"Mystery magnifies danger, as a fog the sun."
-- Charles Caleb Colton (English cleric & writer, 1780-1832)
In the halls and offices of the Heavenly City, intrigue abounds. And one group is determined to find out what's going on. These are the cases of S/PI/007.
Shroud of Mist: Sidereal PI (or S:PI for short) is a game of political intrigue and mystery run by Oneiros using 2nd Ed Exalted setting, focussing on the efforts of a group of six Chosen of the Maidens. Come together to sort out some of the more surreptitious machinations of Heaven, they find themselves split between the Celestial City of Yu-Shan and the vastness of Creation in their efforts to unravel the threads of their assignment.
This campaign builds on and heavily modifies the information in the White Wolf setting books Manual of Exalted Power: Sidereals and Compass of Celestial Directions, Volume III - Yu-Shan.
S:PI is an episodic campaign looking at the cases taken on by S/PI/007, a strange cross-divisional agency set up within the Bureau of Destiny’s Division of Secrets and headed by the Chosen of Jupiter known as Shroud of Mist. Certain agents of Heaven have been brought together by mysterious patrons to investigate strange occurrences whilst trying to maintain their usual roles and covers.
Each case is relatively self-contained and will concern a mystery or crime that has occurred and the Viziers will have to investigate, dividing their efforts and resources between Heaven and Creation. However, in amongst all of this is the overarching mystery of something big going on in the Celestial Bureaucracy…
The links below provide access to various campaign resources for players and interested visitors alike.
Here are the character creation guidelines for S:PI...
Attributes: 8/6/4 plus 1 extra dot in any attrib
Abilities: 35 (15 Ausp/Fav, max 3 dots before bp). Must meet base and caste minima.
Backgrounds: 13 (max 3 dots before bp)
Charms: 16 (min 5 Auspicious/Favoured)
Colleges: 8
Virtues: 5 (max 3 dots before bp)
Essence: 3
Bonus points: 15 (as per costs on MoEP:S p97, cannot raise Essence)
XP: 55 - to be spent once base character is finalised. You can raise Essence to 4 with this.
Other notes:
- No Bronze Faction beyond Backing (Bronze) 1.
- No SMAs
- Sidereal Astrology rules will be used
- All have automatic Backing (some Direction) 2 - this can be raised
- You should all belong to at least one other convention
- No merits/flaws
This will be a primarily investigation-type campaign, combat will generally be limited to the group who is operating in Creation.
New Characters
Replacement characters come in on 80% (rounded up) of personal xp at death. Existing mission point totals will also carry forward. Otherwise, rules for creation are as above.
(This may be subject to change at a later date)
Wherein the roll of names helps differentiate friend from foe, ally from antagonist... maybe.
For ease of memory, a list of the characters met or referenced in the current case can be found HERE
This list only covers non-canon Viziers. The list of 'official' Sidereals in S:PI is here.
Crystal Weaved in Servitude – operative in the Bureau of Humanity; considered strange and unreliable, member of the Sub-Convention on Wyld Fugitives.
Elucidated Candour Young sidereal, recently inducted into the BF; present in Paragon during the recent ‘disruption’.
Fivefold Crest – Recently Exalted, just out of training. Entry-level GF namer, thanks to ‘time spent’ with Succour.
Galara Si’anneyr – young Sidereal, recently assigned to field missions in Creation; non-factional. Encountered ES and ID in a hotel in Sentinel Hill following the breakout of Morgan Sallis. Northern Commissioner of Terrestrial Affairs.
Navion Starlight – young Sidereal that was part of Circle sent to investigate mysterious goings on near Texia; GF.
Ressil – Indep formerly serving as Nazri’s aide in the South; now assigned to Northern Convention in Icehome.
Yeruna Masserine – senior Vizier in the Convention of Water. Currently one of a pair assigned to oversee the Archipelago of Exiles.
Spinning Pyramid – Director of Pyramid Marketing and senior Vizier at the Bureau of Seasons.
Succour-in-Extremis – Deputy-Chair of the Sub-Convention of Wyld Fugitives (C/EW), GF.
Crossed Sign – GF recruiter, sifu to Fivefold Crest who he introduced to Succour.
Kysen Loth – elder Vizier, BF Inner Circle, Chair of the Convention on Plague, deputy-Chair of Capital Convention, top sifu (knows Citrine Pox of Contagion), runs the Dojo of Nightshades in Bloom. Present at the ceremony which elevated Luisa Seragon.
Nascent Blossom – young Exalt, skilled in intrigue and social engineering, assigned to Capital Convention, GF.
Parjentari – BF, supervisor to Succour-in-Extremis; Central Commissioner of Terrestrial Affairs.
Sajarine – mid-ranking Joybringer with a keen interest in preservation of artistic endeavours; worked with Lau-Hon and Iridescent Glaze to safeguard a slum commune.
Veridan – Indep serving in the Southern Convention; has an RD as Ragara Veridien. Serves as Watcher of Paragon and Watcher of Varangia.
Wood and Blossom Colt – fought alongside MJ at Battle of Fondvar, BF; right-hand Seer to Kysen Loth.
Red Dawn – Chair of the Sub-Convention on Essence Monitors (C/EW), Deputy-Chair of the Sub-Convention on Demons (C/EW)
Blue Fins – elder Vizier, sifu to MJ, BF; part of the Convention of Water, currently one of a pair assigned to oversee the Archipelago of Exiles; also part of the Convention of War as a Tactical Officer and Western Commissioner of Terrestrial Affairs. Sort of romantically involved with Spinning Pyramid.
Hai Mek – elder Vizier, fought alongside MJ at Battle of Fondvar, BF; member of the Eperopolitan Stability Committee of the Celestial Security Agency.
Mox Jerefin – GF-leaning Shieldbearer who was part of a Circle sent to investigate mysterious goings on near Texia.
Unity-of-Whispers – sifu to Nascent Blossom & Shroud-of-Mist.
Shroud-of-Mist
Chorus of Smoke – rogue Vizier, BF; reincarnation of Kurantis family member.
Eternal Sunshine – BF, considered a bit inept but very good-natured. Regrets much of what happened. Got beaten up by Ennico. Has been assigned to the Dept of Sidereal Retrievals.
Sable Briar – Capital Conventioneer, BF, Wyld Hunt leader.
