3

Exalted
Introduction: The First and Final Days 20 Chapter Four: Traits 134
The Age of the Exalted 20 The Great Curse and Limit Break 134
The Doom Out of the Darkness 21 Attributes 148
The Birth of the Realm 22 Abilities 149
Into the Time of Tumult 22 Merits 157
The Return of the Solar Exalted 23 Flaws 167
As the tale of the Exalted continues... 23 Willpower 169
How to Play This Game 23 Intimacies 170
Lexicon 24 Health 171
Suggested Resources 30 Essence 174
The Anima Banner 174
Chapter One: The Exalted 34 Character Advancement 177
Exaltation 35
Essence Fever 35 Chapter Five: Systems and Conflict 182
Caste Marks 36 Glossary 182
The Tools of the Chosen 36 General System Structure 184
The Roll of the Chosen 37 Stunts 187
The Exalted 38 Action Complications 188
The Solar Exalted 40 Extended Actions 189
The Abyssal Exalted 42 Opposed Actions 189
The Dragon-Blooded 44 Reflexive Actions 189
The Lunar Exalted 46 Combat 189
The Sidereal Exalted 48 How Combat Works 189
The Liminal Exalted 50 Resolving Attacks 191
The Exigents 52 Elements of Combat 191
And the tale of the Exalted continues… 54 Initiative 193
Combat Actions 195
Chapter Two: The Age of Sorrows 58 Combat Movement 197
The Spirits of the World 58 Complications 199
The Realm 62 Battle Groups 205
Religion and Worship 70 Battle Group Traits 205
Of Silver and Jade: Money in Creation 77 Fighting Battle Groups 207
The Threshold 80 Strategic Warfare 211
The North 80 Potential Modifiers 211
The Northeast 86 Potential Stratagems 212
The East 87 Social Influence 213
The Southeast 93 Resolve 214
The South 95 Guile 214
The Southwest 100 Intimacies 214
The West 102 Social Actions 215
Lunar Dominions 106 Resisting Influence Rolls 218
The Wyld 110 Social Complications 221
The Grave and Beyond 113 Retrying Social Actions 222
Behemoths 117 Social Actions in Combat 223
Crime and Investigation 224
Chapter Three: Character Creation 120 Larceny 224
Preparation 120 Investigation 224
Step 1: Concept and Caste 121 Leadership 226
Step 2: Attributes 121 What Do Leaders Do? 226
Step 3: Abilities 121 What is a Project? 226
Step 4: Merits 123 Step One: Is the Project Possible? 226
Step 5: Charms 123 Step Two: Does the Project Succeed? 226
Step 6: Intimacies and Limit Trigger 124 Step Three: Responding to Failure Conditions 227
Step 7: Bonus Points 124 Step Four: Dealing With the Result 227
Step 8: Finishing Touches 125 Environmental Rules 229
Things to Think About 125 Feats of Strength and Demolition 229
Circles: Putting Things Together 126 Survival 230
Example of Character Creation 129 Environmental Hazards 230
 Poison 232 Resistance 374
Disease 233 Ride 380
Medicine 236 Sail 386
Lore 237 Socialize 393
Crafting 238 Stealth 403
Elements of Crafting 239 Survival 409
Crafting Experience 239 Thrown 415
Basic Projects 240 War 419
Major Projects 240
Superior Projects 241
Chapter Seven: Martial Arts and Sorcery 426
Legendary Projects 241 Martial Arts 426
Repairs 242 Martial Arts Charms 426
Craft and First Age Wonders 243 Snake Style 427
Sailing 244 Tiger Style 431
Sailing Rules 244 Single Point Shining Into the Void Style 434
Naval Combat 245 White Reaper Style 438
Sample Ships 246 Ebon Shadow Style 441
Make These Rules Your Own 247 Crane Style 443
Silver-Voiced Nightingale Style 447
Chapter Six: Charms 250 Righteous Devil Style 450
Depicting Charms 250 Black Claw Style 453
Using Charms and Charm Limitations 251 Steel Devil Style 461
Presentation Format 252 Sorcery 464
Excellencies 255 Spells and Sorcerous Workings 464
Archery 255 The Three Circles 465
Athletics 261 Becoming a Sorcerer 465
Awareness 267 Sorcerous Motes and the Shape Sorcery Action 465
Brawl 273 Countermagic 466
Bureaucracy 283 Shaping Rituals 466
Craft 289 Terrestrial Circle Spells 471
Momentum 292 Celestial Circle Spells 476
Repairing and Reforging 294 Solar Circle Spells 480
Power 297 Sorcerous Workings 483
Dodge 299 Thaumaturgy 490
Integrity 303 Example Rituals 490
Investigation 311
Larceny 315
Chapter Eight: Antagonists 494
Linguistics 322 Quick Characters 494
Lore 330 Mortal Antagonists 496
Martial Arts 341 Strange Folk and Monsters 499
Medicine 341 The Dead 502
Melee 346 Spirits 508
Occult 354 Creatures of the Wyld 534
Sorcery 360 The Exalted 539
Performance 361 Animals 554
Omni-Applicable 361
Chapter Nine: The Grand Panoply 578
Utility 362
Oratory 364 The Resources System 578
Music and Singing 365 Mortal Weapons 580
Dance 366 Exceptional Weapons and Equipment 580
Acting 367 Artifacts 593
Voice 368 Hearthstones 603
Sex 368 Evocations 611
Presence 369 Example Artifacts and Evocations 614
 TRAITS
Survival
The pale wolf was huge, bigger than any beast should have
grown in the wild. Graceful Path did not know what had created
such a monster, but she knew she did not have the strength
left to fight it—her muscles groaned with exhaustion, her
Essence had dwindled like the flames of a dying candle, and
her spear lay abandoned beneath the waters of the river where
she fled from the Wyld Hunt. As the great hound advanced on
her, she reached into her pouch of rations, and offered the giant
a hunk of salted meat. “Come here, pup,” she said, forcing the
words through a dry throat. “You look hungry.”
