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An Empire of Jade [Story]

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Chris Cook9
Sep Member 2023

Chris Cook9

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Background

This is story based off one of my Characters from the FATE Pen & Paper game that saw it's conclusion several months ago. The events of this game took place within the Universe established in the Novel Series of the Dresden Files by Jim Butcher, published by Roc Books.

Disclaimer: The Dresden Files is copyright Jim Butcher. This story is licensed under the Creative Commons as derivative, non-commercial fiction.

For those unaware of the Dresden Universe it is a Modern Fantasy/Mystery Novel series with 15 books currently to his name. Set in a modern day world where magic is a unknown concept to much of the worlds population and many beasts of legend still exist, albeit concealed.

Format

The posting format of this tale will be a rough 1:1 mix between writing and profiles. The profiles will give background to individuals, factions, and lore much of which is based upon Eastern Mythology, this will likely change later once the main cast and lore have been covered.

This is mostly for my own enjoyment and development, to that end feel free to offer critical feedback or questions at any time during the course of this Story.

04-Jan-2018 21:04:17

Chris Cook9
Sep Member 2023

Chris Cook9

Posts: 48,274 Sapphire Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
Sirco Etilan

"Fear not the Night and have the courage to take Flight."

Race: Human
Gender: Male
Age: 29
Nationality: British
Home City: London
Occupation: Bartender, Hunter
Former Occupations: Junior Detective

Traits:
* Weremagpie [Inherited] - Sirco has the ability to turn himself into the form of a Magpie, he has full control over this shape.
* Echoes of the Beast [Corvids] - Sirco has an affinity with Corvids permitting basic communication while in human shape.
* Shapeshifter [Magic] - Able to change his form or manipulate aspects of his human form to gain an advantage over opponents.
* Marksman [Skill] - Trained in the use of most firearms, most notably the rifle which is his signature weapon.

History:

Early Life

Sirco's parents died when he was young, dying in a car crash that saw him orphaned in the city of London. His introduction to the reality of the world began there as he began to learn of his abilities, this soon caught the attention of the Aristocratic Duncan Fox. Mr. Fox taught the boy to better use and control his abilities in exchange Sirco would use this to spy and steal intelligence for the Eclipse an underworld organisation dedicated to controlling the flow of lucrative information and stealing of artefacts and trinkets across the city.

Eventually, as he grew older he left this organisation on good terms with his adopted father joining the Metropolitan in hopes of doing some good in the world. It did not last as his chequered past became known by his Senior. This forced him to leave the police force and acquire the Magpie and Stump a bar once owned by his family, over the years it became a haven for Wizards and magical beasts concealed amongst the world of men.

It was a peaceful life until he met the likes of Gretel a young private investigator who a dabbling in magic, Nicholas an Undertaker Wizard who spoke to the spirits, and Jake a servant of the Dragon who went by the name Lydia.

04-Jan-2018 21:44:08

Chris Cook9
Sep Member 2023

Chris Cook9

Posts: 48,274 Sapphire Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
The Seven Pointed Star

Lydia had hired the three individuals to investigate the recent disappearances occurring across the City. Initially Sirco was merely a contact for information but on a ill placed bet he was thrust into the investigation when, with the help of Gretel he discovered the concealed armoury in his wine cellar.

It was here he found his ancestors armoury and a Grimalkin who had been assigned by the fallen Winter Queen to kill his great grandfather. The creature reluctantly explained it had been defeated and it's life spared, the exiled queen was later discovered to have taken residence beneath London claiming it's vast Thames tunnel system her domain she and Sirco had a poor relationship but revealed to him the true nature of his kin, as once protectors of city.

Wishing to learn more and honour their memory he joined the group proper and together they overcame a great many challenges ranging from Vampires of the Black Court to Vengeful Spirits. During a botched escape attempt from a crypt of vampires he found himself landing in far east where he first encountered the Tengu. It challenged him on his ways and offered to help correct his path. He refused feeling his duty was not yet fulfilled.

