The Offices of the Gatekeeper of Water -- otherwise known as the Gatekeeper Core -- is a cavernous cylindrical chamber, awash in an ominous crystal glow in the wake of the purge count. The effect is jarringly offset by the glow of essence circuits and foci powering the terminals along the entire outer edge of the room, their fluid, labyrinthine patterns lit up with blazing blue-green energy. But the surrounding air is uncomfortably cold, regulated by some internal climate control that ensures the sensitive machinery does not burn out from the sheer power needed to control the Water District's functions.

The floors and panels are seamless and metallic, made of a sturdy adamant and black jade alloy that is ice cold to the touch. Without the proper knowledge of Five Coils systems, one can only guess at the function and organization of the controls. There are no display screens to be found, no comprehensive user interface to follow.

Instead, directly above the terminals are smooth panes of curved glass, giving a nearly unbroken 360 degree view of pure, liquid water. Apparently the entire chamber -- perhaps the entire level -- is submerged in it, unseen from the inside except from the central core. The body of water held back by the metallic walls and glass panels is lit up by some unseen illumination, giving the impression the Exalts are standing in the middle of a giant aquarium. But there are neither fish nor sea-life nor underwater detritus to be seen: the view is a maddening expanse of blue, divided by the distant outer walls of Floor B26's internal maze, stretching outward in haphazard intervals.

There is no sense of how long those walls extend, how much water actually surrounds the central core. It could go on for miles and miles, a vision of the futility of your task. Or it could simply be an illusion the Gatekeeper wants you to see.

Other than the maintenance shaft, there are two visible exits from the Offices of the Gatekeeper. One is along the outer wall, a large and heavy mechanized door stretching from floor to ceiling, likely as thick as the walls itself and shut absolutely tight. The other is an equally daunting pair of sliding doors, embedded into the larger elevator shaft at the very center of the room.

---

OOC: This is what everyone sees upon entering the chamber. Of course, you may roll Int+Lore to get some understanding of the controls around you.
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:07, Sat 10 Jan 2009.

Nanaret and Higura emerge from the maintenance shaft, gradually joined by a slow, steady stream of refugees, both healthy and wounded, vital and fatigued. The most energetic among them are soon disappointed as they realize they have climbed up not into certain freedom, or a new world, but another prison.

They look to the Exalts helplessly, though a few start to fan out to examine the terminals or the doors, unable to stay still in the brisk cold. Most of them are still calmed by Saffron's words, but among them is a middle-aged woman who reacts violently to the seemingly endless sight of water. "We're going to drown," she panics; "I don't want to drown!" The woman immediately throws herself toward the elevator shaft, only to slam into an energized forcefield that suddenly blazes to life, jolting violently through her entire body. She screams in agony and falls onto her back, her still body faintly smoking.

"YOU HAVE ENTERED THE OFFICES OF THE GATEKEEPER OF WATER," thunders a resounding voice--vaguely male, but with a metallic timbre. The message is transmitted both audibly and mentally, and the weak-hearted among the mortals cower from it, huddling near each other or simply clutching their heads. "IDENTIFY YOURSELVES IMMEDIATELY. INTRUDERS WITHOUT PROPER SECURITY CLEARANCE WILL BE TERMINATED."

Both Exalts and mortals feel a powerful psychic presence threatening to penetrate their minds, intent on wrenching the truth out of them if they will not voice it. [Private to Yaishin Higura: You know that the mortals are nowhere near as able to resist such a powerful mental attack as an Exalt is.]

---

OOC: The Gatekeeper is executing what amounts to a social attack using Investigation. The attack has 8 successes. Defend as if you're in social combat -- use your highest social defense and stunt, channel, etc. for extra DV. If you succeed, it won't be able to read your mind, and you'll be able to deceive it (though further deception will also require a social attack roll from you.)

If you want to do your Int+Lore roll at the same time (to save time) you'll have to split your attention considerably, giving you -2 to that roll.

These people will never be able to stand up to such a mental assault. Higura thinks, trying to keep his calm so that the Gatekeeper will not pick up any uncertainties in the air. He knows, for one, that it will pick up any inconsistencies it can find and immediately break down anyone it suspects of being a trespasser. The only possibility, in this case... is to entrench within the implacable force that is duty.

Immediately following the woman's ill-fated attempt at escape, Higura makes a sharp gestures towards the other refugees. Something in his expression tells them to stand down and wait for his move - that he has seen them through to this point, and will not abandon them now. It is a look that is half command and half reinsurance - that they are not alone, no matter how alien and harsh their surroundings might be.

Taking a step forward, Higura faces the consoles without fear, standing proudly before them despite his battle-worn appearance. He straightens, and when he speaks, his voice is nothing but resolve and strength of purpose.

"I am Yaishin Higura, ID 931023 of the Resplendent Assessors of the Five Coils, under the supervision of the All-Seeing Prochorus and its Diligent Menders." The assessor recites the words with a sense of conviction that leaves little room for doubt. "I stand within these halls within full rights of my role and functions."

He pauses for a moment, lifting his chin slightly. Perhaps the other refugees would not know where he is headed with this, but he does not explain yet. He hopes their faith in him would be enough to have them wait for the conclusion before reacting.

"Gatekeeper of Water. I hereby state that all those accompanying me do so following my personal judgment and classification of them. Under the jurisdiction of the Resplendant Assessors and by the powers conferred to my by Their office, such classification remains absolute until overturned by the Fate Engine Prochorus or its Diligent Menders. With that authority, I demand that your present inquiry be terminated, and further concerns or appeal of this Assessor's judgment be turned directly to the Resplendent Assessors for review."

Through the whole recitation, he remains intimately steadfast in words and resolve. Deeply walled into the certainty of his purpose, he remains unshakable even in the face of the Gatekeeper's strong mind probe. Around him, a fain tinge of green arises, like incense smoke wisps wreathing him as he speaks, and seemingly granting even more weight to his words.

Shielded in conviction, he will not be defeated - not even by a Gatekeeper.

[Private to Gatekeeper: Okay, stunt-learning another dot of Integrity, and using 6 motes to use Preservation of Resolve to raise the social group's MDV by 3. That also makes HIgura the social group's leader, so he can respond to social attacks in their stead.]

Nanaret was examining her surroundings gingerly, prowling the area without touching anything, when the crazy woman throws herself at the forcefield. "Not good," she mumbles to herself unhappily, striding toward the fallen mortal to check whether she is indeed dead or if Healer Saffron could aid her.

The monkey-lunar crouches near her body, then freezes, her body going rigid as she senses the mental intrusion from the Gatekeeper. Oh look, Ranavalona cackles viciously in her mind, The construct wants to play. Mere artificial thought -- what a joke! Why, if I were to full power, I would dominate that machine-brain in an instant!

But Nanaret's way is neither brute force nor sheer willpower, but to remain fluid and changing, mentally reshaping her identity into one the Gatekeeper would find undeniably valid. Taking the cue from Higura's strange but stirring pronouncement, she straightens with one hand on her hip and her chin lifted imperiously. In a flash of silver brilliance, the Lunar sheds the rustic mannerisms of Nanaret, her words equal parts disdainful and commanding as if she finds the challenge of her authority an affront.

"Gatekeeper of Water," she intones, taking on the mellifluous formality of High Realm she had heard spoken by noble slummers. "The Prochorus has determined that the Orichalcum Alert Purge due to execute in four minutes time may have been sanctioned illegally. We, the Resplendent Assessors and our subordinates, are here on Their behalf to personally confirm or repudiate that claim. Submit to our analysis or be held in suspect of treason by the powers above!"

Though Nanaret has no idea of the meaning behind the titles Higura invoked, she speaks them as if she believes them utterly, trusting not only in her performance but in the wisdom of her Doctor.

[Private to GM: Using Mask of White Jade to perfectly defend against the mind probe (and I'll spend the WP if defending against a Charm!)]
This message was last edited by the player at 03:31, Sun 11 Jan 2009.

Higura boldly invokes his station as agent of the enigmatic machine that holds sway over his fate -- and others. In doing so, he declares the mortals to be under his authority, exempting them from the Gatekeeper's mind-probe before it even starts.

Nanaret's deception is crafted to utter perfection, enough that even Higura himself wonders for a brief moment whether she could have already known.

"YOU ARE ACKNOWLEDGED, YAISHIN HIGURA #931023." The voice of the Gatekeeper replies in begrudging tone, though the mental scan relinquishes immediately. "THE OFFICES OF WATER WISH NO QUARREL WITH FATE'S MINDERS. IF YOU ARE TRULY AS YOU SAY YOU ARE, ASSESSOR AND ENTOURAGE, THEN PROVE IT. ONE CHANCE..."

The transmission stutters, the pitch distorted as if a second voice speaks over it at a dramatically slower frequency. The circuits glowing blue green flicker yellow-gold, stealing cycles from the larger CPU as the Gatekeeper's message continues. "HAR--MO--...TO DEMONSTRATE YOUR MASTERY...---NYYYY---"

Then... eerie silence, though the essence veins of the core continue to pulse, now and then flashing with an unexpected sliver of gold. Third emerges from the shaft mere seconds afterward, moving past the mortals cowering near the shaft opening to quickly assess the situation. Higura and Nanaret have made no progress with the terminals that it can see, and a woman's still-smoking body lies near the central elevator next to the female Lunar's feet.

"...WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!" the Gatekeeper suddenly thunders, fully audible once more.

---

OOC: Third - Int+Lore to understand the functions of the controls. I'll let you know what you can do once you roll it.

Everyone - Harmony is within Gatekeeper's system, undermining his processes. You get +2 DV to defend against any social attack or compulsion the Gatekeeper of Water attempts on you. [Private to Third Beneficiary of Orderly Knowledge: Because of your growing bond with Harmony she also gives you a +2 to any actions you will take against the Gatekeeper, whether social attack or hacking attempt.]

Third smoothly climbs out of the shaft. 'Classification: Third Beneficiary of Ordered Knowledge. Resident Artificial Intelligence liason and sentience smith. Business: Your artificial intelligence has become corrupted. You will shut down higher defense functions while Third Beneficiary corrects this corruption. Attempts to resist this rewriting will be taken as proof of Rogue status.' The attempt to enter Third's mind is as futile as trying to crush a lake in one's hands. The mental attack passes through the Solar's mind without even disturbing it, nothing in Third's mind solid enough to be made into an obstacle to be attacked.

Third assesses the controls with a single look, approaching them. 'Additional information: Any attempts to attack those in this room will be taken as proof of Rogue status. Any attempts to continue the illegal purge without proper confirmation will be taken as proof of Rogue status. Proof of Rogue status will lead to your intelligence matrix being destroyed permanently, and your memory print permanently locked away, to be replaced by a more stable intelligence.' The Solar says all of this matter-of-factly.

---
You rolled 7 successes using 10d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 ((3,10,9,7,9,4,10,3,3,6)).

Third's Mental Dodge DV is 7, so with Harmony's interference, it brushes the attack off promptly. Apologies for lateness, weekend got a little busy!

Though Harmony's presence is not obvious, Third notices keenly the indelible mark of her presence, the brief flickers of gold working their way into the Gatekeeper's systems.

"A-101013 THIRD BENEFICIARY, YOUR IDENTITY IS CONFIRMED. NEGATIVE ON ROGUE STATUS. THE GATEKEEPER OF WATER STANDS ACCUSED, BUT NOT CONVICTED OF TREASON." Third escapes any harm done to its mental integrity, but the Gatekeeper seems to shrug off Third's assertions as unfounded, assuming that Higura's (and Nanaret's, by association) claim takes precedence. "S-931023 YAISHIN HIGURA OF THE RESPLENDENT ASSESSORS WISHES TO EXAMINE THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH CLAIMS. THUS, THIRD BENEFICIARY, YOU ARE ASSUMED TO BE HIS ASSISTANT IN THIS ENDEAVOR."

[Private to Third Beneficiary of Orderly Knowledge: Your bluff required more social dice than you have, sadly! But Nanaret happens to be an excellent bluffer, which is what helped Higura before. Fortunately this means from now on you are included under Higura's social immunity.]

Suddenly the illumination in the room visibly intensifies, the panels awash in a threatening crimson glow that penetrates even the body of water outside. "ALERT -- INVASIVE AI 'HARMONY OF EARTH AND HEAVEN' DETECTED WITHIN GATEKEEPER SYSTEM CORE!!" The Gatekeeper's tone is sharper, angrier, the temperature of the room rising slightly from the chill that keeps the mortals shivering. "QUICKLY--START-NOW---" Harmony's brief transmission is suddenly and forcibly squelched, but she seems to be buying more time for the Exalts to act...

Third's assessment of the Gatekeeper's central control room shows him immediately what course of action to take, though whether it can be done is another matter altogether. [Private to Third Beneficiary of Orderly Knowledge: The control room dates from long before the Dragon-blooded have arisen to claim it. Such mundane functions as keyboards, switches and other toggles were installed as later additions, for those who lacked the ability to manipulate Celestial Essence. You realize as you come closer that some of the panels you see have no actual function, but have been placed there for concealment purposes -- three of them, at three different points along the wall, roughly equidistant.

Removing each of the outer panels is a mundane function but will take significant physical effort. You will likely want to employ the aid of others to accomplish this quickly, particularly the stronger Exalts. In any case, your theory is that the most direct line of control to stop the purge would be to use the older, but more authoritative high-level functions that only Solars, Lunars or Sidereals could activate. And you have more than a hunch the panels hide access to them!

BTW--if you want to know more about the Resplendent Assessors, you'll have to ask or consider it later, however you are certain that such an office *does* exist and Higura didn't simply make it up to buy time.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:36, Tue 13 Jan 2009.

"Third!" Nanaret pronounces, moving toward it with an authoritative air. She does not dare drop her act, not while the Gatekeeper could be watching her. So when she speaks to the Twilight Caste, her mannerisms and attitude recall not the Lunar he first met, nor the Bitch Queen that overtook her, but that of a high-ranked official of distant Air District, speaking only in the most formal and embellished of High Realm. It's a jarring contrast with the relatively simple work-clothes she wears, but nonetheless, the personality-shift itself is uncannily convincing.

