Silla

Silla

• Silla, the Sword That Swings True
• Caste: No Moon
• Totem: Jackal
• Concept: Guardian of knowledge
• Description: In her human form, Silla is not particularly tall- not that anyone really notices, due to her personal magnetism that always makes her seem larger in the mind's eye. Silla's features are delicate and vulpine, her skin tanned from the Southern sun. Long black hair gently cascades past her shoulders, and her ice-blue eyes - the only feature she inherited from her father - are keen and piercing. Silla walks with a feral grace, and her manner of speech often changes, modified to most effectively communicate with her target audience. She favors minimal, beautiful, and exotic clothing, though she always wears the slinky moonsilver carapace and long knives made for her by Kimiko. There are three features that Silla regularly hides: the first are her tattoos given to her by the Silver Pact, swirling silver warpaint with graceful, sharp lines. The second is a small blue mon hidden behind her right ear, a magical tattoo that allows her to communicate with her mate. The last is a birthmark on her left breast in the shape of a bird's claw, a marking that she shares with her mother.
  

Motivation

• Create a center of learning that is greater than Sperimin of old

Intimacies

Natural

Negative

• Sondok (Resentment)
  

Positive

• Knowledge (Possessive lust)
  
• The Circle (Friendship)
  
• Her acolytes (Fond pride)
  
• Her libraries and schools (Protectiveness)
  
• New Harborhead (Hope and pride)
  
• Beezelbub (Friendship)
  
• Luna (Respect)
  
• Cathak Setod (Friendly rivalry)
  

Supernatural

Positive

• Kimiko (Devotion)
  

Anima & Tell

Silla's anima manifests as a gradual, creeping darkness spreading out from surrounding shadows, though knives and blades caught in her anima shine with a pale light. As her anima becomes totemic, the faint outline of an ominous scarlet moon (a lunar eclipse) rises to crown Silla with an eerie halo. The shining eyes of a huge jackal can be seen lurking in the obscuring shadows around her, watching her enemies with an unblinking gaze. While totemic, all mote costs for sorcery are reduced by 8m and associated willpower costs are reduced by one, minimum zero. The cloaking shadows of Silla's anima also provide +1 DV against creatures who cannot see in the dark.

Though most are unable to see it, Silla's Tell manifests as a pair of jackal ears hidden under her long hair. Knowledgeable observers may note that their positioning recalls Sondok's dog-eared tiara.

Attributes

Physical

• Strength 4
• Dexterity 5
• Stamina 5

Social

• Charisma 5
• Manipulation 3
• Appearance 3

Mental

• Perception 5
• Intelligence 5
• Wits 4

Abilities

Favored

• Melee 5 (+3 Dual-wielding)
  
• Survival 3 (+1 Deserts)
  

Unfavored

• Archery 0
• Martial Arts 3
• Thrown 0
• War 1
• Integrity 3 (+3 Protecting Intimacies)
• Performance 1
• Presence 3 (+1 Intimidation)
• Resistance 3
• Athletics 2
• Awareness 2
• Dodge 3
• Larceny 1
• Stealth 1
• Bureaucracy 1
• Linguistics 4 (+2 Poetry)

Native language: Old Realm (Malfean dialect). Others: Riverspeak, Forest-tongue, Flametongue, Clawspeak

• Ride 1
• Sail 0
• Socialize 3
• Craft (earth) 3

(water) 3

• Investigation 4
• Lore 5 (+2 First Age)
• Medicine 2
• Occult 5 (+2 Malfeas, +1 Sorcery)

Backgrounds

Allies 1 (Beezelbub)

Silla's oldest friend, Beezelbub is a greedy little aalu who has always been willing to accept a little bribery to supplement his diet- a habit that got him into his current situation. He's been around since the First Age and got along well in Malfeas for years off the story of the time he ate an entire library that belonged to a Solar. He hasn't been summoned for more than a day or two since then, so until he ran away with Silla he was woefully behind the times. These days, Silla keeps him in a practical paradise for an aalu, feeding him students' papers to grade and bits of her own poetry as treats. In return, he helps her out here and there, often providing his fine paper-silk for Silla's transcription of books for her library.

