THREE GOLDEN LANDS
This is an Exalted Quest, but an atypical one by the standards of this...
This is an Exalted Quest, but an atypical one by the standards of this...
Three Golden Lands - An Exalted Story of Agriculture, Inheritance and Duty
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Introduction
THREE GOLDEN LANDS
This is an Exalted Quest, but an atypical one by the standards of this forum. You're starting as a mortal peasant in An Teng, and it will use the chance to show off some of the bits of the setting that I love which most people pass over. That means the tone and the presentation will be quite different from typical for Exalted, and sweeping sections will likely be different.
With regards to genre, this quest will be broadly a case of magical realism. Go watch Princess Mononoke for an example (or just go watch it anyway, because it's a great film). This is a world where there the clouds are herded by giant bears made of wind, but you don't really care about that as a peasant unless the rains are late because they've always been like that. There are strange elementals living in the forests and you really don't want to disrespect them, but if you honour them they may help you and the rest of the time they'll keep out of your way. This is very much not coming from the animesque Final Fantasy end of Exalted. There will be a paucity of helmetless spiky-haired heroes wielding oversized weapons.
The setting is the rather idiosyncratic version I've pontificated about at length. Making assumptions about things which aren't mentioned in-text can be unwise. You're not in a position to know much about the greater setting, and the vagaries of divine politics pass you over entirely. And no, exaltation is not guaranteed. Attempting to optimise for a specific Exaltation will likely backfire.
You're a mortal (at least to begin with). You don't want to get hurt if you can possibly avoid it. Exalts don't have to worry about infected wounds and bleeding. You do.
We will be using my extensive hacks compilation behind the scene. Dice used in this game are d6s - on a 4+, it's a success.
Dice are to be rolled in the antengquest room at rolz.org, or using the forum diceroller.
The vote-counter script is not in use.
Vote-wise, you are strongly encouraged to give reasons for your choices, and not to just vote "[X] Name" as a +1 to someone else's votes. Not only is it much more fun for me to see you talking about your decisions, it also lets me correct any misapprehensions or erroneous assumptions you're making. I'll be using vote-weighting once you've established enough of the character's personality to tilt your choices. [{Number}x] after an option means it counts for that many votes - things that are in-character will be weighted higher, things that are out-of-character will be weighted lower. If you change your vote before the vote is called, post your new vote as a new post and cross out the old one. This informs me that you have changed it, and allows me to see what your old vote was and update my tally accordingly.
Failure to correct adjusted votes will result in extreme saltiness. And may result in your vote being ignored.
Vote without any justification or reasoning will count for half. I'm not interested in a bandwagon of people just copy-pasting votes. Even a sentence explaining why you're voting for what you chose is enough to count, but no effort at all means you're sacrificing half your democratic legitimacy.
This is an Exalted Quest, but an atypical one by the standards of this forum. You're starting as a mortal peasant in An Teng, and it will use the chance to show off some of the bits of the setting that I love which most people pass over. That means the tone and the presentation will be quite different from typical for Exalted, and sweeping sections will likely be different.
With regards to genre, this quest will be broadly a case of magical realism. Go watch Princess Mononoke for an example (or just go watch it anyway, because it's a great film). This is a world where there the clouds are herded by giant bears made of wind, but you don't really care about that as a peasant unless the rains are late because they've always been like that. There are strange elementals living in the forests and you really don't want to disrespect them, but if you honour them they may help you and the rest of the time they'll keep out of your way. This is very much not coming from the animesque Final Fantasy end of Exalted. There will be a paucity of helmetless spiky-haired heroes wielding oversized weapons.
The setting is the rather idiosyncratic version I've pontificated about at length. Making assumptions about things which aren't mentioned in-text can be unwise. You're not in a position to know much about the greater setting, and the vagaries of divine politics pass you over entirely. And no, exaltation is not guaranteed. Attempting to optimise for a specific Exaltation will likely backfire.
You're a mortal (at least to begin with). You don't want to get hurt if you can possibly avoid it. Exalts don't have to worry about infected wounds and bleeding. You do.
We will be using my extensive hacks compilation behind the scene. Dice used in this game are d6s - on a 4+, it's a success.
Dice are to be rolled in the antengquest room at rolz.org, or using the forum diceroller.
The vote-counter script is not in use.
Vote-wise, you are strongly encouraged to give reasons for your choices, and not to just vote "[X] Name" as a +1 to someone else's votes. Not only is it much more fun for me to see you talking about your decisions, it also lets me correct any misapprehensions or erroneous assumptions you're making. I'll be using vote-weighting once you've established enough of the character's personality to tilt your choices. [{Number}x] after an option means it counts for that many votes - things that are in-character will be weighted higher, things that are out-of-character will be weighted lower. If you change your vote before the vote is called, post your new vote as a new post and cross out the old one. This informs me that you have changed it, and allows me to see what your old vote was and update my tally accordingly.
Failure to correct adjusted votes will result in extreme saltiness. And may result in your vote being ignored.
Vote without any justification or reasoning will count for half. I'm not interested in a bandwagon of people just copy-pasting votes. Even a sentence explaining why you're voting for what you chose is enough to count, but no effort at all means you're sacrificing half your democratic legitimacy.
Last edited:
Story Post Archive
STORY POST ARCHIVE
White Stone Between Bamboo And Water
1. Childhood Tales
2. The Village
3. Mean Boys
4. Escalation
5. Quenching
6. Hurried Explanations
7. Bedrest
8. To Grandmother's
9. Respectful Grace
10. Mediocrity
11. The Tale of the Lady in Green
12. Questioning
White Stone Between Bamboo And Water
1. Childhood Tales
2. The Village
3. Mean Boys
4. Escalation
5. Quenching
6. Hurried Explanations
7. Bedrest
8. To Grandmother's
9. Respectful Grace
10. Mediocrity
11. The Tale of the Lady in Green
12. Questioning
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Character Details
CHARACTER DETAILS
This post is reserved for character writeups and other useful links.
