Now I'm not too used to Exalted lore, only know some of it from quests, is an Infernal different in appearance? Anyways, this quest looks interesting, I'll watch it closely. Thanks for writing :)

Depends on their charms, but most Infernals slowly and subtly change as they gain in power and buy more charms. They also get one minor quirk or mark from their Coadjutor, which is variable in how it resolves.

She Who Lives In Her Name has charms which mostly manifest mentally or externally though, so if we build towards Mind Hand or the like as a focus we'd see minimal physical changes up to the point where she evolves into a flying cluster of forcefields very late on.

@Lyanah Infernals inherently have physical differences than their baseline mortal selves. First: there's the Exaltation tune-up, taken even further for the Yozi's sake. Your flaws, blemishes, etc. simply cease to exist. If you're past your prime then that, too, ceases to be a factor (to the point that it de-ages you back to peak youth and vitality). And that's before you factor in the effect of your Coadjutor's physiology on you. Rather like a Lunar Tell but not magical and potentially far more extensive, any Infernal takes on features which are reminiscent of the species of demon which delivered their Exaltation. This can range from subtle to screamingly obvious. As an example: for someone whose Exaltation was delivered by an agata (the almost painfully beautiful, horse-sized, crystalline wasps with an iridescent carapace), it could be as subtle as an iridescent sheen to their finger- and toenails or it could be as unsubtle as compound eyes and a full-on exoskeleton.

To that point: I had originally intended to add this as part of the voting for this post, but I had trouble working it into my original post, so I'll go ahead and put this to the player-base. How extensive would you want Taylor's initial transformation to be, given her coadjutor-species?


[ ] The best trick the devil ever pulled was convincing people he didn't exist.

--Stick with subtler alterations to her natural form.

[ ] If you've got it, flaunt it!

--Subtlety is for lesser beings than a living avatar of the Yozis. Bring on the flesh-change!
 
[X] If you've got it, flaunt it!
--Subtlety is for lesser beings than a living avatar of the Yozis. Bring on the flesh-change!

She can feel the warp overtaking her, it is a good feeling.
 
[X] If you've got it, flaunt it!
--Subtlety is for lesser beings than a living avatar of the Yozis. Bring on the flesh-change!
 

[ ] You've never heard this voice in your life.

--They speak to you in calm, confident tones. Whoever they are, they are entirely certain of what they're telling you.

Hmm... Armsmaster is my guess. I think that either this one or the last one is the one we aren't supposed to guess, maybe some kind of demon or something.


[ ] You've heard the voice a handful of times on the news.

--Poorly-concealed aggravation gives you the impression that, somehow, the spearker blames you for a day that has gone completely and utterly off the rails.

Pretty sure this is Piggot

[ ] You've heard the voice before, but you can't quite place when.
--A dream-like sense of de-ja vu envelops you at the cultured, tentative tones.

Guessing Miss Militia here, but not really sure. Could be a few people. Think the reference to dreams made me think of her though.


[ ] You've heard the voice before; you'd recognize it anywhere. (Danny)

--The worry and uncertainty in it, however, gives you pause.

As confirmed, Danny


[ ] The voice isn't one you recognize, but the sense of bewilderment they convey is mirror to your own.

--You're not sure why, but they sound as poleaxed as you feel right now. Still, they don't have to sound so amused by everything.

Could definitely be Lisa, shard confused by Exalted nonsense, and having her be pleasantly amused would be a nice way to meet her. (Rather than, say, have her be horrified at whatever her shard is telling her). More likely to be someone like Assault, though. Or perhaps the mystery demon!

Whatever these choices end up being, I'm excited to see how it plays out :D
 
[X] If you've got it, flaunt it!
--Subtlety is for lesser beings than a living avatar of the Yozis. Bring onthe flesh-change!

Exactly that, if Taylor has to be altered physically, then better have good enhancements that will protect her more thourougly than a subtler look. And that will mean she won't have to do the whole hidden identity thing, which sometimes frustrates me in stories. Plus, an inhuman appearance is often funny to read about, especially if Taylor is being Taylor and doesn't realize the effect it may have on others like with her Canon!powers which she didn't understand how creepy it made her. No matter if the change is aesthetically appealing, somewhat unnerving or blatantly horrifying, she'll surely think the reaction a new person has towards her is from whatever action she just made rather than plain surprise.


And thank you both, veekie and Thief of Words for your explanations.
 
I've updated the first post to confirm accurate guesses. Plus, to sum up the status of the two votes so far:


Vote 1 - Who is first? (Current standings)

1) Confident Voice Coil: 2
2) Aggravated Voice Director Piggot: 2
3)Cultured Voice Coadjutor: 8
4) Familiar Voice Dad: 2
5)Bewidered Voice Lisa: 8

Vote 2 - How Hellish Hebert Has Become? (current standings)

1) Deceived by subtle snares of Hell: 5
2) Obvious as Hell: 4
 
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And that will mean she won't have to do the whole hidden identity thing, which sometimes frustrates me in stories.

You'd have no way of knowing that for certain by now, but a secret identity was never really going to be a solid option for Taylor in this quest, just by the nature and timing of her Exaltation someone would have been capable of putting the pieces together. Potentially multiple someones.
 

