< New Beginnings 03 | Campaign Logs | Mini One >
SESSION 4 - Caer Dharrow and the Iron Mandarin
ST ::The sun burns through the crisp morning air, a trio of birds flying off along the rolling plains. Below their path, five young Solar Exalted trot along the bare hills, heading deeper and deeper into the lands of the Hill Tribes.::
ST ::In the distance, one can make out a low expanse of mountains, and it is in that direction that you travel -- closer to the ruins that set at the very center of people of the hills, to the ruined city of Caer Dharrow.::
ST ::The plains themselves are not empty; villages dot the land, a few families here and there. Herds of wild horses, gazelle, and wind racers wander through the land -- followed in many cases by hunting parties, or natural predators.::
ST ::Moving up closer, the five horsebound Solars crest a hill and gaze out at the countryside before them. The horses stop, resting for a bit, as Merayen slides out ahead and shields her eyes -- trying to get a better look at the shape she can dimly make out on the horizon...::
Jackal dismounts, patting his horse on the mane and letting it rest a bit, glancing in the direction of their scout...
Finnre`Merayen turns her head downward, letting the edge of her mask catch much of the light and reflect it away, while the light that did reach her was indirect and lacking the sharpness it had before. The image began to clear up as she looked.
Skyla closes her eyes for the moment, resting and turning her face to the sun. She knows the area, but only generally out this far. But the Sun guides her, gives her a sense of where that is, and she nods to herself, opening her eyes again and surveying the terrain ahead.
Balthasar covers a yawn with a clenched fist, but is otherwise stoic and quiet, resting easily in the saddle as if the long ride were the most comfortable thing in the world.
Masati takes this opputunity to get off her horse and stretch, while looking in the same direction as Finnre, trying to she what she's looking at.
ST ::Merayen can make it out clearly now, though it's barely more than a light hint of shape and glare in the extreme edges of distance, many miles in front of them. It's a building, of some sort, buried under one of the hills and marred by the dust of Ages. Some sort of ruin...::
Finnre`Merayen nods and waves towards the ruin. "There's a building buried there. It could be what we're looking for."
ST ::Skyla doubts it; what they're looking for is a city, inhabited by many Barbarians. Still, could be interesting!::
Skyla "Probably not, but... we should check it out anyway. Maybe there'll be some cool stuff there!"
Finnre`Merayen "Well, I wasn't sure. I have heard of cities buried by the ages, but still livable. There are tales of strange nations that exist below the earth, in a strange mirror of the sunlit lands."
ST ::Masati, her eyes enhanced with a bit of Essence, can make out a bit more detail about the building -- it's just one small outbuilding, she's fairly sure, and it looks very very old. Just a small portion of it peeks out, but it looks to be gold, an arc...likely the face for the entrance into the structure. She doesn't think it's a tomb, but she isn't sure...::
Finnre`Merayen "Such as this could be such an entrance... but it could also be a masoleum or something similar
Skyla "Well, let's go. We're wasting time just talking." she grins and spurs her horse on
Finnre`Merayen "Either way, I suggest we examine it."
Masati "I don't think it's a tomb, it looks like more of an enterance"
ST ::Not all that much longer, the group follows the path between the hills, arriving at the massive golden hall sunken into the hill. Crumbling pillars, a massive beautifully-etched archway, some broken statuary... You're not sure what it is, but it draws you.::
ST ((Picture the Face of a Greek Temple.))
ST ::At the other end of this impressive Face, a massive door of solid gold rests...split in two with a single massive blow! Each side of the door rests to one side, the interior of the hall opened up like a flower.::
ST ::This happened, a casual glance at the carnage would guess, a long looooong time ago.::
Skyla tries to figure out what the etchings mean
Masati looks around trying to see if anyone has been here in anytime in the last few days...or even months
ST ::It doesn't look like it, Masati notes -- there are no signs of such.::
Finnre`Merayen slowly walks into the temple like area, looking around and examining the dust upon floors and walls
Masati "I don't know what this place is, but I'm fairly sure it is not what we're looking for"
ST ::Skyla, meanwhile, glances up at the archway for a bit -- she can vaguely imagine what it must have looked like, pristine, bright in the morning sun. She turns, lightly, as if she heard a voice...but there's no one there. With a frown, she looks back -- another memory.::
Finnre`Merayen no, I seriously doubt this place is what we are looking for.
Balthasar dismounts after everyone has gone inside, and turns to examine the hills they just rode from. In this shady vantage, he finds a clearer view of the environment, and studies it for a moment. Eventually, he turns and follows the rest in.
Balthasar An interesting ruin.
Skyla shakes her head, blinking the vision away, "It's not. Caer Dharrow is much further."
Masati gingerly looks takes a step into the golden doorway, trying not to disturb anything
ST ::Moving into the covered area, past the Arch, Merayen stands near the shattered door -- it's weathered, dull with the passage of time and the gentle playing of the wind, but still somewhat glossy in appearance. Old; very very old. The walls are covered in a fair amount of dust, but the detail work underneath is still quite visible.::
Skyla touches the golden door, rubbing her hand along the broken edge. "Someday... I'll come back and fix this."
Jackal examines the large door. "Well I doubt the ghosts are very happy with this..."
ST ::It doesn't really look like a tomb, though...::
Skyla steps inside, and looks arund
ST ::And, Balthasar, examining the door -- he thinks the markings on it might be wards.::
Balthasar drifts forward, crouching and tracing the contours of a few of the marks.
Finnre`Merayen This seems to have been the place of some great battle...
Balthasar squints, doublechecking his supposition.
ST ::...wards against /demons/.::
ST ::Sealing, in fact, something inside this once-prison.::
Balthasar blinks.
Balthasar This isn't a tomb, or a temple.
Finnre`Merayen begins to look over the carved door, waving her hand as if she carried a blade of some sort, attempting to walk through the battle she suspects happened so long ago.
Skyla "It's not?
Masati "Then what is it?"
Balthasar It was a prison... and something's been loosed.
Balthasar glances at the shattered door, "For a while."
Masati sighed. "lovely"
Balthasar taps a glyph on the wall.
ST ::Hundreds of years ago; minimum.::
Skyla "Oh. Maybe it didn't deserve to be caged." she scowls.
Balthasar It did. You see this mark?
Jackal "Well that's odd. Wouldn't it be rampaging through the countryside by now?"
Skyla looks at what he's pointing at, "Yeah... what does it mean?"
Finnre`Merayen looks to Balthasar... "What sort of thing was held here? Something immortal?"
