Tepet Enkada

Tepet Enkada is a character played by etu in Bound Devil Chambers Conspiracy Exalted PbP game in RPG.net

Tepet Enkada

• Aspect: Air
• Concept: Visionary Maverick Combat Sorcerer
• Motivation: To further the defense of the Realm
• Anima: A perpetually moving hawk the colors of the sky, crusted with ice and flickering with lightning
• Anima power: Spend 5m to be surrounded by vortex of wind. Triple leaping distance. No damage from falls. Essence to defense value for thrown and archery attacks.

Description

Tepet Enkada often reminds people of a hawk; he has an aquiline, hooked nose and his bright blue eyes often seem fierce in their intensity. His pale blonde hair - so pale to almost seem white with strange blue highlights - is pushed back. This likeness is one of the reasons he has been nicknamed the Hawk of Battle.

Attributes

• Strength 2, Dexterity 4, Stamina 3
• Charisma 2, Manipulation 3, Appearance 2
• Perception 4, Intelligence 4, Wits 3

Abilities

Caste

• Linguistics 3 (High Realm native; Old Realm, Lower Realm, Riverspeak)
• Lore 3
• Occult 4
• Stealth 2
• Thrown 3

Favored

• Dodge 3
• Craft 4 (Magitech 4, Fire 3, Air 2, and Water 1)
• Presence 4

Others

• Ride 2
• Archery 1
• Performance 1
• Martial Arts 1
• Sail 2
• Melee 2
• Socialize 2
• Athletics 2
• War 3 (Theory +1)
• Awareness 2
• Integerity 2
• Resistance 1

Backgrounds

• Allies 3
• Arsenal 3
• Artifact 3 (Summer Sky Lightning, a custom daiklaive idea, Jade Hearthstone Bracers, Hearthstone Necklace)
• Backing 3 (House Tepet)
• Breeding 4
• Connections 3 (House of Bells)
• Family 1 (His mother)
• Manses 4
• Reputation 3
• Retainers 1

Artifact details

• Summer Sky Lightening (Artifact 3)

Custom daiklaive (Please insert description and commitment cost here)

• Jade Hearthstone Bracers (Artifact 2)

Commitment 4 motes, provide 3-die bonus to dodge attempts, give -1 Speed to attacks, have a hearthstone setting. Gift from Ledaal family to help protect her in her travels.

• "Hearthstone Necklace (Artifact 1)"

Commitment 1 mote. Regain 1 additional mote of essence per hour.

Hearthstone and manse details

• Hearthstone (Manse X, page number)

Description

(Please provide Hearthstone and manse descriptions here)

Charms

Dodge

• Threshold Warding Stance
• Hopping Firecracker Evasion

Linguistics

• Words on the Wind
• Language Learning Ritual

Lore

• Elemental Bolt Attack

Occult

• Terrestrial Circle Sorcery

Spells

• Stormwind Rider
• Five Seasons Hound
• Flight of the Golden Raptor
• Emerald Countermagic
• Commanding Presence of Fire

Presence

• Glowing Coal Radiance
• Aura of Invulnerability

Thrown

• First Thrown Excellency
• Whirlwind Shield Form

Virtues

• Compassion 2
• Conviction 4
• Temperance 1
• Valor 4

Other traits

Essence 4

• Personal motes 16
• Peripheral motes 39
• Committed motes (peripheral) X

Willpower 8

Health Levels: -0/-1/-1/-2/-2/-4/Incap

Intimacies

• Intimacy
• Intimacy

The Four Questions

1) Why are you more loyal to the Empress and/or the Realm than the average Dynast?

Tepet Enkada was brought up from birth to serve. The House values of soldierly service to the Empress and heroism in the name of the Empire were inculculated in him whilst Enkada was still in the cradle.

