Character:Cael

Game: Once_More_With_Feeling.

Cael
Caste: Casteless
Concept: Street Urchin from Nexus

A child of no more than a decade, Cael is scrawny and agile, with skinny arms and legs and clever fingers that make those with scrip guard their wallets. Outside of the East, his blue hair might be unusual; here in Nexus, it's the sharp point of his ears that is more noteworthy. He must have spent too much time in one of the Wyld Zones that blight the poorest sectors of the teeming metropolis. His clothing is ragged, little more than a loin- or breech-cloth hidden under an all-concealing but tattered cape. It's hard to tell and changes depending on what scraps he can find as others get too soiled to wear. The color of the fabric is long washed out to dingy gray, though it might once have been red, long before it fell into this orphan's hands. He seems even smaller than his diminuitive stature would require due to a habit of walking somewhat hunched, defensively; close examination of his back's outline under the draping cloth of a cape hints at either a pack or strange deformity concealed beneath. The most noteworthy thing, however, is the wooden flute he clutches tightly in one hand. It isn't exactly fine, but it is definitely the most valuable thing he seems to own. One might wonder from whom he stole it, especially when a glimpse is caught of the beautiful golden cord that dangles from one end. Cael is often accompanied by one or two handfuls of fellow urchins, though, so actually confronting him before he can scatter into a crowd is unlikely. Despite his obvious poverty, however, someone who manages to observe him for any length of time will note that he seems relatively happy...if often tragically too knowing for a child of his age.

Motivation

To protect the weak from bullies, even if he has to build a safe haven for them, himself.

Intimacies

• His gang of fellow street urchins
• His flute (an ultimately useful tube with an attached orichalcum spell capturing cord)
• His identity (and therefore childhood)
• (still to be chosen)
• (still to be chosen)

Anima

As a Casteless Lunar, Cael's anima power is variable based on the phase of the moon.

His totemic anima banner is a pure white unfolding orchid out of which is emerging a pale hummingbird with plumage nearly colorful under its white purity.

Attributes

PHYSICAL: Strength 3, Dexterity 5 (in and around buildings +3), Stamina 5 (controlling own body +3) (3 bp on +1 stamina, 1 bp on +2 dots of specialty)
SOCIAL: Charisma 3, Manipulation 3, Appearance 4 (specialty as-yet unchosen +1)
MENTAL: Perception 4 (trouble sense +1), Intelligence 5 (old things +1), Wits 5 (streetwise +1)

Abilities

Caste Abilities

(Inapplicable)

Favored Abilities

• Larceny 3 (2 bonus points)
• Survival 3 (2 bonus points)
• Occult 5 (4 bonus points)

Unfavored Abilities

War

• Archery 3
• Athletics 2
• Awareness 2
• Dodge 2
• Integrity 5
• Martial Arts 5
• Resistance 2

Life

• Presence 3
• Socialize 1
• Stealth 5

Wisdom

• Investigation 3
• Lore 2

Backgrounds

Cult 1

Since his Exaltation, Cael has done no small amount of "robin hood" style vigilantism, protecting the weak and innocent from the strong and thuggish in the streets of Nexus. While he's only one little boy in a vast, vast city, some sectors of the poorest parts of Nexus whisper with rumors of the Bronze Beast which tolerates no bullies, and some have begun to privately pray for his protection when they must venture through the most dangerous parts of the city.

Followers 2 (1 bonus point)

Cael was a part of a small (roughly seven or so) gang of kids before he took his second breath. Shortly before his exaltation, the gang lost its leader. Cael has taken on that role since becoming a Steward, and, under his protection, it has grown to nearly twenty members.

Contacts 3: Nexus Underworld (3 bonus points)

This could use more elaboration, but in short, he's a street urchin with a number of his fellows who count on him. Of course he knows a lot of people who know people.

Manse 1: Memorial Iron (1 bonus point)

One of six Manses built (actually, grown) into the sewers of Nexus, this is probably the least. It is the one he has found on his own, however, and he's quite pleased with it. Mechanically, it lets him recover one extra point of Willpower every time he sleeps.

