Lance

A character from A_Date_with_Destiny

• Lance

"I am not a wise man, but I am a strong one, and I know right from wrong. Submit, and I will see that you are judged fairly. Resist, and I will end your tyranny with your life."

• Caste: Dawn
• Concept: Paragon

Motivation

• Defend the innocent and the helpless from those who would abuse them

Intimacies

Natural

Negative

• The Warlord of Hell (fear)
• Commitment (fear)
• Bullies (righteous anger)
• The Army Of Hell (wariness)

Positive

• Lily (indecisive affection)
• The weak (protectiveness)
• Mari (protectiveness)
• Cute animals (affection)
• Taking on the burdens of others (so nobody has to)
• Keeping his word (fierce pride)

Attributes

Physical

• Strength 4 +5 UBOS +5 LA
• Dexterity 6
• Stamina 2 +5 UBOS

Social

• Charisma 5
• Manipulation 1
• Appearance 3 +4 SoIB

Mental

• Perception 2
• Intelligence 2
• Wits 5

Abilities and Charms

Caste

• Martial Arts 3
  • First Martial Arts Excellency
  • Fists of Iron Technique
  • Sledgehammer Fist Punch

• Melee 5 (Swords +3)
  • Second Martial Arts Excellency
  • Infinite Melee Mastery
  • Dipping Swallow Defense
  • Final Sunset Stance
  • Fading Light Quickening
  • Bulwark Stance
  • Protection of Celestial Bliss
  • Heavenly Guardian Defense
  • Guardian Sunfire Catechism
  • Hungry Tiger Technique
  • Golden Destruction Cutx2
  • One Weapon, Two Blows
  • Peony Blossom Attack
  • Iron Whirlwind Attack
  • Cross-Fang Maelstrom

• War 5
  • Heroism-Encouraging Presence
  • Tiger-Warrior Training Technique
  • Elegant Dance of Bow And Blade
  • Dawn King's Strife

Favored

• Integrity 5 (vs Essence Channellers +2)
  • Second Integrity Excellency
  • Temptation-Resisting Stance
  • Elusive Dream Defense
  • Phoenix Renewal Tactic
  • Epic Zeal of Conviction

• Presence 5 (Persuasion +3)
  • Second Presence Excellency
  • Supreme Perfection of Presence
  • Hypnotic Tongue Technique
  • Hastening Night's End
  • You Can Be More
  • Hero-Inspiring Interrogatory
  • Enemy-Castigating Solar Judgement

• Resistance 5
  • Second Resistance Excellency
  • Essence-Gathering Temper
  • Soul Fire Resurgence

• Athletics 5 (Combat Mobility +3)
  • Second Athletics Excellency
  • Graceful Crane Stance
  • Monkey Leap Technique
  • Lightning Speed
  • Flying Faith Legion
  • Unparallelled Acumen Meditation

• Socialize 5 (With The Mighty +2)
  • Second Socialize Excellency
  • Mastery of Small Manners
  • Shining In Every Eye Attitude
  • Wise-Eyed Courtier Method

Unfavored

• Awareness 5
  • Surprise Anticipation Method

Occult 3

• • Terrestrial Circle Sorcery
    • Unbreakable Bones of Stone

• Linguistics 1 (Rivertongue, Old Realm - Malfean Dialect)

Backgrounds

Artifact 3: Lion Armor

This armor is essentially a suit of orichalcum superheavy plate fashioned in the likeness of a lion. It features three hearthstone sockets.

Artifact 3: Sunlight Straight Sword

This court blade was designed with the duelist in mind, featuring exceptional balance and courtly stylings. Mechanically, it counts as an orichalcum reaper daiklave with a base Defense rating of +4 (+5 after the orichalcum MM bonus) and the Th keyword.

Manse 2: Mind-Cleansing Stone

The House of Quiet Reflection is located in a sheltered cove by the tranquil Lake Placid, where a small fishing community has taken up residence along its shores. It was built and furnished as a summer home, and features a staff of loyal servitors and luxurious facilities. It produces the Mind-Cleansing Stone, indicative of the Manse's theme of tranquility and reflection.

Command 5: Armies of the Warlord

Not all the forces of the Warlord of Hell have forgotten him; some are eager for a leader to carry them to glorious victory over the cruel dominion of the Yozis. Unfortunately for them, Lance still thinks the worst of them, though after several nonviolent encounters (and very persuasive debates with some of the surviving First Circle captains, he's slowly losing resistance to the idea...

Merits

Legendary Dexterity

Bathed in the powerful Essence of the Sun, Lance is no longer bound by the limitations of mortals, as evinced by his superhuman Dexterity.

Flaws

Throwback 5

"Gentlemen, I like war."

