One x One Return of the Scarlet Empress - OOC 3e

[Psychie]

You could go with Journeys; they have some nice Charms that go with them.

 

[Chowlett]

Did you have anything in mind? The Sail "assume command" stuff? The Ride "keep going in one direction" stuff? Or did you mean the caste charms?

 

[Chowlett]

... The idea of her (...I think "her' is right) being a Journeys is really sitting well with me. I'll start going down that route, and go back over their charms again.

 

[Psychie]

The Caste Charms for Journeys are all pretty neat. I think that they will suit her well.

 

[Chowlett]

Quick note that I'm making progress. I'll probably have some questions as I go, but things are starting to take shape.

It seems a missed opportunity to be a Sidereal without a Martial Art, so I've been considering my options. Doubling up Reyna's VBoS style is an option; or, from the core book, I was considering Single Point Shining Into the Void (if I take my Wits and Awareness high enough to make it useful - wow, Glade would do well from that one!), Crane Style or possibly Steel Devil Style - although that one's a problem if Ii can't find any improvised swords around at a given time. Probably not going to take a full tree; will definitely get as far as the Form so I can unlock Masteries.

It's that or Melee, to be fair.

 

[Psychie]

I almost didn't spend so many Charms on VBoS, but I thought, why not go for it, since I have met the Essence prerequisite for them?

 

[Chowlett]

Doing this (as quickly as I can) for a careful subset of abilities is going to help me immensely...

 

[Psychie]

Cool chart!

 

[Chowlett]

Thanks, mermaid.js!

 

[Chowlett]

Sherwood For charms like Ordained Bridle of Mercury (turn an animal into a 1- or 2-dot Familiar), can I be assumed to have used it a couple of times before play starts, without buying the Familiar merit? I'm thinking having a companion or two to fetch crafting materials might be fun.

 

[Sherwood]

You can have one Familiar starting out for free.

 

[Chowlett]

Giggle at Creation of Beauty. I wonder if this one's due to be tweaked as the book gets developed:

"If the Sidereal’s working with raw materials to which her Elemental Vision applies..."

Elemental Vision tells us that each of the 5 maidens is associated with one of the elements. For Mercury-Journeys, that would be Air. So I can get the subsequent benefit if I'm crafting with air (or related). I... can't see that coming up much.

 

[Chowlett]

Sherwood when's the cost of Destiny-Knitting Entanglement paid - when the object is first bound, or when the Sidereal needs to recall it? If the former, does that commit the cost indefinitely (motes only, I assume)?

 

[Sherwood]

I think it applies when the object is recalled.

 

[Sherwood]

Chowlett how is your character coming along?

 

[Chowlett]

Yeah, sorry for the delay. Coming along slowly. I have a not-very-short list of charms which is going to inform my dots. Still haven't decided between a MA or just Melee. I need at least one decent Battles ability in order to buy Auspicious Instrument of Strife a couple of times, which I really want. And I need to keep an eye on which charms are "Versatile", so can be MA as well as Melee or whatever.

 

[Chowlett]

I've just realised something.

Ordained Bridle of Mercury
Cost: 10m (1wp); Mins: Ride 3, Essence 1
Type: Simple
Keywords: None
Duration: Until the bridle is presented
Prerequisite Charms: None
The Sidereal shapes yellow stardust into a bridle with reins and bit, a tether to bind a new mount to her fate.
When the Sidereal presents the bridle to an animal, she makes a special ([Charisma or Manipulation] + Ride) persuade roll against it. If she succeeds, the animal accepts the bridle, which vanishes once it is placed, making that animal the Sidereal’s familiar and giving it a Major Tie of submission to her. She must pay a one-Willpower surcharge to present the bridle to animals that would be two-dot familiars (Exalted, p. 161), and it can’t be used against animals that would be three-dot familiars or animals that are already someone’s familiar.
Alternatively, instead of choosing an animal to present the bridle to, the Sidereal may let fate decide. An animal of the Storyteller’s choice will enter the scene and let the Sidereal place the bridle on it without needing to roll. The Storyteller can choose animals that are two- or even
three-dot familiars, without requiring the Willpower surcharge.

What stops me using this charm once (if I choose the animal) or even several times a day (if I let the ST decide), and quickly amassing a small army of 1- and 2-dot familiars?

 

[Sherwood]

The fact that the storyteller will ask you nicely not to?

 

[Chowlett]

It's a good reason! And you can trust me not to take advantage of stuff. But I was expecting a mechanical restriction, y'know?

 

[Sherwood]

I am not aware of any ruling from the book about that. The manuscript is still a rough draft, so perhaps it will be tweaked in the final draft.

 

[Sherwood]

Just to let everyone know, I've been approached by gmimperfecti asking to get into an Exalted game. With Chowlett taking his time getting his character made up, I thought this was a good way to start the game up and then he can jump in as his time permits.

Psychie why not introduce yourself to gmimperfecti and start discussing backgrounds?

 

[Psychie]

Welcome to the game, gmimperfecti . Are you new to Exalted, or have you played it before?

 

[gmimperfecti]

I've been following Exalted and playing it since 1.5. I've played a few 1.5 and 2 campaigns back in the day. I ran an early play test online for 3rd edition. That being said, it's been awhile since I actually played the game. It's my favorite setting of all time though.

 

[gmimperfecti]

I'm leaning towards a Bronze Jupiter who is a mix between audacious playboy and hard boiled spy, sort of like James Bond. Although Venus in the Division of Serenity as a Joybringer could work well too.

 

[gmimperfecti]

Psychie Where's your character sheet for me to gel with?