leticia

This is the Northeast - cold, but here, not so bitterly so... and even less so to an Exalt with the glory of the rising Sun in his veins. This is the battlefield, but not the battle; that, like the biting shock of the true cold of the North, has past. The wounded are being treated, the captives secured, and the consecration of the dead on great bonfires marks the blue sky with pillars of white. The Bull of the North, his warriors and allies, and his pupil, Allen, have proven themselves - again - against the Linowan today. This is the battlefield, where Allen has found his way through the debris towards his mentor, who stands near one of the fires, turning cleanup over to his subordinates.

The Bull raises a hand in greeting and acknowledgment as Allen nears, and finishes his conversation with the lieutenants, dismissing them to their tasks and turning to face Allen. The castemark on his forehead has not entirely faded from the fight.

Allen steps up to a respectful distance from Yurgen Kaneko, the Bull of the North, and brings one fist to his chest in a salute, then folds his hands together in front of himself, traces of blood still under his fingernails. "I am here, Heaven's Sword, as you commanded."

The grizzled Dawn nods and looks across the field. "You did well today," he praises, "As fine a warrior as any I have trained."

"You took me when I was unforged, and forged me, Khan; I am pleased that you find the metal worth the effort." Allen remains at attention, alert; Kaneko does little without reason, he has found - giving praise or punishment, or even nothing at all - and Allen knows his mentor is not finished.

Indeed, Allen's mentor continues, watching the boy closely, "You have come a long ways from a lost boy in a snowdrift. I am proud of you... but your destiny is not as one of my warriors." He pauses, keen winter-washed eyes waiting for his apprentice's reaction.

Allen tips his head slightly, bone-white hair trailing into his eyes at the motion, a thoughtful pose as he considers the words presented to him. "Have you seen another destiny for me, then? As you know, Chieftain, I am loyal to you; if the Sun has shown you another path I must take, then I will take it for you."

The older man shakes his head regretfully. "I do not know your path, Allen. But the Sun did not call you to serve me, but Him. It was a part of my calling to prepare you - but your great deeds must be your own."

Allen bows his head. "I see. I am grateful for your training, and it would be the worst sort of ingratitude to not use the skills you have given me as they were meant to be." He looks up again, blue-grey and red focusing on his leader. "May I ask if you have any last advice for me, Chieftain?"

Yurgen Kaneko nods once, a short, decisive gesture pleased with the reaction. "I can only recommend you travel south. In the populous lands of the East, free of the hand of the Realm, you may find others who have been chosen to share your quests -- and there is no doubt that you will find much to do for the Sun's glory."

"Then I will do so, Sword of Heaven. With your leave, I will begin preparations for my journey immediately." Allen's stance relaxes faintly, though still respectfully attentive, now that the task - or lack thereof - his mentor had for him has been delivered.

The Bull of the North nods, and raises a hand, half in blessing, and half in parting salute. "Travel well, Allen."

Allen salutes Yurgen Kaneko once again, and moves off to begin his preparations without further waste of his mentor's time.

<<OOC>> Storyteller says, "Are we prepared to fast forward, Allen?"

<<OOC>> Allen says, "Sure. XD"

<<OOC>> Allen says, "...also, I just wanna say, I know that Exalted ISN'T Japan, duh, but if they're going to give canon names a Japanese flavor (Kaneko)..."

<<OOC>> Allen says, "...they should pay attention to the fact that "ko" is the ending for girls names."

<<OOC>> Brian . o O (Must... not... make Lumberjack... filk... for Kaneko..)

<<OOC>> SarielDi snrrrrrrrk. Mmhmmm. (Also, that's _how_ close to Koneko? The Kitten of the North!)

<<OOC>> Brian says, "Although I -think- his first name is Yurgen, not Kaneko."

<<OOC>> Storyteller says, "Allen, will you be avoiding people or traveling roads and staying in villages where they are available?"

<<OOC>> Allen says, "Hm. I think that depends! At first, he would stay in villages, 'cause he's in the North, and more than that, in his mentor's territory in the North, with more camping out as he gets further down south."

