Excellent, let's get this party started!

The next few years in Yu-Shan were some of the hardest, but most fascinating of your entire life. You were given a crash course in the history of the Sidereals, trained your skills as much as possible, and learned how to manipulate the energy of the universe, Essence.
Your sifu was not a forgiving woman when it came to the amount of effort she expected from you. Etiquette, martial arts, survival training, athletics. The only days of rest you received were when you managed to break a bone somewhere along the way. Often times, the Chosen of Journeys who had been in the group that picked you up would appear and it was from him that you learned most of the Charms related to your specific caste. Red wasn’t able to teach you what she didn’t know, but she made sure to make you practice the new ability to the utmost of your capabilities once you had learned it well enough.

You sifu herself was another matter entirely. Her training may have been tough, but it was nothing you could hold against her. It was because of her efforts that you’ve learned as much as you have. The one time your training went too far and truly put your life in imminent danger, she interceded to fix her mistake. You also both learned that no amount of skill or charms can convince a pack of Tyrant Lizards to abandon hunting you when in possession of one of their eggs, which also might be useful at some point. Of course, you’d hate to imagine what that point might be. Your sifu was less your master in your mind at times and more like an older sibling. You’ve spent almost the entirety of the last five years training with her day in and day out, and she was closer to you than your actual siblings back in Wallport. You’d tried mentioning that to her once, after another day spent beating the stuffing out of each other and were out drinking. You think she was appreciative. She looked touched, anyway, and looked like she was about to say something when she promptly vomited on your shoes. She didn’t remember the incident in the days after, and you chose not to mention it for fear of embarrassing her. Just one of many times you’d chosen to keep quiet about what happened when the two of you went drinking. She really couldn’t hold her liquor.

More than just the skill training and new powers, your new job itself was a fascinating glimpse behind the scenes of reality. You lived in heaven, worked out of a small office on a giant flying golden ship that sailed through the skies of the city in a pattern evocative of the passage of the sun and moon, and had just bought a large manor which had been recently vacated when the previous inhabitant, a minor god, decided to upgrade to a palace. The coinage of the transaction? The manifested prayers of various worshippers of the greater gods in Creation, spread out to the working masses in the form of monthly salary. And what made the cost of the manor so high was not the opulent living quarters, nothing unusual in Heaven, but the fact it was also a Manse, sitting on a nexus of essence flows and able to create Hearthstones of decent power.
Even more marvelous than that is one of the “perks” of your job. You are allowed to manipulate the Loom of Fate at your own discretion, provided that none of the destinies you alter would have too great of an impact on the whole of Creation. When you were first brought to the Loom, you nearly panicked at the sight of all the twisting threads of reality, being manipulated constantly by hordes of mechanical Pattern Spiders. Being told that it was perfectly permissible to request alterations to the pattern, once taught how to appropriately address the spiders of course, was almost too much for you.

exalted is terrible and you should kill yourself

Not everything was wonderful however. You learned about the Arcane Fate of the Sidereals, and were none too pleased by what you heard. After the Seers of Heaven had lead the Dragon-Blood hordes in rebellion against the Solars, they attempted to cover their part in the scheme by creating hundreds of false Destinies to spread the blame from the Sidereals to nonexistent personas. What happened was that they broke reality, overwhelming the Loom. Instead of having the Sidereals become blameless, they instead were dropped from Reality. Once Exalted, they no longer exist inside of Fate even if their strands remain on the Loom. Any who encounter them that isn’t a powerful essence user themselves will simply forget that they even exist in a very brief time. You wondered if that meant Elia won’t remember you, but decided to ponder that later. No use brooding. Besides, she knew you for years before your Exaltation, and that was long before Arcane Fate came into play.
In order to carry out plans in Creation that require a recognizable identity, Sidereals have taken to crafting false Destinies on the Loom, that last only a short time, but can be woven in easily and are accepted readily by the populace. You recently attempted to craft your first Resplendent Destiny, and will be trying it out in your first post in Creation before too long.

