Worlds Within Worlds

Pyramid In-between

“Fly, hurry, north damn you, north, no the OTHER north! The charm’ll wear off before I find him at this rate, you ninny. The Maidens clearly didn’t count upon transport as slow as…Is that them? Did you know they fly as a group? Oh, don’t you smirk at me you little swine. Fly low and wait. Don’t be such a child. It’s that one. That one, Trema, to the port side. The best one obviously. It’s glowing slightly, but I suppose you can’t see that…no. Ok get closer…alright if I fall you are to swoop and catch me. I have already sent papers to my out-tray telling three censors how I fear you plan to lure me to the south to kill me and hide my body in the Wyld so you had better catch me. Ok. Here goes.”

“You’re laughing, Comet! Well, I warn you, just don’t fly with Tremire La Jossen unless you have to. She has a neat little flying ship, yes, it even calls clouds to it so the mortals don’t get excited, but it is expensive and she is such a pain that you’d almost do better walking. Anyway, to answer your question, that was how I caught Jaymi. Now sing me that again, but this time I want you to evoke rage in the listener – me – even contrary to the content of the song, about the way you have been plucked from your family so young.”

**************************************************************************************

“I’m not sure you were really performing that. You need to convince your audience but not lose yourself. Perhaps that was a raw topic I set you, but up here people will try to make you look foolish if they know what hurts you.”

“My family? No I don’t miss them. I have not visited them since my exaltation. It seems harsh, but they wont remember you unless they can manipulate essence and the work you would have to put in to get them to even recognise your face would be distracting and heart-breaking. Craft them some sort of blessing from time to time and honour them by making their world a better place.”

“No, I really am as bad as they say. I just understand affection even if I don’t hold much truck with it myself.”

“It is difficult to say how long it will take before you settle in here. I felt like I should always have been here, which is not uncommon. I was relieved.”

“Yes, it was strange, but it was still a relief to find out there was some evidence for what I had known all along. Your exaltation was more traumatic than some, perhaps; you were supposed to be in Great Forks by then, but the hurricane…well we couldn’t have foreseen there would be a Wyld pocket there.”

“Oh, I exalted causing a riot in the Verangian states.”

“We were trying to change the role structure. My family and I were actors so we had a little more fluidity than most, and I managed to help orchestrate a riot against the role castes.”

“I do like order, but I believed that their order was inefficient. I did try to stop the riot, and then the glowing started and the gasping. My father rode to the nearest Immaculate temple, presumably because he decided I wasn’t his daughter anymore, and, unsurprisingly, I was gone before anyone arrived. I should have been collected at least a month earlier, but the Verangian states are not the only place that can be inefficient. Oh, it was not my parents’ fault, one cannot expect too much from mortals.”

**************************************************************************************

“I think the loss caused by the factional divide, far outweighs the merits of their arguments and it makes elements from both sides very pushy when one is a young sidereal, but no, they wont descend to torture. Threats to your family – who by the way you should stop letting people know are a weakness of yours – are not a bronze or gold faction procedure. Things like that happen a couple of times, when someone gets silly, and rumours get around, but that just would not be acceptable. Afterall, the factions are not official and you do not get paid, they are a philosophy and so they need their followers to believe. If some idiot takes something too far, then handle it or speak to one of us responsible for introducing you and we’ll slap them to next Calibration.”

“Yet again, I’m not nice and I’m certainly not nicer than Aurore, my duty here is to instruct you and I believe that is best done by not offending you and making sure you are in one piece to serve Yushan.”

“Comet, no-one should harm your family.”

“Mine? Rumours, again. The individuals who were a threat to my family were acting from a deep and frankly ridiculous personal grudge. A god and a sidereal planned it together. The sidereal was bronze faction, but that was unconnected to his motive. They planned to have me kill my parents during a thunderstorm to help restore the order that had never totally returned after the rioting. I arrived at the meeting I had been called to – I was exalted for a number of years by then – and there were various gods, scribes and a couple of sidereals. Most of the room looked on edge, some were annoyed, some fascinated, some uncomfortable. They gave me those orders. I was to use an essence device – it was suggested – at the base of their neck, to kill them as though they had been struck by lightning.”

