Tales of the Exalted

The Temujin traitors gathered a few hours before the sun, riding silently to surround the Princes's camp.
The sentries were dispatched quickly, none suspecting treachery from their brothers.

Mayumi woke with a start. Something was wrong. The camo was silent. Unnaturally so. The Azuma trained to hone their awareness to a level many called a sixth sense, and hers war practically screaming at her.
She rose cautiously, and began to look around. She heard movement and horses, neither of which were out of place. But the silence outside the camp... it suggested...
"AMBUSH!!!" she screamed as she saw the shafts of arrows. She scrambled towards Callista's tent as the sound of charging horses filled the air.

"Wake up fool boy! I won't die here because you needed a nap!" Eida woke with a start in the dead of the night covered in sweat. He was being swallowed by a great beast in the dream he was having, not yet down the gullet before he was wrenched back into Creation.

"Can't you hear it? The world holds its breath. The blackwood weapon spun itself into existence with aureate thread as Eida flung himself into the night before horses came into the camp like a tide of fury.

Callista heard the noises and yelling outside of her tent and before she even sat up the two Azuma that had been sent to guard here were already armed and moving to guard the entrance. She could feel a knot growing in her stomach as dread set in. The sounds of the conflict were much closer than they had been at the battle of Shu Han and she was much more vulnerable. There wasn’t much she could do but stand and grab the same knit wrap she had on prior to cover her modesty.

“Princess, we must move you away from the ambush,” one said as the other was clearing the exit. So far the sounds of battle moved closer but they were not quite upon them yet. Callista nodded and only checked to see if her emerald ring was still safely on her finger before being flanked by the pair and escorted out of the tent and towards the edge of the camp.

The little white feline twitched then jumped to its feet as her ears swiveled to listen into the alarm outside. ”Wake up!” she hissed as she shook her companion, and batted her face. ”For the love of the Many Faced Huntress - WAKE UP!” She spat out a curse before sinking her tiny little fangs into Ruby’s arm before leaping to the floor in one fluid motion and shifting into warform as she went. Reaching under the cot she dug around to pull out the bundle that held the set of fire wands and the roll of shimmering silver mail that she immediately started working over her shoulders.

Ruby jolted awake with a sharp pain piercing her arm "Ow! Shit!" Shaking her arm, she looked around and saw Silver donning luminescent armor and was confused.

"What's going on?" As Silver hastily mentioned ambush, Ruby started looking around at what she had to work with. Dilapidated buildings, her own supplies, and panicking people scrambling for a fight. There wasn't much, but it might be enough.

"Buy me some time, when you see a flare, run as many as you can between these buildings, I have an idea, and I'm sorry for going back on my word." She scrambled up and emptied her bags as she ran around scooping up tile fragments, rivets, nails, and anything else small and hard that she could use as shrapnel for the concussive explosive she had. The only real firedust she had left was for her weapons, and there were too many for her stock to last.

Jill flattened her ears and dropped down into a crouch as her tattoos began to glow faintly. ”You can make it up to me by making them big and shiny,” she growled as she lept off to aggravate off some Temujin traitors.

Silver having left Ruby's side, she got back to work. Piling as much into the bags as the could.

Having spent way too long gathering things she could use, she could hear the pounding of coursing horsemen coming towards her as she laid the jellied resin under the bags of shrapnel in front of the house. Heading out, she saw the immense shadow on a man on horseback directly in front of her equipment. It stepped forward and several arrows flew at her. Rolling back into the house to get behind something to protect her, a realization dawned on her...

Without her blasting cord, Ruby couldn't detonate the charges from far enough away.

Stuck in the shadows waiting for the Temujin traitors to walk in and kill her wasn't an option. If they were going to get to her, Ruby would take out as many as she could.

She drew Captain Stalling's flame piece, and with deep, steady breaths, waited for the moment to create an explosion grand enough to made Silver proud from wherever she was. As she stood in the archway of a broken down door-well, there was no doubt in her mind that the tongue of Heshiesh would do more than lick at her heels.

