There are many things you could ask here, and many that some external advisor might even say you
should, but as is always the way of things it is the small details that catch your mind, that draw your attention and will not let it go. A single word, spoken without thought, but carrying with it implications in legion strength.
"You… called yourself one of the Exalted," you say cautiously, trying to wrap your head around the idea, "but you are not of the Dragon's blood. Nor am I, for all that we are supposedly peers. So…"
Shepherd of the North Star winces slightly, and for a moment you think you might have caught him in a lie. But no, he does not appear defensive or upset, simply awkward and slightly annoyed.
"Right, shit, that…" he says, rubbing one hand across the back of his head in a gesture that makes him look far younger than his face and bearing would imply, "alright, so, to boil a complex topic
right the way down, the Dragon-Blooded are what we would call 'Terrestrial Exalted'. Their power is drawn from the elements, from their bloodline, from the Jade relics in their arsenals - all things of Creation and the material world. We, by contrast, draw our abilities from the night sky, from fate and prophecy and the blessing of the highest among the gods. We are, in short 'Celestial' Exalted."
You nod slowly. That matches up with what you know already, for while your studies into essence and the most esoteric areas of natural philosophy are somewhat limited, one does not need to hunt through a library to know the truth of the Dragon's Chosen. The Dynasts of the Scarlet Empire are the greatest military, economic and socio-political power in Creation, all glories built on the back of their grand lineages of Exalted heroes. There are not many Children of the Dragons in Taira, but those who exist could walk into your father's court and be granted audience at virtually any time, a privilege for which others would literally commit murder… and a price they were more than worth paying.
"Alright, but… well, that's not what I meant," you say, awkwardly aware of the dull heat of the morning and the cool embrace of the water at your back, "I know about the Dragon's Chosen, everyone does, but… a Sidereal? I've never even heard the word before, and if you're anything like the Exalted I know that should be all but impossible. Why don't the histories…"
A young girl's eyes, watching you in uncomprehending shock. A question from lips that should never speak such words. A sense of shock, and loss deep enough to scar the heart.
"Yeah," Shepherd says softly, his golden eyes warm and compassionate, "you've already encountered it, haven't you? Do you mind if I ask…"
You swallow thickly, your mind shying away from the sheer magnitude of what the collection of clues at your disposal imply. "Sabah… she's my sister. She's known me all her life. We used to play games together, but… yesterday, she didn't know me. I thought it might be shock or injury at first, but…"
The blond man sighs and looks away, his gaze drifting aimlessly along the riverbank. The river blends with the tree line here, creating a region of mangroves through which strange reptilian forms glide and lurk.
"We call it 'arcane fate'," he says at last, voice melancholic, "and it is a curse in the most literal of senses, one that binds every member of our fellowship from the moment they take their second breath. It is a curse of anonymity, I suppose would be the best way to describe it; in short, nothing we do will ever really be remembered."
The humid air leaves droplets of water against every surface and beads your brow with sweat, but you do not feel the heat. As Shepherd speaks, the only thing you feel is cold.
"We've tried to find ways around it, of course, but as far as we can tell nothing works," the wanderer continues, his voice heavy, "written records go missing, or get destroyed. Stories change with every telling, until another is credited with our own role. Statues erode, scars fade, and memories… well, those have never been reliable. Someone who felt strongly about you might notice a sense of lack, and those of strong will can hold onto the details as they slip through their fingers like so much sand, but a child like Sabah? Someone that young has trouble remembering what they were told five minutes ago. To her, you might as well have never existed."
You are… well, very glad that you are already seated, to be honest, and that your stance is such that any loss of balance will tip you
into the boat rather than out. The thought of such a curse, of the sheer
power represented by something of that scope… it boggles the mind. The moon-witches of Perswha are infamous for the afflictions their displeasure brings, but even they could not do such a thing, else your ancestors would have never been able to conquer their city and burn their temples to the ground.
"How is… how is such a thing possible?" You say, your voice hoarse, "Who could even perform such magic?"
"I don't know," Shepherd says with an awkward shrug, "as far as I can tell, no one does. The Mask… that is to say, the part of fate that governs secrets and hidden information like this, as represented by the constellation itself… well, it's broken. Maybe that's the reason we're cursed as we are, maybe it's just a side effect of such a grand working, but while it is broken any information relating to the curse is itself concealed by that same mechanism. I've heard at least half a dozen stories that seek to explain it, all with what appears to be strong evidence behind them, none of which permit the existence of the others."
