SirLagginton
Shadow Cabal Caerbannog Bun-Bun
- Location
- Arrrghhh
No objection.
[Exalted, ?] Most High
- Thread starter Rihaku
- Start date
-
- Tags
- exalted (white wolf)
Rihaku
The Internet
Okay, so consensus is to fight Polemgaos and have Nilul disguise herself and hide close by? Given your current suite of arguments, you have an okay-ish chance of persuading Nilul, but you would have a better chance if you decide to voluntarily forfeit the tournament after beating Polemgaos, if you manage to, maybe citing that Zao ordered you to forfeit. Could be a prudent idea in general, since it hopefully gets you away from whatever these Infernals are planning. You would get E4 if you win, but much less prestige and of course, no purse. However, people might be intrigued by your actions or something, which could benefit or hinder you.
Emerald Oracle
Chaos, yet harmony. Death, yet the Force
- Location
- The Else
## Fanwork (An attempt at stunting the Cathak fight despite a screaming lack of rules knowledge) Wordcount: 703
Sesus Ulyssian stood before the crowd as it watched in silent, but mounting anticipation. How could it not when a fight between two such storied Chosen was about to commence. Sesus Ulyssian, the secret apprentice of Zao, who spent years beneath the masquerade of a mortal before revealed himself to protect his dearest friend, and who had effortlessly extinguished a Perfect Brotherhood of Immaculate shikari to prove his power and blood.
Facing this newcomer was the illustrious Cathak Polemgaos, Saint of the Immaculate Order, Thrice-crowned Master of Flames, fourteen time winner of this very tournament, who had faced some of the deadliest Anathema to walk Creation, including the dreaded Ma-Ha-Suchi. Polemgaos was the favorite to win, with deep powers and an uncontested history of excellence. Ulyssian was not completely written off however, and as combat began it became clear why that was.
The chosen successor of the legendary Admiral Zao was no stranger to battle, and quickly seized the initiative in a blinding display of skill. He closed the distance between the two combatants between the blinks of an eye, swifter than even the vaunted eyes of many of the Dragon's Chosen who watched. Again, and again, his wishmetal blade clashed against his opponent.
He could gain no purchase though, as his every blow was met and matched by the Cathak's own peerless skill. Onward and onward the battle moved, as each tried and failed to find or force an opening in the other fighter's guard. The power and majesty of both men was on display, as was the greatness of their armaments.
Odyssian's blade flashed like the sun itself, the wishmetal it was forged of moving to guard every approach and strike with what seemed the speed of thought. His armor, the legendary Storm Armor of Admiral Zao shielded him in preternatural ways, and allowed him to move in 3 dimensions with a skill that an Air Aspect would envy.
Cathak Polemgaos weapons were equally mighty, though of a lesser quality than his opponents. His short spear Iron Tail, forged from Red Jade by the greatest artisans of the Realm, stretched forth to smite his foe, extending and contracting to place itself at the optimal range at all times. His armor, Iron Scale, was full plate, perfectly articulated in such a manner to almost perfectly allow his range of movement.
As each man strove to find a weakness in the others form, none appeared. The deadly lava of Iron Tail remained within, while the unsurpassed excellence of the blade Ambition served only to keep its bearer at a reasonable parity with his deadly foe. Ulyssian strove with every inch of his being to defeat his foe, while Polemgaos withstood him with the confidence of the mighty and the assurance of history.
The Arena itself was less redoubtable than its occupants. The sheer power and force behind the blows that were struck caused damaged, and rendered the floor treacherous and yet another hazard to be dealt with.
In the end, it was the environment itself and a fluke of random chance that decided the victor. Retreating in order to counter attack Cathak Polemgaos slipped ever so slightly upon a loose flagstone that had felt clear to him but a moment before. Most would never notice the weakness in his stance, or the slight opening that it allowed, but to the peerless senses of Sesus Ulyssian's Cathak's misstep was as loud and obvious as the angry roar of the Emperyeal Chaos itself.
The momentum from the countless clashes rested briefly with Ulyssian, and in that fell moment he struck with all of his power, seeking not to kill, but to incapacitate. His opponent was deadly, and capable of withstanding tremendous force and damage without harm. He was not however proof against the flat of the blade Ambition striking his forehead with enough precisely calculated force, that despite his native durability and the almost mythic perfection of Iron Scale, he was out like the sun during Calibration.
In the end, Youth and Ambition had defeated Age and Complacence, despite the tremendous difference in experience. Random chance had ruled the day, and Sesus Ulyssian stood upon the broken ruins of the Arena in Victory.
