Difference between revisions of "CallMeCanon/Machinical/Charms"
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Back to [[CallMeCanon/Machinical|Machinicals]] | Back to [[CallMeCanon/Machinical|Machinicals]] | ||
= Machinical Charms = | = Machinical Charms = | ||
− | + | Many of these are just Alchemical Charms with a new name. For those I'm putting basic game-rule descriptions for now; I will update with fluff text later. <br> | |
− | Charisms are the analogue to Alchemical Augments, which are similar in many ways to Excellencies. The first three are identical; beyond that, things get interesting. | + | |
− | + | Didacts are the Machinical equivalent to Alchemical Submodules. As with Submodules, they cost 6xp unless otherwise noted.<br> | |
+ | |||
+ | Keyword: Blasphemy is explained on page 103 of Manual of Exalted Power: The Infernals<br> | ||
+ | |||
+ | Keyword: Hallowed refers to Charms designed by the Yozis specifically to further their plans. These Charms will usually either be custom or based on Infernal Charms. Few if any Alchemical Equivalent Charms will count as Hallowed. | ||
+ | |||
+ | = Charisms = | ||
+ | Charisms are the analogue to Alchemical Augments, which are similar in many ways to Excellencies. The first three Augments (and Charisms) are identical to their respective Excellencies; beyond that, things get interesting. | ||
+ | == Fourth (Attribute) Charism == | ||
<b>Cost: </b>-- [1m, first only]<br> | <b>Cost: </b>-- [1m, first only]<br> | ||
<b>Minimums: </b>Essence 1, (Attribute) 1<br> | <b>Minimums: </b>Essence 1, (Attribute) 1<br> | ||
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This Charm increases the cap for its respective Attribute and adds a dot to it for as long as the Charm is installed. This Charm may be installed as many times per Attribute as half the Machinical's Essence, rounded up. Dots added this way do not count towards the Experience cost of buying Attribute dots, but they count towards everything else. | This Charm increases the cap for its respective Attribute and adds a dot to it for as long as the Charm is installed. This Charm may be installed as many times per Attribute as half the Machinical's Essence, rounded up. Dots added this way do not count towards the Experience cost of buying Attribute dots, but they count towards everything else. | ||
− | + | == Hyperbolic (Attribute) Aleph == | |
<i>Transpuissant (Attribute) Upgrade</i><br> | <i>Transpuissant (Attribute) Upgrade</i><br> | ||
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This Charm converts all Specialty dice to successes. Can only be used on rolls involving the relevant Attribute. | This Charm converts all Specialty dice to successes. Can only be used on rolls involving the relevant Attribute. | ||
− | + | = STRENGTH = | |
− | == | + | = DEXTERITY = |
− | == | + | = STAMINA = |
− | == | + | = CHARISMA = |
− | == | + | == Sacrosanct Devotion == |
− | == APPEARANCE | + | |
− | + | <b>Cost: </b>-- [5m]<br> | |
+ | <b>Minimums: </b>Essence 2, Charisma 3<br> | ||
+ | <b>Type: </b>Permanent<br> | ||
+ | <b>Keywords: </b>Internal, Hallowed<br> | ||
+ | <b>Duration: </b>Permanent<br> | ||
+ | <b>Prerequisite Charms: </b>None<br> | ||
+ | |||
+ | This Charm lowers the attunement cost of Verdigrised or otherwise Yozi-aspected artifacts by 1, to a minimum of 1. It also lowers the installation cost of other Hallowed Charms by 1, to a minimum of 0. | ||
+ | |||
+ | === Didacts === | ||
+ | ==== Sublime Piety (Essence 3, 4xp) ==== | ||
+ | Each installation of this Didact adds 1 to the Charm's reduction. This Didact may be installed a maximum of (lower of Charisma or Essence) times. | ||
+ | |||
+ | = MANIPULATION = | ||
+ | = APPEARANCE = | ||
+ | == Transeuclidian Reliquary == | ||
<i>Integrated Artifact Transmogrifier</i><br> | <i>Integrated Artifact Transmogrifier</i><br> | ||
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This Charm gives any number of Charms the Internal keyword for the duration. Obvious Charms are only obvious while they are performing their function, and insofar as it is necessarily obvious to do so.<br> | This Charm gives any number of Charms the Internal keyword for the duration. Obvious Charms are only obvious while they are performing their function, and insofar as it is necessarily obvious to do so.<br> | ||
− | If all the Alchemical's Charms have the Internal keyword and she is human-sized, she may appear to be human. She may retract or edit her soulgem to do so. This is not an illusion, but an actual warping of her flesh, so effects that trump Illusions do not affect this Charm. | + | If all the Alchemical's Charms have the Internal keyword and she is human-sized, she may appear to be human. She may retract or edit her soulgem to do so. This is not an illusion, but an actual warping of her flesh, so effects that trump Illusions do not affect this Charm. 11m+ anima flare breaks through the disguise. |
− | === | + | === Didacts === |
− | + | ==== Arcane Leyshadow (Essence 3, 4xp) ==== | |
<i>Essence-Muting Baffles</i><br> | <i>Essence-Muting Baffles</i><br> | ||
All Internal Charms become invisible to Essence Sight (unless they are both Obvious and active). If she is disguised as a human, that disguise also fools Essence Sight. In case of a Charm attempting to break through, add the Machinical's Appearance in bonus dice to her resisted roll. | All Internal Charms become invisible to Essence Sight (unless they are both Obvious and active). If she is disguised as a human, that disguise also fools Essence Sight. In case of a Charm attempting to break through, add the Machinical's Appearance in bonus dice to her resisted roll. | ||
− | + | ==== Loom-Snarling Deception (Essence 4, 4xp) ==== | |
<i>Loom Server Migration + Loom-Snarling Deception</i><br> | <i>Loom Server Migration + Loom-Snarling Deception</i><br> | ||
An Ebon Shadow crafts an illusion that reshapes her clothing and equipment in whatever way the Machinical chooses. She also writes herself a destiny that is woven into Fate; she now counts as inside of Fate, and any disguises that match the destiny she wrote for herself are backed up by the Loom. | An Ebon Shadow crafts an illusion that reshapes her clothing and equipment in whatever way the Machinical chooses. She also writes herself a destiny that is woven into Fate; she now counts as inside of Fate, and any disguises that match the destiny she wrote for herself are backed up by the Loom. | ||
− | + | == Penumbral Cruciger == | |
<i>Trans-Chosen Emulator</i><br> | <i>Trans-Chosen Emulator</i><br> | ||
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<b>Prerequisite Charms: </b>Transeuclidian Reliquary<br> | <b>Prerequisite Charms: </b>Transeuclidian Reliquary<br> | ||
− | This Charm enhances its prerequisite. The Machinical may emulate any other Caste or Exalt type's anima banner, so long as she has seen it before (and can remember it). She does not mimic the anima power, merely the display. (As this is an enhancement to the previous Charm, submodules affecting it also affect this.) | + | This Charm enhances its prerequisite. The Machinical may emulate any other Caste or Exalt type's anima banner, so long as she has seen it before (and can remember it). She does not mimic the anima power, merely the display. (As this is an enhancement to the previous Charm, submodules affecting it also affect this.) This effectively keeps the previous charm's disguise even through 11m anima flare, but 16m iconic anima banner breaks through this disguise. |
− | === | + | === Didacts === |
− | + | ==== Umbral Totem (Appearance 3, 2xp) ==== | |
<i>Metatotemic Calbrator</i><br> | <i>Metatotemic Calbrator</i><br> | ||
− | The Machinical may now choose an iconic anima banner, so long as it thematically matches her current anima flare (be it natural or disguised). | + | The Machinical may now choose an iconic anima banner, so long as it thematically matches her current anima flare (be it natural or disguised). This effectively keeps the disguise up even through totemic anima banner flare. |
− | == | + | ==== Eldritch Secrets Mastery (Essence 5, Appearance 6, Loom-Snarling Deception, Umbral Totem) ==== |
− | === | ||