"You will inform I or Assessor Higura of any tasks that require the aid of ourselves or our entourage to accomplish. On his behalf I thank you for lending your considerable skill to this investigation."

Her words are chosen not as much for Third's sake but to reinforce the assumption the Gatekeeper made. Of course, it frustrates her she can explain little more in this situation, but she can only hope that Third will take the cue and play along, at least until it or others can figure out what they came here to do!
This message was last edited by the player at 06:09, Tue 13 Jan 2009.

The core chamber continues to fill with mortals, wounded or not, brought up the maintenance shaft from the floor below. They seem to be coming more quickly now, as if one of the Exalts' allies below have devised some method to speed up the pace. With nowhere but the icy cold, metallic floor to sit on, they largely remain close together to share warmth, stamping and hugging their arms to themselves.

The wounded find the chill hardest to bear, though the continued effect of Saffron's encouragement leads to the men and women sharing jackets, blankets, even body warmth to make sure the injured are as comfortable as possible in these unusual circumstances.

None of them look at the woman's body collapsed near the elevator. Nor are they inclined to speak much at all, fearing that even a small utterance will be analyzed by the Gatekeeper and give away the truth of their station. However, they continue to inform the new ones coming up to remain calm and stay as still as they can, to leave the situation to the Exalts to defuse. The rest pray silently that the next minutes will bring an end to the cold and the fear that overwhelm them, emphasized by the gallons upon gallons of water surrounding the chamber.

It is into that second lapse of silence, while Third puts his mind to work, that Tycho, Saffron and Turtle emerge above. Drachma is with them as well, and immediately takes a quick head-count before his attention is caught by the fallen woman. He rushes to her side, propping her head up... then shakes his head grimly, closing her eyes with one hand.

Third turns towards Nanaret. 'Please aid Third.' it says, sweeping a hand towards one of the panels. 'Third believes that if there has been treasonous corruption of Gatekeeper Artificial Intelligence, it was most likely done through these panels. Please help Gatekeeper Artificial Intelligence to understand this, and not interfere with their removal.' Third says, tone even, but making it quite clear that it is important that the panels be removed. As he sees the other, notably physically powerful Lunar appear. 'Wonderful. Third politely requests your assistance, in removing these panels. Please remove all three, Third may need to have unlimited access for our task.' It is already moving its hands to the panel, tugging on it. Its strength is far less impressive than the others, but it is determined to at least do what it can to loosen the panel to make the job easier. It suspects any attempts at stealth may, now, be less than wise, but it will at least keep up appearances until it can take an essence-probe to the Gatekeeper's thought grid.

Turtle squeezes through the access hatch of the maintenance shaft, contorting his oversized frame to get through the narrow passage.  After a few seconds of struggling, the shaft access gives a loud metallic twang, and the bulky turtle-humanoid hybrid springs free, the entrance to the maintenance shaft deformed slightly by his passage.

Upon emerging from the shaft, Turtle shakes his head sadly as he observes what has drawn Drachma's attention before turning his own gaze to the surroundings, blinking around the cavernous chamber in reptilian curiosity.  His attention returns to the present at Third's politely phrased request, "Hmm.  Yes, of course.  Panels, no difficulty.  Perhaps, Sir Tycho, could work on, another?"

Turtle bends over awkwardly to examine one of the panels in question, carefully putting down the shock pike and essence lash he had clutched in one thick hand, even through the difficult climb up the shaft.  Running a long silvered talon along one of their edges, he emits a low bass hum as he investigates the joining between the panel and their mount, though he doesn't appear conscious of the vocalization.  After a few seconds of this examination, he carefully inserts the tips of his metallic talons between the panel and the console it is mounted on, then gives a sharp twist of his strength to test their connection.

[Private to Gatekeeper: Not certain if Gatekeeper (NPC) is still doing the mental attack, but if it is, Turtle's Dodge MDV is normally 6 so including Harmony's help it shouldn't effect him either way.

Also, uncertain what the difficulty would be on popping of the panel.  Current Str + Athletics is 13, if it just calls for a feat of strength.]
This message was last edited by the player at 17:26, Tue 13 Jan 2009.

   Saffron senses the tenseness of the situation, so she does not add anything. She sees that the woman is beyond her help, so she just waits until it seems safe to begin admistering to the injured.

Tycho's rise from the hatchway is accompanied by a billowing cloud of essence-laced steam and golden sparks. Last up the ladder, he leaves a trail of bent rungs behind him - though by all means helped in that by Turtles own considerable bulk. Overworked servo motors squeal like suffering children and conductant-reservoirs smoke as their synthesizer-glands struggle and fail to meet the demand. Tycho's strength has hauled many of the wounded to safety, but that strength begins to fail and flag now, the enchantments that bore it beginning to fade.

He is not without some power left to him, however. More than enough to find his feet and take his bearings.

"Deus ex machina" Tycho says softly to himself as comes face to face with the Gatekeepers Core. Trembles of sympathy and disgust run deep through the machine-man for the mystical intelligence that dwells here. He has memories, still all too clear, of existing as little more than a mind in a useless metal shell. The Gatekeeper was far from the helpless thing Tycho had once existed as though. This thing, this sentience bore the power to destroy countless lives and by design was prepared to do just that. "God from the machine indeed..."

Here was the very sort of power he and his allies had once had dreams of wielding against the oppressive dictatorship of the Five-Coils. Perhaps, even if they fail to stop the Purge in time, some good could come of this. More good, perhaps, than if they do succeed. The terrible truth of the world is that a single martyr has more value to a cause than a hundred living souls.

What would happen to this place once the floors above heard tale of a thousand martyrs?

"I'll see to it," Tycho answers Third and Turtle's call absently, stepping over to the next panel. He takes only a moment to examine the panel, then with hard jabs of his blunt fingers, begins to bend in the metal around the mooring bolts that hold the panel in place and pluck them out one after the next.

Nanaret nods quietly. At any sign of the Gatekeeper's protest she will assume her 'official' persona and explain in no uncertain terms that the disassemblement of the panels are part of the process of the investigation. If she is still challenged, she counters with the obvious -- if you have nothing to hide, then why fear the revelation of truth?

"We Assessors are not daunted by the usual protocols or caveats, Gatekeeper of Water. The only thing we care about is the truth, and we will seek it by any means necessary." The most remarkable aspect of her speech is that Nanaret herself is not telling the complete truth with this statement, yet the Gatekeeper finds no means, no avenue by which he can determine she is lying. Every single time, the Lunar's words, thoughts and even demeanor seem to fall within expected parameters. Even the fact the Gatekeeper can find no record of her identity is easily explained away -- not all Assessors are 'public faces', she asserts, so identity must at times be cast away while on duty.

When she is not busy contending with the Gatekeeper, Nanaret offers her aid in helping Third, Turtle and Tycho, supporting whoever struggles the most with tearing away the bolted down panels.

[Private to GM: If I have to actively social attack the Gatekeeper, I will add +6 sux with Manipulation Excellency to lie convincingly. I'll also channel Conviction since I am basically lying to protect the mortals and others. Otherwise I will use Mask of White Jade again to maintain the charade.]
This message was last edited by the player at 04:37, Thu 15 Jan 2009.

The chamber is filled with the groaning of metal being pulled apart. As soon as the panels are breached, the whine of an alarm siren fills the room. The Gatekeeper's voice transmits distortedly, as if whatever Harmony is doing is enough to hinder its ability to communicate. "TERRrrmmINNallss 3, 10 ANNdd 17 BREACHED!! TAKING SECURITY MEEeeaaAAAsURES..."

Whatever measures it might have taken, though, are halted when Nanaret speaks on the behalf of the others. "The pursuit of truth" may very well be cruel from the Gatekeeper's point of view, as it is broken down from without by the Exalts, and within by the viral presence of Harmony, deep-diving into its very thought matrix. When next it speaks, the only words it says are clear, and terse: "VERY WELL, ASSESSORS."

It takes more effort than expected from Turtle, and a significant effort from Tycho to bust open the two panels they have been working on. Whatever the make of the panels, they were built to resist casual tampering, even by Exalts. Tycho's Essence-augmented strength gives him just the push he needs to accomplish the task, while Turtle manages with the sheer brute force of the warform granted him by Luna. [Private to Alus Tycho; Grinning Turtle: Neither of you had to use any more motes, just to let you know I decided on Str+Ath = 12 (mostly cause I figured that it ought to be at least above the normal human maximum). Tycho, I decided your +2 strength would still be active in this thread.] Nanaret and Third together still cannot manage to pry off the third panel, though, so it remains stubbornly attached.

Revealed beneath false panels #10 and #17 are two panels of pure magical material -- at #10 it is moonsilver, at #17 it is starmetal. Each one has as its defining feature a circular depression in the center, which a human hand could reach into to grasp the twist lever within. Both revealed levers are in the 3:45 position (horizontal line). Unlike the other panels in the central core, which still glow brilliantly with lines of blue-green Essence, neither of these panels appear to be powered at all.
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:17, Wed 14 Jan 2009.

The terminal breach alarm continues blaring unabatedly as the whirring of gears emanates from the heavy outer door. The group quickly realizes that the sound is that of the mechanisms keeping the door securely locked, releasing one after another. Layer by layer, the portal opens up to admit whatever or whomever could be waiting outside...

[Private to Danae Adela; Peleps Dashu; Ledaal Xurizu; Tervila Dena: Apparently your group is not the only one to have thought to enter masquerading as maintenance workers -- unless, of course, the people gathered inside the Gatekeeper Core are, in fact, real workers.

The first thing you notice is just how many of them there are. Something around 50 to 60 people in mostly ragged clothing are huddled toward one side of the huge circular chamber, shivering from the chill and from wide-eyed fear at their unusual surroundings and the blare of the klaxons. Several of them are quite wounded, though the group appear to be watched over by a benevolent young woman whose presence seems to calm them. They all seem to have climbed up to the core from a shaft that stretches to the level below.

Another figure, this one older and male, crouches nearby the elevator shaft at the center of the room. He has frozen in the middle of picking up the body of a woman, staring in alarm at the door you've all just stepped through. The woman appears to be dead.

Four more distinctive individuals work with the terminals lining the curved walls of the core chamber. The least 'human' of them -- a hulking half man, half-turtle, and another imposing figure that appears to have been grafted with machine parts -- have just finished bodily tearing apart the panels in two different areas of the room. A dark-haired figure of alien, androgynous beauty and a wiry, athletic woman with blue braids protruding from her worker's cap have more or less given up at prying open a third one.

Finally, overseeing them all with an expression of quiet concentration is a man in a drab uniform and gloves, with long brown hair in a loose ponytail and glasses. It is the garb of a doctor from the lower levels.]

...and reveals the scene within to their prying eyes.

[About 3 minutes remaining.]

Dashu walks into the room and quickly takes in the scene.  At first he thought that this might be a very dire situation and that they could be busted.  But as the details of the scene came in, his eyes settled on the hulking form with metal grafted into his skin... and he smiled.  "Tyco!  Glad to see you!"   He then turned to the rest of the group entering with him and motioned as if to say that there appeared to be no immediate threat.

He then said outloud "Gatekeeper, we've arrived are preparing to assist the current repair crew in its current tasks."  He then looked around confused and said, "So what needs to be done?"
This message was last edited by the player at 19:25, Fri 16 Jan 2009.

"Huh--more of us got here at about the same time?" Danae thinks quizzically as she steps in--frankly, this group still probably looked a little cooked--Danae was personally woozy between the slight whiff of knockout gas, coupled with the various light essence-burns--and recovering from a minor case of frostbite after the wrong turn...

Well, the others in the group 'Probably' came out a bit better in any case...

But still--she wasn't sure what was going on here--and was blinking for a second--they were doing... Something to the gatekeeper?

Putting the gears in her head at full overdrive, Danae took a quick scan around the room to determine how to best deal with this situation, and how to best ensure that the proper goals are undergone...

After all, Harmony Would Help Us--and she heard enough rumors to have a good idea it was sincere--no better way to do that then to weaken the Gatekeeper's own core--and it should be an effective way to stop the Purge too--right?

She was exhausted--that was the truth--but she still had a little of her controlled Essence left--that, coupled with her burning need to ensure there were no more deaths then this place already suffered--brought her Thought Processes up to full--quickly making mental leapfrogs from each detail in the room, and trying to figure out the best way to reduce the Guardian's capabilities in the most subtle way possible.

Who knows, she might actually pull it off

[Private to Gatekeeper: Figuring this here's the moneyshot--so I'm putting the majority of my remaining power into figuring this out--either Int + Lore, or Int + Craft (Magitech), depending on which is needed (Both pools are the same though).  I'm channeling Compassion because my hopes are to shut down the Gatekeeper--or have it subverted by the apparently more benign Harmony--in the most effective way possible...

So, 8m Personal to buy 4 successes, 9 dice after my penalties, but before adding stunt--one willpower to channel Compassion...

And... 10 succs before Stunt comes off--Holy crap]
This message was last edited by the player at 07:06, Wed 14 Jan 2009.

New arrivals are not something that had been planned - nor the turn events had just taken. Of course, now would not be the time to let any surprise or bewilderment show in any form. If the situation was to be solved, it would involve keeping a strong facade to the Gatekeeper for as long as it took to disrupt it. Having stepped forward first, and initiated this line of defense, Higura can only stand firmly and buy Third and the others more time, until the inner workings of the mechanism is solved.

Only a slight slip-up could lead to disaster. If the Gatekeeper decided, in a moment of zeal or paranoia, to probe the minds of the refugees, the whole story could very well unravel in mere seconds. The only option, then, would be to keep the AI on the defensive, leaving it no time or opportunity to attack. And with such complicated beings as the Gatekeepers, the only way will be to be driven, aggressive and unforgiving.

"The All-Seeing Prochorus demands complete and utter Truth, Gatekeeper of Water. You know as well as I do that your authority over the District cannot be challenged - except when it comes to internal affairs. In such cases where there is suspicion of foul play within the ranks of the Constricting Coils, you as well as any citizen is subject to assessment by the Fate Engine's Chosen."

