>>35319655
Please include the twitter and any pastebins in the OP post.

>>35319675
I'm trying to, but 4chan keeps saying it's spam

>>35319675
And also post the link to the thread in the twitter when they start.

>>35319685
Just use @[Twitternamehere]

Annex the halta-sudetenland

>>35319685
Just break them up with some spaces, sometimes they trip the url spam filter

>>35319655

You can follow this Quest's progress on Twitter (@guardbeastquest), take a look at the character sheet (http://pastebin.com/iWzBJ4y1), or the design document (tinyurl: /GBQmechanics) for greater system knowledge

>>35319733
>>35319655
Good evening, /tg/. Welcome to Exalted - Guardian Beast Quest.

Last session, we asserted our identity to our new companion, scavenged some gear and supplies off the people who were hunting her, and learned some new things about her, and about ourselves. We remembered flashes of a life of extreme poverty, of someone dying of disease, and of a name being spoken: “Casimir”.

She explained to us that she had been taken as a child, been trained rigorously for Exaltation, but rebelled and fled once she learned about the existence of Lunars, and their role as bond-companions, protectors, and allies to the Solar Exalted.

Let's change Creation tonight.

Twitter: @Guardbeastquest
Character sheet + Design document: http://pastebin.com/iWzBJ4y1

Should look something like this next time.

File: Casimir charsheet 2.png (912 KB, 934x691)

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You wake to daylight for... what feels like the first time in a long time. Your belly is still pleasantly full, and the cold doesn't trouble your skin.

Wait... skin?

You blink yourself awake. What sort of strange, hairless, scale-less, soft and vulnerable form are you wearing?

The panic subsides as someone gives a sleepy murmur of protest at your sudden movement. You tense, then relax, as memory comes flooding back. The woman sharing your makeshift nest is Ashen-Tome Lector. You are... "Casimir". And you are her... her protector. That feels right.

She shifts against you again, and you realise that something else feels very, very right. For the first time you can remember, you are aware of your nakedness.

What do you do?

> Dress in the scavenged clothes, and wake her up
> Remain naked, and wake her up
> Change shape to (something), and wake her up
> Other?

>>35319754
Thanks for that!

>>35319754
its also handy to link the archives for new players or those who want to catch up

http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive.html?tags=Guardian%20Beast%20Quest

its usually smart to collect all this in a template OP that gives a short intro to the quest, links the relevant docs/website/twitters and then jump into the action with the second post

OP, if you've got any questions about anything, feel free to ask

>>35319790
> Other?
Keep naked, keep holding her, and wait for her to wake up.

>>35319790
Seconding >>35319798

>>35319790
>> Remain naked, and wake her up
wait for her to wake up

>>35319838
Me again, adding on to that to that, snuggle up to her, sniff her neck/nape/hair gently so as to not disturb

>>35319798
Sure, let's do this. Thirding.

>>35319790
>Change shape to BEAR, and wake her up

Bears are comfy as fuck.

>>35319919
>not wanting to make her flustered
she had wolf for comfy falling asleep, now she'll have hot naked human for flustered waking

>>35319798
>>35319802

You lie very still, anxious not to wake her up. By her account the previous night, she has been through a great deal of hardship in order to find you, and she could probably use the rest. This close, you notice things about her that even your keen senses didn't pick up previously: the stench of death-essence has abated, leaving her smelling of sweat and travel; although her skin might have the colour and lustre of fresh-fallen snow, it is warm to the touch; and that she's decided to sleep without the rags of her shredded cold-weather cloak, and also without the discomfort of her breastplate, allowing you to discern, through the worn travel-clothes she wears, that hapless or otherwise, she's definitely no child.

The sensation of yourself thickening and hardening is something new, too. You remember, in your crazed chimeric state, rapacity in all its forms: hunger, lust, a terrible tearing envious rage when you encountered the bright, soulless monsters garbed in fair seemings. But you don't remember the sensation of having slaked any of them. You know you must have, or you would have burst out your skin with wanting, but you don't remember sensations with the same clarity that you're feeling them now.

You brush the hair back from the nape of her neck, and notice the faint blue veins beneath her skin pulse at her throat. Without warning, an urge hits you, something that is neither lust nor hunger but both. You can feel your teeth sharpen and lengthen, your nails extend into claws, as you suddenly *remember* the taste of *this blood* pouring down your throat, *this Essence* sending a surge of power thrumming through your very core.

Do you...
> wake her roughly and tell her to run
> rise from the shelter and flee
> don't move; try to fight the feeling
> other?

>>35319934
> don't move; try to fight the feeling
Close our eyes, we have to face this at some point.

>>35319934
> don't move; try to fight the feeling

>>35319934
>> don't move; try to fight the feeling
We're a Lunar, we won't hurt our soulmate.
If someone's more used to Exalted, feel free to correct me and I'll change my vote

>>35319934
>don't move; try to fight the feeling

>>35319958
You would certainly find it very difficult to do so, especially if she were consciously exerting her will on you, but it's not impossible...

>>35319934
> don't move; try to fight the feeling

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>>35319944
>>35319953
>>35319958
>>35319970

You bite down on your own lip, and the blood that fills your mouth is your own. Your fists clench, driving your new talons into the pads of your palms. The pain gives you something to focus on, something real, something sharp, a weapon with which to slice through the fog that descends upon you. Despite the cold, you find yourself sweating feverishly, like --

> -- like a junkie craving his fix, memory whispers...

-- like a stallion bursting into lather.

The urge rises in you, uncurling from the base of your spine like a serpent lain dormant, slithering its way through your gut, upward, seeking your heart. There it coils, flicking its tongue up into your throat, whispering of sweetness ripe for the taking.

You seize it and rend it as you would prey, fighting it at every turn. At every promise of some dimly-remembered glory recaptured, you wield memories newly-forged: the feel of her tears hot against your skin; her awkward smile as she confesses that she's glad to have met you; the self-observed frown that pulls her brows together as she reads the missive recovered from the assassins...

And the feeling's hold on you is broken, snapped like shackles scissoring open. The serpent within withers.

> Virtue unlocked: Valour!
> Valour is the Virtue that turns violence into honourable conflict. It is courage, it is determination, it is facing your problems head-on. You may invoke Valour to gain an automatic success on one action related to it.

You flush with elation, and your eyes snap open.

To find Ash's eyes open too, not a foot from yours, as she awkwardly squirms away from you.

You notice that she's as red as you must be.

You also notice that she isn't looking you in the eye.

Nowhere closer.

"C-C-C-Casimir," she stammers, "I-I I read about this sort of thing, b-but we've just m-met!"

> Write-in?

>>35320060
> Write-in?
Explain to her what you just felt and want to know if she can explain it.

>>35320060
"Is my form so displeasing to your eye, that you would keep me from warming you?"

>>35320060
>What are you talking about, sleeping together to combat the cold is the sensible thing to do.

Wouldn't it have been Temperance instead of Valour?

>>35320060
>Cuddle with her harder.

Urge to lewd rising.

>>35320060
seconding >>35320100

also talk about how we must find a source of fresh water, to help clean the dirt, blood and grime off her

>>35320108
>>35320092
Seconding this.

>>35320108
Nah mate, she's an innocent cutie, don't go wild animal on her. She's right too, we've just met, we should act civilized and not try to molest her.

>>35320130
We're not molesting her, we're just warming her.

>>35320136
The intention stated in the post says differently, going the ignorant/caring route would be >>35320092 and >>35320100 combined with cuddling her but not touching our member to her, to warm her.

>>35320108
It might have been, except I wrote the following down in my notes:


What about Temperance?
Are you fucking kidding me? Temperance is for pussies. To embrace Temperance is to defy your Id, your inner nature, your totemic beast; it is to subordinate the Dionysian to the Apollonian. As Luna appears in person to all her Exalted, the Argent Madonna will personally bitch-slap any of her Chosen who appear to cling to their Temperance. Luna is Warden of the Wyld, created by the architects of the universe to defeat ravening chaos by being more chaotic and more ravenous than it could ever aspire to be. She and her Chosen subordinate their desire to no mortal or immortal law or precept. Be as thou wilt. If you really do feel the need to put the brakes on whatever impulse grabs you, do it by channeling another impulse. No time for fighting, I have to get home to service my bitches! No time for seduction, I have to realise my Motivation to read All the Books!

