Character:Surely-Refulgent Anshu/Tattoos

Game: Once more, with feeling.

Surely-Refulgent Anshu

Anshu with one razor claw extended

Caste: Zenith
Concept: Immaculate monk turned Anathema

Anshu is an attractive but unremarkable-looking man in his late 20s. He continues to dress as a First Coil Immaculate Monk, in a worn but well-cared-for hemp robe minimally adorned with black trim and belted with a simple length of rope, along with a simple pair of sandals and a rice hat. He has gray eyes, is clean shaven and possesses the requisite shaved head of the Order. His claws he hides in the sleeves of his robe, wrapping them with cloth to help conceal their shape; his armor he rolls into a relatively inconspicuous bundle, which he carries with him wherever he goes. His only other possession is a simple wooden begging bowl.

Character Song: Origa - Rise|Lyrics

Motivation

Discover the cause of the madness of the Anathema.

Intimacies

• Justice (+)
• Salamander (Lunar Mate, True Love) (Deceased)
• Cerise (Lunar Mate, True Love) (+)
• The people of Denandsor (+)
• Dhiren (+)
• His vows of diet and personal hygiene (+)
• It is the duty of the Exalted to protect Creation and its people (+)
• The Unconquered Sun (+)

Anima

Burn a corpse for 1m (free at 11+ anima flare). For 10m, glow with the power of the UCS, illuminating the area as if it was noon out to 50 yards. For the remainder of the scene, gain 10B/10L/10A soak vs. attacks from creatures of darkness and add 5 to the minimum damage dice rolled for attacks made on creatures of darkness (automatically activates at 11+ anima flare).

When Anshu's anima becomes iconic, it coalesces into a brilliant gold set of merchant's scales, superimposed on an orichalcum straight-sided daiklave.

Attributes

PHYSICAL: Strength 5†, Dexterity 5†, Stamina 4
SOCIAL: Charisma 5†, Manipulation 3, Appearance 4†
MENTAL: Perception 6†, Intelligence 4, Wits 6†

†Attribute increased by 1 from Potential-Unlocking Tattoos.

Abilities

Caste Abilities

Integrity 5
Performance 6†
Presence 6†
Resistance 5
Survival 4

Favored Abilities

Awareness 5
Dodge 6†
Investigation 6†
Lore 5
Martial Arts 6†
Stealth 4
War 5

Unfavored Abilities

Athletics 4
Linguistics 3 (High & Low Realm, Riverspeak, Forest-tongue)
Sail 4
Thrown 2

†Ability increased by 1 from Potential-Unlocking Tattoos.

Backgrounds

Artifact • (green jade Intimate Resonance Rings)

Attune cost: 2m (from Cerise's mote pools)
This artifact is a set of genital piercings, permanently locked in place in various erogenous zones on Anshu's body.

Cerise can play the link of Essence like a snare, gently strumming to make the rings resonate with the attunement and vibrate against the delicate places in which they are set. This is effectively a medium for Performance-based social attacks to make Anshu indulge in the inevitably resulting physical needs.

Artifact •• (The Mighty Claws of Rumasa Lanan)

Attune Cost: 6m
This set of razor claws, crafted entirely from orichalcum, belonged to a First Age Solar, Rumasa Lanan, who created a martial arts style now lost to the mists of time. An Old Realm inscription along the vambraces reads “The Mighty Claws of Rumasa Lanan”; if his (or her, the inscription gives no clues) tomb or manse could be found, perhaps some of the secrets of the lost style could be rediscovered, but the claws themselves give no clue to the tomb's location.

The razor claws themselves are exquisitely crafted, and the blades can be retracted or extended as a miscellaneous action (as drawing or readying a weapon, both sets of blades can be extended in a single such action), seeming to melt fluidly into the vambraces when not needed.

When the blades are in the extended position, an attuned wielder of the claws can spend 1 mote of Essence to fire one of the blades at an enemy, using the higher of the character's Thrown or Archery abilities. The blades then regrow themselves in the extended position. The fired blades use the same statistics as perfect-quality shuriken with the orichalcum material bonus.

Artifact •••• (orichalcum perfected kata bracers)

Attune Cost: 8m
Perfected kata bracers are prayer strips crafted of a single magical material and curled into bracers. The strips’ sutras are starmetal engravings. When the character activates a Form-type Charm, the sutras inscribed on the bracers glow and lift from the artifact to engulf the character in light for a brief moment. For the rest of the scene, she gains several benefits.

