Aspects Of
Earth
Earth endures. Mountains stand
unchanging throughout the lifetimes of individuals and even empires. Earth is
the ever-enduring fundament that supports all Creation. The Exalted of Earth reflect this enduring nature. The Children of Pasiap intuitively understand understand
the importance of enduring tradition and how it provides a bulwark of stability
against the forces of chaos. Things become ritual and tradition because they
are important ― because they work ― and that which serves no
purpose passes into oblivion.
An Earth-aspected
Dragon-Blooded is a living embodiment of endurance and stability, consistently
adhering to those methods that have proven successful in the past. She carries
out elaborate courtship rituals because she believes these rites are guaranteed
to produce stable relationships. She follows the teachings of the Immaculate
Dragons because they are tried and true methods of gaining spiritual
enlightenment. She undertakes the rigid disicipline
of the martial arts because it is a proven pathway to both personal development
and victory in battle. She is meticulous in the preparation of sorcery rituals,
is like clay, shaping itself to fit the present circumstances but remaining
true to its core ideal. For others, it is like solid granite, unmoving and
unchanging across the decades and the centuries.
A Child of Pasiap
places importance on those things that, like tradition, will endure. Lasting
relationships are more important than fleeting dalliances. Long-term economic
growth is more important than short-term profit. Magic that has been proven
reliable is preferable to experimental sorceries. The total elimination of
one’s enemies is more important than temporary victory. Spiritual enlightenment
― the only thing truly enternal ― is more
important than material matters. Trivial frivolities and passing fancies may
have their place, but such divertissments are
meaningless when compared to matters of lasting importance.
Earth-aspected
Dragon-Blooded are the stony soul of the Realm, with their unwavering
commitment to that which they believe is right providing a stable foundation
for Dynastic society. Staunch supporters of tradition, Aspects of Earth believe
that which once allowed the Realm to prosper will help it grow strong again and
stubbornly defend those institutions in which they believe. That which they
consider important remains worthiest of protection, they reason, and all else
deserves whatever fate befalls it. If something new can endure on its own, then
it may be worthy of support. If not, then it was of little consequence to begin
with.
Aspects of Earth perform similar
duties within sworn brotherhoods. Their iron wills provide a pillar of strength
from which the brotherhood may draw support, and their firmness in their
convictions ensures that the brotherhood carries out any action it commits to.
The tradition of the bonded circle is one with long and distinguished history.
An Earth-aspected Dragon-Blooded will be very
cautious about committing to such a group, but once sworn, her dedication to
the brotherhood is unshakable.
The Immaculate Dragons: Earth-aspected who follow Pasiap are among the Realm’s greatest builders, not just of
grand cathedrals that demonstrate the enduring glory of spiritual enlightenment,
but also of political coalitions, economic empires and stalwart armies. Those
who walk the path of Hesiesh are among the Realm’s
staunchest upholders of tradition, often ignoring or even mistrusting anything
contemporary or untested. Earth Exalted who follow Daana’d attempt to push their own endurance to its limits,
using exhaustive martial arts rituals, strenuous asceticism and challenging
sorceries to refine and purify their Essence. Emulators of Mela
demand nothing less than perfection in themselves as
they maintain the traditions of the past. They seek excellence in all aspects
of Realm society, quoting from the Immaculate Texts and ancient treatises on
the arts of war, courtship and politics with equal ease. Those who follow Sextes Jylis often travel the
Realm, teaching the importance of adhering to tradition, while relentlessly
hunting down heretics.
Aspect Markings:
Aspects of Earth are frequently compact or stocky. Their skin has a brownish or
gray tint that is even darker among those of good breeding. As Earth-aspected Dragon-Blooded age, their skin begins to harden,
taking on a stone-like texture that ranges from smooth marble to rough
sandstone. Elders often smell of freshly turned soil, moist clay or dry sand.
Aspect Anima: When
an Earth-aspected Dragon-Blooded spends Peripheral
Essence; her anima erupts into a mantle of white and yellow light, shifting
like rolling sand or glimmering like a perfect diamond. Awe-inspiring uses of
Essence produce phantasmal images of badgers, bulls, stone pillars, the
Imperial Mountain or earth dragons, as the character is surrounded by a
thunderous roar such as that produced by an avalanche, volcano or earthquake.
An Aspect of Earth can spend 5
motes to attune her anima to the nearby stone, taking on the durability of the
earth itself. For the rest of the scene, she can soak lethal damage with her
entire Stamina.
Aspect Abilities:
Aspects of Earth are living embodiments of stability, with a keen insight into
the importance of tradition, ritual and that which endures. They excel at
shaping things that last, be it buildings and tools or their own bodies and
souls. Earth-aspected Dragon-Blooded possess a
natural affinity with the Abilities of Awareness, Craft, Endurance, Martial
Arts and Resistance.
Common Natures:
Architect, Bravo, Bureaucrat, Caregiver, Critic, Follower, Judge, Leader,
Martyr, Paragon, Survivor, Traditionalist, Visionary
The Great Curse:
An Earth-aspected Dragon-Blooded whose flaw involves
Compassion will often orient her empathy toward those institutions she
cherishes and protects, reacting with earthshaking anger or despair when people
who are part of that institution are jeopardized. One who manifests a
Conviction flaw is often willing to go to extremes of cruelty and sadism in
order to uphold traditions and ideals ― and to punish those who violate
them. A Temperate Earth Exalted frequently seeks to focus her existence on only
important matters and seeks to destroy those who cannot match her own level of
fanatical devotion. If the flaw is one of Valor, she likely reacts with
volcanic anger when cherished traditions are challenged or else becomes willing
to engage in extremely dangerous undertakings with the belief that tried and
true methods will undoubtedly see her through to success.
Associations: The
color white, the Maiden of Battle, the season of Earth and the central
direction
Sobriquents: Children
of Pasiap, Stone Fists, Ivory Dragons
Concepts: Master
architect, military strategist, wandering monk, dedicated magistrate, Realm
historian
The mountain watches, stone waits, and
when the earth finally moves, nothing can
stand before it. I have been planning decades
for this day. Did you think I would not
anticipate your treachery?