− | + | The destiny the Machinical wrote for herself perfectly fools all senses including Essence Sight; her permanent Essence level, her Exaltation and mote aspect, her height and weight and skin color, etc. all matches her written destiny to any attempts to sense them. This effectively gives a perfect defense vs any attempt to see through the disguise. | |
− | = | + | = PERCEPTION = |
− | == | + | == Spider Climbs Lotus == |
− | == WITS | + | <b>Cost: </b>-- [2m]<br> |
+ | <b>Minimums: </b>Essence 4, Perception 4<br> | ||
+ | <b>Type: </b>Permanent<br> | ||
+ | <b>Keywords: </b>Internal<br> | ||
+ | <b>Duration: </b>Permanent<br> | ||
+ | <b>Prerequisite Charms: </b>Perfected Lotus Sigil<br> | ||
+ | |||
+ | This Charm allows the Machinical to use Martial Arts in place of Awareness for Join Battle rolls. | ||
+ | === Didacts === | ||
+ | ==== Spider Bites Lotus (Essence 5, 10xp) ==== | ||
+ | With this Didact, the Machinical may use Martial Arts Form charms as Supplemental charms during Join Battle actions. This counts as her Charm activation for the first round of combat. | ||
+ | |||
+ | == [[CallMeCanon/Alchemicals/Colossus#Remote_Drone-Body_Guidance|The Second Flesh]] == | ||
+ | == Arcane Self-Conjuration Link == | ||
+ | |||
+ | <b>Cost: </b>5m [1m]<br> | ||
+ | <b>Minimums: </b>Essence 6, Perception 6<br> | ||
+ | <b>Type: </b>Simple, Speed 7<br> | ||
+ | <b>Keywords: </b>Monstrous, Obvious<br> | ||
+ | <b>Duration: </b>Instant<br> | ||
+ | <b>Prerequisite Charms: </b>The Second Flesh<br> | ||
+ | |||
+ | This Charm allows the Machinical to summon her Second-Flesh back to her as a Thaumaturgist summons a demon. This charm may be used regardless of the location of the Second-Flesh, so long as she can sense it in some way. | ||
+ | === Didacts === | ||
+ | ==== Carapace Conjuration Method ==== | ||
+ | This Didact may only be used with the Essence 4 version of The Second Flesh, and uses up one of its Charm Slots. This allows the Second-Flesh housing the Machinical's consciousness to use this Charm (and its other Didacts) on her Monstrous body as though it were her Second-Flesh, though doing so adds 1wp to the Charm cost. | ||
+ | |||
+ | ==== Telekairic Digestion ==== | ||
+ | This Didact allows the Machinical to summon the Second-Flesh directly into herself, instantly reincorporating it. | ||
+ | ==== Exorcitic Return ==== | ||
+ | This Didact allows the Machinical to "banish" her Second-Flesh either to the Hellforge that serves as her home, or to her own Tesseract Cathedral. | ||
+ | |||
+ | == [[CallMeCanon/Alchemicals/Colossus#Avatar-Launching_Silo|Flesh-Golem Repository]] == | ||
+ | |||
+ | = INTELLIGENCE = | ||
+ | |||
+ | == Consumptive Regurgitator == | ||
+ | <i>Technomorphic Integration Engine</i><br> | ||
+ | |||
+ | <b>Cost: </b><br> | ||
+ | <b>Minimums: </b><br> | ||
+ | <b>Type: </b><br> | ||
+ | <b>Keywords: </b><br> | ||
+ | <b>Duration: </b><br> | ||
+ | <b>Prerequisite Charms: </b><br> | ||
+ | |||
+ | === Didacts === | ||
+ | ==== () ==== | ||
+ | <i></i><br> | ||
+ | |||
+ | == [[CallMeCanon/Alchemicals/Colossus#Integrated_Mobile_Sanctum|Tesseract Cathedral]] == | ||
+ | |||
+ | = WITS = | ||
= WILLPOWER = | = WILLPOWER = | ||
Willpower Charms fall into one of two categories with associated keywords: Apocalyptic, or Heretical. Both Charm Cascades start with Tesseract Cathedral<br> | Willpower Charms fall into one of two categories with associated keywords: Apocalyptic, or Heretical. Both Charm Cascades start with Tesseract Cathedral<br> | ||
Apocalyptic Charms are why the Yozis made the Machinicals, and work toward their ultimate goal.<br> | Apocalyptic Charms are why the Yozis made the Machinicals, and work toward their ultimate goal.<br> | ||
− | Heretical Charms are considered utter blasphemies to the Yozis, and the creation or use of any of them is sure to invite their wrath. | + | Heretical Charms are considered utter blasphemies to the Yozis, and the creation or use of any of them is sure to invite their wrath.<br> |
− | + | ||
− | + | [http://i.imgur.com/pYJ5IY5.png Charm Cascade] | |
− | <b>Cost: </b><br> | + | = Apocalyptic Charms = |
+ | == Innermost Gateway == | ||
+ | <b>Cost: </b>5m, 1wp<br> | ||
<b>Minimums: </b>Essence 8, Willpower 7<br> | <b>Minimums: </b>Essence 8, Willpower 7<br> | ||
− | <b>Type: </b> | + | <b>Type: </b>Simple<br> |
− | <b>Keywords: </b> | + | <b>Keywords: </b>Sprawl, Internal, Apocalyptic, Hallowed<br> |
− | <b>Duration: </b> | + | <b>Duration: </b>One Scene<br> |
− | <b>Prerequisite Charms: </b>Tesseract Cathedral | + | <b>Prerequisite Charms: </b>Tesseract Cathedral<br> |
− | === Carnal Link | + | |
− | <b>Cost: </b><br> | + | A portal opens within the Machinical's Tesseract Cathedral, linking it to Malfeas. Unlike most Malfeas gateways that open onto Cecylene, this portal bypasses the five day desert walk, passing through Elsewhere instead and connecting directly to the Demon City. First Circle Demons may freely pass through this gateway, without the assistance of Sorcery. For First Circle Demons, the Tesseract Cathedral counts as Malfeas, and they are as at home here as they would be there.<br> |
+ | This is the only Apocalyptic Charm that can be removed after it has been activated; the others, immediately upon first activation, become a permanent part of the Machinical's body, as with Transorganic Desecration Cyst (<i>The Alchemicals, pg 180</i>). | ||
+ | === Didacts === | ||
+ | ==== City of Peasants ==== | ||
+ | For First Circle Demons, the Machinical's city body also counts as Malfeas. | ||
+ | |||
+ | == Carnal Link == | ||
+ | <b>Cost: </b>10m, 2wp<br> | ||
<b>Minimums: </b>Essence 9, Willpower 8<br> | <b>Minimums: </b>Essence 9, Willpower 8<br> | ||
<b>Type: </b>Permanent<br> | <b>Type: </b>Permanent<br> | ||
− | <b>Keywords: </b> | + | <b>Keywords: </b>Sprawl, Internal, Apocalyptic, Hallowed<br> |
<b>Duration: </b>Permanent<br> | <b>Duration: </b>Permanent<br> | ||
− | <b>Prerequisite Charms: </b>Innermost Gateway | + | <b>Prerequisite Charms: </b>Innermost Gateway<br> |
− | === The Gaping Maw | + | |
− | <b>Cost: </b><br> | + | During a scene in which Innermost Gateway is active, the Machinical extends part of herself through it and anchors that piece to Malfeas with rootlike tendrils of flesh and essence. What was once a temporary magic portal is now a permanent physical portal, an arched hallway at one end of which is the Demon City and at the other end of which is the Tesseract Cathedral, the intervening length existing Elsewhere. First and Second Circle Demons may pass through this hallway freely without the assistance of Sorcery, and the Tesseract Cathedral now counts as Malfeas for Second Circle Demons as well as First. |
+ | === Didacts === | ||
+ | ==== City of Nobles (City of Peasants) ==== | ||
+ | For Second Circle Demons, the Machinical's city-body also counts as Malfeas. | ||
+ | |||
+ | == The Gaping Maw == | ||
+ | <b>Cost: </b>25m, 5wp<br> | ||
<b>Minimums: </b>Essence 10, Willpower 9<br> | <b>Minimums: </b>Essence 10, Willpower 9<br> | ||
<b>Type: </b>Permanent <br> | <b>Type: </b>Permanent <br> | ||
− | <b>Keywords: </b> | + | <b>Keywords: </b>Sprawl, Internal, Apocalyptic, Hallowed, Obvious<br> |
<b>Duration: </b>Permanent<br> | <b>Duration: </b>Permanent<br> | ||
− | <b>Prerequisite Charms: </b>Carnal Link | + | <b>Prerequisite Charms: </b>Carnal Link<br> |
− | === Through the Fire and Flames | + | |
− | <b>Cost: </b>100m, 10wp, | + | The Machinical's city-body anchors itself to Creation in the same way Carnal Link anchored her to Malfeas, and she creates a physical open archway of her own substance through what was once the portal from her Tesseract Cathedral to Creation. The Machinical is now a permanent physical open bridge from the Demon City to Creation, through the mediums of Elsewhere and her own Tesseract Cathedral. The Cathedral now counts as Malfeas for Third Circle Demons as well, and demons of any circle may traverse the full length of the passage from the Demon City to the Machinical's city-body freely without the assistance of sorcery. |
+ | === Didacts === | ||
+ | ==== City of Gods (City of Nobles) ==== | ||
+ | For Third Circle Demons, the Machinical's city-body also counts as Malfeas. | ||
