Archived from groups: alt.games.whitewolf (More info?)
I've been gushing with Exalted creativity lately. Please enjoy and comment!
Note that these are merely my opinions, and are meant to be commented on.
IMO, the tenor of an Exalted campaign for Solars changes when the Princes of
the Earth first set first in Yu Shan. At that moment, they move from
harried rebel to Prince of Creation, although that change can be slow or
sudden,depending on that hero's context and surround.
Solar Exalted in Yu Shan
Before the Usurpation, Yu Shan was a considerably different place than it
was today. In those times, the Unconquered Sun and Luna made their will
actively evident through their essential agents - the Solar and Lunar
Exalted. In certain ways less powerful than the Celestial Gods, and in
certain ways more, the Solar and Lunar Exalted enforced through various
means harmony and cooperation between the various aspects of the Celestial
Bureaucracy. While the Solars and Lunars were the undisputed rules of
Creation, they were even more important in making sure that Heaven
functioned smoothly. Much of the corruption and decadence of Yu Shan these
days can be traced directly to the lack of enforcement by the Celestial
Exalted of Heavenly Law
Before the Usurpation, the three types of Celestial Exalted formed a
powerful troika in Heaven that kept the gods in line. In general, the Solar
Exalted who served in Yu Shan (as opposed to serving in Creation) were
attached to the Bureau of Heaven. Solars of all castes served in a wide
variety of tasks, each best suited towards that Exalted's respective caste.
Below are some examples of the tasks at which Solars served in the First
Age -
Dawn Caste - The Dawn were exclusively commanders in the armies of the
Unconquered Sun, a role they directly had during the war with the
Primordials. While Dawn Caste could serve in other areas as well, all Dawn
Caste solars are presumed to have the rank of an equivalent Essence god in
the armies of the Bureau of Heaven. Thunder Birds Celestial Lions and the
like willall give Dawn Exalts of equal or higher Essence deference and
respect, and Dawn Exalted are empowered to take command of Heavenly troops
in emergency situations (say, a major incursion by Malfeas or the Wyld.)
Otherwise, they are treated as ranking visiting officers. This does not
mean that a Solar would automatically be given access to the armories of
Heaven, unless he or she was part of a unit or retinue that had authority to
issue such gear. Dawns in Yu Shan usually find themselves assigned to
important military assignments, with always some sort of ranking god or
Exalt above them (usually, fellow Solars in the First Age.) Most Dawns
preferred to stay in Creation, where they had the most freedom of action and
no real superiors except for other Exalted. However, various heavenly
factions both then and now pay Dawn Caste Solars handsomely in favors and
influence if they join their various factions in Heaven. Most Dawn Caste
had no time for such intrigue and would only be found in Heaven during the
1st Age for very specific reasons. Further, there is immense prestige for
nearly any deity to have a Dawn Caste Exalt as his or her personal bodyguard
or military advisor. More practical military deities will wish to have the
Dawn Caste become an advisor, trainer and direct agent. In particular, the
gods of the Crimson Panopoly of Victory will most likely seek out a Dawn
Caste Exalt who appears in Yu Shan, over Bronze Faction protests, if only to
keep such a puissant general close to them.
Zenith Caste - Strangely, the Zenith Caste is the one to be found the least
in Yu Shan in the 1st age. Most Zenith are charged with carrying the
Unconquered Sun's law and word to the peoples and gods of Creation.
However, while they rarely visited Yu Shan, the Zenith caste Exalted were
universally feared by the gods residing there.
In the 1st Age, the Zenith Caste had a close connection with the Unconquered
Sun, often receiving visions and directives. As such, they were the voice
of the Unconquered Sun. In Yu Shan, Zenith Caste priests were most often
judges who sat in judgment of deities during various trials under heavenly
law. Since the Unconquered Sun often heard and heeded the entreaties of his
priests, the Zenith represented a direct link to the authority of the
Unconquered Sun. Up until the Solars turned their backs on their patron
deity, the Zenith Caste were the pillar upon which heavenly stability
rested. Due to their connection to and faith in the Unconquered Sun, they
were immune to most heavenly bribery and political influence. In
conjunction with the Eclipse and Twilight Castes, they were able to cut
through the layers of heavenly deception and intrigue, and enforce the
spirit of the Law of Heaven, as well as it's letter. Further, the combat
power of the Solars backed the power of the Censors of the Bureau of Heaven,
many of which were Solars themselves.
