TonyC/BurningMandala
Name: Burning Mandala
Caste: Twilight
Concept: Sorcerer
Nature: Architect
Anima: an ever-shifting golden mandala
Quote: "By the ancient terms of your forfeit, I demand your service. Octavian, The Living Tower, kill him."
TonyC/BurningMandala/BurningMandalaAnalysis
Contents
Burning Mandala as a starting character
Prior to his exaltation, Burning Mandala was a minor thaumaturge in the South. He has skill, but not very good social grace, thus allowing a jealous rival to accuse him of demon worship. He exalted in the ensuing fracas, thus proving to everyone in his homeland that he is a demon worshipper. Unwelcome in his homeland, he made his way to Varang. There, he makes a living making talismans and casting divinations while trying to learn true sorcery.
Attributes
Physical: Strength 2, Dexterity 5, Stamina 2
Social: Charisma 2, Manipulation 3, Appearance 2
Mental: Perception 3, Intelligence 3, Wits 5
Abilities
Dawn: Archery 0, Brawl 0, Martial Arts 0, *Melee 1, *Thrown 3 (+2 Slings)
Zenith: Endurance 3, Performance 0, Presence 0, *Resistance 3, Survival 0
Twilight: Craft 1, Investigation 1, Lore 1, Medicine 1, Occult 5
Night: Athletics 0, Awareness 3, *Dodge 4, Larceny 0, Stealth 0
Eclipse: Bureaucracy 0, *Linguistics 1, Ride 0, Sail 0, Socialize 0
Note: * = Favored skill.
Languages spoken: Firetongue & Low Realm.
Virtues: Compassion 1, Conviction 5, Temperance 5, Valor 2
Backgrounds: Familiar 3, Contacts 2, Resources 2
Willpower: 10, Essence: 2, Essence Pool: 16 personal + 37 peripheral
Virtue Flaw: Deliberate Cruelty (Conviction)
Charms
- Ox-Body Technique (-1, -2, -2)
- Sensory Acuity Prana
- Surprise Anticipation Method
- Golden Essence Block
- Dipping Swallow Defense
- Triple Distance Attack Technique
- Cascade of Cutting Terror
- Essence Gathering Temper
- Willpower-Enhancing Spirit
- Sagacious Reading of Intent
HL: -0, -1, -1, -1, -2, -2, -2, -2, -4, Incapacitated.
Burning Mandala at 500 XP
Total XP: 397. This looks low, but keep in mind that a solar sorcerer can easily have 10-15 spells and yet for this fight you only have time to cast one spell. It was really tempting to go the Crucible of Tarim route (brew potions!), but we'll stick with something less cheesy. Just pretend all those extra XPs was spent on other Caste abilities and charms and another half-dozen spells or so.
Attributes
Physical: Strength 2, Dexterity 5, Stamina 2
Social: Charisma 2, Manipulation 3, Appearance 2
Mental: Perception 3, Intelligence 3, Wits 5
Abilities
Dawn: Archery 0, Brawl 0, Martial Arts 0, *Melee 4, *Thrown 5 (+3 Slings)
Zenith: Endurance 3, Performance 0, Presence 0, *Resistance 5, Survival 0
Twilight: Craft 1, Investigation 1, Lore 3, Medicine 1, Occult 5
Night: Athletics 0, Awareness 3, *Dodge 5, Larceny 0, Stealth 0
Eclipse: Bureaucracy 0, *Linguistics 1, Ride 0, Sail 0, Socialize 0
Note: * = Favored skill.
Languages spoken: Firetongue & Low Realm.
Virtues: Compassion 2, Conviction 5, Temperance 5, Valor 2
Backgrounds: Not applicable. But for this fight Mandala has an Orichalcum Sling of Deadly Prowess (1), an Orichalcum Smashfist (1), an Adamant Sorcery Capturing Cord containing 3 Gaia's Rebukes (5), and an Essence Containing Gem with 15 motes (3).
Willpower: 10, Essence: 5, Essence Pool: 25 personal + 59 peripheral (8 of which is committed to artifacts, leaving 51)
Virtue Flaw: Deliberate Cruelty (Conviction)
Charms
- Melee: Golden Essence Block, Dipping Swallow Defense, Bulwark Stance, Heavenly Guardian Defense, Solar Counterattack.
- Thrown: Precision of Striking Raptor, Joint Wounding Attack, Triple-Distance Attack Technique, Cascade of Cutting Terror.
- Endurance: Ox-Body Technique (-1, -2, -2) x 3, Essence-Gathering Temper, Willpower-Enhancing Spirit.
- Resistance: Durability of Oak Meditation, Spirit Strengthens The Skin, Iron Skin Concentration, Adamant Skin Technique.
- Lore: Essence-Lending Method, Will-Bolstering Method.
- Occult: Terrestrial Circle Sorcery, Celestial Circle Sorcery, Solar Circle Sorcery. Terrestrial Circle: Emerald Countermagic, Summon Elemental. Celestial Circle: Demon of The Second Circle, Threefold Binding of The Heart. Solar Circle: Adamant Countermagic, Summon Animal Avatar, Gaia's Rebuke.
- Awareness: Sensory Acuity Prana, Surprise Anticipation Method.
- Dodge: Reed in The Wind, Shadow Over Water, Seven Shadow Evasion, Leaping Dodge Method.
- Linguistics: Sagacious Reading of Intent.
Base Initiative: 10
Attacks:
Orichalcum Smashfist: Speed 7, Accuracy 11, Damage 7L, Defense 13, Rate 8
Orichalcum Sling of Deadly Prowess: Accuracy 13 (16), Damage 7L,
Rate 2, Range 200
Dodge Pool: 15
Soak: 2B/1L/0A (unarmored)
Health Levels: -0 | -1 (x5) | -2 (x8) | -4 | Incapacitated.
Combos:
The Golden Bee's Sting: Surprise Anticipation Method, Heavenly Guardian Defense, Seven Shadow Evasion, Leaping Dodge Method, Adamant Skin Technique, Iron Skin Concentration, Essence-Gathering Temper, Willpower-Enhancing Spirit, Solar Counterattack, Precision of Striking Raptor, Joint-Wounding Technique, Cascade of Cutting Terror. (cost: 38 XP)
Defence-Minding Morale Transfer: Will-Bolstering Method, Surprise Anticipation Method, Heavenly Guardian Defense, Seven Shadow Evasion, Leaping Dodge Method. (cost: 17 XP)
Notes: The idea behind The Golden Bee's Sting is basic, actually. It's an undodgeable attack that give a straight penalty to Lion's dice pools. This is faster than going through Lion's entire HLs (plus a bit due to Death and Dying rules on p. 233).
