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Adored

Exalted

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Trusted

Nella Herault, later Creede, had loved stories all her life. At only seventeen arcs old, she was an exceptional teller of tales and amazed people with the depth of imagery and emotion she could weave into her seemingly boundless arsenal of anecdotes, legends and epic tales. She'd always had a vivid imagination and the ability to see the stories she wove; and her parents often accused her of living more in the realm of fantasy than she ever did in reality. She couldn't and didn't disagree.

The night that the stranger visited her was to Nella, a night much like any other. During the Rharnian 12 trials of Zi'da festival, there was mulled wine and hearty snacks being sold by vendors on the snow-filled streets. In one of her favorite taverns, she sat with her friends and as they so often did, they asked her to tell them a story. And of course she was happy to oblige them.

Within moments, the whole tavern was captivated by the young woman who seemed to make the characters she wove come to life. It was quiet while she spoke, but Nella's eyes were fixed on him. One man sat and listened to her; tall and dark of hair with deep brown eyes. She didn't know it, of course, but it was Cassion himself who watched her and he found himself as enraptured as the others.

But not for the same reason.

The teller of tales saw the story of Nella Creede unfolding as she spoke. Not the wonders she wove, though her skill with words made him smile, but the one that was hers. She would give him a son, he knew right then, and that son would leave a mark on Idalos, be part of the Great Tale. Bursting with pride, the Immortal turned his charms on the young woman who stood at a crossroads.

Had he not got her with child during that brief but intense affair, Nella's story would have unfolded in a very different way. He saw it, there in front of her, as clear as a path before him. She would travel and see the world, living a long and happy life.

Or instead, she would give him a son and die young. But the son would go on and live more, do more, have more adventures and change the world more than Nella ever could. To the Immortal of Adventure, there wasn't any question.

Nella never knew who he was. Yet, even on that trial, she'd have made the same choice that Cassion did. By the time she knew she was pregnant, he'd moved on to the next adventure.

Hidden Truth Ability

Arlo's body acts an uncontrolled hot/cold meter on things unknown and for him, yet to be discovered. This ability might present itself in various ways, and change, apparently on a whim. Examples include negative mood changes as he moves away from something that has triggered the ability, and a sense of happiness or excited urgency when he moves closer to it. On the other hand, he may feel extremes in temperature as he moves away, but only be comfortable as he moves towards the source of this ability. He may experience physical discomfort or increased / extreme hunger than is only satisfied while heading towards the Story As Yet Unknown.

Upon discovering the person, place or thing he was drawn to, it triggers a secondary part of the ability. Now at the place he needs to be, Arlo sees a physical story related to the "hidden truth" played out as a hologram. While usually only visible to him, he can choose to make it visible to others, but must concentrate to do so . This isn't a play by play of what happened, or a vision of the truth, but rather a story that could help Arlo find the truth.

The consequence of making a conscious choice not to seek out the unknown that is, in a sense, calling to him, may be that he suffers from random but stubborn hot and cold spells, and suffers more changes in mood that for him are unusual.

Ability Name Ability

Risk is, and has always been an important aspect of life for Cassion’s son. The larger the risk the greater the reward. In either case, with choice comes consequence. When faced with a physical risk, such as crossing a rickety bridge or leaping across a chasm that's much too wide, Arlo can focus his energies and use his Immortal heritage and Domain to beat the odds and succeed. And when faced with that challenge, something fundamentally changes in Arlo. Depending on the situation, he mentally and physically adjusts and adapts to the challenge. It may be a physical, emotional or mental consequence, a risk in and of itself. These changes could become permanent, should he fail to take the chance.

An example of physical change could be that at the sight of a ravine with a perfectly serviceable bridge, next to which is a place that seems narrow enough that Arlo possibly make the leap. Whle observing the riskier option that in essence calls to him, Arlo's bones become lighter and less dense, much like a bird's. If he chooses to take the risk, regardless of whether he succeeds or fails, his bones return to normal. But if he chooses to take the safer path, his bones remain that way until he returns to that same place and takes the riskier route. This would mean his bones may break more easily, but he is also lighter, in order to make things like climbing and jumping easier.

The same ability might even extend itself to the natural mechanisms that allow a cat to right itself when falling from various heights, and the unique way they are able to absorb the impact of hitting the ground from some height without sustaining the same serious injuries that a human, a dog or other four legged creature might. In this way, Arlo might be able to drop or jump from high places like rooftops or ledges, and come away with fewer injuries than other men or women might.

The physical change that would allow Arlo to 'do is the cat does', would rely on the same righting reflex that the cat does; a more flexible backbone, non-functioning collarbone and a unique apparatus in the inner ear. Since it is the inner which which is key to the reflex, should Arlo choose to forego the challenge, he will be plagued by a nagging case of vertigo until he returns and rises to the challenge.

A Cultured Man Ability

Imagery is the most personal of Arlo's Domains and it is in this that his similarities, and differences, from his Immortal father show through. This functions much like the Sojourner ability The Tale Told, but there is a key difference. When Arlo tells a story, his audience does not see the imagery he portrays to them. He does not pull them into his images, and instead they pull him into theirs. As he tells a story, Arlo can see the images of that story from the perspective of the audience.

This ability allows Arlo to understand the culture and nuance of the group he is in. As a Sojourner, when he gains the ability Any Land, Any Time, Arlo will be able to blend in anywhere, whether he's trying or not. Cassion's son, though, uses this ability to not just appear to fit in, but to understand the place. Appearances are not enough, this allows him to truly comprehend.

Acrobatics

Arlo Creede has 1 Acrobatics Capstone. Click the Heading above to see the rest of the Acrobatics Capstones information.

Storytelling

Arlo Creede has 1 Storytelling Capstone. Click the Heading above to see the rest of the Storytelling Capstones information.

Skill Achievements

• Letter of Metaphysics in Immortal History
  • Thread 1
  • Thread 2