+ | |||
+ | == Through the Fire and Flames == | ||
+ | <b>Cost: </b>100m, 10wp, 50ahl [10m]<br> | ||
<b>Minimums: </b>Essence 10, Willpower 10<br> | <b>Minimums: </b>Essence 10, Willpower 10<br> | ||
<b>Type: </b>Simple<br> | <b>Type: </b>Simple<br> | ||
− | <b>Keywords: </b> | + | <b>Keywords: </b>Sprawl, Obvious, Apocalyptic, Hallowed<br> |
<b>Duration: </b>Instant<br> | <b>Duration: </b>Instant<br> | ||
− | <b>Prerequisite Charms: </b>The | + | <b>Prerequisite Charms: </b>City of Gods<br> |
+ | |||
+ | This is it. The end of all things, or perhaps the beginning. As many Second- and Third-Circle Demons as can manage are on this side of the portal, protected in the shell of her mighty Sprawl, ready to call forth their greaters. With her city-body anchored firmly to Creation and her inner-world anchored firmly to Malfeas - her innards stretched through the annals of Elsewhere directly connecting the two - and with the metaphysical assistance of the Core Essences of the Yozis pulling with her from this side, she heaves, regurgitating, yanking her own guts out through the conduit of Elsewhere and attempting to drag all of Malfeas inside-out with her.<br> | ||
+ | |||
+ | Whether or not this works is <b>entirely</b> up to the Storyteller. If it does, it almost certainly means the end of the campaign; victory for a party of loyalist Infernals, defeat in almost any other case. Or perhaps not; maybe a High-Essence party of Exalts could find a way to stuff the Yozis back through the portal and close it back up. All of this is up to Storyteller discretion. | ||
+ | |||
+ | = Heretical Charms = | ||
+ | <i>(These charms draw heavy inspiration from the Keyword: Heretical charms in Broken-Winged Crane, and from the webstory [http://tgchan.org/wiki/Lunar_Quest Lunar/Titan Quest] by Jukashi.)</i> | ||
+ | == Budding Jouten == | ||
+ | <b>Cost: </b> 20m, 4wp, (3ahl, 1E) [1m]<br> | ||
+ | <b>Minimums: </b>Essence 7, Willpower 5<br> | ||
+ | <b>Type: </b>Simple<br> | ||
+ | <b>Keywords: </b>Monstrous, Internal, Obvious, Heretical <br> | ||
+ | <b>Duration: </b>Indefinite <br> | ||
+ | <b>Prerequisite Charms: </b>[[CallMeCanon/Alchemicals/Colossus#Remote_Drone-Body_Guidance|The Second Flesh]]<br> | ||
+ | This Charm bridges the gap between The Second Flesh and Flesh-Golem Repository in a way that really shouldn't be possible. This Charm adds a fifth version of The Second Flesh:<br> | ||
+ | <i><b>Essence 5</b></i><br> | ||
+ | <b>Cost:</b> 20m, 4wp, (3ahl, 1E)<br> | ||
+ | As the Essence 4 version, but both bodies may be fully active at once with no penalties. The Alchemical commits a point of <b>Permanent Essence</b> to the Drone-Body, as well as 3 aggravated health levels, giving it part of her soul so that it can live and act autonomously but still respond perfectly to her will. Both bodies use their respective full mote pools, calculated separately and as normal for each of them.<br> | ||
+ | Both the Monstrous-Body and the Second-Flesh may have Dying Health Levels, and they must *both* be killed to kill the Alchemical. If either of them dies, the other one takes 5 levels of unsoakable aggravated damage as her soul is ripped through Elsewhere from the dead body to the living one. If the Monstrous survives, treat this Charm <b>and</b> The Second Flesh as being amputated. If the Jouten survives, follow the rules described in the Essence 4 version of The Second Flesh.<br> | ||
+ | |||
+ | Drone-Body rules still apply: Under no circumstances may a Monstrous have more than one Second-Flesh active at a time, even if that Second-Flesh is a Jouten. | ||
+ | === Didacts === | ||
+ | ==== Joutenheim (Essence 8) ==== | ||
+ | This Didact allows Budding Jouten to be used as a Sprawl Charm, halves the Willpower cost, and reduces the Health Level commitment to 1ahl.<br> | ||
+ | This effectively allows the Sprawl to have more than one Jouten at a time, as the Charm is not being used by a Monstrous.<br> | ||
+ | This Didact <b>only</b> applies to uses of Budding Jouten; she still cannot use the prerequisite Charm to create non-Jouten Second-Fleshes. | ||
+ | |||
+ | ==== The Titan's Face (Essence 9, Jotunheim, Blossoming Deva) ==== | ||
+ | This Didact reduces the Willpower cost of Budding Jouten to 1 and removes the Permanent Essence commitment. | ||
+ | |||
+ | ==== Primordial Avatar (Essence 10, The Titan's Face, Soulbloom, 12xp) ==== | ||
+ | Now, when she creates a Jouten, it may be a Third-Circle-Deva-like entity of up to Essence 7 rather than a Machinical Second-Flesh. This entity is not a subsoul and does not contain any of her Permanent Essence, but it does contain part of herself, is a reflection of some aspect of her being, and acts directly on her behalf (rather than having a separate consciousness and personality as a Deva does). | ||
+ | |||
+ | == Blossoming Deva == | ||
+ | <i>(Pronounced DAY-vah)</i><br> | ||
+ | |||
+ | <b>Cost:</b> 55m, 5wp, 1E, 16xp [2m]<br> | ||
+ | <b>Minimums: </b>Essence 8, Willpower 8<br> | ||
+ | <b>Type: </b>Simple <br> | ||
+ | <b>Keywords: </b>Sprawl, Internal, Obvious, Heretical, Blasphemy<br> | ||
+ | <b>Duration: </b>Permanent<br> | ||
+ | <b>Prerequisite Charms: </b>Budding Jouten, Worldbody Seed, [[CallMeCanon/Alchemicals/Colossus#Avatar-Launching_Silo|Flesh-Golem Repository]]<br> | ||
+ | <i>For this Charm to function, it and Flesh-Golem Repository must be installed <b>within</b> the Worldbody.</i><br> | ||
+ | |||
+ | If the Yozis realized this Charm was possible, they never would have allowed Machninicals to exist. They did not fully understand what they wrought when they gave sorcerous primordial power to beings designed to grow and segment themselves as the Alchemicals are. They assumed that the Drone-Bodies and Avatars would be simple flesh golems, aids for scrying or espionage, conduits for perception and power, and indeed initially they were. It never occurred to them how else that functionality might be used.<br> | ||
+ | No Titan had ever built itself from scratch before.<br><br> | ||
− | == Heretical Charms == | + | This Charm uses Budding Jouten's expansion of The Second Flesh as a prototype, and builds on its idea to turn Flesh-Golem Repository into something else entirely. She follows the rules for constructing an Essence 2 Avatar, but when the time comes to bequeath it part of her mind, she gives it part of her soul instead. She shears off a point of her own Permanent Essence and 16 banked Experience points and imbues them into the Avatar-Body. It is now, metaphysically, a Third-Circle Demon, albeit a fairly weak one as it is an Essence 3 newborn without any Second- or First-Circle subsouls of its own.<br> |
− | === Worldbody Seed | + | ... Yet.<br> |
− | <b>Cost: </b><br> | + | |
+ | The first time the Machinical does this, the Deva she creates is Herself; it has the exact aesthetic body she had when she was Essence 3, and its mind and spirit are exactly her own. The dot of Essence she bequeaths to this Deva is the one that contains her center self; this Deva is now more the Machinical than the Machinical is. Metaphysically, this Deva is her Fetich Soul. The Player and Storyteller should work together to decide from among three options: One is that this Deva becomes a ST controlled cohort, while the player controls the Oversoul. Another is that this Deva becomes the Player Character and the Oversoul becomes her ST controlled 5 dot Patron. A third option is that both the Deva and the Oversoul are player-controlled characters. In the case of this third option, it must also be decided whether the Deva earns EXP for herself or uses the same pool of banked Experience as the Oversoul. These decisions should be made based on both the desire of the player and the needs of the campaign.<br> | ||
+ | Note that this Fetich, while metaphysically a Third-Circle Deva, as a pure expression of the Machinical Oversoul it is itself mechanically a Machinical, and from the moment of its creation onward it calculates stats and spends experience and learns Charms and does everything else following Machinical game rules, with two exceptions: First, it cannot become a Sprawl. If it surpasses Essence 7 it stays a Monstrous, though its body and its Tesseract Cathedral (if it has one) become larger. Secondly, it cannot ever learn Keyword: Heretical Charms or in any way gain Third-Circle subsouls of its own; it <b>is</b> a Third-Circle Subsoul, and can only gain Second- and First-Circle subsouls of its own, and then only once the Oversoul has installed Soulbloom.<br> | ||