Nellens Terrol – Convention of Wood, BF. Sits on the Sub-Convention on Whitewall.
Ennico Sorrel – Deputy-Chair of the Sub-Convention on Nexus (C/Wood) & Commissioner of the Commission on Terrestrial Affairs (C/EW).
Ledaal Takezo – Southern Commissioner of the Department of Concluded Debate (VBoS), Indep.
Elikar San-Lerov – GF, called upon by SiE to assist in crafting a descending destiny.
Notorious Fang – fought alongside MJ at Battle of Fondvar, BF.
Mordant Respite – senior Indep, successfully championed by Nazri to take the Northern Chair.
Opalescent Steel – GF adherent, possesses Celestial Circle Sorcery; travelled to the Archipelago of the Exiles from Gate 44 after being persuaded by Succour.
Saffron Garda – elderly Vizier who trained Ennico; BF, Kejak loyalist. Southern Commissioner of Terrestrial Affairs.
Urien Derapha – elder Vizier, one time mentor to Eternal Sunshine, BF; commands a Wyld Hunt in his RD as Abbot of the Lap. Lieutenant to Shajah Holok.
Cazido – God of Astrology, Chairman of the Concordat of Celestial Conjunction, Chief Mechanic of the Celestial Orrery (de facto head of the Division of Astrological Workings).
Coronal – God of Social Engineering, B/Humanity & D/Ser.
Dar Aeris – God of Sidereal Astrology, Daimyo of the Division of Celestial Intercession.
Flowing Lexeme – God of Communications, D/Jou; ambitious power looking for deputy status. Hosted a party where things did not go particularly well.
Mirage Oraculous – Southern Goddess of Mortal Astrology, Incandescent Director of Woven Extrapolations, at the Division of Celestial Intercession, B/Des.
Parak Te – Minister of Honourable Duels (D/Bat), God of Greatswords (B/Hea); holds a grudge against Mox Jerefin.
Sanguine Fate – God of Astrology for the Terrestrial Host at the Div/Celestial Intercession at B/Des; also serves as an assistant to Parad, God of Terrestrial Exaltation.
Sanguine Pisciform – God of Investigatory Misdirections (D/Sec)
Starlight Tryst – Master of the Kiss Stolen at Midnight, God of Star-Crossed Lovers; head of the Department of Inauspicious Love (D/Ser); present at FL’s party.
Synovar – Taimyo of the Grave Accidental, God of Collateral Deaths (D/End).
Treb’Silvokt – God of Resolutions & Treaties, Director of the Dpt/Concluded Debate (D/End).
Sedoyo – God of the House of Journeys
Antistasia – Goddess of the Mast
Epi’iose – God of the Ship’s Wheel
Garuss – God of the Messenger
Pani – Goddess of the Captain
Rigmeno – God of the Gull
Paxos – God of the House of Serenity
Apodosia – Goddess of the Musician
Glossolalia – Goddess of the Pillar
Koi-no-Niko-Po – God of the Lovers
Technis – God of the Peacock
Teknasma – Goddess of the Ewer
Jaksa – God of the House of Battles
Pale Staff – God of the Spear
Parous – God of the Gauntlet
Polemis – God of the Shield
Thelecasta – Goddess of the Banner
Toxobol – God of the Quiver
Zieveri – God of the House of Secrets
Apocryphal Mist – God of the Sorceror
Ereunaz – Goddess of the Mask
Gnosix – God of the Treasure Trove
Klope – Goddess of the Guardians
Musticoteta – Goddess of the Key
Terminus – God of the House of Endings
Akeirao – God of the Rising Smoke
Grafeira – Goddess of the Haywain
Jatrice – God of the Corpse
Suneide – Goddess of the Crow
Te-Kara – God of the Sword
Amatsukoushou – Caretaker of the Mechanisms of the Shining Metropolis.
Artfully Positioned Jewel – Goddess of Highly-Strung Debutantes, discovered the body of Taroc at FL’s party before screaming and fainting.
Bisora – Eastern Goddess of Meteorological Prognostication, B/Hea; arranged a meeting between Mez and Alarast at FL’s party.
Connaster - Warden-Executor of the Eperopolis, oversees the ‘repute’ of Heaven and supposed relations with the Terrestrial Bureaucracy.
En Dalor – God of Civil Servants on the Southern Blessed Isle.
Espirale – God of Soulsteel in the Office of Magical Materials.
Lexaris – God of Scribes in Arjuf, reports to En Dalor.
Luminary Passage – Goddess of Celestial Timekeeping, Keeper of the Diary of Ryzala, Bureau of Heaven.
Qirinio – God of Unique Crafted Wonders; eccentric artisan god who manufactured the moonsilver nib for SoM.
Taralzh-Ahn – Master of Twilight Wonders Now Only Dreamt, God of Lost Technologies; formerly a craft god of Denandsor, now a department head attached to the Office of Intelligent Design, has a workshop near the Primal Forge.
Telanorestomir – Trade Minister at the Division of Eperopolitan Commerce; God of Stolen Gemstones.
Tellûrien – God of Terrestrial Reassignment, Department of Deific Resources (B/Hea) and minor liaison/lieutenant to Scarazan at D/End.
Chronizon – God of Time, Director of the Board of Recorded History at B/Hum. Extremely busy - did not notice Fleet Perception had gone missing until it was pointed out to him.
Dakuzar – Lord of the Plans Carved from Ice and Sleet, Northern God of Plots & Conspiracies, Director of the Northern Board of Intrigue; part of the Eperopolitan Stability Committee of the CSA
Fleet Perception – God of Terrestrial Timekeeping; had a dalliance with Chorus-of-Smoke. Was kidnapped as part of a scheme by his spurned lover, Sovira.
Iridescent Glaze - Goddess of fine earthenware pottery; championing an artists' commune in the slums. Lover of Lau Hon.
Ixonin – God of Political Machinations, Head of the Board of Intrigue at B/Hum; was intrigued by events taking place at FL’s party.
Jalniveau – Lord of the Plans Fomented by Blood and Danced in Courts, Central God of Plots & Conspiracies, Director of the Central Board of Intrigue; loving the current situation following the disappearance of the Scarlet Empress despite his busyness.