Beyond the inconvenience, and possible sorrow, created for you by Arcane Fate the Sidereals found yet one further way to irritate you. Ever since the Usurpation millennia ago, the group has been factional on the whole. Divided into the Bronze and Gold factions, which stand in support of the Dragon-Blood controlled Realm and the return of the Solars respectively, you chose to ignore both and declare yourself an Independent. Given the horrors out there that you’ve been learning about these past five years, you can’t understand why so many of your peers can’t seem to look past the Solars and see the other major issues in the world. This alienates many compatriots who had wished you to join their group, and gains you some allies who share the same views. Your sifu turns out to be a longstanding member of the Bronze faction, but has highly independent leanings. With a bit of persuasion from her favorite (read: only) student, she might be convinced to jump ship.
It was this desire to work without factional bias that lead you to request posting far in the south of Creation, under the Convention of Fire, when your sifu finally decided your main training period was over. The head of this Convention, Nazri, is also the spiritual head of the Independent movement and he doesn’t tolerate factional activity under his purview. You can feel whatever way you want on a subject, but gods help you if you put that ahead of your duty to Creation. And now begins our story, five years after the end of part two.

The promised character sheet can be found here: http://www.mediafire.com/?4jni2zdvlim
I did break the creation rules a teeny bit when assigning dots to backgrounds, but it is valid otherwise.

>exaulted
ugh, sage.
>quest thread
Ugh, Double sage.
>wall-o-text shitty writefaggotry
Triple Sage!
>Blatent Weeaboo Shit
QUADRUPLE SAGE

>so after all that, we get to the part where its really a quest.

You stand before the shimmering portal. It is through this gateway that you will enter the headquarters of your new posting and begin your career of fieldwork. One thing you didn’t expect to see at the moment was your sifu leaning against the side of the structure, clearly waiting for you. As you approach, she strides forward hand clasped behind her, a habit you’ve learned in the past few years, which indicates that she is thinking deeply on a matter.

What do you do?

>>6722483
>blatant weeaboo shit? Its mothefucking Exalted. That should have been lumped together with that.

>>6722491
Snap my own neck to escape this eternal damnation that is my life.

exalted is terrible and you should kill yourself. now.

>>6722491

Ask her if she's come to see us off

Exalted is awesome.

Quest threads are not.

dear OP I hope you die in a fire

exalted is terrible and you should kill yourself

>>6722516
>Ask her if she's cum to see us off

fix'd

Why the hate for Exalted all of a sudden? I know not everyone likes it, but this seems more extreme than normal.

>>6722535

Comedy gold

this isn't a quest game

this is just a wall of text

>>6722491
Ask if she's debating whether or not to come with us, watch as she gets deliciously tsundere.

>>6722522
>>6722521
>>6722515
>>6722510
>>6722483
>>6722455
Cut it out.

>>6722551

gb2 sup/tg/ faggot

>>6722565
No.

ITT one troll.

>>6722550
>I promised to pretty much skip over the training at the end of the last one. I figured I might as well make it an info dump so I didn't have to explain stuff along the way.

>>6722550
It's a training montage to the bridge the gap between the last thread and this one.

Let's just all calm down okay?

>>6722565
baww they don't like something I do

we're douchebags get over it geez

a training montage should not be a wall of text

it should be GAR and more GAR

>>6722576
You've got two legit responses. Just keep going

>>6722587
We're all impressed.

OP, please continue.

>>6722516
"Yes, and to give you these" She brings her hands from behind her back, holding a pair of glittering bracers, heavily engraved with various astrological markings. "You need somewhere to keep that hearthstone you've got with you. And they can help a bit in other ways too. I suppose this counts as a graduation present of sorts. Don't think you're ever done training in full though. Next time you take sabbatical or are in the same area as I am, you'll probably be good enough to start learning some of the more powerful martial arts I can teach you. These are just to make sure that there is a next time."

>>6722597
That's Solars.

We're a Siddie, so really we're more like "the guy who will give those training montages in the future. To ALL OF REALITY"

We won't stop until the quests end.

>>6722580

Tripping out to cast Protection against Faggotry.

Continue as before.

>>6722623
Snap them on, attune, and strike an impressive pose

>>6722623
We? It's just you.

not another quest thread ffffffffffffff kill it

>>6722647
Use Firefox.

Install the 4chan toolbar.

Hide the thread.

Go back to getting raped by your ugly sister.

Profit!

god I hate rubyquest for spawning shit like this

nothing against exalted but christ, if you want to play exalted you play exalted

not a fucking quest game

>>6722423
>>6722437
>>6722445
>>6722448
>>6722456
>>6722476

I've never ready anything as boring and unspired

ITT: one guy sages his own thread to try and garner attention

in other news, continue OP

>>6722645
>two image posts, both sage, posted at the same time
>lol its just one person!

Fail

>>6722633
Why don't you sage Evil Quest? It's awful.

