Dynasty of Dovak

The Story Thus Far

It is the 770th year of the Scarlet Empire. Mnemon has ascended to the Scarlet Throne and rules over Creation as the new Empress. She has divided her old Great House into two and disbanded the Great Houses of those foolish enough to oppose her in the Realm Civil War.

The new Dynasty comprises of seven Great Houses: Rulinsei, The First Among Equals; Berit, The Sword of the Empress; V’neef, The Power of the Waves; Ledaal, The Shield Against the Darkness; Nellens, The Imperial Bank; Alinos, The Rising Star; and Tepet, The Red Piss House.

The nations of the Threshold stand in rebellion to Mnemon’s rule. The power of the Realm Defense Grid remains a mystery beyond the new Empress’s grasp and the Civil War has devastated the Realm’s military might. Throughout the Threshold, the Anathema incite rebellion and raise their own empires. The jackals circle the Realm with a wary eye.

The great bastion of the Scavenger Lands, Lookshy, ruled over by the ancient Seventh Legion of the Dragon-Blooded Shogunate has fallen. The dreaded Deathlord, the Mask of Winters (who conquered Thorns eight years ago), marched his Army of the Dead upon Lookshy. The Seventh Legion’s great strength had been scattered throughout the Scavenger Lands, dispersed by petty distractions caused by the Deathlord’s machinations, and their renown arsenal of First Age technology mysteriously failed them. Even so, Creation shook when the city of Lookshy and the Mask of Winter’s entire army was bathed in white light and destroyed in an instant. No-one knows exactly how, nor who is to blame, but disturbing reports abound of demons in the service of the Mask of Winters.

Just South of the Scavenger Lands, lies the kingdom of Dovak. Watched over since ancient times by the Thunderbird Tomonas. Only our heroes, and a rare few others, know of the Gateway Tree that lies within Dovak’s boarders – ancient artifice of the Solar Anathema which allows for travel between dimensions.

Great House Alinos commands the Merchant Fleet, responsible for ensuring the safe passage of tribute from the few remaining loyal Satrapies to the Blessed Isle. House Cynis is now reduced to a Cadet House charged with the defense of Greyfalls and their scions are banished from the Blessed Isle.

As Alinos Danireya serves as Satrap of Paragon, Alinos Melody, Tepet Ganan and Cynis Jinabar find themselves contacted by an old ally – the Wanderer – who entreats the trio with a desperate proposition…

Dramatis Personae

The Heroes

Tepet Cynis Ganan – The Kinslayer

A powerful martial artist, and a blunt instrument unsuited for polite society. Ganan was born into House Cynis but adopted into House Tepet at the end of the Realm Civil War. He was part of the campaign to retake Thorns from the Mask of Winters, where he learned military discipline alongside new respect for his adoptive mother Tepet Ejava.

Tepet Ganan

Earth Aspect

Righteous Warrior

Heptagram

Session 70 – End of Chapter 6 – Ganan (230XP 184DX, 227/184 spent; 20WhP 5GP 66SP)

Attributes

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: Sculpture 3 (7DX)

Craft: Weapons 4 (12DX)

Craft: Woodworking 4 (12DX)

Craft: Artifact 4 (12DX)(Jade Artifacts, 3DX)

Integrity 4

Resistance 4 (5DX)

War 5 (19DX)(Ramparts of Obedient Earth, 3DX)

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

Dodge 1

Linguistics 1

Melee 3

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

Artifact 3 (Thunder’s Crash Tetsubo (Fist of Titans))

Martial Artist 4

Pain Tolerance 4

Well Bred 2

(Dynastic Freebie) Resources 3

(Dynastic Freebie) Language (Riverspeak)

(Dynastic Freebie) Language (Old Realm)

(3DX) Language (Low Realm)

Story Merits

Influence 1 (War hero)

Artifacts

Belt of Shadow Walking (unattuned)

Burnt Offering

Collar of Dawn’s Cleansing Light

Traveler’s Staff

Ultimately Useful Tube

Yasal Crystal (with summoned agata)

