AngelWick
New Member
I came up with an idea for some specialized Prayer Strips that I've been calling Prophecy Strips. The five Prophecy Strips I have listed below reference the three-part Great Prophecy that the Sidereal Exalted gazed prior to the Usurpation. Also included are two other Strips of based off of two lesser-known possible futures (of my own design) that the Sidereals did not deem worthy of serious contemplation. While the three Prophecy Strips based off of the Great Prophecy are set in stone, there has been reference to many many other possibilities such as the two listed below that were never really seriously considered.
I'm looking for some feedback on these. What do you think of the concept of Prophecy Strips and who should be allowed to use them as intended? What about my proposed Artifact ratings? Anyone have any inspiration for other lesser-known prophecies? Please discuss.
Recall:
It was this prediction made by a conclave of all the Sidereal Exalted that set the course of the Solar Exalted's murder at the hands of the Dragon-Blooded. Concerned with the Solars' increasingly erratic behavior, the Sidereals prophesied three possible futures. In one, they did nothing, and the world was destroyed. In another, they tried to guide the Solar Exalted back onto the path of righteousness and had a small chance of success, though the world would become a place of darkness and misery if they failed. In the third, they eliminated the Solars and the world continued on, diminished but whole. It was decided by the Sidereals that this last future was the safest bet to ensure Creation's survival, so they conspired with the Terrestrial Exalted to bring it about.
The Vision of Darkness
Woe! Woe to humankind, and to all Heaven and Earth. Poison drips from a blinded Sun, and its pestilence taints all things. The wells of the world are made vile, and poison creeps into all things living and dead, until all are rotted from within. Even the stars drop from the pestilent firmament, cutting a burning swathe through a venom-clouded sky.
Three hundred golden swords, raised above the heads of men. Cautious star-etched hands must touch the swords, must hold them, must wield them. One slip, and the blades shall cut away those hands, and loose carnage and war--the ringing of blades against blades shatters the palace of glass. Wielded deftly, the blades of gold uphold the palace of glass forevermore.
The Vision of Bronze
Whispers in the ears of hounds--a thousand-thousand dragon-hounds bay the hunt. How shall the mighty be dragged, bloodied and furious, from their thrones? Darkness cloaks the hound, and the keeper of the kennel watches beneath five bloodied stars. Weep for the hounds that must put down the mad, and catch up the mad to never again taint up the world. Hounds are ill-suited to sit thrones, but in doing so, the estate is preserved.
The following are lesser-known possible outcomes that were never seriously considered to be a part of the Great Prophecy. Seriously considered or not, the following two prophecies were seen by the Sidereal minority as the next prominent options.
The Prophecy of Silver
Beloved are those consorts of the mighty. Beloved are the stewards with whom the mighty bed. Trusted are the ears of the mighty to the words of these betrothed, that they might soothe the savage beasts and stay them from their bloodied fangs. Trust in the words of the compassionate, for with love all else is conquered.
The Vision of Silver was not part of the Great Prophecy which drove the Sidereals to coerce the Dragon-Blooded to murder their Solar Exalted masters. Although it was one of the many other divinations translated from the Loom of Fate when the Sidereals ascertained the Great Prophecy, this was considered a separate prophecy that seemed to suggest there may have been another alternative for the future of Creation. Unfortunately, the thought of entrusting the future of all Creation to the Lunar Exalted seemed all but too absurd to the Sidereal majority. The Lunar consorts either feared their Solar companions too much or were simply blinded by love of the true danger that stood before them. Therefore, the Vision of Silver was simply left out of the Great Prophecy altogether.
The Prophecy of Fate
Fate lies in all things. And in all things lies Fate. Trust in Fate, and trust that the world will be as one. The hands of Fate, those that number five score strong, unite under one banner to usher in peace among the mighty. Separated, the threads of Fate will fray and the mighty will froth with insanity and madness. The hands of Fate must work as one lest they be forevermore shattered into many.
The Vision of Fate, like the Vision of Silver, describes one of the many other possible futures of Creation when the Sidereals divined the Great Prophecy. This one suggests that the Sidereals must act as a cohesive unit to bring about the correct action. Alas, this was not the case as the Vision of Fate was not strongly considered among the possibilities. Woe to those whose Hubris is larger than the Sun himself. The prophecy even seems to warn about the shattering of the Mask constellation if the Sidereals are not careful and work as a cohesive unit. A warning that caught blind eyes and passed through deaf ears much sooner than most believe.
