FairFolkGreaterArtsOfGlamour/DarkheartOne
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Sowing Order, Reaping Chaos
Cost: 40 motes, 10 gossamer, 10 experience points Duration: Five days Type: Simple Minimum Ring: 5 Minimum Heart: 4 Minimum Essence: 5 Prerequisites: Esctatic Reproduction Style
The raksha are quite capable of creating more of their own, given time and talent. There is, however, a method to bring about new raksha that uses a most unusual set of materials; the dissolved Essence of a willing Creation-born. Only a scant few Nobles know this technique, and guard it jealously, for the raksha forged from this Charm are often dangerous customers... and sometimes are the unknowing thralls of their creator.
This Charm only functions in the Middlemarches and beyond, and in order for this charm to even be effective, the Creation-born intending to take the journey from shaped to unshaped must be fully aware of what is going to happen; this is a core part of the Charm's power, as the raksha must swear an oath to see the mortal through safely to the end of their rebirth, shaping their broken being into its new form with their own Essence. Once the oath has been made, the Creation-born and raksha's players pay half the essence and experience cost of the Charm, while the raksha relinquishes the gossamer. Once the cost is paid, the raksha and future-raksha embrace, the raksha symbolically ushering their 'victim' into the world of the Wyld with a few words and a kiss. At the moment that the raksha's lips touch the Creation-born their very being, down to their hun and po, dissolve into the purest of Essence as the raksha's pattern effectively tears their own pattern apart, and promptly spreads itself throughout the immediate area like seeds cast to fertile soil. That done, the raksha is thus honorbound to both nurture the wayward essence and guard the area for a full five days. Each day, one of the former being's new Graces forms; first is always the Heart, followed by their primary Grace or Graces, in the order of their eventual Caste. The remaining Graces form in whatever order, and at the end of the fifth day, the newborn raksha rises from the ground and lets forth a cry not unlike the wailing of a newborn child. Another embrace seals the Charm's effects.
In mechanical terms, the former being's player (or the ST) may completely recreate that character as a Raksha, using whatever generation rules and limits the ST deems appropriate, and retaining all previously-earned experience points, that they may respend instantly as they see fit. This new raksha, however, must purchase the Past Lives merit in order to remember anything of their previous existance. One point grants brief flashes and urges, while five imparts near-total memory... for better, or for worse, as the newborn raksha may be a completely different person emotionally and mentally. They may not even be their previous gender... or any gender.
This charm works on mortal beings, ghosts, spirits and even some demons. Standard Mortals, the Mundane Dead, First-Circle Demons, Essence 1 spirits and Essence 1 Dragon Kings rise as Commoners. Heroic Mortals, the Godblooded, the Heroic Dead, weak Second-Circle Demons, Essence 2 spirits and Essence 2 Dragon Kings arise as Heroic Commoners. Whether normal or Heroic, these new rakshas' Hearts invariably end up in their new master's hands; it is up to their maker to choose whether to give it back or not!
Exalted, strong Second-Circle demons, Essence 3+ Dragon Kings and the Mountain Folk rise as Nobles, who automatically hold their Heart if their Essence + Willpower was higher than or equal to the raksha's Willpower before the change. If that is not the case, both must make a contesting Willpower check before the Creation-born sublimates.
Creation-born gaining a bonus die to this roll if they are Terrestrial Exalted, a demon or one of the Dragon Kings. They gain two dice if they are Celestial, Alchemical or Infernal. Three dice are added if they are Solar, Abyssal or of the Mountain Folk. Only if the raksha rolls more successes do they hold the new raksha's Heart.
For cyclical Exalted essences, this Charm leaves behind a powerful Wyld-taint on the fleeing essences that remains firmly in place for numerous reincarnation cycles. Alchemical Exalted essences are torn utterly from the hands of Autochthon, returning to the Loom of Fate; their soulgem shatters along with their soul, and every piece of Magical Material that was in their body sublimates along with their clay frame. Terrestrial Exalted have their Essences shattered completely, even down to the power in their blood; unExalted simply are torn asunder. Mountain Folk are not so much rent apart as they are remolded, returned to their true original state; the Jade that encased their spirit is sublimated into their new pattern.
As a result of their roots in Creation, most newly-formed raksha starts with an innate ability or two, depending on their past life. All granted Assumption charms have a cost of 5 motes, 0 gossamer; all other costs are noted below. This is separate from their Birth 0 free Assumption charm; if they find no other Assumption tree that interests them, they may instead choose one charm branching off of their innate Assumption instead (which functions at normal cost).
Raksha formed from...
- ... Celestial Exalted and Dragon Kings gain an innate version of Assumption of Dreams and Passion.
- ... Terrestrial and Alchemical Exalted gain an innate version of Assumption of Elemental Shape in accordance to their former elemental leanings.
- ... the Dead, demons, Abyssal and Infernal Exalted may choose either Assumption of Dreams and Passion or Assumption of Cerements and Bone.
- ... Mountain Folk gain an Assumption of Elemental Shape type of their choice, as well as a permanent variant of Mad God Mien that imparts no additional cost to Assumption charms.
It cannot be stated enough that this is the sort of Charm that holds some serious weight, and was mainly built for plot-device purposes.
Comments
I love the idea for this charm, and I'm definately adding it to my collection! Things to consider:
- Can Heroic mortals have an essence of 5 or above? If not, I'd change the text about Heroics becoming Nobles. Why not give them a contested Essence roll vs the Raksha? Or maybe you'd just let Heroics with Essence 2 or 3 become Nobles?
- I'd also drop the part about damaging Celestial essences that badly. It just doesn't feel right to me that a Raksha should damage them even beyond Lytek's capabilities, and it doesn't seem to add any interesting plot element I can see.
- How about making it possible for Alchemicals to seperate their soulgem from their body to become a Raksha? Of course this would still undo their frame, but I think it would be an interesting twist, to go from a servant of order to a servant of chaos.
- I like what happens to Dragon-Blooded :) How about similiar effects for Celestials?
-- DustAngel
Thanks! Now, to answer!
One: Heroic Mortals can, at best, gain a permanent Essence of 3. Anything past that makes them into a little god. And the reasoning for making Heroics start as H-Commons is that, well, they're lively souls, but they're not too dazzling an array of spiritual materials to work with. They could eventually work up the XP ladder, open up a second Grace and become Nobles, but I wanted them to not get that huge of a jump in power.
Two: Hrm. Well, you do have a bit of a point. Perhaps I'll change it to taint the Essence with a fair touch of the Wyld instead of doing serious damage to it. Thanks for the suggestion!
Three: Yeah, mechanically it's not too different than what's in the charm now, but that is a neat thematic touch.
Four: I decided that for a couple of reasons, and probably won't give Celestials any favors. DB essences are just weaker, and aren't cyclical like Celestials... and I have a soft spot for the Blooded. =P
Anyway, thanks for the feedback! I'll do some thinking! --Raksha Boy
Some changes made! HOOAH! --DarkheartOne
