I I

l-er mate h~d been ~t~v,er as a [way" hu.t: L]Hth h~d G~n~ght htm ~n'e'~king up

..

and down 'rIlle hl:nd, just short weeks atfD~r >{h~ w£)i~d &pidG:l \-ib,i.sp,e[~d. eut its

desperate eale, " he had fe~r~d~ ~t fi--st"j tn&lt she c( 'u~d not hide herself 'fn)1iIl him, n~roenuberifl.g h~r old mate's anbilBl"l.t and. all,r~ee:Jng e.yes., that ~o~ica pl.~:r:titrfh~ Iies o'r gnq* Gana Bx~h1j. B'ut see ~ng h i rn :Hle had ·~11n.d htm ro be ~, VOUI,:g -and iRe~yerien[:ecl creature, ;g'VtUl b-ad nor- seen h~r 'wan~h him a~ ,R dozren birds from ~ dozen pe'rche~ ~ he h~d uor ntaic,ed 't he I·i[, ¥ 1 ~"de ~jg:1] thf.u a :dz,en. f~tc~g he mer a,l0n,g ~h~ tOaid were r:e~Jr~ u),a"S'l{;s dffl~hl1,ela up '[, eie:re eJie same . .EXB:tt~d H,~~nqft., L i H rh ~ s ~k i n ~l [ Ess en ce lei; 11 er hid e E b e T<u.~],e' ta t toes Inn g; dlea"d he ro es h ad ~liialctu!.d Ul~rlh her '~,ae, '2£ud the 'o,~,'lliS fea.t~),ce.tS she Q~~ill:~!l'ktIWUy brush~d. fto:m bc;;,t "'huul~],~''FS' ent ~unnodced ~E'V,eJ1 by d,t ~.e' r~t eve,

. Once-~ rhe thing th.a - h~~~ be~~J',' 'her:·iU1JJh1 would h ave la,ug"fir@.d at h,e!'!:' and eJd.ded her so come dO~Vlll [,0 1:"0 '~"6 on hi~ f1.ngi:!f I ~vqllkl hall/e 'ha,llL~He _ her pe-r "On as if they 'were rh:n.t~d r~ard1.es!l of ,;vll rt shape she vii r~. Perh.\ilp8' 11 ~ ~tlJd lHlV€ swe.e'i1,},

I.. ~ .

wb~sperad,.son1,e ullletl.d_lll!-;a'lE:il€ 'truths into her ear -_ '01'" broken a fin~'F ~~ ~unish'"'"

ment fnr her' temerity in thjnkln.1fiI[Q ae'~;0'ii e hirn. [- was h~rai n~[ [j'J returrr '['he fa.vQr now dta[ s~1e l~d th~ advaa l'g1i! erf Y~'&l'S and power,

'y,et~ that had been the 'tNf.¥Y ef t6,ing-s b~tore the fall- {and she had gr<9'VR, to rlre ffi:flD"rrity of her pn"';f~t· a'lnot:l~ -feUow~ '~"h,~,$.e hearts :rl'tlttet~ tilo',~,i'[y heJ(\)t,e: he-r e'Y'e't, Wh,eI1 the ri[~t: Age '[~ ~d e:n.'d,~dl .sh~ ft~d fIef! (rprJ) it, ClJ~l,ecl bun~ the fa9~d~ pr instinct, \;va] Hn:g, it a-wa.y 'beoc.~IMsce .:s11~~ could 110t deny H r or conresr her p~rl in j t .. It had been-a procession of tri,(ks anti -sl ight$ and rruud-ers htJtidi,ng one on 8ood:HrH.':· until d1~ road 'Co romorrow f~r.-ri~J&ll1.nly to ,offer up new orms of ~~ath a1i'~)d horrom::, Th.oL1&k, the:' P(IW'(tt'· h~t lLO~' Exalted [he, H.ph)Olat ~~~~~cl --'~n 11'£1,_: b.e:en '~Ise~ ';0£ so loni h~ wound her, it dj.@n"t matter d\u["[ 1'[ smelt ]n:k~ ~di~'-oi'},e \lvh.~ could nut lii~ dead .e'FIJfJugh,., Had it been h irn, $b~ wou ld have tArn hiU1Ll '[~~ rags.er dffd tl~'ir1g, h1..1 1'[ 'W'U - o't~'a-nd ~h'e d~d 'n.~[ d"i.nl Creation, fie. ded metre mura~r,wer m~an~R~JlM5

I • . .,.. . '"

slighrs. 1'[ would ln~ be"Her CQ die,

lnl'th bi~a'th~d deer'],y . .1.~fl cast HerSleJ1 ii~p.m. the (fPsl-'rlrrred P'f5€'l;tpke. 'Fo'l' lC'r~lh; seconds, £he treasured the fS¢'~ hlg of freeCl.Qm ~r~d we'~hd essn ~s ClS f nee fa 11 car rje d bal"' do wn and d']!~e gh:C)st{l of,",'\~ iad .. whi ppecl. snow raced 'by ~t~.i~'!)l iIJ-g spe ed

Ttmehad nor b'e;en ~~nth~>tQ Lilith-or to ~nyofh,er kin [,l"h,~)\~gh ~he"y welr~ rrtlglI ~~ ereatures, l"b:e eldest ~rn:Qng t.he Eit:~.h:,~'~ 'l':€ ~be b~~d~n of 'aU tl1ns~ wh~ hAVe 1 i ve d ro, se eo ~t:Hn,e-t h in fjJ", -e ~ t ~ ecome a ruiij ' To see tsl fa Itt il y j ~ Co i tv 'j'[,:i'l na i 0:11 topp le belate the, iron tread of histo ry W~£ I~n.oug it ro 18 re;~k e ven the s tron ~~'[ hearts, bV'e11 ~uch fal [ v as [{],] lr~"lii'.,e:-d EV ' he "U ic.ide:~ of' t ose wh(j could i1J,Y hear '~J se~ 9. 'kVfj:-1 ~d 'i,i\d thnut rh."*J.t i'nscj·[uttgn :arILJ ib~ 1 :~).:g~~.ri,:Fl"1: cl'~&f}air t)f '(hos,~ ,~;th,O 'We~e not strong enoUJ~h to die. How much harde _I j t V(a -, then, for those 'w,ho had .seen 1th~'h- chdhn1tion., '~h'fjI cit'ltir_e ~fot~a b3nlE1~\NJeQ in~C) ruin 'l),y the tides of: time .. ,

Thi s was her fi~ ~ase.

* ~ $ * *

r

A rid then she' was a [l e~g[e cl.iVirkg [0 ;~~:nd rhe g:~ounJ.:l ~ e~L~lllg out 'her ph,'fr~adi~·F.s -0 sloVi! he-r ~&unu.,~t an~ b~nd 'her (=ill int~, an, out:\v&rd arc. Wl1.en the d.~~~ h.Rl s-lowe,d h.~-r rul1,enoll I'h tl13"~- ~ 'cru.e eagle c,dlli~,I, "' Utv! V~'! she."·spr~Nad ~~e-r win.g:.5 '~lnd s O~ re d on t h¢ ",r 00 k tl1~ r'm a L~ - h ?i.t till.:! fLl0,:r r:d,ni ~,u ri ~,aLd be:gu:n to 'lea se [torn r~ie' l:"<:lcky bHsCt .of the cljff,

Thi.~ \:~5 herrde(; S'e,.l\1 o· whrrte'R~ 'no: hO!;.l,gh tli1 f'[e 'tomtlrn;n,~,- and ntO ye8tl!.rd:ay.~ JU&t: 'hunl~~ eat" bteed -life 'with r.'ec3p'o~~~s dec:id.ed by the '~~isdaLll of the, $pe'ci~", nor th e ~eli he l:~ dons of ~ [rOll b bed 8 e i f. 1 ' W(:l$. d)e 5h a:t-,;eslh i r!:cr"'5 d [q'-I g ~ ~ n [ U.k¢ rn os t s'h~:p_e;shi:ften~, str-E. w.;~s ftin ad,diet. Tbe ~ig[~t[lr vdice trt'seffsst h~;[ e'agl.~'ts race ~.,nJdl", [c('Na~d th~R:~Yf!'r p'rov iuce ~ ~n~1 t~,le da.ys and ti"te niles: [olh~d 1 '''I b€ne,:~u:b her $W if[

~,nrllu ... adng \V~ltg;S, ,

F'iv~ 11 igh 1-< b~ -ert (1~ t17H! 0l.HSkirl~ "f the-ii1y kingdo[ns .of 11'\·_ 'n ca{1 ~d [h~ H:a8'i~nti LeagueL, Ll Hth sought shelter' i~n H tI.i2Y"tElnt.ly re[n.~mb-~red M.f&l1S,e where {lnc~ she ~ad \~p~n.l· ~ brief No,,r[hetH (jj'lI1U mer" She n,i1tl found i u It J:un1b'~ed ["q~, t1, dev.Q~,cl e"i~n ®f. ulagic1 itS are[ul1 orr )~ul!Liv£lrted (eomaL'lW:V ruined by t in1.e C)I '~ht:

action ~'f anen'em~y tOO? dead, Th~r~ ~!~f&Sj¥ru it had IJe~fIl use<::i. as a _~trO];1~oiR.t Qn.:Ce) ~n.d~p,qlrp of It bGre 1h~, ~ '.,rfect sfjher.ucal s;"C'aI!3 ~rf lttlplm' len b:Q\w fire,. The sec ur lILy i 11.C iden ~ or b order ski rru ish rh at had ru lned the Manse rnus t h ave e orne be:fo:n~' the 'Go n,'[:f:lg lo 1:1., th E n .P!- j liS I: ~tt~:t.

T9 LH ith ~~ e'Y'e'5 ~ it ma;[ter;e' U .de ..... ,' O:VV! ' he M'anse was just ~rlc:rther rtairu~d 'thi~CE' in a ruined w~Zldd, ,~1?rd as iI h81:(.;ig(2r~ she wormed ber l(Vay b~~efi.;[h the' [ymbaedi $tPll~ au.a sl~pt he! ~auiiooo anlm.al sleep nat f~.r' frorn 'wh~e $h,~ h~a· Ol1iC~ d~~ed royally 1?IlbetllvU:h a 10V'~11' wll!ose nanle ~nd~f~.ce s'he h~d 10&ig {orgot'[,e,n.,

Sh.e woke, in the m.o:rn,ing ro the d lin gra.y ] igh[ chat rrickled ~own between d~.e faUen ~locks. Crouched d1.ef~ i lihe ret~~ru;d, up h~r travels, and an j}n~1gh ~ as c uun n'J~ a" he: rD!,plPI~ flooded tl[fpugh 11c'€.r· :' 'I e Ib,ro.ugh,t E·, e~1C~' to' bear om [be n.1~l!ll;~r ie&~

Wh21't she 'h,~iI se'~h was' without a doubt rhe !10W'(![r rhar }UfO once hil hi wi t"Jr1n ll)er m~t~~ ftl1rl g~vet:f: thne~ 'i t ~t'Orqj h:l il'ih~~trlt ~H$ fu [1 ~'I:re~~ h. S[l~b was th~rr tt-at'l.%tf. thar the Solars woul.cl fo,:r~veT rise again, Pot the.Uncenquered 8uD. h21d nf)'~,sh~.r:ked

. .

any ·e:f{or hl the 'roiJj 'g of biJ in ~ti't\(jible 11.0',1:. Th'e Sh:le~e'al.$ had set dH~:'it fu U

;S'C:regg'. h ~~ill,sr the Sel~1:s at ell'€! .h~'v&~~r "(~f~tl\e world, and the Side:r~ab ~\H~Ie .tlat so. ~ tf\ong now ~ find the wo rlcl '\vnuLJ '110'[ S ~'e a-r(at b er s uc 1'1 ,t i rue. Yet, here the S p la rs walleed a.,gahl .. S~me. OlLl~f~I'il m~~' 1,e 6;;nlrn.il, b~ it ,e(hJGa:dol'~ fin th~ d~3dJy perils of the h'6a'C~y d..l.a~ ght ctll1et:l power 01" perkrd ic murder 'f6-[' the g6Qd Q;f [he world, The SQl&l, ·E.-%.ah:ed could nor be a~n';it, anl'y' ~C£oQll1'mod~1 .ed.,

.1.iL:i'rb h~ld ·rh.QblgS·t·th~( tlieff€, 'n~tgb.[ be nqpe for rerftl~ir~ng allies' 0 h.~t cause . fl,mOllg d~~ middle echelons ef rh~ gbd$-lL1 rhe'aflVs h.eior~ the Usurpatlon, ldirb had fQund rb .. e E·nelThn:llii.r~S c~let]la.tea PQ.l]'[i~~ trarltSpaJ~nrj, as Ih~)r pliRV~d .. Exai:[ .nt.l E~ah, ,f~±gni.fig gI:eed. n.Gl. U11'girlg murder, tiJ.Q'¥~ dl1e,~ lv,e:r~ themsel ves.vicr hU;l?, ~oJ in g,~ i n.i.ng ~e pite f:tarn t.he tbrear of a 8ol,af. Cf)Up~ rhe Be.les,'[ia.l il lvlnlrles had ~hLl:r~ed r"hemsel'Ve;.5 in tq the ,aby~ ~ r thel r own ~ musernents,

I

Tb0;~~,g& the giQdS'~guld DOt r:e"~r~t d1c~r de~d~ ~ t,l:;te·y. ~uld come to act i'n a~ll'~r

fam tom. Its ee msd to L ll ith dl~ t rna n:y d [V i n it ies ,h.:ad· C:o me '[0 ["eg ret rhf:f r u in. of 'n;-he F trsr .A'ge~ 50111:'6 a!'tlfln.g the l,~s'$I~rr:gods ,. e:E~ .g,~nu. hi al y ctrn,eerneti. £PI' C r~tio n, .and o~ha:l:s were tastin~ t,he'ilr eyes up~i'a.:D:d~ hO~1.11j :fe);[" a Jlll'et_ex:t to eitherseise rhe

• :r.:e.L:ns of cower CHr move-tbemselves-closer [0 the Garn~s ~"l~]]['Vi.ntry. Cl.(!;}se3Hi.~.nc~ "'~i.[)h ~ reborn. Sdi~lI. -.diFec [Jed li;;,~a,hn w~~u I,d, G:er-t~in,l,y '~'!rrD~rkle that, all,tl' the:o.<e \\fer;~ lU,'arty slj(.h gFJ(b. she rtd:lll,d recruit.

This th inking lilJad taken lt~r to ;V.anHeth's castle in d:L.e N orrh, for the ~\Gld:s ta.U~ed rr[t€ll 2b~ut hlS lQ;tl~]y d~$'~re "', ,s"ee ma·.1 :f~y ?gadl.. NQ\v~ havh'\'g ['E1~1t·wi\lEh 3le 9h.jf)~un,. sh~ knew he wopJd '~~ove .~ I lttle US@. He h~d nJ(8t: seemed tngf~'Sip rtl'e ~oncept 0 dhe<Q:~ inrervenrion, and ~i' ~,he .~p~ hhn tn ].uittd as a.source 0f aertal cJ)l~veyan.i;f::)l bu ~ not IJftu¢b ~l~t.

Then ~ she traveled southeasc, rc~:n,;u~~~ll the Sea venger Lands, pa.'l'lnfj vlsirs as she w~n'[. She nad only the rtJugh ~w line (of a pl~n~ for the \\~(lr~il 'had,'ch.,~·nged i\'l'h i l~ she sle,p"t her O'Wl· s~~ep <1lL1d rhe .gbtis were ~flrrn lU:lfa:mi1.iarl". The best tl~at she COIJ.,ld pt,mn was '~ifl') fb.n vis} t rhe Matnmot;h A va tal' and r,hen tel vlsit C';;} 'I ria and J01'S! af \:veU. AU thr~ rl~d rec~iwM h~r \ iiB'-clu,g nonqgrs when ~~e ~~a,Jr:c~~ io'f s~~ ~rt 1 an1d so, sh:e C'Gu ld ,e, r l,e'a ~ ta l): t:.1r~bltl D.d d-.u,C'2' m~ r ~er 'vd dl 1J;{~Jn .2tlid gat~1W ' Ii e''l r It §P'CJrl:lS e'$. ] n th€ 't; hrl1€ ~ tween d1 as,~ el1 [ba~.sj'e5 ~ ~h-e pla:u>ned td 3or,; au t[tl:us R i ~e[ Pt(~\d.n:C-J ;; jltSl <9 f~w' t 'ips 'rhrf)'L1r~h t" 'b:a,d 8ug($ssted. to her d'l3J: it f:;Jrh'twled. wldl. pOt)®t hi! irie::;", Shfl wou ld. ~ t.si ~ L4i.lj,a_l'k~s a'~"cl Lb,"" gods of 'Otea~ .Por.klSL;ivnd ~d.]:e:r &tJ~.~ "\ow h~) go'Vef n Ie d (U '~n [I·u c;'n,c ~a l.e,sJ~r n~.t i nus! f(~r th"e lSe wo u Ld '~e $o:~ne ea,ge r to C"P'ltIll@ t~ ~nn$'wifh the Soi~'r5 3:nd to s~c'Ur~ th,eit' direnes ;~gf!:,in~t ,c,d1~Uen~~'i .

Lili{b pitmed ~nd r~a.dj]dllSt~;d he'r planne:d 'foUt~ of tF~.vel ~ligb:rIv? ~o 't:aJk.,,~.'Jl~lF rhto~~n ~1;iI~\¥aU~ l'h~ g,@Ji8 Qf fihat p]ffC~ ruled men, a;s_ '[heir plrh1:~~" _a:nd. ~hef '9.1I l¢.a:s;t me;r~n~'d :SOolHe attention .. TI1ey :[,~(Ublerl n~ps sh.e- eQuld ][;~~.aHi' DU[ 8he· dare l1.0~ ,gs~u:rrl.'e d1.em to be \-1\lea.k. God~ GCSl.d.d wax mig11t}'I' or Gi.\-vh.1d.l.e.<away uii::e sw'[fdy. S~l it was tba:~ :she pl~rUl~d~ ~;nd $<D' it '~~~-4S that she di,d, .. She! n~ve;~.~,~ ~ ·,rH:·_Dw·bircl'··]lrough [h.e No·rdi find < we,t ch]o.'e pas'~ 'Whit~/w~lL S~e hid [here fal!!.'" a

..

.-.

tin:lIJ~~ 1.ist~,nlng to peas '11 gO~$ip ancl ~l;lle ·t3.L £.ifsrn~~Jl gt')4Sll ~ nd (le.par eel ~l~htn.n

- - 1_

v~si:t]ng the ct y'" Th~ ~nds oJ 'that pl"ace ~ she' reck:oned s;-tter ~. time, w'~rrt 11QC[h~

sort or gods she wished [0 any with., The ~La[nrnotb AV',crr€ltr w'a~ ~gre;ecmble tfl b~li'th"~ ideas fo~ '~h~ subscrlbed cn rra:pst oJ [oeYll1 h~Q~f" Ho'vevel~" '[b:~ IC"OUrS'€' s~ '11act percei.ved as ~Ji.~~~t tOY th~'~h~'~ht'rd .c:tf a p~opli! ~,~taS""'[Q su~feC'[ herself ~t d'le Solar hero [~ne~1 'Ihe Btll.n of he Nor h, She served him frr'fS[l and Lllith left, wor ~iecl at: rhe sp ee d 1)f Solar infU.ua. r i ' ,n (\ll;d ~11' 'w ing th;a t die, Bull WOJJ ltl scan, 'hear. of her v lsit.

T] ie 'weJ~ ~~ a '11 d ,th e ]'lit i les ~L"O I [ed -e we y. bEi-]~ at h ~ i '~ i [h ~ s· 'wi 'p ss ~ a nd she f] eW 'rh:nn these ill ome~ '[hare her tlwakim~ngstlf could ~illcl.itselfat th~'g~lre~ ... d· e ~n~]11..s.i6n o f J () rst I' ne ~ r th e en d of I he Sec rmd Age'~ s no n,g~ g~ lcle:fl StU m me t. J oyoiU~' ~1i!~S. the house Gil J orss, k[n~ Df those: ~Ql!re:5t,_$ tha.t shed ilieI'F l~~lViC'$ f¢iI the wineer J \,~:bQ'Se presence W s a cetebra ion. Tb.a,~e ~h~LdaN,c.ed ~be dance 0;( ].tfp \~ith hhh Ii\eedeel ne -ah~~p aril,d ne pr{lvist~l1~1 ul1[il.Jor~t -s'kpt \vitli t}bt f.aU~ngu' the leaves, [orst was a r'uui Iiar tb'i [:J/~ and ,~, ad w~· hstood tl1:~ p·a;s'S,a.g~ (8;( long. centuries Ul)cl\fn't,gelj. This w~s nor d:-re 11.'[';51' tune [hat biHth had $:'ec:n th .gl~lwin~l' j(lI¥;~:.lUj [Qce's ur Jhe l:eve[er-5 \Mba g:a~ll1oo 1,E,d -9'ut u, gre~[ 'her; d:le:c® Juull1ev.er been a time when }~nia had norheld court, pb~'Y would (hir.J~ '~h.u'SA'V and eat thusly and dance "tzHu::ivi@lH~ly as thIe'y l',cO'''V dtd lU1tH JQr~t SlU,]'[ll:i'er~d wirh. the' coming of wlnrer .. Then, lhey WO'l! Ld 'Blr[ostiy p'er.Lsh~ .f\1T\f t~le' re\fel:; ~f the godrs w~l"e perilous fo(' mCJi1fi a ls. J osst did nos c a r.e=, tOtr aIL tha 1;; (] Hl e" he s lept,

] 't was ,ead'~ even inf wh en she a;:rrh';r~d~ and Jhrstf~ manst in .gl{j~re;d Wi,th l.antern~ tlurniug bear :f~t) ID1~ '[h-&,t& 'were. ~an:(;eti 'h1rtlnghi_g our 1.n. the t~,ees and lawns around the ~fe~t wood M.m.n:s~. Lilith hltd introduced hersel as a ~~ear:v ITf.ilyej~t~ and those wbo \~'ardx;d t:11,~ p~l~Hd~$e,filne,d to take her Q [ face V'al'Ue. She ~eig~le.d n1urt;"ci11 amarernent at the- ,glita')r of J OTSeS . ak.-'@]1d.,.nlaJih: mansion, 3 rtd I they 'fOW.ld herr a pla~e to LGydg'e ~e'[p,~lj sad tnvit~ kerr ~r3,vehi to d1~ palace'\~ fan:a~us :nrtidrdgh,[ dinner, T}H~n S.M 'was, l~f( ~hJne'~ so' '[ho'~ she tl1tgtn snealc t.11:reugh the 'c6rddQ[s ,- 6 meet ,,\r'~ rh Jerf$.t,or 'vl\oe\~e~r;' lie put IQr"h<vllrd [O'$.PJ~ak ,~[t'l1 'her. Liltrh had, af[le.r ~lt rJfIl\I'e:Jg;~ with l-ltc:f' own face-i' and ahb.nugh d,_e reve;lets

• '\1We re Illayn V c rea tu res, the It i n.« of the B ough $ 13 h {) U ieh ol d sta ff we re g~crd~s l ik~ , }t"J'(~t bJms.elf .. The n:t~jor-rlj.QinD sh.owm~T€,,~l[ su~~n,g.th o~fac -:nld ,:I'd not vbdh'ly react: when pn~~s~n'[ed1 with an Exalt so ol.dl and well kn~\vn to h~lU pe;cklbn~ a

S N~rY IS o cn] n,

r

Lj:Ii'l~h w01d~d) of CIQUTse,. The' in, roduc r~n b_ uay.eti 1 ~ peril, but it was,

uhl,fl;ei y $.uch. iQG~f€:ff1Jl gQ~S Inaj o.f~ef~m'Q W'Guld be ~nyt.ki.n,t1\iQ:tt S:tI~ ig:l,t(~t:ed,. H er stea i rh y en trance u nd er f:m lse p reten ses 'W'OI!.J] d h,e as ~.ce' II eXII t a n 01' ani ng fo r an' jl rn hUJ sh. as £o'r a s~"trrep'[i[io~ mee tibtg ~ She w0Llk~~~ ,~? 1 th a cg]]os.t~ &- tte~d ~e~)W n ha.ll~liays 'ef[ elab~li'~I~e]"y ung~a["~Jed, Ai ,he made her way. ever in\M~!d., she n ti'tfce:d '~I1::It 'th'~p a-ssage\1iaV$ \wr~ not enI11 U [lgu9:rde d ~ rh~'v were a lse dh~{,.lroid of revelers or stpf(. ]~J" ~e~ h,~nl,~elf 'bad a ll;~nd in rhls, then 'f0l:- nJ~ h~ '~Guld turn the l)Eb>:s:~,~~ s 6 f the ~~~n:se.. ,0 h i Q,~ H.e,1'~,

At. the h.ea,tc of ch~ nlanS[on ~v~s] o:.:ses denl a.n.d LiH'll" .~aun.d hers,elf on the doorstep of d1i,s ~mnCUlnl [n du~j c@w.rs~-. Th~,$ lln'~Kpect;~d -Gon-teren"e wi· 11 dh.ri~U:y ml'ag uns.et.cHrt~j but U,h;h btl-d r:~,hh tn he"t ;~i~.hdng li,btliitie:s and '~!HI~(i;~ "thh assu t.ld e(\se i~tn ebt~ 'a bode of th~ Pa:tace of Le~v~i- L[ it \vas.a.n_ ambtK&h, &he ,~ouJd m,ak~ it ~~.n ~xpltfl,~i Vi:Z Qnt~, l':'HJ'c [t ap~,)ettrl€d :th~u h \ivas n(H.

Lllidl c~.me 10 l~]te 'fliter 'l~f JQ!fS'C!S po,\ver and ~ ·u,nd Q.nly th,e ~nd h'iLDse~.f~ 'wra-pplruJ ~ll'P ~n w,l1~dns nf. mD'min.g ~lQty,. and" 'h,e1ne'js.Uc"Ckle4 sic ing c~lml'il in. rhe te'1!1 re .. of 11M ,gre:u oa,'k, ~b:~:~:Je" She 'kne]I betcl['e 'h i n~ i and. he bad~ hltll' to ris'~~ She W6E:$l a'$ aIwJi¥$~ h:i a,~~,:olhhri~ wtthllris l~bJ:[~n 'Gt~]d . ye'. c and ttEfe-le~(Hai~ i he WHS

, '

dl(~ reg;~d f ae!t of ;SoU tTl tlie 1] ~ a nd th,~ :s i gil l of hi 'm f,!lil rap,~ liT ,e,d ,e \lIen [h. c y n leal

deuligod she hRa be(.()me~ l~ $'pake r.o.herJ ~,ncl sJ~'\e tlfle,lt,ed b1!,side., ~4b{lh:h, -e:],crer arnung th.le Lun~r E~,8l:lted~ you come to ]?ll'Y ho~.lI,£~ again ~o j~'s,t ~ few $hol"'t rnnn[hSl~

[hl~ ~hll.ij In ·fhe glJF$,et ot1l, m~ndl(J!ant. Wl)31'~ '~~P ~:r3WS"V[ tJJ tD nfl,V l'1.aUs ~ainj and

j

~Ii h y i & it d1 a.t )''[)11 m U$'i use su c h ·a rlusel ~~

~(I come only to speak In confid~n£e With you JQ[~;t~ I ~,ee'k your advh:e on tua,tters crt 1,iI.;~n'['[ '!::@ Ct~'ID;tl.IQn. '

JCf :[ ncdded II1!d ges~'ur~d " o '.he floor near his f~~t'r where Lilith sat wlth G~Ui La aJ al ertness.

'~A' €I] , - 1[' .... 1:::. 'c L 'L'li' h)~i

. n·, 0 oe~ n rc_ga4"'ClI 'L,".U~ ~o lJr~:s J' - [,~ l:C •

She nedded,

!

"And d1e neled to Ilve bE'!$id~ th~f11;l~ to' aeeepr rhar r.heV la:lj,e, ~:a inevitable

bu rden that can be a menace en an asset as W'~ ehoose ?'1l~

Th, Luni-r ](l;qded sio-"ly ·J.nd. uaa't,ne.r e'YES 9.trout h~r., This was wron . Tlije(~ was no '~t'~ty J Or's r $b.~u ld knQw dl_ is l' u'llie ss h e )j~d r~1 ked. to the M,~tmnio[h Av at fa r ? Was rhere so me SOoT t of (lu,\? 1 n €" ,C 0 n $P i ra:C y a. h:e~cf"l" ~ ((~U it.: ?

"That is fl~'fteIiTlcD~ Lilitn1 tbJar yc~ wriuld. cnln~ to ~gkme such thi;q~'S,. Lons

.. II I::;)

11 ta 'V e I br 00 (lea on the ali swers I shal l gi XI' - 'y.;[lll! (Of IT1l Y ~ao'i ate ad 1 "0tY.

lnfonued rae some rime ago that 'Y- Hl' ~~;}\JJ"d arrl ve ~ and under ~i~u~~t circum:d~nc£S" 1 do not believe that yGfij 'llllliV.s' 'mea;: Ahn .. Ahrn:'~ J.a[~s; tt~a€d Qff nnf:ai"Hngrtllly; \1y tbe wa U be,hiO;'tl him, rnt) e~r of ~sset'utte' un'[",I~e IJe : t6 : eveal the 'J[hi[71 f).n~ d'~adl ~T sha~,~ of dille, S idel-ea 1 asssss i ~1"" til ~ th d 1.d not know thr,~ y'oun~~

E ] ~I b - ~, . d'~ - Ii h d 1. ~ ,t

xa .t {5 name, ut sne rec ogn tze c ~,1 er Uf,pe 'W~ ~ ,e.rHZ)1U ~ '. ~ 811.1 5 n:~ certain y

urt(le:rstCf){)d the gn;u:'gfuJ. l;u:~e:1 ~wo(f.d, a.-R[d ["b,~ lntene vicler ~dow c[,at was the L esse~ Sign ,of Sat1j,rj:1t,.

1'01\'5' said~.~poll)~edean:y~ "They of(~<red me' additional hoHday,s~ Lilith. What can you otf~r lD;e·1iha.lE" gll.'[ll,,'\T,e;.igh:s the cert'[lin_ \/uOIshi"['. f[h~mt1l· rnl$ ,C!)'flrrut'l;;i,cuhu:e~? Sh~ said' hat gn~ ,EBnd h¢r [llM'~~'f1i 'baal ~~e,t1 d1J~ eneire rn~t~t in the ,s,t:~rs, ,~o\~n to '[he minutest c),e[" .ils,~ and j,'t wculd [appear that S'h~ was rig:h(,~ Lunar."

, tiHib ,[0o'ked at the g~EI,! '~b0 seemed sJbl~denly:tnuch s,ma ler Inher ,efye~"t and 1

then rea li;ed. she had ]beei't triclred ~rl sit th1.J wi til her feet under 11,e:, l' an R\1{,fkw61J9

stance ,f,Q.r lJ[e~innlng, batrle. ·

If onl,y rhe.V'd·-s.en.[, Feat warriorss not III ~lipiof a gtrlancl *1 fGrest goiLshe·.could. read Hke a ~o~k, Sl~~ h~a .. tudled lFighr'[n,G [erst fo:r' '~~US' [tennuy he' nla~e H:ld

, ., ...]1 '~" 'il lvi 1 5~f 1.. D 1-' k.J; , 'b' d 'ILr -

'Vl'5U,tu rnm regU,u:iI!:J 11 ITt t 1!~ rt{H!:rs~~' lhle .', ~'!Ur.r.:·ra·. 'f $ ~ usmess, an tne ai5~a'Sln

was no more [h:a:n three centuries eld; she ha~ bare ly!,n~si:~red a -.single martial .. arts SJt~il~'. til i rh fij(. ked 'her h a ~ r to [p'a try a sp f~ V of 'fa at ura l s elec '~ ~ 0 n ~gla nces and f1e ~tea u.p tnro b:er ~~ll i t~· capeei, bar t l,¢ fnrm .Nnw someorte u'P the sa hi~[.1~m L cha in, ot ICq U1TtHH1.d \~u.ld learn what happened, w'h~t'L.Yo~] sen a c.,hUd eo il1ghlL her elder, and J erst wonld learn a lesson 'about h,bs, status in the ~~I'~$ri&11 Order,

A'fi'~ SiS Lilttb dxs'i:llav[eH 'fQr them ij run b~r#F'il:rj'[ ,A,ge b~ttle ite;chni4t;11~' iShe had dev\'dor~d~.o( wbich' hey 'w;.ere bt1:e'fly, ~h o'nl~ U'v]ng WiU1[GSSe~. and I~en.~ 'she fled r~l:ft manslon su~rre-pd r.:~Gu:dy.. Cle:;,'dy, slu~ r~fl~ctad: iht ll:e,~d~d te censider ~e fi]~ i n.g her plan.

I

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'!:j I. pl. U a;;. • ~ • !. .. I! 'I EIIiI II'" I. ICI I. • • ~I •. j

CRED]TS

Authors. 'Bryan Armer, Chris Hartford, james KHev~ Malcolm. Sheppard, Ethan Skemp, Scott TaY10r Storyt€l,]j],e'r Game Svste m Design: 'M:arl<. Rei 11. [.' ,tlag~n Develcpen Geoffrey C'. Grabowski

Edi tor;:; J ohn Chambe I:S

Ch .... ,-- A:' """,~~~" ,,-.;;'];' ·T~" L ' ~~S" , d ..... )1 OS"" 11 [A '1 • ~]_"_m , ' 0'~.lIi,iJ.il(;..~nil;..'I,;i ~ , o;;;..rry ,ee < py .'IC.f . ·.·ear.nar :~ .. , ' mILL .

Kumar, Edt T oth

P'la,yt,estef!S: Aleris :Duggins~ T errv Lee "Spvder" Gearhart, Chris Hudson) Gwendolyn. "R .. Schm idt

A:ill:"t Directlom 'Brian Glass

Artists ~ M ike Bowden, Leanne Buc~d.ey l Ross Carnpbe ll j Chv nna C lugston ... ·M'a.j or, J ason Ma,'lrt in, Steven Preston) Chris Stevens", E.]. SUi Richard Thomas, Joshua Gabriel Timbrook l Sigmund Torre i UDO N "1.\' ith Omar Dogan! Scott Hepburn, Ertc Vedder andjoe Vriens, Tracy Yardley Cover Arn Pat lee and 'D.re,£UlilJJl8JV12 ,"nJd uct ions wtrh Rob Armsi rcng, Mart MHberger and Sigmund Torre, 'W'i 11 iam O'Connor

[Covr=r D,es.ign: M~lH M'i lberger

La yout and Typesettingi Hi ian Glass Interns Wendy Misuinas

© Z002 \V'hire W'olf Publishing; Inc, An rights reserved, Reproduction wlrhou the writtenpermission of the publisher is expressly fo,rbidden1 ex cept for the purposes of reviews, and for blank cha fa cter sheets] wh i.ch 111m y be re prod uced fa r pe rsonal use' 0111 ''f. 'White Wolf1 Vampire, 'Vampire I' he Masquerade, Mage the Ascension, \¥/ol~ld. of Darkness and Aberrant are registered trade ea marks ofWh.h:e Wo'l (Publ i$lt'~l'"hg~ l nc. AU tights reserved. Werewolf the Apocalypse, Dark Ages Vampire, 'Wraith the Oblivion,

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For a free \!!11i[e ·Wolf.:c~,[~log call 1.,.800.,454 .. 'WOLF", 'Check. till t White. Wolf (jnl] ne at

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WUJT[ WOLf

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310083 IU8,A

'T' 'HE· ~. 'III IUl. ,I,~. ~,C ,_~,"'~I

NTR'ODUCT,]ON

C'rIAlPTER ,OINE: SETT]NG Cl=IAPTER T1~lO:: T':HE lUN,ARS

Cl-IAPTER TI~~REE: CHARACTER, CREr"T~ON CI-IAPTER F'OU'R:: T'RA]TS

C'l-IAlPTER F' P~{E:' CI~AR,MS.

C,I=tA,f~IER S]X,::: T'I~E WVlD

CJ~I.A,fTER SEVE.N::: S,TORYTlE,lLJNG

8:

J4 512

110,6 .

0·.· ..

'94 JJ'6 11'9 .• "4-':'-

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The ik1ld.ow~ of "[he hunters passed QV€;T rbe water's surface and were gone1, ar le~~[ for now. ] n the f UJ [ ~ I1d ~ur~ ki W'l:ter b~n~ai;"h ~ h,~ hr"~dge, in l'11e' lee ~ 'jif a great bridge pylo[].~ S;e.ven Qe" il Cleve:r ~km. E v,~n If her ene;rlli~'s. IJLad) knD~vn th-e leeanort n~ :her h]dH.n~ place, it was poosib.le 1tlcl~V would not hi1JlIle d,alrif;,d U~ Fu~~tijUJe 'ber. Even E:~ah:s swam w'ard~f in the PQIUuted tivers ~'fN '~USl 'felr 'ur was said that

. ,

,l1e '~hpUS(JJltl dises ses [he rtvers carried ,t;;Q!uldl ~v-£~rc' 'fie eVC]1 ~h-e'up'e]:h.u.:miln.

res ~ s ttl nces oCr' tl, e cb osei ',~

S~verll J]'ev:ik d.ev.er ~$l1eciany l~k~d to ~:pf'€iad that story~ but ..$he k[).eVL' sJlbe. wasrr't a lone in 'E,~lH ~\g lt, Tl~ el'~ were- @ th ers ~[~ the city w 1)[ USCld! ] rs f¢ul ri vess as h~ghwaYir. It W~, - ~J.l,Jth·~ tl1t 'fifrSl cfJrt e'vetyo~n~ who swam dJltdr warets to. He ana. make the poll u rion seem dead'1ieT. '[han i t .alreadly W3;$,; ~h.~lt W~ . the· ~ exus spi rl r i r ever~ De'v il reflelct:e~ , D\izen5 lJf gh'~,s ~nd d~m igod·s pORJld sp'e'n~, Y:~~ (IS cij:ri!!uI1y lfi~@ 1:0 'l1ijli~lke the ri 11,' er ~ e;'e~llA'lt:;l1:e F O'I$ID1l0 u~· ~ a rtd a re a:tL cnuld s [~l1d u npll_te.h~ d

th'l e .c!! ~.." ,~, -I' .11";9" ~·I 'm.m.· ., 'L i,;~ l. ,~ '~[ . ...... .•

Strll, 'Eiertr:~1r rhsr she ha.d n:i.dd~n as ~elL Imraaculate mm1ks, ,~'$l)J;ciall~r r~e k~_nd who roJ~ with rlse w...y~~ Hun '1 were net rlllE' f"r{ 'e; t~ ,~' inc 11 frOft'1 9 s\w~_m j no m atter h.on1 bad rlre '~oea ~s c b1llrrH:~d the wa ten; were. After a L t:h.re:y '~vlJr€ hll11.ting demons,

Seven lJEvH ·S'lev·e.r crep out of die watenand climbed qu le:tly IUp.the cri~ s, ro:ss_ing .su'~1plrt'@ t)f the b:ridg·e;i '~~sr.~n]Il,g ~ the coughs ;an(,~ ~,Cl r tthl'l)g;~ of he ci Y.~5 nlglH1t i nile I ii~ ~ Sh.~ wasn'r alone d OW'n here, and ·;glie· knew ft. E very pl ace in N exus ~ha' ~. ukl conceivablv support 1 i fe· ,~a~ h,oruf~ t n irtlJ' "and ~qvat'tler:'515och. S~'ven Dev'l l didn't think sbe~d 'I) d i, .. t1j,~b~~.~: ~hou,gh~ even ~f 2111fV of [he l~~~lJs wa:e ~t!b~c,' Md attentive enough to nod:te her, Anyone ~r11.0 had seen 'her emerge silenclv from th~ rrp'~hng and undi~t~Lrbed surface of the water would knID;'w ~ery ~~~Ll tl1ar slre h~,h11t $', urn 4P ta[he,IlHl~[. Th~¥ were a t:b.CfEJ~~lrlct riitieg, m9r'€, likely 'to.a.$sun:u~ she Wm$ one ef the c ~ 19 ~ ~ ~ Il .. thG .. n u m ero lIS h u nQry ,gb 05 :~s [b a n rh 2Lt she h'ad .b ee £1 l urki ng ill the 'II\]&l[er 'as ~ ~a'['fisl1. ..

\1Vh~t had [jyought tth~ In11nacu~Ia~es t~, Nexus S~\·'Il'n. Devil Cle:ver ,CG'U ld rlah; 'Spffi2u,lf:lrc. D~.s'1P ir~ the 'iac,t rhat rhe city had dosens of Im~u:-~t0ula~e' rnY5S ied-ari:~$' roaming ·~}i[<{M.J n cd! rhe ] mm aeulane s f®UO'~vi ng her wereri' F W (Jrk irli.g ,J. "en. [ y. bur. th,a t .~tiI I Ie-fe a num Ocr of pO)$o:'ib.ii i tie . Ma vb( they had .snu,e·~ in, nl~.ybe d: ft)f wer~ 'here \vi;[:h. :the Ct)fit:rrv~n"C6 of tl)E: Coun~il of Entities but had been tQld [,0 k:eep a low .p l·~n le. T~~~ t W 35 the .ge·n;.e [~I 'g u ide ,~,~, ne . (0 r Ex a ~ Its ln N e ~ ru,s;; jjj U$ r don j. bu rn th e

. 1[: ,a, J' :)Il

p",ac~ " O'lfWU.

. ,

A· least, _ hac's what Seven Devil Clever he 'b~:~d areu ned - S.k~ pe~SOl1A U y h~d

a:vohded, inrroduclng herself to 'the C~ ba[ or tbri'~ ves who nni,UhlaUy ·~Qi1.tL"Oll~d ·CI~e1lrjol1~'§ ri hest and lemsJ ple:a:~th. t a£111:pit., Tltat tll,a,d],e the Immaculates hJJllt ing her '~t)'[h m,lre\atnd less sujpri U'lg. N:Qbcdy t€ra'ify kDl,e;",r she Wa~ hel'it, -Alit ,if1:11ey did, it was napdLv la SUll'rri;)~ ~:he:v wanted "h,e:rrub]h(3d.our. The·eld~J;s of t:h{h~Hl\'er P,:act had [{ltd b.er to he 'w!ary of ·Di·a~J.~'n"':Bk·c~ded h lUnr.e~ if sh,e insisted on Ct H)d I1U ing ro ~ ive ill t 'e.lcit¥~ but Se'v~n D:evH C']~ve~~ 11.~Ju$llaug·h@Id. a. \)Q"b~tg~ud l<'Iloltld 'ir~19 rorth,e r m.:tila.eu.hll~ efrd t·r. to S ffid ffiQ n ks 1:0 N ~~ lJ$'~ she! d asked. Th,~ V ~ d ~ 1.1 e nd ~~ p d ru nkCl\l ,:vh OTero a S'~J!e L:S·~ ~ h.\~' el [old the ll1,.

TI:N;:, €t~ef~' ~ld gr:ihn.~ .~.'rld n.Qa:.~. i_l9J a way [h8!Jt Sevb1. D~~U. Cleve'k h~t n"[ ]'''eaUy liked. i r was at 'thll~$ 1 ~ke dl1is.;. ~:;, ~he c l ~]n bed t'I~ rnu,gh 'Lhe (~~ up dlo. l~.st of trhe hr~dg~.s· cir)! and &p t.inte~trV .[j"~jSJe~~ [bar she '" i~h~d. 'lIb,~ ~}~nidr :rtteulher:9 o'f t~.€ SiJ ver Pa.ct w"r~ a Hrtle [;[t ere '(f nne r··) ,explftinJ I:"q~ h,rngs 'th.a,n le'ttlllgJ:u~lle,~ln.iL f-nnn het ',wt1 lll!stakes,. Seven Devi.~ Clev~;:r h~d·$u.r-vb!ed d~irl~J ~h.e dido"t e~Cel1 ·w·a~t [0 consHle:[ r:em~m·ber.iilg, h_a.d c:n.r~vh€d, up', (tom a 0V.e:~I:Y $:0 pro'tQi1l1.d shf< could .ren\ei1tber ft~J' ti:~g ,wirh he'f, Qr-0~h r~ a'~.d "i.~[.e:rs 'for :t~,.e. scr~ps~f rotti I:~ n~e:t th~y fou.J~ q~l: arm] after; m.e ~t1[t l::N~gg~rs l"1ad 'Eaken rhoeu fEl1. Sev'~£il De~!.l. a.ever

u nd:e r $;i';c od [he 'v-a [ue o( S~ If fB I i a:n~ e· i btu so nl,~~t i m,~a! s,l'\€ j ~,:st r~ f'I n y d' ~ d rI! ~t ·wa.rrt 'to • '~e~l"f'V,' ttl h"ard ,va".,.

M sJ,e iL~Je[lber'ed s'ilE!:n.tl.r over th,e ~- gee of 'I be ~ri£]ge dt:~kj she ,Ior),~ed araulld only ('e reali!1t: th-a t theE"e \Ve1H! three ngur~s stal)oding 'SHeru:Jy n~.arby~ w~rtC.l [fig h~r ~htlJl~g;~ _ r:1i~ th.ick cpalsmolke Rl}d. "ri v~r~'fd: '1 1~~t3·e. 8h·e b3rely nt'ed~d to gh~"'l,~e" tll.'r rh"'m '~o 'ide,ntify thenl ~s- h~r 'hre,~' Iml,;t3.'cu't~ ~·e fD'~end~l; 'h y'd '~,~~n. 611Qwi17lB he-I' :;B [] ll'ight afte:r aU,. Her"" cQn:fiucih~'['ateof th,e1rn.!. bLW)iid been '\~,ai ting up h€r:e st[~ndy ~t.r[' d\e lao;9r 2(] mhlu.~,e'~. So much f01>e'!a,tHtlg tbe· fig'i"t[ Hl'td ~.ep']fig a k~w pEofHe.,

SevC'n Delir~Cl~¥e'r re.·n~'Cted 'Eha~ ~h'i~ . las def.irthely @'r-i6 of tihOSL3 rotrm,e;'ta't:s ~v:he n she didrtt'waftf to [,ro~ rn [·h.e har;d, ,,~,.~ y ;

_ .', II ,= __.' ..r. 'I"

\Ve bJing otn bauls fronl dle northern snows Thal [he grea [gn!)1 'wol.ves m.a;r {em t .

·-Robert E. ~[a.ward ~ "The Dust Dance"

1 t 'has bee n a long t hue s ince the U su rpat ion, 15 lo:ng cen t ILl.I ies s i uc e the Lu n a r Exalted tu rned the i. r b acks on rheir mat es and fled into rh e lIV ildern ess on, the edges of Creation. At first, their exile was a wi lling one, but as the years have passed, the Lunar Exalt ed 11, a ve erown mo re a nd more b li tt er abou r rhe ir

,15

consignment to the wilderness. MHn'Y' of '[he elder

Lunats 'have come ," 0 be] ieve tha r they were manipula: eel 'by the Stdereals in some fashion, and many 'others have grown [0 rhe maturity of [heir power in

the 'bands, beyon [ rhe reach of civ iHzat:lcH'l.", These la - te:r ... day ExaJ ~ never knew '[he' First Age or-he horrors that led [he' Lunars ro [urn' heir hackr: on it. They-: 0 ncr see themselves as exiles from civlllaa'[ ion" bu.' as elite m i es of it.

[t has been half a LUI1.~.r~5 HEe span [he Children of I h e Moon have l ived as ex i les and 0 u t [a ws. Th ose w h 0. were .elders at the tinl€t pf dli! U'surpati,o:n h~ve mostl y died, :and those "rho were in their stolid midd I.~ age have now h egun to re ach da~ end of [b.e:i r lol'rg l i 'leg as weB '. N ow, the· E%a.l ts, whose .exis tences 11)&1 ve bee n laved. ~~rh.ollv heyo!nd the p~ie of c,i.vHiJ,zRti®tl are be~~mih~ stronger anrlmore numerous than. thlB ancients ',~~ho seek 'GO restrain tlrem, N:0""'.'.~ rh a, Realrn is weak,

~1 ith the Empress gone, the: legions \v i thd rawn HJ.1d rhe imperial defense grid seeminglv unpowered, Many young Lunar heroes have begun 'to harry the Thresh .. old tv f. t h the t a C it appro val of the ir e lders il who are themselves :rea.dyi.n.,g their tribal armies for war. A Um.€ of tumul t has come UIJon the world, a. time of upset destinies and terrible strife. The winds blow S t Or:D1'lS OlLU of seaso n, and omens of bad ~,uc k P 11.0 I i fer .. ate, It will not be long until the elders of the S1 l ver Pact raise the banner of open war and I ead - he .~ eople ().f '[hie 11 ns e ttle d ian cis aga inst th e fa rmers and mer .. cha nts of the Threshold, seeking ro bring a bou rhe end of kingdoms tHild ernj lres,

]1 is a time for ~l nH'iLg" heroes [0 earn reputations o rival those of ancient Lunars ir is time fa~' the Lunars to rise up against the empire whose arm les arrd sorcerv be ld the Silv~r PaCE at bay for so long.

y,~[, even as the' Lunars prepare for the war that dlJ~y have so long awaited, matters have become 1J1J9~e c om p lex, Th e F ai 1· Po lk are beco m hl:g' rest i ve, a.nd hobgoblins march and s~i'nk threush the Wyld".dam", ag~d fri'l1ges of Creation. TJ1e Deathlords have i§,,[tl8lck. Q tit Itld:n the land 6£ men ~ >~ndU1l~ .and the O[:r Ally:ss"al minions seem bear on conquest.

. ... -., -II, i •• I. I' ••

lNTROOUCllc:n~

"

II .~ -,;--I!::::I I I • I _ ! .. , .•• :-:r--i".-; I •• ~l ' • I I· I.

. -_.- -- --

The .,_ ib. er Pact ha ~ ecom divide -L S ime Lunars urgi ng ir m, diate war wi th the Realm, while others demand that the Death ords or the Fair 'I- olk he made Cell' rai to the Pact sag. nda .. A·~ er all, they argue, the Dra Jon-Blooded are lecadent weaklings. There's nc way the Terrestrials will be- able [0 centes he power of the Deathlords r the ftu:J ie princes." nly real heroes such as. the Lunar Exalted can. stand again "I: rhos powers. The LU:D1ar~ duty to en ure the safety of Creation comes before an": animo iry toward . he ~\~find er an c 'Vi. ar I,' of rh: cit ies and farm O"\1n.;5:; these dissidenrs ar ue.

Those who tee 1 strongly one way or another have begun to act, dr :1gin:r rbe Silver Pact into es la I ing . onfr n arion wit 'I. the Death lord .~ the Rea'hn and the even the Fair Folk. These pr'OVOCe1~' reurs seek reo defeat Lunare who oppose their agend .,. using shame or deai h to stl nee '[heir rivals.

R .putarlon are being fo:n'ged rhat will last mi [lennla .. A hero brave enou _ h 'to earn such fame and ch ver eno tgh to keep hi l-: ofhis life while he' at it can " at her po wer '\11 d r i ches ~ s a. rna u ga - he r f:n.d'[ in the autumn. Those who are less clever than they think will die un remer nbered, ain hy1 an army, god . r Exalt, ar d their bones will whiten beneath some foreign . skv.

This i ~ the W'3.1l of'- hings, and many .. fa,oed Luna will look down u.pon tho e white - on. and smile . .L matters -n10' that the weak . 'all beneath the tread of 11 is tory j, '·01 rha [ I.S the [0 t of th e wea k. I t n1., rters billy tha >h,e strong rise . f~Hlle and power.

De pi' e i s sh:,e~K: 'lted,: T- eLun rs Is nor 1 complete . ame .. It " a Z\up' lement for Wh~ e W'olf' E r !1·re8L ~ gam " n whicn characters rake .- he rC h~s of Solar Exal [ed 11 shin in '. go Ide 1 hero.'; 'W he we re the busba ads and wives .or I he' Ull.a.rs. in ch lc 11'7 .. ' org: tt-n Fi r r Age. Thi ho()ldo'~$l1lt Include d'escri ~tions of tl~... ram "'5 \"~]1 ious T: a its" r les on combat 01"

C [ ,plete: . et'- ing, I;' j~. has- au in ... depth rreattnenr of tie' land· b yond I e Thre .hold and rules for.; T'eating and pla,ylng Lunar .1Ex. Ired characters. Y ou'll need (0 r l 11 [ hav . ... cce ., to 3 c 0PY of Exal ted to use this book ..

How TO US'E THI]S B'DOl(

Thi s boo k C ontains eve ryth ing you ne ed to run a game focusing 0;0 the LUOHt Exa.lted OJ' to include a ~;.~'ry derai led' reatmen t of the Lunars in another Ex~.·~.'~led g~.m€·. ln structure, it ls similar I~() rhe main Exalted rulebook, except 'd_at there 8lre 'no Svs .. · terns, Drama or Antagonists chapters, The contents are as foUows,;

Introd uctionr

The section vou're reading now, It contains a sta rerneru of '[he book's overall character and a sb or r g 10S5;t;.U·Y.

Chapter On.e~: Setting

'This chapter deta i.ls [he barbaric fringes of Crearion. I t de serf bes the tr i'b es that d. we 1 [ the re a nd '[he conditions nf' their existence.

C·hilpter. Two: The Lunars

Th is· chap te r is co lnpan. ion. mater i a U to ell ap rer 'One ~ exam in irtg: Lunar cul ture (, nd the anc [en t and ]11 y:ne ;['] ous S i l v e r Pac [11 the g,ee re [ bra therhood that unites these powerful Exalts.

Cll~'~rte'r'- T~- reei Charae ter Creation

This chapter contains 'the rules for creating Lunar cha ract ers fa r use in an Exalted. gan.1e., Th ough they are mechanicall y compatible wirh 'the Solar Exalted j Lunar characters 3T'e' nor eru hely balaoced with their Solar counterparts. Th.ey are fairly close, h.owev.,e_r" and Storvtellers shouldn't have too much. trouble building crossover gam es,

Cbap,tle:r f CHJ.r,~ T raits

This chapter describes the specialized Traits used in Lunars ch aracter crea ion. Traits de tailed ir 'he E~~d.'ted. hook are n l't d iscu se- lhere, The chapter also l~on[:3I.i.I.1S the few mechanical systems unlque to th [S book, such as the SYSlelTI used by Lunar'S '[0 track their ~~ F ace" - their stand i ng in L UJ11 ar societ V •

ICha pter F ive ~ C h:f],ll1E1 13

Th is cha p ter de ta i lis th e e le menta l Char lTIS co m .. monlv 'us'ed b~y the Luna Exalted.

Cha.p'[e.f' Slx~ The Wy~d " ""

Th ts c ha p re f. d 'I sc u£ ses thee t err ['1) [e' and dead 1 V. force of ·th,~ W)1]cl. Wyldj in. t'hTs casle, 111J:eal1,S 'no'[ IC?e u:l1!gover:ned '~111 i:lde·lil1.e ss fe at red. 'by ·the ci t i::ze u.s of t'h e Rea'hI:E and i'r~ Thr~,ghold lackey~~tateiS,~ bU1L the ge:n.ul:[iL,~ Cha01S tllar ] i~s on [h,,~ fran ti'~l'$ of ICl'~a['i():IrL ,t i :U]c 1 ude:s ru ~.~, ('0 r :mn. unl'r:i.o lit ~ nd lna.u y nevI! W y [t1 T rSll:it8.

Cha pt;:r S ev,en: Slt,or yteU i:ng . ,

The final c'h a..pue:r:Of ,the '[~ DOrk. d [SCUBS'es t h.e. ~pe cia [. needs of s'tatyr:¢.Uing.a L.nIlar:s ga:m,e.

l,E,X.1C€lN

Nt o~t of d1J.;. I[.~ r:mj,flJQ 10 ay in th is b!J [l .. k. \iMfl5 irg_ t 1:0" a'u,ced in theE:x~h£~d booltl and 'JVe ha V'($, ,L~ot :n!~·p'[od.llJ ~rt.d .. h3: '~:j'oo1fjs gi('l$$ary in fuJL T'he foill[ow[ng e't"\'tr['e~, a~re

etcher 81 ered 'to reflect the Lunar point of view Or specialized vocab ilarv relevant to the Lunars ..

clrimerar A Lunar who loses h is higher consciousness and becc Ines a creature of instinct. 'Used, by e x tens ion to refer [0 rhos e Luna rs w no sculpt the ir n a ru fa 1 sh a. p e to 0 m uch.

chjm ~n.age ~ The fee a sha,ma.l] pa.y S ['0 11 is patro n god in e xc hange for prote c 'C [on and ad v ice, These t'YP'UcaU y incl ude regular offerings and prayer, obser .. vance of taboos and service to rhe goc 's in.' eresrs.

:god;: Oft e n u sed gene ral ~ y ~ 11 th is bo ok '[0 tn ean :any little. god, elemental, Exalt, demon j behemoth or faerie noble who captures: rhe worship of a. barbarian people and the cJt~minage of their ,s.h.a:rnans.."

'hy'b:n:itd £o,r::m~: A hulking arid d.ea.dly humane id caricature of the Lunar's ~Otefll anirn.a,L T1H~ hyhri,d fO[ln become one of the lu.nae'~ TilQ;:tH-rar~ shap,t!s when rhe Exalt learns the Charm DeadlJy Beasrman T ransfo rmarton .

i1~t'h","·va:' "Respected, !'~ A Lunar of the third rank. .A LU11.ar ofthis rank Is nne of the leaders of her people

and a powerfu 1 voice in their affaLrs. "

Lr mar Though many mortals, especially those influenced by the Irnmacul» res, do Luna l·u mage as the consort of Gaia, [his is not so fo]'" the Lunar Ex it [ ted 'I' Th e LUl1.a rs p a Y homage to he r in her aspe c t as a 'marry, .. faced trickster ~ a sorceress and a brutal and implacable warriorqueen. Luna appears to each ofthe Lunar Exalted during their Exaltation, and [his typicallv leaves a very long-lasting impression on them, and th is personal rela ricnship is. reinforced by occa$!L o Ina l v is i on s and gill. id ance . L una does not US'iE' 'he r Exalts 3;S tools, bu.'[ se,e'$ them 'as her children. and 'her mos t de VOl[ t prie sts and pro tee ts the In. to a. ce rtain

degree as their divine patron, r 'IL '-L

Luna ~ s Beillov,e:d:~ Another te rm tor tn e unar

Exalted, used by rhe Lunars to refer to themselves because of the tnrtrnat e spirtrual connectlon rhe'y share with their patron,

Lunar society: Another name fo:tr dl€ Si~'ve'r Pac;;., nrurr-va: "Revered .. '-' ,A Lunar of the fourth rank. MUE'r" va. are rare: evert among 1tll:l~ 0 l.d,t:;sr Lun.a_[~ ~ for ,g·n1V by gtrea t and re:peated sa.c:r.ifie,e of rltD..e if own Interests fun. ,the rn.8Jne of tile SUtJer W,llY can 81lun.ar ach [eve the s,nr (_].:f lr,eputafh::u1L nec-es,~tllry to freach :t'h isra nl\~.

:ft~in""va,: '~'KiLl.'j1 A tlJ'nJif o'fthe first rank .. A Lunar 'who has, Jus!: been inJtiaJ:ed In'[O the SHt'e1· PtK\& or ,8].n ,,1:deJr LU1~a r w ho m'~I'el y ']Jtl y.s lip sc:I"v l,ce te the~ S d - . ~r ·W~., a rid the id e ?1Js 0 f '[he. S,~ l vl@r Pa,c' . _ "

nalur~l sh,8],p,es = tunal's who ;s,p,e.nd Periph.eral Essence can '~eCGlme :9,h-apwocked'l [l1@~ning d1l!)' (;~n no Longer 5b ~ 1P,esJa ife f.relely. ~ lo\cv~'Ve':rl @ sJ~ a: ~J.oc ked L unar ~an }'[illi roo v,e 'b;etw e en met· nu'mrro fidrm I ttn.fmal

, • 1 " .:r iii. llOl I!"

• 1.--1". • I' .: 1 ... _ • •

-- ----

]NTRODUCT}O~

rorm and her h' :b-rid f01''tn throu h the use of the Charms -hding the Spirit's Shap- and LJeadly Bcastm In Transformation (respecti,ve.ly). These three shapes con stltute

rhe lUffL r's "n ' tut a] shap s 1)

shahan .. y:a: "Grear of greats. ~'A Lun It of the fif 11 ra 11 k, On l}r a til) Y n urn ber of th es e in credi ble he ings exist, They do I 0 foH, Vl.' he Silver \Xl 01.)"1' 1 h·ey [er,-. ': onify i and each has been flattered for '[heir greatness by LUnGf bef Ore a d,t1},.~ of O'~ he r Lu 1.1 a rs,

sb~man~" barbartan who enters inro a clientpa ron, relations hip with a god. The shaman serve: ' hie god ea practice caned 'hlrn:i.nage); and in turn, the god ileaUy eaches nd prot ctst 1111 shaman. .nd his pet. 1 _ A '[he god and the shaman. are hardly in an 'e rual posi' j,Q'I',~ the de, 1 natural [y re n ' '0 favor d' e gods. Hence the need ,(, r c ever shamans. Lunars re almost never. 'h(; mans.

Sil~N:~r Pact, 'the ~ The ere-a tion .. " ride society of Luna . ~ .. ~. m ilar t,) [he It. ,:"C et' [ rra ernal ":\ ciet ies

common a-mong most barbarian nations, the Silver Pact .1, an organ' aa ti on created by L\_:Ln~ rs f r the purposes of self-protection anc the kidnap in and iniriation of newl y Exalted LUl"lar. ,A lso called ,LuJta-r society and t.he Soc.~e[y of l11€ Moon,

: n . ',er Wa y " tl ee Th· code' r bra ery, genero, ity and honor heldup as [he ideal of the Siive-r Pact. Luriars (: re' who hon . r I he sa I .. r Way eire _gi ven \' oice anl0ng their brothers and sis ers ln .lunlr society. TL .. e who do no, honor he Silver ·W'ay' are left to fend for themselves as best rhev can and, thus, typically eri: 'b.

Soci· ty. of : he " eon, her Ano: her name f()r r~u~ ~aver Pact.

taboo: A special form of worship practiced by :h.am~ns or whole barbarian peoples, typ icallv a . ~'linlin"\gle' 0 . he' ri he l goil,. Tho . subje 'must do or nor do certain thin . .gs OU[ of deference to

heir pH' r [11.. Tab os CRt_ often be quite burdensome, and it is this strug 'le in th,l: name of [ he patron that generates Essence.

d:aJk':: A formal arhering ofLunar " c illed to s errle grlevai ces and discuss, concerns.

totem animal: The one animal the Lunar ldenri .. , ie \:V~' L 1)105' closely, This beco . e· one of the Lunar's nat~l,ra,~ shapes when the LUI c: r learns the. harru Flnd .. ing the '''pitt' i, Shape ..

s "'H d ,.~ A' L f h- J'

ur-va: io 10 -e·. .., un ,r ( , [ . e ,'I(; no f" :1.

who has distinguished herse If with her rex erence for the Sit, er Way CJ nd her gloriou: behav ior.

~~ ,L' AL £' L

u I racn ... ya,:: - ····onpe son. . s.Lunar -renn ror a "U~

nar who h.8JS faUen troin Ehe Si~1Jer Way or a civilized mortal or Exalt \\ ho has never lived according to the barbarian virtu .. a. . rr~' h-ya . r', I I prol.ecte ,by the . i lver Way and. can. be lied 01, cheated, stolen from or killed as rne LU'l~'U' sees fit.

Wyld, the. In this book, [he Wyld is rrever used

~ m 11 ,.. j,~ _j. i" U,

'to mean outtancn or ungove nee regu ins, t.~ .e

wav . _ often is, in the Realm or the Threshold, 1[' is

•

usee by Lunar a :~' sax an ~ '~ to mean areas actually ouch by the tl1.&. ness thar 'I urks beyond the

'III ' ..,

... Dge 0" I: 'reari In.

,.

,

The hunter's lifo <ebbed as he plunged forvul.rd thron ~h the snow.

In. ev f:ry ourdoor sma r ; , 1, e ar , he co n r ron ts tl e poss i b i li i ty t ha t, wa 1 k lug a Lone in, the ~TOO , h\~ \vl L in r ire Irims If., ~" e. The' hunter knew -hi~; n 1 ' \' 1 1 v 'J ~", A lGnJ.!ly crea ture, h,e had U .. ved hls H'fre in a r1UV cabin far fron, bis village, He was there only rarel Y l r,)f he was a ,I 'a ~,k~" 0,( beasts.b f t1rade, anti a da:y spent at home

1\""a5 ada'y ,"'iriJ 0U til, ;)lne;- rom t'hin(f a '~~( or t11.~ >, lil\e h c. ukl ~o "f" n aft r~,

le was no ~ t["~ng~r tn b i.z-zards~M a Y'olLlng' man, and ' ven In his -m Iddle agel 1 ,e had s en his J7); re :.f tfrrlbl,tt sn ~'. H" bad bee :l trap e _ 'a w a. y (r~m his cabi n ,,0 often the marrer barely concerned i llm.' , Jly, he ~ ould tav '6 u d hel If ~n ,a cave, but he had b.e:~n:gi~~·~@ld at 'the enrranc (0, Ihe onty cave b,\C' knew bV [he . rowlt I (!I 1, lre ,f·· if! ~il1g be, r. Hi a trerup to ClJ ~ fir boughs \OT R lean-to had , "~' d when the 'f'O;E@l1 bl de 0',' Ai. 'knife lUI" ibarr red 'IV] c He he 119,cked at ~H~ f~ rsr i c V bra n c hes,

Tl1L~1.1 11 ~ e \' ,'f' p' r wl a" m 'Ole I I, ic h we rt to hi g ar and 1_ ~10 e

, n ankle .. length coar of mammoth hide fur~'5i:d~ In nu knea-l'e',ngth boo of y~~d lm kin -e Hi - mittens dnd Cftlj Mere' nf i'rcti.o ha;t,e' taken in Uleilead 0~ '\1il':tt~t'1

,-h n d '" urw ... ~. ,rig nd Hk)'; " ',- aih ~t an wee ~ ~U1 ': n 13 shirt. ,'1~~ann ~_ ' L Evert r:])tQu,gh '[his outwear, t e le '\\~nd lea,ehc:d the heat from his h,o,d'h and [he I a ~ (') r Q/ :[ tJ;.; h.'~ 'fig throng h . now tha ~ ~"EtS now knee h ~gh bunl~ d 11 is bod ~i~~' prec ious, reserv ',5 I" erf1ne'r-g).

TJre pld $n,a\~a'al his hips.i1l11d h ','5 knees ,.f" mindl - 1 im of his-age. Ye{ s rill, the hun L, phJw~d f(, f.l¥'ar"I' ,J'Sh t'ung~t:h 'storm for his life in snow "0. thick h,e ecru ld . nty ho~ he cr" veled "0 ~he righ'[ ',; lre . [1'')(1. ')1 'I' he \. ould have . d Lg' int" a srt9~-'batlk Mm ho, ',e tor. the best. Thete wasn't much tp hope fo~r - he was an ex I, LI ed l€l ruan, 1 i L Jy a t ready had at' r raining hea . He' would die; G.f h1Po[he:nni£], oefor~ h ~. rmed d16 snov ar um htm,

It was as lre 'preps ecf for ,m~ tomb .. buIrOw tlX~a,.c th.¢ hunter~a~v Ihe 'I5Q)/ \\~31\h1g 'aero". rhe sur ace :~ r :U,~ now I ward htrn. The [nan .. chil,' \'w. 5 peer ect and a,rhe'd, in clo h of litterin,(r i i Vet Ear too lie;h [ to pEG. .; hisfle h 31; a in"]. f' 'i e-stee 1 cl.aws:~-f '[he b[Izzra, d. The wirn~r 'wind thar "rove the snow s;i.d.~\va,'.· bareliy : tirred hi ')' 'Jug I an h. avy :'h.', hair.

Rene-xive11~1 e hun, er's han" touched rh lron charm ~g21mn -the 1 'all ;';olk [hat h~ wore beneath 'h1.s j,~cket~ anI he extended bis hand, tVli!king: t:'I1e twoh1Jger, d c igL' f he J-iprn - bene , his m'l ' _ e' jL. Nu . b1v h ' e 'ev i ete;cl ill! , did. not even have hi$ iron k i e -', y more, The boy c( n einue . [0 walk row ard l~[fn undeterred, and '[be drin, hunter realised that the '~eing appro,a~l'l.in~,; hill[ waafar

l' ~. (

rn [I: man it men '. en .

THe 100\' exren ed hi har d I: 'o,ucj, r Ie hUI1'ref-s~eyt! ,,' )ck,le 1 ncl tl ... hn_,ll"t'I,er Iclte~ hie WM re~Ql"n1 he-was shattered and remade -:M~lted. ~~CMy dear wolf," Luna I i to his new E~" 1:- "you" i ht 0 aga - , ' 1 c sn ,\J,fj ev H. thcrugk. yl U r' old and our mU'lz],E is , r~l'y" K~o~ thar I ee your treng: h ~nd ingle Y( lD air, my I \0'«.] mark you:as'6:J.revenle.' 'XJ~h,ere the 1ioy\~nn~e'r' ouchedhts face1,]R,edJ ws could

, el the 1, r· ,~) luna, lm orinr irs If, OI:·~V'e;·- on him,

IllG'~ out into th,@ world, grear le_a,~t', and gr<)'w famou c'. Hu:tl[in.g elk an~ll b~ar

: "r 11 ir an'[~e.rs .n:d cl '~~·1 benrefllhYOll.lHq-W, YO\1 htJ~' tl ' Jream of l!ea,t. '[ . to bun[, ~

And '~he sn.ow .. chen he.J n.~, 1 t Vor>tl-s '~Ol ~l', with ~h heHY Il1f h~ hun'!'er rebtrn"

..

The: Lunar Exalted are the epito In e of ~v [jet uric iv i r I ized streneth. The lords of [he S H ve r Pact presid e over 'tribal nat ions s tron a enough to sur v ive at the 'Gdge of madness. and re s i st rhe soft remptat ions of c iviliza t ion. Of course j ci ty .. dwe 1 lers see their rOllgh" s trong qual it ies as \,.v·,!akn·esses. They S'fee power in the straight ranks of the Real ms legions, the dev ions plots of the: ir bure a ucrats and the fragF~n.tt columned halls: oftheir temples ..

Barbarians know better than to mistake cleverness and GlJ.n1..~ition for, strength. Civilization is a breed i11.g gro und tor cowards: princes who 'WOH [.d 5t8 rve 'W irhout peasant toil, priests who suffocate natural splendor wi th the if" do ct rine and f8!["'lue rs who cringe in :feH.:r O'f a whip or lordly re bu ke, There was 'a, t irne when the savages.ar the edge of' he - l'lF'eshQld coulc betamed, gt v ing up rhe g] OWY of 'the sp ea r tor the co]n'(o~r of rhe peasant's yoke. Once, , he Scarlet E'mpres&coult reach o III ,- .arid I' ~est[oy 0 r e nsla 'lie ba r bad'a n nil tions that [h,-ce'aJ,e'l.1i:ed 'he::r~ bur the persistent threat ofth~· Realm's miH[gj;ryand of sorcer liUS retalis tion ha·, va:nis'hed wi.th h,e~r. The L UD~ r Ex.al 1Ce cl kno'w 'that the ir time ha s to me. As, sod ~ kJ ngs ~f r he ,:v i'[del'l'H~~~$, they in i t La te their ~a\{ ge subjects into '9. culb1:fJ1! g·f tCo!Ur~gfm cunni ri~' and hOlnor filt [Q it: OiPP.le· the civH!~!,~d '~~ol~'ki.

B'E.YOiND TlfE T f~R'ESHOLD

. "ei ty ~ d we llers ha ve· no set method ro distinguish barbarians (rom civilized peoples, Any settlement that: the Local al~ rhoriries find strange and trou blesome 'rna y be labeled "primitive" or "savage." The tribes who live beyond. the cities don r need any such systems. Thev know who they are .a, Barbarism is a lifestyle, a.state of mind and a ser of values '[hat adapts itselfto prevailing conditions, Under the guidance of their LUnEl[ patrons, Creation's barbarians have developed an ethos that crosses g"eogr.a.phicml boundaries a. A.s the. Re alm crumb l es, the Lunar Exal ted are no li.ong'er con ten 1I w ith subsisrenee, and neither are the. rr ibes th.ey ru le. The barbatinn nations have he,glU1.. to :rea.lize what they M.ve in com ~ men, &0 thescattered raidsofrhe past ha.ve begun to gi.\!"·e liJva:y to irltberil1g' hordes +

BOorn into a rime of renewed ba rbari an rn I.gh.t.~ young Lunare have,rb.~ chance [0 free Cr~'ltion ftum. c ~ vil izafion l & decadent ch"ins .. Of OO'Lllr&~~ ~dErtl.[~~l, li.sn.~t 'dle sole moti \T~ (l.r a Lu na r warband .. T dba.] peop]e are practi E~ I [; rhe Wyld"'rosa~cl lands they UV~ in leav~ little room tor a bstrac [ k i.nil ness or emp (1' ~~:l~c}l ogy ,. The fi.ri,t [h i: ng a bar b~lJr i an rr i b e wi 11 wan [ to ~~fre~' ~ a r:j ty f~~o IriJ f'S ~. [S rE,ch~'m To the tribes beyond. the 'Threshold, G:ity folk l.ead passionless ]'i~es~ b~ref]· of srru,gg}e or r-e~~'i .pe~li.ngm They've dea lened . he·'m~·e·!ves [0 . he wQrldl , '~~ag'~' pulse,

H5

CivHize pecl, Ie may not survive the liberation of

their lands, [ ,Ut amidst UH~ , 'I.! ins, eh i .!I" .ar Exalted car

raise up new nations. Barbarians Vi ill claim wealth commensurate '\-\,[(11. hie: r p rwer, Sun. j,' 0: swill die serve or p, ove themselves y fighl'jug 'Or their o'V~ n freedom.

