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Exalted: Essence Storyteller's Guide

Created by Onyx Path - Exalted: Essence Storyteller's Guide

Help us create both a Deluxe Edition and a traditionally printed version for sale in stores!

Latest Updates from Our Project:

Final Days Review: Pledge Tiers and Add On Options
about 1 month ago – Mon, Jun 15, 2026 at 10:50:09 AM

Hello Super Storytellers,

It was a busy weekend and a lot of thins that felt like grand finales are happening, and not coincidentally, we're in the final days of this crowdfunding campaign.

The Campaign ends on June 18th at 2:00 PM Eastern Time


With only a handful of days remaining, I just wanted to go over some key bits to make sure everyone's got the info they need to back this campaign if they so choose!




PLEDGE REWARD TIERS

Like it says right at the top of the campaign story page, we've come together to help create fully developed PDFs and hardcover print versions of Exalted: Essence Storyteller's Guide for the Exalted: Essence tabletop roleplaying game. This book is a reexamination and expansion of Storyteller-facing rules, system, and advice, offering guidance and options for Storytellers and groups of all levels of experience. The Exalted: Essence core rulebook offers mechanical tools and storytelling advice to bring Creation to life, which the Exalted: Essence Storyteller’s Guide builds on to make running an epic campaign even easier.

PLEDGING YOUR SUPPORT

To borrow an analogy that I've used in past campaigns, this process we're a part of works similar to the "Viewers Like You" support campaign from your local Public Broadcasting Station (while they still exist): There are various levels of support that you can pledge to, and these come with various levels of rewards offered as a thank you. Like getting a tote bag or t-shirt when you give money to public broadcasting to fund them doing their thing, you can get rewards for helping Onyx Path work on this project.

Let's review the Backer Reward Tiers to ensure that you've pledged to a Reward Tier that provides all the rewards you wish to receive.

In thanks for your support, we offer rewards based on your level of funding pledged. The Reward Paths linked at the top of the page outline the various rewards reflecting various levels of support pledged. Please note that shipping costs ARE NOT included in the cost of your pledge. You will be charged for shipping after the campaign through the pledge manager.

While the world of Exalted is full of epic characters and larger-than-life adventures, we've kept supporting this project as simple and straightforward as possible. To pledge support to this project and receive the book in one (or more) of the formats offered, pick one of these reward tiers:




  • Resplendent Storytelling Arts: This is the PDF-only reward tier. So, if you're saving trees or saving shelf space - or avoiding the shipping charges that are absolutely ever-increasing - this is the reward tier options that you should begin with. The PDF will be fulfilled by our partners at DriveThruRPG.com - when it is ready, you will receive a link to add it to your DTRPG library at no cost and be able to download at your leisure.

  • Machinery of Greatness: This reward tier includes the standard hardcover version of this book. You will be charged for shipping after the campaign through the pledge manager. In addition, this option also includes the PDF version, so you will get a digital copy as described above.

If you're a big fan of Exalted: Essence and want to really impress your gaming group, we're also offering a special edition Deluxe Exalted: Essence Storyteller's Guide hardcover book.

  • Golden Tongues and Fiery Wit: This reward tier includes the deluxe hardcover version of this book. You will be charged for shipping after the campaign through the pledge manager.  In addition, this option also includes the PDF version, so you will get a digital copy as described above.

In addition to these primary reward pledge paths, we also offer the following option:

  • Tales of the Chosen: Not ready to commit, or just looking to offer general support? This pledge path is for you. This does not include our primary reward, but allows you to select some digital optional Add Ons, as well as participating in the post-campaign Pledge Manager as a backer. You'll also be able to read the draft manuscript of the Exalted: Essence Storyteller's Guide that we post throughout this campaign.


After the campaign is over we'll launch our Pledge Manager and invite the backers to set up their rewards via survey. This allows you to confirm your pledge and add on anything that you might have missed, as well as possibly increasing your pledged reward path, should you choose to expand your reward selection. Funding collected after the Crowdfunding campaign does not count toward any campaign Stretch Goals, however.
After the Crowdfunding campaign, in the Pledge Manager, you 'll be able to:

  • Review and update your Pledge Level selection - for example, you can pledge to the Resplendent Storytelling Arts tier during the campaign and then switch to the Machinery of Greatness once we know shipping costs and are preapring to fulfill the softcover rewards.
  • Confirm and Update your Shipping information - you'll be able to update your final delivery address up until we're shipping out the hardcover rewards.
  • Pay for Shipping and additional Add On Options - we'll process payments for shipping costs and additional add-ons selected in your Pledge Manager survey when we get closer to reward fulfillment.
  • Download Digital Reward Redemption Links - the Pledge Manager will have links to access all of your digital rewards as they are fulfilled


An important reminder at this stage:

  • Shipping Costs: We’ll be charging for shipping in the Pledge Manager once the books are being printed and we can deal with the actual shipping charges rather than using our best-guesses this far out (see our current guesses on the front page).


You'll note that two rewards - Access to the Manuscript Previews and Participation in Post-Campaign Pledge Manager - are included in ALL reward tiers. That's just one of the perks of participating in this crowdfunding campaign!

OPTIONAL DISCOUNTED PoD VERSION – For this Exalted: Essence Storyteller's Guide campaign, some pledge tiers have the option of using DriveThruRPG.com’s Print-On-Demand service to purchase a printed copy of the PDF directly from their PoD partners at discounted cost (this cost is not included in your pledge, and you do not need to increase the cost of your pledge to use this option). When the PoD versions are available to order (which may be some time after the books have gone to print), you will receive links to purchase these versions of the books from DriveThruRPG.com. You DO NOT need to take advantage of this PoD offer as it does not affect in any way your pledge rewards.



EXALTED: ESSENCE STORYTELLER'S GUIDE BACKER PDF  - Crowdfunding backers will receive a redemption link for an early version of this book before it goes on sale to the public. This initial "Backer Version" will be used to get feedback from the fans to make the final version the best that it can be. When it has been updated to the final version, it will automatically be added to your DriveThruRPG library and available for download at your convenience.