<<OOC>> Allen says, "But still mostly traveling on roads, I think. XD"

There is little commerce between the sector of the Northeast under the Bull of the North's control and the more 'civilized' lands to the south; at one point, Allen travels for several days without meeting any other travelers between villages, but even as a lone traveler, the small beasts and gods of the wilderness hold little threat to one of the Sun's Chosen. By and large, Allen's journey is uneventful - but he finds neither great deeds nor companions chosen by the Sun for several weeks, though a growing feeling of rightness bolsters his motivation for the journey.

It is a grey morning, early drizzle having damped down the dust on the road and cleared the air, and patches of gold breaking through the cloud, as Allen is walking down yet another road from yet another small village; he is finally in the region which is called the Scavenger Lands, and it is dramatically more populated than the ice north where he spent the last few years. As he goes along, another traveler overtakes him on the road; this not particularly unusual, but the hilt of the jade daiklave rising above her shoulder is less so.

<<OOC>> Storyteller says, "Would Allen's armor be showing? >)"

Allen nods politely to the lady, quietly assessing her as he does so - he has seen the like of the daiklave before, in battle, but now he is a traveler, and it is only polite to share the road without trouble, if trouble does not come to one first.

<<DICE>> Storyteller rolled 2 3 5 5 7 9 on 6d10: 2 successes.

The woman nods back; sharp black eyes appraise Allen, and dwell briefly on the covered breastplate, but she turns her eyes back to the road before her after a minute, and continues without comment. She is moving slightly faster than the Solar, and in a handful of minutes, has rounded the corner ahead of Allen and is out of sight.

<<OOC>> Allen says, "What sort of terrain are we in?"

<<OOC>> Storyteller says, "Woods, largely; gentle hills here and there, trees and underbrush. It's not a really dense forest; a certain amount of forestry obviously goes on here, and it's pretty tame. The road itself is cut down in into the bank here, along a river, following its meanders south."

<<OOC>> Allen says, "'Kay. So going offroad is feasible?"

<<OOC>> Storyteller says, "Sure. You should be easily able to scramble up the bank. I suppose you could jump into the river if you wanted to, too."

<<OOC>> Allen says, "No, other way from the river. XD"

Allen slows a bit more - politeness is one thing, but foolishness is another - and as he approaches the corner, cuts off the trail, scaling the bank.

<<OOC>> Storyteller says, "If you're trying to sneak, Allen, Dex + Stealth roll, please."

<<DICE>> Allen rolled 1 4 8 8 8 on 5d10: 3 successes.

<<DICE>> Storyteller rolled 1 3 4 5 5 5 7 8 on 8d10: 2 successes.

<<OOC>> Storyteller says, "Okay, give me Per + Awa, then."

<<DICE>> Allen rolled 2 3 6 8 8 on 5d10: 2 successes.

As Allen climbs up the bank, he can see the woman that just passed him, waiting on the inside curve, just around the point of the bend; the daiklave is no longer across her shoulder but in her hands.

Allen cuts along the bank behind the woman, and drops back onto the road a small distance down, but instead of proceeding down the road - after all, she would simply catch up again - he moves up the road towards her.

<<DICE>> Storyteller rolled 2 2 2 3 4 7 8 10 on 8d10: 4 successes.

<<OOC>> Allen says, "So, activating Fivefold Bulwark Stance, out of personal Essence. Since, yanna, the woman doesn't really seem like she just wants to chat."

<<OOC>> Storyteller says, "Oh, hey, you could always try to tell her it's mistaken identity!"

<<OOC>> Allen says, "...riiiiiight."

<<OOC>> Allen says, ""I'm that OTHER guy with white hair, one red eye, one blue-grey one, and a weird-ass scar around the red one!""

<<OOC>> Storyteller says, "Right. :) And that's not really YOUR Orichalcum breastplate. You just ...umm. Borrowed it. From some guy."

The woman's eyes remain fixed on the road, watching ahead until Allen has almost reached her; some subtle sound - the brush of cloth on leather, perhaps, or a creaking of his boots - warns her, and she spins, the daiklave on guard. "Anathema!" she hisses between bared teeth.

