- "Pebbles, I'm seeing one of the Lawgivers, young by how she carries herself, searching for something or lost. Could you give her a hand?" Marek asked politely to the Lunar student.

Said young woman has shoulder length hair of an auburn color. She wears a matched orichalcum bracers and breastplate of ornate, leaf and flower inspired design, a finely woven tunic of essence silk of a medium blue edged with silk rope hems, embroidered artfully with peony blossoms in a dark pink and white along the sleeves, a short white silky skirt that reveals athletic looking legs, and sandals that lace up her calves. Her daiklave, the hilt silk wrapped and the butt of the pommel shaped like a roaring dragon, is sheathed at the wide belt that cinches her tunic around her slim waist.

She gazes up at the sky as the airships go by, and Princess Sophia begins her speech. Her green eyes have a solemn, distant look to them as she touches a hand to her heart. No one would know what her wish is from staring at her, but she smiles up at the brightening sky. "Maybe today," she says aloud!

Stopping that long allowed the two in tunics embroidered with a dragon and peony crest to catch up with her, and the young Solar sighs and hangs her head. "I know Crane is worried about me, but I'm not going to be reckless, okay?" Her attendants - armed in jade, so likely Dragon-bloods - look markedly unconvinced.

---

OOC: The crest symbol is that of the Hungry Dragon Prefecture under its new ruler, Edged Blossom. (With a Lore 2+ you can also know that Blossom's previous incarnation was a well known hero who founded Deheleshen, Yellow Terror Dragon. If it fits I would happily allow a PC to be the new incarnation of Terror Dragon's mate, however you'll need to ask about it in PM.)

Deciding to avoid drawing too much attention, and avoid a possible collision with the various skyships taking off or flying low, Keo decided to finish the last leg of his journey on foot, which delayed him somewhat - he had planned to use the Transcendent Phoenix Pinions he had rented in order to make a spectacular entrance, but his natural temperance had got the last word.

The saphir-like stones on his moonsilver-plated pinions still faintly glowing from the flight from his Manse, Keo joined the Festival, looking for people he knew - and one person in particular.

]

Eyes lighting up as she spotted Keo, Rana waved excitedly and ran in his direction, adeptly dodging through the crowd, Arya moving just as smoothly at her heels.

"Hi! Isn't this exciting? There's much more to see than at the banquet to open the school.

"You look really nice! Can you fly with those? Are you going to enter in one of the contests? I think it'd be neat, but I don't have any idea how to use anything like that.

"Do you think this outfit is okay? I went shopping this weekend and Professor Mitsumi gave me a Infinite Resplendence Amulet and I have one for you too she gave me. It's really neat. Wasn't that really nice of her?"

She fished said amulet from her pocket and offered it to Keo, looking poised to continue talking until someone interrupted her.

"Eternal vows? Quite the heavy topic to be considering so early - but I'll be glad to lend what perspective I may."

Mitsumi pauses, collecting herself, then begins to recite.

"When the Unconquered Sun granted His power to the mortals Chosen to battle the Primordials, he was not the only one to side with humanity. His eternal, ever changing companion, Luna, was another. Much as the Two were above, they hoped that their followers would be thus below."

A flicker of expression, too quick to read, and she speaks naturally again.

"That is where history begins, and more than a few disputes. What is known is that each of the Solar Exalts was paired to a Lunar, that they might recognise and seek one anothre out through years and lives."

"And that, much as the Moon follows Sol, Her Chosen find it... difficult... to deny their mates. Though this is a grievious simplification of what amounts to centuries of philosophy and discussion. Still, the bond remains, and its effects are undeniable, even when they are undesired."

"For rebirth binds past power to a new person, with new dreams and ideals - but the bond does not know this. Only that one who was once a statesman and artist will retain the bond to she who was his muse and concubine. Though he may now be a general, needing a bloodthirsty champion to cow wild tribes."

"We are the mutable, fluid ones, driven to change into these things that are demanded of us. It is not always pleasant to find that your will only goes so far when facing the dictates of the Incarna. Still, when all is said, the Exalted are human, and so the dictates of the gods are not absolute."

With a broad gesture, Mitsumi dismisses the topic for the moment. "But enough of that. This is, after all, Festival time, and a time for merriment and thanks, not digging out past troubles. If you want to speak further, I'll be glad to help you as I might, but for the moment duty calls."

She pauses thoughtfully, then adds, "Do you intend to view the procession from the Pavillion? It's bound to be quite remarkable from there, and well worth the ascent."

Comet listens what Mitsumi says, nods and smiles to her while replies; "Sorry from weight of the subject, it's just that what I had wondered while. Although I knew it exchisted and what it did, I wondered what for it was and what it actually meant. I do plan hire a simple airship for a ride, so need time it right to get good view from the above. Anycase return to your duties, I will continue my humble wandering for while more."

