Dynasty of Dovak

Dynasty of Dovak Chapter 6

http://games.adult-fanfiction.org/story.php?no=600091106

Dynasty of Dovak is a weekly Dragon-Blooded Exalted 3E game dealing with mature themes and sexual content.

Smut chapters are marked *SMUT*

All chapters are WIP and subject to rewrites.

Content Tags: Abuse Angst Bigotry Contro MF OC Preg Racist UST Violence WIP

Disclaimer: White Wolf, Exalted and Exalted 3rd Edition are all trademarks of White Wolf Publishing AB, and official characters, names, places and text are copyrighted by White Wolf. I do not own Exalted and I'm not making money from this fiction.

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This is not a complete story! Despite its length, Dynasty of Dovak, is not a complete story. It is an ongoing write up of a weekly Exalted game in which the Dragon-Blooded Dynasts of House Mnemon brave the dangers of the Threshold. All Chapters are subject to rewrites, and the story is on-going.

*SMUT* chapters marked as *SMUT*. Ctrl+F for *SMUT* as the sex scenes are usually mid-chapter.

Trigger Warning: This is a summary of an X-rated play which deals with mature themes that some may find distressing. Violence, sex, and discrimination are central themes: if you think you might be distressed by this story then I urge you to read no further.

Chapter 6 – Preamble

The Story Thus Far

It is the 769th year of the Scarlet Empire. No-one has seen the Scarlet Empress for six years. Her scions now tear the Realm apart. Her eldest daughter, Mnemon is locked in a bitter civil war against Cathak Cainan, a wizened but well respected general, has been returned to the prime of youth by unexplained magics. His supporters are claiming this miracle is proof of his divine right to rule, whilst Mnemon’s factions suspect the dark magics of the shadowy Anathema.

The Mnemon Alinos family, finds itself at the forefront of the war. Their scions have served as generals and vanguard, none more distinguished than Mnemon Alinos Danireya, who has crossed the length and breadth of the Blessed Isle winning allies for Mnemon’s cause. Now the battle lines are drawn and the war begins in earnest. House Mnemon is supported by Houses Ledaal, V’neef, Tepet and Sesus. House Cathak stands with House Peleps, Ragara, Cynis, and Iselsi. House Nellens stands neutral, but well aware that this situation cannot last.

Our story begins at a wedding, cementing the alliance between House Mnemon and House Sesus.

Our story begins, with a murder…

Dramatis Personae
House Mnemon Alinos

Mnemon Alinos Danireya – A hero
Reya is the eldest daughter of Mnemon Alinos and her heir apparent, also being technically the Satrap of Dovak. Reya has defined the Mnemon battle-plan in the civil war, uniting Mnemon into a coalition with her sisters, and marrying her children off to Sesus spouses to cement that alliance.

Reya is 35 weeks pregnant with her third child.

Mnemon Alinos Danireya

Air Aspect
Heptagram
Aspiring Matriarch

Session 60 – Reya (180XP 144DX, 179/139 spent; 9GP 27SP)

Strength 2
Dexterity 3
Stamina 2

Charisma 2
Manipulation 5 (16DX)
Appearance 5

Perception 3
Intelligence 3
Wits 3

Air Aspect Abilities (and Specialties) (6 BP)

Linguistics 5
Lore: Heptagram education 5 (Mathematics)

Occult 5 (The Burning Name)

Stealth 0

Thrown 0

Favored Abilities (7BP)

Craft: Weapons 3 (Axes) (4DX)

Integrity 5

Performance 5 (12DX) (Singing; Oratory, 3DX)

Presence 5 (Imperious Matriarch, 3XP)
Socialize 5 (High Society)

Other Abilities

Archery 3 (9DX)

Athletics 3 (9DX)

Awareness 2 (2DX)

Bureaucracy 5 (23DX)
Dodge 2 (2DX)
Investigation 1 (3DX)
Melee 3
Resistance 2 (2DX)
War 3 (6DX)

Merits (Native Language: High Realm) (5 BP)

Allies 3 (Mnemon Nula, Dragon-Blooded Sorcerer)
Backing (Mnemon Business Interests) 3
Mentor (Mnemon Alinos) 3
Old Realm 1
Selective Conception 1
The Burning Name 2
Well Bred 2

(Dynastic Freebie) Allies 3 (Mnemon Muli, Dragon-Blooded medic)

Story Merits

Perdurant Vault

Collar of Dawn’s Cleansing Light

Audient Brush (unattuned)

Heavenly Ecstasy Aide (unattuned)

Collar of Dutiful Submission (unattuned)

Influence 4 (Satrap)

