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Vetiver Mirror	Ohanlei, Goddess of Tea doesn't have a monopoly on tea shops through heaven but you would be hard pressed to find a more comfortably down to earth vibe. One of many this one built upon itself as the generations have lead to expansion sits on the corner of five streets meeting. The red building iss festooned with a myriad of paper lanterns as well as glowing from within. Spirts, gods, and dragons of all statuses rub shoulders and enjoy their tea. A perfect place to meet without drawing attention as well as catch up on the rumor mill. Vetiver Mirror has a table already picked out and ready. Set into a corner with a good view of the entrance and a large round table to accommodate all the planned guests. Lounging back on a pillow she waits for the others to arrive.
Serene Herald	The Serene Hereald of the Cessation of Strife and Sorrow makes his way in to the teahouse. Today he is dressed in a purple set of silks, and otherwise unadorned. When he sees Vetiver, he smiles, gives a courteous nod, and walks over to join her at the table. "Hello," he says. It is good to see you. This should be all very interesting.
Scarlet Onyx Sunada	Scarlet stands before the tea house for a moment and inhales, enjoying the smells coming from the establishment. She nods to herself and steps inside. She has traded her guard disguise for a red tunic dress and black boots. She glances around the interior taking in everyone that is currently within. She casually makes her way over to Vetiver and Serene Herald. "Well met on this auspicious day. Thank you for the invitation." She choices a seat that gives her the best view of the room.
Nine Roads Alani	From a distance, there's a rapid clop-clopping of hooves galloping full-tilt down the road, rudely overtaking other, more sedate pedestrians, carriages, and rickshaws. The sound grows louder and louder until an elegant dark-wooden chariot, pulled by a pair of powerful, healthy-looking mares. In the chariot is a single figure, a young woman in a tan and black robe, wind in her blonde hair, her expression a cross between exultation and worry. It's hauling full-tilt down the road until it reaches the tea shop at breakneck speed, then both mares skid to an absurdly fast stop without any kind of input from the driver. The skid is fast enough to break the legs of any normal horse, but these two manage it without complaint. In fact, while one seems all business, there might actually be a whicker of amusement from the other as she skids in such a way as to send the chariot, and its occupant, -flying- over the horses' heads! "UWAAAAA~!" Despite being flung ass-over-teakettle, the blonde tucks and rolls, and as she does so, the entire chariot, including the horses, shifts and morphs in midair, coalescing into a single, large, dark wooden chariot wheel. It's in the palm of her hand as she lands in a three-point stance, exhales gustily, then stands and shakes out her comically wind-blown hair. Ignoring the annoyed onlookers, she walks into the tea house, the wagon wheel over one shoulder like she was carrying a bookbag. She immediately veers towards the table with the others and offers a cheesy grin. "G'afternoon, you all. Am I late?"
Vetiver Mirror	Rocking up from her lounging position, folding her legs under her properly in the process, trying not to look too relaxed around her peers. The seer is wearing a simple but bright yellow-orange yukata. Bells tied to the red ribbons that wrap her sleeves in place as well as midsection. Jingling with her movements. "Auspicious indeed. Glad you could make it. Hopefully not too much traffic at the gate?" Fox ears perking at the loud sounds outside. Giving a wry smile as another guesst arrive. Waving to Alani "Earlier than those who haven't shown up, but I get the feeling everyone who is meant to be here is." Turning to the group as a whole. "Do we need introductions?"
Serene Herald	Serene Herald shakes his head. "I do not think so. I at least know all of you," he says and reaches to start pouring tea, in one ceramic cup, then another, until four all four are done. He smiles, "And Alani, you enjoyed every second of that, as well as the dramatic conclusion, showing off your acrobatics to the rest of us, and we know it.
Scarlet Onyx Sunada	Scarlet watches with amusement in her eyes are Nine Roads Alani come flying up the road and into the tea house. She stands up and claps. "Bravo on a most excellent entrance. I do hope to match your flourish for the dramtic one day." She sits back down in her chair. "I have only recently arrived myself. Only our host can say for sure." She glances at Vetiver. "Indeed, we are all known to each other through our interactions in Great Forks. Did you me to threaten some other petty scavenger to get more lost items of antiquity?"
Nine Roads Alani	Alani chuckles, her smile at Herald's comment telling the story. "Heh. Of course! And, yeah, I had fun." She bows for Scarlet, grinning, then holds up a finger imperiously. "I did -not-, as some might accuse me, intentionally set out late so I could do that. There was a moron at the Great Forks gate and I had to sit in line for fifteen minutes! Ugh." She leans her wheel in an out-of-the-way spot by her chair and has a seat. "Actually, if there's any of you I don't know terribly well, it's our illustrious hostess. Have we met? I'm sure I remember your face, but I'm not sure we've been introduced, and all that stuff." She gratefully accepts her cup of tea and sips. "Oh, this is good. Good choice," she says. "I haven't been back here in a while, and I just about forgot the difference."
