And into Darkness... The Return of the Lawgivers

On the northern shores of the Blessed Isle sat a city called Chanos. It was a bustling town and strangers and foreigners were oft ignored among the crowd. But among the crowd seven Lawgivers, rulers of a lost age, were hidden. Sih Redflag, once a dock rat ,now Captain of a renowned pirate ship. A Lawgiver with no true name of her own, a former slave, now a powerful ranged fighter. Asari Usai, a former orphan, now a mighty sorcerer. Soru Rochxe, an assassin from birth, now Exalted to new heights. Gai Manboroku, once a mere foot soldier, now a Dawn Warrior. The Luminous Hammer of the Immaculate Gates, a seeker of adventure, now a Sorcerer-Engineer. And Sabyn Lexis, once a mere mortal martial artist, now a seeker for the truth about the fall of the First Age. But even they could not know that they were pursued even to the edge of the Isle by the Wyld Hunt. With the Lawgivers scattered throughout the town, they are vulnerable. For even a Lawgiver may be brought down by the Dragon-Blooded working together and seven Anathema having the gall to set foot on the Blessed Isle has attracted a full scale of twenty-five Dragon-Bloods from the Hunt...

Asa didn't like taverns.

He had never understood, why someone of the older boys had been drawn to them- they where loud and messy and full of distractions that made it impossible to get any work done. They where hard to marks to steal from too, since innkeepers where crafty and the patrons where loyal, plus they usually didn't have much to steal in the first place, and Asa just didn't like taking from those that already didn't have much. Fat merchants and arrogant Dynasts always had made better marks. (Though you might find those in Taverns as well, he had to admit).

Still, he was supposed to be laying low. Which is why he was here- wearing his street clothes, playing dice in the corner of a tavern so filthy it might be actually tended by rats. Blending into the crowd was easy for him- he was young and ratty and forgettable. No one paid attention to the poor- which with the Wyld Hunt at your back. Which as the Illuminated had warned him he needed to be on the look out for.

Plus, there was always the chance of interesting characters from out of town- and their fat purses- stumbling in.

Gai liked taverns. Get a few beers in someone and they'd tell you all you ever wanted to know about them, and probably a few things you didn't. No-one is as honest as a drunk.

Swigging from his own tankard, he surveyed the room. The crowd was what you'd usually expect in this city. A few soldiers here and there, locals chatting about current affairs, and a rather energetic dice game in the corner which a youth with curly blonde hair seemed to be doing rather well at.

Kicking a rat away from his belongings, he sat and waited to see if the rumours he'd heard were true.

The women sat in a dark corner of the Tavern, back to the hall, one hand at her drink and the other deliberately casual on one of her crossed legs, ready to grab the gun her mantle concealed.

The crew of the ship she had traveled with for a time now had dubbed her "Violet" or simply "Vi", more out of exasperation from always having to circumscribe her. Beside her drink, another one waited for the captain of the ship. If the rumors were true, the Wyld Hunt would soon be around and they needed information on them. She had no sympathy for the willing slaves of a propagated lie, but they were deceived in the end. She'd rather save her ammunition for a more deserving target.

Slowly, she took a sip, making sure her hat remained deep in her face.

Soru was ambivalent about taverns. They used to be useful for waylaying servants that didn't live in their master's mansions, and for blending into a crowd with effective anonymity but ever since his Exaltation, anonymity was far far harder to hide. Since his exaltation he was almost always the best looking person in the room, and that made fading into the shadows or out of peoples minds far more difficult.

He resisted the urge to fidget under the bulky clothes that swathed his form. He hid every part of himself from view under them. Partially because he was currently wearing his Armor of the Unseen Assassin and partially because he didn't like being seen anymore. He used to despise such blatant disguises but now he didn't really have much of a choice. He watched the occupants of the tavern from his corner not entirely sure why they were here in the first place since he could lay low far more effectively in other locations. His keen eyes, enhanced by his armors visor, were able to pick out those that seemed the most out of place with the rabble but they didn't have the feel of dragonbloods fortunately.

The Unconquered Sun saw fit to return the spark of divinity to Hammer in his most desperate hour. He did not, however, see fit to do so away from the eyes and ears of the Realm. Even as far East as he had been, word had still filtered back to the Realm that one from House Ledaal had become an Anathema. Ironic that his journey to redeem himself and earn prestige for his House had ended with the world-shattering events that culminated in his attempts at fleeing from a budding Wyld Hunt.