<<OOC>> Storyteller says, "Are you going to try to talk, or just attack her? If so, Init time!"

<<OOC>> Storyteller says, "Yes, KA 4 + Unusual Appearance. Yaknow, one of those things that makes for great subtlety."

"Merely a servant of the Sun, ma'am," Allen says mildly, senses opening to the Essence flows of the world, listening as they speak to him of the best means to defend himself. "May I know your name?"

<<OOC>> Allen says, "Also, marking off five personal Essence and one Willpower."

The unknown woman hisses through her teeth. "You admit it! My name is not for the like of you: Die, tainted one!"

<<OOC>> Storyteller says, "...And roll init. =P Sorry. Allen's a sweetie, but she's not gonna believe it. :p"

<<OOC>> Brian |Allen: "Love and Peace!" *V-sign* Crazy Terrestrial Lady: "DEATH!"

<<OOC>> Allen | Allen: "Say it with me! Rabu - ando - Piisu!"

<<OOC>> Storyteller fears Allen singing the genocide song.

<<DICE>> Allen rolled 9 for initiative (1 on die, +8 bonus).

<<OOC>> Jack says, "So high init is good here then?"

<<OOC>> Allen says, "...dice hate me or something."

<<OOC>> SarielDi patpats. +exin hates _everyone_.

<<OOC>> Allen says, "Except tentacle demons."

<<DICE>> Storyteller rolled 17 for initiative (1 on die, +16 bonus).

<<OOC>> SarielDi giggles! (Read the log Leti posted, Jack!)

<<OOC>> Storyteller says, "Okay, order of combat is fairly obvious here. ^^"

The dragon-blooded has the advantage of speed here; her heavy daiklave swings as easily as a much lesser blade in her hands; no mortal warrior this. The dragon-blessed weapon swings forward, seeking weaknesses in Allen's defenses.

<<DICE>> Storyteller rolled 1 2 2 6 7 10 10 10 10 on 9d10: 9 successes.

<<OOC>> Allen says, "Okay, going to be using Golden Essence Block, 5 motes - personal."

<<OOC>> Storyteller says, "Right! Go ahead and stunt. >_>"

And the Essence which whispers to Allen guides his hands like strings of golden sunlight, the sharp fangs of his Black Widow Razors now projecting past the backs of his hands and gleaming in the light. The thin blades appear a fragile defense compared to the mighty jade weapon swinging towards him, but defend they will, flashing out to parry with obvious practice and grace.

<<OOC>> Storyteller says, "Okay, two die; that gives you 24 dice. :) Plus, you get four of those five motes back."

<<DICE>> Allen rolled 1 1 1 2 2 4 4 5 6 6 7 7 8 8 8 8 8 8 9 9 9 9 10 10 on 24d10: 16 successes.

It is a mighty blow, but mightier still is the skill of this Child of the Dawn; the thin blades catch just so and twist just right; the blade is thrown off course, the fierce blow deflected. Shock and annoyance mar the face of the dragonblooded wielder.

<<OOC>> Storyteller says, "Your turn. You can attack, splitting if you want; no charms, though, of course."

<<OOC>> Allen will split ... hm, four times, then. -2, -3, -4, and -5. I roll ...Dex+Melee+Accuracy, right?

<<OOC>> Storyteller says, "Right. Are you going to be using venom?"

<<OOC>> Allen says, "Don't think so - not this round. XD"

<<OOC>> Storyteller says, "Pose and roll; you can pose more than one attack at once, of course, if you want."

<<OOC>> Storyteller says, "Though they'll all be rolled separately."

<<OOC>> Storyteller says, "But, to streamline. ^^"

Allen throws off the DragonBlooded's attack and darts forwards, using her momentary shock to his best advantage, razor claws barely visible as they strike in rapid succession for weak points in the woman's defenses and armour, driving her back towards the river.

<<OOC>> Storyteller says, "Go ahead and start rolling. First pool is 10, I think."

