This is a repository of backstory and old RP regarding Kartanian and his Curiosity Kilz operatives.
I am pulling this material from the League of Titans archives. The LoT is a "City of" supergroup from Virtue server that started before beta and had a lot of active roleplaying over the years. It is still active as a cross-game gaming group. We don't communicate as much these days, but several members (Xcelsier, Ayradyss, most notably) are at least moderately active here in the Phoenix Project forums.
Kartanian was created as an NPC for a D&D adventure in 2003. He became a PC in the D&D campaign shortly thereafter and was my first CoV character. Kartanian (a play on "D'Artagnan, and equally romantic and swashbucklery) has been a very active character since then across multiple games.
Post or contact me with questions, if any arise.
Cheers!
~Kartanian
A Wing and a Prayer, A Strong, Strong Wind, All Forests are One, Power Struggles - Venture City metahuman novels in the spirit of City of Heroes and other comic book superhero fiction. (http://bit.ly/sdpbooks)
ENOUGH ROOM TO SWING A CAT - EPISODE 2: MISTAKEN ALLEGIENCES
The coast was clear. The dull grey metal flight deck atop Fort Darwin on Mercy Island was free of anyone who could pose a threat. There were only a few newbie villains and hangers on, plus the usual contingent of Arachnos functionaries and soldiers. The sun would be setting soon and it cast a pink glow over the scene beneath scattered iron grey clouds. Kalinda was on a quick break from her post, and due to be back any time. Kartanian slipped over and sat down on her pedestal to wait. He had changed out of his "Ken Tanner, UPS delivery driver" disguise back in Cap before stepping out of the hijacked mediport reclamator at Fort Darwin.
He did not have long to wait. Kalinda arrived, preceded by a pair of white-garbed junior arbiters. Both were trained Widow Corps operatives, Kartanian noted, but neither was anywhere near his own level of skill. They were effective bodyguards, but more a signal that interference with Kalinda would draw the immediate attention of Lord Recluse. Kartanian thought he caught a quick eye roll from Arbiter Rein on duty nearby, and grinned.
Kalinda looked about her station with suspicion. Something felt out of place and her senses were on edge lately. Then, where he had not been a moment before, was a certain ginger-striped catling spy. She shouted and pointed, "YOU!"
The tabaxi held up his hands quickly in an inoffensive gesture. "Whoa, whoa, Lady Kalinda! I am here to apologize for my affronts, not to do you any harm."
Something gave her pause. Kalinda closed her eyes and flitted her vision about her with the Sight. Her guards were already moving to flanking positions where they could get a clear shot at the rogue, but held their fire, as previously instructed. To her frustrating nemesis, the seer growled, "Speak."
Kartanian bowed graciously and managed to convey the utmost sincerity through his movements and posture. "My Lady, I wish for this feud between us to end. I hold you in much too great esteem for your talents and your beauty to wish you any real harm, and I fear that events have perhaps gotten beyond us. I truly am sorry for the difficulty and the insult that my actions regarding the list of Destined Ones have caused you, and I apologize. Perhaps there is some way I could prove myself to you?"
The Fortunata Mistress blinked in surprise behind her veil. This had to be yet another twisted joke. Still, she had studied him long enough to recognize when he was being serious. She nodded to her guards to ease off. They remained wary, and looked around for hidden dangers. This might just be a distraction. "Prove yourself to me, Kartanian? Why? What could you possibly hope to gain?"
The tabaxi smiled, a hint of laughter in his eyes. He bowed again and lashed his tail. "A better working relationship, my lady. More is best left perhaps unsaid, though perhaps you can see it in me...."
Kalinda nearly gasped. There, he had just opened up his mind to her! With a sneer for his weakness, she unleashed all her pent-up frustration and fury in a mental barrage. With a desperate meowling cry, Kartanian collapsed to his knees and clutched at his head. Kalinda savaged his mind like a frenzied wolverine, clawing and tearing at anything she could reach. Her guards watched in amazement.
She stabbed at his mind for a short eternity before pausing. Kartanian gasped through the pain, trying to keep focus. With a bitter laugh, Kalinda said, "Nothing. You have opened yourself up for nothing at all!"
Weakly, the tabaxi whispered, "No, Lady. You deserved a chance to vent your wrath. My fault." He struggled to catch his breath, then continued, "Look deeper."
Kalinda's eyes narrowed in suspicion and she Looked. It was her turn to catch her breath. "You think yourself equal to...!" She clamped her lips shut, afraid to reveal what she had seen. Her fury welled up again, but something stayed her wrath. He had meant what he had shown her. She wasn't sure what to make of it.
