We set out, well wrapped in furs and with a couple of pack mules carrying our provisions. We’d held another discussion around Caelan’s armour before concluding it probably came from someone in the city and wasn’t sent with any ill intent. Olvir had checked it over to find it was sound but bore no mark of a blacksmith. Song suggested whoever they were, they’d evidently thought Caelan was worth it, and would probably make themselves known in time.
The journey went well, with Teela finding a bees’ nest early on and after some discussion on how best to keep from angry stings we came away with delicious honeycombs. Inevitably the journey wasn’t all so sweet; one night, not far from the jade mine, we were set upon by clawstriders. Teela was on watch and her sensitive nose picked up the scent. She scurried over to Olvir and woke him with a sharp nip to the ear. With a bellow he roused the others and looking where Teela directed, spotted a clawstrider poised to attack. Caelan grabbed for his bow and lodged an arrow in its hide but Song’s nunchucks merely bounced off its tough hide. Olvir took the more direct approach and grappled it to the ground. Caelan and Song both took to the trees, Caelan using the angle to get a better shot at it while Song, who’d heard Olvir call out a warning that the creatures often travelled in packs, scoured the ground below for more.
She spotted something a little way away from the camp - another clawstrider – but this one was tangling with another opponent she couldn’t make out, though she caught hints of feathers with a metallic sheen. Whatever it was, it was winning. Meanwhile Olvir’s grasp on the clawstrider in camp had left it vulnerable to Caelan’s arrows and the two finished it off without much further struggle.
Thankfully, there had only been two. We went to check out the second one to find our mysterious ally vanished and a single, steel feather embedded deep into the clawstrider’s bone. Looking further Olvir found a few little parts of cog, as if from machinery, which set Song to wondering what in Creation it could have been as all she could call to mind were tales of Vanileth, the god of mechanical or artificial flight. He was known to keep a bunch of servitor gods and perhaps, it could have looked a little like one of them? Olvir suggested a prayer to him wouldn’t be out of place, and as the adrenalin faded each fashioned offerings by firelight. Song created a crude fire-lantern while Olvir gathered the best bits of the beasts and Caelan carved wooden sycamores to flutter down from the lantern when it ascended. Gathered around our fire, Song led the tribute, a prayer carried to the heavens.
The following day and night were mercifully uneventful and in the morning of the fifth day we reached a fork in the road with a turning to Jadespike. It was a familiar trail for Olvir and Song and as we turned towards the mining village we caught a sweet scent in the air, a thaumaturgical ingredient Song identified as Sacred Lotus Resin. It was a little unusual to smell it wafting on the wind from the mine and we noted it as something to check out when we arrived.
It wasn’t long before we were hailed from the walkway around the palisade surrounding the mine; the forest had been cleared a long way back to give the guards the best view possible. We went through the usual search procedures and were relieved of our weapons – though they let us keep our knives. Jadespike was split into two main stages: the outer area enclosed within a walled perimeter which housed a tavern, storage areas and residences, and the mine itself along with the forge, jade store and armoury behind a second perimeter enclosure. It was the first that we were admitted to: the second was restricted with more security. The village wasn’t large, holding about 150-200 people, mostly miners and militia, but they had a lot of wealth to protect and we’d been expecting nothing less.
Song made gentle enquiries about the forge – it was a new addition, the guards explained proudly, extolling the advantages of having a working forge on site. They knew nothing about any thaumaturgical work that might include the resin Song had scented on the journey in though, and she didn’t question them directly, resolving to investigate more with those who might know more.
The tavern was called the Jade Hole: the tavern sign bore an image of the entrance to the mine. As well as acting as a regular inn there were several rooms allocated on one side where prostitutes plyed their trade - not something we were particularly interested in but it did explain the tavern’s earthly name. We took rooms and exchanged pleasantries with the barkeep before heading to see the overseer of the mine, a Dragon Blood named Isald Tugela. She was head of her household and had a residence inside the inner walls, although most of the day to day business was undertaken in the second residence the family kept nearby where we met with her and made arrangements for the circus to pitch up and enjoy its normal welcome. She was pleased to see us and offered rooms in her guest lodgings for the Dragon-Blooded members of the circus.
Song asked if there were any alchemists in Jadespike, knowing there hadn’t been any last time but also knowing no-one but an alchemist would have any idea of what to use Sacred Lotus Paste for. After some conversational banter she revealed there was, though what they were doing was evidently something she was wary of giving away. Content to have discovered this much Song steered the topic of conversation onto other, less dangerous matters.
