Editing Character:Veil-Winged Shrike

[[File:Veilwingedshrike.png]]
A character from [[A_Date_with_Destiny]]

*'''Veil-Winged Shrike'''
*Caste: Eclipse
*Concept: Queen of Death and Beauty
*Veil-Winged Shrike is one of the premier beauties of the Scavenger Lands, as brilliant and harsh as sunlight reflecting off the edge of a drawn blade. Her build is actually substantially more trim and athletic than her usually-languorous demeanor might suggest: slim-hipped, long-legged. She moves with an inhuman grace, the slightest movement suggestive of a sublime dance. She used to dress to make the most of her beauty, clad in the barest minimum necessary to preserve her modesty, accentuated by the addition of dozens of fluttering veils that shift with the breeze and her own movements. Lately, she has favoured a more conservative, magisterial mode of dress to match her high office. Her long, red-highlighted golden hair, in contrast with her bronzed skin, is usually left in a series of long, thin braids, each one tied with a ribbon and a tiny bell; Shrike jingles softly as she walks, the music of her hair answered by the matching bells on her bangles and anklets.
*Anima: Wings of golden light unfold from her back, and ethereal streamers flap and flow from her wrists, elbows, knees and ankles. Each pennant is a prayer-strip, inked in an exquisite gold calligraphy, each one a prayer extolling Shrike's beauty, majesty, and inevitable victory, although the wording changes depending on the situation. 

=Motivation=
* Promote beauty and harmony
** Care for Killing Frost, my mate (from True Love)
** Destroy the Deathlords (from Road of Hatred Stone)

=Intimacies=
==Natural==
===Negative===
* the Deathlords and their servants (fierce hatred)
* art and beauty (vanity)
===Positive===
* Mari (affection)
* the people of Thorns (commitment)
* her Circle (trust and duty)
* freedom from oppression (idealism)
* Killing Frost (love)
* the duty of the Exalted to protect mortals (stoic)

==Supernatural==
===Negative===
===Positive===

=Anima=
As a Quicksilver Falcon, she can bind oaths, penalising oath breakers with '''5''' botches. She has diplomatic privileges when treating with the spirits, the gods, and the raksha. She can learn non-Solar, non-Native Charms for 16xp.

=Attributes=
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==Social==
*Charisma 3
*Manipulation 3
*Appearance 5

==Mental==
*Perception 3
*Intelligence 3
*Wits 3

=Abilities and Charms=
==Caste==
* Bureaucracy 2
** First Excellency

*Linguistics 5 (languages: Rivertongue (native), Leaftongue, Old Realm, High Realm, Low Realm, Claw-speak)
** First Excellency
** Whirling Brush Method (4m, Supplemental, Instant, Combo-OK: Write 100x as fast without tools. Automatically translates to any language Shrike understands)
** Sunrise Inkwell Spirit (TDO) (Permanent: modifies above)
** Flawless Brush Discipline (8m, Simple, Instant, Combo-OK, Emotion: +5 to Linguistics-as-Appearance; Cha+Performance creates UMI to impose love of Shrike; 3WP to resist or 1WP/scene)
** Letter-within-a-Letter (6m, Simple, Instant, Combo-OK: conceal a work within another written work. Only the intended targets can perceive it. It can establish surprise. +5 to Socialise roll to take charge)
** Twisted Words Technique ( 6m 1wip, Supplemental, Instant, Combo-OK, Illusion, Emotion: 3WP or instant commitment)
** Sagacious Reading of Intent (3m, Reflexive, Instant, Combo-OK, Social: perfectly identifies intention behind any statement, negates any social attack hostile to Shrike or her Motivation)
** Poetic Expression Style (3m, Reflexive, Instant, Combo-OK. Communicate simple concepts despite language barrier)
** Unbreakable Fascination Method (10m 1wp, Simple, Instant, Combo-OK, Obvious: flare anima to 16+m level; exerts UMI on all listeners, automatic success unless opposed by a defensive Charm; Cha+Ling vs MDV, failure to resist forces targets to go into hysterics; resistance requires either a Temperance success or 1WP/action, to a max of 5WP/scene.)

