[Exalted] TGBATST. IC: The War With the Warden's Minions
<h1 id="title">Elliquiy Role Playing Forums</h1>
		<h2 id="linktree">Play-By-Post: Light =&gt; Light: Exotic Small Groups =&gt; Topic started by: AlexStone on 05-07-2011, 04:40:00</h2>
		<dl id="posts">
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>[Exalted] TGBATST. IC: The War With the Warden's Minions</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>AlexStone</strong> on <strong>05-07-2011, 04:40:00</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div align="center"> An excerpt from Cliotan's report to the Department of Recorded Information, <em>The Sundering Wave,</em> largely considered a sharply revisionist history of the events in the years following the Empress' disappearance.&nbsp; </div><br>Because of it's role in the era of the Sundering, we must understand the establishment of the Great Solar Kingdom of Chiaroscuro.&nbsp; As such, while this report generally looks at major trends and events in the scope of these many years, the development of this Kingdom deserves a certain amount of specific attention.&nbsp; While it was not the first major Solar Kingdom established- that particular place belongs to the Bull of the North's Kingdom- it was the first established so close to the Blessed Isle, and was, really, the only effective government of the South that managed to contribute greatly to future events.<br><br>As is well known, the City of Chiaroscuro fell into Solar hands after an attempt by the Warden of the Dark Threshold's Abyssal minions to seize the city, presumably in order to recover the secret of Chiaroscuro Glass, or other materials located in the defunct manufactories there.&nbsp; Since, so far, those Exaltations have not been interrogated (Or, if they have been, Lytek isn't talking), we do not know for sure.&nbsp; Famously, the Solars established their rule after Bone-Ebony Lion, the Warden's warlord, attacked the city in the company of an army of ghosts and tribesmen of various desert groups.&nbsp; What is not well known is that there had already been a campaign of subversion in the city, led by Empty Eye Mask and Dirgeful Rose, who had operated inside the city, working to fracture the city's order and to create devoted death cults to ease the path of Bone-Ebony Lion into the city.&nbsp; It seems that these activities had attracted the Circle of Solars there in the first place, which makes it the appropriate time to begin our history of this kingdom...<br><br>&nbsp; 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: [Exalted] TGBATST. IC: The War With the Warden's Minions</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Muse</strong> on <strong>05-07-2011, 09:05:04</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Let us begin with the mortal, Asam Kahn, one of many men Yejouj Tri-kahn called nephew.&nbsp; He served his father as agent and leader of the 125 elite soldiers armed and armored in glass, reinforced with potions and wards.&nbsp; <br><br>He came to suspect malign influences after a third of his father’s master glass-smith’s suffered a most horrible demise, only to be entombed with pomp and fervor he had not known their families too possess.&nbsp; <br><br>Taking his command and with his father’s blessing, he road into the desert for a season in search of his cousin Koshak Kahn, living in self imposed exile with the Court of Orderly Flame since becoming Anathema, but not without sending letters to the Tri'kahn and to his immediate family promising to come if they called.&nbsp; <br><br>For four months, the 125 road the deserts, following the words of fire elemental, some righteous, other mischievous, until they came upon an encampment of silk pavilions and many wonders, where Koshak Kahn reclined in the arms of three beautiful green women with fiery hair, sharing with water and shade with others of the mighty.&nbsp; 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: [Exalted] TGBATST. IC: The War With the Warden's Minions</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Pumpkin Seeds</strong> on <strong>06-07-2011, 11:56:17</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<em>From the Journal of Mohinder Suresha, Chief Engineer of Chiaroscuro Glass Foundary.<br><br>This is the fifth day we have spent in the bowels of this city.&nbsp; My Mistress insists upon remaining here because of the potential of the city.&nbsp; Personally I would prefer to renew our campaign to free my kin, but she has done much to help us and we owe her greatly.&nbsp; If only our repayment was not spent among the tight throngs of this city and in the dark places that her ancestors have placed their points of power.&nbsp; The myriad of essence flows is staggering, overwhelming and dangerous beyond measure.&nbsp; Such a feat as the creation of this city’s infrastructure was handled by many of her kind over many centuries, yet she hopes to quickly make restoration.&nbsp; I feel even with my people’s help this process might be beyond even my esteemed Mistress.<br><br>Today we are investigating the outages of the Old City and the connection these outages might be to strange events of our people.&nbsp; Recently we have had several members of our team become frightfully ill.&nbsp; While they are recovering, their symptoms are exotic and strange to a startling degree.&nbsp; Pale flesh overcomes them along with delusions of relatives long since deceased.&nbsp; Such sights have caused a panic among my people that even the Mistress cannot quell with certainty.&nbsp; The djala are not easily frightened, but something has made even our warriors shiver with weapons in hand.&nbsp; Here the air seems to draw the life from the lungs and breathing becomes more difficult with each passing minute.&nbsp; My assistants have all expressed their humbling concerns, but still we pressed forward.&nbsp; Valor and wisdom are not often traits seen together with my Mistress proving so.&nbsp; Though part of me believes her valor is foolhardy curiosity more than wise investigation.<br><br>The designers of the city essence grid had much to be proud of with the original implementation.&nbsp; Structured in delicate patterns, the wiring and fluctuation tubes each form symbolic prayers when taken as a whole.&nbsp; Such couplings of technology and spiritual essence form powerful boosts to the ambient and flowing energy.&nbsp; Breakdowns in the couplings have caused catastrophic power failures all along the city resulting in the loss of much essence in the city.&nbsp; Essence does not merely dissipate into the air as any child of the djala can attest, but instead moves into the surroundings.&nbsp; Pockets of this energy have created dangerous mutations in the people and life beneath the city core.&nbsp; Our thought is to correct the couplings and such odd instances as our kin falling ill will be moments of memory.&nbsp; My Mistress is correct but also incorrect, because this essence we are dealing with now is not the kind her ancestors meant to flow here.&nbsp; <br><br>Early descriptions are that the essence appears darker than standard encounters.&nbsp; The origin of this form of energy cannot be easily discerned or linked to a particular source.&nbsp; Couplings that are intact still seem to radiate this particular form of disturbance at set nodes.&nbsp; I have presented my findings that these nodes seem linked to a particular area and pattern.&nbsp; My Mistress has confirmed my suspicions and we are pursuing my findings to confirm.&nbsp; Early in the expedition more than one of my kin had to be dismissed for feeling ill and beginning to have visions of the past.&nbsp; That did not, of course, deter my Mistress but has given my mind pause that this pursuit is a worthy goal.&nbsp; So far she has heeded little of such talk.<br><br>….Late entry….<br><br>The essence had made itself known.&nbsp; Terrors came forth to stop our progress.&nbsp; The horror that I have seen, the death and decay has chilled my core.&nbsp; I do not remember what the day has become or the night has left, but I know only that I awoke in clean sheets this morning.&nbsp; Of my Mistress I cannot attest, but know that my last vision of her was with her weapon in hand calling for our retreat.&nbsp; Something insidious rests in the bowels of this city.&nbsp; Something that would have us all in its maw.<br></em><br><br>The writings of this entry are set before the reclaiming of the City Chiaroscuro for the new Solar Kingdom.&nbsp; Early investigation believes this to be a reference to the Abyssal entrenchment occurring at the city core during this time.&nbsp; Collaborating eye witness accounts are difficult to find, but have been pieced together to give further evidence to support this theory.<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: [Exalted] TGBATST. IC: The War With the Warden's Minions</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>meikle</strong> on <strong>07-07-2011, 11:04:45</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				From the Journal of Elech Nor<br><br><em>[Elech Nor was, prior to this writing, a friend and contemporary activist tot he Exalted named Madder.&nbsp; Some readers may know her as the Ecstatic Grace, the first and foremost of the scholars of the strange architecture beneath Chiaroscuro and administrator to Madder's affairs in the city. -- The Editor]</em><br><br><strong>Resplendent Fire 16th, 767<br></strong><br>Tzlikha passed away today.&nbsp; No, that's the wrong way to say it.&nbsp; Tzlikha killed herself today.&nbsp; We found her hanging in the basement of the Black Tap; it was a grim sight.&nbsp; We're going to get her a proper funeral, but beyond that, who can say?&nbsp; She doesn't have much family to survive her, and her death is going to go unmourned beyond our circle.&nbsp; These are dark times we live in.<br><br>We found something in her palm; a sigil, an emblem, but we don't know what to make of it.&nbsp; I don't understand it.&nbsp; Tzlikha was always a good person, and enthusiastic -- she supported our cause as fervently as any, as my earlier entries show!&nbsp; Lately, though, she had been pallid and morose, and I hadn't given it a second thought.&nbsp; I checked; there is no mention of it in any earlier entries.&nbsp; I should have looked into it sooner.&nbsp; We will have to look into it -- some of the others don't agree, but I know there's something more behind this.&nbsp; There has to be.&nbsp; Tzlikha cared too much to do something like this.<br><br>...<br><br><strong>Resplendent Fire 21st, 767<br></strong><br>I think the walls are moving.&nbsp; They aren't where they were the night before, or the night before that.&nbsp; It's strange.&nbsp; I don't know what to think.&nbsp; This demands attention, too, but the others are telling me I'm just seeing things.<br><br>Maybe so, but I don't think so.<br><br>...<br><br><strong>Descending Fire 14th, 767<br></strong><br>Madder is back.&nbsp; We didn't expect to see her again, after the thing we found in her room.&nbsp; She's different than she was those years ago.&nbsp; I spoke to her briefly.&nbsp; She's angry that the resistance has fallen apart.&nbsp; How can she blame us?&nbsp; When she left us -- went into hiding -- she proved that fear would drive away the best of us.&nbsp; It was her fault, but she blames us.<br><br>My room is round.&nbsp; It was not round when I moved into this place.&nbsp; This room is carved from stone.&nbsp; I do not understand, but I will.<br><br>I mentioned the changes I have been seeing for the past few weeks to Madder; she visits the Black Tap from time to time.&nbsp; She said "It is part of the plan."&nbsp; What is she planning?&nbsp; What is causing this?&nbsp; I must know.<br><br>More are dead.&nbsp; Suicides and murder-suicides.&nbsp; Some murders.&nbsp; Not just our little group, either, but throughout the Undercity; some up top, too.&nbsp; It can't be normal.&nbsp; I'm going to investigate.<br><br>...<br><br><strong>Descending Fire 22nd, 767<br></strong><br>There is a group of people who share the mark on Tzlikha's palm.&nbsp; They wear it on rings and on pendants.&nbsp; I met one of their members in the markets, and we spoke for a time.&nbsp; He says that they are members of an organization; he said they were called the Followers of the Halcyon way.&nbsp; I asked about Tzlikha; he said he had known her, and mourned her passing.&nbsp; He said the Halcyon Way regretted her decision but played no role in it when pressed; I do not believe him.<br><br>He invited me to one of their gatherings.&nbsp; I accepted, and will see him and his people next week.<br><br>...<br><br><strong>First Day of Calibration, 767<br></strong><br>There was blood on the walls.<br><br>The walls were round.<br><br>...
