Heirs to Creation - Exalted 3e
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		<h2 id="linktree">Play-By-Post: Bondage, D/s, S&amp;M =&gt; Bondage: Exotic Small Groups =&gt; Topic started by: Winter King on 30-11-2015, 22:19:56</h2>
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				Title: <strong>Heirs to Creation - Exalted 3e</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Winter King</strong> on <strong>30-11-2015, 22:19:56</strong>
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				<strong><em><span style="font-size: 14pt;" class="bbc_size">Heirs to Creation</span></em></strong><br><strong><em>Prelude</em></strong><br><br><em>Five years ago, an eclipse heralded the return of ancient heroes - the Solar Exalted, Chosen by the Sun - from their prison beyond the stars, and the disappearance of the heir of their usurpers sent Creation's greatest empire into a downwards spiral. This spiral has sent shocks throughout the world, for as the ancient heroes return in numbers unseen for an age, their old partners move to destroy the tottering Realm once and for all, and their advisors lurk in shadow, manipulating fate to favor one outcome or another.<br><br>South of the Smoking Sea, the satrapy of Dun-lat sits teetering on the edge of ruin - its leaders bow to the will of a tyrannical Realm, even as a revolt against it has been defeated. The shattered remnants of the Daughter's Rebellion scatter across the lands of the satrapy and the victorious House Tepet attempts to retake its position as the primary authority in Dun-lat. Meanwhile, a vengeful goddess plots to strike back at those who allowed her daughter to die, with ramifications that ripple throughout the entire land, and at the distant frontier another great threat gathers - barbarian tribes preparing to take what the settled folk have built in answer to a crime they are unaware of.<br><br>In Heaven, one of the Chosen of the stars keeps his peace, even as the fruit of his betrayal destabilizes his home... and five of the Heirs to Creation, the Lawgivers converge on a land wracked with conflict and sorrow, perhaps bringing hope for the first time in decades, or destroying it entirely.</em><br><br><strong><em>Session I, Scene i</em></strong><br>The noonday sun of the fifteenth day of the month of Resplendent Water saw the streets of Akhetan full of laughing, chattering crowds of people, far more than was usual. The Festival of the River's Gift came but once a year, and was the only time when the people of Akhetan and its environs were permitted and able to offer prayer to the Mother River, the goddess of the River Ammon, whose waters and blessings allow the City of Bridges to flourish. Dancers, jugglers, and street entertainers were out in force, alongside merchants hawking wares to those with coin enough to spend on them. Immaculate monks, garbed in robes marking the particular Immaculate Dragon they emulated and bearing ritual implements, moved through the streets of the two shore districts, east and wests, leading processions of dancers garbed in black and dark blue, with stylized trains representing the flowing water of the River Ammon trailing alongside them.<br><br>The rather lackluster bridges that connected the two shore districts to the central were overcrowded, and already several revelers had fallen into the water, where their families or friendly neighbors often needed to fish them out before they drowned, and the traditionally tense relationships between clans and families was greatly relaxed, with young men and women who would happily have mutilated one another any other day of the year sitting and complaining about their overbearing parents instead.<br><br>In the Plaza of the Great Fountain, located in the south of the central district, sat the temple to the Mother River, and it was there that the greatest crowds were. Standing before the temple (where the fountain that had given the plaza its name once had stood) was the Wali of Akhetan, Shakar of the Onkelos family, flanked by five of his beautiful golden-skinned janissaries, whose great bronze axes shone brightly in the (relatively) cool sunlight. The wali himself wore the traditional garb of his position, with tassels of yellow and red dangling from his over-tall hat, clashing jarringly with his relatively rotund proportions. Beside the janissaries stood a trio of Immaculate monks - and all three of them Dragon-Blooded, at that - while others stood throughout the crowd, monitoring it and offering spiritual guidance to those who sought it.<br><br>In front of the Wali and his great entourage stood an empty throne, where the Mother River would doubtlessly ascend and sit to dispense with the symbolic gift of life - her blessed water in a great urn, for all those gathered to sip from. However, despite the festive atmosphere and the calm expressions of the wali, his janissaries, and the monks, there was an undercurrent of murmured worries dancing through the crowd - surely the festival was at its climax? For many this was simply a desire to get on to the <em>actual</em> festival, which doubtlessly involved imbibing a <em>great</em> deal of beer, whose distilled blessings were considered to be symbolic of the blessings of the Mother River - at least by those who did so, though the Immaculate Order officially denounced such excess. At any rate, the crowd continued its joviality and festivity, with an almost determined ignorance of the way the hour began to drag on...<br><br><div class="spoiler_container"><div onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button" class="spoiler_header">OOC Notes</div><div class="spoiler_body">Welcome to the official IC thread of Heirs to Creation! So, as you can see, your characters are all in the Plaza of the Great Fountain, where once a fountain flowed freely for the poor and thirsty to come and drink. <br><br>I'm going to allow you guys to determine a reason for your characters to be there, so pick something that makes sense to you as you see your characters! I won't always do this, but I want to see how it pans out. Beyond that... <em>Let's go~!</em></div></div>
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				Title: <strong>Re: Heirs to Creation - Exalted 3e</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>HairyHeretic</strong> on <strong>02-12-2015, 22:02:34</strong>
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				Kheldaran, in his familiar persona of Old Wolf, happily weaved along through the crowd, taking occasional drinks from the somewhat battered gourd that he carried. He wasn't actually anywhere close to being as drunk as he appeared, but the scruffy vagabond would fit far better into the festive atmosphere than his mercantile counterpart.<br><br>He had heard rumours about the ruler of the city, few of them complementary, and his public appearance would give you Kheldaran a chance to observe him first hard, and see what he could determine of the man ... from a distance of course. The fact that he had a trio of Dragon blooded Immaculates did complicate matters somewhat, but Kheldaran had no intention of going all that close. One somewhat disheveled face in the crowd was quite anonymous, and suited his purposes nicely. Taking the pulse of the crowd would also help him in formulating more longterm plans, particularly in light of old words that still rang true .. the drunk man is the honest man.
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				Title: <strong>Re: Heirs to Creation - Exalted 3e</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Empyrean</strong> on <strong>04-12-2015, 00:18:13</strong>
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				<div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote">Quote</div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">(http://pre14.deviantart.net/6061/th/pre/f/2013/271/a/f/kiana_by_glatzenschlumpf-d6och71.jpg)</blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br>Transcendent Starlight Beauty was out and about on festival day. Of course she was! Festival days were when people got stinking drunk, made fools of themselves, and revealed so much of who they were and what they valued. Spring Blossom had always made it a point to have her geisha out and about on festival days. Not only was it great advertising for the House of Sapphire Blossoms, it gave them a chance to be seen by the right people and to make connections. Just because she was now on her own didn't mean she couldn't use the same tactics. Besides, once everyone started getting drunk she could pick a few pockets or burgle a few homes. The Wali and the clan leaders might make good targets, since they were all out to be seen and their household guards might be lessened on this most holy of days.<br><br>In the meantime, she made her way through the crowd. Yes, she was beautiful. She knew it. It had been drilled into her head to know her beauty and to use it, so she was unashamed about wearing the traditional garb of a local dancer, cut and molded to hug her frame and give tantalizing glimpses of bare skin here and there. She had studied at the library run by that interesting woman Seven Words of Wisdom, a woman who, like her, was <em>special.</em> The Immaculates called their kind Anathema. Starlight never felt like an Anathema though. And it certainly hadn't been the Dragons who'd saved her that night at the geisha house. Still, any knowledge could be useful knowledge, so she'd made it a point to stay in the woman's good graces.<br><br>Now she wandered the crowd, noting how they seemed determined to celebrate even though, if what she read was correct, the time of the River Mother's blessing had come and gone. Personally, she couldn't blame the Mother if she failed to bless the people that had not aided her daughter in her rebellion, and in any event the River Mother would likely have no cause to appear with all these Immaculates about. So instead she wandered about the crowd, taking in the sights and keeping her eyes open for opportunity. There should be rich targets to thieve from tonight, and maybe she could donate some of what she stole to help those who weren't so fortunate? She wasn't sure, but it struck her as something Sunset Spark would probably do in her place. 
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				Title: <strong>Re: Heirs to Creation - Exalted 3e</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>AndyZ</strong> on <strong>05-12-2015, 00:49:11</strong>
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				<div class="floatright">(http://pre01.deviantart.net/993d/th/pre/f/2012/195/c/a/legend_of_the_five_rings_female_samurai_by_phantom_cz-d579ozg.jpg)</div><br>For Seven Words of Wisdom, the best part of the festival was the peaceful but competitive nature of the events.&nbsp; Conflict seemed as inevitable as death itself, but people had found ways to manage their skills in various ways that didn't require bloodshed or pathos.<br><br>She passed from contest to contest, taking views of those who had mastery of various skills.&nbsp; The proper way to hold a bow, the way a phrase rolled off the tongue during a haiku, the impassioned way that an inebriated soldier praised his comrades.&nbsp; There was so much to learn, and it could be difficult to keep up for someone who wanted to see it all.<br><br>It was rare for her to speak during such times, and rarer still to attempt to participate.&nbsp; While she could certainly devastate the competition if she had a reason, it would draw unnecessary attention, as well as stifle the feelings of those who would otherwise seek to further improve.<br><br>Rumors stated that other merchants of various texts were present, and she would have to find them, but such was far easier to accomplish when little was actually happening.&nbsp; No one wanted to start up a conversation at the cost of missing an event, after all.<br><br>If she was lucky enough, one of them would recognize her description and come to her with offers of purchases.&nbsp; It wasn't common, but it had happened before.
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				Title: <strong>Re: Heirs to Creation - Exalted 3e</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Thufir Hawat</strong> on <strong>05-12-2015, 01:13:15</strong>
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				Crooked Crane Krum was walking. He was looking for something, but he knew not what it was, himself.<br>He had no time for rulers, so he passed the great plaza.<br>All he knew was that his friend, the monk, had said it's righteous to venerate the goddess today. And that's what Krum did, his body hidden by the dark Delzhani clothes - not enhancing, but covering the frame they hung on. Thick and warm for the season.<br>A wall between himself and the world.<br>Crooked Crane Krum kneeled at a shrine near a place where he could see a martial arts exhibition, and prayed. Some incense - as expensive as his means alllowed - and his sincere prayer: these were the things he would offer to the River goddess.
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				Title: <strong>Re: Heirs to Creation - Exalted 3e</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Winter King</strong> on <strong>05-12-2015, 18:33:43</strong>
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				As Old Wolf moved with only the barest hint of a stumble through the crowds that shuffled through the Plaza of the Fountain, he heard a sharp sniff, followed by an insufferably haughty voice, very obviously pitched such that Old Wolf might hear it. "You know, in my father's day they would never have allowed such drunks into the Plaza. It was a happier time, when the waliyah ruled the city..."<br><br>Turning, he saw that it was actually someone he knew -&nbsp; Striking Eldu, a patriarch of the family that was most involved in the trade of grain and an occasional business partner, alongside his husband, Jade Adone, who replied in a softer voice that was drowned out by the rest of the crowd to Old Wolf's ears, but he could guess with a fair amount of accuracy what had been said by virtue of the merchant's reaction. <br><br>Striking Eldu chuckled, apparently distracted from the offensive sight of Old Wolf. "Of course, love, but you would <em>never</em> turn <em>me</em> in, would you?"<br><br>As he offered a similarly quiet rejoinder, Adone's lips quirked in a small grin.<br><br>"Yes, well, I'm sure that they would be a whole lot less, hm... <em>enjoyable</em> than you."<br><br>It was at this point that Wolf moved away from the quite obviously loving couple, who clearly had little of true importance to say. <br><br>Now, having waded through another, denser part of the crowd, the seemingly old vagabond was able to catch a closer look at Wali Shakar, though not so close that his janissary bodyguards might even take notice of him. Shakar, though, was as truly unimpressive as rumors painted him. A rotund man with the pale skin of one who had rarely, if ever, spent a full day under the Sun, his richly decorated ceremonial garments were a marvelously clashing ensemble of his family's favored colors - a distinct yellow and black pattern that reminded him of a Gateway board - and the pale greens and silty reds of the Mother River's (nominal) high priest. <em>Far</em> more intriguing were the janissaries themselves, golden-skinned giants (both male and female) who were garbed in breastplates and armored skirts, and who held themselves as quite clearly capable fighters. <br><br>Shakar leaned to murmur something to one of the Dragon-Blooded monks at his side, a man who, his serenity untouched by whatever the wali said, simply smiled and offered an equally quiet reply. <br><br><div align="center">*************************</div><br>Transcendant Starlight Beauty found herself walking on an easy path as the crowds parted, such that they might stare at her for longer. It was quite clear to her that the people of Akhetan, especially those who were not wealthy, had never seen one so beautiful as she. Starlight noticed the familiar lust in the expressions and attitudes of many men and quite a few women, though even those who did not have those lusts (or kept them better hidden than most) stopped as she passed them by, if only to appreciate the beauty as one might a beautiful sculpture.<br><br>As she arrived at the Plaza of the Great Fountain, where the throne intended for the Mother River sat empty, the Hidden Sun saw several relatively wealthy individuals whose purses might be attached to their bodies rather more loosely than they had hoped when they left their residences this morning - that pair of men <em>there</em>, for instance, seemed relatively wealthy - the way the (slightly) better dressed one had sneered at the somewhat scruffy wanderer indicated such, at any rate. Then there were the various groups of well-dressed men and women who stood in large groups - likely indicating their family and clan, if Starlight was any judge, but perhaps she was incorrect.<br><br>Before she could act on any of this, however, a small, weedy youth - probably no more than fifteen or sixteen - stepped out of the crowd even as it divided itself before her. The youth wore simple, but fair quality garments, mostly undyed wool, but with no hint of wear or tear upon them. His cheeks were somewhat scruffy with the beginnings of a traditionally Dun-lati beard, but his wide smile and twinkling eyes somehow turn it from off-putting to mildly charming. Altogether, he was not <em>un</em>attractive, though neither was he particularly beautiful, though there was a hint of something more beneath his expression...<br><br>He swept a polite bow, somehow turning the traditional greeting of equals in Dun-lati society into a flamboyant, flourishing gesture, and spoke. "Oh most radiant and beauteous one, this, your humble servant, must beg that you spare him a moment of your time." His voice was rich, and deep - clearly it had already broken, for there were no signs of adolescent voice-cracks. Lifting his head, he offered Starlight a somewhat rakish grin as the crowd around them stopped and began muttering to one another.<br><br>"... you think he knows..."<br>"Maybe she..."<br>"... probably trying to get her..."<br><br>Unmoved by the voices of the crowd, the youth tilted waited patiently for Starlight to react to him.<br><br><div align="center">*************************</div><br>Even as the beginnings of a public spectacle were taking place on the northeast side of the Plaza, Seven Words of Wisdom arrived from across the southwestern bridge. A less than stable replacement for the great arched bridges of old, this bridge had been built and rebuilt on a very simple post and lintel (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post_and_lintel) schematic, and from wood at that. Making things more difficult was the fact that silty bottom of the Mother River often moved along with the water, <em>especially</em> during flood season. Why, not even two months ago the bridge on the northern side of the central district had collapsed beneath the raging waters of the River Ammon.<br><br>At any rate, Seven Words of Wisdom was finally at the familiar Plaza of the Great Fountain, where she would doubtlessly witness the final "official" event of the day, wherein the Mother River would grant a large jar of her river's water her blessing, which would then go directly to the wali's palace and be used for some purpose there. Given the fact that the wali was still in the plaza, she had the feeling that it had yet to happen.<br><br>However, she had not moved terribly far into the plaza before she noticed a pair of monks - actual Dragon-Blooded monks, at that - split off from the wali's group, leaving only one behind as they spoke with one another, their expressions rapidly darkening. The majority of mortals quickly stepped out of their way, bowing deeply to the righteous demigods and carefully ignoring whatever they might be saying before turning to stare at them in awe.<br><br>The two monks were approaching her rapidly, she noticed, and this might be somewhat more difficult if they recognized her. That said, of course, she <em>did</em> have some contacts in the Order, so perhaps word of her had spread as a reputable scholar amongst them, and they would be rather more polite.<br><br><div align="center">*************************</div><br>As Krum prayed quietly at the shrine, he heard a few footsteps approaching from behind him. <br><br>"You aren't from around here, are you?" A female voice asked, somewhat amused.<br><br>As he rose and turned to face the source of that voice, he saw a woman in her mid-forties dressed in the distinctive manner of a warrior - carrying a curved sword on one hip and wearing lightly armored clothing. Though her expression was quite serious, almost a frown, her eyes crinkled in a private smile, and twinkled with silent laughter. <br><br>"It's pretty easy to tell." She continued without waiting for him to respond. "Most people don't bother praying at shrines at this time of day - the Mother River's probably manifesting just over there," she jerked her head towards the south, where the Plaza of the Great Fountain was packed with the sweating bodies of hundreds of worshippers. "Tell me, why aren't you there?" She asked as she arched an amused brow.
