Exalted: Shadow of Progess

Two travelers chosen by the Sun walk the desert sands, looking toward

Players

Righteous Starfall

• Exaltation: Zenith Caste Solar
• Profession: Monster Hunter
• Backstory: Several years ago, a tribal woman gave birth on the holy road of Whitewall as a star streaked across the heavens. Her shaman husband named the boy Righteous Starfall for that favorable omen from the heavens. He did this sadly, knowing the boy would need to be gifted to the monks of the nearby Triumphant Phoenix school. Such is the price of Heaven's blessing.

The monks of the Triumphant Phoenix school, led by a group of Dragon-Bloods practicing Golden Janissary style, were monster hunters. Much in demand by Whitewall, they also traveled widely, fighting the Fae, the Demons, and the Dead. Acolyte Starfall took to his training well, and he was judged qualified to receive the highest honor of the mortal members. Upon coming of age, he went through several trials, and finally participated in an thaumaturgical ritual that allowed him to use Essence. As an Adept and Enlightened Mortal, he participated in several defenses of the city, and slew a nemissary warrior in a duel. He also excelled in the study of the occult, and he was even being schooled in the rudiments of sorcery - thought his terrestrial tutor though it merely an experiment. Despite his bravery, he became cold and detached, fighting more out of duty than any concern for Creation or even hatred of monsters. He killed them because that was what he did.

Everything changed when he was assigned to Gethamane. The creatures came forth from the underways, and he was half thinking of abandoning his post. That was when he saw them - a group of children, caught out in the open, all terrified. They seemed to be frozen with fear, until they saw him. They believed in him, and it dawned on him why he was there. The area was filled with sunlight, and he heard a voice of unparalleled majesty, wisdom, and power. "Behold! For I am the Unconquered Sun, and I call on you, Righteous Starfall, to join the ranks of my Chosen. Look upon my people, all those in Creation, for it is for them I have Exalted you. Defend them and guide them in my name!" The voice faded, but the light blazed yet stronger. The horrors cowered from his light, and ran futilely from his searing blade. He drove them all the way into their underway hive, and destroyed in the name of the Sun. He strode out of the underways to cheers, carrying the treasures he liberated from the monsters and a new purpose in his heart.

He returned to Whitewall in uncertain spirits. He was honor-bound to return to his school, but he feared the reaction of his dragon-blooded masters. To his surprise, they silently took him deep into the school, to a sealed vault. The door opened for him like nothing, despite having never moved for a millennium. There lay a dire lance wrought in orichalcum, with calligraphy lining the blade. This was Eternal Remembrance of Victory, a weapon forged in the wake of the Primordial War to commemorate the victory of the Exalted. He attuned to the weapon easily and slung it within a jet black enclosing sheath. He was escorted out just as silently, but they gave him the medallion of the Righteous Phoenix Masters. He knew that he could not return, but the world lay open before him...

Gemstone Spear Sage

• Exaltation: Twilight Caste Solar
• Profession: Scavenger Lord
• Backstory: