Jade and Cattle 4/21/06
Apr. 27th, 2006 03:32 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
leticiaBrian says "Anyway, you arrive back on the ship without much problem. /No one/ wants to stand in your way, no one at all. As for the crew, save for the Captain, they are once more in awe and fear of you and the holy madman that has come with you as well. The Captain greets you respectfully, and takes your news about the day with equanimity. Do you guys tell him about the danger represented by Swan Dragon?"
Phoenix Maiden will do so, but will phrase it carefully - that we believe Swan Dragon is stable and docile, but has the potential if alarmed to do Bad Things, so should probably not be alarmed. Smilesmilesmile.
Brian says "The Captain accepts this with the same gruff grace as he has the terrors of the Sea That Marched Against the Flame and fights with storm-goddesses on his prow. He goes back to the ordering of his vessel to make ready for the trip on the morrow, and you come aboard without incident."
Brian says "I'm going to assume that Diamond spends an hour or two studying the artifacts before giving the report above, and Kanfi and Liu get Swan Dragon situated, before coming back for the final meeting."
<<OOC>> Diamond Borealis says "Shall I whip up a ceremony to summon a small wind spirit to send a message?"
Brian [to Diamond Borealis]: Hmm. You can try, yes; PM being a priestess would be helpful there.
Brian says "Plans for the rest of you?"
<<OOC>> Liu will stay with Swan Dragon to help him get used to the idea of leaving, and will try to entertain him with small juggling tricks and the like.
Phoenix Maiden wants to ask Diamond - who obviously had more information, back in Yane - about the doings of the ...err. Ulito's group - recently. But that can wait; it's for PM's thoughts on treating Swan Dragon, so.
<<OOC>> Aidan says "I think I wanted to chat with Diamond about the Starmetal bracers."
Kanfi helps get Swan Dragon situated, and is loathe to leave him, knowing how dangerous the madman can be and also knowing how badly he needs their help.
Brian says "Alright, Diamond, PM, discuss a ritual later, and we'll roll for it later; assume that it at least looks like you succeeded. It's two hours later, and Swan Dragon is sleeping peacefully in Liu's cabin, still nestling with Shurtimu Ji. You've all come back together -- wherever you like-- to discuss division of the spoils and what to do about Swan Dragon."
Aidan says "I'm curious about those bracers. The ones from the Sidereal as well as the two Dragons. They appear a very similar design to my own." Here, Aidan rolls back the sleeves of his robe to show the bracers strapped to his forearms, as well as the Talons of the Golden Hawk still attached to the backs of his hands. "Might they be of a similar purpose?"
Liu sits on the floor in lotus position, unusually calm and still after having been as soothingly charismatic and entertaining with Swan Dragon as she could muster. She watches Aidan with glittering, considering eyes, as he shows off his weapons and asks about the new loot.
Diamond Borealis leans back against the table in the impromptu workshop he's created in the hold. The items are laid out neatly on the table. His sketches pinned to the walls. "Yes. The Materials are more difficult for us to attune to, but they provide some benefits." He goes into more detail about the individual bracers. "That's all I've been able to learn so far."
Aidan says "Is there likely to be any benefit to using those of one of these other materials in place of the orichalcum I now possess?"
Kanfi leans against the wall, fingers drumming against the smooth wood impatiently, and looking like he wants to pace, though there isn't really much room for it. Finally, he pushes off and takes the two steps over to the table to inspect one of the jade bracers with a salesman's eye.
Brian [to Diamond Borealis]: I should note that there is a simple, Artifact * artifact called Fivefold Harmonic Adapter that allows you to attune to an item as though you were of the right Exalted Type. I'm using the 2E version since the 1E is nearly pointless. It would take a while to make; and, yes, the Starmetal and Jade versions are substantially better than the orichalcum in all situations except, maybe, fighting creatures of darkness.
Brian says "And even then, it'd be a close thing."
Brian [to Kanfi]: The Hearthstone Bracers are pretty simple, aniconics; more utilitarian than beautiful. They have use, but not much decoration. The two Perfected Kata Bracers, while still aniconic, have lots of abstract designs to fulfill their essence-bound duties; they have power in them _and_ beauty; probably much more valuable than the hearthstone bracers.
Kanfi looks up thoughtfully at Diamond, lips pursed in a thoughtful moue. "You're not planning to use these, are you, old man?"
Phoenix Maiden taps her fingers on the table, watching her circle thoughtfully - mostly lost in story composition for a particular task.
Diamond Borealis glances over at Kanfi. "What do you think?" Clearly asking with mercenary intent. "Other than when facing the undead, yes, the Starmetal or the Jade will be superior to what you have." He drubs his fingers against the underside of the table. He takes one hand from the table and reaches up to rub the bridge of his nose. "There might be a way to craft an item made of Orichalcum that would let us treat any object as Orichalcum for purposes of attunement." He has so many ideas, and so little time. With a faint jerk of his head. "Huh? The Jade? No. We should sell them."
Kanfi lets a broad grins slide across his face, holding the jade bracers up to catch the light. "Just what I was hoping you'd say, old man." He was good enough at negotiating them out of tough situations. But he LIKED being at the marketplace better.
Liu turns her eyes onto Diamond, and pipes up, "I thought maybe I could use those Red Jade daiklaives along with my nice ones. I used to be really good at three-sword fencing demonstrations...." she looks at her hands, stretching her fingers out before her. "But if they're no good for me... well, I thought I could just try it out. See how it feels."
Brian [to Diamond Borealis]: the Jade short daiklaives _might_ work for Liu, but they'd require occult knowledge and double commitment, unless she was content to use them without the Jade bonuses.
Aidan says "What is the difficulty in attuning to Starmetal? I have little experience with other than Orichalcum and Jade, and the lore I remember from the monastery never mentioned it at all. And what are likely to be the benefits?"
Brian says "Sorry, require lore, not occult knowledge."
Phoenix Maiden looks up from her thoughts, and taps her fingers on the table, in front of the Hearthstone Bracers. "I could use those," she says. "Assuming I can attune to them and use them normally. It would be nice to be able to have the Hearthstone from my own Manse handy in combat."
Phoenix Maiden adds dryly, "Particularly if I'm going to be fighting more Earthblooded who think they can pin me."
Diamond Borealis just laughs at Kanfi's words. "Just get as much as you can for them. That's all I ask." He considers Liu's words. "You can attune them as normal. They won't be used at their full potential, but they would be better than a couple of normal Jade Daiklaves, until I can make us a few of those devices." He studies Aidan a moment, shrugging his shoulders. "Benefits to your efficiency when using Martial Arts. They seem to be better crafted than the ones you have. The Starmetal I mean. Again, though, they won't have the effects on undead or demons that Orichalcum has. Up to you, really."
Phoenix Maiden glances between her companions. "No one else wants the Hearthstone Bracers," she says - partially a query, but mostly a statement of what she has observed, for confirmation."
Liu tucks her braids behind her ears, Kanfi-like, and shakes her head at Phoenix Maiden. "Besides, you have the Hearthstone for them."
Kanfi tosses the bracer in the air and catches it, needing something to do with his hands. "It won't go for much. They're not very decorative."
Diamond Borealis gives Phoenix a nod of his head. "I'm concerned almost exclusively with keeping the Starmetal because of it's rarity. It's also almost worthless on the open market."
Phoenix Maiden fishes said bracers across the table to herself, and comments to Kanfi, "I happen to appreciate clean, functional lines." She nods to Diamond. "Anything you need for materials; money is far easier to get than many things."
Aidan picks up the Starmetal bracers and peers closely at them for a moment, thinking carefully. "And what of the Jade? What benefit might I gain from those? Any particular distinction between the red and the white?"
Brian [to Diamond Borealis]: While there is no FUNCTIONAL difference, I should note that, symbolically, White Jade, Earth Jade, resonates with martial arts.
Brian [to Diamond Borealis]: And, ironically, given PM's choice and Liu's, Red Jade resonates with mobility (dodge/athletics) and hand to hand weaponry.
Diamond Borealis stares at Aidan a moment. "You'll be faster and tougher, essentially. I recommend you go with the Starmetal. Jade is extremely common around here. And I have a feeling those won't be the last Immaculates we sent on to their next lives." He grins a little at that thought.
