Castes

The Ethereal Exalted are casteless. They have some natural abilities based on which wind the their shard was built from (explained later) but other than that they have no caste or charms of their own. The shards of the Ethereal Exalted are essentially malleable blank slates that can morph into different types of exalted shards. This morphing capacity grants them the ability to learn the charms of acquired castes. Before an Ethereal can learn charms it must first acquire a caste. A caste is a specific exalted type such as a Solar Night Caste or a Lunar Full Moon Caste. To acquire a caste means that the Ethereals shard of exaltation gains the ability to transform into a near exact copy of another exalt type. There are few ways to acquire a new caste.

Note: A Changeling can learn one essence type (Caste) per point of permanent essence.

Ritual of Attunement
In order to acquire a new Caste an Exalt must be willing to allow the Ethereal to attune to the Exalts essence pattern. This has to be done so that the shard can morph into the correct “shape” to channel the appropriate essence. The Ethereal must spend one week in close study of the exalted one that is willing to be the focus of the ritual. On the sunset of the last day of that week the focus channels a massive amount of essence (25 motes) into the Cloud Walker. Once the essence transfer is complete the Ethereal falls into a deep trance where they dream of what it is to be a chosen one of that caste. This trance lasts for 2 days. On the morning of the third day the Ethereal awakens and becomes iconic with an exact copy of the participating exalts anima banner blazes around him.

''Example: If a solar dawn caste was the focus of the ritual and his banner had a herd of bulls crashing through the air, the Ethereals solar dawn caste banner would be a heard of bulls crashing through the air, but not as bright , not as powerful or clear.

At the end of the ritual the Ethereal shard changes into this new form and is mechanically treated as an exalted one of that caste. Their anima banner is an exact copy of the exalt that participated in the ritual but only at half the light and power. Once a cast is acquired they can begin to learn and use charm whose minimum requirements are the primary skills or attributes of that exalted type. Once a caste is acquired the Ethereal can change between it and any other castes that he may gain with the use of an innate special ability that all Ethereal have. It is hardwired into the shard itself when Azure forged the shards.

Ambient Attunement
Another way an Ethereal Exalted can attune to a new caste is by simply being in proximity to another Celestial Exalt. If the Changeling can stay with in one yard per point of essence that the she possess, from the target celestial for a certain amount of time, she can attune her shard to the caste of chosen exalt.
The time required depends on the power of the chosen exalt. The Ethereal Exalted needs to be around their target for one week per point of essence of the chosen exalt. That can be reduced if she has more essence than the target. For every point of essence above the target she can reduce the time needed to attune. For every point above her essence she needs to add a week.
If she strays outside the maximum distance she has one hour to return to his side or she will have to start all over again.

Consuming the Shard
This method surely sprung from their Wyld madness. If a Ethereal Exalt is present when another celestial exalt dies she can instantly attune to the exalts shard by inhaling their last breath. She must kiss the subject and inhale at the same time. As that breath escapes so does the shard. It passes through the Changeling’s own shard and out into creation. The direct contact instantly attunes the shard to the new caste. The player still has to spend xp to acquire the shard.