[Blasphemy Imagined Anew] The Dragon of the Monochrome Citadel

[Seeker of the End]

Name: Zen-Aku


DT Identity: Xentair, the Final Verdict


Caste: Arbiter


Motivation: To realize his full potential as Xentair


Urge:


Age: Early 20's


Character Sheet:

• Basic Stats
• Backgrounds
• Charms
• Combat Stats
• BP Log

• 
  
  
  Str: 2 Dex: 5 Sta: 2
  
  
  Wits: 4 Int: 2 Per: 5 [+2 Coadjutor bonus]
  
  
  App: 2 Cha: 4 Man: 1
  
  
  Abilities: [3 bp]
  
  
  © Melee: 5 [+3 Swords] [+1 Demonic Artifacts]
  
  
  © Investigation: 4
  
  
  © Resistance: 3
  
  
  © Integrity: 2
  
  
  © Awareness: 3
  
  
  (F) Dodge: 3
  
  
  (F) Presence: 3 [+1 Intimidation]
  
  
  (F) Medicine: 2
  
  
  (F) Athletics: 2
  
  
  (F) Martial Arts: 1
  
  
  Lore: 1
  
  
  Linguistics: 1 (Old Realm, Flame-Tongue)
  
  
  
• 
  
  
  Spoiler

  Before he was Xentair, he was Ralm, a boy living in the Scavenger Lands. And every day was a struggle for survival. He was not a privileged, nor was he blessed. He barely made end's meet, fought others for survival. But yet, he couldn't survive. Perhaps it was his way of thinking, his strong sense of what was right and what was wrong, but he couldn't bring himself to do the things he needed to survive. He was unable to steal, lie, or cheat. Those things did not come easily to him. The spoiled and rotten nobles within his small town laughed and spat upon his misery. Nobody extended a hand to help him, nobody even bothered to give him a second glance. He was simply a person that did not, or rather could not exist. He was someone that nobody cared about. All he could rely on was himself and he did not mind that.
  
  
  One day, he saw a noble who had scorned him being attacked by assassins before him. If he had found some way to forgive him and fight, perhaps a Solar Exaltation would have chosen him. Instead though, he looked the person he hated straight in the eye and said a single phrase.
  
  
  "An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, and an evil for an evil." And the boy walked away and left the noble to die, bleeding out on the floor. But a few weeks later things started to get worse. War had engulfed the land as a bandit raid slaughtered everyone there. But as the village burned, a voice spoke to him.
  
  
  "Do you want to survive?" it asked. Ralm nodded once, for he, like other people, did not wish to die. And so a single jade lion materialized before him and engulfed the boy within itself, the exaltation of the first Scourge grafted itself to his soul. And when he emerged three days later, Ralm was a changed soul, now a Scourge of the Yozi's he slaughtered everyone around him and went to Cecelyne.
  
  
  But years later, Ralm grew weary of his masters' constant attempts to escape into Creation. He longed for freedom, freedom to decide his own path. He did not want to be mocked by anyone else, never again. He wanted to carve out his legend into the world, as so one day he felt something strange within him. It was a feeling of change within his very soul, within the very shard of Exaltation within his body. And so, gathering a few shards of enlightenment within himself from his masters, he forged his way into the Shinma themself and declared his own legend. He was Xentair, the Final Verdict, and the very first Devil Tiger. Further and further he meditated upon his own power and own essence, his constant experiments with his own essence changing the very structure of all of his artifacts, and eventually redefined himself in his own image. He wove two more Chrysalis Grotesques and redefined his caste, and forged his own charms. He was his own master now.
  
  
  The transformation was revealed to the other Infernals during the Calibration Thing, shocking nearly everyone present. And in doing so he was branded as the Heretic. Xentair did not mind, he had dealt with worse titles than before, and he went out in creation, never returning to the Hellish realm that was his home for 6 years. He wandered Creation, exploring and forging his own legend as he developed his own latent powers.
  
  
  Most of the time, Xentair wandered throughout Creation as the Age of Strife ended and the Age of Brass began. He fought against his former patron, Adorjan, during the Wind Wars. He sacrificed his essence and his soul to drive her back to Malfeas through the Gate. But in doing so, it cost him his life. When Xentair’s shard left his lifeless body, it came across someone familiar, Myrh. She was a Szmiya and Xentair’s coadjutor. He had extracted her from his body out of gratitude for the guidance and the partnership and she was the demon that Xentair’s shard bound itself to. And so the Szmiya left, awaiting for the perfect vessel to carry Xentair’s shard.
  
