Character:Nuwa

Nuwa
Dawn Caste sword-saint

A young woman whose face reflects her mixed Southern and Eastern heritage with tanned skin and almond eyes. Clad in the traditional fighting robes shared by several orders of martial monks she might be thought one of the Immaculate Order if not for her long black hair, which she ties back with hair clips of carved wood. Matched by the color of her clothes her forest green eyes are calm and compassionate, reminiscent of a still pool of water deep in the woods. The only adornment she wears is a pendant carved into the form of an opening flower which she carries on a piece of string around her neck. At her side she carries two old, slightly curved swords of mortal manufacture but great quality.

Motivation

To free the people of the east from false prophets and tyranny so they can find their way to enlightenment.

Intimacies

The Noble Path leads to enlightenment and the Art of the Sword guides my steps.
My sifu, Wisdom of the East Wind, is like a father to me.
Wherever possible I must avoid needless deaths, but for some people reincarnation is the only way they will learn.

Anima

When Nuwa taps into peripheral essence her castemark shimmers in rose-tinged gold. With further expenditures the cloak of her Anima becomes visible, a deep gold suffused by the glorious red of the sunrise that surrounds her as a coruscating aura. At its maximum it coalesces into its iconic form, a ring of flying blades high over Nuwa's head - the Crown of Swords, a banner that has struck fear into the hearts of her opponents since times immemorial.

Attributes

PHYSICAL: Strength 5, Dexterity 5, Stamina 4
SOCIAL: Charisma 5, Manipulation 1, Appearance 3
MENTAL: Perception 4, Intelligence 3, Wits 5

Abilities

Caste Abilities

Martial Arts 5 (Unarmed +1), Melee 6 (Swords +3), War 3 --- [7 BP]

Favored Abilities

Integrity 4, Presence 5, Resistance 3, Lore 3, Medicine 4, Athletics 3, Awareness 5 (Join Battle +1) --- [6.5 BP]

Unfavored Abilities

Performance 1, Survival 1, Craft (Wood) 2, Investigation 2, Occult 2, Linguistics 3 (Forest-tongue, Riverspeak, Old Realm, Low Realm), Socialize 1

Backgrounds

Face 3

Nuwa's name is well known among practitioners of the martial arts across the East. Her reputation began as that of a teen prodigy when she won her first contest at the age of 15 and was given the affectionate name of 'East Wind's Iron Blossom' by the presiding master. Since then as her talent matured and her mastery of the blade grew this reputation has steadily increased. News of the bitter triumph over the Glorious Saint of Blood-Stained Steel, the hard lessons she gave to the godblooded High-Flying Silver and Steady Iron Heart and her other exploits of the past few months have spread quickly through the martial arts world. Among some her name is tainted by her Anathema nature, but her flawless skill none can deny.

Heirloom 1

The Rose's Thorns, a set of paired swords, were a gift to Nuwa from her sifu Wisdom of the Eastern Wind when she left his dojo behind to learn from the world. Originally forged by a Shogunate master smith the red-tinged blades represent the very pinnacle of mortal craft and art and are no less sharp today than when they first saw the light of day almost a thousand years ago. It is said that five times five gods of war and conflict, among them the Maiden of Battles herself, were petitioned to bless the swords and empower the thaumaturgic rituals upon them. The hilts, being of lesser resistance against the ages than the blades, were recently recreated from a rare red wood from the far eastern jungles by Wisdom of the Eastern Wind. Properly treated this wood creates a bond between the weapon and its bearer akin to the attunement of an Exalt's magical weapon.
The Rose's Thorns are in rules terms a pair of perfect straight swords (Spd 4, Acc +4, Dmg +3L, Def +2, Rate 3). However as mortal weapons they do not possess the indestructibility of artifact weapons.

Artifact 2

The silksteel fighting robes Nuwa was gifted by the warrior monks of Varsi are her second most valuable possession and the only luxury she allows herself. Originally she was embarrassed when the monks offered the artifact to her, especially since they had marked it with a stylized Crown of Blades in the place of a mon. But upon consideration she did not want to deny them the gesture and the peace of mind it would allow them - and from a realistic perspective the robes were much less restricting than the buff jacket she had worn previously. She still keeps the old armor, knowing that it too has its uses, but day to day she can always be seen in the miraculously always clean silk robes.

