First Jobaash Excellency
Cost: 1m per die; Mins: Jobaash 0, Essence 1; Type: Reflexive (Step 1 for attacker, Step 2 for defender)
Keywords: Combo-OK
Prerequisite Charms: None

The Vermillion Spider is a trickster, goading and leading others into opportunities to learn and grow, letting them grow into the potential he sees in them. He sows chaos and bribes the weavers of fate, forcing those who had so carefully planned events to adapt to the moment. He revels in leading others to knowledge, but withholds the answers, letting them learn for themselves. His every lie is nuanced with truth, forcing the listener to grow more discerning and cunning after dealing with him. Rather than speak plainly, he expounds on tales and legends, allowing the audience to find the wisdom within for themselves.

The Ten-Fold Grasp is affably evil, forcing others to enjoy his presence despite his actions. Oftentimes those he has graced would be considered cursed, but their journeys always end in great personal achievement. He delights in provoking reactions in others, regardless of the outcome, simply to enjoy the new experience. In his journeys, nothing may bar his path, nor can he be contained. He delights in disappearing just when you think you need him, only to return at the turn of the tide…or once the danger has passed.

When provoked, he twists the efforts of others against them, trapping them within their own legend. He prefers to strike at critical moments, settling altercations with perfectly placed blows from impossible angles, with shots that seem to find their targets on their own. Those who try to track his movements quickly find themselves nauseated, as their worldly perceptions turn against them.

This Excellency may always be used to mislead others with the intent to aid them, as well as arrange events in their favor, even if that is not readily apparent. Likewise it may always be used for training effects, as well as effects that enhance the abilities of others. It may always be applied to attacks against enemies who believe themselves safe, such as the unaware and those behind cover, as well as attempts to disarm.
This Excellency may never be used to tell the blatant truth, without attempts to misdirect or exaggerate, or to permanently harm those he has elevated through his own efforts. It may never be used to intentionally shatter another’s mind or will (including intentionally invoking a Limit Break counts), for without those there is no hope of learning from the experience.


Precipitous Fiat
I Thought You Knew Already!

The Mocking Laughter enjoys the conclusions that beings come to when deprived of information. It is good when they arrive at the idea that he has lead them to, but even better when they reach it of their own accord. Once per story when the Infernal keeps a piece of critical information from his allies that makes their lives substantially more difficult (ideally without placing them in mortal danger), the Infernal may roll his Temperance and reduce his Limit by the number of successes. If he does so in belief that the allies in question are unprepared for the ramifications of the information, he may roll the higher of his Temperance or Compassion instead. If he reveals the information too soon, then rather than losing Limit, he gains an additional point.


Imperfection of the Ten-Fold Grasp
The Mocking Laughter enjoys playing in the sandbox of other beings, but ultimately, he doesn't belong. Existing in a space between, neither fully in one place or the other, he carries some of the weaknesses of both. In a similar way, his presence in the lives of his Companions reflects this, and shares a similar fate. Charms limited by this flaw may be used at any time. However, when used to defend against a being outside Fate, the cost to activate the defenses increase by 3 motes. When used to defend against one of his marked Companions, the cost increases by 5 motes.


Strand-Sensing Harmony

Cost: 2m, Mins: Essence 2; Type: Reflexive
Keywords: Combo-OK
Duration: Instant
Prerequisite Charms: None

The keen sight of Jobaash pierces to the core of others, even to their Strand of Fate. This Charm enhances any mundane roll to notice sensory details about a targeted being. In addition to whatever information is gained, regardless of success threshold, the character also detects the strength and aspect of the target’s Essence.
While this Charm is active, the character’s eyes become covered in a faceted glaze, which then melts into tears when the Charm is ended. To notice this effect, observers may make a reflexive (Perception + Awareness) roll at difficulty 3. This effect does not make the Charm Obvious, so observers may draw their own conclusions. This Charm is not a means of bypassing stealth and costs no motes when activated by Infernals with Essence 4+, though it still requires a Charm activation.

A repurchase at Essence 3 also allows the character to detect any sources of potential within the observed, such as the Breeding or Destiny Backgrounds, as well as whether or not the subject is within Fate.


Limb of Silken Strength
Cost: 10m, 1wp; Mins: Essence 2; Type: Simple
Keywords: Combo-Basic, Obvious, Sorcerous
Duration: One scene
Prerequisite Charms: Strand Sensing Harmony

Upon activation, the character’s anima flares and solidifies, bursting [Essencex2, maximum 10] spider-like limbs [Essencex3] yards long from their body. The warlock may reflexively retract or expand each limb at will.

Mentally wielded as separate close combat weapons with (Wits + Occult), the limbs ignore cover penalties from anything less than total cover and inflict lethal by default. The Infernal can make their attacks lethal by willing them to grow barbs, claws, or other rending weapons.

