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Monday, October 14, 2013 10:42:21 AM(UTC) #1 (/default.aspx?g=posts&m=1713345#post1713345)

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()Omicron(/default.aspx?g=profile&u=20983)

We know that the Scarlet Empress was once an officer, and getting inside the Imperial Manse has to have been a deadlychallenge.

What I am wondering is - once she was the all-powerful queen of the Realm, did she ever fight, or face challenges withcombat skills?

Of course, I imagine she would not seek such dangerous situations by herself. One does not live to be eight hundred yearsold by boldly going into battle every sunday.

But perhaps, assassination attempts answered with brutality, one-sided shows of force to remind everyone that the Manseisn't the only thing she has going for her?

She lived for centuries and had prime access to the knowledge of the Realm (and to some extent of the Bronze Faction) andFirst Age wonders. She must have been frighteningly powerful on a personal level. Yet even when WotLA says she personallyowns one of the last free 5-dot Dragon Armors it's hard to imagine it as something other than a prized decoration to mark herstatus that she never put on to fight.

Basically I am wondering if, at some point in the history of the Realm, the Empress fireball'd (bouldercrushed?) some fools.And how awesome that was.

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Chaka wrote:

Thief-of-Faces wrote:

Oh my God.

What the Hell happened in this thread?

HAPPY INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY EVERYBODY

()CycloneJoker(/default.aspx?g=profile&u=22426)

I vaguely recall some blurbs in the 2e core about how she was still quite able to nail a tiny sparrow from nearly a mile off witha well-placed arrow, and that she strangled one of her own grandchildren to death in her throne room (though I don't think itwas said whether it was a mortal or Terrestrial grandson).

~~Futari no Body & Soul~~

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()Lioness(/default.aspx?g=profile&u=3823)

She easily subdued the Ebon Dragon largely with the aid of Dragon Vortex Attack and promptly marched out of Malfeas, thussparing us from the events of Return of the Scarlet Empress. On a serious note she rode out with the Wyld Hunt a few times.

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Monday, October 14, 2013 1:10:24 PM(UTC) #5 (/default.aspx?g=posts&m=1713376#post1713376)



Exalted Forum Moderator Red text = my Mod voice. Lets try to keep things civil.

Holden wrote:

In 3e, Abyssals will trail rainbows after their sword swings, and rather than Crypt Bolts, they will fire kittens out oftheir fingertips. Their old Charmset will become the new Liminal Charm set. We thought that would be a fantastic idea.

(Come on, seriously? :p)


Lioness wrote:

She easily subdued the Ebon Dragon largely with the aid of Dragon Vortex Attack and promptly marched out ofMalfeas, thus sparing us from the events of Return of the Scarlet Empress.

You kid, but Dragon-Blooded Melee+Lore+Athletics can rack up absurdly high amount of Holy damage, I wouldn't bet on TED:p

Quote:

On a serious note she rode out with the Wyld Hunt a few times.

Now that's a rather scary prospect.


Chaka wrote:


Oh my God.



()Brasstreader(/default.aspx?g=profile&u=19667)

Omicron wrote:

[quote=Lioness]

Quote:

On a serious note she rode out with the Wyld Hunt a few times.

Now that's a rather scary prospect.

Scary, and exciting.What sort of threat was so dire as to demand the Scarlet Empress ride out and face the foe? DISH, LIONESS.The people must know who were these most baddest of asses.Unless she mostly did this for fun and exercise. One can't always be listening to ineffectual bureaucrats all day. But I mostlylay the blame for that on the Scarlet Empress for insisting on using ineffectual bureaucrats and not competent, effectual ones.Seriously, it's called delegating. You save the world once by sacrificing your band mates to the hungry spirit of the RealmDefense Grid, and you lose the ability to trust anyone with more than a paperclip.

{hears the horns of the Wyld Hunt in the distance}

It seems somebody overheard me. Later, guys.