EXALTED: ESSENCE STORYTELLER'S GUIDE HARDCOVER BOOKS - The main goal of this campaign is to fund the creation, production, and print run of a standard and limited edition deluxe hardcover editions of this book. Note that all Reward Tiers that include a physical hardcover version also include the digital PDF version as a bonus.

Choosing Your Reward Tier

There has been some churn over this past week - a few Reward Tier adjustments and changes by backers, as budgets changed and people have read the manuscript previews. In these final days it's best to ensure that you've selected the Reward Tier that offers you the options and rewards you want to receive and are ready to lock down. This timing - before the campaign ends - is the absolute most affordable and inclusive these rewards will be, and will save headaches and heartbreaks if fully considered now.

This is just the first step, however, in completing your pledge for this campaign. Funds for additional extras can be added to your pledge by selecting Add On options and increasing the overall funding and maybe getting us closer to a Stretch Goal.

First Step: Reward Tier

To summarize the first part of this post, the absolute best way to ensure that you're getting the primary rewards you want from this crowdfunding campaign is to ensure you've selected the appropriate Backer Reward Tier. Selecting the right Reward Tier covers about 95% of the options available to you. If you want the standard hardcover, make sure you've selected the correct reward. If you want the deluxe edition, double-check your reward tier to ensure the proper option is featured. 

Once you've completed that important step, you're going to want to look at the Add On rewards for any reward "bits" that don't automatically fall into your reward tier. That takes us to the Add On step.

Step Two: Add-On Options

Once you've chosen your pledge tier, you've likely already included the main rewards you want. In addition to the rewards offered as part of the Reward Tier configurations, there are a few other possible PDFs you may wish to add. All Add-On rewards are described in our Add On menu below.

You can select an Add On option, which will increase the amount of your pledge by the listed amount. Add on options will be selected and confirmed again in the Pledge Manager when that's up and running.



In addition to offering extra copies of ther Exalted: Essence Storyteller's Guide PDF and hardcovers, you can also get the Exalted: Essence core rules PDF, and pre-order the Exalted: Essence Player's Guide PDF and hardcovers.

A few other highlights from this list, first some supplements specific to Exalted: Essence that were part of the original crowdfunding ExEss campaign:

  • Pillars of Creation expands the content presented in Exalted: Essence, providing dozens of new Charms, antagonists, and story hooks for players and Storytellers alike.
  • Tomb of Memory is a full-length adventure designed to introduce Storytellers and players to Exalted: Essence. Ideal for a brief chronicle or one-shot. 
  • Deeds Yet Undone offers three adventures for your Exalted Essence gaming group, whether they’re newly Exalted heroes (and first-time players) or they stand amongst the mightiest of the Exalted who have walked Creation’s breadth.
  • Exalted: Essence Novella Omnibus presents the World of Creation in fiction, a great way to explore more about the setting with three epic tales.

While the Add On options listed beyond those ExEss specific rewards are Exalted Third Edition supplements and use that ruleset, the lore and setting material transcends mechanics. I'd like to specifically point out Across the Eight Directions as a mosty-system agnostic tour around Creation and a great resource for Exalted: Essence Storytellers. Similarly, The Realm delves into the details of the Dragon-Blooded's empire and is a great reference if you've got a DB chronicle in mind.

You can find out more details about these releases from Onyx Path's website <here>


Pick a Pledge Tier, then Add On Options


Ready to join in? If you're backing for the first time, you can click BACK IT and select your Pledge Tier and finalize funding amount in the next menu.

Once you click BACK IT, you'll see pledge level options. If you want to know a bit more about each level, click Learn More, or click Back It.



For example, clicking Learn More on the MARCHINERY OF GREATNESS pledge gives you...



Once you're ready, you can click that BACK IT button and go right to Add On options.


You should also be aware that any available Add On options will be made available in our BackerKit pledge manager, so if you're unsure about adding on something at this point, you will be able to adjust your pledge in the post-campaign phase.

Pledging to the campaign also opens up the Stretch Goal rewards as thanks for your participation. It's important to note that backers who wait and Pre-Order the Exalted: Essence Storyteller's Guide book at a later date will not have any Stretch Goal rewards automatically added to their rewards list if applicable.



REWARD DELIVERY

About 4-6 weeks after the campaign has ended, I'll launch our post-campaign Pledge Manager to collect information from all backers and confirm which rewards you'll be receiving. At that point, you'll be able to review your rewards and also also adjust any Add On Options that you may have missed. Once we have everything confirmed, I'll be able to deliver any rewards that are currently available - like existing Exalted titles and bundles. Backers who have pledged for these options will be sent special redemption links to claim these digital rewards from our partners at DriveThruRPG.com. Clicking these redemption links will allow you to add these PDF titles to your digital library to download anytime. I'll send an update when all of that is happening, though, so you are aware every step of the way.

So, while it will take some time for Exalted: Essence Storyteller's Guide to move from manuscript form to a final product, you won't be waiting a year for PDFs that already exist. (You'll be waiting about 8-10 weeks or so, just enough time for us to set up the reward infrastructure.)

Physical Books

If you're waiting to see the shipping costs before upgrading your PDF pledge to any of the hardcover reward tiers, you'll have lots of time for that. We won't close the Pledge Manager until the books are ready to print and we know what shipping costs will be, so you'll be able to go back and adjust your pledge tier at that time.

It's going to take some time to create the final PDF for Exalted: Essence Storyteller's Guide and even longer for the eventual print run for the hardcover books. When the books are at the printer, I will be in touch with all backers to outline timeline for pledge adjustments, as well as lockdown procedures and when we'll be confirming addresses and processing BackerKit Add Ons and Shipping payments. That's a long time away, and we'll cover that as we get closer to that part of the process.



Don't fret if you had forgotten to select additional rewards by the end of the campaign. These Add Ons will be available to select in our post-campaign Pledge Manager for those who participated in our campaign and have full access to the Pledge Manager. So, if you are undecided at this time, you will be able to hold off until we're closer to the final reward shipment goes out.

Step 1: Pledge Tier

Step 2: Add On Options

Again, your first step should involve your main reward selection, and your Add On Options will build upon that. If you selected the PDF-only tier, you can investigate PDF and digital options. If you select a hardcover tier, you will be able to add additional copies of the hardcover. 

Note that all funds are expressed in US Dollars, so take into account your conversion as needed.

It Adds Up!

That should explain the process of Selecting your Reward Level and adding Add On options and confirming your TOTAL PLEDGE AMOUNT. Since increasing your pledge amount increases the overall funding level of the project, add-ons can help us achieve our Stretch Goal funding targets, so it benefits us all to suggest that you double-check to make sure you're getting all of the rewards you want.

Additionally, this may go without saying, please review your personal budget and ensure you've selected the appropriate reward tier and add ons for your current financial situation. BackerKit will begin charging your payment method at midnight the day the campaign ends, so ensure you've budgeted correctly. Choose what works best for you now and is affordable at this time, knowing that you can upgrade your pledge level or choose Add Ons in the Pledge Manager at a late date.

There are no refunds for regret, and the funds raised start being spent immediately on paying for the work done thus far and the additional work ahead plus the projects unlocked via Stretch Goal. So please be financially responsible.

Did I stress that enough? I hope so.




Conclusion

As we move through these final days of the campaign, please ensure you've chosen the correct Pledge Level for the rewards you want (at least at this point). And beyond that - please make sure you've investigated and selected any add-ons you wish to receive. If you have any issues with the Pledge process, either selecting the reward tier or figuring out the Add On options, you can reach out to me or to the support team at BackerKit. I've found them to respond quickly and offer great support.

On Thursday, just before the campaign ends, I will send an update detailing the steps that occur after the campaign concludes, including notes about our Pledge Manager and the communication plan going forward.

So, just like always: Spread the word! Share your excitement on social media! Tell your friends! I'll be back tomorrow with our final chapter, covering the Exalted and Supernaural antagonists, so let's make sure that none of our friends miss out! Anyone supporting this project will be able to read the entire draft manuscript before any pledges are processed or payments collected, so you'll know exactly what you're getting! And you'll be able to submit your feedback directly to the developers who will use your notes to take the manuscript through the final stages of editing and development to make it the best it can be.

So, review your pledge, make sure it works for you in this moment, and let's carry on to our big finale on Thursday!

#XSSTG

Sneak Peek: Demons & Elementals
about 1 month ago – Fri, Jun 12, 2026 at 09:45:10 AM

Hey there, super Storytellers,

I'm running out to attend my daughter's graduation, but wanted to send out one more sneak peek preview to keep us excited through the weekend!

On Tuesday, backers will get the back half of Chapter 3, which contains the Exalted that we've already seen, but also...

Other Supernatural Entries

God, demons, and stranger things haunt all the corners of Creation, and often cross paths or purposes with the Exalted. 

Demons

Strange inhabitants of the hell-city Malfeas, demons are amongst the oldest enemies of the chosen.  All demons have the following qualities: Immaterial, Immortal (Demon), Measure the Wind. All Second and Third Circle demons have the Heroic and Significant qualities.

Erymanthoi, the Blood-Apes

Often summoned en masse to serve as an army or labor pool, the ferocious Erymanthoi are famed for their brute strength and thirst for blood. These hulking simians reek of gore even when immaterial, and favor direct, violent action. In Malfeas, they're often found in positions that let them indulge their instincts: shock trooper, enforcer, shock troopers or enforcers.

Virtues: Ambition (Proving their personal might)/Courage
Primary Pool (9): Climbing, Feats of Demolition, Intimidation
Secondary Pool (6): Crude Manual Labor, Raucous Song
Tertiary Pool (4)
Essence: 2
Health Levels: 8
Resolve: 3
Defense: 5
Hardness: 3
Soak: 5

Attacks and Qualities 
  • Murderous Blow (Exalted Essence p. 317), Principle of Motion (Exalted Essence p. 319)
  • Brutal Pounce: Spend 1 Mote. The Blood-Ape makes a withering attack; if it generates 5+ power, the target is knocked prone.
  • Rending Claws: Spend 1 Mote on Step 6 against a grappled or prone opponent to gain Double-9s on the damage roll. Against a target that is both grappled and prone, gains Double-8s instead.  
  • Weapons: Claws (+1 Accuracy, +1 Damage, +1 Defense, 1 Overwhelming, Natural, Chopping)

Tactics and Advice
Erymanthoi tend towards brute force and overwhelming violence, grabbing or knocking over their victims before brutally savaging them. Their hunger for blood leads them to impulsive behavior, even when bound. Summoners with a brutal streak of their own can leverage it to command their loyalty, or at least convince them to obey on pain of death.

Patrok, the Havens of the Wanderers

These demons appear as beautiful mortals with golden eyes and brazen spikes lining their spines. Each Patrok is marked by a sense of grief or emptiness, and wanders the world in eternal pilgrimage, seeking companions to heal its suffering. When it desires, a Patrok may briefly swell to immense size, engulfing another within its ribcage. In most cases, the Patrok acts as a strange, wandering sanctuary, keeping its charge safe within its body. Rarely, the Patrok's charge is exactly who it needs to feel whole. In the case of mortals, the charge merges with the Patrok's body, transmuting into a heart of brass and alabaster. Other beings may face a different fate, as the Patrok grows furiously possessive.

