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== Verity Black ==

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y266/punslinger/Verity-ReasonableSize.jpg

Verity is a Sidereal, Chosen of the Maiden of Secrets.  She looks about 25 or so, though of course telling her actual age is an exercise in futility.  The truth is, she's not much older than she looks.  She drew her Second Breath about seven years ago and was promptly collected by members of the Forbidding Manse of Ivy, who saw to her education.  To their delight, she took remarkably well to the First Age training techniques which distilled vast amounts of ancient lore into her brain.  She is now one of the most promising young savants the Sidereals have to offer.  This, combined with her talent for Astrology, should have made her one of the proudest catches for the Bronze Faction in recent memory.

Less thrilling to the elders, however, were her social skills - Verity never made friends easily as a child, and with the Arcane Fate now obscuring her from the eyes of Creation it is even more difficult.  In seven years she has not made a single Acquaintance and shows little aptitude for "field work", instead content to pore over scraps of ancient lore and remain in her modest dwelling in Yu-Shan performing auguries.  Though her Martial Arts training progressed adequately, her sifu complained of her lack of drive, and it became apparent that, though she might be useful as a desk clerk, her lack of desire (or, it seemed, ability) to apply her skills to the day-to-day issues of keeping the Loom of Fate and Creation in line ruined her.  Disappointed that such a promising prospect turned out so badly, her superiors assigned Verity a series of low-importance supervisory projects and turned their attention back to more important matters.  Several members of the Bronze now ruefully admit that had they paid more attention, they might not have lost what turned out to be a remarkably clever young woman.

The truth was, Verity buried herself in theory and esoterics because she was terrified of the alternative.  Her Exaltation, and the wealth of information that had been instilled into her by the Sidereals' intensive training techniques, had allowed her to construct a vivid picture of what she would be required to do, and her already fragile self-confidence buckled under it.  Rather than deal with what she saw as a task she was ill-suited to, she buried herself in study.  In the end, almost everyone bought it.  Ayesha Ura saw through the opportunity to snatch a gifted young Exalt right out from under the Bronze Faction and lured her away.  She placed Verity in charge of monitoring the movements of several of the newly-reborn Solars in the eastern Threshold, but required no action of her, an arrangement Verity was happy to agree to.  Her martial arts training was turned over to one of Ayesha Ura's allies, a seasoned Chosen of Mars named Four Shadows Bright, who continued to build Verity's confidence.

By the time the Bronze Faction realized what had happened, it was too late.  Verity had thrown her lot in with the Gold Faction.  She belives that while the Great Prophecy has mostly held together up to this point, its several glaring flaws (the Contagion, the Deathlords, the Solar reemergence) are impossible to ignore, and the increasing influence of fateless beings and powerful Essence-channelers requires a new strategy to deal with.  Keeping the Solars from affecting the world is a useless endeavor, she reasons - bringing them back to a state of prominence and organization, if it is done carefully, is the best opportunity to reverse the slow spiral of decay that Creation has been sliding down for the last millennium.  And, she'll readily admit, there aren't a lot of other options worth entertaining.

Verity is an attractive young woman with glossy black hair and starry green eyes.  Her skin is pale due to her Haslanti heritage.  She's just slightly taller than average for a woman and generally dresses in unassuming black monk's robes with fine green embroidery about the hems.  She is shy and somewhat bookish.  If engaged in conversation about sorcery, First Age technology or obscure lore she will start hesitently and then talk enthusiastically and unselfconsciously on the subject for hours.  She is genuinely brilliant but embarrassed if it is pointed out.  She likes the ocean and has never been seasick in her life.  Though actually quite talented at Martial Arts, she downplays it and is not confident in her skills.  She has never made any Acquaintances and is, in truth, a very lonely person.

Verity has recently been assigned primary responsibility for the Six Baronies region, with oversight from her sifu.  She is appalled at the decision and has objected strenuously that she isn't qualified to handle the job, despite the fact that she is more knowledgeable concerning the region's Exalted than anyone else in the Gold Faction (especially regarding the four young Solars who have appeared there in the last few seasons, on whom she has complete files).  Verity regards her task with no small amount of dismay, but the truth is, the Gold Faction is undermanned and desperate for competent agents.  Verity has been provided extra training with her sifu to bring her skills up to acceptable levels, but in truth, her superiors are relying heavily on her ability to adapt to field work to shore up their northern border.

