Freeform Exalted

[HairyHeretic]

Just curious if anyone might be interested in a freeform Exalted game .. could be done either as a 1 on 1, or a small circle / group, depending on interest. The idea would be to keep the over the top feel of Exalted, without worrying about dice and essence usage (except for dramatic story effects, of course).

I've a mind to dust off my charming scoundrel Raven, and see what new trouble I can get him into.

Anyone interested?

[Muse]

I'd be more intrested in Exalted with the system, but if it was a chance to play Chocolate, I'd jump on it. 

[HairyHeretic]

Looks like it might just be the two of us then.

I've played a few system games of Exalted, 1st and 2nd ed both, so I thought it might be interesting to try freeform and see how that went.

Do you want to start of with the two knowing each other, or shall we have a meeting under desperate circumstances? :)

[Chameleon]

Well, if your looking for another Player I might could jump on this,  unless your only looking for Solars.

[HairyHeretic]

What do you have in mind? Accomidating non solars would be easier with freeform than a system game.

[Chameleon]

Lunar more then likely,  an Alchemical might be fun also...  but that might be a bit harder too work into a plot.

[HairyHeretic]

Lunar is quite doable. I'd be a bit iffy about an Alchemical, since they're pretty much limited to a single time and place in Creation.

You thinking any relationship with the other characters? Reincarnated mate from the 1st Age or what have you?

[Chameleon]

I wouldn't mind acting as the reincarnated mate of another PC,  might be fun.

[HairyHeretic]

Well, you've got male and female to choose from, in terms of a mate. Of course, with lunars, male and female are pretty much a matter of choice with the right charms too  ;D

[Chameleon]

Exactly,  well,  I could play either sex,  so,  either way I'm good,  so if you two would like to talk it out,  I'd agree with your descion.

[HairyHeretic]

I can also see a ranma 1/2 thing going on here  :D

[Chameleon]

That actually sounds like the best answer.

[HairyHeretic]

Dunno about best, but certainly the most interesting  :D

[Chameleon]

True enough,  I know it'll keep me amused.

[Muse]

If you'd asked eight year old Morning Glory what she wished to do when she grew up, she'd eagerly tell you her plan to become a Bride of Ahlat, make her fortunes in war, seduce the god himself, then greacfuly accept his divorce at 27 to marry into a rich household so she could spoil her children outragously. 

A flirtatious tomboy even then, she loved scrambling around on the rooftops of Kirghast with her brothers. 

A few months later, though, the bi-monthly guild caravan rolled through, with all their spectacles and wonders from across the world, bearing a new product.  When the guildsman offered her family a free sample of his new pipe fragrance, somethign called opium, a quite voice in her head, one she'd never heard before, held her back from trying it. 

She watched over the next three years as her mother died of overdose, her sister sold herself to a brothel and her brothers into sweat shops to pay for their next fix. 

Left alone in the world, with an aching drive for personal vengence, yet also to protect others from this criminal drug, she spent five years training in gymnastics, knife fighting and throwing from a retired Bride of Ahlat. 

Now sixteen, she ran away to join a guild caravan circus, introducing herself as Chocolate.  For two years, she secured her place as a trustworthy member of the guild, giving her all to becoming a star jongluer, actress, and courtesean, and reveling in it. 

But on the night of her eighteenth birthday, Chocolate began her covert missions.  Stealing clothes or just stripping nude, she set about a campaing of sabotaging the drug trade by breaking into the homes of supliers, destroying their stock, and robbing them blind. 

The harder she struggled to complete her mission, the closer she felt to that voice that whipsered in her heart all those years ago not to touch the opium, 'til one day it spoke again.  "You are my beloved chosen, Chocolate, here is the power you yearn for.  How will you change the world?" 

[HairyHeretic]

Raven - Night Caste Solar

History:
Raven is from Lookshy, having served in the 7th Legion and worked himself up through the ranks and into the elite Ashigaru troops, serving in one of the recon units in the First Field Force. His service in the recon units meant many long weeks away from Lookshy. Raven claimed this was because the glamour of the service added to his appeal with the ladies. Less charitable people would have said it was due to both his behaviour and attitude while in Lookshy that he spent so much time out of it.