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: [Exalted] TGBATST. IC: The War With the Warden's Minions</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Muse</strong> on <strong>07-07-2011, 11:20:06</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<em>Mother, <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;When last I wrote to you, my lord husband Koshak Kahn, Chosen of The Unconquered Sun, had found a girl of his own kind with hair as fiery as any sister of Sorsa Endi—Gears of Heavenly Delight.&nbsp; She is an engineer of the ancient crafts more than a warrior, and a leader of many d’jalla.&nbsp; We three smiled at the light in our lord’s eye and took wagers on how long his next conquest would resist him.&nbsp; Viridian Dawn and I laughed at Ember Rose’s idle speculation that he might bring a fourth bride too our tent.&nbsp; <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;As time progressed, and our lord did not come to us with the scent of her passions on him, we began to think perhaps Ember Rose’s playing at human romanticism was not so idle, for we each suspected in our heart of hearts that we won our Lord’s enduring flame by fleeing so long from his courtship even as his persistence so thoroughly bound us into this—alien love.&nbsp; <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Of the Delzhan riders our lord still commanded—the Band of the Red Eagle—five and twenty still remained.&nbsp; I have written to you before, mother, of my fondness for the bravery these fragile mortal warriors show every time they ride with us and our lord against immortal foes, and how they have taken a special fondness for me in return, and call that they fight for my honor in one of their war cries.&nbsp; <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;These fine men are armed and armored—like my lord--with carefully reforged and polished glass from the shattered towers of Chiaroscuro.&nbsp; Gears was taken with this material and—shortly after completing the exploration of the first age city wherein we had met, she declared her intent too travel to Chiaroscuro and research the process.&nbsp; <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Our lord could not return to Chiaroscuro without placing his kin in danger of the Wyld Hunt, but offered too escort her too a nearby trade oasis.&nbsp; We three grew increasingly convinced of our lord’s enamored state as he worked hard too find ruins with sufficiently interesting technology to distract her, but Gears was not to be drawn away.&nbsp; <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;We encountered another woman of power in a city where we paused to rest on the route, and she joined the trek for the last week, but when we turned back, and the wind of the open desert flowed through our hair once more, Koshak looked to each of us, and gave us each a red hot kiss, then whispered where we three alone could hear, “For give me, my beloved.&nbsp; In the joy of finding those like myself, I was beginning too loose my grip on the truth that the three people most important too me are most beautiful in their difference.”&nbsp; <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Very few weeks past, though, before a kinsman of my lord found us encamped at a remote oasis two weeks hard ride from Chiaroscuro.&nbsp; <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“Cousin,” Quoth he.&nbsp; “Dark and terrible things occur in the city of glass.&nbsp; In our very household, the craft masters who forge glass for us are dying in gruesome tragedies, only to have their families beggar themselves in funerals, even those who paid little attention to their ancestors in the past.&nbsp; The cities thaumaturges and priests are plagued by fevers and nightmares of the deceased.&nbsp; The same fevers plunge the cities slaves, it seems.&nbsp; I’ve seen it in my prize d’jalla.&nbsp; The loyal girl woke screaming from her fever three times in one night, confronted by the image of her grandmother’s head falling from her shoulders each time.&nbsp; &nbsp;<br><br>“The Khan’s do not yet realize it because of the lack of direct attacks against the military, cousin, but the city is primed for invasion.&nbsp; Merchants fear too approach with food.&nbsp; Rats foul the stores.&nbsp; I look to Thorns and fear what is to come, cousin.&nbsp; <br><br>“I fear the Dead will march on Chiaroscuro.”&nbsp; <br><br>Our lord rose, and looked out across the open sands.&nbsp; They held his gaze for many moments.&nbsp; <br><br>“Cousin,” he replied.&nbsp; “The Unconquered Sun had given me great strength, but I am one man.&nbsp; I command 25 soldiers and 3 Flame Ducks.”&nbsp; <br><br>“Koshak,” the mortal replied.&nbsp; “You are one man, yes.&nbsp; You 29 have stood against the Dead, the Wyld, and things even the Court of Orderly Flame itself cannot Name.&nbsp; Come back to Chiaroscuro, my captain.&nbsp; You do not command 25 men, you command 250.”&nbsp; He drew his blade in salute, and 225 delzhan followed suit, their horses smartly dropping to one knee.&nbsp; <br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;*&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;*<br><br>Mother, my lord husband is human, yet immortal.&nbsp; He is flesh, and he is fire.&nbsp; <br><br>I never knew Sorsa Endi save in you.&nbsp; To me, she is not the dragon you knew, loved, and betrayed.&nbsp; She is the light in your life when you speak of her.&nbsp; The vital energy that radiates from deep within the core of an eternally tired harlot when she speaks of the time when she was the shield-sister of a dragon, and forgets her own conviction that she cannot be so again.&nbsp; <br><br>Mother.&nbsp; I am the shield bride of a God-King of Creation.&nbsp; Today, when my lord husband turned too return the salute of his new army and called that the Band of the Red Eagle would ride for Chiaroscuro, I know what you felt when you soared beside Sorsa Endi.&nbsp; Walk away from your despair, I pray you.&nbsp; <br><br>Let you light shine.&nbsp; <br><br>---Love always, Ember Rose</em><br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Recorded in Haman Osirian’s “For the Honor of the Rose of the Sun: The Birth of a Dragon”<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: [Exalted] TGBATST. IC: The War With the Warden's Minions</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Pumpkin Seeds</strong> on <strong>08-07-2011, 10:37:43</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Matthias Perparim is recognized through city documents as the owner of the Black Tap.&nbsp; Several references made by independent sources have set this structure at the heart of several important events in Chiaroscuro’s history.&nbsp; In particular this site appears at the heart of events surrounding a mysterious figure and her entry into the legend of the Solar Kingdom.&nbsp; References make this figure’s name out to be Madder in early documents and current investigation places this name at the head of a political activist group.<br><br>What follows is a letter written by Matthias Perparim to his supplier.&nbsp; The two seem to be quite familiar in their exchanges so more detail is given in the letter than his typical.<br><br><em>I will be needing more of the Realm spice ale from you next shipment sir.&nbsp; Things have been rough here in the city and people been taken to the drink good and hard.