-----
<b>Caste:</b> Chosen of Secrets<br>
<b>Nature:</b> Savant<br>
<b>Anima:</b> Brilliant emerald green<br>
<b>Concept:</b> First Age Savant<br>
<b>Experience:</b> 0+207

<b>Attributes:</b><br>
Strength 2, Dexterity 3, Stamina 2<br>
Charisma 2, Manipulation 4, Appearance 3<br>
Perception 3, Intelligence 5, Wits 3

<b>Abilities:</b><br><br>
<b>Journeys</b><br>
Endurance 2<br>
Sail 2 <br><br>
<b>Serenity</b><br>
<i>Craft</i> 3<br>
Dodge 3 (Unarmored +2)<br>
Linguistics 3 (Calligraphy +2)<br>
Performance 2 (Prayers +2)<br>
Socialize 2<br><br>
<b>Battles</b><br>
None<br><br>
<i><b>Secrets</b></i><br>
<i>Investigation</i> 3 (Research +1)<br>
<i>Larceny</i> 3<br>
<i>Lore</i> 5 (The First Age +1)<br>
<i>Occult</i> 5<br>
<i>Stealth</i> 3<br><br>
<b>Endings</b><br>
Athletics 2<br>
<i>Awareness</i> 3<br>
<i>Bureaucracy</i> 2<br>
<i>Martial Arts</i> 5 (One on One +2)<br>

<b>Ability scopes:</b><br>
Craft: Fate, Metalworking<br>
Linguistics: Old Realm, Skytongue, High Realm, Riverspeak<br>
Performance: Song, Ritual


<b>Backgrounds:</b> Artifact 2 (Hearthstone Bracers), Artifact 2 (Mirrored Majesty), Backing 1 (Gold Faction), Celestial Manse 2, Connections (Forbidding Manse of Ivy) 1, Connections (Bureau of Heaven) 1, Salary 2, Savant 4, Sifu 3

<b>Virtues:</b><br>
Compassion 2, Conviction 2, Temperance 3, Valor 3

<b>Willpower:</b> 7<br>
<b>Health:</b> -0,-0,-1,-1,-2,-2,-4,Incap<br>
<b>Essence:</b> 3<br>
<b>Essence pool:</b> 13/35

<b>Charms:</b><br>
<b>Awareness</b><br>
Prior Warning<br>
<b>Bureaucracy</b><br>
Slick Essence Replenishment<br>
<b>Craft</b><br>
Elegant Patterns of Fate<br>
World-Shaping Artistic Vision<br>
<b>Dodge</b><br>
Absence<br>
<b>Endurance</b><br>
Ox-Body Technique (x1)<br>
<b>Investigation</b><br>
Auspicious Prospects for Secrets<br>
Efficient Secretary Technique<br>
<b>Lore</b><br>
Systematic Understanding of Everything<br>
Of the Shape of the World<br>
<b>Occult</b><br>
Mark of Exaltation<br>
Terrestrial Circle Sorcery<br>
<b>Performance</b><br>
Heart-Brightening Presentation Style<br>
<b>Stealth</b><br>
Soft Presence Practice

<b>Techniques:</b>
<b>Violet Bier of Sorrows Style</b><br>
Secrets of Future Strife<br>
Blade of the Battle Maiden<br>
Flight of Mercury<br>
Joy in Adversity Stance<br>
Violet Bier of Sorrows Form<br>
Life-Severing Blow

<b>Sorcery</b>
<b>Terrestrial Circle</b><br>
Emerald Countermagic<br>
Cirrus Skiff<br>
Open the Spirit-Door<br>
Invulnerable Skin of Bronze<br>
Infallible Messenger<br>
Paralyzing Contradiction


<b>Equipment:</b> Hooded black monk's robe, starmetal Hearthstone Bracers, starmetal daiklaive, pocket change

=== Astrology ===

<b>Colleges:</b> Key 2, Mask 2, Sorcerer 2, Treasure Trove 3

<b>Resplendent Destinies:</b>
*<b>Mask</b>: Verity, <i>the runaway spy</i>. She created this Destiny in expectation of moving through Barony without attracting attention.  In this guise, her hair hangs loose, partially <i>obscuring her face.</i> Her robe is unadorned and dusty from the road.  She <i>rarely speaks</i>, and <i>does not announce herself.</i>  She <i>gravitates to corners.</i>  When she camps, it is usually <i>near a shrine or holy place.</i>\\
Effect Points: 4

