The bottom floor of Five Coils is where the most undesirable of Anathema are kept when they are not currently serving their purpose. 'Undesirable' in the sense that their crafty minds and darker affinities would serve as a danger to the rest of Coils' society, if they were ever let loose -- those whose Castes tend toward the shadows, to endings, to taboo knowledge.

Even Dashu, who has served in the past as a criminal investigator, is also feared and treated much as a criminal himself. He, along with Reva and Xurizu, are currently kept in separate locked rooms equipped with devices that bar them from channeling Essence. Though the rooms are somewhat better furnished than a prison cell might be, they are still cells nonetheless. Each of them wears a collar on their neck that marks them as one of the Anathema, and limits their Essence use outside their 'rooms'.

It's difficult to tell time while the Exalts are kept in there. It's been a couple days for them, maybe. But on the third day, sometime after the midday meal is shoved into the room via chute (much too small to squeeze through), they feel something strange.

Or rather, the absence of something: the block on their Essence is suddenly, entirely gone.

At first, the strange feeling was nothing of note, then as she reached up to scratch her neck, she noticed the lack, and almost screamed out. She was free! How did this happen? It didn't matter. She quickly scarfed down the food and very carefully moved over to the door. Now, she already knew mundanely she wasn't going to kick down the door, or pick open the lock, more so seeing as how she lacks any lock picks, or even pins to work with. No she needed to use her cunning mind, and skill to get this door open. She took a moment to think, her first thought to grab the device, just in case it came into use.

She knocked on the door, hard, the guard couldn't be too much farther away, "Hey, work quickly, and there is nothing at all strange with my food, it taste better than normal." A grin on her face. She was a skilled liar, and with her magical powers able to aid, she knew it was work, it had to!

Why would a prisoner say nothing was strange? Ha, this stupid prisoner was so dumb, she just told him that her food was strange, and of course he had to go in and see what was going on. So people, they couldn't lie at all, this dumb girl was one of them, of course.

Grabbing the device proves to be tougher than it looks. First of all, it's embedded in stone just above the cell doorway quite securely. Second, pulling it out may very well harm the artifact itself.

There doesn't seem to be an immediate guard response to Reva's call. Curiouser and curiouser. The other cellmates in the area actually hear Reva speak, though.

---

OOC: Pulling out the Essence-dampening device: you can prop yourself up on a chair and either try a Craft roll (probably Magitech, maybe Earth if you try working around the stone) or you can try to punch the stone out of the way (Martial Arts attack vs. inanimate object). Any of you are welcome to try but doesn't guarantee the thing won't break from the effort.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:38, Thu 30 Oct 2008.

Xurizu is sleeping, his usual half-dreams of things he almost remembers disturbing him enough that sometimes he cried out, cries the other residents of this floor had perhaps heard on occasion.  As suddenly he found himself able to channel though, the change of sensation woke from his dreams.  And then he wondered if he had.  Was this some strange new fantasy, another nightmare, or perhaps, he dared to consider, reality?

Reva's shout confirmed that it was apparently the latter case.  There was no way his subconscious would insert something that bizzare into his dreams.  He didn't reply immediately however, instead reaching within him for his own power.

And on the floor of the cell, there was a snake.  As a snake, Xurizu decided to investigate the food chute, to see if it would lead anywhere at all...

Dashu has been sitting quitely all day.  That was his stategy when it came to the gaurds.  After all, the old saying goes "The nail that sticks out is the nail that gets hammered."  Suddenly he felt it, his untapped raw abilities.  He quickly decides to use this ability to take a look around the cell to see what he had missed before.  He hoped to find something small and slender or something larger which could be easily broken down into something which could be used to pick the lock.  He  didn't particularly want to cause a scene but he would if he needed to.

[Private to GM: I rolled 5 successes and spent bought 2 more for a total of 7.  Personal Essence Spent: 4.]
This message was last edited by the player at 14:47, Wed 19 Nov 2008.

All of Dashu's best efforts lead to a single and maddeningly simple truth:

The door is already unlocked.

Apparently whatever deactivated the Essence dampening had also powered down the locks, which Dashu discovers upon closer examination are also magical in nature, and would not have responded to normal lockpicking attempts anyway. Clearly someone else out there must have set them free... it's the only conclusion Dashu can come to at this time. But who?

Meanwhile, Xurizu in his king snake form slithers through the food chute a short ways (discovering that the walls of his cell are fairly thick) and reaches a hinged door at the end of it. Nudging at it, he discovers it's currently unlocked, and the floor below is only a few feet down. From having been led this way before, he recognizes it as the hall just outside his cell.

Xurizu drops from the chute, his serpentine body coiling on the floor as he lands.  He lies there for a few moments, listening to the tremors of the ground beneath his scales as he tries to determine if anyone is walking around, his tongue flicking out also, to taste the air, the scent of the guards still lingering but barely ...

His first taste of freedom in a long time, too.

[Private to GM:
If I have stunt, let me know (and, as always, feel free to roll)
23:53, Today: Ledaal Xurizu rolled 6 successes using 12d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7. Casting senses about (+4 from 1st Perception Excellency).
I'm also activating Eyes Of The Cat (for sensing invisible stuff)
2m peripheral for Hide Of The Cunning Hunter
6m personal for Eyes Of the Cat
4m personal for Excellency
]

Hmmm, that was ... simple.  Dashu thinks to himself.  If I'm going to get out of this place I'll probably need some help. I wonder if the girl who was talking so loudly will be of any help.  With that he opens his door and looks carefully from one side to the other to make sure the coast was clear of guards.  Once he was confident no one was around, he steps into the hall and walks in the direction of the girl's voice.  Once in the hall, Dashu notices the food chute to his neighbor's cell is open and a king snake is at the opening.  Dashu chuckled to himself and, not knowing it's true nature, says softly to the snake in a joking manner "Don't think you'll be able to help me much unless you can get bigger."
This message was last edited by the player at 14:50, Wed 19 Nov 2008.

Xurizu's keen senses take in his surroundings, and beyond. He can both perceive and separate the minute vibrations from various sources of disturbance.

[Private to Ledaal Xurizu: +2 more sux from stunt, so 12 total! whoo! okay let's see what you sense...
- The roar, thump and chanting of a crowd one floor above: very likely the Gladiator Pit, currently packed, the two opponents circling one another in the arena, fighting for life and glory...
- The rushing sound of water from some underground source deep below, shunted upward by some unknown mechanism...
- Dashu, his footsteps like an earthquake, his voice booming...
- The quieter breathing of another cellmate further down the hall, in the direction Dashu is headed...
- And footsteps, clambering toward them from a short distance away: a fang of heavy-booted men and their leader. Xurizu feels there will be about five minutes before they reach this hall.]

Hmmm seems like the guard didn't hear, or her magics weren't ready for use quite yet. Maybe it takes a little longer to get her power back. She decided it was in her best interest to attempt to remove the collar. Grabbing the chain she pulled, harder and harder using her strength to attempt to pull it free. If that didn't work she would start on the next idea, breaking the stone around the wall in effort to shatter the wall. She was a strongish person, it might work.

The collar actually does come off, quite easily in fact. Deactivated of its power, it seems no stronger now than any ordinary piece of jewelry.

The door takes more effort. Reva's blows, one by one, start pummeling at the stone. Fragments of it start flaking off (something which had also never happened before) but her fists are hurting more than the stone so far.

Outside, both Dashu and Xurizu can hear Reva's insistent pounding on the stone wall. It doesn't take Dashu long to reach Reva's door; it appears the three Exalts had been imprisoned in the same hall.
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:50, Fri 31 Oct 2008.

There is the sense, perhaps, that the tongue flick was specifically directed up at the Exalt standing over the King snake.  Then again, Xurizu might just have been tasting the air.  Whichever it had been, as Dashu moved on down the corridor and gave him some space, Xurizu resumed his human form, tattoos still hidden.

"I don't know.  I don't think I could have heard the squad of guards on their way without adopting that form," he says with a grin.  "Should we try the door?" he gestured to the door that was being treated to such violence.

She stops punching the door, that hurt. This collar might be useful, but she was scared to put it on. What if it reactivated once on? She wanted to fake  being still controled, once she got out, but then again... she didn't look all that different from any other person, except her eyes. That was different. Well, what should she do? Hold the Collar, yes, but lets leave it off for now.

Dushu looks slightly startled as he saw the king snake transform but recovers quickly and says "Uh, hey.  Yeah sure the door opened in my cell so I'm guessing it'll work on hers."  He reached out and opened the door looking at the female prisoner inside with a smirk.  "Hey considering this is a prison break there's sure alot of racket."

The racket from Reva's cell is nothing compared to what follows. As soon as Dashu has Reva's door open, klaxons begin to wail throughout the halls of the Forbidden and beyond, accompanied by an ominous announcement:

"WARNING! Maximum Security Breach in Forbidden Level B31. Maximum Security Breach in Forbidden Level B31. Now switching to Orichalcum Alert in Water Level B26 and below. All Jade Personnel and Ranked Officials, proceed to the nearest evacuation station."

"WARNING! As per Orichalcum Breach Protocol, purging of all affected levels will commence in T-minus 30 minutes!"

In the hallway, there is still no sign of a guard. But the alarm would almost certainly bring attention their way.

"Well," he winces at the wail of the klaxon.  "It doesn't sound like we have to worry about the banging on the door any more ..."

Orichalcum Breach Protocol does not sound fun...

"Doesn't sound like we want to be hanging around here much past half an hour, either," he remarked.  "I'm Xurizu, by the way."
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:02, Sat 01 Nov 2008.

"Did anyone else get free?" That was her first care. Each arm, was another tool to use against the Dragon blooded bastards.

As the alarm started wailing she shut her door, and yelled over the din, "Hey, let's get moving, And shut the doors, we don't want them to instantly know who is escaping!" With that she started moving towards the passageway up, if guards came, they would need to deal with that when it happened. If no one came, due to the alert, they would need to hurt. She didn't like the idea of purging. As she moved, she glanced into other cells, who else might be free and escaping?

[Private to GM: If I use Name-Plifering Practice, then even our foes, cannot speak the stolen names, right?]

"Peleps Dashu... haven't seen anyone else bust out yet... and yeah we need to go."  He replies to his new friends.  "They're purging 5 levels of this place and we're at the bottom.  We can either run the whole 5 levels in thirty minutes or find one of these evacuation points.  I'm all for the evacuation points myself but I'm open for suggestions."

[Private to GM: Hey, how much knowledge to we have about the general layout of the levels?]
This message was last edited by the player at 14:39, Wed 19 Nov 2008.

Reva starts closing doors and leading the way toward where she hopes there is a way up. She knows there would be an elevator in the prison grounds, or a stairway all the way across to the edge of the Forbidden floor, outside the prison facility.

There doesn't seem to be any other prisoners in this part of the hall. But every door Reva does check is open. There could be others escaping who have already left.

A couple minutes after wandering the halls the escapees realize it's not going to be easy to just run outside. There's no labels on the halls, there's no easy way to know they're heading the right way. The guards on the other hand know the way quite well, and you can hear them coming now, just around the bend!

---

OOC: Posted in 'Five Coils Info' what everyone would know of the layout of Five Coils.

Anyway, the prison is something of a maze. I will allow a roll of: Wits or Perception + Awareness (this represents more of an innate sensing of the environment around you) OR Int + Lore (represents study and knowledge of such facilities) to try and navigate your way through. You could potentially also use Survival if you have it, find tracks leading to the exits.

You also have about 6 ticks before guards arrive, above and beyond the time you'll take for the roll(s) above.

"I'd settle for just getting off of this floor first," Xurizu points out.  "It's a maze down here, after all.  I fancy our chances more on the stairs than the elevator though,"

He'd been brought down that way once, when maintenance had rendered the elevator unusuable for a short while.  One of his few memories that weren't of the cell.  Now he was trying to find his way back there, operating far more on subconscious instinct than his own untrustworthy recollections of events, heading away from the clanking of machinery and the squad of guards, trying to listen for the sounds of the level above, the evacuation which must be going on ...
[Private to GM: Perception+Awareness + 4 dice from the perception excellency. 12 + any stunt.]

"Okay well I'm pretty sure I know where the stairs are.  Regardless, lets leave before the guards get here... so lets get moving."

