[Exalted] Protectors of the River Province OOC

[rhoenix]

Oh man, you two are creating a huge and wonderful diversion for Kolth? He's going to thank you every single day.

[Hotfoot]

Oh man, you two are creating a huge and wonderful diversion for Kolth? He's going to thank you every single day.

REally now...

How thankful would he be?

[rhoenix]

Bribery with high-quality liquor and other intoxicants in exchange for certain maneuvers at certain times would not be out of the question.

[Hotfoot]

...That'll do. For now.

[rhoenix]

...That'll do. For now.

Yeah, yeah, they all build a tolerance...

[Hotfoot]

First up, the character sheet

Liayna Naguno

Age: 22
Height: 5'10"
Hair: Long, red, straight, often done up with ribbons and pins.
Skin Tone: Lightly tanned
Clothing: Fine flowing robes and dresses

Concept: Traveling Peacemaker
Caste: Eclipse
Anima Power: 10m 1wp Sanctifies an Oath
Anima Banner: Seven Swaying Sparkling Spectral Strands

Motivation:
To bring prosperity, joy, and peace to those in the Periphery.

Intimacies:
-Her Trade Caravan Family
-Enjoying life to the fullest
-Her Sifu
-Her Manse

Attributes
Physical Mental Social
STR 4 PER 3 CHA 3
DEX 5 INT 2 MAN 3
STA 3 WIT 2 APP 4

Caste Skills
Bureacracy 3
Linguistics 2 (Forest Tongue*, Riverspeak, Low Realm)
Ride 2
Sail 1
Socialize 3

Favored
Martial Arts 3
Dodge 4
Resistance 3
Athletics 3
Presence 3

Other
Lore 1
Integrity 1
Performance* 1
Investigation* 1


Virtues
Compassion 4 (Red Rage of Compassion)
Conviction 2
Temperance 1
Valor 2

Essence 2

Willpower 6

Personal Essence
12

Peripheral Essence
29 (28 after Hearthstone Amulet)

Dodge DV
(5+4+2=11)/2 = 5.5 = 6

Parry DV
(5+3+2=10)/2 = 5 (w/War Fans/Punch)


Health Levels:
0
-1
-1
-1
-2
-2
-2
-2
-4
Incapacitated

Background
Manse 4 (The Hall of the Seven Winds/Seven Leaping Dragon Stone)
Followers 2 (Caravan)
Resources 3
Mentor 2 (Sifu)
Relic 1 (Hearthstone Amulet)

Charms List
Bur Insightful Buyer Technique
Soc Wild Revelery Approach
MA First Excellency*
MA Demure Carp Feint
MA Pearlescent Filigree Defense
MA Lethal Paper Fan Attack
Res Ox Body Technique (x2 -2, x1 -1)
Res Body Mending Meditation
Dodge Shadow Over Water
Dodge Seven Shadow Evasion
Dodge Reflex Sidestep Technique

Total XP: 15
Spent XP: 14
Unused XP: 1
XP Expenditures Marked by *

The Hall of the Seven Winds

Points Ability
1 Comfort Zone
3 Provider
2 Control Room
1 Network Node
1 Magical Conveniences (Raw food to feast, advanced training room, transcription services, bathing areas remember user preferences)

The Hall of the Seven Winds is unassuming from without, hidden in a mountain from most prying eyes. It is however a wonder to behold once inside. The beautifully sculpted chambers show scenes hint at events from the first age, and most everything has been perfectly preserved. Its large halls allow for considerable movement within the Manse, but only past the initial section.

The hall gets its name from seven primary tunnels that seem to blow in air from different parts of the world, and the scents from each mingle together in the control room and the main hall, creating a unique sensation when felt for the first time.

If nothing else, the Hall of Seven Winds has virtually every convenience within its unassuming frame deep in a mountain. Food is supplied, and can be turned into a feast as needed, sparring areas allow for Exalted to train, bathing areas to clean themselves, comfortable bedding to rest in, and Azure canvases can even take down any word an inhabitant says and save it in the library for posterity.

The Manse has the ability to communicate with other Manses through the Network Node, but Liayna has been unable to connect with anything yet, and is rather cautious of doing so blindly, for fear of calling down the Wyld Hunt.


Inventory

Personal:
Modified Fine Clothing x7
Modified Fancy Clothing x7
Unmodified Fancy Clothing x7

Modified Clothing has weights sewn into the fabric to allow for use as weighted ropes in combat (Speed 6, Acc -1, Damage +3B)

Paper Fans (Set)
War Fans (Set)
Whip (Rarely seen or used)

Rare vintages of alcohol

Maiden Tea (Several Doses)

Common Caravan Stock:
Alcohol, common
Alcohol, uncommon
Food, uncommon
Craftsman tools
Spices

Changelog:
Added Inventory and Basic Descriptors plus minor edits 12-1-08 6:41
Added Health Level Information 12-1-08 6:47
Added Motivations and Intimacies 12-1-08 7:04
Added Parry and Dodge DV's for easy reference 12-4-08 8:33
Added Expenditures for first XP Award, Performance, Investigation, First MA Excellency 1-24-09 19:55

[rhoenix]

Oh, this is going to be interesting.

