Sounding for Exalted!

I've been kicking this character around in my mind for some time...


Ferem Enuma Elis


Concept: Spy Still Out in the Cold


Exalt Type: Dragon-Blood

Pity the spy caught between masters.


Born to into one of Cherak's Great Families, Elis was a disappointment to her parents from day one. Although given a fine education, she had little interest in scholarship. Though she dutifully trained with weapons, she never got beyond "you stick them with this end". And although she grimly learned how to sail a boat, she complained of seasickness the whole time. As she grew older, she grew paler and duller in the face, and more sly and sullen in her ways. Soon, Elis found the most useful skill was keeping out of sight.


She proved good at this -- surprisingly so. And when she Exalted, her family received a visit from a distant kinsman Elis had never met before, and her real studies began...


Enuma Elis is a spy for House Ferem. A master of disguise and imposture, she has passed herself off as a prostitute, a bath inspector, an apocalyptic preacher, a road patrolwoman, a migrant laborer, a drummer, a gemologist, a gambler, assorted Guild representatives and numerous Dynasts. And therein lies the rub.


Many of the Great Families of Cherak claim "cadet branch" status in one of the Houses of the Scarlet Dynasty. Others do not. As far as most of Cherak is aware, the Enuma family is one of the latter. In this they are wrong: the Enumae are an offshoot of House Iselsi, and as more and more members of that fallen House relocate to the Threshold, the family itself becomes less and less part of House Ferem.


Despite her unhappy childhood, Elis still loves her family and is loyal to her city and to the Ferem as a whole. Yet she is also an Iselsi, as was the cousin who first oversaw her training as a spy. For the time being, her two loyalties are not in conflict. But she can forsee a day when the interests of Cherak and the interests of the Realm will clash. She does not know what her decision will be.





Aspect: Air


Anima: An icy wind


Motivation: Reconcile the goals of Cherak and the Realm so that I may serve with an undivided heart


Attributes: Strength 2, Dexterity 4, Stamina 3, Charisma 2, Manipulation 3, Appearance 2, Perception 3, Intelligence 4, Wits 3


Virtues: Compassion 2, Conviction 3, Temperance 3, Valor 2


Virtue Flaw: Curse of Temperate Air


Abilities: Archery 1, Athletics 2, Awareness 3, Craft: Air 1, Dodge 2, Integrity 2 (Resist Interrogation +1), Investigation 1, Larceny 4 (Disguises +2), Linguistics (Native: Skytongue; Others: High Realm, Rivertongue) 3 (Haslanti +1, Imperial City +1, Lookshy +1), Lore 1 (History +1), Melee 1, Performance 3 (Acting +1), Resistance 2, Stealth 4 (Camouflage +2), Survival 3 (Far North +1)


Backgrounds: Arsenal 3, Breeding 3, Connections: Cherak Intelligence 3, Connections: House Iselsi 2, Resources 2


Charms: Feeling the Air, Distracting Breeze, Trackless Passage, Observer Awareness, Trackless Walk, Ears of the Snowy Owl, New Voice Technique


Join Battle: 6


Attacks:


Punch: Speed 5, Accuracy 5, Damage 2B, Defense 6, Rate 3


Kick: Speed 5, Accuracy 4, Damage 5B, Defense 4, Rate 2


Clinch: Speed 6, Accuracy 4, Damage 2B, Defense -, Rate 1


Short Sword: Speed 4, Accuracy 7, Damage 3L, Defense 6, Rate 2


Dodge DV: 4


Soak: 4L/4B/3A (Chain Shirt, Soak 3L/1B, Fatigue 1)


Health Levels: -0/-1/-1/-2/-2/-4/Incapacitated


Willpower: 6


Essence: 2


Peripheral: 25 (18)


Personal: 11


Committed: 6


Merits/Flaws: Innocuous (2-pt Merit)/Enemies (2-pt Flaw), Secret (2-pt Flaw)


Equipment: Disguise kit, Mask (Exalted 2nd Ed. page 381), Hearthstone Amulet w/Stone of Recognition, chain shirt, short sword, knife, whatever is needed to sustain the disguise.