Hearthstones

Gateway Key (Solar, Greater)

Stone of the Ram's Horn (Earth)

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

8XP. Earth Dragon Style: Shattering Fist Strike

8DX. Earth Dragon Style: Weapon-Breaking Defense Technique

8XP. Occult: Soul-Fire Cremation Technique

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

10DX. Spell: Demon of the First Circle

Free. Performance: Audience Enthusing Display

8XP. Righteous Devil Style: Cloud of Ebon Devils

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

8XP. War: Tactics Mean Everything

8XP. War: Ramparts of Obedient Earth

8XP. War: Five-Dragon Arsenal

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

8XP4DX. Fist of Titans: Titanic Fist Devastation

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

Minor Principle: Slavery is an injustice

Defining Tie: Anathema (Loathing)

Major Tie: My Wife's House (Loyalty)

Major Tie: Alinos Danireya (Love)

Major Tie: Alinos Melody (Mutual Respect)

Major Tie: Cynis Jinabar (Resentful Loyalty)

Minor Tie: My children (Familial love)

Minor Tie: Tepet Ejava (Admiration)

Combat

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)(Ramparts of Obedient Earth: 17 dice, reroll 6s, 11m)

Rush 11 (+3 successes, 10s explode, 6m)

Disengage 5

Social

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

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

Guile 1

Willpower 5

Essence 3

Personal motes 14

Peripheral motes 35 (27, 8 committed)

Health Track (3m/tick, ignore one point of penalties)

-0 x1 [ ]

-1 x5 [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]

-1 x5 [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]

-3 x1 [ ]

Incap [ ]

Hero Forge: https://bayimg.com/caOkNaaGB

Alinos Gracious Pealing Melody – The Outcaste Admiral

Born a peasant, Melody is an adoptee into Great House Alinos. Mother of Alinos Jorod and Alinos Iohan, wife of Alinos Ferad, and a Wing Admiral of the Merchant Navy. Melody is one of the greatest warriors in the Dynasty and she wields an orichalcum bow taken from the dead body of the dread Anathema the Devil Hoof Witch – menace of Medo.

Session 70 – End of Chapter 6 – Melody (230XP 184DX, 225/183 spent)

Mnemon Alinos Gracious Pealing Melody

Wood Aspect

Pasiap's Stair

The Adopted Archer

Attributes

Strength 3 (8DX)

Dexterity 5

Stamina 3 (8DX)

Charisma 5

Manipulation 5 (16DX)

Appearance 2

Perception 3

Intelligence 4 (24DX)

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 (Lovable Outcaste, 3DX)

Resistance 3 (In the Saddle)

Socialize 3

Sail 3 (9DX)

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)

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

(Dynastic Freebie) Language (Riverspeak)

(Dynastic Freebie) Language (High Realm) 

Story Merits

Allies 3 (Alinos Jorod)

Backing (Merchant Fleet) 4

Influence (Dynastic Matriarch) 3

Artifacts

Collar of Dawn’s Cleansing Light

Resplendent Satchel of Healing (Unattuned)

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

8XP. Archery: Seven-Year Swarm Volley

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: Flesh-Sealing Flame Technique

8XP. Medicine: Rebirth of Flesh and Ivy

8XP. Medicine: Ailment Sensing Meditation

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

8XP. Survival: Cunning Beast-Mind Inspiration

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: Alinos Ferad (Husband)

Major Tie: Alinos Jorod (Son)

Major Tie: Alinos Iohan (Son)

Major Tie: Alinos Danireya (Sister)

Major Tie: Tepet Ganan (Mutual Respect)

Minor Tie: Cynis Jinabar (Good Natured Comradery)

Minor Tie: Slavers (Disgust)

Minor Tie: The Undead (Hatred)

Minor Tie: The Merchant Fleet (Pride)

Minor Tie: House V'neef (Good Natured rivalry)

Minor Tie: The Kingdom of Dovak (Shameful Regret)

