Rooks
Name: Rooks, AKA Champion of Eternity's Peace
Caste: Moonshadow
Concept: Seeker of Redemption / Emmisarry of the Lover
Nature: Paragon
Anima: A fire of translucent greys and blacks that once it goes iconic unfurls into a great map that shows the growing dominion of Death. Little pale purple points of light mark the great cities of the Underworld and more show up as more essence is spent to show how all in Creation will eventually fall into the embrace of Death.
Attributes
Strength 3, Charisma 4, Perception 3
Dexterity 5, Manipulation 5, Intelligence 3
Stamina 3, Appearance 5, Wits 4
Abilities
Athletics 4, Archery 2, Awareness 4, Bureaucracy 4, Craft 1, Dodge 5, Endurance 3, Investigation 3, Larceny 2, Linguistics 5(Caligraphy 2), Lore 4, Martial Arts 5, Medicine 1, Melee 5(Swords 2, Daiklaives 1), Occult 2, Performance 3, Presence 5, Resistance 2, Ride 3, Socialize 5, Stealth 4, Survival 3
Backgrounds</b>
<b>Allies 3
Artifact 5(Breaker of Souls, Soulsteel Articulate Plate, Shadow Cloak-acts as a soulsteel Thunderbolt Shield)
Contacts 3
Influence 3
Liege 5
Manse 2
Spies 4
Underworld Manse 4
Virtues</b>
<b>Compassion 3, Conviction 4, Temperance 3, Valor 4
Willpower 8
Essence 5
Personal 23
Peripheral 57 - When seeking redemption 52 - As Champion 38
Charms
Athletics - Raiton's Nimble Perch(3m), Shadow Races the Light(2m+), Crouching Gargoyle Stance(3m)
Awareness - Fivefold Sensory Exercise(5m), Ominous Portent Method
Bureaucracy - Authority Eroding Technique(1m/die), Corruption-Sensing Scrutiny(2m), Argument-Slaying Remark(3m), Alluring Eloquence Method(4m)
Dodge Flittering Shadow Form(1m/2die), Uncanny Impule Evasion(2m), Fivefold Shadow Form(2m), Flickering Wisp Technique(6m), Incomparable Phantom Form(5m, 1wp)
Endurance - Ox-Body*3(-1*3, -2*6)
Linguistics - Blood Inscription Technique(4m), Language Absorbing Method(5m, 1wp), Peerless Fluency Style(1m/die), Scathing Cynic Attitude(6m, 1wp), Theft of Words(2m+4m/language), Words Beneath a Whisper(3m, 1wp)
Lore - Crypt Bolt(1m/2L), Wyld Shield Meditation(10m, 1wp)
Martial Arts - Essence Discerning Glance(6m), Shrouded Claw Attack(3m), Hungry Ghost Form(5m)
Medicine - Flesh-Mending Discipline(10m)
Melee - Elegant Flowing Deflection(1m/2dice), Fluttering Moth Defense(2m), Hundred Razor Circle(5m), Eye of the Tempest(5m, 1wp), Incomparable Sentinal Stance(3m, 1wp), Furious Blade(1m/die), Savage Shade Style(1m), Slashing Ghost Talon(1m), Five Shadow Feint(1m/die)
Performance - Haunting Inflection Trick(1m/2dice), Morbid Fascination Style(5m)
Presence - Elegant Tyrant's Majesty(6m), Irresistable Succubus Style(8m), Soul-Flaying Gaze(8m, 1wp), Heart-Stopping Mien((10m, 1wp)
Ride - Soul Reins(1m/point), Mount-Spooking Shout(5m, 1wp)
Socialize - Exquisite Etiquette Style(3m), Loyalty Withering Technique(3m), Imprecation of Ill Manners(1m/die), Heart-Hardening Method(6m), Sin-Sensing Meditation(10m, 1wp), Passion-Unveiling Glance(3m)
Stealth - Concealing Distraction Discipline(4m)
Survival - Essence Engorgement Technique*2, Enduring Huntsman Method(5m)
Power Combat
Base Initiative 9, Soak 3B/1L/0A, Dodge 15
Fist: Speed 9, Accuracy 11, Damage 3B, Defense 12, Rate 5
Orichalcum Daiklaive: Speed 16, Accuracy 17, Damage 9L, Defense 16, Rate 6
Power Combat as Champion
Base Initiative 9, Soak 17B/15L/14A, Dodge 13, Fatigue 1, Mobility Penalty 2, +3 Difficulty to hit with Ranged or Melee attacks
Fist: Speed 9, Accuracy 11, Damage 3B, Defense 12, Rate 5
Breaker of Souls: Speed 17, Accuracy 18, Damage 13L, Defense 14, Rate 5
Description
Rooks is a tall slim man with long dark hair that he lets fall free down his shoulders and deep blue eyes. Skin like unmarred marble and a convenient breeze to ruffle hair or clothing when needed. Pretty much a grade-A bishi dressed all in black with a cloak and a golden blade strapped to his back.
