Heat and ash from Tiilocs celestial romp fill Eloras eyes. She cries down tears from the heavens to form the salty seas.
Tiiloc's tears slowly fill the heavens as clouds which pour down in unending rivulets. The giant rifts and valleys forged by fire in the world make seas which now also makes islands and continents. The world is a shining jewel in the heavens.
Agni takes an interest in this new world and births himself a body within the molten core. Like the world itself, Agni's skin is rocky and jagged, covered with fissures exposing the fiery lava beneath. Agni tunnels away from the core to the planet's surface and creates the first volcano.
Mt. Agni forms in the world, bursting forth with lava, some of which hisses and steams as it meets the newly formed sea. The earth shakes and fire erupts as it thrusts up from the Earth itself, a giant fiery eye that pierces the clouds and stares back at the sun menacingly. Then it calms slightly but still spews forth lava from time to time.
Χαος: As Order begins to permeate through the Universe, existence starts to strain at the imbalance. Fraying at the edges, reality seems to twist as Χαος coalesces into being in the chasm between the stars. A dark cloud of Chaos and Uncertainty slowly begins to spread, righting the balance once again.
Chaos enters the world first in the form of lightning that begins to form from the clouds, striking the earth and leaving eldritch marks. The sun begins to storm as well, the occasional flare reaching out unfathomable distances in the heavens. The concept of probability and entropy also creep in with it, and now all things hence forth after this will affected by Chaos and uncertainty. The world, the sun, Mt. Agni and the sea being the only certainties in an uncertain world.
Traveling through the great cosmos looking for a place to dwell, The Unknown, a great spirit, comes across this newly formed world and decides that this will do. The Unknown can make herself seen to other beings when the time is right, but for now, The Unknown wishes to observe her fellow inhabitants of this new world unseen and unfelt watching with great interest to see how she can use her influence to create a world of her liking.
The Unknown spreads her influence into the world, partially unseen. They can sense her vague presence but know nothing about her, her form or her location. And she watches, and waits, and ponders.
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
[PBEM] The Three Aeons - Day 1
Lonely after searching the cosmos for life, Elora takes dust from the stars and forms a sphere that she breathes life unto.
While there had until that time been neither stars, nor dusts, nor spheres, Elora, first of the goddesses, takes the dust in her hands, and the stars begin to shine in the heavens, distant but beauteous in their wonder, and there was a world. It was a lifeless rock at this point, but the world is now in existence, and a perfect sphere it is as well.
AND lo! The heavens pulled like no time before with forces yet unnamed! Wrenched, from the fabrics of the fractured void is born the titan Tiitloc: the son of shattered veils. Bound by matter, the deposed Tiitloc subjects himself to (the force known as gravity) and slumbers at the center of an azure sun.
In the center of the void a giant star, dwarfing all the others flares to life. Since neither gravity, nor mass yet exist, both the world and the sun merely sit there, but the light radiated from the sun and the heat cause the world on one side to become slightly warm, and the other side to become slightly hot.
Time passes, and this increases but not significantly, but eventually one half of the world begins to glow with the embers of lava as the rock melts, though only a few inches at this point, whilst the other half of the world is denied Tiitloc's light.
Then, as Tiitloc himself begins to slumber into the sun, a burst of activity takes place, initially the world hurtles towards the sun, about to consume it, only to miss and sling shot around into an orbit. The orbits are tight at first, causing the entire world to become almost a second star as it radiates the heat, but the orbit slowly becomes more stable until the world itself begins to rotate around equally heating both sides, cooling it.
In the process, mountains and valleys have been forged, albiet very rough ones. The center of the world now has its own molten core.
While there had until that time been neither stars, nor dusts, nor spheres, Elora, first of the goddesses, takes the dust in her hands, and the stars begin to shine in the heavens, distant but beauteous in their wonder, and there was a world. It was a lifeless rock at this point, but the world is now in existence, and a perfect sphere it is as well.
