Exalted 2.5 - Tale of the Seven Sins: The Second Cycle

[Seeker of the End]

Saga of the Seven Sins: The Second Cycle


Superbia, Gula, Invidia, Luxaria, Avaritia, Acedia, Ira.


These are the Seven Sins, crystalized over the millennia before Creation's genesis and forgotten by even the Incarnae. Changing forms over time, they have finally awoken in the Age of Sorrows in the form of seven artifacts, each possessing impossible powers. Disaster brews as their poisonous touch infects even the purest of hearts, twisting them into horrible monstrosities. Now a group of Exalts seeks to gather the Seven Sins together and stop them from corrupting creation completely.


But even as the Exalted seek the Sins, other forces seek to covet them for their own purposes. Some have noble intentions, while others want nothing but to reclaim or destroy Creation. But all must know this: the moment the Seven Sins gather, the world will end.


Be forewarned: even the mighty Exalted were humans at some point in time, and humans are never invincible.


This is a reboot of a previous game hat I hosted, called Tale of the Seven Sins. It was very successful but I'm debating whether to lower the power level of the game to Essence 2-3. Or we could do a straight redo with high essence characters. It will be up to those who are interested.


This game uses the Exalted 2.5 system and is heavily inspired by Mothy-P's Evillious Chronicles and takes several references and themes from its songs and complex storyline. This game takes place for the most part in the South and the East, although brief visits in other directions are definitely possible. It is for the most part somewhat combat heavy but there will be some social combat among other things.


Who will join me in this journey?

 

[Sherwood]

Count me in! I highly enjoyed the last incarnation of the game, and would love to try something new. Perhaps a Sidereal.

 

[WarDragon]

Like I said over on the White Wolf board, I'm definitely interested. If we stay with high essence, I'd like to reboot with the same character from last time. If not, and we can't think of a good way to do a low-Essence Devil Tiger, I might go with a Dawn (or TAW, if you changed your mind about them!).

 

[Random Word]

Sounds interesting. A combat heavy forum game sounds logistically challenging, but I'll certainly give it a try.

 

[Rykon]

Count me interested. Though I'll probably go light on combat if possible, considering other games I've played.

 

[Seeker of the End]

Alright, we have four people so far. I'll start planning out everything but I want to know whether players want to go with high-level exalt gameplay (essence 5+) or low-level combat (essence 2-3).


I know Sherwood and WarDragon want high essence but what about the rest of you?

 

[Sherwood]

I'm planning on a Sidereal, and I'm hoping to be able to use at least one SMA. So, either a high Essence game to start off with, or a good shot at advancing my Essence to the level to be able to get the goodies I'm hoping for.

 

[Rykon]

I'm up for either level of play, but more often than not I find myself reaching for some of the higher essence goodies when playing Exalted, so I'm gonna lean toward high essence.

 

[Lord-Leafar]

Well I'm definitely interested if you'll have me, wouldn't mind getting my hands dirty with some high essence characters but I don't mind starting a lower essence game.

 

[Random Word]

As I understand it 2e rather badly breaks down mechanically at high Essence, even with the 2.5e errata. Are you liberally house ruling, or are we just expected to use common sense and not take anything obviously broken? Are there particular SMA rewrites you favour?


I'll be happy either way. I've never tried high essence, so it will be interesting.

 

[Sherwood]

I believe that any game can break down at high levels. A lot of it depends on how much of a power gamer you wish to be; if you focus on one thing to the exclusion of all else you will own that one thing, but in other areas you'll get in trouble. Either way, I'll be content with the game.

 

[Random Word]

Definitely; any system can be powergamed, but there's powergaming and then there's Obsidian Shards of Infinity Style ( )

 

[WarDragon]

I'm actually cool with either. I can think of like, at least two or three ways to use my custom Charms at low Essence, if you're down with the idea.

 

[Seeker of the End]

As it stands, I'm planning on doing high-essence since we're dealing with a high essence scenario. I'm tweaking the rules that I'll be using to make the game more balanced. One of which is that max DV is 23. More will be posted later.


You can start thinking up your characters if you want. Just don't start on the crunch and numbers yet.

 

[Sherwood]

Awww, the crunch and numbers are sooo much fun! Can't we please crunch numbers? Please please please? (^.^)

 

[Rykon]

As far as character concept goes, I'll probably be looking at a social Lunar build with a smattering of sorcery. What is everyone else considering?

 

[Seeker of the End]

Here's the rules so far.


-Permanent Essence can only be raised up to 6 during character Creation


-Scroll of Eratta 2.5 is required


-Ink-Monkey Charms are available


-No Merits or Flaws


-Solars and Solaroids are entitled with 9/7/6 Attributes, 40 dots of Abilities, 21 dots of Backgrounds, 40 Charms, five dots of Virtues, and 30 Bonus points. Start at Essence 4 for free. Solars and Solaroids only have around a few decades of experience so they must buy the charms that allow them to get Essence 6 in order to reach it. Devil Tigers are allowed and Eclipses can pick up foreign charms provided they pay double the charm's XP/XP cost.


Solars and Abyssals: 5 Free excellencies, which you can trade in for an Ox-Body is desired.


Infernals: The following charms are free if you meet the requirements: Triumphant Howl of the Devil-Tiger, Swallowing the Scorpion, Tempest of Inward Focus, Flame of the Rising Phoenix, and Face of the Titans.


- Lunars start with 13/11/9 Attributes plus two dots to spend in caste or favored abilities, 55 dots of abilities, 27 dots of backgrounds. 70 charms/knacks, 5 virtue dots, and 45 BP. They start at Essence four and have a couple of centuries of experience.


- Sidereals start with 12/10/8 attributes, 45 dots of abilities after training (assuming you are not a Ronin), 27 dots of backgrounds, 70 charms, 20 college dots, 5 virtue dots, and 50 bp. You start at Essence 4 and have a couple of centuries of experience.


- SGambit Re-write of SMA's of the following Styles:


Prismatic Arrangement of Creation


Quicksilver Hands of Dreams


Obsidian Shards of Infinity


Charcoal March of Spiders


Plague of Hat's Dreaming Pearl Courtesan Style.


- Craft is a single Ability while Specific craft types (Craft Genesis/Craft Fate) are specialties


- Players can only have a max DV of 20 without the use of charms.


- Initiation to a circle of sorcery comes with a free spell from that circle.

 

[Sherwood]

Where do I find the rewrites of the SMA's?

 

[Seeker of the End]

http://forum.theonyxpath.com/forum/main-category/exalted/72397-sgambit-s-sidereal-martial-arts-rewrites


I'll add it to the description.

 

[Sherwood]

Thanks.

 

[Rykon]

For the Lunars I assume it's first age castes? or...?

 

[WarDragon]

Looks good... yeah, I'll probably be going with Baal-Shazash again. Might make a few tweaks to backstory or stats from last time.


For the non-Sherwoods, the character in question was a... very aristocratic Infernal, who intended to build an empire in Creation after turning his back on the Yozis.

 

[Seeker of the End]

Non-first age Lunar castes, but if you can SOMEHOW give me a really good backstor of how you managed to get an uncorrupted shard then I might bend the rules a bit.

 

[WarDragon]

Hmm. On the other hand, a chance to play around with some of those high-Essence Dawn charms is tempting... I Really don't have a good concept in mind for a Solar though, and the DT charms were what brought me here in the first place. Yeah, probably stick with that.

 

[Sherwood]

Are Merits allowed?