Virtues: Compassion/Wonder
Primary Pool (9): Combat Movement, Pleasant Social Company, Protecting Their Charge
Secondary Pool (6): Pilgrim Songs, Profile Individual
Tertiary Pool (4)
Essence: 3
Health Levels: 6
Resolve: 2
Defense: 5
Hardness: 4
Soak: 3

Attacks and Qualities: 
  • Brazen Shelter: Engulf a willing target, protecting it within an armored ribcage. While inside, the Patrok's ward is protected by a reflexive Defend Other action, and benefits from two bonus Soak. Whenever the Patrok moves, its ward is safely carried along.
  • Perilous Vise: When making a normal grapple attempt, the Patrok may trap its target inside its ribcage, ignoring the Enormous Size quality. The Patrok may take other actions while grappling a target this way, and makes contested grapple rolls reflexively.  
  • Weapons: Brazen Ribs (+2 Accuracy, +1 Damage, +0 Defense, 1 Overwhelming, Natural)

Tactics and Advice
Patrok protecting a ward avoid obviously dangerous situations, going so far as to ignore their ward’s wishes to the contrary. Forced into defensive combat by enemy’s pursuit or the commands of a summoner, they attempt to knock enemies down or away so they can extricate themselves as swiftly as possible. When hunting, the Patrok’s demeanor changes entirely, and they will attempt to grapple, vise, and batter even dangerous foes as long as the Patrok senses a chance at victory.

Sesseljae, the Stomach Bottle Bugs

These small, beetle-like demons live to consume filth and poison. In Malfeas, their tastes make them a nuisance to other demons, who tend to see them as vermin at best. While they normally scuttle and hop about, they can also swim through living flesh as though it were water – allowing them to filter toxins from a host's veins or guts. Sesseljae find surgery enjoyable, and take to it with playful glee. Many sorcerers keep them on hand as personal doctors, and insurance against poisoning.

Virtues: Compassion/Courage
Primary Pool (9): Medicine, Resist Magical Poison/Disease
Secondary Pool (6): Begging for Poison, Singing
Tertiary Pool (4)
Essence: 3
Health Levels: 6
Resolve: 2
Defense: 5
Hardness: 0
Soak: 3

Attacks and Qualities
  • Internal Surgery: Spend one mote during a recovery scene to grant a host greater recovery. Spend 2 motes to count a recovery scene as Minor Milestone for the purposes of their host recovering from a Dramatic Injury, once per session.
  • Poison Sipper: A sesselja's host gains the benefits of Vile Repast as long as it's inside their body. The sesselja suffers any magical poison-based effects in their place.
  • Shield of Flesh: While inside a body, a sesselja benefits from an automatic, reflexive Defend Other action by its host.
  • Vile Repast: Sesseljae are immune to nonmagical poison and disease.
  • Weapons: Bottle Shiv (+1 Accuracy, +1 Damage, +1 Defense, 1 Overwhelming, Concealable, Improvised)

Tactics and Advice
Sesseljae scurry to safety at the first sign of trouble, but poison and filth can inspire them to self-destructive cravings. If unable to flee or hide inside someone's body, they'll attack with mandibles or improvised weapons, but only as an absolute last resort. A sesselja will use its Internal Surgery quality on behalf of their host, or anyone else their summoner indicates.

Florivet, the Whim-of-the-Wind, Second Circle Demon

Formerly known as the Masterful Scholar, Florivet cast off his title and took up a life of exploration and adventure. He carved his own skeleton from his flesh, and replaced it with Cecylene-glass struts; he used his bones to craft the Foremost Gale, his prized land ship. Drawn onward by the lure of the unknown, he travels the length and breadth of Malfeas – and Creation, too, when summoned. Mercurial and impulsive, Florivet is as quick to anger as he is to forgive. His fiercest anger is reserved for those who wound his pride. This rage takes form as vitriol within his glass bones. Florivet uses it to scar those who offend him, the better to identify them in the future.

Florivet is lean and tall, with the head of a wolf and the wings, neck, and talons of an owl. Wherever he goes, the wind favors him, often shifting to match his mood. Many air elementals find themselves charmed by his roguish demeanor.

Virtues: Wonder/Courage
Primary Pool (13): Infernal Lore, Navigation, Charming the Wind
Secondary Pool (9): Captain's Authority, Carousing
Tertiary Pool (7)
Essence: 6
Health Levels: 12
Resolve: 4
Defense: 5
Hardness: 6
Soak: 6

Attacks and Qualities
  • Divine Excellence (Exalted Essence p. 319), Domain's Beneficence (Wind) (Exalted Essence p. 319), Flying, Principle of Motion (Exalted Essence p. 319)
  • Wastrel's Wanderlust: When aiding a travel venture, following Florivet’s guidance or riding aboard his landship allows the travelers to negate the consequences of cutting corners once per venture, in return for a dramatic scene of the demon carousing or taking a detour to pursue his sudden interests.
  • Weapons: Lover's Sight, Hellforged longbow (+2 Accuracy, +2 Damage, 3 Overwhelming, Artifact, Balanced, Powerful)

Tactics and Advice
Florivet is a bravo at heart, but he still seeks knowledge and new experiences. He can easily be won over with the promise of certain discovery, but his temperament can complicate arrangements if he feels slighted or disappointed. In combat, Florivet typically opens with Domain's Beneficence, which grants him additional offensive and defensive options. He takes full advantage of his flight, attacking foes from above with his bow. If given the opportunity and incentive, he'll attempt trick shots, aiming to hinder his foes while showing off.



Elementals

Ageless spirits embodying Creation’s natural elements, elementals are material spirits found across every Direction. 

Fog Brothers

Hundreds of towns and cities are nothing but tumbled ruins, entire nations wiped out in the Contagion. The reclusive brume-giant elementals called Fog-Brothers are drawn to these places, descending from their mist-shrouded mountains to set up homes. Some simply protect these places, baffling travelers and treasure-seekers in endless fog, but more enthusiastic Fog Brothers seek to restore what they imagine was lost, ensnaring travelers to gradually recreate a community in the mist.

The Fog Brother of Buld

Once, Buld was a thriving caravan stop on the edge of the cold Northern Desert. The contagion came, and killed off thousands, and the desert swallowed it, the survivors moving to better lands. Now, it is streets, tumbled houses, and mist. But it is growing. Yeddim trains pass by, and do not leave. The gods of Buld, long since reassigned, hear prayers that they have not heard for generations. And its new citizens freeze and scrape the dry earth and know in their bones they do not belong here.