Another important aspect of Zenith influence in Heaven was what Zeniths did
in Creation. The Zenith caste had a series of Presence and Performance
Charms that directed the faith and worship of humans in Creation. The
Zenith Caste alternately rewarded and punished recalcitrant gods who defied
the will of the Unconquered Sun and the Solar Deliberative. With a vote in
the Deliberative and a campaign of manipulation of the faithful, Zenith
Solars could transform mighty gods in Yu Shan into celestial paupers and
weaklings. This is one of the reasons why many of the gods stood idly by
when the Usurpation occurred.
Eclipse Caste - Eclipse Caste Solars mostly filled the role of ambassador
and diplomat between the Solar Deliberative and the Celestial Bureacracy
when they served in Yu-Shan. The Eclipse caste Anima power enabled the
Solar Exalted to forge lasting deals that could not be backed out on, as the
wrath of the Incarnae would fall onto the head of any welching gods. The
Eclipse were the caste that most often moved between Yu Shan and Creation,
carrying missives back and forth and negotiating deals and treaties.
Eclipse Exalted were also generalists, often acting as censors, inspectors
and ad-hoc administrators and inspectors.
The Eclipse caste were also favored by many gods to assist in administration
in the various divisions of the Bureau of Heaven. However, due to their
heavy responsibilities in also helping to govern Creation and the Realm,
Eclipse administrators were worth literally their weight in gold.
Twilight Caste - Where the Eclipse Caste was the friendly smiling face of
the Solar Deliberative, the dour face of Solar authority was the Twilight
Caste. Tasked with many dark matters, the Twilight caste was as responsible
for the safety of Creation as any other Exalted.
In addition to their considerable responsibilities in Creation, the Twilight
caste were the penultimate investigators and censors in Heaven. The
Twilight Caste were experts at rooting out heavenly corruption, back door
deals and other problems that would threaten Heaven and Creation. Needless
to say, only experienced Solars operated as Censors for the Bureau of
Heaven, and they usually had a carte blanch cache from their division and
bureau that immunized them from political pressure.
Another responsibility of the Twilight Caste was overseeing all shapings of
Essence within Creation, and this specifically included the weavings of fate
of the Maidens. The Twilight caste directly worked with the Sidereals in
the Bureau of Destiny. This included the authority to directly inspect any
weaving of Fate that the Sidereals conducted, and the ability to sit in and
observe any planning meeting within the Bureau. The most ancient Twilight
Solars even had the authority to inspect the Loom of Fate, using their
unbelievably puissant Craft charms to inspect the handiwork of the
Sidereals. During certain critical operations, privileged and trusted
Twilights even took their place at the Loom, lending awesome Solar skill in
weaving Fate. Some of this Solar ability to manipulate reality is reflected
in the charms that the Solars use to extend Creation into the Wyld. Most
often, however, the Twilights would check for errors and work to assist the
5 score fellowship. Further, most Twilights were tactful enough to not step
too hard on the Sidereal's mandate. When abuses were found in regards to
Fate manipulation, Twilight censors would quietly pass along such
information to their colleagues in the Forbidden Manse of Ivy. Usually, the
Sidereals would internally rectify such problems.
Finally, in conjunction with the Bureau of Destiny, the Twilight caste
oversaw all large scale expenditures of Essence that took place within
Heaven and Creation. Working jointly with Lunar No-Moon caste Exalted and
the Sidereals, Twilights kept Creation safe by tracking excessive Sorcery
workings and large scale disruptions to the tapestry. This function fell
more and more to the wayside as the Solars, including the Twilights, went
mad at the end of the 1st Age.
The Night Caste, like always, were not always evident in Yu Shan, but they
did make their presence felt. When an upstart god who had defied the
Celestial Order threatened Heaven, and when all other means had been
exhausted, the Night Caste performed it's traditional duty and eliminated
the offender of Heaven's justice. The Night Caste did not see Yu Shan as
being terribly different from Creation proper,as it considered all of the
domains of the Unconquered Sun it's purview. Aside from the fact that only
the most experienced Night Caste Solars ever undertook such missions for the
Solar Deliberative, the Iron Wolves spied on the workings of Heaven as much
as they did on Malfeas or Creation. Even the Maidens did not know of the
Iron Wolve's movements until too late, and the ancient Night Caste Solars
developed Charms which changed their Anima banners to resemble those of
various spirits and elementals for truly exotic disguise skills.