May raced towards the Princess's tent, trying to remain calm. Things were bad though, she wasn't used to battlefields but this was clearly not going well for them.
She supposed this explained why the scouts never returned. She cursed herself for a fool. Of course the guilty Temujin realized what was going on! They likely received a hawk warning them the Prince may be coming.
A few yards from the tent, May was intercepted by a Temujin on horseback, she snarled in anger as Callista and her bodyguards fled. Mayumi had trained in numerous fighting styles and with weapons both common and exotic to the region. But she saw no reason to keep up her disguise further.
She gracefully jumped over the thrusted spear and kicked the man off his mount. She rolled with the landing and cut down a footman. The Temujin's face blackened with soot. He was part of the infiltrating party who'd dispatched the sentries.
The rider slowly got to his feet, screaming a curse in his language. With a flick of her wrist the man clutched at his throat, dying from the shuriken she'd thrown.
She began to follow after Callista once more.

Awilix woke and peeled off the man she'd let warm her bed. Something was wrong... she heard.... battle.
She was up, quickly throwing on what little clothing she wore and grabbing her spear.
"Wake up you fool, we've been betrayed." she kicked the man, tossing him his weapons before running out of her tent. What she saw made her angry. This wasn't Guan Yu's rebels, but Temujin traitors.
"You chose the wrong cam- raaawr!" she snarled in pain as an arrow plunged into her side. Seeing only red, she set to her butcher's work.

Gaheris killed two traitors as he made his way to his brother's tent. Still, dozens of their own lay dead in their beds, or in various states of undress.
The Prince came out, his breast plate donned but not the rest of his artifact armor. An Ogun crafted Jade Daiklaive in his hand. Gaheris met his brother, and the sons of the Great Khal entered the fray.
For as little regard as many held Jin-Sahn in, he was a master swordsman, and were this a fair fight, an honorable battle, he alone would have turned the tides. But this wasn't an honorable fight. This was cowards work, and already half their number was dead from what Gaheris could tell.

Fear. Worry. And a determined need to not let it show.

Eida was in a flurry as he read his enchantment. It help strong, the buzzing in his ears told him that, but Callista was in trouble, and her hand picked wraith wasn't there. He had no confidence in the two that never even bothered to acknowledge his existence. Awilix would be in the middle of this, bathing herself in red, he would be wasting his time trying to find his Warlord.

He danced between the shadows, Jaeda's fang lashing out at anyone who strayed too close. Cripple the horses, spook the mounts. Their fear would hurt the riders more than anything right now.

He worked his way towards the edge of the camp and saw galloping rows of horsemen. There wasn't a way to get out, not without killing everyone or disappearing. Working back in, he left another body in the treeline. Chagatai's men would eventually find him with the breadcrumbs they make of themselves, so he had to keep moving.

Just as Eida was about to leave the trees, he caught a glimpse of a very lightly dressed Callista flanked by her Azuma guards with their weapons drawn as they made their way towards the same trees about a hundred feet away.

The thumping of her heart was nearly loud enough to drown out the heated shouts of men and the clash of steel that swirled around her in every direction. It was a butchery. No one had expected this and it clearly showed by all the half armored warriors and bodies already laying in the blood soaked dirt. Callista realized then that she was more afraid than she had ever been in in a very, very long time. Even at the battle of Shu Han she had been disguised and protected by the steadfast May. Here she was barely clad, a luminescent beacon in the dark with only two guards to protect her. She was eternally grateful then that Eida had given her the charm that he had because so far it had appeared to be working as they headed towards the outskirts of the village. Even there riders circled, picking off other stragglers and riding them down as they attempted to escape.

At least it was working but outside the main fray there were less combatives to distract their attackers and the Azuma did not benefit from its protection. They began to work their way past the houses when a group of Temujin traitors came down upon them. Her guards went about their work and fell upon them with the speed and skill they were known for. Callista, unable to help and not wanting to make their attempts futile, made a dash for the treeline but found her path cut short by a menacing riding that was grinning down at his prize.

There were just too many of them. The traitors had ridden in and slaughtered half of the prince's men before the alarm had sounded and they were at a great disadvantage. Despite her prowess and martial arts, Jill hardly felt as if she was making any of a difference. Her tattoos snaked around her body, illuminated from the motes she pumped into her moves as she lept from foe to foe. As her anima grew brighter, some men steered off for easier prey while others flocked towards the idea they would gain glory by defeating an exalted one.