Resources 4 (Increased Stipend)

Fighting-The-Tide Gemstone

Charms

 

10XP. Awareness: Deep-Listening Palm

10XP. Bureaucracy: Geese-Flying-South Administration
10XP. Bureaucracy: One Forest, Many Trees

Free. Integrity: Granite Curtain of Serenity

1: Integrity: Heart Hardening Meditation
2. Integrity: Inviolate Dragon Spirit
8XP. Integrity: Oath of the Ten Thousand Dragons

8XP. Integrity: Ten Thousand Dragons Fight As One

8XP. Integrity: Ascendant Ideal Inspiration

3. Linguistics: Wind-Carried Words Technique
8XP. Linguistics: Language Learning Ritual

8XP. Linguistics: Voices on the Wind

8XP. Linguistics: Speech Without Words

Free. Lore: Careful Insight-Gathering Study

8XP. Lore: Opening the Mind’s Gates
4. Performance: Audience Enthusing Display

5. Performance: Lightning Declamation Style

8XP. Performance: Hidden Petal Aria
8XP. Performance: Enticing Paramour Passion

8XP. Performance: Earthly Pleasure Prana (Custom Charm)

Free. Presence: Glowing Coal Radiance

6. Presence: Eternally Argumentative Flame

7. Presence: Warm Faced Seduction Style
8. Presence: Hot-Blooded Ardor

8XP. Presence: Heart-Conquering Prowess

Free. Occult: Hidden Secrets Whispered
9. Occult: Spirit Detecting Mirror
10. Occult: Spirit Grounding Strike
11. Occult: Soul Fire Cremation Technique
12. Occult: Terrestrial Circle Sorcery
--. Control Spell: Corrupted Words
--. Shaping Ritual: Sevenfold Art Invocation
13. Summon Elemental
14. Storm Wind Rider

10DX. Infallible Messenger

10DX. Peacock Shadow Eyes
Free. Socialize: Loquacious Courtier’s Technique

8XP. Socialize: Friend-To-All-Nations Attitude
8XP. Socialize: Loyalty Reading Meditation
8XP. Socialize: Auspicious First Meeting Attitude

15. Resistance: Ox-body Technique
10XP. Resistance: Ox-body Technique x2

Evocations

Free. Perdurant Vault: Clairvoyant Mirror Technique

4XP8DX. Perdurant Vault: Subliminal Sanctuary
12DX. Perdurant Vault: Unblemished Petal Prana

12DX. Perdurant Vault: Protect the Empress

Intimacies

Defining Principle: “I will raise my lineage to new heights”

Major Principle: “With power comes the duty to use that power responsibly”
Minor Principle: The Immaculate Faith
Minor Principle: "I like creating and repairing things"
Defining Tie: My children (Familial love)

Defining Tie: House Mnemon (Familial Duty)
Major Tie: Cynis Ganan (Love)
Major Tie: Mnemon Alinos Gracious Pealing Melody (Sisterly Love)

Major Tie: Mnemon Alinos (Ambivalent Love/Resentment)

Major Tie: Anathema (Righteous Contempt)
Major Tie: House Ragara (Bitter Animosity/Morbid curiosity)

Evasion 3

Parry 4
Soak 5 (Exceptional ironwood chain shirt) Hardness 0
Mobility Penalty -0
Resist Poison: 4 dice

The Burning Name: Accuracy 13/11 (8 Decisive)(+6, 10s reroll non-1s; 6m), 9 Damage (OVR 1), Lethal, Thrown (Short), mounted

Perdurant Vault: Accuracy 9, Damage 12 (OVR 3), Bashing, Shield

Exceptional Axe: 8 (6 Decisive), 11 Damage (OVR 1), Lethal, Chopping, Thrown (Short: Accuracy 7/6, 3 Decisive)

Join Battle: 5 (+3 to result as normal)

Rush: 3
Disengage: 5

Resolve 4 (+2, ignore -1 from wounds, etc., 4m)
Guile 5 (6) (+2, 4m; +3 in High Society, 6m)

Willpower 5
Essence 3
Personal motes 14
Peripheral motes 35 (24 available)(Ascendant Ideal Inspiration)

Health Track
-0 x1 [ ]
-1 x2 [ ] [ ]
-2 x6 [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]
-4 x1 [ ]
Incap [ ]

https://ibb.co/HHYyk1X

Mnemon Alinos Gracious Pealing Melody – A Hero
Wood Aspected wife of Mnemon Alinos Ferad, Melody is an Outcaste archer who took the Coin before being cashiered out of her commission. She now serves in Mnemon’s war council, advising in how best to triumph in the unfolding civil war.