  
  Zen-Aku, Dragon of the Monochrome Citadel.
  
  
  In a forgotten village, there lived a young boy. His parents and relatives were all unknown, their names lost to the flow of time. The village he lived in was completely ordinary except for a single, simple thing. It was a tradition, a violent, childish tradition that had existed for as long as the village stood. It was the practice known as the Angra Mainyu. The villagers believed that majority of humanity was pure and good, and evil existed in the world around them. Evil was caused when the sins entered the body of a human being, causing them to commit crimes. Sins and crimes could not be punished for they left the body as soon as they were committed. So, the people reasoned the only way to eliminate all the sin in the world was to engrave all the sins of the world onto one person, and punish them as the source of all evil in the world. But they could choose no ordinary person to bear those sins. Only a child of disaster, a person surrounded by evil and death but not touched by it could be chosen.
  
  
  One day, when that boy was 10, both of his parents died quickly in succession, nobody knew how or why. But only the boy lived. Disaster followed the child wherever he went, but the boy was always spared. And thus, the child named Ajani Zoroastra was named Angra Mainyu. The boy was enchained, imprisoned, and tattooed with every sin imaginable to man. Greed, Murder, Wrath, Arson, the tatoos covered nearly every inch of his body in black ink.
  
  
  Thus, the perfect scapegoat was born. When people sinned, they blamed him for what they had done. He was always guilty of all crimes and punished as such. But he would not be allowed to die. This torture, this crime against the very foundation of humanity continued on for 10 years. Every blasphemy, every crime, every sin, was branded and committed upon him. Yet his will remained unbroken. His torture had turned his soul into ice and steel. All that was left was a cold fury, a hatred for all ‘evil’ and a will to make it happen.
  
  
  Myrh proposed a deal to the boy, proposing to grant him the power to burn all of evil from existence, to be the Final Verdict of creation. The boy accepted and was consumed by the cocoon and the black and white flames that followed.
  
  
  He awoke seven days later. His body was purified and enhanced. He was stronger and faster than ever before. He awoke, and the town that had sinned against him burned for 7 days and nights. When there was nothing left but ashes and glass, the new Arbiter left to judge the rest of Creation.
  
  
  [5 bp]
  
  
  Resources: 2
  
  
  Artifact: 2 (Xentairic Starmetal Daiklave)
  
  
  Artifact: 2 (Xentairic Orichalcum Reinforced Buff Jacket)
  
  
  Unwoven Coadjutor: 5 (Myrh, Szmiya and Xentair's former Coadjutor)
• 
  
  
  [6bp]
  
  
  Xentair:
  
  
  First Xentair Excellency (x2)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Costs: 1m per dice Mins: Ess 1 Type: Reflexive
  
  
  Duration: Instant
  
  
  Keywords: Combo-OK,
  
  
  Prerequisite Charms: None
  
  
  Xentair is neutral and brutally honest. She pursues the absolute truth of others and uses that as a basis of her judgment. She is unbiased not because she is compassionate, but rather because she cannot differentiate between demons and gods, kings and knaves. She loves to exercise personal power and freedom as she punishes the guilty and protects the innocent. Her core nature embraces the duality between opposing forces and she always seeks balance within Creation. She punishes arrogance and burns lies and deception until only the truth remains.
  
  
  Xentair's excellency may be invoked when a character judges those around her and when they execute the guilty. It may also be invoked when a character protects themselves or the innocent from harm, but never when those people initiate hostility. It can also be used toreveal things that are hidden, as well as to help expose lies and deception. It is against Xentair's nature to work against the freedom of others, thus her excellency cannot be used in any context of controlling or manipulating people, nor can it be used to rule over a group of individuals. Xentair also frowns upon deceit and vanity, thus lying, acts of deception, or acting out too dramatically or in an over-exaggerated manner is forbidden when using her Excellency.
  
