Ebeli Quest: How to Manage your Plot Devices and Save Creation
GreggHL
Engaging hilarity engine/air intake
- Location
- Daejeon, Republic of Korea
Think of it as the subsouls embodying aspects of him. Ligier would represent the qualities associated with conviction. The need to crush rebellions, the need to be king, etc. Ruvelia represents the part about caring for the subjects, because Theion did care about his subjects. It's just that it was an on high caring, a God Upon the Mountain sort of caring.
Additionally, Ruvelia being an all-loving being would be adding new Intimacies like that, and if you have high conviction this takes a lot of time.
This is my mistake. She would not have excellencies. She'd have charms which enhance her Performance, Presence, Melee, and Socialize actions. I'll change that for a later version of the character sheet.
Vaalintine
Wild Wondorous Wolfalope
Once we make sure the EoE isn't an immediate threat to Creation, or inside OUR Autochthon, we totally need to compare the heck out of Ligier and Revelia & their current subsouls, with their original subsouls as Theion. Because the chance at that info would be awesome.
Also we should hide Ruvelia on our way back to our base so we can spring the surprise on our bound demons, because if the reaction from Ligier was entertaining, Ruvelia will be hilarious.
Also we should see if there are any Ligier/Ruvelia Charms the two of them can teach Penitent Star. Not Yozi charms per se, but charms themed on the two of them that Theion would be able to learn/use if he had his own infernals creating them. And those two specifically because they would be the best 3rd circles to act as his charms teachers/tutors.
Edit: I recall something about Penitent Star being limited to E5 max. Is it at all possible for him to learn Theion Ascendancy Mantle? It is an E5 charm that raises your essence under certain conditions.
Also we should hide Ruvelia on our way back to our base so we can spring the surprise on our bound demons, because if the reaction from Ligier was entertaining, Ruvelia will be hilarious.
Also we should see if there are any Ligier/Ruvelia Charms the two of them can teach Penitent Star. Not Yozi charms per se, but charms themed on the two of them that Theion would be able to learn/use if he had his own infernals creating them. And those two specifically because they would be the best 3rd circles to act as his charms teachers/tutors.
Edit: I recall something about Penitent Star being limited to E5 max. Is it at all possible for him to learn Theion Ascendancy Mantle? It is an E5 charm that raises your essence under certain conditions.
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GreggHL
Engaging hilarity engine/air intake
- Location
- Daejeon, Republic of Korea
Star is limited to E5 max, due to his Exaltation being more along the lines of a kitbashed godblooded than a Solar/Abyssal/Infernal Exaltation. This is due to the conditions where Autochthon created the 700 celestial exaltations no longer existing. Normally, he wouldn't be able to learn charms from Ligier or Ruvelia due to them not being Yozi per se, but never hurts to experiment on NPCs.
Primordial Perspective of the Primordial War
GreggHL
Engaging hilarity engine/air intake
- Location
- Daejeon, Republic of Korea
So, on the note of the Primordial War being justified, the thing to remember is that each side had it's own justification, which goes with my interpretation of 'Demons are saints and jerks just like everyone else. Except the Ebon Dragon, he's a straight up asshole.' From the side of the humans, the War was justified- it lead to them getting the reigns over Creation, after all. From the perspective of the gods, it was justified- it lead to them getting Yu Shan.
But this is one of those 'history is written by the victors' sort of things. Humans didn't choose to start the war. They were essentially press-ganged by the gods. The gods were actually somewhat split. Many of them sided with the Primordials, and when the Exalted won they were locked away, executed, or exiled. The exiled ones are Forbidden Gods, who sometimes show up in the books.
The Incarnae wanted to rebel because they wanted to retire. They wanted the Games of Divinity. However, they couldn't rebel. Their Geass prevented them from taking arms against the Primordials. The only reason they could rebel was a) humans were a weak servant race under the stewardship of the Dragon Kings, and b) Autochthon wanted to straight up murder his kin.
