle's back, then spins in midair to kick the Lunar on the side of the head before landing solidly on the ground. [Private to Grinning Turtle: He split to dash, then two kicks. 5 sux vs. 2 Dodge DV, 3 in. Then 5 sux vs 1 Dodge DV, 4 in. damage is 12L+sux for kicks, your soak is 13L. Also, Earth aspect used Avalanche Method, you're at -1 internal penalty. Pretty lucky dice!] (2L damage on Turtle, but he regens 1 of those.)

Overwhelmed by a mass of panicking mortals, the monk's hymn is broken as leaders shout frantic commands. They split off in BOTH directions to cut off escape. The Peace Officers are sufficiently stunned, but the senior monk shouts for two of his juniors to join him, moving against the flow in an attempt to engage the retreating machine-man. Boldly, the monk makes a leap for him, aiming to lock him into a clinch from behind before the window of opportunity disappears. [Private to Alus Tycho: Here we go again. This happens as you're backing away so you've yet to run. Water monk just tried to jump you, and got 5 sux. You have 6 DV with shield but -1 penalty.] He misses -- colliding rather unfortunately with Tycho's shield, but makes ready to pursue!

The refugees, too, do their best to follow the retreat. The acolytes find themselves surrounded with entirely too many targets to put down, and the men and women wielding the makeshift spears turn to flee with Saffron. Further back, the Wood monks attempt to push their way through the crowd, severely hindered in their advance. Nonetheless, several manage to loose their arrows toward the retreating Celestials -- and the senior Wood monk makes a daring long shot, aimed to strike Third and hinder his lead!

[Private to Yaishin Higura: Incoming arrows, 2 sux and 6 sux. You have 4 DV. The 6 sux will go through unless you spend WP/stunt a +2, etc.] [Private to Alus Tycho: Incoming arrow at 5 sux. Running puts you at -2 DV, and you don't get shield either, so 2 DV. Fortunately arrows don't do a ton of damage so you can either take it or use an Excellency or DSD to block completely.] [Private to Grinning Turtle: Incoming arrow... 4 DV versus your 2 Dodge DV. So 2 sux in. 1L more damage, unless you'll stunt to avoid it.] [Private to Third Beneficiary of Orderly Knowledge: Incoming arrow! 6 sux versus 5 Dodge DV (you're at -2 since you're running). Use a stunt or charm to defend.]

---

OOC: I'm assuming you're all going to start dashing after defenses are done, unless you tell me otherwise. Nanaret is still frozen but will NOT be in 3 ticks. My next post will detail more about your flight toward the residential city hall.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:24, Mon 08 Dec 2008.

The impact of the Water Monk barely registers down Tycho’s arm as the Terrestrial slams into his shield. Tycho rolls the monk over with his own momentum, hoisting the shield and the monk with it upwards over his head and spilling him off the other side. He gives a moments thought to feeding the monk the bottom end of the shield, then discards it. Useful as the panicking crowd was as a distraction, it would not take the Terrestrials long to quell them. At this moment, escape was more important than revenge. He slips his baton into an open loop of metal at his hip and presses a hand down to help staunch the fluids leaking from his damaged systems.

Still burning an aura of fear around him, the crowd gives way easily to his approach, parting wide or even cowering as he draws near. It leaves him more exposed than he cares for though and Tycho is less than surprised when a figure materializes briefly from the crowd and snaps an arrow in his direction. It is not exactly that he catches the arrow as much as it is that it thuds solidly into the thick plates of his waiting palm, then he closes his hand around it. Crushing the missile, he discards it and continues his flight through the crowd, trying to spy one of the other Celestials who had initiated the attack in the first place.

[Private to Gatekeeper: DSD against the arrow attack. Could probably soak it, but... what's the point of having Charms if I never use 'um?]
------------------------------
OOC: Am I actually near anyone else at this point? Saffron, the refugees, and I are all apparently the same general distance in yards away from the center of the battle, but I dunno if that means we're physically close to one another.

Turtle blinks slowly in surprise as he feels a heavy impact on his back, craning his neck around in time to receive a much more serious kick to the side of his head from the Earth master.  Giving him a reproachful gaze as a heavy weight seems to fall on his form, Turtle addresses the monk in a slow, sad tone, "Please... don't do that.  It's actually, quite uncomfortable."

