"Ahh, yes. Name is Bryn for now," Nanaret recalls as Dashu speaks, and nods. A moment later, her natural claws discreetly disappear, reforming into nails stained with dirt from hard mining labor. She slouches casually, and puts her hands in her pockets, her word choice and inflection shifting slightly. "Freidr and me are brothers, recently assigned to the B25 Conclave. And our friend here," she gestures to Xurizu, "is Jenci, a clerk that's an acquaintance of ours. That's our story, anyways."

"Oh, right, the collar. It's the Immaculate keeling over that did it. He was powering the thing directly and after that it just stopped working. I'm not an expert at this stuff but maybe Jenci could confirm it."

"So... I guess you've met?" Nanaret glances first at Dashu, then to 'Pale Gaze'. Or could it be another memory lapse? She certainly hopes not.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:13, Wed 08 Apr 2009.

Xurizu nods, explaining that he and Dashu had met Pale Gaze in B31, the Forbidden floor. "He aided our initial escape, when we broke out of the bottom level. And he helped me remember..." He trails off, wondering whether Pale Gaze might have any other gems to pass on to him... literally.

"As they say I am Jenci for the time being, but my real name is Xurizu. I am glad you are free. If you don't mind, can I look at the collar for a bit?" he asks Dreams when Nanaret talks about confirmation, then realizes she has already put it on again. "Or maybe later. The others are right, we should go soon."

Despite saying that, though, he looks very attentive as to what Pale Gaze might say next.

The red haired man smiles, also visibly happy to be able to speak with the group once more. "I'm glad to see you well... Though I have been watching, so I'm afraid it is not as much of a surprise on my side."

He pauses, taking a moment to rest as he answers Dashu's questions. "You have a lot of questions, so let me try to address them in an order that makes sense conceptually." He chuckles, then scrunches his forehead in thought. "First, the Water District. The Gatekeeper of Water pulled the whole District offline as an effort to cut it off from the rest of the Coils."

"You wonder about the girl that was here. She is one of Zerabia's pets, and, according to my research, one of the few Abyssal Exalted within Five Coils. She was brought up to be Zerabia's guard - she knows nothing else."

"And as for my coming with you... I am afraid I cannot. The best way I can help you is by working where you cannot reach, in the areas you have no mean of touching yet."

"The other reason is related to the introduction I gave you - this form you see now is not my face, but my true one has a position somewhere within the structure of the Coils. When our mission here is over, I will need to return to my 'usual' duties for a time, in order not to arouse suspicion."

[OOC: Edited the post down because we couldn't justify the post being as long as it was with how little time the group has before someone steps in, so it's been cut down. Apologies for the possible inconvenience!]
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:49, Fri 10 Apr 2009.

"Ah, I see," said Dashu as he took in everything tht Pale Gaze said.  "Then I supposed we have have to part ways again.  We have to find our contact to make our escape and we can't really afford to wait until people notice the head monk is gone.  Thanks again.  By the way,"  Dashu says to Dreams, "Do you know the least obvious way to leave this building?"

Dreams shook her head silently, but she smiled. "Get some monk's robes and wrap yourself up, is about my only suggestion."

Nanaret listens to Pale Gaze with a rather dubious expression. "What's an Abyssal?" she asks with her brows furrowed. Then shakes her head, realizing they have to hurry. "Never mind. Dunno why you helped us, but thanks."

Catching onto Dreams' plan, she says. "Another disguise would be a good idea. I can wear the robe, and probably better I do anyway, since I was the one glowing all over the place."

Since Gerrun's body was incinerated, Lunar goes to the one downed acolyte Dreams got her claws from and starts stripping the robes off. "Sorry, but we're kinda in a hurry..." Unabashedly she starts rapidly shedding off her miner's worksuit and tools so she can put on the simple Immaculate robe. As she does so she says quickly, "All we gotta do is minimize contact till we're at the rendezvous. If we're movin' fast enough no one'll notice the robe belongs to an acolyte."

Dreams-of-Light does in fact know there's a back exit but it would involve going through the rear of the outer temple. [Private to Dreams-of-Light: Fortunately it is not far, through the right rear door. You've never been through that door, though so you don't know if it's usually locked or guarded, but it may be a better choice than just going right through the front.]

This, of course, turns more complicated when the Celestials start to hear footsteps and voices approaching from beyond the left rear doorway, where Dashu downed the female acolyte.

There are two exits the group can move to from here: one is the front door and the other the right rear door. All of you have the time to move toward one of these exits and do a single action (including Charm use) until the people who discover the passed out acolyte burst through.