Kartanian nodded and struggled to one knee. He remained there, kneeling before her, his head reeling, waiting. Everything depended on what the Fortunata did next--whether this was just a gambit or something more fruitful, whether the terrible pain would be rewarded or wasted.
Seconds passed. The guards exchanged curious glances, but held their tongues. Finally, Kalinda spoke. "Maybe. We shall see. I will send you word of the first step in 'proving yourself,' as you say. And then, I will see how serious you are."
Kartanian released the breath he barely realized he had been holding. He rose and made a courtly bow. "Thank you, my lady. I cannot do what you know I would not do, and anything else is yours to ask."
Kalinda frowned behind the veil. "Kartanian, you know as well as I that the tests of Arachnos don't work that way."
"Yes, I know," he nodded. "And this is not one of those famous loyalty tests, but a test of worthiness to you, directly." he paused and met her gaze through the veil. "You can see what I mean."
Absently, the Seer nodded. "I understand. Now go. You are still under the ban. I do not wish to have to replace my assistants and half of the Fort Darwin staff in a futile attempt to kill you."
"As you wish, my Lady," Kartanian bowed again, and leaped backward off the flight deck of the fortress, into the sea below.
Nothing moved but the flags fluttering in the evening breeze from the sea. After a long moment, Kalinda spoke to her guards. "I am taking another break. Do what you will until I return." She strode from the platform to think.
A Wing and a Prayer, A Strong, Strong Wind, All Forests are One, Power Struggles - Venture City metahuman novels in the spirit of City of Heroes and other comic book superhero fiction. (http://bit.ly/sdpbooks)
ENOUGH ROOM TO SWING A CAT - EPISODE 2: MISTAKEN ALLEGIENCES, continued
He had expected this cycle of endless questing, but foresight did not make dealing with it any easier. Kartanian crossed another task off his list and left the gift in a small iron box on Kalinda's pillow. An unkind observer--definitely not a cat person--might have likened the gesture to leaving a dead mouse on one's doorstep. He then departed as quietly as he had arrived and returned to a low, fast boat offshore. He gunned the motors and put miles behind him, then dropped to a slow cruising speed and engaged the autopilot. Satisfied with his precautions, the tabaxi rogue cast a fishing line over the stern and waited for the next Herculean labor to be assigned.
So far, he had captured dozens of ghosts for study, dealt with an Arachnos betrayer for Veluta Lunata, acquired an arcane explosive, put Night Widow Nocturne in the hospital with a stern message not to interfere in Kalinda's affairs, thoroughly cleaned the fortunata's bath chamber and nullified all spying devices discovered in the process, assassinated a former friend of Kalinda who had turned rogue for Marshall Blitz, and then obtained the blood of the Red Widow for some ritual the seer had in mind. Despite the ceaseless nature of the labors, Kartanian was pleased with the results. A new dynamic had been struck between him and the fortunata. He was ready to make his next move.
The message came in shortly after noon. "Kartanian, I wish you to acquire an active Nictus fragment for me."
He quickly replied, "As you wish, my Lady. I know where I might easily acquire such a thing. This time, I shall need the benefit of your company to bolster my spirits, and so that I may gaze upon your fair form to fill my heart with courage. I believe there to be no great danger--certainly none that you could not yourself handle alone, though you will have me as your champion at all times. Please respond with your acceptance, and I shall make such arrangements as will be fitting to the task and your station."
With a sly grin, and anticipating the immediate protest of the Fortunata Mistress, he sent the message.
A Wing and a Prayer, A Strong, Strong Wind, All Forests are One, Power Struggles - Venture City metahuman novels in the spirit of City of Heroes and other comic book superhero fiction. (http://bit.ly/sdpbooks)
ENOUGH ROOM TO SWING A CAT - EPISODE 2: MISTAKEN ALLEGIENCES, continued
The two intruders crept quietly through the Cimeroran catacombs seeking what Kartanian expected would be a perfect opportunity to harvest Nictus fragments. Kalinda was out of uniform; wearing instead a close-fitting black suit of unmarked shimmerweave cloth. Her dark hair tumbled loosely over her high collar. She also wore a haughty expression and a cruel sneer. She followed Kartanian over a pile of rubble blocking the way into the next chamber and sniffed in disdain.
"This is a waste of time," the fortunata complained. "Ancient history doesn't interest me, Kartanian. I live in the future."
The tabaxi rogue glanced about and grinned, making sure not to let his companion see his amusement. "When you can flit back and forth through the time stream, all that past, present, and future stuff becomes a little fuzzy. Besides, you wanted an active Nictus fragment. We can get all we want here. Thanks to Requiem and the Nictus, there are shadow cysts aplenty in these caverns."
