Dice Into the Ruins - Exalted 3e OOC

[Sherwood]

I will keep that in mind for the future. Perhaps you'll get lucky and find something worth your time.

No pressure there. I took the idea fully expecting it to come out and bite me in the ass at least once in the game that Amara doesn't have her arm.

 

[Chowlett]

Silent Glade: Given that's it's a work in progress I reckon I'll take this from a perspective of where I'd go from what I currently see on your sheet...

These are great suggestions, thanks, and largely align with where I was thinking of taking this. I was thinking of taking the Shadow shaping ritual from Bargain with Mara, but I'm not wedded to it and the Talisman was certainly my second choice. I do only have one sense-at-a-distance spell, but a single dot Merit isn't much of a cost.

I was certainly planning to take some Thaumaturgy in play, because its costs are listed in XP; I can't find where it's described how to buy rituals at char-gen (can you point it out?), but I agree they're a great fit.

I think I would prefer to bump Lore rather than Occult, but that's a minor thing.

I'd also forgotten that Flaws are a source of XP. I could see Silent Glade suffering from Megrims, and it would certainly cause him setbacks to be unable to pay Willpower, given spells (mostly) all cost one

 

[Rykon]

I was certainly planning to take some Thaumaturgy in play, because its costs are listed in XP; I can't find where it's described how to buy rituals at char-gen (can you point it out?), but I agree they're a great fit.

I was assuming they were just merits, rereading it I'd still just treat them as merits for the purpose of character creation as their costs and format are near identical. Though rereading it there are three versions of exorcism that appear to be bought separately (a one dot version for ghosts and two variants at two dots for expelling demons). Depending on which one you pick you could drop in another ability dot.

 

[Chowlett]

I was assuming they were just merits, rereading it I'd still just treat them as merits for the purpose of character creation as their costs and format are near identical. Though rereading it there are three versions of exorcism that appear to be bought separately (a one dot version for ghosts and two variants at two dots for expelling demons). Depending on which one you pick you could drop in another ability dot.

Psychie how would you rule? Can I buy Thaumaturgy rituals as if they were Merits?

 

[Eonivar]

Merciful Fire of Emancipation: I like the direction and story of the character. There's some min-maxy optimization you can do if you want to. That said, it really feels nice when a character still has room to grow both narratively and mechanically and I think you've done that well here. Most min-maxing efficiency gains are in attribute distribution given how heavy the scaling cost is in XP. Rather than ruin a good thing with stat cheesing though, I'd prefer to focus on some low-hanging fruit you can take in the near future. In case you don't have the Dragon-Blooded book there is a Terrestrial spell called Virtuous Guardian of Flame...

Thank you so much for the feedback. I went ahead and tweaked her attributes a bit, as I did not really look at her atttributes when I was tweaking her abilities and merits. The attribute changes still fit in line with her backstory and character and yet helps her with her combat stats. I AM going to figure out a way to add Virtuous Guardian of Flame to her spell list. It fits well with her theme and story. I am debating on whether to make it her control spell or leave Bronze Skin as her control (open to suggestions on this and other things below).

Additionally I do want to take the Raptor spell...which also fits well with her theme...but the Butterflies are cool and with Black Wind I think she would need something to handle the battle groups. So I will take Raptor later with XP.

• Either way I am going to try and reshuffle some things to take on another spell so I can have both Virtious Guardian and Bronze Skin.
• I am considering also taking the merit as part of her Ifirit Pact called "Suzerain of Endless Flame
• One option is to discard Black Wind and go with a lesser skycutter artifact, although Black Wind is pretty neat...

Gah, tooooo many damn choices and not enough points...uggggg

So if it helps to make a little mini-game of it I'll start with what I'd expect the circle to know about Aredin and then a single question he'd ask each character.

This is really cool, do you want us to respond with similar? Do you want us to provide an answer to the questions? What is the expectation here?

 

[jaydude]

Gray Stone: Yet again, Gray Stone is on theme with solid and cohesive. The only thing I can think of for the present is intimacies. He seems like an older, wiser character, I'd be curious to see if he had any mentors or organizations that seemed to shape his current way of thinking or that define past or present connections or contacts. Speaking of way of thinking, any particular philosophies or proverbs that speak to this character?

His way of thinking pre-exaltation would have been heavily influenced by the Immaculate Faith, which I'm largely interpreting as the more moderate, Lookshyan cousin of the Realm's Immaculate Philosophy.

"I see you take protecting creation very seriously. What do you see as the greatest threat currently?"

"Recalcitrant gods have long been a problem here, but it's the news I've heard from near Thorns that worries me the most. Beings wielding the power of death and the Underworld were able to conquer a Realm bastion that Lookshy and the Riverlands had never been able to overcome...though it may turn out that there's a greater threat yet looming in the far distance..."

