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<blockquote data-quote="Delemental" data-source="post: 5203254" data-attributes="member: 5203"><p><strong>Homecoming</strong></p><p></p><p>“Happy birthday, Ghost,” Ayama said, handing him a wrapped bundle.</p><p></p><p> “Thank you,” he said, accepting the gift. “But my birthday is not for another three months.”</p><p></p><p> “True,” Ayama said, “but as I recall, your Exaltation occurred almost exactly two years ago, correct? This would then be the anniversary of your second birth.”</p><p></p><p> “An excellent point.” Ghost untied the package, revealing a large, leather-bound book. He opened it, to discover that the pages were blank, save for a short inscription on the first page.</p><p></p><p><em> Ghost, please try not to misplace this. Your journals are notoriously difficult to find. Ayama.</em></p><p></p><p> As the full irony of Ayama’s gift struck him, Ghost began to laugh.</p><p></p><p style="text-align: center">۞</p><p></p><p> Ayama and Ghost were met at the gates of Chrysanthemum by Kaliel and Zanka.</p><p></p><p> “It is good to see you both,” Kaliel said. “Welcome to the city. I hope you will find things in better order than when we arrived.”</p><p></p><p> “Trouble at home?” Ghost asked.</p><p></p><p> “A little. It seems the problem has mostly been resolved.” He turned to Ayama. “How is Lady Rinalta?”</p><p></p><p> “Alive,” Ayama reported. </p><p></p><p> “And her child?”</p><p></p><p> “Alive as well. She had a boy. He is small, which is of course what I wanted, but will grow quickly. I expect there is a good chance he will make it to his Naming next year.”</p><p></p><p> “Excellent,” Kaliel said. “Come, let us go to my house. We can tell our stories in full there, out of the cold.”</p><p></p><p> It was early winter, and the snow was deep on the ground around Chrysanthemum. A chill breeze blew through the pine forests surrounding the city, raising clouds of fine powder that drifted over the walls and rained down gently.</p><p></p><p> Brusk approached as they four Solars walked to Kaliel’s house. “Welcome back, sir and ma’am,” he said, saluting.</p><p></p><p> “Greetings to you as well, Brusk,” Ghost said, “I heard you had a little trouble here.”</p><p></p><p> “We’re sorting it out,” he replied.</p><p></p><p> Kaliel looked at Brusk. “How quickly are the men making their laps around the square?”</p><p></p><p> “They’re back up to standards, sir – a little above, I’d say.”</p><p></p><p> “Are you joining us?” Ghost asked.</p><p></p><p> “No, sir. Duties.”</p><p></p><p> “In that case, I have something for you.” Ghost pulled off his pack, which included a rather large wrapped bundle that had been strapped to his back. Ayama knew that he had carried the bundle from Lynnisbrook, and that it was quite heavy, but Ghost had not revealed the contents, saying only that it was a surprise.</p><p></p><p> Unwrapping the cloth from the bundle, Ghost revealed a large, ornate axe made of yellow jade, the kind commonly known as a grimcleaver. The weapon was carved to look as though it had been hewn from solid ice, with images of wolf heads etched on the broad blades. He hefted the large double-bladed weapon and gave it to Brusk.</p><p></p><p> “This is Frostwolf. I acquired this weapon during our own exploits back in Lagan,” Ghost said. “I thought that you should have it.”</p><p></p><p> Brusk picked up the jade weapon, grunting at the weight of it. “Thank you,” he said, “but this weapon is made of jade. There is not much I can do with it.”</p><p></p><p> “This is a unique weapon,” Ghost said. “I suggest you spend some time with it, try to get a feel for it, try to connect your soul to the spirit of the weapon.”</p><p></p><p> “Of course, sir. I will try.” Brusk saluted and then left, dragging the massive weapon behind him.</p><p></p><p> Kaliel looked at Ayama. “Brusk has never been one to have a deep understanding of spiritual or mystical matters,” he said.</p><p></p><p> “I will try and assist him with the attunement process later,” she said with a smile.</p><p></p><p> They all arrived at Kaliel’s home, and after a celebratory toast, they each shared the stories of their travails of the past few months. They were all interested to learn of the existence of yet another of the strange Solars with the bloody caste marks, and resolved that they should try and look into the matter further when they had time. Zanka detailed how she had worked to purge the records of unnecessary documents, and had developed a new filing system that was more resistant to tampering, as well as a system of confirming orders sent from abroad. Ayama was somewhat displeased to hear about the draconian measures that Kaliel had implemented to purge the Eternal Circle cult from his city, but resolved that it would likely not be the first time that the two of them disagreed on such matters.