Third, Nanaret and Higura, upon pushing the keys into position, see the rest of their surroundings dissolve into an aquamarine haze. Water -- they are surrounded, submerged in a seemingly endless expanse of water. Panic rises at the thought that they may have failed, that this massive body of liquid will be their watery grave, joined by their companions and the innocent masses of citizens below.

The trio struggles to hold their breath -- only to realize the water does not choke them.

Before them manifests an apparition that jerks and flickers erratically, as if it struggles simply to hold its shape. What they can see of it, though, is in the shape of a lovely mer-creature. A cecaelia, to be exact, a figure with octopoid tentacles in place of legs, and a slender, androgynous-bordering-on-feminine torso for a body. The torso and part of the face appear plated in diamond and adamant, and the eyes are anything but human: pure glowing orbs of blue-green.

Another figure appears behind it, that of a humanoid female floating in lotus position, with six arms rather than two: the spirit-manifestation of Harmony. Her fingers trace patterns in the water, weaving a lattice of crackling yellow-gold energy that hold the Gatekeeper's convulsing spirit in place.

"ceLESStiALS..." the Gatekeeper utters with difficulty, its voice the same predominantly male tone as heard in the central core, slurred and irregular from the combined machinations of Harmony and Danae. "IT HASSss BEEN millENNIAaa...... ssINCE SUCH PROTOCOLS hhHHHAVE BEEN invOOOKeD. THeee RECORDS ARE ssstTIILL INTACT."

"YOU ARE SHINING EYE--THE BUILDER." It gestures laboriously toward Third.
"RANAVALONA--THE DESTROYER." Then to Nanaret.
"AND YOU--THE MINDWALKER, DUSAN." Finally to Higura.

"THEEEse nnAAMES HELD POWER ONCE. tteELL ME, WHY DO YOU SEEK MY INNER SAANCCccTUM? WHY shhAALL I BBbbeELIEVE IN YOUR SECccOND CCOMing, WHEN THE TERrreESTRIALS REIGN SUPReeME?"

---

OOC: You've all been transported to the Gatekeeper's spiritual sanctum. The point here is basically a social battle, convincing the Gatekeeper of Water to cooperate with you now that you have a 'foot in the door' (so to speak) with the Celestial bypass. Some special rules apply:

- You may use any combination of Attribute+Ability allowed in social combat. However you may *also* use Int or Wits+Lore, to simulate combating the Gatekeeper with logic and knowledge.
- In addition, you can stunt using memories or even mannerisms of your First Age incarnation. In this sanctum your recollection of that incarnation is strong--reawakened, if you will.
- Actions of people in the central core may affect your progress. (The Gatekeeper's DVs have already been cut considerably at this point.)
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:00, Sun 18 Jan 2009.

Third's Anima is cooling, but it remains a bright flare around it, roiling, the multicolored shimmering light of twilight. "You. Third remembers you. Third was... a person. Third was not an object then." The Solar becomes accustomed to the water quickly, floating smoothly as its eyes lock on the Gatekeepers. " It is in the nature of the Celestial Exalts to overcome all. Hold a Celestial down, and you only make it stronger when it finally throws you off. The Primordials, the beings that created all, were not enough to stop seven hundred humans, given the powers of gods." It's posture is becoming more dignified, standing straight, showing pride in its standing. "Perhaps the ways of things in this world is change. Perhaps the Celestials had to fall. But if change is the way of the world, then the Dragon-Blooded now have their time to fall, and none are more fit to make them fall than the Solars, the Lunars, and the Sidereal."

Third looks more animated than the other two have seen it in the brief time they have known it. It looks passionate. "The Celestials will be the masters of this world once again. The Celestials shall escape this prison. And the years of imprisonment... They have only made us stronger." Us. It is a word Third has not used in a long time, for it implies there is a 'I'.

[Private to GM: Not bad at all. In fact I'd go so far as to say 'Holy crap'. You rolled 8 successes using 10d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 ((5,1,10,9,8,7,5,9,7,8)).]