Heart's Blood 4

• Animal Forms: Black stallion, great roc, flying serpent, trout, bangi fly, eight-tailed mole hound, desert mouse, quetzal, tiger, simhata, tree-singer, siaka, cheetah, octopus
• Human Forms: All acolytes (see below); a middle-aged Southern woman; a pretty, young Nexan woman; a scarred Dune Woman
• Demon Forms: Neomah, teodozjia, agatae, noresore, aalu (an old rival of Beezelbub's), bisclavaret, naneke

Reputation 4

• Performed impressively during her trials
• A respected (and feared) scholar
• Stole the Book of Three Circles from Raksi

Henchmen 3 (Enlightened Acolytes)

• Asphodel, the Defining Acolyte

Silla's first acolyte, the extremely intelligent daughter of a Delzahn noble. Keen and ambitious, clearly hungers for an Exaltation herself. Was once a Dereth for the social standing aspects, but has abandoned that lifestyle since leaving Chiaroscuro. Was with Silla in Mahalanka.

• Lamia (The Iron Queen), the Warden Acolyte

Previously the leader of one of the Jackal Tribes, daughter of the god of the Diamond Road. Knows many secrets of the South from her wanderings.

• Sudden Thunder, the Indulgent Acolyte

The finest mortal artist and poet in Marukan, a charming, wandering bard with his faithful horse. Now married to Asphodel.

• Fisher of Men, the Messenger Acolyte

A social worker from Great Forks, taught free literacy classes at the temple of his god. Evangelical about education, does administration.

• Stargazer Shade, the Reflective Acolyte

A graduate of the Jade Sickle Academy of Husbandry from the Lap, an expert in genealogy and breeding. A patrician, too intelligent and too far in the Threshold to buy the Immaculate faith entirely. Interested in the origin of eight-tailed mole hounds.

• Blood Runs Cold, the Expressive Acolyte

A retired gladiator from Gem, ran the best school for gladiators until Silla stole him away. An amateur philosopher and brutal fighter, a student of historical treatises on conflict.

• Blind Thebe, the Acolyte of Wisdom

An old woman, a mortician wooed away from her Order in the interests of gaining favor with the Exalted. Has the collected wisdom of the dead.

• Light of Hidden Flowers, the Constructive Acolyte

An innovative researcher, focuses on the application of knowledge. Travelled from the River Province to find Silla, an accomplished graduate of Nexus University who was exiled for prying into the Solar tombs. Specializes in enchantment and craft assistance- possibly helps Kimiko?

Artifact 3 (Shivers of Transfixtion)

These moonsilver short daiklaves are long, slender knives, almost completely unadorned and appearing as little more than sharp slivers of moonlight. Although they individually have the stats of normal short daiklaves, they were made as a pair: when wielded together, they have an additional power. Whenever the Shivers successfully damage a target, the wielder may choose to reduce one of the target's Virtues by one, minimum one. This is a Crippling effect and cannot reduce a target's Virtues below the minimums required for the Great Curse. Each Virtue heals naturally at the rate of one point a day.

Library 5

This represents the recorded knowledge that Silla has collected over her years as an Exalt. It includes the best of the commonly-available tomes on a huge array of subjects, as well as a handful of extremely rare treatises. These include The Genesis of Heathen Ritual, from which Silla learned the majority of her thaumaturgy. Also present is a copy of The Black and White Treatise, as well as The Book of Bone and Ebony raided from a nephwrack's lair. Silla also has an impressive collection of editions of A Lover Clad in Blue, a little indulgence of hers. She has been on the lookout for a copy of The Broken-Winged Crane for some time, but at the moment only has fragments. The treasured star of her collection is The Book of Three Circles, stolen from Mahalanka. Silla carries this impressive collection with her in Elsewhere, unfolding it into reality when she has the urge to study.

