Kaynen Catesby's page

Kaynen uses the "Dual-Minded" racial attribute of half-elves (+2 to Will saves) instead of the "Adaptability" racial attribute (free Skill Focus feat). Just couldn't resist a trait called "dual minded"!

4586 Andario Keeg (Kaynen's father) born.

4632 Andario Keeg (46) leads Keeg's Company - a mercenary band allied to Talingarde's steward, Jaraad - his services tendered for receipt of a large sum of gold, lands and a title. Upon the devastating loss, Andario disappears only to re-emerge months later as "Lord Crispin Catesby" who swears allegiance to Mitra and claims his new holdings outside of Ghastenhall which he names The Cormorant.

4678 Markadian I Dies. Keeg is 92.

4685 The Purge Begins.

4683 Lord Catesby (97) weds Lady Feria Page (21).

4685 Kaynen is born. Feria dies during childbirth due to clumsiness of the local Mitran priest, who not only was fond of the bottle, but had wasted much of his divine healing earlier that day on a band of mildly wounded Talingarde paladins.

4696 Markadian V takes the throne.

4704 Kaynen studies at the University of Ghaster. He focuses his studies on history, the arcane, alchemy, and engineering. He doesn't finish a doctorate in any particular area of study, but this doesn't stop him from calling himself a "Doctor" to anyone he meets who does not know better.

4709 Andario falls ill, summons Kaynen home to inform him about his family's history - their historical allegiances, the death of his mother, and more. Andario refuses treatment by any priest of Mitra, based on decades of distrust.

4711 Lord Omer Wriothesley, with designs on expanding his holdings, discovers the origins of Lord Catesby's holdings. Through obscure loopholes in Talingarde law, he strips Andario of his title and holdings, and appeals to add the lands to his own. Departing The Cormorant takes its toll on Andario, who dies on the road in inclement weather during a time he should be committed to bedrest. Under the guise of kindness, yet with unclear intention, Lord Omer Wriothesley offers to take in Kaynen as a ward.

4712 Kaynen conspires with Paullin Strachey and Ella Zonn, old university friends, to serve as karmic vessels and right their perceived imbalances within Talingarde. For years during their studies, Kaynen fancied Ella and despite a few trists, their relationship never became longterm. A plot is formed, with Lord Wriothesley as their first target.

4713 Using his ability to get close to Omer, Kaynen plants a sealed chest on the lord's carriage while it's en route to a council meeting. Within, an alchemical bomb ticks away before it detonates and incinerates the carriage. Miraculously, Omer survives - scarred and bloody.

Based on an "anonymous tip", Sir Balin apprehends Kaynen, along with copious evidence in the form of seditious letters. He is sentenced for the crimes of treason and sedition (read on for how this happened...)

Two goals

Kaynen seeks to disrupt the ruling powers of Talingarde, which he views as placing far too much trust in distorted interpretations of the divine will of Mitra. He is working to form a group of "Karmic Scions" with similar views to his own and is convinced there are many who share his beliefs that simply require his outreach.

Perhaps even more, he craves fame and recognition such that has never been showered on any other figure in Talingarde's history. Perhaps a byproduct of his father's negligence (stemming from his obsession with House Darius in his waning years), Kaynen wants every butcher, baker, farmer or aspiring conspirator to be feverishly repeating his name and pondering his "movement" for centuries to come.

Two secrets - one known and one unknown

As a prisoner sentenced to death, Kaynen's identity thus far has been maintained as a secret. Desperately craving recognition and fame, he has been battling against his better judgement at revealing himself, hoping his peers find a way to secure his release. If his last breath on Golarion is to truly be tomorrow, he plans to shout his name out in a last desperate attempt to secure a position for himself in history. Yet, in honesty with himself, he knows he has done little to have his conspiracy endure beyond whispered conversations more than a fortnight or two.

