Spiralling Lao
Name: Spiraling Lao
Concept: Arrogant Demonologist
Exalt: Lunar
Caste: No-Moon
Motivation: Successfully demand a service from a Yozi without any direct repercussion.
Intimacies: His Solar Mate (Calamity), Pursuit of Sorcery, Aya, Moe-bot (Singular Blade of Hope)
Tell: Snow-white fur on his ears that seems to gleam with silver.
Spirit Shape: Arctic Hare
Virtue Flaw: Temperance (Drunken Monkey)
Anima Power: Reduce the Cost of all Occult-based powers for the scene. Obscured by Shadows.
Description
Spiralling Lao was formerly a courtier in a small, Northern kingdom, west of Whitewall. He was the son of a local noble, he lived amid luxury and education in the small, harsh castle-town, alternating between fruitful summers and harrowing winters. Lao lived in the castle proper with his father, his mother having died shortly after his birth.
Lao spent most of his idle time reading and discussing his contents with the other nobles. While a good debater, he was frustrated with the narrow interests of the court. In his boredom, he began to explore the castle library, and when he was done with that, he would interrogate servants and nobles to tell him more about the outside world. Feeling trapped, he began to take heavy interest in the private sections of the castle, often bribing or cajoling guards to allow him into private areas.
It was exploring the lowest recesses of the castle that he came across a strange study, which he learned of by chance and considerable social maneuvering. A hefty bribe acquired him the key, and it was in this dusty, unseen place that he found a strange book, sitting atop a pedestal. Curious, he opened to tome, glancing through its strange pages.
What he saw in those pages made little sense to him, but the looping designs and bizarre words filled him with a crazed sense of awe. It was so great that he barely heard the nobleman sneaking up behind him. He attempted to explain, and even to apologize, as the noble struck him with a strange object that seemed to hum.
When he awoke, he found himself in a freezing cart, surrounded by coughs and sobs. He could find no-one to answer his questions or demands, save for one young girl who seemed in less despair than the others. She told him that this was a guild slave-cart, travelling north to sell the occupants. When he told her his story, indignant and annoyed at the treatment, she responded that it didn’t matter. He surmised that he was sold secretly, and quickly realized that escape would be nearly impossible. His words wouldn’t save him here.
It was days later that the wagon stopped, amid a freezing snowstorm which forced the slaves to huddle together. The girl said her name was Aya, as she clung to Lao for warmth. Lao said nothing, as the wagon above was suddenly torn away.
Lao remembered little, save for being thrown free of the wagon and cast into the freezing snow. He called out his friend’s name, but it could not be heard above the roaring wind, panicked screams, and inhuman snarls. Unable to see or to hear, he ran about amid torn flesh and the growls that were too human…
As he dashed here and there, he felt himself move faster. He swore he could see a cloaked figure in the distance, walking amid the flurries, but as he ran to her, she seemed just out of reach. Eventually, he fled the maddening place, bounding over the dunes, never quite aware that he had become a white snow-hare.
He became aware of his change when he finally stopped to rest. He spent the next few weeks, running through the wilderness, eating, and trying to figure out just what he could do with his new-found abilities. He soon realized that someone was tracking him – a distant shape, either feline or human, which always seemed to shadow him. Curious, he tried numerous times to lure out his persuer, or to evade it; while he was never ultimately successful, he did manage to pick of hints of her nature. It was a whole week before she finally called out to him, approached him in human form. She introduced herself as Lady Frostreader, and explained much else to him.
Lao was inscribed into the No-Moon circle, after some debate, and took quickly to seeking lore. After learning all he could (or he was allowed) from Frostreader, including the beginnings of sorcery, he took to the trail, eager to find more intriguing knowledge and to find his dear friend Aya. He traveled tirelessly across the northern ice, looking for some sign of her passing.
After nearly a year of searching, he stopped to rest in a secluded crevasse amid the frozen tundra. What he found there was a series of crystalline caverns, glinting with many strange colours – and at the bottom, a stone-wrought catacomb, built like a bizarre temple. The Manse’s hearthstone lay waiting, which he claimed willingly.
However, as he rested amid the ice and snow, he thought of what he had done, his thoughts continued to stray back to his old home. No doubt his family would want him to return, and to stay with them; however, that would probably not be possible. He feared facing his parents, facing his old life, and trying to reconcile it. He feared what he would find, after he’d been gone and changes.
After days of resting and preparing, Lao made up his mind. Darting over the snow, he began to search for the way back to his castle-town. It was not difficult to find – but it had changed. Within the walls, the buildings were worn and boarded, and the streets scarce. In the form of an owl, he flew into the castle, finding the servants sickly, and the nobles depressed and decadent. He made his way, to his parents’ room, slipping through the crooked door.
