Green Flame Rising (Exalted vs Dresden Files)

22st of July 2006 A.D.

There is no click of the camera, no flash to mark the moment, but there is also no hiding that you pointed Clippy at the circle. I wonder if I can get one of those hidden wearable cameras like police informants, you wonder doing your best to look anywhere but at Harry, you don't want to see him be disappointed at you, but at the same time you want to know what those signs are, even Usum does not know for certain and the one part that you can still read... well something tells you that you shouldn't be conjuring by it.

"Ah..." you clear your throat, it makes you sound uncertain and being uncertain makes you sound helpless. You don't like playing these games with Harry, truth be told you don't like how easily it comes, but better than just to let it fester. "Do you think you can help me with this? It would be nice to know what else may be lurking in the corners of my understanding when there aren't any weird rituals on the line and Queen Mab in the wings."

And just like that his expression softens. He sighs, potentially sorting some part of his schedule aside for it: "Sure kid."

I should really get the money to pay his rates, you think guiltily. Maybe he wouldn't call me kid then either.

Of course there is one life milestone you passed today that you never thought you would, one marked by the withered corpse that had once been Katrina Holt, you had killed a woman. You had killed a woman and now, as you ponder if you should try to claim that rune-studded jacket, you feel... well you don't feel what you expect to and it's kind of freaking you out a little.

There's no visceral reaction, not a twinge in your stomach and your knees are as steady as they had been when you had cut off her head. People, normal people, are supposed to react badly to killing their fellow man and Katrina was... human in every sense that mattered, she was evil sure and immortal, she deserved what she got and the world is a better place for it, but surely the adrenaline should have flushed itself out of your system by now.

Maybe having a demon who takes the shape of a sword be part of your soul is more than handy weapon storage. You don't say anything as Matthews takes the runeblade burning it clean with a flash of bluish flame, in the end you do not say anything about the jacket either as Lydia gingerly picks it off the corpse.

Clearly you are not the only one feeling off about post battle... spoils because she glares at Harry who had still been looking at her more concerned than anything else. "What? It's not like she's using it."

Is it that simple? you wonder, are you just not upset about death in general. It kind of makes sense for Lydia given who her dad is and where her power comes from, but you have no connection to that domain. The memory of a circle scorched with flame and inked in defiled blood comes back to you. No connection you would want.

"Pardon me oh Wisdom in Darkness Waking," Usum interjects. "But have you considered that you have no care for the death of the fallen not because of what you are, but for who she was?"

"What do you mean?"

The silvery light is starting to fade around Lydia, not like a candle going out, more like a veil once more descending upon mundane sight, a cloud veiling the stars. Your own change seems more sturdy, a thing of brass and stone, of ice and living flame.

"Evil," the demon does not seem like he cares much for the word. "You thought that she was evil, deserving of death. Why then would you be troubled by her passing?"

"Because it's the human thing to do," you insist, though you are not sure if you are trying to convince him or yourself.

"What all of them? Billions that live and billions uncounted who have died over the long years?" he asks doubtfully. "Better to say that it is the common reaction, but you my lady are not common." For a long moment he is quiet and you are alone in your own head, flattery a poor salve indeed, but then he speaks again. "Nor are you any sort of monster. Ask yourself this, if you could in this moment take this body, burn it and from the ash make some medicine to cure ah, children with terminal leukemia..." The last word is unsteady, pulled from your understanding of the world. "Would you do it, or would your respect for the dead bar your hand?"

The question is so bizarre it jars you from your feelings and into serious consideration of an answer. "I would make the cure."

"And if it were some common mortal who nonetheless held to the same fealty as her?" the demon presses.

"Still ground up for cures," you reply at once. It is actually getting easier to reason it out. You do not need to wait for his next question. "If it was a stranger I would ask their next of kin, perhaps take a little to make that cure and leave the rest to be buried in peace."

When you turn to leave the room you are at peace, perhaps too much so for someone who just found out she would be fine with grave robbing Nazis for cancer cures, but everyone has their oddities.

Between Harry's veiling, less steady than his flames but still serviceable and Gard's wards the five of you make it out of the museum under the cover of darkness, the sound of sirens echoing behind you. You do not know where among the dozens of police cars and ambulances the Daedalus people are, but you have no doubt they are there and they will have to write a hell of a report.