-Eridu (http://forums.white-wolf.com/default.aspx?g=posts&t=44485) and The Institute (http://forums.white-wolf.com/cs/forums/t/39760.aspx), earlier projects with thanks to all who helped me.

()Morangias(/default.aspx?g=profile&u=2267)

The tone I got from the text suggested she was hanging out with the Wyld Hunt mostly as a publicity stunt, to remind theDragon-Blooded that it's everyone's duty to hunt Anathema.

As such, I think the selection of targets was more likely a negative process. I'm pretty sure she didn't appreciate the thoughtof laying her life on the line against some Lunar Elder or anything like that.

http://lionesskate.tumblr.com/










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of laying her life on the line against some Lunar Elder or anything like that.


Morangias wrote:

The tone I got from the text suggested she was hanging out with the Wyld Hunt mostly as a publicity stunt, to remindthe Dragon-Blooded that it's everyone's duty to hunt Anathema.

As such, I think the selection of targets was more likely a negative process. I'm pretty sure she didn't appreciate thethought of laying her life on the line against some Lunar Elder or anything like that.

That would make sense.

On the other hand, I can totally see Lunars getting their hand on the plans of one such publicity stunt and trying to exploit itfor an assassination attempt.


Chaka wrote:


Oh my God.



()LordSia(/default.aspx?g=profile&u=24691)

Occasionally, someone had to have Exalted as a Solar or, more likely, a Lunar, on the Blessed Isle itself. Over almost eighthundred years, I can see this happen "often" enough that at least sometimes it happened not too far from the Empress'current location. In which case personally leading a Hunt and all but single-handedly slaying an Anathema must have beengood PR.











Omicron wrote:

Morangias wrote:

The tone I got from the text suggested she was hanging out with the Wyld Hunt mostly as a publicity stunt, toremind the Dragon-Blooded that it's everyone's duty to hunt Anathema.

As such, I think the selection of targets was more likely a negative process. I'm pretty sure she didn'tappreciate the thought of laying her life on the line against some Lunar Elder or anything like that.

That would make sense.

On the other hand, I can totally see Lunars getting their hand on the plans of one such publicity stunt and trying toexploit it for an assassination attempt.

Both are you are making a lot of sense right now.I almost feel embrarassed for being so excited.Still, there were like 17 Solars running around at the time. Do you think she might have taken at least one of them out duringher seven centuries of reigning, as part of the Wyld Hunt?


()Isator Levi(/default.aspx?g=profile&u=2546)

Note against the fact of the Empress joining the Wyld Hunt the fact that she did, on occasion, need to sacrifice CelestialExalted within the Imperial Manse in order to maintain the Realm's defences.

A measure of personal engagement in the violence necessary to subdue such people is implicit, particularly considering howlittle she can delegate such functions to anybody else.

Needs Help, the Destitute Lament, Messenger Soul of Anbhann, the Forlorn Burren, 12th Soul of Isator Levi,

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Aerten, the Red Right Hand, 3rd Soul of Isator Levi

Dagda, the Crucible That Scours All Ignorance, 9th Soul of Isator Levi


Personally, I also construe scenarios in which she occasionally opts to go out personally amongst some of the stronger andmore truculent of the Blessed Isle's spirits for a bit of Gillitie-style negotiations.

Also the idea that there are a few scattered but unusually independent kingdoms ruled by other Terrestrials bound by secretagreements to join her in Sworn Brotherhoods when there are occasions in which she needs to venture forth from the Isle insecret to deal with some extremely important issue personally.

Although mostly, such functions are achieved through her sorcery than her getting into an epic duel or the like.

















()Nephtys(/default.aspx?g=profile&u=19757)

Also, let's remember Scarlett Sue is one of the most advanced sorceresses in Creation. "Being on the front" does not meanher body needs to be. Especially when using the Imperial Manse as a conduit. Or puppetry spells.

I can't really imagine her leaving the Blessed Isle in all her years. Too dangerous, and it would also take too many precioustime. After all she designed the Realm to collapse without her.

