Veiled Daughter Descending

From Jaggedthrone

Veiled Daughter Descending revealed herself as a child of the stars to her traveling companions. Eris is the only one who knows what that means and he only knows from the elders' stories what it means. Prior to revealing herself, she was known to them as their life long herbalist's apprentice who was quite skilled.

Kestrel was the first to have a discussion with her when Bright Ocean first exalted. After the discussion, he forgot about her and thought he'd had the difficult conversation with Third Jaguar. Upon her reappearance, Kestrel remembered the truth and understandably became somewhat confused.

Notable Bits

• Arcane Fate is bitchy. It is a side effect of a large war with too many plans. When you are in my presence, you will remember me and the things I've said. When I am gone, I am forgotten by the weak-minded. With some strength of will and mind, you might just remember me when I'm gone.
  • Gain +3 Dice to all Performance, Presence, Socialize and Larceny dice pools to masquerade as another non-specific person and to explain any breaches of disguise or a Resplendent Destiny. The difficultly of these rolls is 1.
  • Gain +3 dice to the Intelligence+Larceny pools on disguise and an additional +3 when imitating a Resplendent Destiny they have donned. The difficultly of these rolls is 1.
  • Others are at a -3 on any rolls to spot or Remember the Sidereal or see through a donned Resplendent Destiny.
  • Sidereals are at a -3 on any rolls to build relationships, trust or love with those around them.
  • The roll to remember a Sidereal is Wits+Occult at a difficulty 1 with a -3 to the dice pool. The roll is made at the following intervals: 1 turn, 1 minute, 1 hour, 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, 1 season, 1 year.
  • The Sidereals Acquaintances, Familiars, fellow Sidereals, most other members of the Bureau of Destiny and beings outside of fate are immune to the Arcane Fate. Mortals, Exalts, Fair Folk, Terrestrial and Celestial gods and God-Blooded all forget, unless the above rolls are made. Individuals above Essence 3 will tend to remember the Sidereal a little, but only as “an agent of destiny” or “some Sidereal”.
• The truth about Sidereal exalts from Veiled Daughter Descending.

We are known from almost the time of our birth and taken to the heavenly city to be raised. We learn much in that time before we come into our power. There are factions within factions and a lot of politicking. I believe I am a rarity in that I have been given the freedom of choice in my tutelage. Many of my teachers did try to sway me to whatever politic beliefs they held true, but the teacher I spent most of my time with gave me the benefit of the doubt and taught me as much as he knew. I strongly believe that the death lords are a plight on the face of creation - abominations.

In the heavenly city, we live amongst all kinds of gods - big and small. Dealing and trading with these gods was an art I never cared for, but if need be, we may be able to call upon them for assistance although that is a risky business.

[edit] One Night by the Fire

I am sorry that I have not told you more about creation and all that resides in it. I had wanted you to experience and learn on your own what some beings are capable of – it is more likely now that you will fully understand the knowledge I have long wanted to share.

I will start with my history because it’s easiest and you deserve to know. I know that not all here trust me and my motives. Given what you have experienced and the knowledge you have gathered through those experiences, this doesn’t surprise me. It would be extremely difficult to trust someone you keep meeting for the first time who says she knows you. I can see from your perspective that you think I am trying to manipulate you with my talk of wanting to bring about your destiny. I hope that my story will let you see that my aid in your journey is only to see that you succeed at whatever you attempt to do. And if it comes to my attention that something is very important for you or I to do, then I will be honest about those things as I have promised Vashtari and Third Jaguar.

First, I would ask that Ghostfeathers ensure that we are alone. I would not like this information to fall into the wrong hands. As I’m sure you would not like your life story to be overheard by a total stranger. Ghostfeathers, I trust that you will only share this information if it becomes relevant to whatever hunt calls you away from your circle.

I, Veiled Daughter Descending, was born during Calibration of the year 600. I do not remember my parents as I was found in the Loom of Fate at a very young age as is normal for my kind – Chosen of Fate, the Sidereal Exalted. There are only 100 souls of Sidereal Exalted and these are split evenly between the five Maidens. We are called the Five-Score Fellowship. The oldest among us, who supports the Bronze Faction I have mentioned in the past, is dying. He is reaching 5000 years old, but no one knows for sure when this will happen. I am looking forward to the change that occurs when his soul is reborn.

Saturn, the Maiden of Endings chose me.

