DariusSollumanLunarsRevised/Backgrounds
Backgrounds for the Lunar Exalted
The Lunars are no where near as scattered as the returning Solars. They've had centuries to gather every last hero's weapon and armor, every scrap of knowledge, and every advantage they can in the Threshold. While these resources still dwindle compared to the Deathlord's arcane might, or the engines of the Dragonblooded, they are not insignificant- especially with the relative ease a Lunar can craft Moonsilver.
Thus, the following backgrounds should be used, in place and in addition to those in Exalted: the Lunars, as appropriate.
ALLIES: As described in Exalted, pg 141.
ARTIFACT
x.......You have no implements of power. Why?
o.......You have a total of two levels of artifacts, neither of which may exceed Level 1.
oo......You have a total of three levels of artifacts, none of which may exceed Level 2.
ooo.....You have a total of five levels of artifacts, none of which may exceed Level 4.
oooo....You have a total of six levels of artifacts, none of which may exceed Level 5.
ooooo...You have a total of eight levels of artifacts, none of which may exceed level 5.
BACKING: As described in Exalted, pg 142
CONTACTS As described in Exalted, pg 142
CULT: As described in Exalted: The Lunars, pg 98
FAMILIAR: As described in Exalted, pg 143
FOLLOWERS Replaced with Horde, below.
HEART'S BLOOD: Replaced with LunarHouseRules/ExpandedHeartsBlood (reprinted below)
x......You have not bothered to hunt. What, you have something better to do? The only shape in your Library is your Totem form.
o.... Prowling your region, you've sampled the local population. Your Library includes most common, non-predator animals (rats, cats, dogs, lizards, foxes, goats, fish) in your home region (region being northeast, southwest, central north). Your lack of true dedication to consumption has kept rare or predatory species out of your diet, so no great cats or weird poisonous spiders.
oo......You've combed your region and its borders, searching for dangerous or elusive prey. Your Library includes all common non-predators and a selection of local predators (great cats, river dragons, rapace, siaka) and rare species (weird, elusive beasts that you will probably make up), plus a collection of non-predators from your general Direction (North, South, East, West).
ooo.....Your palate is cultured and experianced, having roamed the entirity of your Direction. Your library contains all non-predators and nearly all predators from your region, most non-predators from your Direction, and a variety of predators and rare species from your Direction. Plus, your prowess as a hunter has been proven, as you have managed to kill and consume one of the mightiest beasts of Creation. Your Library includes a single super-predator, such as a tyrant lizard, pelagic dragon, or giant squid.
oooo....Wandering far and wide, you have supped on the strong, weak, and the weird. Your library contains an exhaustive selection of your Direction, predators and non-predators alike. Your library also contains most common, non-predator animals from your neighboring Directions and a well-kept, if not complete, menu of standard predators from those Direction. You are a predator among predators as well. You now have three super-predator forms.
ooooo...Creation is your dining table. Your knowledge of your home Direction's fauna is incomparable, and your library ranges from pole to pole in all directions. Your library contains most non-common, predatory, and rare species of Creation, as well as five super-predators.
HORDE - New
x.......You have awed no tribes into submission, nor sired any army.
o.......A small clan is willing to fight for you; you have a 5 Barbarians (as described in Exalted, pg 282), who are lead by a Heroic Mortal (as described in Exalted, pg 103).
oo......A number of clans will ride with you, or a small tribe. You have 25 Barbarians, 5 Beastmen, and they are lead by reasonably experience Heroic Mortal (with two dots of the Experience Background, as described in Exalted: Player's Guide, pg 117)
ooo.....A great host of families move as you direct, or possibly several small tribes- or one modest sized one. Do they worship you as a patron god, or simply admire your power? You have 125 Barbarians, 25 Beastmen, and three Heroic Mortals- one of whom is some type of Godblooded (with four dots to distribute between Experience, Inheritance and Patron, no more than 3 dots in one Background)
oooo....A number of tribes follow you in earnest now; the Realm has heard your name on the wind, and the smoking ruins of villages are a testament of your handiwork. You have 625 Barbarians, 125 Beastmen, and five Heroic Mortals- two of whom are some kind of Godblooded (with five dots to distribute between Exerience, Inheritance and Patron, no more than 3 dots in one Background)
ooooo...All the barbarians in a geographical area do as you command- those who do not have been treated as the worthless fools they are, and scoured from Creation's face. Why do you command one of the mightiest forces on Creation, Prince of the Earth? You have over 2000 Barbarians, 625 Beastmen, and ten Heroic Mortals- four of whom are powerful Godblooded (with six dots to distribute between Experience, Inheritance and Patron, no more than 3 dots in one Background).