“As you wish. I only wonder whether that will have the effect you desire. Is it really efficient? Oh, no, I am not trying to avoid my duty, quite the opposite. I just wonder whether this is enough. Surely something so instant would leave a very ambiguous message. Indeed such a death could be an accident during the normal course of life. Instead I would recommend a poison. There is a flower from the far north, only recently discovered and known to few, that acts as an untraceable poison. It acts slowly, killing over five days. On the first the victim is suddenly blinded, on the second their eyes melt away, on the third they begin to gasp flames, on the fourth their skin begins to bake on their very body and on the fifth they get terribly cold until they are frozen – all the time in searing pain – until finally they melt away absolutely. Such a death would unmistakably be a sign of divine displeasure. Indeed if we wait two months the woman will have given birth. Nothing sticks in the memory of the common man more than the screaming agony of a baking baby. Myself? I know nothing about mixing potions and I have far more important calls on my time than preparing poisons for a couple of mortals. If their deaths are important then I shall complete this mission when you decide on a date, but I would beg of you not to let the pettiness of a few displace the urgency our divine duties call for. And you two, if you really want to upset me, cancel my supply of hand lotion or something, do not bother me with my past.”

“In the end a more senior bronze faction member overruled their stupid plotting.”

“Not showing my family to be a weakness you mean? Comet, it is best if they actually are not a weakness. What would you have done?”

**************************************************************************************

“Jester, until Lara returns you’re my secretary…it just means you work longer hours so don’t get too excited. I need you to fill in these requisition forms. I want two heat resistant stones from the Convention on Natural Disasters. I’ve got to make sure some kid survives something or other next week and I don’t want a repeat of last time, when I was forced to give the blighter the stone and out-run a volcano. Also, I want to do a bit of work with the lava elementals in the region while I’m there – to make sure they can handle the rather complicated effects we have planned – so make sure the stones do a hell of a lot more than protect against sunburn. It would be best if they allow one to breathe lava. If anyone else is sitting on them, make sure a call is put out for their immediate return.”

Pyramid looks at her temporary secretary for a moment, “and when I say heat resistant stones, I mean ones that make people resistant to heat, not just ones resistant in their own right. I also want you to requisition a lightning bolt saddle for me. They’re pale blue Jade with a tiny bit of star metal. The Bureau of Seasons have a few, but make sure you get one of the ones that only require the rider’s attunement. If you can’t find it by that then it’s somewhere round row C(xxi)3 and triples a flying creature’s speed – or at least I hope it does.”

Jester starts to make notes and Pyramid rolls her eyes, Lara never needed to make notes, “finally, make my appointment with the Collegiate Coterie of the Resplendent Edifice as soon as possible. Also – and you’ll be good at this bit – find out what you can about the members of the Cappa team. I have something I’m hoping to gain their advice on and I’m looking for ways to hold their attention.”

**************************************************************************************

“Any more of this nonsense, Kal, and I’m going to put my prayer strip on. My safety feels threatened. Can you believe that little…goblin…as if we were going to go blindfolded! Do try to scare the beggars away you two – I don’t hire guards to be charitable. Right, is this it? Nice digs for all the way out here.”

Pyramid looks around at the rusty bandstand, the park full of grubby squatters sitting in – what she cannot help but feel are – resentful groups and a pool – once a glorious, if kitsch, fountain – bubbling ominously; inside a floating, wrinkled nymph glares vacantly up at the sky. Luna doing well again. Then on the other side a decorative gate, gold plating barely cracked, twists and curls into the sky, marking the boundary of Ehvon Barks-dale’s property. A, if not well-kept, then at least kept, garden, a winding jade-studded path and an elegant ivory house mark out his home. Or should I say headquarters.

Wherever Pyramid has turned in her dealings with the slums the name of Ehvon Barks-dale has surfaced. The presence of crime in the slums was predictable, but until now it had seemed unlikely to Pyramid that there would be full-out gangs: surely someone would have noticed and stopped them. Celestial gods do ‘criminal network’ in a distinctive way: very set roles for one thing and very clear descriptions of their positions that they viciously protect. Some of them were obviously lazy and greedy, but for others it just seems to be a chance to have a domain again: heart-breaking really. Or it would be heart-breaking if Pyramid cared.

As Pyramid’s small delegation and Yasha the Forger, their untidy guide, approach the dwelling, the path twists round and the full shape of the house is made out. The party pause a moment to take in the twisted ivory rib-cage, which forms the outline, and then continue to the dark mahogany door. A very tidy footman opens it (and as a Maxime Pedes he is mainly foot) and Pyramid wrinkles her nose, wondering what the celestial bureaucrats would think of someone, however well-turned out, who was hired illegally by a slum-boss.