Melody is 35 weeks pregnant with her second child, the god-blooded offspring of Tomonas – the Elemental Guardian of Dovak.

Mnemon Alinos Gracious Pealing Melody

Wood Aspect

Pasiap's Stair

The Adopted Archer

Session 60 – Melody (180XP 144DX, 176/143 spent)

Strength 3 (8DX)

Dexterity 5

Stamina 3 (8DX)

Charisma 5

Manipulation 4

Appearance 2

Perception 3

Intelligence 3 (12DX)

Wits 5 (28DX)

Wood Aspect Abilities (and Specialties) (9 BP)

Archery 5 (Shortbow) (15DX)

Medicine 5 (Satchel of Resplendent Healing, 3DX)

Performance 5 (Ballads, 3DX)

Ride 5 (Giant Lizards)

Survival 5

Favored Abilities (9 BP)

Athletics 2 (1DX)

Awareness 5 (Mounted, 3DX)

Dodge 5 (Mounted)

Integrity 5 (15DX)

War 5 (Mounted Combat) (16DX)

Other Abilities

Linguistics 1

Presence 3

Resistance 3 (In the Saddle)

Socialize 3

Merits (Native Language: Low Realm)

Artifact 3 (Summer Thunder, Short Powerbow)

Artifact 4 (Spider Silk Shirt, Light Armor)

Familiar 3 (Clapper, A Shieldback Lizard) (Trained in Distract Gambit, 3XP)

(Dynastic Freebie) Allies 3 (Mnemon Ferad, Husband)

(Dynastic Freebie) Language (Riverspeak)

(Dynastic Freebie) Language (High Realm)

Story Merits

Collar of Dawn’s Cleansing Light

Resplendent Satchel of Healing

Charms

Free. Archery: Unobstructed Hunter's Aim
8XP. Archery: Harvest of the Hunter
8XP. Archery: Arrow Thorn Technique
8XP. Archery: Sky-Calming Draw

8XP. Archery: Death From Nowhere

8XP. Archery: Grasping Vine Shot

8XP. Archery: Drawing Lightning Style

8XP. Archery: Drawing Lightning Style x2

8XP. Archery: Heartbeats Before Death

8XP. Archery: Spring Follows Winter

8XP. Archery: Dragonfly Finds Mate

Free. Awareness: Precision Awareness Method
Free. Dodge: Threshold Warding Stance
Free. Integrity: Granite Curtain of Serenity
1. Medicine: Master Healer Meditation
2. Medicine: Wound-Closing Technique
8XP. Medicine: Rebirth of Flesh and Ivy

8XP. Performance: Audience Enthusing Display

3. Performance: Talented Improvisation
4. Performance: Soul-Stirring Performance
5. Performance: Heart-Strengthening Defense
6. Performance: Harmonious Life-Affirming Song
Free. Ride: Scattered Hoof Falls

7. Ride: Heaven (G)Racing Leap
11XP. Ride: Tread Rooted in Life (Wood and Earth)

8XP. Ride: Creation-Turning Hoof

8XP. Ride: Unbreakable Stallion Spirit

8XP. Ride: Seven-League Gallop

8XP. Ride: Cloud-Harnessing Method

8XP. Ride: Untethered Pegasus Spirit

8. Resistance: Ox-Body Technique
9. Resistance: Ox-Body Technique x2
10. Survival: Ration Enhancing Method
11. Survival: Beast Taming Aspect
8XP. Survival: Mother-of-Beasts Mastery

8XP. Survival: Mother-of-Beasts Mastery x2

8XP. Survival: Quarry Revelation Technique

Evocations

12. Summer Thunder: Hooves Like Sunlight
13. Summer Thunder: Nook-and-Cranny Unity
14. Summer Thunder: Laughing Stallion Escape
15. Summer Thunder: Skirmisher's Piercing Deliverance
5XP7DX. Summer Thunder: Squadron-Inspiring Flame

12DX. Summer Thunder: Phantom Steed (Custom Evocation, see below)

12DX. Summer Thunder: Evoke the Equestrian Echo

Intimacies
Defining Tie: Clapper (Motherly Love)
Major Tie: Mnemon Ferad (Husband)
Major Tie: Mnemon Jorod (Secret son)
Major Tie: Mnemon Danireya (Sister)
Minor Tie: Cynis Ganan (Mutual respect)

Minor Tie: Slavers (Disgust)
Minor Tie: The Undead (Hatred)
Minor Tie: The Sidereal Exalted (Suspicion)

Minor Tie: Mnemon Nanals (Mistrust)

Defining Principle: I am an Upright Soldier
Major Principle: The Immaculate Philosophy

Combat
Evasion 6+1
Parry 3

Soak 8 Hardness 4
Mobility Penalty -0

Resist Poison: 6(+1) dice

Summer Thunder: Accuracy 10/16/14/12/- (11 Decisive)(+6, 6m); Damage 13 (3 OVR; +1, 3m); Archery (Long), Mounted, Lethal

Rush: 7 (12 Mounted, +3 successes 6m)
Disengage: 10 (12 Mounted, +3 successes 6m)

Join Battle: 10 dice (11 mounted) (+3 successes, 6m)

Command Mounted Troops: 8 dice

Social
Charismatic Performance 10 dice (+2 successes, ignore multiple target penalty, 4m)

Resolve 5 (+2, ignore -1 from wounds, deprivation or poison, 4m)
Guile 3

Willpower 5
Essence 2

Personal motes 14
Peripheral motes 35 (25, 10 committed)

Health Track
-0 x1 [ ]
-1 x4 [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]
-2 x4 [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]
-4 x1 [ ]
Incap [ ]

Cynis Ganan – A hero
Mnemon Danireya’s husband, and father of Mnemon Muli and Nula. A blunt instrument, unsuited for Dynastic politics. But a powerful warrior and a wise sorcerer. Ganan is a man, and a member of House Cynis (which now stands against House Mnemon) – two strikes against him in the eyes of his wife’s house.

Cynis Ganan
Earth Aspect
Righteous Warrior
Heptagram

 

Session 60 – Ganan (180XP 144DX, 171/141 spent; 8WhP 44GP 42SP)

Strength 5
Dexterity 5
Stamina 3 (11DX1XP)

Charisma 1
Manipulation 1
Appearance 5

Perception 2 (4DX)
Intelligence 5
Wits 3

Earth Aspect Abilities (and Specialties) (6 BP)

Awareness 5 (Join Battle)
Craft: Architecture 4 (Masonry)
Craft: Woodworking 4 (12DX)

Craft: Sculpture 3 (7DX)

Craft: Weapons 4 (12DX)

Craft: Artifact 4 (12DX)

Integrity 4
Resistance 4 (5DX)
War 0

Favored Abilities (9 BP)

Athletics 5 (Rushes)
Brawl 1
Earth Dragon Style 5 (Tetsubo)
Righteous Devil Style 2 (4DX)

Lore: Heptagram education 5 (The Shogunate)
Occult 5
Performance 3

Other Abilities

Linguistics 1
Melee 3

Merits (Native Language: High Realm) (3BP)

Artifact 3 (Thunder’s Crash Tetsubo (Fist of Titans))
Martial Artist 4
Pain Tolerance 4
Well Bred 2
(3 BP) Manse 3 (Stone of the Ram's Horn)
(Dynastic Freebie) Resources 3
(Dynastic Freebie) Language (Riverspeak)
(Dynastic Freebie) Language (Old Realm)

 

Story Merits

Belt of Shadow Walking (unattuned)

Gateway Key

Collar of Dawn’s Cleansing Light

Yasal Crystal

Charms

 

Free. Athletics: Effortlessly Rising Flame
Free. Awareness: Precision Awareness Method
8XP. Awareness: Deep Listening Palm

8XP. Awareness: All-Encompassing Earth Sense

8XP. Awareness: Pasiap Preempts Haste

8XP. Awareness: Feeling the Dragon’s Bones

Free. Brawl/Martial Arts: Become the Hammer
8XP. Craft: Masterful Dragon-Artisan Expertise

8XP. Craft: Stone-Carving Fingers

8XP. Craft: Flaw-Finding Examination

8XP. Craft: Shaping Hand Style

8XP. Craft: Flawless Facet Realization

8XP. Craft: Stones-From-Rubble Restoration

8XP. Craft: Touch of Unmaking

8XP. Craft: Strike the Dragon-Anvil

8XP. Craft: Forge-Hand Prana

8XP. Craft: Blazing Dragon-Smith Arete

Free. Integrity: Granite Curtain of Serenity

8XP. Integrity: Heart-Hardening Meditation

10XP. Linguistics: Wind-Carried Words Technique

1. Melee: Elemental Sheath
2. Melee: Dragon Graced Weapon
3. Earth Dragon Style: Stone Dragon Skin
4. Earth Dragon Style: Force of the Mountain
5. Earth Dragon Style: Stillness of Stone Artemi
6. Earth Dragon Style: Unmoving Mountain Stance
7. Earth Dragon Style: Earth Dragon Form
8DX. Earth Dragon Style: Ghost Grounding Blow