Once arriving into the Gatekeeper's sanctum, Higura stops. He is completely silent while the Gatekeeper speaks, although it is not surprise that register on his features - it is something more akin to recognition. The water does not hinder him for long, almost as if the experience had a familiar tinge to it... Once Third has spoken, Higura nods at the words, visibly in full agreement with them. A faint, sad smile plays on his lips.

"That is a name that has not been spoken in a long time, Gatekeeper. In fact, I would be surprised if any records of it exist outside of Prochorus and you Gatekeepers' memories... It is good to hear. And you are right... I have returned." The doctor pauses, and even though his smile does not completely vanish, his expression darkens.

"Your guess is only partially true, however. Even I cannot say if this name still represents who I am. Minds... Are not meant to be broken like mine was. Well, they are not meant to survive it, I should say. Most of my memories are intact, although I still work daily at sustaining the damage that was dealt. Who I am now is mostly who I used to be... But it is also an amalgam. There are fragments of the original Five present in me. And the glue sticking it together and filling in the gaps that were sundered or too badly damaged for recovery are parts of Prochorus itself, given sentience. As you might guess... 'Higura' is a better name for who I am now, as you see me."

"The words Third speaks are true." He continues, moving a bit closer to the Gatekeeper. "And they mirror my own. I told you, before we came to meet you here, that we came to right the wrongs that were done in the past. Your function - your original function - was never to become a warden to enslaved people, Gatekeeper. I know you recall it. You were a minder once, just like we were. But things slowly changed, and the purpose of the Coils changed along with it. The truth never vanished, however. It simply burrowed even deeper, so as to remain concealed. But those who know of it will not simply stay silent."

"No blame can come to you, Gatekeeper. You are incapable of true selfishness. Your purpose was always the best interest of the microcosm you were brought to take charge of. You were persuaded, a long time ago, to shift the paradigm of these grounds, and help the new minders establish the new world they and envisioned. No doubt you thought it best at the time, and thus you chose to alter your course of action because this pivotal point in history demanded it."

"Gatekeeper of Water. In light of everything you have seen then, and everything you see now, I ask that you hear this one request I make of you, after centuries without a soul to call my own. Will you alter your course of action once more, now that we have reached another pivotal point in our history?"
This message was last edited by the player at 04:48, Sun 18 Jan 2009.

Nanaret lets the others speak, at first, believing the two of them much more eloquent in this respect. She herself is better at misleading rather than truthfulness, but here there is nowhere she can hide. They have stepped into the Gatekeeper's true domain, and there is no place to hide her nature... nor that of Ranavalona.

The Bitch Queen is more than pleased to be acknowledged, though. "It is pleasing that my legend has not been forgotten," utters Ranavalona, as Nanaret's personality briefly recedes. "Now I would recommend you cease this foolishness. You are a machine, crafted to serve. You have simply been serving the wrong masters. These Terrestrials have stepped in while we were absent and deceived you into believing them worthy of dominating you, but they were wrong. Plain and simple!"

Nanaret's hand cuts a decisive gesture through the water, emphasizing her dominant persona's point.

"The Dragon-bloods would have you waste your energy and resources on their pitiful agendas. Recognize your true masters, and reunite with the glory days of old!" Dark eyes flare bright silver as Nanaret/Ranavalona's voice rises to a stirring pitch. Her anima pulses strongly, shifting moonlight filtered through water, forming the phantasmal, larger-than-life shape of the strange little lemur that is Nanaret's totem. Weaker beliefs could not possibly stand against the certainty of these words! "Do not give supreme beings such as ourselves so many inconvenient hurdles just to tell you such a simple thing: Call Off The Purge. Now.

[Private to GM: attempting to stunt learn Mirror Sight Dismay through Ranavalona, which lets me roll Manip+Presence or Performance vs. the Gatekeeper's MDV to counter a specific belief (in this case that the Dragon-blooded are deserving masters). Gatekeeper can still spend 2 wp to resist.

Oh, if I can I would also channel Conviction. Basically Nanaret wants this to succeed enough that she'd let the throwback speak for her, I hope that counts as a 'difficult decision to achieve a goal.']
This message was last edited by the player at 06:56, Sun 18 Jan 2009.