Dreams narrows her eyes. "Let's go," she said, remembering the rear door and going to it. "I hope it's not locked..."

"Miss Dreams-of-Light has the right idea. Once you manage to reach the outside street, head North to the first intersection you see, and then Northwest to reach the rendez-vous point set by the Mockingbird." He smiles, then nods, not taking the time to explain how he even knew of their arrangements with the Smuggler or the plan to spring out Dreams-of-Light. "As for me, I will head in the direction the pursuit is coming, and resume my terrified persona. It should buy you some time and confuse the affair enough for you to slip out."

Preparing to leave, the red-haired man gives a quick salute to the group, then turns, bumping straight into Xurizu as he does so. Quickly regaining his footing, he holds on to the Lunar and pats him on the shoulder, shaking his head softly. "Sorry about that. Quite difficult to know where your mind is at sometimes, yes?"

Without waiting for a response, he starts heading towards the left rear door, his demeanor returning to that of the scared red-haired man as he walks. Steps later, he has effectively become the poor worker who was unfortunate enough to be caught in a struggle between beings vastly more powerful than he.

[Private to Gatekeeper: Slipping Xurizu one of his memory stones while bumping into him.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:45, Sun 12 Apr 2009.

Nanaret quickly finishes changing into the Immaculate robe. Fortunately they are not the most complex garments to put on. She knots the sash around her waist and puts on the dead man's slippers as well. As for the miner's clothing she does the best she can, wrapping the pickaxe and hammer in the worksuit and stuffing it under her arm so it looks as if she's carrying some nondescript burden on a task.

Thus re-outfitted, the Lunar stands with a straight and disciplined posture. "You may call me Spring Dew," she says in a serene, polite tone, once again switching demeanors as easily as she just changed clothes. In the guise of a young immaculate, Nanaret hurries after Dreams and stays close beside her so that -- should they encounter any other groups -- she can attempt to appear like the Solar's 'keeper'.

[Private to GM: I'll use Perfection of the Mockingbird should I encounter any other groups, and just keep on moving unless we're called to stop. Also got 3 successes on a disguise roll in case someone can see through the perfection.]

The right rear door is not locked. Dreams and Nanaret move together into the corridor beyond.

This particular hallway is rather dimly lit, and goes in two directions in an L intersection. There is a passageway that goes straight and another that goes to the right. Dreams would remember that the outer temple is actually part of a much larger complex, and memory tells her that going further right would be the most likely way leading out of it.

The group can hear the frightened voice of the scarlet-haired man starting to address the monks at the left side door. He will definitely be buying them some time but it naturally won't last forever, so Dashu and Xurizu had best get going as well. [Private to Ledaal Xurizu: You might want to check your pockets.]

---

OOC: If you're going through the right rear door, roll Dex+Stealth to see how silently you can move.

Dreams turned immediately to the right, keeping her head bowed humbly as 'Spring Dew' led her. She hoped and prayed that she could get free again.

Dashu nods to Pale Gaze and says "Thank you again."  He then quickly follows Dreams and Nanaret out the door.  He would ponder how he know what the arrangements for the escape were later.  Right now, they just needed to go.

[Private to GM:
Anima power is still going I think.  Peleps Dashu rolled 2 successes using 8d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 2,6,2,10,2,3,2,3. Dex + Stealth Roll

4 sux total.]
This message was last edited by the player at 16:42, Sun 12 Apr 2009.

And yet you really don't seem like the type to be doing that, Xurizu noted with a slightly suspicious frown at the man, before he smiled.  "Thank you for your aid once again," he says to the strange man.  After watching him go for a few moments, Xurizu turned and followed 'Spring Dew' from the Temple, picking his steps as quietly as he could go without obviously sneaking, for who but a miscreant would do such a thing?

As he's leaving though, he thinks back to the strange behaviour of Pale Gaze, sliping his hands into the pockets of his clothing one after the other, checking for things missing ... or added.

As they reached the rear exit of the Temple, Xurizu held up his hand.  "Everyone, wait," he whispered softly.  "We can't wander blindly out there.  The watchers on the roof," he says, to Nanaret and Dashu.  "I'll go out first and check."  Then he activated the Eyes of the Cat, and did just that!

---

Editted to add a little more activity
This message was last edited by the player at 21:37, Sun 12 Apr 2009.

The four escaping Celestial Exalts go through the door and down the right corridor together, leaving the mysterious Pale Gaze behind. They stroll along with sure quiet steps, and no one is alerted to their presence as they pass the L intersection.

