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.