ST ::Merayen, looking at the door, gets an impression of what must have cleaved it -- some exceedingly powerful weapon, of some sort. Massive, as well, easily 12 foot long or better. Sharp, and wielded by one superally strong...::
Masati "well it does seem to be a pretty prison, or at least it was. i haven't seen many prisons with gold doors"
Balthasar I can't read it - but I recognize its looks. It's the name of a demon. And linked here, as it is, to the mark above it, well. That's a symbol of demon binding.
Jackal "Maybe some sort of demon?"
Balthasar Yes, quite absolutely.
Balthasar As for immortality?
Balthasar looks at Merayen, as he stands again.
Jackal "Well that doesn't make sense then...spirits don't like demons."
Balthasar shrugs.
Finnre`Merayen The weapon that cleaved this door was done by something huge, even by the standards of most weapons... I believe it was made from without on a guess.
Skyla "I wonder if I can use the material from the door... do you think I could use it to make some sort of... demon-warded armor, or weapon or something? I bet I could...
Masati continues searching around the enterior.
Balthasar smiles. "I suggest we first go inside and make full survey, if we're going to do it at all."
Finnre`Merayen Then we have an evil loosed upon the land... who knows what form it might take. I suggest we search the ruins here for more clues as to it's form.
ST ::Masati, moving past, finds that the passageway past the door is quite cramed, but with a high ceiling, the walls dull and void of any detail... It seems to, fairly steeply, descend into the earth...who knows how deep?::
Skyla "Oh, well okay. I'll get some metal on the way out then."
ST ::You all spend a good part of a day exploring the interior of the Vault/Prison. It's quite massive, extensively tunneled under the hills, and almost labryinthine in its dimensions. There was, in fact, quite a lot of room within for...whatever was kept there. Of that, there was no sign...::
Jackal "I'm suprised the damn thing didn't have a bedchamber."
Skyla "Maybe it slept on the floor."
Skyla "Prisons aren't very nice."
ST ::They kept looking; seeking for some kind of sign of what was kept here...::
Masati "Maybe it didn't sleep"
Jackal "No they aren't Skyla. However I doubt the demon was either."
Finnre`Merayen examines the floors and walls for any signs of claw marks, scrapings... anything that might reveal something of it's nature.
Skyla "Maybe it was just misunderstood."
Masati gives an amused look. "misunderstood?"
ST ::Eventually, though, the puzzle was solved -- Skyla noticed it first, several large high chambered rooms. Merayen had noticed the marks on the wall, but hadn't been able to put it together, but Skyla managed to find the hooks where the things once hung from the ceiling...::
Skyla scuffs her foot against the very solid floor. "Well, they call US demons. Anathema."
ST ::Like bats.::
ST ::There must have been thousands of them.::
Finnre`Merayen laughs somewhat harshly at that. "Unlikely, though we shall give it the chance to be redeemed as any other... but I have little doubt that it was given such chances before."
Balthasar Demonic misunderstandings are, I think, usually the stuff of epics.
ST ::Eventually, Balthasar found a hidden catch in one of the walls -- leading down deeper, past even heavier wards, until they reached the area where the things master once lay stored... A single chamber, in the form of a pentagon, traced with elegant runes of warding and containment. Very powerful runes...::
Skyla "Do you think one demon can be a flock of bats?" she points upward
Masati "Everyone deserves to be locked up, depending on your perspective."
ST ::Whatever was kept there was exceedingly potent.::
Masati looks up. "Well have bats been terrorizing the countryside?"
Balthasar draws a breath, and steps towards the center of the chamber. He then halts, and glances around.
Skyla glares at Masati, "You, maybe."
Balthasar picks up an almost haunting quality to the chamber, despite its ancient quality, and abandoned nature.
Finnre`Merayen I think that demons can take many forms... why not a horde of bats as well?
ST ::The chamber itself is PRECISELY measured, perfect in every manner, cut out with aching precision. Every angle aimed at keeping the thing that was once kept here chained. Five braziers, now dim, once lined the five corners... The very center of the room, a once-depression, still baring the slight electricity of once-potent sorcery...::
Balthasar searches his mind for any rituals from the Old Country pertaining to the naming of demons. He's sure he used to know one spell, or two, but trying to recall them now leads his fingers to his forehead in strain.
Skyla stands in the center of the room, trying to feel how the Essence was used
Finnre`Merayen It is said that the spirits of the storm can be found in each raindrop that falls, why not demons that exist in a similar grouping of bats?
Jackal glances at the braziers. Letting the others worry about hundred year gone demons.
ST ::Not even Balthasar is entirely sure, but he can guess. Skyla is even less certain... Whatever it was, though, she can feel its power -- even spent as it is, it makes her skin shimmer...::
Masati "Well what ever it is or was, it's gone now." picks up her skirt to avoid getting it dustier then it already is
Finnre`Merayen turns to Balthasar. "Do you think you could use the residue of it's spiritual spoor to find the thing?"
Masati "I'll be waiting outside, try not to get yourselves killed in the empty prison." she say teasingly and heads out the door
Skyla moves over to one of the braziers, rubbing her tingling arms. She kneels next to it and looks to see what was burning
Balthasar hesitates, and then displays a bit of demonic information. Later, when analyzing why he would divulge this insight, he would not be sure if it were to reveal his dabbling in demonology, or if it were to genuinely assist the speculations of his Circle.
Balthasar Saying "demons may or may not be able to do this", is inaccurate. There are myriad breeds, races and tribes of demons, just as there are of men. Each is distinct in its nature.
Balthasar And there is no indication of its nature here. Just its name, which I cannot read.
Finnre`Merayen nods. "But, it is long gone... unless we should have a way to track it, I suggest we move on."
Skyla "Oh. You're smart."
Balthasar There is a way to track it, actually.
Balthasar ...In a sense.
Balthasar kneels at the very epicenter of the chamber, and draws out a frail, folded sheet of paper. With a bit of ash taken from a brazier, he rubs the paper against a glyph there.
Balthasar rises, and blows the excess ash off of the paper.
Masati dusts herself off when she gets outside and finds a comfy bit of grass to sit on and wait for the others
Jackal "Well just don't tell me you want to TALK to it...."
Skyla looks over...under..his shoulder
Balthasar displays a perfect copy of the glyph to the rest, before folding the paper and returning it to his coat.
Skyla "Wow. I would have just drawn it."
Skyla checks to see if she can swipe one of the braziers since it's obviously not doing any good where it is
Balthasar turns back to the glyph, taking one last look at the actual thing before going. He squints, still trying to recall that spell, oddly missing from his recollection.
