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��THE REST OF THE CREATURES CHAPTER ONE THE NORTH Apheliotrope " Ice Fisher " Shard Bat been a loyal servant? Had he not slain thousands in his APHELIOTROPE god s name? Description: When the Usurpation came, only a Derat was ancient, even by the reckoning of the handful of Solar Exalted survived the first Dragon- Solar Exalted, and he was well versed in sorcery. With Blooded attacks. Among those remnants was Derat his last breaths, he uttered spells that brought a demon Khan, a mighty Dawn Caste general who managed to of the Second Circle to him, a fragment of a mighty escape into the wilds of the frigid North just ahead of an Prince of Malfeas. Just as Derat was about to expire, the expeditionary force of Terrestrial Exalted that had served demon reached out and held the Solar s soul in place. under his command. After many weeks of pursuit, he was Haughty Derat was proud even on the knife s edge trapped by several dozen of them. Derat slew all of his of death. He offered up his soul in exchange for a few attackers save one, but that last Dragon-Blood s blade more years of life. The demon laughed Derat s soul found his heart. Derat killed his murderer and felt his life was of no value to the Demon Princes. He was a Chosen begin to slip quickly away. of the Unconquered Sun, beyond their reach without Facing certain death, Derat mourned his failure to the aid of ancient pacts found in texts yet to be written. destroy his betrayers and began to hate the Unconquered Derat spat. The Unconquered Sun had turned his back Sun for turning his back on the Solar Exalted. Had he not on Derat Khan, and Derat despised him. The demon 1 EXALTED " CREATURES OF THE WYLD grinned as Derat offered to renounce the Unconquered tion. Without a human agency to guide them, Derat s Sun, to deny everything he had done for the Realm and more powerful offspring soon devoured their slaves and to turn on that which he had fought for his entire life. gave in to their infernal nature. There were enough of The demon said that such a renunciation would do. them three dozen or more to breed with one The Yozi would appreciate a soul freely given and steeped another and start a population beneath Kerzt Derat. in the power of a betrayal of the Unconquered Sun. And They raided nearby human settlements, mainly those so, on the edge of the world, caught in the breath between around the White Sea, although on a few infamous life and death, Derat occasions their war-par- Khan cursed his god and ties took captives from his life s work and swore as far away as by ancient and evil pow- Gethamane. Some of ers to spend whatever the more conservative time he purchased for Shrouded Ones still himself working to de- pursued Derat Khan s stroy his enemies and the ancient plan, but to whole of Creation. And most of them, it was a with a whisper, the bar- mere legend, a proph- gain was sealed. ecy speaking of a day Newly reborn in that would never come. darkness, Derat was All of that strategist enough to changed six centuries know that that the ago. After a dozen raids handful of years allot- by the Shrouded Ones ted to him would not be on the feathersteel enough to avenge him- mines of Bagrash K�l, self upon the the sorcerer raised a Dragon-Blooded. So, he plunged deeper into the wastes force to destroy the raiders. His magnificent army of the North, eventually finding a network of caves in tracked a Shrouded One raiding party back to Kerzt a range of hills in which to hide himself. He began to Derat, deep within the bowels of the earth. Even the work toward a greater plan, a legacy that would survive most powerful of the apheliotropes could not withstand long past his own demise and one that, if ever com- his Dragon-Blooded and demon officers and the power pleted, would destroy not just the Dragon-Blooded, but of the Eye, and so, the few who survived the assault on Creation itself. Kerzt Derat fled their ancient home. To the elders of the The dark general began to summon neomah, de- apheliotropes who had pursued Derat Khan s plans as mon-courtesans, and to breed with them, creating infernal some kind of holy mission, this exodus was deemed a offspring. By virtue of his Essence, these byblows were punishment from their long-dead patriarch. They vowed stronger than normal humans, manifesting the spiritual to return to Kerzt Derat one day, and that day would power of both parents and the physical prowess of their only come when they finally completed the ancient father. In addition, each of them bore the curse of Derat machinations of Derat Khan. Khan no sunlight would touch them, and they walked The faith of the apheliotropes had been tested and in shadow, no matter how great the light of the sun shone found wanting. upon them. The strongest of these beings, which Derat Now, the Shrouded Ones have spread throughout named apheliotropes, were taught how to fight, while the North. Scattered as they are, the wisest among them the rest gathered slaves in order to hollow out a city realize that their race is dying out and has only decades under the frozen mountains. Soon a small civilization left, perhaps a century at most. Some of the more cun- prospered under the earth, in tunnels carved out by the ning apheliotropes have used their powers and knowledge Khan s lesser offspring. Every cornice, tile and arch was of ancient lore to become advisors to local rulers, while covered with sigils praising the Yozi and blaspheming the strongest have formed war bands to raid settlements the Celestial Bureaucracy and the Unconquered Sun. for slaves and trade goods. Others of their kind stalk the The apheliotropes called this refuge Kerzt Derat, the unwary as fodder with which to enact dark rites in which fortress of Derat Khan, and began to refer to themselves the Shrouded Ones conjure up demons and elementals as the Shrouded Ones. for the purpose of furthering the enigmatic final revenge After his time was finished, Derat passed away into of Derat Khan. Their recent efforts have brought the eternal torment at the hands of his new masters, perhaps renewed attention of their Haslanti persecutors and content that his far-sighted plans had been set in mo- drawn the interest of the icewalker bands led by the 2 THE REST OF THE CREATURES mysterious Bull of the North, but the apheliotropes are Attributes: Strength 4, Dexterity 3, Stamina 4, Cha- wise enough to avoid presenting as large a target as they risma 3, Manipulation 3, Appearance 3, Perception 3, did at Kerzt Derat. A few of the braver Shrouded Ones Intelligence 3, Wits 3 have even begun to attack isolated members of the Virtues: Compassion 2, Conviction 3, Temperance 2, icewalkers. No matter where the apheliotropes find Valor 3 themselves in the Age of Sorrows, they have cast them- Abilities: Athletics 3, Awareness 2, Brawl 3, Dodge 4, selves as the adversaries of all that is bound to the light. Larceny 3, Linguistics (Native: Old Realm; High Realm, The Shrouded Ones appear as normal humans Skytongue) 2, Lore 3, Medicine 1 (Torture +2), Melee 4, wreathed in hazy shadow, an effect they refer to as the Occult 4, Presence 2, Socialize 3, Stealth 4 ebon curtain. Since this makes their true nature Backgrounds: Allies (Northern Personages) 2, Artifact readily apparent during the daylight hours, they tend to 1, Contacts 3, Followers 3, Resources 3 limit their movements to the evening or to days when Supernatural Powers: The Ebon Curtain clouds create overcast conditions. Many of the Base Initiative: 6 apheliotropes still bear some sign of their demonic Attack: heritage, be it horns, strangely shaped eyes or animalis- Punch: Speed 6 Accuracy 6 Damage 4B Defense 6 tic extremities. Physically, they are stronger and more Kick: Speed 3 Accuracy 5 Damage 6B Defense 5 vital than the average man or woman and far more Chopping Sword: Speed 6 Accuracy 8 Damage 8L prone to emotional outbursts of savagery and vendettas. Defense 7 Perhaps due to their heritage, they are able to master Dodge Pool: 7 Soak: 8L/11B (Chain hauberk, the Terrestrial Circle of magic, and some of them are 6L/7B) dedicated and potent sorcerers. Willpower: 6 Health Levels: -0/-1/-1/-1/-1/-2/-2/ Survival of the fittest and the most cunning forms -4/Incap the basis for apheliotropic society and personal interac- Essence: 1 Essence Pool: 22 tion. They share an upbringing in which abuse is common Other Notes: Apheliotropes with sufficient training are and discipline is essential, and their personalities are capable of learning Terrestrial Circle Sorcery. Any sor- shaped by a religion in which the sun that brings life to cerer worth his salt among them knows how to summon the rest of the world is viewed as a horrific evil and a a Demon of the First Circle, and most know the art of mortal enemy. They despise the masses of humanity and creating an Impenetrable Frost Barrier. Many will have desire nothing more than to spend the remaining years additional spells at their disposal, gathered from cap- before their species dies out bringing down human civi- tured lore or taught to them by others of their kind. lization. Even those who have hidden themselves in Some apheliotropes may bear one or more signs of their mortal governments work quietly to corrupt and destroy demonic heritage. To simulate such Shrouded Ones, the societies around them. give them one or more Wyld mutations (see Exalted, p. 280-281 and Exalted: The Lunars, p. 208-222). THE REVENGE OF DERAT KHAN What is the revenge of Derat Khan? It is whatever the Storyteller needs it to be to fuel his THE EBON CURTAIN plot. If there is an ancient artifact that needs Cost: 10 motes (see below) adversaries to seek it out and wield it, or if the The true sign of the apheliotropes curse is Storyteller needs a group of beings that seek noth- the permanent pool of shadow that surrounds ing less than the death of the Unconquered Sun s them during daylight hours, for sunlight will not servants, the apheliotropes make excellent foils. touch their blighted skin. The Shrouded Ones The origin of the apheliotropes as offspring of can expand the curtain so that it truly envelops a vengeful Solar Exalted can even make them their features and actions, even during the evening perfect servants for Solar adversaries in your game hours when their skin will allow the touch of perhaps the apheliotropes believe the Solar in moon or torchlight. For a cost of 10 motes of question to be a reincarnation of Derat Khan Essence, the Shrouded Ones can gain bonus dice himself. An interesting plot possibility is that the to their Stealth equal to twice their permanent apheliotropes see a player s character as the rein- Essence as a reflexive action. This effect lasts for carnation of their ancient patriarch and seek to one scene. This effect offers no protection against enlist him to their dark purpose. the Charms of the Solar Exalted. 