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All of the Exalted gained their powers from some of the most powerful beings in Creation - from the Elemental Dragons to the Deathlords. Imbued with a shard of pure godly might that allows them to channel Essence in ways that allow them to slay monsters, lead armies, work great magics and to otherwise perform heroic acts. At one time the Solar Exalteds ruled the world, but they were betrayed and slain by their armies of Terrestrial Exalted (commonly called the Dragon-Blooded) who then took their place.

Creation of the Exalted

In time beyond time the gods were in charge of Creation, having been created for this purpose by the Primordials. Discontent brewed among the gods but in their creation their makers constrained them from using any of their divine resources against the Primordials. However, a loophole was found due to the fact that there was no restriction from using mortals against them.

The proposal to create the Exalted as champions for the Incarnae came from the Unconquered Sun to his fellows. All seven of them went out to choose champions - creating the first Exalted. Their ally and companion, Gaia, opted to not create Exalted of her own, but she allowed her children - Elemental Dragons - to join in and create some of their own which would serve as the army for the greater Exalted. Autochthon, also a Primordial as well as the first of all smiths, joined against his brothers and taught the Exalted how to make tools (specifically weapons) to use against the Primordials. Following the Primordial War, the Exalted were placed in charge of Creation.

It is important to remember that Exaltation is a gift that, once given the Incarnae have no actual control over their Chosen ones. If this had not been the case then the Primordials could have ordered the Incarnae to take the Exalteds' power away from them.

Primary Exalted Types

• Solar
• Lunar
• Sidereal
• Dragon-Blooded
• Abyssal

The Types of Exalted

Solar Exalted

The full article is located here: Solar Exalted

The Solar Exalted are the Chosen of the Unconquered Sun, created to be the rulers of the world and the leaders of the other Exalted. Solar Exalted come in one of five castes. The Dawn Castes are unparalleled warriors, the Zenith Castes are priests and mystics, the Twilight Castes are savants and sorcerers, the Night Castes are spies and assassins and the Eclipse Castes are diplomats and ambassadors.

Lunar Exalted

The full article is located here: Lunar Exalted

The Lunar Exalted are the Chosen of Luna, the viceroys, generals and strategists for the Solars - and often their consorts as well. They are shapeshifters and hunters, warriors and survivors. Their power is divided in terms of the moon's phases. The Full Moons are warriors and lovers of battle, the No Moons are keepers of lore and sorcery and the Changing Moons are the tacticians and shapeshifters and scouts. Originally, instead of the Changing Moons, there were three separate castes - the Waxing Moons, priests and courtiers; the Half-Moons, observers and tacticians; and the Waning Moons, guileful spies and tricksters - but the separation between the three was lost following the Usurpation.

Sidereal Exalted

The full article is located here: Sidereal Exalted

The Sidereals are the Chosen of the Five Maidens, the most secretive and inscrutable of all the Exalted. They are advisors, viziers, planners, councelors and masters of intrigue and the martial arts. Each Sidereal Exalt is chosen by a particular Maiden, but there are never more than 100 total Sidereals at any time.

Dragon-Blooded

The full article is located here: Terrestrial Exalted

The Terrestrial Exalted differ from the Celestial Exalted in that they can pass on their powers to their descendants. They were formed by the Elemental Dragons as foot soldiers to the Celestial Exalted. Separately they are weaker, but when working together the Terrestrials can topple dynasties and menace even the mightiest gods into submission. A Dragon-Blooded has one of five elemetal aspects: Air, Earth, Fire, Water or Wood.

Abyssal Exalted

The full article is located here: Abyssal Exalted

With the recent destruction of the city of Thorns, Deathlord Mask of Winters was shown to possess darkly Exalted servants and reports of other such beings are coming in from around Creation. These "deathknights" are a subject of terrible rumor, but little certain knowledge.

Nature of Exaltation and the Exalted

Among men, Exalted have no equals, for they were created to be the weapons of the gods in the war against those that came before the gods. When young in their power, the Exalted might be mistaken for the miraculous child of a mighty god or for a particularly talented thaumaturge, but as she matures, she far surpasses the potential of both. Each sort of Exalt is its own distinct being, but there are a number of traits common to all of them.

Common Traits of the Exalted

Exaltation grants a vast life span

The mayfly Terrestrials endur for only two or three centuries, while the Celestial Exalted typically live ten times as long. In addition, the Exalted are nearly ageless. They endure, seemingly in the prime of their lives, until the very end of their long spans. Any Exalt who appears elderly is ancient indeed.

Exaltation grants tremendous vitality

The physical body of an Exalt is incredibly resilient. Exalted heal with incredible rapidity, are largely immune to disease, and are intensely resistant to poison. An Exalt can endure the most incredible hardship and survive wounds that would instantly fell a mortal.

Exaltation demands heroes

Exaltation is a fundamental alteration of destiny, turn a mortal into a semi-divine weapon. To be capable of benefiting from the Exaltation's power, the Exalt-to-be must already have an important destiny. No Exalt is unwilling to wield his power. The Exaltation is not a rational or mortal force, though. It simply seeks out beings who can and will wield divine power. It could descend on the most pious of hermits or the most immortal of rascals, so long as the chosen one is of consequence to history and will put its might to use.

Exaltation is desirous of hale hosts

The Exalted heal without scar and recover without permanent disability from all but the most terrible non-magical maiming. In addition, the power that inhabits the Exalted is a military weapon. Though rare exceptions occur for those whose talent and destiny surpasses their limitation, the vast majority of those who become Terrestrial Exalted are free of any serious birth defect and are generally superior physical specimens. Those who become Celestial Exalted are almost always of age to serve in the military - between thirteen and sixty - and possess full use of their limbs and senses. Exaltation knows no gender or ethnic preference. It desires only quality base material from which to make a hero.

Exaltation is imperishable and inseparable

No known process can sunder the bond between soul and Exaltation in either Terrestrial or Celestial Exalted. In addition, the Exaltation is protective. As godly beings and creatures of magic, the Exalted suffer lesser or no effect from many magical powers.

Number of Exalted

No new Exalted have been created in Creation (unless you count growing numbers of the Dragon-Blooded) since the Primordial War.

• Solar Exalted

Originally there were about three hundred Solar Essences, but roughly half of these have been stolen by the Deathlords in order to create the Abyssal Exalted.

• Lunar Exalted

There are about three hundred Lunar Essences.

• Sidereal Exalted

There are about one hundred Sidereal Essences.

• Terrestrial Exalted

Due to the fact that they can breed more of their kind, it is not possible to put an exact number on the Dragon-Blooded. An additional complication is that, due to Outcaste Terrestrials, not even the censuses of the Realm are able to have these exact numbers - although it is likely recorded somewhere.