[Private to GM: 14:52, Today: Peleps Dashu rolled 8 successes using 8d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7. Sensing Direction to Stairs. ]
This message was last edited by the player at 22:59, Sun 02 Nov 2008.

Both Dashu and Xerizu realize where the stairs are located, in fact. They also know they are in the southwest quarter of the prison, and that the central elevator is about east-northeast from where they stand. It'd not even take more than a couple minutes for them to reach it, but again, it's very likely to be well guarded and next to impossible to cheat into authorizing them.

The closest stairs are still much further, toward the western end of Forbidden B31. They must exit the main prison facility first, though, and that means they will definitely have to pass at least one guard checkpoint along the way. They will have to run to reach the stairs in time, though the Exalts also realize that the 'purging' as stated will not necessarily be immediate. It will only 'commence' -- whatever that may mean.

In any case, Dashu, Reva and Xerizu manage to have a head start before the guards arrive at their position. As long as they keep running, they'll maintain it, but they risk eventually being pincered once they approach the inevitable checkpoint.

---

OOC: Unless you're going to do something about it the guards behind you will eventually catch up to you. You can try to misdirect them elsewhere in the maze, or just get rid of them.

Also forgot to say, but one of the rooms Reva checked earlier had the few mundane gear you chose at chargen, so you should have all of that now.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:26, Sun 02 Nov 2008.

She of course runs with the others, the sounds of metal always drawing closer. "They know this place better than us. Sooner or later they are going to get us, so lets think of a plan! As far as I'm concerned, we should fight prepared. Lets stop running, and face them head on."

As she runs, she closes her eyes for a split second, preparing for the fight, just in case.

[Private to GM: Activating "Joy in Adversity Stance" Personal Mote. -5M]

Unfortunately, Dashu feels that Reva was right."Maybe we should try to surprise them somehow?  Ducking into some of the cells with open doors.  If they're running this fast then they aren't checking behind the door of each cell.  Or do you guys just wish to jump head first into the fray?"
This message was last edited by the player at 14:40, Wed 19 Nov 2008.

"Rather do the cell thing, or, better yet." She dropped her voice, to a loud whisper, who knows of the guards can hear any of this. "I'll be a target, you guys spring out. Its easier this way." She knew what she would do, but her charms would cause her body to glow, and that wasn't a good idea if a stealth idea was in mind.

OOC: Okay, if that's your plan, those of you hiding roll Dex+Stealth. Then all of you roll Join Battle.

"Okay, but I sure hope you know what you're doing," Dashu whispers to the Sidereal.  He then looks at his new found lunar friend, shrugged, and ducked into a cell on the left side of the hall.

[Private to GM:
12:36, Today: Peleps Dashu rolled 5 successes using 7d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7. Stealth.
12:39, Today: Peleps Dashu rolled 2 successes using 6d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7. Join Battle.]
This message was last edited by the player at 14:44, Wed 19 Nov 2008.

"I'll be back here a little, the melee is not my forte," he says, quietly but unapologetically.  Fighting wasn't, really, when it came down to it.

Xurizu  moved down the corridor away from the pair, setting up in the doorway of a cell to the right, stringing his bow as he did.

She paused running. Now or never it seemed. Her mind blanked, her body moved into a stance, and the very strands of unseen fate tightened around her. She was protected not by armor, but a Security of pure Optimism.  She spend several moments preparing herself in this way, allowing her hopes and bright ideas to shape into a defensive structure around her. Her love for other became a shield against her foes.

[Private to GM: Optimistic Security Practice, Activated!]

Once in the cell, Dashu waits with anticipation as he draws one sai in his right hand and his fighting chain in the other.

[Private to GM: Dashu is right handed, fyi.]
This message was last edited by the player at 14:45, Wed 19 Nov 2008.

The pursuing guards rush toward the spot where the Exalts have laid their ambush. There are four guards (elite extras, wearing fine lamellar) and a leader wearing black jade armor. She is wielding dragon claws, also of the same jade, and those who are familiar with martial arts (martial arts 3+) would recognize her as a Water Dragon stylist -- too young to have mastered it, but still basically competent.

You also notice that the four with the leader all wear breathing masks, as if they expect to take a dive underwater, or for some other reason be unable to breathe regular air. They also wield short spears of excellent quality.

"Get them!" shouts the black-haired Water stylist. "None must escape!" Both the guards and leader move to surround Reva almost immediately, and just barely manage to spot Xurizu some distance away. However they seem to not notice Dashu at all.

---

OOC: Turn is as follows.

tick 0 - Reva, Xurizu (sorry, edited cause I forgot Reva's SoFS)
tick 4 - Dashu (hidden), guards (4)
tick 5 - guard leader

Dashu gets the surprise attack!

[Private to Ledaal Xurizu: Your occult knowledge makes it obvious to you that the equipment of the ordinary guards is enchanted. If you like you can give me a reflexive int+occult to figure how it's enchanted. Also just for the record, you've got a +2 and +1 stunt at this point.]

[Private to Dyron Reva: I gave you a +1 stunt for your last Charm activation, so gain back 2m. Also fixed your JB, just means your action will resolve just before Xurizu's, even if you posted out of order.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 07:44, Tue 04 Nov 2008.

Damnit, spotted, Xurizu thought as he saw the glances his way.  Oh well, nothing for it. And just what is up with their spears?

He stepped out partly of the shadows of the doorway, apparently pulling some with him as he went, wrapping himself in a mist of darkness that made his exact movements hard to pin down.  The mist seemed to wrap his arrows too, as he let fly with a shaft towards the backs of the troops which had moved to surround his companion.
[Private to GM: Activating Anima for 1m (for an external penalty of 1 on attacks on Xurizu).  No charm yet]
This message was last edited by the player at 07:15, Tue 04 Nov 2008.

Xurizu's shot strikes one of the guards on the shoulder, so subtle he nearly does not see it. But the arrow bounces neatly off his armor, doing no damage.

Reva can act whenever she wishes, as can Dashu when he chooses to jump from his hiding place. The guards are still attempting to organize themselves into launching an offensive.

[Private to Ledaal Xurizu: +1 stunt! Occult senses tell you that the extras' lamellar armor is both fine quality and air-enchanted, to keep it light and easy to wear. The spears are water-enchanted, meaning they can shift at the wielder's will from one similarly sized mundane weapon to another, or into a object to make them easier to store.]

---

OOC: please post actions unless you want me to just roll basic attacks for you :)

generally I prefer to wait for everyone to post and then post a turn summary, if you'd prefer I post results after each and every person's post let me know.

Dashu figures that the if you cut the head off the serpent, then the rest of the body dies quicker.  That is the second reason, he decides to attack the Water Stylist leader.  The first is that she is the one standing closest to his cell.

Dashu flicks his fighting chain out, clinching it around her neck, with a golden flare.  He pulls the chain as hard as he can, kicking her in the back, launching himself into the air.  He then flips in the air bringing his sai down towards the face of the Water Dragon.

[Private to GM: Okay here's how my attack breaks down mechanically.  Dashu attacks trying to stunt and using a flurry.  It's a clinch attack with the chain, a kick to the back, and a downward slash with the sai.  I'm activating his combo, and spending 10 motes to buy 5 sucesses on the chain attack.  (I'm doing this based on the assumption that activating the combo during the attack doesn't destroy my surprise attack with respect to my first attack.]

OCC:  Nah, I like the idea, of us all just making post and you making a turn summary.  Runs quicker that way.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:43, Wed 19 Nov 2008.

Now was her final act of preparation. Her aura flashed out a bright deadly purple, Swirling color embracing her very soul and being. Her fate tied around her, her life becoming the life of a warrior. The long hardships, the uncounted battles, the sleepless nights and endless days, everything became her own life. She could see endless battles passing before her eyes, and many reminder her of this very one. She could almost see every movement, every action, before it happened. She was ready for this fight before it could even start. She stepped forward with the grace of forgotten God-Kings. Her hands each seemed to come alive, a life apart of any other. The first one shot forward with a powerful punch, the attack fast and strong, she didn't expect to hit, but either way, just as her punch passes close, a second launches from the same fist, the speed so blindingly quick, it was almost like 2 fist striking at the same moment.

She was not willing to give this foe any chance to fight back, Just as her second punch was pulling back, from the attempted hit she performed a strong kick with her left leg, twisting her body slightly, then, as the kick traveled, she lept from the ground, her momentum and speed shifted and her back leg launched from the ground with the power of a deadly blade. This attack, the true purpose of her assault, a deadly and powerful roundhouse kick. With luck, her foe would never see if coming.

Her mind could see a hundred movements, hundreds of moments, and each future held a different reaction, but in no path, could she see defeat. Her very fibers screamed the power of her body, and her Anima reacted to this future. Her Anima saw an ending, and moved to create it.
[Private to GM:
12M, 2WP Blade of the Battle Maiden. 5M Anima Effect
Charms in effect - Optimistic Security Practice - 5m, Joy in Adversity - 5m.

Soak - 5B 3L 2A, foes with Essence under 3, must pay 1 WP, or fail in the action to Damage or Disable her.

Other Effects - All attacks that fail to hit, Roll Essence, gain 2m per success

Punch-  9 Dice, 3l +1LHL, PDV - 7 ; 5 Success
Punch- 8 Dice, 3l +1LHL ; 3 Success
Kick, 6 Dice, 6l +1LHL ; 2 Success
Round house, - 4 Dice, 9L +1LHL ; 5 Success]

[Private to Dyron Reva: You got 6m back from Joy in Adversity, and a +2 stunt... let me know if you get back Essence or WP. I very nearly thought it was a +3, it's an excellent post :) but I don't want to start by giving out stunt dice too easily. I rolled your extra stuntage in any case. Also, since I didn't want to delay updating any more, I assumed you attacked one of the normal guards.]

Reva's quick flurry of attacks bear down on her unfortunate target, one of the normal guards crowding in on her. Her second punch slams him hard in the face, snapping back the neck, and her roundhouse sends him flying like a sack of meat into the wall, leaving a gory splatter of blood as his body slides down the wall and onto the floor. All the good equipment in the world cannot save him from her onslaught -- he is dead. VERY dead.

[Private to Peleps Dashu: +1 stunt, gain 2 motes!]

Dashu feels the pulse of Endings emanating from Reva, the Lesser Sign of Saturn, as he leaps from his hiding place to surprise the guard leader. His chain wraps itself unerringly around the Water Stylist's neck, constricting painfully tight, and before she can even think to react he is upon her. His kick, while well-placed, is absorbed by her jade lamellar, but she cannot escape the sai that stabs toward her face. Discipline and the crushing force of the chain at her throat keep her from crying out as the slender weapon shatters her cheekbone, just barely missing the eye.

---

OOC: 1 dead guard, 3 remaining. Water stylist has taken 3L and 3B damage from Dashu. She's hurt, but she isn't almost dead; probably has a couple Ox-Bodies. Reva has Endings anima activated, so Dashu, as long as any of your attacks hit you get at least 1 level of damage. I am unsure Xurizu is in range for it.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:35, Thu 06 Nov 2008.

Despite what they must have been briefed about Anathema, the three remaining mortal guards are horrified by how quickly Reva and Dashu have turned the fight to their favor. But they are still highly disciplined. They do not run, though they know it may be their deaths.

Two of the spearmen jab their weapons fiercely at Dashu's back as he maintains the clinch hold on their leader. [Private to Peleps Dashu: 6 and 7 successes. Note: this happens before the water stylist breaks the clinch, so you still have 0 DVs against these attacks. Post what charms you'll use to defend.]

The third, certain that Reva is well beyond his skill, uses his full movement to reach Xerizu instead. As he does, he touches a hand to his ear and shouts, "Emergency in Forbidden B31! Three Anathema on the rampage in Southwest Sector F2! I repeat, three uncollared prisoners in Sector F2! Requesting Jade Strike Force backup immediately!!"

The Water Stylist chokes and gags, but does not yield. Blue-green ripples of Essence surround her in a building whirlpool, tearing away the grip of Dashu's chain on her neck. The weapon actually shatters, the chain links scattering uselessly, like water slipping between the fingers. Breathing heavily, the woman spits a mix of blood and saliva at Dashu's feet, then assumes a defensive position with her dragon claws held at the ready.

"If I die here, so be it, abomination," she says wrathfully. "Now you run amok, like beasts snapping their leashes... but your freedom is ephemeral."
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:50, Sun 09 Nov 2008.