Defining Principle: I am an Upright Soldier

Major Principle: The Immaculate Philosophy

Minor Principle: I work hard so I can play hard

Combat

Evasion 6+1

Parry 3

Soak 8 Hardness 4

Mobility Penalty -0

Resist Poison: 5(+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: 11 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 4

Willpower 5

Essence 3

Personal motes 14

Peripheral motes 35 (25, 10 committed)

Health Track

-0 x1 [ ]

-1 x4 [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] 

-2 x4 [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]

-4 x1 [ ]

Incap [ ]

Hero Forge: https://bayimg.com/oaOJeaagB

Custom Charms

Custom Evocation: Phantom Steed

Cost: 10m, 1wp; Mins: Essence 3

Type: Reflexive

Keywords: None

Duration: One day

Prerequisites: Squadron-Inspiring Flare, Scattered Hoof Falls

With her mind opened to the ghostly Essence of the Ancients, Melody has learned to overcome the limitations of her Creation and draw forth the reflection of perfection from her Orichalcum Powerbow.

At her command, the Essence of Summer Thunder opens to release a ghostly echo of the horse god Hiparkes into her custody. This mount’s coat is as black as coal, but its eyes burn with the light of twin suns, tinted by the colors of Melody’s anima. The phantom steed has no mane, the hair clipped close to the neck.

This Evocation creates an exceptional war horse (p. 567) that never tires, hungers, or thirsts, and need not sleep. This horse cannot be intimidated, nor can its loyalty be shaken. It is immune to the anima flux of its summoner, Melody, but not that of other Dragon-Blooded. Its existence is an extension of Summer Thunder.

(In all respects other than the appearance of the steed and immunity to anima flux, this Evocation functions as the Solar Ride Charm of the same name.)

Cynis Jinabar – A Magistrate

Youngest child of Cynis Lenoni and Ledaal Vidad, sister to Tepet Ganan, and one of the last magistrates to be appointed by the First Empress before her disappearance. Jin led Ganan and Melody in a crusade against the cult of the demon Sondok, where they were assisted by a mysterious stranger known only as the Wanderer, now the Wanderer reunites the heroes.

Session 70 – End of Chapter 6 – Jinabar (230XP 184DX, 228/183 Spent)

Cynis Falen Jinabar

Fire Aspect

Spiral Academy

Ambitious Magistrate

Attributes

Strength 2

Dexterity 5 (28DX)

Stamina 3 (8DX)

Charisma 2

Manipulation 5

Appearance 4

Perception 4 (12DX)

Intelligence 2

Wits 5 (28DX)

Fire Aspect Abilities (and Specialties) (3BP)

Athletics 3 (4DX)

Dodge 5 (capote de brega) (16DX)

Melee 5 (Staves) (12DX)

Presence 3 (On “Official” Business)

Socialize 3

Favored Abilities (15BP)

Awareness 5 (13DX 3XP)

Integrity 5 (7DX)

Investigation 4 (5DX)

Larceny 5

Resistance 2 (Intoxicants)

Other Abilities

Archery 3

Brawl 1

Bureaucracy 3 (Corruption)

Linguistics 2

Lore 3

Performance 3

Ride 2

Sail 2

Stealth 3 (9DX)(As Lady Magnificent, 3DX)

Merits (Native Language: High Realm)

Artifact 3 (Calumny)

Direction Sense 1

Eidetic Memory 2

Retainers 2 (Mott, the Archivist)

Well Bred 2

(Dynastic Freebie) Language (Low Realm)

(Dynastic Freebie) Language (Riverspeak)

(Dynastic Freebie) Language (Old Realm)

(Dynastic Freebie) Language (Firetongue)

(Dynastic Freebie) Followers 1 (12 Archons)

Story Merits

Influence 3 (Former Magistrate)

Artifact

Lady Magnificent’s Visage (Green Jade Devil Mask)

