conversations: human
conversations:  The Imperial City was once the crown jewel of the Realm. Eight hundred years of Creation's greatest architects forged a wonder of stone and jade that awed the world. Its million or more inhabitants had been the wealthiest and most sophisticated people seen in an Age or more. Now it lies a wounded beast, still majestic in its death throes but surely dying.
  
  The proud people of the Imperial City are but slaves to the will of the Empress. Their minds stolen from them by hellish magic, they toil day and night to feed her armies, construct great engines of war and aid in fell rituals that often cost them their own lives. Demons openly walk the streets, numbering as many or more as the human residents, and are treated with reverence by those who look upon them. Magnificent structures of jade have been ransacked, torn down into shells of their once glorious selves to provide weapons and armour for the Dragon-blooded armies of the Queen of Hell. The ground itself trembles softly under the pressure of the twisted geomantic energies coursing through it, and a strange shadow fills the sky, turning day into soft twilight. In the centre of it all lies the Imperial Palace.
  
  Through five magnificent gates do the forces of the Realm enter and leave the Palace. Kept flawlessly intact amidst the looting, perhaps due to vanity on the part of its ruler, the Palace stands apart from its surroundings more than ever. But even here are signs of war, and of the evil work that goes on within. A small army camps around the Palace, well-drilled mortals and their Dragon-blooded commands ever vigilant for intruders. For every human there stands two demons, their alien eyes watching for threats both material and incorporeal.
  
  Within the grounds of the Palace lies another ring of guards, atop and around a mighty wall. This ugly fortification hides both the Imperial Manse and the excavation that exposes its lower layers. A horde of demons and their human supervisors work constantly on new additions of brass, vitriol-tainted materials and, perhaps most unsettling, still-living demons fused into the workings of the Manse. It is these excavations that may allow sufficiently determined heroes to break into the lower levels of the Manse, bypassing many of its defences.
  
  Presently these heroes wait outside the Imperial Palace, as of yet unnoticed by the legions of the Scarlet Empress.
conversations: Lanaya:
conversations: human
conversations:  "So many!"  Moon-in-the-Ice exclaims softly, as she scans the fortifications. One might reasonably expect such words to be uttered in a tone of despair or shock or anger, given the situation - but in fact the once-Fae-Blood sounds quite cheerful, almost gleeful.
  
   "Would a distraction be beneficial, lady Sky?"  Her voice sounds rather worryingly anticipatory.  "Or perhaps we should just attack swiftly - a lightning-bolt from the sky - get into the excavations, and then collapse the entrance behind us." 
   
   Spoiler 
  I do not  think  anyone claimed colors yet, so I'm grabbing Indigo, unless someone else wants it. Happy to edit if necessary.
   
conversations: Ifni:
conversations: human
conversations:  After seeing the state of the Scarlet Empress' former subjects, Slanaitheior is seething. This is exactly the kind of behavior that led to her trying to overthrow the Realm in the first place, the arrogant Dragonblooded treating their subjects like slaves rather than protecting them like they should.  "I don't care how we get in, " she growls, "but let's do it quickly, the sooner She is dead, the better." 
conversations: ChaosArchon:
conversations: human
conversations:  Sky 
  
  " Ah... "
  
  The lady in question blinks at Moon's query.
  
  " ...I feel it would be best if we raise as few alarms as possible. I can cause my own distraction - with fewer lightning bolts - and see you all inside the excavations. "
conversations: industrious:
conversations: human
conversations:  Moon-in-the-Ice frowns at the Sidereal.  "You wish to go alone? I could accompany you, to see to your safety. I could pretend to be Dragon-Blooded, or akuma or Infernal."  She twitches her sleeves.  "My mantle even lets me pretend the anima, for the former." 
   "If you are sure you will not need it - well, it is your choice. But I will admit it... irks me, the thought of sending you into danger while we sidle sneakingly past."  She eyes the fortifications again.  "And even if the guards are drawn away,  subtle  entry might still be a little challenging. Can we all get over the wall swiftly? And does anyone have any information on the layout within the inner ring?" 
   
   Spoiler 
  I was waiting for someone else to post, but let's move this along.
  
  Also, industrious, I think it was said that Cat could lay Destinies on other PCs before starting the attack on the manse, if she wanted (since Shards destinies take 12 hours to craft, iirc).
   
conversations: Ifni:
conversations: human
conversations:  A week ago Lianfen would have scoffed at the notion of venturing so close to the Imperial Manse without being detected, let alone getting inside. But a week ago she would likewise have dismissed the idea of crossing the Blessed Isle in stealth, demon-infested as it is, and yet here they are. She is too accustomed to thinking in terms of armies on the march, perhaps. Or simply has no instinct for subterfuge. It's never been her strong point.
  
  And the enigmatic Sky (as Moon-in-the-Ice calls her, and Lianfen has no reason to think different)  is . Presumably. She must be; certainly she has no knack for speaking straight. That makes her the expert here, to be deferred to.  "Tell us what to do,"  she commands.
conversations: The_Snark:
conversations: human
conversations:  Unbodied Cat 
  
  The Sidereal's laugh chimes like a chorus of ringing bells as she politely declines Moon-in-the-Ice's request.
  
  " Don't worry about me, Moon-in-the-Ice. you're a bit too...martial to be my escort. "
  
  The woman known as Sky lightly touches the tip of the Solar's nose.
  
  " The Imperial Manse has a number of internal defenses; I intend to disable them, and will meet you beneath the excavations. "
  
  Her gaze moves over the other Exalts, a slight frown appearing on her face.
  
  " Please don't raise any alarms until then. "
conversations: industrious:
conversations: human
conversations:  "You want us to get beneath the excavations without raising any alarms?"  Moon-in-the-Ice sounds doubtful.  "Or simply wait until you are ready before we attack? If the latter... can we arrange a time for our assault, or can you send up some sort of signal? If the former, I think we may need that distraction." 
conversations: Ifni:
conversations: human
conversations:  Unbodied Cat 
  
  " ]No worries, " Sky grins.
  
  " My approach will be distraction enough. "
conversations: industrious:
conversations: human
conversations:  "How long?"  Lianfen asks flatly.  "If we stay here too long we will be noticed. We are not subtle."  It's not entirely clear who she includes among  we , but Moon-in-the-Ice, Slanaitheior and herself all stand out - though the latter two could pass for demons of some ilk.
conversations: The_Snark:
conversations: human
conversations:  "I might suggest an aerial approach; it'll be guarded, but perhaps less so than the walls,"  Moon-in-the-Ice says.  "Lianfen is right, though; we should move quickly, unless there are any other preparations we need to make." 
conversations: Ifni: