Product Review

When Exalted hit the shelves, there was a great deal of expectation of White Wolf’s newest product. It was a brand-new world. Big pencil-strokes painted a new reality for White Wolf’s oldest and newest beasties. Werewolves, Vampires, Mages, Changelings… New names, new roles in the world, but the same old concepts.

But this would be a world with no Masquerade, no Veil, no Paradox… In Exalted’s Creation, normal humans are completely aware of the supernatural. The world is dark, filled with chaos, on the brink of total war. Surrounded by enemies. Filled with amazing fantasy, borrowed from Greek myth, and Japanese animé, elaborated within creative minds, probably rushing with caffeine during late-night gatherings.

It was new. It delivered. But something was left behind from the original concept. The first idea the developers had was to allow players to portray all of the Exalted. But, this was cast aside due to space problems. In its place, it was decided that all Exalted would have their own core books. Exalted: the Dragon-Blooded is the first one of these, aside from the main (Solar) Exalted book. It not only details the Terrestrial Exalted though, and goes on to cover the world of the Blessed Isle.

In the main book, Terrestrial Exalted seem fascinating; beings worshipped as gods fighting petty wars among themselves, but also grand battles against the forces that threaten the very world. But, like everything else, they are given minor space and we learn next to nothing about them. The Storyteller’s Companion adds a little extra to our knowledge, but still not a lot. They are a mighty ten thousand, while the other Exalted types’ numbers are in the hundreds. This book reveals all the ins and outs in their lives, spun together with the very empire they stand for.

The first few pages detail how the Realm was born (or re-born, as some might say). It is laid bare how the Empress managed to impress the rest of Creation and laid the seeds for a renewed world. Under her hand, the Realm rose like a phoenix from its ashes. What sacrifices did she make to accomplish this? What where her secrets? Why did she create the Dynastic lines? Is there a purpose to the corruption and injustice that plagues her land? For a White Wolf book, it’s astonishing how much is revealed about the Scarlet Empress and her empire. The reader gets a pretty accurate idea about the Realm’s transition from the ruined former Shogunate to the power it currently boasts at the moment.

The Realm’s everyday life is also detailed, with a precision that I found awesome. The school system haunted me. I got lots of ideas for running chronicles within the schoolyard! The peer pressure and competition reminds me of (the developer’s likely source) the Japanese schooling mentality. Parents show off their kids as a war trophy. They force them to shine and put the other kids to shame. They must be the absolute best, or they are a disgrace to the family’s honour.

On the other hand, every one of them is a spoiled brat who could use a week in Nexus or Gethamane. From childhood, the Dynast’s children are taught the importance of Exaltation and the demands of rank and nobility. I found also the four “universities” very interesting. Each one creates one kind of useful citizen (in many cases, Terrestrial Exalted citizen) for his or her kingdom. Bureaucrats, generals, priests, and, of course, wizards.

The closer look at the Blessed Isle’s society, schooling, religion and geography (very good ideas in that section. I particularly loved a village that worships the gone Empress and sacrifices children to appease her captors so that they accept to release her.) grows ideas like fertile soil grows crops.

The history of the Immaculate Order and it’s inter-weaving with the Realm is very believable and interesting. These are the guys that know the truth! The way they restrict their diet whenever they climb the enlightenment stairs rings very much of the Eastern culture, and shows, yet again, the level of precision this book aims at.

For the martial arts (and “power-tools”) fanatic, there’s a whole chapter devoted to styles unique to the Dragon-Blooded, and some of them restricted to the Immaculate Monks. Of course, you’ll also find that new tree-lines of whole new Charms have been created. These Charms arranged as to promote team work, and to maximize the Terrestrials’ limited Essence channelling.

One of the books I anticipated most in the Exalted line, and a must have for any Storyteller. Forget about using the Terrestrial Exalted as antagonists; as soon as you read about them, you wanna play them. These guys are so different from the Solar Exalted, that both are veritable different games. If you want to deal with the “civilized” side of the world of Exalted, in the so-called Age of Sorrows, this is the book for you. You won’t regret adding this fine sourcebook to your RPG collection.

Now, I must depart. The General White Lotus is calling his cohorts. I will swing my Jade Daiklave at those horrific Anathema. Their claws and teeth will not penetrate my powerful Jade armour. If the Elemental Dragons are by my side, how could I ever lose?

Page Count:
294 - Hardback

Reviewed by Matías Timm