Exalted Online

The Blossoming Soul Style was created by a powerful Zenith exalt, his plan was to create a style that reflected the inner self of those who practiced it, he failed. Instead the style unlocks the spirit within the users weapon and conformed it to her will. Everyone who learns this style learns something slightly different as the exalts will bends her weapon into something new. Officially this style died in the usurpation, but even before then it was losing favor as its creator despised it as an imperfection in the perfect world he wished to create. A select few Sidereal exalted have learned this style, though they haven’t taught it to any younger exalts because of what it’s rumored to be capable of unleashing, it is possible that records of this style have survived and masters in creation as well as less savory areas know the style. An unknown fact about this style is it was created not by a zenith, but rather a powerful demon who influenced the zeniths thoughts while he was creating Blossoming Soul. It is a testament to the power of a person’s spirit to learn this style and stay uncorrupted, many martial artist loose themselves in the quest to unlock more of their hidden power. The demon created it to awaken a destructive force within a solar, though its plan failed due to the usurpation, with the return of the Solar exalted, its possible that his plan could come to fruition.

Weapons and Armor: This style has no set form weapon, instead the martial artist chooses one type of mortal weapon, and that becomes his form weapon, this style cannot be used with weapons made of any sort of magical material or bare fists, the student may choose to use two weapons as his form weapon only if they are the same weapon (such as two short swords) and if he can use them one handed choosing to duel wield removes the -1 offhand penalty. This style is incompatible with armor.

Special: All users of this style have an energy type that appears when using charms with the Obvious Keyword from this tree, the players of characters should look at their virtues, concept and motivation also the general personality of their character when choosing the look of their energy displays, a violent Lunar exalts display may be a cloud of red mist or crackles of black lighting, while a caring twilight might have a breeze of sakura blossoms. Additionally should the character ever be disarmed while using charms of this style the character suffers a number of unsoakable lethal dice equal to the amount of scene long charms of this style he has active.

Complimentary Abilities: This style is not a normal martial art, most of its charms aid the exalted in a way other than most, as such the exalt must be versed in another martial art style (have up to the form) or have 3 points in any other combat skill (melee, archery, thrown). Additionally much to the ire of the demon who created this style, no one would teach it to a student that isn’t virtuous for fear of what might become of a weaker minded individual, anyone who wishes to learn this style from a teacher (sidereal or other master) must have compassion 3 and conviction or valor 3.

The Usurpation resulted in the loss of much knowledge, transforming from practiced arts to things of story and legend. The Raging Storm Style was developed in an attempt to recreate the forgotten Seven Dancing Thunders Style, which was a means to emulate the raw fury and power that is in a electrical storm.

An old lunar Sifu who had in depth understanding of the weather and storm, took the fragments of this lost style and gave birth to the Raging Storm Style. The new style, still focused upon the raw electrical power of a storm, but also incorporated the other strong forces which it held.

The "form weapons" for the style are fighting gauntlets and iron boots, and the artifact versions of them (Smashfists and God-Kicking Boots). It is also compatible with armors which have 0 mobility penalty, as the martial artist should be free to move around.  The DV, which can exceed normal charm adder limits, and attack bonus provided by the Martial Arts Charms stack with each other if their durations are running simultaneously.

This style was founded shortly after the Great Contagion, by a Chosen of Venus named Whispering Willow, who was dedicated to helping the survivors of the calamity. While traveling between cities, he stumbled upon a hunting party from a small hamlet, who had cornered a bear and her cubs. While it pained him to see such a noble creature about to be brought down, he understood the necessity of it. What he wasn't expecting however was the ferocity of the mother protecting her cubs. He watched as the party of five men were brought low beneath the savage beatings of her paws, tossed aside to be broken on the trees and rocks around them. Whispering Willow stood in awe as the victorious mother bear gathered her cubs and lead them back into the woods, and was inspired to create this martial art.

Celestial Bear Style uses hammers and maces, both individually and used in pairs, to simulate the battering paws of the bear, as well as their artifact equivalents. This style may be practiced in armor.

The staff is one of the humblest weapons, and one of the most easily overlooked. This is especially true in a world where great warriors wield swords larger than a mortal man. The mongoose is similarly humble, but can fell the mightiest vipers. Many martial artists seek to emulate the noble rodent, and have adopted the simple staff in this pursuit. The staff flows naturally from attack to defense, just as the mongoose can launch into a flurry of violence from seeming calmness. Practitioners of Nimble Mongoose extend this to themselves, trying to emulate the adaptability of the staff and their chosen animal in their endeavors. Students will frustrate opponents with their flowing defenses and evasion, only to strike swiftly and decisively when the opportunity presents itself.