OOC: Some further explanation. Water Stylist has used Shrugging Water Dragon Escape as her action, which happens to shatter mundane chains (sorry! *ducks*) She has also reflexively activated Flowing Water Defense. Therefore any attacks on her will be at -3 dice.

Actions are as follows. You can post your actions up to tick 10.
tick 5 - Reva
tick 6 - Xurizu
tick 9 - guards
tick 10 - Dashu, Reva again (!)
tick 11 - guard leader (assuming she survives!)

Dashu, while still holding onto his chain, jumps over the first spear thrust backwards and landed on the ground with his momentum carrying his feet towards his head.  While this looks somewhat bungling at first, he immediately shoots his legs up and out, carrying his body after them and over the second spear thrust.

After the Water Dragon shatters his chain and while she commences with her speech, Dashu drew his remaining sai into his now free hand.

[Private to GM: I used my perfect dodge twice.  I'm going to go ahead and take a miscelanious draw weapon action whenever that's possible and bring my other other sai out.]
This message was last edited by the player at 14:34, Wed 19 Nov 2008.

"I have seen your endings. This battle is the same, for it has happened countless times. A battle replayed in history, you've never won this fight, and you shall not win it now." Her stance lowers, and her head turns towards the Dragon gifted. "Your ending will be swift and final. Your a coward, like all of your kind. I need no blades, I need no armor. Only my honor. You have no honor." With that as a final statement she exploded into a wirlwind of death.

Her stance launched her body into the air, spring up from a low stance so that her leg reached out in front of her. Her other leg folded beneath her, as the plan was to strike the first with a powerful leaping kick. Her aim was off as she slipped slightly and looked like she would crash, but then the rock below her feet stopped, and her force lifted her off the ground at a slightly off angle.

The guard, as luck would have it, slipped as well on the lose rocks, placing her perfectly in the pathway of her attack. As her kick landed, she used the guard as a spring board, leaping off of him. As she lept into the air, she forced her body forward, and dropped her heal, into a deadly kick. The heel came down with the glaring purple energy that almost seemed to come to life and seek this second guards lifeblood.

As her kick dropped, she was already moving on her next attack, not caring much she struck or not, she shifted her weight and spun slightly, this caused her legs to separate and she fell into a split. As she slid, her face ended up staring into a thirds guards crotch, she raised her fist into a powerful uppercut, into the groin. Her face wasn't used to this kind of sight, and she guessed the distance wrong, she was far short of striking this one.

She knew a moment after she punched it was a failed effort. She pushed her hand down, and pushed her body upwards, in an effort to spring to her feet, she lacked the skill to spring to her feet so about halfway up, she ran out of momentum, and with her now falling weight she lifted her elbow up, and slammed it to the second guard she had attacked. Her power wasn't enough to get a good shot, and the speed of attempting threw her aim off.

She wasn't a perfect warrior but it didn't matter. The ending would go the way it was foreseen, and even her failed movements could be seen in the pathway of the warriors in the past.

[Private to GM:
Charms in effect -
Optimistic Security Practice - 5m,
Joy in Adversity - 5m.
Blade of the Battle Maiden - 12M, 2WP
Anima Effect -5M Range 20 Yards

Total Mote - 11/28 10/10
Total WP - 5

No Charm Used this action.

Recovered - 10m, 1WP

Soak - 5B 3L 2A, foes with Essence under 3, must pay 1 WP, or fail in the action to Damage or Disable her.

Other Effects - All attacks that fail to hit, Roll Essence, gain 2m per success

Kick 1 - 8 dice, 6L +1LHL 6 success (I figured 3 wasn't enough, and I needed the first attack to hit to do the rest.) VS Guard 1 (Calling for Help)
Kick 2 - 6 Dice 9L +1LHL 4 Success VS Guard 2 (Attacking Dashu)
Punch 1 - 6 Dice 3L +1LHL 1 Success VS Guard 3 (Attacking Dashu)
Punch 2 - 5 Dice 3L +1LHL 1 Success PDV - 7 VS Guard 1 (Calling for Help)]

[Private to Dyron Reva: Whoa, great post, but can you separate that second block into a few smaller chunks? it's kinda hard to read it in a big block. :) thanks!]

[Private to GM: Better?] [Private to Dyron Reva: Yes!]
This message was last edited by the GM at 07:07, Thu 06 Nov 2008.

Having his chain broken annoyed Dashu and made him that much more determined to finish this fight quickly.  His anima banner flaring yet again, Dashu dropped into a strange stance with his back foot propped awkwardly against the corner of the wall and the other turned inward near a puddle of water which had condensed on the floor.  Suddenly, the forward foot moved quickly through the puddle sending a slash dirty water into the air.  During the brief distraction, Dashu launched himself off the wall and into the air, above the Water Dragon, catching her shoulder, and holding his entire body upside down on her's with his face mere millimeters from hers.  He then spread his legs in a sideways split, and pushed off the wall again, this time sending his body into a 720 degree whirlwind spin moving with his sai slashing at her tortured throat yet again in a single thrust designed to end it all.


[Private to GM: Mechanical Breakdown:  Stunt Attempted. 1 FIERCE attacks with the sai (-1 acc, +2L dmg).  4 motes spent on 2 successes for roll.   I'll go ahead and roll the normal dice and you can roll my stunt dice if you so decide to award any.

01:26, Today: Peleps Dashu rolled 3 successes using 7d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 10,2,5,4,1,9,6. Attack Sai.
(sorry about the other roll, I hit the wrong button and put in too many dice, any way)  3+2= 5 successes total for the attack + stunt dice.

Before Turn:
WP Spent/Gained/Left: 1/0/5
Personal Essence Spent/Gained/Left:  16/2/4
Peripheral Essence Spent/Gained Left: 0/0/43
DV:  -6

If the guards decided to attack then assume I use my perfect dodge again.

After Turn:
WP Spent/Gained/Left: 2/0/4
Personal Essence Spent/Gained/Left:  20/2/0
Peripheral Essence Spent/Gained Left: 0/0/43
DV:  -1


Oh one more thing, we're on the Water Level, fighting a Water Dragon, with henchmen who all have breathing masks.  Do I need to make some sort of special roll for my character to understand that the imminent purging that's about to happen is going to involve massive amounts of water and we should probably jack to the breathmasks from the corpses of the guards?]
This message was last edited by the player at 07:43, Thu 06 Nov 2008.

Reva's first leaping kick catches the unfortunate 'springboard' hard in the chest. The enchanted lamellar still absorbs a good deal of the blow, but the purple glow seeps through, impacting far and beyond what the armor can absorb. The man approaching Xurizu staggers, his cracked rib hindering his advance, but he is not quite faltering -- yet.

The second man she attacks very nearly suffers a similar fate, but he thrusts his spear in the way. The surprisingly malleable shaft deflects her heel, leaving him unharmed. The third one is rather startled at the missed ball-punch, but is not actually hurt.

[Private to Dyron Reva: BTW, this time, since your narration depended on your rolls I just assumed you don't want stunt dice. :) the elites' highest DV is actually 4, not 3, due to superior equipment.]

Dashu takes a risky shot, using distraction and acrobatics to push the Water Stylist into further disadvantage, but -- even wounded as she is -- she slips away from him easily. She is bleeding from the face, though, and perhaps just as angry as Dashu himself as his unexpected clumsiness puts his attack to a halt.

[Private to Peleps Dashu: Your second sai draw was a misc 5 spd, -1 DV action. To attack again before the Water Stylist acts meant you had to split your action, on top of the -3 you're taking from Flowing Water Defense and the -1 from fierce attack. the split started at -2 for your misc. draw, then -3 for the attack. So total penalty you had on the last attack was -7, ow. You got a +2 stunt and can get back essence or WP for it, but you definitely missed and are at -2 DV until refresh.

Oh, and you don't need a roll to put those clues together about the breathing masks, Water level, etc. I think it's obvious enough once you notice it, plus Dashu's already high Investigation as it is, so you can assume he figured it out!]

---

OOC: waiting on Xurizu before I post what guards do. Reva does have another action coming up before the guard leader, but please wait for Xurizu and regular guards first :)
This message was last edited by the GM at 09:05, Thu 06 Nov 2008.

Xurizu knocks another arrow as the man approaches him, letting it fly almost immediately as he starts to back=pedal, not wanting the man to get close enough to strike at him if he can possibly avoid it. As he moves, essence infuses the muscles of his whole body, granting him a lithe and deadly grace which both speeds his movements and grants his shot a more perfect accuracy, the shot and his limbs still trailing the contrails of shadow which make up his anima.

[Private to GM: Another attack. 7 dice, +2 Dex Excellency for 9 dice.  Using as much Dex Excellency as is required to boost move to stop him from closing to melee range. ]

Xurizu's arrow sadly falls short of the guard. The guard however is injured and cannot pursue Xurizu nearly as quickly as the Lunar widens the distance between them. [Private to Ledaal Xurizu: up to tick 12 the guard will dash total of 24 yards. Just 1m would be enough to keep 6 yards away at this point. Also you got +1 stunt again.]

The guards split their efforts. One healthy guard stabs at Dashu, while the other jabs his spear at Reva (spending the needed WP). The third wounded guard lets out a shout of effort and hurls his spear at Xerizu before putting on a dash of speed. The spear shifts shape slightly, streamlined into a javelin as it courses toward the retreating Exalt.

All three pour what courage they can muster into the attack. Unfortunately, Dashu easily leaps aside with a burst of golden Essence, and Xurizu just barely steps aside as the javelin streaks past his shoulder, hitting the wall coming up behind him. Reva, however, is struck by her guard's spear for 1L damage.

The Water stylist knows Reva will move before she can, but nonetheless... if she survives to do so, she forces herself to block out all distractions and assumes the fluidity of the Water Dragon Form.

---

OOC: ok, attack on Dashu 6 sux, on Reva 3 sux, on Xurizu 4. According to my count, Dashu is at -2 DV but he perfects, Reva is at -4 (2 DV), Xurizu at -1 (4 DV). By his next action, Xurizu will reach the end of the hall the battle is currently raging, and will have to turn a corner to keep retreating, putting him out of sight of Dashu and Reva.

[Private to Peleps Dashu: BTW Dashu, what's your Flaw of Invulnerability, Temperance or Valor? I've assumed Valor, which works for you anyway since the most dangerous enemy is still the Water stylist.]

Actions: we're at tick 10, just after Dashu acted.
tick 10 - Reva
tick 11 - Water Stylist (activates Water Dragon Form)
tick 12 - Xurizu
tick 14 - guards
tick 15 - Dashu

Constantly thinking, Dashu automatically has a revellation that he shouts to his new friends:  "Hey, we need to finish these guards off and take their masks.  We're on the Water level, facing a Water Dragon, and a bunch of guards with breathing devices.  I'll be anything this "purging" will involve them trying to drown us."

[Private to GM: Okay first of all, I'll take the willpower.  Secondly, it's totally Valor.  Lastly, since I'm last to act, I'll deal with my attack after my defense.  I'm probably going to try and stunt defenses to regain a little essence.]
This message was last edited by the player at 02:08, Fri 07 Nov 2008.

Damnit, out of room, Xurizu thinks, and thinks quickly.  He reaches the wall a few instants later, snatching up the thrown javelin and turning to face his attacker.  As he does, he sets the butt of the javelin into the corner between the wall and floor and wills the weapon to extend into a full length spear, hoping to impale the charging man upon it, essence guiding his muscles as he does, the corona of shadows now lit through with silver.

"I agree, we don't want to be here when that happens," he says, strain in his voice from the weight of the spear.
[Private to GM: One attack, with the spear.  Pool before the spear is counted is 10 dice (inc 4 excellency dice), though the spear stats suffer -1 Acc, Def +1 speed due to the Str requirement.]

She winces, a spear slighting scraping her side, drawing blood from her flesh. She shook off the minor wound and took this as a chance to end this fight. First leaping to her feet, the then spoke "I'll stand for your honor-less battles no more. You shall fall, now." Her speech was over. She performed a spinning kick, her force lifting her from the ground and as her leg out stretched, Her strikes would hit any mortal, but her target was not a normal mortal. As her fist kick traveled, she lowered her stance, to increasing her speed, so that if the first kick connected she would strike hard, and then she would reverse direction for the second kick. If the first kick missed, she would keep spinning attempting the second. She could only hope she hit.

