>>6736138
Go with him. It isn't like we have much of an option unless we feel like starting a fight with a bunch of Lunars.

You allow yourself to be led through the camp. There are a small number of tents, maybe eight in all, for the twelve figures you spotted during your obsevations the night before. Not many of the inhabitants are up and moving about at this point of the morning. You eventually arrive at a tent that appears no different from any of the others to your eyes. Your guide orders you to wait where you are and enters the tent. After a few minutes, he returns and ushers you in.

The inhabitant is a man of extremely large build, covered with swirling silver tattoos, and has long hair tied back into a ponytail. "So, you're the wanderer I've been told of. Passing Shadows here has related your story to me, but I would hear it from your mouth as well."

>>6736452
"Well you see, there's something to be said about the allure of the horizon. The feeling of uncertainty when you set yourself upon a sure journey with an unsure destination. That's why I'm here of all places and traveling alone. I'd appreciate if I could stay for the night and perhaps learn more of your people?"

>>6736535
"And what do you presume 'my people' to be exactly? If you are a wanderer as you claim, then you just happened upon us out here in the wastes. What do you already know?" He looks a bit wary, clearly wondering if you'd realized what they are.

>wow, sloooow tonight. Even discounting all the trolls, last night was comparatively busy. I suppose its my fault for trying this on a Monday.

>>6736567
"Well, that other guy speaks Low Realm too well to be from around here aaand...that's it."

>>6736567
"Well, I meant nothing by it. I know you are nomads, that much is obvious. That's all I know really. You are also wanderers and so, I feel we already have some kind of kinship wouldn't you say?"

>>6736659
>>6736579
"Well, we are nomads. In that you are correct. There isn't much out here in the southern deserts, but what there is tends to be rather valuable. Relics taken from First Age ruins normally. We aren't natives out here for the most part. We sort of fell into this life after...events back in civilization drove us out on our own. We banded together and decided to leave that world behind. The only one of our group who was even born near this area is myself. I hail from Asherta initially. Anything else you feel like knowing? If curiosity and wanderlust are your only motivations, I suppose it can't hurt to allow you to travel with us for at least a short time, so long as you pull your own weight in camp. We're heading east as soon as we break camp today. This area is a bit more hostile than we remember it to be, and want to be returning to our route before too much longer

>>6736743
"Of course. I intend to be very helpful. Oh yes."

Okay, so they're probably treasure hunters? Maybe criminals or hedonists considering they were driven out and from what we saw last night. This big guy is probably the essence user.

>>6736812
>Maybe criminals or hedonists considering they were driven out and from what we saw last night.
They're fucking Lunars.

The 'event' was obviously Exaltation.

>>6736842
Lunars are hedonists half the time anyway. Don't discount it. After all, you'd spent the last night observing most of them partying and then pairing off to go have hawt secks in the tents. The only ones who didn't join in were the couple guards.

>>6736812
"I'd be more glad of another pair of hands if you didn't phrase it in such an ominous manner. In any case, you've brought your own mount and tavelling gear correct? That's good. Your camel can take far more weight than just that. That will be of help certainly. Other than that, just go find Passing Shadows. He shouldn't have wandered far from the tent. He'll be able to find something more for you to do."

Do you head on out and find the man or do you have any final questions for the chief? You still don't know his name, you know.

>>6736743
"I thank you for your hospitality. And I assure you, I can most definitely pull my own weight."

>>6736930
Ask him his name, then go.

And if you have to do any hard work, hold back so that you appear to be a middling-strength mortal rather than the Exalt you are.

>>6736930
"You mentioned that this area isn't as safe as you remembered it to be. What are we expected to run into out here? Also, as long as I'm fortunate enough to travel amongst you, what should I refer to you as?"

Afterward, leave the tent and find our guide.

>>6736978
"Fair folk. Our normal travelling route goes from gem, travelling north by east along the more manageable bits of desert that have availabe oases, and stop at a few ruins along the way. We get to Asherta, sell what we can and head back west towards Paragon then the Lap, scavenging what we can along the way. The we go back south to Gem and repeat the entire process. We deal with raiders and Fair Folk occasionally. Normally we just hide from the Fey when we catch signs they're in the area, but they've been unusually active in the area. We've been dodging them for near a month now. We lost three the one time that a pair of them stumbled on us. So we want out of the area as soon as we can. And the name's Horus. Now go, be useful!"

You leave the tent and fine Passing Shadows without too much effort. He is helping a pair of males to collapse and bundle up a tent. What do you do?

>>6737120
>find. Typo. meh.

>>6737120
Go lend a hand and try to strike up a conversation. We're trying to investigate essence use right? I guess that means it's the fey and the Lunars that are the source.

"Mind if I help? So, I hear from your chief that you've fought off incursions from fey recently. That's pretty impressive if I do say so. How did you manage that, if you don't mind me asking?"

>>6737229
The other two seems surprised to see you. Not shocked enough for your appearence to be totally unexpected, it seems Passing Shadow informed them of your presence. You suppose that they just expected Horus to toss you out of the camp. The smallest of the group, a short man with blond hair and heavily tanned skin with branching silver tattoos, speaks up. "We...ah, well we outnumbered them There were fifteen of us and two of them. And one was one of those ugly goblin monsters as well. We outnumbered them and have some iron weapons. So it wasn't too hard." He realises how nonchalant he sounds about a horrible incident and verbally backpedals rapidly. "Not that it was *easy* or anythin. No, not that. It was just..."