As time went on and the group defeated two Warlocks he was approached by one of it's number and offered a deal. She would reveal the truth of his parents demise if he abandoned the party. He accepted.

Being shown future and past he learned the Queen of Unlondon had a part to play in the demise of his parents. Interfering with the timeline to learn the killers identity he returned on a path of vengeance despite knowing himself not yet strong enough to face her. The party stopped him leaving him wounded and by the time he had recovered they had tracked down the Circles leader. A plan was made but before they could act all were transported to a dimension between time and space where the golden gate resided...

04-Jan-2018 22:16:07

Chris Cook9
Sep Member 2023

Chris Cook9

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- The Old Ones -

A fight ensued in which the party managed to defeat the remaining members of the circle, but not before they had succeeded in opening the gate. Transported back to the material world their memories blank the entity managed to deceive Sirco, Jake, and Gretel in believing it to be Lydia and that they had succeeded.

Thankfully Nicholas who had resisted it's affects quickly burned away the entities flesh mask and revealed the reality of it's existence. The resulting battle was fierce and saw Jake our seemingly invulnerable fighter brought to his knees, spells deflected with ease by the entities warping barrier.

Sirco calling upon the weapon bestowed upon him by the Wild Hunt, a rifle capable of shattering magic. He took his shot and broke the barrier permitting Nicholas with the help of Gretel to channel the power of God and force the shard of the outsider back into the void.

Having now broken the Sixth and Seventh Law of magic it was clear he could no longer remain, even if the White Council knew nothing of the events that had transpired they soon would. He had one final encounter with the Queen of Unlondon calling her true name Blodeuwedd he demanded she give him satisfaction, she offered a deal handing over her agent sent to kill his parents if he would stay out of her affairs.

This final contract saw Sirco leave his home behind, returning to Mainland China in search of the Tengu hoping to be lost to obscurity...

04-Jan-2018 22:30:12 - Last edited on 04-Jan-2018 22:30:21 by Chris Cook9

Chris Cook9
Sep Member 2023

Chris Cook9

Posts: 48,274 Sapphire Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
Prologue

Upon an old, craggy mountain, there once existed a Temple. Although surrounding trees had shredded they stood proud. It was a well kept temple - maintained and honoured by a small contingent of monks. Life was quite filled with prayer and study.

And yet despite their peaceful existence, respect of nature and one another, scarcely had it received visitors from the lowlands below. Scarcely did it receive mention, only in tales to frighten children and in stories shrouded by superstition for this Temple was not home to any man, it was home to the Yokai or more specifically Tengu, Crow-Demons. Monsters.

Of course, Sirco did not believe that, he had travelled halfway across the globe in search of this mountainside home. They had offered him Sanctuary and a peaceful existence once, and he intended to take them up on that offer and perhaps... the sense belonging he so desperately desired - so he ascended the 1,015 steps. Through winters bounty of bitter wind and rain his body persevered hardened by the burdens he sought to leave behind.

*

Sasami head lay back listening to the defiant hisses of the braziers blaze, the drumbeat of water against her beak. The crow feathered creature expected no trouble or visitors today, and her Kasaya weighed heavily upon her shoulders, waterlogged by the downpour.

Eyes closed she lowered her head from the ocean of grey and stared down to the mountainous earth. She had to wonder, if this was the kind of thing monsters did. She indulged herself in sake to loosen her body after hard days work, she liked to indulge herself besides the cold stone Foo dog guardians on the occasional rest, much like she was now.

Despite it all, they weren't at all that different from the villagers down in the valley below. Villagers who could kill without giving anything back but surely there were many kinds of human. The Brave and foolish, the kind and terrible.

They had once served as Guardians to these people - and now they were feared.

04-Jan-2018 22:53:35

Chris Cook9
Sep Member 2023

Chris Cook9

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**

Heaven and Earth clashed, a splinter of light cracking the cold grey shell looming above him. Perhaps he was foolish, as the village elder had said to approach the temple in such severe conditions, even if the villagers believed time to be of the essence. A young child, female, he recalled had gone missing in the woods and the prime suspect were, of course, the mountain spirits.

