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 1 of 3)
As though creation took a deep breath in, the moment bristled with tension. A hollow moan filled the air as Gem’s evening breeze passed through the temple of putrescent wind. Outside in the courtyard only the faint rattling made by the eerie wind chimes broke the stillness.
Then the Unconquered Sun exhaled. From doors below the tiny figure of Timeless Wandering Wind, encumbered by a bundled babe in her arm, bound out from the building; countering the voices of some insane demon-god or another with a soft comforting song. Zarand, the God among men, and I burst from the top story window, sailing through the air, bounding off the edge of a slate shingle here, sliding down a finger-width gutter there and gracefully meeting little Wind at the bottom. From a massive explosion inside the armored figured of Shining Thunder, under the assault of a barrage of fire winds, was blow out of the building into the courtyard beside us. Finally, flowing like a feather in the wind, Urasue joined us with dignity and poise. This is my circle, my new family. Together we can change creation. At the moment however, we have more immediate concerns.
From a balcony above a priest followed by his his retinue of armed cultists emerged. “We need that child to sacrifice to our great god, do not let them escape!” And of course, violence ensued. We were met by cultists, mad priests, gunmen who wielded fire wands and even two men that had been touched by their god who poisoned not only their hearts but also their wicked blades. For my part I created an amusing distraction while little Wind protected the child and Shining Thunder revealed to these small minded men the power of the Unconcerned Sun. Moments after they surrounded us most of the men (the smarter ones) had fled, others lay bludgeoned and bloody on the cobblestone tiles. The blood of innocents was spared, at least for today.
With child in tow we quickly stole away to our home inside of Gem. I never cease to be amazed by the sprawling chambers that make up the Manse. I’m happy that a few of them are still secret to all but me. I have nothing to hide from my circle but there are still times when I wish to be alone. Thankfully the wild web of adamant strands that lead to tiny concealed nooks such as the one I use to compose this tale are well suited to the particular charms bestowed to me.
As the Circle finally had a moment to recline, each member followed his nature. Wandering Wind whisked away into the library, Shining Thunder removed the First Age armor he wore, Urasue returned to her retinue with the babe, Zarand spoke with his high priest Onxy, and I had a moment to reflect on our first meeting.
I had met Zarand, Leaping Claw first. Maybe that is why I admire him the most. One of his followers had found himself some trouble in the temple quarter and thanks to a perfectly impenetrable disguise the miners who harassed him took me for a member of the Southern Rangers and quickly found great interest in returning to their camp with all their limbs still attached. Farum was the man’s name and I knew from his strange garb that he, like my self, was a foreigner who had found his way to Gem. He told of the God he worshiped, a God who walked among men and preached the word of the Unconquered Sun. After an encounter with a local merchant [1] I had the opportunity to meet this extraordinary man and his equally extraordinary high priest. Onyx who walks on four legs and bears the visage of a dark wild cat is, save Urasue, the most eloquent speaker I have ever heard. At the end of Onyx’s sermon, those who sought the healing power of his God were permitted audience and allowed to touch divinity. Still unsure if this was the performance of charlatans or true charity I fell in step behind the those truly in need.
Zarand did not strike me at first as extraordinary. He was clearly dressed in strange garb, but inside the foreigner’s quarter this was to be expected. As he anointed the flesh of the sick with herbs, however, it did appear as though their spirits were bolstered. Charlatan or not, I already admired his charity and his priest’s teachings of the Unconquered Sun. When I approached he took my hand to give me his blessing. Creation imploded.
Wind whipped through our hair as our steeds charged across the soft grassy knolls. I was a woman, laughing and free, exhilarated by speed of my mount and the challenge of the chase. At the breast of my horse was rider covered in bushels of thick red hair. He laughed at the wind and urged his mount on to pass me. I knew at once that we were not just friends, we were bound to each other like a brother and sister. He cracked the reigns and my memories of that lost era faded back into the image of Zarand.
From that day on we traveled together in search of the other castes that would complete our circle.
to be continued…
[1] The story of Melani Sahlak to follow
