A deluxe supplement detailing the Lunar Exalted for the Exalted 3rd Edition tabletop RPG
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The Lunars are peerless shapeshifters, clothing themselves in the skins of fierce beasts or stolen faces. Their protean power evinces their predatory nature; before a Lunar can take a human’s or animal’s shape, she must consume its heart’s blood in the ritual called the sacred hunt.
A Lunar may enter an animal or human shape she possesses as a miscellaneous action, committing four motes for the transformation’s duration. This can be flurried, but not with attack actions. She may reflexively revert back to her true human form by releasing this commitment.
Note that these rules depict Lunars’ baseline potential. Individual Lunars may take Charms that refine or expand their shapeshifting prowess.
What Are Animals?
Lunars are limited to taking human and animal forms — they can’t take become magical beasts, elementals, demons, or other strange creatures. However, Creation is home to many animals extinct or fictional on Earth, and the difference between them and magical beasts isn’t always obvious. If not specified, the Storyteller determines whether a creature is an animal. Any intrinsic supernatural power, like a fogshark’s ability to swim through mist, is disqualifying. Beyond that, the Storyteller’s decision should be guided by whether she can envision the creature existing in the real world (possibly in some prehistoric era). If she thinks it’s plausible, it’s probably an animal.
Taking an animal shape has the following effects:
• The Lunar’s Essence, Willpower, base Initiative, health levels, Attributes, Abilities, Resolve, and Guile are unaffected.
• She loses any mutations she possesses intrinsically (but not those granted by Charms), with the exception of mutations tied to her Tell.
• When she takes an action the animal has a listed dice pool for, she may use its dice pool. Any dice over her own base (Attribute + Ability) pool count as Charm dice and are subject to her dice cap (p. XX), potentially preventing her from using a form’s full dice pool. If the animal’s pool is lower than hers, or it has no listed pool, she may use her own dice pool, although the Storyteller may assess penalties if her shape is ill-suited to that action.
• She may use the animal’s natural weapons, including their listed dice pool and damage value. (Note that she uses the same pool for withering and decisive attacks). Any dice over her own base (Dexterity + Brawl) count as Charm dice, but damage doesn’t count against the amount she may add with the Strength Excellency. If her (Dexterity + Brawl) pool is higher than the attack pool for a natural weapon, her withering attacks with it gain +1 Accuracy.
• She may attempt any feat of strength that the animal is capable of performing. If the animal’s effective Strength rating is lower than her own, she’s limited to the lower value. If the form doesn’t list a Strength rating for the purpose of feats, it’s assumed to have Strength 1.
• She may use the animal’s Evasion and Parry instead of her own. Any amount over her own base values counts as a Charm bonus.
• She may use the animal’s natural soak and Hardness ratings instead of her own. This isn’t a Charm bonus.
• She gains the animal’s innate special abilities and Merits. Dice or successes added by these count as Charm bonuses.
• She may unlock an animal shape’s mundane latent abilities (but not magical abilities) for six experience points or three bonus points each. Once she’s unlocked a latent ability for one form, it’s unlocked for all forms capable of using it. She doesn’t need to unlock latent abilities to use the distract, disarm, and unhorse gambits in animal forms.
• Her ability to communicate is limited by the animal’s anatomy. Most are incapable of speaking human languages, forcing her to rely on body language and whatever noises she can make (Exalted, p. 221).
Most Lunars can’t change into the shapes of animals with Legendary Size or Minuscule Size. Doing so requires Towering Beast Form or Emerald Grasshopper Form, respectively. Note that a Lunar lacking these Charms can still take the shapes of such animals, or choose one as her spirit shape, though she must learn the appropriate Charm before she can take its form.
A Lunar begins with her own human shape and her spirit shape, and may take the Heart’s Blood and Stolen Faces Merits to begin play with additional forms. Gaining new forms in play requires a sacred hunt.
The hunt begins when the Lunar’s player declares her intention to take a specific human’s or animal’s shape. She must then hunt down and kill her prey. There’s no minimum time she must spend hunting, but she must declare her intention beforehand — she can’t declare a sacred hunt against an enemy she’s in the midst of fighting. Others may assist her, but she must deal the killing blow herself, either directly through an attack or indirectly, with traps, poison, etc. Once her prey is killed, she may take its form by drinking its heart’s blood — the blood that flows through its heart, or the nearest analogue.
