Green Flame Rising (Exalted vs Dresden Files)

At this point action-economy is king, as very exhaustivly discussed over the last few days.
More people attacking and defending is extremly valuable in this system.
Yes so why did the battle plan turn it into a duel even though we outnumbered the enemy? We treated our allies as liabilities that had to be protected. That's the double think I am taking about. Either bring them and let them help or don't bring them. This worse of both worlds is stupid.
 
Yes so why did the battle plan turn it into a duel even though we outnumbered the enemy? We treated our allies as liabilities that had to be protected. That's the double think I am taking about. Either bring them and let them help or don't bring them. This worse of both worlds is stupid.
Because it was a subtle negotiation followed by a show-fight?

If this had been life and death we would have ganged up on Eiko, or used our allies to prevent her mooks from piling up on us.
 
So in terms of direct combat capability if Molly learns a full suite of combat charms and increases her essence score she really can straight match or exceed DF heavyweights.
ExWoD just straight up doesn't really allow to reach the same power levels that E2.5 allowed, tho. I guess eventually DP prolly gonna allow homebrew, but until then we have a cap.
 
ExWoD does allow the power level necessary to match a 2nd circle. Scenelong defenses and boosts, perfects and the standard absolute defenses are available.

I know it doesn't allow the higher reaches of exalted capability. So if we want to directly fight 3rd circle or greater elemental dragon equivalents we would need to gain sufficient energy sources boot Molly's exaltation back up to full operational capacity.
 
Alternatively, get our hands on a small nuke, purchase Lydia and Molly's perfect defense charms, and hope the fight takes place someplace remote (so Uncaring Ice-Soul Redoubt rather than Ablation of Brass and Fire). No bigwig in Dresden Files has demonstrated a defence strong enough to tank even the smallest nuke, after all. Their "perfect" defenses cap out at city block-level, considering Mab's show of force against Ethniu is the best defence we've seen so far.

Oh, and cross fingers nobody starts WWIII when we set off an unauthorized nuclear detonation.

(If we don't use a nuke at some point in this quest, I will be sad; what's the point of invincibility if you don't take advantage in the most over-the-top manner possible?)
 
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Vote closed.
Adhoc vote count started by DragonParadox on Mar 26, 2023 at 2:43 AM, finished with 141 posts and 17 votes.

  • [X] I'll explain later, we still have to deal with her boss first
    [X] So you know how stage magicians draw attention to one thing in order to hide another... (Explain the whole situation with Eiko, the conspiracy etc...)
    [X] Southworks Plan: 4x Einherjar squads, 1x rune worker, Gard, Molly + allies.
    -[X]Crown of Eyes Question: Swiftest route from South Works surface to location of hostages on map. Crown Focus: Baby's walker : 1m
    -[X]Tool Constructs + Clippy: Show faces of hostages, Tuzi and 4x bakemono to merc teams: 1WP
    -[X]Rendered Villain Dispersal as possible
    -[X]Assault Team: Molly + Lydia+Brother Dev+ Harry+ Murphy+ Michael + Gard + 1x heavy squad + 1 infantry squad
    -[X]Rescue Team: 1x rune worker + 2x infantry squad
    [X]STUNT: You attempt to smile reassuringly at him. "She wont be joining us. Ask me for details later. Its probably not stuff we talk about outside wards" You look meaningfully at the increasing numbers of pre-dawn foot traffic, then beyond him at Gard. "Ping Tom Park is two minutes from here. You know it?" At her nod you continue "Let's relocate then. I can provide your squad leaders with names and faces of the hostages, and known opposition numbers before we head to South Works." As you walk back towards Lydia's car you call to mind Deborah's baby walker and look.
    [x][Stunt] "Not here, not now. Once we have dealt with the greater foe, and are back under wards, I will explain. Even as dawn comes, the night still has ears."
    [X] So you know how stage magicians draw attention to one thing in order to hide another... (Explain the whole situation with Eiko, the conspiracy etc...)
    -[X]See if you can prompt an occult secret out of one of your teammates.
 
OK we need to remember to actually explain to Harry later. He really does deserve an explanation for why we are letting the monster live.
 
Alternatively, get our hands on a small nuke, purchase Lydia and Molly's perfect defense charms, and hope the fight takes place someplace remote (so Uncaring Ice-Soul Redoubt rather than Ablation of Brass and Fire).

Oh, and cross fingers nobody starts WWIII when we set off an unauthorized nuclear detonation.

(If we don't use a nuke at some point in this quest, I will be sad; what's the point of invincibility if you don't take advantage in the most over-the-top manner possible?)
Lost nukes found via Rendered Villain Dispersal, Prince of Ruin Attitude and any perfect would do
ExWoD just straight up doesn't really allow to reach the same power levels that E2.5 allowed, tho. I guess eventually DP prolly gonna allow homebrew, but until then we have a cap.
Charmwise and in terms of perfects no, but Awakened Eye of the Dragon leads to silly numbers once you get access to 10+ Dragon Nests. Especially since it also affects Exalted's companions.
 
