With the added mess that removing all exalted just means Creation falls to one of its external enemies and mortals end up even worse off, yeah.
Aleph has a great post here on the subject of Saving Creation that seems somewhat relevant.
Scarlet Regent Quest (Exalted)
- Thread starter Maugan Ra
- Start date
Aleph has a great post here on the subject of Saving Creation that seems somewhat relevant.
Leingod
Immaculate Blooming Lotus
The Great Curse bears a part of that blame for how badly the Dragon-Blooded have fallen. It's not as obvious and dramatic as it is for the Solars and Lunars, but it's there, and it gets worse with age. It's just that Celestial Exalts all have lifespans measured in millennia, while even the most powerful Dragon-Blooded are usually very lucky to reach 500, not counting special outliers like Her Redness and Saibok Gauto.
Not to mention that the Sidereals were just as responsible for the Usurpation as the Dragon-Blooded, if not more, have shaped the Realm from behind the scenes, and they're just as subject to the Great Curse as the other Celestial Exalts.
Hell, the Sidereals basically created the Immaculate Philosophy from the ground up. If you aren't hoodwinked by their Sidereal bullsh*t, you'll notice they aren't remotely subtle about it, either. The head of the religion is the Mouth of Peace (mouthpiece. Get it?), and Chejop Kejak poses as her oddly forgettable secretary... who for some reason has an office above the Mouth's, at the very pinnacle of the Palace Sublime.
Actually, that makes it significantly worse for humans, since the DBs aren't nearly as capable of defending Creation as their predecessors, which means monsters like the Raksha are able to run free in a lot of places where they wouldn't even be able to dream of it in the First Age, and since they're closer to mortals, the DBs notice mortals more and are more active in oppressing them to suppress dissent.
- Location
- Spain
Don't be silly, such thing can only get us killed.
What we should do is accumulate as much influence and wealth as we can, selling satrapies to get loyal supporters andworking to get all our opponents disgraced or executed.
Leingod
Immaculate Blooming Lotus
In other words, "Meet the new boss, same as the old boss." Because hey, just because the Solars are coming back and the Neverborn and the Yozis are starting to make their moves and the Realm doesn't have the Sword of Creation to fall back on with Her Redness gone, doesn't mean that doing the exact same divide-and-conquer, everyone-at-each-other's-throats crap that put the Realm in the sorry shape it is now won't somehow make things better.
- Location
- Spain
RagnorakTres
Technically Correct
- Location
- A Rolled Up Sidewalk Somewhere South Of Toledo, OH
- Pronouns
- Any/All
My issue here is that I'm concerned that trying to execute that sort of sweeping societal change is more likely than any other course of action to consolidate our enemies into a single bloc. We can't effect truly meaningful change if three-quarters of the houses are dead-set on sabotaging our every attempt and simultaneously teaching all their children the old ways. With no public school system or wide-ranging media influence, we have no way to effectively counter the brainwashing parents are capable of in regards to their offspring, and as entertaining as the image or attempt might be, we can't out-breed an entire nation.
I suppose setting up a functioning public school system at a level below the Academy would be a decent start, though...pick our successor...I suppose my real issue here is that what I want is for the problem to already be fixed so I don't have to deal with it. XD
[5] [Aspect] Air. Flighty and brilliant, the children of Mela are often considered to be dreamers and idealists by their more grounded kin. They are the source of many of the Realm's new ideas and more impressive developments, and their gift for both reason and creativity lends them a particular aptitude for the occult arts.
[2] [Aspect] Earth. Strong and unyielding, the children of Pasiap are the strong foundation upon which the Realm is built. Sturdy and deliberate, they have a reputation as architects, being fond of methodical and in-depth work that will last for generations after they have passed into Lethe.
[3] [Aspect] Fire. Bright and passionate, the children of Hesiash provide the driving enthusiasm that propels the Realm along its inevitable course. To a mind of fire stagnation is equivalent to death, and they make a point of frequently testing and revising what was otherwise considered to be 'good enough', often to the frustration of their more conservative kin.
[1] [Aspect] Water. Fluid and adaptable, the children of Daana'd are renowned for their ability to rally in the face of adversity and find their way around problems others consider insurmountable. Masters of wave and water, their advance is neither as swift nor as powerful as that of their kin, but it is relentless in a way that few others could hope to match.
[4] [Aspect] Wood. Stern and nurturing, the children of Sextis Jylis find their natural aptitudes lead them to become stewards of creation. They guide, protect and empower the people and agencies under their care, pruning away weakness and encouraging strength with remorseless compassion.