When a Lunar performs the sacred hunt to take a human’s shape, she must form a Tie towards that individual at the conclusion of the hunt, if she doesn’t have one already. She doesn’t need to keep this Tie to retain access to his shape, but taking human forms isn’t done lightly or without emotional consequences.
Bear in mind that the Storyteller can always choose to skip combat (Exalted, p. 212), and is encouraged to do so when a Lunar performs a sacred hunt against prey that can’t offer meaningful resistance. Likewise, the Storyteller may let a Lunar perform sacred hunts over downtime to take new forms that pose no obstacle to her.
Drinking heart’s blood is the most common sacred hunt, but not the only one. Some Charms grant access to alternative sacred hunts. These have different requirements for taking the target’s form, although all require a declaration of intent beforehand.
Every Lunar has a Tell, a distinctive mark that appears in any form she takes. It might be an animal feature, like a leopard’s tail or a ram’s horns; a distinctive physical trait, like a blind eye or a prominent scar; a non-visual trait, like a pungent scent or a songbird-like voice; or a subtle supernatural display, like a shadow that moves independently. If a Tell is inappropriate to a specific animal form, it might shift into a more suitable appearance while remaining distinctively identifiable, e.g., if a Lunar whose Tell is goat-like eyes becomes an eyeless animal, she might manifest distinctive eye-like markings.
The Tell’s nature is to conceal itself. Nontrivial characters can attempt a difficulty 7 (Perception + Awareness) roll to notice a Lunar’s Tell. Characters who’ve previously detected the Lunar’s Tell receive three bonus dice. Magic that enhances attempts to see through disguises applies on this roll. Success lets them notice the Tell, or, if they’ve noticed it before in a different form, identify her as the same individual. On a failure, that character can’t attempt the roll while the Lunar remains in her current shape. If a Lunar behaves inconsistently with one of her animal or human shapes, witnesses knowledgeable enough to recognize the discrepancy may roll to detect her Tell again with 1-3 bonus dice. The Storyteller should award higher bonuses for more egregious discrepancies, and for onlookers who verify their suspicions with read intentions or profile character actions.
While circumstances may impose penalties on rolls to notice a Lunar’s Tell, she can never render it completely impossible to detect unless she knows Subtle Silver Declaration. Once the Lunar’s anima reaches the glowing level, her Tell becomes obvious.
A Lunar whose Tell is a physical feature may take a mutation, such as Gills or Unusual Hide, to represent it. The Tell’s innate concealment doesn’t prevent onlookers from noticing her mutation, but they must still roll to connect the Lunar with other forms they’ve observed with the same Tell.
Hello Gatecrashers,
Look for more info on Shapeshifting in tomorrow's Backers-only manuscript preview, which will include the chapters on Character Creation and Traits. Remember to share information about this campaign on your social media and in your social circles and invite friends and friendly gamers to join in - we're *this close* to unleashing a martial arts expansion for the Lunars companion, and then on to cross over 300% of our funding target!
Weyna lay face-down on the stone altar’s cold surface, her hybrid form’s ruddy skin turned upward to the forest canopy and the dozens of curious faces assembled in the Queen of Fangs’ court. Through the haze of her anxiety, she felt their stares on her exposed body and turned her focus instead on the approaching priest, another Lunar in the shape of a handsome older man with silvered hair and creases around his sparkling eyes. He wore ceremonial jewelry draped along the pristine lines of his collarbones and pectorals and clinging to the angles of his hips; his own set of marvelous tattoos; and little else. In his right hand he held a long, slender wand of bamboo tipped with moonsilver; with the other, he placed a small pot of shimmering ink on the altar. The shaman smiled, though it did not calm her nerves.
On all sides, the chatter of apefolk courtiers ceased and a reverent hush swept across the open amphitheater as their goddess strode out of the shadows to stand before the altar. Her presence alone made the spacious amphitheater feel small and mundane by comparison. Raksi wore the shape of a woman too pale to be native to this part of the East, with black hair and eyes the color of tempered steel. Weyna’s heart leaped into her throat at the sight of her, and for a moment she knew in her heart this woman was transcendent, numinous, divine.
Raksi settled an unforgiving gaze on the shaman. “Begin when you’re ready, Names-the-Wind.”
The priest nodded and placed a warm, dry hand on the small of Weyna’s back. “Shall we?”
She nodded, and put on what she hoped was a calm, brave face.
Raksi trailed a finger along the contours of Weyna’s spine. Weyna shivered. “Here, here, and here.”