Mendaxana – Lady of the Plans Hatched Amongst the Branches, Eastern Goddess of Plots & Conspiracies, Director of the Eastern Board of Intrigue; lieutenant of Hasimaru. Used to be known as Tavuni, goddess of literacy & education of the Avutani. Has a strong rivalry with Delatani/AQ.
Reflected Trident – Lord of Plans Sounded by Crashing Waves and Etched in Coral, Western God of Plots & Conspiracies, Director of the Western Board of Intrigue; operates from his island fortress on Trenarth in the Skullstone Isles and keep an eye on the Archipelago of the Exiles through his agent Indigo Mirage Paradox.
Woven Caste – God of Varangia and Varangian Astrology, looking to usurp Mirage Oraculous.
Zefirienna – Lady of the Plans Shrouded by Mirage and Written in Shifting Sand, Southern Goddess of Plots & Conspiracies, Director of the Southern Board of Intrigue.
Feenikbrahl – God of Flightless Rodents
Hooded Claw – Mid-ranking power in the Bureau of Nature; God of Sewer Rats (Hierarchy of Type) and Sewer-dwelling Vermin (Hierarchy of Function), father of Vermanus Skurm.
Zorethi – God of Flying Desert Predators (Hierarchy of Function); associate of SiE.
Ang-Hireth – storm god, Western Sub-Arbiter of Storms at B/Sea, deputy to Alarast; enamoured of SP; agreed to a meeting between Alarast and Mezalarine at FL’s party
Rastelliz – Southern Redactor of Cumulus Directions and Chair of the Conclave of Siroccos, Dpt of Fire; received enclave map from Nop at Flowing Lexeme’s party
Revar-Io – Taimyo of Woodland Precipitation at B/Sea. Was a witness at the trial of Z-D; uncovered information about the LoSS.
Sovira – Ex-goddess of Clocks & Timepieces (B/Hum); enamoured of FP and conspired for his downfall; sentenced to reassignment in the Bureau of Seasons.
Atrell – low ranking bureaucracy god in Ryzala’s dpt; contact of Succour’s due to GF leanings.
Aster – adjutant to En Dalor.
Dav – Minor surveyor attached to the Department of Internal Services at the Bureau of Seasons, services were briefly requisitioned by SP.
Diamond-Edge Negotiator – partner in Gemstone Advocates; planning & property lawyer. Revealed to be a commander of the Silent Cleansing Flames.
Diamondwater – minor bureaucrat at the Dpt of Heavenly Transport in the Division of Journeys. ‘Persuaded’ by SoM to authorise a celestial writ for 50 days access to gold canal lane.
Dyslor – Secretary of the Five Spheres Administrative District South-West Redevelopment Zonal Committee Planning Court.
Enuriet – recently appointed major-domo to Coronal.
Estredek – minor bureaucrat god on the zoning and ordinances sub-committee for the Fulgent Administrative District (NE Zone) for the GMFDPG (Planning Group).
Golden Salient Flower – A dispossessed goddess of architecture, now a director of the Serene Arbiters of Harmonious Environments development agency.
Ignis Pyratos – Former senior adjutant on the celestial staff of the Office of the Southern Censor; also a director of the Serene Arbiters of Harmonious Environments development agency.
Kee’van – adjutant to Lexaris, delivered the false reports from AQ.
Kur Sarene – associate of the Serene Arbiters of Harmonious Environments development agency; discovered to be leading some kind of plot to seize Crystal Flame and using the Silent Cleansing Flames.
Lambic Oak – associate of the Serene Arbiters of Harmonious Environments development agency.
Lemor – Minor courier on Cathak Faux-Kaminer’s staff; sent to retrieve the hearthstone of Ty Pharo.
Lietris – former scribe in FP’s office, coerced by AQ into forging letters and writing notes; sentenced to reassignment in the Bureau of Heaven for his part in the FP conspiracy.
Minetta – Chief-of-staff to Dozima Wokish.
Nee’van – adjutant to Lexaris.
Nop – minor archivist working for the Convention on the Wyld, delivered a map to Rastelliz at Flowing Lexeme’s party.
Ocaro - chief-of-staff to Ennico Sorrel.
Parral – Chief Archivist of the Shining Repository of Judicial Celestial Pronouncements.
Resealed Vista – appointments clerk at the Department of Celestial Concerns; known contact for the Division of Secrets.
Rhodochrystos – Senior Adjutant of the Commission of Terrestrial Affairs.
Shadowed Sapphire – partner in Gemstone Advocates; planning & property development lawyer.
Splintered Stone – minor functionary god in the Office of Collateral Deaths & Damages at the VBoS.
Vehkathro – minor god who used to work on the celestial staff of the Office of the Southern Censor; also a director of the Serene Arbiters of Harmonious Environments and MD of Katon Enterprises.
Andor – Magistrate at Lower Metropolitan District Court 4.
Aurant Spire – Celestial lion assigned to Gate 60.
Direct Charge of Justice – Celestial lion who oversees a precinct surrounding Crystal Flame in the FSAD.
Effulgent Glory Transcendent – Celestial Lion assigned to Gate 15 at the time Arad the Hunter was delivered to the Yu-Shan authorities. Bit of a gossip.
Fourfold Mane of Justice – Celestial Lion guarding Gate 53, the Paragon Gate.
Golden Shining Banner – Celestial Lion usually assigned to Gate 7 (Arjuf Gate); sent to apprehend the PCs.
Hikari-no-Ryuu – lesser elemental dragon of fire, Censor 37 at the Dpt of Celestial Concerns; associate of SoM who pulled some strings to have them retroactively assigned to the official investigation into FP’s disappearance – pronounced judgement when forced to rule on the case.
Imperious Standard of Law – Celestial Lion usually assigned to Gate 7 (Arjuf Gate); sent to apprehend the PCs.
Mishkaraan – lesser elemental dragon of water, Censor 102 at the Dpt of Celestial Concerns (in the pay of the BF).
Obfuscant Oleander – Lesser elemental dragon of wood; Deputy Director of Censors at the Bureau of Heaven. Oversaw and ratified the ascendance of Luisa Seragon to Southern Censor.
Ordained Justice Deliverance – Celestial Lion usually assigned to Gate 7 (Arjuf Gate); sent to apprehend the PCs.