She must flurry normally to wield multiple limbs simultaneously. Attacks against the chitinous limbs are futile; their hardened carapace guarding against even undodgeable attacks. They have 10L soak requiring ten levels of damage to destroy. If all limbs are destroyed, the Charm deactivates. Reactivating Limb of Silken Strength while active regenerates all those destroyed. When the Charm ends for any reason, remaining limbs evaporate into silk strands.

Finally, the limbs of a spider are multipurpose, allowing both great speed and agility. For the duration of the Charm, gain an increase to speed of [Essence] yards per tick, as well as the ability to freely scale vertical surfaces, including sheer faces and hanging upside-down.

Limb Attack: Speed 6, Accuracy +3, Damage (Willpower) L, Defense +3, Rate 1, Tags: D, R, P


Terrible Decapod Geniculation
Cost: - ; Mins: Essence 4; Type: Permanent
Keywords:
Duration: Permanent
Prerequisite Charms: Limbs of Silken Strength

This Charm upgrades the duration of its prerequisite to indefinite with the commitment of motes. In addition, the Infernal gains [Essence] dice to resist knock-back, knockdown, and grappling maneuvers. Finally, the speed boost increases from [Essence] yards per tick to [Essence x 3] yards per tick.


Dexterous Coxa Approach
Cost: - (+3); Mins: Essence 3; Type: Permanent
Keywords:
Duration: Permanent
Prerequisite Charms: Limbs of Silken Strength

This upgrade allows the Infernal to cross those surfaces previously denied him. With an increase of 2 motes, by using the Limbs of Silken Strength the character can stride over any terrain without penalties, even the surface of liquids and other things that should not hold his weight.


Knot Twisting Discord
Cost: 3m; Mins: Essence 2; Type: Supplemental
Keywords: Combo-OK, Obvious, Crippling
Duration: Instant
Prerequisite Charms: Limb of Silken Strength

The Infernal’s Fate becomes entwined with that of her enemy’s, tainting their Essence with hers. Knot Twisting Discord may enhance any attack whose target is (Essencex3) yards or less away. Upon successfully dealing damage, the target’s Essence channels become partially blocked by the Infernal’s power, imposing a penalty to their next action equal to the (Essence) rating of the warlock.

At Essence 3 the Obvious Keyword is removed.

A repurchase at Essence 4 extends the penalty duration to Scene but increases the cost by +2m (total of 5m). Additional uses on a single target do not stack.


Skein Seizing Strike
Cost: 10m; Mins: Essence 3; Type: Supplemental
Keywords: Combo-OK, Shaping, Sorcerous
Duration: Indefinite
Prerequisite Charms: Knot Twisting Discord

The twisting of the Threads between warlock and her target impose an even greater curse, as the tainted Essence begins to calcify within their channels. All mote expenditures by the target suffer a +2 mote surcharge while this Charm is active. Targets may resist via [Integrity + Willpower], difficulty = [Essence]


Soul Strengthening Plait
Cost: —; Mins: Essence 3; Type: Permanent
Keywords: Native
Duration: Permanent
Prerequisite Charms: Skein Seizing Strike

As Jobaash weaves his plans into the fates of others, so may an Infernal with this Charm weave a primitive and insensate new soul within her Essence. This Charm functions as an additional Peripheral Essence pool capable of holding 10 motes, but it can only be refilled by Jobaash Charms that restore motes, which always refill this pool before adding to any other. The motes spent as surcharge by the target of Skein Seizing Strike now go into this Pool rather than being merely wasted.



Bobbin Reeling Prana
Cost: 0-8m; Mins: Essence 2; Type: Simple
Keywords: Combo-OK, Illusion, Shaping
Duration: Indefinite
Prerequisite Charms: Strand-Sensing Harmony

The Vermillion Spider, while reveling in his freedom from the whims of others, is realistic enough to know that he must sometimes play by another’s rules if he wants to use their toys unhindered. For [Essence-2] motes, this charm allows the warlock to patch into the Loom of Fate, forming a Fate Thread of their own from the remnants of their character’s strand pre-Exaltation. It may not be used to mimic the fate of individuals that exist, but the infernal may step back into their old role as if nothing had happened. While this charm is in effect, the character is both in-and-yet-out of Fate, able to alter and toy with the Loom, yet still be considered outside Fate for the purposes of the Fate keyword.

When this Charm is ended, instead of the Fate disappearing, and causing a panic to the spiders, it instead is reeled up on a bobbin hidden within the Loom, ready to be used again.


Loom Striding Step
Cost: 3m; Mins: Essence 2; Type: Reflexive
Keywords: Combo-OK
Duration: Scene
Prerequisite Charms: Bobbin Reeling Prana

The Mocking Laughter delights in sowing chaos amongst his foes, especially be denying them an assumed victory. What once was mere trick of ventriloquism or illusion is now truth, as the warlock has learned the secret of transposition via the Loom.

