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UnExalted : An Interest Thread

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Posts

  • Harmonic DrakeHarmonic Drake Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Yeah, INNS already explained it to me (the part about 'almost being worth it' was just me being stupid again).

    My actual character idea was a God-blooded son of some kind of predator god (was thinking marine predator, kind of a shark-type thing). A gladiator with the mindset of 'culling the weak so that his father/mother might be properly honored'.

    Edit: In fact, you might go so far as to say that the gladiator arena is not only a place for bloodsport, but a sacrificial altar to the predator god (if we go that route). It might not be death all of the time, but first blood, first to fall unconscious, first unable to move, etc. would be do-able. Not to mention anyone descended from the god would still be at risk because predators respect strength above all else, so if I fell, I'd lose honor because I wouldn't have lived up to my parentage (but I'd also be able to regain it later on, possibly).

    Harmonic Drake on
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  • HorseshoeHorseshoe Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Rainfall wrote: »
    So your character would be an Infernal.

    Correct, and as noted in the OP: Infernals is butts.
    Yeah, INNS already explained it to me (the part about 'almost being worth it' was just me being stupid again).

    My actual character idea was a God-blooded son of some kind of predator god (was thinking marine predator, kind of a shark-type thing). A gladiator with the mindset of 'culling the weak so that his father/mother might be properly honored'.

    Edit: In fact, you might go so far as to say that the gladiator arena is not only a place for bloodsport, but a sacrificial altar to the predator god (if we go that route). It might not be death all of the time, but first blood, first to fall unconscious, first unable to move, etc. would be do-able. Not to mention anyone descended from the god would still be at risk because predators respect strength above all else, so if I fell, I'd lose honor because I wouldn't have lived up to my parentage (but I'd also be able to regain it later on, possibly).

    I would say a predator god is more likely to be a god of hunters.

    You would be culling the weak from the herds (or schools, as the case may be at times for marine life), not from your own population. You don't have to kill your own kind in a pack, you just put them in their omega status so they don't breed with your females.

    A son of a predator god could be an integral part of this. Combat not to the death, but to prove one's worthiness of marriage/mating with a female of your tribe.

    And this sort of dude wouldn't have to prove anything. You would be starting the game as one of (if not the only) the highest regarded of your tribe, regardless of character concept.

    Hunting rituals and pecking order would be sacred and important duties of the "pack leader", and he would also have the responsibility of negotiating hunting grounds (or the terms of warfare, if necessary) with other tribes in the area.

    Yeah, war is something that does require negotiation, and at times may be of a ritual nature. When you're on the fringes and have low populations due to the harshness of life, the lives of your kinsmen are extremely valuable.

    Horseshoe on
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  • Harmonic DrakeHarmonic Drake Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Hm, that makes more sense.

    But now I can't stop thinking of Artemis.

    Harmonic Drake on
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  • HorseshoeHorseshoe Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Hm, that makes more sense.

    But now I can't stop thinking of Artemis.

    Artemis is too pretty and fancy for the boondocks.

    Maybe think more along the lines of Ogoun, Nodens or Mixcoatl.

    (Vodou, Celtic, and Aztec, respectively.)

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  • INeedNoSaltINeedNoSalt with blood on my teeth Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    "To... Xibalba?"

    "To Xibalba!"

    INeedNoSalt on
  • Harmonic DrakeHarmonic Drake Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    "To... Xibalba?"

    "To Xibalba!"

    "Heh, they should call this place Chel Dorado, eh? Eh?"

    I love that movie. Also, Mixcoatl is pretty cool. I think I get it now.

    Harmonic Drake on
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  • adventfallsadventfalls Why would you wish to know? Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Considering that Infernals is probably a bust, I'll probably recycle my Infernal for X-Bloodhood, probably a talker or an elemental.

    adventfalls on
    NintendoID: AdventFalls 3DS Code: 3454-0237-6080
  • HorseshoeHorseshoe Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    recycled in what sense of the word?

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  • adventfallsadventfalls Why would you wish to know? Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    In the sense of 'recycle personality, alter the backstory so I don't end up becoming BUTTS, and figure out what kind of x-blood/mortal to make'. That word.

    adventfalls on
    NintendoID: AdventFalls 3DS Code: 3454-0237-6080
  • INeedNoSaltINeedNoSalt with blood on my teeth Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    didn't you have an 'i hate everyone' megalomaniac personality

    INeedNoSalt on
  • HorseshoeHorseshoe Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    "I hate everyone" would not fly with me.

    One of my main things in any game I run is "you are not a loner".

    Because what the fuck would you be doing with other PC's.

    However, a character that is a prominent member of a matrilineal/matriarchal group could be quite interesting!

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  • Harmonic DrakeHarmonic Drake Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    I never understood that whole matri/patrilineal matri/patriarchal deal. I understand that families can be led by one or the other (matriarchal or patriarchal), but how does matrilineal patriarchy make any sense? The men are in power but the women handle negotiations?

