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Log: The Last Stop For The Traveller, Part Two

Page history last edited by wastevens@... 14 years, 7 months ago

Run By: Dokuganryu (3xp)

Players: Ragara Ayesha, Sesus Ormi, Tsure

Synopsis: Ayesha and Ormi discover the secret watchdog of the tower and make a deal for the Quicksilver Aegis Talisman.

 

 

 

The top of the tower seems to be a locked arsenal door. However, it swings open after a moment of blinking Essence trails, giving way to the arsenal.

 

Much of the stuff is junk. The vast majority of the machines within have long since died, broken down to the point of worthlessness. Still, some of it - a half an Essence pike in the corner, a machine slowly pumping around itself (perhaps a children's toy?) with a stream of unending Essence, they seem to be alright. In the center of the room is a massive, circular table, upon which rests a woman.

 

At least, at first glance, she's a woman. Though her body is made up of silver trails of Essence, her naked form has no detail beyond the streams, and her outstretched hand is as immaterial as the air. She turns, relaxing with her feet up in the air, blinking blank eyes at the visitors.

 

"Is that you, Brass Knight Of Conquest?" She inquires in a husky, pleasing voice.

 

(Judge) Sesus Ormi rolls Intelligence + Lore: [ 4 4 6 9 9 <10> ]

Resulting in 4 successes.

 

(Judge) Ragara Ayesha rolls Intelligence + Lore: [ -1- 4 6 6 7 7 7 8 <10> <10> ]

Resulting in 8 successes.

 

Sesus Ormi says, "We are guests. Brass Knight of Conquest has been absent for some time."

Sesus Ormi says, "I think."

 

"Has he?" The automaton rolls over, exposing her body a bit more - the tease is, however, meaningless gestures of a creature without concepts of sexuality designed for eye-candy and nothing more, lost on the Perfected Calculation Array. "But he was just in here moments ago, asking about Shining Prince of the Unconquered Sun."

"He's such a silly knight," she continues, stretching her shapely silver leg upwards, "Waiting for so long, so loyal. I love him so. If only he were so loyal to me instead of a master who will never come." She gives a vague sigh and purses her silver lips.

 

Sesus Ormi says, "Ah. I apologize, I had the names mixed up. I am Ormi of Gens Sesus; this is Ayesha of Gens Ragara."

Sesus Ormi says, "You understand, then, the absence of the Shining Prince of the Unconquered Sun, and the great scope of time that has passed since the coming of the raksha."

 

Ayesha seems almost happy when they gain access to the arsenal. Even if most items are ruined. The 'woman' gives her pause, though. She studies the image for a few seconds before speaking. "Ah. We are guests in the tower, I assume Brass Knight is the automaton that receives us? He did not introduce himself. Who are you?"

 

"I am Seven Silver Shining Souls, the caretaker of this facility. It is very nice to meet you, Ormi and Ayesha. I haven't had company in some time besides Brass Knight of Conquest." She gives another little breathy sigh and rolls over once more to look at them directly. "It's been a very long time since the Raksha came. I've been keeping track. So has Brass Knight of Conquest, but he's so stubborn...but that's what a woman wants in a man, isn't it? Reliability!" She smiles. "Are you a reliable man, Ormi of Gens Sesus?"

 

Sesus Ormi 's face quavers. "No," he admits. "My failures are many and bring shame to my name and that of my gens." Why he admits this to an automaton of all things, even he isn't sure.

 

Ayesha comes closer to the image, trying to walk quietly. Can the construct even see them? Her first question would suggest she is blinded. "The caretaker, then you must know the disposition and organization of the arsenal. We are looking for a rare..." Ormi's words cause her to stop and look back at him, surprised.

 

"What a shame," the Array murmurs, reaching out to brush her non-hand across Ormi's face; the touch of the essence composition tingles a bit. "You aren't very handsome, either. Too much flesh, not enough good, strong metal. You must have something of worth, though." Seven Silver Shining Souls relaxes her hand. "So you came here to plunder my tower?" She asks - not accusing, nor angry, merely curious. "You're not the first, but you're certainly the first not to be scared away by my little fear trap in the hangar, and get past Brass Knight of Conquest."

 

Sesus Ormi says, "The fear trap is effective, but in my myriad failures I have grown inured to terrors, so we pushed on. Plunder... perhaps. There are wonders here; they should be put to use by someone, and Shining Prince is long dead."

 

"Information on this place was sketchy," notes Ayesha, "I have to admit I did not expect to find anyone here except perhaps raksha or wyld monsters." She sighs, "Brass Knight is not cognitive enough to realize how much time has passed or that his master is long dead. But someday his master's reincarnation might come and repair him. We would like to avoid conflicts if possible. I do not wish to harm him or you."