We're sympathetic to this because a) we're human except for those of us who are actually cats, and b) we sympathize with Autochthon as the bullied kid wanting payback. But consider from the perspective of the Primordials:
The Primordial War is a straight up Skynet attack. The automated defense systems that you had designed to not be able to harm you had empowered the mobile prayer mills and made them murder machines. Mainly because the crippled weirdo who designed some of your systems now wants you all dead. Oh, and Gaia is apparently siding with the gynoid that you designed to keep her from wandering off into Rakshaland, and had empowered more of the mobile prayer mills.
From the Primordial perspective, the war is a straight up horror story.
But this is one of those 'history is written by the victors' sort of things. Humans didn't choose to start the war. They were essentially press-ganged by the gods. The gods were actually somewhat split. Many of them sided with the Primordials, and when the Exalted won they were locked away, executed, or exiled. The exiled ones are Forbidden Gods, who sometimes show up in the books.
The Incarnae wanted to rebel because they wanted to retire. They wanted the Games of Divinity. However, they couldn't rebel. Their Geass prevented them from taking arms against the Primordials. The only reason they could rebel was a) humans were a weak servant race under the stewardship of the Dragon Kings, and b) Autochthon wanted to straight up murder his kin.
We're sympathetic to this because a) we're human except for those of us who are actually cats, and b) we sympathize with Autochthon as the bullied kid wanting payback. But consider from the perspective of the Primordials:
The Primordial War is a straight up Skynet attack. The automated defense systems that you had designed to not be able to harm you had empowered the mobile prayer mills and made them murder machines. Mainly because the crippled weirdo who designed some of your systems now wants you all dead. Oh, and Gaia is apparently siding with the gynoid that you designed to keep her from wandering off into Rakshaland, and had empowered more of the mobile prayer mills.
From the Primordial perspective, the war is a straight up horror story.
plotvitalnpc
Once more walking the path of the catgirl.
- Pronouns
- They/Them
Thank you for the acknowledgement
/jk, of course.
But yeah, it's pretty much a civil war in which a minority of the populace joined the computers in turning the power plants against you.
Which is not a normal sentence.
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Carrnage
Human
- Location
- New Zealand
Im not sure i agree exalted shards have basically nothing compelling gihting the primordials and yets there is no mention of any that didnt.
GreggHL
Engaging hilarity engine/air intake
- Location
- Daejeon, Republic of Korea
There were Akuma.
And, just because they were press-ganged doesn't mean the press-ganging was bad. If the Sun tells you to do something, you do it. The promise of 'fight for our freedom from these assholes' is a powerful one, and the Exalted wouldn't see- and probably wouldn't care- about the Primordial perspective.
Lealope
Not yet invincible
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Then why isn't Ligier the fetich, given that the conviction and the urge to dominate are the cornerstone of Theion's mythos?
Mm, see, Theion cared about his subjects, sure, but the core purpose of all of his actions was to have them praise his name and uplift his glory as the Most High. He's a narcissist. If he created a heaven for his subjects, it would be a place where they sang hymns to his splendor eternally.
well also, the Primordials tended to be worse to the "mobile prayer mills" than anything the "mobile prayer mills" even the empowered ones, came up with. And the worst part was it wasn't even malicious, it's just when a giant boar is wandering around your city is less than a bumb in the road.
You know, that sounds kind of familiar for some reason. Where have I read something like this before?
Ligier's Motivation said:
Pretty sure the narcissism stems from Ligier.
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aeqnai
Nerdy Homu
- Location
- Laniakea Supercluster
- Pronouns
- She/Her
He is. It's just that Ruvelia is too.
Finagle007
[Verified Great Old One]
- Pronouns
- He/Him/His
Did you forget that Theion had two fetiches? Ruvelia was his original fetich, but at some point he used A Prince For The Queen to create Ligier, and Two Hearts As One to elevate Ligier to the position of second fetich. Malfeas still has those Charms, but is too wounded now to make use of them. Losing only one of his fetiches has left Malfeas vulnerable in a manner his fellow Yozis are not, however...