Sirco perhaps foolishly explained himself to be a traveller who would recover the child, but she had more likely been lost to a ditch or some beast that roamed the wilderness - never to be seen again but what choice did he have? They wouldn't have permitted his entry otherwise.

Soon the first sign of the temple was in sight, a great Torii gate to the normal folk this meant little. A fragment of a mostly forgotten religion, in a world of magic however it held far greater power than the merely symbolism of profane and sacred. A threshold existed here, of that he was certain.

Calling forth every ounce of his strength he advanced forward counting down each step to it's final conclusion, as he approached the gate he ground began to level out until the steps faded into a light slope until he passed beneath the gateway. Thresholds were mostly harmless to humans, mostly.

His eyes surveyed the temple from a distance noting the traditional wooden structures it was constructed more akin to a small enclave with a gateless entrance guarded by the statues of Foo Dogs where tributes of coin, gems, and trinkets lay. This was to be expected but the sight of the Tengu perched against one of the statues caught him off guard and he wasn't alone in this regard.

The creature startled by his appearance was quick on it's feet, gripping the quarterstaff in her talon like hands she made it evidently clear she was armed but held no threatening posture. Taking a moment he stretch and catch his breath he raised his hand in hopes of greeting the creature,
"H-Hello."

05-Jan-2018 21:02:27 - Last edited on 05-Jan-2018 21:03:34 by Chris Cook9

Chris Cook9
Sep Member 2023

Chris Cook9

Posts: 48,274 Sapphire Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
Character Profile #2
Sasami

"The fearless man who stands before the rampaging dragon is not a hero, he is a selfish fool whose actions achieve nothing."

Race: Kotengu [Fey]
Gender: Female
Age: 373
Nationality: Chinese
Home City: Xi'an
Occupation: Warrior Monk, Healer

Traits:

Demon [Spirit] - Considered a Demon by many Tengu are spiritual creatures, and therefore afflicted by Thresholds. They are not, however, inherently evil.
Warrior Monk [Training] - Sasami is trained in various material art forms varying from sword techniques in Iaido and Kendo although she is best known for her Bojutsu.
Student of Medicine [Training] - Sasami is knowledgable in basic medical practices and herbal remedies.
Past Lives [Spiritual] - Reborn as a Guardian Spirit Sasami retains some knowledge and experiences from her past life.
Divinely Mandated [Oath] - Sasami is bound to the Divine Mandate, she cannot take actions that wilfully break this mandate.

History:

Sasami has existed in her current state for almost four generations, one of those was spent guarding and protecting her family home from dark spirits, it was then that something occurred to push her away from her duties.

She instead joined her fellow Monks and trained under the Daitengu. It was here she weaved a close friendship with the Yamoto dragon Zhihao who serves as the Temple groundskeeper and Daitengu's companion.

05-Jan-2018 22:57:24

Chris Cook9
Sep Member 2023

Chris Cook9

Posts: 48,274 Sapphire Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
- The Lost -

Hearing the voice she opened her eyes to the stranger stood beneath the crimson wood of a Torii gate, the visage of a man stood in the haze of the rainfall startled her she reached for her staff the grip of something firm in her hand eased her tension.

"I am a Hunter who has come in search off-"
The foreigner paused in the moment he spoke the word hunter Sasamo was rushing for him, she couldn't risk allowing this man to linger whether his intentions pure or not he'd more than likely hurt one of their kin abusing her unnatural agility she had already closed the gap long before he could even reach for his weapon.

Sirco had witnessed such feats before while he may not have been prepared his instincts were and in a split second he managed to side step evading the alpha strike she made against him. The staff narrowly missing his shoulder the Tengu shifted her momentum to her feet, going into a low kick, he evaded once more hoping into the air seemingly as light as feather.

"Hey! Hey! I just want to talk!" He said in a moment of desperation that she dismissed, "You are not welcome here. Leave!" extending one talon into the earth she gripped hard bringing herself to a stop transferring that energy into her weapon for yet another swing. He hadn't the chance to yet respond, the blow struck.