He seems to realize his companions are glaring at him and shuts up. What do you do?

"No, no, I understand perfectly. I'm just reassured to travel in the midst of such competent warriors. Now, can I lend a hand with this tent?"

>>6737507

>>6737518
Huh. In hindsight that could've been phrased better.

>>6737507
The trio seem to be glad you didn't press the issue. You are probably building up a reputation amongst the group as a bit of a gullible fool, but that serves your purposes for the moment. Your years of caravaning are put to good use as you help out here and there around the camp, preparing to depart. The rest of the Lunars are equally surprised that Horus allowed you to join them for any amount of time. It seems his usual policy is to turn outsiders away. This strikes you as a bit fishy, but will need to be put off until later. Now its time to move out.

Do you approach Horus, or any of the others, for company during the travel or do you hold off anyfurther in depth interaction for the camp that night?

>>6737659
Would trying to sneak around camp be a good idea? If everyone sees us as both helpful and harmless at the moment, we could claim to just be out for a night stroll if anyone catches us.

>>6737693
> I see no reason you couldn't try. You need to give me something to work with though. What would you be looking for?

Just trying to get more people to participate by fishing for more ideas.

>>6737823
>Yeah, I know. Its weird. First time was fairly steady. Second was as well, but I stupidly tried to do this and play DH over OpenRPG at the same time, so that made it suck. Then last time there was a bunch of trolls at first, but even after that it was still fairly steady. I think I should have waited for later in the week or something for this one. Monday is never good for anything..

>>6737880
Well I'm working as I check this thread and it is a Monday like you said. It'll probably pick up as it gets later. If not, there's always trying another night.

Anyways, I guess instead of looking for anything particular, we could just try wandering the camp. If we pick up any conversations either in the open or behind a tent, we could eavesdrop.

>>6738011
> True enough. I only did it tonight since my next free evening isn't until Wednesday or Thursday. As we get closer to midnight /tg/ tends to pick up. If not, there's always then. But I digress.


You think that you've figured out the main essence source you were sent to investigate. It must have been from the Lunars, defending themselves from the Fey. Chances are that most of those times that they "hid" were actually skirmishes with the Fair Folk. The increased activity amongst them out here in the wilderness, in a place where reality is already thin, strikes you as deeply ominous.As you brood on this development you wander through the camp a few times. At one point however you can hear snatches of conversation coming from within a tent. Recognizing both a male and femaly voice you plan to move along to give the couple some privacy. But then you hear a few words drift out. "...and the new traveller? Something seems a bit weird with him. He barely spoke with anybody today once we got going. Rather odd for someone trying to learn about a new people as he claims. Something seems just a little odd with him."

"Come now Rama, don't you think you're being a bit paranoid? I mean, he hasn't figured out anything yet. And when we get to the manse he won't know what it is. He'll just assume we're raiders like we claimed. Relax. He isn't about to bring the Order down on us."

Do you continue to listen or beat a hasty retreat before somebody sees you?

>>6738235
I think we probably heard enough.

But continue to do all sorts of useful minor tasks that let us snoop on the encampment.

Also, if we don't have any iron weaponry ourselves, we might want to quietly take some.

>>6738235
Move away slowly and return to our part of the camp. Can we get a quick crash course on manses and hearthstones? We have one and that's what gives us our abilities right?

>>6738417
>THey enhance them. A manse is a structure built where lines of essence, the shit that powers everything magic including your abilities, run together and are particularly strong. Most are linked to elements, but some are related to celestial power. Yu-Shan, the heavenly city is loaded with them. Most sidereals of any decent pay own one. When you're attuned to a manse you regain essence very quickly in it. If you have a hearthstone from a manse you are attuned to with you, you keep that benefit at a distance. If you set the stone into a holder made of one of the five magical materials (each aligned to a different type of Exalted. Sidereals use starmetal) you get specific benefits from that stone. You've got one that keeps any sort of physical constraint from being placed on you. No grappling, shackles, ropes or anything. It is most hax, and is only rank 3 out of 5. 4 and 5 ranked stones are most awesome.

>>6738505
Well, I guess when we reach the upcoming manse we'll want to grab a hearthstone and attune.

Then drain its sweet delicious Essence before the Lunars and Fair Folk can hog it all.

>>6738417
>>6738386
Deciding to not risk discovery, you leave the tent as swiftly as possible. Even if they heard you, you are on the other edge of the camp in moments anyway.

You are standing near one of the night sentinels. He greets you politely but returns to his observation of the desert soon enough. You realize something. If a group of Lunars are so terrified of a fey asault, it might be more imminent than you had thought. Your weapons are more than enough against most things, when in your hand, but iron wounds the fey even worse. Sadly, when you as the guard if they have any iron weaponry made specifically for the martial arts, you learn that tey have nothing of the sort. Damn.

The rest of the night passes peacefully, and early in the next afternoon you come upon what looks to be an abandoned fort in the middle of the desert. You can feel the essence humming in the ground. This is the manse they mentioned earlier. Everyone begins to dismount and lead the camels through the gate into the waiting shade of the courtyard and to a trough of water that is fed by a hand pump. They don't know that you know this is a manse, except possibly Horus. You never did ask him why he let you come along. What do you do?