HERO, S ,T 'n !lE T .A BLE, or 'ClR'EATJlON

If there is anything trulv universal about '[he barbar .. ian ethos, i 's d1C 1 ack of false ulodest}1 and hideb ound hierarcl ~ ie . Thouzh pers nnal honor can still '"[ ake G convoluted path, to realizarion amons real people, binding honest he-roes 'to cons] I]re against their own. tribe, barbarian ~ Ion It ~ wn before '''LC ial ror recognition. Barbatts n, strive for great personal honor .' nd speak honest words, knowing that only those who deserve high '[a' in sh nn d have i .

Except for slaves, every member of a tribe sees herse [f as 0'[ ern ia I hero ~ a bl e to rise to g,! arne, 5 , hrough d. eds alone. All barbarians are mindful 0:_ t :le fact that thev are heroes 'j 1,1 the making and cons ider mtyb ely" h, denies 'her 1.1 the nee torn r' .. , seek glory unworrhv of hU111211 dignity,

This attitude affects every faGet of barbarian life. ,An imperial alon arrays Its , 1'f in neat ba .le [in's; soldi 5 W!U fall to protect he inregntv Or. the format! lt1 and, by extension =',he militarv srrenarh of' he unit. Tr:~h21 'W~U>·

H: IE ~ A:RE H ER:D,cS:

In hi bo()k, the I erms -~ 'wrl iI[ iartH an,cP"s ,v\!Re" aren't u ed. 00" I. -i1igc3te [he r,rilles and natit:nlS~m()"t ,trrrngly touched b rhe Lunar Exalte 'I bu' [0 set rhem " part oft' m h~' civ"" welLe" . and 001 histicated

rmef , ()f tble'Rec.lrtt an, he areas of he Thre h kJ 'lose, to the Inland ~e I.grba:na:n seeieties dt te:~ . rom the civilisations ofCt~a't[on because pf an array f recln 19iQ,b 1. anc (;1J I [If ~J ,']fI-tten', es 3-1:,d 'he-

ause,"{ be' ,e' vssive ' ui 'I' r ce'o - he Lun Ix~l, . d. ]jar.h3r~a:rt'5 are a breed apart, mdoctrinated into a, u ture t'hal' I' )] t~ 11 srra ightfonval'i value I , ]\( nor

rrei ! ,gd1 nd l nd i v i lual ii [y,. A a er genera )1 ~ I' ~ (f ,I i' 'I ar t~ !'f~ tage j the 'barba,I' i,ml$l)~ v« became rlae perfect weapon to use agains', "becarlet 'Enlpir:e dll~ lu'@re gener~nYl9,gmh_' '1'1,' 'x ~, lief'Y' an'! Pe, ,] at «Qve their lu ar h:n"ds to. [be 'fdoge'-, bf the ""'If rid.

'~~'Ba.Ibilrtatn,'~' andf"\~ava e~' aTe elL Labels of shanl "

but I)f rkL. The civihzed nat! on ' see only hUliorv' ~hildr~:n and l' ath,er ter~,":. Yeti he' rru'11 i' rha , a1thou . c tIl,! id. It~on~ a"v, fling a [.be e ,ge' ltilf C,re~, ar1ion Ia€',', large hQuses and 'Soph~tica[ed u~fJ'l&j flh"

rUe . a v~ Ige' wo u [d ['0 r t r,ade her ][c'pc:y 0'1' brave Til,

c1ever ~. If·<eH~- ,e ~nd d: ,e ',_M' iLl,a 'n ~, 'Ire- t - ~

d.ble ,Tfi:fd5trl;p fa r 1l dozen ]DsJ[lces

:riOIS attack as individuals) smashlnz into the 'Strongest TIe! in "u, e'_~ ',r't '0 'win glory. By . e .rerlv poisonin, a rival, a Guild. merchant 'may sllnlr into 'her victin l' S position. Her barb arian co un ter J art stram lies a 'F i v !l before his famllv' ~ eves, then asks them ICO present grievances 't ha' her S~.fO rd and purse rue ~ repared 'to c u re ..

Barbarians' lives are usually brie but of, en, glorious. ':" ')' and th cuh iva ed fieids of the civilize _ nations, the lan' ~ grow harsh and unpre ltcrable. he W'yld.~5 influ ... ence s~eps in more strongly near Creation' ~ ragge r edge, ,A wise sava ze sn ells the wind for SHan e OdOIS and watches for subtl mutation of nearby plants and ani .. mal . Thee faint varian es warn f)f gr ater danger' sma l 1. chan, es can. he; ra ld the charge of pa tch work bess I S or. the ea rthshaking stirr i ng of a 'behemoth.

Ever wi h ur the W'yld the 'I ntar ed wilderness 110,' :s numerous natura] dan sers E:1.c~ ts of alood-fr ezing wind from, the Elemental Pole of Air can silay a hunter. , efore he sees hi brea rh ru rn to ice" Loca car l' ores nd .lea.dly Fir, Age" .ius join with the se env ironmental 'hazards to prov lde ,cj seamle ssl y has tile rni lieu.

Ci, ilized expe • .it ions im 0 the wilde ness otten fail bel a use th ~ y co ns ider '[he en vi rorunen t the ir enern y . Used ro a landscape that ha he, n tamed 'by civ'iHza6on; rhev (:Olne prepared to dominate I'~' e land ~ and . i acc-ordingly. Natives don't concern themselves with try i,n,g" 0- defea' 1 the nat u ra 1 o die r he cause rh y don ~ r 'I re at It lice a foe. They're 3. part of it: food.shelter and, a srr an measure of safety can be had in ~U but the most desolate p] ces. The \vi]derness is a continuous [est of heroic virtue . It' .. he ource f v ryday ,glory an a pride for most ba[bari arts. Honor and generosi [Y' beg iI' with, providlng ssf ,tv and succor for the.trib e.then exrend to war, ju srice and sharnani ·'lTI •

'-1fE E'E,TWEEN Tl-IE WYLJS'TEETH

Wi thout the com plex hierarch i es of agrarian soc Let ~ ies, - iarbariana le rn 0 \ ork in harmony 'with the land around [] sem. W.ithout ~erf' af'~,d artisans, each f:~'L'mUy l~,a '[p use i" 0 n Wi,I arn:d mlLllS,cle ~[ e !ficje.n.dy a, P '<ihl . Lac 1 n~sourc~s fu,el batbari '1 techno~ogy put feast'" ()'D d, e long table and detennire . he tool, and m,emods.u 'ed by raider, Wha' ca'- ~Il· be imm di,a.r ky~, [he{i~d fLun the ~and tItus be a ~'~lfUj(ed through trade an 'pHlage.

TEe ';,ll.l',GY

BElr.baf'~~,ull techno~ qgy heghu with ,the land ~[nd is uli ima' ely] eh.ol, en to it. B'if ar'aTh·, ,ant1~ t dr' \'Vavnrv 'be ':, .es [0 adult?S, by ~"" 'rui' tni .. ~ , he Ql [0 lab Dring ItO fil, \~otksh~J' Or a. lnme. EVler,? Qbl,@;~~odied adult, ,u'dler.s

17

li'l! I' •• r'l ""' r. ..1'- ..

food and pr1epares for", 2Lr. B:,][b tr tarn see spec ializat ion a we k tess; sound 0 his - ace, the art isan s acri iCIf!'7 a P art of h is po rent ial for the rou tine of the forge or. the safe qr of the hearth"

The Lunar Exalted encouraze this attitude, feeling tha t evervd a y r i besme n and po'[en t i,al Ex a I, L" (JL l ik e will be stronger and more prepared '[0 strike at civilisation.

with } nnplex c ec E' ion-making str ucrures an it

specialist-driven economv. It is considered to be far better [0 ' rade tor )f o sein fmished go cis [ron region that can. support sophist teared artisans,

This doesn' mean rhar barbarian wares are crude, , n er ior thinas. ,A rri' al arri I 11S work can be a rued i urn 'for , tory elltng magic Ir [ned kine. The qt:uaht} rha rese ts from these heartfe I r, d tualistic effo rts makes savage ar . a valu d cornm .. jt)'-rom 11 intricate I -a.rvin,~' of rh L inowan to the ta r ooed man kin swadd 1 [ng. c loth es 0, the Dune People, However, fe'l;l rrtbes tolerate the idea

that one [ d'~ n [hLl,~ utcrea e (i~ e g, (') ls.

becaus the' environruenr '~s. such a. critical influence on t:ri'bed Ufe 1 "hrnpe$'"' th 'kind" f arti:(~cc' 'ri '(:11 era; "-I en ICIr, te. TI1:e nomad of the Southwest are famed feu.'"" be "mall (liIlYN ,e[ish.es rh. y keep ~ r luck and for ents ihs t i11.,a~niouJSbr disassemble into easv-tc-paek comp rients. Tl e·. uild mal e h: i k . ra e 'j\ itL th [ _ for [be ,e exotic items. Those same 'e'Eishe;S line the

mantl es of we 1.1. to ... do househo lds i' hroughou t the Sc aveng L~ n ls and he: .err S. of the imperial le ions are basel off of 8 sturdy Delzahn design. 1vhlny tribes even learn to work Wyld,,"_ wtsted materia Is into tools an weapons, .:;" ad thou h rhev are' ~r rf{ I-lg , it· dghtening' to look 9.[1' thee creations often compare favorably to the handiwork 0:( cities ' ell as Nexus an Arjuf.

Even thou zh hey', ck a distinct artisan class, barbarians hOOCH' the heroes 'who bdng them new innovations, Such heroism isn't just the ,. lIff of old legends: Lunar Exalted and mortal he: oe are always returning ro their tribes bearins technologies scavenged fr 11TI the First Age orloot frum civil'! d enemi :". E, ery vital craft has- a. story associated with it, A,[ '[he apex 0 such achievements Lithe I;: biB y to work mooH'jl.v,eran art granted 'Y Luna ",10 h [ worrhj Exalted.

N ECESS,]I' rJIES

Barbarians: re 1.' expert: armers, ,I OS[ ha e a rrong bias aga irlj' t pe asan t 's to i t cons-ide ri ns i it S 1a v e 'walk, Accordir~glY'i marry 01 th se who lee' me cantive (, more ~ e , ! ted h. .rbar i In '[I Ib . ate pr,e sed i'-;l,' 0 rhe Ie ..

mean [ug task 0 f ag r [ell hura ~ Iavery, A rno11g n omad ~ agriculture i ilnpo, :ible and especially scorned. Wan .. ded!l, .tribcs hun I, gather a:11 fi"'h whenever tL, can, Hunring is especialh~' emphasised, as H 'hone, sk 11$ tbat

apply to ra id ing and war a t~, en. [0;: the ring is more oft en c task or chi dren and the elderly but no senstb e arbarian would ignore the {J[ por 'unity to harvest edible plant's 'when he'y appear,

D1ET

T 0,-11 lire, a :-H eta '1'1 fe-oo. supply, most ophisticai e . barbar ians keep he rds, Herd an imals are the 'most com r' mon ba- i of trade' and rhe 11L10St cornmonl y stolen property. In th North the iceu alkers gO' so' fc:']" as '[0 idenrHy hernselves by " he animals rhev he ·d,.

Regardless of region" live~tc.lck thef l'-', U • u~ny pun- shed with a. painful death, since S'I es Ung animals threatens [he lives of an et eire" ep' .. \X/hit. - outca sts may >' eal from their former k i n, most 1 [ vestock r hie ves are 'fro rn other trj es, The' prac to Is jus I 00 vile to occur bctwee n ,I lied clan s, ~Man.y tribes cultivate eud: rc ra: iOI alize live s tocl theft from their enemies, though em ploy ing [he tactic o '0," en an provoke i ull-blown war.Brill, [he po ten . la 1 spO'~] are great; ~S ide '-, om ae 0 j jan ima l

har outcasts rake, rnosr the I ts aregrand in. scale. Mounted. robb ers )['. en in herd Into tamp des, then r m the 'beasts back to the . hi eves ~ horne te rri tory,

acking farm, fe'w bar arian eat civilized raples such BlS dee or mine '". Cere-a] o·ra,· ns make a I1I11U1. : I a t mo re ~eadily than [: he meat, seeds and root veeetables pre-

erred b)-f [ ibal P .oples. ,As :a res u 1. , obesiry : .nd diet-related illness. is rare amorur be rbari 5lU tribes. Likewise, the hardships of the landand W)rldd,efonnities cull. rh 'weak As a resul ~ '0, r rians tend to' b - ' 'Kra ,rd in, Ir .. il-y heal ly' people, for all d1O-,>C who are not die in the first wee ks of I i fe ~ Mce tare ei th er large and t rong 0:[ li ith e, and wiry, . lepending on theirar cesrrv.

'Mc_my arba tans Ire ,n' mads, 1vl:o· -_ , ·l]O\V a, f~un,i[ .. ' lar rou e~ passed down 'by their ancestors and adjusted du to d1.€ nvirot ment, el croaching CLV ilization or -he~, 111 of I h:e'ir gods. ~1ost n0'l11ads (o.Ho\\( h[e-rd ~r'im,;:A;s IL long th~ grass Land and f)'tle pp es. . _ nm,e take b~:u: ["ito ry based the 111i -1 ,tt :n path,::; f de :r! w]i . ye diL, nl, 't ... od-on and other ~ni,[l1a1s. Otbers keep do[ne sticated b.erdst driv'~ng thern a]on,g flo> ,hey '~oHow the best [as ... [:UI~. D ·'-spite I ,elf roacuing lifes-tyle, nom 1 ,~ca' ~ b~l, e-

n end~l[ring e.ffect on 'me lan·,·, '--one eorra,~~,p buff.alo jumps ,and c~lch, .. do nom-ad I-~er['i~or.y.

No~nS!dic 5tl1""\ iva[ is U~1JJt1.nV de ,'. ndent on huntin g~lJthering! Bves' c:k and 'r,~ icHng" or-mali y, n 'madk: ['f.,ails pass throu~h 1:b~, 'best graz'ing ianJ aV~li.l~ ble.,

C . . .' t I 1L ' I,

QU1_ etl' lO'l -- el w,e:n tn S '[lor '[:l~ vest pastures IS

r¥pi.calh m,c'[ou~~ince lexii..: to ~n arid h;od. hi, a d - ,d, 8eri[enC~ f.or a rdbe q( liera~ts. '-. Oln;f1dic :nEJ.iigi6m ~n:e, [U] ,'I' pr mi- ing ,bu,- b·., e priQr~i ie. TI[ go.s gi·~ e

,- he' rrtl e the ~ n imals they need "'IIJ -~ they must setze evervthing else for themselves.

,f\ 1:" the same time, [e' remarkably easy for.nomad ~ to r.e' ita - im i [at ion into c i \! i ize .), cie I:V. They j U~ I: pac k U " and l-eave - 0'6 en returning in Hto'h-rnin ' raid to he rry or de, In 'Y [he source of their irritation. ln recent years, Luns r Ex, 11 e i have been curl ,. ~ n.g this trend an eli guiding nomads to un-n'- e ; at. ing for.m,idabl.e hordes thar threaten the Threshold and beyond. Iurhe South, Exalts test [he strength ot Paragon's Pier ecr, Asidefrom harassing his eoldiers, rhev grant an h morable dea [:1 to barbarians that the Paraaon has mvsricall y enslaved,

As 'I he y organ iz ' uncle r m ore act h. e Exal ted leade r .. ship, manv nomad have turn d 1·0, pa' roUing [3;, le rou es in search of tribu te. Guild cara \ an s do '[he i.r bes [ -. avoi: ~l paying, 'IL nOJ11a :1· can cha se r : O\JVl1. " he slow I veddim ... .ra);,. n carriages faster than [he merchanes C.:: I n witch routes. As a result, the, merchant princes keep

m riculous reo 'rd~. f when ro ex~- ,- nomad ic i l-Jrl~i m and how much of a, ~ 'to i l" to budge t for ~

I\lthough 1110 st 11. 1111ad- 'U 'e swlf , S' urdy animals for transport ~ :6.ew rr ove on fo· n, Orli, n " e xp . ed to con ~ i .. tions where no r-i.dh'!!,g animal can survive, nomads wh.o travel )11 foot are known f r rheir unmateh d tenacity. In the North, icewalkers nill 'their animals on cover- e , 'In an .. drawn sledges w he n [he beasts a re too s ta rved to stand. Bv contrast, [he infar '_ us Lune Peor [. rrav 1

•

h· hr. follow 'i ng the' human p.rey from whom they deri \ ,e

-fa od, wa rer, {no ls a nd we apons.

,SETTLE····ENTS

Set led barbarians use rough, serviceable dwellinzs made from \. harever material '(h~y have' n, hand. No t a verna or mar ke ts ex ist; bar barians trade person to person, clan 0 clan or n-ile to tribe. The general rule u one dwelling per fan1ily~ though shamans an initi. I .es in' 0 rribs l ecret societies i( such as those of warners or of menstruating 'vV'0r:11n} Ina.y require a_er arat po tn fult1L taboo or [- 0 pra.cdce rituals.,

A td ba l chi-: f ll,StmU y 11,a - the hu:gest d we I H n,g~ In th[r.

East~ tinovv·an chiefs '~,'i~- e in, longh.ouse.s 0:. . TCal halbj -fur n i : he - \:vi' h lli'. ha. ~ver luxuries the people (: all pro· vide. F:trrher e~ '[ rr[ee,hOtl"e co[oni,es '~IE]rve the-;l-inn[e purpose for d1e nati e.s - 3nd P' c'\ ide ~l conve ien Ined (Jd of exec. n'tal] 'wh.lJ crhninal· are ,j e' , o-nl the. c}ri,efs litl1cnn)f. T-r~,e chief umnarried wa,rrt at's 3Itd hn ~ P' tant gu , ts . well -in ' his large horne,. Whllie it ser, ',es as b.:ib:d lord!, C01llrt~ honleslJe.a- and barrack '-J he t, 11 t necessarily ,the own,et Or. master6f the p.la~~. '1vlany trlb~s c ·I~ . at. :Pl .~ [- he 1 2I:il t I e~"d·.;s Oli· au '... "'. h. ar, responsible r6,r '[he' upk!~~p of the h1U ,and,~ by extenS,j,an.i t b ~ fi nallces r-Jf ,- n - entire tr" be.

In, ·1- her 'regton."· the pa '[€ - , [, pe t~ m't, '~l 'II! . ~n h., Ci3o:ra [ fia i 1 s of gllled Westi.! rn 'p ffita:· es co the subsurtao®

5"0 " ~IL1N'ES

Eassf!ct OOlMll b, ,lie Lunar E)fuhed a' rhe Star;' of their exile ~ gimes are il W;.1;Y of r ckonlng loca iel I anti Jisle mce rh: ougl' [f.Ei, ii[iOlL~3L stcri .. ana vice veri a, A sDngU'ne is a 3Iritular. path whose [ n marks recall important myths, ['Uiba] hi tory nd occult lore, ru·~ mneme nic eviee, ~,( ngilne':s 1 r 3 wise .nOI1L'1.iad know I he a 'p Ox lrna e di " ~ nee she ~, traveled, the f~a' u.Tes oftth,e land and any po~ib~,' OOl~ or da nge '- . The original rongU.lrtC!5 DNisn~~ along,:vtL h Crear ~ on d urin g t1'1~; rear Con ~ag~on, The S i 1 ver Pa c t ' epk pains to revi "f the m atEerwar bu' [heir e orn ~8ren,'~t alwavs hOIOlI("Jh. Ma.n1f songUnes are Inaccural:e, som imes r ang'fa 1 Iv

o..tab,y more are recent invention ~ asshaman used the technique to record tribal history.

The true value , f the " ofighn~~ arise when a shaman ' (a ve Is th~ln~ BOlTI le songl: ne s rie. ' a e the exclusive peoperty of 'r~Ba] ~V sties, who Q~"~V share th~' with ~ pprentices or !u& such as the lunar Exa lced. A son zlim adept see ~ the land as a Jbook of secrets: eacl eat, Ire corrtains a 101' or iba I ~I re ~ nd r'equi res th proper cer monies to ~~!J1.1y ra erse, - I~ erus rural danger, First ·Age ruins and sorcerous lore ean re €.: l-b 'm'.;elv s in th. s,ymbG i~m,of!each land-ill rk, 1-. ading - n Exalt .' imp r 1- clue '., This is \-vhy the Silver ,act introduoe.] [he custom to noma ~,c tribes. With. ~he h,elp rOf sen,iI';l'E!iues, a Lunar hero can l",erl ~ '~' ver ~·ec.t~ts that even. the EKal' ed "have fo eo t, _ n,

,Bt:c21u eo [heir llHJ$l(,'Jd-

ins, S' -:. -linf.!S are common to man y d isparare trl bes, 1 ut . ~ ou iern barbs -ianshave -, 'en the best at keeping bern ree I f,~rro!~ The arid terrain of he _' u 'h allows ,na'_ul'al (e.G rures

to st nd for a, little longer; ~l-e' .. Wi'll 'n~ t erosioi 8fnd natural up he val dES - orr th acc:uJracy of some pa.'(h$;ong~, or rhe pe ,pI" have. settled into one plac and, o LonQ'er need to' reme m ber . he ane i en I ern i [ ..

cham .' rs of Southern herders. Successful settlements arc faun l~d near reliabh s urces 0' fres ' wa ... ter ~ pm Cure," ,6)[ Elny animals the

- .1\ ..J

IIX l, 'pOSS sses ano en ou g, 1 '.I 11'"

tamed wilderness '0 supp rt hut rins and gathering 0' er he long term, M, ny barbarians wil l 'f' .k (and sometimes embn ore) \1Uyld influence in reuu n 1 0[' these resounx s+ A well rha provides fr, ' h water nla\' cor .. er phi, U m fe.aruJi'es ha l lucinat ions and other chs .'lJge.'· ' , . rt - hese 'n~' s· cond TV concerns for a, tti be that' h9.s su f .. fered ,a seas n ,{ s t~u arion elf disease. T rlbes thai ab~n(;~Ofl taL..t ....... ..r ... '" aSfllio$1 ,he 'W')ld a.re l'laite~ bu ~th.ev<draw upon [etOUfC.~S hat "l I,.' life as \\len as .stran e po.xes.

20

•• ,-.- ~ di!;", , I "I. i " -_"oil" . r

.. - -oil - I 1 If.. oj. .e." ., 1 1I~i' ~I • olJ

For rhelrr art, Lunar Exalted of _en. auide tribes to l i: rtic Iar places tor 'th i r own pU'fP 'S~. A 1 )ngl use luay. sic' c top a. Finn Age ruin, i La tnhabitants warned b t sharnanic vi. ion t gua cl rlu plac wi h '·h. ir lives, or a tribe mav [eav a sacrifice for local gods '[.0 fL111fH a pact made bV a Lunar chief .atn. These ldiosyncrasie: rten dorninat e tribal cult re .. Tn velers can rarely co _n'- on the same CUSOOlns· holding true ]j'Olll on settlement hJI the next, II: ~ the taboos of one

·lioca.ti,. n I" a.y an zer the gods in an the -or-as tus ked ca: '11. als 1'1 place .' hoe cat-eyed vege rartan of the last v [11 age, N onethe les s, barb arians do hav ... ome com ... · 1: "on value •. , . 0 c ':3 oos ha: un ' ern line' he virt res of a. sworn vo\-v or generosity rarely arise.

] n a society of heroes, governrncnt 1S chaotic 'and some ti mes v iolen t lout also less [0 lerant of the scheming

TAB'" 'S AND THE EXAL rrn

M ~ It taboos revolve arouru ~ marrers of 'l1rvival ora command rom H .. ri: 31 god.Common taboos include:

II . he Sacrosanct. One or more members of • he tribe must be tre-ated in a certain manner, 'Sacrosanct barbarians are usuallyshamaru 'Or chie .e , Common vers i· n <. f tI, i" t~l· 00 601 1- id £lOy me ~ rorn s epping h:. that person .. shadow, wearing a. cole r reserved fat one of them or meeting their gaze. 'The punishment V.EU aes, bur is usually death 0]" exile, In tribe where this taboo is followed, 'Exa.hed are usually considered 0 ", e ,'2 rosanc ..

• The F· rb~_ den 'lac. ~ 0 tinarv :tl1 mb r of the tribe cannot enter or e~ en approach a certain place ..

This 5'~' e is often a place where the tribal shaman zoes 0 commune with. the ,i7>ods or where secret societtes conduct: [heir rituals. Ii1. this CR' '~I' hose allowed t 'eI.U:e, th fori idden place choose the pU' li· hmen . 'lor -cbr who i n e wi 'bo it their leavs ',.

• Th,e Wyid, and ttrH:,~:: Except for WV'~.d. barbarians, most rribes have stricr taboos against as oclaring wil'h the Wyld:E], any torr r. This is a purl }" aboo; minor in ractio l.S are treated with purfflca ion rituals such as is-olation from "he tribe or beins for - idden tt share food or water with other men .. !1)e'l"s of th .. ribe. i.; X reme cases (such a rhe development of an actual \Vyld pox) call fur death or exile ..

A'o[ e rrorn the Wyld other purity aboos exist. Infants born with cauls are' ourine y exposed ! 'Y the Linowan, who believe that rhev will event ra By ~ el:ray tL t! "t"fe, [he Haltans "RIlman aT' isola ed during mense in. :mal1l.Y tribes throughout Crearion because the~l are considered to he unclean untiltbelr bleeding ends .. An tribes check their livestock for i' "purl". ie •. Many of th . .': stand ud' are . uactlcal; de orme animals m:~gll[ ~ e ta i 11 t eel 1 y t:h . Wy ld ~ an are rno rc 1 i ke I y .0 be in er i leo Whoh~ categories of animals (such. as pigs) 'may also be held as impure',

~'~'OC]l\ l T A B'OOS

Soc' al . aboos in:f]ue;n.Qe hO~T members of a. tribe treat each other or ourslders. The Jacka] Trib If '[he

. luth. J L1.{ t how '-'~ . ir a e I 0 '.' rangers and cover themselves \ ith red. scarves when i hey must deal with outsiders.In . he Ten Tr1' es, it's rude 0 discuss what a. tribesman said whlle he was intoxicate . unless she was a shaman in '[he throes of an. ecstatic visi '11, "h3,maJl~· are u ually granrcdsnrne.lenlertcv regarding these taboos, sine tt's under, rood that a.sh£' an . ' , otem or hereccentric nature may make these taboos impo ,sible' o,_ , UO\v. Exalted are a lm ost aJ wavs exe rnpt .f rom minor ~ 0 . la l '[aha os.

I "

CREAT1NG.AND RE _ O'VIi G T)\BO'IS

M .,.,. taboos I~ e flu . 0.' ed 1 y s h aman " or EKaJ ted. The character rnusl spend a long period of time (s month

0'[ JU10re) or utili ... e 81 dramatic event (Storyteller's dlscretion, battles and pla [!UrtS· are appropriate) '(0 convince .he i rlbe [hat the new tabco i. needed. The me licin W rke - Of _. alr' pl .. ')' er ma]« a: had· rna lire' loll ~ r the foH ~~d:ng difficulty levels. Removing a taboo ofa given severity requires I additional success (or Z if the taboo is practical or deeply Ingratned].

Difficult l" 2

J

4

5.

Se'verit,~ Mil 1:

Example

Never kin an albino animal; it belon to the t ods. ·Never touch the .', a] outside ",0 a barth .

N~ver stand iI a sha{na:n~s ~hadow;; '[0 do ~:O .means dearth,.

eV'er 5h:. d rhe· bi( 0.1 of an. h.art 'Hthle .·n, 'my; U Ie I r~.'nguL '[['Oll, n:r cru ~h[ng in ~ read.

Se'U' i O'us Sever'

2J

and backstabbing that characrerees civilized rule. Barhat Ians don' t be [:~ eve in. a bsrr ~ ct poli [i ca [ . - he 0]' ies; the y t ule by meri t, need and ri rua 1 demand. And whether it.' 3 ac knowledged or not ~ the tr ibes also organi ze t hem "'. selves in imitation of and in the shadow of the Lunar Exalted. As gods, Invincible lords or rhe progeniron of bestial 'u:oyal lines, the Children of Luna shape savage society into 8. model that reflects Lunar valiue:$, Under Exa l ted guida nee l' bar hat tans have de v ed oped EI. society that respects pro ven ind i v [dual achievement - Tr l ba 1. law gives little consideration to' those who do norhing to pta. ecr 0'[ g[01r'~ fy themselves, Even the lowliest tribes we rn an can ra ise herse 'I fin to a POS] t ton 0 f powe T . 1:=1 er deeds speak for her.

For this reason, a sirtgle chieftain rules most tribes.

This ruler is 'a (ann. idable lndiv idualr a veteran ra id er ) cons u mma te t rickster 0 [. shaman ],C v is i onarv who has earned his place in. the legendrv of the tribe. However ~ his rule is not an unconditional one, the 'tribe' must recognize his ach ievernents. SOFne leader'S require shaman ic approval to take the th rone, 'This approve 1 signifies that the gods (a.no the 'E~~hed) deem. the cand ldate worthy. In ethers tribes, the custom is [I gather a cadre of oathbound warriors who win defend the cand idare's claim, In tribes where the affair"~ of war and the household are. sharply d ivided, the blessing must COIn,,;; ihrO'm. the m a 1:[ iarchs, elde ["':5. 0 r .officer '. \v ho C01111',() [ the homestead -e

Lineage Is an. uncertain guarantee of power, Cer'fl_'3.in.~.y- the children of heroes seem '[0 have tll greafIer propene i tv for great ness - O[ at least [he s tOl'Y te 11 ers w i ll portra Y' i, t tha t ~;ra'y - bu t a wea k heir 'is rare :~.'y tolera ted. unless he serves a powerful tribal interest. Such a chiefrain might survive to be the plavthlng of the shamans or the ha [1 ... keepers. YJ.,I ea k lords are oft en hobbled with complicated taboos O~· given difficult quests by 'the shamans, These 8 erve to el iminate the pro ble in 'by dernan ling that [he lnrd ris'e to the' chaHenge or die .. hi any event~ a ('hie:ftairil. who C.8IJ1.1'L o.r ~von~t a.scribe '[0 b;~ rbarizL'n vinues isn't ·to be to'llo-wed blindly; [here is no d'i vinemallda:~etoprotectaw·ea.kling{r.ora.his.sL!bject~ .. Fe\'V barb~J'ian_$ can stcnttac.h t~ki'nE orders frontal co\vaTd 0r an oaxhbFe ~k Br .

To pr~v~nt hli'l-1tf!rlraJ\c,e' frDl" prop.ping up ~ we~.k ruler ~ ,[l1allV -rri'be s pra.c "1 'ice Pl i. rnage:n.:[tu~e-: the Splilt·[ in ~ oflan.ds and \,I"aluableo ~nnO.L1g the{~Yr\1'j.vitlgln'Ft·pdr,nIg nf a de:ad chi.e£, .A [no de ~t 'he [r ]night be- Gon tent ·to 1 i ve' '~I;idl his ~U'OI~t'Ed POr.dO.L~ hu~ most c'hild'l"e'1'\ I' '~~ cn ~u [1e::ElI.i.~t equ.al their pBrell,e~ 'weahh~ Of CPU.F~l the ei2l'8:ies'[' '~~Py [0 ~c:Rn [his IS 'to-&.ehe E:h.eir s.ibli.ngs' portions] n'tak~alg: &UCAZ,e;sS f on -a bio (Jdy affair for t14l~.n y tl·i'b.es;. In a ·fe;·w s4tu,aJtiorl~, two a r thre.e sib'~ inisEiLll ~1 y [urn ,aga i 1'1.(: th.e n~.SLj agt;e·~ill.g '[0 co .. rlll~ tb.e trihe when the chJS'IL-s.etu.e:s •. Such .,;nnlngenlents ar:·e· m::are:ly s~(:c:e ~:fu l ~u1id IDle·tely

postpone the frarricidal bloodbath for a few ve.a:rs.i, but a, fe ViI s i b II, i ngs do manage .- 0 combine '[he i r tal enrs and become effective rulers,

Once a chieftain comes to power ~ '[he tribe returns '['0 normal. Settled tribes usually kill. or banish '9J.lY remain ing ,d. issenters. MOore ad venturous d iss idenr . s rr ij ke OU[ on. their own, creating 'new settlements ·tar from. the i r orig inal homes, Pel rt Df the Scavenger La nd ~ surprising diversity comes from this CUStO·I1,l.; as North .. ern at nd Easte rn advent u rers la y c la i m ro land closer ro the heart O"f Creation ..

Of C()U rse ~ nomads ha re an e asier r ime res is t iug an unworthy ruler .. Born to ride or walk, they can leave 'behind theirproblems more quickly and easilvthan 'their S~ [tied COLlS ins .. lif they know the·'Y can esc ape the'i r' riva ls, losers in. a leadership struggle often gather their followers and an i m alls and leave,

ME D1C.llN E .. Jl '"Vll TCJ-ICRJlfT AND SHA-M:AN]SM

Ot her th 001. the ch i efca~ ins j shamans are the 0 ther paramount powers ]1')_ tribal life .. Somerimes, a chiefratn will also be a shaman. Most barbarian rulers have some ref igious dJu ties rela ted to the I r rule - gods that on 1."1' ~l1e, rill a y propi ti are 0 r s acr ific~ only th ,ey ma y 'In L ke, However, an.elder shaman will ins ruce a neophyte king in the proper ,:va)l'S- [0' conduct these sac red d uti e 5 .•

Barbarian society is not divided into secular and religious spheres as sod eries built on the immaculate Philosophy are. EV'ery member of a tribe engages in daily rtruals that are us ua 11.1 y learned dl,1,'ri:n.g rhe rrtbe's rites of passage, Shamans are non: JUSt g@ti1ered. from. the youth who show a. special facility for tribal rituals, rhev lU~US' also be marked by 'the gods. Signs of such fa.vor varv fr01TI tribe to tribe and include homosexualitv Or gender aphasia ~ rhe ah:~ li ty to see in v isible spirtrs, speaking in tongues ~J.rHJ sch lzoph renia, An. e lder S11:21 man notices the. a P iri .. · tua l ac ti viry and. eccen t ric habi ts of a p osstb le in i ti ate and 'takes hhn in.to her care, cOlllsllIldng o:mens :@jncl the· ,gocls to confi r m h er chor.ce:~

From t.haI m.Oi!i.n~n1l: ol1.\vE!i.r(t ,S}, trib~ll sh.an1an is con"" sidered '[0 be lIn intennedjary- be ween. the tribe; .and [tiS ,gods. This 11.l'e·ans Ith:~n a -shaman is :B!J mortnl. v/ho den.l!s w g.·d) [0 c~d d i v 'j: ne po~ve rS1 be the'y E~a'l ted ~ 0 f tl1 e sp i ri t ~lodcl or .fra,rn the \lIyId. IObvious:[y., t'his lTInkes a skin~~ sh~unan one of '[he craftiest and br~ve$t mot~als ll1. 'C.reatibn~ since sh.e u1a.~ be (;al~"ed upon to deal 'with pOl~vers. hat a~e e·asi.l.y capable of des'[F\lying h,er pe~ pw!

The shanlan U8U ally' begins by 'In alb: ~.fi_,g a long r renlrJl b~rga i.n with, a I.oc~ll d iv init')' i· This '[o'~enl 81CU H$ the

1L 't·' d . .... .~ d 'k",;-l..' d·I.- • h"

sua.man ~ ~UL e anCl [t_ '~rocate w,.::t-en ~,ne .... aa:s wn

m.YSltica.1. forae5~ but the lH!~lp doesr~''t cOr[).e fot tfee. Shanuu1t& Qwe chim,HU\[e {~, ~H~'Jri~s of taboo.~ anclobHga.tiot's) to- iJ:-'teir ture,lary gods; the ~'Ji'icle' lllcrf8'· es in 'll',.~pqf.[io.n '[0 d:te' be~-f~ pOW'Gir. This. be~i.ng isu~t all"

1- ."is"

r_

,- Me EtF---jjfHAEYte=aSE"m' • I .... -"p'" ·--me=,' __ mn="'C=z',· "jw'iFf'=jifftfETGE FWfitr -W;I ......-C-·'FfT·.V"..,.,...,··ZT ,F we:

.,'71 I!i'b

sort at ~~i9.111iHar1'~ 'Co '[he' shaman. Any obligatlons the shaman has [t the sp~. ri t c; re not reci prne a I except to whatever exren t the god wishes ..

A, clever shaman will ensure rhat lTIOS~: 0 f her ohl Jig;) nons ~ re In u nd ane: H ke a'[ 1. barb ar ian s, shama ns despis e the thought of slave rv and know rb a t any bargain rhev make will serve the god better than :~'~ serves the tribe. Some powerful (or foolish) shamans have multiple rute larv gods who enmesh them in clumiuage so strict that rl1J~y' lose all semblance of normalcy. V ClWS of silence, blood sacrifice, walking backwa rd and bizarre 'speech all mar k a shaman de ep 1 y ent~ngie,d in chiminage. Shamans foUo'w the guidance of their tutelary goOd whenever '[hey encounter strange supernatural forces or when th.e'y need extraordinary advice", Tile totem.serves as an informant, advocate and occastona A defende r. The simp lest mat ters to, de Ell 'W ith are med [cine or witchcra .. t; the god provides some 'advice about the matter at hand, and the shaman uses her own skills as di tee red.

M,f dici 11e i ncl u des n a ,_ ural and occu It ski Us rha t directly 'benefit the tribe. Herbal cures, exorcisms, inciting battle-rage and. investing the chieftam w lth authotttv are all fc~:rn1J5 of medicine, This C2t'l1L be as

.'

dramati c as presid ing over a ritual comba r a r as mundane as CO'LH1Se llng a troub led C Duple. Shamat 5 don J t work for free. Tvpicallv, they' ~ .re accorded special respect and can expect the tribe to provide a relatively comfortable standard of living, If the shaman makes reasonable demands and does a good job! the tribe won't resent this, In a world inundated with rhe super .. natural, a shaman's work is as palpable a 'benefit '[0 the sept as a hunter's,

Wi [C' h c ra ft is [,he ar r of harming others through normal or occult means. 'Witches lUrl¥ cause disease, make the land barren. a nd harm rlieir en€ rnies wi rh hostile maglc. !v[any tribes ascribe most or a,H, of their misfortune [0 mal ignant w irchcrnft . S omen: imes, the {is s um ption is correct, though the cause is d i'ffk:u:~t to. root 01:J r. Ba U' ba ria ns ha te a known wi rc h.

M os t shamans have a. touch ofw itchcraft in. their repertoire of occult techniques. ,A shaman might poiso n a local t rouble make r Or CUFSie an enem y tribe. Shamans a roe j e alnus protectors of the arts of w irchcrafr~' unsanc ioned members .1f .a he rrlbe who use witchcraft are hunted dowrt and punished whenever they are discovered-Using harmful mag,irc outside of the- Q to ce of s h aman is an aJ most un iversal taboo ~ so th€ en tile t r ib.,€: w il [ us [Jed] y ass filS,'1 in, the h U [l,t for a witch. 'Wi.tch, .. hatred em serve -riba] poli· ie as well; ~v~;\en a-shaman ·2iCC.~liS'~S someone ofblack magic, there are Iar~ty any n:ay~gy,c;hs~ A81ram~m~s TelPu~'3.tJon is wen earned, <since her 'ties [0 the locial god:5 pi:' l'I/ide' an except lena i abi [j, ty to ro O;~ au I secrets,

,¥ 'iiii'1-itlJiWdftEXE rwmdid-§ FE "MJHI1

·'S',-.-"1

T'OTEMS AND Cons

The Oceu1t and 'Cr-aft AbLli.t[~~~CQv'~r 'most '~S.P®ct'5 of at shaman's sk[fls'i but some of the unique facets of sharnanic knowledge come fronl divine instruction The shaman's totemfs) large]y determine how he prac ices 'his ,'1ftSI, 'his ehiminase 'and the fortunes of the tribe as a whole, M'aJI1Y shamans pass their gods, on to novices, e;as1LIrillg a continuity of ritual A new god can totally uproot tribal tradition, this is usually the cause of much unrest until 'the' new Sh~JUru1 and his god prove 'too useful or powerful [0 ignore.

'The archetypal tutor-god i , a spirit, but this need. no 'aJ"'ilays be the case". Exalted, Fair' Folk and even behemoths ran serve as supernatural benefactors. Special circurnstances ~~.pply in each. case, the seneralities of 'vhit"[~ are detailed helio;~:v!

,~ .

·p'w.r~t~ ~ A spirit IN'i ll work wi h a shaman if a tribe can offer something to furth:er i rs agen la" This

usually concerns di vine politics or the spirit's particular portfolio. Chin-linage is negorlared to serve these

n ","'~ ~'[~ In the N·;;··-Ol""1i"}..... r ~,.~ T' '~'"1;"'If'lIQ orG· ilisteninz [C' ~ c om rnand it' 'LI• c.. 1:"h" . am an to erect an ic e sculpture that :r;"jjll'"";I".J;.~

_' ~eu~~'iI . I,., ._ Ie .. ' !!L, ~,J.ji ._ [!11:;; . ~ ,[ lla~ .~ "" ~. ", ,', ,~I~'._ Cl, 1 I'b' .. _.'C. l.O)'1l1,,', .i"ll.U U,- .0 J\~. o-q:l '.';..:1; ('.t. -J. "'lJl c:. ,IC:~I_ ~..i1 _ ,,_ .. _ '!;; i.~. _' _, -. !'£: . [,[-0._ K.;iI.~~~

the setting sun eve.ry lunar month and never to step on a stone at night, granting it prestige 8J.).d f6:i1i:n,g i ts r i val the Thane of Shadowed Rock"

LunarExalted: The second most commoni vpe cftutelarygod (after the spirits), Lunar Exalted often shape the shaman in, order to' shape her tribe. Lunars of the sn" er Pact UlS€ chiminage to reinforce barbarian morality .. A Lunar Exalt: can, also use a sbaman to forge the tribe lnto a weapon against clvilizaricn or a. 'tool to serve her own interests. Kg_, .. K,Qshu~'· shaman de\c]_8[f.'e·s that no boy is man ~Jntn he's carved his sleeping bone from 'the femur OfH traveler. 'He also demands that his shaman. ten the tale of the extle of the Dune People when the moon is 'fuU.~ ~Q that they'll never forget their betrayal at the hands of civ i], ized hu man i t y ,

Fair Folke fair' Folk desire sustenance first, [iaiv(J1juJ sustenance after that and the triumph of the "\K'vld [as. fit matter of.convenience. Unless stopped, a.shaman 'with a faerie totem will transform his tribe i. rt to a W y ld cu 1. t and a hetd for h. is P atron. E,eca.use they are v u l.nera q l,e to, ;s·\cvO~",n. oa th~ j' d"l,e Fair Fo l'k are loa, be 10 make speclflc promises, preferri g" 0 reward the shaman 111 a spectacular fashian as a "show of ~[,ood fa,ith.'l' En the forested East, the Horned Diplomat of the 'K~'1dly Ones requires-his shaman to seed

the tribe with suspicions of 'witchcraft (h~ enjoys the emotion 'Of paranoia). At his: urging, young men venture :[:1)'[0 the deep 'Wyld to earn their .spears, Other tribes would consider the I ,'otned Diplomat's shaman to 'be a witch of the worst sort, "but d. e glamour of a fey patron makes such a .shaman diff'fcul-' to unseat once she holds 'po-wer.

01' her Exa] te ',:; 0 rher Ex a lted m ight serve as totems, but fe\v Exalts seek out such a fate [thoug h gi ven Lunar interest in. the tribes, :1.ny who do keep quiet about the fa;c.d. S,t.HL an impressed, shaman might seek one out for an. all i ance,

Solar Exalted tend to '[TIEa.n ifest their div ine nature in the -(orn! of supern atura i. skill, Th.ough tb. is m a y be epitome of heroic virtue, 8\1,,11, d Is lays don't always fulfil tribal expectations of what 3 gnd should 'be. S iderea 1 god s are' $0 rare as to be . racr icall 'If n onexisten l' bu '[ [;9, Iller" be r of the Gold fact iO]1 migh t atre mpt it, The Dragon P Blooded rarel y ste Q_P. to ell terra in hl.g sa vage be [, ie-fsj and, man y trib es 'know them wen enough to consider then" enemies.

M,any tribe's consider 'me Dragon-Blooded to be profane gods of 'the civillzed nations, who demand dishonorable chirninage and exclusive worship. A few' Terrestrial witches do reject the :Dyn~5,tV. These aren't often totems, but are oon1etin"M~;S secret teachers and allies to the ~DO.,t cunning shamans. These reclusive wild Dragori-Blooded of-JeI black magic in exchange fa]" the shaman's inHuence over her tribe.

T he Abyssa L·· phlV' the role of gods \D;! irh ad ro i t ness. M anipu lat i ng 11 ati ve a nces tor c u lts ~ Abyssa Is send dead relatives and rninor n~iracJes to' '\~'QO a.sl1arna11,. The goal. 0s usually to lure the tribe to a shadowland or orchestrate ertoug'b_ death tal create one, but a clever Abyssa] [11)8Y use his shaman to fulifillong term objecrives such as dl rupting trade 'or bolstering a shadowland's own pale troops.

Othecs ': 0 ther odd [ties mav se rve as-a sharna n' S tutelary god, A ghost [1~ight de mand all. ancestor cul t in exch£utg,e for nuag.ical. aid. or'SBcrets"fto:rn ,his. Fi[s1t Age H£e. ]3eh'~,mod1,s ha,ve little to offer .. ~av,e th~tfll lu~k:j{ ~h~nnan ,Gan liea.[fi to goad one of the d.~t:a.n.ge-d, glanl be~1i.t$ () ~lay the nibe~s etl.leruie"S;", In ~~.l c(ft~e:5j 'd e sh,alnan's sk]U ;TIJJ'nd 'the creature'~~[ n71·ati,·es detennin.[e the cb.i.m'inage~

WfijfiF

r

f

• ftEE' =

When ir come' . ) ,~. r[ 'i zn gods ( in .. cl iding unfami l,.. iar Exalted), a shaman is mor -' dependent on her ach" xate. A. totem erves as the shs man 1[S agent, nego .. tiating Of. (rarely) rugglrng with other gods. I' 1 he

ba an ha ' ~1 re pee ed rute lary g) i . he can negoti ate to the tri be/ s advan age, hut usus n y acqu be ru:r ther ehirninage to seal the deal, ,A shaman can" expect her [(J rem 0 fight fa h ~ bu It i C ;$: Hl"L t h es happens, The spirits, Exalted ant 7O!·tlir Folk involved are sometimes quit ,. aken l'\ irh L their" sl ia nan .

In at It cases 1, these s i tua ttons are ty lea 1 of barb a ria n r -hgiol1., Palpable re. ult ,. are preferred rver abstract levotion Shaman who a ,: useless 'r reacherous : an be ~r1d are overthrown; although their authority is

.r a ~ pie' y ';)'ive~· \pay [0 sa age prac .: c. h y. Replacem,en -, . ar-e chosen from 'the" ·trano·e youths of the tribe ~nd the tires cc ntinue.

· .. NERSAND SLAVE"

A [ [he b otto In of barba dan s • c i,et)' are its herders,

rimitive farmers lid. every ay hunrersv but )~luJ'd be hare pre ~ :'e] , 0 find a commoner \\1 -0 ehoughr his Bfe would be any better under the direction of a civilized lord, Bar bar ian so 'i e tv re cogn izes h onor: a ty ic al tri besman clo e ~,)f guaras his repi ~r arion and i'le· r he opportunity to prove himself when he COOl .. Nobtl ity 'LIt rim. 'tely prings from a man's dee 'I,. l a chieftain proves herself to be veak, mvone with rhe bravery and intel t igence neces ary should claim her mantle.

Of course, rough liviruz in 'he wilde n .~ rna .es : hese ambitions hard to f61lo\vT Most commoners have thelr hands fuU with the daily e -tort of· urvival, Onl y the. best HO'hn:rs are picked for raids and war are, so fev" COlTI moners h a ve a chance to re .. ~·; the lr me t tle. 0 nc exception is when the: tribe is at acked at its home encarnpme n[. On11110nel. become daub y dangerous rhen: rhey are not just fi .h.rin . for d1e:ir 'hnule , btu rerr. a rar, chance to ~:.tc, ul-,e' glory 'for their battle prO'Viless ..

,- non r uf:tigh,t :a-:' 0 p'ove h'i, ,;,ed: on he hunt; in WVld-[ouched.landJs~. the' be~sts can be jLtst ~s threaten .. , in a an en· '_ ty '1 rib_ .

ICOlnmoners are. not p c[_aHze(~. Ever¥ nunnbe·[ ._; the tribe nlJjst '~ea_m the sldll" n~ct!ssary' to .supPolrt rbenelve:·. Tra.ining beg[n'" ,'[ childl ,Dod' it· implrt~ 'ce is enl'h~rsi zed •. : uri:ng ri'tes Qfpas~a.g:e,. N e"tdivislo [ of farmens,)[ art ]sa:n ~ and wa, .. 11' io rs '0 a'or eJ< i ~ [! sn ll1.0 ,-'r barb8!rians . now a little bit dhout every "kill the trihe neetl ~ [0 ,~ [' "poe r, ,'-.: [i 111 i nd 'f v i lH;ll eO:ID n,one:r~ . :E!J.1'ie; '~n C"i,;vn for' th~ir aptttllde!. A tale:nt at sn~i tl1 may fU'ld hi mself

1, (1',.;1 Uc -t -' b. -'t~e than ht ne~Jghbors. but he would. still hun'[ for h'18 fi:1i1e'als ,mdJ:oespl'_ h· ve a n. Q-' flOp [yon his c:nrf_,. [fhe ~ha.~(es ~ao Inuch) h.ts ~.ielghbo!r~. wU.1 imly :[n - ke. d l'r 0""0 ;tilX ·[ad a.n, her.! - he ~.

O. net an.y ~ the only. speciall .rs in a ,- ribe .. re its slaves owned hy the . -·i ·e' chieftain. Sh .. C ,n do wi h the J~ ~ she p] eases: ki ll them, sell them 0.[ even 'free them if they sorru h w prove rha hey have honor, Unles die'v are earmarked: or trade, concubinage or ransom, - .la.es are u· ua n y P res eel ill to prod He ti vie' ] abor ItTI]'n,6d ia t~. y .. Set t led

b b . . '1' d" ~ I.":

ar anans se~ (;1 1 ize " captrves as it natural rarrnen l'

sin _ agriculr ireis generally-held 0 be an honorless task. and the ru rural occupation of a settled weakline. Thl . slavery is a hard Ute, hut not much harder than ,- hac ofthe pre a ~ RrtL n:-v ~ fet!J bar be dan 1 ):. erlord $ ha ~ e CJ mar am 1· . , .. [ton for public works, and being pressed into public labor

, c .

l-', H: cmn 0:11 t~,ray ,~! I· p asants 0 ue.

One of the worsr thin s that can happen. [.0 a slave is, '0 be sold" Ma.ny 'tribes SU' .plement their resources 'I.y raidin for slaves to sell to civilized e pie. The GuHJ i ~ mare than willing to trade '\Tell.-forged ~ eapons and €'X Jt lc t rinke rs 1: .. , HCq U ire the m l' fe .. ] i n g d e Rea lm ~ . appetite for slaves at ' n excellent profit to the Gui] J.

WAR,

'Battle elevates commoners to lords: victor) show; the go ds rha t a tribe [S worth y ,. A sep t that 'reg u ] ar] y takes 'to .. , he field grows to view i a: one. f the central aspeci , 0 .. it exis ence. Tl '., re are peaceful tribes who llve in isola t ion from the rest of rene W 1rld.; w he n they emerge rr m such isolation thev are usually overv helmed by violent competition. AId ough Creauon ]S vast, the lands beyond. 'the Threshold. offer inhabitants llt le tn th w Y' l'a e y ):r\l\e' ,lth" Nomad struggle ror he bes p a ths, The Fair Folk dti ve tribes into each orbe r ' ter itorv and dr ink fro m the pass ion .of bG t I le. S', H l" 'barbarian warrior . lon't jus r fv~ht ~. T survival, '\Vith its emphasis 'In. honor" ,glor) and generosity barbarian mon Iii I v o [en derru nd war,

,F EU OS AND RJTUAl W AR,F'A.R E

Honor (L ·]n~H1.d 'lond ,If se' end rei . 0,_ .• ", eal ~ng ftorn a tl (be q'f brea .' i - g- 'an oath to its chieftain Rr<e . WO 0: Ille SUlfesl w:'2Iry~:' '[00 a:[tract a wa.r p,t)[1 "if. '. 'uch d:ljn.gs insult the\vholi .s p ,nlerith. .g:' ,rganized r v n,_ e.]r 'ni caUY'1 [his C8'1 ensure stability, s,ince many triies are pa;lrt of conlplex w·. bs o~f euds and ~UiatL es 1:h3.[ .. tern fro-m a.ncien[ insults atlJ obHgarions. In SOH[!e case: these fe'll. . a~ b et\ve,t! n Exalted] ~ and each ri be dOle' it,. part to (lei~ver "he'~ ra~h of its go . [n a,ny cas.e Lunar cu,s,oom··, and bar'baria:-t CU~~; 11 .. a I.' lute'[I"t\l ined to the point where· a feud (l~n 'beeOH1; ~l high.l y -rituaU~e.d aff~.'ir", [-I "n. . .r souLe' im:es denland no''', iog le" - han tlnt mas ..

tere an e~ emy [ribe. So it is wid1. the "I : ULe Pe, p]. ; lPlho bel ie-ve that F\ [ '. outs ide't6 ~ate· gl".dl t fer a:nc e8ltIS I qfJ - n.c 5 . . 'I cribe 1- h.e· in· . d n~ '. . ~ [t] ,'<0[1 [, he crM[ed

fl:esh and bOll of their v· ctims.

Other 'feuds evolve into ~l strina ofretributive acts.

These aren J t a It>\1 a vs pet ty;, the Linowan use trees to fLu"L'h~r the i I" ieud wirh d1,e Halran nati'Qn~ felling the sac red con ifers of the i r ene in ies, Genera rion s of So r:-ruggle have permanently changed the: landscape; spirits of the pines and leafy trees intensifv the struggle in an effort to expand their own power. Even. ~ small dispute can take hu ndreds of years :- 0 set de, I nd i v td ual revenge 'k i, Uitngs can cross gene ra t ions, unt il [he ortgina lreason for the argumentis los'[ even to' the ancestors. Cou-nting coup, slaving raids or even chains of vicious pranks. cemen t an enm U 't'y 1 while prevent i ng' i r fromgrew i ng into full-blown war,

~4an,y rraduions exist eo tonna lize inrertribal war .. fa'[~. Lu n ar Exa lted often en co uragc th is as a way 'co rned late intertribal struggles, preserving their \. -arnors for rhe eventua I assault on civilization or a final contlagration 'With the, Fair Folk", The Exalted, guardians of two rival rribes H1J1Y even meet for a frank discussion of the customs to be used in their struggle. Wll_,e:;I1' successful, such arrangements can lead to an alliance, as a careful marriace or a divine pronouncement ends the feud.

Count ina coup is. a for m of r iru a:i wa rfare where the objective is to steal face from rhe er:te~ny. In, the Scavenger. Lands a ,\v::a rrtor ,of rhe Te 11 Tribes uses a r i tu at weapon called a. coup s taff to strike an. OPp. anent. Tb e enemy misht take a 'hard. blow -tro[n the coup staff:; but the, weapon isn't intended to seriously injure her. nf the attacker can get ;~"vay withour being killed or struck himself, 'he takes face fr.Dm his enemy. Nfi,fl(}t' disputes can ,aft~rll he settled with one b ],OljA, of the coup staff. Th is method is also ~Jsed to g,l~aI1't a. fa Hen enemy 'rille rc y. I f a harbarlan strikes, a fallen opponent wi th the coup s't(!l.'fC she lets him 'know '[hat she'could have killed him, In some cases, enti re wars are fa ught '~lt[h COU P staffs ~ often to determme the leaderslup of a :~,a:rg~r horde,

DlJEllNG

Dueling between ene roy c'h iefta ins or renew ned warriors can end a war wtth miniroal bloodshed. Generall y) local customs, the severity of the dispute and ["h,e preferences 'Of :~ndj,vid1Ual W's'ITUJt$ d.etertnine rb.e type'.of du,~ t ,] n [:h'e SOU[h'l nonladic De'lzahn ,t.ace nff in. mOll,n.ted atch~ell" dUlels. Each, h~G ltl:n.ee gl,assc~ headed ar.rOiWg,; [be (jn,[~ '[,P S.[rike' true ~ri[h Ji:he n1,ost .9!frlf~vs in a s.~,flg'Le pass :\\~ ins., If 'the.y 'tun. Qut '(Jf a rr.O\MS be'ffiljr€' :any cleai' I'fSW[ ~~lne'rge~, fJ!ec():nds :supply dll.'em 'liN llh '[U{)i~' U 11'-' n t'be due li 1s t1. fli s;he L .I C,fi:'lVS] ker d u eJ dl~ t'.~ [I~1de wa't" ... cl,ub bloW;5;'l neve':[ p'arr"ri,ng ordb[1g,ing~ I;;I.l"J.t!:l efie '~¥ar[i~)r- J~Urr~nd6rs q,l;' -rEt Us '"

These due l~ n.~{;d not be fUr[]L'~11 ~ffa irsl ~ irher" lA, b2:ttle 1betwe~n t"lItO' her.Q~s,t:an 'E'rve-Ctl decide an e'ntcte war ~J 'hoth W~trii,o.l"s ~re re s pee-ted e ~)l')ugb, ~ One (or

both) of the heroes is often a superna tura L being of so me SO~[, such as an Exalt 'Or a God-Blooded sorcer-er, 'X/ben. duels are used to settle W~'I:'5i the winner's rrtbe Is expecred to ler the losers ],eave '[he field and negotiate honorable rerms.

WERGllD

We,rgild is ,- 'he price exacted on it! murderer" By accepti ng the feel' the :f:anr:d ly or tribe of (he victim forgoes rhe right '[a. pursue the feud any further, Tribes tha t PU:-*1C t ice weroild assign a body p.r ice based on the a ra tus of the viet [nil, A ch iefrain exac L$ th e :1,1, ighesr fee, ~oll owed 'I y wa rrlc rs and j fi na II V ~ co mmo II ers, .. h:~ull1 ans are usua By e xern p r from, wergi ld, as. inrermedis r ies between their tribes and the gods, [heir persons are sacrOSEU1:C',t. As property! slaves C2LI1HO[ instigai e a feud, but the killer is still expected to pay a 'fair price 'to the owner for b .. er loss,

1(] DNAPliNG

:K i,d naping lin iriga res a fierce ba ctle by des ignalr. ing some e ne lTiL ies as future s Ia ves or captives 'i nsread of spear ... fodder. N oncornbarants :may be' made into slaves: or even re p lacemen ts fo r lost me rnb ers .of the r rlbe, :n n die Scavenzer Lands, the Red Scar tribe renames caIJ~ '-, i ves after lost loved ones) expecting them toO 'fUlfH the same-roles. In tbts fashion, son e rlbes have had mern-

L 'l H] . j:Ji 'I. '] '~ ,

ners ''V!., 1!OS!~ ',,[ ves nave ast severai generaru )E!i$,~ as riew

c aprl v es asS'ILI me a revered ident i ty as a lost 'wife) h u s ~

b-JI·n.,.'J 0-- - h

iI( . U .. '[ mor . t'][,.

Borne tri bes provide for the ransoming of captive warriors, but these circumstances are rare. The Red Scars P 1I bl lc 1 y t n rure warriors to death over three day'S to cow the-ir other captives ~ a typical custom, 'On" the other hand, the Delzahn take great delight in negotiating ransoms u 'lv[.any of the kh.ans are related b)f blood] disin .. cllning them 'EO casually kin fellow warlords. Trearment of captives is often related to how "human" 'the tribe considers their prisoners to be" 'Wy]d tribes are particu ~ Iarlv feared in this case because fe:w captives meet their

'I . 'n ]' f ilfb . 1 i

crazec sta.nc~ar(;LS 0 _ - ,- UrLl,m.1J' y.

,Ri\,VAG]NG CrV]l]ZAT}ON

When artacking civillaed lands, the :ritu~Js of interlribal strife ar<e forgotten.. Sw i ft l' bruta.l ra ids a l'e the preferred t~lcdc~ b,~ rbarians put f'l1tin! V U.lag'e5 to the s'word ~~nd raze !- he build illgs toO the ground without a secQind 'rho'U,ghc Beca.use c] ty ·a.\.veUers a re"d 1 $,lyo nou-ab le l fe'~l of the nice'l:i.es of -rdbal. suu'Llggle.s appl,y. E'N~tl. wh€'rt

~h~y d 0 ~ d~T! 'Vo ie t:~ m'S hRl]~d [y lOQ~ li.~pOl1 bEl r la ri an CllS'~~n~5 w'i n:h ta vow. 'Wh ell, [b"e enelU Y use~, cann i biEJ li bun j' .s lnw bnpm,h~:men t or ['1~e g-a'l'l'()'~e EO tor HI re cap' 'LJI,;ed d1€:nn e'~· cjvi1icz~d le:ird~rs 'ar@ '\VCi)'tt t@ ,m;Ls1Jncler~'[and that [hi~ b; 'rhe ttadit~oE'rnl ~pr~lude to rt~otiat ions.

26

}-LNO,' MA:, S

Many tribe> 1 ave a ],. p[.d rh LUJ111ir~t~, ,on1, 0·_ 'indy markingto expedite duel and other ffairs ef honor, A er 3_ dell the '\ lc tor and the to .. e r b 01'- " tecelve tattoos, scars 0[' piercf gs re'GQJrdt1'l,g their '\ ic Qry; ir t '. -a e " ramc U'I wa i. r ~nay have a dozen "iJ.~c't:,eIY marks: a u),aladro1t tribesman '[TI.9.' b.a ve half 3 ~ 'ffi"'Q n,y los rn,a,f'k;·. The I arure: nd sn t,. (l, rnat k~ i~~ vary from p tae,e;_ [0 place, 50 an Arcseckhl warrior m ig]" [ not [ ecog n '~ze [he nine vIuC'rory bones thar grace his icewalkerenemy'sears and t;Y' br~:v&,.

ln '1 ls tra iti n n _. t waerior hav ' W ~ " s

marks. Th~~ aren l t COIl: videred d ishonor:tilBl€ un .. · less he warrior " onceals 'I hem 001' at """[UP' , Co. "', lze station from a berter-a a ked, CpU,H::rerpart. In fact, the In • 'f:!O~n!(1 warriors ha . E ,qui ee a fe'~ L .' marks - but: l,nOl~' vic or~1 mar' ,'. ., :rbis lndicat .. s. victory r '1 rough ki II j n: 1 u ck,

10. battle a wamor m a V honorabl y s urrender to an enen y 1I,.'v[[h more L [ory marks. " owever ~ defearin ~ a uperior foe is a' ~ rear OU I'M' a( ,lory, ISO. the 'Ell " n1 isn't 31wB'YS ~,. llowed,

As a source of honor, raiding differs from intertribal warfare be ause I ot i more imp [rant ,', han [h g['~' of battle, Individually ~ civilized soldiers are rarely a march ~ r I heir sav, ge C 'UJ' terparu ) :"0 here,~ llrtle g~o'ry 10 be g I i ned from fig -:1 t in sue I] obv iou :;'(.1' infe r fOI foes. '~I 0-', are considere I, Il1Cll1] ersons anyVl.fay ~ since they have no concept of ind i v idua l lory 0 r rl tu ali warfare, Hea.d count ar a c mmon ubsu U'- e, 8. eac] tribesman tries T~ redeem the poor quality of his enemies by killing as Inany

f them a', P' . sible,

Unforrunatelv, this son erimes · .. 'L,:U· barbarians at a disadvanraee. Marty ba rbarians enter the fray '8.5 individual f ghters, rushing to k"1'1 as nanv enemy soldier as poss i,:')l '. A mili ia's phalanx can \~l' rd off a small band ofraiders, a veteran, talon can repulse ~1!11. en, ire horde, if t rrs in. and heir Dvru 'i fleers are ade iate '[00 the task, Sh eer 'ferae i tv can overwhel rn a peasan r [evy ~ bu t a d isciplined forma ion pre ents 'a forrn[da1D'le' challenze [ fi'chi' ers who rely on RO hin , but rhe: OVo n courage and thirsr for g[oqr.

A ware of these wes kne ss es but unwil ],h _rf to brad ~ gln·'~.' r i spear-carrier's lot b ,bar'ans le . .n 0. avoid direct COn1.b.B'[, Surprise ff.tids take advantage of s\\'if ,hi,.r nimals, ringing scr aminglines o harbartaru [0 I~oTch:and loot, T III ']e, .. re favorire target, bur ~. sr

tr ibes C orrsult 'he b~ shaman s first to dete rrnine '\vhe"ther rhe eemple has-a Hcd,e,! ... :, ineltned t orot ctits hou .,

If the ,nm· "1 eei avera - le, raiders des -crare n

,

- '~

.J-.; -, .-w.-i , ,,--, -. ,- .... _-

P IGJ ce b oth 0 le morali ze the e. ne [n r and to s,e ize its undefended wealth,

In any even: ~ raiders will rarely tarry. After 100' ing and taking captive .. they re n~'ac'"l C . heir wi.! __ f: . neL'i' .... 'N imads typica lv wander for a tin e to avoid retribu .. rlon: other. travel to wilderness hi eout where their pursuers cannot follow. After a prudent wait, warriors cl d .. ru honor and divi de . he 'poi '.-",' rr ~dg,e., fren. a tse at this point, as one warrior contests another's share of VI,!e~ 1,]' . a-,,'I nry •

N O[ all tr ibes raid set tled areas, but those tha t d) ] ncorporate ra id i ng ~. n to the ir 1 i fes ty les i The m05' 51 ')-' phistica ed tribes practice ex· ortion chargiru a fair to exorbitanrfee [0,.··· -ay awav.H wever, ince theirvictim . lack honor, it's a simple f~ffair 'to break such oaths, In nl~.rny ca es, rai Iers .rade d, ,,',r ,'l"oj J: r G~Jj [ ~rrun tt ding poses: a fe'w even venture to. cities such as' exus v 'irh

he slave: i ja e and trinkets. they ripfrom civilized land'.

GeT' ~ER]NG TI1E ,.>RDE

Under the direc ion o the LIl.U'HI,r Exalted. or a rare, brilliant warlord tribes ga 1. r for more than subsistence

A'_rROi( ]TJES

Barbarian raids arc rarely gentle Raiders don'tgenerally believe the city .. bred are ca ... pable of honor; some tribes don't even consider their victims to be human beings. Combined with warriors 'hungry for glory and a tribe desperate fr01TI starvation, a barbarlan raid can be gruesome and overwhe lming, rep lete with rape, torture and wholesale destruction. Storytellers should consider their group's [9S1I]2:S before portraying these elements. Tilley shouldn't he included if it would ruin the enjoyment of the ,game and lose the[r impact \vhen presented as a sh:aUo\v shock. You 'mlay\:\tish to describe th,e hnpact .of :8t raid in general re'rLns 'Or shnply conccntr2ttc on the aftermath, portra.yhlg th,e brutalh::ed survivo]['s and their razed hon1'es~

Lunar Exalted have an tncredruble anlOtlnt of influence when it COlin~s to drun:~c~[ng A_ rai~dl' but they are products of [he practical; brutal septs [hat raised thein. IOn the other hand, Exa~ts are" by def]nition~ ex,ceptionaI people; basking in Luna'is Hght makes thClna breed apart, above triballa\\1 and forever severed fronl th,lf u td asstunpt ions it ha [ one e g~J ided th,e i r thoughts~ Lunar Exalted can Inal(e their o\vn lnoraJ choices, but they may have to face the resistanc,e 'Of their pcop l(~., Turning a sa vag;e \var'band or nation in to rnora [ \)Va rriots can serve as an excel ~ent focus tor a s tory .or ser ies ~

raiding and inrernecine squabbling, Great leaders, wily shamans and powerful supernatural forces carl all consp ire '["0. create a horde - When such G\ force gathers ~ all Creat ion tre rub] es.

Rtmaltzed war, arranged marriages and vision quests are. a 11 used to lb ind disparate warbands into a barbarian arrny .. For all the rivalry they generate, feuds can bind several tr i bes rogethe r as each negor i ates the complex chain of re pr isal S necessary '[0 S2L( [sfy the part: it i pants' honor, Exoga lUY (rnarr iage 011 tside '[he tribe) cements blood nes. Barbarian gods can demand an ,anny ,tlirough a 0.1 vi ne edict, Through their shamans, Exalts, 1 irrle gods, and Fair Folk '['Llay gather hotdes. SORLe silnpliy take the mantle of a 'war god, kha-kha n or high itt ng " 0 r ersona Ily dtrec t thetr 'folio wets.

,A barbarian horde is a Iterrifyi ng:l though tenuouslv he ld, force. Afrer rriba l ell iefta ~ 11$ swea r oaths to . he leader, they gather. thetr own w'a.'rban.ru. The ruler of. the horde j oins several of these ilJitQ S] n:g [e u riits based on, an y alfHiation.s rl'ley may l~v~ had in the past 'but doesn't necessaril y care if tl)~y ~Hre staunch all ies. CIC'u:npe'ttnl-F b~J],ds ~1 ~ e evter'J! more ,igff~c ~'~ve rhan oa rhbound at i ies ~ a' each fig11,ta 1~~ rd~r ~ cla im g:r€<l.C(!'J: g1.C~lry than the other. The horde !5lie~d~!r is. expeet;~d 'to ebvid~ loot fa kIl' and to assernblea rtnlgh~'tTategy' but not to lnterfere with ,e,~ch ba Il(r~ prefe'n~t], fight ing ~'lty le' I A ~l'i.),e ljenf'ra 1 divides. the tr i bes ~tttiC01~(Hn.g to '~heir spec ~ru~i,~~ and

ern ploys them in loose j [nob i le format ions - the only k ind nut n y tribes 'W i I '[ tole rare.

'r,J! 'operly e'ii"'" f:"'i 'il rc!€ dl thi s fI 'In ~ d "11 -, .. r ..... ·'1Ic· ,1.,,, [~O1 n l' oj =u

.t r ,r r ac . ". "L~~"U0) "'~ 11,., II,"" "UL. 'l'iLl E ~.'ci: ',~,:~, ,~ 11.1 ,~",I,

i rn possi ble for ene ill "f! battle arra.:vs to' ~O!J 11: te r. Lunar Exalted take particular joy in leading cavalry againsr Dvnasr-led troops; they rkle 'by to decimate an, impe .. ria] talon, then retreat to 'where the Dragon- Blooded ( who ca 11. ~ r use m aunts when dis pla V i ng r he ~ r an i rna

11... ) ';' C 'II'~

canner J can t '10 .E.1I..0W •

Wy ~ d troops and un natura 1 beast s a ~ so comp ensa re f~ "'1" rhe horde ~ s u nsoph ist ica 't~d tact ics ~ W'icll. 811 amans goad,ing lt on, :9. behemoth is c apa b Ie of breaking an ene m '0/' s tanks, A single buck -ogre is more than a march for a. 'f:ang of leg[ on na i re s; bur a fa,ng rare l y works a lone, so beastmen and 'W yld, troops smash in 1!O the ranks 'and then retreat, harassing rhe enemy into detea't. W'Qlf~ warriors and other beasrmen serve as generals or elite berse rks, As ide fr 0 111, their sheer ph ys Leal prowess, the besstmen are respected fo'r' their Lunar blood.

