Before submitting a character tell me a little bit about his life as a mortal including where he was born.

Character Creation as per starting Sidereal with the following modifications.

The first dot is free in each of the following backgrounds.

Backing: Gold Faction
Backing: The Violet Bier of Sorrows
Connections: (One of your choice)

Feel free to post your character information before you pick your charms if you want.

Track bonus points spending.

UPDATE I'm very gladly accepting the rank 1 and 0 backgrounds to free up points for less abstract and more definitive backgrounds, like my artifacts. With the additional +2 backgrounds for omitting flaws, I felt a total overhaul was plausible even if with heavy revision. When I did the math (correctly!), I was still coming up short for getting essence though. There are a lot of charms I want, and likely will get ASAP, that need Essence 3; but I just can't spend over half my BP on Essence. I just can't...*shrug*

SHEET

Name: Unknown "Vicious" Ampthise  (literally the Gem slave record of Ampthise listed his family name as "Unknown" with a capital emphasis)
Title: Righteous Deadfall
Motivation: Exact punishment as the end result of wicked acts.
Caste: Reckoner aka Endings
Anima: Violet Corona with Lavender Glow

Strength	5	Charisma	2	Perception	1
Dexterity	5	Manipulation	5	Intelligence	2
Stamina	1	Appearance	2	Wits	4
Journeys		Serenity		Battles
(F) Resistance	3	Craft		(F) Archery	1
(F) Ride	1	Dodge	2	Athletics	2
Sail		Linguistics	3	Melee
Survival		Perform	1	Presence
Thrown		Socialize	1	War	3
Secrets		Endings		Arts of Thaumaturgy
Investigation		(A) Awareness	2	FIRST
Larceny		(A) Bureaucracy	3	SECOND
Lore	3	(A) Integrity	2	THIRD
(F) Occult	3	(A) Martial Arts	3	FOURTH
Stealth	2	(A) Medicine		FIFTH

Specialties:

Essence	2	Limit	[ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]
Personal	09/09//09	Willpower	5
Peripheral	14/14//28	Temp. Willpower	5
Compassion	3/3	Temperance	1/1
Conviction	3/3	Valor	5/5
Join Battle		Hardness
Nat. Soak		Armor Soak
Parry		Evasion
PMDV		DMDV

Indefinite Committed Motes: 10 (5+5)

Pen	Health Levels
-0	[ ]
-1	[ ] [ ]
-2	[ ] [ ]
-4	[ ]
Inc	[ ]

Weapon	Acc	Dmg	Over	Def	Rate	Range	Tags
Unarmed

NOTE: +3 Gratis for Backing and Connections. +2 for no Flaws or Merits

Backgrounds
Raw	#	Final	#	Description
Ally	3	Ally	4	Righteous Tsunami. Sister in arms Past Life.
Ally	1	Ally	1	Serenity to Cosign and Craft Destinies
Artifact	3	Artifact	4	V Starmetal & MS Infinite Resplendence Amulet
Artifact	2	Artifact	2	Violet Starmetal Wrackstaff
Backing	1	Backing	1	Gold Faction: Well Known from Cult as youth
Backing	1	Backing	1	Violet Bier of Sorrows: Ending Lintha Raid
Backing	0	Backing	0	Convention on Deathlords: Brand New
Backing	0	Backing	0	Convention on War: Brand New
Backing	0	Backing	0	Water Convention: Brand New
Connections	1	Connections	1	Bureau of Heaven: Quiet Voice for Revision
Manse	3	Manse	5	Home's Hearth: (See Stats) Gift from Ally
Salary	3	Salary	3	Funnel bribes to get better pay. Dragon Boat
Sifu	3	Sifu	5	Journeys: (Notes at Bottom)

Intimacies
Alignment	Object	Attitude

LANGUAGES:
Flametongue (Native)
Old Realm (Literate)
High Realm (Literate)
Seatongue (Literate)

