The Difference Between Pearls and Oysters (GSP Jonathan Baring by meianmaru)
meianmaru
The Devourer of Fiction
The Difference Between Pearls and Oysters
Homeland. What had once been an unruly colony in the coast of North America, its people even having dared to rebel against Queen Elisabeth before being suppressed, had first become the home for the government in exile, and then grown to be the foundation for the Holy Britannian Empire. Its people had come from many backgrounds, but had been swiftly united under one rule, be it by words or force.
Nowdays, almost all of its population being at least proper citizens instead of Honorary Britannians as in most of the Areas, their ancestors having proven their worth with their years of loyal service after the initial rebellion. And with an almost clean slate to build upon, with no centuries old buildings standing in the way, its cities and infrastructure had both blossomed into something great.
It was thus no wonder that it was one of the centers of the world, the amount of goods and money flowing through it being staggering. Tithes from conquered Areas, giant corporations struggling for dominance in the consumer market, more specialized firms competing for the right to provide their services for the nobles and maybe even royalty, gigantic military complexes feeding the warmachine of Britannia and of course, a well-doing international black market finding a very fertile ground in catering every need of its clients, most of them who were nobles.
To control such vast amounts of wealth, the services of banks were of course vital. One of the most respected ones, however, had met an unfortunate fate lately...
*
On late night, one window in the manor of Baring family had still light streaming outside from it. Inside the room it was connected to, the family's eldest son was still working in his study. The pale blue light of the computer screen giving his skin a unhealthy look when framed with his blonde short hair, not made better by his head nodding from time to time, as if he was a moment away to collapsing on to the desk he was still working on.
He was roused momentarily from his near-slumber when suddenly a folder held by a familiar looking hand appeared right in front of his face.
"Brother? Are you alright? I've been trying to get your attention for a while now". He only now noticed the person standing next to him, with young, still boyish face and long teal hair falling past his waist. It took him a moment to process it was Alex, his younger brother.
"Ah, sorry about that. It looks like all those sleepless nights are catching up to me" he said, while trying to pull his muddled and slow thoughts together. "So, I assume those are the completed budget projections. May I?"
Alex simply nodded and handed the papers to his elder brother. A silence fell as Jonathan leafed through the information-heavy text, his exhaustion only slowing him down slightly. After finishing, he let out a heavy sight. "We won't make it with what we have. The Barings Bank will face bankruptucy in less than a year if nothing changes. Maybe even sooner with those damn Lunars targeting us."
Alex's face was twisted into a pained grimace with those words. "That was what I thought too when collecting the material, but I didn't want to believe such thing. Is the there anything we could do?"
Jonathan pinched his nose tiredly, trying futilely to ward off the fog of sleep. "If there is something, I can't see it. If we are willingly to come indebted to unsavory people, stretching the time to when we have to declare bankruptucy is the best I could do, and so remain in their debt without gaining anything."
The blue headed Baring was silent for a moment, before squaring his shoulders and opening his mouth.
"...Do it."
A surpised look crossed Jonathan's face for the uncharasteristic almost-command, but it quickly settled to a contemplative and calculating gaze as he turned turned his chair to give his full attention to Alex. "Why? Do you have some kind of plan in mind?"
The younger of Barings started explaining nervously, with each word losing that quality and gaining confidence in its stead. "In half a year, I can learn to run our bank as good as you without tapping directly into the power of my Exaltation, and even better when I exert its power. You can work as the public face, while I will be arranging things behind the scenes. It should allow us to last for long enough that I can reach the age to legally inherit our fortune and take over the leadership."
Jonathan just listened silenty, his poker face unreadable.
"I know you were expecting to lead the family and to protect our fortune the best you could till then, but with the local Lunars still running their interference and sabotage, and the other families seeking to absorb us under their own power-!"
"Yes. I understand." Jonathan said, cutting off his brother mid-sentence. "You are right, a mere mortal like me can't face such opposition alone. And our allies can't help us with even if they want to, without risking crippling themself in the effort to support us."
"Brother, I-"
Jonathan raised his hand in a placating gesture. "Don't mind me, I knew that a day such as this was coming for a long time. We will instensify your training regime starting from tomorrow."
"...In that case, I'll go make some arrangement to clear up my schedule. And John? Please take some time to rest. Both Maria and I need you, so please take a better care of your body."
The senior Baring snorted, with a wry smile gracing his lips.
"I would love to, but if I leave these for tomorrow, our fortune might literally be gone in just a few weeks instead of a year."
Alex managed a weak smile in return.
"In that case, I'll ask Walter to make you some more tea from the "special stock". There is still enough that you can use it in situation like this. And don't try to say you can work with just sheer force of will. Its probably more expensive for you to make a mistake than for us to restock the ingredients."
At this point eldest Baring had already turned his attention back to his work."Fine, fine, I'll drink the damn magic drink. Now shoo, these won't be solving themselves."
*
Soon after Alex had left, he woke from his work-induced trance by the door to his study opening. Looking towards the door, he saw their eldery family butler there.
"Your tea, sir" he said, moving with his sure footed yet quick steps to his desk, and setting the tea tray in fron him.
Even the smell rising from the hot liquid seemed to clear the fog in his head, the literal magic of the herbs mixed in the water invigorating his mind.
"Thank you, Walter. Alex was right, any longer and I might have fallen asleep on my desk."
After taking a sip from the blessedly useful mixture, he let out a weary sigh.
"...They grow up so fast, don't they?"
Walter nodded his head in agreement from the side of his master, where he had been standing respectfully waiting.
"That they do, though in the case of young master Alex, I believe its more to do with the blood of the dragons in his veins. And in his situation, he has no other choice but to grow up fast."
A lightning-fast expression went through the face of the head of Baring family, so quick that most mortals would have missed it completely.
"No, he doesn't."
Those words carried heavy weight with them, imposing a silence between the two as Jonathan slowly sipped his tea while scrolling down his computer's screen, his mind clearly elsewhere.
Then Walter broke the silence.
"But anyway, sir, are you really going to let things go like this? Let yourself to be pushed to obscurity? Content to be a puppet for young master Alex, like a good little mortal?"
Stopping with the cup half-way to his lips, Jonathan slowly put it down with a loud clink, his experssion utterly impassive.
"...Walter? What are you-"
His word were cut off, his butler's voice changing in tenor from almost granfatherly to something more reptillian and mocking.
"Or perhaps its not that what bothers you so much, considering how much the Baring family has done for you." The old man, who had seemed so harmless just a moment ago, was now circling the eldest Baring like he was a prey to him. "But the feeling of utter helplesness before the opposition your family faces, and the growing competence of your siblings while you are left behind? Now that must sting in so many ways."
His face still frozen in a poker face that didn't let anything out, Jonathan very slowly crossed his hand on the table and leaned to look at someone or something that had stopped before his desk during his (or its rant). Whoever or whatever was in front of him wasn't his servant, that was for sure. Then he noticed something on the edges of tea tray that his sleep-addled mind hadn't registered, but now was clear as day to him.
"...Yes, I see now. I must ask: How did a demon of the First Circle like you get through our manor's wards?"
The demon chuckled, unfazed by its true nature being found out.
"Observant, but not surprising. I tried to minimize the contact, but its always the oil stains with us Gethin that give us away, isn't it? Though I might say it myself, I am quite good at distracting my targets until its too late for them. Even if in this case I would have revealed the truth sooner or later anyway. But moving on to your question: It is true that I would normally be unable to cross the wards on this mansion. But my circumstances are far from normal."
An eyebrow was raised to this, telling the demon to go on.
"You see, you have been chosen by the Yozis to become one of their Champions, receiving power equivalent of the highest Exaltations, which I'm carrying inside of me. While it remains there, wards like these are as substantial as smoke to me as I carry out my task. If you decide to accept it, you would be keeping your own free will, though your actions would be monitored and punished if you stray too much from your orders. I would be assigned as your immediate watcher, as well as your advisor."
This got a reaction, the jaw of the Baring dropping wide open, even if it was quickly snapped shut again. But the greed gleaming in his eyes stayed. His next words were cautious, clearly looking a trap in a deal that seemed far too good.
"...Why me?"
"The Yozis have seen your potential, and the power they are willing to grant you would allow you to achieve your goals." The demon said. It seemed to be getting slightly hurried in the way it spoke, and its next words revealed why. "So? What is your decision? The power I'm carrying will extinguish my life soon if you do not accept the deal, which will not be offered to you again."
Leaning back on his chair, Jonathan started drumming his desk with his fingers in a slow rhythm.
"Hmm. I can not be sure if you are lying or not, as as a spirit you hold a significant edge over mortals like me. Being turned into a mindless puppet would be even worse fate than getting eaten alive by the nobles. Or literally by the Lunars."
Before the Gethin could say anything in return, Jonathan raised his hand signaling it to let him finish.
"Fortunately, I have a solution to this problem. Isn't that right, Alex?"