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				Title: <strong>Re: Heirs to Creation - Exalted 3e</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Thufir Hawat</strong> on <strong>05-12-2015, 23:07:46</strong>
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				<div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote"><a href="https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=240516.msg11874295#msg11874295">Quote from: Winter King on 05-12-2015, 18:33:43</a></div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">As Krum prayed quietly at the shrine, he heard a few footsteps approaching from behind him. <br><br>"You aren't from around here, are you?" A female voice asked, somewhat amused.<br><br>As he rose and turned to face the source of that voice, he saw a woman in her mid-forties dressed in the distinctive manner of a warrior - carrying a curved sword on one hip and wearing lightly armored clothing. Though her expression was quite serious, almost a frown, her eyes crinkled in a private smile, and twinkled with silent laughter. <br><br>"It's pretty easy to tell." She continued without waiting for him to respond. "Most people don't bother praying at shrines at this time of day - the Mother River's probably manifesting just over there," she jerked her head towards the south, where the Plaza of the Great Fountain was packed with the sweating bodies of hundreds of worshippers. "Tell me, why aren't you there?" She asked as she arched an amused brow.<br></blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div>Krum finished his prayer in a few seconds, then turns and flashes the woman his best smile.<br><strong>"No",</strong> he admits. <strong>"I'm not from around here. I went on the Plaza, but there was a sight there which was unseemly to one of the Delzhan people, so I left didn't remain. In order to not offend the goddess, I presented her with my apologies, here."</strong><br>He rises and bows as gracefully as he can.<br><strong>"My name is Krum, known as the Crooked Crane around here. And what might your honourable name be?"</strong><br><br><div class="spoiler_container"><div onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button" class="spoiler_header">Reflexive Sensory Roll Option</div><div class="spoiler_body">If I've got the Excellency and a Reflexive roll is asked for, add 4 dice, paying them with 4 Peripheral Essence. I've only got Awareness, Brawl, Martial Arts, Dodge, Resistance, War, Presence, Performance, Socialize, Integrityand Athletics Excellencies, though.</div></div>
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				Title: <strong>Re: Heirs to Creation - Exalted 3e</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>ChaoticSky</strong> on <strong>06-12-2015, 00:54:29</strong>
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				Clad in a hooded silk robe so light it was almost sheer, Silken Rays of Hope took two more steps out of the alleyway, made a hard right, and threw herself into the nearest empty char on a small outdoor patio. She waited, casting a subtle glance over her shoulder to see if anyone followed her... and when no one did, she breathed a sigh of relief. Shed finally lost them, it had taken a while, but they had been rather persistent. Luckily her clothing was so light that the glow from the golden lines that adhered to her flesh was almost unnoticeable in the bright sunlight.<br><br>Silk had never been to the festival before, but she had talked to people about how this was supposed to go, and she had picked up the <em>tension</em> in the atmosphere. The goddess had not appeared at the ordained time... so naturally she had (loudly) pointed out that the goddess might be more inclined to appear if she was worshipped more than one day a year, after all, she was the most important goddess in the city. Overall, the people she had spoken to seemed to support the idea, which the young solar had taken as a good sign...<br><br>Unfortunately, they did not, take so well to the suggestion to throwing the Immaculate monks out of the city.<br><br>Infact, they had considered that quite objectionable.<br><br>And had started chasing her.<br><br>Silk was fairly certain she was in no real danger from a crowd of mortals, but she had not been willing to test that out right then. After all, it was not their fault, they simply needed a stronger shock to pull the wool from their eyes. She would wait untill the sun set, clearly at that point the goddess wouldnt be coming. Perhaps then the people would be more willing to listen to what she had to say.<br><br>...<br><br>It was around this point that Silk noticed there was someone sitting across from her, and with a bit of surprise, she realized she was at a Akhetani Tea House. The man was holding a extremely fancy cup in his hands and blinking somewhat owlishly at her. So Silk gave a winning smile and lowered her hood to reveal her face, "Sorry," she apologised, "Do you mind if I sit here a while? I had a disagreement with some very narrow-minded men..."
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				Title: <strong>Re: Heirs to Creation - Exalted 3e</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>AndyZ</strong> on <strong>06-12-2015, 02:21:03</strong>
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				<div class="floatright">(http://pre01.deviantart.net/993d/th/pre/f/2012/195/c/a/legend_of_the_five_rings_female_samurai_by_phantom_cz-d579ozg.jpg)</div><br>Passing through a shoddy bridge, especially bridges that were shoddy for the Age of Sorrows, always left Seven Words of Wisdom with a faint sense of forlorn guilt that she had no real talent for crafting.&nbsp; Her expertise was wide and varied, and she stepped in to help however she could, but even she had limits.&nbsp; Better to stick with your specialties.<br><br>She mentally counted the words.&nbsp; Only six.&nbsp; Probably not even close to the profound wisdom she's supposed to give anyway.<br><br>As she looked around, it became obvious that things were slowing down far from the usual schedule.&nbsp; It seemed the summons had not yet gone out for Mother River, which ignited her curiosity.&nbsp; She had just enough time to make that recognition and consider for a few moments before the two monks started her way.<br><br>It seemed likely that they recognized her, and while she wasn't sure what they wanted her for, the most likely answer was that they had a question regarding the Immaculate text and wanted a mediator.&nbsp; She offered them a smile, faint but welcoming, standing just enough to the side that they could pass by if she misread their intentions but allowing them to come to her without her objection.
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				Title: <strong>Re: Heirs to Creation - Exalted 3e</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Empyrean</strong> on <strong>07-12-2015, 15:30:43</strong>
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				<div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote">Quote</div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">(http://pre14.deviantart.net/6061/th/pre/f/2013/271/a/f/kiana_by_glatzenschlumpf-d6och71.jpg)</blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br>Starlight felt the stares of the crowd on her. To be honest, she felt a sense of gratification at the attention. She had inherited the good looks from the mother she'd never known or so she presumed. She'd wondered sometimes about her birth family. Who were they? How and why did she end up being sold to the House of Sapphire Blossoms? But whatever she had inherited had been painstakingly cultivated at the House, and she couldn't help but feel a certain pride at it being acknowledged. She also noted where the lustful glances came from. She might be able to use that to further establish herself here at a later date.<br><br>When the strange boy approached her, she noted the reaction of the crowd. A local of note perhaps? It couldn't hurt to play along, at least for the moment. Besides, she had her needles woven into her hair, hidden just in case. "And what would my servant like to discuss with me?"
