The Return of the Scarlet Empress IC

[Tavar]

Child goes to the address, and knocks on the door.

[industrious]

Child

The house is a piece of art. No expense was spared in its construction, from the gilding of the window panes to the eggshell-white paint upon its exterior walls.

Several seconds before the door opens, Child hears the patter of clogged feet across a marble floor.

The door is answered by an utterly adorable 5-year old with tousled dirty blonde hair and a pink dress.

"Hi!" she says. "Who're you?"

[Tavar]

Child kneels down to the level of the....child.

"Hello there. I'm Child of Steel and Ruby. Is this the Stormwrack household?"

[industrious]

Child of Steel and Ruby

"Hi! I'm..."

"That's quite enough."

What appears to be an elderly, matronly woman, albeit one with eight arms, appears at the front door.

"Hello, Child of Steel and Ruby. We aren't taking any visitors at this time. Good-bye."

She attempts to shut the door in his face.

[Aevylmar]

"I think, Skandi, that we have just gotten confirmation of a Sidereal identity. And given what you say...you've been in contact with one of them, too."

Skandi nods, slowly for once. It makes sense. "So those are the Chosen of the Stars. The masterminds behind the Realm. I think I have at least one Sidereal in my horde."

He stands up suddenly. "But he's not attacking the Sidereals - the one I'm sure of with us wasn't even hurt. he's attacking their families. Emerald is Rosacarnis's Sidereal patron. Brother? Husband? Father?"

"Do you know where she might be? I can't let an innocent woman die, even if she is related to our enemies."

[industrious]

Symphony

"Oh, I'm very sure I could look it up for you, Skandi."

He leans back in his desk, fingers interlaced behind his head.

"Are you asking for a favor?"

[Tavar]

Child
The second she begins closing the door, Child places his bow firmly in the Doorway, keeping it open though the cloth is partially torn away, revealing the starmetal. Meanwhile, he switches to old realm: perhaps the child doesn't know the tongue.

"Sorry, but I can't let you send me away, not just yet. If this is the Stormwrack household, or if Rosacarnis Stormwrack is here, then there's danger coming this way."

[industrious]

Child

"<Why're you talking like Uncle Em'rld?>"

Well that answered one question, and raised a concern.

The god sighs, and stops closing the door.

"You better come in. Though Emerald isn't going to be happy about this, no he's not."

She picks Rosacarnis up with two of her right hands, the child giggling with delight.

"Rosie, it's time for your reading lesson."

"But I do'wanna!"

"Now, Rosie."

"...Okay."

She slides down the god's arms, and runs down the corridor and out of sight.

"Now," she says. "What do you want?"

[Tavar]

Child
Child can put 2 and 2 together: this girl is the target, and that fact makes him wince. It's always easier with older people, though it shouldn't matter. He talks quietly and quickly, leaving little out. If a Sidereal trusts this god enough to watch over a loved one, then she's trustworthy enough for Child.
"You know who I am, yes? Someone's attacking an killing people close to the Chosen, and deliberately so. I know of three previous attacks already, and so far all three have ended in death, including one of my own, in an attack on a Lookshian Fort. A list was found, and Rosacarnis Stormwrack was the next name on it, linked to Emerald. Oversight's involved, and several flavors of Exalted have as well. Have you noticed anything strange? And how safe is this house?"

[Incendius]

Penumbra stands silently behind Child with her arms folded across her chest. He's the one holding all the information, and the one good at talking with people; she is just here to gather as much knowledge about him as possible.

[horngeek]

Rose and Matsui

"...Now, where can we get you decent armor?" Matsui says as they walk through the streets and baazars of Nexus.

"I know there's a place that sells stolen Lookshyian gear, but they aren't very likely to have orichalcum, though they would have some jade pieces..."

From a darkened alleyway, a man whistles to get their attention.

"Hey! Ladies!" he shout-whispers. "You looking for the armor of the gods?"

Rose pauses, turning to Matsui. "Looks like a trap to me. Try it anyway?"

[industrious]

Child and Penumbra

She nods, looking over the two standing in the doorframe.

"...You work for the Bureau. I presume the other Exalt does as well, yes? But we're warded good and proper. Cast by Ayesha herself. As for strange...most people know better than to come around here. Bastion doesn't like outsiders, generally, and the watch keep the mundanes out."

She looks around.

"Now, this sounds serious, so you better come in so you can tell me in more detail."

Should Penumbra try to enter:

Spoiler

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As the deathknight tries to cross the threshold, bolts of lightning crackle across the entryway, and Penumbra is blasted backwards, arms twitching in pain.

