Exalted: Dynasts and Dragon-Blooded (Interest Check)

Started by Rishon Tam, April 27, 2014, 10:08:46 PM

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Rishon Tam

In the world of Exalted, the Dragon-Blooded are the only exalts whose power is passed on through bloodlines, parent to child, and it's no coincidence that they have a somewhat... salacious reputation. Sexuality might not be the Dragon-Blooded's defining characteristic, but the reputation is pretty well-earned.

Even leaving House Cynis out of things (and why would anyone do that?), I think there's a wealth of steamy stories lurking under the fine, silken bedsheets of the Scarlet Empire's chosen of the elemental dragons, and I think I'd like to see -- or run, if need be -- a game that actually goes there, delving into the illicit activities of the Dragon-Blooded and the obscenely wealthy and entitled mortal dynasts that never actually drew the second breath.

So. Let's test the waters a bit, and if it looks at all promising, we can start putting some thought into what we'd like out of the particulars.
Who thinks they might be interested in something along these admittedly rough lines?

Kolbrandr

#1
If it actually stays about the dragon blooded/the Realm/the dynasty and such, sure, I'd be interested. So, tentative interest in playing if it doesn't turn into what often happens where people end up playing solar or lunar or sidereal dynasts or what have you, which I've found as a problem in these sorts of things.

edit: I mean I'd also prefer there also be things like plot/ability to pursue agendas, what have you, in the midst of the seamier sort of side of the Realm, that said besides.

Teo Torriatte

I would definitely be interested in a game that focuses on Dragon-Blooded and even more interested in something that pays some attention(even a lot of attention >_< ) to the sexual aspects and their desire to breed and keep their bloodlines going.

Zeth


Pumpkin Seeds


AribethAmkiir

Interested in a Dynastic Dragon-Blooded game.  :)

Muse

Oooh!  Oooh!  Me too!  Me too! 

And all the more so with this group! 
A link for all of us who ever had a shouting match with our muse: http://www.ted.com/talks/elizabeth_gilbert_on_genius.html

How to set this Muse ablaze (O/Os)

When the little angel won't appear no matter how many plum blossoms you swirl:  https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=135346.msg16474321#msg16474321 (Major update 5/10/2023)


ShadowFox89

Call me Shadow
My A/A


AndyZ

How would you feel about a summoned elemental as part of the group?
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HairyHeretic

I'd tentatively interested, though curious to know what sort of game you have in mind.
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Yandros

Tentatively interested myself, would of course like to see more information and how large the group might get.

Synecdoche17

A book, a woman, and a flask of wine: /The three make heaven for me; it may be thine / Is some sour place of singing cold and bare — / But then, I never said thy heaven was mine.

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Rishon Tam

#15
Okay, well. At this point, it certainly looks like there's enough interest to justify giving some thought to exactly how this might be done.
My inclination would be to aim for something that is (by Exalted ways of reckoning, at least) rather small-scale, focused more on the people and their relationships than the town-stomping and whatever else they might get up to because Exalted are absolutely terrifying.
As for group size, if this is something I'm going to be running this -- and I don't feel any overwhelming need to run, though I'm willing to -- I'd be most comfortable with a relatively small group of PCs making a fairly standard party of maybe five or six, all brought together by pre-existing ties and/or circumstance in that way that tends to happen to player characters.

The specific circumstance, however, could be any of several things, and the choice would impact viable options. I'll go through what I've got off the top of my head. The first four will revolve around the four schools the Terrestrials use for higher education just because they're such an incredibly convenient way of gathering together a batch of PCs, but there are a few others after them.
If any of these have some particular appeal for you, shout out; likewise if you've got any compelling options I missed.

The Heptagram
The Heptagram would lean almost everyone in a sorcerous direction and allow for maybe one or two exceptionally gifted and wealthy mortal dynasts among the Exalted. This is also the only option presenting a particularly strong opening for elementals or demonic servitors, though they could crop up elsewhere.
As with all of the Terrestrial secondary schools, I'd probably suggest a cohort of students, since that would put everybody together in the same boat.

The House of Bells
Like the Heptagram, but with students of war rather than sorcery. The House of Bells gives us strong ties to the Legions, which have some of the Realm's strongest flavor.

The Spiral Academy
Who doesn't like playing bureaucrats-in-training? But seriously, it's one of the better schools for intrigue. It's also the only one of the four set in the Imperial City, opening doors for access to estates and business outside the school while still giving us the convenient structure the school would provide.

Cloister of Wisdom
Immaculates (probably in training) opens a lot of doors for... well, the kinds of intrigue that only the Immaculate Order gets to deal with. Facing down grumpy or rebellious gods, training in supernatural Fu, and practicing a kind of pseudo-asceticism that conspicuously doesn't seem to forbid having tons of sex? It's an interesting choice, if nothing else.

The Legions
Okay, the House of Bells doesn't have all the Legion-flavor. We could run with a group that's actually one of the Legions, and while Terrestrials are rare enough that they're usually spread out over the Legions as high-ranking officers, there could be a special, elite task force or something. Going that route would pretty much preclude anything but combat-oriented Dragon-Blooded, though.

The Wyld Hunt
On the subject of special, combat-oriented Terrestrial task forces, having a Wyld Hunt party traipsing about the East chasing after loathesome anathema opens the doors for a wider array of adventurous Dragon-Blooded, since Sorcerers and Immaculates would be welcome on the team. Like the Legions, though, mortals probably needn't apply.

The Thousand Scales
It's like the Spiral Academy, only everybody's graduated. We'd have to work a little harder to give everyone reasons to be involved with one another, but that's not an insurmountable obstacle.

The Immaculate Order
Likewise: it's like the Cloister of Wisdom, only everybody's all grown up. The same surmountable obstacle applies as with the Thousand Scales.

Intra-House Business
What goes on behind a given dynastic house's closed doors? Well, sex, obviously, but could explore the specifics for ourselves, if we wanted.