She adds her Essence to the accuracy, damage and defense of her unarmed attacks and of attacks made with the active Form-type Charm’s particular weapons. She may choose to inflict bashing or lethal damage at will and she may parry lethal attacks unarmed. In addition, orichalcum bracers let Solars inflict aggravated damage on creatures of darkness.

Artifact ••••• (Potential-Unlocking Orichalcum Tattoos)

Fine and delicate lines of shimmering orichalcum adorn Anshu's chest and back, taking the shape of his iconic image - a straight-edged daiklave superimposed on a set of golden scales. Hearthstones may be placed into the daiklave's hilt or the weighing pans of the scale.

• Manifest Potential: Anshu gains six specialty dots, one additional dot to six different Abilities or two additional dots to two different Abilities, and one additional dot to six of his Attributes or two dots to two single Attributes. This effect can be completely or partially de-activated and re-activated as a reflexive action.
• Universal Respiration: The Tattoos provide the benefits of three Skin-Mount Amulets, though instead of the hearthstones being set into implanted sockets they simply meld and become one with the wearer's body, their crystallized essence diffused throughout his being.
• Inviolable Destiny: Anshu's Integrity Protecting Prana is made a permanent effect. In addition for all effects that would suppress, negate or otherwise manipulate his own Charms or spells, or his motes, mote pools, Willpower or Virtue channels the difficulty of any rolls to do so increase by the Lawgiver’s Essence. If an effect molests the Solar’s Charms or temporary resources without a roll, that effect automatically fails (see Inviolable Edicts of the Sun, HFoL p. 9).
• The Path to Transcendence: The Lawgiver may transcend the age limitation on raising Permanent Essence, up to two dots beyond what she could usually reach. This means that a Solar who had lived only a mortal life time could raise his Essence to 7, while one only slightly over a century old could attain Essence 8. The character must still train and buy his Essence up with XP normally.

Artifact N/A (DCS Defiance in the Night)

Kireeki-class skyreme, Denandsor Council Ship Defiance in the Night, shared purchase with Ziyad. Has a crew of Enlightened Naval Ratings.

Command • (Pathwalker Disciples)

25 Pathwalkers serving the Ministry of Justice.

Cult ••• (cells of the Cult of the Illuminated)

Anshu is worshiped by a most of Denandsor's farmers, and a not-insignificant portion of worshipers among the city's craftspeople, especially members of the Auxiliaries.

Manse ••• (Stone of Judgement)

The bearer of this smooth cabochon of the finest lapis lazuli gains an uncanny sense for when people lie. If he asks someone whether they committed a crime or other harmful act, the bearer’s player reduces the difficulty of the (Perception + [Investigation or Socialize]) roll to determine the truth of any answer is reduced by -4 (to a minimum of 1). (Oadenol's Codex, pp. 97-98)

This manse is called Anshu's Temple.

Manse ••• (Gem of Sorcery)

Though transparent, this many-pointed crystal has an oily golden sheen and glows with inner light. Once per day, its bearer can reduce the cost of casting a spell by 10 motes.

This manse is called the Tabernacle of the Sun, and the hearthstone is plugged into DCS Defiance in the Night.

Manse •••• (Stone of Airwalking)

This spherical white stone looks like a tiny, solidified cloud. Whenever the bearer of this stone desires, she can walk upon the air instead of the ground. Although she still moves at her normal movement rate, the character can walk safely across water or quicksand by walking on a layer of air lying above the surface. In addition, the character can walk up or down the air as easily as others walk up or down a staircase. With sufficient climbing, the character can walk along miles above the ground. If the character trips or is knocked down, however, she can still fall to her death unless she can get her feet under her; her player must successfully roll (Dexterity + Athletics) at difficulty 3. Also, the stone only allows the character herself to move in this fashion. Any steed she rides must still travel along the ground.

This manse is called The Harmonious Loft.

Lunar Bond ••••• (Eternal Vow, True Love)

Anshu is bonded with Cerise, a No Moon Lunar.

Sifu ••••

Five Days Darkness has/will become Anshu's teacher.