His parents were asleep in their bed; his mother’s face seemed sadder, more dreary, and his father seemed pale and thin. In his spirit shape, he sat at the foot of their bed, watching them with black, soulful rabbit eyes. His father stirred awake, peering out over the sheets, catching a glimpse of the strange, white rabbit with silver markings through its fur, before it vanished. He glanced around, and in his waking confusion, called out his son’s name.
From the doorway, Lao stared blankly, waiting for his father to return to bed. Then he made his way downward, retracing old steps through the entire castle. When his trek was done, he came to the last door he had ever entered there, passing through into the ancient study. It was still there, upon its pedestal. Silently, he lifted the book, sliding it into his robes before departing, out of the castle and into the endless snows that were his home.
Lao usually dresses in simple dark-blue robes and cloaks, with a square hat of the same colour. His hair is black, his skin light. He wears his hair short, relying on bangs to help conceal his Tell – the soft, white fur on his ears. This is a source of embarrassment – Luna help he or she who plays with them frivolously.
Currently, Spiralling Lao (as his mentor named him), has traveled about, searching for new secrets and mystical understandings, bartering for relics and records. He has also learned the art of summoning demons, becoming fascinated by the Malfean structure. He has seen his mentor several times since, who has expressed concern at his new fascination; he has politely acknowledged her warnings, and maintained his careful studies. He still searches for Aya at every opportunity, as well. From his Manse, he continues his research.
Lately, though, Spiralling Lao has found his lifestyle suddenly shaken, by an unexpected and unwelcome discovery – his Solar Mate.
Statistics
Attributes
Strength: **
Dexterity: ***
Stamina: ****
Charisma: ***+*
Manipulation: *****
Appearance: *****+*
Perception: *****
Intelligence: ***** (Sorcery +2)
Wits: ****
Abilities
Craft (Genesis): *** (+1 Hybrids)
Craft (Vitriol): **
Craft (Normal): *
Dodge: *
Linguistics: ***
Performance: **
Socialize: ***
Archery:
Athletics:
Melee:
Presence: *
War: *
Resistance:
Ride:
Sail:
Survival: **
Thrown:
Investigation: *
Larceny: **
Lore: ****
Occult: ***** (+2 Demons)
Stealth:
Awareness: ***
Bureaucracy: **
Integrity: *** (+1 Demon Charms)
Martial Arts: **
Medicine: ****
Initiate Degree in Alchemy
Virtues
Compassion: **
Conviction: ***
Temperance: *****
Valor: **
Backgrounds and other things
Artifact: * (Moonsilver Hearthstone Amulet)
Manse: **** (Wilderness Stone: +2 autosux to Survival and allows supernatural tracking, 8 motes per hour)
Heart’s Blood: **
Renown: **
Essence: ****
Willpower: ***** *****
Personal: 24
Peripheral: 56
Committed: 3
Knacks
Shapeshifting costs 1 mote to become a true form (human or arctic hare), and 3 motes for other forms. Sacred Hunts take six hours, minus the successes on a Wits+Survival (6 + 2 autosux) roll, and a point of Willpower.
Humble Mouse Shape: Allows Lao to take shapes as small as a mouse.
Prey’s Skin Disguise: Allows Lao to take human forms. 1 Willpower cost in addition to normal cost, and hunts take half a day.
Changing Plumage Mastery/Twin-faced Hero: Allows Lao to make cosmetic changes to his forms as she shifts, changing hair and skin colour and distinguishing marks (including hiding his tattoos) in all of his forms. Also allows him to switch gender (or become genderless) whenever he shapeshifts.
Hybrid Body Rearrangement: Allows Lao to manifest mutations based on forms he knows: 1m for poxes, 2m for afflictions, 3m for blights, and 4m for abominations. These last until he dismisses them, are not committed, and persist through shapeshifting if he desires (and are not dispelled by form-lock).
Deadly Beastman Transformation: Gives you a new true form, built using (Essence + 4) mutation points,+1 to Strength, Dexterity, and Stamina while in the form, and does not worsen if taken to Dying by damage.
Green Sun Child: Allows Lao to take the shapes of demons.