Once the Infernal activates this Charm, she transcends the need to walk where she wishes to go. She gains access to a special Relocation action, which allows her to move (Essence + Dexterity) yards per tick. Whenever she would normally undertake a Move action, the Infernal may simply disappear from one location at the same time that she appears in the next, granting (her Essence) in bonus dice to all Stealth rolls to remain unseen.

This isn't true teleportation, despite the instantaneous nature of the movement - the Infernal cannot move through solid objects. The Infernal must reappear at the end of every Relocation, but can make one transition per tick, as normal for Move actions. Relocation does not bypass characters using the Blockade Movement Action, but it does force both characters to use Dexterity instead of Strength on the opposed roll, as the Blocking character must interpose himself into the path of Relocation. Dash actions do not benefit from the effects of this Charm. Infernals with a means to Dash reflexively may Relocate one tick and Dash the next, at their discretion. Characters wishing to predict the warlock’s movements notice a small distortion at both locations when the Relocation occurs, allowing the agile to be ready for them.

At Essence 5, the Infernal may purchase this Charm. This extends the Duration to Indefinite, and allows the Infernal to teleport through physical objects at the cost of one WP. She must have line of sight to her target location, which must be within (Essence + Dexterity) yards. She may teleport multiple times in rapid succession, no more than once per tick, paying one WP each time.


Knit the Adamant Purl
Cost: 8m; Mins: Essence 2; Type: Reflexive (Step 2)
Keywords: Combo-OK, Obvious, Shaping
Duration: Instant
Prerequisite Charms: Limb of Silken Strength

The Loom of Fate directs the flow of cause and effect throughout Creation, yet it is the lowly Pattern-Spider who casts the threads. If the spindly limbs of these minor gods could yet have the strength to wave Fate itself, how much more so can the might of the Ten-Fold Grasp alter cause and effect? This charm allows the use of one of the limbs created by Limb of Silken Strength to interpose itself between the enemy and the user, creating a perfect parry. This is vulnerable to the Imperfection of the Ten-Fold Grasp.


Dropping the Stitch
Cost: 8m; Mins: Essence 4; Type: Reflexive (Step 2)
Keywords: Combo-OK, Obvious, Illusion
Duration: Instant
Prerequisite Charms: Knit the Adamant Purl, Loom Striding Step

The Infernal combines her knowledge of sidestepping Fate and deflecting blows. This Charm allows her to activate Knit the Adamant Purl as normal, except as a Perfect Dodge instead of a Parry, Relocating away from the attack. This may be stunted as Knit the Adamant Purl, and allows the Infernal to interrupt flurries, so long as her opponent cannot attack her new location up to (Essence+Dexterity) yards away.


Flying Shuttle Technique
Cost: 4m; Mins: Essence 3; Type: Reflexive (Step 8)
Keywords: Combo-OK, Obvious, Overdrive
Duration: Instant
Prerequisite Charms: Knit the Adamant Purl

In a similar manner to the prerequisite Charm, Infernals with this Charm may weave a net upon the Loom, catching the essence of those that would try and strike them. Flying Shuttle Technique can’t defend against Holy attacks, and can only be used while manifesting Limbs of Silken Strength. Use of this Charm against an essence-based attack (Crypt Bolt Attack, Glorious Solar Saber, Mind-Hand Manipulation, etc.) reduces the post-soak damage by the Infernal’s Essence. If this reduces the damage pool to zero dice, the attack is completely absorbed into the Infernal’s anima and flares the banner to one level of display brighter than it was before, leaving her untouched. Otherwise, the remaining damage penetrates the anima flare normally.

Upon learning this Charm, the character gains an Overdrive pool with a capacity of ten motes. Initially empty, it can only be filled by the use of this charm, under the following conditions: if an attack is completely captured by the anima flare of this Charm, the Infernal also gains offensive Overdrive motes equal to (original post-soak damage of the attack x 2).


Cat’s Cradle Riposte
Cost: 3m; Mins: Essence 2; Type: Reflexive (Step 9)
Keywords: Combo-OK, Counterattack
Duration: Instant
Prerequisite Charms: Flying Shuttle Technique

This Charm allows the Infernal to immediately counterattack a foe that has struck her.


Itsy Bitsy Spider
Cost: 2m; Mins: Essence 2; Type: Simple
Keywords: None
Duration: One miscellaneous action
Prerequisite Charms: Limb of Silken Strength

Knowing that not even he cannot be in all places at all times, the Vermilion Spider crafted the Indigo Weavers, small ten-legged spiders made of his Essence, and capable of carrying out his basic requests. Upon learning this charm, a small hole appears in the palm of the Infernal’s hand, revealing the resting place of an Indigo Weaver. This First Circle Demon acts in almost all ways like an Efficient Secretary, with the exception that it cannot look up answers in Yu-Shan. Instead, if he also knows the Charm Spider’s Fateful Kiss, the Weaver may go and question one of the marked Companions.

