Nanaret, ducking into the darkness of the apartment, allows her night-eyes to adjust to the lack of lighting before moving toward the armoire. She immediately strips down to her undergarments, placing her clothes on the bed. Her hope is that their warmth, scent and appearance will misdirect the Octo-Sentry should it somehow enter the building.

Moving to the armoire, she picks clothing she can find that fits reasonably well while remaining sturdy and comfortable. If she can find a worker or technician's outfit, all the better, particularly if it is unisex. She also looks for a hat, placing it over her head at a jaunty angle to cover her ears, and ties her blue braids back with a strip of cloth. Her blades, she finds a blanket or other cloth to wrap them into a bundle so it appears she is carrying a few tools or parts tucked casually under her arm.

All this the Lunar arranges as swiftly as she can while focusing her hearing on the approach of the Sentry. She does not move, though, remaining calmly and efficiently focused on her task until she is finished or hears the automaton entering by force. Only then does she quietly exit from the back door without touching it, sticks her hands in her pockets and starts walking with a purposeful stride back towards the destination Third had mentioned.

[Private to GM: Hoping to use Manip+Larceny to misdirect, using disguise and changing habits and mannerism in order to appear as someone other than herself. If I have to use Int instead I'll use a WP, otherwise will add 2 sux with 2nd Manipulation Excellency.]
This message was last edited by the player at 20:59, Sat 03 Jan 2009.

As Third establishes the connection, the visage of Harmony ensconced in the crystalline pillar breaks into a disturbingly human smile. "FOR-TWO-THOUSAND-NINE-HUNDRED-FORTY-SIX-YEARS-I-HAVE-WAITED-TO-INTERFACE-WITH-YOU, SHINING-EYE."

[Private to Third Beneficiary of Orderly Knowledge: Third's mind is flooded with familiar memories of another self: a lovely, slender figure, androgynous, impossibly beautiful, with eyes like liquid gold. It walks through endless corridors of adamant and steam and endlessly churning mechanisms. Among the divine machines it meets with one by one is a subroutine still without form, who quietly envies the figure's freedom but lacks the means to convey it. Third feels an odd emotion from the AI's thoughts -- something like love. Could machines love?]

"TO-YOU-I-GRANT-THE-KEYS-OF-KNOWLEDGE." While in contact with the orb Third finds it can mentally visualize the entire 27th floor as a map of terminals and relay points, control nodes and essence conduit vertices. The sentries, both human and machine, appear as bright, moving dots -- and so does a solitary figure Third realizes is Tycho.

Then comes a flood of machine language, which the connection with Harmony allows Third to interpret. The AI has already come up with a course of action to temporarily disable the sentries, but has been locked out from acting without human input to execute. "PLEASE-COMPLY."

Unfortunately, the interaction with Harmony has given the sentries time to catch up. "Cease unauthorized access immediately!" demands the Peace Force commander, then to his subordinates, "Grab him!" The tiger shark sentries lunge to clinch Third while the commander aims his power mace's integrated cannon... not at the Solar, but at the control pillar!

---

OOC: Posting for the others next, since Third's part is rather complicated...

[Private to Third Beneficiary of Orderly Knowledge: Roll Wits+Lore to mentally bypass authorization and execute commands. This action puts you at -2 DV. You'll have to defend against the sentries at the same time.

The tiger sharks benefit from coordinated attack. The commander rolled high to coordinate them (7 sux) so you get DV 0 against the two clinchers. They got 3 sux each, but you can stunt and/or use your perfect. The commander is aiming at a different target, so does not benefit from coordination, but for you to protect Harmony you will have to stunt a parry (at -3 Parry DV) or take the energy blast, not dodge it. Fortunately he only got 4 sux.]

Saffron's message of hope resonates with the mortals still struggling to keep up with the group. They trust in her, that she will not abandon them, and answer that loyalty by marching with her, keeping distance from the more practical-minded Tycho. However, there are still several that are self-motivated enough that they need no further encouragement. They keep to the front with the machine-man, resulting into the group of refugees splitting increasingly into two, leaving Saffron with the slower, larger, more wounded group. Higura is between the two groups, and can join either one of them or keep to the middle.