ST ::Balthasar, glancing at the demon's name, finally feels something click... He sees himself, in the form of a young woman, standing over the defeated form of a Demon Prince -- his circlemate holding the Star of the East to the fiends throat.::
ST ::The young woman, long hair of pale white, leans down and stares into the world-shattering eyes of the Prince of the Yozi. Those pale green eyes that can shatter lesser minds have no effect on her. She smiles...::
ST ::The woman...:: "Do you yield?"
Balthasar ((Hell yeah. Am I hot?))
ST ((Exceedingly so!))
Balthasar ((Now that's what I like to hear!))
Skyla ((i wanna be hot!)
Balthasar sways, his hand coming to his forehead.
ST ::Skyla, before sitting off with the others, notes the location of these ruins on her map -- she should be able to come back here without much trouble, when she has more time and better resources, to carry away some of this stuff.::
Skyla steadies him with her hand, "You okay? You're not possessed or something are you?"
Balthasar stays silent for a moment, trying to shake off the vision.
Balthasar No. I almost feel as if I've been here before. Yet, that wasn't me I saw, was it?
Balthasar 's comment, arcane as it is, doesn't ever get clarified. He turns to the way out, "Let's go."
Skyla nods in understanding. "A vision. I had one of those once."
Finnre`Merayen moves outside, packing her bags, and sitting on her horse ready.
Balthasar asks, later, as he mounts, "What was this vision, Skyla?"
ST ::While leaving the demon-prison, Balthasar can't help but note -- he wasn't /here/. The woman was outside somewhere, maybe in a place near here... Still, he can guess that the demon involved is the same in both this prison and the vision.::
Skyla "It was amazing... I was using the Wood Dragon's Claw to heal a whole village, much bigger than Nulam."
Masati quietly mounts her horse when the others come out.
Jackal mounts his horse and listens to Skyla recount her visions of the claw to Balth.
Skyla "There must have been... well I've never seen that many people. There was a plague."
Balthasar raises a brow. He nods, listening; simultaneously, he checks to make sure the rest are mounted, and then sets off at a trot back on course.
ST ::Water flows down from the mountains, numerous creeks and streams gathering together until they join as the River Huang. Not one of the most important waterways, it passes through the Hill Territory, eventually passing into the Theocracy of Oldun and the Yellow River...::
ST ::The group stops lightly on the bank, letting their horses water and each washing themselves in the cool runoff of the river. The flow is slow, the water fresh; quite refreshing.::
Skyla checks her map, noting that they've gotten much closer
Skyla 'accidentally' splashes Balthasar as she washes
Masati wets down a small cloth and cleans up a bit and rebraids her hair, making it look neater.
Finnre`Merayen washes herself upstream, away from the others.
Water`Buffalo is ALSO washing itself in the river, along with a few friends. They stay well away from the characters, and aren't an uncommon sight at all...
Balthasar shields himself with his coat, laughing, "Nice try."
Finnre`Merayen gets out and starts to brush down her horse.
Skyla "I have yet to see you with that hair of yours messy. SOMEDAY, I will, I swear it!" she jokes
Masati smiles. "Maybe next time you should just try to push him in"
Balthasar completes undressing, and wades in after the rest to clean up. He is actually already quite clean, but could use the refreshment. In order to further that goal, he submerges completely, only coming up a minute or so later, for air.
Skyla laughs, "I'm too late now."
Balthasar It gets wet, my hair, doesn't it? Yes, it does.
Jackal washes his face and glances at the buffalo before turning back to Sky and Balth. "So it's from demons to splashing now is it?"
Villager whistles lightly, coming around a bend in the hills with a large bundle of clothes for washing carried in her hands. She starts, somewhat, as she spots the characters resting themselves near the river...
Balthasar tosses it over his shoulder.
Villager smiles then, and gives them a nod, moving to start her tasks.
Masati "That's true" watches Balth, "So how long does he have to say in to get all pruny?"
Villager is on the opposite bank.
Skyla strips, pausing for a second on the shore, before diving into the river, a shallow dive.. she comes up, laughing, and notices the villager.
Villager ::You'd not known there was a village near here.::
Balthasar does not immediately notice the villager, but does, eventually. He returns the nod with a wave.
Skyla "Oh.. uh.. Hi." She sliiides down so she's mostly covered by the water
Villager is also dressed better than most of the Hill Folk, in clothes that look about what you'd expect people of Nulam to wear if they didn't get even irregular guild trade...
Jackal doesn't immediately notice the villiager, busy getting off his boots.
Masati looks at the villager and wonders what it is about meeting strange people a streams
Finnre`Merayen finishes brushing and begins to rearm herself, setting the mask and helm down first.
Villager starts washing shirts and pants, smiling at Skyla as she breaks the silence..
Villager "Greetings, travellers."
Skyla combs her wet hair back away from her face, and forward to cover her *ahem* bounty. "Hello. Are you from a village near here?"
Villager "In the hills, yes," she notes. "The Village of Emerald Dragon. We are most prosperous."
Jackal soaks his feet in the water with a pleased sigh.
Skyla "I'm from Nulam." she smiles. "I like your clothes."
Villager ::Aaaah,:: Jackal thinks, ::That feels good!::
Balthasar Ahoy, friend. We are all from Nulam.
Balthasar smiles.
Villager "I am not familiar," she notes, "but I have seldom travelled any further than this. Is it very far away?"
Masati watches the villager and the party quietly
Skyla "We've been traveling for many days, from that way." she points.
Balthasar nods. "It is indeed quite some ways."
Villager looks, and nods...
Balthasar looks at Skyla. Then nods to her.
Finnre`Merayen rides back, armored, and weapons hanging from the saddle
Skyla "Have you heard of the Silver God?"
Villager nods at Skyla and Balthasar.. "The /Hundred Kingdoms/, I see. I thought as much..." Then she looks, somewhat confused, and finally nods -- she is familiar.
Villager "He met with us," she notes, "but the Iron Mandarin drove him away. He was a corrosive influence."
Villager genuflects thanks for the villages protector.
Skyla smiles, "Good. He has been a bad influence on many of the tribes... we are on our way to.. I think, negotiate with him to stop."
Balthasar tilts his head, "The Iron Mandarin?"
Finnre`Merayen stops and thinks... "THE Iron Mandarin?"
Villager glances at Merayen, her surprise outwaying Balthasar's comment...
Skyla looks back at Merayen, "You know him?"
Villager "I know of only one; he is the patron of our village, our protector and mentor."
Balthasar also regards Merayen, not startled in the least.