Manse 3: Freedom Stone (3 bonus points)

Under the streets of Nexus, grown into its sewer system via arcane roots and carefully-laid weavings that mysteriously survive the harsh fluids that flow through them, is a network of six manses. Cael was led to this one's hearthstone room by Luna herself as he received his Exaltation. He found another within the last few months, and he knows roughly where the other four are, though he is nervous about hunting them down, for fear of other things he might discover (though he won't admit this). He is disconcerted enough by the knowledge that he just has with no memory of learning it; he isn't sure he wants to bring more of it to the surface on purpose.

Ally 3: Unknown (3 bonus points)

Every now and again, he has a hint of nostalgia or a recollection that "an old friend" could help him with precisely some situation in which he finds himself. Moments later, as he instinctively tries to think of who it might be, other emotions associated with them that make him nervous cause him to shy away, and think of other things to drown out this knowledge.

Artifact 3: Ultimately Useful Tube

The second item he found belonging to him as heir to his Exaltation, this lay beside his sick and dying friend, Emari, when he returned to her immediately after taking his Second Breath. He is unsure where it came from, and somewhat fearful to examine his strange knowledge to see if he knows, but he knows it's his; it was a gift. It is actually two artifacts; the orichalcum spell capturing cord (below) is affixed to it and an inextricable part of it. Three of its flute-holes double as hearthstone sockets.

Artifact 5: Orichalcum Spell Capturing Cord

Affixed to his ultimately useful tube, this greater portion of the combined artifact usually bears a single knot. He has never yet been targeted by hostile sorcery, but he typically keeps a casting of Invulnerable Skin of Bronze knotted into it, so he can call it up at a moment's notice (and without flaring his anima).

Solar Bond 5: Shofei (free)

He has no idea she exists, yet, but meeting her will doubtless change his life.

Knacks

• Humble Mouse Shape (p. 131)
• Emerald Grasshopper Form (p. 131)
• Prey's Skin Disguise (p. 131)
• Life of the Hummingbird (p. 134)
• Deadly Beastman Transformation (p. 136)

Charms

Dexterity

• Graceful Crane Stance (p. 149)
• Light-Footed Mountain Goat Stance (p. 149)
• Finding the Needle's Eye (p.150)
• Diligent Hive Imitation (p. 154)

Stamina

• Ox-Body Technique: 4 extra -2 health levels (p. 156)
• Bruise-Relief Method (p. 159)
• Halting the Scarlet Flow (p. 160)
• Armor-Forming Technique (p. 160)
• Stone Rhino's Skin (p. 160)

Charisma

• Glance-Oration Technique (p. 177)

Intelligence

• Terrestrial Circle Sorcery (p. 190)
  • Demon of the First Circle (p. 252-3 Core)
  • Invulnerable Skin of Bronze (p. 254 Core)
  • Wood Dragon's Claw (p. 254 Core)

Essence

Essence: 4
Personal: 20
Peripheral: 48
Committed: 5

Willpower

10

Virtues

Compassion: 5 (3 bonus points)
Conviction: 2
Temperance: 1
Valor: 5 (3 bonus points)

Limit Break

Curse of the Mother Hen (p. 122)

Equipment

Right Wood Dragon's Claw

Speed 5; Accuracy 16; Damage (5 or 7)L; Parry DV 11, Rate 0
The damage is 5L normally, or 7L if Invulnerable Skin of Bronze is up.

Left Wood Dragon's Claw

Speed 5; Accuracy 22; Damage (5 or 7)L; Parry DV 6; Rate 3

Ultimately Useful Tube with attached golden cord

Stick

Speed 4; Accuracy 14; Damage 6B; Parry DV 7; Rate 3; Martial Arts weapon

Blowgun

Speed 5, Accuracy 13; Damage 1L; Rate 2; Range 30; Piercing; Poison
Each shot costs 1m.
The blue end shoots a sleeping venom: Toxicity 3M; Tolerance -/-; Penalty -0; victims fall asleep for 1 hour if they fail to resist.
The red end shoots Arrow Frog Venom: p. 131 Core

History

Give us at least two or three short paragraphs

Personality

Give at least one short paragraph

Merits and Flaws

Child (-3 points)

A -1 to -3 internal penalty in social situations with adults, depending on their attitudes towards kids. Generally treated like a kid (which is fine, since he is one).

Small (-3 points)

Can't reach the top shelves. -1 effective Strength for using weapons and tools; loses 1 -1 health level.

Health Levels

-0 -1 -2 -2 -2 -2 -2 -2 -4 Incapacitated 7x Dying