Charms

1. Archery: Unobstructed Hunter’s Aim

8XP. Athletics: Effortlessly Rising Flame

8XP. Awareness: Precision Observation Method

2. Bureaucracy: Geese-Flying-South Administration

3. Bureaucracy: Finding the Water’s Depths

4. Bureaucracy: Confluence of Savant Thought

5. Bureaucracy: Water-Stained Ledger

8XP. Dodge: Threshold Warding Stance

8XP. Dodge: Heat-of-Battle Advance

8XP. Dodge: Ascending Ember Trick

E1. Integrity: Granite Curtain of Serenity

E2. Investigation: Indisputable Physical Analysis Technique

E3. Larceny: Underground River’s Flow

6. Larceny: Resetting Tumblers Technique

7. Larceny: Naked Thief Style

8XP. Larceny: Terrifying Forest-Devil Mask

8XP. Larceny: Hundred-Devil Masquerade

8XP. Larceny: Veiled Dragon’s Secret

8. Linguistics: Wind-Carried Words Technique

9. Lore: Elemental Concentration Trance

10. Lore: Elemental Bolt Attack

11. Lore: Mantle of Elemental Power

E4. Melee: Stoking Bonfire Style

8XP. Melee: Flame-Borne Interception

8XP. Melee: Dragon-Scale Shield (Air Variant, 3XP)

8XP. Melee: Blinding Spark Distraction

8XP. Melee: Crossfire Flash

8XP. Melee: Portentous Comet Deflection

8XP. Melee: Fire Incites Water to a Riot of Clouds

8XP. Melee: Burning Fury Wreath

8XP. Melee: Crimson Fang Bite

8XP. Melee: Dragon Soul Burst

E5. Presence: Glowing Coal Radiance

8XP.  Resistance: Purifying Blood Ascendancy

12. Resistance: Ox-Body Technique

13. Resistance: Ox-Body Technique

14. Sail: Dragon Mariner Attitude

8XP. Socialize: Loquacious Courtier Technique

8XP. Socialize: Friend-to-All-Nations Attitude

8XP. Socialize: Loyalty-Reading Meditation

8XP. Socialize: Auspicious First Meeting Attitude

8XP. Socialize: Impeccable Purity Lavation

8XP. Socialize: Smoke-Wreathed Mien

8XP. Socialize: Smoke Without Flame

8XP. Socialize: Implacable Dragon Mien

10XP. Stealth: Distracting Breeze Meditation

Evocations

Free: Calumny: Rustling Grapevine Whispers

15. Calumny: Unassuming Ornament Camouflage

12DX. Calumny: Salon-Spider Entrapment

12DX. Calumny: Swallowtail’s Grace

12DX. Calumny: Ripened Bitter Fruit

Free. Lady Magnificent’s Visage: Don the Lady

12DX. Lady Magnificent’s Visage: Hide the Lady

12XP. Lady Magnificent’s Visage: Be the Lady

Intimacies

Defining Principle: The Dragon-Blooded are born to rule.

Major Principle: None steal from me and live.

Minor Principle: The Immaculate Philosophy (Devout Belief)

Minor Principle: Pleasure before duty.

Major Tie: House Cynis (Familial duty)

Major Tie: Mott and my Archons (Family)

Minor Tie: Anathema (Loathing)

Minor Tie: Alinos Melody (Wary Respect)

Minor Tie: Tepet Ganan (Begrudged obligation)

Minor Tie: Mnemon (Resentment)

Combat

Evasion 6 (+2, 4m)

Parry 7 (+3, 6m; +1 non-Charm, 2m 2i)

Soak 6 (Exceptional breastplate) Hardness 0

Mobility Penalty -0

Resist Poison/Disease: 6 dice (+3, 3m)

Calumny: Accuracy 14 (11 Decisive)(+6, 6m); Damage 14 (4 OVR); Melee, Bashing, Concealable, Reaching

Fire-bending: Accuracy 13/12/11/-/- (8 Decisive)(+3, 3m); Damage 13 (OVR 4) (Double-10s on Decisive); Lethal, 4m per attack (1m with Mantle of Elemental Power), Parry 5 (with Mantle of Elemental Power)

Rush: 6

Disengage: 8 (+2 successes, 4m)

Join Battle: 10 dice (+3, 3m)

Social

Manipulative Presence: 9 dice (+2 successes, 10s explode, 4m)

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

Guile 4 (+2, 4m mute)

Willpower 5

Essence 3

Personal motes 14

Peripheral motes 35 (25, 10 committed)

Health Track

-0 x1 [ ]

-1 x2 [ ] [ ]

-2 x6 [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]

-4 x1 [ ]

Incap

Jin by Mc-19051: https://ibb.co/LRbrmLp

Lady Magnificent’s Visage

The Wood Aspected thief known only as Lady Magnificent is a cat burglar of some renown throughout the Scavenger Lands – and she has made no shortage of enemies. When she pilfered the treasury of Achus, Left Hand Chalima swore revenge. When she filched the lost diamond of Xerah, the Order of Aptem Knights vowed to take her head. And when she stole the Cynis heirloom Calumny right out from the Palace of Dragon’s Repose, the former Magistrate Cynis Jinabar declared that she would bring this thief to justice if it was the last thing she ever did, igniting the blood feud between House Cynis and the mysterious thief.

None have pursued the Lady with as much passion as Cynis Jinabar. Often, she is the first on the scene in the wake of the Lady’s crimes, ever only half-a-step behind the master criminal who seems to slip through the fingers of the authorities at every turn. Certainly, she is the only peacekeeper to ever have successfully foiled the Lady’s devious plans. Those who know of the pair and their rivalry consider it only a matter of time before the noble magistrate brings her quarry to heel.

Which, of course, is a source of no small amount of amusement to the Lady Magnificent, Cynis Jinabar, mistress of Calumny.

Attunement: 2m

Era: Realm Civil War

Evocations of Lady Magnificent’s Visage

If a Dragon-Blooded wearer uses Terrifying Forest-Devil Mask to disguise herself as Lady Magnificent, its cost is reduced by two motes, the duration becomes Indefinite, and the mask cannot be removed with gambits.

Don the Lady

Cost: —; Mins: Essence 1

Type: Permanent

Keywords: None

Duration: Permanent

Prerequisites: Terrifying Forest-Devil Mask and Veiled Dragon’s Secret

Jinabar may use Terrifying Forest-Devil Mask to disguise herself as the Lady Magnificent Reflexively, the mask appearing on her face in a puff of smoke. Doing automatically activates Veiled Dragon’s Secret Reflexively and at no cost, disguising her Aspect as Wood.

If she knows the Charm Still Waters Mask, she may also activate that Charm Reflexively upon donning the Visage, waiving the Willpower cost to adopt Lady Magnificent’s persona.

Hide the Lady

Cost: —; Mins: Essence 2

Type: Permanent

Keywords: None

Duration: Permanent

Prerequisites: Don the Lady

The disguise conferred by Lady Magnificent’s Visage is perfect. It gains one non-Charm success. Users of a different gender, build, or ethnicity may ignore penalties based on these factors when disguising themselves as the Lady. The user adopts the Lady’s unique, but subtle, scent.

The disguise conferred by Terrifying Forest-Devil Mask cannot be pierced by mundane senses, including inhuman sensory acuity (such as the eyes of an eagle or the nose of a bloodhound). Magical attempts to pierce the disguise can be made normally, but such magic does not reveal the user’s identity – only that they appear to be impersonating the Lady Magnificent.

Officials attempting to establish the true identity of the Lady Magnificent take a -2 Penalty to their rolls to do so. Persons who do not know the user but who may have seen her hanging around the scene of the Lady’s crimes find her unrecognizable and cannot remember doing so.

Be the Lady

Cost: 5m; Mins: Essence 2

Type: Reflexive

Keywords: Mute

Duration: Instant

Prerequisites: Hide the Lady

Jinabar may spend 5m to shift her mentality to that of the Lady Magnificent. Doing so grants her one of the Lady’s Intimacies (below), which lasts until she next goes to sleep. This does not require her to don the Visage, only to have it about her person.