Whilst on a long range patrol, his unit was ambushed by Realm troops. Outnumbered and heavily outmatched, they could only attempt to evade their attackers, each skirmish wearing them further down. Raven was acting as a rearguard, covering the rest of the unit, when they ran into another force of Realm troops ahead. Too far back to do any good, Raven could only watch as his comrades were cut down by the Realm soldiers.

At that moment his Exaltation came upon him, and he filled the sky with arrow after arrow, each one lancing into the Realm soldiers, as if seeking out every last unprotected body part. Memories of his previous life intertwined with his current one, and when the visions faded, he stood alone on the battlefield, surrounded only by the dead, his aura burning the sky around him.

Still wracked by the memories and fading visions he fled, heading as far from Lookshy as he could, still thinking to draw any Realm pursuit away from his city.

Without knowing really why he has been drawn to Nexus, and spent the last few months searching the nearby wilds for other First Age artefacts.

Appearance:
Raven stands just slightly under 6 feet, with a lithe build. His hair is black, reaching down to just past his shoulders, held out of his eyes by a leather headband. He wears a goatee beard and moustache, neatly trimmed (usually). His looks are best described as "roguish", and are only emphasised by his raw charisma.

He is normally found wearing a pair of tight trousers, black knee length boots, and a loose shirt. Depending on the weather, this may be joined by a short jacket or cloak.

At his waist is normally belted a sword, not magical, but of good quality.

Character:
A cocky, fast-talking rogue with an infectious devil-may-care attitude, a wicked sense of humour, and an eye for the ladies par excellence. His mouth may often get him into trouble, but his fists (or feet) will usually get him back out of it.

[Chameleon]

Resplendent Frenzy of the Winter Cold -  Full Moon Lunar

History

Born as Kain of the Broken Mountain Tribe,  Frenzy's life was hard,  almost beyond words. He was forced to struggle against his own siblings to earn a meal,  he was forced to adjust to the freezing temperatures of the mountain,  and as the only son of Master Hunter of the tribe,  he was thrust into the world of wild beasts.  When he became old enough to take up his father's weapon's he was sent out for one final test,  too bring back the pelt of the true master of the Uttercold.  Which was a rare breed of tiger that stalked the mountain passes,  it preyed on many of the same beasts as his tribe,  but in truth,  the flesh of man was what the creature truly desired.

The hunt was long...  hard,  and when he came upon the beast,  the two circled each other,  both ready too strike.  As the beast suddenly charged,  Kain readied his spear,  a voice within his head whispered very softly,  sounding more like the growl of a beast.  "Take your destiny in hand..."  With speed and strength that he never possessed before,  the warrior's spear hit home killing his opponent with but a single strike.  Unable to help himself,  he cupped the cooling blood within his hands and drank deeply from it.  He didn't notice that black stripe pattern that covered his body.  When he returned home though,  he came upon a sight that made his blood boil...  A large contigent of bandits was pillaging the town,  and without even thinking Kain threw himself into the skirmish,  as he charged his body reshaped into the image of a rather large humanoid white furred tiger,  within minutes,  the dervish like frenzy of Kain decimated his opponents,  but most of his friends, and family had been killed in the raid.  Unable to stay,  his heart broken to piece he fled the mountain.

His claws and teeth were put to one purpose,  anytime he came upon an innocent in jeopardy,  threatened by the hands of ignorant or evil men.  He jumped into the fray fighting with such rage,  his mind still burning with the images of his own brutalized village.  With each victory the Legend of Resplendent Frenzy of the Winter Cold grew. 

[HairyHeretic]

So what section should we kick this off in?

[Chameleon]

I personally don't mind,  and I'm not exactly an expert when it comes to exalted.

[ZK]

As with Muse, I could help with the basis section of Exalted both first and second. [aside from a few sourcebooks missing from first, I own all of 2nd edition] when it comes to background and such. Seeing as I rarely have time to play now [hopefully that will change in the near future].

[HairyHeretic]

You're more than welcome to join us here, if you like.

I've a complete set of 1st and 2nd ed books, plus have both GMed and played, Solars and Abyssals, so I should be able to answer any questions you might have.

Any of you got firm ideas for kicking things off? I find Nexus makes a good starting spot ... a nicely wretched hive of scum and villany :)

[ZK]

I don't have a few of the last books of first, as second was coming out not to long after that, but anywho. What sort of campaign is this?

[HairyHeretic]

We're still discussing that :) If you've read the thread, you know as much as the rest of us.

[Muse]

As to sections, I'm perfectly happy with NC exotic, though I prefer that the exotic NC encounters be carefuly woven into the plot.  Say, in Chocolate's case, with the Merchant Princes's pet monster. 

[Chameleon]

Well,  I'm good with starting in Nexus...  and an NC setting wouldn't bother me any.

[ZK]

I don't really care to see a character of mine in an NC scene [setting is fine, as Exalted tends to be that even on a regular game].

[HairyHeretic]

If your character isn't interested in NC I doubt that will be a problem for the rest of us. Its certainly not a problem for me at any rate. My character wouldn't go for it either. He's a charming womaniser, and quite willing to seduce to the point of getting his face slapped, but he does eventually understand that's not just playing hard to get :)

[ZK]

Although for plot device and such, I would run it through and make it realistic. But repeated rape and such would be based on a weak character, wracked with devolvement of the psyche and other bits. It'd be a true horror story. I'd enjoy that, but you get what I am digressing. I want a realistic [in the terms of Exalted anyway] type of play. No "hentai" repeated rape scenes please... those are so cliched. Make it interesting, make it horrifying, make it life changing or at least aspect changing. Take more from me then just my dignity.


And my oh my, I noticed I like archaic words.

[HairyHeretic]

So you looking for something with demons, or more mundane?

[ZK]

Not exactly. I'm simply saying. "Make it glorious as well as horrible, but make sure it holds realism."

I want Exalted to be as fantastic as the setting is, I was just given an example. ^.^

[HairyHeretic]

Fairy nuff. I guess I just picked you up wrong.

So, you interested?

[ZK]

Yes. I am quite interested. So what is available for play? Aside from being obvious antagonistic to the Circle (mixed). After all, you don't want someone to attempt to kill everyone in the party. :/

[HairyHeretic]

Pretty much whatever you want to. We've got a Night Caste solar, and Full Moon Lunar, and I'm not quite sure what Chocolate is. I'd hazard a guess at another Night Caste, but couldn't be sure of it.

[ZK]

Speaking of Lunars are we going with their 1st or 2nd Edition selves? I prefer 2nd as they feel more structured and not the "Rawr, we destroy Civilization!"

[HairyHeretic]

2nd certainly does flesh them out more, but I'm not sure how familiar Chameleon is with the background. I'd prefer second, but really it's whatever is easiest for him.

[ZK]

We can still be 2nd, he can just follow the 1st Ed's paradigm. As there are still some that do that in 2nd.

[HairyHeretic]

I'm easy either way. Since its freeform, we don't really need to worry so much about rules as background.

[ZK]

Since what I said what I said. ^.^ Not the hard rules, but the soft rules [diceless ones] that go with the paradigm of the character. Sorry, but even in freeform [especially of a system setting] I prefer to stick to the backing and such of it. ^.^

[HairyHeretic]

Agreed, and I try to do that myself.

[Chameleon]

Well,  I don't actually know anything about the new exalted games.  If you can give me the basic run down of the changes in second edition I'd play as close to that as possible.  Though I had no intention of playing "RARGH KILL!",  I was hoping to pull off a primitive knight.  You know the gist, protect those that can't protect themselves, honor, duty, all that fun stuff.

[ZK]

The basic premise of Lunars in the new edition are sheppards of the world. And many intend to rebuild a society to work without the need of an actual Exalted to help run, defend and such itself. So your primitive knight does hold quite a lot of bound in the new series. ^^

[HairyHeretic]

Though there are a variety of factions within lunar society, each with their own ideas on how to go about doing that.

