August 2026: REWARD DELIVERY! BOTH Stretch Goal Novellas are ready!
Hello Essence Players!
Our main reward, the Exalted: Essence Player's Guide, is in layout and working towards the proofing phase. I shared lots of new artwork last month, and I'm sure we're pretty close to seeing it all laid out in the actual book.
But today, I've got two other rewards I want to talk about! Remember this Stretch Goal?
We actually unlocked this TWICE during the campaign, which means we've got TWO NOVELLAS and they're both available for backers today!
Reward Delivery #1: Even the Heavens Will Burn
Twilight Caste Djan Brazenreins is so close to completing a project that's been in the works for lifetimes. He doesn't know exactly what his previous incarnation intended for it to do, but curiosity drives him forward. When the Lunar Anthar Mirthless tries to stop Djau from acquiring one of the components, the two feel their ancient bond uniting them once again.
Together, they fight dangerous beasts, infiltrate an Immaculate monastery, and brave the revels of demon-run Dajaz. But an old enemy is hot on their heels, intent on ensuring Djau's masterpiece remains forever unfinished.
Reward Delivery #2: Murder on the Divine Carriage
When a crew of Exalts needs to vanquish a threat to Creation's borders, March Lord Exigent Lyra Compassrose summons a goddess's divine carriage to geth them there swiftly. A journey that out to take months will pass in a mere four days: plenty of time to prepare, relax, and get to know her fellow travellers.
It promises to be a loveley time - until their leader Meridian Glory is murdered.
It turns out severl of Lyra's companions have reasons they might want Meridian dead: a jealous lover, a Solar with a dark past, an angry young Lunar, and enigmatic doctor, and one of Lyra's March Lord brethren, still grieving their lost goddess. Everyone has their secrets, and with no way in or out of the manse-sized carriage before it reaches its destination, Lyra has to discover who is the killer among them.
REWARD DISTRIBUTION
If either of these Exalted: Essence novella stretch goal rewards were on your list of rewards, your links to claim your Even the Heavens Will Burn BackerPDF and Murder on the Divine Carriage Backer PDF will be sent out by our BackerKit pledge manager over the next day. Since we are using our partners at DriveThruFiction as the host for this, you will need to set up a DriveThru account if you don't have one already. If you encounter any problems with downloading your rewards, please contact DTRPG's customer service to resolve the matter, they've always been top-rated for customer service. http://www.drivethrurpg.com/contact_us.php
The best way to ensure these redemption codes work smoothly is to log in to your DTRPG account first, and then click (or copy) the link shown in your BackerKit. You may have to click the link twice to get it to show up in your cart.
Again, you will receive an e-mail from BackerKit with links for this reward over the next 24 hours if it is on your expected list of rewards.
Pledge Manager
If you need to review your information or pledge status, you can return to your survey by clicking the link in your survey email or requesting your survey link under "Lost your survey?" on our BackerKit project page at https://exalted-essence-players-guide.backerkit.com/
These are the first versions of Even the Heavens Will Burn and Murder on the Divine Carriage to be released. The design and development teams have done their best to proofread and correct any errors and typos - but some always sneak through. If you catch any typos, incorrect math, visual glitches, and the like, we want to hear about them and correct them before the book gets finalized and released in final ebook formats.
With that in mind, I'd like to introduce two novella Feedback Form!
They are aware of any Page XX notations - those are left in to replace for the final version once any changes you've suggested are made, so they can reference the correct page if any shifts in layout result.
Onyx Path will keep errata collection open for the next week. Please submit your feedback as soon as possible so the team can get on to finalizing this file - and working on our print version as well!
They won't be collecting errata from other spots, just this specific form.
After any needed corrections are made (based on your feedback!), they will prepare an updated final version of the book and you will receive a notice from Drivethru that you can re-download your file with the latest version.
You've already made the book a reality with your Kickstarter support. Now you can make it even better by helping us crowdsource any minor errors and corrections.
SO: Look for your reward email over the next 24 hours, or check your BackerKit page to see your digital reward redemption links. Review the backer PDF and submit any feedback you have, and let's make these novellas as awesome as possible!
Pending Projects
Things are moving along, the list is getting shorter.
Rewards Distributed to Backers
Exalted: Essence Core Rulebook PDF
Pillars of Creation PDF
Tomb of Memory PDF
Deeds Yet Undone PDF
Across the Eight Directions PDF
The Realm PDF
Heirs to the Shogunate PDF
Many-Faced Strangers PDF
Exalted Third Edition Core Rules PDF
Dragon-Blooded: What Fire Has Wrought PDF
Lunars: Fangs at the Gate PDF
Exigents: Out of the Ashes PDF
Sidereals: Charting Fate's Course PDF
Abyssals: Sworn to the Grave PDF
Alchemicals: Forged by the Machine God Backer PDF
Exalted Music Bundle
Exalted Fiction Bundle
Even the Heavens Will Burn - Stretch Goal Novella
Murder on the Divine Carriage - Stretch Goal Novella
I will continue to post regular updates every month until the final reward has gone out.
Remember: You can use the links at the bottom of this e-mail to unsubscribe from updates or Manage your notification settings. These status updates are available on the campaign page for you to review at any time.
Onyx Path Discussion Channels
If you've got questions about the rules or setting, or just want to discuss this game with other fans (as well as the Onyx Path writers and developers!), you can check out these Onyx Path discussion zones:
Jadestorm is an epic game of adventure, vengeance, and power. You are a Jadebearer — an inheritor of one or more Jade cinders, fragments of destroyed demonic demigods — and it is for you to decide whether you use your powers to play the role of the glorious hero or wield them to become the most notorious of villains.