    Harmonic Drake on
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
  • adventfallsadventfalls Why would you wish to know? Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    didn't you have an 'i hate everyone' megalomaniac personality

    We're on the edge of Creation. I'm thinking there's groups like that. I just need to do some research. And need to figure out what kind of x-blood or heroic mortal I should become.

    EDIT: It wasn't 'I hate everyone', if I recall correctly, merely men. Like I said, I'm gonna need some heavy edits.

    adventfalls on
    NintendoID: AdventFalls 3DS Code: 3454-0237-6080
  • HorseshoeHorseshoe Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    I never understood that whole matri/patrilineal matri/patriarchal deal. I understand that families can be led by one or the other (matriarchal or patriarchal), but how does matrilineal patriarchy make any sense? The men are in power but the women handle negotiations?

    Matrilineal doesn't have to do with power, it's how ancestry is traced.

    Matrilineal cultures where positions of authority are usually held by males is a common thing.

    Horseshoe on
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  • HorseshoeHorseshoe Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    didn't you have an 'i hate everyone' megalomaniac personality

    We're on the edge of Creation. I'm thinking there's groups like that. I just need to do some research. And need to figure out what kind of x-blood or heroic mortal I should become.

    EDIT: It wasn't 'I hate everyone', if I recall correctly, merely men. Like I said, I'm gonna need some heavy edits.

    Hating 50% of the people in Creation is not something I shall smile upon.

    Horseshoe on
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  • INeedNoSaltINeedNoSalt with blood on my teeth Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    I never understood that whole matri/patrilineal matri/patriarchal deal. I understand that families can be led by one or the other (matriarchal or patriarchal), but how does matrilineal patriarchy make any sense? The men are in power but the women handle negotiations?

    matrilineal means your lineage is traced through your mother

    like a lot of people trace whether or not a person is Jewish by 'is your mom a Jew?'

    doesn't mean women have to be in power (like women in orthodox Jewish communities ain't allowed to pray where dudes can hear it 'cuz it's a distraction, for example)

    INeedNoSalt on
  • HorseshoeHorseshoe Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    I never understood that whole matri/patrilineal matri/patriarchal deal. I understand that families can be led by one or the other (matriarchal or patriarchal), but how does matrilineal patriarchy make any sense? The men are in power but the women handle negotiations?

    matrilineal means your lineage is traced through your mother

    like a lot of people trace whether or not a person is Jewish by 'is your mom a Jew?'

    doesn't mean women have to be in power (like women in orthodox Jewish communities ain't allowed to pray where dudes can hear it 'cuz it's a distraction, for example)

    the Tuareg of north africa are another example I just remembered.

    Horseshoe on
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  • Harmonic DrakeHarmonic Drake Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Aah, I see.

    Harmonic Drake on
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  • adventfallsadventfalls Why would you wish to know? Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Horseshoe wrote: »
    didn't you have an 'i hate everyone' megalomaniac personality

    We're on the edge of Creation. I'm thinking there's groups like that. I just need to do some research. And need to figure out what kind of x-blood or heroic mortal I should become.

    EDIT: It wasn't 'I hate everyone', if I recall correctly, merely men. Like I said, I'm gonna need some heavy edits.

    Hating 50% of the people in Creation is not something I shall smile upon.

    Again, heavy edits. It's not an Infernal I'm making, so it'll probably just be something matriarchal or something.

    adventfalls on
    NintendoID: AdventFalls 3DS Code: 3454-0237-6080
  • HorseshoeHorseshoe Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    The Tuareg nomads of north africa are a really interesting people and culture.

    If we had looked to the south instead of the west I would probably be borrowing heavily from that sort of thing.

    Horseshoe on
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  • Harmonic DrakeHarmonic Drake Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    My first Exalted character was from the South, actually. A Djalan.

    Harmonic Drake on
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  • INeedNoSaltINeedNoSalt with blood on my teeth Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    a minikin

    INeedNoSalt on
  • HorseshoeHorseshoe Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Horseshoe on
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  • Harmonic DrakeHarmonic Drake Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    A Minikin that could bury you in obsidian butterflies while his golden radiance blinded you and turned away all attacks.

    So there.

    Harmonic Drake on
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  • INeedNoSaltINeedNoSalt with blood on my teeth Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    We've been over this Drake

    no he couldn't

    INeedNoSalt on
  • HorseshoeHorseshoe Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    A Minikin that could bury you in obsidian butterflies while his golden radiance blinded you and turned away all attacks.

    So there.

    Clearly a demon.

    Mestigoit wouldn't put up with that shit.

    AWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

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  • Harmonic DrakeHarmonic Drake Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    What's that from, anyway?

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  • HorseshoeHorseshoe Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    It's from a film called "Black Robe".

    It's about a french jesuit priest who is on his mission in Canada, trying to spread the Word while trading with the... Hurons, I believe.

    It's either Hurons or Algonquins. One of the tribes is trying to get trade relations going with the French, the other tribe wants to kill him for being a demon.

    Mestigoit is not happy with the presence of a "Black Robe", which is what they call the jesuit priests.