The Iron Wolves also worked closely with the Forbidden Manse of Ivy and the
Violet Bier of Sorrows. While the ultimate loyalty until the Usurpation of
the Night Caste was to the Unconquered Sun and the Solar Deliberative, the
Iron Wolves worked closely to assist the Chosen of the Maidens end what was
supposed to end properly and to hide that which was meant to be hidden. It
was part of this trust that enabled the Night Caste to be so easily
blindsided during the Usurpation.
Solars in Yu-Shan today
When the first Solar Exalted of the modern age steps foot into Yu-Shan, be
it via the Calibration gate or some other contrivance, Heaven will shake.
Since every Exalted GM runs a different campaign, much thought must be given
to this issue. However, the authors, in the form of Exalted:Sidereals and
Games of Divinity have nonetheless given the enterprising GM much to work
with. Here are some suggested social and political effects when the Solars
return.
Firstly, Sidereals of both factions will do everything in their power to
prevent this from occurring. The Solar Exalted were the direct
representatives of the Unconquered Sun - in Yu Shan, Solars are safe from
direct, overt Sidereal threat. Instead of attacking and hunting down a
Solar, the powers that be at Yu Shan will be more apt to take orders from
them. A typical Celestial Lion will no doubt treat a Solar with deep
fellowship and respect, as a fellow brother in the Unconquered Sun's
service. In fact, a conversation of about a half hour's length with a
Celestial Lion or any middling god in Yu Shan will no doubt blow apart much
of the webs of secrecy and ignorance that most Solars have had to deal with
up to that point.
At first, Solars will literally be besieged by gods of various types
attempting to 'befriend'and 'ally' with them, in order to use their heavenly
authority on their behalf. Much of the Bronze faction's overt influence
will be questioned, especially if the first Solars are smart and handle
themselves well. Even if a Solar is guided in to Yu Shan by a Gold Faction
mentor, a smart Solar who has an Eclipse Caste amongst them just may be able
to survive the storm that will greet them when they enter Yu Shan.
Unlike most gods or even the Sidereals, Solar Exalted will be free agents in
Yu Shan. While they can, if they wish, enter the service of a major god of
one of the Divisions and take that god as a Patron, all of the deities in Yu
Shan will know who the true master of a Solar is. While the Unconquered Sun
seems to be an aloof deity who is more concerned with the play of the Games
of Divinity than overt rulership, none will doubt that the Sun has a long
range plan in play to match the intrigues of the Yozis and Malfeans. The
Unconquered Sun is the Master Strategist of the Gods, as well as their
undefeated warrior, and his most often played opponents are the Maidens and
Luna. Some Gods speculate that the obsessive play of the Games of Divinity
is not addiction, but instead, planning- the Celestial Incarnae constantly
simulate and test new stratagems against the enemies of Creation, then
inspire their celestial servants to carry these plans out.
Newborn Solars who make it to Yu Shan will have their hands full. Even if
they were not involved with the Cult of the Illuminated and the Gold Faction
previously, Gold Faction Sidereals will immediately attempt damage control
and work to get into the graces of any Solars who make their way to Yu Shan.
Also vying to curry any Solar's favor will be the celestial censors, who
will be of the mind that this is where the slow corruption of Heaven can be
finally averted. The Censors will no doubt urge Solars to take up their old
roles in Heaven, enforcing Celestial Law and bringing the other gods back
into line.
The next article will deal with two possible types of chronicles for Solars
in Yu Shan - Apprentices of Divinity, in which a circle of Solars finds a
powerful divine patron (usually in the Bureau of Heaven), and Rebel Gods
(where Solars take up in one of the ruined portions of Yu Shan, stay free of
patronage, and start to rebuild one of the ruined sections of the Divine
City, gaining the fealty of lesser gods and becoming powers unto themselves.
Part 2- Solar Series in Yu Shan, in the 1st Age and the Age of Sorrows,
next!