So by deciding to face your horrible urges head-on instead of either warning her to save herself (Compassion) or running away yourself (Conviction: the most obvious and most likely to be successful way of achieving your goal of not hurting her), you unlock Valour.

>>35320147
It's cuddling, not member touching.

>>35320108
>>35320092
This.

>>35320163
Can we at least use one of those conversation suggestions? god, I hate how pushy you guys are being, she's obviously uncomfortable to hell and back.

>>35320174
>she's obviously uncomfortable to hell and back.
wat

>>35320174
>she's obviously uncomfortable to hell and back.
You can't be fucking serious...

>>35320182
>>35320188
Okay, she's obviously just embarrassed and flustered, but I still wouldn't say she'd be very comfortable with cuddling a man he met today with en erection, naked.
I think taking it slower would be better, but whatever.

Regular reminder and PSA: Social grace is gained through interaction over time, which Casimir lacks.

>>35320092
>>35320100

"I hope you slept warm," is all you say.

She blushes harder, and rolls over violently, turning her back to you. "... Y-yes, I did. Thank you. I suppose... I suppose that was why you did it. It's..." She takes a deep breath and lets it go explosively. "It's clearly the most sensible thing to have done, to keep us both warm."

Ash peeks at you over her shoulder, brushing hair out of her eyes. "Thank you." Her eyes begin to drift downwards, but she flicks them back up to your face again. Clearly you aren't the only one experiencing conflicting urges here.

>>35320089
You decide that you'd better explain yourself.

"While you were sleeping, I felt this... urge."

She makes an odd sound, like steam escaping, which she quickly suppresses by biting down on her gloved knuckles. For someone with such fair skin, she can certainly turn an interesting array of colours.

"No... not that. I mean..." You find it hard to explain, because the urge is so simple to describe but so difficult to contextualise. "I felt like... I felt like I should devour you. It didn't even feel like me, but something *inside* me... recognising something inside *you*... and wanting it.

"I wouldn't have hurt you. I didn't want to. But something in me did.

"Did... did your books say anything about this?"

[1/2]

>>35320215
It's commendable how her reaction goes from 'flustered' to 'wary'. She really has been trained to survive. The moment you mention this inner urge, she has turned to face you and is seated, with her legs folded neatly beneath her so she can erupt into a leap or crouch if need be. As you speak, she regards you with a look of gravity at odds with such an unlined face.

Finally, she nods. It's a brisk gesture. She's back on familiar ground now: books and learning. As she replies to you, she takes handfuls of snow and scrubs them against your skin, working off the worst of the blood and grime of the day before.

"I... yes, I've read something like that. You see, the thing that makes us special... Exalted... It's something *external* to us that merges with us, to become *part* of us. It brings power with it, yes, but sometimes, it can also carry memories. Residue from the selves that have held that shard, that spark, before. Past lives, almost..."

Her eyes gain a faraway look as she speaks about past lives, until she isn't looking at you any more, but rather at something else.

"... memories of another time, another place. A different Age. When you, and I, were kings, and gods. Above it all. We lived for centuries and wanted for nothing, and all Creation lay at our feet..."

Her hands, at first conscientious in their grooming, go still as she speaks. You move over to her and crouch beside, taking over. You melt snow in your hands to wipe her blood- and tear-stained cheeks, and comb your fingers through her hair to remove knots and twigs and clots of blood. She darts you a quick, grateful smile, and then continues her account.

[2/3] Oops, underestimated length.

>>35320317


"I think... at that time... At the end of that Age... Something happened. The Dragon-blooded say they overthrew us, but I find that hard to believe." Her brow furrows again in academic intensity. "Iselsi Setrakian even admits in his account that several of the victories won were 'miraculous' impossibilities, and that the Dragons must have been fighting on their side.

"I don't believe it for a moment. I think... I think something turned us against each other instead. The Chosen of the Gods must have fought each other, to allow the Chosen of the Dragons the dominion they have now.

"Maybe... in our last lives... we weren't as good to each other as we could have been." She seems anxious now, twining her fingers into knots. "Maybe... In that life, I did something to you... and some of that feeling stayed with you, till today.

"I... I don't blame you for feeling what you felt. I'm just glad that you could fight it off." The last comes out in a whisper. "It isn't always easy to say no to who we used to be."

You consider the information, with as much gravity as you can.

> "It doesn't matter what happened back then. We'll make our own way."
> "You'd better watch out for me, then. If you think I'm acting strangely, you'd better be ready to take action."
> "Do you remember anything about the First Age?"
> "I don't believe that feelings so strong could be carried over from a past life."
> other?

>>35320370
> "It doesn't matter what happened back then. We'll make our own way."

>>35320370
>"You'd better watch out for me, then. If you think I'm acting strangely, you'd better be ready to take action."
Watch yourself girl.

>>35320370
>> "It doesn't matter what happened back then. We'll make our own way."

>>35320370
> "It doesn't matter what happened back then. We'll make our own way."

>>35320370
>Brush a hand over her face, before bringing her into a hug
"We cannot disregard the past, we must learn from it, and together we can move forwards on a new path."

>>35320370
> "It doesn't matter what happened back then. We'll make our own way."

>>35320370
> "It doesn't matter what happened back then. We'll make our own way."
> other?
What I feel from you now is all I need.

>>35320448
This

>>35320370
>I care only for you right now. Past problems are secondary to the now, for we shall carve our own path.
Not a fan of either of those options given.

>>35320448
Seconding that, we can't disregard the first age

>>35320459
>What I feel from you now is all I need.
Careful anon, we don't want our waifu to explode from embarassment

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>>35320448
This please

>>35320370
Changing my vote from >>35320403 to seconding >>35320474

>>35320474
>>35320448
Second

>>35320403
>>35320415
>>35320433
>>35320451
>>35320459

"We can't let the past decide our future. That isn't the way of the Exalted." The word 'Exalted' is odd in your mouth, but it sounds natural, as does your proclamation, as it rings in the thicket with something like truth. "We were both chosen to make a new way."

You carefully braid her now-clean hair. It's short, only shoulder-length, but you manage a single plait nonetheless, the art coming to your fingers with ease. You seem to recall having done this before, for someone else. "Still. We can't afford to ignore the past, either.

"You don't know me well enough to let down your guard completely. If you think I'm behaving strangely, let me know, and keep an eye on me."

"Y-yes. I'll do that." She reaches back to check your handiwork, and seems pleasantly surprised by your finesse by the way she draws the braid down over one shoulder, resting her cheek against it momentarily. "Although... it'd be easier to keep an eye on you if you put some clothes on. Now that we have some. Especially when we get back to civilisation."

Hmm. Returning to civilisation? Or visiting it for the first time? You remember snippets, snatches, but you can't tell if those are from this life or from another. Do you even want to? Could you bring yourself to leaves this woods, your hunting ground of innumerable blood-red nights?

For her part, Ash goes about the business of breaking camp. She doesn't seem to have even considered the prospect of not returning to civilisation with you in tow.

> Get dressed, return to civilisation in human form
> Stay naked, return to civilisation in human form (pls don't. Ash really will explode from embarrassment.)
> Get dressed, but return to civilisation in another shape
> Advocate staying in the woods until you've figured stuff out...
> ... and what stuff you think still needs figuring out?

>>35320564
> Get dressed, return to civilisation in human form
Loincloth.

>>35320564
>> Get dressed,
definitely do this at least.
What other shape can we take? Wolf, snake, what else?

>>35320574
That seems good enough.