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				Title: <strong>Re: Heirs to Creation - Exalted 3e</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Winter King</strong> on <strong>08-12-2015, 20:03:42</strong>
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				Outside the plaza, near the martial arts demonstration, woman nodded once, sizing Krum up with an impassive gaze. "Hm... the Delzhan, the Delzhan... Oh! You're from way out west, are you?" She asked after a moment's thought, seemingly filing away his name for later use.<br><br>Abruptly, she seemed to recall her manners, and introduced herself. "I'm Starlit Brishah, commander of the Brighteyes. One of my people's over there." She gestured with her chin towards the demonstration, by way of explanation for her presence here. Her eyes flicked to the demonstration, and she winced slightly at a particularly brutal maneuver by one of the martial artists. "So," she continued thoughtfully, "what brings a Delzhan this far east? If you don't mind me asking." She added as an afterthought, apparently aware of how prickly the question could be, but unconcerned enough that she did not rush through the statement.<br><br><div align="center">*************************</div><br>Silk's comment caused the man to arch a single brow, inhaling the scent of the tea almost absently. Behind the Resplendent Sun, a voice spoke. "Excuse me, mistress, but we <em>do</em> require that you present your invitation at the front..." When Silk turned, she saw a plain young woman wearing the simple, ill-made smock of a slave, though her expression was firm. "I am quite certain that you can find other entertainments this fine day." She offered quietly, a faint smile on her lips as she made the suggestion.<br><br>As Silk finally had a moment's pause to examine her surroundings, she realized that the tea house she was in was exceptionally decorated, with thick rugs and gorgeous pillows. The majority of the small tables were empty, however - presumably due to the festival going on outside, though the few patrons were looking at her, whether in awe, annoyance, just plain thoughtless lust. Of these, only the man sitting before her seemed to be deliberately ignoring her. A dignified man in his twilight years, he seemed to have weightier matters on his mind than the latest antics of the young.<br><br>Somehow, Silk got the oddest feeling that she was unwelcome in this teahouse...<br><br><div align="center">*************************</div><br>The two monks finally arrived at Seven's position, and although one of them - a man dressed in robes marking him as a emulator of Pasiap - nodded briefly to her, a kindly smile on his face, the other - a woman whose bare head revealed the faintest hint of fiery stubble, perhaps indicating a Fire Aspect, and who wore the robes marking her as an emulator of Mela - simply strode past, her expression annoyed.<br><br>With <em>that</em> strange encounter out of her way, Seven was free to progress into the plaza more deeply, whereupon she spotted a youth speaking with perhaps the most strikingly beautiful woman she had ever seen, as the crowds around them watched and muttered to one another.<br><br><div class="spoiler_container"><div onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button" class="spoiler_header">AndyZ</div><div class="spoiler_body">Something about the youth, however, struck her as <em>off</em>... her instincts told her that there was something more to him than immediately met the eye.<br>((Watchman's Infallible Eye is activating here. She'll probably want to profile him because he may be trying to do something...))</div></div><br><div align="center">*************************</div><br>Meanwhile, Starlight's assent seemed to delight the young man, and he tossed his hands into the air with a positively beatific expression. "Most excellent!" He cried, throwing his head back with an exaggerated passion. He swiftly brought his arms down and folded them over his heart as he returned an earnest gaze back to Starlight. "Your servant would <em>never</em> dare approach you with such a proposition under normal circumstances, but your simply radiant beauty struck him too hard to resist."<br><br>He paused dramatically, his lips quirking at Starlight as if he shared with her a private jest, as if the two of them were putting on a performance with the rest of the crowd as an audience. The moment passed, however, and his beatific, somewhat silly smile returned quickly. "You see, o most lovely one, there is a problem I have. My aged uncle is most sick, and it is unlikely he shall survive more than a few months! I wish for him to see such a beauty as you before he goes to the final sleep, and would be eternally at your service if you would perform this favor for me."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Heirs to Creation - Exalted 3e</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>AndyZ</strong> on <strong>08-12-2015, 20:34:01</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(http://pre01.deviantart.net/993d/th/pre/f/2012/195/c/a/legend_of_the_five_rings_female_samurai_by_phantom_cz-d579ozg.jpg)</div><div class="spoiler_container"><div onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button" class="spoiler_header">Seven Words of Wisdom</div><div class="spoiler_body">Personal: 13/13 Peripheral: 29/33<br></div></div><br>Seven likewise nodded her respect to the monks, taking an unnecessary step out of the way when it was clear that they weren't actually coming to speak to her.&nbsp; She hadn't been entirely certain, but with anyone in a position of power, it proved preferable to give the benefit of the doubt in their favor.<br><br>Her eyes slipped away, glancing through the area when a stunningly beautiful woman exchanged words with a youth.&nbsp; It wasn't her that caught Seven's attention, though, but that nudging feeling that meant that her brain had locked in on something important.<br><br>A library could well be saturated with information, but it still took time to go through and catalog, finding out what was important instead of simply having the available knowledge immediately at hand.&nbsp; As much as Seven might prefer easy answers, she knew that life was never so simple.<br><br>She committed every inch of the boy to memory: weedy, mid-teens, wearing undyed wool without any wear and tear, the beginnings of a proper beard, the kind of flirtatious and overextravagant manner not uncommon to boys his age in front of pretty girls.&nbsp; Her gaze combed over him the way a talented barber searched every inch of a person's hair in order to seek any imperfection, whatever might stand out in her search to add this boy to the library of her mind, properly filed and detailed.<br><br>Barbers had it easy, of course: they had a particular design in mind and could simply change everything else to match.&nbsp; She had to learn everything, caught only in the silence of a handful of seconds of watching, listening, observing.&nbsp; It wasn't entirely the boy, either, for the crowd held whispers of conversation, their own little remarks to add footnotes and annotations to her rapidly-filling mental papyrus.<br><br><div class="spoiler_container"><div onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button" class="spoiler_header">Ten Magistrate Eyes +1 from Excellency: 2 successes</div><div class="spoiler_body">Roll Result: AndyZ rolled: 10d10<br>First Target Number: 7<br>Second Target Number: 10<br>Comment: Ten Magistrate Eyes +1E<br>Result: 3, 7, 5, 4, 3, 9, 6, 4, 4, 6, <br>For: 1, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, <br>Total: 2<br><br>Guess we get the bad rolls out of the way...<br></div></div>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Heirs to Creation - Exalted 3e</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Thufir Hawat</strong> on <strong>08-12-2015, 20:46:52</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote"><a href="https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=240516.msg11882142#msg11882142">Quote from: Winter King on 08-12-2015, 20:03:42</a></div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">Outside the plaza, near the martial arts demonstration, woman nodded once, sizing Krum up with an impassive gaze. "Hm... the Delzhan, the Delzhan... Oh! You're from way out west, are you?" She asked after a moment's thought, seemingly filing away his name for later use.<br><br>Abruptly, she seemed to recall her manners, and introduced herself. "I'm Starlit Brishah, commander of the Brighteyes. One of my people's over there." She gestured with her chin towards the demonstration, by way of explanation for her presence here. Her eyes flicked to the demonstration, and she winced slightly at a particularly brutal maneuver by one of the martial artists. "So," she continued thoughtfully, "what brings a Delzhan this far east? If you don't mind me asking." She added as an afterthought, apparently aware of how prickly the question could be, but unconcerned enough that she did not rush through the statement.<br></blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div>"West of here, indeed", Krum confirmed bowing. "I am honored to meet you, commander Brishah".<br>He looked at the demonstration, trying to ascertain the skill of the participants.<br>"You might say that I am also here for the same reason as you. It was time for my Warrior Journey, so I took it, like all Delzhan should. Of course", he added, explaining it to the foreign warrior, "non-riders don't take one, and remain non-riders".<br>His voice probably betrayed what the Delzhan thought of "those that can't remain on the horse's back by themselves", as they were called.<br>"Which one is your student?", he added, focusing extra attentionight on him or her.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Heirs to Creation - Exalted 3e</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>HairyHeretic</strong> on <strong>11-12-2015, 22:47:35</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Kheldaran filed the comment from the merchant away, giving the pair a somewhat befuddled smile. He might have a poke around their business sometime in the near future, and see what interesting secrets he could discover. Putting that thought aside, he began weaving slightly closer to the front of the crowd. He didn't intend to be in the front row, but close enough he'd be able to see what was happening.<br><br>His eyes slowly swept across the the Wali and his enterage, his observation masked by occasional drinks from his gourd and slightly off key humming of some unidentifiable tune ... or tunes ... it seemed to change every so often. The bodyguards looked competent enough, though without seeing them in action he couldn't be certain just how good they were. The Wali himself was somewhat less impressive, but that happened with all noble families ... sometimes the most capable individuals were sidelined to due the position, and what floated to the top was somewhat less impressive.<br><br>His lips moved behind the gourd as he watched the Wali speaking with the Immaculate beside him. <em>Now, who .. ah, of course. The guest of honour. Yes, I'm surprised she hasn't made an appearance as well. The Immaculates keep a tight enough grip on such things, I find it hard to believe that she wouldn't be here without an exceptionally good reason</em> he thought. He took another drink and looked around the square to guage the mood of the crowd itself. <em>I don't think we're in any danger of a riot just yet, but I suspect that unless matters change soon, there may be rumblings of discontent.</em>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Heirs to Creation - Exalted 3e</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>ChaoticSky</strong> on <strong>12-12-2015, 02:01:44</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Silk sighed inwardly, she had really been looking forward to a chance to sit and rest for a time, but it was not to be. <br><br>Though she was fully aware that as one of the Chosen, she could probably have the whole room eating out of her hand with her power, she firmly believed that it would be wrong to abuse her gifts for such base reasons. Now, planting seeds she might reap later, that was a entirely different matter. You never know when a friendly face might come in handy after all. <br><br>So she rose from her seat and let one of her active charms influence her body, the subtle magic effortlessly guiding her every movement into a sensual little dance. Raising her arms, she stretched out <em>facing towards the room, with alittle twist, just so</em>, before offering the elderly man a apologetic bow, <em>and flashing more cleavage than was entirely descent</em> in the process. Favouring the simply-attired woman with <em>a lascivious smile</em>, Silk inclined her head to indicate her acquiescence <em>and secret submission</em> to the slave's direction. Turning smoothly on her heel she walked out of the tea house, <em>each step a swaying, hypnotic invitation.</em><br><br>Once she stepped off, she looked both ways and then picked one at random, heading up the street. Flipping up her hood, she stopped letting the magic guide her as soon as she was out of sight of the teahouse. No point getting mobbed in the street.... again. <br><br><div class="spoiler_container"><div onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button" class="spoiler_header">Things and Rolls</div><div class="spoiler_body">Summary: At 2015-12-11 18:17:06, Darkling (uid: 6578) rolls: 13d10 tn1: 7 tn2: 10 Result: 12 (https://elliquiy.com/forums/dicebot.php?r=83103)<br><br>She uses, and later turns off, the passive sexualizing effect of Thousand Coustesan.<br><br>Seduction in the teahouse, targeted at everyone.<br>Full Result: Darkling rolled: 13d10<br>First Target Number: 7<br>Second Target Number: 10<br>Comment: Seductive roll to Instill a intimacy of 'Desire for Silk' using App7+Pres5+spec1 against -1 resolve due to Carnal Demi<br>Result: 8, 6, 4, 9, 10, 8, 10, 8, 7, 7, 10, 3, 6,<br>For: 2, 2, 2, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0,<br>Total: 12<br><br>Holy shit. :o<br></div></div>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Heirs to Creation - Exalted 3e</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Winter King</strong> on <strong>13-12-2015, 17:34:34</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Brishah looked at the Delzhan, her lips pursed as she spoke in a slightly unsteady voice. "I take it that your widely travelled ways have inured you to the idea of a woman who is a warrior, then?" Abruptly, she burst out in uproarious laughter, tossing her head back in amusement. After several moments, it died down and she looked again to Krum, apparently trying hard to repress a smile.<br><br>There was still a hint of a chuckle in her voice when she finally spoke in answer to his question. "Karam is not my student," she said, her breathing still slightly labored from laughter, "but he's just over there." She pointed at a barechested man with the darkly tanned skin of the Far South, who wore his hair in a short-cropped cut. At the moment, he was sitting outside the ring, just watching the engagement with a bland, enigmatic smile.<br><br><div class="spoiler_container"><div onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button" class="spoiler_header">Thufir Hawat</div><div class="spoiler_body">Krum recognizes one of the two current competitors as a practitioner of the style that strongly resembles the movements of a tiger - most probably Tiger Style. The other style triggers something in his memory, but he cannot quite put a name to it - the poor stylist looks like he is in dire straits, though Krum suspects there may be more to him than meets the eye.</div></div><br><div align="center">*************************</div><br>As Kheldaran wove deeper and closer to the front of the crowd, he noticed what was keeping the crowd back - more janissaries, loosely spread across the front of the crowd. These janissaries appeared to be of a lower rank than those guarding the Wali personally, as their breastplates were far less decorated (and possibly more practical). Counting quickly, he noticed about six of them spread in a large circle around the front of the temple of the River Goddess, each bearing a large, bronze axe and a grim expression that indicated they were simply <em>waiting</em> for an excuse to use it. Interspersed throughout them were several Immaculate monks, each looking much more serene than the janissaries beside them, and though none of them bore arms, each was as confident as the janissaries beside them.<br><br>At that point, a woman beside Kheldaran spoke softly. "These cowards aren't gonna to call the Mother River... they're afraid of what she might do to them if she <em>do</em> come, and what <em>we</em> would do to them if she <em>don't</em>."<br><br>Beside her, a man grunts. "And well they should be. Y'think that Akhetan can survive the dry season wit'out her blessin's? Naw. The wali an' his sort might, but us normal folk and our families? We'd be the first t'go."<br><br>Another man, standing in front of Kheldaran and the two chattering peasants, turned and hissed. "Shush! The Immaculates are our protectors and won't let the goddess renege on her bargain." His voice was less than certain, however, and Kheldaran noticed that a monk is passing through the crowd nearby, offering words of comfort and support as she did so.