Editing Soft the Sea's Song (section)

== Backgrounds ==
::*  '''ALLIES''':  
::::  '''''Trait Effects'''''
:::::  '''<font color=red> • </font>'''   Each dot in this Background typically represents one ally approximately equal in power to a starting character. More powerful allies require higher ratings. Depending upon both her score in this Background and the power of the allies, your character can have between one and five allies.
::::::*  ''''' The Old-Strong ''''':  
::::::::*    gender, race, rank:  Male, Dragonblood, retired former high commander.
:::::::::  sobriquet:   '''Commander Virynn Koss'''
::::::::*    Brief character description and personality:  calm and even, willing to take any amount of punishment - phycial or mental.  I imagine his as a mountain of a man but extremely dexterous (imagine [http://www.getsalt.com/upload/AMCHOP06.jpg Paul Sr. from American Chopper]).
::::::::*    Short Background, why they know me:  This ally is a retired former commander in the '''Tepet Verilion Legion''' assigned to care for Kassie. He became loyal and loving of the child & is now secret Dragon-Blood aid.  The Old Strong knew and cared for Kassie's mother a great deal.  Some (the Roseblack) taunt that Kassie is more likely the prodigy of old Commander Koss ...  while this is likely untrue (as the Old Strong, though he loved Kassie's mother would likely not have been disloyal to the Tepets)  it is known widely that the Old Strong had loved Windswept Candle (Kassie's mother) from the day they met, over a decade ago.  This love translated into an apathy for following the orders of the Tepet family for the Old Strong which led to one of the greatest defeats in the history of the Verilion Legion,  or at least that's what it has been told...  In reality, the Old Strong would have died on that battlefield that day fighting and defending for the house he swore oath to...  But it was the arts of a sorceror who was hidden on the battlefield that twisted what men saw, making the Old Strong seem weak and less than loyal.  It was something the strong general could never overcome.  His rank was demoted to that of a lesser commander by the end of those battles, and soon was ushered out unceramoniously -  many bitter Tepets passive agressively had him keep his title of commander and the sobriquet (that he'd earned) of the Old Strong.  But they did so with smirks and laughter behind the old man.  He retired to become the chief of care for Kassie, again a slap in the face taunting him from Kassie's father - almost baiting the Old Strong to say "you couldn't have my concubine and you will protect our child"....  to the Old Strongs surprise the child grew in his heart and the rest is an 11 year old dedication of history watching over Kassie...  until the Silver Falcon was stolen!
::::::::*    Brief Skill/Abilities of note:  the Old Strong has a top tier power of his own, something that's focused like a razor blade in war...  something that's a one shot kill.  But he rarely uses it.  Instead he relies on his strong skill of tactics and war knowledge... knowing the history and logistics of nearly every battle on record,  so that he can use the information to lead men.
::::::::*    When/Where last scene by me:  the Old Strong is probably hating himself for whatever reason he was not watching over Kassie that day she exalted and was kidnapped by the crew of the Silver Falcon.  It might have been that Kassie's Exaltation took him by surprise blasting him (with her Thunder of Heaven charm) a dozen yards into the sea while the ship and Kassie sailed away.  He's likely now hunting for her and should be catching up soon.  I wouldn't be surprised if he's not tracked her down into the islands and is waiting there for the Silver Falcon to return...  to seek vengence on its captain for kidnapping Kassie!!


::*  '''CONTACTS''':  
::::  '''''Trait Effects'''''
:::::  '''<font color=red> • </font>'''   Each dot of this Background provides one major contact and one additional die for finding minor ones. 
::::::*  ''''' Major Contact #1''''' :   ???
::::::*  ''''' Major Contact #2''''' :   ???
::::::*  ''''' Major Contact #3''''' :   ???
::::::*  ''''' Minor Contacts''''' :   Various NPCs met/contacts.


::*  '''CULT''':  
::::  '''''Trait Effects'''''
:::::  '''<font color=red> •• </font>'''   Gods know that worship gives them power. Your character also learned this lesson and has worshipers who honor her as their patron goddess. It doesn’t matter if the character’s worshipers love or fear her. What matters is that they make regular offerings and prayers to her. However, cults based upon love endure far longer when facing oppression or persecution. If you actively aid your worshipers, your cult will grow and spread. However, the Wyld Hunt attempts to destroy all Solar cults.
:::::  '''''Cult Notes & Description''''':  The members of one large community or several small ones worship you. Several hundred people make daily prayers and full-time priests or nuns tend a few shrines and make offerings to you. 
:::::  '''''Benefit''''':  You gain a point of temporary Willpower every morning and also regain two motes of Essence per hour from worship.