Description: When bared to the light, Elis' skin is unnaturally white and thin, showing her veins like a faded road map in blue. The muscles of her face, the bones and ligaments of her wrists and hands, all stand out distinctly, as if in an anatomical drawing. Her hair is stiff and colorless, like straw. Her eyebrows and lashes are visible only in certain lights; what one sees is the bones of the eye sockets, the veining of the lids, and the impenetrable eyes. They are not red or violet, since she is not a true albino, but neither are they blue or grey: the colors seem to have cancelled one another out in Elis's eyes, leaving an icy clarity. She never looks directly at anyone, and her face seems to lack expression, like a skinned face would.


Few people see Elis' true face very often, though.
 
Hmm. I've got a dragonblood I'd like to put forth as well.


Silence


Concept: Revenge driven Swordsman

Silence was always the quiet child. His father, a retired warrior turned to teaching, imposed absolute discipline: Self control was the gate to all good things. Silence knew it was better to listen than talk, that an orderly mind was a sound mind, and that one who kept their own counsel risked no betrayal. He never made many friends, but he never needed many. When his books weren't enough, training was.


Silence never knew his mother, though his father often spoke highly of her. What he did know was that she was a swordswoman of the seventh legion alongside his father, and that she was mortal. He knew that she had died shortly after he was born, and that his father left Lookshy shortly thereafter in his grief. These facts didn't bother him much more than would be expected until, at the age of seventeen, he Exalted in his father's dojo, his anima nearly killing the other student he sparred with. It didn't take much insight to realize what had happened. That night, his father confirmed the truth for him, one even darker than he had guessed: He was the product of rape, by his parent's superior officer. His mother was killed seeking revenge, and his father had fled the retribution sure to follow.


That day, Silence's heart hardened, and he threw himself into his studies of the sword with new vigor. His family stolen by his supposed blood, he realized that the world was a place only for those whose control extended beyond themselves. Who could impose the order they sought. Now, he had strength. Now it would be his turn. Though his father could no longer advance his art, he could help Silence enroll in a dojo in Calin that could teach him the supernatural fighting styles he desired. Silence, as always, held his tongue as to his reasons.


Since then, Silence has advanced in his goals steadily. Through study and meditation, he has mastered the sword to a degree he wouldn't have dreamed of a year ago. Hiring himself out as an assassin in Calin's Great Game, he has amassed a comfortable level of wealth and armament. He now needs allies, and strong ones. Killing a captain of the seventh legion will not be easy.





Water Aspect Dragonblood


Anima Banner: A spray of fine foam whips faster and faster, forming the appearance of a fine white-blue cloak.


Motivation: Find and kill his biological father.


Attributes:


Strength â—â—


Dexterity â—â—â—â—â—


Stamina â—â—â—


Charisma â—â—


Manipulation â—â—


Appearance â—â—â—


Perception â—â—â—â—


Intelligence â—â—


Wits â—â—â—


Abilities:


Linguistics


Lore â—â—


Occult


Stealth â—â—â—


Thrown


â—Awareness â—â—â—


Craft


Integrity


Resistance


War


Athletics â—â—


Dodge â—


Unarmored â—


â—Melee â—â—â—â—


Presence


Socialize â—â—


â—Bureaucracy â—


â—Investigation â—â—


â—Larceny


â—Martial Arts â—â—â—â—


Swords â—â—â—


â—Sail


Archery


Medicine


â—Performance â—â—


Ride


Survival


Backgrounds:


Artifact â—â—


Grace of Steel (Jade Reaper Daiklave: Speed 3, Accuracy 16, Damage 7L, Defense +1, Rate 3)


Resources â—â—â—


Mentor â—â—


Charms:


1st martial arts excellency


Dragon Graced Weapon


Death Between Heartbeats


Breath and Essence Control


Close your Eyes and Look


Even Blade Form


Gruesome Wood King Revelry Technique


Virtues


Compassion â—


Conviction â—â—â—


Temperance â—â—â—â—


Valor â—â—â—


Intimacies: TBD


Essence â—â—â—


Personal: 12/12


Peripheral: 23/23 (5 attunement)


Willpower 9/9


Dodge DV: 6


Parry DV: 7


Dodge MDV: 6


Parry MDV: 2


Join Battle: 6


Bonus Points


Essence: 10


Willpower: 4


Virtues: 2


Abilities: 2


Edit: To specify, the charms I chose are from the Even Blade terrestrial style in scroll of the monk. If that isn't acceptable, let me know and I'll swap them out.
 
