Paz Draken

Corporal Paz Draken (pronounced *p-OZ d-RAY-kin*) is a soldier in the 815th Starborne Division of the Aequitas Principium's Mobile Infantry. He is one of the most prominent 'Point of View' characters featured in the novel, Pendulum: Empyrean Order.

He is a young adult male (early 20s) human holding the rank of Corporal (CPL) due to a repeated cycle of valor-related promotions disciplinary demotions. A sharpshooter whose skills were passed down by his grandmother, the infamous sniper called the Ghost of Revalle, Paz has a strong connection with his family and an unshakable faith in God, which is a highly unusual trait these days.

Inspirations for this character include Hicks (Aliens), Rand (Robotech), Sonny Corleone (The Godfather), and Peeta Mellark (The Hunger Games).

### Physical Description

An young man of average height and a modest, medium build, Paz Draken has been accused by some of his fellow soldiers of being 'soft' due to his unassuming physique. However, Paz is far from neglectful of his physical training. He is far stronger, tougher, and faster than he looks based purely upon first impressions, and he takes advantage of the ease with which many people underestimate him. Paz has medium brown skin, has short-cropped hair and steel-gray eyes that never seem to focus for too long in any one direction. He wears a Biowear *'Second Skin'* beneath his uniform fatigues, an armored pauldron over his right shoulder (to aid in stabilizing the stock of his EM Coil Rifle), and knee-length boots with ablative plating at the knees, calves, and toes. He is an expert in the use of short, bladed weapons, and he carries a pair of Fulminalloy Karambits in sheaths hidden within the padding of his shoulder pauldron.

I found that the actor Corbin Bleu (Camp Hideout) would be an excellent fit for Paz Draken.

### Personality

Paz is brave beyond measure, and he demonstrates a willingness to rush toward danger and sacrifice his own safety at a moment's notice. However, the young man is a notorious hothead, he is quick to violence, and he shows little deference to rank or station (he respects deeds and words, not medals or tenure). He has a strong faith in God as instilled in him by his family, who despite laws and regulations hostile to religious belief insist upon conducting themselves according to the same Christian values that their ancestors followed. He is, thus, quickly remorseful for his violent impulses and sincerely repentant when his temper causes grief for his fellow soldiers.

His grandmother, Major Thia Sulari, was an infamous sniper with 860 confirmed kills using the same style of EM Coil Rifle that Paz uses. After Major Sulari single-handedly held an entire company of Exalted Crusade soldiers at bay for 83 hours, the Exalted troops reportedly believed there were at least a half-dozen sharpshooters pinning them down and limiting efforts to move soldiers or equipment from a pocket canyon in the jungles of Revalle on the contested world of Rubicon. When they learned that it was just a single Aequitas sniper rather than six or more coordinated sharpshooters, they gave her the moniker "Ghost of Revalle."

(*Further details to be redacted so as to avoid spoilers.)*