Masati looks over at Finnre'
Finnre`Merayen "No, I've never met him... but he... I think I'd want to visit him if it is possible."
Masati "So...who is he?"
Balthasar begins to wring his hair out, drifting ashore again.
Finnre`Merayen "One of the greatest Martial Artists of the recent past. His name was a legend still where I come from, and part of his stories is why I joined the military."
Skyla "Well he might be able to give us advice on dealing with the Silver God."
Villager glances at you, and ponders, then nodding a bit.
Masati does her best to not be distracted by a naked Balth, but then gives up and throws him an appreciative smirk
Villager "He seldom welcomes outsiders, but you seem of the sort that he would appreciate. I would be happy to lead you to our village once I have finished my chores, if you wish."
Finnre`Merayen nods. "Thank you. I would greatply appreciate seeing him."
Villager also tries not to stare at the Balthasar; mastering her will, solidly keeping to her katas...
Villager manages, thus, to avoid staring at the naked Eclipse.
Balthasar steps to his saddlebags, and draws out a voluminous, luxuriant appearing pair of silk trousers. He dons those, though the dampness does make them cling a tad.
Skyla doesn't avoid staring at him.
Balthasar doesn't even appear to notice. Sailors are an odd bunch, perhaps.
Jackal stops soaking his feet and gets ready for a trip...he sighs at the girls gawking...so much for stopping the killer animal monster...
Balthasar I'd be glad to help with those chores.
Masati "I don't know what I like more, looking at him or looking at his wardrobe." she comments to Skyla
Balthasar Just show me what to do.
Balthasar stretches.
Villager genuflects to Balthasar, and does indeed show him how to properly wash clothes, greatful for the help.
Villager is much better at it, however, due to her disciplined almost martial method of washing the clothes.
Skyla does, however, follow him out of the water, and with a small sigh, pulls out a nicer set of clothing from her pack. Not as nice as his, perhaps, but serviceable enough. She smirks at Misati, "I prefer looking at him."
Jackal didn't expect to be doing much entertaining...only packed his traveling clothes...maybe he should make sure to take his armor off.
Masati gives the Villager a surprise look be turning to Skyla. "I say we steal his wardrobe, and make him go around naked"
Finnre`Merayen sits down upon the ground, honing and oiling her blade and looking over her bow though they need it not. While he might not respect polish, a warrior always takes the best care of their weapons.
Balthasar simply attempts to supplement the washing, bowing to the villager's superior skill in it quite fast ;-)
Villager ::The walk back to the village is a fairly long one, and you doubt you would have found it on your own, as it's kind of hidden in the foothills near where the terrain gets rougher... Indeed, you notice, the village seems to have formed up under a small monestary located above it on the hillside.::
Villager ::The people there are mostly people from the Hundred Kingdoms and the Hill Folk, but there seem to be a few people of all sorts. The villagers are engaged in many tasks as you pass through, ranging from farming to smith-work to sword-drills in the village square...::
Skyla checks out the smithies as they pass
Villager ::Two young children, maybe 10, are dueling with blunt sticks -- with a fair amount of skill -- as you pass through the main road through the village. Various adults watch them, curiously.::
Jackal "Well it's no suprise they drove him out then..."
Finnre`Merayen examines their skills, as she moves, giving lingering glances back and forth.
Villager ::Skyla notes that they seem VERYYYYY good at making swords of various types; not as good as her, but quite impressive in their skillwork! Their set-up isn't as nice as Jhords, however, but they make do...::
Masati follows in the back of the group and watches the villagers
Skyla ponders ways of helping them out with their set-up, if they help the Circle out...that would likely be a good payment for them.. Perhaps modifying some of their tools..
Villager ::Images of smith-work dancing in her head, Skyla walks through the main street...::
Finnre`Merayen I must say, I am quite impressed with your village. Each and every one is quite skilled.
Ritoshi , a young man with a short black pony tail and a bare chest, comes up to the group and gives them a half-bow. A hill folk, he doesn't really look much like most of his countrymen, seeming in better shape and much more self-secure...
Balthasar returns the bow in precise measure.
Ritoshi "Itosi," *smile* "Introduce your friends?"
Finnre`Merayen returns his half bow.
Balthasar is, incidentally, strolling alongside his horse, to keep pace with the villager.
Itoshi "These are several travellers, from 'Nulam' in the Hundred Kingdoms, that I met by the River. They wish to see the Mandarin."
Jackal nods to Ritoshi, hoping they don't get ran out of town by a bunch of crack little old ladies for being sun based demon monsters...
Balthasar does not immediately speak, until spoken to.
Ritoshi "Ah; Nulam. That is one of the villagers on the River Sarine, is it not?"
Skyla curtsies roughly to the new person.
Ritoshi "Welcome to the Village of the Emerald Dragon."
Finnre`Merayen nods her masked face in agreement with Itoshi. "Yes, it is. A pleasant village."
Masati watches from the back, keeping an unobtrusive eye out behind them
Ritoshi is attractive enough, with straight black hair and a muscular chest. He seems to keep himself in very good shape, being both strong and wiry -- he's not carrying a weapon, but you have a feeling that doesn't mean much here...
Jackal "I doubt you get much trouble from raiders..i've seen highly paid mercenaries less skilled than those two. "Nods to the children.
Ritoshi just grins a bit.
Ritoshi "The Iron Mandarin has trained us well in the defense of our home, and our selves,'
Skyla "Your craftsmen are excellent as well."
Ritoshi inclines his head in thanks.
Finnre`Merayen "It speaks quite well of the Mandarin to aid you with his teachings. I would expect no less, to be honest."
Balthasar The Village of the Emerald Dragon, you say?
Ritoshi just nods to Balthasar; that is the name of the village. Idly, he thinks, the girl had called it that back at the River.
Ritoshi "Our village grew up around the Iron Mandarin's monestary; it is only fitting that it be named after him."
Balthasar How interesting.
Balthasar He is both the Emerald Dragon, and the Iron Mandarin?
Ritoshi nods, inclining his head a bit.
Balthasar looks distinctly impressed.
Balthasar If you would, good sir, it would be an honor to stay in this village for the night.
Masati continues stand quietly and watch
Balthasar Sleeping outdoors does take its toll, and we have been a hard road.
Finnre`Merayen smiles slightly, under her mask. "Truely, this place is one of idyllic peace and calm prosperity."
Balthasar nods in agreement.
Ritoshi "You are welcome to stay if that is your wish; we seldom entertain outsiders, and so our accomidations are somewhat lacking, but we have room enough."
Balthasar bows again, calculating the bow's depth as being half again as deep.
