EXALTED: Ep. 6: The Eyes of the Dragon (repost)

[JanetT]

Based on EXALTED, an epic fantasy role-playing game by White Wolf Game Studio
Characters and story by Janet Trautvetter and Myranda Kalis Sarro

Previously:
Episode 1: The Shadow Road
Episode 2: Bad News Travels Furthest and Fast
Episode 3: Thicker than Water
Episode 4: Reflections on Summer Love
Episode 5: The Games of Court

Exalted: Behind the Scenes -- Junkie's Visit
Exalted: About the Characters

Thank you all for your support, and for reading this! And now, please enjoy....



Later, that same night......

The Imperial Jade Palace has many rooms. Even in the House Mnemon wing, in the midst of a large gathering, it is possible to find one that is unoccupied for a clandestine meeting...


... though of course, if you truly wish your meeting to be secret, it is wise not to discard caution. Having left the party behind for the moment, Genshaku moves as lightly as a summer breeze, and his passage makes no sound.



He pauses to listen, to extend his senses beyond the walls of the room, to ensure he was not followed, and no eavesdroppers lurk unseen in the shadows or out in the courtyard... What he does is risky, and tonight the risk is not of his choosing.

But the All-Seeing Eye does not tend to take no for an answer.



Genshaku: (thinking ) Alright, you bastard. What's so damned important that you have to jerk my chain tonight instead of letting me get drunk in peace?



Still wary, he goes to a carved dragon sitting on a side table—recognizing it for the symbol and beacon that it is—and draws on his own Essence to activate its signal.



Fortunately for his temper, he doesn't have to wait long.



Genshaku does not know the identity of his contact — only his title, the Eyes of the Dragon — the highest- ranking member of the Imperial spy network in the city.



Genshaku: "I suppose I should make you give me the countersign. Perhaps a jade elephant can fly after all."



Eyes of the Dragon: "It would require wings of brass. You certainly took your time responding."

Genshaku: "I was busy. What do you want?"



Eyes of the Dragon: "Your insolence is not appreciated."

Genshaku: "Neither was your interruption. I was having a perfectly lovely evening until your nasty little spider crawled up my leg."



Genshaku: "By the way, you'll have to replace it now. The materials appear to be somewhat fragile..."



Eyes of the Dragon: "You're very tiresome when you're drunk… very well. We've had reports that this Silverthorn creature was sighted again… near the docks, three nights ago."

Genshaku: "Credible reports? Or the visions of some drunken longshoreman?"



Eyes of the Dragon: "Those reports confirm what we have suspected for some time — that Silverthorn is so difficult to identify because he can apparently change his form at will. This implies he has possession of an artifact — an Essence-powered device such as a mask or cloak — that grants him that ability."

Genshaku: "To use an artifact like that, he'd have to be Dragon-blooded at least. Or worse, Anathema — in which case, he may not need an artifact at all. They say the Fair Folk or the Moon-cursed barbarians can change their form as easily as a actor changes his robes..."



Eyes of the Dragon: "For your sake, let us hope he is merely Dragon-blooded."

Genshaku: "My sake? Oh, I see. You want me to hunt him down for you, is that it? Which do you truly want, I wonder — the artifact? Or the man?"



Eyes of the Dragon: "Ideally, both, of course. The artifact, undamaged, and the man… well, we would prefer he still be alive."

Genshaku: "And if he's Anathema?"

Eyes of the Dragon: "You were trained by the Immaculate Order — you really don't need me to answer that question."

CONTINUED IN NEXT POST....

[JanetT]

Genshaku: "This is somewhat beyond the usual scope of my duties, you know. I suppose I should be flattered that you even consider me capable of tackling a potential Anathema all on my own.... if I didn't know that you also consider me expendable if I prove otherwise. But in either case, this time if I succeed, I want something more in return."



Eyes of the Dragon: "You are in no position to bargain!"

Genshaku: "Ah, but if this Silverthorn was easy to find, you wouldn't be coming to me. And if I'm going to be hunting a possible Anathema in the heart of the city, I think that deserves some additional consideration on your part."



Genshaku: "Or as a devout adherent to the Immaculate philosophy, I could simply notify the monks when I find him… and they would call a Wyld Hunt.... and then that artifact would be well out of your reach."



Eyes of the Dragon: "Devout, you? Really? But amuse me further, if you wish. What do you want in exchange?"

Genshaku: "I want my uncle's letter. I'm sure you know which one I mean. The original, with his signature and seal — and all copies — in my hands."



Eyes of the Dragon: "Now that's a astonishing show of family loyalty… or do you have a conscience after all? You're the one who stole that letter for us in the first place. How far do you think your sudden remorse would go with your uncle, should he discover the traitor in his own house?"

Genshaku: "The letter. That's my price. How badly do you want to keep that artifact out of the Immaculate Order's hands?"



Eyes of the Dragon: "Deliver Silverthorn and whatever artifact he possesses… dead or alive, but if you want to impress me, alive would be preferred. And you'll have the letter. "

Genshaku: (bows) "Alive it is, then. I'll find your phantom for you."



Genshaku: "—but not tonight. I rather doubt he's at this party anyway....."

Eyes of the Dragon: "By the way.... "

Genshaku: "Now what is it?"

Eyes of the Dragon: "You made rather a bad enemy tonight, in case you hadn't noticed."



Genshaku: "Who? The Mnemon lackey?"



Eyes of the Dragon: "Mnemon Tatsumi's great-nephew, whom he has personally raised and educated from the cradle… do you really think he's just another lackey?"

Genshaku: "His game was straight out of the manual. No imagination, no initiative at all, I could have beaten him when I was fourteen. Unless you're actually suggesting that a scion of House Mnemon with that kind of pedigree and jewel-encrusted chopstick up his ass would let a half-caste cur like me get the better of him in public... at a House Mnemon party... on purpose...?"

(But still, he has to think about it now... was that victory too easy? Something he will need to mull over later...)



Eyes of the Dragon: "You're the former Gateway champion — the master of strategies... you tell me."

Genshaku: "Whatever."



Eyes of the Dragon: "He doesn't seem to have many enemies… who yet survive. I mention this only because as much as it pains me to admit it, you'd be expensive to replace."



Genshaku: "It's nice to know how highly I'm valued. Now if you don't mind, I do believe there's a very fine bottle of sake calling my name…"



Eyes of the Dragon: "Your arrogance is only tolerated so long as you actually continue to succeed — despite the odds. We still expect results — and soon."



Genshaku: "Naturally. You always do. And as for the odds... well, that's what makes the game worth playing, isn't it?"


TO BE CONTINUED.... in Episode 7: The Road Not Traveled
Note: I will be out of town the next two weekends, so it will be about three weeks before the next episode. And soon, there will be NEW ONES, too....

(And special thanks to SavageLucy42 -- who painted the mask for the Eyes of the Dragon. He really turned out great! )

[Eseme]

Argh! Three weeks. What a wait!

And the plot thickens. Oh dear.

I love your costumes.

[leopardessmoon]

awsome episode! but.....I dont wanna wait!

[Hippolyta]

Ooh dear! This story arc is really building up with intrigue! I love it.