 

[Rykon]

Additionally I do want to take the Raptor spell...which also fits well with her theme...but the Butterflies are cool and with Black Wind I think she would need something to handle the battle groups. So I will take Raptor later with XP.

• Either way I am going to try and reshuffle some things to take on another spell so I can have both Virtious Guardian and Bronze Skin.
• I am considering also taking the merit as part of her Ifirit Pact called "Suzerain of Endless Flame
• One option is to discard Black Wind and go with a lesser skycutter artifact, although Black Wind is pretty neat...

Gah, tooooo many damn choices and not enough points...uggggg

I can definitely relate, I'd have taken points in Ride and Sail at the start if I had more spare points. It's just rough for me to judge whether either of those abilities will come up in a game like this. Looking at it now, I'm highly tempted to change a few things around to make the room or just deal with the extra cost and level it up with solar XP anyway, but that's a worry for another time.

For alternative Thrown artifacts with published evocations, there are...

Spoiler: The Hawk Star's Jess (●●●)

Starmetal Sling of Distant Surprise (●●●)
Among the oldest known artifacts, dating back to the Divine Revolution, this weapon’s forgotten maker tamed the mighty Hawk Star, binding a measure of its power into a fist-sized starstone to be spun into wire and woven into a sling. Together, that Sidereal and the Hawk Star’s Jess cast down many demons and behemoths that served the enemies of the gods.

The Jess has been used many times since to defeat powerful, dangerous foes that threatened the order of Creation. Its stones slew gigantes of Dis in their days of empire, struck down a Solar prince in the Usurpation, and pierced the brain of the mile-high wolfstag that followed its raksha masters into the world during the Contagion. It remains a valued tool in the hands of the Five-Score Fellowship, loaned out to end marauding demons, behemoths, and other mighty monsters that oppose the will of Heaven.

Attunement: 5m
Type: Light (+10 DMG, OVW 3)
Tags: Lethal, Thrown (Long), Concealable
Accuracy: Close +5; Short +4; Medium +3; Long +0;
Extreme -2
Hearthstone slot(s): None
Era: War of the Gods
Special: +3 to Larceny rolls to conceal.

Spoiler: Nightmare Shard (●●●●)

Moonsilver Skycutter (●●●●)
The No Moon shaman Soul Orchid created Nightmare Shard as a weapon against the Gentry of Autumn’s End, a court of raksha who caught entire cities in paradise-traps of gossamer illusion, false utopias that fattened the soul for the Fair Folk to feast on even as they enthralled the senses. Soul Orchid quested into the outer reaches of chaos to steal a manifest enigma, an incomprehensible truth that could only exist in the Wyld. She forged it into moonsilver, creating a weapon that could cut through dreams to reveal the horrid reality.

Nightmare Shard’s bladed edge is elegantly wrought, but its mirrored surface casts a warped and grotesque reflection of the world. These reflections are born of Soul Orchid’s own fears and nightmares realized, giving Nightmare Shard the power to cut through happiness as easily as it could flesh. The Lunar freed the Gentry’s victims and abandoned the skycutter, unable to bear its burden any longer.

Nellens Radagar has recently returned to the Blessed Isle from the newly conquered satrapy of Salt, bearing Nightmare Shard as a trophy. Since his return, he’s been troubled by the dark power of his weapon, even as his family lauds him for his triumph. He smokes qat and opium to ease his troubled conscience, and takes counsel from a mysterious masked sage who returned with him from the provinces.

Attunement: 5m
Type: Medium (+12 DMG, OVW 4)
Accuracy: Close +5; Short +4; Medium +3;
Long +0; Extreme -2
Tags: Lethal, Thrown (Long), Cutting
Hearthstone slot(s): 1
Era: Autumn’s End Incursion
Special: Returns to its master’s hand after an attack unless she botches.

Spoiler: Sunflash (●●●●)

Orichalcum Infinite Chakram (●●●●)
Sunflash is both weapon and prayer — an elegant, ornately forged tool whose very existence is a prayer to Kiragaru, the god of killing at a distance. A massive orichalcum chakram, Sunflash is over two feet in diameter, with a hundred razor-sharp blades around its outer rim inlaid with red jade that spell out the prayer in flight. When thrown, it spins like a prayer wheel, spelling out an invocation of Kiragaru and kindling the flames of divine anima. It was forged by Merciful Akiva, a Zenith Caste who sought to court the god’s attention with her craft. There are no records of their romance, if there ever was one, but Sunflash’s legend has remained prominent throughout history.

