Week 1

Tycho, Higura and Saffron work together to put together a roll call. There are a total of 67 refugees. Drachma, the four gladiators and about 20 laborers are the most physically hardy, ideal for taking on Tycho's training regimen. Another 20 are inexperienced, but trainable. Subtracting the 5 laborers that Danae reserved as assistants, Tycho has a base of 40 to work with. [Private to Alus Tycho: Roll a Charisma+War (your guerilla specialty counts). Depending on how well you roll you'll be able to speed up their training. As long as you get even 1 success, though, you succeed at training them in 1 dot in an ability or a specialty in the next week or two.

If you look at the Ex2 core chapter 7, Drachma is probably a Heroic Mortal, the gladiators Elite Troops, the laborers Regular Troops, and the 20 inexperienced are Green Troops. No equipment, except for Drachma/gladiators/laborers, who have short spears. If you want, you don't have to train everyone in the same thing: you could give some a dot of Archery, others Melee, others Stealth, etc. as long as it's an Ability you know. The base time for training the refugees is half the values on the chart on Ex2 core p. 274, but you'll have to divide time between training them and yourself.]

Another 15 outright refuse such intense combat training, but offer their skill at cooking, cleaning, minor crafts, even some foraging. They can be persuaded to learn to use slings or bows but they will not fight in a melee.

5 of the refugees are too young, elderly or crippled for anything but menial work.

The last 2 actually confess to having minor thaumaturgical skill (Apprentice-level) that they kept quiet for fear the Immaculates would kill or recruit them. One of them is Miir, a quiet middle-aged man who used his abilities as a grave-tender, largely Arts of the Dead and Warding. The other is a young woman named Tamra, who was shunned by her family for her ability and forced to sell her body to survive.

Saffron finds her most likely apprentice in Tamra. She never learned any harmful or overly esoteric Arts: rather her skills were more inclined toward Alchemy, Husbandry and even some Enchantment; she has a hand for making very beautiful textile crafts. In any case, Tamra is smarter than she lets on, and once Saffron can penetrate her shyness, she proves to be a competent learner. [Private to Saffron: If you continue to tutor her, she will learn a couple of dots of Medicine in 2 weeks straight, or about 4 weeks if you space out her lessons.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:57, Mon 09 Feb 2009.

While Tycho works on martial training, both Higura and Saffron work toward strengthening the refugees' trust and confidence, organizing them into groups for non-martial tasks, and getting a feel for their needs and worries. [Private to Saffron: Roll Charisma+Presence to determine how positively you affect the refugees, how well you can organize them, etc.] [Private to Yaishin Higura: Roll Int+Medicine to care for the refugees' minds. Then Int+Bureaucracy to put together your lists and logs pertaining to the refugees and their organization.]

Mostly, their concerns are about survival, comfort and remaining clear of Dragon-blooded forces. Some complain about nightmares, still quite shell-shocked about the escape, the Gatekeeper and Equalizers, or being in the Earth District at all, considering that their religious roots put a strong importance on hierarchy. Others are more strong-minded and adventurous, and find themselves warming up to the idea of freedom, even revolution, pushing themselves wholeheartedly into their training.

No matter who Higura talks to, though, none of them want to go back down. And over half are certain they wish to stay with the Exalts, though the wisdom of doing so is something still left to discuss...

The experience the refugees had went through would very likely be traumatic for many of them. Of course, one could say that life in Five Coils in and of itself is taxing to the human will, but that is counting without the reassuring element of the familiar. Indeed, sometimes the mind wraps itself around the familiar of routine, even if this routine is harsh and unforgiving. As much as the prisoners of Five Coils might have been wishing for freedom, a sudden event in which their lives were in danger at every single second could prove very damaging for their psyche, not quite ready for the shock.

And it is that particular trauma that Higura works with, speaking with the refugees calmly and reassuringly, and listening to the fears and nightmares they have experienced. Comforting them without strengthening their wills would be very much akin to making promises one could not keep - for simple comforting words would quickly fall apart should these people be confronted to the same situation again. Instead, Higura tries to get at the bottom of each individual fear, explaining its mechanism and reason to the people who shared it with him, and helping them to find ways to cope with stress and other difficult influences. He does not try to take away their fear, but rather helps them understand it, and cope with it, so that they might better live with it and control it. All in all, everything is about balance.

The paperwork is slightly more difficult for him, as outside of reports, Higura has not had much chance to practice this sort of work in a very long time. As he is used to work one-on-one, organizing such a monumental effort is something he has to take much time and effort simply to put together. He starts off with easy tasks - taking roll call, and noting each and every person's previous tasks in the Coils, so that everyone can be assigned to what they know best. He makes certain to update the list once Tycho and Saffron distribute the refugees under their respective tutelage, so that all can know what resources are at their disposal should a task need done.

Building a list of tasks to undertake proves to be a more difficult objective to accomplish. There is so much to cover, and everything seems important - coupled with the fact that the groups still doesn't have much information about their current whereabouts or the resources at their disposal, the task becomes very arduous to quantify. Instead of making very precise plans of actions, Higura instead decides to focus on immediate needs - food, water, facilities - and makes broad lines of action that should be further precised when everyone is back and all the information shared. After all, he is only a record keeper, not a leader, and the decision of how to proceed should belong to everyone.

Organizing a small settlement able to accommodate that many people would be a difficult ordeal... But Higura continues to believe that if they work together and pool their areas of expertise, they have a good chance of success.

As Higaru cures their old nightmares, Tycho gives them new ones.

As a taskmaster, the mechanical Solar is without mercy and to him it seems only reasonable; the Terrestrial's were apt to lack that either. Even from the first day, while he is still designing a training regiment to put them through, every one of the forty finds themselves running for hours. With voice and gesture and even the angry flare of his anima, he pushes them to the breaking point. It was the first thing they need to learn, that running is the most vital aspect of fighting. You run into the attack, you run to retreat, and when you can't run anymore, that's when you lay down and die. They run every day from that point onward, no matter what else they spend their time doing and if they learn nothing else, then they learn to run.

It's hard to work on a schedule when you don't know what the deadline is. Every minute he doesn't have them spending doing something feels like wasted time. They've no real weapons, beyond those few with spears, so arms-training is out. They've no essence weapons or bows, to doing the more effective thing and turning them into bowmen is out. He's left to work with what he has, to teach them how to use the simplest weapon of the rebel; their own two hands.

No matter where they are, here or elsewhere, there will always be something they can hurl at their enemies. Bits of junk, scraps of food or filth, chunks of stone and masonry, even the bodies of fallen friends, if they have to. Tycho's hands had held and unleashed all of those, at least once. A day spend scrounging yields a suitable pile of missiles and images scratched into the walls serve as suitable targets. . The most difficult places to hit were also the most effective: the knee, the wrist, the hand, and the head. A strike to any one of those has at least the chance of disabling an armed and armored opponent, far more of one than hitting their undoubtedly armored body ever will. Even a Dragon's head can be made to rattle when a stray rock gleams off their helmet. From the outset, Tycho does not make their task easy. Every throw is disrupted by chaotic shouts from those waiting their turn, from flashes of light off Tycho's anima or the pounding of his hands against the floors, and even from the sudden passage of another missile unexpectedly darting across their vision. They can't replicate a real riot, of course, but he does all he can to teach them how to aim under distraction, to do it fast and to dive back into the crowd before they can be singled out.

Not all of them spend their time throwing stones, though. Out of the pack, Tycho sorts the biggest and burliest of those he has to work with. Two against one, they're forced to face off against the gladiators who retain their deadly spears, though the points are blunted with clothing wrapped around them. The object of this game was simple: get the spear away from the soldier without getting stabbed. It is a far more difficult task than most of those chosen for it actually think and from the start, men are "dying" left and right upon the points of the spears. It's harder work than simply throwing stones, because the teamwork and coordination has to be far more in close. Just getting your foe to look your way can be challenge enough and Tycho teaches them to do whatever it takes; feint, yell, scream, cry, laugh like a madman, sing and dance a jig. Whatever it takes to get them to take their eyes off your partner for a moment, giving them the chance to make a dive. Then as soon as one of them has their hand on the weapon, for the other to leap in as well. Far too often early off, when one would actually make it in to grab the spear, the other simple stood there and watched. Any time Tycho saw this, his baton would clip the onlooker behind the ear and knock their legs out from under them, staring down intently at them as he walked past. It was a brutal and wordless message, but they swiftly learned what it meant.

