Solars, Lunars, Sidereals, and Alchemicals all get their own warstriders! Why shouldn't dragonbloods? (btw i posted this on my patreon like a week ago, then kept not being awake during the day to post it, so like. check that out, patreon.com/notsoluckylydia)
The Gathering Storm (Blue Jade Warstrider, Artifact § •••••)
War Eternal and her Five Great Generals sought to create the ultimate weapons of war, perfectly suited to the anima of their circle. Of those great engines, the only one that survived the hundreds of battles the circle fought was The Gathering Storm. An engine of destruction, fine-tuned to amplify and empower draconic anima to heights never seen before or since, the warstrider led conquest of vast swathes of the wyld, wars with lunar dominions, and the most devastating assault ever attempted on the solar realm. When the generals were struck down, and War Eternal remained alone, she bargained her life for the safety of her greatest invention.
Won or lost, battles in which The Gathering Storm was brought to bear leave blasted landscapes and smashed cities. Its propensity for devastation left it unused, save for the most dire hunts throughout the shogunate era, but saw renewed usage in the early days of the realm, when it was used to defend the northern coast of the Blessed Isle from lunar raiders, before decades of storage and study within the imperial manse sealed its fate, returning only occasionally to support the most important military movements of the realm.
The Gathering Storm appears more delicate than typical for a warstrider, its four legs ending in points, rather than stamping feet. Its hands are nimble and swift, and every inch is covered in immaculately carved runes, instructing the flow of elemental essence. The pilot is strapped in with specially conductive metal cables, facilitating the mutual essence flow required for the advanced functionality.
Evocations of The Gathering StormThe Gathering Storm channels dragonblooded essence, and is attuned to the bursts of elemental power they can produce. It cannot wield weapons, but for each elemental hearthstone socketed in it, a dragonblood gains access to that element's Elemental Bolt Attack effect. If she can already use that element's bolt, she instead receives a 1 mote discount to utilizing it. She does not receive the usual penalty for targeting a single enemy with Elemental Bolt Attack if she has aimed at that enemy.
Endless Anima ReservoirCost: -; Mins: Essence 2
Type: Permanent
Keywords: None
Duration: Permanent
Prerequisites: Dragonblood
Warstrider and Dragon rage as one.When the pilot reaches bonfire anima, her essence becomes perfectly joined with the might of The Gathering Storm. Her anima flux affects enemies out to short range, and she may functionally increase her anima above bonfire. This increased anima lasts only as long as she is piloting and attuned to The Gathering Storm, and for each level beyond bonfire, her anima flux deals 1 additional point of damage, to a maximum of (greater of essence or 3) additional damage. At +3 anima, it extends to medium range, and at +5 it extends to long range.
This excess anima may not be spent to pay for anima costs, and if the pilot expends her own anima, all the excess is lost immediately.
Harmony of Devastating PurposeCost: -; Mins: Essence 2
Type: Permanent
Keywords: None
Duration: Permanent
Prerequisites: Elemental Bolt Attack
The elements bend effortlessly before the arcane matrices wielded by the prince of the earth.Elemental Bolt Attack is enhanced, no longer having a maximum range (though it still must be aimed to reach medium or greater range) or requiring expenditure of anima to extend its range. It also receives a 1 mote discount, which is cumulative with the inherent discount from The Gathering Storm.
Perfect Essence RecaptureCost: 1wp, see text; Mins: Essence 2
Type: Simple
Keywords: None
Duration: Instant
Prerequisites: Endless Anima Reservoir, Harmony of Devastating Purpose
Spiralling runes dictate the flow of essence, and with a moment of concentration, reverse the flow.The pilot expends any amount banked anima in the warstrider to recover 2 motes per expended anima level.
Eyes of the StormCost: 2m, 1i, (+1wp); Mins: Essence 3
Type: Supplemental
Keywords: Perilous, Uniform
Duration: Instant
Prerequisites: Perfect Essence Recapture
Extending her senses through the flux, the Dragon strikes with unerring accuracy.The pilot gains a bonus on an attack roll made with Elemental Bolt Attack against an enemy within her anima flux's current range, equal to the levels of anima banked in The Gathering Storm. For a one willpower surcharge, she is treated as though she was aiming for the purpose of charms and whether she can target an enemy.
