Dena pauses and takes a few moments to think this over.  Changing plans is rarely easy but she comes up with enough of a new one to draw out the foot-long shaft of an essence lash and extrude a glowing stream of energy from it, brightening up the tunnel to see more easily, and incidentally arming her as well.

The warning, when it comes, finds Tycho in his confiscated office setting pen to new pages of his rapidly diminishing supply of paper. Clumsy mechanical fingers twitch and scratch, leaving a stretch of characters behind them that are little better formed than a schoolchild's first efforts. It is legible, but only just.

He'll be thankful when the mortals start to learn to read and write on their own and he can recruit someone with a steadier hand than his own to copy everything down. As it stands, he doubts anyone will look past his penmanship to even see what he wrote...

As soon as word comes of a stranger approaching though, the mechanical Solar reluctantly puts the pen down. As soon as he emerges, he begins pressing for answers: Who saw them? How many are there? Do they appear armed? Which direction are they coming from? Has anyone gone out to meet them?

A map begins to build in his minds eye of the caverns around them. The lay of the land, the positions of the intruder, the mortals, and the other Exalts. The area is poor for a conventional ambush, but their foes has been decidedly unconventional so far. Not beyond sending a single sacrificial soul ahead to lure someone out of the encampment.

There is no telling if the stranger poses any danger or not, but there was no point in taking any chances either. Conferring with Drachma as Third and Dena move out to meet the intruder, Tycho orders the untrained refugees as far back into the encampment as they can be sent with the command to keep out of sight no matter what. He sends along only a few of those Higaru, Turtle, and himself have been training; less a force to guard the others than a token gesture to help keep them quiet and at ease. Silently as they can, the rest are slowly arrayed into a skirmish line. It stretches them thin, but also makes it look as though there are more of them than there really are. A little intimidation goes a long way, after all.

Tycho himself chooses to stay out in the open and watches intently, though does not follow Third and Dena.

Seeing the sudden light, Talia freezes in place and tries to move farther into the shadows.  She begins to suspect that she's found the exact place she doesn't want to be.  After all, who other than the Dragon-Blooded weild power like that?
"Well, ok, me, but what are the odds of finding any more of us down here?"

The situation is quickly escalating. Talia watches as the taller man with brown hair comes up to address the pair approaching her, and speaks a warning. As soon as Dena has her essence whip out, though, a shaft of pure green Essence arcs from behind where Talia waits, striking the ground close to Dena's feet.

"Stop," pronounces a voice from the darkness beyond. A darkness very soon lit up by three flaring animas.

The speaker, a Fire Aspect wreathed in a pillar of flame, is a short figure in an Immaculate robe of orange, red and charcoal black. She wields twin short daiklaves that from a distance appear to be crafted of solid flame.

On either side of her are her colleagues. An Earth Aspect male with robes of ivory, and heavy gauntlets that extend to his forearms. A Wood aspect wielding the massive powerbow from which the green shaft had come. These are the ones that chased Talia -- the three Immaculates, but there had been more with them before. She'd only barely glimpsed them before running for her life.

There is further movement in the near-darkness behind the woman with the essence whip. More people preparing for an attack, with Talia caught between them.

The Fire Immaculate pronounces: "Will you now be guilty of the crime of harboring one of the Anathema? Speak now or be declared allies of the Unclean."

Truth be told--while her sword would probably be of considerable use in the upcoming conflict...  Danae was busy taking care of an equally important job at the moment...

Curled up on a cot in her workroom--with a newly forged serpent sting staff hung up on a rung--and sleeping quite soundly--all things considered...

After all, when you're using that much of your power on a daily basis, even demigods get sleepy--please don't wake her, that would be impolite.

Third reacts silently, its hands sliding through air into position at its sides, grasping a sword that is not there, but holding that same position, its hands becoming its blades as it slowly lets its breathe move in and out, eyes locking on the Wood aspect. It does not speak. Either way, whether these monks leave or are finished here, their location will be known. But if they leave, their location will be much, much clearer- It does not trust the monks as far as it can throw them. Thankfully, so far, it has not shown any abilities past that of perhaps a mildly talented human.