Sunflash was looted in the Usurpation, carried away by a foolish Dragon-Blood who swiftly met his end at Kiragaru’s hands. After that, the god provided clear instructions to the Sidereal Exalted responsible on interring Sunflash and Akiva’s remains. But when the scavenger king Mogu looted it from the tomb a millennium later, Kiragaru manifested not to kill him, but to test his morals, offering parables and wisdom that might improve his irreverent heart — a test that he repeats for each inheritor of the weapon. At times, Sunflash finds its way into temples and shrines of Kiragaru. There it is venerated as a relic, but the god ensures through dreams and portents that his priesthood finds suitable candidates for the weapon’s legacy.

Attunement: 5m
Type: Light (+10 DMG, OVW 3)
Accuracy: Close +5; Short +4; Medium +3;
Long +0; Extreme -2
Tags: Lethal, Thrown (Medium), Cutting
Hearthstone slot(s): 0
Era: Five Devils War
Special: Sunflash returns to its wielder’s hand after being thrown.

Evocations of Sunflash
Sunflash possesses an anima banner much like a Solar’s (Exalted, p. 174), with its totemic display depicting a shining manifestation of Kiragaru. When its wielder Joins Battle or incapacitates a non-trivial enemy with Sunflash, its anima banner progresses one level. Decisive attacks made with Sunflash ignore one point of Hardness for each level of its anima. At the end of a scene, its anima banner resets to dim.

Spoiler: Vainglory (●●●●)

Orichalcum Infinite Chakram (●●●●)
When one of the ancient enemies of the gods — a being of terrible beauty and unthinkable majesty — was slain by the Exalted, its blood fell as a stream of unearthly jewels. The Ascending Sun who struck the killing blow was enthralled with the jewels and claimed them as trophies, having them set into a crown as a sign of her power. But the ancient one’s pride and malice lingered in the jewels, corrupting the Solar. Her reign became a terrible thing, and she was eventually reviled even by her own kin. When she perished, the crown was stolen before it could be buried with her. Many a prince has donned it across the ages since, each rising to greatness only to succumb to calamity. Vainglory appears as a heavy orichalcum coronet, its band set with a dozen gemstones as large as eyes and of no color found on any earthly spectrum. The crown is surprisingly aerodynamic, and though the jewels are cool, smooth cabochon stones, they burn like fire and cut like knives as they spin by.

Attunement: 5m
Type: Light (+10 DMG, OVW 3)
Accuracy: Close +5; Short +4; Medium
+3; Long +0; Extreme -2
Tags: Lethal, Thrown (Medium), Cutting
Hearthstone slot(s): 0
Era: Gossamer Dawn Era
Special: Vainglory returns to its wielder’s hand after being thrown.

Evocations of Vainglory
Forged in arrogance and tempered in hubris, Vainglory sustains and feeds upon its wearer’s vanity. Its Evocations rely on its wielder’s Conceit — her strongest Intimacy of pride, couched in terms of personal ambition or satisfaction with her own talents, achievements, wealth, influence, or the like, including disdain for others who fail to equal her. She adds (Conceit) bonus dice on rolls to instill a Tie towards herself. She also adds (Conceit) to her Resolve against social influence that would cause her to doubt or reject herself or her actions.

So there's no other published five dot thrown weapons that I'm aware of. There's another infinite chakram in the Dragon-Blooded book but a lot of it really wants and expects the wielder to be a Dragon-Blooded. If you can keep your current weapon though, I would do so unless one of these listed suits your intent with this character more than Black Wind.

I did just notice when I started writing this post that your Ride ability for the charm you took must have gotten deleted from your sheet in editing somewhere. You may or may not need to shuffle a point for that, hopefully no big deal.

For the spells, I think as you said, you're better off starting with your current line up of spells and adding the other two after the game begins. Also, taking Virtuous Guardian of Flame as a control spell would mean writing custom evocations for it and the ST specifically asked us not to do that in the interest thread. Merits for the shaping ritual could also be taken afterward I believe, so don't feel pressured to take it right now.

This is really cool, do you want us to respond with similar? Do you want us to provider an answer to the questions? What is the expectation here?

Thank you, and yes if you'd like, respond with a similar format, and provide the character's response to the question. It'd help me gauge what kind of intimacy Aredin would have for the character and vice versa.

For example, I think Gray Stone's response communicates reliability, though also foreshadowing some ominous surprises. It also highlights that both share an attention to the movements of Creatures of Darkness specifically among the other various activities of spirits. So I'll lean toward a Major Tie of Trust in Gray Stone given shared motives other than the immediate threat of the Wyld Hunt.

 

[Psychie]

Psychie how would you rule? Can I buy Thaumaturgy rituals as if they were Merits?

Sorry I took so long to answer; been busy today. Yes, I'll let you use Merit points to buy Thaumaturgy rituals.

