Session 1, Scene 1
Ascending Fire 15, RY 768

The welcoming committee departed the docks but not after the Overseer of Wealth reminded the dockmaster to not forget the new rate of docking taxes, which was the reason of her presence in the harbour this morning.

Gou and his crew began to scoot the tavern to find beds for the night. The Galley did have four rooms available, with enough place for twelve peoples. They discovered that the White Shield could take twenty-two of them because they used a communal dormitory with hammocks instead of private rooms. And when the group doing to the Dreaming Pearl came, they reported that this doubled has opium den and bordel and could take six peoples. This made forty peoples on the fifty-four crewmates of the Forest Scent.

While everyone was busy Gou learned a little more on the city. It was divided in three parts, the Outer Ring, with the harbour and many warehouses, was the poorest and inhabited mainly by dockhands, minor artisans, and others non-skilled labourers. The Middle Ring was richer and home to skilled artisans and merchants and hosted the market district. Finally, was the Inner Ring, where the merchant princes had built their pyramidal palaces.

It was nearly four in afternoon when a runner came with a letter to Gou, who needed to past it to Moro since the exalt never learned to read. The letter was short and to the point, Nala Ry was waiting for them tomorrow at eight in the morning.

[OOC: You have not point in Linguistics, so reading for you :). You can visit a little the city to learn more if you want or go directly to the meeting with Nala Ry.]

This message was last edited by the GM at 08:48, Tue 29 Nov 2022.

Gou nods as he listens to the descriptions of the Galley and the Shield, but shakes his head when he hears about the Pearl.

"Doesn't seem good, does it? The men might pick up bad habits."

The letter is more of a puzzle, but when Moro reads it out to him he nods. "Eight it is, then. Is there anything special I should remember to say or do when I meet high-ups like that?"

Session 1, Scene 1
Ascending Fire 15, RY 768

Someone found an alternative to the Dreaming Pearl in the form of the Black Oa, another tavern of the Middle Ring tended by a native of Lawai.

When asked about some advice to meet with Nala Ry, Moro answered to Gou question by a shrug.

-I meet some merchants, but I don’t think they were rich like this woman. We have some fancy clothes for our delegation and the taverns should have something to wash ourselves. The Black Oa is the best I think, it’s the nearest and we will not be with the scent of salt and fish. We should go with three peoples, no more. You and Nilas since you are our representant and he has a little experience in bargain. Who do you want for the third place?

The old priest frowned.

-For the meeting itself, we should be honest. Your moon gifts should expend to duplicity, but she is not our enemy. If she is anything like her daughter, we need to be direct. At least her daughter didn’t seem to be one to suffer long winded speech. And I hope I don’t need to ask you to be polite and respectful.
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:48, Tue 29 Nov 2022.

Gou ponders this sage advice for a very long time before slowly nodding.

"I understand. In that case, perhaps a shower is in order. To be honest, I was thinking you might be best as our third. I would welcome someone with your breadth of knowledge; after all you might spot something the rest of us dismiss as normal."

Session 1, Scene 1
Ascending Fire 15, RY 768

-If you think I will help, answered the old priest with a nod.

The afternoon passed without trouble and the crew began to enjoy having their feet on solid ground. The hold had enough of silver coins to buy their places in the diverse taverns of the harbour. Night was approaching and with the curfew.

[OOC: You can try to go for more information, or we pass directly at meeting.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:48, Tue 29 Nov 2022.

Gou is no spy, but he tries asking around anyway; he's mainly looking to know more about famous locals and the political situation, as well as any local menaces that could be wiped out to score points for himself and the crew.

OOC: Whoops, thought I replied to this

Session 1, Scene 2
Ascending Fire 15, RY 768

The afternoon passed while Gou visited the city. He quickly learned that the island was in rebellion after the temple of the volcano god was defiled and a precious relic was stolen. Angry, the god shattered his mountain, disrupting the extraction of Jade from its slopes. The Satrap refused to see the production diminish and forced the local nobles to send peoples to their deaths in the mines.