::*  '''FAMILIAR''':  
::::  '''''Trait Effects'''''
:::::  '''<font color=red> ••••• </font>'''   The familiar is a powerful, impressive, dangerous small animal pet that is as intelligent as a child of eight or nine years. It can fetch items and do chores, but it has no book learning and is easily distracted. The familiar can communicate with you as well as if it were speaking by its noises, postures and expressions. It has increased preternaturally intelligence and near-perfect communication.  When it is touching your character, it makes an additional five motes of Essence available. This Essence is “stored” in the familiar but is otherwise treated as Personal Essence. It regenerates only after your character has regained all his own Essence. The character can share one of the familiar’s senses (at a time) when the familiar is within 100 yards.  <br> <br>
:::::  '''''Familiar Notes & Description''''':  <br> '''Saxson the golden-mouthed'''. [[Image:Mouse.gif|frame| '''Saxson the golden-mouthed''']] <br> Saxson is a rust-colored fire-breathing field mouse...  Looking much like a normal field mouse... about 5 inches (13cm) long (including a long tail), weighing 1/4 ounces (7gm). His coat color is brown with orange streaked throughout  (rust-colored). It has a pointed snout with long whiskers, round ears, and thin tails. He can scurry along the ground and hop or jump and is generally nocturnal and very good at hiding, balancing, climbing, swimming and moving about undetected even if rushed or threatened. As with his species, Saxson has a remarkable adaptability to almost any environment, and an ability to live commensally with humans.  Mice are regarded to be the third most successful mammalian species living today, after humans and the rat. As pets, mice are entertaining, affectionate, clean (contrary to popular belief), socially self-sufficient when in a group of other mice, significantly less likely to bite than other rodent pets, quite intelligent given their size, fun, loving.
:::::    <font color=red> '''''Ember-Spider'''''  </font> :  
:::::: In the first age, Solars developed many modified species for various utilitarian purposes.  No single species was tinkered with more than the humble field mouse.  The first recorded modification was a mouse made more intelligent for help around the genesis lab.  Many more modifications soon developed.  Some were made for children’s companions, either as entertainment or protection, some were designed to climb inside the intricate gears of first-age clockwork artifacts, some were even designed to read and record data.  
:::::: One peculiar modification, called the ember-mouse, allowed the animal to breathe fire.  Records of the exact reasons are lost.  Savants and scholars believe that this creature was often used as an inexpensive fuel source for balloons and derigibles that were so common at the time.  They became a common pet for those with leisure time and a desire to travel.  
:::::: At some point, through breeding or ill-concieved tinkering this particular trait started to be found in a version designed specifically for covert operations, once called the spider-mouse.  This strange combination of abilities must have made the animal fit enough to survive without the solars of the first age, for this creature, known as the ember-spider, is the only known surviving variant, though even these are extremely rare.
:::::: Strength: 1		
:::::: Perception: 4
:::::: Dexterity: 6		
:::::: Intelligence: 3
:::::: Stamina: 2		
:::::: Wits: 5	
:::::: Willpower: 6
:::::: Health Levels: -0/-1/-2/-4/Incap
:::::: Dodge DV: 6
:::::: Soak: 1L/2B
:::::: Abilities: 
::::::: Martial Arts: 4, Thrown: 3, Survival: 3, Investigation: 2, Awareness: 4, Dodge: 5, Larceny: 3, Stealth: 5	
:::::: Other Abilities:
::::::: '''Torch-Tounge''':  Speed: 5 | Acc: 10 | Dam: 12L | Rate: 1 | Range: 10
:::::::The torch-tounge ability is an iconic ability for this creature.  The ember-spider can spend 5 motes of essence to launch a flame attack, burning its would-be attackers, and often distracting enemies long enough to escape.  When the ember-spider uses this ability, its back glows as the essence is channeled through its body.
::::::: Alternatively, the ember-spider can use 1 mote of essence to burn a less intense flame for 1 minute.  This flame is treated as an environmental hazard of 2L/action, but cannot be used if the ember-spider is moving.  Ember-spiders will emit this flame automatically if scratched or rubbed on the stomach.
::::::: '''Spider-Foot Style'''  4m		Reflexive	Lasts for one scene:  This is the ability that gives this stealthy mouse variant its name.  
::::::: '''Camoflauge'''	5m	Simple		Indefinite duration: The ember-spider is able to change it’s coloration to match the surrounding area.  This has the same effect as the Solar Charm Invisible Statue Spirit.
::::::: '''Feather Foot Style'''	4m	Reflexive	One Scene: The ember-spider can use this ability to run on water if necessary.
::::::: '''Door Evasion Technique'''	10m, 1wp		Reflexive	Instant:  Now and again, even the ember-spider cannot find a way to its target.  At a great cost, the ember-spider can take a speed 6 action and burrow through a single wall, ceiling, or floor that is made of a substance that a mouse would eventually be able to burrow through.  This creates a hole for the ember-mouse to travel through.  The hole will close up at a predetermined time after the hole is originally made.  Once the time is set, it cannot be changed.
::::::: '''Stealing From Plain Sight Spirit'''	5m:  Often, ember-spiders were employed to “retrieve” various objects.  The ember-spider can use the stealing from plain sight spirit ability, but not the version that allows it to steal something it cannot reach
:::::: Essence: 2
:::::: Essence Pool: 40