I never did understand why you guys let him live in the previous quest. He really should have been put down like the mad dog he is.
[Exalted, ?] Most High
- Thread starter Rihaku
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- exalted (white wolf)
Except he'd be a practically peerless Terrestrial Exalt, so he'd have whatever assets of his house he can pull, get to keep Zao as a mentor, be able to keep his friends from the academy (fairly significant ones at that), easy access to another Solar Exalt, be able to draw on whatever assets he can from the Academy, will be able to show his face without a disguise.
Remember it's always possible to go on adventures or elope with Moon if we go with disguise. Also Exalting as a Solar in the middle of the Academy and getting away with it is super awesome.
Killing Flame on the other hand means we might not be able to salvage many of these assets, certainly house and academy assets will be a total loss, we might be able to grab the Solar, most of Uly's friends are probably a wash, Zao is a bit iffy but if we're lucky we could possibly swing it and we can probably grab Moon although it's not guaranteed.
Driven by Apathy
Formerly known as Brain_Caster
I may misremember, but didn't the coma thing only happen because Moon chose to hook up with Uly instead? Something that's quite unlikely to happen now, as Ulyssian is not the same person as Odyssial, and Odyssial already has someone.
I'm kinda worried we'll cause what were trying to prevent here by killing Flame.
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meianmaru
The Devourer of Fiction
Flame is the only option they have apparently he was as big a part of it is as that Sid, they really wanted that bloodline. With him gone they cant move until they find some kind of alternative. His sister is to sick that she cant take over the role for example.
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Driven by Apathy
Formerly known as Brain_Caster
I am quite honestly not concerned with revenge. Revenge is irrelevant. Even if he did try to kill her, what I'm concerned with his Moon's savety, and I'm not certain killing will have a positive effect on that.
Hmm... fair point. But how would Ulyssian know?
Err, whatever. Looks like killing him will win the vote, so I'm writing a small omake/stunt now. Hopefully it's going to make sense.
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meianmaru
The Devourer of Fiction
...Err, I wasn't quoting that to make any point towards revenge. I just thought that you were wrong about Flame trying to / not trying to kill Moon. Thats all.
Bah, like Ulyssian needs more reason then him trying to murder Moon.
- Location
- USA
[X] Essentially As Planned
I want a strong Oddysial presence. I would vote Totality, but I would want to push the button many times, so that Oddysial could remake the world. Unfortunately, that would end the quest, so I'll go with the options that keeps both him and the quest around.
[X] Escape
We've got better things to do than stay at the Academy, and it's easier to convince people we're not a monster if the first thing we do isn't killing a promising powerful Dragonblood.
I want a strong Oddysial presence. I would vote Totality, but I would want to push the button many times, so that Oddysial could remake the world. Unfortunately, that would end the quest, so I'll go with the options that keeps both him and the quest around.
[X] Escape
We've got better things to do than stay at the Academy, and it's easier to convince people we're not a monster if the first thing we do isn't killing a promising powerful Dragonblood.
I don't suppose Zao is part of the fanatical db sleeper cell that Odyssial inspire?
Well I suppose if you're all super into trying to face down an army of Dragonblood we should at least have a stunt. So here it is, the Return of Odyssial's glory.
When the metal of his blade met that of Resolute Flame's and the sparks flew from their impact the Dawn returned, a massive flare of golden light erupted and Ulyssian knew in that moment that he was Exalted. But it was not the Exaltation he had wanted, it was that of the Anathema and worse still in an arena surrounded by hundred Dragonblooded each of which would no doubt be reacting and coming to kill him in moments. Perhaps Zao would not want him dead, but the best he would be able to do for him now would be to not strike at him with his full might, truly this was an unfortunate moment for the one known as Ulyssian.
