Post by Kelaj on Dec 31, 2010 17:13:20 GMT -5
Full Name: Lu Kelaj (Lu is a surname, and adoptive)
Nicknames: None that are spoken to his face.
Titles: No real titles, though Shin insists on referring to him as "Lord" and his other followers call him "Boss".
Gender: Male
Age: 41
Birthplace: Northern Fortress, Northern Water Tribe
Loyalty:Lu Kelaj Water Tribe
Status: Formerly a wandering mercenary; now, a citizen of the Fire Nation, with property and a fortune, and an aspiring business.
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 199 lbs.
Hair Color: Brown
Eye Color: Blue
Distinguishing Features: Long, thick ponytail, a goatee that accentuates his sharp features, and faint scars over most of his body; he also wears a long coat that flares out around the waist.
Appearance: A long-limbed, lean type of man, Kelaj stands an inch above six feet. His lifestyle has made him muscular, especially in the upper body. His otherwise smooth brown skin is marked by old scars and calluses.
His face is long with a sharply defined jaw. His nose is narrow, sharp and slightly upturned. In contrast, his eyes are relatively large. The dark blue irises, along with his tan skin, identify him as Water Tribe. He has thick brown hair, wearing it in a ponytail which falls to about the base of his neck. He also sports a goatee which accentuates the pointed quality of his features.
His style of clothing is somewhat unique. His basic garb is that of the Water Tribe, with a blue sleeveless tunic lined with black and a black sash, black trousers, and black knee-length boots. His forearms are wrapped in strips of black cloth, and he wears fingerless black leather gloves. Over this he normally wears knee-length coats, originally modeled on the parka but modified to suit various climates. They are usually black as well, featuring high collars and detachable hoods. Some of his garments are lined with white fur for cold-weather travelling, though he hates the cold and seldom wears them.
For dangerous situations, Kelaj also has a suit of armour. It consists of a leather cuirass, pauldrons and skirt, all lacquered blue and held together with black thread. These are complementing by heavier boots and leather gauntlets. Finishing the set is a moderately ornate helmet of antique Fire Nation design, with wing-like flanges framing the face, a short spike at the crown, and a socket for a plume (Kelaj had the helmet modified to accommodate a pair of Arctic foxtiger tails instead.) Attached to the helmet is a leather coif which protects his neck. Instead of a coat, he wears a blue or black cape when in armour.
Personality: Kelaj. Intelligent in his way. Aloof. Sarcastic. Uncaring -- he could be charismatic if he were not so arrogant. This man is not the easiest in the world to get along with, and he is (or thinks he is) just fine with that.
He believes strongly in ideas of merit, moral uprightness, and civilised refinement. While this does not stop him from being rude to those he considers insupportably inferior (that would be a lot of people), he tries to stick to a code of honour that forbids him from hurting them. It is his belief that all humans are gifted in some way, but that the mass of men do not develop their potential.
Due to his caustic pride Kelaj has a hard time getting along with authority. Authority, he believes, comes from the Mandate of Heaven which is bestowed only on the worthy -- because of this he holds allegiance to no man, having found none whom he believes possess the Mandate. He is in some degree seeking a worthy master, although he is also debating whether he should not just go somewhere and set up his own country. In order to do that, though, he'd need some followers, and followers who meet his standards (and who can stand him) are hard to come by.
Apart from his pride, Kelaj is actually pretty egalitarian in his treatment of people. If you can prove yourself to him, he'll treat you accordingly. Except in one case. He has an almost obsessive hatred of the Avatar. It's a philosophical hatred, since he's never met an Avatar. To him, the Avatar's power is not natural, hard-earned talent but a travesty, their self-proclaimed mission of "maintaining balance" an excuse for tyranny over those without such cosmic power.
Family:
- Tor; father; deceased
- Nuka; mother; deceased
- Lu Ba; mentor/adoptive father; deceased
History: In the sixtieth year after the beginning of the war, at the end of summer, Kelaj was born to the warrior Tor and his second wife Nuka. Notably gifted, Kelaj had a great desire to excel and imitate the great warriors of his tribe's history, an aspiration which greatly pleased his father. However, Tor was not so pleased by the direction which the North was taking. Being an old and respected warrior he had been made an elder, but he was constantly frustrated by what he saw as a lackadaisical foreign policy. Despite having lost contact with their sister tribe in the South, and reports that the Earth Kingdom was slowly losing ground, the chieftain refused to do anything to halt the Fire Nation's aggression. Eventually Tor's vehemence saw him thrown off the council.
