Ebon_Arbiter
Grand Abolisher
Character Picture
Character Sheet
Name Takeno Peleps
Exalt Type and Caste Water Aspect
Anima A magnificent blue wave, rising up slowly behind the character, engulfing him. At iconic levels a magnificent water dragon can be seen, standing above the waves.
Motivation Rise in power among the dynasts of House Peleps and lead it to a new era of glory and prosperity.
Attributes
Physical
Strength â—â—â—
Dexterity â—â—â—â—â—
Stamina â—â—
Social
Charisma â—â—â—
Manipulation â—â—â—
Appearance â—â—
Mental
Perception â—â—â—
Intelligence â—â—â—
Wits â—â—â—
Abilities
Linguistics â—â—â— (Low Realm [native], Seatongue, Riverspeak, High Realm)
Lore â—â—
Occult
Stealth â—
Thrown
Awareness â—â—â—
Craft
[F]Integrity â—â—â— [Against corrupting offers +1]
Resistance â—
War â—
Athletics â—
[F]Dodge â—
Melee â—
[F]Presence â—â—â— [Diplomatic negotiations +1]
Socialize â—â— [When in formal circumstances +1]
[A]Bureaucracy â—â—â—
[A]Investigation â—â—â—
[A]Larceny â—â—â—
[A]Martial Arts â—â—â—â—â— [While in armour +3]
[A]Sail â—â—â—
Archery â—
Medicine
Performance â—â—
Ride â—
Survival
Backgrounds
Breeding â—â—â—â—â— [First 3 dots free]
Character Sheet
Name Takeno Peleps
Exalt Type and Caste Water Aspect
Anima A magnificent blue wave, rising up slowly behind the character, engulfing him. At iconic levels a magnificent water dragon can be seen, standing above the waves.
Motivation Rise in power among the dynasts of House Peleps and lead it to a new era of glory and prosperity.
Attributes
Physical
Strength â—â—â—
Dexterity â—â—â—â—â—
Stamina â—â—
Social
Charisma â—â—â—
Manipulation â—â—â—
Appearance â—â—
Mental
Perception â—â—â—
Intelligence â—â—â—
Wits â—â—â—
Abilities
Linguistics â—â—â— (Low Realm [native], Seatongue, Riverspeak, High Realm)
Lore â—â—
Occult
Stealth â—
Thrown
Awareness â—â—â—
Craft
[F]Integrity â—â—â— [Against corrupting offers +1]
Resistance â—
War â—
Athletics â—
[F]Dodge â—
Melee â—
[F]Presence â—â—â— [Diplomatic negotiations +1]
Socialize â—â— [When in formal circumstances +1]
[A]Bureaucracy â—â—â—
[A]Investigation â—â—â—
[A]Larceny â—â—â—
[A]Martial Arts â—â—â—â—â— [While in armour +3]
[A]Sail â—â—â—
Archery â—
Medicine
Performance â—â—
Ride â—
Survival
Backgrounds
Breeding â—â—â—â—â— [First 3 dots free]
Your bloodline is impeccable and includes numerous Exalted of great fame. You might be related directly to the Empress. Your aspect markings are unmistakable, making it clear to all who see that you are far more than a mere mortal. Add
+5 to your Personal Essence pool; +9 to your Peripheral Essence pool; -2 motes to the cost of activating your anima
banner; +2 on the roll to see if a child of yours Exalts.