This sort of training helped the gladiators and laborers too. Spears were not Tycho's favorite weapons. They were the weapons of the Peaceforce, of "the enemy." Whatever irony there was from using the weapons of the enemy against them, he'd have just as soon broken them in half and trained twice as many to use clubs. Having something with a point, something that could pierce their enemies, seems to reassure the mortals though. Having been on the business end of one more than once in his life, Tycho knows enough of how they're best employed to offer advice on them as well. He found himself less inclined to be as physical with them when advising them, they were already forced to do the hardest bit of work. They were living targets already. The spears were well blunted, Tycho made certain of that. They couldn't harm anyone, but it didn't mean that an over agitated attacker couldn't get carried away and break a finger or nose trying to pry the weapons free.

He has to be on guard all the time to break that up if it starts. He or Drachma, whom Tycho quickly learns to appreciate the presence of. Having the mortal stand in on watching the training of the others puts them more at ease, makes them more eager to learn, than when in his own presence. Indeed, it is with Drachma he shows the most leniency and personal attention. The man who had spoken for all the mortals thus far seems skilled enough already in holding them together, but late into the night, when the others have all collapsed from stress and strain, Tycho imparts what he can to Drachma of tactics and strategy. They pour together over urban battlemaps etched into the floor, move scraps of cloth around while pretending they were formations of soldiers and rioting civilians. The man wouldn't be making general any time soon, but he could at least know when shout a retreat.

[Private to GM: So, stunting if he can, please. Also buying 3 dice from his War Excellency for the roll and spending WP.]

Tycho works the refugees hard, but after the first day or two of grousing, they come to realize that the machine-man really does know what he's doing. They even learn to appreciate it, in some way, between all the sweating and bruising and exhaustion they feel in that first week. After all, he IS doing it to ensure their survival in the long run, and they trust Drachma's judgment in trusting him, too. Drachma himself is appreciative of Tycho's private lessons, understanding that he wishes his people to be more self-sufficient regardless of whether they accompany the Exalts or not.

The combination of Higura's psychiatric care, Saffron's encouragement and Tycho's training regimen gives the refugees little time for their fear of recent events to take permanent root. After all, the fear of Tycho knocking their legs from under them or thundering over them with that ravaged not-quite-human face is a lot more actual and immediate. Even knowing he's on their side isn't enough to keep them from scrambling to satisfy him!

Fortunately, the physical exertion proves to be a potent source of stress relief for the active ones. Higura's common sense explanations help significantly as well; he soon has a small nightly seminar in his hands, where refugees come asking questions about the realities of Five Coils, the Gatekeepers and the Dragon-blooded that they've previously been kept in the dark about. They trust in Higura's wisdom, and appreciate the calm, patient way in which he offers explanations when he has them, and encourages open discussion when he does not. Both Higura and Saffron's approach employ the use of critical thinking techniques in alleviating unfounded concerns, grounding them toward considering the factors that DO matter.

Saffron gently but consistently reminds the refugees that survival involves working together, and that includes not only martial training but also daily chores. Even the trainees are not exempt to this; along with doctor-enforced rest times at regular intervals between training hours, they are assigned tasks such as fetching water, tuber-peeling, cleaning and waste disposing (which no one likes but all agree is necessary. Fortunately, the incinerator in the nearby mining settlement is sufficient.) Higura helps by keeping track of names and scheduling -- a sometimes frustrating task, as his assignments are not always fit for a particular refugee, leading to hurried revisions. There ARE complaints, but mostly, people do their jobs.

All in all, the refugees are starting to shape up into something more than cowards or self-serving individuals. Like a rock shaped into a polished gem, the true brilliance and resilience of these people are just starting to show through. Many of them are already speaking of themselves as part of a whole, a few even considering the idea of a name to unite them all.

[Private to Alus Tycho; Saffron; Yaishin Higura: Well, results of the first week were good. Those refugees who didn't already have Melee 2 now have it. They also now have Valor 2. They're half-way toward getting Integrity 1. Drachma doesn't have as much War as the Heroic Mortal stats give, but he'll end up with War 3 or a pertinent War specialty by the next week if lessons continue.

Barring Saffron posting anything, or any other additions you may have, this probably does it for week 1. So you can post in the main thread again till week 2 start.]

[Private to Alus Tycho: You can always talk to the group about finding more suitable weapons for the refugees. Or see if Danae can squeeze time to make any for them.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 07:11, Thu 05 Feb 2009.

[Private to Alus Tycho; Gatekeeper; Yaishin Higura: Sorry, revolution group. I work horrible hours (8a.m. yesterday  - 3 a.m. this morning) and without my personal laptop (which I am replacing, I hope this weekend, next at the latest) I couldn't finish my response. The Gatekeeper covered almost everything I was going to say (YAY GATEKEEPER), so I will just post the couple other things I wanted to accomplish and keep it short, so not to waste your time or slow us down. ]

   Saffron also spends the first week learning the names of every one of the refugees. She always has a kind word, a gentle smile, or a compassionate touch when they need it.

   She takes her helper under her wing teaching Tamra everything she can.

Tamra apparently enjoys the challenge of Saffron's lessons, and appears to have a knack for working with people. Now that she is no longer on her knees for anyone, her quick mind begins to show through. She'd simply never been taught, or had a teacher gentle enough not to frighten her. Her first week opens up her mind to the intricacies of medicine, an experience made all the more robust with the sheer amount of practice she gets, tending the minor wounds of the refugees in training. [Private to Saffron: Tamra got Medicine 1 the first week, in a couple more weeks she could get Medicine 2 or 3!]

Week 2

At the beginning of the second week, Nanaret and Xurizu's inventory of the mining settlement brings Tycho several more 'weapons' with which to arm the refugees. He may well find them more suitable -- laborers' weapons used to arm the people. If Danae could be persuaded, she could further work with these tools to make them even more suitable as weapons, but even without, the tools of a miner can be surprisingly deadly if used correctly.

Of the handful of refugees not training with Tycho, a fraction of those turn out to be skillful cooks. Higura assigns the one who appears the most responsible, a middle-aged woman named Blynna, to take charge of the kitchen and food stores. To her go the harvested tubers, plant matter, mushrooms and fish, and she sets to enforcing Turtle's warnings about the latter two. She also humbly asks the Exalts to bring back any flour or grain, cooking fat or oil (the cavefish oil is too strong), or other types of meat that they can find.

The royal confection is Blynna's only vice; it seems difficult for the refugees to resist the stuff. It may take more careful rationing than the mortals are capable of, as there is not yet certainty they will get any more. Allowing them to get used to such fare may make them irritable and argumentative with one another as the confection stores get short -- and they will not last the week.

Now that the refugees have settled into some form of regular schedule, their training and assignments can continue to be refined.

---

OOC: Here are the weapon stats, not that you necessarily NEED to know them but just in case. These are all based on Ex. stats of a hammer, axe/hatchet and poleaxe, respectively.

Hammer (Spd 5, Acc +1, Dam +8B/2, Def +1, Rate 2, overwhelming, piercing)
Pick-Axe (Spd 4, Acc +1, Dam +5L, Def -2, Rate 2, can be thrown)
Shovel (Spd 6, Acc +0, Dam +7L/2, Def +0, Rate 2, 2-handed, overwhelming, reach)

As everyone continues to exert their expertise, Higura keeps on filling the gaps left over, so to speak. He assists with medical tasks when needed, and helps assigning and organizing everyone to where they would work best. He continues to hold counseling sessions with the refugees, and seems satisfied to see that most of them are building a strong sense of self and will from the ordeals they have been through and the new training their are receiving. Of course, Higura is more than happy to hold private sessions with individuals who find the need to talk further, and does his best to advise those under his care to the best of his abilities.

Such session actually are beneficial for him as well, as they allow him to keep his interactions up to speed - conversation is an art that can erode if not practiced enough, and that is why the doctor deems it important for him to stay in good shape in that regard as well.

"I'm not making any of you run today," says Tycho as he begins the morning training regiment. His words instantly gain their attention and their approval. Helpful as it might be, no one actually likes the morning runs, even less so since moving into the actual mining encampment. Standing tall before his assembled 'students,' Tycho has gathered them into what at least to his untrained eyes looked like the newest and least worked of the mining shafts, some short distance away from the actual encampment itself. The mechanical Solar hefts a heavy mining pick from his shoulder and slams it into the ground, splitting open the earth as it's pointed head buries into solid rock. The metallic note of the shivering pick hangs in the air for a long few seconds before the Solar's equally metallic voice interrupts. "Today, you dig."