[Hotfoot]

And now...the background!

The First Age

Kwan Huang was an Eclipse Caste Diplomat of incredible skill and passion. It was said that he could see into the hearts of all he saw and could see the best ways to connect what was needed to what could be given, and matching that in others. He was one of the few Solars capable of effectively dealing with the wild and unpredictable Fey, and his efforts secured a number of treaties with the fair kind, as well as uncountable trade agreements across the world.

The methods of his diplomatic efforts were not ones that commonly found their ways to the more dignified courts, though he could maneuver there as well when the situation called for it. Of his detractors later on, many called him perverse and without restraints. The truth of the matter was that so concerned was he for caring for others, he often lost himself in their desires.

The defining drive in Kwan Huang was to bring prosperity and peace to the people under his charge. He felt that if those he protected were happy and able to thrive, that he would have done well. Even when threats came to attack that which he loved, he would attempt to correct the individual after defeating them in combat.

In a way, his Lunar mate was fitting, a member of the Waxing Moon Caste, she rivaled his beauty, personality, and drive. Together, they shared a wild and unbound love, reveling in each other. At times, they even used magic and abilities to switch places, ostensibly to teach others about the dangers of assuming too much, as well as for more personal reasons.

As the Usurpation drew near, both Kwan Huang and his Lunar mate grew more vain and self-centered, each trying to outdo the other in feats on the ring of honor, in diplomacy, and in bed. It is rumored that each of them had large numbers of followers, worshippers, and lovers, several of whom included their Dragonblooded Lieutenants. The night of the banquet, Kwan Huang and his Lunar mate were urged not to attend by their Dragonblooded lovers, but each ignored the requests and flew into rages, assuming that their mates had coerced their lovers into making this foolish and selfish request. At the Banquet, they both tried to become the center of the party, even being so bold as to tempt away Solars and Lunars from their mates. Both succeeded just prior to the Usurpation, and as a result, his last memory of the First Age is engaging in betrayal of his love while undermining the love of another, just before being struck down in the throes of unbridled passion.

Before Exaltation

Liayna Naguno was born to be a merchant, some say. Using her natural beauty and charm, Liayna could convince a starving man to buy her a meal with his last coins. She was also keenly aware of what any given town would need within a very short while by simply keeping an eye out for what seemed to be missing. Using these talents, she quickly followed in her mother’s footsteps as a travelling merchant, eventually taking her mother’s place when she fell ill. While she delegates much of the numbers and navigation to the experienced members of her caravan, she is very much the driving force behind it all. Her caravan specializes in what people need that might be hard to get in the East, while still dabbling in exotic beverages from across the Realm, which is where most of the profit is nominally made.

The life of a travelling merchant is never easy, but Liayna is not without the ability to defend herself. Her manner of dress disguises the lithe frame beneath, and many a bandit has underestimated the well-dressed woman in charge of a small caravan, much to their dismay.

She was starting to make a name for herself when something…strange happened.

The Exaltation

Liayna’s caravan had just taken on a load that would likely sell well in the next town, spices, preserved meats, and special brews. It was enough to capture the attention of a nearby bandit troupe, which laid a trap for them along the road. The bandits surrounded the caravan and threatened to kill everyone if the goods were not handed over. Liayna presented herself to the bandits and demanded to talk to their leader. Intrigued by the fire and beauty of this young woman, the leader humored her request, and before long Liayna had worked her charms on her would be robbers.

Using her natural charm and keen eyes, she surmised the motivations of the bandits and was able to appeal to their better natures. Their leader was a man much like herself, wanting what was best for his people, and doing what was needed to achieve that. She offered him a better way, acting as her guardians for the next leg of the journey, offering generous pay and free bounty from any other bandits that did not have the decency to offer to spare the lives of her caravan. To celebrate the accord, she opened some of her personal stock of drinks and food and the two groups who were nearly at each other’s throats were now sharing drinks and food with each other.

One man, a particularly cruel individual who, until tonight had the leader’s ear did not approve of this course of action and attacked Liayna, hoping to end the accord before it could properly set. His rage exploded in the middle of the caravan’s dinner, and Liayna used her techniques to quickly end the conflict, avoiding every blow with her extraordinary grace and wearing him down with her considerable power which she hid behind her flowing robes. By the end of the fight, he was barely standing, bruised and battered, his own comrades now calling for his blood. Liayna simple stood next to him, cradled his head, and kissed him on his brow before guiding him to rest on the ground.

