[Exalted, ?] Most High

I bet people fought for Odyssial because Being ruled by Odyssial is awesome and being ruled by someone else SUCKS.
I doubt things were so simplistic. Mind control and loyalty-creating Charms are far more efficient motivators than incentives like stability and prosperity.
Look at current creation. It's would never be in this shape if Odyssial was still around.
And perhaps it wouldn't exist at all. That is what the Bronze Faction fought for: a world that is diminished, but still extant.

But I digress. At this point, I'm just playing devil's advocate for the Bronze Faction. We should simply keep in mind the dangers of believing that our way is the only way, and letting our allies stay in the loop is an efficient way of both doing that and bolstering our own forces. Strong allies are the best kind of allies.
 
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I thought the Wracking is just recent, like decades? or even years? And it was engineered by the Yozis?

Indeed, we still have no idea which ones the Incarnae sided with.
EXCEPT
The sidereals still rule(d) the Realm, so...
Well, everything was fucked, and the sidereals are the exalted that do paperworks. Killing them will do no good.

They still pissed though.
 
Not really. The Gods gave the sidereals the wracking for their bullshit. The bronze faction killed Odyssial.

The gods intervened and Odyssial died. The wracking occurred later (maybe as punishment for it, we don't really know), but the fact stands that the Incarnae were involved with the Usurpation, Odyssial died, and the bronze faction operated in heaven for an indeterminable amount of time afterwards. It looks like we went against them and lost, though I may be wrong.
 
Zao is a cool guy, but he makes a fair number of decisions I don't agree with. Cut from the same cloth as Ulyssian in a lot of ways, except he's had a thousand plus years and a whooooole lot of loss to get harder.

He has no problem keeping Empty Moon a mushroom 'for her own good', just for an example we've seen recently.
Well, until Rihaku chimes in I can't guarantee anything of course, but considering the emotional source of Zao's arguments something that makes him better able to protect his daughter should do more to reassure him than something that may make her able to protect herself, but also draws more attention to her and makes her more likely to seek out challenges.

Not to mention that Zao having ambition relaxes the pressure on Uly, which means he doesn't need to becom an admiral in two years anymore and his friends no longer draw the attention of people wanting to harm the guy who became an admiral in two years and Uly can use that time to protect his friends or increase his personal power and therefor increase his capacity to protect his friends.
It's a win-win, really.
I suppose it depends on if we want 4 Celestial-tier fighters, or two Celestial fighters and Dragonblooded Odyssial.

Considering the sheer size of Creation, I could see that going either way.
Our Goal is not Protecting friends.

It's to save creation, take control of it and rule until Odyssial finish infinity singularity husk. Ulyssian should not hold himself back for friends. Not when everything is at risk.
I don't want to be that guy. We're allowed to have personal connections.
 
By the way, that last statement is more than a little tongue in cheek. The heroic attribute of Odysseus is Metis, heroic cunning. The tragic attribute of Odysseus is Hubris, pride. It is because of his pride that Odysseus was sent on the ordeal of the Odyssey, after boasting to Polyphemus that it was Odysseus who had blinded him.

You can be proud, and still right. But take caution when it seems like everyone else is wrong.
 
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Zao is a cool guy, but he makes a fair number of decisions I don't agree with. Cut from the same cloth as Ulyssian in a lot of ways, except he's had a thousand plus years and a whooooole lot of loss to get harder.

He has no problem keeping Empty Moon a mushroom 'for her own good', just for an example we've seen recently.
This. This, so much. You don't keep the people you love in the dark and feed them on bullshit. That conviction is the seed from which my stunt grew.
 
Why must you taunt us so, Rihaku?! First you dangle the Captain Planet v2.0 option in front of us, and then you issue ominous warnings?! I don't know what to choose anymore.
 