Alternatively, this Evocation may be used in the same instant as Don the Lady to instead take on all the Lady’s Intimacies in place of the Defining Intimacy that Terrifying Forest-Devil Mask normally confers. Doing so suppresses Jinabar’s normal Intimacies for the duration of the disguise. None of those Intimacies can be weakened or changed for that Charm’s duration.

Defining Principle: “I live for the thrill of the heist!”

Defining Principle: “Trust is a thing for fools.”

Major Principle: “I will abide no disrespect for my skills and achievements.”

Minor Principle: “Knowledge is power.”

Defining Tie: Myself (Smug Self Satisfaction)

Minor Tie: The Exalted (Contempt)

House Alinos

Alinos – Great House Matriarch
Mother of Alinos Danireya, daughter of Alinos Nanals, grand-daughter of Mnemon herself. Alinos rallied her sisters, cousins, children and allies to found her own Great House. A graduate of the Heptagram, and a powerful Air Aspected Sorceress of 282 years.

Alinos Danireya – A hero
Reya is the eldest daughter of Great House Matriarch Alinos and her heir apparent. Reya serves at the Satrap of Paragon. A powerful sorceress and burgeoning politico, she has also claimed a powerful artifact from House Ragara. Wife of Tepet Ganan. Mother to Alinos Nula, Muli, and Lezabe. https://ibb.co/HHYyk1X

Alinos Nula – The Satrap’s Advisor
Daughter of Reya and Ganan, twin-sister of Muli, an Air Aspected Sorcerer, Heptagram graduate. A willful child pursuing her own agenda, Nula none-the-less finds her goals aligned with those of her mother. Recently married to Sesus Raenyah Terel.

Alinos Muli – Tepet Winglord
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. Recently married to Tepet Agoram and a Winglord in the Tepet legions. Father of Tepet Efen.

Alinos Lezabe – A child

One-year-old child of Alinos Danireya and Tepet Ganan. Lives in Paragon with his mother Reya and his wetnurse Aline.

Alinos Nanals – The Edge of the Wolf’s Blade

Nanals, daughter of Mnemon, had an illicit affair with Ragara Bhagwei resulting in the birth of her daughter, 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, and is worshiped as a god in Dovak. She has taken many lovers in her long life, including Dovak’s elemental guardian, Tomonas. Earth Aspect.

Alinos Ferad – The Dutiful Son
Fire Aspected, son of 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. Ferad increasingly finds the weight of his House’s military ambitions heaped upon him.

Alinos Jorod – The Pillow Son
Born of Gracious Pealing Melody and 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. The elevation of House Alinos has seen him publicly embraced by his birth parents, married to the most eligible woman in the Realm, and given a commission as an Admiral. A Water Aspected master of naval combat, Jorod loves the sea and his new commission with the Wood Fleet.

Alinos Ihon – A Child

Alinos Jorod’s one-year-old little brother. Lives in the House of Black Waters with his mother and “father”. The darker complexion of his skin gives away his sire as Tomonas, the Thunderbird guardian of the Threshold kingdom of Dovak.

Allies?

Mnemon – The Empress

Her Imperial Majesty, Queen of The Blessed Isle, Empress of All Creation. Beautiful, powerful, inscrutable. The Empress rules the Realm with an iron fist and brooks no rivals.

Berit – The Empress’s Shogun

Mnemon’s sister. Commander of the Imperial Legions, Matriarch of Great House Berit.

V’neef – Mistress of the Seas

Mnemon’s sister. Matriarch of Great House V’neef and mistress of the Imperial Navy. A personal friend of Alinos Danireya and Melody.

Ledaal Ludila – A Satrap Advisor

Sworn kin of Reya, Ganan, and Melody. One of Satrap Danireya’s advisors in Paragon. Hero Forge: https://bayimg.com/CAokGAagB

Sesus Raenyah Terel – Isn’t it Nellens now?