At Essence 3, as an automatic upgrade, the Weavers gain the ability to record and play back messages, allowing Companions and their Patron Infernal to communicate over great distances for 1m. Of course, it still takes time for these messages to reach their recipient, so urgent things should be sent another way.


Cracked Carapace Revelation
Cost: 4m, 1wp; Mins: Essence 3;
Type: Simple (Speed 5, DV -1)
Keywords: Combo-OK, Obvious
Duration: One scene
Prerequisite Charms: None

A rent appears across the Infernal’s arm, revealing an ever-growing colony of Indigo Weavers. The Infernal agitates the nest, unleashing a swarm of essence-spiders, which fill an area with a diameter of (Essence x 10) yards, centered somewhere within (Wits x 30) yards. All characters inside of this swarm are subjected to an environmental damage effect (Damage 1B/ action, trauma 3) and suffer a -1 external environmental penalty. Companions are automatically immune, and a 2xp purchase allows anyone else that the warlock decides to spare to avoid the swarm’s wrath.

The swarm shrinks at a rate of one yard per tick if exposed to an appropriate environmental hazard, at the Storyteller’s discretion, such as a burning building or a Terrestrial Exalt’s iconic anima banner. Likewise, the swarm may be destroyed by sufficiently destructive area-of-effect attacks such as Total Annihilation, again at the Storyteller’s discretion.

At Essence 4+ the Infernal may use a miscellaneous action once per action tick to control the swarm, causing it to move according to her will. The swarm drifts at a rate of five yards per tick when subjected to such control.


Thousandfold Maw of Chaos
Cost: - (+4m); Mins: Essence 4; Type: Permanent
Keywords:
Duration: Permanent
Prerequisite Charms: Cracked Carapace Revelation

As a permanent upgrade to Cracked Carapace Revelation, the character can now unleash a truly hellish horde capable of rending anything in its path.

Characters trapped within are now subjected to an ongoing environmental attack [Damage [Occult]L/action, trauma 3]. The swarm of ever-hungry spiders is also capable of inflicting a poison equivalent to arrow frog venom during each damage interval, at the Infernal’s discretion.


Spinning the Endless Yarn
Cost: 3m; Mins: Essence 2; Type: Supplemental
Keywords: Compulsion
Duration: Instant
Prerequisite Charms: Bobbin Reeling Prana

The warlock babbles endlessly at the target with ancient tales and half-formed allegories that have almost nothing to do with the subject at hand, but are just relevant enough to entice them to keep listening. This confuses them and leaves them vulnerable to your suggestions, imposing an external penalty to their MDV equal to [Essence/s] and making your social attacks unexpected.


Lash of Mocking Grin
Cost: - ; Mins: Essence 2; Type: Permanent
Keywords: Compulsion
Duration: Permanent
Prerequisite Charms: Spinning the Endless Yarn

Even those who should despise him cannot help but tolerate the Vermilion Spider, at least until he commits a truly heinous act. While within the warlock's presence no beings may form negative Intimacies towards the character. If any of them have pre-existing negative Intimacies towards him, they do not gain bonuses to their MDV from them. Once leaving his presence, and thus the effect of this Charm, those affected may realize just what happened, and then begin forming Intimacies as normal, but once again within the effect of this Charm (i.e. next time the characters meet) they cannot gain their normal advantage. This Charm counts as unnatural mental influence.

Unfortunately, the callous nature inherent in this sort of behavior makes it difficult to keep strong ties with others. The Infernal's maximum number of Intimacies is permanently reduced from [Willpower+Compassion] to [Willpower]

A repurchase at Essence 4 allows long term exposure to this Charm to erode negative Intimacies towards the character. For every scene that they spend in the Infernal’s presence, roll [Integrity + Conviction] vs. the Infernal’s [Manipulation + Valor]. Once [target’s Conviction/2] scenes have passed, the negative Intimacy towards the Infernal dissolves. After all, I know you'll like me, once you get to know me!


Cheshire Education Methodology
Cost: - (+2m); Mins: Essence 3; Type: Supplemental
Keywords: Emotion, Combo-OK
Duration: Permanent
Prerequisite Charms: Lash of Mocking Grin

Free from the immediate repercussions of his actions, the Mocking Laughter inflames the passions of those around him, all the while subtly guiding them to his desires...if by the most entertaining path. As a social attack vs. MDV, the warlock can insult, mock, deride, or condescend to a target who is capable of interacting with him in some manner (i.e. signs, grunts, angry roars, etc. in addition to speech). If it succeeds, the target gains a bonus equal to the Infernal's [Essence] rating to any action that directly supports a goal discussed during the interaction. This bonus lasts till the end of the next scene after the Charm is used. A wise user would be careful to only bring up those topics that benefit both parties, lest the target discovers later that they have been but tools...