[7] [House] Cathak. The foremost military power in the Realm, Cathak can raise and maintain more legions than any other house, and has a habit of producing brilliant heroes and generals to command them. They use this power to carefully control and protect the tributary states under their care, with an eye towards sustainability and long-term investment.
[4] [House] Cynis. Decadent and ruthless, the Cynis maintain an effective monopoly over the slave trade on the Blessed Isle. This, combined with their ties with merchant groups across the Threshold, gives them economic and political clout far beyond what their initial appearance might suggest.
[8] [House] Ledaal. Pious to a fault, the Ledaal are more focused on bringing the Immaculate Faith (and accompanying Imperial dominion) to the barbarous threshold than they are with jockeying for power. This gives them a wide ranging and in-depth support network, but little will or ability to use it for internal matters.
[9] [House] Mnemon; Strict traditionalists, who blend religious devotion with adroit political maneuvering to maintain a stranglehold over much of the Realm's cultural and bureaucratic scene. Many senior monks in the Immaculate Order are either descended from Mnemon or esteem her above all other potential claimants to the Throne.
[3] [House] Nellens. Born of mortal blood, Nellens are widely derided for their inferior pedigree, but have managed to lever that weakness into strong ties with many of the Isle's patrician and bureaucratic classes.
[2] [House] Peleps. The Imperial Navy belongs to the Peleps, which gives them immense power in an island nation bent on the exploitation of foreign lands. Dynasts from this House tend towards being both disciplined and ruthlessly competitive, which creates a very... intense environment for the younger generations to grow up in.
[1] [House] Ragara. Also known as the Imperial Bank, House Ragara maintain a staggering level of economic influence throughout all layers of society, collecting debts and investing in promising ventures with calm, deliberate motions. Their power is indirect, but all but impossible to truly oppose.
[10] [House] Sesus. Brutal to the point of barbarism, the Sesus have made a speciality of loaning their ferocious legions out in the service of their peers in exchange for political considerations and other support. Second only to Cathak in military might, they are considerably less gentle to the lands under their care, resulting in short term wealth but limited possibilities for investment.
[6] [House] Tepet. Once a dominant power in the Realm's military circles, the Tepet are currently doing their best to rally after a disastrous campaign in the Northern Threshold left them stripped of many of their legions and accompanying scions. Of course, those who survived are some of the best to be found anywhere, and the House is willing to go to great lengths to ensure its own survival.
[5] [House] V'Neef. A small band of young upstarts in the eyes of their rivals, V'Neef was quite obviously the Empress' favourite before her disappearance, and they hold an outsized stake in many commercial concerns as a result. Their blood is pure, their loyalty unquestioned, and their skills largely untested.
[2] [Aspect] Earth. Strong and unyielding, the children of Pasiap are the strong foundation upon which the Realm is built. Sturdy and deliberate, they have a reputation as architects, being fond of methodical and in-depth work that will last for generations after they have passed into Lethe.
[3] [Aspect] Fire. Bright and passionate, the children of Hesiash provide the driving enthusiasm that propels the Realm along its inevitable course. To a mind of fire stagnation is equivalent to death, and they make a point of frequently testing and revising what was otherwise considered to be 'good enough', often to the frustration of their more conservative kin.
[1] [Aspect] Water. Fluid and adaptable, the children of Daana'd are renowned for their ability to rally in the face of adversity and find their way around problems others consider insurmountable. Masters of wave and water, their advance is neither as swift nor as powerful as that of their kin, but it is relentless in a way that few others could hope to match.
[4] [Aspect] Wood. Stern and nurturing, the children of Sextis Jylis find their natural aptitudes lead them to become stewards of creation. They guide, protect and empower the people and agencies under their care, pruning away weakness and encouraging strength with remorseless compassion.
[7] [House] Cathak. The foremost military power in the Realm, Cathak can raise and maintain more legions than any other house, and has a habit of producing brilliant heroes and generals to command them. They use this power to carefully control and protect the tributary states under their care, with an eye towards sustainability and long-term investment.
[4] [House] Cynis. Decadent and ruthless, the Cynis maintain an effective monopoly over the slave trade on the Blessed Isle. This, combined with their ties with merchant groups across the Threshold, gives them economic and political clout far beyond what their initial appearance might suggest.
[8] [House] Ledaal. Pious to a fault, the Ledaal are more focused on bringing the Immaculate Faith (and accompanying Imperial dominion) to the barbarous threshold than they are with jockeying for power. This gives them a wide ranging and in-depth support network, but little will or ability to use it for internal matters.
