Murder; an Exalted SI

Hazard said:
Remember, Wyld Hunts often have Sidereal support, and this is especially true of Hunts on the Blessed Isle, where most of the Sidereals are Bronze Faction loyalists. The fact that you are in the Imperial City doesn't help much, nor does the fact that you just Exalted and thus pretty much by definition did something big enough to get woven into Fate despite most likely having arrived outside of it. On the other hand, having to work through a population as large as the Imperial City's is going to be a lot of effort, especially if you don't draw too much attention to yourself.
And considering how you're an Abyssal? These guys are gonna break out the Warstriders to find you. Or, well, maybe not, I know the basics of Exalted and that's it, if I'm wrong feel free to correct me.
 
Breaking out the Warstriders into the Imperial City would be a bad idea, it sends all kinds of bad messages about the actual safety citizens of the Realm can expect in their most powerful, most shinging, most protected city.

OTOH, if they actually know there is an Abyssal on the loose there, they are going to do pretty much everything short of dropping in Warstriders so long as the general populace isn't going to notice.
 
Yea, remember that warstrider a while back?
In the last few weeks the Wyld Hunt has crown considerably more powerful as several of the great houses have scrambled to pour resources into it as Anathema appeared in the heart of the Realm.
 
A suppose a dozen Anathema appearing in the middle of the imperial capital will do that. It does seems very strange the Clerk acts like it was nothing, unless it was some really lame Rakasha appearing there for some stupid reason, since I really doubt twelve celestial exalts, no matter how new, are going to be easily taken care of like that.

It may be your patron is deciding to exalt people in the capital again and again to send a message, using the same exaltation each time since they don't survive long, with you as just the latest one.
 
Hazard said:
Breaking out the Warstriders into the Imperial City would be a bad idea, it sends all kinds of bad messages about the actual safety citizens of the Realm can expect in their most powerful, most shinging, most protected city.

OTOH, if they actually know there is an Abyssal on the loose there, they are going to do pretty much everything short of dropping in Warstriders so long as the general populace isn't going to notice.
I might not be a buff on Exalted lore, but I do know this: If the Sidereals get personally involved in this, the question isn't what they can slip past the public, it becomes what can't they slip past the public. And that, I am guessing, would be a very short list.
 
Xomniac said:
I might not be a buff on Exalted lore, but I do know this: If the Sidereals get personally involved in this, the question isn't what they can slip past the public, it becomes what can't they slip past the public. And that, I am guessing, would be a very short list.
Lets put it this way; Sidereals, if they put their mind to it, can hide the motherfucking sun going deathstar on some poor Guy/Rakashas ass.
 
HioH said:
Lets put it this way; Sidereals, if they put their mind to it, can hide the motherfucking sun going deathstar on some poor Guy/Rakashas ass.
So to re-iterate what happens when they find out just who-or rather at this point-what your patron is: Warstriders. Lots and lots of Warstriders.

Edit: Look at the bright side, you'll be the first SBer to ever experience Creation's version of "MORE DAKKA!"
 
HioH said:
Lets put it this way; Sidereals, if they put their mind to it, can hide the motherfucking sun going deathstar on some poor Guy/Rakashas ass.
Only by using said Daystar to do so. Make no mistake, I know the Sidereals are generally pretty awesome, but even they would be hard pressed to hide a bunch of Warstriders fighting in the Imperial City, especially when they themselves have to remain in hiding.

Of course, if the first wave/attack fails they aren't going to kid around, but as long as a small team of Dragonblooded can fuck you up without much trouble there's no reason to send in the bigger guns. Not least of which because those things are expensive to maintain and operate.
 
Hazard said:
Only by using said Daystar to do so. Make no mistake, I know the Sidereals are generally pretty awesome, but even they would be hard pressed to hide a bunch of Warstriders fighting in the Imperial City, especially when they themselves have to remain in hiding.

Of course, if the first wave/attack fails they aren't going to kid around, but as long as a small team of Dragonblooded can fuck you up without much trouble there's no reason to send in the bigger guns. Not least of which because those things are expensive to maintain and operate.
True, true.
Monshroud said:
You know, seeing as the SI's soul comes from our universe, I would have thought that he would develop powers and abilities that were different if not similar to the other Exalted!