Vetiver Mirror	Vetiver gives a shrug and an easy smile. "Meeting creation side is one thing. Meeting here where we can be ourselves? That's a little different." Taking the tea from Herald as he finishes pouring it. Letting her hands wrap about it and absorb it's warmth. "No double talk, no cover identities, no need to lean in and whisper. Though Scarlet you mentioned circle-mates when we met? Maybe I'm the one at a disadvantage." "Mm!" setting her tea down and leans over the table to offer her hand to Alani. "I suppose this is the first time we met. I'm Vetiver Mirror. Seer, though mostly just a thief for the Department of Secrets. Track down lost dodads and track wayward first age magics."
Serene Herald	"Serene Herald. Yes, I'm the Reckoner who could have been a Seer. Met another of Jupiter's who is much more the secretive killer than I am. I wonder if they traded our destinies?" Herald muses."And I have run into a number of...interesting people in Great Forks. We all have, and being able to pool everything together...it will help."
Scarlet Onyx Sunada	Scarlet grins again. "These are my circle mates. We are still a circle right or did management break it. I think I would remember that." Scarlet scratchs her nose for a moment. "Yep, pretty sure we are. I'm a maiden of Mars. Until recently I was a traveling monk. I've been spending my time in Great Forks lately looking into the rumors of other exalts. A pooling of knowledge is a good idea at this point."
Nine Roads Alani	Alani offers Vetiver a smile, and her hand. "Pleasure to meet you, Vetiver! And, yeah, we definitely needed to meet up again and talk. A lot's happened since the coliseum, and not everyone here was there anyway." Hey, at least Alani's not completely without manners! Not that she'd done anything to show them in the few minutes before now. "Anyway. Nine Roads Alani, ostensible courier, tomb delver, and like Herald said, we've been asked to circle up and report on the Exalted in Great Forks. Apparently their predictions for the city were past 'lame' and approaching 'abysmally bad', so they finally asked us to come here and figure out who's throwing everything off. And hoo boy, they were right, because we've run into a number of powerful celestial Exalted. Not in a -bad- way, mind you, they seem pretty solid folk so far that I can tell. But their putting thumbs on fate's scales tips it pretty hard, so once they know who these people are, hopefully they can predict their actions the old fashioned way."
Vetiver Mirror	"I mean do you want to be a Seer Herald?." Earnestly curious as he muses on the nature of his exaltation. "Sometimes I wish I could have been a Joybringer. They got a waaaaay more fun office. Puzzles and riddles to get to your next meeting is fun like the first five times but it gets old quick." Giving a little chuckle. "I'm not going to say no to an exchange of information. I'm curious about our missions anyway." Listening to Alani she nods. "That matches some of my information. Though my boss thinks its more the number of arcane works in town that is the root cause. After my first survey a few months back I'm inclined to agree. Did you know there is a pool you can take a dip in and look how ever you want and the priest lets mortals do this for free en-mass?"
Serene Herald	"No, I am happy as a Reckoner, but I am a scholar and philosopher by training, is all, so it is a different mindset." Herald shrugs a bit and sips his tea. "I have met Rishi. She's from the South, and she calims to serve teh Lady of the Changing Waters. I should put in a search for who that is. Then there is the Abyssal. She has the Biship as her patron, and thinks I am a fellow one, with Saturn as another of the Deathlords. I am not sure how I managed to trick her with that..."
Scarlet Onyx Sunada	Scarlet's eyebrows raise at this revalation. "What, what now? There's a pool of water in the city that allows someone to do that? That sounds like a pretty powerful sorcerer. Should one or possibly all of us go to check it out? For purely investigative reasons? Are their any other new workings we should be worried about?" Scarlet take a sip of her tea. "This is delicious. I'm respects to the brewmaster." The only one that I've been able to sus out so far is a lunar that is pretending to be a terrestrial. He's not very good at it. Maybe because he's a Tepet?"