>>35320574
>>35320564
I'll second that

>>35320564
> Get dressed, return to civilisation in human form


OP, you might want to allow a bit more time for voting, you've got a good fast pace for writing, so you shouldn't be concerned about speed, but 10-15 minutes for involved votes with discussion is good

>>35320581
Well, regardless of the answer, I'm going to vote for Human shape return, but let's stay one more day here, in nature, see if we can't do some spiritual bullshit to find stuff out.
>>35320574
Please no, for god's sake. It was shown last thread that we are culture/civilized

>>35320574
>Loincloth.
Please no.

We have clothes, and we are concerned for her safety, why wouldn't we wear clothes in case we need them to help warm her up?

>>35320574
That seems alright, if we're going fully clothed I'd suggest shifting into a woman or a child, so we can exploit our form.

>>35320602
>It was shown last thread that we are culture/civilized
You fucking what?

>>35320606
>and we are concerned for her safety
How does wearing clothes help that?
>why wouldn't we wear clothes in case we need them to help warm her up?
Because she would be wearing them.

>>35320581
I'll assume you can take any shape that's native to the biome of "wintry tundra", since that's where you've been for as long as you can remember. Snake is the exception, because that's your totem-animal and you get that when you Exalt. I'll also allow you to shapeshift more or less at will and without cost if it's only for narrative purposes (ie I turn into a horse and we ride for Gem).

The thing is, assuming an animal shape doesn't actually give you any bonuses to contested rolls unless you use magic, in which case you gain a +1 per animal feature that will come in useful, and you get 1 of those per level in Heart's Blood.

So at Heart's Blood 1, if you were to assume the form of a hound in order to hunt something, you could get a bonus for either [sharp nose] or [dog bite], but not both. Until you get Heart's Blood 2; then you could get both.

Most Lunars are restricted to features consistent with the form they've chosen. If they turn into a hound, they can get [sharp nose], [dog bite], [quadruped] or whatever doglike features will help them.

Because you're a chimera, you can fuck that noise and turn into a dog for [sharp nose], and then decide you also want to grow [bat wings] and [venom spit] for shits and giggles.

>>35320614
>"Name," you want to grunt, but stifle the impulse. That sort of thing is... unpleasant. Un... couth?
>Instead, you say, "Well, it certainly seems you have me at some disadvantage. You now know my name, while I know nothing of you.
>"You also appear to have not been very thorough with one of the... hunters? we just fought. There's one back there, still sucking air. Do you think you could ask him if I could have his clothes once he's gone? He seems the closest fit for me, and it isn't seemly for me to continue as I am."
>>35320629
How does wearing a loinclothe, embarrassing her, and drawing attention to us help us? We aren't a fucking ultrahippy, we're not averse to being clothed.

>>35320614
While you get the feeling that you've definitely preyed on humans (or humanoids, at least) before, you haven't yet learned how to assume their stolen forms. Why would you? Humans have no inherent advantages for predation, which is all you've been concerned with recently.

>>35320564
>Get dressed, but return to civilisation in another shape
Return as a wild cat or a raven. I want to explore places and it is easier to explore as an animal.

>>35320649
>Why would you? Humans have no inherent advantages for predation,
Voluptuous woman on the road, nude/barely clothed, attracts attention you now.
The sort of attention that brings food, at very little cost or effort.
>no inherent advantages for predation,
Attracting prey, is an inherent advantage.

>>35320693
please anon, we live in a wintery forest, there are no human roads here, don't try to powergame this hard

>>35320564
>Get deessed, return to civilisation in human form
>loincloth

I'd rather go naked, But it has no support.

>>35320699
>there are no human roads here
>While you get the feeling that you've definitely preyed on humans (or humanoids, at least)
Sorry, what was that?

>>35320704
>What are hunters and barbarians
Presence of humans doesn't mean human roads. Did you think, since we killed her attackers, that they also live here and use a road regularly?

>>35320718
Barbarians usually prey on civilizations and towns, which usually create roads for commerce's sake.

>>35320733
Then instead of barbarians, hunter-gatherer nomads.
Could've been wandering scholars studying the region too.

>>35320754
>, hunter-gatherer nomads.
Of which there would be several tribes, all of which go in set routes, most likely established by tradition.

>>35320767
Not if they're migrating, and tribes can be as small as two dozen people, and don't necessarily hold relationships with other tribes.
Okay, this argument is getting too autistic for me, so I'll stop responding and agree to leave it at that, if that's alright with you.

>>35320602
(It'll take a couple of days to return to civilisation anyway.)

>>35320574
>>35320586
>>35320598
>>35320703

You personally think that there's nothing about your body to be ashamed of (you're running a little lean, having not had a particularly good season of hunting, but you're in fine trim: tall, your broad shoulders offset by a certain wiriness rather than raw muscle-mass), but conclude that she probably knows best when it comes to this sort of thing.

None of the (now very dead, very cold, very stiff) corpses have anything that fit you immediately, but it turns out that Ash has something of a talent for crafts, and quickly puts together an outfit for you.

You look at it, and then back at her. You pick up a piece of clothing experimentally.

Finally, you work out an arrangement where she keeps her eyes shut and helps you tie on your loincloth. Over that goes a pair of trousers that leave your shins exposed, even after you put on a pair of boots.

The various tunics and shirts are too badly-shredded and bloodstained to be worn without attracting more suspicion that it would avert. You throw on one of the fur-lined robes, and leave it at that.

Ash looks you up and down with a critical eye. She's attired much as she was when you first encountered her, except with her travel-cloak now replaced by the cloak of woven leaves you scavenged from the assassins.

"That's acceptable, I suppose," she says, pursing her lips. "You'll look like a crazy hermit, but those types might be pretty common up here.

"We're quite far from any settlement. I rode for days to get here, with these bastards on my tail." She kicks out at one of the corpses vindictively. "I used a lot of Essence on that ride. I still haven't gotten all of it back yet, so we're going to have to walk, I'm afraid. At least we've got supplies."

With a last look at your woods, you begin trudging after her.

>>35320779
It's fine with me, we really don't have any indication of where we are, if there are roads or anything else. So, it doesn't matter much.

We're pretty deep in the wood. There are game trails known to hunters, and a few more well-trodden tracks for sketchy commerce between villages, but settlements out here are pretty thin. We're getting pretty close to Bordermarch territory, for people who know Exalted. Ash wants to point us back towards the centre.

Most of the humans Casimir has encountered were probably people who made their living from penetrating the wilderness. Huntsmen, woodsmen, and so on.

By the way, I'm bringing this up, not because I'm trying to railroad anyone anywhere, but because I think I ought to mention this is an option before we get much farther and people accuse me of not pointing out the obvious.

You could always turn into something she can ride.

>>35320821
We could also carry her in our human form too.
Can we turn into a giant eagle or something? That would mean fast travel

>>35320793
1/?

?

>>35320835
I'm a bit unsure. I thought I'd point out the option that we could transform before going ahead with the rest of it. But yeah, it's [1/??]

>>35320830
Giant eagle? Sure, why not.

>>35320859
Giant eagle indeed then.

>>35320821
Go Horse form, but change back before meeting other people or they have a chance to see us, in case we need to be human and don't want to reveal our Lunarity

>>35320793
Turn into a stag so she can ride us. It will be much faster and easier for both of us.

>>35320868
I think a horse is a better idea.

>>35320859
Flying would be good, may attract attention though.

>>35320859
In that case I'll second >>35320875

>>35320901
>>35320875
Horse is also slower.

>>35320868
>>35320859
Eagle or giant flying thing please, unless she says otherwise

>>35320905
Attention isn't good though
>>35320859
Horse please.
>>35320916
we're not really in a hurry, her pursuers can't have better horses than us anyway, and we slew the immediate threat

>>35320942
>Attention isn't good though
It would divert attention though, if we properly managed it.

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>>35320868
>>35320905
>>35320932
Big flying thing

>>35320942
>>35320910
>>35320901
>>35320899
>>35320875
Horse/stag.

Looks like landbound quadruped it is!