 Truths head turned to look at the Solar Marek was pointing out, and he turned back as Pebbles bounced off. He offered a gloved hand to the Twilight Professor.

"My name is Evident Truth....transferring from the White City...I'd made sure to check on the staff of the Academy and I'm starting to see why none of them have a great deal of time invested in Deliberative functions before or after choosing to teach here...."

- "It's true that I'm among the group that spends less time in the Deliberative but I always make sure I'm present for voting important laws. But let me present myself, I'm Marek Uthar, professor of Sorcery-Engineering at this academy."

The streets are now teeming with spectators craning their heads up while holding pastries or grilled meat sticks in their hands, or a printed program and map showing all the major events and locations for the Festival. Many more are finding their way to lifts and balconies and still higher up toward the airship rides, while those lucky enough to have their own wings make their way up on their own power.

During the Priestess' prayers, the more devout among the Festival goers pause to pray as well, whether with a moment of silence or by following along with well-known hymns. Not everyone is so religious, though; plenty of others continue on with conversation along the sidewalks, haggle with merchants, ogle at fabulous skyships (particularly the Invierna or the Conquest, and the mighty thousand-forged dragon) or passing Exalts in finery.

Dianora steps onto the streets wearing a fashionable wide-brimmed hat and a low-cut, slinky dress in dark blue, embroidered with graceful silvery cranes and trimmed in contrasting red cord. Her high heeled boots do their customary click click click on the pavement as she walks along with a jaded expression on her face. She'd been living in Anthegenia for decades now; this is just another Festival, not a big deal.

The Lunar does have some interest in the races, though, and has brought with her a cadre of accountants and bodyguards, all of them clad in monochrome black and white so as not to draw eyes away from her beauty. Voluptuous in figure, with shoulder length white hair and a single, starkly contrasting crimson streak down her bangs, Dianora cuts an eye-catching silhouette.

Of course she could have flown in like the other prominent Exalts, but why do what everyone else does? She'd arrive on her own time, and in her own way. For the moment the proprietess of the Bath of Silvered Midnight is content to prowl the streets, giving her people directions all the while. Some of them split off into the crowd as she walks along, and she doesn't bat an eye.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:24, Tue 06 Oct 2009.

The young Solar seen earlier is still wandering the streets, sighing about not having a flying artifact of her own. She pauses, seeing another Lunar pass by - at least, she seems more interested in Lunars than others - but when she calls out is summarily ignored.

Sighing, she looks around for the nearest Exalt who will pay attention to her, and meets their gaze. "Excuse me?"

---

OOC: Thought I would nudge NPC activity down here a bit more. But now I'll wait till tomorrow to post.

Rajha arrived on the ground level again, exiting from the shuttle with her new wings on, only to see the new and hopelessly lost Solar wandering the area. As the Solar met her gaze and spoke, she gave a cheery little smile.

"Hm? What do you need?"

"Oh, hello," says the auburn-haired Solar, looking at Rajha. A relieved expression crosses her face, though she seems a bit dismayed, as well. The young woman's two attendants, a man and a woman clad in blue and red, respectively, stand a couple steps behind to watch Rajha closely. "I am Edged Blossom. Do you live here? This is my first time being on a floating city - at least the first time I remember in this life, I mean."

"Argh, how embarrassing, I don't want to look like a tourist." Edged Blossom grimaces at the thought. "Actually, I'm trying to find someone important to me. It's probably too much to hope she is here though. Her name is Fair Xiulan. Do you know the name?" she asks hopefully, speaking loud enough for others in the vicinity to hear.

Rajha bowed briefly to Edged Blossom, as usual not noticing the dismay from the young Solar. "I'm Rajha, a basic student at the Academy. It's nice to meet you, Edged Blossom." She then grinned at Blossom's complaint. "Don't worry about it, I'm told I look even more out of my element."

Rajha then pondered a moment, before trying on a bit more flowery language. "I see fair women all around me, and not least one right before my eyes, but I do not know any Xiulan."

"It is a pleasure to meet you here in your element Professor. I'm afraid my familiarity with the science of our time is...somewhat patchwork. I had hoped to sit in on a class regarding magi-tech, but I can see that you are focusing mainly on sorcery and sorcery engineering for focused students...still perhaps between that time if you don't mind an inquiring student once a while..."

 Truth gestured back at the wondrous floats and devices in the staging area. He continues speaking to the Solar even through the prayers, though he does glance up to view the proceedings through the clutter of airborne objects.

As Evident Truth glances up toward the Pavilion, he notices a woman in winged armor of pure orichalcum on a nearby platform, standing near the thousand-forged dragon that caused such a ruckus earlier. His gaze is drawn by her, as she removes her visored helmet and reveals a banner of warm, golden brown hair caught in the wind.

