Exalted:Sheira Lux

• Sheira Lux

"Listen to my song!"

• Caste: Eclipse
• Concept: Golden Songstress and Leader of Nations
• http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/9994/sherylnomebycomipa.png

Motivation

• Unite and inspire all of Creation through the power of song.

Intimacies

Natural

Negative

N/A

Positive

Her Cult (Protective Affection), Her Circle (Trust), The Sun Forge And Associated Minions (Indebted Obligation), 2 more,

Supernatural

Negative

N/A

Positive

N/A

Anima

The Eclipse Caste anima power confers three benefits:

1) They may sanctify oaths made in their presence by shaking hands or touching the creatures who are party to said oaths. This costs 10m, 1w, and breakers of a sanctified oath will suffer (Essence) botches, always at the most critical and dramatically appropriate moments.

2) They enjoy diplomatic immunity among demons, the Fair Folk, and the spirit courts. Such creatures must honor the rules of hospitality and cannot attack the Eclipse and his companions without just cause. However, provoking them into attacking first is perfectly fine and permits appropriate retaliation.

3) They may learn the Charms of other Exalted, spirits or Fair Folk if they have an appropriate tutor.

Attributes

Physical

• Strength 1
• Dexterity 5
• Stamina 1

Social

• Charisma 5
• Manipulation 1
• Appearance 5

Mental

• Perception 2
• Intelligence 5
• Wits 2

Abilities

Caste

Bureaucracy (C) 5 (2 BP)
Linguistics (C) 1
Ride (C)
Sail (C)
Socialize (C) 5 (2 BP)

Favored

Integrity 4 (1 BP)
Performance 5 (Dat Voice +3) (3.5 BP)
Presence 5 (Unbearable Hotness Of Being +3)(3.5 BP)

Lore 5 (2 BP)
Occult 3

Unfavored

Athletics 3
Dodge 4 (2 BP)

Backgrounds

The Sun Forge (Manse 5)

This ancient Solar Manse is a diamondoid fortress of imperishable Essence-charged glass standing over 100 meters tall. Its bottom point rests in a special socket on the forest floor, and networks of plant-matter gantries lead to its few natural exits around its equatorial edges. Normally, the diamond is an opaque metallic blue, but its inhabitants may turn panels of the diamond exterior transparent by touching it from the inside, allowing them to admire their surroundings.

The Sun Forge was built in the First Age as one of the fully-automated manufactories which supplied the Solar Deliberative with the wonders that would make it an age of legends. However, the Sun Forge was put into standby mode just before the Usurpation, and since its Hearthstone bearer was killed in the Usurpation, no effort was made to destroy it. Since the Hearthstone was lost, the forces of the Shogunate never got it to work properly, and its skeleton crew of minders was swiftly exterminated by the Great Contagion and their remains disposed off by the Manse's immortal guardians.

After the Contagion, groups of survivors flocked to the Sun Forge, knowing only that it was a strong place in a world where the weak would not survive for long unaided. The guardians permitted the refugees to establish a settlement in the treeways surrounding the Forge, and in time, a small community grew around it. The town and the surrounding countryside was known as the Forge's Rest, though few people knew why, until Sheira came, bearing the Sunheart, and the Sun Forge's ancient systems began activating themselves again. The guardians have sworn themselves to the service of Sheira, and it seems Forge's Rest may well follow suit...

The Sun Forge, Level 5 Solar Manse

Fragility 3 - Were the Manse ever to suffer Power Failure, it would literally collapse under its own weight. Maintenance 5 - The Essence circuitry in the glass must be rigorously maintained, a task for which the Guardians and Forgemaster are thankfully well-equipped.

Total 21 Creation Points

Factory-Cathedral (5 CP) - The source of the Sun Forge's name, Factory Cathedral 023 of the Solar Deliberative is an older model built by the Twilight Caste engineer Mateus. It was shut down for reasons unknown. Nevertheless, it is in good repair; however, it has been thoroughly disabled except for critical maintenance systems. In combination with the Wyld Revocation ability, a wielder of the Wyld-Shaping Technique could theoretically build any component and have the Factory Cathedral produce anything he wanted, from exquisite shoes to medicines to battleships. The return of Sheira and the Hearthstone of the Sun Forge has unlocked many of the previously sealed functions of the Forge; with the help of a skilled engineer and time, it could be restored to its full, former glory.

Wyld Revocation (4 CP) - The Manse's interior has been thoroughly saturated with Wyld energy from controlled detonations of Protoshinmaic Vortices. However, this creative potential has been used to warp the laws of Creation within the Manse's interior. Geomantic attacks against the Manse's structure are only possible by the Hearthstone-bearer, for one, and Wyld-Shaping Technique may be used here as though in Pure Chaos, though only in specific areas. This latter ability is linked to the Factory Cathedral's production restrictions and thus, currently, the only things that may be Shaped are the components required for the Manse's maintenance.

