The Story So Far...

[oneiros]

From his vantage point on the other side of the plaza, the dark-skinned Vizier observed the vessel about to dock at the Quay of Twilight. The Golden Barque's arrival signified the immanence of night across Creation... and the time of his meeting. He proceeded softly onwards, occasionally nodding his biretta-clad head to an acquaintance or minor functionary god who bade him good evening. Turning down a side street into one of the 'lower quarters' of Yu-Shan brought him to his destination, or rather the portal to his destination.

A few muttered words and the bricked-up archway glowed with Old Realm runes allowing him to step through the fabric of reality and onto a small stone balcony, jutting out from the sheer cliff all around. His eyes settled on the sweeping vista before him and lit upon the last fires of daylight sparkling off the river and its tributaries far below. "That such beauty should go unworshipped these days is indeed a shame," he remarked.

"You are very kind to say so, your emininence," were the soft, like the sounds of a babbling brook, words of response from behind him and he turned to behold stepping forth from the River's Womb, 16th of the Heavenly Gates, its olive-skinned Guardian, the goddess Anisatsis. "The Lady is expecting you. She bids you welcome and asks you join her in the Forest Sanctum."

Bowing deeply in respect, he moved through and into the temple complex, headquarters of the Convention of Wood - a place far removed from the heat and glass of his own domain. He walked the corridors without guide, drawn by the presence of the Lady who dwells within, eventually passing through a beaded curtain into a sanctum of dappled light and emerald shades.

The curly hair of the young girl within contrasted with the brightness of the amber tiara threaded through the locks and the intelligence that blazed in those green eyes. The man bowed once more. "To what do I owe the pleasure of your company Mistress Ura?" he asked casually, as if unaware he addressed the leader of those Chosen of the Maidens who belonged to the notional Gold Faction.

"Courtesy, Lord Nazri."

The Chair of the South smiled and settled himself on a low couch. "Courtesy would be when your youngsters introduced themselves to me in Chiaroscuro. This is more than mere courtesy."

"Indeed. I know you have little time for either me or Lord Kejak but this once I ask a boon for a favourable outcome for both you and me."

"I'm listening."

[TBC...]

[oneiros]

"You guess rightly that a deputation will come before you shortly. A circle from one of my Conventions. Synovar at the Violet Bier is preparing a mission as we speak. All I am asking is that you don't attach an monitor - we will submit the necessary Essence reports."

"You're asking me to turn a blind eye to something going on in my territory? I could be accused of favouritism. My position would not be tenable."

"You haven't heard what I am offering yet. In return, I will not oppose any candidate you choose to support for the empty Chair."

"You would leave me and Kejak to fight for the North? That is a pretty big concession. This mission must mean a lot to you."

She smiled demurely. "I have my reasons. I respect you Nazri and I hope we can work together. These are troubled times and everyone needs allies. I'm not asking you to compromise your neutrality. This is a personal request."

His dark brow furrowed and he unconsciously moistened his lip in pensive reflex. "You offer me a significant prize which leads me to wonder exactly what you will be getting out of this. Suspicion alone inclines me to decline your request. I must think on this."

He stood and turned to take his leave. Without he looking back, he pushed aside the beaded curtain before continuing, "You will have your answer when the circle introduces themselves to me. Good night Ayesha."

She watched him go, a tense expression marring that beautiful visage.

[oneiros]

22 Ascending Water

As respected field agents for your various conventions, you all have a fairly heavy workload and extended sojourns in the Heavenly City are rare. However, mundane business of one variety or another have drawn you all back at this time.

One evening, having retired to your abodes, your repose is unpleasantly disturbed by the arrival of a celestial messenger at your doors, each one bearing a small ivory casket. This is puzzling. Whilst not unheard of for missions to be personally delivered in such a fashion, it is rare.

You carefully open the box and withdraw a furled scroll bound with gold ribbon. The violet ink shimmers in the light as you read the missive and its instructions...

To: Mox Jerefin, Navion Starlight, Shroud of Mist, Silent Sunset, Succour in Extremis
From: Office of Wayang, Division of Endings, Sub-Directorate of Collateral Damages and Deaths

You are directed to form a circle and resolve the fate disruption with unknown cause identified at 7488-2461-999-04.

Profile: 3 Resplendent Water, Texia. On this day, ensure that the mortal boy Faslin Korth perishes during the disruption event. The rest of his family and the town itself must survive. Once the disruption is dealt with, track back to source and rectify.
Be advised that the outcaste Dragon-Blood Ragara Soras will be present in the town.

Estimated probability of hidden Solar presence: 21.6%
Estimated probability of demonic presence: 76.1%
Estimated probability of Fair Folk presence: 18.2%

You recognise the other names summoned by the list as fellow members of the Convention of Essence Wielders, Chosen you have worked with before.

Sighing, you start preparing yourselves for another journey into Creation.