3 EXALTED " CREATURES OF THE WYLD ready-made hole in the ice and walk right up to the edge, ICE FISHER peering in for any sign of fish or other food. That s when Description: Ice fishing is a common practice in the ice fisher strikes. It lashes up with one of its tentacles, the frozen North. A fisher walks out onto a lake or sea, wrapping around the man s legs, and drags him down cuts a hole in the ice and drops his line into the water into the hole. Sometimes, the hole isn t big enough, and below. Sometimes, these ice fishermen sit for days, the ice fisher must exert itself, but it s well-anchored waiting for a fish or seal to bite. Other fishermen use with the other three tentacles and its tail it may spears instead, waiting by their holes for a seal or a walrus splinter the ice around the hole and shatter the man s to pop through for a quick gulp of air. But bones, but it will eventually pull him through and into whichever way they hunt, sometimes, the icy waters. From there, it s over in a matter of the ice fishermen find themselves moments the man drowns or freezes, un- the ones hunted and caught. able to break the ice fisher s grip. Ice fishers look similar The ice fisher s other tactic is to to rays, with wide flat bod- swim along until it locates an exist- ies and long, barbed tails. ing hole that s already in use by a Each of their wings fisherman. It anchors itself in end in a 10-yard-long the same way, but if the per- tentacle with strong son has dropped a fishing suckers for gripping. line through, the ice fisher These creatures waits for a moment, then swim beneath gives the line a light tug. the frozen rivers Then, it waits and tugs and lakes and again. Each tug grows a oceans and are at- little stronger. Even- tracted to light tually, the s hi ni ng fisherman t hr ough gets tired the ice. of the When an ice fisher lo- game, and curious about what he s caught, cates a likely spot, it and peers into the hole. Sometimes, he stabs attaches itself to the ice a spear through, to impale whatever s down with its tentacles, flip- there, but the ice fisher simply grabs the ping over in the process spear with its tentacles and pulls hard, so that its belly, as well as yanking it down and the man with it. its eyes and wide mouth, Ice fishers are feared by most North- presses against the ice. ern fishermen and the topic of many Sometimes, it finds an existing hole, kept stories and tales. Few people encounter open by sea mammals or cut by a fisherman who either an ice fisher and survive because ice moved on to a new spot or simply has not yet arrived that fishers can sense vibrations both in the day. The ice fisher can make its own hole, however it water and on the ice above. (This requires an opposed stabs its barbed tail up through the ice, pulls it back out, roll, the ice fisher s Perception + Awareness + specialty then bites around the edges until the hole is large enough [12 dice] versus the fisherman s Dexterity + Survival or (usually a few feet across). Then, it waits. Stealth. Note that, if more than one person is present, Sometimes the hole attracts a seal or walrus, and the each individual player should roll, and the group uses the ice fisher waits until the animal s head breaks the surface lowest roll this is for the ice fisher to detect the entire before attacking. It releases its hold on the ice, wrapping group s approach.) This method of detection only works its tentacles around its prey, and bites down hard with its on characters who touch the ice itself or enter the water mouth, while its tail stabs again and again, searching for below it. Because of this, the descriptions offered by the a vital organ. Once the prey goes limp, the ice fisher stories range widely, from angry intelligent seals with drops into the depths with it and begins to feed. blood-red eyes to beings like men but blue and scaled But the ice fisher s real prey aren t the seals and who sit on the underside of the ice, upside down, in coats walruses that approach from below. It favors creatures and hats and boots, exactly like the men up above. who approach from above, such as polar bears and foxes Others laugh and say that there s no such thing as an ice and men. The ice fisher waits at its hole until a fisher and that the men who died fishing got drunk and fisherman comes along. Most men are curious about the fell into the water or fell asleep and froze to death. 4 THE REST OF THE CREATURES Of course, some men do escape ice fisher attacks. Note, however, that if the ice fisher has its victim Their friends and neighbors quickly learn not to peer clinched with tentacles it can still attack with its barb into precut fishing holes or to respond to tugs on the line. each turn. A few fishermen have even caught ice fishers instead of ** If a tentacle attack does damage, the ice fisher gains the other way around they wait until the ice fisher an automatic clinch attack. This clinch does an addi- tugs, then plunge their spears down through the ice next tional 4B damage. Every turn, the victim s player may to the hole. If they ve picked the right side, the spear attempt a Dexterity + Brawl or Martial Arts roll for his impales the ice fisher. It flails wildly, trying to escape, but character to escape, versus the ice fisher s own Strength after a few minutes, it goes limp. Then, the fishermen cut + Brawl + specialty (10 dice). Clinched victims can a new hole around their spear and draw up their catch. attack the ice fisher or try to escape, but they can only do Ice fishers are not particularly good food their bodies one per turn. are too rubbery but their flesh does provide protein, Dodge Pool: 7 Soak: 3L/7B (Rubbery skin, 3L/3B) and a hungry fisherman cannot afford to pass up a meal. Willpower: 6 Health Levels: -0/-1/-1/-2/-2/-4/ Recently, a rumor has begun that eating the flesh, and Incap particularly the barbed tail, of an ice fisher can grant the Essence: 1 ability to breathe underwater. Whether this is true or not Other Notes: The ice fisher s goal in an attack is to drag remains to be seen. its prey under the water. This is a throw attack. Every Attributes: Strength 4, Dexterity 3, Stamina 4, Cha- turn the ice fisher maintains a successful clinch, it can risma 0, Manipulation 0, Appearance 0, Perception 4, attempt this throw. Roll the ice fisher s Dexterity + Intelligence 1, Wits 2 Brawl + specialty (10 dice) and subtract one success from Virtues: Compassion 2, Conviction 3, Temperance 2, its attack roll. If the attack succeeds, the ice fisher throws Valor 4 the victim up to three yards toward the hole. If the victim Abilities: Athletics 5 (Swimming +3), Awareness 4 was less than that distance from the hole, he or she is (Vibrations +4), Brawl 4 (Clinch +2, Stinger +3, Throw dragged into the hole and under the water. Players of +2), Dodge 5, Endurance 4, Stealth 4 (Ambush +3), characters with no armor or light armor may attempt a Survival 4 reflexive Dexterity + Athletics roll, difficulty 3, for their Base Initiative: 6 characters to grab the lip of the hole and avoid being Attack: dragged under completely. Characters in medium and Bite: Speed 3 Accuracy 9 Damage 8L Defense 3 heavy armor will generally not fit through the hole, at Stinger: Speed 6 Accuracy 6 Damage 4L + clinch* least not until the ice fisher bludgeons them to death, Defense 5 breaking most of their bones in the process. Once in the Tentacle: Speed 7 Accuracy 8 Damage 2B + clinch** water, characters must contend with drowning as well. Defense 4 Ice fishers can regrow their tentacles but not their barb, * The ice fisher s barbed tail grants it an automatic so they will normally attack only with the one tentacle clinch every time the barb does damage. The rules for until the victim is in the water or stuck on top of the hole. this are the same as those for the tentacle clinch above. 5 EXALTED " CREATURES OF THE WYLD such as a bull walrus. Interestingly enough, shard bats can SHARD BAT somehow detect undercoats and always steer clear of the Description: The North does not have many aerial disguised creatures, avoiding an entire pack of prey animals predators, perhaps because the air is fiercer and colder and even if only one member of the pack is infested. the snow and ice don t offer much concealment. But some Attributes: Strength 1, Dexterity 5, Stamina 3, Charisma creatures have adapted to these conditions and are all the 0, Manipulation 0, Appearance 0, Perception 3, Intelli- more deadly because of them. Shard bats are gence 1, Wits 3 such creatures. These bats are larger Virtues: Compassion 2, Conviction than most varieties, close to two 3, Temperance 2, Valor 4 feet from toe to crown and Abilities: Athletics 5 (Flying almost eight feet from +3), Awareness 3 (Echolo- wingtip to wingtip. cation +3), Brawl 4, Their thick, snow- Dodge 5, Endurance 4, white fur allows them Stealth 2, Survival 3 to survive the harsh Base Initiative: 9 temperatures and to Attack: move almost unseen Bite: Speed 6 Accu- across the white sky racy 9 Damage 2L and equally white Claw: Speed 9 Accuracy plains. But the shard bats truly 9 Damage 5L Defense 9 unique trait is the reason behind their name. Wing: Speed 12 Accuracy 10 These bats secrete a viscous liquid onto their Damage 8L wings and claws. When the shard bats take flight, Dodge Pool: 11 Soak: 2L/6B (Tough the liquid freezes into razor-sharp edges, turning their fur, 2L/3B) wings into lethal weapons. The shard bats are enormous Willpower: 3 Health Levels: -0/- blades of glittering ice that descend from the sky at tremen- 1/-1/-2/-2/Incap dous speeds and slice through prey before wheeling and Essence: 1 returning for a second attack. A shard bat can take a man s