ENTER: The Prophecy Prayer Strips
Artifact: 3 to 4
Attune/Commit: 5 motes
*History:*
There are only five Prophecy Strips known to all of Creation. They were designed by the Twilight Caste member of the Circle of 5 Corners prior to his demise during the Circle's battle with the demon who killed him. The original idea behind these special Prayer Strips was to grant the Exalted bearer the power to fight fire with fire, using an opponent's very strengths against them. The trouble was, the Twilight could not find bindings or scripture powerful enough to allow for such on-the-spot "essence mimicry." Desperate and running out of time before his Circlemates planned to depart on their demon-hunting mission, the Twilight consulted one of the Chosen of Secrets. Pleading his case, the Twilight asked the Chosen to divulge the Secret to this emulation of Darkness he sought after. The Sidereal responded by offering him the Vision of Darkness scrawled out on a roll of parchment. It was never revealed to the Solar what the Vision of Darkness pertained to, or that it was merely one-third of a greater prophecy, or that the Viziers of the Bronze Faction were already unraveling a plan to quell their fears.
The Twilight of the Circle of 5 Corners took the scroll with the dire words of despair on it and went to work. With further aid of his Sidereal companion, the Solar was able to complete the first Prophecy Strip - That of the Vision of Darkness.
After the death of the Twilight Caste at the hands of the demon they pursued, it was not long until the Usurpation was at hand. The Circle of 5 Corners was fighting a loosing battle, falling quickly. However, their old Twilight companion left meticulous notes, and although the construction of the other Prophecy Strips required a Sidereal's hand, they managed to attain the assistance of one of the young Gold Faction. This brave Sidereal died in the final stand at the Eclipse Caste's manse in the North. But during that battle, the Dragon-Blooded found their own powers being used against them with the Prophecy Strip for the Vision of Bronze.
Prior to this final battle that brought the Circle of 5 Corners to their knees for good, the Eclipse Caste managed to disperse the other Prophecy Strips within the security of his fallen companions' tombs. These locations can be found within the descriptions of each Prophecy Strip.
*Mechanics:*
Prophecy Strip allows the attuned bearer to emulate one Charm of the appropriate type. Emulated Charms may NEVER be added to a Combo.
Once attuned and activated, the Prophecy Strip incorporates itself into the bearer's anima. Once the Exalt witnesses a Charm being used by another Exalt of the corresponding type to that of the Prophecy Strip, the bearer may channel his will through the Strip to emulate the witnessed charm. The bearer must still possess the appropriate prerequisite ability stats for proper emulation. The cost to activate the emulated Charm is equal to normal activation cost for the learned charm, PLUS a surcharge equal to the Essence Rating minimum of the Charm. If the bearer tries to emulate a Charm for which he does not have the prerequisite ability stats, the emulation is incomplete and the emulated Charm is only half as effective.
The Prophecy Strips have the same stats as normal Prayer Strips except for the following:
They can be used by any Exalt who can attune to them.
They have double the soak levels of normal Prayer Strips.
Upon attunement, they gain a Hardness equal to the Bashing and Lethal Soaks of the bearer.
A character can only be attuned to one Prophecy Strip at a time.
Each Prophecy Strip can only be attuned to one character at a time.
Bearer may select the Charm that is emulated. The Prophecy Strip must already be attuned and active prior to witnessing the Charm to emulate. Once one Charm is emulated, it is the only Charm that may be emulated by the bearer until he re-attunes the Prophecy Strip. Re-attunement "resets" the Prophecy Strip so that it can detect a new Charm to emulate. Emulation is possible until the bearer drops attunement of the Prayer Strip. If the bearer witnesses a Combo, then he may chose one of the Charms from the Combo he witnessed, NOT the Combo in full. Also note that the Prophecy Prayer Strip does not do anything to protect the bearer from the effects of any Charms he is the target of and later chooses to emulate.