>>6738528
>manses aren't first come first serve. Plenty of people can be attuned to one, and you can attune to as many as you want. The heathstones are another story. But even if its still there, do you really want to steal such a valuable item from a group of shapeshifting beastmen? Nazri did say not to antagonise the Lunars if possible. They already have reason to hate sidereals. No need to blow your cover, insult their hospitality, and give at lteast these few a vendetta against you.

>>6738642
Meh, find it first, give it to them for "safekeeping". Politely putting them in your debt could be useful.

Also, getting away to "explore the manse" will help avoid awkward questions later about how we're beating fey to death with our bare hands, and why the sigil of Mercury is glowing on our forehead.

>>6738610
I remember you mentioning in the last thread that the border between reality and Malfeas is pretty thin in this place. I'm guessing a lot of essence use and Fair Folk faggotry make this worse? If so, our trump card if Horus tries to pull something could be to bring that up. In the meantime, we should talk to Horus and ask about the ruin, in the interest of curiosity.

Wait, a guy named Horus? About to deal with the forces of Chaos?

I see where this is going, and I think we may want a backup plan.

>>6738717
> God damn it, Anon. Was my plan here that obvious?!

The fortress is relatively intact, but has clearly been uninhabited for ages. The group fans out through the various buildings, scavenging what they can. Luckily this was a large and well stocked fortress, so the few first age weapons and bits of artwork taken each year didn't deplete it entirely. You attempt to slip off on your own, since it couldn't hurt to find the heart of the manse and attune. More manses are always a good thing! Sadly, as you follow the general feel of the lines of power to what seems to be the barrack's second floor a pair of Lunars follow you, mentioning an armory on that floor they've barely touched in years which should have some good loot. You realize that they are the pair you heard discussing you the night before.

What do you do?

>>6738818
>actually, no he isn't a 40k reference. It deals with his war form in combat. Look up the Egyptian god Horus.

>>6738847
So he's Horus Birdman, LUNAR AT LAW!

Also, I'm imaging something like this. Spartan, but obviously effective. Just make it much biggerm in keeping with tha Solar's first age dickery. Enough to have a parade ground, baracks, and a keep inside the walls. More of a castle than a fort, but the feel of the place doesn't really fit the word "castle"

>>6738823
Feign relief that you won't have to explore this place alone. At the same time, stay vigilant and look for the first opportunity to sneak away.

By the way, what happened to your trip?

>>6738823
>>6738847
>>6738875
Oops, forgot my tripcode. I was posting in another thread and took it off. My bad.

>>6736138
It's a dice snake!

>>6738823
Assume that our Siddy avatar is using the Social skills and superhuman training we don't have to finagle information out of the Lunars following us while apparently just engaging them in idle conversation about the manse. Without telling them we know that it's a manse and that they're Lunars, of course.

By the way, can we fake being Dragon-Blooded if necessary, or just a heroic mortal?

>>6738886
>Anywho, now that I've fixed that issue, back to the plot at hand.

You go along with them both to the armory, in order to cast aside the suspicion that the man, Rama, had been harboring. Sure, he was perfectly correct about you having ulterior motives, but no need to confirm that.

The armory was rather nicely stocked, and you all claimed a few odds and ends that could be carried with minimal effort. You did stumble upon something rather surprising at the bottom of an empy quiver though.

Congratulations, you now have a starmetal amulet! Good for setting one hearthstone!

After that welcome surprise, things took an unpleasant turn. You went up the next flight of steps, to stand on the roof and get a better sense of the layout of the building. And to ditch Rama and his female compatriot, so that you could find the heart of the manse on the way out and attune. But as you looked over the spartan parade grounds you were halted in your tracks. The Lunars were engaged in combat with a small group of Fey! They were transformed into various animal shapes and warforms and brawling with what seemed to be a slightly smaller group of Fair Folk Cataphractoi, the warriors of their foul kind.

What do you do?

>>6738924
>You can make a respeldent destiny that people assume is a DB, but you need to have to know a fairly powerful ability from the Sidereal Martial Art "Prismatic Arrangement of Creation" to emulate their anima. Takes only MA 5, Essence 4 to learn but you'll need to go get your sifu to teach it to you once you've got the stats and xp to burn. And you will. I plan to give way too much xp at the end of missions, so you can advance quickly. This is a quest, not an actual game after all. We don't have time for normal rewards!

>>6739016

Find the local hearthstone. Stick it into the amulet we just acquired. Blow some Essence on making ourselves noticeable to the fey. Then kill them.

If we get caught by the Lunars while doing the latter and can't pass ourselves off as something that isn't a Sidereal, do our best to pretend that we Exalted during the fight scene.

can we charge arrows with essence and cause them to explode on impact, if we can i would start shooting exploding arrows at the fey.

>>6739016
Seconding sneaking away to find that hearthstone. We should attune but we shouldn't plan on stealing the hearthstone. Maybe offer it to the Lunars in exchange for them curbing their essence use?

>>6739176
We do that afterwards. First priority is using the hearthstone to kill all of the Fey. Once we do that, we can give the Lunars the hearthstone.

>>6739113
>Exalted during the fight and know instantly how to attune/work hearthstones? I'll get you as far as getting the stone, and then you can get time to think of a less fatal lie. Or just roll with it and pray you get good rolls.

You dash back inside before anyone down in the brawl can see you. You rush as quickly as you can to find the manse's center and attune. It only takes you perhaps thirty seconds to do so and snatch the hearthstone lying in a small alcove on the alter. You wonder how long it's been growing there, since you don't doubt that the Lunars would have taken the original stone. Attuning to it as well and snapping it into place on your new amulet, you prepare to make your presence known to all the parties outside.