Ritoshi "Though the Iron Mandarin himself might be able to extend his hand; there is much more room in the Monestary."
Skyla "Would we be able to meet him today?"
Ritoshi glances up at the sun...
Balthasar blinks.
Ritoshi "Afternoon exercises should just be ending soon," he notes. "If you wish, I could take you there myself."
Finnre`Merayen nods. "Thank you, that would be most pleasant."
Balthasar smiles at Skyla.
Ritoshi "I imagine you are eager to prove yourself worthy of his training..."
Finnre`Merayen "I have long wished I could meet the Iron Mandarin."
Ritoshi ::Aaaah; that explains it! The village probably recieves a fair number of students in search of a Sifu.::
Ritoshi ::That explains why they're not reacting to you with much surprise...::
Masati raises an eyebrow at the comment but doesn't say the snarky remark that comes to mind
Skyla curtsies again "That would be wonderful. I think we could share some of our knowledge with him as well."
Ritoshi "I will take you to where you can secure your mounts; the climb up to the Monestary is a rough one for a horse."
Skyla "Thank you, Ritoshi!"
Finnre`Merayen just bows to Ritoshi and follows after him.
Skyla follows
Masati follows along last
Jackal nods to Ritoshi and follows the group.
Ritoshi ::The climb up to the monestary IS a fairly hard one, but you all make it without much trouble at all, only Balthasar appearing even the slighest bit winded at the end of the trek... The monestary itself is expertly constructed of stone, shaped with loving care, thick walls securing the interior....which is a beautifully landscaped and lush garden, with plenty of room for drills and katas in the open courtyard.::
Ritoshi ::Three buildings also line the interior, one large central 'dojo', an outbuilding, and a place for students to rest...::
Ritoshi ::A number of young mortals, from all over, are currently out front doing Katas...::
Mortals stand in various martial stances, moving from form to form, perfecting their stances...
Balthasar observes, more than anything else. He has the distinct impression that he is quite out of his familiar element, but at the same time, he can't help but be impressed by the intensely martial village. Before he has even left the village to climb to the Mandarin, he has unwittingly begun to analyze the village's pecking order and general make-up.
Ritoshi "Make yourself at peace," Ritoshi says, giving a bow. "And enjoy the wonders of the garden. I will fetch the Mandarin."
Ritoshi waits for any parting words you might have to offer, and then departs, moving into the large central building.
Finnre`Merayen prepares herself internally, thinking of how best to speak to the Mandarin, focused inwardly.
Masati wanders around the garden a bit, admiring the plant life and looking for exits
Jackal idly wonders why such an environment is so vital martial training...what can you learn in the middle of nowhere that you can't learn in the streets?
Skyla looks to see if any of the plants there have medicinal uses
Finnre`Merayen sits down on a flat stone, enjoying the warmth to draw her mind to a sharp point of focus.
Ritoshi ::The plant life is extravagent, beautiful, and also quite tightly controlled...::
Iron`Mandarin comes out, after a few minutes... You notice him before he even sets his first foot onto the soft ground, however - his essence greatly proceeds him, like the wind before a storm...
Balthasar undoes his coat-neck somewhat beneath the pale collar at his neck, in order to get a breeze at his chest. Fast over feeling winded, he now studies the katas, the complex, strange movements quite incomprehensible to his eye.
Iron`Mandarin ::There's a slight shock of power the second his foot connects with the ground -- all turn, glancing idly, at one of the most powerful Exalts you've ever seen...::
Masati watches for his enterance
Skyla blinks, and looks up from the yellow flower she'd been inspecting, feeling the power course over her
Balthasar wonders if you really need to know all that to run someone through with your blade. Then, he damn near senses the Mandarin's approach.
Iron`Mandarin is tall, about six foot tall, his hair light green and short, interwoven with vines and flowers. A thick layer of bark grows up around his shoulders, down his back, while his skin is a deep mahogony with green highlights. He is strong, well-muscled and fit...
Iron`Mandarin glances, softly, at Balthasar's eyes...smiles...and bows lightly.
Finnre`Merayen stands and bows towards the Iron Mandarin, a small Lookshy salute of honor between warriors being performed as she does so.
Iron`Mandarin "I see that you are all more than I was foretold," he notes, softly, slightly mischevious.
Iron`Mandarin "To what honor do I owe this visit by five of the Solar Exalted?"
Balthasar bows deeply in return, putting one foot forward to counterbalance the depth.
Skyla rises and repeats her akward curtsy to the Dragon
Iron`Mandarin ::He....he knew instantly. Upon seeing you.::
Masati looks at him curisously
Balthasar smiles broadly upon rising.
Skyla "You...know us, but you don't fear and hate us? You are one of the Dragon-Blooded." she states the obvious, as it occurs to her.
Finnre`Merayen I am from Lookshy, and there you are still a legend. I could not pass by a chance to greet one who I respected since I was a child.
Finnre`Merayen laughs softly. "So the stories say, the Iron Mandarin walked his own path, letting no other force their ideas upon his own. His greatest joy was his art, and the truth is written here upon the village and monastery.
Jackal isn't too sure what to make of this situation...it might turn ugly if the mandarin was one of...those people.
Iron`Mandarin "I learned much," he notes, idly, "while I was studying your 'heretical' styles of Martial Arts in my youth. I have learned much more since. You need not fear yourself from me, as long as you do nothing to earn my anger."
Iron`Mandarin inclines his head to Merayen, lightly, happy to hear her words...
Masati makes a mental note to not annoy this man
Balthasar To be honest, I have not heard much of you - but it clearly is a tale I will miss not having heard.
Iron`Mandarin just nods.
Balthasar What it was, is that we met one of your people, Itoshi, at the river.
Balthasar And she told us that you drove the Lunar Exalt away.
Iron`Mandarin "I endeavor to maintain as low a profile as I might -- I recieve enough missionaries seeking to learn at my feet as it is."
Balthasar We are in pursuit of this Lunar Exalt.
Iron`Mandarin just nods softly.
Finnre`Merayen "We travel on a mission of peace, and would not even think to do battle with one who has not earned it. We have seen and worked to repair the damage done by the "Silver God", now we go to confront him."
Iron`Mandarin "Ah yes. The Brilliant Mane; he came to the people of Emerald Dragon some months ago."
Iron`Mandarin glances idly at the outbuilding...which, Skyla notices upon a closer look, seems to have been repaired recently.
Skyla "In return for your help, I can offer assistance in refining the forges your people use. I have made some new tools that will make their work easier."
Iron`Mandarin "What sort of help do you need?" he notes, dubious...