<br><br><div class="spoiler_container"><div onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button" class="spoiler_header">HairyHeretic</div><div class="spoiler_body">However, his instincts, always keenly aware of his surroundings, told him that something is... odd about the woman beside him. The way she spoke and prodded... It seemed like looking into her more actively might be in order - she had a goal in mind when she spoke, of <em>that</em>, Kheldaran was certain.<br>((Watchman's Infallible Eye is keying off of her. Something about her bears investigation.))</div></div><br><div align="center">*************************</div><br>As Silk made her incredibly sensuous demonstration and moved out, she felt the collective gaze of the teahouse's patrons grow hotter on her back and hips and butt. The expression of the slave as she passed was pure surprise with some measure of hunger, and she heard much muttering as she exited the teahouse (from the front, this time) - it seemed to her that at least <em>some</em> of those particular patrons would remember her tonight...<br><br><div class="spoiler_container"><div onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button" class="spoiler_header">ChaoticSky</div><div class="spoiler_body">At 2015-12-13 10:15:13, Winter King (uid: 47759) rolls: 2d10 tn1: 7 tn2: 10 Result: 0 (https://elliquiy.com/forums/dicebot.php?r=83135)<br>I gave you a 1 point stunt for that, and rolled it for you in turn. <strong>Also</strong>, you missed the -3 penalty for attempting to work the crowd. It's fine that you did - you would have succeeded anyways even if I knock off 3-5 successes (which would be manifestly unfair), so it doesn't matter in this case, but please do remember that only inspire actions do not have a -3 penalty when attempting to influence a group.<br>Of course, fair's fair, I forgot to add the difference between appearance and resolve to your dice pool, which would have negated (and more the -3 penalty)<br></div></div><br><br>The midday heat of Silk's patron struck her as soon as she exited the cool dimness of the tea house. Looking around her, she noticed a great crowd surrounding a dry and broken fountain - she was in the Plaza of the Great Fountain! Nearby, the crowd had parted to reveal a somewhat seedy looking youth and a stunningly beautiful woman. The youth seemed quite passionate, while the woman looked more bemused than anything else. In front of her, she heard the mutters of the crowd.<br><br>"Perhaps he's...."<br>"Is that Dennel Starseyes?"<br>"No, surely not..."<br>"But she's..."<br><br>No sooner had she moved a few steps away from the teahouse, that the crowd suddenly began to part, falling silent once more as they, too, stared at her with wide eyed admiration and desire. <br><br><div class="spoiler_container"><div onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button" class="spoiler_header">AndyZ</div><div class="spoiler_body">Seven Words of Wisdom noticed things in an instant that would take others hours to realize. Though the boy was dressed in undyed wool, as though he were a commoner, his hands had very few calluses - they were the hands of an educated or wealthy individual, not those of a peasant or laborer used to work. Her eyes were also drawn to his shoes, which were relatively clean - there was no particular dirt or grime there, as though he was very careful where he walked, or perhaps was borne by horse or palanquin. Putting the two together paints the picture of a relatively wealthy merchant who is attempting to appear as a less well off individual, though the why of it was yet unclear to her...<br>((You could probably use a read intentions action to determine that, though))<br><br>Seven also abruptly noticed that on the far side of the boy and the woman, the crowd was falling silent, and she quickly ascertained the reason for that - yet <em>another</em> gorgeous woman had stepped out of a nearby building and was (nominally) approaching the crowd. <br><br><div class="spoiler_container"><div onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button" class="spoiler_header">Stunt dice</div><div class="spoiler_body">I give you a 1 point stunt for that. Here's your roll<br>At 2015-12-13 10:22:17, Winter King (uid: 47759) rolls: 2d10 tn1: 7 tn2: 10 Result: 0 (https://elliquiy.com/forums/dicebot.php?r=83136)<br>Unfortunately, doesn't change much, but you got a lot of information anyways. :)</div></div></div></div>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Heirs to Creation - Exalted 3e</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>AndyZ</strong> on <strong>13-12-2015, 22:55:19</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(http://pre01.deviantart.net/993d/th/pre/f/2012/195/c/a/legend_of_the_five_rings_female_samurai_by_phantom_cz-d579ozg.jpg)</div><div class="spoiler_container"><div onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button" class="spoiler_header">Seven Words of Wisdom</div><div class="spoiler_body">Personal: 13/13 Peripheral: 29/33<br></div></div><br>For a moment, Seven's eyes caught upon the preternaturally beautiful woman, but she managed to draw herself back and look to the youth once more, taking a few steps to keep herself focused.&nbsp; She wasn't immune to aesthetic pleasures, but she didn't let herself simply give in when necessities were present.<br><br>The one good thing about her appearance was that the silken words of the young man no longer seemed as powerful.&nbsp; Seven herself had heard a number of such phrases; while lacking the absolute astonishment of appearance that others might possess, she was pleasant enough to look upon to have heard amateur poetry written in her name.<br><br>It was those memories which she called upon in order to examine his plans.&nbsp; Now that she understood him a little better, she had little doubt that he was unusual and deceptive in his own way.&nbsp; The obvious suggestion was that he might attempt to kidnap her for slavery, but she kept her mind open, ready to quickly dismiss any theory she might create which did not fit with the existent facts.<br><br><div class="spoiler_container"><div onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button" class="spoiler_header">Read Intentions 3s</div><div class="spoiler_body">Roll Result: AndyZ rolled: 7d10<br>First Target Number: 7<br>Second Target Number: 10<br>Comment: Read Intentions<br>Result: 6, 9, 6, 7, 2, 2, 7, <br>For: 1, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, <br>Total: 3<br></div></div>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Heirs to Creation - Exalted 3e</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Empyrean</strong> on <strong>14-12-2015, 04:04:37</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Starlight listened to the boy's words but she also listened to the murmurs of the crowd around her. Something about this just struck her as odd. People, even people enamored by great beauty, didn't just approach and spill details about their family in the midst of a huge crowd. It just triggered her suspicions. She noted Seven nearby, and another incredible beauty as well. This was getting a bit...noticeable.<br><br>"I will consider your request, young one. Tell me your name and if I agree to your request, I will find you after the festival. For now, I must meet with my friends and enjoy this most blessed of days."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Heirs to Creation - Exalted 3e</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Thufir Hawat</strong> on <strong>14-12-2015, 23:04:36</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote"><a href="https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=240516.msg11895981#msg11895981">Quote from: Winter King on 13-12-2015, 17:34:34</a></div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">Brishah looked at the Delzhan, her lips pursed as she spoke in a slightly unsteady voice. "I take it that your widely travelled ways have inured you to the idea of a woman who is a warrior, then?" Abruptly, she burst out in uproarious laughter, tossing her head back in amusement. After several moments, it died down and she looked again to Krum, apparently trying hard to repress a smile.<br><br>There was still a hint of a chuckle in her voice when she finally spoke in answer to his question. "Karam is not my student," she said, her breathing still slightly labored from laughter, "but he's just over there." She pointed at a barechested man with the darkly tanned skin of the Far South, who wore his hair in a short-cropped cut. At the moment, he was sitting outside the ring, just watching the engagement with a bland, enigmatic smile.<br><br><div class="spoiler_container"><div onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button" class="spoiler_header">Thufir Hawat</div><div class="spoiler_body">Krum recognizes one of the two current competitors as a practitioner of the style that strongly resembles the movements of a tiger - most probably Tiger Style. The other style triggers something in his memory, but he cannot quite put a name to it - the poor stylist looks like he is in dire straits, though Krum suspects there may be more to him than meets the eye.</div></div></blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div>"This is not Chiaroscuro. Different places have different rules for women and warriors", Krum shrugged. "I've known that for a long time, given that Chiaroscuro is a port city... The ships have guards, and those aren't all men. I wouldn't expect, not ask, that the rules here change to mirror the rules in Chiaroscuro in honour of my arrival. In fact, trying to ask for that would be presumptupous and rude beyond imagining. I hope you wouldn't accuse me of that?"<br>He looks at Karam and shrugs.<br>"Your man looks bored. I understand him - the Tiger stylist over there seems to have an advantage, indeed, and Tigers are generally boring when winning. They just keep attacking...what is Karam's style?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Heirs to Creation - Exalted 3e</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>HairyHeretic</strong> on <strong>14-12-2015, 23:49:14</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<em>Now just what pot might you be stirring?</em> Kheldaran thought, listening to the woman's words, and idly looking around the crowd, as if to try and see all that there was ahead of him. <em>If I were wanting to stir up trouble, this would seem a prime time and place to do it. Now, the question is, is she acting alone, or does she have a few friends spread throughout the crowd to assist in any spontaneous events?</em><br><br>He looked around again, appearing to pay no particular attention to anything, instead trying to spot or hear any other knots of dissent starting to forment. The one closest would give him a starting point, and if he was trying to start something, where would be have others? Close enough to lend some degree of support to each other, but not so close they would appear to be connected ...<br><br>He turned his attention to the one he had identified, watching her from the corner of his eye while he listened to her, to see what he could learn.<br><br><div class="spoiler_container"><div onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button" class="spoiler_header">OOC</div><div class="spoiler_body">Profile Character on the woman nearest, and maybe Case Scene after to see if there might be other conspirators about?</div></div>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Heirs to Creation - Exalted 3e</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Winter King</strong> on <strong>15-12-2015, 17:06:14</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				The youth looked delighted at Starlight's words, positively <em>beaming</em>. He swept an overwrought bow, declaiming in a loud voice. "O most beautiful of visions, your compassion warms the heart of this too-cynical youth. I shall compose a dozen lines about your beauty, and a dozen more about your compassion and your kindness!" He raised himself to an upright position, then gestured grandiosely. "I am called Harun Thrice-Blessed, o blessed one, and I shall be certain to await you at the Fountain," he sweeps vaguely towards the cracked and empty monument that had given its name to the plaza, "after the Festival." His voice filled exaggeratedly with innuendo, but it was highly unlikely that he intended it to be taken seriously.<br><br>With that, he swept a bow again, and turned to walk into the crowd, passing within an arm's reach of Seven Words of Wisdom. The crowd parts to let him through, but most remain still, staring somewhat stupidly at both Starlight and Silk (who had apparently escaped Harun's notice, being in the opposite direction from the one he left in). <br><br>Muttering filled the air once more, and a few people called out to Starlight.<br><br>"Hey! Can we join, too?"<br>"I want to see you again, as well!" <br><br>This seemed to cause the crowd to relax, as a collective chuckle passed through it, and many returned to go about their business, though almost all continued to cast their gazes at Starlight and Silk. <br><br>As the crowd returned to its somewhat more chaotic state, an Immaculate monk dressed in robes marked with symbols of Pasiap approached Starlight. "Thank you for your patience with him, child." She said, smiling warmly at the younger woman. "These people needed something to smile about."<br><br><br><div class="spoiler_container"><div onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button" class="spoiler_header">AndyZ</div><div class="spoiler_body">As Seven watched the youthful man - Harun, she began to get a sense of what he was seeking... and it was not what she might have initially expected from her own experiences. Rather than any real sexual desire, the young man seemed to be acting from a more... economic desire. He was not, in fact, seeking to seduce Starlight, but rather to induce her away from the crowds.<br><br><div class="spoiler_container"><div onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button" class="spoiler_header">Stunt Dice</div><div class="spoiler_body">At 2015-12-15 09:44:06, Winter King (uid: 47759) rolls: 2d10 tn1: 7 tn2: 10 Result: 3 (https://elliquiy.com/forums/dicebot.php?r=83182)<br>Got lucky this time! 1 point stunt, though.</div></div></div></div><br><div align="center">*************************</div><br>Brishah, nodded slowly, her grin unblemished by Krum's unenthusiastic reaction to her laughter. "No, no, I would never wish to accuse a Delzhan of discourtesy. That would be absurd! I'm confident in my abilities, yes, but I'm not <em>insane</em>." She paused, then snickered. "Well, not <em>usually</em> insane." <br><br>At Krum's question, she shrugged somewhat helplessly. "I cannot honestly say, to tell you the truth. I'm no martial artist. Of course, I can tell the differences between some of the styles, but I haven't asked, and he's been reticent when others have. I will say that he uses two short swords, though, except, of course, when he's fighting unarmed." She twitched her chin towards the competition, as if to say 'like right now.'<br><br><div align="center">*************************</div><br>As Kheldaran spent a few minutes examining the woman nearby to him, she moved slowly through the crowd, chatting with a few people at a time. Each time, the people appeared to grow somewhat more upset with the current circumstances, muttering darkly and glaring at the wali and his janissaries, only to look away whenever an Immaculate monk moved by.<br><br><div class="spoiler_container"><div onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button" class="spoiler_header">HairyHeretic</div><div class="spoiler_body">It takes him longer than he might have hoped, but Kheldaran begins to assemble a sense of who she was, once. The woman bears a few scars - scars that were far more suited to the battlefield than the field of crops. Her clothing was threadbare and worn, indicating a lower-class lifestyle, however, which, while not uncommon amongst the warriors in Akhetan, was rare to see on a <em>native</em> fighter. She definitely seems to have a goal, however, and is scrupulously avoiding Immaculate monks.<br><div class="spoiler_container"><div onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button" class="spoiler_header">Rolls &amp; OOC</div><div class="spoiler_body">In the future, feel free to roll the dice on your own - I'll just add the stunt dice, if there are any. In this case, I gave you a 1-point stunt - here's the profile character roll: At 2015-12-15 09:56:40, Winter King (uid: 47759) rolls: 6d10 tn1: 7 tn2: 10 Result: 5 (https://elliquiy.com/forums/dicebot.php?r=83183)<br></div></div></div></div><br>Having established that, Kheldaran spent another, longer period of time moving through the crowd and attempting to discern what, if anything, else might be amiss. Moving slowly, he caught sight of a young, somewhat seedy looking youth pushing through the crowd, and beyond that, a pair of the most gorgeous women he had ever seen, but was so distracted by this sight that he was not looking where he was going.<br><br>At this point, of course, he crashed headlong into another person, who did not move in the slightest, simply taking the impact with the tenacity of a mountain. Looking upon her, Kheldaran realized swiftly that this was perhaps a small problem - an Immaculate monk, and a Dragon-blooded at that, shoves him out of the way. "Stand aside, mortal!" She growled, her eyes flashing like coals.<br><br>Beside her, a male monk gently took Kheldaran by the shoulder. "Apologies, elder," he said, though the term held only a smidgeon of the respect it might have when used by a mortal, "but we are on important Immaculate business. Why don't you go take a seat over by the fountain, and rest?" He offered the Crowned Sun a gentle smile, and quietly pushed him towards that.