By the end of the night, Graceful Path slept huddled against
the white fur of her new companion, safe and warm for the
first time she could remember.
Survival is the Ability used to traverse and survive in wil-
derness environments. It covers the basic rudiments of
outdoor survival, such as finding shelter, finding fresh
water, and gathering food, as well as tracking, navigation,
and handling animals.
Thrown
The satrap’s thugs spread out around Snow Blossom and the
boy, brandishing their clubs and swords as the only author-
ity they needed to “keep peace” in the high-walled capital.
“You think you can steal from Satrap V’neef and escape his
justice?” the shaggy-haired leader of the gang said—as if
freeing a slave was an act of theft. “We’ll have you—”
Snow Blossom’s patience had finally run out. Her hands
blurred through the air like a flight of doves, scattering num-
berless knives. Gently, she placed a hand over the child’s eyes,
so that he would not have to see the scarlet carnage left in
the wake of her attack. “I think it is time for us to depart.”
This Ability is important in combat.
Thrown is the Ability used for weapons designed to be
thrown at an enemy, rather than those which fire projec-
tiles. Throwing knives, shuriken, javelins, chakrams, and
nets are all used with this Ability.
War
Magnificent Rose Ligara surveyed the map of the battlefield
by torchlight, long after she had bid her soldiers sleep. After
a string of defeats, they needed the rest—morale was low,
and supplies lower still. If she did not win tomorrow, the
Walker’s army of marauding dead would break through the
last line of defense that kept them from the River Province.
Outnumbered by a dozen walking dead to every soldier she
commanded, the Dawn Caste had no chance of victory in a
fair fight. But Ligara had no intention of fighting fair. It had
cost hundreds of lives to secure the position she now held,
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and even her most loyal lieutenants questioned her wisdom.
Such a tactic flew in the face of every page of The Thou-
sand Correct Actions of the Upright Soldier. But Ligara
was resolute. On the next dawn, when the Walker’s sham-
bling legion reached her, they would have the high ground,
true—but their high ground had been the southern shore of
a saltwater sea in the First Age, and even today was rimed
with crystalline salt. And everyone knew what salt did to
undead flesh…
This Ability is important in combat.
War is the Ability of understanding strategy and tactics.
It is used both to direct the long-term progress of a war,
planning battles to gain the upper hand over enemy forces,
as well as to command the soldiers or warriors that serve
a character directly in battle.
Merits
Merits are special features that add distinction to char-
acters. Some Merits are physical advantages (such as
Strong Lungs), while others represent specific learned
aptitudes—additional languages the character knows how
to read and speak are a common example. Still other Merits
may represent social advantages, such as great wealth.
In addition to personal quirks and aptitudes, Merits also
represent unusual supernatural features and capabilities.
The most common source of such “Supernatural Merits”
is the transformative power of the Wyld—a gift few seek.
Other individuals might gain such features through divine
parentage, sorcerous experimentation, or the blessings
(or curses) of the many spirits of Creation. Supernatural
Merits may offer great power, but those which obviously
twist the mind or body also bring suspicion and hatred
from the majority of Creation’s residents, who fear the
mad touch of the Wyld.
Each Merit has a number of dots (•) associated with it.
These dots represent the number of points that must be
spent to purchase the Merit. Some Merits allow for a range
of dots (• to •••, for example). These allow players to pur-
chase a low or high rating as appropriate—and often to
raise low ratings over time during play.
All Merits can be purchased with Merit points or bonus
points during character creation. After character creation,
Merits fall into three categories, governing how they may
(or may not) be obtained during play. Certain magical
phenomena (especially the mutating power of the Wyld
or sorcerous projects) might occasionally violate these
rules, as described below.
 CHAPTER 4
Innate: Innate Merits can only be taken during character
generation, with Merit points or bonus points. They can
only be gained during play through some form of magical
intervention—it’s impossible to simply decide to cultivate
such Merits.
Purchased: In addition to being purchased at character
creation as normal, these Merits may be purchased or ad-
vanced for (new rating x 3) experience points during play.
You don’t have to pay for ratings that don’t do anything,
and so Boundless Endurance (••) would cost 6 experi-
ence, not 9. Purchased Merits with variable ratings must
be bought in sequence.
Story: Once play begins, these Merits may only be obtained
or advanced through the course of the story, at the Story-
teller’s discretion—Allies, for example, cannot be pur-
chased with experience points, but must be gained through
roleplaying and social influence.
Finally, some Merits have attached drawbacks—weak-
nesses or limitations inherent to their use or possession.
Standard Merits
These Merits are generally available to any character.
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Allies (•, •••, or •••••)—Story
This Merit may be re-purchased as many times as desired.
Each purchase grants the character a single noteworthy
Storyteller-controlled ally—a close friend or trusted com-
panion with some useful capabilities. The nature of this
ally must be defined at the time the Merit is purchased.
One dot grants a mortal or very minor supernatural ally,
who may possess useful contacts, political clout, refined
expertise, or other resources he is willing to put at the
character’s disposal, within reason. Three dots grants a
supernatural ally at least as powerful as a young Terres-
trial Exalt. Five dots grants a supernatural ally as power-
ful as one of the Celestial Exalted. The Storyteller has final
say over what constitutes a valid ally.
