Some mortals learn great powers. Some learn magic, while others larn to manipulate the outside world with their mind. Some, however, learn the inherent power of their body, and the increased power of that body when it and the mind are unified. These monk-like warriors are known as Exemplars, and they learn supernatural-like powers through their meditation and education.
The Exemplar can be a decent PC character, but like D&D paladins, they have several tedious rules that they must abide by or lose their powers. Exemplars can make very good NPC's, as they are mortal, yet they can stand up against a Werewolf or Vampire, at least for a little while.
POWERS OF THE EXEMPLAR
1. Chi- What gives Exemplars their power is the lifeforce inherent in all things, chi. Exemplars possess a Chi pool of up to 10 points. However, this pool cannot exceed the Exemplar's Willpower. The possession of chi gives Exemplar's several seemingly-supernatural powers:
* Lethal Strikes: as long as the Exemplar has at least 1 point of Chi left in its Chi pool, its physical attacks (punches and kicks) deal lethal damage, rather than bashing damage. With this in mind, many Exemplars choose to fight with their hands and feet rather than weapons, as they do just about as much damage. Only a weapon that might do aggravated damage would really be worth it, and even then, they might be disarmed.
* Immortality: a combination of their healthy, monastic lifestyle and their knowledge of Chi, Exemplars age much slower than average mortals. As long as they have Chi in their pools, the Exemplar ages similar to a revenant. An Exemplar ages one year for every number of years that go by equal to their Hunmanity (for example, an Exemplar with a Humanity of 8 ages only one year for every eight that pass). If an Exemplar loses Humanity, they effectively begin to age faster.
* Mystic Power: Much as Vampires spend blood in a variety of ways, so to can Exemplars spend points of Chi to do amazing things. They can spend 1 point of Chi per round to increase a Physical trait by 1 dot. They can spend up to 3 points of Chi per turn to heal non-aggravated damage. In no one turn can an Exemplar spend more than 3 poits of Chi. One more thing that Chi allows is the lessening of food requirements. Exemplars can go with 1/(Chi level) the amount of food the average human can, as long as they get enough water.
Chi is restored through meditation. Characters must meditate, uninterrupted, for 4 hours, and then rolls Stamina+Meditation (diff. 8), with each success adding one point to the Chi pool, up to the Exemplar's maximum.
2. Martial Prowess- Through their training in the ways of the Exemplar, the Exemplar learn several different fighting styles that effectively mirror the vampiric disciplines of Potence, Celerity, and Fortitude.
* Diamond Body: eqivalent to Fortitude. This is learned by repeated blows to the softer parts of the body and the joints.
* Mantis Precision: eqivalent to Potence. This only adds to damage rolls, as it is more to the fact that they know where to strike than they are supernaturally strong, and thus does nothing for lifting feats.
* Cheetah's Grace: eqivalent to Celerity. this style, unlike the others, requires expenditure of a point of Chi, just as a Vampire must spend a blood point.
3. Mental Prowess- Just as the Exemplars put their bodies through great training and hardship, so to do they do this with their minds. Through their training in the ways of the Exemplar, the Exemplar learn several different abilites that aide them in their journeys among the humans and supernaturals of the world.
* Empty Mind: This ability hardens the mind against mental control and manipulation. This skill makes the mind more resistant to Presence and Dominate. Powers of Presence, as they are more diluted to affect masses, fail if their level is less than the level of this skill. As for Dominate, it is more concentrated. Due to this. It allows the Exemplar to roll a number of dice equal to the skill's rating (diff. 7), with each success subtracting one from the successes of the Dominate-user. This skill is effective against both Vampiric Dominate and Psychic Mind Control. It works similarly against Mind sphere magic as it does against Dominate (but diff. 8).
* Mental Clarity: The training of the Exemplar opens the capabilities of the mind. Through rigorous mental conditioning, they can effectively take the Vampiric Thaumaturgical Path: the Focused Mind. Any powers that have a blood cost instead use Chi.
WEAKNESSES OF THE EXEMPLAR
While the powers of an Exemplar are high, they are not without their costs, which are as follows.
1. As stated above, an Exemplar who loses Humanity loses several things. Both a point of maximum Chi and a fraction of their slowed aging disappear, lost until the Exemplar can regain the lost Humanity.
2. Exemplars must make several oaths in order to learn their powers from the Order of the Exemplar. Every Exemplar effectively suffers from a mystic prohibition (4 point flaw) that forbids them from sex, alcohol, and other "synthetic" pleasures. They are expected to live simple, aesthetic lifestyles, sleeping on mats on floors and eating only the simplest food. Breaking their oaths causes them to lose the use of their Chi, stripping them of their pseudo-supernatural powers and skills. If they again break their vows before they can atone for their crime, they die.
3. Along with their mystical prohibitions, Exemplars also suffer from several mystical imperatives. They must donate any money in excess of what they need to survive to a charity or their temple, or suffer the same consequences as above. Thus, they cannot take the Resources background to higher than 1. Also, they must defend the innocent and helpless. If they see a person in genuine need of aide, they are obligated to assist in whatever way they can, unless they wish to lose their powers.
GAME NOTES FOR THE OTHER GAMES
Vampire: The Masquerade
The blood of an Exemplar is just like that of any other human, though probably significanly more difficult to get. vampires never expect lethal damage from mere punches and kicks, nor do they expect the superhuman damage, resistance and speed comparable to their own.
A Vampire looking at an Exemplar's aura using level two Auspex will see a very faint, hazy, golden aura. Though this is not True Faith, and thus does not grant any special abilities, it is similar enough to generate the same aura color, and this scares most vampires who would engage them. Theoretically, an Exemplar could possess True Faith for real, but such a belief would be hard to incorporate into their self-focused lifestyle. A few have, however, taken to the belief that they are chosen of some deity to be able to do what it is they do.
An Exemplar cannot be Embraced. If they are, they automatically die.
Werewolf: The Apocalypse
Later
Mage: The Ascension
As far as Mages are concerned, an Exemplar is just another human being. Theoretically, an Exemplar could be a Mage, but the training required to become adept at it, and the training to become a skilled Exemplar both take most of an extended lifetime, and doing both would be very, very slow work. Most likely, an Exemplar who Awakens, or a Mage who chooses to take on the life of an Exemplar, are members of the Akhashic Brotherhood.
Wraith: The Oblivion
An Exemplar can resist Puppetry just as it can Dominate, while Keening is repelled as Presence is. As with everything else, Exemplars who die and become wraiths lose their powers.
Changeling: The Dreaming
Exemplars and Changelings have very little to do with each other. CHangelings cannot become Exemplars, though why exactly is not known.
USES FOR THE LICH
Exemplars are good guards, with their lack of need for weapons and their choice to work for little or no reward, though they will not work for evil ends. They also make decent supernatural-hunters, as they are ofte very durable, fast, and precise.
VIEWPOINTS OF THE LICH
Vampires: Most are evil monsters, and they keep me very busy guarding their prey from them.
Werewolves: They are powerful in strength, mind, and spirit, but they are not strong enough of will, and often blindly tear the innocent to ribbons along with the guilty.
Mages: Possessing of great power, and often jut as great arrogance. Only a small few use their power for altruistic purposes, and only those few will be spared.
Wraiths: The Restless can be of use, but they carry their own worst enemy with them, and so they are not to be trusted.
Kithian: I've met a few trolls i liked, but otherwise they have little about themselves that interest me.
OTHER'S VIEWS ON THE LICH
Kindred: "A what? I thought it was a Nosferatu."
Garou: "As far as humans often go, these few are to be spared our claws, as long as they stay to their codes, that is."
Mage (majority): "Their power is of interest, though their requirements are not quite so appealing."
Akhashic Brotherhood: See what a way of life like our's can accomplish?
Wraith: ""
Kithian: ""
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