"You could have obtained that for me without needing to drag me along."
With a jaunty flick of his tail, Kartanian turned to her and nodded. "Yes, I could. But, I wanted your company."
The seer sniffed again, but did not meet the tabaxi's earnest green eyes. She made a show of studying the inscription on a nearby niche. "Again, a waste of time. There are people trying to kill me. Coming out here might make it easier for them to find me unprepared."
"Really" With me to protect you?" He grinned. "You underestimate me, my lady."
She sniffed again.
"Besides," Kartanian continued, "I know all about your enemies, and I am watching them."
Kalinda hesitated, then replied, "Not all of them, you don't. There is a new one."
He stopped and gave her his attention. "A new one?"
She weighed her response carefully. She still had not determined whether Kartanian had anything to do with the rogue fortunata's vendetta, but it didn't fit his profile. "Yes. One who can get past my security as easily as you, but a psychic, as well."
Kartanian's eyes narrowed to slits. His whiskers stretched toward her with interest. "Rrreally?" he purred. "That poses a problem."
Kalinda affected complete nonchalance. "No matter. I will deal with her in my own time."
"Her?"
"If you must know, a rogue fortunata, of some sort!" she blurted with annoyance. "But I suspect she is assuming a disguise. I haven't found out who this really is, but mark my words, I will!"
"Ah," the tabaxi murmured thoughtfully. "Yes."
"Never mind," Kalinda snapped. "Let's just get this done." She abruptly brushed past Kartanian and stiffly walked down the dusty tunnel.
The tabaxi rogue remained still for a moment, thinking, then turned and silently followed. Within a few paces, he was ahead of Kalinda again and leading the way. There were Romulan traitors ahead at the next intersection. Kartanian held up his hand to Kalinda to wait. She crossed her arms and huffed impatiently while he crept ahead for a look.
~Just a moment, and these will be dispatched,~ Kartanian 'pathed to the fortunata.
~Why wait?~ she sneered in response, and clenched her mental grip around the minds of all five of the guards. They stiffened and froze. Kartanian spared a half second for a resigned shrug before darting in to kill the helpless traitors with his sword. ~You were right, Kartanian,~ the fortunata commented dryly, ~these Cimerorans really don't pose any threat.~
~No, these don't... but the ones coming up behind us might.~
Kalinda whirled about in surprise. Kartanian was already moving to intercept the Centurion and his soldiers. The patrol had moved quickly and was surprisingly alert to the intruders' presence.
"For Romulus Augustus!" the Centurion shouted, swinging his sword at the nimble catling. Behind him, the legionnaires threw their javelins and rushed up with shields and swords ready for battle. Kartanian dodged the blow, but was rocked back on his feet by the Centurion?s follow-up shield bash.
"Oof. These guys are the tough ones." His spinning neck and hamstring strike drew blood, but did not seriously weaken the Romulan warrior. The other soldiers closed around him while an empath surgeon hung back and a pair of legionnaires rushed in to attack Kalinda.
Kalinda waved her hand in front of her, expecting to stop the soldiers in their tracks with a mental block. They kept charging, though, bolstered by the resistance the Nictus infusion granted them. Her eyes widened as their blades swung in toward her.
Kartanian leapt in to deflect the swords. He rolled to his feet and used his Kheldian energies to repair the wound he had taken as payment for dropping his guard to the Centurion. "Good, lads!" he called to the Romulans, "but not good enough!" With eyes shining blue, he blasted the nearest legionnaires away from Kalinda.
The Centurion and his men weren't finished, though. Already healed from the minor strikes the tabaxi had dealt initially, they focused their attention on the rogue. It was almost all he could do to dodge the blows as he circled around the soldiers. Kalinda bent more of her will to dominating the Romulans, striking with precise synaptic blasts as she backed up to put more space between herself and the threat.
"Prret, you guys aren't good enough to make me use the heavy guns!" Kartanian jeered. Leaving off the slower Kheldian attacks for now, he cut and slashed with his sword again and again. Grim determination captured the expressions of the Romulan patrol. The Centurion roared in challenge and they surged in. One managed to get in past the tabaxi's guard with a deep thrust. He exclaimed in pain, "Mr-rrau! But when you do slip one in, it hurts! Bravo!"
"Stop playing and finish them!" Kalinda demanded. She unleashed a powerful psychic wail. Several of the Romulan soldiers fell back, reeling from the mental assault.