[Private to GM:
Charms in effect -
Optimistic Security Practice - 5m,
Joy in Adversity - 5m.
Blade of the Battle Maiden - 12M, 2WP
Anima Effect -5M Range 20 Yards

Total Mote - 11/28 10/10
Total WP - 5

No Charm Used this action.

Recovered - 10m, 1WP

Soak - 5B 3L 2A, foes with Essence under 3, must pay 1 WP, or fail in the action to Damage or Disable her.

Other Effects - All attacks that fail to hit, Roll Essence, gain 2m per success

Attack List
Kick 1 Power 9 9L +1LHL 4 Success Dam it
Kick 2 Power 8 9L +1LHL 3 Success even worse!
Stunt dice would be awesome! And so would dice if my Specialty applies...
]

Dashu knows he has to end this quickly, but he doesn't want to make a wrong step or burn through all his Essence.  After careful consideration, he launches himself at the Water Dragon one more time. Once he enteres into striking range, he took a single step to the side, throws his left shoulder forward, and twisted his body to where he faced the ceiling.  He immediately backflips and lands directly beside his opponent with his sai held in a backhand grip.  Once again, Dashu slashs at the already battered Terrestrial.

[Private to GM: Dashu uses his Martial Arts Excellency to buy 5 successes and spends 1 mote to keep the essence expenditure from adding to his anima banner.  He'll probably parry as a defense until his next turn but I'm not going to rule out trying to stunt the defense either.]
This message was last edited by the player at 14:36, Wed 19 Nov 2008.

[Private to Dyron Reva: Oops, I forgot to remind that you're still at -3 dice to hit Water stylist from Flowing Water Defense. So I rerolled your initial rolls, and gave you +2 for specialty, +1 stunt. Interestingly, your new roll with 6 dice actually gave you a total of 7 successes! Anyway, first kick hits, second misses.]

Reva's spinning kick impacts with the Water Stylist's armor with a *crack!*, the aura of Saturn seeping through the jade to pummel her chest. (1L damage.) The second kick misses as the Dragon-Blooded forcefully shoves her foot away with her dragon claws.

The guard running at Xurizu doesn't expect the spear that impales him through the chest as he runs right into it, moving too fast to stop himself. He gives the Lunar a last, bewildered expression through his breathing mask before he dies, sliding down the weapon until his body hits the floor.

The two remaining guards continue to do what they can to support their leader while she powers up. As before, one strikes at Dashu (8 successes) and the other at Reva (6 successes).

---

OOC: Originally I rolled damage but I decided it'd be in your best interests to let you stunt defense, too (otherwise Reva would have 4L damage now and that really sucks!) Reva is currently at 4 DV so stunt at least +2 worth and you're unhurt.

Dashu, will you PD that spear attack, also? since it happens just before your action against the Water Stylist it still counts as your last turn's charm use.

Activates his perfect defense, once again frustrating the guard as his Essence fulled reflexes allow him to remain unable to be hit.  He then returns his attention to the Water Dragon as he moves in for his kill.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:42, Fri 07 Nov 2008.

Dashu slashes at the Water Aspect, and her limbs move with liquid grace to stop the slender blade before it harms her. But the sliver of metal slips past her grasping claws, and stabs her in the abdomen. She lets out an audible gasp of pain and grits her teeth.

[Private to Peleps Dashu: another +1 stunt.]

"How can one such as you speak of honor...?" she scoffs at Reva, and glares at Dashu...

"There are many more of me, and only the three of you. You'll never leave..." She coughs, blood leaking from her lips. "You can enjoy my death like the beasts you are... until yours comes in turn."

She falls to one knee, obviously on her last legs.

---

OOC: Man, the dice are really rolling crappy damage. However, Lesser Sign of Saturn still kicked in. Water Stylist is at -4 wound penalty.

Actions:
tick 15 - Reva (you can post your stunt to defend and your next attack in the same post if you like)
tick 16 - Water Stylist
tick 17 - Xurizu
tick 19 - guards
tick 20 - Dashu

As the guard stabs at her, she rolls her body across the floor, into a edge where the floor meets the wall. Here she twist her body and forces her weight onto one hand. Then, she plants her feet against the wall, and springs off, flipping over her would be attacker. As she lands behind her attack she forces one palm through the air with the force of a hurricane. This palm strike, she attempted to smash it into the back the her attacker, and send him flying into the wall for a kill, or knockout.

"We are not beast. You have no honor, and it is only because of my hopes and dreams, that I am willing to fight you without tainting my honor. I could be like you, using things that don't belong to me to fight. I could attack with weapons, use armor, or be like you, the worst of all, and use other people to fight my battles. I do not plan on killing you, for death is too kind, but if they do, I'll not hold it against them."
[Private to GM:
Charms in effect -
Optimistic Security Practice - 5m,
Joy in Adversity - 5m.
Blade of the Battle Maiden - 12M, 2WP
Anima Effect -5M Range 20 Yards

Total Mote - 11/28 10/10
Total WP - 5

No Charm Used this action.

Recovered - 10m, 1WP

Soak - 5B 3L 2A, foes with Essence under 3, must pay 1 WP, or fail in the action to Damage or Disable her.

Other Effects - All attacks that fail to hit, Roll Essence, gain 2m per success

Attack List
Palm Thrust - 7 Success, DV 7, Damage 3L +1LHL
] [Private to Dyron Reva: good enough, stunt passes!]
This message was last edited by the GM at 07:29, Sat 08 Nov 2008.

Propelled by Reva's well-placed palm, the guard hits the wall -- not dead, but somewhat dazed.

The Water stylist chuckles, though the laughter hurts. "You think this jade is not mine by right? Or that my men don't believe in what they fight for? It is you who does not understand where you stand. This is Five Coils, the last bastion of the Realm. It is you, who cannot understand the need for Order, that ultimately destroyed our Dynasty. You who would roam all Creation unchecked and uncontrollable for your hubris and ambition, that led us survivors to shelter underground."

"One day... oh, one day," she smiles icily, "if you ever do see the sky we have not seen in three hundred years, you will see what power such as yours has wrought upon the world above!!"

With those words she marshals the last vestiges of her determination, and leaps to strike. Glittering lines of Water Essence trail from the sharpened claw tips, lending force to the blow as they dig deep into Reva's chest. The air ripples in the wake of her strike, blasting an area around her that includes both Dashu and the two guards!

---

OOC: Water Stylist used Rippling Water Strike and a Virtue channel. Reva takes 3L, Dashu takes 2B, guards take 1B. Xurizu is too far for this effect. The guard Reva hit last is nearly dead now, the other just grazed.

Please post next actions. I'm going to let all of you act this turn, I'll just assume the guards got stunned out of acting for a short while due to the Charm effect to speed things up.

[Private to Dyron Reva: I assumed you made a Conviction channel (using 1 WP), let your +2 stunt carry over to this defense... maybe the Dragoness' speech gave you time to defend better, who knows? Anyway, you would have taken 6L damage but I reduced it to 3L. But I suggest that you should think of using Blinding the Boar to add to your difficulty to hit, if you're going to play with such low soak. :( Even if I'd given the DB the bare minimum pool for her style she would've still been hitting pretty hard.]

[Private to Dyron Reva: Also, you got 3m back from Joy in Adversity. I rolled 8 dice cause I think I counted 4 times you missed since last I counted that charm's effects. So take that along with whatever you'll get back from +2 stunt]
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:52, Sat 08 Nov 2008.

Xurizu looks up as he finishes levering the spear from the dead man's chest, forming it to a much shorter spear which he can actually use without straining, watching the rest of the melee suddenly engulfed in water essence as the adept punched forwards.  As soon as it retreated, he was running in, heading for the injured guard, spear lowered in a charge.

He turned to face the Water Aspect then.  "Order? Order should not mean a dark cell.  Order should not mean a life half-remembered.  Order should not require the nightmares of things that seem so real."

"That is not required for Order."

Dashu being ever pragmatic, was not one for talking during a fight.  By dealing damage to everyone around her, the Water Dragon had proven was an incredibly dangerous opponent and should be dealt with efficiently.  So it was in the name of efficiency that he acted:

Dashu's sais flashed once again at his opponent:  One quick strike towards her heart.

[Private to GM: I'm buying 5 successes once again and paying the one mote to not add them to my anima banner.  No stunt.  I know I'm being dull, but I'm out of town too.  If this finishes her then I'll say some gloating words over her grave.  :p]
This message was last edited by the player at 22:42, Sat 08 Nov 2008.

The sai pierces the Water Stylist's chest, and her body stiffens in pain. "I am Peleps Zaira... I will surely be reborn in the Dragons' favor... we will... meet agai--" Dashu shoves the blade deeper, silencing those last words, and she falls back dead, her dark blue eyes wide open to the ceiling.

Xurizu charges the wounded guard as he struggles to regain his bearings, using the water-blessed spear against him. He is an easy target, and can do nothing but be skewered neatly against the wall.

The final guard, realizing his chances of survival are slim, begins to run in the direction the Exalts know leads to the guard checkpoint they must past through. Reva is the only one who might have a chance of stopping him at this point. Unless stopped, he will join the force that is now likely amassing at the checkpoint to put an end to their escape.

---

OOC: If you decide to let the guard go, you can take a short time to collect the equipment of the other guards. Xurizu will let you know that the armor is air-enchanted fine lamellar (Soak +6L/8B, Mobility -0, Fatigue 0), and the weapons are exceptional water-enchanted short spears (Spd 5, Acc +3, Dam +5L, Def +1, Rate 3).

The water enchantment allows the spears to shift form to any other exceptional quality melee weapon of similar size and make... in this case, other spears: javelin, lance, short spear, spear. Also possibly a staff. [Private to Peleps Dashu: Unfortunately I don't think they can shift into a fighting chain... the chain would have more metal than wood to its make and spears tend to be more wood than metal. :( but you will have a chance to get another one, I am sure!]

You may take what you wish of the equipment, including of course the three breathing masks the guards had (they appear to be magical as well, they don't have any tanks but are made of blue jade alloy), as well as Zaira's equipment: black jade lamellar (Soak +8L/9B, Hardness 5L/5B, Mobility -1, Fatigue 0, Attune 3), and black jade razor claws (Spd 5, Acc +4, Dam +5L, Def +2, Rate 3, Attune 6). Normally you will need 20 mins to attune it... if you REALLY want to attune it right away, I'll allow it if you pay double attunement cost. Otherwise you can carry it or leave it.

Lastly! +3 xp for getting through this combat (+unstated bonuses), regain +6 more motes automatically. You'll need'em. Reva and Dashu's encounter with the Water Stylist means they could potentially start training themselves Water Dragon Style, when they have the XP and training time for it.

As the Water Dragon fell the floor, Dashu takes a moment to comment, "You certainly had no problems with our power as long as we were your slaves." He then adopts the emotionless, analytical composure of a crime scene investigator and says "Okay so I'm figuring that these masks help the guards breath under water for when this 'purging' starts.  We should probably all take one just in case we don't exactly make it out before it starts.  I don't really have any use for the armor."  With those words he turns to Reva and said "Madam Dyron, if it weren't for your anima banner and your assistance, defeating her would have been much more difficult.  If you wish to take the dragon claws, then I certainly won't object."
This message was last edited by the player at 14:38, Wed 19 Nov 2008.

"Do not chase him. He has choosen to end the fight, and show his cowardice. Let him lead that path, I'll not harm someone who will not fight. Maybe next time, he will know better than to try. If not, next time he will be my first target."

She then looks over the gear, "Take only what we need, the Mask, a suit of armor if you think you need it, a weapon if your hands don't have the strength. The rest, we offer up in prayer." She grasp a spear, and shifts it into a short spear.

[Private to GM: If I pray to the Maidens, or any god, does it count as Scriface of the object to them, if I cut it up and break it apart? And what might I know about the God of Five Coils, or any other gods of this place? Dam no Extra EXP for me... V.V
3 Mote 1WP was the cost of this fight. Lastly, let me know when my effects end.]

Dashu puts his sais away, picks up the dragon claws, and straps them on.  Thinking to himself, "I wish these were either Baneclaws or Direchains, but they'll do for now." He then responded to Reva's comments by saying, "Yeah I'm not chasing him.  Besides, it looks like he's heading our direction anyway.  I'll bet good jade that we'll run into a guard checkpoint and they'll be expecting us.  How's everyone feeling?  Any serious injuries?"