Dena thinks this over, briefly considering trying to bluff the Dragonbloods.  Then she remembers that she currently has a ten-yard strand of glowing purple essence in one hand, which argues against it.  But she decides to try anyway after a bit more thought and, shortening up her strand to make it less menacing, she moves forward to the dragonbloods.
"Listen." she says quietly, while rubbing her temples.  "I've been secretly infiltrating this cult for the last.  three.  years." she leans against the wall tiredly.  "Their master isn't here, and if they hear that you're sniffing around he'll probably never show up, and all my time will be wasted.  I don't know what department you're from or if you outrank me but please, don't make all my work in here useless.  Just go, I'll figure out an explanation that'll satisfy these idiots that it was all a mistake and nothing they need to tell their master about."

In the meantime, having gotten close, Dena secretly begins to use bug-speak, the language of pheremones and smells, to reinforce her words on a subconscious level.

[Private to GM: 11:08,
I'm going to start keeping a running tally of my essence in PMs so I can keep it straight more easily.  Current: 14/17 28/42 (12 motes committed to essence lash, 2 motes to activate it)

Using New Friend Aroma (personal essence) and attempting a social attack on the Dragonbloods.  Here's hoping I get a decent appearance bonus on this. . .

11:16, Today: Tervila Dena rolled 4 successes using 7d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 4,5,8,3,8,10,3. Cha + Presence.
Today: Tervila Dena rolled 1 success using 1d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 8. Wits - Awareness (Join Battle). ]

Talia reflected momentarily on what the unknown woman had said.
Cult?  Infiltration?  Things were getting far more complicated than Talia had expected.  Standing between two armed groups, with no way to tell how either would respond to the other, her chances of escape seemed slim.  And her chances of surviving a fight seemed even slimmer.  "But just because I'm in way over my head is no reason to give up, is it?"  Her hand moves towards the sash around her waist, an apparently casual, meaningless change of position.

[Private to GM: Talia activates Sagacious Reading of Intent, spending 3 motes of personal essence to determine the motivation behind Dena's words.]

Dena's words actually make the monks pause with uncertainty. The Fire Immaculate lowers her weapons -- slightly -- and frowns toward Dena. "Who... are you? I am sorry. I had heard of no such operation in the area."

[Private to Talia Zerith: Your charm tells you immediately that Dena is bluffing - she's trying to convince the Immaculates to leave her settlement alone.]

"However, regardless of who you may be, Talia Zerith is an Anathema who has escaped her collar and must be returned." She nods at the Earth Immaculate, who points unerringly toward where Talia hides, drawing attention to her from everyone present. (The others who do not know her see a woman in practical clothes with long, red-tinged brown hair in a braid.) "We will reclaim her now."

At another signal the Earth Immaculate joins the Fire in moving forward wordlessly. The Wood Aspect keeps her bow trained on Dena and her companions. Another fang or so of lesser acolytes are behind her, readying bows as well.

Deeper in the settlement, beyond where Talia can see or hear clearly, the armed refugees arrange themselves as bravely as they are able with a two week crash course on warfare. Drachma glances to Tycho, murmuring quietly, "What will we do? If the Immaculates suspect this region of anything we will have to move. Will violence be the only way to silence them?"

---

OOC: Dena has, effectively, a total of 11 sux (wow!) She's basically managed to stop the Immaculates from attacking immediately. However they may still take Talia, and they are not completely convinced of this cover story yet. They need more details.

As long as none of the rest of you make obviously hostile moves, or show yourselves as obviously Anathema, we will remain in social combat. (Join debate if you wish to participate. I tend to be less rigid with soc. combat than canonically written, but we'll roll with this and see where it goes!)