Virtues: Loyalty, Justice
Primary Pool (9): Knowledge of History, Weaving Illusions, Hiding
Secondary Pool (8): Physical Might, Sensing Intrusions
Tertiary Pool (6)
Essence: 4
Motes: 15
Health Levels: 10
Resolve: 3
Defense: 4
Hardness: 4
Soak: 4

Attacks and Qualities
  • Immortal (Elemental) (Exalted Essence p. 319), Domain’s Benefience (Exalted Essence p. 319), Domain’s Curse (Exalted Essence p. 319), Enormous Size (Exalted Essence p. 316), Excellency (Exalted Essence p. 318)
  • Field of Forgotten Dreams: Characters must pass a successful, Difficulty 5 Sagacity, Integrity, or Physique roll to make recovery scenes in a Fog Brother’s territory. Additionally, it is surrounded by a Difficulty 5, 0 damage environmental hazard, that encompasses several miles an interval of “Scenes,” that gives a -2 Penalty of “Uneasy Visions” to mental rolls when failed.
  • Down From the Mountain: The body of a fog-brother is surrounded by a swirling mist, granting all characters within Long Range concealment to all targets but the Fog-Brother. 
  • Hidden By Time and Thought: Commit 3 motes. The Fog Brother gains +4 Soak, which is reduced by 1 for every Intimacy it possesses that the attacker is aware of. Fog-Brothers have intimacies related to the ruins of the places they inhabit.
  • Eyes Like Shrouded Suns: Spend 3 motes to make a special gambit with its primary pool to enthrall a target, filling their mind with a memory of a false existence, spending power equal to their Hardness if used in combat. If it surpasses the target’s resolve, they replace their intimacies with a set appropriate to their new life. This lasts until the Fog Brother’s death. Significant characters may roll to resist this each scene and make take a Hard Bargain to act normally in scene.
  • Weapons: Haar-Fists (+0 Accuracy, +2 Damage, +1 Defense, 2 Overwhelming. Tags: Natural, Reaching)

Tactics and Advice
Fog Brothers protect their villages, and those within their thrall, driving away or enthralling those who would linger. They do not like to see mortals suffer, and employ less powerful elementals, and enthralled animals as protectors, but are jealous and wary of everyone and everything. They are willing to part with those under their enchantments in exchange for the recovery of treasures or scraps of knowledge of the places they protect, but do not do so happily.


Tune in on Tuesday for Ululaya, the Blood-Red Moon (Third Circle Demon) and the Wood Spiders!

In the meantime, have a great weekend, keep spreading the word about this campaign in your social circles and on your social media, and let's unlock our third stretch goal as we race toward the finish line!

FINAL WEEK COUNTDOWN
about 2 months ago – Thu, Jun 11, 2026 at 10:29:33 AM

Hello Super Storytellers,

With so much to read in the draft manuscripts, I'd sort of lost track as to how long we've been running this campaign, but we're already starting our final week! And with that, it's time to start our Final Week Countdown!

Over the next week I'll be sharing a handful of instruction and review-type posts about Reward Tiers & Add Ons, Stretch Goal reviews, and What Comes Next, so if you've got any process questions or are wondering about how the Crowdfunding steps work, I'm hoping to clarify any remaining questions before we finish. Of course, if you're still wondering about something, please ask and I'll help as best I can.

Final Week Guide

  • June 15 - Reward Tier & Add On Review
  • June 16 - Manuscript Preview 3B - Exalted and Supernatural Antagonists
  • June 17 - Stretch Goal Review
  • June 18 - Final Day Checklist & What Comes Next



The Campaign ends on June 18th at 2:00 PM Eastern Time... sort of.

We've got a brand new Time Extension Charm and we may be able to manipulate our planned finish line a bit. We're going to try and unleash our Exalted power when we get to the big finale! It's called "OVERTIME MODE" and it allows us to keep the campaign rolling as long as backers are pledging.

Overtime Mode

Overtime Mode extends the campaign past its original end time to give backers a final chance to make their pledge and adds an interesting twist to the end of the campaign. How long will it extend? That’s entirely up to backers: The campaign will keep going for an additional 10 minutes as long as pledges keep coming in – a chain of back-to-back pledges is called the Backer Train. The campaign will end only when the Backer Train stops after a period of 10 minutes passing without any pledges.

You’ll know we’re in Overtime Mode when the campaign’s Backer Train counter displays a bright rainbow border and a new countdown that resets to 10 minutes after each new backer joins that final Backer Train ride.

So, we've scheduled the campaign to conclude on June18th at 2:00 pm Eeastern Time, but it'll be extended in 10 minute chunks as long as backers keep pledging. Will we add an extra 10 minutes? An extra 20? Or will it all finish up as we programmed? Who knows, but we'll find out together! Exalted indeed!




Sparking New Backers

I know, this is something I've already said many times (and seem to say during every project!), but for this final week, you are officially an Essential Influencer for this Crowdfunding project. It's time to share your excitement for the Exalted: Essence Storyteller's Guide! Basically, we want to recruit as many curious backers as possible to see how long we can keep our Backer Train running over this final week.

I know I've ended many update posts with "Keep spreading the word! Invite others to join in!" - but what does that mean, and how do you do it?

Easy answer - don't stop talking about the ExEss STG until 2:01 PM Eastern next Thursday June 18th  (and then as long as we continue running in Overtime Mode). Yes, family and friends are tired of me talking about it. But what else have I got to talk about? Sports. Sports is the answer. Anyway -  they've learned to tolerate me during a crowdfunding campaign. But here's the thing - there are others around who haven't heard or don't know about the campaign.

There are many, many Onyx Path and Exalted fans who haven't yet heard about this campaign and would love to join in. We're right in the middle of the latest chaos storm - tons of different things competing for our attention - so it's not surprising that new backers are just finding out about the campaign every day. If you have an opportunity to let someone know, please do and let's make sure they have a chance to join in before the end.