Heart's Blood
- Arctic Hare (Spirit Shape)
- Spiraling Lao (human)
- War Form (see below)
- A polar bear
- a snowy owl
- an elk
- a black rat
- a white lynx
- a large, beefy northern man with scars on his neck
- young Southern woman with dark skin and red hair (don’t ask)
- a plump northerner merchant with a twirly mustache
- a foppish Northern aristocrat
- a tough-looking woman with grey eyes
- a small, elderly woman (again, don’t ask)
- an agatae
Deadly Beastman Form Mutations
- +1 Strength, Dexterity, and Stamina
- Gazelle's Pace - +4 to Dex for movement, +4 to Strength for jumping distance. Runs as fast as a horse.(2)
- Talons - punches and kicks do lethal damage + 2 (2)
- Fur - +1 to Survival pools, needs no clothing to protect from the elements, and gains 1L/1B soak. (1)
- Enhanced Sense (sight) - +2 dice on all sight-based Awareness rolls (1)
- Enhanced Sense (hearing) - +2 dice on all hearing-based Awareness rolls (1)
- Tail - +1 to Athletics rolls for balance (1)
Noteworthy Possible HBR Mutations
- Wings (Fly at run speed; Owl, Agatae) (4m)
- Agatae Brilliance (+1 Charisma, +1 Appearance) (2m)
- Multiple Heads (For each extra head possessed the reduces the multiple action penalty of any flurry he makes by 1, and for every two additional heads he possesses the mutant reduces the DV penalty of any flurry he takes by 1. In addition, each extra head adds one die to all Awareness roll made by the mutant, and may be able to assist him in other ways—assisting in calculations, planning a battle, ect—most of which can be modeled by applying the Limited Teamwork rules to pertinent rolls) (4m)
- Extra Limbs ()
Charms
First Manipulation Excellency: Increase Manipulation up to natural rating (5). (1m per dot)
First Perception Excellency: Increase Perception up to natural rating (5). (1m per dot)
First Intelligence Excellency: Increase Intelligence up to natural rating (5). (1m per dot)
Flawless Intelligence Unity: Can purchase specialties for Intelligence, like an ability. Limit of 3 per attribute. These specialties cannot stack with Ability specs.
Butterfly Eyes Defense: Makes the foe believe the Lunar is using a Perfect defense, using unnatural mental influence. Those affected must succeed at a Perception+Awareness (8) roll against a difficulty equal to the Lunar's manipulation, or spend a Willpower. (3m)
Cat-Face Presentation: Supplements a Manipulation+Socialize (8) roll to conceal intentions, making it an unexpected social attack. (2m)
Eye of the Cat: Can see things that are normally impossible to see. Anything that does not allow a Perception roll can be seen with this. It adds the Lunar's essence (4) in auto-successes against contesting charms. (6m)
Devil-Restraining Grip: Restrains a spiritual target, preventing them from escaping. Any spirit the Lunar can see can be bound on a Perception+Occult (10) roll against a difficulty of the target's essence. The affected spirit cannot go farther than its EssenceX4 in yards from the user, may not dematerialize unless the Lunar lets it, and must materialize if the Lunar wishes. If it does not have enough motes to do so, the Lunar pays the remainder.
Flesh-Sculpting Art: Can manipulate flesh like its clay or water. Good for Medicine (staunch bleeding, cure crippling except for amputation unless in the Wyld, and make cosmetic changes) (8m)
Inevitable Genius Insight: Choose a project or subject of research when activating this charm. Add one success to all rolls pertaining to it, and increase the maximum number of dice he may add to any mental attribute roll by Essence (4). If wanting to take an action other than towards the chosen goal, the Lunar must roll Willpower (10) and takes a -2 penalty to actions for that free scene. If wanting to end the Charm prematurely, roll Willpower (10) against Temperance difficulty (5), which you may only attempt once per scene. (5m, 1wp)
Argent Weaver Art: Shoot webs of essence which have Strength + Athletics equal to Intelligence + Essence (9), and have a range of Intelligence X10 yards (50 yards). Each web-shot costs 1m, not charm activation. (Permanent, 1m for web shot)
Instinctive Essence Prediction: Attempt a reflexive Perception + Essence roll (9) to figure out roughly what a charm or other magical power does when it's used. Diffculty is the power's minimum essence requirement, or 1 if there's no essence requirement. Threshold successes are added to any magical attempts to oppose the understood effect. Lasts for one scene. (4m)
Terrestrial Circle Sorcery: Allows the casting of Terrestrial Circle spells. (See below)
Celestial Circle Sorcery: Allows the casting of Celestial Circle spells. (See below)
Spells
Terrestrial Circle
All spells cost one WP to activate, and take one turn to cast.
