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Brian Joubert
First Name: Kaden
Family Line: Unknown
Full Title: “The Man” – within the Thieves Guild; Spymaster Kaden to the Emperor and confidantes
Race: Imperial
Age: Early 30’s (exact age unknown)
Gender: Male
Sexuality: Heterosexual
Birthplace: Breckton
Home: Breckton
Profession: Thieves Guild Leader; Imperial Spymaster/Assassin
Associated Characters: “The Right Hand Man”/”The Right” – Main Thieves Associate/Second in Charge; “Enforcer” – Thieves ‘Sheriff’; Various Thieves and Spies; The Emperor; Various Confidantes/Nobles
Minor Characters
“The Right Hand Man”/”The Right”, “Enforcer”
Background
Kaden was born to a whore within a mediocre brothel in the early 2990’s – the exact date and year lost to all. Of very poor lineage, Kaden’s mother continued to work as a whore even after Kaden’s birth, Kaden living his early years within the confines of the brothel. At the age of four, Kaden’s mother made the bold move of presenting Kaden to his father, proclaiming him of noble birth within the market square for all to see. As expected, such a performance was futile. Another whore claiming that she had been inseminated by a noble. She was quickly dragged away and dumped, with Kaden, down a back alley. Out of sight, out of mind.
The noble in question though saw the claim as a threat. So, a week later, he hired some assassins to eliminate the threat. In the dead of night, two black clad figures entered the brothel and then the sleeping quarters of Kaden’s mother. Her death was quick and silent though had the effect of waking Kaden. Kaden ran and hid in a dark corner, and although he would never realize it, had employed some magic to hide himself and survive. His mother’s dead body and the growing then drying pool of blood oozing from her slit throat would forever be embedded in Kaden’s mind.
After his mother’s murder, Kaden had escaped to the streets to begin his life as a street urchin. Needless to say, Kaden’s early times as a four year old street urchin were a difficult life. He would beg and search rubbish for food. He ate anything and slept anywhere – often crying himself to sleep. Before long he was approached by a man whom he was immediately wary of. Unknown to Kaden, he was a member of the Thieves Guild. After much convincing, Kaden accompanied the man to an underground alcove and was greeted by his new family. All like him. Kaden finally felt like he belonged.
So Kaden began his life as a thief – or more to the point, for the first five or so years, as an errand runner and eavesdropper. Kaden would receive instruction from “The Orderer” to deliver messages or instructions to the older thieves and spies and run to carry them out. As for the eavesdropping, Kaden was always surprised how easily he could eavesdrop on conversations and how no one seemed to ever suspect a young boy wandering or playing nearby to be an informant to The Man. The first five or so years of his life were easy. Well as easy as it could be for a thief.
At around the age of 12, Kaden had begun to grow into the man he would soon become. He suddenly began to ‘mature’, his reflexes allowing him to pick pockets with ease and dodge and escape, also with ease, in the rare times that he was discovered. He could hide unseen to eavesdrop in even the most obvious of places. If Kaden had been discovered by a mage he would have been immediately transferred to the School of Mages and Healers. But this was not too be. Who would identify a mage within the Thieves Guild unless some sort of catastrophe was to happen? So it was that Kaden’s magical abilities, which led to his quick reflexes and ability to remain unseen, were never discovered for what they truly were.
By the time a year had passed, he had become to make himself known as a bit of a legend within the Thieves Guild. And it appeared to draw the attention of The Man himself.
It was at around the age of 13 that Kaden was summoned by The Man. Kaden had no idea why and feared for his life. He was brought into a dark room and seated, interrogation style. It was here he was offered the position as spy for the Emperor. A position he had no choice but to take.
Kaden found that he would not be thrust into his new position of a spy immediately however. He would first learn the intricacies of court life as well as be trained in the use of weapons. And all manner of weapons they were. He picked up his weapon training with ease, his latent magical abilities aiding in this cause. Within a year he could best even the most gifted veterans within the Thieves Guild. Though, again due to his quickness and reflexes, he chose that his most favoured of weapons were those that led themselves to quick reflexes – the rapier and daggers. With these he was all but untouchable.
Unfortunately, his magical abilities did not help with his training in the intricacies of the court. So it was only after 2 years of training that Kaden was eventually introduced to the Emperor. A young man of only around 15 years of age the Emperor was a little skeptical of his new spy though accepted the word of the Spymaster – or The Man as he was known to others.
And so Kaden was inserted into various positions within the court within Breckton at first then throughout the Imperial lands. His endeavours and ability to find out even the most secretive of secrets impressed the Emperor to no end. It wasn’t until his fifth year of ‘service’ that he was asked to perform his first devious act of assassination. It would change Kaden’s view of the world. He, of course with his supernatural reflexes, performed the assassination with ease. Though it was the aftermath that affected him most. Upon seeing the pooling blood images of his mother returned to him. Anger, frustration on not being able to help, helplessness. And to make things worse, he found he enjoyed the kill and the thrill it bought him. He made a pact to shut such things out, resulting in him becoming the perfect thief and assassin when required – heartless, emotionless, without remorse. That’s not to say he doesn’t have the ability to ‘act’ like he possesses those qualities.
