Tournament of the Sun
The Tournament of the Sun was held in the First Age to commemorate the last Solar Exalted to die in the Primordial War. Fighting a now forgotten Primordial the Solar last his weapon as he fell from the sky. The ground rushed up to meet him and his blade struck the peak of this new jagged shard and a powerful waterfall erupted with the disruption of essence and the Solar fell. With all of his essence spent he climbed that jagged peak by his mortal attributes and reclaimed his weapon. Jumping into the Primordial, knowing it would bring his death he struck the final blow. Honored in Creation’s largest funeral the body lay in repose at the Fortress of the Unconquered Sun when it was still on Meru.
Every 100 years one of the Unconquered Sun’s maidens was sent to Creation to gather those Solar’s who had best lived to what the Unconquered Sun had imagined for his Chosen. They are presented with Orichalcum talismans that gained them entrance to the Tournament of the Sun. A series of challenges that are designed to imitate the last moments of the Solar Legend. With the last challenge with the final two Solar climbing the shattered peak to the powerful daiklave that the Unconquered Sun forges a blade for each tournament so each is unique in appearance and power.
The challenges for the PCs will be unmodified since charm and essence use is not allowed. Any Solar that attempts to win by using charms is struck by the circling celestial airship.
Canon NPCs: Bull of the North, Arianna, Faka Kun (Not a complete list)
The Tournament will introduce the Abyssal, The Joyous Plague (Midnight)
Also focus on the Infernal, Serene Joy of Darkness (Fiend)
Winner of the tournament earns the right to wield Testament of the Righteous Sovereign.
Within the Daystar is an order of Priestesses, whispers speak of Solar Half-Castes lifted to the state of Godhood known as the Sisterhood of Light maintain the devotions the Unconquered Sun finds most pleasing. Each century the tournament was held one of the chaste goddesses was chosen to become the bride of the one who won the tournament.
The Tournament is going to take place in the South with the talismans getting them and the rest of the Circle through the gates of Yu-Shan to make their way to the south.
This tournament is different than the others in that at the end the Unconquered Sun and the Maidens announce their marriage. The one who wins the tournament will be the Sword-Bearer for the Unconquered Sun during the Wedding.
Being that this is the first tournament in such a long the security around the grounds will be much higher than it was in a previous age.
Reasons for other Exalted to be there:
- Solars are chosen to be invited to the tournament and are the default protagonists of this game and the game is focused around them.
- Abyssals could be there for a number of reasons. Many will be renegades seeking to restore themselves and live once again as the Solar Exalted. For this game will be just as much of Redemption than anything else.
- Sidereal would be at the tournament as they are advisors within Yu-Shan itself. And with the wedding after the tournament. Most will be Gold Faction sidereal, though I would not be against a Bronze Faction being assigned out of spite. While they cannot participate directly in the tournament there will be much for them to do.
- Lunars as they are drawn to their mates are perhaps the least reason to be at the tournament and why I am leaning to only including 1 Lunar into the mix.
Starting guides (All):
- No virtue rated at 1
- No artifact above 3 (without ST consent)
- Using character creation from the errata.
Starting guide (Solar): - No cult above 3
Starting guide (Abyssal): - Leaning towards forcing characters to be Renegades - Whispers cannot be above 3
Starting guide (Sidereal): - No Special rules
Starting Guide (Lunar): - No special rules
Iyanna the Celestial Singer - In the Sisterhood of Light she sings the morning prayers from the tallest minaret. Her skin is like the black ebony streaked with veins of orichalcum. Her long hair and eyes are also of Orichalcum. She dresses in clothing that appears to be reminiscent of those worn in Harborhead.
Benefits of the Bride:
- Helps to mitigate the Great Curse in that they can only ever gain 1 point of limit per day.
- While resting the Solar recovers essence twice as fast and allows the Solar to recover essence in places they generally cannot, such as the Underworld at the normal rate.
Herald of the Daystar
When the tournament begins the Herald of the Daystar descends from the sky and land at the center of the grounds. The automaton is ornate standing eight foot tall. The plates of orichalcum are plated in a white metal and murals are painted upon them. On its shoulder guards are immense star bursts guarded by two ornately wrought lions. It carries the blade of the forgotten hero. Within its chest burns a part of the sun. Many believe the Herald is powered by the soul of that slain Solar taken by the Unconquered Sun before it could enter Lethe. Binding the smallest part of his power to the soul and encased it within a suit of artifact armor constructed by Autochthon the Herald as served since.
In the First Age the Herald was sent to Creation in order to correct the earliest deviant behavior of the Solar Exalted. He was also sent to the start of tournament. As wore on and the excesses of the Solar Exalted grew the Herald was seen less and less. Two centuries before the Usurpation the Herald did not appear, no tournament was held. Since that time the Herald has been dormant within the Daystar waiting to be called upon once more to stand over the tournament as the voice of the Unconquered Sun.
Deep within the mechanical core of the Herald the soul of that hero remembers and a vow has been made that should the Solar Exalted repeat their past mistakes that he will lead an army against them. This tournament he will use to judge the emergent Solars.
Testament of the Righteous Sovereign
Artifact 5
Attune: 10 motes
Tags: 2, O, P, R
Speed: 5, Accuracy: +3, Damage: +14L/4, Defense: +2, Rate: 2, Minimum: Str 4
Forged by the Unconquered Sun in the heart of the Daystar. Bound with the terrible and righteous heat of the Sun. The weapon is a testament to the Sun and inlaid with imagery of the Daystar and with star bursts. Even while it is idle the sword radiates the warmth of a summer day at noon. When it is wielded in battle the sword burns with the heat of the Daystar casting out all darkness.
The daiklaive was made of the Solar Exalted and other Exalt that attempts to wield the blade counts as a severity 4 offense against Heaven and the Unconquered Sun and within the hour forces of the Aerial Legion will descend upon the Exalt in an attempt to reclaim the weapon so that it can once again be claimed by a Solar Exalt. Because of Heaven’s attention to the weapon the Solar that wields the weapon is also watched to see if they uphold the virtues of the Unconquered Sun. Should their behavior deviate to far (Such as the limit break) from what is accepted they face the same task force of Heaven as it is sent to retrieve the weapon.
When wielded by a Solar Champion the weapon is one the greatest ever forged. Any thing trying to strike at the Solar that is considered a Creature of Darkness fails their essence being purged before it can ever strike the Solar making all charms used by demons, the dead and the fae fail against the defenses of the charm. Any ghost, demon or fae that is killed by this weapon cannot reform and is destroyed forever. Though the Abyssal and Infernal Exalted must pay 3 additional motes to their charms to strike the wielder of the weapon.