>>6722721
Is EvilQuest going on right now? If so, link.

Thank her for the gift, give her a friendly hug, then depart. We have things to do and places to be!

>Quest thread
>Exalted
>Badly Written WORDSWORDSWORDS

Yep, needs moar sage.

>>6722742
>ask her to come along
>we have places to do and things to be

I like my changed version better.

>>6722742
>wow, two valid responses. I'm shocked. I had no intention of kicking up this big of a shitstorm.

She looks kind of uncomfortable as you embrace her, and breaks the hug quickly. "Alright, alright. You need to get going. Can't keep your new superior waiting."

You leave her, snapping the bracers on as you depart. Entering the portal with far more confidence than you had the first time, and emerge on a wide balcony with a stunning view of the desert stretched before you. A voise comes from behind you "Ah, there you are. I was wondering if you were going to be late."

Response?

"So, are we late?"

>>6722819
"I assumed that Sidereals appeared exactly when they needed to."

Apparently this guy is our boss, so greet him professionally.

Also OP, I would like to apologize on behalf of /tg/ for the faggotry in this thread. I don't know why there is so much hostility.

sage

>>6722819
"And yet I'm not. I'm Telan; pleased to meet you, sir."

>>6722839
You have no right to apologize for all of /tg/.

>>6722855
Because /tg/ is completely irredeemable.

>>6722819
Hmm. Either she doesn't want to have hot teacher/student sex or she's tsundere for us.

Greet whoever it is.

>>6722839
>I actually sort of expected this response in my last one. I was doing something else at the time, and it really showed. It was even lower quality than I had expected, and I tend to expect this sort of response to anything.

You turn around as you address the speaker. He is a powerfully built man, dark skinned and bald. He grins slightly at your joke. "Well that is one theory. In practice it rarely holds up. Besides when you needed to be here was about thirty seconds ago, so this is better than the usual success rate at least."

>>6722839
Fuck you.

::give an ironic salute and a smirk:: Reporting for duty sir

>>6722889
"30 seconds? Well, looks like we've got some catching up to do. What exactly am I late for?"

ITT: 2 faggots saging.

The idea of derailing a thread just because you personally don't like it is pretty fucking childish. I hope you're not an adult.

What's wrong with Quest Threads? It's no different than threads for background discussions, writefag threads or general collaboration threads. I'd say it's a combination of both. So what if some of them suck? How many shitty 40k, DnD, DH, etc. threads have there been? Grow up guys.

>>6722889
"What can I say? I look forward to an illustrious career of narrowly meeting your expectations. Maybe I can start right now?"

>>6722921
because adults have to act with the utmost respect for each other amirite

pic related

>>6722889
"Well I'm here now, so what do you have for me?"

Surreptitiously check to see if he has anything worth pickpocketing. But don't try anything yet if he does.

Also: With that false destinies thing, how do Sidereals remember eachother?

>>6722921
"Lovely. If everyone manages that the quality of our work here would undoubtably improve. My expectations are a bit hard to meet. Now, if you'll come with me?" He gestures at the doorway directly behind him, through which you can see a set of descending stairs.

>>6722936
Arcane Fate doesn't affect them, as it doesn't affect beings outside of Fate.

>>6722935
They should.

>>6722935
A historical event in which case many, many people died is your justification for acting like a shrieking child on an internet forum? You're absolutely right, please carry on.

>>6722962
"Gladly. If I might ask, what exactly will be my task here?"

>>6722962

Follow him, taking note of which way we go in case we need to retrace our steps

>>6722920
AND A PARTRIDGE IN A PEAR TREEEEEEE

So is this going on?

>>6722962
Follow him, ask him about your duties. Also inquire as to the nature of the political situation. (How does the independent faction stay independent, why don't the others gang-press them in?)

Ask for some background on the region.

>>6722989
>>6722980
You descend the steps, the man speaking as you walk. "Your tasks will be whatever I decide. I am Nazri, the Chair of the Convention of Fire, and your immediate superior while stationed here. In general your tasks are no different than what any other sidereal's might be: Fix paradoxes in reality, gather information of threats against reality, and act against them when ordered. Any other mission related to your specific role in reality as one of Merury's chosen will come through written letters from the Convention on Oversight. For the moment, I have a few jobs for a new field agent like yourself which shouldn't kill you first time out in the field."