What do you do? And, do you drop the Destiny you're wearing?

Also, for those playing along at home, be sure to add the new Hearthstone to your character sheet!

Jewel of the Hungry Flame (rating 2)- Rounded and glowing with an orange light. Adds six dice to damage soak rolls vs. flame, and adds two dice to rolls resisting heat damage (like being lost in a desert perhaps)

wel if we get the hearthstone, how will we convince the lunars that we really didn't know what this manse accually was?

>>6739268
How's the fight going? Are the Lunars doing okay? If so, it'd probably be better, and a little dirtier, to wait until they're not doing so hot and then intervening. That way we look like the Sidereal that lent a hand and not the Sidereal that fooled them in order to grab the hearthstone they were after.

>>6739297
>Man, that's cold. You have no idea how the fight is going. You're in a small alter room on the second floor of a fortress's barracks.

>>6739268
Set ourselves on fire, charge into the melee, pretend to be a Solar Exalt with the flames as our anima banner.

>>6739317
Keep our Destiny for now and make our way back to the roof overlooking the parade grounds.

>>6739378
Your lust for loot assuaged at the moment, you maneuver back to the roof of the building. The fight isn't going well for either side. You can see the bodies of two Lunars spread on the gound, badly wounded or dead. The same amount of the Fey lie shredded, but you can tell that no matter the result, this is going to be very bad for both sides unless something totally unexpected happens to change the momentum of the fight. You think you might be able to be that something. But then again, doing so would utterly blow your cover as a Sidereal. The stone can be tucked inside your shirt under layers of heavy robes, but you wouldn't be able to hide your identity if you intervene.

What do you do?

>>6739445
I vote, once more, for the "set ourselves on fire, use the stone to soak the damage, and charge!" option.

It might disguise us, and would definitely be awesome.

But definitely do something to save the Lunars.

>>6739445
I guess it's time to go all out. Shed our current destiny and flip down into the midst of the nearest cluster of Fae, throwing out some knives in mid air. Then start punching. Everywhere.

>>6739522
>>6739550
Combine these two. Do the latter after we set ourselves on fire, assuming there's a torch or something nearby if we can't start our own.

>>6739522
> I thought you were completely joking at first, but then remembered the stone. I don't think that would quite work though. I only paraphrased the fluff text. It is described as "drinking" in the flames that come near it. Otherwise, a flaming Exalted going into kung-fu some jack ass elves that eat souls would be freaking sweet. If nobody else posts in a bit, I'm going to go with this, but I'm actually fishing for something in particular. It starts with "s" and ends in "tunts". Come on people, its Exalted! Make up some bad ass shit and it gets more likely to work!

>>6739574
I would think that SETTING OURSELVES ON FIRE, jumping down from the roof trailing flames behind us, and proceeding to melt iron into the flesh of the Fey by punching it into them with our BLAZING FISTS OF FURY would be pretty fucking stuntworthy.

If we need more, how about we heal the two wounded or dying Lunars at the same time. By putting the literal FLAME of LIFE back into their bodies.

>>6739570
You realize that there is no way you can let the Lunars get slaughtered without intervening somehow. You let the Destiny you were wearing slide from you and cast your eyes about for something like a torch or lantern. You find an old lamp hanging from a wooden post extending from above the door, clearly intended for night use. You shake it and hear the sloch of oil within. Excellent.

Acting swiftly, you fish out your flint and steel from a pocket of your belt. Lighting the wick as swiftly as you can, you stand up and lob it directly downward, onto a pair of the Fair Folk who are approaching one of the downed Lunars. You then shed your heavy robes, pull out your sai, and flip from the roof to the center of the writhing fire, delivering a swift finishing blow to the raksha's hearts with each hand.

Casting your eyes about you see on of the Lunars, his warform that of a tall hawkheaded and taloned man, being pressed back by three of the Fey warriors. At the same time, you notice another two of the enemy clamber over the wall. It seems like the rest of the combatants don't notice.

Actions?

>>6739574
1. Set ourselves on fire, if possible and not suicidal
2. Shed our current Destiny and make it so that everyone, Fae and Lunar, notices us
3. Do a gratuitous amount of flips as we jump from the roof, throwing out a goddamn storm of knives at Fae in range
4. Get stuck in

>>6739607
>My main objection was that the fire wouldn't stick if you lit yourself. It wasn't hard to find a way around though. Sorry.

>>6739678
Throw some knives and follow it up with a charge straight at the Fae, pin them between us and Horus.

>>6739678
Put the burning robes back on. Wreathed in flame, advance on the Fey that nobody noticed yet while chucking knives at the eyes, throats and groins of the Fey who are attacking our buddy Horus. When we get to the Fey coming over the wall, we set them on fire with our CAPE OF BURNING +AWESOME and then literally punch them through the wall. Well, actually punch one on a ballistic arc and the other through the wall so that the first one lands on it.

rolled 2, 4, 3, 4, 5 = 18

>>6739771
>>6739731
Passing the sai in your right hand to your left, you fish out a pair of knives from your belt with your free hand, lobbing them one at a tim at the ones climbing over the wall, while simultaneously moving to assist Horus in his fight.