At first it was only criminals and other undesirable but soon they were not enough, and the Satrap began to take entire villages to feed the mines. Revolts began soon after and while most of the nobles were not happy with the Realm, they feared the rebels even more.

The nobles of Nahalu were the most vocal against the Realm and the Triarch began to fear an insurrection and the potential response from the Realm. He tried to purge the dissidents but only provoked a full-scale revolt which ended with him and his supporters dead.

The new leader of the city was Kamyr Ja, an influential merchant who opposed the previous Triarch and was nearly killed in the purge. He named quickly a council made not of fellow merchants, but popular figures to calm the population. Notably Para, a local beloved priest, and Tal, a famous rebel. Nala Ry, the merchant Gou would meet, was a member of this council. She inherited of her position when her husband died in the purge.

The brutal shift of power in the city left marks. The loyalist’s assets were seized but are not yet redistributed since all rebels want their part, making economics troubles. Other loyalists escaped and formed guerrilla in the countryside. And there was of course the menace of an invasion from the Realm. And now a serial killer prowled the street at night.

[OOC: I hope it give you a good overview of the city. If you have more question, don't hesitate to ask.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:49, Tue 29 Nov 2022.

Gou is still puzzling over all these things as night falls. He knows that one man's problem can be another man's profit. The challenge now is to decide how to turn the problems he's learning about into proft.

It seems everything began with the volcano god's relic, and problems spiralled out from there. THe next big thing is the rebellion and the fallout it's left in its wake. He quietly resolves to speak to Para about the volcano god when he has time, and perhaps organizing a band of volunteers to help bring down that serial killer. Rooting out loyalists might be helpful too, but he has the feeling that they're just trying to survive rather than actively plotting to massacre the people. That will warrant further investigation, especially since tempers are running high in the wake of the rebellion.

He decides to approach Moro with his thoughts.

"In the short term, what do you think would best help us find our feet here? Do you think it's worth staying here in the long term, or should we build a good reputation and just move on? I'm alright with both, but I know the men might prefer for now. At the same time I know my... gifts mean I must be ready to move to avoid pursuers and avoid bringing my enemies down on my friends."

Session 1, Scene 2
Ascending Fire 15, RY 768

As he was drinking, Moro listened to Gou patiently before taking time to thinking about his answer.

-There are no easy paths, he said. Each carry difficulty, if we decide to only pause here, were would we go after? If we stay here, how best integrate ourselves?

The priest paused a second before going on.

-I think the best is to try to find a place here but keep the galley if we need to go. We are safe from the Realm and even if your gifts are discovered, the inhabitants will not try to kill you.
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:49, Tue 29 Nov 2022.

Gou nods.

"I believe you have the right to it. That said, I think I'd ike to get to know this place better before I can properly settle down here... Perhaps I'll go take a look around, then. Oh wait, there's the curfew... Indoors it is."

Still, it would be troublesome to have to stay indoors all the time. He decides to flex his shapeshifting muscle and transform into a seabird he hunted some time back, the better to overfly the town and get the lay of the land with.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:18, Thu 30 Dec 2021.

Session 1, Scene 2
Ascending Fire 15, RY 768

As he flew high in the evening sky, Gou could see the city and the countryside. Two rivers came from the South and their beds had been broken and deviated into canals who crisscrossed the land and divided it in square sections where plantations were grow. The canals where converging to the city and separated the different neighborhoods before going to the port and into the sea.

Nahalu itself was clearly divided in the three Rings. The Inner Ring was a square expanse build around a large plaza and surrounded by tall walls with a moat at their feet. From them was the Middle Ring who was also a square place enclosed by wall and divided by canals. And finally, was the Outer Ring was only an addition to the older parts and had no true shape but was protected by walls, who were clearly not tick like the other ones. Gates and sluices were built in the walls allow passages.

As the sun was going down. Gou flew closer to the ground and could see that nearly everyone was inside their homes. The only exception were groups of guards easily visible with torches. That when he saw something from the corner of his eyes, a silhouette crouched near a street corner without any light. As he approached, the exalt saw what was laying beyond the corner and at the feet of the stranger: two corpses who where dismembered and spread on a blood soaked ground.