[9] [House] Mnemon; Strict traditionalists, who blend religious devotion with adroit political maneuvering to maintain a stranglehold over much of the Realm's cultural and bureaucratic scene. Many senior monks in the Immaculate Order are either descended from Mnemon or esteem her above all other potential claimants to the Throne.
[3] [House] Nellens. Born of mortal blood, Nellens are widely derided for their inferior pedigree, but have managed to lever that weakness into strong ties with many of the Isle's patrician and bureaucratic classes.
[2] [House] Peleps. The Imperial Navy belongs to the Peleps, which gives them immense power in an island nation bent on the exploitation of foreign lands. Dynasts from this House tend towards being both disciplined and ruthlessly competitive, which creates a very... intense environment for the younger generations to grow up in.
[1] [House] Ragara. Also known as the Imperial Bank, House Ragara maintain a staggering level of economic influence throughout all layers of society, collecting debts and investing in promising ventures with calm, deliberate motions. Their power is indirect, but all but impossible to truly oppose.
[10] [House] Sesus. Brutal to the point of barbarism, the Sesus have made a speciality of loaning their ferocious legions out in the service of their peers in exchange for political considerations and other support. Second only to Cathak in military might, they are considerably less gentle to the lands under their care, resulting in short term wealth but limited possibilities for investment.
[6] [House] Tepet. Once a dominant power in the Realm's military circles, the Tepet are currently doing their best to rally after a disastrous campaign in the Northern Threshold left them stripped of many of their legions and accompanying scions. Of course, those who survived are some of the best to be found anywhere, and the House is willing to go to great lengths to ensure its own survival.
[5] [House] V'Neef. A small band of young upstarts in the eyes of their rivals, V'Neef was quite obviously the Empress' favourite before her disappearance, and they hold an outsized stake in many commercial concerns as a result. Their blood is pure, their loyalty unquestioned, and their skills largely untested.
The problem is that trying to push through any kind of meaningful reform before getting enough of a powerbase will just get us killed and any changes reversed. We can maybe get something done if it looks harmless enough, universally popular enough, and/or something that we look like we've been manipulated into so the blame fall on someone else and we just look like a paw that can be subverted instead of removed.
We can't really do anything if we just get killed because we tried to do too much, too fast and too obviously.
- Location
- London, England
Heh. Well, I will be relying on the player base to come up with certain options they'd like the opportunity to pursue. So depending on if you can convince the rest of the voters to give your ideas a try you could probably see just that...
fictionfan
Please sir, may I have some Meows?
- Location
- Tempe, AZ
[x] Leingood
PsyFarrow
Verified Necrodancer
- Location
- Space
[4] [Aspect] Air. Flighty and brilliant, the children of Mela are often considered to be dreamers and idealists by their more grounded kin. They are the source of many of the Realm's new ideas and more impressive developments, and their gift for both reason and creativity lends them a particular aptitude for the occult arts.
[1] [Aspect] Earth. Strong and unyielding, the children of Pasiap are the strong foundation upon which the Realm is built. Sturdy and deliberate, they have a reputation as architects, being fond of methodical and in-depth work that will last for generations after they have passed into Lethe.
[5] [Aspect] Fire. Bright and passionate, the children of Hesiash provide the driving enthusiasm that propels the Realm along its inevitable course. To a mind of fire stagnation is equivalent to death, and they make a point of frequently testing and revising what was otherwise considered to be 'good enough', often to the frustration of their more conservative kin.
[2] [Aspect] Water. Fluid and adaptable, the children of Daana'd are renowned for their ability to rally in the face of adversity and find their way around problems others consider insurmountable. Masters of wave and water, their advance is neither as swift nor as powerful as that of their kin, but it is relentless in a way that few others could hope to match.
[3] [Aspect] Wood. Stern and nurturing, the children of Sextis Jylis find their natural aptitudes lead them to become stewards of creation. They guide, protect and empower the people and agencies under their care, pruning away weakness and encouraging strength with remorseless compassion.
---------
[8] [House] Cathak. The foremost military power in the Realm, Cathak can raise and maintain more legions than any other house, and has a habit of producing brilliant heroes and generals to command them. They use this power to carefully control and protect the tributary states under their care, with an eye towards sustainability and long-term investment.
[6] [House] Cynis. Decadent and ruthless, the Cynis maintain an effective monopoly over the slave trade on the Blessed Isle. This, combined with their ties with merchant groups across the Threshold, gives them economic and political clout far beyond what their initial appearance might suggest.