Vote tally:
##### 3.21
[X] He's Right
No. of votes: 10

Vanathor, Fumbles, cyberswordsmen, Grimmair, Yzarc, a11behringer, dragon, Xsi, Khaos, Vanguard_D

[X] Somehow
No. of votes: 6

AZATHOTHoth, SirLagginton, Frankite316, Pipeman, Nezi karaketas, Elero

[X] Persuasion
No. of votes: 10

Derekc2, 1986ctcel, Delwgun, Leingod, Da Boyz, CharlBaal, kinglugia, TMIoverload, Van Ropen, Tonaris

[X] Willing to give Ambition to Moon[Counts as 2 concessions]
[X] Willing to Stay Away for maximum 3 months
[X] Willing to have liaisons be chaperoned by powerful security-enforcing Exalt (Ivory, Zao, etc)
[X] Zao permits liaisons, so long as they are secret (you may lose training time getting to / from and arranging them)
[X] Zao gives you shit (Artifact weapons or armor, Resources, etc) - unlikely unless you give Ambition to Moon
No. of votes: 1
Orm Embar

[X] Willing to give Ambition to Moon[Counts as 2 concessions]
[X] Willing to Stay Away for maximum 6 months[Counts as 2 concessions]
[X] Willing to have liaisons be chaperoned by powerful security-enforcing Exalt (Ivory, Zao, etc)
No. of votes: 1
Savonarola

[x] Stay away for maximum 3 months
No. of votes: 1
Emerald Oracle

[X] Willing to give Ambition to Moon[Counts as 2 concessions]
[X] Willing to Stay Away for maximum 3 months
[X] Willing to have liaisons be chaperoned by powerful security-enforcing Exalt (Ivory, Zao, etc)
[X] Other (Write In) that somehow improves Moon's security
[X] Good Plans that improve Moon's security - having a public, but not over-dramatic falling-out, ideas for defending her bedroom, etc.
[X] Zao permits liaisons, so long as they are secret (you may lose training time getting to / from and arranging them)
[X] Zao gives you shit (Artifact weapons or armor, Resources, etc) - unlikely unless you give Ambition to Moon
No. of votes: 1
meianmaru

[X] Plan Braincaster
No. of votes: 4
WorldSlayer, Quest, BSRK Aditya, Usernames

[X] He's right
-[X] BUT while Moon can be kept ignorant of the Anathema thing, she absolutely needs to know that Ulyssian did not betray her. ([a href="[URL]http://forums.sufficientvelocity.com/posts/3073899/[/URL]" class="internalLink"]See[/a] [a href="[URL]http://forums.sufficientvelocity.com/posts/3073996/[/URL]" class="internalLink"]plan[/a])
No. of votes: 3
sithmor, roffster, Pinf

[X] He's Right
[X] Brain_Caster's Idea.
No. of votes: 1
Alectai

[X] Brain_Caster
No. of votes: 1
Unelemental

[X] He's right
-[X] BUT while Moon can be kept ignorant of the Anathema thing, she absolutely needs to know that Ulyssian did not betray her. ([a href="[URL]http://forums.sufficientvelocity.com/posts/3073899/[/URL]" class="internalLink"]See[/a] [a href="[URL]http://forums.sufficientvelocity.com/posts/3073996/[/URL]" class="internalLink"]plan[/a])
[X] Willing to Stay Away for maximum 6 months[Counts as 2 concessions]
[X] Willing to have liaisons be chaperoned by powerful security-enforcing Exalt (Ivory, Zao, etc)
[X] Good Plans that improve Moon's security: Have Moon assigned to Ivory as an assistant or somesuch, so that Ivory can train her and look out for her.
[X] Other (Write In) that somehow improves Moon's security:[a href="[URL]http://forums.sufficientvelocity.com/posts/3073797/[/URL]" class="internalLink"] Willing to let Moon believe Ulyssian exalted as a Fire Aspect[/a]. He exalted during the fight in the arena. [a href="[URL]http://forums.sufficientvelocity.com/posts/3073899/[/URL]" class="internalLink"]Zao just seized the opportunity to claim otherwise for political reasons[/a].
[X] Other (Write In): In discussion with Zao, use the argument that Moon is heavily emotionally invested in Ulyssian, and letting her believe he merely used her as a tool from the very beginning would be extremely cruel and likely hurt her grievously - in other words, the exact opposite of protecting her.
[X] No matter what, Ambition stays where it is: With Ulyssian. Don't even mention it to Zao.
No. of votes: 3
Brain_Caster, Dark Lord Bob, me.me.here