Balthasar confides, "She's just looking for an excuse to refine your forges."
Jackal "The Brilliant Mane? What is he, some sort of lion?"
Iron`Mandarin laughs, and nods.
Skyla pouts a bit, "shhh!"
Masati whispers to Jackal, "No he just has really great hair"
Balthasar All we could ask of you, Iron Mandarin, is a place to stay for the evening, some good conversation, and perhaps some directions and advice.
Balthasar If you would be so kind.
Finnre`Merayen looks to Skyla, "I came here to see you and the village in friendship. I have no doubt my friend is correct, but... let me introduce us.
Iron`Mandarin smiles softly to Balthasar, and nods to Merayen, waiting to hear introductions...
Balthasar nods, also, to Merayen, and lets her get about it.
Iron`Mandarin walks, idly, through the Garden as he listens...
Balthasar was, to be honest, quite content to be known only as a Solar Exalt. He didn't even notice that about himself until just now, and finds himself reflecting on that.
Iron`Mandarin ::The grass, flowers and plants seem to push toward him as he walks... Seeking out his warmth, like the sun itself.::
Jackal glances at Merayen...she's rather trusting of someone who could crush them like bugs...
Finnre`Merayen I am Finnre Merayen, formerly of the Lookshy Gunzosha Troops. This is Jackal and Skyla of Nulem.
Masati wonders idily how Finnre is going to introduce her
Iron`Mandarin glances at Merayen, and a profound look of sadness etches on his face...
Finnre`Merayen Masati is a foundling of that same village, her memory lost. And Balthasar, merchant of the ship the Evening Crest.
Finnre`Merayen nods softly in return to the Iron Mandarin, her reason for the armor becoming more obvious with his look.
Iron`Mandarin has never, you know, been very approving of the Gunzosha armor... In retrospect, you might agree.
Iron`Mandarin always viewed it as a hideous betrayal of the mortals that wear it.
Iron`Mandarin "Memory lost?"
Iron`Mandarin glances at Masati...
Finnre`Merayen From your look, I see we both understand the truth of the armor... had I only known it before.
Masati "Something like that."
Iron`Mandarin "There are some katas," he notes, "that enhance memory and clarify thoughts. I will show them to you, before you leave, if that is your wish."
Iron`Mandarin "None the less... I am Salas, the Iron Mandarin, chosen of the Element of Wood."
Masati "That would be nice, thank you"
Iron`Mandarin just nods...
Skyla "Have you...heard.. of the Wood Dragon's Claw?"
Finnre`Merayen nods and removes her helm, igniting her mark. "I am chosen of the Sun at noon."
Balthasar A pleasure, Salas.
Masati 78998
Jackal simply Nods at Salas. Still rather unsure of the situation...but atleast it's quieter than Nexus...and you can go a whole day without animal torture!
Masati pats Jackal on the back. "I bet we can even get a hot bath too." she says quietly, smiling
Finnre`Merayen Thank you for your hospitality, Salas. We thank you for the kindness.
Iron`Mandarin "As far as your wishes -- you may stay here as you need, so long as you do not bring your troubles with you and not seek to command my people. I hold no worries as to your nature, but your power can burn and you will inevitably bring a thousand troubles behind you. If you can accept such, I will gladly share with you what I can to help you."
Iron`Mandarin "And yes, a Hot Bath is well within my power to grant,"
Iron`Mandarin grins softly.
Finnre`Merayen smiles. "I wish no desire to command. I only desire a land of peace where I or any other might dwell."
Balthasar Salas, if any of us can offer you help in return, I'm sure we will be glad.
Masati returns his grin "A girl can't ask much more then that"
Iron`Mandarin "I am old, and there is little that I desire, but still -- it will be interesting to see the Titans returned to walk upon the Earth. Interesting times, indeed," he notes, grinning a bit...
Skyla stares at him, waiting for his reply about the Claw
Iron`Mandarin "Bright Mane, though, yes... He is not the first of the Lunars I have contacted with, but he is both impulsive and vigorous in his means. He seeks to raise a horde, greater even than that of the Azrech."
Iron`Mandarin is thinking over Skyla's question, and will get to it.
Iron`Mandarin "He is not corrupt, though, only seeking of glory."
Balthasar He seems to have a great talent, but lack in the proper motivations for it.
Balthasar Regardless, he is waiting for us to challenge him, but is not openly telling us where he may be found.
Finnre`Merayen nods, "I thought so. And while I can understand, I can not stand by and watch as someone seeks war just for glory. People will be hurt, innocents who wished only to live in freedom."
Jackal "Well he can't be that smart...especialy if the thinks all he's going to get is a "game of wits."
Finnre`Merayen He attacked Nulem because he wished to draw our attention.
Balthasar glances at Merayen, not adopting the zeal in the slightest, but instead glancing over to the villagers and their katas.
Iron`Mandarin just nods to Merayen; he has seen many wars, and he can understand such things, even if he no longer feels the same call himself...
Iron`Mandarin ::Their katas are, to Balthasar, oddly comforting -- they move smoothly from form to form, never halting...::
Finnre`Merayen Those of us who have known much war, we know that it is not a thing to be reveled in, nor to be engaged unless the need requires it.
Iron`Mandarin "I imagine he has heard of you; he came here for much the same reason. He is eager to prove himself, testing himself against the stories and legends he has heard."
Balthasar consciously drives his tension out of himself, and forces his shoulders down into a more relaxed posture.
Balthasar We are not legend, but we will have to, if you'll forgive the expression, tame him of this course he is on.
Iron`Mandarin "You might not be legend, yourselves, but you also are."
Masati is briefly glad that she doesn't have the weight of memories on her shoulders, who knows what she's done.
Iron`Mandarin "The Legend of the Sun."
Balthasar inclines his head slightly.
Finnre`Merayen just nods in agreement.
Balthasar You have a point.
Iron`Mandarin just nods.
Balthasar To be quite honest...
Balthasar I don't know all to much about all that.
Balthasar ((Too))
Balthasar I only know that things have been quite different for me this past year, and yes, I have noticed that I bring more trouble at my heels.
Iron`Mandarin "In the time before the Dragon-Blooded rose up and slew you," he notes, "Your kind were the Lords of the Earth. God-Kings, if sometimes Mad, who wielded the raw power and perfection of the Sun. Champions who had slain old and powerful things, things greater than the Gods."
Finnre`Merayen Trouble seems to set itself at our heels and throw itself into our path. It almost seems as if fate desires us to see these things fixed before we might rest.
Iron`Mandarin "As far as rest... We are Chosen, all of us, and that means that of whatever else -- we will never have rest."
