Mordechai (Polesia)

Mordechai, the former Emperor Tristis Gravus, is a legendary mythic character whose legacy is inalienable from the history of Polesia. Mordechai is a human from the line of Belteshazzar, gifted, as are few in his family line, with incredible longevity and a supernatural aptitude for a number of skills and proficiencies.

Unlike many in his bloodline, Mordechai has no proficiency with magic and has instead focused on martial disciplines. In doing so, he has become one of the most prolific tactical commanders in history, as well as a legendary duelist.

Mordechai is currently incarcerated in Lattanis.

Character Ability Profile

Having spent much of his youth at sea, Mordechai has learned to use his speed, grace, and balance to protect him in combat rather than heavy armor. While proficient with many forms of armor, he believes that none could protect him as well as his own swiftness and expertise. On the battlefield, this distinguished him among his subordinates as a fearless commander, who waded into combat often with nothing but a tunic and a sword.

Though proficient throughout much of his life with all manner of weapons, from swords to bows to axes, while visiting the land of Asashiro, Mordechai learned an ancient form of swordsmanship called Mushin Kenjutsu, which cemented his preference for curved blades. Mushin Kenjutsu is a style of swordsmanship that is deeply spiritual and mental, focused on enabling the practitioner to clear his mind and spirit of the thoughts and intentions of ego involved in combat, resulting in a more "intuitive" performance. Iaijutsu, a method of dueling developed by the Okubo, is a particular favorite of Mordechai's.

Tactically, Mordechai has distinguished himself by his natural charisma, and sharp mind. On the other hand, however, there seems to be more to it than that. Many onlookers are left with the distinct impression that there's more to his ability to command than mere skill. It's almost as if he has a supernatural effect on his subordinates.

Being that Mordechai has lived for a very long time and been many places, he has developed a wide range of skills, professions, and knowledges.

Character Biography

400 CA- Absalom begins campaign against the usurper Haman. As the last immortal other than Haman himself, Absalom is obliged to oppose the insane dictator as a steward of the great legacy to which they were both born. Haman's total occupation of the island leave Absalom vastly outnumbered. Absalom's organized resistance is soon reduced to guerrilla tactics and clandestine dissent operations as his own forces dwindle dramatically.

450 CA- Absalom concludes that one immortal alone cannot stop Haman. His only chance to succeed is to sire another immortal and raise his child to assist him. As an immortal, Absalom has time for this plan. He takes a wife, and conceives a child. The pregnant mother is sent abroad, where Haman cannot discover them, while Absalom concludes his campaign on the island.

451 CA- Absalom is out-maneuvered and captured. Haman executes him.

451 CA- Absalom's son is born at sea. He is called Mordechai. It is apparent that he carries the legacy. (See mythic tiers)

460 CA- Mordechai is raised by his mother and her servants, staying at sea, unsure if they are being pursued or not. His mother instills in him the ways of his people, and the belief that he is destined to fulfill his bloodline and become a great ruler of men, and master of all things. He is trained in seamanship by his servants, and instructed in combat. (See acrobatics, profession (sailor) swim, swashbuckler class.)

463 CA- Their gold supplies running low, and Mordechai approaching manhood, their ship begins to make port more often. Mordechai conscripts to other vessels as a means of subsistence. He conscripts to shipping vessels, sometimes as a deckhand, often as an escort against the threat of piracy. He makes a name for himself as a particularly gifted combatant.

470 CA- As Mordechai's career grows, his mother elects to settle down. She marries a lord of the Okubo, and dwells comfortably in the land of Asashiro. Mordechai continues to travel the southern seas on his own, living by his wits, working chiefly as a mercenary on land, and pirate hunter at sea. His time as a sellsword and sailor have left him foul mouthed, uncouth, swarthy, and hot-tempered. However, his recklessness and tenacity in battle, along with his clever swordplay, merit him a considerable reputation, and serve to inspire his allies in a near preternatural way. (See marshal mythic tier, fighter class, survival skill, jack of all trades feat)

480 CA- Mordechai travels to Asashiro to visit his mother, only to find that she and her new husband have been murdered in a clan battle, a common occurrence in Okubo society at the time. Distraught and angry, Mordechai broke Okubo custom by locating and attacking the Tora clansman responsible. This was the first time Mordechai had battled someone that he could not defeat. An expert duelist, the Okubo lord dispatched him in a few lightning-fast moves. Had his immortal life force not been so strong, he would have died right then. (See Hard to Kill mythic ability)