Resources â—â—â—â— [fourth dot free, as per Spiral Academy graduate rule, MoEP
ragonblooded pg. 26]
Artifact â—â—â—â— [8 dots of artifacts: Perfected Kata Bracers (4-dot), Black Jade Reinforced Breastplate (3-dot), Jade Hearthstone Amulet (1-dot)]
Artifact â—â—â— [6 dots of artifacts: 2 Skin Mount Amulets (2-dot each), Winged Messenger Bauble (1-dot), Collar of Dawn's cleansing Light (1-dot)]
Manse â—â—â— [6 levels of hearthstones, Bloodstone (â—â—â—), Sphere of Balance (â—â—), Jewel of the Clever Merchant (â—)]
Mentor â—â— [Tepet Yasal as martial arts sifu]
Connections â— [The Thousand Scales]
Merits
Flaws
Artifacts and Equipment
Perfected Kata Bracers (4-dot artifact) [Att. 8m]
+5 to your Personal Essence pool; +9 to your Peripheral Essence pool; -2 motes to the cost of activating your anima
banner; +2 on the roll to see if a child of yours Exalts.
Resources â—â—â—â— [fourth dot free, as per Spiral Academy graduate rule, MoEP
ragonblooded pg. 26]Artifact â—â—â—â— [8 dots of artifacts: Perfected Kata Bracers (4-dot), Black Jade Reinforced Breastplate (3-dot), Jade Hearthstone Amulet (1-dot)]
Artifact â—â—â— [6 dots of artifacts: 2 Skin Mount Amulets (2-dot each), Winged Messenger Bauble (1-dot), Collar of Dawn's cleansing Light (1-dot)]
Manse â—â—â— [6 levels of hearthstones, Bloodstone (â—â—â—), Sphere of Balance (â—â—), Jewel of the Clever Merchant (â—)]
Mentor â—â— [Tepet Yasal as martial arts sifu]
Connections â— [The Thousand Scales]
Merits
Flaws
Artifacts and Equipment
Perfected Kata Bracers (4-dot artifact) [Att. 8m]
Perfected kata bracers are prayer strips crafted of a single magical material and curled into bracers. The strips’ sutras are starmetal engravings, except in starmetal bracers—they use orichalcum. Attunement costs eight motes. When the character activates a Form-type Charm, the sutras inscribed on the bracers glow and lift from the artifact to engulf the character in light for a brief moment. For the rest of the scene, she gains several beneï¬ts. She adds her Essence to the accuracy, damage and defense of her unarmed attacks and of attacks made with the active Form-type Charm’s particular weapons. She may choose to inflict bashing or lethal damage at will and she may parry lethal attacks unarmed. In addition:
Jade bracers add Essence to Dragon-Blooded’s soak and 2 to the Rate of their attacks.
These magnificent in design and function Perfected Kata Bracers, belonged to Peleps Ishiro, great-grandfather of Takeno and were a special gift to him, according to his last will and testament. Ishiro died after Takeno was born but before he exalted, therefore he commanded that if Takeno exalted and showed any aptitude for the Martial Arts, that he's to be given his artifact bracers, to continue the family tradition and feel in their elegant, precise and devastating effect, the fluidity of water, the calmness and grace which in an instant can be turned to utter devastation. When Takeno mastered the Terrestrial Hero Form and - following a demonstration of his understanding and ability to apply the relevant techniques during a martial arts event - was proclaimed an honourable practicioner of the Terrestrial Martial Arts principles, by his sifu the vaunted Tepet Yasal, his family took him to a small island, off the coast overlooked by their estate. There, in a ceremony, presided over by an elder Immaculate Monk and master of the Water Dragon Style, presented him with his great-grandfather's gift and bestowed upon him the duty to honour his last will, by becoming a respected and honourable man and dynast, loyal to his House and to the Realm as a whole, emulating the very principles that made his great-grandfather a figure of respect and renown throughout the Scarlet Dynasty. In honour to Ishiro, Takeno still maintains as his preferred place of seclusion and meditation, his great-grandfather's small house-shrine in the middle of a lake near his parent's household. When in need of seclusion and introspection, Takeno travels there, places the bracers on a pedestal in front of a shrine dedicated to his great-grandfather's memory and loses himself in the black depths of the lake and in the small pagoda above it. It is rumoured by his family that whenever he returns from the lake, an almost unnatural serenity seems to be radiating from him and he looks as if his inner energy reserves are totally replenished.
