Editing Lunar Exalted (section)

===Life Outside the Silver Pact:===

So, "barbarism is all fine and dandy," you say, "but the character I want to play is the street urchin who just refused to die." That's fine, say I. As is the cunning thief with a network of informants, who always seems to be one step ahead of both the competition (nobody ever notices the mouse, you know?) and the authorities; or the savant who, determined to finish his life's work, refuses to just give in to the disease which ravages his body; or the soldier who refused to submit or to die in the face of overwhelming odds, proving his mettle under the watchful eye of the moon. Even a barbarian character who exists outside of the influence of the Silver Pact is entirely feasible. All of these characters are just as much Lunar Exalted as the enlightened barbarian animal god-kings of the Silver Pact. They do take some special consideration, however.

First of all, a much larger percentage of non-Silver Pact Lunars will be Casteless. This is an important factor due to its many mechanical effects. Important to note, however, is that not all non-Silver Pact Lunars will be Casteless; any Lunar Exalt (usually a No Moon) who knows the necessary Charms can fix the characters' Caste. This might be a good reason to take the Mentor background... or, it might be a good reason for your character to be beholden to a more powerful Exalt in much the same way that Abyssals are beholden to their Deathlords. Alternatively, it is entirely possible to play Casteless characters; although the mechanical drawbacks are significant, absolute and utter freedom is also a worthy goal, depending on the campaign model.

Whether Exalted in the depths of the wilderness or a stinking gutter, a Lunar Exalted is still a Lunar Exalted. They were all still Chosen for the same reason: they managed to impress Luna herself with their determination to survive. This is a powerful source for theme and drama in any game. The essence of survival is not merely to remain alive, but to change one's surroundings or situation in order to ensure the continuation of such. At higher levels, it changes from a battle for mere survival to a struggle for dominance, for control. The Lunar Exalted work on a scale essentially similar to the Solar Exalted - for though they are weaker, it is not by much - and this is only emphasized in non-Silver Pact games. Free to concentrate completely on their own agendas, outside the societal structure of the Pact, these Lunars resemble Solars in all ways except the flavor of their powers and a shift in the focus of the themes of their stories.