You sit in silence for a time, struggling to comprehend the full meaning of being so ruinously afflicted. You knew that being Chosen like you were likely meant your worldly ambitions had come to an end, and your desire to see your sister to safety beyond Taira's borders has not faded, but… you can't go back. The people will have forgotten you, and even if you could convince them of your name and birthright any legal decrees you might pass down would wash away like sand the moment they passed beyond your sight.
The life you had is gone, and none but you will even know to mourn.
"...what's going to happen to my family?" You whisper, voice on the very edge of breaking, "My parents are dead, my uncles and my cousins too, but… I have aunts, other relatives, a whole lineage beyond the ones who lived in Zamash. You're a servant of heaven, you have to know more than I do, as much as the gods themselves…"
"I don't," Shepherd says gently, shattering the one rock left of your foundation with a voice as soft as velvet, "not with any certainty, at least. When we get to Heaven I can consult the records of your family and see what fate has in store for them, but that won't tell the whole story. Fate cannot be defied, but it
can be altered, most frequently by mortal will."
You bow your head, your eyes burning with unshed tears. Damn it, this would be a lot easier if you were a woman right now… but no, your soul is that of a man and so you must contend with a man's passions, even when they threaten to steal your sense and send you screaming for the horizon.
"So… I can't help them, can't even
know what will happen to them…" you whisper, the words intended for your own heart but carried to the ears of another regardless of intent.
"Hey, I didn't say that," Shepherd replies, attempting to console you as best a relative stranger can, "see, we're the Chosen of the Maidens, and when it comes to fate that
means something. You can't stick around and look after everybody yourself, but you
can tweak the weave so that fate does it for you. Or, since you're still new to this, you can let someone else do it on your behalf."
There is an offer in those words, and it is one that sets the light of hope burning in your breast once again.
"Truly?" You say, scarcely daring to believe, "You would do such a thing for me?"
"Hey, I
did say I owed you an apology, and deeds weigh more than words," Shepherd says with a serious nod, "now it'll take time to get a blessing of any scale laid down, but I'd be willing to call in a few favors and get it done when we return to Yu-Shan. I'm pretty sure Iron Siaka would be willing to chip in as well…"
"Chip in with what?" The woman in question asks, one eyebrow raised as she emerges onto the deck from the quarters below, "Shepherd, what're you getting me into this time?"
You frown slightly at the sight of her. The build is the same, the steel armour and leather coat are familiar, but you could have sworn her hair was blond when you encountered her last night. Now it's a pale, multi-layered blue, like that of someone from the furthest western reaches of Creation. She catches you looking and raises one hand in greeting.
"Hey there new… girl?" She says, frowning back at your in turn, "Or… guy? Could have sworn you looked prettier last night…"
"Guy, at least for today," you clarify, raising a hand of your own in return of the perfunctory greeting, "it changes sometimes."
Iron Siaka seems to consider this for a few moments, then shrugs, broad shoulders rising and falling like boulders rolling down the mountain. "Alright, guess that works. Not the strangest thing I've seen this month, even if the others were all gods…"
"I'm talking about laying a blessing, Siaka," Shepherd interjects, saving the conversation before you can demand further details on what sounds like an honestly fascinating story, "Farah here wants to be sure his family are all right, while he's off in Yu-Shan and beyond. I volunteered to write up the proposal."
"Oh, right… yeah, that makes sense," Siaka nods briskly, folding her broad arms across her chest and turning to face you. You think there is a glint of approval in her dark blue eyes. "I did something similar when I was chosen; had a blessing laid on the little village I was from, made sure that no one who lived there would ever fall victim to plague or famine as long as they kept faith with their neighbors. The top brass like us to keep the scope limited where we can, but they generally look the other way when it comes to stuff like this - an agent who knows their family is safe and happy is an agent much less likely to go wandering off mid-mission to make sure of it."
"Not quite how I would have put it, but close enough," Shepherd says with a sigh slightly too exaggerated to be genuine, "so, this is how it works…"
The fate of Creation is decided in committee.
Within Heaven's Bureau of Destiny, a vast array of divinities discuss, debate, politic, and conspire to plot the destiny of the world. Nominally, they seek to weave a beautiful pattern upon the Loom of Fate, that the Maidens of Destiny may look upon the shimmering cloth of That Which Is and be pleased. In truth, the five divisions within the Bureau compete with one another for resources and decision making power, for particular courses and outcomes.
The Sidereal Exalted are, by and large, only as involved in such matters as they wish to be. They are the agents of Destiny, not mere scribal-pit gods, and walk Creation to realize their views of fate more concretely. That said, there are times when members of the Five-Score Fellowship finds it helpful to submit their own plans and projections to the Bureau, and weave the world as they will.