Other Notes: The shards from a shard bat s wing can be arm off in a single slash, so quickly and cleanly he doesn t crafted into arrowheads, darts and small knives. Such even feel the pain until after the limb hits the ground. weapons gain +2 to damage, but will melt if they are exposed Shard bats live in caves high in the mountains, hidden to temperatures above freezing. by swirls of snow and fog. The caves are warmer than the The secretions of a shard bat, rubbed on a bladed weapon, outside air, thanks to the protection from wind and the heat will grant it a sharper edge and the ability to slice through of the bats own bodies, and the bats cluster together in tight snow and ice without effort. That fact has led some adven- groups of 20 or more, hanging upside down from rocky turous souls to seek out the bats caves, in hopes of capturing protrusions. Shard bats usually leave their caves only to a live shard bat and somehow bottling its secretions. The hunt, flying in a pack and descending on targets as a unit, caves are difficult to reach, however, located high above the moving in perfect unison. They cut back and forth until ground with only steep slopes below, and even when the nothing else moves, then settle onto the victims and tear pack hunts, a handful of shard bats remain behind to protect flesh loose with sharp teeth and sharper claws. The bats their home and their young. carry meat back to their caves for the young. The one drawback to the shard bats ice is that it allows Shard bats are unusual in that they are daytime crea- them to move more quickly through the air (it cuts down on tures, whereas most bats are nocturnal. But their coloring the wind resistance) but creates a faint whistling sound, the makes them less visible and more dangerous by day, when same as a sharp sword swung rapidly. Quick-witted travelers the sun s glare helps to hide them from view. Their wings have survived a shard bat attack because they heard that and claws also shine in the sunlight, dazzling victims as they sound and immediately threw themselves behind a rock or descend like a shower of ice shards from the sky. tree, narrowly ducking the attack that follows. It is a Shard bats rely on echolocation to reveal their sur- Difficult (difficulty 2) Perception check to catch the sound, roundings. They can see general shapes all around them, and a difficulty 2 Wits check to guess what it means which allows them to navigate narrow passageways and (difficulty 1 if the character has encountered shard bats maneuver between boulders and other obstacles. It also before). Succeeding at both gives the character one minute helps them to estimate the mass of a potential target, and to find cover, and +2 dice to the first dodge attempt. shard bats are extremely good at this game they rarely target something too large for the current pack to handle, 6 THE REST OF THE CREATURES CHAPTER TWO THE EAST Bear-Killer " Niljake " Starlight Whistler proud, noble creatures. If they were not wholly intelli- BEAR-KILLER gent, there was at least a spirituality to them that made Description: Years ago, when the Contagion swept all those who caught a glimpse of the bears in the deep the earth and the great tides of the Wyld washed over woods catch their breath. Beneath the heavy black and civilization, the very land itself was transformed. Whole brown pelts of the beasts, muscles that could fell a tree species of animals found themselves melting like wax in rippled, and in their deep black eyes, the wise could see flame as glamour twisted them into the war machines of a mirror of the night sky. the Fair Folk. In the Northeast, few stories of such All of that nobility came to an end when the Wyld metamorphoses are more tragic than the tale of the bear- erupted from the corners of the world, and the great killers. bears of the Northeast were transformed in its wake. Once, the bear-killers were simple bears of the The lords of the Wyld had no talent for dealing with or Northeast, massive specimens that hunted, fished and battling gods, many of whom had allied with one wandered the deep forests of that region. They were another and put aside ancient rivalries in order to halt 7 EXALTED " CREATURES OF THE WYLD the advance of the fey. The marauding Fair Folk saw the Unity freed them. During her sojourns into the Wyld potential of the bears as spirit warriors, so they used lands, the Lunar general had witnessed the cruel terms of their strange sorcery to alter the beasts and bind them the bear-killers captivity. In a game of trickery and in chains of glamour. chance, Crimson Unity locked herself into a battle of The Fair Folk s magic sliced the fur from the bears wits with the Fair Folk who had mastered the bears, until flesh and supernaturally toughened their naked hide. It finally she fooled the fey into releasing them. She then transformed the claws of the bears into an arcane forced the fey to vow to never truck with their spirit emerald metal that could slice through the veil that warriors again. separated the immaterial from the material world. These Free at last, the faerie-twisted bears tried to return to potent weapons left the claws permanently sharp and the Northeast, but they found that their homes had been able to cleave through steel with ease. Finally, they irrevocably altered by the invasion of the Wyld. Even removed the eyes of the bears and replaced them with more distressing, their mundane brethren found them quicksilver devices capable of seeing into the realm alien and ugly aberrations. Where the spirit-warriors had where the little gods hid. No living thing could have once had fur, there was now naked hide and while withstood such a metamorphosis without being changed they had been creatures of an animal nature, they were on a fundamental level, and the bear-killers found now beings apart, able to see the invisible world of the themselves cloven from their animal natures and pos- spirits and to think and voice their thoughts in a crude sessed of a new kind of sentience. language of their own. The expense and investment in these alterations The bear-killers vowed bloody revenge at the per- were great, so the Fair Folk created a mere hundred of ceived slight visited upon them by the bears. Their wrath these spirit warriors for use in their armies. Despite their at this rejection was a thing of legend, and they began small numbers, the bear-killers became a potent part of driving the normal bears from the woods. For the next the Fair Folk arsenal against the spirits of the East. few years, anytime one of the spirit-warriors encountered When the Fair Folk were pushed back to the new a normal bear, the bear-killer cut it down on the spot edges of Creation by the weapons of the First Age, the with claws of emerald-hued metal, then devoured its bear-killers were driven with them, still slaves to their carcass. Still, the bears of the woods were more numerous insane masters. For centuries, the bear-killers served the than the bear-killers, and after a time, the spirit-warriors fey as soldiers until the day that the Lunar hero Crimson grew weary of the slaughter and were wracked with guilt. 8 THE REST OF THE CREATURES The bears retreated from territory where a bear-killer was Attributes: Strength 8, Dexterity 3, Stamina 6, Cha- known to reside, and so, the bears numbers began to risma 3, Manipulation 1, Appearance 3, Perception 3, slowly return to normal. It is from this period that the Intelligence 2, Wits 4 name bear-killers fell into common usage among the Virtues: Compassion 2, Conviction 1, Temperance 1, people and spirits of the woods. Valor 3 Unable to look at one another with the knowledge Abilities: Awareness 2, Brawl 5, Dodge 2, Linguistics 1 of their crimes against their own kind but still too (Native: Bear-Killer; Forest-tongue), Presence 1 (In- possessed of rage to suppress their hatred, the bear-killers timidation +3), Stealth 2, Survival 3 parted ways and began to wander beneath the massive Supernatural Powers: Emerald Metal Claws, Quicksil- vaults of the great forests. The bears of the woods had ver Vision been long-lived, and the bear-killers were nearly immor- Base Initiative: 7 tal, as long as they stayed in places rich in eldritch Attack: energy. When they found a Demesne or a Wyld place, Bite: Speed 2 Accuracy 8 Damage 9L they rested. The techniques the Fair Folk had used to Emerald Metal Claws: Speed 7 Accuracy 8 Damage 12L create them had left the creatures sterile, and so, they Defense 10 eschewed even the company of the opposite sex. Dodge Pool: 5 Soak: 5L/6B (Tough hide, 2L/0B) Once every generation, the bear-killers repress their Willpower: 2 Health Levels: -0/-0/-0/-1/-1/-1/-1/ solitary nature and come together for a great meeting of -2/-2/-2/-2/-4/Incap their kind, to spread news of the goings-on in different Essence: 2 parts of the Northeast and to praise Crimson Unity, who Other Notes: None saved them from eternal servitude but wasn t merciful enough to slay them. Once in a great while, Crimson Unity will appear at these gatherings rumor has it that EMERALD METAL CLAWS she seeks to build an army of Wyld barbarians to subdue The mystic metal of the bear-killer s claws, the Threshold, and if that is true, then the bear-killers crafted as it was from permanent glamour, allows would certainly aid her. the creature to attack even unmanifested spirits so The bear-killers avoid human contact for the most long as the bear-killer is aware of them. Skilled part, although an adventurous hunter or sorcerer will craftsmen can craft daggers, arrow tips and spear- often seek out a bear-killer and try to slay the beast for his heads from the metal of slain bear-killers, but due to claws, which can be crafted into weapons that are potent the strength of the metal and the shape of it, it when used against spirits. Most of the bear-killers are requires a successful Intelligence + Craft roll at total recluses, avoiding all contact except for the odd difficulty 3. encounter with a Lunar Exalted, whom they hold in high Arrowheads and spear tips crafted from the regard because of the actions of Crimson Unity. Only a claws of a bear-killer receive +1L damage, and a handful of the bear-killers actually seek out contact with dozen of them may be created from a bear-killer s other beings, and these aberrations typically work as natural weapons. Daggers are Speed +3 Accuracy + warriors in feuds between renegade spirits. Bear-killers 0 Damage +3L Defense +0. are not welcome in the spirit courts, though, for many of QUICKSILVER VISION the small gods still bear scars from wounds that these warriors meted out. With a successful Perception + Awareness roll, the bear-killers, due to their artificial quicksilver eyes, may see unmanifested spirits. 