Insulted and disgusted, Tor decided to leave the northern fortress. Taking his family, he boarded a ship and set out for the Southern Water Tribe. Kelaj was twelve years old.
At first all seemed to be going well. As soon as they cleared the arctic circle, though, they were caught in a terrible storm. Many of the crew -- friends of Tor who had agreed to go with him -- were killed, and eventually the ship was broken apart off the coast of the Earth Kingdom. Nuka and the rest of crew were killed in the wreck, leaving only Kelaj and his father. Amazingly the boy had only superficial injuries, but Tor had broken his right arm.
Nevertheless, when Fire Nation troops showed up to investigate, Tor attacked them in an attempt to keep them from finding his son. He managed to kill several, but was finally struck down by the leader. Kelaj then ran out of hiding, trying to avenge his father, and was captured. He was taken to the leader's house, where it turned out that the man was the prefect of the nearby town. His name was Lu Ba.
Lu Ba treated the young man not so much as a prisoner but as an honoured guest. When asked by a sullen Kelaj why the killer of the father should be so kind to the son, the old man's answer was that it was the only way he could pay his debt. When Kelaj informed him that he would still avenge his father, Lu Ba laughed and said that he would need to train more if he wanted to defeat the best warrior in the world.
From that point, Lu Ba practically adopted the orphaned Water Tribesman. He taught him everything he knew about weapons and the art of war. Sadly he could not teach him firebending -- Lu Ba was not merely a great fighter but also a master bender, with the title of "Celestial Dragon" for his slaying of one of the great beasts. However, Kelaj could not bend at all. So, he stuck to martial arts.
Although he still maintained that he would one day strike down his father's killer, Kelaj came to worship this man. Lu Ba was his living hero, and he strove hard to emulate him.
Lu Ba did not only teach him about fighting. He instructed the growing youth in philosophy, acquainting him with the moral precepts of the sages and the concept of the Mandate of Heaven. He even told his protégè his closest secret -- that he did not believe in Sozin's War, but that he fought in hopes of proving himself worthy of Heaven's favour. However, he had been stuck in this backwater for decades, and his ambitions had withered as he aged. It was his hope that, as he had no children of his own, Kelaj would carry on his dreams when he died.
Came the eve of Kelaj's twentieth birthday. Fired by his dreams, he came before his mentor with a request: that he might go to Agni's City and take the military service exam. Lu Ba was truly surprised -- he asked whether Kelaj did not hate the Fire Nation for killing his father? Kelaj answered that Lu Ba was his father now. Touched, Lu Ba said he would think about it, as it would be tricky to get Kelaj into the examinations. The next day, an Earth Kingdom armada appeared off the coast.
They were there for Lu Ba, and they had come prepared. Scores of earthbenders disembarked from the ships, bringing down the walls of the town without any difficulty. The small Fire Nation garrison was completely overwhelmed. Despite his awesome power, Lu Ba knew he was no match. Rather than see his men be slaughtered, he surrendered. Once he was safely shackled, the Earth Kingdom general ordered the Fire Nation troops massacred and the town razed. Then they set out, overland as the earthbenders knew they could not contain Lu Ba on board a ship.
It was Kelaj's nationality that saved his life. Coming across him, the soldiers assumed he was a hostage. Playing along, Kelaj asked if he could go with them to Ba Sing Se, where he could witness the execution of his "captor" and join the Earth Kingdom Army. The soldiers agreed, and Kelaj was conveyed to the general, where he became something of a symbol of the raid's success.
Of course, once Kelaj had become more or less trusted, he rescued his father and tried to escape. But Lu Ba was ninety-one years old, and had been none too well treated. Although the escape was successful, the effort was too much for his body to bear. Dying, he blessed his adoptive son, and begged him to save his life and carry on his dream.