Learn from your master until you can defeat him.
Duel for Jade and best your rivals.
Venture into the Wilds and claim unconquered fragments of the Infernal Sovereigns.
The isolated nine realms of Eos are awaiting epic heroes and wicked villains to lead them into a new era. Will you bind the world in hope or drive its people fleeing into the Wilds?
In Jadestorm, you play as a character blessed or cursed to inherit the Jade of a fallen infernal being: one of the Malefic. You will have found a master, or he might have found you, and in your teachings you will have discovered the scope of just some of your capabilities. The world would appear open to a being such as you, until other Jadebearers enter view. Some become firm friends, lifelong companions, even lovers. Others become rivals, hated enemies, and those who would snatch the Jade from you.
Vengeance and glory call to Jadebearers. For where there is Jade, calamity, wonder, dissonance, and glory follows. Another Jadebearer might have put your village to the torch, abducted your family, or whisked your love away to a far off realm. The unexplored Wilds beckon you, with opportunities for great discoveries and horrific nightmares laying in wait.
Jadestorm is a game of epic characters living within epic proportions of possibility. Every wuxia, xianxia, and jidaigeki epic, fantasy adventure, and journey into the unknown inspires your stories, your characters, and this game. Ultimately, Jadestorm is a tale about how you gain power, you lose people, and maybe, if you strive hard enough, you might end up with more than you started with.
Like all great heroic tales, there will be trials and adversaries dangerous and foul. There will be moral quandaries and the peril of sacrifice. There will be the invitation to accept more Jade, even at the risk of who you once were.
Will your family recognize you once you return with another cinder?
Will you arrive at your realm as a conqueror or as a liberator?
Will you discover the truth of the Malefic in the depths of the Wilds?
Our main reward is currently in layout and moving along, but we've still got a bit before it's finished up and proofed and approved to release as a backer PDF. But that means I've got lots of preview artwork to share!
Exalted: Essence Storyteller's Guide available for Pre-Order
If you missed out on our crowdfunding campaign for the Exalted: Essence Storyteller's Guide - the complimentary book to our main project from this very campaign - it's now available to pre-order. You can Pre-Order the PDF, hardcover edition + PDF combo, or the deluxe edition + PDF combo. Regardless of your pre-order format of choice, you will receive the draft manuscript as part of your pre-order so you'll be able to read the book while we wait for it to work it's way through the production schedule.
Despite some pretty severe technical challenges, the layout is moving along and only a handful of chapters remain before the book goes in to proofing. And speaking of the proofing phase, our two novellas have jumped ahead dramatically and are now in that very stage. And more great news, the Essence Enhanced supplement that we unlocked via Stretch Goal achievements is finishing up in the writer's draft stage before moving on to the developer to tie it all together.
Those bodes well for August and September updates; hopefully we've got our main book and some novellas to read soon!
Rewards Distributed to Backers
Exalted: Essence Core Rulebook PDF
Pillars of Creation PDF
Tomb of Memory PDF
Deeds Yet Undone PDF
Across the Eight Directions PDF
The Realm PDF
Heirs to the Shogunate PDF
Many-Faced Strangers PDF
Exalted Third Edition Core Rules PDF
Dragon-Blooded: What Fire Has Wrought PDF
Lunars: Fangs at the Gate PDF
Exigents: Out of the Ashes PDF
Sidereals: Charting Fate's Course PDF
Abyssals: Sworn to the Grave PDF
Alchemicals: Forged by the Machine God Backer PDF
Exalted Music Bundle
Exalted Fiction Bundle
Pledge Manager
If you need to review your information or pledge status, you can return to your survey by clicking the link in your survey email or requesting your survey link under "Lost your survey?" on our BackerKit project page at https://exalted-essence-players-guide.backerkit.com/
I will continue to post regular updates every month until the final reward has gone out.
Remember: You can use the links at the bottom of this e-mail to unsubscribe from updates or Manage your notification settings. These status updates are available on the campaign page for you to review at any time.
Onyx Path Discussion Channels
If you've got questions about the rules or setting, or just want to discuss this game with other fans (as well as the Onyx Path writers and developers!), you can check out these Onyx Path discussion zones:
The rats and mice of the Realms of Pugmire make their homes in the margins of other cities. These connect to the Underneath, a vast maze of warrens, tunnels, caves, and other hidden places, much of which lies unknown and unexplored. It’s a dangerous place full of unexplained phenomena and terrifying creatures. But it is also full of wonders of ages past and the thrill of discovery.
Lair of the Rat Kings is a full campaign sourcebook detailing a new and exciting part of the realms of Pugmire: The Underneath. It contains not only everything you need to know about the Underneath, but also has information about making rodent player characters (along with their psychic powers), advice on how to run a subterranean campaign, a complete adventure, and a massive number of locations, set pieces, and encounters.
While the Spark of Exaltation is being woven into the art and text to bring our book to life (it's in layout!), there's also a bit of progress on our big Stretch Goal companion.
Before we get into all of that, let me tell you where you can learn more about current and future Exalted projects.
We also successfully completed the crowdfunder for the Exalted: Essence Storyteller's Guide. Next month I'll have a pre-order page for anyone who missed out. You'll be able to pre-order the PDF and hardcover editions, and will receive the draft manuscript while you wait. Look for that at the end of July.
Pending Projects
Artwork has started to roll in and the first bits of layout are now being figured out for our main reward. If any of the artwork sneaks out, I'll share a preview in the upcoming months. Also, our big stretch goal companion boo, Essence Enhanced, has gone to redlines where the developers send their notes for revision back to the writers before a final draft can be assembled. Bit by bit.
