<div align="center"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Silken Rays of Hope, 'Silk', The Shining Courtesan Saint</strong></span></div><div class="floatright">(http://i.imgur.com/CARey4F.jpg)</div><table class="bbc_table"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Player:</strong></td><td>ChaoticSky</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Type:</strong></td><td>Solar</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Caste:</strong></td><td>Zenith</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Anima:</strong></td><td>Silk's anima dances and writhes invitingly; At the lower levels it rises and arcs out from her body in golden ribbons, mimicking the radiant flares of the Sun. As the anima grows, it expands outwards, radiating out from her body to dance and writhe erotically in the air around her, reaching towards those who stand near with ribbons of golden warmth to caress and invite. At the totemic level it becomes a glorious golden aurora as ribbons of golden light draw shapes of love and eroticism in the air visible for miles, while drawing every eye to her radiant self. Her beauty boosted by the golden light that coils about her like a lover.</td></tr><tr><td></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Age:</strong></td><td>24</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Birthday:</strong></td><td>26th of Decending Fire</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Height:</strong></td><td>5"10</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Weight:</strong></td><td>No.</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Skin:</strong></td><td>Chocolate</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Hair:</strong></td><td>Brunette</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Eyes:</strong></td><td>Teal</td></tr></tbody></table><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Bio</div><div class="spoiler_body"><strong>The Girl</strong><br/>Hopeful Rain was born into the small town of Water Falls, set at the bottom of a valley of the same name. A  great scar in the land, near the Mother River, and fed by a deep stream of her waters, the bottom of the valley had been made lush by her bounty, and its auspicious positioning meant that the length of the valley followed the path of the sun across the sky so that plenty of light reached the valley floor. This allowed for the farming of many sensitive crops that would normally be killed by the dry southern winds, and ensured the prosperity of the town and its people.<br/><br/>On the one hand, Hopeful Rain's family were one of several families of hunters who by tradition walked the farmer's fields, hunting and trapping birds and small pests that attack the crops, before ranging beyond the valley to hunt among the grass and reeds of the Mother River for greater game. Which in turn they sold on the market to butchers and others who would make use of it. However, this also made them the closest thing the village had to scouts or sentries. Sitting in the lap of Dun-Lat, there was no need for a dedicated armsmen, so such duties were undertaken by those who had the skills; hunters stood watch, farmers stood in defence, and so on. This was not a duty favoured by many, of Water Falls' hunters were often enamoured with the thrill of a catch, and competed in friendly manner to out-do each other daily. While sentry work offered few thrills and much boredom.<br/><br/>On the other hand, her family were also Water Falls' Listeners. Ordained by the Immaculate Philosophy to provide an outlet for the darkness, guilt and sins of others, lest their thoughts turn into a poison of the soul. A unjudging ear, ready with kind words, to whome the villagers could unburden themselves to better pursue the coils of the dragon. Not an easy calling to endure, though some think it soft work, there is no shortage of burden on the soul. Something Hopeful Rain learned early and well, for her age mattered little once she donned the black robes of a Listener, and those who found her waiting to hear their sins rarely bothered to seek out one of her parents instead if the subject matter was unfit for a young woman's ears.<br/><br/>Hopeful Rain bore both duties with a certain cheer, though even the all-concealing robes of a Listener could not hide her curves, and the girl was nothing if not stunningly beautiful. As such her identity as a Listener was even more of a open secret than the rest of her family, since for them the robes atleased made it hard to tell who was who. This beauty also made her very sought after as a conquest for young men and fortunately for them Hope was more than willing to reciprocate, she grew up curious about sex, after hearing much about it, and when the opportunity to try it out for herself arouse, she jumped at it... and basically never stopped. The only exception was of course, when she was working as a Listener, which was a responsibility she took very seriously and never mixed with pleasure. As for those stories of a Listener falling in love with their charges, she was quickly growing tired of people thinking that confessing their feelings for her <em>to her</em>, as a Listener, would actually work, and had some very choice words prepared if she ever met the author of one of those smut novels. As a hunter, she was one of the only ones who showed any favouritism towards the dull work of a sentry. Claiming a pile of rubble that had once been a tower as her nest, she would often spend hours looking out over the desert for the arrival of canavans, or threats. Despite common knowledge to the contrary, she actually managed to catch a fair bit over the years from her perch, the monotony of the day broken up by the crack of her bow, sending arrows streaking into the blue to strike at distant targets, some imagined, and some delicious. The practice at something approaching formal archery, rather than merely hunting, increased her skill and changed her style over the years. Each time her bow wore out, her next was always longer than the one before it, her draw became slow and long, and while she was nowhere near as quick a shot as her peers, she more than made up for it with range and accuracy.<br/><br/>But its not like shooting was all she did up there. No, she also spent a great deal of time pondering life's great mysteries... on her back. Paramours would often come to join her in her vigil, for while there was little in the way of action at her post, there was a preponderance of time and privacy, which lent its self well to entirely different sorts of <em>action</em>. Between lovers and practice however, the young woman still had plenty of time simply alone to just <em>think</em>. Her mind wandered hither and yon, rolling from topic to topic... but like a ball rolling down hill, it eventually returned to thinking about the things she had Listened to. It set her apart, she knew, to walk down the street and know that that woman had prayed to the River on days that belonged to the Harvest gods, that man lusted after his daughter, or that both of those people were cheating on each other though neither knew about it, or that that man had stolen from his neighbour. And that was only the beginning! Were these people bad or good? She had often encouraged people to do better in their lives, but the fact that she <em>had</em> to do so, that they simply hadn't behaved morally to begin with, bothered her on a fundamental level. Were people wicked and only did good when conjoled to do so? Or were they good and simply susceptible to temptation? They couldnt be both! Alas. no answers came to her... though she often wryly wished she could speak to a Listener herself, some of these thoughts <em>had</em> to be bad for her after all.<br/><br/>In the end she found, if not peace of mind, at lease balance in life, and was happy with that.<br/><br/>Until one day, while as she sat on a bench near the center of town, wearing her Listener robes and waiting for someone to join her and speak of their problems, a old man happened to pass by. Then passed by again, and Hope smiled behind her veil, shed seen such behaviour before, but could do nothing but wait for him to gather up his courage.... there was something <em>off</em> about the man... but she couldnt... no, nothing, just a trick of the eye. Another pass, and then a awkward pause, and Hope rose from her seat, offering the man her hand politely, "Would you like some help sir?" she asked him, startling him out of whatever thoughts occupied his mind, and he favoured her with a tentative smile, accepting her help as she gently sat him on the bench, careful of his old bones. Only then did she notice that he was wearing the robes of a Immaculate Monk... and one of high rank too, if the level of intricacy equated to authority, his attire was fare more opulent than that of the local monks, had he come in on the last caravan? Which of course begged the question, why was he talking to her? The Order had its own Listeners, sure the few monks that lived in Water's Fall made use of her family's services being such a small place that they didnt have any internal Listeners. but if this man was from elsewhere, surely he wouldnt simply wait until he left?<br/><br/>Once the man was seated she returned to her spot beside him and waited. Finally, he sighed loudly and licked his lips to wet them before speaking, his voice halting with age and indecision; "Ah, miss, have you ever wondered if your doing the right thing?" The monk asked quietly, as if confessing a terrible sin.<br/>Hope laid her hand on his shoulder and leaned in slightly, letting her compassionate smile colour her words, "All the time." she answered the man, to his surprise as he turned to look at her sharply, and she gave his shoulder a reassuring squeeze, "We are all human, its normal to doubt our duty at some point, if it was always easy, there would be no value in it. Take me for example, I hear all kinds of things; some bad, some I could do something about.. but my duty demands I keep the secrets told to me. I know that Duty can be a heavy burden at times~" <br/>The man just stared for a moment, before bursting out into a deep laugh, "Ah, right you are miss, right you are!" he guffawed for a moment before lapsing back into morosity. Finally, he asked the question he had come here to ask, his voice solemn like a prayer; "Will you Listen to my story?"<br/><br/>Hope smiled, "Yes I will."<br/><br/><strong>The Exalt</strong> WIP<br/>Hope was lost.<br/><br/>The monk's words kept going around in circles in her head. It was impossible, but she could <em>feel</em> the truth of them, like blows to her very soul. The old man had no reason to lie... and even if he did, a Listener was the worst possible person to deceive; someone who couldnt act on what they were told. But more than that... she had heard the way it weighed on him, body and soul. Thinking back, she had wanted to call him a heretic and a liar, the urge to strike him for his blasphemy had been strong. Then she had seen his eyes. Different somehow from what she had expected, they did not suit a old man, but there was nothing of guile in his gaze, just the struggle that she was all too familiar with.<br/><br/>The Immaculate Philosophy was a lie; the Calendar merely a construct to control worship, with the looming threat that worship could be stopped entirely if a god defied them. <br/><br/>The Coils of the Dragon was a complete fabrication, Exaltation wasn't connected to reincarnation at all, and if anything... the Dragonblooded were among the <em>least</em> of the Chosen. <br/><br/>Everything she had been told about the Anathema was a lie... <em>what did that even mean?</em><br/><br/>Hope had wandered out of the valley in a daze, along one of the side paths, she didn't cross anyone's path and even if she had... one doesn't pry into a Listener's business, that strays too close to taboo for most to be comfortable. She crested the lip and kept walking, away from the bounty of the Mother River out into the dunes, the Listener had no idea how long she walked or even how to get back but she was beyond caring. If the Coils were lies, then what was the point of Listening? What had she been suffering for?<br/><br/>With a sudden surge of anger Hope yanked her veil off and with short scream of fustration, hurled it straight down. She threw it so hard that she unbalanced and toppled over herself, joining it on the hot sand. Struggling back to her knees the young woman choked back a sob... No, <br/><br/><strong>The Priestess</strong> WIP<br/><br/><strong>Personality</strong><br/>Silk is very much a genuinely good person, while many with her natural charisma and beauty would use them to get ahead in life, even before her exaltation, she was more interested in plying her talents to help others. As a Listener, she had a unique position that allowed her to see into the hearts of others and encourage them to make changes in their lives above and beyond simply telling her their problems, and her earnest words swayed many souls towards goodness.<br/><br/>She is also a very honest person, always believing that the truth is better than a lie, no matter how insignificant... which is somewhat ironic considering that Silk herself is a <em>terrible</em> liar. Almost comically so. Her truths are sometimes hard, though she does her utmost to soften the blows that can come from harsh truths, she believes that they must be said. This ideology gets taken to the logical extreme in that she believes that nothing good or lasting can be built upon a foundation of lies, and that any such construct is ultimately harmful... no matter how comforting it is. If the truth will destroy a thing.... then it should, and what grows after will be better for its honest. Those who are hurt will be happier in the long run. It is worth noting however that being unable to lie does not mean she is unable to keep secrets... as a Listener it was her duty to do so after all; rather than lie or deflect, she will simply refuse to answer.<br/><br/>Silk is also not a woman who places much import on acts of intimacy and is a perpetual flirt, as well as a perponent of free love. Always ready with a sultry invitation or suggestive pose, she enjoys the attention her body gets her, and is more than willing to share the love. Both for her own fun and that of others. As a lover, she is extremely generious and devotes a great deal of attention towards ensuring her partners are satisfied, but forms no deeper bonds and rebuffs any attempt to build such as gently as possible. Never one for formal relationships, she simply enjoys herself freely and revels in her talent for pleasing others.<br/><br/>Before Exaltation, and even more so afterwards; Silk favours peaceful solutions over violent ones and generally sees being forced to fight as a personal failure. That she couldnt find the words to bring things to a peaceful solution, and there is <em>always</em> a peaceful solution. Shes ultimately a builder, not a destroyer. That said, when violence beckons, she draws upon her experience as a archer and wields her bow with determined precision. <br/><br/>In the same vein, her cult was made to improve the lives of the people of Water's Fall and the fact that it worships <em>her</em> as well was only a side benefit, not her goal.<br/></div></div><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Character Stats</div><div class="spoiler_body"><div align="center"><strong><span class="bbc_u">ATTRIBUTES</span></strong><em>(8/6/4)</em></div><table class="bbc_table"><tbody><tr><td><strong>[•] Strength</strong></td><td><strong>•••••</strong></td><td><strong>[•] Charisma</strong></td><td><strong>•••••</strong></td><td><strong>[•] Perception</strong></td><td><strong>•••••</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>[•] Dexterity</strong></td><td><strong>•••••</strong></td><td><strong>[•] Manipulation</strong></td><td><strong>•••••</strong></td><td><strong>[•] Intelligence</strong></td><td><strong>•••••</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>[•] Stamina</strong></td><td><strong>•••••</strong></td><td><strong>[•] Appearance</strong></td><td><strong>••••• {••}</strong></td><td><strong>[•] Wits</strong></td><td><strong>•••••</strong></td></tr></tbody></table><br/><div align="center"><strong><span class="bbc_u">ABILITIES/SPECIALITIES</span></strong><em>(28)</em></div><table class="bbc_table"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Zenith</strong></td><td></td><td><strong>Favoured</strong></td><td></td><td><strong><em>Specialities</em></strong></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Athletics</td><td><strong>•••••</strong> </td><td>Archery</td><td><strong>•••••</strong> </td><td>Archery</td><td>[Powerbow] </td></tr><tr><td>Integrity</td><td><strong>•••••</strong> </td><td>Awareness</td><td><strong>•••••</strong> </td><td>Presence</td><td>[Awing]</td></tr><tr><td>Performance</td><td><strong>•••••</strong> </td><td>Brawl</td><td><strong>•••••</strong> </td><td>Presence</td><td>[Seduction]</td></tr><tr><td>Presence</td><td><strong>•••••</strong> </td><td>Medicine</td><td><strong>•••••</strong> </td><td>Performance</td><td>[Dance] </td></tr><tr><td>Resistance</td><td><strong>•••••</strong> </td><td>Occult</td><td><strong>•••••</strong> </td><td> </td><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td><div align="center"><strong>Others</strong></div></td></tr><tr><td>Bureaucracy</td><td><strong>•••••</strong></td><td>Craft</td><td><strong>•••••</strong></td><td>Dodge</td><td><strong>•••••</strong></td></tr><tr><td>Investigation</td><td><strong>•••••</strong></td><td>Larceny</td><td><strong>•••••</strong></td><td>Linguistics</td><td><strong>•••••</strong></td></tr><tr><td>Lore</td><td><strong>•••••</strong></td><td>Melee</td><td><strong>•••••</strong></td><td>Ride</td><td><strong>•••••</strong></td></tr><tr><td>Sail</td><td><strong>•••••</strong></td><td>Socialize</td><td><strong>•••••</strong></td><td>Stealth</td><td><strong>•••••</strong></td></tr><tr><td>Survival</td><td><strong>•••••</strong></td><td>Thrown</td><td><strong>•••••</strong></td><td>War</td><td><strong>•••••</strong></td></tr></tbody></table><br/><div align="center"><strong><span class="bbc_u">MERITS</span></strong><em>(10)</em></div><table class="bbc_table"><tbody><tr><td>Cult </td><td><strong>•••••</strong> (The Shining Way)</td></tr><tr><td>Resources </td><td><strong>•••••</strong> (Affluent Peasant)</td></tr><tr><td>Artefact </td><td><strong>•••••</strong> (Flesh Aegis Of Glorious Form)</td></tr><tr><td>Artefact </td><td><strong>•••••</strong> (Horizon)</td></tr></tbody></table><br/><div align="center"><strong><span class="bbc_u">STATS</span></strong></div><strong>Essence:</strong> <strong>••••• •••••</strong><br/><strong>Personal Pool:</strong> 13/13<br/><strong>Peripheral Pool:</strong> 11/11 (Commited: 22m)<br/><br/><strong>Willpower:</strong> <strong>••••• •••••</strong><br/><strong>Temp Willpower:</strong> 7/7<br/><br/><strong>Limit:</strong> <strong>••••• •••••</strong><br/>Trigger: Failing to act after perceiving injustice.<br/>Break:<br/>Duration:<br/><br/><div align="center"><strong><span class="bbc_u">HEALTH LEVELS</span></strong></div><table class="bbc_table"><tbody><tr><td>-0</td><td><strong> [  ] [  ]</strong></td></tr><tr><td>-1</td><td><strong> [  ] [  ] [  ]</strong></td></tr><tr><td>-2</td><td><strong> [  ] [  ] [  ]</strong></td></tr><tr><td>-4</td><td><strong> [  ]</strong></td></tr><tr><td>INCAP</td><td><strong> [  ]</strong></td></tr><tr><td>DYING</td><td><strong> [  ]</strong></td></tr></tbody></table><br/><div align="center"><strong><span class="bbc_u">INTIMACIES</span></strong></div><table class="bbc_table"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Principles</strong></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td><strong></strong></td><td><strong>Principle</strong></td><td><strong>Intensity</strong></td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Truth, Always.</td><td>Defining(4)</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>The Immaculate Faith is a Lie</td><td>Major(3)</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Never ignore what I can fix</td><td>Major(3)</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Together we can fix Creation.