But no he was Ulyssian and he always found a way, he reached for power, any power for if he was truly given power from a devil at least he would use it to live, he reached and he found. Another mind awoke, or perhaps it was merely a sleeping aspect of the same mind come to the fore. It looked at Resolute Flame's blade as it came down on him to strike him down too fast to possibly block and he simply swung his arm as if it held a sword where in fact there was nothing but empty air and in the moment before contact his anima swirled and thickened the golden streamers becoming gold in truth and there in his hand was a golden sword, despite it's perfect make there was nothing that appeared unique about it, it had no aura of terror or doom, no fantastic runes or designs, it was merely a sword and then it struck Flame's blade. The blade shattered as if it were merely glass and the swing kept going, the sword parted through plate and supernatural flesh as if they were less than air, upper body was completely separated from his lower and Resolute Flame, prodigal master of the immaculate arts was ENDED.
Already the the crowd of was rising to the attack, for they were not simple mortal civilians but the Blood of the Dragon and every one of them even the newly born was a solder of beyond human skill. Already a number of daggers and arrows had reached Odyssial by the time his swing had finished and yet to him their attacks were no more than flies to an elephant, with an almost casual swing of his sword every projectile that had been launched lay broken now little more than scrap.
Despite the display of impossible might the Terrestrials began to charge more weapon were thrown at incredible speeds, swordsmen leaped crossing the distance in the blink of an eye and hundreds of arrows were sent into flight. Ulyssian saw all this and was not afraid, for despite their skills they were nothing compared to the Lord Strategos. However he was not at his full power just yet and to destroy the resources of the realm just because they had raised his ire would not do. Instead he flared his Anima in a flash so bright that even the eyes of the Exalted could not focus on his form and in that moment he disappeared leaving nothing but a smoldering stage and two halves of a former Prince.
Notes: decided to give him a fancy sword that doesn't just kill things but straight up ENDS them, seemed appropriate given Odyssial's history.
Also for my Disguise stunt go here.
When the metal of his blade met that of Resolute Flame's and the sparks flew from their impact the Dawn returned, a massive flare of golden light erupted and Ulyssian knew in that moment that he was Exalted. But it was not the Exaltation he had wanted, it was that of the Anathema and worse still in an arena surrounded by hundred Dragonblooded each of which would no doubt be reacting and coming to kill him in moments. Perhaps Zao would not want him dead, but the best he would be able to do for him now would be to not strike at him with his full might, truly this was an unfortunate moment for the one known as Ulyssian.
But no he was Ulyssian and he always found a way, he reached for power, any power for if he was truly given power from a devil at least he would use it to live, he reached and he found. Another mind awoke, or perhaps it was merely a sleeping aspect of the same mind come to the fore. It looked at Resolute Flame's blade as it came down on him to strike him down too fast to possibly block and he simply swung his arm as if it held a sword where in fact there was nothing but empty air and in the moment before contact his anima swirled and thickened the golden streamers becoming gold in truth and there in his hand was a golden sword, despite it's perfect make there was nothing that appeared unique about it, it had no aura of terror or doom, no fantastic runes or designs, it was merely a sword and then it struck Flame's blade. The blade shattered as if it were merely glass and the swing kept going, the sword parted through plate and supernatural flesh as if they were less than air, upper body was completely separated from his lower and Resolute Flame, prodigal master of the immaculate arts was ENDED.
Already the the crowd of was rising to the attack, for they were not simple mortal civilians but the Blood of the Dragon and every one of them even the newly born was a solder of beyond human skill. Already a number of daggers and arrows had reached Odyssial by the time his swing had finished and yet to him their attacks were no more than flies to an elephant, with an almost casual swing of his sword every projectile that had been launched lay broken now little more than scrap.
Despite the display of impossible might the Terrestrials began to charge more weapon were thrown at incredible speeds, swordsmen leaped crossing the distance in the blink of an eye and hundreds of arrows were sent into flight. Ulyssian saw all this and was not afraid, for despite their skills they were nothing compared to the Lord Strategos. However he was not at his full power just yet and to destroy the resources of the realm just because they had raised his ire would not do. Instead he flared his Anima in a flash so bright that even the eyes of the Exalted could not focus on his form and in that moment he disappeared leaving nothing but a smoldering stage and two halves of a former Prince.
Notes: decided to give him a fancy sword that doesn't just kill things but straight up ENDS them, seemed appropriate given Odyssial's history.