>rollan for success. This isn't one of your better skills so you don't get auto successes on this one. There's some risk

>>6739799

Well, shit. Which Lunar did we just shank by accident?

rolled 3, 8, 1, 9, 7 = 28

>>6739799
Sadly, the act of moving and throwing with minimal time to aim was too much. All your blades managed to do was draw the attention of the pair. As you arrived in the battle between Horus and his adversaries you were much more effective. Your desert cloak, which you had snatched up after tossing the blades, as burning with oil. Swinging it like a net you entrap one of the Fey under its burning folds, then move to attack the other one nearest to you.

Stunts for the attack?

rolled 9, 10, 1, 8, 10 = 38

>>6739823
>It wasn't a critical fail. Botch. Whatever. They just missed.

>dammit, I keep forgetting to take the dice off. Ignore those rolls.

>>6739829

Grab the burning cloak, now with one of the Fey trapped in it, and swing that into the Fey we're attacking. When the other Fey stumbles, punch him into one of the Fey we threw the knives at, at an angle that would send both of them into the other Fey we threw knives at. Then use our martial arts skills to get past them all and as they're flying through the air, stab each one in succession, kicking our daggers into them to make sure they sink in nice and deep.

Setting yourself on fire would do a max of 4L damage per action, the stone soaks 6L. Damage is reduced to one dice (the minimum for environmental effects).

I'd say go for it, it's pretty fucking awesome and should make for excellent stunt fodder.

Apologies if this came too late, haven't refreshed the thread recently.

>>6739902
You grab a trailing bit of the cloth that the screaming fey is trapped in and swing it as hard as you can into the fey you are engaging now, using your body as a fulcrum. This knocks them both over and lights the other one on fire too. Now comes the last one, too occupied by Horus to pay you any heed. That was its final mistake. You grab it by the collar, and altering fate itself to make your next move more successful, lob it into the two fey from the wall, who were now coming up hehind you. You ready your sai to finish them off and charge the heap of bodies, putting a neat hole in the sternum of each.

Your exertion of essence has caused your caste mark to begin to glow moderately, but it is still hidden behind your head bandanna.

What next?

>>6740004
Are there any Fey left that aren't already getting mauled to pieces by angry furries?

If not, then we try to stabilize the wounded Lunars.

>>6740025
It seems that your appearence was what it took to get the momentum of the battle back to the Lunars. The fey didn't see you coming in the slightest, and your swift action ensured you made the most of it. Now, while the rest of the Lunars finish butchering the remaining fair folk, you move to the nearest of the wounded. Its a female, with a deep vertical gash on her side and the muscle of her calve cut to the bone. You don't know any charms to promote healing, or even normal mundane medicine but you do your best to staunch the bleeding. You can hear the sounds of fighting dying down around you, which means you have only a few seconds to compose a lie or decide to tell the truth before the questions start. Most likely, of course, being "Who the hell are you, and what happened to that traveller who looks just... like...WHO ARE YOU?!"

>>6740162
Tell them "I'll answer your questions after one of you gets over here and heals these people; I've done everything I can for them."

Even with our Charisma, there isn't any good way to lie ourselves out of this that won't fuck us over in the long run.

Oh, and take the hearthstone we were using and toss it to Horus as a goodwill gesture. We just needed it for the battle; we can do without it afterwards if we need to.

>>6740218
>Do we pop it out of the starmetal? That shit is rare, and you don't want to be wasting it. Plus, if anyone but a sidereal uses it theres a chance of damaging essence feedback.

>>6740162
"I'm been quite honest with you so far and I see no reason to stop. I've also been very helpful, if I may humbly say, and so I'm more than happy to answer your questions as well."

>>6740218
WAIT. Let's just see how the conversation goes before we do anything hasty.

>>6740235
>>6740262

Okay, I think I'm missing something here. So once you pop a Materia into its slot, you can't remove it without fucking up the thing you were carrying it in? And the stone itself?

>>6740262
>>6740218
You sigh as the bestial shadows appear on the ground before you, casting shade over yourself and the wounded woman. Beast. Woman-beast. "Look, I'm aware you all probably have a lot of questions, but first help the wounded. I'm no healer, but I've done all I can for her. I'll wait for you to finish. I've nowhere to run to."

It only took a few minutes for one of them, the small blond man from the day before, to help patch the wounded up. Due to what was undoubtably your timely intervention, the worst injury was a man who had his ring finger sliced off. Once everyone was back to some semblance of health, the group congregated on you again. You had been sitting flush to the wall, attempting to meditate to speed your essence recovery, but barely had ten minutes of respite.

Passing Shadows, the guard who had first allowed you entrance, strides forward. He is back to normal human form by now. His eyes are still quite dangerous. "Who are you? What is going on here. You aren't the same person as before. But you are too. What is going on?!"

Explain, /tg/!

>>6740329
>You can un-attune to stones. That is how you can gift them to friends or students as you collect more. I think with max item slots, you can only have like 5 or 6 stones with you at any one time. The thing is about the material is that starmetal is REALLY rare. It has one mine, in all of Creation. And it is the only magical metal that Sidereals can use without risk of essence feedback. If a Lunar tried to use the item, and failed a Wits+Lore roll, they'll get feedback from it, since it isn't moonsilver.

>>6740235
Of course we do.

THAT IS OURS NAO

NO STARMETAL FOR LUNAR

>>6740342
"I'm a newbie Sidereal Exalt sent here to investigate what the fuck those Fair Folk were up to for my first field mission. That answer your question?"