The demon went very still when a sword made out of black jade steel alloy appeared from nowhere between Jonathan's words, pressing the spirit's throat just hard enough not to draw blood. Its eyes were darting quickly to the sides, trying to catch a look of the young Dragon Blooded standing behind it, who had somehow sneaked back in to the study without the demon noticing anything.
Jonathan expression shifted to a pleasant smile, looking at the demon's distress from behind half-closed eyes.
"Did you really believe the wards were the true extent of my security measures? I have those damned beast trying their best to destroy us all, so the possibility of needing a non-standard way of communicating to help in various scenarios was thought about. I just did the quite natural looking ritual necessary to open communications between me and Alex, and he took the iniative after realizing what was going on. So," he said with his tone returning to more businesslike. "Is it telling the truth?"
Alex hesitated for a moment, but then slowly nodded.
"As far as I can tell, there wasn't any deception in its words. And I can see the power residing in it trying to burn its way out, but brother, are you really going to...?"
His elder brother looked the other way, trying to avoid his siblings gaze.
"It is as the demon said. I've tried to put up a mask of acceptance. But I can't take it. First, my foster parents are killed. Then, I slowly lose all that should rightfully be your's and your sister's. Next, Maria submits herself to serve in active Wyld Hunts all over as a combat medic for favors, so that we can survive a little longer, risking her own life nearly daily in return because of the return of the Solar Anathema. And now, you are forced to step in my shoes far too soon, because I can't protect either of you. I'm useless!" he yells, and with a sweep of his arm scatters the piles of paper on his desk all over the floor.
While his sword didn't waver the slightest, Alex was clearly disturbed by the outburst by the distressed look that crossed his face.
"...Brother. You know I have always looked up to you, as did Maria. It did not matter that you were adopted. And do you know what was my first thought when I Exalted? I was overjoyed, because I could finally measure up to you. Even if we exceed you at some point in every meaningful way, we won't forget that its only because of you that we survived without being subjugated by the other families after our parents were killed."
During the speech, Jonathan had turned back to look at his brother, his mask cracking as emotions warred on his face.
Of course, this meant that the moment was soon spoiled.
"That is all nice, but the Exaltation is starting to really burn my insides, so if you could just hurry up just come to a-"
""Shut up.""
After being subjected two commanding voices nearing absolute zero in their tone, the demon decided its survival was maybe better served by being quiet for now.
Jonathan glanced between the demon in disguise and his youngest sibling, and at last seemed to pull himself together.
"Thank you, Alex. It was... good to hear that from you. But it doesn't change that even if we start grooming you to lead starting now, we are still facing persistent hostility from a group of experienced Celestial Exalted who have learned to survive even on the most hostile soil. And lets not forget our rivals who are taking advantage of this. The chances of all of us, you, me and Maria coming through this even alive are not great. We will need every scrap of advantage we can get our hands on to come through this in one piece."
Alex seemed torn, his blade's edge dropping slowly away from the demon's throat, before being raised back to it quickly. He spoke his next words quietly.
"It would mean betraying our country. And the Heaven itself."
To this, Jonathan just smiled teasingly.
"Remember our words: 'Thou shall be merchant before a faithfull servant of your country.'"
After hearing those words, Alex seemed to waver even more, before sighting and lowering his sword. His next words were almost ritualistic.
"'Thou shall be merchant before a human'. Though I didn't expect that you would take those words that seriously. However, you can be the one to inform Maria that you swore our cause to Hell. Because we will follow you to even literal Hell." He said, before suddenly smirking. "Just warn me before you do that. I will be watching from distance. With something solid to jump behind."
The demon took a slow look between the grinning brothers, and then carefully raised its voice.
"Ahem? Then, we have a deal?"
"Ah, yes, we do. I, Jonathan Baring, accept the offer, and all it entails. So, how are we going to-?"
His next words were smothered, as the Gethin, now finally free to act its purpose, shed its disguise during jumping towards its target, and cocooned Jonathan inside a quickly hardening chrysalis.
*
"And sign here. And here... And all done. It was a pleasure of doing business with you, Lord Baring. You were a worthy opponent to match my wits with, considering your own... station. Have a nice day."
As the noble closed the door behind him with a cheerful farewell, he let his body to slowly collapse in his chair. That had went as well as he could have hoped for, but it didn't change it was not enough. The noble had completely dominated the negotations with the combination of the knowledge that Jonathan had to accept his deal and his greater experience.
And most importantly, the active Blood of the Dragons in his veins made it near impossible to hide anything from him, while also giving to the noble's words an inhumanly persuasive edge. It had taken all of his willpower not to simply agree to sign the deal with the first offer the noble had offered to him, but it seemed that this act of will had impressed him. Because of it, the following negotiations had in some ways been easier, but harder in others, as this had also caused the noble to take him somewhat more seriously.
And there was still no guarantee that the Dragon Blooded hadn't succeeded in slipping past him, something he couldn't see and that might be revealed only years later. It was the spark of genius that those not in the know attributed to simply better genetics of the noble bloodline, human talent that was just pushed further by intense training affored by those in the power. Very close to the truth, but it didn't properly encompass the unfair advantages the Exalted held over mere mortals.
Hah. By drips and drops, he was losing the heritage of his siblings while being forced to play a game which he didn't have a chance of winning in the long run.
Too soon, his intercom started ringing, and he wearily pressed button to answer it. "Lord Jonathan, its your 12.00 o'clock meeting", his secretary said on the other end.
Jonathan pinched his nose. "Could you remind me what is was about? My memory seems to be failing me."
THAT WOULD BE ABOUT YOUR NEW JOB AND EMPLOYER, DEAR.
He jumped up from his chair at the deep voice reverberating all around him, its rumble sounding almost like it was coming from somewhere far under the waves of the sea. It was also distinctly femine, reminding him of some of the rich middle-aged noble matrons that he had met, confident in the power, influence and money they wielded.
At the same time the voice had started speaking, his surroundings themselves had started changing. Cephalopod eyes were opening in the walls, ceiling and the floor, which were starting to resemble more rubbery flesh than wood.
Finally, when the nightmarish transformation was complete, Jonathan realized he was standing inside a thickly tangled knot of tentacles whose squamous eye-growths were are staring at him unblinkingly.
"A Yozi..." he whispered, finally remembering what had happened.
YES, AND ONE THAT HAD TO PAY A VERY STEEP PRICE TO OBTAIN AN ADDITIONAL EXALTATION READY FOR YOU FOR WHEN THE CHANCE SHOWED ITSELF.
There was a pause, as the Yozi's words settled upon. He tried to come up with even a rough estimation what something like control over a Celestial Exaltation could be worth, as the Yozi could clearly grant it to the host of her choosing. He came up mostly empty.
DO YOU KNOW WHY I WAS WILLING TO PAY THE PRICE, DARLING?
While still stunned from the last revelation and slightly disturbed by the pulsing and gazing surroundings, Jonathan came to his senses quickly when he realized that his new patron was expecting a question.
"...I'm not completely sure, but no matter how much it would stroke my ego, I don't think that even finding an extremly exceptional and compatible candinate would be worth it alone." Silence. Unless... "But with something like a Celestial Exaltation, which should be just about indestructible, if you have the correct control mechanism, you could like regain even in the case the host dies. So you have not only bought me, but one more champion who you can replace with an another in the case they are felled. And with an eternity before you..."
He could now feel the satisfaction and greed in the air, as the tentacles pulsated quicker.
CORRECT. ITS NEARLY ALWAYS BETTER TO PURCHASE OYSTERS RATHER THAN THE PEARLS THEY PRODUCE. I WILL RECOUP MY LOSSES IN DUE TIME, EVEN IF YOU FAIL TO PAY THEM BACK FULLY.
A momentary pause.
BUT I ALSO CHOSE YOU BECAUSE YOU UNDERSTAND AN INFINITESIMAL PART OF MY NATURE, AND THE TRUTH ABOUT WORLD. WITHOUT WEALTH AND POSSESSIONS TO CALL YOUR OWN, YOU BECOME JUST AN IGNISIFICANT, PURPOSELESS BEAST LASHING OUT AGAINST THE WORLD IN RAGE. AS MY AGENT, IT WILL BE YOUR JOB TO TEACH SUCH FOOLS THEIR LESSONS. EITHER BY MAKING THEM REALIZE THE PROPER ORDER OF THINGS... OR BY REMOVING SUCH PESTS.
Jonathan couldn't help it. A bloodthirsty smile filled his face. "I think this will be a start for a beautiful relationship."
AGREED, LITTLE ONE. NOW, I KNOW YOU ARE TIRED OF SIGNING THINGS-
Raw dark green essence whirled before him, before congealing to a document written in Old Realm.
BUT I NEED YOUR SIGNATURE FOR ONE MORE THING SO THAT WE CAN SEAL THE DEAL.
Jonathan carefully scanned through the text written in a mostly forgotten language from the dawn of time. Good thing he had forced himself to learn it, or this would have been awkard. "Hmm. Yes. Everything seems to be in order." A quill was offered to him by a tentacle extending from his former desk drawer. Then he realized something. "...Umm, could I also have some ...ink?"