</td><td>Minor(2)</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>'Solars' are not 'Anathem'</td><td>Minor(2)</td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Ties</strong></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Name</strong></td><td><strong>Context</strong></td><td><strong>Intensity</strong></td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr></tbody></table><strong>v Not Updated For Hope/3E</strong><br/><strong><span class="bbc_u">ATTACKS</span></strong> Range: 8 dice(3Dex+4Archery+1spec)<br/><table class="bbc_table"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Physical</strong></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Weapon</td><td>Speed</td><td>Accuracy</td><td>Damage</td><td>Defense</td><td>Rate</td><td>Tags</td><td>Notes</td></tr><tr><td>Fists</td><td>5</td><td>+5</td><td>+4B</td><td>+6</td><td>3</td><td>N</td><td></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Charm</strong></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>HandsofTheSun</td><td>5</td><td>+4</td><td>+5L/2</td><td>+3</td><td>4</td><td>O</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table><strong>^ Not Updated For Hope/3E</strong><br/><br/><strong><span class="bbc_u">DEFENSES</span></strong><br/><strong>Physical</strong> (Soak, Hardness)<br/><span class="bbc_u">Soak</span><br/>Natural:    5 ,  -<br/>Armour:+11 , 10<br/>Charms:   -  , +4<br/>Total:     16 , 14<br/><span class="bbc_u">Parry</span>: 3<br/><span class="bbc_u">Evasion</span>: 0<br/><br/><strong>Social</strong><br/><span class="bbc_u">Resolve</span>: 3<br/><span class="bbc_u">Guile</span>: 1<br/><br/></div></div><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Charms</div><div class="spoiler_body"><table class="bbc_table"><tbody><tr><td><div align="center"><strong><span class="bbc_u">CHARMS</span></strong></div></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Name</strong></td><td><strong>Duration</strong></td><td><strong>Type</strong></td><td><strong>Keywords</strong></td><td><strong>Cost</strong></td><td><strong>Description</strong></td></tr><tr><td>Excellency</td><td>Instant</td><td>Supplemental</td><td>N/A</td><td>1m/die</td><td>Add 1sux to roll, up to (attribute+ability)</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Archery</strong></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Phantom Arrow Technique</td><td>Instant</td><td>Reflexive</td><td>N/A</td><td>1m</td><td>May fire without arrows. 1/scene may add +Intimacy dice, but numbs the intimacy.</td></tr><tr><td>Summon The Loyal Shaft</td><td>Indef</td><td>Simple</td><td>N/A</td><td>1m</td><td>Banish a weapon to elsewhere, reflexively release to recall.</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Awareness</strong></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Sensory Acuity Prana</td><td>1Scene</td><td>Reflexive</td><td>N/A</td><td>5m</td><td>All senses enhanced, double 9s. If Enhanced(sense) active, reroll 6s. No danger of overload</td></tr><tr><td>Keem Taste and Smell</td><td>1Scene</td><td>Simple</td><td>N/A</td><td>3m/6m1wp</td><td>Recognize/track/navigate by scent. +2sux to Surv rolls to hunt/track/find water, extend range to 200xE. Enable Scent/Taste Libraries. 6m/1wp makes duration indef.</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Occult</strong></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Spirit-Detecting Glance</td><td>1Scene</td><td>Reflexive</td><td>N/A</td><td>3m</td><td>See immaterial Spirits.</td></tr><tr><td>Spirit-Manifesting Word</td><td>Instant</td><td>Simple</td><td>N/A</td><td>1m</td><td>Allow a spirit to manifest physically without paying the cost its self.</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Performance</strong></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Masterful Performance</td><td>Instant</td><td>Supplemental</td><td>Mute</td><td>2m</td><td>Add 1sux and reroll 1s. 1s cannot be targeted by interfereing magic.</td></tr><tr><td>Thousand Courtesan Ways</td><td>Indefinite</td><td>Reflexive</td><td>N/A</td><td>5m</td><td>Add 1 to App, my attempt seductive persuade without targeting intimacy. Single roll, multiple targets. <strong>Commited</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Presence</strong></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Majestic Radiant Presence</td><td>1Scene</td><td>Simple</td><td>N/A</td><td>5m</td><td>While active, others must pay 1wp to act against or attack the Solar. Threaten actions suffer E penalty.</td></tr><tr><td>Harmonious Presence</td><td>1scene</td><td>Reflexive</td><td>N/A</td><td>5/7m</td><td>Add 3dice to all social influence abilites, social charms cost -1m. 7M makes duration Indef.</td></tr><tr><td>Threefold Magnetic Ardor</td><td>Instant</td><td>Supplimental</td><td>N/A</td><td>4m</td><td>Turn dice bonus from App difference into sux(counts as charm dice)</td></tr><tr><td>Awakened Carnal Demiurge</td><td>Indefinite</td><td>Simple</td><td>N/A</td><td>5m1wp</td><td>Add 1 to App, seduction targets have -1 Resolve. <strong>Commited</strong></td></tr><tr><td>Rose-Lipped Seduction</td><td>Instant</td><td>Supplimental</td><td>N/A</td><td>2m1wp</td><td>Double 9s on Seduction. May seduce people even if its Unacceptable for them.</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Resistence</strong></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Ox-Body Technique</td><td>Perm</td><td>Perm</td><td>Stack</td><td>-</td><td>Gain +1 -0/-1/-2 HLs.