[ZK]

Factions are flavored text and optional. Don't have to go via a faction. ^.^

[HairyHeretic]

True, but personally I think they're a welcome addition to the canon stuff for lunars.

[ZK]

I don't disagree on that, just said player doesn't have access to the new version.

[HairyHeretic]

So, getting back to a starting point, do we want to have characters knowing each other already? Or just toss in a random story threat to get them moving in the same direction?

[Chameleon]

Well,  I am actually quite interested in having my PC being the first age mate for one of the solar PCs.  I'd be willing to change the gender of the character if neccesary.  While I know that isn't really knowing each other persae...  it would provide a quick way to bind my PC to the group.

[HairyHeretic]

I think you mean the reincarnation of the mate. Having a first age Lunar running around would be ... interesting  :D

[Chameleon]

Sorry, its a bit late... that is what I meant.

[HairyHeretic]

It's cool  :)

[ZK]

Hehe, after all, it's quite common for Lunars to have a shifting gender. ^.^

[Muse]

*Grins*  That's true.  Nice little charm, easily acessible to any luanr with 3 essence.  Change your gender on a whim.  :) 

Chocolate is indeed a night caste solar.  She uses sexuality as a tool to get things done, and is kind of jaded about it, so if she actualy fell in love, that might be very, very intresting. 

[HairyHeretic]

Well, if you want to go with the romantic plotline, feel free :)

[ZK]

So we can basically be any Exalted within reason? "like have a moderate Essence but not no 5+" types?

[HairyHeretic]

More or less. I tend to play Raven as freshly Exalted, and still coming to grips with his newfound abilities. He has a few small artifacts .... ashigaru armour and some variant of shocklance usually, nothing in the way of spells or followers.

[Chameleon]

Resplendent Frenzy of the Winter Cold - Full Moon Lunar

History

Born as Kain of the Broken Mountain Tribe, a tribe of ice walkers who seiced their migratory life style, finding that the mountain could provide them what they needed... if the remained strong, Frenzy's life was hard, almost beyond words. He was forced to struggle against his own siblings to earn a meal, he was forced to adjust to the freezing temperatures of the mountain, and as the only son of Master Hunter of the tribe, he was thrust into the world of wild beasts. When he became old enough to take up his father's weapon's he was sent out for one final test, too bring back the pelt of the true master of the Uttercold. Which was a rare breed of tiger that stalked the mountain passes, it preyed on many of the same beasts as his tribe, but in truth, the flesh of man was what the creature truly desired.

The hunt was long... hard, and when he came upon the beast, the two circled each other, both ready too strike. As the beast suddenly charged, Kain readied his spear, a voice within his head whispered very softly, sounding more like the growl of a beast. "Take your destiny in hand..." With speed and strength that he never possessed before, the warrior's spear hit home killing his opponent with but a single strike. Unable to help himself, he cupped the cooling blood within his hands and drank deeply from it.  His eyes transformed too two silver orbs, slitted like those of a cats. When he returned home though, he came upon a sight that made his blood boil... A large contigent of bandits was pillaging the town, and without even thinking Kain threw himself into the skirmish, as he charged his body reshaped into the image of a rather large humanoid white furred tiger, within minutes, the dervish like frenzy of Kain decimated his opponents, but most of his friends, and family had been killed in the raid. Unable to stay, his heart broken to piece he fled the mountain.

It wasn’t long before a pack of Lunars came upon the young man, fortunately before his casteless nature had any truly negative effects upon him.  He was brought before an elder amongst the Exalted of Luna, and put to the tests...   They were long, hard, but fortunately, with a little luck, and a massive am mount of effort he “Passed” the tests as well as anyone, and the results suggested he was one of the full moon.  He received his tattoos that day, binding his changing caste, protecting him from Chiemerism.  When he was ready, he joined the ranks of the Seneschals of the Sun Kings.  When he was ready, he set out alone once more.

His claws and teeth were put to one purpose, anytime he came upon an innocent in jeopardy, threatened by the hands of ignorant or evil men. He jumped into the fray fighting with such rage, his mind still burning with the images of his own brutalized village. With each victory the Legend of Resplendent Frenzy of the Winter Cold grew.