As he speaks, your come to the bottom of the stairwell and enter into a large room. It is mostly bare but for an enormous fire burning in the center of the room. It casts no heat and there actually appears to be a man sitting within, crosslegged. The only other means of egress than the one you came in by appears to be further staircases leading up and down from the chamber.

>>6723111
"Who's he? I can't imagine that's comfortable. Also, approximately how long will my posting here be? I have...other investments in other places."

>>6722980
hurf I'm intellectual

i'm arguing with an internet twelve year old

hurf durf hurf durf
hurf durf hurf durf
hurf durf hurf durf
hurf durf hurf durf
hurf durf hurf durf
hurf durf hurf durf
hurf durf hurf durf
hurf durf hurf durf
hurf durf hurf durf
hurf durf hurf durf
hurf durf hurf durf
hurf durf hurf durf
hurf durf hurf durf
hurf durf hurf durf
hurf durf hurf durf
hurf durf hurf durf
hurf durf hurf durf

>>6723186
Don't forget your derp either. Can't forget derp.

>>6723172
"Oh that? It's the Flame of Enlightenment. It is an archive of sorts, created during the First Age when this tower was built. It doesn't burn, but you do get a bit of a fever after accessing it. And your posting is as long as you want it to be, assuming that any other Convention Chairs request your transfer. And if I approve. Don't worry though, the Convention of Fire has an extremely wide area under its protection. Perhaps those other places are under our control?"

>>6723260
"Most likely not, but that can be handled in the future. At the moment, I am concerned with the present, specifically what I should be doing in it. What is the first of these tasks?"

>>6723260
Well, as long as I'm not doing paperwork I'm happy.

And why are you asking me whether or not we control other territories? I just graduated, I have no real-world knowledge at all.

>>6723326
> You were a caravan master before you exalted. The real world is basically the main thing that you did know, after haggling and prices of trade goods.

>>6723352
Trading and socializing, with the occasional dabbling in knife throwing. These things will of course carry over to our career.

>>6723322
"Well, that all depends on you. How do you feel about being assigned to the do some tracking in the desert? Two of the missions I have are out there in the wild, and you're the only Chosen of Jouneys at hand. If not, I've other tasks needed done in various cities."

>>6723379
Sure, just stay away from Gem.

>>6723379
"Who would I be tracking and what would I be expected to do upon having, ah, successfully tracked him?"

>>6723379
I was a merchant as a mortal, so the wilderness is nice and familiar. Send me out there.

>>6723376
> I hate to say this, but I didn't actually get any Throwing Charms. Most of the ones I made when making the character sheet were from the other skills in your caste. And some excellencies for ride and martial arts.

>>6723413
Well, we still have our skills from before we were Exalted right? And if I recall right, back in the town we pulled off some cool shit when we threw mundane knives at that Hobgoblin.

>>6723379
"I can handle the desert if you need me to, but to be honest I'd prefer the city. After five years in Yu-Shan I feel like I need to reconnect with humanity."

>>6723432
Stunts =/= Charms, and it was only cool in comparison to what most people are capable of, not compared to what an Exalt is capable of. We've got 4 in MA and only 2 in Thrown.

>>6723402
>Yeah. thrown and MA are your combat skills. MA is better at the moment, but skills can be raised and new charms learned. I mostly upped it to reflect training under your sifu.

>>6723407
>>6723432
You both continue on past the flame chamber, heading further down. "Well, what we've got are heavy amounts of essence use in what we had believed were uninhabited bits of desert, generally being localized around one of two spots. Normally this wouldn't be an issue, but the area is a place where reality is stretched quite thin between our world and Malfeas. In, addition the amounts of essence being used are well above the normal amount we get from roving groups of Lunars on the fringes of Creation. We have no doubt that it is them, but you need to convince these groups to move to a new location or at least cut back on whatever it is they are up to. The main problem here is that the area that either group might be found in is still rather extensive"

You pass several doorways on the way down, and eventually come to the doorway that leads outside. But rather than exiting, you appear to be continuing on to the basement levels.

>>6723469
> I actually wanted to start learning some of the Sidereal Martial arts, but the good ones are only accessible starting at Essence 4/ MA 5. So, for later if I keep doing these. Which I intend to, but only as long as there are willing players. People can easily get sick of this.

>>6723523
So am I going to get any kind of equipment for this? And what can you tell me about any local dangers?

Are the Lunars friendly?

>>6723523
Continue going down.
"Are these parts of desert completely uninhabited or just mostly? I think it could help me. Oh, and what should I do if I meet a powerful Exalt?"