Pasiap's Stair
There's room to drop a Lost Egg or two into the Cloister of Wisdom, but the Stair would give us a game full of them, allowing us to center in on the school and the Realm while still letting people come from all walks of life from all over Creation. Of course, that's limiting in its own ways: no mortals, probably, and likely nobody properly raised in the Realm.

Lookshy
We don't need to center on the Realm, after all. This would probably have a lot in common with the Legions option, above, but... Lookshy! A lot of people like them better.

So. What are your thoughts and preferences, everybody?

Pumpkin Seeds

Well, I know you had talked about an interest in the "under side" of the Realm and the politics of the bedroom sort of layout.  So why not focus on our characters perhaps coming together to establish our own political movement/party ?  Maybe do so under the guise of a brothel or some sort ?  Perhaps disguising our little rebellion/investigation/whatever behind the dealings of a House Cynis operation into slavery and sex ?

Teo Torriatte


Muse

I quite like Pumpkin's idea. 

Lookshy and the Wyld Hunt also sound like fun. 
A link for all of us who ever had a shouting match with our muse: http://www.ted.com/talks/elizabeth_gilbert_on_genius.html

How to set this Muse ablaze (O/Os)

When the little angel won't appear no matter how many plum blossoms you swirl:  https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=135346.msg16474321#msg16474321 (Major update 5/10/2023)

Kolbrandr

I'm not really into secondary school dramas, they feel a bit too conceptually narrowing, and Lookshy would mean ditching the entire idea of playing in the dynasty (so would Paisap's stair, to a certain extent).

The Legions and Intra house politics of the listed options have the most appeal thereby.

Zaer Darkwail

#20
I like also Pumpkin Seeds idea, naturally only graduated DB's would have resources and skills to manage in running a Cynis brothel with slaves, summoned elementals/demons and seduction/sex trained dragon-bloods who may milk information via pillow talking. Plus have their own agenda.

Naturally would limit it to Cynis house members but it's a wide branched house; in theory it could go 'one my parents is Cynis' while other parent is from other house and had been raised in that house but they share the ideals what for they have some extra agenda (have met during pre-school, the schools before secondary schools and formed bonds there and then continued those bonds during studies in secondary and went back together after graduation).

It can also include mortals who were expected to exalt but they did not....but are highly trained/skilled in some art (mortals can learn sorcery and thaumaturgy and supernatural martial arts to extend).

Besides that; Hepthagram, House of Bells, Wyld Hunt and Spiral Academy would sound interesting top options from above.

AribethAmkiir

I too like Pumpkin's idea.  I don't think everyone would have to work there.  The brothel would work more like a front for the group's activities.  While not all Dynasts frequent a brothel, it happens often enough for it not to raise an eyebrow.

I'd also be interested in The Heptagram, House of Bells, Cloister of Wisdom, Legions, Wyld Hunt, Immaculate Order, and Intra-House Business.


Black Howling

Withdrawing interest due to timing. I really can't afford to be involved in more then one system game at present time until I figure out more of how much free time I'll have.

Pumpkin Seeds


Synecdoche17

#24
What about a game set in one of the Realm's satrapies? It gives the characters a bit more importance, since their elders and mentors and parents aren't nearby, and it opens up a lot of options re: interacting with the native population as well as the large community of Realm expatriates.

It can still be a brothel *in* a satrapy.  :P

Potential site candidate?
A book, a woman, and a flask of wine: /The three make heaven for me; it may be thine / Is some sour place of singing cold and bare — / But then, I never said thy heaven was mine.

Ons & Offs, Stories in Progress, and Story Ideas
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Zaer Darkwail

That site looks wonderful! Probably a manse where brothel has had been build around it. Wood aspect probably.

Pumpkin Seeds

Satrap would be best.  With a trade in prostitues and entertainers along with slaves if we choose we could easily move in and out of the Blessed Isle.

CopperLily

I'd be interested in this as well - once played a submissive 'Concubine to the Stars' outcaste DB who I'd be happy to revisit.

Rishon Tam

I feel like intrigue based out of a brothel in a satrap sounds a lot better than any of the generic frameworks I'd tossed out.
Maybe the intrigue could be one house trying to elbow in and swipe the satrap (and its delicious, delicious tax revenue) from another? Like the sex, it happens a lot, but it doesn't get a lot of attention.

With a brothel serving as a major part of the initiative, Cynis would obviously be a strong candidate for the house on either side of the effort.
As the aggressors, Cynis could seek to leverage their strength in the sex trade until, oops, they might just happen to have ended up running much of the local economy! Well, Tepet probably wasn't really taking very good care of those people anyway, right?
Or, if Cynis is the standing power, a competitive house might step in through the most available -- and least threatening-seeming -- means. Their one brothel isn't going to threaten a Cynis satrap, after all... unless it turns out that it's being used to facilitate or conceal a different kind of bid, such as V'neef seeking to seriously undersell on the sex trade in order to cultivate a public taste for their exclusive supply of quality wines along with all the women and song.

ShadowFox89

 Would the brothel have need of someone to keep the artifacts in working order and summon elementals for more exotic pleasures?
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CopperLily

Fleshing out the idea a little bit, basically I was thinking of a character who took her second-breath while she was part of the...ahem...floor show at a Cynis party, and to avoid scandal they set her up, saw to her education, etc.

She's now essentially a very high priced call girl - Dragon Blooded, so she's not embarrassing to have on your arm at a party, and unlike those pretty mortal things, a night with her is charm-enhanced. But as she's an outcaste, there's all manner of Dynast fantasies she plays to - feelings of superiority, bringing the wayward girl to heel, etc.

She may or may not also be a spy or information broker >.>

Synecdoche17

Manses, brothels, slaves, even a Dragon-Blooded courtesan?

Who could possibly afford such things?


