I know I've mentioned this in passing a few times, but for those of you unfamiliar with Exalted, Calibration is a period of five days in between the end of one year and the start of the next. The sun, moon, and stars vanish from the sky and reality gets a little wobbly. Weirdness happens all over, and certain magical feats (like summoning Third Circle Demons) are only possible during this period. The people of Creation don't even properly consider it part of the calendar and they try to acknowledge it as little as possible out of superstition.
I give this explainer of Calibration not only for educational purposes but also to contextualize the fact that Calibration is inspired by that week between Christmas and New Year's Eve/Day where the year is basically over, but not really. It's that weird liminal time where everyone feels a little off. So it inspired this five-day period where Creation gets weird because many of the cosmic systems that keep it running have literally been shut down for maintenance. To be recalibrated, in other words.
(Fun fact, I actually didn't fully get that that's why it's called 'Calibration' until, I wanna say, late second edition. For whatever reason, I was content enough to just write it off as a word that sounded meaningful and/or mysterious regardless of what it literally meant, because Exalted used to be really bad about taking words, often of Eastern theological/mythological origin, and using them regardless of impropriety because they sound exotic.)
So yeah, this week's session not only takes place during Calibration, but was technically run (and, barring incident, written up and posted) during it.
Speaking of which, sorry for the silence, there wasn't a session last week because of holiday stuff. I thought about dusting off my Promethean write-ups, but I had higher priorities demanding my creative/typing energy. I hope everyone had a very pleasant weekend, whether celebrating a holiday or not.
(Memo from the Department of Expectation Management: Incidentally, things just didn't line up for the full-blown action to get underway this week, but unless something weird happens the next session should start at most minutes before a Join Battle roll. Also, content warning for TV Tropes links and discussion of drug use.)
And now, let's get into it!
So we pick up with the Circle being shown around their suite. There's some sitting rooms, a nice bathroom, lavish bedrooms for each. And, like in the cabin where the group stayed in the Mirror City, there are magical light fixtures and panels that can summon servants. The whole thing, while obviously of a different aesthetic, definitely recalls some of the design principles of the Mirror City. It's different, but there are familiar enough touches that the characters are a little more able to ease in as Bageru (unaware of all of their adventures) points out the amenities.
As the badger-headed god does so, Hǎifēng asks if there are brackets posted, and Bageru explains that those will get posted after 'opening ceremonies,' which will be in a couple hours to give everyone time to freshen up. Sure, that'll be like 5am at this point, but the Organizers assume that anyone attending the tournament either rested up before midnight, slept on the airship ride to the arena, and/or is tough enough to cope with a late night.
They explore the arena a bit, getting the distinct vibe that the domed structure is a little bigger on the inside than it is on the outside. The arena, for the safety of those both within and outside of it, is on an island separated from Heaven's 'mainland' so it's not possible to visit Yu-Shan proper. However, it's big enough that there's a full mini-city inside with shopping, bars, restaurants, music, etc. It's a little slice of Yu-Shan, enough to let a visitor get a taste (literal or otherwise). Also, the group notices a distinct divide in the people in the arena -- there are folks in masks, the competitors and their plus-ones, and then there are unmasked gods and elementals and the like who are all part of the staff actually keeping things functioning.
At one point back at the suite, Hǎifēng asks what the point is of the tournament. Bageru explains that's above his pay grade[0] and there's a lot about the tournament and its Organizers that not even the gods doing the grunt work of managing it know. His personal speculation, which I think I had him ask the characters keep to themselves for fear he'll get in trouble for it, is that one or more of the gods running the tournament actually has some secret mission and the tourney is actually an elaborate audition/test.
Alternately, he suggests, it's possible one of the gods has an abundance of 'boons' to toss around and the tournament is a means of finding someone worthy. He also tosses out the idea that there's some cosmic machine required to keep Creation running that as part of its functioning requires that people run martial arts tournaments and this special Calibration tournament is in fact meant to meet the 'quota.' Hǎifēng is like (paraphrasing) "Are you telling me that it's possible people aren't running enough tournaments in Creation so they have to run one in Heaven to make up for it?" And Bageru says that's about the size of it. Then, in sort of a "You think that's weird" vibe, starts talking about how the weather in Creation is managed by a workers' union, and he goes on to explain the Seasons Revolt until it becomes clear Hǎifēng is overwhelmed and a little bored by this information. At this point they find out there's a selection of the finest boozes from all over Creation (and beyond!), along with an assortment of recreational drugs. So they grab some booze, discovering that the mask translate the Old Realm label on the bottle (more for safety purposes than anything else), and try out some celestial pot.[1] As they smoke the weed, a little pipe fox comes out of the pipe.