Demon of the First Circle: Can summon First Circle demons. (20 motes to cast, plus 1 mote per extra die on the control/banishment rolls)
Flight of the Brilliant Raptor: A giant flaming bird flies out and strikes unerringly at a foe. Range of 1,800 yards, attack roll Wits+Occult (9), Accuracy and difficulty to spot equal to Lao's Essence (4), and damage dice equal to Perception + Occult (10) with autosux equal to Essence (4). Anyone hit takes automatic knockdown and -1 to Dexterity-based actions for every 2 HL taken, fading at the rate of one every 5 ticks. It explodes the tick after it strikes, hitting the target and everything within three yards with 4 lethal damage (Trauma 3) environmental damage, burning anyone in the area for 1L/tick environmental damage (trauma 2), for 10 ticks. Those on fire burn for 1L/tick (Trauma 1) if they leave, but can be extinguished. (10m)
Droning Suggestion: Can be cast without anima flare or visible effect if only Personal Essence is used. All social attacks made by the caster against targets within 10 yards are unnatural mental influences for a scene. Requires one willpower to beat. Mortals cannot figure out that this is a magical effect, though Essence users can if a mechanical effect that natural mental influence cannot inflict is imposed on them.
Celestial Circle
Sapphire Countermagic: Counters Celestial Spells in spectacular blasts, and completely snuffs Terrestrial Spells. (15 motes to use on self to counter, 20 motes to break another spell nearby)
Three-fold Binding of the Heart: Makes a target fall madly in love with the caster, ensuring absolute devotion that the target thinks is genuine. Combines a Compulsion (powerful intimacy), Emotion (love), and Servitude effect. Binds a mortal instantly, and against a supernatural the roll is Manipulation + Occult (10) plus automatic successes from Essence (4), against the target's MDV (only applies if conscious). The target can spend Willpower to erode over time, but only if they have an overwhelming reason to think of it; also, they get a free roll on their birthday to break it. (30m)
Imbue Amalgam: Create a servant out of a mortal or animal, empowered by your Essence. Rules are complicated, I'll try to record them later.
Artifacts
Moonsilver Hearthstone Amulet (1 mote commit): Holds a hearthstone, gives one extra mote from hearthstone mote renewal. Holds Wilderness Gem.
Jade Dragon Tear Tiara(2 mote commit - attunement disc makes it favoured): Holds a hearthstone, gives +1 dice to Perception rolls and +3 dice to non-sorcery occult rolls. Holds Gem of Immortality.
Manses
The Shadow Cave (Lunar) – 4 dot (8)
Stone: Wilderness Stone (+2 autosux to Survival and allows supernatural tracking, 8 motes per hour)
Greater Veil of Shadows (4)
Bound Servitor Force, demons (2)
Hidden Passages (2)
Minor Tricks and Traps (1)
Habitability (-1)
Lady Yugalesh’s Temple-Laboratory (Earth) – 5 dot (10)
Stone: Gem of Immortality (owner doesn't age or suffer diseases, 10 motes per hour)
Factory-Cathedral (5)
Workshop Manse, Genesis (3)
Bound Servitor Force, Genesis-creatures (2)
Dangerous Traps (2)
Central Control (2)
Maintenance, for Factory Cathedral (-4)
BP
Total: 18
Manipulation to 5 (3)
Intelligence to 5 (3)
Manse to 4 (2)
Occult to 5 (2)
Willpower to 10 (5)
Temperance to 5 (2)
Conviction to 3 (1)
XP
XP Gained: 268
XP Used: 266
XP Banked: 2
Essence to 3 (16)
New Charm: Terrestrial Circle Sorcery (8)
Awareness to 3 (4)
New Spell: Demon of the First Circle (8)
New Spell: Flight of the Brilliant Raptor (8)
Martial Arts to 2 (2)
Medicine to 2 (5)
Craft (Genesis) to 1 (3)
Dexterity to 3 (8)
New Spell: Droning Suggestion (8)
Craft (Vitriol) to 1 (3)
Craft (Water) to 1 (3)
New Knack: Hybrid Body Rearrangement (8)
New Charm: Flesh-Sculpting Art (8)
Performance to 1 (3)
New Knack: Deadly Beastman Transformation (8)
Craft (Genesis) to 2 (2)
Performance to 2 (2)
Linguistics to 3 (4)
Free Genesis dot from discussing shop with Death Knight, taking it to 3 (Peaceful Academic)
Initiate in Alchemy (10)
Essence to 4 (24)
New Charm: Celestial Circle Sorcery (8)
New Knack: Green Sun Child (8)
New Spell: Sapphire Countermagic (8)
New Spell: Three-fold Binding of the Heart (8)
Perception to 5 (12)
New Charm: Flawless Intelligence Unity (8)
New Charm: Inevitable Genius Insight (8)
New Spell: Imbue Amalgam (8)
Craft: Vitriol to 2 (2)
Appearance to 6 (12)
Intelligence Specialty: Sorcery (3)
Argent Weaving Art (8)
Medicine to 3 (4)
Intelligence Specialty: Sorcery (3)
Lore to 4 (6)
Medicine to 4 (6)
Instinctive Essence Prediction (8)
All-Encompassing Sorcerer's Sight (8)