Why, you can, with a little help from your friends here at House Ragaratm. Just go ahead and sign on this dotted line, sweetheart. Fine print? Oh, we would never stoop to such a thing!




mwahahahaha
A book, a woman, and a flask of wine: /The three make heaven for me; it may be thine / Is some sour place of singing cold and bare — / But then, I never said thy heaven was mine.

Ons & Offs, Stories in Progress, and Story Ideas
Absences and Apologies

Pumpkin Seeds

Sounds like we have our main attraction and our backer along with some one to keep the spirits in line.

Zaer Darkwail

Ragara house sponsored brothel to collect blackmail stuff and try get more business running in said satrap and pull the carpet off from other house?

Sounds good idea, possibly Ragara may had 'recruited' members from other house participate in their little project ('remember the favor I did for you back in academy? Well, I need favor returned now good pal...').

With Ragara influence there could be one those rare V'neef sons/daughters working in brothel as escort plus provide the delicious wines, a Tepet outcaste to bring exotic import (herself and her skills&knowledge before exaltation), a Cathak graduate from Cloister of Wisdom working as performer and bouncer if need be.

Only one which would be scary opposition who would own very large satrapies would be....Mnemon.

AribethAmkiir

I thought the idea was to bring a wider assortment of characters and Dynasts together for a common goal?  Not to focus on running a brothel.

Pumpkin Seeds

Need a good cover for when The All Seeing Eye comes peeking.

Muse

*nods*  Indeed. 

That said, are we working towards something as simple as profit or a localized  power grab?  Or do we have an agenda? 

In all honestly I think it would be awesome to have a group like this supporting Tepet Ejava for the Scarlet Throne, but it doesn't have to be quite that grand.  :) 
A link for all of us who ever had a shouting match with our muse: http://www.ted.com/talks/elizabeth_gilbert_on_genius.html

How to set this Muse ablaze (O/Os)

When the little angel won't appear no matter how many plum blossoms you swirl:  https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=135346.msg16474321#msg16474321 (Major update 5/10/2023)

Rook Seidhr

Coming to this a wee bit late, I guess, but…color me intrigued.

Pumpkin Seeds

I could definately see the group trying to make major power plays for the throne.  Best to start off small of course.

Dracorion

Hm, I'd want to play a Wood-aspected alchemist for the brothel.

Marie Reynolds

I would be interested in jumping in on this maybe a Dragon Blooded Healer/Concubine.


Kolbrandr

Ah, going to withdraw my interest then, not really into the brothel setup/situation, but enough people seem really keen on that, that I wouldn't want to get in your way.

Good luck with it though, hope you guys have fun.

Muse

  I'm not sure about setting this story off of the Blessed Isle by the way. 

  If our agendas are more than just to get a little extra personal wealth and influence, we want to be where their are important people to influence towards our way of thinking. 

  I mean, we could set things at a realy popular dynastic vacation spot like An Teng, but the blessed isle is probably our best bet. 
A link for all of us who ever had a shouting match with our muse: http://www.ted.com/talks/elizabeth_gilbert_on_genius.html

How to set this Muse ablaze (O/Os)

When the little angel won't appear no matter how many plum blossoms you swirl:  https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=135346.msg16474321#msg16474321 (Major update 5/10/2023)

Pumpkin Seeds

Well, I think off the Blessed Isle would be best at least for initial start up.  This is two fold because the first is simply easier for our GM to setup a satrap for us to operate from, deal with their politics and so on.  Also from a character perspective this is easier to deal with places outside of the Blessed Isle and also with other people.  Easier to do trade with the Guild, with Nexus, with rebels and so on. 

Also, I never had any intention that this RP would become Sim Brothel.  I just thought the aim of the GM was for an exploration of the sexual politics of the Blessed Isle and figured a brothel front for a political faction's beginnings would be fun.  Kind of like a motorcycle club owning a porn studio in Sons of Anarchy, or a mafia group owning a strip club in Sopranos.

Muse

Shall we propose some possible political agendas to Rishon? 

I've always been strongly in the 'Ejava for Empress erm, Shogun court.  But there must be plenty of others. 

That and it will be nice to get to flex our combat skills some too.  :) 
A link for all of us who ever had a shouting match with our muse: http://www.ted.com/talks/elizabeth_gilbert_on_genius.html

How to set this Muse ablaze (O/Os)

When the little angel won't appear no matter how many plum blossoms you swirl:  https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=135346.msg16474321#msg16474321 (Major update 5/10/2023)

CopperLily

#46
Quote from: Pumpkin Seeds on April 29, 2014, 03:12:10 PM
Also, I never had any intention that this RP would become Sim Brothel.  I just thought the aim of the GM was for an exploration of the sexual politics of the Blessed Isle and figured a brothel front for a political faction's beginnings would be fun.  Kind of like a motorcycle club owning a porn studio in Sons of Anarchy, or a mafia group owning a strip club in Sopranos.

Similar. Though I saw it more as the Gem Saloon from Deadwood. It's a place where sordid dealings take place, a set dressing, etc. rather than Sim Brothel.

Quote from: Muse on April 29, 2014, 03:23:27 PM
Shall we propose some possible political agendas to Rishon? 

I've always been strongly in the 'Ejava for Empress erm, Shogun court.  But there must be plenty of others.

I'm pretty sure my girl's agenda is "Don't end up a pretty corpse." Which could be a fun contrast to some of the political scheming, as she's working without a net.

Marie Reynolds

I think my character would be more after reputation building and  fulfil her desire for the thrill of accolades from a performance.

Synecdoche17

I agree that actually running a brothel shouldn't be the point of the story - it's just a facade behind which we plant the seeds of the revolution.

