Floating Rickshaw (Artifact oo)
This Artifact transport is a magical rickshaw, though it lacks wheels. It has a seat for one person,
which is covered with dingy folding hood with four spines. The seat is comfortable; the hood
protects the rider from the elements (as much as a rickshaw’s hood does – the protection is
nothing magical.) But without Essence, the Floating Rickshaw is simply a nice and oversized chair.
Committing a point of Essence causes the Floating Rickshaw to, well, float. The ascent is slow and
gradual, taking about half a minute to reach three feet above the ground. But that’s about it. After
all, it’s not named the Flying Rickshaw. It requires a puller or an animal to move (it has two
semi-ornate handles that extends to the front.) While seated on the Floating Rickshaw, travel time
may also count as resting time, as its hovering nature negates all terrain difficulties.
It may be that such Floating Rickshaws were commonplace in the ages of old. However, the
particular Floating Rickshaw that the PCs discover has a Hearthstone socket atop the seat that
appears to be sunken in rather than carved in. Placing a Hearthstone in the socket begins to reveal
the Artifact’s true nature.
Commander’s Flying Throne (Artifact ooo)
Empowered by a Hearthstone’s Essence, the dingy Floating Rickshaw slowly expands and
extends over a period of a minute. The dirt-covered hood reveals to be red silk embroidered with
threads of Moonsilver, as tough as thick leather. The handles transform into ivory tusks with
iridescent sheen. The seat shifts on its own accord and becomes a fiercely adorned throne with
motifs depicting strange beasts roaring into the sky.
Committing three points of Essence (two more, if one mote is already committed) elevates the
Commander’s Flying Throne to about three to four yards high and moves by itself in response the
rider’s will, though it is not faster than moving on foot. Cancelling attunement reverts the
Commander’s Flying Throne into its Floating Rickshaw form.
Concentration and effort from the rider may enhance the speed of the Flying Throne. Should
difficulties arise, the rider must command the vehicle with (Wits + Presence). Further, with this form
revealed, the Exalted rider may notice that this Artifact has many powers to give. Following
Evocations become available for awakening.
Voice of the Heavenly Commander
Cost: 5m; Mins: Essence 1
Type: Simple
Keywords: None
Duration: One scene
Prerequisites: None
The Commander’s Flying Throne responds to the rider’s Exalted will to conquer, as if it wishes to
witness more conquest. While the Exalt’s anima banner is flaring, the anima level is added as
bonus dice to all field command actions based on War (issuing an order, rally, et cetera; but not
strategizing or training).
Voice of the Otherworldly Conqueror
Cost: 5m; Mins: Essence 1
Type: Simple
Keywords: None
Duration: One scene
Prerequisites: None
When the Throne’s rider reveals her Exalted nature, it resonates with her anima. The glory of the
Exalted light is haloed by nearly imperceptible rainbow glow, much like a circle of aurora that is
both fascinating and unnerving. While the Exalt’s anima banner is flaring, the anima level is added
as bonus dice to all intimidation rolls. Further, it negates the -3 penalty to social influence actions
against many opponents, as long as the Exalt is leading a battle group.
Voice of the Worldly Protector
Cost: 5m; Mins: Essence 1
Type: Simple
Keywords: None
Duration: One scene
Prerequisites: None
The Exalted defender rises above the earth to gaze upon the invading army and knows how to
strike them down. She makes a pre-emptive declaration of victory and her army is forced to accept
their triumphant destiny. While the Exalt’s anima banner is flaring, the soak of all battle groups
under her command increases by the Exalted commander’s anima level.
Voice of the Hellish Destroyer
Cost: 5m; Mins: Essence 1
Type: Simple
Keywords: None
Duration: One scene
Prerequisites: None
The Exalted commander orders her soldiers to charge and destroy with a rousing shout. The
Throne’s many beasts cry also and sends a shockwave of faint many-colored shadow across the
battlefield. All combatants within horizontal medium range who are following the Exalt’s orders in
battle receive her anima level as bonus dice to all attack rolls.
Five Worlds General
Cost: 12m, 1wp, 3a; Mins: Essence 3
Type: Simple
Keywords: None
Duration: One scene
Prerequisites: Voice of the Heavenly Commander, Voice of the Worldly Defender, Voice of the
Otherworldly Conqueror, Voice of the Hellish Destroyer
With the Exalted commander’s glory fully revealed, her Throne begins to reveal crystal facets that
gleam in all colors. The tsunami of lights burn the eyes of enemy armies, while it sheathes the
commander’s charges with confidence and might. Activating Five Worlds General dims the Exalt’s
anima banner by a level, but activates all prerequisite Evocations without additional cost at once. If
any of the prerequisites has already been activated, only the difference in mote cost needs to be
committed (with Voice of the Heavenly Commander and Voice of the Otherworldly Conqueror, only
2 additional motes of Essence is required.)
Furthermore, while this Evocation is active and the Exalt’s anima banner returns to bonfire, Might
of all battle groups following her orders increases by 1.