A chuckle that heaved the floor, and a wind carried a dank smell like sunken boats with treasures inside them through the middle of the tangle he was standing on.
I AM A TRADITIONALIST, DEAR. I THINK YOU KNOW WHAT IS EXPECTED WHEN MAKING DEALS WITH A BEING SUCH AS MYSELF.
"...Oh. I see. Very well then." He then proceeded to prick his finger with the quill with a small flinch, and wrote his name with blood to the contract sealing his path. It burst from its seams to Essence again.
Immediately after, he noted with an alarm that the surrounding knot of tentacles had started to shrink itself to a smaller and smaller. In a few seconds, he couldn't move anymore without touching them. Then, they were squeezing his body with enough force to make his bones creak.
THE CONTRACT HAS BEEN SEALED.
MY NAME IS TA'AKOZOKA, THE BENTHIC TREASURY.
GO IN MY NAME, AND CLAIM BACK WHAT IS RIGHTFULLY OURS.
*
Alex's head snapped towards the chrysalis at the first sound it had made in the last hour, which was followed soon with others in quick succession. The shell was cracking. And preceeded by light-eating darkness and immaterial coins glimmering ever so brighter in the lack of light, Jonathan stepped outside the vessel of his metamorphosis.
And looked down on his now naked body.
"Huh. Good thing I wasn't wearing anything expensive."
*
A few weeks later...
"...Yes, of course."
"…"
"There is no need to worry. With the information I provided to you, everything will go as planned."
"..."
"...Good. Then we are in agreement? In that case, I can assure that you and your friends will hold the combined majority by the end of the week. Yes, it was pleasure doing business with you too. Good day."
With a push of a button, Jonathan closed his phone and leaned at his chair with a satisfied smirk rising to his face.
"Finished already? That was fast." Glancing at the doorway, he saw his sister leaning on it. Just past eighteen and with the same long teal hair as his biological brother, Maria had stunningly beautiful presence, making her popular among her peers. Her attitude on the other hand... "That was Lord Lywel, right? What did the old slimy bastard want? I only heard the tail-end of his whining."
Jonathan sighted ruefully. When she was not putting up appearances, like with her family or in the military with her fellow Dragon Blooded of the Wyld Hunt special unit, she was crude and blunt. He did not know where he had went wrong with that part of her upbringing.
"First off, I would hope that you stopped eavesdroping on people just because you are bored. As to what the deal was about, it was about helping him manuever to a position in which he can hold a majority of shares of a certain company alongside with his allies." Jonathan's smirk turned positively evil at this point. "Of course, with how much he and his friends have been leaning on to the Barings Bank's support, they will soon notice that if I withdraw our... consulting services about their fellow boardmembers weaknesses, that position will soon crumble like a sandcastle on the beach. But that won't be a problem, as our relationship will is mutually beneficial... For as long as they are open to listening my suggestions."
Maria shuddered a bit. "Sheesh, I wouldn't want to be in their shoes. You were already plenty scary even when you were just a mortal. After Exalting? Brrrrrr."
Inwardly, Jonathan frowned a bit at that. His sister wasn't normally the best of liars, among her other lack of more refined social skills. However, after she had allowed him to use his new powers on her and Alex (after first chewing them both on leaving her out of the making the decision of allying with the legions of Hell), she did so now smoothly on one... particular subject almost instinctively, without any hesitation or stuttering in her speech. Even if it was only the slightest risk of a loyal mortal servant hearing their casual conversation of which's memory the Arcane Fate would shroud and then erode, Maria endeavoured to mislead and conceal her elder brother's true nature consistently with the skill of a experienced manipulator.
It left a slightly bad taste in his mouth, but they weren't yet in a situation where they could afford even the slightest of misteps. Speaking of securing their position...
"On the other matters, Maria, could you ask as a favor that few of your comrades from the Wyld Hunt to pay special attention to our assets and holdings here in Homeland for a couple of weeks? I am thinking about taking you and Alex with myself to Japan to receive direct experience in establishing branches of the Barings Bank in colonies..."
Allies:
Homeland. What had once been an unruly colony in the coast of North America, its people even having dared to rebel against Queen Elisabeth before being suppressed, had first become the home for the government in exile, and then grown to be the foundation for the Holy Britannian Empire. Its people had come from many backgrounds, but had been swiftly united under one rule, be it by words or force.
Nowdays, almost all of its population being at least proper citizens instead of Honorary Britannians as in most of the Areas, their ancestors having proven their worth with their years of loyal service after the initial rebellion. And with an almost clean slate to build upon, with no centuries old buildings standing in the way, its cities and infrastructure had both blossomed into something great.
It was thus no wonder that it was one of the centers of the world, the amount of goods and money flowing through it being staggering. Tithes from conquered Areas, giant corporations struggling for dominance in the consumer market, more specialized firms competing for the right to provide their services for the nobles and maybe even royalty, gigantic military complexes feeding the warmachine of Britannia and of course, a well-doing international black market finding a very fertile ground in catering every need of its clients, most of them who were nobles.
To control such vast amounts of wealth, the services of banks were of course vital. One of the most respected ones, however, had met an unfortunate fate lately...
*
On late night, one window in the manor of Baring family had still light streaming outside from it. Inside the room it was connected to, the family's eldest son was still working in his study. The pale blue light of the computer screen giving his skin a unhealthy look when framed with his blonde short hair, not made better by his head nodding from time to time, as if he was a moment away to collapsing on to the desk he was still working on.
He was roused momentarily from his near-slumber when suddenly a folder held by a familiar looking hand appeared right in front of his face.
"Brother? Are you alright? I've been trying to get your attention for a while now". He only now noticed the person standing next to him, with young, still boyish face and long teal hair falling past his waist. It took him a moment to process it was Alex, his younger brother.
"Ah, sorry about that. It looks like all those sleepless nights are catching up to me" he said, while trying to pull his muddled and slow thoughts together. "So, I assume those are the completed budget projections. May I?"
Alex simply nodded and handed the papers to his elder brother. A silence fell as Jonathan leafed through the information-heavy text, his exhaustion only slowing him down slightly. After finishing, he let out a heavy sight. "We won't make it with what we have. The Barings Bank will face bankruptucy in less than a year if nothing changes. Maybe even sooner with those damn Lunars targeting us."
Alex's face was twisted into a pained grimace with those words. "That was what I thought too when collecting the material, but I didn't want to believe such thing. Is the there anything we could do?"
Jonathan pinched his nose tiredly, trying futilely to ward off the fog of sleep. "If there is something, I can't see it. If we are willingly to come indebted to unsavory people, stretching the time to when we have to declare bankruptucy is the best I could do, and so remain in their debt without gaining anything."
The blue headed Baring was silent for a moment, before squaring his shoulders and opening his mouth.
"...Do it."
A surpised look crossed Jonathan's face for the uncharasteristic almost-command, but it quickly settled to a contemplative and calculating gaze as he turned turned his chair to give his full attention to Alex. "Why? Do you have some kind of plan in mind?"
The younger of Barings started explaining nervously, with each word losing that quality and gaining confidence in its stead. "In half a year, I can learn to run our bank as good as you without tapping directly into the power of my Exaltation, and even better when I exert its power. You can work as the public face, while I will be arranging things behind the scenes. It should allow us to last for long enough that I can reach the age to legally inherit our fortune and take over the leadership."
Jonathan just listened silenty, his poker face unreadable.
"I know you were expecting to lead the family and to protect our fortune the best you could till then, but with the local Lunars still running their interference and sabotage, and the other families seeking to absorb us under their own power-!"
"Yes. I understand." Jonathan said, cutting off his brother mid-sentence. "You are right, a mere mortal like me can't face such opposition alone. And our allies can't help us with even if they want to, without risking crippling themself in the effort to support us."
"Brother, I-"
Jonathan raised his hand in a placating gesture. "Don't mind me, I knew that a day such as this was coming for a long time. We will instensify your training regime starting from tomorrow."
"...In that case, I'll go make some arrangement to clear up my schedule. And John? Please take some time to rest. Both Maria and I need you, so please take a better care of your body."
The senior Baring snorted, with a wry smile gracing his lips.
"I would love to, but if I leave these for tomorrow, our fortune might literally be gone in just a few weeks instead of a year."
Alex managed a weak smile in return.
"In that case, I'll ask Walter to make you some more tea from the "special stock". There is still enough that you can use it in situation like this. And don't try to say you can work with just sheer force of will. Its probably more expensive for you to make a mistake than for us to restock the ingredients."
At this point eldest Baring had already turned his attention back to his work."Fine, fine, I'll drink the damn magic drink. Now shoo, these won't be solving themselves."
*
Soon after Alex had left, he woke from his work-induced trance by the door to his study opening. Looking towards the door, he saw their eldery family butler there.
"Your tea, sir" he said, moving with his sure footed yet quick steps to his desk, and setting the tea tray in fron him.
Even the smell rising from the hot liquid seemed to clear the fog in his head, the literal magic of the herbs mixed in the water invigorating his mind.
