Exalted - Stone and Jade

Stone and Jade
Kali
2012/10/23 18:10

Table of Contents
May 26 2012 	 # 

May 26 2012
We met, as planned, back at the Forge Cathedral in Moonspire.  Olvir was back a day or so earlier – he wanted to check on Damil, the newly-recruited priest of Flowing Nila whose Essence he’d awakened before leaving.  He was doing fine and offering up daily prayers in a devout and enthusiastic manner.
Song and Caelan found Varten had been making the Forge a little more home-like on their return and had ensured any work on the ship which could be completed by one man alone was done.  He had considerable flair but a solid style (which was needed with Van-Oris flapping about him while he worked).  The little god of the airship was in his own way a keen worker but with the ship still to fly, his eagerness was eclipsed only by the frustration he caused to others.  Varten reported a few people had tried to access the manse but none had been successful – they’d all tried to get in via the top and the guards had seen them off.  Other than that, things had been quiet.
Song, who’d been travelling with the circus for most of her time away, reported Selene hadn’t tried anything else new although her powerful influence and spell over the camp remained and continued to concern her.  The new additions to the circus were doing well and performing – not yet doing time inside the big top but contributing in a way that most new additions wouldn’t have been able to without Selene’s powerful influence.
Song’s main goal during the time apart had been to learn Emerald Circle sorcery and the lessons she realised she’d been taught all her life were brought together by the teachings of the lore of Creation.  On specific experiences she chose not to dwell since she knew too well the reactions her comrades would have but spoke of the magic that was now hers to grasp and the spells she’d so recently learned.
Caelan had spent some time in self contemplation as the realisation dawned that to efficiently train a squad of men he’d need to draw on his own reserves.  The power of his Exaltation was in some ways key to unlocking the potential the Unconquered Sun had granted him and by focusing on growing his own power he was able to learn ways of empowering those who followed him.
He’d returned from his adventures with a troupe of motley followers so definitely had a story to tell but he was initially reluctant to share it.  Olvir’s jovial but persistent approach eventually paid off though and he explained how he’d found them.
After his initial failure to recruit people in White Fort he’d been camped between towns and ambushed while asleep: knocked out by a poisoned dart to the neck.  Ariorn had defended him but he’d been overpowered by the group who’d taken him captive.  He soon learnt that his captors were a rather desperate bunch of people who intended to sacrifice him to some form of demon or spirit which held their town in thrall as in order for the local quarry to produce good stone and thus ensure trade enough to feed the people, the beast needed to be appeased every ten years with a human sacrifice and he was to be the unfortunate victim.
The bargain had existed for longer than any of his captors could remember but Caelan had no desire to help them continue it.  Having heard enough he tried to talk them around.  He was persuasive by nature and most of the people hadn’t come to terms with the reality of what they had to do – none of them were keen to commit murder – but in their hesitation the beast grew angry and attacked.  Caelan helped the people defend themselves as he realised they were hopelessly outclassed.  Some died, and he saw the true horror of the creature as he witnessed one man struck by the creature and turned instantly to stone – but with his help they defeated it.
As the dust settled he talked to the people who expressed their gratitude and guilt at trying to offer him up to the beast.  Caelan told them he thought they now had a responsibility to help others, and offered them the chance to travel with him where they’d find opportunities to make amends.  He sensed that unlike the thugs from White Fort they were good at heart even if their deeds of late had been less so and hoped to train them into crew for the airship.  They’d taken the opportunity to make amends and now, having journeyed with him, they looked around at the airship in amazement as they wondered how on earth their young and charismatic leader could possibly teach them how to fly.
Olvir had noticed something Caelan hadn’t mentioned as he brought his tale to a close and that was the careful way the Solar was carrying his left arm, as if he didn’t want to move it.  Realising Olvir had figured it out Caelan was still less than happy to reveal his arm wasn’t so much injured as turned to stone; he’d cradled it against his body as he couldn’t move it from its place.  The beast he’d fought in the quarry had hit him too and his arm had suffered the same fate as the unfortunate person struck full on.
Olvir, ever curious and accustomed to working with stone, tried using one of his charms to manipulate it.  Sure enough he could meld the stone into whatever shape he wanted.  Knowing Caelan still had full use of the rest of his body he resisted the temptation to craft something amusing and instead opted to move it to a more natural looking position.  It wouldn’t help all the time, but he could at least help Caelan get into and out of armour – though archery was, for now, off limits.
Song frowned and interrogated Caelan on the nature of the beast that had done it.  From what he told her she suspected it was most likely to be a Raksha creation, probably a remnant trapped within a pocket of the Wyld, rather than a Raksha itself... but could not say for certain with such a brief description.  Caelan had been too busy concentrating on defeating it and protecting the group of people accompanying him to take detailed notes.
If it were a Raksha spawn Selene would be the person to ask but none of us wanted to reveal a potential weakness to her; we were suspicious of her motives as it was and while she was probably our best bet we wanted to explore other avenues first.  Thus it was that Song and Olvir made for the library in the Academy the next day to research Wyld shaping arts.  Their research backed up Song’s suspicions but the library wasn’t the most comprehensive when it came to Raksha lore.  Song pondered where else we could get help and realised one of the stops on the circus route might have knowledge we could use.  North Beacon lay a few days travel east of Moonspire and the building at the centre (which she suspected was a manse) was known for its carvings and detail on shaping lore.