Unarmed attacks as modified by Perfected Kata Bracers:
Punch Sp. 5 Acc. 17 Dmg. 6B/L Def. +3 Rate 5 Tags N
Kick Sp. 5 Acc. 16 Dmg. 9B/L Def +1 Rate 4 Tags N
Clinch Sp. 6 Acc. 16 Dmg. 6B/L Def. - Rate 1 (3) Tags C,N,P
Black Jade Reinforced Breastplate "Ocean's Bulwark" (3 dot artifact)
It was originally a gift from House Cathak, and a special order to one of their best craftsmen, to show their appreciation for Takeno's deeds. While Takeno was young and travelling by the Inner sea to his family's household, an incident happen during a storm and a young lady found herself in danger of drowning in the sea. Unknown to Takeno, she was a young scion of House Cathak. Despite the bad weather and the increasing waves, he didn't hesitate at all and jumped in the cold waters to save her. His act of self-sacrifice was the conduit to his exaltation and as he struggled to reach her, below the surface in order to drag her up, he felt as if the sea itself was helping him, he felt for the first time a sense of freedom unlike any other as if truly he was in his natural environment. Eventually he pulled the girl on the surface and got her to the ship safe and sound, gaining the gift of the Dragons, a token of appreciation from her family and a potential betrothal, which even today thinks quite a lot of, especially since he has to be married sometime soon and build his own family.
Soak: 12L/11B Hardness: 8L/8B Mobility -1 Fatigue 0 Att. 4m
Winged Messenger Bauble
Jade bracers add Essence to Dragon-Blooded’s soak and 2 to the Rate of their attacks.
These magnificent in design and function Perfected Kata Bracers, belonged to Peleps Ishiro, great-grandfather of Takeno and were a special gift to him, according to his last will and testament. Ishiro died after Takeno was born but before he exalted, therefore he commanded that if Takeno exalted and showed any aptitude for the Martial Arts, that he's to be given his artifact bracers, to continue the family tradition and feel in their elegant, precise and devastating effect, the fluidity of water, the calmness and grace which in an instant can be turned to utter devastation. When Takeno mastered the Terrestrial Hero Form and - following a demonstration of his understanding and ability to apply the relevant techniques during a martial arts event - was proclaimed an honourable practicioner of the Terrestrial Martial Arts principles, by his sifu the vaunted Tepet Yasal, his family took him to a small island, off the coast overlooked by their estate. There, in a ceremony, presided over by an elder Immaculate Monk and master of the Water Dragon Style, presented him with his great-grandfather's gift and bestowed upon him the duty to honour his last will, by becoming a respected and honourable man and dynast, loyal to his House and to the Realm as a whole, emulating the very principles that made his great-grandfather a figure of respect and renown throughout the Scarlet Dynasty. In honour to Ishiro, Takeno still maintains as his preferred place of seclusion and meditation, his great-grandfather's small house-shrine in the middle of a lake near his parent's household. When in need of seclusion and introspection, Takeno travels there, places the bracers on a pedestal in front of a shrine dedicated to his great-grandfather's memory and loses himself in the black depths of the lake and in the small pagoda above it. It is rumoured by his family that whenever he returns from the lake, an almost unnatural serenity seems to be radiating from him and he looks as if his inner energy reserves are totally replenished.
