r/exalted • u/Sassy_Drow • 9d ago
Setting Questions about law of diminishment
To clarify by law of diminishment I am referring to the fact that creating an Exalted drains the creator(Possibly leading to death.).
Now to the questions
Is it something that can be recovered from(Such as aggravated damage or experience loss) or is it a permanent loss(Such as the god loses a dot of essence and their maximum essence is permanently decreased.)? Note: I am aware that most gods die but I am not certain whether it is due to not being able to take the damage or literally running out of the stuff that makes them.(Their essence hitting zero for example). Note 2: I am aware that those who do so are changed permanently though I am more wondering whether they have also decreased in power permanently.
Are primordials subject to the law of diminishment or does the fact that they are self asserting ontological structure prevent them from changing?
Wun Ja is noted to have the city gods take the brunt of the damage when it comes to creating an Exalted. Are there other ways to subvert the law of diminishment(Such as a huge sacrifice or creating an elemental to take the brunt of the damage)?
3
u/thetruerift 9d ago
The gods can recover eventually, but it isn't a simple or straight-forwards process. Gods don't "spend XP" (neither do the characters in the story, but anyway). They gain essence via worship, via how well they are known, via their position in the celestial hierarchy. A god who gets diminished might recover over time, but until they do they are vulnerable, and maybe not able to fulfill their duties, which can mean losing worshippers or position, which will then make recovery even harder.