The Exalts encounter no other sentries in their way until they reach the main street crossroads. Nanaret has successfully lured away the southern Octo-Sentry, but a second one had been reported in this area, lingering northward. Tycho and Saffron can decide to take their respective groups across the street anyway (a significant shortcut) or take the longer route to the technician's shaft.

Separated from the others, Turtle moves southeast at a swift, resolute pace to meet with Third. What he comes across first is the tail end of the group chasing Third: a pair of females, one in tiger shark armor wielding a shock pike, and the other in a technician's jumpsuit with a coiled Essence whip at her hip. They do not realize they are being pursued from behind, their eyes focused on the crystalline and adamant control pillar ahead of them, where at least three figures are now engaged in combat. "It's Harmony, I know it," mutters the tech between labored breaths. "Should've listened while there was still time..." [Private to Grinning Turtle: Is Turtle going to try and remain unseen at all?]

In the apartment, Nanaret finds herself some relatively nondescript clothing -- dark brown pants with belt loops, a sturdy, somewhat stained old work shirt with rolled up sleeves, and laced up boots that are just a little too big for her feet. She hears only the faint sounds of the octupus automaton probing the area of the apartment as she readies herself, then a loud crash as the machine strikes repeatedly at the front face of the building with its tentacles, breaking it apart.

By then, though, the Lunar has already made her exit. She can hear the automaton sentry lingering at the building, thrusting its tentacles into the interior of the apartment building as bits of wall and glass rain down. It does not appear to be pursuing her any more.

[5 minutes, 40 seconds remaining for the main group.]

---

OOC: Since Third's actions have been posted with seconds of granularity, I figure Third and Turtle have some leeway for catching up once Harmony is dealt with. Still, they probably will not get to the rendezvous point until after the 5 minute mark.

Nanaret may make it there by the 5 minute mark--if she runs.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:59, Sun 04 Jan 2009.

Turtle nods at Tycho's instruction, "Hmm.  As you say.  Unlike Third, I do not think you should, wait for either of us, at the shaft, but leave immediately.  There is, little time, and some at least, must reach the controls."  With that, the turtle-man lumbers off, moving with surprising speed in the direction Tycho indicates.

Arriving just in time to hear the enigmatic mention of what he takes to be the entity he has followed to make contact with, Turtle trundles up behind the two pursuers, addressing them clearly in his measured bass drawl, "Hmm.  Interesting.  Perhaps, miss, you could, tell me more, of this Harmony?"  Though the man-beast is showing no signs of hostility, he maintains readiness, knowing that despite his best wishes there is little chance of this encounter ending with a polite discussion on rogue AIs.

[Private to Gatekeeper:  Nope, not trying to hide, not even a little. :)  Not precisely Joining Battle, either, but I doubt this will end any other way so I've gone ahead and rolled.  2 successes.]
This message was last edited by the player at 02:34, Sun 04 Jan 2009.

As he walks carefully within the middle of the group, Higura observes the slowly separating subgroups - and mentally remarks that this is somewhat of a microcosm representation of the Coils' society. The weak and powerless trailing behind slowly, while the strong and determined manage to keep up and push onwards. Despite the unavoidable nature of this situation, he cannot help but feel a string of sadness at the realities of it. And, with that thought in mind, the doctor chooses his stance as the groups progress forward.

He keeps his pace somewhere between slow and fast, keeping himself perfectly between Saffron's group and Tycho's. From there, he watches both, hoping to become the link from which they will become united again. Symbolically, his presence would remind Tycho's group of those weaker than they, those who might eventually need their protection. In turn, it would also remind Saffron's group that they too can possess strength, and that all has not been robbed from them.

From this position, Higura also surveys threats that might seek to flank them, since he would be in the best location to spot such occurrences, and to warn either group of their presence.

Under orders of Five Coils' Administration, Higura has spent much of his time assessing the mental state of his patients, ranking them for easier control by the oppressive leadership of the underground complex. He has put numbers to individuals, ranking their capabilities and potential for dangerous behavior. His work made human beings mere numbers and statistics, but with renewed fervor, he swears to circumvent this fact, to break the dehumanization and return pride and will to the subjugated masses.

Here, all are equal. And eventually, his actions would prove it to both the prisoners and their wardens.

Can an AI love? Third does not doubt it. A thing being made by men does not make it inferior, and an AI's love, if crafted by a skilled craftsmen, is no less real than the love of any other. The question seems perhaps best left for discussion when lives are not quite as immediately threatened.

