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."