AND lo! The heavens pulled like no time before with forces yet unnamed! Wrenched, from the fabrics of the fractured void is born the titan Tiitloc: the son of shattered veils. Bound by matter, the deposed Tiitloc subjects himself to (the force known as gravity) and slumbers at the center of an azure sun.
In the center of the void a giant star, dwarfing all the others flares to life. Since neither gravity, nor mass yet exist, both the world and the sun merely sit there, but the light radiated from the sun and the heat cause the world on one side to become slightly warm, and the other side to become slightly hot.
Time passes, and this increases but not significantly, but eventually one half of the world begins to glow with the embers of lava as the rock melts, though only a few inches at this point, whilst the other half of the world is denied Tiitloc's light.
Then, as Tiitloc himself begins to slumber into the sun, a burst of activity takes place, initially the world hurtles towards the sun, about to consume it, only to miss and sling shot around into an orbit. The orbits are tight at first, causing the entire world to become almost a second star as it radiates the heat, but the orbit slowly becomes more stable until the world itself begins to rotate around equally heating both sides, cooling it.
In the process, mountains and valleys have been forged, albiet very rough ones. The center of the world now has its own molten core.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Oneshot: Kobolds Save the World
Rita: AwHell
Wayne: Kobold 426...wait...728
Bernie: Snaryl
Paralax the Lich had blighted the land for 20 years before the great adventurers rose up to stop him. For another 20 more the heroes cleaned out his dread hold level by level only to die right before stopping him. The kobolds on the first level learned that Paralax had decided to destroy all life in the world so they picked up all the magic items the adventurers left. However, each time one kobold died, they were replaced by another.
The Lich appeared to gloat and so the kobold's hid. Snaryl went straight for the device using stealth and cunning to bypass, while 426 and AwHell1 hid among-st the Orcs. The Lich figured out that they had the adventuer's items, so 426 and Awhell used a series of very powerful spells to kill the lich and those that guarded him since the Lich had his defenses down.
But they still had to take out the device.
The first room they ran into was a simple puzzle with four pillars and four elements. The trick was just to walk past it. Snaryl snuck. The others slid down the stairs in a cube of force. However, many of the number clan were killed (well...two) by a Deck of Many Things cleverly placed on the other end of the room.
The next room had a powerful dragon that they talked to instead of fighting, and managed to free. The winged iron golems were a bit more of a challenge, until they opened the door on the opposite side which had a huge amount of water come in and kill everything, including them. Snaryl was ethereal at the time.
The new 426 and AwHell Clan member swam through the next room, vast and filled with water. Snaryl managed to snag them into the etherial plane. They went through the room but fought off several ghost pirates and used fireballs and a prismatic wall to keep them at bay. They found the portal to the other side.
Awhell's gem of seeing managed to help them navigate the Lich's final maze to the device. 526 used a wish to summon a carpet which he used to circle the machine and help destroy the pylons. They all escaped and blew up the device and saved the world.
The gods rewarded them. Awhell4 became Goddess of Chaotic Good kobolds (an abomination in Kobold society). 526 became God of Fertility and Multiplication. Skarl wasn't in the mood to become a God and so became a member of the assassin's guild.
Wayne: Kobold 426...wait...728
Bernie: Snaryl
Paralax the Lich had blighted the land for 20 years before the great adventurers rose up to stop him. For another 20 more the heroes cleaned out his dread hold level by level only to die right before stopping him. The kobolds on the first level learned that Paralax had decided to destroy all life in the world so they picked up all the magic items the adventurers left. However, each time one kobold died, they were replaced by another.
The Lich appeared to gloat and so the kobold's hid. Snaryl went straight for the device using stealth and cunning to bypass, while 426 and AwHell1 hid among-st the Orcs. The Lich figured out that they had the adventuer's items, so 426 and Awhell used a series of very powerful spells to kill the lich and those that guarded him since the Lich had his defenses down.