The guard turns the corner, running as fast as his legs can take him.

The Exalts feel that they'd better get going very soon, too. The battle itself was relatively short, but they have a long way left to run.

[Private to Dyron Reva: Sure, it can count as a sacrifice. However, prayer roll is Charisma + Performance, Diff 3 (the equipment you're sacrificing is Res 4).

As for the gods of Five Coils - well, they are going to definitely be more sympathetic to the Dragon-Blooded than you. The Immaculate Order is the primary religion in Coils, so people are pretty much prohibited from worshiping other spirits. There are only the Immaculate Rituals which venerate the Dragons. There are probably small gods that aid various functions and industries in Coils but worship is kept very, very restricted.

SO, I think the only gods you'd know of to pray to (either instinctively, as a Sidereal, or because you've heard them mentioned as heresies to worship) would be the Maidens, UCS, Luna and Gaia.]

"I'm ... fine," Xurizu says as he finishes pulling the spear out of the other dead guard.  "I'm glad you two were with me," he looks down at the armour the dead water aspect had.  Shame it wasn't me who killed her, he thought momentarily.  She might still have been useful.  Then he kneels down and starts to strip her armour off her.  "This will provide rather better protection than the jacket we found."

"Well, lets get going," he says after he dons the armour, forcing essence into it to lighten it immediately.

After his companions gave him an update on their health.  Dashu begins making his way towards the stairs again, and continues talking:  "Glad  you guys were around too.  Anyone got ideas on how to deal with the checkpoint?"
This message was last edited by the player at 14:27, Wed 19 Nov 2008.

She smiles, "Let us look and see if the Gods are willing to direct us." She gathered all the unused items and cut them apart, praying softly, "Oh maiden of Secrets, you know all that there is to know, and all that will ever be known. You know of the darkness around us, and the lost souls against us. You know the fate of the world, above and below. I ask you, for just a fraction of your wisdom, and just a hit of your guidance. Please, great maiden, give me only this, a pathway to walk, and a secret way out, or help to keep us secret. I leave it all in your hands, for you know far better than us." She bowed down, and after using the spear the break all the objects, she took the spear, and placed it standing perfectly center of the sacrifice, perhaps it will fall in the direction best to go, or luck would decide instead.

[Private to GM: Channleing Conviction. Need to escape alive! 3 success... Stunt Dice?]

"No ideas, I'm sorry," he says to Dashu, a little wearyness in his voice.  I must have once known how to deal with something like this ... no memories now.

Xurizu watched the ritual with interest.  Something about it seemed correct, but he couldn't remember ever having performed something similar.  "Excuse me, but who is this Maiden to whom you pray?"

When he realizes his friends aren't moving with him, Dashu stops moving towards the stairs and stands several yards away from Reva, becoming somewhat annoyed with the further delay caused by the prayer.  However, after a brief's moment introspection, he realizes that his annoyance is a product of not fully understanding the utility of her actions.  He reasons that she is fully aware of the need for haste and opts to keep his mouth shut and trust his companion.  However, despite his continued silence and slight interest in the prayer, his desire for haste is evident from his nervous glances and tapping foot.  "Come on,"  he thought, "we can't have more than 25 minutes before the purging starts and we've got some ground to cover."
This message was last edited by the player at 14:30, Wed 19 Nov 2008.

There is an answer to Reva's prayer, though it may not be the one that she wants. The offerings disappear in a haze of green-tinged smoke that fades, turning invisible as it seeps upward, unhindered by mundane obstacles, to reach the Maiden in Heaven.

Reva's spear, when it falls, points the exact same direction that the group would have moved anyway. Either the answer is that there is no other way, or perhaps something may be found along the way to aid. Again, the gods are mysterious, and one can either put faith in their wisdom or depend on their own mettle to survive.

[Private to Dyron Reva: BTW, you don't get the feeling the Maiden ignored you. You actually feel your prayer WAS heard. Just not in any obvious way... yet.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:50, Wed 12 Nov 2008.

"Stairs it is, then,"  Dashu said under his breath while rolling his eyes slightly.  We waited for his companions to catch him, but as soon as his they reached his side, he began to jog along side them.

Xurizu's question is for the moment met with silence, as their priority is to run, not talk.

The group continues their mad rush to escape the prison facility, realizing they have little choice. The way there is far from a direct one, but between Dashu's quick thinking mind and Xerizu's finely honed senses they are able to navigate their way through the rest of the maze without issue.

Finally, they're racing through the final stretch. The checkpoint is close, and they hear sounds of battle from the corridor just ahead -- along with an unpleasant announcement: "T-minus twenty minutes until purging commences."

---

OOC: Basically you're running through a side passage opening up into a wider corridor... the corridor is the main one leading to the checkpoint. So at this point you hear battle but don't see it, and you can either slow down to try and get a careful look or just start running toward the battle.
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:59, Wed 12 Nov 2008.

"Hey guys, how do you feel about not getting involved in this, if at all possible and just making a break for it?  I'm thinking just run up the wall and going around the commotion."

"Avoiding conflict sounds like a grand plan if we can manage it, yes," Xurizu says softly.  "Though I'm curious who .... or what ... is fighting."

Dashu believes Xurizu's words are reasonable and replied in a very soft voice, "Fair enough, lets take a peek."  He inches his way up to the corner and peers around the edge.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:29, Wed 19 Nov 2008.

She nods with the others about taking a peek. She was ready for this fight but could only hope to avoid a fight. She only knew how to fight due to her childhood scrapes and secret training. Sadly, training in secret was not the best way to become a master of combat. She was hoping to find a hint on how to get pass the guards without blood shed. She glanced back behind the group, maybe if the guards come down this way she could dodge into one of the doors. That gave her an idea, but if she could pull it off, that was another question.

[Private to GM: My charms are still in effect, right?]

Taking a peek into the next corridor, the Exalts see that it is smooth and uninterrupted by other side passages. There are about fifteen yards between you and the obstruction at the end of the hall: this, you assume, is the checkpoint. An imposing mechanized door blocks the way to the outer limits of Forbidden B31, barring it from floor to ceiling.

Barely three yards from the door stands a lone man in a black and crimson composite battle armor, compact and form-fitting. He is fighting against two figures in dragon armor apparently refitted for aquatic combat: one red jade with a power mace, the other green jade with an essence whip. Another fang of mortal support in similarly refitted ashigaru armor accompany them. Two of those have already been downed, lying prone on the floor nearby, but three more mortal guards still surround the lone armored fighter with their better-armored leaders.

Though grossly outnumbered, the man does not appear to be overwhelmed, at least not yet. In one hand he wields a short daiklave--more like a long knife, from its construction and the method by which he wields it. In the other he holds four throwing knives, which in his hands pierce through armor and fly obediently back to his hand. [Private to Dyron Reva: Reva is certain the weapons he? holds are starmetal. Though the armor is not.] He does not seem to be injured, but it's difficult to tell with all the metal everyone is wearing.

The other item of interest that can be seen from the escapees' vantage point is a small alcove embedded into the right side of the corridor, inches from the door. One assumes that the glow of magitech inside indicates that this is where the controls for the massive door would be located.

[Private to Dyron Reva: Yes! Still the same scene, so your charms are still up.]

She stands still for several seconds after seeing the sight, almost if thinking about her next action. Then her shards start flickering around her, chunks of fate warp vision and perception. The world around her seems to have flickers of green, blue, red, and many other things, fragments of other places that Reva might be some day. A leaf drifts from one shard to the next, vanishing as it leave is boundary. Then the shards shake and mold, gluing together into a solid image. But the person, is unknown. She seems to be all at once there but missing, as if she is in the other places and no longer here. Looking at her, noticing her, even speaking at her, seem to be impossible. As she vanishes into the world, twisted in fate and steps out, trying to determine more.

[Private to GM: (Blinding the Boar, 3 Success, 5m 1W, 5 Actions remaining, Move Action, Charm Use)]

Dashu looks at Xurizu and says "Do you have any idea as to what just happened?"

[Private to GM: Hey, I'm rolling to see if I can't notice what she's doing.
10:37, Today: Peleps Dashu rolled 4 successes using 8d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 6,3,7,10,3,4,5,8. Notice Reva.]
This message was last edited by the player at 16:40, Fri 14 Nov 2008.

Xurizu looked away from the space in the world where there used to be a Sidereal and yet now there was not.  "... some kind of charm?" he hazarded, and then shook his head.

Dashu strained his eyes and ears to try and detect the location of his companion and to see what she was doing.  He finally replied to Xurizu,"Probably so.  I think we should wait for her to get back to act though."

Dashu and Xurizu can, with some effort, just barely sense a nondescript blur that might be Reva creeping down the corridor. Possibly trying to get a closer look of the battle and the door mechanisms?

[Private to Dyron Reva: What exactly are you doing? If you're actually trying to sneak over towards the door, you should explicitly roll Dex+Stealth so I can add those successes to your BtB roll. Also, what information are you looking for? Tell me so I can type something up for you.]

Now that her charm was finished she slowly started creeping forwards, being as silent as she could. Her charm cloaked her well, but being careful was better than blindly charging. She paid as close attention to every detail as she could, trying to figure out who this man was, make sure that it was guards he was fight, see if she could noticed the guard who fled them, and figure out any more details about the weapons he held, so lovely.

[Private to GM: Sorry, 2 success on Stealth, and Awareness, Moving closer again, I think that cuts me down to 4 Actions for my charm. I figured I couldn't really start sneaking much last post because of the simple charm taking it up, this action I can really start the sneaking... I guess, lol. Exalted rules are really fuzzy on things like 'Length of an action outside Combat']

What Reva sees:

The man's face is covered by a crimson faceplate, so his features impossible to see. However the mask is unusual in that it only has one eyeslit for the right eye. Beneath the eyeslit are painted three slender, pointed markings -- difficult to tell exactly what they are in the heat of battle.

His hair does show through though. It's long and black, pulled up into a partial topknot, with the loose strands bound into several thin braids. At the end of each braid hangs a metal ring of cold iron.

The people he is fighting are definitely Five Coils guardians (Dashu and Xurizu would be certain of this as well). Dragon armor of any make is reserved only for Jade Officers, whether in the Peace Corps or the Strike Force. The mortals in the modified ashigaru armor are their footsoldiers (and no Reva doesn't notice the guard that ran in this group). The ordinary soldiers are no match at all for the mysterious fighter, but the two Dragon-blooded could likely hold their own with him, at least enough to keep him away from the magitech console.

Lastly the weapons: all Reva can confirm is their starmetal construction. Custom-made weapons forged personally for him, most likely.

Meanwhile Reva's companions continue to wait around the corner... wherever she has gone, the combatants do not seem to have noticed her in the slightest. What will Dashu and Xurizu do?
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:31, Sat 15 Nov 2008.

"Hey Xurizu, I have an idea.  When Reva gets back and fills us in on the details she's, why don't you change back into that snake form and sneak over to that panel.  Maybe you can open up the door over there.  If it attacks any notice, then I'll try and draw some of the guards away from you."

She could only hope, and pray, that this man was like her, a Sidereal. She wished such facts to be true, and assumed them to for her hope was that strong. She must help, no time to tell the others. She Dashed (Moved?) to get close enough to attack, and from her stealth, she struck out, to disable a guard.

She moved behind the guard and lashed out with a sweeping kick, then, switched directs she came back with her heel kicking the guard again.

[Private to GM: 2 kicks, Kick 1, 5 success, kick 2, 7 success, 6L, 6L]

"Or we can all get in a fight," Dashu says once he sees the commotion Reva started.  "You think you can open the gate while I keep them off of you or should we switch rolls?"
This message was last edited by the player at 14:31, Wed 19 Nov 2008.

"Looks like we're all getting in a fight," he agrees.  "Having seen you fight, I think I'm far better off trying the door."  How hard can one door be to open?

"Okay but be quick.  I don't know that I can last that long."

Reva kicks at the green-armored Jade Officer from behind. This one is apparently male, and he lets out a grunt of surprise as her foot sweeps him and he falls to the ground! Before he can pick himself up Reva's heel impacts with his chest, a hard enough blow to bruise painfully and knock the wind out of him (3L damage and knocked prone).

