Exalted - The Grand Reveal

The Grand Reveal
Kali
2012/10/17 19:35

Table of Contents
Sep 28 2012 	 # 

Sep 28 2012
Standing on the prow of Moonbeam’s Flight Song uttered a prayer to Vanileth, offering up an image of Moonbeam’s Flight crafted in scraps of spider silk and blue jade dust.  She told him the ship was completed and ready for her first flight, and extended an invitation to join us.
It was Varten who suggested it and in retrospect they realised he was right, Vanileth was a powerful god but Moonbeam’s Flight represented the grandest foray into artificial flight in millennia and of course he would want to be there.  His son also thought Vanileth may have some suggestions… and he wasn’t wrong.  A fluttering of ethereal feathers revealed Vanileth’s presence as he manifested aboard the prow and admired the completed vessel.  His powerful but wind-whispered voice informed us, as we discussed how to excite the populace of Moonspire, that he would bring some of his servitors to grace the skies above the city.  We weren’t sure how we’d cope with a hundred or so Van Orises, but weren’t going to argue.
Had we made arrangements about the weather, he asked?  This puzzled us and Caelan gently queried it – and to our surprise Vanileth told us the Bureau of Seasons in Yu Shan would receive requests from the Solar Exalted to make changes to the weather.  Since a week would (he thought) be long enough for us to make such arrangements Vanileth didn’t seem too concerned, and Song resolved to investigate further at the earliest opportunity.
In the meantime we called together the various influential people and those we wanted included in the grand launch to discuss how we could inspire the populace to look to the skies.  Prince Telenka, Kashlyk, Ethris, Varten and Van-Oris joined us to plan.
Firstly we decided the guest list. They, along with the master Guildsman of the city, Uremen Windfell, as well as the master stonemason who’d worked closely with Song on the temple of late, Otho Stonewright, would be invited to join us along with Jubilant Storm and Iron Panther aboard Moonbeams’s Flight.  We’d lift her to the skies shortly before sundown and sail her over the Arena where events would be held to gather the populace.  
What was to happen in the arena would be the culmination of whatever we could do to stir up excitement.  Olvir suggested fighting kites for the arena… and extending the idea we decided to make toy kites to give out to the younger denizens.  Caelan had a week or so to train the gladiators of the Prince’s stables to fight aloft… and the fighting kites would be excellently made, Varten would see to that.  Seeing something he could occupy himself with, our feathered friend set himself to work in the forge – and Vanileth excused himself to help.  Song watched as Vanileth’s immaterial form slid into the space occupied by Varten’s very material body and the two moved as one to craft the kites. She knew a little of spirit charms and how a spirit could Ride a physical body, and noted with interest how ably the two managed the interaction before turning back to the table where discussions on the arena continued.
Olvir and Caelan had both proven themselves popular in the arena.  Prince Telenka and Kashlyk also discussed a return to the fighting stage… neither had fought in a while – but after much discussion we realised we’d simply not have time to arrange suitable opponents – and a staged show of combat prowess amongst the four would take longer than we had to properly choreograph.
The thunderbird Song had summoned, Donderen, would be departing soon and Song wanted to arrange a fight for it to depart on (and the elemental would be angered otherwise).  Donderen, invited to listen in on that part of the discussion proposed a suggestion of his own… he had a long-running battle with a sobeksis by the name of Adank and agreed to remain for a few days beyond his binding if a battle could be arranged.
It would make for an unusual fight but Kashlyk was approving and Song decided to see if the sobeksis was equally as keen to battle - so after the planning meeting had been concluded she performed the summoning.  The first time around, it wasn’t Adank that arrived – a water child, Mambuga, was sent instead.  She’d not dealt with a deputy before but as she outlined the situation and the water child left damp footprints around the summoning circle, Mambuga revealed Adank had no-one else to send on his behalf and if summoned again, ought to appear.  
Song bound the water child to witness the discussion with Adank and began her summoning again.  This time as her anima flared and lit the room with silvery light the scaled form of a sobeksis materialised in the centre of the circle – though enraged at being summoned it turned to attack, wielding a black jade daiklave.  Song won the battle of wills though and unharmed, she bade it listen as she outlined the proposal and asked Adank if it would be willing to fight and end an age-old dispute. She wanted the elemental to agree to the fight without need to utilise the power of her binding, (though was prepared to exercise more force), but thankfully and after reflection it seemed to accept the situation and agreed.  Bound to the fight, Mambuga departed and Adank left the manse to return at the appointed time to the arena.
There was still the matter of the weather… and from what Vanileth had said, it needed to be Caelan, as a Solar Exalt, to make the prayer.  Perhaps Lunars could also make such prayers – but not wishing to leave anything to chance Song explained to Caelan how to best he could pray.  He offered it up with due reverence but authority, announcing himself as one Chosen of the Unconquered Sun and detailing his request, though with no immediate response we had to hope that either the weather or the Bureau of Seasons would be on our side.