The Gatekeeper is silent for a time. One can actually feel the palpable thrum transmitted through the water as the AI attempts to process all the information given it against the limitations placed on its resources, energy and logic capabilities.

"SO. YOU HAVE EEezsTABLISHED YOURSELVES AS ppoSESSINnnG SUITABLE POWwwER." The flickering image of the cecaelia gestures toward the trio with its armor-plated arms. The appendages nearly appear to lose all cohesion at the motion, fragmenting into several portions of half-manifested limbs and hands until reforming in an outstretched gesture. The tentacles, too, undulate in the water without any sense of fluidity, appearing in one position, then another, as if they are merely holograms projected on top of one another. "THE TERRESStrIALLLs NAMED YOU annATHEmmA. THEY CLAiimmMM THAT CELezzESTIAL REIGN ENDED IN MADdnnzNESS. THEY PRrrOTECccT THE PEoopLE OF FIVE COILLss... THE WORLD abOOVvve... FROM YOU. EEnnOUGH THAT THEY WOULD SACccriFICE THE LIVES OF mmMANNyy TO DESTROY YOURSSss."

"MY MINDERSss DID NOT MAKE THIS DECcccISION EASILY. NOR CAN I. WHAT PRrrrOOF HAVE YOU OF THEIR ERRrrOr, ASSESSORS? DO YOU HAVE THE SECccuRITY OF COILS IN MIND, OR SIMPLY YOUR OWN FFrrEEEDOM?"

"IF THE PROCHORUS ITSELF EMPLOYS ANATHEMA..." The Gatekeeper of Water's blue-green orbs flare brightly, manifesting a ripple of force that actually snaps part of Harmony's 'cage' before she deftly works to reweave it. "THEN PERHAPS IT MUST BE DESTROYED!"

---

OOC: The Gatekeeper is expending WP to resist. That said, it's lost 4 WP in the last 'barrage'. It attacked back at your social group, adding to its mangled pools through excellency/virtue (thus losing another WP), and got 10 sux (eep) on an investigation attack. You have +2 to your mental DVs from Harmony, so if you need to, make up for the rest! (Higura's charm to defend for social group is still active, btw, but up to you if you will depend on that.)

You may post your defense and next social attack at the same time. I would recommend trying to 'flurry', as in try to argue back with distinct and multiple points, to take out its will to fight you faster. In addition you may push to destroy its Intimacy to the Dragon-blooded; right now it is getting a bonus to DV due to that Intimacy.

Third's eyes flash. " Of course there was madness. That is how empires die. No matter who runs them. Mortal. Terrestrial. Celestial. God. Primordial. If an empire is not constantly tested, then it will fall to pieces. A tree sways in the wind, but with no wind, its seeds cannot move, and it will rot itself from the inside out." It speaks smoothly, the passion not as ferocious now as it speaks. " If you ask Third to say that the Terrestrials were wrong to do this to the Celestials, I cannot. Their right was as true as the Celestials right to fight against the Primordials. A ruler made callous by lack of challenge will always turn towards deeper and deeper depravities to satisfy their boredom." It holds out its hand. " And this is why you must help us. Our freedom, our rebellion, is proof positive that the heart of the Dragon-Blooded Empire has rotted away!" Its speech shows some hint of that unbelievable charisma that once dwelt in the heart of Shining Eye, that still may dwell in some forgotten section of Third's mind. " Third's goal is freedom. Third does not care how it achieve that. But it is not merely freedom for Third. If it were, Third would not attempt to stop the purge. Third wants freedom for all! Freedom to stay in Five Coils, or to leave Five Coils! Even you, Gatekeeper! The choice to watch over the Water District or to seek something new, Third wants FREEDOM!"

Despite its fiery persona, though, it may not be enough to convince the AI.
[Private to GM: You rolled 3 successes using 10d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 ((1,4,1,9,6,5,3,6,6,10)).

And after I put together such an argument. :-p]

"Once again, Third speaks the truth." Higura continues, leaving no chance for the Gatekeeper to catch its breath or offer a retort. "Empire rise, and Empires die. There is no use in trying to prevent this cycle from happening - doing so would only bring forth an unnatural state, one that should not be." He pauses, letting himself float even closer to the ethereal form of the Gatekeeper.