Arc 6 Post 26: Officer of the Peace
Officer of the Peace

3nd of October 2006 A.D.

To your ears the akuma behind you might as well be tap-dancing elephants and the click of the metal door might as well have been one of those Fallout shelter doors. They aren't going to be able to sneak up behind me, even if they get over their... awe. That is an uncomfortable thought, like most of its kind leading to another. There are more ways to listen in than to sneak up to someone and your remaining enemy has already proven themselves uncannily insightful about your movements. "I'll explain later, we still have to deal with her boss first."

Out of the corner of your eye, the real one the others having flickered out before you got into the car you see Gard nod, the smallest of gestures, but a mark of approval just the same. A pity not everyone can be as willing to let things lie...

"You killed someone, something in there?" Detective Murphy does not lean forward in her seat, she does not raise her voice, but you can practically feel the weight of her question, honed though years of practice.

You look meaningfully at the increasing numbers of pre-dawn foot traffic, then turn to Gard. "Ping Tom Park is two minutes from here. You know it?" At her nod you continue. "I can provide..."

"No." The word is sharp the look she throws you. "That thing has killed and it will kill again,. If it's like the Fallen Angel crowd I need to know, we have to get ready and not leave an enemy on the loose so you can show off. This isn't the bloody middle ages no matter what the vampires, the demons and the fey think. I have a job to do Miss Carpenter and unless and until you explain why we are leaving a room full of monsters one of which already attacked you to do whatever the hell they please."

"Lieutenant Murphy, I understand your concern, I share it," your dad says quietly. "But some things cannot be spoken of in the open and should not be spoken of lightly. Molly knows the most about the ways of the Yama Kings and their servants among all of us." Harry nods in agreement, then dad adds: "I trust her judgement here."

The simple words make you feel warm in a way quite unlike the fiery rush of battle.

For a whilet looks like that will be enough to get her to drop the subject, but a as the first rays of the sun creep over the horizon, bringing with them the familiar rush of power, it becomes clear she had just been thinking through her next words.

Gain 5 Essence - Now at 8/12

"I can't do my job if I don't know what's going on..."

"Murph..." Harry starts, practically wheedling, which fits him about as well as stilettos on a rhino.

She raises a hand and continues in the same carefully controlled voice. "Let me finish Harry. Maybe a year ago, even a month ago my job was practically impossible when it came to the big guns, the monsters who would just roll into town and cause blackouts and mass hysteria or turn a museum into a slaughterhouse, but I've got people who actually know what's what behind me now. Even if I can't cuff it or shoot it I can share the information with other people in the government who know what's what and then they can make use of that, call on Special Investigation if they have to. That is how things are supposed to go." She takes a deep breath. "There is a hostage situation ongoing, I get that there might not be time to get the protections ready to debrief now but once this is done I will be expecting one."

She means the Library of Congress, you realize before she is halfway done, the memory of Andrea Von Trier and her buzzing aura foremost in your mind. You have no doubt she could get a lot of use out of a 'debrief' that reveals a traitor in Emma-O's ranks, but should you?

Or you could just lie, all the determination in the world will not allow her to read your mind and you have gotten a lot better at lying of late.

Harry looks like he would like to cut in but is not sure what he can do to help, the shih master is staying well clear of the conversation, though from what you know of how the hunters operate you are sure

What do you do?

[] Promise to explain to Murphy why you let Lady Eiko live
-[] Tell the truth
-[] Lie

[] Refuse to explain (Will damage your relationship with Murphy)

[] Write in


OOC: You guys did choose to bring a cop into this, she has opinions about leaving murderous monsters behind for mysterious reasons.
 
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1) That's effected by how strong the hells are, the fact tactics used, and the individual jades in question. Exceptions do exist after all. 10,000 celestial exalts is enough to fight 14 primordial wars at once with change left over to bully the gods with; the thousand hells are a lot of things but they aren't so strong as to need that just to keep in check.

The story presented by ExWoD is one of decline, your theory makes no sense in that context. Hell, that lore doesn't make sense with the political behaviors of any of these factions.

A group of thousands of celestial exalts capable of conquering whole afterlives alone sits on their thumbs in one valley somewhere and quietly while away the ages? They actively get pushed out of territory by powers who emphatically can't match their high end guys? Pull the other one, it has bells on it.


2) Not what they were built for. Why go to the trouble of making a super army that large for something like this?

In the context of the source they seem like they suffer from chronic world building issues, in ExWoD they need toned down to make sense, and here their history is entirely suspect because DF is the primary setting.

The jades make even less sense if you take the poorly built source material and inject them unedited into the political dynamics present here.

1) the story is one of decline. The Wan Kuei of the 4th Age are worse off than the Wan Xian of the 5th Age.

Also, ExWoD Exalts aren't as powerful as Exalted Exalts. The Wan Kuei could easily be as powerful as, say, an Alchemical or Sidereal.

Also, where does the talk about one valley come from? The Wan Xian ruled all of historic Asia before their fall, in competition with but more powerful than the other Shen. They didn't get pushed out if any territory. They pushed the Yama Kings out of Asia until they became more interested in fighting each other than doing their jobs.