But they still had to take out the device.
The first room they ran into was a simple puzzle with four pillars and four elements. The trick was just to walk past it. Snaryl snuck. The others slid down the stairs in a cube of force. However, many of the number clan were killed (well...two) by a Deck of Many Things cleverly placed on the other end of the room.
The next room had a powerful dragon that they talked to instead of fighting, and managed to free. The winged iron golems were a bit more of a challenge, until they opened the door on the opposite side which had a huge amount of water come in and kill everything, including them. Snaryl was ethereal at the time.
The new 426 and AwHell Clan member swam through the next room, vast and filled with water. Snaryl managed to snag them into the etherial plane. They went through the room but fought off several ghost pirates and used fireballs and a prismatic wall to keep them at bay. They found the portal to the other side.
Awhell's gem of seeing managed to help them navigate the Lich's final maze to the device. 526 used a wish to summon a carpet which he used to circle the machine and help destroy the pylons. They all escaped and blew up the device and saved the world.
The gods rewarded them. Awhell4 became Goddess of Chaotic Good kobolds (an abomination in Kobold society). 526 became God of Fertility and Multiplication. Skarl wasn't in the mood to become a God and so became a member of the assassin's guild.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Restoration of House Tephet - Session 3
After their defeat at the hands of the Solar Priest, the group was largely unsure what to do. But after some internal reflection, they decided to visit the Satrapies assigned to Barad Tephet, in an attempt to get them to pay their taxes and as a result restore Lintol’s standing in House Tephet. Barad’s servants also explained that his lands, rich in value but managed as a mountain camp might fare better under Jory’s management, were placed under his care. Jory immediately went to work contacting many of his contacts to ensure that things were improved in Barad’s lands.
Meanwhile, the brotherhood took about half of their available martial forces and went via spell rapidly toward the coastal port of Lask. They made arrangements with a captain for passage, however Jory had concocted Cholera from drinking bad wine and infected half of the sailors on the ship. Lintol flew back to the mainland to fetch a doctor, and the ship was able to continue on its way.
It took the group over a month and a half to get to the first province, and they made a grand entrance and demanded to the see the books. Long story short, the Satrap essentially said, “No. We’ve already got one.” According to them, someone officially representing the council came by to collect their taxes with the seal and supposedly representing the council. They would not describe who the individual was and deliberately set up air charms in an attempt to get Lintol to say the wrong thing as proof of an act against the Council. Lintol managed to avoid it but only just.
Once out of spying range, Jory recommended that they return to the House and confront the council. So long as Lintol had no official sanction they were wasting their time. Katel and Barad suggested staying instead, and finishing the tour. Lintol decided that staying was better for now.
The next province they visited was much poorer. A phantom representative of the council had not been there, and the group was far more low key in how they approached. The provincial satrap reported that he merely wanted 20 soldiers. After some discussion internally, Lintol agreed but only on the return trip after all the provinces were examined.
The third province they toured was a well-defended mining town. The phantom council representative had been there and collected taxes, but since this time the group had approached low key and made no demands, they were somewhat welcomed and shown the books. Jory was able to recruit an assistant to the over seer and it was learned that the council had also placed a spy inside of the compound as an Earth wall reinforce as a ‘gift’ to the province. Katel attempted to talk to him but was rebuffed by his ‘wife’ thus confirming that the earth reinforce was in fact a spy for the council.
The group moved on to the two remaining provinces including Blackstone, which were far larger and perhaps beyond the group’s ability to handle with the forces that they had to bear.
Meanwhile, the brotherhood took about half of their available martial forces and went via spell rapidly toward the coastal port of Lask. They made arrangements with a captain for passage, however Jory had concocted Cholera from drinking bad wine and infected half of the sailors on the ship. Lintol flew back to the mainland to fetch a doctor, and the ship was able to continue on its way.