[OOC: If you want to try a discret approach, it's a Dex+Stealh roll with difficulty of 4.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:49, Tue 29 Nov 2022.

Gou resists the urge to caw; it's a bad habit of shapeshifting, in that when you turn into the creature, you become the creature. Instead, he lands on an unobtrusive tree and watches the stranger, trying to get a glimpse of his face.

OOC: Dex + Stealth roll +1d stunt (2d) and +2 from Dex Excellency: 5 + 3 + 2 + 2 = 12d.

11:04, Today: Gou Jira rolled 7 successes using 12d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 ((8,9,4,8,1,9,5,2,7,6,10,4)).

Session 1, Scene 2
Ascending Fire 15, RY 768

The mysterious figure was so absorbed by the corpses before her that she didn’t hear Gou. Even with the dark cloak, the lunar could tell it was a female, but the hood masked her face except for long black hair.

She run her finger across the blood before tasting it. She shook her head and got up, slowly walking around the bodies, clearly trying to find something. As she moved Gou got glimpse of her face, she had a foreign pale white skin and delicate features common in the Blessed Isles. But it was too dark to see more.

After a minute, the woman stopped and departed the scene.

[OOC: If you want to follow, you need opposed roll Dexterity+Stealth vs Perception+Awarness. I will roll after you. If not you can case the scene.]

This message was last edited by the GM at 08:49, Tue 29 Nov 2022.

There's no point just staring at the corpses. Worse, if he hangs around too much, people might think he has something to do with it.
Best to just go after the apparent perpetrator...

With that, bird-Gou flaps his wings and follows after the woman as quietly as he can manage...

OOC:
09:57, Today: Gou Jira rolled 5 successes using 12d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 3,2,5,7,1,1,10,3,2,6,8,9.  Dex 5 + Stealth 3 + Stunt 2 + Excellency 2.

Session 1, Scene 2
Ascending Fire 15, RY 768

The woman took the sinuous back alleys of the block, navigating them easily. She was clearly distracted and didn’t even suspect the presence of Gou.

Within a minute, she reached one of the canals who crisscrossed the city and stopped. She gave a glance around her, missing Gou, then she jumped in the water and vanished under the surface. The Lunar who observed the scene could sworn he saw a brief flash of light under the water.

OOC: You can make a Perception+Awarness test to try to find more.
4 successes

This message was last edited by the GM at 08:50, Tue 29 Nov 2022.

Gou blinks; does she go by the waterways? He wants to follow her right away, but it's best not to give chase too eagerly. Just as she's distracted by something, so might he be distracted by her.

He surveys the length and breadth of the canal, trying to see which way she went...

OOC:
Perception 1 + Awareness 4 +2d stunt +2 excellency = 9 dice.

14:20, Today: Gou Jira rolled 4 successes using 9d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 2,3,5,6,8,4,5,10,7.  Perception + Awareness .

Session 1, Scene 2
Ascending Fire 15, RY 768

Gou tried to locate the mysterious woman but no matter where he watched he could find no trace of her. She had entirely vanished in the water ways.

And from the ruckus coming from the crime scene not far away, the locals found the bodies.

[OOC: Four success to a difficulty of 5, sorry. Don’t worry you will see her again.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:50, Tue 29 Nov 2022.

Sadly, Gou's sleuthing skills don't allow him to catch up to the woman, so he decides that rather than hang around outside, he should head back lest people notice his absence and begin letting their imaginations run away with them.

When he returns, he looks for someone to engage in conversation, so that he has an alibi to use against any investigators who come snooping around.

Session 1, Scene 2
Ascending Fire 15, RY 768

Gou returned to the tavern were he had a room, since the curfew was in effect he didn't enter by the main door but by a window.

The lunar joined the common dinning room where a few patrons were still awake, two drunks men nursing their mug in a corner, a trio of traveling merchants talking about their cargo, and waitress behind the bar.

The bodies that Gou found were not near the Black Oa tavern and it was doudtful that any kind of search would be carried so far.

[OOC: We can end the day when you want and skip to the meeting with Nala Ry.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:50, Tue 29 Nov 2022.