Spider’s Fateful Kiss
Cost: 3m; Mins: Essence 2; Type: Permanent
Keywords: Combo-OK, Obvious, Sorcerous, Touch
Duration: Permanent
Prerequisite Charms: Bobbin Reeling Prana

The story of the Spider is nothing at all without those around to grow from his presence. With this Charm, an Infernal may mark a being as a Companion, an active character in the Infernal’s legend.

Spider's Fateful Kiss can only be applied to an aware party, but they don't have to be particularly willing or aware of what it can do. It leaves a physical mark (typically a violet spider-bite) on the place where the Infernal touched you to place it, but a sufficiently savvy warlock would place it somewhere that would be difficult to find by yourself. Only the Infernal, his death, or countermagic may remove the mark, and the Infernal can only have a maximum number of marked Companions equal to his [Essence]. For all purposes, this mark counts as an invulnerable Intimacy to the Companion for as long as it exists, but does not count against the Infernal's total Intimacies.

The bearer of a mark from Spider's Fateful Kiss grants the Infernal a powerful tool, if a slightly annoying one. Whenever a Companion is in a situation where they could really use a mentor (as thematically appropriate), the Infernal feels an urge to go assist them. Resisting this urge instills an internal penalty equal to the [Infernal’s Essence/2], but can be suppressed with a point of Willpower. A wise Warlock is careful who he marks, as having feelers is useful, but being too needy gets old fast.


Boon of Silken Purse
Cost: - (2m); Mins: Essence 2; Type: Permanent
Keywords: Shaping
Duration: Permanent
Prerequisite Charms: Spider’s Fateful Kiss

The strength of the Spider is reflected in the strength of his Companions. As an upgrade to Spider’s Fateful Kiss, all marked Companions are granted increased mote respiration rates of [Infernal’s Temperance+2m/hour] rather than the original [2m/hour]. Additionally, the Infernal may drain Essence granted by this mutation into his own Peripheral Essence pool, at the maximum rate of [1m/Companion] per scene.

An automatic upgrade at Essence 4 increases it again to [Infernal’s [Temperance + Conviction]+2m/hour] and a drain rate increase to [2m/Companion] per scene.


Gossamer Braids of Truth
Cost: —; Mins: Essence 3; Type: Permanent
Keywords: Companion
Duration: Permanent
Prerequisite Charms: Spider’s Fateful Kiss
After long exposure to his antics, the Companions of the Mocking Laughter began the see the method beyond his madness, and so find the truth within his lies along with a glimmer of enlightenment.

As a permanent upgrade, those marked as Companions by Spider’s Fateful Kiss receive a bonus to their MDVs equal to [the Infernal’s Essence/2]. This is a fickle gift, however, as they must spend 1 Willpower to retain this bonus when resisting the attacks of their Patron.


A Spider Knows His Web
Cost: - (2m); Mins: Essence 3; Type: Permanent
Keywords: Shaping
Duration: Permanent
Prerequisite Charms: Spider’s Fateful Kiss

Throughout his journeys, the Ten-fold Grasp would insinuate himself into other Exalts’ circles, gracing (read: cursing) them with his presence, an unwelcome guest that they somehow could never quite shake. Either that or it simply wasn’t worth the effort to ditch him, as he would always come back…
The Companions of the Mocking Laughter are never really out of her sight. The Infernal creates around herself a Web, an area with a radius of [Essencex100] yards wherein she can detect the presence of one of her marked Companions. This detection does not automatically bypass stealth; it only alerts the warlock to their general vicinity. The use of other Charms are needed to discover their precise location. If they are within the Web, for 2 motes she can detect their general state of being (wounded, dying, happy, afraid, etc.)


Spider Tracks the Fly
Cost: - ; Mins: Essence 4; Type: Permanent
Keywords: Shaping
Duration: Permanent
Prerequisite Charms: A Spider Knows His Web

This Charm is a permanent upgrade to A Spider Knows His Web. The range of the Infernal’s Companion Web increases to [Essencex2] miles and the ties within the Web strengthen, allowing the Companion’s presence to count as the Infernal’s for the purposes of Lash of Mocking Grin and its upgrades. This allows the suppression of Intimacies against the Infernal by his Companion’s presence, but not the erosion. That takes his own undiluted presence, not an echo.


Long Arm of the Spider
Cost: - (2-4 m); Mins: Essence 4; Type: Permanent
Keywords: Shaping
Duration: Permanent
Prerequisite Charms: Spider Tracks the Fly

This Charm permanently upgrades A Spider Knows His Web. The range of the Web increases to [Essencex10 miles], and for a committed 4 motes the Infernal may use the senses of any Companion within it as his own. If the Companion wishes to keep their lives private, they may resist this for 1 Willpower.