 

Sesus Ormi glances sidelong. His reincarnation... Does Ayesha believe that? Does she, like him, experience the pangs of doubt in the Immaculate doctrine? Or is she playing to the beliefs of the machine?

 

"Brass Knight of Conquest is well aware of how much time has passed," Seven Silver Shining Souls replies smoothly, "As am I. We both await the Shining Prince's reincarnation eagerly, as his power will pass on and remind his heir of what belongs to him. As far as my beloved knight's malfunctions...I do not have hands of material form," she murmurs, "I cannot repair him, though I know how. I am terrified that one day, my love will break down, the Prince will not have come, and I will be all alone here against the quiet storm of the Wyld...and then it, too, will close in on me..." She looks terrified, and rightfully so. However, in moments, she's regained her smooth demeanor. "Please tell me what you seek, and I will make certain it is within and can be parted with safely."

 

Sesus Ormi glances to Ayesha.

 

Ayesha nods quietly, "I would offer to take you away from the tower to a more safe location, if you are allowed, but the only engineer I know able to repair you lives in Chiaroscuro, a long way from here in these troubled times. And I doubt the Knight would be willing to come." Oh, and she would like to see the mechanisms of the Array too, but Ayesha is aware it is way above her knowledge. And automatons loyal to solars wouldn't be well received in Greyfalls anyway. "We seek the Quicksilver Aegis Talisman that was stored in this tower long ago."

 

"A Quicksilver Aegis Talisman. I believe Brass Knight of Conquest wears it around his arm," the Array replies idly, reclining back against an invisible wall and crossing her legs, "But I don't think that's what you wanted to hear, is it?"

 

Sesus Ormi says, "He's not going to hand it over if we ask nicely."

Sesus Ormi says, "If we repaired him..."

 

"No. But it is the truth we have to accept and deal with it," replies Ayesha. It must be a very advanced automaton to be able to attune powerful artefacts. And it is crazy. Damnation. "You believe you can repair him? It seems very advanced."

 

Sesus Ormi says, "I've mastered Holy Fire-mind Pranas. Given an hour with reference materials, I should be able to master the principles behind his psychology."

 

"If you're going to repair him, perhaps...perhaps I could persuade you to..." The Array trails off, shaking her head - trails of silver 'hair' flow from her motion, draping down as she crosses her arms and rests her chin on them. "No, no. It wouldn't be right."

 

Sesus Ormi says, "I am open to the prospect of bribes."

 

The Array looks away. "...I just want him to notice me, just once," she mumbles quietly, sadly.

 

(Judge) Sesus Ormi rolls Compassion: [ 2 3 8 <10> ]

Resulting in 3 successes.

 

 

Sesus Ormi says, "...I will see what I can do. What do you mean, 'notice you'? I am a mortal man of mortal desires and lusts, and I suspect you and I speak of different things..."

 

Ayesha nods slowly, "I suppose we have to try to make a deal with him." The Array's desires almost make her flinch. Either she was built to crave attention or the Wyld has altered her somehow. "We need reference materials for the repairs," she comments quietly.

 

Sesus Ormi says, "Ayesha, we should seek advice from Tsure on this matter. For such creatures as this, she would travel far - especially if I went to pick her up."

 

"Are you sure...you can fix him, without destroying him?" Seven Silver Shining Souls asks hesitantly. "I...I can't lose him. He's all I have..."

 

Sesus Ormi says, "I can't. I know someone who definitely can."

 

Ayesha nods, "I was thinking on Lady Tsure when I mentioned an engineer in Chiaroscuro. But it would take her several days to come here, even using spells."

 

Sesus Ormi says, "For these? She'd do it."

 

Ayesha smiles guardedly, "yes, perhaps she would. Can you talk with her?"

 

Sesus Ormi says, "I can send her a messenger. Beyond that... No."

 

"Before sending the message we should talk with the Knight," notes Ayesha, "and convince him to let us repair his systems in exchange of the Aegis Talisman. Otherwise Tsure would make a long trip for nothing."

 

Sesus Ormi says, "It shouldn't be difficult. Seven Silver Shining Souls is the caretaker of the manse. Bronze Knight is an element of the manse's function. She therefor has authority to have him given regular maintenance. This is just a routine matter."

 

"He isn't an element of my function," Seven Silver Shining Souls points out after a moment, "Or I'd be able to convince him to notice me. He's independant of the tower itself."

 

Ayesha nods. "Nevertheless he might be willing to listen to your reasoning than ours, since you have been working with him for centuries." She walks to the door, "and I imagine he will come here soon, it has been a while."

 

Sesus Ormi waits patiently for Knight to make his own way up.

