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 |