[4] [House] Ledaal. Pious to a fault, the Ledaal are more focused on bringing the Immaculate Faith (and accompanying Imperial dominion) to the barbarous threshold than they are with jockeying for power. This gives them a wide ranging and in-depth support network, but little will or ability to use it for internal matters.
[10] [House] Mnemon; Strict traditionalists, who blend religious devotion with adroit political maneuvering to maintain a stranglehold over much of the Realm's cultural and bureaucratic scene. Many senior monks in the Immaculate Order are either descended from Mnemon or esteem her above all other potential claimants to the Throne.
[3] [House] Nellens. Born of mortal blood, Nellens are widely derided for their inferior pedigree, but have managed to lever that weakness into strong ties with many of the Isle's patrician and bureaucratic classes.
[7] [House] Peleps. The Imperial Navy belongs to the Peleps, which gives them immense power in an island nation bent on the exploitation of foreign lands. Dynasts from this House tend towards being both disciplined and ruthlessly competitive, which creates a very... intense environment for the younger generations to grow up in.
[2] [House] Ragara. Also known as the Imperial Bank, House Ragara maintain a staggering level of economic influence throughout all layers of society, collecting debts and investing in promising ventures with calm, deliberate motions. Their power is indirect, but all but impossible to truly oppose.
[9] [House] Sesus. Brutal to the point of barbarism, the Sesus have made a speciality of loaning their ferocious legions out in the service of their peers in exchange for political considerations and other support. Second only to Cathak in military might, they are considerably less gentle to the lands under their care, resulting in short term wealth but limited possibilities for investment.
[5] [House] Tepet. Once a dominant power in the Realm's military circles, the Tepet are currently doing their best to rally after a disastrous campaign in the Northern Threshold left them stripped of many of their legions and accompanying scions. Of course, those who survived are some of the best to be found anywhere, and the House is willing to go to great lengths to ensure its own survival.
[1] [House] V'Neef. A small band of young upstarts in the eyes of their rivals, V'Neef was quite obviously the Empress' favourite before her disappearance, and they hold an outsized stake in many commercial concerns as a result. Their blood is pure, their loyalty unquestioned, and their skills largely untested.
[1] [Aspect] Earth. Strong and unyielding, the children of Pasiap are the strong foundation upon which the Realm is built. Sturdy and deliberate, they have a reputation as architects, being fond of methodical and in-depth work that will last for generations after they have passed into Lethe.
[5] [Aspect] Fire. Bright and passionate, the children of Hesiash provide the driving enthusiasm that propels the Realm along its inevitable course. To a mind of fire stagnation is equivalent to death, and they make a point of frequently testing and revising what was otherwise considered to be 'good enough', often to the frustration of their more conservative kin.
[2] [Aspect] Water. Fluid and adaptable, the children of Daana'd are renowned for their ability to rally in the face of adversity and find their way around problems others consider insurmountable. Masters of wave and water, their advance is neither as swift nor as powerful as that of their kin, but it is relentless in a way that few others could hope to match.
[3] [Aspect] Wood. Stern and nurturing, the children of Sextis Jylis find their natural aptitudes lead them to become stewards of creation. They guide, protect and empower the people and agencies under their care, pruning away weakness and encouraging strength with remorseless compassion.
---------
[8] [House] Cathak. The foremost military power in the Realm, Cathak can raise and maintain more legions than any other house, and has a habit of producing brilliant heroes and generals to command them. They use this power to carefully control and protect the tributary states under their care, with an eye towards sustainability and long-term investment.
[6] [House] Cynis. Decadent and ruthless, the Cynis maintain an effective monopoly over the slave trade on the Blessed Isle. This, combined with their ties with merchant groups across the Threshold, gives them economic and political clout far beyond what their initial appearance might suggest.
[4] [House] Ledaal. Pious to a fault, the Ledaal are more focused on bringing the Immaculate Faith (and accompanying Imperial dominion) to the barbarous threshold than they are with jockeying for power. This gives them a wide ranging and in-depth support network, but little will or ability to use it for internal matters.
[10] [House] Mnemon; Strict traditionalists, who blend religious devotion with adroit political maneuvering to maintain a stranglehold over much of the Realm's cultural and bureaucratic scene. Many senior monks in the Immaculate Order are either descended from Mnemon or esteem her above all other potential claimants to the Throne.