Onyx Path does their best to let everyone know about their projects through their social media, streams, youtube videos, and on their webpage, but I still get fans contacting me affer every campaign saying they just missed out! And even though you will be able to pre-order the book through the Pledge Manager later, late backers won't be able to Add On the Storyteller's Supplement that we've built via Stretch Goal achievement to their pre-order items.

So, let's help out our awesome Exalted: Essence fans and make sure that we've spread the word as best we can and everyone has an opportunity to participate in this campaign!




Draft Manuscript

If you're inviting new backers, or if you are a new backer (hi new backers!), here are a few key resources to be aware of for this campaign.


Backers are able to review the (soon-to-be) complete manuscript for this book before the campaign closes and any pledges are processed. With the exception of the back half of Chapter 3 coming on Tuesday, the entirety of the advice, systems, and options from this book are available for download and review by backers. That's a massive pile of alternate rules, options, story-building plans, and antagonists and more for your Exalted!

Anyone who pledges to this campaign before the end can read the entire book now AND provide feedback directly to the developers to help guide the manuscript through the final phases of development and editing!

And, if you join now, as I've noted, we'll be posting the final half of chapter 3 of the book next week before we reach the finish line. This final chapter is all about Exalted and Supernatural antagonists. In fact, here's a taste of what's coming your way next week:

Dragon Kings

Dragon Kings are survivors of an ancient race, once allies of the Exalted, now scattered with little memories of their past glory. Dragon Kings begin life as feral youths, roaming the wilds as packs; most die from violence or deprivation in these early days. Those who make it to adulthood begin to regain human-like intelligence, speech and tool-use, but it takes much longer for memories of their past lives to come back; most sapient Dragon Kings eke out lives as simple hunter-gatherers or as scavengers in their ancient ruins. Only a few, whether ancient sleepers awakened into the Second Age or adults who survive many decades cultivating their Essence, manage to reclaim their ancient heritage.

Variant: Feral Youth
Young Dragon Kings are aggressive, predatory beasts of surprising cunning, easily able to overpower human warriors. Feral Youths cannot change their clade and do not walk upright; Ankloks are quadrupedal, heavily armored beasts, Mosoks are serpentine water-dwellers with shortened limbs, Pteroks walk on the claws of their leathery wings when not aloft, and Raptoks are lithe, bipedal, hunched-over creatures with bright feathers keeping their long foreclaws close to their chests. 

Virtues: Courage/Ambition (Assert Dominance)
Primary Pool (8): Tracking, Fighting, Flying or Running or Swimming or Resist Environment
Secondary Pool (6): Intimidate, Senses, Stealth
Tertiary Pool (4)
Essence: 1
Health Levels: 7
Resolve: 3
Defense: 5
Hardness: 4
Soak: 5

Attacks and Qualities
  • Enormous Size (Anklok) (Exalted Essence p. 316), Harrier and Opportunistic Threat (Raptok) (Exalted Essence p. 320)
  • Flowing Form (Mosok): Mosoks always qualify for stealth while underwater.
  • Soaring Form (Pterok): Pteroks gain double-9s on movement rolls while in the air, but are hindered while on the ground.
  • Breath of Clarity (All): When a character uses a Charm or other magical ability in the Dragon King’s presence, it rolls Senses at Difficulty 3 to become aware of it. Success does not inform it of the magic’s nature but heightens its aggression.
  • Weapons: Rending Talons (+2 Accuracy, +1 Damage, +1 Defense, Overwhelming 2. Tags: Natural)

Tactics and Advice
Feral Dragon Kings are highly territorial. They use threat displays to ward off intruders, but those who do not heed the warnings are attacked with overwhelming violence. Feral Dragon Kings are undersocialized juveniles lacking their normal teaching structures and do not behave like normal predators: they are aggressive to the point of recklessness, their pack structures are confused and shaped by violence, and they are drawn to places that resonate with their past lives. Displays of magic stir a remembrance of what they lost, which they find painful and drives them to greater hostility.

Exalted: Essence Chat

The Discord is particularly lively, but you might be able to gain further insight and some in-depth conversation at any of these Onyx Path discussion zones:




Share the Links!

1) Don't forget to share a link to the Crowdfunding page in any discussion you have (where appropriate) - and feel free to pass any of the long list of links above to those who may need more info (or, just point them to this post!)

2) Don't forget to tell us about any post or review or discussion you write! Come to the comments section and let us know so we can all go and contribute! I know I keep saying it, but really - these last days are key. Keep the enthusiasm high and keep on inviting others to join in, either directly ("Come see...") or just by setting an example of your enthusiasm and interest.

I'm really interested to see if we can get a backer train going at the end of the campaign and wondering if we can keep rolling for another 10 or 20 minutes past our set end time!

Final Week

We've got one week to go, everyone! Thank you all so much for your support! We work together because it's the right thing to do, and because backers make it better! Let's finish strong! And let's continue exploring the possiblities of Exalted: Essence together, sharing our feedback with the writers and delving into the draft manuscript, and let's see if we can't get another Stretch Goal before we review next Wednesday!



At $60,000 in Funding - Antagonists from the Threshold

Exalted: Essence Storyteller's Supplement - Antagonists from the Threshold - The Stretch Goal built storyteller's supplement will be expanded to include antagonists that could be found in or related to the Threshold.



At $70,000 in Funding - Adventures in the Threshold

Exalted: Essence Storyteller's Supplement - Adventures in the Threshold - A set of plot hooks, scenario ideas, and perhaps story outlines set in and around the Threshold will be added to the Exalted Essence Storyteller's supplement being built by Stretch Goal achievements.


Have a great Friday and weekend, keep spreading the word, send the developers your feedback using the Feedback Form included with every draft manuscript download update. I'll share a sneak peek at the next manuscript tomorrow, and I'll be back on Monday to review all of the Pledge Tier options and Add On Reward choices!

We finish this campaign NEXT THURSDAY! Let's keep at it!

Sneak Peek: Exalted Antagonists
about 2 months ago – Wed, Jun 10, 2026 at 07:54:45 AM

Hello Super Storytellers,

Yesterday we received the first half of Chapter 3, which contains guidelines for antagonists and many, many examples of interesting mortals and strange beasts.