If we're going to place it in a satrapy, why not have the focus of our game be taking over the satrapy? It wouldn't necessarily have to be to attack a particular house - perhaps our characters just all have a reason to hate the current governor and his cronies. Perhaps they're too corrupt for us to stomach, perhaps we suspect them of serving demons, perhaps it's just so we can get promoted to take their jobs.
A book, a woman, and a flask of wine: /The three make heaven for me; it may be thine / Is some sour place of singing cold and bare — / But then, I never said thy heaven was mine.

Ons & Offs, Stories in Progress, and Story Ideas
Absences and Apologies

Pumpkin Seeds

Honestly, I could see us being a band of Outcastes..perhaps plotting our return to the Blessed Isle and an overthrow of the corrupt Scarlet Regime!

:: giggles and runs from the heresy of it all::

Synecdoche17

Here's a first draft of what I feel might represent a "consensus" based on everyone's input. I arbitrarily picked the location of the game, but that can change; the idea is just to get a plot down on paper (also the South book is the only one I have right now >.>)



Even Dragons Die



The Empress is gone, and the Realm has fallen into shadow. Everywhere, vice overtakes virtue, foolishness overcomes wisdom.

For An-Teng, glittering jewel among the Realm's satrapies, it is a second fall into darkness, unnoticed, as the Great Houses look inward, baring their knives against each other.

   Six moons ago, Ragara Soras Jor, Imperial Satrap, was murdered, likely by Lintha pirates, leaving Shuri the Scarlet, his garrison commander, in charge. Shuri the Scarlet destroyed a dozen ships in harbor for the crime of aiding the pirates; counting-houses, teahouses, and temples were looted and burned in the name of Imperial justice. Tengese bodies were piled high in every city.
   Though horrifying, the reign of terror was brief. Taxes and tariffs rose; Imperial soldiers claimed immunity to the law. The Tengese quickly understood the true lesson of Shuri's “investigation” into his rival's death.
   Now the taxed wealth of An-Teng is funneled into Shuri's legion, for his benefit and that of his officers. No higher power rebukes him; the generals of the Realm busy themselves with preparations for civil war; the Empress' magistrates are powerless without her strength behind them; the Immaculates have never held power in An-Teng.
   Not all Dragon-Blooded in An-Teng have forsaken the path of their illustrious forebears; not all Dragon-Blooded have abandoned virtue. In ones and twos, they have found their way to a teahouse on the outskirts of Dragon's Jaw, a pleasant, quiet place that overlooks a burbling stream as it winds its way toward the ocean. Here at Plum Blossom House, where the servants attend to their every need, both casual and intimate, the heirs to the Realm are at leisure, discussing philosophy, medicine, science, and arts both martial and marital.

   Here the Lilac Society plots the downfall of Shuri the dictator.
A book, a woman, and a flask of wine: /The three make heaven for me; it may be thine / Is some sour place of singing cold and bare — / But then, I never said thy heaven was mine.

Ons & Offs, Stories in Progress, and Story Ideas
Absences and Apologies


Zaer Darkwail

Also of course there is White Veil society where all party members are part of.....course if there could be such society ;).

AribethAmkiir

Thought the whole purpose was to play Dynastic characters in the Blessed Isle?

Muse

There were a lot of different opinions about the pros and cons of setting our story on the blessed isle versus an imperial territory.  But last we head from Rishon on the topic of location: 

Quote from: Rishon Tam on April 29, 2014, 01:57:07 AM
I feel like intrigue based out of a brothel in a satrap sounds a lot better than any of the generic frameworks I'd tossed out.

And I don't think  Synchodine meant to suggest we our character's weren't dynasts.  An Tang is a popular vacation spot, and many dynats reside here for long periods of time keeping an eye on family investments while gaining in knowledge and power--and generally enjoying slumming it in the threshold.  : )

So, basically, the family of Pumpkin Seed's character owns a manse here, that has been opened as a high class brothel for family profit.  Pumpkin's character has been assigned by her family to oversee the property--likely getting the sue of the hearthstone for her trouble. 

When she begins conspiring with idealistic (or ambitious) young dynasts (perhaps some of them part of her sworn brotherhood) to overthrow the current Satrap (and put one or more of our number in power over a grateful populace) our cover for attending meetings is to visit this brothel. 

WAs that what you had in mind, Syn? 
A link for all of us who ever had a shouting match with our muse: http://www.ted.com/talks/elizabeth_gilbert_on_genius.html

How to set this Muse ablaze (O/Os)

When the little angel won't appear no matter how many plum blossoms you swirl:  https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=135346.msg16474321#msg16474321 (Major update 5/10/2023)

AribethAmkiir


Synecdoche17

Quote from: AribethAmkiir on April 30, 2014, 04:20:09 AM
Thought the whole purpose was to play Dynastic characters in the Blessed Isle?
We're definitely playing Dynasts. Muse nailed what I was trying to get across.  :-) The setting bit was just an attempt to put down in writing all the various ideas people have been batting around, beginning with Pumpkin Seed's idea of a brothel as a front for political activity. I'm not actually running the game, I don't think anything I write will actually make it in.  :P
A book, a woman, and a flask of wine: /The three make heaven for me; it may be thine / Is some sour place of singing cold and bare — / But then, I never said thy heaven was mine.

Ons & Offs, Stories in Progress, and Story Ideas
Absences and Apologies

HairyHeretic

What about Outcaste? I've always had a fondness for Lookshy.
Hairys Likes, Dislikes, Games n Stuff

Cattle die, kinsmen die
You too one day shall die
I know a thing that will never die
Fair fame of one who has earned it.

Zeth

Quote from: HairyHeretic on April 30, 2014, 02:31:01 PM
What about Outcaste? I've always had a fondness for Lookshy.

Because of their neat power armor and Spartan like culture?

HairyHeretic

Those are factors, yes :) Plus one of my Solar characters was a Lookshy Ashigaru prior to his exaltation.
Hairys Likes, Dislikes, Games n Stuff

Cattle die, kinsmen die
You too one day shall die
I know a thing that will never die
Fair fame of one who has earned it.