Just throw the concepts at me, folks. Everyone. Don't freak out and worry about full-fledged characters and millions of little details just yet.
 
I guess I'll throw my hat in the ring.


I've an idea for a Sidereal Investigator, Chosen of Secrets, envisioned as a paranormal investigator a-la Call of Cthulhu.


Probably Independent, Ex-Bronze Faction, with some connections in the spirit courts to deter the Bronze hit squads...
 
Heh, yeah. Sorry about that. The concept for the guy is basically a number of grittier samurai stories I've seen and read. The thing is I have trouble envisioning a character without building him.


Love dragonbloods.
 
Alright, concept then!


Name: Thunderous Cherry Blossoms ("Thunder" or "Blossom")


Type: Full Moon Lunar


Concept: Fickle Bodyguard


Spirit Form: Long-haired yellow tabby


Tell: Fluffy ears and tail. (A 'fluffier' rump or tail and at the base of the ears in transformed states.)


Details: Raised by her father with four brothers in a highly martial setting, Thunder is so far a tomboy, there isn't a strong enough word for her incapability to handle 'girly' things- like touchy-feely emotional crap. She is, however, exceptionally proficient at beating most problems into submission something that her Exaltation and subsequent tattooing into the Full Moon caste has supplemented. The only downside she's come to understand -aside from being Anathema and all the typical issues involved with that- is that a tell is not suppose to be so freakishly obvious in her true-forms. Having chimeras explained to her, she is in fact, very sensitive about her tell, and much prefers that no one mention it -if they notice it in the first place. Extra limb or mutated ears or not, they are her tell. She is currently looking into using her strength and skills to earn a living, and more importantly, beat up the bad guys and spread justice just the way her father would've wanted. If he could have ever accepted his only daughter turning into a horrible Creation-Ending monster.
 
Well, even though I already have the character sheet up, I may as well shoot my concept.


Name: Kanda Rhulain


Concept: Assassin with a vengeance


Type: No Moon Lunar


Spirit Shape: A brown-furred otter


Tell: Otter whiskers against his cheek


Details: Kanda Rhulain always believed his family was just a very wealthy noble family in the midst of Calin's Great Game. However, when his family was executed on trumped-up charges of treason against the city, Kanda went into hiding, eventually Exalting when he took a dive into a pond to hide from guards. Thankfully, the Silver Pact was there to extract him. Now he's come back to Port Calin, hoping to divine the secrets his family had kept and, more importantly, find the guys who set up his family and make them pay.
 
Just throw the concepts at me' date=' folks. Everyone. Don't freak out and worry about full-fledged characters and millions of little details just yet.[/quote']
Actually, I just like building characters. Besides, work was dead on Christmas so I had little better to do.
Click to expand...
 
Just throw the concepts at me' date=' folks. Everyone. Don't freak out and worry about full-fledged characters and millions of little details just yet.[/quote']
Well, as a new guy to the site, and this apparently being the only open game... I submit this concept.


Calin Aman


Concept: Young Defiant Rebel


Exalt Type: Dragon-Blood (Air, Water or Fire Aspect)

The young man known as Aman was the son of a whore, and a visiting Dragon-Blooded who figured that this far from home on the Blessed Isle, the risk of a embarrassing bastard would prove negligible. In any case, Aman was born after his father had left, and for a time, his mother sustained him as best she could. She, spiteful of the father for an unknown reason, also bred a disdain for the Dynasts in Aman.


And then at 12, though they had managed for many a year, his mother caught a fever and died soon after. Turned out onto the streets of Port Calin, he survived, scrapping and working various shady jobs as a messenger, thief, and eventually, he accepted a paying request to kill. The target, a wealthy merchant, was about to be finished off in his bedroom, when the guards unaccountably burst in. In the midst of his sudden shock and fear, Aman felt a dragon roar in his mind. Needless to say, the job was finished with little trouble.