<<DICE>> Allen rolled 2 3 4 4 6 6 7 9 9 9 on 10d10: 4 successes.

<<DICE>> Allen rolled 3 3 4 4 5 5 6 7 8 on 9d10: 2 successes.

<<DICE>> Allen rolled 1 4 5 6 6 7 9 10 on 8d10: 4 successes.

<<DICE>> Allen rolled 1 3 4 8 9 10 10 on 7d10: 6 successes.

<<DICE>> Storyteller rolled 2 3 6 6 6 8 9 10 10 on 9d10: 6 successes.

<<DICE>> Storyteller rolled 2 3 7 10 10 on 5d10: 5 successes.

<<DICE>> Storyteller rolled 1 2 5 9 9 on 5d10: 2 successes.

<<DICE>> Storyteller rolled 4 7 7 7 10 on 5d10: 5 successes.

<<OOC>> Storyteller says, "Base damage -11, Base damage -12 - minimum your Essence."

<<OOC>> Storyteller says, "Which is to say, yes, minimum your essence."

<<OOC>> Allen says, "...yeah, pretty much. XD My damage being 9."

<<OOC>> Storyteller says, "Roll!"

<<DICE>> Allen rolled 3 6 9 on 3d10: 1 success.

<<DICE>> Allen rolled 2 4 5 on 3d10: Failure.

The woman's daiklave dances - but can only be so many places at once, letting the last two of the flurry of blows land; only one evades the breastplate she wears, and tears a shallow gash.

<<OOC>> Storyteller says, "Next round, roll init. :)"

<<DICE>> Storyteller rolled 21 for initiative (5 on die, +16 bonus).

<<DICE>> Allen rolled 17 for initiative (9 on die, +8 bonus).

Allen's opponent is more cautious now, eyes flicking between Allen's hands and face to judge his movements as she tosses her daiklave in the air; darting forward, her right fist slams towards his face as her left catches the blade easily out of the air.

<<DICE>> Storyteller rolled 1 3 4 6 8 8 8 9 9 on 9d10: 5 successes.

<<OOC>> Storyteller says, "Ya know, this chick has all sorts of nice Charms. They work very well... in addition to the damage of a successful attack. :p"

<<OOC>> SarielDi giggles!

Allen's face shows little but the slight widening of his mismatched eyes as the wary DragonBlooded's fist hurtles towards his face - but even unarmored, it is not unprotected; Allen's own hand shoots up, guided by the flows of Essence around him, knocking the fierce blow to the side.

<<OOC>> Allen says, "No Charms this time. :)"

<<OOC>> Storyteller says, "2 die stunt, go ahead and roll. ^^ Plus, you get one more mote back so you're full (up to committed anyhow), or a wp"

<<DICE>> Allen rolled 1 2 3 4 4 5 6 6 6 7 7 7 8 9 on 14d10: 5 successes.

The woman's blow is knocked aside and she snarls, muttering curses in Low Realm.

<<OOC>> Storyteller says, "Hee. Well. =P He can split or attack, then. >_> OR default to defense, but, that'd be pointless."

<<OOC>> Allen says, "Splitting, then. :) Four attacks as last time."

<<OOC>> Storyteller says, "Pose and roll. :)"

Allen doesn't understand the tongue in which the woman snarls at him, but nevertheless has the impression that she's not entirely pleased with him... somehow, which is fine by him - the Realm may not be his chosen enemies, but neither are they his friends. His claws lash out, returning the strike high at the swearing DragonBlooded's head in a pair of quickly successive blows; his hair catches the sunlight as he spins to deliver another attack, and another, forming a white corona about his head.

<<DICE>> Allen rolled 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 8 8 9 on 10d10: 3 successes.

<<DICE>> Allen rolled 2 2 3 3 5 5 7 9 9 on 9d10: 3 successes.

<<DICE>> Allen rolled 1 3 4 6 9 9 10 10 on 8d10: 6 successes.

<<DICE>> Allen rolled 2 2 3 7 7 8 9 on 7d10: 4 successes.

<<OOC>> Brian chuckles. "Nice licks."

<<OOC>> Storyteller says, "Nice pose. :)"

<<DICE>> Storyteller rolled 1 1 2 3 4 on 5d10: BOTCH!

<<OOC>> Storyteller says, "...Damn, sucks to be her. :p"

<<OOC>> Jack says, "Oh boy!"

<<OOC>> Brian CACKLES.

<<OOC>> Storyteller says, "Sooooooo. Let me figure out damage totals to be rolling here... :p"

<<OOC>> Storyteller says, "Okay... Damage +3 on the first one, which she botched, then you'll be back down to Essence minimum for the rest, I'm afraid."

<<OOC>> Storyteller says, "She done screwed up good."

<<OOC>> Jack says, "She should've zigged when she actually left herself wide open."

<<OOC>> Allen says, "So 12, 3, 3, 3?"

<<OOC>> Storyteller says, "Yep!"

<<DICE>> Allen rolled 2 4 6 7 8 8 8 9 9 10 10 10 on 12d10: 9 successes.

<<DICE>> Allen rolled 3 4 5 on 3d10: Failure.

<<DICE>> Allen rolled 8 9 9 on 3d10: 3 successes.

<<DICE>> Allen rolled 3 7 9 on 3d10: 2 successes.

<<OOC>> Storyteller says, "...For a grand total of 14 health levels. Yeah."

Maybe she's just clumsy with her left hand; the woman's sword practically guides Allen's claws to her vital organs; wounded deeply, her eyes widen. The rest is just pounding through her thick armor. The would-be slayer of Anathema tumbles to the ground, dead.

Allen pauses to clean his razors before they scurry back into his sleeves, and then sets about giving the deceased a proper burial; fortunate that there's sufficient wood about.

<<OOC>> Brian says, "... So it's yay, loot? ^^"

<<OOC>> Storyteller says, "Aww, Allen's a nice kid. He might just be burying the body because."

<<OOC>> Allen says, "Yeah, he's going to give her a proper burial and take maybe one or two small items. XD Not all, though."

<<OOC>> Allen says, "Psh. Nice, but he also likes to eat."

As Allen prepares the body for burial, he finds a small scroll in a waterproof case on his dead enemy.

<<OOC>> Storyteller says, "Also, various jade and coinage."

Allen raises his eyebrows and examines the scroll curiously, mainly checking to see if it's in a language he can read.

<<OOC>> Storyteller says, "Give me a... Int + Linguistics roll, with 1 bonus die."

<<OOC>> Allen says, "Oh, sorry!"

<<DICE>> Allen rolled 1 3 5 5 7 10 on 6d10: 3 successes.

The scroll is written in High Realm, but whoever worded it had a very formal, archaic style, and it's close enough to Old Realm for Allen to pick out the gist of it. It directs the dead woman to the town of Whitewater Bend on the Grey River, south of Nexus; apparently, they have a Barbarian problem, and she is directed to solve it for them, and make them grateful to the Realm, as the Realm has hopes of expansion in that region. There's an additional passage in a different hand at the end, but it's a more modern mode, and all Allen can pick out are some references to the barbarians.

Allen tucks the parchment away - perhaps further study when he has the time will give him more information. In the meantime - well, this Whitewater Bend is in the direction he's traveling. If they're in need of help, perhaps he can lend a hand while he's going by.

<<OOC>> Storyteller says, "I would like to fiat that Allen catches a boat heading towards Whitewater Bend when he hits Yanaze River."

<<OOC>> Allen says, "...I accept the boat. ;)"

<<OOC>> Storyteller says, "Shai amenable to taking on a passenger at the mouth of the river? :)"

<<OOC>> SarielDi says, "Heehee. Sure! If it's a short trip, even, she'd only ask a token fee for it. ^_^ Or Allen could announce himself as a Dawn and get there for free. *innocent*"

The rest of Allen's journey to the mouth of the Yanaze river goes fairly smoothly; when he asks around about the route to the city, it's recommended he take a boat. He happens to find one conveniently, and it feels right.

<<OOC>> Storyteller says, "Shai's passenger will also feel right."