>>6723671
"It seems like you've brought your combat gear. We can provide you with desert clothing, a horse, and supplies. The Lunars are...not unfriendly. Most don't know of us, the few that do are usually rather powerful and savvy enough to recognize us as potential allies. Some haven't put the Usurpation behind them however, so don't mention it is any figure out who you are. Most aren't aware of our part in it. The dangers are, of course, what one might expect in a desert. The elements. Ah, here we are."

You've reached the bottom of the stairs, in the first basement level. There is a room roughly shaped like a long rectangle, intricately carved patterns of fire on the wall and an alter at the far end of the room.

um... carry on?

>>6723864
>sorry, I was fishing for commentary. That didn't really invite anything. Sorry.

Nazri stands aside. "But before we send you out to the field, we recommend that you attune to the manse that our facility was built upon. We allow all new members to attune, and occasionally award hearthstones upon members who have performed exceptionally well in their duties."

I assume nobody has objections to attuning to a second mase?

>>6723916
No, it's fine. There is no such thing as useless manse.

>>6723916
I really don't know much about exalted so I can't make a decision here, I don't really know what that MEANS

>>6723916
What is attuning? I assume we'd be changing our address?
What benefits does this manse have over the other one?

>>6723989
You can attune to as many manses as you'd like. If you're attuned to a manse, and have it's hearthstone, you can use the hearthstone A) to give you extra magic powahz B) to power some artifacts C) whatever.

>>6723967
Manse is basically a place of power where we can recharge our essence pool. Essence is the energy we use for our neat superpowery stuff.
Hearthstones are small gems that allow us to recharge anywhere in the world and give some bonuses.

>>6723989
It's not "over". It's in addition.

>>6723965
You approach the alter, the place where the lines of power running through the earth meet together and are focused by the structure built here. It only takes a moment of focus and a brief expenditure of essence, but then you feel your natural energies resonating with that of the structure. You can see a gem set into the alter as you leave, clearly a new hearthstone at some level of formation or empowerment. You exit the room and proceed to the exit with Nazri. Outside the door is a ruined city, with shards of glass lying in corners all over. The main path from the building to the built up part of the city, and a seperate path leading directly to the desert are both cleaned of glass however. There is a horse waiting with a small man directly outside the door. It appears to be fully loaded with travel goods, its saddle bags bulging. The man holds a bundle of clothes out towards you with his other hand. These are clearly the desert appropriate clothes you were promised. He also hands you a map, with the desert marked with two large circles where the areas you need to investigate are. You take them and prepare to leave.

Any last questions to ask Nazri before heading out?

>>6724022
>well they make the recharge faster anyway. You recover without them on your own. Just slowly. You've got a single hearthstone, from your manse in Yu-Shan that you bought with your ridiculously large Sidereal salary. You have one more spot on your starmetal bracers to put another stone you find. Or get given. Depends on what you say, to whom.

>>6724075
Is this Chiaroscuro?

"Do I have a time limit?"

>>6724101
Doesn't a pair of common starmetal bracers have only one hearthstone slot?

>>6724134
Depends. *shrug* It's not like artifacts are mass produced, cho.

(not bringing up factory cathedrals)

>>6724144
Well, yeah. But there are common designs most artifactors use.

>>6724115
>Yeah, Ciurusco is where the Vermillion Tower is.

"No. Although if the damage to the area continues to increase, it will very likey become dangerous. Demonic incursions from Malfeas, or perhaps one of the Deathlords might make use of it and try to create a new shadowland. If it continues to worsen and we receive no word from you of success or failure, we'll assume you've died. At that point the only option will be to inform the Immaculate Order of a large group of anathema that need to be killed. That is a last resort measure though, and it will be months before the situation is that drastic."

> Whoops. You do only have on slot. I guess I'll have to get you a starmetal amulet sometime before another stone. That is nowhere close, so it isn't an issue of yet. My mistake.

>>6724075

"Anything to avoid doing, aside from blowing up Gem?"

OOC: Long-term plan idea, guys. Elia can't recognize us because of Arcane Fate, right? And the only people who can see through it are other Exalts, right? And we work in a giant celestial bureaucracy that includes the God of Exaltation, who (like other civil servants throughout history) may be amenable to bribes, right?

Yes, I am proposing that we bribe Lytek into making sure the Waifu Exalts.

>>6724165
Okay. Then change, depart and Yellow Path our way.