Liu stands fluidly, but unobtrusively, and does a few minor little stretches -- bending sideways to the left so her ear brushes against her knee, rotating around to the other side, and standing again -- and glances back in the general direction of Swan Dragon. Then back to Phoenix Maiden, who's been similarly preoccupied.
Aidan nods at Diamond. "You are likely correct about the rarity. And yet I already have this Gemstone to aid my efficiency in combat." He raises his sleeve again to show the milky-white gem embedded in his right Talon. "Recent experience has show that perhaps my defenses have been neglected for too long." The Hunter winces with the memory of the cuts inflicted by the Child of Mela in the last fight.
Phoenix Maiden peers to Liu, raising her eyebrows with a quiet, "Hmm?"
Aidan sets the Starmetal bracers down on the table again, and picks up the white jade, turning them over in his hands. "Besides, you should be happy that I should choose these." He smiles and waves the jade at Diamond absently. "For then you have the rarer metals to learn from, or create with. Jade is easily replaced, as you said."
Liu stops to toss a little grin at Aidan, and cocks her head to the side. "Well, you'll step quicker next time, won't you?" She looks back to Phoenix Maiden, and then steps quietly over to the priestess. "Do you think we will be able to make him better?" For Liu, talk about the nature of the weapons is useless -- she needs to work with them. Feel them. Swan Dragon is heavy on her thoughts now.
Diamond Borealis gestures toward Kanfi. "The Eightfold Gravity Hammer will likely be quite valuable too. The Jade from the armor I've got stored in that trunk." He points to a large locked trunk. "Whatever we don't use, Kanfi can sell at the Market when we get to where we're going. Which brings us to the question of Swan Dragon, as little sister Liu has mentioned."
Phoenix Maiden shrugs. "We ...may." She glances towards Liu's cabin herself. "It has been a very long time since he vanished from Creation, Liu. I do not know how much harm was done to him in that time, but we can not devote the same time - now - to his healing. Harborhead is explosive; if we can not help him before we get there, it will have to wait until after we have resolved that situation. And it may very well take a long time - if not as long as that in which he was broken - to fix him."
Liu turns to the rest of the group, squaring her shoulders a little. "That's the biggest question, right? Will we be able to take him back to Ulito whole?"
Phoenix Maiden frowns and shrugs slightly, the Hearthstone Bracers lying on her lap forgotten for now. "I have some things to try. If he has been prisoner in the Wyld, I would like to try storytelling, starting with the formulas of myth and building on them back to reality. It may be possible to so draw him into the story that he - and sanity - follow the telling." She shrugs. "Or, well, so I would like to try. But I doubt that his healing will come over night; I doubt very much his breaking did."
Diamond Borealis thins out his lips. "I don't know. I need to talk to him. I need to study his Essence and his mind. But healing him won't be fast. Phoenix is correct in that regard. We may need to help him gain vengeance on the Fae who did this to him to complete any healing. I'm willing to work on it and help Phoenix if I can. I can't build any of this..." He gestures to the works pinned on the wall. "Until we reach Harborhead and take it."
Kanfi catches the bracers again, neatly-- they make a small thump as they fall into his palm. "I swore we would do anything in our power to make him whole, though we have to travel the length and breadth of Creation to do it." I... we. Whatever. He catches his sister's eye, and gives her a stern look.
Phoenix Maiden raises her eyebrows at Kanfi at the look, a skeptical expression stealing across her face, encouraging him to say whatever's on his mind.
Liu smiles broadly and nods her head at Phoenix Maiden, "That's an excellent idea! Perhaps I can help, with... well, with dancing out the stories." She turns halfway towards Diamond, her arms held out to both of them. "I know it will take some time, but... well, we should try. He shouldn't have to stay broken. None of this," and she gestures towards Diamond's sketches of prosthetics on broken people, and outward towards Creation, "should have to stay broken."
Phoenix Maiden smiles at Liu.
Phoenix Maiden says, "Perhaps he will dance with you. It would draw him into the story more, and that could only help."
<<OOC>> Phoenix Maiden says ".oO(Unless I botch or something. But since I fully intend to be rolling something like 20 dice, that ain't happenin'.)"
<<OOC>> Phoenix Maiden says "...I hope."
Kanfi tilts his head away, brow furrowed in thought. "Those were my words. The old man added that we WOULD heal him. And my sister said that what we can do, we will do." He's obviously considering the terms of the oath, and how far they go.
Phoenix Maiden shrugs at Kanfi. "No one is saying we won't."
Aidan smiles briefly, as his eyes look downwards and his thoughts turn inward. He feels... whole. As though something had been missing in his solitary quest. "I know so little about the history of Swan Dragon, but if you feel that I can be of use, I shall endeavor to provide."
Kanfi runs his fingers over a whorl on the surface of the bracer, as though following his thought. "We shouldn't return him until he's fixed, if we CAN fix him."
Phoenix Maiden raises an eyebrow at Kanfi. "And you think dragging him into a war still broken would be good for him? Or the war?"
Phoenix Maiden shrugs. "Or perhaps you are suffering from hubris and believe that only we may be able to fix him? His daughter may have a call on his sanity we can not rival."
Kanfi shakes his head, letting the braids fall in his face. "Sister, that's not what I meant! It's just..." He doesn't want to disappoint the pretty spirit. "So long as we're not abandoning him. We have so little time to try to heal him NOW. We can't just try for the length of the trip and then give up."
Liu turns about, and gives Aidan a considering-yet-welcoming smile. Hopefully he can help -- and teach her how he fights like that.
Phoenix Maiden nods. "I agree. But we can let his daughter see what she can do, and return to the effort after dealing with the situation in Harborhead. You might not have noticed, but a lot of people are about to get killed."
"We will heal him. I didn't say I would do it over night." Diamond meets the gaze evenly. His arms are folded over his chest again. "Look, he's been broken for centuries. The few weeks or months it will take for us to conquer Harborhead aren't going to make that big of a difference to him. And he'll be with his daughter while we handle that mess. You have to temper your heart with what is practical."
Phoenix Maiden sighs and leans back in the chair slightly, turning her attention to Aidan, belatedly. "Your aid was most appreciated in the fight." She grins with a certain savage appreciation of the fate of the Sidereal assassin who'd broken through her own defenses.
<<OOC>> Phoenix Maiden says "Mutter mutter stupid dice."
Kanfi sighs and sets the bracer back on the table, going back to lean against the wall again and toy with the length of died cotton once against wrapped like a sash across his chest, running the soft fabric distractedly through his fingers.
Phoenix Maiden sighs. "I suppose you could stay with Ulito and Swan Dragon if that becomes necessary," she comments to Kanfi.
Phoenix Maiden frowns at the thought. "Though I'd hate to scatter our forces like that."
Brian [to Kanfi]: You feel an oracle welling inside of you. Do you spend a willpower to suppress it?
Kanfi [to Brian]: Nope.
Aidan sketches a brief bow towards Phoenix Maiden. "It was my pleasure, lady. The Hawk has trained me well in the ways of the Hunt. And yet sometimes I fear that I have spent too long in the wastes. There are forces at work here beyond that which they taught me at the monastery."
<<OOC>> Brian says "While we give Kanfiplayer time, is anyone definitely going to try full attunement to some of the spoils?"
<<OOC>> Phoenix Maiden is./
<<OOC>> Aidan says "I'm pretty sure I'm going to take a swing at the white jade bracers."
<<OOC>> Aidan says "Although I still hadn't asked the "what happens if I do it wrong" question."
<<OOC>> Liu says "No, I'm not going to try to fully attune."
<<OOC>> Liu says "Just enough to handle them."
<<OOC>> Phoenix Maiden thinks nothing unless you botch - at which point they blow up and Diamond gets snarky.
<<OOC>> Brian says "Okay, give me a Wits + Lore roll, diff 3; we'll assume that this happens later/between games. Both of you. Willpower may be spent for autosuccesses, but not to channel virtues."
<<OOC>> Brian points at PM, yup.
<<OOC>> Phoenix Maiden wants to spend one for autosuccess.