<br><br><div class="spoiler_container"><div onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button" class="spoiler_header">HairyHeretic</div><div class="spoiler_body">Unfortunately, even as he searched throughout the crowd, he could not find any other signs of dissenters. Not only that, but it appeared he'd lost the woman who had cued him onto it in the beginning!<br><div class="spoiler_container"><div onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button" class="spoiler_header">Dice Roll</div><div class="spoiler_body">And here's the case scene roll: At 2015-12-15 10:01:44, Winter King (uid: 47759) rolls: 6d10 tn1: 7 tn2: 10 Result: 0 (https://elliquiy.com/forums/dicebot.php?r=83184) Not only a fail, but a botch! Eep.</div></div></div></div><br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Heirs to Creation - Exalted 3e</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>AndyZ</strong> on <strong>17-12-2015, 03:50:05</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(http://pre01.deviantart.net/993d/th/pre/f/2012/195/c/a/legend_of_the_five_rings_female_samurai_by_phantom_cz-d579ozg.jpg)</div><div class="spoiler_container"><div onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button" class="spoiler_header">Seven Words of Wisdom</div><div class="spoiler_body">Personal: 13/13 Peripheral: 29/33<br></div></div><br>The reasons, at this point, could be anything, but Seven had a good expectation, and she didn't like it.&nbsp; There were steps she could take, of course, and a few were sufficiently surreptitious not to draw attention to herself.<br><br>Her mind started to wander away with her: not an uncommon habit when she had suspicions.&nbsp; Her eyes never stopped glancing around at the festival, but the gears spun as if her head held a giant mill.&nbsp; If she was right, Starlight would likely hardly be the first, though she'd likely be one who could defend herself.<br><br>Still, it sounded like the matter would simply be avoided for the time being, and she stepped aside, the moment passed.&nbsp; All she did was pass a brief look to Starlight, expressing a degree of concern and healthy discretion.<br><br>The last event of the day should be soon, and Seven didn't want to miss it.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Heirs to Creation - Exalted 3e</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Empyrean</strong> on <strong>17-12-2015, 06:20:23</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote">Quote</div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">(http://pre14.deviantart.net/6061/th/pre/f/2013/271/a/f/kiana_by_glatzenschlumpf-d6och71.jpg)</blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br>Seeing the crowd relax back into it's former pattern was a good thing. Starlight liked being center of attention, but only under certain circumstances. A public square in the middle of the day with Immaculates and armed guards about wasn't her preferred spotlight. She made sure to laugh along with the crowd and then made sure to bow respectfully when the Immaculate monk approached her. <br><br>"I am glad I was able to brighten their day, Your Reverence. The Festival should be a time of joy for all." She caught Seven's look and made a note to go and speak to her and the other beautiful woman as soon as she could ditch this Immaculate.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Heirs to Creation - Exalted 3e</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Thufir Hawat</strong> on <strong>17-12-2015, 10:19:50</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote"><a href="https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=240516.msg11901969#msg11901969">Quote from: Winter King on 15-12-2015, 17:06:14</a></div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">Brishah, nodded slowly, her grin unblemished by Krum's unenthusiastic reaction to her laughter. "No, no, I would never wish to accuse a Delzhan of discourtesy. That would be absurd! I'm confident in my abilities, yes, but I'm not <em>insane</em>." She paused, then snickered. "Well, not <em>usually</em> insane." <br><br>At Krum's question, she shrugged somewhat helplessly. "I cannot honestly say, to tell you the truth. I'm no martial artist. Of course, I can tell the differences between some of the styles, but I haven't asked, and he's been reticent when others have. I will say that he uses two short swords, though, except, of course, when he's fighting unarmed." She twitched her chin towards the competition, as if to say 'like right now.'<br></blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div>Krum lifts a brow.<br><strong>"Really? You seem to me like someone who knows how to use that blade! Maybe you just haven't been paying attention to other schools..."<br></strong>He shruggs and turns.<br><strong>"It might be Fire Dragon Fist, or a host of others, really. It's easier to look and see."</strong><br><div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote">Quote from: Oh, Mighty Gm</div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">Tell me what I see when the guy is fighting, and roll for me if you must, in order to speed it up ;D!</blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Heirs to Creation - Exalted 3e</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>HairyHeretic</strong> on <strong>18-12-2015, 02:17:25</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Kheldaran gave the more polite monk a somewhat befuddled smiled and nodded in agreement. "I think I will do that." he said, slurring his words ever so slightly. "Perhaps something I ate has not agreed with me." Nodding once more he turned, swaying slightly and walked towards the fountain. <br><br><em>Well, that was embarrasing.</em> he thought as he made his way through the crowd. <em>I really shouldn't be so careless, particularly when there are so many Immaculates about. </em> He sat down at the edge of the fountain, apparently taking another swig from his gourd and looked around him, trying to spot the mysterious agitator once more.<br><br><em>Now, what's your game here. You're wanting to stir the crowd up, that much is obvious. Are you hoping to provoke a riot? Cause an over reaction amongst the guards and Dragonbloods to turn the populace against them? Probably effective, if it worked that way, but you'll get innocent people injured or killed if you do. Is that part of your plan? See just what it takes to provoke them? See how strongly they'll respond?</em><br><br>He continued to discretely scan the crowd, listening to guage their mood, and waiting to see what would develop. Perhaps the other unusual trio he'd seen were involved in this too .. now, where might they be?<br><br><div class="spoiler_container"><div onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button" class="spoiler_header">OOC</div><div class="spoiler_body">Perception/Awareness to see if I can see where the others went. 4 dice, no successes. This is a really interesting gourd.</div></div>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Heirs to Creation - Exalted 3e</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>ChaoticSky</strong> on <strong>20-12-2015, 17:14:18</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Tag: Seven, Starlight<br><hr>Silk only got the see the tail end of that meeting but she was amused by the flamboyant youth's antics towards the beautiful woman none the less. Shed gotten more than her fair share of attention from young men back in her villiage even before she was Chosen, so she knew what it was like. The appearance of a Monk soured her mood only alittle, but the Pasiapian didnt seem to have any malicious intent, she was merely misguided as most of her kind were. Not something to hold against her all on its own. Still, she knew how to get rid of the unfun ones...<br><br>With a moments thought, she stepped into the group and gave Starlight a quick, friendly hug, stepping back almost before the other woman could react. "Congratulations!" she almost cooed, "Your so lucky to get a wealthy patron! Gods know, I've been having terrible luck recently. You have to tell me your secret!-" She gave the woman wink, and then continued to chatter on about inane subjects until the monk wandered off. Dragon's know, Silk never met one who had any tolerance for inanity.<br><br>Once the Immaculate wandered off, Silk stopped almost mid-word and sighed, then favoured the two women with a smile and offered a bow, "Silken Rays Of Hope, at your service ladies."<br><br><br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Heirs to Creation - Exalted 3e</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Winter King</strong> on <strong>21-12-2015, 00:21:43</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="spoiler_container"><div onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button" class="spoiler_header">AndyZ</div><div class="spoiler_body">As Seven returned her attention to the festive crowd, she began to notice little things that were slightly... off about the whole situation. The people who were glowering at the wali, only to look away as soon as they noticed an Immaculate monk nearby. The subtle tinge of tension in the air as though something was gathering... and about to erupt. There was something beyond the normal anger at the wali here - something was going on.<br>(Infallible Watchman's Eye is triggering again. She'll want to case the scene, to see if there may be someone manipulating the events here, or attempting to.)</div></div><br><br><br>The Immaculate monk nodded once at Starlight, smiling warmly. "It is always good to know that there are those who care for their fellows, even in times of great privation." She said, the smile causing her eyes to crinkle into familiar laugh-lines - hers was a face that smiled often, Starlight could tell.<br><br>When Silk intervened, however, the monk bowed slightly, only starting briefly at the fact that two such beautiful women were in the same place. "I see you have met with your friend, child. I shall not take any more of your time than I already have. If ever you have need of me, though, just send word to Kharan." She named the monastery closest to Akhetan. "I am called Wind." She bowed once more, and left the two gorgeous women to each other.<br><br><div align="center">*************************</div><br><div class="spoiler_container"><div onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button" class="spoiler_header">Thufir Hawat</div><div class="spoiler_body">Krum recognized from the description that that was, indeed, almost certainly Fire Dragon Style, as practiced by Immaculate monks.<br><div class="spoiler_container"><div onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button" class="spoiler_header">OOC and roll</div><div class="spoiler_body">Oops, sorry dude. I totally missed that. Here's your roll, with 4m peripheral spent on the MA excellency: At 2015-12-20 17:02:19, Winter King (uid: 47759) rolls: 10d10 tn1: 7 tn2: 10 Result: 6 (https://elliquiy.com/forums/dicebot.php?r=83363)</div></div></div></div><br><br>"Oh, I know how to use this well enough," Brishah indicated her sword with an absent flick of her wrist, "but it's not in a formal <em>style</em>, you know? I know less about kata and whatnot than the average peasant!" She paused, laughing aloud once more. "Besides, I don't really care for <em>how</em> he cuts bandits open, only <em>that</em> he does so, so we can get paid, you know?" Her voice was light with giggles. She paused, laughter vanishing like dew in at desert's dawn. "And prying is unwise, when it might reveal something better left unsaid, after all..." Her voice carried the barest hint of a threat.<br><br><div align="center">*************************</div><br>As Kheldaran staggered away from the pair of Dragon-Blooded Immaculates, he heard the man speak to the woman in a slightly chiding voice. "You should be more compassionate with the mortals. It is not <em>their</em> fault we could not fulfill our duty..."<br><br>Her response was angry and rude, and did not bear thinking about the biological implications of.<br><br>At this point, Kheldaran passed from easy hearing of their words, and arriving at the fountain, he found several children clad in simple smocks playing on it, as though it were built to allow them to exercise and move constantly. Several adults sat on its edge, keeping eyes on the children as they chatted and verbally sparred with one another. Beyond the fountain, he still had a relatively easy time noticing the two very beautiful women, who were now speaking with one another, though he saw no signs of where the agitator nor those she had first spoken to had gotten off to.<br><br><div class="spoiler_container"><div onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button" class="spoiler_header">OOC</div><div class="spoiler_body">I hope that you meant the agitators with that roll - I'm not going to make you roll for seeking out the two lovely ladies, because I both want all of you in the same place, and because they're incredibly obvious.</div></div>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Heirs to Creation - Exalted 3e</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Empyrean</strong> on <strong>21-12-2015, 19:09:33</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Tag: Seven and Silken<br><br>The hug was a bit startling but it was over so quickly that she didn't have time to react. Still, it seemed to have the effect of chasing off the Immaculate. She inclined her head politely as the Pasiapian left. "I shall keep that in mind, Wind."<br><br>Once she had left, she turned her attention to the other beautiful woman. "Transcendent Starlight Beauty." She bowed a bit. "I must thank you for getting me out of that conversation. Have you met my acquaintance, Seven Words of Wisdom?" She gestured to the other woman.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Heirs to Creation - Exalted 3e</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>AndyZ</strong> on <strong>21-12-2015, 21:53:45</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(http://pre01.deviantart.net/993d/th/pre/f/2012/195/c/a/legend_of_the_five_rings_female_samurai_by_phantom_cz-d579ozg.jpg)</div><div class="spoiler_container"><div onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button" class="spoiler_header">Seven Words of Wisdom</div><div class="spoiler_body">Personal: 13/13 Peripheral: 24/33<br></div></div><br>Having the youth depart made Seven feel a little better, for the problem could be delegated to a later point.&nbsp; The pressing, though apparently not quite as imminent matter at hand was the delay.<br><br>As Seven started to glance around, though, the Immaculate left and Seven was suddenly introduced.&nbsp; Turning her head, she offered Silken a gentle smile, by no means immune to the beautiful woman's charm but her vision clouded by the focus on the situation.&nbsp; "A pleasure," she said, offering a faint incline of her head, then turned to Starlight.<br><br>"There are different ways that people look at objects of beauty."&nbsp; Her words were simple, lacking flattery or sophistication.&nbsp; She wasn't trying to convince Starlight of her own beauty, merely accepted it as fact when she offered her explanation.&nbsp; "Imagine a young girl captivated by the shimmering of a sapphire, while a merchant sees only the silver that the object is worth."&nbsp; A gentle shaking of her head made her hair slide back and forth through her shoulders, emphasizing concern.&nbsp; "That young boy has the eyes of a merchant, and we both know what makes a beautiful woman worth silver.&nbsp; In all likelihood, you're not the first he's met, though, which means accompanying him will likely lead to his other acquisitions."<br><br>Ordinarily, Seven was a little more friendly, but she clearly had a lot going through her mind right now.&nbsp; Concerns jumped several steps beyond what her lips had caught up to, and a sharp gaze moved through the crowds.&nbsp; Just how many Immaculates were here?&nbsp; Why had the ceremony not yet gone on as scheduled?&nbsp; If the river water was not offered with a blessing, how badly would it affect people?&nbsp; Would the Realm truly take such steps, knowing their power was waning?<br><br>The air felt thick, like the rise of an impending sandstorm, but she knew it was only in her mind, the way her senses told her things that didn't exist in order to leave her eyes and ears wide open for what was coming.<br><br><div class="spoiler_container"><div onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button" class="spoiler_header">Ten Magistrate Eyes 7s</div><div class="spoiler_body">Roll Result: AndyZ rolled: 11d10<br>First Target Number: 7<br>Second Target Number: 10<br>Comment: Ten Magistrate Eyes +2 excellency<br>Result: 10, 6, 4, 9, 8, 1, 10, 5, 9, 4, 5, <br>For: 2, 2, 1, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, <br>Total: 7<br><br>That's more like it.<br><br>Just realized Ten Magistrate Eyes was Mute, so I can easily use peri on it without worry.<br></div></div>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Heirs to Creation - Exalted 3e</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>HairyHeretic</strong> on <strong>22-12-2015, 01:37:23</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				With the disappearance of the mysterious agitator, Kheldaran turned his attention more fully to the other more notable individuals. His eyes widened as he took a good look at the two, no three now, women. The first was lovely, the second beautiful, but the third .. <em>That may be the most beautiful woman I have ever seen in my life</em> he thought. <em>Or possibly the world, for that matter.