Author Topic: Character Study of the Week: Akule  (Read 2818 times)

Grey

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Character Study of the Week: Akule
« on: 16 January 2017, 04:22:31 »
Character Study of the Week: Akule
Who: Akule
   Aka Akule Coyote
   Aka Akule Wolf
What: MechWarrior, Omicron Galaxy, Clan Coyote
   MechWarrior, Omicron Galaxy, Clan Wolf
When: circa 3050 – 5 December 3071
Weapon of Choice: Grendel

Clan Wolf’s last stand in the Homeworlds was made by an odd unit, to say the least. Omicron Galaxy was originally Clan Coyote’s own, traded away for a valuable lineage, Wolf holdings and two warships. Omicron was not the only resource the Wolves gained, but it was the most pertinent in this engagement.

In amongst this transferred asset was one Akule Wolf, decanted on Tameron, raised and winning warrior status and finding a place in Omicron Galaxy along with sibmate and technical (or factual, certainly emotional) twin, Jana.

Akule, while honoured to be a part of the Clan of Kerensky, was dismayed at what was happening around him. Not just the general chaos of the Wars of Reaving, though he never saw their final tumult, but also the Wolf Abjuration and the manner in which the Wolves conducted themselves in response.

UnClanlike would be the mild term.

Regardless he followed orders, defended the Kerensky Bloodchaple and took down more than a few foes before his Grendel finally gave out.

From there Watch Commander Ramil Kerensky requested him and charged him with the important duty of shepherding the Kerensky Bloodheritage off of Strana Mechty. This after Akule rebuked the Star Colonel.

Seeing the rightness and sacredness of this duty, and finally beginning to understand that dishonourable actions were sometimes necessary on a (relatively) small scale to preserve the greater honour and integrity of the Clan, Akule accepted.

Along with Jana he tried to make it out the city, sadly not getting very far before being gunned down for basically being somewhere at all.

This was an act of self-sacrifice so that Jana could escape with the Kerensky lineage, and an act of final acceptance that the larger mission required smaller pieces sacrifice themselves.

Who was Akule? Did he even matter?

To the latter, yes and no. His role in getting the Kerensky Blood Legacy out of Clan Space is important, though he is just one of many who made it happen, including Ramil Kerensky and sibmate Jana. A necessary stepping stone of sorts, but just one of many required.

In terms of fiction he is important, but not for this role, but, as all introduction fiction, for framing the book and the contents to come.

These little snippets of fiction at the beginning of source materials serve as framing devices, they help set the mood and atmosphere of the rest of the book, and throw a particular moment into stark relief.

In this case it is one of the more climactic moments in the Wars of Reaving, of which there are, honestly, a great many. But in this case it’s the Wolves making off with the Kerensky blood heritage, arguably a turning point since it comes at the same time IlKhan Brett Andrews announces that bloodlines involved in the Invasion are up for Reaving which ultimately leads to the Society revealing itself it is realistically the turning point of the whole bloody affair.

Prior to this the Wars of Reaving were little different from the upheavals of the previous decade. Clans fought for resources, territory, bloodlines, just at all new and bloody levels that paid scant attention to Nicholas Kerensky’s ideals of limiting waste.

After this, particularly due to Society involvement, the conflict escalated in directions no Clan warrior was prepared for, and even took on shades of what the Word of Blake was doing with biological attacks, something that struck deep at the core being of the Clans.

But that is beyond the scope of Akule, who doesn’t even survive to get out of Katyusha.

Would a character covering the larger events be more appropriate, someone who sees the Reavings from small petty political spat starts to planet scouring end? A Khan, present or future, Galaxy Commander, Star Colonel or even a scientist?

Debatable. These pieces of fiction are supposed to paint a picture, usually more intimate than that presented in the book because source materials, by their very nature, have to be vague. Increasingly so when they are covering events of larger scale.

This is a necessity, since tying things down too much can inhibit the ability of GMs to run campaigns. Broad strokes, key events, these things can be spelt out, but getting bogged down in minutia would make the book horrifically long and limit options. It’s a fictional setting to be played, not a true history.

The Wars of Reaving are the biggest thing to happen in Clan Space since Operation Klondike, there is little to no room to cover individual warriors below Galaxy Commander or Star Colonel, unless the events they are swept up in are particularly notable.

Which makes Akule’s story a poignant snapshot of matters, since like any other piece of fiction there are themes to be explored as well as events. In this instance it’s themes of honour and duty, about holding on to them as the world collapses, and when to sacrifice them when the need is great enough.

Does this mean his choice of ‘Mech is relevant?

In the context of this story no. It’s a Grendel of indeterminate configuration, could even be customized to Akule’s fighting style or the environment he is fighting in. Regardless it’s not a common Wolf of Coyote design and we’re not told what it’s packing, so it’s a plot device rather than a character tool.

It is however a swift and powerful Medium OmniMech, one that could conceivably blast a couple of opponents before giving out, which is what the plot requires.

Why? Akule isn’t unbeatable, and to keep going against an endless stream of opponents tells a different story. Akule must leave combat for a reason and the situation is dire enough that little other than death or utter exhaustion will do. And the latter foils the remainder of the story as well.

So instead he is dispossessed. Lower case d since this is the Clans. Thus freeing him up for the vital mission of getting the Kerensky legacy off Strana Mechty.

Does he have to die in the process? Before even getting to the rendezvous?

As a matter of drama, no, there are other ways, a dramatic Dropship escape, a fiery battle, something a little more spectacular or even poignant.

Stepping in and taking a ‘Mech scale hit so his sibmate can escape with the legacy serves another purpose, it shows the level of self-sacrifice required in order to maintain the Clan ideals.

Whatever your opinion of said ideals this is Akule’s resolution of the internal conflict that dogged him in the early parts of the short story, and shouldn’t be dismissed out of hand. As much as he is a window into the conflict he has his own little character arc going on. Against the backdrop of what’s going on that’s actually kind of impressive.

So that’s why I’ve started the year with Akule. A very minor individual in the midst of one of the major events of the setting so far, very much committed to running along in his own self-contained story. An easily overlooked character that achieves quite a bit.

Frabby

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Re: Character Study of the Week: Akule
« Reply #1 on: 17 January 2017, 15:39:42 »
It's funny that I read the intro fiction to Wars of Reaving just the other day, and thought "Man these Clanners really had it coming for three centuries, that crazy artificial might-makes-right culture should have collapsed around them much earlier." Akule is a good case in point.
« Last Edit: 17 January 2017, 15:41:47 by Frabby »
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Decoy

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Re: Character Study of the Week: Akule
« Reply #2 on: 17 January 2017, 22:31:45 »
You say that, but aren't all cultures in this game might makes right? Take for example, the Chesterton debate or the Pleiades debate. All the houses can say what they will, but at the end of the day, it's might that matters. Chesterton isn't now a Confederation world because of any inherent rightness or morality of the Confederation. The Pleiades aren't now a part of the Taurian Concordat because of some intense longing on the part of the inhabitants. Nope. All due to the amount of troops enforcing that decision.

As far as the story goes, Omicron Galaxy was one of the Coyote's second line galaxies and seemed to me a destination for honored elder warriors who couldn't die in any other way. (except for the Coyote sibkos transferred over)  Omicron's duty was to die well, and I'm glad it fulfilled its duty so awesomely that the Wolves could not bring themselves to raise another Omicron.

Sjhernan3060

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Re: Character Study of the Week: Akule
« Reply #3 on: 18 May 2017, 20:50:16 »
Thanks for doing these I enjoy them!

 

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