An arrow flashes past Turtle's head, interrupting his complaint, the senior Wood monk's desperate shot at Third's fleeing form outpacing his students' less inspired attempts.  Turtle cranes his long flexible neck further around to peer over his shoulder, noting that not only are a number of shafts already loosed, the archers appear to be well within range of another volley or two.  The tortoise-man begins weaving erratically as he flees, trying to keep the Water and Earth monks between himself and the archers, forcing them to fire directly past their allies to have any real chance of hitting him.  At the same time, he slows his lightning-quick pace a bit, letting the refugees pass him and hopefully presenting a more promising target to the monks than the softer Exalts within the group.

Turning his attention back forward, Turtle looks down at Nanaret, the deep rumble of his voice respectful as he speaks, "Highness... keep your head down, please.  Arrows, incoming."

---

OOC:  Due to the Full Moon anima effect, Turtle's all-out dash would outpace the human refuges and probably most of the other PCs.  He'll still dash to keep up with the group, but he keeps his speed down enough that he remains near the back of the crowd.

Seeing that most of the people have now cleared the vicinity of the attackers, Higura finally picks up speed, breaking into a full retreating run. Now that most of the retreat has been cleared of the bigger part of pursuit, he can afford to also move out... And hopefully manage to clear out the hostile zone as well.

He holds no delusions that he will manage to break away without getting some hits - after all that was the plan. He keeps his sword gripped tightly in his hand, ready to parry attacks if need be - or take the fall to cover the others' retreat if it came to that. This is the moment he had pushed for for years, a full-blown escape by a number of imprisoned Celestials bent on breaking away form Five Coils' domination. If need be, he would give up his own life to see it succeed. After such a long time in enslavement, this is not such a heavy price to pay for the freedom of many.

Pushing the grim thoughts aside, the doctor keeps on rushing forward, pushing the limits of his weary body even further. He would not give his pursuit an easy prey, that is for certain.

Third is running hard, stance so far forward it looks as though it should not be able to balance the way that it does. It hears the twang of an arrow string behind it, turning, its body twisting as the arrow slides past it, mind moving at incredible speed as it's reflexes react just fast enough to save it from a painful arrow to the back. Third's robes slit open along its side as it avoids the arrow with careful grace, the arrow impacting with an audible crunch in the ground, leaving a small rip in the fabric as a memento of this battle. Third lands on its feet again, using the impact to sink into a crouch and springing forward again, redoubling it's efforts to run fast. It must reach there in time, it feels more surely than it can ever remember feeling anything. It needs freedom. The adrenaline hits its system, so unused to it, like a bolt of pure essence.

[Private to GM: There we go. Stunting, if that doesn't push me over, then I'll burn a mote or two on boosting my Dodge far enough. Tsk, though, we're fallin' behind!]

Nanaret/Ranavalona seems rather satisfied with Turtle's deference, less so with Higura's -- which she knows for a fact, from dealing with him now and then, is fake.

"You see, Oracle," and the wrathful voice of the Queen uses this word with obvious distaste. "This one knows how to show proper respect. He would shield my body with his own. You who read the stars sowed betrayal among my flock, and I will repay you in kind one day... perhaps with this very body..."

Her laughter starts up again, wild and mad over the wooden sound of Nanaret's forced mirth. It seems Ranavalona is too greedy to relinquish control after it was given so willingly! "Ahhh yes, I feel the stillness starting to recede! Now let me down," she demands of Turtle as he starts to pick up speed, "so I might fight as a true Queen ought!"
This message was last edited by the player at 03:59, Tue 09 Dec 2008.

Still caught in the middle of running, and having trouble forming sentences with his breath running short, Higura nonetheless watches towards the fleeing Grinning Turtle, and the defiant Queen he holds. "We have... went through this many a time... Highness. You cannot... choose to repay me... with something you do not own."

The actual stirring and words of the Queen worry him, however, although his body is growing weary from the run, he still musters one last effort to give some words to Grinning Turtle.