In addition, the Infernal’s growing mastery of the Loom alerts him to the presence of outsiders within his Web. Whenever any being studies the Strands of Fate of either himself or any of his Companions, he is instantly aware of this, and for a cost of 2 motes the observers are considered within his presence for the purposes of all Charms and abilities.


Spider Guards the Nest
Cost: 10m, 1wp (1hl); Mins: Essence 4; Type: Simple
Keywords:
Duration: one Scene
Prerequisite Charms: Long Arm of the Spider

When an Infernal detects one of his Companions in distress, or receives a prayer from anyone in their vicinity, the warlock may invoke this Charm to swiftly tether their Fate to the Companion’s, traveling to their side in less than a scene, no matter how far away the Companion is. The actual time taken depends on the target’s distance from the character—generally one tick per 100 miles. The Infernal cannot cheat the Loom forever, however, and must loose the strands, lest they be torn apart. At the end of the scene, the warlock returns whence it came.
The Infernal finds this sort of direct Fate cheating arduous. Every time they use this Charm in a single scene after the first, they suffer one level of unsoakable aggravated damage. The character is aware of the companions’ condition as well as the strength of the target’s prayer and must decide whether such a hasty move is worth the risk.


Spider-Puppet at Play
Cost: 1w, 1hl ; Mins: Essence 5; Type: Permanent
Keywords: Blasphemy
Duration: One Scene
Prerequisite Charms: Long Arm of the Spider, Spider Guards the Nest.

After ages of mastery of the Web, the Spider gains its ultimate power. The Infernal may attempt to possess one of their Companions as a Yozi does their demons for one scene. The Infernal rolls [Occult+Essence] vs. the Companion’s MDV, or a Companion with a positive Intimacy towards their Patron may immediately resist for 1 Willpower. For each occasion that the warlock uses the possession ability, they owe the Companion a favor of the ST’s choosing. This favor is sworn as if it were bound by an Eclipse of the [Infernal’s Essence+2]. Any attempt to not grant the rightfully owed favor is treated as breaking the oath, with all the penalties that entails.

While possessing the Companion, the Infernal is capable of wielding any Charms the Companion knows using the Companion’s mote pool. If the Companion willingly cedes to possession, then the warlock is able to use any Charm that they personally know and their own mote pool as well as the hosts’, but they are limited by the Essence score of the host in regards to minimums and roll offs. For all other effects they use the hosts’ Attributes and Abilities.

Regardless of result, the attempt at possession taxes the Infernal’s mortal shell, causing 1 health level of damage, as well as a point of willpower. Upon the end of the scene, the Companion is made aware of all that occurred while they were “out.”


Hollow Weaver Shintai
Cost: —; Mins: Essence 4; Type: Permanent
Keywords: Shaping
Duration: Permanent
Prerequisite Charms: Cracked Carapace Revelation, Dropping the Stitch, A Spider Knows His Web, Boon of Silken Purse

The creation of a Web is a defining act, utilizing the core of the Infernal to connect to others on an intrinsic level. In a similar way, the Vermilion Spider has internalized these ties to the world, replacing the weakness of flesh for the truth of chaotic weaves. The Warlock’s default state of being is now that of a hollow shell, containing the infinite expanse that is their Web. They are now a naturally immaterial being, gaining the benefits of a demon’s panoply with regard to the material state of his own possessions and attuned artifacts.

He no longer needs to breathe air, but suffocates normally if taken into a place where there is no living Essence to respire (such as the Underworld) unless he has Essence 6+ or Companions from which to draw motes via Boon of Silken Purse. Likewise, he no longer requires food, but he still hungers and gains penalties as normal unless he has 2+ Companions to provide a steady diet of motes.

He may manifest or conceal his presence to communicate as a translucent apparition, toggling between the two states for a reflexive cost of one mote. Any anima banner display at the four to seven mote level or above automatically manifests regardless of whether his form has manifested.

Finally, the Infernal gains the Charm Materialize for free as a benefit of purchasing this Charm (see Exalted, p. 295), using the standard formula of ([Willpower + Essence] x 5) motes to build a convincing simulacrum of what he used to look like. If this cost exceeds the maximum size of his combined Essence pools, then paying his entire pool is sufficient. Whenever a character with this Charm materializes, Indigo Weavers materialize, spinning his shell into being, then retreating within his flesh once their task is complete. Exalted do not become spirits by purchasing this Charm; they merely alter their default corporeal state.