[ZK]

I'll be thinking up either a Dragon-Blooded [Non/Ex Dynast] or a Changeling or No-Moon Lunar. :D

[HairyHeretic]

By Changeling do you mean one of the Fair Folk? They always struck me as interesting, but the shaping combat rules made my head hurt :)

[ZK]

Changing, sorry. Not Changeling.

As for Fair Folk, I actually understand their Shaping Combat. Irony has it, it makes them more formed instead of chaos. Aren't they suppose to be of Chaos? ^.^

[Chameleon]

I've never actually managed to take a look at the fair folk?  Was it any good?

[HairyHeretic]

I thought it was pretty good.

[HairyHeretic]

So, have we decided on a starting point? Solo or characters knowing each other? Location?

[Chameleon]

Well,  I like your idea of using Nexus.  While I would love to roleplay the innitial meetings between the characters,  I've noticed that sometimes its a bit hard to actually throw a group of four character's together,  particularly if it was going to be a bar sort of scene. 

Of course,  since this is exalted...  perhaps instead of tossing everyone together in a bar scene.  We could begin the game with a fight,  perhaps each character has been tracking a foe,  or perhaps they happen to all stumble upon a group of bandits/slavers/ insert random baddy that has been terrorizing the locals in some way,  and they decide to take things into their hands.  Beating the tar out of a group of evil doers would seem to be a fun way to bring together a mixed group of exalted.

[HairyHeretic]

Well, Raven does have some of a dislike for Nexus slavers (which generally means the Guild). Chocolate could be planing on taking out the Guild leader who is running this caravan (slaves and drugs, all the comforts of home  :D )

How would that work for everyone?

[Muse]

Sounds good to me. 

Note: Chocolate's doesn't go after slavery on general principle, but given that the Guild deals in it, she would find comon cause with people going after guild slavers. 

And she could be persuaded, by intelegent arguments or by experience, that it WAS a universaly bad thing. 

[Chameleon]

Sounds good to me.

[Muse]

Actualy, I'd like to bow out ofthis to focus on running a system based adult Dragonblooded of Lookshy game. 

I'll throw it open to players soon, but I offered first dibs on concept to a guy who helped me come up wtih it, so I'm waiting for his response. 

[HairyHeretic]

So, the two of you still up for this, or would you prefer to join Muses game?

[Chameleon]

well,  I'd still be up for it.

[ZK]

I'd like both. ^.^ I need a fixation of both Dragon-Blooded system (never got to play the new one system based) and Freeform. :D

[HairyHeretic]

*chuckles* Ok, I think we can kick things off here then. What board you think is most suitable?

[Chameleon]

I wouldn't mind placing it in the  bondage section.

[HairyHeretic]

ZK, you happy with that suggestion, or you prefer a different section? I think we're pretty much ready to kick off.

[ZK]

In Nexus, fighting the Guild Slavers and such? Way it is, Nexus even has it's shares of Lunars... which should tell you the state of the city itself. Sure. :D

[HairyHeretic]

Ok, cool. I'll see about opening a thread later today. Work's keeping me reasonably busy at present.

[ZK]

Same here. So much I got up at 6 AM for work. x.x

[HairyHeretic]

You have my sympathies :)

That being said, I got woken up about 3.30 or so with a muscle in my calf deciding now would be a good time for stabbing pains every few seconds. Think I got back to sleep somewhere around 4 *yawns*

[Muse]

Is it too late for Chocolate to step back in?  I don't seem to be a player in as many games as I used to be. 

I understand if the story's become focused on the couple, though. 

[HairyHeretic]

Actually I'd had a completely insane week, and haven't got around to kicking things off.

[ZK]

I still want to play. :D

[HairyHeretic]

Cool, I'll try and get something kicked off in a little bit, once I wake up properly :)

[HairyHeretic]

Ok, thread is opened.

https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=11251.0

Feel free to post whenever you're ready. One Guild caravan, about to have a VERY bad night  ;D