Prophecy Prayer Strip -- Vision of Darkness
An otherwise normal-looking Prayer Strip, this is actually a Prophecy Strip containing the Vision of Darkness from the Great Prophecy written on it in Old Realm script using Soulsteel ink. When properly attuned by the bearer, this Prophecy Strip allows the bearer to mimic or emulate any single Charm used by a Creature of Darkness for as long as the Prophecy Strip remains attuned. This includes but is not limited to:
[*]Demons
[*]Ghosts
[*]Raksha
[*]Dragon Kings Dark Paths of Corruption
DOES NOT include:
Prophecy Prayer Strip -- Vision of Gold
An otherwise normal-looking Prayer Strip, this is actually a Prophecy Strip containing the Vision of Gold from the Great Prophecy written on it in Old Realm script using Orichalcum ink. When properly attuned by the bearer, this Prophecy Strip allows the bearer to mimic or emulate any single Solar Charm for as long as the Prophecy Strip remains attuned. See other rules on the wiki page for Prophecy Prayer Strips.
Prophecy Prayer Strip -- Vision of Bronze
An otherwise normal-looking Prayer Strip, this is actually a Prophecy Strip containing the Vision of Bronze from the Great Prophecy written on it in Old Realm script using ink extracted from Jade. When properly attuned by the bearer, this Prophecy Strip allows the bearer to mimic or emulate any single Dragon-Blooded Charm for as long as the Prophecy Strip remains attuned. See other rules on the wiki page for Prophecy Prayer Strips.
Prophecy Prayer Strip -- Vision of Silver
An otherwise normal-looking Prayer Strip, this is actually a Prophecy Strip containing the Vision of Silver written on it in Old Realm script using Moonsilver ink. When properly attuned by the bearer, this Prophecy Strip allows the bearer to mimic or emulate any single Lunar Charm or Knack for as long as the Prophecy Strip remains attuned. See other rules on the wiki page for Prophecy Prayer Strips.
Prophecy Prayer Strip -- Vision of Fate
An otherwise normal-looking Prayer Strip, this is actually a Prophecy Strip containing the Vision of Fate written on it in Old Realm script using Starmetal ink. When properly attuned by the bearer, this Prophecy Strip allows the bearer to mimic or emulate any single Sidereal Charm for as long as the Prophecy Strip remains attuned. See other rules on the wiki page for Prophecy Prayer Strips. DOES NOT INCLUDE ASTROLOGY.
I'm looking for some feedback on these. What do you think of the concept of Prophecy Strips and who should be allowed to use them as intended? What about my proposed Artifact ratings? Anyone have any inspiration for other lesser-known prophecies? Please discuss.
Recall:
It was this prediction made by a conclave of all the Sidereal Exalted that set the course of the Solar Exalted's murder at the hands of the Dragon-Blooded. Concerned with the Solars' increasingly erratic behavior, the Sidereals prophesied three possible futures. In one, they did nothing, and the world was destroyed. In another, they tried to guide the Solar Exalted back onto the path of righteousness and had a small chance of success, though the world would become a place of darkness and misery if they failed. In the third, they eliminated the Solars and the world continued on, diminished but whole. It was decided by the Sidereals that this last future was the safest bet to ensure Creation's survival, so they conspired with the Terrestrial Exalted to bring it about.
The Vision of Darkness
Woe! Woe to humankind, and to all Heaven and Earth. Poison drips from a blinded Sun, and its pestilence taints all things. The wells of the world are made vile, and poison creeps into all things living and dead, until all are rotted from within. Even the stars drop from the pestilent firmament, cutting a burning swathe through a venom-clouded sky.
The Vision of Gold
Three hundred golden swords, raised above the heads of men. Cautious star-etched hands must touch the swords, must hold them, must wield them. One slip, and the blades shall cut away those hands, and loose carnage and war--the ringing of blades against blades shatters the palace of glass. Wielded deftly, the blades of gold uphold the palace of glass forevermore.
The Vision of Bronze
Whispers in the ears of hounds--a thousand-thousand dragon-hounds bay the hunt. How shall the mighty be dragged, bloodied and furious, from their thrones? Darkness cloaks the hound, and the keeper of the kennel watches beneath five bloodied stars. Weep for the hounds that must put down the mad, and catch up the mad to never again taint up the world. Hounds are ill-suited to sit thrones, but in doing so, the estate is preserved.