[X] He's right
-[X] BUT while Moon can be kept ignorant of the Anathema thing, she absolutely needs to know that Ulyssian did not betray her. ([a href="[URL]http://forums.sufficientvelocity.com/posts/3073899/[/URL]" class="internalLink"]See[/a] [a href="[URL]http://forums.sufficientvelocity.com/posts/3073996/[/URL]" class="internalLink"]plan[/a])
[X] Willing to Stay Away for maximum 6 months[Counts as 2 concessions]
[X] Willing to have liaisons be chaperoned by powerful security-enforcing Exalt (Ivory, Zao, etc)
[X] Good Plans that improve Moon's security: Have Moon assigned to Ivory as an assistant or somesuch, so that Ivory can train her and look out for her.
[X] Other (Write In) that somehow improves Moon's security:[a href="[URL]http://forums.sufficientvelocity.com/posts/3073797/[/URL]" class="internalLink"] Willing to let Moon believe Ulyssian exalted as a Fire Aspect[/a]. He exalted during the fight in the arena. [a href="[URL]http://forums.sufficientvelocity.com/posts/3073899/[/URL]" class="internalLink"]Zao just seized the opportunity to claim otherwise for political reasons[/a].
[X] Other (Write In): In discussion with Zao, use the argument that Moon is heavily emotionally invested in Ulyssian, and letting her believe he merely used her as a tool from the very beginning would be extremely cruel and likely hurt her grievously - in other words, the exact opposite of protecting her.
No. of votes: 1
afterthought53

[X] Brain_Caster
-[X] Keep Ambition for Ulysses. Do not give or loan it out to anyone.
No. of votes: 1
inawarminister

[x]Braincaster idea as a compromise vote.
No. of votes: 1
Aloysius

[X] Allow Moon's unvarnished reaction â€" the betrayal â€" to be seen, perhaps by an infirmary attendant? Only tell her the truth later, perhaps that night. Have Zao with us during that little excursion, if necessary. If we're assuming elder dynasts behind every rock and bush, then they can detect that our break-up was a false performance just as easily as Moon having a secret.
[X] If she is amenable, any liaisons can take the form of training together. Since we'll be tying down a security-enforcing Exalt, like Ivory or Zao, might as well get tutelage out of it. Ivory, probably, since Zao presumably still has that ability to sense everything that goes on in the Academy from last quest.
[X] Learn a security-based Charm for any missives. Does such a thing exist? We'd need it for letters home during the navy assignment, anyway.
[X] Give Ambition to her if absolutely necessary to convince Zao, but keep that as a last resort. Have it come to her from Zao â€" if she realizes we just gave her an N/A artifact, she'll feel indebted, and we don't want that.
[X] If she would rather cut ties after seeing the extent of the difficulties and security measures necessary â€" and after we acknowledge that Zao's current plan is to be sent to sea for four years â€" allow her that, and no more needs to be said. BEFORE giving her Ambition, since Ambition will influence her to support Uly's agenda subconsciously.
No. of votes: 1
Guile

[X] He's right
-[X] BUT while Moon can be kept ignorant of the Anathema thing, she absolutely needs to know that Ulyssian did not betray her. (See plan)
[X] Willing to Stay Away for maximum 6 months[Counts as 2 concessions]
[X] Willing to have liaisons be chaperoned by powerful security-enforcing Exalt (Ivory, Zao, etc)
[X] Good Plans that improve Moon's security: Have Moon assigned to Ivory as an assistant or somesuch, so that Ivory can look out for her.
[X] Other (Write In) that somehow improves Moon's security: Willing to let Moon believe Ulyssian exalted as a Flame aspect. He exalted during the fight in the arena. Zao just seized the opportunity to claim otherwise for political reasons.
[X] Other (Write In): In discussion with Zao, use the argument that Moon is heavily emotionally invested in Ulyssian, and letting her believe he merely used her as a tool from the very beginning would be extremely cruel and likely hurt her grievously - in other words, the exact opposite of protecting her.
[X] Other (Write In): Have a (fake) public fallout with Moon over the apparent deceit before we leave for whatever duty Zao has for us.
[X] Unwilling to give up Ambition.
[X] More flexibility in yourtraining / advancement schedule or goals
No. of votes: 1
Serous