"Gatekeeper of Water. Your acceptance to submit to investigation is a binding contract to tell the whole truth as you are aware of it, under threat of sanctions handed down by the Constricting Coils themselves. A refusal to answer will also be considered a severe offense, and be judged accordingly. Understand that as a direct representative of the High Office of Assessors, I am perfectly in my right to recommend such sanctions with the full backing of the Office should your answers or actions lead me to believe it necessary. Let these statements guide your actions from here on end."

"We have reasons to believe that the Purge, and the subsequent actions that were undertaken in the district that rests under your charge, might have been carried on against directives from the higher Administration of the Coils. At the moment, you are not yet a direct suspect of rebellion, Gatekeeper. But you must understand your position in relation to the current events, and answer truthfully. Has anyone, at any moment before the initiation of the purge, come into contact with you directly or remotely? If not, is it possible that you might have come into contact with such a person without your being aware of it?"

The oversized turtle-creature blinks slowly in surprise at the appearance of more people from one of the massive doors, but before surprise can turn into defensive behavior one of them calls out a friendly greeting to Tycho.  ,Hesitating, Turtle decides to wait until Tycho indicates if the newcomers are friend or foe, instead continuing about the task he has been set.

With that in mind, Turtle gently interposes himself between Nanaret and Third, who don't appear to be making any headway against the remaining deceptively sturdy panel, muttering quietly to them as he passes, "Hmm, clear way, highness, friend Third...  Thank you."  Having seen beneath two of the indicated panels already, he quickly hooks his talons around the upper corners of this last barrier and begins peeling it back from what he expects to be an orichalcum or jade version of the two already revealed mechanisms.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:01, Wed 14 Jan 2009.

"Er. . . does anything really heavy need lifting here?" Dena asks, pretending to be a dumb laborer for the moment and belatedly hoping her stolen jade weaponry looks like a pulley or lifting equipment.

" Yes, please. Turtle, Tycho, new arrival, if you would be so kind as to remove this panel, Third suspects that it holds an Orichalcum panel. Nanaret, Third politely requests you manipulate the Moonsilver panel, Third will give instructions as he discerns the method of controlling these panels. Higura, Third requests you do likewise at the Starmetal panel. Third shall relay further instructions once this panel is open." Third steps smoothly back out of the way for Turtle and/or Tycho to take a crack at the panel. It has assessed the appearance of the new group. They have greeted the others in a friendly manner, and seem to be familiar with Tycho, which is enough for Third to give them the benefit of the doubt. New arrival, in case its speech patterns hadn't been entirely clear, refers of course to Tervila Dena. " There may be a requirement for manual Essence flow to be provided. Third hopes both of you have kept some reserves."

Tycho's fingers squeeze into the metal panel as the alarm begins to howl through the chamber and the sound of opening doors swiftly follows. He peers with intent on the sheet of magical material under the panel he has just torn off and braces himself for a choice. When the Terrestrials, or which ever of their lackies they had sent, came through the doorway, then time would be up. There would be no way to stop the Purge and fight them at the same time. No reason not simply abandon all subtly and try to interface with the Gatekeeper directly, to rip it from it's machines and slave it to his own systems.

As the outer doors hiss open, Tycho prepares himself. He had sworn to stop the Purge, but in failure they could find greater victory. Perhaps if he seized control fast enough, he could even make an effort to control and direct the water flow into areas that housed only surplus labor...

...and then something unexpected happens. He is greeted.

"Investigator Dashu?" Tycho's answer to the sudden appearance of his old ally in the Peaceforce is somewhat more incredulous and dreadful than he might desire, but cannot keep the surprise completely from his voice.  For at first, he actually thinks that Dashu has been sent to find them – there could be none better skilled for tracking them down and apprehending them that he, after all. Then he realizes that neither Dashu nor the others stepping through the door are moving to attack and his mind realizes what his eyes has seen from the first; there were no collars around their throats.

"Well now, I didn't think the Peaceforce would assign you to help oversee the assessment of the Gatekeeper. What happened, Dashu? Paperwork at that cushy desk they gave you not challenging enough anymore?" he says as he offers the investigator a good-natured pat on the arm that was not quiet hard enough to stagger the man, then grips his sleeve and pulls him towards the where Saffron stays with the crowd of mortals. "Not much for us to do here though, apart from strong-arm when they need it. Why don't you help me keep the work crews from panicing? They're so intimidated in the presence of the Gatekeeper that they're of no use. Several even injured themselves getting up here. I don't suppose you've a medic among your lot, do you? The girl could probably use the help."

Dashu, as always, was suprised by Tyco's strength.  The big man almost knocked him off balance when he patted Dashu... and Dashu had very good balance.  "Desk job?"  Dashu almost laughed at that.  "The only time they let me sit behind a desk is when I'm interigating someone.  Past that, they let me deal with the blood and guts of the job and then locked me up tight when I'm done."

He then turned the people, as he kept talking to Tyco "As for doctors, well, none of us are that.  We do have an engineer though.  Also one increadibly strong Lunar... and... well... we also have Xurizu who I'm still not entirely sure what he can and can't do.  As for the crowd, lets see what I can't do to get them motivated."

Dashu then turns to the workers and says "I know you guys are scared, but we have to focus and organize.  I want each crew to attach themselves to attach themselves to Danae (he motion towards the short blonde who entered with him), one to each of the pannels trying to be moved, and one to... uh... Third was it?"  His hope was by mearely breaking them up into smaller groups, the individual Exalts could more easily manage them.

[Private to GM: I'm trying to make a Bueracracy roll.

And I fail... expectedly.

Peleps Dashu rolled 1 success using 6d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 3,6,1,4,1,9. Organize Workers Chr + Beuracracy.

Stunt?]
This message was last edited by the player at 19:26, Fri 16 Jan 2009.

The mechanical door latches and relocks its five layers of interlocked metal alloy as soon as Dena steps in at the rear, leaving the labyrinth behind the newcomers.

Danae immediately puts herself to the task of analyzing the controls and what she might be able to accomplish with them. Her approach is more 'hands on' than Third's, who deals more often with high level functions, with machine language rather than hardware.

[Private to Danae Adela: As an AI, the Gatekeeper has achieved sentience, and thus some form of a soul -- it is an amalgam of both machine and spirit. The magical material panels which Nanaret and Higura have been directed to work with will allow them to interface directly with the spirit-manifestation of the Gatekeeper of Water. You can provide some disruption on the machine/mechanical level to make the spiritual connection easier for the others to dive into and dominate. (Basically, reducing the Gatekeeper's social DVs.)

Thinking quickly, you catalog the remaining terminal stations by function. Here, one may potentially control most every aspect of the Water District -- lighting, power, life support, broadcast transmissions, even the automatons patrolling the district. All of the district-wide functions (including, to your dismay, the panel controlling the water systems) have been locked against tampering except by those with Terrestrial Essence.

However, examining the master panel (terminal 1) controls gives you two approaches you can potentially take that *would* fall into purview of maintenance. (Wits+Lore or Craft(Magitech), depending on whether you take a programming or hardware approach.)
- Try to flood the Gatekeeper with commands. More or less create some sort of closed logic loop that diverts even more of its thought cycles.
- Put a throttle on the Essence being used to power the core functionality (while, you hope, keeping important functions like life support intact.)

Unfortunately Harmony does not have the seniority to take over the Gatekeeper's functions completely, but you could at least shift its status to a benign support AI, as Gatekeeper right now considers it an invasive threat (a sentient virus if you will). :P]

Higura's speech may not yield the answers he seeks, but it keeps the Gatekeeper engaged and distracted during the crucial moments while the Exalts reveal and manipulate the magical material panels. "I HAVE REFUSED YOU NOTHING ELSE," replies the AI stoically. "YOU MAY DISCOVER 'TRUTH' FOR YOURSELF WITH YOUR INVASIVE METHODS. YOUR QUESTION IS IRRELEVANT, AND I WOULD TAKE THE RISK OF A SECOND OFFENSE OVER BETRAYING THE PRIVACY OF MY MINDERS."

Turtle and Dena are left to work on prying open the final panel at Third's behest, while Dashu, Tycho and Saffron stay with the refugees. The weary mortals look at Dashu warily, but do not move, some of them giving him a look that obviously says, "and who are you?" Perhaps the others can aid his attempt at organization... [Private to Alus Tycho; Peleps Dashu; Saffron: Tycho or Saffron could make some social roll to rally the mortals to follow Dashu's directions if you wish. The extra provided labor could help speed things up, and speed *is* something you need.]

"Hmm... There does seem to be a couple quirks along here..." Danae observed, shaking her head again in an attempt to clear the fog of exhaustion out of her head--sauntering over to the primary control panel, taking a second to ensure there wouldn't be anybody in the way--then with a quick glance about, she began working at the panel, throwing up the various diagnostics--while making a slight gesture along the lines of 'Keep Going' to Higura...

Now, the big problem inherent here would be reducing the Gatekeeper's cognitive functions to something a bit more managable--since arguing against a computer would be tough...  In any case--she was quick to properly redistribute the Essence used to power the AI--switching much of it's focus 'Away' from pure cognition--and if she could get away with it, much of the essence used to fuel it's more higher-order workings--and shunted them off into various high-octane diagonstic tasks.  Everything from a process designed to defragment it's memory banks, a 'Search' for logic breaks, and numerous checks on the status of the Water District's capabilities.

Normally, each one would be done seperately--but obviously, with such a high danger scenario, it was important to get as much done as possible, right?

And with every little program she could possibly justify running, it was clear that the Guardian would be in a much weaker position to defend itself--either socially, or against Harmony's own hacking--though when Danae got the opportunity--she would try making subtle jabs towards shifting Harmony's status in the Gatekeeper's perceptions--while it would be impossible to outright supplant the Gatekeeper so far...

Well, if Danae could situate Harmony as a benign support AI, then all of the toughest obstacles to hacking the Gatekeeper would be significantly reduced--right?

[Private to Gatekeeper: Okay, not sure if I've got to flurry those two actions, or if the 'Pulling the essence away' approach will also include getting Harmony nice and cozy inside the Gatekeeper's brain--either way, I'll be spending the motes I just got back to buy successes on the relevant pools--as well as going 3m into peripheral (Caste Mark is visible under some angles)

Basically, buying up to 4 successes and cleaning out my Essence pool in the process--if I can only do one of these actions, I'll put all 4 succs on that--otherwise, I'll put 2 on each, and roll them off.

BTW, should the knockout gas be wearing off by now?]

"Let's try this." Dena suggests to Turtle, hauling out her serpent-sting staff and using the end as a lever on the panel.  "You try using the other end, er, what was your name again?  I'm Dena."

Once directed, Nanaret goes right to the moonsilver panel, giving the newcomers only cursory attention once she realizes they are no threat. Introductions could come later.

"I have been frugal with my expenditures," she informs Third in the same clipped, formal tones she has been using since donning her 'armor' of altered personality. The Lunar is quite uninformed when it comes to machines, though. And Ranavalona is downright offended by them. If not for Nanaret very forcibly silencing her commentary, she would likely be spitting wrathfully to 'stop wasting time' and destroy the machine directly -- even if that meant destroying all the functions that keep people alive on the levels below, too.

Nonetheless, she gives the panel in front of her at least a cursory look-over, drawing from what memories she'd retained of technicians working with Five Coils control systems. Memories from when she was too young and curious to know she ought not to be looking (at least not where she could get caught!) Anything more would wait for Third's direction.

" This unit is designated Third Beneficiary of Ordered Knowledge, yes. Third will offer what help it can." The Solar is, beyond a shadow of a doubt, not likely to make a significant difference in the prying, but it still slides its fingers along the panel, taking the other end of the sectioned magic material staff, using it as an overly dignified prybar to spring the panel from the wall. Once it gets to the panel, it will begin analyzing. There is no reason to believe that the three mechanisms will be overly different, but if they do turn out to different, it will simply have to try...

Harder.

"As you wish, Gatekeeper. Your words and choice will be recorded just as you have spoken them."

There is no hesitation in Higura's actions when Third give his instruction, and with a short nod, he heads over to the Starmetal panel. Along the way, he makes certain to give a very minute, but courteous acknowledgment of the newcomers' presence. The gesture is not much, and part of him regrets it - but the situation does not allow much more, and so introductions will have to come at a later time.

Walking deliberately towards the indicated position, Higura inspects the strange apparatus, and its Starmetal components. He does take a moment to inspect the mechanism, touching it carefully before turning back towards Third. He refrains from fiddling with the controls for now, instead awaiting Third's word to operate the panel properly. After making it this far, it would be incredibly frustrating to get caught because of a mundane manipulation mistake...

Turtle nods at the wasp woman's tool, obviously impressed by the jade weapon, his voice a deep bass rumble when he speaks, "Hmm... an unbreakable lever... useful, though perhaps a bit more, than the situation warrants... a screwdriver would be nice...  Ahh, and a pleasure, miss, I'm Turtle..."

Stepping back when it becomes clear Third wants to take an active part in peeling back this panel, Turtle gives the other hybrid creature a gap jawed expression.  It takes a moment to recognize the gaping maw the turtle-man displays as a smile, as Grinning Turtle's head in this form isn't close enough to human norms to display clear expressions.

As long as Dena and Third appear capable of opening up the console, Turtle simply sits back and observes.  However, at any sign of serious difficulty he steps up to take the other end of the makeshift lever from the Solar.
This message was last edited by the player at 08:56, Thu 15 Jan 2009.

Xurizu looked vaguely uncomfortable as Dashu introduced him and spoke of not really knowing what he could do.  That makes two of us, he thought to himself as he moved over to the people along with Dashu, his own frame far too slight to be of any aid in the ... manual rearrangements of the Gatekeeper core, though he assumed they were with good purpose.

He smiled at the gathered people, huddling against the chill, his own slightly blue appearance not having faded entirely yet.  He speaks in an easy tone, though one that reaches all the assembled mortals, his voice filled with encouragement.  "I'm Xurizu," he introduced himself. "Don't worry all of you, soon we'll have done the repairs and re-arrangements that are needed here and then we'll be able to take you into quarters more appropriate.  This room is hardly ideal, I know, but certain things have priorities, as I'm sure you understand.  Now I heard some of you were injured, could I have a look?"