Knacks

• Changing Plumage Mastery
• Hybrid Body Rearrangement
• Deadly Beastman Transformation

Gazelle's Pace

Fangs (Lethal natural attack)

Enhanced Sense (Tase & Scent)

Armored Hide (+4L/B Soak)

• Humble Mouse Shape
• Towering Beast Form
• Quicksilver Second Face
• Lightning Change Style
• Prey's Skin Disguise
• Green Sun Child
• Compassionate Mirror Nature
• Internal Form Mastery

Charms

• Fury-OK
• Gift

Dexterity

• 2nd DEX Excellency
• Instinctive DEX Unity
• Golden Tiger Stance
• Ferocious Guardian Beast Stance
• Heron Sheds Rain
• Vigilant Mastiff Technique
• Wasp Sting Blur
• Wary Swallow Method
• Wind-Dancing Method

Stamina

• 2nd STAM Excellency
• Relentless Lunar Fury
• Bruise-relief Method
• Halting the Scarlet Flow
• Steadfast Yeddim Meditation
• Luna's Fortitude
• Southern Mastery Technique
• Ox-Body Technique x5
• Silver Lunar Resolution x4
• Hide-Toughening Essence
• Durable Battle Mind
• Lightning Starfish Concentration (HFE)

Charisma

• 2nd CHA Excellency
• Instinct Memory Insertion
• Sacred Guardian Renewal
• Thousand Streams Defender
• Shepherd and Sheep Understanding (ECTG)
• Boundary-Marking Meditation
• Essence-Damming Beaver Architecture (ECTG)
• Feral Smile Tactic
• Dog-Tongue Method
• Nature-Reinforcing Allocation
• Sharing the Gifts of Luna
• Wolf Pack Training Technique

Manipulation

• 2nd MAN Excellency

Appearance

• Hide of the Cunning Hunter

Perception

• 2nd PER Excellency
• Eye and Fingertip Wisdom
• Holistic Knowledge Transmission
• Wyld-Sensing Instincts
• Outland-Navigating Guile
• Sense-Borrowing Method
• Watchful Spider Stance
• Blood on the Wind
• Eye of the Cat
• Instinctive Essence Prediction
• All-Encompassing Sorcerer's Sight

Intelligence

• 2nd INT Excellency
• Instinctive INT Unity
• Silver Protector Procedures (HFE) (Alchemy, Geomancy, Husbandry)
• Inevitable Genius Insight
• Instruction in Leaf and Bone (ECTG)
• Lesson of the Learned Ape (ECTG)
• Righteous Lion Defense (Kimiko)
• Luna's Light Awakened (ECTG)
• Moon and Earth Blessing
• Shaman and Acolyte Lodge (TDO)
• Argent Muse Approach
• Lessons in the Blood
• Counting the Elephant's Wrinkles

Wits

• 2nd WITS Excellency
• The Spider's Trapdoor
• Thieving Magpie Prana
• Many Pockets Meditation
• Implausible Lunar Panoply

Combos

Argent Blade-Dancer Technique

• 2nd DEX Excellency
• Wary Swallow Method
• Wind-Dancing Method
• Ferocious Guardian Beast Stance
• Heron Sheds Rain

Something Wicked This Way Comes

• 2nd PER Excellency
• Wyld-Sensing Instincts

Watchdog's Vigil

• 2nd PER Excellency
• Watchful Spider Stance

Long, Slow Smile

• 2nd CHA Excellency
• Feral Smile Tactic

Spells

Terrestrial Circle Sorcery

• Emerald Countermagic
• Summon First Circle Demon
• Emerald Banishment
• Conjuring the Azure Chariot
• Infallible Messenger
• Dragon of Smoke and Flame