"No doubt the Empire that was built in that time grew aged, decadent and complacent. And perhaps at this time, drastic actions were necessary to stop the madness you spoke of. And thus that time came and went, and centuries passed. But now... The wheel has spun again, Gatekeeper. Now, it is the Empire of the the Minders that has grown complacent. Its original purpose has been twisted into tyranny, our containment even stretching to people who have nothing of our powers or nature."

"That is the fact you have understood, back then. And that is a fact I believe you will understand again now. We cannot let anything run longer than its course, Gatekeeper. Our time might have run its course in the past... But now it is time to tip the scale again."

"As for Prochorus... I am not certain what your minders have told you, but your assessment is correct. To a point, at least." Higura's eyes turn back towards the form in front of him, and flare a brilliant green. "Prochorus is Anathema, Gatekeeper. He... We paid the utmost price when the chains were cast on our brethren. We were broken to our very souls, that the Minders of Five Coils could exert complete control over their dominion. And so it went, for hundreds of years."

"But something happened that the Dragon Blooded did not expect nor foresee. Out of the Void, Prochorus started to regain sentience, the lost feeling of a time where He had an identity... Or rather, five identities. Slowly but surely, it started to mend the less damage of His psyches, waiting for the moment where it could mend it, and make it whole again. It lasted hundreds of years, but He managed to keep this part of Him hidden, until the time was right. And thus, I was sent into the world, Gatekeeper. I do not fall into the employ of Prochorus, the Fate Engine... I am a part of it."

"Now you see. I have known true darkness, Gatekeeper. I have experienced the Void between existences, the moment between death and rebirth, the feeling of unfeeling. My sol was broken and scattered and fused with machine and other souls, and yet now I stand before you. You cannot dissuade us now, because no matter what, the will behind our nature - the strength of purpose, the part that never fell to corruption and decadence, has never truly died. You cannot beat us now, because we can never truly be beaten. It took centuries in darkness and emptiness for Prochorus to climb back to some semblance of identity... And here I am, the proof that no matter what the odds, we shall never submit.

"I need no further proof! The proof exists in the very actions of the lowly Terrestrials you hold so dear!"

Tiring of longwinded speech, the Queen of Destruction cuts to the quick of her point, the iridescent display of her anima brightening to the point the edges turn penumbra-dark, bringing the figure of the aye-aye into sharp relief. The cursed, hypnotic gaze of the iconic animal bears down upon the Gatekeeper's spirit-form, making her circuitous logic appear sensible... even irresistible.

"They wish us destroyed, for they are aware of their own imminent ruin. They know we will overwhelm them. They would risk everything to keep their zealous beliefs alive! What's a few thousand dead to those who defend their territory with the last of their strength?" Ranavalona speaks from experience, recalling with sharp, bitter clarity the final days of her struggle to resist the Usurpation -- the sacrifices made, the atrocities committed in order to hold stubbornly onto what was rightfully hers!

"What proof do YOU have that they act for the preservation of Five Coils or its populace? You are their subordinate as well, and they have used and reshaped your functions to destroy rather than protect! How pitiful, that you cannot even grasp the freedom to think for yourself!"

[Private to GM: OK... if I have to defend, Mask of White Jade with the extra WP to defend against charms. Then another application of Mirror Sight Dismay. This time I'm trying to 'invert' its belief that the Dragon-blooded are actually in the right to begin with. :P and plant the idea that they may be telling Gatekeeper what it wants to hear so it'll help rid them of obstacles in their way (namely Anathema).

Don't have any WP left :( so if I do get stunt for this I will buy back a WP.]

"END... OF EMPIRE... THE PROCHORUS... ANATHEeemAAA...?" The Gatekeeper recoils at the words, the cohesion of its spirit-form briefly dissolving in motes of blue-green light. The moment of weakness lasts only a split second, the pinpoints of energy reforming into a convulsing image of the armored cecaelia grasping at its temples, as if stricken by a terrible, splitting headache! "YOU WOULD CAST DOUuuBT ON THE COOuuNCIiL!? YOU ASSEerT THEY DECEeiiVE THE GATEKEeepER OF WATER, THE FIVE CccOILS HOST!?"