Rewards Distributed to Backers
Exalted: Essence Core Rulebook PDF
Pillars of Creation PDF
Tomb of Memory PDF
Deeds Yet Undone PDF
Across the Eight Directions PDF
The Realm PDF
Heirs to the Shogunate PDF
Many-Faced Strangers PDF
Exalted Third Edition Core Rules PDF
Dragon-Blooded: What Fire Has Wrought PDF
Lunars: Fangs at the Gate PDF
Exigents: Out of the Ashes PDF
Sidereals: Charting Fate's Course PDF
Abyssals: Sworn to the Grave PDF
Alchemicals: Forged by the Machine God Backer PDF
Exalted Music Bundle
Exalted Fiction Bundle
Pledge Manager
If you need to review your information or pledge status, you can return to your survey by clicking the link in your survey email or requesting your survey link under "Lost your survey?" on our BackerKit project page at https://exalted-essence-players-guide.backerkit.com/
I will continue to post regular updates every month until the final reward has gone out.
Remember: You can use the links at the bottom of this e-mail to unsubscribe from updates or Manage your notification settings. These status updates are available on the campaign page for you to review at any time.
The Monday Meeting Notes will also be a good place to learn about the next Crowdfunding project as it gets closer. I'll give you a hint - it's the Exalted: Essence Storyteller's Guide. That's a pretty good hint.
Onyx Path Discussion Channels
If you've got questions about the rules or setting, or just want to discuss this game with other fans (as well as the Onyx Path writers and developers!), you can check out these Onyx Path discussion zones:
I've got a bunch of information to share with you today, so let's get to it!
I'll start with progress on the projects that came out of our Crowdfunding campaign, information about our current Crowdfunding campaign, and then stuff about the upcoming Onyx Path virtual convention!
Exalted: Essence Player's Guide - currently in active Art Direction. The artists working on the interior illustrations have submitted their sketches and the Art Director has provided feedback. Anything that doesn't need to be revised is moving towards final versions. Anything that needed revisions will have new sketches submitted for review and approval.
Sounds like thins are moving forward. I look forward to sharing artwork sneak peeks in the future!
And now, info about the two novellas we unlocked as stretch goals. They've both had manuscripts reviewed and approved and are now in editing. And with that, I have summaries!
Exalted – Essence Player’s Guide Novella: Even the Heavens Will Burn
In this one, Twilight Caste Exalt Djau Brazenreins and the Lunar Anthar Mirthless team up to save lifetimes’ worth of work while fending off ancient enemies. Together, they fight dangerous beasts, infiltrate an Immaculate monastery, and brave the revels of demon-run Dajaz.
Exalted – Essence Player’s Guide Novella: Murder on the Divine Carriage
In this murder mystery, a crew of Exalts travels across Creation in a goddess’ carriage in what should be a simple trip, until their leader is murdered. Can March Lord Exigent Lyra Compassrose figure out which of her fellows was the culprit in time? Read and find out!
JUST LAUNCHED - EXALTED: ESSENCE STORYTELLER'S GUIDE
The Exalted: Essence Storyteller’s Guide is a resource for storytellers and play groups to expand, refine, and customize their games of Exalted: Essence. 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.
With powerful player characters, a wide world to explore, and incredible danger to defy, Exalted is a rewarding game to run, but it can also seem overwhelming. Exalted: Essence 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.
In the Exalted: Essence Storyteller’s Guide, we present practical advice for managing powerful characters, helping players direct their characters’ own stories, and tailoring the campaign for the group. For those with ideas for their campaign firmly in mind, sections on how to more deeply engage and support Exalted’s themes may be helpful. For those who aren’t sure how they want to engage with Creation, campaign frames and adventure seeds can offer accessible places to start.
Whether you’re a brand-new Storyteller embarking on their first campaign, or just looking for new options to transform your game, we hope the Storyteller’s Guide will bring your adventures in the world of Creation to new heights.
Chapter 1: Thousandfold Tales of the Chosen focuses on storytelling advice and how best to run various styles of game. Resplendent Storytelling Arts covers everything from how to set, track, and support player agendas to broader game themes and playstyles, while Adventure Hooks and Campaign Frameworks offers campaign frameworks and adventures ready to be set down at the table and run.
Chapter 2: Machinery of Greatness: Systems and Subsystems presents explication and expansion of the rules in Exalted: Essence. From the basics of success and failure to ventures revisited and expanded, the chapter covers how to smoothly integrate Exalted: Essence’s rules for their greatest effect. For those interested in modifying the rules, Cut a Bloody Swath: Optional and AlternateCombat Rules offers a myriad of options to customize the combat experience, while Essence Combat Reforged offers an entire alternate combat systems centered around teamwork, opportunity, and tactical choices. Golden Tongues and Fiery Wit: Optional and Alternate Social Rules presents similar options for social influence, including an alternate social influence system presenting more granular resolution. Finally, the Shining Miscellany covers alternative systems for the strange magic of Creation, more options for stunts, and further mechanics for narrative control.
Chapter 3: Antagonists begins with the Machinations of Doom, including best practices for designing and using enemies, before introducing the Ferocious Teeming Legions, a great accounting of new foes of every sort. From demon-worshipping assassins to ancient automata, inhuman undead to disasters from the sky, a veritable new army of enemies is placed at the Storyteller’s command. This includes some of the most dangerous and driven enemies that a circle of Exalted must face: other Exalts.
Just like with our Player's Guide campaign, I'll be sharing the entire draft manuscript over the course of the campaign with backers, so anyone who joins will be able to read the entire thing before any pledges are processed or payments collected. A new manuscript section drops every Tuesday!
