Investigation, The Key
Once, there was that old thing…
…that wasn’t like a shadow, because you
could see it too well.
…and that wasn’t like a light, because
it didn’t make flowers grow.
So, it had to be a maiden, but she
didn’t mind.
“To know the world is to love it,” said
she.
Auspicious Prospects For (Caste)
Cost: 1 mote
Duration: Instant
Type: Simple
Minimum Investigation: 2
Minimum Essence: 1
Prerequisite Charms: None
The Maidens grant many of their
Auspicious Prospects for
Journeys helps the character know when someone really ought to travel and,
possibly, where. Auspicious Prospects for Serenity helps a character locate
appropriate love matches or determine whom fate wishes to have joy. Auspicious
Prospects for Battles hints at when and where and among whom a battle or war
ought to take place. Auspicious Prospects for Fate ― the Maiden of Secrets’
Charm ― gives insights into the proper overall direction of the world and
the character’s own life. Auspicious Prospects for Endings suggests when
something might best pass from Creation. These Charms provide appropriate
knowledge when the Storyteller so chooses.
This knowledge almost never
gives a direct benefit to the character. More often, it provides her with goals
to strive for! So, she must satisfy herself with the joy of service ― and
the ability to investigate the claims of other Sidereal Exalted, with a mote of
Essence and a successful Intelligence + Investigation roll, when they assert
that some fate or other is favorable or necessary.
Any Sidereal can purchase any of
these Charms. All five are favored for the Chosen of Secrets. The other Sidereal
Exalted favor only their own caste’s Charm.
Marvelous Inclusion Of Details
Cost: 1 mote per success
Duration: Instant
Type: Supplemental
Minimum Investigation: 1
Minimum Essence: 1
Prerequisite Charms: None
When a character learns this
Charm, she weaves a thread of aquamarine mystery into her eyes. From that
moment forward, she and the essence of fate that makes for secrets are kin. The
things of mystery and enigma wear a faint, joyous glamour in her eyes.
Conversely, secrets go out of their way to provide the kinds of evidence the
character likes best. This Charm adds up to the character’s Essence in
automatic successes to an Investigation roll. If possible, the character
chooses what kind of evidence she finds ― a murder weapon, a book shelved
right next to her, notes stuffed in such a book, footprints or something of
that ilk. Whatever she finds, she finds instantly. Sidereal Exalted may always
use their Compassion with this Charm.
Efficient Secretary Technique
Cost: 2 motes
Duration: One turn
Type: Simple
Minimum Investigation: 1
Minimum Essence: 2
Prerequisite Charms: None
On learning this Charm, the
character spits out a jubilant construct of Essence in the shape of a small
unmanifested emerald pattern spider. When so instructed by the invocation of
this Charm, it races off along the weave of fate to locate some fact for the
character ― any available information neither generally lost nor actively
concealed. Examples are the name of the local god-king or carpenter, how many
years ago widow Esther lost her husband, the status of a given war, the number
of oxen an old friend now owns, the temperature in Nexus and so forth. One turn
later, it returns, whispering the information into the character’s ear. The
spirit is indestructible while the Exalt lives.
Research Assistant Invocation
Cost: 5 motes
Duration: Five days
Type: Simple
Minimum Investigation: 2
Minimum Essence: 2
Prerequisite Charms: Efficient
Secretary Technique
Clapping his hands, the Sidereal
causes a small plant to grow into the shape of a dedicated scholar and
observer. This creature has statistics and appearance of a typical mortal
except that it has an Intelligence 3, Awareness 3, Investigation
4, Lore 2 and Linguistics and languages equal to the character’s own. It
happily assists with research and investigation in any desired fashion,
carrying books and research materials, noting details the character might miss,
digging for truths in a large library and so forth. Under excessive stress, such
as combat, it panics and reverts to the form of a plant; it can be coaxed back
into human shape with a reapplication of this Charm.
Embracing Life Method
Cost: 10 motes, 1 Willpower, 1
health level
Duration: Five days
Type: Simple
Minimum Investigation: 4
Minimum Essence: 3
Prerequisite Charms: Marvelous
Inclusion of Details, Research Assistant Invocation
This Charm uses a prayer strip
marked with the scripture of That Old Thing. The Sidereal forms a question or
curiosity in her mind and plants the strip as if it were a seed. Over the
course of the next day, it first develops roots and then sprouts into a tall
mulberry tree. Local spirits of wood are drawn to visit it. They leave small
gifts or secrets behind there. Five days later, the Sidereal can return. Her
player rolls Charisma + Investigation. For each success, the Exalt finds both a
piece of information useful in resolving the her curiosity and a gift she will
value beneath the tree. There are also various worthless offerings.
Returning earlier for faster
answers is possible but may provoke the wrath of one or two wood spirits. The
valuable gifts are generally trinkets that suit the character’s tastes, but the
Storyteller may include unique or important gifts for story reasons. Sidereal
Exalted may always use their Compassion with this Charm.