Olvir spoke a few hushed words to Caelan, telling him now was his moment. Not feeling under any more pressure than a moment ago, Caelan tried his best to rally the crowd. They were wary of him and scared of what they’d seen but leaderless, they drew some comfort from the man of authority stood before them, shining, (they hoped) like a beacon of righteousness.
A brief reassurance given, he stepped aside to speak with Olvir and find those in the mining community who could help. One of the more competent miners, a woman called Sissay, talked through the mine structure while the head of the militia, Sill, rallied the guards around the defences Olvir had begun to set up. Gradually, some order took shape from the chaos.
There were weak points, Sissay explained, but the mine was built to last and it would take something more than just knocking out a few supports to bring it down. Song suggested a hot enough fire might not only take out the supports but draw sufficient moisture from the earth that it would crumble, and Olvir asked Sissay if there was anything in Jadespike that might do the trick. She shrugged but and inclined her head towards the forge, suggesting Skaagi might know. A brief discussion on what and how followed.
Song was already on her way to the forge when Caelan caught up with her. She nodded as he told her what they needed. If the Chosen of the Unconquered Sun needed her to create something in the forge to bring down the mine, then she’d do what she could.
Skaagi turned out to be a young woman a little out of her depth and since Song walked into the forge with authority she gradually acceded to her line of questioning and showed her around. Skaagi had considerable knowledge – it didn’t seem she’d had a teacher but had learnt a lot from books and from experiments. Song could admire her for that; though realised it was probably why some of the men in the infirmary had suffered more than perhaps necessary. She went over some of the alchemical principles with her and found out all she could in a short time about the forge’s operation.
Outside, Olvir and Sill had involved a group of men in building a barricade at the entrance to the mine to hold back the creatures should they stray towards the surface and as Caelan’s glow began to lessen he and Olvir bravely set forth to investigate inside and see where best it could be collapsed. They didn’t stay long enough to see any more incursions but returned topside to consult with Sill and Sissay on where best a destructive force could be unleashed.
An idea was forming in Song’s mind as she looked around and examined the heart of the forge – a magical firestone. Recruiting a few of the miners who weren't occupied she set them to work finding, mixing, grinding and distilling the complex ingredients she needed. Under her ministrations the forge became a quiet hum of activity, broken only by a strange distraction from the shelves around the walls – something scurried back and forth and Song could have sworn she saw the flash of a silvered feather. But she had work to do, and after admonishing it for whatever it was playing at got back to work, ignoring Skaagi’s raised eyebrow.
Back from investigations under the surface, Caelan went to find food and ensure the guards were also fed & rested. He spent a while talking to the people on duty and trying to set them at their ease – not a simple task. Olvir meanwhile had headed to the forge and arrived just as Song sent one of her tired minions to rest and confirmed what they’d found in the mine. A sudden a loud snap startled all of them as a book flew off the shelf and hit the floor – opened bizarrely to a page about the use of Essence spider silk to weave strong sails. Song picked it up to take a look, but couldn’t find an immediate use for it and set it aside to get back to work. Olvir shrugged and left, confident Song knew what she was doing, even if he didn’t.
Song couldn't say she was averse to working in the forge, on a cold day it was nice to be warm and there were interesting tomes on display. But the task at hand was daunting and she wasn't entirely sure when she started just what she'd be able to create; just that she had to make it work.
As the processes came together she began to see in her mind what it could be, adding ingredients and cautioning her helpers against the caustic ingredients involved. She was grateful for all the long hours spend poring over ancient scribings and the times she'd gone without eyebrows in the name of research: it all culminated in the dark liquid pooled in an earthenware amphora in front of her, the surface covered with oil to prevent exposure to air. It would burn so fiercely the very spirit of fire would be summoned from within to devour it.
*
Song had endured the taunts of those who mocked her for her conviction, for her devotion to the pursuit of knowledge, of seeking to understand the riddles Creation had set. She’d discarded the attentions of lovers who could have brought her more happiness than she was ever due. She’d never ventured far from the environs of the circus, content to live within those routines, forsaking new experiences for the sake of her studies. But that had brought her here; to the place she was needed most, to rend from raw ingredients an answer to a problem only she could solve.