That Holden guy seems to be new here, doesn't he?


Nephtys wrote:

After all she designed the Realm to collapse without her.

Infallible Messenger.






()The Hanged Man(/default.aspx?g=profile&u=11401)

LordSia wrote:

Occasionally, someone had to have Exalted as a Solar or, more likely, a Lunar, on the Blessed Isle itself. Over almosteight hundred years, I can see this happen "often" enough that at least sometimes it happened not too far from theEmpress' current location. In which case personally leading a Hunt and all but single-handedly slaying an Anathemamust have been good PR.

This is the interpretation I'd go with, yeah. Far too much of her authority is derived from proximity to the Big Red Button forme to imagine her going too far afield.

()AnubisXy(/default.aspx?g=profile&u=2669)

We know that the Empress left the Blessed Isle at least once, when she traveled to Paragon to meet with the Perfect. It's safeto assume she had plenty of Bronze Faction backup with her.

AnubisXy

()Friv Yeti(/default.aspx?g=profile&u=2440)

Nephtys wrote:

Also, let's remember Scarlett Sue is one of the most advanced sorceresses in Creation. "Being on the front" does notmean her body needs to be. Especially when using the Imperial Manse as a conduit. Or puppetry spells.















mean her body needs to be. Especially when using the Imperial Manse as a conduit. Or puppetry spells.

I can't really imagine her leaving the Blessed Isle in all her years. Too dangerous, and it would also take too manyprecious time. After all she designed the Realm to collapse without her.

She designed the Realm to eventually collapse without her. She's vanished for months on end, so often that it took over ayear for anyone to start suggesting that she might not come back this time around.

Patchwork Magisters (http://patchwork-magisters.com) - Serial fiction. I dare you to read it, and it is a well-known fact thatdares are mystically binding, so you basically don't have a choice in the matter. Strange, but true.

Ravenous Legends - The Fair Folk (http://forums.white-wolf.com/default.aspx?g=posts&t=70588) (My under-constructionExalted: the Fair Folk rewrite)

()Jamofthejar(/default.aspx?g=profile&u=22401)

Not to derail this too hard, but surely its only a quantitative difference on difficulty rather than qualitative for an elder Lunar toassassinate the Scarlet Empress whether she's at home or out a Wyldhunting the latest Solar to pop up.

Similar for most of the other significant setting threats that could feasibly off her.


Jamofthejar wrote:

Not to derail this too hard, but surely its only a quantitative difference on difficulty rather than qualitative for an elderLunar to assassinate the Scarlet Empress whether she's at home or out a Wyldhunting the latest Solar to pop up.

"Quantity has a quality all its own." -Joesph Stalin.


()Guancyto(/default.aspx?g=profile&u=17126)

Friv Yeti wrote:

She designed the Realm to eventually collapse without her. She's vanished for months on end, so often that it tookover a year for anyone to start suggesting that she might not come back this time around.

Years on end, even. The Big Empress problems involve things like oversight, internal affairs and regulation of big entities likethe Houses. Just like a corporation can function (for a while) with a lousy CEO, Big Picture Problems are things where thewheels can spin for a long time before the vehicle falls apart.

It's just, if someone starts offing Magistrates and the Cathak start ruinously taxing their lands and a Lunar becomes head ofthe Heptagram and the Mouth of Peace decides the greatest threat to the realm is the All-Seeing Eye... there's nobody withthe power or authority to prevent those things from becoming catastrophes.