As he walked towards the injured, Xurizu turned his attention inwards.  He didn't remember having any medical training, and considering what he did remember, any had had might not be too suitable for actually helping people.  Since he wasn't sure he could trust anything in specific, he instead focused on the general, weaving together understanding from the all the scraps of memory he had and channelling that through the cool and precise essence of the moonlight which filled his soul, learning how to focus himself beyond his mortal self.

[Private to GM: First a speech, Cha+Perform 6, then trying to stunt learn the second Int excellency, then if that works, a Int+Med roll, +1 (or 2 if a +2) sux.]
This message was last edited by the player at 15:54, Thu 15 Jan 2009.

Whatever Danae seems to be doing with the master diagnostics, it does have an obvious effect. The light illuminating the body of water viewed from the glass panels dims considerably, giving focus to the crimson hue of the alarm lights within. The air warms up several more degrees, much to the relief of the refugees huddled together. Several of the visible Essence circuits have turned a solid yellow-gold.

From the neighboring panels, Danae can see that the lighting in the floors below has dimmed as well. While the temperature heats up locally, it is starting to drop slightly from B27 downward. The parameters still seem within human-survivable limits, though.

"THhhis ddIISSstriCCT WILlll ddiiEE WIITHouuutT MEeee..." utters the Gatekeeper in an exaggeratedly slow, uneven tone. "...iiISS THAT WOOOrrthh tRRUThhh...?"

Dena finds the metal panel she is working on to be much tougher to budge than she expected, even with the help of Third and her weapon. Turtle steps in to speed up the process considerably, his natural strength easily enough to tear off the partially pried panel. Beneath is just as Third had suspected: an orichalcum panel to match the moonsilver and starmetal ones that Nanaret and Higura now examine.

[Private to Saina Nanaret; Third Beneficiary of Orderly Knowledge; Yaishin Higura: You are certain that powering this panel will require 10 motes of essence. Only then will the twist lever be operable. The arrangement of the essence circuits gives the impression that the panels are meant to be operated together, but knowing *how* will take further examination or experimentation.]

[Private to Saina Nanaret: In the pattern of the essence lines, you discern that the panel is similar to those you have seen on communications terminals, but with several more levels of complexity.]

[Private to Yaishin Higura: Your additional occult knowledge tells you that the pattern in the essence lines ought to form a matrix meant to open communications with the spirit world.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:58, Fri 16 Jan 2009.

Xurizu speaks with the refugees, who appear slightly more at ease at the introduction and the newcomer's calm demeanor. The older, bearded man who had picked up the dead woman's body has placed the corpse away from where the other mortals can easily see it. "I am Drachma," replies the man when he straightens, glancing at Dashu but focusing his words on Xurizu. "We have come from Floor B30. We trust in the Chosen, but this is a... very unfamiliar environment. The machines are... inscrutable, and intimidating."

"As for the injured, Healer Saffron --" Drachma gestures to the young healer standing with the largest concentration of refugees "-- has aided us a great deal, but we've yet to encounter conditions ideal for healing or rest." Xurizu's inexperienced eye can still discern that the wounded (about 15-20 out of 60) have already been given expert emergency care for broken limbs and ribs as well as cut wounds. They are mostly utterly exhausted, so the best cure for them would be proper bed rest -- obviously impossible here.

Four or five of them appear the worst off; they could be suffering from infection, or worse. A change of bandages could be in order, Saffron would have plenty of them.

[Private to Ledaal Xurizu: Your stunt was not quite enough to stunt-learn, but I will give you another chance to make it "stick". However, you did get a +1 stunt, and a bit of a memory-fragment:

Your initial attempt to harness your fragmented memories gives you a sharp feeling of familiarity with the surroundings. Perhaps not *this* chamber, but something like it -- like the room with Lady Sienna -- and others, less metallic and clinical and more... ethereal, as if the circuitry had transcended physical form. Artificial intelligence, for you, has never seemed machine in nature but rather more spiritual, as if the panels and circuitry were meant only to hold and harness them. You are certain that one such machine-spirit had been your teacher, a being that appeared almost entirely constructed of myriad wings and eyes with a penchant for speaking in metaphor, and you strain to recall its lessons...]

"Won't the district die anyway if the Gatekeeper floods it?" Dena asks the nearby Third as she gets up from where she'd fallen when the door tore off, and rubbing some dust from her exoskeleton.  "Or is the machine too dumb to notice that part?"

   Saffron has been frugal in her Essence usage since the ordeal began less than 30 minutes ago. She was carefully concealing her nature from the Gatekeeper to remain inconspicuous, but since the Gatekeeper has been deceived into thinking of the refugees as workers she loosens her guard. She changes the bandages of those who need it and takes a serious look at each injury to determine those needing the most attention. She enhances her work with the essense she held in reserve now, acting with it every chance she has. Those in the most danger of losing too much blood, she uses her gentle fist style in an attempt to close the wounds. And as she works, she whispers words of encouragement to her patients. When, she feels it is necessary she uses her essence to strengthen her patient, if only for a little while longer.


OOC: On the ticks when she can Saffron is utilizing her charms to the maximum extend she can. Contagion-curing touch on those infected channelling her essense into small slaps at key gateways along the body. She uses Soothing Words of Wisdom to heal open wounds with light hits.

Watching the panel in front of him closely, Higura slowly and carefully takes hold of the handle. With a better idea of what the device actually does, he feels more confident to actually touch it, although he waits for Third's signal before sending in the essence surge necessary to power the mechanism.

"A method of spiritual communications with the spirit world. This might be our chance." He says, to the attention of the other Exalts, then shakes his head towards Dena. "The Gatekeeper speaks the truth, in this case. Even if the purge is prevented, the district will forever be lost without it. It is responsible for regulating everything from air and water supplies to temperature and climate. Without it, life this far down in a complex such as Five Coils will become impossible, and the District itself will turn into a barren husk of metal." He pauses, before turning his gaze back towards the Gatekeeper.

"You are mistaken, Gatekeeper of Water. The purpose never has been your removal, no matter your involvement in this purge. The purpose is to right wrongs committed a long time ago... And to reclaim what has been stolen then."
This message was last edited by the player at 19:48, Fri 16 Jan 2009.

Still not sure as to what the group of Exalts working on the devices were actually doing, and the workers making it clear that they weren't going to listen to him, Dashu decides to turn his attention towards something he's actually good at... getting answers.  If nothing else, it would assist this Higura person in keeping the Gatekeeper distracted.  He hoped that Danae's work would help his interrogation attempt.

"Gatekeeper, you've identified me as a member of the Peaceforce and as such, the preservation of peace and stability of the District of Water is top priority.  In assisting with an ongoing investigation, we need answers.  Firstly, it appears that this purge was authorized on account of escapees.  We need to know what allowed these escapees to remove their essence suppressing collars.  Secondly, we need to know if the conditions which allowed the essence suppression devices in other parts of Five Coils are still functioning correctly.  Thirdly, we need assistance in restoring order.  As you stated before, the presence of the peacekeeping force indicates that a shift in priority towards preservation of life and insuring security of the citizens of Five Coils.  Compliance with my request for answers does help ensure those objectives."

[Private to GM: Investigation Attempt.  Spending 8m to buy 4sux.
Peleps Dashu rolled 6 successes using 8d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 4,1,8,9,8,8,9,9. (Chr + Investigation)]
This message was last edited by the player at 19:24, Fri 16 Jan 2009.

" Third will find a way." are the Solar's only words as it seizes the handle, and surges its Essence through the handle, expending a burst of Essence into the machine, eyes glowing with golden fire as its anima grows around it, glowing intensively, and it begins to analyze the mechanism, its mind sorting through the information. " Activate your panels now, Nanaret, Higura." states the Solar, as it studies the mechanisms, mind taking the design in, holding it up to be examined, dissecting the contours, and letting its consciousness flow into the design, to find out how, exactly, to work the machine. As its eyes gaze over the design, its anima flows and grows, slowly billowing larger, until it takes a human shape, a golden arm reaching into the panel, papers billowing around the stately, androgynous being, mimicking the movements of the Solar as it focuses entirely on the task at hand.

[Private to GM:OOC: I'm assuming that it's an Int+Lore roll to figure out the device, so I thought I'd save you a little time, hopefully. This is with 10 motes of Essence expended on First Lore Excellency. Total of 20 motes out of my Peripheral Essence Pool. You rolled 7 successes using 20d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 ((5,4,2,2,2,6,8,5,1,6,9,8,10,4,6,8,8,4,3,4)).
For Bookkeeping reasons, gonna start keeping my Essence tracked here, too: 17 Peripheral Essence remaining, 17 Personal Essence remaining.]
This message was last edited by the player at 22:33, Fri 16 Jan 2009.

I've been here before? Xurizu thought as the fragments of memories became clearer.  No, not here, but somewhere like it.  Taught by something like this.  Something pinned to the world with circuits and panels, but transcending them.

Xurizu gave what aid he could to the obviously far more experienced medic, who seemed to heal people merely with taps.  It was the taps he focused on, letting the memories of the wings and eyes rise once more just within his vision as he worked.  Today you will learn about the flames which drive the body said the voice in the memory.  In his minds eye he saw the outline of a body hanging there in space, lit with a network of flames, large ones for the seven major chakra points, a myriad more making up a fantastically dense pattern within the ethereal body.  He heard the voice go on, showing how essence feed the flames, how injury and disease banked them.

Of course, the flames can be snuffed out.

That had been the last of that lesson about the flames, the blow applied to the ethereal image of a body before him, watching the darkness spread through the body.  Watching the body fade away.  The insight that came with that knowledge.

The person who was in front of Xurizu would hopefully never realize how close they came to disaster, although anyone who had known him for a bit of time would have picked up on the definite hesitation just before applying the treatment.  Making sure it was the right one, examined with moonlit clarity.
[Private to GM: Attempting to make it stick with a half-remembered crash course in essence driven medical understanding.]

Dena meanwhile simply watches in case trouble she's more qualified to deal with starts.  Meanwhile she considers the point of the Purge.
"Somebody needs to make a second gatekeeper." She finally decides.  "If it going wrong can kill everybody you need another one to keep up if it breaks.  The same way people have two arms."

Nanaret needs no further urging. Silvery-blue essence ripples from her in an aura of iridescence, which she channels it through to the lever she now grasps, following Third's lead...

Once prompted, Higura immediately activates his own panel in the way he has assessed would work - fueling sufficient essence into the mechanism. Deep green flows surround his arm and hand for a moment, twisting and turning until it reaches the Starmetal controls, infusing them with its power.

The whole way through, Higura keeps his concentration and his senses focused on the mechanism - any effects it might have would likely be activated soon, and he would not be taken by surprise if he could help it.

"T-minus 2 minutes until purging commences."

Saffron, assisted by Xurizu, aid the wounded together, unperturbed by the tension of their surroundings. They trust their companions will do what needs be done, knowing that even if the purge begins, they are safer here than below. [Private to Ledaal Xurizu: You succeeded at the stunt-learning :) Glad the imagery I gave helped you, also get a +3 stunt.] [Private to Saffron: I'd say you'd need to pour something like 40-45 motes into treating the wounded to a point they can get up and move again -- but if you want a hard cap below that, let me know so I can describe exactly how you fare.]

Dashu takes over for Higura, pressing the Gatekeeper for information and taking up what attention it manages to save for surveying activities in the central core chamber. "FIIIRrrSST POoINT. IDEenntity OF ANommALLYy llEADING TO ORIChalLLCUMMm alleRT UNKNowwwn. SECcond pOINnt... ....... ....CONFirmMED, ESSennce suPRESSIOn acTIVE. THIRrrd POiNT. AS DIRREected BY JADE AUTHentiCATIooon, RESToratioON OF ORDeerr WILL COMmence upONN PURGE COMpletion."

[Private to Peleps Dashu: I should have given you stunt for your last action too, but it slipped my mind, so I'll do this: get a +1 for that, you can get a couple motes back at least. And for this action you get a +2. Suffice to say you succeeded at the interrogation so you are certain what Gatekeeper has said is the truth.

Here is what you deduce from the statements.
1) Gatekeeper has no idea of what caused the escapees to go free. In fact, the way it's worded you're not even sure it realizes there really ARE free Anathema, only that the alarm was raised and it's been following those orders all along.
2) Essence suppression is still active, so it seems that whatever led to your and your companions' freedom was able to pinpoint your collars in particular, and not the system controlling them.
3) Gatekeeper is still insisting that without Jade authentication (i.e. a Dragon-blood) the purge will go as planned.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:53, Sun 18 Jan 2009.

"One minute 30 seconds."

Third grasps the twist lever, pouring Essence into the veins of the panel until the array pattern etched across it floods with golden light. Nanaret and Higura follow suit, their animas flaring brilliantly iconic as they activate the remaining two vertices. Following his quick but accurate analysis, the Twilight Caste pulls at the twist lever cylinder until about two inches of glowing golden crystal are revealed, and turns it a quarter turn to the 6:00 position, upon which he feels a mechanism 'click' into place.

It takes three quarters for Higura, one full turn and a quarter for Nanaret. Then, in unison, all three push the crystal 'key' back into position...

...and disappear from the room, anima displays and all. [Private to Saina Nanaret; Third Beneficiary of Orderly Knowledge; Yaishin Higura: A short thread will be created for you called 'Sanctum - Gatekeeper of Water']

The whine of the terminal breach alarm goes with them, but Danae's careful monitoring of the master terminal shows her that purge countdown hasn't stopped, only slowed. The seconds are ticking by at half, even a third of their normal speed! [Private to Grinning Turtle; Ledaal Xurizu; Peleps Dashu; Saffron: You hear a subtle whir from the central core elevator shaft, giving the impression that someone or something is coming down to this level from above.]

Dashu, being ever aware of his surroundings takes note of the elevator noise and says "Hey someone's coming down the elevator.  If you're not doing something, then be prepared to get the jump on them.  Don't kill them if you can help it though.  Especially if they're a Dragon."   He then asks the Gatekeeper one last question before the doors open, "Gatekeeper, under the same authorization, I have one more question:  You mentioned earlier that without you, the Water District will die.  If we continue doing what we're doing, will the citizens in the Water District die from it immediately?"  Even as he asked his question, Dashu took his fighting stance and waited for the doors to open.