Born of the late Sesus Matriarch Raenyah, and her husband Oban (brother of the Empress), Terel is a popular and charming duelist, ever accompanied by a gaggle of hangers-on. Married to Alinos Nula and Garrison Commander of Paragon.

Tepet Ejava – The Roseblack

Matriarch of Great House Tepet, General of the Vermillion Legion, Tepet Ganan’s adopted mother. A hero of the Realm, instrumental in Mnemon winning the final battle of the Realm Civil War and the mastermind behind the evacuation of Thorns.

Tepet Agoram – Hero of Thorns
Married to Alinos Muli. Father of Tepet Efen. Winglord in the Vermilion Legion.

Tepet Efen – Born of Fire and Water

One-year-old child of Tepet Agoram and Alinos Muli. Efen was born of flesh taken from both fathers and woven into a baby by the neomah Cresta. He lives in the House of Black Waters with his daiaunt, Alinos Melody.

The Perfect – Patriarch of Civilization

Immortal ruler of the city of Paragon: a skilled sorcerer wielding a relic of the lost age. Married to Scarlet Whisper.

Enemies?

Tinkara Dovak – The Warlike Princess

Decisive, fiercely intelligent with a naturally regal bearing, and ever armed with a war-club forged in the heart of a lightning strike. The crown princess of Dovak was raped and abandoned by House Alinos. She has had over a year to plot her revenge. Hero Forge: https://bayimg.com/CAokkAagb

Tomonas – A Thunderbird

The warlike guardian of the land presently inhabited by the Kingdom of Dovak. An elemental spirit of air, Tomonas has interbred with the royal family of Dovak, passing on some of his power into the bloodline. Once a consort of Nanals, and sire of Alinos Efen by Melody.

Yochanan Dovak – The Prince In Exile

Tinkara's older brother, a god-blooded with the power of Tomonas. Powerful warrior and practiced statesman, Yochanan left the kingdom in disgrace over his refusal to accept the Immaculate Philosophy. He has not been seen in nineteen years. Father of Oka Dovak. Hero Forge: https://bayimg.com/caOkmAagb

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 who successfully wrested control of the Threshold city of Thorns from the Realm. The Dragon-Blooded of the Seventh Legion destroyed his armies of the dead, and his impossibly large war-machine, Juggernaut but were themselves destroyed in the effort. House Tepet, under the leadership of Tepet Ejava has just concluded a campaign to retake Thorns for the Realm – though the city is filled with Shadowlands and the hungry dead.

Scarlet Whisper – The Perfect Consort

Paragon’s Minister of the Arts. Wife of the Perfect. Rumored to be one of the dreaded Deceivers.

The Wanderer – A Stranger in a Strange Land

Nearly two years ago, the mysterious Wanderer helped Ganan, Melody, and Jinabar stop the Salmalin Assassins of Kirighast. Now he returns to recruit them for some new mission. Hero Forge: https://bayimg.com/CaOKJAagB

The Gift of Merciful Silence – Heir to Dovak

An Unclean Deathknight, the Gift of Merciful Silence is a powerful necromancer with a score to settle against our heroes. Believed to be Oka Dovak, rightful heir to the kingdom of Dovak, The Gift’s plans of conquest were foiled by our heroes two years ago.

Midnight Flamebough – Mistress of the Chirurgery of Black Blood

A Deathknight(?) in the service of hell. Her Caste Mark does not match any known Anathema. She runs a bar(?) in a special tower in Malfeas known as the Conventicle Malfeasant. Ally(?) to the Mask of Winters. Killed(?) by Tepet Cynis Ganan.

