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General Exalted Thread

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ManusDomine said:
Sorry! We're working on compiling it, but by Storyteller is a Theology student and I'm a Law student, so we don't exactly have much time for that sort of thing, but I desperately want to get it done as well! I can tell you of her current situation, if you desire it though!
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It looks like it's been a little while since you last talked about it in the thread so I'd love to hear it if you've got the time.
 
Shyft said:
I'm pretty sure resources represents a single source of income. You can have a farm and a gold mine and a line of credit.

You can have multuple influence backgrounds as well, stuff like that.
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I read the section as Resources referring to your total income and thus the lifestyle you can support. Hence, your farm and your gold mine get rolled together (and so practically speaking, the gold mine probably swamps the farm).

After all, it's not like the Resources system is quantised enough for it to really mean much.
 
EarthScorpion said:
I read the section as Resources referring to your total income and thus the lifestyle you can support. Hence, your farm and your gold mine get rolled together (and so practically speaking, the gold mine probably swamps the farm).

After all, it's not like the Resources system is quantised enough for it to really mean much.
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This is the system where purchasing a commission as a (military) officer, raising a legion, and a concubine have the same cost, after all.
If you're going to introduce any nuance to the system, you'll basically be starting from scratch.
 
The Phoenixian said:
It looks like it's been a little while since you last talked about it in the thread so I'd love to hear it if you've got the time.
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Very well then; she is empress over a bunch of islands; a beautiful and radiant sorcerer-empress who would make some Gods blush at her luxury. She has mastered sorcery that draws from the power of worshipping Danaa'd (actually a weird conflation of her and Sanceline really), as well as drawing power from her sword, her cloak and her bindi of Pyrian Crystal. At her left side stands the Luminous Bodhisattva, Fractal Blossom who advises her in matters of the ethereal, and to the her right side stands Ixora Vahara; swordsman of the second kur of the Lintha Sword Brotherhood and royal Empress-Consort as well as most noble chosen of the Yozis. She cloaks herself in royal garments woven of voices and stolen Abrosia, aquamarine in their regal bearing and magnificent in their grandeur.

She has stripped the local Terrestrial Courts of power, and forced them to kneel to her, and taxes them with the aid of her dark rituals and merciless bearing, killing any God who disagrees and is just now raising the first statue of Danaa'd in the water of the Grand Harbor of the Crown Isle. The people prosper and are rich; for she rules effectively and wisely, her magics bolstering her quick wit and her otherworldly support making her a fearsome foe to wage war against.

So yeah! Remember that she started as a random serving girl! :V
 
EarthScorpion said:
Huh. I didn't even register that. I just automatically assumed you bought an Ally per ally, because... why wouldn't you do it like that?

But essentially, if the background exists as a discrete thing, it's valid to be duplicated. Resources is not, because a) Resources is the coalesced sum of your wealth, and b) Resources isn't a valid Anchor anyway, because "paying Resources for material components" is part of the activation cost rather than something you can anchor a spell in.
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I object to that on the ground that taking what should be a reliable source of income and holdings, liquidating all of it, then stashing the resulting hoard into an enormous cavern where you sleep on top of it until the silver and gemstones have incrusted your skin and formed an Invincible Skin of Bronze Jewels should totally be a valid working.
 
The Phoenixian said:
Exalts: Inspiring the lords of Creation to ask "Where the hell are these people coming from?" since time immemorial.
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Amusingly; I realize her character arc is sort of equivalent to Keris actually. They both started out low as fucking possible on the social totem pole, were both elevated far higher than before by their Exaltation and have both given up their low standing as their sacrifices in the name of Sorcery, they're both deathblender murderhobos, they both used to make their GMs scream with frustration when they went to do something random instead of what they predicted and they both collaborate with the Lintha.

I'd sort of like to see how a meeting between them would go; that would be most amusing, I think.
 
Aleph said:
Keris does still have that 2-dot Principle of "The Whispering Pyre (Phobia)", so... probably not well.
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Oh, but you see! Chiming Minaret doesn't worship the Yozis! She would never do that!

She worhsips Danaa'd, who is an Immaculate Dragon who also stayed to watch in the depths of hell just like she carried the prison of the Anathema deep beneath the sea! Yes; entirely logical!
 
EarthScorpion said:
Molacasi, the Thrice-Maimed Artist

First, at the very genesis of the titans a great hidden fire burned him, leaving his skin blackened and cracked and every touch agony. Such was his punishment for daring to depict the true nature of Cytherea in his art.
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Hmm. If I ever get around to writing a Cytherea charmset (which, granted, isn't too likely considering the size of my to-do list), I'm definitely including 'The Burning of Molacasi' as a charm. Charms with implied backstory are fun, and ones where the backstory is discoverable are even better.
 
ManusDomine said:
Oh, but you see! Chiming Minaret doesn't worship the Yozis! She would never do that!