What's Up with Onyx Path on Saturday June 6 at Noon EDT
The Exalted Panel on Saturday June 6 at 6:00 PM EDT
Ask Us Anything Panel on Sunday June 7 at 2:00 PM EDT
Pending Projects
All changes from last month were noted at the top of the update. Also, our companion - Essence Enhanced - is just finishing up the first drafts. Hopefully we'll see it move to redlines soon.
Rewards Distributed to Backers
Exalted: Essence Core Rulebook PDF
Pillars of Creation PDF
Tomb of Memory PDF
Deeds Yet Undone PDF
Across the Eight Directions PDF
The Realm PDF
Heirs to the Shogunate PDF
Many-Faced Strangers PDF
Exalted Third Edition Core Rules PDF
Dragon-Blooded: What Fire Has Wrought PDF
Lunars: Fangs at the Gate PDF
Exigents: Out of the Ashes PDF
Sidereals: Charting Fate's Course PDF
Abyssals: Sworn to the Grave PDF
Alchemicals: Forged by the Machine God Draft Manuscript
Exalted Music Bundle
Exalted Fiction Bundle
Pledge Manager
If you need to review your information or pledge status, you can return to your survey by clicking the link in your survey email or requesting your survey link under "Lost your survey?" on our BackerKit project page at https://exalted-essence-players-guide.backerkit.com/
I will continue to post regular updates every month until the final reward has gone out.
Remember: You can use the links at the bottom of this e-mail to unsubscribe from updates or Manage your notification settings. These status updates are available on the campaign page for you to review at any time.
The Monday Meeting Notes will also be a good place to learn about the next Crowdfunding project as it gets closer. I'll give you a hint - it's the Exalted: Essence Storyteller's Guide. That's a pretty good hint.
Onyx Path Discussion Channels
If you've got questions about the rules or setting, or just want to discuss this game with other fans (as well as the Onyx Path writers and developers!), you can check out these Onyx Path discussion zones:
Some incremental progress, a few dots filled in. Let's get to our review.
Pending Projects
Right now, artists are working on the preliminary sketches for our main book. Those will be submitted to the Art Director and reviewed and approved to move forward by the Approval Team and then they can work on finishing them up and prepping for layout. So, active work being done to make it pretty. I'll share any sneak peeks of artwork that come out in our monthly updates.
The two novellas have moved forward to the Approvals stage, where they're signed off on by the IP Holders, the Exalted Dev team and the Onyx Path team. Also, the title has changed to Murder on the Divine Carriage instead of For the March Lords, but I forgot to update it this month. Next month I'll have it listed correctly, but at least it's in the right spot on the progress chart!
And our companion book has started in first drafts, so writers are actively creating stuff for "Essence Enhanced" which is the current title of the book.
I'll add in the correct titles for our May update! And hopefully have some more dots to fill in!
Rewards Distributed to Backers
Exalted: Essence Core Rulebook PDF
Pillars of Creation PDF
Tomb of Memory PDF
Deeds Yet Undone PDF
Across the Eight Directions PDF
The Realm PDF
Heirs to the Shogunate PDF
Many-Faced Strangers PDF
Exalted Third Edition Core Rules PDF
Dragon-Blooded: What Fire Has Wrought PDF
Lunars: Fangs at the Gate PDF
Exigents: Out of the Ashes PDF
Sidereals: Charting Fate's Course PDF
Abyssals: Sworn to the Grave PDF
Alchemicals: Forged by the Machine God Draft Manuscript
Exalted Music Bundle
Exalted Fiction Bundle
Pledge Manager
If you need to review your information or pledge status, you can return to your survey by clicking the link in your survey email or requesting your survey link under "Lost your survey?" on our BackerKit project page at https://exalted-essence-players-guide.backerkit.com/
I will continue to post regular updates every month until the final reward has gone out.
Remember: You can use the links at the bottom of this e-mail to unsubscribe from updates or Manage your notification settings. These status updates are available on the campaign page for you to review at any time.
The Monday Meeting Notes will also be a good place to learn about the next Crowdfunding project as it gets closer. I'll give you a hint - it's the Exalted: Essence Storyteller's Guide. That's a pretty good hint.
Onyx Path Discussion Channels
If you've got questions about the rules or setting, or just want to discuss this game with other fans (as well as the Onyx Path writers and developers!), you can check out these Onyx Path discussion zones:
I'm going to post our regular update stuff, but I've got two quick notes before we dig in.
First up, I've been listing our two Stretch Goal novellas as For the March Lords, and Even the Heavens Will Burn, which are pretty cool titles. My tracking has them both in final draft status. That's info I pulled from Onyx Path's February summary, with Even the Heavens Will Burn moving into final drafts earlier in March.
But I've also come across the title "Murder on the Divine Carriage" which appears to be through final drafts and now in Development. I'm guessing that one of the earlier titles has changed (For the March Lords, possibly?) and moved forward, but I'm not 100% sure, so I'll get that clarified for our next monthly update.
The only other thing to note is Onyx Path's progress on a manuscript for the Exalted: Essence Storyteller's Guide. So, that's not part of this project, but certainly of interest to most Exalted: Essence players. I've probably mentioned it before, but it seems to be bubbling up in Onyx Path's weekly updates, so I expect to hear more about it before too long. I'll keep you posted.
With all my rambling out of the way, let's dig in to our regular update!
Pending Projects
Again, there's a chance that one of those novellas had a name change and has moved to development; we'll know for sure in April's update. Art Notes are being worked on between the developers and Art Director for our main reward, figuring out all of the moving pieces before artists are assigned.