But we wanna see some Exalted opponents, am I right?

Well, let's get a sneak peek at next week's draft manuscript download. As a reminder, backers will be able to read the entire draft manuscript before the end of the campaign - before any pledges are processed or payments collected. So jump on it if you haven't!



The Exalted

Often the greatest foes and strongest allies of the Exalted are others amongst their number.

Black Ice Shadow

Black Ice Shadow is as cultivated as a winter blossom. The ghost-blooded Sidereal is the result of decades of subtle interference and intensive training under the Bureau of Endings. Black Ice Shadow’s birth was thrice marked by endings: an elder Sidereal’s suicide, the birth-caul of a child of the dead, and sightings of Saturn throughout Creation. Deathly focused gods, enlightened shades, and Sidereal clandestinely infiltrated local temples teaching the child mysteries of the Underworld. His exaltation severed what few threads bound Black Ice Shadow to mortal life, and he spent years cultivated his deathly heritage in bleak Manses and Shadowlands.

Time spent among the living has softened the Sidereal’s severe demeanor but done nothing to assure those in the Five-Score Fellowship who question the loyalty of a Sidereal who’s nature is so tied to Heaven’s enemies. Black Ice Shadow spies on Shadowlands and Underworld cities in a myriad of guises. His most elaborate ruse is as an amnesiac Abyssal entitled Taste of Ashes Lingering Beyond Extinction. The Sidereal recently connected rumors circulating of an unaccountable power locked within a First Age tomb, to records of an ancient ghost entombed with sorcery, and he’s moving to interdict Scavenger Lords or Exalts before someone looses the dreadful entity. 

Virtues: Discipline/ Wonder
Primary Pool (10): Martial Arts and Infiltration
Secondary Pool (7): Posing as the Dead; Underworld Secrets
Tertiary Pool (4)
Essence: 3
Motes: 10
Health Levels: 7
Resolve: 3
Defense: 4
Hardness: 4
Soak: 4

Attacks and Qualities
  • Excellency: Spend one mote to add five dice to a primary pools action or four dice to a secondary pool action.
  • Heroic: Black Ice Shadow will flee and take on a new cover identity at zero Health levels, but will take a dramatic injury to continue fighting in order to stop a Creature of Darkness.
  • Sidereal Chosen of Endings: Black Ice Shadow possesses all advantages and anima powers of a Sidereal Chosen of Endings.
  • Initiate: Black Ice Shadow knows First Circle Necromancy.
  • Murderous Blow: Against the demon, fae, undead, Getimians, Abyssals, and Infernals, gain 3 additional damage.
  • Higher Up the Chain: In an emergency he’ll call on his mentor, Wayang, the God of Silence, an Essence 5 Celestial God (Exalted: Essence p.344). 
  • Solemn Psychopomp Duty: The Exalts spends 1 mote to consecrate a death, the soul cannot be trapped or become a ghost. Black Ice Shadow learns their Intimacies, and gains a new secondary ability for the rest of the Story. They may summon the fallen’s ghost as a secondary Ally for one scene.
  • Violet Bier of Sorrows Style: Black Ice Shadow commits 2 motes targets struck may not use reflexive movement until the end of their next turn, and attacks do aggravated damage. Spend 1 mote on Step 2 to add one to Defense, if successful, add two extra dice on the next withering attack and double 9s.
  • Masque of the Uncanny: The Exalt commits 2 motes, perfectly assuming the guise of an Abyssal or ghost, this changes even Charm use and Anima. This requires a Stealth roll opposed by the Exalt’s Secondary Pool to overcome the illusion.
  • Necromancy Spells: For 4 Will, Black Ice Shadow may open a doorway to the Underworld for the rest of the scene or 3 rounds in combat.
  • Weapons: Liberator’s Hands, Soulsteel Light Daiklaves(+2 Accuracy, Defense +2, Damage+2, Overwhelming 2, Melee, Chopping, Balanced, Paired, Piercing) 

Tactics and Advice
Black Ice Shadow is a superlative imposter of the dead, rarely breaking cover, and retreating if conditions are disadvantageous, as a last resort fleeing into the Underworld. His preferred method is to set terrain with necromantic curses that inflict the hindered penalty or increase bleeding for living foes as an environmental hazard he’s immune to. The Exalt tries to disable and disarm rather than kill, unless the enemy’s discovered his identity. He frequently summons ghosts as backup. The Sidereal will work with any who provide him with firsthand accounts of deathknights or the deathlords’ agendas.



Merel Of-the-Gourd (Dragon-Blooded, Wood Aspect)

Merel wanders the Threshold, offering salvation in the form of preventative sickness. He carries gardens of alchemical spores in lacquered gourds, releasing tuned plagues that burn through a community, culling the weak while granting the survivors immunity—and a dependence on his ongoing treatments. To him, this is mercy. He speaks gently as fevers rise, assuring the afflicted that pain is proof of worthiness. Villages he “heals” survive future outbreaks, but only so long as they submit to the next round of plague-fire.

Virtues: Compassion (Better To Die Under The Care of a Physician Than Live in Agony)/ Ambition
Primary Pool (10): Medicine, Poisons, Disease Cultivation
Secondary Pool (8): Solving Puzzles, Soothing Fears, Self-Defense
Tertiary Pool (6)
Essence: 2
Motes: 7
Health Levels: 8
Resolve: 4
Defense: 4
Hardness: 4
Soak: 3

