Difference between revisions of "MartialArts/ElderCelestialMonkeyStyle"

Latest revision as of 01:17, 6 April 2010

The Elder style of the Celestial Monkey is, in essence, a transcendence of everything, and a returning to it. Through this process, an Exalt may truly learn her place in the scheme of existence. This portion of Celestial Monkey Style (which can be found in the Exalted Player's Guide) could be considered a Perfected Lotus Blossom (Sidereal) level Martial Art, though it is not formalized as such.

Pissing in Gaea's Palm

Cost: 1 mote
Duration: Instant
Type: Reflexive
Minimum Martial Arts: 5
Minimum Essence: 4
Prerequisite Charms: Celestial Godbody Understanding

With a simple and expressive gesture of her essence, the blissful sage offends Gaea greatly, and is cast out of Her bosom. This charm sends the Exalt Elsewhere. She will not die for lack of air or nourishment, but she may not actually do anything while there, unless she possesses other charms which work specifically in reference to Elsewhere. Note that this charm, by itself, does not provide a way to get back from Elsewhere.

This may be used as a hopping defense, but it may not take the place of a parry or dodge.

Contemplation of Worlds

Cost: None
Duration: Permanent
Type: Permanent
Minimum Martial Arts: 5
Minimum Essence: 4
Prerequisite Charms: Pissing in Gaea's Palm

This charm may be learned with no training time, but it may only be learned in Elsewhere. The Exalt learns to view all the worlds there are, and may fall into any of them she is not specifically barred access to. Worlds the Exalt is barred access to would include Malfeas, for instance, since that realm is supposed to be sealed. When she falls into a world, the Exalt really does fall, appearing 50 yards above the ground in a random, though safe, place. "Safe" means that though the ground may be hard, it will not be spiked, or made of lava, or such. The locals may not be friendly, but the fall will not be anything more than a normal fall from 50 yards, and it may well be softer (such as a fall onto cushions). Storytellers are encouraged to use their senses of humor in determining where this charm places the Exalt.

Observing One's Path From Afar

Cost: None
Duration: Permanent
Type: Permanent
Minimum Martial Arts: 5
Minimum Essence: 4
Prerequisite Charms: Contemplation of Worlds

This charm may be learned with no training time, but it may only be learned in Elsewhere. In the timeless void from which she views Creation, the Exalt begins to see a glimmering trail - the footsteps she has left in the world. With the glimmering trail, the color of her anima, the Exalt gains an understanding of the implications of her actions. This knowledge of how greatly she has changed the world may allow her some insight into her life, at the Storyteller's discretion, but the primary effect of this charm is to re-shape the character's understanding of Essence in certain ways. Once this charm is learned, the bonuses from Walking in the Footsteps of Ten Thousand Things and Four Halo Golden Monkey Realignment to Martial Arts attack rolls are also added to Martial Arts defense rolls, and Four Halo Golden Monkey Palm's attack is made at normal difficulty.

Walk on the Sky

Cost: 5 motes
Duration: One Scene
Type: Reflexive
Minimum Martial Arts: 5
Minimum Essence: 4
Prerequisite Charms: Contemplation of Worlds

By activating this charm when "falling into the world," the Exalt gains purchase on the sky itself. For one scene, she may walk on the sky as if it were ground, choosing to gain footing at any level or angle. At the same time, the world is less real to her because she has seen through it, and she may pass through solid objects that are not sentient beings if she wishes, as if they were no more solid than the sky. However, passing through fire, extreme cold, or dangerous Essence configurations is still just as dangerous, and any attacks that originated from a sentient being are unaffected.

The previous charms work equally well in 2E without conversion, so I'm being lazy and not changing the format up there.

Blissful Sage

Cost: -
Type: Permanent
Duration: One Scene
Keywords: None
Minimums: Martial Arts 5, Essence 5
Prerequisite Charms: Walk on the Sky, Observing One's Path From Afar

Enlightenment is painful, yet a release from all pain. Reduce this Martial Artist's personal Essence pool by 2 motes, and his peripheral pool by 3 motes. Forever after this, the benefits of Celestial Monkey Form are active at all times, without precluding the use of other Martial Arts form-type charms. Once the Exalt reaches Essence 6+, he gains the benefit of Celestial God-body Understanding with any Celestial Martial Arts charm, not just those of this style.

Comments

Interesting idea, but Blissful Sage is too powerful, and I'm not sure how to limit it. With it, you can do truly obscene things with Sidereal Martial Arts especially (Four Magical Materials Form with superheavy plate and a grand daiklave, say). Also, if Pissing in Gaia's Palm is reflexive, couldn't it be used as a 1 mote perfect defense? - FrivYeti

Clarity added to Pissing in Gaea's Palm. As for a limit on Blissful Sage, I think what I have added fits the bill. Though I must admit, I was less bothered by an Essence 6+ character stacking such things. After all, the simple accuracy, defense, damage, and soak bonuses from weapons and armor do start to become less meaningful. I rather considered switching the charm's effects around, actually, because the effects of Celestial Monkey Form make you immune to ALL virtue rolls - including those forced by your virtue flaw! - IanPrice