INFLUENCE: As described in Exalted, pg 144
MANSE
x.......You have no place of power to call your own. Have you not yet sought one out?
o.......You are attuned to a small handful of Manses and Demenses, and may bear a single level 1 Hearthstone.
oo......You are attuned to virtually every Demenses within your territory, and most of the Manses. You also may bear three levels of Hearthstones, as long as none exeeds level 2.
ooo.....Over half of the Demenses in a thousand miles recognize your mastery, and a wide array of Manses are controlled by yourself. You may have up to five levels of Hearthstones, as long as none exceed level 3.
oooo....In half a Direction, your sigil is recognized at the Demenses as being allowed, and countless Manses open their glittering doors to you. You may have to eight levels of Hearthstones, as long as only one is of level 4 or 5.
ooooo...In a full Direction, it would be only a new or a well hidden Demense you have not taken control of, and only the most impervious of Manses is yet denied. They, too, shall fall in time. You may have up to twelve levels of Hearthstones, as long as no more than one is level 4 or 5.
MENTOR: As described in Exalted, pg 145
RESOURCES: As described in Exalted, pg 146
SOCIETY - New
x.......You live wholy apart from all Lunar Societies. Do you spurn them, or are you simply ignorant? Would you join one, if you could?
o.......You are a part of a relatively small Society- consisting of perhaps two or three other true Lunars and no more than ten people total. The Society may have a few other members- Fair Folk, Gods, or powerful Godblooded. Because of this, it places relatively few constraints on you. You start with +3 Backgrounds.
oo......You are part of a normal sized Society- there are no more than five true Lunars, and it's full membership doesn't exceede 30. Your elders expect more from you, but communication is still somewhat rare- this is a large but comfortable group of friends, and those invisible ties matter as much as any political bonds. You start with +5 Backgrounds.
ooo.....You are part of a modestly large Society- there may be up to ten Lunars, with a roster of over fifty members. At this size, some organization and task delegation is neccesary to function as a group- and this creates the unenviable situation of anonymous tasking. On the other hand, youre supported much better than those without. You start with +8 Backgrounds.
oooo....You are part of one of the larger Societies in Creation- up to fifteen Lunars, and a roster of over a hundred members. As such, you're rapidly becoming just another cog- a powerful, important, Exalted cog- but ultimately replaceable, if you prove to need replacing. Best serve the interests of the group, and rise to a position of safety. Despite this, there's something to be said for the strength of numbers. You start with +10 Backgrounds.
ooooo...You are a part of one of the largest Societies in Creation, such as the Silver Pact. There are twenty or more full Lunars, and their full roster doubtlessly extends past two hundred. You will be cared for, and have a voice in matters- but you will also be expected to listen to and obey your elders, and whatever taboos they may lay upon you. Obdience is richly rewarded, however. You begin with +13 Backgrounds.
SORCERY: As described in Exalted: the Outcastes, pg 67. Lunars pay double for this Background.
SPIES: As described in Exalted: The Abyssals, pg 134. Lunars pay double for this Background.
TELL - New
x.......You are one of the rare few with no distinguishing calling card across your Forms. Perhaps you are Casteless?
o.......You have a minor Tell, one difficult to notice even when it's pointed out. Spotting it requires an Awareness + Perception check, difficulty 7- 3 when your anima flares to 8+ motes, or when someone knows exactly what to look for. You begin with +1 Freebies, and your Deadly Beastman Shape has it's limits improved by 1- you can have a max of (Essence +1) x3 Attribute points, which can rise to a max of Attribute + Essence + 1, and have Essence +1 Gifts.
oo......Your Tell, while still subtle, is more obvious and apparent to learned and wise savants. Spotting it is difficulty 5, 1 when your anima flares to 8+ motes, or when someone knows what to look for. You begin with +3 Freebies.
ooo.....Your Tell is obvious to anyone who knows to look- but the ignorant are still easy enough to fool. Spotting it is difficulty 3, and automatic when your anima flares to 8+ motes, or when someone knows what to look for. You begin with +4 Freebies, and your Deadly Beastman Shape has it's limits improved by 2- you can have a max of (Essence +2) x3 Attribute points, which can rise to a max of Attribute + Essence + 2, and have Essence +2 Gifts.
oooo....Your Tell is something shocking and vast, screaming out your nature to all but the dimmest of mortals- anyone will spot it with only a difficulty of 1, and still automatically if your anima flares beyond 8+ motes, or when someone knows wha to look for. On the other hand, you have a vast wellspring of natural talent, and begin with +8 Freebies.
ooooo...Your Tell is legendary among your kind- and anyone who has listened to their bedtimes stories as a child will know you at once as false, as a shapechanging spirit standing revealed. Iroincally, this very twist seems to enhance all other aspects of your protean nature- perhaps it was a dark blessing of the No Moons... or a Curse from Luna. In any case, you begin with +11 Freebies, and your Deadly Beastman Shape has it's limits improved by 3- you can have a max of (Essence +3) x3 Attribute points, which can rise to a max of Attribute + Essence + 3, and have Essence +3 Gifts.
