Exalted Moonblessing Conditions | Text | UN: mayorinfan35

[mayoninofukucho]

[When Hijikata woke up on the 1st of the month he had a familiar simple pair of horns on his head. He still clung to the hope that he might just get different dragon traits this time around, but his pissy mood, the red moon that night, and his transformed ears and added tail the next morning made it clear that he got cattle traits again. It feels like a huge downgrade, and he's frustrated. But if there's a hidden logic behind this he wants to find out.]

Does anyone know what conditions need to be met for someone to get permanently exalted?

Has anyone been exalted and then gone back to unexalted? What did you do differently in the month before each change?

[He's keeping his post really curt since he's disgruntled. He could easily think of something he did differently in the past two months, but he needs to compare his experiences to those of others.]

Comments

[arrowroot]

Oh, no, I didn't get a tail at all! In fact I almost didn't realize anything had changed until I saw my arms. All I had were scales! No gills or anything! It wasn't even that interesting but I'll take minor boring changes over being modeled after a certain dragon I detest any day...

[mayoninofukucho]

Oh, OK! In that case I understand. One of my neighbours ended up with a whale bottom once, that was a pain in the ass to deal with. Sorry to hear about your dragon traits, too; that sucks. I guess I can count myself lucky that I don't know any bulls I hate.

[Seriously, this world is crazy. Can stuff like this really be a coincidence?!]

[arrowroot]

I don't even mind dragons that much anymore but it had to make me look like that one.

You are lucky. It's terribly cruel to be reminded of awful memories by your appearance alone. Especially when you can't do a damn thing about it.

[mayoninofukucho]

That's seriously insane that this happened to you. I don't know what that dragon did to you, and you don't have to tell me, but my best idea is to defy him/her and live your best life when your moonblessing hits you. I assume that dragon is an asshole, so if you use your powers for good, so to speak, wouldn't that be a way of payback?

[God, he sounds like his idealistic commander, talking like this... but whatever happened to this person must have made a really negative impact.]

[arrowroot]

Was directly or indirectly involved with the deaths of thousands, of them many I was close to.

And... forced me to end the life of a long time mentor and friend, because not doing so would have continued the dragon's rampage.

[Even saying it through text brings a painful ache to her chest.]

I'm trying to. The first month with it was exceptionally difficult. I cried a lot.

[mayoninofukucho]

I'm sorry. That's extraordinarily shitty.

[Damn, he sucks at consoling people, especially someone with such serious trauma. He never knows what to say, because what's the point? Ultimately none of them can turn back time, and he knows how it stings, albeit his upsetting memories are nowhere near on such a horrendous scale.]

Are you on your own here? Or do you have some friends with you?

[arrowroot]

I have made friends here, but I have a feeling that isn't what you meant.

[Which is to say, no. She's alone in that regard.]

I've never met another person from Tyria here.

[mayoninofukucho]

I'm sure that doesn't make it any easier for you. Sadly I'm not from Tyria either. It's good that you made new friends here, though.

[He isn't sure if he should say that he hopes for some people from her world to join her sooner or later, because he wouldn't want that for his comrades-in-arms... although in some ways Prismatica isn't all that bad compared to their swordsman lifestyle.]

I don't know if I can really help you with all this, but if you need a sparring partner during the Sanguis cycle or anything don't hesitate to contact me.

[arrowroot]

I think this is the longest stretch of time that I've been away from my brother as well. I went longer without seeing my parents or the rest of my siblings, but Rurik was usually never far behind me.

[That's been the hardest part. She misses her guild something fierce but not having her twin is like missing a part of herself.]

I may actually take you up on that. I'm not normally prone to aggression but Sanguis has been testing me...

[mayoninofukucho]

That's got to be really difficult to be apart from your brother. What's your occupation? Perhaps there's an association or organisation here that you can join, either for that or for some passion or hobby of yours, to have some like-minded people around you at least. I don't assume you're a Moon Knight? In that case we would be workmates soon.

[Hijikata can relate a little. While unfortunate circumstances separated him from his oldest brother early in life he still remembers him as his steady rock and kind guardian, and having to live apart from him was painful for a long time.]

Anyway, the sparring offer stands regardless of that.

[arrowroot]

Currently? I'm a guild commander for The Blade Coalition. I did consider the Knights for a moment or two, but honestly... I wouldn't be at all surprised if this is the universe's way of telling me I really need to take a break. I do plan on picking up a job soon but likely in a different field entirely. I did grow up on a farm working the fields and tending to livestock with my family, though.

[mayoninofukucho]

You know, you may be on to something there. Many people here live damn tough lives and can use a break, if you can call Prismatica that.

[There are serious dangers here, but also many pleasures, and not only of the sexual kind. Hijikata loves the food, the bathhouses, the accommodations. It's a luxurious life compared to what he grew up with after separating from his family, and he's sure it's the same for many other Moonblessed.]

I'm from a farming family. It's really rewarding work, so I think that's a good idea.

[He never did farmwork as such - he was too young -, but he remembers the idyllic scenery of the fields at dusk, the laughter of the household - his older siblings, who were the land owners, and their workers, together... it was pretty much the only peaceful time in his life.]

[arrowroot]

Considering we're mostly repairing a world that already went sideways I think I actually prefer the cleanup over prevention, even if prevention would be the better method.

[There are dangers to be sure, but they really did pale in comparison to Elder Dragons.

Ana could do without the cults, though. Seriously, why does she always wind up somewhere with a damn cult hanging around?]

I do think I'll look into it eventually. It would be nice to get back to what I started with.

Thank you for talking with me. I hope I was informative.

[mayoninofukucho]

Well, around here it kind of feels like after the cataclysm is before the next cataclysm, so here's hoping we'll succeed at both the clean-up and the prevention.

[Concerning as the looming threat of a return of those old forces of destruction is, he really does think they have a shot at defeating them, seeing how they already achieved various victories and other successes. Hijikata hasn't had much prior experience with cults, but he still has no love for the Sinless, so they're on the same page there.]

Nothing to thank me for. Take care of yourself! I hope it'll get easier for you to deal with your moonblessing. It does have its benefits, and those are yours to use for what's important to you.