<<OOC>> Brian says "Okies. Roll 'em!"
<<DICE>> Phoenix Maiden rolls 6 dice: <1 1 7 8 9 10> for 5 successes.
<<OOC>> Phoenix Maiden says "...Of course. :p"
<<OOC>> Aidan will also spend for auto. Is not a roll I want to lose.
<<OOC>> Phoenix Maiden mostly wanted to make sure she wouldn't blow them up on a bad roll.
<<DICE>> Aidan rolls 6 dice: <3 5 6 7 7 10> for 4 successes.
<<OOC>> Brian says "Okay, attunement is good for both of you. :) Double cost, etc."
<<OOC>> Phoenix Maiden says "Yay freedom stone HAH CAN'T GRAPPLE THIS."
<<OOC>> Brian says "Liu, the two shorts have regular costs for you, but you don't get the Jade speed benefit. In short, they have the same stats as your current blades, just -1 accuracy, -1 defense, and -1 rate."
<<OOC>> Liu says "OK, cool."
<<OOC>> Aidan says "Okay, so I add what to what for Jade? +Ess to Speed and....?"
<<OOC>> Brian says "Lethal and Bashing Soak. Remember that it's 8 more motes to commit, over your old total (total of 16 motes committed)"
<<OOC>> Aidan says "But yes to the +ess to Init?"
<<OOC>> Brian says "Okay, so, the plan is-- sell the Eightfold Gravity Hammer and the Red PKB, keep the Starmetal Daiklaive for research, and the shattered armor for parts?"
<<OOC>> Diamond Borealis says "Yes. Brian, that is the plan."
<<OOC>> Phoenix Maiden thinks so. PM isn't going to argue with the Twilight's plans there. To each their expertise.
<<OOC>> Phoenix Maiden wouldn't tell Liu how to climb, either. :)
Kanfi parts his lips to reassure his sister, worried that she thinks less of him for his preoccupation. And yet, those aren't the words that come out, and once he's started speaking he can't seem to stop-- they spill out off his tongue with an ease even his most practiced pitches are hard-pressed to match, because this is the Truth, and some part of Kanfi knows that it can be suppressed no longer. "My dearest sister, my circlemates, Exalted among mankind, five paths lay before us. Five paths to the healing the Fiery King of Grace in our charge by our Oath and Heavenly Mandate. The five paths of our own hearts and minds. Aidan's path leads us the the South on the wings of a bird of prey. Deep in the Changed Lands, where creatures changed into nightmare and dreams roam we may find the First ancestor of all that is Flame-Which-Lives, in whose heart the great dragon may find succor and be reborn. From the soul of wise and mighty Virtuous Willow, lady of the lustrous blade and Maiden of the Unfettered Sky, the path dances, a song of life. He must be respun from her shining notes from his first, weak moments, to the last, great shattering. The notes must surge though him, and wash away the stain of blood and anger. At the core and center of his very being, Diamond Borealis, Column Standing Between This World And The Next, calls upon us to find that which he has denied himself. In that place may we find the mastery of healing, though his path unfolds before us in a road of brambles and thorns which will take us the span of a mortal lifetime and beyond to traverse. Rocky and hard, though the road may be, at its terminus we will find the mastery of healing. Quiet Liu, Shadow-Blessed Daughter. Cunning, quick, stealthy, your heart and mind may instruct you in the ways of the Stormlords, those who hold the story itself of the broken Incandescant Warrior Magistrate. While the Bright Lady sings his story together once more, the clever and nimble Dark Lady must catch the notes from the winds taken shape. And from the heart and center Kanfi Makuri, the Eight Lucky Son, He of the silver tongue and peacock's raiment may find the way in the Changed Lands, between Chaos and Form. The Lords of that land are not of one desire and one mind. But what payment will they take to reform the shattered Storm Warrior?" Kanfi stops then, rocking back, and shuddering from the force with which the words had made their way from his soul to his lips.
Phoenix Maiden pauses, about to say something else to Aidan, her words falling off short before her brother's cascade of prophecy. She is silent, afterward, thoughtful and considering the paths presented.
Diamond Borealis presses his lips into a thin line as Kanfi cascades the prophecy before them. Then looks to each of the others in the Circle, one brow raised in curiosity.
Kanfi press his hands to his mouth, pale and shaken. "Sorry. Sometimes the words get the better of me." He tries to manage a cheerful smile, but it wavers.
Liu's eyebrows knit together, and she mouths a few of the words Kanfi has said, uncomprehending -- this isn't directions, this is a puzzle. She shakes her head and looks at Diamond and Phoenix, then looks back to Kanfi as he falls quiet.
Phoenix Maiden taps a finger on the table slowly, thoughtfully. "Are these separate paths we can try several of in order, or one puzzle with all paths needing to be followed? I would have thought the first, except that the path named for Liu seems joined to the path named for me."
Kanfi sucks in a deep breath, color slowly beginning to return to his face. "I... I'm not sure." Why his INNER voice seems so peppy is a mystery for the ages.
<<OOC>> Phoenix Maiden isn't exactly addressing that to Kanfi, more to the entire Circle - and Aidan, who the prophecy definitely included.
<<OOC>> Diamond Borealis says "Can I roll to get a decipher a little more concrete direction from it?"
<<OOC>> Phoenix Maiden says "Or me? ^^ *has SOME lore and occult and stuff, if not Diamond Levels*"
<<OOC>> Brian ponders. "Perception + Occult, difficulty 4. Difficulty 3 for PM, who's a priestess.
<<OOC>> Phoenix Maiden says "Can't use Lore, can I? ^^"
<<OOC>> Aidan says "Can we all try that? Assuming we have *something* in Occult?"
<<OOC>> Brian says "At difficulty 4, yes, to both PM and Aidan; only PM may use Lore instead."
<<OOC>> Phoenix Maiden says "Mrph, I'm better on average with Occult and diff 3. :)"
<<DICE>> Phoenix Maiden rolls 5 dice: <3 4 8 9 9> for 3 successes.
<<OOC>> Phoenix Maiden says "Bam."
<<DICE>> Aidan rolls 6 dice: <1 2 2 4 6 9> for 1 success.
<<OOC>> Brian says "Okay, what in specific do you want details on there, PM?"
Liu steps forward and pets Kanfi's arm and shoulder gently, only a touch awkwardly, meaning to be comforting.
<<OOC>> Phoenix Maiden is trying to decipher the apparent connection between 'her path' and 'Liu's path'.
<<OOC>> Brian says "Stories. The first refers to remaking his story, in one way or another; the second in stealing it, and something else as well."
Aidan shakes himself, trying to return to the moment. "The Hawk has guided me before, and I trust his wisdom. But what are the Changed Lands?" And wonders if this in fact refers to the Garda Bird, instead of the Hawk, but says nothing.
Phoenix Maiden ponders. "The Wyld? The edge of the Wyld? The lands that were Creation but lost to the Wyld during the collapse?
<<DICE>> Diamond Borealis rolls 9 dice: <3 4 4 5 7 8 8 9 10> for 6 successes.
<<OOC>> Phoenix Maiden says "Nice."
<<OOC>> Brian says "What three parts of the prophecy do you want to know more about?"
<<OOC>> Brian says "You may trade "parts" for extra detail-- IE, one highly detailed, one lightly detailed, or one VERY highly detailed."
<<OOC>> Diamond Borealis says "Alright, hit me up with Aidan, Kanfi and Liu's."
<<OOC>> Brian says "Aidan's is a quest; I can either tell you the where, specifically, or the specifics of the goal. Kanfi's refers to the dangerous proposition of negotiating with powerful fair folk or the unshaped. Liu's is also a quest; I can tell you either more about the people who _have_ the quest items, or the quest items themselves."
<<OOC>> Diamond Borealis says "Aidan - Goal. and Liu - Items."
<<OOC>> Brian says "Aidan's thought is correct. It refers to the Heart of the Great Garda, the primal Fire Elemental from which all others were spawned after she was broken in the Primordial War. The pieces of her self were used to make various fire elementals, including, logically enough, Swan Dragon. If her heart still exists, it would be an item of awesome power."