I'm just laying it out here, but in future, if you guys want to consider turning into something appropriate to the Direction we're in that's big and flying, we'd get this:

>>35320965
That would still be an option even if we go with horse for now.

>>35320980
But with a horse we'd also go a lot slower.

>>35320971
Stag please.

>>35320971
Okay, that is pretty awesome, and owls are scary as fuck. Will definitely consider in the future.

>>35320971
Neat. Owls are cool. I love owls.

Go with stag for now.

>>35320971
Are we chosing what quadruped form we have, or are both a horse and stag options for us? I'd say go for horse, beecuase even though stags are way cooler adn I think go well with sun/moon/waning moon theme, horses are probably more normal.

>>35320971
Stag please.

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>>35321027
"Normal" is a matter of some inconsistency in Creation. There are people whose day-job is literally milking dinosaurs that piss heroin. Someone riding a stag would be unusual but probably not as mind-blowingly weird as it would be in our world.

I'm going with the stag, largely for rule of cool.

Also, horns.

>>35320793
As Ash struggles ahead through the drifts, you catch up to her. "Are you any good as a rider?" you inquire, innocuously.

"Pretty good," she admits, "She never liked having us learn things that made us reliant on others, but I just couldn't figure out why anyone would want to run when they could riiIIIIIIIIII--"

As she speaks, you lean forward. Your hands are hooves before they hit the ground. Your gear dissolves into your form. Massive antlers branch from your temples. You hook a prong under her arm and hoist her with flick of your head, tossing her over your shoulder and across your broad back.

To her credit, Ash adapts very well. She lands astride your back with a whoop, and cheekily seizes your antlers for purchase as you surge into a mile-eating trot.

The migratory routes of reindeer can cover hundreds of miles. And those are mortal reindeer: massive and muscled, but not empowered by the tireless might of the Exalted. Your hooves eat the distance, and what Ash expected to cover in a week of marching, you manage in a day and a half without pushing yourself too hard.

Ash herself seems content to let you run, without nattering in your ears. She spends the time on your back dozing in the 'saddle' she's rigged for herself, or reading. To save on your own Essence, you retain the shape rather than returning to your own form, and you spend one night in the wild, with her resting her back against your broad flank, the remaining robes stitched into a large blanket for both of you.

You realise you're close to civilisation when you reach a meandering track that vanishes into the thinning forest.

[1/2]

>>35321129

You're standing on the crest of a hill, the crown of which is forested, but the slopes of which have long been grazed-clean of anything hardier than the indigestible nettles that litter the forest floor. Below you is a winding track, that wends its way down to a small hamlet, each hut squat and stout against the cold. The roofs appear to be thatched with snow as much as grass. A wide, shallow river runs past it.

Ash slides down from your back, patting your broad neck and stroking your muzzle. "This is Snowspring Falls. I passed through it on my way to find you. There's a ferry that'll take us downstream." She seems cheered by the thought of taking a boat after many days on the road. You've found the journey pleasant, if a little lean on pickings. Even gorging yourself on the corpses of the assassins as you did, by now you're fairly peckish.

She unstraps the makeshift saddle, and uses it to wrap up the bindle of weapons and supplies you've inherited. "I think you'd better change back. You make a handsome mount, and someone might want to steal you."

The only suggestion she might have realised what she just said is the hurriedness with which she yanks up her hood to cover her face.

> Change back
> Change back and tease her.
> Don't change back
> Change into something else
> Other?

[2/2]

>>35321179
> Change back and tease her.

Rolled 16 (1d20)

>>35321179
>> Change back

>>35321179
> Change into something else
Change into a snake, hide in her clothing.

>>35321179
>> Change back and tease her.
Is there really any other choice?

>>35321179
>> Change back and tease her.

>>35321214
This

>>35321214
I'll second that.

>>35321179
> Change back and tease her.

>>35321214
This seems like a good idea, sneak attack with venom ain't something to underestimate.

Changing back (+ teasing) and turning into a snake and hiding in her clothes are tied. I'll write something up that does both.

>>35321256
Yay. Dropped your trip.

>>35321256
Honestly hiding in her clothes as a tiny garden snake can be a form of teasing all on its own

why muh solar waifu so qt gawd damn

>>35321277
home-schooled nerd girls are the best

>>35321179
>Change into something else
Some form of bird. It should be more convenient to explore the civilized places in bird form.

You will yourself back to the human form you're still getting used to, making an exaggerated show of checking your limbs. "As much less handsome human, I certainly am in no danger of being stolen," you reply, deadpan. Her hood hides her blush, but your nose picks up some nervous sweat anyway.

You lay a companionable hand upon her shoulder, even as the rest of your body warps again, compressing in upon itself before she can reply. She has time for only a sharp squeal of outrage, before you're a tiny snake, a miniature version of your true totem-form, curled snugly around her throat, looking for all the world like a particularly well-crafted choker.

She raises gloved fingers and press them against your body to confirm your presence, and you can feel her voice thrum through your body, a warm vibration that you feel down to your bones. "T-that's a neat trick," she manages, some lingering embarrassment in her voice.

She shoulders the bindle and makes her way down to the village, as you watch through lidded eyes.

As you get closer, the day's light fading, both of you notice that the sleepy village is somewhat more lively than you would have expected. A rough circle of firelight glows in what passes for the village square, and as you draw closer you make out the shapes of fur-clad villagers, holding burning tapers, and hear the sounds of an argument in progress.

" -- told you, three days!" comes a throaty growl, followed by the sound of splintering timber. "What is this crap?! You call this tribute?"

The next voice is just as threatening, for all that it's a sibilant hiss. "Ssssertainly our father will be dissssappointed."

The crowd parts a little as Ash edges closer.

You see a trio of hulking forms dwarfing an older man, his hair and beard grey with age, leaning on a staff. The three are bare-bodied to the waist, displaying forms that are clearly not entirely human.

[1/2]

>>35321479

Two are truly massive, their limbs surging with muscle: one is thickly-furred, with the grey-and-brown markings of a timber wolf, and the pointed ears and toothed muzzle to match. The other has a long neck and is crowned with antlers.

The slighter figure still stands taller than all but the most imposing of the villagers, and at first appears to be armoured, until your senses tell you that he’s actually covered in a layer of fine scales.

All three brandish crude weapons threateningly.

Ash makes a frustrated sound. “Beastman. Warped by the Wyld. Their presence here is certainly inconvenient. What do you think?”

You suspect that if you coil towards her ear and make some minor modifications to your throat, you could reply in human speech while retaining your form.

What do you do?

>Your snake form grants you the skill tag [tiny], which you can apply to any of your three skill trees. Pick one you find the most relevant: the Hunt, the Den, or the Pack.
> Your size would normally rate a damage of 1, but your venom improves that to 2.

[2/2]

>>35321500
"Do you wish to save them?"

>>35321530
I assume by 'them' you mean the villagers, not the beastmen

>>35321534
Of course.

>>35321530
This

>>35321500
I'll second >>35321530 of course referring to the villagers

>>Your snake form grants you the skill tag [tiny], which you can apply to any of your three skill trees. Pick one you find the most relevant: the Hunt, the Den, or the Pack.
Mind giving an example of how this works? Exalted newbie here

>>35321530
"Do you wisssh to sssave them?" you ask, in a tiny whisper.

She squirms a little at your tongue flicking into her ear, but her reply is level.

"I don't really care what happens to the villagers, but if this turns into a bloodbath, we're going to have trouble getting supplies and transport further down-river."

>>35321558
This is homebrew, really, nothing to do with Exalted.

For example, your Hunt skill has the tags [stealth] and [ambush]. This adds +2 (+1 per tag) to your dice pool if you're doing something that requires both stealth and ambushing someone. If you think being [tiny] helps in this regard, adding [tiny] to Hunt and then acting accordingly would add +3 to your dicepool instead of +2.

Note that the skill tags only activate if you behave in a manner consistent with what they describe. Having lots of tags relating to stealth and evasion is not going to do any good if your actions are described as "rush in and tank attacks with my face".

