[Xar'Cha Palace]

Quote Originally Posted by Destro_Yersul View Post
"In my experience," Endrik says, "heroes are never chosen. You may hear stories about chosen ones and saviors of the world, but that is all they are. Just stories. If one wants to be great, one must fight for it, every step of the way, clawing and scrabbling and making their way, slowly, to the top of the pile. Then begins the struggle to stay there, to prevent others from clawing and scrabbling over top of you."

The paladin has seen a lot. It's made him somewhat cynical, to say the least. "The Exalted, as you tell it, clearly have great power. What have they done to earn it? What systems are in place to prevent the abuse of that power?"
"In order to have received the power of an Exaltation," Shrike explains, "you must have already proven yourself a Hero. Solar Exaltations only come to those who have already done great and mighty things - they are both a reward, and an exhortation to do better. A young girl, for instance, who stood up against the Stormmaidens despite her fear, who told them that the ship she was aboard was under her protection and told them exactly what they could do with their desire to sink it - she would likely become Exalted."

The redhead pauses for a moment before continuing.

"As for protection against its abuse...that would be the role of the Sidereal Exalted, the weavers of Destiny and keepers of the Celestial Bureaucracy. They...do not always choose the optimal means of protection, however."

From her expression, it's clear this is a sore point.