"Sir... You might want to... reconsider her request. The Queen, when awakened... Does not distinguish between friend and foe..." He pauses, his breath too short for him to speak for a moment. "Perhaps it would be... advisable... for her to rest a little longer... Even if that is something she would protest."

One arrow nicks Higura on the back of the shoulder (2L damage), but the other projectiles never reach their marks, dodged or crushed or simply disregarded. Third keeps up his breakneck pace, turning out of sight of the archers entirely.

Saffron is assumed to be one of the refugees, since she has kept such a subdued role in the escape, and is thus not seen as a priority. But Higura, Tycho and Turtle remain viable targets. Though hindered by the mass of bodies in their way, the Wood monks let fly another volley of arrows toward the fleeing Celestials, focusing every ounce of their determination on the slim chance they have left to stop them. [Private to Yaishin Higura: 5 and 7 sux, you're at 6 DV (+2 cover bonus).] [Private to Alus Tycho: 5 and 3 sux, you're at 4 DV (+2 cover bonus), or 6 (+4 bonus if you're also using your shield to cover your back).] [Private to Grinning Turtle: You got 5, 9 and 7 sux at 4 DV (+2 cover bonus). Senior wood monk flurried, so his second attack is 6 sux vs 3 DV. ALL ping, of course. This time I'll leave you an option to stunt defense or at least use WP, since otherwise all 4 will hit.]

Down the next adjacent street is the building that Third is looking for -- the Lower Residential Hall. Its solid bulk stretches all the way from floor to ceiling, built of a sturdy black jade-veined marble that gives it an ominous look coupled with the red glare of the alarm lights illuminating the floor. The double doors leading inside the building are firmly shut, which Third can only imagine will be a problem when it finally reaches them. There is, however, a control panel at the side of the door that it may be able to interface with, IF it works quickly. [Private to Third Beneficiary of Orderly Knowledge: Int or Wits+Lore to attempt to bypass whatever key or ID requirements the panel needs. Your specialty counts of course, as do stunts! If you fail here, Turtle and Tycho will be strong enough to break the door open themselves, but that would also allow the monks to catch up!]

Meanwhile the footsteps of the Earth master and four Water monks continue to pursue the group relentlessly. It's quite apparent they hope to corner the group at the base of the building.

---

OOC: At tick 31, Third reaches the building (goal: 300 yards). Also, all but Saffron/Nanaret got +2 stunt which increases running speed accordingly. Regain motes or WP as needed.

At tick 36...
Higura: 291 yards (11/tick)
Refugees/Saffron: 241 yards (9/tick)
Third: finishes with panel
Turtle/Nanaret: 241 yards (if keeping back with refugees), reaches goal (if runs ahead of them). I'll calculate Nanaret if Turtle decides to drop her.
Tycho: 266 yards (10/tick)

Earth master is at 212 yards (9/tick)
Senior water monk is at 240 yards (10/tick)
Junior water monks are at 203 yards (8/tick)
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:39, Tue 09 Dec 2008.

The acidic-yellow fluids leaking from the cracks in Tycho's body the dragon's claws left was already staunching itself despite the aggravation he causes by pushing his body onward. An arrow thumps harmlessly into a hollow under one armored shoulder and a third bounces off the surface of his shield as he sweeps the heavy plate across his back to snap the first arrow away. Those archers are starting to annoy him, though he doesn’t have time to stop and deal with them directly. Not to mention that there was still one of the unknown rebels who had managed to fall behind him who was going to make a much softer place for them to put their arrows once they realized he was there. [Private to Gatekeeper: Using his shield to cover himself!]

Up ahead, Tycho spies an old friend jutting out from the wall of one of the buildings lining the street. A set of dripping crooked L-shaped pipes stick out of the wall and dive into the ground. Droplets of water and puffs of steams oozed out of too-loose L-joints. Steam pipes were supposed to be for channeling hot water and raw steam into factory and residential buildings for civilians to wash clothing or clean specialized parts. Old misfits like Tycho though know other uses for them.

