[Exalted, ?] Most High

[shibosho]

Uh, there's one absolute, completely impossible to fake thing that Ulyssian is guaranteed to have.

Namely, the Unfinished (Now Finished) Blade, which Ulyssian is guaranteed to have access to, and has no match, the magnum opus of the Most High, the one weapon he used above all others.

In other words, Absolutely the most perfect sign of him being the reincarnation possible.

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Yeah, that's true. It'll be hilarious when Ulyssian has to deal with being seen as Odyssial's reincarnation, regardless of how much of him is Odyssial and how much of him is Ulyssian.

Would be funny if Ulyssian's trying to meet other exalted, only for them to run away screaming, or some other overreaction to the Odyssial's legacy, same for gods as well.

 

[Rihaku]

Yeah, that's true. It'll be hilarious when Ulyssian has to deal with being seen as Odyssial's reincarnation, regardless of how much of him is Odyssial and how much of him is Ulyssian.

Would be funny if Ulyssian's trying to meet other exalted, only for them to run away screaming, or some other overreaction to the Odyssial's legacy, same for gods as well.

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Well, as long as you take Lathe, they're unlikely to directly try and kill you before you get too powerful. They may still try to Befriend you, though!

 

[a11behringer]

[X] Pick an additional option from any epoch after the one you achieved Greatness 10, for free.
[X] The Lathe of Heaven
[X] The Fairest
[X] Reincarnation Planning

 

[Usernames]

Well, as long as you take Lathe, they're unlikely to directly try and kill you before you get too powerful. They may still try to Befriend you, though!

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Sidereals: Shit, Creation is fucked
Uyssian solar wielding the finished blade: Sup
Sidereals: Oh shit, Odyssial has return. We all fucked.
Gold vision sidereal: no wait, this is a good thing. He can save Creation and if we befriend him, maybe he might not punish us or at least keep it finite? Besides, the old sidereals are dying anyway.
Other Sidereals: Good Idea.

 

[Vanguard_D]

That was due to his physical resemblance to Odyssial, which triggered the latent social Charms embedded in Lytek's consciousness. Since we were an Infernal that time around and still got recognized, I sincerely doubt that we're going to do worse if we're still a Solar.

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So that version of Odyssial actually worked to make the reincarnation possible and only got the physical resemblances and the soul down and this time around people have been avoiding the reincarnation option as the plague. Will we even get that this time? We need at least one option or all this knowledge, allies and artifacts that Olyssian built up will be lost.

 

[Savonarola]

[X] The Peerless City
[X] The Lathe of Heaven
[X] The Fairest

Eh... I just don't think it's in character for Odyssial to devote effort that could be spent raising the Tower of Babel or planning to reforge the world or winning massive fucking tournaments in order to prepare for his death and failure. He'd want to prevent that shit, fight and fight until he found a way or the world burned from his efforts.

 

[Rihaku]

Hm, I don't think you guys should be so confident that you will always have enough XP! As you may have noticed, XP gain surged in the early game but has moderated to a steady trickle now. You'll be burning off your reserve once we get into actual play!

Don't you want advancement worthy of the name Odyssian??

 

[Lexica]

[X] Pick an additional option from any epoch after the one you achieved Greatness 10, for free.
[X] The Peerless City
[X] The Lathe of Heaven
[X] The Fairest

I am also not a fan of the reincarnation plot succeeding. Odyssial always finds a way you say? Who says reincarnation is that way? Odyssial has left behind more legacies than just that- his surviving companions, the Fairest and Lea, whose lives he changed with his ideals and strength, the way he expanded creation, and made all Creation and all the Wyld beyond it know his legend- who says that that can't be the way he found unknowingly? Ulyssian can carry on Odyssial's dream of a better world, but he can do it as himself.

 

[Rihaku]

[X] The Peerless City
[X] The Lathe of Heaven
[X] The Fairest

Eh... I just don't think it's in character for Odyssial to devote effort that could be spent raising the Tower of Babel[/b] or planning to reforge the world or winning massive fucking tournaments in order to prepare for his death and failure. He'd want to prevent that shit, fight and fight until he found a way or the world burned from his efforts.

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Part of always finding a way is having contingencies in the event of failure, so that no single blow can erase you from existence. That is the ultimate defeat. It is only when one ceases to exist, that no more ways can be found.