He hears their groans of remorse and the corners of his eyes wrinkle as his face tries to form a smile. Running doesn't seem so bad now, does it? Groans are all they offer in the way of resistance though, lining up swiftly take hammer and pick and shovel from the Drachma and the gladiators, who'd piled the tools into abandoned ore carts and wheeled them along after the rest of the refugees.

They have already been working with them as weapons for a day or so, not enough time to really learn anything more. Most of them could at least hit something a quarter of the time already, which in terms of marksmanship was a wide step up from most of the people Tycho had worked with in the resistance movements. What they needed more was to make every hit count. Every blow has to hurt. Whomever they strike needs to feel as if they were stepped upon by a warstrider. They might get faster by running, but if they were going to get any stronger, they needed hard labor.

For the first time in who-knew how long, the sounds of picks and pounding hammers began to fill the air. It was a clumsy orchestra of clinks and clanks and the rattle of stone being shoveled into carts. The laborious grunts and long suffering moans of men and women slowly pushing those rock filled carts across the sloping mine floor. Tycho works them until they think their arms are going to fall off, then he works them more.

Half way through the day, the mining stops and everyone is assembled for a staged battle. Tycho takes charge of the gladiators and laborers on one side, while Drachma is forced to put what he's learned so far to the test as he's told to lead the rest of the refugees. The narrowness of the mining shaft, with all it's alcoves and jutting rock formations is almost perfect to practice fighting in the urban jungle. Tycho, as a Terrestrial, presses his "Peaceforce" soldiers down upon the refugees relentlessly, taking every advantage of their superior training and weapons to overwhelm the outnumbering refugees. It's a fairly messy business though. They've no armor, not even the thick leathery aprons and iron smithy masks the old rebels use to scavenge. No matter how careful, this sort of grand melee is going to result in more than a few cuts and bruises, even a few broken bones.

Still, that has already been taken into account and anyone still fit to run dispatched to ask Saffron and her apprentice to come to the training area. Higaru, too, if he has the time. It was looking likely they would be making the area a camp for the night and the "troops" will certainly benefit from a pep talk from someone whose every word does not sound like a saw blade.

Turtle spends a fair amount of his time with the refugees this week, making sure that his instructions regarding gathering are followed, and that the mortals are both preparing the fish with the due amount of caution and successfully identifying the edible mushrooms from the hallucinogenic variety.  Though it quickly becomes apparent that the mortals are unlikely to wander off alone to die in the tunnels or sever their own fingers peeling tubers, he still spends a fair amount of time with them.

Turtle even joins in the strength-building mining sessions Tycho holds, working alongside the mortals and helping show them how best to .  It quickly becomes evident he has shifted rocks before, in vast quantities, and "It isn't just about strength, hmm, but, how you use the strength...  Leverage, you see.  You're wasting your arm length if you just, swing from the elbow, let your shoulder do, most of the work..."  The gentle Lunar even participates in a few of the mock skirmishes, though he not only fights in his mortal form but shows an extreme effort not to hurt those he ends up fighting, even when facing up against the magitech enhanced Solar.

Turtle also intervenes a bit while observing the domestic workers, noting the potential for disruption in the insects' sugary gift.  After observing odd behavior from the mortals exposed to it, he decides to take personal responsibility for dispensing the royal confection, using the pretext of keeping it as an emergency reserve for when the available food supplies begin to run dry.  Until either the food situation becomes quite serious or a permanent source of the substance is negotiated, the sugar is off limits to mortals and Exalts alike.

[Private to GM: Turtle is using Tycho's skirmishes as an opportunity to learn two combat charms, Second Dexterity Excellency and Subduing the Honored Foe.  Between them they take 3 days of training, which I'm hoping will be covered by participating this week.]

The refugees grouse and complain, but when set to work, they work. The laborers, at least, make a good precedent for the others to catch up to. And since they make up a third up to nearly a half of their team, the slackers don't have much opportunity to slack without looking really conspicuous.

Between the mock battles and blessed moments of rest, they work the earth. They are fortunate that Turtle is working with them this week, because his skill at earthcraft gives him the eye for recognizing useful ores and materials. It appears this mine has largely been situated to take advantage of a significant iron ore vein, which also contains deposits of coal, limestone, clay, even iron-derived ochres used as pigments. Traces of lead and graphite are found as well.

Extracting ores is more than enough labor to last a week. Only the coal and clay and ochre are immediately usable; the rest requires smelting or other processing techniques to separate. Most of the ores were likely transported elsewhere for processing, but the blacksmith's furnaces were likely also utilized for more immediate small-scale needs.

As Tycho's primary goal is not to extract the ores but to train the refugees, though, they do not concentrate on quantity of useful ore as much as the exercise the labor provides. But Tycho discovers the hard way that care needs to be taken in what areas are chosen to be excavated, so as not to jeopardize the structural integrity of the surrounding caverns. A cave-in that nearly kills two of his men reminds him of the dangers of mining amateurly. Overall, though, the regimen does much toward building strength and power, while continuing to build Drachma's confidence as no less than Tycho's second-in-command, and de facto leader.

Turtle's sage advice further aids in improving efficiency and safety precautions. The refugees are rather unhappy at first to have the confection restricted, but it ultimately leads them to work harder, as their attention is focused elsewhere. The methods for picking and preparing edible foods continue to be practiced and perfected so that few accidents occur. If he were inclined to offer aid, he could similarly affect the mining process in a positive way as well, given his experiences with laboring in the Earth levels.

[Private to Alus Tycho: Assuming this regimen continues, those refugees that don't have them yet will get Strength 3 and Melee 3 next week. If they have Strength 3 already they'll either work towards Strength 4 or get Athletics: Feats of Strength +1, depending on the amount of time people end up staying put. (It'd take months normally to get 4 in any attribute so I'm trying not to be too generous.) If they have Melee 3 already they'll either work towards Melee 4 or get Melee: Mining Implements +1, again depending on time.

Oops -- almost forgot Drachma. He should have War 3 now. I'll let you think about whether you'll give him a specialty, or try to push for more War, or something else (Presence?)]
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:44, Mon 16 Feb 2009.

Higura continues to make progress with the organization of the camp. He and Saffron become intimately familiar with the names of every refugee and make progress in profiling their behavior, interests, skills and tastes. [Private to Saffron; Yaishin Higura: it would be entirely too much work for me to actually mention these things in detail. But if necessary to embellish a post, you could potentially make up names, personalities and jobs for any of the still-unnamed refugees, so long as you keep in mind the general categories and proportions they are divided by (see the first post in this thread).]

Saffron and Higura find the refugees in training most receptive to their teachings and encouragement during the evenings of rest, when their bodies are weary and their minds are open. However, Higura starts to discover that the refugees are generally more comfortable around Saffron than with him. His methods are certainly effective: guiding a person to the heart of their troubles, helping them face their fears and banish them with logical thinking. But it is more clinical than instinctive, and earns him few friends, though he helps many people in the process.

Nightmares and anxiety attacks are becoming more of a rarity. The people seem less to fear the idea of 'trespassing' to above levels as much as they do losing the freedom and livelihood they are now building together. Some still profess indecision about continuing above with the Exalts, but now that they have seen what it is like just one district above, their curiosity is awakened about what lies beyond this one. It is difficult to stifle the thirst for knowledge once it has been awakened. [Private to Saffron, Yaishin Higura: The refugees gain Integrity 1. And may eventually get 2 by the end of the stay in the mining settlement. Also, I'd welcome it if one or both of you actually wanted to type out a 'pep talk', get some morale going for Tycho's troops-in-training or for the refugees in general.]

Among the health cases Saffron has to deal with -- besides the minor cuts and bruises Tamra and some others are becoming skilled at patching up themselves -- are a broken clavicle, a couple broken limbs and misplaced ribs, a poor man who broke BOTH legs in the cave-in, a handful complaining of complications from coal or lead dust, and the rare case of a man who actually ate a bad cavefish. Combined with her medicine crafting, her days are busy.

   Saffron does not push the refugees one way or another. When she can she points out the pros and cons of both decisions so that the people can get used to making decisions on their own. She makes it clear that as long as she can aid them, she will, but she will not stay in this place forever.

