[OOC] [Exalted 2.5] The Scarlet Sky Conspiracy – An Epistolary Game

[BlueWinds]

Aisa is burning a full barrel's worth of XP for Essence 4, which hasn't made it on to the spreadsheet yet.

[Exthalion]

Good thing you had me look. I don't have Shaping Hand Style, so I am buying that instead.

Custom Terrestrial Craft charm for consideration:

Strike the Dragon-Anvil
Cost: 6m, 1wp; Mins: Craft 5, Essence 3; Type: Reflexive
Keywords: Combo-OK, Obvious
Duration: Instant
Prerequisite Charms: Shaping Hand Style
Striking at a block of uncarved stone as if it were a foe upon the
battle-field, the Dragon-Blood carves it into shape. This Charm
can enhance any Craft-based action to build an object, dividing
the time needed to complete each interval in half. If the Dragon-
Blood is assisted by others who knows this Charm, they may
activate it cooperatively. Each cooperative activation increases by
one the factor that the time is divided by, to a maximum dividing
factor of the higher of the crafting Dragon-Blood’s (Essence
or Breeding). For example, if the Dragon-Blood was assisted by
one other character with this Charm, the time needed for each
interval would be divided by three, while with two assisting characters,
it would be divided by four.

[wonderandawe]

To maintain my sanity, we will run the Northern Uprising here in OOC topic. It will make coordination easier. All other actions will be run via PM as usual.

Cheraki
People are disappearing. Some on the List you found, Quelaana. Some aren't. Rumors abound of Cynis sending in an entire legion. A few hope the Roseblack will be their salvation. Surely she can see how the people suffer. Others say The Roseblack plans to win the Scarlet Throne swimming though the blood of the populace.

The atmosphere in Cheraki is tense. The Bloody Hand stocks up on weapons. Everyone who can fight from young teenage girls to old men is armed. No one travels unarmed. Cynis Dynasts walk the streets in groups. Merchants pack up their wares to head elsewhere. Overseers whisper in the taverns. Slaves in the fields are more lively than usual.

It's a powder keg. One spark could set the whole city into chaos.

Tepet and Cynis
Tepet and Cynis are negotiating the Tepet Legion's place in the upcoming rebellion.

Tepet REALLY wants to get involved in the Northern Situation. The Roseblack needs a decisive military victory and this Cynis problem is perfectly situated to provide her with one. Tepet needs permission to intervene or else Cynis can sue for trespassing into their affairs. Also, one house invading another house's territory may start a chain reaction of stronger houses taking out the weak. A situation Tepet wants to avoid.

However, Cynis believes they can handle it themselves. Cynis says they are sending one of their legions north. However, Cynis legion moves slow. They are plagued with Bureaucratic delays. *cough Ryo cough* Yet, the Cynis elders are playing they have the situation under control.

Some Tepet house elders are strongly considering throwing caution to the wind and conquering the province in a last attempt for glory. With the Empress gone, there is no one to stop them, except whatever forces Cynis has in the north. More rational minds see this as Suicide. It's a desperate measure for a desperate house.

What do you do?

[BlueWinds]

Is one of the Tepet elders still willing to meet with her (or at least send a dynastic representative)? Preferably one of the more cautious ones. As it becomes apparent how close they are to making a deal with Cynis already, Aisa's request becomes much more urgent. "I have an inside ear on the situation, and am willing to share. Please do not leap before you look - there are sharp rocks at the bottom of this well."

[wonderandawe]

Is one of the Tepet elders still willing to meet with her (or at least send a dynastic representative)? Preferably one of the more cautious ones. As it becomes apparent how close they are to making a deal with Cynis already, Aisa's request becomes much more urgent. "I have an inside ear on the situation, and am willing to share. Please do not leap before you look - there are sharp rocks at the bottom of this well."

They are not close to making a deal at all. The negotiations have failed.

Cynis: "We got this!"
Tepet: "If you got this, then why is your Legion still on the Blessed Isle?"
Cynis: "No, we got this! Leave us alone!"