Unarmed attacks as modified by Perfected Kata Bracers:
Punch Sp. 5 Acc. 17 Dmg. 6B/L Def. +3 Rate 5 Tags N
Kick Sp. 5 Acc. 16 Dmg. 9B/L Def +1 Rate 4 Tags N
Clinch Sp. 6 Acc. 16 Dmg. 6B/L Def. - Rate 1 (3) Tags C,N,P
Black Jade Reinforced Breastplate "Ocean's Bulwark" (3 dot artifact)
It was originally a gift from House Cathak, and a special order to one of their best craftsmen, to show their appreciation for Takeno's deeds. While Takeno was young and travelling by the Inner sea to his family's household, an incident happen during a storm and a young lady found herself in danger of drowning in the sea. Unknown to Takeno, she was a young scion of House Cathak. Despite the bad weather and the increasing waves, he didn't hesitate at all and jumped in the cold waters to save her. His act of self-sacrifice was the conduit to his exaltation and as he struggled to reach her, below the surface in order to drag her up, he felt as if the sea itself was helping him, he felt for the first time a sense of freedom unlike any other as if truly he was in his natural environment. Eventually he pulled the girl on the surface and got her to the ship safe and sound, gaining the gift of the Dragons, a token of appreciation from her family and a potential betrothal, which even today thinks quite a lot of, especially since he has to be married sometime soon and build his own family.
Soak: 12L/11B Hardness: 8L/8B Mobility -1 Fatigue 0 Att. 4m
Winged Messenger Bauble
(ARTIFACT •)
Repair: 2
These intricately crafted pieces of jewelry were typically fashioned from orichalcum and coated with a light
sprinkling of gem dust. They are most commonly found in the shape of iridescent dragonflies or golden bumblebees, although
many Celestial Exalts had theirs forged in accordance with their unique design preferences. The Chosen commonly wore
these baubles as brooches, bracelets, hair pins, or belt buckles though they could just as easily be integrated into the pommel of a dagger or into the jeweled horn of a saddle. When the bauble’s wearer needed a message delivered to someone
nearby (the messenger’s range is no farther than a mile radius from the wearer) he would channel a mote of Essence into
the device to animate it, and the tiny automaton would fly off to ï¬nd the recipient. Upon ï¬nding the recipient, the winged
messenger bauble would then either speak the wearer’s message or release any documents it held clasped in its legs. If a
reply were requested, the messenger would say so and wing its way back to its owner with the response.
Collar of Dawn's Cleansing Light [Att. 1m]
Repair: 2
These intricately crafted pieces of jewelry were typically fashioned from orichalcum and coated with a light
sprinkling of gem dust. They are most commonly found in the shape of iridescent dragonflies or golden bumblebees, although
many Celestial Exalts had theirs forged in accordance with their unique design preferences. The Chosen commonly wore
these baubles as brooches, bracelets, hair pins, or belt buckles though they could just as easily be integrated into the pommel of a dagger or into the jeweled horn of a saddle. When the bauble’s wearer needed a message delivered to someone
nearby (the messenger’s range is no farther than a mile radius from the wearer) he would channel a mote of Essence into
the device to animate it, and the tiny automaton would fly off to ï¬nd the recipient. Upon ï¬nding the recipient, the winged
messenger bauble would then either speak the wearer’s message or release any documents it held clasped in its legs. If a
reply were requested, the messenger would say so and wing its way back to its owner with the response.
Collar of Dawn's Cleansing Light [Att. 1m]
(ARTIFACT •)This artifact comes in a variety of forms—studded bands, chokers, torcs, collars, delicate
necklaces and the like. Any piece of neck adornment is appropriate, and these items are still quite
common today. Many of the Dragon-Blooded in the Second Age own and wear them when possible,
not just for their useful properties, but also to show off.
The purpose of this collar is to keep its wearer clean in every respect. She could spend
weeks living beneath a rubbish heap and emerge at the end as though she had just spent hours
preparing for a grand ball. The artifact negates all penalties to Social rolls that would be applied
due to the character being dirty or unkempt. Attuning to the collar extends its powers beyond
the Exalt’s clothing to her physical body. The artifact’s cleansing light adds two dice to (Stamina
+ Resistance) rolls made against disease or poison. The collar requires the commitment of one
mote of Essence to become active.
Jade Hearthstone Amulet [Att. 1m]
Charms 9 [7 starting, plus 2 from BP and XP].