Balthasar does learn a bit more by that synopsis.
Balthasar , for example, "...Mad?"
Balthasar had heard Anathema, Evil, etc. before - but Mad?
Finnre`Merayen I know, but we might hope that one day there might be a time of rest before the next danger throws itself towards us, requiring that we solve it.
Iron`Mandarin "Oh yes; you have heard the stories as much as I have. The 'Anathema'. The tales are not wholely false, merely not entirely true."
Iron`Mandarin "Power such as you wielded, so long unchallenged? It is perhaps not surprising."
Iron`Mandarin "Look at the Blessed Isle."
Iron`Mandarin "But imagine each Dynast wielding power undreamt of in this age..."
Iron`Mandarin glances, meaningfully, at Balthasar.
Iron`Mandarin "...until now."
Balthasar hesitates. He begins to say something, and then just falls silent, victim to his reflections again.
Iron`Mandarin shrugs a bit...
Balthasar No, the Dynasty is terribly powerful. We couldn't rival that.
Balthasar grins. "You did have me there for a second."
Iron`Mandarin grins.
Jackal glances at Salas and Balthasar as they talk about things a thousand years past. Best to let them do the talking...although it's suprising Skyla isn't head to toe in soot diving into a forge.
Finnre`Merayen shrugs and listens to their discussion
Balthasar says, at long last, "If we did have the power to rival the Realm... In any event."
Balthasar glances at Skyla.
Skyla is, indeed, staring off in the direction of the forges, reading the tales of the smithies in the smoke
Iron`Mandarin "The Dynasty is strong, but it is strong on the legacy of the First Age and the Shogunate. A legacy that your kind left behind," he notes, somewhat sadly. "I understand this all especially well -- the Martial Arts hint at it in so many ways."
Balthasar They do?
Finnre`Merayen nods in agreement. "While I didn't study the styles, even the tactics of war seem different."
Iron`Mandarin "The Immaculate Order denies it," he notes, "using their Glorious Dragon Paths to hide the truth. Yet I have studied many of the 'heretical' styles, studied First Age manuals on the Martial Arts. It is a humbling experience, if a worthy one."
Finnre`Merayen "Though I may despise the armor, the Gunzosha did show me that the tactics it was designed for are not those favored by most of the commanders of Lookshy, yet they persist, why?"
Balthasar is somewhat taken aback by such a reverent take on martial arts. Gradually, he nods to himself: Knowledge, codified in motion?
Iron`Mandarin "Look at the mortals around you?"
Skyla "Are there any styles that use hammers as weapons?" she returns to the conversation
Iron`Mandarin "I have trained many of them in the basics of the Perfected Lotus," he notes. "The first steps upon the road of Martial Arts. They can progress no further, regardless of prowess or potency."
Iron`Mandarin "I, myself, had nearly as hard a road to travel to master the inner secrets of the Martial Arts -- and there are still hidden mysteries that are beyond me entirely."
Iron`Mandarin just nods to Skyla...
Iron`Mandarin "I once took on a student among the Lunar Exalted, however," he notes, finally... "She took to the greatest secrets I had ever discovered with ease, mastering styles that took me years as if they were simple."
Masati continues to quietly listen, while walking through the garden
Balthasar Where is she now?
Iron`Mandarin "Who can tell? She had left for Nexus, the last I saw her, some 40 years ago. She might still be there still, or maybe she has travelled further. Yet she wielded the Martial Arts with a basic grace that I could never match, and commanded prowess that I could never endeavor to..."
Finnre`Merayen That is quite interesting.
Iron`Mandarin just nods.
Iron`Mandarin "And in the Martial Arts, I have long since learned, is the reflection of all things."
Balthasar listens quietly, not having much to say on the subject.
Iron`Mandarin gets the impression that he had been rambling, and is also feeling a bit off-centered...
Skyla "Is there a martial art to crafting?"
Balthasar Heh!
Finnre`Merayen smiles and looks at the garden
Iron`Mandarin "There are Martial Arts to explore all things," he notes, with a grin. "For there are secrets of war to be found in all endeavors, and hidden meaning in all things."
Skyla "I should learn that. It's what I'm best at."
Iron`Mandarin grins.
Iron`Mandarin "In any event," he notes... "I am beginning to feel overly weary, and have talked enough. I will give more thought to what all you have asked, and any final bits of advice. For now, however, come -- let us have some dinner,"
Balthasar Excellent.
Finnre`Merayen nods and waits to follow along behind
Masati perks right up at the mention of dinner
Balthasar grins as well, patting his belly.
Masati "You are a walking appetite"
Skyla "Thank you! After dinner, may I go speak with the smiths of your village?"
Iron`Mandarin "Of course," he notes. "I am sure they would welcome your advice."
Balthasar Who, me?
Balthasar glances at Masati.
Iron`Mandarin smiles, and leads the others back through the garden and toward the main room...
Masati grins at him "Of course you"
Balthasar laughs.
Iron`Mandarin "I hope you like vegetables and fruit," he notes, "for meat is not served within the Monestary -- but you will find that our selection is quite grand, and the meal itself is bountiful."
Balthasar I control many of my appetites! Dinner and drink are my only sins left.
Masati gives him a flirty smile "The only sins left?! We need to expand your horizons"
Iron`Mandarin ::Dinner is, indeed, as he noted -- rice, fruits, and a fine selection of fresh vegetables. It is QUITE good, and vastly flavorful as well as quite filling. Several of the mortal disciples eat with you, at various points about the room, while you sit with Salas himself...::
Balthasar laughs again, lightly, but says nothing in response.
Iron`Mandarin ::Eventually, someone brings up the subject of the Demon Prison...::
Finnre`Merayen Salas, a few days ago, we came across a prison in the hills.
Masati "So who was the demon that was imprisioned near here?"
Balthasar coughs into his wine, and mops at his mouth with the back of his hand.
Iron`Mandarin glances up at Masati, raising a brow, as if to ask for elaboration...
Skyla pats Balth on the back. "You okay?"
Masati "Well we stumbled across this structure, giant gold doors and what not, looked like someone had broken into it centuries ago"
Balthasar clears the drink from his throat and nods in response to Skyla. "Oh yes. Just breathed a drop of wine in, I think."
Iron`Mandarin "Hrmmm," he notes. "I believe some of the local villagers have mentioned such a place, but I had not heard it connected with Demons."
Balthasar wipes the water from the corners of his eyes.
Balthasar takes the sheet of paper from inside his coat.
Balthasar unfolds it, and reaches out, to hand it to Salas.