Drawback: Allies aren’t automatons or flunkies. They have
their own lives and concerns, and expect the character to
provide the same assistance to them that they provide to
her. A mistreated ally is likely to abandon the character
or even become her enemy.
Ambidextrous (• or ••)—Innate
The character doesn’t suffer a -1 penalty to actions using
his off-hand. The two-dot version of this Merit provides
 TRAITS
fully prehensile feet as well as hands. This Merit is common
to native Haltans, as well as the ape-men that inhabit the
jungle-choked First Age ruins now known as Mahalan-
ka—Lair of Raksi, Queen of Fangs.
Artifact (•• to •••••)—Story
This Merit may be re-purchased as many times as desired.
The character owns a magical item—see Chapter Nine for
more details.
A two-dot Artifact is a minor wonder with limited but still
supernatural usefulness, such as a goblet that nullifies any
poison within it, or a jeweled torc that keeps the wearer
fresh and clean in any circumstances. Many such items
were created in the First Age, and have become rare and
highly-valued commodities in the Age of Sorrows, lusted
after the wealthy and the mighty when they appear.
Three-dot Artifacts are what most individuals think of
when the word “artifact” is spoken—they are broadly pow-
erful wonders, such as most daiklaves, magical armor,
hypnotic cloaks, and the like.
Four-dot Artifacts are legends unto themselves, with
powers of significant complexity or depth. The most famous
Artfacts of this rating are “hundred-year daiklaves:”
weapons manufactured over a century of passion and toil,
and possessing truly formidable Evocations. Other such
Artifacts might include cloaks that allow their wearer to
ride the wind, or veils that scatter light and deflect the eye.
Five-dot Artifacts are legendary treasures in the Age of
Sorrows—magical vessels, lesser First Age siege weapons,
and legendary “thousand-year daiklaves.” Any character
coming into possession of such an item will be defined as
much by ownership of it as by any other element of his
personality or legend, and as such, five-dot Artifacts may
only be purchased with explicit Storyteller approval.
Artifacts of yet greater power may still be found in Cre-
ation on the rarest of occasions: mighty remnants of the
long-fallen First Age such as invincible warstriders, “ten
thousand-year daiklaves,” or magical warships. These are
considered to be rated Artifact N/A, and cannot be taken
during character creation by spending points—as these
items are of chronicle-defining power, they may only make
their way into a player’s possession if the player and Sto-
ryteller both want to spin a game around that story, or if a
player somehow forges or unearths such a world-shaking
miracle during play.
Backing (•• to ••••)—Story
This Merit may be re-purchased as many times as desired.
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The character enjoys official standing in an organization,
which is defined when this Merit is obtained. For example,
she might be a government minister, a military officer, a
Guild merchant, or a member of a spy network. Backing
represents the support the character can call upon from
the organization.
Two-dot Backing represents either a low-level position
within an organization of significant power (such as a
dues-paying Guildsman of no particular standing), or a
solid post in a less powerful organization, with most dis-
agreeable duties pawned off on subordinates (an officer
within the market guard of Gem).
Three-dot Backing represents middling rank in a power-
ful organization (a merchant prince of the Guild), or stand-
ing as one of the elite in a smaller organization (a captain
of the market guard).
Four-dot backing represents elite rank in a mighty orga-
nization (a Guild factor) with significant support.
Drawback: Backing represents membership rather than
leadership. Characters will have to answer to superiors
and uphold the duties of their station to retain it.
Boundless Endurance (••)—Purchased
Prerequisite: Stamina or Resistance •••
Steady as an ox, the character keeps on going long after
all others have dropped from exhaustion. The character
reduces the difficulty of all rolls to resist fatigue or remain
awake by 2.
Command (•• to •••••)—Story
This Merit may be re-purchased as many times as desired
to represent multiple distinct military detachments or truly
enormous military forces.
The character is the recognized commander of an orga-
nized military force of some sort—generally one composed
of ordinary mortal soldiers (traits for an average soldier
can be found on p. 496). This Merit’s rating determines
how great a force the character commands. For more in-
formation on battle groups, see pages 205-211. At two dots,
this Merit provides a military force of Size 3, Might 0, and
Average Drill.
At three dots, this Merit provides either a Size 3, Might 0
group with Elite Drill, or a Size 4-5, Might 0 group with
Average Drill.
At four dots, this Merit provides either a Size 4-5, Might
0 Group with Elite Drill, or two Size 5, Might 0 groups
 CHAPTER 4
with Average Drill. Alternately, it may provide a Size 3,
Might 0 battle group with Elite Drill and the traits of elite
rather than average troops.
At five dots, this Merit provides either a Size 5, Might 0
group with Elite Drill and the traits of elite rather than
average troops, or five Size 5, might 0 groups with Average
Drill, or two Size 5, Might 0 groups with Elite Drill.
Note: Taking the Command Merit indicates that the sol-
diers are personally loyal to the Exalt—that they are “her”
men, rather than forces belonging to an organization;
military forces of that sort are acquired through the
Backing Merit.
Contacts (•, •••, or •••••)—Story
This Merit may be re-purchased as many times as desired.
Each purchase grants the character a network of contacts
willing to feed him information. The player must specify
what sort of contacts he’s purchasing at the time the Merit
is gained. Examples might include contacts within the
Immaculate Order, the Delzahn nomads, the court of the
Tri-Khan of Chiaroscuro, the Guild, the craftsmen of
Nexus, House Mnemon, Western ship captains, the Lintha
family, a specific noble family of Port Calin, all noble fam-
ilies of Port Calin, or the smugglers of the Haslanti League.
One-dot contacts are generally confined to a single city-
state or similar region. Three-dot contacts may span a
broad area or indicate an organization with vast but spe-
cific reach and influence, while five-dot Contacts mean
that almost anywhere the character goes within a Direc-
tion, he’ll be able to find applicable contacts within the
purchased field.
Cult (• to •••••)—Story
The character is the object of organized veneration by a
group of mortals. Without additional magic, humans (in-
cluding the Exalted) cannot actually hear prayers direct-
ed at them, although when deep in meditation they can
feel the mute moth-wing fluttering of appeals, sacrifices,
and words of adoration whirling about them.
The rating of this Merit dictates the size of the character’s
cult and the power she can draw from its prayers. A one-dot
cult comprises only a few full-time priests and a handful
of devout worshipers. A two-dot cult spans several hundred
individuals, perhaps an entire large village. A three-dot cult
means the character is venerated throughout a significant
region, or perhaps openly rules a mighty city-state as its
god-king (although this would require additional Merits
to represent such influence). A four-dot cult means that an
entire nation honors the character; tens of thousands offer
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up prayers to her, and the Wyld Hunt has surely heard her
name. A five-dot cult spans much of a Direction; few Exalts
indeed may claim such a vast bounty of worship, and at
present, no Solar Exalt has yet done so in the Age of Sorrows.
The character may spend a Willpower point without ac-
tually losing the point a number of times per story equal
to her Cult rating. Higher Cult ratings exist, allowing the
character to spend one free Willpower point per scene,
but such veneration is reserved for the mightiest of spirits—
at present, no Exalt in the Second Age is so widely wor-
shiped, and very few even among the mightiest of gods
can boast such reverence.
Danger Sense (•••)—Innate
Prerequisite: Perception or Awareness •••
An indefinable “sixth sense” warns the character when
she is in danger—a definite asset in the Time of Tumult!
She enjoys a bonus die on rolls to detect danger.
Demesne (•• or ••••)—Story
This Merit may be re-purchased as many times as desired.
The character controls a place of power in Creation. A
demesne is a wellspring of incredible geomantic power,
usually a site of incredible natural splendor. A demesne
might be the heart of a primeval forest, a crystal cavern
behind a mighty waterfall, a field of black glass where
desert abuts an ancient volcano, or any other place of clear
majesty and power. Most demesnes are strongly aspected
toward one of the five elements, but certain rare demesnes
resonate with the Essence of the sun or moon, of destiny,
or even of death.
A character attuned to a demesne who stands within its
boundaries enjoys certain benefits. Outside of combat, he
respires an additional two motes of Essence per hour, and
may reflexively roll (Perception + Occult, difficulty 3) to
sense any active expenditure of Essence within the de-
mesne’s boundaries. The demesne can also be used as a
Means for sorcerous workings which resonate with its
nature (pgs. 487-488), granting one extra interval.
As a four-dot Merit, the character gains control of an ex-
ceptionally powerful demesne. She respires four extra
motes per hour outside of combat, the difficulty to detect
Essence-use becomes 1, and using the demesne as a Means
grants two extra intervals.
Direction Sense (•)—Innate
The character is never completely lost, and is able to natu-
rally determine her orientation relative to the five Poles. In
addition to always knowing her facing and acting as a living
 TRAITS
compass, she lowers the difficulty on attempts to navigate
toward a fixed, known location or to retrace her steps by 2.
Eidetic Memory (••)—Innate
The character enjoys near-perfect recall, adding one au-
tomatic success to all attempts to remember details from
previous scenes and events.
Familiar (• to •••)—Story
This Merit may be re-purchased as many times as desired.
Creation is filled with beasts both prosaic and exotic, and
the character has formed a deep and profound bond with
one of them. Although the familiar is (probably) no more
able to speak the languages of men than any other beast,
the character can roughly understand the chirps, pawings,
barks, and gesticulations of his animal companion, and
the familiar understands the character’s commands in
turn. He can even share his familiar’s senses by concen-
trating and taking no other actions, so long as the familiar
is somewhere within long range (see p. 197) of him.
One dot in this Merit provides a relatively weak familiar,
such as a squirrel, owl, cat or dog. Two dots provides a
formidable or useful beast, such as a riding animal or
vicious predator—horses, simhata, tigers, and omen dogs
are all appropriate two-dot familiars. Three dots provides
a familiar that is in some way overtly exceptional or
magical, such as one of the talking monkeys of Halta, an
ATTUNING TO A DEMESNE OR MANSE
It takes six hours of meditation and careful co-mingling
of Essence to attune to and claim ownership of an un-
claimed demesne. The owner of a demesne can reflex-
ively sense all attempts to attune to the demesne while
present, and may automatically block them, permit them
as sub-attunements which grant attunement benefits
without bestowing ownership, or may even allow own-
ership to be taken. She can also sever any existing at-
tunements with a moment’s concentration and a diffi-
culty 3 (Wits + Occult) roll. While the owner remains
attuned but not present, she may remotely sense at-
tempts to attune to the demesne, but may not block
them; they automatically succeed as sub-attunements.
Attunement to (and ownership of) a demesne fades
(character’s Essence) weeks after leaving its boundar-
ies. Attunement to a manse functions in the same
fashion, save that it takes (character’s Essence) months
for attunement to lapse, and attunement will never lapse
if the character is carrying the manse’s Hearthstone.
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armored and fire-breathing ox mutated by the Wyld, a
super-predator like a tyrant lizard, or a God-Blooded stal-
lion fathered by the horse god Hiparkes.
Fast Reflexes (•••)—Purchased
Prerequisite: Wits •••
Tempered by war or perhaps by growing up living on the
edge, the character’s steady nerves give him an advantage
in battle. He adds one additional die to Join Battle rolls.