The next couple of hours pass uneventfully until the time comes that opening ceremonies approaches. As they head out, Shango, all excited, wraps an arm around each of his friends to head for the combat ring in the center of the arena. After a moment, he discovers he's just grabbed two strangers.[2] He freaks out for a second before they all move on to the ring, which is in the middle of the building, and Bageru leads them to their seats.
The chamber containing the actual ring is big and open with individual little seating boxes for groups of participants as well as their designated assistants and plus-ones. It's a little more fantasy than sci-fi, but it kinda resembles the Galactic Senate chamber from Star Wars, except without the mini-raised platform in the middle and with stairs and aisles leading down to the ring in the center of the floor. Some of the boxes on the lower levels up near the front have a conspicuous shadowy effect over them, obviously for the privacy of guests within (likely gods who can't officially be there). There's a subtle magical effect in the room that makes it so every seat has a perfect view, able to see the ring and the participants clearly. Xương, naturally, invites Rashmi to join him in their box -- he's not obligated to (and Rashmi isn't shackled to them), but he doesn't want to make it weird.
Each box is comfortable and are loaded with tables with food and drinks from all over Creation. There are also pads of paper and writing implements for taking/passing notes and such. There are also figures dressed in identical outfits a style sort of like a government functionary (in actuality, a Heavenly waiter's uniform, basically) walking up and down the aisles accepting requests from guests and carrying drinks and thinks on trays -- clearly the literal Heavenly version of the guys who sell food and drinks at sporting events.
As things settle down, a god steps out. How can they tell he's a god? Because he appears to be made of millions of tiny glowing flecks of silver and gold floating in a jet-black human-shaped void. A thirty-foot high projection appears over him so the entire room can see him (because while people can see him clearly doesn't mean he can't be dramatic). He introduces himself as Plentimon of the Dice, Celestial Minister of Gambling, and one of the Organizers (and sponsors) of the tournament. He then gets into the rules, acknowledging that they should have been informed of all this by now but he's just making sure everyone's on the same page (and doesn't have an excuse of ignorance).
First, no revealing anyone's identity, as they need to maintain some plausible deniability to get some of these people in the same room together without trying to kill each other. (Cue some awkward glances between and towards a number of individuals in monk robes.) Second, fights are to submission or (rarely) judge's decision, best of three falls. The judges can monitor the participants' health via the magical masks to make sure that nobody tries to push through an injury that's going to get themselves severely hurt. While there is healing available, it's not something they want to have to rely on. Xương, quietly making comments with Rashmi in their viewing box, jokingly asks if they can sweep the leg. The projection of Plentimon looks right at him and says that they can.
He then uses this to segue into the next rule. While the combatants are expected to not hold back -- everyone participating knows what they're getting into, the risks, and such, and because some martial arts just can't be practiced without going all-out -- there are to be no deliberate breaking or removal of limbs, no removal of hearts[3], and no transformations. At some exclamations of surprise, he holds a hand up. "Sorry, I forget to specify this every time," he sighs. "No transforming your opponents. Self-transformations are perfectly fine."
And then he uses that to segue into an explanation that the masks they're all wearing are going to disguise their anima banners. They're still going to glow with power and all that, but notable features of the anima banner (iconic displays and colors) are going to be genericized. This is part of the 'plausible deniability' thing. Their anima banners still function for the purposes of any magic that relies on them, but you're not going to know just from watching how someone lights up if they're a Dragon-Blood, or a Solar, or anything like that. It's not going to disguise physical transformations, and it's perfectly reasonably to make assumptions if someone shapeshifts or anything like that, but you won't know from the anima banner if what you're seeing is a Lunar, or an Exigent, or whatever.
And from there, he brings out the first combatants. They step in from spectator boxer near the ring. One appears to be from the Northeast, with a demonic face mask and a vibe very much like those old portraits of Vlad the Impaler, wearing a scabbard on his hip. The other opponent is a woman with a mask like a water spirit, features that (like Rashmi) suggest Southeastern heritage, and monk robes in a style that Shango recognizes as representing the Pure Way, a local Immaculate sect that encourages the worship of the Dragon-Blooded and sees gods and elementals as being part of the cycle of reincarnation. The first guy is doing the usual little 'pre-fight warm-ups' with neck cracking and the like, while the monk waits.
As they get ready, Xương takes one of the pieces of paper from the pads and performs a tiny feat of 'mundane' magic known in Creation.[4] He marks the paper with some characters that label it as a special betting slip. In casinos, drawing these characters on a betting slip ensure some little twist of luck will help the gambler find someone who can accept the slip. What most folks don't know is that this works by turning the betting slip into a prayer strip to Plentimon, who provides a little nudge to produce that effect. But he marks a piece of paper with the symbols, and scribbles in a bet on the guy with the demon face mask. He then sets it aside, assured that the bet will get to where it needs to go. Unbeknownst to him, as he looks away, the piece of paper shimmers with a light glow.