+ | <b>Essence 8 Monstrous:</b> 30-45 feet tall, Tesseract Cathedral like a large village or a small town, spanning a few miles.<br> | ||
+ | <b>Essence 9 Monstrous:</b> 45-60 feet tall, Tesseract Cathedral like a large city spanning a few dozen miles.<br> | ||
+ | <b>Essence 10 Monstrous:</b> 60-75 feet tall, Tesseract Cathedral like a sprawling urban metropolis spanning a few hundred miles.<br> | ||
+ | As an Essence 8+ Monstrous, she may install any Sprawl Charms she meets the prerequisites for, but only within her Tesseract Cathedral (assuming she has it installed) (exceptions may be made at Storyteller Discretion based on the nature of the Charm and the size of the Deva's body).<br><br> | ||
+ | |||
+ | Every subsequent time this Charm is used, it creates another Third-Circle Deva, but no longer a Fetich. Instead of using the CallMeCanon rules for making an Essence 2 Avatar-Body, work together with your Storyteller to create an Essence 3 Third-Circle Demon, with all the range of possibility that entails. It should be designed with an Element and Purpose in mind: What traits define it? What does it do for the Oversoul?<br> | ||
+ | For example, you might have an Advisor Deva whose element is Language. Its powers and personality should then flow out of that. Its Charms should be based on assisting others - particularly its Oversoul and fellow Devas - and it would do so through words, e.g. words of encouragement, advice, perhaps Power Words that shape reality, etc. As a character, it might be something of a compassionate nerd, with a love of linguistic puzzles and of helping people.<br> | ||
+ | For another example, you might have a Feeding Soul whose element is Time. Again, its powers and personality should flow out of that. Its Charms should be based on absorbing, consuming, or even stealing power or energy or abilities or knowledge or things, and again, primarily in service to or at least benefit of her Oversoul and fellow Devas. It might also have Charms that speed up or slow down time, allowing herself and/or her Oversoul to do things faster than normal or causing her enemies to do things more slowly. As a character, it might be extremely manic or it might be extremely patient. Or it might be both. It might be gluttonous or ravenous, desperate to consume power or things or knowledge, or perhaps content to wait patiently until Time consumes it all.<br> | ||
+ | <i>(Credit for these examples goes to [http://tgchan.org/wiki/Lunar_Quest Jukashi])</i><br> | ||
+ | For these non-Fetich Devas, again decide with your Storyteller whether they should be Player- or ST-controlled characters, depending on the desires of the player and the needs of the campaign. A non-fetich Deva should probably not supplant the Oversoul or Fetich as the primary or only Player-character, unless the Player really wants it to, and it probably should not earn its own EXP, unless doing so really suits the metagame better. One possibility, if the Oversoul and multiple Third-Circle Devas are player-controlled characters, is for the Fetich to earn EXP for itself, while non-fetich Devas use the Oversoul's EXP pool. Work together with your Storyteller to pick or design what works best for both of you.<br><br> | ||
+ | |||
+ | All Devas, fetich or non-, player- or ST-controlled, Third- or Second-Circle, count as separate characters from a play perspective, but count as part of the Machinical from a metaphysical perspective, to precisely the same extent that Ligier counts as part of Malfeas or Erembour counts as part of the Ebon Dragon. They have separate bodies and personalities, but they are not in a true sense individuals; they are part of a greater whole, and that fundamental fact should be considered in all facets of their personality and existence.<br> | ||
+ | |||
+ | Unlike demons, at least Third-Circle Machinical Devas (and Second- and even First-Circle, if the Storyteller chooses) are naturally material beings and can exist in Creation without trouble, as the Machinical constructed their bodies from physical materials. Like Demons, though, they do count as Creatures of Darkness for the purpose of Solar Charms, unless the Machinical can convince Sol Invictus that they should not (after all, the souls of Gaia and Autochthon don't count as Creatures of Darkness; there is precedent for benevolent - or at least benign - Primordials, and Sol Invictus may perhaps be convinced to apply that precedent to her). | ||
+ | |||
+ | == Soulbloom == | ||
+ | <b>Cost: </b>-- [5m]<br> | ||
+ | <b>Minimums: </b>Essence 9, Willpower 10<br> | ||
+ | <b>Type: </b>Permanent<br> | ||
+ | <b>Keywords: </b>Sprawl, Internal, Obvious, Heretical <br> | ||
+ | <b>Duration: </b>Permanent <br> | ||
+ | <b>Prerequisite Charms: </b>Blossoming Deva, Sapling Ad Infinitum<br> | ||
+ | |||
+ | This Charm allows the Machinical's Third-Circle Devas to begin crafting Second-Circle Devas for themselves. Second-Circle Devas must always fall into one of seven categories, and no Third Circle Deva can ever have more than one Second-Circle Deva of a given category: | ||
+ | * Defining (this one should be created first) | ||
+ | * Protecting/Warden | ||
+ | * Gratifying/Indulgent | ||
+ | * Communicating/Messenger | ||
+ | * Expressive | ||
+ | * Reflective | ||
+ | * Understanding/Wisdom | ||
+ | Second-Circle Devas start at Essence 2, and require the "parent" Third-Circle Deva to spend 20m and 2wp to create, as well as giving up one dot of Personal Essence to the creation process.<br> | ||
+ | |||
+ | The same kind of decisions that were made by player and Storyteller for Third-Circle Devas must also be made for Second-Circle. As a general guideline, any Third-Circle Deva that is not player controlled or does not earn its own EXP should not produce a Second Circle Deva that is player controlled or does earn its own EXP, respectively. Care should also be taken that one player does not end up controlling a ridiculous number of characters, especially if they are in a party where nobody else is doing so, as that could get very unbalanced very quickly and be no fun for anybody. As always, work with your Storyteller to make these decisions in a way that keeps things fun for everybody. | ||
+ | === Didacts === | ||
+ | ==== The Endless Garden (Essence 10) ==== | ||
+ | Second- and Third-Circle Devas, as well as the Machinical herself, may now create First-Circle Devas. Creating one costs 5m and 1wp for the first instance of it, and 1m for each instance of it after that. They should be designed as Elementals based on the traits and themes of the growing Titan. | ||
+ | |||
+ | == Worldbody Seed == | ||
+ | <b>Cost: </b>50m, 5wp[2m]<br> | ||
<b>Minimums: </b>Essence 8, Willpower 8<br> | <b>Minimums: </b>Essence 8, Willpower 8<br> | ||
<b>Type: </b>Permanent<br> | <b>Type: </b>Permanent<br> | ||
− | <b>Keywords: </b> | + | <b>Keywords: </b>Sprawl, Internal, Heretical<br> |
<b>Duration: </b>Permanent <br> | <b>Duration: </b>Permanent <br> | ||
− | <b>Prerequisite Charms: </b>Tesseract Cathedral | + | <b>Prerequisite Charms: </b>[[CallMeCanon/Alchemicals/Colossus#Integrated_Mobile_Sanctum|Tesseract Cathedral]]<br> |
− | === Sapling Ad Infinitum | + | |
− | <b>Cost: </b><br> | + | The Machinical greatly expands the inner world created by Tesseract Cathedral, from the size of a small neighborhood to the size of a large city. Her inner world expands to a radius of (Essence + Willpower) miles. At the center of this area is the building/neighborhood that was her original Tesseract Cathedral, and it serves as the portal through her body to the outside world. Moving things into or out of the Worldbody is still a Reflexive (or Storyteller's discretion) action, but the item or person in question must be within the bounds of the Tesseract Cathedral in order to bring them out.<br> |
