genessia | [Action/Video] [Open] Five-Dragon General Awakening

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[Action/Video] [Open] Five-Dragon General Awakening

[After the initial shock of waking up in a strange place, Ejava is relieved to find that at least her armor and daiklave--a suit of articulated plate and a massively oversized curved sword, both artifacts constructed of magical green Jade--are with her in the cocoon. After donning her armor and examining the contents of the small box she was given, it doesn't take long for the general to realize she's not in Creation anymore.

The videophone is an unusual device, but Ejava has used stranger First Age artifacts before, and with the instructions included in the pamphlet, it proves easy enough to operate.]

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[A hard-faced redheaded woman appears on the video feed. Her green plate armor is adorned with thornlike spikes on the pauldrons as well as vine and rose designs.]

This is Strategos Tepet Ejava of the Vermillion Legion. Any Dragonblooded receiving this broadcast, report immediately.

[When no fellow Terrestrial Exalted answer, she quickly concludes that none are present. Though not without political differences, the Dragonblooded would certainly band together in a situation like this.]

Any mortal soldier of the Realm, report to me at once.

[General Tepet leaves the channel open for return communications as she steps outside to scout the surrounding terrain.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[OOC: I should probably make a powers/abilities/equipment post so that sort of thing is easily visible to people not familiar with Exalted, huh? Also thanks for the info!]

[Referring to himself as a weapon, and "death scythe"... it sounds like how a servant of the Neverborn might talk, but a Deathknight would have known about the Realm, and he doesn't seem like someone with apocalyptic ambitions. It could be one of the Fair Folk's strange games. Or something unknown entirely.]

How literally do you mean that...? [It seems like he could just be a soldier speaking philosophically, but one can't discount the absurd when the Fair Folk might be involved] Perhaps you'd like to meet my weapon. This is Thorn.

[The camera pans to focus on an ornately decorated and massively oversized green sword of a material Spirit has definitely never seen before: magical Jade, the same as her armor.

(note the icon probably underrepresents its size; Exalted art is pretty bad at Daiklave size consistency but the consensus among players I've talked to is that regular Daiklaves, like this one, are somewhere close to Buster Sword sized and Grand Daiklaves are EVEN BIGGER. Also magical capital-J Jade is very different from the regular rock jade both in appearance and physical properties, though the green variety does look a little like the rock.)]

[ooc: Always good, though a lot of times I go with what I don't know since my character wouldn't know either!]

[Spirit sighs, though it isn't quite so melodramatic as tired.]

I mean it really literally--

[This was the first time someone had introduced him to a weapon he knew wasn't also a human who could transform, but he knew he shouldn't take it personally.]

Hold on.

[He glances around the room he's currently in, pondering, and then the camera is moving as he props it up against something.

Then, he steps back from the camera, leaving himself in full view. With a flash and then fizzle of bright light, he transforms. Standing where he was just a moment before is a tall and dark-steeled scythe.

His voice is muffled and tinny, but it certainly is just as much his as it was a few moments ago.]

I meant it completely literally.

[And to prove his point, he transforms back quickly, the movement smooth from years of practice, before picking up the phone again to look at her.]

[Well, now she's practically certain he's a Raksha. Shapeshifting into inanimate objects is strange even for the Fair Folk.

If she weren't cut off from her Legion, she'd already be assembling a team to drive the threat out of Creation... but as it is, her troops are nowhere to be found and she's not even in Creation.]

I... have no quarrel with you at this time, Faerie.

[A Terrestrial Exalt is now 90% certain you are an enemy of Creation spawned from the formless chaos of the Wyld. You got some splainin' to do now that you've shapeshifted in front of her!]

Faerie?

[Spirit pauses, contemplating both her expression and her statement.]

Wait...wait a second. I'm not a faerie...I'm a weapon. I thought I explained that already.

[The way she'd said that, he felt this status as "faerie" wasn't good. As such, he felt it would be in his best interest to placate her.]

In my world it isn't totally uncommon.

Edited 2014-08-16 02:50 (UTC)

Let us pretend for the moment I believe you, and that this isn't merely some Raksha game. How am I to verify anything you say?

[She does have one way to check, but it's not exactly pleasant: Ejava knows the Charm Ghost-Fire Blade, which allows her to temporarily turn any blade she wields into a holy weapon against the enemies of Creation. If he were a Faerie, Demon, or undead, any wound inflicted that way would be especially grievous (and likely visibly magical) and take much longer than normal to heal. A small cut would be enough for a test, but still.]

Look. I'm happy to help you clear this up, but I don't have much by means of proof since I don't know any faeries or Rakshas or... whatever it is you're talking about.

[He's starting to feel rather flustered by the entire conversation, and it shows as he nervously scratches his head.]

My daughter and my boss are both here but since you aren't convinced by me I don't imagine they'd do much to help...

Come here and let me cut you. If Ghost-Fire Blade produces only a normal wound, I'll believe you.

It is the only reliable test available to me. The wound need not be large.

If indeed you are no enemy of Creation, you have my apologies in advance.

You're kidding, right?

[Please be kidding. Please.

But her tone suggested she wasn't. He knew he wouldn't be able to clear his name without this, but he remained not keen on the prospect just the same.]

Small, right? Like paper cut small?

I can't protect my daughter and my boss if I let myself get hurt by you.

[She's serious.]

Paper cut...?

[Oh right. Paper cuts. Ejava had one once, as a mortal child--her Exaltation kicked in when she was 11, and certain inconveniences like papercuts and colds just don't seem to happen to the Exalted--but that was more than 50 years ago. It takes her a second to remember paper cuts are even a thing, but once she does she knows well enough what he's talking about.]