</p><p></p><p> Kaliel was very intrigued to learn about Yellow Jade Mistress, and her unique ability, but was cautioned to be discreet so as to preserve the secret of her existence. “For now it may be best for people to believe that Frostwolf is a unique artifact found in some dusty tomb,” Ghost said. “And not something that I had commissioned the week before we left Lynnisbrook.”</p><p></p><p> “I would also remind you that Yellow Jade Mistress is in the employ of Lady Rinalta,” Ayama said, “and that you have no special entitlement to her services. You will need to negotiate with Rinalta as you would for the services of any of her other subjects.”</p><p></p><p> “I will bear this in mind,” Kaliel promised.</p><p></p><p> “I am just offended that you did not bring any gifts for me,” Zanka said, affecting a pout.</p><p></p><p> “You are not responsible for defending this city when Kaliel is gone,” Ghost said. “Things are hard enough up here as it is – I thought I would offer what help I could.”</p><p></p><p> “Thank you for that, Ghost,” Kaliel said. “But let us talk of the future. There are a few matters of concern that I need to attend to here, and then I feel we should go North.”</p><p></p><p> “What is occurring to the North?” Ghost asked.</p><p></p><p> “We know that the Bull of the North has been experiencing troubles originating from that region,” Kaliel said. “I wish to know if some of that trouble could potentially reach Chrysanthemum. I also have another interest – for some time I have considered the potential military applications of the mammoths that run further North. The people of Zanka’s village have some expertise in attending to these beasts.”</p><p></p><p> “I have sent a messenger to Crystal to reach my family,” Zanka said, “and there has been no response.”</p><p></p><p> “All are serious concerns,” Ayama agreed. “But what troubles you here?”</p><p></p><p> “My primary concern is the disappearance of Blizzard That Topples the Oak,” Kaliel said. “I strongly suspect he was destroyed by High Bright Sun. We have been unsuccessful in locating any other higher-order elementals or spirits in the region. We would benefit from another god to manage this region, but I do not know how to attract the services of such a being.”</p><p></p><p> “That is not a subject I am familiar with, either,” Ayama admitted. “I know that there is supposed to be some form of bureaucracy for such beings, but I do not know its workings, and I suspect it has degraded significantly in the centuries after the Usurpation.”</p><p></p><p> “There is another matter which you will be able to assist me,” Kaliel said. “We know that Kal Bax’s workshop nearby was once a water manse. I would like to know what would be required to repair the manse. I know you have made a study of geomancy recently.”</p><p></p><p> “We can go out to the location tomorrow morning,” Ayama said, “I will see what advice I can offer. Before I do that, I would like to visit with my son.”</p><p></p><p> “I would like to see how Luc is doing, as well,” Ghost added.</p><p></p><p> “Luc will be easy to find,” Zanka said, “he has been occupying his time working as a page. We have not seen Rutendo for several weeks, however.”</p><p></p><p> Ayama looked at Kaliel. “You have misplaced my son?”</p><p></p><p> “He misplaced himself,” Kaliel corrected. “He is an adult, and declined my offer to joining the Knights of the Golden Flower, and so I have no need or desire to monitor his activities.”</p><p></p><p> The next morning, Ayama and Kaliel rode out to Kal Bax’s manse, while Ghost went with Zanka to find Luc. He was located easily enough, but when asked if he knew of Rutendo’s whereabouts, he became evasive. After some persuasion from the Eclipse, Luc admitted that Rutendo had told him he was leaving the city weeks ago, but the Dragon-Blood had not disclosed his destination or purpose.</p><p></p><p> “He only told me he was going on a mission,” Luc said.</p><p></p><p> At the same moment, Ayama was taking a survey of the lands surrounding the manse, and told Kaliel that it was reparable, but would take significant time and resources to refocus the Essence flows.</p><p></p><p> “I would estimate that a crew of a hundred would take two years to make the necessary repairs,” she said. “And a cost in materials commensurate with that investment.”</p><p></p><p> “Is there no way to reduce that investment?” Kaliel asked.</p><p></p><p> “More people would reduce the time, of course, and vice versa. You could also find a way to employ supernatural beings, which have the capacity of working longer hours than mortals. Elementals, for example, or constructs.” Ayama specifically avoided mentioning demons as a possibility.</p><p></p><p> “Thank you for the information,” Kaliel said. “Now, let us return to the city. Neither of my concerns will be resolved quickly, it seems, so I see no reason we cannot plan our journey North.”</p><p></p><p style="text-align: center">۞</p> <p style="text-align: center"></p><p> They set out a week later, accompanied by a scale of Knights. Up until that time Ayama spent her days trying to keep her mind occupied, and so as a consequence when Kaliel left his people had never been in better health.