[X] Allow Moon's unvarnished reaction â€" the betrayal â€" to be seen, perhaps by an infirmary attendant? Only tell her the truth later, perhaps that night. Have Zao with us during that little excursion, if necessary. If we're assuming elder dynasts behind every rock and bush, then they can detect that our break-up was a false performance just as easily as Moon having a secret.
[X] If she is amenable, any liaisons can take the form of training together. Since we'll be tying down a security-enforcing Exalt, like Ivory or Zao, might as well get tutelage out of it. Ivory, probably, since Zao presumably still has that ability to sense everything that goes on in the Academy from last quest.
[X] Learn a security-based Charm for any missives. Does such a thing exist? We'd need it for letters home during the navy assignment, anyway.
[X] If she would rather cut ties after seeing the extent of the difficulties and security measures necessary â€" and after we acknowledge that Zao's current plan is to be sent to sea for four years â€" allow her that, and no more needs to be said.
No. of votes: 1
Diller

[X] Give Ambition to Zao
No. of votes: 1
Felius

[X] Ambition to either Moon or Zao, but preferably Moon.
No. of votes: 1
veekie

[X] Keep Ambition for Ulysses. Do not give or loan it out to anyone.
No. of votes: 3
CrawlingChaos74, Reckless_Sun, Ridiculously Average Guy
 
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I've honestly lost all enthusiasm to give Ambition to anyone by now.
It started with being promised an awesome sword, then we got one with a weird mind-twisting DRM mechanic, came across various more and more enticing ways to use it more efficiently by giving it to someone else, only to be given ominous warnings about how it might twist them or what they might do with it and even some comments about how only Uly can use it to its true potential after all and by now I'm just sick of it all.
Should have just went with Away and spared us the headache.
 
Should have just went with Away and spared us the headache.

A lot of what Ambition can do wasn't listed (SMA, for one), I don't see why new aspects of Away wouldn't've popped up. I think we more voted on themes, not totality of the sword. These are N/A busted artifacts either way. (Although the mindwarping of Ambition isn't helping us here.)


EDIT: And even then "kills anything!" is a pretty good argument for safety on giving it away.
 
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switching from He's right to a variant.

[X] He's right
- [X] BUT while Moon can be kept ignorant of the Anathema thing, she absolutely needs to know that Ulyssian did not betray her. (See plan)

[X] Willing to Stay Away for maximum 6 months [Counts as 2 concessions]
[X] Willing to have liaisons be chaperoned by powerful security-enforcing Exalt (Ivory, Zao, etc)
[X] Good Plans that improve Moon's security: Have Moon assigned to Ivory as an assistant or somesuch, so that Ivory can train her and look out for her.
[X] Other (Write In) that somehow improves Moon's security: Willing to let Moon believe Ulyssian exalted as a Fire Aspect. He exalted during the fight in the arena. Zao just seized the opportunity to claim otherwise for political reasons.
[X] Other (Write In): In discussion with Zao, use the argument that Moon is heavily emotionally invested in Ulyssian, and letting her believe he merely used her as a tool from the very beginning would be extremely cruel and likely hurt her grievously - in other words, the exact opposite of protecting her.
[X] No matter what, Ambition stays where it is: With Ulyssian. Don't even mention it to Zao.
 
Should have just went with Away and spared us the headache.
I don't see why new aspects of Away wouldn't've popped up. I think we more voted on themes, not totality of the sword.
The theme of Away was clear though - it didn't have one, because it wasn't a distinct entity meant to mirror and embody his will. It was just an intrinsic part of Odyssial. The part that kills. New aspects shouldn't have changed that.

Would have preferred it too, but oh well.
 
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