[Private to GM: Activating Judeges Ear Technique so I know if it lies.  Peleps Dashu rolled 4 successes using 8d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 9,8,1,8,3,7,6,3. Chr + Invest.

Also, I'm assuming the motes are still committed to my infinite MA mastery, tell me if that's wrong.
]
This message was last edited by the player at 03:06, Sun 18 Jan 2009.

"Wonderful" Danae muttered, grabbing her own sword, then checking for a second to see if her Firewand was in decent shape and properly loaded.  "Well, I should be able to hold my own to a certain extent--but I'm fairly close to exhausted right now--I don't think I could totally defeat one as I am if I tried...  But we'll just have to see how this works out, huh?  Get the wounded under some kind of cover, I don't want them taking a few pot-shots just because they can..."

Turtle blinks slowly as the three Celestials appear to wink out of existence, apparently not certain what to make of their vanishing act, "Hmm...  Is that good?  Or bad?"

He doesn't have long to consider the disappearance of the of the repair team, however, as he also appears to have noticed the incoming elevator's subtle vibrations, turning first to address the mortals as one of the newcomers makes suggestions for them to find cover, "Yes, Drachma, please, get your people back.  Hopefully, this will be over, quickly."

Before he joins the group preparing to defend, Grinning Turtle scoops up the two artifacts he set down a bit earlier to open up the panels.  Heading toward the elevator, he displays them clearly in one taloned hand so the other Exalts can make out the long, spear-like form of a shock pike and the stubbier shape of an essence lash.  "I, hmm, took these earlier, but don't really... like the feel of them.  If anyone wishes, they can borrow one, for the moment."

[Private to Tervila Dena:  I checked with the GM, and the Essence Lash is compatible with Laughing Wounds Charms which I believe you have.  That said it's already been tentatively promised to Nanaret OOC so if you want it long term you'll have to come to some sort of arrangement with her.]

Danae paused for a second, glanced at her own sword, then took a look at the Shock Pike.  "It's a nice offer--but I'll have to decline--if it's Exalted grade, then I won't have time to attune to it before the elevator goes down--and if not, it's not enough of an improvement to what I have now...  Set them aside though, if we get out of this in one piece, I can probably cannabalize it for parts"

"Thank you for the offer but I'm fairly well equipped." Dena answers, shaking out a length of manacles after spending a few precious seconds thinking it over.  She hadn't been aware that fighting was even in the offing and struggles with her tendency to overplan things as she tries to rethink her immediate future.  Finally she snaps the cuff around her left wrist and holds the jade staff in her right.
"I would prefer to continue with the tools I have already been using, there is no time available to familiarize myself with a new device and learn it's quirks."

[Private to Grinning Turtle: I wouldn't worry about it, Dena's extremely bad about trying anything new unless she's had time to meditate on it and make a new plan of action based on whatever it is.]

"Thank you for the offer," he spoke softly with a nod.  "But I doubt I have the strength to use such a weapon effectively," he continued as he drew the Jade Powerbow from his back, taking up a position which afforded him cover from the elevator as he slowly listened to the elevator tracking lower ...

Perhaps it would be a dragon.  One he could fight and ... well.

   Saffron huddles her people as well as she can away from the elevator doors. She tries to get the most severly injured moved as far to the back as she can. Otherwise, she continues to change bandages and ease suffering.

[Private to Gatekeeper: Saffron knows that Nanaret is injured and needs healing, so she'll hold 9m in reserve for her. The rest can go to these people right now. For her patients, she would start with those needing magical assistance first and work her way down. If a clean bandage and rest is what they need, she'll worry less than those who are in danger of being beyond medical attention. She would have been indiscriminate about the usage (except the 9 for Nana) until the elevators, now she'll ease up, unless you rule she's used all but and that's fine too, prior to her post her patients were the number one priority. ]

There is no sign of Third, Higura or Nanaret returning. You do not know if they will come back, or how you will be able to communicate with them. The only indication they have done anything at all is the slowing of the count, still maintaining it above 100 seconds.

The Gatekeeper seems to have no answers at all for Dashu at this point. Perhaps too distracted elsewhere?

The Exalts have time to get into position before the elevator doors open. Two individuals step out, passing harmlessly through the force field that had killed the mortal woman. They are clad in sleek, custom-made dragon armor of black jade and blued steel, with faceplates that shut out the human element, making them appear almost as if they are automatons themselves. Something of it reminds Dashu and Xurizu of the man they had met far below: Pale Gaze had been his name. But the heavy essence weaponry they point out into the room -- some sort of modified cannon that would take more analysis to understand the function of -- shows they are anything but willing to help.

One of the dragon-armored speaks. A man's voice. "You have one chance left to give yourselves up. The floors above will give you no quarter. You have nowhere left to go."

"The Gatekeeper will not betray us," speaks the other, a woman. "Cease your attempts to subvert it at once. Now."

The pair activate their cannons with a staccato click, and a dual, crackling hum fills the air.

---

OOC: Join battle, if you're getting involved. Also Dex+Stealth if you are attempting to hide first.

[Private to Saffron: What you wanted to do would work fine, the main issue is of course time--healing occurs at a slower rate than combat time, so you are basically going to be assumed to be keeping to your own side of things while the others take care of combat.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:09, Tue 20 Jan 2009.

"If it was impossible--then why are two elites like yourselves so quick to show up as soon as someone tries tinkering?"  Danae replied--bringing her blade up and considering the options...  They weren't overly good, truth be told--these guys were brandishing some real artillery--not the mass produced jokes that the standard forces were carrying around--blocking them with conventional weapons would be difficult...

But it couldn't be helped.

"Honestly...  I don't get it--you're willing to write off the entire district rather then have the populace help you bring us in...  Isn't it your duty to protect the people of Five Coils?!?  If that's the case, why is it that you've killed so many people!  Why was your first response absolute destruction!  I'd have been happy to just get out of here!  But...  I just don't get it!  Because of what I am, I need to be either enslaved or killed?  I can't simply be allowed to leave?!?"

Her anima ignited again as she tightened her grip on her sword--reaching and drawing her Firewand with her off-hand.  "I wouldn't have cared if it was decided that I need to die for getting out on my own--fine, I'll accept that under your terms, I'm too dangerous to be left alive... But when you decided to kill the entire district because a few of us escaped--then you crossed the line...  How DARE you call me the monster when you and the rest of your kind have more blood on your hands then I ever will!"

[Private to Gatekeeper: Failed the JB roll...  And this is probably going to get messy, these guys don't strike me as pushovers]

Though he wanted to hide and surprise them, Dashu quickly saw that wasn't going to be a very good option.  He opted for standing in the shadows of some debris but he knew that was not likely to offer enough protection from sight.  When the two guards entered the room saw that they were heavily armed.  He knew if he could disarm them, then the group stood a better chance of taking at least one of them alive.  The Gatekeeper said that Jade Authorization was needed.  Well Dashu thought he might just be able to get it, and maybe some information in the process.  Deciding to give up his small chance at stealth, Dashu speaks up after Danae's speach:

"The Gatekeeper said that Essence Suppression Systems were online.  You have all your escapee's here.  You've got us cornered.  The Gatekeeper needs Jade Authorization to shut down the purge process.  Your armor indicates that you're pretty highly ranked.  Why don't you just give it your access code?  Since you have us here, there's no need to kill everyone on the lower floors."

He hoped the rest of the group picked up on his drift and remembered that he had told them earlier to take one of them alive.  Then he chides himself, "Why am I doing this?  I don't even care about those people.  I just want those of us who were slaves to be freed.  Guess I'm getting caught up in the heat of things."

[Private to GM: Peleps Dashu rolled 6 successes using 7d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 10,4,10,1,10,3,2. Join Battle.]
This message was last edited by the player at 06:11, Mon 19 Jan 2009.

"I agree." Dena grumbles from where she's positioned herself, right in front of the elevator door.  It's not the smartest place to be if combat starts, but it is the best position to utterly overawe an enemy when one happens to be nine feet tall and covered in spikes.  "I'm sure we can all calm down here and use good judgment, we're all friends here aren't we?"
Dena enforces her statement by trying to smile, which really doesn't work well in her warform, and by gently fanning her gauzy wings to create a distracting lightshow, which really does.

[Private to GM: 23:54,
Using New Friend Aroma on the Dragonblooded.  Here's hoping they have lousy MDVs or else low enough Appearance to make this worth it, Dena's trying to make the DB think she's a friend.

Today: Secret Roll: Tervila Dena rolled 3 successes using 5d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 7,7,1,3,9. Presence + Manipulation.
23:45, Today: Tervila Dena rolled 1 success using 1d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 9. Join Battle. ]

After tucking the magitech weaponry in a corner where they hopefully won't be damaged in the coming battle, Turtle moves to join the wasp-woman toward the front of the group.  He keeps his massive, clawed hands up, ready to meet whatever the Dragon-Bloods might throw out, obviously not intending to surrender as they suggested.

The reptile-human hybrid shakes his ponderous head at the words of the other 'Anathema', the tone of his deep voice conveying his skepticism, "Hmm.  I don't think an appeal to their humanity, hmm, will help.  That would require, they care about, hmm, mortal life.  Or, since there are probably still, hmm, companions of theirs, down below, any life, other than their own.  Hmm."

[Private to Gatekeeper: 1 success on the Join Battle, not trying to hide.]

   Saffron continues to attend to the injured. As long as they lived, there was hope. She listened carefully to both sides of the argument. She was confident the Dragonbloods actions and words were doing her work for her.

Xurizu remained well back from the door, and the huddled injured, hoping that by doing so he might escape notice, at least long enough to attack one of the people coming to investigate the disturbance effectively.  He remains silent when the others speak up, fairly sure his voice would contribute little to the debate.  Easing troubled refugees he could manage, but turning those who seemed to be hardened killers was not something he envisaged much success on.

"Your perspective of the situation is regrettably narrow," replies the male to Danae, unperturbed.

"There is no guarantee you are the only ones that escaped," continues the female, glancing to Dashu. "But our duty is above and beyond your simple deductions, Investigator."

"We are neither friends nor enemies, Chosen of Luna," the man answers Dena, turning toward the glittering beauty of her wings in full display. He bows his head, as if to acknowledge their beauty. But his hands do not lower the weapon he bears.

"We are the Just-Doers. We are the Equalizers."

"What you call Extermination is a drop in the well, a ripple of your future design," intones the woman, flicking another switch on her massive armament. The humming pitch emanating from it shifts a notch higher.

"Flail at it as you wish, but whatever you do -- you will find control just beyond your grasp." The man's weapon is of a slightly different design -- more slender, almost rifle-like, crackling along it with pale azure lines of energy. He levels it at Dashu, pinpointing him as the swiftest of the group.

---

OOC: actions
tick 0 - Dashu
tick 1 - Equalizers (Alecto, Megaera)
tick 4 - Xurizu
tick 5 - Dena, Turtle
tick 6 - Danae
(Saffron and Tycho are covering the refugees.)

I tend to welcome social interaction in the midst of combat, especially when the combat has dramatic effect. Therefore I allow both social actions and combat actions to mix. Doing both in a turn basically requires you to flurry. You may also take a misc. action (or split for one) if you wish to analyze exactly what the specialized weapons they carry actually *do*.

[Private to Tervila Dena: Well, you got 7 sux total. These individuals, whatever they are, count as App 3. However, they are not so easily persuaded, their intimacies/motivations give them unknown bonuses as well. You do get the feeling that the pair are focusing their fire away from you, so the best you'll get is not getting the brunt of the blows as long as you remain non-hostile.]

[Private to Peleps Dashu: Hmm, feels a little stretching it to say you kept your Infinite Martial Arts Mastery this *whole* time, but technically I never did call an end of scene. Therefore I will say yes! Also, your charm tells you they are telling the truth, vague as it is (the insinuation being that getting rid of the Anathema is not the sole purpose of this exercise). You can always try Investigation social attack, make them work to protect their secretz :P]

[Private to Danae Adela: Ahh, though it doesn't add dice to your poor JB, I'll give you a +3 stunt for acting very much in character and putting a lot of feeling into it.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:36, Tue 20 Jan 2009.

"I'll admit it--I've got a narrow point of view on things--the only perspective I have the right to speak of us the one I know--and given how the last few years of my life have been, I can't honestly say that I know all...  But this is just 'Wrong'--how else is someone supposed to react when they've spent years as slaves, and have a chance to escape?  Smile and assume the people pointing weapons at them are really just toying around?"

Truth be told, Danae was a bit slow to the draw here--keeping up a defensive posture--but assessing the equipment being carried by the two Equalizers all the while--cross referencing them between everything she was aware of--at first glance, they appeared to be concussive essence weapons--powerful, but not exactly what one is supposed to toy with in the middle of a place of sensitive electronics--and their armor seemed to resemble that of Immaculate Dragon Armor--in which case their physical abilities will likely outstrip anything that wasn't Charm Assisted...

Hmm, maybe after this was resolved, and if either of them were captured or defeated, it would be worth inspecting them?  If she could kitbash one of them, she'd have a few useful assets for the rest of the group.

The weapons were strange too though--what was the deal?

[Private to Gatekeeper: Analyzing their armaments when my tick comes around--Int + Magitech?]
This message was last edited by the player at 00:36, Tue 20 Jan 2009.

"For someone who claims to not be my enemy, that gun you're pointing at me sure says otherwise."  With that, Dashu launches himself forward as his anima flared into a hawk descending on the two armored Equalizers.  However, instead of attacking the man who was pointing his gun at him, Dashu opts to plant his foot at the last possible second, swinging himself around to catch the woman unaware, the black jade of his Dragon's Claws flickering in the light of his anima display just before it fades out.  Whatever that higher pitched sound coming from her weapon meant, he is certain he isn't going to like it.  That is way his blow was aimed at the hand holding her weapon.  Dashu then spins yet again, this time slashing at her side.  All of this doesn't keep him from saying his two opponents "So you might have one or two more of us running around.  You have squads that hunt down lone Anathama.  All of us were captured by them at some point without killing the whole population of a district.  You've admittedly got another agenda with this Purge.  Tell me, what is you 'equalize'?  The population of this fort?  That makes sense since its apparent someone specifically targeted our essence suppressors to be turned off.  You let a few of your slaves go to give you the excuse.  I'm sure the masses let you wipe out an entire district using any excuse less than 'rampaging anathama'."

