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The Power of the Dragons

The most numerous of the Exalted, and the weakest, the Dragon-Blooded were mighty beings nonetheless, and when they were roused en masse to fight their insane Solar rulers the power of their Charms, the strength of their tools and the cunning of their Sidereal advisors combined to ensure that the blow struck would be a sure and certain one.

Character Generation

The Dragon-Blooded of the Shogunate at its height had easy access to knowledge and wonders that would make a savant of the Second Age weep with envy. To that end the following additional rules apply to characters created for this game (unless otherwise stated use the rules in Exalted: the Dragon-Blooded).

Essence

The Dragon-Blooded of the Shogunate are its warrior- and scholar-elite, expected to excel in whatever area they choose to operate in. This ethos is what drives many of them to expand their awareness of Essence as quickly as possible. All Shogunate-era Terrestrial Exalted begin play with a permanent Essence of 3.

Abilities

The Exalted educational system of the Shogunate is geared towards producing the top tier of society, Dragon-Bloods who will function as its commanders & organisers, sorcerors and bureaucrats. The fractious nature of the Shogunate means that new Exalted are sought after and the discovery of a spontaneous Exaltation is the source for much joy within the court of the ruling daimyo.

There are innumerable schools and educational establishments dedicated to the inculcation of the newly Exalted with all the knowledge and wisdom that they will require to navigate the often treacherous seas of Shogunate life and society. Some of these salons take only one or two pupils at a time, while other schools may have as many as thirty – they are all uniformly excellent however, as one would expect of places of learning dedicated to training the Dragon-Blooded.

What this means is that as well as the standard 25 Ability dots that characters in Exalted get to distribute they also receive a number of bonus dots depending on the prime focus of their education, some of them also receive extra Charms or dots in Backgrounds. These extra dots may not raise any Ability or Background above 5, and are distributed amongst the list of Abilities given for each type of school.

While there aren’t any enforced starting minimum Ability scores amongst the Dragon-Blooded, a Shogunate character who does not have Archery/Martial Arts ••, Athletics •, Linguistics ••, Lore •• and Socialize •• will generally be considered “backward” or “provincial” by his more sophisticated peers.

Courtier

Also called “finishing schools”, a character trained as a courtier is an impeccable socialite, capable of fitting in to almost any situation where interpersonal connections and relationships are paramount. Whether mingling at a party, managing a daimyo’s court, or carefully interrogating a suspected seditionist, they excel at working with and on people. An Exalted who spent the majority of his education in this kind of school gets 10 dots to spend between Bureaucracy, Larceny, Linguistics, Performance, and Socialize, as well as on the Connections background.

Leadership

Some people are born to command while others have command thrust upon them – in either case, those who are prepared for the eventuality will uniformly handle the situation better than those who aren’t. It is with this thought that many Dragon-Blooded are sent to “command schools”, there to teach them to give and receive orders, to operate within an organisation (whether military or civilian) and how to phrase their ideas or commands in a way that will ensure their favourable reception. The Dragon-Blooded gets 10 dots to spend on Bureaucracy, Linguistics, Performance and Presence, some of which may also be used for the Command and Naval Command backgrounds.

Martial Arts

There are many hundreds of martial arts styles (both normal and supernatural) currently extant in Creation, and these can be learned in the salons and dojos that can be found in any major city, from Hollow to Meru. The dedication that extensive training in the martial arts requires, particularly the higher-level arts, means that graduates of these schools are often less well-rounded than those from other places of learning. Characters with this educational history can spend 10 dots between the Dodge, Endurance, Lore, Martial Arts and Resistance abilities. They may exchange four of these dots for a Martial Arts initiatory Charm and this exchange may be done twice, giving the character the ability to learn Celestial-level styles by completing an initiation.

Shogunate-era martial arts schools that are capable of teaching Celestial-level martial arts are generally found in one of two persuasions; the Immaculate Order, which teaches the Immaculate styles and uses Spirit Sight and Spirit Walking to initiate the Chosen of the Dragons into the mysteries of the higher martial arts; and the animal schools, able to teach styles such as Snake, Tiger and Mantis and which use the Tiger-and-Bear initiation. This is the only way that a newly created character can start play with access to Celestial-level Charms.

Shadow

The so-called “shadow schools” are places that few people, even amongst the Exalted, truly acknowledge exist. It would, however, be a foolish daimyo that did not have several graduates from these academies of the underhand act sworn to their service. At home in almost any environment, and capable of approaching unseen by all but the most alert, a shadow graduate is most often only remarked on publicly when he fails, something that the discipline of the schools tries very hard to discourage. A Dragon-Blood who has successfully navigated the pitfalls of the shadow schools has 10 dots that he may place as he wishes (within the limits above) on his Larceny, Stealth, Survival or Thrown abilities, or that he may use to purchase the Savant and Spies backgrounds with.