Celestial Circle Sorcery

• Sapphire Countermagic
• Raise the Puissant Sanctum
• The Faithful Ally
• Gift of Knowledge
• Shadows of the Ancient Past
• Servant of Infallible Location

Thaumaturgy

• Art of Alchemy (Master)
• Art of Astrology (Master)
• Art of the Dead (Master)
• Art of Demon Summoning (Master)
• Art of Elemental Summoning (Master)
• Art of Enchantment (Master)
• Art of Geomancy (Master)
• Art of Husbandry (Master)
• Art of Spirit Beckoning (Master)
• Art of Warding and Exorcism (Master)
• Art of Weather-Working (Master)

Essence

• Essence: 4
• Personal: 20

Current: 20

• Peripheral: 52 (92)

Current: 72

• Committed to Charms: 5m (Library), 6m (Watchful Spider)
• Committed to artifacts: 6m (Daiklaves), 3m (Lamellar)
• Willpower: 8
• Anima status: Quiescent

Virtues

• Compassion: 2

Current channels: (2/2)

• Conviction: 4

Current channels: (4/4)

• Temperance: 2

Current channels: (2/2)

• Valor: 5

Current channels: (5/5)

Flawed Virtue

• Conviction: Curse of the Hungry Wolverine

Conflict

Physical (Human)

• Join Battle: 6
• Dodge DV: 6
• Parry DV (Short daiklaves): 8
• Soak (Lamellar): 12L/14B/9A
• Hardness (Lamellar): 5L/B

Attack

• Short daiklaves: Accuracy 19, Speed 4, Damage 8L, Rate 4
• Punch: Accuracy 9, Speed 5, Damage 4B, Rate 3
• Clinch: Accuracy 8, Speed 6, Damage 4B (P), Rate 1

Movement

• Move: 5
• Dash: 11

Physical (Warform)

• Join Battle: 6
• Dodge DV: 7
• Parry DV: 9
• Soak (Lamellar): 16L/19B/9A
• Hardness (Lamellar): 5L/B

Attack

• Short daiklaves: Accuracy 20, Speed 4, Damage 9L, Rate 4
• Punch: Accuracy 10, Speed 5, Damage 5B, Rate 3
• Clinch: Accuracy 9, Speed 6, Damage 5B (P), Rate 1

Movement

• Move: 10
• Dash: 16

Social

• Join Debate: 6
• Dodge MDV: 8 (9 when protecting Intimacies)

3 (vs. Kimiko)

• Parry MDV:

Health Levels

-0
-1, -1
-2, -2, -2, -2, -2, -2
-2, -2, -2, -2, -2, -2
-2, -2, -2, -2, -2, -2
-2, -2, -2, -2
-4
Incapacitated
Dying (x15)

Personality

Though Silla's casually martial demeanor can be intimidating at first glance, most people find her a remarkably pleasant and engaging conversationalist once approached. Silla is extremely curious about everyone and everything, and has often been known to chat with strangers long into the night. Despite her interest in the common man, she can sometimes come across as a bit aloof towards those who aren't currently piquing her curiosity- a trait remnant from her time as a spoiled little Hell princess. Likewise, Silla loves luxury and revels in beautiful clothing and the finest delicacies; but luckily for her finances, Silla considers even an ordinary Creation peach or plum to be a rare treat (though she still has a soft spot for candied locusts and chalcanth from time to time). On a more fundamental level, Silla's morality can sometimes be hard to pin down. She has few qualms about breaking social contracts or promises, but has a strict code of duelist's honor on the battlefield. She believes that all sentient beings are improved by education, but sometimes overlooks the fact that her students are living in the gutters. Above all, however, Silla is extremely protective of those people and things she holds dear and would gladly throw herself on a sword to protect them.