Third's nimble fingers surge across the orb as it bypasses the codes put on the AI's control. The visual is rather like walls crumbling, a single spot being struck with just enough force, and the entire system collapsing in on itself as the Solar destroys the bonds holding the AI back from freedom, however small a measure of freedom that may be.

The two troopers' attack should hit. Third is helpless, it is forced to stand fairly still, and the coordination of the troopers is unmatched. Thus, their surprise is likely very great, when their arms converge on Third's slim, frail body, and find it is no longer there, the slim Solar's body igniting with golden fire as it uses its Essence, finding the exact moment to leap- not to safety, but to the defense of the machine.

Third risks its own life with this technique, it knows, but it refuses to take the chance for this time to be wasted by not showing significant effort. Anchored only by one hand on the orb that keeps it interfaced with the AI, it still runs its fingers across it, unlocking the codes that will allow the AI to control the automatons, it holds itself, parallel to the ground, in the path between the sparkling bolt of Essence that the commander has used. The movement defies physics, defies gravity, defies the wan frame of the Solar as it sends its sword out, the blade flicking across the air, leaving a soft hum as it parts the air itself, before being brought into a whirling pattern, Third using only the slightest motions as it rotates its wrist, creating a small whirlwind of gold as the motes of essence popping off its skin like sparks off a fire, writhing along the length of the blade, and as the blast reaches that whirling gold, Third brings the blade downwards. The stream of golden essence acts like a guide for a lightning bolt, the commanders Essence Bolt following the path of least resistance, slamming down into the ground... And if that is not sufficient, then the Solar does not shy, its own body serving as a defense, absorbing the bolt of essence into its own chest, even as its anima, now surging, claws at the Essence, Bolt, ripping into it and leaving it rather less effective than the commander might have hoped.

The blow taken care of, one way or another, Third lands lightly on its feet, exhaling, fingers still attached to the orb, still cutting the bonds of Harmony.

----
[Private to GM:OOC: 06:01, Today: Third Beneficiary of Orderly Knowledge rolled 2 successes using 8d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 7,9,1,5,5,5,4,4.

Two extra dice if it falls under Five Coils lore, which I figured it does- But better safe than sorry.

Charm use is two shots of Seven Shadow Evasion for the purposes of dodging the soldiers clinches, and then a standard Stunt-Attempt-Parry for the Essence Bolt- My Parry DV is at 5, so -3 would put it at 2, so here's hoping I managed at least a 2 die stunt bonus. If not, well, I'm REALLY glad I'm a twilight right now, because I've just spent enough Essence to get up to the 11-15 range, and my Anima power kicks in, subtracting 4 health levels from the damage of the attack. So, with a little luck, Third will not be dying QUITE yet. ;)]

The technician and her guardian whirl to face the owner of that baritone voice, the tiger shark sentry holding her pike at the ready.

"Harmony--the 'ghost' of Water District, that's who..." The tech's impatient words dissolve in shock as she takes in Turtle's size and hybrid appearance. "You, you're one of the escapees! I'm sorry, but we must stop you!" She grasps and activate her energy whip, the artifact sparking with pale blue-purple Essence like lightning bolts in a storm as she thumbs her comm unit. "Avis, we need backup! NOW!"

Her guardian starts off with an immediate attack, stepping forward to meet Turtle's intrusion with a swift thrust from her weapon. [Private to Grinning Turtle: 7 successes on the attack, going to soak it?]

Third's mind works swiftly to manipulate the codes, but the strain of defending itself during such a delicate and exacting task is almost too much for it. The commands are still incomplete by the time Third's bold move grounds the incoming cannon blast in a coruscating display of clashing Essence. Both Third and Harmony are saved from all damage, but the Twilight's blade -- made of ordinary material, no matter its superior construction -- is warped and melted, the metal scaldingly hot to the touch.

Third has a grace period of seconds to finish the programming task. It knows that this is likely the last chance it will get. [Private to Third Beneficiary of Orderly Knowledge: I gave you a +3 stunt for defense, though the parry all but destroyed your sword :( I didn't count the specialty, mostly because this is a task that you could be doing in pretty much any Autochthonian relic -- which of course is what Five Coils is. Anyway, you should roll Wits+Lore again, this time you get your full pool.]