((Mechanically, this is, after soak, 6 levels of lethal damage. Base damage was 18, minus half Essence, minus natural soak only. You also lose 1 Willpower.))

The god squeaks, and slams the door once more. Child can hear several locks being engaged.

Matsui and Rose

"If it's a trap, then it's a poor one. No self-respecting Immaculate would try such a strategy."

Walking towards the alleyway, Matsui keeps a hand on her daiklave, all the same.

"...Hello, llladies."

...definitely not an Immaculate. Or a trap. If it was, though, she wouldn't mind...falling into it. Repeatedly.

The person who had mock-whispered is perhaps a tad on the short side, but with long, lean limbs like a limber gymnast. Rose can tell, because he's wearing a very tight, flattering garment of two-toned blue silk, with an outrageously floppy collar and a plunging neckline. The two tones of blue never touch, but are bordered by lines of sparkling gold just above his pectorals (which are begging to be touched).

"Rose," he says, voice smoldering with desire. "I see you, Lawgiver. I am Forsaken Starfall - your humble servant, madam."

Spoiler

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Pay one Willpower, or accept an Intimacy of trust towards Forsaken Starfall, as well as an Emotion effect of Calm.

[horngeek]

Rose smiles, admiring Forsaken Starfall...

But still slightly wary. After all, they just met, and she's heard about Nexus. Besides…
"News spreads fast, Forsaken Starfall. On the other hand, you've got a more… positive opinion of a Solar than most."

Spoiler

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Spending that Willpower. I assume Rose doesn't know about the mental influence.

[industrious]

Forsaken Starfall

"I believe in the Texts of the Most High. And that in Creation's darkest hour, the Shining Ones, the Lawgivers, have returned to bring us back from these dark and desperate times."

"Wonderful," Matsui grumbles. "The Cult of the Illuminated."

"Do not mock us, Dragon-Chosen. If you find fault with the Church of the Shining Ones's tenets, then feel free to state them."

"..."

"What can we do for you, Lawgiver?"

Spoiler

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Nope. Totally went over her head.

The view is because he's normally Appearance 5, and his attire isn't hurting him.

[Tavar]

Child winces at her reveal.

"Unfortunately, the others aren't exactly in the know, though at this point I didn't think the secret would last."

Turning, so that he's leaning against the doorframe, he looks over the girl.

"I'll show you mine, if you show me yours."

At this, he channels a smidgen of power, causing the sign of mars to stand out on his forehead.

Spoiler

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One mote should do it, to get it to the first stage of Anima banner only

[horngeek]

"Have you had a bad experience with the Cult, Matsui?"

[Incendius]

Penumbra's eyes widen. She has no idea what that mark means, but it is clearly something like her own caste mark and those of the other Anathema. So this man was as important as she thought he was. She leans in to whisper in his ear.

"...Fine, but after all of this. We have company, after all." She jerks her head towards the god. "I'm sure you can guess what it'll be anyway. You seem like a smart fellow."

[industrious]

Matsui

"No. But given that the Immaculate Order seemed to be dead wrong..."

"And they are, Matsui."

Matsui shoots Starfall an ugly look that lingers over his...area.

"...I don't think that they have anything better to offer."

"...Support and aid for your daughter."

"...Right. Sign me up."

[Tavar]

Child returns the whisper.

"Just making sure. You might not want to try and enter: the ward could likely be keyed to your type."

Louder, he continues.

"Someone keeping an eye out might not be a bad idea, either."

With that, assuming the deity lets him, Child enters the house.

[Incendius]

What is a ward? Penumbra's lack of knowledge, despite having lived with some of the foremost loremasters in the world, is quite exceptional in its own way.

"Fine then, I'll keep watch." She sets her right foot up against the wall and leans back into it, settling into a restful, but ready state.

[horngeek]

Rose nods in assent. "All right. Lead on."

[industrious]

Child

"Right this way, Mars-Chosen."

The house is as safe, soft, and childproof as can possibly be. The couch that Child is led to is soft enough to be comfortable, but hard enough that a small girl couldn't ever get lost in it.

"Now, I'm not a member of the Bureau of Destiny. I'm doing this because I owe Emerald a favor, and because Rosie is a darling little girl who I don't want to see harmed. Now, what is it that's threatening my Rosie?"

The girl in question shouts from somewhere else inside the house.

"Nanny! Mr. Kejak just died!"

"...That's her pet fish, I assure you. It was a present from Emerald."

Penumbra

As she waits, the two mercenaries from earlier cross her path once more.

"Well," one of them sneers. "Lookit we have here. Guess she didn't belong here after all."

"And she lied to us, too."

"That she did, that she did."

