Altered Lore

Atsadi

9 min read

Atsadi

Overview

Atsadi, known as the One-Armed Swordsman and the Cicada of Dusk, is a Bravos Exalt and swordsman. He is bonded with his Alter Ego Surge, a being of living lightning born from the Eidolon Aurora’s power. Atsadi seeks to obtain Excalibur to free Aurora from her crystal prison and has developed his own sword style called the Galisgi. He fights in the Colosseum at Arkaster and challenges opponents to prove himself worthy of Excalibur.

Background

Early Life and Aurora’s Imprisonment

Atsadi grew up as a herdsman in Dusk, a troglodyte city in Caer Arcolano suspended amidst floating rocks above a sea of clouds. When old enough to watch over herds alone, Atsadi invoked Aurora, an Eidolon. As years passed, she became his companion, and they developed a bond. Aurora taught Atsadi Alteration, and he fashioned groves and lakes.

One night, a Tumult singularity struck—the grass turned pink before crystallizing, and water enveloped Aurora before freezing around her. Atsadi grabbed her hand and pulled, but his arm was ensnared in turn. Through the translucent barrier, Aurora looked at him, then light emanated from her and struck his cicada. Before being captured, Aurora had managed to imbue the cicada with a portion of her power. The creature’s carapace tore, and out emerged Surge, a new being fashioned from crackling light with humanoid silhouette. Surge severed Atsadi’s right arm and cauterized the wound, saving his life. Atsadi woke with his right arm replaced by a cauterized stump, unable to free Aurora from her crystal prison.

The Quest for Excalibur

As soon as he could walk, Atsadi went to the glass lake to find Aurora still encased within crystal, but no tool or weapon could break it. Surge told him of Excalibur, a mythical sword that could slice through mountain peaks—only it could crack the crystal jail. Atsadi invoked the Lady of the Lake, guardian of the legendary sword, to request the weapon. The Lady said only the most skilled swordsman in the world could be considered worthy to draw it from its sheath.

Atsadi made a vow to become that swordsman, to challenge all the most skilled masters of arms the world had known. The Lady advised him to seek out Bedivere, who could teach him sword handling. Atsadi sought the help of Eidolons without anyone’s assistance, teaching himself to fight. He faced the most talented blades repeatedly, losing many times before winning. After following Bedivere’s teachings, Atsadi left Dusk to travel the world, seeking tutelage from numerous swordsmen and blacksmiths.

The Galisgi Style

Over time, Atsadi developed his own style of combat, fast and sharp: the Galisgi. His breathing remains constant even during intense combat. He waits alert for openings, with his movements anticipating strikes. His sword moves as he darts, twirls, and positions his blade. The one-armed condition has been overcome through this style’s development. He claims victories over some of history’s most formidable warriors: Tomoe Gozen, Achilles, Sun Wukong, Hua Mulan (disarmed), and Gericht vaan-Bracht (pushed to his knees).

The Seven Blades

Legends of the first Nomads tell that before the founding of Asgartha, a Lost Tribe remained behind, protected by mythical swordsmen known as The Seven Blades. To prove himself worthy of Excalibur, Atsadi must find their identity, unearth them, learn enough about them to materialize them through Alteration, challenge them, and defeat them.

Timeline

378 AC - Mountain Training with Kappa

Atsadi scaled mountain with heavy weights strapped to legs and left arm while Master Kappa smoked pipe, learning to overcome physical limitations.

382 AC - Dueling Achilles

Atsadi fought Achilles under Bedivere’s eye, struggling against the warrior’s lance reach before being kicked in ribs.

385 AC - Battling Sun Wukong

Atsadi fought Sun Wukong who transformed into animals and created army of miniature capuchin clones from his hair, eventually winning after overdrawn from Surge.

385 AC - Shenlong Revives Surge

After battling Sun Wukong, Atsadi had overdrawn from Surge’s strength leaving spark flickering, and summoned Shenlong storm dragon to revive Surge through lightning.

386 AC - Learning Power Absorption from Hua Mulan

Hua Mulan taught Atsadi “You have to feed on what others give you,” and he learned to consume part of beings’ power to make it his own.