Article: By Madness Darkened
Cost: - ; Mins: Essence 3; Type: Permanent
Keywords: None
Duration: Permanent
Prerequisite Charms: Solipsistic Rejection of Impossibilities, Sorcerous Enlightenment of Malfeas
There are fractures in the mind of the King of the Yozis, terrible wounds that scar his psyche. For him was not given the freedom of Adorjan, whose rebirth from Adrián was total; no, he labours under memories and pain that he was not once as he is, that he is now defined by one where once was two. He avoids such things, only able to think of them in the agony of his Torment. It would take human sadism to tear such wounds open, render the agonies of a fractured mind worse. And in that, Malfeas should not feel safe, for the Black Nadir Concordat did exactly that to the Neverborn to gain access to Necromancy. The Green Sun Princes may well do the same to him.
This Charm permanently enhances the Infernals' capacities. While in Torment, she is a Creature of Death, and receives temporary initiation into the Shadowlands Circle of Necromancy, which lasts until the end of the Torment. Necromancy accessed via this method receives the bonuses and penalties of sorcery cast through Sorcerous Initiation of Malfeas, and shows aesthetic warping combining his themes with those of death. Although she may not cast necromantic spells when not in Torment, she may still learn them. Moreover, this internalisation of the psychic fracture has a perverse effect on the character's Torment; she is not subject to the behavioural modifications of her Torment when she takes a Cast Necromancy action, but each spell cast count as a scene towards building a positive Intimacy towards death, a specific creature of death, or some other appropriately morbid concept or individual. If the character has repurchased Sorcerous Initiation of Malfeas at Essence 4, she also gains access to the Labyrinth Circle of Necromancy, under the same constraints. Sadly, it appears that even the madness and agony of the King is not enough to reach the depths of the Void Circle.
If the Infernal knows Malfeas Pantheon Unfurling (or, as a yet-unknown Heretical effect, Path of a Thousand Whispers), the mad knowledge of death propagates through her soul hierarchy for the duration of the Torment. All Third Circle Souls temporarily receive initiation into the Labyrinth and Shadowlands Circles of Necromancy, receiving the bonuses and limitations of the Malfean sorcerous initiation for necromancy, and may cast any necromantic spell of those circles that the Infernal knows. All Second Circle Souls temporarily receive initiation into the Shadowlands Circle of Necromancy, and may cast any necromantic spell of that circle that the Infernal knows. The souls are warped aesthetically towards death as a Shaping effect while this applies; for Malfeas, the Street of Golden Lanterns will burn with pale witchfires, and Ligier will illuminate the world in morbid crimson.
With the invention of this Charm, the Heretical Charm To Sup With Dead Titans becomes an acceptable target for development as a native Malfeas Charm, with this Charm replacing Ultimate Darkness Internalisation in its prerequisites, and the Heresy keyword removed from it. It applies whenever the Infernal is a Creature of Death due to Torment, rather than due to Ultimate Darkness Internalisation.
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plotvitalnpc
Once more walking the path of the catgirl.
- Pronouns
- They/Them
Theion was a king like no other could hope to be, so he of course had two fetiches.
Lealope
Not yet invincible
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Not so much, it was greatly impersonal, and some of the Primordials were likely to have treated mortals well due to their quirks(though again, not necessarily true down their soul structure). Malfeas as the Empyreal Tyrant would have ruled over mortal subjects and be loved truly and wholly. The Exalted fighting him most likely came from those mortal tribes who warred with his subjects, and as King, he was bound to crush them utterly for violating his sovereignity. SWLIHN would have provided for an incredible quality of life under her direction, due to her boundless compassion, they would be improved and organized to be even better as Prayer Engines.
That entire mortal civilizations were likely wiped out by the Exalted in the course of the war to deny prayer to the Primordials was, perhaps, something not mentioned much.
What the Exalted fought against was intensely personal. Offenses to themselves, offenses against the spirits they have been raised to worship. The Primordials were dangerous, but largely in the sense of having a civilization based around the rich soil of a volcano.
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frozenchicken
Does not have a custom title.
Depends on how you define "mortal." If you mean "other humans," then sure, but there are several Primordial servant races whose genocides by the Exalted get detailed.
Humans, lintha, servitor races, jadeborn...framing the war as Us vs Them is very convenient, and certainly the First Age was significantly better to live in for humanity in general, but the point being made was that nothing was personal there.
Wait, I thought your point was that it was personal?