Names-the-Wind dipped the end of the bamboo stick into the pot and pressed the needle into Weyna’s skin where Raksi had indicated. At its bite, Weyna drew a breath in through her teeth in surprise. He chuckled.
“Everyone jumps at first. Take deep breaths. It hurts less if you don’t resist.” He began to move the needle, tapping it over and over until glowing punctures merged into swirling lines. “Let your mind be free. Think of Luna, and how you wish to serve them.”
She inhaled and contemplated everything that had led to this moment: the chaotic night of her Exaltation, soldiers encircling her family with a wall of spears; the words of power she’d read on the stele amid the ruins, flowing unbidden from her mouth; the moon’s dark face watching her triumph.Tears prickled at the corners of her eyes, but she sniffed them away before anyone noticed. Yes, she decided with a slow exhalation, there was nothing she could be but a witch.
Raski’s voice filled the crowded amphitheater and shook her from her reverie, “We’ve heard you have a deep love for learning. Is that so, Weyna?”
She lifted her head to answer, now aware of every stinging tap of the wand, “Yes! Everyone I’ve spoken with says your archives are unparalleled.”
“What else do they say about me?” A sardonic smile quirked the edges of Raksi’s mouth. The shaman let out a dry chuckle, and she shot a glare in his direction. “Less pressure, Names-the-Wind. Let the moonsilver do the work for you.”
Weyna swallowed hard. “Surely the Queen of Fangs is aware of her reputation.”
“Pick your favorite. Both of you.”
“I’ve heard you lead the Thousand Fangs Army to assault any kingdom grown too powerful, and that your followers devour the survivors afterwards.” Weyna offered.
“I’m fond of the wife-stealing story,” Names-the-Wind said.
Raski made a disapproving noise. “Keep the needle parallel to the meridians, or the process won’t take.”
Names-the-Wind said nothing, but Weyna heard his jewelry rattle with his abashed body language. Raksi continued, “Well, darling, what do you think of tearing apart upstart kingdoms, and of cannibalism?”
“I liked living in peace. I love philosophy and books, but can’t stand to see petty tyrants oppress the weak.” Weyna said as she chewed the corner of her mouth. “As for the rest... I can’t say I’ve ever done anything like that.”
Raksi smiled, pointed fangs clipping over her bottom lip. “A first time for everything.”
We're slowly approaching our next Stretch Goal! Let's see if we can unleash it before tomorrow's update - a preview of the Shapeshifting section of the Character Creation and Traits chapters, which will be released on Tuesday to all backers.
Share your excitement for this campaign in your social media and in your social circle, and let's keep this going and growing!
Vanamaithri Mirror-Soul walked through blinding snow without shielding their eyes, allowing the swirling crystals to form shapes both strange and familiar. Around Vanamaithri, translucent pears dangled from moonlit, frost-rimed branches.
The winter-bloom grove was an old, magical place on Skandhar-Bhal’s edge, left untamed by decree of the valley’s gods. Vanamaithri had been there only once, when they’d come to Skandhar-Bhal centuries ago. They’d been half-starved and weary from many miles’ travel. The grove granted visions of distant friends and enemies, offering words of wisdom, insight, and peace.
Now, after seven days’ fast, Vanamaithri returned to face what they’d ignored for many years. With each step, they moved further from the physical world, and into visions of higher truth.
In the branches’ shuddering reach, Vanamaithri saw victims of war, arms outstretched, begging for aid. Momentary gaps in the snow became shades of friends long dead, who followed Vanamaithri, desperate to be named and remembered. And when Vanamaithri heard the wind’s howl grow loud and long, it was a sign that the monster they sought was near. They steeled their heart and pressed forward, to the beast’s lair.
Here in the winter-bloom grove, the mountain runoff flowed and froze in sheets and spikes along the mountainside. As Vanamaithri approached the frozen waterfall, they found the mirror-place, and saw themself, not as they were now, but as they had been: the towering tortoise war-form; the warrior eager for bloodshed; the beast that birthed the Mirror-Soul.
The sight horrified Vanamaithri, and thrilled them.
“So you return?” demanded the beast, with the wind’s cruel voice. “Did you not promise to leave me here, to suffer and rage while a kinder soul took my place?”
“I never wished to return,” said the Mirror-Soul. “I’d hoped you might die, here in the cold.”
“But you didn’t expect it.” The beast reached out, pressed armor-rending claws against the reflective ice. “Luna’s rage is part of you. You embraced it, once, and it will live in you until you die. Perhaps even beyond that.”