The following are lesser-known possible outcomes that were never seriously considered to be a part of the Great Prophecy. Seriously considered or not, the following two prophecies were seen by the Sidereal minority as the next prominent options.
The Prophecy of Silver
Beloved are those consorts of the mighty. Beloved are the stewards with whom the mighty bed. Trusted are the ears of the mighty to the words of these betrothed, that they might soothe the savage beasts and stay them from their bloodied fangs. Trust in the words of the compassionate, for with love all else is conquered.
The Vision of Silver was not part of the Great Prophecy which drove the Sidereals to coerce the Dragon-Blooded to murder their Solar Exalted masters. Although it was one of the many other divinations translated from the Loom of Fate when the Sidereals ascertained the Great Prophecy, this was considered a separate prophecy that seemed to suggest there may have been another alternative for the future of Creation. Unfortunately, the thought of entrusting the future of all Creation to the Lunar Exalted seemed all but too absurd to the Sidereal majority. The Lunar consorts either feared their Solar companions too much or were simply blinded by love of the true danger that stood before them. Therefore, the Vision of Silver was simply left out of the Great Prophecy altogether.
The Prophecy of Fate
Fate lies in all things. And in all things lies Fate. Trust in Fate, and trust that the world will be as one. The hands of Fate, those that number five score strong, unite under one banner to usher in peace among the mighty. Separated, the threads of Fate will fray and the mighty will froth with insanity and madness. The hands of Fate must work as one lest they be forevermore shattered into many.
The Vision of Fate, like the Vision of Silver, describes one of the many other possible futures of Creation when the Sidereals divined the Great Prophecy. This one suggests that the Sidereals must act as a cohesive unit to bring about the correct action. Alas, this was not the case as the Vision of Fate was not strongly considered among the possibilities. Woe to those whose Hubris is larger than the Sun himself. The prophecy even seems to warn about the shattering of the Mask constellation if the Sidereals are not careful and work as a cohesive unit. A warning that caught blind eyes and passed through deaf ears much sooner than most believe.
ENTER: The Prophecy Prayer Strips
Artifact: 3 to 4
Attune/Commit: 5 motes
*History:*
There are only five Prophecy Strips known to all of Creation. They were designed by the Twilight Caste member of the Circle of 5 Corners prior to his demise during the Circle's battle with the demon who killed him. The original idea behind these special Prayer Strips was to grant the Exalted bearer the power to fight fire with fire, using an opponent's very strengths against them. The trouble was, the Twilight could not find bindings or scripture powerful enough to allow for such on-the-spot "essence mimicry." Desperate and running out of time before his Circlemates planned to depart on their demon-hunting mission, the Twilight consulted one of the Chosen of Secrets. Pleading his case, the Twilight asked the Chosen to divulge the Secret to this emulation of Darkness he sought after. The Sidereal responded by offering him the Vision of Darkness scrawled out on a roll of parchment. It was never revealed to the Solar what the Vision of Darkness pertained to, or that it was merely one-third of a greater prophecy, or that the Viziers of the Bronze Faction were already unraveling a plan to quell their fears.
The Twilight of the Circle of 5 Corners took the scroll with the dire words of despair on it and went to work. With further aid of his Sidereal companion, the Solar was able to complete the first Prophecy Strip - That of the Vision of Darkness.
After the death of the Twilight Caste at the hands of the demon they pursued, it was not long until the Usurpation was at hand. The Circle of 5 Corners was fighting a loosing battle, falling quickly. However, their old Twilight companion left meticulous notes, and although the construction of the other Prophecy Strips required a Sidereal's hand, they managed to attain the assistance of one of the young Gold Faction. This brave Sidereal died in the final stand at the Eclipse Caste's manse in the North. But during that battle, the Dragon-Blooded found their own powers being used against them with the Prophecy Strip for the Vision of Bronze.
Prior to this final battle that brought the Circle of 5 Corners to their knees for good, the Eclipse Caste managed to disperse the other Prophecy Strips within the security of his fallen companions' tombs. These locations can be found within the descriptions of each Prophecy Strip.
*Mechanics:*
Prophecy Strip allows the attuned bearer to emulate one Charm of the appropriate type. Emulated Charms may NEVER be added to a Combo.