Astrological Projections are the subtle art of destiny-weaving and the birthright of the Sidereal Exalted. They are kin to sorcerous workings, but differ in intent and means. Astrological Projections are less capable of wildly altering the normal workings of the world, or creating monsters in defiance of reason. However, they are better suited for encouraging or ensuring that certain events do or don't come to pass, and can cause even the wildest of improbabilities to occur.
Farah is currently incapable of reliably weaving a projection by themselves (this requires investment into charms associated with the sign of the Sorcerer). Hence, full mechanics are not provided here; for now, it is sufficient to note that the difficulty of such a weaving is determined by how ambitious it is, how much precise control the Sidereal desires over the result, and what resources they have to commit to the attempt. A plan with room for flexibility submitted alongside a full astrological horoscope and the authorizing signatures of multiple other Sidereals and relevant gods has a much better chance of becoming fate than a precisely dictated scheme dictated alone and entirely through prayer.
Beings outside of Fate, such as the Demon Princes, Rakan Thulio, the Getimian Exalted, and certain powerful beings of the Underworld or the Wyld, may not be included as targets of an Astrological Projection.
Telluric Projections are the simplest sort; they can encourage or discourage a small group of people towards certain actions, or dictate the fate of a particular individual. They may also be used to directly intervene in the workings of Heaven upon Creation in modest ways, assigning or removing Terrestrial gods from their positions.
Ambition 1: Grant wealth and ease to a mortal, or extend (but within the constraints of natural) their lifespan. Learn the whereabouts and condition of a particular mortal, assuming they are alive.
Ambition 2: Curse a family to misery and poverty. Cut the thread of a mortal's life short. Learn when and how a mortal died.
Ambition 3: Grant prosperity to a village, ensuring good harvests and avoiding mundane hardships. Assign or remove a God of Essence 3 or less to a duty within Creation.
Supernal Projections are of more complex variety; they typically either affect a much wider area, or bend and twist fate in unnatural ways. They may also be used to directly intervene in the workings of Heaven in significant ways, assigning or removing Celestial gods from their positions. They are comparable to Celestial Circle Workings.
Ambition 1: Grant a mortal dizzying political power, making them a prince or chief of their people, or slow their aging to an unnatural degree. Alter a mortal's major intimacies and abilities in any fashion. Learn the whereabouts and condition of a particular Exalt, assuming they are alive.
Ambition 2: Curse a tribe to hatred unto the third generation; they and their children and their grand-children inspire enmity in all outsiders they meet. Heavily tilt the scales of a confrontation between up to several hundred people in a significant way (on the scale of +3 success once a turn for a scene). Learn when and how an Exalted died.
Ambition 3: Grant prosperity to a city-state, such as revealing an unknown cache of magical materials or precious gemstones. Bless every seventh son in a region with a thaumaturgical gift. Assign or remove a God of Essence 5 or less to a duty within Heaven or Creation.
Sidereal Projections are the most complex and most subtle of all; they are typically concerned with the fate of all Creation, or with a radical change in the functions of the world. They may also be used to directly intervene in the workings of Heaven to an almost unlimited degree. They are comparable to Solar Circle Workings.
Ambition 1: Grant someone limited immortality and beneficial mutations; they cease aging, but can still be injured or grow ill. Alter a mortal's defining intimacies, attributes and abilities in any fashion- at this Ambition, you can completely re-write who they are.
Ambition 2: Curse a people to destruction; while not every member of the people will necessarily be killed, their culture and identity will be wiped from Creation. Ensure the victory or defeat of a side in a conflict (on the scale of +5 successes on every action and static defense)
Ambition 3: Any single, possible event to occur, regardless of the improbability. Assign or remove any God short of the Incarnae to any duty or portfolio save entry into the Games of Divinity, or have them banished from Heaven and Creation entirely.
Shepherd of the North Star and Iron Saika have agreed to weave an astrological projection on behalf of your family and loved ones in Taira (or alternately, against your enemies). At present they are only capable of enacting Telluric projections by themselves - they are willing to call in outside help to work beyond this level, but the more you ask the greater the chance the attempt will fail… or, if it succeeds, increases the power and seniority of the person you are now in debt to.
With that in mind, define your requested Projection:
[ ] A Blessing of Personal Safety: You would have the fate of your surviving family members emphasize their continued survival - they will be healthy and whole, and that is what matters.
[ ] An Invocation of Success: You would see your family retain their power, and be blessed in their attempts to govern well and bring stability to the country. The enemy cannot be allowed to succeed in their aims and topple the throne.
[ ] A Curse of Vengeance: Those who would plot to raise a blade against any of your blood should be cursed with a lingering and unpleasant illness, one that brings suffering and often death. A traitor must be paid for their work.
[ ] Write in