Thousand Worlds General
Cost: (1wp); Mins: Essence 3
Type: Permanent
Keywords: None
Duration: Permanent
Prerequisites: Five Worlds General
Lifted high into the sky, the Exalt upon the Commander’s Flying Throne shines like a promise of
victory to her troops. This Evocation enhances the prerequisite Evocation. While the Exalt’s anima
is at bonfire, she may expend a point of Willpower to flurry the following command actions: order,
rally, and rally for numbers. Further, while the Exalt’s anima is at bonfire, her voice becomes like
thunder and heard clearly by all battle groups loyal to her. Distance and noise are no longer factors
in determining whether soldiers can hear the Exalted commander’s orders.
This Evocation has a special effect. If the Exalt believes her side is losing the battle, she may
choose to let go of her control over the Artifact, allowing it to transform once more and awaken the
next two Evocation instantly at no cost.
Soaring Battle-Palanquin (Artifact oooo)
The Commander’s Flying Throne affords much power to an Exalted general, but sometimes even
that is not enough. This Artifact responds to the rider’s desperation and potential for destruction. It
transforms once more.
The tusked front of the Throne grows two more pairs of knife-sharp tusks. Among the protrusions
opens a mouth, within which a million awls line like teeth. The beastly motifs extend forth and wrap
around the rider with serpentine motion. The silken hood splits into two lengthwise, the spines now
becoming the jagged bones of red-silver wings. On both sides of the Throne, iridescent crystals
grow with an inward curve, protecting the Battle-Palanquin’s pilot.
Attuning to the Soaring Battle-Palanquin requires a total of seven motes of Essence (hence, only
four more motes are required if it transforms from the Commander’s Flying Throne form.)
Committing Essence into it transforms the Artifact near instantly. Cancelling attunement no longer
reverts it back to a less conspicuous form. With the Battle-Palanquin form revealed, the pilot
receives the protection of light Moonsilver armor as long as she does not disembark, as well as
heavy cover provided by the rainbow crystal sheath. Further, the following Evocations become
available.
Raging Heart
Cost: --; Mins: Essence 3
Type: Permanent
Keywords: None
Duration: Permanent
Prerequisites: Thousand Worlds General
With the Soaring Battle-Palanquin form revealed, the Exalted rider readies to destroy her enemies
herself. Screams of her followers and blood spilt on the battlefield awaken something within both
the Exalted commander and the Soaring Battle-Palanquin. It gives her power.
While riding the Battle-Palanquin, the Exalt rolls (current Willpower) reflexively every turn. Stunts
describing the Exalt’s rage and desperation adds to the roll. Each success on the roll creates two
virtual motes of Essence, which may only be used for the Soaring Battle-Palanquin’s Evocations
and the Evocations/Charms of its ultimate form. If any virtual Essence remains at the end of a
round, they dissipate and the Exalted rider must resist an influence as if the Soaring
Battle-Palanquin successfully instilled an Intimacy. If not resisted, the rider develops a Tie to
freedom and/or destruction that keeps growing.
Destroying Rainbow
Cost: 15m, 1wp; Mins: Essence 3
Type: Simple
Keywords: Decisive-only
Duration: Instant
Prerequisites: Thousand Worlds General
The Soaring Battle-Palanquin moves its six tusks. The mouth gapes and a million spikes chitter
and soon order themselves into a fractal spiral. In a moment, a ray of light emerges from the depth
of its throat and it grows into a torrent of disordered, destructive Essence. The last thing the victim
sees are racing bolts of impossibly vivid light and their own dissolution.
This Evocation is a decisive attack, requiring an attack roll of (Perception + Presence), with an
applicable Intimacy related to freedom or destruction adding as non-Charm bonus dice. The attack
may reach up to long range. The base damage is equal to (the Exalt’s Initiative + current
Temporary Willpower). If the Exalt possesses an Intimacy for soldiers slain in battle so far or one
for freedom or destruction, its rating is added to damage. This Charm resets Initiative to base,
regardless of success or failure.
Failing to attack the targeted foe means that the Exalt is distracted and unable to control the
Battle-Palanquin’s fury – the beam of light swipes across the battlefield, causing collateral damage
if doing so is narratively interesting. If this hurts or kills a friendly force, the Exalt receives a point of
Willpower from the Soaring Battle-Palanquin.
Kaleidoscopic Fury
Cost: 12m, 1wp; Mins: Essence 4
Type: Simple
Keywords: Withering-only
Duration: Instant
Prerequisites: Raging Heart, Destroying Rainbow
The Exalt roars and the serpentine mouths surrounding her follow to amplify her voice. The
screams pass through the crystalline sheath and are converted into lances of multicolored light.
They mingle and dance in the sky for a moment and, then, shower upon everyone beneath her like
early summer rain.
This Evocation is a withering attack targeting all characters between horizontal short range and
medium range from the Exalt. The attack roll is (Charisma + Presence) with damage equal to
(current Willpower x Stunt rating). Though all enemies who fail to defend against lose Initiative, the
Exalt only gains full Initiative from the most damaging roll. Each additional victim gives Initiative up
to the stunt rating.