"I shouldn't tell you that.  This operation is supposed to be as secret as we can keep it, and I hope you won't tell anybody now that I've spilled to you.  I'm sure you've noticed that a huge number of Anathema have mysteriously broken their collars, all at the same time?  My Sifu suspects there's rogue element among the Dragonblooded stupid, or insane, enough to think they can use the Free Anathema to gain an advantage, possibly even a coup to take over all of Five Coils.  It's a sad thing when you can't even trust your brothers and sisters, but that's how it's gotten.  Until we've rooted out the corruption, even fellow Dragonblooded are suspect as working to free Anathema.  Hence why my operation was kept, even from you.  I mean no disrespect to you personally, of course, we kept it secret from everybody we could." Dena lies through her teeth quietly to the fire-aspect.

At the Earth Aspect's gesture, Dena turns her head and spots Talia.  Shifting position slightly so that her face is completely aimed away from the Immaculates, she winks before turning back.
"Fine, I'll do what I can to help you collar her.  Just give me a minute to think of a way to make it right with all of them-" she gestures with a thumb at the rest of the group, "-so they don't start suspecting me.  I am this close-" at this she moves her forefinger and thumb an inch apart, holding them in front of her face, "-to figuring out where Free is holed up and none of us can afford to lose the chance to bring him down."

Talia does her best not to show surprise at the stranger's wink.  Her jaw is set, and she prepares herself to react in an instant, hoping that whatever this woman is planning, she'll be able to tell the best course of action.

Third, for the moment, stays still, playing the part of the unthinking mortal martial artist, not making any overt actions to attack as it waits for things to either go wrong or resolve itself... Though it distinctly does not wish too see the other Exalt become collared by these monks, as it waits for the proper moment to join the attack.

"Violence is usually the best arbitrator," Tycho whispers back Drachma, following the Immaculates pointing finger to the figure. Obviously they were here for the woman. The easiest thing for them to do was to just turn her over to them. So far as he can see, they've no personal stake in fighting to save her. Never the less, he doubts he could convince his companions to abandon the woman to them. Even Tycho himself finds the thought distasteful.

Still, the shade of her hair brings a momentary flash of insight. He begins to slowly back off the line, motioning for his mortal-second to follow a few paces. "Drachma, send someone out there and have them, subtly as they can, tell Dena to herd that woman towards the practice tunnels. Whatever it takes, just try to get her there without making it look intentional. Swarm the girl if you have to, but don't attack the Terrestrials unless there's no other choice. We want them to think we're good Immaculate-worshiping automation."

The message conveyed, Tycho pushes Drachma in one direction as he turns swiftly to head in the other, motioning in passing for two of the pick-armed refugees to follow him as he heads towards the practice tunnels. Tycho is not sure what Dena or Third have up their sleeves, what they were saying to even get the Terrestrials to pause, and there seems little time to confer upon a course of action. He only hopes it is a ploy that will make this easy.

"My partner speaks the truth, as reluctant as you might be to accept it." It almost seems like Higura had always been there, even though some could swear he was nowhere to be seen just a moment ago, so easily missed because of his silence and quiet presence. And yet, his demeanor is such that he seems perfectly comfortable where he is, as if he legitimately belongs there.

"Again, we are deeply sorry for the confusion that might have been caused by this whole affair... But quite frankly, because things are as they are, we cannot spread the word on our operations. I am certain you can understand why, given the situation - it would be like giving warning to an opponent one wishes to catch red-handed, and that will simply not do." He shakes his head softly, then peers at the pursuers.

"It is a risk, yes, but one cannot get good results without taking some risks. It would certainly be possible to put all of our efforts to catch any Anathema as soon as they arise, but then we gather no information about the others, or any organization they might possess. That is much more worrying than the single threat of disorganized Demons running about - after all, I am sure you can agree that none can challenge the might of the Coils in honorable battle. It is the dastardly efforts of the shadowy ones we have to fear, because then the strike might come where it should not. The enemy cares not about honor nor pride, and will likely use every trick in the book to blindside us should we give him the chance."