Synecdoche17

#60
Quote from: HairyHeretic on April 30, 2014, 02:31:01 PM
What about Outcaste? I've always had a fondness for Lookshy.
From Rishon Tam's initial post on down, pretty much everyone has been talking about internal Realm politics. Though an Outcaste from Lookshy would make a great character for a political drama in a satrapy because everyone can trust him/her not to be in bed with the opposing Houses.
A book, a woman, and a flask of wine: /The three make heaven for me; it may be thine / Is some sour place of singing cold and bare — / But then, I never said thy heaven was mine.

Ons & Offs, Stories in Progress, and Story Ideas
Absences and Apologies

HairyHeretic

I've spent too long playing Scorpions in L5R .. I have all kinds of sneaky ideas now  >:)
Hairys Likes, Dislikes, Games n Stuff

Cattle die, kinsmen die
You too one day shall die
I know a thing that will never die
Fair fame of one who has earned it.

Zeth

So can my character be blatant rip offs of an avatar character? Zuko, Toph, Aang, etc.

Rishon Tam

Okay. So, from what I'm hearing, we're looking to have a major impact on the contest for the throne, and Ejava is our girl. Additionally, while we're going to be operating out of (and from behind the cover of) a brothel, we'd like to be seeking an impact rather more revolutionary than just wresting control of a satrap from another house through economic skullduggery angled through the sex trade.

That suggests two things to me:
1. It should probably be in the South, where she's well-enough and widely-enough liked that the public's committed support will be easy to keep in the event of success.
2. We want to set this in one of the most important places to the Realm that isn't on the Isle in order to make success mean something bigger than a meager bump to the Roseblack's war chest. Someplace Mnemon really wouldn't want anyone putting in Ejava's pocket.

An-Teng actually fits that pretty well, and I liked the idea for it. But let me float another option.

How would you guys feel about trying to claim Paragon for the Roseblack?
It's the second-greatest power in the south, and a satrapy of the Realm... though that alliance was won by a personal visit from the Scarlet Empress herself and was, itself, a compromise from the more thoroughly subordinate role she'd desired for the southern power. Paragon could easily withdraw from the entire conflict -- and potentially from the Realm as a whole, absent the right pressures or incentives -- but if its support could be won for a given candidate for the throne, it would be a tremendous boon.
And, of course, there's no saying one must seek something so similar to the way things have been over the last several centuries. It's no secret that the Perfect of Paragon's power comes from his Scepter, and while the Empress didn't heed those in her court suggesting that it be wrested from him, it isn't as though she's around to complain if someone were to try. Failing such an attempt would have terrible consequences, of course, but the chance for success might seem worth it to some, given that the whole of Paragon could be won with ease if the Scepter were to be liberated from the Perfect... and, besides, any Immaculate monk can tell you how deeply wrong it is for a mere mortal to command the kind of power the Perfect does, especially given that he owes it almost entirely to an artifact of the anathema.
However you'd decide to go about it, though, you can rest assured that Mnemon's aware of the role Paragon could play, and she'll likely have agents of her own at work somewhere.

It's a thought. With that said, if you guys would prefer, I'm perfectly comfortable with An-Teng as the setting and Shuri as your primary target, as that's plenty juicy, too. Likewise, if there are any other ideas you'd like to throw out there for consideration, I'd love to hear them.

Let me know what you all think.
Then, once we've got the setup firmly established, I think we'll be ready to take a more serious look at characters.

Zaer Darkwail

I place my vote on Ang-Teng take over sort of deal.

ShadowFox89

 Yeah.... not really interested in dealing with the Perfect with anything less than several legions at our command and each of us being elder essence.
Call me Shadow
My A/A

CopperLily

Quote from: ShadowFox89 on April 30, 2014, 09:56:15 PM
Yeah.... not really interested in dealing with the Perfect with anything less than several legions at our command and each of us being elder essence.

I'd be much more interested in not killing him, but leaving him a position to die easy, perhaps when Roseblack shows up. Not interested in being a Legion commander, much more interested in slipping said Legion commander a note beneath his tea tray.

HairyHeretic

Quote from: ShadowFox89 on April 30, 2014, 09:56:15 PM
Yeah.... not really interested in dealing with the Perfect with anything less than several legions at our command and each of us being elder essence.

Aye. Paragan sounds a bit too much of a tough nut to crack for a bunch of starting PCs.

Unless I can sneak in to the place in a warstrider and step on the guy  >:)
Hairys Likes, Dislikes, Games n Stuff

Cattle die, kinsmen die
You too one day shall die
I know a thing that will never die
Fair fame of one who has earned it.

Pumpkin Seeds

I'd say An-Teng with an eye on Paragon.  No reason we can't begin to spread our influence once we have a nice, comfy home.

Zeth

Plus Varangia is kind of boring with all the freaking clocks. I vote An-Teng!

Dracorion

I vote An-Teng too, with the possibility to spread out if we want to.

Muse

Quote from: Pumpkin Seeds on May 01, 2014, 02:09:10 PM
I'd say An-Teng with an eye on Paragon.  No reason we can't begin to spread our influence once we have a nice, comfy home.

*smiles*  Ditto. 

An Teng is far more approachable than Paragon.  I see where you'e going with winning the Perfect's support, though. 
A link for all of us who ever had a shouting match with our muse: http://www.ted.com/talks/elizabeth_gilbert_on_genius.html

How to set this Muse ablaze (O/Os)

When the little angel won't appear no matter how many plum blossoms you swirl:  https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=135346.msg16474321#msg16474321 (Major update 5/10/2023)

Synecdoche17

A book, a woman, and a flask of wine: /The three make heaven for me; it may be thine / Is some sour place of singing cold and bare — / But then, I never said thy heaven was mine.

Ons & Offs, Stories in Progress, and Story Ideas
Absences and Apologies

Pumpkin Seeds

#73
:: swoons::



Considering this sort of image for the madame.  I like the outfit and the actress has a stern look to her I think works well.