[Private to GM: Activate combo.  Disarm, attack, talk.  +4 sux to both the attacks on the female guard.  stunt?]
This message was last edited by the player at 02:00, Tue 20 Jan 2009.

Dashu concentrates his attacks on the female Equalizer. Up close he can see the markings on her armor, in stylized High Realm. ERINYES-2 MEGAERA.

Megaera does not move to defend against him. Instead, a different and unexpected obstacle 'materializes' to interpose itself between Megaera and his attacks. Not a spirit, but someone human and physically real -- a previously cloaked defender clad all in white, unarmored, wearing a smooth jade-alloy mask painted with crimson streaks.

Dashu's disarming blow strikes her hand instead, and she stifles a grunt, dropping her sword. She raises the knife in her off-hand to fend the second blow, finding the shorter weapon lacking, and the Night Caste's dragon claws brutally shred her side. (3L damage)

The white defender bleeds... her body all too fragile to be a machine. [Private to Peleps Dashu: You got a +2 stunt. Also, you're certain this is a Falling Blossom stylist. She, and possibly others still hidden in the area, is one of an order of Essence awakened mortals that devote their entire (usually tragically short) lives to defend their Dragon-blooded masters.]

The one called Megaera replies dispassionately as her strange weapon continues to charge. "That is need to know information. And you do not need to know."

---

OOC: I'll post Danae's discoveries after the others act. Both the Equalizers seem to be holding their action.

As for the figure in white... I secret rolled for all of you to see her, but the dice were consistently giving low sux for everyone. :P
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:23, Tue 20 Jan 2009.

Dena sighs and snaps out each of the slinky, rattling weapons to their maximum extension above her head before slamming them down in a giant X across Alecto's wrist, attempting to remove or destroy his gun.
Using the downward momentum of her swings, Dena leaps into the air and flares her wings just above him, then snaps the manacle end of her chain around his wrist and jerk's Alecto's hand in the air, making it easier to smash repeatedly at it with the serpent-sting staff.  As his fingers begin to numb she dive bombs down, crushing his hand into the floor with brutal power.
"I really do wish we could be friends, but you seem to have no room in your heart.  And no art to your weapons either.  Why couldn't you be an artist?  I have no interest in weapons like these."


[Private to GM: 15:33, 5 attack flurry w/chain and staff, trying to wear down his defeses enough to disarm the blaster.  I gave myself 2 stunt dice, which matches the -2 penalty for disarming attempts.  No charm or will used this time.

Today: Tervila Dena rolled 2 successes using 2d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 7,8. Onslaught/Disarm 5. 15:33, Today: Tervila Dena rolled 1 success using 3d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 8,6,4. Onslaught/Disarm 4. 15:33, Today: Tervila Dena rolled 1 success using 4d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 2,1,9,3. Onslaught/Disarm 3. 15:32, Today: Tervila Dena rolled 3 successes using 5d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 7,5,3,9,9. Onslaught/Disarm 2. 15:32, Today: Tervila Dena rolled 6 successes using 6d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 8,7,7,7,10,2. Onslaught/Disarm 1. ]

Xurizu, deciding that his arrows have little chance of even scratching the sleekly armoured forms of Alecto and Megaera, first made sure he was crouched close enough to the walls to gain at least some cover from their blasts, wrapping himself in the shadows of his anima as a further defence.  He wasn't quite sure what to make of the woman in white, clad in her odd Jade mask, but she seemed to be less of an immediate threat than the pair.

So he decided to chance things, aiming at the one who had spoken in a feminine tone, letting loose with two arrows.  Driven by the powerbow he now shot, they crossed the space between himself and the woman in an eyeblink.
[Private to GM: Two attacks, split any stunt motes as a Dex excellency spend between them.  Base pool is 8]

Grinning Turtle doesn't waste his breath berating what he views as obviously brainwashed soldiers.  Instead, he stumbles in toward the female Equalizer, wild, flailing, slashes of his silver-tipped claws striking up sparks from the ground around her as he closes.

The frenzied slashes might appear undirected, but they're actually well guided for his purposes - any attempt to avoid the erratically slashing talons will move her closer and closer to the reptilian creature's main form.  Though the pattern is obvious, there is little she can do but go along with it, enclosed within a smaller and smaller box of potentially crippling blows.  Once the dragon-armored guardian is forced into position, he rears up and brings in both claws, aiming to both crush her against the razor edges of his thick carapace and pin her so her energy cannon can't be brought to bear.

[Private to Gatekeeper:

Attacks begin with three punch attacks at dice pools of 6, 5, and 4, finishing with a Clinch at 4.  3, 5, 2, and 2 successes on the attacks.  Except for the first, they're all supplemented by Agitation of the Swarm, so onslaught penalties to DV are doubled.

If any of those hit, damage begins at 12L for the punches, clinch damage also begins at 12L but is also piercing.  Aside from the first, any that deal damage also give a -1 penalty to Megaera's DVs until they refresh.

If the attacks are circumvented by a second cloaked defender (or the first somehow interposes herself) he pulls the blows to cripple limbs instead of killing, aiming for legs first, accepting a -1 External Penalty to each.

Clinch speed is the longest at 6, so Turtle won't act again until tick 11.  DVs are down by 4, or dropped to nothing if the Clinch attempt succeeds.]
This message was last edited by the player at 01:01, Wed 21 Jan 2009.

"These are weapons honed to their purpose; their beauty comes from within, not without." Rather than resist her, Alecto simply 'allows' Dena to strike, using his gauntlets to absorb the blows. The X-strike very nearly knocks the firearm from his hand, but he renews his grip as the manacle forces his arms upward, trusting in his skill with the weapon. His armor's energy field spontaneously triggers with her proximity, sending miniature bolts of blue lightning jumping from his body to Dena's with every strike he fends off. [Private to Tervila Dena: You've moved into Alecto's electric field. Treat as an environmental effect. Trauma 4, damage 6L/action. So roll a Stam+Resistance diff 4: if you succeed you take 6B dice of damage, if you fail you take 6L dice of damage. If you get 8 sux or higher you take no damage!]

"We need not waste time preaching to them," Megaera asserts coolly. She watches without concern as the woman in white who had blocked Dashu's way now interposes herself in front of Xurizu's arrows. Her crystalline knife flashes to deflect the projectiles, but the second is too quick for her, flitting past the hilt and burying in her ribcage. The white guardian gasps, jerking backward, almost collapsing against her mistress, but manages to stagger upright.

The Erinyes chorus: "Everything is as it should be."

Three more guardians unveil themselves as Grinning Turtle charges toward Megaera, their forms flickering into existence as they sacrifice their cloaking for mobility. One shifts position immediately, leaping the space between herself and Megaera in the blink of an eye to block Turtle's barrage of blows with her sword and ceremonial knife. She is saved only by his mercy -- none of the punches connect, but he grasps the nameless woman in his crushing grip nonetheless, pinning her arms so that they are useless.

The two unharmed guardians hold defensive position, easily within reach of covering either of the Equalizers. But Alecto returns fire, the cannon humming with energy as he aims two high-powered, accurate blasts at Dashu and Turtle in turn, focusing the crackling energy through the barrel of his cannon so tightly it manifests as a thin lance of searing blue light. [Private to Peleps Dashu: 9 successes on you.] [Private to Grinning Turtle: 10 successes on you.]

---

OOC: Should have noted it before, but at tick 5 Dashu had another action. Therefore I'll rule that he can post two full actions. Alecto also has high speed, and took two actions, firing each time. White guardians (1 wounded 6L, 1 wounded 4B and clinched by Turtle, 2 unharmed) and Megaera are all holding action.

actions
tick 10 - Dashu, Dena, Xurizu
tick 11 - Turtle
tick 12 - Alecto, Danae

(next post is for those not directly in combat, including Danae)
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:39, Sun 25 Jan 2009.

Outside the thick of combat, Saffron glows brightly with golden Essence, the benefactor's anima flaring brightly and unmistakably as she pours all she can into healing the mortals. Tycho and Drachma continue to stand protectively over her, stoic and determined. [Private to Tycho: In case you read the backlog of this and are curious... Tycho would know of the Equalizers. He's never met them personally, but they're basically like the highest echelon of Peace Officers. They do the bidding of the Five Coils Council and are equipped in some of the best and most innovative armaments the factory-fortress can produce. Whatever they're involved in is always top-secret, but it wouldn't be surprising that the Equalizers have been involved in other 'cleansings' in order to shape and control the population. It's just never been at the scale of the Water District Purge before.]

The mortals pray fervently that they will not be targeted by the Equalizers. Perhaps it would be safer if they surrender, hoping Alecto and Megaera would spare them if they plead ignorance. Would the Celestials be able to protect them? Would Higura return with Third and Nanaret, or had they simply escaped for their own advantage? Doubt begins to press in again, but none of them voice a word. It is much too late for that.

Danae keeps her mind focused on the Equalizers and their armaments... and comes to a conclusion.

[Private to Danae Adela: You got 4 sux, which isn't legendary, but it's still something.
1) You believe Alecto's weapon and armor are both modified to draw power from a greater air elemental, bound into the armor and channeled through the cannon. This allows for a power output many times larger than the size of the cannon would indicate.
2) Megaera's weapon is soundwave-based, meaning armor will not protect against it at all. It requires for whatever reason a large amount of charge time, and will certainly affect a large area once it is complete.

Your conclusion - The combined power of those two is akin to a portable WMD, should they bring their full power to bear (this confuses you, as they could very well bring the Core down in their zeal!) Priority is on taking out any obstacles in the way of you disarming them, meaning you ought to knock out or kill the guardians pronto. Alecto would be safer to take out at a distance, given that his armor appears capable of generating an electric field.]

"Well--they certainly didn't have Collateral damage as a particular priority when they dispatched you two here..."  Danae muttered as she finished her analysis, glancing over the two Guardians and biting the botom of her lip--while it was within her means to defeat one of them right now--the problem remained that..

She shook her head once, it couldn't be helped, she just had to hope her comrades could take out Maegara quickly!

Tossing her sword upwards, sending the blade spinning, Danae reached quickly to one of the pouches at her side--withdrawing what remained of her firedust, sliding a finger halfway over the opening--and with her anima almost tracing out the actions, she shot out three streams of fuel at Alecto--a futile gesture from most people's standards...

But not in the hands of one of the Sun's chosen few!

Taking a grip on her firewand--twirling it once in a calculated measure to spread out the firedust inside as much as possible--Danae held it out forward--and as the three streams of firedust approached Alecto's range of movement--she pulled the trigger, firing off a stream of tightly focused flame--rapidly overtaking the three earlier streams...

And igniting each of them in the moment it impacted!

Four shots in the space of a single action--a technique only the greatest of marksmen could pray to match

Danae prayed only that it would be enough!

"Focus your fire on the woman!"  She exclaimed.  "It's a sonic cannon!  It'll damage this whole room if she fires it!"

[Private to Gatekeeper: Guarding for one tick so Alecto does his action, then Trance of Unhesitating Speed to buy a flurry of four Firewand attacks on Alecto!

01:38, Today: Danae Adela rolled 4 successes using 9d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 4,2,10,1,3,2,2,9,8. Attack 1.
01:38, Today: Danae Adela rolled 5 successes using 9d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 8,1,1,9,8,3,6,9,7. Attack 2.
01:39, Today: Danae Adela rolled 5 successes using 9d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 2,8,1,2,8,8,4,7,8. Attack 3.
01:39, Today: Danae Adela rolled 2 successes using 9d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 4,1,6,1,9,7,2,4,2. Attack 4.

5/5/5/3 successes before adding in stunt bonuses--in other words, it's going to be rough :(  Base Damage is 12L + Successes

EDIT: Noticed my count was off a die, rolled the extras, added them to my final successes]
This message was last edited by the player at 09:48, Sun 25 Jan 2009.

Rather than shy away from the crackling energy, Dena pushes herself deeper into the energy field of the Dragonblooded, bathing herself in the agonizing crackles of elemental power.  When she finally pulls back wisps of smoke arise from charred black patches in her carapace, and she smiles horribly as a few thin trickles of blood dribble out where the armor's burned completely through.
"Thank you, friend."  A few stray strands of energy continue to crackle around her, and she gathers them into her palm and pushes the mass of power into her own chest.  "Pain is just another experience, another friend of mine.  You can hurt me but you can't stop me from liking it."
The gigantic wasp turns her head slightly and speaks to Danae.  "Alright then.  I'll do what I can.  I don't want to share my friends with them anyway."

[Private to GM: Reflexively activating Sensuous Torment to get 3 motes per box of damage I take.  And if it's not too soon since last time I learned something, this feels like a really good point to stunt-learn Laughing Wounds Form.
11:02, Today: Tervila Dena rolled 2 successes using 8d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 3,2,4,8,6,5,6,8. resistance + stamina. ]

[Private to GM: Since I have a defense and 2 actions I'm actually going to be askin for 3 separate stunts.]

Dashu sees Alecto taking aim  and curses to himself as he realizes the incoming shot will be  coming straight at his chest.  Being low on Essence, he doesn't want to do this, but he has no choice at this point...  He plants his feet on the ground and watches Alecto's finger.  As the trigger is pulled Dashu stares straight ahead and shot screams in towards him.  One of the mortals, fearful of the thought that Dashu's gory body would soon be laying on the floor, screamed.  However, the cry was stuck in his throat as all who were watching saw Dashu's upper body... flicker, and the shot seemed to pass through him.  To all the Essence users, it was obvious that Dashu had merely bent over backwards at the waist and the shot passed harmlessly over him and crashed into to wall behind.  However, he did it with such speed that the mere eye could not follow those movements.  [Private to GM: Activating Perfect Dodge.  Stunt?]