Attacks and Qualities
  • Controlled Epidemic: Two infection sites bloom in the village. Commit 2 motes per site. The Dragon-Blood may see and hear through anyone within them. Each site spreads a supernatural disease: characters damaged by or present in the area during combat must succeed at a Fortitude + Physique roll during their turn or lose 2 Power. The area is difficult terrain. Those who succeed gain +2 dice vs. disease for the session but become treatment-dependent. Investigators may spend 1 mote per question (location, creator, source). Each failed attempt advances an infection clock; at 3 advances, dependence becomes a Major Principle. Ends after Essence + Finesse days or when both sites are destroyed.
  • Excellency: Spend 1 mote. Add a four-dice bonus to a roll using his primary pool, or three dice to his secondary pools.
  • Toxin-and-Venom Exorcism: When treating poisoned or diseased patients, success cures them and grants immunity to that specific affliction for the session.
  • Wood Aspect Dragon-Blooded: Possesses all advantages and anima powers of Wood Aspect Dragon-Blooded.
  • Weapons: Poisoned darts (+1 Accuracy, +1 Damage, +1 Defense. Tags: Concealable, Piercing, Thrown)

Tactics and Advice
His lair is a greenhouse laboratory at the village edge, with villager-dug tunnels giving him multiple escape routes. About eighty people remain; thirty have died, and thirty are “cured”—immune but dependent on quarterly treatments. These devotees defend him as a Size 2, Drill 1 battle group with +1 die on social actions for Merel. Investigation reveals he emerges when infection sites are disturbed.

Merel uses Controlled Epidemic's sensory network to monitor the party's movements and conversations through infected villagers, coordinating devotee ambushes and repositioning himself via the tunnels. When the party approaches an infection site, he observes through nearby infected individuals to determine their intentions. If they destroy a true site, devotees emerge from houses and alleys to attack from cover while Merel fires poisoned darts from tunnel entrances or rooftops, then retreats before direct engagement.

If the party destroys a false site, Merel watches through his network to confirm they've moved on, then emerges at night to poison a replacement location, either personally or by using a devoted villager he's already instructed. Observant parties may notice infected villagers moving purposefully toward specific locations after dark, or Merel himself slipping between buildings with his gourds. Once all true infection sites are eliminated and his sensory advantage is lost, he makes his final stand at the greenhouse, fighting desperately with devotees as his last line of defense.

Of the four possible sites, choose two currently infectious. All detection rolls are difficulty 3, and failures can produce inconclusive or misleading results.

Possible Infection Sites
  • The well (water-borne). Detect: A faint, putrid smell and off-putting color (Sagacity or Navigate). Cleanse: Purify (Sagacity) or destroy/cover the pump).
  • The granary (food-borne). Detect: The grain subtly expands and contracts (Awareness). Cleanse: Fire (Physique or Survival to control the burn) or recall a safe spore-neutralizing method (Sagacity).
  • The limpid pool (blood-borne). Detect: See the mosquito larvae in the water (Awareness or Navigate). Cleanse: Disrupt mosquito larvae (Navigate) or use an appropriate poison to kill the swarm (Sagacity).
  • he rotting hay pile (fungal). Detect: See visible mold and unnatural decay (Awareness, Navigate, or Sagacity). Cleanse: Burn it safely (Physique or Navigate) to control the blaze and suppress spore release.

Merel prefers to hide in his lair, in the tunnels, or in the houses of his devotees rather than fight. His devotees attack whenever a true infection site is destroyed, striking from cover. If the heroes destroy the wrong site, he avoids direct conflict and quietly poisons another location to replace it, either directly or with one of the conscripted villagers acting secretly (Soldier template, Exalted Essence p. 331). He only abandons subterfuge and fights openly — and to the death — once all genuine infection sites have been eliminated.


Tomorrow, we start our FINAL WEEK COUNTDOWN. Can you believe we're gonna have one week left? I'll share some important reminders and info to review before the end and outline our final week schedule. On Friday, we'll get another sneak peek from our draft manuscript section coming the following Tuesday. We're gonna see some demons and elementals!

So, let's rally up and finish week 3 and then rush headfirst into the big final week and see if we can't unlock some baddies from the Threshold in our stretch goal supplement!

Teeming Legions - Mortals and Creatures [Draft Manuscript Preview 3A]
about 2 months ago – Tue, Jun 09, 2026 at 05:39:23 AM

Hello super Storytellers,

Has everyone recovered from a weekend of Onyx Path panels and games? The biggest Exalted news was on the Third Edition main side, where they revealed that a Liminals book is coming, to help catch up those rules a bit with the Essence side! We've already got Liminals in our core rulebook and expanded in the Player's Guide, but more lore is always welcome!

Hopefully there will be a lore-heavy stretch goal companion too that we can all enjoy!

But enough about the possibilities of the future, for we have adversaries and opponents to challenge us in the here and now!

It's Tuesday, and that means it's draft manuscript day. This is the first half of Chapter 3.  We've had a few sneak peeks at foes and creatures presented in this section, but now it's fully filled in. Chapter 3: Antagonists begins with the Machinations of Doom, including best practices for designing and using enemies, before introducing the Ferocious Teeming Legions. Part A, which we get today, is all about the Interesting Mortals and Weird Creatures that you can add to your Exalted: Essence game.

Let's go!



Draft Manuscript Previews

Over the course of these 4 weeks, backers will receive the entire current draft manuscript for Exalted: Essence Storyteller's Guide, but it's not going to come to you all in one go. The previews will come out in Tuesday-sized sections each week of the campaign. This helps me seem interesting over the next 28 days, but it's more about guiding the conversation and helping steer feedback for the developers.

Because they want your feedback! These manuscript previews are of the current draft manuscript – the document in its latest, approved form. This may not be the final form after editing and any additional development, but you can consider it about 95% finished, so keep that in mind.

In fact, you can help guide the team through the next stages of development by providing feedback on these manuscript previews! The Onyx Path team has set up a special Feedback Form just for campaign backers for this very purpose: <Exalted: Essence Storyteller's Guide Feedback Form>




You can use this FEEDBACK FORM to share your thoughts directly with the Exalted: Essence creative team to help guide them through the next rounds of development and editing.


DRAFT MANUSCRIPT PREVIEWS - BACKERS ONLY

Remember, thanks to BackerKit sorcery, these download links are visible to Backers only - you must be logged in and reading this on the website to have access to the manuscript preview links. So, if you're reading this via e-mail, click that "Reply to this Update" or "Learn More" button on the bottom and I'll see you below the Exalted emblem.