Muse

Ledaal Kurumi

   Studious and bookish, it has often been said that Kurumi was meant to have attended the Heptagram.  Instead her family—quite inundated with sorcerers—sent her to the Spiral Academy.  Though she took readily enough to the waves of money and bureaucracy, Kurumi spent more time dedicated to her two great loves, scholarship and music. 

   Shy and meek—especially for a Terrestrial—Kurumi's cousins took her too a party hosted by House Cynis.  Yes, one of those parties.  The blushing girl spent the first few hours hiding behind the musicians. Occasionally curiosity would get the better of her and she'd peak over at the glorious debauchery.  Then her cheeks would flare, her glasses steam, and she'd look away. 

   This was how Cynis ____ (played by M.R.) found her and took the shy girl under her wing, introducing her to the pleasures of the flesh, the heart, and—of course—of bondage. 

   ____ was able to cure Kurumi of her shyness in almost every aspect of her life.  It even helped her with her martial arts studies, and Kurumi was able to persuade an Even Blade master to teach her the rudiments. 
A link for all of us who ever had a shouting match with our muse: http://www.ted.com/talks/elizabeth_gilbert_on_genius.html

How to set this Muse ablaze (O/Os)

When the little angel won't appear no matter how many plum blossoms you swirl:  https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=135346.msg16474321#msg16474321 (Major update 5/10/2023)

Synecdoche17

Well hey, if we're doing characters already...

Ragara Adisa




"All debts come due."



The Children of the Dragons take after their legendary forebears, and certainly Ragara Adisa is no exception. With skin like marble and eyes like glittering gems, she could be mistaken for a strikingly realistic sculpture - but it is her heart that is closest to the Earth, for it is as cold and hard as jade. In her Sworn Brotherhood, she is the planner, the cynic, always looking for an advantage to leverage on their behalf - and hers, naturally.

Adisa took the Second Breath before she saw her thirteenth summer; the generations that separate her from the Empress can be counted on the fingers of one hand. To the surprise of some elders, her parents opted to send Adisa to the House of Bells rather than the Spiral Academy; whether this pleased or disappointed her no one else knows. She proved to be a gifted swordswoman and competent small-unit commander, but her real gift lay in logistics. Upon graduation, she was assigned briefly as quartermaster to a legion based in a northern satrapy, where she gained a reputation as a canny negotiator and ruthless enforcer. Over the course of the last few decades, her generous Legion salary multiplied as if by magic, transforming into wealth beyond the dreams of men. Inquiries as to the source of that wealth are generally met with polite demurrals and vague answers. Ragara Adisa formally resigned her position in the Realm's military not long ago, and currently holds a dozen executive positions among as many banks and investment companies, some of which may or may not be cut-outs for her family's less savory ventures.

If we're in An-Teng

Ragara Adisa plans to invest heavily in An-Teng's agricultural products - peppers, tea, saffron, indigo: these are all valuable goods that require much more effort to grow in the Blessed Isle than in An-Teng. The looming civil war has already caused their prices to spike; they'll do so much more rapidly once she's in a position to control their export!
To do so, she needs to hold much more power in An-Teng than she currently does as a civilian and House representative, and so she has quietly put her vast wealth and myriad connections behind the Lilac Society, plotting to rise with their success. She does not disapprove of Shuri's actions morally; rather, she feels a sort of aesthetic displeasure at how wastefully he exploits An-Teng - he could be making so much more money if he did things right! This, at least, is the explanation she gives when pressed as to why she's put her tremendous wealth and connections behind the Lilac Society.

Despite her cold exterior, Ragara Adisa has fallen deeply, irrevocably in love with one of her sworn brothers, a compassionate individual who does care deeply about the suffering of the Tengese, but her marriage was arranged long before her birth, and she cannot escape it. If they triumph in An-Teng, she'll have the social and political capital to delay her marriage and pursue her love; if they fail and die, then she will die alongside the one she loves - better that, then to live another five hundred years in a stranger's bed!

She has held off on confessing her love because she sees no profit in it; even if it were reciprocated, it would only cause trouble.

(currently hunting for someone to play her crush, and/or a sworn brotherhood to join. Dun make me rewrite all this! :P)

character sheet highlights

Breeding 5
Family 5
Connections (Finance) 5
Backing (House Ragara) 3
Appearance 5, because jeez, look at that pretty art!
Adisa specializes in Bureaucracy, War, Melee, Presence. Her RL image is much less intimidating than the artwork above.
A book, a woman, and a flask of wine: /The three make heaven for me; it may be thine / Is some sour place of singing cold and bare — / But then, I never said thy heaven was mine.

Ons & Offs, Stories in Progress, and Story Ideas
Absences and Apologies

Zaer Darkwail

I volunteer play Adisa's crush Synecdoche17 ;) .

Peleps Laryon's Bio


"The tides can both pull you surface or drown you, and they can change rapidly."


Peleps Laryon was born to cunning merchant house which is merciless upon their opponents in battlefield and politics, using ruthlessly any method to win and are skilled sailors top of that and control Blessed Isle navy. A unpopular house to born into sure. He exalted on fourteenth birthday as he was sailing with his unexalted younger sister on the ocean with their uncle. She leaned over the railing to watch pretty fishes and she fell over onto ocean. Uncle steered ship to go around and sister was able to float in surface but not much that besides making noise and splashes. But a shiaka approached her from behind, attracted to her bright colorful dress, splashing and sounds she made.

Laryon then did something incredibly foolish, he took a dagger from sailor and leaped over also and he cut his palm of his hand and likewise make splashes and sounds to attract the shiaka, in end scent of blood drew the shiaka away from his sister straight towards him! He told crew rescue his dear little sister first! Soon shiaka was upon him an it leaped to take bite on his arm all way to his shoulder! Blinded by pain and agony he used the knife make a barrage of thrusts blindly on the shiaka's unprotected side and eyes as it pulled him under the water. Crew already thinking Laryon to be lost cause....