[X] Pick an additional option from any epoch after the one you achieved Greatness 10, for free.
[X] The Peerless City
[X] The Lathe of Heaven
[X] The Fairest

I am also not a fan of the reincarnation plot succeeding. Odyssial always finds a way you say? Who says reincarnation is that way? Odyssial has left behind more legacies than just that- his surviving companions, the Fairest and Lea, whose lives he changed with his ideals and strength, the way he expanded creation, and made all Creation and all the Wyld beyond it know his legend- who says that that can't be the way he found unknowingly? Ulyssian can carry on Odyssial's dream of a better world, but he can do it as himself.

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Well, he would definitely prefer not to die, but he would certainly take any reasonable measures to plan for cases where, in spectacularly improbable fashion, he actually does. It's simply prudent.

 

[Unelemental]

[X] The Peerless City
[X] The Lathe of Heaven
[X] The Fairest

Eh... I just don't think it's in character for Odyssial to devote effort that could be spent raising the Tower of Babel or planning to reforge the world or winning massive fucking tournaments in order to prepare for his death and failure. He'd want to prevent that shit, fight and fight until he found a way or the world burned from his efforts.

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Even Odyssial (especially Odyssial!) has contingency plans. He didn't get so far by being an overconfident moron.
Edit: Sidereal'd

 

[Rihaku]

Uh, there's one absolute, competely imposible to fake thing that Ulyssian is guaranteed to have.

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Someone could steal it after you manifest it from your anima, and then flawlessly disguise themselves as you or something! It's not impossible to fake, just merely very difficult. But we are talking about the Exalted here, and the name Odyssial is one that commands fear and respect.

Even Odyssial (especially Odyssial!) has contingency plans. He didn't get so far by being an overconfident moron.
Edit: Sidereal'd

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Wheels within wheels... plots within plots...

Let's maximize Ulysean's benefits here.
No more heartlessness, and the benefit we know we will get.
There's no guarantee we will find or get to any of the secret staches, so I don't want high Ruthlessness for something we won't see.

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The tide of democracy is against you, I fear. It will be difficult enough to get even two options chosen, much less one. Three seems overwhelmingly likely at this point, though most of them are blank votes so a focused argument could possibly break in.

 

[a11behringer]

Don't we start with two free choices to begin with? Because that's how it's been for all the previous epochs.

 

[Ridiculously Average Guy]

[X] Pick an additional option from any epoch after the one you achieved Greatness 10, for free.
[X] The Lathe of Heaven
[X] The Fairest
[X] Reincarnation Planning

Actually, wait.

Taking Reincarnation Planning off of the table, because with everything else, that raises the chances Uncomfortably high that Odyssial will roflstomp Ulyssian's heart and mind.

That's not something I want to see happen.

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Nah:

+ / - Much greater chance of reincarnating perfectly. However, you guys will get to choose from a spectrum of options regarding Odyssial's reincarnation; even if he gets the best outcome, still it may not be perfect.

You're just giving up control of how it happens.

Can anyone explain what the Infinite Singularity Husk is?

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At a guess? Upon entering limit break he would strive to make things more efficient/better/more powerful. He then decided everyone else should get this. I think he may have introduced Clarity to non-alchemicals.

Probably as some sort of destiny effect considering it gets stronger/scarier when taken with a sidereal.

 

[Guile]

Now, at the close of the Titanic war, as he stared once more at the setting sun, the most uncharacteristic of all thoughts dared flit across Odyssial's mind: did I do well?

And somewhere in his heart, there came a sudden warmth, and he knew the answer: better than We had ever imagined.

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Ody do well?

Ody do well!

Even so, he felt a pang of that man's bittersweet melancholy, for that man had had his vengeance, and it was good, but now it was over. He was not often given over to emotion, but this was an occasion of great moment, and, for at least a few days, the Exalted Host had no foes in all of Creation.

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Ody: disappointed that there are no primordials left to kill.

He turned his head to regard her, and all the ways in which they could endeavor to destroy each other made themselves apparent, an invisible diagram unfurling within his mind, knowledge that was deeper than sensation, stances and feints and counter-stances, six billion billion paths to death with physical exertion alone. These he grasped in their totality, as completely and as effortlessly as a mortal scholar understood that five plus five was ten.

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Well yeah, I plot the deaths of all my friends too, just in case they ever betray me.

He was of average stature, but Pearl was slight, almost waifish. Her family had all starved to death before she was Chosen by Saturn.

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You know, like they do.

"Hmph, well, if you won't tell me, may I at least stand on top of you?"

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Manic Pixie Dream Sidereal, go!

"Even we can tell, it's an auspicious day for new beginnings. But the day is almost over."

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'Even we?' Shouldn't the Siddies have 'auspicious days' on lockdown?