They traverse a fancy hallway and Pyramid pauses at the far end to stare open mouthed at a delicate silk sheet of calligraphy hung on the wall. “This is Ethereal Icebrush’s work! This…but how is it here, in this place!”

The footman paused, his furry lips bristling, “Master Barks-dale purchased it at Portesbies some time ago”.

“I suppose enough jade could buy something like this.”

“Or ambrosia, maam. This way.”

Refusing to dwell on the methods an unemployed god would use to get hold of ambrosia Pyramid continues to sit in a small room. Delicate food is laid out on a table. Pyramid shudders as a cold thought finally pushes aside her resentment and snobbery and forces her to consider the possibility that she might have to actually reason with this individual, not just threaten them. Finally Ehvon Barks-dale enters the room. Despite his name he is not an elemental, but was once the god of a small valley. An exalt in the valley made the town a legendary site of diplomacy and its god got popped into heaven. Or at least that’s what the records state. He is a tall, dark man, with mossy black hair, a roguish scar over one eyebrow and a carefully fitting gold and white robe. Pyramid narrows her eyes slightly at the robe wondering if wearing white in the slums is another status symbol.

“A pleasure to meet you Vizier. I of course am Ehvon Barks-dale and it is an honour to have you visit my humble abode.”

Pyramid looks at the grand tapestries in silence and nods at her host, “I am Spinning Pyramid. You perhaps know why I am here.”

The god's eyes open in wide-eyed innocence, “I am afraid I cannot place the source of such fortune, but I would be glad to assist in any way humbly possible.”

Unfooled, aware of the sharp gleam lurking behind his innocence, Pyramid responds, “Nonsense. We can play your game if you prefer, but you are a businessman, yes? Then let us speak clear.”

“I am but a poor victim of a shrunken world and a despairing civilization.”

“Your jurisdiction was lost to the Wyld? Then who pays for all this?”

“I am blessed, oh doubly blessed, no thrice blessed, with the kindest of friends. I do my best to look after those who are not in such a lucky position”, he nodded towards the footman waiting in the doorway, “but my power is necessarily limited.”

“Oh, so all your activities are in every way legal?”

“Unconquered Son and Jupiter strike me if I lie.”

There is a sharp intake of breath from Kal and one of the guards. Pyramid tilts her head slightly and decides he is probably reckless with a lot to prove rather than simply insane. “Let us hope they will not take you up on the offer while I sit here”, she sighs. Very well, she thinks, we’ll do this his way.

“You are obviously a very caring divinity. Perhaps it is this care for those gods out of employment that drives you to recommend that they do not take up my offer of employ. It is unconventional and you may worry that it takes advantage of them?”

“One can never be too careful.”

“And of course it is out of deep respect of your wisdom that they then do not answer my call.”

“I am a community-spirited gentleman.”

“Of course. Well I have some figures here to assure you that the training and work they receive is genuine and profitable. Our trial period is drawing to a close and we have received backing to extend further, for which I will obviously need community support. Bearing in mind your status, I wonder whether it might not be useful to offer you five percent of the first job’s salary of every individual you personally send to me, now that you know the work is genuine. That way you can feed some of that income back into the community you care so much for. I’m especially looking for those with special skills or relevant elementals – see the list here.”

“Well I’m not sure I can just agree to anything; I am not their superior in anyway after all.”

Thus, bargaining commenced. Unfortunately for Mr Barks-dale only one of those present had the fourth bureaucracy excellency and so the arrangement ended up with both parties secretly delighted, but with the god receiving a lump sum on the recommendation of any individuals (double for those on the list) equal to about 4% of their first month’s pay; he had also agreed to establish a soup kitchen type affair offering initiative and self-training advice.

Pyramid considers her next move, ‘now to have a few of the lesser gangsters arrested, maybe even Ehvon’s competitors if I can find out who they are – huzzah spies in the slums – and to spend a bit of time feeling things out.”

**************************************************************************************

“Well ladies, gentlemen and honourable indiscernables, that all looks fabulous. The towers need to be able to support the ‘spiders’ throughout their dance, but the Weavers will help with that too. The City is obviously the most important facet, but the hidden presence of the unemployed gods is important – remember the secrecy clause applies to that especially. Not that experts such as you need reminding of anything like that. Well that’s just about everything, and I must say, the edifice will be resplendent. You’ve heard that a million times haven’t you? Do forgive me, there’s been an incident with a shadow land in the last few hours and it has left me somewhat distracted. I’ll leave you to look over my hopeless sketches then and return when you have experimented with the models. Thank you very much for your time. It is really exciting to get to work with experts like yourselves.”