481 CA- Mordechai appears again months later, much to the surprise of the Tora daimyo, who had presumed the callous youth to be dead. This time, observing the customs of the land, Mordechai challenges The Lord to a duel. Something is different this time. Where before, he was a swarthy, heated, rambunctious youth, this time his countenance appears smooth as glass, and unreadable. With an incredible show of discipline and skill, Mordechai quickly outclasses the seasoned duelist and removes his head with a clean and practiced strike. Legends in Asashiro tell of the auburn haired kensai (master swordsman) of those days, who became known as Raiken (the lightning blade). Legend has it that after a defeat at the hands of a sworn enemy, he sought the aid of a legendary teacher. This mysterious man, a spiritualist monk and master duelist, finally agreed after an incredible show of tenacity. But he warned that if he used this power to seek vengeance, that his soul would never rest. After disregarding his teacher's advice and taking us revenge, he spent a short time as a champion among the ronin (samurai who lost their masters) and was recorded as having participated in many historic battles. And then one day, not much later, he sailed away. (See shiba protector class, iaijutsu master class, iron will feat)

485 AC- Mordechai, along with a few loyal Okubo ronin, takes to the seas again, working as sellswords in the north. At the time, the northern continent is experiencing a time of great wars. Because of this, Mordechai and his cohorts becomes wealthy and successful. He battles alongside humans, elves, dwarves, and even orcs. By the elves, he is named Maethor (fierce warrior), and to the dwarves he is known as Alabrin (the swift). The orcs call him Vogal (small). In these days, small groups of mercenaries are often known to consolidate into large mercenary bands. As time wears on, Mordechai shifts from a leader of a few to a leader of many. His Rosenkreuz banner, (named for the blood red cross-shaped sigil of his bloodline) becomes feared and envied across many lands. (See leadership feat.

490 AC- the leading military power, the Lattaneran Empire, with vast territories all across polesia, has developed the habit of conscripting mercenary armies into their fold in order to protect their massive borders from attack. As such, Mordechai soon finds himself a general of the Lattaneran Empire. His band of sellswords soon transforms into a legion of well-paid and intensely disciplined warriors. Mordechai, dubbed by the Lattanerans as Tristis Gravus, is hailed for his great success as a general. Many marvel as his ability to inspire his troops into reckless fervor, while simultaneously directing them with nigh-impossible discipline. It is called less than credible, how his troops can suddenly all move simultaneously into very dynamic patters to accept a cavalry charge, shifting into a perfectly tight formation on all sides, flanking them completely. (See Rally path ability, profession (tactician))

495 CA- Tristis Gravus becomes known throughout the land. He finds himself immersed in the political requirements of being a general, which he takes to with the same exemplary intuitiveness that seems inherent to his legacy. When the emperor, leading an army into foreign territories is shot by an arrow and dies without an heir apparent, the legions under Tristis Gravus hail him as Imperator. Lattanis, with its history of choosing their emperors through meritocracy, (especially from among great generals), Mordechai's popularity soon vaults him into the spotlight, much to the chagrin of officials who believe in Lattaneran exceptionalism, to have a foreigner presume to sit on the imperial throne.

496 CA- Mordechai's leadership and cunning serve him well. His rivals, unable to compete with his military might no better than they can compete with his popularity among the army and the common people, are forced to recognize his emperorship. Seated on the throne of the most powerful empire in the world, Emperor Tristis Gravus finally feels as though his destiny is being realized. Just as his mother told him as a child, he is a great leader of men, with dominion over much of the known world.

497 CA- After three weeks of dominion, while great games and festivals are being thrown for the new and glorious emperor's ascension, Emperor Tristis Gravus is apparently assassinated. It seems that a single ex-soldier who swears he was "working alone" decided to murder the emperor with an arrow while he stood atop the dais. This event throws the empire into another war of succession, with former candidates, along with a new cadre of new contestants vie for power. This doesn't last long, and a new emperor, who claims to be "fighting for justice against the sort of dissidents who chose to murder our beloved previous emperor" is summarily chosen. (See Hard to Kill mythic quality)

500 CA- Mordechai finds himself in a cell. His legacy strength served him well again, and he had survived what would have been a fatal blow to an ordinary man. The arrangement is simple. He is never to be released. As long as he makes himself useful, he will live. As a especially insightful and well-traveled general, he'd no doubt be a wealth of knowledge to the new administration. As such, he could be exterminated early, or die of old age in his cell.

1000 CA- His immortality not public knowledge, it comes as quite a surprise that Mordechai not only survives his captors, but every known Administration since. Shortly after his imprisonment, the constantly changing world took the empire along a gradual yet constant decline. The empire now a shadow of its former glory, Mordechai's counsel is still sought in hard times, as Lattanis seeks to reclaim its former glory. But so too, does Mordechai.