Best,
CB
I've been gushing with Exalted creativity lately. Please enjoy and comment!
Note that these are merely my opinions, and are meant to be commented on.
IMO, the tenor of an Exalted campaign for Solars changes when the Princes of
the Earth first set first in Yu Shan. At that moment, they move from
harried rebel to Prince of Creation, although that change can be slow or
sudden,depending on that hero's context and surround.
Solar Exalted in Yu Shan
Before the Usurpation, Yu Shan was a considerably different place than it
was today. In those times, the Unconquered Sun and Luna made their will
actively evident through their essential agents - the Solar and Lunar
Exalted. In certain ways less powerful than the Celestial Gods, and in
certain ways more, the Solar and Lunar Exalted enforced through various
means harmony and cooperation between the various aspects of the Celestial
Bureaucracy. While the Solars and Lunars were the undisputed rules of
Creation, they were even more important in making sure that Heaven
functioned smoothly. Much of the corruption and decadence of Yu Shan these
days can be traced directly to the lack of enforcement by the Celestial
Exalted of Heavenly Law
Before the Usurpation, the three types of Celestial Exalted formed a
powerful troika in Heaven that kept the gods in line. In general, the Solar
Exalted who served in Yu Shan (as opposed to serving in Creation) were
attached to the Bureau of Heaven. Solars of all castes served in a wide
variety of tasks, each best suited towards that Exalted's respective caste.
Below are some examples of the tasks at which Solars served in the First
Age -
Dawn Caste - The Dawn were exclusively commanders in the armies of the
Unconquered Sun, a role they directly had during the war with the
Primordials. While Dawn Caste could serve in other areas as well, all Dawn
Caste solars are presumed to have the rank of an equivalent Essence god in
the armies of the Bureau of Heaven. Thunder Birds Celestial Lions and the
like willall give Dawn Exalts of equal or higher Essence deference and
respect, and Dawn Exalted are empowered to take command of Heavenly troops
in emergency situations (say, a major incursion by Malfeas or the Wyld.)
Otherwise, they are treated as ranking visiting officers. This does not
mean that a Solar would automatically be given access to the armories of
Heaven, unless he or she was part of a unit or retinue that had authority to
issue such gear. Dawns in Yu Shan usually find themselves assigned to
important military assignments, with always some sort of ranking god or
Exalt above them (usually, fellow Solars in the First Age.) Most Dawns
preferred to stay in Creation, where they had the most freedom of action and
no real superiors except for other Exalted. However, various heavenly
factions both then and now pay Dawn Caste Solars handsomely in favors and
influence if they join their various factions in Heaven. Most Dawn Caste
had no time for such intrigue and would only be found in Heaven during the
1st Age for very specific reasons. Further, there is immense prestige for
nearly any deity to have a Dawn Caste Exalt as his or her personal bodyguard
or military advisor. More practical military deities will wish to have the
Dawn Caste become an advisor, trainer and direct agent. In particular, the
gods of the Crimson Panopoly of Victory will most likely seek out a Dawn
Caste Exalt who appears in Yu Shan, over Bronze Faction protests, if only to
keep such a puissant general close to them.
Zenith Caste - Strangely, the Zenith Caste is the one to be found the least
in Yu Shan in the 1st age. Most Zenith are charged with carrying the
Unconquered Sun's law and word to the peoples and gods of Creation.
However, while they rarely visited Yu Shan, the Zenith caste Exalted were
universally feared by the gods residing there.
In the 1st Age, the Zenith Caste had a close connection with the Unconquered
Sun, often receiving visions and directives. As such, they were the voice
of the Unconquered Sun. In Yu Shan, Zenith Caste priests were most often
judges who sat in judgment of deities during various trials under heavenly
law. Since the Unconquered Sun often heard and heeded the entreaties of his
priests, the Zenith represented a direct link to the authority of the
Unconquered Sun. Up until the Solars turned their backs on their patron
deity, the Zenith Caste were the pillar upon which heavenly stability
rested. Due to their connection to and faith in the Unconquered Sun, they
were immune to most heavenly bribery and political influence. In
conjunction with the Eclipse and Twilight Castes, they were able to cut
through the layers of heavenly deception and intrigue, and enforce the
spirit of the Law of Heaven, as well as it's letter. Further, the combat
power of the Solars backed the power of the Censors of the Bureau of Heaven,
many of which were Solars themselves.