I was just throwing my two cents in, but now I'm confused.
I noticed something kind of horrifically terrifying.
Ruvelia was described as having four wings and blue eyes when going all out just like Hunhow, and Hunhow also wielded an imitation Sword of the Yozi.
So it's possible that either the Engine of Extinction made Hunhow out of the Ruvelia and Ligier of his universe, or Hunhow's role as minister of the Pole of Consumption lets him gain the abilities of things and he's used that on another Ligier and possibly another Ruvelia.
Ruvelia was described as having four wings and blue eyes when going all out just like Hunhow, and Hunhow also wielded an imitation Sword of the Yozi.
So it's possible that either the Engine of Extinction made Hunhow out of the Ruvelia and Ligier of his universe, or Hunhow's role as minister of the Pole of Consumption lets him gain the abilities of things and he's used that on another Ligier and possibly another Ruvelia.
Finagle007
[Verified Great Old One]
- Pronouns
- He/Him/His
With Hunhow dealt with and Ruvelia bound, we should head to Malfeas. Not just for the chaos her presence will bring, but to stock up on Final Rest Elixir, explicitly stated to be deadly to demons and ghosts.
Ruvelia's Story
GreggHL
Engaging hilarity engine/air intake
- Location
- Daejeon, Republic of Korea
[X]Ask about her world.
Bright Star stayed in Nos Fenns and would return later- he had people to help. He quickly endeared himself to Shoat of the Mire, forming a bond with her in the sort of quick, compassionate way that was typical for the Zenith. So, at least, your Circle now had a child mascot. A death solar child mascot. Lytek- or the Lyteks, as you so named the triple Gods of Exaltation- would be pleased.
Meanwhile, you had demons to learn about.
The Finch travels back to the Lap, and during it you sit in the observation dome on the underside, with Sky, Shell, and Ray as Ruvelia tells the story in images of cerulean flame.
"The War in Heaven began on my world like it did yours. Gaia, Autochthon, and the Incarnae found mutual ground and a common goal, and created the Exalted to bring war to the Primordial Host. For centuries, war raged across the Spiral. At first, the Primordials believed this to be distraction. Theion embraced this war, for it could allow him to crush a rebellion and welcome subjects back under his rule.
"As the war raged-"
The flame forms into images. Great battles over mountains. Behemoths fighting against warstriders. Redirecting rivers to drown foes and hurling cities into the skies.
"The Primordials concluded that the Exalted, for all their power, were but mortals. Without their patrons, they would be another rebellion to crush."
The images form into five figures. Blazing with dragonblooded anima.
"Five akuma were chosen. With skill and stealth they sneaked into the Great Maker's workshop and destroyed five beloved projects, driving Autochthon into rage."
The image changes again. A vast plane, and the five figures running. Pursuing them an immense sphere of brass and shadow. "The Great Maker pursued them, intent on revenge. The forces of the Primordials were waiting."
You watch- an immense singularity in the shape of a boar charges the Great Maker. Demonic ships lay into him with essence cannons, forces you can barely recognize bringing stars down upon him. Shell gasps- you see Sky pat her hand, and smile.
"However, we underestimated his rage. We overestimated his power. What was intended to be restraint and capture became an execution."
The brass sphere falls, trailing shadow. Trailing liquid black. Black which consumes it, corrupts it.
"The Great Maker fell. And he was reborn."
The brass sphere inverts. Consumes itself, the metal subsumed by black, by what appears to be pure soulsteel. As it does so, the black tendrils whip out, consuming the demonic forces. Consuming the world around it. Wrapping around the Black Boar that Twists the Skies, overpowering it as the sphere becomes an immense maw.
"Thus was born the Engine of Extinction."
You raise a hand. "Was Hunhow from your world?"
Ruvelia nods. "I don't believe he was one of the Divine Ministers. Most likely he was one of those of the Primordials the Engine consumed. He does not kill- he does not allow you to die. Instead, he remakes. Stagnates. Consumes."
Shell looks more than a little pale. "So the Primordial War became a three-front war?" Sky asks.