</p><p></p><p> They were all mounted, and accompanied by horse-drawn wagons fitted with snow runners. Five-man squads ranged ahead of the main group, scouting for danger and setting up camp at the end of the day. Life quickly became a monotony of routine for everyone, except for Zanka.</p><p></p><p> The Eclipse’s mood visibly brightened as they drew closer to her home. She regaled the others with tales of the members of her family, and life in Crystal both before and after the Immaculate Order had come. The mention of the Immaculates was the only thing that darkened her mood, as she worried about what havoc they had caused in the time since she had been sold to the Guild as a slave. But these moods would pass quickly, and she would begin again with the tale of her birth, and how her Matre and Patre had considered her “too beautiful” to leave out to die, despite her frailty, and how she had been raised to tend to the children and elderly of the tribe rather than taught the demanding work of hunting or excavating.</p><p></p><p> To his credit, Ghost kept his opinions on the flaws in their parenting decisions to himself.</p><p></p><p> Weeks dragged into months. It was mid-winter, and Crystal laid three thousand miles North of Chrysanthemum. They were slowed by blizzards, and attacks by icewalkers, and by frostbite. It was nearly spring again by the time they drew close to the junction of the two giant glaciers that sheltered Crystal.</p><p></p><p> A late season blizzard struck less than a hundred miles from the city, and the company was forced to call a halt until it passed. Hours went by as the company huddled in their shelters, constructed of canvas tents surrounded by block of packed snow. Toward sundown, however, one of the sentries reported seeing a strange light approaching from the north.</p><p></p><p> The four Chosen waited in a line at the edge of the camp, until a faint yellow glow appeared through the driving snow. As it slowly drew closer, they saw that it was a man, surrounded by a blazing nimbus of flame that kept the freezing wind and snow at bay. The intensity of the inferno against the blizzard was such that the man was nearly at the edge of the camp before they realized it was Rutendo.</p><p></p><p> Ayama began to rush forward to help him, but he held up his hands. “Wait for it to fade,” he said, referring to his fiery anima. After a few minutes, the light and heat faded, and Rutendo came forward, where he was quickly escorted into Kaliel’s large tent.</p><p></p><p> Rutendo stripped out of his heavy furs, sweating despite the chill in the tent. Zanka looked appreciatively on the Dragon-Blood’s muscular form. “I had not expected to see you this far North so soon,” he said. “I was making my way back as fast as possible.” He scowled. “I have decided that I dislike snow that is higher than my head.”</p><p></p><p> “It is not so bad,” Zanka said. “One just has to know how to handle it.”</p><p></p><p> “What are you doing up here?” Ayama asked.</p><p></p><p> “I knew that you planned to come here, and I thought it would be good to see what you might face,” he said. “Unfortunately, the situation is not good. I can think of no other way to say this, other than to say that you are walking into the depths of the Abyss.”</p><p></p><p> “What have those Immaculates done?” Zanka cried.</p><p></p><p> “They have left.”</p><p></p><p> “What? Not that I am displeased, but why?”</p><p></p><p> “I would attribute it to three things; the army of undead, the army of demons, and the army of the Bull of the North, all of whom are currently within Crystal.”</p><p></p><p> “Ayama?” Zanka asked.</p><p></p><p> “What do you expect me to know of this?” the Zenith asked. She had already stood and begun pacing inside the tent.</p><p></p><p> “Would this army of undead be the result of the plague we fought in Chrysanthemum and Petgrana?”</p><p></p><p> Rutendo shook his head. “This is not an army of zombies. It is comprised mainly of spectral undead.”</p><p></p><p> Zanka nodded, the logic penetrating the panic she was fighting in her mind. Ghosts were not uncommon this far North, where ancestor worship was a frequent practice, while more corporeal undead were rare, as their joints usually froze within minutes.</p><p></p><p> “What are these armies doing there?” Kaliel asked.</p><p></p><p> “The demons and undead appear to have arrived at the same time, and have been battling each other,” Rutendo said. “The Bull had arrived just as I was preparing to leave, and was still assessing the scene. That was three weeks ago.” He looked sorrowfully at Zanka. “I am sorry to say that the city of Crystal is little more than a ruin now, and I saw no sign of survivors.”</p><p></p><p> “Is there any indication of what they want there?” Ghost asked.</p><p></p><p> “Power,” Ayama said. “I can think of no other motivation for two such forces.”