After dodging the attack, Dashu returns his attention to the woman in armor as well body guards in white.  He figured that he might as well try and deal with the guards first so as make it easier to get to the woman.  With that thought he launched himself towards one of the two uninjured guards, driving his clawed fist forward towards his face.  As the momentum from the first attack carried him forward, Dashu then thrust his attacking hand palm down on the ground, flipping himself around in a beautiful cartwheel which carried him behind his opponent.  As his feet began their decent, they found a metal console which Dashu used to push his momentum back towards the guard he had just attacked.  This caused him to roll forward in shoulder roll and as Dashu rose to his feet he drove his claw up into the back of the guard.  [Private to GM: Action 1:  Two strikes against an unarmed guard (I shall call him John Boy).  +4 sux each.  I'm assuming that my DV refreshes between this action and the next.  Stunt?]

At this point, Dashu thinks it's time to finish tearing down the human shield these two have brought with them.  He takes one furious swipe at the face of the guard he had just been engaging.  He then throws his entire weight backwards and does two back flips, landing just in front of the original guard who blocked his first attack.  Dashu spins violently bringing his claw to bear against the jugular vein of his opponent. [Private to GM: Action 2:  One attack against John Boy.  "Goodnight John Boy".  1 attack against the dumb guy who jumped in front of my claws the first time.  I'm not using any charms at this time.  Stunt?]

Held up by one of the guardians, Turtle is forced to take the brunt of a blast from one of the Equalizer's cannons, though he tries to shifts slightly so the lightning lance strikes him in one of his limbs or protective shell rather than his exposed head.

---

OOC:  Grappling, so Turtle defensive options are limited to just taking the hit.  Sorry to hold my action for the moment, but I'd like to know how badly he gets hurt from this shot before deciding how he acts beyond the opposed clinch.

[Private to Gatekeeper:  Soak is 16L, or 7A if Alecto's gun is really nasty.  If the attack results in lots of damage, feel free to disintegrate/blow off one of Turtle's limbs in the description - he can always regrow it later.]

Xurizu grimaced as the guardian leapt in the way of his attacks, taking the arrows meant for the armoured figure.  He was about to actually take aim for her when Dashu exploded into action, cutting at her and the other guardians with claws and kicks.  Deciding that whilst the guardians are still mobile, attacking the armed and armoured guardians will be hard.

So he knocks another arrow, and sends it flying towards the guardian holding Grinning Turtle, swiftly supplementing it with a second and then ducking back into the cover of the pillar he was hiding behind, lest he draw strikes in retaliation.

Dena takes the electric shock with relish, regaining strength through her pain. (3L damage and 9m back.) Turtle braces for impact and the blast sears through him, angling through one arm and boring a diagonal through his thick body, penetrating through the shell from behind. (5L damage) The struck arm dangles from a thick sinew, the wound cauterized by the beam. But he manages to keep the clinch with the other arm, retaining more than enough regenerative power to stand the pain.

Dashu is a blur of shredding claws and acrobatics. The uninjured guard he targets is dead in the space of seconds, falling to the ground with deep, bloody wounds in his body. The mask has been bodily torn off, revealing the gouged face of a young, handsome man. [Private to Peleps Dashu: Oops, almost forgot. I gave you 2 +2s and a +1 stunt.]

The first bodyguard in white that dared oppose the Night Caste collapses with her jugular torn apart. She, too, sacrifices herself willingly to the cause of shielding her mistress.

Xurizu's arrows bury unhindered into the torso and shoulder of the woman Turtle still manages to hang onto. They do not snap any bones, but the shock of pain is enough to knock her out; she hangs unconscious and bleeding in Turtle's grasp. (She is 1L below Incap.)

---

OOC: Ok, I need Dena's and Turtle's actual actions. Then I can post the result of Danae's action as well. (Note, at this point there is only 1 conscious guardian that you can see.)

[Private to Tervila Dena: Sure. I would allow you to stunt-learn Laughing Wounds Form here. It's pretty fitting that you'd learn it through an experience of great pain.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:06, Mon 26 Jan 2009.

"Well you heard the savant.  Drop the noisemaker." Dena proposes to the Dragonblooded.  "Or, alternately, allow me.  I can't let you stop us now and kill them all."
So saying, Dena lashes out at Megaera with a brutal smashing strike to the center of mass, her chain leaving a glittering trail in the air of what proves to be Dena's own blood that dripped down on it before the attack as Dena continues to stride relentlessly forward, the chain merely being a long-range artillery strike before the serious and nasty close-combat starts.

[Private to GM: Alright, great.  With the 1 box I took in the last fight that should put me at -2.

Activating Laughing Wounds form for 5 motes, all wound penalties become bonuses, wound bonuses are added to virtues that aren't compassion, and martial arts score is added to bashing damage.

18:01, Today: Tervila Dena rolled 8 successes using 21d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7. Attack + Will/Conviction.

Wow, that sucked for so many die.  Back to my traditional pastime of whining about dice I don't like, it seems.]
This message was last edited by the player at 01:39, Mon 26 Jan 2009.

The tortoise-man hybrid blinks in surprise, first as the Essence cannon nearly severs one of his limbs, then again as the guardian slumps in his grip.  Craning his flexible neck back to nod politely to Xurizu, saying in a strained bass growl, "Ahh... Thank you."  Turtle quickly shifts his grip to snag a fold of the defenders clothes the between two thick fingers, gently lowering the wounded woman to the ground before moving back into the combat.

Turtle doesn't appear to relish the pain as the other wounded Lunar does, but the wound doesn't appear to effect him as much as it would most.  Even as he moves into action, the wound appears to be sealing back up, though the arm still dangles uselessly by a single thread of muscle.

The reptilian humanoid pauses for a long moment before charging in, trying to internalize the techniques he's seeing used.  Peripherally aware of Dena's combat maneuvers, seeing her willingly take the blow to regain some of her energy, sparks a gap in Turtle's reptilian mind, linking the basic similarity between the masochistic acceptance of pain and the willing sacrifice of personal safety.  In a sudden flash of insight, he realizes how defenders such as these could potentially be brought out of action.

For a moment, it looks as if he intends to resume his reckless rush toward the Equalizers, despite the continued interference from the remaining guardian.  A moment before potentially colliding with the guardian, the bulky Lunar swerves, heading straight toward the wall.  The momentum of his frame gives him enough inertia to move vertically three yards before springing off, apparently trying to slam into the female Equalizer from an angle the surviving interceptor shouldn't be able to counter.

However, by now he has a decent understanding of just what the white-clad guardians are capable of.  Twisting in midair, Turtle swings his good hand around to grab at the guardian, who he fully expects to manage to intercept his erratic charge.  Whether or not he manages to get a handle on the surviving ninja, he relies on his momentum to carry both to the female Equalizer.  Reaching her, he lashes out wildly at the Equalizer with his massive silvered beak, still trying to hold the ninja out of action so others can strike at the true target as well.

[Private to Gatekeeper:  Trying to Stunt-learn another dot of Martial Arts first, as well as heal a Lethal Health Level.

For the actual action, splitting three ways, first trying to clinch Megeara, then biting twice at Megeara.  Though the description text indicates Turtle expects to hit the guardian (which he does), the clinch is intended to hit Megeara, largely to force the guardian to at least activate the appropriate Charm.

Still Channeling Compassion for the tick, as well as spending the 6 motes on the Strength Excellency for the clinch.  I'm not entirely certain how you handle Channeling Virtues, though.  Do the dice apply to all rolls in a flurry, just the first, or selected when the flurry is declared?  If it only applies to one, I'd prefer it to affect the clinch.

Following dice pools assume an increase in MA and Channeling improves all rolls - clinch against whoever at 10 dice + 3 auto successes, then two bites against Megaera at 8 and 7 dice.  I'll have to let you handle the rolls on this one, as I'm not certain if I met the requirements for stunt learning or which rolls Virtue Channeling applies to.  Clinch damage begins at 12L Piercing, Bites at 17L.  Any that end up targeting the guardian are still pulled.]
This message was last edited by the player at 22:44, Mon 26 Jan 2009.

The remaining guardian lets Dena's strike slip through: not out of self-preservation, but to ensure he will survive to block the larger foe who would grasp his mistress bodily.

Unhindered, the chain manacles slam into Megaera's hardened carapace with terrible force. (4L damage) The impact painfully bruises ribs and sinew, but the Equalizer neither falters nor lets go of her sonic weapon. Stoicly, her breathing coming harder now, she flicks another switch. The humming from the weapon is joined by a rising chorus that emanates from deep within the weapon's massive barrel. [Private to Tervila Dena: BTW... I just looked at your sheet, and I don't think you actually had the xp necessary to stunt-learn Laughing Wounds Form. However, since I didn't think to check that beforehand I'll just ask that you make sure to incorporate the xp cost for the charm once you get more xp (which will be soon, in any case).]

The bodyguard takes Turtle's bait, leaping to intercept the clinch. But the Lunar's grasp slips just short of holding onto him, and his powerful bites nip thin air! A combination of bad luck and Turtle's wounded state serves to nullify what harm he would have caused. [Private to Grinning Turtle: Channeling does give you +virtue to all rolls, as do stunts. I gave you a +2 stunt, and I allowed your stunt-learning. However, your initial clinch missed, as you got 4 sux (considering that you pulled your blow), and guard had DV 5. Then from there your attacks were 4 sux and 3 sux (again, pulled blows), which his DV just barely blocks even with onslaught in consideration.]

Alecto thumbs his weapon, and the living energy source bound within it responds hungrily, building into an audible electric crackle that almost -- almost! sounds like laughter. The room is suddenly lit up with the roar of cannon blasts and firedust as Alecto fires three searing blue shots in quick succession -- aimed for Dena, Turtle and Dashu -- and Danae lets loose with four in the very next moment, her fourth shot igniting a conflagaration of flames that hurtles toward the male Equalizer. [Private to Tervila Dena: 13 successes on you.] [Private to Grinning Turtle: 12 successes on you.] [Private to Peleps Dashu: 10 successes on you.]

Fire and lightning flare in opposite directions! Alecto makes a last ditch attempt to block, flaring with an electric aura reminiscent of a coiled storm-serpent as he crosses his gauntlets in front of him, the lightning weapon still grasped tightly in one hand. But the flames are not conquered, forcing their way through barrier and armor to scorch his flesh! (4L!) [Private to Danae Adela: Also, that was a +3, Danae... sorry, I forgot to say :D]

---

OOC: I have another post coming -- the actions of the other thread will start affecting here -- but first I want Dena, Turtle and Dashu to post their defenses. (Any non-action reactions are also fine.)
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:50, Tue 27 Jan 2009.

Dena makes a long-shot attempt to deflect the gun by guiding her serpent-sting staff  in a sideswipe to strike away the gun, managing only to jostle the attack slightly in the process.


[Private to GM: 21:34, Trying to make a defense with Excellency.  Not much of a success.
Today: Tervila Dena rolled 2 successes using 7d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 7,7,1,4,3,6,5. Dexterity Excellency. ]

Dashu sees yet another series of powerful blasts heading towards his comrades and himself.  He wondered briefly at which opponent was truly the strongest, but Danae's warning had been clear... the woman can hurt everybody in the room.  With that thought, Dashu again sends his body into a near indistinguishable blur as he backflips with his legs in the splits positions and lets the blast sail harmlessly over him.  However, as the blast collides into the wall behind him, Dashu used the resulting shockwave to push him closer towards the female equalizer at a fast pace.  Now that the guards were either disposed or indisposed, she could be dealt with.  Hopefully he could get more information from her.

[Private to GM: And that's why I specifically didn't use charms on my last action: saved a Willpower and still get to perfect the attack.   Activating my perfect dodge. stunt?]

Fortune favors Dena, who despite taking the brunt of Alecto's attack, survives with a small wound. (1L) Dashu, nimble as ever, avoids the shot entirely, and the lightning blast splashes against the walls. [Private to Peleps Dashu: +1 this time for you! Also, the guardian actually did survive. Turtle actually missed it all three times since he was pulling blows. :(] Glass walls, which melt and thin as the intense heat strikes them. Not so great, when one considers the pressure of the water surrounding the central core...

"They... are strong..." Alecto grunts, his lightning aura fizzling, fading slightly. "Against all odds... perhaps Fate will favor them yet."

"Just a... moment longer." Megaera grits her teeth, and her one surviving guardian stands close--knowing that this time, surely, his life would end. "This Test is not yet over. The Purge --"

"-- IS HEREBY TERMINATED," the Gatekeeper's voice broadcasts, thundering with renewed strength. "THE ASSESSORS HAVE CONFIiirMED THE TRUE ANOMALY. IT IS YOU -- THE TERRESzssTRIALS WHO HARNESS MY POWER TO SERVE THEIR AGENDA! NO LONnnGER... YOU WILL OBSCURE MY TRUE PURPOSE NO LONGER!!"

The yellow-golden Essence lines the group has learned to associate with Harmony are disappearing, the circuits once again glowing a solid, bright blue-green. The central core chamber warms considerably as the terminals' energy output builds to a feverish pulse. The Gatekeeper seems to be pouring the entirety of its available processing power for some sort of last ditch, drastic action. [Private to Danae Adela: If you actually trust the Gatekeeper at this point, you might want to undo the diagnostics still clogging its system, though it's perfectly in your right to consider the Equalizers the greater threat. :P]

"It has been compromised?!" "NO! We must see our purpose through to the very end!"

Megaera's finger flicks the final switch... the humming chorus multiplies tenfold, hundredfold, as the mortals cover their ears, praying for salvation or a swift end...

---

OOC: I'll be gone for most of today, so wanted to get this post in early. This will likely be your last action in this battle, for better or for worse. No, I won't TPK you. But something is building up. [Private to Grinning Turtle: Just post your defense before your next action.]

actions
tick 15 - Dashu, Dena
tick 16 - Alecto, Xurizu
tick 17 - Danae, Turtle

Megaera and remaining guardian still hold action.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:20, Tue 27 Jan 2009.

"The Guardian's on our side now?"  Danae said, blinking quizzically for a moment--but quick to get back into action--tossing a small cloud of firedust into the air and thrusting with her firewand--collecting 'Just' enough inside to create a puff of flame--then hurling a little more in the direction of the two Equalizers.