You:
Wasima Sabr, of the Grey Stone Family
The secondborn daughter of the village blacksmith, Wasima Sabr bears a name of Earth. The House of Secrets rules her fate.
Styles:
Earth-Striding Titan Style 1 (Presence, Melee)
Flowing-River Disputant Style 1 (Presence, Politics)
Wide-Eyed Cat Style 1 (Awareness)
Tengese Housewife Style 1 (Bureaucracy, Special)
Cotton-Fingered Weaver Style 2 (Occult)
Jupiter's Embroidery Style 1 (Occult)
Fire-Mouthed Cook Style 3 (Occult, Survival)
Iron Handed Labourer Style 2 (Occult)
Shining Silversmith Style 1 (Occult)
Weather Witch Style 1 (Awareness, Presence)
This post is reserved for character writeups and other useful links.
You:
Wasima Sabr, of the Grey Stone Family
The secondborn daughter of the village blacksmith, Wasima Sabr bears a name of Earth. The House of Secrets rules her fate.
Styles:
Earth-Striding Titan Style 1 (Presence, Melee)
Also known as Superlative Size Style, these techniques are the ones which come innately to the sort of people who are unusually tall or bulky and learn to use their size to settle arguments. Both force and sheer physical presence are techniques in this style. It is not a particularly sophisticated Style, but sometimes a big guy is all that's needed to make people shut up and listen to them. The benefits of this Style only apply when used against people less physically imposing than the character.
1. +1 when attempting to manhandle or grapple a valid target
2. +1 when attempting to intimidate a valid target
3. +1 when attempting to draw the attention of a crowd
1. +1 when attempting to manhandle or grapple a valid target
3. +1 when attempting to draw the attention of a crowd
Flowing-River Disputant Style 1 (Presence, Politics)
Like the river, it is often easier to say and go where one is expected to go - and only rarely expand beyond one's banks. Practitioners of this style remain within the bounds of social propriety and divert conversations to their goals rather than outright dam them. It is the reasoned arguments of one lacking in power who explains what they did was what was ordered all along and the excuse justified by social mores. Without knowledge of what is expected, this style is much less effective.
1. +1 to persuading another party that one's deeds were or will be justified based on cultural expectations.
2. +1 to reading another party and working out what they want from the practitioner
3. Ignore one point of MDV provided by negative Principles, provided that the practitioner conforms to their perceived social role.
1. +1 to persuading another party that one's deeds were or will be justified based on cultural expectations.
3. Ignore one point of MDV provided by negative Principles, provided that the practitioner conforms to their perceived social role.
Wide-Eyed Cat Style 1 (Awareness)
Consider the cat. Is there any other creature who sees so well in places of darkness and who so unfailingly tracks its scurrying prey who try to flee? By emulating the cat the character hones their vision acuity and their capacity to notice small details around them, especially in the hours of twilight. This Style is often studied along with Twitching-Ear Cat Style, and can be taught by housecats.
1. +1 to vision-based rolls in low light conditions
2. +1 to vision-based to notice details about moving objects
3. +1 to see characters using Subterfuge to physically conceal themselves
1. +1 to vision-based rolls in low light conditions
3. +1 to see characters using Subterfuge to physically conceal themselves
Tengese Housewife Style 1 (Bureaucracy, Special)
Matters of the spirits, care for the household, and raising of ones children - these are the duties of the women of An Teng. Land and wealth passes down the female line, but a woman's husband acts and speaks for her in public and she will rarely stray too far from where she lives once she is married. This Style represents the core skillset of a Tengese peasant woman such as food preparation, honouring her family's ancestor spirits and the house gods, treatment of common ailments, managing a small household budget, and other such things. This is explicitly a generalist Style and offers a wider spread than most styles in return for reduced depth. It does not apply to circumstances outside the range of situations a Tengese housewife might commonly encounter - for example, while she may know how to deal with the flu, she will be completely lost when trying to treat Green Sun Wasting.
1. +1 for running a household
2. +1 when making 'suggestions' to one's husband.
3. +1 when teaching and disciplining your children
1. +1 for running a household
3. +1 when teaching and disciplining your children
Cotton-Fingered Weaver Style 2 (Occult)
In the South West, silk is the preserve of the wealthy - all others dress in cotton. Weaving is a basic craft which is taught to many when they are young and in rural areas most will dress in clothes made by a family member. The very finest weavers can make garments so fine they feel like silk and through the use of carefully chosen dyes and thread create clothes of surprising elegance and beauty - among the peasants, such a skilled weaver is an important person. This Style is a trade skill covering the production of cotton garments and associated mercantile activities.
1. +1 to the repair and maintenance of one's loom
2. +1 to the production of dyes from local materials
3. -1 difficulty to the production of complex layered garments.
1. +1 to the repair and maintenance of one's loom
2. +1 to the production of dyes from local materials
Jupiter's Embroidery Style 1 (Occult)
The sumptuary laws of An Teng forbid the peasantry from wearing ornate jackets or robes, save for a small range of permissible events such as funerals and religious ceremonies. To counter this, therefore, the method of decoration known as Jupiter's Embroidery Style has developed over the centuries, prizing intricate styling of undergarments and the inner linings of clothing which are only ever displayed in private family environments and are believed to scare off faeries, demons and ghosts. In more lax regions of the Shore Lands these clothes are worn openly, but in the conservative inner heartlands the old traditions hold force. The highest art is working with golden thread, which is sacred to the Golden Lord and is used for the decoration of blue mariage robes and purple burial gowns.
1. +1 when working on garments not intended to be seen in public
2. +1 when incorporating religious iconography or symbolism
3. -1 difficulty when working with gold thread.
1. +1 when working on garments not intended to be seen in public
3. -1 difficulty when working with gold thread.
Fire-Mouthed Cook Style 3 (Occult, Survival)
There is a folk tale in An Teng that says that the Immaculate Dragon of Fire was born in the principalities and as a baby was given chillies to teethe on because even before his Exaltation he spat fire. This is less unbelievable than many other folk tales, given that Tengese cuisine typically requires an iron gullet for others to enjoy. Tengese cooking places emphasis on lightly prepared dishes with strong aromatic components and a fiery spicy edge. It is known for its complex interplay of at least three and up to four or five fundamental taste senses in each dish flavouring the mainstay rice.
1. +1 to feeding large numbers of people
2. +1 when provided with fresh fruit or spices
3. -1 difficulty when creating dishes which rely on interplaying flavours
1. +1 to feeding large numbers of people
2. +1 when provided with fresh fruit or spices
3. -1 difficulty when creating dishes which rely on interplaying flavours
Iron Handed Labourer Style 2 (Occult)
The ring of hammer on hot metal is a constant refrain in the foundries and workshops of Creation. Such is the way of the blacksmith, who knows how to placate the least gods of the iron and shape metal. This style applies whenever the character works with iron or iron alloys, with the appropriate tools.
1. +1 to rolls to resist tiredness from the character's work.
2. +1 to rolls when making functional or utilitarian goods.
3. +1 to social rolls with gods whose domain relates to the character's current project.
1. +1 to rolls to resist tiredness from the character's work.
2. +1 to rolls when making functional or utilitarian goods.
Shining Silversmith Style 1 (Occult)
Jewellers and craftsmen of the Tengese High Lands prefer to work in silver, for it is a metal much-beloved of beauty. Such smiths take care to bring out the aesthetic beauty of their pieces, often working precious stones or priceless gems into the designs. This Style applies whenever the character works with silver to create beautiful or decorative pieces.
1: +1 to haggling over prices when equipped with example pieces.
2: +1 to creating items in one's personal area of expertise (not yet chosen).
3: +1 to cutting and setting precious gems in silver.
1: +1 to haggling over prices when equipped with example pieces.
3: +1 to cutting and setting precious gems in silver.
Weather Witch Style 1 (Awareness, Presence)
A keen eye for meteorology is all a backwoods weather-witch needs at first. Compared to the thaumaturgists of the Realm with their tools and devices and mathematics, a weather-witch listens to the whispers of the gods and the howls of wind elementals to know if there is a storm coming. They read the little marks the divine leaves in the world, and interpret them. They learn which chimage pleases the rain gods and how to persuade a thunderbird to spend its fury harmlessly - knowing all too well that all they can do is nudge the spirits and hope they do not take offence at their presumption.
1. +1 when noticing a change in the weather before it arrives
2. +1 when attempting to influence weather gods and air elementals
3. +1 towards weather-affecting thaumaturgy
1. +1 when noticing a change in the weather before it arrives
3. +1 towards weather-affecting thaumaturgy
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1. Prologue: Childhood Tales
1. Childhood Tales
The rain outside pounded down on the terra cotta roof. The waters outside were rising. In the season of Rising Fire, the floods often drowned the land for weeks at a time. For that reason, this house was built on wooden stilts.
And from within, the voice of a weary mother could be heard.
"Very well. One more story… one more and no more! And then you're going to go to sleep, aren't you?"
There were various noises of agreement from several children.
"Is everyone settled in?"
The children agreed that, yes, they were settled in.
The mother cleared her throat. "Long ago, there was no world. There was no sea. There was no air and there was no life. There was not even any light. Now, the five Elemental Dragons grew disquieted with this lack of anything, so they called together all the gods and told them that they would build a world and that the gods would fill it with glorious things.
"So they got together, and between them they built the world. The Earth Dragon laid down the rocks and the soil. The Water Dragon sung up the rivers and the seas. The Air Dragon flew across the world, and in its wake it left the sky. The Fire Dragon coughed up a mighty pearl and it became the sun, and the embers from its hide became the stars - and when some stars fell to earth, fire came to be. And the Wood Dragon, last of all, made the plants and Creation blossomed in the first growing-time.
"Then the gods filled the world with beautiful things. They made the animals and they made the fishies," she ticked her youngest's nose, and the child giggled, "and they made the birdies and last of all, they made people. And the best of all these places they made, they called An Teng. Now, just like the Dragons made different bits of the world, so did the gods make different kinds of people. The ones who live in An Teng were made by the Golden Lord, who was one of the wisest of the gods, so he made different kinds of people - some to rule and some to be ruled and all them lived in harmony.
"But the Pale Mistress was jealous and cruel and she loves bad things happening…"
"Why does she love that?" one boy asked.
"Who knows?" the mother said sadly. "It is in her nature. She hates harmony and order, and that is why you should never ever ever call upon her. She is a wicked, wicked spirit and that is why sacrifices must be left at the crossroads for her, unless she comes looking for us. Now, yes, anyway. She made bad people who didn't have families and who didn't honour their parents and she sent them to corrupt people. You need to watch out for these wicked souls who serve the Pale Mistress and not listen to them when they try to get you to do bad things.
"Now, the wicked souls that served the Pale Mistress came to take over most of the rest of the world, and people were afraid. Even in An Teng, the bad people who followed the Pale Mistress were powerful, even though most of the people listened to the old ways and honoured the Golden Lord. But fortunately, the Elemental Dragons had made their own people, and these were the Dragonblooded. Their blood is of the Elemental Dragons, and that means that the power of the ones who made the world flows through them. The Dragonblooded slew the wicked followers of the Pale Mistress, and laid waste to the world - and even to An Teng…"
"Why would they do that?" asked a girl.