   When any of her people show reticence toward Higura she reassures them. And as she sees he is helping many, but making few friends, she makes time to be around as he is helping them to offer him a smile and kind words. Her hope is that by showing the people she is comfortable and friends with the doctor they can trust him, find comfort, and relax around him.

The day comes, rather suddenly, when the mechanical Solar approaches the pair of healers. Covered in dust from the days labor, his whole body lets out a soft and almost sinister sounding hiss as he approaches them. "Higaru, Saffron, I need to speak with the two of you."

He knows he is being a bit unprecedented. There has been little communication between his activities and their own so far. The Solar kept his distance from most everyone beyond Danae, who he goes to for regular maintenance.


--------

[Private to Gatekeeper: So, lets aim for Strength/Melee instead of the Specialties for now. The Specialties would be more useful for immediate reasons, but the Strength/Melee dots are better in the long run. If we have to pack up and move out before then, can always try to find the time to renew their training later. For Drachma, lets give him some Presence instead of War]
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:17, Wed 18 Feb 2009.

The doctor does not try to corroborate Saffron's words necessarily, but rather accepts them humbly. Saffron can likely tell that he appreciates her efforts a lot - despite his work involving others a lot, the doctor does not seem to mingle much with others. Not necessarily by choice, but perhaps out of circumstances. Higura appears the type who has many acquaintances, but very few friends.

Despite the unprecedented nature of the situation, Higura seems to respond to Tycho as if it had been a usual and natural occurrence. Stopping his usual regimen of tasks almost immediately, he uses a towel to wipe his hands carefully before smiling towards the machine man. "Of course, mister Tycho. What it is I can do for you?"

"I am happy to listen," Saffron says nodding slightly.

Noting with dismay the unfortunate rate of dangerous accidents occurring due to the haphazard mining and interest the amount of useful material still available in the abandoned shafts, Turtle quickly steps in to give the miners more direction.  He makes it clear that Tycho is still in charge overall, but the Lunar begins taking a role in the direct supervision, as well as selecting where exactly the mining should be concentrated.  His first act as shift boss is to institute some basic rules that will hopefully ensure that fewer accidents occur due to inexperience, such as ensuring that each group includes at least one member with previous experience in mining.

Turtle begins to exhibit an approachable attitude, both toward the other Exalts and the mortals.  He appears uncomfortable with positions of higher authority - even directing the laborers is handled informally, generally through polite suggestions and simple demonstration rather than outright orders.

Leading his fellow Exalts a short distance away from where the refugees are taking a much earned break, the Solar stops near an ore cart that has been flipped over to serve as cover in mock-combat. Tycho sits, his heavy frame causing the big ore car he rests on to groan.

"You two have been working closer with them on some levels than I have," he begins, looking back and forth between the two. It almost sounds like an accusation, perhaps a bit of parental jealousy. "But even I can look at them and gauge their mood. They're still just... refugees. They're still just a bunch scared people hiding out in these tunnels, terrified of the Peaceforce coming down on them. They're doing a lot better than they were when we first got here, but learning how to hurt the Peaceforce with a shovel isn't learning how to be defeat them."

"Starting tomorrow, I'm going to stop the physical training and I'd like you two to help me with something. I want to teach them how to read."

The doctor looks back towards the mechanical man with a reappraising look. The smile on his lips widens slightly, and he tilts his head to one side, still wiping his hands on the towel he had picked up.

"I have been with these people for some time, yes, mister Tycho. You are quite right - they are refugees. They were raised in such an environment, made to believe that is all there was to their existence. Fear, submission, and obedience. Those were the things they were shaped to respect and follow. But now... Now that worldview has been shattered, and although those are confusing times, there is also the opportunity for it to be a liberating ones."

Higura put the towel back in place, then nodded towards Tycho. "You have my complete support, mister Tycho." He extended a hand forward, as a sign of agreement. "We helped them escape, but they are still prisoners. Let us teach them how to be people."

Saffron's face is undecipherable as she asks quietly, "And if they do not desire to read? What will you want them to do? Can they continue to work the mines or practice fighting? Remember, these people have barely tasted freedom. Some will need more time to relax and come to terms before they desire anything beyond what they are doing now. We cut the chains free from their feet, but the mind may not have had the time to remove those. And even then some may be content to remain as they are. We also must remember they are not like us, most of their thoughts are going to continue to tend toward where the next meal is going to come from and how to obtain the finances or the skills to get it. And that lack of foresight on their part is something we will have to respect. I want to be clear I will help you, but I will not force the unwilling."
This message was last edited by the player at 15:25, Sat 21 Feb 2009.

"People are powerful, but without guidance they are just the Mob. The Mob does not build nations, it does not even protect itself. All the Mob does is destroy. It's only purpose is to tear down the foundations of the establishment. It can rise no higher. Education is key to establishing a lasting order. One of the most heinous forms of tyranny is for those with it to withhold it from those without," Tycho says, his voice intoned slightly as if quoting from somewhere or someone else.

Which, indeed, he was.

The ore cart groaned as the mechanical Solar leaned forward on it, his unblinking white eyes like two moons glowing down on Saffron. Her reasoning does not impress him much nor her sentiments. "We don't have to respect their lack of foresight. You should never respect a lack of foresight. Shortsightedness is an ill to be cured, not a trait to be celebrated."

"They have basic needs. We are already working towards fulfilling them. The bonds will never leave their minds if we don't start making them think. The only difference between using your arm to break a stone and using your mind to break a problem is which part of your body you use to do it."

"My apologies..." Drachma has separated from the group of resting refugees, likely intending to speak with Tycho on some matter, but stepping into a conference between the Exalts instead. "I can come back later." He nearly looks as if he'll simply walk on, but something makes him pause, turn back.

"But if you would hear me out I would tell you, sirs, that I am in agreement with Captain Tycho. I do think that there are some that may not take well to book-learning. But those who remain unlearned can be easily influenced to betray us. Too much choice can be just as much a danger as too little. Certain necessities must be seen to, whether the value of such is immediately seen or not. You would not have refused that Grinning Turtle taught proper mining techniques, or taught us how to prepare cavefish properly."

"But forgive me if I speak out of turn. As I am not the teacher, I will not decide." The older mortal nods gruffly and steps back, acknowledging his position as a 'vassal' of sorts. "I will tell you that a few of our number do know how to read their letters in Low Realm. I am fortunate to be one of those." As Tycho already knows, from his private lessons in tactics and strategy.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:29, Tue 24 Feb 2009.

"Might I suggest a consensus, then?" Higura starts, softly, as the others argue their viewpoints. He speaks with a polite, even tone, obviously trying to offer some common ground in the situation in order to achieve a suitable compromise for all involved.

"I would believe it would be advantageous to teach the refugees as well - if only so that they reach a greater sense of autonomy. The last thing we want to encourage is too grand a sense of dependency on us or any other type of mender... If we do, the consequences could be quite damaging to the refugees themselves. Should they be separated from us or their group, they might find themselves limited in their ability to better their situation, and that is not something any man or woman should ever be faced with."

He pauses, then nods to those assembled around him, making certain to include Drachma as well, to let the man know that as the spokesperson of the refugees, he has a voice in this matter as well. "To help ease the minds of everyone, I propose this. I believe that we should go as suggested and teach the refugees how to read. Meanwhile, I will also hold sessions in order to properly explain to each and everyone of them why their learning would be beneficial. It is important to note that many of these people's choices are based on what they have been brought up with, and the dogma they have known all their lives. It is primordial to offer a counterpoint to this viewpoint, so that they are made aware that the 'truths' that were enforced upon them during captivity are not as absolute as they might believe."

"For having worked with them, I would believe that once they are exposed to differing points of views and alternate truths, they will see the benefits in learning to make their own decisions - and what mister Tycho wishes to offer is merely a tool for such decision-making."

Oh ho? So I'm a Captain now, am I?

Tycho thinks with a touch of bemusement. It was quiet a leap, from the official rank of 'Riot Control and Population Pacification Equipment, Serial Mark 00' to Captain. He's not even certain yet how comfortable he is with that title, but does not rebuke Drachma for using it. He does give his mortal second a nod of encouragement, however, letting him know his input was welcome here.

"I'm not opposed to that idea," Tycho says, nodding at Higaru's suggestion. "It would be a shame to see any of them reject the proposition without even realizing what they are being offered. Too many do."

Saffron's response is a nod of assent. "I suppose that would be fair. As long as there is choice involved, I would gladly teach them, while I can."