</p><p></p><p> “Their battles have focused mainly on the excavation sites in the glacier,” Rutendo said. “It seems that the destruction of Crystal itself was not the objective. I admit I do not know what it the excavations are for; they do not look like mines.”</p><p></p><p> “There are rumors of a First Age city buried somewhere within the great glaciers,” Ayama said. “There have been efforts to locate it for many decades, mostly undertaken by the Realm.”</p><p></p><p> “If some of you would like to push ahead,” Rutendo said, “I can lead you in the morning. I believe the blizzard will lift by morning. Or, I am willing to remain behind and escort your men to the city once the storm breaks.”</p><p></p><p> “I will go,” Ghost said. “I can try and get more information about what is happening.”</p><p></p><p> “I will remain here with my men,” Kaliel said. “I believe that Rutendo should go ahead with you, Ghost, so he can leave a trail for us to follow.”</p><p></p><p> “Zanka,” Ayama said gently, “do you wish to stay with Kaliel, or more ahead with Ghost and Rutendo?”</p><p></p><p> Zanka had not moved or spoken since Rutendo’s announcement that there were no survivors in Crystal.“Yes,” Zanka said quietly. Then, after a few moments of silence, she said, “but I will remain here. Kaliel may need help negotiating with the Bull of the North when he arrives.”</p><p></p><p> “I will go with Ghost and my son, then,” Ayama said. “I suggest that we all try and rest.”</p><p></p><p> The night dragged on as they all tried to get rest. Only Rutendo was able to fall asleep quickly; Zanka required a calming tea brewed by Ayama before she was able to fall into a fitful slumber. Kaliel remained awake all night, making sure that things were in order so they could depart at dawn, and also briefed his men on what awaited them ahead.</p><p></p><p> As she slept, Zanka had strange, terrifying dreams of her family being torn apart by demons or drained of life by specters. But suddenly, the images of horror eased, and were replaced by a sense of calm, a feeling that even though the situation was grim, it would not be so terrible for her personally. She awoke with the memory of an unknown but familiar voice, telling her that her journey home was important.</p><p></p><p> The sun rose in a clear, cold sky the next morning. Rutendo, Ghost, and Ayama departed at dawn, and quickly outpaced the slower wagons. By the time they made camp, they had lost sight of the trailing soldiers completely.</p><p></p><p> It took another sixteen days of travel before the three Exalts arrived at the base of one of the two great glaciers that surrounded Crystal. Rutendo pointed up the sheer icy face.</p><p></p><p> “I was able to climb up here in order to get a look over the city,” Rutendo said. “It is the best place to do so without being seen by any of the armies in Crystal.” He looked at Ghost and smiled. “Climbing this glacier was a difficult task. I suppose you will now put me to shame.”</p><p></p><p> “I cannot help that you were Chosen to be an Exalt of lesser capability,” Ghost replied. “I will be back soon.”</p><p></p><p> Ghost began scaling the glacial wall quickly, leaping from one jagged protrusion to the next as he climbed. He restrained himself to only doing somersaults twice while jumping. Once at the top, Ghost crouched down and moved to the far edge of the glacier, to look down on Crystal. He pulled his cloak around his shoulders more tightly, to ward off the biting wind.</p><p></p><p> The city below was a vast ruin, with fires still smoldering in some places. He could see no signs of any activity in the streets or around the collapsed buildings. Far to the north, he could see the gaping hole that had been carved into the side of the glacier, in search of the fabled lost city. There was some activity near the excavation, but from this distance he could not tell if it was a battle, or efforts to resume the work. He could also make out the encampments of all three armies.</p><p></p><p> The army of the undead lay to the northeast, and looked fairly inactive in the light of day. They flew a banner of gold stripes on a field of deep purple, raised on a flagstaff made of bone. The demonic army, camped to the northwest, had raised a banner on a post of a dark bronze, showing colors of dark green on black. The demon’s encampment appeared much larger than that of the spectral army.</p><p></p><p> The Bull of the North had placed himself on the southern end of the city, blocking off the only passage into and out of Crystal. His forces looked as though they were not attempting to assault either of the other armies, but had entrenched themselves, both to prevent anyone from leaving and to protect themselves from sudden assault.</p><p></p><p> Ghost descended the glacier again, rejoining his companions, and informed them of all he had seen.</p><p></p><p> “At least there is hope that the Bull has committed himself to addressing the problem,” Ayama said.