Nine Roads Alani	"Tepet Makara," Alani replies, sipping her own tea again. "I'm familiar with him, and by now, I think most of us are. Interesting that Luna chose him rather than the Dragons, but...yes. He's not subtle, from what I remember." She pauses, looking thoughtful as her blonde eyebrows raise skyward. "But this is interesting. I...hrm. I don't think I've heard the name Rishi, but I think I heard something about the pool. Didn't really click with me, though, I think I didn't believe it. Are you saying you know it's true? if that's the case...yeah. I'm not a sorcerer--yet--but I'd lay hard silver on anyone running that pool being a very strong one." Alani leans forward, elbows on the table, and studies Herald's face. "An Abyssal. Gods almighty, I'm assuming you've already reported her. That...could be very dangerous. But useful. I'm crap with convincing anyone of anything, I admit, but if you need an extra hand, you've but to ask." Alani gives Herald a knowing grin. "And Herald and I went on a dangerous but lucrative tomb delve not very long ago. It was the two of us and two other lovely and very dangerous ladies, Misa--a sword saint and martial arts sifu Herald knows -very- well--and Silk Moon Lotus, who owns some gambling dens and is a better martial artist and locks-and-traps girl than I am, and that's saying quite a bit!" She pauses, grinning. "Oh. And they're both powerful Solar Exalted. We've all seen battle together and they're the real deal."
Vetiver Mirror	"If your happy then I suppose it was to be." Vetiver smiles at Herald. Ruminating on the thought a moment to long before letting her attention drift back to the conversation at hand. "Er-yes Rishi was her name. The Lady of Changing Waters was the name she gave me as well, though I do not believe it was the working of a God. My ears are attuned to how gods, fae and sorcery play against fate and it sounded most definitely sorcerous in nature. Powerful magic indeed. " Knowing smile moving to Scarlet and Alani. Ears giving a little twitch "Its true. I witnessed it with my own eyes. I can show you two the way of course. Do you wish to take a dip Scarlet? Purely for investigative purposes of course." Taking the rest of the news in as well. Mulling it over as she takes a long sip of her tea. "Rishi claims Exigence from the Lady of Changing water. If nothing else I did not find evidence this Lady got the permission to exalt anyone if she exists at all. Truly though I expected news on local Dragonblooded or Exigents. So many Solars, Lunars, and even one of the rumored Abyssals?" glancing at the others "Do we have a plan to adjust for all this?"
Serene Herald	"Yes, I have talked with Makara as well, and cast a horoscope for his brother--who apparently is doing something improper near the Blessed Isle," Herald says. "As for a plan? I would say try to find Pattern Spiders to look into the past, and see how they came to Exalt. For in that beginning shows who they are and what they will become. It will allow for an easier time of trying to tie threads of fate back together after they get sundered. Beyond that...I do have a novel idea." Herald takes another sip of tea. "Befriend them, ask about future plans, and report to the Bureau?"
Scarlet Onyx Sunada	"One of us should put in a request for the exigent paperwork. Oh yes, one giant of a man named Fudou as well. He claims to be an exigent of a god of strength. I will not say he isn't, only that we should verify with the records office." Scarlet nods her hear listening to Herald's plan. "How exactly do we befriend them when they will forget about us. I suppose they do not forget our masks. Will they not think we try to trick them? These Solars would be a daunting battle for me if they turned on us."
Nine Roads Alani	Alani nods sadly, sipping her tea. "I met Fudou as well. TThe mere fact that it was Silk who introduced us is enough to make me wonder, but all you have to do is see him fight in the coliseum. He and Misa both have made names for themselves there, so finding surface things about them should be easy. I don't know where Fudou lives, but it's not like he's hard to spot! "That said...yeah. Herald, would you agree with Scarlet and myself when I say I don't think we could take them head-on if it came to that? I mean, we're not their enemy--yet--but depending on what our superiors say, that could change at any time. I have sparred twice with Misa, and I'm certain Herald has as well, and I -did- get the jump on her once but it's not in my favor. Silk I have no chance at all against...in a fair fight, maybe. But she wouldn't fight fair. I'd feel her blades in my back and that would be it." Alani shakes her head, her expression firm. "I think it's important we -don't- make enemies of them, frankly." There's a difficult to read expression on Alani's face as she sips her tea.
Vetiver Mirror	Vetiver leans back, arms propping her up, head staring at the ceiling for a while. "A refreshing take for a Reckoner and it isn't that I disagree." Voice heavy with an unspoken 'but' "Scarlet is right. Repentancies are not ideal for long term or deep relationships. Take it from a Seer who has tried." Head swaying back and forth shaking off her funk the smile returns. "Nor will it stop the brazen use of sorcery and necromancy." "I'll do some more research into all the local exigencens. I imagine the higherups will be more concerned with a wave of illegal exigence than the rest of it. If we can parse what we are actually working with we might get a better idea how to handle it." Pinching the bridge of her nose. Dreading all the coming paperwork.
