Upgrade your account to a Community Supporter account and remove most of the site ads.

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Davies" data-source="post: 8433541" data-attributes="member: 30538">Gedaugen<img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/My-First-Gallery/i-Bq46Wrk/0/500fbbca/M/defensor2-M.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" />As with nearly all the luminaries of Daath, what is known about the man called Gedaugen -- 'the Vanguard', in an archaic dialect of Imperium Standard -- is based largely on accounts given to Aun Taxad by his mentors, and thus of questionable accuracy. In this unique case, however, Much of it is supported by certain statements that the man himself made to Vittara while he was training her. She remembers him as a cruel taskmaster, but not one who engaged in any deceptions or mind games while she was under his tutelage, and believes that he was largely truthful. It remains to be seen if this is the case.According to the compiled narrative, roughly one hundred and fifty years* ago, a small group of Technate citizens grew disenchanted with their government, and chose to leave their nation's borders to create a new colony which would be more to their liking. This was a fairly common movement at that time in the Technate's history, with the colonies of Pyrnn and Trantia both being established by similarly-motivated groups within about a decade* of that point. The founders of the breakaway colony of Gemnollen were more like Trantia in that they did not reject contemporary technology, but their focus was on developing a life that did not depend upon it.Gemnollen's leaders believed that all of life's problems could be solved through the practice of certain esoteric martial arts which had supposedly been preserved when their forebears fled the Imperium. (It should be noted that if these martial arts were actually practiced there, they aren't any longer, and there are no records of them having been practiced. Given how readily the Imperium censors its own history, this may not mean much.) They also believed in celibacy, among other disciplines, and intended that their colony would grow through the arrival of new students from within the Technate. When this failed to materialize after a few decades*, they turned to cloning to create a new generation of students.The man called Gedaugen was allegedly a clone of the original founder of the Gemnollen colony, and soon demonstrated that he was an extremely talented practitioner of their martial arts practices. It was apparently suggested within their community that he had actually been geneforged, with material supposedly preserved from pre-space Chirab, that of one of the so-called 'rising stars'. That would explain why he was able to use these martial arts to shape, control and even reverse the effects of entropy on himself and other living creatures, to a much greater degree than any of his colleagues. By the time that he had reached adulthood, the leaders of the colony asked him to join them as their Grand Master of Rot.He refused. His only interest was in developing his talents further, and taking part in the administrative and political duties of the Grand Master would get in the way of that. When they seemed unwilling to accept his refusal, Gedaugen decided to leave Gemnollen and take his studies of entropy out into the much larger universe beyond its skies. He did so, and, eventually, his journey took him to Daath in pursuit of ultimate power. He received some gift from Ananke, and paid for it with some loss -- possibly the bonding of his metal armor to his skin -- and took up the rule of a small principality on Daath.When the wars of the Dark Side began, some time after his arrival, he was summoned by Abraxas and asked what he would contribute. Gedaugen offered to be the trainer of the most elite among the armies that were being raised, which surprised those who were familiar with him; his strategic acumen had been demonstrated in a number of the petty wars that had been waged before Abraxas' arrival. Abraxas ignored this and installed Gedaugen as the Dark Side's official master drill sergeant, and so he has served ever since.While not turning the Dark Side's soldiers into killer angels, Gedaugen largely remains in his own principality. It is a harsh realm, but not the most unpleasant place on Daath. He is not kind to those he rules, but not cruel to those who manage to live beneath his notice. Furthermore, according to Tavipahter, he has apparently negotiated some sort of arrangement with the commanders of the Dark Side by which his service as a trainer removes any obligation