"Because the Dragonblooded are not like ordinary men," the mother said firmly. "They are too powerful for the world, because they have the power of the Dragons. When they unleash their fury, even innocents might be hurt. Think of how hot the sun is and how it burns people. It doesn't mean to do that, but that's just in its nature and cannot be changed. That is why the Dragonblooded must be obeyed, because it is in their nature to hurt those who break with the proper ways.
"So when the Dragonblooded cast down the wicked followers of the Pale Mistress, they ruled the world and all was peaceful. They knew that they were too mighty to rule, and so they appointed the princes to lead An Teng, for the old queen had given herself to the Pale Mistress. That is why we must obey the princes and the ones who they appoint, because to do otherwise would open the door to the chaos of the Pale Mistress."
"What about the bit when the Pale Mistress nearly took over the world again?" a boy asked enthusiastically.
"I'm getting to that! Yes. Since then, the Pale Mistress has nearly managed to triumph only once. Hundreds of years ago, wickedness and disrespect for one's parents," the mother gave a meaningful glare at her children, "had got so bad that even the rule of the princes could not protect people from her influence. The Pale Mistress released plagues and opened the gates to the underworld and sent her followers out into the world. Then she sent faeries out to eat the bad people because their souls belonged to her and so she wanted to take them back."
"If I'm bad, will a faery eat me?" the youngest asked.
"You better not risk it," the mother said, nodding seriously. ""But fortunately the Dragonblooded once again saved the world, calling on the power of the Dragons to remake everything that the Pale Mistress had destroyed. All the trees and the bamboo and the mangroves had died because of the tricks of the Pale Mistress, but the Wood Dragon made them all grow back. And we remember this still, and that is why we wear red string bracelets, to pay thanks to the Scarlet Empresses and Scarlet Emperors who sit on the Imperial Mountain and watch out for the Pale Mistress and her plans against the world."
She brushed her hand over each of her children's foreheads in turn. "And that is why you will all go to sleep, won't you? Because it is late and everyone knows that the Pale Mistress walks the night, looking for people who are awake when they shouldn't be and if people make too much noise, she snatches them away and sucks all the marrow from their bones… while they're still alive!"
There were muffled squeaks, especially from the youngest. The mother rose, picking up her brass oil-lamp. "Now, all of you, go to sleep," she said meaningfully, "and if I hear another peep from any of you, I'll… well, I better not hear a peep, do you understand?"
"Yes, mother," the children chorused.
"Very well. So. Good night."
And with that said the mother departed, leaving the rain outside to patter down.
As this is a basic part of chargen, posts without justification or for a clear character concept will receive reduced weighting. Meaningless votes tell me nothing about the game you want to play and don't help me at all.
Who are you?
An Teng is a matrilineal, patriarchal society. Women own the land and are viewed as more spiritually close to it, but their very purity and spiritual awareness means the base matters of ruling are best left up to their husbands. Once their first child is born, few women go very far from their home settlement unless absolutely necessary, because that might harm their spiritual link with the land. Nevertheless, the wife - as the true head of the family - retains an absolute veto over any decisions made in her name, though in a harmonious marriage she would of course never have to use it.
The Exalted are of course exempt from such customs for none would dare tell a Terrestrial what to do, and vile Anathema flout the customs of the righteous with ease. You, however, are not an Exalt and so flagrantly and obviously violating the customs will result in social ostracisation by others and sanction from your family.
Are you:
[ ] Female
[ ] Male
Family is everything in An Teng. In An Teng, you will get married and produce children, and if your tastes lie towards your own gender then that's something separate and to be done separately from doing your duty to your family. To be cast out from your family and declared misbegotten is a fate only slightly better than death, and usually leads to that. It is expected that an elder sibling help raise their younger siblings and thus misconduct of the younger ones. Elder siblings are addressed by title - younger siblings by name, and this holds true for other social roles.
The eldest daughter will inherit lands and property as well as have the best husband selected for her, while the eldest son will usually have the best marriage selected for him of the boys and will command the best dowry.
Are you the eldest?
[ ] Yes (+ inheritance/better marriage, - responsibility)
[ ] No
You are the child of:
[ ] Fishing folk - An Teng is riddled with rivers and in its long wet seasons floods are frequent. Much of the population makes a living from the rivers. Your family has some small landholdings, but most of your food and trading goods come from the water. You've grown up on and around boats, and have seen more of the world - why, your uncle once took you all the way down to the coast once so he could drop off some 'goods' with certain individuals. It's not that you're involved in smuggling… well, not very much anyway.
[ ] Peasants - Your family comes from the upper end of the peasantry and - at least in its own eyes - is very nearly a lower noble family. You have thirty hectares of fertile land when many have five or fewer, you have a large herd of pigs, and you're wealthy enough that your parents can afford to dress in silk for special occasions. There are many more expectations on you
[ ] Day labourers - Those peasants up there? Bastards. Your family doesn't have enough land to feed itself, and so it must offer its services to others. Life is hard and you've gone hungry many times in your youth. You're considerably less reputable than other people in your village (not like those honest smuggling fishermen).
[ ] The blacksmith - A blacksmith stands in a peculiar position, between the normal world everyone else lives in and the world of the spirits. A blacksmith is almost a priest, for they must keep their forge spirits happy or the iron they work becomes brittle and useless. They have to know things which normal men and women don't have to know and it's their ironwork which might be the last fallback if the fae come marauding. A blacksmith is a respected member of the community - but only at a distance.
[ ] The local priestess - The god of An Teng is the Golden Lord, a shining champion of Heaven whose benevolence and commitment to the proper ways keep the country strong as long as men honour him properly. But there are many more lesser gods and goddesses who must be honoured, there are elementals in the wilds who must be placated, and the dreadful Pale Mistress must be warded against lest her chaos and disorder cast all into disharmony. Priests and priestesses are respected, even though their work is hard - and they must watch out for the monks of the Immaculate Order who bring foreign ways and rules with them.