Among the triumverate of Kaynen, Paullin and Ella, both Kaynen and Paullin have their sights set on winning the heart of the vivacious Ella. Yet both Kaynen and Paullin have kept their lustful desires secret from one another. Paullin's participation in The Movement is more born from a desire to possess Ella than futher its goals. With Kaynen caught and imprisoned, Paullin has taken this opportunity to successfully pursue Ella. He can only hope Ella never discovers it was he who turned over Kaynen's letters to the authorities.

Wait... a third secret?

(This would be based on coordinating with the GM)

Kaynen wanted to be caught, and he wanted to go to Branderscar. He just didn't expect it to happen so soon. Having heard of the imprisonment of some like-minded individuals, he fancied this as the true genesis to The Movement. That, and the infamy and recognition to be gained as the first to escape the legendary prison, would serve as a radiant beacon for recruiting more accomplices in forging grander plans.

Three acquaintances - one friend and two "fren-emies"

Ella Zonn - Having known Kaynen for years, the two studied together with their friend Paullin and formed a close bond. Ella loathes Talingarde, blaming the country's misguided codes for the death of her older brother - who was found guilty of conspiracy and heresy. She seeks to continue what her brother started and sees both Kaynen and Paullin as tools to her end. With Kaynen's imprisonment, she has began a romantic relationship with Paullin to further cement her manipulation of him.

Paullin Strachey - A co-conspirator in the plot against Omer Wriothesley, Paullin has been a friend of Kaynen's for years. However, upon believing that Ella might instead favor Kaynen over him, he turned over what little evidence he had that would lead authorities to apprehend Kaynen. This secret is only known to Paullin, who will continue to feign friendship with Kaynen should he escape Branderscar. If he finds himself competing with Kaynen again, he would undoubtedly orchestrate another plot to remove him from the romantic equation. However, he won't reveal Kaynen's true identity to this end, as that would destroy his chances with Ella as all their identities come to light.

Lord Omer Wriothesley. The horribly burned noble who took ownership of The Cormorant from Kaynen's father and took him in as his ward. Omer is uncertain who plotted against his life, but does wonder if it was Kaynen who has suspiciously disappeared since the accident. When they are together, both operate under a veil of friendship that is so thin, even a blind man could see through it.

Three memories or quirks or mannerisms

A memory - Kaynen remembers his father's dying words outside of the Cormorant, revealing his true identity as the mercenary captain Andario Keeg. Having planted seeds of distrust and intolerance in the time they spent together during his illness, "Lord Crispin" hoped to sow those in his final moments, and pass the torch to his only son to bear and achieve the restoration and rebalance of power that he never could. Kaynen struggles with this memory, feeling betrayal in the truth of his father being nothing but a mercenary playing noble. Then again, he sees this as a chance to gain the appreciation his father never gave him in all their living years together.

A quirk - As a consummate narcissist, Kaynen hungers for fame and recognition. This causes him to be fairly quick to trust others that show praise for his abilities or ideas. He cannot control the "rush" that follows him taking actions against the law that advance the day when his name is the most recognized in Talingarde. If given attention, especially from women, he devours it like a dying man in a desert.

A mannerism - Beyond swords, bows and magic, Kaynen's secret weapon is his charm and a disarming smile. He's grown accustomed to wielding "the smile" much like a duelist would wield a rapier to disarm an adversary or a thief would use a pick to open a locked door. Lucky for him, the smile comes out naturally when he grows anxious or nervous, which is perfectly timed for when he needs it.

Here is the letter that gave Kaynen away, whereupon he was found at midnight. His punishment has been severe due to his unwillingness to provide any additional details to his interrogator, despite the ease at which he admits to being the "mastermind of some unnamed plot."

E -

-K

The sun shone brightly on the rocky perch, as if it were a theater spotlight aimed center stage at a radiating Chelish diva.

This, in no way, was due to any doing of Mitra.

Kaynen shifted anxiously, squinting his brilliant blue eyes at the horizon and checking the shadows for an approximation of the time.

Any moment now..

He smiled to himself, his plans always had a way of working.

"And have we decided who will do the honors?"

Kaynen glanced about, as if he were addressing an imaginary audience, waiting with measured anticipation for his next line. He held up and gestured with his hand, as if he were declining a phantasmal offer.