Rex-Midor – lion dog assigned to guard some ruins in the east of Creation; can be summoned via the Avutani flute to serve the player.
Sen-Rehl-Ur – lesser elemental dragon of air, Censor 86 at the Dpt of Celestial Concerns; sub-director of the Celestial Security Agency.
Xalari – lesser elemental dragon of water, now retired. Presided over the trial of Zeran-Dubuth et al. Writing his memoirs; has a penchant for beautiful quill pens.
Anavi – formerly the god of music and inspiration for the Avutani people; left dispossessed by the Fair Folk invasion but inadvertently conspired with AQ. Now part of SP’s staff at Pyramid Mansions.
Koom-Hal – Unemployed god from the slums; bribed by SP into disrupting Flowing Lexeme’s party.
Lan Taska, Lan Nayda, Lan Yalko, Lan Diarra - fanatic spirits of the Silent Cleansing Flames who immolated themselves.
Lau-Hon – Loyal servant of Swan Dragon who served as his military attaché on Gem; captured by the Silent Cleansing Flames but freed by LT and SiE. Now working for LT.
Yuta – old god of the Avutani; left dispossessed and in the slums following the Fair Folk invasion; revealed details of past conflict between Delatani and FP.
Argent Quill – formerly FP’s chief-of-staff before reassignment to Chorus-of-Smoke and thence to En Dalor (supposedly); involved in some dodgy dealings. Used to be the god of calendars for the east who competed with FP for the promotion and lost; uses the code name Silver Feather aka Delatani (Avutani god of reckoning and calendars); sentenced to exile as the ringleader of the conspiracy against FP.
Bolt-of-Destitution - ex-Southern Master of Desert Lightning Storms (male air, uniformed); exile who served in the Aerial Legion during the FF invasion, exiled a century later.
Escorisco - ex-Chair of the Conclave of Siroccos (male fire, heat mirage); exile on AotE summoned by SP.
Falatarabaralakanafawa - ex-Lady of the Misted Waterways and Coastal Fogs (female air, misty); exile summoned by SP’s charm, sent to the AotE prior to upheaval at B/Sea.
Lucky Charm - ex-God of Termino-Heliotropic Aurilocation, now an exile on AotE summoned by SP’s charm.
Mezalarine – air elemental, Lord of Mists & Fogs at B/Sea, D/Clouds, secret head of the LoSS aiding the return of Z-D; formerly Taimyo of Marshland Mists. Sent to a heavenly sanitarium.
Unguarded Words of Ruby – ex-god of Secrets Revealed Through Wine, now exiled to AotE; GF informant but his mind is somewhat scrambled leading to problems of memory dissociation of past events.
[C] denotes a celestial worker/position; [T] denotes a terrestrial elemental
Advent Thorn [C] – Local gangster boss in a slum district of the Five Spheres Residential District; working for Kur Sarene. Water elemental in control of a small water manse. Ordered his followers to harass certain minor bureaucrats. Was working with Diamond Edge Negotiator.
Arrowhawk [T] – Thunderbird warmaster of Sakuratsil’s forces.
Carin-Poi [C] – former Monitor of Humidity in Eastern Jungles, B/Sea; member of the League of Stalwart Seasons.
Cleansing Scour [T] – Ifrit in the service of General Phyredes, guard for Lucent Mica.
Denikan We’iroun [T] – Senior Adjutant to the Dawn Roodra of the Red Volkan Ledge, ordered Scorched Sandstone to apprehend Lucent Mica.
Faldre [T] – air elemental bound servitor of the Rider of Tangled Flame manse.
Kai [T] – ironwood stick person, senior envoy of the Twin to Sakuratsil; hit by TS following council at Jamara.
Kal-Reyon-Zarr [C] – ifrit bound in service to Dulun Pem; noted for his trusting nature. Now major-domo to Spinning Pyramid at her mansion in Yu-Shan
Kang Deroda [T] – Lesser elemental dragon of Fire serving as deputy to Wong Bongerok as Southern Censor.
Karvo [C] – Earth elemental lieutenant of Advent Thorn.
Leright; Rizz; Sonori; Tarn [C] – Fire elementals in the pay of Advent Thorn, sent to harass Estredek et al.
Luisa Seragon [C/T] – De facto head of the Court of Orderly Flame. Promoted by ES using WAoC to transform him into a lesser elemental dragon of fire and appoint him to the position of Southern Censor.
Phyredes [T] – Garda bird general from the Forge Alliance, sent by Court of Orderly Flame to rendezvous with Lucent Mica. Severely hacked off by Red Dawn’s attitude and decision.
Rethelane, Lord [T] – obsidian lord (earth elemental) looking to set up his own court in Nexus. Served by several mercurians. Made a deal with ‘Sovira’ to protect DP in exchange for a weapon to help defeat water elementals in Nexus harbour.
Ristrano [T] – Communications aide to Luisa Seragon at the Palace of Hidden Flames.
Riyaka, Lady [T] – air elemental illusionist posing as Dulun Pem in Greyfalls. Went along with the seduction by Ennico until revealed; works for a court associated with Madame Marthesine.
Root-of-Agate [T] – Igneoc in the service of Scorched Sandstone, guard for Lucent Mica.
Scorched Sandstone [T] – Unique earth elemental, sorcerer, Court of Heiron commander of a contingent of igneocs sent to apprehend Lucent Mica under orders from the Red Volkan Ledge. Later showed up at Axeridge in the company of Ystari.
Subilla [C] – Flame duck serving the Ulemma in Yu-Shan. Occult specialist who accompanied ES to the manse outside fate.
Vo’lon (Vopharanexillon) [C] – one of the eastern Legates of Urban Precipitation, Dpt of Storms, B/Sea (water elem); LoSS member and representative dealing with Eternal Sunshine and Sakuratsil.
Ystari [T] – Empowered flame duck, sorcerer, and renegade from the Court of Orderly Flame. Now the Twilight Minister of the Red Volkan Ledge
Count of the Canopy – Adjutant to the Twin, cunning diplomatic envoy sent to Elder Oak; wielded the Sceptre of Starborn Meteorology.
Inara Silk Nectar – Special envoy of the Riddling Tree in Yu-Shan, helped organise Flowing Lexeme’s party, severely hacked off by SP.