Ai "er 'I e fir:' fe'w vierorles, a horde fl1ay choose to accept rrtbute in Ueu of bsrrle, 'but such arrangements are unreliable. Ward.ol"S eager for [00r 0[' glory may d,k5ohe''Y the arrangement, 3J]d even Lunar ch ieftai"n" are' hard presse d, to retn In such. ambitions, Loe ting is 21'[ 1 weB and ,ggoll~ bu t OJnque~;t ttl sQm~~1Ling 'rhat ,a$SU1~S ,one ~ place in a tribe's epies and a:ppr'Cl,v;il by the go 'Is" AY$ t]_lne 'p~ses I rhls ±ns~ability lnareases; few hordes 51U rvi ve dl,e d ea th ,of the i. r leader,

LUNAR I~IORD"ES

Under Lunar CCH1f11rn,a:ndJ a 'horde is even more dsnge rous, Hordes under Lunar d irec :-, ion are more: obedient; 'th~1/re' being commanded by a "adi after all. Since the Lunar Exalted are extremely long, .. li .. ed, a horde mi.gh.'[ never have a chance 'to falter upon. i ts warlord's d eath - at least, 'not within th~: B ttf!&P an. of any of the horde's mern be rs, As th'~ 'ngs stand, n o Lunar Exa l t has successful [y gathered Eli. horde' such as th is, 'Either the 'Wyld Hurl' ~ (t her barbarian rivals or the Empress' First Age \v~~.pons have dispatched them before r:-:l{!'Y' S' abit~z,ed thelr 'reg-it nes,

'This :w fortuna re for Crea.tion. Such 8. selfperpetuating borde cou I,d never be [0 rn apart by jealous 'he lrs , 'They would neve inherit L1eade-·shi.p a nd wou ld s i lTI P l.y be '[00 weak 0 overthrow the ir Exalted overlord .. , Ma ... Hi;1 ... S uchi is close ~o Jga therE' ~ ing such a. force, btn Solar interference has slowed the pace (f recr uitmea t, S r:i, It, h.e 11 as 1 undredsof descendants: 10)1 al beastmen who he, dispa rches to rrlbes throughout Creation irran attempt '[0 gather them u Dde'u~ his bsnne I[' •

Properl y di rected ~ a horde can ca use' un [old devasradon. Ci ties van ish from the face Oof Creation, and en the cultures are exterminated, The Scavenger Lands is still recovering from. the- A rczeckh i horde: the De lzahn c arv ed an ernpire trom the riches oftheSocrh .. Often, the horde goes sott and adopts 'the civi,[~'Zed mores of its victims; rna n V pe'~: r'Y SEa tes b ~',gan as ra mpag i ng hor e s, Those cornmanded by rhe Lunar Exalted rarelv 'f;al'cer. When the. ho rdes of Luna enter the Threshold, dl:ey turn. the c it les 'i 11. co new '\-V'~ 'I de mess and farms reads i [no 'V!.r] lel plains, S' opping only when the legion! of the DragonB'~ooded. raUl them .. ,

BAJFfBA,R1AN MORAlrTY

Forged ag~ insr .~ he constant threat of untamed ere ..

Sl'd on i [he ba rbaria n et hos is a. p:r,tact leal code. Follo wers rely up 0,11 it to 'work in '['he face .of 'feuds I ~'[a:rVEU i.on ,[) nd [he [av:ages of '[he W'yld. Ali such;, if[ :r~spetts. the :iuID'" vi, luat~ for no .ch:[ef~a[n can. df.'u, rhe l1,eeds ,of ,the m,en '~nd wom,en wb,o fe.ed. him. On ,die oth,er- hand~ 'm,e'fl'- .is "reoOgIl i zed. bY' the n[".[h~,. T,h~y ~-e>the- Q ne'S he 'm U$~ r'e 1 'Y '0 [l '~Q give d1.€ir q.aths and ~ing h h:n into [e,gend.,

Tn!!! [ie'sult 19 a. c.ultiU,re rha.t v.a lues ht1:'rO[~nl a:nd pride~1 yet cares. littl.e fen:' '[h.e 'rl!i:·nts· of au ts iCle~,. The deeds of the m ig'bty a.r'0uj't l'~c~1Ed'ed tn ·s.retH~ lt~ratiesF but ~lo(JaiBn~d by' sotn:rytell-ers, mnd tiham~ns,. The tri'bal e'pic isnl',[ confined to .th,e p'g,s'[~ stQry'C'en~Hvadd to i·t ~~ t'ai:h gert~la ti~Ul. pfroves, hs~lf. Wirhin tft€· b0~uh~a rv of

the tribe ~ s needs, any fre e 'man or woman can take h is or he r plac e in legend"

In rhetr exile, the, Luna-ill: Exalted composed a code free of the decadence tha t plagued '[he Old Rea hn, Tri bes ac ross Crear ion Hs tened to. the words of their wd.d: gods and beast ... blooded chiefs: mortal warriors combined these ideals with their own senslbilii ies. A lthough each tr lbe has its own customs, mos -. den ve from a to:n.n of rh is code"

STR'EI\'CTH A· I\'ID C· UN- "~I'ri N-G

'_' .~. - d~ -- : . I""! _'. ···1~,~.:

Bar bar ians don! t "'3 t[ for a 10 urea uc fa t or a soldier to act: for them; they know that thelr rights are only as, strong :CiS their .abUhy '[00 de~ll.d them, Slaves and pac i. fis t aber rat ions asid e, every ba rbari a n @ rms ,~nd trains herself tor bar t le ,3 s best she ca n, The tirst barbar ~ ian v Trt1L1:e encom passes a] l of them because it represen ts the ablli V ro uphold and defend the rest, Great hunters f~Il within this category because they protect the 'tribe from. starva t ion and prov ide the bounty [Ii a.'II'~ s shared in moments 'Of g:eneros ity .

Martial srrengrh is not the only thing valued, Cunning men are almost as respected as warrlors, but their abilities aren't as easy to recognize. 'The mythic trickster steals magic frorn the gods; fire, metalworking and die secre r 'lore If ani n:u als are '[he bou n t 'i es he g j, ves '[0 the tri be. T F']C ksters also adapt ci vil bed lnnova dons and s ca venge the wonders of the First Age for the tribe's use' .t lever barbarians use their eclectic skills to confound enemi es.

'N 0 t every 'bar barian is expected 1;:0 be strong or clever - but everyone .[5 expected to' try. Ey refusing 'to act, the coward gi ves IUl]? the rlghr 'to claim his, property and honor. Co wardscan exp ect ,1).0 quarter frcnn '[he strong or c le vet, b Ili t great warr tors and tricksters are ex!' e cted to respec t anyone who defends hi mse If ,- 0 the bes t of hi s abi l.iry .

H'ON;O·RAND PJR..lDE

Strength and c unnlng a ren't just TrI1e E r own reward; the y form the basis of personal honor . 'W ith [he power to ac r corne-a: the power to rn ake oaths: - e . wear ,9 Beg lance to the chief) to bind oneself co feU~y~~' warriors and to boast aborut fu ttlre accolnpHshrnents ..

Since le've['Y balbi21~i~rn is his own 'ma.st.er~ ~wea]'ing fea.lvy 'to a ch.ief 01[ fellow ttibe~rtlle;]:1 b:dngs honor to ~]J of l~,e :parti~, ].nvalv,ed., Tl~.e oa:th, ... maker e:Ftecdve1y de,c la r~s 'h is own j n[e,I~~'sts to _ e ~;y non y rno us' w ill":. the i [$ i whiLe his 'CPU1'Ptt[ '~Ol .~. do him ·ho,nor by ~3H.]o~l'nillg h~ l11 ~Sl ~, Geet or 'trus teC¥ 'V assaI. Th.'~ b~rbmI'ian btags Qf 11 i.~ power by 11:aMiL1kg [~SPQm~1.~ ib i 1111¥ for :sorne:d1 ing gre ate-r than bis, ow]']. h0~.s!thol .' Oa - 'h 3 ,(;ue bindinlf CQn:rraCt$l crutlns. tJf carnmand and t'h.e iCllIQs68'~ thing to gOV'rffn ... 'rn\;:R't a t1Fib~l f;,tjOlety haS'.

•

Bragg ing is a Vc un '"I e d part of k a 1': ba rl.: n rrad i' ]. n ..

Humility ~." for rh s )fr, rea- gh en f l e ' irs, exaggeration ]. permln ed, even en braggart i.. e·x.p. cted [0 live up to hi .. 0" '. ln hnu:rre · ] «te avor " N at on] y that. ' ut an y I as ring (; be U _ '~. hat he ,wUI achieve has ':h.e force oif run. O€\I: h" A sensible . v ge wiU . rag j t' enou h to . est his .0-."11 abilities wi .hou - eing so outrageous that h .. s b eked hlm elf into a suicidal VO'~IV - 'most of the rime, In fact) war Iors orten engage in boastina COlT ests, daring each oth '-. '[0 push expec ta t [Ions hi her a nd h ig ler. The v zinne -r of SUtch a b oast ing marc h is oft en faced with a truly , arm idable chHlLnor€ .•

A bar. bari 8.:11 who fails [olive 'U~ to a boas [ lose .. face because he. has, in effec'ti broker a mtnor oath. It' far , ore serto ~s '[0 hr ak an oat] to .- iother memr er of rh

rri .. e or to a god" Oath lB reake rs are uni v ers 81.1] Y e ·-l.ed": punishment range f_ OllTI 0 tracism l: I 'IOt in e"~ Iepen " ing . 111 h y[e f oarh · nd wh I i wa ~\V ·'r . Viclati rag an. Ot: rh . \VOn1 to a god u· uaIly merits the mo ·,1 heiru us puni shmen "", sin e an angry to' em or . pi rit 1 rd may 'lien its wra h on th e :1'tire .' '1 x, 0 therwise, tho oa rh b rea ke r i -u shun ned, and the rec ip lien r of, I he broken v ·w .'" . f . "10 exact reveng e Th. G~r' ev ed .8._ -y loses face when an. oarhl» esker goes unpunished; revenge earn, be embarrassing, ruinous (some tribes allow confisca'[1' n ofthe ffender'i property) or bloody all depending on the oar - that \1, a broke-no and the, tempers Involved.

CAUV]" j'SM AND GEN: R'S1TY

Fortunarelv, honor don 't ex' end to everecne, Only rhe tribe deserve fairne and f [t"l;, 011" iders are c mpei it-t" 'or la nd and corennal enemies. Th y'r. lgno ran t of . he: r i te S and taboos that fOI ge honor. A:J · uch, a 'barbaric u - n li e , cheat steal from kill and cnsl ve outsi ..• ers with impunity .. ].n th~·~orrh~ Wyld cannibals even refer to the tcewalker and Haslanri peoples

"l ds,' T . h Li .. L H'I h li

as ner .5.. 0 tn e I 1110wan Ill.!. e ~. a._t an are t . e a H~.l1.

offS:~l~ ing of the 5 inister \VOr I . of' hie redwoo cis.

Outsiders. d.o occesionaHy prove '[h,emse.~.ves [0 r' tribe 'h-rou h exrre:me d~.splays of honor or s t 11.tth. Wi"1 dh1:lln.e m.igh[~. th Lunaralted. e·a..:ily Cf,Q S n i' ,~tl hOlJl nda.[ ~·~s,; morta.ls Imu'· .[ "a ke d.o wi' h fe~ t of courage sufficien'[ [ '. fDlil;. rhe trag! - ;'a. ion of d. . tribeis·storvtener~ ~Ir~:n exa t~:ng COlnlli' ment to 'tribal eu' tom i ()f I o· ~r·· ! ,when a . rib~· "forcib] I:' a'. ucr new

m n b "'i -h y [ Ii~le ~l.tided _ ecogr ,~.n .n

· [otec' if.Hl a""~v'!2n~ vih.e :her'- h.,ey~. an 'litor .1'10'[., Neigh ... 1· n I" i Lg c.l all: o~· n recogn [-zc comn on cr, d i 'i Ol'F and,

J'll,d . 11 I' ut 1 I(:h. conn,~c: i'en,: -arl ' .. ' IU us a ~.; feuds

Gall . ever, ] li I"Lea except: ~the ~:i', ual'\lIlarFJrire both [ib~s .. 0 ' -,e, n ' I he:"_ ,hOll-or.

Wi'rllLn tha~e bOlJnrnj 9'en~rositv i~ a \ ntue .. , he gift .. 0 i veT . ,eE lOllS lt3te:S niSi n""Yer ·through. . 'lSP l~ "IS of

'j

weah h. 2u1Ld the ribe celebrates COn1'lDOn bonds t :fhonol'" ,:·e€ ,." lng, giving away trea ure and eve" destr ' s : ing valued gods can all be a I. art of the demonsrratlon. [I addition to efjectivelv boasting of the tribes \v alth

he e .aSCI ,- . anous aces serve as a form of worship, "lhed tribes 'may exchange gIfts in lieu 0 .. trade, These chains 0.1 tribute sometimes stre ch a(l!'OSS Creation, so that an Eastern. orest chle miehi count [he carved coral of j' e 'West in his own hoard.

I . OS.P.lT .' .1JTY

A clever traveler Iearrs that, despite their con. enl 1" 'or foreigners, b r - atian h ·ld the CU51tOO, Qhosp it . H t, in. high reg ard. Ira n ou sider announce that she intends [0 be the tribe's guest, she can often. expect

" _ nerous· il cold. treatment.

lr's a. risk: Wy]d barbarians care: nothing forthe sofr creatures that come '[0 their camps, except as extra. food Or a ar et for sadistic amusement. Other rrlbes don't follow the cUS'[01')l. out of a gre a te r d LU V 'to the ir gods DE are '[00 xenophob ic to adopt (he cus tom. ~ ven if an outsider is accet teo. as a gu. st, sh 's expec • ) '[0 follow tribal laws, 'to take nothing that is. not first given an' to leave aftl r a reasonable - erlod [0 time, St lying roo I. ng abu es the custom; whil. ~ e rrtb [nay no be hIe to openly violate it' principle "il a j,['ffh:uh guest can be pre ',' ed into duel ~ or invi . ed to particir a e in hi. n . nd raids where she might suffer an .(. c . .i len .."

Openly abusing a gl1.CS·[ or refu 'in:g hospiralitv i a ., rlouscrlme in any _'._ t tharvalu has .[, allrv. At best the tribe 0" racizes of~enders so that nature and any offend. d gods wiU do the work of punishing rhem. The '\!~ : 1St punishmem a- e as he inous as the. human '[a i", nation can conceive.

RJTES OF ICHllDHOO'D

Barbarie ns are not h, rn, bur named. One of the h I~~ . mu hs .f barba ian existenc is - har rribe can, on.'!y fe,ed :-:.)1 manv Inou'ths and carmo' support . he d.i-able.!. F r -'n:li ]'\_·a.sqn., b bies '3.re nat named u11til

th .1L.. ,- • l 1 l ;

I , r.!!J e'-' rnlll11.es '\lv. left l:er 01 no I: tl'lr, \"';Me L . 0

survive~ This judglllent is usuaUy t'he· l"lesponsibUhy of a sh.ll rn.tln or {am ili y e lid.er,. :Befon~~ be ing ne In,~d~ al baby isn' t cQnsid~red to be ""lI h h!J.l.'m~nr h,e d'~s~rV'le$ no protection as Ld.€ fro'm whtt·· his 'fami 1.y is w H] :i:ng to offer..

nfaJr't ts d·· st:[ned to jl (] in 'd~e trfbe a re uS ua n y na.med 'Vii ithm a fe'\\1days ofbir1i:ll~ t·.~··Qu~h ScHne '~ribe,' may w'~ir as 1011:0- as I. wo years"

U'nn'~ '[ned infant are a.lnl0st abNays . X o,e: i.' ~he 3.r unu,!sn: e by their parrent. DJr h~lve norjcable phY·"i .... c a1 iefec (s. W~ Id b ar'bar i.an. >. fa l;e:J. y '[Oil ~lt] I. I,,[l' i ~a,' [("Hi" rh tw'tlt iJ'rede 'I'ea- ]]i) "-) u"t.ufig]·t.Man· J

"xpl)Se i.rlJnr, WI:"tO . ev"a; I from "h,~ trih.,.' In '- c~~m .. [11. ~n W'y[d~'lllarb

,SAV'AGII- LJFE, SI}\VAIGE. f·AJT."

On the.e!ge f :Cre a ie n j reli gion isn t an € h"lrnc' metf, Ill1)'sical exerei e. Ba.fhol·~ians don't need 'If:ntl'1)1 discourses an ',' te n :nw.lIf re utty D,' .ause I h,·, )' . an' e· l [I[: vl~ry J v: in r. he rhri ll ofthe hint. j n the \\ j n':] TtL hing . hrough th€" w l I.d ',' laces and e en in war ed nests orf-the W,rld~

,\Vithout [nt~ n ed '0'[ illle' a -·~r ractitu:u; 'fiat ~. ~ ~ rare humanu y froro nature, .l a1.ba.r~an eUg:iGn IS practtsal and dn~·~~c' but often complex, Nature connnands respec ;. c.I', .the: "td' ~ , hal: pet" 1)ify i ,\Vhh ur he bara srn nil of[h@ ·Dragon ... Blooded Of' th ·lTL~ chlnations of city I ods ocontend with, ihe spirit, of the wilderne ~ r anit:,' d· tJll '_ ]-ve' exuberant] "I' The 'iIO,d"'Ct;'llf: [S ~vJe3d:Y!3d in savage miracles: fcruntalBs of ice and flame, Impossible be"aLsra an,d a 'lru usand 0 ther OlUiC s of _ e a' and devotion, The Wy[d passe tlrr -[Igil like a S~Olrn~ an - rh " land and 'its people rtp le into new, '. 12, ·r·" (onns. A b r'bari n/' "(ids ' :' d dem 'f ' ~ l wf bin lh i;$ es ,,' ~ n~a· h.

W uh 'he propel" . ituals: taboos and d lvinl. alli~, a trlbe can n:vi.gar€·rthe ape, try orlitde:gods, Fa i.l fulk an. I, Ex~ 1 te. wh.,o ~la ke the land b eyol;'ld ~hjj' Thre no tJd their O\\i'l'll..:hanlans m y e d"te ln0h important r~ltgi.,ous fi 'ur~, rut everv '~" r ar~ 1 learn she to \\*t h ," n l rhe ·~o 's in theh mids ah r in~ tl ese kills with the same <LJigec as tht;y dQ the: BIl n~ wildernes ~ , urvtval,

RJT'E.S OF PASSAGE,

When puberty appn aches, barbarians ,LIt childhood ",anle'- aside. Adulrh 0 I i ... confirmed wit h a rite of passs ge clecr. d 'rom those the gods and elders have passed. down throueh he ages,. These rituals are trial ecrers inducting 1 ew adults in 0 a hidden soclerv that.

wll I shape their lives fcrrevl& ..

It can begin in anv number of wavs. Ihe Li nowan kidnap youngsters flrorn their home trees and . ake them 'to secret places in the wildemess, There, the') teach. ,. hem the svmbols carved on ancient trees. An Arczeckhi younJs[er must kHI. an elder to claim a l1Lc:HUe. f r herself. Many tribe prefer [ ) send initiates on private vision quests. Adolescents venture into the 'wild alone, t ' confront the ani mals and 1 i.' de gods ,. ha [ faa In beyond their camp. Somerirnes. they are 'cold [0 search for a totem, but simple survii al is a challen e on its . wn,

Then, thev are L ld [h .. ecret 5'. ories: im rtant

ionglmes t legends 0 th Pirst Age ,M:_'_ the nam -8 and chiminage of local gods ale among the lore passed on: ,), new adults. The Dune Prep!' learn the ~aUe (l the'. olar IC:~ty ~ where the) were kept a slaves, their bodies twisted so that they would fear the sun. The Ten Tribes of the Sea venger Lands pass on ~ he r i te ' tha [ a ppea . e El let Oak, rheir n.cn dl st 11.'- 'totem.

Th i ~ is also an occasion to provide 50 r ,'e frank information about the facts oflif '::, - un ing : echni 'ue' 'f tribal go sip and (" erv im] errantly) 'ex, from sexual r - chn iques to consequences and childbirth .. For. this reason rites of passa are, are oft en sexual by s gregared. Elders teach women abom childbirth, menstruation and "hat to expect in a good parmer, Male stories Include raunchy anecdo es combiner wl ~ practical advice about sex, l", e and marriage. Both 'men and \ .111en u e these times '·0 air views about the other gender that, in other' circumstances, wo ld be COl1.Si .... ered shameful or otherwise offen sive, L\i~uah exclusive to each gender reinforce the tales and propitiate the powers that guard male and female way, .

In add' tion, 1· cal tab os again t eye and hair color! ritual requirements, gender bias find fears of overpopularion inevit Ibly claim the 1 i ves of nameless infants. A

haman may break the rules and name G child regardless () 'these crL etia, should, he gods "iU it, The e rnarked by tile shamans his 'way 0" er ~ ecome shamans th", rnselve c. "iJ\ fe·"T families lie i:~' the cusrom of eXpOSUI"1 . r his If' eak'rtf! sis u .u~Uy punished V4 ith exile, so that the offe'nders can '~, ear the i F burden alone,

Nanun : conventions vary by tribe. To' e'm:ic and ance', ["ra 1 n2lane· are co Inn1,on but a young barbaJi.i.an i8 ,'5ometllll.fs.given. 3llL informal nlckn;am.,e unti'~"he)· judo-ed [0 be '~Ul aduLt. The) oL1ng pi.r; y.g, ,ltV' ,', that r [>e:lar ' 'b,erh ~ r ~ d u '[ h' d; ~ V ~1()v.i'< find 1] I I 'I.e WH!'mitc '0.1 ,sks are lISe d ingam~esthat 'teHchrhe:rH '[he '\I",ly:' nftheh.unt~ ,!Jar sk,~]Ls and tIihal ri.tes. \Vhen rhe·y a .. old ,en()ughJ ,children,

cuppl lllen' he,e ganl!es 'wi' h· he~di]lg~ food gathering and G the! du tie·s ~ '[0 the· po tnt ~~ihere '[h.e:y W.O['~ Jr us t as ma-rd a~ ( he :adults,. Ort1i.ly h"luting an war ;~1I ~ forbi, ,,~,en to 'lhe'm, I· he '~g h pa rent· an,. e [de'n~ r11.a y 'aRe" hefi?- ini. 0 the:' t ld to eciucare ''hem.

LUNAR RJTES 'OF PASSGE

_ K,~ap, .ror· the 'i,a,:i'.'e[ '" aU L ~nar Exa1t~d

;--, derG"Q [' e of pa$sag,~ d a -, fixes: thci[ ca ,te an·l i ndu(t tHem ~tt' 0 t11Le: S d.v ,[ F"AieL The; e V~H y ,h'a;s.t:;td 'On the event uru CJ ."te of dt i n.i t i~ne 3 nd the ri I' e'mt: S ter 5 pr~fer'eru:e.5, but often 'f·o.lld\V dVi! C U$"" talUS p-aC'~n,;oo b~' l1J.ortai trihes., In lYe" ntl d:t L ll~ r ire 0:, I' aS5ag~ , pen:e Ie·, lu)rt·a.l honors; any L'Lnc:u ExaL 'isl layi"~ [ttoos al d a Tell ~liH be

, ; IJsL ere'", at [he v'try l!ea&it an ' du ~t no mat er he r c I.'C rua 'I a e' Oi~ a.p, ' 'ar.a rll' .e ,;,

3J

Then, he ini iate is marked as an adult. CircumC ision, scarification ~ tat to os, new names and gifts of arrns, beasts and clothing can all serve as signs that :-:1 barbarian is now a 'full member of the sept, expected. to uphold. its honor" 1)0 master [he trlbe's crafts and to claim face 6o'r herself

W'he'n rhe new ad u lt returns to the t r ib e, she ~ s e :i\.p ec ted 'to swagge r ali Itt 1 e j cl isplav i.ng some pride ~ [1 her new status. This also provides the taste of real honor~· a sensation dun she's expected to pursue for rhe rest of her 1. ife.

R.1T-E.S O.F WO'RSHrp

Surra u nded lby little gods ~ Wy ld storms and the fitfu~ l y sleeping remnants of the First .AgG1 barbarians learn to revere = or at least :~~.ar - the forces rhat surround them, Every adult comb ines hearth wisdom and survival skllls to \v~.ch, ... rand her surroundmgs .. bamans learn the supematural lav of [he land and change

or add riruals \M],.e11 uecesserv. -

W'i"tb. respect to the. spirits, rituals are :fuirh; straightfOFVi,f~rrd • Every s.p iri t has a duty to. Crea [ion. and. a wi '11. of i rs OW:~:'i. Whe·n. these are i.11 accor l, t h e ,~orlfJ benefits ~ so 'many rituals sinrrLp[y serve '[0 rernind a spirit of its, natural d ~J t y.~ offerin.g p ted se ~or the handiwo rk that 1111 akes rhe trees g:F.''O'!V~, rivers How' their proper course and animals rnu l ri p] y. These 3 re s.upp l e men red. hy grand r ites, pe rformed du l:'~ ng phen o me na such as new moons or solstices

M:EErJiNG~rHE 'B,EAST

reg not unusual for a 'Lunar Exalted to re-ve.al herseLf '[0 an ad,olescen[ during his rite of pas.sage, in th(~ form of a tribal totem animal Of' revered ances.~or (rh,e Exa.lt nnay have con· .. sutncd the l1eart~'s b Iood of either for just such , occasions.)~ Such e·:ncountersare·sai.d tospur.3li'Jt'y ExaJtu1tioll that is fated to occur, At the very lca.st~ the Exalt]s the Hvingarchetype ofbarbar~ is. n values m Clotl1.ed in. .aJ:t1LC ien t, shapesb:i ftirtg flesh" s.he- ca n tc ac If) tri ba I secrets m By [nstruc ting the young~ s'he keleps the· ~ribe frDin straying frorn. an honorable path~

So~ne Lu.:n air Exalted .apper~t to d10se '\ovho have ·dune ·an. ·exlcep[~ona[ deed during ·child· .. hood.~ su c.h :as s layi ng @n ad u 1 t ·warri.or ~ hu.n t i ng a fO]1111 Ldable aI'll ima l~ or 'comrn un [.l~g wi th t11,e sp Lrits+ IOther Ex a i ts 3lppca r to. ,ev(~ry ch i Id d ur." Ing the ~ It ti te- of pass:age ~ 't l1.ough SOlill,e ht tlle Sit ver Pact bel lev c that such obviolls guidance of t h,e you ng is 1 ia b te- to Lnake ad lilt nl·e nl bers of the tribe too dependen'[ on th!c Lunar instead of the- i r own s.~rcng t hs ..

[0 honor both local gods and d.1.E: remote Celestial gods 'who retain a faded place in barbarian lore.

Ofcourse a, spirit's duty ['nay conflict with the tribe's saferv. Spirits of the harsh desert winds, hungry ghosts and avatars ofstrife are brtbed 0'1' banished, depend Hng' 01] the stre ng'l h of the sp irit and the shaman' s ski n at

I. I h or servi r A id

negorratmg wit .. · or ser\f;l'n,g supernatura powers, .Sl. e

Fran1 sirn p le ward ing gestu 'res and chants ~ sactifice is used to persuade the little gods '[0 be merciful, Shamanic "banishment" o:f hostile spirits usua ltV reltes on the strength of the shaman's totem, since few mortals can tur ~ ~ god _ rom its purpo :'e . ., 0 the rw i se ~ r ires of comp lai n [ and. I amenra don. exist to shame destructive gods, These rituals rely 'on '(he little god's superior (or a n.e~uby Exalt or other powerful being) taking nonce aod resrraltiing the troliJ.b] emaker +

WO·RSHIP·OFTHE E:XAtTED

While spirits receive '[he most worship, 'barbarians have a 'flukt Sense of divinity. 'When Exahed reveal the mse lves, the ate I iable to' be: regarded as '. ods. The most striking example of this in recent times is the rise o' Yurgen Kaneko. A Solar inrruder in Lunar territory, the Bu~I of the. North Is adC2'red as a semi-divine hero, though

l ~ ~ 'bi

ne ' reluctant '[0 give . lessings,

Lunar Exalted make better use of 'this adoration. A lui llennium of stories and rites chronicle Luna's chll .. dren .. Many " ribes know what's expected ofrhem when ;5i0111eOne enters their camp swathed In the moon's £5-"' sence. Specific ritual gr~etings.. animals raised for the sweetness of their heart's blood and other honors await an Ex,a:k who ViSl[S a properly educated sept.

However ~ the Exalted are expected to act like gods, If [h~'Y :~.a.Gk barbaric v h" ru e's ~ give C (1 wardl y

.:;, :d' v lin i~~' or seem 'b. ereft of amb ~ t io 1'1 'ij'·t ..... e' tri b .::. .~~ l' 'I ~

it'!. . ., .... "'" .' .::.'6-....... . ,,-, .. 'L,:~. .' . C!J.!U. !I.. . ." IL .. l.. _.. ..... 'V'O'.~ ~

consider t'heLr,gifts wasted. A powerful being who does more harm .[ han good. will be sub] ected to the usual warding rites: i.'- '[he local shaman has powerful occult

l' .• 'l'~ 'j; .is 1 . ·'i I ' E· 1- d j.~ ]1'1'"

SK1 .. ts Or' CL'lH n1L1.. tote m 1 C at ues, an ._. X~L re . . -Doer' may

. - bl-

run lfi'[O SOrJ2L~ rroun e ..

Onl y the .DYl:'lasti.c D-r,aJ.gon" B looded are b'a', ed Q u r of hand. .As scions of the hated Realm ~ the;v are considered tc be profane gods (if not actual delTIOns) 'who poison the elemen ti5 with d1:e. taint of c i vHlzatiort. The ,~v ild Terrestrial Exalts 'are thought of as almost a d.HT~'I}e·n.:_ class 0'_ being. .Some barbarians believe that rhe fcres,1j; ·~~[.t(:hes ~Hid their ilk a re free wi ll~d godfi J while the Dynastic EX"31ted are slaves of the Scarlet Empress,

W"Yll) Currs

Some tribes are lured mro rhe Wyld e;~,Hy~ in exieafed w ~th iheir 0wrlJ~end~ maH~le ·m.aIl'ilest. .A]1 i r. ~akes: is one' torrup't ~h-il.lnan 0'11' R cna d~lm.~.u ic ,~,a rr i. '1""1 bact

1Mi"JiiteM'jW--riijjpz'tr'« ........ - ir- 1Ziitiir:z=9'yxmc'Z')""""'''rn7r" '''YJE = IT ...... • ... ' ... P' n==r .... ?E H'MS' =zsWS't=zx=tzl1'A=mrti"FreZji;ji -j 7 "'"i§tjjjjtrr::= ",· __ ,'z - 7 .,1

A' »:

froro. encountering h'LS dreams on the edge of reality to sway an entire tribe,

S' ~O'111'e 'W,:' ':'::"v'ld f'" ii'~ JliOC: 'G1'r-C,Q, secret affairs: 'Cil t;I3U:l' members

.- , "_,[1_, • '_ ..... I!-.!!. ~ .." ........ .::. u L i!:LU.~ ~ "~,.:!! 1;",Ij. 11,,_. 'i'~ .. " .L.:L1l D .... , ;:l

of the tribe an;' i nitiated during the rites of passage, 1 ea rn i.n.g se ere t signs. T hese l u re the aged. or [he weak to. be: devoured by rhe 1; a it Fc] k. '0 rhers domi na re '[he tribe. Expeditions hl [0 the Wyld. become a pG I~- of lrs

to' "" A..:.:, _, ch 0;"'" 1"-""'" ,"- " --', vtl ~ , id

ell nuc u , .s eac .'" generation encounters tLlllYLli:.., [TI;Et e

'flesh. and re turns wi . h the Wy ld' s m a, k, rhe tr lbe begins to shed i rs h uma ~.l.ity .

Many 'Wyld cults are directed by the Fair Folk, but 110'[ all, Th€ W'yAd. is c!. temprarion an ~II:S own .. Glorious 'bat les and unearthly beauty are there to experience, Creation's crude, fear-tinged conflicts and irs broken, dishonorable masses lose their appeal, Respondtng to d reams of g 100:[ y (0'[ the man ip ul (J1.'r 'i on of Fa i r Fo'] k dream-a rt isans), the 'W yid becomes rhe greatest stories

TI-FE llJNAJ~ C:UIT

\lltth ,the' Lunar ,~~ttiuted hi th~ir ll1Thd!5t Qr bOlovlin:g in tb,~ 1J;1!ltLo", jU$t be ~i[)J1 [hell" camps j barbarians a .. cqulre somerhirrg of rhe Lunare' lore Some' Itnes.. the lp'rr~r Exalts u1te"rltiqnaUy dissE!Lni~a:[~ their In6e ~ Few secrets can 'S [(1rld for lOf[g

in a bloS'~ly knit tribal settlement. so' bEl rbarians

adopt aspec ts of lu na r cui, ture th~u:gh 'Shr.e"\vd observation 'and ~ml'tittiVJ.l.

Beik2l.use the immediate presence of the super na -uta 1 means so much (0 l~rbaldang! rhe:y ha,\rf! Htd~ appreciarion f~' the d isean t Uncoh_.qu~red Sun. or l'11~ Five i1v~aide'nsi '~a'ying homage to them wirh vestigial ri tes, luna is accerded more r'~r~' ence IS ince S:b .. e is 'di:e 'Po~~',el' b~h'ilL1.d [he E,X1l lted who :[110:5'[ ofren influence barbarian life.

lu na is ill hun tress ~ a -deit'- rover of the d [shun '" ora b L~ -a~na. 3 ~,dcler&s 0ff~r(Him:y,. e.h1! sh in.~~ ar n igntel lre [1' the hu n ter f ncl :b.i,s, ·'tv:ay horne. Chi ld ren are named l adu lthocd i., recogni aed and oat ha are sworn bv her linhr. C6nse.qu~nrlv,. wl:lliiin tl€'f fa~e i $'

1 ~ ~. ,~. ~

turned from the world on 'th.e: new moon, oath-s are

less iLvu~twordl.Yl' kin~bty[ng rhSe'., and beasrs 0'£ the \Y/ )11d np~koacli w'it1i a [j'q:h~ ll110I:e bn'~Ner~Y'.'

Luna. £];11 i les u~on rhe heart' B b lo od of f.[esh.l y hunted animals, S'pH]ed en a fla.'V"ne in her honor OF 6ffeleo to Her EX'al ted., Wa:rrh:ats bTe ~.k So:] ],veI bF~rce~ lets u:po.tlher~ltar 'tnl);ay for vic [ory .11-< ly herbs are eaten or bu '[' 1 t 'eor he r, fl:llLd pa i IflJ l ordeal S (8UC h M hanging :rr10ftl lioo ~s ~pM8'hed [hrQugh. Itl'u~' H:esh.) please h~er., These '[];tuals~J·~ b~~Slit1g times, where a barbarian tells luna of his deeds and thsnks her f.a!r ~tnptar j'ng ch,e' sttei g'~h (:tteeeiSsary to dQ [he[b.,

made manifest: b ,td ' wi houi fea -1 life withoui pain and virtue without moral dUenllua:fL

S arnan .in i . thrall learn [hat,. he Wy_' '" arrie the g d=t of' prophecy , Tribes who adopt [lies e pract ice ',' are migh yin war, , hre 0 their prescience' and th physical prowe ' Wyl mutation 1 confer, If rhe fair Folk direct '[he 'tribe, it wil 1 hand its prisoners to them, Fa rt ened wi' 11 ireams, '[he' Fair folk sculpt false paradises for their .(~[~VC nt until they ' ire 0, the game, ' her reap rhe tribe' dreams and move on. 'ThL! rem, .inina husks stalk the fringe o:r' ,reation- hunting in packs and, capturing the unwary out f habit, ro devour the vic ims in meaningless irn itation of [he] r for rner masters.

Met' b rbarian U, e on the nnges ot th, world: rhey hit the Scavenger Land, in lightning ]'0;, ids, then e c pe to Creation's edee, Nonetheless, the vast space: - erween ci -Yo' rta es and kingdoms provide, ample room for hurl lreds of tribes many venurring closer 1'0 the hart 0' ere ition than manv 'Mould think possible.

A,[ong the Threshold, man; I nations' re halftamed at best, De- - ire ophistica ed agri ulture rrearie and of ictal borders, '[he inhabitants dream of returninn

o the) l , hones r \yay, of th e ir ance s tors. The P easa nrs of these newer n rions ~ emernl er "1l"etd stories: a tribal heritage pro-rides an ideolc yfnr rebellion and banditry to serf who d rather risk d,earh at a warrior's sword than live a lifetime of p ven y hi. ken at th, p ow.

Otherw me ~ sa va.ge:ry born in the wake of the Conra ~ ~ ion C II rinues to linger in 50'" ailed "civilized" country. Arczeckh i ra ids ., I ill pl:;1Jgue the Scavenger Lands, 'w11H~ satrapies lose' en' ire armies in fruitless attempts "II: : tame the "hill pe, )ple'F inside their borders. While SO[Lo.,e tribes , est 1- ( utof aWyl nl; dness hat I r. sse fro: 1 generation to gene l at ion, more 'prefer the tas re of dan serous freednrn ' Q 'that 0 eh tned slave ':Y~

THE. EAs I

From the old River Pr vince to the mighry trees ,. hat g'ird, ['he E],~m,enral Pole of Wood; bar:bariau$l' ve in ;;1 lush land They" ra '~e 'he d~ ngel: ofh'fsh cli,:a - e for hos[He Cl "~Ie and the great h'a:st~ 1 a_, h~ lH\"· r.l1'e w(lod,Lands" Th,e barbarians ar'f!n~t confine· to die Ult" nnos.t W'~ ,t! e], h,~'r; Arcz:ec.khi a.n ' 'me-rllIJers ,r{ the'T e.li T:d bel) .,' nd r b t\\7f'e 'l'le bU::l,JL g. ,ciri··s 'f d" '" avenger lands" Mellraude ' p'~lllnder caJJ~Vml1:S traveHn. be:t\~een

ijan, .X'-, ',. to_h!ll en 'ILl· ~o sup- 0 - '-h:6' m,erGer nary tr;:;de. ". OITIe '''ribe,'' piefer ext0r'[:j,o:n [0. ournghll

• 11 1:.. h . · h·" b b; ] .

v 10 Jtenc,c , 'LOut '[, ",e 0 .·,er ' nons ,avo to 'e mo,~ ,e [10

• • r '-:Iil' •

,VOl pmlltlv~ ex.~[:~llttQrnB"

The .S av~ ,'~ r - ~11 '; , 'ai-,a, bUl.,. - 'e -, ~U par'd,~ 'I ..

·anics in, tP.'1! economy "if. [he region, Tri b'flllllercenJ~tries al'e val U1.': for " be i:r loyal ty and coo. t''l;1fIL p. :for local

politics. Th yare rarely employed (, reg ilar rr 'np, ; their individualisetc Hgh . .ting style doesn't 'mesh with the ban [ . f) marion ~ {. nd C,· mman . ~~[F 'lei ure of pliO: essiena I armies. Ins tead T . hey. ,e rve ,£1,$ bod yg nards a nd police, th ir exotic fig'11t:~,n~ skills and 6 arsorne mien suit .hem for his role.

Barbarians 'TaJ in anirn .l skins, ex tic 'flor.a ano fauna and, most impor tan dv ~,slaves Many barbarians have learn, to adapt traditional sla .e - y customs to the thriving civilized market The Guild fin:ancf's remo e fortresses to house captives before rh 'yare c-, rr to buvers [1l1 the Realm, the 'Fair Folk . nd others, ,.A,s a

,<

res lt, many ,- d' 'e ' ~ e l~e > all~l war 'V~ i~ h rl te ir neighb es

to acquire captives.

H 1ll - R]BIES

Evn though [hey are oftenloathe to rot H, . he na ED~n, of he old River -r. rvince are o-~e'n ,. a1e1v ci ~i llhed or don t ': xtend their ophh rltic ired culture to ~~ 1. who dwell wi thin their borders, 'The, miru f ~rib ~ living here . uaJJYJ: ak it d fal t : f Ri ver peak but neve r f~ ITO. .he lfU' [, obi y an uthodty higher than rhe local herman or pay taxes . 0 " he C]1 r (i l a"~ thorit ' es. Th ~. u u aU V 1-0 llow an animistic r~liglg[1 that ,ha es characte i· ~ lcs \Vi,.tl th ci y's· C alrs, tv~Q~[ ,eDgage in .small amounts of b~lncHtry and trade.

Occasi '"aU, the standin IT j,hh ,,),: , il:Y',lli.n punish the hill tribes fa r a particu larl Y $dng ing raid

r [0 I orce them topay rribute. The hill e ts have lie atned to 1_' we c~rn,p and 11, ide 'It~ t a, rQ! unen r's notio ~ bu- m,anyare51[:illc,al~~ht" Dependil1g.;on the '\\~hinl. ,'If the l[)e~l rulers, captives mav be llrJllf:d;, eusl : ved O[ marc' ie [0' h,e Old 1!' at c··, 3.FpL I'un .

Little love is lcsr between d"1e hill tribe's, and [he cities. Exile an ~~ wanted criminal - ,~ft n tI,e: to them, dra \~h1:g' tlu ire of H: e au hod de, '. T iba [ watbands often bOI[' ter civil Ie\ olrnforlt'f1' ctiOJl thar prer tses c ,) cessions in exchange 'O~ their service

THEAR~ZEC KIII1110IRDE::

S .. , C" 1'0: URf'E-' '0: 'f T'lH' 'S': C' J!i. ,,(.II'EN] ,FER 1 li'N DC'

... ': ._. "_ " ~ t.. l ,-<.T\ ,_. . '~I =". ," r~

Tl1Le Hllost persis' en b· I r bar:i an,' :1.r'e rtt . 0 the c i v [l]:e, " East ]s the' Arczeckb horde. A rczeckh i bo.]fbG!Lfi~m·: - i ','e no quar[er in combat and take he ha1"haridn concep of the "' n:fU .pe r ~ C}]l ~" to its, gLi '3J::e-' t e:(: ren e . To [he i~,-[~zec.kh 1 'I' Qutstde:[s ~n:,e alusiansro he 8rruc~ do~nl or toy~ I ,;virb, as t:h y pl~a.'e. En·l. Iled h) the Wylid,~hamans telcn the 'h,o:rde '.llB:l :real_i y ~-e+ I 'matter nf nor Ing ('Ine'~s. wiU aver h.i.s ],nferiors,. Of c.ours:e, few' rrave'lers e' er h "'~, e a h nee to QOHdllct a, ,h:Ud§ophie-al d.L5}:QutSe lvi' h - he sa,j'~e.s,

-:l4,1

~l' ;

u ".. ~ e. L5:;. r--!-.;: I! .-, =. "1iI-· ' •• -... -: r.oI"-~ '~:-;:II "_ L

T~]i E 'P RJO.F ESSlONA1. SA.VAGE

The rribes 'Of t~@ 8ca~r:~rtg!t';'[ Lands aresn uii~c .. ~ nowled ged scarce of the reg ion' S re 1.£1 rive peosperirv, l?~'~pi re prejudices common ro le've'~y cicV (except N·€xus.~ rhQlugh trh,e- in£0rrn:!:~J. scom ot '[he ~ ittcItn:s is common), bit; rbarianscan fill{i woi~ rhrcughout '~he· Fon;n~r 11 iver Province.

Barb~ri:a.n slavers ate \f,e-Ty common bur they ,[~tilf ,etli'~er i1~L'e cities. The'? are one of 'die fitst lines of supply' -fOf the Gu ild, M erehan I: f~ctors keep their costs down by securing exclusive righ'Es '1L0 buy from. p3r[i£ulal\' [rtbe~. Th!'e~r don j r want other hidde'l~ interfering, se they meet rriballeaders at camps and fortre5_~e & bu ill sp ecifiea Ily 0 hold capt i ves .. T r lba l cr.~f[s, htdes an.d orher oeds are [[·ade'cl he're as well, ~~lost are QP en $ec:~-ets;, ~ f€·w ar~ infamo us for the C1"~lelity ('b.€y V1511: upon eapuves. Last R,ock .;and the Gin~_del of rhe Anlbe[ P'Q~tr are. l~O :~r, ockadesknown far the'ir brura I i"ry ..

Td.bal '!I:'tl;er:cenades arecotmnon inN'e}rlLl:5i~, Gr'l39.t Forks and GaHn. In Ne~u~:~ bm:bar~~ns. USL1~ny join t, rabli~htd companies :;IrS ~pec;,,~H~t scour detach .. In,~n'-,~,. III Great Forks, service often hap relig~oJJ.S ov.:e1r'(on,es~ a mercenary COlnpany there is often led 'by a sham an who n ego -. ia tett ell. irn i rU:lI8,e wi [1,"1( the ci[), is spirit (H •. lb].es. Fin~]ny l' Calint! nobles. hire 013Lth b oMnd bbdy:gu~l'faS ~vho care Ii tt le for - be' s:hog L1 n a t€/ s po l i tics.

Qd~er cl ties have a, s ~a nere : I mercenary presence Qr di,$cb'urage' barbarians fro:m plying their [f,~de;: Lookshv prefers its eHte cadres, Greyf~]ls ls monOl?4')hlied by the hal - .. q:ivrl ized N uri, and. other dOL1;lains have rhetr t~"l;,.rt"l restrictk .. ms. In die- ~ Iundred K.in~don~'S) (h.e: market vrret'i,etS from pUlct to' p tacit. S orne st ates fan.cy the m sel ves srna ~ l is l~,ds 0' _ni"il~z~tlon w{'-~h 110 place fnf 5aV~€ iurruston, Qd1,-' ~r~, ;a:re rtlled by b?Lri1ari,alls themsel Vf_S and -don~t need to pu[cl:.t,ase tIle h()'rlor and fe:rotf'~y t'h,ey al .. t§,!~ld'V posseSI$ in abundance·"

Tri,bal D~rf0rmer" ea.'rn money \1iIidl,thtir :novel s:k iUs ana ex.a ric appeal"~rlJ~e. Snort "!:ttilen" 'm0JUDt-ed ~cf-obats and t€t:noooo axe""j~gg~.:er8. ld~1zle ,~udi,ence$ [n Ithe npen air. SomJ::~i~l1.eS, 'th~'y care'l, ,the fancy t,{ lQcal nobles! who hlvlte' rh'elfi IX" p~rf~lrm. :51.r prL~Ilte' e:s.[ares .. AHlue-n'~ ;JH dience~·'re~tl_ witq.a .rn.ix oJ won .. der~ disgust and patl"onhdng' d]$dai~ .lin 5(]:me cities C$nd e~rre'c;~a Uy when Dy.n~su, are ~nel'ld ~ng), heir ht(}~ r~ rna y abdll~ct and ens La'\/It~ [he: .ent:e reainers to pray lde C)tl;gah:'tg' amusem1ent, W11e t:Il the nov~l ny' fade's~, tbe'k capt~rs S~rb d the m - n nOlI'lna l 5 [.av'~ d u:t ie~,~ k. i l~ t!hern or re'~egate d1eruiL ~o a :n,nen~ge'[iie ItO- e -i -'pIa} €;I] aside the at b,er ~~ curlos~ ti":rr; nob ItS'; l~a ve cOUec:[ed.

Afte,U" being divested rtf [heir va luables, captives are g i ven 'to the tribe 'Co at b use as it sees fi r,

The Arczeckh horde's ultimate origin i.s. unknown, tho ugh i It [~ C01l1 mon 1 y assu rued th at the Arczeckh i are :.4: race {.f Wyl.d.~·[\vis'ted humans, An Arczeckh would he hard .. pressed to conceal her origi 118; her red besti al ~yes j d ark I coarse. fur and tufted e ars wou ld g:~ ve ~. t a wa Y l if not rhe odd g:a:~ 1: :afford ed 'hy her band 'Y legs - An Arczeek hj smile is something most dread ~ since 'the barbarians only grimace to threaten others wt - b their fanged. mouths Arczeckhi CGlLn. and do mate with ordinary humans ", his 'is rarel y consensual}, offs'p[in~ are unusual! V clever and dexterous for Arczeckhi bu 8[[1'] carry nll of the 'lIvId poxes of the tr ib e.

Ahho~~gh rhev are mostly confined '[0 '"v as te lands in [he Saudi east, the A rczec kh i are no mads ~ driv h!lg the ir yeddirn caravans and chariots: from pasture to pasture and raid to raid .. , Arcseckh mcurslons ate a part nfhisto:ry h. the North and East, leading savant 'h isrorlans [{~ believe '[hat _ the horde' migrated. south as reemerging civilization drove [,I(: away,

The central rene t of the her le is ,- hat rea Ii ry is a He' i .. )11 of pe-rsona l s treng th:; a s t rong 'w:;a rr lo r 'w i lis his enemiesinto existence and slaughters them for hts own pleasure, Outsiders, children, animals and thralls are all nazack h. an A rcze c khi wo r Jicha t means both ~ ~ i tlusi.01l1- .arv" and "weak." Young Arczeckhi aI'€: rhousht of as phan tasms ere axed. for 11:h~: amuse men t 0 f thei r 'parents un ri n they exe rc be powe r over another 'D azackh, usual 1 y by k ~ U ing hi rn J ]:H~ r 'Or it, 'Their rlte 0 f passage is s i mpl e and direct; Killing or otherwise dominating another Arcz eckh catapults them into adulthood, Unspoken t rad itio n i i m i ts ch is to rhe old and in fi rrn, ;;.. 0 f~w Arcseckhi are' crippled or over due age of 30 .. Killing a. healthy Arczeckh to pass inro adulthood is, it sign of greatness, but the strung have pri vileges: they InUSJ be bested in single combat,

Once 'he h.~tS been accepted into the tribe, an Arczeckh. ~n]:e ts a cOluplex h,:i er@rch.v bas ed on strength. (au1,d ,lj rea I it y'~). lIe 11£s a n~me lou t is no t perm I C'te,d to 'LIS~ j; [ w'[1"el1. sp'eak'lng to 'hh~ snperiors. }"I~ shoul.d joIn a W:Etf band. of equ.at]_ S [al.E ure and \'qOt k lirvith it 11:0 grow ,,8 t:ronge'[,. ,Po1iive'rfu 1 wa.:rdors ar~ ~D,ore j~ real $" ,- han. their :i nferiors and 1l1rtay d'etermin'e whalt is I":rue or real for th~ir lIn,derltngs.

A[czec'khj, sh ~,m ans tl[.e ·the fh'ua [ arbit~rs,Of stre-ngdl and weakn.e$$ :but u:~ually anl ~f' intelveo.'e :tn situation,s whete the reh'uive suu:ua o£ severa,) 'W'a~[blndl5 is in li)ju ~s'tlon. Recognizing $t'f'~fi:gtb: Ina Til be a,s shnpJe a_~ calling an Pu:czec'k_b, by hiSJ ham,~ or lf1S ,c:o;ooplci;( as goadhntg a wH.:rr[Or into duels d ~t uti]} tne,1re-ast his ~r.e...Ilown, A i~riba] c'hee.f LS;Einlply 21 ,",va.1rdor 8o~n:ons that an of .rlh:~ cripe mulS:- oali kifn '~¥ hj:s nalGGe, B'nd .reoogni elds

ind.ispu W1b I.e ~;,.d8 t~t1c,e. .

=

The great es (I chiefrairu · re d 'ifi ] ipon death: all others '~re frorgt tten, as they " . ~,~ in'[ _, illusi on, often a. th e h ands of a. youn u' Arcz eckh d ur l.ng he F eit 'of pass ft . Shamans gather he possessions ofthe d~:_ "'~,ed dead and mcdit te upon them in. the Wyl

'In' il visioru ot die deceased ap~··ear .. Curiously, the

A h' " ' .. cr '~" " • '

. [·CZ. ' . ~. 'I I" -l'ue ~ ,U na p", Uti n'· ",e r e-. e

phantoms because they . ,elL ve . hat :J e Wykl is a t ruer rea H Y , han C reat ion, After " [1 ~ the Wyk~ contains all th eptc 0([11.:. tribe and warrior '. Uli ht· er than fury In orta i. 'W~he-n it d isgon es one of [he

. '] 'F l'k' ] A' khh . ,

rru .rt ra : a: _ 0 ", c le· rczec I. u o \.1/ . 0. it, reco gruz-

- I .

•• if ••

[ 19 us sur .. nor ba t. ,I prowess : nd ·l'. r -, 0 existence.

] n 364, the Ar zeckh h rde · '01' med the Hundred Kingd rns. Led bv rhe great chi [ Moki Uj tho Arczeckhi pillaged d zens of mall fl." .. and a h· In Jfu~. of greater cities, The combined stren th of the League ofl any. Riv~TS e'\ en'. uallv scattered the horde, bu-

he tares of r e eca v, 'ngcr L nds still Y.i arch ! or s igns of Arczeckhi mobilization ... Now confined ' 0 a rela-

ivelv ut ap eallng sr: t: ch .. barrens, the Arczeckhi are conte wi - h ·heir oreal na] r81 id· and intertribal warfare, S12' 'hing'w . rds, ··hort sp ars and chano - s (deir leg make h .m 'PO r riders rre 9~ vored Arc:eckh weapons. Their arms and armor are u suz 11 V made of c rudel y be a ten bronze ,. '[10 C i vi lized S c. 1_ \I\J'i 11 tra '.' with I' her . for anyrhing better .. ' Iigher s ta r U" 'W ar ba nels ,t q ui p hre'1f]1seJ.ves with w hateve the yen retri ve f . nn the 1, [ie - . ;' vi 1- lm . A'cl, h.

kh d 1- ~ 1

• '.., )" f ~! ,- 'T "!I' - ~'. • r - , '-:.!Ii [- .. ' i' II .' • -

Au:z,. c .mumer ,. 1('.1 .J l.el, I: pr V:. r 1, ,I.. eXI, -

ences, 'hie victor takes the loser': '. aluables, so a ba tered breastplate or l nicked . word mizht be several generations old.

T'IIIE FOREST P'EOPLE

Dee I' in. [he great Eastern woods, hundreds, of human andnear-human tribes live in. the ShH.do,"V5 of the great trees. 'onl--ep ". carve '[h, ir simple rUlL'1eS into the trunk.' of" he great rees, warning off lnrruders, Others never touch the fOI e r floo ; , hev u 'e their long ar to brachiate [h[ T~ h t le. fore . can. y r scamper alor a ingenious scaf olds.

he forest teems with life' Aggress ive plants and

nima rna lee the woods moredangerous than they appear Gia It predators stalk: he onlv treetops in rhe world large enough to sU:P. or - them .. S.~~ign look i ng lichen d - \\1 n LE - len !C.. fre n _ human fl - h just as [e~.(1.ily ~8 the rotrin c logs on \~h~~·ch [hie),

- hnve, Nonetheless he fore 1: provk es I very .... thing the local rrlbes eed ro survive. ~4etal'\lv.or' in.a '~8 unknowr and unn~:c.~g:Sim:ry, fLlld f:b:i i1' an all-con-

uming danger, [ . ,. a, ool harnessed -.0 th \vfll: fmen.

The rc rest of the Ea t provi e enough ro make such, innovarioru unnecessary, AU hey ·a_ k for 'in r urn ts - h.... 'he: bodie -, of ill ' ead '. utc, - h l' il,

ARZECKl: 'Ill ,R EL'lGl,O-N

A~:'Z£,er.~h] [heology is simple: Arlljtl hi'ng snXHlger ~lll~n any ~fldividlnal A:u-cz,ecl:h deserves to' be worshiped. It demonstrates its strength by '~iUing orcowtng a respected warrtor .. ful a result, [he spir ~ ts who true k Vi'] th the ATC'zeckh:i are known fo:~ their rna lice, since, 'the'y doni rhestrate to remind foUQ\lVeUl 'why '[hey deserve gacrif]G~~. As 'me rnosr common victims }f these demonsrrat l 0)11:5 j ,A:rczeck his hs m a n s o fte lIT have S'~ gll ifi,Ca1:1'C l y shcrter Ufe expel: tancies than the H!~[ of d e trlbe. F~.1r Fnlk ,~asHy coerce he Arcseckht inro worship, so luany seprs regularlv saerifice d),ei,r nazackh re them. For their part, the FaLr Folk Hud A~'\(z~,ckhi dreams. somewhat dull ~'nd uni(d~nn- d:,u::nJigh possessed of a novel perspective' A few demand c~~'~ive:s fTQlTI outstele the tribe, dd\' ing raids of desperate ferocity.,

Ma, .. Ha-Suchi wishes 'EO send some of his chlldren 'to cow the ,Arcz,e.,cThil but So lar i nterference' has d.elay;~d that plan. Ev__enn~~ny, he hopes '[0 'US<~ the Arczeckh as a distract i,on 'll,vb'i le saner, better rrained cadres smash the Reahn'~s tribut~rv state of Greyfalls. A,l1ry Lunar 'Exalted ,could easilyseize an Arczeckh tribefor herown, h~ t none bave ye'[ revealed iIh~!L1L1se1 yes 'II perhaps ln d~f~n~ nee to Ma .. Ha ... Such i.

The Far Easr is a shadowed pl ace; the forest canopy kee ~ out light and wind. The fon:~sc~ tribes have adapted to the sh~lr~fing, darkness .. The shade helps them h unr 'by stealth.

After the Great Contaeion the Wytd and interloplng spirits marked the people of the East, The survivors embraced the forest, t15'i:ng their newfound a'b~~]j['ile.s to carve au I' a IP I ace In ~h"e t r es. The septs wl (b huma n features walk the forest flOOf and bu ild the i r homes 'I n d1e lower branches. Above them, Wyld degenerates use the ir p~cu 1 iar [tifrs to swing from branch '[0 branch or to cJLng, '[0 rrunks like grotesqce humanoid spiders, All of th'e ft)test people h.~lve a gree'nish 01" hrow'nj'~sl~, cast to [heir features,. :and S0]11e' hav,~ 11l.0SSY dr,eadlrQcb" Those ,~hose bodile5 'hav~ drift~d. f~l.rtbt[ fnJ(fi1 me human [orm qrplcally have long" '[r,e;men.dolUsly powerful arms dl~t he l p ,the'fl1 b['ach, ~,~l'~e across [he, '~reifJ:op.$~

Th,e lUOGt huth~n 'fore '.1.: people -hav:e a quiet S~ll$~ ofl1ouor w1.d htd~ tolef3nae fOf other sel~n::B,. A \'~9.r[ior-s, g,3.ins pF€stige' for slim,V'iQ~ outsid-ellli.s h~l steD~h:h;: $he '[te n.nnt tQ '[he tnbe with SOln:e. tdk.en, of th.e victim 'to pF~ve th,~ t she d ~,d . llle d~ ~d * Th.es~ tridke' ~ l' t~re;' h ~nd 1,'Ock& n( h.~"i r $~r vie 00 s~[an U{5 6.y]1(1 be,]· ~:t;o h~ '[ m ski, n ~d

I I _., • ..-~. -,; - r:i ... III LI . =.- I:·r:. Ij

hunter might have dozens of them decorating his body. Poison use ls commonplace, Cor the fo.rest contains tho-usa nds of venoms,

Steal th is abo a vir tue b ecau se the trib es are fond of vendettas, If the murderer c an be tden rified l the v ict im' s t ri be s lays one of the ki ller's tribe in '['ev~'ngem ClyC],~S of vengeance killings C.Wl long ourlasr the original perpe ... rrators, leading '[0 generatious-long cold wars that clalm a victim or two each 'yeal", I lowever ~ 'all of the human rribes are united in. their enrni tv of the WVId bar barians that live above them,

The 'Wyld septs of the c, reetop have little regard for the i.r more hu man cousi ns and t re at r hem I ik e an i mals '[0 b e killed for sport. TheWy ld - touched barba rians lower nooses of braided bark "[0 snare the more human tribesmen, rain poisoned spear'S down upon. them or shnpKy snatch them up in their oversised arms, carry them to a great 'height and drop rhem to their deatbs.

When 'Wyld 'b~ rbarians kill a forest-d weller ~ i - is treated as an offense against all the tribes, Old feuds are remporaril y ~ ai d aside wh i ]',e e'v~ryone uni res to pun.i'~h the sa vages above' the In. These a re dange [nus 1111 issions, the corpses of IEh,e; dead sometimes fall fn m the canopy for days after a fai1~d [ai.d., The treetops ate almost alien rerritoryt warriors return front them with bizarre stories of six arm ~d~ 'Wyld chiefs, the su n' S re len t less burning and . he ~nlhlo1v tortures that prisoners .suffet at [he hands of -I he ene fil'y .

Ancient song-lines run 'chrougl'l [he Easi . Some trace the path of the earliest rribal migrarlons. Others point [he ~'ay t.Q 'First Age wonders or the hidden palaces of the little gods. Wood)slnen use the songlirres to orient them, .. sel ves, and shamans f~11 tow the paths on, v is i 011 q u ests. Some scnglines lead 'to ruined cities, but the ',e are never followed to their destination. All of the forest people know that the ru ins are cursed '~v ith Wy[d degenerates and .strange 11121gic- Landmarks along these songlines h a ve names s u ch as ~,t A 'T housand Paces f ar rher Tu rns Bones '[0 Ash ;jl or tfWh,eJie rhe S1:~TlLned Madman Was Found/l providing definitive warnir (;r$_

Eastern harbarfans hab~nlaUy use herbal stlmulanrs a rid hall ucinogens, though the larter are on [y adm inisrered under the dtreerion of a shaman. A f~'\¥'11 such as Bright Mornh1gt 3UO\~' 'lle user. [0 gele 5pirib~ ~n [heir fncOfPore:aJ sitate. Shamans rypicaU}1 len[er a d rug,. in.-' d:ue:ed tranoe before tall~ i [l,g to the ir to:t~m5. Becau15e t'he drutgs make 'i [ea~;:ier to tell ih:,e little. gods ~pt~rt from other Slr ernatural ton: e; S'j du;dr sha:ma.n~ have 110 trucz]( ,v[th, ['he Fair Fot~ Oif bxalcecL. EXrJhed are· e'en as belong,i'ng to the l1.u n'[e·[',5 ~ 'society, \-~'h. i I,e the: Fores t Fu.lk a ~~ (eared b~~ause of tMUr - ass(}ci~ tire)n, 'lW'l rh dIe 'Wy~d.,

ilourlg forest p _ ,(lple learn st~alt:bj liuutirnr; lOCnd ga'th .. 'e'rin.g" A~ a rU;e of paS$8J,g;~,~ an lliliriat,e' mll~~t CQ:n.ceal h .. erse]( 6:'On1 her trib~ fOlr ~ day ~lnd a nigh-. The t'[i,b~

makes sure no t to 100k too' hard for the in i ti ate ([he 'Y are an alert people'] after all) merely to ensu re that her skills are acceptable. Obvious failures are treated as children unt ll - hey PalSS '(he 1::e!S:[., 'I opeless CCJ ses are lex iled, A successful lnirlaee is questioned about rhe things she saw arid did dudng~ her absence. The shaman draws omens from the -~a lea nd presc ri bes a se t otp ie [C ings, ta[ toos and body paint to "shape" rhe child inn, an adult. Over time, d I, ffeIer~ t pain ~ are appl ie d as 3 h un ter ace LUTHI hi res honor. []1 tern a I, ell ispu ~ es are c ften ,:, e tt [ed, 'W'~ th a fr3rLk corn parison of th e deeds tha tare 1 iteral ty pain ted on t he faces of 'the: aggrieved,

RU1N5 'Of THE. LAoS,T

Wicl'lOIL1[ dye sand, iee or sea to conceal d~,enl~ Fhs t ,Age ru ins, in the Ea:S;t art .so rnewhar more afC .g~ibhe than rile:,! are e[$le~there~ ~aft'lf were I o 0 [eel ~vh i ~ e be hl$. ~ band on eti to rhe CQ1T~QJ.g i en, leavtng norhtng but cvergrown erone. ,l)ther6'" were o'I'li'~erated ~'[he tenders Gf sorcerous engines perlshed, Uncon rolled, ehe Ie:n~rgie. d'1,ey hou~~d in~~nda ed the land. [If rhose d'talt Te[na:h~,~ m~srr ha ve a legae 'Ii' r hat d. lsco ura:ges explo i rarion or ha r ~ bor new inhabitants, :fi-onJl Wyld narbar,i,2TiS ret mead Exal 'e 1 .i4tinn;f:nl1C)t'fF 'rl,:€ terram of the Ettst is al\1il~y$ ~,h Ifrln,g hi$'cause ~'~ b d :uniN 'ted by living· thlngs, 80 maps are norortouslv inaccurate.

;tlahabtn'ka::' Oncecalled Spetriminjl this city in

he S01!..~ - h :il:5l: i~ ruled by the Lunar' Ex:alt Raksi, .she lives'RH(e a hlo(1ld,,'gtJades~l -~jr:~ ttibu,te from ti1.e apemen ~."d, W'yld vassals d:'ia:t: st~,1J0 both the city and th.e--surt(J)Jl)dh1g 'Forest. forest peopl~ who lia',~e beeu crt'p1tlJrl€ d ~'Y the Wy kl1sav.ages ofb~n ~nit them lives here, S~ttoe. Raks~ ~ an endless th.j~·st>fGi[the'

h eart's blood ~i beaut fflll you ths. The T en 'Tribes of dieOak of[iginaU" hail from Sp~[hnln., ,Ri~i views them ti;s wa)n.v~t~d Pfbrc~tty ~ rt'lW fj[fied by EICl~[- Q,ak t(1) re D,,1tll '~ he, a ssesslen,

R,aEl~:e'S;Si,:: {)t:'ber d"c:· abode 0 the o~d Dragon K,ing':i"i Rathess ts regularlY".lcGured by 't[e'~l$Ul,~hunt ... el;"s,. Mo~rt o:f d .. e ei ty hs: 'unds:rground~ '[bough no]] c:mh~ k'f\OW:' \'Vhedl~r '~his Ls by ,£EHa.stropne or d€ :ign~ 1 rregu,~ arl y 'I i t by Firs'[ Age de v iced ~ rll~ und:~nd t;~' t,~\~[ns wi' h the pr~un[se of r11Cnes. - ·1Prom~es tlla.'[ renlai t n L~L1ft1 [f~ lIed, U nfortuna tel y ~ as; i{l e from a 'f,~ "'~ III i nor u; i tlke'[a 1 ,e~1? [Gtret'r' 'he ve fOUL1.tl n.oini:L1,g W~ rth, ihve d~ nger Rad e~<~ p ~~e s - 'Ve,nn:ln lU$f t; l11 n cs ~Hl.d carni,v~Jrnu,$ rep~ae~ ciill'led staUk:er:s haunt t'h!! tLllnn~] '". 'The la,- er ~re Widely d'nLL~,h' ILC1 be '6h,,'

leg,enera,"e de:sc,e'l1,d~t1ts ,of d,e' O(3ton K ~ rigs th~n~.-, .8elv,e. For ~nn:fe ~nfnnn.Ht:ion Clln R- [he'5's~ ~' Sf'a 10emger $ au s '

I

W' l th.o ur rn arks 0 f p assage I au rs i de 1"5 are t reared like children or talking an imals, depen lin,g on their behavior and t he ell aracte r of t 1-M~ set) t. Th e t rib e W III no t even speak [:0 them 1J,~ 'i: d:u.)u t a n i' n 'i - i a 1. offeri ng. ] f the v ~,s.i tor leaves a sufficient g,~ft withour arremptiug [0 communlcate with the clan, h spies 011 him, for a time to determine his intentions. If the visitor is not: ki tIed for being a 'foo'l or a tb rear, he is off.ered a tru l1C a ted ve rs i,Q'D of rh e r] te of passage, Th is F ite varies fro In tl" i be to tr lbe j b II tit usus [1 y in vol ves a mass iv e (lose of psych ede lie herbs and sorn e permanent body rna rking,

TEN T,R1BES OF TI4:E O'AK

At tl e eastern edge ofthe Scavenger Lands, the-Ten T]'U··e~~ of the Oak. surround Farhold. The tribe have a common culture, created when survivors of the Con - agion pledged allegiance to El ler Oak], the sP'~ rlr .. prince of the woods about the Maruro River. One hundred yea,rs ago, loggers esrabltshed Farhold. The- straight, strong trees were ideal for forntlcartons and shipbuilding, After some overenrhusiastic currtng, the loggers began co die. Sante were obvious victtms of raids. Others had pristine Corpses: wl eli ']10 visible' cause of death except for the expres tons of terror etched in rheir faces. A'[ Elder Oak's C ommand, his 'b an- barian and sp irit vassa [3 exacted the 'Cotes f s j usnce. F ina I r y ~ the log,!ers sued fur peace ~ send!ng an au tcasre T erresrria 1 sorcerer [0 handle negot lations.

U nd er [he rreary t. the loggers wou ld eLI r carefu 11 y] removing trees. that the weakened 'the forest. They were bound to fEght fires, clear underbrush and perform all, of the dutie-S. th at 'were. once a part of the Ten T ribes ~ pac t wi th the 'Grand f~, rher T tee. Th e canny sp irir saw that civilization had returned 'to the East and decided [0 accommodate it. The Ten Tribes wete an inconvenience now j their. chiminaae unnecessarv. TJHI5~ Elder Oak rurned his back on rhe barbarians.

Without his protection, Fair Folk and little gods plague the Ten Tribes" The shamans of each sept know very little aboui rhe rest of '[he supernatural world; Elder Oak discouraged this en ensure' -hei --loyab1i. Ignorant of a:n.ydidng else, some tribes 'try to Wl'11 back Elider Oak's f~vor wkh dead logs", floated do",rn tbe :rive'f in 'the mLi.~uner of the 'logger'S", Odi,e;(lS have,ecidetJ [{} relTI')Ve' '~he cCHllpeti i.on by kin~ng the ~o,gg.er. Their :fa~d~ b3ve, ]I t t:~ ~ effec t; Elder Oak p~['o tree ts the ] og'ge'rs nnW'f an 'F'a.r'h,old':s n1.e:roenaries aFe vigUant enough [0 repu]se, ]arge'D' a5~,ault;~,!, SmaU~ $teahhy r:ikh) ll;~rve 'f:t~j I,ed [, ) pernla..ne:n~Jv J!scQurag,e the logger,s.

Intertrl'ba'l warfare' is on he -rise., N'o~,; 'thAt d1,e' Grandfath_.er Tree no liOl1.ger hinds [hem, 'to tl sQin.gLe pU.'lf~{,H)e., d'lE m,iLd ri - L]:a] v'i o [,en.c e of rhe pas,[ gives tvay'[o ·bn.n~1. :r'a.ld.~. WIth F~rho'~ cant'"e ,- he Guild! whic'h [rnct~s rneTl:;.[ al'1.d Jade tot> ,(;ap't.ives. Old feuds 'h,ftv.e tUD1,e-<l i[ato profi.table ~er1L,tu~1 as l:t1besrnen nnw' dlrovv each ather

THE OR1G]N ,OF T'H1E TFHSES

The T en T]" i be'S once i'nhal'bj '!:ea Sperimin, a CDty in, rhe ~otu:h,eas'[ that fell d.urhra~ the. Conrag ic 11. TrH~mJ l~le nels, tell of a g eat i1 i ghc fran1 disas't~r; rhe Ii~ t-m;1 ine to d1t,e city is well k110~~1~ bur lt is a'fe~Eu taboo eo walk it, '8rorie~ ss'y thar ',l~ath tnl.d madness await the fools 'who try.

Three vesrs ago, a Lunat .Exfil[taJln~ out of the wQed~ walki tl&{ t~@ 's~~:n[itg]inF frant trh~ i()s[ cit "'/,. 'Warrlo}" .. B'h~unao8 .fro,nTh the ]l,td $caI~ '~rib e, 'b~~t the intruder l' who eas i 1 y pi[ov'~d lris di vine station, ,Now, the R,~d ScaI~are his 'wining v~~als ~nl,Gl 8I[11 rhemsel v es fOiB;"''IIl!lB'r..

into chains. These captives n~ "W' down the river almost as stead i ~y as the CU'[ wood, '[0 IFHl the slave yards of Nexus and Sijan. The- Red Scar tribe and irs alltes despise he practice, considering ita hypo cri t icn L posit ion for sworn enemies ot'Farhold, The 'killing spear is favored over the coup $[aff now,

The Ten T r i bes j barbarians, value st ea l rh SlUV iva l skills and an accurately thrown ironwood spear- Chi[ ... dren Learn 'to. ident [f~Y' all, the native p lanrs {and 3;, few '\X/yld aberratlons) from an early age. The~H! include

C'HA _ Ef{ ONE • SETT1NG

~ - -'-----' -

psychedel ic her bs, which are harves ted and brewed into a bitter rea" 'Wh:~n [he ri te of passage comes, the you 'ng get their firs'[ taste. of the drugs, then embark on a. v ision ques it in the de ep woods. The tea makes the in iri a res clumsy and ;31:Q\v, btu they're expected [0 find other plan t > coco II are rae t r h i ~ as we 'H as he rbs tha r will d iss ipate hunger, improve ale rt ness and cal m fr~~yed nerves, The test lasts for a week,

Wh,e:n a ne vv ad u lr re tu rns to '. he c amp l' she is allowed 'to rest, then taught . he final secrets of herb lore} includina poisons and exotic drugs that atrune their 'Users [0 the 'Wyld and spiritual forces. Only '[he shamans can reliably use the more exotlc drugs, hut ev ery mern bel' of th e sept has at least 0 practice l farn, lliarity with thern. 'Worn,en, are eSp'~c]81[ly encouraged ro brew stimulants and medlcinal potinns, so that [he tribe is aJ \ell a 'Y, prepare d for war,

Th'E Tel" Tribes are semi-nomadic, moving their

11.111p san n u a ll y to. In in lm 'i ze in j 'LJ r y to the fores r flo or, Each tribe has its own hunting grounds- Overlapping claim 5 are common, and feuds beg in when one tribe strays intoanorher's territory, T radirional war consists of countina Cf.lUP and takina hostages. Usually, one captive is tortured to de a rh as. a scapegoat for the enemy tribe. Swift raids are the rule: large 'battles are rare and u5llaHy fought with coup ,$t~d~- + Resembling ,3

THE T,RlBE's

Withou,r the ln1.i6;h~g iTl.fiuenc"'e Gi Elder 'Oak~ ths tribes have fertaed r01Ugh~ alliances, each 51nr[ving to overwhelm the o tlrers,

Red St~:r:~, Ge't' oJ ,tbe T~gte;ss '~nd D'~v:il B'r~id_s:~ led l~y tH~·"fe:rDcin'Us Reel Sc,a.1[',S~ these tribes prepare f@~ WElt ~.~det '~e l~adtltsh~'P of Dark Ey,es, a F[~U ,MpO'L1. Lunar El(,'alr ,;vlio serves Raltsi" Qllt~I1 of F_an,~:s) an ancient No Moon .. Dark Eyes has declared. the 51~Uin~ of slaves dishonorable - au' slavers are to b~ put to th~ nlL~tu]:c post - and. has dlecla.l'\f}d himself the r~ghttll][ QiveL~hie.f of the Ten T[~ihejs ..