Elemental Devastation DriveCost: - (+5m); Mins: Essence 3
Type: Supplemental
Keywords: Decisive-only
Duration: Instant
Prerequisites: Eyes of the Storm, Elemental Burst Technique
Channeling her elements to ever-greater heights, the dragonblood devastates legions with terrifying efficiency.When the dragonblood would trigger Elemental Burst Technique, she may spend an additional 5 motes to add banked anima as levels of damage, up to a maximum of 5.
Reservoir Overdrive TechniqueCost: - (See text); Mins: Essence 4
Type: Permanent
Keywords: None
Duration: Permanent
Prerequisites: Elemental Devastation Drive
Endless power awaits those joined with The Gathering Storm.The exalt may expend anima levels banked within the warstrider to power her native dragonblood charms. Doing so no does not cause her to exit bonfire anima.
Elemental Annihilation Engine
Cost: - (+5a); Mins: Essence 4
Type: Permanent
Keywords: Decisive-only
Duration: Permanent
Prerequisites: Reservoir Overdrive Technique
The elements themselves know no mercy or subtlety - so why should those who wield them?When the dragonblood would trigger Elemental Burst Technique, she may spend an additional 5 anima levels to expand her attack to devastating scale. She may either make her attack as a burst around herself, striking all other characters within medium range of herself; as a line out to long range, striking all characters within the width of a single range band; or as a burst around a point, striking all characters within short range of a point. She still divides her initiative among all targets, as usual.
Swirling Bonfire BlendingCost: - (See text); Mins: Essence 5
Type: Supplemental
Keywords: Stackable
Duration: Instant
Prerequisites: Elemental Annihilation Engine
Ten thousand dragons fight as one, but one dragon can fight as five, given the right circumstances.The dragonblood may expend anima levels banked within the warstrider to count as expending or being in an aura of her choice. Either way, it costs 3 motes per aura she is emulating.
I happen to be the storyteller for Rokuro, and I like to think that I've seen both version of this from the character. For example, the time that he flew his sphere up alongside a pirate ship and saw the cannon flap open, a firedust cannon alight, and he said "Defensive maneuvers" and flew straight into it without changing course.
I have separated the two versions for your convenience as well. Also I think this is a record for speed.
Runner up speech bubble was: "Instead of a Scarlet Empress, you would have an Emperor!"
Hey everyone! This year I'm offering up my two Dragonbloods for the Exalted Secret Santa. The first is Sayuri (an Air Aspect), and the second is Jaya (a Wood Aspect).
Of the two, Sayuri is far more developed (she even has her own extended bio here), whereas Jaya is much newer and hasn't had as much development yet. However, both have some hard 'must have' details and some soft 'open to interpretation' details.
MUST HAVES:
Sayuri's right arm from shoulder to wrist has scattered tattoos of clouds, butterflies, and cherry blossoms. Her hair is dark blue/nearly black with a dark blue sheen. Her eyes are icy blue, her skin is VERY pale with no freckles or scars, and she prefers cool (and usually dark) colored clothing (purples, blacks, all shades of blue, occasionally white). She is confident and aloof to the point of being a bit bitchy at times.
Jaya has warmer skin than Sayuri, maybe even a bit of a tan, and green freckles. His hair is emerald green and fairly long, and his eyes are a bright spring green. He prefers greens and browns in his clothing, and plant/floral motifs are always appropriate. He is friendly and casual, if a bit prone to getting lost in his own thoughts.
OPEN TO INTERPRETATION:
Sayuri's costume and hairstyle are open to interpretation. She'll usually be in something flowy that moves in the wind, but that she can still run, fight, or otherwise be active in. She prefers her hair long, but various styles of braids and updos are all on the table. I don't typically draw her wearing jewelry, but you're welcome to give her some; she would certainly wear jewelry.
Jaya's costume is entirely open to interpretation, as I haven't really nailed down his 'standard' costume yet. Anything that's not too formal (that he can both fight and garden in) is probably valid. The exact style of his green jade spear is also open, as I think the one shown in the reference image is probably too plain. I sometimes write or describe Jaya as having vines or flowers growing in his hair, and that's also an option!
Thanks all, and I'm looking forward to seeing the art everyone does this year! And thanks again to @shiftingpath for organizing this again.
An abandoned Exalted character.
Izuke Vara, Dragonborn of fire. Expelled from her family's clan when her manifestation revealed her to be an illegitimate heir. Her eye was cut out by her father. Since then, she has done her best to make a name for herself, with the hopes of burying her prior family the way she was buried.