Also for my Disguise stunt go here.
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Any resources Ulyssian has pale in comparison to what Odyssial has left behind. Only his friends are of importance, and Zao can help with those.
We're already a monster. Anathema. A demon in human skin. No matter what we do, events are going to be misinterpreted and twisted against us.
Frankly, killing Flame here makes him more relatable to others, especially if we make some awesome declaration before/after.
@WorldSlayer: I haven't played the game, but shouldn't stunts be short? Like 60 Words or less?
Usernames
Merc gonna merc ya
So Odyssial sword is an perfected instant kill attack on all the time that can only be defended with a perfect block or dodge with a perfect dodge?
It's not an Daiklave.
Problem with that sword though.
It's not an Daiklave.
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VanusDraco
Special Projects Division
- Location
- The Bottom Line
[X] Kill Flame
Cause fuck the Sidreal rape plan. Lets see you try that shit with a pile of fucking ashes.
Cause fuck the Sidreal rape plan. Lets see you try that shit with a pile of fucking ashes.
meianmaru
The Devourer of Fiction
Now that I have some time, I'll try to think up a few potential basic ideas for the sword Evocations. Also of note, the tier thing with Emerald/Sapphire/Adamant Evocations means that when compared to the usual Rihaku-level brokenness, all the things I'm suggesting are probably in the Adamant tier:
First, integrating some of the traits of the Primordials he killed and/or defeated. Their corpses should make quite fine ingredients, so I could see the sword manifesting Lethe's poison on its blade and do other similiar things.
Also, we know that something called the "Sword-banner of the Maiden of Battles" is integrated into it, which based on its name could for example give buffs to allies, be they small as adventuring parties or entire armies. Fits well to his Lord Strategos -thing. And considering the whole sword is based on a Sid-choice line, maybe something linking it to Sidereal martial arts? Or other Fate shenanigans (the first choice in the line for the sword is named "the Sword of Endings").
On more solarish-side of things, amplifying the wielder's strength and skill might work the best. Like doing aggravated damage based on how many dots the wielder has on his melee skill or something. And because traditional Dawn anima-power is intimidation, maybe making that better? Especially considering the effect that just Odyssial's reputation has on even the other Exalted who remember him. Slaying creatures of Darkness better is also a must, and goes well with his hatred for the Primordials/Yozis.
As the sword is N/A, all the different magical material types have probably been used in its creation. Elemental attacks from Jade, life-/mote-stealing from Soulsteel (maybe even damaging permanent Essence/health levels), ability to mimic materials that the enemy is weak against from Moonsilver (making for example Fae-slaying easier), etc.
And finally, thinking how he has ended all kinds of creatures, quite many of them traditionally "immortal"... Some limited way to bypass that and "perfect" defenses? I mean, he did kill those kind of foes just fine even without the Unfinished Sword in his early days, but having an easier way to do it would likely be quite welcome for him.
First, integrating some of the traits of the Primordials he killed and/or defeated. Their corpses should make quite fine ingredients, so I could see the sword manifesting Lethe's poison on its blade and do other similiar things.
Also, we know that something called the "Sword-banner of the Maiden of Battles" is integrated into it, which based on its name could for example give buffs to allies, be they small as adventuring parties or entire armies. Fits well to his Lord Strategos -thing. And considering the whole sword is based on a Sid-choice line, maybe something linking it to Sidereal martial arts? Or other Fate shenanigans (the first choice in the line for the sword is named "the Sword of Endings").
On more solarish-side of things, amplifying the wielder's strength and skill might work the best. Like doing aggravated damage based on how many dots the wielder has on his melee skill or something. And because traditional Dawn anima-power is intimidation, maybe making that better? Especially considering the effect that just Odyssial's reputation has on even the other Exalted who remember him. Slaying creatures of Darkness better is also a must, and goes well with his hatred for the Primordials/Yozis.
As the sword is N/A, all the different magical material types have probably been used in its creation. Elemental attacks from Jade, life-/mote-stealing from Soulsteel (maybe even damaging permanent Essence/health levels), ability to mimic materials that the enemy is weak against from Moonsilver (making for example Fae-slaying easier), etc.