*Socialise 5
** First Excellency
** Taboo-Inflicting Diatribe (3m 1wp, Simple, Instant, Combo-OK, Compulsion: Cha/Man+Socialise to make a society shun a particular behaviour)
** Mastery of Small Manners (1m, Reflexive, Action, Combo-OK, Social: treat social groups as -1 Magnitude; increase effective Appearance by 1; understand basic motivations of everyone present at threshold 3; personal qualities become perfectly inscrutable, can perfectly lie without being detected)
** Golden Courtier Infallibility (HFE) (Permanent: enhances MSM)
** Edict-Affirming Overseer Method (custom) (Permanent: infallibly knows when someone flouts one of her taboos, knows when and where but not who; +1 automatic successes to all attempts to discover identity of lawbreaker; if she punishes the lawbreaker, she either loses 1 Limit or counts it as one scene spent reinforcing any existing Intimacies of loyalty that anyone may have towards her)
** Heartfelt Honorific Opportunity (MoEP: Abyssals) (3m 1wp, Supplemental, Instant, Combo-OK, Social: makes Manipulation-based attacks unblockable and undodgeable)
** Wild Revelry Approach (3m 1wp, Simple, Instant, Emotion, Combo-OK: targets a group she has spent several hours in the past year influencing; Cha/Man+Soc instils a powerful emotion. It costs six Loyalty to resist permanently, or 1 Loyalty/scene)
** Understanding the Court (20m 1wp, Simple, Instant, Combo-OK: Per/Int+Soc +Essence vs difficulty 1, deduct successes equal to (Man+Soc+Mag)/2; creates a profile of a social environment as long as motes are committed; profile reduces external penalties by up to her Essence; only one profile per environment is possible.)

==Favoured==
*Integrity 5
** Second Excellency
** Integrity-Protecting Prana (5m 1wp, Reflexive, 1 day, Combo-OK: perfect defence against Shaping)
** Epic Zeal of Compassion (MoEP: Infernals) (Permanent: Compassion dice are automatic successes)
** Phoenix Renewal Tactic (Permanent: when recovering a WP, can regain Virtue channel instead)
** '''Sidereal''' Compassionate Essence Replenishment (MoEP: Sidereals) (Permanent: 5/day respire +10m when channeling Compassion or +5m when rolling Performance)

*Presence 5
** First Excellency
** Majestic Radiant Presence (7m, Reflexive, Scene, Obvious, Social: Valour (1) needed to attack Shrike; 3WP to resist)
** Hypnotic Tongue Technique ((target's Essence)m, Simple, Month, Combo-OK, Touch, Social, Stackable: Cha+Pre; instead of 1WP to resist, target pays 5WP immediately attempting defiance)
** Minds Yield to Glory (MoEP: Abyssals) (Permanent: enhances HTT)
** Shining on Dark Realms (IM) (Permanent: any ghosts loyal to Shrike are immune to being bound or summoned; +1 to MDVs vs attempts to undermine loyalty)
** Enemy-Castigating Solar Judgement (2m, Supplemental, Instant, Combo-OK, Holy, Obvious, Social: makes physical attacks deal aggravated damage vs CoD; makes social attacks halve opponents' MDV vs CoD)
** '''Abyssal''' Killing Words Technique (MoEP: Abyssals) (Permanent: +1wp when activating any social Charm; target pays LHL instead of WP to shake off effects)

