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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Davies" data-source="post: 8442575" data-attributes="member: 30538">Tempus<img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/My-First-Gallery/i-wsKq8td/0/8ed7bfe2/M/dc30642f00061d47916ec7a26ffc5d0d586a9b4f_hq-M.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" />While considered middle-aged among the Ascendants of the Sphere of Matter, having Ascended roughly ten thousand years ago, Tempus has only become the undisputed Patron of War in the last two centuries. He holds that status through the same way that he earned it, making it clear to all rivals that if they want the title, they will have to demonstrate the ability to defeat him in battle. This does not make him popular or well-regarded, but it does make him an important member of the Council of Tauri, a group charged with handling matters relating to that continent -- particularly, in recent years, the matter of Galantri.In mortal life, Tempus was one of twin sons born to a chief of a human culture who lived on the then-fertile plains of what would one day be Al'Aram. Where his brother was a mighty hunter acclaimed by the people for the bounty he brought back for them, Tempus was more drawn to the relatively young art of cultivating plants for their food value. His true talent, though, was in organizing the work needed for this, which gradually turned into organizing the people in other matters, as well, especially preparing them to protect the fields. This caused him to develop a rivalry with his brother, who had become a leader among the hunters, fighting in a much more irregular manner.When a large group of sleeth attacked their settlement, the farmers and the hunters were forced to fight alongside each other, and drove them off thanks to Tempus' preparations. But what should have been a triumph was spoiled by the death of his brother, and the accusation that it had been Tempus himself who killed him! Despite his protestations of innocence, there were those who swore that they'd seen it done. Tempus was cursed by his father and driven into exile, accepting it bitterly. He would later hear that his brother's son had become the next chief of the people and ruled them very cruelly, but by that point he had other things to worry about.His journeys took him westward into lands claimed by the Alvadine people, who were just beginning to call themselves 'elves' and ruled over many different human groups. He learned much from them and practiced many different trades -- craftmanship, sorcery, even crime. But his true calling was that of soldiering, both as a fighter himself and a trainer and commander of other soldiers. Learning all he could from the captains of the Alvadine, he improved on much of it, and fought many battles in their name, and eventually in his own.After winning one particularly brutal war against the gargun, the aged Tempus fell asleep for what he expected to be the last time, and awoke to found himself Ascended for his deeds, under the patronage of Usires Twiceborn, who claimed to have invented agriculture and to have been watching Tempus' activities since his youth on the plains. (It would later be revealed that Usires had arranged for the death of Tempus' brother to spur him to greater things.) Tempus adapted to the change in his condition fairly well, and became involved in the struggles within the Sphere of Matter, between that Sphere and the other three, and against the forces of Entropy. As time passed and he grew in power and authority, he became regarded as one of the greatest war-leaders of the Ascended ... but not yet the Patron of War itself.A bit more than two hundred years ago, the Hierarchs finally decided that they should formally grant that title to one of the Ascended. Tempus naturally sought it for himself, believing himself to be the best qualified. This began a decade-long struggle between himself and the other would-be Patrons, fought on many different planes. Tempus demonstrated keen strategic brilliance throughout the conflict, and was also able to sway many of his opponents to support him through diplomacy, turning former enemies into allies. Other opponents had to be forced to yield and quit the competition, until Tempus was the last one standing.Or rather, the last save for one other. Tempus found the participation of the Ascendant called Pax, another Eternal of the Sphere of Matter known for his philosophical musings on pacficism, to be the most bewildering part of this affair. He did not understand Pax's motives, did not understand the other's strategies, and could not ever quite defeat him. But when they were the last two combatants, Tempus naturally expected that Pax would take the opportunity to surrender and accept an honorable defeat. Pax spurned the offer and kept right on fighting, which seemed hypocritical and frankly deranged. He had to know that he couldn't win, so