Once attuned and activated, the Prophecy Strip incorporates itself into the bearer's anima. Once the Exalt witnesses a Charm being used by another Exalt of the corresponding type to that of the Prophecy Strip, the bearer may channel his will through the Strip to emulate the witnessed charm. The bearer must still possess the appropriate prerequisite ability stats for proper emulation. The cost to activate the emulated Charm is equal to normal activation cost for the learned charm, PLUS a surcharge equal to the Essence Rating minimum of the Charm. If the bearer tries to emulate a Charm for which he does not have the prerequisite ability stats, the emulation is incomplete and the emulated Charm is only half as effective.
The Prophecy Strips have the same stats as normal Prayer Strips except for the following:
They can be used by any Exalt who can attune to them.
They have double the soak levels of normal Prayer Strips.
Upon attunement, they gain a Hardness equal to the Bashing and Lethal Soaks of the bearer.
A character can only be attuned to one Prophecy Strip at a time.
Each Prophecy Strip can only be attuned to one character at a time.
Bearer may select the Charm that is emulated. The Prophecy Strip must already be attuned and active prior to witnessing the Charm to emulate. Once one Charm is emulated, it is the only Charm that may be emulated by the bearer until he re-attunes the Prophecy Strip. Re-attunement "resets" the Prophecy Strip so that it can detect a new Charm to emulate. Emulation is possible until the bearer drops attunement of the Prayer Strip. If the bearer witnesses a Combo, then he may chose one of the Charms from the Combo he witnessed, NOT the Combo in full. Also note that the Prophecy Prayer Strip does not do anything to protect the bearer from the effects of any Charms he is the target of and later chooses to emulate.
Prophecy Prayer Strip -- Vision of Darkness
An otherwise normal-looking Prayer Strip, this is actually a Prophecy Strip containing the Vision of Darkness from the Great Prophecy written on it in Old Realm script using Soulsteel ink. When properly attuned by the bearer, this Prophecy Strip allows the bearer to mimic or emulate any single Charm used by a Creature of Darkness for as long as the Prophecy Strip remains attuned. This includes but is not limited to:
- Abyssal Exalted
- Infernal Exalted
Akuma
- Green Sun Princes
[*]Demons
[*]Ghosts
- Arcanoi
[*]Raksha
[*]Dragon Kings Dark Paths of Corruption
DOES NOT include:
- Dragon Kings or their Paths of Enlightenment
- Sorcery
- Necromancy
- Alchemical Protocols
- Mountain Folk Patterns
Prophecy Prayer Strip -- Vision of Gold
An otherwise normal-looking Prayer Strip, this is actually a Prophecy Strip containing the Vision of Gold from the Great Prophecy written on it in Old Realm script using Orichalcum ink. When properly attuned by the bearer, this Prophecy Strip allows the bearer to mimic or emulate any single Solar Charm for as long as the Prophecy Strip remains attuned. See other rules on the wiki page for Prophecy Prayer Strips.
Prophecy Prayer Strip -- Vision of Bronze
An otherwise normal-looking Prayer Strip, this is actually a Prophecy Strip containing the Vision of Bronze from the Great Prophecy written on it in Old Realm script using ink extracted from Jade. When properly attuned by the bearer, this Prophecy Strip allows the bearer to mimic or emulate any single Dragon-Blooded Charm for as long as the Prophecy Strip remains attuned. See other rules on the wiki page for Prophecy Prayer Strips.
Prophecy Prayer Strip -- Vision of Silver
An otherwise normal-looking Prayer Strip, this is actually a Prophecy Strip containing the Vision of Silver written on it in Old Realm script using Moonsilver ink. When properly attuned by the bearer, this Prophecy Strip allows the bearer to mimic or emulate any single Lunar Charm or Knack for as long as the Prophecy Strip remains attuned. See other rules on the wiki page for Prophecy Prayer Strips.
Prophecy Prayer Strip -- Vision of Fate
An otherwise normal-looking Prayer Strip, this is actually a Prophecy Strip containing the Vision of Fate written on it in Old Realm script using Starmetal ink. When properly attuned by the bearer, this Prophecy Strip allows the bearer to mimic or emulate any single Sidereal Charm for as long as the Prophecy Strip remains attuned. See other rules on the wiki page for Prophecy Prayer Strips. DOES NOT INCLUDE ASTROLOGY.