*Martial Arts 5 (+1 improvised weapons)
** First Excellency
** Infinite MA Mastery (2m commitment/1m discount)
** Solar Hero Style
*** Fists of Iron Technique (1m, Reflexive, Action, Combo-OK, Enhanced: Acc +1 Damage +2L; parry lethal attacks empty-handed without a stunt; Acc +3 Damage +2L Defence +1 Rate +1 while SHF active)
*** Sledgehammer Fist Punch (1m, Supplemental, Instant, Combo-OK, Enhanced, Obvious: doubles raw damage vs inanimate objects while ignoring soak)
*** Dragon Coil Technique (3m, Reflexive, Action, Combo-OK, Enhanced: +5 dice to inflict/maintain/control clinch, Damage +5L)
*** Solar Hero Form (6m, Simple, Scene, Form-Type, Combo-Basic, Enhanced, Obvious: 1m to double successes on attack for raw damage, +5L/+5B natural soak)
*** Crashing Wave Throw (2m, Reflexive, Instant, Combo-OK: after clinching, throw enemy 35 yds up or 80 yds horizontally; take 1B or 1L damage per yd not travelled if striking hard object)
*** One with the Wave (IM) (5m, Reflexive, Instant, Combo-OK, Counterattack: when struck, launch clinch counterattack; if successful, 1. throw opponent within 25 yds to deal pre-soak damage of first attack, or 2. throw opponent at second opponent within range with equal base damage; can counterattack physical or energy ranged attacks)

*Occult 5
** Second Excellency
** Terrestrial Circle Sorcery (Permanent: allows Shape Sorcery actions)
** Celestial Circle Sorcery (as above)
** Spirit-Detecting Glance (3m, Scene, Reflexive, Combo-OK: detect dematerialised creatures)
** Spirit-Cutting Attack (1m, Instant, Supplemental, Combo-OK, Obvious: strike dematerialised, aggravated damage to spirits)
** Magic-Shattering Strike (DotFA) (15m, Instant, Supplemental, Combo-OK, Obvious: strike spell or Sorcerous Charm effect (Circle x3 or Min Ess +2 PDV), gain (Circle x4 or Min Ess +2)m if successful)
** All-Encompassing Sorcerer's Sight (6m, Scene, Reflexive, Combo-OK: Essence Sight)

*Resistance 5
** Second Excellency
** Durability of Oak Meditation (2m, Reflexive, Instant, Combo-OK: +10L/+10B soak)
** Spirit Strengthens the Skin (1m per die removed, Reflexive, Instant, Combo-OK, Obvious: reduce post-soak damage by 1 die per mote; cannot reduce damage below 1 die)
** Iron Skin Concentration (2m, Reflexive, Tick, Combo-OK, Obvious: all attacks have minimum damage reduced by 1)
** Iron Kettle Body (Permanent: +4m to Durability of Oak; +15L/+15B for the rest of the scene)
** Adamant Skin Technique (8m, Reflexive, Instant, Combo-OK, Obvious: perfect soak, Conviction flaw)

==Unfavoured==
*Lore 1
* Performance 5 (+3 compelling love)

===Spells===
Emerald Circle
* Demon of the First Circle
* Invulnerable Skin of Bronze
Sapphire Circle
* Demon of the Second Circle

=Backgrounds=
==Artifact 5: The Crown of Thunders==
10m attunement. +3 to all Physical Attributes. She may also hear the prayers directed at her (must meditate to hear everything; otherwise only the most urgent, fervent, or often-repeated ones come through), which increases her effective Cult rating by 1. She may also reply to prayers personally: the worshipper sees a vision of Shrike, her anima flaring at the iconic level, speaking to them in a voice charged with divine authority.<br>
When Shrike unearthed the Crown of Thunders from an ancient ruin and placed the artifact on her brow, she inadvertently, but no less majestically, inaugurated the return of the Solars to true political power, by laying claim once again to the Creation-Ruling Mandate. The Crown would later assist her and her Circlemates in conquering Lookshy and the surrounding regions, founding the first Solar principality since the ending of the Age of Dreams. Since then, it has become part of her royal regalia: a symbol of her power and majesty. While she wears it constantly, she rarely activates its supplementary powers unless making proclamations in public. <br>
''Notes: Except for the physical enhancement, I've scrapped the usual effects of the Crown of Thunders and replaced them with the effects of the Vestments of Holy Vigilance. Balanced by much higher commitment costs than the Vestments.''

