[Exalted] The Dragon's Spite

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Okay, hmm. So my first instinct was actually to buff Graceful Willow Style. But I do like @Wellhello's point about using offensive attacks more during this fight, and I definitely like the idea of training up for treasure-hunting. So on the understanding that I'll be voting for more Graceful Willow defence in the next xp vote...

[X] Plan Mai/Ty Lee
-[X] 400 to Viper Style
-[X] 200 to Peacock Style
-[X] 100 to Unnoticed Breeze Style
 
[X] Plan Mai/Ty Lee
-[X] 400 to Viper Style
-[X] 200 to Peacock Style
-[X] 100 to Unnoticed Breeze Style
 
Arc 1 Options Vote
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    • OK, much less interest for this vote, but never mind. Regardless, I think I've left it open long enough.

    Plan Mai/Ty Lee wins. As a result, Rena restores Viper Style to Disciple and Peacock Style to Initiate, as well as beginning progress on Unnoticed Breeze Style.

    Now, as Peacock Style isn't in-aspect, she doesn't get a Charm for it, but she does get another Viper Style Charm. And that means it's time for you to decide how you're going to shape her progress in Viper Style, choosing her path. As a result, there's only two voting options here - choosing which of the previously offered two Charms you take. This choice is mutually exclusive - you're picking her focus in this Style. Such an offer will not come up again. Choice of one will lock off the other.

    As it stands, due to your previous pick, Rena's Viper Style has a focus on poison, pain and precision. This pick will add a second theme to it.

    Article:
    Pick One Path

    [ ] Path of the Jade Fang: Beware the terrifying rattlesnake, she of the stabbing fangs. Rena gains Disturbed Snake Stance. The Path of the Fang will focus Rena's Viper Style Charm development on direct combat uses - such as lightning-fast strikes and snake-like armour. Additionally, she will also gain a focus on the use of fear and making examples of her foes.
    [ ] Path of the Three-Eyed Hunter: Beware the inescapable viper, she who sees without light. Rena gains Life-Hunting Eye. The Path of the Hunter will focus Rena's Viper Style Charm development on utility effects like tracking and perception - such as seeing without light and following the trail of someone she injures. Additionally, she will also gain a focus on the metaphorical 'digestion' of her foes.


    As a reminder, the text of these two charms are presented below:
    • Life-Hunting Eye - Opening a spiritual simulacra of the viper's third eye, Rena gains the ability to see threats even in pitch darkness. As Rena is a Wood Aspect, her Life-Hunting Eye senses the vital essence of Creation's inhabitants; creatures like fae and demons are hard to detect, and the Dead and automata are entirely invisible.
    • Disturbed Snake Stance - A counter-attack stance, used by Viper Style fighters when facing an opponent who is overly rash or underestimates them. Taking advantage of her opponent's incautious moves, Rena lashes out with repeated strikes or thrusts showing considerably increased strength and speed for this burst of motion. This stance is physically exhausting, and is much less effective against a cautious foe or one who keeps their distance.
     
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    • [X] Path of the Three-Eyed Hunter: Beware the inescapable viper, she who sees without light. Rena gains Life-Hunting Eye. The Path of the Hunter will focus Rena's Viper Style Charm development on utility effects like tracking and perception - such as seeing without light and following the trail of someone she injures. Additionally, she will also gain a focus on the metaphorical 'digestion' of her foes.

    Ooh, I really like the flavour on this one.
     
    [X] Path of the Jade Fang: Beware the terrifying rattlesnake, she of the stabbing fangs. Rena gains Disturbed Snake Stance. The Path of the Fang will focus Rena's Viper Style Charm development on direct combat uses - such as lightning-fast strikes and snake-like armour. Additionally, she will also gain a focus on the use of fear and making examples of her foes.

    At the end of the
     
    EarthScorpion said:
    OK, much less interest for this vote, but never mind.
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    As it often is with crunch votes.

    [X] Path of the Three-Eyed Hunter: Beware the inescapable viper, she who sees without light. Rena gains Life-Hunting Eye. The Path of the Hunter will focus Rena's Viper Style Charm development on utility effects like tracking and perception - such as seeing without light and following the trail of someone she injures. Additionally, she will also gain a focus on the metaphorical 'digestion' of her foes.
     
    [X] Path of the Three-Eyed Hunter: Beware the inescapable viper, she who sees without light. Rena gains Life-Hunting Eye. The Path of the Hunter will focus Rena's Viper Style Charm development on utility effects like tracking and perception - such as seeing without light and following the trail of someone she injures. Additionally, she will also gain a focus on the metaphorical 'digestion' of her foes.
     
    [X] Path of the Three-Eyed Hunter: Beware the inescapable viper, she who sees without light. Rena gains Life-Hunting Eye. The Path of the Hunter will focus Rena's Viper Style Charm development on utility effects like tracking and perception - such as seeing without light and following the trail of someone she injures. Additionally, she will also gain a focus on the metaphorical 'digestion' of her foes.
     