Serene Herald	"Rishi managed to see through my disguise, and recognized me posing as Talany--a minor god--and called me by Perfect Question--a Scholar-Philosopher. With a bit of judicious bureaucracy work, she is convinced I am Talany disguising myself as Perfect Question. At least for now. As for Misa? She is definitely better than I am at swordwork, and I have been learning Shining Point from her. I mean, I might as well learn how to use Fatesever yes? In any event, I think I could talk with both Misa and Rishi in particular."
Scarlet Onyx Sunada	Scarlet has learned a few tricks since coming to town and has gotten much better at reading people. She senses that Alani is holding something back. "Alani, did anything else happen with this Silk and Misa? I can tell you aren't sharing everything. I understand if it isn't relivant." A light a recognition shows in Scarlet's eyes. "She's a solar? That explains so much. I should go talk to her again, I think her fighting style is powerful." "Thanks Vetiver, I don't look forward to that kind of paperwork. It wasn't fun filling out the report for when I was fighting in the arena." She taps her chin for a few moments thinking. "Could we give them some token that might link a memory back to us? I'm not sure that inviting them to our circle is a good idea. Does the house of secrets have something that would help with select people remembering us as we are?"
Nine Roads Alani	Alani sighs and tosses her hair back. "...Yeah, I suppose I shouldn't hide it. Misa and Silk both know what I am. They knew before we ever went in that mase, to be honest. I admit, I can keep a decent poker face now, but when I first got to Great Forks...it wasn't like that. And fighting alongside both of them--and in Misa's case, against her--I couldn't help but let things slip a bit." Alani nods to Vetiver when she mentiones exigents. "Honestly, I have no idea who is an Exigent, but I feel that there have to be more. Misa and Silk both have public lives, in their own ways, and I'm not sure they couldn't have been accounted for. Looking them up is sure to be helpful. "As for Rishi...hrm. One thing is for sure, Silk could see through my Arcane Fate, and it did -not- take long. I hadn't done much by that point to draw it, either; she's quite perceptive. My sifu drilled it into me to not lean entirely on Arcane fate to stay secret, and I'm forced to admit she was right. I can keep tabs on Silk, though, and through her some of her friends, like Fudou. Many of them definitely know each other, and we'd do well to learn who they spend time with. Build dossiers, as those from the Forbidding Manse would say." She grins at Vetiver. "As for them remembering us, Resplendent Destinies are the order of the day. Some of them might see through them but isn't that what they're for? Failing that, the more they know about us the easier it will be for them. There's no point in my trying to be coy anymore, but if we can avoid them seeing us together, you all should be fine."
Vetiver Mirror	"If only." Vetiver gives an apologetic shake of her head to Scarlet. "There are cases of high essence beings being immune to the effects of the Mask but we are talking on the scale of Lesser Elemental Dragons. Short of deputizing them officially into the B.O.F. there isn't much to make their memories stick" Fingers trace the rim of her tea cup, eyes cast into the leaves remaining at the bottom. Lifting her head as Alani speaks. Thoughts colliding against the facts provided in direct conflict with how she understands Arcane Fate to work. "I'm not sure what to make of that. I think perhaps you have given the strongest argument in favor of the good Reckoner's plan of kill through kindness."
Scarlet Onyx Sunada	Scarlet nods in understanding to Alani. "You have spent the most time around them. Perhaps a peace offering wouldn't be so back to them. From what you discribe, this Silk woman must be a night caste. What about Misa, she could be a dawn or a zenith from her behavior." Scarlet nods her head. "I think I remember Rishi, she healed me after my battle with Misa. She was pleasant enough and kind of easy to read." "I think I'm going to head out to the hundred kingdoms for a bit. I got an odd request about looking into a god being killed? Maybe a solar was involved?
Nine Roads Alani	Alani nods, finishing up her tea in a single gulp. "Mmm...you may be right. It's important that they don't connect me with...well, any of us, at this point. But I'm still more than happy to talk to them. Silk was going out of her way to be friendly, and I'm not saying there's not an ulterior motive? Of course there is. But still, if we're trying to keep them happy that's the way to go. I'd be shocked if Silk wasn't Night Caste, yes. Misa...I don't know about Zenith. She loves her swordplay and we had a nice conversation about martial arts, but she's kind of...I don't know. Shy. Reticent. She's not exactly queen material. Dawn fits better. She -did- show her caste mark but I was in front of her and facing away, wrong angle to see it at the time. "As for the Hundred Kingdoms, that certainly sounds like something the Crimson Panoply would appreciate knowing. It's a bit of a trek, but I'm sure you have your ways." She chuckles. "Anyway, thanks for the tea! It sounds like we have our plans, now. Here's to hoping for at least slightly less confusion than the Enemies of Fate!"