>>6740342
"You've cut to the core of it. I am no longer the same person as I was before and yet I am. My name was Telon when I spoke to you before and it's Telon as I speak to you now. As for what's going on, I feel you could be more helpful to me than I can be to you. I traveled with you for some days until we reached this fort, where we were waylaid by Fair Folk. They attacked us while we were searching for...what exactly? Loot? Or something else?"

>>6740401
"No, not at all. There's no such thing as a Sidereal. There are only four types of Exalted. The Solars, Lunars, Dragonblooded, and those Abyssals and Infernals who are corruptes Solars. I ask again, what are you?" Oh yeah. Arcane Fate. Whoops. But wait, it looks like only Horus isn't confused by this. But at the same time, he isn't exactly rushing to your defence and proclaiming the existence of the Seers of Fate either.

HOLYSHIT, I THINK HE MIGHT TRY TO KILL US AS SPIES FOR THE IMMACULATE ORDER OR SOMETHING. WHAT DO YOU DO?!?!

>>6740431
>...damn it. I wish I hadn't submitted that last one before I hit refresh. I'm sorry dude.

>>6740342
"Well, I told you the truth when I said I was a wanderer, and that I was curious about your people. I just didn't think it would be necessary to mention this."

Flare enough Essence that our caste mark becomes visible.

"Obviously, once the Fey attacked, I couldn't just sit back and watch. Not without giving up a bit of my morals that I'd prefer to keep, at least.

"I came here on assignment, to try and determine why there seemed to be an abnormally high degree of Essence usage in this region, particularly given the thinness of reality here. Given the appearance of the Fey, I think I've got at least part of the answer, but I'd appreciate any other information that might help me in this".

We should be using every ounce of Charisma and Persuasion we've got on this. No Essence-based stuff aside from showing who we are, though, since mindrape is kind of a no-no in these situations.

Also, if we can pop that hearthstone out of the starmetal amulet, keep the amulet and toss the hearthstone over to Horus, saying "by the way, forgive me for the presumption, but I borrowed this during the fight. I take it this was why you came here?"

>>6740465
>>6740476
Would it be possible to ignore that last response then? No offense intended to the anon who proposed it but it really seems to not be the way to go.

>>6740488
This.

>>6740508
>>6740401 here
I agree with you. Disregard, suck cocks etc.

Backtrack, do the other one.

Or keep going and do >>6740488

Maybe a combination of these?
>>6740431
>>6740488

>>6740488
>I concur. Sorry first anon, but this wins hands down. Disregard my first response then.

Horus catches the glowing stone easily. He is grinning slightly, but doesn't say anything. Passing Shadow looks bewildered. "But what are you? You're an Exalted as well, clearly, but of kind none of us have seen before. There are only the Solars, Lunars, and Dragon-Blooded. The Abyssals and Infernals are merely corrupted Solars, but are still from the same source. You're new. How have you remained hidden so long?"

>>6740543
My lack of knowledge of Exalted is killing me, here. Will they forget this conversation, even if we tell them about it? Or are they immune to that since they're exalted as well?

>>6740543
"Well, we kinda broke reality a long time ago. We have to take on false identities to even be remembered at all. Hell, I wouldn't be surprised if you forget me entirely after we part."

>>6740575
>Nah. If you had just passed them on the street or exhanged a few words with them sure. They'd forget you as quickly as anyone else. Exalted are partially immune to Arcane Fate. If you are memorable, they'll remember you.

>>6740575
They have to roll for it.

High enough modifiers means autosuccess, though (7 die = automatic 1 success, don't have to roll. Add another success for every three additional dice)

>>6740600
This, although without mentioning the "reality broke and it's our fault" part of things.

Also, make some parallels between how the Lunars hid, and how we did. They stepped outside of Creation, we Sidereals stepped behind it. Our anonymity was the price we paid.

>>6740543
"How have we remained hidden? Very carefully." Give a cryptic smile and change the subject to the Fae and what they've been doing.

"I wasn't lying when I said I was a traveler seeking uncertain horizons. We've been monitoring this area and noticed an unusual amount of essence use. With the barrier between Malfeas and here so thin, this was of course a concern. Would you be so kind as to illuminate for me the extent of what you and the Fae were doing?"

>>6740620
>This line of thought might lead them to the Usurpation and the Sidereals role in instigating it. You sure you want to go down that road?

>>6740641
>Or we could sidestep it entirely and portray ourselves as fellow Ursurpation victims.

>>6740636
Let's go with this. There's really not a lot of reason to give them more information than we must, and hopefully we have the social skill to keep the focus of the conversation on them giving us an infodump, rather than the other way around.

>>6740641
No, no. We still have information to glean and we should do it with typical Sidereal vagueness/sideways honesty, mixing in a bit of our personal charisma.

Also, you forgot your trip.

>>6740667
Pretty much what I was going for.

Even if they find out about the Usurpation (and it's likely that the Lunars retained at least some memories of it in cultural history), Arcane Fate would probably make it nigh-impossible to figure out that it was the fault of the Sidereals. Just that the Solars went nuts and the Dragon-Blooded rebelled.

>>6740667
Yeah, I think it'd be interesting for sids to just tell the other exalts that they were a victim too... and indeed I think some sids were killed for siding with the solars

>>6740693
On the other hand, I think I'd prefer to go with
>>6740636
for safety's sake.

>>6740686
There can't be honesty more sideways than portraying ourselves as fellow Usurpation victims.