"Eventually, our paths may separate. If any one of these people should choose to remain here when you move forward, I would ask that I stay among them. I am a woman of peace; it is not my place to stand in the front lines. It is my duty, rather, to ensure that the war that you intend to start within these walls does not harm those innocent to it."

She presses her hands together in a gesture of goodwill, bowing her head slightly. "But do not misunderstand. I understand that freedom cannot always be won with words. Both of you have your place in the future of Five Coils, as do I."

"Then it is decided." He tilts his head towards the mechanical man, regarding him carefully. "I believe we should hold a meeting stating our intent first, so the refugees know what we are planning to do - if only so no one among them suspects that we are doing covert dealings behind their back. Once that is done, I will meet with them myself and explain the reasons behind this initiative, so as to explain properly why it would be important for them. I will start my counter-propaganda effort from there."

"Also, as an added recommendation, I would ask that Mister Drachma be recognized as the official voice of the refugees, if you would so accept." The doctor turns towards the mortal, a faint smile tracing his lips as he continues to explain. "You seem to have taken on the role of spokesperson for the group, and that is something that will become more and more necessary as time goes by. First because it is not yet certain that the refugees will say everything to any of us - either through awe or fear or for other reasons, they might not speak of all the matters that concern or affect them. As such, it would be a great asset to have a representative that they would feel can speak in their name, so we always have the best possible level of communication."
This message was last edited by the player at 01:15, Thu 26 Feb 2009.

Drachma inclines his head to Higura and Tycho, more comfortable with the secondary role to the massive machine-man. "If what you wish is to make it official, I would not shy from such a duty. But I will confess, it seems they have all but chosen me for it. I served guard duty in the Pit, and have had some experience organizing men. Nothing quite so ambitious as what we are attempting now, though."

"But I am proud to be a part of it."
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:25, Fri 27 Feb 2009.

As the second week comes to a conclusion, the combat training, mining excursions and evening counseling sessions continue to bolster the laborers' physical prowess and confidence. Tycho, Turtle and Higura are considered the respective authority figures for these activities; few at this point would question that they deserve their positions, whether they aspired to them or not.

Turtle seems to have gained a reputation among the refugees as a highly dependable leader, despite his humility and slow-moving nature. Once they realize he knows what he's doing and has their best benefit in mind, his calm, measured suggestions are considered sound advice, and they do not need to be pushed to follow his directions. The refugees periodically bring in iron ore, limestone, coal and clay, arranging the raw materials in the mining settlement's nearby storage caverns.

Saffron keeps working with Tamra to produce medicines and deal with whatever scrapes, bruises and broken bones crop up from mock skirmishes or mining mishaps. She listens to those who wish her counsel, but otherwise does not influence their choices in any way.
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:42, Thu 26 Mar 2009.

Week 3

The third week of freedom starts uneventfully, at least for Saffron and Turtle, who confine themselves to their own insular activities: healing and potion brewing for the former, food and resource gathering for the latter. They have both become rather quiet, distancing themselves from the other Exalts; there are rumors that one or both is considering to depart from the camp for a time.

Nonetheless, they have yet to announce any official decisions, and still continue to aid the refugees in their own way with words, medicine and labor. As Saffron was the one most opposed to 'forcing' knowledge upon the refugees, though, it is uncertain how much help she will be in terms of teaching them to read. That leaves Higura to do the majority of instruction -- when he can find the time.

The arrival of Talia and the Immaculates injects an ambiance of excitement and expectation into the camp. Are we leaving so soon? Will there be more attacks? What does the entire situation mean for our safety? For the refugees Tycho is training, the battle was the first true test of the skills the machine-man has been drilling into them daily. Though it ended shortly after their entrance, many of them still consider it their first real skirmish, as they participated not as helpless people needing protection, but as part of the offensive. It should not be a surprise, then, that many refugees opt to be included in the debriefing with Nanaret (now visiting from the B25 Laborer's Conclave) and Talia (who just plain needs to know what in Malfeas is going on).

Once the captives are at least momentarily subdued, and their equipment stored or distributed, both Celestials and non-Exalts start to gather in the deeper caves beyond the settlement. Tycho has staged many a mock battle for his 'soldiers' in this very area, as it is far removed from the outskirts of the sensor-blind area. Now it is being used for yet another meeting, which hopefully will be a short one.

---

OOC: ok, using this thread for Nanaret to do her report, and Talia to actually... not be ignored, hopefully. :)

Third, in between the times it spends with the captives, sits with the others to discuss things with Nanaret, and taking a moment to greet Talia. 'Apologies for ignoring you earlier. Third is Third Beneficiary of Ordered Knowledge. It is good to meet you. Thank you for your aid against the Earth Immaculate.' it says, bowing it's head politely.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:16, Fri 27 Mar 2009.

"I wasn't that much help.  I guess I'm not quite as good as I thought I was.  I'm Talia.  Talia Zerith."

"Sorry, Talia, I was distracted too. I just run back from one of the other settlements in the area, then I see Immaculate monks near our camp." Nanaret explains, perching on a raised plane of rock that happens to be the perfect height for sitting. "Was very... stressful."

She isn't quite sure where to start with Talia, so settles with the basics. "So you escaped in Earth District? The rest of us, we come from Water District, before it was closed off by the Purge. More than two week ago, we tried stop extermination of entire Water District. Some Terrestrials set up the Purge just to get rid of free Celestials... so they say. We managed escape by befriending the Gatekeeper of Water, who brought us here."

"And here..." Nanaret gestures around her to indicate the cavern, "is safe as we can get. As long as we do not attract attention the sentries will not find us here. So we try lay low, train and craft equipment, look for information and for allies in Earth District. Trying to plan more, so maybe things be less chaotic this time... not like Water District. At least we try." The Lunar shrugs and falls silent a bit, waiting to see if anyone else would come by, or if Talia had anything to say.

"Please do not blame yourself... Your arrival came at a very... volatile time, that is all. But you should not feel sorry for it. It is us who should apologize for not being able to extend a better welcome." The brown-haired man bows, smiling in Talia's direction. "I am Doctor Yaishin Higura, but you can call me Higura like everyone else here."

"I am not certain what your plans are now that you are free, but as I stated earlier, do feel free to stay with us as long as you want."
This message was last edited by the player at 17:50, Fri 27 Mar 2009.

"I am Alus Tycho, recently of the Peace Force. If you're from this district, you could be useful," says Tycho from where he stands near by, positioned opposite of Third and Higura. He is watchful of the new comer, but not inherently distrusting. Her story was likely the same as their own. It could not have been coincidence, her finding them here. "Nanaret and some others have been scouting the area, but we still know that much about this district beyond our immediate surroundings."

"Speaking of which..." he looks at Nanaret questioningly.

A quiet yawn is heard from off to the side at this point, as Danae wanders into the room, having been awoken somewhat in the ensuing confusion, and looking remarkably dazed despite herself. "Morning..."  She begins, not quite noticing most of the 'Newcomers' offhand--though the small package she had in one hand did imply she wasn't entirely out of the loop just yet.

Tossing said package over to Saina a little absently, she said.  "Yours is finished...  Sorry I couldn't get it wrapped up before you left, but it couldn't really be helped...  In any case, I didn't have a whole lot to work with, but I tried to focus it in the connecting chains--you can probably double it's length if you snap it, and it should be solid enough that you can use it as a makeshift polevault...  But really, it's mostly built to your specifications--if you want to name it, the title's up to you."

She blinked absently a few times, then yawned again.  "Anyone have something to drink today?"

Third nods towards Danae. "We have acquired more resources for your efforts." It stands up, and approaches her, asking quietly. "If you are able... Third wishes to learn some arts of crafting from you. Third has been... thinking about the past a great deal. It would also give you more time to work on projects other than simply crafting." it says pleasantly, bowing its head to her. "And allow Third to find you something." it says, moving to the temporary commissary they've set up, taking some of the water, bringing it to her in one of the tin cups used throughout the settlement. "Meet Talia." it says pleasantly, nodding its head to the new Solar as it returns quietly to its seat.

"They brought to the Earth District to pick up materials when my collar came off, but I'm not really from here.  I've mostly jus been lying low since then.  So that was you people in the Water District?  I heard rumors."
Talia nods at Danae.
"This may sound like a odd question, but what exactly is all of this?" she asks, her gesture encompassing not just her immediate surroundings but the entire operation.