She watched and waited for the flare to come, then she could pull her friend out of the battle and retreat to regroup. But it never came and the Lunar began to worry about her friend. Try as she might, she couldn't manage to work her way back fast enough and she was pinned down by sheer numbers as the just seemed to keep coming.

They were so close!

Eida watched in futile anxiety as the Temujin bore down on the Azuma, an unseen Callista directly in the path of those iron-shod hooves. He was too far away to be able to do something. A welling of power surged deep within him, but even as Jaeda helped him draw essence from the trees and the ground, he knew he wouldn't make it in time to save her...

Mayumi took a slash to the side as she ran, flat out to reach Callista. She watched as her brother and sister Azuma died valiantly. Of the dozen riders nearly half their number lay dead. But Azuma weren't meant for pitched battles against mounted and armored foes. They were silent blades in the night, meant to end battles before ever they were fought.
With adrenaline pumping through her, May wasn't sure if the wound was serious or not, and she really didn't have time to think as she jumped among the Temujin. So busy were they with frightening their new captive, two fell to her sword before the rest knew she was among them.
"Callista take a horse and run!" May shouted, ripping her helmet and wig away. She held the curved Temujin blade in a reverse grip, a dagger in the other hand. The men snarled curses and soon May was fighting for her life. But she would gladly die knowing Callista was safe.

Callista let out a shriek as she turned to run and a second horse bared down to block her path, its rider laughing as his friends joined him. At that moment she suddenly wished that she had never learned the Temujin language as the taunted her, telling her exactly what they intended to do with her as one reached down and grabbed her arm roughly. Her loose dark hair clung to her face as she struggled the best she could, dodging the moving hooves of the horse as it threatened to trample her lest the man pull her onto it. Then a familiar voice cut through the night as the arm holding on her detached itself from the man’s body. He fell back off his mount, screaming as the rest of the men whirled to face the newest threat. Instinctively Callista moved to follow May's orders and threw herself onto the horse to ride away but as she looked down she saw the other woman cleave through two of her attackers but when third came up from behind her, she was unable to turn fast enough. The princess watched in horror as the man's blade seemed to slide through her chest and May fell on her knees as he pulled it back put.

”May!” She cried nearly falling off the horse as she scrambled down. There was no sense running, several more attackers had closed in and were working on surrounding them but the only thing Callista could see was the crumpled form of the Azuma girl. It was all her fault that she was there as the only reason for her to disobey Sanjuro was the desire to protect her.

Scrambling over to the barely moving form, Callista pulled her into her arms as if she could shield her from their assailants as she whispered, ”Please don't die.”

Hot tears ran down Mercy’s face as she fought. She had been attending the lady Callista that evening and was ruining her finery. It wasn’t fair. She was going to be a knight one day. She was going to be a Lady too, and these barbarians were trying to kill them all. Well, she was just going to try to kill them all back! She clenched her fist around her mace. She was in a foul mood and she knew that nothing would be right until dawn. She was torn between making her way to Donovan or heading straight back to the princesses tent. She never saw it: A Temujin horse knocked over a cart sending cookware flying. A kettle hitting her square in the back of the head knocking her out cold.

The clouds were dark and heavy and had started to deposit large drops of rain upon the camp. The stars were blotted out and in the darkness the raiders approached.