The rain outside pounded down on the terra cotta roof. The waters outside were rising. In the season of Rising Fire, the floods often drowned the land for weeks at a time. For that reason, this house was built on wooden stilts.
And from within, the voice of a weary mother could be heard.
"Very well. One more story… one more and no more! And then you're going to go to sleep, aren't you?"
There were various noises of agreement from several children.
"Is everyone settled in?"
The children agreed that, yes, they were settled in.
The mother cleared her throat. "Long ago, there was no world. There was no sea. There was no air and there was no life. There was not even any light. Now, the five Elemental Dragons grew disquieted with this lack of anything, so they called together all the gods and told them that they would build a world and that the gods would fill it with glorious things.
"So they got together, and between them they built the world. The Earth Dragon laid down the rocks and the soil. The Water Dragon sung up the rivers and the seas. The Air Dragon flew across the world, and in its wake it left the sky. The Fire Dragon coughed up a mighty pearl and it became the sun, and the embers from its hide became the stars - and when some stars fell to earth, fire came to be. And the Wood Dragon, last of all, made the plants and Creation blossomed in the first growing-time.
"Then the gods filled the world with beautiful things. They made the animals and they made the fishies," she ticked her youngest's nose, and the child giggled, "and they made the birdies and last of all, they made people. And the best of all these places they made, they called An Teng. Now, just like the Dragons made different bits of the world, so did the gods make different kinds of people. The ones who live in An Teng were made by the Golden Lord, who was one of the wisest of the gods, so he made different kinds of people - some to rule and some to be ruled and all them lived in harmony.
"But the Pale Mistress was jealous and cruel and she loves bad things happening…"
"Why does she love that?" one boy asked.
"Who knows?" the mother said sadly. "It is in her nature. She hates harmony and order, and that is why you should never ever ever call upon her. She is a wicked, wicked spirit and that is why sacrifices must be left at the crossroads for her, unless she comes looking for us. Now, yes, anyway. She made bad people who didn't have families and who didn't honour their parents and she sent them to corrupt people. You need to watch out for these wicked souls who serve the Pale Mistress and not listen to them when they try to get you to do bad things.
"Now, the wicked souls that served the Pale Mistress came to take over most of the rest of the world, and people were afraid. Even in An Teng, the bad people who followed the Pale Mistress were powerful, even though most of the people listened to the old ways and honoured the Golden Lord. But fortunately, the Elemental Dragons had made their own people, and these were the Dragonblooded. Their blood is of the Elemental Dragons, and that means that the power of the ones who made the world flows through them. The Dragonblooded slew the wicked followers of the Pale Mistress, and laid waste to the world - and even to An Teng…"
"Why would they do that?" asked a girl.
"Because the Dragonblooded are not like ordinary men," the mother said firmly. "They are too powerful for the world, because they have the power of the Dragons. When they unleash their fury, even innocents might be hurt. Think of how hot the sun is and how it burns people. It doesn't mean to do that, but that's just in its nature and cannot be changed. That is why the Dragonblooded must be obeyed, because it is in their nature to hurt those who break with the proper ways.
"So when the Dragonblooded cast down the wicked followers of the Pale Mistress, they ruled the world and all was peaceful. They knew that they were too mighty to rule, and so they appointed the princes to lead An Teng, for the old queen had given herself to the Pale Mistress. That is why we must obey the princes and the ones who they appoint, because to do otherwise would open the door to the chaos of the Pale Mistress."
"What about the bit when the Pale Mistress nearly took over the world again?" a boy asked enthusiastically.
"I'm getting to that! Yes. Since then, the Pale Mistress has nearly managed to triumph only once. Hundreds of years ago, wickedness and disrespect for one's parents," the mother gave a meaningful glare at her children, "had got so bad that even the rule of the princes could not protect people from her influence. The Pale Mistress released plagues and opened the gates to the underworld and sent her followers out into the world. Then she sent faeries out to eat the bad people because their souls belonged to her and so she wanted to take them back."
"If I'm bad, will a faery eat me?" the youngest asked.
"You better not risk it," the mother said, nodding seriously. ""But fortunately the Dragonblooded once again saved the world, calling on the power of the Dragons to remake everything that the Pale Mistress had destroyed. All the trees and the bamboo and the mangroves had died because of the tricks of the Pale Mistress, but the Wood Dragon made them all grow back. And we remember this still, and that is why we wear red string bracelets, to pay thanks to the Scarlet Empresses and Scarlet Emperors who sit on the Imperial Mountain and watch out for the Pale Mistress and her plans against the world."
She brushed her hand over each of her children's foreheads in turn. "And that is why you will all go to sleep, won't you? Because it is late and everyone knows that the Pale Mistress walks the night, looking for people who are awake when they shouldn't be and if people make too much noise, she snatches them away and sucks all the marrow from their bones… while they're still alive!"
There were muffled squeaks, especially from the youngest. The mother rose, picking up her brass oil-lamp. "Now, all of you, go to sleep," she said meaningfully, "and if I hear another peep from any of you, I'll… well, I better not hear a peep, do you understand?"
"Yes, mother," the children chorused.
"Very well. So. Good night."
And with that said the mother departed, leaving the rain outside to patter down.
As this is a basic part of chargen, posts without justification or for a clear character concept will receive reduced weighting. Meaningless votes tell me nothing about the game you want to play and don't help me at all.
Who are you?
An Teng is a matrilineal, patriarchal society. Women own the land and are viewed as more spiritually close to it, but their very purity and spiritual awareness means the base matters of ruling are best left up to their husbands. Once their first child is born, few women go very far from their home settlement unless absolutely necessary, because that might harm their spiritual link with the land. Nevertheless, the wife - as the true head of the family - retains an absolute veto over any decisions made in her name, though in a harmonious marriage she would of course never have to use it.