Indigo Mirage Paradox – ex-Director of Intelligence for Internal Affairs at Bureau of Seasons. Now deputy to Reflected Trident, spying on residents of the AotE (posing as an exiled mid-level bureaucrat).
Iron Bark Strider – representative from a group of forest walkers in the environs of Jamara
Lucent Mica – Minor sand god of the central southern deserts. Currently in the form of a belt buckle due to Terminal Sanction; has been promised a promotion by RD.
Moruna – eastern goddess of poison oak, new patron of the Nine Ravens tribe; mother of Barbed Razorfeather; regrets getting involved with ES and LoSS.
Renavo & Mirono Swan – Twin brother and sister minor deities, half-siblings to Ulito, children of Swan Dragon.
Robin Goodfellow – Chief courtier of the Twin, usually the first servant encountered by anyone seeking an audience with the Twin; capricious.
Sakuratsil – eastern goddess of poisonous flora; appointed by CK to be Z-D’s harbinger and the one to raise him from dissipated slumber; hit by TS following council in Jamara.
Sangor - Bloody hand terrestrial god working in the dock slums of Nexus, one of the more powerful of his type; favours arms and eyeballs as trophies. Bargained with Ennico for a better position in the local bureaucracy in return for handing over the Lawgiver’s arm – WAoC used to re-cast him as a Crime Lord (of Nexus District) as part of the local Board of Iniquity.
Sienna Rambling Rose – Representative of the Riddling Tree present in Jamara to receive gift/payment from Sakuratsil for a question.
Trion – an eastern god of tribal warfare.
Ulito Swan – Intelligencer for the Court of Orderly Flame from her underground base in Chiaroscuro. Given the Fist of the Southern Censor and asked to choose a worthy candidate. Scared of SP.
Amilar Traore – outcaste DB from Lookshy, now known as Dulun Pem, half-crazed worshipper of Sovira from Gem. Has been manipulated into building a god-killing device in the form of an hourglass to kill FP; has elemental servitors including a jokun and an ifrit.
Bright Pain Hyena – Lunar, ally/lover of Mox Jerefin.
Cathak Faux-Kaminer – God-blooded son of Kang Deroda, formerly Head of Treasury on the celestial staff of the Office of the Southern Censor; also a director of the Serene Arbiters of Harmonious Environments.
Cathak Reline – Fire-aspect DB in charge of the Realm garrison in Gem.
Clarion – Solar, reincarnation of Kurantis family member.
Iselsi Lyrisa – Wood-Aspect DB, reincarnation of Kurantis family member.
Ledaal Deshan Onesha – Air-Aspect DB, retired Immaculate Monk who trains promising students at the House of Stone. Descendant of Descant Windtrill; knows a special variant of the katas for Air Dragon Style.
Peleps Seurat – Water-Aspect DB. Agent of Wong Bongerok who operates the lighthouse manse Ty-Pharo in Cherak. Observed doing a deal with a member of the Lower Deliberative. Hoodwinked by RD.
Peleps Zeril – Teenage Air-Aspect DB at the House of Stone, training under Ledaal Deshan Onesha.
Ragara Ibliss – Realm ambassador to Paragon.
Ragara Soras – Air-aspect DB, outcaste, mayor of Texia.
Scarlet Whisper – Hidden Zenith-caste Solar serving as Minister of Arts in Paragon; masquerading as the Perfect to cover up the fact of his assassination.
Sesus Kar Aroon – Wood-aspect, A former Guild factor of eastern ops, he betrayed the organisation and escaped east with his son Ferad. Along with Morgan, he was an elite agent for the Midnight Blade (East). Went to see the Twin to find out about a missing business companion – Metriahn.
Seven Forks – Captain of Greyfalls at the palace.
Tevis – Fire-Aspect DB serving as head of security and chief bodyguard to the Perfect of Paragon.
Vermanus Skurm – God-Blooded son of Hooded Claw living in the sewers below Nexus with his scavenger group of ratmen.
V’neef Lothas – General of Greyfalls.
V’neef Sunara – Lothas’ daughter, going to the Heptagram.
Winged Horse at the Mouth of the River Crossing – Midnight caste deathknight in service to the Lover Clad in the Raiment of Tears, reincarnation of the Kurantis patriarch.
Martik – new head of the Windtalon Raiders
Ragara Tayarn – exiled from the Blessed Isle, agent of the Windtalons in Gem.
Ricard – sole survivor of the massacre of Beljuril, incarcerated in Smaragdon for the crime.
Askilethris, Count – Fair Folk noble of the Pearl Court, involved in the attack on Texia.
Korth family – Arada (18), Delo (5), mother = Selina who betrayed town.
Kyel Corrin – expert doctor and surgeon working for Nerali’s Apothecaries at the branch in the Nighthammer District.
Charlie, Lizan & Tyrone – construction workers in Greyfalls.
Morgan Sallis – undercover Guildsman assigned to the Verdant Shadowfellers logging company out of Farhold. Recently discovered some kind of goings on at the Elder Oak temple in connection with build-up of eastern forces but has been mixed-up in the affairs of another Sidereal group; slain by ES.
Loxo Venn – Deputy Assayer in the Nexus civil service. Guild informant who corresponds with Morgan (and vice-versa) and often acts as an intermediary facilitator between agents.
Nerun – Nighthammer Iron League guard at the Anvil in Sentinel Hill. Helped smuggle Morgan Sallis out of the prison.
Hooded Cobra – Chief Shaman of the Green Shadow tribe at the temple of Elder Oak in Farhold.
Splintered Vine – Chief Shaman of the Axe of Judgement tribe at the temple of Elder Oak in Farhold
Crimson Asp – Local village chief of the Green Shadow tribe.
Sesus Kar Ferad – Son of Aroon; on the run with his father, unblooded.
Sorvé Cloudraker – Hawkman diplomat from Mt Metagalapa, present at the war council of Jamara.
Bloodied Tuft – Chief of a tribe of apemen allied to Sakuratsil.
Fang-of-Reason – Chief of a tribe of snakemen allied to Sakuratsil.
Nivo Shain – Junior dockhand in Cherak. Descendant of Tor Zhang; had a family heirloom requisitioned from him by Peleps Seurat.
Tomas, Marianne, Ando Reven – family in Cherak with whom Nivo Shain lodges.