&nbsp; May be needing a bit more credit too with all this coming up.&nbsp; The girl Madder is back in town and her hooligan friends been meeting here again.&nbsp; Late nights and all, but they drink good and pay up right.&nbsp; Can’t say I complain much on that part except for the strangeness of it all.&nbsp; Since she came out of that upstairs room Madder has been off a bit.&nbsp; Still, she talks good sense and keeps the boy from being too rowdy.<br><br>Late this morning the boys brought in a girl.&nbsp; Not the normal sort they pull in, but an odd dressed one.&nbsp; All belts and tools.&nbsp; Figure her for a scavenger.&nbsp; Looked beat up pretty bad too.&nbsp; Talking her head off about some monster in the deep.&nbsp; Figure the poor girl got the wrong end of her man’s hand.&nbsp; I was thinking she might sleep it off in the commons, but then they brought her up the stairs.&nbsp; <br><br>She been there&nbsp; the rest of the day.&nbsp; Madder up there with her.&nbsp; Keep tellen her this ain’t no hospital.&nbsp; She talks about all of us being together in this city.&nbsp; Girl talks a lot of sense.&nbsp; Should come talk to her next time you stop by with a shipment.</em><br><br>Another document from the journal of Mohinder Suresha describes a bit of unrest at the period when the “red haired” girl was made mention of in the letter by Matthias.&nbsp; This leads our researchers to conclude that this mentioned woman is the figured known as Gears of Heavenly Design.&nbsp; Please take the following excerpt into consideration.<br><br><br><br><em>From the journal of Mohinder Suresha, Chief Engineer of Chiaroscuro Glass Foundary<br><br>I have feared speaking to the man about the Mistress’s disappearance.&nbsp; He seems uncommonly attached to her presence being in his camp.&nbsp; At times I wonder if this is part of his culture or if he truly believes that Mistress would remain in the desert.&nbsp; Either way, he performed as I expected when my news reached his ears.&nbsp; That is to say he was none too pleased.&nbsp; For much of our time here, he has asked the Mistress to remain.&nbsp; I can only agree with his wishes.<br><br>Still this worries me greatly that she has no returned.&nbsp; The beast must truly have been strong to resist her weapon and her not return.&nbsp; Her mind and will have pushed my people far in our search for freedom.&nbsp; The strength that we depend on with her is not easy to replace.&nbsp; I wish the Mistress much health and luck where ever she lay.&nbsp; I hope that we are not left to the mercies of these warriors.&nbsp; I fear our lot may not be better than in Varang if that is so.</em><br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: [Exalted] TGBATST. IC: The War With the Warden's Minions</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Anansi</strong> on <strong>08-07-2011, 11:11:51</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				An excerpt from the Chronicle of Remembrance, a section of the Cult of the Illuminated's holy writings dedicated to recording the notable deeds of the "Illuminated Ones."<br><br><em>Remembrance Chapter 17<br><br>And lo, did it come to pass that a Dragon of Flame and Beauty came to Nexus, in the Riverlands, and there she met the Shimmering Lodestar, beacon of hope to her kind.<br>And such was the Shimmering Lodestar's mercy, that she did not strike the Dragon down for her kind's betrayal, but invited her into her home.&nbsp; They feasted on succulent delights, and spoke long into the night.<br>"Do you not see," the Lodestar said, her every word as a drop of honey, "that our rivalry is without merit?&nbsp; That we must forsake our hatreds and oaths of revenge, and serve our greater oaths to Creation itself?"&nbsp; <br>Thus the Dragon was struck by her words, and the seed of the light was placed into her soul.<br><br>When the Dragon returned to her brethren, they asked her many questions about the Lodestar, demanding to know the secret of whether she was one of the Illuminated.<br>The seed of light blossomed forth at that moment, and she misled her brethren, telling them nothing of the truth of her Illuminated nature, but only the truth that she was a noble and remarkable woman.<br>But the other Dragons were suspicious, and cast out their web of spies, and discovered the truth.&nbsp; In their wroth, they assembled a mighty host of Dragons and men, to hunt the Shimmering Lodestar, and snuff her.<br>The Dragon of Flame and Beauty could not bear to see such a blasphemy occur, however, and raced with all her power, bringing warning to the Lodestar of the doom approaching her.&nbsp; <br><br>But the gods may grant succor even as they bring endings; word reached the Lodestar and the Dragon of a great Circle of the Illuminated, and other mysterious beings beside, who had driven the black children of Oblivion from Chiaroscuro, the City of Glass.<br>Fleeing before the Host, they travelled across river, field, and hills, through desert, jungle, and mountain.&nbsp; At long last, they came into the city, and Shimmering Lodestar presented herself to the Circle.<br>She offered them her knowledge, her power, her light, if only they would accept her and the Dragon amongst their number, and shelter them from the army that even now gathered to strike.</em>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: [Exalted] TGBATST. IC: The War With the Warden's Minions</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Zaer Darkwail</strong> on <strong>08-07-2011, 17:18:40</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<em><span class="bbc_u"><strong>Tepet Senex journal entry, Ascending Fire 3, 767</strong></span><br><br>Today was asked by my house send in someone investigate a woman called Shimmering Lodestar. She is survivor from Thorns but is suspected to hold unholy powers of anathema. I called today my brightest pupil, Cathak Shizune, to my office. I told her to locate the woman, rumors has it that she is in Nexus, hiding whatever happened in Thorns. I wanted her interview and remain peaceful all time and try keep keen eye out for anything odd about her. I lied to her because knowing her temperament she likely would open the interview with her barrage of elemental bolts, such reckless yet sweet child. I saw the old man today once again, he was following with Shizune when she arrived as one aged retainer and asked questions about her travels when she left. That same old man has creeped around eversince Shizune made question towards Chejop Kejak regarding 'true facts' of first age in history class, disregarding his counter reply for her study Immaculate Order history. But she had refused because it was history written by mortals and even then it was quite cloudy. However Chejop Kejak had dismissed her questions for details but ever since that old man had kept occasionally appearing....is it one Chejop Kejak's retainers or he himself? Hard to tell, as I barely remember sometimes Chejop Kejak and often his name disappears from my journals.</em><br><hr><br><em><span class="bbc_u"><strong>Journal chapter XV, penned by Fhalash, ifrit prince of Red Dunes, son of Blazyon, Ascending Fire 10, 767</strong></span><br><br>I begin my new chapter upon princess Shizune called upon her duty towards her master. She was send to investigate and interview woman who was survivor from Thorns accident which resulted former nice city turn a necropolis and dark horrors. I and mistress flew most of past week to reach nexus and once here she started ask around and investigate. Sadly princess Shizune is not expert in such matters but I managed find one nice sweet girl who whispered my ear in bed where find a woman who knows about such things.....sadly woman was way too ugly to my taste to seduce get price free but princess paid information in jade...thanks for gods for her fortunes!