Crashing Wave

Master Crashing Wave is a character played by Kaiu Keiichi in Bound Devil Chambers Conspiracy Exalted PbP game in RPG.net

Master Crashing Wave

• Aspect: Water
• Concept: Kung-fu Theologian
• Motivation: Serve and promote the Immaculate Philosophy in all things
• Anima:
• Anima power: For one day, the exalt can breathe as easily in water as in air, and is incapable of drowning. Suffers no environmental penalty for actions taken underwater. Can walk across water as easily as across dry land.

Description

(Please put description here)

Attributes

• Strength 2, Dexterity 5, Stamina 3
• Charisma 3, Manipulation 2, Appearance 2
• Perception 3, Intelligence 2, Wits 4

Abilities

Caste

• Bureaucracy 3
• Investigation 3
• Larceny 0
• Martial Arts 5 (5-Dragon Style +1; Evaluating Opponents Styles +2)
• Sail 0

Favored

• Presence 3
• Occult 3 (Immaculate Heresies +1)
• Integrity 3

Others

• Archery 1
• Melee 1
• Performance 1
• Ride 1
• Socialize 2
• War 2
• Linguistics 1 (High Realm, Low Realm)
• Lore 3
• Awareness 3
• Resistance 2

Backgrounds

• Allies 1 (A former student that acts as your primary assistant)

• Arsenal 4 (The Censor of Upright Martial Philosophy can requisition the use of the Order’s multitude of hearthstones, weapons and armors, with only the Wyld Hunt, highly valued itinerants and the leadership of the Order taking higher priority)

• Backing (Immaculate Order) 4 (See the rights and powers that come with the position)

• Connections (Dojos and Academies) 2 (Allies in whatever dojos or schools you like best, plus a reputation for your own style around the circuit)

• Sifu/Mentor 3 (Ragara Myrron, greatest martial artist in Creation, master of all 5 Celestial Styles and over 20 Terrestrial ones)

Artifact details

Not Relevant

Hearthstone and manse details

Not Relevant

Charms

Martial Arts

• First Martial Arts Excellency

Enlightening Charms

• Pasiap’s Humility
• Moment of Daena’d

Five Dragon Style

• Five-Dragon Claw
• Five-Dragon Force Blow
• Five-Dragon Fortitude
• Five-Dragon Blocking Technique
• Five-Dragon Form
• Five-Dragon Fist
• Five-Dragon Invulnerability
• Five-Dragon Wrath

Water Dragon Style

• Flowing Water Defense
• Rippling Water Strike
• Drowning-in-Blood Technique
• Shrugging Water Dragon Escape
• Water Dragon Form

Virtues

• Compassion 3
• Conviction 3
• Temperance 5
• Valor 2

Other traits

Essence 4

• Personal motes 12
• Peripheral motes 32
• Committed motes (peripheral) X

Willpower 8

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

Intimacies

• 5-Dragon Style
• Ragara Myrron, the greatest martial artist in creation, one of only three grandmasters (only 2 of which reside in the Realm)
• The Immaculate Philosophy

The Four Questions

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

answer

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

answer

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?

answer

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?

answer

Backstory

Backstory

Notes

(1) His Ally 1, Angry Rose, is a Wood Aspect whom he initiated into Celestial Martial Arts at the time he wrote Dragons Sit, about 100 years ago, when he was conducting his reform of Novitiate training practices. Unlike Master Wave, she stopped her study of 5 Dragon Style at the Form Charm, and has pursued a wide variety of Lore, Bureaucracy and Socialize Charms, so as to assist in his administration of his office. He jokes that "Sister Rose does all those things that I do not have the time to learn how to do myself", as Master Wave's position calls for an intense focus on Martial Arts that surpasses even the attention of the typical Dragon Blooded Immaculate. Angry Rose is anything but, representing a serene and friendly face when acting as Master Wave's secretary. Those who accuse Angry Rose of having any sort of inappropriate relationship with Master usually find their business and political efforts damaged by the web of innuendo and social poison that this unassuming Immaculate can spread.