</p><p></p><p> “Possibly,” Ghost observed, “but there is also the chance that if he determines these two forces pose no direct threat to his plans, he could pull out and rejoin his main forces in Halta. Best we determine his true motives here.”</p><p></p><p> “Should we wait until Kaliel and the others are able to join us, and approach as a group?” Rutendo asked. “These barbarians will likely respect a show of strength.”</p><p></p><p> “Then why not show our true strength?” Ayama said. “We can go now and offer to aid the Bull, and also prepare him for Kaliel’s arrival. I am sufficiently bored and affronted enough that the thought of slaying demons to prove our worth does not displease me.”</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Delemental, post: 5203254, member: 5203"] [b]Homecoming[/b] “Happy birthday, Ghost,” Ayama said, handing him a wrapped bundle. “Thank you,” he said, accepting the gift. “But my birthday is not for another three months.” “True,” Ayama said, “but as I recall, your Exaltation occurred almost exactly two years ago, correct? This would then be the anniversary of your second birth.” “An excellent point.” Ghost untied the package, revealing a large, leather-bound book. He opened it, to discover that the pages were blank, save for a short inscription on the first page. [i] Ghost, please try not to misplace this. Your journals are notoriously difficult to find. Ayama.[/i] As the full irony of Ayama’s gift struck him, Ghost began to laugh. [center]۞[/center] Ayama and Ghost were met at the gates of Chrysanthemum by Kaliel and Zanka. “It is good to see you both,” Kaliel said. “Welcome to the city. I hope you will find things in better order than when we arrived.” “Trouble at home?” Ghost asked. “A little. It seems the problem has mostly been resolved.” He turned to Ayama. “How is Lady Rinalta?” “Alive,” Ayama reported. “And her child?” “Alive as well. She had a boy. He is small, which is of course what I wanted, but will grow quickly. I expect there is a good chance he will make it to his Naming next year.” “Excellent,” Kaliel said. “Come, let us go to my house. We can tell our stories in full there, out of the cold.” It was early winter, and the snow was deep on the ground around Chrysanthemum. A chill breeze blew through the pine forests surrounding the city, raising clouds of fine powder that drifted over the walls and rained down gently. Brusk approached as they four Solars walked to Kaliel’s house. “Welcome back, sir and ma’am,” he said, saluting. “Greetings to you as well, Brusk,” Ghost said, “I heard you had a little trouble here.” “We’re sorting it out,” he replied. Kaliel looked at Brusk. “How quickly are the men making their laps around the square?” “They’re back up to standards, sir – a little above, I’d say.” “Are you joining us?” Ghost asked. “No, sir. Duties.” “In that case, I have something for you.” Ghost pulled off his pack, which included a rather large wrapped bundle that had been strapped to his back. Ayama knew that he had carried the bundle from Lynnisbrook, and that it was quite heavy, but Ghost had not revealed the contents, saying only that it was a surprise. Unwrapping the cloth from the bundle, Ghost revealed a large, ornate axe made of yellow jade, the kind commonly known as a grimcleaver. The weapon was carved to look as though it had been hewn from solid ice, with images of wolf heads etched on the broad blades. He hefted the large double-bladed weapon and gave it to Brusk. “This is Frostwolf. I acquired this weapon during our own exploits back in Lagan,” Ghost said. “I thought that you should have it.” Brusk picked up the jade weapon, grunting at the weight of it. “Thank you,” he said, “but this weapon is made of jade. There is not much I can do with it.” “This is a unique weapon,” Ghost said. “I suggest you spend some time with it, try to get a feel for it, try to connect your soul to the spirit of the weapon.” “Of course, sir. I will try.” Brusk saluted and then left, dragging the massive weapon behind him. Kaliel looked at Ayama. “Brusk has never been one to have a deep understanding of spiritual or mystical matters,” he said. “I will try and assist him with the attunement process later,” she said with a smile. They all arrived at Kaliel’s home, and after a celebratory toast, they each shared the stories of their travails of the past few months. They were all interested to learn of the existence of yet another of the strange Solars with the bloody caste marks, and resolved that they should try and look into the matter further when they had time. Zanka detailed how she had worked to purge the records of unnecessary documents, and had developed a new filing system that was more resistant to tampering, as well as a system of confirming orders sent from abroad. Ayama was somewhat displeased to hear about the draconian measures that Kaliel had implemented to purge the Eternal Circle cult from his city, but resolved