- Location
- my house
One thing that I always find interesting to think about is how the various Exalts approach their powers. While each Exalt (of a given type) has the same powers, that doesn't mean they approach those powers in the same way. When a Solar, for instance, activates their charms, what does that feel like? How do they interpret their new abilities?
So anyway, here's some paradigms answering exactly that:
In many places and many times, this was believed to be divine in nature. These thoughts were emanations of a Supernal realm, or the voices of the gods, or a connection to the Akashic Records. In Abrahamic religions, such things are associated with light, for just as light was created from nothing, so to are these thoughts.
For many Solars, there charms manifest as such divine inspiration. When they activate their Excellency knowledge of combat or science or art or whatever simply appears their head. Pure knowledge coming from nothing, untainted by mortal (or immortal) biases.
To those who already used to excelling, the exaltation doesn't change anything.
Solars who use this paradigm don't consider their exaltation magical. When they channel their excellencies they are not tapping into some hidden well of power, merely pushing themselves to try harder. When they activate their charms they are merely performing a technique, one which could be performed by anyone given enough skill.
For while the Neverborn have died, they still dream and their thoughts reach out to those made in their image.
Abyssals with this Paradigm are beset by Whispers. A cursed knowledge which foerever tells them how to kill those around them.
Sidereals can see the loom. They see the yellow string of Journeys which connects a man to his destination and the red strong of Battles which connects a sword to their face. Such knowledge allows them to react before an action occurs – reversing cause and effect – and grants them knowledge of things they should have no business knowing.
This is the least of their powers. For the Sidreal can alter these strings as well. The yellow string may be cut, and the man will stop in confusion as their journey ends. A thread of purple may be placed on another, and death will find them without the Sidereal lifting a finger. Red may connect a teacup or message or letter to a target and it will fly swift and deadly as any arrow.
Of course, what this possession actually means can vary. For some, the possession is total. They blackout until the spirit of the Yozi leaves their body, or watch helplessly as it is puppeted by another.
Others yet remain in control, if at a remove. For these commanding their body is like playing a videogame or commanding a dog. They can give commands (such as a attack that guy or dodge) but the specifics of how that happens it out of their hands.
And for others, it hardly feels like a possession at all. They remain 100% in control. Its simply that they think differently. When they channel Malfeas they are arrogant, angry and cruel. When they channel ED they experience his love for doomed things, etc.
To utilize the power of the Yozi, the Infernal must do more than mimic their actions. She must mimic their thoughts.
To summon Kimbery's poison she has to focus on her past pains. Obsess over them until they thicken and grow solid. Until poison pours from her mouth, a poison potent enough to pay all her hurts back, with interest.
To see through darkness (and deceptions) the Infernal must become attuned with such things. She must master deception herself and so see through such things more easily.
So anyway, here's some paradigms answering exactly that:
Solars
[h2][/h2]Divine Inspiration
I am sure everyone here has, at some point, experienced a time where ideas seemed to just appear in their head with no explanation. Maybe you were struggling over a difficult math problem when suddenly the answer just appeared from nowhere. Or maybe you were simply walking along and suddenly had a brilliant idea.In many places and many times, this was believed to be divine in nature. These thoughts were emanations of a Supernal realm, or the voices of the gods, or a connection to the Akashic Records. In Abrahamic religions, such things are associated with light, for just as light was created from nothing, so to are these thoughts.
For many Solars, there charms manifest as such divine inspiration. When they activate their Excellency knowledge of combat or science or art or whatever simply appears their head. Pure knowledge coming from nothing, untainted by mortal (or immortal) biases.
Just that good
The Solar Exaltation does not select ordinary mortals. It selects heroes. Those who exalt have always been a cut above the rest. Smarter, faster, stronger and simply better than everyone else. They are used to being exceptional.To those who already used to excelling, the exaltation doesn't change anything.
Solars who use this paradigm don't consider their exaltation magical. When they channel their excellencies they are not tapping into some hidden well of power, merely pushing themselves to try harder. When they activate their charms they are merely performing a technique, one which could be performed by anyone given enough skill.
Abyssal
Intrusive Thoughts
Abyssals, like their Solar counterparts, are granted the gift of knowledge. But if a Solar is blessed with Divine Inspiration, than the knowledge of the Abyssals are more like intrusive thoughts.For while the Neverborn have died, they still dream and their thoughts reach out to those made in their image.
Abyssals with this Paradigm are beset by Whispers. A cursed knowledge which foerever tells them how to kill those around them.
Sidereal
Strings of Fate
Sidereals alone of the Exalted are granted no supernal skill nor physique. Instead, they are granted knowledge of fate and the ability to alter its course.Sidereals can see the loom. They see the yellow string of Journeys which connects a man to his destination and the red strong of Battles which connects a sword to their face. Such knowledge allows them to react before an action occurs – reversing cause and effect – and grants them knowledge of things they should have no business knowing.
This is the least of their powers. For the Sidreal can alter these strings as well. The yellow string may be cut, and the man will stop in confusion as their journey ends. A thread of purple may be placed on another, and death will find them without the Sidereal lifting a finger. Red may connect a teacup or message or letter to a target and it will fly swift and deadly as any arrow.
Infernal
Possession
To be an Infernal is to be a medium for the Yozi. When you activate your chams you are letting the Yozi work through you. A tiny sliver of their greatness acting through a mortal vessel.Of course, what this possession actually means can vary. For some, the possession is total. They blackout until the spirit of the Yozi leaves their body, or watch helplessly as it is puppeted by another.
Others yet remain in control, if at a remove. For these commanding their body is like playing a videogame or commanding a dog. They can give commands (such as a attack that guy or dodge) but the specifics of how that happens it out of their hands.
And for others, it hardly feels like a possession at all. They remain 100% in control. Its simply that they think differently. When they channel Malfeas they are arrogant, angry and cruel. When they channel ED they experience his love for doomed things, etc.
Emulation
The Yozi's charms are not techniques or magic abilities. They are fundamental aspects of who and what the Yozi are. For the Yozi, there is no difference between thought and action for their thoughts warp the world around them. Malfeas' anger burns the world in nuclear fire, Kimbery's hatred poisons her enemies, Adjoran can flense away her intimacies because she does not hold them tightly.To utilize the power of the Yozi, the Infernal must do more than mimic their actions. She must mimic their thoughts.
To summon Kimbery's poison she has to focus on her past pains. Obsess over them until they thicken and grow solid. Until poison pours from her mouth, a poison potent enough to pay all her hurts back, with interest.
To see through darkness (and deceptions) the Infernal must become attuned with such things. She must master deception herself and so see through such things more easily.