When serving the Lover on the other hand his body is covered in plates of Soulsteel, an intricate helm covering all but his eyes and a cloak of shadows around him. His mighty reaver soulsteel daiklaive, Breaker of Souls, strapped to his back in a sheath of ebony.
History
Rooks was born as Intricate Blossum, a boy born to a life of debauchery and indulgance in the Citadel of Red Ice. His life would likely have ended like most there had his talents not attracted the attention of the Lover Clad in a Raiment of Tears just as she had aquired and corrupted several Solar souls from the deal with the Yozi. So he was reborn as Champion of Eternity's Peace, her first abyssal and highest in her favor. He is her emissary to other lands both in Creation and in the Underworld and he served her well. His tongue and charm garnered her many influencial deals and she did not have to worry of neighbours working against her.
He helped to handle her spies, always on the lookout for things that might oppose his mistress and working to subvert or eliminate them. His name is well known amongst the other Deathlords and their servants such was the frequency and depth of his travells.
The Lover had a plan though to find and turn more solars to her cause. Deceitful and intricate it was. With sorcery and dark charms she would remove certain memories of Champion and one other, adding a few extra and have them go out into the world. They would wander the north for a time, finding other exalted and convincing them that they sought redemption. Lie charms would fail against them for as far as they could tell they really felt that way. Intent charms would see that they did want this. A very powerful charm might notice the memory changes but it would be very rare the exalt who could.
They would wander and look and investigate about for clues on how to break the taint, over several interactions proving themselves trustworthy to whomever they met or perhaps even developing romantic relationships with them. Then after a time they would learn that to break the taint requires shattering their Monstrance and they would get their trusted allies to come with them...and lead them straight into a trap.
Lead right into the heart of the Lover's power, all her servants ready and the child of the two abyssals as an extra hostage to make her foes surrender she would return her abyssals to their full selves, have new exalts to taint and turn to her side and have the beautiful and exquisite fun of playing with emotions and love to further the cause of death.
A solar and an outcaste have fallen to this plan allready. And again they have been sent out to work their unsuspecting plan upon some innocents.
Plot Hooks
- Any group of solars could easily fall for the plan the Lover is using. Storytellers are encouraged to use them in several interactions over time to build up trust and relationships before they ask for their help to cure themselves. Then after being captured and the two abyssals having regained their memory have them actually have been affected by time with the players and help the PCs escape but heroicly sacrifice themselves while the players take the child and escape. It made for a powerful drama in my game.
- An abyssal could easily be working under Champion in a diplomatic mission in the Underworld or Creation and need to help guard him from certain abyssal assassins who want to make sure that the deal does not happen.
- In a fit of rage the Lover has banished Champion from her lands and now any Deathlord might want to hire him to their side. The PCs are sent to convince him to join their master but other abyssals have been sent to do the same. If Champion does not join them, then he must join no one they are told.