Ruvelia nods, and the blue flame becomes more battlefronts. A great tentacled beast fed by the sea, holding off a blackened boar while the Exalted armies build rivers to empower her. "For a time. But both realized that the victory of the Engine of Extinction was not one of even death, for death was far too good for him."
You watch the Engine consume a great beast upon a mountain. Its hunger devour an endless desert. You watch Exalted, under the direction of colorless flame, hold back the tide of the Void.
"Eventually, we defeated the Engine. He was chained at the mouth of the Void, his hunger the only thing keeping him from descending into Oblivion. His madness was tricked into taking oaths of surrender, and there he was sealed."
"And I am presuming I am dead, then?" Ligier appears, arms folded, face more curious than horrified.
"You fell in the final battle, burning the Core with emerald flame." She makes a new image. The colorless flame becomes a pillar of crystal, hovering above the jade dome at the center of Yu Shan. "So Theion became Tiferet, the City of Crystal Spires. Both the Exalted and remaining Primordials realized we could not war- not when there was a greater enemy.
"So peace was agreed. We agreed to oaths of Surrender, that the protection it would give us would protect us from the Engine and his Abyssal servants. The Incarnae were given stewardship of Yu Shan, and the Exalted stewardship of the Spiral."
She claps her hands and the flame vanishes. "So that's why you're not a Creature of Darkness," you say, pacing the room, stroking your chin, "Because you weren't imprisoned, you surrendered as an armistice."
Ruvelia nods. "Very observant. Yes, it was a mutual agreement. Many of us will still walk the streets of Yu Shan. Some of us will be creatures of darkness, either by dint of deeds or nature, such as the Ebon Dragon. Though, all creatures of the Engine of Extinction are enemies of Creation, for they can be nothing else."
You nod. "And that's why you want to stop Autochthon from dying."
"Seems like common sense," Ray says, "That's some serious shit."
"Yes. No world should have to endure the Onceborn's rampage. The Great Maker was an enemy, but it was an enemy of our making. We did hate him-"
"But because you didn't understand him, and we barely understand ourselves," you add. Ruvelia nods with a warm smile.
"Indeed. And hate leads to despair. Despair, to suffering."
Well, that's nice and sobering. At least you have an idea of what happens if Autochthon dies.
On the other hand, Ruvelia here is not a creature of darkness. She is, however, a demon. So there's the question of whether or not you could take her into Yu Shan and watch the shitstorm.
Or take her into Malfeas and see what happens.
What do?
[ ]Make preparations to head into Autochthonia. Ligier's price is paid, time to fix up the Great Maker.
[ ]See if you can take Ruvelia into Yu Shan to see what would happen.
[ ]Take Ruvelia to Malfeas. Bring popcorn.
[ ]Write in.
Bright Star stayed in Nos Fenns and would return later- he had people to help. He quickly endeared himself to Shoat of the Mire, forming a bond with her in the sort of quick, compassionate way that was typical for the Zenith. So, at least, your Circle now had a child mascot. A death solar child mascot. Lytek- or the Lyteks, as you so named the triple Gods of Exaltation- would be pleased.
Meanwhile, you had demons to learn about.
The Finch travels back to the Lap, and during it you sit in the observation dome on the underside, with Sky, Shell, and Ray as Ruvelia tells the story in images of cerulean flame.
"The War in Heaven began on my world like it did yours. Gaia, Autochthon, and the Incarnae found mutual ground and a common goal, and created the Exalted to bring war to the Primordial Host. For centuries, war raged across the Spiral. At first, the Primordials believed this to be distraction. Theion embraced this war, for it could allow him to crush a rebellion and welcome subjects back under his rule.
"As the war raged-"
The flame forms into images. Great battles over mountains. Behemoths fighting against warstriders. Redirecting rivers to drown foes and hurling cities into the skies.
"The Primordials concluded that the Exalted, for all their power, were but mortals. Without their patrons, they would be another rebellion to crush."
The images form into five figures. Blazing with dragonblooded anima.
"Five akuma were chosen. With skill and stealth they sneaked into the Great Maker's workshop and destroyed five beloved projects, driving Autochthon into rage."