We had dinner at the inn where Caelan and Olvir stuck around for the evening’s entertainments. As it turned out the entertainment was Olvir, but he always did like to show off, regaling them with the tale of taking down the clawstriders and earning the admiration of the crowd. Some displays of strength had them in no doubt of his prowess and neither he nor Caelan needed to sleep alone that night.
Song had absented herself and gone to visit Sulim, the man who acted as healer to the town. He was her main outlet for potions and salves in Jadespike and since she was here ahead of the circus she could make a start on bargaining. They sat down to share news and new discoveries and as the conversation went on it became clear he was looking for particular medicines to treat certain types of injuries. Song managed to talk her way into seeing one victim who’d been burnt with a highly corrosive substance as well as receiving glass lacerations: Song had seen similar injuries and suspected what had happened – the forge wasn’t simply refining jade, it was trying to perform the complex and highly dangerous method of turning regular jade to yellow jade. Yellow jade would command a much higher price as it was so useful... material made of yellow jade could be attuned to by anyone, mortal or Dragon Blood. But the procedure was notoriously elusive and many a skilled alchemist had spent time perfecting nothing but the art of burnt fingers in the quest for it – it was probably why they’d been using Sacred Lotus Paste. Song had with her some salves and worked with Sulim showing him how they could be applied to help the hapless individual – who would live, but likely be scarred.
Song quietly related her discovery to the others over breakfast before they went their separate ways. Olvir engaged in some training while Caelan sat down at a large table and began to plan out his act for the circus. As his ambitions grew and the table layout became increasingly complex one of the young ladies of the Jade Hole sat down with him and tried her hardest to tout for business... but Caelan was sadly wrapped up in his task and failed to realise what it was she was selling. As lunchtime rolled around and Olvir and Song joined him the woman gave up with a shrug. We took some time to check and clear the ground where the circus would be pitching up before engaging in some martial training, where Olvir and Caelan’s very different styles provided good practice for each other and Song took the chance to learn from both.
Training over, Song visited Sulim to see how the patient from the previous night was doing. She found the mine’s medic harried and muttering darkly and pressing to know what had happened he told her there had been an explosion in the mine, with several injuries as a result. He seemed reluctant to tell her but when she finally convinced him that she could help those injured and saw the patients, it became evident there hadn’t been an explosion – unless it had somehow involved many mouths of sharp teeth. Eventually she persuaded him to tell her what had gone on: the mine had been attacked. From within. Creatures the like of which no-one had ever seen had lurched out of the darkness and set upon the miners, many of whom were dead. Two had been brought to him grievously wounded and finally accepting her help, together they worked on the patients. After they’d done all they could he wearily asked Song if she would be able to perform the rites for the dead, if it could be arranged with Isald, and she agreed.
Song related the day’s events to the others later in the bathhouse where they wouldn’t be overheard. She retired to make preparations for the ritual that evening while Olvir, wanting to help, offered to chop wood and made neat work of a huge pile of logs. Caelan snuck off to speak with Isald and to discuss things with her - but she wasn’t receiving visitors he discovered, as he arrived at her residence.
We met up again for an evening meal before the ritual. The funeral pyres had been prepared: two, one for the miners and another where two bodies were laid separately. The tear-streaked face of Isald told us who. Whatever had attacked the mine had been powerful enough to kill two of her family, Tanit her husband and Dias her son, both Dragon-Blooded as well. Song performed the ritual to send their souls onwards with a prayer to the heavens to carry them. The leader of the miners spoke for the fallen as did Isald, grieving for her people and her family and as she faltered, Olvir took up the mantle with a powerful and moving song.
The ritual over, the people retired to the tavern. Olvir’s baritone was heard again as he and others sang to the memories of the fallen. Song, held in regard but with a level of awkwardness reserved for those who speak with the dead, stayed a little apart from the mourners, moving amongst them yet not being a part of any group, listening and watching out for them. Caelan got drunk. Very drunk. He wasn’t alone: many people drank away their sorrows that night.
On the morrow Caelan headed out for a ride to clear his head while Olvir tried to help our where needed. Song sent Sulim off to seek rest and find a little time for himself while she tended to his patients, learning a little of what went on and inventorying supplies. It became apparent to anyone paying attention that the guards were evidently guarding both the main entrance and the depths of the mine and a solemn atmosphere hung over the village and as we ate dinner in the evening Olvir was thanked for his songs the previous night. We went to bed, knowing the circus would arrive soon. But it wasn’t going to be that easy...