We spent the next few days in a flurry of kite-building, training men to fight on kites and spreading the word of the upcoming excitement before the day of the 15th of MONTH dawned bright and clear – Caelan’s prayer had either been heard, or the weather was fine anyway.  As children played in the streets with kites and crowds flocked to the Arena for a spectacle we also went along to taste the atmosphere – lively and excited as Prince Telenka had declared the day a holiday, and full of anticipation.  
Scanning the crowd with her Charm-enhanced eyes Song spotted an unfamiliar face belonging to an Essence user.  She claimed two meat-stuffed buns from a passing vendor and made her way across to the stranger where she offered him a bun and smiled much as one would to a stranger on a feast day, asking him how he found it.  They exchanged pleasantries and neither revealed much, so she resigned herself to keeping an eye on the seemingly innocuous stranger.
 
After the warm up fights were done Caelan made his way back to the Forge to ensure his cadre of companions were ready to sail, leaving Olvir and Song to watch the kite fighting.  To introduce people to the unusual format Olvir took to the arena, exercised a charm to run up one of the ropes and called to the crowd from atop a kite.  He ignored their gasps of surprise at his effortless grace... he knew well they’d see more wonders before the day was out.  His booming voice rang out across the arena as he explained how the kite fighting would work and rallied their focus to the skies.
The warriors of Prince Telenka’s stable had made the most of their week of training and revelled in the gasps of the crowd as they controlled the kites, dancing in the skies over the Arena as they sought to sever the kite tails of their opponents and send them crashing to the ground.  As the victor claimed his prize to loud applause, the arena’s attendants began transforming the arena floor to accommodate the final battle.  One end of it was flooded and a tower hastily erected reaching from the water into the sky.  
The two elementals manifested at the appointed time and screeching aggressive calls gave the audience no doubt as to their enmity.  Donderen flew down to claw at Adank who emerged roaring from the water, daiklave thrusting forward.  Blows were traded and blood shed as Donderen’s vicious claws tore chunks of scales from the sobeksis just as Adank sliced deep wounds in the thunderbird’s flesh, but the victory – perhaps appropriately - belonged to the elemental of the air.  With a final, crushing blow, Donderen tore into Adank’s chest and ripped out his heart, throwing back his head and devouring it whole.  As the water elemental’s form dropped dead to the arena floor, Donderen flew out and away from the arena, with only a slight glance towards Song to mark their bargain ended.
She left before it became a speck in the sky, rejoining Caelan at Moonbeam’s Flight to welcome their guests aboard and show them around while Caelan, Varten and the crew prepared the ship for launch.  An able second in command, Varten’s skill ably matched Caelan’s leadership and tentatively but steadily the ship rose from the hangar where she’d lain asleep and incomplete for millenia and saw the sky for the first time.  Rising into the air, Moonbeam’s Flight set sail.  With the servitors of Vanileth trailing out behind her like a glorious many-winged tail, she rose towards the coliseum.
In the arena, heads turned upwards away from the night’s entertainments as a few people caught sight of a circling strix overhead.  Cries and pointed fingers quickly drew attention to its strange motions as it circled lower before with a burst of moonlight it changed in midair into a human form – Olvir – who dropped like a stone to the arena floor and landed unhurt.  His voice commanded the arena as he addressed the shocked and silent crowd.  They had all seen some sights that evening, but now, they had one greater – Olvir raised a hand directing their attention once more to the sky and announced Moonbeam’s Flight.
As she hung majestic in the evening air Olvir introduced the guests who stood looking down at the audience – Prince Telenka of the Fierce White Light, Kashlyk Ashak of the Coliseum, Ethris, goddess on Moonspire and Vanileth, Daimyo of Artificial Flight.  Then with a huge leap, he jumped aboard to land beside his fellows.
Caelan had prepared for the moment but now it all seemed startlingly real.  He took a deep breath and stepped forward, thoughts of Moonspire and Brightwater running through his mind, any hint of nerves suppressed beneath the glow which built steadily from him as he flooded the ship with his own golden anima.
His words carried weight not only by their raw power but also by the gifts of the Unconquered Sun as he called out to those listening, thanking them for joining him and for making us welcome in Moonspire.  If he wasn’t immediately recognised by the watchers he made it clear as he recounted our time in the city: as performers, as warriors, as explorers – and now as powerful beings who claimed the city as home.