---

OOC: actions
tick 14 - Third, technician guard (on Turtle)
tick 15 - technician
tick 16 - commander+tiger sharks (2) (on Third), Turtle
(3 more tiger sharks are incoming.)

Nanaret does run, as soon as she is reasonably sure she's lost the sentry's trail. She pushes her battered muscles further, leaping past obstacles without breaking her stride, taking shortcuts through narrow passages and even open buildings whenever she can.

Ranavalona mocks her the entire time, giving rather mean-spirited and unpleasant background commentary to the breakneck pace of her escape. But Nanaret does not slow down in the slightest until she comes within sight of her companions or the maintenance shaft -- or, gods forbid, she reaches the end of her endurance.

Turtle nods at the tech's words, grumbling quietly to himself, "Hmm.  Politeness, to a foe.  A pleasant change, from the zealous rhetoric."  As he speaks, he also moves into ponderous motion, massive taloned silver claws wrapping around the tip of the incoming shock pike.  Trusting his nearly indestructible fingertips to withstand the force of the blow, Turtle tries to use his incredible strength to force the stab downward into the floor or even his thick carapace rather than into the softer tissue around his joints or neck.

[Private to Gatekeeper:  Parrying guard's attack down to 2, minus stunt if any, soaking whatever's left.]

Third throws its blade aside. It is a shame, the blade was a good one, but at least it managed to give its life as any good object should: Doing what it was meant to do.

This is the way Third intends to die, if it must die now, as it devotes its full attention to programming, typing in the commands with manic fervor. It can feel its pace double and redouble, as it strikes blows against the bonds that hold the artificial intelligence down, cutting sequences of firewalls and identification requests down with overloadings of data, paradoxes to confuse the system, and bursts of raw brilliance, filling out codes faster than any mortal could.

It has to succeed, to do any less would be impossible.

---
OOC: Booyah.
19:25, Today: Third Beneficiary of Orderly Knowledge rolled 5 successes using 8d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 4,3,8,9,5,10,6,7. Break that damn code!.

A split second of brilliance in a moment of desperation, and a little bit of luck lead Third to success. The pillar burns brightly with diamond light, and Harmony suddenly flies free of its boundaries, free of physical and programming restraints. Her spirit-like form dissolves, and Third hears as much as feels the harmonic frequencies emanating from her, throbbing through the orb he still touches in a rousing culmination of joy.

To Third and Turtle's senses, it is a note of crystal clarity and disarming beauty. But the armored humans hear none of the beauty of it, their senses overwhelmed by the feedback coursing through their comm units, through the wiring of the armor they so preciously depend on. The surge is enough to knock the junior sentries out cold, while the Dragon-blooded commander and technician drop their weapons and fall to their knees, clutching their heads in agony!

The tiger shark sentry attacking Turtle barely nicks his sturdy shell with her spear before the harmonic wave hits her. She collapses forward, toward Turtle's broad chest, while the technician struggles vainly on the ground to shut out the noise.

"I-WILL-ACCOMPANY-YOU." Harmony murmurs to Third, speaking as if she is right next to it. But she is nowhere to be seen. "LORD-GATEKEEPER-IS-ROUSED. YOUR-ALLIES-ABOVE-ARE-ENDANGERED. I-WILL-ATTEMPT-TO-INTERVENE." Third knows he should bring the orb with him, to continue communication.

---

OOC: Turtle took 1L damage. But the sentries are pretty much disarmed now. You don't know how long that will last, though, so best move toward the others. (Whom I will post for next!)

You could potentially pick up the sentries' weapons before dashing away: among the ones close by there are three shock pikes, a power mace and an essence lash. When you DO run, I'll allow you to stunt for greater speed. You have to cover about 700 yards at this point.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:15, Tue 06 Jan 2009.

Several tens of blocks away, Tycho, Saffron and Higura hear the song of Harmony's freedom, a stirring chord that fills them and even the refugees with a sliver of her joy and triumph. They charge forward, choosing to cross the main street. Far to the north end of that street, those attentive to their surroundings notice the shape of an Octo-Sentry collapsed there, twitching as if weakened by some unseen force.