[oneiros]

27 Ascending Water

Despite the baking heat of the southern skies and the abundance of focusing, refractive glass, the Vermillion Tower remains comfortable all year round. At the heart of one of the most shattered districts of Chiaroscuro, its location and glamours prevented all but the most foolhardy or cunning scavengers from attempting to near it. The former often impaled themselves on the shards that lay treacherous about. The latter… well, they certainly looked like they did the same.

Within the spire of sparkling sanguine ceramic, Nazri stared deeply into the flames of knowledge, ignoring the soft footfalls of his subordinates as they stepped carefully around him to leave reports on the small glass lectern beside the Convention leader. The loudest sound in the room was the idle tuneless tapping of his ebony fingers against the sculpted stand. What does she want? What does she want? What is her angle on all of this? Thoughts of duplicity and schemes within schemes played through his mind. Of course she was up to something. She wouldn’t have asked that he didn’t attach a monitor to the mission if she weren’t. It was just a question of finding out what and whether it was something that would harm his own plans.

Turning away from the flickering light, he padded down the stairs back to his office, lips pursed in pensive contemplation. Lady Ura said that the mission was being prepared by Synovar… Taimyo of the Grave Accidental, the God of Collateral Deaths. So someone had to die. But who? And why was this important to Destiny? Perhaps he ought to have the circle followed. But who could he spare? Resources were stretched thin at the moment and with a number of his key agents still in Yu-Shan monitoring the Chejop Kejak situation, there were few he could rely on. Perhaps he could lean on Synovar, get some more information that way.

As he started penning a note to that effect, there was a soft knock at the door before it opened to admit his personal aide, Ressil. “The recent Essence reports from Paragon, sir. Some blips around the Artisans District but nothing that we can get a firm handle on. I’ve assigned a pair to follow it up though.” Nazri nodded in distraction. The aide continued, “I know you don’t often take much notice of the usual gate notifications but this one’s unusual. A bit of a rush job from the Convention of Essence Wielders. They apol-”

“A Circle?” Nazri snapped to attention at hearing this.

“Yes sir. An auspicious one, no less. We have their names here if you’d care to take a look.” He moved forward to slide a sheet of paper across the crystal desk. The Independent Vizier perused the list, an eyebrow rising in surprise at the names. Two immediately sprang out. “Tell me Ressil, what was-”

“Silent Sunset’s last mission? I thought you might ask that so I made a few enquiries. Divisional operation, overseeing a Haltan/Linowan border skirmish. He returned to Yu-Shan about three days ago.”

“Delay them for a day and get me anything we have on the others, especially that dandy of Venus. When they come through, I will see them personally.”

“Surely you’re not thinking about declining the request sir?”

“Somehow I feel that if I were to, the matter would not be taken to the censors. And even so, Wong Bongerok is sympathetic to our cause. But that is not your concern. Just get me what I have asked for please.”

“I’ll get on that immediately sir.” The Chosen of Journeys turned and left the room and his mentor to his own thoughts.

Nazri moved to the window, looking over the cracked splendour of the city’s former glory, a glory he could remember from before the fall of the Shogunate, towards the Bright District. Schemes within schemes. What was she playing at? Asking him not to attach a monitor and then sending one of his own students on the mission. Unless she didn’t know but surely that was unlikely. Wasn’t it?

Nazri, you old fool, he silently chided himself. You could spend days tying yourself up in knots trying to figure out what’s going on. She obviously thinks it’s important – is it really worth turning down what she is offering? With the North under your control, you might be able to put pressure on the Capital Convention to restore a kind of balance… Not to mention your professional curiosity has been piqued.

He moved back to his desk and sat down having decided to wait and see what Ressil came back with before making a final decision.

[oneiros]

1 Resplendent Water

The Chair of the Convention of Fire watched them leave, their heels ringing on the polished glass and thoughts of deep consternation playing through his mind. An Auspicious Circle was very rare these days, divisional, factional and conventional rivalries being as they were.

So…that was the Circle Mistress Ura had assembled? Well, that the Division of Endings had supposedly arranged. But still, a curious mix for a curious request. An auditor as part of the group when she had specifically asked for one not to be assigned. She must know I have mentored him. Has she subverted him? I must make sure his debriefing is extremely thorough when he gets back. And the boy of Secrets walks the line between the factioneering too. Well, we’ll see what we can offer him if he can provide us with useful information. Good agents in the Manse of Ivy are hard to come by these days.

Does she dangle the carrot of a new recruit in front of me whilst simultaneously taunting with the one that got away? Master Jerefin could have been a valuable agent if those Bronze meddlers had not interfered with the Battle of Fondvar and pushed him over the equilibrium. His effectiveness in dealing with the demon incursions around here was nearly unparalleled. Is that why he has been assigned though? Maybe she suspects demonic presence.