+ | For the purpose of the Machnical's will, its entire City-Body and its entire internal Tesseract-Cathedral are usable as a portal. In addition to this, however, there is also a building-sized gateway somewhere in the Tesseract-Cathedral and another somewhere in her City-Body through which individuals may move of their own volition. The Machinical may not prevent such movement, but she may easily relocate the portals to keep them hidden or blocked from use.<br> | ||
+ | |||
+ | The Machinical has a nonzero level of control over the shape and appearance of her inner world, but how much exactly - and how long it lasts - is up to the Storyteller. Its aesthetic should be thematically tied to her being and her personality, but it may theoretically contain anything and be shaped any way that perfect will could sculpt from pure chaos, though it is unlikely to contain great mountain ranges or long canyons; the Worldbody Seed is much larger than a building, but it is no continent.<br> | ||
+ | ... Yet. | ||
+ | === Didacts === | ||
+ | ==== Self-Subjective Sorcerous Summoning ==== | ||
+ | The Machinical may withdraw items or beings from - and ingest them to - anywhere within her inner world. Sorcery or other magicks that can summon objects or beings from other planes (such as Malfeas) may be used to target things within her Worldbody if they are not plane-specific, or may have new versions made specifying her Worldbody if they are. | ||
+ | |||
+ | ==== Titanic Ascension Commitment (24xp) ==== | ||
+ | Any Charm with the Heretical keyword (and all its Didacts), once installed and activated, is considered "known" to the Machinical in the way Martial Arts Charms are. They no longer take up Charm Slots or have committed mote costs to remain installed. In addition, any non-Heretical Charms that were prerequisite for its installation and use are no longer considered prerequisite, and also any minimum Essence Rating it had is decreased by 1 after its first use. To install and activate a Heretical Charm (or Didact) still requires that the Machinical meet all prerequisites, install it in a Charm Slot, and commit the necessary motes as normal, but once she has done so and used it once, it is absorbed from the Charm Slot into the substance of her being.<br> | ||
+ | |||
+ | == Sapling Ad Infinitum == | ||
+ | <b>Cost: </b>70m, 7wp<br> | ||
<b>Minimums: </b>Essence 9, Willpower 9<br> | <b>Minimums: </b>Essence 9, Willpower 9<br> | ||
<b>Type: </b>Permanent <br> | <b>Type: </b>Permanent <br> | ||
− | <b>Keywords: </b> | + | <b>Keywords: </b>Sprawl, Internal, Heretical<br> |
<b>Duration: </b>Permanent <br> | <b>Duration: </b>Permanent <br> | ||
− | <b>Prerequisite Charms: </b>Worldbody Seed | + | <b>Prerequisite Charms: </b>Worldbody Seed, Blossoming Deva<br> |
− | == | + | |
− | <b>Cost: </b><br> | + | The Worldbody Seed takes root and sprouts into something far, far greater. It now encompasses a radius of (Essence + Willpower)x1000 miles, and may contain features such as epic mountain ranges, long winding valleys, or great lakes and seas. The degree to which she controls its geography should be at least that to which she had over the design of the Worldbody Seed, and probably greater, as she is more powerful now and has had some practice. |
+ | |||
+ | == Canopy of Roots == | ||
+ | <b>Cost: </b>50m, 10wp<br> | ||
<b>Minimums: </b>Essence 10, Willpower 10<br> | <b>Minimums: </b>Essence 10, Willpower 10<br> | ||
<b>Type: </b>Permanent <br> | <b>Type: </b>Permanent <br> | ||
− | <b>Keywords: </b> | + | <b>Keywords: </b>Sprawl, Heretical, Obvious, Blasphemy <br> |
<b>Duration: </b>Permanent <br> | <b>Duration: </b>Permanent <br> | ||
− | <b>Prerequisite Charms: </b>Sapling Ad Infinitum | + | <b>Prerequisite Charms: </b>Sapling Ad Infinitum<br> |
− | + | The growing Titan turns herself "inside out" as it were, allowing her inner World Body to spill outward, and becoming not so much a landmark as a landscape. Examples of Primordials who exist this way: Cecylene, Malfeas, Szoreny. Examples of Primordials who do not exist this way: Isidoros, Adorjan, The Ebon Dragon. Work together with your Storyteller to determine <i>what in the name of Creation <b>that</b> means</i>. Where are your borders? Are they related to the size of the landscape in any way? Can you move? What does this mean for your Health Levels? Whatever it is you've just done, you can be sure that <b>EVERYONE EVERYWHERE</b> is going to notice. Good luck! | |
− | + | ||
− | + | == Singularity of Yggdrasil == | |
− | <b> | + | <b>Cost: </b>100m, 10wp<br> |
− | + | <b>Minimums: </b>Essence 10, Willpower 10<br> | |
− | <b> | + | <b>Type: </b>Permanent <br> |
− | + | <b>Keywords: </b>Sprawl, Internal, Obvious, Heretical, Blasphemy<br> | |
− | == | ||
− | <b>Cost: </b><br> | ||
− | <b>Minimums: </b>Essence | ||
− | <b>Type: </b> | ||
− | <b>Keywords: </b> | ||
<b>Duration: </b>Permanent <br> | <b>Duration: </b>Permanent <br> | ||
− | <b>Prerequisite Charms: </b> | + | <b>Prerequisite Charms: </b>Sapling Ad Infinitum, Soulbloom<br> |
− | + | The Worldbody Seed reaches full maturity, and the Shinma shudder as a new Titan is born. She is no longer a Machinical, but a Primordial, and she is immortal in all of the same ways that they are. Her inner (or outer, in the case of Canopy of Roots) World-Body is now infinite in scope, and may contain mighty continents and vast oceans if she chooses. The player should have a great degree of control over the design of this world, but it should follow the themes of the new Primordial whose body it is.<br> | |
− | + | ||
− | + | While this Charm does not necessarily have any outward visual components, it still has the Obvious keyword because the metaphysical implications alone can be felt for miles around, perhaps everywhere at once. Creation has witnessed the birth of a new Primordial, conceived by the Yozis but built and grown from there by her own volition and will. Such an event cannot possibly go unnoticed, and it cannot possibly leave Creation unchanged. The effects of those changes and the reactions to them are now the bones of the story you must live in. Good luck, young Titan. Good luck. | |
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− |
Latest revision as of 03:51, 5 January 2018
Back to CallMeCanon
Back to Machinicals
Contents
- 1 Machinical Charms
- 2 Charisms
- 3 STRENGTH
- 4 DEXTERITY
- 5 STAMINA
- 6 CHARISMA
- 7 MANIPULATION
- 8 APPEARANCE
- 9 PERCEPTION
- 10 INTELLIGENCE
- 11 WITS
- 12 WILLPOWER
- 13 Apocalyptic Charms
- 14 Heretical Charms
Machinical Charms
Many of these are just Alchemical Charms with a new name. For those I'm putting basic game-rule descriptions for now; I will update with fluff text later.
Didacts are the Machinical equivalent to Alchemical Submodules. As with Submodules, they cost 6xp unless otherwise noted.
Keyword: Blasphemy is explained on page 103 of Manual of Exalted Power: The Infernals
Keyword: Hallowed refers to Charms designed by the Yozis specifically to further their plans. These Charms will usually either be custom or based on Infernal Charms. Few if any Alchemical Equivalent Charms will count as Hallowed.
Charisms
Charisms are the analogue to Alchemical Augments, which are similar in many ways to Excellencies. The first three Augments (and Charisms) are identical to their respective Excellencies; beyond that, things get interesting.
Fourth (Attribute) Charism
Cost: -- [1m, first only]
Minimums: Essence 1, (Attribute) 1
Type: Permanent
Keywords: Obvious, Stackable
Duration: Permanent
Prerequisite Charms: None
This Charm increases the cap for its respective Attribute and adds a dot to it for as long as the Charm is installed. This Charm may be installed as many times per Attribute as half the Machinical's Essence, rounded up. Dots added this way do not count towards the Experience cost of buying Attribute dots, but they count towards everything else.
Hyperbolic (Attribute) Aleph
Transpuissant (Attribute) Upgrade
Cost: 0m [1m]
Minimums: Essence 31, (Attribute) 5
Type: Reflexive
Keywords: Combo-OK
Duration: Instant
Prerequisite Charms: Any (Atribute) Charism
This Charm converts all Specialty dice to successes. Can only be used on rolls involving the relevant Attribute.