Gr~e:n_ Sb.a ':_IO'W' 3fnd AJ<e of J ud~men,t = Devasta;~ed 'by the loss of Ekl~:r ,Oak·,s chirninage i these P ious tribes imitate Farhold's }~m~g~cj'~ by nOAring ]og~, down t] e river to wQatf:'vcer gods bless the ci -y'ts. WO(l ],c~l.tte,t·lS. When tribal elders vistted the ci~V wtrh a el¥'l1,Qs:~ages in 'LUyPl ro serve hem, [h.ey discovered that captives fetched a fi. ne price tn the c i t~l";gc marker, N 8'W ~ the tr the aggress i vel y p u rsu e feuds, eager to ta'k€ slaves ,for prof " ~ The 10 u i ld has ~ sla ve ~(j()tkade CU1'Olre'e]1 Shaicil,6w lancl ItO facHita' e the p:[a~tice' without ell' eriug Farhold pl'\ per, as raier ' upon the: lo~el~ have made it ch~iclllI few na .. tives to enrer [he city.

BO:R,e Faces '\Volf. E'feS'3:ud, EniUes s Br{tlj:n~11 ::: These sept\s abande ned rh~ El1.er IOak comple tel V ~,],)d n,GHi\1 seek othee totems. Ignor.ant af 1:1'161 other little gods; many would- ue shamans -h,a,v'e brought the wrath of the spi:ri.'~ down upon. th,~s,~ tribes, Th~y accepr-waves ofm,adI1,es.s~ poss6ssion Bnd o:the'f' g:1Jp'ernHt)Ur~:~ 'p'[Qg!J,es~~~ the Lr Cth"iu)jnI13ge" A, few of: prod ig i~ ~re PO$$ ~ed La ln1Qst a.ll'lLh'e- '[ i.'n1~e and oc..ca8tqn,.?-,U.y t'e:rr i.Ey PaTh 0 kt~ s log~rs whh., dispLays of .spirit 'powerEl" ,le~, n_unored '~h~t Fair F'QU~ s1l:a.lk their C~Jrmps t3iS weU~ eager to offer fill,dear to th~ d,i,~ction[eS2 s~hajl1Jan;s,", Sla,veTs ~:eguJ.a..[ly 'p'rey upon thes~ tr~bea bec3u5'e they are too disorganized 'EO GEf@l'1d (h,~ rri1Lse li \I,~S.

S:ky Ru:nn,e,r~ 3.11& '~_JfU.~. Rav'ellS:~ Th~'~e '~r+bes hav~ I,$_Ohl ~J th.~n.$£!h;e5 frQnl _h~' ot'helr~" Thl€'Y l11.,cer di_' ~tm:Vt;E seprs to[ -adt'S.[TI'BU nlnn.be'J;$ of capttves knu lliOI!: so 1l1JaL1.'y a~ to hr:ing .Io',;vn (he wr;at'h of th~ R~d Sc'al"S and.

h "'t" T- l t: ' t" "1~· n. "1 'I I" l' 1" "" 'n 'h f "h.' 1L b '.

Oi[ eli [11JJ, I [fU1 '[s,. 1.e ra:rn'~ ~ecS ,O:L !IJO n t f[ Des c 1 'I Ens n.:ave ['[1. '[~nnarn e- [n t ne '. (') pSS Hun I u y:[ng wot agal ns[ any

\-\,ho migh' €'rls[,flve . ne'n,. The Red' Sca~:~ de'm8'nd rh~J [b€'~r 'e]'\f\~' Dark EVf~, bln e'hieis Ti~lit,u1ri:)h nd V,aihael. i" re ske'pt i ~~ 1 ,G)f the .cre~· Uf'f~ rha t C,lme doy n the acell'lrsed ~on f~liin.e.+

--

~l'l ,:J'dI

com binatio n of war and, sport, I thev typ iC~JLny con cl ude with nonaggression pacts, bound with a few judicious marriages. U nfortunatelv l' this sys "ern is breaking down, and such re latl velv benign, conflicts are becoming a thing of the past,

Each of the Ten Tribes has a single chief who has rise n to power rhro u gh the supp art r~f 'In oa th bound warband. These figb ters ca rry en up staffs decorated wi [h. feathers denoting dl€' rivals they've humbled. Only at warrior with sim ilar honors ma y chaJleng,e the ch ief (Of his position, Honor is partially hereditarv.rhough rank .. ing warriors may challenge - he chieftain's 5frL1. Because of the tribes' faci li t y wl rh druas, it 's rrad itj on al to po i 50:n a hated ch lief. The (hi ef's warband are' often. hili tasters as well bu I: rh rey somet ~ rnes conspire 'W ith a poi soner to rem 0 ve th e i r leade r.

1. n the So uth ~ sa va nnas :8L nd dese rts toughen the people :~ n rhe shadow of some iQf the wealthies 1I places in the Threshold. The: rich nations of the Lap, Gem and Par,8J~:On. are ri nged all a round by barbari A n tri bes. So [fie serve these states in exchange 'for :iji POf'[ ion of [he \:vea hh. Others seize: the fat caravans that ply the major trade routes. Such are the opportunities d,tat many tribes (such as [hie- Delzahn T ri-Khanate o:f Chiaroscuro) 'have civilired themselves, choosing the wes lth of urban life ,- 0 the h~lirdship and honor of die past.

T'~E DElIAI1N

Mos:e notorious of the Sourhem tribes i the Delrahn are a d. i \i idea, peop le, The T r i - Kha n and the De lzahn nobi H - y ru le Ch iaroscuro with an adrou han.' bur th is, mav prove to be its downfall, 'Trade agreements, stand ing m f 1 trlas and the L ike try the 'patience 0 r t'h] s lrnpulsive, flarn'boya.nt people, who are quick to anger and fond of wa rider ing,

Ind ~ h T Kh' !Ii le Jsn' '11'[

nueea, t e lri .. ,:: ans ru e ]:5]] r universal V ac-

•

cepted by all DeI .. ahn: outside of the cities, its popularitv

1$ in, d ecline, As Ch larose uro's population grows 1 fa:nners '2Il'nd :trad,e:rs e nc l'oac:h on trad i donal. p8isture~. 'TI."l~ :Oe' ~ zah n. ,Ell re a w ar,r kHl" C 1..11 [[u.te' wi "l'l a farnou$ com [e'nl.p'[ for '~h0-5e 'iArho cantlo[ defend chemsehfe$.~o r'he re];n:~dning no ... 'maid;; Look, do w n.upon."' at jl C i.cy .. dwel [ing co usirtJB who rf] V an. bod l'gu arcb I <0 pin tee t - he ir face.

Ol'l. the' lla ins~ ~l yn~n~g D,elizihn Le~n1.$ '[0' k.e·e,p Oil d1e' 'move. a1. ildten can ea.s.i hv ha:ndle fa (Aanlel 'by ,t'h,e l r fi.frh

'b~ lIhrl- 1"1 1 '11' '1- 'h ' h

- 'H~' ,,0000V - '0' ·;:-.00,r ........... Cl'nC ..,. P' C:Q"l:lI'lo9!'~ In\D''i,1'iF 1I I ~Iug . ·tl 'a ll"'Ul"" m

,1"1,, . ·",,;u~. "', '. ';:)'G'.! .. ["" U ,~ .Ii"', _ ,.tIL .. '!L:'.u' JL 1L,';::"""',:L;'i' '.U ~" I'" ,0;:: t"-"" ,.JLI:!i

'~.r~ rar1eJy 1?·~·r[nittled to have ~TlOllnt~ o:f th.eir o,w:-n.+ Horses ~~re used for hun;th1g ,a,nd ~rarf~re; when a Delzahn f gi \len 11, is, ~ur f'IJ s're€ d, it:s ign als. ~'h,e I~ nll.a'[. 'begifl.:n hl,g of aduhhood. AfteJ' lleceivLng a horse, ·the'" 'fDung ,t"'llO]];latd. tides- {llone fur 'thfee days.~ con't~lnplat:~,n~g the Qperl m ..

vanna. Meanwhile, the tribe IThOveSOn1 sa the rtdermust track tt down again.

'W )m.~ It and 'linen ha ve strictlv divided roles.

Women at reo ex peered to ga ther and tend to the t ribe ~ s possessions, and their famay~s lineage, whrle 'men en .. , gage in hunting and war. At rhe same rime, the Delaahn don't assign gender according tc biology. Any member of die tribe m::rl)" select a. d]f.fen~l1't gen(tew. Called. Dererh, people 'who. rho ose a g~nde:r d.:iJfer€l'lr from the eJ sex 'must W'~ ar a g ray sash Or vei l at al [ rimes. Man y Dererh are shamans, since 'ch:ey 'are used '0 1 LV ing ill, ~'O different worlds .. They are not dlscrlminared against outside of rhe customs surrounding their chosen. gen,~ der, Most Dere th cho ose the ir role after the ri te of passage.. M en. retu [11. to rhe tribe with fresh meat froOm. , he hunt. Women return, 'with 'l': poem.

A rr ibe s wealth ] 9 measu red by the n 11 rnbe r o:f an lrnals ,i. [: fJWl1$. U It [mate] Y l' a Inca.'! o rkhan owns 21]. of the tribes' possessions, but he usually a1[.01;v5 eachfamilv 'to [end its own herd in pea.ce. Families do requ ir-e his perm i::t ion [0 trade anything wirh an au tsider. Like·\~f ise, any rhefr otfends th e 0 rk han (a:n.d by ex reus ton ~ the: end re tribe); sre a [] ng can provoke an escala ring spiral of viol en ce,

Forrunatel y, Delzahn customs provide fc~r a less extreme solution ,_ one that a.ctua.Uy promores srealing in certain. circumstances. The thief can escape retribution by offe r ing the tribe an u nm arried adu l r. Th~~~H~ .. .l1e\1VCO rners are married into the o.f.fen.ded IT.~ be, wh ich then demands a. ' • nodesr dowry,

The cvcle of theft, marriage and gEft gjving gives the horde a common identity and. fuels economic exc h an ge '. D,r.:: 1 za h n :m all' r iages a. re polv gam a us, with multiple wive: ~' nd husbands- haring a complex of rents and the ir share of the tr i be' s herd, On] Y' one par mer can by added to the mmrrt.tag€. at a time: her s tatus is. del in .. eated by' the old er in '~vh ic h she DO lned the falni Ly;, Since the Delzahn have a. 'taboo agatnst k:Lll~ng or d;i~dl(U10vi"ng anv firs'[,-li.:n,e· relatives, this practice leads '[0 a. convoluted web of clan alliances . and rivalries. A fulL sixth of ,Ch.iaro51cu:r()~s Deb~a1:m population claims des·cent from 1- he orkhans, Hnd t'he righ, 'to, own. properly.

Taboos ~'gai.r;Lst i,["tLter.necine W(f['fa.re h81ve led. to a~\ elaborate systen1. of ritua.1 due·lis. Th~ du~lin 7 circle iit the' fa vot~d choic:e fOli se:tJtl ing personal ruSPlU'['~S,- liene l ,the 'win •. le¥.' fn:rc,t5 !the IblSitle' out '0 the peir iIT:L!e.tel 0' 1, o:r~,e :a fchel[~y due 1'5 are, u ed '[0' re so 1 vie :i n te r .. c ~;an. a:ffu:~ r ' .. Dea th is. ~n inauspicious 'way to \vin,t so 'me Delzahn. fIghters cul'U val~e ~~~'t'pds.tng restraint and il1genllie}' ia. 16):[[1~bart. For 'Ehl23 'rea&Oll, ,Deb:ab.n IDB'rcen:a:ries a:['@ D,fc.en hired ~o .k.e:·ep eke peace ,['hroughout the civilized Soud,..

A'boV'e' cne'o,(:khaoJj ofe.aci'lsepe are' t'he lkhane-l,e·aeh of \\\'hertl, lG.l~lm$ i~k)tmill~'Pn over a Jdo~zen or gO s,~Pt~ thToUg,h 'f.i.~ht& eDn.f~r.r(3d by [fu1i~al'Q'e a)n.d ritu~l (1.0rlnh~L

" 'J' ;. .:::; I" p~ ... ~ I ~ 1 I ! T DI.... I •••

D4IA _' '!;R 0' E • S~fT1NG

• ·11 ~_ - -- I' a I l'II • '1. I ~.·I. III •

- ----"--

:: obles show their allegiance by granting all of their pro Jeri y '0 'their liege, ach khan i ~ '_ abuloui 1 V \vealrhy+ Nobles arc expected to display [heir wealth as evidence of their followins and ten I owar I rich, 'if garish, fashions. In act, like the orkhans. the khans allow mos of (! the ir ' prop e[ ty to< res i '_ e wi th the pe op 1 e w ho C::11~ I or 'i [,

The' elzahn horde is far; rom unified, [hough he Ttl-Khan currently holds I he most power, The current TTi -Khan U vie, off ( :' the spo ils of Tama ~ Khan, the luna'

lt who first united the' ree tribes of the Plain of \Yind .. Scat rered Bones to loot Chiaroscuro. Ta In as never inten le J _ h 'O\ebahn 0 gr w 0 dependant an the city; the half-dh Ie beas men who carry his blo d know thi and pa trol he road s in search o , prey! th e bet tc r to remind the ci 'I' of trs sinsIn the past five ve is, [he raid I have been augrnem ed by 0' 'nla,~ who rlre of being pressed into rhe dese rt by rhe nation ~ s expans ion and 'I. sen c ~ty,~d\o, elle . \"h . have growr '00 ~ ''),-[ to 'I igh -f lUy C L&l:U.Ol their line a ze.

Ii u nd red of yt:: a rs ago, Immacul a' ~ mon k· 'tnt vel ed . 'ouch [0 convert he . ~L hn, Bet'!" een native tnfluences ani I rhe rac[ that the Immaculate fairh 's dogrna WCJ '. somewhat less devel ped han it is now, a. W.' rird hetero-

Joxy oc k l-~, ld ,.itl h h· ·d .. The ] -ITI'inanll· ranch the 'faith '~S (fron1. the on hodox view) heretical, promoting I piri worship a a d act ~ venera' ion of '1,1e ,h:n'tna.cu[,'[e Dragons. L Iter In issionaries hav e elicit ed almosr no interest fronl the popula .ion (though he TriK h~ n courts 'them 'to gain [he Rea ~ m' s favor)" leadins to sp 1I dtc vio ence between h rmaculate sha {nan anc orthodox mon ks,

JCKAl T'RJBES

'~n (he Southeast, mosquito-borne plagues ancient spirit-curse and diseases that spread throueh the c. :[11- uumi: y ~ ell ~ of the veki r . rlke o - en eno ~g'h to sustain [he J acka [ T( b es, those OlU tc ast bv disease 0 r deforrrIl, ity \Vhl bald ogether r s uviv L A I though ' heir a' ictions Lead 'to early deaths and alow 0\ erall birthrate, new ~x ~ ~,e rep [dee '"-he de A' 'I.

E~tch sept ex' ends permanent' - e'mbersh ip tD 'those wIth diLei: O\~'n. pa[ti . d~u' syn.1[r orb) ~ though 01 ~lers lena),' tta'l.,lel with ' he-~n. un:til they meet ([ r ~re suitahle t.ribe. To,f, ]p, ' "t [nit' e' ib '~~ nu:m "e'[;~,;." a, kals 'hvle' ,'evel .. ,

~ped a strong hospitality tnu:HtioI:L Wandenus "rarely av:_ t[ the, 1 .. elv'e,' I U 11 in ecjou generosity; [11, 'se ledd _ it the di~~ased ar~ h~ "'red :frO'Dll rnos'[ 'e tth::'menl:S,

Aside -om th'e"i r ph y'"S tCaJ] SC81"$" me]' a.ckals InH y be -een E' t.ed,y the I', ,'C'I '\. >, lepe'll" t'~,:- It they \i\fCa ' '~r(jd] '( i,ana l d L~ess. W hen SO~lJ'r'iet,- nUJJsk~d, rideriS·apprO~~"c,h ~ Ij_he c. rnmon C U(6to:mn i [.0 ~ e, : 'f' ( m'e ~ d flnJ 'lua '-1-

41

Tne KlHA~KHAN

D'elzahn, shamanism em hasizes sky"'"\vcr~hip.

T wisu d m~IDO[~e " of the Old Rea.h:n'"s reli ion, r ' 11 pi rr or ,- he Hrurgy i:n.ch.Jd'ing" he ,ropj! i' tton 0_ spirits and fragments of Exalted Iore, The fusio-n with the lmmacula efaith I .mphasia sthe nmac.

.of the Dra,g,ot;l Blooded, bUJ most shamans keep 011 .. rorie ~ f the Ce le ,{'i,a" EX81' ed a] ive becau e I' 'I, ey fear what may h" ppen if 'they :[",]'01, '[he

po wers of 'he ~k ies.

"elzahn propbeeics pred tc he comin 'of1th.e Kha-Khsn, sen fT, un leav, 1'1 to mire [he horde. NOlnadlc !stor:yteners, say rhat Tamas Khan was tl last Kh _ .... KJ::t_ 1:\ •.. ei 19 (11, rely 111. r[;' I , . he ruler _ f· Jda:r08GU ro v,-r i n not clai :, hi:- ancestor' is tide l' an J sa, he is merelv the T ri .. Khan. Awa i I i,ng a Lunar: xalt with the 'strength [0 clairn the ritle thedhoh men of the '£CfUth. pro -pa:['i,' the v. ay with their r31"d ~

at t he our kirrs of town" lest rh y COHle closer and spread their diseases,

'The jackals ha ' e [ew common traditlons, outside of religious fervor and the' plague fairs t 1 t allow 'them I match the llseased with their pro·. :r sept, - ecause fe'~' . communities will let them ride near, r~hey are quick 00 rrad e a m( 11 '1 - rl em" :1 .. · ~S a r he e gatherings. Live births are rare and a cause for much celebrationv especiallv since he jackals know that their diseases wil] Uk,ely claim the child at . - .. ea -ly age. ~_', nlike other barbarian i rlu y name 'their c'~, ildren immedian ,11" The -e who grow

o adu I thood W'~ thout sh- iwing any SigJ1S of the trib e ~ 5, plague are value i'_- resented. Th 'Y 11,"1· siven I he Lea It port ion of an y hunt or raid but are 'e xpec ted to broker the sept ~ ., de", l [in,~1'" wit h c 1. vi l iz at io u,

Wil" hour the natural h alth or enduring traditions of a -' aer barbaria 0..: 't the j at: kals COUl pen ~ a e \)1 :i rh 'Inerce ~ nar y rUi th lessT11ess." Most tth ink l1!()th tag of .. ~en tu ring in::to th~ W,ld"; I . W' poxe hnply a'i ," '[0 [h· IU, d ~ de' rn B,~

" les of he tri be", They. val.ule, spiT it patronage abov'~' all. Sh,arn:ans will undergo cri plin~ f e'ven',u]c~ ai chh_Xna.ge for d:,H.~ sak~ of tl1ei[ tribes. I 0 .,erfuL opportu,n istr ic 1 inle ··0 15 hless. [herll, iI" exrcharuge fOil's ucb . [,e,va [ton,,,,

W he' , COLin rered, th,~ d is-eased are yp ic~~Jly en""

g-aged :un i,nconIpr~heruible mi "lOiDS for' [he $ptriln~ On n·ibe may .daughter 3'11 erlLti"D.·~ viHage ; or the CDrne·-r~tonc of Ihe h.e:tnl~lll~shur; ,anol hernl yoffeliaUofits \!!lealllfoI a ~i ng 'e 'flawl~,:, ernie 'ald. Th, ja:lckal .,a,n t"ci~ m, ES rew~me~ wi tn.· ch~lns that '&c~ ve Q,[f rh~ worst synlplGims 6:£ rh, tdbal illne's and. h gr,",r o.fe:;{ual . on.gres \\,~th the litd,~ads., Th~ G'od·Biooded tha'[ l"esuIt£t~1m [he e

•

- ~ ----.J"-

: II .mr·r-:- ,. - ..

unions are given to the tribe ro serve as shamanrulers, Their appearance d istingulshes them fron the run-of ... the-mill jackal because they either appear eo be 'i 11 perfec t 'he alrh or ha ve affl tctions so adva need thatno human couldsurvive them, muchless ignore all but the disease's cosmetic svmptoms.

'De vot ion to' the Iittl e· gods I' akes some Jacka], T ribes to t he secret C orners of the Sou th, w here Firsr Age ruins stand En desiccated glory .. Most perform

'[ ls d Iedb h h

, , " • ,., • ,. " ,- . 1-'" (''- '" ,- , ,- , wi - ,- I' , "e

t ae rr rua S "e mane ,e , , 'y 11: e tr pa [fOns}, 1 I: , Olll [ qu '~ s ~

'-,'1'" "..11 """'~'';' " '1-1 h s b " ' I -, dirton -':',

rton ano mo \~ e on. 1:, as oec orne a. rrao _" to n [0

commit the tribe's deeds to memorv - indeed, rhis traditicn .is one of the few the diseased have ~ so marry unkno~;ill.gli-Y' keep useful spirit lore and First' Age secre ts among tr ibal s tor ~{!S. ' 'om,et:hne 61; '~:b,ey release the inhabitants of ancient 'tombs. 0'[ activate o].d art ifac ts. T ribes that surv i ve 'the ex perience sometimes acqu i re strange powers, too is or even beasts. One Fbs - Age boor that has proved valuable to all the tribes are the simhara, predaror-sreeds that 11 a ve b ecom e one of '[he Jacka] ,'~ dis ti ngu ~sh'~ ng !e atures, ,A" a result, the J ackal T ribes have taken to mounted travel and war fare. The' simhata-riders lead a 'motley group of horses, C3tneR-5 and 0: 'her

b hatof 'I 1'" d '~;(11 • "

e asts [nat a .ten $11;; .re t l'f U" r l, ers arn 1 c r h .. ns

T:HE DUNE Pf.O'PLE

Beyo nd the :fie lds of th e Lap, the last scattered I"O\Vns chn.g to the thin streams and deep wells, augmerrting theit ~1~N::'(~J~ suppl-y 'with rain basins", The des er [ encroaches h ere ~ waves of sand ebb and flow across the sickJ,y plains grain bv grain as 'heat and wind go '[hnll~h subtle cycles.

Travel across '[he desert is has irs advantages, Caravans 'hug the' sands lID avoid bandlts, tf travelers 'keep rorockv terra in and the wad ls, I[hey make. rap id progress. Nonetheless shorrcnrs across the desert are never taken 1. igh t1y t The 'k i lling daytime hear 'ales its toll; a 'man cart faint from dehydration before hts body feels any thirst. The night is barely milder, bue cool w inds do temper the emanations of the E le men .. , tal Pole of Fire. 'These moments of respite from the heat bring out the desert's night creatures, including the, Dune People

The Dune, People are' true albinos, ever fearful of ,a sun that woul.d kill them in minutes H:they ever surface d by ·d~y. Sease ned travelers know tli:€ DUD€. People hera Ld the s~d s torm a~d hu nt fo~[ btu man meat by night, D~s]!j[-e' ~h!eLr l~c'k of coloration,,~ thev have no, 0 the d~f0:nu] t ies 0'[ weaknesses. Ma.n'~t of rhem are 'huge and mu ~CILlI] ar fironfiL [heir diet of }" uman fi;e; 'h_. 'Fe \N. au rs i dff:li have ever hear-·' ~'. he; Dune p'leo;p"'L!l':! sp, akj h,! I' it ls "a id '~ha'l rheir [t}ng-~Jage

til I ".... 'i!I,; ... - [1- -. "fj II ..... ... 'r" I ! I" _ I,.

. ~. ~ &:: --l9 '. "I ... 1'1. . 10.:

'. ~) L:: r -: --oil . ""!""I

D _ Ii .' ; _ !I.!" ,. II , I' .:: '" .. , _ I. 'I

is like th rasping, rhythmic . ound of snakes slirhetine across 'he s and,

In truth, the Dune People's customswouk be f untli~ r to :m art y bar ba ria ns ~ co nee me i as they are Vil ith

h 'd' .'11. 1 ~ d sh ' l' 0 'I

onor pru e '[[[0(: ~ tore an." s," amaruc worsrup, " 11~y

their alp earanc end an unparalleled hatred (or ours i ',~ ers separates hem. The Dune People hunt orherbumans

. ~

til an eternal feud with the rest ofthe world: a ~rud, e that

hey lean _ a.':> chtldr n.

I ntan t mortal i ty among the a Ibi nos is 'h igh. Da V ~ H hit btr hs rarely survive, thouzh the Dune Pee le

'~. eel mansk in [en s 'or doris pu r ose. Th .. e tents are buried in the s and after the bah)! is born. and serve as a lightle: ,~ hollow for the }foung ':0 hide from the sun. ~'s they gTO"V older" these albino children are each ,. iven an 01 l ~ lee ., ing bone J a 10 tl g hu man fe IU ur he [:[(l\~ed into a tubeto breathe through while they sleep in the : and, At nishr. they rise 'to l- am tribal hi,", I orv from the ~harmm1 '. As the 111 igh t progresses ~ they help the warrior eq" jt for the hunt masteriru the art of turnm : ~ on. ~ human -"0 ' e ,~_ . d ligame 1- t) in: 0' [oats and wea~- ..

C' " e 'n ' d c - ~ v : ~ 'h t

'Ol1'S,. uncus or sptrtt-toucnee . vauTIgs1tc'rs tearn r ow Or

wea 'e m nskin [11 : an '_, '1_10 I,.~ [ ~·v to attoo their le[ O\iV;5 wi h he juice of certain desert plani and 'how [0 rende r water fmm corpse "

\

R aring , , n i [~ ·rf [h ,'u :le Pe I ,[, 1s a [ ng, pains ..

·[glkil1g.p[oG'.~~ One I" tistakecondemns adhHd tochokit ' in the le rt and,: " I burnins tn 'he, un. 1:-' u the rrrn re, they spen' wo [Iyrd .of their [:il~ buried in"~. ' ,,' ie$:e',;t:, so rhe tribe's reachin ~ must ~- spread out a er a ~ong'et

period, Thu "~if whenthe young-leach l7 or [,' yean; of age, they are' considered adults, readv to hunt hUJn.a;:fls and

1 I'll ]'1 - 'II I the:

10 .tow out ~ ieepmg OOI·e.s r t neir 0 vn,

The pr sen ra don of a freshl y carved fe mu 1!' is cause for celebration; sex eral camps mav gather to welo :['1, e

lL new a Jult -; , the rril .... e Shaman i. rce themselves 'with bone slivers [0 reach an ecstatic trance and call the

,[ "nrh:s of the : and tormt 0 rl ,e g2rhe~~:~11,g. If :). veral Dune People have undergone the rite of passage azreat storm uld zht rise, as 'the Dune People', totems honor oj 11. ancient pact forged by Ka<Ko~h.u, Exalt of . he Silver Pact. Its sna kemen re mind the shamans of . he Li tan y of F re 'Ionl w h ich uo -erns the tribe,

According to the Litany" the Dune Peop le were ad . nall y [a ve race: labo in,&: in a IC'it:y r d p 1 ea ur s rha [ once s. toDd in the m iddle of the desert. The sorce ty of rh, i r masters m ade them albinos s, ' :' ha an.y at! mp 0 flee into the san would kn U .heru. Thu 'I they were bound to 'the resort serv ic tng~ the o.reaJ.t underground . nines' hat created '!,;\ ater our of 'tb in ail, '1 'len su ' acmg

u night I 0 g~~rd. rhe temple .of ,- heir sun-worshiping mast e [1'- - Then, d is~ ster struck, and Lunar god, led ~ hem in," " the des , r, i teaching them the G r ' 0:: SUI, ',' ival and co mrnandina 'chen1 never to 1 ive in sla very a ai . .' ", 'S natural cppr L S()[SI th~' civilized rnu r be hwarred wher .. f!" er they · re atC L

Dun' .People valu€: !~er,ci~Y a ove allel: ei . Q cor ~ p] irr ~ n t one l Eo" air that -yqu 1t,!rtf be']". '_-] eepi ns: to <et1'18'I in. [heart ~ lie v little hni ror marria . ri' '~a l~ a .d Ii rOI' e t~l la W-S i ,,0 the'} hit ve none l sh a ring

43

ev e qr[h i. ng in common .. 0 nl y person a [ hrmor n1.8.·[ ters. Accus ing one of the Dune P eop le of compassion {01i' outs iders or l.az::i.ness is cause for a due [., In, '[b. is case ~ the sleeping bones are used as weapons: the figIlt continues until one parry is dead or her sleeping bone is-shattered - in 'which cas,e1 she is compelled to leave the sept,

Manskin. tapestries record '[he Dune People's history in elaborate pictographs, io:clud:~ng the network of songlines that crlsscross the desert. Each camp records its own songllnes and patrols them for prey and spiritual gtl idance .. Shama rLS, perform 1'1 tes a t e ach of '[he S;Q ngl i nes ~ S ign l'fie :3]1.'[ land mark "

TIHIE '>lEST

As a. traveler sails froHl the heart of Creation, the seas. gUCfW ever more silent, and the islands more rare, revealing a desolation 'as great as. any to be found along line fringes, of th e wor ld, Barbari :InS sa i 1. {and swi m ') 'these waters, These islanders are ,cl~hLI[al[.y diverse, so hat a week's sailing could brlng a. vessel past peaceful coral carvers, warriors who save their enemies' blood as a ]ib~tiol1, for the volcsno gods and cas aways 'that 'worship rhe rotting flg!LIr~head of [he ship thar betrayed th.enlL ..

The W'e, tern Ocean is a treacherous provider. Any gifts ir gives it balances with storms, tangling seaweed and. ship .. devouring fog. SorneriJ:n~:.s~ the see, boils up 'to' kill anonvmouslv, but often, the' little, gods make their p:[es~nce. known, laughing as sailors live and die. under their ministrations .. Thusj the Western. tribes observe a thousand taboos to appe ase spirits bod) known and in v isihle, spinning 0 ld ch imlnage into i ronclad CUS[Qm,

TI-1E. ]SLAND T:RlBES-

In the Scuthwest, barbarians Live on hundreds of volcanic islands" sailing OUI' rligg~r canoes along age-old routes. The swift ships dart hl and out of the W·a.vec.n;~st Archipelago, exploiting rhe natives' peaceful nature \v i tho ~aEy ra ids ,. Th.c tribes resularl V ra id each other as well, .A, single tribe wll] strip its island of all. life within a fre'w generations, so compentlon for a dwindling :n1lJ[1jJLher of fuerlH.e islands fueb, rribal 'wars", Raids also temporarily free the is]ande1:s f[,o1'o [he complex rituals 'l:ha.t govern, their l ives.

Be' ween stormy seas and the-ash '~n1d [la;me of rh.ei r 'valc~nic hOll1:00" th,e i8L~nd~r$ struggle . '0 prechct ~tnd h,a:rn,€!ss '[he ~!l~pern.a rura 1 ]l:~JA~$ that u nded i,;c ltbes,e ever~,[s. Tb.e islmtl.d, barharian employ Inore . h'anl~Uf\$ d1.an nl0S,t [d~~';: rou.ghly . [:le in 'te'n i~ a d.e Heated l tudent O'f d],~ '5U'pernatu'r~1] wh'i le th.e :rest hnn'e hex-~ and wardiug gc~'l:.U~~~· ~ r.~3\dH~l-a;S spea:[p~y and. g,~!dHng.

'Wh@L1 thel' are; ,~.~oun'[!ered at $~a l·he"S'e: ~afbar_' ia.ns ate ,a Inettl!\r.ah[.I~ ·sight~ tt"l~)~ ,- r~sl!5 hT1 e[~'bG)rate barde a:rmor, -testo Q l:ffi,ecl with .. ~arv·,ed sh€U:SI~ ~and:s of 'mo~ dl~d. copp eE .aJJiJ. 'tile ·hrin.i~U7rt fe~.('l:i'€[S of - ro'p~<(;a 'I.

• _ ~ - I"I~:- .I_.r r U '.' _ • :.!oF!! . l L ~ I'... OIl! ;. I

birds .. The inmcate designs fOl1Lnd on their bows, warclubs and spears are a lso tattooed; diffe.r·ent d.esigns denote successful raids honor marks, and the i r status as chief .. ta i [is 01 shamans,

Children born. to these' tri b es are na rued afrer da:,ifs of divination .. Inauspicious omens COfl11Uit '[he infant to the Stann Mothers wi th a d rowni ng sacrifice. Survi von; &00'0. learn the. simplest taboos, such as never to stand in a. shaman's shadow or speak during meals. The burden of ritual increases with each ye~f., along with tnsrructton in tribal crafts and. myths. 'When adulthood arrives, ~UI islander 'castes '(1 measure of freedom, sailing with a 6~hing or ra id ing band bevo nd the range of'[ be t rl be ~ s laws, S:ill k~IS break taboos with irnpunirv. Alcohol pours, the balld shares the stories that can only be T:O~.d at sea, and the: initiate is encouraged "(1 share his innermost emoeions. Then, returning with Irs spoils, the band is gree ed by the shamans,

This time is. a. dangerous one for the initiate" After the se reve 115 at sea, he rna y .be drunk and b e reft of :~ nh ii b i rions. He :[llay hre ak. a. taboo, inadverrentl y .offer .. ing himself to' the gods of the island and the sea .. If he does S0; the sacrifice is performed that night: it is traditional for 'his hand to. offer him '[0 the spirits, Otherwise j he is permitted. '[0 sleep, tis ing '[he next da'Y to a ssume the ritual and practical duties of 'an adult.

Men and. women undergo the same t:d a 1., a 1 d:10 ug'h women are sent off in a special canoe rhat is burned after . he rtrual. W(im.en. are n.lsualily forbidden from sailing farther than a bowshot away except during a '[l1igra.- ion fc~r fear of making the Storm Mncllt,ers jealous. Thus, fe rna le lrut ia tes break. this ta bo 0 d ur il1.g· the ir rites of passage. Occas i onall y, WOI,U~n. choose 'to li ve as men when ·th.ey reru In ~ following the custom of th~ Tya .. They accept fac ial tatto os and. steri liza don in exchange for the right to sail as. fa.r as the)~ please. Tya membership is 'fee ogni zed i n both barbarian and c i vi ltzed cul tu:r€S (see. Scavenger Sons, p. 59) i conferring 'mmv advantages to 'women fullofatn'biti.o.L1. andwanderlusi .Irs society is one of the few avenues of trade bet ween the s a vage Island ers and the established nations of the West,

'The freedom of the sea. makes island barbartans enthusiastic pirates. M·.ost :p['ef~ to spend as much rime a.w'a y :frO'rlll home as pass ihIe 11 so .[ hey ·w i. n take 'weeks to ,doggedly pl],fSUe 5:hip~ ~n.d pfUag;e :lleighb~,'lr~ng~ '~sl,:J[1d!j'. 'Wh;en dley re'tutni. shaan.ans cleanse theriJl of an.y S1:l'l,$ 'the'~ 'may h~;we CO.tn.:nl,it[ed. ~h'raa.cl" hbe.rating them frGI\l allY guU' or shante ov'er their :~crions .. A ceJeb:~a.'t~on fa l1uw'5,; the fa [deI's gi, ~leSl1 \va y m:heir' 5w~ag! wiEh d:1.,e largles:[ pOfiti.crn EoLrtg to th~ ,S,h~UIQa08 and. the ~hitf. As €~h isbLln,CP5 eC~i!ogy der:lin'~s ultd~r the t[ih~s ~t1reotian,~ ~ette gift$. become 'mOfi€: Il~oe'ssfary 'reo i't~ ba.sic 'Sur\riv~9J I ~n.d :U:8.i.d$ b~c:.n[Ile more fFecquent.,

- • ~ -. .-·1 'ij- 1·.-. • ·11iI·::. ell·.. • •• , .... 1 I.. ..'i ... I· r

The islanders are hard on their homes.

Aside from the p lants and be asrs let 1.led to sustain th,e~n~ the tribe busies lltself 'with an a: rrav of menu merits, l",'empJ es and ritual pyres:

meant to curry fa vor with, the 1 i de gods, A lush isl and can 'be red uced to H barren sandbar after a few dozen. years worsh ip, When 'It hi s occurs ~ the tribe moves to a ne VII is land. The i:r fo rrner homes, are abandoned; the thousands of sra - ues,

temples and. huts left for time to eradicate .. Civl- 1 i led pr i vateers ofre n. use the se is ~ ands as, tern P orary shelters j risk :E.n,g ghosts and be-red 1 i rr le gods to rest among the: sllent monuments.

After migrating, shamans spend months searching for s igns of '[he l itt]e gods, T aboos are added 'Or a I. tered (bu c never re moved) accordin g ,[0 the sh a _' mans' decrees, and the rribe sets a bout on '[ abors tha t wlll sansfy irs new gods,

HE PELAGOlJHROPES

Barbarlans do more than sail .. he W'est; t'1.1,ev swim it using tbetr 'V$l?[d-'~oucll;Bd bodies '[0 sustain themselves ]L1 the depths. M~ny pelagothropes are allies of the Lintha F amil y (' see Scavenger Sons) OlE hire themselves OILJt as, tr,~,~la:nce pirates, Blue and green hair is COII"hmOn among the wave -dwe llers. Their sk in ca n 'he, al 1. the co liars of -·l. e ocean ~ fr ,n1. sapphire blue to the: stark lJtihite: of a sun-bleached corpse, Long we bbed feet ~ bght scales and eyes cJ suded by nictitating membranes are also common, In the Northwest, many pelagothrope have a layer of firt and oily fur, like 3; sea [] on j s, These marks fHI, land .. dwell e rs w ith m isrrus [1' if no. - ourrigh t hatred .. They recognize them as the signs of Linthan marauders and the mer .. sa vages,

Pelagothropes have an advantage over the ir island .. dwell ing courrterparts: No IlB t ibn can consistenrlv expel them fromirs waters. ]fpressed" rhe pelagorhropes simply 'move deeper into the ocean, They live in coral reefs or I ivlng seaweed that theey weave 11"['[6 indiv idual xhambers B nd council hal is. En '[he N'orthwest~ they hollow out homes from the undersides Elf i cehergs, They are 110'[ fond 'Of the lig'hde'~s depths of - he uttenncst W'~I , since the-y cornrnunlcate 'by s j,ght while underwater, MO;E~t use sign, lang uag~,~ '~h("HJ,gh a few . peak '~o 'eetcn 0 ~ her bV ra};lidly thanging 'the col~:r .of their ll);']k i1:1:S",

'Based on. their ~ni larion in '0 adulthood, pfl~~godtro.pe~ b,clcrng to one of three dj,ffer:e11t se .. eret societies. The Sttone, Society concerns itself wtt:h the land, 'including rhe tribe's n .. urseries, nrid .. lng parties and d·.u:r~at6 from the surface, The Stxn lit

.'SO(]€ty tend$ 'o";h~ fl6athtg' campSl to tribal c~afts, arrtd, tehunting and fish in (~'. The DfJep BOGi.e ty Is rhe

45

The aoultll,,'we. tern is[~nd,e[~ ~ar[V the burden ofhuT'lclr-ocls o-ftahoo'S andrituals, ~li intended tc], l' , fl u e'11Ce 1!:ne sp i r irs, 0 rher b nrbari ML8 ] eave most chirnin~,ag,~ to th~ shamans, but all. 0": the [5l~Ald,~r~ obEY 'n",j'l-ual; and bans - Cf such '~n extent tI,3, an o~ rts id(3~ ,ro '!if a ~ k w hether Of not t:ffifi-V - f t t i-s; worth d.o iug.

The answer depen:dls,on dl.'e~>ski~ 15 of the- tribe's shamans. ITf'they are c::~p~.bla of-a,ensing rhe.splrirual makeup CJf the Island, their advice can be '~ugie;Fut Ie'" en ti.eaes:sary~ if thelr peapl~ are to 1 ive 'o~'ar the chaorie or hostile little god~, of [b,~, W'~'[., Since,

hey 14now fu n, well '[hat dle spir its of s ~prln:t ~u-ocl molr-en fire could obli,Ier~re bh,e; tri~e' ~u:~-,n:y [ime'~ soonliilm tale, a conservative app rOfl~h~ cbecstag ~x~r€'n~e- dev~ don over a s in-a:p'le P[~lC rice tha t rni;§;h r 'taiL Whiftl they leave an islmrtd behknd, tbeya,ever aban(hfi- the '[abtl)o~:r$~oc~i[lE:~cl. '~1ith it'; tlievie-ardr1[e resentmenr .of gods tna,[ ~[lii'at -!e~Eli ,discarded er forgotren. As a, resu i t i tribes \'\1-:[ th, competent s hamans ate fPlvo-re.d "vidl gQOd~Ri,b~i"vea.tl1¢l: ana are anly raieiv'struck do;wrl by vole:all.ic etupd()io,s ..

Un6ortuna:,teliy! l1;"'tany s.b~UJlL!~ns aF~~~8n'upt) ineomperenc or both. They use tri bal trad tt; ion to el i min~.tl~ th~]r enemies an'd e]tsu,[e [he ir ~\v:n presrige.Most shamsns · tlhe:rit a few SJe~~f~s'~]"ving ta.'~nn~ from greedy 1· redecesso ["8, bu t qth~n~ prol,a'EJate laws ro .guaran ee rhern w,t':'a[thl pO\l\rer and sexual gra.'~ifi.eat:[on. The little gods fraWnlJ'Pnn~ too nnal1y lfberctes '~'a.,ken in thei.[ name (e;~He~tfl Uy if dfte S~~t[nll', doe 11,"t RnG:n\' tl.Qrw d;! propid~te them in, the firsc pla.ce) an,d wr~.'I d.~s['~oy the offen.de' -\~ tl'~be ViJ'i .h 1 a. va au.s] ,- 'J, under ~]f SLJ ifi cien [Ly 3N:f:rretL

shamans ~ eire le l s wim rni 11.g down into the darkness 'to ~oLnln'UJl1 e wi rh spirits and Wy'L'- places, Each socletv "has I' ituals ~ signs and lore tha r i -. does 11.0 t share w 1 rh the others, though members of the same society from diffe'n~nt ndbes wl n t.~lk frlf!:e1y :abD'tn d· e'm. lns e~d of a ~iogl,e ch ief) th,e l',ead~ of ,each soc:~e~~y g~t1:~,er as ~a -rdbunal '[0 cH· pens,e iU:M:ice and d'ecLde on irr;!.~portant 111a.tti~rS ,ffe'c-rin,g rh·.e rdbe as ~, wl10;lie"

StlIL -they 8rDt l~u.lm&1R enougll -'0 appr-ecia'[e ~r~a. ,e'ven ]l,leed, the liatl!tL :r',~lag"n:hto~p:€s ~ue born urid~but - he irl!";' s ri.ne'IlS [0' US~' the~r gills; .so cl1!~y are lreal[ed in ~p etC ~,a] gre c;h"es by the 0 rd .[ll1.d, i nfitnl. The~e nur$er~, es ~e Faund on deSerlY8d or. b~re 1-'1 popu [;g:teU ] sl~nds. Be c~use 'tb e t:D:'ibe~ c~n. hatvest th~' $,~'asj it cl1.oo:$ie~ ba..tr~rt ,oUt-~~O]lS Oit' sa.n-dbfjJ'r8 t~\TIli~e-1y 00 a;Ul"Bct ;~'[~'ention. E\ .. ~n' [l:l)oo,gh 'rb,a

... 1L '~ d

c:recu,e S GUSnZl' i:m_'ls an~ not rh-e fl,e;rcesl \:II,farr lalrs ~ th ey w,~: n

--

" ,

attack intruders with special, fe-rocity, hoptng - 0 kHl them before they can disclose the nursery's location.

These children first learn to swim and -'0 breathe water 1 then how '[0 d iscern rhe mean tng Off the sea's color, ~n1.eU and taste. Like sharks, the pelagorhropes can sense blood and the no~n ing spoor of f sh from mt les a'way. Children 'who. 'have "found their gilht' accompanv

1I··b h h

tneir tribe on tne aunt, usinz Itoy spears 'to mimtc the

strikes of the adults' coral .. headed weapons. They also vis:u~il: [and when they ca n ~ to le am fire .. build lng, C~tV ing and stonework ing. Adolescents are put through inten ... sive drills 'to teach them how to. move and flght on land. Those VI' ho neglect th is. train i.n.,~ deve lop we ak lungs and fa il - he g rue l ing ri te of p assage,

Called the Threefold Trial), it tests 8:11 initiate's ability to survive in au' of the places she mighr be called I 0: the 'i s la nds of t he stone j the su nl it seas and the deep. The young pel agorh rope 11l1.lJ$'t retu rn with a prize rrOI[u each place and present each one to the. hear of the appropriate society, ITf an,,}! of the gif[s are insufflcient, the initiate is exiled, Otherwise, she ls accepted into [he I' rlbe. The tribunal decides which socierv she should join 'based Ul on _'h,egiJts given,

Tile Stone Society cnnduc rs piracy an - rrade \ell i rh rhe 0'- her lnhab itants cfthe West. 'Elders leach members how 0 pilot '[he land-dwellers' vessels) speak the ir Ian .. , guages and obey their customs, Stone wattior - sell - heir spoils through the Linrhan syndicate in exchange fair weapons that neve r rust [such as g:btrss blades from '[he' far ... off South) and supplies to support the tribal creche. . Pelagcthrope coral sculptures fetch a high price- in WeS1telTI markets, as do the sturdy ners '[be~! wea '-e fro-m seaweed, B oth a l"rt'; produced by the S u nl i t Soc ierv, The eldest also Learn 'how to domest icate sea C rea. tunes valued by '[he tribe, but these seal herds and guard sharks require constan t su pervis ian.

The Deep Society 'has no interest in the surface world, preferring to meditate in the depths and placate, the sirens Storm Mothers and Se a Folk. :Man y lose thetr tas~e for land completel y" These mermen drag care less sailors beneath the waves as sacrifices. for the Fajr Folk and the little god~ .. ,

THENoRT~1

TOl<v8I.rd the El'em~ntaJ Pol~, of Air, '~vn'like nomads and cmnniba,'1s stalk ,the, snows;, S.h'ado\vl~Jrl1ds'~re com ... mon 'here; the un.de ad. fa,] 1 on 11 n.:pf~pan~d tr~v~ Ler~. Viot¢n(~e fo[lio'W' th.e .seasons:; food! i$ pl~'htifu~ tU"ld t-r~a vel ls ,e:~;y ,C] It:[~'rl;g 1L;he s~:m:m,er l so t~e trfb ~ btl,v'e en eugh to ~a t i.sf~1 Tthe lU. A'S winlI~ r appro~cb0S j faa d be,eO'D:le.s ,5-car'ce:~ ~nd ttade d,vv:i,ndles 8,lS th~ tT-ails beocnne in]p''flssa.bLe'. O~:, ty t[l~ E9Jltl to 'Whi~~'~r:Etl [" ]j:lole c'oed as h: iSi~ by . Fi ['$'1: Age n~~g~c'i st:tl~lS I~ llah1 y c l£ ~t., ,Dtprlv.e do" easy trade ~n.'Mi vulnerable it6 5tal'vati~n, mf.l.n]l I~ribes:

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46

1-

relieve their hardship b) raid tns the towns and oen y '~ie'f:' 'I ~('I [J~ th rezion.

LANDS Of '>/], -. AND F,ROST

Madness and death permea - e [he North, bu I he 'Wyld and d e shadow lands are onl y. the ir 111108 t obv i ous manifesrations. Unpreps red travelers encoun er these rwin hazards frequently: barbarians . re inured la' thi. ' ut

, .

still treat the North with cau Ion.

hie wind i, I, 've~l'\<v]' ere, Ar i~' IL1:Hd:e:[! h:' s a whispering breeze, ,"l,lf it never SI: cps. The '~ reamins wind of the Far 'Nor,' h often plunges into settled lands for week, at ir~ time, car: ring sn wstorms and, 'strange airborne haz .rds with i . \lIidl.out a win , .. breaking wan : r . tand of trees, sleeping 'travelers risk sutfocan din, the i: r ~ leep a' c 10 U)I 0 f hi ow n SlflOIW dE scend on. them. The mosi d lrec r danger [S 'IJ,1 ind ell :U.1; [, c :;a.n fre,eze unpr , ectcd flesh even. on a relatively mild day. Northern d: rba r ians wea -, ill U hood ,', and gro w their 'h air long to ;SJ. void the danger of frruth i te.

The Northern win Is earn madden an ur prepare, I mind. t, atives ar used - ~ h, S'O Tl, '. 'he whistlins of [he' 'breeze and the roaring o.f the 'tal. m cloes n' ~ faze them, Others don't 'have the win to wirhsrand the C on 'an ~ ~~ iLU d. Wind rna. IJn:_' ,-; rst man ifes ts ~ s agl radon and sleeplessne is. Paranoia ano hallucinat ion foUo,~; the '\ ictim often hears voices on the wind, .elllng him to kill hi companions, Sometim S these

• ~ 'I 1'[ . [" 'h "~'" F lk 'I ick I

voicesaren [0' 'UCln",1 ion: 1'" 'l~- er: rair ,Ql ;3lO,C W1C' e

gods often take a perverse pleasure in torment ing rhe at i red even fur her. Forti ma ely, Exaltationsteels 1Eh:'C: mind ag, .mst \\'[0 I r adness, 'en ering Exalt irnmun to these' effe cts l' though the dan oer of oppor lit nis tic

upernatural orces remains,

Even "hen the wind Is mild, the sheer cold. fthe orth is a serious danser, Endless field .. of winter snow c, n cause blin mess. The lcewalkers make slitted goggles OU[ of ivory an l bon - allev [at this, Frc .... ite and

ypothermia are serious risks to mortals, though mos t ~l[alted, C~I1' use Charms and their native recupera Ive powers to avoid '-11e wors dai ,ger~. The glacial surface is often unstable; as well, In the Far North, it can shif miles per vear, moving landmarks miles from their Qrlgi na] loca t] t,n,.

TH'_ ley F'RON'T1ER

At tl'U.e fa: i nges cf '~he Hasl~uti. Lea ~ue'J h erd€ rs an .. I ~nn", tive :se,' n y s~a,son'l rcIY'[lg on dl.,e brief surntner"- ~ '1:'1 .pe'rity [Q c~rry chi ']11 through th<€, )Ie· f", The1' '. 'ick'~,~ v<eu:,etabJcs 'and ~alt ,aUl them-e3,c a·n.d fish

hey ca ~, takt Elg , ate II Or fa n en he k 9_ni.m tn, [s ag:a inst [he cold. When v it1.ter arrives, fie', e :~'ro!·' ar" " p]e .. mentetl wlih. h.u.l!1tiDo~ 0 ',~ is L1.~aUy ~epr i'ru], bu.t -- e..ven, ~'r:i,,1 f $llt)'r[ag,e~ "an dra;,v a v illage 'to !rhe ed' e of

Characters born ]Jl' the Not" th are highl y resisrant [0. wtr dmadn S"'. The I !av,er c f c Northen character m,:ay choose, '('01' her' character 0 ha,· e 'I hi, i m n1l :n,ity l' ,.' ~~" . t, tV' e lL r app roves. 'Iavers of foreigners nusr make a Will' 'ower 'o]l (diffi~~[ty 1') for each we.ek the]! characters spenc at leas hal ofthei _ ti- ," outdoors. If the players succeed three t" e~,,' hei r charac ters have success - full y acclimatized themse 1 ves to the cons taut he \v l. ,'11 a f 'lure, -" he character g~~ ins a Derangement as H. red in the Exaltec rulebc ok (p. 1 1 ~ "Tl ~I Call of the 'W'y[.d"I). IWhHeam·nes.,ia isn't approprlare Ior w ind rna ness, the. ither derangements listed are l

, :", ell as, 2U-~ :llil=J. Clara ~ 1 'I under h t ,- "eo. 0 paranoia b. 'Heve rharsomeon . i secrerlv trying to harm them. Th]~ fe eling C 811. be d irecred toward rh it' ,C mpi:lui.,u.· J' ," rangers ~ 'igm rus ; their imaglnarion or all three.

BrealblL1g out of "rind madness requires an ... orrh" T 'Will] iower rol] r( ,;~i' icul - . 2) rna ]IC' daily, O'~ at Least (UfO weeks spen indoor. in he.' rer heavier I I han a tent.

starvation. Despite such ri ks.settleme n,' e an, be foun ] across the North. Areas claime _' by the Wyld an 1 the Deathlords are exceptions, as the dangers posed by' air Folk and the h' owla I ~ I,· ar t .. grat ~ r er- en her hardv fol1k to bear. Those that falli to the W'inter Folk usually loin rhe cannibals, bur '[he corruption of . he Deai hlords is more lnst ileus. Most "had Vr Ian ar willing [0 0 rer protecrion in exchanee '-OF a regular , ri bu te ]f bo I le and $OU is. A process [on. of the a eed and disabled fatten the' ranks of the vvallkL'tg dead, purchasing 'the Iivina a Iittle more securn )1,,,

Th frontier tril ies prefer stone and wooden dwellings, close to running ",va. er a '[1, d surrounded by 1 ie withered pin, .- of the North' "dg . E~ct fan Uy he ' it 0\0,,],1 h use: the unrnarrie live in the Vi,U.'l':1e"S longhouse, Here the chief recognizes honor~b1e' eed' se': tIes dIsputes 8Jl"ld 'Ieeei, res ou[sid -. ", IGues'[· a'e

fferedl a '\1\fa:nn p' ace on me haH s. au' ie'rlce pI atfonrn ' whHe, the. "ornmo . ,er' ~teep at the table or 011 [h~ floor,. A. co mhtl1a tion 'CO'll rt 11 fe'R ,'C ha.ll and forte-e, ., the longh.ou~e is '-he ce'O'ter of vfl.l~ge·life and he best r,efuge .;g'aim·,~ h ra~l" r.ll I 'kil ling 'IT, ,,' '·ha .stretun thn:rugh the reO-;t():r1 .•

Wb i Ie 1i:he eh.iefs ar~ aLm.ost: a h~,a:) .'. 'me '. " : he i r I ,a' e· cnr ~o1 rh : 1 .'lg'l U e. 81'ld y e,"~ Ii ' <,io _' v·lr l@,ge' -rin'an(:fsi. The, e h .. 3r~hn1i I resse'S appl"O\1re aJ Y tr.ad. OF Gosd y ,~dv ~li'ttures.. Th·ey calcuL~· t·. rhe trib ute - 2 'Pea e H~lan' t 3'eS$, [- - QI . 'c.id

47"

, '

'whether rebellion would be more economical, 'Needless 'co say ~ rifts between the chief and hearrhmistress are s eri ous affa:[ I::S"

These' v illagers aren't particularly pious, preferring to make practical offe'rings to local spirits when [he need arises, Immaculate missionaries are less SUCO,~SSflln than the y th ink I as mas t 'Northerners s i m pi 'if reci te I rnmaculate prayers), 'then return 'C(_) their normal devotions. OnJ.y the spirits of the longhouse recei ve special veneration, Great carved poles are erected by t'h.e longhouse's doors to we leo rue the Ilttle gods and v illage ances tors, Offeriugs of a lcohol and, cooked :f1.esh are given to d ivine vi til i tors before an emp ty seat a t the he ad [0 'the corn men table, In. this fflJshi,on,! visiting gods are made permanent g ues ts of' honor. The head of the ra'ble; has no spec ial markings, 80 visitors occasionally sit themselves thereand are tossed out the door for their presumption, Ma'te~ rialized spirits, undead 'who, belonged to the tribe w hi le they 1.1.V'ed, and the L 1:.lI1 ~:H-:' E~,a I, ted are exc epti 01.1.);; th ey are, a,f er all. the ones the offering is 'meant to 'Please.

The ch ief and rhe jteartlurusttess gu i;d1e rites of passage, . Each guides an adolescent 0 . he appropriate gender through Inca [ my rh s, te U s t'!, ern of an y spiri rs t'h at must be appeased and passes on general advice for living. New adults are then nresen ·-ed - o '[he' tribe and feast at the common "ablle' With their new peers

Thls fr01.11l': ier cu l rure is mat rit ineal: 'the hearthm istress' eldest da ugh ter becomes the next hearthmistress and chooses a husband frnm he unmartied men of the hall "l11.e chief simply asks for the C onsen t of both p~.n: des, and the rna Triage is recogn lzed, usuallywith a HlllCO:US parry dedicated to '[he new] Yli;geds. ,A house is an expec ted. part of the d,o'\,vry; relucran r bri.des, make outrage DuS de mands rega rd ing the size and luxury of '[heir fu ture homes, Homosexual i'[y isn't rec ogni zed ~ but neither is. it actively discouraged" though villagers over the age of 18 are e venruallv asked to 1. i ve with an established ma.ri ied household,

, War:[$ a. ][,~.l~:e\ undertaking. J\~ brave as a vin,a.g:el's ~ef~l1.dets are ~ __ ~hrY . are llJ;S~al.li Y' little match 'for the toe·walker ~U1.d T 1r EaJ:te,r 11'8Jde:~'~ that d~s(','~]]d fro:m the ';!jfildt!rn.~s~ to eJ!Qtort and. l·a.iq~ l~l~a:[th~Jrll..isn~5;.e,s lisualhr set asIde ~o:ml~thi1l.g for fl:h~ "\,v8nderers 5:0 that 'f[h~y m igl1. t pt~LSS be :p~ Elcefull y ~ "Ill. j,s :n;:u,'edlLod iX) a,n unreliable one i, sinc'e dl~ 11.on'1ad~ ar~n~jt .always satisfkec~ '\,vJ:t:h bdhes",

St i n ~ RlLany' $el'~ le[n~tl [5 wi I, l keep a ,vary pea:clte Vi? i th [h~ :L1,cnna.ds tb,at rmS$ througb~ On Iv: '['he 'Wyld Ga.L'n:Lba~,s ar~ uIlcondi' lOllally 'b~t0oi,. 8ighrhlgS of the furred sa\! .. agllis are' 5uffici,e:nt ~o draw s~veral \lililages '~c,ge'~he;r b'L1 puniehre n\icL~" Tll~S~ It(~k,eshiff COfllltswnies wi U sur,round an,d >sla1JJ_ght:er a cannih~1 '[rU.b£ [0 [h~ 1-2tst [t th,ey C.1]n.,. Veterans of ihe:se raid.5 w~,a ~ cioli:1ks t[il1.~,med wkh ,the body .. fu::r of cheir e:nefn~,e$,.

flt7fFWewcW·_,.

EMf'Ff1'f""zr'jjj fiEF '·He m j

ffIitlii'iE _ Ei..iii Tn, - ec=g "Fe [pjjjjjjfjj'.~

AstdeJrOlTI barbarian threats, the Haslanti League :~ '~11 p ises ard uous ta xes It'll a It the 'fron,:t ie rs m en are loa [he to pay. Lean w inters and heavy taxes inspire resentmenr; in the longhouses, marry talk of refusing 1:0 pay their tribute and of aHyi.ng W irh the nomads to strike 3'[ Le agu e c it ies,

T'I..J 'IL' V',"',' -, n JIj. : I· ~ ·C· . 'J ...• ,', .. . ..... - I '!U N,·I,., ·

lit;. AIiV'\ llTUl" ·,ANN.lIBALS O'f T,nE . · Q,RTH

.,..

Feared and hated by the rest nf - he N orth i'~ popula,. lou, the true name of the Vara] tul is not: well known, 'ir~ce the rapacious cann tba ls rarely deign [0 speak . o their prey, Most reject human languages and cornmun i .. care by lrnitating the shrieking [ones of the winds. Their rrue name means "the dream of [he infinite light," referrtng 'co their p eC'~J H a r d' u c 1.$.

V ~ra,j t u I, are usua 11 y covered in 'W h 1 re, gray or [igh t .. bl ue lurs nil srand approx imately eigh r fe et ra ll. The ir eyes a H;' narrow and 'tend to be ye How or b lu e. The ir sharp ree rh a dorn jaws cap ab ie of cracking (I, h UUl.3n t i bia in one b i re. Most wear si mp le cloaks to protect thernse lves from the wind hut are otherwise unclcrhed. In battle, they prefer spears wirh heads of bone or carved zlaeial ice bur. are clever enough to make use of any human 'weapon they COrne a.cTOS~~L They often. lay clever traps for rheu victims) luriuz them into pits or slippery- ice concealed by powde ry snow.

Despite their taste for human flesh, most Varajtul survive on the same diet as rhe rest ofthe 'North, hunting and, gat hering \\1 here they '\V U] ,', Aside from this 1 each

ribe Aarytl, cJainl to a "herd" of humans living near a particular Wvld borderland. I~Itlnl;;~n meat is valued for praci iCrd and religious reasons, The lowest grade of fee I ing occurs on the b€1· tlefield .. Better meals are prepared 0 ver b onflres, as the best wa triers and shamans of

~H . 'I"~ d d i "'], "'. , t,

a nerc are - evou rec 0)1 'u.1J!' entire nne.

'Whe'r.L a Varaj ul warrior captures a prisoner a] i ve, she can pract ice the :~ .oliest meal nf all Venrunng into [he W'y]d" she ears her prey alive and watches the Wy ld's chaos-congeal tnro he victtm's emenens, memortes and de's] res. Th ts Is .. he 1110S r fa vored fel rm of dtvtnauon and fulflls a reltglous d.U'~. Ea.ch hlU,mar~, meal stealsasmaU pan oft'li1e vlctim'~s-strength,,'but ·,'hat po'~er can. on.ly be awa'keraed by specific [~t'U~ls. ~,n the W ~ind, $ha,mans and warriors do 'reh is by 'medi t~l'· ing on rtlte'ir prey. I f they ~l(e wQrth Y l th is conj utes ;up !:h,e dream··Jor['[u~ O'ftheir ptttst victi"ms+ When 'the' 'barba:dan.. is surrounded by gcnem of the~~ inc B1rn-atid:ns l she '~Llt~[!n,frt'S to ,s:yntnesiZf @H of her vicr:il'fiS~' ,admimblt

. .. '.

q unlitlLea ~D'eo :a $ ~Q.gle thought ",{orIn. Tbf, bnJEb~Iian.

inhales '[he gos~ ~unt'r ph'antom 1 ike a fin~ 'V'~lpO.l['. Til i~ 'l'V"~Y, it is beHe~0iij all eb.e rldbh~·qll~Ji~tes of the V'a][aj tw~' me~ls \~riU pe~catefhei[" .'liQiuts.ln truth, lke Vm{~]tu1 'fee{~ (;lpOn t.helI 'x!"'icttm~~ dfe.tllt1S of g~ory.,

JH) ~o

-- _- 1-: 'I •• .J!!!' j ...!! _

Brcaus' the icewalkers so despise the unnatural, victim . 'orWyld-,pox 0" ten nee into exile. :~~,any seek out the V' rajtul, M'·' - .re le~ cured un ess . nother live meal has been procured .. Ifthe visitor is wi[Hng '[0 eat living LHY ~ n f1esh. in rne Varajtul fasl [on- she is taken to the edge of db W'ykl C11'1ci inltiated into rhei r rel igion,

]]CE\VALKERS

Beven he serrlernents, the icewalkers follow their rote rns, t rae in.g th s 'ng] i nes taugh '0 t hem 'by' rhe An imal 'Masters. 1 c ewa lkers 'are the most common no ... mads of '[he N ort h, sus cain ed by a BEes ty Ie that has remaine Ln· hang'ed sine i. he ·on-~;ag~on. De -. ire their .eroclous rai ']5 the y use - (0. tread liQh.tly on th sn )'WS1, 1 aiding without resorting 'to wanton slau bu~r and resistin the charm of the Dearhlo . '- an' the Wy'~, .

N O'\~', a god has risen among rl em. Called the Bu II

f the Nor h, he has brought the Elk and Mammoth rribes together, T ales Cirf hls divine -fire ha\ e spread s outh since. his slau - h.' er ofrhe Teper legions, fB· warrior: a e devo ed to him though 'many of [he old shamans are di Of) ten ed. Their xrtern 'c< rt - h~ new god; ea V hun ti n grounds are bare of pre y ~ and the wra [h of the animals seems coim ed directly at tile Bull's se[ t,

r n tru '~~, .he Bun of the Nord] i ~ Yurg~riL Kaneko, a Sol rr Exalte - 0 en E'lk rribe. He' an h notable IL u ; though arabi rious, he is convi need ths t nothin rless than ma '[eq of rh, ic walkers c. I 1 ensure their protection

C'HAJI ER ONE • SETT']NG

r

from other Exah ed. In this, h . _. orrect; c. ~ e 'fury" rhe Lunar Exalted over his trespassj rows as - he months pass, U nd Lunar gu idan e, he icewalkers developed reverence for rhelr totems. Each sept i lentiHes ~i. 'elf by its Anir al Master and territory, The totem: .' the center

f trlbal life, since it is .- he animal he tribe depends on for t )dl'la-hJng an.' shelter L . walker are . .cier[ at findinz a use for the : ntire animal and [eave little for the sea v ngers, The epic rm oi ear: ~ m - e's beast is the Animal Master, a .. piri \~lLol1y concerned wi' h. the surviv al 0' its wild counterpart. Each icewal ker thanks her Anim ] M.; tel' : or the gift 0 r survival asking its forgi ve nes ' during (he hu ru all .. 'I z we ari ng 03.' lu und er it· guarantee. Tribes of '_ he same totem are na ural allies, their shamans unit ed in a common devotion, Thanks '[0 these efforts rhe 'Wv1- a - 1, e:~~r h .. ·>" rrt,· ken North rners enjoy a bountiful hunt, Each. tribe knows the' : ore of its cho en animal 1 unring onl r what it needs and sparing rhe strongest 'to breed.

_orne tribes {such 9..", the Elk) keep berds ,f heir totems, defending them throush the winter. Others ·~now .- heir beas ' rnigrs tion pan 'Tn ',. ~L oe . .- eun such as '[he mammoth and me '.3, ther [urn cannot be

amed. In any e'\ ent, animals close to the icew alkers are unus uallv 1'1lJJlnerCU1S and h a 1: 'h:y,. Thanks to his, 'mar)? tribes are able 'to trade rhroush the, umrner mont .:

49

Icewalkers wil] carr.tp outside of a Cil1? [0 trade tvorv j tame animals and h ides. -

Sworn foes of the Wyld cannibals, 'the icewalkers hare and fe,~r the unnatural. So pervasive is this S'~'[T ime nt tha t the tr ibes ma 'y ''iN a it frw up 0 a fL~ [1 vear [0 n a me a ch ild in case a \Xlyld pox man lfes L~ as :the" ba by grows ,", Unfortunately, such fear applies to the Lunar-spawned be a s tmen, preven l in g the Ex al ted fro m bo l$ re ri 11 g tc ewalk er s rren g rh '~"'U '111 bea sr- 1- Iooded [in es",

Lunar Exalted do not rule the rrtbes directly but are often encountered during alii. tcewalker's rite of passage. WheLfl, au icewalker cernes of age, she 'is sen forth to find one of her torem an j, mals in rhe wi lderness. The Luna r Exalted ph,'lY the role of predator-teachers, demonsrrating the hunter's art for the '}1-oun;g' icewalket to emulate, If the YOU.d1, has tbe potential to be a shaman, the Exalt will someti mes tell her the lore of the Animal Masters.

The ic ewalkers s n~ pract ical p~ ople, ra i,d i ng the fronrier in lean rimes but re] ecting the terror tactics of the cannibals .. The icewalkers' weapons are those U1QSt appropr ia te to huru t heir toter '~ so tl at 3 W'a lr u s tr i b e favors the harpoon, "(hi]~ the Elks are known for their ~k in at arc herv, The tr i bes ar-e to Ierant of visi tors w ho CHJl pull their own we ight. Each t ri be is excgamo lIS,~ a '[ lowi ng members to m a ["ty bet ween sept'S who worsh ip the sa me An itm.aJ Nt as ter, U nd er the B til U of the 'N orth, some tribes have allowed tneermarriage between fo![.O'\v", ers of di,fi~r.e;[1[ totems, Attracted by hts power ~ rhev reject the old prohibitions. A great host of icewalkers is gathering, untred 11110re 'by ambl [lion an ~ blood han :a11y Animal M,aster.. Sun-worship is popular among his fol .. lowers j' drawing the ire of both, the An 1lU3 [ .M:a seers' Lunar allies and the Immaculate monks who the trek to [he North in search ~),f Anathema,

T''EA,R_ EATERS

Ances 1- or worship is common throughout the N orrh, but its Hr).Q.St fervent followers are amone barbarians '\,-vho :have. tbn:nvn their Jot in ~r[th dle Deathlord.s:. The T,ear 'Ean:rs are nrun,a'~~$ ",iho w,lk h[,~ak sorlg.lines (rorn, on;e S~13dowh~.nd to ihe next.~ r9il~Hng along rhe way r:Q! pay '[11.,,-

E::ro61~~e:~ :~~~~~~t~l~~~:~'~t~:g h;;i/:i

unde~th [0 th~ 1'1 be 5 ~ld~'H'$ 0]1 th,e cond~ '~,Ofil th~.t d1ey ~ bandotl t b.'e Ani nm 1. '~a sm:e [" cuI t and ell]1 a :regula r rriblltJ! frDm [h,e Ii v. ing.,

Ih,t ~ver ~nd n€:f' nf:missa"ti,~ mught the ba.rb~J' 6- i~~n~ songUnel3 '[ h~t CfOS~ t~e nlil1~, 6f '" Irrs'[ Ag:e necltClpali and br-~ke[~ll~eep-Si _gi\1[[:',g 'tben1 ;lccess -zo str,~'nge aftU~ctrs ~lid side nQ'UJse;g pO eSCIi.pe to i~[1, t;ise of~,'[:rac:k .. 'Fbe. T:ear ta'tets ttfe jem.lp:us .ot d1~Se. ~Cl"~'[5 an.d ~ad..d tf~as:ur~ .burll~ers who [ry' 'll) fo~lo!w· [h~1.1:ll '[0 'dH! raults of ULnd.eacl.

The T'ea-['Eat~r '~'n:! com.pot:Led of perha,pcl: t\~(.) dozen tlim~lJ ~ach named, afte1l: die elp,ft;t' tl~ey mo.$'[ rev~~c. On

.,' • III I I II.!"'. io I . ~'J • !!I •• ~ III" .... ::I iii" ~ ""-

------- _. -

THEANJMAt MASTERS

The ,A nl mal IvhuH:en; are ~ cou rr of natu re spiri rs "VlltlO 11~\ve. tor,ged a pcywetful bond wirh '1bCllh rhe icev(aJker sl"l2Jna.n~~r 8.134(], the Lun~r Exa 1 ted. These spirits I1Dld court apart from the @,th€l:! lit tle gods ana! even Dfher' 311htlBl totems. f\l r.hJ~lL1Yg'h the)! ~ illow their own ~n~tlda -"e:~ '[he'y resent ~.11~}, oursidednrruslon, putring them in a teauous post .. t[@U 'w~[:thif,l the di\.1h'l.e llu'r€28,u€'nu:v. The dragom artd elemental spirits "~o'LIIQ H'~e to. reestablish a prope r co u rt ~ ~u t rhe An i mal Ma8te rs refuse, P[E~ 'ferrhlg to I end to [heir p urpeses alone The Animal Ma;Ste'r~ desp.ise the W'y~d and, 'iftl€ sKadow'['}1u(is "~or tW'i&ti:l,ltg' and :ki It ing '[h,e, N 01 df~ 5 W Ild [ift. Thes e val L1H'lt$ ha \ 'e nat LIl rat 1.~ y 1be~n passed (] n fD 't h e ice waJk1l!r$i~ Vlof hf,) ~la.d li y ki] 1 any wig 11.'[ 01' hlighted e~tl n tb~ 1 they eneoun tet, Tne; An imal hlIB.§_ters u rtde'~~lIand 'd~B/ '[hct:~? lna)f argue ,~'10h one ar other so [h,~V prom ore ta be os a~~'~ ns;t f'i 'bes who worsh ip iii 1 (fer'ern totems, j nt e]"[n.~t1g1 i n.g"

S~'~{er.~l eid¢ - No M:Qklns support [be Anima1 Master cause ~ Their ~~b1minr4,~ to the h::Sp irit all Lt8 is to prete ct th>€ k:J~'Mlalke{,5!., In do i11 ~Oi' they h;8V~ ,p.:3 ssed C,]1, - he W~"8,.of ,- he totems to shamans and th~ef8 :a.ll;kf!' ~ ac t~ll~ ail a powerfu I force tQ, shape ieewalker n:acdi.t1ow-,

The ttl bes are natural custodians af their f}~J~lllr3~ pHl£'] dle Lunars ~re nlarur~·1 proreetcrs of d~~ tribes, so the arra il_gemel1t ,xro:rl~€d well unttl the rise of t]h,,f; Bull of the Nord;a.,. Ul'1der 'his

-dtrecrion, eM '[I:ibe.~ have ]J~gun. '[0 igi1A'Jre their ~lul1r to rhe Animal M:a, rers, The rewards gf sr~nd, rc"t.i.ds are - on t:ellllP~t'in~"r and [he c.al.lvoh~ .. 11:'] ons of inrertrlbal poll rtcs too d isu~c tin u for 'd:lern [0 k!@ep t.o-~he @lct 'way$ &1.$ ~'l:Jrely as '~e-ff)[e,. AId augh tb:~y cerca:~Y.illy al~llr'Qve' of tbe EhiU~~ :raid in;~, th,ey ~"ea;r h~'c h,e is,dvi~j!'jng rhe, i~e\'van~e1ts. W],t.h,Qut. tjh,~ Rc;n:,e b"f '~he Anhniftl W ooteni '[o,guide, th~:ml 'will the:v sirl1:~&~l ,re»lace th~ 1',~tiQJ1S th~v see m prq:1ared t~ tnppl@.?