"All I am asking is that you trust my partner's words. She is very apt at what she does, and would not take any unnecessary risks if it were not for the well being of the whole and the prospect of bringing down the major threat rather than the minor opposition. I am certain that you, who know the value of sacrifice, will see the value in her words and approach. We have everything to win by all keeping our wits about us, and everything to lose by risking to blow out this whole operation with reckless actions."

The man nods with a faint smile, and looks over to the three in a calm and relaxed manner, illustrating his words with his very behavior.

[Private to Tervila Dena: I am trying to support your claim with my socialize, so they believe what you say and you can take the lead. I'll follow your cues from here and play it by ear to help support your actions.]
[Private to GM: Using 6 motes on second socialize excellency to get 3 successes on the lying roll.]
This message was last edited by the player at 23:57, Wed 11 Mar 2009.

The Fire Immaculate frowns, looking from Dena to the previously silent Higura. "We too have been seeking out 'Free'. He, or they, have become more militant lately. There was an attack very recently and they did some serious harm to several of ours." She shakes her head disapprovingly. "I have to admit your words are compelling. However if you are so worried about being 'discovered' you ought to be more terse. There are several of your own already amassing."

She points behind Dena. Indeed, one of the refugees has stepped up reluctantly from behind her, as directed by Tycho through Drachma. The man, not being particularly trained in subterfuge, manages to say quietly, "Bring them away. The Captain does not want the camp disturbed." He risks a glance at the Immaculates and immediately flinches back.

Beside her, the Earth Immaculate shakes his head, glancing at Dena before mouthing something voicelessly that his Fire colleague seems to understand immediately. "We have no wish to step into your camp," says the woman with the twin daiklaves. "You," she indicates Dena "and only you, may go to confer with your people. In the meantime we will reclaim the Anathema, and the two of you," this time gesturing with her blades to mean Higura and Third, "will remain where you are." Even though Third has not spoken, she has taken its silence as indicating awareness of the undercover activities of Dena and Higura.

The large, silent male Immaculate continues moving toward Talia, his stony face expressionless. The Wood Immaculate and her fang of acolytes still have their glowing Essence-arrows aimed at Talia, but could very well shift to fire on Dena, Higura or Third should they seem to do anything out of line.

---

OOC: Again if you do anything hostile, or outright refuse to follow what the Fire Immaculate asked, we'll move into combat time. (That includes if you try to resist the Earth Aspect reclaiming you, Talia. If you will, roll Join Battle!)
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:22, Thu 12 Mar 2009.

Talia pulls back from the Earth Aspect, pulling the sash from her waist in a fluid movement.

[Private to GM: 23:07, Today: Talia Zerith rolled 5 successes using 6d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 10,7,4,9,9,5. Join Battle. ]

"Forget that.  Just give me a quick diversion so we can spin a good story.  I'll pretend to attack you and punch your arm.  When I do, you hit me across the face and knock me down, then we'll tell the others we tried to resist you and my partners drove you away after you grabbed whoever that girl is.  Is this acceptable to you?"

While all of this is happening, Nanaret (having put aside her disguise for now) has been sneaking her way across Floor B25, having managed to slip away from the Conclave between work shifts. Under cover of darkness, using her night-sight to her advantage, the wiry Lunar is able to slip past the automaton sentries populating the area.

She has agreed with Dashu and Xurizu that one of their number ought to return to 'base' and let them know their plans, and the happenings that have occurred in the district. She has also managed to bring with her a portion the supplies they have bought there. Practical things she could carry, like canisters of salt and rolls of bandages, etc.

Nana slows down, though, when she notices the group of Immaculates and acolytes gathered near the entrance to the settlement. A cold feeling settles over her... she'd only been gone a couple days, and already they are discovered? Frowning, she creeps forward with languid patience, using her keen senses and preternatural flexibility to move silently and keep to the shadows. She hopes to maneuver herself to strike the archers from behind if need be, but not without gauging the situation first.