Vanamaithri found they’d reached out to place their right hand, forever missing two fingers, against the sheet of ice. Its chill surface was as unforgiving as the reflected claw. “I fear I may need you. Skandhar-Bhal is safe, but for how long? Creation trembles at the Lawgivers’ steps, and the Dragons grow desperate.”
“You cannot lie to me, Mirror-Soul. You know Creation needs me, and you fear that you want me.”
“No.”
“You ache, every night, to hunt and strike in countless forms, to feel the heat of blood on your face.”
“No.”
“Creation's unrest is merely an excuse! The world has suffered all this time, and even now you could stay in your valley, safe and kind. It’s no new injustice that calls you, but the merest chance to crush the empire you never stopped hating.”
Vanamaithri was silent. Ice had crept over their hand, freezing it in place.
“Let me free,” said the beast, “as you’ve always known you must. You’ve played at being a monk, and that time is done. Be the beast you could never kill.”
Vanamaithri clenched their fist, and the ice around it shattered. As the reflection cracked, they roared, loud enough to overwhelm the wind and echo through the valley.
Slowly, Vanamaithri wrapped their other hand, with its five fingers, around their shaking fist. “I am Vanamaithri Mirror-Soul,” they said, teeth clenched. “And I can be both.”
Hello Gatecrashers!
We haven't quite had one full week of this campaign yet, but I'm going to use this first Saturday to post a brief weekly round-up of what we've accomplished thus far, and what my non-eagle eyes can see on the horizon. (My animal shape is a manatee, not even close to an eagle.)
First off, and most important, we came together to form our own version of the Silver Pact with an overarching purpose - to fund the creation and production of a deluxe version of Lunars: Fangs at the Gate. And, like if the Lunars really got their acts together and focused and worked as a team... it took us about 45 minutes to conquer that task!
So, thanks to your enthusiasm and excitement and support, Lunars: Fangs at the Gate will become a reality. And once we'd achieved that amazing feat, we began working toward Stretch Goals, and UNLEASHED FIVE STRETCH GOALS within the first 80 hours...
We've added a new Lunars-themed Storyteller Screen, which can be purchased as an Add On reward:
We've unleashed a Kickstarter backer T-shirt, which will be posted on Onyx Path's Redbubble a bit after the campaign for backers to order at a discount:
And, one of the most important undertakings with these and upcoming Stretch Goals, we've begun to SHAPE the Lunars Companion book, Many-Faced Strangers, which will eventually SHIFT from a set of interesting expansions to an awesome source for more Exalted 3rd Edition content!
From the transforming Reward Description:
LUNARS: MANY-FACED STRANGERS – A PDF of supplemental rules and extra material for the Lunars of Exalted. The contents of this companion will be added via Special Reward tiers and Stretch Goal achievements and the book will grow in size and scope throughout the course of the campaign, possibly adding more Charms, expanding information on Lunar dominions and shahan-yas, and providing details on the Shadow Fang Vanguard. Currently, the Lunars Companion includes: :
More charms? Yes, please!
More animals? Yes, please!
More Pact Lunars statted up? Yes, please!
More Martial Arts? YES, PLEASE!!
Oh wait, I'm getting ahead of myself on that one...
Our next Stretch Goal target:
At $175,000 in funding - MANY-FACED STRANGERS – Martial Arts Expansion: Four distinctly Lunar martial arts styles: the incredibly resilient and venomous Toad style; the brutal, grappling-focused Bear style; the Sun Wukong-inspired Monkey style; and the stealthy, disease-spreading Rat style.
After that, we're going to work on adding even more awesomeness to the Lunars: Fangs at the Gate book by increasing the art budget and adding more evocative Exalted art!
At $185,000 in funding - DELUXE UPGRADE - Art Budget Increase: We'll increase the art budget for the Lunars: Fangs at the Gate deluxe book, adding even more awesome action-packed and evocative art!
I know it seems like we've already come so far and built so much, but we're just getting started! And though we're already at 275% of our funding target, there's a ton of room to grow and add even more content and rewards. So, remember to share your excitement and enthusiasm on social media and in your social circle! I've run a bunch of kickstarters for Onyx Path over the past 18 months, and one thing that always surprises me is how many people contact me *within hours* of a campaign ending wishing they'd known and been able to participate. So, no matter how big you think we are or how far you think the news has spread - I promise you there are fans you know that haven't yet heard about this.
So, let's keep it going and growing, and unleashing even more excitement with this campaign.
This post is for backers only. Please visit Kickstarter.com and log in to read.