what was he trying to accomplish?After the contest, which had been intended to last only a decade, stretched out for another five years, the Hierarchs finally intervened. Tempus had defeated almost all other contenders, and it was not possible for Pax to achieve victory with the forces that remained to him, and so Tempus had won. Magnanimous in victory, Tempus offered his congratulations for a difficult challenge to Pax ... who refused them as he had hoped that there would be no winner, and that the futility of warfare would be demonstrated once and for all. "There should be no Patron of War. You are a monster, and I despise you and what you have made me do." With that, he turned and walked away into the wasteland they had made.Utterly bewildered by this, Tempus has nonetheless tried to live up to what he considers to be his responsibility to ensure that wars are fought in a proper manner, minimizing the suffering when possible but acknowledging it as inevitable. Wars for defense are preferable, but aggression is in the nature of all life, and denying this only leads to greater pain and frustration. As a leader, he believes in keeping his soldiers alive until such time as he needs them to die in order to accomplish an objective, and then sacrificing them without hesitation. Needless to say, he believes that a military response to the madness in Galantri is the best one, but is slowly coming around to his colleagues' idea that the force in question might be a small group rather than the armies of neighboring Tohrukin.Tempus' closest ally outside of the council is probably Vanya, Patron of Strife, who was also the first of his competitors to ally with him. Their partnership provides each of them what the other lacks: enthusiasm for Tempus and restraint for Vanya. His foremost rival is, naturally enough, Pax, who opposes every war that Tempus would try to start without regard for the justifications for any of them. How can this be called wisdom, when it's simple refusal to consider any options save those which one prefers? Unfortunately, Pax seems to enjoy the support of their Hierarch, where Tempus has a contentious relationship with Djea at best. She has not forgotten that he is the former client of Usires, who challenged her for the Hierarchy and fell to Entropy when he failed, and so watches Tempus carefully to see if he will likewise fall.Tempus -- PL 15Abilities:STR 14 | STA 14 | AGL 5 | DEX 3 | FGT 16 | INT 6 | AWE 10 | PRE 6Powers:Arsenal of the Ages: Variable 2 (weapon) on Strength Damage - 2 pointsAscendant: Immortality 5 (one day), Only When On Home Plane; Immunity 1 (aging); Movement 1 (dimensional travel to home plane), Reaction (death); Movement 2 (dimensional travel to planes of the Sphere of Matter), Standard Action - 10 pointsChariot of the Gods: Flight 7 (250 MPH), Platform; Movement 3 (dimensional travel to all planes); Removable (-2 points) - 11 pointsDivine Body: Immunity 10 (life support); Impervious Toughness 12 - 22 pointsDivine Mind: Comprehend Languages 4; Impervious Will 12, Limited to Mental Effects; Senses 7 (vision counters all concealment, vision counters illusions) - 25 pointsSense Immortal: Senses 2 (ranged detect immortal) - 2 pointsSpear of Eternity: Ranged Damage 13, Accurate 6, Affects Insubstantial 2, Extended Range 2 - 36 pointsAdvantages:Accurate Attack, All-out Attack, Assessment, Benefit (every trick in the book), Chokehold, Daze (Intimidation), Defensive Attack, Equipment 5, Fearless 2, Improved Aim, Improved Defense, Improved Disarm, Improved Sunder, Inspire 4, Jack-of-all-Trades, Move-by Action, Power Attack, Precise Attack (Close, Concealment), Ritualist, Weapon Bind, Weapon Break, Well-informed.Equipment:Home Plane: Size Gargantuan; Toughness 16; Features Combat Simulator, Communications, Dimensional Portal (Pandiomon), Effect (Affects Others Immortality 5), Concealed, Defense System, Grounds, Gym, Hangar, Isolated, Library, Living Space, Power System, Personnel, Security System, Workshop - 25 points.Skills:Athletics 5 (+19), Deception 11 (+17), Expertise: Magic 8 (+14), Expertise: Smithing 9 (+15), Expertise: Military 12 (+18), Insight 5 (+15), Intimidation 14 (+20), Perception 4 (+14), Persuasion 10 (+16), Treatment 8 (+14), Vehicles 12 (+15).Offense:Initiative +5Arsenal of the Ages +16 (Close Damage 14)Spear of Eternity +15 (Ranged Damage 13)Defense:Dodge 14, Parry 16, Fortitude 18, Toughness 14, Will 12.Totals:Abilities 148 + Powers 108 + Advantages 30 + Skills 49 + Defenses 15 = 350 pointsOffensive PL: 15Defensive PL: 15Resistance PL: 15Skill PL: 15Complications:Responsibility--Motivation. Callous. Cannot Refuse A Challenge. Nemesis (Pax.) Obviously Superhuman.Note: Should Tempus ever travel to the World Less Magical, all his abilities drop by 2 ranks each, and he suffers Power Loss on his Ascendant powers; he will also be Disabled on Expertise: Magic checks. He becomes PL 13.</blockquote>

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