SilverMasks/ShapeshiftingAscension

Ascension

Lunatic Ascension
Cost: None
Duration: Permanent
Type: Special
Minimum Appearance: 2
Minimum Essence: 2
Prerequisite Charms: None
All the Exalted are empowered by the Incarna, but Lunars with this Charm are able to call upon Luna’s spark within them... and ascend to a form that is closer to her greatness. To do so, they become less human, and this causes their Tell to become more proeminent - a foothold on their former identity. A beings of chaos, power and majesty, the Ascension Form unmakes the Lunar in the power of Luna, and is always inhuman in some way. It is a True Form and a Hybrid Form, however, acting as one in all respects, including the increased visibility of the Lunar's Tell.

An Ascension Form must be keyed to a Virtue. Compassion, Conviction, Temperance or Valor, those primal Virtues rule this power as they do for Gods and the Wyld. The Virtue shows in the form, as a single Bear-Totem Lunar might create the shape of a mother bear of quicksilver that protects with Compassion, or an enraged red bear with terrible claws with Valor. They do not need to be tied to the Totem itself, however most of them leave a faint trace in the Ascension, at the very least. To Ascend, the Lunar must be in a position to channel the required Virtue, take a Shapeshifting Action and spend 1 willpower to channel the Virtue(losing a Virtue Point as usual)... and he transforms! Lunars may purchase this Charm a number of times equal to their Permanent Essence; Every time it is purchased, the Lunar receives a different shape, keyed to another virtue or to the same.

In the Ascension Form, the Lunar may freely channel their Virtue without the per-story limit on it by spending 1 willpower as usual. But more importantly, in this Form they receive (Essence+Virtue) Mutation Points to distribute among their powers. Those must be Mutations allowed and following the Guidelines for the Lunars' shapes. The only limit is that Mutations that may be brought multiple times, such as Excellence, Might and Allure, may only be bought twice. As a True Form, all the Attribute bonuses from such Mutations counts as Natural. When the Lunar increases his Essence, he may rearrange his current stock of Mutations.

The Lunars may also create and buy Custom Mutations that reflect the sort of changes that can be created in the body of a Celestial Exalted; Those mutations are special and may only be purchased by Lunars who possess the Lunatic Ascension Charm, and not in any other way. The Lunar may also choose Taints, such as Deficiences and Debilities, to his Ascension Form, and those add their Mutation Point cost to the total of Mutations the Ascension may be built with.

Artificer of Primordial Glory
Cost: None
Duration: Permanent
Type: Special
Minimum Appearance: 3
Minimum Essence: 3
Prerequisite Charms: Lunatic Ascension
With beauty and power, the Lunar shape her Form in something greater than even the Incarna, perfecting herself to the heights of the great Primordials. This Charm may be purchased two times. The first time this Charm is purchased, the Lunar doubles his Essence for the purpose of the Mutations in his Ascension Form. The second time this Charm is purchased, the Lunar doubles the Virtue for the purpose of the Mutations in his Ascension Form.

Ascension Mutations

• Affliction
  • Majestic: The Lunar sculpts her form to be grand, with the majesty of a Lion, of a Dire Wolf, of a great butterfly. Through beauty or terror, it looks imposing. In Ascension form, the Lunar subtracts two dice from all stealth rolls, but adds two dice to all Presence rolls. All those who go against the Lunar must suceed in a Valor roll, or receive a penalty of +1 to all actions against the Lunar for a Scene.
  • Prismatic Lotus Harmony: The Lunar's shape becomes a Lotus about to bloom, shimmering prism whose light reflects every form of kata. With this Mutation, the Lunar suffers no penalty for practicing Martial Arts Styles while in Hybrid Forms.

• Blight
  • Beautific The form takes on aspects from resplendant birds, majestic felines or beautiful insects. The Lunar adds her +4 dice to all Appearance-based rolls, and by spending 1 willpower those he tries to seduce or otherwise enthrall are forced to pass a Temperance roll or give in to the alluring creature, regardless of the result of the Lunar's social roll against them. This is incompatible with the fearsome.
  • Fearsome The form takes on aspects of fearsome beasts, strange insects or just sheer destructive fury. Every movement, every inch of this Form is crafted to be a nightmare, a horror men will never forget. The Lunar adds +4 dice to all Intimidation attempts, and by spending 1 willpower along with such an attempt, the targets must roll their Valor, regardless of the result of the Lunar's roll. On a failure, they run away. On a botch, they acquire a Derangement linked to this event. This is incompatible with the Beautific.
  • Soul-Fire Sculpture: The Lunar sculpts her form in precise and smooth angles, as a beautiful vessel for the power of a pattern. The Lunar chooses a Terrestrial or Celestial Martial Arts Style whose Form-Charm she knows; It becomes part of her form, as her Ascension is the perfect vessel for its movements. When she Ascends, she is instantly in the Martial Arts Form at no cost, and all Charms of this style suffer no penalty for being practiced in Hybrid Form and cost 1 less mote to activate. This counts as the Form for all Charms that depend on it, except for other Martial Arts Forms, who can be enacted atop of it; It is after all, the movements and motions inherent to the body, and the body can enact another kata.

• Abomination
  • Blossom of the Perfected Lotus: The Lunar crafts this Form with the greatest care so its organic geomancy will better serve the needs to channel the soul-fire patterns of Martial Arts Styles. With this Mutation, the Lunar suffers no penalty for practicing Martial Arts Styles while in Hybrid Forms, and experiences the Blossom of the Perfected Lotus, becoming able to practice, learn and use Sidereal Martial Arts.
  • Forged From Divine Steel: Same as the Tattoo Charm with the same name. It is, however, permanent, requiring no committed essence or sacrifice of Materials. The Lunar has simply internalized the Material.