Generally, the more in-tune your actions are with your skillset, the bigger dicepools you'll get. Similarly, if you buy tags in line with how you want to act, you get better at doing those things further on down the line.

Have a look at the existing skills and tags in the first few posts.

>>35321560
"One or two may die, but if a cow does not produce enough milk it is not slaughtered unless in times of exceedingly dire need, they will not risk losing the "milk" they would get every year, because of this."
"That is, of course assuming they are bandits...."

"On the note of supplies, what do we need, and what do we have to barter for them?"

>>35321560
We could kill them easily, but I'm not sure how the villagers would react. Ask them if this will fuck with our plans of getting a ferry and stuff, and what we could do to solve this problem (besides killing them, they probably underestimate us)
>implying puny beastmen are a match to a chosen Chimera of the Wyld

>>35321585
Ah right, then i vote we add that tag to Hunt, makes sense

>>35321613
Agree, but I don't have any idea on how to handle this except for killing them, and I'd rather take other options before that.

>>35321586
Seconding that.

>>35321590
It might be a good idea, we should probably change into a more suitable form for that though.

>>35321586
"They're not likely to kill that many of the villagersss if they ever hope to return here for more tribute," you point out.

"Small places like these aren't likely to shrug off the deaths of even a handful of their own," she replies, still muttering into her hood. "We could wait until after they've done their funerals and mourning, I suppose.

"I..." She hesitates. "Well, *we*. We're heading to Sijan. We'll want food, and transport, and shelter. Maybe some gear and clothes to put together a cover identity. I was hoping to barter away the weapons we took from my attackers. These people don't see good steel very often. The weapons ought to fetch a decent price to a blacksmith who can melt them down and work them into tools."

>>35321590
"Would killing the beasssts help or hinder uss?" you ponder, unlearned in the ways of civilised folk.

"That depends on how we do it. If we could manage it without giving away that we're... well, people call us 'Anathema'... It might go down well with the people here..." She sounds uncertain. Given her bookish background and her earlier claims to not having been very comfortable with people, you can understand why.

As you confer, the beastmen are getting more disgruntled. The antler-crowned one lifts a wicker basket, half-full of withered produce saved for winter, and crushes it against his skull for emphasis.

A dried potato sticks to one of his antlers, making the action somewhat comical instead. Of course nobody's laughing, but you find it hard to take him seriously.

>>35321631
I was thinking sneak attack in tiny form to poison one easily, then attack another while the poisoned one dies or something. Maybe staying snake form would help if we just change shape, the villagers would probably accept a magic snake over a lunar chimera

>>35321659
"Bring me away, I'll shift into a more animal form and pretend to be the blessed of one of the more minor gods from this area."

>>35321672
That's one good idea.

>>35321659
Do we have a bow or some ranged weapon? Maybe we could coat it in our venom and have Ash use it?

>>35321659
>Address them, and if you can't talk them down, I'll kill them while staying in snake form.
>If you dodge I'll jump to their arm, or you can throw me at them in an opportunate moment.

>>35321689
Seconding that. I think minor exalted exist like that.

>>35321672
Possible. You are pretty sneaky, especially if you're willing to use magic.

>>35321689
There are minor gods, and moreover, semi-mortals descended from gods that inherit some of their characteristics. It's entirely possible that a god-blooded of a snake god would look like a snakeman or something.

>>35321692
You have a bow, but no ammunition for it. Ash seems to be well-versed with ranged combat (she threw javelins the last time you saw her fight), but having broken her spear, she'll have to do that trick where she rips bone javelins out of her arms. It's not very subtle.

Note that you're currently a Changing Moon Caste (due to the current phase of the moon), and you have the Anima of one. Which means if you spend more Essence motes than you have points in the relevant Attribute (you have Full Moon 2; spend 3 dots on Full Moon stuff and your Anima goes nova), or if you just don't care and let it rip, you can activate your Anima.

In that form, if you inflict damage or Limit (ie, force someone to do something they didn't want to do) on someone, everyone who sees you has a chance to develop a positive Intimacy towards you on the spot.

>>35321751
>There are minor gods, and moreover, semi-mortals descended from gods that inherit some of their characteristics. It's entirely possible that a god-blooded of a snake god would look like a snakeman or something.
Well, lets take the form of a giant wolf and rip their faces off in the name of the old gods.

>>35321751
By the way, when she first encountered you, and you had your Anima going because you just used lots of magic to kill her attackers? And Ash kept saying how beautiful you were?

That was at least in part your Anima at work. She would normally have found you super impressive anyway due to your bond and other plot reasons, but she's a little more 'squishy' towards you than she might otherwise have been, because she's literally been enchanted by your magic bling.

>>35321751
Let's not go full Anima yet, this is just some smalltime bandits in a small village after all.

>>35321769
What I'd do to be an Exalted, all I'd have to do is beat up thugs and I'd get every bitch and a half.

>>35321766
Seconding that

>>35321766
We could coat one of Ash's weapons in our venom in case she needs to use it, then do this

>>35321792
Exalted does tend to make you *really want to be your PC* for a while.

Then the insanity kicks in.

But yeah, beating people up and getting mad pussy for it is part of the job description. There's a Solar Charm that literally makes everyone go crazy for you if you do something and then leave the scene, but *only if you have a pimp ride*.

We seem to have a fairly even tie between killing them sneakily, killing them in a really obvious way and then claiming to be a god or something, and trying to trick people.

Do you guys wanna talk about it some more or should I start tallying votes?

>>35321830
I think we should try to kill them sneakily, the less attention we draw to ourselves now, the better.

Rolled 6 (1d20)

>>35321830
Sneaky Sneaky!

>>35321830
Killing them in a really obvious way and claiming to be a god gets my vote
Go into battle form, surely they must have heard of the Guardian of the Forest, or at least seen his tracks

>>35321830
I still say we should stick to snake form, and do it sneakily, but go full giant snake if shit goes south.

>>35321830
>killing them in a really obvious way and then claiming to be a god or something, and trying to trick people.
This please

>>35321830
If we're going to kill them, they're going to need an explanation of some sort, so non-sneaky please

Okay. 10 minutes to vote. Only posts below >>35321830 count.

>>35321830
>killing them in a really obvious way and then claiming to be a god or something,
Basically we'll slaughter the guys and say "Do not forget the old gods." or something more relevant and jump off again. Turn back into a snake and get back to our solar.

>>35321854 here

changing to seconding >>35321913

>>35321866
This is me
>>35321913
And this is a way better idea. thirded

>>35321880
>>35321864
>>35321854
Guys, if we kill them the villagers are sure to notice, as well as the other guys too.
It's hard not to notice a snake biting you, and to be honest, it puts us in a situation which is probably not the best one to be in, that snake form can't stand up too well in combat.

Neither can we sneakily bite all three, unless they suddenly don't feel pain when being bitten.

>>35321948
I planned to act like we're the familiar of Ash or something, and then she handles the villager PR, after we kill these faggots together. She initiates the fight, we jump on one and bite with hardcore venom, then slither around on his body and jump to the other one and turn big to break his bones, while hopefully Ash handles the 3rd one in the confusion.

>>35321913
Slight editing:

"The old forgotten gods bring gifts of steel and peace, forget them not again."

This way our solar can claim they were saved by us, and then see her akin to a savior because of it.

>>35321966
Problem there, is that nulls the real point of being stealthy in the first place.

>>35321988
Not really, they aren't expecting a small snake to jump at them, nor are they expecting a small snake to turn fuckhuge and swallow them whole.
It'd make the diplomacy thing easier too, since Ash can calim she went into the woods and tamed us, because she already passed through here once(I think?).

>>35322006
>It'd make the diplomacy thing easier too, since Ash can calim she went into the woods and tamed us, because she already passed through here once(I think?).
In universe, there's very, very little this could be other than a Lunar, which means the whole "We get hunted and killed by dragon-blooded" shtick.