It took the group over a month and a half to get to the first province, and they made a grand entrance and demanded to the see the books. Long story short, the Satrap essentially said, “No. We’ve already got one.” According to them, someone officially representing the council came by to collect their taxes with the seal and supposedly representing the council. They would not describe who the individual was and deliberately set up air charms in an attempt to get Lintol to say the wrong thing as proof of an act against the Council. Lintol managed to avoid it but only just.
Once out of spying range, Jory recommended that they return to the House and confront the council. So long as Lintol had no official sanction they were wasting their time. Katel and Barad suggested staying instead, and finishing the tour. Lintol decided that staying was better for now.
The next province they visited was much poorer. A phantom representative of the council had not been there, and the group was far more low key in how they approached. The provincial satrap reported that he merely wanted 20 soldiers. After some discussion internally, Lintol agreed but only on the return trip after all the provinces were examined.
The third province they toured was a well-defended mining town. The phantom council representative had been there and collected taxes, but since this time the group had approached low key and made no demands, they were somewhat welcomed and shown the books. Jory was able to recruit an assistant to the over seer and it was learned that the council had also placed a spy inside of the compound as an Earth wall reinforce as a ‘gift’ to the province. Katel attempted to talk to him but was rebuffed by his ‘wife’ thus confirming that the earth reinforce was in fact a spy for the council.
The group moved on to the two remaining provinces including Blackstone, which were far larger and perhaps beyond the group’s ability to handle with the forces that they had to bear.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Restoration of the House of Tephet - Session 2
Sean – Tepet Lintol – Master Sorcerer and ruler and rightful heir to Tepet.
Jeff – Tepet Barad – General and landed baron.
Mike – Tepet Katel – Warrior extraordinaire and brother to Lintol.
Tom: Cathak Jory – Sorcerer and spy master.
The group agrees to try and get the Priest that is disrupting the south of the Dragon Blooded lands. The idea is that this will increase Lintol’s prestige. Based on Jory’s intelligence they learn that this guy can make people fanatical followers with a single touch and they learn the name of the town where he is. The group decides to leave the army behind and travel by Lintol’s sorcery due to the distance involved.
Jory and Katel go into the town to try and scout it out. Right off the bat Jory is suspicious given the armor and weapons being made but the complete lack of visible soldiers. It’s a fairly small village but he wants to perform the most innocuous activity possible. They go to the store and he asks to buy bread. The shop keeper is asking unusual questions, and Jory is cautious but not sufficiently cautious since the store keeper asks why they want five days worth of bread but have no means of carrying it. He then switches to two days, but says that the nearest town is 5 days away and that traveling without leave will be vagrancy. They buy the bread and leave.
The two do not notice that they are followed by a group of 25 soldiers. As they approach the group, they immediately demand that the group pay a fine for vagrancy. The group asks some questions and the head of the 25 soldiers (gruff and authoritative) immediately then says that they need to move on or be arrested. Then he increases the fine. The group finally agrees to pay the fine (since it is a pittance) but in the process Jory is highly annoyed and asks the guard’s name. At this point, the guard (who had effectively asked for a bribe) immediately tries to arrest everyone. Since the group is not sure if the guard work for the local baron or not, after Katel struggles, the rest of the group gives up and Katel surrenders as well.
It turns out that the soldiers are working for the renegade priest who is also a powerful First Age soldier. He tries to compel the group but in the process, Jory breaks free using the powers of his bonded demon and moves to stop him, and then the whole group begins to break loose from the bonds holding them. Lintol and Katel work together to free Lintol’s hands. They are doing alright but in the process the Solar uses an incredibly powerful social charm that forces everyone to work with him, but only Lintol and Jory realize that they have been affected. So negotiations open. At this point the Solar initiates ANOTHER powerful social charm and convinces Katel and Jory that his is the right way of thinking. Lintol is the only member of the group not affected by the Solar’s effect.