</td></tr><tr><td>Durability of Oak</td><td>1tick</td><td>Reflexive</td><td>Dual</td><td>3m</td><td>-2 Raw damage, +4 Hardness vs Decisive, but not during Crash.</td></tr></tbody></table></div></div><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Panoply</div><div class="spoiler_body">-<strong>Flesh Aegis Of Glorious Form</strong> (Slot: Empty(). Plate(Class: Heavy. Soak +11. Hadness: 10. MobPen: -2). Cleans as per Collar Of Dawn. Att: 6m)<br/>The Flesh Aegis takes the form of golden Orichalcum tattoos, covering the wearer's body that shimmer softly in any light, and glow if any attempt is made to cover them. These tattoos form straight lines and perfectly radial curves, while both highlighting and accentuating all of Silk's positive features, both curves and muscles.<br/>-<strong>Horizon</strong> (Powerbow(Dam: +12. O: 4. Acc: Close-1/Short+5/Med+3/Long+1/Ex-1) Att: 5)<br/>A slim but extremely long powerbow made of a single unadored shaft of White Jade, with a handle in the center, and flaring symmetrical arms that end in stout spikes, with a thread of Red Jade reaching from just below each spike to string the bow. It is covered in small angular shapes and what are clearly attachment points, giving it a sense of unfinishedness, and lacks the strange vitality of many Artefact weapons, though it has <em>warmed</em> somewhat since Silk took it up.<br/></div></div><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Gm Stuff</div><div class="spoiler_body"><strong><span class="bbc_u">Details and Hooks</span></strong><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Water Falls: Details</div><div class="spoiler_body">The valley is situated at a point where the Mother River runs almost exactly south to north, and its self runs almost exactly west to east. Sitting on the right side of the river, a narrow but deep and fast stream of water flows over the (west)edge, forming a waterfall (and giving the place its name, for such features are uncommon in the South) before winding its way towards a cenote at the far(east) end of the valley. Wider at the west-side and narrowing away from it, there is plenty of space on either side of the stream that flows down the center of the valley, and the soil here is rich, ideal for many types of crop, though much of what is grown here are herbs and teas that are rare in the South, for the valley shields its produce from the harsh southern winds and the worst of flaying sandstorms.<br/><br/>The town abuts against the westmost end of the valley, with positions nearest to the falls being more desired, as the mist dulls the day's heat. On the northern side of the stream, there is a broad, switchingbacking path that forms the main road in and out of Water Falls, though there are many other paths (and more for those unafraid to scale the walls), that is the only one wide enough for wagons and caravans. At the top of the valley where the pathstarts, there are a number of ruins, the most noteworthy being the remains of a tower or similar structure. Once made of interlocking stone shapes, with no two ever the same, it was sundered ages ago, and the pile of rubble is one of the highest points near Water Falls. <br/><br/>At the bottom of the path sits the town's small bazaar, where traders can buy the valley's produce (in bulk or otherwise) and sell their wares; mostly metals and other raw materials that cannot be acquired locally, but the rare herbs sold here mean that the locals are relatively affluent for peasants, and a small but brisk trade for more personal items keeps things fresh.<br/><br/>There are only a handful of slaves in Water Falls, and they belong to the wealthiest landowners, but most of the people here are hereditary farmers or craftsmen who work trades that support agriculture, local smiths are masters of crafting plows, not swords. Most children follow the ways of their parents, and it is rare and inauspicious, though tolerated, if young men and women seek other paths or apprenticeship under people other than their parents.<br/><br/>Once devout followers of the Immaculate faith, the denizens of the valley had grown disillusioned in recent years as strife ravaged the lands of Du-lat, reducing trade and luring away young men and women with promises of heroism and glory, threatening a way of life that has existed since the Great Contagion. When a golden saint appeared to ease their suffering, they flocked to her creed. <br/></div></div><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">The Shining Way</div><div class="spoiler_body">Silk's cult, born out of a need for something to replace the immaculate philosophy with, was constructed by her and the dragonblooded monk, Amanil. The basic idea of the cult is a simple one; building a relationship of mutual reciprocity between mortals and gods. Mortals shall pray to the gods that are relevant to their daily tasks, those gods shall in turn offer up their blessings. Mortals are rewarded for praying to gods, and the gods reward mortals for their prayer. Thus, maintaining the arrangement is in the best interest of everyone involved. No sane god would risk its prayer by with-holding blessings out of pettiness or spite, nor would any mortal wish to labour without the god's blessings when it requires so little of their energy in exchange for such great rewards. <br/><br/>As such, it is the most perfect of systems; one where every part can be trusted to work towards the whole.