The Exalted are of course exempt from such customs for none would dare tell a Terrestrial what to do, and vile Anathema flout the customs of the righteous with ease. You, however, are not an Exalt and so flagrantly and obviously violating the customs will result in social ostracisation by others and sanction from your family.
Are you:
[ ] Female
[ ] Male
Family is everything in An Teng. In An Teng, you will get married and produce children, and if your tastes lie towards your own gender then that's something separate and to be done separately from doing your duty to your family. To be cast out from your family and declared misbegotten is a fate only slightly better than death, and usually leads to that. It is expected that an elder sibling help raise their younger siblings and thus misconduct of the younger ones. Elder siblings are addressed by title - younger siblings by name, and this holds true for other social roles.
The eldest daughter will inherit lands and property as well as have the best husband selected for her, while the eldest son will usually have the best marriage selected for him of the boys and will command the best dowry.
Are you the eldest?
[ ] Yes (+ inheritance/better marriage, - responsibility)
[ ] No
You are the child of:
[ ] Fishing folk - An Teng is riddled with rivers and in its long wet seasons floods are frequent. Much of the population makes a living from the rivers. Your family has some small landholdings, but most of your food and trading goods come from the water. You've grown up on and around boats, and have seen more of the world - why, your uncle once took you all the way down to the coast once so he could drop off some 'goods' with certain individuals. It's not that you're involved in smuggling… well, not very much anyway.
[ ] Peasants - Your family comes from the upper end of the peasantry and - at least in its own eyes - is very nearly a lower noble family. You have thirty hectares of fertile land when many have five or fewer, you have a large herd of pigs, and you're wealthy enough that your parents can afford to dress in silk for special occasions. There are many more expectations on you
[ ] Day labourers - Those peasants up there? Bastards. Your family doesn't have enough land to feed itself, and so it must offer its services to others. Life is hard and you've gone hungry many times in your youth. You're considerably less reputable than other people in your village (not like those honest smuggling fishermen).
[ ] The blacksmith - A blacksmith stands in a peculiar position, between the normal world everyone else lives in and the world of the spirits. A blacksmith is almost a priest, for they must keep their forge spirits happy or the iron they work becomes brittle and useless. They have to know things which normal men and women don't have to know and it's their ironwork which might be the last fallback if the fae come marauding. A blacksmith is a respected member of the community - but only at a distance.
[ ] The local priestess - The god of An Teng is the Golden Lord, a shining champion of Heaven whose benevolence and commitment to the proper ways keep the country strong as long as men honour him properly. But there are many more lesser gods and goddesses who must be honoured, there are elementals in the wilds who must be placated, and the dreadful Pale Mistress must be warded against lest her chaos and disorder cast all into disharmony. Priests and priestesses are respected, even though their work is hard - and they must watch out for the monks of the Immaculate Order who bring foreign ways and rules with them.
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Da Boyz
The Cutest Apocalypse.
[X] Male
[X] Yes (+ inheritance/better marriage, - responsibility)
[X] The blacksmith - A blacksmith stands in a peculiar position, between the normal world everyone else lives in and the world of the spirits. A blacksmith is almost a priest, for they must keep their forge spirits happy or the iron they work becomes brittle and useless. They have to know things which normal men and women don't have to know and it's their ironwork which might be the last fallback if the fae come marauding. A blacksmith is a respected member of the community - but only at a distance.
[X] Yes (+ inheritance/better marriage, - responsibility)
[X] The blacksmith - A blacksmith stands in a peculiar position, between the normal world everyone else lives in and the world of the spirits. A blacksmith is almost a priest, for they must keep their forge spirits happy or the iron they work becomes brittle and useless. They have to know things which normal men and women don't have to know and it's their ironwork which might be the last fallback if the fae come marauding. A blacksmith is a respected member of the community - but only at a distance.
rdc30
While you learned to write, I studied the blade.
[X] Female
[X] No
[X] The local priestess - The god of An Teng is the Golden Lord, a shining champion of Heaven whose benevolence and commitment to the proper ways keep the country strong as long as men honour him properly. But there are many more lesser gods and goddesses who must be honoured, there are elementals in the wilds who must be placated, and the dreadful Pale Mistress must be warded against lest her chaos and disorder cast all into disharmony. Priests and priestesses are respected, even though their work is hard - and they must watch out for the monks of the Immaculate Order who bring foreign ways and rules with them.
[X] No
[X] The local priestess - The god of An Teng is the Golden Lord, a shining champion of Heaven whose benevolence and commitment to the proper ways keep the country strong as long as men honour him properly. But there are many more lesser gods and goddesses who must be honoured, there are elementals in the wilds who must be placated, and the dreadful Pale Mistress must be warded against lest her chaos and disorder cast all into disharmony. Priests and priestesses are respected, even though their work is hard - and they must watch out for the monks of the Immaculate Order who bring foreign ways and rules with them.
- Location
- The sixth circle of Hell (second on weekends)
- Pronouns
- She/Her
[X] Female
[X] No
[X] The blacksmith
One of the younger daughters of the blacksmith, we have a mystical edge to us, standing with one foot in the world of spirits as both a woman and a child of a blacksmith. It is, however, a more practical and everyday occultism than being a priestess; one that ties us inexorably to the needs of the community. We don't have the weight of responsibility that our eldest sister bears, but we have a combination of freedom and societal pressure that should make for an interesting story.
Ahem. Guys?
[X] No
[X] The blacksmith
One of the younger daughters of the blacksmith, we have a mystical edge to us, standing with one foot in the world of spirits as both a woman and a child of a blacksmith. It is, however, a more practical and everyday occultism than being a priestess; one that ties us inexorably to the needs of the community. We don't have the weight of responsibility that our eldest sister bears, but we have a combination of freedom and societal pressure that should make for an interesting story.