8DX. Earth Dragon Style: Earthshaker Attack

8. Occult: Spirit Detecting Mirror
9. Occult: Spirit Grounding Shout
10. Occult: Secret Wind Revelation
11. Occult: Fivefold Resonance Stance
12. Occult: Terrestrial Circle Sorcery
--. Control Spell: Invulnerable Skin of Bronze
--. Shaping Ritual: Sevenfold Art Invocation

10XP. Spell: Demon of the First Circle

Free. Performance: Audience Enthusing Display
13. Resistance: Ox-body Technique
8XP. Resistance: Ox-body Technique x2

8XP. Resistance: Ox-body Technique x3

8XP. Resistance: Purifying Blood Ascendancy

8XP. Resistance: Uneating Earth Meditation

8XP. Resistance: Unsleeping Earth Meditation

Evocations

Free. Fist of Titans: Chambered Fist Charge
12DX. Fist of Titans: Chambered Fist Charge x2

14. Fist of Titans: Mammoth Slam Quake
15. Fist of Titans: Unstoppable Hammering Blow
12DX. Fist of Titans: Bone Crushing Strike

12DX. Fist of Titans: Colossal Whirling Strike

12DX. Fist of Titans: Crater-Gouging Blow

Intimacies
Defining Principle: The Dragon-Blooded are born to rule.
Major Principle: The Immaculate Philosophy (Devout Belief)
Major Principle: I am the mountain, strong and stable – I do not flee and I am unmoved by tears

Major Principle: The children are the foundation of the future
Major Principle: “I like creating and repairing things.”

Minor Principle: Duty before pleasure
Defining Tie: Anathema (Loathing)
Major Tie: Mnemon Alinos Danireya (Love)
Major Tie: Mnemon Melody (Mutual Respect)

Major Tie: My Wife's House (Loyalty)
Minor Tie: My children (Familial love)

 

Evasion 3
Parry 6 (+3, 6m)(With tetsubo or Invulnerable Skin of Bronze, else 5; +2, 4m)

Soak 6 (20) Hardness 0 (10)

(+6/+9 Invulnerable Skin of Bronze)
(+5/0, Earth Dragon Form)
(+3/+1, 5m/turn or Bonfire)

Mobility Penalty -0
Resist Poison: 7 dice (4m: +2 successes, re-roll 6s)

Fist of Titans Smash Attacks (Earth Dragon Form): Accuracy 16 (14 Decisive)(+3, re-roll 6s on damage, 3m), Damage 19 (+1/scene, 3m on summon; +5, 3m) (Overwhelming 5, 6 for 2m), Bashing, Smashing (-1i, no Defense penalty), Reaching, Two handed

 

Burnt Offering: Accuracy 8/12/-/-/- (7 Decisive)(+2, re-roll 6s on damage, 2m), Damage 18 (OVR 5), Lethal, Archery (Short), Flame, Slow

Bayonet: Accuracy 11 (8 Decisive), Damage 17 (OVR 4), Lethal, Melee (Parry 5), Piercing

Join Battle 9 (+3 to result)(+6 dice, 6m; double-9s, 3m)
Rush 11 (+3 successes, 10s explode, 6m)
Disengage 5

Overwhelming Performance: 8 dice, +1 success and ignore multiple character penalty for 2m

Resolve 4 (+2, ignore -1 from wounds, deprivation or poison, 4m)
Guile 1

Willpower 5
Essence 3

Personal motes 14
Peripheral motes 35 (24, 11 committed)

Health Track (3m/tick, ignore one point of penalties)
-0 x1 [ ]
-1 x5 [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]
-1 x5 [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]
-3 x1 [ ]
Incap [ ]

https://ibb.co/PrpgHwC

Mnemon Alinos – A Mentor
Mother of Mnemon Alinos Danireya, daughter of Mnemon Nanals, grand-daughter of Mnemon herself. Alinos rallied her numerous sisters, crafted alliances through-out House Mnemon and beyond, birthed a minor host of children and raised her own personal potency to the point where her bloodline had to be recognized as one of the major houses of the Great House of Mnemon. A graduate of the Heptagram, and a powerful Air Aspected Sorceress of 280 years.

Mnemon Alinos Nula – An Ally
Daughter of Reya and Ganan, twin-sister of Muli, an Air Aspected Sorcerer fresh from the Heptagram. A willful child pursuing her own agenda, Nula none-the-less finds her goals aligned with those of her mother. Nula has lofty ambitions and a very specific vision for the future of the Realm. She cares deeply for her brother, and would like to see him married to his lover, Tepet Agoram. Recently married to Sesus Raenyah Terel.