for his subjects to be conscripted for their armies. They are still subjected to propaganda which incites them to do so voluntarily, but the numbers of those who do are quite small. What motivates this is a secret known only to Gedaugen.This is not the greatest secret kept by Gedaugen, however. That would be the fact that, during his cosmic travels, he somehow became the possessor of one of the Cosmic Gems of interstellar legend. The Entropy Gem is perhaps the weakest of the five, perhaps because the concept of "entropy" in the World Less Magical lacks certain spiritual associations that it might possess in other realities. It can grant its wielder powers much like those possessed by Gedaugen ... but he has never used it himself, relying entirely on his own abilities. Nevertheless, he would guard it ferociously and unrelentingly pursue any individual who stole it from him. However it came into his hands, guarding the Gem has become one of his primary goals in life. Perhaps it is simply the symbol of all he hopes to become, something pure that has endured even in the abyss where he now abides. Alternatively, it's possible that he just doesn't want anyone to become a greater wielder of entropic energy than himself.Gedaugen -- PL 13Abilities:STR 11 | STA 11 | AGL 4 | DEX 2 | FGT 9 | INT 3 | AWE 6 | PRE 6Powers:Abiding: Immunity 11 (aging, life support); Impervious Toughness 7 - 18 pointsEntropic Catalysts: Array (36 points) <ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"> Boundary: Healing 12, Others Only, Selective Burst Area - 36 points</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"> Cascade: Affliction 12 (Resisted by Dodge, Overcome by Fortitude; Vision Impaired, Vision Disabled, Vision Unaware), Selective Burst Area, Limited to One Sense - 1 point</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"> Exergy: Damage 9, Alternate Resistance (Fortitude), Selective Burst Area - 1 point</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"> Mitigation: Healing 9, Self Only, Reaction (when damaged) - 1 point</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"> Momentum: Move Object 9, Selective Burst Area 2, Limited to Moving Away - 1 point</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"> Reaction: Affliction 12 (Resisted by Fortitude; Impaired, Disabled), Limited Degree, Selective Burst Area - 1 point</li> </ul>Force Shield: Enhanced Defenses 4 (Dodge 2, Parry 2); Strength-based Damage 4; Activation (Move Action, -1) - 7 pointsTranslation Circuit: Comprehend Languages 3 - 9 pointsAdvantages: Agile Feint, All-out Attack, Fearless, Improved Defense, Improved Initiative, Improved Smash, Improved Trip, Move-by Action, Power Attack, Takedown 2, Weapon Break.Skills: Acrobatics 6 (+10), Athletics 3 (+14), Close Combat: Unarmed 4 (+13), Deception 4 (+10), Expertise: Galactic 8 (+11), Expertise: Military 12 (+15), Insight 4 (+10), Intimidation 6 (+12), Perception 6 (+12), Technology 6 (+9), Vehicles 9 (+11)Offense:Initiative +8Unarmed +13 (Close Damage 11)Shield Bash +9 (Close Damage 15)Defense:Dodge 13/11, Parry 15/13, Fortitude 13, Toughness 11, Will 11.Totals: Abilities 104 + Powers 75 + Advantages 12 + Skills 34 + Defenses 18 = 243 points Offensive PL: 12Defensive PL: 13Resistance PL: 12Skill PL: 10Complications:Responsibility--Motivation. Brutal and Merciless. Obedient to Daath's Ruler and Viceroy.The Entropy Gem<img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/My-First-Gallery/i-34PFs4L/0/b4fdf49a/S/Entropy-S.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" />Actual sizeEntropy Gem: Removable (-12 points)Abiding: Abiding: Immunity 11 (aging, life support) - 11 pointsEntropic Powers: Array (48 points) <ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"> Boundary: Healing 16, Others Only, Selective Burst Area - 48 points</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"> Cascade: Affliction 16 (Resisted by Dodge, Overcome by Fortitude; Vision Impaired, Vision Disabled, Vision Unaware), Selective Burst Area, Limited to One Sense - 1 point</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"> Exergy: Damage 12, Alternate Resistance (Fortitude), Selective Burst Area - 1 point</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"> Mitigation: Healing 12, Self Only, Reaction (when damaged) - 1 point</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"> Momentum: Move Object 12, Selective Burst Area 2, Limited to Moving Away - 1 point</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"> Reaction: Affliction 16 (Resisted by Fortitude; Impaired, Disabled), Limited Degree, Selective Burst Area - 1 point</li> </ul></blockquote>

Verification