Sage

The Dragon-Blooded Shogunate is a time of wonders and miracles, where the weather dances to the tune of the Exalted and vast ships capable of blotting out the sun sail the skies. This wealth of knowledge and power must be maintained, it must be studied and, where possible, improved upon, and it is in the colleges and universities of Creation that savants are created and sorcerers initiated into the mysteries of their craft. Characters from these schools can spread 10 dots between Awareness, Craft, Lore and Occult, or they may choose to use some of these dots purchasing the Savant or Sorcery backgrounds – although the latter does not include the Terrestrial Circle Sorcery Charm, the character must acquire that from his Charm selection.

Warrior

The Shogunate was founded in a war of extermination, a war that raged for decades (or centuries in a few cases) against their mad god-kings, the Solar Exalted. Created by the Elemental Dragons to be the foot soldiers of the Primordial War, the Terrestrial Exalted are naturally warlike and so it is only to be expected that there are many schools exclusively for the Chosen that are dedicated to battle in all its forms. The Exalted who went to a soldier’s school can spread 10 dots between Archery, Dodge, Endurance, Melee and Resistance, as well as being able to purchase dots in Artefact and Retainers.

Backgrounds

The following list of backgrounds shows those that are available to characters as written in the appropriate source, together with the book they can be found in if appropriate:

Allies (Exalted)
Breeding (Exalted: the Dragon-Blooded)
Command (Exalted: the Dragon-Blooded)
Connections (Exalted: the Dragon-Blooded)
Familiar (Exalted)
Henchmen (Exalted: the Dragon-Blooded)
Manse (Exalted: the Dragon-Blooded)
Mentor (Exalted)
Reputation (Exalted: the Dragon-Blooded)
Resources (Exalted)
Retainers (Exalted: the Outcaste)
Savant (Exalted: the Sidereals)
Sorcery (Exalted: the Outcaste)
Spies (Exalted: the Abyssals)

Connections

Many of the subtypes of Connections that have been listed (both in Exalted: the Dragon-Blooded and in Exalted: the Outcaste) are not suitable for characters at the height of the Shogunate’s power. The following is a short treatment of more appropriate kinds of Connections, as well as a list of pre-existing ones that fit.

The Court of the Shogun
The Office of Residual Menaces

New & Altered Backgrounds

Some backgrounds are altered to take into account the difference between the Dragon-Blooded of the Second Age and those of the Shogunate, while others are wholly new to this chronicle:

Artifact

To represent the cornucopia of artefacts, combative and utilitarian, available to characters during the height of the Shogunate every dot in this background allows the purchase of three dots of artefacts, with no restriction on the individual ratings of the artefacts in question (although the purchase of N/A rated artefacts is prohibited).

Daimyo

A good daimyo is at least peripherally aware of his Dragon-Blooded officers, their successes and failures and the direction of their careers. Of course, some daimyo take a more direct and personal interest in the Exalted under their command, lavishing favours and responsibilities onto those who please them (whether personally or professionally depends on the daimyo) – nepotism isn’t necessarily a vice in the Shogunate, it is simply the way things are done.

The different levels of this background provide the character with “extra” bonus points that can be used to purchase dots of Artifact, Connections, Honour Guard, Manse, Naval Command, Resources, Retainers, and Spies, as well as to purchase Charms in the character’s Aspect or favoured Abilities. The stronger a daimyo’s interest and investment in a character is, however, the more likely he is to be called upon to do the daimyo’s business, restricting his freedom to act.

X: Your daimyo has yet to take a personal interest in you or perhaps simply dislikes you. You have only what you have managed to acquire by yourself, but at least you have your freedom.
•: The daimyo is a distant figure, often pre-occupied with affairs of state or with other, more favoured, Exalted. Despite this apparent disinterest your liege has some investment in your career, the path made slightly smoother where necessary. However, the obligation goes both ways and your daimyo asks you for minor favours at sometimes inconvenient times. You have 4 extra bonus points to spend at character creation within the restrictions listed above.
••: You see your daimyo two or three times a month, and have tea with her on a semi-regular basis, during which you exchange small-talk under the watchful eye of your liege’s honour guard. This favour gives you privileges that other Exalted are denied, but places upon you occasional duties given by your daimyo. You have 7 extra bonus points to spend at character creation within the restrictions listed above.
•••: Breakfast with the daimyo is a fortnightly occurrence (attendance is mandatory), during which time political and social gossip is traded, favours requested and gifts bestowed. A week that goes by without some note from your lord requesting your attendance at a function or a raid on a rival’s fields is a quiet week. You have 10 extra bonus points to spend at character creation within the restrictions listed above.
••••: You are a trusted soldier or advisor of your daimyo, so much so that his honour guard is often bid to remain outside during your regular meals with him, as a signal of your lord’s faith in you. You have few secrets from him and (you believe) the reverse is true, however your freedom of action is often curtailed by the “requests” of your liege, and on more than one occasion duty has compelled you to perform distasteful acts. You have 13 extra bonus points to spend at character creation within the restrictions listed above.
•••••: You are often in your daimyo’s thoughts and can expect communications from her on an almost daily basis. You are a favoured agent or lover and have gifts and opportunities lavished upon you, in return for which the daimyo expects instant and complete obedience to her wishes or whims. You have 16 extra bonus points to spend at character creation within the restrictions listed above.