“Aurulent Encomium, could I have a word. I believe the meeting room here is empty”, Pyramid kicks the borrowed secrecy node a bit further under the rug and hopes it activated on ‘empty’ as it was designed to.

“You heard what I said about the shadow land? They have become increasingly numerous and pervasive in the West recently.”

“My home is already lost to me, what do I care of the West.”

“I hope to stabilize the remaining untainted land to prevent any further spread, but I know very little about the way dragon lines work. I can feel for their patterns in the loom, but that is a vague and pretty unhelpful route. Indeed if an area were to be stabilized it would need new settlements established along strong dragon lines and, although I have a number of elementals at my disposal, I do not know of anyone who could design the…”

“While your speech is interesting I already have a job here at the Bureau and certainly do not have the time for frivolous landscaping. The First Age is passed, such things do not occur now.”

“I cannot go to just any craftsperson, you must see that. You above all know that shadow lands are not as they have been. There are active, plotting, violent Deathlords involved now: shadow lands are not mere abhorrences of nature as previously was believed. I cannot mention classified information to normal craft gods. Only the Collegiate’s members can be trusted enough and you are by far the best qualified.”

“He personally…destroyed her. You know the Convention call on me, you need not torture me with the memory also.”

“Please, of course I do not seek to torture you. I would not be doing my duty if I did not ask. There is more too: these new countries, they will need gods. Perhaps your loss has been too great, but if you miss receiving direct worship and prayer at all then I can arrange for you to hold an additional position there.”

“I could not bear it. Not when these civilizations would be on the edge of danger, not again.”

“But this time you could build them to make them safer, stronger. Look, I have a map here for you. The three blotchy patches are shadow lands. There are also two Wyld patches along this straight here. Four years ago a volcano formed new islands along here, but the Wyld and shadow lands have meant the area is currently down as uninhabitable. However, there are no further natural disasters of any major sort scheduled for the next eight years, so as not to inflame the chaos of the place. As I understand it, and I may be wrong, the Wyld means the essence is channeled round to these three islands here, making one of these a possible point for a good-sized demesne perhaps. The shadow lands on the other hand seem to absorb the geomancy of the area so something would need to be done about that. Of course you would be a better judge than I. It is a lovely area but for its problems. Warm and temperate: a civilization would flourish.”

“What about pirates? I am not a fool.”

“What? No, of course not. I have other plans for the pirates, which I cannot discuss in detail yet. These civilizations will be sturdy and constant, but they will avoid traveling pirates like the Lintha if they have little to trade, but are well-defended…”

“I will consider your offer of worship from your communities, but if I decide against it I will expect payment for my work: the Bureau does not pay me for this. You can pay me like one of your little workers: 40% of all the worship your group would receive from the islands in the first five years of habitation, 20% for the next three decades.”

“Then you will do it?”

“I will make some designs. We will need to meet further before we can be sure of its success.”

“I will be away for about three weeks from now, but I will send my secretary straight over to see you upon my return. It is a very great thing you have agreed to today. Not many gods in Yushan are as honourable as you.”

**************************************************************************************

Five headachy, horrendous days sweeping the loom and the horrific creature has been found. If he isn’t the Unconquered Sun himself, Pyramid is fully prepared to greater sign of the Maidens his ass on the spot. Now to get there before the wicked object can move on. Resplendent Destinies prepared, saddle obtained, familiar fed. Clothes: well who needs more clothes than they can wrap up in a sheet anyway? Ini Chativ briefed. Jester briefed. Lara missed. Everything else on hold. Lord knows why anyone would want to travel so far North.

**************************************************************************************

After watching him for two weeks in various different guises, Pyramid can still glean little from the private Haidar Obayana. He has a wife, she seems mortal and they seem to maintain pretty clear gender roles, but she does travel with him so he probably likes her. No children with them. He is said to be invulnerable and the people of this town regard him as a sacred high priest. There is also a small pile of stones in the town square. It is said – and who doesn’t talk to a bright eyed young woman or a jovial traveling minstrel – that once it was a large pile of stones – one for every man in the town – and they named it Mighty Haidar and the town prepared to fight its neighbours under his leadership. Yet, they fought and gained little but the death of a whole generation and so Haidar, with his own hands, removed a rock for every fallen fighter and declared the Little Haidar was to stand for eternity to remind all men of the senselessness of war.