And finally, thinking how he has ended all kinds of creatures, quite many of them traditionally "immortal"... Some limited way to bypass that and "perfect" defenses? I mean, he did kill those kind of foes just fine even without the Unfinished Sword in his early days, but having an easier way to do it would likely be quite welcome for him.
Not murdering a Dragonblood and being outed as an Anathema would greatly help with keeping those friends and being able to stay in touch with Zao, otherwise we have to sneak back in and hope that Zao will introduce his daughter to the dangerous life of being a companion to an Anathema which would no doubt necessitate the same stealth and disguise tricks you're so keen to not purchase.
Unless we fake being a Terrestrial then we'll be the ones twisting events.
I was thinking more spirit killing but bigger, as in kill the Neverborn big. That's one of my goals of Ulyssian, but there's nothing stopping us from picking anything we want.
Do we even have any information on how the sword looks and what it does beside that it is a N/A rank weapon?
Usernames
Merc gonna merc ya
Nope but it's got to be an Daiklave.
Odyssial loves big, thick, long titan killing swords.
Yes, but that would require a 3d stunt (I don't see a dearth of those) and luck, aside from making Ulyssian's starting build worse.
While Cytokinesis may be right in that Perfect Mirror (an Essence 2 Charm with only a single prerequisite Charm) could very well be enough to fake being a Fire Caste, especially with Flame's own banner covering the flaw of our fake Anima only looking like it burns stuff, and that the primary difficulty may therefor be stunting Uly reacting quickly enough or buying other Charms like Phantom Hood Technique to make supressing his real Anima more believable, it'd still put both Zao and Uly under intense scrutiny they have to expend effort to overcome and require other Larcency Charms just to keep up the facade.
And that's not even mentioning the real possibility that Flame will not stand and ignore an Anathema appearing right before him, when we can't afford to pull out our Artifact N/A sword and don't want to risk spending motes.
It seems almost more sensible to just run and use Perfect Mirror to double back immediately at which point we can try to reconnect with friends, do missions for Zao and otherwise enjoy lots of the benefits of Disguise without crippling Zao's position so much or obligating us to waste time keeping up the facade that we're an actual student when we only really want to come back for associating with friends and working together with Zao.
And that's not even mentioning the real possibility that Flame will not stand and ignore an Anathema appearing right before him, when we can't afford to pull out our Artifact N/A sword and don't want to risk spending motes.
It seems almost more sensible to just run and use Perfect Mirror to double back immediately at which point we can try to reconnect with friends, do missions for Zao and otherwise enjoy lots of the benefits of Disguise without crippling Zao's position so much or obligating us to waste time keeping up the facade that we're an actual student when we only really want to come back for associating with friends and working together with Zao.
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Driven by Apathy
Formerly known as Brain_Caster
Five Instants After Exaltation
At the very instant of exaltation
Grace. Beyond a man's, beyond even a Dragon's. Grace. Unasked for, perhaps undeserved. When he struggled to find a way, a Way had found him.
And with grace, knowledge. From grace and knowledge, understanding.
Ulyssian/Odyssial understands.
First instant after exaltation
There is so much to do. An Age of Sorrows that needs to end, lest even the sorrows descend into despair and nothingness. So many things that need to change. Odyssial will find a way.
But not right now.
Right now, Sesus Ulyssian must save his dearest friend. His right foot hits the ground and completes the last step he ever took as a mortal.
Second instant after exaltation
He had not intended to kill Flame when he took the first step, his only goal to save Empty Moon. But now he has understanding. Subtle clues he would never have noticed before come together, and Ulyssian knows.
Resolute Flame did not become so powerful this swiftly on his own. He is himself merely the tool of another. That someone has designs on Moon, Flame their puppet in those designs.
For Empty Moon to be save, Resolute Flame needs to die.
Ulyssian's foot lifts off the ground.