, I

first in~[?ectio:ni r111~ir c.a'mps appea1!' 'much '~ike -·ho$e,of thE ice\>valkers. Yet, th,~' p~'bple alre pa[er ~ 'the-ir furs 'are :[nou;; Totten 'dUlfiL1 mOS[11 and ~ven the POOlres[ clan po\,1-$e~&€'s ~o-m€ mill.or First Ag,~ t l~kn1:.et '[hal ih,eds llgh t ~[ bJght or cr,e'2ltes 'fhe. OnLv t}~): . .opul'~nt~ ,s,ilerlll tents in Ibc~ rtlicldh~ Q:F the."fr ~e;t[lemenus ,are blataru:l'9 Ul1'lJl5t~ru.,

In th0B ~ r:en.~'·' dweU 'd~,e 'Ore,at Dead of the c I an.

M:os:t~lre·lirrle 'm.OF~ thZIJl_1. ~l1Lambl.in.g w.ighu,j hut'd~eolae'r d ead ~Clt ~8 9{@.;~les~ bpJh~ ung' pt.qph~c ie:.E that am in.teE"" pn:~~'[F,.ed by ~'he e£a' 1\'ll1 m~nla.:t1s,. The eldest undead a:cllv:~e dl:~ l~' ~/'~ ng '~111 a 111Ufi~' str,a ~ g:h t f(J]"\~~ rd. ~a!9h ion" pa~ ] ng on

_.pI'I_' "'_ 1Ii- "!!- i~- • ":!J!I:' .-~

._------

ribal lore and raid lng srraregtes. At least: one - Shadow Q," the A h '. rrow - is an Abyssal Exalt .. AU become more intel igel1t as time passes.

The tri e is 3!V,I' re of how much they are hated, so clan '. rarely. tate their a :.i]iar ior o ll:right. The 'Gre:-lJ' Dead are confine d to ten ts and covered palanq u ins" The rrlbe's access 1:0 First Age artifacts gives. rhem the means [01 trade for iron, lade and rirectous metals. Excess riches go 0 ,- heir Deathlord, supporting the econo "Y of he Underworld.

Tear Eater children are named after one of the Great DIe ad ~ with a s'ufHx attached [0 denote their zeneratton. In rites ofpassag- 'j the y nmg rorn I hur rtng parties [0 ~" ill. C! specific animal that acts as the clan's rio lY l nerne sis. They mug the bea t irr o th T ent o 'i I ,e Grear Dead as an offering, If the Great DIe ad approx e of lt, [hey reach the secrets or rhe 'tribe" Otherwise. the lnitlates are killed; about a quarter of the tribe' vouth are lost in every 'rite ..

O~ the e, . ern re n Erie 'I in sol 'ron nun ral rites honor' n .. he Great Dead rhev ale named at er. 'The res' ,,' e given ,- 0 I he shadowlands: half an:' returne ' as the Nameless Dead, >Tl1.e1J!e serve, the 'tribe as workers, pack animals and hunting beasts. It 15 taboo to ever acknowl ... edge that l,he)I' r' l1.C T IF Eare ',". . olng .(' 1.' punishable by exile. Shamans tend [0 the N meless Dea .. The . h am a n s ' l nd the w ights .loodles wounds and lash their crumbling bodle 'together to ext nod. their usefulness.

Shamans tend the Great Dead as well; Ott the new moon 1 they lead their flock to the Ten of the G reat D a 1, where each 'J'h e confession and [., po S recen events. In [his fashion the dead (and throueh them, 'he Lov r '., lad in' he H.aifn,ent of'T ear') ~'tay informed of the affairs of the tribe. Shamans also perform scapulomancy, reading the. patterns. in fire .. cracked human shoulder bla 1 divine I e .urure. 'ha.ma:n ruav n ' tou h anvthin - UVlng except to deprive it of Hfe, may nor but, , any de .d thing and 'l1'lay not marry,

As interpreters an I herders ·of the dead, Tear E: rr l' shamans are the p reem inen t -n.glt:l!'\E:S in an y cl an " Oath bound warrion who hun te ' togei her for thei rite of. passa re lead raids, These warbands take no prisoner ; l'f they can, .hev H d:- ag the bo is 0: the slau ,. o a cairn- 'to keep until i. he tribe sees n '0 take them [0 th ' nearest shadowland. .eathkn.ights and nernissaries wl 0 kn w 0:( these caches can. 1k~' e them as a source of read.~ reinforcement ,

D· rite these . erninglv gruesome oractices, the Teat" Eaters are a strongly m ~r. 11 pe pI . .::u iclde murder and duels to the death are corn id ered to be an affront to the Grear Dead; offenders lase their names and 3I"e den ted th e afterl ife. .'. larr iage is sacred and rare 1 'If e n tered int rnghdy,~ since du iful Tear & ter 'may live forev,er,. ". onor assures eternal life. since the mo .. [ "'Ire; lued me! ... bers ofthe tribe join the Great Dead. Warb .ds are eageJ to d ie to.g ther in battle, so that tl e) 1nG"Y eut r undeath as one. Shamans recommend 'the best of the Tear Eaters to I h. Lover's lieutenants so that they mlgh be transfo med intc sentient undead,

,- H'

-
---~}

.II
I
/1

/ I I
I ) I I
. / /
j
J
/
THe slavl~rs can'a openly to 0 ' a;nD'~h F' ,~$ fa y It'ircJxe'"J he t a 'wOl"'U moun .. rain ' 'f a, ~TIl~ . The'y a ~, umed hie was. :I hill man; ignorant .pf Fhu;llletol[~gu j and even ifh could speak rheir Ianguag h ~ ,,' al ar C 'II .ere w ': e rnsre thai W (]f t r em, I 1l 'W' sn i ~: 1 f their in tent wasn'~t' tJ at er e uglt.

ti~ 1 ' r= _j 'd' ~ '1L.., I,d 'h' ~,

' '1-, e '$ a " ro n o rre, yOOIJ! n)9111e:)r" w.e' 'OJIL t j[ urv ~ te ,I,e .lO, rum

tW 'll I av ro ~el,cl him, ] ok r him There's 0 '~v he s gain to' tak th yo~e, 'The seconi~ slaver was not n h bt,' lc. he' rosg, ct ofh~~ f. ,[1 ws lr ~i, ing rhac rn~ b:~g \vild[uaq.' be, lef with h irS' knaekers t@1 increase his r, r. J~ value 10]ndl

, ,11·,' n,lc! got h ~s n ck bro nsat ~ I,: '\,\. ith him.

He was ri 'h:' 0 worl'1f; ~,'treng' I, of la11.71 \jJv:uk1 never l!ake 'ell, '9oke. He bad D"en a &l9.\l,€: once, Il_d now, h,e" q' a ftf; '~u:' 1., He had sworn when he esca eel hi 'I on' gl¢ t at h \V 'el --' n v Li',' "" m slave flgain,. Hefelt s 'v'eIS,s' C "(18 I hese wer the vm y lowest SCUln of rhe an:h.]n kHHngthem a~ he' did" he phHo5>oph~zed in his shnple ta,shion., he performe a ser _lice fet au' men.

, :rrengdif ' \, 'til" 1)' lttol, a f w hes i(anl? s: ba ,1 ward, to\va$d a stone out _ fgp ..

piDlj (lear he- ide, af the road, aad the sliuve]'l) advanced. IT, Ie scramble desperately a1±01l: - the scree, squi 'a in in terror, and ,hy cl ill I ]aughi ,g a 1.)OW hey. na" overestimat "the huee n an, hIe whir ea ,~ ,~i'n a he p ld to a ll:eighr of 1-' ree: 'i ( o:n e .iH~ 1 uded his 15 ·c'a bu ll's h'ora5l ,and th el r rea crions 'var Led '. 5 evera] $(3 reame d and _'" ano i hers threw rherr "1,'".,, I h' ground. The rernalnder . ,eaJi~e,d tlie f.l~tiH ' offHght an: I~ea~:f€ 'their WlE2PG~' t 1 figh rlu sklnchangtng ~Nl'; t, hpedJI th ' ~ 0 ];uen~t},tl[d fend off s:uettJt I _ r~e':;~low: ~pp.ibfll t. Th~,:ql""'Enl[d \vQyt1.~d it he' ~ ad .h fie nd av td il'" _ ha ~e~ UI tiL it r le J ou I., ,I was a tactic familtar '0 '[he Second A e and there we.re ' ew altern t,i es .

. nforti lloar:elf fot t]lf;n1~tren~ h;of ,Ntanv '~l3S 'not rnerelv sum,e slf,~,n,tha.nU:i[

t I ' 'he[ 'l. l .e a. Lunar ':xaJ'", a - to ~dd]'dol to 1111 huo~ ize be, moved ,ffr

raster 'hal), an~1 ortal man. Ire leapt high into the ahi" -an] kicked one squarely in ,~h.est wirh a Wf&a- ~o0nsi1ver.ho }f. I '!ff'd,ecenJed like a hun erl ol . ,nd with 2d~ th fi' ree of us H ll, he ucned ill!' 0 thei urf ' g,f;;cQ'hd \'ictiffi., '., ,ctJ,ltc_k.l, ,-iij.,tl he mnvr r ha t nh ~ de a fe~:1 i ng i 1111' at ,of his hll1clltn,g stru c'k p ark-s f; ern the t1 i R,t)' g fGiund u Sph'lFl.in' '. ui kl v' 'he seizec an elaborac - pol, '~Hl1 de ~tgne I e rra int fnl'1~" .hlr I

'man [e};;r,er~>ed it, and droov, , "d1L!;~:'bton e~ hod foot O.{ t" ~hpf'f dt< I I J1e',I: ver ch ' r ltke a ~[unt ... tipped·J5pe~u-!

The sur , hi, ·f' 'J ew "11 emsel v '~ at him 9 nd foun I rl eit a.!: s arid ", ears t\IIned by a hide made r-tc ' ed with Essen le~ The se shaHE)\ cut b.y id inAf' h aled ht or eli ~r1ey,e6",

W· tl b -, bare ha ~d~,' t "ng- h. " lflt Y k u '~ ed the t'"en1iain~ng e. n slavers who

:, ad reped to ~tau;, < !ains him" Those who fled hin , he chased until their le:ar'[ burst oruntil t;h~'1if d:r,Qpped from exhaustlon, ~ nd ne.'ldLlE!d ~he ones who-fell while ,I 'U ali":'"' ,by ~l ,w~V'~ 1Ult;ing Ul:1' 't'b_eir bo,>i .. "rtr It.ing I hum' "om feet ~I head. _ hO:$€ wh h,~d .flun$ til, rnselve {)I fheq~t"( ll:nf! 311 ' wep h:~ 3,'\l"e, : ()f hlSie. [-fe' bac ktracked Q n.d shado\ll 'the ~r pC'ln ~ eked 'fl iLgh t" The LUl1; 'I r ,:y:, loU Id 1 e[ r:h em,: s e'e gl i 111 1? e:' of]' l,rn h r ' and tih, re, an -I, ',nea '~h~l@y fled" h v~fiisheft H, Let tine n c()ri""inc~ th.e ' 61 ,;es , V'C! r and c.)ve t'1:~ ar "h 5: g]j n1I'$f!S h·, b'r en thei, i,~lg,g: .L~a.ttOl1S md, dur rhey h,a.d,

e~~ape with '[be'r wOf'chl ,10 ~mre'1" :lives. Tnl1 ~"hen he tired or th€ga1n~! S'rreng h of bvtan :1 appeared t.,{) th'€ID W 1en ttll. y were l(J'l~u'!' ,e ,d a~ " a.l ced 01) rh, '.In in,~xQI' obly a~ r[~£y ~rarfuner~d out qeni-a[ ',. Th,en., , t;rengrn of M"ny ren'~ tb:~:m Hm,b t.r.o' H, lb.

Th LUl, r g'" ined tn' PI' .{i~1 i i I:TH_ i 0 1. i:' kind~· hi, - This ~';ilS n,_ r',j~er not c.ornb '. '. til, $'trer:t th~f '~li! n'Y di ~ '! ,at he did as a,' rvic, , '[I' aU m 11., arld " it \:V3.' thr- • his name' ,C~rrt1: 8Jn~l?ly,- ~lS ~'itk 'p:!·~elHoD. arEiobg th,e fiE!lcl ~lnd quarry ~Lav~s )f th S 'u h,

The scaue~~,ed scales o/'m Don lighJ sli:d jlu,kUy ()Il}.er M: Mel11, l S skin as she rctn 1-~,uleT ~he tree:~. Nothing could catell her wherll 5~le ran on aU {ours - no man ~ no woman ~ no beast. She ',d: .l7foved i::t ~71in1jl ,tjrnes tU1ead'j1'; tIllS' W,CLS J'ler ~wo(x:l ~ ]\er re'alm . And: ,eti, it. ca.'me after Iter .still, unfal,~ering" untiring.

M uan ran with tht Ughtne's.s of.a CQ;,t ~ her bar,e hand.,} and fee t nmking no more no ise tfla'll. the .f al n t whbpe1' of benLH ng ,g1~ass '" l't ran J'il<e an av,alancl1;e ~ U}~ Ut ,:such 'rh und.e1F P iug JlcuJfi,ea~ and crashes that i t seemed as thO'ugh 'it ilVOU lei leave a tnlmpled ilvagan-road :t1trough ,the [ore: r. A,M, she CQuld n()~ elude if.,

Muan ran 'm,ore quicJdy tM:n che,fas:te.st.stag in, he'r ~,vGod, She }'ne'w ichis J f07~ ,slle had brou~.t dl]~ t'he s rag' an:d rast.€'cl of his he'art ~ ,Qnd ''now ~ h~5 .spe,e'd, ad~c1 to her ,own. It il.'t'a:S no ~H:ag- irwas iu~ge and' he,tNry} d11!d ~~ fl_li:iJ ro .smQ_~h ,tJlfat~. tile bt:aLiken rather [han, ~'ap o~er' it" And she cOi~~I~d not (Dutl't~;ofl ~L

M'g411 had been, ·t;t~1nmg s~nce S~i~'l1s,e,[ ~ and' m.sugh dle' Iwln U."r 'nigh r tV,as lio~g, 1 d~'tUflILM(1.S noq"V no t far off., SMr£ had ~l1t'lt fa,~tered for ho:ur.s I arrud in ale J?e,r;.'u 'l1:ar 5he' JUtd ,rL~ma5 t /fJr.gfJ ~ fe}l tt!.V,~U1 ~ i~ ~ W~ W<e to W~W t11"ed. fie had ro be tJts.ing ,tltl of ~1~.5 st1''e~'J!gth to prol)€ l i ~ ln~S1i I[hrough, ,the w~od~ I ~VltLqhe could h,~1' i,ti ~e:adl cGminA tn Jutge btru .. ts a1j .~t ntn! And stl~ CQfdd nOl Guttnst it.

A,nd fi~MU,~ ~ .hf'r Jcw:es t b~l.'l'll,ed h~r '_ She kap;t r;n to e; j'nlaU ctea'Ttng" MtQttgit, the mD~nU;ght,~ tU1.d Wart~;lQ' ,ha\~ue ~Pt Ofi:rt' again" b,,~~ 4 rDni[:see"m~d ,alnlast to r-ea;ch, '~p. ~d ,atch hej,o {out . .$ he roU~d like ,~ ~t J' b~ t h~'- s!tQUlde1c s tr~cl( a ~Jea;t ~,tfi;'ilt

before sJle .could regain iler fe,et~ arid .the pai.11 ot)eneJ the wa)' for dle far~e and fear, ,Ni i,W:n ~'r£ed zo s,ca~1d ~ blf,[ her [egs betrayed her. As .sl't-e ,fay ithere ~ l~anti ng in :the cold air~, the br;!+Sll benr a:w'ay to ei,ther side ~ a.nd her,Jnl;tSH~:r ,pltce:d .i'ntD tfle clearir~g, Ami ,M uan 'recognized Jlim.

.i-I e was] ~t:5 t as her ~eo,p'k' had ,al'way's de.s<cnbed j'L'il1L, A, boa." the size of' a h,u t j I\I-ith a sm,hJ&"( man e o.f bris tle s ru'n.1~in'0' frOln. hl~ lfU1Ss.i1)e ned{, to itts hlp:;. The scars of t:t, thoHsand

m dba' &' fi 1~ "_ d

• -, . 1:'- - - ··l : ·1 - "i~' -. I ," . --_. ,'"_.- -.- - - ~. ,-. -:

oman. . .IQ;'T"':S pears ~ an ,Ie: t 'j not scars ~ .. 'Or rl,e, g! lttere _

s Ilat"€'f i'n the nioonli,gl~:t. Ann the eyes ~ the y'eUo'tu e)ie5 W<e rR-OOflS ,of ill, omen,

The ,R"ed r,T'uskBd G Dd. The '\1\1 and'ng Moun tt1fn., U'ka

:t. 'D

tn~ nOll:r,

He ,P,QJJ's~'(l under tilt moonlight ~ an,d his ttl fl,Scles bunc~lied ,and 5 [T,e. tched ~,U'a a~ r j~is coat. The 'mas5tq)€ l1.HJar lifted hi:s ,w,eat tt~ked h:ead ['Owa'r:cl the moon ~ l\eJ]:~. bfting it J r:a.ised hi'nuf'lf onro h~S' hi }l,d ~'O,[- t"C1$. FOi' a·n ins tal1~' t he s€'eme',d' al~nQ:s.t com l;c'al- hk~ Q ccu a."fcil ing ,i~~ back to "TM b ,~ga,i ns t [1[$ mas ~er ~ 5' hntl.d ~ {Utd. then ~ a lYdTt of~fJlirf bu Ut feU a>iVQ,y frofn.11l n1J" r \W~\etl; /te lotv·tred his ,rleadagain i it-wO,;s a ~~"Untc' s face. ~H£'lfill;1,QtMuan w~d, grellt y:rt1Qw ,cy.e.s. H ['S neck .was SQ ,rJl itk ir il~as hard ,~ tell 'w,lwre i;t f ndl:d a;nd llc sh.o~"kl~rs b6gan ~ and t~~ boar'~hide w,~apl~fd al0U~U'! hciul w~u.f cl1te Sanle s~Lver hrisd(!fthlf' d wen1 before! a,nd'h~5 hJwer canl''J18S were cU1Wi}']g'iYsksin, a riliGJ<jOIw - but h~ w'a:s ,a; ~rt-. A man SCIl'J"'fed w~ [h.$i~ver mt oos t~baHt. h[s a:rm~ ,~flld .tOf~o.. The rr:n41,tl - dite bod~~ - [)kb, crG~l.ChfJd dawn on It is hee~;s befQ1'f her.,

~j) au sh ul..d flO~, be [ired -ye .... !I i-li.' vQice wa.s deel) and .hnUru' _ u¥ou are to ligh~ for i ,. ,,I

F'earanflang:1', rove new.s,trengtilinto 'M,uan"s legs. She ,Sl"oo(15to' vty., '~Tb' 11 .... lhe stories ,a.re: ~-rue ~ she' :said orrefu~bl. They were th~ firs,t words she j d ;'ipoken aloud frar

.r. "Yo 'tc·r.,& /I "iI."..~J01: (..-'lInn j.)

l'ltonl-(~ . 'ou ca.n ,,~Ke '!;.J!,. .r ~ ~Mrl~ ;J i i.J ,. . •

. ,Ll was bum 1vith ,a ~11an.i.s /OCtll/ rhe grea~ boar ... man ~llrnbJed. '~!l' 'wru born just a.s huma.n as. you were. _,.~nd, li}{~e ~ou I I na,ve- b£corne more. '

~. ' ·.r n --'J' I d ~'h' t.} L L _j. J

~Llr'e me. ~ lie 'roo<-e, s~;~g; t~ '~ on .~';~,er 'tee ~ ut.U u:1Ck no [

faU! did noc, reach. Of;t.t to cat.ch her.self. ~~J., .. anl liJ<.e yo~)~,'

~~ y ()f[~ are, 'I He rose frorn .his crON:ch an[l towe"red .above ,~er flea.d. 11 'You ha, 'e alreaaj1 begt~Jl. to. ciultLge . Yo u 'vU~ change mon~. 1 [' f ' her \t.viU - "

,J-:ler wilL" .. i '. uan couJdn'~ hell) he~·seIf. She glanced ],q.MUQ,ra, to whef,e the m,. on h'U1lg be'tween rhe rrees. ~'I

"Yes i~ He !j~-ni~l.ed I lu]d the 1nct)sive ~eedl [h~u fUled hi~ jaws u)er{~ a1l1io.u as y,eH~AJ as his eye'·,. "Y DM have done w,dL r~ft.le ,~llf'~' oL. TIle hU'~'na11.S heTf sl~"lk fe.,rfl~Uy ,..f, ghO$~,KJm'~t11 ~vl1o nens race the Stag and' hunts with [he strength. I

a tJCtck 0:1 2,0. They are alraid of )10U ~ ru they :~hould be _ au ,lu:M.le I.ea.rned co use ,O'M,r gifts Iw'e U .. n al ~ho ugt~ 101ft l' ,War-nil1! is ~:n coml.)l.ete . jJ

M,Thuu'l S LInt)! response (was a CQutious. stare.

',Did you thin}(, you 'were chosen for this? ' His Jlitoud~" cwi.tch,ed,at one end, 1',D£d "ou bdi~:vc that 'M,na Iwa,ued "O'U 00 have her strengtl'l ane! cunning he·cause she ~v.an,ted ),(}M to !ive Gione in this tuood tm til the Age ;t~r~nea once ·mOor·eo? Lit:tle sh ,-. _ olf ~ yOll~ can ,bare ly cnntroI your own body. rt His weat [}iUlllb, irs nail splir lil<e a hoo t tot£ciled he-l~ fOorehead. She p:l1cned at the con ract 'I which felt. .. col.,1. HThat!' wh~ 1 a.m h ' re. I a.m h,e-r,e ro ,b-ring :ym,,~ ba~l< so )!our tnAle peat le. We 1,vi~ I ,fiJ~fi~ (n~r de bt ro yo[,~ ~ and yo [" q,.L1.iU fulfi l Y01,tf de bL ro Luna, .'

H er gaz,e fell.fron1. ,ft i.s face. "S o [·hilt is q~v~)l I lived, ~ 'j ~ she s i ',-o[d:y." ~IB~'cau.$ she 'lnade mLC, .. Ju~ t .: she rnaile )'i~d. ,1'

"Yes, jJ I 'e·~h,ifted on hlS fi er antllooked to' the n . ~~dle~ . ~tEnugb ra"k for 'nouJ i You are no longer tired. N ,w, ,:' au JOU'(Jru} - ,0 r YOM, can l' 'tn'll hefore' 1ne i ana 1 . l H ari{V'€ )'o~,& lJ.l1ck ro ~/ile NO' j\1ocnlS. 1 care Hi de . i ~

S11t: kwl<ed up at 'li.rn agmn'I' and this time 'I he reyes b~. nled wi.th ,he same silver hgJlt t/ta t l~ it the nltlrt on ,her ff)'J/,e.head~ f-l is brou lmot.ted a.~ he re{u,nled lte1'- .s tav-,e ,

br Do . au knoltJ tvhat drQ41e Jrtel in to th€ forest?'

r~J~ ., u

100' nOl:,

Her rWGice q,vas tt.!ln,t1er 5W~bel. f~.lt ttl as 'D~t! 'Ulu! the

B ~,

Detr.

H.i$· e'~es lw,rro,",ued., ,(ike sl~tddenlji shut ~ 4!l'ed J~~tnps., j'll'

. :J:7 iJ'

was ... i"

~c Yes. You and ,lour be,as [-ctrltdr,m,. ,Yot<~ carne. on OU-T

&rt !'£; )"01l~Jm.gh ttr~ thPSf~ 1Ivho tried to protect·their fL1.'rni,~ ies I (.m~ jtOl~ tOok [hie reSt ,Q£ sl.a €s, '?1~ .clro'Ve' them, ih' 0 the wod·~. 'rOll. rn t~rder,eel m 'Y ra~her.. ¥Oti rool<m y .dStEr, 1 h:ea~· 'my mmn r die llJ she ,iT!ed t .1 c~i stTOC[ y O~i!r cfultlren frctrn fc;llo' ifi$ rnJ run. ~~

11 er ,eyes g~i t~ered" ~~ The {ares. t would have killed me , 'if h could hcu}(!. .B utI ki Ued w!~th m _ hands 50 .1 could eai: I :tied myself to ,Cf tree branclt so 1 could sleep,. I chose nor to die beca.us,e 1 [would no t. I.e t yo u «,in. ~

The great buB{ of the elder shifte'd sligh d), and- the hai~')1

! • J.:L :r_;~ '!_.J J .J r-r. '," ~ r~I " r,

s.~;,::r.n across 'us sn au w;ers s,1ll,Uaa€reu, r!K-e .a norse 5., see ~ ne

rUmbJ€'d at ,Last. "And nOUJ. N'o' you wan. an a~)(),fog)[? A blood..,tn'ice: H

T.hunde1" hoUed in n'is thnJat, ,and i.t tooJ< M uan .s€ tJ,eral second~'i to n~aJize he 'W'a5' l£!'ughing. "Quite rile' cOincidence. But 1 ca:~1not apoIogi,z€ to )'OU" 1 fec~ no shcn11,e fOl" tn,)! ac~(on$. UVhy s.hould. I r Tl,[f du~nderoL~ chucld~ n?peauul !r5df. r~ J. ". as the i~trum,en,t of,Lu:na" her hand. By gUl,ling 'me u), )1IDur tribe ,·"he prOI_ ided 'ou Q,oit1'it the dllance LO disfingu.isn you:nelfl to f to' e yJ~Lr.se rf ~, - orthy to her. Y 01-il ha. e done so. 1: Oill" fanla')~ is honored _. you,r IJaretUS jled ioeli (;() l)lfov[{lc U ~ lUl('l (~n Odl€'f Llffr1~T Exalted J and J~r. 'litf s is,(~'r ,$haH bear a tL~n a:r 111 s U"ong cJl.ik!ren., J 0 nee more U kt[ laughed ,_, b at ""h~ laughee r . ied and ,th.en. there 1,O'tlS no other sound .in :the forest but lils l·,a.~p£ng brea~h.

[I Yau do not seem ... co nl{J i Hced,. rl H is voice s ti,U ,tU rnbted

bUT no e rna _ iOll crune with it. M lt~an 1tad to fight hets e.~fnot ro look aw·;.,} fnnrt his aR'CQl1,5U;ming gaze. "Buz (he~~e is rirne. You wiU le',arn '. 'Y ou wUl caU 'me bra ther. You will ~,tnders td"na. That is ,a,s i nuts t be. ~~

Tile nu:ntl1tall1 of a man· c·trn,edj sniffed d'1'I~' €vening wind. ~~ We have wasted. enough dme. Th.e o,~'h,t?rs wiU be iU1gry if trtJf' do. nor meet thlenl (,,1, :time, Come notv. ~~

M uzm slowl.·y rose to he'rie,e,t.) ahl1os,t: fal rering at dle las t and the-n straightened'.

(tU~~',Q. n

Hl~ ~u:~k,ed face u.tr.ne_d t her once ,again J ,eye} 1:[[ wi[h a fal" ~ cu~io:)~ ("'"1 •

Mu(:n1 took one ste.p to JHlrd the }ltjge r(han her shDu~:.detS tight wztlt a trengtil, sl'l€ couW not e.xplain. Hl~6u Jnay be b'etter of! kil~ ing 1ne here and [[e,aving 11.)' corl::tJe fa' the sc(tvengers. H'er voic 1 ,id no: crack.. Or ~ ,lte~r", t'lf j1oug"ive me [i'me w learn ,/tow ,ro use thi.s s tre ngtJ gL" 'en ~'O nle ~ then 1 shan 'mas wr it(nut J sha,l[ use h ro ki U y au. ~ IU ,,(1 .tIte ,Boar, b~~othe.1' or no. J'

i1"is larn,p£il<.e f-ye.s wide~».ed, and, his lv,we.t lip ,~ ·.L'_ itched!, (llen sl)T'ead'w~de inwi agrin, U\ViU,ou l'- deed,~ the.n?' Httmo~' danced in h,is yeUoPJ.v e:yl€S -/utmar but nQ lllocl.o~r-~· . "If that is hat 'ilai1,pen.> I ttlait is u//tat happens, 11 . IOU ate sttonger tha.n me ~ 1 des,~, to b>~ beaten - and ;r,f 'iy] the end ~ )'OU de.cide' YOM >tviU kUl me 'nnher'than claifiti.ng r( debt~ t~1€n ,l q,;;uJU

l' jl;

iU€.

H'e le:ane& in clos to her· Orne. 'lnassive hand falling Ofl il. r imn;rtense shoulder.

(Just r(!1'J'1£mbeT j tittle she .. -WQlf. j" Ht.) tu.d.cea jaw was fnches /1'001 he 1'" f (iJC<P. rand h i a~ ~U~~ ~i'eatth blas;fed qgcr~nn her. j~ I wlll {igi"lt, ~ ~tul Y0i- tU1J)€ .fare !lAr;rrned mB. i

T I·E '8 E,l,OiV'ED Of' L U,NA,

Once, long ago, the Childten of the Moon were genteel, cultured folk, as at ease in the courts o:f man as they 'were striding the fields under rhe night $k~r. They took 0 n [1.1 e fOIl'llS 'Of be as ts bu t re rna i ned men and vV'{J men at heart - the sons and daugh rers of Luna and the Realm,

]3ut rhe end c f [he First Age an ] the growth of the Grear Cu rse changed rha [:.

Today, Luna's Beloved are as 111uC'h bea r as, human: rhev run with animals, they pre)' an others, rhey even [113 te wi th ani mals and hu mans i nd i,SCJ i m i na IE e [\} ,', \~!he'n they :fled to. the edge of the 'WY'[']j they invited i -. into themselves - and it has changed them almost beyond

recogn i rion. _

To the average citizen of the Realm or the Thresho ld, the Lunars are sornerh ing to be. great Iy feared - 'be asts 'Ill ith human intelligence, forest gods rhat lead the ir an. imalis ric children on [;1 ids against men and wo men whose 011.1 y cr ime is to live in the wrong p lac e ~ And this fear is entire ty ji usrified.

The Lunars, as a group, hill ve nothing but con tempt for civilization. It has no virtue worth preserving _, aU it has to offer are riches to hang ira one's lodge, foodstuffs ripe for the taking and potential slaves with useful skills, To the Lunar mind, civilization kills errrire peoples, leaving them weak and useless" unable to withstand even the slightest changes. It murders strong men and women, sapping them of all '[heir strength and virtue. 1,[ is ruled b'y bloated, decadent slugs that sit atop their thrones, [eastingon the land and its people while o:fferiing' nothing U1. re [urn.

TIne whole rotten mess will have '[0 connie down,

F'~R',·.'S:-:'T' ]'M~P,c.R--'"'"'"E,S"S_ -10, •. 'N"'-S

111, ''''", . J''''ll L;" _." •• " • . _'

Some of those who mee t a Lunar Exal r.~d never know they do so. I t is the s implest thing for one: of LlU.1a'~S Beloved to walk in the form of SlI1. ordinary human or animal, hid ing :h Ls b~st tal self ben~'at'h: an ,b1.;i.1l0C;~!lL1L'[ sl('[:n" There alie 1IT.f1ulUy "[:ales O'f p eop i,e who. Icrrnsse.d p;Etths '"lith a .strange h unt~r or b ~~1t~, onli y to. l~~al i~~ nr]:u:ch, li~ter thlU: they h~d n~ket on~ of rh,e G re a t Mnon Q'ods of d)~ W,':~,d, and l[voo t'O '[,I~ll t~he tah~, If's ~aid, by s~lne "rn,ar [he. god-b~t Anath,etna devour on1,:D~na~!"Y folk andL ,v~a]' their skins to hid~ th,~ ir true n;J.tu:re ~ arn.d 'th~:n:~ i ~ [fU dl hi tlu)~e. ta lies.

But ~,j1)etl 'th,ey at~ll~t wtari,[1_g d~l!~ :skb,'Mi of an(jth~]' perSGl'n 0,r beM:1E1 i:[~~ 'bi~a,rd to rn:Qs.:ta,k,e d'1'e Lunar Ri'f.a..h;,~d ,for an-yd"h\1 but :me ~ge]eg. nna~t~r:s 'Of th,~ "vHd~rn'~s:s 'the')! a!r~," LEach an:d ,~ve~:v L ~ll!¢lr H~~ at h~.as;t a sl.[gh1t t()u'ch 'Of ~'l1 hn,~]. iSl:iLc p'lIes~l')<>c&:~ l wI,e c.h,er i [~8 (;L, p're~ ~tp.r' S pO'3tlJ re aril1d gB.:i t~ a $"tate n:f ~~, l h~ less ,i,rrtt~l1,si[y or a b~i'~ly n.oti:G~ab~[~' mu.4);~y scent. AJn:')Jgs"[ a:~ i, a~re ill

i nc red ;l ble p hys i cs 'I con di r i( in, 'be c h ey mass lve c ) 1·umns ,of rock .. hard muscle ! )r lean and nll:~d as dancers. ,S~ me are -'0 iched 'hy Luna with sil very ha ir, eye', nr skin; o rh e rs have opale scent eye s, Al [ VVllO ha v ~ been ini: iated In to Lunar culture boas'[ the complicated ratroos, scars and brands of ' heir people, and when angered, rheir Caste Marks, tattoos and anlma ban ... ners Hare wil h sil vel moonltghi .' Thev are terrible bur beautiful ~ wirh the, grace, power G~nd dread presence of great predators. Even at [hie 'heart of the Realm some

I~ ll d d " . 1 - h lbl

romantic ott ; a", s anu stories paU1C r aem as [ ;,e no ", e

savages of the Anathema, fallen from glory but awatr .. ing the right l e ader to br i ng them hack i nrc the 1 i gh It, in reality, rhe Lunars are rather 'more savage than 11:0 b.[,e]1 but the nobi liity that ~v as the irs, during the Firs r A~!e still clings to them, alt .. hough it has taken on a considerab 1 v less courrlv form.

- , ,

Those soldiers and defenders of the' Realm 'who have crossed paths with Lunars and their tribes tell a different ta le + T'~ their eyes ~ there i s nothing nob le about the morts ters that CO~l1 e raiding from, the wild lands l scat rer .. ing armies before them with their murderous talons and, forbidden sorcery. If they have any sort or code of honor ~ i t is a hi as phe L11..o1J8 p ervers io n of the vi rtues of true 111J:en a nd \VO men. The Thresho lders see things in much the s arne :I. igh t; although they p lace ],ess stoc kin the 1 m mac u-, late teachings, they are the ones-worst hit by the raids of the tunal'S and their savage foliluvvers,.

To the barbarian tribes who see them most often! the Lu nat 5 ale Co re a tu res tha t i nsp ire great R. "II\"'e and dre ad. They 31"e' the pri mal gods of the forest" a ncestor-sp irits made flesh. They' are the h,e roes of all \1I,r l1d t r ibes n the mystical socierv ~ f warriors who take back [he world for the strong children nf the 'W i:l,d,el~r.t,e$s. "T o a '~e:',v rri hes, the Lunars are thei r :~fad:eF.S ~ the godlike heroes sent '[0 bring law and prosperity 'to their people. They are the ma rr i age of h U man and an i rna i, t'VJ 0 sac ired. esse rices made one ,; Only a fOG [, defi,e" the \J1 i H Df the Lvfoon ~ Be asts, Onl y the, wicked deserve their wrath.

And to the beast man t rib ·8 that theyhave si red, {he Lunars, ':Ire :tven n1Jor.e gad ].ike,;, Tl1'~Y are' '['he ,FirSl: GUind-· fadiers ~Jl1d, 'Grandln'O'[helfSj fhe g11'e~n sp:iJtitrdei'[il~'S fV'OlTI '~vhiih their ohvhously ~up~rior 'blood 'fi[O\.\fS,;, les rmre to fiud, a be astman ~~,ho vie'ws 'his :1Exahed. anc ~stor with anytb:ing less :[han dre,ad reverence~ aur.l why n.oe' Th.e' LUJ:llars ,can cr.e'alte erni're peoples :in, their O,\Vlll i[nI,tgiC'~ ,and do", What n;urn can. boast th"e: s@rne ~'

Th~ LTLI n~r E;ralt'Bd w,ere driven. '[0 rb,e 6:!:n:ges of the Wyld. Th~'Y sho~~ld. ha,,{re d[ed", Thatshould have' b~erlt~e end 'o"f th!e;lj'n,. They sh;oll1d have 'b¢ en fOrg9'tten. BUi[ ·tbe i_,un ars. fleftLSed to d ie ~ an,d tIl at has';g i. ver~, '[hem a n,ellrr'"rfonn, Qf lrn.n1.Qir-r~Hty In, tb,e le,gends of rh.'e getded Tb.resh-olid a:~d. '[h~ W'yld ~ribes. T1),ey 'wil [, not he forgo tten. .. Th.ey '~d,U ,[:lot ,go a,'iiva.y. AI).d now dl~Jt the. SObLrs~ ,t~hei'r old

L . I ~ -,.- ...... I _ :. 1"1 I I ~ . I .... n -

- .. - - .. -_._--_.

partners, are returning the Lunars are ready to

reenter rhe Realm rhemsel ves,

On their OW'l1. terms"

LU,N

All. tharthe Luriars are stemsfrom Luna: Once the 'world of men gave them prestige and honor -e- [hat has been 105'[. Once their distant siblings, rhe Solar Ex .. alted, gave them titles and. tasks, and, somerimes. even love _, all of which has. bee n lost. A'~ [ tha ~ re rna i ns to the m is the (]1 ifr of cha n.ge) the p01fve r of Ex,aJtc rion -. - the favor of Luna. ,AJ1d as lung as their mother stili!

hines in the sky, the Lunar Exalted will endure" A.1tl1.ou.gh human culture changes dramaticall y f[om Elemental Pole 'to Elemental Pole, almost all

. .

people can agree' on a Fe,,' fundam.ental spiritual truths ,of Cre atiou .. " The winds are, mercurial.. tone is'~ h,e very emb tern. of P erseverance and en d u ranee, The; sun is reli ab le and U11.[e lenting - and [h e [110 on is. the everci1~n1gin_g queen, of illuslou and the anirnal 'world. And so she is. Luna is the Fickle Lady). . 'he shapeshifting mistress of the nieht, She is neither truly male nor truly fernal e _. 0 r perha ps l' she is ,. - oth. She' [5 '[he patron of the beasts of the forest, who call '[0 her 21,'[ night. To the Lunars, she is mother and f2i.t'ber ~ hus'band and w if~ j brothe r and. S ister ~ s he '!:5 the goddess '[hat made rhe m In 'her ' iw n ever - changi n g i mage,

Luna. :ma.y appear i.n any guise, male 01 fern(ilJ.e,~ old or 'you ng, He r. -rOrlllS ate more often fe mal e o:r' tha t of [he fernin tzed yo uth 'I' but this. is merely a reflection of

'I!... ' '~N' L

Her n~ ture, not a. strict taw, : 0 two unars, even

'I!... III· dl lb L· 1, rh th

sionogs, oescri e ·u.na. In exacttj r e same ,,!Jay = r .. e

moon is the embodiment of ' he changing face, and L una is the '[1100n.

One aspect of the Lunars' continued devotion, co their morher goddess is their reverence f'Or her metal, moonsilver, To 'this d(il,Y ~ tbe various factions of Lun ars a 11 agree' tha r moonsil ver was created by the Ftckle Lady as a .gift '[0 her children and that for anyor'te but a. Lunar to' handle the meta] is an unbearable insulr 'to her. 'Even their once-partners, me' Solar Exalted; receix e Iittle lentency in rhts rna t te r: in the 0 ld days i' a Lu nar might give at rnoonsilver ring, collar or otl er trtnke _~ as a wedding g[ft 1:0 her Solar spouse, butthe old ,days are here no lQnger" To touch a, Lunar Exalted's armor ordatklave wi'r.'hrrut expllcit permission is a dangeOr)ill!~~ slight·tor a non-Lunar to c .IT)' a moonsilver weapon or wear moonsilver armor ls u'nfQ:nlhr~ble"

.c ~ .;.

T'] 11:' IS'" ·]LV'c=R' Pxc T

.:- b ,~'~~:' .. . "."<: e. ~', , -'·n,,·."

Lunar eeciery b a .n~i~d rhing~ shared among iso1ated barbartan warlords '~1Vh~ see f~r mere of their pi,~1te loo.QI!':al ,~u.b] ects '[han t'h~y .€lo "f :Ebetr o)~~lJZ.ind.

, , -

57'

':

Two things hold ]'t rogerher: - JJ,e No ~1~OO]1;S and ' he S ilver Pact,

The Pact is l1,O'[ an, aC'E'lLmJ agreement or treaty - rather ~ it is a liv i:n,g brotherhood of Lunars 'who cooperare' 'w:~rh one another in. order [0 promote the.welfare of the Lu n a I' Ex a l red, as a w he le, M e mbers of the 'Pact include 'No Moons", who. dis - eminate their m ysrical kno-wledge [0 Lunars who may have use for It, FuU Moons ~ who '[e mporaril y organ t ze sq ua bb Ling Lu nars for e ffe cd ve strike saga inst their e ne lTI ies, and Chang ~ ing Moons, who work for' he greater good in, countless subtle ways, The Pact, like the No :M()ons.~ works toward gathe ring and dis rr ibu t ing knowl edge. But l n pa rt leu ~ Iar, this prestige sociery takes a special interest in locating. rescuing rraininc ,'~~n,.JI recrui tine the n ewlv ,

, 7 l' ", , ,1' !C , l;;;i' ;:)1., llL ,Ii. ..... ....,_" i,ll., 'Co 11. ..... L..... , ......

Exalted Lunars frorn across Creation-

Lunars .of the Si l ver Pact are less iso lat ionist than the ir bre thren: being able to uncle [OS rand and 'move among ctvtllzed people is ~_ useful ',k~in 'l if idenrlfving and recruiting new Lunars 1:11 time. A]fhough l"'hey rnav s rill he xenophob ic and prej ud iced against the Real m, :they cannot run from, it, Members of the P81,ct of [en knew at great de-al about the. Realm's workings, intormation gathered from a mix of observation andseconclhand 10 re passed d own fro l11 the e lde rs, They k now one denomination of coins trOIn the next, understand the loca I L~ i a ~,ec ts and, C~ lL1!. ge ne r~l:~ ty fllH 1C t·~ ~ n, ~,~, i:t h j 11 C'~ vi .. 1 ized borders long enough t 0 ac cornpl is;h, 'I: hei r mi ssi on of bn nging a Jl,e·wly Exalted Lunar horne '[0 th e Wv ld, They were the H rst arrr1l0ng Lunars to he ar of the Scar le t Empress' absence and the first to beg i n spread] ng the. 'word, of the Solars' ret urn.

This knowledge of the Realm does lirrle rc I make the Silver Pact more svmparhetic '[~) the Dvnasrs and their

,

subjects. The, Realm's hands are covered in the blood of

the 'barbarian pe op t,e 't the Sitrang p e op ie. The lmmacu late Order punishes anyone who does not believe their tnsufferable, lytn,g creed and stamps out cite worship of ,an),' god s save t he Dragon- Blood.ed. The nlore d12U,~ the t II n.ars o.f '[he Saver Pac[ I,earn aboul civiliza'd.nl]~, r11.e [uon~ '[h,e;r le~lTn '[0 lO~i'rhe' Lt.

Thie 's,Ilver P'ac.t ,~_g-gressive]v re,cru its ne'w m,e'mbe:rs and wQ'u1d ultiln,8;,'[,c;l y like: '[0 unify tIle enti[e .lunar peop:~e into one n~tiort. About half ofaJl Lunar Exa.lted are presen tly lJar: 0 f the Pac' . Those 'who re'frf].:ll.'l ft'Oltl jloh,ing I he P~ct ill",e usually ho~e who pre ~r to g()vern rhue'~ r- o'wn te nd, [aries cather rh,a n. w,~S' i, ng i: ~ ~nfIJe he Ip]:ng od.1eys wi.th d'M~ir CO;I1!Cern,s,. fn additionl• ~Oitl}e older No M~(j0ns :resent the JP.ElGt (0"[ wl1a:t they see as us:u,r'pi]lg their r.o Ie ars the ke,~p,rt:,T:S' of l;tUlflr la:re Elnd ~I18truc tors of tlh_l~ 'YOlLInG" vtll"1en i8!J ~Eons~,t'vati.veN 0 h-d:oon and a. luelcnber of the Pact CpnyeTge on 'lh,e ~[[1~ ne''i<~bl Ex.,. '-1 bed lunar ~v~th d1c ii1Lrent ~ f 'teach ing he1~ they·(j,tt-e:n b~l'rde it orLJt to es'[aibU,~:h, ,~ho YS dle' se~:1.ic~r te,ache:r and ~~ih.o iis r'h ~ ass ~s'[anc

Currently, the Pact is; sufferins a daneerous bout of In rerna I, conflicr ,_ specificallv ~ regarding the return of '[1112: Solars. Th,e Pact elders are divided on whether to UUS'[ the newl.v reborn Children of the Un~onquered

"...... 1 1 --

t» un or wne rner to oppose. them, The EiSS isra nee' .of It he

Solars migl,t be the key to overthrnwing the Res lm once and for 'R'~I ,_, or [he Solars rL~ight rebuild the Realm, '[arger than i r ever was before ~ perpe tuatin a the wi eked slavery of ctvilizarton until the end of time. Bloody disputes have broken out over the issue, and a quick resolution doesn't appear to be at hand. The Silver 'act [nay splir q nerlv in {} two new ennties, or it 'may break 111.[0. a diffuse ci .. · il war, un'~"E;5S something dramatic hap-

pens to un ify the i r t.Ol1S~'rlSUS. .

GAT1{ER~NG ~fHE PACT

The entire Silver Pact has never been together in on-e place at one t ime, but it does ca [1 counc ils from .. time to time. Those members who are Slv'8.Ha~JL'e, '['0 attend usua 11 y do 50; Gill. average Pact counc i 1 tends to have four [0' ,E~ d ozen Lunars ttl a'[ rendance.

Only Lu na rs 'Of so In e rat k (ar Ie as t u f"'Y&lJ ,\11'10 have been members of the Silver F,8Jcr for over ;1l, vear can call a council. Others, can trYi hUE the Pact will either '~,gnore the' demand or, worse, demonstrate its displeasure at such presumption with at. good, solid beating",

A, Pact counci 1 is ca 1 led by leaving I: he- sku [1 of an enern Yl mar ked wit h the ge n e ral '1.0 ca. t ion and ti me of the council in cbrw, .. speak, in. a prominent location a l )ng Lunar travel routes, The skull is usually lef somewhere that it cannot be easllv removed by hU[lr)J,3J,lS~ but where a Lunar in 'beast form could read '[he n1€'Ss.age. I1t usually takes n.1D1I.'f; than one skull '[0 get rhe attention of multiple Lunars, so a thorough summoning can require arounda clozen, (or morel) message-skulls. Naturally) the local humans tend. to view the appearance Df s rrangel y cla wed skulls, withs upers t it ictus dread, and man y towns across the Re,EI. lm have dev elop ed the if.' {lW n t·lve:rn .. tales about what demons l,e::;u\ e such skulls ,_ and \vha't doorll..5 ,th ey '~ore-:[e U.

At dl-e coun,c i 1 -ll' se; tf;. the 1'1' i v i lege of spea k. ing 6 rst i,s ~"e8J_'~ved for rh,e :a:n,endin.g LUI1,ffir ~dd" ,th,le: h'~,ghest 'fuc~. ]J '~:llt! e Id~':L '\hdr'h tha I: priv:i lege wa" nor fhe O]1,e h'l .call [h~ coune'uli she rn~l'Y~ll]_ow' the sUlU'EU,O'ne:r to speak first 'w'ith a nod of peflllll.is s<i on:; if d[isp':~e.a5~d 'YA!Ith the su mIllons ~ she 'flH 11: l,y sa y'& so hefor'~ y:i.e1din ~ '[h~ floor., Na1tllJtal].Y'~ it tb.l~n faUs to the: Lunar 'who convened ,tb:e council ~[Q explain. his ['e:asons for doing so and to ,address w b~,n!:ve r bustn e~ ,.' i ~ at h.a l11d '.

Any 1.uxuar filay.$] e~k at ~'fiy ,- h-n,e bl!~-' it :is, 1Flll~lt, ... ]IT..g '1:0 irlJ.ter;rupt sor,n,eon,e ofyo'ur own. r.~::nk or ofl1:tgt'!!,er tank.. N'e-w'liy h1:i[[a~ed L.ln1$IL.rs often go ~rifhou[ sa,yh'l,g a ward ~l'1i:: P~ct coul:icilsj unless speei~jj.'caHy aiked ',,01' th.eir opinions.

(;:tAW-~lP'EA'K

Every,Lunar is c~p(c; b le ,af read ing aud lea=i f'fg bc~h~;;, "sisnatures" rhat ":~dentify a rerritorv QI 'thing :i3r be~ tn1.g ling to a -:s:PJ!ldlftc Luns " . Such s'i gn atures :~il"'€ ~~'~·u~lly E:lha-tked wid, claws, beaks iOf BVC'L1.

, -I 11' - S ~ 1- P - 1- - 'k- - 'h-' id " . f'

e.,'~rfl e'i~~ ~ 0 ',. ~ V'[~l r ~1,i""""J..'I~ ...... "~I'~ m.JI1iIi .: r-!J.r-'li t '1 ~ I e: m i3J'~ ~ ~~ I' 1II,r.ol

Ik'HL_III' _ ~,.:;.. , ,I";" -_,~, ,G ,;:~",-£L, I,a.,;;:o l.'I::!" - G"j,,~ ,',.G ,,,- ,!C:"""",,~~!~,..'I , ~,

C'~n.;- [y fu rthe r ':- de'v el o:p i l:\g a s_e t:r;e t co~,e' of cla:\~ :S laM'l'~$ t:'lia:t alLotv~ drem tti COm.l)11i11, icate ldeas more ~~ m'p[ b::: a red. [han ~(lP..i ne. ,I Each Ll1G;-SS~g1e

consists of the s igrl~ture of d~,~ Lunar \vl1JD left it 'aQ;ct a series of',ooa:tks gUrrOllftdi.llg it, Aldl,Qt~~3h no su'b'QtitllJ,[efor .an, actu al ;tVr],ttell n~,es~a.·;j]i·~ - tlfl'~ num ...

'Ii/:.. .. ~ • ~ e'~ :-;. .

ber and ~fti,]"cl inal PQS i ti OD ~f rb,~ va dOU5 marks ~ ns

well as their distance rrom the central signatune , ,~]loi\,v fOT r~a$'Dn:ably ~Qlll.plica~e~ me~.~ag'e . .1\, Lu- 11.3111' 'whO' kLlOIW~ ihe,_c]§t ~1"sl~e,at df [he : Liver Pact tan tra~~ll1 lr n o ],tU] S: ~),( da re [irn e, genera 1 e lUO-' tional context and Import ant Ideas .such as ~~dang:€r'1- 01 "council." Claw-speak [~ g)e,ti1JeraUy [a:~io'h~ otnl, {G' 'full tn:itiBJ;~eS of ~.l1e P,~ct a]dwu:gb a rare ~~~r' Ra!C t m.e-nxb e,I&h:a V~ tau all r '~~:a:ll,ti~ u hrrly premising yownr~g -LuJ.["W"s the ~"fl<6~~£! so that they can read.dang'e.r ~]g!lS properly,

T'HE T'JM'E O,F ,M,A,NY WARS

N ow ~ fo:r the fi 1".8 t rime in many years'l! there is a scent of change in dl,e air, and the Lunars are we 11 able [0 detect it, 'The Rt lm 'has held against 'their scattered raids for cenruries, bu t now ~ more chinks are beginlling to appear in its armor. Eac h day that passes. bri ngs the scent of more conflict on the wind, conflict that is flna 11 y exposing the corrup -, ion Vil i rh 1:1'1 c iv i li iz ed society for all 'to see.

res 110t just that the CUfrern 't.irin,e offe'fS opportuIl~," [i,es for ~J!Lings ha.'~ could be dO:[l~ ~ 'dl.e Lunars see things [hat ]"tU1St be done. The C1J.rrent Re:dnl i,s a. rnockery of its f~)nn.e'r fornl ~ governed by in b ["ed d,eg:!. ne ra'tes and ,pop u" iatfd by we~kH.'ll1gs. Th,e 'world ~l1M}St chan,ge;, i' U1US'E beco'fn.e sOilU'e'[h] ng betu! r ~ The ne'w ["I' reborn Solar's :2b re tao st.arrereci] too c.onfl1SH:!d ~ 'too a' ta,ched '[0 tlle peop 1 e rhleY'w~re born among., The Skl~'(ea[s vanIshed long agol and, if they Sl!u~v"ive,~ then they a.re f]:ie:nds 'no loo~e-r,; T,h,e ,Dragon ... Blooded ~Hl.d '[h~ ,Ab~~.ssalis ane: 'Part of [he prob .. l~:m; :n.ot '[he' sol u.ti.o:n.~ A,1j any 'ha:rbilflan chie'fta In """! tll v i,s:[or~, ,C ~n see j ]_ es now up to th¢, s:~rang 'peop l ~ - t be Bt:,l()v,ed of Lu '03."

Bu't the Lu.na rs don ~t ~''() '01, .- () :reb l1i 161 [he :R,~~ bn

tnnJ . he gloruous ,c:h d]z~ tiorll, it once ,~,a~). 'Th'e'y '~rant 'eo bui k1 U't In-'. ~ t]1,e. glorIous eiv iJ j,t;:;1,tion it ,ct:Olll k1 b~.

, '

Th1e ean p'i '~'e of 'dle FirS'[ ,Age fa i led - i t W~ :fla ~!,ed

from im V8:r)'"" co:ncepti.orn,. TI1.,e ci:vili1~ati0n th;&tt pro,..

tects people frorn the 'world makes them unable 00 live in the world, I' makes tl em weak and corrupt. W'hen it is gone! then p eop le '!iii i l ~ :[ i v e in the world as they were meant to -sufvi,vi:n.g on their own merits, nor '),n . he merits oftheir tools. The world wi 11 finally be ri.gh.t aga in.

The Deathlords are 1\'1: irri ng in '[11 eir b arrc ws, 'Th.'f' Fair 'Folk are riding farth'~'r from '[he Bordermarches of Creationthan rhev have since the Conra non. The Wvld

~ "

Hunt ri des agai n and a'!ain ,~ and) increas hl,g l)1 j one

hears the formerl y unth inkab le tI11T~OrS that ] t has failed. And once more 1 the Chosen of the U nconquere d Sun wa lk the' earth, and c han g'e. follows in their wake ,"

It is a good .- ime, It is el, rtme of confl let and upheav a l, a It lme tha t exposes .- he Haws in I 'he Lu na rs' enem i es. I is a '~i me when Lun a ~ s ]3,eJove,C1: rna')' now reach farther than they ever ha ve before, striking d.eeper at the decaying heart ofrhe Realm, It is a rime when war w ill test the strength of each rri be, city and na t ion j wh en on '1"'!j'F t--',h"· ,I':!! m "I g~l· 'u"1l00,o[' t- 'Hl i'~ 1- D 1'" d' ~ ire I t 1'..:_ 1'1 tirr 1 ""', ,~'u~"" ,("'- n

, ,L , , .. J,;.!L, ill '-.. ,.,.< [, !L.. r 6~' ·yr"!l. t I, ~ "lL" _ ,ILL ~!! Jl.. .~ ,[, l. ,u. l )~ '!tV r ~"" I ~

the Chosenof Luna rnay finally reclaimwhat '~hey havelost, when one Lunar :may shape a nation - and! a pack rna:y shape the world,

It. is 2Il good rime. ]1 iSJ the Lunars' '[[[TIe Rt last.

THE BECOMJN'G

The Lunars are very unlike, the' other Exalted, even

~ - J"

in, the manner of 'their Exaltation and traintng. The Solars have no u,r:dfy~ng society to adopt them, while the Dragon, .. Blood ed a re near l-y d rO'IA1 n ing in a [~~ the fo rmal ities surrounding their birth and becoming. The Lunars are somewhere in the [11i,dC11e - they have their own tradirions that bind them and that even stretch back to the Ftrsr Age, but they are poorly organized and scat= tered across Creation, Luna. grants each one a. 'vision or visitarlon, but very rarely does she ever truly explain wh.j!. N or doe's, Luna clloos e d,),e aspe c 11: Df at, lunrtr - tlwt :is fo], his OWll k~,nd'i and his OWl1- d~ eds j tOo detel"mine. In :m,any '~vays~, the E:xalnnion. of a Lunar is alUOf'e di'fficultrilal. than t:b,at of a.n,y adler Exalted~ b~[t .- hat is for d)'e be,S'[ - 1,[ lID.akes d1,e Lu nar ExaJ '~ed s crong.

B,'E.FORE T:HE CAlL

The Lunar '(!Sse.n,ce i-s, fllttracteci 'to' those who struggLe: to SUI"riv,~ agai,ns'[ difficult odds - :pec p]e ,\tvhn C8111nOt 'Emke si.ln.pl~' things '''uch as, a full beUy or a safe ph9J:e [0 sle,ep for ,g,f3tUed,. They 'lna y 'b,e poor :rarrn,ers S lrugg]:i ng to ma.ll(~a 1 iv i:ng of:( a pg teb. of in~e dor -soil) 'bar'ba- i'~ ns w.hose, next mea1 is 'aeipende:n[ On ~t sucoes®ful hunt QJr ~~bd or ev,en. rh~ di&e:nftan,;bjsed of a gr\e,at c>ivd 12ed ciG)? The: str.uggT,~ tOI get by f.H:lmu a:y to ,dLsuy Is, the ~r ~,cihLe in ll:vl:dch LllJll:'tlr Exal t~ed tu?e f0rged;,

Most LU1'~rr~~ cih:::rnl [-tS~'(g ,~t iru quit,~ '[hose' ternis'; a!e .. ~9rdirm to p[)'l?u'La r b elie{ luna cl: oo~~ wl~olne~ve[ sh~

e fSEE" ## 5 .... jffjjfjj m § rifa,. n zt7EC=mS"fG!3ZjJ-p -

~iBi 'J ;J

.r -- "__._

;1J \/ Lt Co • .n

J {),~ ~I~ __ , UNAHS

Tl1j$ ch~p'ter fl',eq ue rt r[, l!se,a the - errn ~'I Y,OH lli' Luriars" [0 i~nnl'!j~' those Lunars 'who l~La\¥~~ ~i.d:1,e'~~ '~~. .

newl y Exalted or are still learning ,tlll~, T:ep~s .of rh~it

".S:oci,ety,. This ,djJ'e,$,a'"t m'~Rn 'rhs[ ~~llLLurt3rS l$.,,'t~h~

. ,;vbH~ stilL :Ln di7.®r-' a:dk'JiJ~~l'cen:cce. A ~M;un~ll;, Hke' fU~'t'y ~th,e[ Ce lest la li E~a ~ ed, ma y c:o~tie in'[$l his "Q [1 power ax ~311'y" tim,e' r[(1IIJ11 chlldhoed "'0 late rn idd Ie ,a~te. At '~ha'[ point, hts 'lgij.i1g·'~lo\iYS dr~l'm2l'~ic~.lty - 'IaU Celes ia] l!:(aJte:t[ cjln live a. long, ]ong .tirn~ if:

vtolenee p',oeso)'[ t~tc'h, up lAj 1th the rrr, Lunats seem (0 Hve' about Z 000 to 3,~G1(JO y~~rs .. Therefore, rhe

l,~ ~j L ~l '.. • =S; - 8 . -

pnrase \~rou:qg _ . ~~a-m'f" tsn '[ J)11$'t a. more ctin¥,eJ.u'~~11Lt.

~"'~y of S?J.)d ng 'L~ ne\cv] 0/ E::%~l~ed te jl ust ~h'~' IQii b@" ~ ~5t~'~liCStht:.1:] as '3 :FLd1. eldt~I'."; C()Lnp~fed ro the Lunar, w.ho have been 5tm.lkiu~' [he wtld lands 'tor cen'tur:j,es~

'li Lurtars :E~alted ',widlln d e ~a$'t LO vears are

"

'-i'<"~'f J]~iCJ; ... l:, 0' n [1 lLIJ,'\J.,!l;:;""'~~,. u~_~.

will, barbarianor no. She does not offer a person Exaltat ion lightly" of course, bu r it' 8 said that she has Exal ted men for the virtue )f [heir beauty alone or chosen generals who warred against the barbarian tribes in a display of gocHy pire, Always, her chosen DIlle bears the mark of greatness) even if, )'[h~-r f0['k cannot see tr _. but that gre a tness is heres to define +

The rna j oritv of Lunars alive today were born into fronner Or barbarian familtes, close 'to the. wilderness, The Lunars rend to se e th is as add i rional proof that Lu na loves their "\Ja.y o'f ~,~fe best, but ,Sl1T'~"~Y ~ parr of the rea] reason is d1ia.t:3 Lunar 'who has her Exaltarion in the heart of a city is very un1.,ikeJ.v to survive until. the No ]Vk)ons can. b ear her 'El'Vva.y •.

EJ{A,l,TATJIO'N

Like ather Exalted, the Lunars often manifest [heir po'v,~'rs ,for thft': fin:;'[ tinl.c when plac~,d under ex[rerne S'[ [le8S or d,ur~.ss. B'IlJ.t a Lunar ~ s EX:8J.lita.tion is a lim.os,t a [ \1I.;ra ys r:narked b'y' ,the salue 'thhl,g - 't'i:1.,e detenn:llnat~on ,- 0- - ufviv,e" In the f~ce off ~.hn,ost eertai11 de~lth,t. !enslave~ 'lue11tJ, [Or-lUlie-or .'BOHle od".er. te:rrible fate~ the Lu:nar-to=-'be C}ioc.t~e~ to per,severe. lu o.a "ro:m,~s [0 ,then) after th~n

d .. , l!...A ( -

~ eC:~S,I.011'J; nor u ff •. ore.

Luna :b,ers:e.lfottellds e.ac'h E1?:~lt~tijon.~ li'n sor[le rlwnifestatioll1", vi,s.ill:on lU nvat[lr ... :fGIil":[ll.~ she sl1.e,,~, :1.1J.:el\$~1{ tD ,her c]lil:d,~ I··et3@n~1~.y d~divl~r.ii1g 'cne 'm,~sag~ thtu d'le' ')foun~ ()ne' is 'ht::r C11(l5(:[\" l";I("rw:evel\ tb.e ~ka'ct' lIlc1JJure ~E") ['[l,;eg ... s,age of' he, '[iLl" rfi6e~r :;RJi~)11 ar,e neVer d1·e(Sam~~ H,e;r ~/ I~ - j;flJ'Enigh. r en oer.' '[h~ ¥01Jf1!g tun,ar j s Ufe U,'Q!C.llbrnl8 i v.eJ y 8 n.d h1,Strut:1E h h:rrfor at:rYW];l~ re ~f[~'OIID: 0!. ·tla', to. a ~Ul1 a r rnon th - '01 b,er ~n.(act nl~:gb.'rr. 'b~ as :f]~etil\g ~ a ViSlod. oJ ~

. _ . "i'Pf

, woman's (aoE: reflected in a body of water, mouthing the

d Hy "n Sh h f'

wor _ s : 0 u are m [ne;,. .e appears as a rnotr e r 19 u no; '[0

so rne of her ch ild re n; bur to othe rs ~ s h e may be lover ~ 'wise crone, liberator, huru ress, sibling or child in 'need, Her vtsttanon almost alwavs colors the young ExaJ - ed's men .. · ra i i maze of her for the rest of his life. Th e to uch of a goddess is not easily forgotten, and the Lunars do not call the ruse I ves Lu na ~ g. B~ I,o"ved 'for n .. oth i ng ~

Upon Exaltarion, the ynu.ng Lunar's Caste Mark appeal's on her forehead, but ir has no clear form. I [ waxes and wanes 'N' hh rhe phs ses of the moo n ,_ SOITI et im e "l burning with silver fire, ~']_t other times, fading [0 a dun] metallic sheen.

The Caste M ark, howeve r ~ 1,80 tile le 21S r of the new Lunar's wcrries .. With Exaltation comes a. rush of animal instinct" so powerful i- can drive even d1€: timidest scholar to hu n t fresh . re y 'W ith 11. is ba re h and s. l f the Lu nar discovers 'her totem animal a it the t ime of her Exalrat ion) th is is especial I y true ~ and she vv i [1 be dri ven to hunt and consume. one such beast for its blood. Thankfull y~ this inst inc t often dr i ves the Lunar 'co flee human society until he has mastered his new abiln ies:

SCHue don ~ t m ak e ir lbefore rhe W yl d I .. I unt comes for rhem, but others go fa ground ill rune. The Drag(J:~,-· Bloode I keep' ;,1 careful ear oU'L for tales of a silver Casre Mark and bestial behavior - but so do the Lunars,

LEARN ]NG BY ~NST]NC 'T

M"ost Lunars ha ve to go at leas t so me ti 111e after their Exa ltation W:U.'d~lOU 1I an V guidance whatsoever. The Changing Moo:ns cannot be eve:qn .. vhere a t once ~ and it's relatively rare that a new Lunar is. Exalted near an .. y given LUl13r~s territory. Fortunately ~ mO-.'H of [he Lunar's basic g~.frs are: easil y learned, if 011e ltstens to the msnnce of the Essence. The desire '[0 stalk ~,11d kill prey leads the yOU.tlg

L- una 11"' to s ~ mn le the b .10("1 _;a ';-'!If '3 ;t')j,'I]1J als an d tha r. ill. t urn,

~, ,!:::I.A Il.o "".:;~. ,t"' ,..... II" . J "'oJ L~ v - 0 lI..'1I. ., _( _ ..... l' Q ~., - I!..~. Q ,~ J !

enables him to follow his instincts and shapeshift for the First rime .. adler Charms (oUntv instinctlvelv; a Lunar l.nay learn lEO increase his. strength. when a tense situation leads b i :[1), 'to rest h. is 111. ~.gh r toO the 1 ~ nr:t i:rs. 1 [' 5 rate tlutr a 'LUJrUlr] fa.ble to le:rJJ.rn the 010St sophtsti,cated s:hapeshiftlng Charms with.out guidance, bu'[ it has been kno\vn '~O happ,en. Luna E.xahm onI V the 'mOE; t prom ising ~ after all.

What the yourtgLunar does wIth ,these gifts lis d'H~,n 'llP to hiln... for a. time. On]y the sub' lest ~'[ld filQsrt cunning Inana.g'€! '~o survive una.ided in the Reahu,; 1110S,~ Qi ;he rs, flee for' he' ~r lid l~ nds., as the [r F[ nn ,A,ge ~ n.oe-stars did :befoli'e '[b ern,. So-m,e Lunars be come perfect creatur~~ of th.~ wilde:rlless, runni.ng wl"th, wo]£ packs or ~:rwinl)Lll~g '\li"h:h era cod n~8, 'Others" particularly '[hose raised. :~ bar .. bf:ljr.:i~nkk~ cl1BUen:g~ th,e ch iei' of It barb (\riID ,~tibe Of. a ban~~~Ut: gang aL1.d btcom:e cb~ef$·th'~n1~elv:es" It. ~IS an ea'y thing. 'f~r m, VJUl1g Lunar to t,eplace evel1 th~ 'livisest~, s'[rorn ge~'l: :[m_.o'["~~'~ cb ~.efi:a ~.n>,~ and ,e"we nun t ra i.ned '" :l l",un ar Hx:~:~ led can. ]e~d. ,~. ]_J818P1.e. to ~ie¢lte:r "success dl.an [h 1"1

,1u - L !I P. II -,.. -I .-!!!!Ip" Ij, . _."1 I ,. ';I ill! , I -:,I. .. ' ... 'Ji.li! .'. I:: ." r. _ "I! I • .I!J ~

ever enjoyed under a human, A, young Lunar turned chief is able to enjoy the best things in. BEe ~ ample food and drink, ruauv lovers, the reverent awe of his fal1o''Vf''ers fU11d the terrtfted dread of his enemies.

BUT: sooner or later, the others come.

A, young Lunar is nor given the choice of whether to' jo in the rest of Lunar society or not. 1 f sh e chose not to accompany her bre t hren j she would put h erse lf i n, unacceptable danger. Wit:h.o'UJt her- elders to give her the tattoos '[0 fix her form and caste, the yOlll,\g' Lunar would run the risk of becoming' chimera, losing her higher consciousness and, be coming a beast without a. purpose, The elde [8 cl earl y cannot al Low this to h appen: nor are rh,ey w Hlin [J' take the risk of the W'lid Hunt 81aYlllg yet. another of Luna '8 Beloved For the- good ofl.una's people, the 11.ewly· Exalted must be brought home.

Some Lunars never. make it this fdr~; either they manage '[0 c-on .. ceal their nature suffici:enl[y- that the elder Lunars never hear of them, or they simpl'¥ don't make it to :safety b efore [J1,e Dynast5.- earch them. The young" un trained Lunars wl1LO do [lllbanag,e. .. to £?'[USP er in '[he cities can become legends In thet[\ Oi\Vl~, 1f'ig'ht! uflGetwQrld or fdUe heroes "","'h,b' l10.U,al1.ag~ to etrrf\\;r],r 'tlh:eir purs,Wers ali: e~r~-rv' turn,

Orher LUMfS are Exalted i11[,O barbarian tribes alread Y unde r the ru le of a Lu nar or a ch ief w h :) owes fea 1 ty to one, ] n such cases, 1- he new Lunar's people ~ re able to recogn ize what she has 'be co lTI e rlndl s i m pl y r u rn her over to their patron's care.

Other '¥'(1ung Lunars 'Ll'fre:n find themselves kidnaped ~ \\1 ithout H [de to. noth ing 'by wa y of exp Ian at ion. Explanations invite argument, and when an elder Lunar is rrvi ng to sluugg'l e a you ngste r '[0 sZl'~e'ty wirhout ,(1 I· tra cting the Wyld 1. Iu u ] t here ~ s no t ime f{)r argu i.n[g,. I i "s far more i, mporta nr 'to s uccessfull y get the )fO ung one to safet y,~ where she- C3n. be taught how to use Luna's gifts in th,~ matter that Luna intended. Once the newly Exa.lted Lunar has been brought before a 'Nt1 Moon, her initiation and. education can 'begin in earnest.

T- H-E-' T· R>'lA---,l~'

_. . -e- J_ tV

Before a newl ¥ 'Exar.l ted Lunar's caste can be set, the N'.o M:OOl18 'must flrst determine w'h i ell caste 'won ld best su it, her" Ace ordi ng .ro 'me ie];,l t lore ~ there. were nne e a set of rituals th~t wO'~Jld de te[~ni Hie whi ch caste d-;u,e Lunar was in her prev ~OilJJS b te and ~ thus, the C1.Sre she 'would )i ve in again" These nnials were- ~08t with the First .Age; and SO~ die No Mocios -J .. ,~-re {u[Qed ~ deJilelop a new In,lea;~of jup,giQg' a LtU}'ax"j s c ~-~, The res~Jt~;ra$ equal PH[tS First Ag't!'! Iliiy8d~ ism. ~n~, b·~rbald ~J1 :r1 'Ire fif p~~age ~ the trl a18 i

The trials are m re than j IJ ·t €;. sim Ie se -. f exercises ~ they are hi zh ritual, sacred [0 . he Lunars .. Each 0 :·e opens wi rh all invocation '0 Luria and. [he spi i' , t witness i. h yOU'. g Lunar's deeds Then, the newly Exal c.!d iniriate is ] ut to the test - never an. easy one ..