that it would likely not be the first time that the two of them disagreed on such matters. Kaliel was very intrigued to learn about Yellow Jade Mistress, and her unique ability, but was cautioned to be discreet so as to preserve the secret of her existence. “For now it may be best for people to believe that Frostwolf is a unique artifact found in some dusty tomb,” Ghost said. “And not something that I had commissioned the week before we left Lynnisbrook.” “I would also remind you that Yellow Jade Mistress is in the employ of Lady Rinalta,” Ayama said, “and that you have no special entitlement to her services. You will need to negotiate with Rinalta as you would for the services of any of her other subjects.” “I will bear this in mind,” Kaliel promised. “I am just offended that you did not bring any gifts for me,” Zanka said, affecting a pout. “You are not responsible for defending this city when Kaliel is gone,” Ghost said. “Things are hard enough up here as it is – I thought I would offer what help I could.” “Thank you for that, Ghost,” Kaliel said. “But let us talk of the future. There are a few matters of concern that I need to attend to here, and then I feel we should go North.” “What is occurring to the North?” Ghost asked. “We know that the Bull of the North has been experiencing troubles originating from that region,” Kaliel said. “I wish to know if some of that trouble could potentially reach Chrysanthemum. I also have another interest – for some time I have considered the potential military applications of the mammoths that run further North. The people of Zanka’s village have some expertise in attending to these beasts.” “I have sent a messenger to Crystal to reach my family,” Zanka said, “and there has been no response.” “All are serious concerns,” Ayama agreed. “But what troubles you here?” “My primary concern is the disappearance of Blizzard That Topples the Oak,” Kaliel said. “I strongly suspect he was destroyed by High Bright Sun. We have been unsuccessful in locating any other higher-order elementals or spirits in the region. We would benefit from another god to manage this region, but I do not know how to attract the services of such a being.” “That is not a subject I am familiar with, either,” Ayama admitted. “I know that there is supposed to be some form of bureaucracy for such beings, but I do not know its workings, and I suspect it has degraded significantly in the centuries after the Usurpation.” “There is another matter which you will be able to assist me,” Kaliel said. “We know that Kal Bax’s workshop nearby was once a water manse. I would like to know what would be required to repair the manse. I know you have made a study of geomancy recently.” “We can go out to the location tomorrow morning,” Ayama said, “I will see what advice I can offer. Before I do that, I would like to visit with my son.” “I would like to see how Luc is doing, as well,” Ghost added. “Luc will be easy to find,” Zanka said, “he has been occupying his time working as a page. We have not seen Rutendo for several weeks, however.” Ayama looked at Kaliel. “You have misplaced my son?” “He misplaced himself,” Kaliel corrected. “He is an adult, and declined my offer to joining the Knights of the Golden Flower, and so I have no need or desire to monitor his activities.” The next morning, Ayama and Kaliel rode out to Kal Bax’s manse, while Ghost went with Zanka to find Luc. He was located easily enough, but when asked if he knew of Rutendo’s whereabouts, he became evasive. After some persuasion from the Eclipse, Luc admitted that Rutendo had told him he was leaving the city weeks ago, but the Dragon-Blood had not disclosed his destination or purpose. “He only told me he was going on a mission,” Luc said. At the same moment, Ayama was taking a survey of the lands surrounding the manse, and told Kaliel that it was reparable, but would take significant time and resources to refocus the Essence flows. “I would estimate that a crew of a hundred would take two years to make the necessary repairs,” she said. “And a cost in materials commensurate with that investment.” “Is there no way to reduce that investment?” Kaliel asked. “More people would reduce the time, of course, and vice versa. You could also find a way to employ supernatural beings, which have the capacity of working longer hours than mortals. Elementals, for example, or constructs.” Ayama specifically avoided mentioning demons as a possibility. “Thank you for the information,” Kaliel said. “Now, let us return to the city. Neither of my concerns will be resolved quickly, it seems, so I see no reason we cannot plan our journey North.” [center]۞ [/center] They set out a week later, accompanied by a scale of Knights. Up until that time Ayama spent her days trying to keep her mind occupied, and so as a consequence when Kaliel left his people had never been in better health. They were all mounted, and accompanied by horse-drawn wagons fitted with snow