having known better than those around them and a strong
tendency to act on those convictions without waiting for authorization or understanding. Yet, on the whole, they are not liars. Whispers will want to control where, when and how much of the truth is disseminated, but they are primarily concerned with maximizing productivity and effectiveness in their endeavors. Half-truths can be forgiven when a plan comes together, but out-and-out deceit impedes future efforts no matter the result.
Whispers usually favor support roles in an assembly, setting the stage for their comrades to be more effective in their particular areas of specialty. A Plot Weaver likely provides fire support in combat, plays “bad regulator” to an Orichalcum or Jade Caste’s “good regulator” in social situ- ations, and generally works to smooth the assembly’s way whenever possible.
Starmetal Caste elders either become vast mechanical spiders sitting at the center of far-flung webs of information, creating proposals and manipulating events according to universe models and precognitive subroutines or else deploy themselves as mobile operating platforms for critical missions. Such Whispers act as a city-on-the-go for Far Reaches salvage efforts, providing nutrients, Essence, equipment, intelligence and enormous remote drone-scouted three-dimensional area maps updated in real time. Starmetal Caste cities tend to be small but busy nexuses of trade and information, optimizing their citizens’ productivity in a thousand subtle but effica- cious ways.
Caste Markings: Charms formed of the rarest magical material rely on a delicate, minimalist aesthetic. Braided coils of starmetal wires outline conventional alloys in artful filigree whose loops and whorls are vaguely hypnotic to behold. The animas of this Caste are deep blue, shot through with lines and bursts of prismatic static.
Anima Effect: By reflexively spending five motes, a Plot Weaver can align his soul and Essence with the Design of the Great Maker. His player adds (Essence ÷ 2) to all at- tack, damage and Join Battle rolls for the scene. During this time, a prismatic halo of colors trails slightly ahead of the Alchemical as a sort of reverse afterimage, highlighting the auspicious movements he will take. Those who behold the halo perceive the dim hand of inevitability, but it avails them nothing. Only in painful retrospect do targets understand what they saw. It activates automatically at no cost whenever the Alchemical’s anima reaches the 11+ level of display.
Caste Attributes: Whispers wield body and mind with surgical precision. No other caste can produce such profound results with such calculated and minimalist effort, be it in the ballroom or on the battlefield. As such, their Caste Attributes are Dexterity, Manipulation and Intelligence.
Associations: the color blue, steel, starmetal, the ele- ment of steam, half-truths
Sobriquets: Blessed of Mog, Daggers of Autochthon, Plot Weavers, Whispers
Concepts: data interpreter, pattern theorist, social prognosticator, tactical advisor
havin tende autho not li how m conce in the come no m W settin in th provi Orich ation when S spide creati unive them Such h effort effo and e a maps maps small their cious
The Abyssal Exalted are inverted Solars. Chosen by the Neverborn and Deathlords as world-killing weapons, they were never part of Autochthon’s design for the Exalted. And yet, curi- ously, the Soulsteel Caste in many ways stands opposite the Orichalcum Caste. Where the Archons shine forth in glory to inspire the masses, the Unblinking Eyes are the dark shadow on the factory wall, the iron boot rattling on the catwalk, the ominous click of a weapon Charm being primed beneath an oil-slick black coat. Soul- steel Castes are the secret police, interrogators, gremlin hunters and final guardians of orthodoxy in the Realm of Brass and Shadow. They patrol the Reaches for imminent danger to their home city. They seek out and destroy Voidbringer cults. They listen for heresy. The Sentinels find those things that present a threat to the survival and stability of Autochthonia, and they eliminate them. Sometimes this means re-education. Just as often, it means death.
The twin virtues of the Scourges of Autochthon are ruthlessness and discretion. They work tirelessly, effectively and quietly to perform those tasks the state deems neces- sary but unpleasant. Everyone knows the Unblinking Eyes handle whatever dirty work needs handling. Everyone has a tale they heard, from a guy who heard it from a friend. No one knows real details, because they don’t want to and because the Sentinels often aren’t proud enough of the things they have to do to repeat the stories.
Still, the Soulsteel Castes are not thugs for hire or cackling psychopaths. They are servants of grim necessity, ultimately working toward the greater good. They police the ranks of the powerful and influential as zealously as the hovels of the Lumpen and the warrens of the tunnel people. If they are not loved, so be it. Aware as they are that they are Autochthonia’s last line of defense against the Void, most Sentinels would deem love an unacceptable distraction in any case.
SOULSTEEL
CASTE
e Abyssal Exalted arare inverted Chosen by the Neverbrborn and
rds as world-killing weaeapons, re never part of Autochthohon’s or the Exalted. And yet, ccuri- e Soulsteel Caste in manymany ways pposite the Orichae Orichalcum Caste. he Arch
he Archons shine forth in glory re the masses, the Unblinking
the dark shadow on the factory e iron boot rn boot rattling on the catwalk, nous click of a weaponweapon Charm being beneath an oil-slick black cck coat. Soul-
stes are the secret police, e, interrogators, hunters and final guardiansns of orthodoxy in the of Brass and Shadow. Thehey patrol the Reaches
inent danger to their hohome city. They seek out troy Voidbringer cults. The listen for hts. They listen for heresy. ntinels find those thi s that present a thrthings that present a threat urvival and stability of Autochthonia, and thty of Autochthonia, and they te them. Sometimes this means re-educatioimes this means re-education.
ften, it means death.
e twin virtues of the Scourges of Autochthon aare ness and discretion. They work tirelessly, effectivevely etly to perform those tasks the state deems necees- unpleasant. Everyone knows the Unblinking Eyyes whatever dirty work needs handling. Everyone has s a y heard, from a guy who heard it from a friend. No onene eal details, because they don’t want to and because thehe ls often aren’t proud enough of the things they have to peat the stories.
l, the Soulsteel Castes are not thugs for hire or cackling aths. They are servants of grim necessity, ultimately
toward the greater good. They police the ranks of werful and influential as zealously as the hovels of mpen and the warrens of the tunnel people. If they
loved, so be it. Aware as they are that they are thonia’s last line of defense against the Void, ntinels would deem love an unacceptable