"Nice to meet you Talia" Danae adds, a little absently.  "Oh...  Well, magitech's a bit of a pain to work with--it pretty much requires a basis in forgecraft and fine detailing, an overall solid grounding in mechanical constructing--and then it takes a good long while from there to figure out how it all locks together in a functional manner.  It's difficult stuff."  She took a drink from the cup, and took a bit to think.  "Of course, you can also do a lot of interesting things with it if you're good..  I'm not really a master myself, but I'm close--I can probably give you a rundown when I've got a little free time..."

She then blinks a few times, and focuses on Talia, after she began addressing her--as the gears in her head finally started to grind properly.

"Wait...  New person?  Ah...  Nice to meet you...  This place though?  It's an abandoned mining settlement we decided to set down roots in...  The rest?  We're still not sure of the details yet--we've only been out on our own for about two weeks so far--going on the third though"

Nanaret catches the 'package', looking almost surprised at first, then noticeably grateful. She examines the quality with interest, running her fingers across the different textures of material: honey resin grips, steel striking surfaces, moonsilver links.

Stepping down from her perch, Nanaret moves through a basic Snake kata while the others exchange words, to get a feel for the serpent staff's size and flexibility. She'd need a partner, and more time, to really test it out... Unfortunately, time is not something the Lunar has at a premium right now. "Thank you," she says to Danae, finally, when she returns to a relaxed stance. "Thank you very much, Danae Adela. Considering what little we have, it is excellent construction, and am honored I can wield it. One day I hope I repay your efforts." The words feel inadequate for the gift, but the promised favor is genuine.

"I think is better the magical material is not prominent in the construction. Means may be easier to hide what it is. A shame, though, I cannot bring with me yet. Allow my explaining..." She nods to Tycho, too, acknowledging the silent question there, though she may not have an answer that is to his liking. After all, she has concentrated most of her effort playing a role within the Conclave, so far. "Dashu and Xurizu and I are under cover identity in the B25 Laborer's Conclave. Xurizu is a clerk named Jenci. I am Bryn and Dashu is Freidr, sister and brother miners. I have had few days to settle into the role, though it is a throwaway identity, so cannot maintain it forever."

"While doing this we have discovered a few things. Working as miners puts us close to movement of resources. The ores, they move by rail or conveyor belt, then freight elevator to above floors.[Private to GM; Peleps Dashu: I read this when Dashu was doing his initial scouting, I figured Nanaret would see some of that too. Hope it's not too presumptuous.] Most guards in the area between here and Conclave are machine sentries. However, there are some human patrols -- Peace Force. The Immaculates, they are expending most effort in capturing 'Free'. Seems Water District events maybe inspired Free's gang to start terrorist action."

"Before I left I searched out crime elements in the Conclave. There is a smuggler who operates the area. He is called Mockingbird and has done jobs for Free, it is said. Dashu and Xurizu trying to meet him now. I offered to return to report, and to warn you. The Conclave is checking everyone who comes in and out. They have guards at checkpoints, dressed like civilians, but Dashu say they are Peace Officers."

(OOC: sorry if it's a lot at once, but thought I'd try and get all the basic info out right away so people could ask questions.)
This message was last edited by the player at 00:56, Sat 28 Mar 2009.

Meanwhile Dena sticks to a dark corner and avoids attention, as best somebody with her startling appearance can.  She's stayed generally quiet since the battle, refusing any aid for her wounds and generally staying fairly focussed on some inner turmoil rather than the rest of the world.  She watches Danae fairly intently but is moved startled to some action by Saina's words.
"Have you found out what happened in the Water District?" she asks quickly, drawing a meaningless doodle in the ground with one finger as she thinks.

Third nods. "Third has some basis in delicate craftings, and as a Twilight, learning should come relatively easy to it. With luck, soon Third will be able to aid you." It bows pleasantly.

Third considers. "What are we able to do to help you? Third is unable to offer any direct assistance, Third is not, unfortunately, designed for stealth. But, if there is any information that would prove helpful to you in the future, Third would be willing to scan it's memory for it." it says, bowing its head to Nanaret in thanks for the dangerous job she has been doing.

Listening to Nanaret's report, Higura ponders the various facts she speaks of, waiting for her to finish before she speaks again. "So... Mister Dashu and Mister Xurizu are working to get this 'Mockingbird's' attention, yes? Having help from the inside of the community would be quite an asset, I admit - especially one who could move things in and out." The doctor pauses, then tilts his head slightly.

"How is the Conclave as a community? How different is it from the Water district communities we have seen from before? It might be useful to know how the Dragonblooded treat the workers here..."

Nanaret answers Dena first. "Mmm... not think people on this floor know much of the truth of Water District. Most people, they believe that it has been quarantined for a deadly epidemic. Not everyone believes what they hear though. But seems to me that the Peace Force trying to control information about the state of Water District."

"Security is tighter now. That is why all the checkpoints. I do not know much more for sure," she concludes apologetically, and acknowledges Third's offer for help. "Information we would like to know? Maybe you know something of mining sector. I think freight elevators be one way to upper floors, but maybe your memory has better way. Or know something of the automaton guards, some weakness to them?"

"Also--whatever you may know of Immaculate Temples in Earth District. There is... ah... well, one of us. Collared one, held in the Conclave temple. We want to get her out. But depends on whether Mockingbird will help us. If not, more knowledge of temple layout may help."

Finally she thinks on Higura's question carefully. "Mmm... it is cleaner. More organized. Very organized, yes. If you not Dragon-blooded or employee of Coils, you are a laborer, and you get stipend for food and supplies based on work you do. They give vouchers for such things." In the blink of an eye, Nanaret pulls out one of the signed, printed vouchers from... somewhere... with her dextrous, flexible fingers. Then she crosses over to her makeshift seat, indicating the medical supplies and salt she managed to bring. "Here."
This message was last edited by the player at 18:06, Sat 28 Mar 2009.

"Do they use animals or have pets in that area?" Dena asks.  "Perhaps if humans are being inspected, Nanaret and I could infiltrate wearing new forms."

"None I have seen, Dena," Nanaret answers honestly. She'd only seen other workers, Dragon-bloods, machine sentries... even a machine man, like some sort of older, mismatched version of Tycho. "If you truly wish to try, I only recommend if you have small enough natural shape, though."

"Me, I am expected back as my cover identity. Not want to risk breaking cover while Dashu and Xurizu are still working, as our identities all related."

She turns her attention back to the former Peace Forcer, crossing her arms and folding the serpent staff close to her body. It would take more time to attune Danae's gift, but it already feels very much like hers. "These answers satisfy you, Tycho? I saw another like you in the Conclave, by the way. Name is Ironbeak. He actually had desk job. But seemed like... prototype? of your body. Not sure it matters, just thought I mention it." She shrugs and waits for other questions, if any.

"Hmm." Dena thinks this over.  "It's probably not worth the effort then.  Even as a small creature I imagine I'd be hunted as Vermin rather than be free to help.  I should probably continue to concentrate on helping Danae with the crafting, and speaking to the Prisoners sooner or later."

Tycho considers what Nanaret has reported the longest, before he finally speaks.

Ironbeak?

He scrapes a metallic thumb over the armored casing of his thigh, creating a softly unpleasant scratching sound. Knowing his own body as well as he does, he has trouble picturing someone who is actually a prototype of the same project.

"Satisfy, no, but it's better than hearing nothing at all," he offers finally, side stepping the mention of Ironbeak for now. Does little good to know it, when he cannot contact the other and speak to them. "I might be some help in contacting this Mockingbird, if Dashu and Xurizu haven't managed already when you get back. Couldn't go with you, but I know a little about how underground movements operate."


Suddenly, he holds out his palm towards the voucher in her hand. "Can I see that?"

As Nanaret asks her questions, Third closes its eyes, and begins to ponder on this. 'Third will attempt to sketch a map for you to memorize, and ruminate on what Third can about how to avoid or defeat the automaton guards more easily." it says, slowly closing its eyes as it thinks over the problem, letting what information it and Harmony can summon together wash through its mind, as the others discuss.

Talia stands back, listening to the discussion of infiltration, cover identities, and tactical plans.  She is still unsure of the situation she has found herself in, but from what she has heard, these people are working towards a goal she can certainly agree with: anything that weakens the Immaculates' hold on Five Coils gets her that much closer to freedom.  There is little she can do to aid with the current plans, but she resolves to do whatever she is able to aid the cause.

"Hmm? Yes," Nanaret says when Tycho asks after the voucher. She hands it to him, glancing curiously at the machine-man. "Why not satisfying? Ask more if you need more information, at least I may return and find out for you. Or is it my news that not pleases you?"

