Cathak Aden
Basic Information
Name: Cathak Aden
AKA: Aden
Player: Dan K
Type: Dragon-Blooded Exalt
Age: 20
Aspect: Fire
Concept: Young Noble
Motivation: Become a legend
Political Affiliation: The Realm, House Cathak
Anima: Aden's anima is a very dry heat. At low levels the heat is visible as wavy air in the air around him. As it becomes more intense, objects and people around him begin to dry out and crack. At the highest levels object begin to combust spontanously.
Likes: Spicy food, Gateway, Fist Fights, Strong Drink
Dislikes: Swimming, Watered Down Drink, Rain
Cathak Aden: Character Sheet
Stories
History
Aden's mother and father were part of a series of arranged marriages between Cathak and Sesus. Sesus was attempting to diversify the talent in their House by marrying out military bent dynasts in return for DBs with other skills marrying in. Both of Aden's parents attended the House of Bells at roughly the same time, but neither had stuck out to the other. After graduation, both of them joined the legions and performed more that admirably. Neither of them had a problem with the marriage, but nor were they ready to settle down or particularly looking forward to it. Nearly a decade went by before they finally got around to going through the ceremony. As soon as the pregnancy was confirmed, both partners went back to campaigning. It is said that Akachi's labor had only lasted 24 minutes when she finished giving birth. The doctor worried that the intensity of Akachi's pushing would harm the baby, but he came out fine. When handed the baby, Aden's mother looked him over and seeing everything was in good order gave her curt nod of approval and handed him over to his father. Aden's father, on the otherhand, showed him off to everyone in the room and waiting outside. That evening Aden was given over to the woman that would be his wet nurse, and his parents part in his babyhood was complete. Akachi rested in the hospital that night to recover from the birth and left that morning for the threshold so she could catch up with the Wild Hunt group her unit had been supporting. Chibuike had spent the night in a bar and then the arms of another woman. He left for his unit a few days later.
Aden's childhood was typical of children of young, active exalts. He was raised in the Cathak Manse in The Imperial City with other children that would potentially exalt. He got along well with the other children and those that raised him. Physically he developed quickly, but he wasnt a particularly clever child. Whenever his parents were back in the capital, he would get to see them for a few hours. His mother would review his progress and either give him a nod of approval or a frown. His father would tell him stories of glorious battles on the threshold.
Aden got along well in primary school. He had a small, eclectic group of close friends and was well regarded by the rest of the student body. He worked hard and stayed out of trouble since he always got caught anyways. Aden's parents both took very seriously their duty to protect those weaker in Creation, and Aden quickly developed a sense of honor because of it. Like his parents, however, Aden's responsibilty to the weak came not from compassion, but from a sense of duty. Aden's exultation came shortly before his brother was born, and both his parents and their House should far greater excitment for him than for the both of a potential DB.
Aden's life became both easier and more difficult after his exultation. In primary school all of the boys wanted to be his friend and all the girls had crushes on him. He easily won every foot race and sword fight against his unexalted peers. Before his parents left after the duel events of the bith and exaltation, however, they set him up with a tutor to work with him after school. The tutor was hard on Aden but in a good way. Aden quickly discovered both how much he still had to learn about his powers and that he had many weak points. It was while limping through these lessons that Aden became friends with Udo.
Aden soon learned that he and Udo were in very different situations. Aden had been expected to exalt and was under Master Odair's tutalage because his mother did not approve of too much free time and his young father wanted to prove the strength of his blood with his son's success. Udo,s exaltation on the other hand had been a surprise gift and he was being tutored because his family feared he did not possess the correct state of mind for the future they had chosen for him. Master Odair understood that the strength of the Realm came not from individuals that mastered all tasks but from each knowing his place in the warmachine. As a result, he taught the boys how best to use their natural strengths and the wisdom and trust necessary to know the part others play and to allow them to do it. By the end of their time together Aden and Udo were working as an efficient team, each stepping forward or falling in line as the situation warrented.