Also, consider that the Wan Kuei are weaker than the Wan Xian, and Wan Kuei arhats are the peers of Antedeluvians, entities that are walking apocalypses. Presumably elder Wan Xian were the same.

2) They don't have chronic world building issues. They were built to deal with major problems, the Yama Kings, and successfully did. They also weren't an army. They seem to have been individual champions and leaders of humanity, ruling cities and competing with each other.
 
[X] Promise to explain to Murphy why you let Lady Eiko live
-[X] Tell the truth

Though we can request Murphy not pass it along given how sensitive it is. She does deserve to know what has been going on though because she is at least trying to protect people.
 
[X] Promise to explain to Murphy why you let Lady Eiko live
-[X] Tell the truth

Though we can request Murphy not pass it along given how sensitive it is. She does deserve to know what has been going on though because she is at least trying to protect people.

You could ask that yeah, but odds are she will ask why and Molly has no way to guess if she can persuade Murphy that the first seemingly competent authority on the supernatural she has met are bad guys who should not be told something to protect... *checks notes* a demon-sworn vampire. It is worth keeping in mind that most people do not have a Michael-like dedication to redemption.
 
[X] Promise to explain to Murphy why you let Lady Eiko live
-[X] Tell the truth

Does this include the Library of Congress trying to get an agent on the White Council by framing Harry and explain how most of the supernatural world is set up just so they doont kill each other and how eventually mortal will attempt extermination of the supernatural?
 
It is worth keeping in mind that most people do not have a Michael-like dedication to redemption.
Oh I fully expect her to say no if we do ask. It is just asking her to consider it would be IC for Molly's actions so far.

Edit: It was the Daedelus people who went along with the framejob on Harry. That is partially the fault of the LoC higher ups who elected to keep them in the dark about what they knew, but they weren't directly involved.
 
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[X] Promise to explain to Murphy why you let Lady Eiko live
-[X] Tell the truth

Does this include the Library of Congress trying to get an agent on the White Council by framing Harry and explain how most of the supernatural world is set up just so they doont kill each other and how eventually mortal will attempt extermination of the supernatural?

As far as you know the Library of Congress is not doing that, they explained that Daedalus is not under their control and they are trying to reign it in
 
[X] Refuse to explain (Will damage your relationship with Murphy)

Yeah, no.
We are having a pretty grand-scale plan here, possibly redeeming a devil-figure.
I really don't want the american government to mess around with that.

They have no particular right to know what we are doing or planning and this is far out of any jurisdiction.

Edit: The Yama Kings are essentially yet another foreign power that the USA shouldn't mess with. Not as great as Winter for sure, but still not someone you want to play games with.
 
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[X] Loose lips sink ships
-[X] Promise to explain to Murphy why you let Lady Eiko live, but only after we determine that enough time has passed, and events sufficiently unfolded, that the information we reveal to her, cannot be used to our detriment by those she wishes to share it with.
 
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1) the story is one of decline. The Wan Kuei of the 4th Age are worse off than the Wan Xian of the 5th Age.

Also, ExWoD Exalts aren't as powerful as Exalted Exalts. The Wan Kuei could easily be as powerful as, say, an Alchemical or Sidereal.

Also, where does the talk about one valley come from? The Wan Xian ruled all of historic Asia before their fall, in competition with but more powerful than the other Shen. They didn't get pushed out if any territory. They pushed the Yama Kings out of Asia until they became more interested in fighting each other than doing their jobs.

Also, consider that the Wan Kuei are weaker than the Wan Xian, and Wan Kuei arhats are the peers of Antedeluvians, entities that are walking apocalypses. Presumably elder Wan Xian were the same.

2) They don't have chronic world building issues. They were built to deal with major problems, the Yama Kings, and successfully did. They also weren't an army. They seem to have been individual champions and leaders of humanity, ruling cities and competing with each other.
1) The decline started before they were even made. ExWoD nerfing exalts should be taken as an indication of the power level caps of the setting in general. If physical gods can walk the night and obliterate cities or toss 70 perfect Agg around at will there hardly needed to be a downgrade, or at least not this much of one.

The single valley thing was me mixing up DF and WoD lore. Here the jades hang out in one valley and almost never leave it. So it's still relevant to the quest, but not a greater argument about the type.

2) Even the argument that Heaven was incredibly stupid about organizing things doesn't explain the disproportionate amount of power. The thousand hells aren't strong enough to soak 14 primordial wars. Ruling ancient China doesn't make up the difference.

Edit: the pushed out of other territories thing is ExWoD canon though. The other kindreds outcompeted them and blocked their expansions. 700 exalts could rule all of creation unchallenged until betrayal took them down. The jades ruled the territory they had because it's what they could keep.

Edit2: phoneposting errors
 
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[X] Be patient, Murphy
-[X] Promise to explain to Murphy why you let Lady Eiko live, but only after we determine that enough time has passed, and events sufficiently unfolded, that the information we reveal to her, cannot be used to our detriment by those she wishes to share it with.
That's as good as not explaining it, only a bit more condescending.
 
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