Another important aspect of Zenith influence in Heaven was what Zeniths did
in Creation. The Zenith caste had a series of Presence and Performance
Charms that directed the faith and worship of humans in Creation. The
Zenith Caste alternately rewarded and punished recalcitrant gods who defied
the will of the Unconquered Sun and the Solar Deliberative. With a vote in
the Deliberative and a campaign of manipulation of the faithful, Zenith
Solars could transform mighty gods in Yu Shan into celestial paupers and
weaklings. This is one of the reasons why many of the gods stood idly by
when the Usurpation occurred.
Eclipse Caste - Eclipse Caste Solars mostly filled the role of ambassador
and diplomat between the Solar Deliberative and the Celestial Bureacracy
when they served in Yu-Shan. The Eclipse caste Anima power enabled the
Solar Exalted to forge lasting deals that could not be backed out on, as the
wrath of the Incarnae would fall onto the head of any welching gods. The
Eclipse were the caste that most often moved between Yu Shan and Creation,
carrying missives back and forth and negotiating deals and treaties.
Eclipse Exalted were also generalists, often acting as censors, inspectors
and ad-hoc administrators and inspectors.
The Eclipse caste were also favored by many gods to assist in administration
in the various divisions of the Bureau of Heaven. However, due to their
heavy responsibilities in also helping to govern Creation and the Realm,
Eclipse administrators were worth literally their weight in gold.
Twilight Caste - Where the Eclipse Caste was the friendly smiling face of
the Solar Deliberative, the dour face of Solar authority was the Twilight
Caste. Tasked with many dark matters, the Twilight caste was as responsible
for the safety of Creation as any other Exalted.
In addition to their considerable responsibilities in Creation, the Twilight
caste were the penultimate investigators and censors in Heaven. The
Twilight Caste were experts at rooting out heavenly corruption, back door
deals and other problems that would threaten Heaven and Creation. Needless
to say, only experienced Solars operated as Censors for the Bureau of
Heaven, and they usually had a carte blanch cache from their division and
bureau that immunized them from political pressure.
Another responsibility of the Twilight Caste was overseeing all shapings of
Essence within Creation, and this specifically included the weavings of fate
of the Maidens. The Twilight caste directly worked with the Sidereals in
the Bureau of Destiny. This included the authority to directly inspect any
weaving of Fate that the Sidereals conducted, and the ability to sit in and
observe any planning meeting within the Bureau. The most ancient Twilight
Solars even had the authority to inspect the Loom of Fate, using their
unbelievably puissant Craft charms to inspect the handiwork of the
Sidereals. During certain critical operations, privileged and trusted
Twilights even took their place at the Loom, lending awesome Solar skill in
weaving Fate. Some of this Solar ability to manipulate reality is reflected
in the charms that the Solars use to extend Creation into the Wyld. Most
often, however, the Twilights would check for errors and work to assist the
5 score fellowship. Further, most Twilights were tactful enough to not step
too hard on the Sidereal's mandate. When abuses were found in regards to
Fate manipulation, Twilight censors would quietly pass along such
information to their colleagues in the Forbidden Manse of Ivy. Usually, the
Sidereals would internally rectify such problems.
Finally, in conjunction with the Bureau of Destiny, the Twilight caste
oversaw all large scale expenditures of Essence that took place within
Heaven and Creation. Working jointly with Lunar No-Moon caste Exalted and
the Sidereals, Twilights kept Creation safe by tracking excessive Sorcery
workings and large scale disruptions to the tapestry. This function fell
more and more to the wayside as the Solars, including the Twilights, went
mad at the end of the 1st Age.
The Night Caste, like always, were not always evident in Yu Shan, but they
did make their presence felt. When an upstart god who had defied the
Celestial Order threatened Heaven, and when all other means had been
exhausted, the Night Caste performed it's traditional duty and eliminated
the offender of Heaven's justice. The Night Caste did not see Yu Shan as
being terribly different from Creation proper,as it considered all of the
domains of the Unconquered Sun it's purview. Aside from the fact that only
the most experienced Night Caste Solars ever undertook such missions for the
Solar Deliberative, the Iron Wolves spied on the workings of Heaven as much
as they did on Malfeas or Creation. Even the Maidens did not know of the
Iron Wolve's movements until too late, and the ancient Night Caste Solars
developed Charms which changed their Anima banners to resemble those of
various spirits and elementals for truly exotic disguise skills.