Pyramid supposes – and indeed knows after following the blighter in the blasted loom – that he has not visited this town for some time. She is also prepared to bet that he has been contacted by sidereals in the past – what with his name all lying around in Yushan and all. His constant traveling could be for nothing more than to avoid being followed. In which case he is going to be very pleased to see her. She goes to the town inn and prods awake some of her new friends; together they all head to the Summer Lake, a pond of the Obayana estate that local families are allowed to visit. Throwing out resplendency powers like toffees 'Tombo the bard' and his frivolous friends circumnavigate the park and have a little paddle. Haidar's modest house faces onto the park. No time like the present.

**************************************************************************************

"You have three seconds to explain your presence here."

Pyramid/Tombo assumes Haidar is confident enough in his ability to despatch intruders that he does not need to threaten with a blade. "Oh, my sweet lords, I did not bring any presents."

"What?"

"Indeed, a name I have been known by on occasion."

"Well, then, I suppose those are your three seconds."

"Ours surely, or can one person claim time? If it is mine alone then surely only I can know when it has passed. My three seconds may be dissimilar in duration to thine own. After careful consideration I say my three seconds have not passed."

"Are you insane?"

"Not a bit of it. I am a poet."

"You invade my rooms in that capacity?"

"Perhaps. If a poet lives and dies by his tongue then so do I."

"Pardon me, but was that a yes or a no".

"You poor man, you are unwell?"

"What? No."

"But the lockjaw is surely upon you. As my name is Tombo, your teeth are so tightly clenched you must be in your last days."

"If you are trying to make me laugh it is not going to work. If you are seeking money, I will give you none. I do not welcome uninvited guests."

"So I have followed you all this time in vain? Verily, the stars weep at your harsh words to a guest. The Sun himself sniffles into his most divine beard."

Pyramid tries not to look at his hands, when she mentions following him, as a small twitch suggests he has released a hidden blade to drop into his palm. He may have noticed her glance. She tries to cover it up by fluffing her cravat. "What are you. I am not jesting."

"I am the dust blown in the wind; I am light in a cloud; I am the leaf, falling in the autumn."

"You are mortal?" Tombo's silence is gratefully received as acceptance, "then why are you here."

"Mortal may the servant be, but the wind's words, the forest's heart, the mountain's eyes speak yet. The woven writing which wide-eyed worshippers and willful warmongers want, while wild wanton warlocks, weeping, wish its wane, walks with me."

And suddenly Haidar is behind Pyramid - did she see him move? - and a knife pressed to her throat. "You are from heaven? Speak carefully."

"As the serf to his lord, the spider and the fly, the roots and the leaves, the Blooded and their Dragons, all is in its rightful place."

"Which would be?"

Pyramid resorts to quoting a Northern song. Her grasp of Skytongue is a bit dodgy, but she began by learning its songs. "The angels weep from eternal heights, Eileitheia waits for birth, the kings believes he rules on high and the the poor man tills the..."

"Alright. Your master, though, he is from Yushan?"

"You are familiar with the denizens of that immortal realm? Then why wrinkle your brow as though we gossip of some lower place?"

He is silent for a moment. The knife still touching the base of Pyramid's throat. "I...I am sorry, master Tombo, but I told my last visitor that I would kill the next to bother me."

"Your melodious tones lack enthusiasm."

"I do not enjoy death."

"Then I pray you will never let it master you. As for your honoured servant Tombo, you will surely hear my message before ridding me of my brains?"

"Very well."

"Firstly, or was it foremost? Tarry not say I and proceed. My Lord is unlike those who have mayhap troubled you in days gone. My Lord bids me request from thee, whether thou hast ere spake to one professed to be 'Gold Factional'?

"If those in heaven cannot keep track of each other, then I am not going to assist them, but I met an individual who told me that certain others in heaven did not like...certain groups in creation."

"The nomenclature you tip tap around like a wolf does the huntsman's snare is surely bronze faction, solar and gold faction - those idiosyncratic supporters of the Sun's chosen."

"Alright..."

"My daring master deeply despises any cause which fractures and fragments the power of our mighty world to stand against hostile forces. I then am bid to give you this, if you can answer a simple riddle."

"What?"

"A jest. Could you not divine it from my expression? A task I suppose made difficult for one who stands behind their target."

Haidar moves the knife from Tombo's throat and steps round to the front. It is impossible to see the blade again: a sneaky dawn-caste, interesting.

"Allow me to present you with this humble epistle embodying the glorious tones of my master."