"Thank you, Walter. Alex was right, any longer and I might have fallen asleep on my desk."
After taking a sip from the blessedly useful mixture, he let out a weary sigh.
"...They grow up so fast, don't they?"
Walter nodded his head in agreement from the side of his master, where he had been standing respectfully waiting.
"That they do, though in the case of young master Alex, I believe its more to do with the blood of the dragons in his veins. And in his situation, he has no other choice but to grow up fast."
A lightning-fast expression went through the face of the head of Baring family, so quick that most mortals would have missed it completely.
"No, he doesn't."
Those words carried heavy weight with them, imposing a silence between the two as Jonathan slowly sipped his tea while scrolling down his computer's screen, his mind clearly elsewhere.
Then Walter broke the silence.
"But anyway, sir, are you really going to let things go like this? Let yourself to be pushed to obscurity? Content to be a puppet for young master Alex, like a good little mortal?"
Stopping with the cup half-way to his lips, Jonathan slowly put it down with a loud clink, his experssion utterly impassive.
"...Walter? What are you-"
His word were cut off, his butler's voice changing in tenor from almost granfatherly to something more reptillian and mocking.
"Or perhaps its not that what bothers you so much, considering how much the Baring family has done for you." The old man, who had seemed so harmless just a moment ago, was now circling the eldest Baring like he was a prey to him. "But the feeling of utter helplesness before the opposition your family faces, and the growing competence of your siblings while you are left behind? Now that must sting in so many ways."
His face still frozen in a poker face that didn't let anything out, Jonathan very slowly crossed his hand on the table and leaned to look at someone or something that had stopped before his desk during his (or its rant). Whoever or whatever was in front of him wasn't his servant, that was for sure. Then he noticed something on the edges of tea tray that his sleep-addled mind hadn't registered, but now was clear as day to him.
"...Yes, I see now. I must ask: How did a demon of the First Circle like you get through our manor's wards?"
The demon chuckled, unfazed by its true nature being found out.
"Observant, but not surprising. I tried to minimize the contact, but its always the oil stains with us Gethin that give us away, isn't it? Though I might say it myself, I am quite good at distracting my targets until its too late for them. Even if in this case I would have revealed the truth sooner or later anyway. But moving on to your question: It is true that I would normally be unable to cross the wards on this mansion. But my circumstances are far from normal."
An eyebrow was raised to this, telling the demon to go on.
"You see, you have been chosen by the Yozis to become one of their Champions, receiving power equivalent of the highest Exaltations, which I'm carrying inside of me. While it remains there, wards like these are as substantial as smoke to me as I carry out my task. If you decide to accept it, you would be keeping your own free will, though your actions would be monitored and punished if you stray too much from your orders. I would be assigned as your immediate watcher, as well as your advisor."
This got a reaction, the jaw of the Baring dropping wide open, even if it was quickly snapped shut again. But the greed gleaming in his eyes stayed. His next words were cautious, clearly looking a trap in a deal that seemed far too good.
"...Why me?"
"The Yozis have seen your potential, and the power they are willing to grant you would allow you to achieve your goals." The demon said. It seemed to be getting slightly hurried in the way it spoke, and its next words revealed why. "So? What is your decision? The power I'm carrying will extinguish my life soon if you do not accept the deal, which will not be offered to you again."
Leaning back on his chair, Jonathan started drumming his desk with his fingers in a slow rhythm.
"Hmm. I can not be sure if you are lying or not, as as a spirit you hold a significant edge over mortals like me. Being turned into a mindless puppet would be even worse fate than getting eaten alive by the nobles. Or literally by the Lunars."
Before the Gethin could say anything in return, Jonathan raised his hand signaling it to let him finish.
"Fortunately, I have a solution to this problem. Isn't that right, Alex?"
The demon went very still when a sword made out of black jade steel alloy appeared from nowhere between Jonathan's words, pressing the spirit's throat just hard enough not to draw blood. Its eyes were darting quickly to the sides, trying to catch a look of the young Dragon Blooded standing behind it, who had somehow sneaked back in to the study without the demon noticing anything.
Jonathan expression shifted to a pleasant smile, looking at the demon's distress from behind half-closed eyes.
"Did you really believe the wards were the true extent of my security measures? I have those damned beast trying their best to destroy us all, so the possibility of needing a non-standard way of communicating to help in various scenarios was thought about. I just did the quite natural looking ritual necessary to open communications between me and Alex, and he took the iniative after realizing what was going on. So," he said with his tone returning to more businesslike. "Is it telling the truth?"
Alex hesitated for a moment, but then slowly nodded.
"As far as I can tell, there wasn't any deception in its words. And I can see the power residing in it trying to burn its way out, but brother, are you really going to...?"
His elder brother looked the other way, trying to avoid his siblings gaze.
"It is as the demon said. I've tried to put up a mask of acceptance. But I can't take it. First, my foster parents are killed. Then, I slowly lose all that should rightfully be your's and your sister's. Next, Maria submits herself to serve in active Wyld Hunts all over as a combat medic for favors, so that we can survive a little longer, risking her own life nearly daily in return because of the return of the Solar Anathema. And now, you are forced to step in my shoes far too soon, because I can't protect either of you. I'm useless!" he yells, and with a sweep of his arm scatters the piles of paper on his desk all over the floor.
While his sword didn't waver the slightest, Alex was clearly disturbed by the outburst by the distressed look that crossed his face.
"...Brother. You know I have always looked up to you, as did Maria. It did not matter that you were adopted. And do you know what was my first thought when I Exalted? I was overjoyed, because I could finally measure up to you. Even if we exceed you at some point in every meaningful way, we won't forget that its only because of you that we survived without being subjugated by the other families after our parents were killed."
During the speech, Jonathan had turned back to look at his brother, his mask cracking as emotions warred on his face.
Of course, this meant that the moment was soon spoiled.
"That is all nice, but the Exaltation is starting to really burn my insides, so if you could just hurry up just come to a-"
""Shut up.""
After being subjected two commanding voices nearing absolute zero in their tone, the demon decided its survival was maybe better served by being quiet for now.
Jonathan glanced between the demon in disguise and his youngest sibling, and at last seemed to pull himself together.
"Thank you, Alex. It was... good to hear that from you. But it doesn't change that even if we start grooming you to lead starting now, we are still facing persistent hostility from a group of experienced Celestial Exalted who have learned to survive even on the most hostile soil. And lets not forget our rivals who are taking advantage of this. The chances of all of us, you, me and Maria coming through this even alive are not great. We will need every scrap of advantage we can get our hands on to come through this in one piece."
Alex seemed torn, his blade's edge dropping slowly away from the demon's throat, before being raised back to it quickly. He spoke his next words quietly.
"It would mean betraying our country. And the Heaven itself."
To this, Jonathan just smiled teasingly.
"Remember our words: 'Thou shall be merchant before a faithfull servant of your country.'"
After hearing those words, Alex seemed to waver even more, before sighting and lowering his sword. His next words were almost ritualistic.
"'Thou shall be merchant before a human'. Though I didn't expect that you would take those words that seriously. However, you can be the one to inform Maria that you swore our cause to Hell. Because we will follow you to even literal Hell." He said, before suddenly smirking. "Just warn me before you do that. I will be watching from distance. With something solid to jump behind."
The demon took a slow look between the grinning brothers, and then carefully raised its voice.
"Ahem? Then, we have a deal?"
"Ah, yes, we do. I, Jonathan Baring, accept the offer, and all it entails. So, how are we going to-?"
His next words were smothered, as the Gethin, now finally free to act its purpose, shed its disguise during jumping towards its target, and cocooned Jonathan inside a quickly hardening chrysalis.
*
"And sign here. And here... And all done. It was a pleasure of doing business with you, Lord Baring. You were a worthy opponent to match my wits with, considering your own... station. Have a nice day."
As the noble closed the door behind him with a cheerful farewell, he let his body to slowly collapse in his chair. That had went as well as he could have hoped for, but it didn't change it was not enough. The noble had completely dominated the negotations with the combination of the knowledge that Jonathan had to accept his deal and his greater experience.
And most importantly, the active Blood of the Dragons in his veins made it near impossible to hide anything from him, while also giving to the noble's words an inhumanly persuasive edge. It had taken all of his willpower not to simply agree to sign the deal with the first offer the noble had offered to him, but it seemed that this act of will had impressed him. Because of it, the following negotiations had in some ways been easier, but harder in others, as this had also caused the noble to take him somewhat more seriously.
And there was still no guarantee that the Dragon Blooded hadn't succeeded in slipping past him, something he couldn't see and that might be revealed only years later. It was the spark of genius that those not in the know attributed to simply better genetics of the noble bloodline, human talent that was just pushed further by intense training affored by those in the power. Very close to the truth, but it didn't properly encompass the unfair advantages the Exalted held over mere mortals.
Hah. By drips and drops, he was losing the heritage of his siblings while being forced to play a game which he didn't have a chance of winning in the long run.