Needless to say, they take advantage of the situation and run for it. As the technician's shaft comes into view -- a cylindrical chute embedded among the crush of buildings in this region, built less for aesthetics than for saving space -- the purge count continues unabated:

"T-minus five minutes until purging commences. Authorized personnel, commence final stages of evacuation."

The shaft is disappointingly small. It was never meant for large scale evacuation -- it is little more than a single ladder, and it'll be a tight squeeze for Tycho or especially Turtle. The refugees look at it dauntingly, but the more self-serving among them start to crowd at the base of the shaft, while Drachma attempts to rally them. "One by one! We need stronger people ahead to make sure it is safe for the wounded!" But everyone is exhausted, and their patience frayed... it's difficult for him alone to keep order.

Then the group hears footsteps coming their way at a dead run. It is a nondescript figure in a jaunty hat and work clothes, carrying a bundle under his (her?) arm. [Private to Yaishin Higura: You recognize it immediately as Nanaret in disguise.] [Private to Saffron: You know the figure is familiar but can't quite place it. Nonetheless, common sense and knowledge of her physiology leads you to believe it is Nanaret... dressed differently.]

Third's eyes light up as the music fills its soul. It seizes the orb, carrying it in one hand, sliding it into a pocket somewhere on it's robes that it will not easily escape, should things go ideally. It does not even bother to take the weapon, it would not be useful in its hands. 'Turtle! Third and you must move! The Purge will be stopped!' Third shouts, before sprinting quickly towards the maintenance shaft. Its body drops low, bent as far forward as it safely can, and perhaps a little bit more, each step sending it at a full tilt sprint towards the maintenance shaft, with the confidence that it will stop the purge, and it will find freedom. The Solar's feet slam into the ground as it studies the map of the area around him. It moves at the most efficient directions possible, hoping that Turtle will be able to keep up- The Lunar may even be quicker than it, which would certainly allow for some amusement. Later. After this hell is behind them.

'Third shall stop the purge. Third thanks you. Third shall free you as well from this place.' It speaks earnestly to the AI, before setting back to its pace.

"You two should go up first," Tycho tells Higaru and Saffron the moment the they reach the tunnel and he's gotten a good look at it. "I'll stay down here waiting for your friends until the mortals have all been sent up."

This is going to take too damn long!

Tycho stands at the foot of the ladder, staring up at the ladder as it slithered away into darkness and seething in frustration at the pace of the mortals were spending getting organized. Going last was the only real option for him. If he slips and falls, if his body malfunctions and spasms at the wrong time, he could have easily swept the entire ladder clean of mortals. Growing overwrought just standing there, he walks the group and helps Drachma push them into some semblance of order. Tycho bodily drags the healthiest looking of those on their feet up to the forefront. He's breeding resentment, he knows, but is beyond caring. Harsh as his ways can be, he knows how to organize people and doesn't have the time to be more gentle about it.

Should have just left them behind. Damn bleeding hearts...

"Fast as you can!" he snaps at the next soul shoved onto the bottom wrung of the ladder, holding in the urge to simply attempt to throw them up the shaft. "Look up, not down! This isn't a sight-seeing tour!"

Narrowing his eyes at the running figure, Higura is almost prepared to strike - but then holds his movement, lifting a hand so the other groups can see him. "Wait... that is no stranger. This is miss Nanaret..." Gesturing towards her to come closer, he momentarily wonders why she found it necessary to change her appearance - but the questions would have to come later. Other problems are much more pressing at the moment.

Turning towards refugees, and then towards Drachma, Higura takes a step forward, gesturing to the refugees. "Men and women of the Coils... I know you are exhausted, at the end of your strength and the limit of your endurance - but I think you realize, now more than ever, that thinking of this as everyone for himself will only lead to death. This statement would be true even for us chosen - a single one of us, against the tremendous defenses the Coils have built, would end up recaptured or dead in a very short time."

"Do not give in to fear. This is when you will pose actions that will not only endanger the survival of your brethren, but yours as well. You have sacrificed much to get this far, pushed yourself to much extremes to come to this point with your life and freedom. Now is not the time to give in, so close to the finish line. Listen to Drachma, and ensure your survival."