<br><br>Woman told where find Shimmering Lodestar.....my, she was true beauty. Not in same figure as princess Shizune but she carried a grace and smooth voice which could render thunder fall silent just to listen her sweet voice. However I as Shizune both watched her we saw she was more than a mortal and princess directly questioned it.....the woman showed bravery show her solar brand in her forehead; mark her as eclipse caste! I had heard solars were returning so had been princess Shizune but I swear by my father she was ready barrage her to ash! But remembering master's instructions she remained calm, learned the woman's past and also how she exalted, found out by Cult of Illuminated. I had heard the cult but princess have not.<br><br>Shimmering Lodestar told more, about first age and the grand revelations which so far I had told as tales from my father to Shizune and she had doubted them. She looked disturbed, distressed? Not sure, but she stayed three days and I enjoyed hospitality of the maids of the inn near by before we left. It seems princess Shizune grow quite fond of lady Shimmering Lodestar as they shared kisses and hugs and farewells. I update what happened when I can.</em><br><hr><br><em><span class="bbc_u"><strong>Tepet Senex journal entry, Ascending Fire 20, 767</strong></span><br><br>Shizune returned today and gave her report, a fascinating story of survival but 'nothing out of ordinary' as she said. My pupil thinks she can lie straight face to me? Despite she rather well told details of Shimmering Lodestar's beauty and charms in erotic detail and use her little visual tricks on me. Those can fool younger men but not me and I had years watched her games! Why she would lie I wonder? Why she would keep such details secret? Anyways I send in my spies to investigate and confirm this.<br><br>Quick update;<br><br>Yes, confirmed that Shimmering Lodestar is a anathema. I send the memo to my house but I leave it out that Shizune has withold the information. After my house got memo they already had Wyld Hunt ready, they decided take Cynis Siris instead Cathak Shizune as group's sorceress because Shizune had been already contact with anathema, consider it is deceiver they do not want take risks.</em><br><hr><br><em><span class="bbc_u"><strong>Journal chapter XV, penned by Fhalash, ifrit prince of Red Dunes, son of Blazyon, Ascending Fire 21, 767</strong></span><br><br>What princess Shizune is thinking?! She heard wyldhunt is send after that solar and she has decided go warn her?! Is she mad?! She is turning against Dynasts! Of course I myself do not care much of Dynasts, I actually dislike them expect princess Shizune of course. But she will become hunted traitor if this is found out! Anyways we hurry now back to Nexus but she stops to do summoning ritual.......<br><br><strong>Ascending Fire 23, 767</strong><br><br>Oh boy, she indeed had done it. She summoned sobeki from the key travel river past Lookshy to ask it delay wyld hunt once it arrives on boat! I heard she learned this from her friend Cynis Siris who is part of the hunt.....I can see she is troubled by it but she's determined go through this. Also she send flame duck to send message to Captain Velan, her lover as I heard, to delay further the wyld hunt with some excuse. She told the river route. Just hope she's not asking too much from him, as crossing wyld hunt can be dangerous business.<br><br><strong>Ascending Fire 28, 767</strong><br><br>We arrived to Nexus, it seems princess delay tactics worked as there is no rumors yet for wyld hunt in near by areas. Princess told everything to Shimmering Lodestar. They both backed up things, Shimmering Lodestar had heard there was circle of solars in south have taken over ancient city Chiaroscuro. I and princess have been there before so we depart immediately.<br><br><strong>Resplendent Fire 5, 767</strong><br><br>Oh my, princess indeed had done it this time! Many years we have traveled together and end up all sort of trouble lectured either by her father or her master.....but this beats them all. We underestimated wyld hunt's resolve, as just half-day from departure of Nexus we heard wyld hunt was after us! It seems they had used sorcery to travel so we both took into air and started fly fast as we could. Shizune could not carry Shimmering Lodestar so it was my task carry her petite frame on my arms.....a task which I do not mind at all. Especially I get good sniff of her scent and view to her cleavage in kimono.....okay, better stop now or my diary becomes naughty novel of my thoughts. <br><br>Anyways we flied but soon the wyld hunt was reaching on us, in distance I saw a stormwind rider spell moving towards us, no doubt group's best tracker or sorceress has been using tracking charm on us somehow. Princess stopped and asked me continue to flee, I asked her come with us but she said she has a plan. She asked me run over dark forest in south and go atop the treeline so the stormwind riders can see me. I did as princess told me. I ran and saw forest was infested with wood spiders and recalled this was area known as Dark Whisper wood, a local court of wood spiders and highly hostile for intruders. I and princess have always flied so there had been no trouble pass this area before.<br><br>The stormriders approached and I started see six figures inside, heavily armed and their sorceress in center of the storm. Then I heard princess Shizune start chant.....chant a spell which I had heard first time when I was enslaved by that damn dark sorcerer Blackpool! I hurried my steps to get distance, as I knew this is not going be pretty. princess Shizune raised up, blazing as sun in south and finish her incantation while her wings carried her aloft into sight of the stormrider and pointed her hand towards it; with brilliant fiery ray she hit stormrider and like enormous popped balloon stormrider blew off it's passengers widely around Dark Whisper woods! Short moments there was flaring animas of water, fire and wind dragon-bloods and sounds of crashing trees and squeaks of dying woodspiders. Princess joined with me in the flight, her face and eyes looked she had been cried, but there was no tears in her face. But consider she was all burning up and using her birthright font which made her skin dark as southerner and hair dance like made from liquid fire I would not put it away possibility her tears had been turned to mist once they came up. After two days there has been no sign of wyld hunt and we are close to Chiaroscuro. Princess has been sad and quiet all the time.....she is mourning for loss of her former life, or more so her friends in that life, her master and sad for possibility she had killed her best friend; Cynis Siris in dispelling her magic. As always unmaking spell rough manner can lead varied disasters and harm for other sorceress. I tried give my personal comfort but she refused while she looked on campfire rest of the night.....