Mission 5: Ransom for the Impious
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Exalted: |
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Chapter 2 |
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The Circle With No Name |
The Job
Client: House Ledaal
Target: The Broken-Winged Crane
Type: Theft
Target background: It was said the true copy of the Broken-Winged Crane will be written by a High Priestess of the Yozis, and that the completion of such a text will mark the beginning of the end of the times. Although all copies of the Broken-Winged are considered incredibly dangerous (possessing or reading even a single page of the book is punished by a swift, non-negotiable death in any remotely civilized area of Creation), it was believed previously that the true copy had not yet been written. Professors at the Heptagram believe they have turned up the true copy - still a work in progress, thankfully - and have readily convinced House Ledaal of such. In keeping with growing tensions in the Realm, House Ledaal is concerned that if the All-Seeing Eye is alerted, dormant spymasters from House Iselsi will try to recover the book and use it as a bargaining chip. Ledaal has opted for a different route - and that's where the Grass-Spiders come in.
Simply, the job of the Order is to steal the Broken-Winged Crane before it can be finished. The text was pinpointed by Heptagram faculty contacts in Icehome, where they believe it is currently being kept in the labyrinth underneath the Treasury building. It is also known that the text occasionally resides aboard a commerce airship, The Cicada, which travels in cycles between Icehome and Crystal. It is known that the text was in the Treasury building at the time of discovery, but the agent in question is concerned that the book's caretakers know it was spotted. The agent noted a large shipment of treasury items being shipped to Crystal aboard The Cicada, and is concerned the text may have been moved. Contacts in Crystal are able to verify that the text is not being housed within the city, so the book is either in the treasury or aboard the ship.
Ledaal has stressed that the acquisition of this text prior to its completion is critical to the safety of Creation as a whole. They have authorized the use of whatever means are necessary to obtain the book - House Ledaal's elders have agreed that they will take the blame for any political fallout that occurs as a result of the Grass Spiders' actions, provided they successfully obtain the text. They have also cautioned the Order that many other powerful groups of people, particularly Yu-Shan and its servants, have a strong interest in obtaining this book - Ledaal (perhaps rightfully) does not trust their intentions to be pure. Furthermore, it is not impossible that other Realm intelligence agencies have also uncovered the text, and may be working to obtain it.
((I will post maps of the Treasury building and the relevant Icehome districts in the next couple of days.))
((Check out the North sourcebook for information on the Haslanti League.))
Critical Notes:
- You have been authorized to use whatever means are needed to recover the book, at any cost. Kill whoever you have to, blow up whatever needs to be blown up, drop a Soulbreaker Orb in the middle of the city and then fly the Geronimo through the crater into the Treasury's catacombs to get the book, guns blazing, whatever. Whatever it takes.
- That said, the Haslanti League are some of the toughest, proudest bastards in Creation. They're all good at fighting and they have a large airship fleet with over 100 First-Age quality vessels, any of which they're perfectly willing to bring to bear if they feel their well-being is threatened. Factor in the likelihood of an extremely well-guarded Treasury building, interference from Heaven's agents (yes, that means Sidereal Exalts), the possibility of akuma (it is the Broken-Winged Crane, after all), and stealth/finesse doesn't seem like such bad idea.
- The Grandmothers (North book, pg. 66) are good friends of Gyoki and the Order. They may be able to provide useful information, but they may also alert Icehome to your presence - tread carefully.
- The Treasury is hosting a gala for visiting traders - this would be an ideal time to check out the Treasury building without arousing too much suspicion.
- Regardless of the scenario, the Haslans are unlikely to take kindly to intruders or theft - the fact that the text was stored in the Treasury means the author/owner is likely a friend of the Oligarchy.
Expected Threats:
- Haslanti Guards (Threat level: Low to Medium, Probability of Encounter: Likely)
- Sidereal Demon-Hunters (Threat level: You've read Scroll of Monk and Sidereal 2e, Probability of Encounter: Medium)
- All-Seeing Eye Agents (Threat level: High, Probability of Encounter: Medium)
- Haslanti Air Boats (Threat level: Medium to High, Probability of Encounter: Likely)
Team: The Circle With No Name