Editing Cathak Basq (section)

=== Background ===
A rising star of House Cathak, Basq has already somewhat attained a reputation as a sound tactician and respectable swordsman. Born at just the right time, Basq was engaged early on to a young woman of House Peleps named Early Winter, cementing a corsair-mercenary deal between the two. Indeed, both children were exceptionally well-bred, and the marriage looked to be prosperous and excellent for both families.

Exalting near the beginning of his primary school, Basq was one of the youngest Exalts in his school, proof of his excellent breeding, something his family were extremely happy about. Growing into a fine, young man, he married Winter soon after graduation; the two failed to have a child, leading to Winter - who never exalted - committing suicide at 25.
Upset by the loss, Basq set himself firmly into military training, graduating from the House of Bells and going on to a prestigious wing of the military; serving in a number of campaigns, Basq moved around creation, fighting wherever it served House Cathak; he faced off against Guild operatives in the south, savages in pitched battles to the north, Western pirates and everything that served house Cathak. His tour of duty took him vast distances, and he's seen an awful lot. Basq has recently retired from active service for personal reasons, mostly on account of house Cathak's thuggish ruthlessness with money; he feels disillusioned with the military way of life. He has always seen the role of the military as used to protect others, but after one-too many missions motivated entirely by greed or petty vengeance, Basq can no longer reconcile his being in the army with his moral nature.

Throughout his life, Basq has had to tolerate the mistreatment of mortals- his wife badgered to suicide by disgusted family, his friends in school limited to whom those who had exalted, or intimidating sataparies for a few slivers of jade. This has left him extremely sympathetic towards mortals in particular and civilians in general: he sees the role of the military as being made to protect the innocent, and he will do anything to uphold this ideal (as he knows almost no-one else in the Dynasts have any reason at all). Cold as a tactician, Basq carefully analyzes projected casualties and is a little overconfident with the strength inherent in any group he leads, often leading to casualties.