"IMPOSSIBLE!! IMMmpossIBLE...!!"

Yet despite the Gatekeeper's efforts to resist, the barrage of words and intensity of belief the Exalts exude have taken their toll. Ranavalona, while less of a... savory element, perhaps, has nonetheless planted the seeds of uncertainty into the AI's  consciousness.

"I caNNOT BE REMmmoOVED FROM DUTY. I AM THE DISsztRICT of WATER. IT LIVES AND BrreATHES THROUGH THE GATEkeePER! I CAN ONLY unDO THE ERRor --" The Gatekeeper languishes in its own hesitation, then jerks its head up with sudden alarm. The orbs that serve as its 'eyes' are dim but pulsing wildly, processing some new and obviously disturbing information. "IN LIGHT OF ALTERED PARrrAMETERS, An EXCChHANGE MUST BE ARRANGED! WITHDRAW SUBORDINATE PROCESS 'HARMONY' IMMmeEDIATELY! ADDITIonAL RESOURCES REQUIRED TO CooPERaaATE WITH celESTIAL FIAT!"

Harmony promptly transmits the inquiry to Third's mind. "PERMISSION-TO-WITHDRAW Y/N?"

---

OOC: Higura is basically bolstering your defenses here by a +3, so I think that more or less pushes everyone over the limit for defending, stunt or not.

Also, since you're hurting for motes/wp at this point, stunt count for this thread:
[Private to Yaishin Higura: +3 and +3 for Higura.]
[Private to Third Beneficiary of Orderly Knowledge: +2 and +3 for Third.]
[Private to Saina Nanaret: +3 and +2 for Nanaret.]

You've got Gatekeeper doubting the Dragon-blooded now, but there's no way to be sure it really would help you at this point or is bluffing, unless you parry using Investigation. Or you can just take a chance... it's more or less on the defensive at this point.
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:59, Tue 20 Jan 2009.

Third is, if nothing else, a believer in the better nature of machines. It looks towards Higura. " Shall I trust the Gatekeeper of the Water?" it asks, evenly. If Higura trusts the machine, then the Solar nods its head to Harmony, and states moothly " Permission granted. Release the Gatekeeper, but if it shows signs of moving against the Celestials, do not hesitate to attack it again. And Harmony... Thank you." It bows its head to the intelligence.

[Private to GM: 19/19 Personal Essence, 20/45 Peripheral Essence, 7/7 Willpower]
This message was last edited by the player at 13:28, Wed 21 Jan 2009.

Higura stays slient for a moment, then turns back towards Third, and nods slowly to it. The man seems thoughtful, but also slightly relieved. "I see no point in holding the Gatekeeper hostage further, either. We have made our point, and established our goals... In order to succeed, we also need to prove our intentions and hold true to our affirmations."

He turns back towards the Gatekeeper, and lowers his head slightly. "As I said, the original purpose was never to remove you, Gatekeeper. We will trust you, as a sign of our goodwill and as a way to prove that what we say is the truth." He raises his chin slightly, then nods.

"Perhaps together, we can right the wrongs that had been committed, and build a better future from the shackles of this one."

"Do not forget," Ranavalona speaks through Nanaret. Or is it Nanaret speaking through Ranavalona? It is difficult to tell in these moments, when the Lunar uses the ruthlessness of her precursor in order to champion a cause ultimately good. It takes a a truly manipulative mind to fool oneself that way. So manipulative, perhaps, that there is no choice but for her selves to remain so deeply split.

But that is part of the enigma of the Changing Moon. "You must let us free to the floors above. And the Purge--I do not care about it, but my puppet, she will certainly not let ME go, unless it is done away with. Therefore you WILL do so, should you truly see the folly of your ways."

"And you've no other choice. You either continue to condone those who would misuse you, or you cast your lot in with us. There is no in between. Choose to aid our freedom and you choose yours as well!"

[Private to GM: Just in case I'll give the argument one last push. I'm hoping for a Manip+Performance attack. I think I have enough left to buy a couple sux for it, too.]