She nods gratefully to Third, though, and lets it take its time considering her queries... as much time as she can allow, given her situation.

"I will stay a few more hours. Enough so I gain back some energy--cannot allow my Essence to show where I am returning. After that, must return to my post."

Third takes several minutes to scratch a map of B25 in the dirt, much more rough than its more complete map of the Lost Corridors.

According to the crude map, the entire floor -- much like all others in the Coils -- is a circular shape. Dead center is the location of the central elevator, encased in a large structure Third recalls as "Inner Temple". The B25 Laborer's Conclave is located south of that structure, and the Lost Corridors (including the Celestials' mining settlement and the builder bug hive) are much further away, somewhere at the south-southwest edge of the floor.

Unlike the Water floors, Third remembers four elevators in B25, though it can only mark their approximate position. The northeast and southwest elevators are for resources only (the southwest one is likely the one Nanaret has passed), while the northwest and southeast are the district-wide elevators, typically used to move people. Interestingly, Third's map shows that there ought to be a stairway close to the location of the Celestials' camp, but no one who bothered exploring has ever discovered one.

This is the extent of information the earthen map shows. Third does not know for certain about any other laborer camps, or how the mining operations have shifted since it has last been allowed to memorize a map. However, it and Harmony's combined memory stores hold quite a bit more about the automaton sentries of Earth District -- so much that it takes effort to formulate how to explain it all. [Private to Third Beneficiary of Orderly Knowledge: You got 10 successes for this, so here comes infodump! Also your general knowledge about these automatons will give you bonuses (I'll determine) in combat or other contested rolls against them. You might even pass on some bonuses to the others, should you explain enough details for them to take advantage of.

There are two types of Earth District automatons, the Hulking Armor Sentinel and the Spider Eye Spy. In any one quadrant there are usually 4-6 Armors and anywhere from 6-12 Spider Eyes. They all have to cover a wide area though so it's likely you'd ever only encounter a fraction of these at once (unless an alarm is tripped).

The Armors are large sized automatons programmed to regularly sweep their assigned quadrant. Their bodies are much like unmanned warstriders, basically hollow walking armors, and their perfectly spherical heads can swivel 360 degrees. The head bears their characteristic 'red eye' sensor, which 'sees' a long cone-shaped area in front of it, probably several hundred yards. Their weakness is that they can typically only be looking at one direction at any time, so moving behind or even under them makes it easier to pass by undetected. They are also large sized enough that they require a prominent Essence battery, a 'heart' if you will located in the armored shell where the pilot would otherwise be. Destroying or disabling the heart would shut it down, but that assumes one is fast enough to get close--the Armors are equipped with heavy weapons, both ranged and melee, and their hands and feet are large enough to crush any human.

The Spider Eyes are much much smaller. Unlike the Armors, which are made to deter by intimidation, these are made for spying and infiltration. They are the size of a human head, including their legs, and move with 8 legs much as arachnids do. Their sensors are not as long-range as the Armors (in tens of yards rather than hundreds), but they are more mobile, do not emit any light and cover an entire 360 radius around them. Should they find a target they consider a threat to security, they will alert all Hulking Armors and human patrols in the vicinity, while 'webbing' the target in place with sticky tendrils or delivering an essence venom bite. Otherwise they default simply to recording all they see, and may follow a suspicious person a long way to make sense of what they are doing. Their main weakness is that they're not made to be fighters -- if discovered in time, they may be crushed or evaded before they can set off an alarm.

Another possibility that may work for both automatons is basically setting up a distraction. They're not as sophisticated or intelligent as Harmony or the Gatekeepers -- they have a purpose and they stick to that purpose. So they can be drawn away by some sort of stimuli their programming cannot ignore (unidentified threats, suspicious behavior, the more obvious the better!)]

[Private to Alus Tycho: Post what you want to do with the voucher, then I'll reply about that.]

"Excuse me, Nanaret." Vice-Captain Drachma speaks up after a period of crossing his arms and listening in silence. "How difficult was it for you to infiltrate the way you did? Would it be safe for a non Exalted to assimilate into this Conclave? I do not ask for my sake, but there are some among us who are not well-suited to fight their way up, or sneak around sentries."

A burly woman with an axe and hammer at her belt -- one of the fighting laborers -- voices her own concern. "What about the workers in Conclave? They look happy? I mean, they content with their lot in life, with their superiors?" Several of the refugees look alertly at Nanaret, waiting for the answer.

Nodding towards Drachma and the other refugees, Higura folds his arms loosely across his chest, reflecting upon the matter. "There might be an opportunity there, a crack to exploit that might help us find a weakness in the Earth district's stability." The doctor ponders for a moment, then tilts his head to the side. "Stability usually comes at a price, and this fact is even more true with the time of regime we have in the Coils - where stability comes at the cost of everything else."

"If there is a shard of discontent among the workers and the inhabitants of this district, that is because they are unhappy, somewhere along the line... Which means they are likely to wish to change their fate if given the chance."

"This also means that with the right support, we might be able to help them on this endeavor... And change our small struggle for change into a district-wide one."

"Was pretty difficult, Drachma..." Nanaret sighs. "Involved a great deal of improvisation, and even so I not even sure all suspicion cleared from us. That is why I do not expect to keep that identity for more than few days."

"Maybe if not for checkpoint it would not be so bad. Right now is not good idea to enter without paperwork though. Though, I not think they kill other laborers, they would use you to find us Exalted though." The Lunar shrugs at this. If the refugees really wanted to uncover them, they could. She isn't about to force them into secrecy, rather hopes that they will want to keep this secret by their own free will.

"Discontent..." Nanaret thinks back to the attitude of the workers when she, Dashu and Xurizu first entered the Conclave. "Not all of them happy. Most, I think, wish not for trouble, stay within the laws to get by. Just want enough to eat and roof over heads. But there were some unhappy about extra guards on duty, interrogations... One say he lost his brother, guards took him away one day, never came back. Another woman, Hilde, she talk to me about feeling taken for granted."

"Not sure that what you mean for 'discontent.'" She pauses that train of thought and looks at Talia. "Maybe you can tell everyone what you are able to do? If you stay with us you will help, some way."

(OOC: Hope the last part isn't too meta, thought I could give Talia something to reply to since I've been all wordy :P)

Third closes its eyes, and thinks of how to properly compress the information for a moment, before beginning. " There are two production-model Automatons in regular use in the Earth District. One is surveillance-based, the spider-drones you have mentioned. The other is a large warrior-automaton. They are wide-spread, and there should be something on the order of sixteen to twenty four warrior-automatons on a floor, split up by quadrants classification HAS-3, Hulking Armor Sentinels, and anywhere from twenty four to fourty-eight SES-2, the Spider Eye Spies, split in the same way. They tend to be relatively divided across their quadrants, so as long as you do not trip any alarms, they should not pose too deep a threat. They are both relatively unsophisticated. If you can create a distraction that caters to their programming, such as having a mortal behave suspiciously, but innocently, then it will prove an effective distraction to them."

It continues. "HAS-3 class automatons are patrol automatons, with limited degree vision on a 360 degree swivelling head, in an elongated cone. Their field of view is long, but limited, if you can outmaneuver their single eye, it will help you to be safe. They are hollow, containing an essence battery, which can be sabotaged if you are able to infiltrate the shell. They are heavily armed, so Third and Harmony would recommend showing great caution in approaching. A blow from them could prove fatal, even for an Exalt. They also have heavy ranged equipment."

"Finally, the SES-2 drones are much shorter-vision, but it's 360 degree, so coming within a dozen yards of them can get you spotted. They are equipped with webbing projectors and an essence venom bite, but their primary purpose is alerting the heavy response forces on the floor. If you destroy them quickly, it will prevent alarms. Their programming would make them especially vulnerable to distractions, as they're programmed to prioritize suspicious behavior and have a high degree of tenacity in their job." It bows its head deeply. 'Third hopes this shall aid you.'

It inspects the map quietly. 'Dena, Danae, Talia, it may be worth our time to inspect this other stairway. It may make a convenient escape route if we must leave suddenly.'

"If I may briefly change the subject, I'm still concerned about the attack by the Immaculates.  If another party follows their trail here we may be in a lot more trouble.  We need to find a way to either misdirect a search party, or close off that tunnel entirely and open another way so they can't be tracked."