()DrLoveMonkey(/default.aspx?g=profile&u=14249)





http://patchwork-magisters.com/










Jamofthejar wrote:



I'm not sure that this is supposed to be the case, at least in theme. I've always said that the Realm is way too vulnerable toguerilla style tactics and assassinations. Like to the point where a relatively young (non-elder) Solar/Lunar should be able tojust go around picking off dynasts at leisure unless the dynasts do pretty crazy things like constantly make sure code wordsare used and updated to make sure that everyone you meet isn't a Lunar, have no potted plants for the same reason, searchevery cubic foot of a room by touch to make sure a Solar isn't hiding in it, always wearing some form of essence sight, neverever sleep or leave your manse with less than four other people ect.*

However the setting clearly doesn't have dynasts doing that, there must be some way to remain at least relatively safe in thecity and abroad. That being said the Empress, while quite powerful for a DB, is still just one terrestrial exalt. If she travelsplaces I imagine it would be in the middle of a legion or two and guarded by five sworn brotherhoods or something, if yourtravelling with just yourself and a few bodyguards it's far too easy to get caught in a position where you would die.

Even going after a weak anathema has too much risk of actually being a trap by an ancient Lunar bent on taking your shape.

More likely, I think, is that she gets sort of a reflected heroism from the stories of her magistrates and how she fluffs them upto be glorious, monster slaying, justice dealing avatars of her will, as opposed to corrupt enforcers of imperial law.

*Also to be fair the Realm is way too hard to beat in a straight up brawl. If you line your army up on one side of the plainsand the realm lines their army with all their DBs up on the other side basically you've got no chance.

()Doctor Crimson(/default.aspx?g=profile&u=20723)

Guancyto wrote:

Years on end, even. The Big Empress problems involve things like oversight, internal affairs and regulation of bigentities like the Houses. Just like a corporation can function (for a while) with a lousy CEO, Big Picture Problems arethings where the wheels can spin for a long time before the vehicle falls apart.

It's just, if someone starts offing Magistrates and the Cathak start ruinously taxing their lands and a Lunar becomeshead of the Heptagram and the Mouth of Peace decides the greatest threat to the realm is the All-Seeing Eye... there'snobody with the power or authority to prevent those things from becoming catastrophes.

I've always been of the opinion that it would be harder to reform the Realm with proper checks and balances than justinstalling a new Dragon on the Throne. The former would require fundamental changes to the Realms institutions, which wouldcertainly resist the changes that could/would weaken them. Whereas the latter would "simply" require you to install a Dragonthat has the intellect, wit, charisma and will to rule. Unfortunately, the latter seems to be a band aid solution to the biggerproblem of the Realm being purposely built to be dysfunctional, because really, how long will the new ruler live before youhave to start the whole process again?

Hm, reforming the Realm would be a suitably epic motivation for a Dynast.


Jamofthejar wrote:



That's not a desirable setting conceit.
















Doctor Crimson wrote:

I've always been of the opinion that it would be harder to reform the Realm with proper checks and balances than justinstalling a new Dragon on the Throne. The former would require fundamental changes to the Realms institutions,which would certainly resist the changes that could/would weaken them. Whereas the latter would "simply" require youto install a Dragon that has the intellect, wit, charisma and will to rule. Unfortunately, the latter seems to be a band aidsolution to the bigger problem of the Realm being purposely built to be dysfunctional, because really, how long will thenew ruler live before you have to start the whole process again?

I'd say reform of the Realm to be less autocratic would require not only modifying the functions of its institutions, but alsohelping the aristocrats into feeling less accustomed to the idea that assassination and rebellion is a suitable response topolitical disputes.

Doctor Crimson wrote:

reforming the Realm would be a suitably epic motivation for a Dynast.

Or whomever should possess the Throne, but yes, without a doubt.

Although personally, I'd be quite satisfied to play out a less high-minded set of reforms.






()Doctor Crimson(/default.aspx?

g=profile&u=20723)

Isator Levi wrote:

I'd be quite satisfied to play out a less high-minded set of reforms.

When you say "high-minded", do you mean "good"? I know that's subjective, but when I meant reform the Realm, I didn'tmean to dismantle it's empire and make it nice. I meant reform as in making the governing bodies of the state functional andless beholden to the Throne to work.....


I mean things like the Marian reforms, though I'm not sure that really conveys what I mean...

