AirGrief

From Exalted - Unofficial Wiki
Jump to: navigation, search

The Twenty-Eighth Theme is Grief is the Weakness of Air.

These are TerrestrialCharms of Essence 5 or greater.


Embers of Powerlessness
Fire of Power - FlowsLikeBits
Cost: 7 motes, 1 Willpower
Duration: Variable
Type: Simple
Minimum Socialise: 5
Minimum Essence: 5
Prerequisite Charms: DESCENDED FROM Friend-to-all-Nations Attitude

This charm allows an Exalt to overcome her own elemental weaknesses. Each invocation of this charm allows the ignore the effects of a single emotion while the essence for it remains commited. Most effects from a single charm by a single other exalt are considered a single emotion. This emotion may be natural as comes from a loss, or caused by charms(such as Embers of Powerlessness or the anime power of the Forsaken). The cost of this charm is determined by the emotion being overcome. When overcoming an emotion associated with the invokers element, this charm as treated as an in-element charm, otherwise it is considered an out of element charm. The Storyteller determines what element a specific emotion is associated with.

Grief is the weakness of Air. This deals with loss and failure.
Obsession is the weakness of Earth. This deals with attaining a goal.
Joy is the weakness of Fire. The deals with pleasure in all it's forms.
Fear is the weakness of Water. This deals fear and dread and other forms of anticipated unpleasentness.
Anger is the weakness of Wood. This deals with anger and other impetuous emotions.


Candleflame-Melts-the-Glacier Exultation</b> -- OhJames
 <b>Cost:  15 motes, 1 Willpower
 Duration:  One Scene
 Type:  Simple
 Minimum Socialize:  5
 Minimum Essence:  6
 Prerequisite Charms:  Embers of Powerlessness, Fire of Power

With this Charm, an elder Terrestrial may project waves of subtle, elemental Essence that gently nudge their targets into a certain frame of mind. The Dragon-Blood begins to dance, and continues to do so for the duration of the scene, as a contented smile piques the corner of her lips. Phantasmal images appropriate to her element swirl through the air, buoyed on the wave of power. For example, Wood Aspects often display wafts of falling leaves and cherry blossoms, while Fire Aspects are surrounded by trails of flickering, intangible cinders or slowly-orbiting candle flames. Water Aspects conjure up streams of water that coil and flow lazily about their heads, and Earth Aspects watch as sand is poured through the air in mazy lines while tiny points of light glimmer like jewels. Air Aspects have the most ephemeral and otherworldly displays, as the air crystallizes into intricate patterns of ice only to shatter into a thousand snowflakes.

The effects of this Charm vary, depending on the elemental affinity of its user. However, they all double the Terrestrial’s Socialize trait when attempting to evoke, or use, the emotion appropriate to their Aspect, as detailed below, for a full day after the dance is completed. Although the Charm itself is aspected toward Fire, its uses are not, so no out-of-element surcharge is exacted. All these effects are permanent, but can be reversed by the appropriate magic.

Grief is the weakness of Air, so the soothing currents of elemental Essence heal and restore those who mourn. Anyone suffering from depression, whether natural or magical, within the Dragon-Blooded’s (Essence x 5) yards is instantly cured. In addition, all within this radius gain an additional three dice whenever they attempt to withstand the emotional effects of loss or other sadness, even if they are magically induced.

Obsession is the weakness of Earth, so the orderly currents of elemental Essence heal and restore those who suffer from unnatural fixations. Anyone suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorder or who is suffering under a magical compulsion, within the Dragon-Blood’s (Essence x 5) is instantly cured. In addition, all within this radius gain an additional three dice whenever they attempt to resist supernatural compulsion or a compulsive mental disorder

Joy is the weakness of Fire, so the warming currents of elemental Essence heal and restore those overrun by their passions. Anyone suffering from mania, addiction or a supernatural effect that robs them of their temperance within the Dragon-Blood’s (Essence x 5) is instantly cured. In addition, all within this radius gain an additional three dice whenever they attempt to resist addiction or a supernatural effect that lowers their temperance.

Fear is the weakness of Water, so the buoying currents of elemental Essence heal and restore those who suffer from unnatural terror. Anyone suffering from a phobia or magically-induced fear within the Dragon-Blood’s (Essence x 5) is instantly cured. In addition, all within this radius gain an additional three dice whenever they attempt to resist supernatural fear or other such effects.

Anger is the weakness of Wood, so the gentle currents of elemental Essence heal and restore those who rage and hate. Anyone suffering from a supernatural effect that induces anger or currently enraged within the Dragon-Blood’s (Essence x 5) is instantly cured. In addition, all within this radius gain an additional three dice whenever they attempt to resist losing their temper or a supernatural effect that drives them to anger.

Note: This charm does work on the Limit Break of other Exalts, but only assuages the effects for one day. When the Exalt next wakes, her madness grows steadily stronger until, by the nightfall on the day after being affected by this charm, her insanity is back in full force.


Flickering-Coals-Sow-Discord Cadence</b> -- OhJames
 <b>Cost: 18 motes, 1 Willpower
 Duration:  One Scene
 Type:  Simple
 Minimum Socialize:  6
 Minimum Essence:  6
 Prerequisite Charms: Candleflame-Melts-the-Glacier Exultation

The Dragon-Blood’s dance changes, and not for the better. As with the preceding Charm, the Terrestrial must dance for a full scene. But instead of gentle waves of elemental Essence that lap at the minds and hearts of her audience, the pulses of magic projected by this performance are angry and subtly discordant. The phantasmal images conjured are jerky and threatening as they play over the Dragon-Blood’s contemptuous sneer.

The effects of this Charm vary depending on the Aspect of its user. When one of the Tempestuous Knives dance, jagged crystals of ice swirl and explode at her fingertips, while an Ebon Dragon instead stomps and shuffles across the white surf of troubled water. One of Pasiap’s Chosen sways slowly against a backdrop of splitting rocks and grinding stone, but a Chosen of Sextes Jylis crawls with thorns and stinging brambles. The most fearful of displays come from the Burning Swords, whose contorted features are highlighted by the angry red of blazing embers and vicious streaks of flame.

Regardless of Aspect, this Charm doubles the Terrestrial’s Socialize trait for a full day after she completes her dance for the purpose of intimidation or invoking the specified emotion, as listed below.

Grief is the weakness of Air, and the melancholia inspired by the Terrestrial’s performance is more than mortal hearts can bear. Everyone within the the exalt’s (Essence x 4) yards is struck by acute sorrow, like daggers of ice through the heart. Each target so affected loses 3 dice from all rolls for the duration of the scene, as they feel intense despair and apathy seep into their bones, like a winter chill. Mortals affected by this Charm become severely depressed, as per the derangement, and can be pushed to the brink of suicide with but a few well-placed words.

Obsession is the weakness of Earth, and the mind-numbing grating and grinding of the Dragon-Blood’s dance can drive even the sanest men mad. Everyone within the exalt’s (Essence x 4) yards becomes obsessed with some mundane task, such as washing their hands, tracing lines in the floor, or straightening their clothing. Their Wits are effectively halved for the duration of the scene and they will become violent if someone tries to prevent them from indulging in their obsession. Mortals become obsessive-compulsive, as per the derangement, after exposure to this Charm.

Joy is the weakness of Fire and the fiery, exciting, and passionate display of the Terrestrial’s power exhorts men and women to abandon. Everyone within the exalt’s (Essence x 4) yards becomes hyperactive and manic, indulging in whatever pleasure they feel most pulled toward at the moment. For the duration of the scene, each person under the effect is treated as having a Temperance of one in regard to resisting pleasure. Mortals develop some kind of mania, as linked to their favorite vice, after exposure to this Charm.

Fear is the weakness of Water and the Dragon-Blood’s wavering, worrying movements set the minds of mortals on edge. Everyone within the exalt’s (Essence x 4) yards becomes intensely afraid, unwilling to enter combat and treated as having a Valor of one. Mortals develop an intense phobia after exposure to this Charm, as dictated by their personal fears.

Anger is the weakness of Wood and the Terrestrial’s writhing, villainous movements reflect this. Everyone within the exalt’s (Essence x 4) yards becomes acutely angry, ready to fight at a moment’s notice. Everyone so affected is treated as having a Temperance of one for the purpose of avoiding violence or backing down from a fight. Mortals develop a rage complex or mania after exposure to this Charm

Exalts and other Essence-channelers may resist the effects of this Charm by rolling their permanent Essence against the Terrestrial’s Essence. Success means they are entirely unaffected.


Inward-Outward Dragon Coiling - FourWillowsWeeping
Cost: 20 motes, 1 Willpower
Duration: One Day
Type: Simple
Minimum Socialise: 6
Minimum Essence: 6
Prerequisite Charms: Candleflame-Melts-the-Glacier Exultation

The Drafon-Blood using this Charm dances for 20 turns, spending one mote each turn. Her anima slowly billows up around her as she moves, and with her graceful occult gestures she weaves a shape of scales and claws. On the twenty-first turn, she takes on the elemental dragon shape consistent with her aspect. While in this form, her Traits are recalculated according to the rules for elementals, and she loses access to her Dragonblooded Charms, instead having an appropriate complement of spiritual Charms. Her presence is soothing and serene, allowing her to affect people as though by the Candleflame exultation continuously.

Comments

I'm moving the archive links below the relay portion so it is easier to read the meaty bits. - willows

Incidentally, I deliberately chose a very tight, single-splat theme as a specific rebellion against these "mixed Charms" relays... I would like to revive the excitingly challenging facet of the relay, where the theme is such that you need to build out of previous Charms. I think it's a lot more interesting when people feed off one another (look at Subtle Theft or Romantic Archery) than when they post five unrelated items. - willows

Yeah, but this is REALLY specific. Honestly, I don't think I've ever seen Essence 4+ social charms. Doesn't mean one shouldn't try, but it's difficult as there is a lack of precedent. -FlowsLikeBits finds a tigher theme easier, but is weird like that

Wow. Longest Charm I've ever written. I have no idea if the effect is balanced, or even if it's appropriate to the Socialize ability, but I got this image in my head and really, really, really wanted to use it. It's pretty powerful, what with permanent effects and all, but I think the narrowness of its scope helps offset that fact. -- serene OhJames

That's a really sweet Charm, man. - willows
Very nice. I don't think the permanent effects are that poweful, as don't medecine charms already allow you to remove mental conditions? I'd probably allow one to affect out-of-aspect emotions, with the surcharge and possible a reduced effect or something. -FlowsLikeBits


(Wouldn't Joy fit Wood better with Anger going with Fire? Have I missed an elemental association somewhere?)
-- Darloth

These are traditional Chinese associations; I would say that Anger is a strength of Fire (which is nice because Fire devours Wood; Wood's weakness feeds the flames.) - willows

Hm, I set this theme and I feel a bit overbearing doing two in a row; OhJames or FlowsLikeBits, set one for us?

I'll do it; now that I'm out of school, I've got all kinds of time on my hands. -- OhJames