The image changes again. A vast plane, and the five figures running. Pursuing them an immense sphere of brass and shadow. "The Great Maker pursued them, intent on revenge. The forces of the Primordials were waiting."
You watch- an immense singularity in the shape of a boar charges the Great Maker. Demonic ships lay into him with essence cannons, forces you can barely recognize bringing stars down upon him. Shell gasps- you see Sky pat her hand, and smile.
"However, we underestimated his rage. We overestimated his power. What was intended to be restraint and capture became an execution."
The brass sphere falls, trailing shadow. Trailing liquid black. Black which consumes it, corrupts it.
"The Great Maker fell. And he was reborn."
The brass sphere inverts. Consumes itself, the metal subsumed by black, by what appears to be pure soulsteel. As it does so, the black tendrils whip out, consuming the demonic forces. Consuming the world around it. Wrapping around the Black Boar that Twists the Skies, overpowering it as the sphere becomes an immense maw.
"Thus was born the Engine of Extinction."
You raise a hand. "Was Hunhow from your world?"
Ruvelia nods. "I don't believe he was one of the Divine Ministers. Most likely he was one of those of the Primordials the Engine consumed. He does not kill- he does not allow you to die. Instead, he remakes. Stagnates. Consumes."
Shell looks more than a little pale. "So the Primordial War became a three-front war?" Sky asks.
Ruvelia nods, and the blue flame becomes more battlefronts. A great tentacled beast fed by the sea, holding off a blackened boar while the Exalted armies build rivers to empower her. "For a time. But both realized that the victory of the Engine of Extinction was not one of even death, for death was far too good for him."
You watch the Engine consume a great beast upon a mountain. Its hunger devour an endless desert. You watch Exalted, under the direction of colorless flame, hold back the tide of the Void.
"Eventually, we defeated the Engine. He was chained at the mouth of the Void, his hunger the only thing keeping him from descending into Oblivion. His madness was tricked into taking oaths of surrender, and there he was sealed."
"And I am presuming I am dead, then?" Ligier appears, arms folded, face more curious than horrified.
"You fell in the final battle, burning the Core with emerald flame." She makes a new image. The colorless flame becomes a pillar of crystal, hovering above the jade dome at the center of Yu Shan. "So Theion became Tiferet, the City of Crystal Spires. Both the Exalted and remaining Primordials realized we could not war- not when there was a greater enemy.
"So peace was agreed. We agreed to oaths of Surrender, that the protection it would give us would protect us from the Engine and his Abyssal servants. The Incarnae were given stewardship of Yu Shan, and the Exalted stewardship of the Spiral."
She claps her hands and the flame vanishes. "So that's why you're not a Creature of Darkness," you say, pacing the room, stroking your chin, "Because you weren't imprisoned, you surrendered as an armistice."
Ruvelia nods. "Very observant. Yes, it was a mutual agreement. Many of us will still walk the streets of Yu Shan. Some of us will be creatures of darkness, either by dint of deeds or nature, such as the Ebon Dragon. Though, all creatures of the Engine of Extinction are enemies of Creation, for they can be nothing else."
You nod. "And that's why you want to stop Autochthon from dying."
"Seems like common sense," Ray says, "That's some serious shit."
"Yes. No world should have to endure the Onceborn's rampage. The Great Maker was an enemy, but it was an enemy of our making. We did hate him-"
"But because you didn't understand him, and we barely understand ourselves," you add. Ruvelia nods with a warm smile.
"Indeed. And hate leads to despair. Despair, to suffering."
Well, that's nice and sobering. At least you have an idea of what happens if Autochthon dies.
On the other hand, Ruvelia here is not a creature of darkness. She is, however, a demon. So there's the question of whether or not you could take her into Yu Shan and watch the shitstorm.
Or take her into Malfeas and see what happens.
What do?
[ ]Make preparations to head into Autochthonia. Ligier's price is paid, time to fix up the Great Maker.
[ ]See if you can take Ruvelia into Yu Shan to see what would happen.
[ ]Take Ruvelia to Malfeas. Bring popcorn.
[ ]Write in.
MooGoesCow21
Just Listen to me....
- Location
- US Washington
I need to run a campaign in that world Ruvelia described