I guess I mean reforms that wouldn't be driven by the perspective (strongly informed by our outside perspective) that theRealm is notably inhibited in function, so much as reforms when certain operational procedures are considered desirable.













Tuesday, October 15, 2013 12:07:39 AM(UTC) #26 (/default.aspx?g=posts&m=1713685#post1713685)



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()Sanctaphrax(/default.aspx?g=profile&u=17446)

I doubt she fought much. She was probably a mediocre fighter by elder Dragonblood standards, and her reputation wouldhave been harmed if that had been obvious. Even if she was better than 99% of the Dynasty (which she likely was) she reallydidn't need the 1% realizing that they could take her.

Jamofthejar wrote:



What is a qualitative difference in difficulty?

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Sanctaphrax wrote:

she really didn't need the 1% realizing that they could take her.

I've never really seen an indication that the security of the Scarlet Empress was predicated on individuals being under theimpression that they couldn't defeat her in a duel.






()fata_ku(/default.aspx?g=profile&u=12853)

Sanctaphrax wrote:

What is a qualitative difference in difficulty?

Different kinds of obstacles rather than more difficult versions of the same obstacles, I would suppose.

As in "getting through 1000 guards" is only quantitatively more difficult than 10 guards, whereas "Getting though a ballroomwhile soaked in blood to open a magically locked door" would be a qualitative difference.

I guess.

Reading the friggin manual, and still getting things wrong.

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Lioness wrote:

She easily subdued the Ebon Dragon largely with the aid of Dragon Vortex Attack and promptly marched out ofMalfeas, thus sparing us from the events of Return of the Scarlet Empress. On a serious note she rode out with the Wyld Hunt a few times.

Thinking on this. This could be both a good and bad thing to do. It has the advantage of the morale boost from the empressespresence and her skills honed for so long. On the other hand her going out itself is also saying she feels the need to go outherself. Which lends credence to the threat she is fighting and could be made to seem she lacks trust for her subordinates.


I think characters would lend the Scarlet Empress joining the Wyld Hunt no more credence then that being what a good piousscion of the Realm does (which has an added benefit of lending credibility to the Wyld Hunt that leads a constant stream ofDynasts into it).






()Doctor Crimson(/default.aspx?g=profile&u=20723)

Isator Levi wrote:

I mean things like the Marian reforms, though I'm not sure that really conveys what I mean...

I guess I mean reforms that wouldn't be driven by the perspective (strongly informed by our outside perspective) thatthe Realm is notably inhibited in function, so much as reforms when certain operational procedures are considereddesirable.

The Marian reforms were a bunch of reforms that turned the Roman military from an army consisting of citizens that suppliedtheir own weapons and arms to an army that was armed by the state and also brought much needed standardization to themilitary. Are these the sort of reforms that you see put forward by a reform minded Dynast? One that would make the Realmmore effective? That's the sort of reforms I would have a character do.

()truthswraith(/default.aspx?g=profile&u=14610)

Isator Levi wrote:

I think characters would lend the Scarlet Empress joining the Wyld Hunt no more credence then that being what agood pious scion of the Realm does (which has an added benefit of lending credibility to the Wyld Hunt that leads aconstant stream of Dynasts into it).

Meant the foes credence there. After all if the empresses herself is riding out to fight that must mean the foe is powerfulenough to have the sovereign that keeps the entire Realm together to leave. Which could backfire massively if anything goeswrong. Pretty much the more crazy the response seems the weaker the realm will seem if it fails and you can't get muchcrazier then dropping the empress herself on something.

With very powerful subordinates she at least can distance herself and still make it seem the Realm is holding the big gunsback. If she herself is there and something screws up then it could spiral into a disaster very quickly. Course this is moreaccurate to say a invasion or the like. The Wyld hunt itself at that time would be fairly safe and useful for politics.

Still I imagine she would choose hunts that make for a good show but don't pose much risk. If only because I can't see herrunning around trying to kill a Lunar elder or something that has a variable she sees that could lead to a political risk even asmall one in the long term has a chance of going wrong at the exact wrong time. Which given that paranoia is practically thejob description of sovereign of the realm I can't see her doing often.