Which is what we're trying to avoid, until we become strong

>>35322027
There are no size-changing magic snakes in universe? What kind of shitty place is this if there aren't even magical animal protectors of the forests?
I also think the whole "don't forget the old gods" thing would be a pretty obvious thing the dragon-blooded would also hunt us for, you know.
Maybe killing them, and then retreating to the forest like a mysterious beast could work?

>>35322027
objection is noted, but it does seem like the LUNAR RAMPAGE camp is ahead on votes. I'll go with that, then.

Rather than ask if you want to spend Essence or how you want to bunch Sets of dice, I'll just ask at the outset:

Essence use:
> Flagrant: use it or lose it.
> subdued: I'll spend Essence to prevent dud rolls or botches, but I'll stop before Anima flares
> none?: as it says

and

Combat approach:
> Aggressive: we use all our Sets to attack
> Balanced: we use our main Set to attack, and use minor actions/flurries to defend ourselves
> Defensive: full defensive (can defend other)

Vote on that while I write up the commencement of hostilities

and

>>35322075
> none?: as it says
> Aggressive: we use all our Sets to attack

>>35322075
> subdued: I'll spend Essence to prevent dud rolls or botches, but I'll stop before Anima flares
> Aggressive: we use all our Sets to attack

Fight like a true predator, hold nothing back yet stay concealed

>>35322075
>> subdued: I'll spend Essence to prevent dud rolls or botches, but I'll stop before Anima flares
> Aggressive: we use all our Sets to attack

>>35322075
>objection is noted, but it does seem like the LUNAR RAMPAGE camp is ahead on votes. I'll go with that, then.
Wait, wait, wait.
We're trying to pose as a demi-god/exalted/god of the forest/etc, how much does that spike up on the anathema meter?

>>35322075
>> subdued: I'll spend Essence to prevent dud rolls or botches, but I'll stop before Anima flares
>> none?: as it says
only spend essence on important stuff
> Balanced: we use our main Set to attack, and use minor actions/flurries to defend ourselves
> Defensive: full defensive (can defend other)
keep an eye on Ash
>tfw no one wants to take things seriously and instead they go with fun while risking being hunted

>>35322113
Isn't exalted=anathema? Why would the dragonblood not hunt us if the villagers knew we were exalted, their whole shtick is killing exalted, isn't it?

>>35322151
I'm trying to pose being as the minions of the gods of the forest, still not sure if that picks up on the anathema scale.

>>35322167
Pretty sure it's only Solar/Luna Exalted, not minor exalted that are blessed by gods, (since their shit is easily wrecked like fuck)

>>35322113
Gods are generally left to fulfil their function as determined by the Celestial Bureaucracy.

Basically, Creation runs on two tiers of government. Heaven and the Celestial Bureaucracy and the gods are one level, and their government services include things like making sure gravity works and night follows day and people don't start ageing in reverse.

The earthly equivalent USED to be the First Age run by the Solars, but has since become a sort of shitty, derptastic version run by the Dragon-blooded, who can't figure out how the Solars did what they did and use religion and military force to keep people in line.

Generally, the two don't really intersect.

The Dragon-blooded have a religion called the Immaculate Philosophy that trains monks to beat gods up. Basically, gods do their job and try to extort some extra prayer/sacrifices on the side, but if they start interfering with the earthly side of things (a god takes over a town and it stops paying taxes?) then the Immaculate monks show up and punch the god in the face until he either gets replaced or kowtows.

Honestly, we're a bit easier to justify than Ash is. People in Creation *know* that sometimes gods turn up and smash things and they look weird while doing it; when Ash really gets going, Creation and the Underworld start doing flipflops, the dead rise as ghosts, and infants die stillborn.

>>35322075
>> subdued: I'll spend Essence to prevent dud rolls or botches, but I'll stop before Anima flares
> Balanced: we use our main Set to attack, and use minor actions/flurries to defend ourselves
But switch defend ourselves to defend Ash

>>35322178
So we should be fine then, since we're posing to be a god protecting a village for extra prayers.

>>35322181
>>35322151
Guys, ash ain't even part of the battle.

>>35322178
I'll also mention something about Anima while we're at it. Yes, it's only a feature the Exalted have. No, the average person is not likely to care if the fuckhuge snake has a battle aura or not. Yes, the Changing Moon anima explicitly helps your social interactions.

>>35322196
Would the average person think fuckhuge magic snake=Exalted to be reported to the dragonblooded?

>>35322214
I suppose that depends on how convincing you are when providing them with an alternative belief.

If left to their own devices, and word spreads, it's possible that someone could put together stories of magic snakes and a particular variety of Anathema that also have animal affinities, but there are only 300 Lunar Exalted at any one time in Creation.

There are probably many, many more fuckhuge magic snake attacks that can be attributed to them.

>>35322214
If they're immaculate followers any supernatural activity automatically means tell an immaculate order member or DB.

>>35322235
Told you guys magic snake would have worked fine with a bit of fluff.

>>35322249
Same to being a fuckhueg wolf and tearing their face off too.

>>35322249
We are fighting as a magic snake dude.
Just a fuckoff huge one with arms

>>35322245
Neither Casimir nor Ash have any way of knowing at the moment whether these people are or aren't adherents of the Immaculate Philosophy.

The reach of the religion tends to be weaker the further you get from the Blessed Isle, though.

>>35322275
Okay, I've got it, we can keep in animal form, and after telling them the whole old gods thing, we can either turn into an owl, or just stay as we are, and go the direction we came from. We'll later circle back to Ash in another form and join up.

File: spirit shape.jpg (390 KB, 700x700)

390 KB JPG

"Ssstay back. Prepare to defend yourssself," you hiss to Ash, and then slip from her neck. You wend your way down her body: your coils bunch as you descend across her clavicle, between her breasts (she shivers at this), and over her flat belly.

You slip to the ground, and wend your way towards the trio. As you go, you grow.

People at first cry out and leap back at the snake that moves among them, as large as a man’s arm, then as a man, and then… then as a tree, as you rear above all those assembled on coils armoured in brazen scales. The sound of you moving provokes a sigh like the wind through the trees as your scales sing against each other.

Your hood flares, as your tongue, thick as a man’s arm, flicks in and out of your mouth.

“Upstartsss, demanding tribute from mortalssss,” you hiss, every word dripping with scorn as much as with venom. “Behold, the wrath of the old godsss of the foressst!”

> -1 Essence, +1 Limit
> Deadly Beastman Transformation activated
> Full Moon +1, Damage raised to 3, Soak to 3

[1/3]

>>35322403
Oops, didn't mean to quote.

>>35322404

And then you surge forward, brass-armoured lightning made manifest. The smaller beastman, whose puny scales are a laughable defence compared to yours, hurls himself out of your path with remarkable speed. He would have been able to dodge any mortal stroke, so limber is he…

But you are not mortal, and your assault is inexorable. Twisting in midair atop the massive column of muscle that is your serpentine form, your jaws snap him out of his leap, one fang driving clean through his eye and out the back of his skull. Your venom sprays uselessly from the bite: your prey is dead before the poison even has a chance to work on him.

[Your 2x10 Attack vs his 2x9 Defence: you hit, and deal 3 points of Lethal damage. He has Soak 1 and Lethal HP 1: he’s dead.]

His brothers are luckier. You whip your tail around to try to catch another unawares, but the wolf’s-head snatches up a villager and hurls her into the path of your stroke, forcing you to lash a nearby house to splinters in impotent rage.

[Your 2x2 vs his 2x8 Defence: he defends successfully]

[2/3]

>>35322431

The stag-horned beastman brays in fury, his weapon forgotten, as he charges you with goring horns lowered, only to have his attack skitter off your scales in a shower of sparks.

[His 2x2 Attack vs you, unopposed; he hits, but can’t penetrate your Soak with his natural weapons]

Next round:

> Essence use: flagrant, subdued, none?
> Combat approach: aggressive, balanced, defensive?