9 EXALTED " CREATURES OF THE WYLD the advantages granted by not having to worry about NILJAKE most obstacles found in forests, the niljakes can simply Description: Niljakes are large, lizard-like crea- vanish into the jungle after an attack and ambush their tures that have been warped by the Wyld. What sets the opponents all over again a bit later. Putting your back niljakes apart from other such creatures is a singular against a tree won t be of much use, since a niljake can ability to move through the forest in a way that defies come at you right through the tree, which will obligingly mundane understanding. and completely silently bend out of the way not a Some savants say that the woods themselves are single leaf will rustle when this happens. Most niljakes friendly to these creatures; others say that the trees want favored tactic is to use their powerful leg muscles to to get out of the niljakes way and would uproot them- propel the reptiles at their targets at an amazing speed, selves and walk away if they only could. In reality, the take a bite out of them and then disappear again, hope- nature of the creatures Wyld mutation makes nature fully before the target have had a chance to counterattack abhor niljakes, and the end result is that niljakes can effectively. The niljakes keep this up until their victims simply run through the forest while tree trunks, bushes are too weak to escape and then settle down to wait for and other natural obstacles warp themselves out of their bleeding to finish the job. The niljakes particularly enjoy way without making a sound. The plants twist them- attacking travelers who have made camp for the night selves back to their original forms when the creature has and, presumably, make easy prey for a creature that can passed. The effect doesn t work on rocks, buildings or move silently and not worry about the underbrush rus- other non-plant obstacles, but it does allow a niljake to tling or blocking its way. move extremely quickly and completely soundlessly Niljakes usually mate for life and thus travel in pairs, through the thickest forests and ambush its prey without but their amazing speed can easily make travelers believe the slightest warning. that they are surrounded by a large pack of the creatures. A niljake is about the size of a large dog, with small, Despite their efficiency as hunters, niljakes avoid large clawed forelimbs and extremely powerful and dispropor- groups of humans, preferring to go after easier targets tionately large back legs that propel it through the woods such as other animals. Lone humans are fair game for at tremendous speeds. Niljakes stay crouched ex- them, however. tremely low when they run, allowing them to stay out of sight until they attack. Their front limbs aren t particularly dexterous, but they can be used to slash at an enemy or to hold s o me - t h i n g s t i l l while it is being eaten. A powerful tail pro- vides balance and can be used to heavily swat things or people around if necessary. A single swipe from it can break a grown man s limb or head. The niljakes have strong jaws that can rend steel or rip off limbs. The creatures green- tinted, scaly hides offer them excellent protection against injury. Niljakes move swiftly and are extremely good at hiding. Because of their shape, speed and 10 THE REST OF THE CREATURES For all their ferocity, niljakes aren t particularly clever and have no understanding of Exalted or what NATURE WARP they can do, and the creatures can thus end up attacking This Wyld mutation causes plants to bend what look like one or two harmless humans but are, in out of the Wyld creature s way. While it looks as reality, something quite a bit more dangerous. if the plants willfully get out of the way, in Attributes: Strength 4, Dexterity 4, Stamina 3, Cha- actuality, the space that contains them warps to risma 1, Manipulation 1, Appearance 1, Perception 2, avoid contact with the alien presence of the Intelligence 1, Wits 3 Wyld. This offers several advantages a Wyld Virtues: Compassion 1, Conviction 2, Temperance 1, creature with this blight may simply run through Valor 3 a forest at full speed and never worry about Abilities: Athletics 4, Awareness 2, Brawl 4, Dodge 1, slowing down, so long as he doesn t come across Endurance 2, Resistance 1, Stealth 3, Survival 3 a boulder or a ravine. Pursuers will find that even Supernatural Powers: Nature Warp the creature s footprints are quite difficult to Base Initiative: 7 locate, as the creature s feet do touch the ground Attack: but not the grass or moss that grows on it. Even Bite: Speed 9 Accuracy 8 Damage 8L dead branches, leaves and other similar remains Claw: Speed 7 Accuracy 5 Damage 5L Defense 8 of plant life avoid the touch of this mutation. An Tail: Speed 9 Accuracy 8 Damage 10B Defense 8* equally useful effect is that wooden weapons will * The tail allows an additional attack that can be always miss the creature with this mutation, executed without splitting the creature s dice pool. though for example a wooden spear with a steel Dodge Pool: 5 Soak: 3L/6B (Thick, scaly hide, tip will still do normal damage. 3L/3B) However, this seemingly positive effect also Willpower: 4 Health Levels: -0/-0/-1/-1/-1/-1/-2/ has its downsides, the most obvious ones of which -2/-4/Incap are the social consequences. Most societies take a Essence: 2 dim view of beings twisted by the Wyld, and this Other Notes: Niljakes are very fast. They run at a speed power is often viewed as a particularly vile one of their Dexterity rating + 20 yards per turn and sprint at nature s abhorrence of the Wyld creature is taken (Dexterity x 3) + 30 yards per turn. as a clear sign of its evil. Eating fruits, vegetables or other plant matter of any kind also becomes im- possible, as they cannot even be touched, much less swallowed. Climbing trees, crossing wooden bridges or trying to go upstairs in a wooden build- ing is also impossible. A dead Wyld creature no longer causes this effect, so an armor made out of the hide of such a creature will not enable some- one to run through a forest with his eyes closed. 11 EXALTED " CREATURES OF THE WYLD STARLIGHT WHISTLER Description: In the upper branches of the great Eastern forests live a race of gray- winged birdmen, distant descendants of a tribe who sought the favor of the spirits of the air. These birdmen hide from the light of the sun and the full moon, venturing out only in starlight or dur- ing eclipses, pained by light and yet drawn to it with a desperate hunger. When they hunt at night, they whistle to each other, com- municating without words and coordinating their pur- suit of prey in the clearings below. Local tribes call them the starlight whis- tlers and curse them as the misbegotten offspring of gods and the refuse of the heavens. Thousands of years ago, during the First Age, the tribe had wings as glorious as moonsilver, as proud as eagles and as mighty as the north wind. The starlight whistlers loyally served Star of Wormwood, a Dawn Caste who dwelt in the region, acted as their patron and found them useful as shock troops and spies. However, there came a day when he made war on another Exalt. His enemy offered the tribe gifts of dia- unable to endure it. As his curse rang in the air, the monds, silk and coral as the wings of the tribe molted and cracked, becoming scaly price for treachery; the bird- and raiton-like, where before they had been more men were to flee the battle at a beautiful than the eagles , and they screamed and hid crucial moment, leaving the Dawn Exalt s flank un- themselves from the sunlight, feeling it burn their skin guarded. In a moment of folly, they took the bribe, and and eyes. in a moment of rashness, they betrayed their master, There are barely 50 of the starlight whistlers left flying away into the depths of the forest. As he saw them now, and while they assault women from local tribes in depart and felt his enemy s spear in his side, the Dawn an attempt to sire more children, very few of the women Caste Exalt cursed them in the name of the Uncon- give birth to living offspring. When this does happen, quered Sun, that their beauty should be as fleeting as the women expose the accursed babies outside their their loyalty and that they should crave the light but be village, leaving them to their demonic fathers. 