The sound of wood upon wood echoed through the valley, and Sirco landed upon his feet rifle in hand. The old Winchester had protected him from the blow and now their position had switched, she stood on the lower ground and before she could move against him he brought the rifle to bear and fired.

Sisamo froze as the bullet whistled past her with a cutting deadly wind,
"That was a warning shot."
Sirco sighed sounding almost disappointed that it had come to this, she stopped and lowered her staff and he nodded before another blow was struck. Hard wood against his neck that made the world dark and silent...

05-Jan-2018 23:50:59

Chris Cook9
Sep Member 2023

Chris Cook9

Posts: 48,274 Sapphire Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
There were worse ways to being captured, he could recall having once been rescued by his companions. Trapped in the golden cage of Blodeuwedd, nothing worse than being trapped in the form of a Magpie, thankfully the Tengu seemed more gracious with their captives. Although he most certainly felt naked without his weapon or own clothes instead he found himself sat half naked before what he assumed the Daitengu.

She concealed herself behind a crimson mask that covered the upper portions of a hooked raptors beak while great white and black tipped wings clung closely to her back. Her name, as he understood it was Shiho - atleast that is what the villagers had claimed.

Joining her was a burly individual who seem reminiscent of an common barn owl, strong arms and dressed in ancient armour he half expected to find in a oriental museum they were certainly a curious bunch. Obviously he was restrained, but it was simple rope binding and he could break it at any moment although instincts told him he wouldn't survive the attempt both these individuals heralded a power far beyond him, especially while unarmed.

Sitting cross legged as he found it most comfortable on the padded matt floor he awaited his interrogation, he recognised neither of them but they knew him whether that was a good thing or not was impossible to tell.

"That is indeed my name, Sirco Etilan. I came here to take up an offer that was made to me about a year ago." His response found no emotion from Shiho, or at the very least the mask did a good job of concealing it. "And the village sent you to 'deal' with us?"

He tensed, "Yes but they only wish to have their children returned, many have disappeared in recent months more recently the elders granddaughter. They believe you had taken her, like the others."

"And they should be thankful for it." Shiho replied, this caught attention and Sirco cocked his head, "What do you mean by that, if you have her surely you should free her if your intentions are pure."

06-Jan-2018 00:24:56

Chris Cook9
Sep Member 2023

Chris Cook9

Posts: 48,274 Sapphire Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
Shiho sighed at this her body language now shifted to one of a relax postured, "Sisimo discovered the child unconscious by the stream, while out gathering herbs and medicines. If her ailment were of natural causes perhaps we would have returned her, but there is something inherently grotesque about the condition and nothing their Doctors can provide would aid in curing her of this disease."

He could see where this was going and inherently sighed, this all seemed too familiar and he wanted no part of it. "I came here to escape this madness, not indulge myself further in it, surely you have the resources to uncover this mystery."

"If the people did not fire upon every raven that enters their domain, perhaps. Yes. But presently I am unwilling to risk the lives of my kin, and you are a Hunter seeking redemption for unforgivable sins. Manipulation of the time line, in possession of knowledge forbidden... Do not look surprised, this is typical of your family."

"My family?" He asked and she paused seeming to smile behind that mask before getting to her feet, "This is our price Sirco Etilan, help us uncover the cause of these disappearances, help us save the children and perhaps on the journey you may find yourself in the process..." Now standing she took a breath and added, "But before that we must ensure you are prepared. I will make arrangements before the week has ended, and during that time Master Hanzo will see how you measure up and if you are deserving of the name."

"And if not?" Sirco enquired out of a morbid curiosity, "Well let's not find out." motioning to the owl she left the chamber cutting a taloned hand through the air. A surge of wind broke his bindings and he rubbed his wrists before looking up to the Owl tengu. "On your feet then, we have much too do."

"You are Hanzo?" He asked and the Tengu hooted in reply, "I'll... take that as a yes?" He seemed to chuckle at this before moving on to head outside.

06-Jan-2018 00:49:27

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