Fleet of Foot (••••)—Purchased
Prerequisite: Dexterity •••
The character is particularly swift and nimble, moving
through the world like a shadow racing the light. She adds
one additional die to all rolls depending on sheer foot
speed, most notably rush, disengage, and withdraw actions
(see p. 197-199).
Followers (• to •••)—Story
This Merit may be re-purchased as many times as desired.
Each purchase represents a number of mortal followers
with some particular form of expertise that have flocked
to the character’s banner. The nature of these followers
must be decided upon each time this Merit is purchased.
Examples might include bureaucrats, bodyguards, assas-
sins, merchants, spies, entertainers, smiths, or astrologers.
Such followers are of average to above-average skill in
their professions (two or three dot Ability ratings), but
are personally loyal to the character (rather than to an
organization the character might have Backing from, or
might lead through Influence), and might be trained to
greater expertise over time.
One dot grants up to a dozen followers, two grants up to
50, while three grants a group of up to a hundred.
Giant (••••)—Innate
Prerequisite: Stamina •••
The character is enormous, standing somewhere between
seven and a half to ten feet in height. Her great size grants
an extra -0 health level. This Merit may also be gained as
a result of Wyld mutation.
Drawback: The character’s great size is very distinct, im-
posing a -3 penalty on all disguise rolls to pass as anyone
of lesser stature, and making the character memorable
wherever she goes.
Hearthstone (•• or ••••)—Story
This Merit may be re-purchased as many times as desired.
 CHAPTER 4
This Merit bestows ownership of a hearthstone—a gem
formed of concentrated geomantic Essence, bearing potent
magical powers. Most hearthstones radiate broad mystical
benefits into the region surrounding them, but some rarer
stones have more concentrated or direct powers, or even
hide a handful of potent Evocations within their depths.
Most hearthstones are deliberately formed through Essence
concentration in manses, but a few hearthstones naturally
form in demesnes or at sites where Essence has worked
prodigious miracles upon the land. If a hearthstone is linked
to a manse, and the manse’s owner places the hearthstone
in a specially-designed socket in an attuned artifact, then
the character enjoys the benefits of standing within the
manse wherever she goes (see the Manse Merit, p. 163).
Two dots in this Merit represents the power of most
hearthstones in Creation, while four dots provides a greater
hearthstone from an exceptionally powerful manse or
demesne.
Hideous (0 dots)—Innate
This Merit has no cost, and may be taken for free.
The character is memorably ugly, possibly as a result of
overt deformity, disfiguring scars, inhuman mutations, or
just being born that way. His Appearance does not measure
how attractive he is; instead, the more dots of Appearance
he has, the more intimidatingly horrid he looks. The char-
acter adds his Appearance bonus (p. 218) to attempts to
threaten or intimidate, rather than to instill and persuade
actions.
Drawback: The character subtracts his Appearance rating
from most seduction attempts.
Influence (• to •••••)—Story
This Merit may be re-purchased as many times as desired.
This Merit reflects a character’s standing and pull in
society. It might derive from political office, notoriety,
leadership of an organization, military conquest, or from
awe or fear of the character’s displayed power. Whatever
the reason, people take heed of the character’s wants and
will. Most Exalted eventually gain some degree of Influ-
ence, if they don’t start with it.
One dot describes a figure of local note—a tribal family
head, a respected physician, a known sorcerer, or the
owner of a very popular teahouse.
Two dots describes a figure of some pull in the city-state
or satrapy where he resides—a politically connected mag-
istrate, a shipping magnate, a mercenary company leader
with an important contract.
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EX3
Three dots describes an influential character, very impor-
tant to the region in which he resides: a royal advisor, a
general, a tribal chief, a merchant prince with investments
everywhere in the region.
Four dots describes a major regional power, whose words
carry great weight, and who may possibly rule a small city
directly. This also represents leaders of tribal alliances,
the right hands of princes, and Lunar Exalted who openly
live as gods.
Five dots describes a character of vast influence, likely the
ruler of a city-state with influence on neighboring princi-
palities. Alternately, the character might be a widely-feared
warlord, or the Lunar god-king of an all-consuming horde.
It is possible, though difficult, to cultivate Influence of dif-
ferent sorts in multiple regions simultaneously.
Iron Stomach (•)—Purchased
Prerequisite: Stamina or Resistance •••
The character can digest almost anything edible, from live
insects and brackish water to raw meat or spoiled rations.
She enjoys a -2 difficulty on Survival rolls to forage for
herself, as well as Resistance rolls to recover from food
poisoning.
Language (•)—Purchased
This Merit may be re-purchased as many times as desired.
Each purchase grants the character fluency in one lan-
guage in addition to his native tongue. If the character
possesses Linguistics 1+, then they are also literate in any
written forms of the language.
The ‘civilized’ inhabitants of each of the outer Directions
speak a different language (actually a number of close-
ly-related regional dialects), while the Scavenger Lands
has its own particular language and the mighty Realm has
two official languages. There are also countless local lan-
guages that are only spoken by tribal or ethnic groups
spread around Creation’s rim.
The major languages of Creation are:
• High Realm: The formal language of Dynasts and pa-
tricians of the Blessed Isle, as well as their servants. All
official business of the Realm is conducted in High Realm.
Its written form is a phonetic alphabet of complex brush
work characters.
• Low Realm: The tongue of the Realm’s commoners,
generally constituting local bastardizations of High
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Realm drifted into near-incomprehensibility to outsid-
ers. It shares the written stylings of High Realm, but
often uses simplified character depictions which can be
rendered without brushes or careful calligraphy.