</em> he added, as an after-thought. He shook his head slightly and raised his gourd again, letting his gaze move around the crowd, but still keeping the women in view from the corner of his eye. <em>It's a pity this drunken old vagabond is here, and not someone more sophisticated</em> he thought, smiling behind the upraised gourd. <em>I don't think the ladies would appreciate Old Wolf's company overly much.</em><br><br><em>I wonder what brings you out here</em> he mused. <em>Are you connected to my mysterious warrior woman. You don't look like Immaculates, nor agitators for that matter.</em> He fished a handfull of small oranges out of a slightly-less-grubby-than-the-rest-of-him pouch, and started idly juggling them to amuse the children nearby, swaying and giving the appearance of almost losing his balance several times, before finishing by sending each one on an easy toss to each of the children, and peeling the last for himself. Under cover of his performance he took the opportunity to observe the stunning trio nearby.<br><br><div class="spoiler_container"><div onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button" class="spoiler_header">OOC</div><div class="spoiler_body">Dex/Performance for juggling, 3 successes<br>https://elliquiy.com/forums/dicebot.php?r=83390<br><br>Perception/Investigation for Profiling Character, 5 successes<br>https://elliquiy.com/forums/dicebot.php?r=83391<br><br>Is one roll enough or do I need to do one for each person?</div></div>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Heirs to Creation - Exalted 3e</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Winter King</strong> on <strong>22-12-2015, 20:41:56</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				As Kheldaran began to juggle, several of the children stopped their play, staring in awe at the oranges as they danced through the air, propelled by Kheldaran's skillful hands. Several adults also stopped, watching with some measure of amusement, one or two even tossing him several small denomination coins - worth only tiny portions of a dinar each. At his generosity, the children cheer, and begin to peel and devour their oranges, though one particularly generous child vanished, presumably to offer it to her parents.<br><br>He does hear a few grumbles as he juggles, though his focus on the task at hand causes him to disregard most of them. He does, however, get the feeling that there are rather more of them than when he first arrived...<br><br><div class="spoiler_container"><div onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button" class="spoiler_header">HairyHeretic OOC</div><div class="spoiler_body">Assume that Kheldaran can hear snippets of what the ladies are discussing - enough to get the general gist of what their conversation is, but perhaps without the explicit details. I'll let you know the result of your Profile Character after ChaoticSky posts.</div></div>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Heirs to Creation - Exalted 3e</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Thufir Hawat</strong> on <strong>23-12-2015, 03:38:40</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote"><a href="https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=240516.msg11917036#msg11917036">Quote from: Winter King on 21-12-2015, 00:21:43</a></div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote"><div class="spoiler_container"><div onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button" class="spoiler_header">Thufir Hawat</div><div class="spoiler_body">Krum recognized from the description that that was, indeed, almost certainly Fire Dragon Style, as practiced by Immaculate monks.<br><div class="spoiler_container"><div onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button" class="spoiler_header">OOC and roll</div><div class="spoiler_body">Oops, sorry dude. I totally missed that. Here's your roll, with 4m peripheral spent on the MA excellency: At 2015-12-20 17:02:19, Winter King (uid: 47759) rolls: 10d10 tn1: 7 tn2: 10 Result: 6 (https://elliquiy.com/forums/dicebot.php?r=83363)</div></div></div></div><br>"Oh, I know how to use this well enough," Brishah indicated her sword with an absent flick of her wrist, "but it's not in a formal <em>style</em>, you know? I know less about kata and whatnot than the average peasant!" She paused, laughing aloud once more. "Besides, I don't really care for <em>how</em> he cuts bandits open, only <em>that</em> he does so, so we can get paid, you know?" Her voice was light with giggles. She paused, laughter vanishing like dew in at desert's dawn. "And prying is unwise, when it might reveal something better left unsaid, after all..." Her voice carried the barest hint of a threat.<br></blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><strong>"What's the value of formality, when steel is clashing?",</strong> Krum shrugged, cheerfully ignoring the threat. <strong>"As you said, you don't care how he's fighting, but that he's good at it. Similarly, I would try to be no less open-minded, and consider you a peer, regardless of whether you fight with forms, or merely with common sense and your internal self."</strong><br>He looks at the guy again and smiles.<br><strong>"Forms are meant to be internalised, anyway",</strong> he adds at Brishahah. "<strong>What this says about you and me, I'm not sure."</strong>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Heirs to Creation - Exalted 3e</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Winter King</strong> on <strong>25-12-2015, 17:16:39</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Brishah smirked, shaking her head slightly as she watched the match finish with a shocking twist, as the one who had been on the defensive suddenly turned the tables and knocked the other competitor out of the ring. The competition seemed to have concluded, as many broke off from their positions watching it to move slowly to the south, where the Plaza of the Great Fountain awaited. <br><br>The woman remained silent as the short-haired man - Karam - approached the pair. He bowed his head briefly to Krum, looking over him once with a penetrating gaze, then turned his eyes to his commander. "Iron Lady." He said, his voice quiet. "I am finished."<br><br>"I can see that, Karam." Brishah said dryly, the faintest hint of a laugh leaking into her voice. "Go, then, enjoy the festival. I am having a conversation now." She flicked her hands slightly at him, shooing him away.<br><br>"Of course, Iron Lady." Karam bowed once more, looked to Krum with pensive eyes, then moved off into the crowds.<br><br>Brishah looked to Krum, then began to laugh, loud and long once again. For nearly a minute, in fact. The crowd around them, no longer distracted by the martial arts competition, began staring and muttering to one another at this, apparently somewhat wary of the seemingly strange, if not outright insane woman and the foreigner at her side. <br><br>Finally, she regained enough control of herself to speak again. "They're like children, sometimes, you know. Always looking for commands."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Heirs to Creation - Exalted 3e</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Thufir Hawat</strong> on <strong>26-12-2015, 12:19:35</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote"><a href="https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=240516.msg11927948#msg11927948">Quote from: Winter King on 25-12-2015, 17:16:39</a></div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">Brishah smirked, shaking her head slightly as she watched the match finish with a shocking twist, as the one who had been on the defensive suddenly turned the tables and knocked the other competitor out of the ring. The competition seemed to have concluded, as many broke off from their positions watching it to move slowly to the south, where the Plaza of the Great Fountain awaited. <br><br>The woman remained silent as the short-haired man - Karam - approached the pair. He bowed his head briefly to Krum, looking over him once with a penetrating gaze, then turned his eyes to his commander. "Iron Lady." He said, his voice quiet. "I am finished."<br><br>"I can see that, Karam." Brishah said dryly, the faintest hint of a laugh leaking into her voice. "Go, then, enjoy the festival. I am having a conversation now." She flicked her hands slightly at him, shooing him away.<br><br>"Of course, Iron Lady." Karam bowed once more, looked to Krum with pensive eyes, then moved off into the crowds.<br><br>Brishah looked to Krum, then began to laugh, loud and long once again. For nearly a minute, in fact. The crowd around them, no longer distracted by the martial arts competition, began staring and muttering to one another at this, apparently somewhat wary of the seemingly strange, if not outright insane woman and the foreigner at her side. <br><br>Finally, she regained enough control of herself to speak again. "They're like children, sometimes, you know. Always looking for commands."<br></blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div>Krum bowed just as slightly, though he moved from the waist.<br>"The Laughing Iron Lady", he mused. "Well, now we know you have earned a name, and we know you want to talk to me... I am bound to wonder, though - what, in Pasiap's name, has attracted your attention to the humble person of a martial wanderer? Do you want to see my skills? Is it that I'm wandering by myself, and thus, not seeming to need any orders from anyone?"<br>He smirked.<br>"I must agree that this condition is well-known to exist among those whose training was concluded in a too formal manner."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Heirs to Creation - Exalted 3e</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>ChaoticSky</strong> on <strong>26-12-2015, 16:10:12</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Tag: Seven, Starlight<br><hr>Silk cast her smile at the other woman, it was always nice to meet other people, especially ones who were not at all fond of Immaculates. "I have not met her before! But I'm sure it will also be a pleasure~" <br><br>The zenith was about to carry on the smalltalk, when Seven began speaking about the departed merchant, warning Starlight about his intentions. The words put a frown to Silk's face, "That poor boy." she muttered softly, her gaze wandering in the direction that he had left in, "If thats true, then hell never really appreciate anything. Always wanting more and never having enough. You cant even help people like that, because any attempt to open their eyes gets seen as a attempt to separate them from their precious coin. By the time hes old enough to realize his mistake, it will probably be too late. Besides-" Her voice turned wry, "If hes hoping to acquire the services of a beautiful woman <em>as a bargaining chip</em>, rather than for <em>personal</em> reasons, then he has bigger problems I think, no?" she asked, wiggling her eyebrows suggestively.<br><br>Silk looked around the crowd and then back to her new friends, "So, things are kinda going off script huh?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Heirs to Creation - Exalted 3e</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Empyrean</strong> on <strong>26-12-2015, 19:07:37</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote">Quote</div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">(http://pre14.deviantart.net/6061/th/pre/f/2013/271/a/f/kiana_by_glatzenschlumpf-d6och71.jpg)</blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br>In her time here in Dunlat she had learned that Seven was a wise woman, in ways she was not. She trusted her assessment in things like this, so she nodded. "Then an investigation is in order. And if there is more than meets the eye, perhaps I will be the last beautiful woman he takes to his place." Her voice was soft and low, with no anger, just determination. "I would appreciate your assistance in this Seven."<br><br>She nodded at Silk's words. "The people seem tense. I've noticed this. So many Immaculates, so many guards, and I get the feeling that the ceremony is stretching on without a conclusion."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Heirs to Creation - Exalted 3e</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>AndyZ</strong> on <strong>26-12-2015, 19:28:28</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(http://pre01.deviantart.net/993d/th/pre/f/2012/195/c/a/legend_of_the_five_rings_female_samurai_by_phantom_cz-d579ozg.jpg)</div><div class="spoiler_container"><div onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button" class="spoiler_header">Seven Words of Wisdom</div><div class="spoiler_body">Personal: 13/13 Peripheral: 24/33<br></div></div><br>At another time, with less going on, Seven could be more talkative.&nbsp; At the moment, however, her eyes darted about through the crowd, ignoring the words of the other two not through malice or disdain but because of the imminence of everything else that was going on.&nbsp; She just wasn't a talented multitasker, and other events required her attention.<br><br>Surreptitiously she gestured to some people, a scarred warrior woman, a man with a cloak, and three others who were all quite agitated and looked ready to act.<br><br>"What we need most of all," she explained, "is for the goddess to show and defuse this situation before it gets too heated.&nbsp; I doubt the wali is capable of doing so, however, or else it would have been done by now.&nbsp; I also doubt the Immaculates can provide enough water to keep this city thriving without her assistance."<br><br>So having said, she took two steps towards the wali, then stopped.&nbsp; Shifting of her body weight suggested agitation of her own, not overtly shown on her face but also not exceptionally difficult to read.&nbsp; "If a riot does break out, an overt distraction to make people stop and stare would be appreciated."&nbsp; Then she spun back towards the wali.<br><br>Unless otherwise stopped, she'd move up close enough to protect him.&nbsp; If she had the chance to speak to him, he might shed more light on the situation, but more likely she'd have to save his life before such an opportunity would arrive.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Heirs to Creation - Exalted 3e</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Winter King</strong> on <strong>26-12-2015, 22:34:59</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<br>Even as Seven spoke, the Plaza began to fill with more and more muttering a, and now that their attention had been drawn to the tension and the troublemakers, Silk and Starlight both began to feel the tension in the air - as though a thick cloud of roiling emotions had descended upon the crowd, which began jostling slightly more frequently. The Immaculate monks redoubled their efforts at speaking with individuals - some monks calling people out from the crowd by name, asking questions about them, and generally venting the frustrations that were building, but more often stern monks gazed unerringly at those who seemed to be upset, occasionally ejecting them from the area with seeming-gentle hands.<br><br><div align="center">*************************</div><br><div class="spoiler_container"><div onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button" class="spoiler_header">HairyHeretic</div><div class="spoiler_body">After taking several long minutes observing the mysteriously beautiful woman, Kheldaran began to notice certain things that were not immediately obvious. Firstly, she seemed genuinely concerned about others - a boy, he thought - as well as being a Dun-lati native. To him, this suggested that she had some experience with the unique Immaculate deviation of Dun-lat, the Listeners. Perhaps she had been one? Whatever the case, she was not wearing their robes now. She also seemed to have deliberately induced the Immaculate monk who had confronted the <em>other</em> beautiful woman away - this seemed to indicate either a compassion, for the other woman may have been uncomfortable, or a dislike of Immaculates. Perhaps both. She had come from the eastern edge of the Plaza, where a teahouse for the elite sat. In his other guises, Kheldaran had visited once or twice, though the use of slaves to staff the teahouse had disturbed him at that time. Perhaps this indicated she was wealthy, despite what her bearing had seemed to indicate?<br><br><br><div class="spoiler_container"><div onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button" class="spoiler_header">OOC</div><div class="spoiler_body">At 2015-12-26 15:05:55, Winter King (uid: 47759) rolls: 2d10 tn1: 7 tn2: 10 Result: 0 (https://elliquiy.com/forums/dicebot.php?r=83531)<br>Your two stunt dice don't do anything here, unfortunately, but you got some info there, I hope.</div></div></div></div><br><br>Closer to the wali (though only marginally, now) than the women, Kheldaran noticed several of the children's parents very deliberately (as though not to appear in a hurry) take their children and move away from the Fountain, and presumably out of the plaza from there. Having finished his observation, he took quick stock of his surroundings, and noticed that behind him, closer to the wali, Shakar's janissaries beginning to become increasingly tense - the ones closest to the crowd were hefting their bronze axes idly, the implicit threat seeming to find its mark in more than a few Akhetani. Many seemed to be leaving the plaza before the unhappy atmosphere grew yet uglier, but at the same time, Kheldaran could tell that many were growing increasingly upset by the janissaries' threats, perhaps upset enough to riot.