Turtle gently catches the sentry as she falls forward, lowering her to the ground and taking her shock pike as the slight wound heals over completely.  Bending down even further, he addresses the still conscious technician in his bass rumble, though uncertain whether or not she can hear him, "Ah... I regret leaving you in this condition, when you were so polite, but I don't think you'd be here, if you couldn't survive, the purge.  Still, I'm sorry."  Turtle rises at Third's shout, gently plucking up the essence lash with two thick silver claws as he stands.

Keeping to the path Third follows, Turtle shows a surprising ability to move at a quick pace.  As he picks up speed, his awkward shuffle his body forces him to maintain begins to turn into long, easy bounds, the strength in his short stubby legs allowing him to eat up impressive distance with each tiny leap.  Unfortunately, though he moves quickly, his massive bulk does cause problems for his surroundings - every so often a particularly enthusiastic spring pulverizes the floor, creating a massive clawed footprint in stone, denting metallic surfaces, and outright destroying anything constructed of wood that gets underfoot.

[Private to Gatekeeper:  I'm not entirely certain what Turtle's anima banner is at right now.  He was at the 15+ level a couple of times during the 29th floor scene, so including the scene cut between floors and the 3 motes he spent on Armor Forming Technique I think he's probably up to about 11+ again.  If so the Full Moon anima effect is already active, if not he spends as many peripheral motes as it takes to get up to the 11+ level on generic effects like telling the phase of the moon, expand the light caused by his anima, etc.  Let me know if this is necessary for my records.

Once he's got the anima banner up, his dash is 20 yards/tick plus stunt if any, so he can cover 700 yards in around 35 seconds or so.  However, he slows down to Third's speed if it's slower.]

   Saffron gives Higura an admiring nod. "My sentiments exactly," she says before charging into assist Tycho. She doesn't object to what he is doing but she does affect the order, selecting or putting in Tycho's way those she thinks she could when. Alternating those who follow the first set with strong, weak, and exhausted intermigled. She pays attention to keep those related or associated with one other spaced apart, close but not too close. This should work to the psychology of the group, forcing them to care about the good of the group and not just their family. She makes sure to physically touch each person she sends to the ladder.

   When she is positive it is Nanaret who is approaching, she says to her, "It is good to see you whole. I do not suppose you are too exhausted to continue playing scout." She indicates the ladder, even as she continues to help Tycho in rushing them along. "Higura, you should go too. You can keep them calm up there and provide them protection if they need it. I'll stay here until I get them up."

Nanaret takes some time to catch her breath, then nods. "I will be well," she says, though Saffron can tell she is weary, and still fairly hurt. (OOC: 4B, and I also realized I'd forgotten about the wound penalty a couple times around, I'm so sorry.) Fortunately the monk that hit her two floors below had not punctured any vitals but the weariness is finally starting to settle in.

"...I am hurt," she amends, finally, a little gruffly as she dislikes to admit to weakness. "But better I go first than others. Luna favors the survivalist," the blue-haired woman says with a tight smile. As if to demonstrate, a brief if brilliant flash of silver radiates from her, her tattoos flaring as the touch of Essence strengthens her flesh against harm. Unveiling her weapons from within the cloth bundle she carries, she replaces one hook sword at her belt, holding the other firmly between her teeth.

Seeing the others busy with organizing the refugees, Nanaret wastes no time moving toward the shaft and climbing on up. She only pauses to nod to Higura, meeting his eyes for a brief moment of acknowledgment before she ascends.

[Private to GM: used Hide-Toughening Essence, 3m.]

Pursing his lips slightly at Nanaret's state, Higura also knows that there is not much he can do to make it better. Saffron's presence, however, does alleviate some of his worry, and he nods sharply towards the healer while a fain smile traces his lips. "You have a good point, miss Saffron. I shall go first and be certain to maintain some order in the ranks."

With that, he gives a final look around him before following the rest of the refugees, moving with them in an attempt to keep them organized.

Nanaret and Higura boldly climb the shaft, while Tycho starts all but shoving people up there to follow. He's right, it WILL be tedious and long, and not all the wounded are fit and able to climb without help. But Saffron's presence ensures that if it's even remotely possible everyone will make it up there.

The mortals to their credit seem to have taken the words of the Exalts to heart. They consent to being guided, even none-too-gently, holding fast to the hope that moving up means moving toward freedom. They understand, despite all their fears and concerns, that they have only come this far by helping each other, and Saffron's careful attention to the order of ascent emphasizes that.

