Eclipse Caste: Bittersweet

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Morninglight

New Member
Approved by Stillborn


Name: Bittersweet Nature: Caregiver Caste: Eclipse Concept: Courtesan


Attributes


Strength 2  Intelligence 3  Appearance 5


Dexterity 3  Perception 3  Manipulation 3


Stamina 2  Wits 3   Charisma 3


Caste Abilities: Bureaucracy 5 (Illegal Business, Wheeling and Dealing), Linguistics 4 (Low Realm, High Realm, Riverspeak [Native], Guild Cant, Old Realm), Ride 1, Socialise 5 (Discern Emotional State, Discern Motivation)


Favoured Abilities: Craft [Tailoring] 5 (Form Over Function, Repairs), Performance 4 (Dance, Singing), Presence 4 (Persuasion, When Impassioned), Larceny 3 (Nexus, Organised Crime), Athletics 2 (Acrobatics, Tumbling and Climbing)


Abilities: Endurance 1, Resistance 1, Martial Arts 2, Melee 2, Dodge 2, Awareness 2, Lore 2, Stealth 1, Medicine 2, Investigation 2, Occult 2, Survival 1  


(11 Bonus, 90 Exp)


Virtues: Compassion 3 Conviction 2 Temperance 2 Valour 2


Flaws: Heart of Tears


Willpower: 5  Initiative: 6  Essence: 3 (7 Bonus)


Personal: 14  Peripheral: 35 Health Levels: 8


Backgrounds: Allies 1 (Firemantle), Artifact 1 (Luck Charm), Artifact 3 (Walk-Away Charm), Contacts 3 (Nexus, Eternis), Influence 1 (Eternis), Resources 3 (5 Bonus, 12 EXP)


Caste Charms: Frugal Merchant Method, Insightful Buyer Technique, Consumer Evaluating Glance, Wise-Eyed Courtier Method, Mastery of Small Manners, Knowing the Soul’s Price, Deft Official’s Way, Understanding the Court, Sagacious Reading of Intent, Poetic Expression Style, Speed the Wheels, Motive-Discerning Technique


Favoured Charms: Graceful Crane Stance, Flawless Handiwork Method, Respect Commanding Attitude, Seasoned Criminal Method, Object-Strengthening Touch, Shattering Grasp, Craftsman Needs No Tools


Charms: Golden Essence Block, Ox-Body Technique, Body Mending Meditation, Striking Cobra Technique, Sensory Acuity Prana, Ten Magistrate Eyes, Judge’s Ear Technique


(78 Exp, 22 Bonus)


History:


Bittersweet’s parents were destitute like so many others who had travelled from the countryside into the city of Nexus. Left with nothing more than the clothing on their backs and three children, they decided to sell their only daughter, who even at the age of four was a beautiful and graceful child, to the Guild slavers. She was raised to become a courtesan, performer and merchant after her intelligence and wits were discovered to be equal to her charisma and grace, which were only exceeded by the astonishing beauty that grew year by year.


By the age of nineteen, Bittersweet had achieved her freedom by careful management of funds obtained from happy customers and making her own garments, which soon became a lucrative side-business amongst her sisters in sin. She was promoted to mid-level rank by Guild superiors, who were impressed by her negotiating skills and ability to make money. However, one of her fellow courtesans was jealous and sought to attack Bittersweet one night at the Harlotry when they were both alone.


Bittersweet became Exalted as a member of the Eclipse Caste in that instant, discerning the woman’s anger and promising to buy her off with a fine robe that she would never be able to afford on her own. The other courtesan agreed and was stunned when Bittersweet flared her anima and sanctified the bargain. Out of awe and concern for her own future, the woman decided to shut her mouth about everything and accepted the robe that Bittersweet produced.


Bittersweet is loyal to the Guild but keeps her abilities to herself and the courtesan Firemantle, who knows that her future is now dependent on the Solar if she wants to escape becoming a Fair Folk’s plaything. She is now working on extending her business in preparation for the Unconquered Sun’s designs… Though she is hoping that he could perhaps enlighten her on them, because she has no clue what they are.


Personality


Despite making a living by pandering to the pleasures of others, Bittersweet is basically a compassionate person and will do everything she can to make the lives of those she knows easier. Despite this, it is difficult to gain her trust and friendship, and woe betide those who seek to harm those she cares about.


Appearance


Tall like so many Easterners, Bittersweet is curvaceous yet graceful, her straight mahogany-brown hair hanging to her knees when unbound or in a thick braid wrapped in linen bands and leather thongs on the very few times she has left Nexus. Her preferred colours are vivid earth-tones like orange, gold, brown and red and she is usually seen in hand-woven brocade robes wrapped around with embroidered bands, the garments leaving no doubt that she is a former courtesan. She has large brown eyes and wears a child-sized bracelet of copper wire strung with orange, gold and scarlet glass beads – the only legacy of her childhood – on a leather thong around her neck.


NB: Bittersweet was created for a high-experienced game (200 Experience Points, 45 Bonus Points). In-game, she became the fiancee of the Solar king of a city in the Scavenger Lands after leaving the Guild. Her artefacts are powerful luck and walkaway talismans (the ST was cool about us separating Artefacts to differentiate between items). Her Allies rating was 5 to include the King. :)


Feedback would be welcomed.
 
I'd like a little more about her personality/ motivations - particularly her connection to Big Daddy Sun-God - but in general she's a well-constructed character and her history is pretty good.


I rated her "good" because the system has 3 tiers.  On a 5-tier rating scale, I'd give her "above average" - 3 or 4.
 
Bittersweet is still figuring the whole Exaltation thing at the point of her life where I posted her background. In the game, she became quite devoted to the Solar King (who was a Zenith, I might add) and through him the Unconquered Sun. She isn't a devout worshipper like your average Zenith, but she does honour and respect the Unconquered Sun.


As a person, she is someone used to the rampant corruption in the Second Age who makes it work for her in order to make things better for everyone. If the First Age's bureaucracy, before the Solars fell from grace, was as 'perfect' as has been hinted - she would immediately think there was something wrong with the legends and find out the truth.


As a character, she would probably be perfect for any kind of series involving the Guild or Nexus or even a story based in Yu-Shan.


Some revisions: Wipe out Eternis from the sheet and just replace it with Nexus. That is her real base of power as an NPC, and with her Guild ties, she is a force to be reckoned with.
 
Awesome character, I say this because I made a character about a year ago whose starting stats were exactly the same as Bittersweet's as well as having a similar background and concept. Great minds think alike, or is it that small minds never differ?


My familiarity with the subject matter, however, means I might suggest a small correction.


In order to speak Guild Cant, one must have the background "Backing: Guild" at three ranks or better (see: Main Book, page 140).


All other things considered, bravo!
 
Well, but I think it can be justified because of her background. She perhaps learned it hearing the higher- ups talking it, or something.


Anyways, good character.
 

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