12 THE REST OF THE CREATURES The whistlers have long since moved past the stage whistlers loathe and fear the Exalted: Many legends and of deciding who to blame for their fate (it was definitely tales of the First Age have been handed down through the Solars) and have settled into a dogged resignation the tribe from generation to generation, and some of the and bitterness, pursuing a miserable life in the high information is even moderately accurate. While they branches of the trees. They cannot tolerate sunlight would dearly love to take revenge on any Solars, they without pain, and even moonlight is uncomfortable (-2 also fear possible retribution. A possible tactic might to all rolls in sunlight, and -1 in moonlight), but due to involve setting the Solars against any local Fair Folk and Star of Wormwood s curse, they hate living in darkness, then trying to betray the Solars in the confusion. and they fly under the starlight in the dark of the moon. Attributes: Strength 4, Dexterity 2, Stamina 3, Cha- Their weaponry, bows and javelins, dates back to the risma 1, Manipulation 2, Appearance 1, Perception 4, First Age and is still in perfect condition, as they care for Intelligence 3, Wits 3 and tend to it meticulously; but they dress in loincloths Virtues: Compassion 1, Conviction 4, Temperance 3, and skins and wear bones braided in their hair. Their Valor 3 skins are ugly and blotched with gray markings, but their Abilities: Athletics 3, Awareness 4, Brawl 3, Dodge 3, bone structure is still fine and graceful. They live, on Endurance 3 (Jungles +2), Lore 4, Medicine 2, Melee 3 average, for 80 years. (Javelin +2), Presence 2, Resistance 3, Socialize 1, The starlight whistlers fly as well as raitons (see Stealth 3, Survival 2 (Jungles +1) Exalted, p. 317) and like to harry their prey with arrows Backgrounds: Allies 3 (Local Fair Folk) until they begin to drop from exhaustion, then swoop Base Initiative: 6 down to finish them off with javelins. Men have the Attack: higher rank in their culture, but women are accepted as Punch: Speed 4 Accuracy 4 Damage 3B Defense 4 equal hunters alongside them. The whistlers scorn mere Bow: Speed 6 Accuracy 6 Damage 6L Defense 6 (Rate 2, humans but are not averse to terrorizing local tribes into Range 150) paying tribute to be left alone and have, at times, leagued Javelin: Speed 6 Accuracy 7 Damage 7L Defense 7 themselves with Fair Folk as hunters. While the whis- Dodge Pool: 5 Soak: 3L/6B (Hardened, deformed tlers will pay local spirits the minimum of respect where skin, 2L/3B) necessary, the birdmen are generally not fond of the little Willpower: 6 Health Levels: -0/-0/-0/-1/-1/-1/-2/ gods in the past, the whistlers have made many -2/-2/-4/Incap appeals to spirits to heal their condition and have been Essence: 2 refused or have had the attempts fail. The starlight Other Notes: None 13 EXALTED " CREATURES OF THE WYLD CHAPTER THREE THE SOUTH Cactus Snake " Serpent of Colorless Fire plants. Once inside, a cactus snake wriggles back around CACTUS SNAKE until its head is exposed again. Then it sleeps, cool and Description: Nature is clever, and sometimes, it comfortable. Vibrations in the ground nearby travel up creates beasts for a specific purpose or even to work in through the cactus and awaken the snake, which lies unison with other plants or animals. The cactus snake is completely still. As soon as a person or animal is within one of this latter type. Small (between two and three feet a foot of the plant, the cactus snake strikes, launching long) and slender, the cactus snake is usually a pale gray- itself forward so that half its length is still anchored green, but its skin color alters to match its surroundings. within the plant and the other half is reaching for its The snakes like moisture and coolness, and so they victim. The cactus snake bites down on any exposed seek out cacti, then burrow deep within the desert flesh, then coils back up, ready to attack again. A second 14 THE REST OF THE CREATURES attempt is rarely necessary, though. The venom of Attributes: Strength 1, Dexterity 5, Stamina 2, the cactus snake is extremely potent and Charisma 0, Manipulation 0, Appearance liquefies its victim a dog or a small child 1, Perception 5, Intelligence 1, Wits 3 would be a puddle within 10 minutes. Virtues: Compassion 2, Conviction The liquid then seeps into the ground, 3, Temperance 2, Valor 4 and is absorbed by the roots of the Abilities: Athletics 3 (Burrow +1), cactus. The cactus snake itself doesn t Awareness 3, Brawl 2, Dodge 5, directly consume the Stealth 4, Survival 4 victim it gains Base Initiative: 6 its strength from Attack: the cactus, Bite: Speed 8 Accuracy 6 Damage feeding on the 2L + venom* soft pulp within * If a bite attack does dam- the plant. With the age, the cactus snake has cactus fed, the snake broken skin and injected is also fed, and both its venom. Cactus snake are happy. venom liquefies the body: Cactus snakes are Difficulty 4, Success 1L/ known to live in small minute(4L total), Failure 2L/ groups, finding a collection of minute(8L total). Duration/ cacti and inhabiting them to- Penalty 4 hours/-3. Mortals gether. Each snake claims one poisoned in this fashion will cactus, and victims are usually surely perish in short order. not struck until standing Dodge Pool: 7 Soak: 0L/ within the circle of plants, so 4B (Tough scales, 0L/ that all the cacti can benefit 2B) / 4L/9B (Cactus, from their liquescent flesh. 4L/5B) There are only three ways Willpower: 2 to catch and kill a cactus snake. Health Levels: -0/- The first is to set its cactus on fire 1/-2/Incap the snake will flee as soon as the Essence: 1 heat reaches it, and then, it can be Other Notes: Cactus snakes can burrow deep killed before it finds another home. within a plant, but when desperate, they can also The second way is to lure the snake burrow into flesh or wood or even soft stone. into attacking and catch it in mid- They use their fangs to dig, and the trace amounts of strike, when half of its body is taut corrosive venom on the tips dissolves most material, and exposed. The third is to attack the snake allowing the snakes to make a temporary retreat. How- right through its cactus home, slicing clean through both ever, a cactus snake cannot live away from a cactus for plant and creature. This last approach is difficult for two more than a week and will abandon its new refuge at the reasons. First, the cactus snakes are small and fast, and it s first opportunity. difficult to tell exactly where they are in the cactus Cactus snake venom is in high demand among thieves even if you can see the snake s head, it s hard to locate its and assassins. It doesn t eat through glass or hard stone body (-4 dice on attack rolls against the body). Second, (such as granite), but can dissolve anything else, includ- cactus snakes only choose strong, healthy cacti as homes ing soft metals. It is perfect for removing a lock or a hinge and fortify the plants even more by providing them with and excellent as a fast-acting poison. The Dune People rich food and nutrients. A cactus snake s cactus has a have an antidote, which can save a victim s life if natural armor rating of 4L/5B. received within 10 minutes of first being bitten, but they keep the knowledge of its mixture secret. 15 EXALTED " CREATURES OF THE WYLD ity, victims of such blasts often have only suspicions of SERPENT OF COLORLESS FIRE (FIRESNAKE) what occurred as firesnakes remain near-invisible even Description: Far to the South, the heat is should they be slain by the detonation. neverending, and the winds shift the trackless desert as The typical firesnake is about four to five feet in though searching for the jewels which lie beneath. length and appears much as a normal snake of the desert, Nomads and caravans of sand-miners from Gem, Chiar- except that its flesh and scales are crystal clear. This oscuro, Paragon and the Varang City-States dare the makes it difficult to spot the deadly serpents and lends deadly wastes in search of the same. credence to the legends claiming that the deepest reaches The Wyld mixes with the element of fire to en- of the South are naught by colorless fire. croach upon the Southern edge of Creation, and it Certain disreputable merchants in the cities of the changes the world as surely as flame chars wood or sears South offer a bounty for living firesnakes, as they breed sand into glass. One breed of creature reported fre- the serpents and sell these deadly creatures to assassins quently by those who brave the desert to gather firedust and collectors of exotic beasts. Others are more inter- are the sinister beasts they call the serpents of colorless ested in the glassy skins the creatures leave behind when fire, or firesnakes. Clear as the purest of glass, these they molt. Some of the finest, and rarest, crystal in the vipers move through the sand unseen and strike like South is crafted by melting firesnake molts, and it is so lightning. A victim of firesnake venom feels its fiery clear that a goblet, for example, might appear as nothing effects not merely as painful poison, but literally burns but wine floating in air. to death from the inside. Attributes: Strength 1, Dexterity 5, Stamina 1, Cha- As might be expected, firesnakes are immune to risma 1, Manipulation 1, Appearance 1, Perception 3, the ravages of the desert heat and that of elemental Intelligence 1, Wits 4 flame. Inexperienced gatherers are surprised to discover Virtues: Compassion 1, Conviction 2, Temperance 1, that the serpents of colorless fire follow the scent of Valor 4 firedust and that they feed upon it for sustenance. Abilities: Awareness 1 (Scent Firedust +3), Brawl 3 Caravans and military caches of the powder often (Bite +3), Dodge 1, Presence 1 (Intimidation +1), attract the serpents, and it is not uncommon for their Stealth 3 feeding to invoke fiery explosions that wreak havoc Supernatural Powers: Endurance of the South, Skin of upon life and limb as well as destroying a king s ransom s Colorless Fire, Venom of Liquid Fire worth of firedust. Given their form s natural invisibil- Base Initiative: 9 16 THE REST OF THE CREATURES Attack: Willpower: 6 Health Levels: -1/-3/Incap Bite: Speed 9 Accuracy 11 Damage 1L* Defense 5 Essence: 1 * Plus Venom of Liquid Fire. Other Notes: Unless the Storyteller is aiming for an epic Dodge Pool: 6/9 Soak: 1L/2B (Scales, 1L/1B) serpent, firesnakes are almost always extras. ENDURANCE OF THE SOUTH Firesnakes are completely immune to any attack based upon fire or heat, even those enhanced by the Essence of spirits or the Exalted. Additionally, they are not harmed by the fiery blasts sometimes accompa- nying feeding upon their favored diet of firedust, though debris and shrapnel from the explosion may affect the firesnake as a normal blow. SKIN OF COLORLESS FIRE The flesh and scales of a firesnake are as clear as the finest crystal. As the serpents slither across the sand or leap into lightning fast strikes, this unnatural transparency translates into near-invisibility. As such, any attempt to sense the presence of a firesnake via the sense of sight suffers a +3 penalty to the difficulty. It should never be assumed that the firesnakes are automatically visible; even a snake resting in open sight requires a Perception + Awareness check to spot it. Worse yet, in combat, this near-invisibility renders their venomous strikes almost impossible to block. Anyone attempting to parry the strike of a firesnake suffers a +3 penalty to the difficulty due to the fact it is nearly impossible to see the rapidly moving transparent creature. VENOM OF LIQUID FIRE Requires no motes of Essence, but a typical firesnake only generates enough venom for five successful strikes in a day s time. So long as even a single level of damage is caused by a firesnake s bite, the victim suffers the effects of its venom. Venom Type Difficulty Success Failure Duration/Penalty Firesnake 3 1L 4L Until 3 separate resistance checks succeed/1L per turn Firesnake venom courses through the veins, setting a victim on fire throughout her body. Initial damage is determined by the success or failure of a Stamina + Resistance roll to resist poison as normal, except that the resulting damage is fire damage. Additionally, the poison continues to burn the victim for 1L damage per turn (rolled) until her player succeeds at three difficulty 2 Stamina + Resistance rolls. The Resistance roll of exposure counts toward the total. During any turn that the poison causes damage, the victim suffers -4 to all actions as she suffers the terrible agony of being burned from the inside out. Luckily, firesnakes cannot spit their venom in the fashion of some tropical serpents. Southern assassins often seek to utilize the venom for their own nefarious purposes. As it generally bursts into flame and burns away upon exposure to air, most contact will merely result in 3L/1L damage a single time at best. Industrious killers use special darts or arrows to keep the poison airtight until it is delivered to their victim s bloodstream. 