She worhsips Danaa'd, who is an Immaculate Dragon who also stayed to watch in the depths of hell just like she carried the prison of the Anathema deep beneath the sea! Yes; entirely logical!
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It's less who she worships and more the fact that she wears a bindi of Pyrian crystal and travels around with a luminous bodhisattva at her side. :p

Though the Sanceline iconography wouldn't help, no.
 
Aleph said:
It's less who she worships and more the fact that she wears a bindi of Pyrian crystal and travels around with a luminous bodhisattva at her side. :p

Though the Sanceline iconography wouldn't help, no.
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Shush you! :V

Though; amusingly, I believe Keris would get on rather well with Sanceline, given they disagree with She Who Lives In Her Name on the nature of free will and would rather temper it with purpose than remove it entirely.

...Though admittedly this is rather wasted when they also make luminous bodhisattvas by existing. :V

(i swear if i see just one of my demons used for kerisgame, i'll be so flattered that my blush of acknowledgement would literally be incandescent)
 
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Just as a note, I reject the idea that Ululaya is Kimbery's fetich. It wasn't established in Compass: Malfeas or any of the materials which detail Kimbery, and it doesn't particularly fit my mental image of Kimbery. Plus, it's a bit pat when Ligier already has that down.

(Kimbery's fetich is to my mind an expression of my vision of her from her Charmset as an abused child grown up to become an abuser in term, teaching the Intolerable Burning Truths she was taught.)

So instead, she's basically Kimbery's anglerfish light - the beauty and elegance that she uses to hide her inner nastiness.


Ululaya, the Blood-Red Moon
Demon of the Third Circle
Third Soul of the Demon Sea

As the loathsome anglerfish in the deepest darkest ocean has its light to lure prey to its maw, so too does Kimbery have Ululaya. The blood-red moon of Malfeas is her lady's emissary and face to the worlds outside her freezing depths. Heretical demonologists whisper that the moon of Creation was made in emulation of Ululaya, who is one of the fairest of all the demon princes. She is a creature of attention-holding grace and heart-rending loveliness; a carmine-mantled emissary who prizes beauty over truth. Her innocence is self-evident no matter what she does, even if her hands are filthy with gore. She is a creature inconstant and whimsical in her nature, save when she obeys the diktats of her greater self. Her vanity is as great as her beauty, and if she had her way she would take Ligier's place at the centre of the realm of demons - for he looks down upon her and that is a constant affront.

Ululaya defies mortal understanding. Long ago she sacrificed her guilt to Dharma, for she had no use for it. She wears many faces and many manners, both as a moon and as a woman, for in human form the mind of onlookers cannot withstand her true nature. Her pupils are always her current phase, and she glows a soft red that drains all the colour and beauty from things around her. Such an appearance is a veil she wears to protect others. Those who gaze upon her true form unprotected find that all their red blood surges forth from their mouth and nose to adore the blood-red moon, splattering upon her surface.

The demon prince feels no need to limit herself to Luna's regular and predictable cycle and the phases of the blood-red moon are studied by the astrologers of Hell to divine the will of Kimbery. A city of pearl and crystal and ice is built on top of the Malfean moon wherein dwell masses who adore their lady. Ululaya's city has few rivals in Hell and none in Creation, and she adores showing its elegance to visitors to Malfeas. Some never leave, but instead remain and love her until the day their heart gives out. This pleases her, for the love of others is her greatest pleasure.

The blood-red moon was a wanderer before the Yozis were imprisoned, travelling to courts in every realm that exists and some that do not. Her present self-indulgence is worsened by her wearisome confinement, for she has long since grown tired of Hell. Sometimes the red moon flees the skies of Malfeas, travelling through the wastes of Cecelyne or seeking to surmount Qaf. There she might be encountered by travellers, and she is gentle and curious when she meets them, seeking tales of stranger lands. Still, the lore of Heaven warns about her, for she is Kimbery's emissary and her soft words lead others down into the waiting maw of the Demon Sea.

In the First Age, sorcerers called upon Ululaya to serve them in their dealings and their negotiations - and sorcerers that did so often succumbed to her blandishments. Before the Callibration Feast was instituted as a practice, she often spent as many as three years out of every five bound. She suffers physical pain from the ill-thoughts of others, and those who resent her despite all her efforts burn her with a touch. Those who meet her in Hell must be wary, for carmine-mantled Ululaya enjoys a twisted version of the rights of the Eclipse caste. Should one with authority over Creation or Heaven seek to barter with her and make sacrifices to that end, then her confinement within Hell is put in abeyance for as long as negotiations continue. She must bargain in good faith during such deals, but there is much mischief and many wicked acts she can engage when not at the negotiating table. It is said by those who hate the Realm that she has met each of the Scarlets in turn.