Whispers ••••

Anshu has achieved communion with the Neverborn, and they are not happy with him. However, some of their secrets may yet slip into his mind...

Charms

Athletics

First Athletics Excellency (Exalted, pp. 183-184)
Second Athletics Excellency (pp. 184-185)
Third Athletics Excellency (p. 185)
Infinite Athletics Mastery (pp. 185-187)
Infinite Meditation on Athletics (OMWF Custom)

Awareness

First Awareness Excellency (Exalted, pp. 183-184)
Second Awareness Excellency (pp. 184-185)
Third Awareness Excellency (p. 185)
Infinite Awareness Mastery (pp. 185-187)
Infinite Meditation on Awareness (OMWF Custom)
Infinite Well of Awareness (OMWF Custom)
Awareness Essence Flow (Exalted, p. 187)
Surprise Anticipation Method (p. 226)

Dodge

First Dodge Excellency (pp. 183-184)
Second Dodge Excellency (pp. 184-185)
Third Dodge Excellency (p. 185)
Infinite Dodge Mastery (pp. 185-187)
Infinite Meditation on Dodge (OMWF Custom)
Infinite Well of Dodge (OMWF Custom)
Dodge Essence Flow (Exalted, p. 187)
Shadow Over Water (p. 227)
Reflex Sidestep Technique (p. 227)
Seven Shadow Evasion (p. 227)
Leaping Dodge Method (p. 227)

Investigation

First Investigation Excellency (pp. 183-184)
Second Investigation Excellency (pp. 184-185)
Third Investigation Excellency (p. 185)
Infinite Investigation Mastery (pp. 185-187)
Infinite Meditation on Investigation (OMWF Custom)
Infinite Well of Investigation (OMWF Custom)
Investigation Essence Flow (Exalted, p. 187)

Integrity

First Integrity Excellency (pp. 183-184)
Second Integrity Excellency (pp. 184-185)
Third Integrity Excellency (p. 185)
Infinite Integrity Mastery (pp. 185-187)
Infinite Meditation on Integrity (OMWF Custom)
Infinite Well of Integrity (10m committed, OMWF Custom)
Integrity Essence Flow (Exalted, p. 187)
Integrity-Protecting Prana (p. 199)
Temptation-Resisting Stance (p. 200, permanent upgrade: add WP to DMDV instead of Temp)
Elusive Dream Defense (pp. 200-201)
Transcendent Hero's Meditation (p. 201)
Liberating Hero's Devotion (OMWF Custom)
Sunlight Banishes the Void's Wrath (OMWF Custom)
Phoenix Renewal Tactic (Conviction, Exalted, p. 200)

Linguistics

First Linguistics Excellency (Exalted, pp. 183-184)
Second Linguistics Excellency (pp. 184-185)
Third Linguistics Excellency (p. 185)

Lore

First Lore Excellency (pp. 183-184)
Second Lore Excellency (pp. 184-185)
Third Lore Excellency (p. 185)
Infinite Lore Mastery (pp. 185-187)
Infinite Meditation on Lore (OMWF Custom)
Infinite Well of Lore (OMWF Custom)
Immanent Solar Glory (Exalted, p. 218)

Martial Arts

First Martial Arts Excellency (Exalted, pp. 183-184)
Second Martial Arts Excellency (pp. 184-185)
Third Martial Arts Excellency (p. 185)
Infinite Martial Arts Mastery (pp. 185-187)
Infinite Meditation on Martial Arts (OMWF Custom)
Infinite Well of Martial Arts (8m committed, OMWF Custom)
Martial Arts Essence Flow (Exalted, p. 187)
Pasiap's Humility (Dragon-Blooded, p. 194)
Moment of Daana'd (p. 194)
Flowing Water Defense (OMWF Custom)
Rippling Water Strike (Dragon-Blooded, p. 207)
Drowning-in-Blood Technique (OMWF Custom)
Shrugging Water Dragon Escape (Dragon-Blooded, p. 207-208)
Water Dragon Form (p. 208)
Flow Reversal Strike (OMWF Custom)