She stepped back, the work complete, as silent and brilliant moonlight pooled around her, spilling from the caste mark burning on her brow and bathing the forge in silver light. Above the forge the totemic image of a hunting lynx leapt high into the air before stalking around and curling itself to rest. Inside, the room illuminated by pure moonlight, Song of Falling Rain bowed deeply to the Silver Lady who graced her with her presence and smiled at her newest Chosen.
*
Olvir saw the forge shrouded in moonlight and shouted the alarm. He ran towards it, but Caelan, being closer, beat him to it and burst in to find a creature, half-lynx and half-human, standing where Song ought to have been. Drawing his sword he challenged it. Song, in her new shape, cautioned him to step away from the central workspace for he endangered himself... and Caelan heard something in the creature’s voice that seemed familiar. Song, for the first time realising she’d shapeshifted, concentrated for a moment and resumed her human form to Caelan’s utter surprise and relief. Olvir burst in next to find Song and Calelan squaring off and the room flooded with moonlight and radiating from his friend. Song showed them the culmination of her work, the amphora of precious, dangerous liquid all ready for mine-destroying employment.
With the risk of further attacks growing stronger each moment Caelan found Sissay and asked her to accompany us underground to best pinpoint the place for Song’s alchemical potion to be used. She wasn’t keen, but agreed, and with a small company of equally wary guards, we set off, Caelan lighting the way, Song carrying the amphora of Summon the Spirit in Fire and Olvir poised for a fight.
We reached the point where Olvir had brought down the ceiling in the last battle. There was the sound of scrabbling from beyond and a hole had appeared at the top which was steadily growing larger as creatures beyond sought access. Caelan tempted one of them into squeezing through with the scent of blood and shot it dead as another scampered away back down the tunnel. It gave us enough time to clear a way through for us and we moved on but we hadn’t gone far before we found another group of them fighting over some bones and fought them off when they regarded us as a tastier meal. Seeing them up close for the first time Song recalled a memory from a past life, not hers but through her shard of Exaltation when she’d fought hundreds maybe thousands of the beasts, in many different shapes. They were Dark Brood and they were many. These ones were weak compared to many of their kind but the destruction they’d wrought was already more than enough. Following Sissay’s directions we trod deeper into the mine.
When we came upon another group we had a little more warning and Caelan wounded most of them with arrow shots before they got close. Song used the arrow shafts almost as markers to rend them with her new-found claws. Olvir’s strength next to the two Celestial Exalts was in no way inferior and together with the guard we fought our way through. The next group we spotted a way off in the distance and Caelan managed to take most down from afar, but as the battle waned, Song heard far in the distance, the sounds of fighting raging at the surface. Afraid for what we might find when we returned we pushed on.
We made it to the area where Sissay had thought was best to collapse the mine: an archway supporting a tunnel leading into a larger cavern where beyond, the earth opened up into a deep space. We could hear something inside the cavern and suspecting more Dark Brood, Caelan suggested he tempt them out. He ran in, planning on catching their attention and drawing them into to the corridor – but he suddenly disappeared out of view again s something grabbed him and hauled him backwards. We peered through the archway.
It seemed there was a problem with the best place to put the amphora of alchemical doom. It was only one problem, but quite a large one, and took the shape of a pasty-white, amorphous mass sitting right in the way. It pulsated nauseously, extruding dark brood offspring which slurped away into the gloom – and tentacles, one of which had grabbed at Caelan and held him fast. Olvir ran to help, followed by Song (after she carefully secured the amphora). Dodging tentacles we freed Caelan but our efforts weren’t making a lot of impact on the beast itself. Then Olvir had an idea.
Olvir hadn’t always been one for bright ideas. It wasn’t the brightest idea to throw rocks at a boar till it left the little teyra alone but that had worked out better than he expected. It wasn’t the best idea to run away to the circus but it had been the only idea he had – and he had found his home. Years spent slaving in the forge had given him strength beyond most men, a skill he’d honed daily since then. And now...