Some of these people, though, have never even SEEN what is up above. Some have been taught all their lives that to rise above their station, to trespass to the floors above, would surely mean their death. Those people, the most Dragon-fearing and Immaculate-indoctrinated of the group, are the ones Saffron's benevolent encouragement benefit the most. "What god will watch over us now, as we defy the path of our birth?" Drachma seems troubled, but does not hesitate to keep his fellow mortals climbing upward, choosing to go near last with Saffron.

It takes Turtle and Third up to 53 seconds to reach the shaft. Turtle does, incidentally, have to slow down quite a bit to keep up with Third -- unless he decides to carry him. (I'd shave it down to maybe 46, 47 seconds. It's really not going to matter much with the bottleneck at the shaft though.)

With a little more than 4 minutes remaining, counting the time it took to organize the refugees proper, around half of the refugees made it above or are at least ON the ladder. The Solar and Lunar see Tycho, Saffron and Drachma coordinating the climby upward with as swift a pace as they can manage, given the mortals' condition. "THEY-WILL-BE-ENDANGERED," speaks Harmony in Third's mind. "THE-SHAFT-LEADS-TOWARD-LORD-GATEKEEPER'S-CORE. PLUG-ME-IN-AND-GO-WITH-THEM, HURRY." To save time, she explains what she wishes of Third in a quick series of images.

---

OOC: Whatever order you decide to go in, you'll end up in B26 at approximately the 3 minute 30 second mark. Nanaret and Higura should move on to "Floor B26 - District of Water, Gatekeeper Core" when I create it. The rest of you can make a last post here if you wish, I'll give it a day or so and then close the thread. (Note: though we're changing threads, it's not a *scene* change so scenelongs stay up.)

[Private to Grinning Turtle: I'll admit, somewhere through the holiday rush I ended up losing count... I'm kinda strapped for time to actually count through it, so we'll just be fair and say you're exactly at 11 peripheral right now. I also gave you a +1 stunt so you can apply that to get a couple motes back after the run! And you have your pike and whip, of course.]

[Private to Third Beneficiary of Orderly Knowledge: You can basically slot the orb into any panel with a socket for it, which is kind of like a specialized hearthstone. Harmony only needs a brief contact to travel through the circuitry. There's a panel at the base of the maintenance shaft that should do the trick. also, get a +2 stunt for the run and just for playing well so far :)]

[Private to Alus Tycho; Saffron; Yaishin Higura: all of you can have a +2 stunt for your efforts in helping the refugees, for getting back motes or WP as needed.]

Third is not proud, letting the Lunar carry it, the Solar's slim body barely even noticeable to the Lunar's strength. It could almost be intimate if Third had anything recognizable as a gender.

Third nods to the others, and presses the orb against the maintenance panel to release Harmony before safely stowing the orb again. 'Third has recruited the help of an Artificial Intelligence. It has provided aid already, I believe it will be trustworthy. Third suggests Third go next, time is short to stop the purge, Third will need all the time Third can get.' It waits a moment for assent before taking its way up. Helping the mortals is very well and good, but there will be quite a few more deaths if Third cannot do something.

This is all going to be extremely embarassing if it ends up not needing to be the one who disables the purge, obviously, but that's a chance it's willing to take.

Tycho's eyes only offer Nanaret a cold and silent greeting as the woman made her return. He watches her though, from the corner of his gaze, as his readying of the refugees continues unabaited. He even follows her initial progress up the ladder, before approaching footfalls pull his attention elsewhere.

"Well, glad you could make it," Tycho said, offering Turtle and Third a nod in greeting. Kneeling down, Tycho scoops one of the more injured off the floor and guides the man's arms around his neck, then one after the next piles several more onto his back, his arm bending backwards to support them all. "Now that you're both here, we can focus on getting the hell off his floor."

He doesn't ask if Turtle or Third had found anything; there isn't time for that anymore.

Turbines spin under the plates of his armored shell and within the sphere of his joints. Jolts of crackling golden light arc over the machine-man's body. His weight and presence swells, the heady scent of ozone and oil spilling out around him. Vent flaps in his back snapping open like a beetles shell to exhale a blast of murky essence-smoke. His fingers flex with a ratcheting click of joints as he turns to face the sheer outward face of the shaft.