>>6724180
Or a skin-mount amulet.

>>6724181
if I remember correctly there is apparently something important involving destiny for her, so if she's not going to exalt already we'd probably get in trouble for it.

>>6724181
Lytek has salary 5. You can't really bribe him unless you steal a Monstrance of Celestial Portion and and give it to him.

Also, we have Aquaintances 1. Is it Elia?

>The trolling
>Is pic related

ANYWAY

>>6724181
>Yes, I am proposing that we bribe Lytek into making sure the Waifu Exalts.
We don't bribe him with money. Oh no, we'll bribe him with pictures of the honeymoon.

>>6724214
Besides, he doesn't decide who exalts anyway. He just scrubs and keeps track of the shards; they choose who to exalt on their own, based on parameters determined when they were first created (Excellence, Survival, Destiny).

I'm pretty sure all the negative posts were made by the same idiot.

>>6724239
Actually he can influence shard's choice a bit. But it is more like advice, than directing.

>>6724214
> and her father. I counted the Exalted you met earlier as Allies for those dots. Also, here's the map from earlier, but with two bog circles showing where to investigate. One is in the hills and rocky plains nearing the desert, one is in the open dunes/flatland/scrubland.

>>6724269
And anything is better than nothing.

Besides, if we get in good with him there's a very very small chance that he'll let us in on the Great Curse thing one day in the far off future!

>>6724272
Could you just give us a picture of the South? Coz that's a pretty big file...

>>6724290
As always, YCMV; Don't let this influence how you think it should be, OP.

Exalts specifically cannot comprehend the great curse, or that they would be affected by it. Lytek could tell, but no one but other gods would believe him.

>>6724181
"Well, I'd prefer you not get the Lunars riled up against us. We have enough enemies as it is. And of course, don't let them know anything that they haven't already learned. It is standard policy to avoid spreading knowledge that we've kept secret for centuries."

Anything else, or do you don the desert robes and Yellow Path out of there?

>>6724305
>just the specific area? I can crop away everything else I suppose. Then you'll know exactly how far your convention covers anyway.

>>6724336
I think that having a map of the zone of influence of our convention is a neat idea.

>>6724321
Yes. And avoid Delzhani.

>>6724321
"Anyone in particular I should be looking out for?"

>>6724305
>also, I blew it on the geography. Chiaroscuro is a port, and surrounded by savannah. It becomes desert before too long, but it is still grassland near it. Sorry.

>>6724370
Chiaroscuro has grass? What the fuck. That ruins all the awesome Arabian imagery.

WHITE WOLF!!!!!!

>>6724321
It might be faster to head back to Yu-Shan and re-enter Creation through Gate 55. I'll check to see if that is a reasonable option.

>>6724321
Nothing gets done by moping around. Let's head out.

>>6724399
>Probably. I don't have a map of Yu-Shan, so I don't know how far the gates 55 and 54 are up there. Its as big as the blessed Isle, so they might not be. Also, I didn't mark the second spot on the previous map. Here's the one with both.

>>6724439
Yu Shan is as big as the Blessed Isle but lightning fast transportation is cheap as shit.

>>6724399
OH. THIS!

>>6724399
Completely reasonable. There are a bunch of Ahlat's Brides hanging out there, but Arcane Fate will eliminate any uproar out arrival might produce in short order.

>>6724439
Gates 54 and 55 are very close together. Quicksilver canal should reduce travel time to a couple of minutes.

Looking at the map, Lunars might not be the problem. It looks like some Fair Folk hang out in that area.

>>6724514
Or we could just call a cloud. They're fucking fast.

You glance at the map, and realize that by taking another of the celestial gateways, you could possibly halve the travel time it takes to get to the easternmost of the marked areas. Each was huge and would require time to search. That shortened timeframe could be the edge you need to complete this mission before anything truly bad happened. Thanking Nazri for the offer of the horse, you wave the man away and begin to ascend the steps to the tower, meaning to take a shortcut through Heaven.

>Anyone opposed to me just glossing over the trip in a few lines, and just going quickly to the next gate exit?

>>6724579
It's not wise to travel the desert on foot.

>>6724579
I'm assuming we can't take the horse with us? I'm not well versed in how travel in Exalted works.

>>6724561
Frivolous use of clouds. The Quicksilver canal is literally right next to the gates, why not use them?
>>6724579
For humans, yes. Luckily, we're better than that.
>>6724616
That would probably be best.