"I don't think she's going to come quietly, don't'cha?"

"No, I don't. No, I don't."

The two approach her, truncheons raised and ready to strike...

Spoiler

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They're extras. I would say "Join Battle," but really? You can do what you like with them, within reason. Two extras with clubs against an Abyssal Exalt.

With that in mind, mark off any motes spent. That might be important later on.

Yes, I did just use Resonance Bleed to kill Chejop Kejak the goldfish.

Forsaken Starfall

"Right this way, then."

The place they end up going to is on Sentinel Hill, and looks like it used to have been an inn.

"...We're actually holding a memorial service right now," he says by way of apology. "One of the Lawgivers was recently struck down in the Cleansing."

[horngeek]

Rose frowns. "Who was it?"

[industrious]

Forsaken Starfall

"His name was Dace. He was a Lawgiver who fought creatures of darkness with a band of trusted followers, and was killed by the jealous and corruption known as the 'Cleansing'. Please keep quiet until we reach a private room."

The memorial service is headed by a man in purple garb, and takes place in what used to have been the common room. The soft mutterings of the congregations prayers provide a backdrop as the two make their way through, never going up the aisle of filled pews, but quickly ascending the stairs into a smaller room.

"Now," Starfall said. "I believe that the Church has a set of armor fitted for one Chosen by the Most High, and we would be honored if you would stay here. But is there anything else that the young Lawgiver wishes? Knowledge? Training? What is your desire?"

[Incendius]

Penumbra chuckles lightly at the two sadistic guards. She doesn't understand what they said, but their intent is clear. People like this exist everywhere, and it was nothing new to her.

At least they should provide some momentary entertainment. Her foot slides down off the wall as she starts to walk forward toward them, her arms still crossed over her chest.

The first one strikes out with his truncheon and tries to smash Penumbra's stomach, but she twirls around the blow like a dancer, circling the weapon even as it passes through the air.

The second swings with an overhead swipe, attempting to cave in Penumbra's skull. She does not move out of the path of this blow, instead stopping and presenting her head as if she welcomed it.

The truncheon smashes against her head with a resounding crack, but that is all it accomplishes. Penumbra doesn't even move an inch, the truncheon rebounding off of her skull as if the guard had tried to slam down upon an iron wall.

Penumbra laughs out a taunt in Old Realm, a distinct language used by powerful and knowledgeable beings. "Boys, boys. Is this really how civilized people solve disputes? I don't think this is very nice."

Spoiler

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2 personal motes on Wound Eating Invulnerability to reduce the minimum damage of the blow to zero. She is positioning herself to get hit by it despite the fact that she can dodge anything they do easily.

[horngeek]

Rose thinks for a moment. "Apart from armor, I'm not sure..."

[industrious]

Penumbra

The two stare at each other, and simultaneously take off running. It's almost comical, really.

...Then another of those cherub-things appears next to her.

"...Really, Penny? Nexus? I would have thought better of you."

Shattered Mirror never raises his voice. This time is no different.

"You have maybe ten minutes, Penny. Tick-tock."

Forsaken Starfall

"As you wish. I'll will retrieve a set from the armory. If the lady Matsui would care to accompany me?"

Matsui smiles, and extends her hand gracefully towards Starfall.

"...I see no reason not to."

They leave together. Why would they leave together, there's no reason for them to go to the armory together...

Oh, that is just wrong. Sick...and wrong...and sick. And wrong.

Spoiler

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Mechanical Breakdown: Favorable Inflection Procedure on Matsui, creating an Intimacy. Then Handsome Boy Eyes, piggy-backing off said Intimacy.

Matsui never really stood a chance, I'm afraid.

[horngeek]

Rose blinks as it clicks for her. "Ew."

She'll wait for thirty minutes…

[industrious]

Forsaken Starfall

It takes perhaps fifteen.

Matsui is giggling.

Matsui.

Is giggling.

"...It's true! I was blessed with the hands of a masseuse. Before I discovered my calling, I was one!"

Forsaken Starfall returns with a set of gleaming golden armor, polished to a fine luster.

"For the young Lawgiver."

He takes note of Rose's expression.

"...I'll be outside if you need anything else."

There is an awkward pause.

"Nothing happened."

Of course.

"Nothing. Happened."

"Nothing happened. He gave me a massage once we got the armor. It was a really good massage, but that's all. I swear. Nothing happened."

She pauses, then tries out a small grin. Testing the waters.

"...I kind of wish something did, though."

[horngeek]

Rose simply stares. "The only reason I believe you is because you didn't have time for anything to happen. Look, if you want to, you can go ahead with him. Just… I don't need to know any fetishes or details or anything."