Weapons and Armor: Nimble Mongoose focuses on swift evasive movements, and so cannot be practiced with armor. The form weapons are mundane and artifact staves.

Complementary Skills: Students of the Nimble Mongoose have to be quick on their feet, and so need two dots in Dodge and Athletics in order to learn the style’s charms. Practitioners generally acquire a large range of skills on their travels to expand their adaptability.

"If you take anything with you during your training here with me are these three lessons. Patience is your ally, time has no meaning, and every obstacle can be overcome no matter how difficult the task is if you keep at it." - Mountain Turtle of the Bottomless West, Founder of the Snapping Turtle Style

Long ago, there was an traveling band of three. One was a Moon Child, another a Sun Child and the third was a Child of Gaia. Each of the three could never come to agreement over anything and each never knew patience. Each had a varying opinion on what was the right course of action and what their hearts led them to believe. One day they traveled north of the isles wandering the trails laid out upon the pillar of earth and found a path each never saw before. They traveled it together arguing all the way down until the mountain met the oceans of the west. They saw it shift from craggy rocks and stone hewn trails to the sandy shores of beach. Atop the stones that remained as the waves pounded relentlessly upon was an elderly man who looked to be one of the mountain folk, just sitting there watching the beach without a single word uttered.

All three of them looked about to each other unsure of what to make of the man who seemed to be more like a statue. Each one asked the old soul what was he looking at, what was he doing here and every time the answer was unspoken. He simply said, "Im waiting for something to happen." Each of them didn't like the answer and demanded to know the real answer to their questions. The old man spoke and said "Wait and see if you are so curious.". So they did each of them beginning to debate on what was so important. The old man interjected after a few moments to say "Shush now, you'll only prolong it if you do not show patience."

They grew silent, hours seemed to pass by for them for they were utterly uncomfortable with waiting and being silent for so long. Every time they tried to break the silence the man shushed them. Soon they saw a triad of snapping turtles each of difference in size and shell shape crawl from the waves and slowly make their way up to the beach. They each looked to the old man and asked him of what import is this. The old man simply replied "Who said it had to be of vital importance? Sometimes enjoying the small things allow you to better apperciate the larger things. Secondly showing the patience and devotion to see something through to its end allows you to overcome anything. I ask of you now. Which of these three creatures do you find to be the most appealing?"

The Dragon Blooded chose the smallest as it reached its goals the swiftest. The Lunar chose the most aggressive that constantly nipped at the other competitors to become the superior of the three. The Solar chose the sturdiest looking one because of the fact it didn't care about anything else save to reach the end of its journey. The old man rubbed his chin curiously as he then would inform them that all three of their answers are right. "One always must keep moving even if bit by bit towards their goal lest it never be reached. Yet they must be aggressive to prove they are deserving to reach the end of the journey. However they must never stray from the path they set for themselves lest they forget why they take the next step." They reflected upon these lessons for but a moment each shutting their eyes as the sea air filled their lungs.

When they opened their eyes, they saw they were at the base of the mountain where they had began as the morning sun greeted each of the three exalts. Each of them told of the exact same dream and what they saw. Each of them were enlightened and inspired by this dream to make a form in homage to their sudden realization. They came to an agreement for the first time in their travels. Each of them would coincide to make this style and perfect it. Thus it came to pass that the Snapping Turtle Style was born. Each who practice the style in some way or another each tell of a dream involving an elderly man who imparts the enlightenment upon them. Be it by scroll, mentor, or memory crystal the dream comes.

Form Weapons and Armor: The Snapping Turtle uses his shell for both defense and offense. The buckler shield, target shield and razor shield are considered martial arts weapon for the Disciples of the Turtle. Also they consider armor that shares the hard outer shell of the turtle to be allowed with the style spiritually and as such will often wear any army that is rigid and unmoving in form. Such as breastplates, superheavy plate, articulated plate, plate and chain and the like. However they spiritually reject armor that functions by bending or flexing as it is not the turtles way for example chain shirts, buff jackets, lameliar, chain hauberk and chain swathing.