Presence
Auspicious First Meeting Attitude
Larceny
Observer Awareness Method
Martial Arts
1st Martial Arts excellency
Terrestrial Hero Style
Currents Sweep To Sea
Pounding Surf Style
Flow From The Rocks
Terrestrial Hero Form
Riptide Method
Sail
Deck Striding Technique
Join Combat: 6
Defenses
Dodge DV 5
Parry DV 8
Soak: 14B/14L Hardness: 8B/8L
Health
-0 [ ]
-1 [ ][ ]
-2 [ ][ ]
-4 [ ]
-X [ ]
Mental Defenses
Dodge MDV 6
Parry MDV 3
Virtues
Compassion â—â—
Conviction â—
Temperance â—â—â—
Valor â—â—â—
Primary Virtue Temperance
Intimacies
His companions (unyielding loyalty and protective care)
Family (aspiration to make his own some day)
Sea depths (endless fondness)
Moral corruption (furious opposition)
The Realm (will to preserve)
Great House Peleps (devotion)
His sifu Tepet Yasal (respect)
Martial Arts (internal fullfillment)
Terrestrial Hero Style (desire to become an unparrallelled master of it)
Creation (love)
Willpower: 7
Essence
Permanent: â—â—â—
Personal: 15/15 (0 Committed)
Peripheral: 30/44 (14 Committed when all artifacts are attuned)
Bonus Points [18]
Breeding 3 to 5 (4)
Willpower 5 to 7 (2)
Martial Arts 3 to 5 (2)
Artifact 3 to 4 (2)
Artifact 2 to 3 (1)
Linguistics 2 to 3 (1)
Bureaucracy 2 to 3 (1)
Performance 1 to 2 (1)
Presence 2 to 3 (1)
Investigation 2 to 3 (1)
Larceny 2 to 3 (1)
Aspect ability specialty (1)
Experience Points [50]
Essence 2 to 3 (20)
2 aspect/favored charms (20)
Appearance 1 to 2 (4)
Resources 1 to 3 (6)
Character Background
Almost twenty-five years ago, a family belonging to the Great House Peleps of the Scarlet Dynasty received his youngest member. The newborn was a boy, the newest addition to this happy family, residing in the Blessed Isle. The boy grew up and became a young and handsome man. The name given to him was Takeno, belonging to his grandfather, a clever dynast and excellent politician.
Exaltation
While Takeno was a young adolescent and travelling by the Inner sea to his family's household, an incident happen during a storm and a young lady found herself in danger of drowning in the sea. Unknown to Takeno, she was a young scion of House Cathak. Despite the bad weather and the increasing waves, he didn't hesitate at all and jumped in the cold waters to save her. His act of self-sacrifice was the conduit to his exaltation and as he struggled to reach her, below the surface in order to drag her up, he felt as if the sea itself was helping him, he felt for the first time a sense of freedom unlike any other as if truly he was in his natural environment. Eventually he pulled the girl on the surface and got her to the ship safe and sound, gaining the gift of the Dragons, a token of appreciation from her family and a potential betrothal, which even today thinks about sometimes, especially since he has to be married sometime soon and build his own family.
Education and Training
He received the best education his family could provide, being sent to the Spiral Academy after his exaltation, and showed a natural aptitude for martial arts as well as social interaction and communication. His family was proud of him and did all in its power to assist him in becoming a good, honest man, a true jewel to the family's lineage and helpful to the society of the Realm.
Because times were tumultuous and he had displayed a great interest in the esoteric realm of martial arts, that meshed so perfectly with his elemental aspect, young Takeno was decided to be trained extensively in combat and soon his skill was considerable. His family even pulled certain strings to have him train under the respected - even if somewhat temperamental - and renowned martial arts sifu Tepet Yasal, who was a martial arts instructor at the vaunted House of Bells. The master of Terrestrial Hero style found a great and eager student in young Takeno and imparted upon him not only the necessary techniques of his favorite style but also much needed experience about life as a member of the Dragonblooded Host.