• Old Realm: The native language of the spirits and those
that created them, as well as of the Fair Folk. It was
widely spoken in the First Age, especially by savants
and sorcerer-engineers, and used for many official
documents. Characters must have Lore 1+ or Occult 1+
to learn this language. There exist several styles for
writing Old Realm, the most extravagant of which is a
complex glyphic system where symbol arrangement is
as important as symbol choice, and the same phrase
might be read in several ways, often as a deliberate
choice by the writer intended to impart subtle and
layered meaning.
• Dragontongue: Derived from recovered elements of a
priestly language that was lost during the shogunate,
luminaries of House Mnemon birthed and spread this
language over the course of two centuries. It is a mix of
Old Realm and High Realm, with elements of a lost sho-
gunate tongue, and excludes the mind from the wider,
more dangerous concepts inherent to Old Realm, keeping
a person in mind of the Dragons, the Poles, the natural
world and the Perfected Hierarchy. It is a beautiful lan-
guage more than a scholarly one, and even in satrapies
which have been thoroughly suppressed by the Realm,
there is a rush by savants and poets to learn this language
of poets and princes. Its written form utilizes very chal-
lenging yet beautiful brushstrokes.
• Riverspeak: The language of the Scavenger Lands. The
Guild has promoted this loanword-filled tongue as the
unofficial “trade language” of the Threshold; it is prob-
ably the most widely-understood language in Creation.
Its written form employs a simple glyphic alphabet whose
characters can easily be shaped with a quill, stylus, or
even a stick of charcoal.
• Skytongue: A language family spoken in the North. Its
written form employs a simple runic alphabet.
• Flametongue: A language family spoken in the South.
Its written form employs a sophisticated alphabet of
flowing lines and curves; meaning can be greatly influ-
enced by the manner in which characters connect to
one another.
• Forest-tongue: A language family spoken in the East,
beyond the bounds of the Scavenger Lands. Its written
form consists of a wide array of branching ideograms,
connected vertically and diagonally.
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• Seatongue: A language family spoken in the West. Its
written form consists of a simple alphabet of lines and
dots whose connection to one another can be exceed-
ingly complex.
• Guild Cant: A secret language spoken only by members
of the Guild. Its written form is composed of simple
horizontal and vertical lines, designed to be able to be
written quickly and unobtrusively when necessary.
• Local Tongues: Creation contains countless languages
spoken by specific “barbarian” tribes, insular ethnic en-
claves, isolated island-dwellers, and various other small
groups. Four such languages may be learned with a single
Merit purchase.
Manse (••• or •••••)—Story
This Merit may be re-purchased as many times as desired.
The character owns a manse—a magnificent magical tower,
fortress, palace, or estate raised atop a demesne and designed
to capture and channel its power. Many manses are designed
to express minor magical powers to enhance the beauty or
comfort of the building, such as columns of free-standing
water filled with colorful fish, or floors which stay warmed
with channeled fire Essence even in the depths of winter.
In addition to ownership of the manse itself, possessing
this Merit at three dots provides the benefits of both the
Demesne Merit (p. 160) and the Hearthstone Merit (p.
161), at two dots each, for no additional cost. With five
dots, the character is the owner of a manse raised atop an
exceptionally powerful demesne, with a concomitantly
powerful hearthstone (replicating the benefits of the four-
dot Demesne and Hearthstone Merits).
Mentor (• to •••)—Story
Another individual of greater experience regularly teaches
and advises the character. Mentors may provide advice,
assistance, and even training in mundane or magical fields.
A one-dot mentor is an expert within a particular note-
worthy field, such as languages, swordplay, sorcery, or
martial arts. A two-dot mentor is an expert in several
notable fields, and may be an individual of notable power
or influence. A three-dot mentor is a master of many things,
as well as a significant regional power or universally re-
spected authority in his areas of expertise.
Martial Artist (••••)—Purchased
Prerequisite: Brawl •
The character has undergone systematic training in at
least one formal combat art. Perhaps she was raised as an
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Immaculate monk, or studied in a dojo during her jour-
neys. This Merit allows the character to purchase the
Martial Arts Ability.
Mighty Thew (• to •••)—Purchased
Prerequisite: Strength •••
The character can lift and carry incredible weight. When
attempting a feat of strength (see pgs. 228-229) the char-
acter adds his rating in this Merit to the attempt’s dice pool.
Natural Immunity (••)—Innate
Prerequisite: Stamina •••
Whether naturally hardy or blessed by a spirit, the char-
acter never seems to contract minor ailments such as the
common cold, and easily bounces back from nastier af-
flictions. The character reduces the difficulty of all rolls
to resist infection, sickness and disease by 2.
Pain Tolerance (••••)—Purchased
Prerequisite: Resistance ••••
While the character still feels pain, he’s better at coping
with it than most. -2 wound penalties are reduced to -1,
while -4 wound penalties are reduced to -3.
Quick Draw (• or ••••)—Purchased
Prerequisite: Archery, Brawl, Melee, Martial Arts, or
Thrown •••
The character possesses the lightning draw of a deadly
duelist. At one dot, she suffers no Defense penalty for taking
a draw/ready weapon action. At four dots, if she flurries a
draw/ready weapon action and an attack action, the flurry
penalty is reduced to -1 rather than -3. This Merit must be
purchased separately for each of the attack Abilities.
Retainers (•• or ••••)—Story
This Merit may be re-purchased as many times as desired.
Each purchase grants the character a single Storyteller-
controlled servant, an expert in their field with notewor-
thy and useful abilities. The nature of this servant must
be defined at the time the Merit is purchased. They might
be a courtesan, bodyguard, assassin, advisor, or even high
priest of the character. Retainers are outstanding experts
in their profession (four or five dot Ability ratings plus at
least one applicable specialty), and are personally loyal to
the character (or at least strongly motivated not to betray
or abandon him).