Too soon, his intercom started ringing, and he wearily pressed button to answer it. "Lord Jonathan, its your 12.00 o'clock meeting", his secretary said on the other end.
Jonathan pinched his nose. "Could you remind me what is was about? My memory seems to be failing me."
THAT WOULD BE ABOUT YOUR NEW JOB AND EMPLOYER, DEAR.
He jumped up from his chair at the deep voice reverberating all around him, its rumble sounding almost like it was coming from somewhere far under the waves of the sea. It was also distinctly femine, reminding him of some of the rich middle-aged noble matrons that he had met, confident in the power, influence and money they wielded.
At the same time the voice had started speaking, his surroundings themselves had started changing. Cephalopod eyes were opening in the walls, ceiling and the floor, which were starting to resemble more rubbery flesh than wood.
Finally, when the nightmarish transformation was complete, Jonathan realized he was standing inside a thickly tangled knot of tentacles whose squamous eye-growths were are staring at him unblinkingly.
"A Yozi..." he whispered, finally remembering what had happened.
YES, AND ONE THAT HAD TO PAY A VERY STEEP PRICE TO OBTAIN AN ADDITIONAL EXALTATION READY FOR YOU FOR WHEN THE CHANCE SHOWED ITSELF.
There was a pause, as the Yozi's words settled upon. He tried to come up with even a rough estimation what something like control over a Celestial Exaltation could be worth, as the Yozi could clearly grant it to the host of her choosing. He came up mostly empty.
DO YOU KNOW WHY I WAS WILLING TO PAY THE PRICE, DARLING?
While still stunned from the last revelation and slightly disturbed by the pulsing and gazing surroundings, Jonathan came to his senses quickly when he realized that his new patron was expecting a question.
"...I'm not completely sure, but no matter how much it would stroke my ego, I don't think that even finding an extremly exceptional and compatible candinate would be worth it alone." Silence. Unless... "But with something like a Celestial Exaltation, which should be just about indestructible, if you have the correct control mechanism, you could like regain even in the case the host dies. So you have not only bought me, but one more champion who you can replace with an another in the case they are felled. And with an eternity before you..."
He could now feel the satisfaction and greed in the air, as the tentacles pulsated quicker.
CORRECT. ITS NEARLY ALWAYS BETTER TO PURCHASE OYSTERS RATHER THAN THE PEARLS THEY PRODUCE. I WILL RECOUP MY LOSSES IN DUE TIME, EVEN IF YOU FAIL TO PAY THEM BACK FULLY.
A momentary pause.
BUT I ALSO CHOSE YOU BECAUSE YOU UNDERSTAND AN INFINITESIMAL PART OF MY NATURE, AND THE TRUTH ABOUT WORLD. WITHOUT WEALTH AND POSSESSIONS TO CALL YOUR OWN, YOU BECOME JUST AN IGNISIFICANT, PURPOSELESS BEAST LASHING OUT AGAINST THE WORLD IN RAGE. AS MY AGENT, IT WILL BE YOUR JOB TO TEACH SUCH FOOLS THEIR LESSONS. EITHER BY MAKING THEM REALIZE THE PROPER ORDER OF THINGS... OR BY REMOVING SUCH PESTS.
Jonathan couldn't help it. A bloodthirsty smile filled his face. "I think this will be a start for a beautiful relationship."
AGREED, LITTLE ONE. NOW, I KNOW YOU ARE TIRED OF SIGNING THINGS-
Raw dark green essence whirled before him, before congealing to a document written in Old Realm.
BUT I NEED YOUR SIGNATURE FOR ONE MORE THING SO THAT WE CAN SEAL THE DEAL.
Jonathan carefully scanned through the text written in a mostly forgotten language from the dawn of time. Good thing he had forced himself to learn it, or this would have been awkard. "Hmm. Yes. Everything seems to be in order." A quill was offered to him by a tentacle extending from his former desk drawer. Then he realized something. "...Umm, could I also have some ...ink?"
A chuckle that heaved the floor, and a wind carried a dank smell like sunken boats with treasures inside them through the middle of the tangle he was standing on.
I AM A TRADITIONALIST, DEAR. I THINK YOU KNOW WHAT IS EXPECTED WHEN MAKING DEALS WITH A BEING SUCH AS MYSELF.
"...Oh. I see. Very well then." He then proceeded to prick his finger with the quill with a small flinch, and wrote his name with blood to the contract sealing his path. It burst from its seams to Essence again.
Immediately after, he noted with an alarm that the surrounding knot of tentacles had started to shrink itself to a smaller and smaller. In a few seconds, he couldn't move anymore without touching them. Then, they were squeezing his body with enough force to make his bones creak.
THE CONTRACT HAS BEEN SEALED.
MY NAME IS TA'AKOZOKA, THE BENTHIC TREASURY.
GO IN MY NAME, AND CLAIM BACK WHAT IS RIGHTFULLY OURS.
*
Alex's head snapped towards the chrysalis at the first sound it had made in the last hour, which was followed soon with others in quick succession. The shell was cracking. And preceeded by light-eating darkness and immaterial coins glimmering ever so brighter in the lack of light, Jonathan stepped outside the vessel of his metamorphosis.
And looked down on his now naked body.
"Huh. Good thing I wasn't wearing anything expensive."
*
A few weeks later...
"...Yes, of course."
"…"
"There is no need to worry. With the information I provided to you, everything will go as planned."
"..."
"...Good. Then we are in agreement? In that case, I can assure that you and your friends will hold the combined majority by the end of the week. Yes, it was pleasure doing business with you too. Good day."
With a push of a button, Jonathan closed his phone and leaned at his chair with a satisfied smirk rising to his face.
"Finished already? That was fast." Glancing at the doorway, he saw his sister leaning on it. Just past eighteen and with the same long teal hair as his biological brother, Maria had stunningly beautiful presence, making her popular among her peers. Her attitude on the other hand... "That was Lord Lywel, right? What did the old slimy bastard want? I only heard the tail-end of his whining."
Jonathan sighted ruefully. When she was not putting up appearances, like with her family or in the military with her fellow Dragon Blooded of the Wyld Hunt special unit, she was crude and blunt. He did not know where he had went wrong with that part of her upbringing.
"First off, I would hope that you stopped eavesdroping on people just because you are bored. As to what the deal was about, it was about helping him manuever to a position in which he can hold a majority of shares of a certain company alongside with his allies." Jonathan's smirk turned positively evil at this point. "Of course, with how much he and his friends have been leaning on to the Barings Bank's support, they will soon notice that if I withdraw our... consulting services about their fellow boardmembers weaknesses, that position will soon crumble like a sandcastle on the beach. But that won't be a problem, as our relationship will is mutually beneficial... For as long as they are open to listening my suggestions."
Maria shuddered a bit. "Sheesh, I wouldn't want to be in their shoes. You were already plenty scary even when you were just a mortal. After Exalting? Brrrrrr."
Inwardly, Jonathan frowned a bit at that. His sister wasn't normally the best of liars, among her other lack of more refined social skills. However, after she had allowed him to use his new powers on her and Alex (after first chewing them both on leaving her out of the making the decision of allying with the legions of Hell), she did so now smoothly on one... particular subject almost instinctively, without any hesitation or stuttering in her speech. Even if it was only the slightest risk of a loyal mortal servant hearing their casual conversation of which's memory the Arcane Fate would shroud and then erode, Maria endeavoured to mislead and conceal her elder brother's true nature consistently with the skill of a experienced manipulator.
It left a slightly bad taste in his mouth, but they weren't yet in a situation where they could afford even the slightest of misteps. Speaking of securing their position...
"On the other matters, Maria, could you ask as a favor that few of your comrades from the Wyld Hunt to pay special attention to our assets and holdings here in Homeland for a couple of weeks? I am thinking about taking you and Alex with myself to Japan to receive direct experience in establishing branches of the Barings Bank in colonies..."
Green Sun Prince Jonathan Baring Character Sheet
Concept: A merchant prince
Age: 23 years
Caste: Fiend
Favored Yozi: Ta'akozoka
Urge Patron: Ta'akozoka
Motivation: To pay back his debt to the Baring family by protecting their children and their rightful fortune.
Benthic Urge: To create and rule an organization that will grasp the markets around the Creation, be they legal or criminal, mundane or magical.
Anima Banner: Coins used through Creation's history mixing and falling down from above in a steady stream, glimmering ever brighter in the darkness surrounding the infernal.