Third instant after exaltation
The sword in his hand, which had been aimed to parry Flame's strike now goes for the right shoulder instead. It will be deflected by the Dragon-Blooded's armor, Ulyssian knows, won't even do much to slow down the burning inferno.
That's fine. The strike isn't the real attack.
Again, his foot hits the ground. And the cold stone responds.
Fourth instant after exaltation
The raging inferno engulfs the blasphemous mortal, now mortal no longer, and utterly fails to harm seemingly unprotected skin. No matter how hot the flame, it cannot burn the sun.
Resolute Flame's eyes widen as their owner catches his first and last glimpse of Solar radiance. He has not yet processed what he is looking upon. He never will. The shockwave released into the ground by his opponent's steps reaches and destroys his footing. Resolute Flame stumbles.
And with the merest flick of a wrist, Ulyssian's blade goes straight into his eye.
Fifth instant after exaltation
It is done - the puppet is slain. He hopes it will be enough, though the puppetmaster still lives.
A hundred pairs of eyes stare at the scene. Not in disbelief, not yet. That will happen when the body hits the ground, when the inferno dies, when only the sun's brilliance remains and comprehension comes. For now there is time. The smallest instant of time.
Ulyssian turns his head and looks straight into his friend's eyes. A small nod expresses meaning which could fill a book.
*Stay save, my dearest friend. Do what you have to. Don't hesitate to deny me.*
Then all hell breaks loose.
And Odyssial makes his escape.
At the very instant of exaltation
Grace. Beyond a man's, beyond even a Dragon's. Grace. Unasked for, perhaps undeserved. When he struggled to find a way, a Way had found him.
And with grace, knowledge. From grace and knowledge, understanding.
Ulyssian/Odyssial understands.
First instant after exaltation
There is so much to do. An Age of Sorrows that needs to end, lest even the sorrows descend into despair and nothingness. So many things that need to change. Odyssial will find a way.
But not right now.
Right now, Sesus Ulyssian must save his dearest friend. His right foot hits the ground and completes the last step he ever took as a mortal.
Second instant after exaltation
He had not intended to kill Flame when he took the first step, his only goal to save Empty Moon. But now he has understanding. Subtle clues he would never have noticed before come together, and Ulyssian knows.
Resolute Flame did not become so powerful this swiftly on his own. He is himself merely the tool of another. That someone has designs on Moon, Flame their puppet in those designs.
For Empty Moon to be save, Resolute Flame needs to die.
Ulyssian's foot lifts off the ground.
Third instant after exaltation
The sword in his hand, which had been aimed to parry Flame's strike now goes for the right shoulder instead. It will be deflected by the Dragon-Blooded's armor, Ulyssian knows, won't even do much to slow down the burning inferno.
That's fine. The strike isn't the real attack.
Again, his foot hits the ground. And the cold stone responds.
Fourth instant after exaltation
The raging inferno engulfs the blasphemous mortal, now mortal no longer, and utterly fails to harm seemingly unprotected skin. No matter how hot the flame, it cannot burn the sun.
Resolute Flame's eyes widen as their owner catches his first and last glimpse of Solar radiance. He has not yet processed what he is looking upon. He never will. The shockwave released into the ground by his opponent's steps reaches and destroys his footing. Resolute Flame stumbles.
And with the merest flick of a wrist, Ulyssian's blade goes straight into his eye.
Fifth instant after exaltation
It is done - the puppet is slain. He hopes it will be enough, though the puppetmaster still lives.
A hundred pairs of eyes stare at the scene. Not in disbelief, not yet. That will happen when the body hits the ground, when the inferno dies, when only the sun's brilliance remains and comprehension comes. For now there is time. The smallest instant of time.
Ulyssian turns his head and looks straight into his friend's eyes. A small nod expresses meaning which could fill a book.
*Stay save, my dearest friend. Do what you have to. Don't hesitate to deny me.*
Then all hell breaks loose.
And Odyssial makes his escape.
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Driven by Apathy
Formerly known as Brain_Caster
Above the promised omake/stunt. Let's hope that's what happens and Resolute Flame dies swiftly and without incident.
Ah, that was satisfying.