Rewards Distributed to Backers
Exalted: Essence Core Rulebook PDF
Pillars of Creation PDF
Tomb of Memory PDF
Deeds Yet Undone PDF
Across the Eight Directions PDF
The Realm PDF
Heirs to the Shogunate PDF
Many-Faced Strangers PDF
Exalted Third Edition Core Rules PDF
Dragon-Blooded: What Fire Has Wrought PDF
Lunars: Fangs at the Gate PDF
Exigents: Out of the Ashes PDF
Sidereals: Charting Fate's Course PDF
Abyssals: Sworn to the Grave PDF
Alchemicals: Forged by the Machine God Draft Manuscript
Exalted Music Bundle
Exalted Fiction Bundle
Pledge Manager
If you need to review your information or pledge status, you can return to your survey by clicking the link in your survey email or requesting your survey link under "Lost your survey?" on our BackerKit project page at https://exalted-essence-players-guide.backerkit.com/
You can read Onyx Path's most recent monthly summary, covering all projects and their status up to that point here: <February 2026 Project Status Summary>
You can find the weekly Monday Meeting blog updates <here>, which note any projects with status changes since the previous Month End summary. The project statuses listed are current as of last Monday, so do check it out each Monday night to see if anything may have progressed!
I will continue to post regular updates every month until the final reward has gone out.
Remember: You can use the links at the bottom of this e-mail to unsubscribe from updates or Manage your notification settings. These status updates are available on the campaign page for you to review at any time.
Onyx Path Discussion Channels
If you've got questions about the rules or setting, or just want to discuss this game with other fans (as well as the Onyx Path writers and developers!), you can check out these Onyx Path discussion zones:
Our main reward, the Exalted: Essence Player's Guide, is in layout and working towards the proofing phase. I shared lots of new artwork last month, and I'm sure we're pretty close to seeing it all laid out in the actual book.
But today, I've got two other rewards I want to talk about! Remember this Stretch Goal?
We actually unlocked this TWICE during the campaign, which means we've got TWO NOVELLAS and they're both available for backers today!
Reward Delivery #1: Even the Heavens Will Burn
Twilight Caste Djan Brazenreins is so close to completing a project that's been in the works for lifetimes. He doesn't know exactly what his previous incarnation intended for it to do, but curiosity drives him forward. When the Lunar Anthar Mirthless tries to stop Djau from acquiring one of the components, the two feel their ancient bond uniting them once again.
Together, they fight dangerous beasts, infiltrate an Immaculate monastery, and brave the revels of demon-run Dajaz. But an old enemy is hot on their heels, intent on ensuring Djau's masterpiece remains forever unfinished.
Reward Delivery #2: Murder on the Divine Carriage
When a crew of Exalts needs to vanquish a threat to Creation's borders, March Lord Exigent Lyra Compassrose summons a goddess's divine carriage to geth them there swiftly. A journey that out to take months will pass in a mere four days: plenty of time to prepare, relax, and get to know her fellow travellers.
It promises to be a loveley time - until their leader Meridian Glory is murdered.
It turns out severl of Lyra's companions have reasons they might want Meridian dead: a jealous lover, a Solar with a dark past, an angry young Lunar, and enigmatic doctor, and one of Lyra's March Lord brethren, still grieving their lost goddess. Everyone has their secrets, and with no way in or out of the manse-sized carriage before it reaches its destination, Lyra has to discover who is the killer among them.
REWARD DISTRIBUTION
If either of these Exalted: Essence novella stretch goal rewards were on your list of rewards, your links to claim your Even the Heavens Will Burn BackerPDF and Murder on the Divine Carriage Backer PDF will be sent out by our BackerKit pledge manager over the next day. Since we are using our partners at DriveThruFiction as the host for this, you will need to set up a DriveThru account if you don't have one already. If you encounter any problems with downloading your rewards, please contact DTRPG's customer service to resolve the matter, they've always been top-rated for customer service. http://www.drivethrurpg.com/contact_us.php
The best way to ensure these redemption codes work smoothly is to log in to your DTRPG account first, and then click (or copy) the link shown in your BackerKit. You may have to click the link twice to get it to show up in your cart.
Again, you will receive an e-mail from BackerKit with links for this reward over the next 24 hours if it is on your expected list of rewards.
Pledge Manager
If you need to review your information or pledge status, you can return to your survey by clicking the link in your survey email or requesting your survey link under "Lost your survey?" on our BackerKit project page at https://exalted-essence-players-guide.backerkit.com/
These are the first versions of Even the Heavens Will Burn and Murder on the Divine Carriage to be released. The design and development teams have done their best to proofread and correct any errors and typos - but some always sneak through. If you catch any typos, incorrect math, visual glitches, and the like, we want to hear about them and correct them before the book gets finalized and released in final ebook formats.
With that in mind, I'd like to introduce two novella Feedback Form!
They are aware of any Page XX notations - those are left in to replace for the final version once any changes you've suggested are made, so they can reference the correct page if any shifts in layout result.
Onyx Path will keep errata collection open for the next week. Please submit your feedback as soon as possible so the team can get on to finalizing this file - and working on our print version as well!
They won't be collecting errata from other spots, just this specific form.
After any needed corrections are made (based on your feedback!), they will prepare an updated final version of the book and you will receive a notice from Drivethru that you can re-download your file with the latest version.
You've already made the book a reality with your Kickstarter support. Now you can make it even better by helping us crowdsource any minor errors and corrections.
SO: Look for your reward email over the next 24 hours, or check your BackerKit page to see your digital reward redemption links. Review the backer PDF and submit any feedback you have, and let's make these novellas as awesome as possible!
Pending Projects
Things are moving along, the list is getting shorter.