<<OOC>> Brian says "Liu's quest is for literal stories and sanity; somehow, those holding it must have a way of making those literally objects that can be taken. Swan Dragon's stories and sanity, that is."
Diamond Borealis is quiet for a moment, pondering the words. "What the prophecy is telling is is this; we have many paths we can travel. If we follow Aidan's path, I don't know where it will take us, but we would have to seek out the heart of the Great Garda, the Elemental from which all other fire elementals sprang, including Swan Dragon. We could follow Kanfi's path and seek to negotiate with Fae Nobility to restore him. Or Liu's path and find those who hold his story and his sanity, and restore them as we did Shurtimu Ji. I can't get much more from the other two beyond the obvious."
Phoenix Maiden comments. "Mine is to tell his story - recreate it, as necessary, where I do not have the pieces. I may be interpreting through what I already intended, of course."
Phoenix Maiden adds, "I would rather not try to bargain with the Fae."
Liu stretches, her shoulders and back vertebrae popping in smooth succession. "Can we really choose just one path? We're not meant to take each?" She pauses, and gives Diamond a brow-furrowed and slightly confused look, "Are you sure they're not the same path?"
Kanfi shakes his head, shrugging. "I don't know. It could be that we have to choose. It could be that we need to follow them all in their time, or it could mean that they're all one path." He sighs. "You know which one I'd prefer, of course. The Fair Folk aren't that bad, if you keep your wits about you."
Aidan looks to Diamond as he mentions the Great Garda. "I do not know where my path might lead. But I think I have an idea of one that I might ask. And the prophecy tells us it is to the South; I have lived on those sands for years now."
Phoenix Maiden ponders. "Whether it is one path or many, the prophecy gives us no indication of a necessary order."
Liu nods after Phoenix Maiden speaks, looking from Kanfi to Aidan. "Each of our paths sound best to each of us. But splitting up is obviously wrong. I think we have to continue as we would... and look for our opportunities."
Phoenix Maiden gestures around the Circle. "Unless Dawn, Zenith, Twilight, Night, Eclipse just happens to be the order, by coincidence. Given no order, it will not hurt to start with those which are more attainable and work to those which are further as they fail."
"I may, for instance, begin with the retelling of stories... any time, though it might be wiser to learn what Ulito and her companions can tell me of him before I begin; my tales are only the legends passed down, and may be garbled." The Zenith shrugs. "And if that's enough, we may all be glad. After that, I suppose we can look for more information on other paths. Though I fear, Diamond," she nods to the Twilight, "That with a mortal lifetime prerequisite for your path, we may wish to hold it for the last.
"They are not the same, no, Liu." Diamond says softly. "At least, I don't think it is. But I have no interest in dealing with the Fae. They can't be trusted and they are as much enemy of Creation as the Yozi and the Deathlords. I think we should try Phoenix's way first, while we seek to secure Harborhead. If that fails, then we have a base from which we can attempt Aidan's way or Liu's path. Should it come to that, we also then have a power center to negotiate with the Fae from a position of strength." He frowns again. "No matter how noble, I do not find it wise to put his well being above that of the mortals of Harborhead."
Kanfi purses his lips at the easy dismissal of the way of his own heart, but just tugs at a braid. "Were we to follow Aidan's way we may have to negotiate with the Fair Folk regardless," he points out.
Phoenix Maiden holds out an upturned palm towards Kanfi. "It may be we have to follow all paths - but the Fair Folk are dangerous and as a body not well inclined towards Creation. It makes sense to seek less fraught paths before we move on to others."
Kanfi shrugs and tilts his head back. "They *are* dangerous. But not all of the Fair Lords are of one heart and one mind. If it's in their best interests to assist us in putting Swan Dragon back together they'll do it." His lips curve in remembrance. "Outwitting them is hardly impossible. I can do it again. But," he pauses and shrugs. "We'll come to that when we come to that. Your way isn't easy, but maybe Ulito can help you find pieces to your story?"
Phoenix Maiden nods slowly. "I will wait until we can speak to her; I will need all the pieces I can find, I suspect."
Liu nods once, sharply, since a decision's been made. Decisions are good. She walks over to the workbench with Diamond's stuff on it, trailing her fingers over the red jade short daiklaives.
Aidan tries to keep up with the dialog, but is clearly in over his head. "You have spoken more than once about Harborhead, but I do not see how that city relates to the plight of Swan Dragon."
Liu looks up, "Oh... Phoenix Maiden's going to overthrow the Realm in Harborhead and restore it to native control." She might as well be saying she's going to go pick out a new set of clothes, or curry her horse.
Diamond Borealis smiles as Liu strokes a finger along one of the artifacts. He puts a hand on her shoulder, patting her back once. "They'll do nicely. For now, at least." He looks back toward Aidan. "We're going to conquer it." He says this as if he were talking about going down to the market and getting a good deal on a nice buff jacket.
<<OOC>> Liu says "LOL"
<<OOC>> Diamond Borealis laughs.
<<OOC>> Brian says "You two are becoming much too much alike."
<<OOC>> Aidan says "You two couldn't have done that any better if you'd had ten minutes warning to plan it. *applauds*"
Phoenix Maiden smiles slightly. "Ahh," she says, turning towards Aidan. "Harborhead fuels the Realm with slaves and jade; its people cry out in slavery and the sapping of their warrior spirit. The temples to the Unconquered Sun are burnt by Immaculates." True anger flashes in her eyes at the last. "I intend to do something about it."
Diamond Borealis smiles crookedly as he and Liu say nearly the same thing at the same time. "I suggest we set course for Varang. Speak to his daughter, and if we need to change our approach from there, we can."
Phoenix Maiden nods to Diamond. "I had hoped to sail on through, but I believe we will need to speak to Ulito. I do not want to waste my efforts."
A fires alights in Aidan's eyes at the mention of the burning of the Temples. "I... see." Fighting against the Immaculates? Where do I sign up?
Phoenix Maiden adds, watching Aidan's face closely for the clues of his own feelings on the subject, "A strong arm and brave warrior would be most welcome in this fight as well; the cause is noble and the enemies are many."
Aidan says "I shall be delighted to oblige, lady. The Immaculate order has stood unchallenged for long enough, I welcome the chance to instruct them as to the glory of Sol Invictus and His chosen."
<<OOC>> Aidan has a *thing* about Immaculates.
<<OOC>> Diamond Borealis has a thing about Immaculates, Guildsmen, the Dead, the Yozi, the Fae...
<<OOC>> Diamond Borealis says "Oh. And Sidereals. Don't forget Sidereals."
<<OOC>> Liu says "Essentially anyone who's ever looked at him funny."
<<OOC>> Aidan roffles.
<<OOC>> Diamond Borealis has a list!
<<OOC>> Kanfi likes EVERYBODY!
<<OOC>> Aidan says "And everybody likes Kanfi. At least, they like him once he's had a change to throw Social dice at them."
<<OOC>> Kanfi thinks the fae are lots of fun to talk to!
Phoenix Maiden glances at the starmetal objects on the table. "You will be a most welcome addition," she says with a grin. "I didn't even nick her."
<<OOC>> Liu says "Liu has a thing with Lunars who jump in front. But that's about it."
Aidan bows to Phoenix Maiden with a satisfied grin on his face. "One tries to do one's best."
Diamond Borealis gives Liu's shoulder a squeeze then claps Kanfi on the upper arm in similar fashion. "We'll heal him, kiddo. I promise, even if it takes time or negotiating with the Fae in the end."
Phoenix Maiden adds, "...even if it takes a lifetime. We have those, and so does he."
Kanfi snorts and pats Diamond's hand. "If it takes negotiating with them, you'll just hide and I'll have to do all the talking, old man." He turns and smiles grimly at his sister. "If it takes one or ten or a hundred. I think Creation needs him back."
Phoenix Maiden nods. "I agree. But we have other obligations as well, and Creation has been without him since the Contagion."
<<OOC>> Phoenix Maiden says "Okay. I think we've agreed to set sail for the Varang and find Ulito first, and then continue back to Harborhead."
<<OOC>> Phoenix Maiden says "Do we need to do ritual and rolls for that message?"
<<OOC>> Phoenix Maiden peers at the ST.