I just hope that as an Abyssal, he doesn't become an absolute bastard.
What do you mean? Later I might create charms using OCP knowledge, but right now I am still newly exalted.

I will try to not become one :)
 
5
Manslaughter (4)

-

Instead of panicking and rushing into the city without a plan I simply finished what I had come to do. I had replaced my ten books many times over when i felt the barely perceptible shift in my essence as the sun passed beneath the horizon, its scouring rays no longer illuminating Creation. When it did I closed the book I was reading and sat still for a moment, contemplating my next move.

I assumed the worst: that the Wyld Hunt could track me the moment I stepped outside whatever protections the Library Manse was sure to have. Assuming no experienced Sidereals were involved, something I had to do because if one was then I had already lost, constant movement was probably the best way to deal with the issue. At least until a more permanent solution could be found.

Leaving the books to be collected I rose from my seat, feeling just as good as when I had begun, and exited the library. Just outside the Manse, one could barely tell that the sun had fallen. Countless Essence lights and other sources of illumination kept the small square in front of the building well lit. Compared to last night, the crowd could barely be called that. The streets were mostly empty, and this still moving about could broadly be divided into two groups: those moving about with furtive fear, keeping heads low and strides long to minimize time spent outside, and the determined. Dozens of Dragon-blooded wandered the streets in full armor; some moving alone or in small groups, others in full scales. Some talked boisterously amongst themselves, gesturing wildly, others moved with military precision. I didn't think any of these groups were actually part of the Wyld Hunt, they seemed to ad hoc and ignorant of each other's movements.

No, they were dynasts out to play. All eager to find and slay an Anathema and bring glory to themselves and their families. Luckily, the Dragon-blooded themselves were the lesser threat in this case, they had no way to detect the presence of an Exaltation. The main issue would be avoiding any sorcerers or artifacts that could unveil me.

It was very likely that the Wyld hunt had set up blockades/ detection point at most of the major thoroughfares in the city, assuming any basic competency and resources in the organisation, and lacking any stealth or disguising charms as I did I would be hard-pressed to slip past unnoticed. My best option was to get off the streets.

Keeping my head low, I moved into the city itself. I found myself unconsciously flinching away from the Dragon-Blooded as I moved amongst them. Both from fear of discovery and because of the Daiklaives. Daiklaives were beyond mere swords as swords were beyond sticks, the huge weapons were often longer than I was, but the true terror lay in that each and every one of them represented a force powerful enough to level a small village singlehandedly. Those blades probably weighed more than I did, but in the hands of one of the Exalted could be used as if it was made from styrofoam.

I really needed to get one for myself.

-

I moved through side-streets and alleys, away from the centre of district but carefully judging my movements as to not approach the edges either. It had only been fifteen minutes since I left the Library, but my constant fear of discovery made it feel like hours. Finally I managed to find an alley isolated enough to be completely empty and large enough to be useful for my purpose.

What I needed to do was get more mobility, and I had several different ideas on how to do that. The sewer system, might work but I had no idea how extensive it was or even how to access it. But before I went on a wild goose chase for something that might or might not be of use I decided to turn my search inward.

I knew of dozens of charms that could be of use in this situation, but there were several problems with that plan. I needed both the Essence and the ability to gain them, something that was hard to judge without hard numbers, and time to train and internalize the Charm itself. The charm I had used before to increase my strength, Corpse-Might Surge, was an athletics charm that if I knew meant several others were probably available to me.

While I lacked the time and the basic know-how of how to learn new charms I knew that at their core, charms were instinctive things. The natural abilities of the Exalted, and I suspected, possible to learn without any true study. That theory was one I was willing to put to the test.

Moving through the motions of loosening my leg muscles, I stared at the walls on both sides of me. I knew what I wanted. Taking that certainty and drive, I bent my knees in preparation for a jump. Pulling on the Essence resting within me I flushed it through my body, letting instinct guide both it and me in accordance to what I wanted.

