Observer of the Field

Observer of the Field
(Starmetal Reinforced Buff Jacket ••••)

When Honored Aspect of the Morning led her dragonblooded troops against the fair folk, it was said that she could see every strategic angle as clearly as one can see the pieces of a board game being shuffled. In truth, it was with the use of the armor she seemed to be perpetually clad in. Forged in the glory days of the Solar Deliberative, Observer of the Field was a gift from the chosen of battles, Silken Blade's Caress to Honored Aspect of the Morning, so that she might lead her troops with an efficiency unparalleled by even her fellow Solar Exalted. In the days of the Usurpation the garb was taken from the general as her soldiers turned upon her, with Silken Blade's Caress claiming the garb, and waiting for the day when a worthy wearer would present itself. Now over a thousand years later, Creation is in chaos as the fires of war rage with a fury that has not been seen in many centuries. Silken Blade's Caress' student, Solemn March of Spears saw amidst the madness in the East, a young marshal with the same sense of righteousness that her sifu's oldest friend burned with before she fell into depravity. The Chosen of Battles presented Observer of the Field to the Voice of Whispering Thunder as a spoil of war. The boy accepted it graciously, and has since continued to act with valor and honor. Time will tell if he remains steadfast and virtuous.

Observer of the Field was crafted from the leather of a thousand eyed behemoth, black spider silk, and a long hauberk of closely knit starmetal chains. These three materials are carefully layered together to create a well worn hooded coat that is outwardly decorated with black feathersteel plates on the chest, shoulders, wrists and shins. When the light strikes the garb's chainmail, the material glows a faint red.

Attunement: 5m
Type: Medium (+8 Soak, Hardness 7, Mobility -1)
Tags: Silent
Hearthstone Slot(s): 1
Era: The Solar Deliberative

While the wearer is attuned to Observer of the Field, they can directly funnel their own might through their soldiers.  A battlegroup under their command may use the Excellent Strike Charm, at an increased cost of 1m per size of the battlegroup. This may only be used once per scene.

The Fog of War Clears
Cost: 3m; Mins: Essence 1
Type: Supplementary
Keywords: Resonant
Duration: Instant
Prerequisites: none

Pulling the hood over their eyes, the wearer sees the battlefield from the heavens above. This Evocation supplements a strategic maneuver roll by reducing the penalties based on an opponent concealing and obscuring their movements, reducing penalties by (Essence) dice.

Resonant: If the wearer is resonant with Starmetal, and the amount exceeds the penalty, add the remaining dice as non-charm bonus dice to the roll.

Visions Tinted Red
Cost: 6m 1wp ; Mins: Essence 2
Type: Reflexive
Keywords: None
Duration: One Scene
Prerequisites: The Fog of War Clears
Gazing deeply into the red haze of the starmetal chains inside the hood, the wearer begins to see the battlefield in new light. This evocation may be activated reflexively after executing a stratagem, allowing the user to roll (Intelligence + War) and banking half of the successes. These successes may be spent as charm bonus automatic successes to strategic maneuver rolls. These successes are no longer usable after the scene’s conclusion.

Reading The Scarlet Flow
Cost: 2m per Success Spent; Mins: Essence 3
Type: Reflexive
Keywords: Resonant.
Duration: Instant
Prerequisites: Visions Tainted Red
Red flows across the battlefield like water flows through a river, revealing information with each slice and each block. The wearer draws upon the successes gained from Visions Tainted Red, and uses them to guide the spears of their soldiers. The user may spend two motes to add an automatic success to the attack roll of their battlegroup when issuing a command action.
Resonant: If the wearer is resonant with starmetal, this evocation may be used by the wearer during their battlegroup’s action, however, doing so incurs a -1 penalty to the wearer’s defense.


Charting the Crimson Tide
Cost:- ; Mins: Essence 3
Type: Permanent
Keywords: None
Duration: Indefinite
Prerequisites: Visions Tinted Red
The tide of battle ebbs and flows, until the final wave crashes. Such is the nature of war, and the wearer knows this as they observe the field. This Evocation permanently upgrades the prerequisite, allowing all of the successes to be banked rather than half.

Through the Eyes of The Enemy
Cost: 2m Per Success Spent; Mins: Essence 4
Type: Reflexive
Keywords: None
Duration: Instant
Prerequisites: Charting the Crimson Tide
As the wearer closes their eyes, their enemy's eyes open. Through a filter of red they see the intentions of their foe, and act accordingly. Through the use of this Evocation, the wearer can spend 2 motes and a banked success to apply a -1 penalty to an enemy's command action or strategic maneuver roll.

The End Is In Sight
Cost: All Banked Successes; Mins: Essence 5
Type: Reflexive
Keywords: Once Per Scene
Duration: Instant
Prerequisites: Through the Eyes of the Enemy
When the enemy falters, their demise becomes clear. Through the haze of red and the innumerable possibilities, the wearer sees them fall. The wearer may spend all of their successes to force a rout check upon their enemy, at (essence) penalty. This Evocation may not be used without at least 7 banked successes, and if the enemy succeeds the rout check, this Evocation may not be used again that scene. This Evocation may be reset by successfully defeating three enemy strategic maneuver rolls.