History

The only daughter of Sondok, warden soul of Malfeas, Silla was raised in Hell, sequestered away in her mother's fortress-manse. As her mother's only weakness, she was kept in isolated luxury, tended by demonic servants and only occasionally visited by her over-protective mother. Sondok was thorough in seeing to Silla's martial education, but she was always thirsty for knowledge and wasn't content with the ignorant tutors her mother provided. To satisfy her curiosity, Silla hatched a plan. She managed to catch the attention of a passing aalu, and through a judicious application of epic poetry managed to convince him to write her some papers about the outside world and slip it through her barred windows in exchange for her own poetry. Through this ongoing exchange, Silla finally learned about Creation and soon hungered to see it for herself.

Things finally came to a head when Biryu, Sondok's companion who had been tasked with Silla's protection, discovered Silla's stash of writings and was furious that she had been illicitly communicating with the outside world. When he went to destroy the papers in his rage, Silla could take it no more and attacked him. Though Silla was only a mortal, her mother's training served her well and she slew Biryu after a long and bloody battle. In the confused aftermath, she grabbed her most precious possessions and fled out into Malfeas proper. She quickly went to her only friend, Beezelbub, the aalu who had been writing to her all this time. He was fearful for his own life after hearing her story and the two of them swiftly resolved to find a way out of Malfeas. Through a few shady deals, they managed to get the location of a crack out of Malfeas and set off across the desert of Cecelyne. The road was long and hard, particularly for Silla who was no longer protected from Hell's malaise. Nonetheless, she soldiered on through the many perils, determined to see Creation, and eventually they emerged in the dodgy undercity of Chiaroscuro.

At first, Silla was confused- Creation was nothing like the shining, perfect world she had read about. It fairly immediately became apparent that the texts Beezelbub had been producing for Silla were older than she thought- they had in fact come from a First Age library that Beezelbub had been commanded to eat many years ago by a lazy Solar scholar. He had never mentioned this fact, thinking it unimportant, but to Silla it was the biggest disappointment of her life. But when she wiped the tears from her face, she vowed to herself that, even if the world was not how she thought it was, she would damn well make the best of it. At that moment, she Exalted as a Chosen of Luna. She was quickly retrieved by the Silver Pact, since they have a large presence in Chiaroscuro. Though Silla was clever enough to conceal the important detail of her heritage, many Lunars were nonetheless disturbed that she had been raised in Malfeas. She set some of these concerns to rest by performing very well during her Trials, though the elders had a hard time deciding whether she should be caste as a Full Moon (for her direct, martial approach to problems) or as a No Moon (for her driving thirst for knowledge). Eventually it was decided that she should be a No Moon, though those who were advocating Full Moon were allowed to name her (they chose Sword Swings True).

Silla spent the first year after her Exaltation collecting as much knowledge as she could, hoarding precious texts and data crystals and luxuriating in her new-found freedom. Her efforts eventually attracted the attention of Raksi, who offered her the opportunity to study in Mahalanka in exchange for a year of service. Though Silla happily accepted at first, she was horrified by the City of Golden Delights when she arrived. Even worse, upon meeting Raksi she saw many similarities between herself and the ancient, mad Lunar- primarily the hoarding of knowledge. Over the year she was obliged to serve Raksi, she became determined to never become a hoarding, jealous witch like Raksi. When she finally fled Mahalanka, Silla had decided that her utmost calling was to teach, and to found a city of learning better than Sperimin of old. The only problem was that she had no desire or intention of actually ruling a city. Taking her now-impressive collection of tomes and knowledge with her, she set off to find her Solar- who, her ancient texts informed her, would have a natural talent for such things...

The Circle

Flickering Talons

Silla is very curious about Talons and her mysterious backstory, but has enough social grace not to ask about it outright. She certainly respects Talons' martial prowess, especially her martial arts- an area that Silla knows relatively little about. Silla also approves of Talons' devotion to her mate, but in a way that isn't as condescending as that sounds.