Brother Qwerrl SteelBiter was kicked awake by the Nahuatl minx as she yelled and threw his sword at him. It took him twice as long to pull on his breaches and sword belt as it did her to be ready and out the door. The enemy were all around them. He spun on his heel to take those that were approaching form the other side of Awilix. He was sleepy and drained from the long night she had given him and his parry was a half second too slow and his life blood poured out followed by his guts onto the ground. At least I got to see her ass as she left he thought as the darkness overtook him.
Brother Ji-Wu the Lightning Thief jumped up onto his horse. He would fight these blackguards on his own terms. They were here to protect the princess and they were useless if they didn’t do that. He rode to the perimeter to see if he could find her. Riders rode through the camp cutting down warriors and servants left and right. More whirled around the perimeter. They would have to push their way through with boldness and a fair amount of luck. He clashed swords with a half dozen of the riders, both he and his horse bleed from a dozen wounds, but in a moment, like a beacon, he saw the princess alight on a horse, and she was close. If he could get to her they could rally a few more to the horses and ride out and escape. They needed to move quickly, he could see several riders descending upon her. Then she slid off the horse for some reason. With that all hope was lost. He did not even lift is sword to defend against the next blow that came moments later.
Brother Perisus the Maiden’s Wish sat up in bed with a start as the screams started. GET UP! he cried and kicked his squire Fai’s bunk over. Climbing out off the floor Fai saw Brother Perisus sit back down wheezing, his chest heaving as he drew raspy wet breaths. He watched as he fell forward with a groan and two arrows protruded from his back. Fai, shaking, got up and drew his master’s sword stepping out into the night to find vengeance.
Brother Driden the Black yelled at his squired. He could hear the battle raging outside and was impatient that the lad’s hands were trembling so. buckle lad, buckle. I’d say like yer life depends on it, because if those riders don’t get you I certainly will! The screams of the dying were outside and he was not assisting in adding to their number. Finally! he growled. Grabbing his sword throwing the scabbard to the side and stepping out into the frey. Come at me! he bellowed drawing several of the Temujin toward him. The wheeled their horses and tried to ride him down. His head shook, and he spun as two of their blades crashed against him. He grabbed one by the leg wrenching him from the horse and sending him crashing to the ground. Standing over him he relished the look of fear and pain in the man’s eye and he took his sword in two hands and drove it through the man’s throat. Pulling the blade out he lifted his head to face the rider who had gone past. Come back at me then! Over his armor and bellows He didn’t notice the two footmen coming up behind him and their spears drove into the back of his knees driving him to the ground. One of them jumped on his back and drove his face into the ground. The mud pushed through his faceplate and into his mouth and eyes. Brother Driden was drowned in the mud.
Brother Rollens the Left was taking a piss at the far side of the camp when the raiders attacked. He stumbled and fell in the slit trench twisting his ankle. He limped his way was from the camp dragging his leg that was soaked with piss and shit. Looking over his shoulder he hobbled away as fast as he could. Other servants were running the same way, and even though he had a lead they were gaining and would soon pass him. But none of them were faster than the riders who circled the camp. The knight was cut down alongside the common cook and porter.
Brother Gentry Life’s Bane’s sword snapped under the Temujin’s parry, but with a quick twist of the wrist he re-directed the shattered blade cutting across the raiders jugular. Bright red flashes shot into the air as he tossed the broken weapon aside. The screams of more Temujin alerted him to a rider bearing down on him. Scanning around him, he saw a broken tent pole and picked it up like a spear. Pivoting he turned and braced the pole against the ground. The horse reared up at the obstacle, but too late and it came down, driving the pole up through the horse’s shoulder and through the unprotected groin of its rider. The furry of hooves from the screaming horse clipped Brother Gentry’s shoulder and drove him to one knee, and underneath the horse as it came crashing down on him.
Brother Yuri the Lucky stepped out of his tent and caught the long arc of a Temujin sword across his neck, separating his head neatly from his shoulders.
Brother Jinnai the Foe Hammer landed another blow against the Temujin’s head turning it to pulp. Another notch for his belt. Four of them had come at him and four of them lay in grisly piles around him. They were closing in around him now. He gave a wide sweep to keep them at bay. One was too over eager and got clipped by his next sweep. The group gathered their nerve and rushed him en-mass. He was sure he smashed a femur of one of the rushers but it was a cold comfort as he was dragged down amongst them. Their fists and knives driving into him again and again and again.
Brother Istevan the Grave Filler stalked through the tents. He pressed himself against the tent walls as riders trampled by. A foot soldier came around the corner and he brought his sword down like a cleaver catching the back of his skull. He ran across the intersection of the camp into the next shadow. Looking left and right he paused for the moment in the entry way to a tent. His back erupted into fire as a knife blade slid into his back from behind. His back flared again and again and the knife plunged in again and again. He stumbled forward a few steps, and turned to face his attacker gripping his sword. In the doorway clutching the bloody knife was a young woman, her eyes filled with fear and tears. He had seen her in the camp along the journey. He fell back against the tent behind him. Temujin raiders came down along the path between the tents. They ingnored the mortally wounded knight, knocked the knife out of her hands and pushed her into the tent.
Brother Gory the Large raised his arm to block the blow coming down at his head. The sword split the sinew and bone leaving his hand hanging by a chunk of ragged flesh. He wrenched his arm to the side, pulling the sword with it. With the opening in his opponent’s defense he drove his dirk just below the clavicle. He dropped his knife and picked up the sword off the ground, then dropped it clenching his wrist trying to stop the arterial spray. He ran to find help, but there was no help to be found.
Brother Donovan had not been named. Shu Han was his first battle and no one named him for accolades. He was the most junior of the knights that had left An-Tir, and yet given a position of importance by luck. He had thought they would ride them down in the open. That is why he had requested the lance, instead they were being cut down like lambs. Everyone was scattering in a panic. Falling prey to the very tactic they lauded. Rally! he called Rally! A few heard him and fell in line. There way no way to make a front and so they arranged back to back. The knight, one of Jin-Shan’s soldiers, a cook, and Brother Perisus’ squire Fai. They stayed as a group and tried to make for the center of the camp where the Prince or the princess should be. The riders came in wave after wave. Riding through the camp, and out again, able to gather their breath while a fresh wave rode in. Donovan’s group had no such luxury. The soldier had been too slow in one of their passes and had been trampled under the thundering hooves of the horses. Fai was next an arrow catching him in the hip. He couldn’t walk for the pain and they had to leave him behind. Donovan and the cook made it to the royal tents which were abandoned. Perhaps they had escaped he hoped. A few steps later his blood ran cold as he saw the bodies of the two slain bodyguards. At least her body wasn’t there. Another wave of riders tore through the camp, too far for Donovan and the cook to engage, but close enough to pepper them with their arrows. The cook lay face down dying, and Donovan stumbled on arrow sheaves protruding from his leg and shoulder. There was the princess cradling her friend May in her arms. Tears rolling down her cheeks. He did not go to her, instead limping to place himself between her and the next wave of horses.