For a second I wondered if I had accomplished anything except waste motes, then something clicked. With a blur of motion I jumped, launching myself into the air. I flew higher than was possible for any mortal, several meters into air in a single bound. I had angled my jump slightly, and just before reaching my apex, I collided with the wall. For a moment my feet scrambled for purchase, before a slight imperfection in the construction of the wall allowed me to gain a foothold.

It was a tiny crack, extending less than a millimeter from the surface, but beneath my feet it was like an immovable ledge. Two charms, Spider Pounce Technique to aid my jump and Raiton's Nimble Perch to let me stand. A vicious grin lit my face, In a single moment I had gone from a single general charm to three, all three perfect for aiding my movement and evasion.

In the Game they were limited to one Scene, and I had no idea to how that translated to reality so I made a mental note to keep an close eye on when they ended and memorize the duration. I couldn't help but let out a short laugh as I launched myself into the air again, this time aiming towards the opposite wall. Up I went, bouncing between the two buildings I had specifically chosen for their almost equal height.

I reached the top, or rather a small balcony near the top, and looked out over the city below. Lit in soft golden light, it was unlike anything I had seen before, structures that were grand from the ground level were stunning now that I could see them in their full glory. The darkness obscured much, but many of the more influential buildings were lit by various sources of light. The huge Imperial Palace dominated the city, and for a moment I thought of trying to sneak in before dismissing the thought.

With a sigh I stopped my eager sightseeing and instead returned to the issue at hand, I needed to keep moving. Tomorrow I could try procuring more funds and a more secure place to stay, but until then I would simply have to make do with my newfound mobility. With a glance I plotted my next goal, A building lit in multi hued light in the distance, and then I launched myself into the night once more.

End Manslaughter
-
Hope you like it, Next chapter is named Honor Kill and I hope will showcase just why one shouldn't underestimate the Wyld Hunt. As Always, a single word is better than nothing and feedback is food.
Stunt purchases cost 1wp and must be thematically appropriate for a given situation.
 
That is an interesting choice of charms to get. I can see the use of more mobility, but that kind of jumping around is sure to attract attention, even in the dead of night. I'm going to guess that such is part of the "Don't underestimate the Wyld Hunt" statement.

I do like the way that your character is damping down his panic and actually thinking his actions through. It does make him seem smarter than the average person, even if his acting isn't quite up to par near the Dragonblooded.

Right now this seems to be mostly setup; I expect I'll have a lot more comments come next chapter.
 
Cytokinesis said:
That is an interesting choice of charms to get. I can see the use of more mobility, but that kind of jumping around is sure to attract attention, even in the dead of night. I'm going to guess that such is part of the "Don't underestimate the Wyld Hunt" statement.

I do like the way that your character is damping down his panic and actually thinking his actions through. It does make him seem smarter than the average person, even if his acting isn't quite up to par near the Dragonblooded.

Right now this seems to be mostly setup; I expect I'll have a lot more comments come next chapter.
I do admit that I may be a bit influanced from what I have read in books, comics, and seen in movies. No one ever looks up, right? :p

I do like to think of myself as a level headed person, and it's actually very intresting to write about yourself. In almost all circumstances I simply need to ask myself what I would do in a situation and then write that, Even if it's not the most optimal solution if you look closer.

And yes, this chapter was mostly to explore the changes wrought by the Exaltation and to introduce myself to the readers. How I think and react in broad strokes, next chapter should be more exciting.
 
HioH said:
I do admit that I may be a bit influanced from what I have read in books, comics, and seen in movies. No one ever looks up, right? :p
The problem with that is that even if you assume it's true, a person that is far enough away doesn't need to look up at all to see you flitting around on the rooftops. That said, I expect the Dragonblooded tend to look up a lot more than normal people; assassins attacking them from the ceiling are an actual thing for them, and some of them are superhuman when it comes to knowing what's going on around them.
 
Why are you using a charm that would make you stand out as a anathema?

Sure people don't usually look up but people generally aren't superhuman assassins hunting for people that might walk on walls. They also generally don't have awareness charms.

I think the optimal thing would be to just walk to an inn like nothing is wrong and spend the night there. That or find a nice dumpster to spend the night in.
 
cyberswordsmen said:
Why are you using a charm that would make you stand out as a anathema?