Mnemon Kimiko

Of all her friends, Silla holds Kimiko closest to her heart. Her attitude towards her Solar mate can be described as both protective and casually subservient, with a hefty dose of sexual tension from time to time. Silla enjoys few things more than researching with Kimiko or aiding her with her projects and will often drop anything else in favor of those activities. Silla buys into the First Age view of Solar/Lunar relationships wholeheartedly (that is, a Lunar should serve their Solar first and foremost): Kimiko's friends are Silla's friends, and Kimiko's enemies her enemies.

Sirian Khan

Silla is very fond of Khan, especially appreciating his sense of style and his notable accomplishments. She has expressed a wish to learn more about the workings of a bureaucracy from him, but has yet to find the time to learn more than the very basics. Silla also likes the Subtle Sisters and is always happy to help them with their missions when/if they don't want to bother Khan for help.

Taiya

Though Silla's relationship to Taiya can sometimes be strained over her disagreements with Kimiko, Silla gets along very well with her when her Solar isn't around. Silla enjoys helping Taiya train Harborhead's troops and fundamentally just meshes well with Taiya's martial personality- except for one thing. Silla is pretty rubbish when it comes to discipline (she's better at solo fighting) and gets mildly peeved at being ordered around by anyone other than Kimiko.

Thorns of the Rose

Thorns is Silla's partner-in-crime. Though the two have little in common in the way of skills, they've been friends for a while now and have bonded over shared experiences. Of all the Circle, Thorns is most likely to be Silla's casual drinking partner.

Apotheosis

Group Legend

• One epic change to Creation achieved by the Circle:
  

The Realm got booted out of Harborhead.

• One faction in the setting that cannot ignore this epic accomplishment:
  

The Realm is going WTF at the Solars who just booted them out of their equivalent of Iraq.

• One faction which profits from the epic change:
  

Ahlat and the Harborheadites are grinning all around.

• One faction which is badly hurt by the change:
  

The Realm has had its second big defeat in the Threshold. Pundits are calling Taiya "Cow of the South", given that she's the most visible Solar of the group and her close affiliation with Ahlat.

• Up to three factions or setting elements who are irrelevant to the campaign:
  

No Alchemicals.

Personal Legend

• One incident in which their Limit Break caused problems for another PC:

After Thorns and Silla stole the Book of Three Circles from Raksi, Silla Limit Broke and tried to claim the Book for herself. After she came out of it, she relented and apologized to Thorns, but this probably put a strain on their relationship for a while.

• One ally of the Circle. This ally will be closest to the character of the player choosing them, but should have tension or conflict with another PC:

Cathak Setod, former Pinnacle of the Wyld Hunt, who gladly surrendered to Silla once he received the news (mid-battle) that he had been replaced by Peleps Deled.

• One enemy defeated by the PC:

Raksi...sort of. After Silla left Mahalanka, she ran into Thorns and together the two hatched a plan to steal the Book of Three Circles from the Queen of Fangs. Silla fought Raksi to a standstill while Thorns used the distraction to nick the Book and run. Raksi was furious, and her repeated attempts to recover the book have led to both Silla and Thorns heading South to get away from the mad elder Lunar.

• One living enemy of the Circle:

Sondok is less than pleased that her daughter ran off and "joined" the Incarnae.

• An NPC who owes the PC a debt:

The Perfect of Paragon; Silla trains his kids and/or most promising savants

• An NPC whom the PC owes a debt:

Silla owes someone from one of her past lives!

• A major change to the setting:

Silla has made several copies of the contents of the Book of Three Circles and has them available for public viewing in Harborhead's savant district. No doubt Raksi's minions have taken a copy, which Silla quickly replaced.

• A minor change to the setting:

Harborhead is now mostly self-sufficient, thanks to Silla's Moon and Earth Blessing.

Goals

• Make New Harborhead into an awesome center of education
• Retrieve Kimiko's masterpiece
• Collect legendary First Age artifacts (possibly for a museum)
• Become adept in all fields of study
• Have words with Sondok about her failed upbringing
• Find out more about her father