Solar Virtue Flaws

Of the Ōmijin, the Sun-Struck are considered the most powerful, excelling at everything they do, but also the most prone to hubris. Since these individuals are no longer quite human, Izanami's Curse and promise of death does not directly apply to them--they can still be killed, but need not fear natural death. Instead, the curse manifests through their hubris via their Virtue Flaw.

''These sample flaws aren’t the only ones an Exalt might develop. Storytellers and players may work together to develop their own flaws. However, these flaws are the result of an ancient and terrible curse, so they are never pleasant or useful. Storytellers should make certain that any new flaws are approximately as difficult and problematic as the ones listed here.''

Compassionate Martyrdom
Overcome with the need to alleviate the suffering he witnesses, the character throws himself into helping the victims in the most direct and dramatic fashion possible. If the character’s Limit Breaks while watching an overseer beat slaves, he stands before the whip, allowing blows meant for others to fall upon him instead. The character will not resort to violence unless he is attacked or is already in combat.

Heart of Tears
Overwhelmed with grief at the suffering he has witnessed, the character can only weep at the wretched state of the world. If his Limit Breaks in a stressful situation, the character cannot function for the rest of the scene and attempts to flee if attacked. If he cannot flee, he defends himself at a two-die penalty and seeks to flee at the first opportunity. He can only avoid human contact and perhaps numb himself to the pain of existence with intoxicants.

Red Rage of Compassion
All the suffering the character has seen fills her with an unquenchable rage. She immediately attacks the most obvious cause, without consideration for herself or the situation. The character’s rage overcomes sense and reason. She is unlikely to perform even simple acts such as putting down objects in her hands or drawing a weapon. However, she does not suffer wound penalties while in this state. Characters without obvious targets enter a terrible rage, moving erratically from area to area, smashing objects without consideration for value and lashing out at anyone foolish enough to interfere.

Deliberate Cruelty
The character wholly embraces cruelty. Her conscience vanishes, and she uses terror and cruelty to accomplish her goals, with only contempt for any perceived or exhibited weakness. She casually tortures and mutilates prisoners to sow terror and inspire obedience. This cruelty causes a minimum two-die penalty on all Social interactions not involving fear or intimidation.

Heart of Flint
The character’s heart hardens to all emotion. He feels and expresses no emotions: not robotic, but lacking all empathy and feeling. The character considers only efficiency in choosing his course of action, and his reduced tact imposes a two-die penalty on all Social rolls involving face-to-face interactions.

Ascetic Drive
After the character’s Limit Breaks, she must seek tranquility and purification through withdrawal and meditation. She immediately turns her back on worldly affairs, however pressing. She can defend herself normally and attack anyone who threatens her, but she cares nothing for her previous plans or allies. The character shaves her head, dresses in sackcloth or shows some similar sign of penitence and retreats somewhere from all worldly concerns. To further withdraw, she might destroy or give away possessions, including artifacts and manses. The character will be uncommunicative if disturbed and will become violent if the disturbance continues.

Contempt of the Virtuous
The character loses respect for the faults of those around him and has to show them a better way of life. The character disdains anyone he has previously witnessed overindulging or acting dishonorably. If he sees anything remotely dishonorable or indulgent, he attempts to intervene—even physically. The character loudly urges those around him toward a more upright way of life, lecturing them to destroy or repudiate their vanities, and he will use Charms and other resources to further his personal crusade.

Overindulgence
The character’s self-control completely fails, and she surrenders to all forms of excess. Sex, liquor, drugs and gluttony become equally attractive, and the character will not listen to reason or postpone her debauch. She indulges in all vices at hand, regardless of expense or consequences. If she’s penniless or isolated, she’ll borrow or steal or travel to a location where she can indulge. Characters in poor health should make a Stamina check to avoid long-term negative consequences from such an episode.

Berserk Anger
Out of control, the character attacks anything that moves. If it runs, he hunts and slays it. The character starts with the nearest hostile target and, after all hostiles are dead, continues to kill until he is dead or there is no one left to murder. If the character runs out of targets quickly or is not near other living beings, he attacks his surroundings, attempting to smash and ravage everything in reach.

Foolhardy Contempt
The character knows no fear. She places herself in the forefront of battle, thoughtlessly challenges enemies to single combat, volunteers for all dangerous missions and won’t retreat under any circumstances.