Ranavalona... I may need you now. It is always a calculated risk to invoke the Bitch Queen -- but if she must...

As soon as Talia steps back and moves for her sash, the Wood Immaculate fires off a blazing green energy-arrow aimed to strike her hand -- more to stop her from resisting, than outright kill her.

The Earth Aspect is still approaching, raising his gauntleted palm. Talia has a split second to react before him, or to acknowledge Dena's plan.

The Fire Immaculate remains back with the acolyte archers -- for now. "Talia Zerith, it is not to your advantage to resist," she says. Though the woman could easily have sped forward, spurred on by the relentless, righteous heat of Hesiesh, she holds her ground and waits. She waits for her colleagues to claim the prey... waits to see what Dena or her companions will do.

---

OOC: Others can roll JB if they wish to react in combat-time.

actions
tick 0 - Wood immac
tick 1 - Talia, Earth immac
tick 4 - Dena, Wood acolytes
Fire immaculate is holding action.

[Private to Talia Zerith: Just to get you to know my ST style for Exalted combat, I usually summarize several actions in a single post, because otherwise Exalted combat in PbP is excruciatingly slow. In this case, you can write a single post to defend against the Wood Immac's arrow, then respond to Dena and take your action at tick 1.

As for the attack on you: it's a single arrow shot with 7 successes. You have... according to my calculations... 5 Dodge DV, and 5 Parry DV whether you use your hands or your sash. So you can stunt to dodge or parry, and/or use a reflexive charm to supplement your defense.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:50, Thu 12 Mar 2009.

As the arrow flies toward Talia, she flicks her sash outwards to attempt to deflect it, but swings wide.  Just as the arrows strikes, a swirling, branching fractal pattern shines forth around her body.  What would have been a dangerous injury is reduced to only a minor wound.
Talia growls under her breath, "The hell it isn't."  As she falls into a defensive crouch, golden light coruscates over her clothing.

[Private to GM: Talia spends 6 motes of personal essence First Martial Arts Excellency, for three dice to try and improve parry DV.
20:31, Today: Talia Zerith botched using 3d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 5,3,1. First martial arts excellency
Well, crud.
So, I spent 5 motes to activate my anima effect, and reduce the damage by 3.
Ok, so tick 1.  3 motes for Pearlescent Filligree Defense, adding 3L/6B natural soak.]
This message was last edited by the player at 01:38, Fri 13 Mar 2009.

Though the essence-arrow does minimal damage, Talia feels a strange sharp pain in her head when it strikes her and dissipates.

"Foolish Anathema," says the Fire Aspect, then to her Earth colleague: "Get her."

Still several yards away, the (apparently mute) Earth Immaculate reaches out and clenches at the air with his gauntleted fist. An invisible force projects from the gauntlet, one that Talia distinctly feels brushing against her neck -- missing her.

He thrusts his other hand forward, repeating the motion. This time the projected force clench is more palpable on Talia's skin. She feels the Immaculate's fingers close around her neck as if he is actually standing next to her, trapping her in a chokehold.

---

OOC: Update - Talia actually failed defense so she's clinched. (Note: since this kinda screwed your initial plan, I will allow you to do a social action in combat time. As long as you're not spouting huge speeches or anything else requiring dramatic actions.)

actions
tick 4 - Dena/Higura/Third, acolytes
tick 5 - Wood immac, Earth immac
tick 7 - Talia
Fire immac still holding.
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:00, Fri 13 Mar 2009.

Nanaret, despite finding the terrain to be rough and generally to her disadvantage, is still able to maneuver herself silently into position without the Immaculates or their acolytes seeing her. The darkness of the outer caverns aids in shrouding her approach, and the Dragon-blooded are too focused on Talia and the group near the settlement to notice her at all.

At any time she wishes it she can make a surprise attack at the acolyte group -- or merely surprise them as a diversion.