Kelaj promised to do so, and buried his mentor beneath an impromptu cairn. Before he could move on, however, there was something he needed to do. He re-entered the camp, already disorganised by the escape, and liberated Lu Ba's ancestral ji, the Black Crescent. He then used it to kill the Earth Kingdom general. He stole an ostrich-horse and some supplies, and set out.
He had a difficult time of it at first. He eventually fell in with a band of brigands, from whom he learned the basics of living off the land as well as keeping his combat skills sharp. He was very popular, but eventually he became disgusted with the lifestyle. After killing another brigand, he left the group and struck out on his own.
He became something of a freelancer, wandering the western Earth Kingdom and doing such odd jobs as he could. Part mercenary, part bounty-hunter, part trail guide and fur trader, these years were colourful ones which he prefers to forget about. His life took a change for the better when he stumbled across the island of Tokushima, off the southwestern shore of the main continent.
Tokushima was ruled by Lord Ryu, a man famous for his swordsmanship and hospitality. When he heard that a skillful ronin had come to his domain, he insisted that Kelaj be brought to his castle and entertained. Kelaj had no objections; however, he quickly took a disliking to the boastful Lord. After hearing endless stories about the superior skills of the island's defenders, Kelaj was invited to dine with the Lord. In the course of this meal, a servant tripped and spilled some saké over Ryu. Amidst the man's profuse apologies, Ryu called for his sword.
Just as he lifted it to strike the poor man's head off, Kelaj picked up his plate and threw it at his host. As Ryu stared dumbfounded at the rice splattered on his rich coat, Kelaj remarked, "Oh dear. It seems you'll have to kill me too." Ryu agreed angrily that he would. Kelaj asked for his halberd, which Ryu granted, boasting that nothing could resist his blade. Kelaj rolled his eyes, and a few seconds after the duel began trapped Ryu's sword against the floor and snapped it, then taking the surprised Lord's head off. His guards all promptly disemboweled themselves to show their loyalty to their master.
Kelaj left after looting all the valuables he could, trailed by the servant (Shin by name), who was equally profuse with his gratitude. Kelaj arrived to find a festival underway in the village to celebrate the death of Ryu. The headman personally thanked the ronin, and directed him to the nearby island of Odashima, where the lord was much more intelligent.
Indeed he was, and Kelaj decided to settle there. Constant Fire Navy raids gave him plenty of action, as did Lord Shinoba's stated ambition of unifying the local islands and declaring independence from the Earth Kingdom. Between Shinoba and Kelaj they actually made some progress on this goal, despite Kelaj's constant assertions that it was futile. Also, Kelaj finally got an opportunity to work with water, developing some crude tactics that could help him against other benders. Sadly, it was just after Kelaj was dispatched to Kyoshi to negotiate an alliance when the Fire Nation attacked and destroyed Oda Castle, killing Lord Shinoba and annexing his lands.
Kelaj, crushed and jaded, elected to leave Kyoshi due to friction with the native warriors. Moving back to the mainland, he took up with a Fire Nation merchant who dealt in rare goods (such as contraband). The merchant, Zhuge by name, soon took a disliking to Kelaj's attitude, but the warrior was undoubtedly useful when it came to dealing with brigands or the authorities. Kelaj worked for him for a full year, until Zhuge made the mistake of moving to New Ozai on the eve of the Day of Black Sun. Not even Kelaj could save him. Not that he tried; on the contrary, he threw the merchant out and took the man's wealth for himself.
Now with sufficient funds, and having acquired a few loyal followers in addition to Shin, Kelaj is ready to take up the dreams of his fallen lords himself. However, not having much liking for Omashu he left the city, looking for a less earth-bender obsessed place to found his kingdom. He settled in Chung-Ling (Fire Fountain City), purchasing and repairing a rundown mansion in the southern suburbs of the industrialised town. He organised his people into a legitimate security business, and used his accumulated funds from that -- there is also plenty of business for guards in Chung-Ling -- he opened a trading company, uniting them in Snow Fox Enterprises.
While doing all this, he was not unaware of the events of the larger world. To him, the fall of Ozai only meant opportunity (though he prides himself on having been able to see the statue of Ozai before it was removed by the zealots of the new regime). He knew Zuko could not hold the country long, and it seems he is right. As the Fire Nation in general and Chung-Ling in particular slides toward chaos, he is preparing to make his move.