Isator Levi wrote:

Sanctaphrax wrote:















I've never really seen an indication that the security of the Scarlet Empress was predicated on individuals being underthe impression that they couldn't defeat her in a duel.

My impression is that the Empress's godlike reputation is very important. Like Stalin, she wants to seem untouchable and all-powerful.


()Chained Divinity(/default.aspx?g=profile&u=22949)

Sanctaphrax wrote:

I doubt she fought much. She was probably a mediocre fighter by elder Dragonblood standards, and her reputationwould have been harmed if that had been obvious. Even if she was better than 99% of the Dynasty (which she likelywas) she really didn't need the 1% realizing that they could take her.

Wait..what are you basing that off of?

The sad part is, below is how so much media tends to work. :p

Blackwell wrote:

I don't know about you, but the first thing that happens in every game I run is a massive parade featuring everynamed NPC and representatives from all known organizations and species of being, that passes through every locationnamed in any sourcebook. I mean, to each his own, but you're (objectively) doing it wrong if something the writersworked hard on gets left out of a given story.


Which bit?

If you mean her being a mediocre fighter by elder DB standards, I think that because she fights rarely enough that thisthread can actually exist. If you don't do something, you won't be good at it. But she's the oldest and strongest DB around soshe's probably pretty good at combat even if she's better at most other things.

If you mean the bit about wanting to preserve her reputation, I think that because she's got a pretty scary cult of personality.I don't know how much of that she built deliberately, but I expect she likes being a figure of awe and fear. Makes life easierfor a tyrant.



Sanctaphrax wrote:

Isator Levi wrote:

Sanctaphrax wrote:


















I've never really seen an indication that the security of the Scarlet Empress was predicated on individuals beingunder the impression that they couldn't defeat her in a duel.

My impression is that the Empress's godlike reputation is very important. Like Stalin, she wants to seem untouchableand all-powerful.

Analysing the reasons behind real life cults of personality is a complex process, and needs to exert a lot of effort to find outwhat people's honest perspectives on them while living through them was, which is difficult because the state of a cult ofpersonality is one in which people are not inclined to openly express not buying into it.

My own perspective: they're mostly about indulging the narcissism of pathological tyrants, with a little bit of making peopleextremely culturally accustomed to the reign of the tyrant.

I really doubt that Stalin actually believed a mythical aura of invincibility was keeping his political rivals at bay, more thanthings like the frequent violent purges of their ranks.

Also, the Scarlet Empress doesn't come across as so much a narcissist.

Mnemon would totally get in on that shit though.






()Hippokrene

(/default.aspx?g=profile&u=3975)

The Dragon-Blooded have a warrior culture. At the beginning of the Empress' reign, I assume she lead many battles. Not onlybecause that's what a Dragon-Blooded officer would be used to but because she wouldn't want to be seen as weak or needingothers to fight for her.

If she spent her time hiding behind the palace walls, someone would eventually call her on her cowardice, and using the RDGor magic or assassins against them would just prove them right.

After a couple hundred years of crushing her enemies and consolidating power, she probably retired from the battlefield asshe seemed to have preferred administrating and politics.

Oh Lordy me, didn't I shake sugaree? Everything I got is done and pawned. (http://youtu.be/0qCqgfriFNM)

()WalrusJones(/default.aspx?g=profile&u=32200)

Her background is that of a lone survivor, if I remember correctly.

She is either lucky (She is stated to most likely be destiny 5,) or REALLY tough.

Throwing people out of windows, the martial arts style. (http://forums.white-wolf.com/default.aspx?g=posts&t=82534)

()light-hero(/default.aspx?g=profile&u=17134)

Hippokrene wrote:

The Dragon-Blooded have a warrior culture....