The ri ls te ' e\ erv aspect f a y.lli:lg . unar's b ing - her skill at arms. her survival instincts, her speed, her in elligence, any .hlng c no vervth ins ' hat m V h ive an :in1:p1::11C t on 'he r a b i, 1. itV '[0 su rvi \ 'e. Avo'll. ng Lunar rna y , ave to . I dge; 50 . e ['.'5 all tl town a, her ar once or to pu II ·th.€- eggs fro m a bird' s u es t bu i 1 t on a re eel ~-r h i, 11 [Tee branch 1 !'. '0:' er above the arcuru l. '. "he l.nav be hurled i' ,. 0 ~ lH) stile s -." tioi . f ,- i ldei ness, wi d ml y, c. nnplicatcd No Moon's riddle to point her toward the cache of fo d she'll .le ·p,Tat:,I.y 11 ed. II all c ses ~ th e trials set '. very high standard, such that onl y ~1 hero cou td fulfil,

Tradtnonall " I i' L· [he' '0 '010 n s prer : garive t . set the

number and type. rftrlalsl. but more commonly, any el ler L ILl nar in the ar a Ill,' ,a,y 0 .. er a .' .. (:.':\V "su o·.eS'~ions, "l

The te ts .~ eern itupossible, and in, fact, the young Exalted isn't expected to succeed at all of them .. Tosue eed :1 r eve 11 one is a rernar ka .. b le f ',aF, SOTIl.' ttl in {! 'word y o· 'I raise and celel ration. O'y:~.ous],Vj (he 'more rrials the y. un~ Luna r ov 'U'Gon1L s. th ~ bett :" but ther is nothing hameful about hearing onlv a fe'N .. That is, after

H th e wlu rle po tnt 0:: th rr ia [ - detcrmi n in w here the young Lunar's strengths lie,

The elder Lunars take a bsol lte~y no precautions ".0 p event ou tide (and hostile) influences frorn inr ··~~fe.r~,ng in the rla] . I a Fair ~F lk [Hiding I' ar V rnaraudingWyld .. b as or ban' }f rival ba barians threatens the you' u Lunar, t: i ~ nothing but the arne chal engesshe'll have t . face later an. oom elders 'take' this mentalii y a step fu rth era n . 'I ac E u a ] 1 y €1 rrange fur he tr i a Is to take p l ace i :~1. ho ., :i' e 'errntoli) I ail' ':hcipa'[illg in' erfere'1.ce" 1 nth. be· r of all po-;,sibl.e· w{)r~ 1s] the YOUjJ.g \ 'ht:lp succeeds ~1Lr dle [rials ~U1.d In nage ro el i In~,n.are a leVI pe k y ,- c[ir F ',lk" ~,m. ·~rL·" l sukliers or th.e l:ik~: - an exceUertt portent for '[he yO un' tun' r"~ future. '3reer.

espi te th:~s S!eemin.,. severity, t:he trials are nOI rneant t(· h: le"haL Dleath" do. ccur ·vet rhe cour t: of ,the 'tI is ls bu r the y tend to be unfo -eseen ace i ' . ,en t· fa - her than ~xpecn~~d 'pote:ndc.n Otltconl~S" A'S £e~Af as ne~tLy Exm[ted Lun r[,' are)b,eLT e·ld"'T5 woukl r, the: . 'ei heir youn," initiates alive to. take on another round. o. trials , ha l le".~ b .,.~ r 'he) 'ul,' (: [~. in. tht!'hr 'o~wn Even SQ., al.d1Longh the tda1.s areL It 111.eant to 1- e de-9Ldly they an!

m:ea,' ' 'lobe' .. 'at~ger,_ u. The yOU'. ~ Lunar ",vILI '_ mllerg'es

',rOUl hils tn~ls \l ilk no newC'ars is either eX' I'~me'[y 'I tu:ky. 0[' clest.ine . ". for 'Ie Y 'r _ a I: '[h i ngs~ Ii Il trlflL ,.0' fer at -saUl'· .Ie of he unall;' thr c 81:. d·e· Y}lI ng 1131r wHl hive t "pe in 'his :n.ew H~ - rh,. VQ'ng on.e .had b~tt'~I gel:u~ed to I a:i:n, . , .. ' 'inju '}) . ,1 'W t ';. 18.-- [ a r ' l1rd, i' . ·~'h_\vHd.

]i']TJ}\T1NG TriE IOUTS]DER

F'e w people envy th e Lunars he ir lot in 1 'i fe ~

u i '-ry! in hi p:~ ens that sometimes, rarely, all outsider tries co walk among' them Another Exalt nlE1.~J des ire the secret knowledse 0':" he ···.,()l Moons and a,'p al to hem fo~ instruction A Solar .. nay se ek out one of the su rv i v ing Firs t Age L unars in order tolearn ab ut his arevi .;( HL frO''ll who was there, An enemv 0 'the Realm or the Fair Fo11<.

, , • "'1 P .o wir aUi ~l!' his cau . a nOl'iLg Luna ' ;Belov~d. If h_~ can manage to find the Lunars he ... eks, ntei chi. ir ('il rritorj withcur n erin ' them be. nnd reason and state his Ga e convincingly, t 1 ![ £e1l:tai n l:~' .,! ves I: im a. c hance of suer . ss - bur such . ut ef ow t ! ually [t '11' t quit .' n ,ugh. The L UIU'[S, are undeis randahl y n~]4ctant to share rhei r kn'wl .,1 e or res urce wi 11. ' U'I iders.

Ifa LU~laJ is sufficiently inrrigued by her visitor's arguments she may ffef him a. chance to eam t he equ tv alen - of (I honorary L u 11 ar" ," raru ~" Ant R 1. [ . lder C " I never trul, h comt! Beloved of Luna - oni,' tuna rns ke: that deci lo 1,,, , -'lU' 'y underzoi 1- he in i riat i.o' tria'~ s (Io.d p~[i(l\ ing hersel f worthy, he can ea 1 a. place, alb: it low-r inking UnH!', in lunar society .. The ~n] iation trials ue increase ,- in d iffi .. ,cul .1' to cc unt fOF ttl e t - ct ,. he , 'h- aspirant "is ~lf\e:ad.y an adu l of her aeople,' 'lll.t [h~'Y ~t~.lll '. t d .. e ss me skills. 1, the outsi ler c n end rre the tr~al~s wirbo I complaint and can succeed arseveral wirh all the abil! . '19. Lunar would how 'hen he gain ~uffic len '- stat us to b ecome nat 1 ~ va - in this case,

~n{;t 011'· of U ~'I bu '[ orne of us ,'I'

[0 f· curse it's s 0111eih:inj~ o.f a ma . ten- 0" peri.d. ttl' 'many .unar· tbar fe'\!v: ,en Ie ,ane ~ bl. '() l~vle' up 0 th, l.r stand'~rds, The ldea 0' "n outside'" slrcoUi.ng 1.n~o '[he'~lJ' ten i ()~~y and tOlLltpe:rfonning ·h.e~.r Qwn kind lis·f; irly (1(::' u(:[l;m' . "]ch Lun !r ! i dif;V {Ii re:c

•

'~O offer rht outsi.der the jni.tia.~:i. J1 tria.ls" a ~olt

a· "'t k' _ h . t, l'p A I 11 1 '

.' ,[ve 'a. 109' ;.e a~ e ry ::.n . _:, ..,~ ~ ~ l l [ [

m.eun.t to kiU a Lu nat r 'who fa.ills at -R'[ beccnnes ~. [r~~ll \-\1'1 d1 ]erhal CO.[lK e . uen' ,t;',~ for 'aihk ;, a few HaCl'rt: sh r, ene.ds'lak ~are added to the pi[~ cite elder'" ~rE Ies'- likely to t·y cai ching h,~ aspir~ n' 'who faJls frOIU a great height.nd :0 on, If-the o'~t :k~_e':r com· c11ro II gh q hVle bu'[ ba.cU y Sica ~~dl ,the Lu:nars a, f [ikely t')i 'e 'I-orgivin~r: if h_ c },' e thro gl. wi tout .a scratch - as a. 'alar lui Ci h't ~ th.e tunal' ,~v U l re .. Tlt hirn aU ' he' [1 or "

Nobody ever said life 'was fair.

As rhe young Lunar passes each trial, the elders add a n w scar [0 b:~ s flesh, s fgn i fy in_g hi tri umph, The act u a I, f?J['.lrL1 an' pattern of rhe [rial scars varv from region - 0 regjon, The Lunars of (he' N 0[' h use an, alm os [ runic set of"'Ylnbol~j while rhe seagoing Lunars of the West prefer gefll1"l(t-t1".lc scar patterns such as bal'f .. circles, dors and tr~ ~ll1gL~.s. 'Those of '[he E~'c mark the ir you,ng ones \Jjf it h curving, of[efrJj spiraling scars, whi le the Southern Lunars p!ieftt a series of ra ised dots in in rrica re pa tt€ rns. Despi re dlis variety, Lunars are f~.-irlv adept at reading' the Stears ~nd tattoos 0 f the ir fe How's) regard less of region. A N:onhc]f.u Lnnar can pick our the trial scars 0' a Southerner and determine the, general level of skill the

- oudl,er.ner disp l~~'}¥~:d during initiation, even if he c an 't , eM precise [y what tria ls the fore ign LIJn;~r fac ed +

The. tri als are finish ed once the :N' 0 Moon oversee:~ng them is sat isfied, 1 n almost all cases J the No Mo on becomes convinced of the young Lunar's caste well be-foTe he chooses to end the trials. 'here is ']:10 barn]. In ~f,~1.g certain] and more rri a lis S<E~ rye to. make the young one stronger. oome No Moons are unkind enough to md.Mj:[ to their charges 'that the lase fe\v trials weren't ~'bs'Q [u.tfl~f necessary, ill some c ase s, this adm iss-ion is the fin~l test of it young Lunar's character.

The majority of LUl1L:;US C nne through the trials 'h~vin.g ,distingui,shed themselves as Chblng~ng: Moons. Thls is t~rrgelv because, ,a,c.cordin.g to No. M,~)(ln '~ore'j the' soulsofrhe lost Waxi,n.g~ Waning a:nd I Ialf Moon Castes 'now all express themselves ::1$ C'113n,girtg Moons, 'Fu,U ,M,non and 'No Moons appear in roughlv e lllal numbers, ~ncl are both considerablv more rare.

Once the young Lunar's caste has been lerer .. mined, it must be: fixed so that :itt cannot sh.i:ftt tlll.y 'fan rther, The N' 0 "M cons are the keepe rs of the r i t uals that flx caste, and thev are the ones to tattoo the new Lunar's body,; T1.1.e tattooing ritual takes place under a moon of the young Lunar's caste; the ritual lasts three days. The scarification and. tattooing is a 'pa.i:nfuJ. proet5Sl, an.d it's meant to be. Life as; a, Lunar involves a lot of pain, and it's never too early for '8. yQun,g Lunar E~alt;ed to s':art '[,eflJrn:i.ng hO~1 to endure. As ['he tattoos spread :ftC FDSS, the Luna [t,;IS bodY]1 ['he,ll if'. i ng of h is C-a s te MBtrk ,slo\ys ~nd,~ 'r:!V en.tt.l a ~,]").1 l' steps_

'N'n n'vo $et~ of t3'tt.orlti ·~u::~ the, ~arn.e, The '[~,.t~ooing Pl1Jt:'~$S i.; IJilore alk] n tC) \:V'f it] ng ~. P"ftrs lEla H~'.ed, ,pr,;} )~er' iChan to rep~,ica[iug' a t[ie·d"'a:iL1Ld~lnJe p:assage 'VrtrbatILm. Th.e No

1\,} [ b i;l ,- ,u.'l ~ ,:Ii 1 !'- ~.'L

,L"'~OCHl 111,U,5' USe '[l1UC . '~1,~ sam,e an.gu~ge,~ )LI~ '~n,~'

l)[ecj-s~ form r~q,ru i.-red va~~ies fronl. l'!Jnar to Lun.ar,;,

A N'Ell NAME

Even in Jrne F[[~,t Age, i[ ",rm:.s L~uiar t:r"€ld'iri an to take a n:~"v' n&lJllfJ: upon Exalt:~.- 'ion,. S~ntJ~ ]ointtlg ,tht:, I>ar'bar;,

"-

A, LUNAR W')'TI~~O'UT A C',AST'E

Wl1at happe li.~ if?f Lunar never recei Vies the tattootng 11ieQesSary- to fix his ca8'[e? .f\.s long as he' keeps relatively fa:r front tlfte 'Wylid~ he isrr't in, dire trouble - 'frout h is own n a ture ~ at ,any rare, H is Caste M ark con tUlues ta ~h.tft \evt th me mocrr, and he win nex er learn the more pou;;erfu! Charms a:vaii1[alDle to a Lunar, bur the :[~l.c'~ of a-caste doesn't endanger him in it's O~' n Eight.,

B'~ 't ViI ~ til ('00 m lJJ.Ch. exposure to t he 'Wy:~d l a.

Lun ar ,p;,;r i, th,tn.u the u't!'u;ssary [:at'[()oi~g becomes g raduaH y more 0 nd 1D:Ol'e una 16] e 1"0. mai rttain his D'!ii~H.1 s'ba ,~. He nl1a)J 'Bud sh,apes11j"~[ ing easier as a who le ~ 10 ut 'he beg ins '[0 ini'fr in vo] untari ly~ ,~he E1 = ever 'his [U{)D '" changes He 'b~gins - 0 'Corgct wl at h: .. oJrigfn~~, form \<Va5 andcan no longer assume it as a re .ex, This gradual loss. 0'[ con rol tends [0 lead to l~wl€JJ.-Cy"~ and trom there, '~'~)&.i5I[ short J]]1110 be COD1.:itng eh. imera,

U_rrf.o.r:[un.at:~l y, S:t0. ying a;.Wen1 from the Wyld is easier said than done" The ':fntlth~r the: youn~ Lunar' is fromthe W"~ild~ '[he farther he is ,f;Q:m·any Lnnars 'who might h~ able to' assist and protect.him .against the Realm a Iumters. Instinct dti Vies the yCH.lng Lunar into the 'wild. p [aces, where he knows he wi].l he safer ... but unless cli:sco'Vel~ed by his own kind, he's simply '[ira,ded one d:~~.1lgler for ;a,not'her.

ian cultur s, the Lunars have become even. more at[ached 'to 'this practice, ,A, new name &y:m'boUz~. a, new b fe; it ack now ledges C rue ad u t ] .. nod" The Lun a rs 0'_ ten, call this new name the moon-name, the name chosen to symbo 1 ize one is devot ion and gra ri tud e to Luna.

It is soon 'after a Lunar has taken. his moon-name that a representative of the Silver Pact ~ if present" approaches the young lunar and, offers '["0 brine her into the societv, Accep ranee is easv: there are no further

.. :t ..

tri als, If the VOlLl,ng Lunar expre sses interest 'i n _j oinins

the Pact i tIle Pact e ld€f assu mes :lle.spOlQS ib i li ty for the nanling ce:re:m,or.l.Y.

SO[[l,€, LUn:91tS re'[aln 'dl,e]F' hUl'lDJ''a:lll l),:a!ne's~ for a. va rle ll~ ofr,eason;s. ,Al th.ol:~g}i e., Luna r ],S ex: = ec te d to ke ep , -rOti1 grcl~r] ng c:o(· :a C'~~lched to her Morta] past ~ '[he Paet doe·n~·' fro'wn on this cho]ce'" H{)wever', d,os,e \~iho, are In.:i t ia red ~ n:~o r'l:tf'. S1 1 ve·['· 3.'C [ lllUS t rake 8. ne w n,2tm e of some < or't~ as p8 r [ of dl Ie If;::n1.t'l:y r'i tut.] ],,:5., The Lun a r 'who us:ed '[a. c~.H he-melfu.A.nj:31~J 'ina V lll'JW na;me hel[$elf~ Aill~a Silv,e'l~cla';v5ti' i:fs-hc l'l~'~i hut .d;'ti,e C~lU10,[ keep us[ng ,her b. Ulrmali, na:me; e xa:l~ i v~ ~:y ,

The ~xo~p tho n,. ~f eoO[lL':81e; '~,rOllld. be the f 11'.8'[ Age .!pur,ri"i!O[s.., W'b.,e'J~n: lb~ art rn~m,lbi~~-s of the SUv~r Pat:t

I

Ir n.lO \ they ;j:; re )ftel1 ur willing i let their names be. ta en torn hen as aU else wa . I( the mi _ htv . la-Ha ... Suchi '~a s that no rncon-rrarne will do him . he hoi .or that hi pre ent nanu doe .; it is nobodv's place ". o rgue.

n some cases, the moon-name is a deed name earned in the trials; '[his is rclativel 'if rare, . iven rhat few young L .nars have master d their po vets sufficiently to astound their ekiers I'.) anv degree r.viore often, the rnoon-n me is cho en as ,.: rt [( f a hamanistic 1+ ual 'where], ,ch namer and named ingest hallucinor er ic plants and share a hypnotic, introspective ' '[a ·e.

The moon .. name is meant to 'be a distilla ton of evervr hing that makes the Lunar what he i " Red Jaw is the 11.an1.C of an c:ffieic..n.t hunter: <,wi t Pinions marks a . langerousand c .nny raptor. It is aname hai will last '[he Lunar for [ he re , , f her I ot, nrtallv millennh · .. old I ife. It isn't taken id.ly.

T.AK1NG A. T ER:R1T10RY

Once a Lunar has b~·. 11 :fulily ini iated [l1XO rhe \V~ ys 0' her pea- le she is, :~",ee 'to ._ 0 wherex er she will, FOI, the la st fe"i.v ce nruries i most Lunars have chosen 'to ca-rve 0 ut a lornain of their own. In particular, those "r]-10 grew up among hai barian tri lCS "n11 i: mo .,.[ appes I,i:n,p- to renn n to their founer people an J announce themselves 3' the n ibe's n '\1V r:; .. n-un. Of cour .e, 111. r-' of the 'V" r .:r besi terrirories are ~ lreadv raker ,.

.N at that [his will necessarily stop a Lunar Exah ed.

A vouru Lunar win. often challenze an elder for a prize terrn orv a, dan i ts inhab itants - .. orne ti rnes ~ her you th gi yes. he']" the: edge.more OJ' ten the elder's experience and

I'::' vy win out. On the I, re cca .[)n 0' a draw, ' he' 01' er Lw.1.(. r . ome lmes gran' s the Y ru n g o-n e' a port ion of his n:.rr i (ory, t hen propose' th at 'l1.1Je t~"o of tl~e rn. ji {) in f HC<e-S and r.aid to Fa ':.- fOOte land for both .. U8U9.lly- ,'ainst ,:'ome other uppt V local Qod.

An),·l. .n.d not he~.d b'l a Luna,l" is a[so fah)"ame eve'f), :ifd e're h(.' <len' 'c be aset-lementot three' here., ~ OUllg Lunars D:ft.., 'rt Illlee.'r Exahs of orher I:y'~ es for' h.e finr[ 'Cin1J~ th·y trV -h_eir'han:1 a[C)i1.4'~e.,! nly to nnd :h(Jt tle civit~ze tan ,,'. h'2Jve '[heir O\-V1' Exahed defen. I,. I.

'Once th.e Lun~r has suocessfuU:y cla.ilned. a terri:rorv of her ow'n.~ she o:'gerlJ sets abOUK g.atherin " a tribe to Strv,e h· x flJ' d to lead t.o g1,ory :~n, 'wa.r, Without a selection 0 rnate ~ ~ s'tIUl1g D'ff p'f'l'n_g an.d I' h~' ex c i t,emern of b~l.'t de, I tfe

i .. I t ver} \-ve·e·1 •

Luna;[ are- by na ·,l!Ul'., cial ~ ',1 "nl~l ~'" E", I, 11 I_b" \VllO 'fe.e] the mo·,( ~~fini' y for soUtarv cr'e\itur,eiS $uc:h a ,c.n.vls Or ca '.': ban [,e' d en ~.rle tribes, O't theg.r offs :. rin.g . nd '\~lorshipe!' w·~.'tho l.'t b eC0!m [ng to 0 'Uil11comtorr9.bl-e, wi [h ,he rnic", A. LlIu.a:r g,eJl:e:[-ally :has mo:re mrOll.ble coexis: '"ng wi 'h .' t.her Exa]_t d _ ihe. old r he' g~[$ ,'_' e [(lore:

J U

]11c1" ned he is to see another Exal i ; even an torm .r mate -eH trien ',! as a 'pole 1, ial th eat to his territory. 'u' a the beginning of the it li ves, young Lunar:' can work .. og _.'- her

vithout the 'a ne r rrin lIlaI feelings,

This practice ts encouraged ' y elder Lunar. Ev '[, 11. ew Exa lt is ana eh er strong ch i]d of Lun a 'ij.\I' i rh [he power '-,0 crack open rowers and It in the wild _. think, then ~ 1, O'W' much stronger thev a re .if they tra vel in .~ acks. To ge rh e r ~ V,OU ng Lu nars are safer from the W y ld Hun' oj nd other .'. tpe n' rural h -eEU ~ ~ and rh y .' an. work to gether t de fe nd a do main aga ins It e- en a ve ry powertu l e lder "

The Elders . e ach [: he new Luns ts to share in. one ano rher' s P rest ige: and honor ~ to win more fame and sta us at} a migh ty pack" han they co uld as ind L vidua Is. N, c ne ld r cai rrain a pack, It' di: ficult enough :' 0 keep the attention and. respect or one YOIl:Ll1.g Lunar, much les 5 'h alf a do! n. The form r ion aru ~I 'Era i n Ing )f a! new pack is rhus sornethtng t hat ca 1. bring tn-any Lunar elders to gethe r for a short t ime.

Tensions are hi-. h durine such _ a .herings, but many due 18 t hat erupt be twee n agt rated C:! . d ers a lso instruc t the p~ ck in : he life of rhe Lunar Exal ed. Volatile as the : itua ion, ight ~ e, ir savs Vi] (" .~ abo rt the Lunars' belief in the imporrance of nev p cks rhar they are \V L [ling to undergo thes e atherings at all, A pac k's

'. .. " k '11' H', .".

tralnlng 0 'en _ a. es piace m a sort 0.' neutr .... ' territory"

be. long il'tg ro no one e lder ~ :81. terri tory often c laime d for that pecific purpose. This is unforrunat for '· .. .e pre i.-" OU.~ reside T (S.~ bu.' a cone rion of Lunar elders . irn 'Iy cannorbe denied. In a few cases, rhis training might rake pI- .ce in the erri 'rv of a. clea Iy uperior Id·r. wh as hoe t [0 hi' lessen 1 'e Ide rsa ld newly Exal ted alike. ' .. uch an Exalt is mos t [ike ty ;8, surv i vor of ·dl.e F lrs [ Ag.e·,.

T'h k:J! ,. . f ~ f I

'e I',ae s tlE.lnJng Co.n,Slsts 0" lnor'~ tr"8[S 0 C ever ...

ne· " ~peed .and strength.~ althoufh, this. ri:rn "the' ocu- .. :~e·.· . on beat:Ul.lg i.lUpossib!e .dd.s ar~d lT10re 011 l'ean1lng ·0 C( rnbin~ i heir e fo "r ~, A pack lnay bavle'- " 'hul: d· ·"~I, ' a" -e Ide r Lunar in ho ',[i le [.erri' .). ry ~ hr i flg 'back .[ he h:e ads of ] 00 Fa ir Folk. • a - ~ea~ t on e of w h i.ch. 111 liS 1t be a noble) ~ ove::c.Offile a Wyld ... bea~r tha.t \\1ould be :il :m~uch ~.I '-ny' two of:,hetTI and so on. Wh,en the. eJders :are sandsfied that the p' ck ,~s "1[- p;;med to s~t)'" t on. its OWl1.jl they conduct (:l . L·od .. ~hari.ng ri.tual '[0 Ct:nl.~-nt the pack ~" nd _. a.:h lJackrn,aLle I h:'inks rll~ b~o{)d of his feUow ~ or touche, a fce . h CU[ t ' rh.-ei·. lin many cas· "~ a No Mn . --'[')1 gi \les ea~h, 'member of rh.· pack gn idenrica U\" '[00" SJ:; , ' r b:ralm as a, physical. sign of tl:u~ ir bOJJ.1cL f ina~ liy ~ '[he t \rurck '. giv'en i name ----"the Mountain .. ,Uproo· i" .g Brother .. hood.~ [he Elan ... !lrrv 'ribe a'[).~ ,- he' n ousar:id-F§ng A,nn'¥. are aU prcnn'nent ex.amr[e'~· erf CUrI\ ndy 8Jcliv~ pa.c' '.,' '_ a.l: J [be hle ' . .ing , f i~ s eld I' ] " ] ~ ~ a 1·.· t" r a 'ry.

A L-u n~n pack :f.ifUJ:st find scn:ue w.: y of ,e~n blish i l1g ;JJ n1 jnner hJemrcrrYi; ·he." 'i~l.g ~u]_ u:p.gu~·sd.Q.ine·.' 'b,a~ l·l~,,'I:.eader

,€",Af e.r:.;~

J~'PlY be less rhansartsfytng for the' proud Lunars who must (OUOiW her orders, but the battlefield is t10 place for &enl,GeF.a~y", Mos t psckssh are le ade rsh i:p d u ties, allow! ng ~acll 'paclanate to lead \'li! henever ch e situation wou lid dictate. Tl1Je greatest warrior leads ill, times ofbattle, the CJlart lese hu n ter leads on errands of s teal th and so 01"1. A, Lunar pack that has fi,gured out its inner structure is a dt~dly ching mdeed, some are evert rnOE'€ dangerous than Sola[rcjr~[es~, thanks 'to the tr sha red be ltefs and j ns rincrs. The pact can achieve wha [ - he tnd i v idua 1 cannot: - it is p~rhaps [he great-esc weapon the Lunar Exalted can Dring ra bear. V·ery close packs use CMY-r:ThS that allow them to fIght as one ~ and rh ese terrible powers m ake th@m: especiallv deadly.

Lunars, ,of course, are beholden to' 1"lO earthly laws, They fire more tha n a nima Us and. need 11,0 t be shack lied LO an y one an imal 's pattern of be ha v i or; a nd they are more than hurna:L1.s anddonot require d1e pro tee Jon of human law. But they still require a code _, a common ser of ethIcs 'to help them cooperate with one another ~rtd [0 prevent them from fadJing cornpletelv 'into mlndi.e.ss instinct,

The Silver 'W'ay is the code of the Lunar Exal eel ._ the laws kept hy the 'N o :Moons and taught to every Lunar, I r is the Lunars j ,vay of hold i ng on to th e ir bigh.~r selves and their way of establishing :lIal).l{ and staru~ among one another. Some 'No l\.tlloon.s even describe it as LUI.1,21~S explicit instructions '[0' h.er Chosen, a gir[' to helpthem remain truly Exalted, rather than ·1)eCOl1l.!.n.g monsters.

The Silver W'ay is especially importan t to the young

n::;)j .... t ~,": '1'[1 ak ~ '~1; a i~·I)·I:!I.I· 'Ii' '~."n"" ''I} I' ,~... [- '1- 'l;e 'f,~ 1Qj'-I·".,1 It :[!, '" th .0.1" • W-:iI"!;·, 0 f'

iI:"(~"""M ~ ~.( _, lI.D.IL-=:; ~" .,.,_.. ,,~, ,.,~ fJI. t ,,~, ,L _, 1 '('if - ,L. ,...-u" "I;. '. o . ~ I,,,,, J ._ .'. 'Cl!.) t

cMry ~ ng 'the] r soc i e tv wi t h the rn ~ rem ~ti n i ng strong and rrue amid 'Lb,€; sweet-smelling but rotten blandishments of the Realm. I t is '[he. code ofhonor that allows packma res tt) work with one another as a, true. pack, rather that! squabbli ng like vu 1 tures over a carcass"

For all the importance th,€: Lunars place on. the WliJ.y" '[hey don't evangelize about it to others, Anyone \tho lU]E [0 be told how to behave isn't worth the bre~tb wasted on him, Civilized folk and other oatsid ... ,e:rs (lren1t ex:pecmed to follow tl1.e 'Way; tl1ey'lre r~ot

'irt:!! Ci]'1 "l'J' ~ii'::;.t:"i,~",,·~ Ie ~''f'Yu'I-''''', oPi,"j;~~'

, .. !J;...~" ["I ft'l""ov~!l ~.~ ..;I.cJ;J.'J ",~,V¥'!I"

NEVER f·lE.'E~ .NE,rE.R S URRE,NDEB,

The Lunars 'chose to' flee- 'r~rdler 'th~U1 fight once.

Once.

V<aJo~ is among .thlr=: grerf~est v~r, ues c't '[he Lutlar E-.xa lt1ed. i<J G" hing 'rha'~ 'iV.aS 'e v'er' wunh 'winn.ing W~l".'j· won ,?y c~~1ardite) arid ndthillg: ~~ortlt M vlng was eV€'f los r by fOU{lW~n~g '~he p-a:d:l 'Of bnifvery. I t is a. ~ctuFc;e of :S~tn~e. ,'co 111'Pny 0rdl't,elderrLl.lRats·· bat the Lunar E~alte'e[ sur.v[wed

because '(hey fled the Realm, rather than fightinJ~' on

ll rl lr d '~ lth 1 'I. 'I. .

unt u r 11 etr . ea rns, art . oug II tn i15, sname was nor al wa y8 as

8 rrong. ] r is the recent return of the So lars th at 'has a wakened the old wounds, left by '[he Luna I'S' £1 ighr ~ and the elders are determtned never to shame themselves in such a. \V:8l.y a ga in.

Obviously, this rule does not forbid a raiding part)! ft011'"1 withdrawing when the time is, :d,~ht; an

.......

atracke r may choose to withdraw 'without loss efface.

Bur flee ing the 'bar-de-field. as if ~JJ.-fnlid or y:i eld ing to a hated warrior ofrhe Realm, from fear of one 's lif~ _. those are' unforgivable.

The re is an unspoken excepticn to th is law: a Luna I rna y vie ld to a. stronger Lunar w ir h :l1L-Q re al loss of fac-~., The ancient pre] lichee agalnst fratricide is strong _ and. a necessary part of the survival of '[he Lunars as a whole .. Most Lunars also hold that theirreturned Solar brethren. are as worthy as Lunars in [his regard, parricularlv rhose Sola-Is of barbarian stock sud) as the Bull of the North. Those who dlsagre e ate usually those 'who beat a grudge agains t rhe S olars. The ore ricallv, a. Lunar could even surrender to a fellow barbarian, chieftain who was nor Exalted, 'but in practice, the idea of losing to a mere morral is unthinkable.

R,ElPAY YO'UiR D'-EBTS

.N 0 honorable lunar ever lers a. debt goO unpaid] good or ill. This is the tenet that governs much of ;tl Lunar's re lat ions with those ou tside his tri be, Those who aid a Lunar or his peep le des erve an equal kindness: those who harm or insult them deserve to be punished. This portion of the 'W a y gave. birth to a number of Lun-ar c ustorns ~ including their practice of blood ... debts ..

'There is 110 surer w;a,-y to. get a Lunar's attention than. to save. his Iife. The Hfe-de.bt is the most sacred of all bonds, and only the lowliest worm dares dishonor it. The 'person who saves a Lunar's lnfe is caned a "eorl," GUll. ancient term that once meant "daimvo." 't~·.A hfe for a. 1 ife,' ~ as even the Lunars say; bUE the Lunars mean it two 'ways. A life .. debt is repaid when the Lunar is able to> save his end ~ s life in turn, O[ it is repaid when the Lunar k i lls a. person of h is, earl ~ 5 choosing. This- tradit ion dates back. to the days .of. the: First Age, when the LUI1.an"S killed in the night whenever ir beneflred their Solar spUlL1Ses. for then,. '[00 do SID. Most L lJl"lar.s· exp~ct the ir !i.!:or l:s to ~ i:mply 1tl.:~Jne n target: JJ.ldliave done: witl-l H; ies certainly. pr~fel"ahLe to f()[lowi.,ng d:i~it earls a:roiuI1ldj, waiting !br a stray ani()W to> d.e:A.€ct or ~ po is.o.ne,d g:obh::t to ov~rturn. Ortce. '[he d·e;bt is pEl'idj 'the :rel.ationship between the two. retu.:r~ns, to 'whatev,er it \V~S ·1b(5fDr~ 'd1J~ 1 ife .. debt ,Cflrne in-ro p.la,y;: i'f the l.una.r~~s: tornrEer,forl 'w;as; a 'b:[omd"'el1:emv,~ i1his can :rcn.eRD .. 8Lrt

.. .)' . .- .,_ ..

in1rliM~:dhlJ~e b~l d~ ~ Me®'[ Luna'~:s ~ "how'ev~n~~ pre'fer '[0 offer

:a :~n.l€e JRer:iod of a. l Ull.ar 1110nth.~ if fer no other r€a.sOlrti.

· 'I' ~,~. .. .' ~ 'j ..

B"EJUST A .~D G -·NEROUS TO T' '.OSE BrENEAfl-l Y·U

]: r' S only C OlUliTIOl1 . ense to

keep yo ur ollowers I . pry· ( th-

erwise, they \V. 01:1 be ~'01Hr followers for long. Thls por~ t l on. of the: .... ill v er Wa y ]1[1 eans a

little more thz n rhat, though .. It had its be zinni .. ~ in the First Age when the Lunars had commanc of ar nles and were often ass] g ned the 1:21. k of ove: seeing the 'olars ~ dornal "IS. BV looking at the moral e and trait .ing 0" the ~ rr ly or sec .et 1"'01 i ce organ iza t i on 'be 11· a th .1 irn, it was ea V 0 0 '~ee whether or net a Lunar was competent at hi· tas k '.

This ser , ·e n p'~ \ f~ .. 1"111 lTI~ rched i Ii well \;vL h the socia] dynaml .. ." of 'I he animal packs that the Lunars often '1''3111. \/\ ith at the fall f rhe ~ 0 irs 0 Age. A benevolent b u 0 : trong a lpha made apack moreefftcient, just ~.S a. good lender strenathened a human tribe. A '. a 13 ¥ that made sense from both the human and. animal side 0'· 0 h ings, this tenet' s presence in the S H ver Wa)' is assure 1.

Adherence to. this 0 eneris

-b ; l : - r

y no means an m aicaror or

pure compassion: a Luna . may be the p inna cl e of genero i ty and . airness I . the 0 rlbe he

ru leo' ur incredibly savage 'to. any ,01 tribe. 'The L' nar can e ruire hypocri tlcal when they speak ofUj us tice" or "generosity" - ic e', [5 h V don'i particularlv fe .'(. pply r everv- ne,

SLA.~: NOT YO'UR BROTHERS AND S·]ISTERS.

Th ls . or - ion of I he Way d esn j t refer to f: a 11" ic idein g' neral (alh,' ugh 0" [TIe L mars are hon. fa'o, le eno gh to interpret it in such a \\l'ay)' 'but rather to I ! e general t aboo against Lunar : layt g Lunar. Tn, on.ly rea on the' Lunars

su v ive 0 .~. he: xesent Age ar U i~ becau se ,o~· 'ey wor ke.d

together; if hey breakdown into murdering one an ·ther ()<'\7 r bloc -feuds, [he race will surel- 'fall.

To encourage obedience to-hi" 0 ener of the WaYJ the Lunar '~, p;r C tic e a syste m f: 1 ·0 . e ". r - s, where i. n he

}'Ot'N~:r cf a. brawl ir~ indreht~d to- o. erform SOUl.e sorr o r"k

than [0 make cert . in rh ·i.: ex lit te rae I h 11 \ ith their ex-eorls goe o· dl.eir w'ay this time,

Minor debt aren t always kep [rack of clo ly and may be subiect to interprerarion.An emiss ary who brings a'. aluable oirt 'to Co. Lunar in hopes of fin i~ n.g favor won r.[ nece $)' anl yet i. t; the gift is. somerhi ng the Lu 11 ar could have taken "} '!;Jvay the instant the emissary drew near her territory, T rue debt is Incurred only \.\ hen the Lunar gains somethina he wouldn 't oth.er';v ise h.~ \ ·e.

The dark side of' his law is a code of vei . .eance. A Luna t w ith proper res:: ect ,0 [ the "Wa, ne \. er fotgets an insult never iorgi" e a, '~lrollg'one hero her j eople.

T'bll • ~ • s: , ... f II -I k

to ne teruenr or rorgwmg 1S 8 s[;:;rn 0: entreat wea mess

-. other Lun -".: Interpret a .ailul" . to' . ake ve:t"lgeance 28< proof of be Lng toe w~a~ or atraid to do ~o.

fa,]' me winner. Th is has rh e ad va nta ge of 'making a defeated rival 'more useful 1:0 [be victor alive [han he ~~u'lrd be dead. This do se of pragrnatl m makes this law much, easier to follow than it would be otherwise.

Nonetheless, Lu nat" does slay Lunar from rlme [0' time. Some of these deaths come from a dominance or grl)dg,e :Hghr [hat s i Inp iy gets {lit Qf hand: others are rationa Hz'ed a way as ,t~ necessary k: i, U ings, H l t says so me ~ rh~n~, for the harsh reality of Lunar existence that these s;!;rying5, are usua 11 y not punished with an vth ing m ore

'Il ., ~ r f'

severe tnan a. s e:IrlOUS [ass 0:.' "ace '.

'DIEFEND \\I'I-~AT ] S YOURS

Th ~,s 1 aw is perha ps a s un necessary as 'they' c orne ~ nevertheless, it :~ s a for:l11,a] pH rt ,of the 'W,ray. A 1 una r nee ]I:, no real incentive to defend his terrjtory; it is the source of 'his f()oci! h is mates, his srreugrh, However, th is law is also a " iandate ,- { .. , efend one's people, eVe'l1 when iris mcon venienr [0 do so.

So-me Lunars interpret this portion of the \Y,J flY 'very ~lggress.i,veIy~ artacklna nearby settlements and tribes w irh great (ere city in. '[he name of keeping their terr i to ~ ries safe, Th is draws no censure fro m the i r collie,agnes,; it may not always be the wisest thinz '[,0 do, but wisdom cannot take th e place of honor,

:H!ONOR YOUR 'WOHD TO T'HE, DESER.VJNG

The e 1,21 es t LU:[1 ars re rnem ber rl .e days when a I 1. an 1 s word was worth somerhing. Thousands or years of lies have C0111:t:. and gone si nee then j and today some preHn .. lses are worth far more 'bra ke n '~J1Jan 'lhey ever '~lUU ld be intact Even so, the Lunare know that it should not be this wal. A, Lunar of honor does his absolute best to keep his word once given, so long as it is given to a. person. ,wonhy .of the Lunar's V(JVi.f. Some Lunars classify all c I:vi lized fo lk as "undeserv ing ~ r~ but others real ize that even a child of the cities may prove himself honorable

. and worth y 1 in his .Q\LV11., wa "I"

Th .. e Lunars IlQa:y bel i eve 5 trong] 'if in this t enet, hu t [hey do 'no'[ at ,va vs advert: lS,e' t'he 'f~lC t. Th~ b~]m:ba1f'i.a n_ ll"i'bes [nay :r,ealize '[h,ar an oath given '[C) a '[n~acb.ett'HJs de g i~, \¥'(ut'l:ll1otll i I1g, b ~I t if an outs'i der be I i,eves '[ h ~ t ,~ll vnws lft equa[~ [he Lunaj's are :tlJl,• about to co]'-re'c[ h,irn. '[--:Ie d~;5:etv'e~ '~(l te:ap th,e price of his fony~

OTI=IER. COMMON CU,S,TOr}fS,

Tb.,e ll1n~u'S are a hno.5t trh:e 'V'€ lrY >&efi~l1:i.tinn, of d] ver',~ 'S[ry. They cha:l1ae 'tih~],l' fonus as i,t ~uirn d.i:enlJ th:~y :S~IVii ve in en viror:u,n,en 6e frOlll the bla,i; rug deserts [0 'ihe froz~n W[l's'te·s·, d ley Ii ve ChS ~Jlhnals or ~s hu'mans e,quaUv - ir~ 8 3 \;vo1l.de r t haJ they 'have any [']1 ing hJ ~ornmon at aU;,8[[U,~ thf Lunars :b,avf dOlrie a re:nniisika,bl'y good lob of hro]d~,:rrlg' QllllJQ tIl,leho; undeu'l "ling pril1,c~ph~~ even. in ,- he facef.of ~J ~ ll],ey\f~ su'ffer~d, ,A.lthou,!i!:b the Inc.1l1 C1IS'i:olnS;

lQaay vary from region '[0 region) the LUL1i:'[s ~t~.ll, retain a number of traditi ms '[hat are more or less, the same f~,'O'~T~ nne end of [hie world to rhe other.

- -

T ER.R]T10'R,Y

'There are few '[h lings III Creal] on more te rr itor Ii al than, a. elder Lunar. f\ Lunar's territory 'is his Iife ~ i t is his food, his water i his mates, his shelter. The Lunar sees these t ruths ffo m t wo sides:' '[hat of- he an lma I, who in.sdnctiv€ l.y knows that territory is directly linked to SlU:,\J ~ val and tha r of the bar bar is I n. huma n who has Iea rne ~ the S,~I rue lesson rh e ha rd W~l'y. 'Wh.e'li ~1 Lunar c alls a ,~ .. I ace "h is," even ,;a v ~ sit fro l11 h [8 close: t friends Ina,' set him on edge '~~n· ~ i (·hey leave lvis territory ~ assum il1g tl: at these 'frj ends ~l re rough 1 y h is eq U a, I, in 'power. Sharing territory with people 0]' animals 'who have no chance of challenging 'the Lunar for ownership

~ I~ r nn- ,e<'·1('1!,p.'1--~"L, 'II u or.. "0'11 ,(:1" .(.\I--

,L.;J<....,,,_.. 'AJO,· ~.' .... , ,iC~ Dll t ~"q;:;., '\.,., ,'.

Most LUn.~l[1~ mark their territory with scent, claw, .. marked trees Or stones or other cl ue s that a srear beast cans the area home. An outsider mightbe able to tell the differe,l1!ce be tween, a Lunar' s marker and that Iefr 'try' a more rn nndane preda tor; lo cal h urtters '"' ho grow up listening 'to tales of the' beast-gods are more 11ke,lv '[0 understand the d~,f:fe1ience between an animal's rerrirory marker and that of a Lunar, A Lunar can [~U the difference lnstarulv: what 'her experience doesn't supply, her insr i nc t w ill.

The prope r ~;3 y to a pp ro ac h ,(1 n e Ide r 0 r ,eq ua]' s '[(3 rr i, to ry l s to wait ne ar tbe borde rand CliY o U ,- th ree t i [DeS inclose success ion, each cry a vocalization, that rises in pitch 'to ward the e net The usual cu stern is ro how L yrf'lfv 1 ~ b ellow O'U' shriek according '[0 your favored beast .. form's voice l' a l .ho ugh it is p erfec d V accepta ble toO shout btl 8, human tong ue. b the vis i tor knows the name of the loca l L~J nar In c harge, she call shou t [hat as her an nunci at ion ~ but th is is us ua [1 V seen as a c,haJ le nge '. The 1,0 I'd, of the territory may then, approach rhe newcomer or, more rarely, signa[ 'with a long, lingering cry of h,i S own thar starts lO\Lv,~ rises high, and then descends lo~r 3g3,tn {hu'n: th,e visitor ]~ :fte~ '[0 enter his terrhory. En'- ering a terriIory ''I!vithoiU.[ penlli;ssinn is a direct cha[,lerll.ge·t:c the occupant~ m.llesS' the' vis i tor () utranks her has [., ]11 rha. case~ '[he hast '~S expected to be getlerOlllS and 'ho pi.tab'~,e.,

A Lunar~5 . erriroriaJ S[l e3Je be~ol'rues, lu,orf" :pro'" l10unced ,;vi l;h age. Tl~H: la:ng'er a Lln1~!' surv'ives~ d1Je ~10re ~ncrea~inlly dOllUh\;.'U1 - hi~, persoflalt y becoInes; alter five l:e rt'n:.ur i~.s of su rv i \ -il1g th e Wyld.~ ['t ~s aU but Lncon'beivab~~ fat :a:k'l eldet ro l~t al1,a~1Le teU l1irn 'wha.t ~o do" ,Ra dle r dJ.BU1. sp ~nd the flflaj Q1"ity of h is €'ffort 1011 cant lnl]IGi 1 t~Sl:S of dowinHJ1Qe' vdth hia' ~£'ella~v;sc! tbe. eld~r breaks, ,a."IIM~~' :frQ'm 9th,er Lun,:;JITS;. cl.ai[[)il1g iEt porJtiu[l ,~f 1and for ,hittt5:el f ~nrnd :for ,a~ll V :b,Ulf.lrtan ot 3:n hnR 1 fOn~r"i[el5 '[haJ a.r~ tont~Qt Dot ~o cb~·U·er g;e: 'L\j,~~Il.lthtJri.'rr,,,

But in. his younger years, a Lunar can sei ~; ide his territorial lns incr , a.' leas :for a . une. A tack of' a , cars can . ha re a CUlTIlnOn hu n ti ng ,J'ro,t.H' d 0'[ :F.''02 m across 'Creation for years, without '[00 much difftculrv. A fevv minor squat bles might break cr rr, nr that's U5UaU), the \V0r" [: or it, In rh curren rime of rLl1JI..J lt, there are tar mor p1!Cs..SU1.. concerns,

G . ',TI--!ER , .... GS

, ~ he two most c om mon ev nt~ rha t will bring .. ' grc up .' f . mar t gerher are' he rlak an.', he, H ic ve 'I' and instruction of a new whelp. Bot'h. are events that have ramifications on Lunar culture as a whole and, therefore, are sufficien 0 draw .. rher Lunar Exalted from he ir be 1 ()V .. ~ te rr i. toties, for a r i rue at 1 east,

'More social gi:; ( herings are rarer, 'but do happen from time co time, Generally such a gathering Is a-11 excuse to share' news and. information, " barter magical sr ifac ~ and ~ pells with one another and, co forge potential p olttical alliances against CQ:[(U110n threats. Only Lunars and non- unar n in-ya are ail" owed to attend, it is an, in ult to . he una nation to brir .. a a gu '. r '\lV}:H) has 'lL10t :pr vert herself. A ~a~hering 111USt 'be announced well in advancev so that word "'!,NiH have time '[0 er from one I unar's d. imain 10 rhe next.

Gatherings are held on c ne Lunar's I" erritorv .t.10C ( n neutral gratin '. This practice invokes the bond between host and. zuest find gives the attending Lunars an additional incentiv r behavepeac .. fuHy,.Each~ ·i·itor' Tin~, '- gif for [1 e host hJ' uallv 'food or p].under),~ all _ the host must, in. turn present each visit or with ~ gift OfH: least equal value. Both ouest and host ~. and t gain face for generosity or to to e f: ce for outright In'· serl I nes ' ..

'The ga' bering trad ltiont [l,y opens at t\;vih~h~ with a . eas . Much like the ,feast of the rlak [he host is oblizared 'En make certain that there is plenty. eat (or al]; thu: i on'[y rhe most prosperou Lunars can h, ist gatherings, Traditionally, " he feast is where news about bordo r cl anges and impending threats '[0 [he .u' oar people is exchanged: rhe presence of food mak ". b: _ '[ news e asi t to 'take an . good news HI te s'\ve,eter" Many of '[he gues'ls [ll (iii ch.~ [[,eng,e eacl: 0 I her over d i.nner i.f tb'ey ll_a v'; Ion ' .. s:an.·in·' drsput~s (,or ~iny other si r.nifican,r excus )~ th· chtlaenge nlaoc.he· take:'pliace af er the ln~;a[ n . d!~rtng.

Once the fea.s 1·'" c'one,h.1d.e\·! the . una.rs se,e to pe' . g; : ~I~' 'us iness: . igll.tin· chaJleng,~s, rra.! in~ ~or l ea~p" OM nr .sp@,lb and 80 OFt. Tbey h . v'e un~jt d'le ~'ttu.· "lrk . f the nightn' {axoul __ : 2: i: [he ['D' orn'ing) "~Q' finis'h their bui ~e:~~ ~.,. 'which pOit\" dle Lun'lls g-a'ch,'r [0 -x~ch~u~ge lnore 1; e~ and tal~· 0 '_ :'~, :': -ee.ds and! to dirsc.uss -[.lore ge.nerali topics .. Fi.naUl, mil: hos Ina l~ad ,the 'l-~n)bl'e~ L u n~M~S on a. bd.ef h tl tll or. nl id j us't 'be'fo'PJe d t_1:l1V :1,; 'th is, "1 ~" ,- [,c~ ~~ u Ilaa; ti1rni ted 0 snJ.aU .gad:te ri '_5"..e· gather.in ,do€s ,. "Oji last ::or rnore thrur. 11 njg}1t; by cl¥e !l1~'X day,

\

,. he vi itors are already loping, swimrnina or winging

the ir wav h xne .

The larsesi Q"athel.:ings are the four Grand Meet s, held eve:rv 50 years on c he auturnn equin ix by the Lunars c f ea 11.: (th, Co". r. ] i nal .. .irec - ions. Each Meet is hos ted by .:3, First ,A. ze Lunar nd all the Lunars of the are, are invited. Not all a: tend, of course, and not all ate ex .. · peered to, But a Grand Me et can still boas dczens ell Lu nars all in [he same p~ac.e,p~otti·ng" brawlins and exchan i.I1.·· information. The first Grand Meets to I. on". vene since the Solars' return are cc ruing in, just rwc year '~ and 1:.)[ f\ en Heaven knows what will 'C0111e of them,

For an ,. hat their instincts ,. ell them to set le dis" putes lb· fighting, the Lnnars realize that killing one anorher i, counter rodu rive. '\"Vhen t\, .. r: w lve fight for lo:[]),~'[; ,1 C ~ ~he winner loesn't kill the loser - that would weaken the pack. Sf) l' is with the 1 unars, WIlen. '-, he) must settle di pure . betw en .. hem . el ves .th v'd· .. -~o '_)" -. hvsical comba r but I l t ,- o the death. Fl a ricide is 'not only irnprac' leal, it's frowned on by Luna+ Instead [he Lunars '18:' C ins rirute d a system "V here in. the loser of a figh i- obligated [0 '[he winner. They ell rl i. system

.] ',L 1. l d-del , ~

L'H'::' n C). -oei ,'c.

Needless to S2t':{ the reasons for one Lunar to. fight another are all but innumerable - it mav [~e the result

.. .. - - ~,_

of an ins II , a i . ng·. '10,' e -'0 a I unar's ' Hower. rev, n

a H spute cn er a. I' 'ten; ial mate, The 0, . e aded Lunar may formal! V chaJllel1Lge his foe [0 a. blood ... duel, setting terms ahead of time. More often, . here is no actual challenge ap rt from rat '. d hackles, a dee: gr wl r i rne other obviou: cue: .. The only eaJ difference between a blood .. ·

...

duel. and an impromptu scuffle is whether one of the

Lunars used the word t blood ... du IB bet }rehand·- r if [he vic« r d eci l .. 0 ' HI the lo. er af er all.

The fight itself is everything one would expectnVQ shapeshifring barbarians mauling one anoth r with £1'"" S, te ,. h claws, alon J b. a. '.. , ',' act' and ~ nvthing w! l in re ach that l n't l' aile down. The fight continues llntH Ofl.,e. Lunar I.S UIJ:conS!C:lons or chooses to yiek~l;, 'he . . esture 0" subln ISs-tOn. is either a . [ogle rai· ed Ind,""x fi u gel Of in hunl,an ' i[',) ,r >a~ ing one'~ ,l,eck 0- I'elly (if j,n bea.· '[ form) . Mos' LlulLars f[~ht '[t;) unco:n.sc iousness; d1ere-l15 no tTllL~ a,hanle in su'bnliss i.on,~ bu t even t11 i·:, slnoU :.mCn.l[1[

O,'f- '· .. ·r~d··e· ;l~ l·"fill"l·P··o '-+'""l,rl'

~., ~...:;! .. ~ifJ!.L, _, lL!C..U,l.!

As he l ' >. r hea] ~ . he viC' .' C~'l"V > a circular . eat ," n her "body. \vhelie!: (he blo,w that· inisl1ed the"~'ight la.nded. This $'c~r is t;h~ ev ide'nee of 'the blood - ' ,~ht and can '. 'e; iera. ed only by " a ying th, '. ,ebt i.n,.' un. The vi .. ,. 'r -c''[ c~]1 on he deb ,r a;t "V fLltu ·e rOlti' ~ ",e -ti g ·wh:a.tev€r ta~k he s)ee5 _~t~ ,~lro.k:h th.e dehbOr :m.ust then c~rIY ptU: t,o trtf bes:r ofhe:r a.'l.·,.Hity. 'nee she has cORlpleted l'ler: a·k and retUime-<) v..~i'l 'J" eV'~,de]1 . e f :her . I]Cce· ,th vict nrrrik .'

a 'nl,ew scar through the original circle to mark the debt as pa:~cl, He then allows her to SC~Lr his own fore arm 'vi rh a

, til ,I,L n. . . d f 1· .

s t'l1a~ .. · x as ev 1 "ence 0., ,ll'S victory.

'T ampering wi th the se scars i 5 taboo l a crim e a salnsr the Silver Way and the mark of someone who has no rBpect for his fellow Lunars. ,A Lunar who scars herself ro give raJ lse evidence of com p'] e r ~ ng tasks or d~f~'at ing I~'Vah o'b"f]ousl y cannot be 'trusted ro fulfil a blood-debt. 111f!r,efo:l:'~" other LU'[U1J.'S reason, there's no reason to ~ar,e her ~]fe in a. duel. Honor has its rewards.

B,~ood~debts are never as important as life .. debts .. A, 6un .. ar who calls a blood .. de bt rather than k H lin l" his vanquished opponent may have technically spared his -rO~I$. Hfe~ but the Lunars don't see t ,- hat wav, A Lunar is [lot expected to. ki ll another Lunar unless the cause demands it, Thus ~ the lose r 1 slite ~v ~ s t heorer lc all y 'never in danger (a 1 though ~ :i n pra-c tic e ~ th~, 5 is rather les tru e) .

A, lunar lna'll challenge art 'Exalt of a different sorr '[0 a blood .. duel. 'Only if the opponent is nain-va '~~dn. the Lunar choose such a duel. I ( the Lunar \vh~s) he may claim a blood .. debt from the non-Lunar: ]f he loses, he owes a blood ... debt as usual. Most 'Lunar's dqn ~ t trust. anyone 0 u ts ide the if O\Nl1. kind to honor a blood .. debt properly, and such challenges are, ac .. cording[y, quire rare.

R1TUA,l DUELS

'Whil:~, most Lunars are' 'CO() hot ... blooded to have ~ny regular use for forrna]he:d combat - most often, they sei ~l e d is pu tes the IL110 ment the y ar lse ,_, sorne p refe r co make their con rests more. '.'" interesting" A, ritual duel is 'most c ommon w hen the par tic i pants have something at s rake beyond 'the tr personal honor. '\x1l1 en a tun ar challenges another for control of a prize territory or ~. subservient tribe, he lllfiV choosea ri - ual duel 10. tlin. view of the tribe.

A, ritual duel usually involves some sort of unusual s tip u] ~ ':hor~ s: a. b ra ~N 1. fCHJ,ght on sh ift ing 'Lee 'II oes or fcugb;[ with ritual flint-edged warclubs or fought in [he shapes of a. specified animal are 31J1 examples. The more wit'n.eS~H~'_S to 8, r itua 1 duell the be rter _ a fac- b 0 rh pa rt ies usually agllee on. The winner of a ritual combat has proven herself 'not only stronger, but genuinely favored by Luna. ,As well, ritual duels are slowlygaining 'more accept ance as a means for members of the same pack [0 work out [heir d~fferen,ce.s without resorting to the sore of bloodshed [hat lllighl weaken the pack as a whole,

lr i.s the cha llen ge d par [y who se rs errns for s ri ttl al combat, Thus, [he challenger is likely to call for Q formal duel only when he (e,c ls t ru i, y confid ent or when he :iti willing to rake th,~ risk in hopes of gaining the

'H· ided . t:;HUS ( ft·. :cf tng (ttl rl ~er Lu '11 ' .. r ' t he r "w' 1. O~[~ 1, • L~ ) I,ng ~ challenge and allow ing "If ur enernv to s et rl e ~ erms is ::1 f~ ne displ: 'Y' of bravado, the sort of thing 'that barl a rlans ,. p recia' e ,

M·.T],NJG

W natever rhe Lunar. may ret ember O'~ the ancient marriage pacrs between them elve and the Solars, [ 1'~ciou .. little rernaln ,0" tho '. CUS(Onl~' odav.. .ui a, Exalte'd ta k mares . n lUUC! [he same vva.'y rhar barbarians :Uy~ beasts J.) - es en .iall y ~ whenever it suits their fancy,

Luns r :3" e n r' Iv r rr I:t' de'. W'here a hurnan v . J[ .. an night (orgiv , her hus band his flaws and f,· ilings, a Lunar woman win simpl y discard an errit g mate (and, if she. wan S to, ea.', him). ::"en'tinlen'[ is ice" but un! ss it's backed up by rea] virtue, it' 8 useless, A Lunar's ideas on marriage or ma ring may be ,.ue le d by p rae tic r.M ]_ i. ty a i one ( with the on y '·1 aboos being ~ no more mates ,- h" n you can support") 11 driven 'by VII h a tever \-\ hi m rules her at rhe rime or even driven by her 'bestial side; mating only \J. hen '[he

. "h

ses son rs n '.: .r.

TI1.ar said, even ~I Lunar Exalted's heart can knew love. A few Lunars are exclustvelj mnnogam 'U'-:~ at 1 a r ( ·f . 'he lifespan of their mortal par ners, Other [11, V ha ve n . ore th an Oll.'12 mate but may CoG re fn:r dJe m all \\' i 11:'11 a.ffec[]ot tendernes an' . 'v' 1 love The 01 .. ][ sr Lunare had something ( f 8 lo e .. h, te relati ~n'r i.p 'W]' h their Solar nartner ~l' and B fev younger ~ nes who've en ssed

path wi h Sc lars feel a ; i 111U 1.21' III ix ),f a' rrac t'~ 11 and aggre ssi. 111. When 1. e ol jeer of a Lunar's desire 13 a ci v ilized _. ye t s t rong - perso n, the L unar in q u es tion i in fo[ ., lne co' fusion. And Lunars don't like bet- g ~onfused. The resul ing courtship :w tvpicallv stormy at ~'e~ t, fitted with misunderstandines and a marked dif [ .. culty '" ith compromise.

.M all!'')' L 1..1 nars d.isd.a in non .. c.ons.er:i.sua~. rna t i.n.g ~ . Oor n variety 0. I~easons. 'For SOIne~ t, is .certainly ( art of (heir per· anal 'uond cod. Orht'l' eire 'th \Vav~ i,n prticuhu the comm.i·ll.dnlent tOr itre~l[ the innocent '''fi~'~h"'honor and

'[eroS-I'V" .:'d11 OdTTS VV -rk i: in·l. I d~etr I ul ~ursl' ·la .. ' - [he s: rn:- an,d daughr. r of srrng ~. al"~ar]an t~'ile_[ eie.fve bel tel" trear:m.en : , \vh ~ le the deca en cl Hdren of ,'h civili' j lan~' are' g~n era [ly unR, .-. ~:l( e ~ al1.y\l\' ay,. . ven for <.I brief c[ u:pling. And 0;, co'ursej~. s:b.ouLd be l~· ted thal Irhe a.ve' age L' L'l{ r has little di,fficult.· ,pa1.nina

, ~ ,

deao _~f,tr'h,e""" 1fil,g ro, r a.~,wh.· ca-che;hi ,eye=

tile will _'er~:~-:s[I.h.u~ that hangsa.bout LlIlla~' ChosenHke a he . vy f r ,el··:a:k L' as :Ertroxi,£:ettill1. as· a: n:ll5h of pure phernrnon: .... What SO[·.~ of [nan. (or'~ofl1~ln) tllU8( : oroe (l

- (] '~-n' jJ;'- 0:', . ,'. . ~

p~f!!. .~ir 0 'C ~ ve 1!:Th"

P€rhap most hnport.an.dy .. ,rape ls.anct of purest savaery - .and as such., .~r has a 'tva~~.of etud.iI19: ii L~lnar: ~ contr6~ oveit· ,the pred;;1~rO' 'wi th i ri .. On tIle: frin O'eg of 'he ~'1-ld such a 10 ,. . . . con' .~ 01 ~,S very danger R • E" 'n i a

'1 nar might have few moral qualms about rape, it is ····in'll ~,) pragmatic to restrair one's darkest impulses,

U nfort unatelv not a I ~ lunar Exa l ted see th ings in . !D..ri'l e this wav . oomc franklv see itt as their risht and

, . .

prerogati ve to take. whatever the '. d€s[re; -he fact that they're strong enough to do so is proof of their right.Such actions dra IV no praise from rheirneer and ain them no reo l face, but neither are '[hey grounds for punishment. Due is j perhaps, if '[0.0 re ID1.0ra 1 I.S tic Lunars cha [] enge the ir brethren ;n grour d of honor - bur Lunar Exalred society a" a whole, uch 3..: H is, takes no action agains such crea ures,

-I-IE BR"EED1NG OF B'EASTMEN

Although Lu - . ;:.U~S ca n and so me times do ma te for love alone, beastmen are rarely born 0' .such unions. S ometirncs a lunar may come to his human liov,er ita be ast' s form for the sim p le . ake of a more exotic I" h r n l, but ina lmost a U cases, su ch cross - for m l:OU piing 'i· a d e ~. 'i hera Ie at t'[ e rn p t to prod u ce I. e as tm an offspr i ng, 8leasunen, combine rhe b, ~ ofbo: h wad; - thev are a marriage of an animal's streng i, l keen seru es and' av ... c gery and a human' , intellect an J. .c ( l u e,. 'Many I unars \VO ild rid er l ave a dozen 1 : val' ... '~ '~,' mei i offspru g' han .:- n entire rribe of humans or an army of bea sts.

It's ncertain which of the First Ag Lunars ',"vas rh .irst a d iscc ver . hat ('11 rns ring between a beastform Lunar and a human or a human-form Lunar and all animal ln the pres, nee of Wy[ ] energies would pro duce beastman 0. spring. Nor : does it seem to mat t er 'to the L un 31' Exa l red the rnsel Ve5. Considerin J tha a b a ' man '. ribe typica 11"1 serves a specific Lunar ta ther than Lunar soci ~rY' as a w ho r e, it IS' " .. rob ab ly U'10S t H ke l ~ rha t th e s ecre t \~IlS stolen by rivals '[8 ther

than freel· tsseminated. .

Lun:tlrs canno'· produce beast man of-sprinD' 2\:!l:ly fr.onl the 'Wyld irs'elf- a cer[a]ll arn.oun[ ofW'yl ~ enero:v is necessar) , '~r the m(,: th[ : 'LO .4'E· ke. ,~ Al~o~ oe'r[i:run Ina' in~r

cannot ptod.uce be'a~tlnan offsprin.g ev,~n ~n the Wyl-] p I.:ace· ; for :"11." ta nee, i i.: hn ~ ,,,! ib Ie fa a I n'l.a.le ha 'Vi. k' 'C-o [, loeluce [Qn egg large en ugh' 0 halct Or t 'all :ha~vknllall~ 'nallc), les R ring' thar egg 'cn rcenll. Aunar hit f~,[t181.~.~ faHIL1. c·rylngl .a . ~ m n child l.l1ay""llifc 0" tn~ r ad-H'y ~vi' h .. ~Ul [nsing d1e b;;; 'by ~ -. ut he Exalr ,can.n ,I' take :male ' orUl ,\,y·hil,e pregn.a.nt" Male Lu.n,~,.n tend. to use hu.~nan (elatES .ra.. her than ;' n.ilnals 0 b i(.r 'beastm:a:n offspring, unleSSt the aniruals in questi,on. ,are o~ sufi,cilent si'l~ (n'othi:rt , .,luaUe-I" than a. pony vviU .' Q. ) •.

.... ; 'hugh the " lrst . ,eneration of "n)' beast nan u'i.'be has no re~.n ·altet'native 'but 0- breed ~f:i.th. its OW~'i hal ~ bro [h.e rrs and half sis t· IS ( . t be$ ), '[ he uSru:al·,en,e·tic ,troubie8 that foUo\v syst:lnatire i lbreed.lng ~me get1~"r~ .@iI ~y 'not 3$ seve·r.e -fOol' b~ ~~M.:trH!n i·' . ~1;ey WOlW ldi ' .. e -for hItman; .,. '" .... bea,· tElli;: 1.11, 'IT i be C·ln pr,.} I u . e"'e,' tal ),e '1 t'hy

, I

7fJ

- ,~

TH'E T'HORN.lIEST ].sSUE

There are R number of sens ii t ive issues theft requ 1 reo great cant ionwhen hand 'I ed in the con,' ex t ofa game.

Rape rnay W'i~U be the most sensitive ofall, and wlrhgood reason. The odds are very strong th'a'~ €v'er~l81n.gli~ pf:lliCn S~t:('-,g at ),our gamil1;g table at die V"eI'\! least knows SOFl1.fO'U,e that has been raped, even if said person hasn ~ t ea lked about it" If d-:U2 Sll'bj ect comes ~.1P.~ it can le ad, to some genu i ne d iscomfort, which isn' r whar people want 'when dS:ey get together for an enrertalning game 5eSS]On~

'But when dlscussing barbarian cultures, be they fictional or real, the topic has a v,~':[y good chance o:t arisIng., IL,'~S one o:f the least attractive parts of the barbarian fantasy genre - and ofhistorical barbarian conquest. Histcricallv, rape and other such arroctnes have been hontfying1y widespread in just about ev',®'ry' human culture YOli 111ight care to menrton .. Even more disrurbing! y ~ i:n Ir~~l"ly cases, th V h~'ve been essennally s anct iGn!~d lOy the' eLl l tu res in q uest i01,1; people have a n asrv : e ndencv of c lass,L{ying the ir [iva ls ~ Ilt'~,b.b ,lrt] or even their' own spouses as "non ... people" and 'treating- them as such. ···0 the question lS: How do you bala'n~e a realistlc I on rayal of barbanan CU[ ture with the more impcrtam issue of '~VI~J"'Y'on,e having fUJm1

The realistic approach [lla,y be dl'G; most lq,g'icaih" satisfying,~ hut i: requires . he roost care, Manv characters-in the world would cons ider fa p e an "inevi table and, rhus ~ acceptable" by'-pIoduct gf ,¥a:r and other eontlicts, even though [he players realize ~,r.'i.s, an unacceprable stare of ,affai'ts. (A,nd if your group d.o'es.n.'~t reaJ.k%e that, find another group.) 'W-hen a Lunar band sacks a \ Illage, be quire careful in the level of detail wi th wh ith you, des cribe or rear t to the inevitable: results: enoush 'to get across the sri lTI nature of barharlsm ~ but nor so 'ID,'Uch [bar YQu,r friends d m'r fe,~llike p1ayin@'Lunar;:; any more, This the default assumption made in Ex:ahed,:; the people of the Age ~.f Sorrows, wdd or civilize l are a ] ittle more egalitartan than h istoric 1 cultures have been but no less C1l1J:€''[.,

The mote pure f9nt~$y appreach is simply to downplay the- issue, In Exalted, the lot O'f the avera~e: woman b far superlcr t 0 t'~ a'[ of her ],~5to[lC31 Earth COU11(~e'-~ art, [~'~gely because there have ,a,h:v~;ys been VI ["Y real goddesses and heroines sh~.ph)g h.lstory' and Kh~ 'Yl9irld alongside their male counterparts. Chauvimsm must be considerably rarer: ~.fter at n" how €8:n aJl1.¥on.e who knows about the Scarlet 'Empress ~ m uch less Cli'8, la O~· Luna, cla]]ll that women are ~ use plain lnferior! The same logic applies 1·0 '[he issue of rape; you can simply assume that, ina world 1Jvbere"women.. command armies, lead nations and split mounrains "~:~[b the s rength of their fists - and h:[lve always done so - this. ]~ simply one more aspect of their improved lot in lite.

A5 a compromise, you or yCHJJ" S· orvreller might choose a semi-real tsttc approach, such atrocities do happen ~vith a. somewhat more realistic regularity, but generally OCCLH less frequently l' thanks to the ilform.rl1entio·,[Lled influences that just don't exist in our own world. In such, a setting, the average woman ~hould still he careful about leaving her home after dark, but '[he frequency ,a;fsllc'b, assaults isn't as chil]lngly If.l[gh as it Ls in our own world,

Storytellers, f~:nd out how 'your players tee[ about these issues and how they should be handled tong befgre you consider addressing the issuein the context of your game. Players, do the same. 'You don' ha.ve to 1;vC,try .about "Y"l1l1LI fellow players' real-world previous experiences or opinions with. necromantic sorcery or m~ta.udirig river dragons; but rape isn't a fictional problem,

generadons wirhout bringing in (U char much :frres:i''b bJ,ooo j and some of the liar ser natl 0118; lila ve surv ived perfec rl Y we [1 a frer the de ath of the it' progen itor ~ The \V~ lell being what i is, some few beasrrnan SlU bgroups csn rotate w lth humans and prod uce. O'ffspling'} although dliS is rare. 'UsuaU.y~ beastmen a!'~ re]J:au'[ on '[heirDtV~\ feft.~]ity (and 'hefng cre:a '1JJre$, of d1.e WVid~, th,ey ~re ~nd~ed ter.'[[,lie) or on t~:M~]_1f Lunar pro_gen.itnr to t:n;oduce m,ore and iTIore br,eed. i ng pa:rtne:r.s fOJ:"' t']' e,m.

he\C1:1 U5,e: t11 e barbs r tans a re c rue 1 rnonste rs who th irs t for

b 1'00· d- ln som "'"' cases ii'-'Il ~ri.;: true - it j."" .r.>ir:JIC01jJ' 'flflir <:Ii IL 'UDilJi'IP-V - •. " ... ,.ll.. ,. ~" , ..... , ... :iE~JLit!G;J\:i! lI..Jl [!C,'L 0' L 'IL .~ ,~,;:;o 'G [;Let! r ·v UI..D: 1. ".0], I

tribe to gr()'w jealous of thelr well .. fed; docile neighbors and 0 take their frusrrat ions ou - 'j n blood, Some tribe

" "" fa - 'tM [ . ~:r t l" .' .." t· '- ~ " "L

even go;':§o, ,~Af as _'~Y c_ass],~ y < ,1.~U· CI,V:I. :L'Z~ cous:~ns: as 11.011-'

people1~~ and there'fore in no \Vety en: idecl '[0 faJr tteatmel1'E. Bu t ~a[ iOS t 'b a rba ri~tO '[ri b~s ~ Lun~ r 1 f!'d, err no'[ ~ th~ r~' S. nlore to ~,l t'harrt '['ha'[. Rad,dh1.g is not d1:e only rrut1g; Ullportaru: to a ba - 'bru"~~.n tribe _, bu' it is all O'u~o;rowth :a-nd 'eexpl'ess[on ,of '['he 'trlhe:'~,s \ralues~ if ~ b[,oody on,e.

SU'[['Ull:E:1i i,$ the t~'a~] i.tlion~al .s~,a50n of 'Wil'[ Et1 .. nost area~~a:v'e·thue-aurb:~ WheIB" dte 5Ull1l1.'J.tr iI&Si'~u:~ty rQ0'h~t [0 movl~ tt~,'be~,or 'arrn'ies, fr~,1)ln 'pIece. [0 placet :mucb hess

RAU)lNG

A«k [he'ta e'rr;)g,e ci i~~'n of the Th]"~'~'ho'[J ~fhy the bal.'b~rtfJ!:h.s raid the'm~, and heJll h~ly t~]L 'you rh~t~ lr3

was e wa I' rand energy on repeal ell ba - les. In chi" case, "war' mes n' spontaneou ~ a ackson I ival i ri' ses or n earbv settlements, nor the fortna[ize~ campaigns familiar [0 the Draeon-Blcoded or civilized nari ons \V'iu er and. autumn raids are the next 1110st frequent-s- in winter, [he barbarians are likelv to raid [a. supplement rheir diets, \\ hile the harves So or autumn an ' just too tempting a prize. But these ar e merel y ov,eraH tren .~~, ,;' a raid can happen at any time of rhe year, ~ rr alrnos any. rea"( u

TI1.e most irnporta :)'- T ison ~r raiding :~"'I of course resources, The Lunar patron of ,a tribe is 1 ':, times the

"1 U ater a 1 y of his S'LI.bj eci S 'win ever. be and can prov i ie much more ood th~ n a mortal hunter could. But even then, 'h,e can't take roo much while still leaving enough pr -y animals 0 ,PH"(' luce s uccessive gener: tio S~ UI less a tribe has a rerrttory rich with prey an] blessed wuh mild winters, hunting' alone won't keep '[he tribesmen from erowinele nand hungry, A tribe mi :ht nor have dine; skU'1 or 'fodd.er to raise its OW" 1 an lmals, it certainly isn't likely to possess the mining, smelting and -for(Jin.,g lore nee ", ry rn craf good n I, 1 'lea-pons. And althoueh rhey may be expensr, e r ,keep·t slaves can. provide skil s that '[he barbarian rhern elver are unlikely to p )~$,t~~"" All 0 ' these ,- htnas are quite desirable tc 1 he barbarians ~ and [f they He 'in the civilized lands, guarded hy people that seem no ruore than sheep, it seC'lTIS only rieht and natural to rake .heru.

