GM: Kevan Forbes
System: Exalted, 2nd Edition
Hand’s Account
As Timeless Wandering Wind absorbed the contents of the small library, she began to explore the labyrinth of chutes, tunnels and hidden passages throughout the Adamant Manse. Knowing that certainly no collection of “Sands of Fire” would be complete without the commentary, she searched these often winding passages to find the displaced portions of the epic. Having to chimney her way through a near vertical chute, little Wind found a small leather bound tomb. Certainly not the lore she had hoped for, the young solar was nevertheless intrigued by the text. Peeling back the cover, she found the inexpert calligraphy of Hands of Velvet. The text began with an apparent invitation to read its contents.
Should I one day learn the craft of air, I hope to continue my predecessors tradition and transcribe these tales onto the winding passages of my new home. For now, however, this musty tome will have to do:
This is the story of how our circle formed (part 2 of 3)
…continued from last entry
Quite unexpectedly our search was completed in the Sunken Bazaar. Amongst the textile merchants, I tried to guide Zarand and his worshipers past the con artists and into the stall of a fair merchant who could put them in native Gem garb. One moment Zarand was at my side discussing what skills his followers had that could earn them fair wages in the city and the next he had disappeared. I imagined only that he had found some bauble or another that intrigued him and continued to work with Farum finding clothes for the disciples. I stood by the changing rooms overseeing the men and woman of the east as they tried on turbans, loose flowing robes and sashes. Beside me a very attractive woman, clearly from a noble house, performed the same duties for a bald adolescent youth. Her daughter perhaps or one of her prize servant’s children more likely? She asked me for my opinion on a simple dress the “young woman” was trying on and her arching eyebrows made it abundantly clear that “that dress looks lovely on you” was the only answer the noble would suffer. Sometimes I wonder why women ask questions such as these if not to try and ensnare men. Luckily, however, I quite agreed with the sentiment, the woman’s tastes were very refined and the young girl appeared at once feminine and demure in the garb.
It seems the Unconquered Sun binds Lawgivers together under the strangest of circumstances. The torches being lit inside the bazaar indicated time was running short before Zarand’s next service. From my sash I produced Melani’s time piece to see how much longer we could afford before making haste to inn where Onyx gave his sermons. Normally, due to the less than licit manner I procured the wonder in, I try to be quite discrete when producing it, but somehow the young girl caught glimpse of the insignia on the back cover and was incensed by it. Without effort she bounded into me, intent to snatch the clockwork wonder. Shocked, her patron reached out to restrain her. “Wind” she cried and our souls were hurtled back in time.
In some strange arena the noble woman, who in this age wore dark skin and tight leathers bounded off the wall carrying a heavy ball. She tossed the ball and it sailed through a hoop. “Three to Seven” she called out “I’m catching up to you.” Outside the court our young companion was much older, a bookwork of sorts, and he looked amused by our sport. As he set down a book to stretch and relax his eyes I could tell he hoped to join in our game.
As the Age of Sorrows returned to us, the one called Timeless Wandering Wind changed her grasp into a heartfelt embrace. Ages ago she may have been a learned scholar, but here and now she was still a fragile girl, clearly full of much pain and sorrow. The noble woman Urasue and I held hands for a moment in recognition, wary of flaring our anima in this public stall.
So joyful was I to find two more members of our circle I hardly noticed that Zarand had returned with another man. Startled I nearly burst out with excitement, but reigned in my fervor when I saw the stern figure beside him. Shining Thunders held himself like a veteran warrior. I knew from my time with warriors of the realm (often the bodyguards of my masters) and with the mercenary band I traveled with to Gem, how a man who has seen many battles stands. Zarand introduced us and we locked arms in a soldier’s grasp. I received my final and most vivid memory or our lives in the first age.
Our legs were entangled under the furs. Even after sex, he held me in a lover’s embrace and together we fought off the bitter cold outside. As he ran his fingers through my hair my lover tried once again to convince me of his strategy “Striking from behind is not only dishonorable, it’s risky. That will mean dividing our forces and trying to sneak scouts past our enemy’s line. If they are discovered we’ll have lost good men for nothing. If they succeed, we still have no guarantee that the ruse will work.” I laughed at him the same playful laugh I shared before “First off lover, there is no ‘if‘ we will get behind their lines. My men are silent as shadows and we won’t be seen until we choose to be. Second you should heed the wisdom or your own speeches, the best laid plans never survive past the first encounter…”
“Speaking of first encounters, this is certainly a different one.” I smiled as I could see that in this age, many things had changed. Our perfect circle had been formed. Together we would carry out the will of the Unconquered Sun. Although I must as admit I still feel a bit funny about the name “Lawgiver.” It seems the Unconquered Sun knows of irony.
to be continued…