17 EXALTED " CREATURES OF THE WYLD CHAPTER FOUR THE WEST Boar Seal " Giant Flying Hagfish 18 THE REST OF THE CREATURES Boar seals travel beneath the waves as a general rule, BOAR SEAL undetectable by the untrained eye. Even experienced Description: Irritable and ravenous, boar seals seamen can be surprised by a pack of these creatures. (It plague the Northwest waters of Creation. They will is a difficulty 3 task to spot boar seals as they approach stalk anything, attack anything and eat anything. They and stalk a ship. It is only a difficulty 2 task to notice have an unnerving intelligence and learn from their them while they attack a large ship while under water. encounters with men, passing the lessons they learn Players of characters in small ships need only succeed at on to their young. If a pack of boar seals survives a difficulty 2 task for their characters to spot the an encounter with a particular band of war- creatures approach, while characters in boats riors, its members will remember their will notice the attack immediately as a result of mistakes and use that knowledge to their the buffeting and the sound of wood tearing.) advantage if they encounter the same Attributes: Strength 6, Dexterity 3, Stamina warriors again. 7, Charisma 1, Manipulation 1, Appearance These large aquatic mammals 1, Perception 3, Intelligence 2, Wits 3 have flippers in place of all four Virtues: Compassion 1, Conviction legs. Unlike whales or dolphins, 4, Temperance 1, Valor 3 they do not have tails. Most un- Abilities: Athletics 3, Aware- pleasantly, they also have the ness 3, Brawl 3, Dodge 2, tusks and attitude of wild Presence 1 (Intimidation +2), boars. Boar seals use their Socialize 2 flexible bodies and rear Supernatural Powers: Re- flippers to propel them sistance to Poisons quickly through the wa- Base Initiative: 6 ter. They roam in packs, Attack: eating everything and Bite: Speed 7 Accuracy 7 anything they can get Damage 4L Defense 6 their mouths around. Gore: Speed 3 Accuracy 4 They are typically found Damage 7L Defense 5 in Northern waters Ram: Speed 6 Accuracy and near shipping 8 Damage 6B Defense 5 lanes. Some genera- Dodge Pool: 5/3 Soak: 4L/ tions ago, boar seals 7B discovered that tasty Willpower: 4 treats could be found in the Heath Levels: -0/-0/-1/ wooden things that float on water. Fortunately for the -1/-2/-4/Incap boar seals and unfortunately for sailors, the creatures also Essence: 1 discovered that their tusks are strong enough to rip holes Other Notes: Swimming speed is 30 yards per turn. in the bottoms of boats. Now, boar seals search for their wooden prey in packs. When they find a tasty looking boat, they rip RESISTANCE TO POISONS holes in the bottom of it and stalk it while it sinks. Once Boar seals have a natural immunity to most the boat capsizes, the creatures devour whatever they poisons. They resist poison as do Exalted (see Ex- find inside, man, beast or foodstuff. These creatures are alted, p. 243). In addition, the difficulty of the motivated by their voracious hunger and their surly Resistance + Stamina roll to any poison they are nature. Some ships, when sailing through boar seal exposed to is reduced by 3. If the difficulty is reduced waters, attempt to distract or kill the creatures by dump- below 1, the boar seals automatically resist it. Regard- ing poisoned foodstuffs into the ocean. However, boar less of the success or failure of resistance, the damage seals can digest almost anything, and attempts to poison is automatically reduced by two levels, to a minimum them often fail. of zero damage. Finally, the duration and penalty, if any, associated with the poison are halved, rounded in the boar seal s favor. 19 EXALTED " CREATURES OF THE WYLD speculative picture of the Floating Ocean. It is a rupture GIANT FLYING HAGFISH in Creation, a powerful Wyld area resting atop the Description: The rumors began circulating through- waves, following the vagaries of the wind currents. It is out the ports of the Southwest about a decade ago: also massive in scope, covering dozens of miles: Few Sailors claimed to have seen fish of all kinds flying ships can detect it in time to avoid it entirely. The through the air like birds. Tavern wags attributed the event that created the Floating Ocean is not known, wild yarns to excessive grog and insufficient shore leave, although Fair Folk meddling is the leading suspect. but wiser, more experienced listeners men and women What is known is the effect of the Wyld energies that who had experienced the mysteries of the great Western power the Floating Ocean: An entire aquatic ecosys- deep paid heed to the tales and kept a sharp eye out tem has been transposed vertically. Bottom-dwellers on their next voyage. Fiction became fact three years now inhabit a zone of air just above the surface of the ago when the caravel Hungry Gull staggered into Aba- lone port with a giant squid hopelessly entangled and rotting in its rigging. The crew spoke of a desperate battle against a flying sperm whale intent on seizing both ship and squid and dragging them off into the clouds. Massive tooth marks all over the tops lent credence to the sailors story, and several expeditions set off in search of this Floating Ocean. The strange phenomenon has been encoun- tered several times since then, often with loss of life and cargo, but never in the same place t wi c e . Schools of aerial bar r a- c u d a h a v e s w e p t bl oody p a t h s across decks; flying sharks have carried off topsmen; one cap- tain even lost an arm to a transparent monstrosity when he mis- took its glowing feeler for a lantern late at night. Nor are car- nivorous fish the only such dangers: The far- trading Chiaroscuran merchanter Golden Profit went adrift when a mas- mundane ocean while dolphins and humpbacks swim sive school of panicked alongside the gulls. In the topsy-turvy world of the tuna tore its rigging to shreds. Floating Ocean, air means life and water means death: Coordinating reports Flying fish submerged beneath the waves will suffocate. from crews and captains up and These are not the only changes the Wyld has down the breadth of the West, worked on this bizarre sky-sea. Many of the aquatic savants have been able to paint a species it has turned into fliers have been altered in 20 THE REST OF THE CREATURES other ways. It would be impossible to catalog all of the kill him. All it takes is one wrong tack into an otherwise mutations caused by the Wyld, nor could any logic be quiescent school of these noisome giants, and one s sails applied thereto. However, few of the Floating Ocean s are as tattered and rent as a beggar s cloak. The Floating denizens are as disgusting and feared as the giant hag- Ocean no doubt contains far worse horrors, but those fish. In its mundane version, the hagfish is one to two crews who have encountered the giant hagfish and feet in length, and its body is coated with a viscous, survived have no desire to study the region s inhabitants disgusting slime that helps the wormlike creature to any further. escape its predators. Small rasps and an ability to tie Attributes: Strength 3, Dexterity 2, Stamina 4, Cha- itself into knots allow it to feed on the carrion that falls risma 0, Manipulation 0, Appearance 0, Perception 2, to the ocean floor. It is a foul but largely benign (and Intelligence 1, Wits 2 indeed edible) beast. Virtues: Compassion 1, Conviction 1, Temperance 1, But the hagfish of the Floating Ocean is a man- Valor 1 sized giant, capable of enveloping sailors within its Abilities: Archery 1 (Spit +1), Athletics 3 (Swim +1), slimy, loose-skinned folds and squeezing the breath Awareness 1, Brawl 2 (Grab +1), Dodge 3, Endurance 1 from their lungs. If constriction isn t enough to kill the Base Initiative: 4 unfortunate victim, the giant hagfish s slime will finish Attack: the job. No longer a defense mechanism, this snot-like Bite: Speed 4 Accuracy 6 Damage 3L Defense 6 substance is a powerful corrosive. It leaves hideous welts Grab: Speed 5 Accuracy 6 Damage Clinch + acid and sores on human skin; given sufficient time, it will Slime Plug Spit: Speed 6 Accuracy 4 Damage Acid* also eat its way through a sailor s leather jerkin, a ship s * See Other Notes, below. wooden hull or low-quality metals. These hideous crea- Dodge Pool: 5 Soak: 2L/4B tures have even been seen to sneeze nasal slime plugs Willpower: 4 Health Levels: -0/-1/-1/-2/-2/Incap at their prey, coating the hapless souls in acidic goo. Essence: 1 Once an individual so afflicted collapses to the deck, Other Notes: Giant hagfish can spit their nostril slime the giant hagfish will curl about his body and put its plugs up to twice their body length in distance (four yards tugging mouth tentacles, greedy tongue and abrasive on average). However, they can only do this once per rasps to work on the shrieking sailor s flesh. This form scene it takes them a while to clog their nasal passages of attack succeeds only infrequently; the giant hagfish with mucus again. The slime itself