<<OOC>> Diamond Borealis would like to do that this week if possible. I'm about to faceplant.
<<OOC>> Brian says "Let's do that later this week, yes."
<<OOC>> Brian says "Shall we call it an evening?"
Phoenix Maiden will do so, but will phrase it carefully - that we believe Swan Dragon is stable and docile, but has the potential if alarmed to do Bad Things, so should probably not be alarmed. Smilesmilesmile.
Brian says "The Captain accepts this with the same gruff grace as he has the terrors of the Sea That Marched Against the Flame and fights with storm-goddesses on his prow. He goes back to the ordering of his vessel to make ready for the trip on the morrow, and you come aboard without incident."
Brian says "I'm going to assume that Diamond spends an hour or two studying the artifacts before giving the report above, and Kanfi and Liu get Swan Dragon situated, before coming back for the final meeting."
<<OOC>> Diamond Borealis says "Shall I whip up a ceremony to summon a small wind spirit to send a message?"
Brian [to Diamond Borealis]: Hmm. You can try, yes; PM being a priestess would be helpful there.
Brian says "Plans for the rest of you?"
<<OOC>> Liu will stay with Swan Dragon to help him get used to the idea of leaving, and will try to entertain him with small juggling tricks and the like.
Phoenix Maiden wants to ask Diamond - who obviously had more information, back in Yane - about the doings of the ...err. Ulito's group - recently. But that can wait; it's for PM's thoughts on treating Swan Dragon, so.
<<OOC>> Aidan says "I think I wanted to chat with Diamond about the Starmetal bracers."
Kanfi helps get Swan Dragon situated, and is loathe to leave him, knowing how dangerous the madman can be and also knowing how badly he needs their help.
Brian says "Alright, Diamond, PM, discuss a ritual later, and we'll roll for it later; assume that it at least looks like you succeeded. It's two hours later, and Swan Dragon is sleeping peacefully in Liu's cabin, still nestling with Shurtimu Ji. You've all come back together -- wherever you like-- to discuss division of the spoils and what to do about Swan Dragon."
Aidan says "I'm curious about those bracers. The ones from the Sidereal as well as the two Dragons. They appear a very similar design to my own." Here, Aidan rolls back the sleeves of his robe to show the bracers strapped to his forearms, as well as the Talons of the Golden Hawk still attached to the backs of his hands. "Might they be of a similar purpose?"
Liu sits on the floor in lotus position, unusually calm and still after having been as soothingly charismatic and entertaining with Swan Dragon as she could muster. She watches Aidan with glittering, considering eyes, as he shows off his weapons and asks about the new loot.
Diamond Borealis leans back against the table in the impromptu workshop he's created in the hold. The items are laid out neatly on the table. His sketches pinned to the walls. "Yes. The Materials are more difficult for us to attune to, but they provide some benefits." He goes into more detail about the individual bracers. "That's all I've been able to learn so far."
Aidan says "Is there likely to be any benefit to using those of one of these other materials in place of the orichalcum I now possess?"
Kanfi leans against the wall, fingers drumming against the smooth wood impatiently, and looking like he wants to pace, though there isn't really much room for it. Finally, he pushes off and takes the two steps over to the table to inspect one of the jade bracers with a salesman's eye.
Brian [to Diamond Borealis]: I should note that there is a simple, Artifact * artifact called Fivefold Harmonic Adapter that allows you to attune to an item as though you were of the right Exalted Type. I'm using the 2E version since the 1E is nearly pointless. It would take a while to make; and, yes, the Starmetal and Jade versions are substantially better than the orichalcum in all situations except, maybe, fighting creatures of darkness.
Brian says "And even then, it'd be a close thing."
Brian [to Kanfi]: The Hearthstone Bracers are pretty simple, aniconics; more utilitarian than beautiful. They have use, but not much decoration. The two Perfected Kata Bracers, while still aniconic, have lots of abstract designs to fulfill their essence-bound duties; they have power in them _and_ beauty; probably much more valuable than the hearthstone bracers.
Kanfi looks up thoughtfully at Diamond, lips pursed in a thoughtful moue. "You're not planning to use these, are you, old man?"
Phoenix Maiden taps her fingers on the table, watching her circle thoughtfully - mostly lost in story composition for a particular task.
Diamond Borealis glances over at Kanfi. "What do you think?" Clearly asking with mercenary intent. "Other than when facing the undead, yes, the Starmetal or the Jade will be superior to what you have." He drubs his fingers against the underside of the table. He takes one hand from the table and reaches up to rub the bridge of his nose. "There might be a way to craft an item made of Orichalcum that would let us treat any object as Orichalcum for purposes of attunement." He has so many ideas, and so little time. With a faint jerk of his head. "Huh? The Jade? No. We should sell them."
Kanfi lets a broad grins slide across his face, holding the jade bracers up to catch the light. "Just what I was hoping you'd say, old man." He was good enough at negotiating them out of tough situations. But he LIKED being at the marketplace better.
Liu turns her eyes onto Diamond, and pipes up, "I thought maybe I could use those Red Jade daiklaives along with my nice ones. I used to be really good at three-sword fencing demonstrations...." she looks at her hands, stretching her fingers out before her. "But if they're no good for me... well, I thought I could just try it out. See how it feels."
Brian [to Diamond Borealis]: the Jade short daiklaives _might_ work for Liu, but they'd require occult knowledge and double commitment, unless she was content to use them without the Jade bonuses.
Aidan says "What is the difficulty in attuning to Starmetal? I have little experience with other than Orichalcum and Jade, and the lore I remember from the monastery never mentioned it at all. And what are likely to be the benefits?"
Brian says "Sorry, require lore, not occult knowledge."
Phoenix Maiden looks up from her thoughts, and taps her fingers on the table, in front of the Hearthstone Bracers. "I could use those," she says. "Assuming I can attune to them and use them normally. It would be nice to be able to have the Hearthstone from my own Manse handy in combat."
Phoenix Maiden adds dryly, "Particularly if I'm going to be fighting more Earthblooded who think they can pin me."
Diamond Borealis just laughs at Kanfi's words. "Just get as much as you can for them. That's all I ask." He considers Liu's words. "You can attune them as normal. They won't be used at their full potential, but they would be better than a couple of normal Jade Daiklaves, until I can make us a few of those devices." He studies Aidan a moment, shrugging his shoulders. "Benefits to your efficiency when using Martial Arts. They seem to be better crafted than the ones you have. The Starmetal I mean. Again, though, they won't have the effects on undead or demons that Orichalcum has. Up to you, really."
Phoenix Maiden glances between her companions. "No one else wants the Hearthstone Bracers," she says - partially a query, but mostly a statement of what she has observed, for confirmation."
Liu tucks her braids behind her ears, Kanfi-like, and shakes her head at Phoenix Maiden. "Besides, you have the Hearthstone for them."
Kanfi tosses the bracer in the air and catches it, needing something to do with his hands. "It won't go for much. They're not very decorative."
Diamond Borealis gives Phoenix a nod of his head. "I'm concerned almost exclusively with keeping the Starmetal because of it's rarity. It's also almost worthless on the open market."
Phoenix Maiden fishes said bracers across the table to herself, and comments to Kanfi, "I happen to appreciate clean, functional lines." She nods to Diamond. "Anything you need for materials; money is far easier to get than many things."
Aidan picks up the Starmetal bracers and peers closely at them for a moment, thinking carefully. "And what of the Jade? What benefit might I gain from those? Any particular distinction between the red and the white?"
Brian [to Diamond Borealis]: While there is no FUNCTIONAL difference, I should note that, symbolically, White Jade, Earth Jade, resonates with martial arts.
Brian [to Diamond Borealis]: And, ironically, given PM's choice and Liu's, Red Jade resonates with mobility (dodge/athletics) and hand to hand weaponry.
Diamond Borealis stares at Aidan a moment. "You'll be faster and tougher, essentially. I recommend you go with the Starmetal. Jade is extremely common around here. And I have a feeling those won't be the last Immaculates we sent on to their next lives." He grins a little at that thought.