Letting out a distorted growl of effort, Tycho swings his shield with enough power to briefly drag his own body off the ground. The edge of his shield slams into the pipe as he dashes past, ripping into the rusty and already loosened joints. A single crack should spill out a blast of steam thick enough to flood most of the street. If the crowd isn’t enough to dissuade the archers from their chase, hopefully that will be. Hesitating a moment past the pipes, Tycho waits for Higaru to catch up and takes over the rear guard from the clearly flagging mortal.

"Whoever you lot are, I hope you have a better plan than just running and hoping the Terrestrials get bored and go home," Tycho says as he ushers Higaru in behind his shield, doing his best to keep the other man covered. Up close, Tycho’s voice echoes against the plate of his chest, as if his mouth were located somewhere far lower than his face. "Because in another fifteen minutes, we’ll all be swimming for our lives instead of running for them. And I am not looking forward to that. I tend to sink."

-----------------------------------------
OOC: Trying to give us a little more cover from the archers and also waiting to take over rear-guard from the squishy-squishy Sideral. Not that Higaru probably needs Tycho to wait, since he doubtless moves faster even without Ty stopping to beat up the scenery.

   Saffron runs continously urging the refugees on. As her fellow escapees begin to take damage in her radius, she begins calculating the amount of work that will be required of her once they can rest. When the mechanic being starts in on the pipe, she silently thanks him for his creativity.

[Private to Gatekeeper: I hope I am not being too distracting. I figure since I have been background, of my own chosing, during this scene I'll lie low until a break in the action and then I will make a more vocal and helpful character.]

While the first arrow directed at him misses its target - narrowly, but one could not afford to be picky in this sort of situation - the second shot is barely on target, forcing the fleeing doctor to have to react. Twisting his waist while continuing to flee, he quickly catches glimpse of the incoming threat, and immediately assesses its position. Without hesitation, he switches the hand holding his sheathed sword, and in a flash, the blade is freed from its scabbard...

A flash of deep green, almost the consistency of blood, splatters like heavy ink as he aims the slash towards the incoming arrow, just behind the razor-tipped arrowhead. In a swift, clean strike, he severs the shaft at an angle, causing the rest of the now-imbalanced arrow to spin out of control, disrupting its angle of attack. [Private to Gatekeeper: Impeding the flow on the one arrow that would hit him.]

Thankful for the respite Tycho grants him, Higura takes a short breath, then turns back towards the man - without stopping his retreat, of course. "The thought occured, yes." He begins, quickly switching his grip on his weapon before continuing.

"A way up has been spotted, I believe. Our priority is to get the refugees to the upper floors, where they will at least escape the coming deluge..." He pauses, then nods sharply towards the man. "Thank you kindly for your help, by the way. I truly appreciate it."
This message was last edited by the player at 02:56, Wed 10 Dec 2008.

Third sees the control panel. It runs to the panel, and it's eyes close as it breathes in, fingers landing on the panel. It taps out a staccato sequence on the panel, not even thinking as it's body moves by reflex, summoning the knowledge up effortlessly to open the panel. The monks will have a very, very unpleasant surprise when they try to the corner the group of refugees. Third turns to the others as it finishes typing in the sequence, waving them over and moving through the entrance once it opens.

[Private to GM: You rolled 7 successes using 12d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 ((6,10,7,1,3,9,4,5,10,2,4,7)). Not too damn bad. Anyway, think I might get a running total on the Essence regained from Stunts and such, in case we have one more big fight before we finish?]

Turtle blinks down at his charge again, taking a few moments to process both ends of the conversation between his fellow Lunar and the unknown swordsman, as well as comparing the attitude and language of the individual he met earlier, however briefly, with the bizarre ravings of Queen Ranavalona.  Finishing this careful contemplation, when he replies to the Queen's order, his normally slow speech is even more labored with pauses than usual, coming between puffing breaths of his own, "I apologize, Highness, but I fear... my hearing is not quite... what it was in my youth.  Could you possibly, be so kind... as to repeat... your command?"

Though highly distressed by the necessity of lying to the other Lunar, it was true enough that Grinning Turtle's ears were unfortunately stressed at the moment.  Unable to to both direct his retreat without trampling the human refugees and keep his full attention to the incoming arrows of the Wood monks, he is forced to evade the arrows mostly by the whistling sound of their flight.  At the same time, he is unwilling to dodge the bolts fully, since that could well result in them falling into the mass of human refugees, none of whom could take the attack with the same fortitude as a Lunar warrior.  As a compromise, the turtle-creature adjusts his speed and heading to block them with the stout turtle shell that line his back, rather than letting them sink into the more delicate regions around his neck and head.