Edged Blossom laughs easily and smiles at Rajha. She doesn't seem at all bothered by the compliment, though the smile doesn't quite reach her eyes. "Oh, well. I figured not. Actually I feel kind of like an idiot just wandering around here hoping some magic ray will hit me out of the blue and I'll find Xiulan. But wandering aimlessly around the world for her seems less productive than trying at a gathering of Exalts."

"Maybe I ought to ask one of the elders... or professors? But none of 'em are paying me any mind. Figures." Shrugging, Edged Blossom runs her fingers through her auburn hair, and looks up distractedly at the pavilion for a while, seeing all those richly-clad luminaries gather there. Especially the gorgeous dark haired woman that looks encased in flames. She shakes her head incredulously. "I inherited a whole province, I bet that's not even a big deal among our peers and all. I've still not quite got the hang of being that jaded. What's school like here? I'm being privately tutored... it's kinda lonely, really."

Rajha chuckled, and her eyes followed the glance to the woman in winged armor. Dammit, she thought she'd be used to all the gorgeous men and women around the Academy, but today there were more and more popping up everywhere she looked. She quickly returned her attention to Edged Blossom, guessing that that wasn't Xiulan.

"Well, it's different from how I used to live. I spend a bit of each day going to classes with three or four other students, take meals in the dining hall, and other than that I spend time reading, practicing with my sky-cutter or sometimes studying with the other students. We basic students sleep in the dormitories." She shrugged. "If I inherited anything, I haven't been told about it yet. I still don't know much about the Exalted."

- "When I first came I was hoping that I would only have to teach Sorcery-Engineering, but there were no other sorcery professors here, so it fell to me the responsability for teaching sorcery to the students. Since I was one of Brigid's students in my previous incarnation and Bright Shattered Ice taught me again what I had lost. My engineering class is for teaching the most important principles of artifact creation so I think it will serve you well. Today you are going to see one of the results of my investigation."

When Comet parted with Mitsumi he wandered around, just checking stores and such. But then he noticed large crowd moving along the street and others moving out of the way. Mere second later he saw who was leading the crowd; Dianora.

Comet's heartbeat grew faster, he has not yet 'made his mind' yet about Dianora. Nor he had found out much at all about the people what Dianora requested learn more about. Comet did not hide but neither he approached Dianora, he just watched when she walked along the street.

 Marek finds the Lunar student craning his neck up for a moment, and seems frozen, his head cocking like a bird at a strange noise, one of his gloved hands clenches, and there is the squeak of leather grinding against itself with all the strength in a mortal body before it stops, and his head swivels back to the Twilight Professor.

".......investigation you said? Some kind of flying machine or principle of air movement that Vanileth hasn't dreamed up yet?"

- "It's not specific to air travel, when it's ready to be presented it will be considered one of the fundamentals of artifact crafting." Answered crypticaly Professor Marek.

"I see....less spectacle, more fundamental shift..yes. I imagine that would elicit more than the usual fanfare..and probably very close scrutiny from your fellow sorcerer-engineers...."

 Truth seemed to be interested in the conversation beyond mere politeness, but Marek could see his body was unconsciously having other ideas as it began to step from one foot to another...perhaps the glorious attraction of such personalities was tugging at the younger, less resistant Exalt.

Keo was taken somewhat unawares by Rana's flurry of statements. He accepted the Infinite Resplendence Amulet, and replied as best as he could: "Why, yes, I did fly from my Manse to here, but I decided that the air traffic was a little too dense for my tastes - I'm more used to flying under my own power, and I was still somewhat ill-at-ease with this device. That's why I didn't register for the contest, as I originally planned."

He examined at the amulet. "That's indeed quite generous of her, if I recall correctly those are quite expensive... But I wonder if there is a subtle message here, like 'you should get a make-over'... I don't recall being that badly dressed during the etiquette course," he jested.

"Well, we live a long time," Edged Blossom answers Rajha, giving her an envious look as she talks about spending time with other Exalts, whether studying or just dining. "There's plenty of time to figure out exactly what we're about. But if you've already started using your Essence powers you already know some of it. Honestly, I don't actually think the business of how to act like an Exalt is something anyone really knows. There's etiquette, there's expectations, but the rest is all in your head."

She shrugs, her gaze again drifting up to the pavilion with a small sigh. "At least that's what I think. As for inheriting stuff, I just happened to be Exalted from a previous shard that did a lot of things. Those're pretty big shoes to fill." Again Edged Blossom peers at Rajha curiously. "Where are you from? My domain is Deheleshen, in the East... Technically, all the areas around it, too." She says this so nonchalantly it may as well be about the weather.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:06, Thu 08 Oct 2009.