When this all was set up--in the same motion, Danae threw herself backwards, towards the control console--and pulled the trigger--even as she began putting through commands to undo the programs she set up to reduce the Guardian's processing powers.

Of course, given the seeming lack of attention she had on the Equalizers--that her earlier gesture would come to an embarassingly minimal amount--but Alecto's still crackling aura managed to buoy the hurled dust in the air for a short period of time--long enough that when Danae absently pulled the trigger--a line of flame snapped into being--following a trail left by what would have ordinarily been the rest of the dust fired in a shot--and ignited the cloud around the equalizers with a dramatic burst of flame!

[Private to Gatekeeper: Using my Extra Action Archery charm again, directing three attacks at Alecto, and one at Maegara

13:34, Today: Danae Adela rolled 4 successes using 11d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 2,3,1,5,2,7,8,2,7,3,7. Fire 4.
13:34, Today: Danae Adela rolled 8 successes using 11d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 9,10,4,1,10,4,5,10,8,2,5. Fire 3.
13:34, Today: Danae Adela rolled 5 successes using 11d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 3,9,6,9,4,3,3,2,1,10,8. Fire 2.
13:34, Today: Danae Adela rolled 6 successes using 11d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 4,7,4,8,6,8,10,1,7,1,6. Fire 1

6/5/8 on Alecto, 4 on Maegara, prior to stunts.

I'm also going to try to undo my actions regarding slowing the Gatekeeper down--should I roll for that?  Or assume that since it was my work, that I should be able to pull it apart?]
This message was last edited by the player at 21:35, Tue 27 Jan 2009.

Turtle grunts with displeasure as his swings repeatedly not only fail to hit the woman with the sonic cannon, but even failed to hit her guardian.  Turning slightly to keep the other Equalizer in view, he notices Alecto's rapid fire attack just in time to bring up his remaining good hand, desperately trying to deflect any small amount of the blazing bolt with his tough silvered claws.

[Private to Gatekeeper: Including wound penalties and action penalties, Turtle's down to a Parry DV of 0, so anything he's got comes from Stunt.  I'm a bit more reluctant to sacrifice Turtle's remaining manipulation appendage, but if this is the last round I suppose it would be all right to lose the hand from Alecto's blast.]

"And just what is that purpose?  You say it's none of my business but from where I'm standing the Equalizers are looking like little more than more thugs sent by the 5 Coils administration,"  Dashu remarks to Megaera as he launches himself into one final attack.  His claws strike out once again as his anima takes on the form of a hawk.  He tries to fit his slide the claws down her arm knock the weapon from her hand again.  Afterwards, he once again pivoted on his foot and spun in the air with his arms outstretched.  As Dashu let his momentum carry him around in a full circle, each of his claws to a swipe at the female equalizer's helm.

[Private to GM: One Investigation Attack, one disarming, and 2 normal.  Activating Combo and +4 to both physical attacks Stunt?]
This message was last edited by the player at 19:10, Wed 28 Jan 2009.

Realizing that she's unlikely to punch through the living defense of the white-clad ninjas, Dena takes a different tack.  Jumping in the air, she tosses her chain upwards to free up her hand and uses a defender's head as a springboard, leaving a huge smear of her greenish bug blood splattered on the girl's head as she goes by.  Dena lands in the elevator doorway, flicking her wings a bit to balance as she catches the falling chain. using it to guard the doorway and prevent passage.

"Why don't you just drop the weaponry?" she suggests mildly, running her tongue across her serrated chitinous lips.  "You can hurt those ordinary mortals over there but all it's going to do to us is really tick us off.  I just enjoy the pain, the turtle can heal faster than you can damage him, and the Guardian's back to it's true duties.  Not to mention you haven't even managed to push me hard enough for my Caste Mark to start showing.  Why kill the innocent, and force us to destroy you, when it won't profit your cause in the slightest?"

Dena leaves out that the reason her caste mark isn't showing is because she doesn't have enough essence left to actually get it glowing. . .

"Somehow, I don't think they're going to listen," he said softly, in reply to Dena.  He hoped they might prove him wrong, but he didn't have much faith in the Equalizers with their gleaming magitech carapaces.  He drew back another arrow along his bow, taking aim not for the female equalizer's torso, but for the weapon in her hands, hoping that his arrows can disrupt its function or even knock it clear of her, hopefully deactivating it.

Tycho has kept his distance from the battle, keeping watch over Saffron and the mortals. This was increasingly becoming less productive however. The moment Danae gave her warning cry about the nature of the female Equalizer’s weapon had made it clear physically imposing himself in front of the mortals would spare them nothing. He has memories still of seeing weapons of that nature in action. Memories of seeing a wave of rioting humanity rise upwards, tumbling back down in a mass of broken bodies. Little as Tycho wants them there at all, he has helped bring the mortals too far to simply see them shattered apart now.

Up until now though, he has been studying the chamber, it’s layout and systems. Little as he knows about the programmed nature of the AI, he understand that the physical systems of the Gatekeeper are not far removed from his own. The machine intelligence needs much the same support as he does to function and that includes a way to do away with the tremendous heat it produces just by functioning. His focus has finally locked upon a set of massive pipes arrayed against the wall facing the elevator entrance. Damp slickness and rusty mildew stains the bolts that seal them.

"Listen to me, all of you," he said to the mortals who cower behind him. Grabbing the nearest of them, he violently hauls the man up and delivers a tame, yet stinging backhand across the tear-streaked face looking up at him. Pale eyes glowering, his respirator rattles with heavy breaths as he looms over them, a dark and foreboding tower. "Get off your damn knees and stop your sobbing. Praying and wailing won’t save you now. You can’t look to us to always save you and shepherd you through every step of this or the Terrestrials to show you mercy. If you’ve heard a single word that’s been said so far, you’ll know that. You’re pathetic, flailing on the ground like scared spoiled children! I’ve seen less than you face worse than this and you know what happened?"

"They all died."

"But they died on their feet!"

Tycho reaches for his baton, the metal pole scraping as he pulls it from the casing on his leg, and the mortal in front of him flinches back as if expecting a blow from the weapon. The machine-man only taps it against his thigh though, metal ringing softly off metal. “You can’t go back to how things were. Die standing or die laying down; it’s your only choice anymore. And I can tell you this much: if you let them lord death over you, you may as well do the deed yourself! They die too and fear of it is your weapon as much as theirs!”

"Now come with me and lets show them that."

The machine-man turns away and makes a dash for the pipes as soon as the other Exalts fighting the Equalizers give an inch of space away from the Terrestrials. Tycho isn’t certain the mortals will follow, doesn’t truly expect them to. No one has ever followed his lead. It doesn’t matter, he’ll go alone. Several of the pipes have valves to let off excess water-pressure in emergencies and he’ll say this qualifies. Opening all of them at once would be the best, but he’s only two hands and the valves are thick with rust and disuse. Sliding his baton behind the first, he begins to leverage his weight against it to throw open the valve and unleash a fist of water into the side of the Equalizers.

Harmony... or whatever you are now, I hope this doesn’t hurt.

Megaera is obstinate, all but impossible to rattle with Dashu's line of questioning. But she answers Dashu anyway. "That is a crude way to describe it. Should you wish the truth... ask the Council yourself."

Dashu is blocked by the final guardian. This young man will almost certainly be reborn into greatness for the purity of his sacrifice, should he die in service. The white-clad bodyguard blocks the disarm attempt, taking upon his own face the slashes from his terrible claws. The mask tears apart, the beautiful face underneath mauled as his cheeks are sliced open, as his eye is put out! And still the guardian stands--dripping blood from his face, holding aloft sword and knife... ready to go to his grave. (6L damage) [Private to Peleps Dashu: Sadly, no one else dealt with him, and you're the first attacker :( Gave you a +1 stunt.]

Neither Megaera nor Alecto seem to have any desire to escape the area. "Destroy us then; do not talk of doing it," says Alecto sternly to Dena's comments. "Embrace your role as we do ours!" [Private to Tervila Dena: Gave you a +2 stunt.]

He aims his lightning rifle: four distinct blasts, striking not at the Exalts now, but at the terminals of the Gatekeeper. Terminals 1, 4, 23 and 20 are struck, going up in a conflagaration of sparks and shrapnel! 20 strikes close enough to the mortals that a few of them must throw themselves bodily out of the way to avoid the explosion, suffering burns and cuts, more wounds piling upon those Saffron is already struggling with. Danae is in the range of 1-4, and does her best to scramble out of the way before working with what is left of the master terminal! [Private to Danae Adela: Rolled for you, you got clear of the blast!]

Xurizu, aiming for Megaera's weapon, enters a state of mind beyond the flare of cannon fire, the cries of mortals, the stirring speeches of the Exalts, the terrifying dissonant hum of Megaera's chorus cannon. A perfect moment, like the space of a breath about to be exhaled. His mind whirls with memories of wings and eyes, a hypnotic voice. Find it. Pare it down to the essential. All you need is one strike.

One. The Lunar lets his arrow fly. The guardian twitches--moves--attempts to leap in the way, but fails just short of blocking it as the agony of his wounds overwhelms him. The arrow flies past him and strikes the barrel of the chorus cannon, knocking it out of her hands! [Private to Ledaal Xurizu: You got a +1 stunt, which went into the Excellency... then got 9 sux on 7 dice, and Megaera rolled a 2 to keep her weapon. Yep, lucky!]

---

OOC: Xurizu got an amazing roll, basically, and I realized that the wounded guardian wouldn't have the DV left to block, with the nasty wound penalties (I might have screwed someone before with the previous guardian(s) so, I apologize profusely.)

Next: Turtle, Danae and Tycho.

"I..impossible!!" Megaera gasps. Of all the possibilities, she had not thought a lucky shot would disarm her. The chorus hum is already dying, the contact with her Essence broken!

Danae reaches the terminal, dismayed at the damage Alecto had done, but making short work of undoing the diagnostics run. The Gatekeeper is revitalized slightly, but now so many connections have been severed, mercilessly blown away. "YouuUUU WILL NOT DessTROY MEe..." its voice stutters. "...I Aaamm THE DIsszTRICT OF WaTERrr..."

The Dawn Caste's pyrotechnics envelop Alecto and Megaera in gouts of searing flame. Alecto's crackling aura rises once more, fanning aside part of the blast -- but not all. (2L) Megaera, caught reaching to retrieve her weapon, relies on the resilience of her armor and of her flaring anima: a pure white woman with her head wreathed with serpents. (1L) Both are charred, and acrid smoke rises from the joins of Alecto's armor. But they are still very much alive.

With Saffron still tending to the wounded, and Higura mysteriously gone, it is Tycho's voice that stirs the mortals to act. Those who can stand do stand, and if they can bear weapons, bear them. We are not insignificant is what resounds in their hearts. We will live in solidarity. We will die knowing we did all we could to live!

They do not strike the Equalizers themselves, for their fists and makeshift weapons will not penetrate the armored shells. But they take on the one obstacle still in the way: the last remaining guardian. The wounded bodyguard goes down in a pileup of determined refugees, while others rush to assist Tycho directly. In teams of two and three they wrench at the valves he points out, opening a steady and powerful stream of water to wash over the Equalizers. The wounded, armored pair staggers at the initial impact, maintaining their footing, but stunned by the water's force. (2L on Alecto. 1L on Megaera. They are at -2 wound level and stunned, so -2 external AND -2 internal penalties.)

Fortunately for Turtle, his remaining arm survived intact. Alecto's beam clipped it, leaving a jagged, burned and painful mark without severing through sinew and bone. (2L damage) The tortoise Lunar must now decide: will he take this final chance to attack... or trust in the Gatekeeper's plan...?

---

OOC: as stated... Turtle's action is all that's left. [Private to Grinning Turtle: If you do act against the Equalizers, what Tycho and the refugees did gave them a -2 penalty which will extend to their DVs as well.]

if you want, the rest of you may post reactions that are not combat related. Just to get your last word in. This thread is definitely closing tonight!
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:05, Thu 29 Jan 2009.

Though obviously badly banged about by Alecto's blasts, Turtle still appears capable of keeping up the assault.  However, he doesn't appear inclined to do so - rather than dash straight toward them in a final push, he instead slides through the stream of water on his three remaining limbs in an undignified scramble, snatching up Megaera's dropped weapon with his jaws.  Apparently content so simply deny the Equalizer her weapon, he scrambles back just as quickly, getting out of the stream before they manage to recover fully from the blast of pressurized water.

[Private to Gatekeeper:  Grabbing that sonic cannon, then moving back away from the Equalizers.  And healing a Lethal Health Level.]
This message was last edited by the player at 19:59, Thu 29 Jan 2009.

"You cannot stop us." Alecto utters harshly, his breath rasping through his helmet. "This is only the first stage of the Program." He seems brazenly unafraid of triggering his electric aura in the water blast. Rather than electrocuting his already burn-ravaged body, the sparks leap away from him, electrifying the surrounding water instead.

"You have betrayed us, Gatekeeper. This will not be dealt with lightly," Megaera intones. "But no matter... the result will be the same." She raises her arms with difficulty, revealing elemental lenses embedded in the palms of her gauntlets. White energy builds from them, intensely bright; without the cannon Turtle has snatched, she must draw from her own energy stores.

"CELESstIALs AND REfuuGEES. THE PURGE HAS ENDED. YOUR WORrrLD IS ABOVE. FIND THE OTHerrs AND TRUSzzT THIS DISTRICT TO ME!"

With those words, a blinding surge of blue-green light engulfs the room. The air is charged and uncomfortably warm; Exalts and refugees alike feel the hairs on their bodies (should they have any) standing up.

"EQUALiizZERS. I AM 2000 yeARs OLDER THAN YOU WILL EVvERrr BE! BEGONE!"
"We accept your challenge. Prepare yourself!"

In the resulting clash of energies, the Gatekeeper's final directive activates. The central core chamber dissolves before the Celestials' eyes, engulfing them in an uncertain darkness.

They are being teleported away, and it is too late to reverse it.

---

OOC: In a couple hours (hopefully less) the new threads will come up. Water District is done.
This message was last edited by the GM at 07:15, Fri 30 Jan 2009.