---

Triumphs

1. Dealt with Mrs Evans at Church in a diplomatic way 2 XP
2. Convinced Harry that cyber demons are safe-ish 1 XP
3. Successfully interrogated Matthews 1 XP (Lower gains because Harry did most of the heavy lifting)
4. Deflected the attention of the FBI agents and bugged Project Daedalus 2 XP
5. Provided Mouse with a way to more easily communicate and strengthened his trust in you 1 XP
6. Befriended a very curious Bob 1 XP
7. Obtained a alibi for Harry 1 XP
8. Bugged Katrina without revealing yourself 1 XP
9. Obtained the aid of Gard and learned something of her personal history 1 XP
10. Dealt with Katrina's mortal servants without killing any of them 2XP
11. Discovered Lydia's secret 1 XP
12. Dealt with the Undertown guardians, ghouls and ghost 2 XP
13. Introduced Cindy to the notion of having magic safely 1 XP
14. Found a Dragon's Nest and opened peaceful contact with its guardian 1XP
15. Saved Lydia from the Corpsetaker 2XP (because you had to find out she was possessed to begin with)
16. Prevented an ambush outside Harry's apartment 1 XP
17. Found out about Mab's involvement and her plans 1 XP (this would be a lot more XP if you did not have a cheat sheet on scrying the past)
18. Passed the wards, magical traps ans FBI Agents 1 XP
19. Won the Meuseum Battle, defeating Katrina while also keeping Matthews alive and preventing Evil Bob from Escaping with the U-Boat 4 XP
20. Created improvised necro-tech 1 XP
21. Encountered Queen Mab and did not come out too far behind 2 XP

Total XP: 30

As the armor melts from your limbs, as the last of the lights fade around you, a sword now bloodied sheathed again in your heart how does your power grow?
Plan Vote

[] +1 Appearance, with practice and with will you take on a guise less strange, less eerie 8 XP

[] Lessen Touch of Frost, rather than the killing frost your touch is merely cold, instead of killing plants your prorogued ministrations can at most wilt them 5XP

[] +1 Essence Gives two more motes to cap; May spent 3 Essence in one round 16 XP

[] Lanka Charm: By Rage Recast (••): Gives you access to another Shintai Aspect in your human form 6 XP

[] Kakuri Charm: Bloodless Murk Evasion (•••): Allows Shadow teleportation including to reflexively avoid all but holy attacks 9 XP

[] Kakuri Charm: False Springs Beckckon (•••) Allows you to suspect the torments of those who serve you, including the derangement caused the use of by Black Magic 9 XP

[] Wicked City Charm: Hollow Mind Possession (••): Invest a dark spirit in a into a smart device within line of sight, awakening it into an AI subject of your power within the limits of the device. Can be permanent with enough successes 4 XP

[] The Hell of Boiling Oil Charms Charm: Charred Sinner Renewal (•) : Regain Essence and Heal much faster when immersed in toxic liquids; Immunity to the harmful effects of such liquids when immersed 4 XP

[] The Hell of Burrowing Maggots Charm: Demonic Primacy of Essence (•): Lesser Creatures of Darkness recognize your dread majesty making it easier to sway them. All social rolls with such beings reduced by 2. 4 XP

[] The Hell of Burrowing Maggots Charm: Verdant Emptiness Endowment (•••••): Grant the prayers of any who would cast their wishes in the wind and in exchange if you should wish demand obediance

[] Ancient Sorcery Spell [Will be Gained when next you sleep] Calling the Calibration Gate: Opens a gate to the Nevernever, be it to the realms of the fey, the underworld or the Hells at the infernal command. Alternatively can be used to open a gate from any of these realms to the mortal world. No lesser power may bar the gate, though they can of course send their hosts to try and hold it more conventionally 10 XP

[] Ancient Sorcery Spell [Will be Gained when next you sleep] Disguise of the New Face: Perfectly transform the subject (which can be the caster) into the likeness of another used during the spell. This is not glamor that can be disbelieved or broken, but physical transformation including such elements as fingerprints, retinas and even DNA as long as the spell lasts 10 XP

[] Ancient Sorcery Spell [Will be Gained when next you sleep] Emerald Spirit Binding: Bind a spirit to your service for a year and a day, if a spirit has been recently defeated in battle it may not resist. A sorcerer may have spirits bound equal to her essence rating. 10 XP

[] Ancient Sorcery Spell [Will be Gained when next you sleep] Mists of Eventide: Conjure fog that brings forth enchanted slumber. Willpower difficulty 9 to resist 10 XP

[] Ancient Sorcery Spell [Will be Gained when next you sleep] Sapphire Ritual of Exorcism: Over the course of ten minutes banish any possessing spirit or power from its victim/host. Not even the Fallen may resist the mandala of absolute reality 10 XP

[] Write in (Rules for XP spending can be found on the character sheet)

OOC: Welp, not a lot of action, I hope you guys do not mind, but we have had a lot of that lately so I went for a more contemplative ending in the form of therapy with a demon. The infernal Exalted may be human at their core and masters of their fate, but they are not wholly who they once were, power this great and this alien does come with changes.