functions as an envi- still possesses the poor eyesight of its smaller cousin and ronmental hazard (see p. 244 of Exalted): Diff. 3, Resisted must rely instead on its sense of smell. But even the Effect 2L, Failed Effect 8L, Interval 1 turn. giant hagfish of the Floating Ocean gets lucky once in Once a giant hagfish s slime has struck its target, it s in a while and scores a bullseye. his best interest to wash the slime off as quickly as Giant hagfish are sluggish animals: Possessed of a possible. Wine or vinegar will do, but turpentine is the glacial metabolism, they only need to feed every several only sure remedy (difficulty 3 Wits + Medicine roll with months. Sailors should be forewarned, however. A giant wine or vinegar, difficulty 1 with turpentine). hagfish doesn t have to aggressively attack a person to 21 EXALTED " CREATURES OF THE WYLD CHAPTER FIVE THE SCAVENGER LANDS Clay Man " The Lookshy Rebel " Tomb Beast button, none of the small details that mark a true man or CLAY MAN even a well-made statue. The only elements that are not Description: Usually seen only from a distance, this apparently clay are its eyes, which are wholly human and behemoth stands over 15 feet tall and is apparently glitter blue, like sapphires. constructed from rough brown clay, hence its name. Its In fact, the Clay Man is not a rough copy of man, but shape is manlike, though its features are crude and ill- the original from which man was patterned the defined the few who have been closer claim that its Primordials created him as a template. His features still face shifts slightly, as if reforming itself from moment to shift from being altered too many times during the moment, and say that its skin glistens as if it were still process. Sadly, the Primordials never finalized his ap- wet. The Clay Man has no finger- or toenails, no belly 22 THE REST OF THE CREATURES pearance, even after moving on to the creation of man- down into the earth as well and instantly reemerge as kind itself. The Clay Man was forgotten, left behind but much as a mile from the initial spot, or he may reach his not returned to his original state, and so, he continues to hand into the ground and have it appear up to half a mile this day. The Clay Man lacks many of the things that from the rest of his body he can still control his hand men consider a part of life. He does not eat or drink or at such a distance, though it takes some effort. breath, does not sleep, does not wear clothes and cannot As the original creature grown from clay and earth, procreate. He can think and speak, but he rarely talks to the Clay Man possesses an intimate knowledge of those strangers, and after eons alone, he has said everything to substances. He knows the location of everything within himself that he cares to say. Generally, the Clay Man just the ground, anywhere within Creation. This includes wanders Creation, moving from place to place, many lost treasures of the First Age and quite a few because he enjoys traveling and delights in the powerful weapons. Many Exalted have freedom to go anywhere without restriction. He is approached the Clay Man, seeking his also the self-appointed custodian of earth and stone aid in locating and recovering these and monitors the world to ensure that no perma- items. He has refused every request. Ap- nent damage is done by foolish and parently, the Clay Man is a possessive short-sighted mortals. owner and considers everything beneath The Clay Man s bond with the ground as his domain. He disap- the earth remains strong, even proves of the Exalted, for their after so many eons, and anyone violence and greed, and has chosen watching him will discover that to safeguard all buried items until he does not so much walk as flow across and through the ground as a ships glides through water. The Clay Man can sink he deems human- ity fit to receive them. Some Exalted have tired of petitioning and tried taking from the Clay Man by force. That has proven a mistake. Though not aggressive himself, the behemoth is capable of responding in kind and will not only defend himself, but launch an immediate counterat- tack. His preferred technique involves reaching through the ground and yanking the at- tacker down into the earth, then leaving the person to suf- focate. Barring that, he tears chunks of earth and stone from the ground and hurls them at foes. The Clay Man 23 EXALTED " CREATURES OF THE WYLD will only fight personally if both of these methods fail, Attributes: Strength 10, Dexterity 8, Stamina 18, Cha- but he is far from helpless. In addition to his immense size risma 6, Manipulation 1, Appearance 6, Perception 8, and strength, the creature s ability to sink into the earth Intelligence 4, Wits 5 at will makes him extremely difficult to hit or to block. Abilities: Awareness 4, Brawl 6 (Grab +5), Craft (Sculp- Weapons made from the bounty of the earth cannot ture) 4 (Earthy Trinkets +3), Dodge 12, Endurance 10, harm him, and any such weapons that hit the Clay Man Lore 14, Melee 10 (All Weapons of the Earth +3), become lodged in his body and can only be retrieved Presence 8, Resistance 3, Stealth 5 (Underground +5), through an opposed Strength roll, which he may reflex- Survival 6 ively resist. This includes weapons made of terrestrial Elemental Powers: Coarse Skin, Element s Domain, stone or metal only starmetal is exempt, as it did not Mobility, Rejuvenation come from this world. Base Initiative: 10 If his opponents gain the upper hand, the Clay Man Attack: will reach into the earth and retrieve one of the very Grab: Speed 10 Accuracy 8 Damage 5B +hold* weapons the Exalts seek and will then use that against Punch: Speed 10 Accuracy 8 Damage 12B them. His generic nature and Primordial power is such Kick: Speed 6 Accuracy 5 Damage 14B that he is always attuned with full material bonuses to Boulder: Speed 8 Accuracy 6 Damage 10B any non-starmetal item that he touches. If even this fails, * If the Clay Man grabs a person and does damage, his the Clay Man will eventually retreat, melting into the hand clenches around the individual and drags her down earth. Since he does not need to breathe, he will stay into the earth. This is an opposed roll, the Clay Man s below ground for several days, walking in a random Strength + Brawl + specialty (21) versus the victim s direction until safely away from his pursuers. Locating Strength + Brawl or Martial Arts. If the Clay Man wins, the Clay Man within the earth requires an opposed roll, the victim is yanked below ground and takes one auto- the searcher s Perception + Awareness versus the Clay matic unsoakable level of bashing damage every turn Man s Dexterity + Stealth + specialty (18). from suffocation. Breaking free once underground re- The Clay Man rarely speaks, but he does know all quires the victim to win the opposed roll twice in a row. human and Exalted tongues. He only speaks to those he Dodge Pool: 20 Soak: 20L/30B (Made of clay, 16L/ considers worthy, and most of these recreations and 24B) copies do not impress him. He views men with amuse- Willpower: 10 Health Levels: -0/-0/-0/-0/-0/-1/-1/ ment and a little condescension, mixed with just a touch -1/-1/-1/-2/-2/-2/-2/-2/-4/-4/Incap of jealousy. He finds it sad that these creatures should Essence: 8 Essence Pool: 120 live such short lives and fight over such foolish things, Other Notes: For those he does consider worthy, the but at the same time, he envies them their passion and Clay Man is a literal treasure trove of both artifacts and their ability to be together. Exalted anger him, however knowledge. Aware and alert since the First Age, the Clay these were the creatures based upon his own self, and Man watched the creation of the world and its people they have twisted every aspect of his nature, turning his and knows many valuable secrets, not the least of which bond with the earth into a delight in power and his calm are the locations of many hidden treasures. He can even nature into an arrogant demeanor. They were given teach Exalted better awareness of their bodies and how everything he never had and threw it all away over greed to reawaken the bond between flesh and earth, so that and hatred. He despises the Solar Exalted in particular, they can mimic his earth-melding to a lesser degree. This as the greatest offenders. requires intense training, however, and is not something the Clay Man reveals often. 24 THE REST OF THE CREATURES argument and would split it open with a shovel to see THE LOOKSHY REBEL what was inside. Description: The Lookshy Rebel is named after a It is not known how someone could capture Wyld group of former Lookshy citizens who didn t appreciate energies inside an iron sphere. Those savants well- the well-ordered way of life Lookshy is famed for. versed in the ways of Fair Folk have hazarded a shaky Deciding a few years ago to form an under- guess that perhaps their vulnerability to unalloyed ground organization to oppose the iron might have had something to do with it. military regime they felt was too Whatever the cause, the rebels emerged from oppressive and restricting, the cellar quite different than these rebels found them- they had been when they selves a suitably remote cellar went in. Fused into a single, as a clandestine meeting place massive creature, the former for their planning sessions. freedom fighters staggered When a few more people and stumbled their way into joined, the cellar became too the city square, shouting out small for their dozen members, seditious political slogans and and so, the plotters decided to treasonous remarks about the expand their lair. Much to General Staff. their surprise, they found that It took the Dragon- there was something hidden Blooded a little over three inside the earthen wall minutes to slice the something that had been there creature to pieces. It for quite a while, by the looks would have hap- of it. It was a sphere about pened faster, but the size of a man s head, they were too be- made of what appeared to mused to swing straight be slightly rusted iron, yet and true. Even as they strangely light, as if it slew it, the were hollow. huge creature There was an continued to argument about babble on, dis- who it belonged p l a y i n g to one of the incredible clumsi- conspirators said ness, disregarding the