Aspects Of
Water
Water flows. It moves through
even the smallest opening, filling empty spaces and surrounding all that it
touches. The most easily molded of the five elements, water assumes the shape
of whatever holds it but will only hold that shape so long as it’s necessary
before reverting to its natural protean state. The Exalted of Water share this mercurial nature. Their adaptable minds allow the
Children of Daana’d to fill and exploit any
circumstance that presents itself. That which is unable to adjust to change,
they feel, is doomed to the stagnation of death.
A Water-aspected
Dragon-Blood is the personification of adaptability. Struggle and challenge
force him to grow and change ― and to become stronger as a result. Grand
galas and love affairs train him to excel in the social arts. Hard-won battles
expand his martial talents. Difficult sorceries extend the lmits
of his inner Essence. Some Aspects of Water meet these challenges like a small
stream, flowing over or around all obstacles. Others rise like a terrible
flood, washing away anything that stands before them.
A Child of Daana’d
never concedes failure. If a desired paramour appears
uninterested, he applies a new method of seduction. If an obstacle to his
political schemes proves obstinate, he bypasses it through less conventional
channels. If a theological question proves difficult to solve, he approaches it
from an alternate angle. If an opponent outmatches him in martial skill, he
simply uses whatever underhanded tactic is necessary to triumph. Failure is for
those who lack the will and the flexibility to do what it takes to succeed.
The Exalted of Water are the problem solvers of the Realm, offering practical
solutions to all difficulties, great and small. Competition, be it a petty
personal rivalry or a war that engulfs all Creation, is an opportunity for the
Realm to grow and mature. The Children of Daana’d
nurture the Realm during these periods of conflict, helping the empire to
navigate its way toward new outlets of power and strength. Without conflict to
challenge it to change, the Realm will simply stagnate in its complacency.
Aspects of Water perform similar
functions within their sworn brotherhoods, tailoring their actions to
compliment the strengths and counter the weaknesses of their sworn brothers. A
Water-aspected Dragon-Blooded nurtures his
brotherhood, helping the members adapt and grow stronger in the face of
adversity.
The Immaculate Dragons: Water-aspected Dragon-Blooded who emulate Daana’d are the most devoted adherents to the ideals of
self-sufficiency and growth through adversity. They challenge themselves to
excel in all arenas ― martial, social and spiritual. Those who follow Mela strive toward adaptability and flexibility, especially
in the arts of war. They are proficient masters of unconventional tactics,
including assassination, guerilla warfare and terrorism. Aspects of Water who
follow the ways of Sextes Jylis
nurture those in need, offering unique solutions to their troubles. They also
prove among the most adept at hunting down and eliminating heretics. Emulators
of Pasiap’s work focus their fluid minds on the goal
of enlightenment, often becoming skilled theologions
and religious instructors. Followers of Hesiesh are
staunch traditionalists and often reserve their mercurial talents to nurture
and protect that which they hold dear.
Aspect Markings:
Aspects of Water move with an almost hypnotic grace, and their skin has a
slight blue-green tint. This aqua tone is most noticeable in members with high
Breeding, and the coloration only deepens with age. Well-bred elders are often
deep green-black or ebony in color. They smell of fresh water, either of
running streams or the open sea.
Aspect Anima: When
a Water-aspected Dragon-Blood spends Peripheral
Essence, his anima bursts forth as a bright blue-green or green-black glow,
rippling like a pool of water or rolling like the ocean waves. Truly impressive
displays include phantasmal whirlpools, waves, waterspouts and water dragons
accompanied by the roar of crashing waves or the alien silence of the ocean
depths.
An Aspect of Water can spend 5
motes to attune his anima with the surrounding water. For the rest of the day,
he can breathe underwater and operate as freely as if he was in air, including
firing bows and the like.
Aspect Abilities:
Their fluid minds grant Water Exalted an intuitive shrewdness. They excel in
navigating their way through situations of unfathomable complexity and at
improvising their way around or through obstacles. Aspects of Water possess a
natural affinity with the Abilities of Brawl, Bureaucracy, Investigation,
Larceny and Sail.
Common Natures:
Caregiver, Conniver, Critic, Explorer, Follower, Jester, Judge, Leader,
Paragon, Rebel, Savant, Survivor, Visionary
The Great Curse: A
Water-aspected Dragon-Blood whose curse lies in his
Compassion is typically one who focuses on nurturing others. He’ll go to
extreme lengths to protect on nurturing others. He’ll go to extreme lengths to
protect that which he nurtures, sometimes drowning it in the process. One whose
curse comes from Conviction is like a great flood, willing to wash away
anything that stands before its efforts. Temperate Aspects of Water often
become like deep, still pools, but react poorly if that tranquility is
disturbed. Those whose curse derives from their Valor often become like tidal
waves, believing there is no problem they cannot batter through or wash away.
Associations: The
color black, the Maiden of Secrets, the season of Water and the western
direction
Sobriquets:
Children of Daana’d, Drowning Hands, Ebon Dragons
Concepts: Ruthless
magistrate, agent of the All-Seeing Eye, political fixer, diplomat to the
Threshold, dilettante artist
As the water wears away the stone,
thus does patience solve all things.