Should this attack drive an ally into Initiative crash or destroy a battle group loyal to the Exalt, she
receives a point of Willpower from the Soaring Battle-Palanquin.
Killing Brilliance
Cost: 8m; Mins: Essence 4
Type: Simple
Keywords: Psyche, Withering-only
Duration: Instant
Prerequisites: Raging Heart, Destroying Rainbow
A hurricane of colors fills the Exalt’s eyes. Even from a distance, the unnatural mesh of lights that
defy order is clearly visible. Unless the victim can take their eyes off this fantastic, weird movement
of colors, they will realize that they burn from within. This Evocation is a withering attack that rolls
(Appearance + Presence) with no base damage. The target must be in either short range or
medium range. Neither Parry nor Evasion can defend against this attack by default. Every
threshold success from the attack roll is multiplied by (Exalt’s Appearance – Target’s Resolve),
setting the base damage. This is then soaked by target’s permanent Willpower.
The Exalt gains no Initiative from this attack, but if this attack drives a target to Initiative crash, they
are inflicted with a mental toxin (Damage 3L/round; 3 rounds; -3). The roll to resist this toxin is
(Wits + Integrity). If the activation of this Evocation is supported by a stunt, this attack can affect a
battle group with Size up to (Stunt rating).
If characters loyal or friendly to the Exalt is caught up in Killing Brilliance, the Soaring
Battle-Palanquin grants the Exalt a point of Willpower.
Chaining the Heart
Cost: -- (1wp); Mins: Essence 5
Type: Permanent
Keywords: None
Duration: Permanent
Prerequisites: Kaleidoscopic Fury, Killing Brilliance
This Evocation is the final safety mechanism of the Soaring Battle-Palanquin. Awakening this
Evocation allows the Exalt to revert the Artifact to the Floating Rickshaw form by spending a point
of Willpower. However, if the Exalt possesses a Major or Defining Intimacy toward freedom or
destruction, this counts as acting against it. Further, as additional benefits, the Soaring
Battle-Palanquin’s Evocations no longer hurt friendly parties if the Exalt spends an additional point
of Willpower upon attuning to it and Raging Heart becomes a choice.
This Evocation is mutually exclusive with the Soaring Battle-Palanquin’s other final Evocation.
Opening the Heart
Cost: --; Mins: Essence 5
Type: Permanent
Keywords: None
Duration: Permanent
Prerequisites: Kaleidoscopic Fury, Killing Brilliance
This Evocation is awakened when the Exalted pilot fulfills the prerequisite Evocations, achieves
Essence 5, and chooses not to awaken Chaining the Heart.
The effect of this Evocation is activated when one of the following conditions are met: the Exalted
pilot is Incapacitated while riding the Soaring Battle-Palanquin; the Exalted pilot is no longer able to
muster her will, expending all temporary Willpower; the Exalted pilot enters Limit Break; or the
Exalt truly believes her own powers are insufficient. If one of these conditions are met and the
player chooses, the Soaring Battle-Palanquin reveals its final form.
The Sealed Heart of Asurastra (Artifact ooooo)
Near the end of the War of the Gods, something came to Creation from the Wyld. She was
intrigued by cosmic violence and destruction that had overtaken Creation and wished to
participate. The God-Monster wielded her eight spears against both the gods and their enemies.
Her eight upside-down wings disturbed the stars and churned the seas. But by unintentionally
combined efforts of the gods and their enemies, Asurastra lost her strength and the Exalted heroes
were able to strike the creature down.
But in her heart was Pure Chaos. The magic of the Exalted, back then, was insufficient to truly
snuff out the infinite energy of Asurastra’s heart (for its qualities were different from those of the
enemies of the gods). Worried that she might re-form while sorcerers sought a way to destroy her
permanently, they set out a plan to seal the God-Monster within a spiritual prison. One Solar
suggested that she be sealed within the most mundane and least potent object, so that nobody
thinks to awaken her. Thus the Asurastra’s heart was embedded and sealed within an
inconspicuous Floating Rickshaw. This dangerous piece of furniture was, then, locked away.
Asurastra enjoyed the experience. Not because she was saved from destruction, but because the
idea of becoming a sealed monster appealed to it. However, there is little point in being forever
sealed – she needed to find a way so that she can become a dangerous weapon, whose true
nature is slowly revealed.
Cramped within a Floating Rickshaw, she devised the various forms of the Artifact. Each form
would filter out uninteresting heroes. Asurastra believed a champion among champions was
suitable, so she created the Commander’s Flying Throne form. Then, she created the Soaring
Battle-Palanquin to ensure that the commander had a habit of losing their temper. Finally, at the
moment of absolute desperation, the tragic hero would call out to Asurastra herself.
Why Asurastra appears with her heart still half-sealed is a mystery to be discovered.
The Sealed Heart of Asurastra would constitute a warstrider, but the rules are pending. I thought
about writing her up as a QC, but then I realized a being of such immense size would be
meaningless without dedicated rules to handle them. So, in the meantime, I believe she would be a
siege engine capable of extreme destruction against massive and/or stationary foes, but
uninteresting as a single combatant.