[X] The voice isn't one you recognize, but the sense of bewilderment they convey is mirror to your own. (Lisa)

--You're not sure why, but they sound as poleaxed as you feel right now. Still, they don't have to sound so amused by everything.
[X] If you've got it, flaunt it!
--Subtlety is for lesser beings than a living avatar of the Yozis. Bring on the flesh-change!
 
[X] Cultured Voice

[X] The best trick the devil ever pulled was convincing people he didn't exist.

--Stick with subtler alterations to her natural form.

Dislike alteration of form. Unless its By Rage Recast, or another Shintai.
 
[X] The voice isn't one you recognize, but the sense of bewilderment they convey is mirror to your own. (Lisa)
--You're not sure why, but they sound as poleaxed as you feel right now. Still, they don't have to sound so amused by everything

Bah, I don't want to chat with Coil! Definitely want to see an amused Lisa though, so vote changed!

[X] The best trick the devil ever pulled was convincing people he didn't exist.
--Stick with subtler alterations to her natural form.

Subtle hellish tricks go! :D
 
New
[X] You've heard the voice a handful of times on the news.
--Poorly-concealed aggravation gives you the impression that, somehow, the spearker blames you for a day that has gone completely and utterly off the rails.
 
Bah, I don't want to chat with Coil! Definitely want to see an amused Lisa though, so vote changed!

Your original vote had been to chat with the Coadjutor, not Coil. Coil's the certain voice you've never heard, not the cultured one you have. Just wanted to be sure you knew what you were changing your vote from before you did.
 

[X] The best trick the devil ever pulled was convincing people he didn't exist.

--Stick with subtler alterations to her natural form.

[X] Cultured Voice
 
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Your original vote had been to chat with the Coadjutor, not Coil. Coil's the certain voice you've never heard, not the cultured one you have. Just wanted to be sure you knew what you were changing your vote from before you did.

Oops! I misremembered what I voted for, hehe! Thanks for the heads up, but I'll still pick Lisa, methinks.
 
[ ] The best trick the devil ever pulled was convincing people he didn't exist.
--Stick with subtler alterations to her natural form.
Any vote regarding who you hear from first? As a note: the way things played out after you went into the Chrysalis and where you start out once you leave it change entirely between some of the options (for obvious reasons).
 
You'd have no way of knowing that for certain by now, but a secret identity was never really going to be a solid option for Taylor in this quest, just by the nature and timing of her Exaltation someone would have been capable of putting the pieces together. Potentially multiple someones.

Well, that's not completely true, if her status as a cape isn't completely obvious from her looks but her trigger had been public, there would have been the possibility of her being transferred to another city under another civilian identity and as new cape. Witness protection works for a reason, cutting her hair, changing her wardrobe and whatever so Taylor Hebert is completely forgotten but "Tanya Hebden" could still have a CID and a cape life.
A secret identity could have worked even with the public knowing that Taylor is a cape, especially if they don't know what her powers are exactly (and as it is a quest, I am guessing that she will develop more "powers", varied skills and the likes). She could pass for a totally different parahuman than the one outed in the "Winslow Locker Incident".

So far I've never read a fic going that direction, now that I think about it, with a "Relocation Program" for an outed fresh trigger. In-Universe it might be something, because of catastrophes such as tornadoes or earthquakes or events like office buildings on fire or gang wars (as there's quite a lot of those in canon) surely there's been a few people triggering in public who then need help hiding away. Might be an interesting plot idea, if one is willing to part from canon and Brockton Bay.
 
@Lyanah Note I didn't say it wasn't an option. Just that it wasn't a solid one. The distinction between the two might be subtle, but it is a significant one.
 

[X] The voice isn't one you recognize, but the sense of bewilderment they convey is mirror to your own. (Lisa)

--You're not sure why, but they sound as poleaxed as you feel right now. Still, they don't have to sound so amused by everything.

[X] The best trick the devil ever pulled was convincing people he didn't exist.

--Stick with subtler alterations to her natural form.
 
Alright then, hopefully I didn't offend you, I was just pointing out that there are other possibilities. I'm sorry if I was bothering you.
Nah. I'm not offended in the least. I appreciate the feedback on it. Player feedback and player ideas are one of my favorite things about being an ST/DM/QM/etc.
 
[ ] If you've got it, flaunt it!
--Subtlety is for lesser beings than a living avatar of the Yozis. Bring on the flesh-change!



[X] Cultured Voice
 
[X] Coadjutor

[X] If you've got it, flaunt it!
--Subtlety is for lesser beings than a living avatar of the Yozis. Bring on the flesh-change!
 
[X] The voice isn't one you recognize, but the sense of bewilderment they convey is mirror to your own. (Lisa)

[X] The best trick the devil ever pulled was convincing people he didn't exist.

Just so you all know, Principle-Invoking Onslaught allows the user nigh-unlimited attack options, from restraining enemies via conjured singularities to obliterating someone's head by creating a tiny bit of antimatter in their brain. (Because I just love it when Clockblocker starts screaming "BULLSHIT!!")
 
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