Physical (Tertiary)
Strength 2, Stamina 2, Dexterity 3
Social (Primary)
Charisma 4, Manipulation 5, Appearance 3
Mental (Secondary)
Intelligence 3, Wits 3, Perception 3
Abilities:
Virtues: Compassion 1, Valor 2, Temperance 3, Conviction 4
Willpower: 8
Essence: 3
Backgrounds: Coadjutor 4 (Gil, Gethin), Backing 1 (Yozi), Cult 1 (Yozi), Influence 1 (Yozi), Mentor 5 (The Bringer of Abundance, The Sixth Soul of Ta'akozoka), Allies 2 (Alex and Maria)*, Organization 1 (Barings Bank, noble created and backed bank), Resources 2 (Barings Family Inheritance, Salary)
*The Baring family's true heirs; Alexander Baring, an 16 year old just-Exalted Water-Aspect and Maria Baring, 18 year old Wood-Aspect (with one year behind her Exaltation)
Flaws:
Debt: You owe nobles and criminal organizations located in Homeland large sums of money (-2 points)
Dangerous Secret: As an Infernal in a quite public position among Dragon Blooded and Sidereal infested Britannia, letting your true nature known could be fatal for you and to those you care about (-2 Points)
Enemy: Your adopted family's extensive and open support for the Wyld Hunt made them an irresistable soft target for the hatred for some of the more experienced Lunars operating in Homeland. They will likely pounce upon anyone or anything associated with Baring's as soon as any weakness is shown. (-3 Points)
Traits from Unwoven Coadjutor: His hands are always covered with a thin sheen of oil that leaves black stains* (-0)
*Uses gloves to hide this
Slayer
-Archery/Firearms: 2
Martial Arts:
Melee:
Thrown:
War: 1
Malefactor
-Integrity: 4
Performance: 2
Presence: 1
Resistance:
Survival:
Defiler
Craft:
-Investigation: 1
-Lore: 4
Medicine:
Occult: 2
Scourge
Athletics:
-Awareness: 2
Dodge: 1
Larceny: 2
Stealth:
Fiend
-Bureaucracy: 5
-Linguistics: 4 (Native: English. German, Japanese, Chinese, Old Realm)
-Ride/Drive: 1
-Sail:
-Socialize: 3
Specialties: Bureaucracy (Commerce 3), War (Britannia 1), Socialize (Nobles 3), Larceny (Organized Crime 3)*
*From UC
Charms:
Ta'akozoka (Charmset link)
-First Excellency
-Second Excellency
-Mythos Exultant
-World-Shaping Cosmogony
-Verdant Iris Envy
-Miser And Merchant Awarness
-Nacre-Minted Numatics
-Galvanized Capital
-Make It Worth Your While
-Sunken Treasures Shrewdly Wagered
-Loyalty Money Can Buy
Ebon Dragon
-First Excellency
-Shadow Spite Curse
-Mythos Exultant
-World-Shaping Cosmogony
-Loom-Snarling Deception
-Eldritch Secrets Mastery
-Witness to Darkness
-My Dark Lady
-Our Little Secret
-My Dark Secret x1 (Lie: "I am a Dragon Blooded Exalt of the Water Caste")
Intimacies:
4 Dot
The Death of Adoptive Parents (Negative: Trauma)
Alex (Positive: Familial Love, Pride, Worry)
Maria (Positive: Familial Love, Protectiveness, Worry)
His Parents Murderers (Negative: Fear, Vengeance)
3 Dot
Barings Family (Positive: Family)
Barings Bank (Positive: The legacy of the Barings)
Lunars (Negative: Beasts spreading chaos)
2 Dot
Ta'akozoka (Positive: Gratitude; Debts to be repayed; Envy)
Britannia's Ideals (Positive: Respect for the honesty)
Britannia's Nobles (Negative: The majority are waste of skin; Jealousy)
Organized Crime (Positive: A necessary evil and resource to be used)
The Works of Shakespear (Positive: Enjoyment)
Rare Art (Positive: Possessive Greed)*
1 Dot
*From UC
Organization: Barings Bank
Wealth 1 (Near Bankruptcy)
Concept: A merchant prince
Age: 23 years
Caste: Fiend
Favored Yozi: Ta'akozoka
Urge Patron: Ta'akozoka
Motivation: To pay back his debt to the Baring family by protecting their children and their rightful fortune.
Benthic Urge: To create and rule an organization that will grasp the markets around the Creation, be they legal or criminal, mundane or magical.
Anima Banner: Coins used through Creation's history mixing and falling down from above in a steady stream, glimmering ever brighter in the darkness surrounding the infernal.
Physical (Tertiary)
Strength 2, Stamina 2, Dexterity 3
Social (Primary)
Charisma 4, Manipulation 5, Appearance 3
Mental (Secondary)
Intelligence 3, Wits 3, Perception 3
Abilities:
Virtues: Compassion 1, Valor 2, Temperance 3, Conviction 4
Willpower: 8
Essence: 3
Backgrounds: Coadjutor 4 (Gil, Gethin), Backing 1 (Yozi), Cult 1 (Yozi), Influence 1 (Yozi), Mentor 5 (The Bringer of Abundance, The Sixth Soul of Ta'akozoka), Allies 2 (Alex and Maria)*, Organization 1 (Barings Bank, noble created and backed bank), Resources 2 (Barings Family Inheritance, Salary)
*The Baring family's true heirs; Alexander Baring, an 16 year old just-Exalted Water-Aspect and Maria Baring, 18 year old Wood-Aspect (with one year behind her Exaltation)
Flaws:
Debt: You owe nobles and criminal organizations located in Homeland large sums of money (-2 points)
Dangerous Secret: As an Infernal in a quite public position among Dragon Blooded and Sidereal infested Britannia, letting your true nature known could be fatal for you and to those you care about (-2 Points)
Enemy: Your adopted family's extensive and open support for the Wyld Hunt made them an irresistable soft target for the hatred for some of the more experienced Lunars operating in Homeland. They will likely pounce upon anyone or anything associated with Baring's as soon as any weakness is shown. (-3 Points)
Traits from Unwoven Coadjutor: His hands are always covered with a thin sheen of oil that leaves black stains* (-0)
*Uses gloves to hide this
Slayer
-Archery/Firearms: 2
Martial Arts:
Melee:
Thrown:
War: 1
Malefactor
-Integrity: 4
Performance: 2
Presence: 1
Resistance:
Survival:
Defiler
Craft:
-Investigation: 1
-Lore: 4
Medicine:
Occult: 2
Scourge
Athletics:
-Awareness: 2
Dodge: 1
Larceny: 2
Stealth:
Fiend
-Bureaucracy: 5
-Linguistics: 4 (Native: English. German, Japanese, Chinese, Old Realm)
-Ride/Drive: 1
-Sail:
-Socialize: 3
Specialties: Bureaucracy (Commerce 3), War (Britannia 1), Socialize (Nobles 3), Larceny (Organized Crime 3)*
*From UC
Charms:
Ta'akozoka (Charmset link)
-First Excellency
-Second Excellency
-Mythos Exultant
-World-Shaping Cosmogony
-Verdant Iris Envy
-Miser And Merchant Awarness
-Nacre-Minted Numatics
-Galvanized Capital
-Make It Worth Your While
-Sunken Treasures Shrewdly Wagered
-Loyalty Money Can Buy
Ebon Dragon
-First Excellency
-Shadow Spite Curse
-Mythos Exultant
-World-Shaping Cosmogony
-Loom-Snarling Deception
-Eldritch Secrets Mastery
-Witness to Darkness
-My Dark Lady
-Our Little Secret
-My Dark Secret x1 (Lie: "I am a Dragon Blooded Exalt of the Water Caste")
Intimacies:
4 Dot
The Death of Adoptive Parents (Negative: Trauma)
Alex (Positive: Familial Love, Pride, Worry)
Maria (Positive: Familial Love, Protectiveness, Worry)
His Parents Murderers (Negative: Fear, Vengeance)
3 Dot
Barings Family (Positive: Family)
Barings Bank (Positive: The legacy of the Barings)
Lunars (Negative: Beasts spreading chaos)
2 Dot
Ta'akozoka (Positive: Gratitude; Debts to be repayed; Envy)
Britannia's Ideals (Positive: Respect for the honesty)
Britannia's Nobles (Negative: The majority are waste of skin; Jealousy)
Organized Crime (Positive: A necessary evil and resource to be used)
The Works of Shakespear (Positive: Enjoyment)
Rare Art (Positive: Possessive Greed)*
1 Dot
*From UC
Organization: Barings Bank
Wealth 1 (Near Bankruptcy)
Verdant Iris Envy
Cost: —; Mins: Essence 2; Type: Permanent
Keywords: None
Duration: Permanent
Prerequisite Charms: None
With envious eyes the Great Tentacled One recognizes those who amassed wealth like herself, for she seeks to ingratiate herself among them and, in time, claim what was theirs. Once the Warlock has learned this Charm, she may learn the Resources background of a being she can perceive with a successful Read Motivation action. If the being is the leader of an organization, she also learns the rating of the organization's Wealth asset.
If the being's Resources rating or his organization's Wealth rating is higher than her own, the Exalt gains an Intimacy of Jealousy, Envy, or Covetous Desire toward the being or something he is known to possess. Such Intimacies do not count against the Infernal's limit. Once she acquires the desired possession or higher Resource or Wealth rating, the Intimacy automatically falls away.