Skills:
- Halberd combat: Kelaj is a superb warrior. With only limited bending, he has had to rely almost entirely on other martial arts for protection and livelihood. His weapon of choice is the ji, and he is unsurpassed in the use of it. (Elite)
- Knife fighting: Kelaj also can use a knife with praiseworthy skill, although he is not as good with it as he is with the halberd. (Advanced)
- Waterbending: By the same token, he uses his waterbending mainly as a defensive measure against other benders, though he can use it for intimidation as well. He's actually pretty powerful, but he has not had a trainer since the age of twelve and even then never spent much time on lessons. So what he does know is self-taught. (Intermediate)
- Wilderness skills: Lu Kelaj also has some proficiency as a tracker and hunter. He is capable of fending for himself, although his wilderness skills have dulled somewhat since he has not needed them in recent years.
(Intermediate)
- Archery: Kelaj knows how to use a bow, and was once quite good with it. However, he never cared to fight from a distance, and in recent years his skill has dulled. Ordinarily, he would only use it against animals, or benders. (Beginner)
Weaponry:
- Ji: Kelaj's signature weapon is the ji called the Black Crescent (short for Night's Twin Crescent Fang)*It actually has two crescents attached to the main head, which itself is about fourteen inches long. The shaft is 6'2" in length, including the counterbalance (which takes the form of a conical spike). Between head and haft is a black horsehair tassel. The name derives from the black metal used in construction of head and counterbalance.
- Tanto: A plain but sturdy single-edged, curved dagger of excellent steel, about a foot long. Kelaj uses it as a back-up weapon.
- Knife: A knife, also about a foot-long, and double-edged. It is rather clumsy for martial arts; Kelaj carries it for general utility -- a hangover from his days as a poacher.
Strengths:
- Determination: Kelaj is perseverance personified. He is hard-headed and hard-hearted, and refuses to back down from anything.
- Intelligence: Kelaj is a shrewd man; a quick judge of character and able strategist.
- Control: Kelaj always rules his heart with his head. Even when angry -- and he can get very angry -- he does not lose control; his foster father taught him to focus his rage, a lesson that he learned well.
Weaknesses:
- Callous: Kelaj's over-developed attitude often alienates people he would be better off with as allies.
- Hubris: Kelaj's prowess is phenomenal, but that only fuels his arrogant tendency to look down on others, leaving him vulnerable to under-estimating the challenge of a fight.
Role Play Sample: ((Taken from another site where he tries to take control of Chung-Ling, and ... you'll see. The other characters ar ehis NPC follwoers.))
Father ... Lord Ba ... Lord Shinoba. Breathing made his chest burn, but Kelaj would not let himself stop. His grip tightened on the haft of his ji (the wood had been long ago treated to withstand fire -- if only his skin could have been) and the hilt of his tanto. They won't stop me here, my lords. I will achieve our dreams. He forced his eyes open, and slowly, teeth grit, not even realising the grunts filling the air were torn out of his own throat, forced himself up into a kneeling position. Fortunately, his legs were undamaged.
"Oh yes," he ground out between his teeth. His voice was deeper, much more hoarse because of the pain. "I'm still alive." Then he stood up. The shoulder areas of his coat flaked off and the garment fell away, leaving him only in his seared, sleeveless tunic. Slowly, whining, he reversed the tanto, and thrust it back into its sheath. Tears of agony and hatred leaked out of his eyes as he pointed his ji at the duo. "Listen, you maggots, and listen well ... I, Lu Kelaj ... will take this city ... and I will kill you ..." The ji wavered.
"Master!" Malik ran out in front of him, shamshir held up defensively. "They just keep coming! You must retreat!"
Kelaj closed his eyes.
"Master!"
"You're in no condition to fight further, sir," said the gruff voice of Xin.
Kelaj growled. "... Very well. Patch-Eye, give the order ... retreat. Rally at the ship ..." The halberd slipped from his fingers, nerves no longer capable of relaying his will's instructions. Xin caught him as he started to fall, while another guard picked up the Black Crescent.
Your Name: Flammifleure (Flam), or Vulpes.