391 AC - Visiting Sacred Chamber at Haven

Atsadi descended beneath Haven to sacred chamber where Rune was crowned, seeing Phoenix egg tended by Tiny Jinn and urns of ancient heroes.

392 AC - Training Against Seven Blades

Atsadi trained with Surge to manifest three of Seven Blades: Fiore dei Liberi, Julie d’Aubigny, Joseph Bologne.

392 AC - Mighty Jinn Against Elementals

Atsadi summoned Mighty Jinn who created barrier with body while wading through lava, allowing Atsadi to strike basalt elementals with charged glaive.

393 AC, January-April - Dueling Gericht Eidolon

Atsadi sparred with Gericht vaan-Bracht’s Eidolon, countering unexpected combos while reading the master duelist’s moves during prolonged bout.

393 AC, January-April - Amarok Summoning Incident

Kojo Oduro summoned Amarok wolf Eidolon despite Atsadi’s instructions, causing massive wolf to chase Cathal through pines before Kojo’s companion leapt onto its fur.

393 AC, January-February - Eros Against Belisenki

When surrounded by twenty Belisenki in mountain pass, Atsadi summoned Eros Eidolon whose flaming forms created barrier and bought time for counterattack.

393 AC, January-February - Mana Absorption Display

Atsadi absorbed released ideas from dissipating Eidolons while Surge charged his blade with lightning, creating waterspouts and scalding rain against Belisenki swarms.

393 AC, January-February - Belisenki Attack at Storvhit

During Storhvit expedition, Belisenki swarm attacked camp and Atsadi fought while drawing in Mana, keeping opponents at bay despite giving ground step by step.

393 AC, January-April - Icebound Peak Ascent

Atsadi followed scouts’ footprints up frozen canyon toward snowy peak, where Aurora would appear before avalanche threatened expedition.

393 AC, June-September - Lernaean Hydra Summoning Against Shadows

Atsadi summoned Lernaean Hydra to combat shadow entities targeting Alter Egos in the City of Scholars caverns, though Teija’s psychic interference through The Skein altered the manifestation.

393 AC, June-September - Swift Jinn Against Shadow Entities

Atsadi summoned Swift Jinn to ambush shadow entities in a City of Scholars cavern, using its explosive light detonation to disperse the creatures and absorb the resulting Mana.

393 AC, June - Memory Library and Defeating Fiore dei Liberi

Atsadi descended deep into the City of Scholars seeking records of The Drifter’s seven warriors, refusing Kojo Oduro’s request to become his apprentice along the way. In a cylindrical memory chamber, touching obsidian steles revealed visions of the city’s golden age and decline. Kojo pulled him back from the memory flood. Fiore dei Liberi then manifested, having been imprisoned there by The Drifter centuries ago. Atsadi dueled and defeated the master swordsman by combining Galisgi technique with Alteration flames. Fiore revealed his next targets: Julie d’Aubigny and Joseph Bologne.

393 AC, September - Confrontation with The Hunger

Atsadi participated in the Exalt operation against The Hunger in The Maze. When the creature shifted from feeding on Sap to aggression, Atsadi detected the danger. He leapt forward to strike at the entity’s eye with his jian, then cut the strike at the last instant. Seeing Kojo Oduro rush forward with blazing fist unaware of the mortal danger, Atsadi sprang again with lightning crackling around him. With Surge fusing to his stump to form his missing arm, Atsadi drove his blade into The Hunger’s vertical pupil. Wisps of violet smoke burst forth as lightning pierced, struck, and lashed in rapid succession. He shoved Kojo back to prevent the entity’s mandibles from snapping shut on him.

393 AC - Accepting Kojo as Squire

After Kojo Oduro repeatedly sought his mentorship, Atsadi agreed. Kojo admitted having found his Chimera by chance, skipping squire training, and never undergoing the Imhallat. Atsadi revealed his own origins as a herdsman who fought his way up without assistance, then agreed to take Kojo as his squire on condition that Kojo keep pace with his demanding standards.

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