Note that for the purposes of convincing them of anything after the fact, the Changing Moon anima would help. Less so if the phase of the moon were any different.

[3/3]

>>35322442
>none
>balanced

>>35322442
None.
Aggressive

>>35322442
>the Changing Moon anima would help
To get that we need to use essence right?

Then let's do
>flagrant
>aggressive
get it down with quickly, these upssstartsss are defying us

>>35322442
>none
>balanced
We don't need it for these small fry.
Crush the stag, and lash go for a bite on the wolf so he can't dodge as easily/we can manoeuvre better.

>>35322456 here

changing mine to
>Flagrant
>Balanced

>>35322470
We've used 1 mote of Essence already on transforming into our war-form; just need two more to go.

>>35322493
Actually belay that, I'm thinking of unavoidable triggering.

If we're willing we can trigger it any time that we're spending 1m of Essence on anything else. As you'll see...

>>35322509
>If we're willing we can trigger it any time that we're spending 1m of Essence on anything else. As you'll see...
Oh?

Then we could use it only when needed in the fight or not at all, then turn on the bling when we have finished the fight?

>>35322539
I liked the bling after wrecking these fags idea, if we're gonna use bling.

The stag-horned berserker made a fatal mistake in closing with you. Close as he is, you cannot dodge quickly enough to avoid his hacking axe-blow, which digs painfully into a gap between your interlocking scales. His quickness is nothing to your supernatural strength, however: your coils whip around his body and constrict. For an instant, you feel a terrible strength gathering in his body, as he resists… and then his arms snap like twigs. Your coils engulf him, and then there are several more explosive, dry snaps, as his proud crown of antlers disintegrates into shards of bone and brain-matter.


[Your 2x8 vs his 3x1: he hits you first, inflicting 1B through your soak. You crush him to death, inflicting Lethal damage]


As your coils do their work, your head is weaving through the air, high above the crowd that is now screaming, praying, falling on their faces or running for cover. The wolf-headed barbarian hurls his axe directly at your eye, and then springs into the crowd, his jaws gaping wide as he rushes for Ash, who fumbles at her waist for her swords…

[1/2]

… Your jaws descend upon him in mid-leap. One fang takes him in the belly, and your venom begins to flow. He pushes up desperately, and you feel his clawed hands scrabbling against your palate for purchase.


He gives one powerful effort, drawing his last breath and howling, “FATHEERRRR—“


A howl that is cut short by your fang penetrating his eye and driving into his brain.


[He rolled really well: 2x4 and 2x5. He uses the 2x5 to throw his weapon at you, but he can’t penetrate your soak with a one-handed weapon. He simultaneously uses his 2x4 to try to grab Ash and throw her at you (again), but your 2x8 kills him before he can get fancy]


You give the corpse a savage shake as it convulses, and then drop it from your bloodstained jaws. And you survey the scene.


The villagers are either on their knees or hiding behind their hovel doors. The bodies of your foes, who had so terrified them previously, lie broken and mangled on the snow. And above you, a halo of silver and shadow spreads like a second hood, mantling you in moonlight, a crown of glory announcing your majesty to all and sundry.


What do you do?

> write-in? [anima is now in effect: the villagers have a positive Intimacy of awe towards you]

[2/2]

-1 Essence for Essence Triumphant. +1 Essence back for defeating worthy opponents (which they are collectively, if not singularly).

Current status:

Anima - active
In Deadly Beastman war-form, boosting Full Moon by 1, raising Damage and Soak to 3 each

Essence [4/5] Health 5/6 [3B/4B|2L] Limit [2/5]

>>35322729
>And above you, a halo of silver and shadow spreads like a second hood, mantling you in moonlight, a crown of glory announcing your majesty to all and sundry.
Oh boy, spotted as a Lunar already.

>Write in
"Gifts of Steel and Peace, Those of the forest have given, remember your duty."
Leave, go small and eventually return to our Solar.

>>35322729
"The old gods have not forgotten, do not forget them in return."

>>35322770
>Oh boy, spotted as a Lunar already.
Did you miss >>35322442
>Note that for the purposes of convincing them of anything after the fact, the Changing Moon anima would help. Less so if the phase of the moon were any different.
? Its going to help us convince them of whatever we try to sell them on.

>>35322802
>? Its going to help us convince them of whatever we try to sell them on.
But it could be an absolute obvious indication of Exalted, which is the problem. Oh well, whatever.

>>35322729
I'll second >>35322770
>"Gifts of Steel and Peace, Those of the forest have given, remember your duty."
>Leave, go small and eventually return to our Solar.

>>35322729
>>35322770
Seconded

Your tongue flicks in and out of your mouth as you rear impressively above them.

"Behold the jussstice the foresst gives," you hiss. "We bring giftsss of sssteel. And peassse. Those of the foressst have given. Delivered you. Remember in turn your duty."

The people are rapt, ecstatic. They believe themselves to have been privy to a divine visitation.

The elder, on his knees, dares to raise his head to face you.

"Great god of the forest," he begins, "long have we felt your presence in the wood, and we are honoured that you have decided to show your face unto us, in this, our hour of need.

"Your unruly children have long rampaged in these lands, and we thank you for delivering us from their depredations.

"Please, great lord, vouchsafe unto us your name and your icon, that we may raise here a shrine to your glory, and remember your words with praise and with sacrifice!"

> write in?

>>35322729
>>35322802
I second this instead of the steel thing, we're leaving, they can just think Ash is unrelated after all, with this gifts of steel like we're giving away our connection.

>>35322965
>My names is [ ], and I am the eternal serpent, remember in your hearts and tongues, not in shrines, for there are those who will hunt you for it. I come with words that I shall leave this land, but know that you have done your duty to me.
I don't know guys, I'm just writing random shit at this point. Should we use our real name, or an alias (maybe Kyogi or something)?

>>35323026
Kyogi works.

>>35323026
>Should we use our real name
No no no no.

I'm not sure what to say to them, but we shouldn't give them our real name, nor do I think they should try making a shrine to us or something, their respect of the forest should be enough or something

>>35322965
"I represent many, I represent all, honor one and bring hate from all, if your zeal is true, then your eyes will see, your hands will feel, your nose will find the scent."

>>35323065
Well yeah, that's what I was going for there with the whole "remember in your hearts and tongues, not in shrines" thing, cause they'd probably get wrecked otherwise. Maybe add in an "hearts and tongues amongst yourselves" so they don't babble to dragonbloods about it.

>>35323086
This might work

>>35323100
>"remember in your hearts and tongues, not in shrines"
Yeah

This anon is heading to bed now, its getting fucking late/early here, thanks for the thread OP, I'm looking forward to catching up on the rest.

>>35323086
Seconding that

>>35323086
really? that's a bit too pretentious for me

>>35323131
Who the fuck cares? We're talking to random nobodies, and these gods actually exist, if they start worshipping a pretender they could be put in shit for it

>>35323086
Ehh not feeling it. I like the eternal serpent better

>>35323144
What? We aren't impersonating another god, we're pretending to be our own. If the Gods gave a shit theyd have probably stepped in

>>35323191
The forest has a god, we're not it.

>>35323086
Second

>>35323026
I like this random shit. +1 XP at the end of the thread.
>>35323051
>>35323065
>>35323086
>>35323100

"My name is Kyo'gi, and I am the eternal serpent. The rising and falling of these hills are my coils; my breath brings the winter; the fish that teem in these waters bring me my tribute of scales. I am this land, and all who live in it. I am many, in this place.

"You will do me honour by remembering me in your hearts, and your tongues only with each other. Do not sully my name by speaking it to outsiders. Only those born to this land are worthy of my worship.

"Do not take for granted the bounty of the land. I have given you back your lives that you may be good tenders of my garden. See to it that you are dutiful in your custodianship, and generous with the fruits.

"Or I will return, and it will be your blood on the snow."

You then back away from the village, always keeping your eyes on them. Soon, the forest dampens the light of your anima, and you emerge in the shape of a owl, winging your way silently back to the village.