Basically, Cynis isn't answering Tepet's calls anymore and Tepet is tempted to break the door down. If you approach one of the Tepet elders, they would be interested in having you talk to Cynis.

[BlueWinds]

Basically, Cynis isn't answering Tepet's calls anymore and Tepet is tempted to break the door down. If you approach one of the Tepet elders, they would be interested in having you talk to Cynis.

Err, right. My reading comprehension seems to have failed, you said that clearly enough above. ^^;;

Aisa's words at the meeting - and she does want a face-to-face meeting with Tepet - are straightforward: "I will deliver the Slave Coast to you entirely, as a fresh, willing, tribute-paying satrapy that need not be occupied. Your military victory will be more than an empty symbol, then. In exchange, you must promise two things.

First, you must wean them away from the horrific Deshan System. This is my non-negotiable price for assistance. It is a stain upon the honor of the dynasty. It is also your ticket to a swift end of the rebellion. Once you take control and publicly announce the end of Cynis' horrors, most of the resistance will melt away. I can then provide you with information on any remaining cells of resistance - a quick and decisive victory, practical as well as symbolic.

Second, you must give up control of Hohenzon. This will be the price from House Cynis. Two years ago, this would have been a trade too expensive for you to consider - but things have changed, and the title to a talent is worth less than the reality of six bars."

[wonderandawe]

Tepet Elder says that is too expensive of a price now. Yes, they will admit Hohenzon is not profitable right now, but House Tepet will recover from this momentary setback. And when they do, Hohenzon will be profitable again. And the Slave Coast will be just as barren as before.

What do you do?

[Exthalion]

Akashan is going to meet with Cynis Elders and present his artifact discoveries. He will claim to be interested in acquiring the aid of Cynis wood aspect gardeners (what with the artifacts being plants). While he will not say it, he will lament that they don't have a good place to do the growing since the plants are native to the south east. He will also make some slightly exaggerated speculations, like with the proper conditions the artifacts could grow without tending or skilled artificers and just require harvesting.

So that it isn't obvious he is doing this for that reason he will want half ownership of all artifacts produced for house Ledaal, right of first refusal for Ledaal (we have the option to buy out their half when they want to sell before they sell to anyone else), and free access by approved Ledaal researchers to see that they are being grown properly and to do experimentation and study.

Ideally, I want to open up a second route to Rathess and the heart of DK territory, but I don't know exactly where that is.

[BlueWinds]

"Eventually" is an awfully long time, given how fast things are moving. Do they really think that all the other houses are going to sit still and let them recover? Aisa will hazard a guess that Mnemon will make a move for the throne in within two years - do they really have time for distractions?

"You must feel the marshaling of forces. Great changes are afoot. Now's the time to leave aside pride, and gather your strength for the moment of maximum effort. I would prosper perfectly well under Mnemon's reign, but I think you have other plans - and if you can be pragmatic about what's needed to win, I think you'll find yourself surrounded by friends." Mysterious smile.

Basically, she's going to push a bit harder in the face of reluctance (or even a flat "no"). Time to pull out the charm, lean on the reputation she's built, and stoke the flames of ambition.

[wonderandawe]

I'll respond after Eura decides what he wants to do in the North.

[Eura]

I've been at a funeral for the past few days, I'll post in a bit since I just got back home.

[wonderandawe]

I've been at a funeral for the past few days, I'll post in a bit since I just got back home.

No worries. Real life comes first.

[Eura]

Whelp, until the powder keg goes off I can't do the big battle scene. I think my public action will be convincing Roseblack to help liberate Amber River when the Political bullshit condonement happens. My initial PM will be set up for where all my pieces are. I'm hoping Roseblack helps because I don't have War.

[wonderandawe]

Whelp, until the powder keg goes off I can't do the big battle scene. I think my public action will be convincing Roseblack to help liberate Amber River when the Political bullshit condonement happens. My initial PM will be set up for where all my pieces are. I'm hoping Roseblack helps because I don't have War.

Did you want to set off the powder keg? Or just let things happen as they may?

[Eura]

Preferably, but if you want to have it happen as a random complication go ahead.