At 17, Aman, now a Dragon-Blooded, dared to dream of more. A friend of many on the streets, he believed that they needed help, and in time, Calin would be, should be his. And powerful it should be. As nothing less than a personal proclamation of his goals, he adopted the surname of Calin. Calin Aman he was now.


Now, slowly but surely, he begins to strengthen his position and build a network loyal to him and search out more allies. The shogun and his arrogant daimyo will have it coming to them, that's a given.
Click to expand...
 
Hou Isamu


Concept: Patient Lorehound


Type: Solar Twilight-Caste


Details

exactly[/i] how they do it... just in case he needs to help someone else with the job. He's drifted from House to House in Calin for some time, helping the rich out-do and out-know each other, making a tidy little sum for himself and the extravagant lengths he sometimes has to go through to learn something he doesn't already know.
 
Hey, I might be interested with either a Twilight war monk / philosopher with a plan for Creation (mens sana in corpore sano !), or an Eclipse with a knack for shady business.


I'd like a bit more details about the background and the main plots, see if there's any realm building involved or just raw and pure adventure fun !
 
I would like to join as well, even though I'm new.


I was thinking either a solar night caste or a changing moon lunar preferably a lunar. The char would be a hunter turned man hunter/assassin. Subject to change
 
Plot points and general info for those curious:


- No realm-building. Never really a fan of that. Think more roaming and adventure over the nation of Calin.


- Calin, as some of you know by the blurbs in the books, is basically Shogunate era Japan with a far more decadent aristocracy ala China/Korea. The Great Game defines the aristocracy, a game of politics, social graces, and utter backstabbing. Typical high society shenanigans, really.


- There are certainly no White Veil Society involved in this. That's just absurd. There is no White Veil Society.


- Port Calin is the capital, some 800 miles north of Lookshy and Goodharbor. The River of Tears is the eastern border, with some small city-states thrown in here and there bordering the nation. A sprawling city of 200,000.


- Fae will be the primary foe, with sprinklings of a third faction of my choosing in their own unknown plots. A major Freehold exists with Calin's borders, more a mythical enemy than present threat currently. Think how the No-God and the Consult are in the Second Apocalypse series or the Others in The Song of Ice and Fire. That's how they're by and large regarded. Hobs are a clear and present danger, but that's not different than the rest of the Scavenger Lands.


That's all I'll say on this, because it's rather vital.


- There are three castes acknowledged amongst Calinese, caste-nobles, caste-menials, and hun. Hun are basically slaves and untouchables. Exalts, namely Terrestrials, occupy a shady area in-between caste-noble and caste-menial. Obviously, Dragon-Bloods from Lookshy or dignitaries from the Realm are seen as caste-noble equals. Random freeboot jackass DB merc is in the shadow zone. Note that this is usually just a formality, because Exalts being Exalts, the nobles don't want to really piss them off.


- While you guys may venture away from dealing with the nobility or what have you, everything in my world keeps moving. You'll be affected by them at some point and they'll effect change upon you. You may not understand how, or why, or even what you're seeing at some points, but that's okay. Mystery keeps life interesting.


- If you're character is a native, feel free to make up a town name or even a city name where they are from. Just bold the name in your summary or write up to let me know, so I can incorporate it.


- Rivertongue is lingua franca, with different dialects for different towns. You'll get by. Some towns closer to the River of Tears use Easttongue, just so you know.


That's all for now. Help any?
 
Golentan said:
Heh, yeah. Sorry about that. The concept for the guy is basically a number of grittier samurai stories I've seen and read. The thing is I have trouble envisioning a character without building him.
Love dragonbloods.
Click to expand...
No need to apologize at all.
 
Could you tell us something about the individual Houses of Calin? Since I'm sure at least some of our characters would like to have dealings (and in my case, dots worth of background) related to some of them. ^_____^
 
Well, I'll throw my hat in the arena.


Name: Crimson Crow


Concept: Freewheeling rogue who actually enjoys being an Exalt. Originally from a family of ghost hunters in the east, he's gone where his feet have led him, and it's Port Calin. He's a swordsman, lover, con artist and dabbler in the occult who just happened to exalt as a...