Indestructible (5 CP) - A glass Manse would never be able to support its own weight... if it weren't reinforced with the same enchantments that protected the War Manses of the Old Realm. The trees and vines surrounding the main diamond are similarly reinforced, though the tree-settlements around it are not so fortunate.

Bound Guardian Force (4 CP) - The Guardians of the Manse superficially resemble young, attractive men and women, who are exceedingly polite, efficient and eager to serve. They are also powerful combatants who are easily on par with demons of the second circle, and are the primary reason why the Sun Forge has gone unconquered for so long. The Guardians keep the Manse in good repair, but prohibit visitors from going further in than the guest rooms unless they are authorized to. They are generally bound to a five mile radius around the Manse, but tend to stay inside the structure proper unless they have to leave.

The Forgemaster (Allies 1)

The Forgemaster is the spokesperson for the Sun Forge's Guardian force and also the Manse's Seneschal. Unlike most of his fellows, he is an Amalgam designed for maintenance work, and thus knows several Solar Charms designed to speed repair work, construction, and shape matter out of raw Essence. He and the other Guardians are delighted to finally have a proper Mistress in residence after millenia of neglect. In addition, the Forgemaster also advises the leader of Forge's Rest, and offers what help he can provide that would not compromise his duty.

The Fanclub (Cult 3)

Sheira's travels throughout the East and the River Province have gained her a significant following among her audiences. Idol worship is a form of worship, after all, and this faith in her is empowering.

The Rose Maiden's Panoply (Artifact 3)

This is essentially an Essence 3 version of an Essence Glider (Wonders of the Lost Age) in the form of a very pretty silk dress with the following modifications:
- 5 mote commitment cost
- 5 mote activation cost per scene
- Grants the effects of Graceful Crane Stance when activated and lets the user swap their Dexterity for their Strength when calculating jumping distances.

This artifact, while not armor, is not compatible with armor-type artifacts except things like Silken Armor and other soak-adding items which explicitly work with Martial Arts that prohibit armor.

Merits

Enchanting Features (4 pts)

Maybe it's her hair, which is somewhere between pink and flaxen gold. Or maybe it's her cornflower blue eyes. Or maybe it's that way she feels like she's physically comforting you when she glances in your general direction. Exactly what Sheira does that makes her so wildly popular may never be known, but it works.

Flaws

Code of Honor: Not So Total Pacifist (6 pts)

Sheira is against violence and encourages her Circle to avoid violence too. Unfortunately, she can't actually order them to stay their hand, but she can certainly try persuading them not too. She hasn't faced them yet, but it's debatable as to whether or not this would cover creatures of darkness like the Fair Folk, demons and the undead.

Obligation (2 pts)

Sheira owes the goddess Miliki a favor for protecting the inhabitants of Forge’s Rest. Technically, she doesn’t owe Miliki anything, but it’s not a big thing and it never hurts to be in a god’s good books.

Permanent Caste Mark (2 pts)

Sheira's Caste Mark is a circled dot of pure gold in the center of her brow. For this reason she tries to comb her hair over it. Fortunately, people generally prefer staring at places on her apart from her forehead.

Charms

Performance

Heart-Compelling Method
Husband-Seducing Demon Dance (4 BP)
Phantom-Conjuring Performance (4 BP)
Memory-Reweaving Discipline (4 BP)
Demon-Wracking Glory (all attack modes) (5 BP)

Integrity

Temptation-Resisting Stance
Elusive Dream Defence
Epic Zeal of Compassion

Lore

Harmonious Academic Methodology (4 BP)

Occult

Terrestrial Circle Sorcery
- Demon of the First Circle
- Summon Elemental

Dodge

Shadow Over Water
Seven Shadow Evasion (Compassion Flaw)
Leaping Dodge Method
Reflex Sidestep Technique

Bureaucracy

Speed The Wheels (4 BP)
Bureau-Rectifying Method (4 BP)

Linguistics

Sagacious Reading of Intent (4 BP)

Socialize

Taboo-Inflicting Diatribe (4 BP)
Mastery of Small Manners (4 BP)
Gathering the Congregation

Essence

• Essence: 3
• Personal: 19/19
• Peripheral: 41/41
• Committed to Charms: 0
• Committed to artifacts: 5
• Willpower: 10/10
• Anima status: Dormant

Virtues

• Compassion: 5 (3 BP)
• Conviction: 3
• Temperance: 1
• Valor: 1
• (Virtue channels used: None)