Takeno was also taught the noble art of sailing by his maternal uncle who was a sea captain and trader in the River Province. Takeno enjoyed sailing, being a water aspect himself and finding out that this activity brought him to even closer contact with the element of his affinity. He would even dive in the water and scout ahead of his uncle's ship for hidden dangers or obstacles and even spend hours meditating on the sea floor, appearing much calmer when he emerged afterwards.
In addition to that, Takeno enjoyed social interaction very much and also seemed to absorb endlessly all information from scrolls and others sources, as elder family members and visitors, regarding the government and bureaucracy structure and methodology of the Realm. For some reason, Takeno's mind grasped very well the role of each member in a given bureaucratic or governmental setting, suggesting where each one would be most useful or what should be done to improve the efficiency of an organisation or agency of related interests.
The beggining of the journey towards destiny.
At some point, it was decided by the elder dynasts that governed House Peleps, that the time had come for young Takeno to make his own way in life and prove himself as a young dynast and a scion of their House. All those lessons imparted upon him would be the most valuable possessions of Takeno, for the challenges that he'd have to deal with in his quest to discover his own purpose in life, and make a name for himself in the vastness of Creation.
To this end, young Takeno discussed a lot with those he trusted more, his sifu, his maternal uncle and his teachers in the Spiral Academy. In the end, their counsel pointed him more or less in the same direction. The Threshold and specifically the great city of Nexus, where anything was possible and in which Takeno could be forged to a proper man and utilize his exaltation and background to become so much more. Or end to nothingness should he failed to rise up to the challenges ahead. But this was a necessary risk and an additional reason to push him forth and make him try hard to succeed.
Nexus had opportunities for people who dealt with trading activities, for people who seeked fame through the path of martial arts and endless potential for trade agreements, shady dealings, establishing a network of contacts and all those things that could make a man in general and an exalt in particular arise in status, power and respect. The journey to Nexus, was a great experience of itself and Takeno was amazed. He saw the Inland sea, the Imperial Fleet under the command of House Peleps to conduct pirate hunts and blockade operations and then the lands of the Threshold. Also he studied extensively prior to his journey and during it as well, managing to learn Riverspeak and Seatongue to a very good level, enabling himself thus to communicate with greater ease when he'd reach his destination.
Nexus was indeed (as his family had hoped) the greatest academy for young Takeno. His open mindedness and natural charisma made him a valued negotiatior and his aptitude in bureaucracy and government structures turned him to an envoy worthy of attention. Dealings with the Guild increased his acumen while wondering in the most exotic of Nexus' taverns improved his socializing skills. During his stay in Nexus, he saw, heard and learnt many things, like never to mess with higher powers for example and that the motto "the jade must flow" hid a much greater significance and power than one who heard it could understand at first.
He made friends there, the most important of whom was Kenji, a guild functionary who taught him quite a lot on trade policy and negotiations as well as various rules, regulations and their respected loopholes for additional profit and bureaucratic flexibility. Another one was Toshiro, a naval officer of House Peleps who actually acted as his own security advisor (that's a nicer word for bodyguard) assigned to him by intervention of his family who pulled some favours to ensure Takeno's safety in the great city of Nexus. They did a lot of sightseeing together (and alongside some pretty Nexus ladies as well that is, since Toshiro's naval posture and Takeno's natural charm went a long way regarding interactions with beautiful members of the opposite sex). It was a fine stay and when the time for departure came, Takeno left with a heavy heart and with the promise to stay in touch with the people who were closest to him.
necklaces and the like. Any piece of neck adornment is appropriate, and these items are still quite
common today. Many of the Dragon-Blooded in the Second Age own and wear them when possible,
not just for their useful properties, but also to show off.
The purpose of this collar is to keep its wearer clean in every respect. She could spend
weeks living beneath a rubbish heap and emerge at the end as though she had just spent hours
preparing for a grand ball. The artifact negates all penalties to Social rolls that would be applied
due to the character being dirty or unkempt. Attuning to the collar extends its powers beyond
the Exalt’s clothing to her physical body. The artifact’s cleansing light adds two dice to (Stamina
+ Resistance) rolls made against disease or poison. The collar requires the commitment of one
mote of Essence to become active.