"What do you see?" She asked, and in her voice was the tiniest waver of uncertainty. "What will we make?"

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Asked the Sidereal of the Solar.

"A long, long path ahead, winding and uncertain. We will make many mistakes. We will stumble. We will fail. Many of us will fall, to the blades of our enemies or our own incapacity. I see ruin, and devastation, new horrors such as have never touched the world before. But we will learn from our mistakes. When we stumble, we'll correct our footing. From what does not kill us, we will emerge stronger. We will grow. And one day, a far day from today, the world will be a better place than it was the day before. And the next day, better again. And the next, and the next, and the next, and then one day, we'll turn around and we'll see that this world, it's not so bad as it used to be, it's not so cruel to be born here. One day at a time, into the golden forever."

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Is Ody an optimist? Jesus Christ.

"There's always an ending," said the maiden.

"Not always," said Odyssial.

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Said the Solar to the Chosen of Endings. I wonder if he was planning the reincarnation gambit even then.

[ ] Double

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the reward of fanwork XP for the entire game

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If only we knew the status of Priest and pals!


563 words, but I'm not sure how many are mine.

 

[Usernames]

[X] Pick an additional option from any epoch after the one you achieved Greatness 10, for free.
[X] The Lathe of Heaven
[X] The Fairest
[X] Reincarnation Planning

Nah:

+ / - Much greater chance of reincarnating perfectly. However, you guys will get to choose from a spectrum of options regarding Odyssial's reincarnation; even if he gets the best outcome, still it may not be perfect.

You're just giving up control of how it happens.

At a guess? Upon entering limit break he would strive to make things more efficient/better/more powerful. He then decided everyone else should get this. I think he may have introduced Clarity to non-alchemicals.

Probably as some sort of destiny effect considering it gets stronger/scarier when taken with a sidereal.

Click to shrink...

Oh shit. He gives his limit break to all his soldiers and people in his kingdom.

AN NATION OF LITERAL ODYSSIALS. With solars, lunars, sidereals,dragon-blood, mortal and gods with the same limit break. 1,000,000 + Odyssials.

Oh how did usurption even happened?

 

[Rihaku]

As we are coming up to the end of the Prelude, we do need to figure out Ulyssian's favored skills. Last time we discussed this, we narrowed it down to a few options.

His Caste Skills will be Melee, Awareness, Resistance, War, and [1 Open Slot].

His Favored Skills will be Larceny, Athletics, Integrity, [Likely Stealth], and [1 Open Slot].

For the Open Slot of Caste Abilities, the choice is between -

[ ] Dodge - Somewhat increases defensive prowess. If you can dodge a wrench, you can dodge a bolt. Since you already have Melee, this will likely not see investment until much later in the game. However, it is very nice to have, to deal with the occasional unblockable attack which could otherwise ruin your day. Additionally, you will likely see flurrybreakers and other such miscellaneous defensive options in this tree.

[ ] Thrown - A long-ranged engagement option focused on dealing colossal burst damage early on. Likely will synergize extremely well with Stealth. Carries on Odyssial's legacy of slings and throwing knives, the weapons of a more brutal and primeval time.

For the Open Slot of Favored Abilities, the choice is much more varied. We will probably get rid of Sail, since you didn't take Protector of the West. However, that still leaves a plethora of possible options, including -

Bureaucracy - God-king administrative prowess, skill at rule
Lore - The encyclopedic knowledge of the world and its functions necessary to always find a way
Presence - Raw force of personality, often expressed as sheer intimidation
Performance - Command of oratory and dance, among other skills. Can also make you a great singer.
Occult - Somewhat neglected by Odyssial himself, but Sorcery is not the only province of the Occult
Survival - The hunting prowess of the ranger who kept his tribe alive for a year at the atrociously dangerous fringe of the world. Supposedly lets you create uber pets.

And any others you might care to vouch for. Please discuss among yourselves and narrow the field of Favored Abilities down to 2-3 options.

 

[Usernames]

[X] Dodge - Somewhat increases defensive prowess. If you can dodge a wrench, you can dodge a bolt. Since you already have Melee, this will likely not see investment until much later in the game. However, it is very nice to have, to deal with the occasional unblockable attack which could otherwise ruin your day. Additionally, you will likely see flurrybreakers and other such miscellaneous defensive options in this tree.

Always pick dodge.

 

[Rihaku]

'Even we?' Shouldn't the Siddies have 'auspicious days' on lockdown?

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She's chosen of Endings. They have a complicated relationship with beginnings.

Oh shit. He gives his limit break to all his soldiers and people in his kingdom.