I Am The Spider Shintai
Cost: 40m, 3wp; Mins: Essence 5; Type: Simple
Keywords: Blasphemy, Form-Type, Obvious, Shaping, Sorcerous
Duration: Indefinite
Prerequisite Charms: Jobaash First Excellency, Long Arm of the Spider, Skein Seizing Strike

Revealing himself in his terrible majesty, the Ten-Fold Grasp twists himself inside out, unraveling the Loom around him and patching his Web into its place with a totemic anima flare (himself with all 10 Limbs of Silken Strength extended) in its center. Within the realm of the Web, the laws of cause and effect are not directed by the will of Heaven, but by the twisted whims of the Vermilion Spider. If any effect seeks to contest this one, the Infernal gains [Essence] extra successes on his Charm conflict roll. This charm confers the following:

• His body inverts, unrolling the Web and replacing the Loom within a one mile radius around him.
As long as the Web remains in place, any Jobaash Fate Charm in the area reduces its mote cost by one, to a minimum of one, as long as its origin and effect remain within the Web. In addition, the mote surcharge of Skein Seizing Strike increases to [+4m] while within the area. This is an ongoing Blasphemy effect. At Essence 7 this area increases to [Essence x 10] miles, and at Essence 10 it covers the entire Direction he currently inhabits.

• His dematerialized presence is scattered throughout the Web (in a one mile radius from center) in the form of Indigo Weavers, making his attacks undodgeable (without Charms), as they come from anywhere, even denying logic. Likewise, his scattered location makes him incapable of suffering more than 1 damage level per attack in step 10 unless the attack covers at least a 10th of the Web. Similarly sized being ignore these modifiers.

• In mass combat, he always enjoys the full +3 Magnitude bonus regardless of the Magnitude of the enemy; only similarly sized opponents ignore this.

• His senses simultaneously observe from all across the Web as though using Strand Sensing Harmony.

• He may communicate via [Performance] out to [Essence] miles, the Mocking Laughter echoing behind every phrase.

• He may take actions anywhere within the Web using his normal traits, paying 3m per action to interact
with anything corporal (social attacks cost nothing). Figments of him appear and disappear, Relocating at will to manipulate the environment. He doesn’t gain extra actions or the capacity to do anything he couldn’t do normally. He just has more room and freedom to act.

• The warlock is immune to Poison, Crippling, and non-magical Sickness. He can’t starve or suffocate.

• He may move at his normal movement rate, but all are Relocations (no Dashing or Jumping). He is also immune to Blockade Movement actions.

• Finally, at a cost of 10 motes each, he may Relocate his Companions to within himself, spurring them to act on his behalf. This is a Blasphemy effect.

• Countermagic must target the Exalt to banish this Charm, though it can be ended reflexively.


Itsy Bitsy Spider
Cost: 2m; Mins: Essence 2; Type: Simple
Keywords: None
Duration: One miscellaneous action
Prerequisite Charms: Limb of Silken Strength

Knowing that not even he cannot be in all places at all times, the Vermilion Spider crafted the Indigo Weavers, small ten-legged spiders made of his Essence, and capable of carrying out his basic requests. Upon learning this charm, a small hole appears in the palm of the Infernal’s hand, revealing the resting place of an Indigo Weaver. This First Circle Demon acts in almost all ways like an Efficient Secretary, with the exception that it cannot look up answers in Yu-Shan. Instead, if he also knows the Charm Spider’s Fateful Kiss, the Weaver may go and question one of the marked Companions.
At Essence 3, as an automatic upgrade, the Weavers gain the ability to record and play back messages, allowing Companions and their Patron Infernal to communicate over great distances for 1m. Of course, it still takes time for these messages to reach their recipient, so urgent things should be sent another way.


Cracked Carapace Revelation
Cost: 4m, 1wp; Mins: Essence 3;
Type: Simple (Speed 5, DV -1)
Keywords: Combo-OK, Obvious
Duration: One scene
Prerequisite Charms: Itsy Bitsy Spider

A rent appears across the Infernal’s arm, revealing an ever-growing colony of Indigo Weavers. The Infernal agitates the nest, unleashing a swarm of essence-spiders, which fill an area with a diameter of (Essence x 10) yards, centered somewhere within (Wits x 30) yards. All characters inside of this swarm that the warlock does not selectively decide to spare the swarm’s wrath are subjected to an environmental damage effect (Damage 1B/ action, trauma 3) and suffer a -1 external environmental penalty.
The swarm shrinks at a rate of one yard per tick if exposed to an appropriate environmental hazard, at the Storyteller’s discretion, such as a burning building or a Terrestrial Exalt’s iconic anima banner. Likewise, the swarm may be destroyed by sufficiently destructive area-of-effect attacks such as Total Annihilation, again at the Storyteller’s discretion.
At Essence 4+ the Infernal may use a miscellaneous action once per action tick to control the swarm, causing it to move according to her will. The swarm drifts at a rate of five yards per tick when subjected to such control.


Thousandfold Maw of Chaos
Cost: - (+4m); Mins: Essence 4; Type: Permanent
Keywords:
Duration: Permanent
Prerequisite Charms: Cracked Carapace Revelation

As a permanent upgrade to Cracked Carapace Revelation, the character can now unleash a truly hellish horde capable of rending anything in its path.
The swarm covers an area [Essence x 20] yards in diameter. Characters trapped within are subjected to an ongoing environmental attack [Damage [Occult]L/action, trauma 3]. The swarm of ever-hungry spiders is also capable of inflicting a poison equivalent to arrow frog venom during each damage interval, at the Infernal’s discretion.