"Why, I couldn't! My good doctor, these were crafted with your fine hands!"

He paused, smirking to himself.

"Well, if I am going to be the one, I'll need to be properly inspired..."

The grin grew wider, and Kaynen brought a finger to his pursed lips and feigned deep thought.

"Alkardian's Fifth Overture? No, that won't do..."

"The Art Of Intrigue? Alas, too dark for this spendid day..."

"Ah! The Magnimarian Concerto in G Minor... That just might work, and it is one of your favorites!"

Kaynen nodded to no one in particular, continuing to wear his self-assured smile like a fisherman might wear a lucky hat. After all, this was a sort of "fishing".

He could just make out the sounds of a cart in the distance, its wooden wheels crunching against small stones. The iron-shod axle squeaked out its own distinctive response, not unlike a duet partner chiming in to begin her accompanying verse.

Patience...

An overly large, rotund man with a moustache sat in the cart, appearing completely ignorant of his surroundings, lost in his own thoughts. Burlap bags and crates adorned the small cart pulled by a lone mule.

To further accompany the building symphony, Kaynen's ears searched for and found the hint of a tinkle from the glass jars he knew were held within.

"Now!"

Leaping from his perch, and with practiced effort, Kaynen's right hand closed around a small vial while his left pulled the stopper free. As the oxygen rushed in, he smiled to himself as a slow hissss joined the concert in his mind - like a cymbal quietly vibrating to build to a dramatic moment.

Kaynen paused for a moment, eyes closed, face aglow in the sunlight, left hand moving in rhythm to his whistling - impervious to the sizzle that heralded the impending destruction to be unleashed by the vessel in his hand.

Finally, eyes open, he lobbed the explosive. The flask spun in the air, landing mere steps from the mule and cart.

Then, it detonated.

Kaynen seized the opportunity to throw both of his hands in the air, hands flat and swaying to the sounds of the explosion and fire, as his concerto reached a climax. It was missing only a single instrument to achieve perfection...

Then, on cue, he was rewarded with the chorus of screams.

Hopping off his perch, he paused to brush the dirt from his pants. Turning, he gave a bow to his imaginary audience, knowing that they have never before in their sad, sheltered lives, ever been treated to such distinguished entertainment.

As the screams came to an end, he closed the distance to the shattered remnants of the cart, his eyes locked on the reagents he needed for this week's next dramatic performance...

Extra Tidbits
Kaynen, when not a prisoner, will dress in red and green to honor the last Barcan king. Since it's still supposed to be "en vogue", he will substitute burgundy for the red while the fashion trend remains.

Kaynen studied math, engineering, history, and arcane arts at the University of Ghaster. With copious wealth at this stage in his life, he shared a flat with several colleagues in Tuebelow.

His flat-mates convinced him to try out for Rugagug during his freshman year. Naturally quick, he was pretty good in the early days. However after breaking his arm and being in a cast for over two months, Kaynen sought independent retribution against the opposing team-member, arranging a mysterious "accident".

When not studying, Kaynen had no issue visiting the Red Quarter for a little fun and is well acquainted with the parting of his coin at the Golden Palace. In fact, he made it something of a little routine prior to exams to "clear his mind" here.

Kaynen auditioned for a part at the Barrington-in-the-Round Theater after having seen several performances and feeling he was more talented that most of the "bit players" that were being cast. He was selected for several small bit parts, but the director(s) failed to cast him in anything meaningful citing his lack of experience or authenticity in any specific role. Kaynen plans to prove them wrong, someday.

==

Kaynen's Thoughts:

Lord Hadrian is a great man. Become known to him. His grandfather knew my father.

Professor Iberius Feign. Another seemingly great man. Befriend him as well.

Evelynn Grandel, Ghaster's wealthiest woman. Single? Loyal to the King or Hadrian? Her assets will be useful in the cause.

Cardinal Leo. This man is a bastard and the "Tool" which Lord Wriothesley abused to wrest the Cormorant and its holdings along the Godscar from Kaynen's father.