Falcon/MarkingsOfWar
Markings Of War
Cost: 1 mote per person
Duration: 1 day
Type: Simple
Minimum Ability: Linguistics 1 or Performance 1
Minimum Essence: 2
Prerequisites: None
As the appointed champions of the elemental dragons, it is appropriate for the scions of the Realm to use their magic to bless the troops under their command. After painting their faces with sigils of hatred and steadfastness, a dragon-blooded officer may conduct a short ritual to bond the men and women of his unit together and channel some of the elemental power of his patron through them in battle.
Of course, not all Exalts use this charm for such noble ends. It is also extremely useful in conjunction with With One Mind for enhancing one's bodyguards, or for giving a team of assassins that extra edge against a dangerous target. As it works equally well for all uses, it would seem that the dragons themselves don't particularly care why their blessing is sought.
A dragon-blood may enchant as many people as he likes with this charm, but he must paint all their faces by himself, one at a time, so even if he has the motes available, enhancing an entire legion is impractical at best. As long as two or more people enchanted with the same use of this charm are working towards a common goal, they always understand each other as well as possible - loud noises can still drown out shouted commands, for example, but so long as the general idea is clear, troops will still follow orders as best as their commander can hope. In addition, anyone marked with the paint gets +1 die for intimidation attempts.
Essence-users marked with the paint may channel their own power through the mystic symbols to enhance their combat prowess - this works even if they are the only person enchanted. They may activate one effect, once per turn:
- Spend 1 mote to reflexively gain +1 soak against a bashing or lethal attack.
- Spend 1 mote to gain +1 die on a single attack roll.
While essence is committed to this charm, the war paint does not fade or come off, regardless of circumstances. If you scrubbed away all the flesh on someone's face, the markings would be indelibly scored on their bones.
Right, out-of-character stuff here. This charm can be learned as a Linguistics charm (in which case it is Air-aspected) or a Performance charm (which makes it Wood-aspected). Wood aspects tend to avoid the 'mystic sigils' look and go for full kabuki makeup, or - if they're really good - subtle stage makeup that leaves them looking the same, but really really sinister.
If you have the Wood version active, then the cost of Dance of Flashing Swords drops to 1 Willpower + 1 mote per additional extra. (A 2 mote discount.)
If you have the Air version active, then you get a 1 mote discount on the first upgrade you buy using With One Mind if all the WOM people (including yourself) already have this charm in effect. Example: You and your bodyguards are all using MOW. You turn on WOM and want to enhance them. The first upgrade you make (Dex, say) costs 1 mote per person instead of two. The next upgrade, whether its another dot of Dex or one of Wits or whatever, costs the usual 2 motes per person. If anyone knows a better way of saying that, feel free to tack it up.
Comments:
Does this charm work on yourself, if you decide to cover your face in war paint or whatever? Your discussion implies it does, but it's never explicitly stated. I wish it were explicitly stated for all of the corebook group-aid charms also, but at least -here- I can ask and hope for a reply.
-- Darloth
- Yes, you can indeed use this on yourself. It just happens to work with other people as well. - F
- Back to the main Charms section.
- Back to Charms/DBLinguistics.
- Back to Charms/DBPerformance.