==Artifact 5: Wings of the Raptor==
Hearthstone setting, 1m commitment. +10m commitment, wings activate for flight at 80mph or 5x running speed. Manoeuvring rolls are Dex+Ath+6. +3 DVs in flight. +3 Appearance. ''Never needs to be repaired''<br>
A princely gift by the people of Thorns to their radiant ruler. It was unearthed in the heart of the Noon Shadow Temple, and surrendered to Shrike as her due, and has since become part of her daily wear. She uses the added mobility to take long trips into the countryside surrounding Thorns, sometimes swooping down to chat with or bestow blessings upon random smallfolk. This habit has greatly endeared her to the people.

==Artifact 2: Yasal Crystal==
Given to her by the local spirit courts, that she might draw upon their power in times of need. She usually binds the custodial spirits of her home manse, and generally has access to the following spirit Charms through the crystal: Hurry Home (the central temple of Thorns), Mirror of the Infinite Wardrobe (human forms), Principle of Motion<br>
The spirit enshrined within has pride of place: she wears the crystal set in her Wings of the Raptor, as if it were a hearthstone.

==Cult 4+1: the Bearers of the Golden Word==
+6m/hr, 1WP/6 hrs respiration. <br>
The ascent of the Veil-Winged Shrike to the position of both queen and tutelary goddess, symbolic bride of Thorns' newborn city father, was anticipated by sacred scripture. The ''Rule of the Golden Word'' foretold a coming age of Solar magnificence, the liberation of Thorns from the occupation of the Mask of Winters, and the ascension of 'the Last Daughter of Thorns'. Shrike is venerated not only by the citizens of Thorns -- and its Underworld equivalent -- but also by the oppressed and the aesthetically-inclined all across the Scavenger Lands. This level of metaphysical clout has not only brought her great power and influence, but also the enmity of many members of the Celestial Bureaucracy.<br>
Her priests and priestesses call themselves Wordbearers, in token of the amulets they wear: each one bears an inscription from Shrike's own hand. The carven glyph is usually the bearer's own name, or something else significant to them like 'Duty', but each one also carries a social attack (hidden by Letter-Within-a-Letter Technique) that enforces loyalty and powerful attraction to Shrike.

==Influence 5: Mother of Thorns==
Shrike is the centre of supernatural power in Thorns, but for the sake of not pointlessly antagonising the Realm and other Immaculate prefectures, she has not actually laid official claim to any sort of title, relying on her celebrity, powerful Cult, and personal charms (and Charms) to affect policy. The living and the dead, the Thorns of sunlight and the Spines of shadow, all bend the knee to her as queen and goddess. She has cemented her reign by ceremonially marrying Thorns' newborn City Father, through him gaining access to the region's spirit courts, many of which acknowledge her as a patron: her Cult allocates feast-days to particularly helpful gods. She serves as the mediatrix between Thorns and Spines, and the latter more than the former owes its continued existence to her. Her state-sponsored ancestor cult has been the main motive force behind the reconstruction efforts in the Underworld. Ghosts arrive daily, to witness the rarest of all things: innovation in the Underworld. For while Stygia remains the centre of political power in the Underworld, and Sijan its busiest 'port', Spines is beginning to be known as its centre of commerce, industry, and culture. <br>
And all this is without reckoning the direct power she wields over the hearts and minds of her people using her potent magic. 

==Influence 3: Terrestrial Bureaucracy==
While the jealous gods of the Celestial Bureaucracy might scoff at the returning Solars, their oppressed poor cousins in Creation proper, having long suffered under the yoke of unnatural tyrants like the Mask of Winters, have not forgotten. The spirit courts of the River Province all rejoiced when the Veil-Winged Shrike's Circle retook Thorns and restored the proper way of things: some of them recognise the Crown of Thunders on Shrike's brow and they remember what it means. Her marriage to the city god of Thorns has only enhanced this esteem. She wields powerful influence over the gods of the Scavenger Lands, and many of them accept her as one of their own. It is only a matter of time before Shrike assembles a new pantheon with herself at its head. 