Talia looks to Nanaret when she is questioned.  "Hm?  Oh, I'm a crafter, mostly.  Before I used to specialize in delicate metalwork and such, but They put me to work on weapons.  I managed to pick up a little bit magitech crafting, too.  I know a bit of medicine, too, and some bits and pieces of various things.  I'm actually not a bad fighter, usually."

She listens as Third describes the District's defenses, and suggests evaluating the staircase as an escape route.  "Sounds like a good idea.  I'm in."

When Dena airs her concerns over a coming attack, Talia's expression grows grave.  She thinks, trying to consider all options, which is difficult without further knowledge of the settlement.  She still feels a certain resposibility for the arrival of the Immaculates.  "Can we close the tunnel?  If the party doesn't return, they'll be presumed dead, right?  So what we need is a plausible explanation for what killed them, and a good reason not to go poking around any deeper.  Like a cave-in."  She looks up sharply.  "Did any of them escape?"

Tycho takes the slip of paper in his hand, laying it out across his metal palm and smoothing the edges with mortal fingers. His eyes stare deep at it, examining in detail the flow ink across the page. Hunting for flaws, irregularities, elaborate symbols; anything that might normally be used to identify authenticity. Bureaucrats loved to test the ingenuity of the hard-working terrorist by making it hard to forge documents. They'd slip meaning into the tiniest flaws, even the texture of the paper could be a code.

Forging documents was one of the first rebellious acts Tycho had ever committed against the Dragon-Blooded. It was the whole reason he even knew how to read and write, when almost no one else around him had. Drawing up food vouchers not all that dissimilar to these for his family. Nights spent in a cramped closet with little more than a candle and a pot of ink, mornings spent desperately scrubbing the blue-black stains off his fingers, plotting out which repository to visit and when so there wouldn't be an obvious pattern, making sure to always go to get rations after a day in the factory so that he had already built up a heavy sweat and they wouldn't think twice about the nervous beads running down his face.

"Satisfaction would have been hearing that there is open rebellion on this floor. Smugglers and small-time terrorists are probably what we need if we're going to endure here, but nothing makes moving easier than chaos on the streets," the mechanical Solar answered only at great length. "If they're controlling the movements of their population so intensely, it means they're worried about something. Maybe us or what happened in the Water District. Or maybe they just flex some uniformed authority regularly to remind people who rules here."

He holds up the voucher, waving it slightly. "How unusual would it be for someone to bring in a stack of these?"

[Private to GM: He's basically trying to access how difficult it would be to make copies of the vouchers, provided he can even find the supplies to try]
This message was last edited by the player at 19:34, Thu 02 Apr 2009.

Nanaret listens closely to Third's explanation about the automatons and absorbs all she can, every advantage she can use against the machines she has so far managed to avoid the notice of. "Amazing. You know this much? Must have Dragon-bloods in a panic now that you are free. Thank you, Third Beneficiary. It will help you too, I think, should you wish to look for stairway, or go elsewhere on the floor. I sneaked by without knowing such things but was difficult, even for me."

The wiry Lunar nods to Talia. "You be much help for Danae, she is always looking for others with craft skill. Hrmm, but I do not know if Immaculates escape. I think not. My memory of the battle... it is..." Nanaret tenses suddenly, her head twitching slightly to the left. Then she grimaces as if experiencing a brief twinge of pain, backing into the rock she was using as a chair. Sighing, she sits down and rests her new weapon atop her knees. "N-nothing. Never mind. But I do think may be good to close off outer tunnel before searching elsewhere."

Disturbed by the strange block in her memory that the conversation reminds her of, Nanaret decides to let the others discuss among themselves about the Immaculates, tunnels and exploration. The topic of the voucher seems safer.

"Tycho, I not think vouchers would be the problem so much as entering the area without identification. Maybe too many at once be a problem too. How quickly can you make copies? I may be able bring them back in myself. As for open rebellion, mmm, who knows... maybe miners just need the right push. But I not very good at speeches."
This message was last edited by the player at 21:55, Thu 02 Apr 2009.

"Yeah, I could use a little time out--and my primary job isn't something I can get a whole lot of help with either" Danae agreed with a nod.  "I can probably finish it off on the way--I've got the Charms to take care of that--and if... Talia, right?" She says, turning to the other Craftsperson.  "If you're up to doing a little extra work, we can probably finish up on that soon...  What's your primary weapon by the way?"

"I try not to go around obviously armed; I find it can limit my options.  I tend to...improvise."

"The design isn't that ambitious. Not as bad as the ones in the Earth District, at least. I could draw up several in a few hours, but I couldn't guarantee they'd hold up under close inspection. Leave this with me, for now?" he asks, waving the scrap of paper once more. "Give me some time to come up with something closer to the paper texture and ink coloration and I should be able to churn out something that will pass anything short of Celestial examination."

"We can worry about how to smuggle them into circulation later. Maybe when those refugees who aren't going to stay are smuggled in as well. Having something in hand would help them start out."

Talks of some of refugees parting ways to settle into the communities do little to improve Tychos already darkened mood. Of course it made sense for those who weren't willing or able to fight to leave, but it could also pose dangers. Those refugees knew them and where they were. If they weren't strong enough to fight, he doubts they'd last long under an interrogators care.

Tycho glances askew at Danae as the crafter mentions exploring the area with the others. "Could I get one last go over, before you leave? There is no telling when you'll be back and it's a bastard to do on my own."

Nanaret nods to Tycho, knowing very little of texture and coloration or whatever else Tycho needs to be doing with the voucher. "Is fine. I do not need it, have saved most the ones I have earned thus far. And if I eat a bit here before I leave, saves me needing to pay a meal."

"Well... that is all information I have," the Lunar concludes abruptly, rubbing her head, then stopping as she realizes what she is doing. "I will rest, eat, and return swiftly as I can. Good luck to all of you."

Unless someone stops her, Nanaret returns to the main settlement, intending to bring the supplies she brought to the refugees there before taking a couple hours rest.

[Private to Yaishin Higura: if you want you can insinuate you go to talk to Nana while she rests, maybe? though we probably won't have time to play it out, maybe we could do it in a private thread :o]

Meanwhile the refugees are talking animatedly among one another about the discovery of the Conclave, the possibility of returning to civilization as well as the dangers of doing so. None of them seem deeply interested in going back, though, as these are mostly the fighting men, and they've already put enough of their time, effort and faith into what Tycho and the other Exalted are doing.

Drachma stays near Tycho's side, awaiting any further orders. "If we are to move on soon," he comments, "I think we should concentrate some effort to searching out somewhere to move, just in case closing the tunnel does not work. As much as I would have liked there to be more time to train, well..." The vice-captain shrugs his broad shoulders helplessly.

---

OOC: This is the tail end of the meeting. May be a good time to bring up any other topics the refugees and Exalts need to know and plan collectively. Otherwise return to Mining Settlement thread, I'll narrate a time skip soon.

"Well then, that does give us some things to prepare for and work towards in the immediate." The doctor says, looking decisively pensive for a moment. "I will strive to speak with Mister Dashu and Mister Xurizu once they make it back - perhaps with the information they bring I can fashion a way to gain the support of the populace and encourage the desire for rebellion further, if that solution is viable. In any case, that is a thought for another day - it seems most of you have many things laid out ahead of you already." He nods, then turns towards Tycho.

"At some point, when things permit it, I would like to have a talk with you, Captain. Nothing serious or overly crucial, I assure you - but do seek me if you have the time and find it acceptable." He nods to the mechanical man, choosing to let him decide whether he will take the offer or not on his own. No sense in pressuring him, after all. "If you will excuse me."

The doctor turns away, no doubt heading to take care of his various routine works, but he does pause when he is close to Nanaret, stopping beside her momentarily and gazing at her.

"Miss Nanaret... I would appreciate if you could visit me once before you leave. I know your schedule is already quite filled... But I would like to speak with you at least once before you are to head back. This would be a great relief, if you can find the time."

He regards her for a moment more, a faint smile on his lips, before turning away and heading towards his usual duties, appearing quiet and contemplative.

Nanaret's initial reply to Higura is a tense nod. She seems nervous when he comes close, but he understands from experience that it is partially guilt left over from letting Ranavalona take control, and partially Rana's own instinctive dislike for him. He has, at numerous times, attempted to erode her control over Nanaret -- and in some ways, succeeded. But not quite enough for it to last.

Finally she says, "We meet in my room later," and hurries away from Higura with her bags and new weapon in hand.