Limit Break

Sheira suffers from the

Conflict

Physical

• Join Battle: 2
• Dodge DV: 6
• Parry DV: N/A
• Soak: 1/1/0

Movement

• Move: 5
• Dash: 11

Social

• Join Debate: 2
• Dodge MDV: 8
• Parry MDV: 7

Health Levels

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

Equipment

The Rose Maiden Panoply
Definitely no pantsu

History

Sheira was born to a hovel-sweller in a Nexus slum, and would likely have languished in poverty and destitution for the rest of her life had not her singing voice caught the ear of a promoter, Artful Lei. Seeing a potential goldmine in Sheira, Lei took it upon herself to sponsor the girl’s vocal training and lessons, intent on grooming her into the new singing sensation of the River Province. For over a decade, Sheira trained her voice with retired singers, studied the arts of drawing a man (and woman’s) eyes and heart to her from veteran courtesans, and honed her grace and poise with Djala circus acrobats. Sheira forced herself through the numerous hardships dotting a star’s life with the admonition that no matter who was helping her, she was ultimately the one who would shape her own destiny. Having been given a chance to defy Fate, she could not simply throw it away with mere indolence and complacency . In time, Sheira (by now variously translated as Cheril, Shera and Syeira, in the North, East and South respectively) achieved quite a measure of fame, by her concerts up and down the River Province. She even adopted a protege of her own, Little Swallow. Swallow was from humble origins, much like herself, and she had the same bright eyes and youthful hope as Sheira herself when Lei had first plucked her off the slums. Sheira supervised her ward’s training as a performer; the latter took quickly to her lessons, and even her slight confidence problem was not an issue as long as her upperstudy was with her. The two of them eventually started doing tours together, and it is likely that their lives would have ended with a comfortable fade into obscurity after a long and successful musical career had not tragedy struck. One of the nobles of Nexus, a fan of Swallow, came up with a plan to promote the younger singer to ascendancy. He arranged for her to be dosed with an exotic court poison, Stolen-Voice Draught, which would eventually do exactly what it said and render her completely mute. The first thing to go was her voice; Sheira found that she could no longer sing above a whisper, and needless to say that spelt the end of her career. As the engagements dried up, she also discovered that her muscles were losing their strength, reaching the point where she could get out of breath from climbing the stairs, where once she could dance in the acrobatic Chaya style for evenings on end. Finally, Lei had to let Sheira go, and the former star found herself back in the slums again.

Even so, she refused to let her rise end like this. She waited tables, washed dishes, and did all manner of menial things she in order to survive. Then, one day, the neighborhood she was in became the battleground of a powerful Second Circle Demon and Wyld Hunt unit. The restaurant she was working him became a hiding place for people fleeing the destruction, and it was soon filled with scared, whimpering refugees. What touched her heart was a boy who'd lost his mother and was looking to someone, anyone for solace. For him, she began a quiet song, one of the first and simplest she’d learned. It didn't matter that nobody could hear her; her words were not meant for the ears, but the heart.

And the song carried over the din of the battle outside, and the agitated chatter and doomsaying of the refugees died away as they all turned to look at Sheira, who was glowing a gentle gold in the dim restaurant. As she continued singing, her voice never seemed to grow louder, but every man, woman and child felt it deep inside them, as though she were singing directly to their souls. Several people in her impromptu audience recognized Sheira from her days as a singer, but the woman singing before them and easing their terror was something more than a mere vocalist now. The grace of the Sun had touched her, and it showed, both in her restored voice, now arguably more soulful and potent than ever, and in her subtly reshaped features, which commanded both awe and adoration in equal measure from those who saw her.

When the battle outside ended, she left with a wordless bow. The Sun had given her a second chance, and after seeing what she could do with her song, she resolved not to waste it. Before, she had sung for herself. Now, she would sing for Creation and all things in it.

She journeyed alone for some time, making a living with the small concerts that she only accepted the minimum paymet for. Eventually, she found a group of other Celestials; not a full Solar Circle, but they were allies, and Sol knew she needed them. As they travelled together, word began spreading in the east of a heart-breakingly beautiful woman with the voice of an angel; Sheira Lux, the Golden Songstress of the East.

Let there be light.

Personality

• Sheira is gracious and kind, and her compassion is powerful enough to match a lion's courage or a stone's solidity when it moves her to defend someone else. She takes her self-sworn promise to teach, inspire, unite and lead Creation very seriously, though this conviction is tempered, as always, by her messianic mercy.

Goals

• To gain influence and eventually control over the surrounding nations.
• To improve the standard of living and bring peace to these nations.
• To repeat this on a larger and larger scale until eventually the whole world stands together under the banner of Virtue.

Family

Her Circle is her family.

XP

• Earned: 0
• Spent: 0 (make a list of all purchases here)
• Unspent: 0