Performance

First Performance Excellency (Exalted, pp. 183-184)
Second Performance Excellency (pp. 184-185)
Third Performance Excellency (p. 185)
Infinite Performance Mastery (pp. 185-187)
Infinite Meditation on Performance (OMWF Custom)
Infinite Well of Performance (18m committed, OMWF Custom)
Performance Essence Flow (Exalted, p. 187)
Phantom-Conjuring Performance (p. 202)
Demon-Wracking Glory (Abyssals, pp. 141-142, mirror Withering Phantasmagoria)

• Continuing area effect
• Continuing single target
• Instant single target

Crowd-Commanding Spirit (OMWF Custom)

Presence

First Presence Excellency (Exalted, pp. 183-184)
Second Presence Excellency (pp. 184-185)
Third Presence Excellency (p. 185)
Infinite Presence Mastery (pp. 185-187)
Infinite Meditation on Presence (OMWF Custom)
Infinite Well of Presence (OMWF Custom)
Presence Essence Flow (Exalted, p. 187)
Irresistible Salesman Spirit (p. 204)
Enemy-Castigating Solar Judgement (p. 205)
Hypnotic Tongue Technique (p. 203)
You Can Be More (Abyssals, p. 143, mirror Broken Heart Triumph)
Transcendant Inspiration-Sparking Method (OMWF Custom)

Resistance

First Resistance Excellency (Exalted, pp. 183-184)
Second Resistance Excellency (pp. 184-185)
Third Resistance Excellency (p. 185)
Infinite Resistance Mastery (pp. 185-187)
Infinite Meditation on Resistance (OMWF Custom)
Infinite Well of Resistance (OMWF Custom)
Resistance Essence Flow (Exalted, p. 187)
Whirlwind Armor-Donning Prana (p. 205)
Ox-Body Technique (x2, p. 208)

Sail

First Sail Excellency (pp. 183-184)
Second Sail Excellency (pp. 184-185)
Third Sail Excellency (p. 185)
Infinite Sail Mastery (pp. 185-187)
Infinite Meditation on Sail (OMWF Custom)

Stealth

First Stealth Excellency (Exalted, pp. 183-184)
Second Stealth Excellency (pp. 184-185)
Third Stealth Excellency (p. 185)
Infinite Stealth Mastery (pp. 185-187)
Infinite Meditation on Stealth (OMWF Custom)
Easily Overlooked Presence Method (Exalted, p. 230)
Shadow Evades Notice (OMWF Custom)

Survival

First Survival Excellency (Exalted, pp. 183-184)
Second Survival Excellency (pp. 184-185)
Third Survival Excellency (p. 185)
Infinite Survival Mastery (pp. 185-187)
Infinite Meditation on Survival (OMWF Custom)
Trackless Region Navigation (Exalted, p. 211)

Thrown

First Thrown Excellency (pp. 183-184)
Second Thrown Excellency (pp. 184-185)
Third Thrown Excellency (p. 185)

War

First War Excellency (pp. 183-184)
Second War Excellency (pp. 184-185)
Third War Excellency (p. 185)
Infinite War Mastery (pp. 185-187)
Infinite Meditation on War (OMWF Custom)
Infinite Well of War (OMWF Custom)
War Essence Flow (Exalted, p. 187)
Mob-Dispersing Rebuke (p. 197)
Fury Inciting Presence (p. 197)
Forging of the Sun's Legions Practice (DotFA2: Lords, p. 58)
General of the All-Seeing Sun (Exalted, p. 197)
Cloud-Piercing Sun's Gaze (OMWF Custom)
Rout-Stemming Gesture (Exalted, p. 197)
Heroism-Encouraging Presence (pp. 197-198)
Tiger Warrior Training Technique (p. 198)
Legendary Warrior Curriculum (pp. 198-199)
Commanding the Ideal Celestial Army (p. 197)
Perfected Tiger Claw Arrangement (Hundredfold Facets, p. So:8)

Combos

Unyielding Judgement of the Glorious Sun (5m, 1wp, 5xp)

• Enemy-Castigating Solar Judgement
• Irresistible Salesman Spirit

Darkness-Banishing Invocation of the Sun's Glory (variable +1wp, 10xp)

• Demon-Wracking Glory
  • Continuing area effect (2m+, 1wp to activate, 2m+ to continue)
  • Continuing single target (3m, 1wp to activate, 3m to continue)
  • Instant single target (up to 9m, 1wp)
• Crowd-Commanding Spirit (4m)
• Enemy-Castigating Solar Judgement (2m)

