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

[wonderandawe]

Cynis Belar agrees to meet with Aisa.

But instead of negotiating with her, she accuses Aisa of playing bureaucratic games with her Legions. She is not pleased that some young upstart is sticking her nose into Cynis business. She idly wonders if Aisa's grandmother knows what Aisa is up to.

What do you do?

[BlueWinds]

"What. If you want to look for traitors in your midst, I suggest you begin searching for Golden Cranes, rather than pointing fingers at me. They've been on the northern coasts recently."

"I have not a single agent in House Cynis, though perhaps I shall have to develop some sources if you wish to treat me as an enemy." (intentional misinterpretation of the accusation, as though she doesn't know exactly what's being referred to)

Mnemon is dismissed with an offhanded wave. "Of course Grandmother knows. 'Making friends in other houses,' she called it." Aisa purses her lips in annoyance, the very picture of innocence wronged. "Though I might not have bothered if I'd known there'd be accusations rather than gratitude."

(this is also why she chose Cynis Belar - as another sorceress, she at least knows about the existence of sidereals, even if she doesn't associate golden cranes with them immediately)

[wonderandawe]

Give me a Socialize (Diff 4) for your misdirection.

[BlueWinds]

5 successes. 5wp spent this season.

Do virtue channels refresh seasonally as well? Should ask that aloud rather than assuming.

[wonderandawe]

Yes, Virtues refresh Seasonally.

Are you outright lying about Mnemon knowing you are here?

[BlueWinds]

Yes, that part is also a lie! Aisa does intend to fill Mnemon in soon - preferably after she's made the agreement, along the lines of "hey, look at all this land I just got, want 15% of the money, 'cause House Mnemon is awesome?"

[wonderandawe]

"Oh, my dear little Aisa. Run along back to your grandmother and ask her what she thinks of your little deal before you come back to me."

((Hmmm.... Maybe Mnemon has her own plans with the North.))

((This is actually a good outcome. Cynis Belar was using Falsehood Unearthing Attitude on Aisa. For reasons that will become clear when you talk to Mnemon))

[Eura]

This sounds like a good time for the powder keg to go off c:<

It's gonna start off with slave citizens forming a rather large protest in front of *strategic point*. Tensions rise, something is thrown at a guard, guards try to arrest the offender and all hell breaks loose. The battle of Amber River begins. I'm assuming everyone has done mostly what they want with Amber River being peaceful. Wind carried words may hold blurbs of what's happening depending on your guy's intelligence network.

Details of the battle will be through my Pm adventures and will be disclosed through the letter

[BlueWinds]

Haha, ouch. Aisa got got good there. I assume the elder has E5, so that clause is no protection. (everything other than the bit about Mnemon knowing was an evasion or half-truth)

She'll blush at being called 'dear little Aisa', and also a bit at being caught out in a lie. "I shall. Would you like some tea?" After a minute to collect herself and serve tea, "I don't suppose you would like to share with me what Grandmother is thinking? I am afraid we're not as close as we used to be, as you've just seen demonstrated."

She won't press if Belar declines, but putting it out there in case the elder feels like taking pity or has something of her own to share.

[wonderandawe]

She sighs. "It is not for me to say, though I was worried you were sent to test my resolve. Your plan is a good one, though I am curious on how you managed to convince Tepet to give up Hohenzon..." She seems almost tempted by the offer. "No, I have put my trust in your grandmother. You must discuss this with her before coming back to me."

[wonderandawe]

This sounds like a good time for the powder keg to go off c:<

It's gonna start off with slave citizens forming a rather large protest in front of *strategic point*. Tensions rise, something is thrown at a guard, guards try to arrest the offender and all hell breaks loose. The battle of Amber River begins. I'm assuming everyone has done mostly what they want with Amber River being peaceful. Wind carried words may hold blurbs of what's happening depending on your guy's intelligence network.

Details of the battle will be through my Pm adventures and will be disclosed through the letter

Just to be clear:

Rebels are rebelling against Cynis.

Roseblack is pushing back whatever forces Cynis has managed to get to the North.

The Magisterial Legion is doing what again?

[Eura]

Oh shit, I forgot they exist.

Ummm, I'm technically part of the magisters I just didn't know they had their own legion. Would we count them as delayed by our solar's charms? I'm not sure how they would act in a situation like this because Ejava is doing what they would. I guess social fu them to help but be in the backlines if they aren't delayed since I don't think they'd approve of my twists.

[Guancyto]

Oh shit, are we doing this now now?

Magisterial Legion is Carmela's baby, an actually-fairly-heavily-veiled excuse to have troops on the Blessed Isle. I can probably mobilize Contarini/Iselsi ships enough to get them to you (we are the closest to each other, geographically), but Carmela's not actually in charge (she is merely its commander). Without Aisa's deal in place, you'd need some extensive social-fu (stories of the Cynis responding to magisterial orders with stabbing?) to not have them side with the Cynis.

Although, did you get the care package I sent? A scale of elite soldiers should help a little.

[BlueWinds]

Aisa will be sending a letter to Mnemon soon after her Cynis meeting.

Dear Grandmother,

I seem to have made something of a fool of myself with Cynis Belar, working orthogonal to your purposes. I had hoped to present you House Tepet steeply in my debt and new lands in the North for House Mnemon to hold, but instead find my plans brought up short lest they interfere with yours.

May I know what you intend with the Slave Coast and with House Cynis, that I do not stub my toes against your will again?

[wonderandawe]

Well... we can have the rebellion go on for a while before the Roseblack and everyone steps in. And by a while, I mean "we deal with it in next month's letters."