[X]Make sure Autochthon isn't too pissed.
-[X]Introduce him to the concept of Infernals and the Orrery type Alchemicals/Penitent Star.
Ray hefts up her sister and carries her down into the hold. You and Sky grunt, hefting the encounter suit out of the deck, and Sky places his hand on the suit itself. The dents hammer themselves out, the loose facet eye fixes itself back into place, and the varied scratches and scores from the two dozen blood apes getting cheap shots in on him disappear.
"I've been learning craft charms," he says with a shrug.
You both help the encounter suit up. "Are you angry?" you ask.
Might as well get the important parts out of the way first. Last time the Great Maker got angry, Creation ended up with the Underworld. I mean, what's the worst he can do? But you know what the worst he can do is. Make seven hundred unstoppable superweapons that drop a continent into the Wyld for shits and giggles.
"Absolutely livid." The facet eyes rotate. "However, I shall put this towards constructive use."
He begins walking towards the door to the hold. You nod to Sky, and he places his hand on the deck to fix the damage. At least that will save you the headache of Florivet coming back to a wrecked ship.
You follow Autochthon into the hold. Ray has Hatachi tied up to one of the support beams and is smacking health back into her sister. At the center of the hold, Shell sits in lotus position, the distorting field of her magic masking her presence, and more importantly Ruvelia's.
Homkora gives you both a wary glance, her whip sword out.
"So," you say, gesturing at Hatachi, "Hatachi is an Infernal Exalted. Please don't dissect her or vivisect her, because she's Ray's sister."
The encounter suit stares at her for long moments. The facet eyes flicker, registering new colors. "Interesting. And clever, I will admit as much."
He turns back to you, then walks over to a table in the hold. "The Exaltations can potentially host Primordial charms. During the war, they did not because Gaia was officially neutral, and the nature of the Incarnae are not completely compatible with Primordial. Hence needing further charm architecture for a Solar Exalted to learn Primordial. Save maybe the Eclipse."
You nod, leaning against the table. "The Orrery had Infernals. We brought one with us. His charms are a version of Theion's."
Autochthon nods. "Definitely possible. As I said, it was a predictive model. I am not enthused by the prospect of my kin once again re-purposing my inventions but I am being constructive in my anger."
"Ebeli." Shell raises a hand. "If the Great Maker was going to act in anger, he would just force me to deactivate the field that's masking myself and Ruvelia."
You turn from Shell to Autochthon. "But Cecelyne would already know you're here."
"Cecelyne is apathetic to my presence. The return of Ruvelia would gain the interest of most, if not all the Yozi. However, like I said, I am being constructive in my anger. I am attempting to work outside my themes. I am not very good at it, however."
He turns back to the workbench and draws two objects out of Elsewhere. One is a bracelet made out of fine, worked brass. Filigrees of emerald run through the band, weaving essence through it. Autochthon picks it up, and walks over to Ruvelia.
"This is a collaboration between myself of Ligier, from the Times of Primordial Glory. A predecessor to the Exaltations in thematic, if not in deed."
He hands her the bracelet. She accepts it with a smile, placing it on her wrist. "It is wonderfully crafted, Great Maker. What does it do?"
"To those attuned to it, their essence will register to those that view such things as that of the Green Sun."
She smiles, placing her hand on his. "Thank you."
He walks back to the workbench and picks up the other item. A brass sphere, with a crystal set in the front. White essence glows at its heart, and two handles, just big enough for your hands, flank the open core. It also rotates or maybe its shadow does when you look at it. Like other inventions made directly by him, it seems to always be a particular shape or direction, never changing by such things as people moving it.
"This is for you," he says, "I am not a combatant. This will alleviate that. It does not require attunement. Open it and it will summon a powerful machine spirit to your side that will aid you."
You pick it up. Already you can feel the electricity off of it, the purity of its essence. "Thank you."
Autochthon nods. "I will return to Elsewhere."
With a flash of lightning, he's gone. You walk over and nod. Ray whaps her sister on the head, and the tied up Hatachi wakes up.
"My boys all gets shots in on Autochthon?"
You nod.
A single, proud tear runs down the Infernal's cheek. "They are going to get so much demon pussy when they pop back up."
"Glad to see you're priorities are straight." You click your tongue. "What's the Reclamation?"
"It's how the Ebon Dragon maintains an erection nowadays." Oh you did not need that image. "More or less like, six or seven of the Yozi metaphysically getting into a circle and sort of working each other for some reason. You know, bopping, twisting, friction. They want to get out but, you know, day that's named after an Incarnae."
You rub the bridge of your nose. "Do you report to any of them?"
"Adorjan. She don't care. Isidoros. He don't care. Kinda work for the Ebon Dragon but I don't, cause the best thing to do when dealing with the Ebon Dragon's to not deal with the Ebon Dragon?"
You nod. "Right. We'll talk later." Ray then bops her on the head again to knock her back out.
You walk up to the deck, followed by the others. Your Sorcerer's Sight tells you that yes, Ruvelia's own essence now registers as the Green Sun. Saves some trouble down the line but you realize that you'll have to make sure she doesn't lose that bracelet.
"So Suntarankal is fighting Ligier," Homkora says, "And Ligier did not open up with green fire?"
Wait. Yeah. That is odd.
The answer comes in the form of the night sky igniting with green flame. "I'd say that he was waiting to put some distance between us and him."
Green flame trails down, further down. It hits the sand like a comet some hundred yards before you, sending a geyser of molten glass into the sky. It rains down but a wave of Homkora's hand turns it into a translucent dome, and you hear the faint pings of the glass drops.
In the distance, you can see the two- Ligier, with his sword, and the Crucible of Brass and Iron holding a blackened, wooden staff.
[ ]Fight by Ligier's side.
[ ]Let Ligier deal with the Crucible.
[ ]Write in.