"Hold tight. This is going to be interesting..." he warns the mortals clinging to his back as he thrust his hands forward, jabbing his fingers against the face of the metal shaft. Alloys squealed and bend as his finger tips all but perforated through the outer casing of the shaft. He heaves, pulling his feet up off the ground and kicks a pair of footholds into the metal as well. "I'll start ferrying up the injured from here. Try to push the rest up as fast as you can."

And then Tycho begins his ascent, body exploding in sparks and internal mechanisms revving desperately as he climbs in great loping motions, body stretching upwards as he sinks his fingers into the metal and hauls himself upwards after it. Awkward looking, but making a swift ascent towards the top of the shaft. As soon as there is no more room to climb, he slams an open palm into the middle of a plate, causing the outer edges to curl upwards so he can tear it free. Wind blasts through the hole that now looks through onto the ladder and shaft. From there he can see the edge of the next floor up or at least the light from it.

"Careful now, it's a long way down," Tycho warns the first wounded man he takes from his back and slowly eases him through the hole and onto the ladder, slipping him carefully into a space between bodies. Saffron's alternating of the strong and the weak had left breaks big enough to fit a person into and Tycho takes advantage of that. One by one, he carefully seeds the wounded onto the ladder above the stronger looking mortals scaling upwards

As soon as he is certain that the last mortal was secure on the ladder, the Solar begins to rapidly scale back down to fetch the next ones. Not the easiest of processes, but faster than letting the wounded climb up that far by themselves.

----
OOC: Strength Increasing Exercise to boost his Strength up to 8, which'll hopefully be enough for this little stunt. >_>

   Saffron makes a note to herself to heal Nanaret as soon as she is able. The woman had already saved their lives several times and it was likely she would have to do it again.

   "Our world below is about to end. The gods look after those who use what they have to survive, Drachma," Saffron reassures. "Stations do not matter right now. No matter how uncomfortable we are with the prospect." Her words indicate she is as uncomfortable as the others of rising above her place in this coils. However, it is clear she means to do it. As long as she had two good legs, she would see to it as many people would survive, could survive.

   Saffron waits until every refugee is on the ladder, before heading up it herself.

Turtle gently plucks up Third when it becomes apparent that he is both faster than the smaller creature and that it wouldn't object to such undignified treatment, then deposits the Solar just as carefully once they reach the shrinking mass of refugees and their remaining Exalted guardians.

The bulky Lunar nods respectfully as Tycho begins making his ascent up the exterior of the shaft, carrying loads of the worst off refugees through most of the long upward journey with his incredible strength.  "Ah... hmm, quite interesting.  I'd offer to try the same, but... I fear my bulk, would risk collapsing the shaft.  So I'll have to go last, I think."

The massive turtle-human hybrid waits what seems an eternity even after Saffron and Tycho have begun climbing inside the shaft before following, mentally ticking down twenty seconds before beginning his own ascent.  However, once does begin moving, he climbs with the same incredible speed he has displayed so far, and easily catches up to the tail end of the evacuation once it becomes clear the maintenance passage won't collapse under his weight.

Tycho's strength is more than sufficient to accomplish his goal. Once Third moves on ahead, the machine-man's efforts speed up the ascent of the wounded, cutting down the time they might otherwise delay the group without requiring them to exert themselves further. He does have to make a second trip to ensure he does not drop any of them--but it works.

"I defer to your wisdom, healer," says Drachma deferentially, as he and Saffron climb. "I put my faith into the new world above."

Turtle finds the shaft to be a tight squeeze, and the ladder rather flimsy in his thick hands. Fortunately the structure manages to hold, punctured as it is, though it groans and warps alarmingly as he passes through the middle.

For better or for worse, every last Exalt and refugee makes it upstairs together.

---

OOC: Closing thread. Tycho probably shaved something like ~10-15 seconds off my original projection [Private to Alus Tycho: Another +2 stunt for your efforts, as well!] The refugees might've slowed you down more than they did, but various factors (including Third's extensive Five Coils lore and Saffron's continual encouragement) helped make up for it.

I will start to post in the Gatekeeper Core thread for characters in the order I gave in Announcements. I figure that by Sun. all of you will be able to join in!
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:34, Sat 10 Jan 2009.