Liu stands fluidly, but unobtrusively, and does a few minor little stretches -- bending sideways to the left so her ear brushes against her knee, rotating around to the other side, and standing again -- and glances back in the general direction of Swan Dragon. Then back to Phoenix Maiden, who's been similarly preoccupied.
Aidan nods at Diamond. "You are likely correct about the rarity. And yet I already have this Gemstone to aid my efficiency in combat." He raises his sleeve again to show the milky-white gem embedded in his right Talon. "Recent experience has show that perhaps my defenses have been neglected for too long." The Hunter winces with the memory of the cuts inflicted by the Child of Mela in the last fight.
Phoenix Maiden peers to Liu, raising her eyebrows with a quiet, "Hmm?"
Aidan sets the Starmetal bracers down on the table again, and picks up the white jade, turning them over in his hands. "Besides, you should be happy that I should choose these." He smiles and waves the jade at Diamond absently. "For then you have the rarer metals to learn from, or create with. Jade is easily replaced, as you said."
Liu stops to toss a little grin at Aidan, and cocks her head to the side. "Well, you'll step quicker next time, won't you?" She looks back to Phoenix Maiden, and then steps quietly over to the priestess. "Do you think we will be able to make him better?" For Liu, talk about the nature of the weapons is useless -- she needs to work with them. Feel them. Swan Dragon is heavy on her thoughts now.
Diamond Borealis gestures toward Kanfi. "The Eightfold Gravity Hammer will likely be quite valuable too. The Jade from the armor I've got stored in that trunk." He points to a large locked trunk. "Whatever we don't use, Kanfi can sell at the Market when we get to where we're going. Which brings us to the question of Swan Dragon, as little sister Liu has mentioned."
Phoenix Maiden shrugs. "We ...may." She glances towards Liu's cabin herself. "It has been a very long time since he vanished from Creation, Liu. I do not know how much harm was done to him in that time, but we can not devote the same time - now - to his healing. Harborhead is explosive; if we can not help him before we get there, it will have to wait until after we have resolved that situation. And it may very well take a long time - if not as long as that in which he was broken - to fix him."
Liu turns to the rest of the group, squaring her shoulders a little. "That's the biggest question, right? Will we be able to take him back to Ulito whole?"
Phoenix Maiden frowns and shrugs slightly, the Hearthstone Bracers lying on her lap forgotten for now. "I have some things to try. If he has been prisoner in the Wyld, I would like to try storytelling, starting with the formulas of myth and building on them back to reality. It may be possible to so draw him into the story that he - and sanity - follow the telling." She shrugs. "Or, well, so I would like to try. But I doubt that his healing will come over night; I doubt very much his breaking did."
Diamond Borealis thins out his lips. "I don't know. I need to talk to him. I need to study his Essence and his mind. But healing him won't be fast. Phoenix is correct in that regard. We may need to help him gain vengeance on the Fae who did this to him to complete any healing. I'm willing to work on it and help Phoenix if I can. I can't build any of this..." He gestures to the works pinned on the wall. "Until we reach Harborhead and take it."
Kanfi catches the bracers again, neatly-- they make a small thump as they fall into his palm. "I swore we would do anything in our power to make him whole, though we have to travel the length and breadth of Creation to do it." I... we. Whatever. He catches his sister's eye, and gives her a stern look.
Phoenix Maiden raises her eyebrows at Kanfi at the look, a skeptical expression stealing across her face, encouraging him to say whatever's on his mind.
Liu smiles broadly and nods her head at Phoenix Maiden, "That's an excellent idea! Perhaps I can help, with... well, with dancing out the stories." She turns halfway towards Diamond, her arms held out to both of them. "I know it will take some time, but... well, we should try. He shouldn't have to stay broken. None of this," and she gestures towards Diamond's sketches of prosthetics on broken people, and outward towards Creation, "should have to stay broken."
Phoenix Maiden smiles at Liu.
Phoenix Maiden says, "Perhaps he will dance with you. It would draw him into the story more, and that could only help."
<<OOC>> Phoenix Maiden says ".oO(Unless I botch or something. But since I fully intend to be rolling something like 20 dice, that ain't happenin'.)"
<<OOC>> Phoenix Maiden says "...I hope."
Kanfi tilts his head away, brow furrowed in thought. "Those were my words. The old man added that we WOULD heal him. And my sister said that what we can do, we will do." He's obviously considering the terms of the oath, and how far they go.
Phoenix Maiden shrugs at Kanfi. "No one is saying we won't."
Aidan smiles briefly, as his eyes look downwards and his thoughts turn inward. He feels... whole. As though something had been missing in his solitary quest. "I know so little about the history of Swan Dragon, but if you feel that I can be of use, I shall endeavor to provide."
Kanfi runs his fingers over a whorl on the surface of the bracer, as though following his thought. "We shouldn't return him until he's fixed, if we CAN fix him."
Phoenix Maiden raises an eyebrow at Kanfi. "And you think dragging him into a war still broken would be good for him? Or the war?"
Phoenix Maiden shrugs. "Or perhaps you are suffering from hubris and believe that only we may be able to fix him? His daughter may have a call on his sanity we can not rival."
Kanfi shakes his head, letting the braids fall in his face. "Sister, that's not what I meant! It's just..." He doesn't want to disappoint the pretty spirit. "So long as we're not abandoning him. We have so little time to try to heal him NOW. We can't just try for the length of the trip and then give up."
Liu turns about, and gives Aidan a considering-yet-welcoming smile. Hopefully he can help -- and teach her how he fights like that.
Phoenix Maiden nods. "I agree. But we can let his daughter see what she can do, and return to the effort after dealing with the situation in Harborhead. You might not have noticed, but a lot of people are about to get killed."
"We will heal him. I didn't say I would do it over night." Diamond meets the gaze evenly. His arms are folded over his chest again. "Look, he's been broken for centuries. The few weeks or months it will take for us to conquer Harborhead aren't going to make that big of a difference to him. And he'll be with his daughter while we handle that mess. You have to temper your heart with what is practical."
Phoenix Maiden sighs and leans back in the chair slightly, turning her attention to Aidan, belatedly. "Your aid was most appreciated in the fight." She grins with a certain savage appreciation of the fate of the Sidereal assassin who'd broken through her own defenses.
<<OOC>> Phoenix Maiden says "Mutter mutter stupid dice."
Kanfi sighs and sets the bracer back on the table, going back to lean against the wall again and toy with the length of died cotton once against wrapped like a sash across his chest, running the soft fabric distractedly through his fingers.
Phoenix Maiden sighs. "I suppose you could stay with Ulito and Swan Dragon if that becomes necessary," she comments to Kanfi.
Phoenix Maiden frowns at the thought. "Though I'd hate to scatter our forces like that."
Brian [to Kanfi]: You feel an oracle welling inside of you. Do you spend a willpower to suppress it?
Kanfi [to Brian]: Nope.
Aidan sketches a brief bow towards Phoenix Maiden. "It was my pleasure, lady. The Hawk has trained me well in the ways of the Hunt. And yet sometimes I fear that I have spent too long in the wastes. There are forces at work here beyond that which they taught me at the monastery."
<<OOC>> Brian says "While we give Kanfiplayer time, is anyone definitely going to try full attunement to some of the spoils?"
<<OOC>> Phoenix Maiden is./
<<OOC>> Aidan says "I'm pretty sure I'm going to take a swing at the white jade bracers."
<<OOC>> Aidan says "Although I still hadn't asked the "what happens if I do it wrong" question."
<<OOC>> Liu says "No, I'm not going to try to fully attune."
<<OOC>> Liu says "Just enough to handle them."
<<OOC>> Phoenix Maiden thinks nothing unless you botch - at which point they blow up and Diamond gets snarky.
<<OOC>> Brian says "Okay, give me a Wits + Lore roll, diff 3; we'll assume that this happens later/between games. Both of you. Willpower may be spent for autosuccesses, but not to channel virtues."
<<OOC>> Brian points at PM, yup.
<<OOC>> Phoenix Maiden wants to spend one for autosuccess.
<<OOC>> Brian says "Okies. Roll 'em!"
<<DICE>> Phoenix Maiden rolls 6 dice: <1 1 7 8 9 10> for 5 successes.