But what of the other two? One, a Bronze deserter who spent much of his time in Creation running errands for his new Gold masters. The other, a Joybringer of seedy repute, truly a whore in all senses of the term, doing the dirty work of the Cerulean Lute with a delight that beggared belief. He got the job done but still… there was something fishy about him. Yet the file had nothing of substance – merely supposition and conjecture. Maybe that could be rectified if Mist came on board…

They were heading south, towards the mountains. Lots of mining towns and banditry in those regions. He shuffled through some papers on his desk but could not find any indications of increased or significant demonic activity that might indicate a potential problem. He put aside a report mentioning a rise in incidents of kidnapping in Chiaroscuro for later perusal before turning to his aide who had been patiently waiting for him to acknowledge his arrival.

“Ressil, what are the current Hunt statuses?”

“Um, the ‘Abbot’ hasn’t done anything with his one for a while – they’re still stationed in the Lap. The other is on routine patrol in the south-east, in the environs of Rathess I believe. There are reports of Regalza having been sighted at the top of her tower more often in the last few weeks but nothing untoward to draw their attention.”

Nazri leant back, running his hand over his smooth pate as he considered the situation. Well, he’d given his consent. Accepted her offer for good or ill. He would just have to hope that the precious jewel of impartiality had not been damaged in any way. Sitting back up, he looked across the glassy expanse of his desk, a faint smile playing across his lips. “Ressil…”

“Yes, sir?”

“I hear Icehome is very nice at this time of year…”

[oneiros]

[Have added dates to the last few posts so you know roughly where you stand time-wise. I have modified the mission date as well (moved it back a month)]

[oneiros]

5 Resplendent Water

So... a boy had to die. One mortal perishing in order to meet her mission. Or is it to do with the demon? Is her scheming tied into whatever brought the demon forth from Malfeas? As if I don't have enough demon-related problems to deal with already.

He cast his eyes over to the report on kidnapping that he had put aside previously. Hmmm, Viridian says there are a group of Luna's Children in town investigating these disappearances. Well, so long as they deal with it I can let their presences go, for now. Hopefully they won't be too... clumsy. Stewards often have a habit of not quite caring for their urban surroundings. Barbarians!

But which strand to follow. Demon or boy? Plus the mystery of the boy's mother abandoning town and children is strange. I think it bears further investigating. But there are other matters to attend to...

"Ressil, contact Crystal. He'll be able to sort out the employment situation in Texia. And tell Viridian he needs to go see his brother. I want a full report on Texia, double check Sunset's tale and pay attention to the Korth family. There may be something important going on with them. The Golds are trying to effect some kind of plan and we need to know if it's going to affect our operations."

Ressil raised an eybrow. "Crystal? Crystal Weaved in Servitude? *That* Crystal!"

"Unless you know of any other Crystals who have access to the Loom?" A heartbeat's pause. "Yes, *that* Crystal," he returned witheringly.

"But he's strange. And unreliable!"

"My requests are not to be gainsaid, Ressil. He's a Harbinger, works in the Bureau of Humanity and, more importantly, owes us a favour. Your personal differences aside, he's the best person for the job." A stern glance from Southern Chair quelled his aide to hold his peace.

"I just don't trust him not to mess this up. But I'll make the request, sir. Will that be all?"

"You may go Ressil." Nazri watched his assistant close the office doors, bowing respectfully as he exited, before pursing his lips in worried concern. He had promise but still some rough edges. Some time in the North would definitely be good for him... and my cause...

[oneiros]

Someone must be smiling on your endeavours, for your use of Terminal Sanction on Sorrow Sworn Devotion appears to have reaped more significant dividends than you could have hoped for... two artefacts of significant power.

You are pleased with the outcome of the hard-fought battle and as your resident savant checks over the blades, he notices the very faint impression of a tiny symbol engraved into the metal where the blade meets the cross-piece. The symbol of Venus, Maiden of Serenity...

Whispers of the Stricken Heart, soulsteel switchklave (WotLA 76)
• Speed 4, Accuracy +3, Damage +4L, Defence +1, Rate 3, Attune 5, Piercing
• Soulsteel attune bonus: +2 Accuracy
• Drain Power: An Essence-using target wounded with WotSH, loses a number of motes equal to wielder’s Essence, half of which are restored to the wielder.
• Wave of Grief: If the wielder cuts himself (miscellaneous action, speed 5, DV -1, inflicts 1lh), he can invoke a wave of sadness, powered by all the suffering and loss he has seen, to try and overwhelm a target. Roll (Charisma OR Manipulation)+(Performance OR Presence) vs target’s MDV. Success imposes an internal penalty equal to threshold successes and forces a Stamina+Resistance roll (Difficulty = wielder’s essence) or also take 1 level of aggravated damage. A target succeeding on this second roll only takes 1 level of lethal damage instead.

Auspiciously Targeted Grief, starmetal reaper daiklave
• Speed 4, Accuracy +2, Damage +4L, Defence +1, Rate 3, Attune 5
• Starmetal attune bonus: +1 Accuracy, +3 Damage
• Sorrow’s Roots: Upon striking the target, the wielder can choose to forego damage to instead render the target inactive until the end of the wielder’s next action. Target makes a reflexive Intelligence+Integrity check at difficulty equal to wielder’s Essence to avoid this effect.