Whims-of-the-Flesh – Nightmare of Lust

A liminal being, trapped between life and death by dread necromancy, Whims-of-the-Flesh was a ghost hunter dedicated to stamping out the terrifying spirits unleashed by the Mask of Winters. His campaign against Midnight Flamebough led him to the pits of hell – the Demon City of Malfeas – where Flamebough slew him in the Conventicle Malfeasant. Hero Forge: https://bayimg.com/caOKlaAGB & http://bayimg.com/OAOPNaaGL

Additional Character Art – Find more on the Exxxalted Discord

NSFW: Young Love (Ganan x Amilar Shavok): https://ibb.co/ZGMx7gK

NSFW: Size Matters (Ganan x Aharon, by wapol): https://ibb.co/Vtzd1M7

NSFW: Dragon’s Repose (Ganan x Neom, by Tennex): https://ibb.co/YD3rRWL

NSFW: What Now? (Ganan x Whims by RithDraws): https://ibb.co/DD2rcRY

NSFW: Reunion (Ganan x Whims by Alchemist and Druid): https://ibb.co/k21GsQh

NSFW: Marital Bliss (Reya x Ganan by CJMaco): https://ibb.co/Q69mnSF

NSFW: Reinforcements Part 1 (Reya x Ganan, by Shysterling): https://ibb.co/0cs5rnq

NSFW: Reinforcements Part 2 (Reya x Ganan, by Moidhera): https://ibb.co/WyfLTLG

NSFW: Pregnant Pinup (Reya by Lord Uncle Bobby): https://ibb.co/wW8NNSF

NSFW: Fourth Years (Reya x Udi by Hannamura1): https://ibb.co/NpbRgFR

NSFW: Dynasty Building (Reya x Tinkara, by Moxie): https://ibb.co/7QsxPh6

NSFW: Gold Star (Tinkara x Ferad by Luc Open)(Content Warning: dubcon, wounds, NTR): https://ibb.co/bb5v4Z4

SFW: Possession (Aharon x Udi, by Xeda787): https://ibb.co/CB0D84Y 

SFW: Inheritance (Gifty, by kscomms): https://ibb.co/pdzFWYg

SFW: Jin by Mc-19051: https://ibb.co/LRbrmLp

SFW: I Just Want to Be Loved by (Whims-of-the-Flesh) by _SlothArt: https://ibb.co/WnnJnVC

SFW: Hated and Abhorred (Whims of the Flesh): by _SlothArt: https://ibb.co/8xzHRDd

SFW: Old Year Bronze Lion Cynis Ganan - New Spring Golden Ox Augustus by Jen: https://ibb.co/1KF7sFD and https://ibb.co/0mWNQR9

SFW (mostly): Hero Forge Designs: https://ibb.co/album/tPdgQH

SFW: Hero Lab Ganan https://ibb.co/PrpgHwC

SFW: Hero Lab Reya: https://ibb.co/HHYyk1X

House Rules

All PCs just get full XP. It’s just easier this way.

Game Notes

We have changed full-time ST. Some key points from our Session 0:

We're going to gloss over the Season 6 outro.
-Lots of hooks there on the assumption that I might pick the game up in a few months, rather than "new week, new ST"
-Key thing is that the Tepet campaign against Thorns succeeds off-screen
-Full Budapest Protocol (license to just make stuff up about what happened offscreen)
-Our characters were being asked to RP as having amnesia

The Realm Civil War is over
-Previously a couple of us played out a Realm Civil War game that lasted years in-universe and out-. We don't want to do that.
-None of us expect Mnemon to be Empress forever, but there won't be a full scale civil war unless the PC's start it.

We're going to fight a lot of zombies.

This story arc will be shorter, but tie directly in to the next story arc (which starts next week).

Melody's player and our ST are direct, full blood relatives.
-Melody wants more sex scenes, but in the interest of "squick" these are pretty veiled in play and will be likewise denoted with a "fade to black" in this thread.
-They are not veiled in my NSFW write-ups (he's not my brother and he wants to read about his fictional character getting banged)

Reya's player wanted to play a game of politics and intrigue, but the rest of us are murder-hobos.
-The promise would be that this would be more straight-forward and less political
-It was not more straight-forward and, if anything, has thus far been more political than Chapter 6 (it's good though)

Character goals:

Ganan
-Just wants to hit things with a hammer
-Mission accomplished, btw

Melody
-More sex
-The chance to pilot a warstrider

Jin
-The chance to pull off an amazing heist
-Acquire power armor