Also, cultivating this batch of Lunars as Contacts or even Allies will be more simple if we don't pull out the old "obvious cryptic bullshit guaranteed to piss them off" routine. Just make it clear that if they try to spread the word, nobody else will remember it and we will deny everything as a matter of course.

>>6740698
>>6740693
Trying to plead our case as victims is unnecessary. The Lunars are currently just confused and slightly grateful, not out for vengeance.

Maybe try this?
>>6740636

>>6740705
Eh, fuck safety. We're in the South, the region voted "most likely to explode into flames and violence" for the past 3000 years of the "Creation's Going To Shit Olympics".

Let's take the more interesting route. We're the Chosen of Journeys, and all Journeys entail some risk.

>>6740636
>>6740667
>Both of these.

"So after you were forced to flee Creation, you've been behind the scenes repairing reality this whole time? I find that herd to believe, but...well there isn't much else that makes sense. The you and the not-you feeling, that isn't something that can exist in a normal universe." Passing Shadow shakes his head in wonder. It seems that even Lunars can be surprised.

At this Horus steps forward "He speaks the truth. I'm old enough to remember them from before and how they had to flee." At this, he shoots you a look that says very cleary *I know what you aren't telling them, and I'm letting you know that I know* "But, what we were doing is our own matter. Not for outsiders. What we told you about our nomadism was the truth as well. Just not all. But we must maintain some level of secrecy here. If we start spilling our secrets to you, it won't be long before you mention it to your superior, who might mention it to a co-worker, who might be a follower of the Immaculate Order. I'm sorry, but some things are for the Silver Pact only."

>>6740711
Your points are valid.

You have my vote.

And try to give Horus a subtle hint that we're jokingly trolling his followers (Something along the lines of a wink when we mention the 'victims of Ursurpation' thing)

>>6740711
When I mentioned sideways honesty I was referring to our schtick as a curious traveler, not trying to play the fellow victim card, which I do not think is the right approach.

>>6740717
Well, we obviously aren't mentioning the Usurpation itself unless they bring it up.

We're just explaining the minimum necessary for them to understand that we're a valid type of Exalted that does stuff that involves patching up Creation, and why no one knows we exist.

>>6740726
Damn it! I really need to remember that. Sorry. I was in the Drunken Master thread, and rushed back here to type that. My bad.

>>6740726
"I understand. The same goes for my guys, you know? So let's get down to what's really imprtant right now - the Fey. What's up with that?"

>>6740726
"Perfectly understandable. At the same time, I'm sure you can appreciate that if I have something to tell my superiors that can reassure them that the Essence use in this area is being taken in hand, I'm less likely to be followed up by someone else looking for the same information that I am."

>>6740726
"You can take me at my word when I say that I too value the sanctity of secrecy. Perhaps you could help me some other way. What do you know of the Fae and their activities here?"

>>6740726
We might point out that unless what they are doing is what is causing the depletion of essence, it's none of our business anyway. If it is their fault, however, then it is already a matter which reaches beyond their group as evidenced by our presence and they might as well spill.

>>6740726
Also, I think that maybe we'd better sit down and have a private chat with Horus later, to straighten things out. We aren't outright lying about the Sidereal role in the usurpation to the other Lunars, just massively shading the truth, and we're doing it because there's quite literally no need to know.

And because we ourselves are likely to have mixed feelings about it; if we had clear feelings one way or the other, we'd have joined a faction instead of going independent.

>>6740781
There will be a time for a little semi-bro chat later to clear the air. Maybe even cement a little I-did-this-for-you-maybe-in-the-future-you-could-help-me-out arrangement.

>>6740766
"Well, that was us. It might have been what led the fey to come to that region in the first place. Had we known of the weakened reality, we'd have never gone there, but what's been done has been done. We'll not be returning there ever again."

Accept it at face value, or probe further?

>>6740811
This is the part where I wonder how Sense Motive works in Exalted.

>>6740811
Probe a little bit further. Use our Super-Siddy Social Skills to try to figure out when to back off before we start annoying them, though.

In particular, a bit more detail on what exactly they did there would be nice. Not why they did, or what they expected to do, just what precisely they did so that we know how to tune the Lunar sorcery out if we visit the site to look for evidence of Fey or demons breaking into reality

>>6740811
"So, that means that I will be able to face my superiors and tell them that my mission was successful? That I will be able to look them in the eye and say with certainty, on my very honor, that the cursed Fair Folk and the noble Lunar nomads of this region will no longer threaten the stability of this place? AND, and that I am able to say exactly this because the chief himself of these nomads personally assured me of the truth of his intentions? Will I?"

>>6740850
>probably Perception+Socialize. Sadly, you have decent socialize, but shit perception. Want to try anyway?

>>6740811
>We'll not be returning there ever again.
Probe further. This is suspicious.

>>6740868
It's Investigation.

>>6740868
Unless there's some disadvantage to attempting to discern falsehood, sure.

>>6740852
>>6740863
"Training. This circle," he gestures to take in as many of the Lunars as he can "are mostly recently Exalted. Myself, Passing Shadow, and Light of the Thousand Candles are the only senior Lunars here. The rest Exalted recently. Some as few as a season ago. When we find them, we drag them off to get the moonsilver tattoos and training. Each of the Elemental Poles have one of these areas we set aside for this exact purpose near them. A place where we can go, and they can practice their abilities with impunity. I suspect that was what your superiors detected. The weakened border might also be what drew the fair folk to us. The three that we lost were some of the most promising of our disciples. We don't know if they died or were captured as food for the fey. I hate to leave them to possibly suffer such a fate without making sure of what happened, but my duty is to the next generation of Lunars. I couldn't allow them to all die. We had to leave."

