January 10, 2003
05 - The Guardian - Posted by Gregor at 08:00 PM
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The Circle decides to leave Ti'i wa'a wai after their recent brush with the Night-forged Deathknights.

Start Date: 14 Ascending Air

The morning reveals that the innkeeps daughter, who was flirting with one of the Abyssals, is missing. A short while later, she turns up, pale from apparent blood loss in spite of a lack of wounds, disheveled, and feverish. Meanwhile, a young man in robes carrying a staff enters the inn, and is quickly revealed to be a Lunar Exalt who has been tracking the Solars since they left Seven Willows. In the woods several miles away from town, the Circle is set upon by the Sorceror Li Long Sying.

End Date: 14 Ascending Air

GM Post-mortem: This session went pretty well in spite of the fact that I was so put out by session 4 that I was completely unable to plan anything ahead of time.

Converted from old logs.

January 17, 2003
06 - Historical Relationships - Posted by Gregor at 08:00 PM
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After defending themselves against Li's probing attack, the refugees enter a small range of mountains.

Start Date: 20 Ascending Air (except for travel time at start)

Several slow days of travel later, after the group has bedded down for the night and the Exalted are furtively talking to one another, Develan realizes that the pull that he has been feeling is drawing him toward something close at hand. He goes off to explore. When he doesn't come back, the others begin searching for him, but the trail is hard to follow. Develan has, meanwhile, found and begun to explore a strangely familiar Manse. Xylanthe's ring also leads her to the Manse, and she discovers the truth about her former life and the relationship between herself, Develan, and the girl in the Ring. Meanwhile, Albrecht and Tremaen get the feeling that something in the darkness is watching them…

End Date: 21 Ascending Air

GM Post-mortem

Once again I was unable to plan (I'm beginning to wonder why I''m bothering to mention it). But this time it was because school started on Wednesday. Yet again, in spite of my total lack of plot, everyone seemed to enjoy the game. I had fun throwing a curve ball at Develan.

I probably could have been a lot smoother about how I drew Xylanthe toward the Manse, however.

Converted from old logs.

January 24, 2003
07 - Untitled - Posted by Gregor at 08:00 PM
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The Circle discovers the chain that Develan stole from the Deathknight Li Long Sying in session 1, as said artifact makes a bid for freedom.

Start Date: 22 Ascending Air

With such a potent artifact lying around, no wonder the Deathknights have been able to track them. They decide, since they can be tracked anyway, they might as well use the road. As they emerge from the forest, they spot an unusual vehicle rising from the forest on the far side of the river … a Haslanti Airboat!

End Date: 24 Ascending Air

GM Post-mortem: No comment.

January 31, 2003
08 - A Shadow Amidst the Flames - Posted by Gregor at 08:00 PM
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Two weeks of relative quiet and weary travel come to a close as the Circle approaches within a hundred miles of their destination. A storm is building up just as the group spies the small village of Hallia in the distance.

Start Date: 9 Resplendent Air

They pick up the pace to get there for shelter, only to discover that Hallia is a ghost-town. Taking shelter from the storm in the vilalge Inn, they bed down for the night and set up watches. Xylanthe practices more of her magic. The dreary weather and eerie quiet gets to each of those on watch, making their moods dark and their thoughts brooding. In the morning, as they prepare to move on a scream breaks the quiet. One of the children, feverish and delerious like the innkeep's daughter in Ti'i wa'a wai, has also been stabbed. The group soon discovers an enemy in their midst.

End Date: 10 Resplendent Air

GM Post-mortem

I think I'm finally beginning to get back in my groove after session 4. This session was the first that I've had time to really plan what I wanted to do ahead of time. I've known all along that a member of the Night-forged had joined the refugees back in session 1, which was hinted at in session 3 (with the knives). With Develan's revelation of the chain in the previous session, it was time for him to make his move.

Converted from old logs.