"As you wish, my lady!" Kartanian called. He ignored the hurt for the moment and summoned his energy to make his attacks strike true. The surgeon went down first, then the Centurion, followed by the fire-throwing engineer. Two of the soldiers were menacing Kalinda again, pushing her back toward the catacomb wall.
"Ah!" she cried, slipping on the loose rubble. Off balance, she fell over, but managed to blast her aggressor's mind into jelly as he advanced.
"And that's all for you lot," Kartanian said, appearing between Kalinda and the remaining legionnaires. In two more strokes, there were no more Romulans standing. Kartanian glanced about to be sure he had dispatched them all, then bent down to help the seer to her feet.
She batted his hand away. "Don't touch me!" She climbed to her feet and dusted herself off with irritation.
Solemnly, but with a glint of humor in his eyes, Kartanian replied, "But I want to touch you, my lady."
She looked at him with a mixture of surprise and suspicion.
"Truly, I do. We are so well matched, though in different ways," the rogue continued. "Don't you sometimes long for the touch of someone? Someone who won't force you? Someone who you can't force?" He held his mind open to her, his eyes locked on hers. "Someone who is there for you, Kalinda, and not merely the powerful Arachnos officer you show the world?"
Kalinda said nothing, unsure of what to say. She licked her lips to make a retort, but couldn't bring herself to make a sound. She could tell that he meant what he said. There was no trickery about this in his mind.
Kartanian smiled kindly and stepped close. Kalinda looked up at him slightly. Though the tabaxi was short by human standards, so was she. He said softly, "It is an offer, not a demand, not a plea. That's all."
A long moment passed, their eyes locked. Kalinda looked away. "Don't...," she began, then fell silent.
He shook his head. "I am here for you." He gently stroked the underside of her chin and she looked back up at him. "Truly."
"I... I can't, Kartanian," she cried bitterly. "I belong to Arachnos. To Recluse. He will know if I betray him, even the slightest bit! Even if... even if I want to...." She trailed off.
Kartanian nodded. "I understand. Really, I do. And I know a few tricks, of course. I don't want to change you or take you away... unless you want that, of course!" he chuckle-purred. The seer shook her head, fear creeping into her eyes. "No, I just want you as you are, but safe from harm and suspicion. And I can do some things about that."
Kalinda drew in a long slow breath, then let it out. A sense of calm came back to her. After several more heartbeats passed, she replied, "Yes, I guess I know that... But, why? I've chased you since the day you came to Mercy!"
He chuckled and softly purred, "Don't you think that maybe you have finally caught me?"
Kalinda laughed with surprise and nodded. "Maybe I have!" She put her hand on the tabaxi's shoulder. "Maybe I have, at that." She pulled him closer and kissed him.
After a sweet moment, she let go and laughed again. "Your whiskers tickle!"
Kartanian grinned from ear to ear and flicked his tail enticingly. "Imagine what else might tickle, hrrrr? I am at your service, my lady!"
She looked at him again, concentrating on his face. It was a kind face, behind the sly feline humor it emanated. Despite the dim torchlight of the caverns, it was as if she was seeing him clearly for the first time. The menacing shadows she had always thought she had seen around him were not truly there. She wondered if this was one of his tricks, or if she had just never looked at him clearly before. She wondered, "Are you showing me what you want me to see, or what is really there...? Oh!"
Kartanian blushed, realizing what Kalinda had seen in his mind. "Hrrr?," he purred with embarrassment.
The fortunata blushed, as well, but kissed him again in response. "We'll have to see about that later!"
"Yes, please!" he said, his whiskers pricking up happily. "I do suppose we had better finish our task here, first. You do still need the Nictus fragment, don't you?"
Kalinda sighed, "Yes, I think so. Though not for what I originally had in mind."
Kartanian raised an eyebrow. "Part of a trap or assurance against me, maybe?" She nodded with a touch of embarrassment. The spy nodded reassuringly. "Entirely sensible of you. Wise plan. After all, you couldn't know what I really had in mind without looking into things further, as you just did."
She sniffed in surprise as she realized that the whole expedition now felt different than it had up to this point. It felt less like she had to watch in every direction at all times, and more like she could rely on Kartanian to keep her safe. She hoped she could count on that feeling, and realized that she hadn't actually felt hope in a long time. She watched the feline rogue as he scouted the next chamber and smiled to herself. It couldn't last. Nothing that felt good like this could last. But, while it did, she resolved to enjoy it, and him.
A Wing and a Prayer, A Strong, Strong Wind, All Forests are One, Power Struggles - Venture City metahuman novels in the spirit of City of Heroes and other comic book superhero fiction. (http://bit.ly/sdpbooks)