<<OOC>> Phoenix Maiden says "...Of course. :p"
<<OOC>> Aidan will also spend for auto. Is not a roll I want to lose.
<<OOC>> Phoenix Maiden mostly wanted to make sure she wouldn't blow them up on a bad roll.
<<DICE>> Aidan rolls 6 dice: <3 5 6 7 7 10> for 4 successes.
<<OOC>> Brian says "Okay, attunement is good for both of you. :) Double cost, etc."
<<OOC>> Phoenix Maiden says "Yay freedom stone HAH CAN'T GRAPPLE THIS."
<<OOC>> Brian says "Liu, the two shorts have regular costs for you, but you don't get the Jade speed benefit. In short, they have the same stats as your current blades, just -1 accuracy, -1 defense, and -1 rate."
<<OOC>> Liu says "OK, cool."
<<OOC>> Aidan says "Okay, so I add what to what for Jade? +Ess to Speed and....?"
<<OOC>> Brian says "Lethal and Bashing Soak. Remember that it's 8 more motes to commit, over your old total (total of 16 motes committed)"
<<OOC>> Aidan says "But yes to the +ess to Init?"
<<OOC>> Brian says "Okay, so, the plan is-- sell the Eightfold Gravity Hammer and the Red PKB, keep the Starmetal Daiklaive for research, and the shattered armor for parts?"
<<OOC>> Diamond Borealis says "Yes. Brian, that is the plan."
<<OOC>> Phoenix Maiden thinks so. PM isn't going to argue with the Twilight's plans there. To each their expertise.
<<OOC>> Phoenix Maiden wouldn't tell Liu how to climb, either. :)
Kanfi parts his lips to reassure his sister, worried that she thinks less of him for his preoccupation. And yet, those aren't the words that come out, and once he's started speaking he can't seem to stop-- they spill out off his tongue with an ease even his most practiced pitches are hard-pressed to match, because this is the Truth, and some part of Kanfi knows that it can be suppressed no longer. "My dearest sister, my circlemates, Exalted among mankind, five paths lay before us. Five paths to the healing the Fiery King of Grace in our charge by our Oath and Heavenly Mandate. The five paths of our own hearts and minds. Aidan's path leads us the the South on the wings of a bird of prey. Deep in the Changed Lands, where creatures changed into nightmare and dreams roam we may find the First ancestor of all that is Flame-Which-Lives, in whose heart the great dragon may find succor and be reborn. From the soul of wise and mighty Virtuous Willow, lady of the lustrous blade and Maiden of the Unfettered Sky, the path dances, a song of life. He must be respun from her shining notes from his first, weak moments, to the last, great shattering. The notes must surge though him, and wash away the stain of blood and anger. At the core and center of his very being, Diamond Borealis, Column Standing Between This World And The Next, calls upon us to find that which he has denied himself. In that place may we find the mastery of healing, though his path unfolds before us in a road of brambles and thorns which will take us the span of a mortal lifetime and beyond to traverse. Rocky and hard, though the road may be, at its terminus we will find the mastery of healing. Quiet Liu, Shadow-Blessed Daughter. Cunning, quick, stealthy, your heart and mind may instruct you in the ways of the Stormlords, those who hold the story itself of the broken Incandescant Warrior Magistrate. While the Bright Lady sings his story together once more, the clever and nimble Dark Lady must catch the notes from the winds taken shape. And from the heart and center Kanfi Makuri, the Eight Lucky Son, He of the silver tongue and peacock's raiment may find the way in the Changed Lands, between Chaos and Form. The Lords of that land are not of one desire and one mind. But what payment will they take to reform the shattered Storm Warrior?" Kanfi stops then, rocking back, and shuddering from the force with which the words had made their way from his soul to his lips.
Phoenix Maiden pauses, about to say something else to Aidan, her words falling off short before her brother's cascade of prophecy. She is silent, afterward, thoughtful and considering the paths presented.
Diamond Borealis presses his lips into a thin line as Kanfi cascades the prophecy before them. Then looks to each of the others in the Circle, one brow raised in curiosity.
Kanfi press his hands to his mouth, pale and shaken. "Sorry. Sometimes the words get the better of me." He tries to manage a cheerful smile, but it wavers.
Liu's eyebrows knit together, and she mouths a few of the words Kanfi has said, uncomprehending -- this isn't directions, this is a puzzle. She shakes her head and looks at Diamond and Phoenix, then looks back to Kanfi as he falls quiet.
Phoenix Maiden taps a finger on the table slowly, thoughtfully. "Are these separate paths we can try several of in order, or one puzzle with all paths needing to be followed? I would have thought the first, except that the path named for Liu seems joined to the path named for me."
Kanfi sucks in a deep breath, color slowly beginning to return to his face. "I... I'm not sure." Why his INNER voice seems so peppy is a mystery for the ages.
<<OOC>> Phoenix Maiden isn't exactly addressing that to Kanfi, more to the entire Circle - and Aidan, who the prophecy definitely included.
<<OOC>> Diamond Borealis says "Can I roll to get a decipher a little more concrete direction from it?"
<<OOC>> Phoenix Maiden says "Or me? ^^ *has SOME lore and occult and stuff, if not Diamond Levels*"
<<OOC>> Brian ponders. "Perception + Occult, difficulty 4. Difficulty 3 for PM, who's a priestess.
<<OOC>> Phoenix Maiden says "Can't use Lore, can I? ^^"
<<OOC>> Aidan says "Can we all try that? Assuming we have *something* in Occult?"
<<OOC>> Brian says "At difficulty 4, yes, to both PM and Aidan; only PM may use Lore instead."
<<OOC>> Phoenix Maiden says "Mrph, I'm better on average with Occult and diff 3. :)"
<<DICE>> Phoenix Maiden rolls 5 dice: <3 4 8 9 9> for 3 successes.
<<OOC>> Phoenix Maiden says "Bam."
<<DICE>> Aidan rolls 6 dice: <1 2 2 4 6 9> for 1 success.
<<OOC>> Brian says "Okay, what in specific do you want details on there, PM?"
Liu steps forward and pets Kanfi's arm and shoulder gently, only a touch awkwardly, meaning to be comforting.
<<OOC>> Phoenix Maiden is trying to decipher the apparent connection between 'her path' and 'Liu's path'.
<<OOC>> Brian says "Stories. The first refers to remaking his story, in one way or another; the second in stealing it, and something else as well."
Aidan shakes himself, trying to return to the moment. "The Hawk has guided me before, and I trust his wisdom. But what are the Changed Lands?" And wonders if this in fact refers to the Garda Bird, instead of the Hawk, but says nothing.
Phoenix Maiden ponders. "The Wyld? The edge of the Wyld? The lands that were Creation but lost to the Wyld during the collapse?
<<DICE>> Diamond Borealis rolls 9 dice: <3 4 4 5 7 8 8 9 10> for 6 successes.
<<OOC>> Phoenix Maiden says "Nice."
<<OOC>> Brian says "What three parts of the prophecy do you want to know more about?"
<<OOC>> Brian says "You may trade "parts" for extra detail-- IE, one highly detailed, one lightly detailed, or one VERY highly detailed."
<<OOC>> Diamond Borealis says "Alright, hit me up with Aidan, Kanfi and Liu's."
<<OOC>> Brian says "Aidan's is a quest; I can either tell you the where, specifically, or the specifics of the goal. Kanfi's refers to the dangerous proposition of negotiating with powerful fair folk or the unshaped. Liu's is also a quest; I can tell you either more about the people who _have_ the quest items, or the quest items themselves."
<<OOC>> Diamond Borealis says "Aidan - Goal. and Liu - Items."
<<OOC>> Brian says "Aidan's thought is correct. It refers to the Heart of the Great Garda, the primal Fire Elemental from which all others were spawned after she was broken in the Primordial War. The pieces of her self were used to make various fire elementals, including, logically enough, Swan Dragon. If her heart still exists, it would be an item of awesome power."
<<OOC>> Brian says "Liu's quest is for literal stories and sanity; somehow, those holding it must have a way of making those literally objects that can be taken. Swan Dragon's stories and sanity, that is."