Other Characters: Masamune, Ozai, Long Feng, Qing-Yu, Hei Li, Zudao, Ren, Xian.
Nicknames: None that are spoken to his face.
Titles: No real titles, though Shin insists on referring to him as "Lord" and his other followers call him "Boss".
Gender: Male
Age: 41
Birthplace: Northern Fortress, Northern Water Tribe
Loyalty:
Status: Formerly a wandering mercenary; now, a citizen of the Fire Nation, with property and a fortune, and an aspiring business.
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 199 lbs.
Hair Color: Brown
Eye Color: Blue
Distinguishing Features: Long, thick ponytail, a goatee that accentuates his sharp features, and faint scars over most of his body; he also wears a long coat that flares out around the waist.
Appearance: A long-limbed, lean type of man, Kelaj stands an inch above six feet. His lifestyle has made him muscular, especially in the upper body. His otherwise smooth brown skin is marked by old scars and calluses.
His face is long with a sharply defined jaw. His nose is narrow, sharp and slightly upturned. In contrast, his eyes are relatively large. The dark blue irises, along with his tan skin, identify him as Water Tribe. He has thick brown hair, wearing it in a ponytail which falls to about the base of his neck. He also sports a goatee which accentuates the pointed quality of his features.
His style of clothing is somewhat unique. His basic garb is that of the Water Tribe, with a blue sleeveless tunic lined with black and a black sash, black trousers, and black knee-length boots. His forearms are wrapped in strips of black cloth, and he wears fingerless black leather gloves. Over this he normally wears knee-length coats, originally modeled on the parka but modified to suit various climates. They are usually black as well, featuring high collars and detachable hoods. Some of his garments are lined with white fur for cold-weather travelling, though he hates the cold and seldom wears them.
For dangerous situations, Kelaj also has a suit of armour. It consists of a leather cuirass, pauldrons and skirt, all lacquered blue and held together with black thread. These are complementing by heavier boots and leather gauntlets. Finishing the set is a moderately ornate helmet of antique Fire Nation design, with wing-like flanges framing the face, a short spike at the crown, and a socket for a plume (Kelaj had the helmet modified to accommodate a pair of Arctic foxtiger tails instead.) Attached to the helmet is a leather coif which protects his neck. Instead of a coat, he wears a blue or black cape when in armour.
Personality: Kelaj. Intelligent in his way. Aloof. Sarcastic. Uncaring -- he could be charismatic if he were not so arrogant. This man is not the easiest in the world to get along with, and he is (or thinks he is) just fine with that.
He believes strongly in ideas of merit, moral uprightness, and civilised refinement. While this does not stop him from being rude to those he considers insupportably inferior (that would be a lot of people), he tries to stick to a code of honour that forbids him from hurting them. It is his belief that all humans are gifted in some way, but that the mass of men do not develop their potential.
Due to his caustic pride Kelaj has a hard time getting along with authority. Authority, he believes, comes from the Mandate of Heaven which is bestowed only on the worthy -- because of this he holds allegiance to no man, having found none whom he believes possess the Mandate. He is in some degree seeking a worthy master, although he is also debating whether he should not just go somewhere and set up his own country. In order to do that, though, he'd need some followers, and followers who meet his standards (and who can stand him) are hard to come by.
Apart from his pride, Kelaj is actually pretty egalitarian in his treatment of people. If you can prove yourself to him, he'll treat you accordingly. Except in one case. He has an almost obsessive hatred of the Avatar. It's a philosophical hatred, since he's never met an Avatar. To him, the Avatar's power is not natural, hard-earned talent but a travesty, their self-proclaimed mission of "maintaining balance" an excuse for tyranny over those without such cosmic power.
Family:
- Tor; father; deceased
- Nuka; mother; deceased
- Lu Ba; mentor/adoptive father; deceased
History: In the sixtieth year after the beginning of the war, at the end of summer, Kelaj was born to the warrior Tor and his second wife Nuka. Notably gifted, Kelaj had a great desire to excel and imitate the great warriors of his tribe's history, an aspiration which greatly pleased his father. However, Tor was not so pleased by the direction which the North was taking. Being an old and respected warrior he had been made an elder, but he was constantly frustrated by what he saw as a lackadaisical foreign policy. Despite having lost contact with their sister tribe in the South, and reports that the Earth Kingdom was slowly losing ground, the chieftain refused to do anything to halt the Fire Nation's aggression. Eventually Tor's vehemence saw him thrown off the council.