A century - more - of service has both cracked and solidified this faithfulness. Some of what he has had to do has revulsed him. But equally, so have some of his enemies. There are things, demons that stand against all that is right and noble and the Realm is the hope of Creation against them. Time alone has hardened his loyalty; it is a habit, it is the sacred tie of soldier to soldier (even though he's now a sorcerer he still thinks in such terms) and turning his back on what he has given so much to would feel alien. But hard can be brittle too; the uncomfortable nagging feeling that he's sacrified near half his life for some of the squalling popinjays he meets, that the Realm does not meet the lofty standards of this Child of Mela. Sometimes this feeling sends him looking for a brazen young girl and a full bottle; sometimes its brought on by listening to her afterwards!

But in general Enkada has been brought up on the ideal of loyalty; it is strong and has grown and it is given to the Empress and the Realm.

2) Who do you serve, apart from the Empress? Who else constitutes a superior?

Ask Tepet Enkada who he serves and like a good little Dynast he will say Empress and House, in that order. In truth (and its a truth he largely denies even to himself) they are very equal in his eyes. He looks to the House leadership and rarely differs himself publicly from their lead. In particular, he looks to Tepet Arada as a true Tepet hero and his grandmother's brother.

Beyond that there the senior instructors at the House of Bells; Leedal Appelate in particular is some Enkada admires and has learnt from. He hopes he gets a General's posting, not only because of his own likely knock on promotion but because he thinks the Ledaal would be genuinely good at the job. Besides, he likes the idea thats an open route (although considering he never made it above Winglord, maybe not).

There are also various ex-generals of his, that if not people he serves, are at least highly respected.

3) What did you openly achieve in the past century that makes you a worthy subject for historians of the next Age to investigate thoroughly?

Enkada might have only risen to Winglord; but thats mainly because his speciality as a scout officer, then a war mage, tended to keep him away from main line commands. It's also given him an opportunity to achieve several heroic and notable deeds. In particular, his defence of an isolated Northern satrapy by guerrila tactics using only a wing of auxiliary cavalry and some local levies against a Hobgoblin excursion led by a Raksha looks like becoming legend. In candour he'll admit the Raksha was stupid beyond belief, that he was frequently scared witless and that he's still not certain how he survived facing the thing in open combat, nevermind won beyond incredible luck (a Sidereal was probably involved, lucky bastard).

He also's earning a reputation as a tactical innovator in the synthesis between war and magic; Leedal Appelate might be his superior in power and experience, but Enkada fancies himself to have an equal tactical brain and he's certainly not far wrong if any. He also hopes to make some headway on the study of airboats, but alas, the Empress' call is likely to put an end to that for the foreseeable (haven't decided how far along he'd be on this)

4) What weaknesses do you possess that aren't just personal failings, but could be exploited by your enemies to cost you the Game of Thrones? What are the fields of engagement where you can't just apply Game Theory analysis, but instead will act against your interests?

Firstly, he is financially in debt due to overspending on courtesans and drink. He's had the good sense to avoid getting into any debts that are to be paid in anything other than jade, but he's aware how quickly this can be turned. He's pledged himself to scale back and he has some measure of house backing - but its a bit of a hole and one he could make worse.

Secondly, on a tour of duty, he deliberately made certain his patrol route didn't lead him to get in the way of an assassin. This killer was targeting an Imperial auditor investigating the finances of the satrapy. As he was about to make recommendations that House Tepet be reigned in and asked to pay more taxes, he didn't feel too keen to protect the man. Nobody else, as far as he knows, knows. Only one other subject of the realm was involved - a fellow Dragonblooded of House Tepet who died in battle over thirty years ago now. The patrol changed their route daily, so his failure to catch the man is hardly that suspicious. Inglorious, yes, suspect worthy, no. But he could well be wrong about how little is known.

The third weakness is that his outspoken advocacy of the use of magic in warfare has made a few enemies. Even the occasional charge of impiety. Actually, the latter might be due to bursting into a laughing fit when a Monk was ponitificating that sorcerers (or, for that matter, arms and armour) weren't needed at all as the Legion's success was entirely due to the blessing of the Immaculate Dragons. Even a lot of Monks would agree the follow was talking rubbish; but that doesn't make it right to publicly have hysterics in his face and the Arch-Conservatives bear him a grudge.