 

[Eonivar]

Mercy's Updates:
Did some editing of Mercy's Backstory, cleaned it up a bit.
I switched out one of her Throwing charms to pick up the "Virtious Guardian of Flame" spell
Added another intimacy with the Ifirit Lord she has a pact with. (You can never have enough intimacies..)
The other stuff will just have to wait for the exp to buy it, if she survives ;-)

To Merciful Fire of Emancipation: "When we get to a point where we can stop running, where are you wanting to go now that you're free?"

Aredan watches many emotions cross Mercy's face upon asking that question. Pain, hatred, determination, and then that familiar look of Mercy thinking, her mind at work, her eyes looking far away, as if gazing into the sun setting of her Caste Mark, one could almost see the light of the dusk reflected in her green eyes. That look had not changed since the First Age.

"Will we ever stop running Aredan? I was raised on the Blessed Isle, I have read their histories, of the Empress, of the Dynasts ,and of the Immaculate Order. I have seen their might and power first hand. The Immaculate Order has poisened everyone's minds to our kind, to the Solars, for hundreds of years. Because of this we will always be met with fear whereever we may go. And while a civil war is immenent amongst the Dragon Blooded Houses, a large uprising lead by Solars would reunite the Houses in a heartbeat. They have amassed power over the years and we are a direct threat to that power, they will not give it up willingly."

Her green eyes brightened some as more hopeful thoughts came, the gleam of exciting thoughts crossing the Child of Twilight's mind, the ever present glowing wisp that floated around her seemed to flash and pulse with her emotions, there was an eager anticipation in her voice. "Still, I have seen in my dreams many places where our kind have hidden many books and items of knowledge and power such as where I found Black Wind. I would love to search out those places and reacquaint myself with them. Maybe in them there is the beginning solution to our problems...so to answer your question, while I am not sure if we will ever be truly free, I think we may be able to shine a light for others to be free."

 

[Psychie]

The other stuff will just have to wait for the exp to buy it, if she survives ;-)

Oh, don't worry. I won't do a Total Party Kill-Off until at least the second chapter of the story. Plenty of time to buy up stuff to add to your character sheets.

 

[Sherwood]

You fill me with such confidence with that statement.

 

[Psychie]

 

[Psychie]

I hope to start our IC posts by this Friday if possible. Chowlett How is the progress on your sheet coming along? Do you need any help?

 

[Sherwood]

I'm looking forward to the start of the game with everyone.

 

[Psychie]

Me, too. I just hope I don't botch my Storytelling roll. lol

 

[Sherwood]

You'll do fine, I'm sure. You have a good bunch of players here to help you out with any Exalted or Storytelling questions. You do well enough on running your Robotech PbP game here, right?

 

[Psychie]

Thanks for the vote of confidence. I appreciate it.

 

[Sherwood]

Of course. You are my friend, and trust me, if you need it, I'll bust your chops a bit to keep you in line.

 

[Psychie]

lol Thanks, I think. Sherwood , you crack me up.

 

[Sherwood]

I try to show love in my own special way.

 

[Rykon]

Me, too. I just hope I don't botch my Storytelling roll. lol

You'll do fine, I'm sure. You have a good bunch of players here to help you out with any Exalted or Storytelling questions. You do well enough on running your Robotech PbP game here, right?

I will definitely echo Sherwood's sentiment here. I had a lot of fun with the Southern Cross game.

I can only hope our antics and mischief entertain you as much as the story entertains us.

 

[Psychie]

Thank you, guys. You're too sweet.

 

[Chowlett]

I hope to start our IC posts by this Friday if possible. Chowlett How is the progress on your sheet coming along? Do you need any help?

Pretty much done. I have 4 Bonus Points left, and one final question -
May I take the 1-dot merit "Spirit Speaker" (WFHW p309, part of the Student of the Heptagram shaping ritual), which applies any appropriate Occult specialty to social influence attempts on spirits; except that I'd like it to apply to my Lore specialty, as a result of my shamanic experience? (I'd then spend the rest on, probably, Ability bumps. Otherwise, I might raise my Stamina).

Other than that, Merits, Charms, Intimacies and Limit are all set (I don't have as many intimacies as you guys - I always find them hardest to define - but I'm happy to gain more in play). I should record my pools and charm texts for ease of use, but mechanically everything's done.

 

[Psychie]

May I take the 1-dot merit "Spirit Speaker" (WFHW p309, part of the Student of the Heptagram shaping ritual), which applies any appropriate Occult specialty to social influence attempts on spirits; except that I'd like it to apply to my Lore specialty, as a result of my shamanic experience? (I'd then spend the rest on, probably, Ability bumps. Otherwise, I might raise my Stamina).

I see no issue with that. Go ahead, and we'll be starting soon.

 

[Psychie]

Since everyone has their sheets done, I plan on starting out our IC thread shortly. Here's hoping that everyone likes our game!