Far beyond the world of mortals, in the Celestial Heaven Yu-Shan, events were in motion that would forever alter the course of Creation. As The Shining Prince and his party slept, unaware of the treachery about to befall them, an ancient artifact was attacked.
The Jade Prison, crafted thousands of years ago as the First Age came to a close, was attacked by agents of the Deathlords. The Prison held the 300 shards of the Solar Exalted, and while nearly half their number were stolen for nefarious purpose, the other half were suddenly free to return to the world of mortals.
They sought out heroes, for the Unconquered Sun only selected the greatest of mortal champions for Exaltation. A familiarness called five such souls to the hundred kingdoms. Something within that realm spoke to these souls, and they sought out those who most needed their power at that time.

Jin-Sahn was bleeding from a score of wounds, his half-brother and the few soldiers he'd managed to gather around him were also ragged from battle. It was a losing effort, and he knew it. Already Akoni and Taigo had fallen, Hailung leaned against Gaheris, not long for this world but determined to meet his ancestors with the blood of his enemies on his blade.
The Moon-Silver Warlord stood, facing a dozen Temujin in her warform. They wouldn't be enough to lay her low, but each one she battled cost her more and more of her dwindling power. The weight of numbers would eventually even claim her life. He cursed himself for a fool.

And then it happened... First Ruby felt it, soon followed by Eida. Donovan as he stepped between his Princess and her attackers, and then Callista herself as she cradled her dying friend.
It started with a tingling of energy, vitality returning to them, weariness melting away with a certainty that this would not be the end for them. Then, unnoticed by them in the heat of the action, but clear to those who bore witness; fiery brands of essence burst from their foreheads, bright as the sun at noon.
As they began to turn the tide of battle, single-handedly, brilliant anima banners raged around them, casting away the darkness and instilling fear into the traitors.

All across Creation, the Lawgivers returned. Nothing would ever be the same.