Holondris Veral – High-priest of ‘Saruwan’ in Stonevale; descendant of Mondsara Veral.
Kirris Veral – 12-year-old son of Holondris being groomed eventually to succeed his father.
Somol – Senior Immaculate priest and aide to the Abbot of the Lap.
Here is the extended timeline for S:PI to help contextualise the events that take place in the campaign. All years are given in the Old Realm standard which begins with the ending of the Primordial War. A more detailed timeline covering 4995 onwards will be forthcoming soon :)
Year Event
0 End of Primordial War, Three Spheres Cataclysm
1 Merela accepts Crown of Thunders and Creation Ruling Mandate;
9 Brigid returns to Sperimin with the secrets of sorcery
100 Merela establishes central government for Creation in Meru
108 Meru War begins
109 Meru War ends with creation of Solar Deliberative and Merela as Queen; Great Geas placed on Jadeborn
121 Autocthon departs Creation
639 First Dissolution Invasion of the FF
652 First Dissolution Invasion of the FF ends with Solars casting back the Wyld
1107 Rogue Primordial strikes Creation, starting the Aftershock War
1215 Aftershock War ends
2325 Time of Cascading Years begins - Time becomes subjective
2543 Time of Cascading Years ends… kinda
2544 Period of Long Silence Begins
2576 Cam Roune is born in Deheleshen
2595 Cam Roune exalts
2626 Period of Long Silence Ends
2678 Deliberative re-established
3193 I AM activated
3366 Black Nadir Concordat emerges with secrets of necromancy
3493 Operation Wyldhand begins
3494 Operation Wyldhand ends
3550 UCS turns his face from the Solar Deliberative
3650 All Sidereals recalled to Yu-Shan for Grand Convocation
3700 The Usurpation begins followed by decades of war
3739 Start of the Shogunate
4139 Great Contagion hits Creation; Second Dissolution Invasion (Balorian Crusade)
4232 Scarlet Empress activates Realm Defence Grid, drives back the FF and founds the Realm
4234 Imperial City is founded
4250 Anisa-Shoshan executed for consorting with Yozis; Ryzala takes over B/Hea
4258 Yu-Shan gates are re-opened
4302 Syndics take control of Whitewall
4309 God War begins
4315 God War ends - Chiaroscuro & Tchoto-Killi destroyed
4644 Night of Weeping Scribes
4723 Red Dawn is born in Aliston
4734 Shroud-of-Mist is born in the Realm
4753 RD & SoM exalt
4780 Succour-in-Extremis is born in Kajeth
4782 Ennico Sorrel is born in Greyfalls
4801 SiE and ES exalt
4802 Spinning Pyramid born in Varangia
4821 SP exalts
4837 Ledaal Takezo born in the Realm
4864 LT exalts
4994 Empress disappears during Calibration
4995 Regent Fokuf elected; Mask of Winters conquers Thorns
4996 Current Year
Herein can be found the various variants and such for S:PI. Generally house rules will be similar to rulings made in BSR's Golden Opportunity campaign.
For information on what will be awarded in lieu of 'traditional' story awards, please see the XP Tracking page.
The current ruling on this is that bonus = automatic when it comes to added successes, so such successes (unless otherwise stated) do not count towards dice-adding maxima.
For the case of the Sidereal Athletics charm, Invisible Motion, the number of bonuses that can be added to any given action is capped at [Essence].
This does not break the normal Sidereal dice adding caps.
For the time being the ruling is that if the charm does not state a willpower cost to resist, then the victim can pay standard resistance costs of 1wp for natural mental influence and 2wp for unnatural mental influence (or similar Servitude and Compulsion effects if it does not otherwise specify type of mental influence).
NEW ERRATA - Now with Sidereal Mental Influence costs! This will be implemented straight away.
S/PI/007 [Secrets/Prognostication Implementation/007] has been established ostensibly as a minor fate-planning committee within the Div/Sec to look after a particularly nondescript and uninteresting portion of southern Creation.
The roster of those currently assigned to the office (and the positions they hold) is:
Chosen of Secrets
- Illustrious Co-ordinator for Fate-Planning Committee S/PI/007 (D/Sec)
- Forbidding Manse of Ivy Liaison to the Boards of Intrigue, Detection and Investigation (D/Sec)
- Southern Scrivener of the Rolls of Enlightenment (C/EW)
- Watcher of the Summer Mountains (C/Fi)
Chosen of Serenity
- Deputy Chair of the Sub-Convention on Wyld Fugitives (C/EW)
Chosen of Endings
- Deputy Chair of the Sub-Convention on Nexus (C/Wo)
- Grand Commissioner of the Commission on Terrestrial Affairs (C/EW)
Chosen of Battles
- Chair of the Sub-Convention on Essence Monitors (C/EW)
- Chair of the Sub-Convention on Akuma (C/EW)
- Crimson Panoply of War Liaison to the Golden Barque of Heaven (D/Jou)
- Representative to the Department of Infernal Affairs (C/Cap)
Chosen of Serenity
- Cerulean Lute of Harmony Representative to the Natural Emergency Restoration Forum (D/Ser)
- Head of Outreach & External Services (B/Sea)
- Chief Magistrate of the Western Metereological Arbitration Court (B/Sea)
- Chair of the Sub-Convention on Displaced Populations (C/ND)
- Deputy-Chair of the Sub-Convention on the Wavecrest Isles (C/Wa)
Chosen of Endings
- Southern Commissioner of the Department of Concluded Debate (D/End)
- Watcher of Harborhead (C/Fi)
- Jade Auditor (Department of Abstract Concerns), Meritorious Conferment Adjudications Executive, Division of Dispensation (B/Hea)
Icaron Dromedae, Chosen of Journeys - replaced by Ledaal Takezo
Herein can be found the various case notes for the S:PI campaign.
Resplendent Water 4995
A group comprising Shroud of Mist, Succour-in-Extremis, Navion Starlight (Chosen of Journeys), Silent Sunset (Chosen of Endings) and Mox Jerefin (Chosen of Battles) were directed to investigate a fate disturbance in the firedust mining town of Texia, eventually besting a second-circle demon and its followers in the course of completing their mission. In search of a rogue Vizier and other wanted targets, various wanderings around the south led to Gem and a Wyld pocket in the foothills there.