Jade Hearthstone Amulet [Att. 1m]
Charms 9 [7 starting, plus 2 from BP and XP].
Presence
Auspicious First Meeting Attitude
Larceny
Observer Awareness Method
Martial Arts
1st Martial Arts excellency
Terrestrial Hero Style
Currents Sweep To Sea
Pounding Surf Style
Flow From The Rocks
Terrestrial Hero Form
Riptide Method
Sail
Deck Striding Technique
Join Combat: 6
Defenses
Dodge DV 5
Parry DV 8
Soak: 14B/14L Hardness: 8B/8L
Health
-0 [ ]
-1 [ ][ ]
-2 [ ][ ]
-4 [ ]
-X [ ]
Mental Defenses
Dodge MDV 6
Parry MDV 3
Virtues
Compassion â—â—
Conviction â—
Temperance â—â—â—
Valor â—â—â—
Primary Virtue Temperance
Intimacies
His companions (unyielding loyalty and protective care)
Family (aspiration to make his own some day)
Sea depths (endless fondness)
Moral corruption (furious opposition)
The Realm (will to preserve)
Great House Peleps (devotion)
His sifu Tepet Yasal (respect)
Martial Arts (internal fullfillment)
Terrestrial Hero Style (desire to become an unparrallelled master of it)
Creation (love)
Willpower: 7
Essence
Permanent: â—â—â—
Personal: 15/15 (0 Committed)
Peripheral: 30/44 (14 Committed when all artifacts are attuned)
Bonus Points [18]
Breeding 3 to 5 (4)
Willpower 5 to 7 (2)
Martial Arts 3 to 5 (2)
Artifact 3 to 4 (2)
Artifact 2 to 3 (1)
Linguistics 2 to 3 (1)
Bureaucracy 2 to 3 (1)
Performance 1 to 2 (1)
Presence 2 to 3 (1)
Investigation 2 to 3 (1)
Larceny 2 to 3 (1)
Aspect ability specialty (1)
Experience Points [50]
Essence 2 to 3 (20)
2 aspect/favored charms (20)
Appearance 1 to 2 (4)
Resources 1 to 3 (6)
Character Background
Almost twenty-five years ago, a family belonging to the Great House Peleps of the Scarlet Dynasty received his youngest member. The newborn was a boy, the newest addition to this happy family, residing in the Blessed Isle. The boy grew up and became a young and handsome man. The name given to him was Takeno, belonging to his grandfather, a clever dynast and excellent politician.
Exaltation
While Takeno was a young adolescent and travelling by the Inner sea to his family's household, an incident happen during a storm and a young lady found herself in danger of drowning in the sea. Unknown to Takeno, she was a young scion of House Cathak. Despite the bad weather and the increasing waves, he didn't hesitate at all and jumped in the cold waters to save her. His act of self-sacrifice was the conduit to his exaltation and as he struggled to reach her, below the surface in order to drag her up, he felt as if the sea itself was helping him, he felt for the first time a sense of freedom unlike any other as if truly he was in his natural environment. Eventually he pulled the girl on the surface and got her to the ship safe and sound, gaining the gift of the Dragons, a token of appreciation from her family and a potential betrothal, which even today thinks about sometimes, especially since he has to be married sometime soon and build his own family.
Education and Training
He received the best education his family could provide, being sent to the Spiral Academy after his exaltation, and showed a natural aptitude for martial arts as well as social interaction and communication. His family was proud of him and did all in its power to assist him in becoming a good, honest man, a true jewel to the family's lineage and helpful to the society of the Realm.
