Nameless Ravine
(Continued from of Recollections of Tea and Karma)
Nameless Ravine is a wild and unpredictable force in this age. He is the reincarnation of a headstrong and wrathful Dawn Caste warrior named Torrent of Woe, who was brought down by a peasant warrior. In the time since, that peasant's family became prosperous, and enlightened scholars and religious men; and it is into this very bloodline of temperance and discipline that Torrent of Woe has been reborn as a warrior-poet. Alread he has distinguished himself as a prophet; his writings form the theological core of the Edicts And Ways of the Mandate of Heaven, a series of religious teachings adapted and co-opted from Immaculate traditions.
Physically, he resembles his father, Chokhan Fifteenth Son Shatters the River. His face shows few features that hint at the Marukani background of his mother, Erdene, lending credence to my theory that she is not, in fact, of Marukani origin. His entire body has a warrior's poise and musculature, but he does not carry himself with a general's purpose or a gladiator's swagger. He dresses plainly, concealing his predecessor's Orihalcum chainmail beneath a simple monk's robe. His hair alternates between the shaved head of a monk, and the stubble of a man who has left the monastery behind; he changes back and forth on an almost weekly basis. In this respect, his hair is a sign of his inner conflict.
For you see, Nameless Ravine is a man at war with himself. On one side stands his father's teachings; on the other side lies the violence and anger and battle-lust of his predecessor. This is visible in his fighting style; when his mind is calm, his defensive posture is immaculate; and from a defensive posture, he can channel all of his rage into a single, excellent strike against the aggressor. In this moment of inversion between defense and attack, between life and death, between yin and yang , Nameless Ravine is in perfect harmony. At all other times, he is in turmoil.
In my observations, I find that he holds himself aloof from the fellow members of his circle. He believes that the members of his circle, himself included, are children playing at the games of godhood. They are surrounded by the Mask of Winters, by Lookshy's Seventh Legion, and by the forces of the Wyld Hunt. As much as it is in his nature to lash out at his foes in anger, Nameless Ravine feels he must restrain himself lest he bring ruin upon himself and his friends.
Among his oathsworn fellows, he is perhaps closest to Song of the Silver Wind, with whom he shares an understanding of the duties and responsibilities required of the master of an estate. While he honors Storm of Amber as an older brother, their confrontation over the issue of granting a Captaincy to the Raksha Arin has shown a rift in ideals and judgement that a cunning foe may yet exploit.
Also, for all his father's teachings and for all his Exalted heritage, he remains a young man of scarcely twenty years of age, who remains largely untested and unblooded on the fields of war, politics, and human emotion. His hatred of the leaders of the Immaculate Order runs strong and deep, though circumstances have given him few opportunities to seek revenge. He finds himself drawn to the Lunar exalt Alabaster Sunset for reasons that may prove to be far more mundane than his stated respect for the ancient friendships of Sun and Moon; where she is concerned, his judgement is far from unclouded.
In his earliest battles at The Vitreous Fulcrum, he wielded a mundane quarterstaff. He has since been seen wielding the sword A Promise to Come. It is perhaps fortunate that he has yet to command any great weapons of power; for should fate see fit to arm him with an implement of power comparable to the Third-Arm Glaive, his wrath and battle-lust will undoubtedly shed themselves of all restraint.
