Exalted: The Ascension

Creation is in danger like never before. The last beacon of stability, the Realm, is slowly falling into chaos as the Empress is gone. The Solar Exalted, once champions of Creation, now serve the Primordials they slew or defeated. The Lunars are stretched thin fighting a resurgent Wyld, and the Sidereals remain caught up in politics. The Incarnae were still largely addicted to the Games of Divinity, but they saw these troubles. Sol Invictus, still bitter over the fall of His Chosen, despaired of finding an answer, especially from the Exalted.

That changed one day. The legends vary. Some say a beautiful and noble Infernal persuaded him in a debate within the Jade Pleasure Dome. Others say one of the Mountain Folk nobility came to His sanctum bearing the Eye of Autochthon. Yet others say a joint team of Exalts found a dark secret within their lineage, and their humility and devotion persuaded Him. The most common theory is that it arose from a prayer by a mortal Regardless, He spoke of this with His fellow Incarnae and most trusted servants. A decision was made, and a secret function of the Loom of Fate activated.

And thus the Mortals of Creation began to Awaken...

The Magi

At a moment of sublime transcendence, a mortal absorbs her destiny, her two souls, and her own least god into a fusion of the mundane and the divine known as the Avatar. The Avatar exists apart from its components, and is the only distinction between the Awakened and other mortals.

Focus and Paradigm

For one of the Awakened, Magic can be many things. Magic can be the sheer act of will of upon the world, much like the Raksha or the mightiest Gods. However, most Magi require a practice, ritual, or other focus to alter reality. A number of schools have sprung up based on the different choices for foci and various paradigms of magic.

The Lotus Order

Martial arts are nearly universal. From Raksha to Abyssal, from Sidereal to Mortal, all draw upon patterns of katas and sutras passed on through the generations. The Lotus Order uses these practices to align their body, mind, and soul, channeling the power of their magic through the harmony. It is said that they have access to martial arts that rival the Immaculate Dragon Styles. Most Lotus Monks take their martial arts into battle against their enemies and Creation's foes commonly, for there is much skill to gained in conflict. A few Monks practice in peaceful monasteries, finding much wisdom in the quiet contemplation there.

Favored Sphere: Life Favored Ability: Martial Arts

The Salinan Academy

The greatest of Solar sorcerers wished that Sorcery be available to all, and thus the Salinan Working made sorcery part of nature. With the systematic approach of her friend Devon, sorcery became repeatable and logical. The Sorcerers of the Academy view themselves as the ultimate version of Salina's vision. In their studies, the Academy's Magi apply the occult principles of sorcery to the own practice. They make use of secret languages, mudras, and the focused will of the Sorcerors. Their masters have made pacts with a number of elemental courts, allowing the summoning of Elementals. A few Sorcerers have chosen a darker path, and have wrested the secrets of Necromancy from the Underworld. This is looked upon with concern, but not complete condemnation. While largely a band of scholars, they have vowed to defeated the mighty Lunar Raksi and wrest control of Sperimen from the madwoman.

Favored Sphere: Prime Favored Ability: Occult

The Maker's Children

The art of crafting tools and machines was among the first that mortals grasped. According to his followers, the Great Maker Autochthon is the reason mortals have ascended from base savages. In fact, while the Incarna and Dragons choose Mortals, all Exalted are the Maker's Children. In return for this gift, they spurned their Father and drove him away. These Magi view themselves as the new Children of Autochthon, and seek to use their talent in alchemy and artifice to build a world of wonders worthy of their beloved Father. They have embraced magitech, some even incorporating it into their own bodies. A number of non-Magi have welcomed the Children, as they share much of their knowledge with fellow scholars in the field. The have a firm alliance with the Mountain Folk, and tentative alliances with other factions.

Favored Sphere: Matter Favored Ability: Craft

The Resplendent Arbiters

Creation once had an order, a Celestial Bureaucracy that efficiently ran things for all. In this Age of Sorrows, it has fallen into ruins. The Resplendent Arbiters, burning with an internal divine spark, have chosen to seek out positions within the Celestial Bureaucracy to try and make it work smoothly and efficiently - or at least work for them. Arbiters rely on orders and prayers to various deities to control Creation, playing politics with gods and mighty beings. Some have risen to impressive ranks, while others are hidden as functionaries that provide valuable intelligence.

Favored Sphere: Spirit Favored Ability: Bureaucracy

The Hand of the Will

Life consists of a vast sea of possibility. None may truly command the power of magic without seizing it and shaping it to your will. Like the Raksha, the Hands do not use tools or ritual to shape reality, but rather their will. Alone among the different practices of magic do they easily force Time to serve them. Largely composed of people who venerate strength and dominance, the Hands are not closely knit for obvious reasons. Some of the less domineering members focus more on seizing the moment and taking control of destiny.

Favored Sphere: Time Favored Ability: Awareness

Sphere Effects

Correspondence

Creation is formed from a tapestry of Essence, and all things are linked. However, instant travel goes against the laws of Fate, and attracts Paradox.

Entropy

There's always an ending... While this Sphere can end destinies or spare destinies from Saturn's touch, the power of Entropy is not without its risks. Altering destinies goes against the Loom of Fate, and Paradox awaits the foolish.

Forces

The strength of Essence is revealed in different forces clashing together. This Sphere controls raw elemental strength, though many beings are resistant to elemental power. As wielding elemental power is a natural part of Creation, it does not cause Paradox if Essence is spent to fuel the effect.

Life

The Essence of life flows through everything that breathes. By the grace of Luna, Awakened beings may alter their bodies, but vast changes are difficult. In a Wyld zone, the Life Sphere is raised by one.

Mind

Mind powers are subtle and deadly, and remain little changed.

Matter

Fundamental alchemy is within the grasp of the Awakened being. Note that the Five Magical Materials require Matter 5 to create with the exception of Jade, which is Matter 4. In a Wyld zone, the Matter Sphere is raised by one.

Prime

The Awakened mortals can control Essence much like one of the Exalted, forging items of legend and resisting the might of Exalted warriors.

Spirit

Spirit allows for greater spirits to be commanded, though this does not effect the least gods and elementals. Summoning a demon or elemental is possible, though the Awakened lack the ability to bind a demon like an Exalted sorcerer.

Time

While none may travel back in time, the Awakened may see the past and divine the future. Time manipulation gathers Paradox quickly when it effects others, but controlling the self is much easier.