Charms (Please, I ask you, forgive the formatting. I'm copying and pasting from spreadsheet)
RESISTANCE Ox-Body Technique (1) N/A 0 Permanent Grants -0 Health
RESISTANCE Shield of Destiny Reflexive (Step 7) 3, 1 W Indefinite Reduce post soak damage suffered from attack by (Dexterity+Resistance) dice. Vicious then "stores" the damage he prevented. Vicious may maintain up (Essence) activations. When attacked, on step 9 of attack, Vicious can release an activation as an unblockable, undodgeable counterattack that automatically hits. It inflicts same amount damage that was prevented, that ignores soak and hardness.
RESISTANCE Someone Else's Destiny Reflexive 4 Indefinite When first exposed to a poison or sickness effect, a derrangement, or anything that could reasonably be called "madness"; Vicious ignores this
MARTIAL ARTS (Art of Forceful Declaration) Biting Remark Supplemental 5 -- Only obvious upon dealing damage. 10's on damage deal double. Additionally roll dice = damage levels dealt. If this meets or exceeds target's essence, permanently cripple limb appropriate to attack. This can ONLY be healed by supernaturally healing, Even exalts canNOT heal this naturally!
MARTIAL ARTS (Art of Forceful Declaration) Challenge's Answer Reflexive (Step 9) 3 Until Next Action Every time hit, as in over his EDV or PDV, respond with counterattack (once per opponent for duration) with dice=Raw Damage (max [Dexterity+Martial Arts]). Cannot counterattack a counterattack and each counterattack reduces DV by 1.
MARTIAL ARTS (Art of Forceful Declaration) Instruction in Spirit (Forceful Declaration Form) Simple 6 One Scene Gain (Valor) dice to all offensive actions and Bashing Soak. Attacks inflict lethal. Reduce Wound Penalties by 1. Finally, when attacked by a foe with lower valor, gain difference to DV.
MARTIAL ARTS (Art of Forceful Declaration) Rapid Rebuttal of the Harsh Tongue Reflexive (Step 9) 7 -- Make two counterattacks, at full pool, incurring onslaught penalty for second. Each attack lowers DV by 1. Cannot counterattack a counterattack.
MARTIAL ARTS (Art of Forceful Declaration) Stentorian Challenge Supplemental 1 -- Add Valor to raw damage of attack.
MARTIAL ARTS (Art of Forceful Declaration) Violently Advancing Theories Reflexive 2 Until Next action During Flurry, move before each attack, but must move no less than half move between each attack. Also, must actually attack a foe (not the ground or object)
BUREAUCRACY Essence Triumphant
PERFORM Essence Triumphant
MARTIAL ARTS Essence Overwhelming

Colleges
Haywain 1
Mast 1
Rising Smoke 1
Ship's Wheel 1
Spear 1
Sword 2

Spells







NOTES:
Sifu is of Journeys, and knows at least Forceful Declaration and Prismatic Arrangement of Creation.

Bonus Points
Sifu 3 → 5                           14/18
Manse 3 → 5                          10/18
Ally 3 → 2   (Level 4 and ?)         8/18
Ally 0 → 1                           7/18
Valor 3 → 5                          4/18
Conviction 2 → 3                     4/18
Infinite Resplendence Amulet 3 → 4   2/18
Martial Arts 3 → 5                   0/18


This message was last edited by the player at 22:38, Sun 25 July 2021.

I like what I see so far. I think Righteous Tsunami would be ally 4.

What Sidereal Martial Art will you be starting with?
Where is you manse located?

Glad. I'm glad I budgeted just enough.

I'm not qualified (essence) to have high Sidereal martial arts, and to get a form of any of them, I'll likely need a celestial style anyway. So I'll be lucky if I can get much past the form of the celestial style. I'm not sure what styles my sifu would know, and if I have a choice in the matter (as a player) I'd want to synergize the styles to make a coherent suite of styles. Off the top of my head, I'm thinking Forceful Declaration, if I may. Otherwise, I'd start with Violet Bier of Sorrows from a failed Sifu relationship prior to my current Sifu, whom should understand a circulation of pupils. ;)

Ideally, Sifu would look like this: A mix of brutality, and mercy, masochism and punishment worse than death. I hope to learn Forceful Declaration in route to Prismatic Arrangement of Creation, up to a point.

C1: Forceful Declaration
C2: Victorious Concession
C3: Laughing Wounds
C4: Throne Shadow
T5: Terrible Ascent Driven Beast
T6: Fallen Blossom
T7: First Pulse
S1: Prismatic Arrangement of Creation
S2: Citrine Poxes of Contagion
S3: Charcoal March of Spiders
S4: Quicksilver Hand of Dreams

I often considered BoKL Style, but having played it before, and enjoyed it; I don't want to even delude myself in aspiring to such an esoteric and high req style. The ones I listed are difficult enough to reach the Apex of. Though to be fair, I don't plan on being stubborn in finishing a style I can't advance in.

I'm thinking the Home's Hearth Manse is in the West, perhaps a gift from Tsunami, or my Sifu. After all, few Sidereals (apparently) prefer Creation Manses. I'm thinking North of Fakharu's Island perhaps on islands of Broken Dreams. Or closer to Onyx (Northernly, not on its doorstep or even within the 100 miles).

I'd stat the manse to be a home and hospice. Where I can eventually take people under command to. For now, it's an escape if Vicious becomes too near to failing.

Sifu - By taking the background you get to choose what styles he/she knows. I only ask that you tell me at least one style at the beginning of the game. The additional choices will be triggered by in game events or when you choose to spend xp to learn them.

Background Suggestion- One of your sidereal past lives worked for Righteous Tsunami and gave their life for cause of the Convention of Water. With such a previously show of dedication, there was the instant opportunity of a friendship in this incarnation, and the gift of a celestial manse with agreement that you would rejoin the Convention of Water.