The Solar offers to help the group with the understanding that in exchange Lintol come back and help his cause to unite the Empire under his rule and fight the things threatening creation. The group leaves, with the Priest’s offer to provide troops likely to be accepted and none of them knowing for certain who is affected by what. Upon return the group decides to keep the whole affair quiet lest they be accused of conspiring with a Solar. It is decided that the group will go to the Satrapy of Blackrock, which Jory’s intelligence has told them is ripe for revolt against their own rebellious Satrap.
Jeff – Tepet Barad – General and landed baron.
Mike – Tepet Katel – Warrior extraordinaire and brother to Lintol.
Tom: Cathak Jory – Sorcerer and spy master.
The group agrees to try and get the Priest that is disrupting the south of the Dragon Blooded lands. The idea is that this will increase Lintol’s prestige. Based on Jory’s intelligence they learn that this guy can make people fanatical followers with a single touch and they learn the name of the town where he is. The group decides to leave the army behind and travel by Lintol’s sorcery due to the distance involved.
Jory and Katel go into the town to try and scout it out. Right off the bat Jory is suspicious given the armor and weapons being made but the complete lack of visible soldiers. It’s a fairly small village but he wants to perform the most innocuous activity possible. They go to the store and he asks to buy bread. The shop keeper is asking unusual questions, and Jory is cautious but not sufficiently cautious since the store keeper asks why they want five days worth of bread but have no means of carrying it. He then switches to two days, but says that the nearest town is 5 days away and that traveling without leave will be vagrancy. They buy the bread and leave.
The two do not notice that they are followed by a group of 25 soldiers. As they approach the group, they immediately demand that the group pay a fine for vagrancy. The group asks some questions and the head of the 25 soldiers (gruff and authoritative) immediately then says that they need to move on or be arrested. Then he increases the fine. The group finally agrees to pay the fine (since it is a pittance) but in the process Jory is highly annoyed and asks the guard’s name. At this point, the guard (who had effectively asked for a bribe) immediately tries to arrest everyone. Since the group is not sure if the guard work for the local baron or not, after Katel struggles, the rest of the group gives up and Katel surrenders as well.
It turns out that the soldiers are working for the renegade priest who is also a powerful First Age soldier. He tries to compel the group but in the process, Jory breaks free using the powers of his bonded demon and moves to stop him, and then the whole group begins to break loose from the bonds holding them. Lintol and Katel work together to free Lintol’s hands. They are doing alright but in the process the Solar uses an incredibly powerful social charm that forces everyone to work with him, but only Lintol and Jory realize that they have been affected. So negotiations open. At this point the Solar initiates ANOTHER powerful social charm and convinces Katel and Jory that his is the right way of thinking. Lintol is the only member of the group not affected by the Solar’s effect.
The Solar offers to help the group with the understanding that in exchange Lintol come back and help his cause to unite the Empire under his rule and fight the things threatening creation. The group leaves, with the Priest’s offer to provide troops likely to be accepted and none of them knowing for certain who is affected by what. Upon return the group decides to keep the whole affair quiet lest they be accused of conspiring with a Solar. It is decided that the group will go to the Satrapy of Blackrock, which Jory’s intelligence has told them is ripe for revolt against their own rebellious Satrap.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Restoration of the House of Tepet - Russel's Exalted Game (Session 1)
Sean – Tepet Lintol – Master Sorcerer and ruler and rightful heir to Tepet.
Jeff – Tepet Barad – General and landed baron.
Mike – Tepet Katel – Warrior extraordinaire and brother to Lintol.
Tom: Cathak Jory – Sorcerer and spy master.
Lintol’s older brother, and heir to the house and best candidate for the Scarlet Throne had died under mysterious circumstances and was banished by the remaining Council Members. Jory, Katel, Barad and Lintol all met to discuss the status of the house in its fallen state, and the realm in general. In the process of doing this, a spy from another house was caught. Upon investigation, Jory discovered that all of the houses in House Tepet were riddled with spies because of the terrible finances of the house. Many options were considered, including attempting to gain extra soldiers from the Red Piss Legions, to finding lost artifacts, to building up new legions from scratch.