Rewards Distributed to Backers
Exalted: Essence Core Rulebook PDF
Pillars of Creation PDF
Tomb of Memory PDF
Deeds Yet Undone PDF
Across the Eight Directions PDF
The Realm PDF
Heirs to the Shogunate PDF
Many-Faced Strangers PDF
Exalted Third Edition Core Rules PDF
Dragon-Blooded: What Fire Has Wrought PDF
Lunars: Fangs at the Gate PDF
Exigents: Out of the Ashes PDF
Sidereals: Charting Fate's Course PDF
Abyssals: Sworn to the Grave PDF
Alchemicals: Forged by the Machine God Backer PDF
Exalted Music Bundle
Exalted Fiction Bundle
Even the Heavens Will Burn - Stretch Goal Novella
Murder on the Divine Carriage - Stretch Goal Novella
I will continue to post regular updates every month until the final reward has gone out.
Remember: You can use the links at the bottom of this e-mail to unsubscribe from updates or Manage your notification settings. These status updates are available on the campaign page for you to review at any time.
Onyx Path Discussion Channels
If you've got questions about the rules or setting, or just want to discuss this game with other fans (as well as the Onyx Path writers and developers!), you can check out these Onyx Path discussion zones:
Jadestorm is an epic game of adventure, vengeance, and power. You are a Jadebearer — an inheritor of one or more Jade cinders, fragments of destroyed demonic demigods — and it is for you to decide whether you use your powers to play the role of the glorious hero or wield them to become the most notorious of villains.
Learn from your master until you can defeat him.
Duel for Jade and best your rivals.
Venture into the Wilds and claim unconquered fragments of the Infernal Sovereigns.
The isolated nine realms of Eos are awaiting epic heroes and wicked villains to lead them into a new era. Will you bind the world in hope or drive its people fleeing into the Wilds?
In Jadestorm, you play as a character blessed or cursed to inherit the Jade of a fallen infernal being: one of the Malefic. You will have found a master, or he might have found you, and in your teachings you will have discovered the scope of just some of your capabilities. The world would appear open to a being such as you, until other Jadebearers enter view. Some become firm friends, lifelong companions, even lovers. Others become rivals, hated enemies, and those who would snatch the Jade from you.
Vengeance and glory call to Jadebearers. For where there is Jade, calamity, wonder, dissonance, and glory follows. Another Jadebearer might have put your village to the torch, abducted your family, or whisked your love away to a far off realm. The unexplored Wilds beckon you, with opportunities for great discoveries and horrific nightmares laying in wait.
Jadestorm is a game of epic characters living within epic proportions of possibility. Every wuxia, xianxia, and jidaigeki epic, fantasy adventure, and journey into the unknown inspires your stories, your characters, and this game. Ultimately, Jadestorm is a tale about how you gain power, you lose people, and maybe, if you strive hard enough, you might end up with more than you started with.
Like all great heroic tales, there will be trials and adversaries dangerous and foul. There will be moral quandaries and the peril of sacrifice. There will be the invitation to accept more Jade, even at the risk of who you once were.
Will your family recognize you once you return with another cinder?
Will you arrive at your realm as a conqueror or as a liberator?
Will you discover the truth of the Malefic in the depths of the Wilds?
Our main reward is currently in layout and moving along, but we've still got a bit before it's finished up and proofed and approved to release as a backer PDF. But that means I've got lots of preview artwork to share!
Exalted: Essence Storyteller's Guide available for Pre-Order
If you missed out on our crowdfunding campaign for the Exalted: Essence Storyteller's Guide - the complimentary book to our main project from this very campaign - it's now available to pre-order. You can Pre-Order the PDF, hardcover edition + PDF combo, or the deluxe edition + PDF combo. Regardless of your pre-order format of choice, you will receive the draft manuscript as part of your pre-order so you'll be able to read the book while we wait for it to work it's way through the production schedule.
Despite some pretty severe technical challenges, the layout is moving along and only a handful of chapters remain before the book goes in to proofing. And speaking of the proofing phase, our two novellas have jumped ahead dramatically and are now in that very stage. And more great news, the Essence Enhanced supplement that we unlocked via Stretch Goal achievements is finishing up in the writer's draft stage before moving on to the developer to tie it all together.
Those bodes well for August and September updates; hopefully we've got our main book and some novellas to read soon!
Rewards Distributed to Backers
Exalted: Essence Core Rulebook PDF
Pillars of Creation PDF
Tomb of Memory PDF
Deeds Yet Undone PDF
Across the Eight Directions PDF
The Realm PDF
Heirs to the Shogunate PDF
Many-Faced Strangers PDF
Exalted Third Edition Core Rules PDF
Dragon-Blooded: What Fire Has Wrought PDF
Lunars: Fangs at the Gate PDF
Exigents: Out of the Ashes PDF
Sidereals: Charting Fate's Course PDF
Abyssals: Sworn to the Grave PDF
Alchemicals: Forged by the Machine God Backer PDF
Exalted Music Bundle
Exalted Fiction Bundle
Pledge Manager
If you need to review your information or pledge status, you can return to your survey by clicking the link in your survey email or requesting your survey link under "Lost your survey?" on our BackerKit project page at https://exalted-essence-players-guide.backerkit.com/
I will continue to post regular updates every month until the final reward has gone out.
Remember: You can use the links at the bottom of this e-mail to unsubscribe from updates or Manage your notification settings. These status updates are available on the campaign page for you to review at any time.
Onyx Path Discussion Channels
If you've got questions about the rules or setting, or just want to discuss this game with other fans (as well as the Onyx Path writers and developers!), you can check out these Onyx Path discussion zones:
The rats and mice of the Realms of Pugmire make their homes in the margins of other cities. These connect to the Underneath, a vast maze of warrens, tunnels, caves, and other hidden places, much of which lies unknown and unexplored. It’s a dangerous place full of unexplained phenomena and terrifying creatures. But it is also full of wonders of ages past and the thrill of discovery.