Mentor 1

Born a Dynast and raised on the Blessed Isle as a member of the Immaculate Order V'neef Tokaro journeyed far and wide serving the Order. During one of these travels he met an old man sitting under a tree, surrounded by students. Curiously he joined them and soon realized with sadness that the man's teachings were heresy to the Immaculate Doctrine. But no matter how eloquently he argued, no matter how much essence he poured into his words to change the mind of these mere mortal, he could not change their minds. And after a time he discovered that the old man's questions revealed deeply hidden flaws in his beliefs, gaps that required better answers. A year later Tokaro returned to the Blessed Isle to share his newfound wisdom, the revelation of the Noble Path of which the Immaculate Faith was a mockery twisted by politics, with his fellow Immaculates. But he was not well received and Wisdom of the East Wind as he now called himself to reject his former allegiances had to flee as an apostate to the Order. In the woods of the south-eastern forests he founded a monastery and invited scholars, thinkers and fighters all to join him in seeking enlightenment.
Many years later while ensuring the safety of the blooming monastery's lands he found a young girl, half starved and close to death, who would soon become as a daughter to him. Certainly his pride was that of a parent as her star rose among the initiates of the martial arts and she took readily to the lessons of wisdom he had inherited from the old mortal man that had been his own teacher. But the time has come for her to see the world for herself. Maybe one day she will return, ready to take up his mantle as a teacher.

Merits and Flaws

[-3 BP]

Enemy 2

The Glorious Saint of Blood-Stained Steel has not forgotten his shame. It burns in his heart like poisonous fire, waiting to be unleashed once he is ready to face Nuwa again. Nothing less than her death can erase his failure and prove himself worthy of his master's faith - but perhaps breaking her body and mind, enslaving her to the same darkness that commands him and making her the spear point of his future crusade will be even better. Even while weighing these options the Saint has spent the last few months honing his skills and mastering the new gifts his Deathlord has bestowed on him. Nothing shall keep him from enacting justice!

Known Anathema 2

In her travels Nuwa has disdained the paranoia that afflicts many of the Lawgivers returned into an age that fears and hates them. While does not needlessly flare her Anima she does not hesitate or reconsider should the circumstances require more strength than she can manage with subtlety. Not doing what is right for fear that she might be hurt, she argues, would be worse than dying in the pursuit of a noble cause. Consequently tales of a woman with the power of the morning sun and crowned by swords have spread far, not rarely mentioning her name as well. Nuwa has even gone so far as to argue philosophy with monks of the Order of the Immaculate Dragons, not denying her nature when asked (but not going out of her way to bring up the subject either).

Prodigy:Melee 2 & Legendary Ability: Melee 2

Ever since she first laid hands on a blade Nuwa has known that the sword was her destiny and even as a mortal she has shown extraordinary talent with such weapons, instinctively knowing techniques that only a master of many decades should have any right to understand. It is no accident that the Exaltation that came upon her was that bearing the Anima of the Crown of Blades, renowned for its affinity for the sword in every incarnation since before the Primordial War.

Diminished Social Attribute: Manipulation -3

Growing up in the sheltered environment of a monastery Nuwa was late to discovering the concept of lying and having been taught the value of truth from a young age has never much practiced it. As a consequence she would likely be the epitome of obviousness if she tried.

Charms

[17.5 BP]

Melee

Call the Blade (1m, call your weapon to your hand from Ess*10 meters away)
Summoning the Loyal Steel (1m, banish your weapons to Elsewhere)
Dipping Swallow Defense (2m, use full PDV against one attack)
Bulwark Stance (5m, negate all penalties to PDV for one action)
Heavenly Guardian Defense (4m, perfect defense with the Temperance Flaw)
Fivefold Bulwark Stance (5m, 1wp, DV penalties for actions reduced by 1, no onslaught penalties)
Eye of the Storm Meditation (--, FFBS also negates coordinated attacks and Surprise-Anticipation Method can be used for free)
Glorious Solar Weaponry (6m, 1wp, turn mortal weapons into an instrument worthy of a Solar swordmaster)
Master's Subtle Edge (+4m, add Ess in damage and the Piercing tag to Glorious Solar Weaponry)
Hungry Tiger Technique (1m, double attack threshold successes for purposes of damage)
Merciful Bodhisattva Attitude (3m, turn a killing stroke into an incapacitating one)

Presence

Irresistible Salesman Spirit (3m, double successes of a Presence roll)
Truth Shines Like The Sun (3m, leave listeners unable to doubt your truthfulness, UMI, 3wp to resist)

Integrity

Temptation-Resisting Stance (6m, add Temperance to mental DVs)
Righteous Lion Defense (--, going against a chosen Intimacy is an unacceptable order)

Resistance

Ox-Body Technique (--, gain -1, -2, -2 Healthlevels)

Medicine

Wound-Mending Care (10m, roll Int+Med, heal sux HL at the end of the day, if patient rests heal sux+Ess HL)

Athletics

Graceful Crane Stance (3m, gain perfect balance)

Awareness

Surprise-Anticipation Method (1m, be aware of any mortal danger and surprise attack)

Linguistics

Sagacious Reading of Intent (3m, perfectly understand a speaker or writer's intentions, perfect social defense if those are inimical to Motivation)

Essence & Health

Essence: 5 --- [14 BP]
Personal: 23/23
Peripheral: 53/53 (55)
Committed to Charms: None
Committed to Artifacts: 2m peripheral (Silken Armor)
Anima Status: None

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

Willpower

OOOOO OOO (Willpower 8/8)

Mental Dodge DV: 8

Virtues

[3 BP] Compassion: 4 - Strength is only a virtue when it is used to protect the weak and for the benefit of all.
Conviction: 2 - Don't focus on your goals to the point of obsession - you will lose sight of the big picture.
Temperance: 4 - Worldly desires and attachments are the source of all suffering. Free yourself from them.
Valor: 2 - Courage means facing your fears, not self-aggrandizing quests for glory.

Limit Break

Ascetic Drive
When the pressure becomes too great Nuwa often leaves her material possessions behind and retreats into seclusion to meditate far away from worldly affairs.

Limit Condition: Being confronted with her own failures and human weaknesses.
Limit: ----- -----

Equipment & Combat

Join Battle: 11
DDV: 5
Soak: 7L/7B/5A

Punch: Spd 5, Acc 12, Dmg 5B, PDV 7, Rate 3
Kick: Spd 5, Acc 11, Dmg 8B, PDV 6, Rate 2
Clinch: Spd 6, Acc 11, Dmg 5B (P), Rate 1
Wooden Stick: Spd 4, Acc 15, Dmg 8B, PDV 8, Rate 3

The Rose's Thorns (unmodified): Spd 4, Acc 18, Dmg 8L, PDV 8, Rate 3
The Rose's Thorns (w/ GSW): Spd 4, Acc 22, Dmg 8L, PDV 10, Rate 4
The Rose's Thorns (w/ GSW+MSE): Spd 4, Acc 22, Dmg 13L (P), PDV 10, Rate 4

History

Nuwa's memories of her early childhood are vague. Her mother's love, the feeling of safety in her father's arms, a place she only knows as 'home'. Then there's the frightening images of her father returning home with fear in his eyes one day, her mother helping her to pack her toys and then a hasty flight from home. A succession of strange and foreign places follows in her mind's eye as the young family travels far and wide, never staying in one place for more than a few days. But clearest in her memories are the moments as her mother admonishes her to wait while she and father go to take care of something and the awful feeling of abandonment as even after hours and then days neither of them returns to her.

Subsequently, so she has been told, she was found close to death by a group of monks, among them Wisdom of the Eastern Wind who saved Nuwa and brought her with him back to his monastery. A time of safety and learning followed and as the years passed Nuwa found some happiness again among the eclectic collection of monks, philosophers and martial artists her surrogate father had gathered around him. From the scholars she learned lessons of writing and history, the wise instructed her in the teachings of the Noble Path that leads to the cessation of suffering, and the warrior monks taught her the arts martial. It was in that last field that her true talent was found as she learned with astonishing speed not just the physical but also the metaphysical aspects of the arts. Her aptitude for the sword in particular was shown to be extraordinary as she won her first tournament at the age of 15, surpassing even much more experienced fighters. And since then her talent has only blossomed more and more.