His anima flared brighter as he named himself Caelan, Chosen of the Unconquered Sun.  He extended a hand, and Song took it, standing next to him on the prow of the ship.  Her anima likewise flickered into brilliant life and the cool silver moonlight cast dark reflections on her face, leaving those below having to guess at her identity.  Sun and Moon shone in unity for a moment before Olvir chose his moment.  Flaring brighter than both as his anima displayed his totemic shape he announced himself as the Terrible Ascent-Driven Beast and a giant silverback drawn in Essence beat its chest above him, a warning to all who might defy them.
Caelan and Song, not to be outdone, joined Olvir’s totem banner with their own. Caelan’s bird of prey unfurled its wings and leapt majestically for the sky while Song’s lynx totem materialised in lunar light to prowl the sky and regard the events below with keen eyes.
A sharp whistle meant for Ariorn’s ears saw Caelan leap from the ship to land with ease on her back.  He rode around the arena to cheers and applause, revelling in the glory, before riding from the arena and back towards the manse, golden motes flickering in his wake.
Song had been watching one particular face in the crowd as he performed – the Essence user she’d seen beforehand.  He was chanting ‘The Shining One has returned’… something which she noticed was taken up by the people surrounding him.  She recalled memories of a cult she’d heard described known as the Cult of the Illuminated, who worshipped people they called ‘The Shining Ones’ (who would, they said, lead people to greater & better things).  Newer cultists embraced more positive dogma about the ability of the Shining Ones to help rather than lead… though to which specific dogma the chanting man ascribed couldn’t be determined from his appearance.  He certainly seemed to fit the description of the cult - except they weren’t known for being relatively powerful Essence users.
She took to the skies as Varten steered the airship back home.  Flying so high she’d seem to merge with the moon she made her way back to the Forge manse as well.  Olvir beat both Song and airship back and as Moonbeam’s Flight settled into the pit he began calling attention to the tower to entice people away from the edge of the pit.  A crowd had gathered in the wake of Caelan’s ride and now clustered around the newly revealed open ceiling of the Forge Cathedral’s main area and Olvir, wary of accidents, kept people busy by hawking trips up the tower, raising it into the air each time to the wonder of all ‘aboard’.
As Moonbeam’s Flight came to rest and the dignitaries departed Caelan took the chance to address the head of the Guild, Uremen Windfell.  The Solar wanted to know the man’s motivations and intents within Moonspire, and finding the man to be driven – as he freely admitted – by success in business, to better himself and ensure money flowed for the Guild, Caelan feared they could find themselves at odds.  Wary, his subtle threats made his feelings clear as he warned him not to side against us – but before the debate grew too heated Prince Telenka intervened to gently remind both that he still made the laws of the city and was sure they would be kept by both… trying as he spoke to engender a dignified end to the conversation without loss of face to either.
As the dignitaries left via the elevator and were escorted back by the town guards, a small deputation made their way through the crowd with a box delivered from the coliseum.  Kashlyk had sent it to us, one of them said.  Asking them to place it on the elevator Song checked what it contained and discovered the black daiklave Adank had used in his last fight.  Kashlyk had decided the spoils went to the summoner since the victor had evidently not claimed it, Song decided. 
Caelan began making his way around the crowd, his anima now calm but the radiant manner of his being still present in the reactions of the crowd to him.  Inevitably he found his way to the man who’d chanted in adulation earlier – Song had pointed him out as a fan, so he had a little warning as the man bowed low as he approached.  Asked his name he introduced himself as Gorn Daildar, a member of Cult of the Illuminated… and honoured to meet Caelan.  He had been travelling but was likely to be remaining in Moonspire for a while now and planned on staying at the Ice Wolf tavern before finding more permanent lodgings.  The conversation hid Caelan’s subtle exercise of a charm which showed Gorn’s intent seemed merely to talk to him.  Caelan moved on and eventually left the crowd to return to the Forge for the night.
Over the next couple of days the impact of the events settled in for both us and the residents of Moonspire. Work on the grand atrium of the Temple was completed and the magnificently crafted ceiling inspired religious fervour for Sol and Luna. [1 dot specialism].  Song took the black daiklave to Iron Panther and negotiated an exchange – he thought he’d be able to source some items in moonsilver for her in return.
[Black daiklave for moonsilver lamellar, also jade lamellar Song currently has for jade bracers]
Leaving the building work in the capable hands of Otho Stonewright, the Guild’s master stonemason, she and Olvir left for a while to return to the circus – via the dojo of the Terrible Ascent-Driven Beast – to attempt to mend bridges in North Beacon.  That left Caelan in Moonspire and agreements were made to speak each night via Song’s tree on Moonbeam’s Flight.
The two Lunars found the dojo thankfully unharmed since their last visit – though one or two students seemed to be sporting fresh injuries.  Olvir hunted down Master Meliot who explained some of the fights had been a little more violent than expected.  Olvir asked him to gather students together, not waiting to see if Meliot would accept his authority but assuming (correctly) that he would...
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