>>6724616
>Ordained Bridle of Mercury. Leads you to the nearest mount and instantly tames it.

>>6724550
>Might be. Might not.


Cutting through the canals of Yu-Shan got you to gate 55 within an hour of ariving, and it wasn't long before you stood outside in the searing desert. You were in shade, briefly, provided by the cliffs the gate was concealed in but it was only a matter of time before you had to leave their protection. At least you had the desert robes from earlier, and the supplies taken from the saddle bags and placed in a heavy travelling pack. Now to find a mount of sorts. What do you do?

>>6724701
First thing: look if there are brides of Ahlat around. If there are then gtfo. Also if Ahlat himself is around, GTFO - he's an ass.

>>6724701
I guess see if our Ordained Bridle leads us to anything. Do we have any kind of ability or item that allows us to detect essence use?

>>6724763
There are Brides here. There are *always* Brides here.
>>6724701
Make a Resplendent Destiny in the House of the Messenger. Use Field Mouse Rider and Ordained Bridal of Mercury on a small lizard.

>>6724800
Yellow Path and Glory Path will also be of use.

>>6724800
Then we have to find a package.

>>6724865
You don't need to be wearing a Destiny to use its Resplendencies.

>>6724763
> I know fuck all about the Brides of Ahlat besides the woman warrior bit, so I say they aren't around. Maybe off fighting against the Realm or something. The only ones left in the area are too few in number to find you.

>>6724772
You invoke your power focusing as hard as you can on finding a mount, and Mercury answers. You are led to a pack of camels, idly chewing on whatever scrubs have managed to grow out here in the wastes. A single one approaches you and allows itself to have the bridle placed over its head. You now have a devoted mount capable of steady desert travel evn with a great weight. Sadly, it looks like you'll be riding bareback which isn't to comfortable on camels. You then manifest the Charm of The Yellow Path, praying that Mercury is looking your way to guide you.

>>6724934
>damn it. how do you roll on here? I thought it went in the subject field? Screw it, if you know how, do so please. Its your decision anyway to use it or not. You need one success for the Charm to work.

rolled 8, 2, 2 = 12

>>6724934
"dice+3d10" goes in e-mail field

>>6724946
Email, bro.

>>6724954
It worked

>>6724934
No Field Mouse Rider on a small lizard? That's no fun.

>>6724979
Too obvious for a field agent

rolled 9, 8, 6, 3 = 26

>>6724954
>thanks

It seems Mercury heard your plea. A path leading out into the open desert lies at your feet, lit by a golden luminescence barely visible in the hot sun. You begin to follow it, praying you arrive at your destination, whatever it may be that you are being guided to, or an oasis before you run out of supplies.

>>6725013
We're in the middle of a desert. There isn't anyone to be too obvious *to*.

>>6725044
In the meantime, what do we see around us? Just featureless sandy landscapes?

>>6725046
I'm sure we will have an opportunity to ride on a lizard mount before all is said and done.

>>6724979
>Lizards are too slow, and we don't have anything that can get you that small.

>>6725044
>two Survival successes. Bien.

You make the fortnight trek along the illuminated path without nearly the amount of hardship that could have occured. Your supplies lasted longer than you had hoped thanks to careful rationing, and when you were low you came upon a small oasis in the desert with fresh water and small game to feed you. Now your camel stands on the top of a small rock outcropping elevated a bit over the desert, observing the night activities of a small camp spread below you and in the distance. You have come to the end of your path, and now must find out what is happening with the local Lunars. Do you approach tonight or observe more and wait until morning to approach?

>also, can I still roll and do noko or is it only one allowed at a time?

>>6725141
>Field Mouse Rider, one Endurance, three Paradox dice per day: The character may cause any familiar to bear and carry her, no matter how unsuitable it is for use as a mount. The familiar suffers no ill effects from this.

>>6725182
Um...your only Resplenent Destiny is under The Gull. That is under The Messenger. Sorry, but no running back to Yu-Shan at this point to roll up another one.

>>6725141
My vote is to observe them for one night. Better to go in with some sense of what they're doing.

>>6725182
What he said. Glory Path solves the speed problem.

>>6725225
You can do Astrology anywhere.