STRENGTH
DEXTERITY
STAMINA
CHARISMA
Sacrosanct Devotion
Cost: -- [5m]
Minimums: Essence 2, Charisma 3
Type: Permanent
Keywords: Internal, Hallowed
Duration: Permanent
Prerequisite Charms: None
This Charm lowers the attunement cost of Verdigrised or otherwise Yozi-aspected artifacts by 1, to a minimum of 1. It also lowers the installation cost of other Hallowed Charms by 1, to a minimum of 0.
Didacts
Sublime Piety (Essence 3, 4xp)
Each installation of this Didact adds 1 to the Charm's reduction. This Didact may be installed a maximum of (lower of Charisma or Essence) times.
MANIPULATION
APPEARANCE
Transeuclidian Reliquary
Integrated Artifact Transmogrifier
Cost: 5m [1m]
Minimums: Essence 2, Appearance 1
Type: Simple (Speed 3)
Keywords: Combo-OK, Internal
Duration: Indefinite
Prerequisite Charms: None
This Charm gives any number of Charms the Internal keyword for the duration. Obvious Charms are only obvious while they are performing their function, and insofar as it is necessarily obvious to do so.
If all the Alchemical's Charms have the Internal keyword and she is human-sized, she may appear to be human. She may retract or edit her soulgem to do so. This is not an illusion, but an actual warping of her flesh, so effects that trump Illusions do not affect this Charm. 11m+ anima flare breaks through the disguise.
Didacts
Arcane Leyshadow (Essence 3, 4xp)
Essence-Muting Baffles
All Internal Charms become invisible to Essence Sight (unless they are both Obvious and active). If she is disguised as a human, that disguise also fools Essence Sight. In case of a Charm attempting to break through, add the Machinical's Appearance in bonus dice to her resisted roll.
Loom-Snarling Deception (Essence 4, 4xp)
Loom Server Migration + Loom-Snarling Deception
An Ebon Shadow crafts an illusion that reshapes her clothing and equipment in whatever way the Machinical chooses. She also writes herself a destiny that is woven into Fate; she now counts as inside of Fate, and any disguises that match the destiny she wrote for herself are backed up by the Loom.
Penumbral Cruciger
Trans-Chosen Emulator
Cost: --
Minimums: Essence 3, Appearance 2
Type: Permanent
Keywords: Internal, Obvious, Shaping
Duration: Permanent
Prerequisite Charms: Transeuclidian Reliquary
This Charm enhances its prerequisite. The Machinical may emulate any other Caste or Exalt type's anima banner, so long as she has seen it before (and can remember it). She does not mimic the anima power, merely the display. (As this is an enhancement to the previous Charm, submodules affecting it also affect this.) This effectively keeps the previous charm's disguise even through 11m anima flare, but 16m iconic anima banner breaks through this disguise.
Didacts
Umbral Totem (Appearance 3, 2xp)
Metatotemic Calbrator
The Machinical may now choose an iconic anima banner, so long as it thematically matches her current anima flare (be it natural or disguised). This effectively keeps the disguise up even through totemic anima banner flare.
Eldritch Secrets Mastery (Essence 5, Appearance 6, Loom-Snarling Deception, Umbral Totem)
The destiny the Machinical wrote for herself perfectly fools all senses including Essence Sight; her permanent Essence level, her Exaltation and mote aspect, her height and weight and skin color, etc. all matches her written destiny to any attempts to sense them. This effectively gives a perfect defense vs any attempt to see through the disguise.
PERCEPTION
Spider Climbs Lotus
Cost: -- [2m]
Minimums: Essence 4, Perception 4
Type: Permanent
Keywords: Internal
Duration: Permanent
Prerequisite Charms: Perfected Lotus Sigil
This Charm allows the Machinical to use Martial Arts in place of Awareness for Join Battle rolls.
Didacts
Spider Bites Lotus (Essence 5, 10xp)
With this Didact, the Machinical may use Martial Arts Form charms as Supplemental charms during Join Battle actions. This counts as her Charm activation for the first round of combat.
The Second Flesh
Arcane Self-Conjuration Link
Cost: 5m [1m]
Minimums: Essence 6, Perception 6
Type: Simple, Speed 7
Keywords: Monstrous, Obvious
Duration: Instant
Prerequisite Charms: The Second Flesh
This Charm allows the Machinical to summon her Second-Flesh back to her as a Thaumaturgist summons a demon. This charm may be used regardless of the location of the Second-Flesh, so long as she can sense it in some way.
Didacts
Carapace Conjuration Method
This Didact may only be used with the Essence 4 version of The Second Flesh, and uses up one of its Charm Slots. This allows the Second-Flesh housing the Machinical's consciousness to use this Charm (and its other Didacts) on her Monstrous body as though it were her Second-Flesh, though doing so adds 1wp to the Charm cost.
Telekairic Digestion
This Didact allows the Machinical to summon the Second-Flesh directly into herself, instantly reincorporating it.
Exorcitic Return
This Didact allows the Machinical to "banish" her Second-Flesh either to the Hellforge that serves as her home, or to her own Tesseract Cathedral.
Flesh-Golem Repository
INTELLIGENCE
Consumptive Regurgitator
Technomorphic Integration Engine
Cost:
Minimums:
Type:
Keywords:
Duration:
Prerequisite Charms:
Didacts
()
Tesseract Cathedral
WITS
WILLPOWER
Willpower Charms fall into one of two categories with associated keywords: Apocalyptic, or Heretical. Both Charm Cascades start with Tesseract Cathedral
Apocalyptic Charms are why the Yozis made the Machinicals, and work toward their ultimate goal.
Heretical Charms are considered utter blasphemies to the Yozis, and the creation or use of any of them is sure to invite their wrath.
Apocalyptic Charms
Innermost Gateway
Cost: 5m, 1wp
Minimums: Essence 8, Willpower 7
Type: Simple
Keywords: Sprawl, Internal, Apocalyptic, Hallowed
Duration: One Scene
Prerequisite Charms: Tesseract Cathedral
A portal opens within the Machinical's Tesseract Cathedral, linking it to Malfeas. Unlike most Malfeas gateways that open onto Cecylene, this portal bypasses the five day desert walk, passing through Elsewhere instead and connecting directly to the Demon City. First Circle Demons may freely pass through this gateway, without the assistance of Sorcery. For First Circle Demons, the Tesseract Cathedral counts as Malfeas, and they are as at home here as they would be there.
This is the only Apocalyptic Charm that can be removed after it has been activated; the others, immediately upon first activation, become a permanent part of the Machinical's body, as with Transorganic Desecration Cyst (The Alchemicals, pg 180).
Didacts
City of Peasants
For First Circle Demons, the Machinical's city body also counts as Malfeas.
Carnal Link
Cost: 10m, 2wp
Minimums: Essence 9, Willpower 8
Type: Permanent
Keywords: Sprawl, Internal, Apocalyptic, Hallowed
Duration: Permanent
Prerequisite Charms: Innermost Gateway
During a scene in which Innermost Gateway is active, the Machinical extends part of herself through it and anchors that piece to Malfeas with rootlike tendrils of flesh and essence. What was once a temporary magic portal is now a permanent physical portal, an arched hallway at one end of which is the Demon City and at the other end of which is the Tesseract Cathedral, the intervening length existing Elsewhere. First and Second Circle Demons may pass through this hallway freely without the assistance of Sorcery, and the Tesseract Cathedral now counts as Malfeas for Second Circle Demons as well as First.
Didacts
City of Nobles (City of Peasants)
For Second Circle Demons, the Machinical's city-body also counts as Malfeas.
The Gaping Maw
Cost: 25m, 5wp
Minimums: Essence 10, Willpower 9
Type: Permanent
Keywords: Sprawl, Internal, Apocalyptic, Hallowed, Obvious
Duration: Permanent
Prerequisite Charms: Carnal Link
The Machinical's city-body anchors itself to Creation in the same way Carnal Link anchored her to Malfeas, and she creates a physical open archway of her own substance through what was once the portal from her Tesseract Cathedral to Creation. The Machinical is now a permanent physical open bridge from the Demon City to Creation, through the mediums of Elsewhere and her own Tesseract Cathedral. The Cathedral now counts as Malfeas for Third Circle Demons as well, and demons of any circle may traverse the full length of the passage from the Demon City to the Machinical's city-body freely without the assistance of sorcery.
Didacts
City of Gods (City of Nobles)
For Third Circle Demons, the Machinical's city-body also counts as Malfeas.
