Chosen Of Battles

 

Life is a battle. It is an endless series of struggles and conflicts. How we fight these battles ― and whether we win or lose them ― define who we are and what our fate is to be. The Primordials created the Maiden of Battles to govern this aspect of destiny the Maiden of Battles to govern this aspect of destiny and existence. All that concerns struggle and strife in all their forms fall under her command. Now, the Chosen of Battles are charged with carrying out this mission and to help Creation fight its way toward its fate.

In the First Age, the Chosen of Battles served as military advisors, shield maidens and bodyguards to the Solars. In addition, they were tasked with overseeing the logistics and care of Creation’s great and powerful armies. When it came time to rebel against the Solars’ command, the Chosen of Battles withdrew their protection from the corrupt leaders, planned the Dragon-Blooded’s campaigns and saw to it that the Solars were denied the logistical support of their world-spanning empire.

In the wake of the Great Contagion, the Chosen of Battles were ordered to oversee the defense of Creation and to help drive back the armies of the Wyld. Under their guidance, the legions of the Scarlet Empire grew strong, and Lookshy was able to maintain its arsenal of First Age weapons. At the same time, the Chosen of Battles hunted down and destroyed remaining Fair Folk and plague spirits wherever they could be found. Under their watch, Creation was once again made safe for men and gods.

Bronze Faction Chosen of Battles continue to oversee and maintain the imperial legions and navy, as well as the forces of the Realm’s client states. Many have grown concerned as the Dynastic rivalries that spiral toward civil war threaten the strength and fighting ability of the imperial legions. Other Chosen of Battles work to teach young Dragon-Blooded martial disciplines and ancient war arts as part of the Realm’s academies, serve as military advisors to the Great Houses and, when necessary, act as secret bodyguards to those Dragon-Blooded and patricians they see as vital to the military destiny of the Realm. Gold Faction Chosen of Battles carry out similar missions outside the Realm. They manage the armies of the Threshold and the Scavenger Lands, teach martial arts and other fighting skills to young Solars and advise kings and merchant princes in matters of conflict. Independent Chosen of Battles frequently focus their efforts toward defending Creation against the threats of the Yozis and the Deathlords. They work behind the scenes to create private armies and to engineer conflicts that hurt or hinder the forces of chaos and death.

The Chosen of Battles are always born among those destined to be familiar with conflict and battle. Many are reborn among career military families, warrior cultures or monasteries that teach the martial arts. Others grow up among famous weaponsmiths, military historians or even families accustomed to social and political conflict. The Chosen of Battles find themselves most comfortable among such settings, and those that establish semi-permanent homes often seek out places that will keep their battle skills well honed.

Caste Markings: The eyes of every Chosen of Battles have scarlet irises, and their pupils appear to be filled with minute scarlet flecks, causing them to resemble a star-filled night sky. During powerful expenditures of Peripheral Essence, the Sign of Battles appears upon the Chosen’s forehead, formed of bright scarlet light.

Anima Effect: The Chosen of the Maiden of Battles can make the Lesser Sign of Mars at a cost of 10 motes. This sign causes the Chosen’s anima to extend out as a brilliant scarlet aura that laps around all those under the anima’s effect. For the rest of the scene, the Chosen of Battles and all of her allies within (the Sidereal’s Essence x 10) yards reduce the damage of all blows against them by one health level, applied after damage is rolled. This effect cannot reduce an attack’s damage below one. The effect of the anima dissipates if a recipient moves out of range of the Exalt employing it.

Auspicious Abilities: Chosen of Battles are influenced by those celestial constellations that serve as part of the Crimson Panoply of Victory. They are the Banner, the Gauntlet, the Quiver, the Shield and the Spear, and they grant the Chosen of Battles a natural affinity for the Abilities of Archery, Brawl, Melee, Presence and Resistance.

Common Natures: Architect, Bravo, Bureaucrat, Conniver, Leader, Martyr, Paragon, Savant, Survivor, Visionary

Associations: The color scarlet, the element and season of fire, the astrological house of the Crimson Panoply of Victory

Sobriquets: Heaven’s Soldiers, Shieldbearers

Concepts: Master strategist, staff officer of mercenary company, Immaculate martial-arts sifu, behind-the-scenes revolutionary, demon-hunter, enforcer of Heaven’s will, patrician financier of legions

 

 

It is written in the

book of life: This is

a battle you shall

not survive.