>>6725141
If you want to roll and do noko it'd noko+dice+xdx

>>6725233
You spend the night on that same rocky outcropping, eschewing a comforting fire in the cold of a desert night in trade for secrecy. You notice an amount of revelry in the camp. You are unsure of the exact cause however. One thing that strikes you as odd is the fact that about four men and women, a full third of the group, eschew the drinking and more...physical pleasures the others are enjoying and stand vigilant watch at the edge of the camp. From what you've learned about Lunars, they are usually secure enough in their might as a group that they don't bother with sentinels. Clearly something here has put this circle on edge. That ought to be worth asking about when you contact them.

The night passes unevenfully for you, and now that day is breaking you decide to approach the camp. How do you approach?

>>6725339
>thanks

>>6725288
>really now? I thought you had to go to the Loom and talk to the spiders in person. That makes things alot easier then, with easy use resplendent destinies.

>>6725403
No speaking in person required, just a prayer roll.

>>6725368
hang out with your wang out

>>6725368
Approach on our camel. Are we immediately recognizable as a Sidereal? If not, we might be better off claiming to foreigner traveling through these parts, which wouldn't be a lie.

>>6725517
> Actually, for more barbaric Lunar circles, that might be totally okay. As long as you don't sleep with one of their wimminz.

>>6725579
Most of the camp is asleep at this hour of the morning, still burned out from the various revelries of the night before. He laughs in your face when you claim to be a "simple" traveler. He knows full well that this barren stretch of desert contains no trade routes to major cities and is has no real reason for anyone to be about. He may not know you are a Sidereal but he knows you are more than you seem. What is your explanation? Also, if you are wearing your Resplendent Destiny, try to make it make sense within that or you get paradox. (The destiny is The Gull, a lighthearted wanderer)

>>6725684
Yes wearing destiny, "Right you are good sir, I'm no simple traveler, I'm a wanderer going where my feet take me come malfeas or highwater...or a big hot desert :)"

rolled 3, 6, 1, 7, 9, 1, 9, 3 = 39

>>6725735
>oh my god, I am not about to try to do social combat on here. Especially not against something I'm not looking at the stats of. I'm just going to do a Chaisma+Performance roll to make see if you're a good lier. Difficulty 3 since he's suspicious now.

rolled 2, 8, 6, 5, 4, 9, 5, 4 = 43

>>6725735
He believes you, thanks in part to the Destiny you are wearing. "So, what are you looking for with us, traveller? We're just a simple band of nomads, trying to make our way in the universe."

You note that he speaks the Low Tongue of the Realm too well to be a local. It might be useful if you ever need to convince them of anything, such as how you know who they are. What do you do now?

>>6725835
"Company, for one. I've been lost out here for weeks and I'm desperate for human contact of any sort."

...Only less creepy. A lot less creepy.

>>6725835
"You're a loquacious fellow, having charmed that slippery devil we call the tounge, language is a powerful tool which you seem to wield with practiced care, If theres one thing I've learned in my travels to many interesting places, its how to tell good story, care to hear one as we travel along?" launch into a story about some interesting but ultimately mundane event that occured while trading in the north err...wandering in the north

>>6725835
"Well, I'd appreciate a place to stay for the night. As any wanderer will attest to, who would wander unless there was the chance to come across new places, new people and new stories? Perhaps while I'm here, your fellows could tell me a little of yourselves?"

Also, not too familiar with Exalted fluff, but where would he hail from, given what he speaks?

>>6725926
Anywhere that people speak Low Realm.

Which is essentially the Exalted equivalent of Common.

>>6725891
"Fine then. I suppose you can join us for a bit. I don't know if we're traveling the same way you are, but you are welcome to take a respite from your travels with us for a time, if our leader agrees." The man lowers his weapon and relaxes a bit. "Follow me. He makes the final decision on these matters."

>And I'm done for the night. Got class tomorrow. I'm not inclined to archive this because of the trolls at the front end, but there needs to be a synopsis of some sort for people who don't know what's going on. I leave that up to you, /tg/. If anyone cares, I'll be back again tis upcoming evening, 7-8 PM.

>>6725965
>Desert nomads. I figured they'd speak local dialects of things, even the common tongue. I was implying he spoke it with a sort of clarity that implied birth on the Blessed Isle or something. I guess it didn't really carry through.

>>6725995
Archive it.

Leave the failtrolling as an example for any future failtrolls.

>>6725924
I vote this.

>>6726015
>Again, I leave it to you. I refuse to archive threads that I start, since that tends to make me feel like a tool. Only if someone else out there likes it enough to do it is it really worth preserving.

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>>6726209
>bien. Alright, I'll be back tomorrow. Hopefully the Lunars don't execute us when we start asking awkward questions.