Exalted Type: Solar (Night or Dawn, most likely, but just about any caste would work)


Backstory


Born to a family that had been indentured as diggers and assistants to a clan of Scavenger Lords and occult adventurers, Jimen was always sure he was meant for greater things. A quick study, charismatic and physically adept, he got on well with the children of his parents lord and master, and aspired to marry the youngest daughter, who delighted in teasing him and encouraging what was utterly inappropriate behavior. As they grew older, he began to think things would work out to allow for this unrealistic jump in station, but knew that he would have to find a proper catalyst. His chance came when a dig went terribly wrong, and a creature of terrible ferocity was released from a long disused biothaumaturgical lab that had belonged to a dread Anathema. Seeing his chance, Jimen took it, leaping onto the creatures back without a second thought.


Such foolish courage is viewed as a fine quality in the heart of Sol, it seems. Jimen took the Second Breath there, using his natural talents and the rush of his Solar exaltation to save the day. His employer, a canny and practical man, began to take Jimen much more seriously. He has agreed to think on the proposed union of Jimen and his daughter, but has instructed Jimen to see more of the world before deciding. Free from the bonds of indenture and duty, with coin in his pocket and more power at his disposal than his wildest dreams ever dared to aspire to, he explores and adventures under the name of Crimson Crow, taken from the symbol of the long lost master of lab that provided the key to his destiny. He is newly come to his power, and eager to see more of the world. He is literate and somewhat educated, but still a simple boy at heart. His temper is potent but slow to rise, and he knows well the virtues of patience and discretion. He can have as little or as many starting artifacts as possible, and is primed to grow, not having mastered any skills at this point, being something of a jack of all trades. His progression will depend greatly on the group and the relationships he develops, as will his ethics and morality. Being surrounded by people who were more fully developed as people before their Exaltation will be good for him, and all him to grow into either a hero or a monster. Or a mix of the two.


Obviously, he's young, and shows his low origins in his wonder and appreciation of the finer things in life. He has sandy hair and a olive complexion, with his hair often unkempt and tussled from his somewhat kinetic nature. He's learning to be a bit more reserved, but it's a work in progress. He does, however, understand that he has to keep his true nature hidden from most folks, and longs for the chance to meet others like him who aren't out to kill him.


That's my two-cents worth!


Cliff
 
After much effort, I've finally come up with something. I decided to go with a Terrestrial instead of a Lunar; this is my first attempt at making one. I hope it's alright.


Name: Mara Isasa


Concept: Would-be monarch


Type: Terrestrial Water Aspect


Backstory (Rough draft):


Getting by in the West is rarely easy, but Isasa did not suffer too much difficulty surviving. Daughter of a reasonably successful sailing merchant, the young woman grew up on an island close to the border of the Coral and Wavecrest dominions, unfortunately falling in the territory of the former. Though supported by an eager military and the contractual safety from most of the local pirates, Isasa grew in a doubly tumultuous climate. In addition to the harsh Northern weather, the perceptive girl watched the condition of her island and those of her neighbors. Not only did the people struggle to get by on their small patches of land, but the world around them was constantly in flux. The nations of Coral and Wavecrest were in a state of near-constant struggle. Seeing her two older brothers taken by the conflict, Isasa quickly grew sickened of the state of things.


On top of the state of war, there were other difficulties to be had. Isasa's home island was close enough to the border of Wavecrest that not all pirates plying the waters were contractually bound to Coral. She was long since familiar with the practice of running for the hiding place in her house with her mother as soon as the warning bells began to toll. If not the pirates, sometimes the Fair Folk made an incursion, and she had heard enough of them to imagine that one would rather be captive of the most brutal pirate than that of the most compassionate of the Fae. By the time she was old enough to be called a woman rather than a girl, Isasa was convinced that the West was in dire need of aid.


It spoke to her talents that she was able to convince the Sea Lord of her island to employ her as a negotiator with Wavecrest. Isasa had a quick mind and a knack for solving puzzles, from simple riddles to unraveling generations-long conflicts. Under the employ of the Sea Lord, she was able to travel as far as Abalone, working to settle conflict between nations, negotiate contracts with islands and pirates, and make bargains with merchants from the more prosperous nations to offer their services to Coral.