Because times were tumultuous and he had displayed a great interest in the esoteric realm of martial arts, that meshed so perfectly with his elemental aspect, young Takeno was decided to be trained extensively in combat and soon his skill was considerable. His family even pulled certain strings to have him train under the respected - even if somewhat temperamental - and renowned martial arts sifu Tepet Yasal, who was a martial arts instructor at the vaunted House of Bells. The master of Terrestrial Hero style found a great and eager student in young Takeno and imparted upon him not only the necessary techniques of his favorite style but also much needed experience about life as a member of the Dragonblooded Host.
Takeno was also taught the noble art of sailing by his maternal uncle who was a sea captain and trader in the River Province. Takeno enjoyed sailing, being a water aspect himself and finding out that this activity brought him to even closer contact with the element of his affinity. He would even dive in the water and scout ahead of his uncle's ship for hidden dangers or obstacles and even spend hours meditating on the sea floor, appearing much calmer when he emerged afterwards.
In addition to that, Takeno enjoyed social interaction very much and also seemed to absorb endlessly all information from scrolls and others sources, as elder family members and visitors, regarding the government and bureaucracy structure and methodology of the Realm. For some reason, Takeno's mind grasped very well the role of each member in a given bureaucratic or governmental setting, suggesting where each one would be most useful or what should be done to improve the efficiency of an organisation or agency of related interests.
The beggining of the journey towards destiny.
At some point, it was decided by the elder dynasts that governed House Peleps, that the time had come for young Takeno to make his own way in life and prove himself as a young dynast and a scion of their House. All those lessons imparted upon him would be the most valuable possessions of Takeno, for the challenges that he'd have to deal with in his quest to discover his own purpose in life, and make a name for himself in the vastness of Creation.
To this end, young Takeno discussed a lot with those he trusted more, his sifu, his maternal uncle and his teachers in the Spiral Academy. In the end, their counsel pointed him more or less in the same direction. The Threshold and specifically the great city of Nexus, where anything was possible and in which Takeno could be forged to a proper man and utilize his exaltation and background to become so much more. Or end to nothingness should he failed to rise up to the challenges ahead. But this was a necessary risk and an additional reason to push him forth and make him try hard to succeed.
Nexus had opportunities for people who dealt with trading activities, for people who seeked fame through the path of martial arts and endless potential for trade agreements, shady dealings, establishing a network of contacts and all those things that could make a man in general and an exalt in particular arise in status, power and respect. The journey to Nexus, was a great experience of itself and Takeno was amazed. He saw the Inland sea, the Imperial Fleet under the command of House Peleps to conduct pirate hunts and blockade operations and then the lands of the Threshold. Also he studied extensively prior to his journey and during it as well, managing to learn Riverspeak and Seatongue to a very good level, enabling himself thus to communicate with greater ease when he'd reach his destination.
Nexus was indeed (as his family had hoped) the greatest academy for young Takeno. His open mindedness and natural charisma made him a valued negotiatior and his aptitude in bureaucracy and government structures turned him to an envoy worthy of attention. Dealings with the Guild increased his acumen while wondering in the most exotic of Nexus' taverns improved his socializing skills. During his stay in Nexus, he saw, heard and learnt many things, like never to mess with higher powers for example and that the motto "the jade must flow" hid a much greater significance and power than one who heard it could understand at first.
He made friends there, the most important of whom was Kenji, a guild functionary who taught him quite a lot on trade policy and negotiations as well as various rules, regulations and their respected loopholes for additional profit and bureaucratic flexibility. Another one was Toshiro, a naval officer of House Peleps who actually acted as his own security advisor (that's a nicer word for bodyguard) assigned to him by intervention of his family who pulled some favours to ensure Takeno's safety in the great city of Nexus. They did a lot of sightseeing together (and alongside some pretty Nexus ladies as well that is, since Toshiro's naval posture and Takeno's natural charm went a long way regarding interactions with beautiful members of the opposite sex). It was a fine stay and when the time for departure came, Takeno left with a heavy heart and with the promise to stay in touch with the people who were closest to him.