Backstory

Early Childhood:

Tepet Enkada was born in one of the major manses of House Tepet, a direct descendent of Tepet himself. His mother was Tepet Kelava, an experienced general and minor sorcerer and his father Ragara Noran, a late exalting quartermaster who made the leap to Dragonlord where he was known for insistence on a rather fussy approach and the supremacy of manouvere. Both were Children of Mela and the young Dynast to the joy (restrained in a dignified manner of course) followed suit early. Tutors of excellent repute were hired and they imparted knowledge to Enkada while family members imparted Tepet values to him; Enkada soaked them all up, displaying a precocious intellect. He was sent to a well thought of Primary school in Lord's Crossing that catered mainly for young Tepets and continued to display high potential.

School:

As such, he was sent to the House of Bells as fitted for a Tepet of the noblest blood. Here Enkada did not do as well as might be expected. The reason for this can perhaps be found in the reoccuring words in his reports from the House; "smart" "too bright" "intellectually inclined". In other words, Enkada's tendency to think for himself and ask awkward questions didn't exactly make him popular nor did taking his time to think things through give him a soldier's speed. He passed the course satisfactorily but not shiningly except in one area. It is perhaps unsurprising that his approach did very well in the Battle Sorcery classes where he was easily the star pupil. As such, when Enkada passed out, Ledaal Appelate wrote a letter to the young Tepet that rather than recommending him straight to the Legions he was recommending him to the Heptagram.

Encouraged by his family Enkada took up the offer. He vindicated Appelate's faith but was no less a fish out of water. Some of the students - frequently younger - were either completely detatched from reality or clearly avaricious. Enkada was grounded firmly by Tepet honour and a fine appreciation of the harsher details of life as drilled in by determined ex-Legionaires. He started to make a few friends with those of like mind, ties that would become important in later life.

Early Service

Tepet Enkada finally entered the Legions and was put to work under Tepet Tilis Marak, his prospective father-in-law. His record initially was chequered; he was clearly a good officer and a fine sorcerer but the besetting sin of original thought soon earnt him something of a reputation as a maverick. He often worked with the advance elements with considerable success; he considerably bolstered their firepower and was a good source of intelligence, but was often scolded for exceeding orders and unneccesary risks. Unneccesary risks? Enkada's actions paid off; was that not why he was here? Also, although Enkada wouldn't dream of saying anything against a fellow House member in public, in private he would compare Marak's handling of magical resources to that of the pet apes the man kept.

It was with relief on both sides that Enkada was promoted and transferred to the Legion at Greyfalls. Although there were long and boring spells of inactivity (which he scrupuously used to brush up on his spellwork), there was also a great deal of skirmishing which never happened with Lookshy forces. Not only was this an excellent arena for his abilities, but Lookshy were a superb opponent to learn from. The full integration of magic. The widespread use of small unit tactics. Something the Realm and he, Tepet Enkada could learn from. His growing reputation was somewhat marred when the Imperial auditor was killed on his watch - but saving the Governer from Haltan Commandos single handedly more than made up for this.

Mid Career

Enkada took a sabbatical to get married and engage in sorcerous research. Although his wife was a shrew with a tongue like a Wood Aspect's aura, he rather enjoyed himself. He started to frequent pleasure houses regularly to get away from her and in the meantime there were family affairs to catch up on, a few Obligations to get out of the way, scholarly papers to write and guest lectures to give at the House of Bells.

He was rather putting down roots when his Great-Uncle Tepet Arada joined him for breakfast on a rare visit home. After a few courtesies, Arada bruesquely informed him that he'd just lost a combat sorcerer and that Enkada was to be packed and ready to go the Northern Threshold in two days time. Enkada initally demurred but a sharp reminder of duty promptly brought him around (that and a few accurate imitations of Enkada's wife). Thus started the most fruitful part of Enkada's military career.