runners. Five-man squads ranged ahead of the main group, scouting for danger and setting up camp at the end of the day. Life quickly became a monotony of routine for everyone, except for Zanka. The Eclipse’s mood visibly brightened as they drew closer to her home. She regaled the others with tales of the members of her family, and life in Crystal both before and after the Immaculate Order had come. The mention of the Immaculates was the only thing that darkened her mood, as she worried about what havoc they had caused in the time since she had been sold to the Guild as a slave. But these moods would pass quickly, and she would begin again with the tale of her birth, and how her Matre and Patre had considered her “too beautiful” to leave out to die, despite her frailty, and how she had been raised to tend to the children and elderly of the tribe rather than taught the demanding work of hunting or excavating. To his credit, Ghost kept his opinions on the flaws in their parenting decisions to himself. Weeks dragged into months. It was mid-winter, and Crystal laid three thousand miles North of Chrysanthemum. They were slowed by blizzards, and attacks by icewalkers, and by frostbite. It was nearly spring again by the time they drew close to the junction of the two giant glaciers that sheltered Crystal. A late season blizzard struck less than a hundred miles from the city, and the company was forced to call a halt until it passed. Hours went by as the company huddled in their shelters, constructed of canvas tents surrounded by block of packed snow. Toward sundown, however, one of the sentries reported seeing a strange light approaching from the north. The four Chosen waited in a line at the edge of the camp, until a faint yellow glow appeared through the driving snow. As it slowly drew closer, they saw that it was a man, surrounded by a blazing nimbus of flame that kept the freezing wind and snow at bay. The intensity of the inferno against the blizzard was such that the man was nearly at the edge of the camp before they realized it was Rutendo. Ayama began to rush forward to help him, but he held up his hands. “Wait for it to fade,” he said, referring to his fiery anima. After a few minutes, the light and heat faded, and Rutendo came forward, where he was quickly escorted into Kaliel’s large tent. Rutendo stripped out of his heavy furs, sweating despite the chill in the tent. Zanka looked appreciatively on the Dragon-Blood’s muscular form. “I had not expected to see you this far North so soon,” he said. “I was making my way back as fast as possible.” He scowled. “I have decided that I dislike snow that is higher than my head.” “It is not so bad,” Zanka said. “One just has to know how to handle it.” “What are you doing up here?” Ayama asked. “I knew that you planned to come here, and I thought it would be good to see what you might face,” he said. “Unfortunately, the situation is not good. I can think of no other way to say this, other than to say that you are walking into the depths of the Abyss.” “What have those Immaculates done?” Zanka cried. “They have left.” “What? Not that I am displeased, but why?” “I would attribute it to three things; the army of undead, the army of demons, and the army of the Bull of the North, all of whom are currently within Crystal.” “Ayama?” Zanka asked. “What do you expect me to know of this?” the Zenith asked. She had already stood and begun pacing inside the tent. “Would this army of undead be the result of the plague we fought in Chrysanthemum and Petgrana?” Rutendo shook his head. “This is not an army of zombies. It is comprised mainly of spectral undead.” Zanka nodded, the logic penetrating the panic she was fighting in her mind. Ghosts were not uncommon this far North, where ancestor worship was a frequent practice, while more corporeal undead were rare, as their joints usually froze within minutes. “What are these armies doing there?” Kaliel asked. “The demons and undead appear to have arrived at the same time, and have been battling each other,” Rutendo said. “The Bull had arrived just as I was preparing to leave, and was still assessing the scene. That was three weeks ago.” He looked sorrowfully at Zanka. “I am sorry to say that the city of Crystal is little more than a ruin now, and I saw no sign of survivors.” “Is there any indication of what they want there?” Ghost asked. “Power,” Ayama said. “I can think of no other motivation for two such forces.” “Their battles have focused mainly on the excavation sites in the glacier,” Rutendo said. “It seems that the destruction of Crystal itself was not the objective. I admit I do not know what it the excavations are for; they do not look like mines.” “There are rumors of a First Age city buried somewhere within the great glaciers,” Ayama said. “There have been efforts to locate it for many decades, mostly undertaken by the Realm.” “If some of you would like to push ahead,” Rutendo said, “I can lead you in the morning. I believe the blizzard will lift by morning. Or, I am willing to remain behind and escort your men to the city once the storm breaks.” “I will go,” Ghost said. “I can try and get more information about what is happening.” “I will remain here with my men,” Kaliel said. “I believe that Rutendo should go ahead with you, Ghost, so he can leave a trail for us to follow.” “Zanka,” Ayama said gently, “do you wish to stay with Kaliel, or more ahead with Ghost and Rutendo?” Zanka had not moved or spoken since Rutendo’s announcement that there were no survivors in Crystal.