As he walked the crowded streets with his hood up, Hammer was glad, perhaps for the first time, that the Empress disappeared all those years ago. Had he Exalted before the chaos of her absence, the Wyld Hunt would have been on him almost immediately and he surely would not have survived. At least now he had the time, hopefully, to try and disappear from Creation and the Loom of Fate. Should be easy, he thought to himself with a bitter chuckle. He had wanted power to rule, and now he had the power and was an outlaw for it. 'The sooner I get out of the Realm, the better.'

The small, dark haired boy moved easily through the crowd. Navigating the sea of people with an almost casual grace, Sabyn walked through the crowded market. Occasionally he would slow his stride, not because of the crowd, but to listen in on a conversation or rumour. It was after all, a rumour that had brought him here. The tale of an ancient library to the east, supposedly a relic from the nigh legendary first age.

He listened in but continued walking when he heard it was just personal matters, nothing important. Still, he kept his ears open as he continued his pace. While it was true that most rumours where nothing but lies and gossip, they often did contain a grain of truth in them. It was simply up to the intelligent people (such as himself) to find them.

As he walked through the food court of the market place, the wafting aroma's made his mouth water. Looked like it was time to get something to eat. Come to think of it, he should probably rest his legs too. Well, there was a tavern over there, that should work.

Note to self: he thought Get meat for Steve.

Sih loved taverns. The smell of sweat, blood, and stale booze. The faint chatter, the tension. Dockside taverns were the best-a meeting place for distant sailors from storied lands, tale and boasts being swapped, growing every more improbably with each telling, the music of languages and accents from the far corners of Creation, haggling over bits of silk or salt. There was always the threat of violence, too, the subtle tension that a single word could sent fists, knives, and broken bottles swinging through the opium-filled air, the chance that you would be the next one kissing the boards, frantically holding your insides in.

Speaking of risk, it was well past time they shipped out of Chanos. She had sold the haul of Northern furs she had plundered for a small fortune, bearded the Air Fleet in their very lair and made free with their docks, thus, it was past time for her to be off. The ships of the realm could return at any moment, and Sih was not mad enough to fight them. The rumor that the Wild Hunt was concerning as well-it would be unfortunate, if they stumbled upon her, or her curious acquaintance.

Though it would be a hell of a fight.

Sih took a long swig on the clay jug in her hand, feeling the rice-wine burn the inside of her mouth. It was cheap swill, raw and biting, and strong enough to make you go blind. It reminded her of home. She slapped away a questing sailor's hand, tapping the hilt of the long knife at her belt meaningfully-her sabers were wrapped in cloth and stowed at the table, such prizes were too rare to be carried in a Realm port in public-and made her way back to the table where the nameless Solar sat. Propping her feet up on the table, she takes the offered drink, giving a friendly nod.

"Cargo's set to be offloaded, and we'll be ready to ship off in an hour or so. Time to drag my miserable crew out of whatever clap-infested whore they've stowed themselves in before the Air Fleet catches wise that the legendary pirate, Sih Redflag, scourge of the waves is in town, or this mythical Wild Hunt shows up."

edited 30th Jan '14 5:52:31 PM by DrTentacles

Vi simply raises her eyebrow. "Wonder you say that, after you had your run on said clap-infestes whore houses."

The Tavern

Six Exalts of the Unconquered Sun all unwittingly under a single roof. The amount of coincidence for this to occur is astronomical. And, especially on the Blessed Isle, easily visible to the Sidereal overseers of the Wyld Hunt. Therefore it was no coincidence when three Dragon-Bloods with jade arms and armor burst through the door shouting, "GIVE YOURSELVES UP ANATHEMA WE KNOW YOUR HERE!"

edited 31st Jan '14 3:34:13 PM by Gladonost

Vi was already raising her Prayer Piece as the first Dragonblood came in, aimed while he finished his boast and pulled the trigger right at his head when he finished, as if to set an exclamation point behind it. Everything was one, swift, almost unhurried motion just as she immediately after kicked over the table as cover, drawing her second prayer piece in the process and checking its ammunition out of reflex.

(1 mote for Surprise Anticipation Method against any Surprise/etc. 2 motes for Kiss of the Sun Concentration to reduce an Aim Action to 1 tick. Aiming for the lead DB's head. 2 motes for Blossom of Inevitable Demise Technique to double the Damage. 4 motes for Second Archery Excellency to add 2 successes.)

edited 31st Jan '14 3:09:01 PM by 3of4

The lead Dragon-blood grunted as the projectile hit him and was surrounded by a aura of yellow light as his skin near imperceptibly darkened.

Well, this would have been to easy. Vi thought, as she pondered her next move.