</em><br><hr><br><em><span class="bbc_u"><strong>Tepet Senex journal entry, Resplendent Fire 5, 767</strong></span><br><br>The wyld hunt reported in, they had been delayed during their journey both by Lookshy patrol who investigated for smuggled goods which are illegal in Lookshy providence and also sobeki called Crimson Tears asked for toll....in form of live poetry. After that case they were delayed with flood so they took off with Cynis Siris conjured stormrider to reach Nexus. In there they found that Shimmering Lodestar had booked out from the tavern but they found eye witness to tell she headed with some ifrit and beautiful red haired woman towards south with a ship and they found ship but it no longer had passengers but heard ifrit and the woman take off and fly from there towards south. Tepet Jairon used tracking charm to track the movements of those three.<br><br>They reached contact above Dark Whisper woods but then Shizune herself appeared and casted emerald counter magic on stormrider! Knocking the team of six wyld hunters to fight off whole night against enraged wood spider population and rescue Cynis Siris from broodmother of the local spider community. So far all are alright altough fatigued expect Cynis Siris had suffered the most and fallen unconscious, she was brought to Hepthagram where my medicines recovered her and she confirmed that Shizune was one to dispel her spell.<br><br>Shizune, by the dragons sake what you have done?! I cannot pick you up from this mess Shizune, as you have done grand treason! Why?! Is it because of the 'truth' what you have searched all this years? I hope the 'truth' what you find is worth the price you paid, and what you likely pay more in near future.</em><br><hr>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: [Exalted] TGBATST. IC: The War With the Warden's Minions</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>AlexStone</strong> on <strong>09-07-2011, 00:28:37</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<em><strong>From system log of Iron Rainbow, the animating intelligence of the Factory Cathedral of Joyous Diamond Forge, Chiaroscuro.</strong></em><br><br>ATTENTION!&nbsp; PRIMARY ENTRANCE SEAL BROKEN.<br><br>SCANNING INTRUDER FOR ESSENCE SIGNATURE.<br><br>WARNING!&nbsp; ESSENCE BATTERY DANGEROUSLY LOW.&nbsp; CHECK DRAGON LINES.<br><br>ESSENCE SCAN COMPLETE.<br><br>ESSENCE PATTERN MATCHES TO GLORIFYING CITADEL OF VICTORIOUS AMETHYST.&nbsp; CAUTION.&nbsp; ESSENCE PATTERNS SHOW DRASTIC CHANGES.&nbsp; HAS THIS EXALT REINCARNATED? (Y/N)<br><br>IF NO ANSWER IN 30 SECONDS, ENTRY WILL BE DELAYED FOR INTENSIVE SCAN.&nbsp; 30... 29... <br><br>INTENSIVE SCAN INITIATED.&nbsp; WARNING.&nbsp; THIS WILL FURTHER DRAIN EXTREMELY LOW BATTERY.<br><br>ALERT! ALERT! ALERT!&nbsp; GLORIFYING CITADEL OF VICTORIOUS AMETHYST HAS BEEN COMPROMISED BY NECROTIC ESSENCE.&nbsp; ACTIVATE DEFENSES?&nbsp; DEFENSES WILL ACTIVATE AUTOMATICALLY IN 30... 29...<br><br>ALERT!&nbsp; ESSENCE LEVELS TOO LOW FOR DEFENSE GRID.&nbsp; ACTIVATING DEMONIC PACT #4.&nbsp; DEMON SUMMONED.<br><br>(Growling, snarls heard in the audio track.)<br><br>GLORIFYING CITADEL OF VICTORIOUS AMETHYST HAS LEFT ENTRY PORTAL.&nbsp; RESEALING.&nbsp; WARNING.&nbsp; SUMMONED DEMON WILL REMAIN UNLESS BANISHED.&nbsp; AUTOMATIC BANISHING HAS FAILED.<br><br><strong><em>From an interview with Talib Al-Tahiri's ghost.</em></strong><br><br>The months of Fire are auspicious times for us who ride from the Edge of the World near that pole, superior to all others.&nbsp; We rode from the foothills of volcanoes, waving swords of holy obsidian, in company with the spirits who served as our guides, scaring away the gods who would dare block the path of our holy pilgrimage.&nbsp; We rode at night, since this was the time prescribed to us by Bone-Ebony Lion, who had sent for us, sending word through the ghosts of our fathers and grandfathers that we should join him at the Spire of Flaming Spears, where he gathered his army.&nbsp; We rode and rode, until we reached that place.&nbsp; Encamped there were many tribes, all used to war with themselves, ready to join in this fighting as our ancestors had foretold.&nbsp; <br><br>Once there, we were met by a glorious sight- Fessil, our greatest hero, returned from undeath and into life!&nbsp; Perhaps not exactly, but his ghost was there to meet us.&nbsp; He said he would lead our tribe in war as part of Bone-Ebony Lion's great army, but first, we must prepare, to learn the strategems and tactics of his army.&nbsp; So, this is what we set out to do.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: [Exalted] TGBATST. IC: The War With the Warden's Minions</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>AlexStone</strong> on <strong>13-07-2011, 00:29:16</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong><em>From Cliotan's History</em></strong><br><br>And so, as you can see, a more extensive look at the information presently in the archives and in the minds of those who saw these events, shows a much deeper picture of events in Chiaroscuro.&nbsp; Both groups had already begun exploring the various wonders from the First Age there, and, in so doing, began discovering the extent of the other's presence in that glorious past and weakened present.&nbsp; <br><br>While the assault was yet to come, and Bone Ebony Lion was gathering forces for the attack, the Warden decided that a campaign of assassination, dissent mongering, and Essence sabotage should go ahead of the invasion to soften up the defenses of the city, and in so doing, also split the Solars and their assistants, before they could come together.&nbsp; This did not work.&nbsp; It was this campaign, not the assault itself, that caused the various anti-Abyssal forces in Chiaroscuro to start to unite. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: [Exalted] TGBATST. IC: The War With the Warden's Minions</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Pumpkin Seeds</strong> on <strong>19-07-2011, 06:04:08</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				The initial conflict that would bring Chiaroscuro into a battlefield of contention would later be known as the Battle of the Frozen Panes.&nbsp; Named so for the Air aspected manse the battle would take place inside and outside in what was known as the New City portion of Chiaroscuro.&nbsp; Events surrounding the battle are being investigated, but common fact and theory are that the manse was to be twisted into a shadow land.&nbsp; Evidence suggests that a mass suicide and sacrifice were planned for the manse’s interior to twist the essence lines to necrotic energies.&nbsp; Following are a set of letters and correspondence between Suresha Mohinder and Gears of Heavenly Design as they discuss this possibility.<br><br><em>Dear Mo,<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;I have uncovered a great deal as I recover from my wounds in the city.&nbsp; There is much we could not fathom about the inner workings of Chiaroscuro.&nbsp; So much complexity that we could struggle for years to divine what lies even deeper.&nbsp; Struggle we will, but first we must stop the forces that seek to stop us.&nbsp; From here I have spoken to several citizens only to find similar attacks reported and also several suicides similar to ones we have experienced.&nbsp; Our plight is not an isolated one.&nbsp; Further inquiry is going to be required, keep me updated on our situation back at camp.