When she turned to the crowd, she spoke in a voice she did not yet know, and all around her watched in awe. She spoke the terms of the agreement once more and this time, demanded that the bandits stay silent of this night for their own sake, for while they may start anew by morning’s light as something to be loved and respected, a few words from her would bring the wrath of the People of Creation and the Unconquered Sun upon them. Power flowed through her, and as the man she had just beaten tried to sneak up behind her to drive a dagger into her back, she turned around and gazed down upon him, the wisps of her anima banner burning into the night. He fell to his knees and wept.

Post Exaltation

Since that night, nothing had quite been the same. The bandits went on to become a modestly respected mercenary group in a river town, helping to protect merchants that came and went, while her own caravan’s tenor had changed. Before, Liayna had simply been a good face with a decent knack for buying and selling, but now, she was something more. She had always been the center of the social group, but the Exaltation had made her much more clearly the leader than ever before. Profits began to rise, and bandits started to steer clear, knowing that this caravan was not without teeth.

Before long, she had attracted some attention in the form of a Lunar who noticed the particular style Liayna had started using as his own. While Liayna was largely unpracticed, he could see the potential within the young Solar. In the dead of night, he introduced himself to Liayna, and offered to help train her in the ways of the Dreaming Pearl Courtesan form. Liayna was naturally interested not just in advancing her skills in combat, but also in the exotic and fascinating Lunar. The Lunar, however, quickly shot down any ideas of a romantic aspect to the relationship, as he refused to become involved with anyone but his Solar, and Liayna was not that individual. Grudgingly, she agreed to his terms and for a time she had to leave her caravan to train with her new Sifu.

Part of the training involved what her new Sifu called “Centering Desiresâ€

[frigidmagi]

You're a bloody Gypsy who thinks she's a demigod. Great.

[Hotfoot]

You're a bloody Gypsy who thinks she's a demigod. Great.

Think nothing, she can bend iron in her bare hands.

[frigidmagi]

There are WWE performers who can do that.

[Hotfoot]

There are WWE performers who can do that.

Because wrestlers never use props

[Marcao]

o.O

[LadyTevar]

o.O

Look on the bright side... he didn't go for the first idea of your Lunar Mate

[Marcao]

Look on the bright side... he didn't go for the first idea of your Lunar Mate

There is that, every cloud has a silver lining after all. ^_~

[The Nomad]

I'm short on inspiration to introduce Hotfoot, so I guess I'll merely have him and his caravan stop by, hear about the glowly types fighting undead and ominous things of the beyond, and let you socialize from that on.
Alternatively, I could make you return to Lookshy, and have you meet there with some past-life flashes.
It will mostly depend on your next course of action, I guess.

3 bonus XP to everyone for roleplaying AN's introduction.

[Academia Nut]

I am still waiting for the others to either shoot down my idea to stick around, mobilize the villagers, crush the ancestor cults, and piss off the deathknight or agree that it is awesome. I will go with the consensus of the group.

And yes! Just enough XP to buy a charm or get a few skills. What to buy, what to buy?

[Hotfoot]

I'm short on inspiration to introduce Hotfoot, so I guess I'll merely have him and his caravan stop by, hear about the glowly types fighting undead and ominous things of the beyond, and let you socialize from that on.
Alternatively, I could make you return to Lookshy, and have you meet there with some past-life flashes.
It will mostly depend on your next course of action, I guess.

3 bonus XP to everyone for roleplaying AN's introduction.

It's cool, gives me time to write up my caravan followers. :)

[LadyTevar]

I thought the idea of 'wake up, caravan is coming into town" sounds good.

[rhoenix]

I thought the idea of 'wake up, caravan is coming into town" sounds good.

That works. Unless I'm mistaken, Kolth snagged the Black Ship's navigator wheel and rudder as proof we sank it, even though we let the necro-bestial spank-tart get away. So, we could transition from here to Lookshy without problems, unless Nomad has something else planned.

[SirNitram]

Myself and Orduin vote for Proper Beds back in the BOQ. Then I just need a vague idea how much downtime we have before I can spend XP like a drunken sailor.

[The Nomad]

It seems you have different expectations... Work it out ingame, and once a consensus is reached, I will move the game on.

[Academia Nut]

One, the reason I asked the helots was because the captain went below decks, or at least that was what I gathered from Marcao's post.

Two, it looks like everyone wishes to return to Lookshy come morning, so that's what we'll do I guess.

Three, at the ST's approval I shall pick up Integrity 1 for 3 XP and 3 weeks training and Integrity 2 for 1 XP immediately upon getting Integrity 1.

[LadyTevar]

OH... if he went below, I'll invite you aboard. Sorry

[Marcao]

sorry about the delay in posting. :(