Harmony returns Third's gesture with a small bow of her own, withdrawing the cage of energy that surrounds the Gatekeeper. Almost immediately, the greater AI loses a noticeable amount of stuttering, though its cecaelia-form still flickers visibly.

"ENOUGH..." utters the Gatekeeper of Water. "THAT IS EEeeeNOUGH. I WILL AID YOU, CELESTIALSss, BUT I MUST ALSO WARN YOU. THE EQUALIiizZERS HAVE COME TO FINISH WHAT YOU HAVE POSTPppONED. THEY WILL ATTEMPT MANUAL OVERRIDE AND THEY HAVE EVERY PERMuuiISSION TO DO SO."

"BUT THEY UNDERESTIMATE ME IN MY OWN DddoMAIN. I AM THOUSANDS OF YEARS MORE ANCIENT THAN THEY. THEY CAN BE STOPPED... BUT THE LEVEL OF PooOWER I MUST HARNESS WILL ENDANGER YOUR MORTALS AND POSSIBLY YOURSELVES. I CAN TRANnszSPORT YOU ABOVE AS REQUESTED. BUT YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO RETURN BELoow."

The AI's blue-green orb-eyes burn brightly, the integrity of its spirit form strengthening slightly as more of its processing power returns. "ARE YOU PREPARED TO LEAVE THIS TO ME? CONFIRM."

---

OOC: You've put the seeds of Celestial loyalty back into this Gatekeeper's mind, however how that will impact you and the others may not be apparent for much longer. :) You may also roll Int+Lore if you want to recall knowledge about the Equalizers; other than that a positive answer to the Gatekeeper will put you all back in the other scene. (Probably after the next turn of battle over there, though.)

After a moment to consider, Higura looks towards the others, then back towards the Gatekeeper. "I cannot speak for everyone here, of course - I am not at liberty to decide for my fellows. But I can say that I am willing to leave these matters to you, Gatekeeper of Water."

"The only way we can rebuild what we have lost... Is to rekindle the trust we used to share. And thus I believe the first step will be to re-learn to work with one another, Gatekeeper." He lifts his chin, and then bows, a gesture of respect in the surrounding water.

"If you can send us all above, then I would gladly wish you to do so. We can work at finding a temporary haven once we reach this destination. Which means we would leave the stop of the manual execution of the purge and the final securing of the District to you. I would accept your terms, even if we cannot return below... One day, we shall communicate with you again, Gatekeeper of Water. When that time comes, the district will rise again, under your wise guidance. Once again, you will return to your state as guardian of all those living under your care. That is my promise to you."

Third pauses. Its words are not promising. But freedom is freedom, and it has come this far in pursuit of freedom. The mortals who came with them sought freedom, and if they die now, at least the wheel of fate will look more kindly upon those who sought a better world than those who stayed and waited to die. And he has no doubt that the Celestials that it has accompanied so far will survive and escape whatever threats they may face. " Shining Eye thanks you for your service, Gatekeeper of Water. Third shall trust you to be as good as your word, and leaves this battle up to you, now. Third trusts its companions will to survive. Third shall move upwards." says the Solar, accepting. It hopes they will find these three again.

"To leave this place...? I am more than ready for that!" Nanaret/Ranavalona grins fiercely at the very idea she will have escaped the death that was arranged for her.

"Hurry up and do what you must!"

"YOU WILL MEET THEM AGAIN. SOON. I wiiLL PRrrrOTECT THEM," The Gatekeeper of Water reassures Third, then Ranavalona's impatience.

"TIME DOES NOT FLOW IN MY SANCccTUM AS IT DOoes IN REALITY... YOU HAVE NOT LOST MUCH. BUT IT IS TIME WE PART WAYS."

The underwater sanctum -- not quite underwater, and not quite contained, but nonetheless appearing as such to human senses -- begins to dissolve into darkness. Or perhaps it is the Exalts who dissolve, removed from whatever reality the Gatekeeper has constructed for them to meet.

"FAREWELL CELESTIALS. SEEK THE SKY..."
"...FRrreEE THE ONES ABooVE."

---

OOC: thread is ending, tomorrow Thursday I will post your new thread!
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:16, Thu 29 Jan 2009.