The creature was sitting in the way and needed to be moved. He was a strongman. It wasn’t exactly a yeddim, but the theory ought to hold true. Bracing himself against the wall he began to push, shoving the thing out of the way and standing firm, one lone figure against the dark brood mother. Creation itself acknowledged such efforts. Beginning as a small point of silvery light and exploding outwards with the silver radiance of the full moon Olvir became one of Luna’s Chosen. He saw the Silver Lady smile on him approvingly as his form shifted into a huge silverback gorilla, the sinews in his arms strengthening and granting him power beyond mortal ken.
As Olvir had begun to shove at the creature two of the guards had lifted the amphora of alchemical substance. Song intercepted them in the doorway and took it from them, seeing what Olvir was doing. As the cavern filled with radiant moonlight and Song looked on with joy at her friend’s Exaltation, he achieved his ends. The dark brood mother toppled over the edge of the cavern and fell to the rocky floor far below with a sickly wet squelch. From tunnels around us came the hideous squeals of dark brood young feeling the death of their mother... and Song hurried to put the amphora in place before getting everyone out of the cavern. She lit the oil atop the liquid and ran before Summon the Spirit in Fire did as its name suggested and immolated the cavern and everything in it.
We hurried the guards and Sissay back up the tunnels and with Olvir’s moonlit anima showing the way made it back unscathed. As we’d suspected though, there had been another incursion on the surface – bodies lay near the mine entrance along with the pale corpses of the dark brood. Hurriedly we helped the injured before clearing away the Dark Brood and burning the corpses, along with a hurried ritual to ensure they did not rise. We had no idea if they had souls and could do so – but we didn’t wish to find out.
Dawn was still a few hours away but no-one seemed inclined to sleep. Though the only sounds from the mine were distant rumbles of falling masonry Olvir organised a guard. We thought we’d be tired but it seemed our new power helped shore up defences against fatigue for a while at least, which gave us the opportunity to tend to those who needed it. The people of Jadespike were cautious around us but weariness overcame wariness and they heeded our directions.
With our animas now faded we gathered together where Olvir and Caelan had questions for Song. What had we become? Were we cursed? What did it mean? Song didn’t have all the answers and was as struck by the night’s events as her fellows, but she answered as best she could: we had become Exalted of the Celestials, no we were not cursed, we were chosen of Luna and of the Unconquered Sun. It meant great power, greater in potential than the Dragon-Blooded, but as for what we were to do... that had yet to come.
As daylight came Caelan went amongst the people, trying to keep them motivated and reassure them. Olvir and Song went to check the mine and make sure last night’s efforts hadn’t been in vain and found a few of the smaller Dark Brood we were easily able to take down. Song even captured one alive and took it to the surface – yes, it did burn in the sunlight. She watched dispassionately as it turned to ash.
Olvir headed for the forge, intent on making a secure gate for the mine. Impressed by the forge stone at its heart he set to work, recruiting some of the miners to help, and by the end of the day had a framework to set in place. A couple more days and he would have what would normally take weeks finished.
Song’s blessing from Luna had given her the form of a lynx and she adopted it to track down Caelan. Feeling playful she crept up on him as he talked to a couple of guards and wound herself round his legs, purring. He looked down a little surprised to see a friendly lynx – mostly they were wild, but perhaps this was kept by one of the village as a hunting animal? He reached down to scratch between it ears and it licked his hand. Then he noticed the distinctive ear tufts and realisation dawned. The lynx coughed – or perhaps that was a cat-like laugh? It nodded when he asked it – quietly, though the guards raised eyebrows – if it was actually Song? The guards looked on a little perplexed as he asked the lynx if the mine was clear and Song nodded agreement. She padded away, objective achieved, and took her human form where no-one watched, as there was one other thing to do we’d agreed on. Finding a quiet space, Song opened the box containing the coin Jeret had given us and spoke a few words: telling him about the mine, the Dark Brood and our actions in stopping them – for now. As agreed, she said nothing about our Exaltations, but that we would like to speak with him, if he was able.