Only Higura and Third notice the figure of Nanaret creeping quietly toward the back of the bow-wielding acolytes. Amazingly, none of them so much as glance over their shoulders.

Third reacts instantly, dashing towards the wood-aspect with hands afire, crossing the terrain quickly, hands held behind, coming up in a swift, knife-like arc, slashing towards the wood aspect quickly. For now, it doesn't try to use its essence against the Exalt, swift hands moving fast, but probably not fast enough to kill, though the Exalt does not pull its punches.

It can spot Nanaret approaching from behind, and it hopes the distraction of one- for now seemingly mortal- martial artist, will distract them from the more dangerous Nanaret behind them, as it doubts it will be able to defeat a fully trained Immaculate in hand to hand combat, let alone one backed up by those acolytes. For now, it hopes to serve mainly as a distraction.
[Private to GM: Ooof, swing and a miss. You rolled 1 success using 8d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 ((4,4,2,7,6,4,4,3)). I'm assuming I'm within range to not require splitting my action, but if I do, well, I'm not trying too hard to hit yet.]
This message was last edited by the player at 14:53, Sat 14 Mar 2009.

Dena sighs deeply as Third launches his attack.  She'd hoped to keep playing on the charade but she also recognized that it really wasn't helping right now.  Playing out the strands of glowing violet-and-blue essence from the lash, she suddenly swelled hugely and become a spiked horror even as she lashed out and coiled blazing, cold fiery strands around the three nearest archers and began to tear into them.  Her aura springs to life from the sudden, massive expenditure of power and swarms of glowing wasps weave and coil around her body.

[Private to GM: Current Essence: 14/17 15/42
Using 6 motes of Dexterity Excellency on the attack and 3 motes for Armor Forming as a Gift charm, and 4 motes on the lash's extra strands ability to hit 3 enemies at once.  Soak becomes 13B/11L/3A
1 Misc. ad 1 Attack Action, take on warform and use the Essence Lash's multiple strand ability.  Both are speed 5.


11:04, Today: Tervila Dena rolled 10 successes using 20d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 10,2,2,9,2,5,1,1,1,5,2,8,8,10,8,9,6,1,7,1. Essence Lash Strike vs. Acolytes.

]

The sudden change of plan had not been planned, of course - but not acting now would likely mean the situation could quickly get out of control. As his comrades make their strikes, Higura swiftly and thoroughly assesses the situation.

The three Immaculates are prepared to catch one escaped Anathema, but would likely not expect not be immediately prepared to deal with such a short notice attack from multiple Anathema. Training or not, they are very likely to have to change their strategy to accommodate for the added threats. And if the Exalts play their cards right... That moment of adjustment could turn into an irreplaceable asset.

From the observation of the situation, Higura quickly determines that the Fire Aspect Acolyte is actually the one in charge, and the one possibly not yet tangled by fighting. If their surprise assault is to work, the leader would also have to be kept busy, so as not to be able to get the others to regain their footing. In close proximity to said leader, Higura realizes it would fall upon his shoulders to do this task...

"Some things are better left undisturbed, alas." He says, his gentle and polite tone melting away to reveal a sharp and almost dangerous edge. He takes a step, then another... And in a sudden burst, he flicks his left wrist, causing his sheathed sword to spring up and fall in his outstretched hand. "Some secrets better left unspoken." There is hardly any change in his stance as the sword is freed from its scabbard, tracing an arc that paints a dark green crescent in the dimmed light. "Should a secret need to be confined, there is only one type of box that can hold it without fail." In mid air, the arc shifts, and the one strike suddenly becomes two. The dark green crescent splits into a curved 'X', and the sword comes down with such quickness and precision that it almost seems to be in two places at once.

"... That box would be a coffin."

[Private to Gatekeeper: Two strikes, using the max excellencies to power both to the max (three dice each) spending 11 motes total to cancel all splitting penalties as well.]
This message was last edited by the player at 01:58, Sun 15 Mar 2009.