But dragon's chose him for his undaunted bravery and willingness to make selfish sacrifice, and thus in underwater he started glow in bright azure blue and turn entire water around him into ice and thus trap shiaka on cube of ice. Exaltation did not save his arm though, it was chewed and lastly torn off apart of him by shiaka who broke free from ice and flee while bleeding from numerous knife stabs. He then rapidly ascended on ice platteu formed by his anima onto surface, shaking and bleeding to death. But the crew easily noticed him thanks his glow and bright shine of his anima banner which formed image of iceberg and rescued him.

He was lectured by his grandparents; Febaris and Taxin for his foolish behavior for saving his little sister who had not exalted yet at all! But none the less they same time congratulated his exaltation but they said his true education now starts. He was send first to Spiral Academy (where he met Ragara Adisa), however his compassion made him actually poor businessman in eyes of mentors and in eyes of his grandparents! Despite how canny he was in business he was thrown off from academy with shameful grade, despite how good his arguments and ideas was!

Most of this could be blamed that his mother was a Nellens, one the rare adopted outcaste dragon-bloods from threshold has told to have got 'poor influence' on him and she was lectured likewise by grandparents several times. So seeing the connection they decided to do more unusual career shift for him; send him to Hepthagram to study sorcery.

In there Laryon studied under tutelage of elder dragon-bloods and sidereals which used celestial sorcery bound his tongue to ever reveal he ever met them (even if he would remember them at all). He excelled in the scholarly curriculum and he graduated with top papers. He was immediately then send to use his sorcery to aid Imperial Navy with his sorcery to control winds and bind demons to help the captains. Laryon thanks his studies in Spiral Academy and influence of his house is canny negotiator to face when he summons demons. For once he was gaining favor of his house.

But then things changed as his sister, who had failed to be heard by dragons by twentieth birthday was married off to rich patrician who could pay her dowry. However he was sadistic man who enjoyed cause pain in bedroom and his sister started forced endure his husbands 'loving' attentions every night, more so as she was unwilling and it exciting him! Naturally Laryon soon learned this and he used his every cunning influence to hire a assassin from threshold (use house own contacts no less) and got man killed and his sister thusly widowed. Naturally there was no evidence he had hired assassin nor it could traced back to his house....but his grandparents weren't fooled and they had grown tired for his compassion for his little sister which had doomed him twice now!

So they send Laryon to self-chosen exile, any locale outside blessed isle and stay there and stay out from blessed isle for now at least a century. Any his planned marriages were delayed or canceled and he was given money income to live comfortably in luxury and servants and so on. But grandparents without any disguise of words said if Laryon even steps on Blessed Isle soil, he dies.

Enraged by his own grandparents he chose Ang Teng as exile location and he was made contact by Lilac Society who seeks to make a difference and change in the Realm. Without any reliable allies he joined them and noticed at least one of the members he already knew; Adisa from spiral academy.


Charsheet highlights

Breeding 5
Resource 5
Manse x
Contacts/Spy 5

Several sorcery spells and likely thaumaturge master degree or two.

Synecdoche17

Get in line, Zaer. :d

Before we get too involved in our characters, though, we should probably figure out who's running the game. Rishon Tam said he'd be comfortable with a "small group" of "maybe 5 or 6", whereas we have:


Rishon Tam
Pumpkin Seeds
Marie Reynolds
Luna
Muse
Aribeth
Hairy Heretic
CopperLily
Zeth
Zaer Darkwail
Shadowfox89
Dracorion
Synecdoche17



with Riveda, AndyZ, Yandros, and Black Howling all also expressing interest at some point, and Kolbrandr stepping out.

That's 13-17 players. Really getting close to a "Game of Thrones"-sized cast there. Shuri the Scarlet as debauched King Robert, having seized power by force, while all around him little cliques and families plot to topple him... that could be a pretty fun game. I just don't know if anyone wants the headache of running that.
A book, a woman, and a flask of wine: /The three make heaven for me; it may be thine / Is some sour place of singing cold and bare — / But then, I never said thy heaven was mine.

Ons & Offs, Stories in Progress, and Story Ideas
Absences and Apologies

Zeth

Well I'll drop out then. I'm not that familiar with Exalted and don't want to bog the other players down.

HairyHeretic

Quote from: Synecdoche17 on May 03, 2014, 01:55:31 PM
That's 13-17 players. Really getting close to a "Game of Thrones"-sized cast there. Shuri the Scarlet as debauched King Robert, having seized power by force, while all around him little cliques and families plot to topple him... that could be a pretty fun game. I just don't know if anyone wants the headache of running that.

It's doable, but it would be a LOT of work for a single GM. For a game that size, you probably want 2-3 GMs. Even allowing for the inevitable player attrition in group games I suspect at least 2 GMs would be necessary.
Hairys Likes, Dislikes, Games n Stuff

Cattle die, kinsmen die
You too one day shall die
I know a thing that will never die
Fair fame of one who has earned it.

CopperLily

That is a pretty hefty group of people, even with attrition. If we're going to winnow that down somewhat, I'd prefer not to go through the full chargen process before that happens (if we are indeed going with Exalted-the-System vs. Exalted-the-Setting)?

HairyHeretic

Going freeform would probably make it a bit easier, and definitely faster to play. I thought it was a system game, but it's the GMs call.
Hairys Likes, Dislikes, Games n Stuff

Cattle die, kinsmen die
You too one day shall die
I know a thing that will never die
Fair fame of one who has earned it.

PrestaDGTation

  I just wanted to say...

 

  ...and let relevant parties know that this is AWESOME, and even if I can't play I will certainly be reading!!