Aden was sad, but not surprised that Udo would not be attending the House of Bells. He was glad when he heard word from Udo that he had been accepted into the Cloister of Wisdom. If Aden had not learned humility from his time with Odair and Udo, he would have had a hard time when he started at the House of Bells. When Aden exalted at a young age, it was easy for him to be the best. When he began training at the House of Bells, he discovered that everyone there was could run fast, wield a sword, and possessed the charisma of a leader. When life started to settle into a pattern, individuals began to emerge. Aden, for one, began to show that his leadership ability and sword technique were above average even amoung the other cadets at the House of Bells. Another individual was Peleps Caedmon. Caedmon was about as skilled as any other cadet, not much more or less, but he still managed to stand out when push came to shove. Aden wanted to understand Caedmon, and so positioned him as his rival. After a while, Aden began to understand. Aden could inspire his soldiers to perform better or use sheer willpower to win a footrace. Caedmon on the otherhand could see and adapt to his opponents strategy or bargin with the quartermaster for the supplies he and his men needed.
Aden and Caedmon became friends during a wargame that placed them together in leadership positions. While planning their teams strategy, Caedmon had developed a plan but was having trouble selling the rest of those made commanders. The plan was risky and Aden did not understand how Caedmon came to all of his conclusions, but knowing that Caedmon was probably right, he threw his full support behind him. The plan worked brilliantly, and they easily won the games. At first the two young cadets differeing outlooks made working together difficult sometimes, but neither of them could deny the success it was bringing to their careers. Overtime the two of them stopped trying to truly understand and win eachother over and instead just trusted the other when it came to their strengths. By the time graduation was nearing, the two had learned to respect and trust the other, as well as their abilities.
Personality
Aden has a lot of passion. He loves his friends, hates his enemies, and tends to forget people that just kind of fall inbetween. When he feels strongly, he can be incredibly stubborn and bullheaded. Through good education, however, Aden has learned to defer to people more skilled in something than he is. Aden has a knack for bringing people together the same way a campire brings together strangers on a cold night. Aden usually strikes up a rivalry with most people he respects and becomes friends with.
Aden's sense of honor comes from a feeling of duty to the weak and a desire not to embarass his House and parents. Aden is not a terribly compassionate person, but through a good education that taught him his own weaknesses, he has learned to feel some sympathy of them.
Aden's feelings towards the Immaculate Faith are lukewarm. While he believes its teachings, he simply does not have a passion for it. While he generally fullfills all his oblications to the Order, he does so mainly for the honor of his House and to fullfill his mother's wishes.
Goals & Objectives
Aden was born into a house of heroes. Aden's father is a fast rising officer in the House legions, and his mother is an important figure in the Wyld Hunt in the East. Aden's grandfather is the head of House Cathak. The expectations on him, as the first born from his exemplary parents, are high, and he plans on taking his place in his family of champions. Aden plans to make a name for himself right out of school and then take a position in the house legions. Aden has a lot of dreams of glory and conquest and does not want to sit idle with legions assigned to the Isle when he joins.
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Backgrounds
Demon's Bane - Red Jade Daiklave
Demon's Bane was Aden's mother's gift to her son for graduating from The House of Bells. It had been a gift to her from her father and was the blade she used before moving to the large grand daiklave she uses now. The blade has been handed down for generations in the Sesus House and has been the end of 137 anathema. The gift suggests that Akachi approves of her son's quest to The Scorpian King in the Southern deserts.
Red Jade Hearthstone Bracers
The hearthstone bracers that Aden received from his father after his graduation were the same ones that his grandfather, Cathak Cainen, had worn during his long, illustrious career in the Imperial Legions. The right bracer shows a scene of a phoenix being slain by a sorcerer. The left bracer shows a scene of the phoenix slaying the sorcerer while being reborn. The hearthstone setting is in the middle of the phoenix in the left bracer.
Member of House Cathak
Aden is a member of House Cathak but holds no positions or responsibilities within it. Aden is taking the time immediatly after graduation to travel the world and make a name for himself, as is common amoung young exalts. As is normal, the House is willing to sponser Aden's adventures as long as he serves the Houses interests in his journeys, and he eventually returns to serve the House.
Personal Quote
"I vow it on my family's name and my blood." <cuts open palm>