Through the Fire and Flames
Cost: 100m, 10wp, 50ahl [10m]
Minimums: Essence 10, Willpower 10
Type: Simple
Keywords: Sprawl, Obvious, Apocalyptic, Hallowed
Duration: Instant
Prerequisite Charms: City of Gods
This is it. The end of all things, or perhaps the beginning. As many Second- and Third-Circle Demons as can manage are on this side of the portal, protected in the shell of her mighty Sprawl, ready to call forth their greaters. With her city-body anchored firmly to Creation and her inner-world anchored firmly to Malfeas - her innards stretched through the annals of Elsewhere directly connecting the two - and with the metaphysical assistance of the Core Essences of the Yozis pulling with her from this side, she heaves, regurgitating, yanking her own guts out through the conduit of Elsewhere and attempting to drag all of Malfeas inside-out with her.
Whether or not this works is entirely up to the Storyteller. If it does, it almost certainly means the end of the campaign; victory for a party of loyalist Infernals, defeat in almost any other case. Or perhaps not; maybe a High-Essence party of Exalts could find a way to stuff the Yozis back through the portal and close it back up. All of this is up to Storyteller discretion.
Heretical Charms
(These charms draw heavy inspiration from the Keyword: Heretical charms in Broken-Winged Crane, and from the webstory Lunar/Titan Quest by Jukashi.)
Budding Jouten
Cost: 20m, 4wp, (3ahl, 1E) [1m]
Minimums: Essence 7, Willpower 5
Type: Simple
Keywords: Monstrous, Internal, Obvious, Heretical
Duration: Indefinite
Prerequisite Charms: The Second Flesh
This Charm bridges the gap between The Second Flesh and Flesh-Golem Repository in a way that really shouldn't be possible. This Charm adds a fifth version of The Second Flesh:
Essence 5
Cost: 20m, 4wp, (3ahl, 1E)
As the Essence 4 version, but both bodies may be fully active at once with no penalties. The Alchemical commits a point of Permanent Essence to the Drone-Body, as well as 3 aggravated health levels, giving it part of her soul so that it can live and act autonomously but still respond perfectly to her will. Both bodies use their respective full mote pools, calculated separately and as normal for each of them.
Both the Monstrous-Body and the Second-Flesh may have Dying Health Levels, and they must *both* be killed to kill the Alchemical. If either of them dies, the other one takes 5 levels of unsoakable aggravated damage as her soul is ripped through Elsewhere from the dead body to the living one. If the Monstrous survives, treat this Charm and The Second Flesh as being amputated. If the Jouten survives, follow the rules described in the Essence 4 version of The Second Flesh.
Drone-Body rules still apply: Under no circumstances may a Monstrous have more than one Second-Flesh active at a time, even if that Second-Flesh is a Jouten.
Didacts
Joutenheim (Essence 8)
This Didact allows Budding Jouten to be used as a Sprawl Charm, halves the Willpower cost, and reduces the Health Level commitment to 1ahl.
This effectively allows the Sprawl to have more than one Jouten at a time, as the Charm is not being used by a Monstrous.
This Didact only applies to uses of Budding Jouten; she still cannot use the prerequisite Charm to create non-Jouten Second-Fleshes.
The Titan's Face (Essence 9, Jotunheim, Blossoming Deva)
This Didact reduces the Willpower cost of Budding Jouten to 1 and removes the Permanent Essence commitment.
Primordial Avatar (Essence 10, The Titan's Face, Soulbloom, 12xp)
Now, when she creates a Jouten, it may be a Third-Circle-Deva-like entity of up to Essence 7 rather than a Machinical Second-Flesh. This entity is not a subsoul and does not contain any of her Permanent Essence, but it does contain part of herself, is a reflection of some aspect of her being, and acts directly on her behalf (rather than having a separate consciousness and personality as a Deva does).
Blossoming Deva
(Pronounced DAY-vah)
Cost: 55m, 5wp, 1E, 16xp [2m]
Minimums: Essence 8, Willpower 8
Type: Simple
Keywords: Sprawl, Internal, Obvious, Heretical, Blasphemy
Duration: Permanent
Prerequisite Charms: Budding Jouten, Worldbody Seed, Flesh-Golem Repository
For this Charm to function, it and Flesh-Golem Repository must be installed within the Worldbody.
If the Yozis realized this Charm was possible, they never would have allowed Machninicals to exist. They did not fully understand what they wrought when they gave sorcerous primordial power to beings designed to grow and segment themselves as the Alchemicals are. They assumed that the Drone-Bodies and Avatars would be simple flesh golems, aids for scrying or espionage, conduits for perception and power, and indeed initially they were. It never occurred to them how else that functionality might be used.
No Titan had ever built itself from scratch before.
This Charm uses Budding Jouten's expansion of The Second Flesh as a prototype, and builds on its idea to turn Flesh-Golem Repository into something else entirely. She follows the rules for constructing an Essence 2 Avatar, but when the time comes to bequeath it part of her mind, she gives it part of her soul instead. She shears off a point of her own Permanent Essence and 16 banked Experience points and imbues them into the Avatar-Body. It is now, metaphysically, a Third-Circle Demon, albeit a fairly weak one as it is an Essence 3 newborn without any Second- or First-Circle subsouls of its own.
... Yet.
The first time the Machinical does this, the Deva she creates is Herself; it has the exact aesthetic body she had when she was Essence 3, and its mind and spirit are exactly her own. The dot of Essence she bequeaths to this Deva is the one that contains her center self; this Deva is now more the Machinical than the Machinical is. Metaphysically, this Deva is her Fetich Soul. The Player and Storyteller should work together to decide from among three options: One is that this Deva becomes a ST controlled cohort, while the player controls the Oversoul. Another is that this Deva becomes the Player Character and the Oversoul becomes her ST controlled 5 dot Patron. A third option is that both the Deva and the Oversoul are player-controlled characters. In the case of this third option, it must also be decided whether the Deva earns EXP for herself or uses the same pool of banked Experience as the Oversoul. These decisions should be made based on both the desire of the player and the needs of the campaign.
Note that this Fetich, while metaphysically a Third-Circle Deva, as a pure expression of the Machinical Oversoul it is itself mechanically a Machinical, and from the moment of its creation onward it calculates stats and spends experience and learns Charms and does everything else following Machinical game rules, with two exceptions: First, it cannot become a Sprawl. If it surpasses Essence 7 it stays a Monstrous, though its body and its Tesseract Cathedral (if it has one) become larger. Secondly, it cannot ever learn Keyword: Heretical Charms or in any way gain Third-Circle subsouls of its own; it is a Third-Circle Subsoul, and can only gain Second- and First-Circle subsouls of its own, and then only once the Oversoul has installed Soulbloom.
Essence 8 Monstrous: 30-45 feet tall, Tesseract Cathedral like a large village or a small town, spanning a few miles.
Essence 9 Monstrous: 45-60 feet tall, Tesseract Cathedral like a large city spanning a few dozen miles.
Essence 10 Monstrous: 60-75 feet tall, Tesseract Cathedral like a sprawling urban metropolis spanning a few hundred miles.
As an Essence 8+ Monstrous, she may install any Sprawl Charms she meets the prerequisites for, but only within her Tesseract Cathedral (assuming she has it installed) (exceptions may be made at Storyteller Discretion based on the nature of the Charm and the size of the Deva's body).
Every subsequent time this Charm is used, it creates another Third-Circle Deva, but no longer a Fetich. Instead of using the CallMeCanon rules for making an Essence 2 Avatar-Body, work together with your Storyteller to create an Essence 3 Third-Circle Demon, with all the range of possibility that entails. It should be designed with an Element and Purpose in mind: What traits define it? What does it do for the Oversoul?
For example, you might have an Advisor Deva whose element is Language. Its powers and personality should then flow out of that. Its Charms should be based on assisting others - particularly its Oversoul and fellow Devas - and it would do so through words, e.g. words of encouragement, advice, perhaps Power Words that shape reality, etc. As a character, it might be something of a compassionate nerd, with a love of linguistic puzzles and of helping people.
For another example, you might have a Feeding Soul whose element is Time. Again, its powers and personality should flow out of that. Its Charms should be based on absorbing, consuming, or even stealing power or energy or abilities or knowledge or things, and again, primarily in service to or at least benefit of her Oversoul and fellow Devas. It might also have Charms that speed up or slow down time, allowing herself and/or her Oversoul to do things faster than normal or causing her enemies to do things more slowly. As a character, it might be extremely manic or it might be extremely patient. Or it might be both. It might be gluttonous or ravenous, desperate to consume power or things or knowledge, or perhaps content to wait patiently until Time consumes it all.