  Hope you get it up and running.. I'd offer to assist in getting it going, but I'm not comfy enough with the setting to actually do so.
"I see. Hell is populated entirely by Theater Majors." - Majabya, while watching Hazbin Hotel.

HairyHeretic

So, what's peoples thoughts on system vs free form. Any strong opinions one way or the other?
Hairys Likes, Dislikes, Games n Stuff

Cattle die, kinsmen die
You too one day shall die
I know a thing that will never die
Fair fame of one who has earned it.

CopperLily

Quote from: HairyHeretic on May 06, 2014, 05:27:28 PM
So, what's peoples thoughts on system vs free form. Any strong opinions one way or the other?

I'd vote for freeform, because slowing down seems to be the death knell to games, and systems slow things down, but I'm...biased.

AribethAmkiir


Zaer Darkwail

I prefer system as it gives clear frames about char's abilities. But besides that even if we use system the game could be 'less dice rolling' and more 'roleplaying'.

Synecdoche17

Quote from: HairyHeretic on May 06, 2014, 05:27:28 PM
So, what's peoples thoughts on system vs free form. Any strong opinions one way or the other?
Strong preference for freeform, but having posters list, say, a character's four best Abilities and some Backgrounds might be useful simply as a yardstick for interactions.
A book, a woman, and a flask of wine: /The three make heaven for me; it may be thine / Is some sour place of singing cold and bare — / But then, I never said thy heaven was mine.

Ons & Offs, Stories in Progress, and Story Ideas
Absences and Apologies

Marie Reynolds

Hmm with what we are trying to do i think a freeform might prove more difficult considering the amount of social powers alone that could make a political coop type game very difficult freeform in the exalted world i think this would be specifically a dificult hurdle.Don't take this as me being anti freeform just  World of Darkness games i do not think lend them selves well to freeform. Also with playing a preformer character a die roll and input from an st would help me gauge the audience easier. Think it would be better to write convincing scenes in that vein also.



So i would have to vote system game with so many powers and other variables in this game. it would be beneficial for everyone to have the system since it is so ingrained in the setting. I would find it hard and a bit daunting to try and balance powers of exalts without a system.

Muse

A link for all of us who ever had a shouting match with our muse: http://www.ted.com/talks/elizabeth_gilbert_on_genius.html

How to set this Muse ablaze (O/Os)

When the little angel won't appear no matter how many plum blossoms you swirl:  https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=135346.msg16474321#msg16474321 (Major update 5/10/2023)

Zaer Darkwail

I also agree with M.R basically, exalted setting was build with system in mind.

Zeth

I agree with M.R. Exalted has the best Social Combat system I ever used and it is a lot more fair to decide whether or not you convince the Captain of the guard based on dice rolls then just putting everything on the GM, then have players argue with The GM if things do not go the way they intended.

HairyHeretic

The GM not posting in this thread in a week now is somewhat discouraging though.
Hairys Likes, Dislikes, Games n Stuff

Cattle die, kinsmen die
You too one day shall die
I know a thing that will never die
Fair fame of one who has earned it.


Zeth

Can we just Hijack the idea and have someone else GM it?

HairyHeretic

Some people can be very protective of their ideas. At the very least, a PM to the original poster asking if they'd lost interest and would mind someone else running with the idea would be my approach.
Hairys Likes, Dislikes, Games n Stuff

Cattle die, kinsmen die
You too one day shall die
I know a thing that will never die
Fair fame of one who has earned it.

Rishon Tam

Hey, everyone! Sorry about the radio silence.
I'd been considering how I was going to make this work -- we've ended up with a lot more interest than I'd banked on -- and ultimately, I just had to admit to myself that I'm out of my depth.

Don't worry, though: something is being worked out, and the game's still going to happen.
It's just taking a little bit to figure out the situation at the helm.

Details, I believe, should be forthcoming.

Synecdoche17

Raar!

So, the basic update is that, with Rishon Tam's permission, I will try running this game. Unfortunately, I've never run a game before, and like any virgin I feel like I can only take so many partners at once!

I've already sent out invites to players; Rishon Tam, HairyHeretic, and CopperLily all said yes and are in; the game thread has been posted here.

If the remaining invite(s) are declined, I'll start going down the list of interested people until someone says yes. Those of you already in an Exalted game, sadly, will be toward the end of the list, since you already have a game to enjoy.

I will also bookmark this thread and come back to it later if players drop or if I feel the narrative and I  are capable of handling additional characters.

At least two people have expressed interest in co-GM'ing the story; at the moment I'm going to try running solo, but if folks are interested it would be cool to have another group in the same setting, exploring a parallel story, and then at some point the plots can intersect, or players could migrate from one to the other.
A book, a woman, and a flask of wine: /The three make heaven for me; it may be thine / Is some sour place of singing cold and bare — / But then, I never said thy heaven was mine.

Ons & Offs, Stories in Progress, and Story Ideas
Absences and Apologies

Pumpkin Seeds


HairyHeretic

#99
I would be one of those people considering running a game, though I haven't done a whole lot with the idea yet.

I'm fairly comfortable running larger games, but for the number of people that expressed interest in this idea, I think 2-3 co-GMs would be the way to go.

Edit - I'm actually having some very interesting ideas gel together for a sandbox setting. I shall post more in a separate threat to avoid derailing this one.
Hairys Likes, Dislikes, Games n Stuff

Cattle die, kinsmen die
You too one day shall die
I know a thing that will never die
Fair fame of one who has earned it.

Zaer Darkwail

Ok, post link HairyHeretic once you open the thread for separated discussion or game idea to run :).

Pumpkin Seeds

I might can pull off Co-GMing or something of that nature as well if you need the help.

HairyHeretic

It's up

https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=203962.0

It's quite different to the ideas we were discussing here, but I think it might appeal.
Hairys Likes, Dislikes, Games n Stuff

Cattle die, kinsmen die
You too one day shall die
I know a thing that will never die
Fair fame of one who has earned it.