[Private to Gatekeeper: Channeling Compassion into his DV, which increases the calculating pool by 3 and the final DV by 2.  Also stunting.  Still keeping to the rear of the group, which I'll probably regret 10 ticks down the road or so.

Oh, and since we've spent 20ish ticks running, as I understand it the gift application of Halting the Scarlet Flow have healed up the wounds Turtle's taken so far.]
This message was last edited by the player at 08:39, Wed 10 Dec 2008.

Fortunately, the Wood archers are too hindered by the crowd from aiming their bows past the main street. However, the four Water monks continue on unhindered, until the blast of steam that billows from the pipe Tycho just shattered wafts in their paths, hindering their advance enough for the mortals among them to increase their lead slightly. But the Earth master is completely unaffected by any and all distractions, keeping up a steady, resolute pace as he passes the junior monks coughing in the smoke. "Do not falter!" he shouts.

Tycho finds that the man he pinpointed as a mortal is actually much faster on his feet than he might have expected. Higura is already moving far ahead of the mortals, within a split second's reach of the door Third is now working on. The half-machine meanwhile drops his advance slightly, pulling even with Turtle (carrying a now un-paralyzed Nanaret) and the mortals with Saffron.

Third's fingers move swiftly and confidently, drawing from its memories of an endless array of schematics that it has read and memorized. The panel is no hindrance for it, and it is certain it has entered the sequence correctly. But the door still refuses to open for Third. What it understands is that the security measures on the lock require the touch of a living, conscious Dragon-blooded with the proper permissions to open it. [Private to Third Beneficiary of Orderly Knowledge: More or less, this means you or the others need to clinch and capture a Dragon. It's also possible you can attempt the same roll as last time to attempt to bypass this security as well. But it will take another 5 ticks and the difficulty will be high.]

The bulk of the group taking up the rear notices the senior Water monk ten yards behind them and closing swiftly. "You'll not escape us so easily!"

---

OOC: tick 36 - recalculated for the steam trick and other considerations

Higura: 291 yards (11/tick)
Mortals + all other PCs except Third, who's at the door: 241 yards (9/tick)
Earth master: 212 yards (9/tick)
Senior water monk: 230 yards (10/tick)
Junior water monks: 183 yards (8/tick)

[Private to Third Beneficiary of Orderly Knowledge: Stunts as far as I can read and recall are two +1s and two +2s.]
[Private to Grinning Turtle: Yes, you've healed entirely.]

" Third will attempt to bypass the door's lock. If Third's attempt fails, then you must either capture one of the Dragon-Blooded to authorize the lock, or one of the stronger ones must destroy the door." Third's voice comes automatically as it begins typing at a blistering pace, and the androgynous Twilight's caste mark flares into brightness as it begins to send channeled bursts of essence through the computer system, little golden starbursts appearing at its fingertips as it types, overwhelming the biometric system with the Sun's energy. The computer is very well made, but Third is very determined, very skilled, and desperate.

[Private to GM: You rolled 9 successes using 17d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 ((1,7,4,9,4,7,10,4,1,7,9,9,2,5,4,5,8)). Looks like a good shot at succeeding, I hope. Spending five motes of Peripheral Essence to use my First Lore Excellency. Spent one +2 Stunt on a point of Willpower, and the rest on restoring my personal Essence, so I'm a little less empty now. ^_~]

"I said unhand me, oaf!" Ranavalona, still in control of Nanaret's body, starts to struggle to be free of Turtle's powerful grasp. She twists back and forth, mostly ineffectually, getting a glimpse at the Immaculates coming up from behind. "My enemies are close behind me... my blades thirst to taste of them!"

[Private to Grinning Turtle: Nana's not normally so mean, but Ranavalona took over for the whole scene, heh. :) Anyway, she got 3 successes to potentially break the clinch. If I understand rules right you should be able to reflexively roll to control clinch without losing speed.]