Sesus Ulyssian stood before the crowd as it watched in silent, but mounting anticipation. How could it not when a fight between two such storied Chosen was about to commence. Sesus Ulyssian, the secret apprentice of Zao, who spent years beneath the masquerade of a mortal before revealed himself to protect his dearest friend, and who had effortlessly extinguished a Perfect Brotherhood of Immaculate shikari to prove his power and blood.
Facing this newcomer was the illustrious Cathak Polemgaos, Saint of the Immaculate Order, Thrice-crowned Master of Flames, fourteen time winner of this very tournament, who had faced some of the deadliest Anathema to walk Creation, including the dreaded Ma-Ha-Suchi. Polemgaos was the favorite to win, with deep powers and an uncontested history of excellence. Ulyssian was not completely written off however, and as combat began it became clear why that was.
The chosen successor of the legendary Admiral Zao was no stranger to battle, and quickly seized the initiative in a blinding display of skill. He closed the distance between the two combatants between the blinks of an eye, swifter than even the vaunted eyes of many of the Dragon's Chosen who watched. Again, and again, his wishmetal blade clashed against his opponent.
He could gain no purchase though, as his every blow was met and matched by the Cathak's own peerless skill. Onward and onward the battle moved, as each tried and failed to find or force an opening in the other fighter's guard. The power and majesty of both men was on display, as was the greatness of their armaments.
Odyssian's blade flashed like the sun itself, the wishmetal it was forged of moving to guard every approach and strike with what seemed the speed of thought. His armor, the legendary Storm Armor of Admiral Zao shielded him in preternatural ways, and allowed him to move in 3 dimensions with a skill that an Air Aspect would envy.
Cathak Polemgaos weapons were equally mighty, though of a lesser quality than his opponents. His short spear Iron Tail, forged from Red Jade by the greatest artisans of the Realm, stretched forth to smite his foe, extending and contracting to place itself at the optimal range at all times. His armor, Iron Scale, was full plate, perfectly articulated in such a manner to almost perfectly allow his range of movement.
As each man strove to find a weakness in the others form, none appeared. The deadly lava of Iron Tail remained within, while the unsurpassed excellence of the blade Ambition served only to keep its bearer at a reasonable parity with his deadly foe. Ulyssian strove with every inch of his being to defeat his foe, while Polemgaos withstood him with the confidence of the mighty and the assurance of history.
The Arena itself was less redoubtable than its occupants. The sheer power and force behind the blows that were struck caused damaged, and rendered the floor treacherous and yet another hazard to be dealt with.
In the end, it was the environment itself and a fluke of random chance that decided the victor. Retreating in order to counter attack Cathak Polemgaos slipped ever so slightly upon a loose flagstone that had felt clear to him but a moment before. Most would never notice the weakness in his stance, or the slight opening that it allowed, but to the peerless senses of Sesus Ulyssian's Cathak's misstep was as loud and obvious as the angry roar of the Emperyeal Chaos itself.
The momentum from the countless clashes rested briefly with Ulyssian, and in that fell moment he struck with all of his power, seeking not to kill, but to incapacitate. His opponent was deadly, and capable of withstanding tremendous force and damage without harm. He was not however proof against the flat of the blade Ambition striking his forehead with enough precisely calculated force, that despite his native durability and the almost mythic perfection of Iron Scale, he was out like the sun during Calibration.
In the end, Youth and Ambition had defeated Age and Complacence, despite the tremendous difference in experience. Random chance had ruled the day, and Sesus Ulyssian stood upon the broken ruins of the Arena in Victory.
Rihaku
The Internet
Don't worry, you don't need any knowledge to stunt! Ya did fine!
- Location
- Southern Virginia
Well, if we forfeit we should at least make sure to grab that Sorcerer to get an IM to Zao and Ivory so they can put together an excuse for it. It's suspicious in the extreme, mind, so that might spark Infernal curiosity in and of itself. But a really good excuse might suffice to deflect the worst consequences.
I'm more or less in favor of forfeiting in that case, I think.
We're more exposed and we'll be under a lot of attention either way, and being short on resources with a pair of Infernals nearby strikes me as a bad idea - even if they don't realize we're a Solar, they might decide we're impressive and young enough to try to recruit, which would end up giving away way too much.
Forfeiting attracts some of the wrong kinds of attention, but it also gets us away from the people who'd first investigate, and gives us time to put together a better story and the evidence to back it up.