The other in the red armor, a shorter female, lets out a curse. "Where'd that come from?" she hisses. She pours a touch of flame Essence into her attack, swinging her power mace toward the strange disturbance in the air that struck her, but cannot seem to connect at all. "Don't think I've forgotten you!" she cries, thrusting the mace back toward the mysterious fighter, who dodges nimbly.

"Ugh..." groans the one still on the floor. He taps his comm device, uttering, "They're.. at the gate..." The Wood Dragon remains on his back for the moment, lashing his whip of green energy toward the blur that is Reva in an attempt to entangle her. The thrumming energy lash comes close -- but not close enough.

If Dashu starts moving now, he can get within combat range in 2 ticks.

---

OOC: actions (after Reva's surprise)
tick 2 - Dashu (attack), mysterious fighter
tick 3 - mortal guards (3)
tick 4 - Xurizu
tick 5 - Reva

[Private to Peleps Dashu: You rolled high for JB but you needed 2 ticks to get close enough to attack.]

[Private to Dyron Reva: Remember you've got -1 wound penalty. Anyway I assumed a DV of 7 with these last attacks (7 base, -2 flurry, -1 wounds, +3 BtB)]
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:36, Sun 16 Nov 2008.

"It's time to put these new toys to the test," Dashu thinks as he began to move towards the fighting.  He moves swiftly but is still attempting to remain as quite as possible, hoping the guards would be too distracted by Reva and the other fighter to notice his approach.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:17, Wed 19 Nov 2008.

Xurizu took a less direct route to the fighting than Dashu, moving to the wall the gate controls were on, and then along it swiftly, reaching it as soon as he could, trying to decipher the controls.  He'd never seen anything like this before, but still deeply buried instinct moved his hands as he tried to open the door.  And tried to ignore distractions from the fight.

The guards are apparently too busy dealing with Reva's sudden appearance and the continued threat of the mysterious fighter to notice Dashu or Xurizu's approach.

---

OOC: Lucky rolls guys, they're blind :P

Dashu can get a surprise attack on any target at tick 2, go ahead and post! However, Xurizu will not reach the door controls until tick 6. Until then he is all but invisible though.

Mystery guy will post soon ;) since he's on Dashu's tick.
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:38, Sun 16 Nov 2008.

Dashu figures the strongest one is the one with the mace.  As such he decides to remove the immediate threat.  The stranger seems capable of taking care of himself, at least when it came to the mortals, and Reva is okay, as long as she is just dealing with the one guy she had knocked down.

As he moves towards the fight, Dashu's fingers move in an strange pattern twisting the shadows with them.  Dashu decides to take the high road to get to his target and jumped onto the shoulder of one of the mortal gaurds, he then pushes off and puts his other foot onto the wall.  All of this places Dashu 3 feet in the air behind his target.  Throwing his weight forward into a shoulder roll, he lashes out with his Dragon's Claws at the Dragon Blood's back.  As his attack lands, the shadows which Dashu had twisted appear to reach out and dance in front of his target's eyes.  Dashu chooses this moment to pivot on foot, jump and spin in the air like a whirlwind, all the while bringing his claw upwards in an uppercut.  As he came out of his spin, Dashu decides that his opponent would be much safer disarmed, so he lashed out at the Dragon's hand, trying to catch the handle of the mace in the space between the claws, and twisted.

[Private to GM:  Distracting Finger Gesture charm, 2 strikes and an attempt to disarm.]
This message was last edited by the player at 14:26, Wed 19 Nov 2008.

The woman in the red jade, caught between the masked attacker and the vaguely human-shaped blur that kicked her comrade, finds herself transfixed by a twisting pattern of shadow -- followed by a deadly flurry of black jade.

"What--aghh!" Dashu's claws bite through her armor, drawing blood. (3L total) She calls shrilly through her comm, "Ambush... damnit, ambush at the gates!" Her eyes go wide with disbelief as Dashu grasps and twists at her mace -- a weapon she has practiced and mastered over years of training -- and wrenches it away from her in the blink of an eye.

"You!!" A pillar of fire wreathes her body as she activates her armor's flame talons -- curved beams of white hot plasma projected from her gauntlets, with which she fully intends to harm Dashu... if she can manage to act!

---

OOC: Red guard is delayed her turn for 4 ticks, so she'll act again at tick 9.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:53, Mon 17 Nov 2008.

Moving without hesitation, the masked man in the unidentified armor immediately takes advantage of the surprise attacks unleashed by the new arrivals - almost as if he knew they would come. His initial sidestep meshes almost perfectly with Reva's attack, putting him into perfect position to finish what she had started.

As soon as the green armored man hits the floor, the masked figure plants a boot firmly on the fallen's chest, preventing him from getting up. Immediately, he turns his face towards the new arrivals, and the single eye on the right side of the face plate lights up a bright crimson, almost as if to acknowledge the fugitives' presence.

"You must hurry, your time is almost up." The voice is distorted and breathy, making it impossible to tell what it would sound like without the armor changing it so completely. "The door. You have to reach it, quickly. More are already on their way."

Without warning, the masked man brings down his arm sharply, extending it fully in the direction of the man pinned under his foot. At end of the motion, his armored hand opens, and two golden needles are released from it, both aimed for the helpless man's form...

There is no telling yet whether the needles have had any effect or not, for they are completely silent and seem to burrow within the man upon impact.

"Do not kill all of the Dragon Chosen. You need one alive. They are the key to the door you are going for, and lifeless bodies will not do."

[Private to Gatekeeper: Okay, pouring 3m into the initial martial arts move (to pin the guy down) to bring the TN of the martial arts roll to 4. Then two thrown attacks powered by Shadow Piercing Needle - So the action is split three ways, with pools like this: 10, 11, 10.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:45, Mon 17 Nov 2008.

The mysterious fighter's foot traps the green-armored guard, though he struggles to deter him with his essence whip. Outnumbered and on his back, he can do nothing to avoid the yellow-golden needles that pierce through his dragon armor as if it simply does not exist.

The Wood Aspect's body goes limp as he passes out, unconscious but still breathing shallowly.

The three ashigaru find themselves up against a team of Anathema, and raise their shock pikes bravely -- or foolishly. They won't abandon their leaders, so long as they still breathe: they've been trained that way. And when they're wearing the best Five Coils' military budget can buy, they certainly aren't going to waste it.

"Reinforcements are coming-- we've got to hold them here! Get 'em!"

They charge, seeming to miss Reva entirely, their eyes just skipping right over her. The first stabs at Dashu, taking the opportunity as the Solar completes his spin, while two strike vehemently at the masked man who just knocked out their green leader. One pike sears through the plates of the masked one's armor, dealing minimal damage. Dashu, too, cannot raise his claws in time to defend, taking 1L damage as well. [Private to Peleps Dashu: 1 shock pike attack went through with 2 sux. You have 1L, 2B damage total now.]

Meanwhile Xurizu slips past the chaos of battle into the control alcove. [Private to Ledaal Xurizu: Ok, you're there. You got a hint from mystery man, but you can also take some time to look over the controls. I'll allow pretty much any combination of a mental stat + lore for you to try to figure out what's what, just let your stunt reflect what you're using. If you need a visual... well, PM me and I'll try and type one up for you tomorrow.]

---

OOC: actions
tick 5 - Reva
tick 6 - Xurizu reaches door
tick 7 - Dashu
tick 8 - mystery man, ashigaru
tick 9 - red guard
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:31, Mon 17 Nov 2008.

Dashu decides to use the moment his technique gained to glean more information from the mystery armored man.  "So wait what you're saying we need to keep one of these two alive to open this door in front of us or a different door down the road?  By the way, for the record, if we're choosing who to not kill, I'm in favor of sparing the one you've got under foot unless those needles of yours made him 'unusable'."

[Private to GM: Can I try and stunt my dodge?  I need the essence anyway.  By the way, speaking of essence and stunts, did my last post qualify as a 2 or 3 dice stunt?  I don't particularly care if I got the dice.]
This message was last edited by the player at 14:18, Wed 19 Nov 2008.

PM [Private to Peleps Dashu: Sure, stunt the dodge. I'll adjust the previous post accordingly. You also got a +2 stunt from the attack, I already accounted for it in your roll, so get your motes!]

What Xurizu sees:

The alcove itself is not much bigger than a closet, maybe 2-3 square yards. The controls are basically a series of panels. The horizontal panels appear to be for entering input, all smooth rather than individual raised buttons. All the symbols are in Old Realm (so knowing Old Realm will definitely make this easier). The panels have Essence lines shining along them, in rippling patterns reminiscent of a sunlit stretch of water, radiating from different points to power various functions of the panels. There are also vertical jade screen displays at eye level, though they don't show pictures, just letters.

The entirety is very seamless and contoured -- no wires or joints showing, no sharp corners, in keeping with a watery aesthetic. The construction itself is mainly adamant and black jade alloy, with touches of other MMs (not soulsteel, though).

The most prominent part of the touch panels appears to be something like a half sphere embedded into it. The metal around it has been crafted to appear like a three-dimensional swirl of waves, rising to envelop the sphere. This part seems to be surrounded by the most essence lines, and the half sphere is glowing a blue-green color right now (as is most of the rest of the equipment).

"The door just ahead is the one you need to be worried about. It leads out of this prison area. You are correct in your assumption: the vital data of one of the Dragon Chosen acts as this door's key." Quickly, he removes his foot from the chest of the fallen guard, and turn his one-eyed face to Dashu while fighting to repel the attacks of the remaining guards. "And this one is alive. I will carry him, if none of you can. But you must act quickly. I can fend off most of them for now, but in a moment, it will become too heated here to stay." He draws two more knives from his armor, then peers around quickly.

"Move on ahead, or you will risk your planned way of egress being cut away from you."
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:55, Mon 17 Nov 2008.

Xurizu bends his attention to the alcove.  The strange symbols on the controls frustrate him.  He feels like he should know what they mean, but that knowledge comes back blank when he reaches for it.  Another thing taken.  He bends himself to a brief study anyway, pressing several of the buttons before he touched the sphere, trying to discern a pattern in the behaviour of the lights or a reaction in the sphere even as he listened, all senses fully extended, for more distant reactions to his pressing.
[Private to Gatekeeper; Loremaster: Trying to stunt it to Per+Occult!]

Dashu sees the guard charging with his lance while he's in mid-spin and realized he might be in trouble.  "Damn it!  I have to move quick."  Dashu, with his momentum still moving upwards, throws his legs into the air and flips over the recently disarmed hand of the guard in red armor.  He then placed his hand on the guard's shoulder and pushed off, trying to cartwheel over the incoming spearhead.

Afterwards he takes a look to see that Xurizu has arrived at the panel.  "I'll take the our "key" over to Xurizu then.  Thanks for providing cover.  Would now be a bad time to ask what we can call you?"  Dashu bent down and lifted the unconscious Exalt and began moving towards to panel.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:08, Tue 18 Nov 2008.

She nods to the strange man's words, and then moves to take out the Fire Dragon. She unloaded a pile of driving punches.

[Private to GM: 4 Punches, 8,7,6,5 3L each. 4/5/2/1 Success]

[Private to Ledaal Xurizu: Sure, I'll give it to you. +1 stunt.]

The letters remain unintelligible to Xurizu, yet he feels an instinctive familiarity with the language and the controls that goes beyond mere mundane comprehension.

A flicker of memory -- he has definitely stood in front of one of these devices before, though not this one in particular. It is not merely a door control, but one of many nodes in the Five Coils Artificial Intellgence Network. Unfortunately, this is merely a slave node, so it retains only local functionality. From here, he can potentially open and close the outer door as well as the doors leading to the main corridor. He can control lighting in the area, send communication or request backup from local guard stations, broadcast a message throughout the facility, and relay data up the hierarchical AI chain.

As Xurizu touches the orb, the color shifts from a pulsing blue green to a bluish purple tinted with silver: the shade of his own anima. He hears a pleasant, though artificial young male voice speak into his head. Somehow, he understands the meaning, as if some inherent translation is made as the AI speaks. "Ledaal Xurizu, Chosen of Luna, identification A-202037." There is a pause, and a flare of light. He actually feels the device scanning him, and then red Old Realm letters appear on the screen in front of him. "I am sorry, but you do not have the authorization to access this terminal," the voice continues.

The blue-violet essence recedes, and the blue-green glow returns. A cursor blinks on the screen as if awaiting a further input.