AN NATION OF LITERAL ODYSSIALS. With solars, lunars, sidereals,dragon-blood, mortal and gods with the same limit break. 1,000,000 + Odyssials.

Oh how did usurption even happened?

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Nothing so unspectacular as that, I fear.

 

[Cavalier]

I think all the arguments against Reincarnation Planning that can be made have been. It's of use if you want Odyssial to more strongly manifest in Ulyssian. I don't want that, others do. It is basically a narrative and aesthetic difference. I see Odyssial as likely working on-and-off on it as a contingency plan, but it has opportunity costs and at his height in the First Age there would have been no pressing need for it. As he hit Greatness 10 I think throwing himself into the Infinite Singularity Husk is the most Odyssial option; it's what his entire journey, all his sacrifices and optimization, have been for. He needs a contingency plan just in case, but he's operated without perfecting his Reincarnation plan thus far and nothing on the horizon appears as a serious threat to require him to prioritize it.

Well until he gets wind of the Usurpation from the Fairest, at which point preparing to fight would have to take the utmost priority. The Peerless City strikes me as a white elephant, a kind of mediocre hubris that pales before the Infinite Singularity Husk and a fortress for a commander whose inclinations aren't to siege-work. The resort to guerrilla warfare makes it look a tad like the Maginot Line. There might be a lament about how, if only it had been finished, but really? A tower eclipsing Meru? Many resource that could be better spent elsewhere, and ultimately, if it could ever be brought under siege it would have lost anyway; not even Odyssial could fight off the massed resources of Creation and he stood a better chance of wearing them to collapse with a more flexible and mobile hybrid of defense and offense. Fortresses could be useful, but making one the centerpoint of his plans to wage war with Creation and constructing it to the scale necessary would just carry too many opportunity costs.

 

[Alectai]

I'm thinking Thrown and Presence myself.

 

[Orm Embar]

[X] Thrown
[X] Lore

Neglecting long-range offense just strikes me as inadvisable, and Odyssial's trick with the cogolem stones in the earliest parts of the prelude sold me on the idea of him using a sling. Lore is useful in all the situations enhanced knowledge would be, which is to say almost all of them.

 

[Rihaku]

Well until he gets wind of the Usurpation from the Fairest, at which point preparing to fight would have to take the utmost priority. The Peerless City strikes me as a white elephant, a kind of mediocre hubris that pales before the Infinite Singularity Husk and a fortress for a commander whose inclinations aren't to siege-work. The resort to guerrilla warfare makes it look a tad like the Maginot Line. There might be a lament about how, if only it had been finished, but really? A tower eclipsing Meru? Many resource that could be better spent elsewhere, and ultimately, if it could ever be brought under siege it would have lost anyway

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If it had been finished, it would have imposed a conceptual power upon the person meditating in its central sanctum; as noted in the option, a power that lets that person fight any number of opponents as if he were fighting them all one by one. All Creation could have thrown themselves against him, then, but it would not have been a certain victory for them. Not in the slightest.

 

[Pipeman]

[X] Pick an additional option from any epoch after the one you achieved Greatness 10, for free.
[X] The Peerless City
[X] The Fairest
[X] Reincarnation Planning

I honestly don't mind Odyssial and Ulyssian actually being the same person.

I kind of doubt there's not going to be very noticable traces of Odyssial in Uly anyways after we've gotten so much Greatness and with everyone choosing Fairest, so we might as well grab the option that ensures Uly and Ody have always been the same person and there is no threat of Ody's influences pushing one agenda while Uly pursues another.
Better to just reincarnate perfectly so that the result is basically that Uly was Ody all along, but with amnesia and without his Exaltation. This doesn't invalidate Uly's feelings, experiences, goals or relationships, especially since the vast majority of memories being locked away means there is no chance of the millennia of experience as Ody drowning out the few years as Uly, and honestly seems a lot more interesting to explore than the already seen Age of Sorrows Solar with lots influences from his First Age counterpart.

Not to mention that at this point we've gone for a lot of resources and benefits that are only really accessible with a high fidelity reincarnation.

 

[Usernames]

If it had been finished, it would have imposed a conceptual power upon the person meditating in its central sanctum; as noted in the option, a power that lets that person fight any number of opponents as if he were fighting them all one by one. All Creation could have thrown themselves against him, then, but it would not have been a certain victory for them. Not in the slightest.

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So even with the fairest, there isn't enough time to built that. I wonder if lea, fairest and his allies were secretly building it up for odyssial to take command of it when he comes back?

 

[Guile]

[X] Thrown
[X] SAIL