LOG START
[18:06:01] Master of Games
All Creation, Beneath the Sword
Session 20
The Imperial Daiklave, the very Sword giving the Sword Princes of Vaneha their legitimacy, has been stolen. Stolen from Gensuji’s very consciousness, it seems, until he was reminded of it. By sharp deduction and quick decisions, you’ve tracked the thought-thief to a long-forgotten temple in honor of a nameless divine mother and her twin daughters—now the twin gods of Clan Maon.
Now the mysterious thief stands before you, daiklave in hands. With a sigh, she lowers her headscarf again to reveal the mark of an obscure deity glowing in green on her forehead. In the torchlight, you see that her skin is dark and her hair blonde; her accent in the local language carries traces of Firetongue. As for the rest of her clothing, she could just as well be one of Raizo’s followers. In fact, you’ve reason to believe she was pretending to be until recently.
The subterranean temple hall is spacious and rich in obstacles. There is the central altar featuring the unknown god and her children, which one must walk around to reach the arch in the back of the room, and some annex next to it which blocks one’s view of the corner behind it. Still, there’s almost certainly only the one exit. The temple guardians, lion-dogs as large as horses and seemingly carved from living jade, for their part seem more interested in maintaining the peace than in cooperating either with a thief’s capture or her escape.
”Well, I’ll admit this whole day hasn’t really gone as planned. You have me at a disadvantage here.” This is transparently a lie. Unlike the lion-dogs, she’s shown no surprise at Raizo and Kagemori’s revealing their natures. There’s a chance she’d infiltrated the Band of the Canopy for some time, and she stole Vaneha’s imperial treasure like grabbing an apple off a street cart in passing. Knowing who and what she’s facing, she nonetheless has a plan.
What about you, then? Will you attack? Talk? Or simply steal it right back?
[18:13:57] Datei ma Kagemori
Kagemori turns to the lion-dog. “Divine guardian, how should I refer to you? I am Kagemori, of the clan Datei. I apologize for the rude introduction earlier, I was somewhat hurried.”
[18:17:43] Master of Games
”Temple Guardian Fu, Prince of the Earth, a pleasure. This is Temple Guardian Fa.” Fu and Fa both nod with respect.
[18:21:21] Datei ma Kagemori
”It is an honor, Temple Guardians Fu and Fa. This unnamed Chosen, by means of mystical trickery, has clouded the mind of the local ruler and taken illegal possession of the very symbol of rulership. How does Heaven deal with thieves?”
[18:25:27] Raizo
”Can I also lodge a complaint with Heaven about pretending to be one of my brother-bandits? I do have a reputation to uphold.”
[18:34:47] Master of Games
The Temple Guardians raise a stony eyebrow as one. The thief raises both. “Have to admit, that isn’t where I thought you were going to take this.”
Fu hrrrms. “Well, it depends on what is stolen, when, where, by and from who, with whose, if anyone’s, permission…” Fa cuts him off. “Regarding the complaint at hand, Heavenly law does not concern itself with earthly transgressions in general. A personal complaint, of one Chosen against another, might be a different matter… But frankly, we’re not qualified to give legal advice.”
[18:36:55] Datei ma Kagemori
”I would request simply that no comfort or refuge is given while this matter remains unresolved, then.”
[18:38:48] Raizo
”Yeah, it’s not going how I expected, either, but I’m playing it by ear now, so.” Raizo rolls a shoulder in something very nearly approaching a shrug.
[18:40:53] River Snake
Snake mostly stays to the shadows and observes. Looking for a way to get in range to take the sword should the opportunity arise. Ideally without being noticed.
[18:45:13] Master of Games
”…Well.” The thief scratches her head, clearly thinking. “If you want to lodge any formal complaints, I can introduce you to my current supervisor. I was just going to meet him, anyway.”
[18:46:54] Raizo
”Is your supervisor in the room here with us?”
[18:47:08] Master of Games
”I’d be very surprised.”