Ahem. Guys?
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Dark Ness
Rises Where Silence Dies
- Location
- The Primordial Soup
[X] Female
[X] No
[X] The blacksmith
It is between Day Laborer and Priestess, I am not sure which I want. I like the spiritual connection, yet wish to avoid the responsiblity of being the eldest.
Edit: Although, I find myself sorely tempted by Aleph's reasoning...
[X] No
[X] The blacksmith
It is between Day Laborer and Priestess, I am not sure which I want. I like the spiritual connection, yet wish to avoid the responsiblity of being the eldest.
Edit: Although, I find myself sorely tempted by Aleph's reasoning...
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[X] Male
[X] Yes (+ inheritance/better marriage, - responsibility)
[X] The blacksmith
I think the position a blacksmith has in this society and his position inbetween the mundane and spirit world make for an interesting story. The downsides are that we have more responsibility and no choice but to become the next blacksmith. The potential conflict with fae is also a draw, if they show up that is.
I'm not sure if I got it right that the eldest son learns blacksmithing, the description does say that the smith is a man though.
[X] Yes (+ inheritance/better marriage, - responsibility)
[X] The blacksmith
I think the position a blacksmith has in this society and his position inbetween the mundane and spirit world make for an interesting story. The downsides are that we have more responsibility and no choice but to become the next blacksmith. The potential conflict with fae is also a draw, if they show up that is.
I'm not sure if I got it right that the eldest son learns blacksmithing, the description does say that the smith is a man though.
No, it doesn't. It quite deliberately uses gender-neutral they.
In fact, both male and female children learn at least some of the art. Even if they don't study everything, it's always useful to have someone else around to help with the bellows and keep the fire fuelled and that means they need to know how not to offend the spirits and how to do basic things that don't need any great skill.
Like make nails. Everyone always needs nails.
Sarpedon
Knight Errant
- Pronouns
- He/Him
[X] Male
[X] Yes (+ inheritance/better marriage, - responsibility)
[X] The blacksmith
The almost liminal nature of the blacksmith in society seems like a fun position to tell a story from and to experience a new world.
Also I just reread family by Ba Jin so eldest son torn between filial expectations and personal desires, or just trying to get by without disappointing the elders or what have you sounds interesting.
[X] Yes (+ inheritance/better marriage, - responsibility)
[X] The blacksmith
The almost liminal nature of the blacksmith in society seems like a fun position to tell a story from and to experience a new world.
Also I just reread family by Ba Jin so eldest son torn between filial expectations and personal desires, or just trying to get by without disappointing the elders or what have you sounds interesting.
Cassiemouse
Market Atheist
[X] Female
[X] Yes
[X] The blacksmith
I do like technically minded female characters and added responsibility means we are more tightly meshed in the local culture. Exploring the culture of An Teng does seem to be a focus of this quest so picking the character that is most invested in that culture would be a good choice. Mixing in the angle of the blacksmiths distance from society provides an instant conflict that can be easy mined for drama.
[X] Yes
[X] The blacksmith
I do like technically minded female characters and added responsibility means we are more tightly meshed in the local culture. Exploring the culture of An Teng does seem to be a focus of this quest so picking the character that is most invested in that culture would be a good choice. Mixing in the angle of the blacksmiths distance from society provides an instant conflict that can be easy mined for drama.
Ah, thanks for the clarification my reading comprehension sometimes fails me. The almost priest part confused me, but the part where it says that they have knowledge that normal men and women don't have should have clued me in.
Azrael
Sakura Saber
- Location
- Throne of Heroes
[X] Female
[X] Yes (+ inheritance/better marriage, - responsibility)
[X] The local priestess - The god of An Teng is the Golden Lord, a shining champion of Heaven whose benevolence and commitment to the proper ways keep the country strong as long as men honour him properly. But there are many more lesser gods and goddesses who must be honoured, there are elementals in the wilds who must be placated, and the dreadful Pale Mistress must be warded against lest her chaos and disorder cast all into disharmony. Priests and priestesses are respected, even though their work is hard - and they must watch out for the monks of the Immaculate Order who bring foreign ways and rules with them.
I've never really heard of characters being intensely religious or priests of anyone but the Unconquered Sun before, so I'm interested in seeing how that goes. All options have been chosen to facilitate that end.
[X] Yes (+ inheritance/better marriage, - responsibility)
[X] The local priestess - The god of An Teng is the Golden Lord, a shining champion of Heaven whose benevolence and commitment to the proper ways keep the country strong as long as men honour him properly. But there are many more lesser gods and goddesses who must be honoured, there are elementals in the wilds who must be placated, and the dreadful Pale Mistress must be warded against lest her chaos and disorder cast all into disharmony. Priests and priestesses are respected, even though their work is hard - and they must watch out for the monks of the Immaculate Order who bring foreign ways and rules with them.
I've never really heard of characters being intensely religious or priests of anyone but the Unconquered Sun before, so I'm interested in seeing how that goes. All options have been chosen to facilitate that end.
IofTheBunny
✧:*AngeryOpossum*:✧
- Pronouns
- she/her
[X] Female
[X] No
[X] The blacksmith
It think that setup offers a fine balance of the responsibility, the freedom to act, and social standing. Also, it's on the fence enough (so to speak) to provide interesting conflicts.
[X] No
[X] The blacksmith
It think that setup offers a fine balance of the responsibility, the freedom to act, and social standing. Also, it's on the fence enough (so to speak) to provide interesting conflicts.