At the end of the Primordial War, many Solars were less than thrilled to see the Crown of Thunders placed on Queen Merela’s brow. Despite her own Charm-backed future propaganda, she was far from the undisputed greatest on the First Age battlefields. Many Celestial generals rivaled her for skill, tactics or simple ferocity, and some held higher titles during the War itself at various points. There was vigorous debate and dispute during the Ochre Fountain Era over why the Unconquered Sun had personally bequeathed the Mandate of Heaven to Merela and not to say, Aofe. Aofe, after all, single-handedly engaged an army of 50,000 demons in order to leave open a gap for his Dragon-Blooded troops to escape from an ambush. Or why not the Sun Dragon, who personally carried the Unconquered Sun’s sword of authority into battle? Crystal Hybrid would have made a good choice. She composed a letter informing She Who Lives in Her Name of the first Primordial casualty of the War and fired it into the Principle of Hierarchy’s camp attached to an arrow. (So sorrowful was the structure of the message that the Pyrian Queen fell into despair and abstained from fighting for fully half a century.)

At any rate, not all of the Solars were content to fall into debate or simmer with resentment. At least one Dawn Caste warrior despaired of the end of the War. The time of peace, reconstruction and consolidation of Solar dominance over Creation would be an empty and unsatisfying retirement for a man who had been hailed by at least one directional war god as “the mightiest being who ever hefted a daiklave.” He threw himself into the conquest of Creation with excessive zeal, but it failed to satisfy. In the end, he vanished shortly after the Solar capital was removed to Meru.

That Solar soon appeared on the streets of Malfeas, bereft of the protections of Eclipse diplomatic immunity. He wanted no such safeguards in any case—he was spoiling for a fight, and a fight he got. Against all odds, not only did the rogue Solar survive late into the High First Age, but he amassed a great army of demons who followed him as he rampaged happily across the vast layers of Hell. His infernal allies kept an eye and an ear open when they were summoned to Creation, and the Warlord of Hell occasionally returned to Creation to throw his weight in behind some important bit of legislation that seemed germane to his preferred mode of retirement. But for the most part, he lived for battle, for his never-ending and unlimited war. The Solar Deliberative issued an official condemnation of his crusade at one point, essentially declaring that he was owed no help by the governments of Creation. If the Yozis saw fit to dispose of the Solar plaguing them, and were capable of doing so, they were welcome to it. Even at the height of their power and hubris, it seemed clear to the Lawgivers that to throw in behind their renegade comrade would be to declare war on Malfeas, to the advantage of no one.

Finally, in the end, the Warlord of Hell’s luck ran out. Probably. He disappeared during the latter half of the High First Age. No body was ever found. Nine demons claim to have personally taken his head, but none have ever offered conclusive proof. The Solar’s infernal followers dispersed, each hurrying to hide and to disavow any association with the golden warrior. Many were caught and subjected to excruciation and death, but most escaped. What demon with a position of real authority takes notice of individual serfs, after all?

But a myth began circulating through the bordellos and back alleys of the Demon City shortly thereafter, stating that at the time of the Warlord’s disappearance, Sacheverell had turned over in his sleep and mumbled, “He will return.” Lucien denies that the slumbering Yozi ever talks in his sleep and asserts that the legend is ridiculous on account of Sacheverell only ever seeing the present in his dreams besides, but the tale endures...

The Warlord of Hell is a proud, selfish bravo, though he never actually gets around to bullying the weak (they're "not worth his time"). He has the Motivation of "Enjoy life to the maximum by conquest, rulership and hedonism." His Intimacies include: Demonic Hordes (paternal pride), beautiful women (desire), fine food and drink (gluttony), might makes right (staunch belief), good performances (appreciation), battle (joy), conquest (exhilaration), idealists (scorn), and several others. He is not deliberately malicious, but he is used to getting his own way - and he is a firm believer in might makes right...

Oathbound 5

Be without fear in the face of your enemies. Be brave and upright that God may love thee. Speak the truth always, even if it leads to your death. Safeguard the helpless and do no wrong. That is your oath.

This Oath grants 5BPs, which have been invested in his Socialize score.

Essence

• Essence: 5
• Personal: 25/25
• Peripheral: 51/51 (63)
• Overdrive: 0/20
• Committed to Charms: 6 (Unparallelled Acumen Meditation 6m)
• Committed to artifacts: 6
• Willpower: 10/10
• Anima status: Quiescent

Virtues

• Compassion: 3
• Conviction: 5
• Temperance: 5
• Valor: 5

Limit Break

• Compassionate Martyrdom
• Overcome with the need to alleviate the suffering he witnesses, the character throws himself into helping the victims in the most direct and dramatic fashion possible. If the character’s Limit Breaks while watching an overseer beat slaves, he stands before the whip, allowing blows meant for others to fall upon him instead. The character will not resort to violence unless he is attacked or is already in combat.
• Condition: The character witnesses innocents suffering through no fault of their own.
• Partial Control: If the character attempts to control the Limit Break, he must still immediately and directly aid those who are suffering. However, he can choose to do so more effectively - including by killing the brutal overseer and freeing the slaves in the above example.
• Duration: One scene in combat or one day otherwise.