---

OOC: note, I had to actually edit Xurizu's ID number... for an unknown reason! Mwahaha! *sekrit*
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:24, Thu 11 Dec 2008.

Dashu cartwheels right over the shock pike ready to pierce him -- at the same time pushing the red guard right into the path of Reva's flurry of punches. "D-damn you!" the guard spits angrily, flaring with Fire Essence as she positions her energy claws in front of her, trying to fend off the blows that seem to come from everywhere and nowhere at once.

But Reva's fists, wreathed in lurid violet, remain unharmed and untouched, blow after blow impacting with her armor and shattering her body within.

"Noo!!" The Fire Aspect falls, coughing a spray of blood, but her anima banner flares fully in a last ditch attempt to roast Reva alive! The flames bathe the Sidereal's body, but by some stroke of luck she comes out unscathed -- leaving her broken opponent to die, knowing she has failed in her duties.

Meanwhile, Dashu drags the unconscious green guard into the alcove. It's a tight squeeze with three people in there. [Private to Ledaal Xurizu: Xurizu quickly realizes that they'll still have to at least revive the guard -- and restrain him, forcing him to input what they wish.]

---

OOC: Dashu makes his stunt, takes no damage... Reva finishes off the red guard, narrowly missing damage from the flames. The mystery man is left facing the three mortals, and can answer Dashu's question or not as he wishes...

"Special Delivery," Dashu quips when he arrived at the console.  "Tall, dark, and armored over there claimed a living Dragon Blood could open the door.  Any idea if he's telling the truth?  Or will plugging this guy in blow us all to hell?  For that matter, do you have any idea how he got all that stuff and knows so much about the tech?  Another prisoner would have a hard time finding the equipment laying around."
This message was last edited by the player at 14:18, Wed 19 Nov 2008.

Xurizu is still staring at the machine when Dashu arrives, startling as the man speaks.  When have I stood before something like this before?  Why would it be so polite to a prisoner?

"It certainly won't open for me, said I wasn't 'authorized', so I don't think trying it with him will do much harm.  He probably needs to be concious for it though.  So we'd best get him out of his armour," as he speaks he reaches up for the quick release catches for the armour, intended to allow medics to swiftly gain access to battlefield casualties.

"As for tall, dark and armoured ..." he lets his voice fall lower, "If I were to come up with 'reasons for sudden failure of anathema containment', then 'sabotage by a well equipped provocateur or provocateurs' would have to be fairly high on the list.  Just who he is, or was, or what ends he could be working for, I don't know."

Dashu assisted in removal of the armor from the Dragon Blood by holding up the captive up while Xurizu unfastens the armor.  Once Xurizu is done, they both extract various body parts of the officer from their magitech shell.  All the while he continued talking to Xurizu in hushed tones: "Something in my head keeps screaming that we shouldn't trust "the Visors."  Not sure what that means but we can't guarantee our release wasn't a set up for something else so we should keep an eye on him."

"His motionless body will not serve you." One way or another, the armored man had found his way to the alcove, so silently it almost seems like he has just appeared there. A quick glance to their previous position reveals that the remaining guards have been subdued, their armored forms now lying on the ground.

Whether or not the stranger has heard the words exchanged between Xurizu and Dashu, he shows absolutely no signs of knowing.

"He has to trigger the code himself - while restrained, of course. Pressing his hand to the access input will do. But the system will definitely know whether or not he is conscious - the door will not open for a fallen Dragon Chosen." The armored man turns, facing towards the corridor, visibly waiting for something as he stands in a ready position.

"The alarm has already been triggered. There is nothing that can be done but make haste. Once you are on the other side, I will use the same method to close the doors. Do not turn back. Pursuit is coming in great numbers, but I will hold them here by breaking the mechanism behind you."

He suddenly drops his vigilant watch to gaze over Xurizu, the single eye on his faceplate glowing crimson again for a moment. "Before you leave, however, I have something of importance I must give you, Ledaal Xurizu. Please do not leave before I passed it on." Quickly, the stranger then turns to Dashu, and lowers his head slightly as the distorted voice speaks once more.

"You ask for a name, Peleps Dashu - I have little use for them. I appear when I am needed. Should you need to, however... You can call me 'Pale Gaze'."
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:52, Wed 19 Nov 2008.

As he glaced at the fallen guards, Dashu couldn't helped be impressed with the handy work.  "Wow, nice work Pale Gaze.  Again, thanks for the help."  Dashu then returned his attention back to the unconscious, unarmed, and unclothed "tool" in his arms.  "So we gotta wake him up?"  Dashu started lightly slapping the guard's face.  The blows couldn't possibly deal any damage, but hopefully would wake up the guard.  Suddenly he stops and looks around saying "By the way, has anyone seen Reva?"
This message was last edited by the player at 03:17, Wed 19 Nov 2008.

"I'm right here." As she spoke the mask around her was fading, she was slowly becoming visible again. Her charm was nearing the limits of its power, but the fight was over so that was fine for her.

(Sorry about poor posting! Will improve!)

"... Something of importance for me?" Xurizu can't help but blurt out surprised, having been much more focused on the dragonblood in front of them than the strange man.  "And thank you for your help," he says, before nodding to Reva's return.

What could he possibly have that was important to me?

"Good to see you again, Reva," Dashu jokes dryly.  He then returns to his attempts at waking the Terrestrial while saying, "Nice moves back there by the way...  I think," .

OCC:  no worries Reva.  I hadn't noted any slow posts.  I just remembered you were invisible. :)
This message was last edited by the player at 14:19, Wed 19 Nov 2008.

It takes a few light slaps to bring the Wood Aspect forcibly out of his unconscious state. As soon as he's awake and understands his predicament, he starts struggling, though he's just plain too hurt for it to be effective. Even Xurizu with his below-average strength finds he can manipulate the captured man's hand.

"You fiends..." he utters, wheezing for breath. Pale Gaze's needles had crippled him severely, bruising him on the inside. The man looks in pain. "I'd rather die than help you..."

The guard falls silent. He coughs once, twice, shuddering in Dashu's grip.

---

OOC: I'm assuming he's got Dashu holding him, Xurizu manipulating him to enter the necessary inputs... It's kind of like playing with a Dragon-blooded marionette. Bizarre. o.o

He's done... something, though, to his body. You'll only have a few seconds to input anything at all so Xurizu, make it count.

Xurizu looks at the man with an expression which is an odd mixture of apologetic and cold, not liking to do this to the man, but not willing to let him stop them from attaining freedom.  He keys in the sequence that will open the door, and then another to change the status for this door to be "pursuing subjects into prison." -- exactly the opposite direction from the way they'll be going.

Then he presses the man's hand to the sphere, and holds it there.

The sphere flares a bright, verdant green. Xurizu, watching the symbols on the jade screens scroll by, gets the general impression of an affirmative.

Then the outer door starts to shudder. Layer by metallic layer, gears whir and plates unhook themselves, so that the door almost seems to unravel, rather than simply open. It takes about 15 seconds... a short time, normally, but each second that goes by is another second toward the inevitable purging. Fortunately, whatever Xurizu has done with the controls seems to have delayed any guards from arriving.

By the time the door is completely open, the green guard is hanging limply from Dashu's arms. He is dead, likely from some last-ditch protocol to ensure that a Jade Officer will never be coerced to serve an escaped Anathema.

What awaits on the outside: a flat, featureless land, the consistency of hard, packed earth, more earth than one would expect on a water level. And spreading all across that land -- as far as the eye can see -- are unmarked tombstones bathed in red alarm light, spaced with cold, mathematical precision into neat and tidy rows. Though they cannot see the far wall from here, Dashu and Xurizu's direction-sense tells them that the stairs they seek are at the far end of this Forbidden Cemetery... and they must run to cover all that ground in time.

---

OOC: You can take some time to exchange last words with Pale Gaze (he'll also give Xurizu his... gift) and if you wish, collect any of the guards' equipment you might find useful. You'll probably not use up more than a minute past the 10 minute mark, I'll assume you're working/talking quickly :P

The ashigaru were wearing Tiger Shark armor. (it's not as good protection as Xurizu's jade armor, except it has other perks, added Awareness and integrated breathing apparatus mostly). The dragon armors are red (fire) and green (wood, this version is the one with the integrated essence whip). There is also the red jade power mace Dashu disarmed, and the mortals' three shock pikes. You're probably going to see a lot of shock pikes in Five Coils though, they're pretty standard issue. :P If you need stats, let me know. Oh, and the same double motes for instant attunement rule applies.

Right now I'd say it's a bad idea to weigh yourself down too much. The run you'll do will need a lot of endurance ;)
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:18, Wed 19 Nov 2008.

"There stairs are that way," Dashu declairs as he points for the benifit of those who would not know naturally.  "Pale Gaze, are you leaving with us or do you have another exit strategy?  If this is goodbye, then I wish you luck, and thank you for your help."  "I don't see anything here that I can particularly use so whatever you guys want, get it and let's go."

"The stage is set." The man says, looking carefully at the cemetery. "This door will close here, and it will block any further advances for some time. But you must know that the Coils have eyes and ears at every corner. It is only a matter of time until you are pursued again." The distorted voice stops for a moment, as the masked man regards each and every one of them in turn.

"My duty is to keep these eyes and ears closed for as long as possible. But you will need to do the rest, and make the best out of the time you have."

He now turns towards Xurizu, and silently pulls out a small bundle of black velvet, that he carefully opens, as if the object inside might break with too much carelessness. Once the bundle is open, its prize is revealed - a stunning emerald, perfectly cut and polished, its dazzling facets reflecting light in the most endearing fashion. The craftsmanship of the stone looks almost out of this world, an object of perfection that should not even be allowed to exist in this plane.

"Here." The masked man hands the precious stone over to Xurizu, with all the care and carefulness it requires. He does not speak of its nature or effects, but says only one thing as the precious gem is passed. "This belongs rightfully to you, Ledaal Xurizu. There is more to freedom than that of the body."

With that, he turns back towards the group, and nods. "The last boon I can grant you is to heal your wounds. You will need to be in as good shape as you can be to handle the rest of your escape. Perhaps this time should be used for you to ask any questions you still wish to ask. Our time here is now very limited."

"Thank you,"  Dashu replies.  Even though he clearly was skeptical of strangers the offer of relief from his wounds was clearly appriciated.  It even alievated his need for haste momentarily.  "What can we expect between here and the stair case?  Which places will be easiest for us to blend into?  Most importantly, do you know of others who are escaping like us and can we trust them?"

Xurizu watched the door opening, oh so slowly, watched the man suddenly go limp in Dashu's arms, looking out over the wide expanse of the graveyard for a few precious moments before Pale Gaze addressed him, handing him the strange gem, with the stranger words.  Belongs to me? he doesn't speak, but the question is plain on his face.  He takes the gem though, gazing into its emerald depths.  He knows the gem is important.  He's not sure why.  He racks his brains trying to bring forth a memory, some obscure bit of knowledge.

The emerald brings more than a vague reminder... it's a shocking realization.

A woman of red hair and complexion like ivory marble, achingly beautiful. Her violet eyes entrance him. Yet the memory of her brings a rising terror to Xurizu's mind. There is an emerald light around her. Her voice speaks ritualized words in a voice as solemn as a dirge bell, and his forehead aches.

The last thing he remembers is that gem in her palm. The absence of truth. His greatest fear.

Xurizu is certain that the gem holds a piece of his memory.

Seeing some comprehension in Xurizu's eyes, Pale Gaze nods, taking a step back. "Truth and Secrets can both heal and harm. Decide what is what, and make good use of your answer." He nods once again, peering at Dashu next.

"The way to the staircase is a straight line. And so it will only be a matter of stamina and will - you must rush and make it to the end before pursuits can start chasing you again. The way is clear... If you can make it to the end without faltering. As for others... There are other groups fighting to reach the upper levels, now that the Essence collars have been nullified. Banding together might be key to your survival, if you can find one another." He then turns towards Reva, and nods slightly. "Among those who fight to reach the surface is Dyron Slivari - your sister."

He pauses a moment, and then takes a step back. "And now, for my other promise."

Without further warning, Pale Gaze lowers his head... Then quickly spurs into motion, his stance changing seamlessly from a relaxed, passive one to a clearly offensive one. He moves almost with a blur, and without even the slightest of hesitations, he strikes. Three punches, perfectly flowing within one another, at an almost dazzlingly quick pace, each one hitting one of the fugitives swiftly and precisely. The attacks come without warning... And yet they yield no pain whatsoever.