 

Indeed, the door slides open, Bronze Knight of Conquest standing there wielding a tray like a broadsword. "Hello." It says blankly, walking past them to load several broken objects onto the tray, then resume trying to wield it like a broadsword; the items fall, tinkling to the ground. Seven Silver Shining Souls sighs, as if it were very typical behavior - and indeed it might be - and brushes her hand out towards him. "Bronze Knight of Conquest...these people would like to help you."

"Help me? I am not in need of assistance."

"You're long overdue for maintenance," she coos, "Please? It will enable you to more efficiently perform your functions."

"Very well." Bronze Knight turns to face the Princes of Earth, staring at them. "You are permitted to perform maintenance upon my personage."

 

Ayesha tilts her head, that was easy. "Oh, we would call for a specialist engineer, I lack the technical skills, although maybe Lord Ormi could be able."

 

Sesus Ormi says, "Indeed. We are going to contact a specialist in matters of machine intelligence and physiology."

 

 

Sesus Ormi 's eyes crackle with the holy fire as his skull briefly shines with sigils of essence, his thoughts too powerful and essence-augmented to be contained entirely within his flesh. From these sigils pours forth essence that congeals in to a shining spirit of glittering blue and myriad wings. He speaks to it. "Carry this message to Tsure, formerly of House V'neef, mind-forger, machine-mistress. Tsure: We have discovered a repository of first age automata that only you are qualified to repair. For security reasons, we cannot provide you the precise location in this missive. Meet us at (COORDINATES) in one week's time, and bring what forces you feel comfortable with. We'll discuss the find there."

Sesus Ormi says, "I hope the south is treating you well. Things are fine here, although exciting as ever.""

Sesus Ormi hammers out some more small talk, then sends the creature off.

 

The creature flows away, wings beating between the seconds as it disappears into the treetops. The date is set, the meeting is prepared.

 

'Borrowing' one of the personal transports if actually borrowing it isn't possible, Tsure makes her way to the appointed coordinates on a tiny skiff. Of course, not after leaving a message with her myriad automatons with the gist of where she went, just in case any comes looking or gets concerned.

 

The meeting point is a village at the edge of the Bordermarches. The place is built on the ruins of a First Age fortress that maybe was a manse in better times. Right now it is just highly defensible rubble where a couple hundred brave souls have settled to harvest rare herbs in high demand in the civilized cities. Ayesha's skyship hovers a hundred feet over the village, but the Dynast presence is made more obvious by the large and luxurious tent that their servants have raised some distance of the ruins. There are half a dozen guards visible outside, wearing the colors of Ayesha's personal house troops.

 

Ormi is performing sniper overwatch - not from the skyship, which would be way too obvious, but from one of three camouflagued sniper nests he set up ahead of time. He and his weapons are painted in hiding colors, and his arrows are many.

 

Tsure lands, all kind of silver surfer like. She surveys the gaurds, taking a moment to activate both moment of Danaa'd and Pasiap's Humility. One can never be too careful after all, and these are the enemy. She doubts Ormi and Ayesha would be so crass as to do something like that, but nevertheless, caution rules the day. She approaches the tent, announcing herself.

 

The guards bow respectfully to Tsure, making obvious they were waiting for her, and Ayesha steps out of the tent to greet her. "Lady Tsure, thank you for coming so quickly this far, it is an honor and a pleasure to see you again. Please, come inside, Lord Ormi will join us in a minute."

 

Sesus Ormi spends a few minutes checking for scouts, or other assassins, and then, quietly, and much relieved, spends a few minutes cleaning himself off to something presentable before returning to the pavillion.

 

Tsure nods to Ayesha, "I admit, I was most surprised to hear from that...man," Tsure says with a little difficulty. "T'is a shame we've this civil war going on, makes meetings such as this so much more...tense than they need to be," she adds, as she steps inside.

 

Ormi strides imperiously past completely jaded and uninterested hunter-gatherers to the entrance of the pavilion.

 

Fred from the garden next door with his fingers on the wrong side briefly stops to glance at Ormi walk past, then resumes pulling the tentacle-weed with his inverted digits. Poor Fred. The tentacle-weed has him completely outmatched, but there he goes anyway.

 

Ayesha nods, "the Civil War needs to end soon, before the harm we are causing Creation with our petty squabbles becomes irreparable. But that is not the reason we asked you to come." She invites Tsure to sit down on one of the comfortable chairs inside the pavilion. The tent is larger than some patrician houses. "I was looking for a powerful artefact in the ruins of a First Age manse when we found out the ruins were not completely deserted. A couple of very sophisticated automatons still reside there. Since it would be a shame to destroy such wonders, we managed to talk them into allowing us to perform maintenance in one of them in exchange for the artefact. We also thought you would want to study them, since it is your field of expertise."