==Lunar Bond 5: True Love==
Pool of 10 dice when assisting Frost. +8 to MDV against attempts to turn her against him. -5 to MDV when acting against Frost, -3 when Frost is used against her.<br>
While Shrike's initial encounter with her Lunar mate [[Killing_Frost]] was less than smooth, their relationship has since undergone a gradual blossoming, as she found in him a reliable partner and fierce protector.

==Manse 5: Stone of Loyalty==
Anyone who accepts her authority or has sworn an oath of loyalty to Shrike needs to roll difficulty 5 Conviction to betray her; close friends and allies must roll 3; casual acquaintances and the general public roll 1. -1 if they can justify their actions as assisting her. <br>
Extracted from the heart of Thorns' central Manse - Noon Shadow Temple. Surmounts the Crown of Thunders.<br>
Noon Shadow Temple is a ''Wood-Aspected'' manse and the headquarters of Shrike's Cult, the Bearers of the Golden Word. It has the following characteristics: an ''Otherworld Gate'' to the Underworld; ''Ability Enlightenment'' in the areas of Bureaucracy, Investigation, Medicine, and Presence; the ''Subtle Breath of Sextes Jylis'' that is usually used to keep its environs comfortable regardless of the season or weather, and an autonomous ''Provider'' that ensures its occupants never want for necessities. It requires ''simple maintenance'' which takes a full day and must be performed every month: this duty is assigned according to a roster to its resident clergy.

==Manse 1: Road of Hatred Stone==
Reinforces an Intimacy of hatred, becoming a second Motivation for social combat, mental influence, and recovering Willpower is concerned.<br>
The first fruits of her development project in Spines. The ghosts of Thorns' Underworld shadow have raised a small manse for her when she chooses to reside there, which produces this unremarkable hearthstone. The matte-black stone, the size and smoothness of a river pebble, is set into the clasp of her Wings of the Raptor.

==Whispers 5: the Glory of the Neverborn==
Shrike does not speak of what passed between her and the Lover at the Fortress of Crimson Ice. Even Frost does not ask, and even to him she will not tell. But she's heard them now, the Whispers of the Neverborn, echoing out from their hole in the world, the crack in reality caused by their impossible dying. And she can't get them to stop. Sometimes she can close her eyes and tune them out, immersing herself instead in the golden hymns her Cult sings to her, but the Whispers are always waiting for her. Sometimes she gives in to them. Especially when she's tired and confused and frustrated and out of her depth: the Whispers come then, suggesting solutions. Elegant ones. Harmless ones, really, just a little bit unorthodox. That little bit... unusual. Bending numbers using equations she can't quite remember. Flexing muscles she's never bothered to develop. Tapping knowledge she's never acquired, telling stories she's never heard. <br>
Harmless, surely.

=Flaws=
==Known Anathema: 7==
''"He mentioned the Lady of Thorns! Summon the magistrates!"''<br>
Frustratingly enough, fame has come with its own price, and try as she might, Shrike has found setting up intelligence networks and subversive cells all but impossible due to her notoriety. Indeed, while there are many willing to utter prayers to her effigies or donate to her temples, that's not the same thing as being a paid informant of hers. She has to pay double for Allies, Backing, Contacts, Followers, and Resources.

==Permanent Caste Mark: 2==
''"The Unconquered Sun has laid His hand upon me. Behold the mark of His favour!"'' <br>
Channeling the unsubtle powers that come so easily to her has left Shrike forever branded by the scar of such potent energies. Her Caste mark is permanent and indelible upon her forehead, and cannot be mistaken for anything else.