The first instinct Asa felt was the natural instinct of a thief caught in the act- run like hell- in fact there was even an idiot willing to stand right in the way and give him the chance to run...

But then things took a sharp turn for the deadly and it hit him that it would have to be another Lawgiver- another Chosen- to react at all let alone take that risk...And could he really leave them? Alone without a chance?

Asa closed his eyes. Of course not.

He moves as quietly as possible- doing his best impression of a shrieking terrified riff-raff gambler in the presence of the most terrifying of monsters- the boggy-men of the world. It wasn't hard.

He made a dive for the bar- rolling behind it hopping the panicked movements of the rest of the crowd would mask his actions, then he brings his hands together and exhales sharply- watching the golden threads as he begins to spin the flows of essence together into a single spell.....

(Shape Sorcery: Standard Action.)

None of the Dragon-Bloods noticed the sorcerer leap behind the bar. In fact, it seemed that one of them completely missed the fact that his commanding officer had been shot and continued to look around the tavern waiting for the Anathema to reveal themselves.

Soru watches as Asa moves to aid the woman with the prayer piece. He hadn't see such a weapon like that before, but it was an easy enough connection to make that the wielder was Exalted as well. He shrugged to himself underneath his voluminous disguise. Before tearing it off and essentially fading out of sight as the clothes obscure his form. He then vanished entirely from sight as he activated his armors cloaking device.

(Five personal motes to activate the cloaking of the armor, along with going into stealth.)

He dashed silently behind the dragonblood closest to the door itself, and attempted to stab the dragonblood in the side of the neck before backing off and going into full stealth again.

(Two personal motes of first stealth excellency to refresh stealth. Cloaking field is active for the next hour with no further motes)

edited 31st Jan '14 5:19:35 PM by Kosjurake

The soldier that Vi had shot at suddenly found a pair of boots crashing into his head from out of nowhere as Sabyn flipped up through the air.

(Martial Arts attack + spending 1 mote to use "Foe Vaulting Method to make it a suprise attack.)

The Dragon-Blood easily blocks the blow heading for his neck but looks confused as he cannot determine where the blow originated from.

Here goes nothing, I suppose Vi thought and dropped to the side. Her foot shot up and showed itself for a second over the top of the tilted table, attempting to draw attention to it, just to distract them as she robbed moved forward over the lower edge of the table, on the ground and propped her right arm up on the ground, taking aim again at the lead Dragonblooded again and firing 4 more bullets in rapid succession into him.

Before the rang of the shot had even left, she already drew herself back into cover, opened the side of her weapon and reloaded it, just as she processed the other guy who had attacked her target. What now?

(Trance of Unhesitating Speed for 4 attacks = 8 Motes, no flurry penalties for them though. 1 Mote for Cloud of Ebon Devils to reload at the end)

edited 31st Jan '14 5:32:51 PM by 3of4

Sabyn again appeared out of nowhere, his blade whipped through the air in a dazzling pattern at the soldier.

(5 motes for Iron Whirlwind attack.)

The lead Dragon-blood blocked the kick with a dismissive sweep of his blade, with the four shots that all struck him on various parts of his body being ignored as his subordinate finally realized a battle was going on and engaged the martial artist blocking his attack but taking several wounds for his trouble. The commander then thrust his daiklave forwards hurling a bolt of energy forward that hurled away the table the gunslinger was hiding behind and triggered an earthshaking tremor that knocked her to floor.

edited 31st Jan '14 5:55:32 PM by Gladonost

Asa stands up sharply and suddenly throwing out his hands while the golden flows coalesces into a sharp burst- that explodes outwards into a long sun fire chain with a blade at the end- that hurtles straight for the lead Dragon Blood.

(Cast Action: Flying Guillotine, 10 Motes)

edited 1st Feb '14 3:37:15 AM by LMage

Soru grimaces when the dragonblood deflected his attack. He wasn't used to people somehow blocking him when he sneak attacks. Apparently, Dragonblood exalted deserved their reputation. He unfurled his kusari-gama as he snuck up behind the dragonblood again and attempted to wrap the chain around his neck and start choking him to death.

(No motes spent)

The lead Terrestrial was struck by the golden chain which gouged deep into the armor the lesser Exalt wore. The Dragon-blood that as attacking Sabyn meanwhile punched forward loosing a bolt of flame which missed the martial artist but set the tavern ablaze. The third of the Dragon-blessed warriors barely deflected the chain coming for his throat and let loose a wild swing in hopes of catching his attacker.

Sabyn ducked low and swung his Reaper in a wide arc, unleashing a bolt of Sapphire flame at his opponent

(Solar Bolt.)