While she and Olvir researched his injury Caelan was settling his men into their new accommodations.   The Forge Cathedral and Moonbeam’s Flight were a lot to take in but Moonspire provided more familiar pleasures and he felt confident they’d soon adjust.  As Song and Olvir returned that evening he made more formal introductions.
Shifting into familiar patterns they knew of old from the circus, Song quietly assessed the group while Olvir drew their attention with his loud and open approach to things.  They’d heard rumours about him being able to shapeshift and one was bold enough to ask him directly – which provided him the chance to give a practical demonstration, and they gasped in shock.  Song on the other hand was merely content to tell them she could indeed shift shape – but was not about to do so on demand.  They were initially nervous around the two Lunars but with Caelan to lend them support (both morally and with the aid of charms) they faced up to the situation with the confidence he hoped they’d show in equal measure aboard ship.
So that evening they braved one more challenge: their first lesson aboard Moonbeam’s Flight.  Varten began training them on shipboard operations but it rapidly became clear that Caelan’s powers of the Unconquered Sun meant he was better at instilling the instructions than Varten – despite the winged Child of Vanileth having a greater knowledge of the ship.
Song left them to it, having plans of her own for shipboard operations.  Having sought and received agreement from Varten and Van-Oris she found a dwarf tree – when fully grown not much taller than a man – which she moved to the ship using the Hengethorn hearthstone.  Once settled in place and ensuring it would have water and nourishment she cast a sorcery upon it, carving her face into the bark.  She would be able to see through the face and speak through its lips from afar with but a moment of concentration and minimal essence.
The ship was now crewed (and tree’d) but still lacked the ability to fly.  The prayer Song had made to Flowing Nila was a first step but we also needed to speak directly and negotiate with her to see if she was willing, able and prepared to make a deal for the amount of blue jade we needed; and for that we had to visit somewhere she could materialise, such as a jade mine.  Leaving Caelan training his new crew, Song and Olvir headed for Jadespike the next day.
They went via Hengethorn where Song crafted another tree and instructed Cold Night on how he could speak with her through it.  She arranged a time once a week when she would speak with him before joining Olvir and Isald in the tavern for a few hours before bed.  The two Lunars made it to Jadespike the next day, their strong wings eating up the journey before their destination hove into view and they landed and shifted back to human forms which the gate guards would recognise.
Sissay was delighted to see them – or at least, her sarcasm was boundless which they took as a good sign.  The mine was doing well, up to its full strength of mine workers as well as the guards and other areas which made the community strong and successful.  They caught up with progress over dinner in the Jade Hole tavern and explained plans to her and Teo (who were both a little incredulous but keen for anything which would add to the bounty of the mine to come to fruition).
The morning found Song, Olvir, Teo and Sissay in a quiet spot where no-one was working, surrounded by mined-out veins of red jade.  Song explained to the others what she’d negotiate for before beginning a prayer imploring Flowing Nila to speak with them.
The jade goddess was proud but Song anticipated that: Flowing Nila’s reputation had preceded her. She materialised with a haughty air but carrying herself with the confidence befitting a No-Moon of Luna, Song requested she fill the seams of the mine with blue jade sufficient for our needs. The Jade goddess wanted prayers, of course, and negotiated for a year of prayer from 50 priests dedicated to her service.  It was not unreasonable and Song confident it could be arranged.  50 priests though – why only them and not a temple?  Song made the remark almost offhandedly but it sowed a seed in her mind.  If there were to be 50 priests it would certainly make more sense to have them praying together and a temple was a nice addition to the deal and would provide use after Flowing Nila’s price was paid.  We were likely to have further requirements for blue jade in the future, so keeping the goddess on side would be an advantage.
Both parties agreed and with the deal concluded Flowing Nila departed, leaving Teo and Sissay to debate the issue of how the new jade could best be mined.  The Lunars left them to business as Song had one more thing to do before leaving Jadespike and went out into the surrounding woodlands... returning after a few hours to treat the residents and off duty miners to the sight of a tree making its way through the gates and rooting itself in the soil inside the compound.  The face which Song had carved into it as part of her spell would enable her to keep an eye on the mine remotely and she gave Sissay instructions on the times she could speak to her.  For once, Sissay was less than sarcastic.  She wasn’t sure it was necessary.
Song and Olvir returned to Moonspire where they found Caelan had made good progress with his new recruits who were settling in well – though the sight of Van-Oris flitting about the ship and chiding them if he felt they did something wrong still had a few of the more superstitious amongst them making warding gestures.  He’d also realised his men, with no paid work and busy training, would need to be fed and clothed – at least the Forge meant they had basic accommodation.  Thankfully the jade we’d brought back with us from our last visit to Jadespike was sufficient to keep them fed and watered for a few weeks.  
Olvir was keen to try out the Forge and make some weapons for the new recruits and Caelan realised he needed a more regular income so spoke to Kashlyk about the potential for more fights in the coliseum.  Likewise, Song spent time in the Academy plying her wares but also making plans for the deal with Flowing Nila... an idea which began to develop in her mind as something which could be so much greater than a simple temple...
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Kali
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