Skyward Stream

Name: Skyward Stream, Ken Niman
Age: 35ish Years
Exaltation/Caste: Lunar - Changing Moon

Affiliations: Wavecrest, Silver Pact, Swords of Luna, White Veil Society



Bio:

Growing up the son of a rather wealthy trader on the island of Halcyon in Wavecrest, Ken Niman did not want for much in his childhood. As a teenager, he was allowed to do as he pleased with a modest allowance, as his father's wealth allowed him to enjoy life without working the seas, and men are generally not allowed to work on land in Wavecrest. This was agreeable as far as Ken was concerned, and he primarily concerned himself with making friends, trying new and exciting meals, and receiving half-hearted lessons in courtly courtesy from his mother, who was determined to have him at least learn a marketable skill.

Truth be told, Ken's indulgent and lazy ways were a shame to his father, who over the years of cheerfully approving of his son's exploration while quietly burning with resentment, went a little nuts and decided the sociable young man would be best suited as a sacrifice for his ship's continued good rapport with the spirits. This was, after all, how Wavecrest worked - despite it's relative civility and friendship with the Realm, they regularly throw people into active volcanoes to appease the Gods. Ken was abducted in the night, tied down, and taken to sea.

The luck of their ships wouldn't hold. They were swiftly beset by a band of Fae pirates who, rather than looking for booty, sought to harvest the fear and terror of the crew, before going after their souls. The Fae marauded the ship for days, until the food stocks and water ran dry and even Ken was pressed into service to defend against almost playful attacks - after all, to the Fae, it was all just a fun game, playing pirates. Before long, the crew of the ship was emotionally drained from days of constant attacks and harassment, and the Fae made their move. They were all but overrun right away, and as the battle would have it, Ken stood between his father and the Fae with a cutlass in hand - ready to die to buy the man who'd been ready to kill him a few more minutes of life. The weight of ephemeral, warm hands settled on Ken's shoulders to let him know he wasn't alone, and Luna whispered words of encouragement and power into his ear, filling him with resolve and strength.

The Fae were delighted at this new source of food, and set to harassing the newly exalted Lunar with blade and word to break his resolve. As it turns out, playing with your food is a bad idea no matter who you are. A pack of Lunars affiliated with the Swords of Luna - a Wyld-busting, Fae-killing legion of warriors - had been tracking the Fae crew for weeks, and had finally managed to catch up with the conceptual pirates, falling upon them with Wyld-neutralizing charms and deadly blades. Ken's exaltation was just a happy coincidence. 

Wavecrest is not a place accepting of Anathema, even if Ken's parents were now accepting of their son for the valor he'd shown. After a few farewells and promises to write, Ken left with the Pack of Heavy Burdens to undergo initiation into the Silver Pact, and a year or two later, the Swords of Luna. Although his own talent as a Lunar was somewhat limited, Ken found himself serving an odd but needed niche in Lunar society - his connections with an ancient secret society through his mother, friendly connections with the Swords of Luna, and talent for ingratiating himself wherever he went made him a veritable nexus of contacts, associates, and fair-weather friends. He also discovered a love of teaching; while Ken's own skill at fighting has always been somewhat dubious, he's received several questionable fosters who have gone on to be exemplary warriors of Luna.

Decades later, Ken occasionally likes to brag that his life is right where he wants it. He's got friends in every tavern, acolytes out doing good for Creation, and is pleased enough to take a passive role in general. That said, Creation is a much more turbulent place than it has been for the last few years - and even Ken can't remain on the back lines for very long. 


Appearance:

Skyward Stream is loud, gregarious, and eminently comfortable. Wherever he goes, he acts as though he's got a standing invitation - if he doesn't, it usually doesn't take him long to obtain one. He's fond of loud declarations in a slightly raspy voice that occasionally carries a hint of Seatongue on it, is well-tanned and well-scarred, and usually boasts a pretty respectable five-o-clock shadow. It isn't unusual for him to smell a little like rum, or the ocean, or both, and often in need of a shower atop all that. These are separate things - the smell of the ocean is a part of Stream's tell.

That said, he isn't completely slovenly - the West carries different priorities, after all. He's in devastatingly good shape and not afraid of showing this off, and proudly displays his tattoos, moonsilver and otherwise. He's got the scars of a long career fighting back the borders of the Wyld wherever the crop up, a litany of successful students, and a great deal to be proud of - even if he's almost perpetually broke and basically homeless. 


Potential Plot Hooks:

-Skyward Stream has a jovial relationship with nearly every faction of the Lunar's 'governing' body, the Silver Pact. He also has a reputation for taking odd or questionable young Lunars and making fine, productive Lunars out of them. Don't be afraid to be sent to him for trials, education, or fostering.
-Skyward Stream also, through his mother, has education and contacts befitting his status of the totally-not-a-thing White Veil Society. Many of his students are similarly initiated into that arcane order before or after coming to him.

Character Sheet (30BP, 0XP)

Past RPs:
Character Questionnaire (5XP)