  
  Second Xentair Excellency
  
  
  Lies to Ashes
  
  
  Twin Arms of the Scales
  
  
  Alabaster Vigil
  
  
  Lies to Ashes
  
  
  Ivory Aegis Reflection
  
  
  Defiant Pillar of Flames
  
  
  Malfeas
  
  
  Hardened Devil Body (x2)
  
  
  
• 
  
  
  Essence:
  
  
  Personal: 14/14
  
  
  Peripheral: 14/14 [8 committed]
  
  
  Join Battle: 11
  
  
  Virtues:
  
  
  Compassion: []
  
  
  Conviction: [] [] [] []
  
  
  Temp: [] []
  
  
  Valor: [] []
  
  
  WP: 9/9 [4 bp]
  
  
  Soak: 1L/3B + 9L/12B = 10L/15B
  
  
  Health:
  
  
  -0 []
  
  
  -1 [] []
  
  
  -2 [] [] [] [] [] [] [] []
  
  
  -4 [] [] []
  
  
  -I []
  
  
  -D [] []
  
  
  Attacks:
  
  
  Requiem: Speed 5, Acc 14, Damage 12L, PDV 8, Rate 3, Attune 5
  
  
  
• 
  
  
  -4 BP Willpower 5-9
  
  
  -6 BP for Hardened Devil Body
  
  
  -5 BP for 3 dots of Backgrounds ( two are above 3)
  
  
  -3 BP for 3 dots in favored abilities
  
  
  0/18
  
  
  

 

[Seeker of the End]

I would like some feedback on my character, if that's possible.

 

[Misanthrope]

It surely is. I was looking for details of the Devil Tiger's legend, but I couldn't find it here. Could you link me or repost it below? I'vve probably missed it in another forum.

 

[Seeker of the End]

It's already linked, if you're asking about the excellency. If you mean my backstory, I'm a bit busy with finals right now.

 

[Seeker of the End]

Here's the link again if you want to look at it.


http://www.rpdom.com/resources/devil-tiger-xentair-the-final-verdict.54/

 

[Misanthrope]

Arbiter Caste:
The caste-mark of the Arbiter is a pair of black and white scales, divided into two parts down the center. Their banners are also divided vertically into black and white halves, usually containing opposite concepts and themes. An additional single color is present in both halves, which thematically represents the Arbiter's individuality.


An Arbiter may spend one mote to use their anima to brand a verdict upon a target, either Guilty or Innocent. Doing so is not painful to the victim, although the brand become Obvious to anyone with any sort of essence sight. This brand cannot be removed and can only be changed by the Arbiter. An Arbiter may also pay 5 motes to add his Essence in auto-successes made to a Perception+Investigation roll made in order to identify a magical effect or charm. This easily pierces magical and physical deception, granting the Arbiter +3 MDV against Illusions and Manipulation effects. This effect automatically comes into play once the Arbiter spends 11+ motes of Peripheral Essence.


Favored Abilities: Melee, Investigation, Resistance, Integrity, Awareness


Imperfection of the Monochrome Citadel:


Xentair is easily able to discern the innocent from the guilty. As such, she cannot let the innocent come to harm, even if it means letting herself take their place. Charms with this Imperfection are unable to function when the Arbiter willingly allows an innocent to come to harm.

The branding power - what does this look like on a mortal, or is it more like a tag of essence?


I'm not sold on the 'Detecting use of charms' power of the caste though. After all, that's what the obvious tag is for. Could you explain a little more how this would work?


I love the Imperfection, and the huge amount of work you've done on the concept and the charm set.

Lies to Ashes
Cost: 2m, Mins: Essence 2, Type: Reflexive


Keywords: Combo-OK, Obvious, Mirror: Judges Ear Technique (Core, p213)


Duration: Instant


Pre-Requisite Charms: None


It is by nature for Xentair to burn away any and all lies that she encounters. Only then can the truth be revealed.


By paying two motes, the Arbiter may test the validity of a verbal statement. Whenever a lie or a half-truth is knowingly told, the words scald the tongue of the person speaking, causing them to cough out a brief burst of black and white flame as well a couple fleck of gray ash though they do no other physical damage. Lies baked with the use of Charms require a contested roll. In these cases, add the Devil Tiger's Essence in automatic successes to this roll.

This charm is almost a complete analogue to Judges Ear Technique, p213 Core. I've added some to the text (in red) to clarify the charm a little. If these would breath the core themes for the charm, then feel free to re-frame them / re do them. Now, judges ear technique costs 3m for the same effect.