<br><br><br><div align="center">*************************</div><br>Brishah gave Krum an arch look, her eyes laughing at his question. "Is it not simply that the... unusual nature of your garment," she gestured at his Delzhan clothing, "that first interested me, dear boy?" She folded her arms under her breasts, adopting a mock-stern tone of voice. "Come now, after your comments on the nature of those whose training was completed too formally I expect a little bit of reflection!" <br><br>Dropping the act, she grew serious. "Well, now that you've mentioned it, I <em>am</em> slightly curious about your skills..." She trailed off, thoughtfully chewing her lower lip. "Though here and now is hardly the time for such a demonstration, I should think. But you do look like you know how to handle yourself, at least to look at you now." Her lips curved upwards in a smile that held only a hint of jest. "If you're interested in joining my lads and lasses, you'll need to show more than that, though." She shook her head. "I've heard tales of the Delzhan, and not all of them are good. But in any case, surely you ought to be off enjoying the festival than just sitting and chatting with an old woman like myself?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Heirs to Creation - Exalted 3e</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Thufir Hawat</strong> on <strong>27-12-2015, 01:02:01</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote"><a href="https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=240516.msg11930958#msg11930958">Quote from: Winter King on 26-12-2015, 22:34:59</a></div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">Brishah gave Krum an arch look, her eyes laughing at his question. "Is it not simply that the... unusual nature of your garment," she gestured at his Delzhan clothing, "that first interested me, dear boy?" She folded her arms under her breasts, adopting a mock-stern tone of voice. "Come now, after your comments on the nature of those whose training was completed too formally I expect a little bit of reflection!" <br><br>Dropping the act, she grew serious. "Well, now that you've mentioned it, I <em>am</em> slightly curious about your skills..." She trailed off, thoughtfully chewing her lower lip. "Though here and now is hardly the time for such a demonstration, I should think. But you do look like you know how to handle yourself, at least to look at you now." Her lips curved upwards in a smile that held only a hint of jest. "If you're interested in joining my lads and lasses, you'll need to show more than that, though." She shook her head. "I've heard tales of the Delzhan, and not all of them are good. But in any case, surely you ought to be off enjoying the festival than just sitting and chatting with an old woman like myself?"<br></blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div>Krum smiled.<br>"So it <em>is</em> a job offer. Well, my people value frankness, so I'm going to show my skills with hooksword and warfan, as soon as you deem it suitable", he bowed. <em>Challenge understood and accepted. Bring on your fighter.</em><br>"Surely the bad things you've heard about the Delzhan came from our enemies, though. Alas, every virtuous people is bound to have those as well!", he observed.<br>"I am merely trying to live up to my people's greatness."<br>Once he had addressed what he felt were the important points, he chuckled.<br>"But what I don't understand is...how could you call yourself an old woman? You could be more charitable to yourself! What if I said I was into strong women?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Heirs to Creation - Exalted 3e</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>HairyHeretic</strong> on <strong>02-01-2016, 15:19:42</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Kheldaran could feel the tension in the square building, like an approaching storm. <em>I might be able to talk it down</em>, he thought, looking at the efforts of the monks to diffuse the situation, and the increasing agitation of the guards, <em>but I suspect it's a little too late for that. Damn that woman. What was she trying to set off here.</em> He shook his head, his gaze coming back to the trio a short distance away. <em>And how do you all fit in to this little puzzle? Since the source has vanished on me, perhaps you will show me the part you play instead?</em><br><br>He rose from his spot at the fountain and made his way across to the trio of women, apparently nothing more than an amiable and slightly drunk old vagabond. Swaying just a little as he halted at a conversational distance, he smiled and gave a small bow towards them. "Many apologies for intruding on your conversation, oh constellation of celestial beauty." he said, voice low, and gaze moving from one to the next, before coming to a halt on Silk, "But I feel that trouble approaches, like a storm just beyond sight. While philosophers would discuss the contrast of beauty and ugliness in one, I fear that the ugliness I feel may erupt here would not be offset by your beauty. I hope that you might take heed of my water and the trouble I feel in my words." He paused for a moment, eyes darting to one side and lips moving as he seemed to mentally replay his last words, before turning his gaze back to the women again.&nbsp; "Uh ... or something like that anyway. But we should still go. Yes, we should go."<br><br>He reached into his pouch and held his hand outwards them. "Would anyone like an orange?"<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Heirs to Creation - Exalted 3e</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Winter King</strong> on <strong>03-01-2016, 18:17:46</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				As Seven moved through the increasingly rowdy crowd, she noticed there were increasing numbers of people were "idly" checking knives or rolling their shoulders - a preparation for strenuous physical activity, most likely. Approaching the janissaries who blocked the crowd, she, like Kheldaran before her, noticed that they, too, were hefting their bronze axes meaningfully, the implicit threat contributing to the rapidly plummeting mood of the assembled Akhetani.<br><br>Behind them, she saw the wali exchanging curt words with the Immaculate monk who had stayed by his side earlier, though she could not hear what they were over the sounds of the crowd, before turning to one of his retinue and speaking swiftly to her. She darted into the temple.<br><br>"Halt!" The harsh voice of one of the janissaries came as she approached. "You - wait. You are Seven Words of Wisdom, are you not?" The golden-skinned slave inclined his head in polite recognition, even as Seven heard the hushed whispers of the crowds behind her reached her ears. No doubt they were speculating on her reasons for approaching the wali. <br><br>The janissary lowered his voice, speaking quickly as he lifted one hand from his axe in a placating gesture. "Look, mistress, I understand that you're very wise an' all that, but the wali is about to call for the goddess. He <em>must</em> not be disturbed." The young man looked at her with a sort of gruff sincerity as he dropped his hand back to the axe.<br><br>Indeed, even as the janissary spoke, one of the wali's retinue brought out a great drum, nearly as broad around as her arms could reach, upon which a large slave began to beat. The drumbeats filled the Plaza, and the muttering ceased, as all waited with bated breath. The ceremony was truly about to begin.<br><br><div align="center">*************************</div>"Well, I shall have to look forwards to your demonstration, then." Brishah replied with a wry smile, shaking her head in amusement. "All tales have some truth to them, though, do they not? It's all a matter of <em>where</em>."<br><br>At Krum's compliment Brishah laughed once more, long and hard. Though it no longer drew quite the same stares that it had before, that was due more to the area around the pair having cleared out than any particular acceptance amongst the Akhetani. Shaking her head, she finally managed to get some words out. "You flatter me, Crooked Crane, you truly do. But appearances can be deceiving - a blade might look ready for battle, only to snap at its first use."<br><br><div class="spoiler_container"><div onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button" class="spoiler_header">OOC</div><div class="spoiler_body">At 2016-01-03 11:11:39, Winter King (uid: 47759) rolls: 8d10 tn1: 7 tn2: 10 Result: 1 (https://elliquiy.com/forums/dicebot.php?r=83955)<br>Rolled Perception+Awareness, spending 4m peripheral as you requested. Unfortunately, it's not quite enough. No worries, though. Brishah heard it.</div></div><br>Abruptly, she quieted, straightening and looking to the south. "Drumbeats. The wali's begun the ceremony, then." Her smile grew peculiar, becoming an expression fit more for a great cat that had spotted prey than a woman. "Trouble's afoot, no doubt. You can feel it in the air. Look." She gestured towards the west, where a number of people were moving northwards from the Plaza. "They see where it is going."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Heirs to Creation - Exalted 3e</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Empyrean</strong> on <strong>04-01-2016, 22:41:02</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Starlight could tell the mood of the crowd was turning ugly. Whatever was supposed to happen clearly wasn't, and both the citizens and the guards were getting nervous. It made her want to reach for her needles, but she wouldn't. Not yet. She was about to suggest to Seven and the new woman Silk that they leave, but then Seven went to speak to the Wali's guards.<br><br>She looked at Keldaran when he approached and nodded once. "Yes we should. But not without Seven." She gestured to where the scholar had gone. "Let us collect her and go." She'd start towards Seven's position.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Heirs to Creation - Exalted 3e</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>ChaoticSky</strong> on <strong>05-01-2016, 19:44:36</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Silk smiled at the man as she accepted a orange, and absently began peeling it with her thumb nail, the motion well practised. If he was still trying to learn as much as he could about her, then he would likely twig into the fact that she probably didnt originate in high society, where her snacks would be pre-peeled by slaves before being served to her. "Do not worry about me." She said reassuringly, "I'm tougher than I look!" the Zenith added, striking a especially hammed up heroic pose, orange in fist.<br><br>Her levity was short lived however as she looked over the crowd again, Silks expression slowly dropping into a unhappy moue. Sure this was <em>sorta</em> what she wanted but she didnt really want anyone to get hurt. Realistically however she realized that the people were unlikely to let the goddess's failure to appear go without a hitch. She was forced to console herself that the people would be happier and better off once she guided them away from the lies of the Immaculates and their lies.&nbsp; <br><br>Starlight seemed to agree with the drunk poet however and Silk acquiesced, even though she wasnt particularly worried about the crowd herself, she was a Chosen of the Sun. She had to keep in mind that the mortals around her were not so durable. I mean, its not like she was surrounded by other Chosen of the Sun or something like that. <br><br>Silk nodded her agreement and slipped a arm through the drunk's before following Starlight, and pulling the man along with her. No way she was leaving such a nice man to get trampled or hurt.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Heirs to Creation - Exalted 3e</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Thufir Hawat</strong> on <strong>09-01-2016, 01:22:09</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote"><a href="https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=240516.msg11953050#msg11953050">Quote from: Winter King on 03-01-2016, 18:17:46</a></div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote"><div align="center">*************************</div>"Well, I shall have to look forwards to your demonstration, then." Brishah replied with a wry smile, shaking her head in amusement. "All tales have some truth to them, though, do they not? It's all a matter of <em>where</em>."<br><br>At Krum's compliment Brishah laughed once more, long and hard. Though it no longer drew quite the same stares that it had before, that was due more to the area around the pair having cleared out than any particular acceptance amongst the Akhetani. Shaking her head, she finally managed to get some words out. "You flatter me, Crooked Crane, you truly do. But appearances can be deceiving - a blade might look ready for battle, only to snap at its first use."<br><br><div class="spoiler_container"><div onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button" class="spoiler_header">OOC</div><div class="spoiler_body">At 2016-01-03 11:11:39, Winter King (uid: 47759) rolls: 8d10 tn1: 7 tn2: 10 Result: 1 (https://elliquiy.com/forums/dicebot.php?r=83955)<br>Rolled Perception+Awareness, spending 4m peripheral as you requested. Unfortunately, it's not quite enough. No worries, though. Brishah heard it.</div></div><br>Abruptly, she quieted, straightening and looking to the south. "Drumbeats. The wali's begun the ceremony, then." Her smile grew peculiar, becoming an expression fit more for a great cat that had spotted prey than a woman. "Trouble's afoot, no doubt. You can feel it in the air. Look." She gestured towards the west, where a number of people were moving northwards from the Plaza. "They see where it is going."<br></blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div>"True", Krum shrugged. "Then again, I've seen more people killed by rusty blades that looked ready to snap, than people dead because their blades snapped in the wrong moment..."<br>He looked in the same direction as she pointed to.<br>"The wali? What would he be up to? Ah well, doesn't matter", he threw back his head and laughed, too - hard, like Brishah, though not nearly as long.<br>"Trouble, you say. And now we two are going to do the sensible thing, and run towards it, right? It's sensible for warriors. After all, isn't that what we exist to do?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Heirs to Creation - Exalted 3e</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>AndyZ</strong> on <strong>09-01-2016, 01:38:23</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(http://pre01.deviantart.net/993d/th/pre/f/2012/195/c/a/legend_of_the_five_rings_female_samurai_by_phantom_cz-d579ozg.jpg)</div><div class="spoiler_container"><div onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button" class="spoiler_header">Seven Words of Wisdom</div><div class="spoiler_body">Personal: 13/13 Peripheral: 24/33<br></div></div><br>Seven wasn't sure what the beautiful women were doing, only that they were following.&nbsp; She had far too much going through her mind at the moment, though, especially with the imminent threat.<br><br>Her eyes spun to the janissary, concerned, but also relieved that things were about to begin.&nbsp; Hopefully this could be solved rather simply, but it was difficult to tell.<br><br>In more peaceful times, Seven liked to hear every side of an argument in order to judge its merits.&nbsp; She would like to speak with those who would start a riot, understand their reasoning and see if they had some valuable purpose.&nbsp; However, there wasn't time.&nbsp; Besides, often, those with the need to resort to violence did so only because they lacked the proper logic to get something done.<br><br>She folded her hands together in a bow, lowering her voice, and using a single finger to point through her own body to various crowd members.&nbsp; "Warrior-scarred woman building a group of vigilantes.&nbsp; Man with something unusual under his cloak who's been watching you.&nbsp; A pair of men and a woman with knives who do everything they can not to watch the wali.&nbsp; They intend to start a riot."&nbsp; She straightened, expecting at least one would have noticed her but recognizing the necessity of alacrity.&nbsp; "As it is written, an opened eye is worth a scale of blades."<br><br>So having said, she stepped away.&nbsp; If her hypothesis was correct, the goddess would not appear, but only specific people already knew that or fully understood why.&nbsp; If they were properly imprisoned before starting a riot, she could speak to them later and find out the full story.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Heirs to Creation - Exalted 3e</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Empyrean</strong> on <strong>09-01-2016, 18:23:41</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Starlight caught the tail end of the conversation and gently tugged on Seven's sleeve. "If what you say is true, it might be time for us to depart." She looked at her fellow Solar and new friend with some concern. "You have done what you can here and now we should clear the area in case you are right."