that it was in his terrible wounds it suffered cellar, so it was his, and flailing ineffectually while another one said at its foes. Some of the that it was his since he warriors actually laughed was the one who at the monster rather than found it. The rest of fight it. those present divided That should have been more or less evenly, the end of it. But for whatever rea- except for two of son, the Lookshy Rebel refused to stay dead. To them who insisted date, it has appeared 15 times, in each instance that they were all making its clumsy way toward the citadel and brothers and it should shouting how the oppression should stop, and belong to all of each time, it has been cut to pieces and the them. One of pieces burned. At this point, the these dissent- Dragon-Blooded are no longer ers left the amused. In the course of its vari- cellar at that ous appearances, the Lookshy Rebel has point, certain that yet another fight killed at least 30 people, all of them among equals was sure to follow. helots and citizens who have gone that extra mile to Behind him, he could hear one of support the Terrestrials. Killing it is not really a prob- them announcing that he was tired of the 25 EXALTED " CREATURES OF THE WYLD lem, but one can never know where it will turn up next Attributes: Strength 5, Dexterity 1, Stamina 5, Cha- and how much damage it will cause before the field risma 1, Manipulation 1, Appearance 1, Perception 2, force on garrison duty can deal with it. Intelligence 3, Wits 2 When it appears, the Lookshy Rebel looks at first Virtues: Compassion 1, Conviction 5, Temperance 1, glance like an impossibly huge, terribly malformed man. Valor 2 Closer inspection reveals that while it has the right Abilities: Athletics 1, Awareness 1, Brawl 3, Dodge 1, number of limbs and heads, the texture of its skin clearly Stealth 2, Survival 2 shows the features of other men s bodies. There are Base Initiative: 5 patches of hair and beard in unlikely spots on its body. It Attack: only has a single mouth, but the political agenda the Fist: Speed 5 Accuracy 4 Damage 5B Defense 6 creature utters is spoken in a number of different voices Kick: Speed 2 Accuracy 3 Damage 7B Defense 5 and, more often than not, contradicts itself. Dodge Pool: 2 Soak: 5L/10B (Thick, leathery hide, Despite its seemingly limitless clumsiness, the 5L/5B) Lookshy Rebel is not an amusing sight. The Terrestrial Willpower: 2 Health Levels: -0/-0/-0/-0/-0/-0/-0/ Exalted might have been strong enough to laugh in its -0/-0/-0/-0/-1/-2/-4/Incap face when they first encountered it, but for the ordinary Essence: 3 citizens of Lookshy, it is a terrible danger indeed, and it Other Notes: To truly destroy the Lookshy Rebel, the has no care for those who are caught its path. For his part, iron ball must be found and the crack on it welded the surviving member of the original group has decided together. The ball s current location is left up to the to leave politics and fervently hopes that no one ever Storyteller it could be in the basement still, it could finds out about his involvement. be kept as a memento by the only surviving member of the original Lookshy rebels, or perhaps a Scavenger Lord has found it and sold it. Once the crack has been resealed, the Lookshy Rebel will never rise again. 26 THE REST OF THE CREATURES not terribly difficult for a specially trained hunter to TOMB BEAST capture unhatched eggs as males moved them from a Description: Since ancient times, commoner and female s lair to a new home. Nevertheless, such a spe- Exalt alike have endeavored to protect their final rest- cialized and expensive market was soon dominated by a ing places from being despoiled by their fellow man. single group of experts with the skills and connections One of the greatest obstacles to this desire is the very necessary to harvest and sell the creatures. Nowadays, vanity that causes them to want to be remembered, as the patrician family Tasis controls virtually all of the the most difficult grave to plunder would be the one that trade in tomb-beast eggs, from the jungle caves of Jade lies forgotten. Given that many of the Exalted knew to dreary Sijan to their home marketplaces in the they would be reborn and even the commoner wished to Imperial City and Nexus. keep her corpse inviolate, strong traditions of the sanc- Typically, a patron pays the Tasis family to place a tity of the dead arose, enforced by societal law and the tomb-beast egg that is ready to hatch within the burial best protections that tomb builders could devise. During chamber of the recently deceased. The voracious female the First Age, such defenses included powerful wards, instinctively bonds with her home upon birth and, intricate mechanisms, deadly spirit guardians and even within a year, has grown to about 50 pounds and, within bound demons. Later generations and those who were a few more years, is easily 200 pounds or more. The less fortunate than the dead of the First Age sought any guardian feeds predominantly upon the bounty of rats, method they could find. worms and insects seeking to infest her lair, which of One solution contrived by naturalists of the course further protects the dead body from harm. Shogunate was to adapt a certain species of reptile found In the wild, the male rarely exceeds 50 pounds but upon the Southwestern island of Jade. Old writings refer may range a territory up to 100 miles across, mating to the white shades, but most modern savants call the with numerous females, caring for their eggs and, ulti- creatures tomb beasts in reference to their current use. mately, finding eggs a new lair in which to hatch. Males The tomb beast in the wild is a long-lived cave-dwelling can smell unhatched male eggs and naturally deposit reptile whose aggressively territorial females spend their them in lairs on the edge of their territory and discour- entire lives within the same underground chamber where age trespass once the egg hatches. In practice, the Tasis their egg hatched. Crafty planners realized that, com- keep a number of male and female tomb beasts in bined with an unwillingness to eat anything other than captivity for breeding purposes, though they renew the fresh meat, this extreme attachment to a single den stock with newly captured wild specimens when pos- made the white-scaled females perfect for defending sible. Typically, a tomb beast lives about 250 years crypts from intruders. Though the black- unless slain by violence, and if a male is present he is scaled shade male is very quick, he likely to fill the open lair with a new egg. Of is small, and therefore, it was course, the Tasis family keeps the males for themselves when possible, so that it can sell new guardians. The tomb beasts are quad- ruped reptiles with powerful hind legs allowing them to run mostly erect for short distances and strong fore- legs capable of burrowing through earth or flesh. Most of the time, fe- males rest in 27 EXALTED " CREATURES OF THE WYLD near-hibernation, suddenly springing into lightning- quick movements to capture and devour insects, rats or VIGILANCE OF THE RAVENOUS GUARDIAN other intruders into their lairs. Males are equally quick Female tomb beasts live their entire lives in a but roam large territories, squeezing in and out of the single cavern or small cluster of chambers, and various cavernous lairs of their mates. Either sex can their ability to gather food depends upon detecting readily snatch flies from the air with their deadly talons, every potential creature of prey and being able to and slower victims such as tomb robbers are usually slain seize and devour it even in the dark. Upon first and consumed with ease. Determined despoilers of graves hatching from the egg, a female tomb beast be- learn that even terribly wounded tomb beasts will not comes attached to her subterraneous environment, leave their lairs and fight to the death with a dangerous its signature in Creation imprinting upon her senses desperation and abandon. Both sexes exude strong para- down to the magnetic fields and natural energy lytic venom on their claws and fangs, allowing them to flow of the area. Darkness, odd smells, echoing feast upon incapacitated prey at will. Females jaws are so noises and stealthy enemies alike fail to confound strong they crush bones, ultimately leaving nothing of the guardians as they spring into action with light- an enemy except well-bleached spoor. ning speed. As such, nothing short of Charms, Attributes: Strength 5/1, Dexterity 6, Stamina 5/2, sorcery or other magic can cause a female tomb Charisma 1, Manipulation 1, Appearance 1, Perception beast to be surprised by an ambush, and even 4, Intelligence 1/2, Wits 4 potent Charms must contest against the super- Virtues: Compassion 1, Conviction 3, Temperance 1, natural senses of a guardian. Valor 5/3 Roll the tomb beast s Perception + Awareness Abilities: Athletics 3/4, Awareness 5, Brawl 4/2, Dodge against the Charm in question, and reduce its 2/4, Endurance 3/1, Presence 1 (Intimidation +2)/0, successes accordingly (do not reduce them at all in Resistance 3/1, Stealth 1/3, Survival 0/2 the face of mundane stealth). If any successes Supernatural Powers: Vigilance of the Ravenous remain for the tomb beast, they are added directly Guardian to the base initiative of the tomb beast for the Base Initiative: 10 duration of the scene. Charms that make a charac- Attack: ter impossible to detect are difficulty 5 for the tomb Bite: Speed 9 Accuracy 10/8 Damage 6L*/2L* Defense lizard to penetrate. The tomb beast should always 10/8 be considered alert or alerted to the character s Claw: Speed 10 Accuracy 10/8 Damage 5L*/1L* De- presence. A female tomb beast may also add her fense 10/8 Perception + Awareness die pool directly to her * Venom Diff. 2 Success 1L Failure 3L Duration/Penalty own attempts at stealth (for a total of 16 dice) to 8 hours/-6 represent her supernatural awareness of her own Dodge Pool: 8/10 Soak: 2L/5B//1L/2B (None) movements and their telltale signs. Willpower: 6 Health Levels: -0/-0/-1/-1/-1/-2/-2/ -2/-4/-4/Incap /-0/-1/-2/Incap Essence: 2 Other Notes: When two Traits are presented, the first represents that of a female tomb beast, while the second rating represents that of a male. 28

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