Mnemon Alinos Muli – An Ally
Son of Reya and Ganan, twin-brother of Nula, Fire Aspected graduate of the House of Bells. Muli lived his life with the threat of being a left-over child, a stigma that haunted him until the moment of his Exaltation. Dotingly loyal by nature, Muli never once hesitated to follow his mother’s commands… until the Battle of Futile Blood. The aftermath of the decimation of the Tepet Legions has seen Muli conflicted between his loyalty to his mother’s house, and his love of Tepet Agoram. Recently married to Sesus Raenyah Ilana – and widowed just as quickly.

Mnemon Nanals – The Edge of the Wolf’s Blade

Nanals, daughter of Mnemon, had an illicit affair with Ragara Bhagwei resulting in the birth of Mnemon Alinos. Nanals was in the first class of the Heptagram. Despite birthing many daughters, Nanals lacked the political will to be recognized as matriarch of a major house and (seemingly) the acumen to succeed at Dynastic politics. She has, however, built up an extensive web of influence in the Threshold, where she is worshiped as a god. Earth Aspect.

Mnemon Alinos Bekara – An Aunt
Sister of Mnemon Alinos, a graduate of the Spiral Academy and Earth aspect, Bekara returns to the Blessed Isle from years of practical exile in the Threshold to find her fierce political acumen overshadowed by the need to have capable military commanders.

Mnemon (Alinos) Johon – The Old Bear
An Earth Aspected grandson of Mnemon Rulinsei, husband of Mnemon Alinos, and a renowned artificer. Mnemon Alinos (née Rulinsei) Johon, a graduate of the House of Bells, retired some fourteen years ago, after a distinguished career in the legions. The Old Bear’s physical strength is legendary and he has a reputation for his sound tactical mind. A founding member of his wife's major house, Mnemon Johon typically introduces himself by his wife's family name rather than his grandmothers.

Mnemon Alinos Ferad – The Dutiful Son
Fire Aspected, son of Mnemon Alinos, older brother to Reya. Whilst Reya attended the Heptagram and their other siblings all graduated from the House of Bells, Ferad hatched a plan to attend Pasiap’s Stair – the military school for Outcastes, where he graduated and entered the Legions, meeting his future wife before being forcibly discharged before the end of his term when the Great Houses took control of the Imperial Legions. Reunited with his wife and their illicit love-child, Ferad increasingly finds the weight of his House’s military ambitions heaped upon him.

Mnemon Alinos Jorod – The Pillow Son
Born of Gracious Pealing Melody and Mnemon Alinos Ferad when the former was only in her second year of service in the Legions, Jorod was quietly removed from the legions and given to the care of Mnemon Alinos Bekara to be raised as a member of the Dynasty. A contemporary of Muli, Jorod has recently graduated from the House of Bells and finds himself united with his birth parents and adopted mother in Dovak. A Water Aspected master of naval combat, Jorod chafes at not being on the open sea, feeling that his skills would be best placed taking the fight to House Peleps.

 

Mnemon Tinis – The General

Oldest living child of Mnemon Alinos and Mnemon Johon. Recently uncovered the Iselsi plot to assassinate the Regent, but fell during Peleps Lundaer’s assault on the Imperial City. Earth Aspect. Presumed dead.

Mnemon Donta – A old friend

Mnemon Tinis’s daughter: a conniving and ambitious graduate of the Spiral Academy. Stealthy, and a mistress of deadly throwing knives hurled with the force of crashing boulders. Earth Aspect.

Tepet Agoram – The Runaway
Agoram met Muli at the House of Bells during a mock battle, and the two became fast friends, then more than that. Agoram ran away after the Battle of Futile Blood. Refusing to answer the calls of his mother’s house, or accept marriage to a promising Outcaste girl to rebuild the Tepet numbers, he’s run to his lover Mnemon Alinos Muli. This has caused a degree of friction among the Mnemon house: Alinos, Melody, Ganan and Ferad see little value in a Tepet match, and would rather see Muli take an advantageous wife; Reya sees value in keeping her son in her own house, and bringing the Air Aspected Tepet’s sword to her banner; Nula and Jorod just want to see Muli happy, Nula even offering to summon a Neomah or even marry Agoram herself to help assuage the house’s elders (though, thus far her mother has dissuaded her from doing anything rash).

 

Allies?

Mnemon – The Empress In Waiting

Oldest living daughter of the Scarlet Empress. Mnemon has proved her worth to rule the Blessed Isle by conquering the treacherous kingdom of Jiara. Yet she finds her claim thwarted by pretenders.