However, the farther she traveled and saw of the West, the more trouble she found. For every contract she made, a dozen refused to speak with a woman, or a person from Coral. Isasa grew frustrated, with the feeling she was trying to break down a wall with naught but her own head. If two islands weren't at war, it was because they didn't have enough of value to fight over. If pirates weren't preying on the people, it was the Fair Folk, or rampant water spirits. If it wasn't another island trying to take what a neighbor had, it was the Realm stepping in to strong-arm any resources it could get. Both men and women suffered in the West without proper protection or enough resources to get by. Its sorry state was perpetual, or else would eventually lead it to complete destruction, perhaps the entire direction being taken in by the Silver Prince when he was not content with ruling Skullstone.


For all her effort, though, Isasa could not come to a solution. The people of the West seemed understandably resigned to their state. What hope did they have of making things better, when most of them had a daily struggle of farming kelp in the sea or growing bread on their meager patches of land?


As she struggled to come up with an answer on a trip returning to her island, Isasa's typical disguise was seen through by a Storm Mother, who manifested in a fury before the vessel. Declaring her anger at the sight of the attractive young woman, she began to conjure a storm. Panicked, the mercenary crew of the ship seized Isasa to offer her to the Storm Mother to placate her, dragging her to the hideous apparition and offering her up. In the moment before the goddess could strike her down, however, power flooded through Isasa and she burst from her captors' hands. Isasa's bloodline, as far as could be traced back, had never seen an Exalt. However, the girl knew what had happened as she stood on the deck of the ship, surrounded by an aquatic anima and surging with strength. So did the goddess, who had unwisely materialized to deal with the transgression. In a burst of anger that had been welling up in her for years, Isasa leapt at the Storm Mother and began to pummel her with bare-handed blows. She was no trained fighter, but the blood of dragons was the blood of a warrior, and her fury could not be denied.


When the event had settled down, Isasa climbed back into the boat, the Storm Mother incapacitated, or perhaps dead in the water. She never checked. Fearful of the powerful creature before them, the mercenary ship followed her barked commands unceasingly, and delivered her home for the final time before fleeing the area.


Isasa knew since the moment of her ascension that she was in a precarious situation. She lacked the ability and the will to hide her nature from the people around her, and the Realm would come seeking her out as they did with any unexpected exalt in the islands. Loathing the empire for how it let the West founder and strangle itself, Isasa utterly refused to allow this to happen. Bidding farewell to her parents, the new Chosen of the Dragons managed to book passage on a far-traveling ship, determined to go out into the world.


The West was her home, and she always knew she would return. But she needed to learn, and grow stronger, and find an answer to its plight. For now alone in the world, Isasa was but a young woman, even if she was a Terrestrial. However, she vowed that someday she would return to her homeland with the answer, and the power to guide it as its queen.
 
Name: Shimada Takashi / Old Man Yama


Concept: old soldier turned philosopher


Type: Solar Exalt (Twilight)


Motivation: Understand the nature of Creation


Backstory:


Being a soldier is not easy and it's even worth when you're fighting in the in the 7th legion. Aside from fighting men, you also have to face monstruosities like the faes, or even undead.


But Takashi never complained, he was a small ranked officer for most of his life, and when it was time for him to retire, the legion treated him well, he retired gracefully with a better rank and a better pay for his long years of services.


Though he felt void and sought refuge in a new battlefield, the mind. His body was not as strong as it once was, so he would sharpen his mind.


And for 15 years after he had retired the legion he was no longer the gunso with a philosophy, he was actually the philosopher.


He moved to Port Calin to find old friends, that are now dead from old age, and he found a new path as a local school teacher and philosopher.


His visions on the world and societies are quite sharp and, one day that he was working on an essay about the nature of war, he had an epiphany, a revelation about essence and its movement and impact on the world, the flow of things, he could see them for a brief moment.


It was then that he exalted as a member of the Twilight Caste.


His old body no longer hurts, and he has been practicing martial arts on a regular basis.


Now with his new powers and thirst for knowledge, his quest can begin !
 
Since you pointed me here, here I am, giving PBP one last try. Cap'n Kye, if that's alright. If not, I'll get off my lazy arse and make a new one.
 
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