Veiled Daughter Descending looks around to see the concern that this title has likely caused. Seeing the stoic look on Third Jaguar’s and Vashtari’s faces and the visages of distrust little more than usual on Ghostfeathers, Bright Eyes Over Silver, and Kestrel, she continues.

This may sound ominous and so far, you might think that you’ve only been lucky that I have had other things to end. Maybe you’re thinking when it be your turn for me to end. I cannot change these thoughts – only you have the power to do that if you so choose. I will simply continue to be honest and give you the best advice I can to ensure your bright destiny is fulfilled. This is my goal and I will choose my own end rather than risk that destiny not coming to fruition.

The Maiden of Endings’ domain is endings, but primarily endings that bring about change. An ending is represented in the last footstep of your journey home, in Bright Eyes Over Silver’s exaltation as that ended her human life, in the passing storm as it runs its course, and of course, a return to the cycle by humans and exalts alike. I cannot know for sure, but I believe your bright destiny will begin the end to the current way of life in creation, the dragon-blooded rule. The Loom of Fate is tricky and I would have to study it for too many years to know what your destiny will be and by then, it may have been too late to help you achieve it. Others may not be so keen on seeing you succeed.

Would you like to hear more about my life growing up in Yu-Shan, more about the other Maidens and the Five-Score Fellowship, or some other topic that has piqued your interest?

[edit] Another Story by the Firelight

I grew up in Yu-Shan. It's not a normal place to grow up as you might expect. As there are so few of us and we live so long, there weren't any other children my age so my playmates were little gods. I've seen children here pull each other's hair, scream at each other and throw tantrums when they don't get their way. Being in Yu-Shan, the little gods were somewhat more creative in getting their way. I can't tell you how many times I went back to my room in whichever tutor was allowing me to stay with them at that time crying because some little god of static had zapped me or a little god of puddles to soak me from head to foot in mud. I learned quickly that not everyone was to be trusted. My world was made up of creatures telling me half-truths and giving me very biased opinions. Reading between the lines to figure out motives became a way of life. It wasn't easy to get a straight answer on anything so I asked a lot of questions of everyone.

When I was about 15, I first met the woman that would become my sifu, or mentor if you will. She is the closest thing I have to a parent. Dragon and Orchid Night is a Chosen of Secrets. She trained me mostly in my martial arts ability that you have seen from time to time. Not all Chosen of Fate have sifus to guide them. We are moved around a lot for training with different sidereal exalted to minimize exposure to one set of biased opinions. My sifu is of the gold faction as I am. It is uncommon for those who have a sifu to not be of the same faction, but it has happened. My mentor's faction undoubtedly influenced my choice in loyalties, but she did let me choose for myself as much as was possible. I was exposed to those who had a zealous loyalty to Chejop Kejak, the leader of the Bronze faction. There are even a few sidereals who are rumoured to have chosen no side at all and will not accept any mission from the Bureau of Destiny. There are more of the Bronze faction than any other although the Gold faction is growing. The Bronze faction, as I've mentioned before, supports the dragon-blooded which is why their history prevails and you are known as Anathema. The biased view of history prevents a lot of humans from seeing the balance that is needed for future prosperity in creation. I believe that if the Solar exalteds were in power again, they can be taught to see their own flaws and better rule creation. At least under their rule, one set of peoples was not persecuted blindly.

I remember one time I was learning to play chess with two little gods. They were both gods of chessboards - but one of black squares and one of white squares. There argued about everything because their views of the board was opposite. I tried to appease them both for a while because angering either with impertinence wasn't a good idea. However, I couldn't help myself. I think I was 17 and a teenager is still a teenager even when faced with indeterminable power. Well, I ended up with checkered skin for two months if you can imagine.

I will tell you another time about some of my other teachers.

[edit] Story Aboard Ship

While I recover, it seems that it is time for me to tell you everything I know about the Abyssal exalteds. It is new information to me that Abyssals are fallen Solars. It worries me greatly that some of your great brethren souls are no longer the great rulers that once ruled the grand First Age. I am still working on a plan to disclose this information because I don't know who I can trust. I believe that some already know that and haven't shared the information.

The Oracle in the Valley said that we had an enemy who hates all bright life under the sun and the sky. He knows our names and at that time, I knew that it was Claw of the Grave. Right now, he is our enemy no matter what else we know.

The Abyssals haven't always been like you and I have always been. They are young compared to the age of creation. I will tell you why I know what I do.