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;I am told this messenger is secure and will remain to take back any word.<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Working For the Revolution,<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Gears<br><br>Dear Mistress,<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;We have been quite concerned for your safety.&nbsp; Our host requests that you either present yourself to camp to show your good health or inform him of your location so that he might ensure your health himself.&nbsp; As for me, I understand the need to remain where the excitement abounds though I cannot do so myself.&nbsp; From here I will offer my assistance though.&nbsp; From older maps of the city conducted by research for the little gods of the interior, testament can be made that such occurrences are restricted to the newer and less dominated portions of the city.<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Attention can be paid to grids 34 and 36 with their prospective couplings being of note.&nbsp; My understanding is that such grids are of little importance to the overall structure but are access points into the older sections.&nbsp; I am unsure of the purposes with this findings, but I present them regardless to you my Mistress for evaluation.<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;With Eternal Patience,<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Suresha Mohinder<br><br>Dear Mo Genius,<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;You are a genius.&nbsp; Those grids are the key to this entire situation.&nbsp; Their lines bear the brunt of the energy from the Old City center.&nbsp; Essence abounds at these couplings, strengthened by the prayers strips we have only started to uncover.&nbsp; &nbsp;Enclosed I have recovered a corrupted strip, wrapped about the others to influence the energies.&nbsp; This is a nasty piece of work and I pray you realize its destructive powers by touch alone.&nbsp; So influential is this strip that it could threaten the core of the power grid in this city.&nbsp; Yet this also gives me the ability to predict their presence.&nbsp; Summon the Khan and tell him to put his man at the Manse of Frosted Sand.&nbsp; They will strike there next and I pray we are not too late.<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;I have made contact with a strange woman here.&nbsp; She will come to our aide.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;With all Haste Due,<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Gears of Heavenly Design</em><br><br>(Author’s Note:&nbsp; A copy of the prayer strip is etched onto the page below.&nbsp; The strength of the original document was too strong and dangerous to allow continued existence.)<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: [Exalted] TGBATST. IC: The War With the Warden's Minions</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>meikle</strong> on <strong>20-07-2011, 04:57:25</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<em>[The following is a document written on silk from the spinneret of an aalu.&nbsp; It is a word-for-word transcript between Madder and Elech Nor.&nbsp; Notice the exquisite, natural penmanship and style.&nbsp; Notice, also, the strange dialect of old realm used for notation. -- The Editor]</em><br><br><div class="spoiler_container"><div onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button" class="spoiler_header">Spoiler: Click to Show/Hide</div><div class="spoiler_body">MADDER . Keep note of everything I say, and everything my guest says.&nbsp; Do not speak; if you speak, include that in your record.&nbsp; Keep note of any noteworthy fluctuations in her tone or manner.&nbsp; Keep note of any noteworthy activity that occurs in this room.&nbsp; I want your log to be perfect.&nbsp; If it is not, you will not return to your office.&nbsp; Do you understand?<br><br>MYSELF . May I answer?<br><br>MADDER . Do you understand?<br><br>MYSELF . I understand.<br><br>MADDER . For the purpose of the record: I am in the basement of the Black Tap.&nbsp; We are in a small room, perhaps twelve feet in diameter.&nbsp; My record-keeper, Etsvu the Blind, hangs from the ceiling at the far end of the room, distant from the door.&nbsp; I have positioned a table and two chairs in the center of the room.&nbsp; Do you have that?<br><br>MYSELF . Yes.<br><br>MADDER . Excellent.&nbsp; Do not falter, and I will keep you on as my personal assistant.<br><br>MADDER moves to the door.&nbsp; She opens the door.<br><br>MADDER . Elech, come in, please.<br><br>MADDER stays at the door and NOR enters.&nbsp; MADDER shuts the door behind them and leads NOR to a seat.&nbsp; NOR sits.&nbsp; MADDER sits across from her.<br><br>NOR . What do you want, Madder?<br><br>MADDER . It's been suggested to me that you've been working on an investigation regarding some of the recent activities in our fair undercity.&nbsp; Is that so?<br><br>NOR . Something like that.<br><br>MADDER . Don't be short with me, Elech.&nbsp; We're friends -- you haven't forgotten, have you?&nbsp; I'm on your side.<br><br>NOR . There's a <em>monster</em> in the room.&nbsp; You aren't the same as you were when you left.&nbsp; I don't know who you are, but you're not my friend.<br><br>MADDER . I am, in fact.&nbsp; The very same.&nbsp; Answer my questions, Elech.&nbsp; Honestly, if you would, please.&nbsp; This is important.<br><br>NOR . What do you want to know?&nbsp; That I've been looking into things?&nbsp; Yes, I have.&nbsp; That's true.<br><br>MADDER . Good.&nbsp; And what are your concerns?&nbsp; What motivated this?<br><br>NOR . The walls are round.<br><br>MADDER . Yes, they are.&nbsp; That is true.&nbsp; I can put that concern to rest; it is my doing.<br><br>NOR . Your doing?&nbsp; Or your devil lackies?<br><br>MADDER . Watch your tone, Elech.&nbsp; I do what I do for Chiaroscuro.&nbsp; Your cause is my cause; it always has been.<br><br>NOR . This sorcery -- infernalism -- this is not my cause.<br><br>MADDER . Your cause is prosperity for the people of Chiaroscuro, your peers.&nbsp; I know.<br><br>NOR . Then what is this?&nbsp; What are you doing?<br><br>MADDER . I am enacting it.<br><br>NOR . And the suicide cults?&nbsp; The murders?<br><br>MADDER . Not my doing.&nbsp; But you've seen it first hand, haven't you?<br><br>NOR . Yes.<br><br>MADDER . And you think it is my doing.&nbsp; Because of the walls.<br><br>NOR . The walls are moving and I don't understand.<br><br>MADDER . But the violence is not my doing.&nbsp; It is interfering with my plans.&nbsp; You've uncovered something.<br><br>NOR . I met the officiator of the murders.&nbsp; I was invited.&nbsp; I watched him kill the others.<br><br>MADDER . Not you, though.&nbsp; Why?<br><br>NOR . He said he wanted me to join him.&nbsp; In unifying the city.<br><br>MADDER . Unifying?<br><br>NOR . Killing.&nbsp; Murdering.<br><br>MADDER . What did you say?<br><br>NOR . I said I would meet him again.&nbsp; To hear what he had to say.<br><br>MADDER . You agreed with him?<br><br>NOR . No, of course not, Madder.<br><br>MADDER . You agreed with him.<br><br>MADDER stands, and begins to move toward NOR.<br><br>NOR . No.<br><br>MADDER . You will excise his lies from your mind.&nbsp; You will tell me where you intend to meet him again.&nbsp; You will not lie to me again.<br><br>There is silence for thirty-four seconds during which time MADDER seats herself on the table beside NOR.