Emerald Oracle
Chaos, yet harmony. Death, yet the Force
- Location
- The Else
Meh, Forfeiting after a win gets interest in him (good and bad), shows filial piety (or the local equivalent thereof) for obeying Zao over personal Glory, and gets Nilul out of the immediate firing range. I'm kinda ok with it? Beating one of the top 3 dragonbloods in existence in Single Combat is enough of a political gain for me.
Zao might take some flak for 'ordering' Ulyssian out of the tournament at that time, but he's eccentric and pretty close to unassailable anyway. He isn't completely unassailable of course, but this shouldn't seem out of character for "that weirdo" and so shouldn't open much in the way of chinks.
EDIT: of course all that is predicated on Zao and Ivory actually being aware of what we're doing and being able to run damage control, but sending them a coded message should be doable yes?
Zao might take some flak for 'ordering' Ulyssian out of the tournament at that time, but he's eccentric and pretty close to unassailable anyway. He isn't completely unassailable of course, but this shouldn't seem out of character for "that weirdo" and so shouldn't open much in the way of chinks.
EDIT: of course all that is predicated on Zao and Ivory actually being aware of what we're doing and being able to run damage control, but sending them a coded message should be doable yes?
Rihaku
The Internet
Zao will non-definitively imply that he ordered you to do it without explicit communication; he'll assume you have a VERY good reason, else there will be hell to pay! But he knows how to put up a Mysterious United Front.
DarkLight140
Credit to Team
- Location
- Lost in my thoughts
I can't help but think that running and hiding doesn't play to Nilul's strengths when dealing with the Yozis' minions. She should be able to disguise herself as someone else, convince them that she's representing a major House/a solar circle/a deathlord/someone else staggeringly powerful and is interested in allying with them, possibly even in their capacity as agents of the Yozis. Once they've taken the bait she manipulates them into telling her whatever she wants to know about their plans and possibly gets them killed, with some modest assistance from Ulyssian and/or her own ability to finagle them into incriminating themselves while the Wyld Hunt watches.
@Rihaku, is the tournament Single Elimination or are we going by brackets. If it's single elimination it means the person gets defeated at any turn drops out. If it's brackets it means someone getting enough wins can advance even if they lost one or two rounds.
This will greatly impact the plan that I'm cooking up to deal with the Infernal.
This will greatly impact the plan that I'm cooking up to deal with the Infernal.
Rihaku
The Internet
Single elimination.
She would likely be quite effective if you could persuade her to do that or something like it, but there is the off chance that they're very good lie detectors. You know nothing about their power levels, after all. So, you'd have to persuade her. And hey! Nilul's pretty damn good at running and hiding, thank you very much.
"Should" is an interesting word.
I have to say that, while running and hiding might not play to the strength of her charms - it's also what she's done, historically. Ulyssian's the local expert on conflicts, not Nilul, and we shouldn't be surprised to see that in practice.
In the long term, we'd definitely prefer that she have a better sense of how to handle herself in situations like these and greater courage; in the short term, bitching at her for not being the resource we'd like her to be is low utility.
Rihaku
The Internet
You don't know, sadly, the drawing is later today after you make these plans!
Well, that's unfortunate.
Obviously any kind of statement that our willingness to forfeit heavily depends on our opponents isn't going to do nearly as much for placating Nilul.
Thinking about it, what's the likely reaction to us forfeiting against House Sesus in particular anyways?
Are others going to make a huge deal about unsportsmanlike behaviour?
Would Sesus appreciate the gesture or be pissed at the implied need for us to surrender so they can win?
Any other participants whom surrendering to could have problematic implications that I'm missing due to lack of immersion into the culture?
Rihaku
The Internet
You're going to just declare that you're done with the tournament immediately after beating Polemgaos, assuming you do. People will know the bracket, but will draw their own conclusions.
Guile
Having a really great time right now
Here's an interesting thought; could we convince them that we're an Infernal exalt? The Infernals work together much better than most factions, but there's 50 of them and no reason for them to all work together. If that's too risky, joining up with faux-Nilul as the fist to her silken glove would be interesting. Claim to be a Lunar or Deathlord or something, and defer to faux-Nilul as our secret master.
Ayala and Fei Ling are an Adamant Sorcereress and a master assassin, respectively. Those are jobs that take quite a lot of work to master. At some point we have to stop ascribing all the arcane powers to them; surely they can't outfight Uly and out-social Nilul and Integrity their way out of Uly's super-Intimidation act. And if they do see through our incredible disguises (it might be in Fei Ling's wheelhouse, I'm not sure in what tree the relevant charm is located), surely Uly and Nilul will be able to tell that, and we can fight them then (or let them go and hit them later, when they're not expecting us). Uly saw through Nilul, surely these guys can't lie better than her.
