Cadence trudged along the winding road, leaning heavily on her staff and struggling to keep her eyes on the city in the distance. Though her rigorous dance practice schedule kept her in good shape, it had become abundantly clear over the past few weeks that she wasn't really cut out for extended foot travel. It had taken weeks and she was beginning to suspect she'd never get all the dirt and grim off, but she finally felt she'd emerged from the looming shadow of her former masters.<br/><br/>To either side of the road she could see nigh endless fields, dotted with weary workers. Had she been less weary, less narrowly focused on her destination she might have noticed the tell tale signs of enslavement. Before too long though she was striding into the city, a grin tugging at the corner of her mouth. Though she was far from comfortable with her newly Exalted nature, she felt hopeful for the first time in as long as she could remember.<br/><br/>A soft bed and a warm bath were her first goals as she followed the main road deeper into town, dark eyes scanning the shop signs for an inn of some sort.<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Character Sheet</div><div class="spoiler_body"><table class="bbc_table"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Name:</strong><br/><br/></td><td>Ivory Cadence</td><td>     <br/>     </td><td><strong>Concept:</strong><br/><br/></td><td>Runaway Slave</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Player:</strong><br/><br/></td><td>Meliai</td><td>     <br/>     </td><td><strong>Motivation:   </strong><br/><br/></td><td>Establish and protect a safe haven for former slaves</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Caste:</strong><br/><br/></td><td>Eclipse</td><td>     <br/>     </td><td><strong>Anima:</strong><br/><br/></td><td>Glowing, white-gold segments of broken chains swirl behind her in an endless knot pattern (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:EndlessKnot3d.svg).</td></tr><tr><td>                  </td><td>                  </td><td>     </td><td>                  </td><td>                  </td></tr></tbody></table><span class="bbc_u"><strong>ATTRIBUTES:</strong></span><br/><table class="bbc_table"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Strength:</strong></td><td><strong>●●●●●</strong></td><td>        <br/>     </td><td><strong>Charisma:</strong></td><td><strong>●●●●●</strong></td><td>     </td><td><strong>Perception:</strong></td><td><strong>●●●●●</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Dexterity:</strong></td><td><strong>●●●●●</strong></td><td>         <br/>     </td><td><strong>Manipulation:</strong></td><td><strong>●●●●●</strong></td><td>    </td><td><strong>Intelligence:</strong></td><td><strong>●●●●●</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Stamina:</strong></td><td><strong>●●●●●</strong></td><td>         <br/>     </td><td><strong>Appearance:</strong></td><td><strong>●●●●●</strong></td><td>    </td><td><strong>Wits:</strong></td><td><strong>●●●●●</strong></td></tr><tr><td>                    </td><td>                    </td><td></td><td>                         </td><td>                         </td><td></td><td>                         </td><td>                         </td></tr></tbody></table><span class="bbc_u"><strong>ABILITIES:</strong></span><br/><table class="bbc_table"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Dawn</strong></td><td></td><td>   </td><td><strong>Zenith</strong></td><td></td><td>    </td><td><strong>Twilight:</strong></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>[]Archery<br/>[]Martial Arts<br/>[]Melee<br/>[]Thrown<br/>[]War</td><td><strong>x</strong><br/><strong>x</strong><br/><strong>x</strong><br/><strong>●●</strong><br/><strong>x</strong></td><td>    </td><td>[]Integrity<br/>[●]Performance<br/>[●]Presence<br/>[]Resistance<br/>[]Survival</td><td><strong>●●</strong><br/><strong>●●●●●</strong><br/><strong>●●●</strong><br/><strong>x</strong><br/><strong>●</strong></td><td>    </td><td>[]Craft<br/>[●]Investigation<br/>[●]Lore<br/>[]Medicine<br/>[]Occult</td><td><strong>x</strong><br/><strong>●●</strong><br/><strong>●●</strong><br/><strong>x</strong><br/><strong>●</strong></td></tr><tr><td> <br/><strong>Night:</strong></td><td></td><td>    </td><td> <br/><strong>Eclipse:</strong></td><td></td><td>    </td><td> <br/><strong>Specialties:</strong></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>[]Athletics<br/>[●]Awareness<br/>[]Dodge<br/>[]Larceny<br/>[]Stealth</td><td><strong>x</strong><br/><strong>●●●</strong><br/><strong>●●●</strong><br/><strong>x</strong><br/><strong>●</strong></td><td>    </td><td>[●]Bureaucracy<br/>[●]Linguistics<br/>[●]Ride<br/>[●]Sail<br/>[●]Socialize</td><td><strong>●●●●</strong><br/><strong>●</strong><br/><strong>x</strong><br/><strong>x</strong><br/><strong>●●●●</strong></td><td>    </td><td>[] Singing<br/>[] Dance<br/>[]<br/>[]<br/>[]</td><td><strong>●</strong><br/><strong>●</strong><br/><strong>x</strong><br/><strong>x</strong><br/><strong>x</strong></td></tr><tr><td>                                </td><td>                                </td><td>   </td><td>                                </td><td>                                </td><td>   </td><td>                                </td><td>                                </td></tr></tbody></table><br/><span class="bbc_u"><strong>BACKGROUNDS:</strong></span><br/><strong>Familiar:</strong> ●●●<br/>     <span class="bbc_u">Bit</span> - An intelligent, magpie-like spirit that Cadence named for his unfortunate habit of carrying off any money that he's physically capable of lifting when no one is looking. Formerly a "conversation piece" of Cadence's last owner, she took him with her when she fled.<br/><strong>Contacts: </strong>●<br/><strong>Resources:</strong> ●<br/>     Though in a rush when she ran, Cadence snatched a few small pieces of her former master's treasure that she hoped he wouldn't notice when gone. Most were sold for cash or bartered away for the supplies she'd need to survive the next few months<br/><strong>Manse:</strong> ●●<br/>     The only remaining bit of treasure that Cadence stole is a strange, large gem. A glint caught her eye as she was about to leave her master's treasure room, and she found the jewel tucked away at the back of a bookshelf, covered in dust. As soon as she touched it she felt a strange, subconscious compulsion urging her not to sell it.<br/><br/><span class="bbc_u"><strong>CHARMS:</strong></span><br/>Third Performance Excellency <br/>First Presence Excellency<br/>First Investigation Excellency<br/>Second Lore Excellency<br/>Third Awareness Excellency<br/>Third Bureaucratic Excellency<br/>Third Socialization Excellency <br/>Second Linguistic Excellency<br/><br/>Speed the Wheels<br/>Whirling Brush Method<br/>Sagacious Reading of Intent<br/>Taboo Inflicting Diatribe<br/>Mastery of Small Manners<br/>Phantom-Conjuring Method<br/>Heart-controlling Method<br/>Memory-reweaving Discipline <br/>Shadow Over Water<br/>Reflexive Sidestep Technique<br/><br/><strong><span class="bbc_u">EQUIPMENT:</span></strong><br/>Staff:<br/><table class="bbc_table"><tbody><tr><td>Speed<br/>6<br/>                    </td><td>Accuracy<br/>+2<br/>                    </td><td>Damage<br/>+7b<br/>                    </td><td>Defence<br/>+2<br/>                    </td><td>Rate<br/>2<br/>                    </td><td>Minimums<br/>Str 2<br/>                    </td><td>Cost<br/>-<br/>                    </td><td>Tags<br/>2, R<br/>                    </td></tr></tbody></table>Knives (6, hidden in clothing)<br/><table class="bbc_table"><tbody><tr><td>Speed<br/>5<br/>                    </td><td>Accuracy<br/>+0<br/>                    </td><td>Damage<br/>+2L<br/>                    </td><td>Rate<br/>3<br/>                    </td><td>Range<br/>15<br/>                    </td><td>Minimums<br/>Str 1<br/>                    </td><td>Cost<br/>-<br/>                    </td><td>Tags<br/>*<br/>                    </td></tr></tbody></table><strong><span class="bbc_u">INTIMACIES:</span></strong><br/>Slaves (Sympathetic pity), Slave Owners (Disgust), Celestial Exalted (Cautious awe), The Guild (suppressed fear)<br/><br/><strong><span class="bbc_u">WILLPOWER:</span></strong><br/>● ● ● ● ● ●<br/>[] [] [] [] [] []<br/><strong><span class="bbc_u">VIRTUES:</span></strong><br/><table class="bbc_table"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Compassion:</strong><br/>● ● ● ●<br/>[] [] [] []<br/><strong>Conviction:</strong><br/>● ● <br/>[] []<br/>                              </td><td><strong>Temperance:</strong><br/>●<br/>[]<br/><strong>Valor:</strong><br/>● ●<br/>[] []<br/>                              </td></tr></tbody></table><strong>Virtue Flaw:</strong><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Compassionate Martyrdom</div><div class="spoiler_body">Overcome with the need to alleviate the suffering she<br/>witnesses, Cadence throws herself into helping the<br/>victims in the most direct and dramatic fashion possible. If<br/>her Limit Breaks while watching an overseer beat<br/>slaves, she stands before the whip, allowing blows meant for<br/>others to fall upon her instead. Cadence will not resort<br/>to violence unless she is attacked or is already in combat.<br/><strong>Partial Control:</strong> If Cadence attempts to control the<br/>Limit Break, she must still immediately and directly aid those<br/>who are suffering. However, she can choose to do so more effectively—<br/>including by killing the brutal overseer and freeing<br/>the slaves in the above example.<br/><strong>Duration:</strong> One scene in combat or one day otherwise<br/><strong>Limit Break Condition:</strong> Cadence witnesses innocents<br/>suffering through no fault of their own.</div></div><br/><strong>Limit Points:</strong><br/>[ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]<br/><br/><strong><span class="bbc_u">ESSENCE:</span></strong><br/>●●<br/>Personal: __|12<br/>Peripheral: __|29<br/>Committed: <br/><br/><strong><span class="bbc_u">SOAK:</span></strong><br/><strong>Bashing:</strong> 2    <strong>Lethal:</strong> 1   <strong>Aggravated:</strong> 0<br/><br/><strong>Dodge DV:</strong><br/>4<br/><strong>Mental Dodge DV:</strong><br/>5<br/><strong>Join Combat:</strong><br/>5<br/><strong>Move/Dash:</strong><br/>9<br/><br/><strong><span class="bbc_u">HEALTH:</span></strong><br/><table class="bbc_table"><tbody><tr><td>-0<br/>-1<br/>-2<br/>-4<br/>Incapacitated     </td><td>[]<br/>[] [] <br/>[] []<br/>[]<br/>[]</td></tr></tbody></table><br/><strong>History:</strong><br/>Cadence has been a slave as long as she can remember, whether she was sold or stolen is a mystery to her. She was purchased at a young age by a wealthy man, a new source of entertainment for his fickle wife and children. They named her Ivory Cadence for her long, bone white hair and talent with music. Naturally graceful and blessed with a sweet voice, she spent much of her early years singing and dancing on command, or serving as a general handmaid for the Houses' three daughters. Though she'd always been a lovely girl, as she grew older Cadence became a beauty so great that her owners found their little pet songbird was suddenly the talk of the city.<br/><br/>Though for a few seasons the family enjoyed the social clout the girl gave them (socialites practically fought for invitations to their parties, just to gaze upon the slave girl and hear her sing), eventually the lady of the House grew tired of the covetous stares she increasingly caught her husband directing at the girl (either she was unaware of or apathetic to the fact that her daughters had been slaking their lust on the pretty young slavegirl for months.) Word was spread that they would be selling the renowned singer, and in less than a day they'd received an offer of ten times the price they'd originally paid.<br/><br/>Soon after Cadence found herself escorted to a new, vastly more opulent estate. Though she was treated gently it became instantly clear that her new master intended for her to serve as a very different form of entertainment. The next few hours were a blur of soap bubbles, scented oils, and fine silks as her new master's other pleasure slaves prepared her for the night, and before she could come to grips with what had happened she found herself in a strange, richly appointed bedroom. In an instant, she found her fear replaced by inspiration. Already enchanted by her appearance, the words she wove brought him to his knees, weeping. In his grief, he set Cadence and the rest of his harem slaves free. Taking with her a few small treasures she hoped would not be missed, she fled into the city. It wasn't until she was several blocks away that she caught a glimpse of her reflection in a puddle and saw the caste mark upon her forehead.</div></div>