Unfortunately, rather than leading straight to an exit, the corridor abruptly ends in a rough earthen wall, so Xurizu doesn't have a chance to check ahead just yet. There are however two doors, one to the left and one to the right. The right hand door appears to be locked.

[Private to Dreams-of-Light; Peleps Dashu: You hear faint footsteps and voices somewhere past the left door.]
[Private to Ledaal Xurizu: You reach into a pocket and find what feels to be a round, faceted gem inside it.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 10:12, Mon 13 Apr 2009.

Dashu whispers to the others, "There's people coming down the left.  Does anyone have anything that I can use to try to pick the lock on the right with?"  With that Dashu looks around to see what he can find.  In particular he looks to see if there are any paintings with Immaculate Imagery on it hung by wire.

If Dashu finds such a painting, he takes the wire and pushes it into the hole.  As the wire worms its way into the hole, it pushes the tumblers around, hopefully unlocking the door.



[Private to GM: 06:36, Today: Peleps Dashu rolled ... with rolls of 7,3,7,9,7,7,4. Dex + Larceny (lock pick).

Stunt? ]
This message was last edited by the player at 11:37, Mon 13 Apr 2009.

... another one. Xurizu thought as his hand closed around the item in his pocket.  Where does Pale Gaze get them from?  And how many are there?  He would leave it for the moment though.  Now was not the time for a flashback fugue.

"Nothing sorry," he whispered to Dashu.  He would help him with any painting though, so it could be lowered to the ground without too much noise.

Unfortunately, the Immaculate religion isn't very keen on symbols or icons. The only painting Dashu knows is in the vicinity is in the room of worship where the battle with Gerrun recently ended. It is a rather large sized painting of the Elemental Dragon of Earth and would take two people (or one particularly strong person) to retrieve and carry it away.

[Private to Peleps Dashu, Ledaal Xurizu: will you risk returning to the main room to get it? Otherwise you may have no choice but to break down the door. You don't feel you have a great deal of time.]

Dreams watched the others search desperately for a wire, something, anything to open the door. She also knew that they didn't have enough time to rip down the massive painting where Gerrun's ashes lay in the hope of finding something to pick the lock. The Zenith closed her eyes, looked deep within herself, and tried to sift through the fragments of memory from her previous incarnations for some way to figure out how to solve this.

[Private to Gatekeeper: OOC: I failed in the roll to try and remember a Charm, but I hope the stunt gets me something!

10:34, Today: Dreams-of-Light failed (no successes) using 3d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 3,4,2. Int + Occult.]

Dreams' attempt at a sudden revelation catches on, though the memory is vague. She might be able to push Essence into the lock to serve as a versatile picking tool.

[Private to Dreams-of-Light: Got a success with stunt, you can have your lock-opening charm. :)]

Dreams walked over to the lock and gently placed her hand on it. She pushed a shimmer of golden Essence through it, waiting to hear the click of it unlocking.
[Private to Gatekeeper: OOC: 3 Personal Motes on Lock-Opening Touch.]

The lock is just an ordinary lock, and it unlatches easily at Dreams' touch.

Opening the door leads to a musty room that looks like a storage area. The room is unlit but from the hallway lighting one can see soft shapes that look like clothing and racks that hold hard objects that could be anything from weapons to wine bottles to bundles of wood. Toward the far end there are larger shapes that could be boxes or barrels.

At first glance it does not seem like the room has any exits besides the door just unlocked, but Dreams feels certain that the other way is the wrong way. There is a switch near the door presumably for the lights, as the temple is fortunate (read: funded) enough to have powered lighting.

The voices and footsteps coming from the left door are much louder now. "It's this way," someone is saying, "we heard it was a surprise attack on the Master..."

---

OOC: Assuming you're stepping in the storage room, you can search it. (Perc+Aware. -1 external penalty if you search in the dark.)

Until now Nanaret has been watching the other end of the corridor leading back to the intersection, keeping watch while the others figured out what to do with the door. When Dreams unlocks the door, though, she immediately and swiftly moves towards it. "Let us get inside," she suggests softly, in the soothing voice of Spring Dew -- never one to drop her act until it's over -- "and leave the lights off until whoever is approaching passes."

"I agree," said Xurizu in a hushed whisper, withdrawing into the concealing darkness of the storeroom once it was opened, staying well away from the shelves or anything else that he might knock into and make a noise.  Then, he settles in to wait.

Dashu simply nods his head in agreement.  However, he couldn't help but think to himself that Dreams had a nice trick up her sleave.  Once inside he keeps his ears open for whats going on outside the door with their pursuers and also began trying to observe the storage room as much as he could with the limited lighting.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:52, Tue 14 Apr 2009.