Honour Guard

The honour guard is an ancient tradition, one that the Dragon-Blooded Shogunate inherited from the Solar Deliberative and which it continues to use. The product of careful breeding, life-long training and the repeated use of specialised Charms, these soldiers are fanatically loyal to their master, willing to kill and die at his word. The honour guard has a long and convoluted set of customs attached to it, but they can be distilled down to the following simple rules:

The honour guard may always accompany the character, except for the most sacred rites and occasions of the Shogunate, those that are death for a mortal to witness.
The character is always and absolutely responsible for the actions of his honour guard. If they commit a crime it is as if he had committed it.

While these warriors do not require payment, they do retain the normal needs of humans for food and drink, and although this background does include lavish equipment (all of excellent or higher quality) this, too, must be maintained by the character. The soldiers provided by the Honour Guard background use the statistics given for their type, but they have Valour ••••• when it matters.

X: You have no honour guard, no soldiers to defend you from assaults by the unworthy. This does not mean you that you have no honour.
•: You have acquired a small honour guard, enough to discourage the peasants from thronging you when you make visits to the less exclusive areas of the towns and cities of creation. A pair of regular soldiers accompanies your character at all times, unless specifically directed otherwise.
••: Your honour guard grows in strength and stature, capable of defending you against more serious threats if necessary, and providing a certain moral weight to your arguments at times. They comprise a fang (5) of regular or a pair of elite soldiers.
•••: Your person is protected by a small, but powerful, force of soldiery, and you have almost forgotten what it is like to be jostled in a public place or not to be served immediately upon entering a business establishment. A fang of elites or a pair of ashigaru warriors follows you everywhere.
••••: When you walk about town, even in the exclusively Dragon-Blooded areas you have a clear path before you, your puissant honour guard ensures that state of affairs. At all times you are accompanies by a fang of ashigaru warriors or a pair of gunzosha fanatics.
•••••: An honour guard of the highest calibre follows you in your travels across Creation, lavishly trained and equipped so as to give pause to even one of the Chosen should he consider delivering insult to your person. You have two fangs of ashigaru or a fang of gunzosha warriors with you wherever you are.

Naval Command

The skies above Creation during the time of the Dragon-Blooded Shogunate are filled with flying machines, from delicate wingboats built for pleasure to colossal aerial dreadnaughts capable of levelling entire cities with but a single salvo from their prodigious weaponry, and everything in between. While a great many of these skycraft are used for personal pleasure or commercial reasons, the Shogunate has a large navy, most of which is controlled by the individual daimyos responsible for the various prefectures of Creation. Whether by politicking and favour-trading, or by raw skill and competence, many Dragon-Blooded are given command over parts of this great military force by their ruling daimyo, to exercise his laws and will.

X: The daimyo has not seen fit to grant you command over any part of his naval forces.
•: You are the chuzei of an elite ashikaze force, powerful marine soldiers that are often found on the larger and more powerful skyships that the Shogunate has. You count a scale (25) of these supreme mortal warriors as your direct subordinates.
••: A senior chuzei you now lead a full talon (125) of ashikaze warriors, and see action frequently as an officer of your daimyo and of the Dragon-Blooded Shogunate.
•••: You have risen through the ranks of naval officers, becoming a full taizei. With this greater rank comes increased responsibility in the form of your first true command as commander of one of the many forms of light skycraft available to the navies of the Shogunate, such as a Raptok-class skyraider, a Chariot of the Infinite Heavens, or Chariot of Aerial Conquest.
••••: Your star shines brightly and your superiors watch your career with interest. As a shozei of your daimyo’s navy you have been granted a significant command within it, most likely as the commander of a Manta type skycraft or as the leader of a wingboat talon.
•••••: You have risen to the rank of kazei within the forces of your daimyo, and have been given the command of one of his great skyships, such as a Skywolf- or Firehawk- class vessel. While not as powerful as the unique dreadnaughts left over from the Solar Deliberative they are still mighty vessels, and your command is a statement of belief and trust in your abilities.

Charms

The Terrestrial Exalted start play with 10 Charms (or more if they spend bonus points on them), at least five of which must be for Aspect or Favoured Abilities. Characters who took the Martial Arts school option and who have completed an initiatory path of Charms can learn Celestial-level Martial Arts Charms appropriate to their initiation for two Charm-slots each.

Bonus Points

The Dragon-Blooded of the Shogunate can and do take full advantage of the support that society has to offer, and so they have 20 bonus points to spend at the end of character creation, rather than the standard 15.

Moxiane/PowerOfTheDragons

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