[18:48:17] Datei ma Kagemori
”Supervisor? Not a lord, master, or captain? Is this a case of your use of Foresttongue failing you, or…are you a bureaucrat?”
[18:51:33] Master of Games
”I like to think of myself as more of an agent.”
[18:53:17] Datei ma Kagemori
”What has brought you to Vaneha, little agent?”
[18:57:22] Master of Games
The Chosen of Jupiter scratches her nose for a moment before answering. “Fact-finding mission. Details are classified, but if you’d just let me borrow the sword here for a spell, I could have it back with you by dawn, and give you some answers as interest.”
[19:00:06] Datei ma Kagemori
”You are asking for a lot of trust from me, I think.”
[19:01:05] Master of Games
”You can hold me to that, Crowned Sun.”
[19:04:28] Datei ma Kagemori
Kagemori reaches out to touch the words as they drift by. “What do you think, Raizo? Should we trust that the agent will be deterred by Heaven’s sword placed over her?”
[19:08:42] Datei ma Kagemori
”Will it be returned undamaged?”
[19:10:49] Master of Games
”Yes. Do you want me to say it all nice and proper-like?”
[19:15:27] Raizo
Raizo rubs his chin in thought and really mulls it over before answering. “If she can agree to our terms then I think it’s allowable to let her borrow it.”
[19:16:00] Datei ma Kagemori
Kagemori nods. “Sure. Let’s hear it all nice and proper-like.”
[19:27:09] Master of Games
The erstwhile thief straightens in a motion not unlike when some of Raizo’s men stand attention. “On the honor of the Fivescore Fellowship, my station as Chosen of Secrets, and my position…” She goes on to list titles and positions with the cadence of someone who could recite them in her sleep. The content of the oath is similarly exhaustive, but it comes out to what was agreed: she will return the Imperial Daiklave to the presence of Kagemori or Raizo before the sun is done rising, and answer such questions as she reasonably can concerning the Daiklave and her own mission. “…So swears Marea, Chosen of Jupiter.”
[19:29:27] Datei ma Kagemori
”So be it. Keep thy oath or suffer the wrath of the Unconquered Sun.” Kagemori’s castemark appears on his brow, and his anima flares momentarily. The words of the Oath appear in gold in the air as the two birds that make up his anima banner appear on his shoulders, listening intently.
[19:34:42] Raizo
Raizo considers stipulating the return has to be in the presence of both him and Kagemori but ultimately decides to let the more experienced parties handle it. Besides, just don’t be away from Kagemori more than necessary, right? And so he stands by as the two others do their thing.
[19:43:15] Master of Games
”You probably won’t remember me come morning, but don’t worry; the oath will. I’m good for it.” Marea picks up the Imperial Daiklave’s sheath and replaces the sword in it. “Now let’s see. I’m going to have to eat a reprimand for this, aren’t I…” She starts fiddling with the metal gateway apparently set into bare stone, tracing the shiny strands as if looking for a crack or imperfection. “Sorry about the impersonation, by the way. It was the easiest and safest way. Good lot.”
[19:43:55] Datei ma Kagemori
Kagemori sits down on the floor of the temple. He does not intend to leave this place until the oath is fulfilled.
[19:44:31] Datei ma Kagemori
”Raizo. Perhaps one of your men should inform the Prince that we have ‘the matter’ in hand, but it will take a bit of time.”
[19:45:19] Raizo
”Yes, I think… I don’t know, I’ll come up with something.”
[19:46:01] Datei ma Kagemori
”If need be, I can explain the situation to him in full later. But for now simply saying we are handling it but it will take some time should be enough.”
[19:47:22] Datei ma Kagemori
Kagemori is still silhouetted in gold, his anima alit with power. The birds have vanished though.
[19:48:55] Raizo
”Here’s hoping.” He glances between the temple lions and this so-called Chosen of Jupiter again, making a note to see if she resembles anyone he’s seen around before while he walks out to speak to the Band waiting outside.