With a second purchase at Essence 3+, the Infernal need not make Read Motivation actions to discern a being's monetary worth unless it is being actively hidden. She receives this information automatically for all beings she can perceive. If their Resources rating is higher than her own, when bargaining with them she will always suppresses Compassion automatically without any cost and can't channel it in the same scene, as Ta'akozoka's rutheless nature chokes their pity, leaving behind only cold profit-loss calculations.
Cost: —; Mins: Essence 2; Type: Permanent
Keywords: None
Duration: Permanent
Prerequisite Charms: None
With envious eyes the Great Tentacled One recognizes those who amassed wealth like herself, for she seeks to ingratiate herself among them and, in time, claim what was theirs. Once the Warlock has learned this Charm, she may learn the Resources background of a being she can perceive with a successful Read Motivation action. If the being is the leader of an organization, she also learns the rating of the organization's Wealth asset.
If the being's Resources rating or his organization's Wealth rating is higher than her own, the Exalt gains an Intimacy of Jealousy, Envy, or Covetous Desire toward the being or something he is known to possess. Such Intimacies do not count against the Infernal's limit. Once she acquires the desired possession or higher Resource or Wealth rating, the Intimacy automatically falls away.
With a second purchase at Essence 3+, the Infernal need not make Read Motivation actions to discern a being's monetary worth unless it is being actively hidden. She receives this information automatically for all beings she can perceive. If their Resources rating is higher than her own, when bargaining with them she will always suppresses Compassion automatically without any cost and can't channel it in the same scene, as Ta'akozoka's rutheless nature chokes their pity, leaving behind only cold profit-loss calculations.
My Dark Secret
Cost: -;
Mins: Essence 2;
Type: Permanent
Keywords: None
Duration: Permanent
Prerequisite: Our Little Secret
The Shadow of All Things lies about countless things, and hides numerous others behind veils of deception, but its most guarded secret is its Fetich Soul. No one knows anything about it with any decree of certainty, though thousand upon thousand of rumours surround it, majority of them likely started by the Ebon Dragon himself.
The Infernal chooses one subject about themselves they want to keep secret. Alternatively, they can pick a lie concerning them that the Charm enforces. This should not be something trivial, but a secret that they truly want to keep from being known or a lie about themselves that they truly want to be believed. If the Infernal has no desire conceal or lie about anything concerning them, this Charm does nothing as long as it remains so.
If they do have something that this Charm can latch on, from this point on, they will perfectly lie about that subject, requiring other perfect effects to challenge it, in which case he gains [Essence] automatic successes to oppose it. They also treat any natural or unnatural mental influence trying to manipulate or force them into revealing the secret as an Unnacceptable Order.
However, this can also hinder the Infernal if they decide to share their secret to someone. They must spend [Essence] Willpower points, up to five, to tell or hint about the secret to anyone. Only after telling to [Essence] persons about this, or if the Storyteller deems that the secret has become widely known and the Infernal truly believes this, can they break the Charm's hold on the subject. However, they must immediately pick an another subject if there is one available.
It can also be repurchased a second time, which allows the Infernal to pick a second subject influenced by this Charm.
Purchasing this Charm also enhances Our Little Secret. Anyone affected by it gains automatic successes equal to their Essence to lying about the subject they are compelled not to reveal, their own Essence, laced with that of the Shadow of All Things, twisting regardless of their own will.
Galvanized Capital
Cost: 10m, 1 wp; Mins: Essence 3; Type: Simple
Keywords: Innovation, Compulsion, Sorcerous, Touch
Duration: Instant
Prerequisite Charms: Nacre-Minted Numismatics
The modern world has abstracted the currency to something more resembling an idea or a shared dream, than a physical, tangible thing. This process of idealization of money pleases the Great Tentacled One, as it hastens the speed at which wealth can flow to her coffers, while also opening new avenues for exploitating the way money can be used.
When first activating this Charm, the Infernal must touch a computer. He then creates a supernatural wallet program on it and his account, that can "link" Nacre coins stored in Elsewhere to itself. The program can also be shared and downloaded like any mundane one, and other people too can create their accounts.
The effects of these electronic coins are thus the similiarly mystically potent as normal Nacre coins, adjusted for their new nature. Their new nature allows them to be split to as small nomination as thousand-piece of a nacre coin. The exchange between accounts can be done through normal electronic networks.
The accounts are protected as well as their account names and passwords are, but the program itself is hard to hack. Such attempt has a difficulty of Infernal's Essence plus his or his Organizations Resources or Wealth+2, whichever the highest, with the hacker beating the success allowing them to access the account. Note that hacking devices completely powered down in which the wallet program is cannot succeed without magic.
Stealing from an Infernal who knows Nacre-Minted Numatics is impossible, as her own tie to the non-transferred coins in Elsewhere is stronger than this Charms, automatically leaving the transfer incomplete.
Destroying the program is as easy as destroying its physical medium, and causes the coins in the Elsewhere to be lost forever.
This Charm can be repurchased at Essence 4, making it possible for Infernal to pay 5 motes to connect any up to his Essence wallets he is aware of to each other for a scene without any medium of communication for a Scene. At Essence 6, they can do so for all existing wallets for by paying 10m, 1wp and commiting the motes for Indefinite time.
Cost: -;
Mins: Essence 2;
Type: Permanent
Keywords: None
Duration: Permanent
Prerequisite: Our Little Secret
The Shadow of All Things lies about countless things, and hides numerous others behind veils of deception, but its most guarded secret is its Fetich Soul. No one knows anything about it with any decree of certainty, though thousand upon thousand of rumours surround it, majority of them likely started by the Ebon Dragon himself.
The Infernal chooses one subject about themselves they want to keep secret. Alternatively, they can pick a lie concerning them that the Charm enforces. This should not be something trivial, but a secret that they truly want to keep from being known or a lie about themselves that they truly want to be believed. If the Infernal has no desire conceal or lie about anything concerning them, this Charm does nothing as long as it remains so.
If they do have something that this Charm can latch on, from this point on, they will perfectly lie about that subject, requiring other perfect effects to challenge it, in which case he gains [Essence] automatic successes to oppose it. They also treat any natural or unnatural mental influence trying to manipulate or force them into revealing the secret as an Unnacceptable Order.
However, this can also hinder the Infernal if they decide to share their secret to someone. They must spend [Essence] Willpower points, up to five, to tell or hint about the secret to anyone. Only after telling to [Essence] persons about this, or if the Storyteller deems that the secret has become widely known and the Infernal truly believes this, can they break the Charm's hold on the subject. However, they must immediately pick an another subject if there is one available.
It can also be repurchased a second time, which allows the Infernal to pick a second subject influenced by this Charm.
Purchasing this Charm also enhances Our Little Secret. Anyone affected by it gains automatic successes equal to their Essence to lying about the subject they are compelled not to reveal, their own Essence, laced with that of the Shadow of All Things, twisting regardless of their own will.
Galvanized Capital
Cost: 10m, 1 wp; Mins: Essence 3; Type: Simple
Keywords: Innovation, Compulsion, Sorcerous, Touch
Duration: Instant
Prerequisite Charms: Nacre-Minted Numismatics
The modern world has abstracted the currency to something more resembling an idea or a shared dream, than a physical, tangible thing. This process of idealization of money pleases the Great Tentacled One, as it hastens the speed at which wealth can flow to her coffers, while also opening new avenues for exploitating the way money can be used.
When first activating this Charm, the Infernal must touch a computer. He then creates a supernatural wallet program on it and his account, that can "link" Nacre coins stored in Elsewhere to itself. The program can also be shared and downloaded like any mundane one, and other people too can create their accounts.
The effects of these electronic coins are thus the similiarly mystically potent as normal Nacre coins, adjusted for their new nature. Their new nature allows them to be split to as small nomination as thousand-piece of a nacre coin. The exchange between accounts can be done through normal electronic networks.
The accounts are protected as well as their account names and passwords are, but the program itself is hard to hack. Such attempt has a difficulty of Infernal's Essence plus his or his Organizations Resources or Wealth+2, whichever the highest, with the hacker beating the success allowing them to access the account. Note that hacking devices completely powered down in which the wallet program is cannot succeed without magic.
Stealing from an Infernal who knows Nacre-Minted Numatics is impossible, as her own tie to the non-transferred coins in Elsewhere is stronger than this Charms, automatically leaving the transfer incomplete.
Destroying the program is as easy as destroying its physical medium, and causes the coins in the Elsewhere to be lost forever.
This Charm can be repurchased at Essence 4, making it possible for Infernal to pay 5 motes to connect any up to his Essence wallets he is aware of to each other for a scene without any medium of communication for a Scene. At Essence 6, they can do so for all existing wallets for by paying 10m, 1wp and commiting the motes for Indefinite time.
Name: Alexander Baring
Age: 16
Motivation: To make the Baring family the power behind thrones.
Exaltation: Dragonblooded
Elemental Aspect: Water
Anima Banner: The shadow of something massive moving beneath the water.