Insulted and disgusted, Tor decided to leave the northern fortress. Taking his family, he boarded a ship and set out for the Southern Water Tribe. Kelaj was twelve years old.
At first all seemed to be going well. As soon as they cleared the arctic circle, though, they were caught in a terrible storm. Many of the crew -- friends of Tor who had agreed to go with him -- were killed, and eventually the ship was broken apart off the coast of the Earth Kingdom. Nuka and the rest of crew were killed in the wreck, leaving only Kelaj and his father. Amazingly the boy had only superficial injuries, but Tor had broken his right arm.
Nevertheless, when Fire Nation troops showed up to investigate, Tor attacked them in an attempt to keep them from finding his son. He managed to kill several, but was finally struck down by the leader. Kelaj then ran out of hiding, trying to avenge his father, and was captured. He was taken to the leader's house, where it turned out that the man was the prefect of the nearby town. His name was Lu Ba.
Lu Ba treated the young man not so much as a prisoner but as an honoured guest. When asked by a sullen Kelaj why the killer of the father should be so kind to the son, the old man's answer was that it was the only way he could pay his debt. When Kelaj informed him that he would still avenge his father, Lu Ba laughed and said that he would need to train more if he wanted to defeat the best warrior in the world.
From that point, Lu Ba practically adopted the orphaned Water Tribesman. He taught him everything he knew about weapons and the art of war. Sadly he could not teach him firebending -- Lu Ba was not merely a great fighter but also a master bender, with the title of "Celestial Dragon" for his slaying of one of the great beasts. However, Kelaj could not bend at all. So, he stuck to martial arts.
Although he still maintained that he would one day strike down his father's killer, Kelaj came to worship this man. Lu Ba was his living hero, and he strove hard to emulate him.
Lu Ba did not only teach him about fighting. He instructed the growing youth in philosophy, acquainting him with the moral precepts of the sages and the concept of the Mandate of Heaven. He even told his protégè his closest secret -- that he did not believe in Sozin's War, but that he fought in hopes of proving himself worthy of Heaven's favour. However, he had been stuck in this backwater for decades, and his ambitions had withered as he aged. It was his hope that, as he had no children of his own, Kelaj would carry on his dreams when he died.
Came the eve of Kelaj's twentieth birthday. Fired by his dreams, he came before his mentor with a request: that he might go to Agni's City and take the military service exam. Lu Ba was truly surprised -- he asked whether Kelaj did not hate the Fire Nation for killing his father? Kelaj answered that Lu Ba was his father now. Touched, Lu Ba said he would think about it, as it would be tricky to get Kelaj into the examinations. The next day, an Earth Kingdom armada appeared off the coast.
They were there for Lu Ba, and they had come prepared. Scores of earthbenders disembarked from the ships, bringing down the walls of the town without any difficulty. The small Fire Nation garrison was completely overwhelmed. Despite his awesome power, Lu Ba knew he was no match. Rather than see his men be slaughtered, he surrendered. Once he was safely shackled, the Earth Kingdom general ordered the Fire Nation troops massacred and the town razed. Then they set out, overland as the earthbenders knew they could not contain Lu Ba on board a ship.
It was Kelaj's nationality that saved his life. Coming across him, the soldiers assumed he was a hostage. Playing along, Kelaj asked if he could go with them to Ba Sing Se, where he could witness the execution of his "captor" and join the Earth Kingdom Army. The soldiers agreed, and Kelaj was conveyed to the general, where he became something of a symbol of the raid's success.
Of course, once Kelaj had become more or less trusted, he rescued his father and tried to escape. But Lu Ba was ninety-one years old, and had been none too well treated. Although the escape was successful, the effort was too much for his body to bear. Dying, he blessed his adoptive son, and begged him to save his life and carry on his dream.
Kelaj promised to do so, and buried his mentor beneath an impromptu cairn. Before he could move on, however, there was something he needed to do. He re-entered the camp, already disorganised by the escape, and liberated Lu Ba's ancestral ji, the Black Crescent. He then used it to kill the Earth Kingdom general. He stole an ostrich-horse and some supplies, and set out.