**************************************************************************************

"Tucked snugly within the confines of my jerkin is the key to your multitudinous questions. Here - may I unroll this on your bed - is a work of cartography embodying the very essence of the world snake's floating scales, which we debate in the North West so extensively."

"These three?"

"Chango, Tsomba and Haidarska too true."

"Haidarska?"

"Haidarska."

"I will have to think on this, speak with my wife. Even if your master can persuade a race of pirates and adventurers to settle here, they may not be the population we would desire. I have no wish to collude with the forces that threaten this place, which dismissal of such an offer would amount to - and at this time I could perhaps undertake a project like this if I have full autonomy -"

"Keeping the requirements for stability and life at the forefront of your magnificent mind..."

"Indeed -"

"And the requirement you study the honourable techniques of perambulation over the great oceans -"

"I said I...yes alright, I understand that it would be useful to improve my sailing for a project involving pirates." He pauses a moment, but when Tombo does not interrupt again continues, "but I fear this could delay other plans or not be quite right at this time. I shall consider it. I do not trust your anonymous master. That does not help. Nor to I believe that you are mortal: mortals generally cringe when one puts a blade to their neck."

"My fellow lambs are not pets, kept from the slaughter by greater hands."

"Perhaps."

"These pearls of wisdom are quite worthy of a Storm Mother, or the mighty clam, which Prince Karatch stole for his bride. My master would like nothing more than the honour of your trust, yet also cannot give what is not held: only time, acquaintance and the oaths of the sunless day can evoke such trusts..."

"An Eclipse oath? Your master would swear to one of these?"

"You have a whole bevy of exalts, a garden of glowing sunflowers, that you have hesitated to mention?"

Sensibly Haidar does not reply. "As surely as my name is Tombo, my master would hold such an oath in the highest regard. A final topic - fit for ballads and songs - was omitted from the correspondence - from fear of giving offence according to my left hand, but, according to my right, since this cannot actually form part of the agreement. My master, before this mortal generation bends and grows a third leg, intends to gain the power to free the essence from a cloud, but hold the light within, aloft alive, divine. In short, my master will know a way to forge a mortal soul into godhood. A dragon of the elements - weaker than others of their kind - but glorious, immortal and free to gain strength can be created. For their gain my master must lose, must give up some part of themself: thus this is too intimate an involvement for a mere favour. A time-tested brother in arms, an ally, could ask what they would..."

"Your master can turn mortals into gods? Or...will be able to? Permanently?"

"Affirmations cannot stand as certain as a divinities existence. The process does not lack pain - so I was told - but is speedier than Hemlock and far more rewarding. A spouse, a sibling, a child, one of these could join you in your long-life."

**************************************************************************************

"Oh thank the Maidens and all their little kittens! I could kiss you...if you had an obvious mouth. Lara get your report on Argent Quill written up and look over the horrific notes of my time without you. Sign these astrology sheets by the way and have them ferried to Ennico Sorrel - remind him he promised me some help with his friends in Terrestrial relocation: there'll bhe some new jobs created soon in the South West and I have some specific candidates that need rewarding. If he looks less keen now then remind him that these new jobs lessen the overcrowding problem, prevent the spread of the Wyld and keep us all alive. If that doesn't work - which it wont - remind him I owe him a favour.

I'm popping down to Creation again, but when I get back I need meetings with Righteous Tsunami and Nazri - NOT together. Let Righteous Tsunami's office know it's necessary; I only need ten minutes with each of them. Pull out for me, without drawing attention to yourself, what Righteous Tsunami's working on at the moment will you? Like pet projects. I need to talk to them about Pyramid Marketing so drop the latest figures with them when you get there. Oh I am pleased you're back. Have you met Jaymi by the way? He's pawing the Holy Geraniums out the front."

**************************************************************************************

Some Charms

As people begin to arrive on the islands Pyramid will use Faultless Ceremony while officiating over a citizenship blessing to give them +1 on all rolls for the next week relating to establishing their community: she'll visit about once a month for the first three months.

Moreover through Song of Spirit Persuasion the local gods find themselves very welcoming to this change (afterall it will bring worship) and two Storm Mothers - sisters as it happens - agree to move in to make the coast-line around the central island Haidarska treacherous - except for one narrow pass the islanders will be taught to use.

Fortuitous Fellowship

Performed three times in three major ports towns in the West: goal for mortals to travel to Haidarska to seek new adventure (or finally settle down as suggested in the pirate port): 2nd excellancy means get 4 successes on each roll.