[19:51:01] Datei ma Kagemori
Kagemori ponders what the Chosen of Jupiter has said regarding he will forget. Has she laid a spell upon him as she did upon the prince? It makes some intuitive sense to him for such a goddess’s chosen to have memory-manipulating powers. He also refuses to be subject to such a power. He works to commit her face to memory.
[19:51:13] Raizo
The message he wishes sent to the Sword Prince is, “We have the situation in hand. Expect an update by noon.”
[19:54:15] Master of Games
”Give my regards to Zao. Hope they found that kid’s parents. And to Nazubi. I guess we’ll see each other before you see him, though. There we go.” She gives a two-fingered salute and and then steps into the solid rock as if it were a curtain. That gets the lion-dogs’ attention. “Hey!” “Sorry! I’m on a deadline!”
[20:03:37] Master of Games
Raizo doesn’t remember seeing anyone with the Chosen of Jupiter’s face before. Whose face, anyway? After the brief distraction of relaying the message, he finds that the person they just talked to has slipped from his mind. He remembers that the sword has been promised to be returned, but no longer how that promise came about or who’s supposed to return it.
Kagemori and Snake watch someone leave. Though Kagemori commits her face to memory, it’s slippery, like trying to scoop a goldfish from the water with a paper net. He remembers what he’s owed. He knows of the Chosen of Secrets, and that one must have just been here. What was their name, again?
The guardians grumble. “You can’t just pick a lock because you forgot the key…”
[20:11:09] Master of Games
The cause for their grumbling seems to slip from Fu and Fa’s mind quickly. Fa sighs and turns to the visitors. “Well, Princes of the Sun, though belated, we should welcome you to this shrine. It’s hardly in use these days, unfortunately.”
[20:13:08] Raizo
Raizo returns in time to forget why he even left, probably. “Why can’t I remember…? Wasn’t I just here?”
[20:13:09] Datei ma Kagemori
”Can you tell me of its history? The mural outside seems to depict a pair of twin gods I know of, Kamo and Moka of the Stony Banks. But there is another figure unknown to me.”
[20:15:48] River Snake
Snake wracks his brain and pinches the bridge of his nose as he rejoins the group…the…whatever with the sword seems to be gone but the details are already foggy. And there doesnt seem to be much reason to keep hiding “Uh…So, memory magic? or something?”
[20:16:51] Datei ma Kagemori
Kagemori nods. “Yes, the Chosen seems to have some degree of memory magic. I’ve tried to harden myself against it, and it…May have partially worked? Their face is already hard to recall, though.”
[20:17:46] River Snake
”I hate it already”
[20:18:29] River Snake
”Someone stealing my memories, I’m offended as a matter of professional pride”
[20:18:44] Datei ma Kagemori
”Let us ensure it never happens again, then.”
[20:19:20] Datei ma Kagemori
”Working together, I am sure we can train a way to shield our minds.”
[20:20:22] Raizo
”Probably. Put a pin in that thought for later, I guess. Assuming I remember it.”
[20:20:57] Master of Games
Fu lies down with paws crossed. “Oh, that happens. One gets used to it.” Fa ponders Kagemori’s question. “I’m not sure her name is recorded. Certainly it was before our time; we were only assigned here a few hundred years ago. I believe she might have been lost in the Contagion, or just before.”
[20:22:33] River Snake
”Ah, so it affected the two of you as well? I thought maybe you’d be immune being…magical gaurdian beasts of some variety. No offense” Snake replies to Fu.
[20:23:11] Datei ma Kagemori
”I see. Well, we can ask Kamo and Moka themselves, perhaps. Though given the two are still around in the area, I am surprised their devotees have allowed this place to be this dilapidated. No offense, great guardians. If it would please you two, I could ensure this place is cleaned up and better maintained.”
[20:24:04] Datei ma Kagemori
”Given your presence and the Chosen, I take it this is a place of great power. Not merely a shrine to a lost goddess.”