Raids also bu ild rtatus, Gold has litrle intrinsic value

L lon,g a Lunar tribe: ir 's simplv a Ire: i "l metal that doesn if: tarnish. Bu I' 1 e g lkl and j wels ell n ied away ( [1 a t aid are a testament to the raider's strength. 'The, .- n ore silks, and jewelry a chieftain can bedeck hi wives and concubine, in, '[he greater his JEnne as a warrior. ' ,his holds true rot" almost anythin -: carried off in '3. raid ~ and many I rtzes - h rse ;; slav " j fo xl, v.wre':l_-ons - hav e the \ i,rtu e 0 f he m,n,g u ,eful re -~ ou ree' a, \ive It. The )PPOS i' . ~,on fa,ced during a r"j~1 has a "lay of ~'H1Ltributing to rllf barbarian 1. ader?: ,I arus a~ , eU" Sorne chi. ,r· in~ COUiT' ,the 11.J1.unbe.'[[s of enernies d:'ley've sla.in on ulid.s as '[heir bad~es of hon.or. Others care l.irrie for nUlnbers br t ['I <e t", 'be able r ~. [ oast 0: slaying stronb, loVOf hy 'oeSrn LUlar chief~ [[lore 0, [e'n be~jev.e Ln ,the ]~ittler ~ of 'course. A'lY I ~nl~l' can a~ua, " ~ g:rent piL . f ~kul1 ' . f \-IJ, a··· -.~ calll[ fm,ortaisci bur overl hr wing a ~olar. ,r 'Dr:a,gon-Bla ", '\N'l1.o has apPolIned himself a re,a.ionjs protector - [h~l[ is s, ,fen t 'worthy of son '.

In I ~c 11: jl in :rnan y {j" th'ese CQ t1 ic ~S" the .5tat'us is

,1 ~ ~. h L I 'd"1f:i! '

Otillj' a 5','ctH1L{],ary goalL rn, ,," una 5 'nn~n _. ,JJ,.-rovlng

.n J, St'gdl' ,ne-,~ :leef~ ]", .. 1] veryJ . ira Ie bU'l ~,t\, even 1 -~ore i'['~:rpor"_ant to -sam" Lunar:', '[0. p~''()ve' rhe i r ,I ren" t:_h to d~~111S e l~i\€s. 'Tl1.~ Full Ml' in p' r ~ , icula:i" ~re notol~ious for hurH _ '_ the: selver '-aiL'~:t 'd:l€ strongest opPQ11.,e11J.ts they ca.n find ~![th, fie -real - b_rOuglrt as (0 wb.,etl'lei th,,-'Y. C~ ",-iI 'or n :t - thel~e.l's

t

n dis onor in losinz to a stronger toe, -. V hough L mar .- rt _' j - ion claims rhs t the stronges warriors 0 I civ j, H 2:--],]: h .n \v i H never be a ina tch for t11 e stronzest

rarrr [:5 ", 1 ,,' 'T, e people, L iost Lunar sir" wi .... e

enough to realiz ' that I' he other Exs Ired are n. ,t ", all weak. They make fine oppone nts,

Anot erv aluable side benefit of raids againsi civi'I ization Is : hat they tend to be 'very ed ucariona L :~" 0 t th t j ~I~ lUI ~(1f " carry off be 'ks an tutors ~ they rarel y rr ~,'I' anv k:m: 1 \'i1 dge re rded or taug] It !', cltizens 0- , 'he Realm, sure thar die' llTIP' lcit ll~'- wi U :~,make [he information '!JJ' eless or poisonous. But to \'raU: in ;can enemy s house, '[.0 8', e wha he feeds his children and his. servants, to see what he holds dearest - '[hat is the best wa y ,- 0 kno w your et e m ~ .- 'Orne cunn ing Lunars en, cr raid - 'T r the sol ffi. irpose of tes ina i, heir foe's de enses and le: rrnlr g [he enernv sold iers' rorma i ,n ... , Orben t lee their enemies' children 8': host. g'" I, rr "la', e~ .'10' learn fi-rslhand, 'what [hey face 'fro -" hoe 'who know them best" And such is the Lunars' animal magnetism ·1 at some 0'· these hostase o wtllinglv throw their lot in 'wi I h 'heir new masters. Mo e than one Dragon- Blooded has been appalled to learn thar his favori e chill or ], ver v: a . ;, ken :~ I' I um r ra id, only '"e--11 "h staee" carrying a spear al 0,' g' 'I de r he L u nar , d.ef~n, ] in.g he r new lord to the death.

Finally" a "[aid against civilisation gee ," _ long wav toward satisfving 'he Lunars' :age..-o]_d ,. rudge against the Realr [ f, r :', ,,-, 3) ing rhern.Tt was the ieca 1~1 ce 0', the "civilized life" ·h~ t luLled the Solar' and th, Lunars into dropping their guar ian: 1 ~ ha: tempted the Dragon .. Blooded and d' e c; idereals int 0' ,.,: eaclu ',,,/ .. Until that c . vii iza tion has been m~op' led neve [ '[0 1 ull the serous all d virtuous into 'weakness and sloth again, the Lunars will never oe rru y c. meenc.

SP]R1TU}\l]TY'

Lun ;r Exalted dDn~t usuaHi' COln,~ tn'- >0 --h,e "i.t'odd '!;vor i h~ p'i ng the F j,ck 1 e La.d y. The Ex· [nr ion L- a re I, i,g i,Qu;5. ex[ rir,,'n, c )' the [:In, .' in', nse SO~ t, but i'-, ,0 ·1lL.~r: ah~'av ' '[0. , Uy replaoe rhe le'lie' h,e Y 'ling Luntn pn!viou Iy heRd. ,lin. mfllny cases1, the LUllarr :r.n'[eg1ra.t~s a fe'\!'!.! e-le]nen'ts, ofh:er pre'\ ,'ous fa.i"h w:;1[hJ1!er ne'l'\'fnund urder~ta.~~,'_.ifig of Luna and ,- he spir·.t ~\lodd,. The. ex.ception is the L tlllar 'brought UI to be.Jieve in '[h,e ['mrna,cul~te O'jl~der\s ' eacbi[,~. T"hl_B!c-]' 's it abs,hne 'best "0 'I'e-a '-Lo.e he -etical'i clon Ol!.l of yo nlg Lunar _-1 heClils~ :'ll1d a Lu,l~ar .~ ho can re[a]u 'her'-faid.l Ln the lmlnac" Et ce PhHoph.y. in I I' ~e' 'I,-,.'C: o.{ a. No M , .. ':n", at- 'Im_.,en':_· i,~ a :raw, 0

exceptionally -stubborn in.dividua[",

A Lunar born in,LO a bar'b.ariao[dbe .i;s usually raised to b, animi ~'[ic 1 \<~orshJping tOi enfl. sp~rits fo([ til i- '~e~ 11 e'Vnl enc,,~ a ppea <'log 0 - he I Sp i, 1."1 t$ to \v ith.b.o1d their w" ,rl_ -r both. Th.~' faith can 'f1 lllain. '- id, intac- ,ven

a "[ell" iuitii .tion hT 0 the lunar society; Luna mere] 't· kes her plac at the heac of the Lunar's personal pantheon.

. Many of '[he tribes on the fri.:nges of [he 'Wyld subscribe '[0 anc esror worship, the belie r that their: flees .. mrs s:p'i ri [8 watch OV'~I he n :l n s p i ri r 0:[" mortal form .. An ance S to rand '[0 t em sp ir lr rna y be one and the s arne: 'he Great Elk . ribe of northern barbarians, for instance, claims that the rr i be descended from '[he marina betwee '1 the G rear Elk and a human bride" Some tribes take th is

:ster further. believing that the .unars an~. manifesra .. · rions O'f their animal ancestors. The Lunar Exalted do lltde to correct this belief; in sorne cases, it ruav even be r;rnc. Fhe Great Elk may well have been a .. irsrA 'e L .. nul'" whose children became the Great Elk. tribe; he [1];:.)7 even still watch over his many-times ... removed descendants. A lunar Exall ;rho worshiped her ancestors pn I[ to her Exaltatio n is \ erv !J n likel y 'to keep doing so" ': he has become everything an ancestor-spirit is supposed to be - she is the superna .ural guardian of her' eople

'The f'itst Ase Lunars have the least ties \1. 'I th mortal re ii, ion, P ower 11.:1 spi ·t. ts are {he ir ,eq UH 18, no r th e irs u.pe ~ riors, and the only va lue of the false gods of c i vil iz,a tion i. [hat their temples are fu'l'[ ofplunder, 'TIley feel tha only Luna deserves their worship, and even rh en, orne are fai.dy irreverent. The patron - oddess of a race of tricksters and. war. U.Oi:B doesn't need an endless profusio-n of praver Om' hyruns- all he need is a few rituals of devotion and deeds of bra very and cunninz done in her nam .

T'I1'E RI ~ Ui\L ~IUNT

E·· ery Lunar [s [.3 Jlg'hr the ritual 'hun o' his peoj Ie'; i.t is th ·ir c~ nu UU1!)11 with their goo, [ess, their nu , t

acr ,1 pray r [0 Luna, A Lunar Exalted io.i - rdi ~,.JnaHy

expected ': 0 perform the ritual hunt at [eel: once a month, on one of rhe nights t le J ' (., his caste.z orne hun'[ mon fr.·~ uerr Iy' hal . that: )dt:;r s miss a 'month n iw and ag,~l'in~ 'U sua n.V due ttl ex: enuating circumstance c (it"· O.H'IL~k .ere~ very unlucky'. ~ 1 ight Luns in such a ·W·3-Y). The ritual h mt is . reant to be erfc rt .' ~ weapc mess, _1 de more [rate .he tun a r' -f~ i th t n th e we a pon s Lu n a has gi -, enh im,

'f

TIle hunt 'LI ~L1.al]y begin a C :Dl1fJ.,('H ms 'J' unle . 1110( '[1-'

'rise ,v( u ld take place during dayllgh 'bou['~' ~ in which case tl e hun often begin a 'W"~ igh' .TL~' I uriar fasrs al] d.ay before the hunt a" an irti tal :~'H eparanon: many medita e during rh i tit ne. A· the .. une of (he hunt appr )r] .hes, rh Luns rbegin tosharpe lhL" laws.strerch h'~~ muscles or (1 herwi t: make himself ready, ,As the moe n heg]~. to 'rise }V(~· . he h. rizon r rc . I wilight begins '-0 d ep en, .. ] Ie I -11_ . tdC 'W~ hi h ad row an the [,1 on an' thanks Luna for his gifts. He does not ask. her for success in I~' hunt: una has alre d:' given him ev ry" ':. 'og he needs, ~ nJ it i ~ , nrirel y J. L f"lll '~f l~.e .aHs ..

W·h,en. he moon has risen or twi .. H.g'll.t is. tn ,-ull ]t 111 I, he Lunar roar." Ib nO\VS, cries or 'CHVJS I' 0 roark the beginning of the ritual 'hun- and se s out

I ~l -i;-~V p- '"\"ilr · .... i~ .. -rlli!l l';.l.

- -_._----- _

after his p 'fty. I-I' rna y h.'U,fr: in human or '~ ," east orr [1 whichever he prefers, The 0' ject is simply to hunt down hi, prey and kill i'l using his own rifts, If the Lunar has not made his 1, ill by sunrise, he has. fa'· led, failure usually in volves purifying hirrlLs('df and pr, ving '[0 Luna flY f )ltgi veness. If 11e succeeds, he <offers a po -t in of' 'he. kHI ",, , Luns herscl' 0. ten the hear' , and thanks her yet ags 'ill for rnakmg him a strong ~, U', [cr.

~ ach luna. [. ersonal ize'L c, he ritual hunt inSOlTI ~ wav, L IJUl favor ' v <, rt 'y ~ afCt:r all, S .111Le iderr ify a single ani 111(\ [ they lnre n d '0 hun t t uch a, ~ "the scar- be [l'~ ed li an

of he '3' is". }f ~Ll he, oung bull ye,' dim f cern IV cas [ c u fr ) n hi 1 er I,' and [ ass up c 11 ' .ther lIey. A fe\v -1 ase human enemies lnro their territory an 'j hunt rhem de wn ins ead of seeking 'W it i 'prey ~ .. , nne 'J un 1,[" , arrv moonsilver weapons such. as bows on rheir hun .~ claim].110' . hat Luna chose humans to Exalt (an 'I crave '[hem in onsilver) , ireciselv heC3'ILlSe '[hey could combtne tool us e with 'anima I i nst inct; in 'the In tnds of mo. r elders, t1:1 is borders on heresy. A, f~~ hunt in packs, choosing more dangerous game and huntine more frequently I( once a moo 'h. for every pack me In be r ), E, ery Lunar makes the r it ual h'll 11'. his 0\ rn in, some fashion.

I h ritual hunt can be a dan .erous thir P 'tor Lunars: a young Exalted l1Cdg:ht choose a prey animal that runs a re: 1 • ang : ~lf kill ing him or might pursue tl prey animal ir ( h, ~,,,, tl I err! orv, El',er Lunar are usuallv more f rgiving of ycnJJng ones who cross into rheir territor 011 . r ntus 1 h m ; although they musr ne . o 11. V in , d hat the v' IJ, g \, ne is no hfing alx )ur 'hunting. Some clever Luns .rs 'have' used [he r i HI al h u nt as a 1"1 excu ~,~ to ... C( ut ou ( a. rival's tertii ry h f ue an ~ no' ody Iike '0 be the fool i 11 S1:.'~IC: h a s tory, rue ,e' en. cons i de ring the ~:a ng'~'~,- -! the ritual 'hunt i one of 'he L 0, irn] ortant elements in a

L ~ ~,,, '[ . 1 ~ ~- '11. l

un ar s ~ Lee. I t rs If uru r ~ corn nu mon, tne If re [" .. ;;\ .'.

They would not ab, ndon h '~or all th.e silver. in the BL ss~,d Isle.

Lunar~ t}'piC'aHy regdil ,~en, e in .. he U LUa:], . (' y;, relaxing, .:(, epmgff:a hlr~J,e ule,,'~ 3Jl, 1l:h.e l~,ke" 'Me':~,' at.Lng under th.e light,)f [he tnoon relaxes rhelu grear[ y,~ aU,Q'!.r\J"ints th.em toO F"C ver ' "ence 01.0re .. 1ickly th, n dley WOtlt: if the.') '\\ ere ~f e':;ase but sun te ),se. 'But '[hos~ Lu:n:a!rs. who hm:v re' ac.'ceS:3 to aDe mes'ne Oli M a[lSe p rattice a rneditati\ e 'worship ritual 'at has survived. albeit not u nc1.l2n,ged l 'lOIn [h,e F 1[:5'[,' (_e.

F i"rst~ th e Lu]].,ar ]](1a:lrks G, C he Ie' in whici.... '; 0 luedi, , teo Sh :nlia' use cJG!,ws, chalk. a Ywr;eapon's "ip! '6' e'n blood 0'1' u:rin,e to mal'k the Glrea~ hu' she nl,' '~S' do so :~11 lj' t'!t:'f sUeno . Once the clrclie t, campi' e, ,she ste,ps in "j .iCc; hvv,ce .~ I dl!1;R '" t :3, I 'nee . 0 ,he Vi,,' ,'t ( grl~et i ng '-'h,e; pO"i]. 1:5 Q~' - L'~I ~l3.":i j o"urne')7 L I] '~11 s!.'! t d ~s. J,;Vil1, and ~"p.]n'l- ll1e H .Gl',.

.. ~r-;-.t_lif... - ~ ! .. !frlll .I"V. e! I I !!!It!·r oii. c, ....

-- - ----------

As the Lunar :m ditates, her' , :J : V r .. duallv ~~hift

r ~

ever so sli ;hi[y from one cosmetic C: ::(E 0:_ to [he next,

This rs not the uncontrolled chance rhar brought the chimerae into beine - rather, i' i a leliberate technique ~ nor unlike regulating one s breathing or even heartbeat, This ritual is called the Unfei terin .because the Lunars belie' e it frees them from ' h· demands of reason and. instinct alike allowing' hero, to tread the path directly between. The' results of this form of I. neditarion are the sam as for anv 0' her {8 motes 0 Essence regained 'er hour] but the Lunars find ]5 especially ~ oothins '.

FORGIN G MIOONS1L VER

tunal'S are ferociously protecti \' e of moonsilver, believio that they alone have anv right to wield it. No Moon [, ire holds that rnoonsilver is one of LUl1(,{S bless .. ings ro he r chosen ones, a metal acrec .. her. The (:1 aftmg (f rnoousilver artifacts has been' as· ed do\~!n not J u . t as a ski l [1 btl t as a rel igious ri e of wor k ing Luna 's meta] iuto tnrrns mee nt " carl',f flU"1 . er will,

During the Fir '.(: Ag , (he Lunar had rnany fo[,ge... h ri nes dedicat d ~p .ci fica 11 y [0 the worki ng of 11100[1; .il ver. Almos t an l: th ese pla '. s l \. e ~ee-~" losr nu l ' he L l.H,1 aI'S have managed to e~ ta l· [ ish a f,e w nth e'" in the ye~rs since the- Grear Contagion. Each one ha .been built atop a stron ' Ess nee, flow ~ sanctified with No Moon rituals and, supplied with rhe purest fuels and water for the fo: ~g~.ng process.

The rite of,' orain moonsilver is, not exclusi ely the province of '[he No Moons; it 11'3.6 been passed. en to any Lunar w ho demonsrrs tes a talenr for metalworking. In parr icular ~ Fu.l [ M 00115 se em to possess a ' re a ter proportion of smiths talented eu au ch to work moonsilver, The ritual requires' hal the rnoonsilver he gr.' hered and. puri."ied 'whhou[ '[he ~"se of nl.an ... nlade . ool ~ only wh n 'he 'o[tih 'g I TO _ e .. l'egin nlay the lun: r r ~ ~ r - [. t·· l. n .. I ~~' e 1 ,( \.' . ...:11 ashioned .. T'l.1e for,gBng' n1usr: ,ake p:tace ~n'ly c ~ rtight,~~· nd the fi,nal P' oduct rnu:,'t r,' I,uec'ile 'I in '-.)l.] \;va~J~, 'l at 1. a·· n veL~ 'eIll'igJy od er t a]1 m'nHgl, ' . There ar rnany:. "e ... SIUl'cerie:s r:hu re, luire ~ ha:r 01". "veapo'rr::u, be qll.cnclled 'in. blood, bu' contr ~ ry t -'o,'ular ,- e j.i.f; d., '~orgj n~r of lnoon~ i 1, e r i ~ n.ot one of 'h,e-'m.

M oon:si Lver can be worked 5'U.Icc.esstu By \\1' i th.ou r' ]'~ dHZ'; eleln 'nrs.. " 'U.mar 'rl 'ual, Bu[ at th,to[-yteHer', discretion,] a nloons il ver ar rr13ic t forged ina, Lunar forger. in k~ep in:r! 'with lu n.ar fore""l: i te s, '[rna y be 'th~ on,Iy '~true· 'orm OfOOl1Sil\-er ar"\ac'[ .. A mOQTI,s.ilv·,er artifa,c.t orged. :mom;.'e e xped ient]v Is·:l.10 t f alH ve l'~' a:oo, th~ ChE[l"aC te-r can'O ot ~Cli.in [he Magical ,M ate rial -1= 2 aCC-q '" [':CY' bQnU'~o'f ati U' 'm,en-"

74

M ': SES AN'D DIE,MESNES

Lun rs wirh access ' 0 a De nesne do nor necessarilv have access to a M "1:[" se, ' "....,~ r rainl y i they pr ize M arises jus t a any orher Exalre i '\ .ould, but Luna's Be love '~, tend ' 0 conrro [ areas th at were unse tt led even in th e Fl rs t Age or fha' had their Manse desr oyed long ag:,.n ! the Lunar,' a re generally less inclined" 0 build ~ Manse even Wt'th all 'he b ,~ e' its ir caul : reap.

One of the dif iculrie ~ with raisi f! a Manse is [hat it takes quite a Lot of labor. he barbarian [~ibes thar follow a Lunar can hardly SP'-l 'e ~,' rang v orkr 'r" for such a 'purpose - each pair of hand ' carving or carrying stone i c pair f han Is d~.' " i, n't lu: ru ing, :f1 ~', '!':lP' or otherwise brill,gh,.g in food ~or [he tribe, The Lunar himself could ex end h'u'S own considerable strenzth but then, he has less time 'to defend his rcrritory, raid for supplies or hun[ .000- .A Derne . rie is theretor ~ g .od enough t r]111'" r, ( t lea t for a while.

The rno -P pula, way for raisinga M . ~e:l,[_t'use sorcery, e 'i' .h.e::~' by one ~ s 0\1!, n 1 and 0: by calling in b lood ~ die: brs from i··· 0 Moons" - -umrnone d elemen ta Is or demon s don't require fond or resources 9J1d can do the work faster and more efft . ienrlv chan barbs rlan ri esrnen ever could. 0" COUJ>C;, rhe N Moon ca .. ble ot such conjurations i ~ har " '_0 chz llenge and d~fe' r, and thereforti 'e", Lui. a are all '[0 clai ,1 blood .. debts from sorcerers uf. such p owe r .

The other way is the '\~ay of patience. Lunar s natu .. rtUy live a very long ttme. Whenever it has 'been a good yea.r for foo and n .hreat ~ . re at 1_;:; nd a Lunar ca~1 affo-rd to take c lin le time '[0 work on hi: side project. A ~hlnse of d1L 1 ature can take centuries to build, but more than. one Lunar has stuck it out and completer a ~Jlanse with his own s rrengrh and persistence.

CASTE,S

Be' On'! the Lunars' exile es ch una. Exal ted h: d l:ii~, caste 5, t by a journey into ' be' Wry U h l~]· actions 0]1 -hi' personal que' ~I 't, rmir .. J th" path ,,", h~s $O_'~. Now: that the Lunars H ve at ,the ' r:~nges of . he Wy:ld~

:hey rnus t t"k. a d. i n~ct .han in' I :Lx U)g th •. · i r own cas tes .i: t~hey are 'to h&1' e castes ~llt aliI.

r'o SOln~~, t )'e ch a nge in the W t;.y cas te l"" '-,ete:rnl] n","d is evidence O'f he righn,' ,SO' the L Jn~r'~'u ~' : ~'- pfl'~h. The proce."" l f rit H~l tri, L and 'la' toi~,g i. ' lery :, r' ~l 'r~

rtt ff· ,m Ith '.·rig' I laJ • f di ·-i., n, - Glnd 'J e~, tbe Lunars tn~' ns strori.g a~~ th.l- Y lever \¥eI~j i Hot stronger .. The old ,vay OJ (~b,e First A. h!t1:'e no 'medt 0 ,the''!'- OWll ~ [her-e i nO'~hi.n.g tlll:,~Y h'~v-e '0 offe~r d1ta.' c~ nno' l<e ~,ined "\J' be ne"llr wa' ,~.

The 'Lu[1'~ r, don't generally ~efiJ.1Ie ot1Le ~tl,nther by thc~ ~ ca· '[e,,~; it, n Ilongcl" ery a.,P rop--i ':·c al~. aeCH "at, itOI do o~ 'Th.e. .Fun MOOlflS are l),ot lu:na,is, w~l'tiofS - aU

Lunar' ar Luna's war -i ~, .. On . cannot survive the wild ']-~ nds without learning to figh[. The vers: tiliq of the 'Changing Moons' caste neans hat " han~iI~_o 1v1000' means little as a d.~scdpt'or. Onlv the No Moons are specil icallv something "[hat few . [her Lun r' a~r -'~ ,d the existence of rhef ilver Pact blun even [hat bounda y somewhat,

B'~ 11' 'i. .~, approprla e' hat the hildren of [he Sh if I ing

Me. or are less hound by their Cr ste, They reflect ' una's shi iing ways and d'H~Y honor her by doing likewise, ,,' caste grants a certain. affinity for SOUle tasks, which is help. Ul- bur nc mar ever let. hi . as e (Ie!l him wh;r, r he C~ 11 0 r ca 1.1 not do,

fl-iE fULL Mioa·,s

The ,-un M )n kn w onLy one rr ~e love ~ battle.

No ]t rver's touch, ru fin I .• food or drink, no drug - nod ins earn still a. 'uH Moon's desire '('0 test himself as ainst I he strongest foes or situations, The: are the. children ofLuna in her. warrior ~SI ect, 'arm: ,,' in :~ er full light and gl )ry,-he ha bles seo (hem r ith the a~U ity t excel in war" and [heir every instinct compels them to use ·ergifr sv e,n" Th .ir Casre Mark is abri ht sllver disk. which m(].Y' or 'may not be surrounded. by a 'Chin circle or a c ircle 0', tiny mo es,.

Becoming ', .. arked as a FuB Moon reo uires ITIOre

hart demonst r~ ing skill at arms dur: ng he i if ia i_' 1 tria ~'. AUt, mars are expect d r . know how to fight", TI1e Fun Moon': are those who sJl0V themselves ,i: S rru h blessed - [hey may have a remarkable talent with weapons, prodh .lous strength and stamina or a wellhoned in tinct for sha echanging I,U d figh jl1g in the fa rm of ,a. p redar r;.

Once tat t oed ., c: 'u U Moor I, ' he Lunar is. in.' or an arduous period 0" training, There's only one accep:ta~le: wav '[0 nass all. comba skill s - to fight. Constantly ... ')

'I It'

the .irne her trainer deerm her ready to' serve Luna a a

'\: -arrlo r ~ dl e new FuH Mo 11 like ly h a:' I.· 'I' [ ] 00 nev cars uf varying severity. She ha ~ Ight against wild beast , \1' vld L tonsters, manifestec spirits, Fair Folk

LIL~ IL 11 ~ ~ .

Re;;'1 ~.'m, soldlief5, 0 th er tunars and even. ,. he oce as iona 1 Ora, -,0 n,~ Blood~' if her '[uental' ,~aS ab1~ '0 arrange it~

FllH M_QQ.n~ m-,' 'trophy..-raket·,)f ,p' ne to b~!n~,in.g [nOrUlments. '[0 rhelTISe.'I.'!J,E;S or 'co Llrna 0 It of he '~kLlns , T \¥ c p( n'· f ·~e1.:[ ~ •. ·:s. Th-" . ynaZ5," , "V-vhh_per tales of n.1.ut.llIl':ain ' of ,kuUs 6ltandh1.g in, [he. desolate places! heap. d rn. -e' b. god..-:mon&ters ,~. i.th, the bloQ,' of thorn ... salllds UPOr't thO'tls31lt1:ds. on 'thiE;'ir talons. H ow'ever a Fu l t ,l\111oon is. prone tndulge his ere l' lvtt) gOfn \1VhEf' ,lU"'" nligh't e.r·eC[ ~ r'hrol'e' buflt of the tU m, r ~ fht "rey '1:n "h.e' 'h iU ,- erl . kin, h' r·ec:pl';- I u ~al grcnm' ~,~. ~V[ He an ..

I dl rr 'igh C01'l trl[c[-arl 'C~ti]O' H10t1u:rn'e'rl't of fi§PJreheads torn '&orn d "e sh i ps she has sunl ., Fo~' so:me Fu U Moorl!'~:' their 'b od i e.s aTe 'l:tei r bt E . 'in 01' dghts - [h 'y 'I: u. 'm);,n -

15

the ir sc nrs and ta troos "" it h marks carved In [0 the rr :flesh ':OJ every enemv they've slain 0]' braid a lock of each. 01'1'( merit's half lnro their 'ffiJ~ .. mes.

For all their ferocity in battle, DIlHi1y FuU Moons wind up beinz among the most generous and compassiena te ofl.unars. As they prove themselves stronger and stronger, thev realiee rhat more and more people are weaker ['11 an. they and in need uf their P rorect lo n, A Pu I'~ Moon aH,y might be condescending or uverlv protecrrve, but [he ferocity with 'which the Full Moons Jefen,d their "lessers" is certa inl y commendable.

The Changing 'Melons are rh ree castes In t ne, shapechangers and tacticians add illuslon-casters without peer. Thev are the most adept of the shapechangers and the ones 'best able 'to move among human sociery whe n til: S U ,[ rs ['11 e;"~ r purposes. l\ !Ch~ ng i ng owl! ion C an How between forms with a speed and ~ra~e 'char Full Moons and No Moons can only envy" And as the 0105'[ numerous ofthe Lunars, the Changing Moo:ns have done much to make the Rea lm fear lun,j: ,'50 Heloved as an unpred ictable, treac h ere us enemy,

T'I-' '0· 'M' ., C - -M' k

I -:-i ", .. ", '("1' ._.'j 'j . ," '. I (T ,- i r ", .' . --. I. r ... ·:·1· - , r. 'I 'I'"

,1,ere. IS fl.O set .'. ll:an~~~Jng " con . el8.re ar ."

Their mark mav be a waxing Dr 'waning crescent ~ a waxing or waning half-circle or a waxing or waning part .. ctrcle representing the gibbous moon" (A waxing mark points toward the Lunar's right, a waning toward the Lunar ~ s left..) The mark does not con tinue ,- 0 change after !the' Lunar's caste 'I -, set ~ and 'i'f there 'us ara,y

'-'0. al - ". i~ ,-,~ 01-' ,- L .. ,' '1-' .C··]- ,-, 0'., . 0' "M> , - ~" ",-J:.

rea lue;;(j,11111;5 to Wt:ty encn .. 1.an~"I,n\~ , roon nears rne

specifi C rna de given, :11. i m l it remains an u nsp oken sec ret of the No Moons,"

W h i le the F u li Moo ns le ad the Ia ids aga inst the Realm's daimyos and the No Moons gather the secret

~ .... '-,;.;. the ·C· ':'hl . ,- 0;' '1 . -M'" ' .... -,j.. 'I, '."~ ,: . ii, '1'" ,. 1- ".- 'd, ;-,

lO~, e ~ [ e .. ' . a no l ng, OOn,5 U],O amos r eve rytru ng e, Be. tar

needs doing, They walk rhe Threshold and tl~l even into t he Rea 1 rn itse tf 1L1pon ace 2.lS io n, learui ng ill bou t the ir foes, before '[hey' strike, 'Whenever news of a n,ewly Exall.ed

L - - -,. -"" - - f Ire ~ b '~ ~ .'0 'P 1l"ej ,I':!i; N' 0 M' 0 -''is t--t .. £i; odd . ..,. 11""",, '-ell "'i '[ ~·t

UlhOiU' I'l: Ij,. '!..j~~, K I!.' 1".].J,i!;;;: _' .' • ,-, .· ,Ji)"L.,' t. he .UU,S :':'~'!L'i:;. ]]a~,

was a Chang in g Moon, who found out first,

The Chang i rug M 00 ns' ~.ffirl ity for shapeshift ing does have its drawbacks. Despite rhe power of the ritual 'f-..,..t~-oo '" ''10 flx '" L 'n'e.,,-· l' <:'; ~ '~ ... "OI'P"':';' 1- , ... \ ...... ,m ch "j""~rry"'i; -ch angi no; !L!C~, !L' :S!l.. It\. a u ,CI!.[.i;} oJIho : .... ~. "'."'- •. l' _ ,JJ._ '_' iv . .!!!U, .. ,<'II, '. ,,: . .0

can. wear down the: tattoos' powers, ,A CI1(H,1.g'ing Moon is [he most hkelv of aJny caste to develop besti, _~ features a. a resuh of siJa.pesh]f lp,g .nD ffieq~l,en~dy. Sti1['1 mosr CRILan,g:i,ng M.o011S bear d,les~ marks with a certain amount ,(:)J rogu ish pride, They are the mark of ~sh~pecba:ngh1,g. skiU _, w'hy should rhev be a source of embar[~S~an.e,[lft,~ A Changing Mo n knows w'ho he' 'is, bet err that) ~n'Q~:L;~ else does; i·en take more than. a patch of fur Or au unusuallv colored eve :to undo that,

~ ~ .

76

Et5 E . pJPii j;jj§i!hlf'1EJE'

It can " argued : har the N () M.o ms are .unar

socierv, \Vhi[[e the LUI '~lIS of the 0 ,he'f castes may keep ~ncl:ly of rhe rradirions, the No Moons are the keepers of aU rhe ll( ire, r;Jf nl'! rh legends .. TI1J;'Y are the' masret ofrhe Lunar oral - radieion en d among d eir pee ple, dley are

~ nonYl110US with v isdom. T ley hold an 0' the so: ce ies peculiar [ [he >1,1 ved .f Lun2J [hey remember the taler 0" the Firsr Ag· . and they .~ ave' learned !S.h ... ' st ever¥' hing there is to know about the wild environment rhst ls theirs, The No Moon's Caste 'Mark is usus By a [bin circle of si 1 ver, similar to rhe mark of rile 'N ight ., aste 0" .' o Lars , or a ' air of thin. ere cents '[hal d n't

ulte join at their ti.· .

h takesmuch k ng r ro rain and prepa re a new N o Moon for her du ties '[han i. t does to p repa re a f Lln. M 00]1 or.a· hanging: .M1.o0n ... No Moons must learn the leaends 0., rh lr '( e·>, le and rh sorceries rhar will help rhern '0 e '[roe their enemii ". Many are ac _alL~ r .... uQ'h- to read hH~gely' or the purpose of learnins Terrestrial sor .. C~[l' front Si olen books. Most lmportant [y; a N o Mo .1.1. must learn the pro ce ss ,rf r i rua 1. ta th 0 i ng that a UO\~l " Luna:s co ma i nt j n the I '. cas te ;21-d sha p ~. W irhout this ritual ev rv Lunar w ould be at risk 0. ... '. ecomin one of

•

h.' , him: fa ,.

In ac - ~ aN 0 Moon.ls education is never reall y n, 'er.

Unless her mentor is willing to. instruct her for years and yea[ ~ on. end ~ she 111US[[ con- inue returning 'to her elc ers roles n the moo comnlicared secrets lfthe Lunar .. The greatest No '·100 ns z re able to '[nine rnoonsilver with rhe i r . re h - rids VV(.' rk it into we Ell on _nd arm: r ~ fahrica.le [he grea est artifac - s an J even, it's sal " repair and manufacture the Lunars' specialized warstriders, But with very genera rion, rewer and. t. wer No .JODi, are able ( lie .rn these " ... [".. s, E, e: y <_. "'C:", th~, dl, '.' i.' :il.lfr~he[ .lral?lnen..t 0, lore-lost [.OlLever; a:n.d s.o~ the Lunars 6gb [ 'roo dl and n ai l to pres,enf.e dltese 1 i, irkg re-rona n r.s cr theit c l:1.1.·RU·~.

les becaus :dl.~/ lold so tlDJ.UCb. lore that lh~ ,No Moon . are s( V!: Iu!~bA'" to the r:~sr of '[he irk incL Jut as

h.··· rC'f1rnan' i'_··11·1~ th,. Ii'," f~ lrek'""f.· r; bald m, :me.sseng,erac-an· tl the' Lunar. xaJted do [11. .i.r best to keep ·thl€' ir ~N'o N[oa:n 'b1!etnr. ·n. ;saJe· from h'~,rnl." Th:e1~ ~n::' a'hno· [never 'kHled In '1·,10 Jd .. .feud : ~ ~nd. any t 10. d ... deh- 'a.s·· '. '-'h '. n t[, . I. hem ~I[~e 'r~tely .' Blt1ger:··:u". ]r exJ. r Cln~,c,a§es ,a Lu,nar [nay ,save the illife o. a I: 0 ,····.·oon

n. Iccept .[)[. -: U~e""" 1, "in '~e'[' "'n~ ia mLg'hr havi. be· n better '.'1at d'1e e. .. rl d i, ·.··d ·.n ,the fir , .. ~ lace tlli an Jl!tJ ve a No M.Don die .' ulfii.lhl'~ tn~ H fe ... debt O'l.iV·ed l1.hn. (But (ons;~dering the i m:por - attce' 9f the W;t .. 1 '~he' No Ni.nan i.e li'kd r 0 con ;w~[ e'- ,. h·· H·F .. d. ')t\~~] J _-g:.: -aI, J."'. J th ' c{)r1 S' "~''',hf2~.)

The e nergency mea ure: t ken to 'tee rear rhe Luna!' cast ... we en't as succ -ul '." hey could have bee n .. The Full Moon and NO' Moon Castes. were reclairnec e3,S i l y enough .. , but the re were .. , - d :u·f£].cu lr les re triev ing the m Y'" ti ca ] power rf - he otl er rhree. Eve n th e H a] f Moon . rew from [:"0 dif erent moon phases - the warring halfan . the waxing h 'lf~:mak~ngi .. ~ Jficu'·t ',or

the 'NoM oon: to lock ~o'vn d. H·' :~f Moon t:::: ence completely. The Wax[ng and.Wanirl!g. vloons were even. more difficult '[0 reconstruct, as each one lrew power :["1 nn, ' he [noon frc III c- esc nt Cc gibbou, phases, b t net , he half moon, Ulthnandy ~h~· 'No M.·.f .had If a '[nit defeat and locked the powers (and du tes) of an three into ,L Ingle Changing Moon Caste. The •. riginal three castes are now' gone, likely Iorever, but the No Moons 5 t i 11 re ill ember the ir names,

The Waxi:ng Mo.· ns were Luna's chosen priests and c urtiers.. le ssed with silver tongues an . 11.1<:"', terful j owers of illusion, They were expert behinc ... the-scenes negotiators subtle where the Zenith Caste was overt. They were the ·In. ]~lt in .Je'ID.3JJd 3S Solar C Ul or'·· l as their beautyand grace 1N.dS enous ,h to ensnare even '[he most hard .. ' .. arted chHd of the . un ..

Th '[ I: ·IJ Mo 11.-: were I :'e:r\!er;~ an itt> Ci' iciat ~ j equaily adep ~r devising deceptive rrau g: m and 3.1:

,. , h h .t • , j' '[ A- 'LJ]f 'Ii. if ~

see] ng : JrOUP: '. rne if enemies p. oys, .... rJl8." lV.Joo:n. S

'. tr~ ' ... g le. and p lovs were s econd 00.1 Y h" t1"10 e of ,- he Sidereal themselx es: wh n th: Lunars: ban 10]. ,'. th ... Ok~ Re lm, .ne 1 alf ··· .. loons were instrumental in 'CO'[ie'~' seeing their betrayers' plots and leading their people away fron'1 . he ambushes set for rhem.

The 'W anin C1 Moons were blessed with 'the powers of stealth above and beyond the L inar norm": hey were the Cl~l~ ic trick. t f·. an.] ~~ple', ~H.I~. h· g in € n] IU' .·f ,nelny ~orrtLic:a iot, -1' otO'C1.ni,zations 1j{vlith n.}IlI,:..~ bein,g Jl' w i~er. The'ywe re the 'm irn)r of [:he Solars I 'N':i ~ ht Cas ~ e l' bu t \vl.en= the [ron 'W 0 hi e; u ·'e.d s u perhlul1 an. k HI [0 ach:~ e·· e heir en Is, die' W.ani rt 1: Moons used gu i [e a~[1d shapesh·;f!· p·prOllNess .. Ot s.H the lost castes - he Wanin,:

M on· h·· \1 ~·l'f; t-le- mo.' Lgacyorl [ he· harlglng Mo<)n Cast_; their gi its have prOV.11 the r[][· '~t u ·"eful in_('ernT' of s'urv[v[n' the 'wad"

M·. It lunarf ~~fhoExaltin,an t]rb·aJ)etlv~tOru .. en.rare 11:0 t 1 on a fo hIs· werll- 'thley are ell t dOiWl1 hy '[be Dy na~(5 berol"e the',- hav€' a ·ch:anc. 'ltD< nk~r'~J' '[hei .' po\;vers. A.nd : It '1:. '{'j' _ '\~i] . . . . '1"\ \\,'. ~'ng en., <ng1 -0 :Q\a~ [e £1 LU'l !f

ie 'fitGH'Y nl o· 5'~N:!ar l,ev [r·· '-eturn ..

Most I not :tlil.

77

Li na choose, rhe disenfranchis d 0 b Exalted ju. ~ as read il y as ~ he chooses '[he eh i ld r n of barb ar ian tribe ' . Some of these urban-born Lunars feel she does so for a purpose. They return to the cit ies of their birth 01~ to entirely new urban territories where 'they establish a new kind rr rule of the wild, They defend their territories the-y I r ju : a] gen -r llS ':~: - heir urban ~,,- Iii '~, 11

rhev show courage, and th' y r~pa} aU their debts.

Al mas r a 1] u rban Lunar \tv h 0' P rasp -'" r are Chan gi ng Moons, rhev are the ones best at :[yiI t low ito avoid. rhe attention of-the Dl nasts. A Full Moon mus' forgo testing himself in ar le if he w-ants to remain inconsptcuous, 3' 'a ", {_I lvln, 'n rrie: '[0 remain near the 11\ jority (1 his people. SdU, the aced ~ ional ull or Nil) l\ 1(1.)1) manages to d ) quire wen for h rself in an .rrb n envi r, nmen r.

Ciry Lunars m ust by necessitv I ignore mr st .unar traditions or bl.ta.\ Hy adapt them, [0 the urban environ .. ment. Raiding isn ;'( really possible: an urban Lunarchieftain is a thief, Il' .,- 3 brigand, Urban Lunar 'tribes' must be able to survive wirhout drawing attention ro themselves: it's. sa It >t, King , the Beggar: than the head [a smuggling ring. Br edh1g beasrmen JU ~ ers b far, 'far' oo dk), to conremj late (although a few ei;' ies do ho ~t rumen c f ratmen (hal creep from rhe s ewers 1 \1 ni~ ht). B ~[ although

o '

. 'he cnn'U11on tradi -i{ n ' a e often changed, rhe S ilver ~/'Jy is as " a sil y f<J11Iw,e 'I in a city a ,~I is in the wil i, WI el ' ,e rime comes for the Lunar Exalted 'to strike ~]t the 'Very heart 0: the Realm, the urban Lunars may b ' tn the rlzhr r lace to make all the difference.

It took rime for the Irst A,Qe No Moon,s to discover the secret of tattooing, time '[hal not all 0., their brethren had [0 spare. By '[he, time I he No Me ons had learned to ti x the l.unars' castes and form~ in the face of Wyl,d

"n ,'cgy, if \-\1,,"5 already roo late f\ I~' some. A ~ they It .! contn :,'~ C - -er ' }1e]t b. dies, their 'min is so· f , ~ I . wed - they became ever-changing, mad rnonsttositie \~"ho had orgotten the \vays of Luna. Bll t S'U' h wa the power of these mighty Lunars that they survived their degenerat i au. They survi ve even ted a y .

Even ITt. ore ' han - he LIU1:4![t, ,- he chirnerae are the G rear Bea~' ~ of I he \Y/'} ld" prirru [ forces ~ " r:!:L'W p rwer and feral sa vagery, They have lost any true sense of human or animal nature: heir onscious iess Is said to shift as radically as their bodies do, If they' are still sen t i en r, i' is on tv for br ie,' fLa.shes of t i m ~ and even ben their in - elleci is ravnzed bv madness, come call

•

BEAS,~ M 'N

[ '''I rare to fund Ii, tribe ofbe~" men wubour a Lunar 1. arron: the generaJ rule t, that a h astrnan tribe's fortunes rise and fall with thac of irs Ex-aired ~ a[~" nt, 'But sornetim ~, a Lunar aban ~i~ ns lr~ to children Jtr i ~ 1(;1]'[ ___, 'find the beastmen endure. ThfY rna . keto·. 0 · hipin heir pa - ron as fU; ancest 11',-" id'~lrthey [ '~1 15iv up spiri rualirv ~nd '[he: cooe.s h,e taught them altogerher; whatever 'it takes to ensu re r he hea [II h of he na ion. The wolfmen ' :CJ3 ell" ibed ia ~e ~,xJ~h~dl rulebool~, [p. 283) a_'- d ' he fo now ing races are examples of beastme n n rions at mu 'h: ~ h come interestins encounters in 'I heir own right, rather than as extensions Qf a 11l0[_~'" P(' Iwerful Luna r a I ~r y: or d'~ a L

Th mos Rim oy It', I srrnen It) ,·h bast re the hawkmen ot rhe deep ol""",.Alho'ugh hel1at,r,,' w i: 'I" le < ~ ~ ,the'v rema i n; arborea 1, p ur c iII , o-n hei r prey frorn a.'b i", - Their ch ~ e f):aj118 ha ve tn n:: brillla nt plumage than the hunters 'u"lld, warriors 'who tend toward 'val ious browns "hat allow them to blend. in IW':tl 11 the , ree trunks, The hawknten prlderhemsel es on a complicate I cod" ofhonor, a strangebastard ffshoe I . rh h,- ilver Way+

The F~ r N orth boosts at fe'~l au tonomous nations of e Ikmen, ,. ho, despite [hell: b. erhi \ oreus orl otns ~ are 8. \;l a.r] ike as ~':1 '.' e;!c ,- m~ln I~' ibe. ., ekin, the cLa\v l:t, I t-e' . th of .. ' her bea.snl1en" the eikmen h,flfv·e - UL11e-· tQ G n1 re'piriu I a~ . .l proach" -~hanl~ n, hol" a posi idtl )fgre,&\'- .p es '];g~ ~'ithjn~ . heir Ilan.ons~ ev, n if' hey are n!O,' p,erm t t' ~,. i' 0 be en h~f· . 'The ~lktnell 3'[1: 1 i Ice '~y [0 ~!{ree to I)eto .. por ~:ry ~·ll ]-a:[l.c, '. ~ain" I' ch;e ir c i v'~ H :e.d 11;e igh,bors ~ 'lI1p~l, r ecaU:ie their 1I:' ib s rend '[0 ':urve 'e e'n,~: .of 1 heir ,'3.[ L1l.'m:naU' ance 'r " and J e ,e,n'''Fnen ar_: ,al'lxiQu" to ~! nd ano ther 'Lunar p ~U:ron to Ie" d the'l11~ once more.

Like dl-e:Ull" 11yet~a bletb.n~;:Li, the hY1ena .. peop'lle of the I 'oudl. 8Iie; m~.tria~chal~ gathering 1.1:1 clan,s. led b)/ th~,

. ,~r' mg'eM', ',-111 .l-e" Th ~ cla,1.-8 W'aIrl rs ate :.ivided h1tO v;.r 'J ~ ands- e~\dL ,.ne led b, nIle of the ffi'rdarch s . ;al!.ght,e'r~ .. , l-[vena"p_eople ar,~ sa:m!e of rhe most pra,gIna:~'icanly '~loodth,[]rsty o( ;E)n be~~ultlen,~ in,cHfl.,e-d to deVDur [' . e -, li'eo~ of rh· 'i,[ -fo~· all··', , ·u' Id In ~l·· ume'·'t·~ o· h, I crilcl··~~d bo.ne -" Tb.oboy rna)I'" ., ep sla es _ ut rn05[ clan-sden't .. ',ntiJ ':~ tht: ' ~ .. nl lab r \Yor-l rLe extr,a wa:[er~

~.n r.b:c W',e'S ) c'h-e rno.'t' -eo'['rHuorJi :~u .. uQln,o'n'lOU be~.~i(m.'e-n ,are the shark:rnen,t '\'N'l1.o are ofren conf~ed for cl"e '¥II s'[(~rn Fa.ir Folt '$ shar.:hk.e servi.-rors. Th Lun'~u.,.horn .-,' ,arkm'e-n giv,e Ih e hirth all.i ar,. i-It-, et':~: . ~Teather -SCI- -lenlenti for weapons and tools as n_,r;,t! ~ed,. They take no slave ··an ,Ire 'Ina .. e'a' ers of the r0.6:, una.p ·logetic §ort.. Th,f"y. do not gather in lar-~e nat.ioru,~ hum: rather. _gnlrUjp in sll~°\ovs led by ffiel"~I,Ie ofth,e stro.n,ges'[.

1S

, ) I 1".' .. .;. ... '" 'a ..:; ('i I ,~lt,

them . he Formle ss Ones; ithers don't speak of rhem ax (all. The-y are cres rures to be dreaded even by theil' true Lunar kin, blasphemies with enough cunnlng to be rru 1 r d a ngerous,

Thankfu 11 y, then:' are fe "tV .0 f the ori gina ~, chi mcrae hAt.in the world. The 'Wvld has taken its toll on 11\OS1: or [hem" ~~nd the Lunars have actually hunted down and slain a few 'more. 1110se Luna rs who fa l [ 'to 0 far l ~eooffdl¥lluT~th.")fa.,~ are driven out into the W'yld and ofte n. become ch i rnerae themselves i hut not many survive. Onlv the strong st an ] those who retain the most OIf their original cunning prosper in. the Wytd. And these are the 1111.005'[ dangerous of all.

The Lunars deepliy '['iU:y and fear the chimerae ,and cons.tder it a .r.l1~rcy '[0 hunt down and kill 3. chimera, thus releasing the Lunar soul to he reborn to a better rate, But the power of the eldest chimerae is such [hare few L[Ul~'fS are w:ill,:~ng to abandon their territories '[0 under take such a. hunt, There is no guaran tee that a Lunar, even a pack, would survive against such a11 unhol,y perversion 0'f a. First Age moon ... beast _- and survival lis the 'irsr rule.

The taboo c gainst chim erah 0 ad Is verv !5 [Tong" Exalts who change their totem animal mix animal [eaHues and so :2l1';(; shunned as ch i mera e as. we [1. Th .. i s prejudice is not an absolute one, bur any \/iJi~d admix .. ture.ottrait is seen G S courting chimerahood and can CoOS'!: Ell, Lunar Renown,

l,Urt~R,S AND TI,IIE. ''W'YLD

The' Lunars were not bOT.I.), '[Q the 'Wy'kl. They had [he Wy'~,d '_ hrust upon them, The Wyld made them 'what the.y are [od ay - bu.t they don i t thank it for the change, To, the Lunars, the W'yld simply is what it is -. a threa r, an op pc rt u nit Y l (I reg 011 rc e and a so iJICe of opp OnCl1t5. Lu 118,lS Beloved $P end 1 i t[ le t i me try ing to son ,tt in; 0 notions of "good" or "ill" ~ and it resists such class ifications, an y~¥ a V -

The' m ai n adva ntage that the Lunars find in their proxim i t~~ to the W'yl d, is th at they can use, '[he 'W y ld better rhan [n~ny of their enemi es migh: . It ls a simple ~hhrlJ,g for an e lde:r to tr lck an enti re leg loa of ,Rea lm sold lets Into b eC0'l11 ing los t forever - or changed ~ while the Lunar herselfftn ls her wav safe Iy back '0 ],ler ~~rri~-Oi)1" Few foes are even. '\:vi,lI i,[1,g' to foUc)'w a Lunar in[o [he \V 'y Id, and 8,0 ~ lit makes art. effec;[ ive JI if r is ky i' eScape route" Of course 1 the reverse Is true for' he Fa ir Folk who an!' often the L unar 5 ~ ene rn ies u t th e LUl1tD:fS can phlY the same same with .rhe folk - h~~~(Vng rh,e m ~way fro [1.1, the W'y ld and into d"l1e Lunars 'Own domains.

The Wykl is also a path to increased R'enownand possibly to other resources, Chastngdcwn ,- he Fair Fol~ in rheir OlNI1 realm ~ .. a wort'h,), deed and a 'fine

Lr

c

I

r t

7'9

b08S't to bring to a tlak, Surviving rhe perils nf: the W'yld is also worrhv of .p:r..c ise, provided the Lunar had ample cause to goO there in the :F~ rsr place: ,fool:ld,l y seeking our dangler for the simple reason rha it might brtng Renown is rempring b- It sometimes counter productive.

'wi ed i 'a'li ng .j 11 the Wyld ts dangerous bur a poss ible path [0 great enlighremnent. There, a Lunar can. become in touch ·\V ith the force of e terna I change, fee·l in: the f[n·111.1~~s shifr] nJZ of 8! wo rid in flux w ithout j us t as he feels the po rent ia:~. :fo r change within.H e ca 11 almost touch the pulse of the. sp iri t world '~P]T~Je rerna ining fixed 0 n the skin of the e ar tb.. Some Lunars :1.1. a ve C011n.e a wa;y fro m Wyld meditations with an: uricanny msight into the

,,-.:.i·', . . "'f ,. t, I ',' "I' ···b· I,' '. ,L~ ,'·'i"O ,·1 .... , -;. ~I· d' h',· "J ..... d I' ~- I·

nature o. tne pro ,eJ1:lS racms tnem an _ l.a' e use mar

intuitive leap to great effect;, Others ha. e ,o'~.ven them ..

.. ~'" '. :.', ":. '.,- "'. :", .. }'. '. w··· , .il,d· '. ' .. -. ' .. -D ;,' ·····1 ' .. ' " I' 'j .' If··r. " .' 1 , .

serves over [0 tne '. fl .. eneraies In a momenro weasness,

becoming chimerae. It is a hazardous path to wisdom, bur

.-~.- .. 1· ..... 'IJ.. .... ,C,,'L.~. ,",' dir .

u C an a.' so oe one or rne mos [ .: nee t.

But perhaps most of all, 'me 'Wy,ld represents a gnl'~ving threat. By itself the Wyld. Gould be left to its own lin kntlw~b 1 e dev ices, Burr 1I;:\{:i th the f a ir f nlk ;~.ggr·e:'s .. : iV!ldy attempting to ~x~pa:L1.d the W'yld"~ b umdaries (-i.Bd therefore their own), the very fabric of Creation is in dang-en- or being unraveled, The Lunar Exalted feel no moral obltgarlon [0 oppose the VA! yld~ bui they cannot ignore the threa t ofi ts Sri read, So, the Lun 21 rs op pose the

, . , ,

Fair Folk and the spread of the 'Wv ld not wi rh the fervor

of a holy crusade _ but 'with the ruthless determination of people d.efetl.d.i.ng their homes and t~lnlHies,

c p

. . ...

~."' I'· " .. : '." ·'1"

R:OI"SS]NG r A,TH,S

As [he Age shifts ro ti. rlme of-war and change and the tunal·', cc'Ul'be howling out of their 'IvHd,erne ,. ~ they are :cun: to en:coUnte]f' the rn:her nlaj or p18.'yers o:n. '. h.~ fiekL The e [d e r Lunan;; re:m er[J ber alluos tal i of dle m~, and the}~ p ass '[he i. r op hl ions (] 1.1 tD the young ones" A. g:n ven Lt:~nar Hligh.t 'not react as described here \.vll'en she I11.eets an~ 00 the r Exa Ilted or F a.ir Fo t:k - a Lurl!~,H,js nl i:lid i.8 a hfUd

1· ., d- • f 1· "1 B· ~ '1- -[ h· • b" 'b· h

- "',' I " . j : • I ,,':111, "', : ,- ,-.", ... " • "1 r.1 .,. I ," Ii il·."··'"' "?I : I', ,--,:::...... I;II"'~

t ~lOg to PUE:;c .U.C[., a [fH a.,~. . ut .OF a u elf. aI .. a.~lSln~ t e

tU11.a:rs do ha.ve a cO'mrnon society,~ and they do '[an~. to 'eac'b, o'[h e:r. ~Volrv.;1 gets, am und"

THE S·'OLA"R 'EXALTED

I f [he :[·e.l~l' I [onsh [.[J 'betwe e n lunars an d So [,a:rs livas c.ompHcHted in tbe FiE'S:[ Age, les norhi.'ll.g cC'H1l.par~d. [0 dle;C1!JF.fen1t 6tat~ of aIairs betl&'~n th,~ ["WOo. Th~ lUl1;2US h~}!Je' ch,al'1.g~d. cl):u1JSider~bl y ,from -l'le'~r origlr~~l role as :~.w]pro~~es a-nd often. ,COl1spr~s to. '"h.~ '·~)lmrrs~1 vvhrLe, tb,e. So [~rs it re ·ACJlW· aJt ~en"ti p'i'ng , . .0 'rede' tn'e thetnsel ve sand tb.~j,r. ne'w' plaac:; ill '[b~ WDle:~.d. T~'1ec Eirst ,Age L~JlarS are. -fu,\ditlg J:h at d1e :teil.tt~nJu:iGn~ "Of' ItheJ:T . ;orffi,er. Sp~OUStl!'$ an¢. :regents ,are ve:ry d ~ ffete fit ,. h,a'l their (i.rigin~ L~;~h~les,~ :irnd '[he yO'u:rlg:er Lunar's halle'nomillg 00 't!o I~n bIn .old} ·legen.ds. ]fg ~ .. CQllcfw&iQg tlless,. :9:l1!d ·no. t\lVOI rf';nc;otID.ter.8

betwe en. Sun. and Moon se em 1'0 reso I'Ve t hemse lves in quite the same wav.

Th e No Moon reach rhe YOtlnger Lu nars rhe basics of who the Solars were and 'what [hey were '[ike bu: can Jo 1 n rrle to actual [y prepare a cub for the real ' hing, ,A U (he N o Moo ns eel 11 do is offer the i r O'VVl1I p erspecti ve, Wh i le the detai ls VtU~y depending 0]] d1:e N~) Moon in question, and whatever experiences she may have had w ith So lars ~ the gene 1'3 1. g is t is '[hat rh e Sola rs 'were once allies hut tho t the y can not 'b e fu. [ly trusted. :~i[ ost S olars do not understand the trurhs of the world ,as the barbar.i an ~ do . '3;'[1 d,·: m Gi nv . '2M i"e 'I, 11'~'1 W i 1·1- .; n.q to .~ ea r n . They are srron 0

~It .,.0' _._,. ~ Q_~ . __ ~(II"I!,~ O;;,J.. _ I;w!!~,~ . ~ ~,~ ~b" = _.;, _".". '_J..._ OJ- . l!..'"\b

in battle and masters of whatever skills thev chaos e and

..

cannot be taken [ighdy.

Most youna Lu nars take the No Moons' advice to heart _. they wait and see. Whe.n a Solar (or a whole C ire I e of the m] crosses paths wi rh a young .L unar, the Lunar often chao ses to 0 bse rve .. She' beco mes tbe raven on. the battlefield, rhe rat in the inn) the- cat in '[he alley, She watches [he Solan; to discover their intentions and rna k~ s he r dec is [on. from there,

Oth e r 'ynu 1.1,g 1 LJ n ars h.~l ve a hard ti me lies is ri ng '1 he c ha U enge of a new pote n t tal oppone nr, These horbloods try testing he Solars' r·e8;C'1 ions more blaranrlv, co see what their .P:[[ rrities are .. They 'may leave rwo ba,.Hv 'wounded people frorfi different social classes on a Solar's p a th j to see ~-i hitch Q ne th e. S 0 lar a ids first, They m igh[ try p rovok ing a Solar unt i.1 the G Fe ~H Curse lakes 11.o.k1.~ to see what drives the COI~e of his being. Some even reveal thems e lv es and cha llenge a Soli] r '[0' a d irect contest of skill, just '[0 see if the Sohu-s. are really all that the elders say they are.

The older Lunars are also reactlng to the f!Lew:~,y re Itll rued Sola.r'S ~ I:l. a va'd.ety of \~'a y.s ~ 'fr0 fn, ex tend l.n.g 8i can. [i ous hand of fU,'[e:n.dsh ~ .. p to 0 IJ tr.igh t xenophobia" Th.e elders are i,n itillllt1:UUSU",J pOSition! for :tnosl: of dlle[l1 \Vfre born after' he 'FirE t A ge and fon:ned 'mos'[ of their 'beHefs before· h,e preSel1'[ tiUlf'., The·y 'have n.o :person~fll ex peri e nee's ~l i ch So:1 a rs '~O go on ~~ nd 'a n~: fa tl"e·]t mote t'['lreat" ened by . he potendaJ ~cl'a[lienge ,[0· h.eir [~ad j.., [ion:3 and, bounda:de~ .. M.ost e~ders are exceptionally ,;v'3ry ,of the So[ar~~ inn~nr.i.(jrns and :se·e no _part:ieu]a:r rera~an '[0 suppon {he 'Chi:~.dren of the Un.c·OI1.qurl!lred SUI n.· Better ~ p~ rh.aps., to ~.;e·[ d:'H~ lU rip ol,eu the cra.cks in d.1.e .Re:aJI.n \t-vi.rh th.eir VG':n:y preserl.ce, so ,that 'd"te '1.}t:i!'I"lIars ,can finish ~ h'e .' ob., Of co lHrSe, ' 'here' sal ways :t:hle risk tbat the S olars ,can -rnanage to glltl'le:r enough p Q~rer the.lu", se 1 "Ie'S '~h,3lC tbey cou.lid. o~"p05e. the LiJna:r5'~ w'ar a:~.a in::s t

t",;;~. ~ ..

c Lvl~iz,ad.(Jn _ a, It is k th.sJ has lnau y €,ldelfs qui~''[ l y

ruun ill~till;g on potellx i l pre·c:ElJlltions.,

Ar~d as fur -the F'[~'s:t ~Age .LtUl.a:r5~ they ~an?t b~ ni[Jed[ctt:'lj $lS 2it ~::rrQ[lln.. ,Ett,ch cO! ~h,~ e iciest Lunars bas

~ ~ i~ •

spec ific 'me:moIil,~s 0'£ -sp ~ct ifie S olat$~ ,aft:~n th:~il~ aWlll.

:tn~rt~;;B", Th,~ b6nd13: and hat~s fo:rg~d. in th® Fir.st Age

',.... III. - .-- .. , .. 1:.11 J I. Ill' I .. r.,\!I,

----

I, .. ". ~ - oJ,·, -oil .. , 't! ,". ;'T .111.

color thei .. H' « pini ms md rheir acti ms ,_ n It comrm H discuss '.011. wii h I he ; - hen; of "heir ra e. A" .lar \V' o crosses. paths with one of the beast-gods ,of '[he First Age had best hope tha- the lunar remembers his previou incarnation with fondness.

T'itJE D'iRA' "'G-'O' '''N'' B~:lO'O' :'DlCD'

[11 - Ii,: -,' -,,:1', = ",' _' "",' s= Ib, I J

There Is no love lost between '[he T erresrrlal Exalte 1. and. the Lunars -lllot one j or. Youn - Lunars us ually see 'he ';ragon-.Bloo-de:l as tyrant go's, feeding 0.. their people. The First Age elders remember the Drason .. , B[ooded~s betrayal, They are the Realm, and the Realm ls , isease ".

Even though r. e Lunars don't ,~1 ]ways view .he Dragon- Bl ode ,f, s t, la k-hearted illa ins, the Terresr i a] ~ are, non, rheless, he enemy, The-y are ,- he one wh perpetuate' the ci vilized society that ate the heart out of [he ,O],fU'S and rha , breeds weaklin s ~ rhe .iragonB:looded not onI), perpetuate it they seem to l-e utterly rel i anr on it. TI' e ir W V1d Hun t has slain fat too 'En an T;l of Luna" Beioy, d before they could be brou 'h" horne, an , imperial troop have slain numbers beyond coun ing of the Lunars l' c la 11 111~ , es 1 love rs blo ad bro t h ers and ch i l p dren, A Drag, m ... Rl od wh is rei d by circumstance to trave] near Lunar terri 1. ry had best .ravel well g_uanl d: hi. '\llery presence' e mp t, at ack, 0 n [-y 'he Dragon = 810 x:i"e('1 IOf, rea.' pel'S onal might earn an ; kind of:re" "fleet rror 1 d',: ' Lunars _ and even then, it s rhat of "a 'worthy enemy that will be a pleasure/honor t. r kill" at best,

The youngest Lunars are the ones rL10St likely 1-'0 rran~ cend this stereotype, perhaps even findinz things to like (or, shockingly en ugh, e\ en love) ~.bOU( a par ·lCU- 1 'J Dragon- l 0" ,e :1" This l ehavio: isn't technically a.g~in t the < ii lv er Way (a 1- hough some argue open ing ones If -0 01 e's enemie: i a. single step frO'L_ faihng , t defend one i,. rerr i tory), 1- ut i t i ' hard l y ~pprO"' ed of. Th elder LUIl3.rS remember every day an: nighe spent an the frill' es of the \"(l'v[d driven to exile and: ne r-rnadne s.

, - "" I - " '

~d I he Lunare are not the sort '[0 forzer a debt.

,

The Lunars, have ::1h~.Iays 'foun,d il: sOlne'whar, u:-;pi .. , dlOUS that th~y never saw the Si,dereals fall ben" h,th,e blades of the Drtllgon .. ' ., .looded, nor did t h~ Cho'e - of '(h,e Maidens ,flee to the 'VX./y ld places alongs ide Lunf.{s Bie". lov-ed. And y '[~ the' ; ave caught ve-ry H.t'de of "'he

'ld· re'a, "~ see [1[- n - 11.1 ~ - i -nd'i e, en wh~n ,theyive tr '1 ve [,ed

i oro ~he ci [j,e" , ] t is ~' - if the-:.] de [" " a l Exa llEed (to~e into th_ h '3.ven,'( th. ' . a.yof he 'U~ u.~~-c:t.r ~on '_. but ~,. cy' ieal ~Und[.' kno\w be-~ter dlan, to b -lieve' Iud" ~[ thing.

Me:e'( in Ct·.· b etliveen l'lulL:flr an.' S j dleilre 1 ave, [he "[.f;L" cenru~i.es.ha'Ve been fe\lV and £, - he - 'wee'l. The t ' )'0 grou~' . ha'\ e cr~)~sed 1 aths enDu~h times .- h 'at dl!e Lunars are c.,erwin the Sid,lereals are stHl out' HL'lJ.e" sd,me;wh·et~. But

rhe Lunars don' r know how manv Sidereals are le't whether 'eh. y hi ve n ai 1 talr ,,·f. 11'- act withone another or not or wh ~U::I lrt of game the y 111 igb t be sec re - [ y playing. This is, unsurpristngly.jo, t as the Sid r, aL-,\\3J!i it, The Fickle I a iy\; Chosen were a, wav the least conrrollable and predictable element in the scheme of Creation and had a tendency to bring an eleruent of chanae intc a complicated plan just 'c' hen 1" 'INM least desirable. Now that the Lunars have declared them .. selv ~ ... ene IJ.L'" of the Realm, there's v' n less reason ror a ," i ,Ie real to go a n yw here ne ar a Lunar Exa 1, ed' terr ito ry unles 'he situarion is dire. Tl e Luns rs are the H' i,n,g ernb limen 1 , f rh, .1 (J rk farethe ,'],Jere{, ls saw 'or the world and fe\v elder ':,i, lereals will sleep oundly '" '. long as the lunar still I ive.

The elder" don '~ otten .·0 out of their Vi/imy '[0 - alk about the Sidcreals, and most young L'l'Ur~aIS don't heat [he term "Sidereal Exalted" until man)1 yea.lS at tel' 'heir Exaltation. A, [ os' ~ the Sidereals appear in the elders' ta ],e' '0, '[he- old, days [9 S rh e arche typal s iniste [ sorcerers or v AZl rs - -, 1 e irn ipossessed 0.', ~ood [' tentions SOUl,€:' rimes . Jenhr r: ach n 'us! always dangerous, ne, a rar whelp who L actually entrusted with. the 'full torv of the Sidere ,[" "proj hec) -and the Lun I[S' assisi anc '. :~11 their plot to dept se '[he Solars,

THEAB,YSSA1S

The Lu nars' dea 1 i ngs wi t h I he A.l )L 'a], Ex (, lred ," an he distilled tnt" a f(; i:dy simple premise: They len' [[k the smell 0 them Son erhing 'il out th, Abvssals feels 'wrong to. the LU.I1L.ilrs. It's not the fact that the Abvssah have an affinity for death; most First ,A~e Lunar: have slain armies in their time, and they consume creatures in o rder to wear the ir sha pes. N' 0 ~ i t's someth ing 'e is€: _ something that mosi Lunars couldn r pu th eir 'finger on.

Un ~l recently ..

The fa-r ~,". ,- tue conflict with the servi ,Of' err 'the

reathlor ls carne wh non ofthe Firs Age Luna ,S Ca111C face .. to .. face with an A~- y ssal knight - and meUe· rhscene of his long~a._go i,..,olar wife. Revolted by 'h,e-r lat-e,' incarnar:i:on,~, h" tore ~'.re:r apart atong \ivirh th-" teo '11 ,n . ' dead men 'th.a 1t ,~scon:ed. her. ··· .. lnoe 'Eh,en,~ the 'N 0 M non· ha ve bee n .s p rea.dino me \."ord d.U].t SOIne: ~ if not a [L~ of t be Aby· 5(. Is seem to b. ··o-ar sou s perverted and led as'· ay.

It 'wou.ld see In 'ha' h~ honorable thing 'to do is to rele,:tte "hee woul ,to' "heir CJLlrr~nt ]len incarnation:, "0 - h",ot th,ey C"GJ'O b. born In-I c[ean b die Ol'\C, , '[ 'ore., B" t th.e LUll,a:r.'ii'r~ alrre~u:ll'Y fi,glll ing a wm.r on ["\VO 'fron[, 3gSlEtT t -rh.e R al-m, ,ml i ']. e Fair Folk, I., Rl1'tt a ·~.r' ." ~_dd a thj.lt"1 n"lortaJ enemy 10 ,'heir struggle.,

TrlrE f'A1R ,FOlK

\Vhe'l1, d:llie Lu,['rt,~'[, fh:s carne ,- 'he tfdrtge of 'he W y I, ~"tl1tf"Y rri~d -e~,', ~'('nEt \' -i 'h [l,!e F~li' H ,[k,. [, 'worke ' ,

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,

; r- = I... . L - • .;.' • -g_I-.L: _,; • r[~r: -I-:-~n" Ur"j'" .... - :'.!!p .. 1·~1. Ill: I ... _ '. • • U·,"·

-------

f·' S ftl f .! _.- '1' t-

o 'o'l", __ • -', I " ' I . .t..!! .. j.. -J ,", " 'j' I': ,- 'I' ~ , - ".-:'" .: I" ',-' .

or a. time ... orne ot tne . aerie arremp teo to prey on tne

Lunars as th ey ·"'''OlD. ld 0 n rnorta ls but Ie arned ·ve.qr quickly that the Lunars were far from easv rargcts. S01 the: two factions S truck :~ 'truce l' one '[hat lasted only until [he Lunars began raking barbarian followers ..

The present rl valrv between Lunars and. FaKE' Folk 'has :mar~y roots. One can be traced back ro the cornpe ition for [he local mortals. The Luriars wanr , e 1".' a I" [S! mares ~ eve n compa n ions to ease- the lonel i - ness. The Fair Folk want ·dreams. The' lWO groups faun.d. themselves una .. hle to share, fer obvi ius reasons, and SO~ the conf :lcfsbegan. A figl t ~ wer mortal resource s becarn e a long -~ runn i ng s eft es of reve nge kill:i ngs .. /\. be tte r pair of pant nJ~~:IS ] n 'vender ta woul d be d iffic ILI:I. t to imagine, and within .1 00 years, it 'was as if the two had. always been enemies ..

'1i'V'lh· ., A~ ". - ... : ,.', - .. -- ~ . de .-.-'~': .- L ,-vl 'rld" . 1,( '!A nen It lLJeca,tne mnle eVIL. ent mat tne '!;A. ) . , ... itse .

was earins away at: rhe borders of Creation, dissolving realitv itself into 11 formless soup, the Lunars naturally set themselves to oppose the ·Wy:!.d.ls. spread. This put . '1 ',' " . -. ".' . . .' - . . - . ." ,. d 1,. • .- '-1 - i, . . f· . h- . . .r: - 'h-I ..... ' .. tne rn at even greater 0 ns wun rne I8.e ~ wt 'OJ' [or r tetr

part, wanted rhe entire world [0 be as 1~ marie 'and ever .. :;hlf[i:n_g as the W'yld places,

To thi :- day) the full Mo 01 s test '[he ir strength. against the Fair F{J1k, while the Changing M'ool1s ~.l1d the No Moonsa rtempr ro outmaneuver the fae" For the Luna r ~) part J the re is little act ua I ha It red for the fa eri e, who aren't that fur fr!(.'nn Luna's own image, au they threaten the Lunars' peoples, and thev endanger ,- he Lunars' status, so the Fair Folk must be fought.

B, .- -.--. I" F-I-1 •.•• - 'A'~-,-

,EAS .. S OFf HE -,lR.ST--GE

The Solars were murdered to the last, and the SiJereals ate the rarest .or aU Exalted. The DragonBlooded d( i not live as 1L 111,tg as CeJe."5'[i.aU Ex.ah:ed ~ and the Abvssals are- fa new thing. It [nay wel l be that the greatest portion of living' EKa[ted who remember the First Age are. Lunars .. They ma y have grown sa vage, bu t their power canno t be quest ione d.

The following are ,ft sampling O'f the most famous (or infamous) .8irst Ave Lunars and sorn e who aJJ; the most likely' to COIne into contact wi th Exa Ired hero es" Lunaror otherwise.

lJLJITH

Dine can 011.l y wonder \LV har rh e Dy na s t S ~ reaction 'wo uld. be [f thrt~l k ne'~' - thai a First Age Lu nar \LV c S moving soundlessly through' heir Realm, passing through ·tb.'~~,r:deJe'nses with on'!ill the siliQlh.test of e:ffol,t. But a. Oh~ ugi n.g ~vfo0n is diEficuI t to anncipate and d.'e(e:nd against, ff char Changing Moon is Lilith, th~ dl].-fficu.lty rises to a near- imposslb lili it y ..