(2) Master Wave makes sure to spend an uninterrupted 2 weeks a year with Sifu Myrron. Great is his privilege to study with the Sifu, who has been the model of his own teaching methods. Beyond all else, Sifu Myrron has taught Crashing Wave (who has been a student of his for the past 150 years, and who started him with 5 Dragons As One instead of one of the Celestial Immaculate styles) that the implicit order of creation can be understood through the observation and emulation of nature, and that all good government, philosophy and right thinking can be attained by the study of the harmony of creation. Myrron, for his part, is like a cross between a laughing, crazed Zen monk and Obi-Wan kenobi whenever Wave visits with him. It is through the teachings of the Sifu that Wave is satisfied with his own level of progress instead of being jealous of younger monks who are more obviously powerful in combat than he, such as the infamous Peleps Deled.

When alone with the Sifu, dialog is easy going but always respectful. Myrron always teaches Wave in his native Low Realm, and does away with much of the strict formality found within Immaculate training halls. But Myrron demands total concentration, questioning, focus and mindfulness - he claimed he wanted Wave to master 5 Dragons so that he'd have a "loose mind", ready to delve deeply into the secrets if the Dragon of Water "instead of these lazy minded temple produced dolts" who often beg him for instruction. He holds up Peleps Deled as an example of everything wrong with Immaculate Instruction methods. "Certainly, he's technically a 'master'. He also misses the entire point of D'anaad's message!" Needless to say, he and his master as often fight over tea, as a wise old uncle might remonstrate with a younger nephew.

Sifu Myrron is Wave's spiritual ancestor and best friend. "He seems so much younger than me," he rues. He yearns to enter the world of pure practice and contemplation that Myrron lives in. To which, Myrron replies, "The Way is lived. This is a challenge to me, it would not be to you. Live your challenge, Exalt, and advance!"

Master Crashing Wave's relationship to the Scarlet Empress

"Brother Wave. Please, attend me."

It was very strange. In a small set of gardens located off of the Imperial Palace, a grotto with many waterfalls was located.

In this place, she wore only a tunic, slippers and a pair of trousers. Her hair was red, but had golden highlights. She had freckles. If he were a less well possessed man, he'd have been struck by the simplicity and ordinariness of her beauty. Here, she could have been any of his students at the Cloister of Wisdom.

"This is my command," she said. "Here, I am merely 'student'. You are the Master. You will correct my form and see to it that I maintain my edge with the 5 Dragons style. Here, I will obey you, only in regards to instruction."

With that, Crashing Wave bowed. "As you command, Supreme Mistress of Creation. If it is pleasing, during these 3 hours, on the appointed days, you will be 'student'. If you do not adhere to my standards and do not perform adequately, you will be dismissed from my instruction. No public mention will be made of this. Am I understood? You may address me as 'Sifu', instead of Master. I am but a student myself, and I will be as much a student as you." To his knowledge, no one had ever dared risk laying such conditions on the Scarlet Empress. But, damn it all, he had taught martial arts for a century, and he knew what worked and what did not. Further, she may be the Empress, but she's still a woman, and he was sure that she'd not respect some fawing sycophant. Not even the Empress was greater than the Way - no one person was.

"Now, student, it is my understanding that you come to me with an advanced understanding of several traditional Martial Arts. However, since I have just become your Sifu, I will not try to second guess your skills. We will start from the beginning. Empty your cup, and drink from the well which I am about to show you, as my Sifu showed me. Now, we will begin."

During the practice, there was hardly ever any talk of politics. Occasionally, the functionary... Kejak? Kejan? What was his name? Would occasionally come in, but she would always command him to wait outside the grotto. Sometimes, traces in her footwork and bladesmanship from creep into her style, but Crashing Wave would follow through with his classic rebuke for his Cloister of Wisdom students - "Empty your cup!" Along with a crack of his bamboo instruction stick. "Water feels, not thinks. Empty your head."

While Crashing Wave might have been tempted to presume more of their relationship, he made sure to treat it as simply what it was - private instruction in 5 Dragons Style. To presume more would be to create a massive breach of trust. Crashing Wave decided to merely be her Sifu - and to let the simple example of his life, which she certainly knew about in full detail - make whatever cases in regards to whatever debates or conversations they may otherwise have had. If nothing else, he was glad he could provide the Scarlet Empress some time to not concern herself with the business of ruling Creation, but to focus on her own spirit. While a master of the Water Dragon style, he always came back to the first moves of the 5 Dragon form he ever learned. The Way is lived, his old Sifu would tell him. So, that he did.

He is uncertain if this invitation to her personal councils of the mighty, in secret, was not perhaps another test.