NB: You have this charm listed twice for your starting charmset

Twin Arms of the Scales
Cost: - (+3m) Mins: Ess 2 Type: Permanent


Keywords: Combo-Basic


Duration: Permanent


Prerequisite Charms: None


The arbiter constantly balances the good and the evil of the world, and is ready to reciprocate evil whenever he encounters evil and good where he encounters good. This charm permanently augments the Arbiter's join battle roll. When the Arbiter pays three motes, he adds his perception in dice to his join battle roll. Any two weapons that the Arbiter can access are readied reflexively. As an added bonus, upon learning this charm, the Arbiter permanently becomes ambidextrous.

This is a powerful charm. Not only do you ready weapons reflexively, but also add up to 5 dice to a JB roll, and as a minor effect get ambidextrous for free. Ignoring the latter, which is a very minor effect, this isn't out of the remit of an Essence 1 or 2 charm 9using a lot of martial arts charms here as reference). Readying the weapons reflexively is a nice touch... and because its a linked effect, I'd say that this is probably a charm with a mote or two more for activation cost. Not too many more though, 4 or 5...

Alabaster Vigil
Cost: 2m Mins: Ess 2 Type: Reflexive


Keywords: Combo-OK, Obvious


Duration: Instant


Prerequisite Charms: Twin arms of the Scales


Xentair, although she is not compassionate, defends the innocent justly. She is obligated to defend herself and those who she has judged innocent for as long as she draws breath. This charm detects anything tainted with hostile intent such as an unseen projectile or a malicious trap. This charm negates surprise and allows for the full DV value of the Arbiter to be used against the attack.


At Essence 3+, the Arbiter may extend this protection upon others in his surrounding area. By activating this charm, he quickly intercepts and blocks any unexpected attack made against anyone (Essencex2) yards from him.

I've bolded some of this charm. Here is the scenario: You and two friends walk into a tomb and are ambushed by snuggle monsters. You use the Surprise nerf as the snuggle monsters attack your friends. You block ALL the attacks? The blocks are perfect? Can you see the area that might seem ambiguous?

Ivory Aegis Reflection
Cost: 8m Mins: Ess 2 Type: Reflexive


Keywords: Combo-OK, Obvious


Duration: Instant


Prerequisite Charms: Twin Arms of the Scales


In the face of adversity, the Arbiter channels the full extent of his power and authority into his weapons. And through this, the Arbiter becomes unmovable and invulnerable.


Through this charm, the Arbiter's weapon takes on a brilliant white hue as his essence empowers metal to turn aside any blow. The blow is repelled back by the will and conviction of the Arbiter, rendering all attacks useless. This charm is a perfect parry which suffers from the Imperfection of the Monochrome Citadel.

Just needed to add a clarification to the charm (in red).

Defiant Pillar of Flares
Costs: 7m Mins: Ess 2 Type: Reflexive


Keywords: Combo-OK, Obvious, Counterattack


Duration: Scene-Long


Pre-Requisite Charm: Ivory Aegis Body


An Arbiter remains unshakable in her will, and her heart and will cannot be changed. Reasserting her own purpose and her own mantra in the world, she purges anything that dares to challenge her identity.


This charm may be used as a counterattack when a shaping effect targets the Arbiter or anything that he has on his body. The purging flames of Xentair engulf the Arbiter and all objects that are physically connected to her, preventing any shaping effect from changing or affecting anything within it. Furthermore, the monochrome flames consume anything that comes into contact with the Arbiter, dealing (essence)L damage to anything that touches the Arbiter. The charm functions as long as the seven motes used to activate this charm remain committed.

Another perfect defense, this time against shaping attacks. I'm confused though - is this a scene long effect, or something that lasts while the motes are committed? The description and the duraton are at odds, at least in my mind. Sorry for being pedantic, its a curse

 

[Scandinavian]

RAW, all charms require the activation motes to remain committed throughout their duration (Sorcerous charms may be an exception). This is one of the main selling points of Sorcery: It can do stuff that would normally require ongoing charm effects (i.e. heavy mote commitments) as instant sorcery effects (i.e. no mote commitment).

 

[Seeker of the End]

Okay I'll make most of the suggested changes...


Question 1: That aspect of the anima power was basically a copy of the Twilight's errattaed anima power except.


Question 2: Defiant pillar of flames is a mirror (with changed thematics) of Adorjan's shaping defense, in Fond remembrance of Adrian. The defense is active as long as the motes are committed.


Other than that, let me know if there's anything wrong.

 

[Seeker of the End]

I changed the text of Alabaster Vigil to allow me to apply my parry dv to attacks directed at the individuals around me. Sort of like defend other, I think.