In fact each strikes seems to release a force that brings a sense of warmth and comfort to the fugitives' weary bodies. A strange reddish glow, emanating from the armor's fist, flares and dissipates with each attack, before disappearing completely when Pale Gaze stops, suddenly remaining perfectly still. Calmly and fluidly, he breaks out of his martial stance, resuming the more relaxed attitude he had adopted earlier. Looking through each of them in turn, the tilts his head slightly, the single eye of his mask dimming, then brightening up.

"Forgive the sudden motion, but there is little time to explain. The essence discharge you felt should serve to cure your wounds and help give you some much needed stamina for the road ahead. Let us say I would not have to rely on such a method were I an actual doctor or healer."
This message was last edited by the GM at 10:02, Fri 21 Nov 2008.

These events are difficult for Dashu to make sense of on so little information?  At the remark about "truth and secrets" Dashu looks at Xurizu to see his reaction.  This would definitely be a line of inquiry that would be broached sooner than later.  He listens to Pale Gaze as he answers the questions Dashu had put to him and is about to respond when Pale Gaze mentions her sister.  "Sister?" Dashu asks puzzled.  "You're sister is an "Anathema" too?  I've only heard of that happening among the dragons."

However, before Dashu gets his answer, he see's Pale Gaze move into a blur of motion and can not react fast enough.  "Damn it!" He thought as he watched the fist crash into his body.  He braced himself for pain which never arrived.  In fact his pain seemed to lift.  Dashu face went from one of battle readiness to one of pure confusion.

As Pale Gaze explained his actions, Dashu once again became at ease.  He finally said, "Well unless there's something else, we should probably get moving guys.  Pale Gaze, you're welcomed to come with us."

Who is that woman?
What memory in this gem?
How many are there?

He's still thinking that over when Pale Gaze speaks further, running things over in his mind. harm and heal? I suppose that is true.  But I must know.  He started to raise the stone to his mouth, somehow that seemed like the right way to go, and then the punches started falling, and he tried to raise his arms to defend himself.  Until he realised both that it was doing him good and there was no need.  He nodded his thanks, and then turned away from the group, and swallowed the gem.  I hope this won't take too long

Dashu's composure falters due to his obvious shock at seeing Xurizu eat his 'gift'.  "Hey, you okay?" He asks his friend.

"Hey guys, no time to talk or anything. We need to get moving. I'll tell you about my sister later." She smiled, as her form was fully visible now. She was filled with delight and warmth. Her eyes sparkled, and she held an extra umph in her step now. She made sure she had nothing on her extra. Hopefully this will go good.

When Xurizu places the emerald on his tongue, it disappears in a shower of emerald essence, absorbed into his body. And the memory comes flooding back...

[Private to Ledaal Xurizu: "Remember these faces," says the gorgeous woman with the red hair. A display projected on the bare wall in front of him cycles through image after image of the same seven people. An austere gentleman with short brown hair and a trimmed beard. A muscular male laborer, scarred and dusky, with penetrating dark eyes. A young woman with large brown eyes and fine black hair cascading to her ankles. A narrow-faced lady in courtier's finery with blue eyes and pale blonde hair. An elderly man with milky blue eyes, hunched and wearing a ragged grey cloak. A hardened middle-aged woman with short auburn hair and an eyepatch. A tall man with solemn green eyes and long black hair in a braid.

"Every one of them must die. You will do that for me, my fangs in the dark."

His prison is a metallic room with no windows and no obvious doors. Framing the screen and on the walls themselves are Essence patterns like the ones Xurizu observed on the door panel controls -- except these ones depict a stand of trees verdant with essence-leaves, shifting shape now and then as if some supernatural breeze ripples through them.

It might have seemed artistically pleasing, if not for the fact he is strapped tightly to a chair. His head has been held in place by a clamp, so that he can only look straight forward. After a while the red haired woman walks away. He can hear her talking faintly. "...Stronger surge this time... need him to retain it longer..." A warm throb starts to form on his temples, a throb that ramps from soothing to searingly painful, and he screams and screams...

...Everything after that moment seems to fast forward at great speed. He is hunting. Moving. Waiting. Stalking. His prey never notice the silvery barbed chains spinning their way, until it's already too late. Their severed heads are plastered with expressions of surprise, of horror.

Six of them. Only six.]

[Private to Ledaal Xurizu: Xurizu now remembers the spell, Flying Guillotine.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:35, Fri 21 Nov 2008.

About two minutes have passed by now. It's definitely time to run. The open doors yawn wide, the rows of unmarked tombstones awaiting -- and the stairs, straight ahead in the gloom.

---

OOC: Here's how we'll do it: you're running a distance of about a mile. Make a post to stunt your mad rush. It's going to be a Stamina+Resistance roll. You want to pour as much as you can into it. Virtue, stunt, whatever! Give it all you've got.

Whatever Pale Gaze did to you gave you 1 success on the roll. Also, you're all at full health.

note - if someone ends up significantly slower than the others, I may rule someone else ends up picking the slow one up and carrying if possible. But that doesn't work if *all* of you are slow!

"Yeah, I'm fi-" he starts to say, as the gem reaches his lips.  Then he gasps, as the memory contained within washes over him and his eyes take on a focus somewhere beyond infinity for a few moments before they close.

"Six ... who ... missed one?" he mumbles, before his eyes open, looking far more normal. And who is she?

"I'm ... fine," he reiterates, perhaps trying to convince himself.  "We should move though."

Then he turns to Pale Gaze, and bows his head.

"Thank you."

And then he glances to his companions, and starts to run.  Thankfully the armour he took isn't tiring in the slightest, and the spear can be reformed to be very light.  He still isn't the best of runners.  He can sprint perhaps, but not run, not for that long without flagging.  But that doesn't matter.
He has determination.
He has a new memory.
He has someone to find.
Himself.

And against that, what is the fire which is burning in his legs?  What is the laboured breathing to draw fresh breath?  There is just the stairway, a goal he must reach.

left foot, right foot, breath, left foot, right foot, breath...
[Private to GM: Conviction channel. 5 dice + stunt]

The masked man acknowledges Xurizu's thanks and departure with a simple nod, offering nothing more in terms of guidance or advice. He takes a step back, looking towards the other two.

"We separate here. Run quick, and never look back." Swiftly, he draws two pairs of three knives - one for each hand - and nods one more time. "Luck be with you. Oh, and one more thing, lady Reva... Not every prayer goes unanswered. Even if the answer ends up a tad late at times. And for that, I have to apologize." With that last statement, he bows to Reva, then turns around, this time not turning back.

Silently, the masked man heads for the console. It only takes a few moments for the heavy doors to start to close again, leaving the strange benefactor to stay and guard them.

"Thank you, again."  Dashu says as the doors close behind him.  He then turned around and began running towards the stairs with the rest.

Much ground needed to be covered in a short amount of time.  Dashu put everything he had into the run.  As he ran he scanned the ground ahead for the path of least resistance, and he avoided slick or unstable footings which would slow him down.  This run reminded him of fleeing of the time before he had been collared: a time when he had managed to avoid capture by virtue of flight.  It was a the last time he truly felt free.  It was for that reason he knew he had to press through to get to the stairs even though his legs were tiring quickly.  While a mile would not normally be a difficult run, it would also not normally be a run conducted at a full sprint.  Even though it would have been easy to give up, Dashu reached for every last bit self discipline he had to keep his feet moving.  Soon the lines of graves turned into mere blurs as he sped past them and tunnel vision set in.  He reached his rhythm, timing his breathing and his steps.  Inhale two steps, breath out out one.  This way he was able to make sure he received enough air.  Every time he felt his feet slowing, he forced himself to move quicker with his mind.

[Private to GM: I'm  stunting and channeling my Temperance for 3 dice.   I'm guessing since this is being done  by a single roll I can still one use one willpower so that's the extent of what I can do.  I did throw in the bit of searching for the path of least resistance in case I could somehow use my investigation skills to add a bonus.  :) ]

She simply nodded to him. Who was this man and how could of he suck in to this place so simply? He must be greatly skilled and far beyond anything she could ever reach. But if she escaped, then she would become stronger. Then she could learn as well.

She started running just a moment behind everyone else, her feet smacking against the cold ground, her toes bending around every crack and crevice. Her body was strong, swift and endurig.  She would not let her self tire out nor would she allow herself to fall behind in this foot race of life. She has seen far to many endings for her to become one. As soon as each step ended, a new one began, a split second before it was truely over. She would not allow that tiny pause to slow her, one foot would land on the ground, the other already moving. Her entire body was focused on moving herself forward. She closed her eyes and pictured the outside world to give herself strength. She opened them, and could see only the cold lifeless stone. The outside would she pictured was simple. A great endless green field, a blue sky (The sky was blue? It just seemed that's the way it should be.) A great blazing Sun, gold and perfect (Where did that image come from? Was there really such a bright orb floating in the sky?) And an endless amount of tiny glowing specks. Star's she knew, but she didn't know how.

[Private to GM: (6dice + Stunt?)]

The Exalts' flight is at times desperate, at times magnificent, as they push themselves to the limit with stores of endurance they didn't even know they had.

Out in the cold, cavernous cemetery, trodding above the long dead and buried bodies of Coils' most unfortunate, their only struggle is with themselves and with the long stretch of distance between them and their goal. All around them is darkness punctuated only by the red glare of alarm lights pulsing as if by the heartbeat of the fortress itself. The only sound is their labored breathing, the blood pumping in their veins and the klaxons wailing their banshee's dirge.

Three minutes in, Dashu, Reva and Xurizu hear the sound of the Five Coils AI announcing impassively, "T-minus fifteen minutes until purging commences." Dashu falters slightly, worn from the running, from the battles they have all fought just to come this far, and Reva and Xurizu half-carry, half drag him forward until he can run on his own again.

The run continues on. The cemetery is featureless and repetitive. It feels as if they are running through the same stretch of land over, and over, caught in an endless loop -- and then, just as their lungs are fit to burst, they see it in the gloom.

The end of the line. The curved wall, the outer limits of Forbidden B31, and the opening leading to the stairs.

It still takes them three minutes after the last announcement to get there. At least the door covering the passage up has already been unlocked and opened. Perhaps Pale Gaze's work? He stayed behind, after all -- ensuring, or so he claimed, that there would be no pursuit. They have no way of knowing now whether he would survive this mission or not.

But now is no time to think on his fate. The floors above await.

---

OOC: All of you got +3 stunts. Great work. :) Get those much-needed motes 'cause it's not over yet. Also, this *does* count as a scene change. So... you'll need to renew charms up above.

Got any last reactions before ascending, then post 'em. The stairs will actually go up two floors, so you're going to come out in B29. I'll give you all access on that thread by late tonight most likely, and more XP awards should come soon after that.

Dashu takes a slight pause and thanks his friends for helping him make his run.  He didn't know how he would have made it without them.  He then takes a moment to look around behind him, at the prison which has been his 'home' for many years. He then turns to Xurizu and Reva.  "So Reva, you've got a sister and she's busted out like we have.  Bet you're anxious to find her.  Xurizu, I don't know what you plan to do, or if you have any unfinished business in the place, but I for one think the only thing place for me to go is up.  I'm sure we'll find your sister there, Reva.  One thing's for sure, I'm glad you guys are here."  Dashu wasn't much for sentiment, but he felt that this moment was worth at least these few words.  When all words had been spoken, he turned to the stairs with his friends and began their accent.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:00, Mon 24 Nov 2008.

As the charms wore off she could feel the energies flicker and fade. Her mind too weary to keep her hope strong enough to defend her flesh. Her fate strong, but losing grasp on past life and past battles. She smiled when she reached the end of the long run. Looking over to Dashu she smiled, "Yea, let us get out of this place, and I'm sure my sister is okay. Let's hope the Sun and the Sky are the way I pictured them." She smiled at the memory.

"Likewise," he nods to Dashu's sentiment about being glad the others were there.  "I ... am not sure if I can leave this place just yet.  That gem was not the only one like it, I think."

"But I'm not being trapped down here again.  They're not taking any more of those from me," he says, resolutely.  "Lets find our way out of here."
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:57, Mon 24 Nov 2008.

End of thread! Congrats! Continue in Floor B29 - District of Water, Lower Residential.