Session 1, Scene 3
Ascending Fire 16, RY 768

The night left its place to the morning and as Nahalu woke up and began the day. Gou and his two companions, Moro and Nilas, washed and clad in wealthy clothes, walked thought the streets and bridge toward the Inner Ring. Their invitation from Nala Ry was enough to let them pass the guards at gates.
One of the guards guided them toward a large palace of yellow stones where the merchant lived. They were led inside by a servant trhought several room and corridor decorated by old antiquity and bas-relief. The trio was installed in veranda open on a garden with the assurance that their host would meet them soon. Another servant asked them if they wanted a drink while waiting.

Their wait was suddenly interrupted by a voice.

-My, My… Who do we have here?

The person was old woman with a walking stick, a local from her looks. She approached them with a strange smile.

-Guests of young Ry don’t you? And new to wealth and Nahalu at that.

[OOC: You have wealthy clothes who give a 1 bonus to presence and socialize with the upper class. And you can Read Intent for the old woman.]

This message was last edited by the GM at 08:50, Tue 29 Nov 2022.

Gou takes a drink to be polite. Fortunately it's just a fragrant tea that doesn't do much beyond quenching thirst and clearing the mind. Now, the old lady is harder to handle...

"We are newcomers, yes," he says in as polite a voice as he can manage. Thought he's not used to this, he tries to size up the old lady; knowing might be handy.

OOC: I forgot what a read intentions roll was, I'll assume its Wits + Socialize?

Wits 5 Socialize 0 Stunt 1 Excellency 2

01:30, Today: Gou Jira rolled 7 successes using 8d10 with the White Wolf Exalted system with a target of 7 with rolls of 9,9,7,4,7,10,6,9.  Read Intentions.

Session 1, Scene 3
Ascending Fire 16, RY 768

-At least you are polite, the old woman chuckled.

As she approached Gou, the lunar tried to read her, but he was not used to it and could discern anything else than a strange old woman.

-You are strange one, she said to Gou. Can I read your palm? Your destiny seems interesting.

-Already playing tricks Kyn, asked a new voice.

A new woman just entered the room. A local in her fifty with clearly wealthy clothes and a serious demeanor. She turned toward Gou and his companions.

-I am Nala Ry, Merchant-Princess of this august city. Please, excuse this old woman, she has tendance to have fun at the expense of new peoples.

-And you are to serious young Nala, retorted Kyn before retreating with a last glance to Gou. My proposition is still open.

When Kyn was gone, Nala took a seat, and a servant gave her a drink as the three ex-slaves introduced themselves.

-The letter of my daughter said you wish to sell a large cargo of luxury items, that right? Have you an inventory?

[OOC: 1 success with one dice, not bad but not enough.]

This message was last edited by the GM at 08:50, Tue 29 Nov 2022.

Gou tries his best not to let his look of dismay show on his face as he realizes he didn't think of that. All he can do now is hope that Nilas had...

"Ah... Nilas, would you be so kind as to provide Lady Ry with what she needs?"

Hopefully having someone who knew what he was doing would help their case a little...

Session 1, Scene 3
Ascending Fire 16, RY 768

Nilas nodded and took a scroll from a little bag.

-Here Lady Ry.

The merchant took it and quickly read the list with raised eyebrow. After a minute of silence she turned her head toward Gou.

-Interesting. Normally I wouldn't ask questions but it raise some concern. Your cargo is what I except from a pirate, many valuable objects coming from everywhere.

Gou could see the servants of their host tense a little.

-But you don't seem like pirates so I would like a little explanation.
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:50, Tue 29 Nov 2022.

"This might sound hard to believe, but until very recently we were a slave crew aboard an Imperial ship which was attacked by Lintha pirates. The pirates were probably exhausted from killing our captors, which was why we managed to defeat them and claim their holds in turn. "

Gou doesn't want to reveal he is a Lunar just yet, he knows the stories of the Anathema and how they might not be welcome in polite society. Of course, she might already know from rumors, and if she presses the matter he will probably come clean; it'll come out sooner or later.