Li.~. ith wag a. 'Wanlng Moon once ~ and even when df i ven into the wtlderness, she nev erlost h~:r J)k]Us of

ealth. She was oncea g:·Jtedl shapeshitter and SPV - now her skills h ve reached near-per ection. It mieh hav been or • erwt c e rhoug ,. Lilith very nearly' ell to madne ..... , j( nd \Vc'S (:1 raz r's bread rl ~ 3\iV~y fro _ n j'" "in i ng the' anks of the chirnerae before the No M 0[' carne [0 her and gave her a new caste, The near .. madness lin ered with her for a while and for centuries she hunned the still f. irming L ms r soc ie ry in favor of running as .3 ber , t.

'oli' u le 'U~ ted Lilith, and or 'the longest time, ir was &1H, she. wanted. She has had :rnany 1 rna.I1Y children over the years, beastman and o· herwise, but she has never. ch~ sen to ru lc '[1.1 m, For rl ,e firs part of h· r ex He, Lillrl avoided falling int D th vi, i us terri .oriallty .,' most LUna[5 and, fl'" (;1 r sult saw more of the world than has perhaps any other li:, ing bern. As bird or beast, she h(JJs Hawn ac ross til eWes tern Ocean roasted in the fore,"[ .ofthe East, drunk from the oases of the South nd hunted rhr, ugh the rerrtble winter, 0, the North, ':1.l1aJly her instinct compelled her' J "~,' ,d a hunting Q'i"oul1l.d unquestionably her own. She did so" and there ihe withdrew for a time:

• ' ,("'J~1V L~ 'i i, rh, [11 e 0",'11 .. W'un' ,3 n'l h21 s left her rorer L

:he has decided to w lk again in the Realm, driven by a relentless curio '1' to see the man she- once call .d " sband and to see the: 1'0, n or woman he has become-She has vi, ired spiri' COUI" , and Qf3Ue -1 en ies Iike, ahv,ay~" on hi ~ trail. She wil] find hirn "{let _ and not e-· en. Luna knows wha t wi U h ap" en then.

few 01 the I. irst Age Lunara still remember heir former 1 i ves \1\1 i '[b a cer ta in amount of pride. Of rh ern all, O,[l[Y the New Moon Raksi, the Queen of Fangs, " ill , h" ses to '[1".- lTI. ch ., I ~l'.lj wl ex: ~'I' c' 'at upon 1 e fi .r hr r e. " b .. e is a bewilc ering at 1 tef, i ... hdng, , mix 0" } 'irsi A.Qe queen and Second Ase

I' ,

barbarian, everything the Realm fears an' hates

abou t the (.1, O'S" n f Luna,

Sl e rule" in th,e Southern East, in a jun;ttle u:~n Ued MahG liallk . L the •. ·ity 0' 1 Thousan l ',' oL-" en , li: "ltu;s. ;. Ll]S" ,!t) \va~'i Oilce caned ,peri'mi,n" ~ ,nef 'it ",fa-' '[he gr, ai,e'·'[ '·,ea - oflearn~ng i:n d'le wort·.l- ~ ),d,the a I de., f Tl1e 13,Qol(, of Three C ircle ~. N(l \v i r i' , 'ht! a bode "f 11t10nste s., Th~ t her city has a 'thousar'lcl ~o1-,en de.B hIS is no ,excl.l'_'._ e.ration - but d1.e deHghts. are p~,ea>ln.g onl'~l to :Rahi :herself and to othel I who enjoy

he I lea 'ure ~ '. f l'~aVil mll' :l_ pu It _ d 6I.-' 'I ~'Ol" d, " i]l .. y.n!lrl:n bon .. , h "r,,,y', ens w i'th h, r · : ':,nl~n, chi,[ 'rlen w,dt the. d~gelle'[ate barbarian, tribes \;vho wo[s~hip h.,e:r ~5 a godde$s j aU of 'WhOlTI. ~he sends ou,' to brin ~ her n.,e1i.V Ilay-hlngs. R,aksi 1'1a$;" 'g~r,en, l1_un,g'-'f ",f y. ).u- g nle~ j' e;.nd, \\,e-. "f'!' Ie ut~ ~,[, I,ng, ,', r'll -lht9', nJ 1 .," uU~·

h [ requl'Ire. a tCon.stal1.r 3'treanl Oil cap. ive"" to . I[i' 'li,r.

'BeC{!I, use mos t hILI man tribes avo id her re tlr 1 ' t a n costs, Raksi is pert erually ,,9.1:' ' rorn satisfied - \\ hich makes her qu i' eo hsagreeable,

Sh '( kes whatever form deHgl rs he r b. C' -~ ind no 1:\\.l'0 accounts agree upon. her appearance=s-onlv tha she' is very beautiful, until she is angered, and then, her face bee ornes as a demon ~ s. So me say th a t her pr ide is so grea . - a ()' h ' refu ,e', '-' take ' n imal fo m e ", : p. in extre 1 situarinns; ", he w .1I ~ :~ rat ,er beguile 3:m ~d en snare . ictims with her more-than-hums :11, be, ury. The lew tales of her going ,0 warspeak of her @S:8l monsrrousflcsh-eatin zshe ... ape with terrtble talons and teerh of burning bra '\ \.~,!'ra.[, pe I in moonsilver arm ,t thar shin ' with a tho '~ '" nd ore :' -II" jewels,

R iksi's evil reputation among hum 11l,~ is obviously 'well deserved 10' her I mars, though, view her with d read and trepidation _. but they do not loarhe 'her" She is shahs n-y .an elder whc has kept the W'~:!jy' for as long as anyone I, at remember. 1"': er people prosper under 'her rule. and L all others are ore it is ha ~d.ly 311YOne else's bus iness to i nstruc I' her orherw tse.

MA~:HA~,SIUC[ 1]1

It would be. d.ifficult t 1 find a more persisi en: enemy I)'~ the Re 1'01 and an irs r pk tln '.11 Ma .. l Ia-Suchi, : Ii hatred '~n civtlizs tlon has gone , 'yond [he usual Lunar contempt into ull .. rorce loathing. 1: is nor enough "to topple the '1NaHs of rhe Realm tear apart irs fi.e]ds and. force it ' people to rak U[ the true ~N'3y' of survival ,~ Ma .. I-Ia. .. Su: 1 i will not be 1: appy untilth ewez k bl c of the civilized hut Ian 1180 bee":'! spil o the [ast drop. 1 - e. reigns over Eft. faJle'n ciry In the East, where he breeds ann ie of goatmen and sends thern forth, Or further '[hi, genoci da 1 goal.

Mta,~l I.8l" ILJchD. was or ce lova] "'1.. ,7he Old Realm, .rue but hist rue loyalty has always been 0: Iered to Luna. When h's~olar wife was slain, ,~/· .. Ha .. ucht never real l y n 0 urned he, ; she wa a creat lire f ~ m rher world, unable to see the true glory of the Bloody Huntress and her ch u ~ren~ Thou~?'h ~l, Chan.pj:np' lvloon h'nmselfl' MaHa,.· "ucl,)j, ObSlenlf'S mam1.1i/ rh 1io,us ri' es and t,' '.oos. H,e requi'e 'his ~,~n1e fervor fr ,m ,his 1 g'. 11..' I, f~,eaS'[m,ert

, '" ,e'I,.'eing' :reau hu' gra.nd f,e~('V8JL:' Chilt ,p:r ,_I, ',,'f' ughou _ ,. he rt~ i n.ed ,treeits of hIs ," O]1llalll.

Despite :h.is h.atred .for c i v i h:..;ed p eop ~e' and. th"e Re(;' hn mey servel M (!lJi'" rl a~ · "uchi, is not ,it com' a'ion nr 1 ve. 1- e' .,' Ul mr ... ya an_ h ,earn',' ll,i~ £. rC nan,,} t:inl-e:$ ,)' t::r. 1.1, , ; 'f. ' 6 r I is .'} it '-, ,,'n eVI 'n L h,e w H L n ot p~a.nlPJ~r d1:el)l by [i~:fusine 0 slen '1 rh<eI ' to '\'iB:r~ l.~e:is apiMo°~ls son ofL.una and earn be ,a, . [ac:i()~u18 hoS'[ to ot~he][' LUll~.r5 'who [. rea - 'hh11 with [h,e proper d,e'fer'~ ence. 'But 'th ,'wh I' ',g:er d ',e ,g ",~ .. , :jng , " c:' 'iv" no 'mr, f" '. ,; d, ' " u"'u ',11, end. up ~lS ':a~ "ific t LU11' ,a.-ne of kits t,e -lpj,us: ~e. ~ b:ra, t F.ont:;.,

HE LUN~ARS

His aggressive war against ct vilization put Ma .. HaSuch i :i n the 'i n t eresting pas] tion of be tng one of the first Lunars 'to meet the returning Solars face,.-to-'face" This

f-' 'I d ''t. i" H- S 'I..' ld

contact was nOE peace' u ,~a,n, ~vl a.. , . a.... uchi s 0 l: ,m,eIL10~'

ries of the Solar Exal tied are be in 0' replaced, wi th a new and heartfelt dislike. If the Childten of the Unconq uered Sun conri n !lIe to oppos e h is crusade) he 'W i I I let his. moonsilver spear Corpse DriU drink deeplv of their heart's blood, and the old ~rays be damned.

LEVJATII'AN

In, the First Age~ Leviathan 'WH;S the zreatest admiral of [he Realm. No being, mortal or Exalted, could match his grasp of naval strategy. His flagshlP plied the waves :I ike a 10 v er' s hand ~ and smash ed the enemies of the Realm inro sphnters. The great Full Moon's will was imp ~ scab l e ~ and his mastery of the ocean .211 [ but absolu te, I-I e was one of the tun ars 'who file vel' took a, So 1 ar rna re; the-sea was more a lover to h irn than any man or. woman could 'be.

When the DFagon,.Bloocieci murdered 'the Solars, Leviathan sank his fleet and SW',BXO West. ]_' is strength and win wert: such that he was able to resist the \Vy~(p$ en ergies far be' te r than an y of h is k~ nd; he was d1C 811 C hor around which the Lunars of the 'We. It rallied, a:t.1ld he protected them wh tle rhe No Moons learned [0 fix their

forms. Once hts brethren were able to fend for themse lves on ce more ~ he drove them :f[cnn hi s terri tory, H is d urv fld.fi. [led l the one e-mas rer of the 'western. seas sank into a cold solitude,

Lev iathan swl lRS the deepes t port ions of the W estern Ocean, feeding on rnonolirhic sea monsters that would dwarf any sail ing ship. His form is said to he that ofa great orca, many times the size, of any other 'whale in, the oceans - his h U 111an form is all bu t unknown, as he 11IlS .1.10'[ walked on dry land cr on a ship since the turning of 'the Age:. In 'his age and $~C lusion ~ he ha s b eco me al ie n and terrible, caring nothing for the doings of mortals or his fel low Lu 113 rs.

The 'heart ~)f Leviarhan 's domain is. as menu irnble as the ancient moon-whale him elf - i[ ls nothing less than the once-splendid First Age ciry of Luthe, which once :floated :3 top the sea and no w rests on the 0 cean floor,., Lev i ath an d ri fts ,~,rno ng its dia mend- glass sp ires when he requires rest and calm: even when he monster of r he d ~eps .l s not presen [.1' his aq u a r 1. c ell i:~ dren keep his

- hosen home safe.

Leviathan, unlike l.TIar1'Y of his brethren, carries no moonsilver artifacts, He has yet to meet anything rhar $W'ilTIS the sea that can challenge him, andhe never fights on dr.y land, H, is legend ar-'-y moons il V~ r t riden t I slebreaker is rumored '[0 lie across an unused throne in. a forgotten

I ,~ J~ ...... _

84

rh roue room ~ n Lu the '., va inl y awa iti llg th e da V that leviathan is stirred to once more rake human fO.rll1 and enter battle ~ or to pass on his legacy.

T:AMUZ

In, the :F i, rs t Age ~ T a muz was 'the royal consort '[0 a beauti.fl]l~ but idle, Solar queen, of the South. W'h.:~J,e. his ':VI~:6e ruled (rcnn the comfort of her pa lace ~ 'Tarn HZ pa,., trolled her domain taking a very personal hand in maintai n h:lg rh e peace of t'h e re81111. E~' was per haps the n, that he developed his compassionate ' rreak, a character coli I that would not be burned out of him even by his cen rories of ex i, 1 e .

Like hts fellow Lunars, TamUI has turned his back din civ ih'\f1l'ti on an d all 'i't 'has to. off€_. n bu t unl ike his peets, he holds a [lTIOS t no. hate or contem p r fo r 'i~11 ose 'who 'I i, v e b~ its precepts, In truth, he feels a.' eep compassion and Dity for the ch izens of the Reahn, slave and freeman alike, '[he y can hard i y be fa ulred fa r the ir misfortune co be born into such a socierv. If the Realm could corrupt eve [1, the Exalted into weakness and COIUp 1 scene Vi' wh at dl,~nce. does a human have? 'Regrettably, rhe only ,~ray [0 save these peop le front t h e sri a '[res of rhe i r cu lrure is Ito tea r that cultu re apart - bu c T 2Ul\ uz wants to do so in a ~Vd1.y tha:t causes as little 5ufferina: as. possible.

T amu z has carefu 1:[ 11 bu i.h his tribe ove r the ye ars '.' mk!I]g in the hardiest barbarians and the most promising clvtlised folk a] ike. He does not persecute the dtsea ed rr ibes of rhe SOtU h ~ but ne irhe r J oes he allow t11. ern to

III I ..... - ". 1IIta~"1i- .~. .. [I. '20111 I I I!!! I ." I ..... iii

-- -'. -g I -n· - ' ... iip'_ ItiiJ II U • I I Ii ... • • _I"'. ,. u-i • D

j Din his peep le, he inte nils [to keep h is. tr [be heal th y and strone. Three centuries' ago, he assimilated a clan of Dune Peop l,e in to his tribe j teaching them proper behavior in accordance ~j it h the 'Way;' roda y, his tribe of barbanans is notable f H" their whne hair .. He ~ ravels with

he fmest of his warriors, each one chosen nO'E only for the stre ngth of his spea r arm ~ btu also. for his abil['['y to. understand that non .. barbarian. doesnot mean "nonperson ." T ogerher, 'cne'y 'raid the s trongpo ints of[h~ southern Threshold, sparing the innocent b •. f[ bloodily punishing the guilty" As the 'Wyld 1~IUll;[ fa] rers and die Rea lm begins '0 crumble, Tamuz' raids grow more daring.

Tarnuz 'prefers his human foral, when dealing with outsiders; h was his attachment to his human side that kept him saneso long ago ~II and he feels the '0] os t comfo rta b 1 e in human sk in, 'When pressed to bat tle l' he takes on. a m a n .. beas [ fa rm re m i n iscen t of H S ~ Iv,er .. furred ga ze n e hound ~ sleekly muscled and inhumanly swift: he 'has perfected a lethal 6gh ring .~r y le in this fOn1TI. that COl1:l:" b ines pai red. moonsilver kha tar and 'h 't 3 razored lee th,

Tamuz is well aware that the Solars are returning and knows that somewhere out there ]S a young'ola'U" with the soul of Ius former wife, He [8 in no hurry to ~ eel, (1tJ,[ a reun ion; he fear' [' hat, even in this incarnacion, she will W,-'Dt to return '[a her previous POlS!' ion as a queen in the South, 11 e does not want to have to fi ght his fOtln,er '~!kBe1 but if she stands :in the "vay of saving the people by sha rering rhe R,e8l1ITIji Tamuz 'knows he will have 'no choice.

Auj( , Sl l V" r -l~Pt¥S (Jb~,erv, d I ICC " t '" .& (lie) "tile w~V ,o'i t11:~· dead tQ .~ a[:it~ [ivin, '. fA:nbna1~. cl'O~ '1 V,l "lU~~, W3:.~~£ on b::;lI>Ve8, ' 'n lo s . md up a 'tree, and llJJ;'~'J AnJla could listen (1 he gh· "$ I. COl:, ··p~ureF:isctn ,[ .. d ,. he h rk,.·ne.' [. their conversa ~ .. in [",nd

j, ~an'k ~~n [.h€ det:a-~ls c f wholesale ex: ermtnat lou and poH;dca:l. machinatlons. It was a~ 'D: ~W5 ar .. ] a. ·11.al1ov.' consoir I "I', AnI " ~ it verclaw ml.r~-adi1 kne w ah _ ut It. S\71~ry," 0Hy ~l6~ad) knce\<v ~buut it.

But n~I·W· A~j~, 51 llverclaws ~~.S\~" derail ,

~h, _ '., d .~'t ith he r k owle . ge aero _" ~ land ca' _ e ~vb~. l. .ath wa moth 'ring

. ila ' ke . The' € ~ et e uo.mlce 'O~ Anj a.c iL~er<:laws to catch · and. no,lli:;i['J~ <it~r ~ave the Mask ~f Wintetls {lea,th .. raiton spi~, A:njc'( dicl1"MJ: t1€~ t0u,tw'ard, Ndur~,ve"

irrwar .1"';Ie'fra:'k' a.m·l! I he desc "'H; 'f} "I ne, n in eres ,~llg dtve si

cou L r \;Va,r her _'~ U11 1 t mis ion.

Sh., did n I o o 1- , , the crawlin .corpse .. :. ',he tried nat to h'~ rk or it [1Q.tti.ng out

ther ,. Tt1J. re were ora: secre ts in dl~ itadel pi JUh,ge£[, aut, 11 aU 0'- ''"hem' .~ ~rg f. ;[a1. She W(H~dd. ncr ~l ,t forDt', here, for it "~,.i ], e ,i;l>od, '~l : 11. M.~ .. ··k ofWi't1'[er " The . ,l.'rp e .. cit d.el wa ' hi'S, ~n. ,'b..: 'w()Ltld n. n dar s tl ·tt· ", nc ieru gi ost' ·gF'~at wrath [0 ent~r his cT;:r~vlin~' nsc. Th. . irr was a' di Jer.~l)t matter however.

TI:H~ .walls o Thorns were no bar to a raiton, In thte stn~eti.s~ sh.e' was [u sr OI1.e whi e rs am flg the rnany bl i k "1'[ 1·,. w r . e ill ':' ,ll ~ d J .ggern 1, an n 'W c H1., ri" 1~.Jt.ed n 1. ' ci y"I.. . ,·1 V \\ i lJli",e. , .' nj a wa.s ca eftd '[I· ere an. _ "~i4: ",le'r T~:U arid 1 erseiffrollLl $:~gl:t· Tfit Mask (1: Wiriter;g,~l~-;g SU"[B tq l1avl! ~J~:: amoQ, the rars ~8 ',~en _: al'H~ng the :rai~ons,.·Wl-h' ilent C I 's ,fee': .Al1>jal.mk [11,[ ugh he Jl;i,' ~ ''Ms."

'St:LlaH e a mo r se, she h', :.' r m'i,ght. . .

A nja [isten ·d~, ~nd .' I. j a learried. A ja "']\ :'lped into th.~ £.itad~l.lik a···host and h~ae ~d ," hn~~' for days ,;, ARJa '\lVtd~~c;' th~ srr ers un :reelt~ e' en by ,rh.! .. eye of the , ,ead.1 HI' I. ~h~ Hs ened Q the conversatiens hje.1 J by gho~' "" Nh,rfan I be H ~ h~~ were 'not :";IT. 's :.1. She b - ar in·' "rea '. r detail " r'~ e cunn i, 19 a nn ~ l . ilattens the l\lla '1"1 Win';" r nlann d'j and she was unsurt rls -d .. ,tl] 2 S,ih~rc(!\v 'ah,~a.d¥· knew abour 1". EN'·~ty10Gdy J1.lrell.dy kne~:v abQll' 11.,

But now A '-j' .. ' it erclaws kn ~:,"' d~'I:'ad.;

Anj~ :·:·ilver· . ·I'I(.V', . i,,,1 not fl e Thorns U1' '. r [he hot our Il~it of the-Mask 0"

\tlh"'l'tler., She did not slin'k out from. it r recincts look ~ fi'[;i' over her shoulder at e'vetV

- ~ ~

;QOr. nver'Y crea r. Neither did $h,e le~l" it a ;t>ca' le'aves a.c a~e it i tir:.·d)f =

,~ith rr, I ~11i I 11 ~. h 19h, walkmg i rr p[~i in : i.ght.

A·: j 1:;1 >.j[ 'Ii" rc I. aw ~ 'I. f1 c a .' 'F In y a 'j u"'Lad, ure th a" th e wa ·U 11'0 bser ved, T! ere 'N' .', Ii' de ani : al ["re: le'~t in Thorns, 'nd anv eomin ,0" -uin~ m"ghr attract spies Or execntroners. ']:hric@,,,,rridd.en by he:. shape, her Cl\an rs 9Jj·1 her own skills of (i,:' ncea lrnerit, A;L'lja " lv rc la W hppe~.J 0 It Jf Tht rru t i ke n of U1 ,a.b c't· " 'hat ]. d om o r 11J!: he cl -'I.

"I11tHl,~11, l can e ~id that gu~~~tj,ty can rC:.o~ri . rbalanee ·Glua.tt:~y '[ael'e. aee cerram fosms of quali . h' ,[ carrnot '1 e surpas e by an: urn of 'rlm: ]] nurnben . Su .. -h Is th.e'q ~lUty 'fcftn::ain "'Xi11-edl, 'Th '-e vv. :._. I l,undt . ye·· w~ 'Ci1hl,g r; r A:nla. . nv~n:l~ .~ '~'but :U \.\~l " ~lii1ded b,); 'heT "guUe~ PI~'~'ha:i'~ ~. t '~rOuld. harvJ~ been dif ernt l'IM.ltle @f' hI ,'~ bys~l. EXalted. or t ?Ie Dead:tlord hitnselJbeen wa~C!l1.ing far h,el' es,c~pe'. J?:'etha ' ... ".,', f r ske \<'\H~· eJ(Qee,cHngly:'tealthy .. ',. et her- [.apa-::l'i]jrie's ~v 're lrU)'[ teo ted - Arl]a~' cunnh .~' h~I', ~.~. b:lded h I f om d, 1~~Qt[on. @'l'~'i!l '~h€;

'·:es f d ere 1111 rspi, nd entri@ \;Ij.-~at~~b-d "or l~el- me'" ,'V - has ~, nell. a[t-on~

'wlth·gho~w insj ~ rh.eIi1., 1:Q the' cal'~f~l o,e;'ceit of }\:nja Silvercl~w's.~ tn·me '~Iel~e

Hke no ' ' y,e\· , U.

Tl .·ugh m n·. wthe,] {} g . here, 1',;11, Anjci Silv ·rc1IW. har " fa-' - 'le·~ (,he'ne\;v -s.badowiru::g.d. 1l.without hUfrv., Though man¥ ulftl,al:s SD~tg,ht to k{l""~V abou.'t t~em" lon'11 AnJa . '11 '~rcJ ''\1$ h Q;C!1 Ct; ,ptluf'ed the . ~ f't . Us of dl. e '" t ask .of W intet· plan, \,~ .. : he i~uJ;l"e - ner- ~ lIen fel L'e la,Jgh, "bin~ing ··f ch· "[' 11']1 at '0n he'u.r, L1l hui [, .. .1 tr . ~" 't ;'\~,

~

e 'C~I .. a.'I. and th.en:j, A~ j~ $h, , 'ed i3tW~y ~11t;O fhe ertdle·· gioQ'[n of 'I] e ~l ~dQwbn~d

nroU'~ d Tho n··

Along the edges of civ ilizati on, tie the brutal and savage barbari an k'~ng:d.cHns,. A] though each of these countless tribes and nations are unique, [he individuals w ho popu 1 ~~ e these lands are hardy surv i v 0 rs '! 'Ex list i ng far from the corm.fQ:~ts of wealth and. privilege, I hese individuals live or dte hy their own stre grh and merit. I t is among the peop le of these ,h.a~[s]l a nil bruta [, lands that the godde, s Luna selects her champions. And nO'JiIV,

frhose cl W' r, 1! 't

you are one 0' '[ lose c namplous. ,. Ithin '}'f'our heart , ies

the seed of greatness ~'--he will and courage '[.0 survive a:gail)St all odds. You are. a .Clli Ld, 0: the ,wloon" ,A de'm.lgod a mong men,

This chapter provides the rules needed '[0 create Lunar' characters. The' process for creating one of the' lunar Exalted follows th:e same gu,id,eHn~.s presenrcd for .sO:]81.I:'S in Exalted. - Iowever, there are areas in which the Children of '[he 1\.' con dfffe'r fronl their lost Solar breth .. reno The {o'~1()iM7~,n,g material details these d]:ffe'r~e'nces ~3LL'ld L~ meant 'to suppleme nt the rules in E,x;dt,ed.

Th WS [8 the s:ingl e most important step in creating your character. W'H:hollt itr~ '¥OlU traits are nnrhin.g but random do [5 on .a sheet 0f ptap er. The s tlt'ong~r you r ,~ancep't is, d)e stranger 'fQtU firra.l,- haracrer 'VI,fB 1'1 be, artcl

THE STO:RYTEll.ER

During character creation, ilt is important for

I the S torvte Her to' work with her pta vers, 211nd vice versa, Ul tima te l y.~ gaming is ;3] team effort, and the closer everyone works together, the more fun ev .. ervone will h31 ve+ This Is espec iaUy vital for the Lunars, 'VI.1 ho are 3' by the ir nature ~ extreme Iy indi '" vidualisuc. Storytellers should discuss with their pla yers the type of series th·ey want to p lay ~ and players should work to. create character concepts tha t fit that type of series, Pla v,ers should also work at making their characters fully developed personal iti es, wi th h tstories and goals. 'The more raw material :a Storyteller has to' work wtth, the more story hooks she can provide for that characte r +

the e asier it wi ll be IJO H€'sh h i :nn ou r, For the L ~lna.f EM alted, there area number offactol's that 1l1US:t be [aIrel' into account when deciding' upon a character concept.

I110'MEUND

Qu ite simp] y, whe re ,~v as yau r character born? Tll€ maj o:dty of Lunars hat i from the, 'W Hd and unei v i, t~!ftI reaches of die Tnreshold ·iha ~v,en aU)ng the ])ii~rd~fi ~{

TS.- __ =fZs=n -z 'tC"'"1"=

d1:e W)11d. Others rr born among th >, [11.' danger us dums. oi urban wastelan 15. Reclusive clans 0' h ill :'"Olk~ JUl' le-dv elling head" unrer. and seafaring raide '. only ·ern.eh thesurfac . of '[he' barbarian [culture:' L'I1~J:': can home, '~',e,e jJ Chal ter One: Se"- tit s" . or m .. re . ters ils {A~ cultures and 'tribes.

6. ,:.5T-

Ltkeall .. elestial Exalted, i he Children 0' the Moon are cih ided into castes. .. \"\'here their Solar 'brethren :;u:'€' div ~de.d into asp ects of lc adershi p , Lun ar cast es (;J!e l. ased upon aspects of the survival instinc . \Yhen a new urn r IS inducted into the "ocierv of '[he 'NIoon., he IS ritually

. . .

scarred, harnessi 1Li o' h is prate an. nature and ass [, _ 11 ing hi rill.

te his chosen caste.z- LIJJ.n.cd~~S caste is determined l; y how Mesur.;ri, edhisdteof' assage. Those \ . hosurvive through physka[ acumen become Fun I\J100~. '. ho-e who survi ve by' their wi ts and inte U t pence 'bee orne N 0. ~vl ocns ~ and most ~ ho survi ve r hrough stealth an i ell nn i ng bee 01 1· Chang Ins Moons.

When select [['Ie: )10Ur ch aracter' s caste. -[ t is a goo d tdea [0 develop a. rough norton of what his ri re of passage was lLk.,e· nd how he ." as c ble ., .. survix e. U nderseanding how 'Your charac ter 0\' 'ere a me one of the la. ndrn ark eh a'i ~ l'~[~ges 0 his 1 iife wi 1.1. he lp Jive you a g UJd gene n'3J guideline to how he might 00 about conquering f uu e obstacle as well as which Attributes, Abillries and pther Traits he mishr fav )1,

TH:-I~. CASTELESS

There are eel' a ill. Lunar Exalted who.for one reason or another i an no t adopted into. the ". ocie "If rh ~vio'{ n. WTili 11. lders to supervise his rite 0' p, <ag . and 'En mark him with the ritual !C.al$·311d ratroos, such a lunar has no set caste. A,s. fl result (; I. Ca~r ' _ less c hjtI' . c, er does not possess anv Cas ,':'.'-' rfut 'so Thi means that a : 'as'l eless Lunar must p~'-'Y 'fu ll cost for a~], Ghfl!rnrtS and At ~ u:ihute increases, In addltiofl1 his tack of rutelage meruli:. hes ar :' with fewer Atrributes and C arms.

T'O'TEM A~.nM:At

Whet~,evei' a.1~hHd, of the Moon. is . xa.h.e:d , .sh ··oon disco, ers her totem be:""lst.'·ome Lunar~ cli,· cov f :t. dUJri >(1 Exa][ ation, omers during th,ei.r it") l'cia" ion iL co tn.nar ~oc~e'tv . Thtis an i:maJ is a. "S'p:i.dtual f~p ~eS'en t~ . .t io.n (): 'thf L.l1nar~s in.n.,e'~ natu.rf· Inti persQnali. ,and .hou].d tie inter be ch~rr-ac[je s con e' '. \ arb. 'rian' rh,,' e 61TI .. '

"'

or his comunandin.g p.res1e' "C~, great ~p[ ed ~;l1d ·~.o,,:ve[~fui, ~tRlnin~ 'miglH~ li~rve a buJl ¢lk a ~ ·h.i" h ce'm, wbile ,~ cuoliiut! '. Jef vw ho, urvh e ~ [nne hy hi- "u'ln~:ng ano mthlea-=oess may hav[' . "',. a~e] ,;:l' hi '.

Keep in mind . har a chs racter's totem animal is ~l very p er on: li th ing and ' wo charac te rs \v ho share rh e '€une totem may e'" ch represent different aspects 0. rnar animal. /\ might y hunter who i eels a stron bond wirh l " er people - be it '1. er mortal tribe her be as tmen offspring or the Soc i e I. y of the. : 100.1"\ - rna y ha ve a wolf as her totem animal, representing the she-wolf . hat! unts ~,1 packs to provide for her entire ext nded :feH Hy .bno'[h·~r Lunar who lives c s a solitary killer in the forest! ruthlessly protec ting his territory' from aU intruders may also have the wolf as his [0' ern, represcnting the lone wolf as ". symbol of ear that . [3111:5 the dark forests at night ..

Every Lure Ir lu a: Ingle un .hanging phys lea 1·' .ha r ~ _ cterisric kr ow a a Tell, and it 'E' visible 11.0 matter which f6nT~. the character shapeshif ~ [nl~ ... The Tell "aries wildly ro -1 . haracrei to cha racter, rh . LEgl it~,' very of tell moon ,] lver or pale white. A Li nat)' T ell ·i-· : requently , ted '[0 .hat of hi: . totem fornl,. Black-smped, pale .. white ha ir 1l.1ay ms rk a Lunar wh{ rav rs the' fornl 0" the tioer1, while one who . hol '~, the wi ld boar ,. Is :to(.:_·'L11 rnay be I11Hrke i by mor nsilver rusk .,,, Other 'm.a:y have albino

kin, moonsilver hoovt s in place. 0' :fe,e·. ~ body hai.r re [ace ~ wtth silvery scaies ur white ·eathers. silver cat s , yo'~ or a " . ,·lP.· .ail.

How noticeable a character s Ten is depends upon how many imes h has taken the D c dlv Beastmal1. T r ns forma ion: harm .. A cl ar ,. te '\vho'oes not have , hi.' Charm will 'have a T ell that is small and almost unnoticeable, One who has taken. (he Deadly Beastn1~Ul Tran forman ~l) Charm a half dozen. times will 1 ave a la g Ten . hat is alrn est impossible '[0 miss. l unars whose tell i ' a characteristic of their totem animal can. sti 1'1 have t .ieir TeU spotted normall y when in their , l t. m anima 1 51 Ii: pe .. , Fo completi rules on the Tell, see

LclC' . ~ . F' Cl ,.~

,_..na.p['e:r - 1 ve: .. 1.1 BL.r;LQ1S .•

NATUR.E

Nature ~. me ions id nrl '~.Bv f~'r Lunar Exalt . _ a' it doe for Sol ,.[':'0. 'Whill ·S( 'me N· rures are c 111'Lno:n arne ng cef'ta'i.:n. cas[e·! . 'b~'Y' are by l1iO rne,c~.,,"" tlu: )nl y .0 ne ":

'y 1 'I . . . • "U

Ire ',enL, our Crl ·_·r.a.cter [1.13 V , . V· '-a y ' .. ~. -. fi:.' y'u 'W·~;~11.

ST I~,P T'w'o: C:'HOOS1]NIG

A TTl 'R-"]' 'B"UT' D[S"

, . ···.·1 : .. ,., ~,.

A'S w'ith aU (:.h~n~a.C'rer", tunars be~in \Mith el9,ch ,A.rtribu.te at one ( 1) d.cn. Being E.xal'[., d~ - un~'us ~'n: m ch mpr' po~' erful than lul.lndO'· ~e mortals.

A ·Lu.nar cb.a:mctet h: S 11 [ne (£)) dot, t bv i . lie' [i: l1.1. ng hi's pdmary AJ:tli.ibu'[j2~,~ . ev:e:n (7) dQ . rJ~ ¢hvi.···e ' Jll011g his secondttry Arttfbut.l:[ al~ . fi. e (5)'kH~~' J]:.

!

!F" •

/'

/~

r

~' (

J

I

among his terr ia rv A,- rri b utes. Cha racters ::B Fe nor ] i [11 i re J in how man y do rs they :~nay assign to leach Attribute, except that Attributes mav not be raised above five.

Charac ters who a re Cas te 1 e 5S 5 tart with 8 dots in their primary Arrribures, 6 dots in the. i, r secondary A teri bu res and 4' (lots in their terriarv Attributes.

CLAS'T"E A rTRJB'U'TE.S

Unlike Solars, Lunar Exalted do not posses Ca te Ab n lries. 11:1 read, rhey ha ve Cas re Attributes.

'. 'F'ull Moon Attributes are those that a !.la-v,,., the ch atac't€; r to surv ive vi a h is own physical prowess: Strength, Dexteriry and Stamina"

.' Changing Moon Attribntes are those that allow the characte r to su rv i vie via his own s oc i a I cunning. C had srn a, Manipu lation and Appearance.

ii,.o MO~)ll, A ttributes are '[hose rhar allow the c hara Cut r to survive via his own men ra [ ad ept ness: Percept ion " ]: nJe]:~ igence and 'Wi'[s.

.. Casteless Lunars have no C',8L5te Attributes,

f\ Lunar charac rer possesses a natu r8J ~ affit1i[V ~ot those Attributes of his caste, This. , "l'ffin try is represented 'by '[he easier time a,

'Il.. ~'..'~ C' , A ' ·11,.

cnaracter nas U], raismg ner i aste -;,' meures

through both bonus and experience polnrs, See (he 'tables or) page 93 for bonus pcinr costs and on page 251 for experience po in t CQSlS.

Howev er j this doe 5 not mean tha r a, character's Caste Attributes 111USt be his pr i mary Au rib tl res. The 'po ten I' la li for great .. ness 'i 111 an A t tIL ibu te d{ es no r necessar i'~ Y mean a charac t er h-as devoted 2Il'Y ti, me toward attaininz that destined greatness,

Abilities begin with a rating of zero (0),. ,A,s 'noted a bove ~ Lu nars have no Caste ,AD[ H~, d es ~ and A hi ltties are not divided a [O'r~g caste hoes. However, Lunar Exalted do possess Favored Abiltttes. A character selects four (-4) Abilitres wid, which he has a nattl'l:al affiniry. In. addition, all Lunar Exalted h~rve Survival-?s, @i, lFavnred Ability,. These sk~,lI5,

'i k 1 fS 1 d' '0 B~ d d-

• ,., ." .• "I.~ ~:."." .,., .. ' I '.." _." . I. , .".

Il e ( lose 01 . 0, aI'S a,n , , ~ ,m,gnn, ~,I! 100.e ~ re

easier for the 'lunar to lear., and C2trY be mastered wirhout '[raining (Iee¢ p., ~71 of &.:alted, or '[he chart Gn p, 251 of rbj,~ boo")'

'= .... -.2 EZ'u .CZ5."''JW'?_'~Tii'i7'Wci'TYIfF·FtP=Mm r,....,c. - q;e""'':'''!E[ 1.I={n'·"p·"i'!-'='zzrm=%!1'j ..... aLifiPVj'fffi'-~Mt ..... ·i-'=mr· Zit "anC _,r;_zm=rr"v·'c::::r' Em L!'!!

_ ~ ~ ... -""-. '.';.:1. II . .Do" ". .". hi ~ r"" ," ~ ." p " • Iii •

P ~ ~ ,f" If'" Q.I'id C" 1('I':!i;. iL B: li -N' rn iii. n 1 (.0" M··: fl~l~r . -1"""1) ~ "lJF - ~.J""'\ 1·:· DA t,\ ~ ~l: ._

Lunar Exalted are no .srranger Ito the ]?'[l~gQFl~t Na.tu:r,ew However, their unique cul ture Co.UOt'S dllelr ide~, of'wh.at a, Paragon Is.and what ideals he champions, The Lunar Paragon ls a '[rue noble s tvab,Y€," He li ves "his n ife by 'the S i lver W:a V MId

•

strives to nphokll the ~,r~ys of SUCGCM\ Nierdfti

C1l1:nl1iug and Glory, He ls fearless in battle, ~tlerUU5 to his 'rr lends, respecttul 'to I~h ose 'b,e; .. , nearh him ~ tdl~ 1 'to ,- hose 'who 'b a VI~ ~ srned his [rust. and merciless in the pursult of vengeance, And 1e~j a. barbarian P'aJ~~llgnty ,~,in raid !c[ ilieed settlements. Af1Ce~~ ani ift'he gods did nat warn the f~t '~le'a,klh1g,; to be sheared t. then di~y 'wa~dd not h~v.e l1l:ad~ henl sheep.

For fu [1 deta i ls onthe, Bi lver Way mid the renJC'C-8 of Lunar society, .see 'ilfiiGhap teu Two: [he- Lunars, j~,

Play~ rs hn V~ ren (10) po ~ n rs [0 spend on t he character's Favored Abilities and an additional fifteen (is) points 'to spend on any Ability the players wish.

You rn,a.-y nor assign 11l'0r~: 'ell, an th ree do ts 10' anv ,AbHiry, but you can increase Abilities to four or. five dQt~ w:~tll b Gnus points. Bonus points mav also be used '[0 purchase AbiHtv specialties in the' same rnannerdeta ned in Exalted,

An me In b ers of th e S i 1 vet Pact rnus t ha v e an,eW:S 0 lute ~mnimu'm ofSurv['val·., and ar least one combat Ability (ArcherY'1 Brawl, Martial Arts, Melee or Thrown) at I.; to repre en' the most basic of skills needed l( survive w,~th.ill thebarsh and "brutal culture the Lunars call ~'lQllLl€. A charac [e r 'W ho does '11.0'[ poss ess these skills wi 1], be regarded as, at best, incompetent or at worst, an, unnecessarv burden to the- cornmunity rhs t should be done aw,av wirh Sf) that 'his 'Lunar essence can be reborn into a more worthy indi v id ua l. Cas rele 88 Lun ars do not lUl!v~ '[0 meet these AhiB.ty minlmums,

S 'EP FlOUR,:: A,DVA,N'TAG'ES,

Like Solars, lunar Exa lte d h :;pv'e' seven (7')r po in'[s to ~pe'lld or~, "Backgrounds,. B'a,ckgrou nels, Ula y 'not be ra.i.:?ed ~b\1ve c lue'e: (3) w i--l au t th~' uS~ of b~J~l,llI.s po ints,. In add ition to th:~ ,Ba.c:kgrounds i,.[e.~ertted in Ex'a l ted, Lunar E.'~m Iloo aJso h.B,ve acoess toO se'v'eral ne\tf BaJ~'kgroU'nd~. See Ch~p'r.er Four :fot' detaH,s Gin '[heS1~ ne,\>v Trmi - s.

lunar E:x;b"E!d~ Hke th~iJ1' Solimr br~t~h""~n) have ~ccess to [h.e l11 ¥'stic. tJO'h",e[S al1rd ahn i - 'ies know rt as 'Chanils., Unl i,'L~~- th~ at-he t Ex~_litedj whose Chal~m$; ;t.t('e-< blWsed on [heir A, b:n,:~,d~, Lu nar CJharm$, Sl~e 'based on A tuibu,t.es.

Lunar characters :may select eight (8) Charms and auto .. maricall y knov the Charm Findtng the Spirit's Shape. At least four (4) 0,( your character's Charms must be: se 1 ected frO-In 11 is Caste Atrr ibut e s, Cas reless charac rers on 1 y get six '(6) Charms ~ not eight (8) + Findi ng the Sp'[ri1- I. Shape) and are not automatically required to '~,e3,frl Find-i,ng the Spirit's Shape, 'nor is there any restrict ion, o-n, wh ich Attributes, the Charms relate to.

As with all people who 1 ive in the wor ld of Exal ted ~ Lunars 'are driven by desire and emotion, Your character has five (5) dot to divide al'D10ng the four Virtues ~ Compassion Conv1cti.on;. T ernperance and Valor.

I'll add ition, the 'Chi ldren of the Moon = like an Exalted - suffer -, he effects of the Great Curse. N Ole the character's highest Virtue. This Virtue is rhe one that (,nfJ uen ces h ~,5 Curs:'. lf the ell aracre r has n1U 1 t ip le Vi r'nJ(;S of the same value, the' player can pick which one the Cllrs{€'- is influenced by n If the' character's highest Virtue changes, then the new highest Virtue becomes the influence an the Great Curse. R,ule.s for the Lunar CU[::h; can be found on pages 109, .. 110.

,STEP F1V'_--',:' FJNlS:rI]ING:

TOUCHIES

Ca leu] a te a L - ma r eh aracter' s 'W i llpower by add [ng together h is . wo highes r V'i r u es, Lunar Exalted ~ .I. ike all Exa lted, beg in w ith an Essence of, \~IO (2). 'Each 0:1 rhes e Traits mav be raised 'using bonus points (ai- hough Win .. , power :may not exceed a raring of 8 unless [he character has ratings of 4 or h, igher in h is t \VO h lg hest Vi l' rues ) '.

As with all Exalted, rhe Children of the Moon channel their Essence into both, Personal and Peripheral Essence. Effects created using Personal Essence are su brle, 'wl\i.le effects generated using Peripherr i Essence 2'1,',e a we ~ i 11S[1 i, r i,:ng d emons rrat ions 'of the charac re r's Ce 1 es _' tial rnight, causing hel' anima banner to flare,

Personal 'Essence Pool is calculated b)f ~dding your character's Essence to twice the character': 'Wi llpower (Essence + [Willpnw,er x 2]).

Pe r iphe fa [, ESS,ell..ce Po 0 l is ca lculated by mu [tip ty ing your character's Essence Trait 'hy four, multiplying your character's W'I[]JpOW'®;f 'hy two, 'multiplying your character' s h igl,. est 'Virtue by four an d then add ing these th ree to tals 'Loge:tb.e ~~ ([Ess;en,ee x 4] +- [\l! iUpow1eJ j{ 2] + [your -chantcte[:~s highest Vtl''[U!~ x ,4])"

Lunar char®..c ~ers p o-sse'ss tv/enty (:2 0) PO[ nts (pI us tlwse,gain,ed fro[u lhf Renown Backgroun(l) ~o spend on rh.eir pe rsonal 'R~n~Q\!lJIn ;, 'TI):eSE' p,oini~s are divide,d, ~nl0ng rhe four ~a'tr+;'gor ie' '. 0"£ l\,eFl,oVirl1.,~ each based o,n one ,,-( the, :four Virru,,~s. T-be~e c~te,Q:or~e'8 are Succor ('Compa'S$ion)'~ ,lv1:etde {Con vic;t iOr:l:) j Cunntn,g (T ern,pera:nce) and G' [o~;y (VaJ,or). Pt~mse l'],Oce ha't Gaoll}ele~~ char.~i6t-ers do not PO~;$~~.s ~u~y F.el ,own.,

1

unar character possess t i.e normal mortal seven . 7) heah h levels - :0 i > '1 health [evel, two -I health levels, [WO ... 2 hea lrh leve [ ~, a .. ·4· he alth leve [. and an I nc a pacirat d health level ~ plus any ad lirional health levels g'~~ined from the LUDar Ox·B. dy Technique Charm ..

Lunar character have f]fteen (15) 'bonus poin ts ha It' y be sp n'~ a: an) t~· ne . uring ell' racrer ereatir n, See [hie char on, page 93 'for the 1', )]]1 C . c of raising ea ch trar .

N O\~ comes the final '[ouches .. Answ er the same .·PJ. snons for your L~.Jn3r character that you would for any o rher Ex alr: 'What does h,e look I ike ? What are his ha bits and quirks] 'Who is he close '[0" Who are hls enemies and rivals? 'Wh~ was h.~ ~ ch ildhoo , like? 'When did he ftrsi Exalt. 'Whel' motivates him . 0 do . he things he . loesi

In aJ 'D' in, ,- here are other =I.U scion '-I 0 answer:

.1 Lunas Ho~\ dld the Silver Lady appear to YOli .~ udng)1' ur ~~.xa~, 3,,-,,'0- ! \Ya') she in materlal form or lid

he I orne to you [-:1 a lre _'-;C: -( r as a vi ~ 1 n.? DiJ he 2' '.pec·r human or as one of her sacred. animal ~? Did V-.ou recognize her for who .c he was]

'.1 T o!l:eUll: nimals 'W hat i . your 1 ore m animal?

Wh y? }-10'\1V did 'you discover l ,?

.' The : ·U~ er . acts How did the Silver Fact tnd . '·0 ILl. '. W.h a r '~1 as your c h a racter' sri e of passage before be i D\'-2 accep ted into rh e Pac ? How "lid he survive it? How did .' his im ac: your Renown? How do other mem"b err'S of d).e·'· i lver Pac re :ard fOu? Have 'You done anvthin . to. ain he lr no ice, for sood or iU? Ar .. ~" vou

1 '

een 3,,, iomeone .. f feat p 'ell' tal If (1", a pre ilern in the

mak i ng? H ow do 'lOU 1 n rerpre tithe Soc ierv' 5 code a 1'1d

} H'" 1 ..,... r lk ] ~ d

rene ., lc'," ',H""":"~' fee tOVf~U·· among your peopte ·,go .

and knox dl, ·,t 'f ou . .re me ,of' hem:

• Your Pack ~ I low did YOlLl meet the other I. unars y .. ' travel Vi'" j·[h. Did y, u ch t se "c ach the ... C xnpany JI or d ~.1 )f(' .r elders ccide rt I , .. tick you t'g d ier? 1 ave you]' . ack rna tes Ca:: rued you r r ru: ~ L and espect? I-la" e 'you eat ned theirs?

• lei ,iH,ation.:: How' do vou I eel about those who live in C]' ies and other ("V" Uz,ed resions? Do you SC )(1'1 them as beine beneai h your no ice? Are they t t, weak sheep for you .-0 take from at '}four whim .. Do you pity 'th,em for n()t h(:!l'inO' as stron'~ a.s your are.

.. M-.lnori.'e's of' the Pa.st~ Do you relllelnber atl:y~ th [ng of the First Ag'e ill d.rea ms and Vi8·io~? A to[tner lav.er~ lost to betray 11 (bv he :rra,-'On .. Bloode.i or pe'{~ haps "y)'ou)? The al·tlse·· or tho. e-olars. ddv,en mGrd? The· n:ea.chery of d,le' ideele:al· ? HoV\/ d() Ichese 'meraor ~e5

'<

(~. "luni:ng yO] hav any) . Ilor y.ur ' "rcep ... ~. ns of '[b '

f['[C1 dern dt-:l.y :

.l .. _

92

CI1ARACTER ICRE)\Tl'IN PROCESS

• ST':EP30N'E,: Cl;IAAACTER 'f:ONCE'PT

C- -AM" ' .. C'TE'R' C' -R··~·A·T]O····N-· - S···· U"'~ARv

__ .•• r', : .•.. : ..... ';. . .; _:' 1/ CJ1. ," '" ...•.. ~. _"> ,,' J:';ill· "I

nd ··,a·'ure.

.' S'rEpT~l': S£l..'ECT ATTR1\1!,UTES

Note that ~U Att1!tbut!~~ sn irt with pine dlrM: befult 'l 'I

'Yf:Jru at, . any ..

PnQri'hZl " ,the three categories: Ph .' ieal Saci 1. }y en-

tal (9{7/5 ),. lCastel~s charr:ac.rel:'s are: 8161 " Mote Cast Attri 'ures.

Choose PhysicalTraus« .rrf<1.'gthex ef~ Vi' i 2mi' VI. Choose '· ... ueial " ratt:s~' Charbma, Mfrni'l tll2ltiOllJ

A, .. _: earance

Choose _)lellta] Trs .it,; Perceptier 101' elHgence .. \lI~rs

,··STEP T:HR'EE:' SfEtECT A1B1L~T1ES

t: elect F3.'ro~'ed A'b~ lties ( ... uvival + 4- od"tet, C:hoose Ab ~] i ries (~5 - at least 10 mus be from ]: voted .h\l)iH 'e5~ a: leasr 1 '[111m! be in each '. 3.Vfrlre l Abi H ty ~ "lone may be h.ig!l~r than j w i th~. u t :s'~nrling 'bonus points, ~1Jt least 2~ must b: .. spenton "'urvh a~ andar least 1 must be' spent On a combat AbiH1ty; A:rche111 'Braw~ ~ M.a'[[.i@..l Arts, M,~.l~.e' Of Thrown)

Chn::n';Mf BcaC!tgiliiJU nil {- ........... none ms y be' ,I· :~gh~lr flu n 3 with ur . pen 'i r, b. nu -oi:n"}, 'Vir lL ' . '. - nOllt: mRy ~~ higher t~an l wirheut "'. ending bon .' polnts), Charms (Finding the Spirit's .. hape +- 8 0 hers -- at leas 4 Ul.USt be ~ rom .' "'as' e ttributes. Caste ess char 'c' .. lfi~)J:'I.i! only G (~al'a.rms,,)

• STEP F1IVE- FJNjSI-UNG 7 ..• ucues

- - - :=C.'. • • ~ •

Recore Essence (2)i 'W'iUp ·wer. (ad.d the total of

,- \LVO ]"'iuhest 'Vir' L, ,- • ~ lnay 11 ! Ii art at higher' han'

un es at ice t wo Virtues a 4- or higher) " I ~on~l Ess€:~Ge P~ol (E.:sence rWH~. ow . x 2]),. Pedphemt f~5en p, 0] ([m.·,en:_ x 4 [WUl, owe x Z +

[character' 1.'t"gh \I-I. I . ,4n" Re'I wn 1(20. . Ius tr y

ga ]rll,'eclJrO'tl1 Backg "(llUl~d) and he aJth 1e vel~ (7 , P lu~ anlt g'a. In.icd 'h:om.· harms) .

• BONUS :rptotNJ"S

Bonus potn -, .( 15) mac 'I, .c' n " ny in'l' durin

eha ra~ '. er CreE io1'1 ..

ICASTES

•. F:Ull MO~[l~ E:ll,_.~nes of fu.111 ".' lbQ ~urvi W~ vi:3 spe'e l ~rrl;d 'stren . ,t:11 ~

. "~u;te .Attrihut,es:: Streng h'J . "e}r erity ang·'·§trllll1.; .

CH.ARAC.TER CREAT'lON ,SUMMA,R'Y

Anima POVH!rS~: M~y-s,pend ' 11\01", 'S 'to double b" T 'V

1a,l'j,n~ ",'::']Rl'UE~

~~F1ng " ,ru n i ng ,', j, anc . ..,.

11 Oha.nging M00'D,: 'e unnin ~" tr i cksters who survive '. COlup;a s: ',ion - _.::n1p-a' 'hy :;ln~l.forgi V~Tlles', '"'

vla. eunnin ' and gllJHe~ • Con~ji't't:~on - Ernorio S[, I n(lu(~t1t1e,

Ca " ' , ,';. l ,tr"'butes: Man i,pulc,ti' n. C'h: risma ' •. 'empera_;pce~'el~'"'CQ11troL and clear-hearledness,

and Appe:~anGe. - Valor - Ceumge ana b1<lvery. . .

A'niri.~_ Pov ~ 1\.::>-'~f1YI:,nJ 10 m '" ;.' ,0 clo k him- 'DIA vG

If n.l. I:l,:,,&·, R,'f,]UN'DS

e _ ] n a vel [ oro, in usion :fOI a sc ene.

'(j Moon: .' ubtle mY,!lrics who SUIV vevta intelli- • Allie -' Aides and friends who l~elp in easks.

• nee In I Ott ,1' U " Ul. ' '. ,A,rtifact - ~, iapcns "dJ':ld tool", almost ce:r.t:adl1.1y

ear:tl~Attr!1J,utes: :P~'~,t:eR[i' n In'tel~i: ":oae®lld'Wits,, C[ fiel'f001111'SO llver,

Anima PIO":f.\1erS~ 'Ma:, 'sp,€nd i mati to Ie'\\ er I' he _. Backing - Re nk In an or,g:trdization o£ pO~ler and

, i~u~c~

- ,'~ence CO~t 0. .r. ,n soel 'e I", I-I' tl e c '.,'- 0: ' he seerre

bv one. .' CQ;Q'ta, ~ I" -1 nfo, nt~t it) r\ ~O'IJ re _,", , '11,

I " Ca,", ' use'tuJ pWG~5 .

• ,' utt - :.' ortah who tv.-r hip'-: ,'(.)'l1J.

, .

.' F 3"lll:lH·, .. - An " J~F1\al ' . "m',' a,n, ~.t)ll,rc

.' · ollowers - Humans .and 'h ~ls.:trrten· ~~O k0011" ' 0 y.ou '6·( leadership.

.' Heal"m:''-s BIGodl -' Animals (al1d mell) ,,~,.hose onus yon can talse,

I, ~Dfh..1enc,:, = Y, 'ur PI, tU in ' he' \', orld ''f . nd '~I' U.

• !~aw_e - A place 0:, ~ Qwe.r a'LrW, ,Es"5ellc~,

• .M'en:t:@'r' A p3 "10Fl. 3J1d teacher,

.' R.eno~ n. - ~rand,i,n:g within ' he SHy Pacr. • R,es,o!!l,t:'C"es,~ Material goods -aDd ,r.ll:6nl y ..

RFN"WN

v can. J' ~ ~I!

ARCHt:TYPES (NATUREj

• Ar bite, 'r' ~ You wan to L av at Issnng leac:y. ,I ala vo ~ M i.ght 11[1~~k~s ri. ~ hr

• B;- ireauc .r-- t ~ R'u'le - k '~P the world i1 . m

'~- .. h

C 1 ... Ing mn ',c I 8.0· ..

• Caregive'r - You. are E)l wellspring ofcclIl1.passion

". -. onni: I - ,_~r. all ~ ove . t awn ..

• ' .- r1 tie - Potntm . out flle,\;V8 'makes it possib le to corre c tl em,

• E· pLa .J, ·r -_ L".], a l~:' er- lvdin~ Idv_ nn, re.

II I oUa~er' - :tou look far 80'- ecne else to

take cha rge. .

II .. allant - You seek to be the C·'·I" er 0"- attention, " Hea,{DD~· t ~ Eat~ d,rink: and be' m:erry ~ for romor-

row you m,ay die.

.' _ ... ,ter - Laugh tel" can he.a) ,:o.d .~JI!' h.

" Judge _, Ba 13 nee, rrurh and ] us slce a re your q uesr, , Leader ~ 'You re' he 0'11.' ' orhers tu' n w in . i:tTI.~. 's

of eli is,

'I ~flatt)~r -, y, I~, - ret real, ,'''l [0 g]v ' evetyrhi:L"~g .'f. r

",I~ I . ,u helie· reo

'. pr, I NgOtl ,_ YOlJ tdv€ to be mi- noble ides 1 "of a heroic bs r bar ian.

'" Roebel~ Youco ~stant' y-sek-,I chaH:ng,e~t'~lrH0'riq'" " .. : aVl.LID[ - "An.y'·prob1~n\ Jean h~ 'olly,~ 1<\ l'Eh [,pg,i,e and d d uc ion.

if . ue ,,,,ivol"' - You ',V'ith~t~tl a ytbdng that the unlverse dllf'GVi.1': at you.,

• Thrillse ,k,· ~ _- :Li!·· is no liVlor.ibt lh"j:ng unless 'I ,g on tile 'eQg'e.

• Vi ,~()rnaJ;o ~ You 'e,e' d ~' W 'Tt fCH;' tvh_c " l" cduld be rarh :I!' [han whar it < '.

• 8t'u~c~at'.-1~our reputarlon for g rier 'aHry nd b .lle~,1en: 1_ dershi ,

• ,Mettle ~ ¥Qlll,( re ·tl,tat'io:rlit fo'r resUien,Qe~ t0fl i~ dence and ",er ... ti~ rtce.

• Cunnina - .. ' our repu ';! ion tor Vi; isdom se L .. control and (:Jeverne~'S. • GI'fr, -, Y·, 'U, p - ow ess and hon or.

TRAlT

A,-' rril» .. ire A':Elity Back round

B,ON'US POINTS C:ST

4- (3 if a Caste Attribute) 2 (1 ,Of a. Fa 0 d Ability)

1 (., is the Back~_[ound Is beins

raised above 'Jo)

1 (2 ,er 1 j.f in a Fav ,f· .,' Abilii ~ ) 3

2

10

7 (5 if in a Caste Att ribure)

SI' -ecialtv Virtue WiH.:power Es,':"l1ce

Charms

/ _/'

." l'ft

~

/'

. D;i'~t;~s·~d. in JI'hft s,kio, Olftx p:~.i~1~~s~ iblttg m;g~c 'C'o/~J$lUJIH~d, Raiksi" rh~ ~u.,~el1~o~, f~]_~" '~rlrlB,~"'k~d t'b,rot~.:h, [h:~. '\19..s:[ and JEUhled~ ba l lroom of . he '~QJ,ao~ of Sped min, Fall.en, ",.' p1l!lL itn in 1 ' n r: €, 'm,e J e;~~ l ,of rh e .R~ ~ lin, ell@: :I-I ~ U ~ w p f rh,~' . ou.:d)e·ll~tj 'th. E' @. b!ocl,~ of :.s~l~t·~'rer~ t;lU;ci the lcfc.~ t iC(:~1 of Th·e B:q~l~ rjf T"\r'f~€ Cf"'cie£j, th~ ,gr~1ttest t~~TI~' ~'f $~rte'fY

" ·r" 'L 1

.m an ~tge rue \\~U' 'tn, ~U C.1, texts;

1'1 OW'I It ~as ~aU€'d, M:all,~htnk:~,~ ~nd. Ral:l5i W,~S lts q ueen. 'TJt~.iCjg<e . ijing~ ~hat. ag;e ctJl£~Jd '[fiar. ~l,e: , ears ha;{t1:21id "rh·ei11' h~~v~r- h~lti'sr~!1po±1" Tun, ~n.:d If,{ ib'€L~ "bad c~efa:ced d e 1R()rbl€ ~,'W,bf~t, \~ln,~ t-hc ~loriol_v~'~cnjl'[):t';ain~· were now ftl[:~, OI' lly ~~h~b sra~na::n.t r~ lI.1. ,.-;v:~ V~: r' and pB iso nOHS 6"013 ,', T,h0~ e ch lugs [h~ r were. ~ m 00, une ito r he uElvag:~cS iOf time, R,~:k.~,i" hers,~l' haJ marred, for she wo I'ld have :bl~O h~atl' \j in :her city that" 'Eiw C.~·I~ '] e,d l'er '0 W'ft",

Ce'['~l!~[l1){i her ch.tldr~Q Vitette' i~ot 'bea.14t:edus·. TI1;Ie:y wl~~f,~ h'!.111Gh~d an~~ wicked ~pe~~be~;r1S~, '}\dth bac"k\~~arGl;lDeificllng CJ~,~'V:$ Hl<£ :cbQse tl1;~ir 17fU)th:e'r so c®'y1'y eon .. . e:~~.l,~'clt b~,h itnrl h($I. bsc ~" A hu: nib':6d j \tn~lg. S:'~~t'$ s ent tM:~ ~I 'Nigj:u-jOts H I'e, 't9 gUl rcl Qu@e11 ~M5j aill1d Ol~ her h~n ,~ge~ :£QJ" t'Jiot eveu d~[@, b~ ~~St :mO;[:f~L ~h~ef dated Cb

,

t~TIT:[:Pb her ~l'r2U h.

Ye' these ~6rr"e nor M~.11,a lanka's l:~e[ni~i ruined streets. 'Tli .ere l.~re'fe only fl. dosen e f l:u=.;f." f~'ltow~ in Gt.ll!: -vasr lila" l, eaeb ~lqjPPtl"!~fl:] by '~ 'ha:1dfu~ of 'b;®~$c~m~ni r2.~~'i'~,'~r~. Th,~y sat at a. vast ba nqul~t ~able ~,he h~d h11dl :1%~u.1,~tl h,,€l:~' fWln ~n~t~d!1~'r fHJl,e of d~(~ ~iqr.'s, 1E1'1.~,P:Y palaces ,and din'e'd li~e 'prin~es. of rh:e First A1:e,~ .save that lIu[:!f.'aLe the' hoiled ft@sn Qf ba,b:ie~~.h·~" t:~e$m:lQl<@;~,e.-lL1:If'~d. 'hia·ms.ui! nubile yOUl1vg' In,e'n and wuule:n" T.hOll~b. t.,heir qqe'~I1, ~~ll(re~ Qr:[~n ii~ th~ ,sh$p~ of '~~.h~ Hefrtll:~UU$ }~u rk ,$ 'w'bbs:e He:sh she -so pr®' 'el'-re',~ her f0UQ~re~ took; ne SllCh P.tl.~JlS,. Eat!:l'i w~r~e dl.~' shape ~f l(\,~s OIl' her Dead],v Bea~tp:l~ul T ransro.rlT[fllX[Cml" and [he: dozen a ehern '[oa:~[her ~~en~; such a 11cH"r;o,r l~hal an a.tn1j ofT]g@r 'War:rio,rs 'w.o,uldJ:u3.¥e gone pale at the ~,~gll[ ,of thtm. T'h,&l~e wete :t~~:ers ~,riea b~~ilr" HI:ld a b,rl1Tldibie ~p:e \.\ hQ dF"~,ve ~ 11 . b.,a~f mer ~l.s ~;r'ho sa1.IW bhn Ill,ad. This la'[[:,~r~rleaJ::lI,];tf~ dr,~~~ed 'fib'rn he'~d t¢l t~, in

... .. .

a ~l~~~ia [ing ,~,t 1 s (:J}f $:Hk,~ ~va\§ :Rak~ t's be e] n, co:m.prt'J,\1,iofl,~ ](am b aka. Hie w as re v'U ed in.,

I:;Ie21v'e",rL as an eater of gQ)dt1; and he W';;lp aLsO' Rak$i~.5lleutel!k,,~,n"- - she ti[U~:~~, l:HtLl:t

.as a b ftrd):~ r 1 n a n '[h ,~, ngs ~ "

Arm,or~,g rh,t'lu ~a[ d, e ,e:l~et.5 of che $nve'~ Pact who bl~r(c;'!l~d [Q dil~:~ 01) hunlGUlrt mea r, ~N~ r cou Ad n 0]1: deny herr hos I? t t:·tll t [y" Tn e'j h. ;;)£1 com e to ask :1i1cfr:: r :For ad v iee ~ n '[his il[,m~ of \;vaf~ ~.ll,d Raks.;i would give It te d1e,m ~ afl:~r th~ 'r had SiEHll , "le~~ her 't~1 ,Ie f1f'LllH p1e'rhacps lle', bed. 'R;tkS:l.d.id [lien: u.ndlu:g[~ l)~ the Silv,er Pact, (rut SbA: '~n.e\\1"il["ey wnll~S\hi~ed lrer. an~ ,Shl~ :;rGcept~ tb~:~,.

Their we a kness \~,I"~S th a t, ,fa r d1emll,~ i]j was a face, a pose OIl.[ tlD[l @'[ a f Ian '~S rud e Ail,d ntm·nhD U lar i v~ as a rry .£, i:~le]!'MJ"s. Hv'~ n th e 'b . rb at i ~ , s ~ tEre an es ':i.Wl1() b~gat1 'tiL~rr ¢'~6tellCles HUt1:rat'e a.tld d.~$per,erre: 'freT" ~ ,he next m.eal1 e~eJ,). the:y b~c~~n~ eoc sQ[jht~dca;te~ for wi stlom. They cUd not ik~1l je:rs"t4i.'rtd~ thev did, r~Dt grasp rh~ tm pon:~nc,e of rhl± sn v fr' ~,ay m ey lln/~de ,30~n1 ~J c h d ( 1.'n:' th,;e i r 'he a r'~ s" 'S Y' fonn 'lliH :trliJ;!g' [.t~ dL),~¥ eQPrl~(t, not an[jr~t Its pf'treCr ~~isdtrm" my pee:il'\;g tt -m~"a [:1l1l~~ '[~ $lO enGl ~ lJt 'bE'~111~ ~~rily ~,td,~.l ,CD, the.~, An,d 'tJ;le11 h~le~ o~[)['heif; UV'I@!s~as l~~,' d~r~ aflB~l.fJlj, 1t1:~~~~ a;5 pa,I:a'(J:dn~ :5:Yr l~' [1 P~O:P~,61' wbnlsp:e;ri:ft,g. i,rnuitrUvctio~ns: tel hfi~~~ ~lfllld llii1i:a:ri:Jag

OJ J '. .' u

'y'cttn~l,g bOiy~ into '~~ m~~tert~~ or d1J!e lrunt~ l,,~t sh.te; <::~a['~d nijLf~1Xe ~\rhit I' ~nxj 3.0, thJ y

,wot~J;"];,ip,ed, 'h.er w11fl,~ &ft,e eauca~~ed he'r$e~,{ ftt T~ie BDa,l~ c()rITlh~~ Ci:tct~$." Tkr~rre was '~ts,olcnn t]l 'h,er p~alat,e , 1:tlf:'G shJ .sa:W r~OilT1! r;h,e fec:e~ t'h~;y pu ned at 'heIr djrtlle(' ~ht( [1, rev v (jij l'G no:~ b~u'r~, ir ~~va'y.

R~lt$i ]~ug~l~d wj,]; h a young' w~rnan \s v@icle~, a. vo~qe fa,I" tOrd 'l ight :anxJ j qy~,us to t(n\ta'I"!~ ~[1.e[ h,es'[~iflll'l81rl]t~. Bi'O'dii rariJibm th~ eOln~$ o1r1Jtt>mttdt];1 at thisl attLtl ,she l,al.Jl.gh,~d aU dle ].m.~,['!~ alI i'~,. ~~rl~]:NS~ Ql~'~ p;a1'~ they; ~;,e)l-ld lea:n1 tl~« l11~~llin~ of r:ru:dr. OV¥'1'1 ftoclc,-

Most of the Trai ts used bv Lunars are ideritical to the ones used in Exalted. Virtues, Abili nes, Attributes ~ ~/ilitpo\ver~ Essence and" he like are all handled idenricallv Or nearly so" For the rules governing these Traits, see the Traits chapter, beginning on p~.ge 112 of 'xaulted.

lEX:/PIA',~" N"::':, D· •• EI~D- B',A'- C-'l(:,:'IG,- R-O' "U-'N':'< D',S~',:

" I , " ," ',' J[~. "" ", ,,' ','"',, , ',,' ,

The S il ver Pact and those barbarian tribes w ho are 3, part of it possess a rich arid distinct cultural hert tage , one that is much d ifferr'ent from that found among civtlized peoples. Respect and pr ivilege a.re things one earns. through Iris 0:\\111, blood and sweat; neither is given. freely nor inll:erite:d~ As au. result of this urrique culture, several.Backgrounds ';VOF't. d:ifFer,en.tly for Lunar characters than [hey do for Solars and other clvili .. zed Exalted .. lln additron, there are several new backgrounds exclus ive to Lunar characters.

A~ srated I thE nature of Lunar sQ1C[.iety requires dl.le redefinition, of certa [rn: 'Ba.Gkg:!:ou:nd Tra its. Wh i le.s ome require_ O'n~y notes Oil how they a,p'ph,. ~eeificaUy to th,~' culture of the Lunars, others ~v(Hr.k. cOJEnpL~tJ~ly

differently. Unless mentioned below, exisrtng Back .. ground s 'WO[ k ] us t as t he y do in. Exa lted.

,ARTlfA,CT

The vas'[ majority of Lunar-owned artifacts are fCH'g,ed fro,m moons ilver ri' 1111 ~tddition to the propert ies mentioned ln Chapter N·,j,n,e' of Exalted, {he protean, n a rure of In oons n ve r a I 10 w S at r r ifac rs c ratte d from, the meral - 0 shapeshift along with the Lunar Exalted they are attuned to" A.:nnOF expands and contracts to matchinhuman forms, wh:He Weap0I.llS can often rl1el.it and reform as bracers, gauntlets 0'[ other aCDeSSOlt[eS if the OVl n e r's curre n t form lac ks the hands to prop .. erly wie ld the items.

From a cultural standpoint, the Silver Pact is i ncred Ibl y possess] ve orf moo ns i lver artrfacts. M eon 8 H 'V e r is sacred to. both the Lunar Sue i.e [y and I~O its goddess, and its members 100k poorly on. nonLunars owning what they see as a rightful part of -h.eh· heritage. Par ~ of this possessiveness ext ends toward "N'Ul1J~;er me'm,' eli'S of the 'Uvlr!'r Pact. If a Lunar owns

-an ar t i fa-c t, ad ds are rha t he has wor ked l1'~]"d to. ~ arn ['he r:[gl' andhonor of doing so. This is esp-eclaUy rue of h,lgl, rs nl1kz::i.ng -and rare ~,rrl'f"Blc'~'.s. If yo '~]" charac t e r P esse sses an art i f~,c - ~ c o n ~J:h:; r j II st what 'il t is h Ie has. d on e ~[.o IdJIBSe:n,re it.

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·BA.CKlING

·WhH.e Lunars can possess Backir~g~ ir LS uncom .. mon .. Outside of her pack, the on']y groups 8L Lunar tYPlcaUy cares about are her tribe and (he SHve.r Pact. A character's rank in the PaC'[ is covered hy her Renown (see [he Background below] as well as .rhe complete . rules on page 111 of 'chis chapter.). StH L there are Lunare - most often Caste less ~ withtn the Threshold who join mercenary cornpan ies, 'the Gu [~.d or 0 ther 0 rga ni z at ions, I.f yo La r ch aract er h 0 ld s a lh~glance [0 some orenniaarion outside the Silver Pacr, iris important to that you figure our how and why she has iotnec this gn)UPI as we'll as wlth whom her pri .. rna q~ 10 y a [ t i es l ie "

f Ol.L'O'W'ERS

LU.UlLut followers typica.lly come frorn one of two sources: barbarians and beastmen. Both groups live wlrhln rrtbs 1 . ~ocie~ tes a 111 0 fiJg the wilderness and wastelands 0·£ Creation, and both look upon [he L u nEIJ.'[S :DJ S '1 i v i 11. g gods. TI':H~ ass 0 rt ed ba r bar ian t ri bes have ne-ver bowed to the Realm and 'heave never been iudocrrinated inro the Dr~,g(H1" Blooded' . 'II asrard religion .. B.ecaruse of this, they do not see rhe Lunars as demonic monsters, hut rather as being partly of di-

inity and P81rdV' of flesh ... They are dangerous and

i rd1 uman ~ Y'e; (all gods a re j after c .. n" ~ but d~M~V are given [he respect and honor beings of the ir station. deserve .. As a. result of '[his world view j members of ba rbarian t ribes - somettmes ·even en~ ire tribes -

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are willing to pledge their direci service eo Lunars,

:BorB from the union of Lunar and beast, beastmen tvptcall y tono~r the Lunar who birthed or sired '[b.e~ or ig i na l me m be rs of 'the ir tri b e. - I ow e ver ~ some of these 'be as 1: [TIe n so c i e e i es h a ve be e n ,I ban d on ed 1:'Pf their gods and are 'V ah ng 'to adopt a new Lunar as their patron. deity, Although. most beastrnen fa VOl' Lunars whose totem ani mal is sim ilar to their own forms, some elect to follow any powerful Lunar who proves h ersel f. worth y of It he i r reve renee .

Followers reflect only those who directly follow th e c haracte F' S. ord e rs. ell a rae te I'S ·t¥l-:IJJ have indi r viduals who do . hem reverence but who are not direct Iy answera b le to . he characi er should rake '[he new 'Sac kgro u nd Cul t ~ below.

MANSE

Almost all. of those iVian.ses. that lie in lands the Lunars call horne 'have 'long been Cl;JJl11ed by the Silver Pact and have been converted into Celestial Manses. Y ounger Lunars have two choices when i 1I com es '[00 Man se, One is to se i z e 8. Ma use 0 r De me s ne

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