[Exalted] Charms: Solar, Abyssal
Written for a character in my game.
Transcendent Maker's Stance
Cost: -- Mins: Lore 5, Essence 5; Type: Permanent
Keywords: Mirror
Duration: Scene
Prerequisites: Wyld Cauldron Technology
The artifact called the Hand of the Great Maker saw wide use in the First Age, for those Lawgivers with Cauldronist sympathies who could afford the Manse or protoshinmaic vortex to power it. Some few, however, disliked relying on magitech; instead, through assiduous meditation, they awakened the Primordial spark within themselves, gaining great and terrible powers of creation.
This Charm permanently upgrades the functionality of Wyld-Shaping Technique. It permits the Solar to treat the area he is shaping as one "step" closer to Pure Chaos for the purposes of that Charm. Thus, the Deep Wyld can be shaped as though it were Pure Chaos, and the Borderlands are treated as the Middlemarches. For every two points of Essence the Exalt possesses above five (round up), he may increase the number of "steps" by one.
At Essence 6, the Solar may treat Creation as though it were the Bordermarches for purposes of shaping. Thereafter, shaping Creation follows the usual progression of the Charm.
The Abyssal mirror of this Charm, Unliving Nightmare Imposition, [MECHANICAL PLACEHOLDER: works in Shadowlands at Essence 5, Creation with Essence 7, requires sacrifice in Creation]
A theoretical exercise in manipulating high-Essence combat. Could use some testing. ^_________^
Death-Embracing Stroke
Cost: 7m, 1WP Mins: Presence 5, Essence 4; Type: Reflexive (Step 10)
Keywords: Combo-OK, Compulsion
Duration: Scene
Prerequisites: Heart-Stopping Mien
Sometimes death is a brutal, violent end, but sometimes it is a surcease from suffering, a termination to be desired. The Abyssal Exalted embody this duality, being (at times) both brutal slayers and merciful bringers of endless peace. Compassionate Abyssals use this Charm on those they kill to ease their suffering; cruel ones leave its victims alive. The rapture on the faces of this Charm's victims is often considered more disturbing
This Charm may be activated during Step 10 of any attack in which the Abyssal successfully inflicts at least one level of damage. It exerts unnatural mental influence to create a magically reinforced Intimacy to the idea of dying. The subject of this Intimacy must spend (1 + current wound penalties) Willpower in order to take any action that would save themselves from death; this explicitly includes declaring defenses in step 2 of combat resolution. Spending a total of 10 Willpower in this way ends breaks the influence; if this is not done, the Charm lasts until the victim dies or the scene ends, whichever comes sooner.
The Intimacy created by this Charm does not fade when the Charm ends; like a normal Intimacy, it remains until eroded. Mortals affected by this Charm (who survive the Abyssal's attack) usually suicide unless subjected to psychiatric intervention.
Transcendent Maker's Stance
Cost: -- Mins: Lore 5, Essence 5; Type: Permanent
Keywords: Mirror
Duration: Scene
Prerequisites: Wyld Cauldron Technology
The artifact called the Hand of the Great Maker saw wide use in the First Age, for those Lawgivers with Cauldronist sympathies who could afford the Manse or protoshinmaic vortex to power it. Some few, however, disliked relying on magitech; instead, through assiduous meditation, they awakened the Primordial spark within themselves, gaining great and terrible powers of creation.
This Charm permanently upgrades the functionality of Wyld-Shaping Technique. It permits the Solar to treat the area he is shaping as one "step" closer to Pure Chaos for the purposes of that Charm. Thus, the Deep Wyld can be shaped as though it were Pure Chaos, and the Borderlands are treated as the Middlemarches. For every two points of Essence the Exalt possesses above five (round up), he may increase the number of "steps" by one.
At Essence 6, the Solar may treat Creation as though it were the Bordermarches for purposes of shaping. Thereafter, shaping Creation follows the usual progression of the Charm.
The Abyssal mirror of this Charm, Unliving Nightmare Imposition, [MECHANICAL PLACEHOLDER: works in Shadowlands at Essence 5, Creation with Essence 7, requires sacrifice in Creation]
A theoretical exercise in manipulating high-Essence combat. Could use some testing. ^_________^
Death-Embracing Stroke
Cost: 7m, 1WP Mins: Presence 5, Essence 4; Type: Reflexive (Step 10)
Keywords: Combo-OK, Compulsion
Duration: Scene
Prerequisites: Heart-Stopping Mien
Sometimes death is a brutal, violent end, but sometimes it is a surcease from suffering, a termination to be desired. The Abyssal Exalted embody this duality, being (at times) both brutal slayers and merciful bringers of endless peace. Compassionate Abyssals use this Charm on those they kill to ease their suffering; cruel ones leave its victims alive. The rapture on the faces of this Charm's victims is often considered more disturbing
This Charm may be activated during Step 10 of any attack in which the Abyssal successfully inflicts at least one level of damage. It exerts unnatural mental influence to create a magically reinforced Intimacy to the idea of dying. The subject of this Intimacy must spend (1 + current wound penalties) Willpower in order to take any action that would save themselves from death; this explicitly includes declaring defenses in step 2 of combat resolution. Spending a total of 10 Willpower in this way ends breaks the influence; if this is not done, the Charm lasts until the victim dies or the scene ends, whichever comes sooner.
The Intimacy created by this Charm does not fade when the Charm ends; like a normal Intimacy, it remains until eroded. Mortals affected by this Charm (who survive the Abyssal's attack) usually suicide unless subjected to psychiatric intervention.