Sure people don't usually look up but people generally aren't superhuman assassins hunting for people that might walk on walls. They also generally don't have awareness charms.

I think the optimal thing would be to just walk to an inn like nothing is wrong and spend the night there. That or find a nice dumpster to spend the night in.
Save that the Hunt is out in force, so not only are Awareness Charms a go, but there is a fair chance of you getting tapped on the shoulder and turning around to see somebody with the Mark of one of the Five Maidens on their forehead.
 
It's probably best he doesn't get into some weird things like that Monshroud. There's no canon basis for all that. It'd be jumping the shark in a major way. The SI will cause enough changes with just his meta knowledge alone.

His soul was normal enough for an exaltation to latch on to it as well, so it's probably about the same. It could explain why his willpower is higher than his virtues should let it be though.
 
darthdavid said:
I think not making an SI do the right thing every time makes the story more believable. Your average person isn't gonna necessarily make the best choices under stress.
This.

My first thought of how to escape people in Wuxia/magic settings is Roof-jumping. It's stupid and counterproductive, but it's also probably what I would do if I didn't really think it through.
 
Eh. Didn't you just go through a session where your memories were reinforced refreshing your pool of exalted knowledge? Wouldn't it be almost like having every book you've read on it internalized? So you'd know why ninja jumping was a bad idea.
 
Larekko12 said:
Eh. Didn't you just go through a session where your memories were reinforced refreshing your pool of exalted knowledge? Wouldn't it be almost like having every book you've read on it internalized? So you'd know why ninja jumping was a bad idea.
There's a large diffrence between knowing something and actually using it, and in the books stunting means that Exalted seems to at least partially run on tropes. Ninja jumping wasn't BAD per se, perhaps not the most optimal charm purchase possible, but not a waste. Like I mentioned in the update, if they have/had any way to track me, then constant movement is the best way to throw it off. The problem is/was that I don't know my own stats or even how that translates into the "real world" So I purchased two charms I knew I had the Pre-reqs for.
 
Problem is that generally speaking mortals don't go ninja jumping, and the Hunt and the Dragonblooded probably know about or can verify the identity of everyone who would be prone to ninja jumping. Not getting into a power high, keeping your head down and generally acting like J Average Mortal would probably have been better for you.
 
Hazard said:
Problem is that generally speaking mortals don't go ninja jumping, and the Hunt and the Dragonblooded probably know about or can verify the identity of everyone who would be prone to ninja jumping. Not getting into a power high, keeping your head down and generally acting like J Average Mortal would probably have been better for you.
Probably, but I think this is more believable. A mixture of the power trip, the 'suddenly I'm in another world aaaaand I just basically died* and became an Exalted of Murder' thing, and the influence of anime and TV shows and Exalted RP games would really throw off your judgement. Making a mistake like this is very plausible. Also bodes well for the rest of the fic, weirdly; someone who makes this sort of easily-avoided mistake right off the bat is less likely to drop into Mary-Suedom later on.

*Yes, I know that Abyssals don't actually die, but it's about as close as you can actually get without really being dead.
 
NSMS said:
Probably, but I think this is more believable. A mixture of the power trip, the 'suddenly I'm in another world aaaaand I just basically died* and became an Exalted of Murder' thing, and the influence of anime and TV shows and Exalted RP games would really throw off your judgement. Making a mistake like this is very plausible. Also bodes well for the rest of the fic, weirdly; someone who makes this sort of easily-avoided mistake right off the bat is less likely to drop into Mary-Suedom later on.

*Yes, I know that Abyssals don't actually die, but it's about as close as you can actually get without really being dead.
Ugh, Mary Suedom. If I ever start going down that road, PLEASE tell me so I can rewrite it before it's to late!
 
HioH said:
There's a large diffrence between knowing something and actually using it, and in the books stunting means that Exalted seems to at least partially run on tropes. Ninja jumping wasn't BAD per se, perhaps not the most optimal charm purchase possible, but not a waste. Like I mentioned in the update, if they have/had any way to track me, then constant movement is the best way to throw it off. The problem is/was that I don't know my own stats or even how that translates into the "real world" So I purchased two charms I knew I had the Pre-reqs for.
?? I though that was what that Lore training session was for.

But okay.
 
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