We’d not been asleep long before being woken as the tavern door was thrown open and shouts rang out that the mine was being attacked again. Teela woke first and alerted Olvir. Song had quickly tied up her hair with the silver feather and was grabbing for her potion satchel as Olvir hammered on her door, but finding her awake already he picked up her other leather roll of equipment and they leapt downstairs. As such they both missed Caelan leaping from the window of his room having whistled for his horse and landing squarely in the saddle with an ease belying his years.
*
Caelan had run away from home. He’d been scared by an ominous warning and joined the circus. He’d cleaned a yeddim (the hard way), seen another man killed by thugs who wanted him dead, hunted down those same thugs and found out more than he’d wanted to about Yozi worship. He’d explored the pleasures of the female sex, shot a woman through the arm and had dinner with a god. He’d learnt that he was more capable than he’d ever realised. But now, now there were terrifying things going on and he had a choice. He whistled for his horse and leapt from the window ledge to land unerringly in the saddle of the animal he treated as an extension of himself. And he could go anywhere.
He turned, and charged towards the mine.
Brilliant golden sunlight rolled from him in waves, a bright golden circle on his forehead illuminating the night. The brightness of Dawn lit up the night as he became Chosen of the Sun, a Solar Celestial Exalted, a being of immense power and might. All this was revealed to him not in words but in a feeling of suddenly being watched by a being who impelled him to do great things and use his new power to become a force in Creation beyond earthly imaginings.
*
He reached the entrance to the mine, leapt from his horse and ran in, following the sounds of fighting from deep within. On the surface, sunlight slowly dimmed as he made his way deeper. Olvir and Song arrived at the mine’s entrance along with a few more of the townsfolk who were slightly faster on their feet. Olvir began rallying people to form a defence at the entrance to the mine before charging in himself.
Song knew she’d be no help in a fight but she could get people better organised to help those who emerged afterwards, and set to having blankets, fresh water and supplies fetched from Sulim’s makeshift treatment rooms. Sulim himself arrived looking rather dazed and she busied him assessing those who needed treatment first.
Deep within the mine Caelan arrived to find Isald gutting a small, white creature with a mouth of terrible teeth. As it recoiled from a blow from her mighty goremaul she demanded to know what in hell he was... and still surrounded by a nimbus of golden light he shouted that he was there to help. He got to show that sooner than expected as another vile creature leapt forward and bit into her head: the battle was on.
Olvir arrived to find a glowing Caelan fighting to keep the creature from chewing at Isald and joined in the tangle but as he did so another creature raced around the corner, pulling a barb from its own flesh which it threw at the Dragon-Blood and impaled not just her but its devious little comrade as well. Olvir tried to intercept the blow but it moved faster than he was expecting and as Isald dropped to the floor he opted for the simpler technique of using his own bulk to tackle the beam supporting the mine shaft, aiming to bring it down and crush the little deviant. Caelan continued to try and kill the first creature and carry Isald from the mine but it was hideously resilient and continued to bite through her skull, finally reaching the soft tissue within and gorging itself. As it ate, the foul meal renewed it and Olvir and Caelan watched in horror as the wounds they’d carved in its sides healed before their eyes. It looked at Caelan, perhaps imagining how tasty his brain might be...
The two of them backed away, Olvir reaching for the strut in the mine shaft and hauling on it with all his might. His attempt was accompanied by the pitter-patter of tiny feet rapidly approaching from the corridor beyond and perhaps in desperation, his strength exceeded all he’d done before and the roof began to cave.
They stumbled back as one of the creatures was buried – the beady eyes of the other still fixed on Caelan, who gave one final, valiant strike and cleaved it in twain. Alone in the mine, they heard only the sound of their own breathing and scrabbling from the other side of the rubble and turned to flee. Olvir threw one half of the remaining creature back towards the hole atop the rubble, lifted Isald‘s body and left, dragging her goremaul behind him.
Back at the mine entrance some ninety people were gathered, some with weapons, some without. They made way for him as he handed Isald’s body to one of the waiting, worried guardsmen who carried it to Song’s makeshift treatment area. Laid on the table Song realised quite what an impossible task he’d brought her as she discovered the hole chewed in her skull and the lacking contents... but despite all that she still seemed to be breathing. Hardly understanding why, Song set to patching her up, carefully cradling her head as she gently bandaged the wound with medicinal compresses and having done all she could, she laid her down in a quiet area amidst the rabble, instructing those who looked over her to treat her as carefully as they would the most frail of children.
In the pool of sunlight at the entrance to the mine, the terrified people turned the man at its centre. Caelan looked around at their worried faces, some angry, some afraid. Creation’s newest Solar Exalt wondered quite what he was meant to do and say next...