Impetuous Hawk

This page is only relevant to the Ephemeral Elephants mission, and describes a Name and Persona used on that mission.

Impetuous Hawk appears to be a humble farmer from the Middle Kingdoms. Those who recognise true worth will at once recognise him as both a mighty Hero, and a denizen of the Lower Planes, whose demonic true name is completely unpronouncable. He has mastered only five of the seven inner virtues and three of the nine ways, so although he treads the eight-fold path, he is still far from deserving rebirth as a Drow in the Middle Kingdom, let alone finding true enlightenment.

On his head he wears a hat woven from the first skin shed by new bamboo shoots. The clothes on his body are made of yarn from the wild cotton-tree, dyed a faded blue. The belt round his waist is of silk from an old silkworm, and from it hangs a broken set of shears. The straw sandals under his feet have straps torn from rotten sago trees. His face is round, pale, and innocent, with a gleam of youthful mischief in his eye.

When attacked, he will dance and leap around in apparent abandon, before either using his shears as two swords, or very rapidly slapping and pinching the opponent while ripping off limbs until they are overcome with remorse, embarrassment or bloodloss, and fall prone at his feet to beg his forgiveness. Against minions and chaff, he fells vast numbers with cartwheels where every tumbling limb connects with deadly force. Mockery is also not uncommon, against unworthy opponents.

Here is Impetuous Hawk carrying his baskets back home from market across the local bridge.

Some descriptions of Middle Kingdom Heroes

This sample of descriptions of actual heroes may help other players complete appropriately heroic descriptions, as may reading chapters 10 onwards of An Ancient Middle Kingdom Tale.

Not really blue, Not really black, With an evil face;
Neither tall, Nor short, Bare legs and a muscular body.
His eyes flashed Like a pair of tortoise-shell lanterns;
The corners of his mouth were as sinister As a butcher's cauldron.
Protruding fangs like swords, Red hair, matted and unkempt.
He roared like a clap of thunder, And ran across the waves with the speed of wind.

He wore a black band of silk around his forehead,
A brocade gown loosely belted with jade,
His hood and billowing sleeves caught the frost and dew.
On his feet he wore black boots for motionless movement;
In his hand he wielded a keen-edged blade with great ferocity.

Mighty of stature, Ferocious of face.
His eyes flashed like lightning, His thunderous voice shook the four quarters.
Protruding, saw-edged teeth; Bared fangs like chisels.
His body was clad in brocade, And his back was covered with its patterns.
A beard of steel concealing his face, Hooked claws sharp as frost.

From her necklace hang pearls and jade,
Her bracelet is made of jewels.
Her hair is black clouds skillfully piled like coiling dragons;
Her embroidered girdle lightly sways, a phoenix wing.
Seagreen jade buttons,
A gown of white silk gauze,
Bathed with sacred light;
Brocade skirts, a girdle of gold,
Shielded by propitious vapours.
Eyebrows like crescent moons,
Eyes like a pair of stars.
A jade face full of heavenly happiness,
Scarlet lips making a touch of red.

Her face was like a full moon, her eyes like autumn waves,
Her tiny mouth like a cherry, and her waist as supple as a willow;
Her charms would have made fishes sink and wild geese fall from the sky,
And her beauty put moon and flowers to shame.