Based on the 1000 correct actions of the upright soldier it would say the DBs have a soldier culture or more formal warfarethan what springs to mind with warrior culture. What springs to mind is more something like the harborheadites (House of theBullgod; 1e).

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Tuesday, October 15, 2013 7:39:53 PM(UTC) #41 (/default.aspx?g=posts&m=1714114#post1714114)




The Dragon Blooded have a warrior culture, but it seems to be one that largely lets people who have fought their way to thetop rest on their laurels.

That said, the Scarlet Empress seems to have earned her credentials as a martial force when she tamed the Realm defences,wiped out the Fair Folk hosts, and smashed the gathered armies of the Seven Tigers for good measure.

First Edition portrayed the Sword of Creation as something more widely viewed as an extension of the actual person of theEmpress than a tool she just pressed the button to. The magic that invigorated the Blessed Isle was seen as the magic of theEmpress.

Hippokrene wrote:

If she spent her time hiding behind the palace walls, someone would eventually call her on her cowardice, and usingthe RDG or magic or assassins against them would just prove them right.

This is a motif that I think does not suit a setting with the verisimilitude of Creation to depict as... the least bit sensible, even ifit suits stuff like the Klingons or whatever.

The culture of the Realm is... textured. That lets it feel more real, and lets us do more with it.






()JohnDoe244(/default.aspx?g=profile&u=30582)

RotSE says that she's not a particularly powerful combatant for her age, but that she does know As In The Beginning. Andgives her a pretty boss stat-line.

Revenge of the Return to the Tomb of Five Corners

My posts represent my opinions. Not absolute truth.

I am bad and that's good, I will never be good and that's not bad, there's no one I would rather be than me.

()danelsan(/default.aspx?g=profile&u=3125)

Besides being a soldier when younger and eventually becoming the greatest sorcerer among the Dragon Blooded (due in partto the Mantle of Brigid), not to mention her formidable personal guard and vast access to Artifacts and Hearthstones, it islikely that she also had a lot of Astrological blessings from the Bronze Faction

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I really doubt that Stalin actually believed a mythical aura of invincibility was keeping his political rivals at bay, morethan things like the frequent violent purges of their ranks.

Also, the Scarlet Empress doesn't come across as so much a narcissist.

I think that the violent purges were a part of Stalin's efforts to make people believe that to oppose him was certain death. Anaura of invincibility helps with that.

As for the Scarlet Empress, I couldn't say whether she's a narcissist or not. But she fosters or at least tacitly allows beliefslike...

You wrote:

First Edition portrayed the Sword of Creation as something more widely viewed as an extension of the actual person ofthe Empress than a tool she just pressed the button to. The magic that invigorated the Blessed Isle was seen as themagic of the Empress.

...so I think she liked being thought of as some kind of super-Exalt. Since she, unlike Stalin, lives in a world where it'splausible to claim that you are a nearly-invincible super-being, it makes sense for people to buy into that reputation.Particularly since she really is Exalted.


()DrLoveMonkey(/default.aspx?g=profile&u=14249)

I'm fairly certain she wanted people to think of herself as a kind of a magic being who was special even amongs exalted, but Ialso think that it adds a kind of gross naiveté if she even for a moment believed it. She strikes me kind if like some versionsof batman in that regard, let the criminals think you're a winged nightmare who comes for them in the night...and at the sametime be acutely aware of your vulnerability to bullets.

()Mizu005(/default.aspx?g=profile&u=16779)

DrLoveMonkey wrote:

I'm fairly certain she wanted people to think of herself as a kind of a magic being who was special even amongsexalted, but I also think that it adds a kind of gross naiveté if she even for a moment believed it. She strikes me kindif like some versions of batman in that regard, let the criminals think you're a winged nightmare who comes for themin the night...and at the same time be acutely aware of your vulnerability to bullets.

Yeah, you don't get to stay Empress of the largest empire in current day Creation for centuries by getting arrogant andstarting to buy into your own hype.

Behold the almighty chow chow!

Exalted Whose Name is Carved in Leaves of Jade








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