Results Town 1) 4 (8 with excellancy); Town 2) 2 - pirate town obviously difficult so try again at +1 difficulty) and get 7 (11 with excellancy); Town 3) 4 (8 with excellancy)

Towns 1 and 3: Magnitude 3, loyalty 4

Town 2: Magnitue 3, loyalty 4

Ice and Fire Bindings

A wood elemental is bound to each island to assist with the fertility of them, prayer strip is worn so succeeds (done on separate trips to avoid too high an essence expenditure on a single visit)

Astrology

5 Paradox Received for the Below

For Chango Island - the Musician Ascending

The sign of the Musician represents the search for new life that the settlers on this outer island will need to seek. It symbolises the wish to truly live that those who arrive will not have found in their old worlds and here they can try to build a better place and, just as the Musician seeks out glorious, fine songs and brings humanity to the surface, so will this work of astrology bind together a group building a new nation. The Musician is also the sign of family groups of herbivores: new lives on Chango Island will be peaceful ones based on the community-spirit and stability these creatures embody.

Providence - Blissful Idiot Blessing: -1 to the difficulty of a roll related to the destiny. +1 success on an opposed roll. +1 Defense Value if the “roll” is an application of an unrolled defense.

Trigger - Simple (+1 die to paradox pool): 1) When a person on Chango acts for the benefit of the community and not just for themselves or those related to them; 2) so long as that act is non-aggressive (3) other than in immediate self-defence)

Scope - 4 - up to 100 individuals

Duration - 1 (a season)

Frequency - 3 (once a scene +1 para die)

Paradox - 2 dice - 0 successes (score)

Roll:

Step 1 - 9 dice (Charisma+Performance) + 1 for three hour ceremony, +1 for co-signatory Ennico Sorrel, +1 co-signatory Haidar, +3 co-signatory Lara: 15 dice with prayer strip on (using personal pool and essence from familiar to activate charm as with all similar below) = 15 successes to pray to pattern spiders and three dice carry over to step two.

~Draw Horoscope - 6 dice + 4 successes from occult excellancy (+spend willpower) - 4 successes - online dice roller used - adds 3 dice - use atrological instruments in Yushan's Bueau of Destiny

Step 2 - 12 dice (Essence, House and bonus from step 1) +3 from college's clothing; +3 from horoscope: roll 18 dice - 9 successes - online dice roller used (only 8 effect points actually used)

For Tsomba Island - the Musician Ascending

The sign of the Musician represents the search for new life that the settlers on this outer island will need to seek. It symbolises the wish to truly live that those who arrive will not have found in their old worlds and here they can try to build a better place and, just as the Musician seeks out glorious, fine songs and brings humanity to the surface, so will this work of astrology bind together a group building a new nation. The Musician is also the sign of family groups of herbivores: new lives on Tsomba Island will be peaceful ones based on the community-spirit and stability these creatures embody.

Providence - Blissful Idiot Blessing: -1 to the difficulty of a roll related to the destiny. +1 success on an opposed roll. +1 Defense Value if the “roll” is an application of an unrolled defense.

Trigger - Simple (+1 die to paradox pool): 1) When a person on Tsomba acts for the benefit of the community and not just for themselves or those related to them; 2) so long as that act is non-aggressive (3) other than in immediate self-defence)

Scope - 3 - up to 25 individuals

Duration - 1 (a season)

Frequency - 1 (once a week)

Paradox - 1 die - 0 successes

Roll:

Step 1 - 9 dice (Charisma+Performance) + 1 for three hour ceremony, +1 for co-signatory Ennico Sorrel, +1 co-signatory Haidar, +3 co-signatory Lara, + 5 performance excellancy: 20 dice with prayer strip on (using personal pool and essence from familiar to activate charm) = 20 successes to pray to pattern spiders and four dice carry over to step two.

~Draw Horoscope - 6 dice + 4 successes from occult excellancy + 1 from willpower; 7 successes adds 2 dice to step 2

Step 2 - 13 dice (Essence, House and bonus from step 1) +3 from college's clothing; + 2 bonus from horoscope: roll 18 dice - 5 successes (harsh - Haidar is told to settle this island slowest)

For Haidarska Island - the Pillar Ascending

The central and largest island of the three needs to be the most stable and the Pillar is the sign of stability. Without sexuality or other conflicting aspects, the Pillar stands for tested and strong partnerships. Haidarska will hold firm between the Wyld and Shadowlands and move from strength to strength as its citizens trust one another and the maternal embrace of their fertile land.