*<b>Sorcerer</b>: Verity Black, <i>the Sidereal Exalt</i>. Recently created, Verity maintains this as an identity for dealing with other Exalted (should she have to).  In this guise, her robe is embroidered along the hems with minute astrological runes, and her hair is worn in a loose ponytail. She belts her robe with finely-woven silk and <i>bears a daiklaive.</i>  Her eyes are <i>filled with mystery.</i>  She is a font of occult <i>lore.</i>  She is always <i>quick to defend mortals against supernatural threats.</i>\\
Effect Points: 2

=== Quick Combat ===

<b>Combat:</b><br>
<b>Base initiative</b>: 6<br>
<b>Soak</b>: 2B/1L/0A (unarmored)<br>
<b>Dodge</b>: 9 (11 while unarmored)<br>
<b>Attacks</b>:<br>
Punch: Spd 6 Acc 10 Dmg 2B Def 11 Rate 6<br>
Mirrored Majesty: Spd 13 Acc 12 Dmg 10L Def 11 Rate 6



== Expanded Backgrounds ==

=== Artifact &bull;&bull; ===

<b>Mirrored Majesty</b><br>
Artifact 2 (3?)<br>
Starmetal daiklave<br>
Spd +7 Acc +3 Dmg +6L Def +2 Rate 5 (excluding material bonus)<br>
Spd +7 Acc +3 Dmg +8L Def +2 Rate 5 (including material bonus)<br>
Commitment: 5, starmetal

Mirrored Majesty is a straight-bladed starmetal daiklaive of modest power.  The weapon itself tapers to a graceful point and is polished to perfect reflectiveness.  The sign of Jupiter is etched in emerald at the base of the blade, and a green tassel hangs from the pommel.

A gift to Verity from her sifu upon receiving the Six Baronies assignment, more than a little practical thought went into it.  Barony is known to be a dangerous region, and sending an untested rookie into such a situation would be foolish.  More important, however, is the daiklaive's other property.  Once per day, the attuned wielder of the blade may gaze at her own reflection in the blade's surface in search of confidence.  This is a simple action.  The reflection they see is of themselves at their very best - an image of their own face, with all of their finest qualities writ plainly upon it.  This is no illusion, but a self kept secret even from the wielder and revealed through the magic of the blade.  The Exalt may roll her highest Virtue, and for every success she regains a point of temporary Willpower.

This artifact has a setting for a single hearthstone.

=== Artifact &bull;&bull; ===
<b>Starmetal Hearthstone Bracers</b><br>

Though starmetal is rarely used on items of little power, Verity managed to scrape together enough to forge these bracers during her novitiate, impressing her teachers with both her skill and resourcefulness.  Crafted of steel, with silver accents and a tracery of starmetal, they bend fate in her favor in combat, granting a 1 point bonus to her Accuracy, Defense, and Rate.  Like all Hearthstone Bracers, they also grant her a 3-die bonus to Dodge rolls.

The right bracer is currently set with the Hearthstone from Verity's modest Celestial Manse in Yu-Shan.

=== Backing &bull; ===
Gold Faction.

=== Celestial Manse &bull;&bull; ===
A large university-styled villa with extensive astrological apparatus and enclosed patios with fountains. 

=== Connections: Bureau of Heaven &bull; ===
Verity maintains contact with a few more talkative members of the Bureau, which keeps her well-informed regarding the gossip around Heaven.  She'll occasionally get a heads-up from them just before something big goes down.

=== Connections: Forbidding Manse of Ivy &bull; ===
Professional familiarity with some of the godly filing clerks in the House of Jupiter.  Through them, Verity has limited access to much of the less-sensitive paperwork filed in the department, and can requisition hard-to-find information and low-security secrets fairly easily.

=== Sifu &bull;&bull;&bull; ===
Four Shadows Bright, a Chosen of Mars.  He also acts as her supervisor on the Six Baronies assignment.  He is a master of the Violet Bier of Sorrows, Righteous Devil, and Resplendent Crane Style martial arts and has also mastered the Charcoal March of Spiders and Primatic Arrangement of Creation Styles.  He is the chief martial arts sifu of the Gold Faction.