“Yes,” Zanka said quietly. Then, after a few moments of silence, she said, “but I will remain here. Kaliel may need help negotiating with the Bull of the North when he arrives.” “I will go with Ghost and my son, then,” Ayama said. “I suggest that we all try and rest.” The night dragged on as they all tried to get rest. Only Rutendo was able to fall asleep quickly; Zanka required a calming tea brewed by Ayama before she was able to fall into a fitful slumber. Kaliel remained awake all night, making sure that things were in order so they could depart at dawn, and also briefed his men on what awaited them ahead. As she slept, Zanka had strange, terrifying dreams of her family being torn apart by demons or drained of life by specters. But suddenly, the images of horror eased, and were replaced by a sense of calm, a feeling that even though the situation was grim, it would not be so terrible for her personally. She awoke with the memory of an unknown but familiar voice, telling her that her journey home was important. The sun rose in a clear, cold sky the next morning. Rutendo, Ghost, and Ayama departed at dawn, and quickly outpaced the slower wagons. By the time they made camp, they had lost sight of the trailing soldiers completely. It took another sixteen days of travel before the three Exalts arrived at the base of one of the two great glaciers that surrounded Crystal. Rutendo pointed up the sheer icy face. “I was able to climb up here in order to get a look over the city,” Rutendo said. “It is the best place to do so without being seen by any of the armies in Crystal.” He looked at Ghost and smiled. “Climbing this glacier was a difficult task. I suppose you will now put me to shame.” “I cannot help that you were Chosen to be an Exalt of lesser capability,” Ghost replied. “I will be back soon.” Ghost began scaling the glacial wall quickly, leaping from one jagged protrusion to the next as he climbed. He restrained himself to only doing somersaults twice while jumping. Once at the top, Ghost crouched down and moved to the far edge of the glacier, to look down on Crystal. He pulled his cloak around his shoulders more tightly, to ward off the biting wind. The city below was a vast ruin, with fires still smoldering in some places. He could see no signs of any activity in the streets or around the collapsed buildings. Far to the north, he could see the gaping hole that had been carved into the side of the glacier, in search of the fabled lost city. There was some activity near the excavation, but from this distance he could not tell if it was a battle, or efforts to resume the work. He could also make out the encampments of all three armies. The army of the undead lay to the northeast, and looked fairly inactive in the light of day. They flew a banner of gold stripes on a field of deep purple, raised on a flagstaff made of bone. The demonic army, camped to the northwest, had raised a banner on a post of a dark bronze, showing colors of dark green on black. The demon’s encampment appeared much larger than that of the spectral army. The Bull of the North had placed himself on the southern end of the city, blocking off the only passage into and out of Crystal. His forces looked as though they were not attempting to assault either of the other armies, but had entrenched themselves, both to prevent anyone from leaving and to protect themselves from sudden assault. Ghost descended the glacier again, rejoining his companions, and informed them of all he had seen. “At least there is hope that the Bull has committed himself to addressing the problem,” Ayama said. “Possibly,” Ghost observed, “but there is also the chance that if he determines these two forces pose no direct threat to his plans, he could pull out and rejoin his main forces in Halta. Best we determine his true motives here.” “Should we wait until Kaliel and the others are able to join us, and approach as a group?” Rutendo asked. “These barbarians will likely respect a show of strength.” “Then why not show our true strength?” Ayama said. “We can go now and offer to aid the Bull, and also prepare him for Kaliel’s arrival. I am sufficiently bored and affronted enough that the thought of slaying demons to prove our worth does not displease me.” [/QUOTE]
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[Exalted 2e] Chosen of the Second Age
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