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Heirs to Creation - Exalted 3e</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Winter King</strong> on <strong>10-01-2016, 21:04:42</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Brishah looked at the Delzhan, her brow arching in an expression that told him not to state the obvious. " 'Course we're going towards the trouble. How else are we going to know what's going on there?" She smirked, her long legs already taking her towards the street that led to the Plaza. As the Iron Lady ducked past vendors and pedestrians, she grabbed one or two sturdy looking youths, talked to them briefly, then released them. The youths took off in differing directions, likely serving as messengers for the mercenary leader.<br><br>As the pair arrived at the Plaza, the first thing that Krum noticed was a <em>shockingly</em> beautiful woman, linking arms with a ragged old drunkard nearby. The next thing that struck him was the incredible air of tension - people were cracking knuckles and readying weapons unobtrusively. The air was tense with the preparation for a fight... or a riot.<br><br><br>Meanwhile, by the wali, the janissary arched his brow at Seven's words, but hastily looked at the individuals she indicated, frowning. "With all due respect, mistress, if we move in there, there will be a riot anyways. My brothers and sisters are <em>warriors</em>, not enforcers. If what you say is true, then we're best served staying where we are." He looked at her once more, his expression flattening. Starlight's words cause him to nod. "You really ought to go, mistress." His voice was polite, but firm. He would not be moved from his position.<br><br>The wali, apparently focused on the ritual, took up a soft chant in Dragontongue, rising and falling as he bowed towards the Mother Goddess' temple. Finally, he rose. "Kara-kim! Answer the prayers of your children and grant them your blessings!" He called, his voice squeaking slightly towards the end. The crowd froze, stopping its muttering, its moving. For long moments, nearly a minute, all was still.<br><br>Then, from within the crowd, a voice called. "She's not coming! She's not coming, and it's because of <em>you</em>, Shakar! You and yer toadying ways to them as destroyed us!"<br><br>With that, the crowd roared their agreement, accusations flowing freely from hundreds of throats. The Immaculate monks interspersed throughout the crowd looked at one another and moved towards the wali with all due swiftness, abandoning their role in the crowd in favor of protecting the powerful. <br><br>"My children will starve without the harvest!"<br>"Yer not gonna suffer, 'less we make ya!"<br>"Get 'im!"<br><br>And with that, the riot began.<br><br><div class="spoiler_container"><div onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button" class="spoiler_header">Join Battles of NPCs</div><div class="spoiler_body">Scarred Agitator: At 2016-01-10 13:57:27, Winter King (uid: 47759) rolls: 6d10 tn1: 7 tn2: 10 Result: 0 (https://elliquiy.com/forums/dicebot.php?r=84252)<br>Total: 3<br>Armed &amp; Cloaked Agitator: At 2016-01-10 13:59:06, Winter King (uid: 47759) rolls: 6d10 tn1: 7 tn2: 10 Result: 3 (https://elliquiy.com/forums/dicebot.php?r=84253)<br>Total: 6<br>Female DB Monk: At 2016-01-10 14:01:30, Winter King (uid: 47759) rolls: 8d10a3 tn1: 7 tn2: 10 Result: 5 (https://elliquiy.com/forums/dicebot.php?r=84254)<br>Male DB Monk: At 2016-01-10 14:02:14, Winter King (uid: 47759) rolls: 8d10a3 tn1: 7 tn2: 10 Result: 7 (https://elliquiy.com/forums/dicebot.php?r=84255)</div></div><br><br><div class="spoiler_container"><div onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button" class="spoiler_header">Initiative Order</div><div class="spoiler_body">Male DB Monk: 7<br>Armed &amp; Cloaked Agitator: 6<br>Female DB Monk: 5<br>Scarred Agitator: 3<br>Mob: 3 (inert)<br>Monks &amp; Janissaries: 3 (inert)</div></div><br><br>Before the crowd can reach them, one of the Dragon-Blooded monks snatched the ahold of the wali, and leapt onto the temple with him, taking off with ease as the other two prepared for battle.<br><br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Heirs to Creation - Exalted 3e</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>AndyZ</strong> on <strong>11-01-2016, 08:09:27</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(http://pre01.deviantart.net/993d/th/pre/f/2012/195/c/a/legend_of_the_five_rings_female_samurai_by_phantom_cz-d579ozg.jpg)</div><div class="spoiler_container"><div onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button" class="spoiler_header">Seven Words of Wisdom</div><div class="spoiler_body">Personal: 13/13 Peripheral: 18/33<br></div></div><br>As Starlight tugged on Seven's sleeve, she glanced back to her with a look of compassion, understanding, but no less determination.<br><br>"In these lands, in the desert, water is life itself."&nbsp; She used the hand not being tugged by Starlight to draw her knife, keeping it at hand but palmed to defend as necessary.&nbsp; "If the wali is killed, the death toll for the city will be far worse than anything else one might expect.&nbsp; Passion may rule the moment, but blood and tears won't nourish the crops or keep people alive."<br><br>She glanced away from Starlight, back to the crowd.&nbsp; Although she spoke, her eyes were bouncing through the crowd for the first person she expected to break through.&nbsp; "What we have to do is get the goddess to come, and this isn't going to do it.&nbsp; I don't know if you can make that happen, or even if you can get people to calm down, but far better to stand here and make a difference than to die the slow, wasting death of thirst."<br><br>A slow, deep breath proved how resolute she was not to let this city die out in such a pointless and horrible fashion.&nbsp; "Perhaps a speech that could rally everyone into a group prayer, or..."<br><br>It was only then that she realized that it was too late for Starlight to get away.&nbsp; Withdrawal had not, after all, really factored into her considerations.&nbsp; "I'm not a great defender, but I should be able to keep them from dragging you off."<br><br><div class="spoiler_container"><div onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button" class="spoiler_header">Initiative 9s</div><div class="spoiler_body">Roll Result: AndyZ rolled: 10d10<br>First Target Number: 7<br>Second Target Number: 10<br>Comment: <br>Result: 8, 9, 10, 4, 7, 9, 9, 7, 9, 5, <br>For: 2, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 0, 0, <br>Total: 9<br><br>2 peripheral motes spent to augment, and 2 stunt dice.&nbsp; If I don't make the stunt, I'll cross over another 2 motes.<br></div></div>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Heirs to Creation - Exalted 3e</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Thufir Hawat</strong> on <strong>11-01-2016, 16:00:30</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote"><a href="https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=240516.msg11975349#msg11975349">Quote from: Winter King on 10-01-2016, 21:04:42</a></div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">Brishah looked at the Delzhan, her brow arching in an expression that told him not to state the obvious. " 'Course we're going towards the trouble. How else are we going to know what's going on there?" She smirked, her long legs already taking her towards the street that led to the Plaza. As the Iron Lady ducked past vendors and pedestrians, she grabbed one or two sturdy looking youths, talked to them briefly, then released them. The youths took off in differing directions, likely serving as messengers for the mercenary leader.<br><br>As the pair arrived at the Plaza, the first thing that Krum noticed was a <em>shockingly</em> beautiful woman, linking arms with a ragged old drunkard nearby. The next thing that struck him was the incredible air of tension - people were cracking knuckles and readying weapons unobtrusively. The air was tense with the preparation for a fight... or a riot.<br><br>And with that, the riot began.<br><br><div class="spoiler_container"><div onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button" class="spoiler_header">Join Battles of NPCs</div><div class="spoiler_body">Scarred Agitator: At 2016-01-10 13:57:27, Winter King (uid: 47759) rolls: 6d10 tn1: 7 tn2: 10 Result: 0 (https://elliquiy.com/forums/dicebot.php?r=84252)<br>Total: 3<br>Armed &amp; Cloaked Agitator: At 2016-01-10 13:59:06, Winter King (uid: 47759) rolls: 6d10 tn1: 7 tn2: 10 Result: 3 (https://elliquiy.com/forums/dicebot.php?r=84253)<br>Total: 6<br>Female DB Monk: At 2016-01-10 14:01:30, Winter King (uid: 47759) rolls: 8d10a3 tn1: 7 tn2: 10 Result: 5 (https://elliquiy.com/forums/dicebot.php?r=84254)<br>Male DB Monk: At 2016-01-10 14:02:14, Winter King (uid: 47759) rolls: 8d10a3 tn1: 7 tn2: 10 Result: 7 (https://elliquiy.com/forums/dicebot.php?r=84255)</div></div><br><br><div class="spoiler_container"><div onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button" class="spoiler_header">Initiative Order</div><div class="spoiler_body">Male DB Monk: 7<br>Armed &amp; Cloaked Agitator: 6<br>Female DB Monk: 5<br>Scarred Agitator: 3<br>Mob: 3 (inert)<br>Monks &amp; Janissaries: 3 (inert)</div></div><br><br>Before the crowd can reach them, one of the Dragon-Blooded monks snatched the ahold of the wali, and leapt onto the temple with him, taking off with ease as the other two prepared for battle.<br></blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div>"Well", Krum pointed out. "The sensible citizens are running in the other direction, apparently preferring to count on rumours".<br>He didn't stop to think what that said about them.<br>Instead, he looked for the instigators. He fixed himself at the man who shouted first, and started pushing his way through the crowd to get to him.<br>There was going to be a fight unless they stopped it.<br>And much as Crooked Crane Krum loved fighting, he dreaded normal citizens joining in a fray against real warriors. There were going to be lots of victims.<br><strong>"You!",</strong> he pointed a finger at him. The finger-pointing hand extended some more, than stopped...and Krum was naturally almost into the Crane's relaxed stance. Pure accident, of course...<br><strong>"Are you trying to get people to attack? Do you hate your fellow citizens that much that you don't want to let the Immaculate monks deal with the issue?"</strong><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">https://elliquiy.com/forums/dicebot.php?r=84344<br>Total of 5 successes+3 Base=8 Initiative.<br>(It says Per+Awareness, but it's Wisdom, I just forgot to change it from the previous roll).<br></div></div>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Heirs to Creation - Exalted 3e</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Empyrean</strong> on <strong>19-01-2016, 20:08:47</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Starlight looked at the brewing unrest and mentally tsked. She didn't want to fight here. Preferably she would fight in a situation of her own choosing, from ambush or during a seduction. She was not a fighter in the open when she could help it. But there might still be time to defuse this. She looked to Silk and then to Seven. "I'm going to try something. Be ready to run if it doesn't work."<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">I got 4 total.</div></div>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Heirs to Creation - Exalted 3e</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>HairyHeretic</strong> on <strong>23-01-2016, 13:19:46</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Kheldaran grimaced slightly as things started to spin out of control faster than he had expected them to. <em>I wonder if someone is getting a little .. assistance .. in their influencing of the crowd</em> he wondered. <em>Still, that's a question for another time, and unless this is headed off, one that will never find an answer.</em><br><br>Kheldaran was already in motion, giving any of the women looking in his direction a quick wink before weaving through the crowd back to the fountain where he had previously been sitting. He leapt up onto it, spinning with his arms outstretched, to land facing towards the bulk of the crowd, voice echoing across the plaza.<br><br>"WAIT!"<br><br><div class="spoiler_container"><div onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button" class="spoiler_header">OOC</div><div class="spoiler_body">Activating Harmonious Presence Meditation to make them more likely to listen to me</div></div>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Heirs to Creation - Exalted 3e</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Winter King</strong> on <strong>08-02-2016, 13:51:55</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="spoiler_container"><div onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button" class="spoiler_header">Kheldaran's Roll Results - 2s</div><div class="spoiler_body">At 2016-02-08 06:35:03, Winter King (uid: 47759) rolls: 10d10 tn1: 7 tn2: 10 Result: 2 (https://elliquiy.com/forums/dicebot.php?r=85502)<br>I realized I forgot to add your stunt dice... but unfortunately, his current appearance - as a drunkard - inflicts a penalty of -2, so it hardly matters! Hm, as for the result, well, your dice pool was Charisma+Presence+3 from the charm, and the difficulty was 3, for the average Resolve (1) plus a bonus for their intimacies towards hating the Realm. I think this is how it works, but let me know if I am wrong.</div></div><br><br>As the mob began to surge forwards, the surprisingly clear voice of a seeming drunk cut through the angry roar... but only a few people turned to look at Kheldaran, angrily, while the majority continued forwards, lurching towards the janissary and Immaculate perimeter, hefting clubs or brandishing knives, while the slave-soldiers looked on, grinning with a mix of fear and hunger that was terrifying to behold.<br><br>This'll be my OOC color henceforth, because it's a lot easier than dealing with spoilers all of the time. So, unfortunately, Kheldaran failed to get their attention. This does <em>not</em> mean that it's too far gone for further attempts to talk them down, just that he wasn't able to snatch the chance before it came to blows. Now, as per the Initiative Order below, Seven's up first.<br><br><div class="spoiler_container"><div onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button" class="spoiler_header">Initiative Order</div><div class="spoiler_body">Seven: 9<br>Krum: 8<br>Male DB Monk: 7<br>A&amp;C Agitator: 6<br>Female DB Monk: 5<br>Kheldaran: 5<br>Starlight: 4<br>Scarred Agitator: 3<br>Monks &amp; Janissaries: 3 (inert)<br>Mob: 3 (inert)</div></div>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Heirs to Creation - Exalted 3e</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>AndyZ</strong> on <strong>09-02-2016, 18:37:01</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatright">(http://pre01.deviantart.net/993d/th/pre/f/2012/195/c/a/legend_of_the_five_rings_female_samurai_by_phantom_cz-d579ozg.jpg)</div><div class="spoiler_container"><div onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button" class="spoiler_header">Seven Words of Wisdom</div><div class="spoiler_body">Personal: 2/13 Peripheral: 18/33<br></div></div><br>Although the madness of battle stirred wildly, Seven Words of Wisdom remained quite calm.&nbsp; Those with the talent to see Essence might recognize her drawing forth her power, channeling her Harmonious Presence Meditation for the hour.&nbsp; In the future, it was probably something she should leave activated at all times, but her mind was currently focused on the forming mob.<br><br>"Have any of you considered what will happen when the goddess' wali is killed?"&nbsp; Though relatively calm, her eyes still held a degree of scorn, as if chastising a small child.&nbsp; "Do you believe the goddess will overlook such things and continue to give her blessing?&nbsp; She will abandon this city to the slow death of thirst.&nbsp; The proper course of action is to call her forth and ask why she is reluctant to come, not to slay her faithful."<br><br>She gave all she could into the words, twisting Essence through her throat to make them simple and palatable to the masses.&nbsp; Her task, after all, was to lead, and it was simple enough to understand what should and should not be done.&nbsp; The petulant actions of a mob would only hinder the situation.<br><br><div class="spoiler_container"><div onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button" class="spoiler_header">Charisma+Presence 9s</div><div class="spoiler_body">Roll Result: Seven Words of W rolled: 18d10<br>First Target Number: 7<br>Second Target Number: 10<br>Comment: Charisma+Presence+Logic+HPM+Excellency<br>Result: 5, 10, 2, 5, 6, 6, 8, 3, 9, 10, 6, 4, 9, 3, 6, 2, 7, 8, <br>For: 2, 2, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, <br>Total: 9<br></div></div>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Heirs to Creation - Exalted 3e</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Empyrean</strong> on <strong>15-02-2016, 20:34:56</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Starlight saw what Seven was trying to do and a part of her approved. She didn't want a bloodbath, not here. Not after finally finding a new place to live and not in public where so many could see. She worked best from distraction and through infiltration, not in open combat. She raised her hands to gesture for peace to the crowd. Having her hands high meant she could go for the poisoned needles in her hair if Seven's attempt failed. She didn't want to fight but that didn't mean she wasn't capable of it. Just ask Oasis Willow.
			</dd>
		</dl>
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