Two dots grants a mortal or minor supernatural ally (such
as a God-Blooded assassin or demonic advisor of the First
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Circle), who may possess useful contacts or experience,
political clout, martial prowess, or other resources he is
willing to lay on the line at the character’s bidding.
Four dots grants a supernatural ally at least as powerful
as a young Terrestrial Exalt, though always weaker than
the character himself—peers are best represented as Allies
rather than Retainers.
Resources (• to •••••)—Story
This Merit describes a character’s finances. Each dot rep-
resents an economic bracket and grants a standard income.
The source of this wealth must be detailed (rents on prop-
erty, sharecropping, government stipend, banditry), since
it may vary as the game plays out. Most Exalted have little
difficulty accumulating some Resources if they wish, but
it often makes the most sense when taken in concert with
another Merit like Backing or Cult.
One dot indicates less than 1 shekel a year in jade, less
than 64 koku a year in cash, or less than 60 dinars a year
in silver—up to four times the expected income of a house-
hold with two skilled working adults (see “The Silver
Standard,” p. 77). It’s appropriate to agrarian landlords,
respected mortal craftsmen or artisans, renowned per-
formers, successful small merchants, mid-ranking crimi-
nals in urban cartels, or local government officials.
Two dots indicates roughly a mina per year in jade, 128
koku in cash, or 100 dinars in silver—around twice the
income provided by the previous level. It’s appropriate
for urban slumlords, gang bosses, high-ranking local gov-
ernment officials, famous mortal artisans and performers,
successful regional trade investors, or the stipend of a
Realm patrician.
Three dots indicates a talent or less per year in jade; 8,000
koku in cash; or under 5 talents per year in silver—more
than fifty times the income of the previous level. This level
of Resources represents a take in the spoils of empire. It’s
the income of the heads of established patrician houses,
large cartels, or Guild merchant princes, and is also the
usual discretionary stipend or income for Dynasts. These
characters are usually economies unto themselves, with
entourages who help manage their assets and depend on
them for a living. Beyond three dots, it’s unusual for a
fortune to be measured in cash—most of the independent-
ly wealthy bond their riches in silver or real or ledger jade.
Four dots indicates an income of 4-6 talents per year in
jade; 16,000-50,000 koku per year in cash; or 20-30 talents
per year in silver. Successful Dynasts and well-off patri-
cians sometimes possess this level of Resources, as do
successful Guild merchant princes, the most fortunate
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scavenger lords, rulers of small Threshold states, and
mortal craftsmen with skills of singular value to the
Chosen—for example, renowned mortal manse architects.
Five dots indicates an income of 12-20 talents per year in
jade; 96,000-160,000 koku per year in cash; or 60-100
talents per year in silver. The heads of the richest patri-
cian families, renowned and successful Dynasts (often
serving vital positions within their Houses), established
Guild factors, and the rulers of powerful Threshold king-
doms possess this level of personal wealth.
Selective Conception (•)—Innate
The character enjoys full conscious control over his or
her fertility, never running the risk of unwanted pregnan-
cy. Perhaps this is the result of years of cultivated control
of body and Essence, a divine blessing, or simply the benefit
of lucky birth. Both sexes may withhold fertility when
they wish. Female characters may pay one Willpower to
ensure conception, and will automatically know when
they’re pregnant; male characters do not gain this benefit.
Strong Lungs (•)—Purchased
Prerequisite: Athletics •••
The character is practiced at holding her breath for long
periods of time, like the famed pearl divers of the West.
She may hold her breath for (Stamina + Athletics) minutes
before she begins to suffocate or drown; under duress,
this becomes ([Stamina + Athletics] x 2) rounds.
Tempered by the Elements (••)—Purchased
Due to her upbringing, the character is at home navigating
a certain harsh environment, selected when this Merit is
taken. The character is able to cross one type of difficult
terrain (such as deep snow, thick jungle, or broken ruins) at
normal speed. While this Merit can be taken more than
once, very few characters ever do so, as it takes years of in-
timate familiarity to cultivate—a mere few months spent in
a swamp or on the tundra is inadequate to foster such skill.
Toxin Resistance (•••)—Purchased
Prerequisite: Stamina or Resistance •••
Perhaps the character is a poison taster, or perhaps she is
simply hardier than most. Regardless, she adds two dice
to rolls to resist poisons (see p. 232-233).
Drawback: The character’s body can’t tell the difference
between recreational toxins and intentional ones. It’s very
difficult for her to become intoxicated.
Supernatural Merits
These Merits bestow supernatural capabilities, and may
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generally only be obtained by magical means. The most
common source of supernatural Merits in Exalted is ex-
posure to the Wyld. Few seek out such power, both due
to the unpredictability of the Wyld’s blessings, and because
of the extreme stigma attached to obvious Wyld mutation
throughout Creation.
These Merits are primarily presented to represent the
warping power of the Wyld, and to aid Storytellers in
putting together beastfolk, Wyld mutants, or similar char-
acters. It’s very uncommon for individuals with such
Merits to experience Solar Exaltation, but not unheard
of. Characters can only begin play with supernatural
Merits with explicit permission from the Storyteller.
Chameleon (•••)—Innate
The character can change the color and pattern of her
skin to match her surroundings. She adds a die to Stealth
rolls, and to Survival rolls to hunt for game. If she’s not
wearing any clothes, add two dice.
Drawback: When the character is nervous or stressed, she
must make a Willpower roll (difficulty 1) to keep her skin
from reflexively shifting a few shades toward the domi-
nant color of the surroundings, giving her away as a likely
Wyld mutant.