[X] Male
[X] No
[X] Fishing folk
I dislike being female in the setting as it has been described. It is really quite fascinating, and i wish to see more of it through Earth Scorpions writing than just the patch of land that we are born in, and as a woman, would be heavily expected to never leave. Making the plot come to us. I don't want the plot to come to us. As a male Fisherman, not even the First Born, travelling and seeing much of the world is expected. Of course that comes with danger, but with Smugglers in our family we should have at least a bit of skill at larceny and stealth, which will hopefully allow us enough knowledge to stay out of trouble.
[X] No
[X] Fishing folk
I dislike being female in the setting as it has been described. It is really quite fascinating, and i wish to see more of it through Earth Scorpions writing than just the patch of land that we are born in, and as a woman, would be heavily expected to never leave. Making the plot come to us. I don't want the plot to come to us. As a male Fisherman, not even the First Born, travelling and seeing much of the world is expected. Of course that comes with danger, but with Smugglers in our family we should have at least a bit of skill at larceny and stealth, which will hopefully allow us enough knowledge to stay out of trouble.
Deadly Snark
Tryhard As Fuck
[X] Male
[X] No
[X] Fishing folk
A male fisherman who does not have the responsibility of being a firstborn yet also not the benefits can offer some pretty compelling stories. Have we traveled to others parts of the world and were amazed/shocked by the foreign customs? Did we dream about some of them because they offer us glimpses of something we can't have? Or did they instead disgust us because it clashed so much against what we were taught?
Similarly, how would this shape our relationship with our eldest sibling? Do they think us irresponsible for some act we did or just the fancies we have? Do they resent us for being more carefree in their eyes or not having to do as much for the family as they do? Or are we the dutiful brother, who helps out diligently with our duties both as smugglers and around the household?
And of course, there is the smuggling business. Do we see it as something necessary for the survival of the family, something that we'll do diligently in order to make a living. Or will we instead take that up as our life? Not wanting to settle down and just wanting to move around, becoming the fun but irresponsible son, brother and uncle, that the family shuns for being undutiful or silently celebrates because of the wealth we bring?
[X] No
[X] Fishing folk
A male fisherman who does not have the responsibility of being a firstborn yet also not the benefits can offer some pretty compelling stories. Have we traveled to others parts of the world and were amazed/shocked by the foreign customs? Did we dream about some of them because they offer us glimpses of something we can't have? Or did they instead disgust us because it clashed so much against what we were taught?
Similarly, how would this shape our relationship with our eldest sibling? Do they think us irresponsible for some act we did or just the fancies we have? Do they resent us for being more carefree in their eyes or not having to do as much for the family as they do? Or are we the dutiful brother, who helps out diligently with our duties both as smugglers and around the household?
And of course, there is the smuggling business. Do we see it as something necessary for the survival of the family, something that we'll do diligently in order to make a living. Or will we instead take that up as our life? Not wanting to settle down and just wanting to move around, becoming the fun but irresponsible son, brother and uncle, that the family shuns for being undutiful or silently celebrates because of the wealth we bring?
[X] No
[X] Fishing folk
I read up a little on An-Teng. Apparently a mad solar wanted to have a perfectly obedient society. I guess I just want to spite him now. I want to travel and experience things outside the narrow boundaries of local area. So, female is out. It is better if we do not have too much responsibilities. Fishing folk helps best with travel.
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- Location
- The sixth circle of Hell (second on weekends)
- Pronouns
- She/Her
"Much of the world" meaning "largely the same river route" in this case, I presume.
And bluntly, the social pressure on a blacksmith's younger daughter is something I see as a cool thing to work around - rebellious daughter stuff, sneaking around so as not to get caught and ostracised, possibly finding an excuse to go out and explore places. It's much more interesting to work around societal expectations than it will be to overcome being at the bottom of the social ladder and having very little leeway in what we can do without going hungry. Because, for all those going "fisher folk means travel", it... actually doesn't make us a free-roaming adventurer. It means we have to spend most of our time actually fishing so as not to go hungry, or sailing up and down smuggling routes without going off and investigating things that look interesting, because these goods need to get to where they're going on time.
If you want to spite social stasis, don't choose someone who's at the bottom of the heap and looked down on by society. Choose someone who is respected by society so that you can actually do some spiting.
Yeah, just making this plain and clear right out. Neither male nor female is going to get much social freedom. "More freedom to travel" is a relative thing, when the absolute furthest mentioned is "I once went all the way down to the ocean, which was fifty miles away. Once".
You're going to run smack into the fact that you're a peasant in an agrarian and socially stratified society regardless. And "I want to travel and experience things outside the narrow boundaries of local area" is trying to opt out of "yeah, this isn't a normal Exalted quest".
None of these options are good for minimising your social obligations. You're going to have them regardless. Because this is part of this game, and I am absolutely and outright refusing to let the players escape them early on. Especially in this society, not having family ties is massively suboptimal.
You don't want to be misbegotten. That's a failure state likely quickly leading to a Bad End. Trust me.
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Cassiemouse
Market Atheist
I agree with this because the less freedom we have to act the more creative we have to be in order to overcome the restrictions placed on us. Creative solutions to problems are interesting to write and read about. I can't speak for Earth Scorpion but it sounds he doesn't want to write a travelogue. We will be sticking around the same area for most of the quest.
- Pronouns
- He/Him
[X] Female
[X] No
[X] The blacksmith
[X] The blacksmith
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[X] Female
[X] Yes
[X] The blacksmith
If we have to stay here, I guess I want to pick up a practical role in the society. I prefer the blacksmith over the priestess as I prefer a cold-fact mindset over the more mystical outlook the priestess would give.
[X] Yes
[X] The blacksmith
If we have to stay here, I guess I want to pick up a practical role in the society. I prefer the blacksmith over the priestess as I prefer a cold-fact mindset over the more mystical outlook the priestess would give.
- Pronouns
- He/Him
[X] Yes