Traits and Abilities: Ululaya is not a warrior nor is she a general. When one threatens her, she resorts to harsh words that knock weapons from hands. Were one to strike her, she would flee in fear of her own life. However, her sheer presence can captivate an entire town as adoring slaves - and should she reveal her true self, slay them in a matter of heartbeats. She is a self-indulgent and vain creature with very little capacity to acknowledge her own mistakes. Her own certainty in her innocence flows out from her and affects onlookers, who find it hard to recall any time she has wronged them or even to raise a hand against such a beautiful demon. As a moon and a woman she creates tides within the minds of men, stirring up passions and pulling all events to her. Her mere presence warps the world so matters make everything revolve around her presence.

Ululaya and the All-Thing: Her eternal feud with Ligier leaves her resentful that the Infernal Exalted are known as the green sun princes. She seeks adoring servants, who she will crown as the dukes of the red moon and bestow with all her favours. Still, such investment from her demands absolute loyalty and unconditional love in return, and Infernals who accept her patronage will find that she will accept no rival for their attentions.
 
Well, when Keris met her, she started out looking like Keris.
The sheer presence of an Unquestionable hits her with perhaps more intensity than she's ever felt before.

The Blood Red Moon is short in this form - barely taller than Keris herself. The similarities don't end there, though, because her blood-red hair sprawls down around her, as fine as a veil. She dresses simply, almost... strangely humbly - demon-spider silk, undyed, but there's a part of Keris which realises with all the love in her heart that that's because no clothes can ever live up to her aching beauty.

Rathan's wail reminds Keris to focus. Just being in Ululuya's presence is like a hammer blow to her senses. It's like she's drunk.

"Keris," the Blood Red Moon says. Her voice is warm and honey-soft and beautiful. "I was so unhappy that you weren't here!" She smiles widely. "But now you're here! It's like everything is better! Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

(...)

"I'm glad you're pleased, my lady," Keris says, smiling widely with the mouth on her face. "Your home is gorgeous." She ducks her head, blushing. "As are you."

Ululuya claps her hands together in obvious delight. "You're so nice to say that!" she exclaims loudly. "Thank you!" Her eyes, Keris sees as she stares into them, have no pupils. They're merely her moon-phase. Her entire skin has a faint luminescent glow which makes everything else around her seem pointless and meaningless. "And I'm so, so sorry to want your company. I've been meaning to talk to you for a while, but... well! You've just been in such close company with cruel, horrible, terrible Ligier and," she reaches out and takes Keris by the hand, looking into her eyes with her large, gentle ones, "I feared he may have poisoned you against me. Told you terrible, dreadful lies."
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And then when that didn't work, she considered what Keris loved, and shifted to look like Sasi.
Ululuya seems to frown for just a moment, something ugly and terrible flitting across her features and when she blinks the shape of her irises change, to something which looks like a full moon with horns. Under her, Keris hears stone and pearl grating, but dares not look away.

"How interesting," Ululuya says, and suddenly her entire mood is different. She just sounds so smart! Even her hair is different - it's a hime cut like Sasi's. And she's taller - and built more like Sasi, too, suspiciously so. She's so smart, obviously cleverer than Keris - but so graceful too. The notes in the hymn change, and they're now praising different things about her. "Well, Keris, my sweet one, I trust you. I really do. Your heart is like the ocean, something moved by the tides."

And there's a gleam in her eyes, too. "I feel your kinship, you know. I feel the me within you. Your taste is immaculate, my sweet one. So much of me, and nothing of Ligier. You really are much more like me. You know what it's like to be maligned. To be persecuted. To be victimised." Her voice is so soft. So coaxing. So gentle. She understands, she really does. "And your little friend, Sasimana. Me and her have an arrangement, too. You could join in. I like you, Keris. I like you a lot, my sweet one. You're beautiful. You understand it."

She folds her hands together gracefully.

"I think I'd like to sponsor you," she says, a quiet smile on her face. She reaches out with her hand. "You're a perfect pearl formed around disgusting mortal grit. I think I love you, Keris. Please. Be with me. Follow me. Love me too."
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So she basically looks like whatever she thinks you'll love. And it's not just looks, it's also personality, which she changes out on a whim. She started out like Keris in both appearance and demeanour because it's usually a fair guess that people will respond well to someone very like them (with a few exceptions like those who try to be the top guy in the room), and she can see what you like and what your heart draws you towards as a Panoply ability.

Ululaya is very, very social-specced, and hits like a Presence Excellency wrapped around a sledgehammer. She can out-social Sasi. Keris had to resort to frantically spamming Broken Silence Laughter Defence just to get away with her brain intact.
 
What are some of your favorite Sidereals, either canon or from your games? What do you think makes for a good Sidereal, one that's a compelling concept that also engages with the culture/structure of the splat?
 
Leetsepeak said:
What are some of your favorite Sidereals, either canon or from your games? What do you think makes for a good Sidereal, one that's a compelling concept that also engages with the culture/structure of the splat?
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The green lady. And black ice shadow.

The lady, cause fanservice. Hot + only ribbons = win!

Black ice shadow, because comic.
 
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