Not only were Arada and x Vandis intelligent commanders when it came to sorcery, they were also willing to give Enkanda a fairly free remit when it came to operating with the scouts and implementing small unit tactics. He played a brilliant and pivotal role in Arada's suppresion of the God led rebellion of the Dungheps, followed by his promotion to Winglord. It was as a Winglord that with but his own wing of archers he saved the satrapy of Ramshag from a Fair Folk incursion. Under Vandis he formed the Threefold Circle, a group of he and two of his old colleagues from the Heptagram who specialised in operating ahead of the main army. It was here he came into contact with the Haslanti and was awed by the utility of their airboats. The fact that they nearly killed him because of these things might have had something to do with it.

From there until now

Enkada took a second sabbatical, learning all he could about Airboats. He also published a few papers on the use of such things and the small unit tactics he'd used amongst other things, participated in a Wyld Hunt or two, revisited the pleasure houses he loved of old and gave a few more lectures at the Academy of Bells. It was during a visit there that Ledaal Appelate offered him an opportunity that was too tempting - to join him in the Combat Sorcery department. The clincher came fortitiously a few days later when he heard news that his wife had got on the wrong side of a Godblooded with a poisonous blade when serving in the west.

Enkada therefore decided to call time out on his active career, instead throwing himself into matters of research. In order to aid him, he's founded a sorcerous society by the name of Icurrentlyhaven'tthoughtofanythingcool of combat sorcerers willing to push for innovation and progress. Enkada's particular pet project here are the Airboats. He still takes the odd sabbatical, usually just happening to go on holiday to a trouble spot where a friendly general is happy to have an extra Sorcerer dust off his rank.

Things are rather tickety-boo financial things aside; Enkada demands the best and was willing to pay for it. Even when he couldn't. This is insofar as possible being kept hush-hush as House Tepet are undertaking marriage negotiations for a second partnership with (insert suggestions here; Ledaal, V'Neef, another Tepet make sense as would anybody very rich). The Air Boat project is looing optimistic, the teaching is secure, political rumour suggests the wind will be blowing good for him.

---

Eurgh, thats enough for now. This is mainly to give an idea of what he's been doing rather than who he is - although the idea that he's somewhat independent minded and can be rather prickly to get on with in a professional sense should be got. The cynicism, disillusionment, moral standards and addiction got kinda left out as I tried to fit everything in. I'm still toying with where to go with the addiction; I like the idea its not neccesarily quantity he's addicted to, its quality. It fits the Air elitist. Its also the first time its got him into trouble at the grand old age of somewhere between 120 and 140; how he deals with it remains to be seen. I appreciate that age line is a bit young for the chronicle, but I am kinda going with the idea that not only has he done great things, but he's going to do great things. The coming man. If things go right for Enkada, he's going to end up being remembered as a great pioneer and innovator. Of course if things go badly wrong we will have a drunken lecherous burnout, mortaged to his eyeballs and blackmailed to his eyebrows...

Family wise, he's a widower with a few children (some exalted, some not) who are part of a different Tepet household. So far he's avoided any bastards although I suppose it could be rather funny for one to show up at his most impecuionious. He's related to a lot of important people in Tepet, this will probably translate into a high House backing score. I'm not certain how to represent his sorcerous society.

Relationships with the Other Characters

Just to fit in a few more connections (he doesn't have that many; kinda fits for someone who flits between the battlefield and study I suppose) he'll have met Peleps Illibe at his wife's funeral. Sikandi he's talked Airships with, Cordelia as discussed is a friendly acquaintance who's be planning to work with... he knows Daikanis and doesn't particularly like him (poor Daikanis, seems nobody does ) and he probably owes Magnos money. I leave contract with Ai, Somat and Crashing Wave up to them; he could have met all of them, he could have met none of them - it'll make more sense when I have time to polish the background.