==Nightmares: 1==
''"She sees me, Frost! She sees me!"''<br>
In public, Shrike basks in the acclaim of having been instrumental in the defeat of two Deathlords. Five years ago, her Circle humbled the combined forces and resource of the Mask of Winters and the Lover Clad in Raiment of Tears. But her brush with the latter Deathlord has instilled a permanent dread of the other woman in her, possibly due to their uncanny similarity. The Lover too appeared to recognise Shrike -- or rather, something about her. The possibility, no matter how remote, that they are more alike than is immediately apparent haunts Shrike in her dreams. She has a 1 in 10 chance of waking screaming from nightmares, forfeiting Willpower recovery that night.

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=Conflict=
==Physical==
*Join Battle: 3
*Dodge DV: 6
*Parry DV: 8
*Soak (L/B/A): 3/5/- (28/30/25) w SHF and IKB and perronelle
*Hardness: 5L/5B (w/ perronelle) 
===Movement===
*Move: 6
*Dash: 11
*Jump: 5 up, 10 across

==Social==
*Join Debate: 8
*Dodge MDV: 10
*Parry MDV: 5

==Health Levels==
*-0, -1, -1, -1, -2, -2, -4, Incapacitated
*(wounds are designated as ''bashing'', '''lethal''' or <strike>aggravated</strike>)

=Equipment and aids=
* Unarmed strikes
Shrike's bare hands have dismayed Deathlords.<br>
'''Fists of Iron Technique''' <br> 
''Punch'': Speed 5, Accuracy +4, Damage +2L, Defence +2, Rate 4<br>
''Kick'': Speed 5, Accuracy +2, Damage +7L, Defence +2, Rate 3<br>
''Clinch'': Speed 6, Accuracy +2, Damage +2L, Defence --, Rate 2, Clinch, Piercing<br>

* living armour
A summoned perronelle travels with her, and she calls it to layer itself across her body as armour when the situation demands it.<br>
'''Perronelle armour''' <br>
+5L/10B soak, 5L/5B Hardness

* healing companion
She keeps a sesselja in her belly, where it devours the various cocktails poisoners would have her consume.<br>
'''Sesselja stomach-bottle bug'''<br>
typically 10 dice for internal Medicine rolls; casts ''Touch of Grace'' for 12m 1wp max, healing either 4L/12B damage, or removing Crippled/Poisoned/Sickened conditions. <br>
Essence pool: 75 <br>
Willpower: 7

* yasal stone resident
Shrike invites various gods to take up residence in her yasal stone, depending on what suite of powers she finds most necessary at any point in time. The city father delegates gods of citizenry to accompany her: these spirits usually provide access to the following Charms: Hurry Home (5m, Simple, Instant: transport to anywhere in Thorns), Measure the Wind (1m, Simple, Instant: detect any ongoing wrongness in Thorns), Principle of Motion (5m 1wp: bank actions equal to WP; release them as if using an Extra Action Charm)

* major-domo
As the temporal ruler of a city in Creation, the object of veneration of a cult that looks to her for guidance, the patron of an Underworld city, and the consort of a powerful city god with his own court, Shrike has a ''lot'' of administrative twaddle to plague her, and she usually fulfils this responsibility by delegating it to others. Thorns governs itself through a system of guilds and a grand council of masters, rarely requiring her input; she can rely on input from either her own privy council, composed of high-ranking guildsmen, or from the city god himself. She relies on responsible ghosts who have sworn oaths of fealty to her to administer Spines. Her Cult, perhaps her dearest responsibility, is overseen by a chrysogona summoned from Malfeas, who plays the ambitious senior priestesses off against each other.

=History=

=BP=
* Starting: 18
* From Flaws: 10
* Spent: -28
** -11 Abilities
** -9 Charms (3)
** -5 Willpower
** -1 Virtue (Conviction)
** -2 Valour
* Awarded: 5 Background points

=XP=
XP
* Initial: 260
** Charms (32): 256
** Occult 0 to 2: 4
* Earned: 20
** Understanding the Court: 8
** Wild Revelry: 8
** Bureaucracy 0 to 2: 4

=Cut Material=
[[Character: Shrike's discarde materials|Shrike's discarded materials]]