Conflict

Physical

• Join Battle: 10
• Dodge DV: 6
• Soak (L/B/A): 24/21/17 (Stamina 7, Lion Armor 17/17/17)
• Hardness: 11L/11B

Movement

• Move: 14 (with Lightning Speed)
• Dash: 20 (with Lightning Speed)
• Jump: 28 up, 56 across (with MLT)

Social

• Join Debate: 10
• Dodge MDV: 11 (12 with Mind-Cleansing Gem)
• Parry MDV: 7 (8 with Mind-Cleansing Gem)

Health Levels

• -0, -1, -1, -2, -2, -4, Incapacitated
• (wounds are designated as bashing, lethal or aggravated)

Equipment

• Lion Armor
• Sunlight Straight Sword

History

Lance was born on a farm in the Hundred Kingdoms, where he might have worked out his entire life had Fate not seen fit to have his country annexed during one of the countless conflicts running through the region. The invading soldiers had slaughtered the most of hastily-gathered village militia and were about to carry off the womenfolk when Lance thrust himself between them, prepared to throw his life away to give the women time to escape. Instead of death, Lance received a Solar Exaltation, and the soldiers had little time to contemplate the rebirth of a Bronze Tiger in their midst before Lance scythed the armed and armored men down five at a time with a rusty sword. His foes defeated, he turned back to the people he had just saved... and saw them looking at him with the same fearful expression they had given the soldiers. In that instant, the truth of what he had become caught up with him, and he knew that for all intents and purposes, he had thrown his life away, after all. Unable to meet their gaze, Lance stopped only to clear the village of attacking soldiers before leaving his ruined hometown behind forever.

As the young Solar wandered through the East, trying to get a handle of who or what he was, he began dreaming of his past lives; of endless battles fought under a green sun in a crimson sky, of hideous beings from beyond Creation, half of which were his friends and even lovers, the others who were his enemies, and the two frequently blended into each other. He remembered occasionally returning to cities of soaring golden spires and impossibly well-dressed people, addressing a council of his peers, regal and magnificent in their Exaltation. He repeatedly asked himself the question, "God or demon, what am I?"

It is still a question he grapples with; the Solar Exaltation merely enables a man to engrave himself into history and become a legend, but it does not dictate the shape his mighty fate will take. Lance knows he is capable of great good, such as when he fells marauding demons, gods and ghosts, but he has seen the horrific carnage he can wreak, he wonders if there isn't a grain of truth to the things the Immaculates say about him. All he can do is live as well as he can, trusting that his heart will know the way.

During his travels, he ended up passing through the Marukani Horselands, where he heard stories of the Goddess of Light. Finding the descriptions of the goddess suspiciously similar to himself, he decided to follow up on them, and discovered that they were referring to Mari, the Solar who had saved the gunzosha of Lookshy from an untimely demise by enlightening their Essence, but who had become increasingly unstable ever since her Lunar mate had left her behind. Lance found that Mari reminded him of one of his sisters, and the two became fast friends. Eventually, under Lance's influences, Mari drew back from the precipice of madness she had been nearing for some time, and the two of them decided to travel to Thorns to look up her erstwhile big sister, Shrike.

Along the way, Lance encountered a foxy medicine woman called Lily, and was surprised to discover that she was his Lunar mate. Mari seemed to take the whole thing as a comedy for her entertainment and constantly urged the two of them to "do it already, so I can see!" Lance, on the other hand, is not quite sure how to approach this...

Goals

To someday return to his kingdom and see if his family is still all right.

Expenditures

BP

• Starting: 18
• From Flaws: 10
  • Throwback (+5 BP)
  • Oathbound (+5 BP)

• Spent: 28
  • Merit: Legendary Attribute (Dexterity) (3 BP)
  • Ability: Awareness 3 to 5 (2 BP)
  • Ability: Socialize 0 to 5 (5 BP)
  • Integrity Specialty: vs Essence Channelers +2 (1 BP)
  • Presence Specialty: Persuasion +2 (1 BP)
  • Athletics Specialty: Combat Mobility +2 (1 BP)
  • Socialize Specialty: With The Mighty +2 (1 BP)
  • Charm: Infinite Melee Mastery (3 BP)
  • Virtue: Temperance 3 to 5 (2 BP)
  • Virtue: Conviction 3 to 5 (2 BP)
  • Virtue: Valor 3 to 5 (2 BP)
  • Willpower 5 to 10 (5 BP)

XP

• Starting: 260
• Awarded: 50 (+9xp from 3 BG dots converted into xp)
• Spent: 272
  • Stamina 1 to 2 (4xp)
  • Intelligence 1 to 2 (4xp)
  • Perception 1 to 2 (4xp)
  • Martial Arts 0 to 3 (7xp)
  • Occult 0 to 3 (7xp)
  • Linguistics 1 (3xp)
  • Presence Specialty: Persuasion +1 (3xp)
  • 30 Charms (240xp)

XP purchases wishlist!

• • More Melee Charms!
  • More Resistance Charms!
  • More Occult Charms!
  • Allies!
  • More Solar Hero stuff!

Awards

• 13 April 2012: 10xp, 3 BG dots (3 cashed in)
• 19 May 2012: 10xp, 2 BG dots
• 27 Jun 2012: 30xp, 5 BG dots
• Allies 3 cashed in for 3 BG dots (or BP?)