Question- Can I go ahead and create your Sifu or do you have something in mind?

You have my highest blessing to create my Sifu. I'd like to see them be a Journeys; though I know that's unusual for a Sifu. I'd like to see some Colleges for the Sifu be those that Vicious shares, so they can be cosigners on petitions. I'm fine with either picking my colleges from those my Sifu does (that you pick) or seeing you (post char gen) copy some that Vicious has.

I had a question on the styles chosen and "events". Do you mean to say, it's more negotiable as I gain XP, to choose (as a player) the styles my Sifu know after we're in progress? That's very generous! It's also, TBH a good idea. Having OCD, I often find myself admiring people who make simpler choices that are actually more profound. This being one such case. It's less work, and leaves more freedom for drama, but also player agency. It just didn't occur to me, the flip side of coin; what I've always done, nets less positive benefit, and the way you do it has really no downside. I think seeing this attitude will affect how I ST for others. Sometimes, I need to see things organically from a player perspective to really intuit where I can improve. So thank you for that inspiration. :)

So yes, by all means make the Sifu. It excites me to see what you come up with.

The past life idea is a great one. I also like the idea of the manse being a breaking of bread to return to the West. I also means that Vicious will not be able to unseat from the West, since the Hearthstone is more integral to the manse than many other hearthstones.

I do, however, need top readjust my background points. This is what I was talking about before, that backing have a large impact on backgrounds, and how they're nebulous what is and isn't a background. I would definitely want to be a Water Convention 1 or 2.

This is really good aid to making my ideas plausible. I always appreciate that when a ST does that. :)

I would prefer that you pick the colleges. I will mirror at least half of the collages that you pick. Any from the House of Journeys or House of House of Endings would make perfect since, but a level  4 or 5 sifu has had plenty of time to learn other things also.

As far as sifu, you need to pick one style at the beginning and other styles after we are in progress. I said events for story purposes. So if your sifu is about to enter a martial arts tournament, I may prompt you to pick style they they know at that time.

Backing - Remember you are still a very young sidereal. While it can be a goal for being known in all the conventions you have spent points in, you don't have to start with backing in everything. While I have no problem with you taking backing in the Convention of Water I don't feel its necessary. A few other notes to consider while trying to juggle points. You can be a member of the Convention of Deathlords without having to spend points on backing one. It is just not what you are known for yet. I am planning on your connections contact in the Bureau of Heaven to be a mid level manager in the western Division of War. So you will have some influence in the Division or War without backing in the background if you choose to move points. Even if you don't spend any points in backing the Convention of Water your home in creation and your greatest ally are still in the west.

Cool! Thanks for the clarification! So to update the backgrounds will help greatly! Just as level 0 resources doesn't literally make you penniless (just very desitute) backing 0 is till an option, and is reasonable given my newness. I like this! My F2F group has had trouble with this and I always value insight. We've basically done as you said, but in rare cases it's been a bit of juggling.

Anyway, I'm blathering.

Sifu knows at least Forcefuul Declaration. If you want a SMA as well, that he knows, it'd be Prismatic Arrangement of Creation. The rest we'll leave open. :)

College will be picked with an emphasis on Battles and Journeys for out of house colleges. Once you know mine, you can let me know (as it comes up) what colleges my Sifu knows. On a side note, once you've made the Sifu, we should also talk about the Sifu's name in formal and potentially informal context.

I'm going to be editing the above now. Well..right after I read and potentially post to the new thread. :)

An important question you may have already answered, but if you did I forget where and when. What is your stance on flaws and merits?

I don't think flaws and merits add as much in exalted games as they do other types of games. I will allow them or offer your two background points to ignore them.

Sure! I'd ignore them for just you being uninterested in them. I won't turn down more backgrounds though. :D

So...if I got Ally level 5, would I get level 1 ally, or level 2. I'm spending the points to raise it level 5...but it's a second ally.

I want a Serenity that can Cosign, use their anima banner for the prayer roll and craft my destinies from cosigning. In return I'm thinking I raise his salary? We are allies, not just contacts, so I imagine it's less formal and more just an alliance of trading favors.

Okay, I'm pretty happy with what I have put down. Not 100% done, nor 100% sure what I picked is what I truly want, but I'm feeling pretty confident. I need to really consider mast or spear, as I'm uncertain of which I really want. I know with XP, I'll enter into more colleges as an initiate, but never go farther; that means more cosigneries I can participate in, as well as endurance powers I'll have access to.

I need to get combat stats as well. I think that's it. Let me know if you see a mistake or oversight. I'm going to take a break for the day, at least as far as crunching numbers. I'll be on RPoL here and there, so I'll reply if you post.

Thanks!

What languages do you speak?

Updated for languages.
Flametongue (Native)
Old Realm (Literate)
High Realm (Literate)
Seatongue (Literate)