<br/><br/>However this idea, while valid, is both overly simplistic and somewhat on the naive side. Amanil's influence can be seen most strongly in the canny solutions to the problems that this new cult poses. For example, more abstract Celestial gods are far more important to the proper functioning of Creation that local terrestrial gods, however these gods would recieve little to no worship under Silk's system. The solution is that lesser gods should tithe a fair portion of the prayer they receive to their heavenly superiors. The God Of Southern Harvest for example would recieve almost no direct worship, but they would recieve a tithe from <em>every</em> southern local harvest god, meaning that they will almost certainly accrue a potion of prayer that befits their status. And so on, up the chain. <br/><br/>The only deviation from this model is the direct worship of The Unconquered Sun, and Silk herself. The newly minted priests and priestesses of the Shining Way lead the faithful in a formal prayer every day as the sun sets to bit Him farewell, while Silk is praised as the one who revealed the lies of the Immaculates and opened their eyes to a better way. This practice is largely due to Silk's fiat, she believes that the greatest of gods (to say nothing of her patron) deserves a special place in the religion she founded. A somewhat interesting note is that shes more than willing to waive this in areas that are controlled by others, pointedly, in places ruled by the Dragonblooded, shes quite open to them worshipping their dragon of choice (or all of them) in place of the Sun (and why yes, Amanil did have something to do with this). While she isnt precisely aware of the existence of Lunars, she would be more than willing to let them sub in Luna in their areas of control. The same goes for Exigents, and other Exalted. That said, this is the only part that shes widely flexible on, she fully intends to spread The Shining Way across Creation and allowing the powers-that-be to give a favoured position to their patron deities is just another oh-so-reasonable tactic shes employing to help everyone realize that following <em>her</em> religion is in their best interests.<br/><br/>Why use a stick when you can use a carrot instead?<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Day to day</div><div class="spoiler_body">The people of Water's Fall were relatively quick to go along with her religion once she subdued the local Immaculates, albeit with a surfeit of grumbling. However, the sudden preponderance of divine blessings on their valley have made the benefits of Silk's way readily apparent to even the most hidebound among them. Even the most resistant at leased pay lip service to the new practices shes ordained, even if their prayers lack flair, they still count. A strong minority continue to attempt some semblance of immaculate worship in the privacy of their own homes and consider themselves to be running a convert-and-repent gambit.<br/><br/>However, the highly formalized and down-putting ways of the Immaculate Philosophy towards mortals means that the younger generations are not nearly so rigid as their elders, young adults can often be seen singing prayers while the work as a kind of working-shanty to improved both morale and productivity, while the youngest have begun to interweave their worship with Dun-Lat's revered tradition of poetry to come up with spontaneous and unique prayers as a kind of game.<br/><br/>There are six monks in her cult, three former (mortal) immaculates swayed by Silk's arguments, two new ones that have only recently begun their training since the Way was formed, and Amanil who serves as a high priestess, second only to Silk herself. Who is not a monk at all by the way, but goes by the title of 'courtesan saint'... Mostly because she likes how it sounds and she needed <em>some</em> kind of title.<br/><br/></div></div></div></div><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Panoply</div><div class="spoiler_body"><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Flesh Aegis Of Glorious Form</div><div class="spoiler_body"><strong>Story</strong><br/>The story of the Aegis starts, as it must, with its creator; A solar named Sun Forged Wisdom. <br/><br/>A veteran of the Primordial war, he like all his kind, defeated the Primordials,  expanded and reaffirmed Creation in the aftermath, and then settled in to rule and peruse his interests. Sun was a great craftsman, who learned at the feet of the Mountain Folk in the days leading up to the War, and he forged many artefacts, from simple trinkets to worldshaking wonders. Alas, for he was one of the first to begin to succumb to the Great Curse...