Berit – The Empress’s Shogun

Mnemon’s sister. Once a renown general, Berit entered self-imposed exile when her mother refused to allow her to found her own Great House. She joins Mnemon as her chief general for the promise of having the traitor legions placed under the command of Great House Berit at the end of the war.

V’neef – Mistress of the Seas

Mnemon’s sister. Matriarch of Great House V’neef and mistress of the Realm’s Merchant Fleet. She joins Mnemon as her chief admiral, the only check on House Peleps naval supremacy.

Ledaal Yasmet – Matriarch of House Ledaal

Initially impressed by Mnemon’s piety and her dedication to the good of the Realm beyond petty political squabbles, Yasmet lead her House to Mnemon’s banner. However, as Mnemon honors her sisters V’neef and Berit above Yasmet and Cainan calls for an end to fighting to unify against the Mask of Winters, her resolve begins to waver.

Ledaal Ludila – The Bad Girl

A classmate of Danireya at the Heptagram. Goes by Udi. Udi is recently appointed to work alongside Danireya to help cement the alliance between House Mnemon and House Ledaal. Water Aspect.

Ledaal Ibelin – The Instructor of Banishment

Cynis Ganan’s father aunt. Heptagram instructor in Ritual Banishment and Demonology. Air Aspect.

Ledaal Kebok Coren – The Young Officer

A young and untested graduate of the House of Bells, Coren thirsts for glory in battle against the dark forces that threaten to rip the Realm apart. An earnest devotee of House Ledaal’s shadow crusade, she stands firm against the heretical Cathak-Ragara alliance and their dalliances with forbidden powers.

Righteous River – The Defrocked Monk

Born Ledaal Sivarin Indri, Righteous River Overflows Its Banks left the Immaculate Order to marry her Patrician wife, Jihe. Once a renown hunter of the Anathema, River has much reduced presence within House Ledaal. Present at the assassination of the Regent.

Kingfisher Swift – The Patrician General

An Outcaste married into patrician house Tereya. Swift was appointed by V’neef and Regent Tepet Fokuf to defend the Imperial City, before it fell to House Peleps. A reluctant recruit to Mnemon’s cause, Swift’s loyalties are unclear – but it is certain that she does not want to leave the Imperial City under the boot of House Peleps.

Sesus Eshuvar – The Naval Sorcerer

Eshuvar came to renown hunting a pair of Anathema with Righteous River and Kingfisher Swift, before serving in the Imperial Navy with distinction for twenty years, before retiring to marry Mnemon Rela. Eshuvar has no particular loyalty to his wife’s house, indeed his loyalty to his mothers house is one of guilt-riven loyalty, but finds his naval experience a valued commodity that allows him a free hand in deciding how to aid the alliance on his own terms.

Sesus Raenyah Terel – The Empress’s Grandson

Born of the late Sesus Matriarch Raenyah, and her husband Oban son of the Scarlet Empress, Terel is a popular and charming duelist, ever accompanied by a gaggle of hangers-on. Recently married under hurried circumstances to Mnemon Alinos Nula.

Sesus Raenyah Ilana – Deceased

Terel’s older sister. Married to Mnemon Alinos Muli then brutally murdered by Iselsi assassins.

Oban – Son of the Empress

Husband to the late Matriarch of House Sesus. Oban has assumed de facto leadership over House Sesus, ostensibly until a new matriarch can be elevated from the heads of one of the five (deadlocked) Sesus major bloodlines.

Tepet Corino – The Quartermaster

House Tepet’s ranking member, recently pledged her House to Mnemon’s cause. Something of a hollow promise as Tepet’s only legion lies stranded in the Threshold.

The Mouth of Peace – A Voice of Reason in a World Gone Mad

The head of the Immaculate Order, the Mouth of Peace calls for peace in these troubled times. Recently under-fire from the Cathak alliance for denouncing the Emperor’s youth as a false miracle, and from the Mnemon alliance for offering the shelter of the Immaculate Order to House Iselsi, despite the house’s clear links to the assassination of Regent Tepet Fokuf.

Tepet Fokuf – Deceased

Appointed Regent in the Empress’s absence, Fokuf announced his intention to surrender the throne to Mnemon… before promptly being assassinated by an agent of House Iselsi.