 

Ormi sweeps open the flap-door, and sets eyes on Tsure for the first time in a *very* long time. There are a few moments awkward silence. "Tsure," he says. "You seem to have done well for yourself. Good to see."

 

"You're still alive," Tsure says to Ormi first, "good to see," she adds non-commitally before turning back to Ayesha, "I see. Well, I'd certainly love to come take a look. Perhaps we can discuss some terms once we see what it is needs doing. What is it you were looking for anyways?"

 

Sesus Ormi says, "A first-age personal point-defense weapon."

Sesus Ormi says, "I believe you owned one for a while - the aegis talismans."

 

Ayesha smiles faintly, "the very same artefact you managed to build yourself with great effort, Tsure, a Quicksilver Aegis Talisman. Although the tower has a few other treasures, not the least of whom are those automatons."

 

Sesus Ormi says, "Or the /other/ point-defense weapon - the scourgecloak."

 

Tsure perks up, and so does the talisman as it slides up her shoulder, to wave at Ayesha and Ormi. "Sounds like quite a cache. I'm surprised you're not both dead, with the defenses that place must have had."

 

Sesus Ormi says, "They were primarily psychological projection weapons... We've both been too much for that to matter."

 

Sesus Ormi says, "They were primarily psychological projection weapons... We've both been too much for that to matter."

 

"We did not force out entry at daiklave point," comments Ayesha, sounding a bit dismissive of the usual Dynast tactics. "The automatons were willing to talk, and the most mobile one is damaged enough it was relatively simple to trick it into leaving us alone."

 

"Aren't you worried this is just a ploy to trick you, well, me into fixing them?" Tsure asks. "For an automaton to develop it's own rationale takes either a tremendous act of will and luck, or more commonly, many centuries. They almost assuredly are the latter."

 

Ayesha nods to Tsure, "it is possible, yes. Common wisdom would be just destroy them, it is what the Immaculate doctrine leads us to do," she sighs, "but it would be a shame. Also, if you have access to their mechanisms, you might be able to change their goals and intentions too. Correct?"

 

"Possibly..." Tsure says. "Though I've personally never tried to take free will away from a machine. I can't imagine it would be entirely happy about that. That'll have to be a spot decision I think."

 

Sesus Ormi says, "A little impromptu brain surgery? Sounds ethically dubious."

Sesus Ormi says, "But I've heard worse plans."

 

"They are machines, Lord Ormi," notes Ayesha. Then she frowns. "Unless the Array is a spirit, in which case I share your ethical doubts/ The old texts are unclear in those devices. But the same Array wants a modification on 'her' partner so it loves her."

 

"The ethics of sentient automatons is sketchy and rare at best, so we kind of get to make the rules as we go," Tsure says with a wink. "Fortunately, I'm the only one here qualified to try to explain exactly how they work."

 

Sesus Ormi says, "Love is a tricky capability. Obsession is easy, fixation is simple, but love, love is complicated."

 

Ayesha looks at Ormi thoughtfully. "I had not considered that. Indeed, I had not considered the automatons could have real feelings if they are just machines, hence why I wonder about the Array. If the servitor is unable to feign real love, what we have been requested is impossible. But Tsure can still repair the warrior automaton and make it unable to attack us at the same time, right?" She looks at the other woman.

 

"If it's actually sentient, and if I can't disable that, then I /can't/ keep it from attacking us if it wants," Tsure says. "That's the wacky thing that I've never been able to actually observe first hand. You apparently see it most often in first age clockwork warriors, simply because there were so damn many of them some survived by chance alone. If they're truly sentient, they don't /care/ about their programming. They do what they want. I'm not sure you can take that away."

 

Sesus Ormi says, "Interesting... but problematic. The creature in question is armed with an aegis talisman, and with a scourge-cloak. I'm not sure we can fight it."

 

"That is a concern, I admit," Tsure says quirking her lips. "Well...how in the hell is an artifact attuning an artifact to itself anyways..." she wonders out loud.

 

"Apparently Clockwork Servitors have large reserves of essence, and they can use to attune to artefacts, or at least this one does," replies Ayesha thoughtfully.

 

Sesus Ormi says, "Additionally, this creature is strong. What I thought was a daiklave it was wielding is in fact just a sharp piece of steel - heavy, tremendous, gilded, and it can wielded it as a Chosen wields a daiklave. Without an anima to lighten the burden, it still swings it smooth and easy - truly, it is strong enough to tear our limbs off like flies if it chooses to.""

 

"And it isn't exactly like it's going to not notice getting a massive strength reduction during the procedure," Tsure adds, "That said, maybe we should just go take an initial look?"

 

Sesus Ormi says, "I recommend it."

 

Ayesha agrees and then commands a servant to bring tea, wine and biscuits for the gathered Dynasts. Gossip time.

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