Diamond Borealis is quiet for a moment, pondering the words. "What the prophecy is telling is is this; we have many paths we can travel. If we follow Aidan's path, I don't know where it will take us, but we would have to seek out the heart of the Great Garda, the Elemental from which all other fire elementals sprang, including Swan Dragon. We could follow Kanfi's path and seek to negotiate with Fae Nobility to restore him. Or Liu's path and find those who hold his story and his sanity, and restore them as we did Shurtimu Ji. I can't get much more from the other two beyond the obvious."
Phoenix Maiden comments. "Mine is to tell his story - recreate it, as necessary, where I do not have the pieces. I may be interpreting through what I already intended, of course."
Phoenix Maiden adds, "I would rather not try to bargain with the Fae."
Liu stretches, her shoulders and back vertebrae popping in smooth succession. "Can we really choose just one path? We're not meant to take each?" She pauses, and gives Diamond a brow-furrowed and slightly confused look, "Are you sure they're not the same path?"
Kanfi shakes his head, shrugging. "I don't know. It could be that we have to choose. It could be that we need to follow them all in their time, or it could mean that they're all one path." He sighs. "You know which one I'd prefer, of course. The Fair Folk aren't that bad, if you keep your wits about you."
Aidan looks to Diamond as he mentions the Great Garda. "I do not know where my path might lead. But I think I have an idea of one that I might ask. And the prophecy tells us it is to the South; I have lived on those sands for years now."
Phoenix Maiden ponders. "Whether it is one path or many, the prophecy gives us no indication of a necessary order."
Liu nods after Phoenix Maiden speaks, looking from Kanfi to Aidan. "Each of our paths sound best to each of us. But splitting up is obviously wrong. I think we have to continue as we would... and look for our opportunities."
Phoenix Maiden gestures around the Circle. "Unless Dawn, Zenith, Twilight, Night, Eclipse just happens to be the order, by coincidence. Given no order, it will not hurt to start with those which are more attainable and work to those which are further as they fail."
"I may, for instance, begin with the retelling of stories... any time, though it might be wiser to learn what Ulito and her companions can tell me of him before I begin; my tales are only the legends passed down, and may be garbled." The Zenith shrugs. "And if that's enough, we may all be glad. After that, I suppose we can look for more information on other paths. Though I fear, Diamond," she nods to the Twilight, "That with a mortal lifetime prerequisite for your path, we may wish to hold it for the last.
"They are not the same, no, Liu." Diamond says softly. "At least, I don't think it is. But I have no interest in dealing with the Fae. They can't be trusted and they are as much enemy of Creation as the Yozi and the Deathlords. I think we should try Phoenix's way first, while we seek to secure Harborhead. If that fails, then we have a base from which we can attempt Aidan's way or Liu's path. Should it come to that, we also then have a power center to negotiate with the Fae from a position of strength." He frowns again. "No matter how noble, I do not find it wise to put his well being above that of the mortals of Harborhead."
Kanfi purses his lips at the easy dismissal of the way of his own heart, but just tugs at a braid. "Were we to follow Aidan's way we may have to negotiate with the Fair Folk regardless," he points out.
Phoenix Maiden holds out an upturned palm towards Kanfi. "It may be we have to follow all paths - but the Fair Folk are dangerous and as a body not well inclined towards Creation. It makes sense to seek less fraught paths before we move on to others."
Kanfi shrugs and tilts his head back. "They *are* dangerous. But not all of the Fair Lords are of one heart and one mind. If it's in their best interests to assist us in putting Swan Dragon back together they'll do it." His lips curve in remembrance. "Outwitting them is hardly impossible. I can do it again. But," he pauses and shrugs. "We'll come to that when we come to that. Your way isn't easy, but maybe Ulito can help you find pieces to your story?"
Phoenix Maiden nods slowly. "I will wait until we can speak to her; I will need all the pieces I can find, I suspect."
Liu nods once, sharply, since a decision's been made. Decisions are good. She walks over to the workbench with Diamond's stuff on it, trailing her fingers over the red jade short daiklaives.
Aidan tries to keep up with the dialog, but is clearly in over his head. "You have spoken more than once about Harborhead, but I do not see how that city relates to the plight of Swan Dragon."
Liu looks up, "Oh... Phoenix Maiden's going to overthrow the Realm in Harborhead and restore it to native control." She might as well be saying she's going to go pick out a new set of clothes, or curry her horse.
Diamond Borealis smiles as Liu strokes a finger along one of the artifacts. He puts a hand on her shoulder, patting her back once. "They'll do nicely. For now, at least." He looks back toward Aidan. "We're going to conquer it." He says this as if he were talking about going down to the market and getting a good deal on a nice buff jacket.
<<OOC>> Liu says "LOL"
<<OOC>> Diamond Borealis laughs.
<<OOC>> Brian says "You two are becoming much too much alike."
<<OOC>> Aidan says "You two couldn't have done that any better if you'd had ten minutes warning to plan it. *applauds*"
Phoenix Maiden smiles slightly. "Ahh," she says, turning towards Aidan. "Harborhead fuels the Realm with slaves and jade; its people cry out in slavery and the sapping of their warrior spirit. The temples to the Unconquered Sun are burnt by Immaculates." True anger flashes in her eyes at the last. "I intend to do something about it."
Diamond Borealis smiles crookedly as he and Liu say nearly the same thing at the same time. "I suggest we set course for Varang. Speak to his daughter, and if we need to change our approach from there, we can."
Phoenix Maiden nods to Diamond. "I had hoped to sail on through, but I believe we will need to speak to Ulito. I do not want to waste my efforts."
A fires alights in Aidan's eyes at the mention of the burning of the Temples. "I... see." Fighting against the Immaculates? Where do I sign up?
Phoenix Maiden adds, watching Aidan's face closely for the clues of his own feelings on the subject, "A strong arm and brave warrior would be most welcome in this fight as well; the cause is noble and the enemies are many."
Aidan says "I shall be delighted to oblige, lady. The Immaculate order has stood unchallenged for long enough, I welcome the chance to instruct them as to the glory of Sol Invictus and His chosen."
<<OOC>> Aidan has a *thing* about Immaculates.
<<OOC>> Diamond Borealis has a thing about Immaculates, Guildsmen, the Dead, the Yozi, the Fae...
<<OOC>> Diamond Borealis says "Oh. And Sidereals. Don't forget Sidereals."
<<OOC>> Liu says "Essentially anyone who's ever looked at him funny."
<<OOC>> Aidan roffles.
<<OOC>> Diamond Borealis has a list!
<<OOC>> Kanfi likes EVERYBODY!
<<OOC>> Aidan says "And everybody likes Kanfi. At least, they like him once he's had a change to throw Social dice at them."
<<OOC>> Kanfi thinks the fae are lots of fun to talk to!
Phoenix Maiden glances at the starmetal objects on the table. "You will be a most welcome addition," she says with a grin. "I didn't even nick her."
<<OOC>> Liu says "Liu has a thing with Lunars who jump in front. But that's about it."
Aidan bows to Phoenix Maiden with a satisfied grin on his face. "One tries to do one's best."
Diamond Borealis gives Liu's shoulder a squeeze then claps Kanfi on the upper arm in similar fashion. "We'll heal him, kiddo. I promise, even if it takes time or negotiating with the Fae in the end."
Phoenix Maiden adds, "...even if it takes a lifetime. We have those, and so does he."
Kanfi snorts and pats Diamond's hand. "If it takes negotiating with them, you'll just hide and I'll have to do all the talking, old man." He turns and smiles grimly at his sister. "If it takes one or ten or a hundred. I think Creation needs him back."
Phoenix Maiden nods. "I agree. But we have other obligations as well, and Creation has been without him since the Contagion."
<<OOC>> Phoenix Maiden says "Okay. I think we've agreed to set sail for the Varang and find Ulito first, and then continue back to Harborhead."
<<OOC>> Phoenix Maiden says "Do we need to do ritual and rolls for that message?"
<<OOC>> Phoenix Maiden peers at the ST.
<<OOC>> Diamond Borealis would like to do that this week if possible. I'm about to faceplant.
<<OOC>> Brian says "Let's do that later this week, yes."
<<OOC>> Brian says "Shall we call it an evening?"