And finally some Shintai Charms!

String Theory Shintai
Cost: —; Mins: Essence 4; Type: Permanent
Keywords: None
Duration: Permanent
Prerequisite Charms: Cracked Carapace Revelation, Dropping the Stitch, A Spider Knows His Web, Boon of Silken Purse

The creation of a Web is a defining act, utilizing the core of the Infernal to connect to others on an intrinsic level. In a similar way, the Vermilion Spider has internalized these ties to the world, replacing the weakness of flesh for the truth of chaotic weaves. The Warlock’s default state of being is now that of a hollow shell, containing the infinite expanse that is their Web. They are now a naturally immaterial being, gaining the benefits of a demon’s panoply with regard to the material state of his own possessions and attuned artifacts.

He no longer needs to breathe air, but suffocates normally if taken into a place where there is no living Essence to respire (such as the Underworld) unless he has Essence 6+ or Companions from which to draw motes via Boon of Silken Purse. Likewise, he no longer requires food, but he still hungers and gains penalties as normal unless he has 2+ Companions to provide a steady diet of nourishing prayers and motes.

He may manifest or conceal his presence to communicate as a translucent apparition, toggling between the two states for a reflexive cost of one mote. Any anima banner display at the four to seven mote level or above automatically manifests regardless of whether his form has manifested.

Finally, the Infernal gains the Charm Materialize for free as a benefit of purchasing this Charm (see Exalted, p. 295), using the standard formula of ([Willpower + Essence] x 5) motes to build a convincing simulacrum of what he used to look like. If this cost exceeds the maximum size of his combined Essence pools, then paying his entire pool is sufficient. Whenever a character with this Charm materializes, Indigo Weavers materialize, spinning his shell into being, then retreating within his flesh once their task is complete. Exalted do not become spirits by purchasing this Charm; they merely alter their default corporeal state.


I Am The Spider Shintai
Cost: 40m, 3wp; Mins: Essence 5; Type: Simple
Keywords: Blasphemy, Form-Type, Obvious, Shaping, Sorcerous
Duration: Indefinite
Prerequisite Charms: Jobaash First Excellency, String Theory Shintai, Long Arm of the Spider, Skein Seizing Strike

Revealing himself in his terrible majesty, the Ten-Fold Grasp twists himself inside out, unraveling the Loom around him and patching his Web into its place with a totemic anima flare (himself with all 10 Limbs of Silken Strength extended) in its center. Within the realm of the Web, the laws of cause and effect are not directed by the will of Heaven, but by the twisted whims of the Vermilion Spider. If any effect seeks to contest this one, the Infernal gains [Essence] extra successes on his Charm conflict roll. This charm confers the following:
• His body inverts, unrolling the Web and replacing the Loom within a one mile radius around him.
As long as the Web remains in place, any Jobaash Fate Charm in the area reduces its mote cost by one, to a minimum of one, as long as its origin and effect remain within the Web. In contrast, any non-Jobaash Charms increases their mote costs by one in a Shaping effect on those Charm’s users. This is an ongoing Blasphemy effect. At Essence 7 this area increases to [Essence x 10] miles, and at Essence 10 it covers the entire Direction he currently inhabits.
• His dematerialized presence is scattered throughout the Web (in a one mile radius from center) in the form of Indigo Weavers, making his attacks undodgeable (without Charms), as they come from anywhere, even denying logic. Likewise, his scattered location makes him incapable of suffering more than 1 damage level per attack in step 10 unless the attack covers at least a 10th of the Web. Similarly sized being ignore these modifiers.
• In mass combat, he always enjoys the full +3 Magnitude bonus regardless of the Magnitude of the enemy; only similarly sized opponents ignore this.
• His senses simultaneously observe from all across the Web as though using Strand Sensing Harmony.
• He may communicate via [Performance] out to [Essence] miles, the Mocking Laughter echoing behind every phrase.
• He may take actions anywhere within the Web using his normal traits, paying 3m per action to interact with anything corporal (social attacks cost nothing). Figments of him appear and disappear, Relocating at will to manipulate the environment. He doesn’t gain extra actions or the capacity to do anything he couldn’t do normally. He just has more room and freedom to act.
• The warlock is immune to Poison, Crippling, and non-magical Sickness. He can’t starve or suffocate.
• He may move at his normal movement rate, but all are Relocations (no Dashing or Jumping). He is also immune to Blockade Movement actions.
• Finally, at a cost of 10 motes each, he may Relocate his Companions to within himself, spurring them to act on his behalf. This is a Blasphemy effect.
• Countermagic must target the Exalt to banish this Charm, though it can be ended reflexively.