He had a difficult time of it at first. He eventually fell in with a band of brigands, from whom he learned the basics of living off the land as well as keeping his combat skills sharp. He was very popular, but eventually he became disgusted with the lifestyle. After killing another brigand, he left the group and struck out on his own.
He became something of a freelancer, wandering the western Earth Kingdom and doing such odd jobs as he could. Part mercenary, part bounty-hunter, part trail guide and fur trader, these years were colourful ones which he prefers to forget about. His life took a change for the better when he stumbled across the island of Tokushima, off the southwestern shore of the main continent.
Tokushima was ruled by Lord Ryu, a man famous for his swordsmanship and hospitality. When he heard that a skillful ronin had come to his domain, he insisted that Kelaj be brought to his castle and entertained. Kelaj had no objections; however, he quickly took a disliking to the boastful Lord. After hearing endless stories about the superior skills of the island's defenders, Kelaj was invited to dine with the Lord. In the course of this meal, a servant tripped and spilled some saké over Ryu. Amidst the man's profuse apologies, Ryu called for his sword.
Just as he lifted it to strike the poor man's head off, Kelaj picked up his plate and threw it at his host. As Ryu stared dumbfounded at the rice splattered on his rich coat, Kelaj remarked, "Oh dear. It seems you'll have to kill me too." Ryu agreed angrily that he would. Kelaj asked for his halberd, which Ryu granted, boasting that nothing could resist his blade. Kelaj rolled his eyes, and a few seconds after the duel began trapped Ryu's sword against the floor and snapped it, then taking the surprised Lord's head off. His guards all promptly disemboweled themselves to show their loyalty to their master.
Kelaj left after looting all the valuables he could, trailed by the servant (Shin by name), who was equally profuse with his gratitude. Kelaj arrived to find a festival underway in the village to celebrate the death of Ryu. The headman personally thanked the ronin, and directed him to the nearby island of Odashima, where the lord was much more intelligent.
Indeed he was, and Kelaj decided to settle there. Constant Fire Navy raids gave him plenty of action, as did Lord Shinoba's stated ambition of unifying the local islands and declaring independence from the Earth Kingdom. Between Shinoba and Kelaj they actually made some progress on this goal, despite Kelaj's constant assertions that it was futile. Also, Kelaj finally got an opportunity to work with water, developing some crude tactics that could help him against other benders. Sadly, it was just after Kelaj was dispatched to Kyoshi to negotiate an alliance when the Fire Nation attacked and destroyed Oda Castle, killing Lord Shinoba and annexing his lands.
Kelaj, crushed and jaded, elected to leave Kyoshi due to friction with the native warriors. Moving back to the mainland, he took up with a Fire Nation merchant who dealt in rare goods (such as contraband). The merchant, Zhuge by name, soon took a disliking to Kelaj's attitude, but the warrior was undoubtedly useful when it came to dealing with brigands or the authorities. Kelaj worked for him for a full year, until Zhuge made the mistake of moving to New Ozai on the eve of the Day of Black Sun. Not even Kelaj could save him. Not that he tried; on the contrary, he threw the merchant out and took the man's wealth for himself.
Now with sufficient funds, and having acquired a few loyal followers in addition to Shin, Kelaj is ready to take up the dreams of his fallen lords himself. However, not having much liking for Omashu he left the city, looking for a less earth-bender obsessed place to found his kingdom. He settled in Chung-Ling (Fire Fountain City), purchasing and repairing a rundown mansion in the southern suburbs of the industrialised town. He organised his people into a legitimate security business, and used his accumulated funds from that -- there is also plenty of business for guards in Chung-Ling -- he opened a trading company, uniting them in Snow Fox Enterprises.
While doing all this, he was not unaware of the events of the larger world. To him, the fall of Ozai only meant opportunity (though he prides himself on having been able to see the statue of Ozai before it was removed by the zealots of the new regime). He knew Zuko could not hold the country long, and it seems he is right. As the Fire Nation in general and Chung-Ling in particular slides toward chaos, he is preparing to make his move.
