Kharpagh

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## Military service

### Battles

Battle of GenohBattle of Orbitrium

Battle of Solenos

> "*It's a bittersweet thing, being made for war in a region that desires peace. Maybe that's why the Death Marks suit me so well.*"
>
> **- Kharpagh, meditating on his life so far**
>
>

Kharpagh was the Commander of the Death Marks mercenary company. A former Ecumene Astreid Courser, he was discharged following a classified incident and became a mercenary. He is considered a dangerous fighter and has considerable psychopathic tendencies.

## Stats

1d20

**NON-COMBAT DUEL STATS**
1 ❤
1d20
0 Military Power

* Gains one level for every duel fought, regardless of whether they won or lost it.
* May be killed when defeated.
* May be taken prisoner.
* May be killed by an opposing faction.

## History

### Early Life

Kharpagh was born on Muara in -24 NAC. Little is known about his childhood, but his educational records indicate he was not especially interested in his studies. During his childhood, his psionic potential first revealed itself, and he took perverse pleasure in using it to set things on fire.

### Astreid Service and Discharge

As soon as he was old enough, he enlisted in the Coursers, showing prodigious skill in combat during basic training. Following completion of his training, he was assigned to C-HAU-7A91B1, a heavy infantry unit involved in front-line fighting and nicknamed "Stellar Hallows".

Kharpagh served for five years, and might have become an officer were it not for an incident which destroyed his entire career. During a routine sweep of the border for pirate activity, Kharpagh and his unit were set upon by a group of marauders and separated from the rest of the Courser forces. Cut off from the rest of their unit, the Stellar Hallows took the fight to the pirates, showing early signs of the bloodlust that would later define him. Those pirates the Stellar Hallows didn't kill, surrendered with no further fight. The Stellar Hallows ended up executing them regardless. Once the Astreid found out about their actions, Kharpagh and the rest of the Stellar Hallows were court-martialed and dishonourably discharged.

### Death Marks

Angry over his discharge, Kharpagh became a soldier of fortune, working private security on frontier planets. During a riot over food shortages, he was set upon by the mob and severely injured, disfiguring his face permanently. Despite the injury, his particular proclivity for violence attracted the attention of Raikir Forn, the Commander of the Death Marks mercenary group. Kharpagh signed on with the company, eventually rising to become an officer. He later inducted the other former members of the Stellar Hallows into the Death Marks and turned them into his own personal unit.
When Raikir Forn was killed in a botched mission, he died without naming a successor. In the ensuing power struggle, Kharpagh was able to deal with most of his rivals and secured his position as Commander.

### Ascendancy War

> "*It must be killing you, to come crawling back to me now.*"
>
> **- Kharpagh to the GCTO command, upon accepting his contract**
>
>

During the Ascendancy War, the Death Marks were hired by the GCTO to support their own forces on multiple fronts. Kharpagh led a personal division to Genoh, where they would be attached to another company of mercenaries, one of which was Tarhin, an Argen bounty hunter. Unbeknownst to the GCTO, the Death Marks had already been contracted by the Ascendancy, and intended to betray the GCTO and the other mercenaries. The Death Marks led the GCTO forces into enemy territory and tipped off the Ascendancy to their operations, joining in the ambush and massacre. Tarhin was the only survivor. The fight that later transpired between the two left Kharpagh with severe facial disfigurements. The Death Marks fled Genoh and sought refuge with their new allies in the Ascendancy.

In the final days of the Ascendancy War, the Death Marks joined the battle of Orbitrium on the Ascendancy's side. Now sporting his iconic Ragehelm to hide his disfigurements, Kharpagh led the Ascendancy forces against the GCTO's mercenary contingent. For the second time, he encountered Tarhin, and was nearly killed by the bounty hunter before the battle's end.

### Post-War

Now a wanted fugitive in GCTO territories, Kharpagh took the Death Marks into the Demise and laid low for several years. During this time, Kharpagh underwent further augmentations, which included several psi-boosting implants. It wasn't until 20 NAC that the Death Marks re-emerged, an event marked by Kharpagh using his boosted psionic power to obliterate an Aoshanti listening post.

### Veritas Crisis

In 23 NAC, the Death Marks were contracted to aid Vigila in the wake of the death of Emperor Veritas III. Simultaneously, Kharpagh secretly accepted a second contract to eliminate Queen Tainatra on behalf of Khanbaqir. This double-dealing was, however, discovered by Vigila. To his surprise, Kharpagh was apprehended by his own man, Greif Ranazm, and brought to Vigila, where he was summarily tried and sentenced before the court. He was later executed that same day, and his head presented to the Queen.

## Personality & Traits

Kharpagh was well-known for a streak of sadism. This, combined with an explosive temper makes him quite dangerous to be around when he is angered. He seems to possess no regard for the lives of others, even his own men. Nonetheless, he is an effective commander, possessing the charisma needed to lead the Death Marks. He is quite sensitive about his disfigurements, preferring to die rather than show them to anyone.

## Skills & Abilities

Kharpagh is an adept soldier, drawing on training from both the Astreid and the Death Marks. His physical and psionic abilities have been enhanced by multiple augmentations and implants, turning him into what can only be called a super-soldier. He also possesses an uncanny tactical genius.
While his understanding of Radiant psionics is limited, his raw power has been enhanced through bio-implants, which he believes is all he needs.

## Equipment

Blaster Rifle - Kharpagh's primary ranged weapon, a Rendalos-Pattern compressed tetryon combi-rifle.

Hardlight Sword - Kharpagh's primary melee weapon. The sword sports a second blade hidden in the hilt, allowing it to be double-bladed.

Ragehelm - A battle helmet modified to resemble a human skull. The helmet serves two purposes; firstly to hide Kharpagh's disfigurements, and secondly to regulate the more dangerous bio-implants in his brain and help direct his psionic power.

## Appearances

* Death Marks (Coming Soon)
* The Thin Steel Line (Coming Soon)
* Watch this space

## Trivia

### In-Universe

* Kharpagh's implants have scrambled many of his senses, to the point where he can only taste bitter foods and is colourblind.

### Out-of-Universe

* Kharpagh is inspired by Obadiah Hakeswill of the Sharpe novels and tv series, as well as Darth Maul from Star Wars.