There was found a strange mystical complex and a set of aerial platforms where stood a strange clock-quebus designed to unleash strange forces from Denandsor for unknown aims. However, the bad guys were stopped (though the bodies not recovered) but at high cost...
Celestial attention drawn through early investigations led to the semi-secret formation of S/PI/007.
Click through for the Mission Profile and Interludes (including the epilogue).
Descending Fire 4995
Newly established as S/PI/007, Shroud received the first assignment - to discover the fate of a missing god and the incipient plot being carried out in Heaven. Both groups encountered all manner of duplicitous and unsavoury characters including a disgruntled god overlooked for promotion, a bloody hand with grand ideas and a devious Dragon-blooded sorceror. Teamwork and fortuitious allies saved the day as the perpetrators were brought to trial... with different coutcomes.
Click through for premise of the mission and Epilogue.
Ascending Water 4996
Tasked with discovering the truth in the fate of an elemental dragon, Shroud and companions scour Creation and Heaven for evidence of a conspiracy of seasonal affectiveness disorder with the investigation taking them from the Archipelago of the Exiles to a murder mystery party, from the warring tribes of Farhold to the ruins of eastern Creation...
Click through for premise of the mission, casenotes and various interludes.
Descending Water/Ascending Earth 4996
A fate disruption in the southern deserts and a mysterious problem with elementals draws the team's attentions and seemingly disparate events come together to form a mystery in the aftermath of Swan Dragon's disappearance eight and a half centuries ago. The Creation team works to find a long lost panoply whilst a strange conspiracy in Yu-Shan involving the staff of Wong Bongerok keep Succour and Pyramid occupied...
Click through for premise of the mission, various interludes and case relevant notes. Now with added case Epilogue!
Descending Wood/Ascending Fire 4996
A mystery is unfolding on the Blessed Isle and in Yu-Shan a series of puzzles hold the key to forgotten lore...
Click through for premise of the mission, various interludes and case relevant notes.
Following are a series of cases taken on by S:PI investigators on behalf of their other concerns incidental to the work of the S/PI/007 office.
To: Shroud of Mist, S/PI/007, Division of Secrets
From: Office IUE/SS/1312, Division of Secrets
We suspect a leak in the office of the All-Seeing Eye in The Lap is providing information to an EOF. You are directed to discover the source of the leak.
Profile: You are authorised to resolve the situation if feasible. If not, report as necessary and it will be resolved in due course. The Abbot of The Lap will be expecting you under the name Suriko Mesumi, and can provide accommodation and local information. The Eye will also be expecting you (“no gaps in Mela's scales”), but they believe you are merely stationed there on a separate investigation.
Reporting: We expect written reports to be submitted daily at the very least; these can be given to the Abbot, who knows how to pass them to us. Naturally, they should be sealed in the usual manner.
Estimated probability of deathknight presence: 36.6%
Estimated probability of hidden Solar presence: 30.6%
Estimated probability of demonic presence: 25.9%
Estimated probability of Fair Folk presence: 11.2%
***
Mist was concerned. Intrigued, but concerned. This was clearly a Bronze Faction problem; why send an out-of-Faction agent to solve it? Probably because he was expendable, Mist surmised. The mission profile clearly showed that the Bronze Faction high-ups had no idea what was going on – just look at the forecasts! – so best to send someone unimportant in to test the water. But at least he wouldn't have to tackle the EOF [Entity Outside Fate] himself, whatever it was. The Order ought to be able to handle that.
Meanwhile, he'd have to play it careful. The leak, if there was one, would be bound to be suspicious of any new agent. Perhaps he could use that to draw them out...
***
The little sprite spoke in the voice of Abbot Loku:
Your agent has arrived. I have sent him to the Eye.
***
“And a good evening to you,” said the handler, not looking up and certainly not appearing to care about the quality of Mist's evening. This was the woman the Abbot had told him to talk to – Ragara Sonnas was the name he'd been given for her. Either she was extremely accomplished at blending in, or she actually was a grumpy and solitary woman just trying to finish her drink in peace.
“I was told you had an office available for rent. Somewhere safe – no gaps in Mela's scales, and all that.”
“Oh, it's you,” she sighed. “Yes, alright. Follow me.” She stood up, looked longingly at her drink as if bidding it farewell, and led him to a dark building in a quiet street in one of the common residential areas of the city.
“You can work out of here,” she said, indicating a grubby office on the second floor with barely enough space to pull the chair out from under the desk. “If you have any problems, please don't hesitate to sort them out yourself.” And with that, she turned and left.
Within an hour, Mist had completed his initial search of the building. Unfortunately, he didn't have much to show for it. But he had one more trick to play before night fell. He stood in the building's entrance room – now deserted, with only a few people scribbling reports upstairs. He let his attention widen, broadening out to encompass the building; the entity it represented; the structure and the flow of information. He channeled a portion of his Resplendent Destiny through that awareness, searching out to examine the collective heart and mind of the intangible but very real network. And yet... nothing. There was no hint of treachery.
Well, Mist thought. That is interesting...
***
To: Office IUE/SS/1312, Division of Secrets
From: Shroud of Mist, S/PI/007, Division of Secrets
Now installed in The Lap. Harvest Ripe Wheat, Father Falling Hay reveals a totally honest organisation. Puzzling. Further investigation tomorrow.
***
The morning arrived, and with it a new sense of understanding. His Maiden had sent him dreams again – this time depicting him dancing, elegantly and delicately, with a number of unrecognised smiling faces. As he twirled amongst them, each stepping in and out in time with a gentle harp, he drew bows from each and every one. Today would be a good day for gaining confidences.
He spent the day introducing himself to the other agents in the building. They were sullen at first, not trusting the new arrival, and wanting to get on with their jobs – but they soon warmed to Mist's gentle sense of humour and helpful nature. He fetched and he relayed reports and messages; he bought them lunch and brought extra delicacies from the market; he laughed at their jokes and complimented their diligence.
He did not, however, unmask a traitor. All he could find was an undercurrent of one-up-manship among the agents. And two in particular seemed to have something of an enmity. Peleps Fumika was a quiet but charismatic man, with an understated but definitely noticeable disapproval of Ledaal Catala Leilin, a short and wiry ex-military intelligence officer with a much more vocal dislike of his Water-Aspected colleague. This would bear further attention; Mist resolved to invite them each to meet him alone the following day.