Those survivors of the events of the previous few days gathered at sundown. The long pyre was arrayed with wrapped bodies, Isald amongst them - the attack the previous night hadn’t spared her, indeed one of the survivors told us they’d seemed to seek her out. Song waited until the sobs had died to a low murmur before conducting the ritual to send their souls beyond Creation’s shores, anointing each with salt and pure water, reciting the words in both Old Realm and in the local Wood-tongue. She also spoke a prayer to Luna and to the Unconquered Sun – a thanks for bringing the three of us to Jadespike and asking for their aid in mending the community. As the pyres burned, Caelan stood forward to speak and called on the people to take strength, stirring emotions to try to buoy them up a little. His words had impact, though the chill winter wind seemed especially biting, and the funeral pyres offered little warmth.
The small and sad crowd adjourned to the tavern, where a chillingly familiar evening played out. Fears were voiced about whether the similar events would befall the community again and to try and alleviate fears Caelan and Olvir stationed themselves at the entrance to the mine. Olvir, in silverback form, slept in the entrance while Caelan’s meditative stance surrounded by golden sunlight gave visible reassurance to the people. Song didn’t sleep in her room either, but snuck onto the tavern roof in lynx form to sleep under the chill moonlight, ears alert to the sound of any disturbance from beyond Jadespike’s walls.
We, and the denizens of Jadespike, had a mercifully undisturbed night. It began to dawn on us quite how we’d all been changed by our Exaltations as despite the ravages of the last couple of days we healed quickly and woke refreshed in the morning. We turned to the issue of what to do about the village: there was no-one still alive who was up to the task of overseeing the settlement especially in its current state of disarray. Caelan probably knew the people best and was certain no-one could take on that mantle.
He’d gone to find fresh guards but managed only to find a sleepy child, tucked up to sleep in the tavern the previous night where she’d been taken for safety. Now awake, lost and confused, she cried for her mother. Caelan managed to find her father, alive, by the funeral pyre, and had to leave him to tell his daughter her mother was dead. Caelan watched, seeing the horrors of the past days revisited in the eyes of one so young.
Aware of the responsibility we now held we made the Tugela family’s home our first port of call. We needed to know what deals, trades and allegiances were owed and if anyone was expected soon. Olvir wanted to take a couple of the townspeople along with us, so they could see what we were doing and maintain an air of transparency but Caelan and Song disagreed. There was no-one in the town who could be seen as enough of a figurehead that such things would be important. We needed to know what was going on first and if needed, act on it. The Tugela house servants were a little wary of letting us in and going through the family’s things but with the Dragon-blooded gone they couldn’t muster enough of an argument against it. Aware of their feelings we tried to be discreet but thorough.
We found most of the details on the workings of the mine and of trade agreements and were grateful for the Tugela family’s neat recordkeeping since what little skill we had in taking apart bureaucracy showed us there was nothing of immediate concern. The family were outcastes with something of a rift between them and the rest of the family who lived much closer to the Realm. Shipments of jade were made regularly but otherwise there wasn’t a lot of contact with them and no traders were due imminently.
We discovered a small cache of jade – evidently the family’s own – hidden in a bureau (and by ‘small cache’ it was still more jade there than we’d ever seen in one place before). Caelan discovered a ritual room, with summoning circles inlaid into the floor and a number of thaumaturgical books in evidence. Song took a quick look and couldn’t see anything immediately out of the ordinary but was aware of something not quite right and resolved to return later to investigate.
The circus was due to arrive that afternoon and the smell of the funeral pyres still hung over the town. Selene’s Flurry would be expecting to meet up with three of its number for a brief stop at an industrious mining village... and here we were Celestial Exalted in the remains of a dark brood massacre. It seemed best to give Selene some warning. Leaving Jadespike to fare for itself for a few hours, we set out to have a very interesting conversation...