SolarPerformance/GregLink
As I'm a huge fan of dramatic background music, I couldn't stand the fact that my characters never really had a 'soundtrack' accompanying them during their fight scenes. I had to remedy this, of course, and created a short performance charm tree allowing a performer to not only select appropriate music impeccably, but to pipe it directly into the minds of those around him, and finally compel them to perform the music as well. This is a great charm tree for both neutralizing crowds of mortals, as well as causing them to sing in adoration of the UCS himself. Much less effective on Exalts (on purpose), it also really helps clear mooks out of the room, or better yet, makes them root for your team.
Impeccable Taste in Music
Cost: 2m Duration: Instant Type: Simple Minimum Performance: 2 Minimum Essence: 1 Prerequisites: None
With a fine grasp of not only music, but the social undertones and implications of a scene, the Exalt can choose the best possible music for a given purpose. This allows him to not only conduct his business and activities to an appropriately tempoed beat, but also has the ability to sway the scene in his favor. This charm, when activated, indicates to the Exalt the best possible musical selection for a given scene. The selection may be made well in advance of a given scene, but the more accurate the Exalt's view of the scene, the more appropriate the music will be. For scenes that are already in progress, the Exalt's choice provides a 2-die bonus to a single roll of the Exalt's choosing. For planned scenes, due to the lack of information, the bonus is reduced to only a single die.
Divine Moment Inspiration
Cost: 3m Duration: Instant Type: Reflexive Minimum Performance: 3 Minimum Essence: 2 Prerequisites: None
For many, the creation of a new work is a long and arduous process, requiring days spent as a slave to one's art, searching for inspiration. Blessed with the perfection of the Sun, and gifted with their own internal sunrise, the savants of the Sun can circumvent such limitations, recognizing their potential in an instant. This charm supplements any valid action to receive inspiration regarding a new work, or to refine an existing creative project. Examples include developing choreography, writing a play (or speech), or even mixing together the works of other performers into an even more grand display. This charm circumvents the need for time or practice somewhat, greatly reducing the time required on the task at hand. Tasks that would take less than an hour can be performed nearly instantly, with a realized and complete product immediately springing into the Solar's memory, while tasks that would require longer are reduced as if the Solar had spent (Essence*Performance) hours working on the project. Note that application of this charm is not only helpful for creation of new works, but also work on others, and as such, can greatly reduce or eliminate penalties for lack of practice before a performance.
Thrum of the Subconscious
Cost: 4m Duration: Scene Type: Simple Minimum Performance: 3 Minimum Essence: 2 Prerequisites: Impeccable Taste in Music
With this charm, the Exalt's internal rhytm can extend not only to his own thoughts, but to the thoughts of others. While this charm is active, any musical or rythmic pattern the Exalt can think of is channeled into the minds of others around him, as if they too could hear it. When this charm is activated, the Exalt rolls Charisma+Performance, and can affect a group of mortals equal to 10*the number of successes rolled, and a number of Exalts equal to the number of successes rolled. Through the power of the charm, none of the listeners will actively recognize that there is anything amiss, and will merely assume that they must be thinking of the music. This can be used not only as a crude means of communication, but also to influence the rythm, timing, and tone of others' actions. While this charm is activated, the Exalt can choose a single type of action or roll to influence, and any listener performing such an action receives a 2-die modifier to the roll.
Dance of the Divine Choreographer
Cost: 5m, 1WP Duration: Scene Type: Simple Minimum Performance: 5 Minimum Essence: 3 Prerequisites: Thrum of the Subconscious
With a refined understanding of both performance and Essence, the Exalt has now surpassed mere parlor tricks, into the realm of true rythmic understanding. Rather than focusing merely on the music, this charm incorporates action, dance, and choreography, resulting in rather dramatic displays at the Exalt's whim. When activated, the Exalt rolls Manipulation+Performance, and adds a number of automatic successes equal to his Essence. The results of this roll are divided between the scope and power of the charm, with each success spent on scope doubling the number of affected targets (the first success buys the first target), and each success spent on power increasing the difficulty of the resistance roll by one. Each target may attempt to resist the compulsion to dance by rolling Wits+Performance. Due to their experience with Essence, other Exalted are particularly resistant to this effect, as they receive an bonus number of dice on their resistance roll equal to their Essence. If successful, the target resists the charm, but if unsuccessful, the target feels the urge to perform the song, and does so surprisingly well. Each target who fails the resistance roll must make at least one (Appearance,Charisma, or Dexterity) + Performance roll per turn to go along with the performance, and receives a bonus of 2 dice on this roll. This can result in small towns dancing down the main street, singing in unision the praises of a rain god (see "Lagaan", or any good Bollywood movie, really), or entire units of soldiers breaking formation, claiming an urgent need to "Get on up! (Good god!) YYYeeaahh!".
Comments?
Another interesting charm might be one that adds performace to Brawl, unarmed or Melee attacks, i.e. your fighting looks more like dancing than combat (Capoeira, anyone?) ~ BrigandRansom
- Perhaps a more powerful version of Dance of Flashing Swords, that adds your Performance to your attack and defense rolls while hiding from onlookers the fact that you're fighting... probably be Essence 4, but worth contemplating. - Kurulham
I have two thoughts on this charmset; AHAHAHAHAHHAHAHA and AAAAAAAAHHHH! Similair letters, I know, but there are reasons behind them. First off, I think its hilariously funny. A portable musical generator. Secondly, I realize that a Solar Exalt damn well could do this, forcing perfectly reasonable people to break into song and dance. Scary, eh? - Paincake
I am reminded of that part from the core rulebook where it says the Solars carry around more power in their Essence pools than an atomic bomb. This kinda puts that in perspective. Woot. -Han'ya