Skyla fidgets a bit, chewing on some strange vegetable she's never seen before
Iron`Mandarin takes the paper, and carefully unfolds it, glancing at the Glyph recorded thereon...
Balthasar I believe that is the demon's name. We found it deep within the - well, it was a prison. There were sigils of binding all throughout it.
Balthasar And at the epicenter, that glyph, alone.
Masati blythly eats her dinner as if demons were a common topic of dinner conversation
Iron`Mandarin "I would believe you to be correct," he notes. "As to this being the name of a demon, in any event. The meaning escapes me; the sigil, I suspect, was damaged..."
Balthasar nods slowly.
Iron`Mandarin "Still... Hrmmmm."
Iron`Mandarin ponders.
Iron`Mandarin "I wonder if this might have something to do with the Ravine of Black Wings."
Skyla "Bats?"
Finnre`Merayen There were what appeared to be bats in said prison
Finnre`Merayen At least their clawmarks, from long ago
Masati sits back and listens now that she has the converstions started
Balthasar I cannot read that symbol. But it is an interesting fact that all demon names are held in unique symbols, each one a diminished fragment of the symbol of the demon's superior.
Iron`Mandarin "Mankeehemon," he notes, "many hundred of them. They lair within the ravine, along one of the most direct routes between here and the ruins of Caer`Dharrow."
Iron`Mandarin ::Mankeehemon are a type of Demon of the First Circle.::
Balthasar Mankee... eh?
Balthasar thinks about it for a minute.
Balthasar Oho. Servitors.
Iron`Mandarin ::Black furred monkeys, with bat wings, eagle talons and a long viciously barbed tail. Dealers of pain and suffering... Torturers.::
Balthasar nods slowly. "Many... hundred, you say.
Balthasar "
Masati looks at Skyla, "Caer 'Dharrow? That's where we're headed isn't it?"
Iron`Mandarin "They have been present there as far back as anyone here can remember," he notes, "and in numbers great enough to keep anyone from dealing with them. They seldom cause trouble, except for the occasional kidnapping from the nearby villages or hunting parties -- they never range this far though."
Finnre`Merayen laughs again. "Once more, trouble throws itself into our path, as if fate desires nothing more than to see these problems fixed."
Iron`Mandarin "Yes; it is. I'd have advised you to take a different path, and had intended to. Even if you are curious of this, you might still want to avoid it. Even I would be hard pressed to deal with that many Mankeehemon."
Balthasar Idle devils are ... well, nevermind.
Balthasar shakes his head.
Balthasar We cannot confront them at this time. What's more, beware: Demons do not stay silent because they languor. They stay silent because they are busy.
Skyla nods to Masati
Iron`Mandarin "This would normally be true, but Mankeehemon are a common sort of demon -- and as far as I can ascertain, these are without any form of master. I'd assumed some Sorcerer had summoned them for some task and they'd gotten free."
Iron`Mandarin "If they are from this prison, though..."
Iron`Mandarin shrugs; it is interesting.
Skyla "Five...or six of us... could handle them."
Iron`Mandarin "I have never investigated closely, however."
Balthasar still looks wary, but nots his acquiescence that, yes, stranger things have happened than idle devils.
Masati looks a Skyla surprised and mildly annoyed at being volunteered
Finnre`Merayen thinks... would it be possible to trick them back into the prison or force them to return... even now, the power of their once presence fills it's air, so something of the prison still calls to them."
Balthasar The thing is...
Balthasar sips his wine.
Balthasar I don't know if we could.
Masati "Has it occurred to anyone that they've been out this long, maybe we should just leave them their patch of mountain"
Skyla "Maybe if we made weapons from that door.."
Finnre`Merayen "Wickedness can not be allowed to just thrive.... it must be either fought or convinced to repent."
Jackal "Well we could always send Balthasar in. He certainly has a silver tongue..."
Balthasar coughs into his wine again. This time for much longer.
Skyla whacks him on the back in accordance with the principles of medicinal back whacking.
Balthasar Listen, listen.
Masati giggles and smirks at Balth
Finnre`Merayen giggles softly behind a mask and hand.
Masati "and here i thought you said you didn't have any sins beyond food and drink"
Balthasar I think I can get us through there just fine, yes. We can not confront them, though. The consequences would be dire.
Skyla "Maybe we should come back later. I worry about the Hill Tribes."
Balthasar levels Salas with his gaze.
Balthasar Would the Ravine be the fastest route?
Masati "Yes, monkey demons will still be here"
Iron`Mandarin "Ignoring the hundreds of demons?"
Iron`Mandarin "Yes."
Balthasar finishes his wine.
Balthasar says, simply, "Demons do not attack me, nor those I defend."
Iron`Mandarin "Then the path has it's advantages."
Skyla looks up at Balthasart, wide-eyed, "Really?"
Iron`Mandarin "I'd be careful of this however. I am not exgerrated when I say 'hundreds'."
Balthasar nods to Skyla.
Balthasar then nods to Salas.
Balthasar lifts his ricebowl up, and begins to finish his meal.
Iron`Mandarin ::That night, while she's sleeping, Skyla dreams -- she dreams of the woman again, the tall fierce woman with long golden hair. She was dressed in fine black robes, laced with golden thread that flowed in occultic patterns, and stood before a familiar seeming structure...::
Iron`Mandarin ::Aeas strode confidently forward, surveying the handiwork, the elegant carvings upon the walls and pillars. A hand running idly along one of the statues, that of her Caste Brother, touching his stone castemark...::
Iron`Mandarin ::She turns lightly, regarding the other Solars standing there. There was Maesine, the Crowned Sun that had bound the Demon Prince following his defeat, Dharan, the Bronze Tiger that had defeated him, and Kiran, who had overseen the construction of most of the prison itself. The Dragon-Blooded allayed in front were mostly Kiran's, crafters and excavators...::
Iron`Mandarin ::They nodded lightly at her, and she turned her attention back toward the front of the prison -- her face growing hard as she stepped closer. She reached out, and her massive hammer was in her hand. Thus, began her task...::
Iron`Mandarin ::Alight with the power of her Exaltation, she pounded at the vast golden door with her hammer! The metal rang with a resilient clang, occultic symbols and words of powers appealing where she struck. The metal rang with a metallic clang, and the power of her Exaltation and Sorcery resonated through the door, flowing into the entire structure.::
Iron`Mandarin ::She pounded on the golden door with her hammer a third time, and the door slammed shut with finality, sealing the Demon within for all time....::
< New Beginnings 03 | Campaign Logs | Mini One >
Stryck Wiki