[3] [House] Nellens. Born of mortal blood, Nellens are widely derided for their inferior pedigree, but have managed to lever that weakness into strong ties with many of the Isle's patrician and bureaucratic classes.
[7] [House] Peleps. The Imperial Navy belongs to the Peleps, which gives them immense power in an island nation bent on the exploitation of foreign lands. Dynasts from this House tend towards being both disciplined and ruthlessly competitive, which creates a very... intense environment for the younger generations to grow up in.
[2] [House] Ragara. Also known as the Imperial Bank, House Ragara maintain a staggering level of economic influence throughout all layers of society, collecting debts and investing in promising ventures with calm, deliberate motions. Their power is indirect, but all but impossible to truly oppose.
[9] [House] Sesus. Brutal to the point of barbarism, the Sesus have made a speciality of loaning their ferocious legions out in the service of their peers in exchange for political considerations and other support. Second only to Cathak in military might, they are considerably less gentle to the lands under their care, resulting in short term wealth but limited possibilities for investment.
[5] [House] Tepet. Once a dominant power in the Realm's military circles, the Tepet are currently doing their best to rally after a disastrous campaign in the Northern Threshold left them stripped of many of their legions and accompanying scions. Of course, those who survived are some of the best to be found anywhere, and the House is willing to go to great lengths to ensure its own survival.
[1] [House] V'Neef. A small band of young upstarts in the eyes of their rivals, V'Neef was quite obviously the Empress' favourite before her disappearance, and they hold an outsized stake in many commercial concerns as a result. Their blood is pure, their loyalty unquestioned, and their skills largely untested.
fictionfan
Please sir, may I have some Meows?
- Location
- Tempe, AZ
[1] [Aspect] Water
[1] [House] V'Neef
[2] [House] Ragara
[1] [House] V'Neef
[2] [House] Ragara
notanautomaton
I've got 99 quests, I've finished one
@Maugan Ra is immortality/extremely extended lifespan for DB's going to be as easy to get as in canon in this (2e: Hearthstone. 3e: Get the Bronze faction to do a ritual restoring youth)? Because if it is we have a clear best option; Get such a thing to Cathak Cainan or that one Wood aspect Sorcerer (I think he was a Ragara, and is the head of the Heptagram, and is one of the DB's who everyone says would be an easy pick for Emperor if he weren't so old).
- Location
- Spain
notanautomaton
I've got 99 quests, I've finished one
Thanks Maugan.
- Location
- London, England
I wouldn't call a Solar Circle Working "easy to get".
notanautomaton
I've got 99 quests, I've finished one
For roughly 40 Sidereals working together and a not-insignificant amount of Heaven's resources? I'd call it pretty easy. The hardest part would be the scheduling (read: Bribes), and even that would be manageable when the alternative is Realm Civil War.
You are implying the Sids would bother exposing themselves to us or that the Great Curse would allow them to effectively prevent devestation on the scale of a Realm Civil War
notanautomaton
I've got 99 quests, I've finished one
Well they don't all have to be in one place, they can do it through correspondence.You are implying the Sids would bother exposing themselves to us or that the Great Curse would allow them to effectively prevent devestation on the scale of a Realm Civil War
Leingod
Immaculate Blooming Lotus
Pretty sure it's mentioned somewhere that some Sids have suggested extending Cainan's lifestyle and been shot down, I think because there are signs that doing so might make the situation worse somehow.
fictionfan
Please sir, may I have some Meows?
- Location
- Tempe, AZ
[1] [Aspect] Water
I don't really understand politics.
I don't really understand politics.
RagnorakTres
Technically Correct
- Location
- A Rolled Up Sidewalk Somewhere South Of Toledo, OH
- Pronouns
- Any/All
Don't worry, neither do we. Come with us, we can learn together!
We'll probably be learning how awful we are at politics, but that's still learning, right?
shepsquared
Erratic Aussie
- Location
- Melbourne, Australia
[4] [Aspect] Water
[3] [Aspect] Air
[2] [Aspect] Wood
[2] [Aspect] Fire
[1] [Aspect] Earth
[3] [House] V'Neef
[4] [House] Nellens
[1] [House] Ragara
[5] [House] Ledaal
[6] [House] Mnemon
[2] [House] Tepet
[3] [Aspect] Air
[2] [Aspect] Wood
[2] [Aspect] Fire
[1] [Aspect] Earth
[3] [House] V'Neef
[4] [House] Nellens
[1] [House] Ragara
[5] [House] Ledaal
[6] [House] Mnemon
[2] [House] Tepet