Not quite that small. Small enough you won't be impaired. You may want to bring a small bandage to keep from bleeding on your clothes, but you'll remain in fighting shape and heal fully within the day. If you are telling the truth.

[He grimaces at the thought, but nods weakly.]

Fine. A small cut. If it's absolutely necessary.

I can meet you just outside of where we've all woken up. I need about fifteen minutes.

[The video feed clicks off, and he is on his way.]

[Ejava is just outside the Bay when he arrives, scouting the perimeter. She gestures for him to approach.

Thorn looks even bigger up close. She doesn't seem to have a smaller blade anywhere.]

Roll up your sleeve and stand still. The back of your forearm is an acceptable location, is it not?

[She draws her Daiklave, pointing the tip in his general direction. It seems that is actually the blade she intends to use.

[Spirit, probably, looks a bit smaller up close. Though frankly, he's rather used to people wanting to cut him up. It wasn't as though Stein hadn't done it a handful of times. There was a reason Spirit was rather terrified of her former meister, even so many years later.

Frowning, he takes off his jacket and then rolls up his left sleeve, offering the arm to her. His other hand is already taking a small bandage from his pocket.]

If I do this, then if any other weapons from my world arrive you damn well not be making them go through the same thing. Fair?

[Blue eyes fall on the sword, and he gulps.]

If you prove not to be one of the Fair Folk, I will know that what you claim to be is a real thing. It will not be necessary to subject them to the same test.

[She touches Thorn's tip to his skin, just above the wrist. The weapon radiates a strong white light for a moment as she rakes it along Spirit's flesh, making a shallow cut an inch and a half long.

The general grabs him by the wrist after withdrawing the blade, taking a few seconds to inspect the wound before releasing him, pleased to find him bleeding ordinary red blood and not chaotic Essence.]

Very well. You are not Fair Folk. Thank you for your cooperation.

Edited 2014-08-16 23:38 (UTC)

[He winces as she cuts into his skin, and if she hadn't pulled his arm away to examine it he'd have already yanked it back to his side.

When she releases his wrist he tugs it back, pressing the bandage to the cut. He tries to wrap it once with his free hand, and then twice, with increasing irritation. ]

Satisfied? Just as human as I said I was.

Edited 2014-08-17 00:20 (UTC)

Humans don't shapeshift, but I believe you are not an enemy of Creation.

My apologies for the inconvenience. Perhaps I can make it up to you somehow? [He has been quite cooperative, after all. Might as well teach the mortals here the same lesson those in Creation learned long ago: it pays to heed the wishes of the Dragonblooded.]

{ooc I am now wondering how SE weapon-people compare to Daiklaves and other Artifact weapons]

Can you tie this?

[That seemed like a fair request, all things considered, as he held his arm out to her, still pressing the bandage to his arm.] I only have one hand at the moment.

[ooc: I have no idea but they are sometimes called demon weapons XD;; ]

Edited 2014-08-17 02:14 (UTC)

[She ties the bandage without hesitation. There's no point refusing such a trivial request.]

Is that all?

[ooc: I'll try finding a few SE fight scenes on youtube or something and see if I can get a decent idea from that]

I guess I can't know for sure.

[For a moment, his focus is on fixing his shirt, slipping his jacket back on. Then, a sigh.]

I didn't catch your name earlier. Now that you agree that I'm not some dangerous faerie, I feel like a proper introduction is in order.

[He offers his hand to shake.] Spirit. Pleasure to meet you.

Edited 2014-08-17 02:33 (UTC)

[The General returns the gesture. Her grip is stronger than most--especially noticeable because of the hard Jade gauntlet--but not painfully crushing.]

Ejava of house Tepet, strategos of the Vermillion Legion. You may call me 'General Tepet', or, in light of my Legion's absence, 'Lady Tepet'.

[Is she trying to break him? Good grief.]

I think I will go with Last Tepet, for now.

By the way, the meisters from my world aren't faeries either. Don't go slicing them up too, please.

[He shrugs with a bit of a lopsided smile: friendly. But he's still serious.]

Anybody from your world here too?

I have no intention of cutting people open without reason. I simply had no better way to test your claim.

[Since Mnemon's arrival isn't until a few hours after this, she's still the only one.]

If there are, they aren't someone you'd want to meet. Any Dragonblooded or Realm citizens would have answered my call.

[Fortunately for her and everyone else, the Roseblack (and soon Mnemon) are the only Exalted around. Nobody wants to deal with Solars.]

[He hesitates, contemplating what she's just said.]

Are they a danger to the city, then?

[And then, yes perhaps a bit belatedly--]

Are you?

The Fair Folk are not the worst threat to Creation. Stay far away from anyone claiming to be Chosen of the Sun or Luna.

[She bristles at the implied accusation, tightening her grip on Thorn.]

I will overlook that insult this once. Senseless destruction is not in my plans.

Duly noted.

And pardon me, Lady Tepet. I didn't mean that like it sounded. It seemed like you were suggesting the Dragonblooded posed risk.

[One hand unconsciously wraps around the cut in his arm above his sleeve.]

I don't...ah, damn it. My little girl is here. I worry about her and want to know she's safe as she can be. Part of that is knowing who is here.

Anyone from Creation who didn't answer my call may be a danger. Any Dragonblooded would have answered if they were present and able. [Even in the worst case possible with other Terrestrials preceding her--a group from Lookshy and no one but herself from the Realm--they would have at least had the decency to demand the Roseblack's immediate surrender.]

So long as your daughter does not make herself my enemy, which should be easy to avoid, I will do her no harm, and will do what I can to protect her and all the mortals of this place from those who would.

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