Skills:
- Halberd combat: Kelaj is a superb warrior. With only limited bending, he has had to rely almost entirely on other martial arts for protection and livelihood. His weapon of choice is the ji, and he is unsurpassed in the use of it. (Elite)
- Knife fighting: Kelaj also can use a knife with praiseworthy skill, although he is not as good with it as he is with the halberd. (Advanced)
- Waterbending: By the same token, he uses his waterbending mainly as a defensive measure against other benders, though he can use it for intimidation as well. He's actually pretty powerful, but he has not had a trainer since the age of twelve and even then never spent much time on lessons. So what he does know is self-taught. (Intermediate)
- Wilderness skills: Lu Kelaj also has some proficiency as a tracker and hunter. He is capable of fending for himself, although his wilderness skills have dulled somewhat since he has not needed them in recent years.
(Intermediate)
- Archery: Kelaj knows how to use a bow, and was once quite good with it. However, he never cared to fight from a distance, and in recent years his skill has dulled. Ordinarily, he would only use it against animals, or benders. (Beginner)
Weaponry:
- Ji: Kelaj's signature weapon is the ji called the Black Crescent (short for Night's Twin Crescent Fang)*It actually has two crescents attached to the main head, which itself is about fourteen inches long. The shaft is 6'2" in length, including the counterbalance (which takes the form of a conical spike). Between head and haft is a black horsehair tassel. The name derives from the black metal used in construction of head and counterbalance.
- Tanto: A plain but sturdy single-edged, curved dagger of excellent steel, about a foot long. Kelaj uses it as a back-up weapon.
- Knife: A knife, also about a foot-long, and double-edged. It is rather clumsy for martial arts; Kelaj carries it for general utility -- a hangover from his days as a poacher.
Strengths:
- Determination: Kelaj is perseverance personified. He is hard-headed and hard-hearted, and refuses to back down from anything.
- Intelligence: Kelaj is a shrewd man; a quick judge of character and able strategist.
- Control: Kelaj always rules his heart with his head. Even when angry -- and he can get very angry -- he does not lose control; his foster father taught him to focus his rage, a lesson that he learned well.
Weaknesses:
- Callous: Kelaj's over-developed attitude often alienates people he would be better off with as allies.
- Hubris: Kelaj's prowess is phenomenal, but that only fuels his arrogant tendency to look down on others, leaving him vulnerable to under-estimating the challenge of a fight.
Role Play Sample: ((Taken from another site where he tries to take control of Chung-Ling, and ... you'll see. The other characters ar ehis NPC follwoers.))
Father ... Lord Ba ... Lord Shinoba. Breathing made his chest burn, but Kelaj would not let himself stop. His grip tightened on the haft of his ji (the wood had been long ago treated to withstand fire -- if only his skin could have been) and the hilt of his tanto. They won't stop me here, my lords. I will achieve our dreams. He forced his eyes open, and slowly, teeth grit, not even realising the grunts filling the air were torn out of his own throat, forced himself up into a kneeling position. Fortunately, his legs were undamaged.
"Oh yes," he ground out between his teeth. His voice was deeper, much more hoarse because of the pain. "I'm still alive." Then he stood up. The shoulder areas of his coat flaked off and the garment fell away, leaving him only in his seared, sleeveless tunic. Slowly, whining, he reversed the tanto, and thrust it back into its sheath. Tears of agony and hatred leaked out of his eyes as he pointed his ji at the duo. "Listen, you maggots, and listen well ... I, Lu Kelaj ... will take this city ... and I will kill you ..." The ji wavered.
"Master!" Malik ran out in front of him, shamshir held up defensively. "They just keep coming! You must retreat!"
Kelaj closed his eyes.
"Master!"
"You're in no condition to fight further, sir," said the gruff voice of Xin.
Kelaj growled. "... Very well. Patch-Eye, give the order ... retreat. Rally at the ship ..." The halberd slipped from his fingers, nerves no longer capable of relaying his will's instructions. Xin caught him as he started to fall, while another guard picked up the Black Crescent.
Your Name: Flammifleure (Flam), or Vulpes.
Other Characters: Masamune, Ozai, Long Feng, Qing-Yu, Hei Li, Zudao, Ren, Xian.