[20:32:04] Master of Games
Fu nods graciously. “None taken. The Chosen of the Maidens are remembered only by each other and those gods beneath the Maidens, generally. Whether they want to be or not. I’m told it wasn’t always this way, but I’m not sure what happened to curse them so, but they have to wear other identities to remain in anyone’s mind.”
Fa responds gravely to Kagemori, “This place houses one of the gateways to Heaven itself, and has since the earliest days of the Mandate of Heaven. I can’t deny what you say about its state. Perhaps it suited someone to let it be forgotten.”
[20:38:07] Datei ma Kagemori
Kagemori considers this. He is committed to laying claim to this site. You never know when a gate to Heaven might be useful, and making friends of two mighty (?) guardians might be useful. But should he reveal its presence to the world, but not its nature, so he can legally claim it? Or keep it a hidden site of the clan? “If you two have any need that can be satisfied by mortal hands, feel free to call upon house Datei. At the very least I will have someone come by to sweep the place.”
[20:45:29] Master of Games
”It would be appreciated. We’re not exactly made to swing brooms, you see. Back in the celestial city, it’s nother matter, but… Datei, you say. I’ve heard that name before.”
[20:47:18] Datei ma Kagemori
”It is a clan with a long history. I hope it was spoken positively, or at least with fear and awe rather than with scorn.”
[20:47:45] Datei ma Kagemori
”I am, as far as I know, its first clan head to be Chosen though.”
[20:54:27] Master of Games
”Oh!” Fu shoots upright. “Yes, remember, someone with that name sought refuge here one time. They were on the losing side of some war, I believe.” “Now that you mention it…” Perhaps, ‘one time’ to the ancient spirit-guardians means when the Datei were driven from Vaneha?
[20:56:18] Datei ma Kagemori
”We were driven by rivals from a position of power, once. While we have returned from exile, I must admit I have not reclaimed the grand position the clan once held. I will have to consult the clan secret histories to see if mention of this site is recorded.”
[20:58:23] Datei ma Kagemori
”To change the subject, the Chosen of Jupiter spoke of a Fivescore Fellowship. Is this organization known to you?”
[20:59:29] Master of Games
”Oh yes, the Chosen of the five Maidens of Destiny. There’s five score of them. Roughly.”
[21:00:49] Datei ma Kagemori
”Hmm. That is more than I would have imagined. The idea of Chosen I have not heard of before is not foreign to me. I met one just the other day. But usually, I am led to believe, such varieties of Chosen are singular, or at least a small group.”
[21:01:02] Raizo
”Are they… new? Or something?”
[21:02:49] Master of Games
”Well, we’re talking five score across all of Heaven and Creation. That’s not so many.” “They’re as old as the Chosen of the Sun and Moon, but they like to be secretive. Are the stars as bright as the sun or the moon?”
[21:03:30] Datei ma Kagemori
”Secretive, wielding of mind magic, and knowledgeable of ancient sites of power. Sounds like a dangerous group.”
[21:04:03] Raizo
”I just feel like they would have been mentioned by the Immaculate Temple or something.”
[21:08:19] River Snake
”Well if nobody can remember them”
[21:08:39] Master of Games
”Well, scripture is written by the… I don’t think that’s how the saying goes.”
[21:10:00] Datei ma Kagemori
”Also, if this site did provide refuge to an ancestor of mine, I am in your debt.”
[21:15:04] Raizo
”I guess that makes sense. Powerful spell if it just makes people forget them so quickly.”
[21:15:52] Raizo
”So I take it that Mercury, Mars, Venus, and Saturn have their own as well as Jupiter?”
[21:19:42] Master of Games
”I’m told it broke the night sky.” Fu nods. “Yes. The Chosen of Travels, Battles, Serenity, Secrets, and Endings serve the mandates of destiny within their respective purviews.” Fa inclines his head as if in contrition. “I’m afraid we weren’t able to do much for them, but we haven’t touched what they left behind. We could show you to the room.”
[21:20:08] Datei ma Kagemori
”I would appreciate that.”