Essence

Essence: 5
Personal: 23/23
Peripheral: 48/56 + 14 (Potential-Unlocking Tattoos) + 10 (Immanent Solar Glory)
Committed: 32 (from Peripheral)

Willpower

8
Temporary: 0 spent

Virtues

Compassion: 2 (Resonance Flaw)
Conviction: 5 (Limit Flaw)
Temperance: 3
Valor: 3

Limit Break: Terrible Zeal (Conviction)

Anshu flies into a zealous rage at being stymied in his goals, attempting to kill or destroy whoever or whatever is immediately obstructing his progress, without regard for collateral damage - for example, burning an entire First Age library because it sheds no light on the cause of the Solars' madness, or killing a valuable contact for failing to provide needed information.
Partial Control: Anshu satisfies himself with merely wounding the offending person or destroying one of the offending objects without causing any collateral damage - for example, destroying only one of the books in the First Age library, or cutting off one of the contact's hands or limbs.
Duration: One scene
Limit Break Condition: Being prevented in achieving or making significant progress towards a goal (either long-term or immediate) just when all seemed to be going well.

3 Limit

Combat

Join Battle: 11

Mighty Claws
Blades: Spd 4/Acc +10/Dmg +12L/Def +10/Rate 4
Shuriken: Spd 4/Acc +3/Dmg +5L/Rng 40/Rate 3

Unarmed
Clinch: Spd 6/Acc +5/Dmg +7B/Def ~/Rate 1
Kick: Spd 5/Acc +5/Dmg +10B/Def +3/Rate 2
Punch: Spd 5/Acc +6/Dmg +7B/Def +7/Rate 3

Dodge DV: 8 Parry DV: 8 (Mighty Claws)/7 (unarmed)/13 (Mighty Claws, Water Dragon Form)/12 (unarmed, Water Dragon Form)
Natural Soak: 4B/2L
Water Dragon Form Soak: +5B/+7L
Anima Soak: +10B/+10L/+10A
Total Soak: 19B/19L/10A

Health Levels

-0 [ ]
-1 [ ][ ][ ][ ]
-2 [ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ]
-4 [ ]
In [ ]
Dy [ ][ ][ ][ ]

Social Combat

Join Debate: 11

Charisma/Manipulation
Performance: Spd 6/Rate 1
Presence: Spd 4/Rate 2
Investigation: Spd 5/Rate 2

Dodge MDV: 9
Parry MDV: 6 (Charisma)/5 (Manipulation)

History

Backstory for Anshu and Dhiren

Personality

Anshu tends to be very serious in his day-to-day life - he isn't humorless, he just has a hard time figuring out when he can go "off-duty". He's very dedicated to his goals, but can be persuaded to set them aside temporarily. He's very protective of those whom he has sworn himself to protect.

Merits and Flaws

Resonance

Anshu has a Resonance track. (Flaw, 10pts)
3 Resonance

Current Resonance Effects

• Blight 1: Within 5 yards of Anshu, natural candleflames are snuffed out and plants die.
• Branding 5: Anshu gains glowing red eyes and a deathly pallor, and is followed by cold winds carrying the scent of decay within 100 yards, all natural animals within that radius must flee unless handlers make Difficulty 5 (Charisma + [Ride or Survival]) rolls. His presence is unbearable to mortals, costing them 1wp per scene or they develop a negative intimacy toward him. This effect will last for 5 days.
• Conduit 0: No effect.
• Stigmata 1: All Anshu's Essence counts as Peripheral for the rest of the scene.

Throwback

Anshu sometimes succumbs to the influence of the Neverborn and acts like the Abyssal servant they wish he was. (Flaw, 5pts)

Goals and Motivations

• See Dhiren and the other kidnapped children home - COMPLETED
• Turn the ragtag band of refugees into Anshu's Army - COMPLETED
• Establish the Pathwalkers as an arm of the Denandsor Ministry of Justice - COMPLETED

Unspent Experience

2

Gallery

Anshu, in formal robes

Anshu, in priestly robes

Anshu, venting Resonance

Refugee, after Anshu's training

Forging of the Sun's Legion Practice

Pathwalker
Disciple

Pathwalker Disciple, Form Charm active

Hooded Pathwalker Disciple

Hooded Pathwalker Disciple, Form Charm