And so he continued, a spy and a shell of what he was as a child. Thankfully, the need to act as an assassin was rare or Kaden could have turned out much worse.
It was at around the age of 28 that the news arrived. The Spymaster had been discovered for what he really was by one of the Emperor’s adversaries and quickly executed. It was a great blow to the Emperor. But it was a time of discovery for Kaden. He was summoned to meet the Emperor and was given his new position. The position of Spymaster. Even at his age he was considered to be the most gifted and ruthless of all of the Emperor’s spies. But it didn’t end there. Upon exiting the Emperor’s chamber Kaden was given a message from a young thief. Opening it, he read that he was being summoned by The Man. Although in employ to the Emperor, Kaden’s true duty and loyalty remained with the Thieves Guild, so he departed to meet The Man immediately.
He was guided to a small room within the thieves’ underground lair to a body lying upon a table in the centre of it. It was here he first ‘officially’ met Enforcer and The Right Hand Man and came upon three further discoveries. Firstly, the body lying on the table was not only the Spymaster but also The Man. Secondly, he was also his father. And thirdly, due to his own abilities and the fact that he was his son, he would now be given the responsibility of The Man.
And so Kaden has continued, double acting as Spymaster and The Man up until now. It is a difficult balancing act though Kaden somehow manages it with ease.
Physical Appearance
For all of Kaden’s demeanor and station he is not an overly imposing figure in stature. Kaden stands at 5 foot 9 inches tall and, although muscular, cuts quite a slim figure. Kaden sports short black hair a little on the messy side. He has no unusual or prominent features, which is the way he likes it – it ensures that there is nothing that sticks in someone’s mind. The exception to this maybe being his steely and unwavering gaze. One that rarely shows any emotion except when he is acting the role of a noble or courtly figure.
Kaden wears a variety of clothing depending what role he is playing. When taking his preferred role as The Man and on the rare occasion when he has time to himself, you will find Kaden in a simple black tunic and trousers. At all times, even sometimes when sleeping, Kaden will be wearing his favourite soft leather boots. Especially made light-weight and allowing him to tread without a sound.
When allowed and appropriate, Kaden also likes to wear his rapier at his side and two daggers secreted upon himself.
Personality
Kaden’s true personality is one of a heartless, emotionless, and remorseless sole. One born from a pact with himself to never show emotions and to bury them deep down within himself. On rare occasions, Kaden does wonder the consequences of these emotions and demons being released in one horrific moment. He is certain they would be dire.
Kaden does not have any that he would call ‘friends’, though his court acquaintances see a charming bachelor. Although he personally does not consider himself to be the greatest actor, within court he is either well liked or despised – there is no in-between. Never failing to show off his prowess during duels with the rapier and the fact that he always plays the role of a bachelor ensuring this. As a courtly noble, he enjoys the company of women and normally has no trouble charming them into his bed.
Within the Thieves Guild as The Man, Kaden ‘manages from afar’. The only people that meet and converse with him being The Right Hand Man, Enforcer and those that have broken the rules or code of the Thieves Guild severely enough to warrant execution. With all these acquaintances, Kaden lets his true side show, showing only the cold and steely form of himself.
Talents
Kaden’s latent magical abilities are his main asset – though Kaden or any he acquaints with are unaware he even has any. They are his foundation for his extremely quick reflexes and his ability to hide in even the most obvious of place.
Kaden is proficient in the use of all weapons though is without equal in the use of the rapier or with daggers.
Kaden is correct in his assumption that he is not the best actor. To cover for this, he usually plays the charming though talented ‘pretty boy’ allowing his occasional poor acting to be covered by the ‘air-head’ factor. Having said this, he is well trained and quite adept at courtly etiquette and so fits into the mould of a court noble or other courtly figure quite easily.
Kaden has also taken his role as The Man with both hands and manages the Thieves Guild very well. Since him taking the position, the Thieves Guild has prospered making many large win-falls and inserting itself in a number of important positions within Breckton and even further afield into other important areas of Daeria.
Weaknesses
Although a great talent, Kaden’s heartlessness and steely resolve can also be a weakness at times causing people to avoid him and occasionally thwarting attempts to insert himself into prime positions within the court.
Kaden would never admit it, though when acting the court noble, he actually does enjoy the company of women within his bed. This has resulted in him occasionally choosing the wrong woman to bed and their unwanted repercussions – none that he has had any trouble dealing with so far though some that have caused ‘a scene’ which he has occasionally required the Emperor’s assistance to remedy.
Double acting as the Spymaster and The Man has its obvious dangers. The Emperor is unaware that Kaden is also The Man and he would hate to think of the repercussions should he ever find out. Kaden’s position as The Man is a secret well kept even within the Thieves Guild though anything is possible. Kaden does however take joy in thwarting some of his own plans as Spymaster with acts, as The Man, by his Thieves Guild – he sees them as amusing and ironic events and ones he normally gains the largest win-falls out of.
Opinion of the Peace Treaties
Kaden has no opinion one way or the other on the peace treaties. If anything, he sees the arrival of the Celtic Princess as an opportunity for greater income and even possibly a chance to insert someone (maybe even himself) into a prominent and lucrative position within the Celts – in terms of information and wealth.