<br/><br/>Always a man who placed a high value on perfection, Sun began to become enamoured with his own form, and as his narcissism grew, would often spend hours admiring himself in a massive array of lights and mirrors, obsessing over and correcting any flaw, no matter how small. Eventually, his infatuation with himself lead him to begin to look askince at his suit of Plate, which had served him well throughout the War, but which he was now loathe to wear, for it concealed his body completely. Torn between his narcissism and the practical aspect of his creative mind, he would be forced to choose between displaying his form and protecting it....<br/><br/>You know, if he wasnt a Solar.  <br/><br/>Sun resolved to do both, to create a new armour as inviolate as his plate, but which would not obscure his body. So particular was he, that hundreds of prototypes (themselves artefacts of great power that a modern Dragonblood would probably have sold their firstborn for) were created and rejected, reduced to slag in the fury of his ire, before he finally hit upon a perfect solution. The Aegis he forged was a masterwork of solar craftsmanship, a living alloy of Orichalcum and Moonsilver, mostly the former, but with enough to lend some malleability to the golden metal's legendary hardness. <br/><br/>Taking form of golden tattoos, the Aegis lines the wearer's form, accentuating every curve and muscle, hiding any imperfection, while infusing the skin with interwoven lattices of essence that make it as durable as the heaviest armour. So adored, Sun Forged Wisdom rarely wore anything else, and was free to bask in his perfection and all the.... <em>opportunities</em> that perpetual nudity offered.<br/><br/>When he fell during the Usurpation, hundreds of years later, he was slain by his three hundred dragonblooded courtesans, who coaxed him out of his armour before turning on him.<br/><br/><strong>Details</strong><br/><br/>The Aegis when inert, takes the form of a sphere of Orichalcum, slightly larger than a man's fist, with a sun-burst design. <br/><br/>When activated, it flows onto the user, embracing their form with gleaming patterns of orichalcum that accentuate their body, highlighting positive traits, like muscles or curves, while bestowing all the properties of a suit of Articulated Plate. This includes the mobility and stealth penalties, for even solar artifice cannot soften such hardness, and the full body embrace of the Aegis slows its wearer somewhat, gifting them with a sensuality movement.<br/><br/>Sentient, but only somewhat sapient, the motive spirit of the Aegis glories in its purpose to highlight and protect individuals of great beauty, but is also prideful to a fault. So much so that it cannot be used by anyone other than a Solar, for no lesser being is worthy of being displayed by her, and she will poison the essence of anyone who tries. Even among Solars however, those with less than Appearance 5 she will serve only sulkingly, and offer up no Evocations. But ah, she <em>dreams</em> of once more adorning the body of one who is worthy... <em>this</em> time she will not fail them....<br/><br/>Of course, the Aegis's pride also resents being hidden, and will take it upon herself to display her owner's glory regardless of how they might choose to garb themselves. Shimmering with captured light, the Aegis penalizes stealth (as Fullplate, but visual rather than noise), she will glow brighter the heavier clothes her owner wears, so that her light always shines through, while heavier materials that will not permit her glow are worn away with supernatural speed, lasting only days, rather than months or years, before unravelling. All this is, of course, for her owner's benefit of course, it would be most terrible if their wondrous body was completely hidden! The notion that they might <em>want</em> to is so foreign to the Aegis' nature and thoughts that she could never begin to comprehend it.<br/><br/><strong>Mechanics</strong><br/>Class: Heavy<br/>Soak: +11<br/>Hard: 10<br/>MobPen: -2<br/>Attune: 6<br/>-One hearthstone socket, made of a particularly thick layer of oricalcum, sits over the heart on men, and at the base of the sternum (under the bust) on women.<br/>-Duplicates the cleaning effects of a Collar of Dawn’s Cleansing Light.<br/><br/><strong>Evocations</strong><br/>The Flesh Aegis Of Glorious Form accentuates the body, drawing attention and desire, while offering great protection, its primary Material is Orichalcum, to better Defend and Beautify its wearer.</div></div> </div></div><br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">EXPENDITURES</div><div class="spoiler_body"><strong><span class="bbc_u">Chargen BP</span></strong><em>3/15</em><br/>-5th dot Sta [Pri Attri: 4]<br/>-4th dot Brawl [Fav Abil: 1]<br/>-4th dot Resistance [Cas Abil: 1]<br/>-4th&amp;5th dots Presence [Cas Abil: 2]<br/>-6th&amp;7th dot Willpower[WP: 4]<br/><br/><br/><strong>Earned Exp</strong><br/><br/><br/><br/></div></div><table class="bbc_table"><tbody><tr><td>Fiery Arrow Attack</td><td>Instant</td><td>Supplemental</td><td>Decisive</td><td>2m</td><td>Arrows ignite. +1sux to Decisive damage roll. If it deals 3+HLs, target catches fire and takes E dice of lethal damage/turn </td></tr></tbody></table><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">stuff for later</div><div class="spoiler_body"></div></div></div></div>