Claws/Fangs/Hooves/Horns (• or ••••)—Innate
The character gains some form of natural weaponry, gen-
erally in the form of horns, or short but sharp claws and
fangs. The one dot version of this Merit allows the char-
acter to inflict lethal rather than bashing damage with
either unarmed decisive strikes or decisive savaging
attacks during a grapple (the latter represents fangs). The
four-dot version of this Merit grants larger, more danger-
ous natural weapons, allowing the character’s strikes or
bites to both inflict lethal damage when savaging, and to
be treated as a medium weapon for withering attacks.
Drawback: Natural weaponry granted by the four-dot
version of this Merit imposes a -1 penalty on disguise at-
tempts.
Enhanced Sense (•••)—Innate
One of the character’s senses becomes preternaturally
acute, like that of a wild animal. The character adds two
dice to all Perception rolls related to that sense.
Drawback: This Merit is physically obvious in unusual eye
color or shape, large ears, an elongated nose, or some other
similar mutation.
Exalted Healing (•••••)—Innate
The character heals quickly and perfectly, with no risk of
 CHAPTER 4
lingering complications. Only the most grievous of inju-
ries leave any hint of scarring, and the character’s healing
is like a slow form of regeneration, flawlessly mending
severed muscles and nerves, torn ligaments, and shattered
bones. Unless a body part is completely severed or de-
stroyed, it is restored to perfect working condition once
healed. Finally, the character’s wounds never become in-
fected. For more detail on healing from injuries, see page
173. All Exalted possess this Merit at no cost. Spirits
also universally possess this Merit, as do the Fair Folk.
Extra Limbs (•••)—Innate
The character possesses more than the normal allotment
of limbs—generally in the form of extra arms or legs, but
stranger manifestations are possible, such as prehensile
tentacles or even an extra head. In all cases, the result is
the same—when the character performs a flurry, one of
her actions (of the player’s choice) suffers only a -1 rather
than a -3 penalty.
Gills (0 or •••)—Innate
The character possesses visible gills somewhere on his
body, and may breathe comfortably underwater. The free
version of this Merit causes the character’s lungs to
atrophy, preventing him from breathing air; out of water,
he begins suffocating after (Stamina x 5) minutes. The
three dot version makes the character amphibious, able
to breathe equally well above or below the water’s surface.
Poisoned Body (•, ••, or •••••)—Innate
The character’s body is toxic in some way. This poison is
equivalent to snake venom (p. 234), and the character is
naturally immune to his own toxin.
For one dot, the character’s blood is poisonous, and must
be ingested to inflict damage.
For two dots, all of the character’s bodily fluids are poison-
ous, and can be applied through ingestion or intimate contact.
For five dots, the character’s blood becomes a contact poison.
Anyone inflicting two or more levels of lethal damage on
the character with a single attack, or grappling him when
he has suffered lethal damage during the scene, must make
a difficulty 3 (Wits + Dodge) roll to avoid being poisoned.
Drawback: This Merit tends to be its own drawback, since
it can’t be turned off.
Quills (•••••)—Innate
The character’s body bristles with sharp quills in the
manner of a porcupine. Her unarmed decisive attacks
inflict lethal damage, her withering savage becomes a
medium weapon and likewise inflict lethal damage when
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used decisively, and anyone attempting to initiate a clinch
against the character automatically loses one point of Ini-
tiative per round of grappling.
Drawback: Disguise attempts suffer a -5 penalty, and close
physical contact with others—of any sort—becomes dif-
ficult at best.
Subtlety (••)—Innate
Prerequisite: Another physically obvious Supernatural
Merit, such as claws, quills, or extra limbs.
This Merit may be purchased as many times as desired.
Subtlety must be attached to another already-purchased
Supernatural Merit; it makes that Merit non-obvious to
observers when not in use. Examples might include fully
retractable claws, extra limbs which fold up into easi-
ly-concealed pouches or cavities on the character’s body,
or gills that close up tight enough to be invisible when not
in use. The Wyld is rarely kind enough to bestow this
Merit on those who feel its touch; it is most commonly
granted as a blessing of the Fair Folk to their human ser-
vants, though some sorcerers have also studied the art of
infusing subtlety into the works of the Wyld.
Tail (• to ••)—Innate
The character has a tail, which might be scaly, furred,
tufted, or fleshy like a rat. For one dot, the tail adds two
dice to attempts to maintain balance. For two dots, the tail
is also prehensile, and may act as a fully functional limb,
although it suffers a -1 off-hand penalty. The tail may be
hidden under clothes, although this negates its benefits.
Thaumaturgist (••••)—Innate
The character is able to wield a certain small magic, possi-
bly as part of an ancient tradition, possibly as a unique prodigy
of the world. No one can quite say why one individual is
gifted with thaumaturgy while tens of thousands aren’t;
perhaps the character is the seventh son of a seventh son,
was blessed in the womb by a powerful god, or was simply
born under a confluence of auspicious (or inauspicious…)
signs. For more information on thaumaturgy, see pgs 490-
491. Exalted characters who take the Charm Terrestrial
Circle Sorcery (see pgs. 360-361) gain this Merit at no cost.
Unusual Hide (• to •••••)—Innate
One of the most common mutations bestowed by the Wyld,
this Merit grants an unusually resilient hide of some sort.
The character gains additional points of natural soak equal
to the Merit’s value. One or two dots generally represents
fur, feathers, leaves, or light scales. Three dots indicate
flesh far beyond the human norm—the leathery hide of a
rhino or crocodile, or the exoskeletal carapace of an insect,