***
To: Office IUE/SS/1312, Division of Secrets
From: Shroud of Mist, S/PI/007, Division of Secrets
Some tensions in the inter-personal relationships within the office. Examining.
***
Fumika didn't reveal much over their game of Gateway. Yes, he didn't have much time for Leilin, but he simply saw him as a lesser agent – one without the discretion necessary to do his job well enough. Leilin, however, had much more to say on the subject. In fact, he seemed quite gleeful when given the chance, over a small but deceptively powerful glass of wine, to detail his rival's shortcomings – his snobbery, his holier-than-thou attitude, his overbred arrogance – not to mention the fact that he'd got promoted over Leilin who clearly deserved the position more.
“But I don't mind,” Leilin told Mist with a grin. “He'll be getting his comeuppance soon enough.”
“Oh?” Mist was idly curious; barely interested; just wondering.
“Oh, yes. Let's just say he's going to be taken down a peg or two. In fact, all of the pegs.”
Mist laughed, gently. “And why's that?” he smiled, his muscles tensed to prevent himself from throttling the squeaky runt and getting the information that way.
“Well...” The Air Aspect looked round, although they were in an empty room, and leaned in conspiratorially. “I shouldn't really be telling you this... but he's been leaking information out of the Eye. And I've been showing his faked reports to the internal affairs liaison!”
“The... internal affairs liaison...?” Mist was barely breathing now with the effort of remaining calm.
“I can't tell you about her. No-one else is supposed to know she exists. They're the shadows within the shadows, the internal affairs committee. But she's got me investigating – I'm her man on the inside, she says. She had me send reports from some of the others too, but she soon realised that Fumika was the leak. I could have told her that to begin with! But I suppose they've got to check, haven't they?”
“Ah, I see. So you're sending Fumika's reports out to this... liaison, and no-one else in the bureau knows about it?”
“Exactly! Brilliant, isn't it?”
Mist's mind played through a dozen possible responses to that question. Eventually he forced out, carefully feigning a voice of shock and respect, “Goodness! Aren't you clever?“
***
To: Abbott Loku, Monastery of The Lap
From: Suriko Mesumi, agent of the All-Seeing Eye
My investigations have revealed the suspected Anathema presence just outside the city – map attached. I leave it to the Order to resolve the matter.
My thanks for your hospitality during my stay.
***
It had been a long night, but eventually Leilin had stirred. He hadn't noticed Mist, outside his door and outside of Fate, and had unwittingly led him direct to the “internal affairs liaison”. Mist hadn't risked getting close enough to see the woman while Leilin was still there, but it hadn't taken her long to emerge. Mist doubted that anything within Fate could have swayed the poor Air Aspect so easily, but a quick question to the pattern spiders had settled the matter:
“Who is that creature?”
“Subject not found.”
***
To: Office IUE/SS/1312, Division of Secrets
From: Shroud of Mist, S/PI/007, Division of Secrets
Situation resolved.
***
Back in his office in the Division of Secrets, Mist reflected. A successful mission. And no complications. Why was it always so much simpler when he was on his own? Mist sighed, and picked up the plain-looking message at the top of his intray. And then he smiled.
***
To: Shroud of Mist, S/PI/007, Division of Secrets
From: Office A/01/203, Sub-Department of Assignment, Division of Secrets
The position of Forbidding Manse Of Ivy Liaison To The Boards Of Intrigue, Detection And Investigation has been unexpectedly vacated. As of your receipt of this message, consider yourself appointed to that position.
Please find attached a set of reports detailing the current concerns before each Board, as well as a schedule of the meetings you are expected to attend for the remainder of the month.
See that you are prompt.
#1: The Case of an Inscribed Pentangle
#2: The Case of the Missing Moment
#3: The Enigma of the Overcast Grave
#4: The Case of the Past Presented
#5: The Puzzle of the Descending Orrery
Ennico +4
Red +4
Pyramid +5
Takezo +4
Shroud +4
Pyramid 4
(note: this is capped at a max of 2xp from stunts per session)
Takezo 3
Pyramid 14
Red 13
Ennico 11
Shroud 4
Succour 5
(note: for more information on MPs, see below)
Takezo: 168/3
Pyramid: 176/4.5
Red: 175/5.5
Ennico: 167/5
Shroud: 170/3.5
Succour: 172/4
In lieu of story XP, each player will get a free background boost (or choice of options) applicable upon completion of the case. They will also be awarded a “Mission Point (MP)”. Certain benefits can only be achieved through the use of MPs.
Raising Backgrounds
Raising most backgrounds can be done fairly simply in one of three ways:
a) Spending 3xp to buy a new background or raise an existing one by one dot;
b) Story award from completing a mission/case;
c) Spending MPs.
Option (c) is the only way a Background (other than Artifact) can be raised above 3.
Mission Points
MPs can only be earned from the completion of cases or other missions. They will be awarded from:
a) Completion of a case from S/PI/007 – 1MP;
b) Cashing in one of the standard case awards for ½MP;
c) Completing a divisional, factional or convention mission assigned outside of ‘normal gameplay’ (½ or 1MP)
In practical terms, option (c) can be exercised by writing-up an appropriate addition to the character’s background that meets with ST approval.
Spending MPs
Most expenditure of MPs requires ST approval since their effects can have a significant impact on the game, particularly on the behind-the-scenes political arrangements and will also require suitable RP justification. In addition, differing benefits will require different numbers of points to be spent on them.
Costs and benefits are as outlined below:
1MP
• Raise any Background by 1 dot up to a maximum of 3
• Raise any Connections or Acquaintances background by 1 dot (up to 5)
• Spend during a session to ‘buy’ an instant bureaucratic favour.
2MP
• Raise from 3 to 4 or 4 to 5, the following Backgrounds: Ally, Familiar, Manse, Savant, Sifu.
• Get appointed to a position appropriate to Backing 3 rating (provided you have that Backing rated at 3+)
3MP
• Raise from 3 to 4, the following Backgrounds: Backing, Salary.
• Get appointed to a position appropriate to Backing 4 rating (provided you have that Backing rated at 4+)
4MP
• Raise from 3 to 4, the following Background: Celestial Manse.
• Raise from 4 to 5, the following Backgrounds: Backing, Salary.