At the age of 20 Nuwa and her teachers both came to the conclusion that it would do Nuwa good to leave the monastery behind and wander through the world for a time. In that way she would be able to learn more of Creation than was possible staying at her new home, and benefit from the wisdom of different and perhaps even greater masters. Privately her hope was also that she might discover something about her parents, find the traces they left or maybe even find them alive and well somewhere. However the lessons the world had to teach were horrific to the naive young woman. People outside the monastery and the lands under its protection were beset by bandits, monsters and most often of all pitiable poverty, they lied and stole and murdered, and they laughed when she told them this was not the way to enlightenment. Many times she had to demonstrate her skills with the blade to protect herself or someone else from the depredations of the wicked or desperate, more than once ending in death. And that she had killed only in self-defense was of small comfort to Nuwa, who strained to keep to the Noble Path's purity and avoidance of violence.

But the greatest upheaval in her life was still to come. As Nuwa guested at a friendly master's dojo in Varsi the Deathknight calling himself The Glorious Saint of Blood-Stained Steel attacked, seeking to test his new hammer on the martial artists in attendance. Among the burning ruins of the dojo and the shattered bodies of her hosts Nuwa met the Saint with bright steel in her hands and the calm acceptance of death in her heart, for she fought not for herself or glory but for every man or woman that might be able to flee while she held the monster off. And though the Deathknight broke bones and dealt terrible damage with every successful strike Nuwa's virtuous cause gave her strength and she managed to cut him as well, once, twice, thrice. Taunting her the so-called Saint asked her why she even tried, why she risked her life when she could not win - after all he had died once before and yet here he stood. Just then in a moment of transcendent brilliance Nuwa saw a way, a move that would send the Abyssal back into the screaming void that had spawned him. And she began executing the maneuver, pushing the limits of mortal ability to the utmost and penetrating the Deathknight's defenses in a way he had never before considered. But as the Dark Exalt stumbled backwards in shock, grasping at the wound at his throat Nuwa spoke in reply, surrounded by rose-tinged golden light: "It is not your death I seek, to reduce the suffering in the world that is my goal. But I can see that you suffer as well, that pain drives you to violence." And she withdrew her sword, having deliberately missed the deadly stroke by fractions of an inch. "But suffering can cease. Let me instruct you." The Saint however, blinded by fear and misconceptions, fled.

Personality

Six months of wandering through Creation, of seeing its lowest depths and its highest heights, have left their mark on Nuwa. No longer is she the naive young woman who walked out the gates of the monastery and did not understand why anyone would lie or commit crimes against her neighbor. But while she has accepted that living in the world is more difficult than it is in a sheltered monastery that is to her mind only more reason to hold on to her ethics, even if they seem plainly unreasonable to most everybody else. And so Nuwa keeps speaking the truth no matter how inconvenient, helping anyone she can and assuming the best of people. She tolerates no tyranny over the mind or the body, as that impedes the ability of the individuals in question to find their way to enlightenment.

Though she approaches many matters with great seriousness Nuwa is quick to laugh in circumstances of less consequence and not having seen much of the world yet remains curious about many of its aspects. Humbleness she sees as a great virtue and she is very aware that despite her skill she has not yet attained the wisdom that marks a true master, though realistically in the absence of one any help or guidance that she can give will have to do.

BP & XP

XP gained: 0
XP spent: 0
XP unspent: 0

Miscellaneous

Custom Charms

Glorious Solar Weaponry
Cost: 6m, 1wp; Mins: Melee 4, Ess 2; Type: Simple
Keywords: Combo-OK, Touch, Obvious
Duration: One Scene
Prerequisites: Call the Blade
In the hands of a Solar weaponsmaster even the most humble of weapons can become a formidable force. This charm infuses the Solar's Anima into her weapons, strengthening the attunement or creating one where there was none before in the case of mortal weaponry. The Lawgiver gains her Essence in points to spread between Accuracy, Damage, Defense and Rate - this counts as a weapon bonus and is not subject to the dice cap. Once set the boni are always distributed in the same way. In addition her weapons gain one of the following properties (additional ones can be added at the cost of 2xp each or 1 BP for two of them):

