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.]