Lair of the Rat Kings is a full campaign sourcebook detailing a new and exciting part of the realms of Pugmire: The Underneath. It contains not only everything you need to know about the Underneath, but also has information about making rodent player characters (along with their psychic powers), advice on how to run a subterranean campaign, a complete adventure, and a massive number of locations, set pieces, and encounters.
While the Spark of Exaltation is being woven into the art and text to bring our book to life (it's in layout!), there's also a bit of progress on our big Stretch Goal companion.
Before we get into all of that, let me tell you where you can learn more about current and future Exalted projects.
We also successfully completed the crowdfunder for the Exalted: Essence Storyteller's Guide. Next month I'll have a pre-order page for anyone who missed out. You'll be able to pre-order the PDF and hardcover editions, and will receive the draft manuscript while you wait. Look for that at the end of July.
Pending Projects
Artwork has started to roll in and the first bits of layout are now being figured out for our main reward. If any of the artwork sneaks out, I'll share a preview in the upcoming months. Also, our big stretch goal companion boo, Essence Enhanced, has gone to redlines where the developers send their notes for revision back to the writers before a final draft can be assembled. Bit by bit.
Rewards Distributed to Backers
Exalted: Essence Core Rulebook PDF
Pillars of Creation PDF
Tomb of Memory PDF
Deeds Yet Undone PDF
Across the Eight Directions PDF
The Realm PDF
Heirs to the Shogunate PDF
Many-Faced Strangers PDF
Exalted Third Edition Core Rules PDF
Dragon-Blooded: What Fire Has Wrought PDF
Lunars: Fangs at the Gate PDF
Exigents: Out of the Ashes PDF
Sidereals: Charting Fate's Course PDF
Abyssals: Sworn to the Grave PDF
Alchemicals: Forged by the Machine God Backer PDF
Exalted Music Bundle
Exalted Fiction Bundle
Pledge Manager
If you need to review your information or pledge status, you can return to your survey by clicking the link in your survey email or requesting your survey link under "Lost your survey?" on our BackerKit project page at https://exalted-essence-players-guide.backerkit.com/
I will continue to post regular updates every month until the final reward has gone out.
Remember: You can use the links at the bottom of this e-mail to unsubscribe from updates or Manage your notification settings. These status updates are available on the campaign page for you to review at any time.
The Monday Meeting Notes will also be a good place to learn about the next Crowdfunding project as it gets closer. I'll give you a hint - it's the Exalted: Essence Storyteller's Guide. That's a pretty good hint.
Onyx Path Discussion Channels
If you've got questions about the rules or setting, or just want to discuss this game with other fans (as well as the Onyx Path writers and developers!), you can check out these Onyx Path discussion zones:
I've got a bunch of information to share with you today, so let's get to it!
I'll start with progress on the projects that came out of our Crowdfunding campaign, information about our current Crowdfunding campaign, and then stuff about the upcoming Onyx Path virtual convention!
Exalted: Essence Player's Guide - currently in active Art Direction. The artists working on the interior illustrations have submitted their sketches and the Art Director has provided feedback. Anything that doesn't need to be revised is moving towards final versions. Anything that needed revisions will have new sketches submitted for review and approval.
Sounds like thins are moving forward. I look forward to sharing artwork sneak peeks in the future!
And now, info about the two novellas we unlocked as stretch goals. They've both had manuscripts reviewed and approved and are now in editing. And with that, I have summaries!
Exalted – Essence Player’s Guide Novella: Even the Heavens Will Burn
In this one, Twilight Caste Exalt Djau Brazenreins and the Lunar Anthar Mirthless team up to save lifetimes’ worth of work while fending off ancient enemies. Together, they fight dangerous beasts, infiltrate an Immaculate monastery, and brave the revels of demon-run Dajaz.
Exalted – Essence Player’s Guide Novella: Murder on the Divine Carriage
In this murder mystery, a crew of Exalts travels across Creation in a goddess’ carriage in what should be a simple trip, until their leader is murdered. Can March Lord Exigent Lyra Compassrose figure out which of her fellows was the culprit in time? Read and find out!
JUST LAUNCHED - EXALTED: ESSENCE STORYTELLER'S GUIDE
The Exalted: Essence Storyteller’s Guide is a resource for storytellers and play groups to expand, refine, and customize their games of Exalted: Essence. 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.
With powerful player characters, a wide world to explore, and incredible danger to defy, Exalted is a rewarding game to run, but it can also seem overwhelming. Exalted: Essence 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.
In the Exalted: Essence Storyteller’s Guide, we present practical advice for managing powerful characters, helping players direct their characters’ own stories, and tailoring the campaign for the group. For those with ideas for their campaign firmly in mind, sections on how to more deeply engage and support Exalted’s themes may be helpful. For those who aren’t sure how they want to engage with Creation, campaign frames and adventure seeds can offer accessible places to start.
Whether you’re a brand-new Storyteller embarking on their first campaign, or just looking for new options to transform your game, we hope the Storyteller’s Guide will bring your adventures in the world of Creation to new heights.
Chapter 1: Thousandfold Tales of the Chosen focuses on storytelling advice and how best to run various styles of game. Resplendent Storytelling Arts covers everything from how to set, track, and support player agendas to broader game themes and playstyles, while Adventure Hooks and Campaign Frameworks offers campaign frameworks and adventures ready to be set down at the table and run.