• Touch of Divinity: Mortal weapons so favored gain the Magical Material bonus of Orichalkum and become as indestructible as artifact weapons.
• Solar Blessing: The Lawgiver's weapons gain the implicit blessing of her patron Sol Invictus and burn His enemies with terrible fire. All attacks made with them against Creatures of Darkness gain the Holy keyword.
• Loyalty to the Master: No weapon will leave the hand of a Solar weaponsmaster unless she wills it. All attempts to disarm her fail automatically.
• Sainted Blade: While Glorious Solar Weaponry is active the cost of Merciful Bodhisattva Attitude is reduced by the Lawgiver's Compassion. If this would reduce the cost to a negative number, she gains that number of motes every time she uses that Charm instead of killing an opponent.

This Charm becomes Obvious only when the weaponry's unusual properties are revealed - when a weapon withstands impossible stresses, burns a demon with holy light or a perfectly executed disarm maneuver inexplicably fails.

Master's Subtle Edge
Cost: -- (4m); Mins: Melee 5, Ess 3; Type: Permanent
Keywords: None
Duration: Permanent
Prerequisites: Glorious Solar Weaponry
Defenses are as nothing to the weapons of the Lawgivers. This charm permanently enhances Glorious Solar Weaponry. In addition to its normal effects the affected weapons gain the Piercing Tag and their damage rating is increased by the Lawgiver's Essence. This requires the commitment of four additional motes when activating Glorious Solar Weaponry.

Merciful Bodhisattva Attitude
Cost: 3m; Mins: Melee 5, Ess 2; Type: Reflexive (Step 10)
Keywords: Combo-OK, Obvious
Duration: Instant
Prerequisites: Any Melee Excellency
The Lawgivers can be merciful in their judgement. This charm is invoked when a melee attack would otherwise kill its target and reduces the damage so the Exalt's opponent is brought to Incapacitated but no further. Even the most devastating attacks leave behind only a thin, white scar, forever marking the opponent as one whose life was spared by the Lawgiver. Neither bleeding nor infections are allowed to prove the Exalt's mercy a lie - both are completely negated by the Charm.
In addition Mercyful Bodhisattva Attitude has the following permanent effect: Striking a nonlethal blow with a weapon that deals lethal damage or striking to mark or maim instead of kill carries no external penalty to the attack. This effect requires no invocation of the Charm itself.

Eye of the Storm Meditation
Cost: --; Mins: Melee 5, Ess 3; Type: Permanent
Keywords: None
Duration: Permanent
Prerequisites: Fivefold Bulwark Stance, Surprise Anticipation Method or Reflex-Sidestep Technique
Even in the chaos and fury of a great battle the Solar weaponsmaster stays calm and retains absolute awareness of her surroundings. No feints or insidious tricks can distract her or find holes in her defense. This charm permanently enhances Fivefold Bulwark Stance in the following ways: As long as the Charm is active the Lawgiver is never subject to unexpected attacks from being surrounded by enemies and all penalties due to coordinated attacks are negated. Against surprise attacks from other sources she can employ Surprise-Anticipation Method or Reflex-Sidestep Technique without cost. Finally, while rooting her skill in infinite calm and mindfulness the Exalt may always use her Temperance for Melee actions.

Truth Shines Like The Sun
Cost: 4m; Mins: Presence 4, Ess 3; Type: Reflexive
Keywords: Combo-OK, Social
Duration: Instant
Prerequisites: Any Presence Excellency
When the Lawgivers speak the truth none may doubt them. Whenever the character speaks the truth (as well as she knows it) and someone attempts to judge or otherwise doubt her truthfulness she may activate this Charm. If she is currently making a social attack, add her Temperance in dice to the roll. Regardless of the success or failure of social attacks conveyed by her words disbelieving their honesty requires resisting Unnatural Mental Influence by spending three points of Willpower. If the Lawgiver is misleading by omission only one point of Willpower needs to be spent. This Charm cannot assert the honesty of words the character considers a lie.