Lintol revealed a hidden manse where the group could discuss their plans in private. It was then determined that the best action for the group was to go after a Solar Priest who was instigating rebellion in the south part of the realm, thus enhancing Lintol’s reputation and helping to refute allegations by the council that he had slain his brother.
Lintol also cast a ritual which set the four of them up as a brotherhood dedicated to restoring Lintol, restoring Tepet and restoring the realm.
Jeff – Tepet Barad – General and landed baron.
Mike – Tepet Katel – Warrior extraordinaire and brother to Lintol.
Tom: Cathak Jory – Sorcerer and spy master.
Lintol’s older brother, and heir to the house and best candidate for the Scarlet Throne had died under mysterious circumstances and was banished by the remaining Council Members. Jory, Katel, Barad and Lintol all met to discuss the status of the house in its fallen state, and the realm in general. In the process of doing this, a spy from another house was caught. Upon investigation, Jory discovered that all of the houses in House Tepet were riddled with spies because of the terrible finances of the house. Many options were considered, including attempting to gain extra soldiers from the Red Piss Legions, to finding lost artifacts, to building up new legions from scratch.
Lintol revealed a hidden manse where the group could discuss their plans in private. It was then determined that the best action for the group was to go after a Solar Priest who was instigating rebellion in the south part of the realm, thus enhancing Lintol’s reputation and helping to refute allegations by the council that he had slain his brother.
Lintol also cast a ritual which set the four of them up as a brotherhood dedicated to restoring Lintol, restoring Tepet and restoring the realm.
Cathak Jory
(Slightly redone in chargen with the group)
Cathak Jory – Water Aspect Dragon Blooded Exalted
Str: 2 Dex: 3 Sta: 2
Cha: 3 Man: 4 App: 2
Per: 2 Int: 5 Wit: 3
Linguistics: 1 (Old Realm)
Abilities:
Lore: 3
Occult: 4
Stealth: 3
Bureaucracy: 4
Investigation: 4
Larceny: 4
Dodge: 3
Melee: 3
Presence: 2
Socialize: 3
Martial Arts: 1
Sail: 1
War: 1
Archery: 1
Performance: 1
Backgrounds:
Artifact: 4
Breeding: 3
Resources: 3
Contacts: Intelligence: 4
Contacts: Finance: 2
Contacts: Magistracy: 2
Contacts: Thousand Scales: 1
Contacts: Guild: 1
Merits and Flaws
Enemy – Cathak
Silver Tonged
Cache
Heirloom – Book of Lineage for House Cathak
Obligation – 2 (All children must be to House Tepet)
Charms:
Terrestrial Circle Sorcery
Emerald Countermagic
Demon of the First Circle
Infallible Messenger
Observer Awareness Technique
Finding the Water’s Depth
Thoughtful Gift Technique
Weapons: Jade Reinforced Breastplate
Daiklave
Yassal Crystal (Large)
Collar’s Dawn of Charging Light
Willpower: 7
B: 14
L: +12
Compassion: 3
Temperance: 1
Conviction: 4
Valor: 2
Essence: 3
Personal: 13
Peripheral: 29
Committed: 10
Jory was the third son in the line. For four generations, each controlling lord had had four children. Their blood line was always powerful but not in the top tier of house Cathak. They created a formula that worked fairly well. The first was to rule, the second became the master of secrets, the third worked for the Empire and the fourth learned the sciences. But Jory did not satisfy his father's expectations for military stratagem so he decided that sending him to work in the Imperial bureaucracy would work better. The diviners said he was likely to exalt in Water, despite the family's propensity for Air, from his mother's bloodline, but since he never exalted, his father quietly made arrangements for him to become a monk upon graduation instead since he proved moderately adept at martial arts.