(Credit for these examples goes to Jukashi)
For these non-Fetich Devas, again decide with your Storyteller whether they should be Player- or ST-controlled characters, depending on the desires of the player and the needs of the campaign. A non-fetich Deva should probably not supplant the Oversoul or Fetich as the primary or only Player-character, unless the Player really wants it to, and it probably should not earn its own EXP, unless doing so really suits the metagame better. One possibility, if the Oversoul and multiple Third-Circle Devas are player-controlled characters, is for the Fetich to earn EXP for itself, while non-fetich Devas use the Oversoul's EXP pool. Work together with your Storyteller to pick or design what works best for both of you.
All Devas, fetich or non-, player- or ST-controlled, Third- or Second-Circle, count as separate characters from a play perspective, but count as part of the Machinical from a metaphysical perspective, to precisely the same extent that Ligier counts as part of Malfeas or Erembour counts as part of the Ebon Dragon. They have separate bodies and personalities, but they are not in a true sense individuals; they are part of a greater whole, and that fundamental fact should be considered in all facets of their personality and existence.
Unlike demons, at least Third-Circle Machinical Devas (and Second- and even First-Circle, if the Storyteller chooses) are naturally material beings and can exist in Creation without trouble, as the Machinical constructed their bodies from physical materials. Like Demons, though, they do count as Creatures of Darkness for the purpose of Solar Charms, unless the Machinical can convince Sol Invictus that they should not (after all, the souls of Gaia and Autochthon don't count as Creatures of Darkness; there is precedent for benevolent - or at least benign - Primordials, and Sol Invictus may perhaps be convinced to apply that precedent to her).
Soulbloom
Cost: -- [5m]
Minimums: Essence 9, Willpower 10
Type: Permanent
Keywords: Sprawl, Internal, Obvious, Heretical
Duration: Permanent
Prerequisite Charms: Blossoming Deva, Sapling Ad Infinitum
This Charm allows the Machinical's Third-Circle Devas to begin crafting Second-Circle Devas for themselves. Second-Circle Devas must always fall into one of seven categories, and no Third Circle Deva can ever have more than one Second-Circle Deva of a given category:
- Defining (this one should be created first)
- Protecting/Warden
- Gratifying/Indulgent
- Communicating/Messenger
- Expressive
- Reflective
- Understanding/Wisdom
Second-Circle Devas start at Essence 2, and require the "parent" Third-Circle Deva to spend 20m and 2wp to create, as well as giving up one dot of Personal Essence to the creation process.
The same kind of decisions that were made by player and Storyteller for Third-Circle Devas must also be made for Second-Circle. As a general guideline, any Third-Circle Deva that is not player controlled or does not earn its own EXP should not produce a Second Circle Deva that is player controlled or does earn its own EXP, respectively. Care should also be taken that one player does not end up controlling a ridiculous number of characters, especially if they are in a party where nobody else is doing so, as that could get very unbalanced very quickly and be no fun for anybody. As always, work with your Storyteller to make these decisions in a way that keeps things fun for everybody.
Didacts
The Endless Garden (Essence 10)
Second- and Third-Circle Devas, as well as the Machinical herself, may now create First-Circle Devas. Creating one costs 5m and 1wp for the first instance of it, and 1m for each instance of it after that. They should be designed as Elementals based on the traits and themes of the growing Titan.
Worldbody Seed
Cost: 50m, 5wp[2m]
Minimums: Essence 8, Willpower 8
Type: Permanent
Keywords: Sprawl, Internal, Heretical
Duration: Permanent
Prerequisite Charms: Tesseract Cathedral
The Machinical greatly expands the inner world created by Tesseract Cathedral, from the size of a small neighborhood to the size of a large city. Her inner world expands to a radius of (Essence + Willpower) miles. At the center of this area is the building/neighborhood that was her original Tesseract Cathedral, and it serves as the portal through her body to the outside world. Moving things into or out of the Worldbody is still a Reflexive (or Storyteller's discretion) action, but the item or person in question must be within the bounds of the Tesseract Cathedral in order to bring them out.
For the purpose of the Machnical's will, its entire City-Body and its entire internal Tesseract-Cathedral are usable as a portal. In addition to this, however, there is also a building-sized gateway somewhere in the Tesseract-Cathedral and another somewhere in her City-Body through which individuals may move of their own volition. The Machinical may not prevent such movement, but she may easily relocate the portals to keep them hidden or blocked from use.
The Machinical has a nonzero level of control over the shape and appearance of her inner world, but how much exactly - and how long it lasts - is up to the Storyteller. Its aesthetic should be thematically tied to her being and her personality, but it may theoretically contain anything and be shaped any way that perfect will could sculpt from pure chaos, though it is unlikely to contain great mountain ranges or long canyons; the Worldbody Seed is much larger than a building, but it is no continent.
... Yet.
Didacts
Self-Subjective Sorcerous Summoning
The Machinical may withdraw items or beings from - and ingest them to - anywhere within her inner world. Sorcery or other magicks that can summon objects or beings from other planes (such as Malfeas) may be used to target things within her Worldbody if they are not plane-specific, or may have new versions made specifying her Worldbody if they are.
Titanic Ascension Commitment (24xp)
Any Charm with the Heretical keyword (and all its Didacts), once installed and activated, is considered "known" to the Machinical in the way Martial Arts Charms are. They no longer take up Charm Slots or have committed mote costs to remain installed. In addition, any non-Heretical Charms that were prerequisite for its installation and use are no longer considered prerequisite, and also any minimum Essence Rating it had is decreased by 1 after its first use. To install and activate a Heretical Charm (or Didact) still requires that the Machinical meet all prerequisites, install it in a Charm Slot, and commit the necessary motes as normal, but once she has done so and used it once, it is absorbed from the Charm Slot into the substance of her being.
Sapling Ad Infinitum
Cost: 70m, 7wp
Minimums: Essence 9, Willpower 9
Type: Permanent
Keywords: Sprawl, Internal, Heretical
Duration: Permanent
Prerequisite Charms: Worldbody Seed, Blossoming Deva
The Worldbody Seed takes root and sprouts into something far, far greater. It now encompasses a radius of (Essence + Willpower)x1000 miles, and may contain features such as epic mountain ranges, long winding valleys, or great lakes and seas. The degree to which she controls its geography should be at least that to which she had over the design of the Worldbody Seed, and probably greater, as she is more powerful now and has had some practice.
Canopy of Roots
Cost: 50m, 10wp
Minimums: Essence 10, Willpower 10
Type: Permanent
Keywords: Sprawl, Heretical, Obvious, Blasphemy
Duration: Permanent
Prerequisite Charms: Sapling Ad Infinitum
The growing Titan turns herself "inside out" as it were, allowing her inner World Body to spill outward, and becoming not so much a landmark as a landscape. Examples of Primordials who exist this way: Cecylene, Malfeas, Szoreny. Examples of Primordials who do not exist this way: Isidoros, Adorjan, The Ebon Dragon. Work together with your Storyteller to determine what in the name of Creation that means. Where are your borders? Are they related to the size of the landscape in any way? Can you move? What does this mean for your Health Levels? Whatever it is you've just done, you can be sure that EVERYONE EVERYWHERE is going to notice. Good luck!
Singularity of Yggdrasil
Cost: 100m, 10wp
Minimums: Essence 10, Willpower 10
Type: Permanent
Keywords: Sprawl, Internal, Obvious, Heretical, Blasphemy
Duration: Permanent
Prerequisite Charms: Sapling Ad Infinitum, Soulbloom
The Worldbody Seed reaches full maturity, and the Shinma shudder as a new Titan is born. She is no longer a Machinical, but a Primordial, and she is immortal in all of the same ways that they are. Her inner (or outer, in the case of Canopy of Roots) World-Body is now infinite in scope, and may contain mighty continents and vast oceans if she chooses. The player should have a great degree of control over the design of this world, but it should follow the themes of the new Primordial whose body it is.
While this Charm does not necessarily have any outward visual components, it still has the Obvious keyword because the metaphysical implications alone can be felt for miles around, perhaps everywhere at once. Creation has witnessed the birth of a new Primordial, conceived by the Yozis but built and grown from there by her own volition and will. Such an event cannot possibly go unnoticed, and it cannot possibly leave Creation unchanged. The effects of those changes and the reactions to them are now the bones of the story you must live in. Good luck, young Titan. Good luck.