Chapter 2: Machinery of Greatness: Systems and Subsystems presents explication and expansion of the rules in Exalted: Essence. From the basics of success and failure to ventures revisited and expanded, the chapter covers how to smoothly integrate Exalted: Essence’s rules for their greatest effect. For those interested in modifying the rules, Cut a Bloody Swath: Optional and AlternateCombat Rules offers a myriad of options to customize the combat experience, while Essence Combat Reforged offers an entire alternate combat systems centered around teamwork, opportunity, and tactical choices. Golden Tongues and Fiery Wit: Optional and Alternate Social Rules presents similar options for social influence, including an alternate social influence system presenting more granular resolution. Finally, the Shining Miscellany covers alternative systems for the strange magic of Creation, more options for stunts, and further mechanics for narrative control.
Chapter 3: Antagonists begins with the Machinations of Doom, including best practices for designing and using enemies, before introducing the Ferocious Teeming Legions, a great accounting of new foes of every sort. From demon-worshipping assassins to ancient automata, inhuman undead to disasters from the sky, a veritable new army of enemies is placed at the Storyteller’s command. This includes some of the most dangerous and driven enemies that a circle of Exalted must face: other Exalts.
Just like with our Player's Guide campaign, I'll be sharing the entire draft manuscript over the course of the campaign with backers, so anyone who joins will be able to read the entire thing before any pledges are processed or payments collected. A new manuscript section drops every Tuesday!
What's Up with Onyx Path on Saturday June 6 at Noon EDT
The Exalted Panel on Saturday June 6 at 6:00 PM EDT
Ask Us Anything Panel on Sunday June 7 at 2:00 PM EDT
Pending Projects
All changes from last month were noted at the top of the update. Also, our companion - Essence Enhanced - is just finishing up the first drafts. Hopefully we'll see it move to redlines soon.
Rewards Distributed to Backers
Exalted: Essence Core Rulebook PDF
Pillars of Creation PDF
Tomb of Memory PDF
Deeds Yet Undone PDF
Across the Eight Directions PDF
The Realm PDF
Heirs to the Shogunate PDF
Many-Faced Strangers PDF
Exalted Third Edition Core Rules PDF
Dragon-Blooded: What Fire Has Wrought PDF
Lunars: Fangs at the Gate PDF
Exigents: Out of the Ashes PDF
Sidereals: Charting Fate's Course PDF
Abyssals: Sworn to the Grave PDF
Alchemicals: Forged by the Machine God Draft Manuscript
Exalted Music Bundle
Exalted Fiction Bundle
Pledge Manager
If you need to review your information or pledge status, you can return to your survey by clicking the link in your survey email or requesting your survey link under "Lost your survey?" on our BackerKit project page at https://exalted-essence-players-guide.backerkit.com/
I will continue to post regular updates every month until the final reward has gone out.
Remember: You can use the links at the bottom of this e-mail to unsubscribe from updates or Manage your notification settings. These status updates are available on the campaign page for you to review at any time.
The Monday Meeting Notes will also be a good place to learn about the next Crowdfunding project as it gets closer. I'll give you a hint - it's the Exalted: Essence Storyteller's Guide. That's a pretty good hint.
Onyx Path Discussion Channels
If you've got questions about the rules or setting, or just want to discuss this game with other fans (as well as the Onyx Path writers and developers!), you can check out these Onyx Path discussion zones:
Some incremental progress, a few dots filled in. Let's get to our review.
Pending Projects
Right now, artists are working on the preliminary sketches for our main book. Those will be submitted to the Art Director and reviewed and approved to move forward by the Approval Team and then they can work on finishing them up and prepping for layout. So, active work being done to make it pretty. I'll share any sneak peeks of artwork that come out in our monthly updates.
The two novellas have moved forward to the Approvals stage, where they're signed off on by the IP Holders, the Exalted Dev team and the Onyx Path team. Also, the title has changed to Murder on the Divine Carriage instead of For the March Lords, but I forgot to update it this month. Next month I'll have it listed correctly, but at least it's in the right spot on the progress chart!
And our companion book has started in first drafts, so writers are actively creating stuff for "Essence Enhanced" which is the current title of the book.
I'll add in the correct titles for our May update! And hopefully have some more dots to fill in!
Rewards Distributed to Backers
Exalted: Essence Core Rulebook PDF
Pillars of Creation PDF
Tomb of Memory PDF
Deeds Yet Undone PDF
Across the Eight Directions PDF
The Realm PDF
Heirs to the Shogunate PDF
Many-Faced Strangers PDF
Exalted Third Edition Core Rules PDF
Dragon-Blooded: What Fire Has Wrought PDF
Lunars: Fangs at the Gate PDF
Exigents: Out of the Ashes PDF
Sidereals: Charting Fate's Course PDF
Abyssals: Sworn to the Grave PDF
Alchemicals: Forged by the Machine God Draft Manuscript
Exalted Music Bundle
Exalted Fiction Bundle
Pledge Manager
If you need to review your information or pledge status, you can return to your survey by clicking the link in your survey email or requesting your survey link under "Lost your survey?" on our BackerKit project page at https://exalted-essence-players-guide.backerkit.com/
I will continue to post regular updates every month until the final reward has gone out.
Remember: You can use the links at the bottom of this e-mail to unsubscribe from updates or Manage your notification settings. These status updates are available on the campaign page for you to review at any time.
The Monday Meeting Notes will also be a good place to learn about the next Crowdfunding project as it gets closer. I'll give you a hint - it's the Exalted: Essence Storyteller's Guide. That's a pretty good hint.
Onyx Path Discussion Channels
If you've got questions about the rules or setting, or just want to discuss this game with other fans (as well as the Onyx Path writers and developers!), you can check out these Onyx Path discussion zones:
