Exalted - Wet Weekend

Wet Weekend
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2025/05/08 20:00

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Mar 20 2011 	 # 

Mar 20 2011
Olvir, Caelan and Song set off while Selene’s Flurry still had a night to stay in Shadow Falls. It was a simple enough route given we had no caravans – just ourselves and two horses. We made good time and found a place to camp an hour or so before nightfall. Caelan went off to hunt leaving the others to set camp and came across a rare plant growing beside a stream where he caught two plump fish. He recognised it from Song’s caravan, and took back a single flower to show her – warily, as he wasn’t too sure how she’d react.
For once, Caelan was relieved. Song was delighted and impressed that he’d made such a find – the flower was rare and highly prized. Setting the fish to cook on the fire she returned with him and harvested some of the plants. That night around the fire they relaxed, told stories and sang songs, and rested well; each taking a watch but nothing to disturb them but the occasional distant rumble of thunder.
We left early the next morning, heading for Clear Skies. It was a town built atop a volcanic plug sitting proud above the landscape, so it was easy enough to navigate to. It also seemed to be raining – as we got closer and the ground increasingly saturated it became apparent it had been raining for some time. Dark grey thunderheads lowered around the mis-named town.
At the base of the volcanic plug was a large lake which we made our way around to find the rocky pathway up to the village. Recent drainage channels had been cut into the rock and as we reached the village saw more hastily-erected porches and shelters – it seemed the rain was relatively recent. With that puzzle in mind we headed, as all good travellers do, to the tavern. This one was called the Inn of Serpents, with a striking cobra brilliantly rendered on the sign outside. We tethered our horses and headed inside where we found it remarkably well named (unlike the town) as snakes of all shapes and sizes slithered and hissed at us from their glass cases around the wall.
The tavern owner served us drinks and answered our questions about the weather – it had recently been changed through devotions and the efforts of Water Shapes the Land. His actions here had been substantial: in a similar plan to that we’d heard of, he had designs on Clear Skies as well. The Scavenger Lord wanted to increase the size of the lake and link the village to the river network so movement and trade could be increased. As such, the water from the skies was necessary. Devotions were held nightly and, apparently, were a sight to behold.
We asked about the snakes and he told us how he used their venom in drinks (in non-lethal doses) and since an intrigued Song asked, made us some to try. Olvir knocked his back while Caelan sniffed at his warily. Song tasted a little and, impressed, wanted to show a trick of her own. She had a potion which enhanced the taste of many things and that complemented the drink nicely – adding some, she passed it back to the innkeeper, Loris, to try. Impressed, she offered him the recipe in return for a few nights stay for the three of them and he accepted – with the agreement she tutor him in the production of it. 
She listed the ingredients and he sent one of the serving girls out to fetch things he didn’t have, and when she returned, proceeded to show him the methodology. When she pointed out a couple of the more unusual, expensive ingredients were missing – the catalyst for the magical action – he explained it wouldn’t be a problem (she understood it to mean he was an essence user of one form or another). He turned out to be a more than apt student and as the ritual neared completion flared his anima as he poured essence into the potion – revealing himself as a Wood Aspected Dragon Blood, like Selene. He gave his name as Serpent’s Tooth. Song tried not to seem too surprised, though there was a little envy as he produced a superlative potion, the like of which she’d only made herself rarely.
As the alchemy progressed in a back room, Olvir made full use of a half-empty tavern to show off and impress the locals with feats of strength. They were suitably impressed and he didn’t need to buy a drink all evening – indeed by the time the alchemy was done the half-full tavern was packed to the rafters. He took the opportunity to chat to any and all and found out about some of the key people in the village – Lecter Mosse, who led the nightly devotions, Regent Uster who has the ear of Water Shapes the Land, Master Lar, the boat builder (having a busy time of late), Master Banlor, the blacksmith and Sisse, a fisherman – until recently, the only fisherman.
As evening approached we turned out to see the devotions, held at the edge of the city, nearest the overhang of the lake. A raised dais held a few people already in prayer, and some 50 others had gathered. Watching, a man in swirled blue robes and a shaven head approached, greeting people by name - evidently the priest - and we stood as he led the prayers to Ushari, god of the lake and other local deities. It was patently not a prayer of the Immaculate faith and seemed to involve something extra, an additional devotion. Talking to him afterwards he explained it also included due reverence to the gods yet to be... more lakes were planned. The Immaculate influence didn’t spread this far out into Creation and thus the prayers were welcomed by all.
At the prayer’s culmination he completed a complex sorcery ritual and touched the dais. In a shimmering, glorious haze, motes of Essence coalesced around him and water filled the trough atop it and gushed out in a torrent into the lake below. We were suitably impressed. He greeted us as people began to disperse and explained he’d only recently come to practice sorcery – Water Shapes the Land had taught him. The Scavenger Lord, he revealed, was a Prince of Creation like Serpent’s Tooth and Selene. He’d found many treasures on his journeys, we learned, but most recently was an item which created water. A charismatic, driven individual, he appeared to have convinced most if not all of the town that his plans would be of benefit, and while none really liked it, most in the town were accepting of the rain, knowing it would last but a few years and bring positive change. 
Sadly, he wasn’t in the village so we couldn’t talk to him ourselves. We returned to the inn where more drinks were consumed along with a hearty meal. Olvir asked Serpent’s Tooth how it was that he came to have such an affinity for snakes and he recounted a tale of stumbling into a cave of them after he’d taken his Second Breath, and found himself – most fortunately – immune to their poison.
Caelan was enjoying himself too, having caught the eye of one of the tavern girls, Cerise. Song and Olvir kept their distance – and a watchful eye, though Song did give him a little token which could help – a vial of Belladonna’s Blessing (and later, a draught of Maiden’s Tea). We spent a comfortable night in the inn and continued to get to know the town the next day. Caelan took the day off and went adventuring with Cerise, catching fish down by the lake and enjoying her company beside a warming fire. Song spent time with Serpent’s Tooth perfecting the technique of making Salt on the Wind. Olvir went to visit the blacksmith and the town elder – who seemed, like most of the others – to embrace the torrent of change and was likewise quite encouraging of the notion that the circus may visit. Apparently, with notice, the rains could be stopped for a day or so to allow a performance. 
We gathered back at the inn in the evening to share stories and made plans to move on the next day.
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