He exalted the day his brother (the second) died, he exalted as water, not air. Jory's father took this as a sign from Heaven, and had Jory enrolled in the Heptagram, academy for sorcerer's only four months before he was supposed to graduate. But he proved an excellent student at sorcery, and was able to use these skills plus the contact network his brother had established to be an excellent master of secrets. As a sorcerer he was tolerated. His father had more tolerance for him than others in the house primarily because he was still able to perform many useful roles for the house.
Seven years ago, his older brother and father died in the day of great tragedy. Jory would become the ruling lord instead. Jory didn't want the job, but he had no choice. In some ways, he has done well, but feels less than up to the task.
Upon taking this mantle, he discovered the true source of the line’s power. They had been cheated out of their rightful portion of Cathak’s inheritance by the ruling council. In retaliation, Jory’s great grandfather Aliet Cathak had replaced the Book of Lineage, the artifact that listed the rightful portioning of all inheritances within Cathak delineating what belonged to whom and to what with an exceptionally clever forgery. For 20 years the Expediency Council ruled using the false document, when Aliet made known his deception. The power of the council would be shattered if the revelations were made known. As a result, Aliet and his line were restored the lands and power that were taken from them with the understanding that the Book of Lineage (still properly maintained and updated by Aliet) was never made public for fear of the damage to the delicate balance of power amongst the factions in the Expediency Council.
For sixty years a cold war began with the Council trying to retrieve the Book, and Aliet keeping it from them. Aliet’s spy network grew to exceptional proportions, and while Aliet and his descendants resented the council, they also desired the best for the house, thus using their network to aid Cathak gain as much Imperial aid as possible.
Upon learning that this crime had been going on, Jory was ashamed, since he felt that the line’s lands had been rightfully restored and that Aliet should have returned the book a long time ago, and that his ancestors should have done the same. And in the process of taking the book back to the Expediency Council he learned that the Council had entered its master stroke, killing his final living brother, seizing the family’s lands and thinking that they had taken the book from its rightful holding place. He further learned that his brother s and father had been killed for the same reason.
Jory fled Cathak lands where he was banished on the public pretense of ‘dishonoring the council’ and other nonsensical vagaries, whilst Jory took with him the Book, his inheritance and the family’s spy network. He also cleverly used his exceptional skills at Bureaucracy to lock up all the family’s lands in binding contracts for five hundred years such that those who stole them might be able to rule, but would never profit from them. He also managed a heavy degree of imperial interference and mandates thus ensuring the people he left behind were at least somewhat protected by the wrath of the rulers as well.
Unshielded and without a house, he made arrangements with House Tepet while they were still powerful, offering his resources and skills as a companion to the promising young Lintol Tepet whom he befriended and taught some sorcery that he had learned at the Heptagram. When the house fell, Jory became determined to help the house rise again to prominence by whatever means necessary.
Cathak Jory – Water Aspect Dragon Blooded Exalted
Str: 2 Dex: 3 Sta: 2
Cha: 3 Man: 4 App: 2
Per: 2 Int: 5 Wit: 3
Linguistics: 1 (Old Realm)
Abilities:
Lore: 3
Occult: 4
Stealth: 3
Bureaucracy: 4
Investigation: 4
Larceny: 4
Dodge: 3
Melee: 3
Presence: 2
Socialize: 3
Martial Arts: 1
Sail: 1
War: 1
Archery: 1
Performance: 1
Backgrounds:
Artifact: 4
Breeding: 3
Resources: 3
Contacts: Intelligence: 4
Contacts: Finance: 2
Contacts: Magistracy: 2
Contacts: Thousand Scales: 1
Contacts: Guild: 1
Merits and Flaws
Enemy – Cathak
Silver Tonged
Cache
Heirloom – Book of Lineage for House Cathak
Obligation – 2 (All children must be to House Tepet)
Charms:
Terrestrial Circle Sorcery
Emerald Countermagic
Demon of the First Circle
Infallible Messenger
Observer Awareness Technique
Finding the Water’s Depth
Thoughtful Gift Technique
Weapons: Jade Reinforced Breastplate
Daiklave
Yassal Crystal (Large)
Collar’s Dawn of Charging Light
Willpower: 7
B: 14
L: +12
Compassion: 3
Temperance: 1
Conviction: 4
Valor: 2
Essence: 3
Personal: 13
Peripheral: 29
Committed: 10
Jory was the third son in the line. For four generations, each controlling lord had had four children. Their blood line was always powerful but not in the top tier of house Cathak. They created a formula that worked fairly well. The first was to rule, the second became the master of secrets, the third worked for the Empire and the fourth learned the sciences. But Jory did not satisfy his father's expectations for military stratagem so he decided that sending him to work in the Imperial bureaucracy would work better. The diviners said he was likely to exalt in Water, despite the family's propensity for Air, from his mother's bloodline, but since he never exalted, his father quietly made arrangements for him to become a monk upon graduation instead since he proved moderately adept at martial arts.