It seems in your absence, the village has recovered, somewhat. An impromptu feast has been declared. Ash, as a guest, seems to have benefited from your injunction to the villagers to be generous: she is plied with strong wine and has set before her a steaming plate of meat and roasted root vegetables.

You land nearby, and then return to your tiny snake shape, crawling up her leg and back into her clothes. She manages not to squeak this time as you loop around her throat.

"That was amazing," she murmurs quietly to you, audible only in the thrumming of her throat.

You flick your tongue against your cheek in agreement.

[1/2]

>>35323226
>against HER cheek

Upon seeing that Ash bears 'the mark of the serpent' (ie. you). they offer her the best lodgings in the village: the room of the ferry-master above the boat-house. The ferry is apparently currently downstream, and has yet to make its return journey, which will make it unseasonably late.

They apologise profusely for the delay, and offer her, in honour of their good fortune, free board and lodgings until the ferry should arrive. Ash manages to be dignified and mannerly as she accepts, and she soon retires, begging the strength of the wine, to the room she is shown, all the while wearing you like a proud amulet.

You do your part but not squirming too much.

The rooms above the boathouse are surprisingly cosy. A lit fire provides light and warmth, and the windows are clear glass -- a luxury, here -- that overlook the smooth waters of the river.

You are both exhausted by the affairs of the day, and with only a few words murmured back and forth, you both agree that you need rest. You sleep, twined around Ash's throat.

[2/2]

> Next post will rap up the thread. I'm exhausted.

>>35323226
>>You flick your tongue against your cheek in agreement.
Against YOUR cheek, or HER cheek?

Final state: 4/5 Essence (restored after a night's sleep), 1B damage taken, and 1 point of Limit gained.

3 XP base; +1 XP for surmounting a significant obstacle; +1 XP for >>35323026 coming up with cool shit. 14 XP total.

Next thread we can start with some XP expenditure. It's been adding up.

Aaaaand that's all for me. I'll hang around for a little while till my eyes close to answer questions, if there are any.

Thank you everyone for sticking around and being supportive!

>>35323342
How much money do we have from selling/gifting the village the steel?

Man, we are adorable with Ash

>>35323342
Dude thanks Del, that was awesome!

>>35323342
Thanks for the thread OP. Quick question because obvious plot hook, did the wolfguy get that FATHEEEER shout/howl/scream out before we crushed him dead?

>>35323342
Thanks for the thread OP, was much funs.

>1B damage taken, and 1 point of Limit gained.
Mind explaining these?

>>35323365
Ash, man. She's the Belle to our Beast (eh, ehhh?)

>>35323342
Let's change Creation tonight.

Twitter: @Guardbeastquest
Character sheet + Design document: http://pastebin.com/iWzBJ4y1
Past Threads: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive.html?tags=Guardian%20Beast%20Quest

Just a block you should use for every opening post

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>>35323393
No.

>She manages not to squeak this time as you loop around her throat.
>You flick your tongue against her cheek in agreement.
>You sleep, twined around Ash's throat.
D'awwww

Thanks for the thread Del, any idea when the next will be?

>>35323381
>Mind explaining these?
That's a good question, I'm unfamiliar with the source materials system so I'm a fish out of water here as far as mechanics go.

>>35323342
What's Limit?

Also, if you still have some juice in you, it would be much better to get the XP discussion out of the way at the end of this thread so the next thread is started freshly and does not get interrupted by it.

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>>35323418
I thought it was funny.

>>35323393
>implying we're not the ancient dragon to Ash's young vampire

>>35323360
I'll probably reckon it in terms of goods and services you could acquire in exchange, rather than actual currency.

The official currency of the Realm is minted using metal that is also explicitly magical. Most places this far out won't have it, instead using trading tokens that are useful if you're getting something up or down the river, but you won't be able to carry it far and expect it to be accepted as currency.

Offhand, given Ash's decent knowledge of prices and such things, you could very easily pay for a comfortable ferry journey, and probably a short stay (a week or so) in good lodgings where you end up.

>>35323373
Thank you!

>>35323377
He did get to yell it out before we smushed him. It could be significant, but probably not in the way you're currently thinking.

>>35323396
Thanks for that. I'll note that down.

>>35323381
>>35323424
We took a point of Bashing damage (damage that didn't hit our vitals, is likely to heal pretty quickly). On a mortal, it would represent a sprained ankle or a big bruise, or a fracture. Lethal damage would be something like a cracked skull or a staved-in ribcage. Most extras (like the villagers) have 1 HP, and damage of any kind will take them out of the fight (kill/incapacitate). Heroic mortals, monsters, the Exalted, and other opponents worth our while have varying health levels. Bashing damage has to be completely depleted before normal attacks start hitting Lethal.

Most rolls (from 1-7) deal Bashing damage, representing that you hit someone but not that critically. Tonight we've been rolling 10s and 8s, so practically everything we did was Lethal. If someone has 10 Bashing and 1 Lethal HP, doing 1 Lethal to him would take him out instantly without having to grind through his 10 Bashing HP.

We basically critted on every hit, while we took a couple of hits, only one of which got through our armour. You (well, I) rolled really well for Casimir.

>>35323381
1B stands for 1 Bashing damage, and is the amount taking from our bashing pool (4/4 B - 1B = 3/4 B) One we lose all of our bashing pool, we start taking lethal damage which can then eventually kill us

As for Limit, how do I explain? Exalted are really cool demigods, but they have one great weakness they aren't aware about; the Great Curse. How the Great Curse works is that after undue amounts of stress or power usage, the Exalted snaps and starts behaving obsessively/excessively based on their virtue (for instance, our virtue is Valor. If we reach our Limit, we act excessively valorous, reckless. We charge head first into battles without thinking, etc.)

>>35323437
Limit represents your mental stability. Being attacked by mind-rape powers, embracing your inner monster, and failing in your duty to your mate (and other things) add to Limit. When you hit 5, you freak the hell out. Basically you'll get a roll. Roll well, you have limited control over the MC. Roll poorly, and you don't. Roll REALLY poorly and the mental trauma is permanent.

Most of the Exalted have 10 points of Limit to fill up. We have less, because we've spent so long in the far reaches of Creation being an apex predator that we've really lost touch with our humanity. On the plus side, this gives us access to weird powers like Hybrid Body Rearrangement that 'normal' Lunars can't use.

On the down side it makes us that much more likely to go berserk.

Doing certain things allow us to reduce the Limit we have, but there is no way to ever raise our max Limit back from 5 to 10.

Some of our powers, like Deadly Beastman Transformation, interact directly with Limit. Going Deadly Beastman adds Limit immediately (you're channeling savagery that's rare even among animals), but raises the bonus you get by invoking it. The more you use it, the stronger the power gets, and the closer to crazy you get.

Once you have some therapeutic insanity, Limit goes back down to 0.

>>35323606
Note that even in a state of Limit Break, we won't normally attack Ash or try to hurt her. We can't, however, prevent the consequences of what we do from coming back and hurting her. Attacking her directly, not going to happen unless our relationship with her really nosedives. But attacking an enemy so hard that the bridge explodes and we all plummet half a mile straight down? Totally possible.

Anyway, I really don't have the juice to go on. If someone could archive this I'd be much obliged. Do read the character sheet and the design document (linked in the pastebin) if you want to know more about the mechanics I'm using to run the quest.

That might make XP expenditure next session go smoother if you've read that stuff. I'll be adding more powers to choose from periodically.

>>35323529
>>35323568
>>35323606
>>35323661
Thanks for the explanation

>but there is no way to ever raise our max Limit back from 5 to 10.
Well that sucks

>>35323661
I think you shouldn't START next thread with the XP, because that'll mean not many people will be here from the usual players. Maybe just postpone it to the end of next thread and finish the thread a bit sooner, maybe?

>>35323661
>>35323781
Yeah, XP stuff is much better at the end of the thread.