    [X] Path of the Three-Eyed Hunter: Beware the inescapable viper, she who sees without light. Rena gains Life-Hunting Eye. The Path of the Hunter will focus Rena's Viper Style Charm development on utility effects like tracking and perception - such as seeing without light and following the trail of someone she injures. Additionally, she will also gain a focus on the metaphorical 'digestion' of her foes.

    Perception is important for a stealth and trickery based character: it gives much needed information, that can then be used for disappearing or trick people. Also the metaphorical digestion of Rena foes may be useful with all the soul blasphemy that she's involved in.
     
    We already have soul-stuff utilization, we don't need to be able to digest foes - it seems like trying to use the same resource twice. Sorcery is plenty of utility and when we get demons and fae as servants they will only add to versatility. Martial arts, on the other hand, are our main ass kicking development tree, so let us lock it for combat:

    [x] Path of the Jade Fang: Beware the terrifying rattlesnake, she of the stabbing fangs. Rena gains Disturbed Snake Stance. The Path of the Fang will focus Rena's Viper Style Charm development on direct combat uses - such as lightning-fast strikes and snake-like armour. Additionally, she will also gain a focus on the use of fear and making examples of her foes.
     
    [x] Path of the Three-Eyed Hunter: Beware the inescapable viper, she who sees without light. Rena gains Life-Hunting Eye. The Path of the Hunter will focus Rena's Viper Style Charm development on utility effects like tracking and perception - such as seeing without light and following the trail of someone she injures. Additionally, she will also gain a focus on the metaphorical 'digestion' of her foes.
     
    [X] Path of the Jade Fang: Beware the terrifying rattlesnake, she of the stabbing fangs. Rena gains Disturbed Snake Stance. The Path of the Fang will focus Rena's Viper Style Charm development on direct combat uses - such as lightning-fast strikes and snake-like armour. Additionally, she will also gain a focus on the use of fear and making examples of her foes.

    Rena needs an offensive focused style and the Viper school should be the tool to accomplish that. In addition to the added combat lethality, Rena will be able to use fear as a tool. A perfect tool for an Evil Sorceress. While Three Eyed has utility, it's best to remember that Viper is our main offensive tool. Best to keep it that way.
     
    [X] Path of the Jade Fang: Beware the terrifying rattlesnake, she of the stabbing fangs. Rena gains Disturbed Snake Stance. The Path of the Fang will focus Rena's Viper Style Charm development on direct combat uses - such as lightning-fast strikes and snake-like armour. Additionally, she will also gain a focus on the use of fear and making examples of her foes.

    I do like the thought of making the most out of beating our enemies to death, and the tracking seems like it could be useful, but beating the actual shit out of someone and being scary is also very useful. Not enough people take us seriously!
     
    [X] Path of the Jade Fang: Beware the terrifying rattlesnake, she of the stabbing fangs. Rena gains Disturbed Snake Stance. The Path of the Fang will focus Rena's Viper Style Charm development on direct combat uses - such as lightning-fast strikes and snake-like armour. Additionally, she will also gain a focus on the use of fear and making examples of her foes.

    snake armor made from very alive and hissing snek go go go

    Also this sounds like it lets us do fatalities and this is very important.
     
    [X] Path of the Jade Fang: Beware the terrifying rattlesnake, she of the stabbing fangs. Rena gains Disturbed Snake Stance. The Path of the Fang will focus Rena's Viper Style Charm development on direct combat uses - such as lightning-fast strikes and snake-like armour. Additionally, she will also gain a focus on the use of fear and making examples of her foes.

    If this arc gave any indication to the general pattern of the quest and the inclinations of the voters, Rena will absolutely have to kill someone with her bare hands again, and probably several someones.
     
    [X] Path of the Jade Fang

    Come on, "used by Viper Style fighters when facing an opponent who is overly rash or underestimates them." doesn't that just scream 'turning the tables on a hotblooded shonen hero'?
     
    [X] Path of the Three-Eyed Hunter: Beware the inescapable viper, she who sees without light. Rena gains Life-Hunting Eye. The Path of the Hunter will focus Rena's Viper Style Charm development on utility effects like tracking and perception - such as seeing without light and following the trail of someone she injures. Additionally, she will also gain a focus on the metaphorical 'digestion' of her foes.

    Not just Utility- information.

    Blindness penalties are decent, so we can lure people into dark places to fight them... if they aren't exalts... but not being surprised in the night is CRITICAL, as we just proved. Plus, we don't want people to get away, and we like to eat souls anyways. Might as well specialize!

    Besides, which is scarier? A thinker rating, or a striker rating? (Ignoring Panacea. And Clockblocker. And Browbeat, really... Ok, forget Worm, we can't use Contessa or the Number Man as examples anyways).

    Look, I get that we have some vulnerabilities here (the dead, automata, and non-creation creatures), but if we're going off of the example charms, how many foes will we fight who are "overly rash..." or at least will remain such? WE ARE AN EXALT. Fools shall be taken apart as a matter of course, especially if we practice our precision attacks! Eyes help with those! :)-D)
     
    boo600 said:
    Look, I get that we have some vulnerabilities here (the dead, automata, and non-creation creatures), but if we're going off of the example charms, how many foes will we fight who are "overly rash..." or at least will remain such? WE ARE AN EXALT. Fools shall be taken apart as a matter of course, especially if we practice our precision attacks! Eyes help with those! :)-D)
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    We are not Celestial Exalt. There are thousands of other Dragon-blooded and they usually don't work alone. If we are going by ES' enlightenment system, we are facing lots of spirits and other creatures that are in similar ballpark of power, if not sheer adaptability of an Exalt. On top of that quite handful of those simply more powerful. I would say that having solid combat suite to take them on is essential. We don't even have perfect defense at this point in game and probably won't have it anytime soon, getting armor-via-charms that can't be taken from us is really better idea.

    Also, wuxia fights are great and I think we will pick those far more often than not:V
     
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    [X] Path of the Jade Fang: Beware the terrifying rattlesnake, she of the stabbing fangs. Rena gains Disturbed Snake Stance. The Path of the Fang will focus Rena's Viper Style Charm development on direct combat uses - such as lightning-fast strikes and snake-like armour. Additionally, she will also gain a focus on the use of fear and making examples of her foes.

    Pretty much what I envisioned with my initial vote. To strike the enemy down with the cruelest strike.
     
    [X] Path of the Jade Fang: Beware the terrifying rattlesnake, she of the stabbing fangs. Rena gains Disturbed Snake Stance. The Path of the Fang will focus Rena's Viper Style Charm development on direct combat uses - such as lightning-fast strikes and snake-like armour. Additionally, she will also gain a focus on the use of fear and making examples of her foes.
     
    [X] Path of the Jade Fang: Beware the terrifying rattlesnake, she of the stabbing fangs. Rena gains Disturbed Snake Stance. The Path of the Fang will focus Rena's Viper Style Charm development on direct combat uses - such as lightning-fast strikes and snake-like armour. Additionally, she will also gain a focus on the use of fear and making examples of her foes.
     
    [X] Path of the Jade Fang: Beware the terrifying rattlesnake, she of the stabbing fangs. Rena gains Disturbed Snake Stance. The Path of the Fang will focus Rena's Viper Style Charm development on direct combat uses - such as lightning-fast strikes and snake-like armour. Additionally, she will also gain a focus on the use of fear and making examples of her foes.

    gib dangerous ara ara
     
    changeling said:
    We are not Celestial Exalt. There are thousands of other Dragon-blooded and they usually don't work alone. If we are going by ES' enlightenment system, we are facing lots of spirits and other creatures that are in similar ballpark of power, if not sheer adaptability of an Exalt. On top of that quite handful of those simply more powerful. I would say that having solid combat suite to take them on is essential. We don't even have perfect defense at this point in game and probably won't have it anytime soon, getting armor-via-charms that can't be taken from us is really better idea.

    Also, wuxia fights are great and I think we will pick those far more often than not:V
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    Pretty much correct as an analysis.

    Well, actually I'm not using Enlightenment - or Essence-ratings - at all for this Quest. They're a gameification that's not necessary for a narrative quest. But the core idea still applies - that a Master of a given Style is about as capable as another one. This isn't quite true - for example, Rena is better at Viper Style than a Fire Aspect would be because at a given rank, she has an extra Charm because it's a Wood Aspected thing - but in broad terms it is.

    Hence, as it stands, one of those rare mortals who's become a Master of Viper Style would have good odds against Rena, because even with her Anima that only takes her up to Adept. He's simply more skilled than she is. Now, she has more Charms than he does, so it's a dynamic fight, but she could still very plausibly lose against a better fighter who's "just" a mortal who's mastered his style.

    Like, in a sense, this Quest lets me do what I could never do with even hacked Exalted, and fully embrace the wuxia intent of the Style system, where what matters more is the bit where you declare that you're a Grandmaster of Viper Style, not whether you're a Solar or a Dragonblood. A Solar would find it easier to master a style, but that's because essentially being a Solar in this is "the power of being the protagonist who shows up to the temple and is the star pupil and the god who's teaching everyone goes 'I've never seen anyone like this!'."

    It's very unfair to people like Rena, who put decades into being an evil martial artist sorceress and then some asshole kid masters the style in a fraction of the time.

    (of course people like Rena are unfair to gods, demons, etc, who put centuries into getting power and then this book-smart gremlin shows up and exceeds them in a few decades)
     
    [X] Path of the Jade Fang: Beware the terrifying rattlesnake, she of the stabbing fangs. Rena gains Disturbed Snake Stance. The Path of the Fang will focus Rena's Viper Style Charm development on direct combat uses - such as lightning-fast strikes and snake-like armour. Additionally, she will also gain a focus on the use of fear and making examples of her foes.
     
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