Negotiating a truce between the Yozi's minions and whatever mysterious cabal we (claim to) represent would be a lot more fun than fleeing into the night.
Ayala and Fei Ling are an Adamant Sorcereress and a master assassin, respectively. Those are jobs that take quite a lot of work to master. At some point we have to stop ascribing all the arcane powers to them; surely they can't outfight Uly and out-social Nilul and Integrity their way out of Uly's super-Intimidation act. And if they do see through our incredible disguises (it might be in Fei Ling's wheelhouse, I'm not sure in what tree the relevant charm is located), surely Uly and Nilul will be able to tell that, and we can fight them then (or let them go and hit them later, when they're not expecting us). Uly saw through Nilul, surely these guys can't lie better than her.
Negotiating a truce between the Yozi's minions and whatever mysterious cabal we (claim to) represent would be a lot more fun than fleeing into the night.
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Rihaku
The Internet
It could be possible, sure. It's risky, that goes without saying, but the potential benefit is information. With stunts and support, it could be viable, though you'd sit upon a throne of lies. You could just pretend to be a besotted Solar or something, though there are only a few GSPs so, while they're not close knit, careful examination may turn up the fact that the one Nilul is impersonating does not exist!
There was a work emergency so the update may or may not be delayed.
Guile
Having a really great time right now
I'm kind of glad; it gives this idea some time to circulate and gather support.
Rihaku
The Internet
Anyway, the point is that you don't know how powerful they are IC, and meta-wise you only know that Ayala is a Celestial Circle Sorceror. They could well be uber at countering all the fields you guys are good at, and not über at fields that neither of you care about, like Craft.
But it is extremely unlikely that they are good at those exact fields, yes.
But it is extremely unlikely that they are good at those exact fields, yes.
There is a serious problem in that there are only 50 infernal exaltations total. Odds are they won't buy that 2 exalts they have never heard of are in the same place as them without them hearing about it as they can probably know the names of 30-40 of them at least.
Fanwork##
717
One strike for a hundred or a thousand blows were not enough. A devastating power was far from sufficient. To fell a Titan, one had to move once to cut a billion times, bring apocalyptic power to bear. Aim to annihilate rather than simply kill. If the Princes of the Earth had little in common with those incomprehensible existences, the colossi among their numbers bestrode Creation as those old creatures had. Indeed, battling Zao even as a simple training exercise was to oppose implacable might. Because he knew that theirs was not a tide of strength that could be stemmed once aroused, Ulyssian strove to anticipate it.
If he had been a blur against the Immaculates he had faced, this time he simply faded from sight altogether, the sole sign that he had ever stood before Polemgaos the cracked earth he left behind. It was not enough.
Ambition rose in defense of its master and never came close to reach the target it had initially sought. Caught as an arrow in flight, Ulyssian faded back into view in a flash of golden radiance as the deadly head of Iron Point was batted aside. Sustained by Zao's gift, rather than being hurled away by the backlash of the exchange, he hovered on electrified winds, as the legendary Cathak took a slight step back. In the split second it took him to regain his footing, Ulyssian fell like a storm upon him.
Before the deluge of strikes he unleashed could takes its toll, a sudden wave of heat forced him to blitz away, a white-hot firestorm igniting around his adversary moments after his retreat. Leaving him no respite, Iron Edge punched through the burning shroud surrounding Polemgaos, devouring the distance towards his flying form in the time between heartbeats. Once again it was batted away.
Only this time the legendary Dragon spun with the blow-back, his segmented weapon whipping through the air like the draconian tail it recalled.
Ulyssian plunged beneath its arc and then rocketed away, pursed by an ever increasing rain of blows.
Dodging above, around or beneath the deadly strikes, the whole sky his to dance in, he nonetheless seemed in difficulty, for soon he was falling back on the scintillating sweeps of Ambition to intercept the attacks. The spectators held and released their breath in rhythm with the meeting of Ambition and Iron Edge, hypnotized as they were by the deadly dance, each waiting for the fatal misstep that would surely-
Torn from Ulyssian's in a thundering sound, Ambition spun, a falling star illuminating the heavens in its course.
The blitzing series of moves that followed was lost to most, only the more experienced of the watchers-the competitors chief among them- caught a glimpse of it.
Ulyssian's implacable grip seized the length of Iron Edge before its point reached his armored chest, fingers closing then pulling backward even as his body rocketed forward. Cathak Polemgaos stumbled. Ambition returned in a flash to his adversary hand only to leave him immediately after. The Dragon settled in a ready stance, ready just in time to catch the projectile and wait for its owner.