Down in the ring, the fight starts. It starts with both combatants not only assuming stances but activating their Form Charms, which the group agrees feels like just proper courtesy in a tournament environment. The characters recognize the stances from past experience -- the guy with the sword is assuming the stance of Single Point Shining into the Void Style, while the monk is using Water Dragon Style. And then they get into it -- a clash of speed versus grace, the man's sword lashing out with blinding speed but the monk flows around his strikes like water. But at one point she reaches out with black jade razor claws[5] on her forearms, and the claws catch the blade, fingers wrapping around it and she manages to disarm him and fling it to the side. As he's shocked (and somewhat defenseless, as Single Point Shining into the Void Style is one of the rare styles that can't be used bare-handed, she manages to quickly strike at him until he yields.
The second round begins with him lashing out faster, anima banners on both flaring as he rushes the monk. She rushes back, on the defensive, trying to stay out of range. The reach the edge of the ring but the floor shifts beneath them so there's no 'ring out,' a facet of the arena's magic. But despite her best efforts, he manages to overtake her and drive her to the ground and bring the edge of his blade to her neck. She yields, letting him have the round.
And for the third round, she comes at him more aggressively, trying to quickly disable him with pressure strikes. And eventually she does get in and delivers a series of finger-jabs to his chest, and that gets him coughing up his blood as he staggers. But he pushes past it and brings his sword up, still in the scabbard, and blocks her attacks with the sheath. The characters can see sparks as the scabbard deflects the Essence within the attacks, absorbing some of it. And after some of this, he steps back and draws the blade, an intense glow coming off of it. He sweeps it across and sends out a wave of energy. It catches the monk, stunning her and sending her sprawling to the ground. The wave moves past her, but fizzles out as it hits an invisible barrier protecting the audience from such energy release.[6]
Plentimon announces the man as the winner as he steps forward to make sure the monk is okay and help her up. Xương hears a little tinkling sound and looks over to see that a small pile of silver coins has appeared from nowhere -- an appropriate amount for his bet.
At about this point, Xương notices the magical privacy shadow over some of the boxes and asks Bageru if it'd be possible to get one of those shadows over their seats to seem a little cooler (and/or more important). Bageru, surprised by the question, says he'll look into it. Xương also asks if they can provide the shadow to a few other random boxes so it's not really obvious. As he sits back and relaxes, Xương says he learned something today. Rashmi asks what that is, and Xương says he can't fail to pick a winner. Rashmi's not going to argue that point.
Down in the ring, Plentimon announces they're about to summon the next combatants. Then Shango feels a distinct sensation of being summoned coming from his mask as it begins to glow. Taking that as the obvious sign, he gets up and heads down towards the ring.
As he gets down to the edge, the camera pans up to someone in one of the shadowed booths. A woman in dusty, travel-worn saffron robes watches the proceedings. She quietly says, to nobody particular, "It begins."
And we leave off there. I hope everyone's had a nice holiday time, and that you all have a safe New Year's ahead of you!
[0]-- Actually, I wish I'd thought to use the term 'above my pay grade' at the time, because it's technically true.
[1]-- That's not hyperbole. It's weed actually grown in Heaven's soil. However, I should point out that the cocaine made available to the group is the mundane stuff you find in Creation. It's generally assumed that visitors for the tournament don't have the constitution for celestial cocaine.
[2]-- For added bonus, imagine that the strangers happen to be dressed exactly the same as Xương and Hǎifēng, but otherwise resemble alternate universe versions of them.
[3]-- This may seem really specific, and that's because it is. Long-story short, the tournament hasn't invited any masters of Black Claw Style to participate in a long time, much to the Second Circle Demon Mara's consternation. (For related reasons, they haven't invited her to attend, either.)
[4]-- So this was actually Sean using the 'introduce fact' ability of the Lore skill, where a player can basically write something into canon (within reason) by declaring it's something their character knows. They do this by establishing a detail that their character knows via Lore. I just thought I'd mention that particular detail. Semi-related, I handwaved the pads of paper into existence in the spectator boxes to facilitate this. But one of the benefits of my write-ups is that I can do things like write in these details earlier as if they'd been there all along. Just saying. ;)
[5]-- I might've said blue jade at the time in the session, but that was a mistake. Blue jade is air, this was meant to be a black jade weapon.
[6]-- It's worth noting that the group got the distinct impression, partially from the introduction and such, that this matchup was chosen as a demonstration to the other combatants. Not staged, but the participants were carefully chosen by the Organizers with the expectation that their match would show off the 'features' of the ring.
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