Opinions?

>>6740926
I SMELL A RESCUE OPERATION

>>6740926
>Three Lunars
>Captured by Fey
OH SHI-

"...That can only be very, very bad."

>>6740952
>Fey eat souls. That presumably includes Exaltations. The idea is that there is a chance that 1% of the Lunar Exaltations might vanish entirely. Which isn't good.

>>6740964
Actually, it may vanish only if Fey leads its victim into Chaos and through the gate of shape (whatever it's real name is) to "unweave" it.

>>6740964
Well, looks like we've got no choice but going and getting them back. So let's get ready to kick Fey ass, take Fey names, and steal Fey bubblegum to chew while we're doing it.

>>6741005
>wonderful. I'm calling it quits for tonight. This seems like a good enough stopping spot. Should I give out exp and take requests for its use before I go, or just put it into stuff that makes sense in the story and just give y'all the modified sheet next time? I'm thinking Wednesday at 9 will be the next one.

>>6741007
The problem with this, of course, being that we're really not the most badass smiting machine ever. Taking on an entire group of fey on our own might be pushing our limits a bit.

>>6740926
"Horus, I believe you are a man of your word and so, I believe you when you say that you intend to leave this place.

But I don't think the Fae will be as courteous as your tribe has been.

Perhaps the Fae were led here by your essence use, perhaps not. All that matters now is that when I return to my superiors, I will be able to say that they have left. I can't do that yet and so I must stay a little longer."

Flash a level 3 Magnificent Bastard smile

"So tell me Horus. Are eager are you to repay the Fae for the grievances you've suffered?"

>>6741022
>You know, normally sidereals work in teams for big stuff. Like, I'm sure if you get to Yu-Shan and contact Nazri, he can pull together a team of as many inbetween mission siddies as he can, and then meet up with you and the Lunars. Just a thought.

>>6741022
We social-fu the bastards into handing the Lunars and any other captives back and liking it. While we do that, the other Lunars from this group can start getting "Plan B" ready.

We may also want to put in a call for blackup, but even if we do we're going to have to start moving before they get here if we want to have a change of saving those Lunars; they'd be coming in as cleanup crew in case we fail.

>>6741042
This.

If those Fey manage to get to that Gate of Shape, all sorts of bad things will happen.

We need to get serious'd now.

>>6741034
>>6741042
I smell a team up.

>>6741019
You should probably take requests into account but still reason spending XPs yourself.

>>6741042
We pray to a god that we know Nazri meets frequently yet is moderately reliable, and give them a message to give to him informing him of the issue.

>>6741058
> I'm not as familiar with the Fey as I am with the Abyssals and Infernals as villains. I just like the idea of them as villains for the beginning a bit more. Can you clue me in a bit about this Gate of Shape, so I don't fuck canon all to hell in the next part?

>>6741064

All ideas being taken! Note please, that the cooler Sidereal Martial Arts aren't learnable till your essence and MA skill are both one dot higher! Please take that into consideration. Pretty please.

>>6741095
I've got Graceful Wicked Masques, lookan it up nao...

>>6741095
From Exalted wiki:
Nirakara, the Mask
The definer of shape. There's no information about it, other than that it serves as the gateway between Creation and the Wyld, and that all creatures who make the transition between one and the other - whether Fair Folk taking on Assumptions or Creation-born gaining Wyld mutations - pass through Nirakara. Though not explicitly stated, it is reasonable to presume that, as the definer of form, Nirakara is itself formless (hence the complete lack of description).

So basically it is some deep wyld being that grants or takes away your shape as pass through it. Though I'm not sure "through" is an applicable word here.
To know more about Rakshas you should get (from /rs/ for example) Graceful Wicked Masques, read it and try to hold your mind from blowing up.
And for now go here: http://wiki.white-wolf.com/exalted/index.php?title=Raksha

>>6741095
IIRC leveling up permessence increases cost of learning other abilities?
Though, gaining another dot of permessence is pretty win.
Also Greater Mark of Mercury, can't we just bamf to heaven? or the portal to heaven, or back to the office at anyrate? 1 permessence 1 permwp right?

Archived for completeness.

>>6741163
Yay! Now to just wait up a bit more for the Gate info. I am so going to miss my first class today. Ugh. At least this went better than usual though.

>>6741156
>IIRC leveling up permessence increases cost of learning other abilities?
No, it doesn't. The cost one pays for Charms is calculated based on it's required Essence score, not the current one.

>>6741156
Only really worth it in emergencies.

>>6741095
Pretty sure the Gate of Shape is how they get in and out of the Outer Chaos, but...

>>6741173
herpa derpa, thanks for the correction anon, KNOW I NOW

>>6741197
This is correct.

So no suggestions for what to upgrade? In that case, I'm off to bed. Expect Essence to have gone up a dot next time though. Or maybe MA or survival. We'll see. Or maybe even a new charm?

>>6741095
Well, I vote for raising our Craft (Fate) and Thrown first. Then we should get some fighty charms.

>>6741257

If you're getting new charms, maybe start delving into the Socialize tree? We'll want Life Without Compunction asap I think, assuming other questers know how to use that amazing charm. Though Shun the Smiling Lady isn't so great unless you enjoy being a dick to people, you can apply it temporarily just to wreck their social-fu.