    I like it, check it out if you find that sort of thing interesting.

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  • HorseshoeHorseshoe Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Mestigoit is a very interesting character in the film.

    One of the reasons he is a sorcerer/shaman figure in his tribe is likely due to his dwarfish size. Marks of physical difference were often interpreted as an influence of the unseen world.

    In some other cultures shamans or holy people may be chosen from those who are born who have parts of their physical body more developed that usual (like having teeth hair) or having physical deformities (like two thumbs or something).

    It lends itself well to some of the mutations and flaws available to characters in Exalted.

    IIRC, Mestigoit calls himself a Manitou, who came from "below the earth" in the realm of spirits and such before being born among his people.

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  • INeedNoSaltINeedNoSalt with blood on my teeth Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Native American cultures are really badass

    I am partial to the whole two-spirit thing that apparently lots of Native American cultures exhibited

    INeedNoSalt on
  • HorseshoeHorseshoe Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    There are some great similarities between Alaskan/Canadian traditional cultures and those in Northern Asia.

    Parts of Siberia and Mongolia are still remote enough to where they haven't changed much (nobody bothered to go up there and try to convert them or abolish their practices) and are performing religious practices much as they were hundreds of years ago (but incorporating the modern conveniences that are available, of course).

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  • INeedNoSaltINeedNoSalt with blood on my teeth Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    See

    That is why I am studying religion, because it is awesome

    INeedNoSalt on
  • Harmonic DrakeHarmonic Drake Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Edit: Because I was a dick.

    Harmonic Drake on
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  • HorseshoeHorseshoe Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    See

    That is why I am studying religion, because it is awesome

    It totally is.

    The linguistic relationship between the indigenous languages of central Siberia and the Pacific Northwest points to the connection as well.

    Languages can inform us quite a bit about the migration of people across the earth and the cultural patterns that they take from one region to another.

    I love this stuff too. I majored in Biology but I took upper-division sociology and anthropology classes for my electives. My classes in Native American Religions and Eastern European Folklore were particularly awesome because they ended up relating to each other... because of what we were just talking about.

    Also for that class in folklore I wrote my paper on the role of shamans in the indigenous cultures of eastern europe and their ties to the traditional versions of what we would call "witches, werewolves and vampires". A+'ed it. Loved that class.

    And I have been itching to use those sorts of concepts in a game! This game!

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  • HorseshoeHorseshoe Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Sure it is. Tell that to the people murdered during the Crusades.

    Do not do this in my game thread.

    Take that bullshit to Debate and Discourse.

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  • HorseshoeHorseshoe Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Okay that was a bit reactionary, HD. Sorry for that.

    A better thing to say would have been: Please be careful with your words. In terms of relevancy: We're doing a bit of world-building here, using real-world examples of religions that predate christianity, judaism, islam, buddhism and probably even hinduism. And in terms of appropriateness: please avoid something that could be inferred as an insult to someone's field of study, or passing a judgement upon religious/social/ethnic groups, in this case the word "murder". That's a bit much.

    Anyhow, I'm enjoying the discussion very much, and I'm starting to get a clearer idea of this little "micro-setting" nested within the Exalted setting.

    An idea that just came to mind as a result would be having a heroic 'outsider'... in this case an adventuring anthropologist (maybe a bit of Indiana Jones there) who got blown WAY off course by a chaotic storm and is the sole survivor of a shipwreck.

    Such a character might be an academic type who is ecstatic over the chance to study cultures that are unknown to the rest of creation, but quite distressed in that he's in an area nobody knows about and that he's going to have an extremely difficult time in returning to a place where he could actually publish his works.

    It's another archetype to add to those that are native to the setting.

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  • El SkidEl Skid The frozen white northRegistered User regular
    edited January 2010
    "To... Xibalba?"

    "To Xibalba!"

    NPC: This is Madness

    PC: THIS....IS...XIBALBA!


    ...

    Also, this is an awesome game concept, shoe.

    El Skid on
  • HorseshoeHorseshoe Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Thanks Skid.

    I'm hoping to gather more interest in playing... it'd be nice to start with more than three or four people in the likely event that deaths will winnow away a portion of the group.

    I mean I'm not going to try to be vicious, but it's just harder to stay alive when you don't have all them fancy Exalted Charms to shrug off or perfectly dodge attacks.

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  • adventfallsadventfalls Why would you wish to know? Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    That's what the Flying Spaghetti Monster made healing factors for.

    adventfalls on
    NintendoID: AdventFalls 3DS Code: 3454-0237-6080
  • INeedNoSaltINeedNoSalt with blood on my teeth Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    On the note of not having all those fancy Exalted Charms, since you don't have RoGDII and therefore no Ghost Charms, would it be reasonable/possible to tailor Spirit Charms to fit?

    I don't even think it'd be strictly necessary, but I like options. The mutations in Scroll of Heroes are actually pretty flavorful, though, and seem to do most of the stuff you'd expect someone who's half ghost to be able to do.

    INeedNoSalt on
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