As his hands closed on the radiant blade, Polemgaos frowned. Ordinarily such showmanship was beyond him but he had felt strangely willful since the ceremony that heralded the tournament, and a lesson was warranted had he though. Some humility could only benefit a rising star such as this one, and Zao could only profit for some of that too. His affinity to the flames many deemed him the master was such that catching it by its handle as it flew by had been child play, but now that he had it in its hands...something seemed amiss.
His pondering was interrupted as a crackling sound came to him, heralding the arrival of his adversary. Advancing to confront him, he dismissed his errant thoughts and prepared himself to end things. As he found himself reeling from a thunderous blow, confusion rather than pain-he had been struck far harder than that- rose in its mind. Had he just leaned in the blow? As his recent prize disappeared from his hands back to Ulyssian's, understanding rose in him.
It was far too late, though, for Ambition fell anew upon him carried by the full strength of Sesus Ulyssian.
717
One strike for a hundred or a thousand blows were not enough. A devastating power was far from sufficient. To fell a Titan, one had to move once to cut a billion times, bring apocalyptic power to bear. Aim to annihilate rather than simply kill. If the Princes of the Earth had little in common with those incomprehensible existences, the colossi among their numbers bestrode Creation as those old creatures had. Indeed, battling Zao even as a simple training exercise was to oppose implacable might. Because he knew that theirs was not a tide of strength that could be stemmed once aroused, Ulyssian strove to anticipate it.
If he had been a blur against the Immaculates he had faced, this time he simply faded from sight altogether, the sole sign that he had ever stood before Polemgaos the cracked earth he left behind. It was not enough.
Ambition rose in defense of its master and never came close to reach the target it had initially sought. Caught as an arrow in flight, Ulyssian faded back into view in a flash of golden radiance as the deadly head of Iron Point was batted aside. Sustained by Zao's gift, rather than being hurled away by the backlash of the exchange, he hovered on electrified winds, as the legendary Cathak took a slight step back. In the split second it took him to regain his footing, Ulyssian fell like a storm upon him.
Before the deluge of strikes he unleashed could takes its toll, a sudden wave of heat forced him to blitz away, a white-hot firestorm igniting around his adversary moments after his retreat. Leaving him no respite, Iron Edge punched through the burning shroud surrounding Polemgaos, devouring the distance towards his flying form in the time between heartbeats. Once again it was batted away.
Only this time the legendary Dragon spun with the blow-back, his segmented weapon whipping through the air like the draconian tail it recalled.
Ulyssian plunged beneath its arc and then rocketed away, pursed by an ever increasing rain of blows.
Dodging above, around or beneath the deadly strikes, the whole sky his to dance in, he nonetheless seemed in difficulty, for soon he was falling back on the scintillating sweeps of Ambition to intercept the attacks. The spectators held and released their breath in rhythm with the meeting of Ambition and Iron Edge, hypnotized as they were by the deadly dance, each waiting for the fatal misstep that would surely-
Torn from Ulyssian's in a thundering sound, Ambition spun, a falling star illuminating the heavens in its course.
The blitzing series of moves that followed was lost to most, only the more experienced of the watchers-the competitors chief among them- caught a glimpse of it.
Ulyssian's implacable grip seized the length of Iron Edge before its point reached his armored chest, fingers closing then pulling backward even as his body rocketed forward. Cathak Polemgaos stumbled. Ambition returned in a flash to his adversary hand only to leave him immediately after. The Dragon settled in a ready stance, ready just in time to catch the projectile and wait for its owner.
As his hands closed on the radiant blade, Polemgaos frowned. Ordinarily such showmanship was beyond him but he had felt strangely willful since the ceremony that heralded the tournament, and a lesson was warranted had he though. Some humility could only benefit a rising star such as this one, and Zao could only profit for some of that too. His affinity to the flames many deemed him the master was such that catching it by its handle as it flew by had been child play, but now that he had it in its hands...something seemed amiss.
His pondering was interrupted as a crackling sound came to him, heralding the arrival of his adversary. Advancing to confront him, he dismissed his errant thoughts and prepared himself to end things. As he found himself reeling from a thunderous blow, confusion rather than pain-he had been struck far harder than that- rose in its mind. Had he just leaned in the blow? As his recent prize disappeared from his hands back to Ulyssian's, understanding rose in him.
It was far too late, though, for Ambition fell anew upon him carried by the full strength of Sesus Ulyssian.