<br><br>MADDER . Fine.<br><br>MADDER touches her hand to NOR's forehead.<br><br>MADDER . End the record here, Etsvu.</div></div>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: [Exalted] TGBATST. IC: The War With the Warden's Minions</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Anansi</strong> on <strong>20-07-2011, 20:30:30</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				A copy of a letter, widely circulated amongst the Illuminated faithful:<br><br><div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote">Quote</div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">Beloved Cousin,<br><br>&nbsp; &nbsp; Oh, how I wish you had been there to see it!&nbsp; Our faith rewarded, our deliverance at hand!&nbsp; Forgive me, I get ahead of myself, but you will yourself .&nbsp; Rumor had a terrible effect on us here for some time, spreading fear and unease.&nbsp; For weeks, there were tales of blasphemous cults, of "anathema" lurking in the city.&nbsp; At first, Jago and I thought one of the Illuminated had come to the city, and that the stories of sacrifice and death that came with these were the additions of the wicked immaculate monks.&nbsp; We decided to see the truth for ourselves, and followed a whispered word in a tavern down to a secret meeting in the warehouse district.&nbsp; What I saw there haunts me still.&nbsp; A ceremony of blood sacrifice, dark shades from the underworld, and presiding over it all was a *creature* that wore one of the marks of the Illuminated.&nbsp; Rather than being of goodness and light, though, it was all evil and blood.&nbsp; Worse yet, we quickly realized we were the only ones there uninitiated into their circle!&nbsp; Jago was paralyzed with fear, but during one of their blasphemous chants I managed to drag him away.&nbsp; As soon as we stepped outside we heard a great hue and cry, and we made a break for it.&nbsp; My memory is blurry after that point, but somehow we made it away from them through the maze of empty storehouses.<br><br>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;I cannot tell you how shattered, how desolate I felt after that.&nbsp; To my eyes, all that we had believed was proven to be a lie.&nbsp; The Illuminated *were* the anathema; demons sent to ruin this world!&nbsp; Worse yet, I felt certain that it was known that we knew these monsters were here.&nbsp; I had a distinct feeling of being watched.&nbsp; In fear for our lives, we hid in our home, sure they would fall upon us at any time.&nbsp; Then, just a few days ago, our fears were finally realized.&nbsp; They came in the night and surrounded our home, screaming taunts and obscenities.&nbsp; They said they would make a sacrifice of us on their dark altars, unless we came out and swore fealty to their master.&nbsp; I am ashamed to say that in that moment, I almost broke down and agreed.&nbsp; But then...<span class="bbc_u">she</span> appeared.&nbsp; One of the Illuminated!<br><br>&nbsp; &nbsp; She came upon them like a falling star, bowling into their number and scattering them like tenpins.&nbsp; They came at her four, five at a time, but she dealt with them all as though they were children.&nbsp; Flesh bruised, bone cracked, and soon they were fleeing like the cowards they were!&nbsp; She was left alone, shimmering red and gold, with the symbol of the Eclipse burning on her brow.&nbsp; She came to us then, calmed our fears with soothing words, and introduced herself as Shimmering Lodestar.&nbsp; She said our home was no longer safe, and that she was gathering all the faithful and helpless to a shelter where we could be safe.&nbsp; Having nowhere else to go, we went with her then, placing our renewed faith in her.&nbsp; &nbsp; We were taken to a large estate on the edge of the city, owned by one of the faithful.&nbsp; There we waited with hundreds of others, while she went out again and again to find more. <br><br>&nbsp; &nbsp;It has been difficult.&nbsp; Flashes of black, gold, and green light filled the city, as what I assume were other Illuminated did battle to save the city from those twisted creatures who sought to corrupt it.&nbsp; Every time she returned to us, she had more of the wounded and the desperate, though she herself grew more weary with every expedition.&nbsp; Just a few hours ago she returned for the final time, covered in cuts and bruises and carried by a group of those she had saved.&nbsp; That was some hours ago, now, and she has since lapsed into healing sleep.&nbsp; The city is silent now, but I am sure the day has been won.&nbsp; I am sending this with a drover who is taking his family away from the city, and I hope it reaches you soon.&nbsp; <br><br>Spread the word, cousin!&nbsp; The Illuminated have come!&nbsp; Hope is restored!<br><br>With love,<br>Niella</blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: [Exalted] TGBATST. IC: The War With the Warden's Minions</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Zaer Darkwail</strong> on <strong>24-07-2011, 18:55:54</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<em><span class="bbc_u"><strong>Journal chapter XV, penned by Fhalash, ifrit prince of Red Dunes, son of Blazyon, Resplendent Fire 8, 767</strong></span><br><br>We have arrived finally to Chiaroscuro. We had booked ourselves to a respectable inn in the old city and are now literally catching our breaths for days running even since she openly defied the Wyld Hunt. Princess is now feeling better, she had been in city before and she had loved it's history and lore during her journeyman years and had loved south overall from all countries. But however she is troubled at times and I can see when her thoughts drift to the events to past what she did not want remember.<br><br>I have tried my best accompany her and cheer up, however I am not sure should I be grateful or worried for rumors we heard. People disappearing, walls painted in color of blood during Calibration days and odd dark chorus chants heard in undercity. These traits had not been in Chiaroscuro so prominent in local news when I and she were last time in here. So now she focus mind to figure things out but always cautious she performed few summons. She called the Jokun brothers Tomaki and Komashi and also summoned two flame ducks; Vivel and Dely.<br><br>I tried tell princess that my protection is all she needs she said I cannot be two places at same time so she needs sometimes send me other tasks besides guarding her. I accepted the fellow elementals and all expect me walk dematerialized along with her. I am known in local area and seen before so if anyone thinks ambush princess while I am gone....they get sorely disappointed. As jokun brothers can be rather swift in judgement and their eye ability is useful protect others from princess anima flare.</em>
			</dd>
		</dl>
		<div id="footer" class="smalltext">
			
			<span class="smalltext" style="display: inline; visibility: visible; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;"><a href="https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?action=credits" title="Simple Machines Forum" target="_blank" class="new_win">SMF 2.0.19</a> |
 <a href="https://www.simplemachines.org/about/smf/license.php" title="License" target="_blank" class="new_win">SMF © 2021</a>, <a href="https://www.simplemachines.org" title="Simple Machines" target="_blank" class="new_win">Simple Machines</a>
			</span>
		</div>