The Iron Wolves also worked closely with the Forbidden Manse of Ivy and the
Violet Bier of Sorrows. While the ultimate loyalty until the Usurpation of
the Night Caste was to the Unconquered Sun and the Solar Deliberative, the
Iron Wolves worked closely to assist the Chosen of the Maidens end what was
supposed to end properly and to hide that which was meant to be hidden. It
was part of this trust that enabled the Night Caste to be so easily
blindsided during the Usurpation.
Solars in Yu-Shan today
When the first Solar Exalted of the modern age steps foot into Yu-Shan, be
it via the Calibration gate or some other contrivance, Heaven will shake.
Since every Exalted GM runs a different campaign, much thought must be given
to this issue. However, the authors, in the form of Exalted:Sidereals and
Games of Divinity have nonetheless given the enterprising GM much to work
with. Here are some suggested social and political effects when the Solars
return.
Firstly, Sidereals of both factions will do everything in their power to
prevent this from occurring. The Solar Exalted were the direct
representatives of the Unconquered Sun - in Yu Shan, Solars are safe from
direct, overt Sidereal threat. Instead of attacking and hunting down a
Solar, the powers that be at Yu Shan will be more apt to take orders from
them. A typical Celestial Lion will no doubt treat a Solar with deep
fellowship and respect, as a fellow brother in the Unconquered Sun's
service. In fact, a conversation of about a half hour's length with a
Celestial Lion or any middling god in Yu Shan will no doubt blow apart much
of the webs of secrecy and ignorance that most Solars have had to deal with
up to that point.
At first, Solars will literally be besieged by gods of various types
attempting to 'befriend'and 'ally' with them, in order to use their heavenly
authority on their behalf. Much of the Bronze faction's overt influence
will be questioned, especially if the first Solars are smart and handle
themselves well. Even if a Solar is guided in to Yu Shan by a Gold Faction
mentor, a smart Solar who has an Eclipse Caste amongst them just may be able
to survive the storm that will greet them when they enter Yu Shan.
Unlike most gods or even the Sidereals, Solar Exalted will be free agents in
Yu Shan. While they can, if they wish, enter the service of a major god of
one of the Divisions and take that god as a Patron, all of the deities in Yu
Shan will know who the true master of a Solar is. While the Unconquered Sun
seems to be an aloof deity who is more concerned with the play of the Games
of Divinity than overt rulership, none will doubt that the Sun has a long
range plan in play to match the intrigues of the Yozis and Malfeans. The
Unconquered Sun is the Master Strategist of the Gods, as well as their
undefeated warrior, and his most often played opponents are the Maidens and
Luna. Some Gods speculate that the obsessive play of the Games of Divinity
is not addiction, but instead, planning- the Celestial Incarnae constantly
simulate and test new stratagems against the enemies of Creation, then
inspire their celestial servants to carry these plans out.
Newborn Solars who make it to Yu Shan will have their hands full. Even if
they were not involved with the Cult of the Illuminated and the Gold Faction
previously, Gold Faction Sidereals will immediately attempt damage control
and work to get into the graces of any Solars who make their way to Yu Shan.
Also vying to curry any Solar's favor will be the celestial censors, who
will be of the mind that this is where the slow corruption of Heaven can be
finally averted. The Censors will no doubt urge Solars to take up their old
roles in Heaven, enforcing Celestial Law and bringing the other gods back
into line.
The next article will deal with two possible types of chronicles for Solars
in Yu Shan - Apprentices of Divinity, in which a circle of Solars finds a
powerful divine patron (usually in the Bureau of Heaven), and Rebel Gods
(where Solars take up in one of the ruined portions of Yu Shan, stay free of
patronage, and start to rebuild one of the ruined sections of the Divine
City, gaining the fealty of lesser gods and becoming powers unto themselves.
Part 2- Solar Series in Yu Shan, in the 1st Age and the Age of Sorrows,
next!
Best,
CB
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