Providence - Blissful Idiot Blessing: -1 to the difficulty of a roll related to the destiny. +1 success on an opposed roll. +1 Defense Value if the “roll” is an application of an unrolled defense.

Trigger - Simple (+1 to Para Pool): 1) Whenever actions are taken that enhance the stability of the island; 2) Or whenever acts that build a civilisation are taken

Scope - 7 (+3 to para pool) - up to 100 individuals + resident solar

Duration - 4 (twenty years + 1 para die)

Frequency - 3 (once a scene +1 para die)

Paradox - 6 dice - 4 paradox (eek)

Step 1 - 9 dice + 3 for 9 hour prayer ceremony, + 1 from calligraphy, + 3 from co-signatory Lara, +1 from co-signatory Ennico Sorrel, +1 from co-signatory Haidar, +5 from performance excellancy, +4 channelling conviction: 27 dice, 27 successes (with prayer strip on) - 6 dice carried over to step 2

~ 7 days planning (3 int+fate rolls at relevant points with 4 successes from fate excellancy): 6 dice gets 1) 3 successes, 2) 5 successes, 3) 2 successes)

~ Horoscope - 6 dice + 4 successes from occult excellancy = 5 rolled successes

Step 2 - 12 dice (essence+house+bonus from step 1) +7 dice from planning, +3 from horoscope, +3 from ritual behaviour = 25 dice - 15 successes (14 effect points used)

For Haidar - Peacock Descending; Musician Ascending

Peacock Descending:

Whilst in its ascending aspect the Peacock stands for well-considered partnership, in its descending aspect it is the symbol for untrolled desire, roving packs of ravenous predatory animals. If Haidar voids the agreement and risks the stable, life-force of this new nation by initiating violence, then he will quickly change his mind.

Providence - Heart-Piercing Curse: Any failure on any Ability roll related to the destiny causes the target to lose a point of Willpower

Trigger - Simple (+1 to para pool): 1) Unless in self-defense; 2) whenever military action is declared; 3) or capital punishment is used

Scope - 3 (Solar Essence 3)

Duration - 1 (a season)

Frequency - 3 (once a scene +1 para die)

Paradox - 2 dice - 1 paradox

Step 1 - 9 dice + 5 from performance excellancy, +3 from 9 hour ritual, +1 from co-signatory Ennico Sorrel, +1 from co-signatory Haidar, +3 from co-signatory Lara, +1 success from willpower, 23 dice are 23 successes with prayer strip on, 5 dice carried over to step two.

~ 3 days preparation (two int+craft rolls with 4 successes from craft excelancy): 6 dice 1) 6 successes, 2) 3; 5 dice bonus

~ Horoscope - + 4 successes from occult excellancy: 6 dice - 2 successes

Step 2 - 10 dice (essence, house and step 1 bonus) + 5 from planning, +2 from horoscope, + 3 from ritual behaviour: 20 dice - 11 successes (only 7 effect points used)

Musician Ascending:

The Musician is not a king, the Musician is greater than any king as he takes the tawdry deeds of royalty and weaves them into immortality. Just so will this Dawn caste gather together the people who arrive at the islands and weave them together, stronger and glorious, into a great nation. He will be a visionary, always looking to better his country, just as the Musician in its ascending aspect stands for the search for finer things.

Providence - Blissful Idiot Blessing: -1 to the difficulty of a roll related to the destiny. +1 success on an opposed roll. +1 Defense Value if the “roll” is an application of an unrolled defense.

Trigger - Simple (+1 to para pool): 1) When acting to benefit the three islands and surrounding lands

Scope - 3 (Solar Essence 3)

Duration - 1 (a season)

Frequency - 3 (once a scene +1 para die)

Paradox - 2 dice: 0 successes

Roll:

Step 1 - 9 dice (Charisma+Performance) + 1 for three hour ceremony, +1 for co-signatory Ennico Sorrel, +1 co-signatory Haidar, +3 co-signatory Lara: 15 dice with prayer strip on (using personal pool and essence from familiar to activate charm) = 15 successes to pray to pattern spiders and three dice carry over to step two.

~ Draw Horoscope - 6 dice + 4 successes from occult excellancy +1 from willpower - 5 successes; 3 dice carry over

Step 2 - 12 dice (Essence, House and bonus from step 1) +3 from college's clothing; +3 from horoscope: roll 18 dice - 14 successes (only 7 effect points used)