Attributes:
Physical
Strength: 2
Dexterity: 3
Stamina: 2
Social
Charisma: 3
Manipulation: 3
Appearance: 3
Mental
Perception: 3
Intelligence: 4
Wits: 4
Virtues: Compassion 2, Conviction 3, Temperance 3, Valor 2
Abilities:
Air
Linguistics: 3 (Native: English; German, Japanese, Chinese)
-Lore: 2
Occult: 2
Stealth: 3
Thrown: 0
Earth
Awarness: 3 (+1 Sensing Ambushes)
Craft: 0
-Integrity: 4
Resistance: 1
War: 1
Fire
Athletics: 2
Dodge: 3
Melee: 2 (+1 Swords)
Presence: 1
-Socialize: 2
Water
-Bureaucracy: 4 (+1 Commerce)
-Investigation: 1
-Larceny: 0
-Martial Arts: 0
-Sail: 0
Wood
Archery/Firearms: 1
Medicine: 0
Performance: 0
Ride: 1
Survival: 0
Backgrounds: Breeding 1, Resources 2 (Baring Family Inheritance)
Health levels:
[]
[][]
[][]
[]
[]
Essence: 3
Willpower: 7
Personal Essence: 11
Peripheral Essence: 27
Anima Power:
At the cost of five motes of Essence the child of Daana'd suffuses her being with the power of Water. For the duration of a single day, the Exalt has complete water freedom. She can breathe water as easily as air and is incapable of drowning. She also suffers no environmental penalty for any actions she takes underwater, including such improbable actions as firing a bow or throwing a chakram. As a final bonus, the Exalt can walk across the surface of a body of water as easily as dry land.
Charms:
Excellencies
-First Bureaucracy Excellency
-Second Bureaucracy Excellency
-Second Awareness Excellency
-First Melee Excellency
Awareness:
-All-Encompassing Earth Sense
Stealth
-Feeling-The-Air Technique
-Soundless Action Prana
Investigation
-Scent-Of-Crime Method
-Falsehood Unearthing Attitude
Lore
-Elemental Concentration Trance
Bureaucracy
-Confluence of Savant Thought
-Geese-Flying-South Administration
Age: 16
Motivation: To make the Baring family the power behind thrones.
Exaltation: Dragonblooded
Elemental Aspect: Water
Anima Banner: The shadow of something massive moving beneath the water.
Attributes:
Physical
Strength: 2
Dexterity: 3
Stamina: 2
Social
Charisma: 3
Manipulation: 3
Appearance: 3
Mental
Perception: 3
Intelligence: 4
Wits: 4
Virtues: Compassion 2, Conviction 3, Temperance 3, Valor 2
Abilities:
Air
Linguistics: 3 (Native: English; German, Japanese, Chinese)
-Lore: 2
Occult: 2
Stealth: 3
Thrown: 0
Earth
Awarness: 3 (+1 Sensing Ambushes)
Craft: 0
-Integrity: 4
Resistance: 1
War: 1
Fire
Athletics: 2
Dodge: 3
Melee: 2 (+1 Swords)
Presence: 1
-Socialize: 2
Water
-Bureaucracy: 4 (+1 Commerce)
-Investigation: 1
-Larceny: 0
-Martial Arts: 0
-Sail: 0
Wood
Archery/Firearms: 1
Medicine: 0
Performance: 0
Ride: 1
Survival: 0
Backgrounds: Breeding 1, Resources 2 (Baring Family Inheritance)
Health levels:
[]
[][]
[][]
[]
[]
Essence: 3
Willpower: 7
Personal Essence: 11
Peripheral Essence: 27
Anima Power:
At the cost of five motes of Essence the child of Daana'd suffuses her being with the power of Water. For the duration of a single day, the Exalt has complete water freedom. She can breathe water as easily as air and is incapable of drowning. She also suffers no environmental penalty for any actions she takes underwater, including such improbable actions as firing a bow or throwing a chakram. As a final bonus, the Exalt can walk across the surface of a body of water as easily as dry land.
Charms:
Excellencies
-First Bureaucracy Excellency
-Second Bureaucracy Excellency
-Second Awareness Excellency
-First Melee Excellency
Awareness:
-All-Encompassing Earth Sense
Stealth
-Feeling-The-Air Technique
-Soundless Action Prana
Investigation
-Scent-Of-Crime Method
-Falsehood Unearthing Attitude
Lore
-Elemental Concentration Trance
Bureaucracy
-Confluence of Savant Thought
-Geese-Flying-South Administration
Name: Maria Baring
Age: 18
Motivation: To protect her siblings.
Exaltation: Dragonblooded
Elemental Aspect: Wood
Anima Banner: Wood Dragon circling her protectively.
Attributes:
Physical
Strength: 3
Dexterity: 4
Stamina: 3
Social
Charisma: 2
Manipulation: 1
Appearance: 3
Mental
Perception: 4
Intelligence: 4
Wits: 3
Virtues: Compassion 3, Conviction 2, Temperance 2, Valor 3
Abilities:
Air
Linguistics: 2 (Native: English; German, Japanese)
Lore: 3
Occult: 2
Stealth: 3
Thrown: 2 (+1 Grenades)
Earth
Awarness: 3 (+2 Sensing Ambushes)
Craft: 0
Integrity: 3
Resistance: 4
War: 2 (+1 Anathema)
Fire
Athletics: 3
Dodge: 3 (+2 Anathema)
Melee: 1
Presence: 3
Socialize: 1
Water
Bureaucracy: 2 (+1 Commerce)
Investigation: 1
Larceny: 0
Martial Arts: 2
Sail: 0
Wood
-Archery/Firearms: 3
-Medicine: 5 (+2 First Aid)
-Performance: 0
-Ride: 2 (+1 Knightmares)
-Survival: 3 (+1 Tracking)
Backgrounds: Breeding 1, Resources 3 (Baring Family Inheritance, Wyld Hunt Unit Salary), Backing 2 (Britannian Military), Allies 3 (Wyld Hunt Unit)
Health levels:
[]
[][]
[][]
[]
[]
Essence: 3
Willpower: 7
Personal Essence: 11
Peripheral Essence: 27
Anima Power: Wood Aspect
Charms:
Excellencies
-First Awarness Excellency
-Second Awareness Excellency
-First Bureaucracy Excellency
-First Archery/Firearms Excellency
-First Medicine Excellency
-Second Medicine Excellency
-Second Integrity Excellency
Firearms
-Wood Dragon Bullet
-Earth Dragon Bullet
Awareness
-All-Encompassing Earth Sense
Integrity
-Unsleeping Dragon Meditation
-Oath of the Ten Thousand Dragons x1 (Baring Family)
Medicine
-Infection Banishing Prana
-Disease-Banishing Technique
-Wound-Closing Touch
-Grievous Wound Alteration Energy
-Madness Analyzing Stare
-Purity of Mind Method
Age: 18
Motivation: To protect her siblings.
Exaltation: Dragonblooded
Elemental Aspect: Wood
Anima Banner: Wood Dragon circling her protectively.
Attributes:
Physical
Strength: 3
Dexterity: 4
Stamina: 3
Social
Charisma: 2
Manipulation: 1
Appearance: 3
Mental
Perception: 4
Intelligence: 4
Wits: 3
Virtues: Compassion 3, Conviction 2, Temperance 2, Valor 3
Abilities:
Air
Linguistics: 2 (Native: English; German, Japanese)
Lore: 3
Occult: 2
Stealth: 3
Thrown: 2 (+1 Grenades)
Earth
Awarness: 3 (+2 Sensing Ambushes)
Craft: 0
Integrity: 3
Resistance: 4
War: 2 (+1 Anathema)
Fire
Athletics: 3
Dodge: 3 (+2 Anathema)
Melee: 1
Presence: 3
Socialize: 1
Water
Bureaucracy: 2 (+1 Commerce)
Investigation: 1
Larceny: 0
Martial Arts: 2
Sail: 0
Wood
-Archery/Firearms: 3
-Medicine: 5 (+2 First Aid)
-Performance: 0
-Ride: 2 (+1 Knightmares)
-Survival: 3 (+1 Tracking)
Backgrounds: Breeding 1, Resources 3 (Baring Family Inheritance, Wyld Hunt Unit Salary), Backing 2 (Britannian Military), Allies 3 (Wyld Hunt Unit)
Health levels:
[]
[][]
[][]
[]
[]
Essence: 3
Willpower: 7
Personal Essence: 11
Peripheral Essence: 27
Anima Power: Wood Aspect
Charms:
Excellencies
-First Awarness Excellency
-Second Awareness Excellency
-First Bureaucracy Excellency
-First Archery/Firearms Excellency
-First Medicine Excellency
-Second Medicine Excellency
-Second Integrity Excellency
Firearms
-Wood Dragon Bullet
-Earth Dragon Bullet
Awareness
-All-Encompassing Earth Sense
Integrity
-Unsleeping Dragon Meditation
-Oath of the Ten Thousand Dragons x1 (Baring Family)
Medicine
-Infection Banishing Prana
-Disease-Banishing Technique
-Wound-Closing Touch
-Grievous Wound Alteration Energy
-Madness Analyzing Stare
-Purity of Mind Method
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