Enemies of the House

Cathak Cainan – The Emperor on the Throne

A renowned general of advanced age. Cathak Cainan seemed sure to die of old age in but a few scant years, but now has been returned to the prime of youth by an (as of yet) unexplained miracle. His supporters claim the throne should be his by right of divine intervention. His allies in House Peleps have recently captured the Imperial City, the capital of the Realm, and turned it over to him where he sits on the Scarlet Empress’s throne and styles himself as Emperor. In truth, Cainan controls both the Eastern and Western coasts of the Blessed Isle, but the center holds firm against him, as do the most important port cities of the Northern and Southern shores. His is an empire divided.

Cathak Garel – The Next In Line

Cainan’s chief general, finds herself locked in combat with Mnemon’s forces: Cathak legions are spread thin, holding the Imperial City and trying to stretch a supply line over thousands of miles of hostile territory. It is all she can do to hold Mnemon’s forces back. Her husband, Peleps Kozurin, has been invaluable in negotiating the Cathak-Peleps alliance. She finds herself somewhat perturbed by the fact that her ancient younger brother is now in the prime of life… yet as she enters old age, she’s still his heir apparent. She wants to make sure the Cathak line is secure.

Cynis Falen – The Poison Thorn

One of the three sisters who rules House Cynis. An open supporter of Cainan from the start, Falen finds her star ascendant as House Cynis enters the war in favor of the Emperor on the Thone.

Peleps Lai – Protector of the West

Matriarch of House Peleps.

Peleps Aramida – The Fist Which Strikes the Seas

Chief of Cathak Cainan’s naval forces.

Peleps Lundaer – Fire Fleet Admiral

Admiral in charge of one-fifth of the Imperial Navy. Sworn kin to Mnemon Alinos Tinis. Lundaer masterminded the assault on the Imperial City. Political rival to Peleps Aramdia.

Ragara – The Empress’s Eldest

The Scarlet Empress’s oldest living child, older brother to Mnemon, Ragara is retired and lives the peaceful life of a monk, knowing he is not long for this world. Mnemon, however, will not forgive him for the attempts he made on her life in their youth. Ragara has traveled the Blessed Isle trying to minimize the devastation caused by the Civil War, never working directly against his House and allies.

Ragara Banoba – Patriarch of House Ragara

Ragara’s son and successor – the head of House Ragara. A financial genius who has lent considerable sums of money to Cathak Cainan’s cause. Privately, he is ecstatic that a man now occupies the highest position in Realm Society – as Emperor, and he has begun stylizing himself as Patriarch of his Great House, in a clear snub to Realm tradition.

Ragara Bhagwei – Dominie of the Heptagram

Ragara Bhagwei couldn’t care less if the Realm tears itself apart with civil war, but woe betide the fool who tries to bring that conflict to the Isle of Voices. The Heptagram is the last vestige of the Old Realm, and he won’t risk his libraries or his students over the paltry matter of who sits on the throne. Bhagwei has declared neutrality in the Civil War, venturing to the mainland only to stop a geomantic disaster caused by his brother, Banoba’s, recklessness.

Anathema

The Mask of Winters – A Lord of Death

The Deathlord, the Mask of Winters, rose to predominance shortly after the disappearance of the Scarlet Empress. A ghost of impossible power and a master of dread necromancy, his armies of the dead, and impossibly large war-machine, Juggernaut, successfully wrested control of the Threshold city of Thorns from the control of the Realm. His army of Deathknights – Anathema marred by the power of Death – is rightly feared by all living things.

The Bull of the North - A Dread Anathema
A menace to the Realm and the bane of House Tepet. This Solar Anathema once united the Icewalker tribes against the Realm until The Wind Dancer led his House against him. The brutal battle all but destroyed the Tepet legions but smashed the Anathema's forces and left the Bull dying and broken.

Maps of the Blessed Isle

Official Map (English Translation): https://ibb.co/4M2NgHc

Fan Map (no claim to ownership, happy to attribute): https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/633035291355250709/755226018163195904/BlessedIsleMapWithBorders.png

Character Art

Possession (Aharon x Udi, by Xeda787): http://bayimg.com/NAofCaagb

Dynasty Building (Reya x Tinkara, by Moxie): http://bayimg.com/naoFbAAgb

ST Notes

So... the UK lockdown has moved to local lockdowns and I live in the worst area in the county. Yay me. As such we've moved to remote play. Which... just... sucks. Honestly, I don't know if we're going to persist with this -- but let's go with what we've got.

The plan is to wrap the Realm Civil War with victory for the PCs in 10 sessions.

Rules Errors and Retcons

Soul-fire Cremation Technique only works on Mortals. Fortunately, Reya also knows The Burning Name – so any references to her burning the bodies of Anathema should be read as her burning them with sorcerous fire instead of occult fire.

Ledaal Ludila is also now a Water Aspect. Because I say so, that’s why.