He exalted the day his brother (the second) died, he exalted as water, not air. Jory's father took this as a sign from Heaven, and had Jory enrolled in the Heptagram, academy for sorcerer's only four months before he was supposed to graduate. But he proved an excellent student at sorcery, and was able to use these skills plus the contact network his brother had established to be an excellent master of secrets. As a sorcerer he was tolerated. His father had more tolerance for him than others in the house primarily because he was still able to perform many useful roles for the house.
Seven years ago, his older brother and father died in the day of great tragedy. Jory would become the ruling lord instead. Jory didn't want the job, but he had no choice. In some ways, he has done well, but feels less than up to the task.
Upon taking this mantle, he discovered the true source of the line’s power. They had been cheated out of their rightful portion of Cathak’s inheritance by the ruling council. In retaliation, Jory’s great grandfather Aliet Cathak had replaced the Book of Lineage, the artifact that listed the rightful portioning of all inheritances within Cathak delineating what belonged to whom and to what with an exceptionally clever forgery. For 20 years the Expediency Council ruled using the false document, when Aliet made known his deception. The power of the council would be shattered if the revelations were made known. As a result, Aliet and his line were restored the lands and power that were taken from them with the understanding that the Book of Lineage (still properly maintained and updated by Aliet) was never made public for fear of the damage to the delicate balance of power amongst the factions in the Expediency Council.
For sixty years a cold war began with the Council trying to retrieve the Book, and Aliet keeping it from them. Aliet’s spy network grew to exceptional proportions, and while Aliet and his descendants resented the council, they also desired the best for the house, thus using their network to aid Cathak gain as much Imperial aid as possible.
Upon learning that this crime had been going on, Jory was ashamed, since he felt that the line’s lands had been rightfully restored and that Aliet should have returned the book a long time ago, and that his ancestors should have done the same. And in the process of taking the book back to the Expediency Council he learned that the Council had entered its master stroke, killing his final living brother, seizing the family’s lands and thinking that they had taken the book from its rightful holding place. He further learned that his brother s and father had been killed for the same reason.
Jory fled Cathak lands where he was banished on the public pretense of ‘dishonoring the council’ and other nonsensical vagaries, whilst Jory took with him the Book, his inheritance and the family’s spy network. He also cleverly used his exceptional skills at Bureaucracy to lock up all the family’s lands in binding contracts for five hundred years such that those who stole them might be able to rule, but would never profit from them. He also managed a heavy degree of imperial interference and mandates thus ensuring the people he left behind were at least somewhat protected by the wrath of the rulers as well.
Unshielded and without a house, he made arrangements with House Tepet while they were still powerful, offering his resources and skills as a companion to the promising young Lintol Tepet whom he befriended and taught some sorcery that he had learned at the Heptagram. When the house fell, Jory became determined to help the house rise again to prominence by whatever means necessary.
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