“The time is dark, but there is a light at the end of all of this.”
- - Loda'Gadem
Loda'Gadem is the Supreme Lord of the Gardeili within the Greater Mirusian Church of Spode and one of the leaders within it's prophet council. A warrior driven by the pursuit of knowledge and faith, Loda was once a crusading zealot, as his father had raised him. However, when his father was killed by the Prophet Council of the Unified Nations of Spode, Loda took over. He did not know why his father of all people had committed heresy, but soon learned why...
After taking command of the Nations, and destroying the Prophets of Hun'gora, Loda has taken steps to lead his people into a less zealous, brighter future. This also involved joining his people with the Brotherhood of Spode, leading to the creation of the Greater Mirusian Church of Spode, unifying his dispersant peoples, and helping create a force that would not only spread Spodeism, but also help protect minor and lesser religions that can not protect themselves, and helping bridge gaps between religions, as a repentance for what he has done in his past.
Currently, Loda is part of the Covenant of Mirus, and with the upheaval caused by the Great Xonexi Schism, and how many where lost during the battles, Loda now has complete leadership of the Church, for now. He is described as having a foot in both doors, on one hand, not trusting the Xonexi, but on the other, wishing to see the galaxy brought peacefully together. This represents the ultimate conflict between the Church itself, some supporting the Covenant, others believing the Xonexi cannot be trusted in any form. While he loathes the Xonexi, like his friend, Barda Clett, he cannot bring himself to totally remove himself from the Covenant itself, realizing it would split the Church in twin.
History
Early Life
Loda was born on the Gardeili homeworld, but not of the leader of the race, but of another family. However, the family, despite being of lower status then Loda' adoptive father, Odos'Gadem, where close to his Clan, and, when his parent died in battle, Loda was taken in by the Clan Chieftain and Ruler of his kind. From hence forth, he was raised to lead.
Developing great speaking and leadership qualities, Loda, reached adulthood by time the Gardeili had helped from the Unified Nations of Spode, with his father a high ranking member of it's council. Loda first received command of his frigate, "Glorious Salvation", and was the first to make contact with the Brotherhood of Spode. While interested in the Brotherhood and their possible relations with the races of the Unified Nations, the Prophets of Hun'gora, leaders of the Unified Nations, forced him to break off contact.
Loda would assist his father in leading the nations, when the Prophets made a startling announcement; that the race known as the Ugandalorians and their allies had blasphemed against Spode. While Odos and Loda found it odd that a race based off honor and respect for others would blaspheme, they where ordered not to go against the Prophets' wishes, and told to rally their warriors.
Loda would prepare his fleet, the 140th fleet of Runis'ka, when his father was executed for heresy. Angered, he went to see his father before execution and demanded to know what had happened. Odos tried to tell him that the Prophets where lying to their people, when he was taken off by the Guards. Loda was shocked to see his father unceremoniously beheaded, not even being given the Rights of a Warrior, which all Gardeili received, even if they had blasphemed. Before Loda could go home to rethink his life and begin anew, he was taken by the guards of the Prophets to be questioned. Many of his friends and advisors threatened to kill the Prophets if they touched innocent Loda, but the young leader calmed them down, and allowed himself to be taken.
Leadership
Upon his fathers' death, Loda was examined by the Prophets and they found he was no heretic. Disgruntled about their leader and his son being called heretics without Odos being able to defend himself, many Gardeili threatened to leave, though Loda calmed them down.
His actions as leader would include putting more emphasis on logistical, technological, and agricultural development, so the colonies of the Gardeili could support themselves. As he did this, he also helped build up the military of the already powerful Gardeili, so they would be ready for the war ahead.
Finally after 2 years of gearing up, Loda and his race began their holy crusade.
Crusade
Before the crusades, Loda found another Gardeili warrior, Ajaar'Magnos, and, impressed by his extreme loyalty and tenacity, made him a commander under him, making him his second in command. Ajaar, while blunt, crude, and almost insane, proved an effective commander, and, when the war kicked off, proved his extreme loyalty to Loda again and again.
When Loda learned the Prophets had used a sneak attack, he found his faith wavering. Such was dishonorable, and while the Ugandalorians where enemies, they did not deserve such a disgusting attack plan. Although regarded as the greatest command, and one closest to Spode, Loda himself questioned if these Prophets' intentions where all that noble, and began to believe something more was at work then what they where speaking of.
However, when investigating a mysterious ship used by the Prophets to help the Gardeili in one battle, Loda and his troops where shocked to find the ship was synthetic in nature, and used to assimilate victims into some unknown collective. After killing one of the Prophets, the dying snyth revealed that the Prophets where servants of the Leviathan Hive-mind and planed to use the war to assimilate all life, laughing as their primitive ignorance and religious creed, before being decapitated by Ajaar.
Shocked, Loda used his helmet recordings to rally his people against the Prophets, though did so discreetly, going from State and Clan to argue each and every case in secret. With all the states beginning to have doubts, many of them, while angered at Loda's gull, refused to turn him in.
Truce
His first act, was to contact the Ugandalorian leader, Torscka Nitrocon and make peace with his people, while revealing the deception the Prophets had used on the Gardeili. Torscka, and his Clan Lords, after much debate, agreed to the peace, though remained hesitant towards the Gardeili, and rallied their allied fleet for one final battle.
Meanwhile, Loda also contacted the leader of a rival UNOS race, the Targarous, named Chieftain Bokor, and confronted him on the Prophet's lies. While at first demanding Loda be executed for his heresy, the other Tribe Lords convinced him to hear out the Gardeili, as the Targarous had become apprehensive to the Prophets as well. Finally, Bokor joined the Gardeili's movement, and, after rallying the other races' leaders, moved against the Prophets with the Ugandalorians and other races.
Destroying their fleets, Loda, Bokor, Ajaar, Barda Clett and Torscka fought through the Prophets' loyalists, and destroyed many of the Prophets, despite their advanced telepathic abilities. The Survivors retreated, only to be assimilated by the Leviathan Hive-mind.
Loda promised to end the war, and the truce was signed between all sides, with the Unified Nations going into isolation briefly to rebuild and bury the dead. It was a long process, reconstituting the power of the UNOS again, and it took much convincing to keep the Gardeili from committing ritual suicide to regain their honor. As they had guarded the false prophets, they felt such dishonor could be only absolved in death. Loda convinced them to seek repentance in service, which they grudgingly accepted.
When rebuilding was completed, the Gardeili and UNOS rejoined the other races to oversee alliance and trade.
Enlightenment War
Alliance of Enlightenment
Traits
Personality
Loda is a relaxed, patient ruler, with a love of learning and reading. When not managing his empire, or leading armies against his enemies, he can be seen reading all sorts of books and other sources of info, and considers knowledge a perfect thing to shot for. Loda, however, when pushed or when his friends are threatened, will become extremely aggressive and violent. Loda, while not as aggressive as his father, won't shy away from a fight when challenged.
Loda, since the death of the Prophet of Truth, and the near destruction of the Church of Spode, has been left uncertain of his position, and not knowing where to take his people. The fact he must now lead the Church by himself also leaves him worried that his position is too absolute.
Loda is most of the time silent, and prefers only to speak when his allies need something from him.
Abilities
Loda's chief weapon, is not the fleets he commands, nor the weapons he can yield, but his mind and body. He is regarded as the greatest speaker and unifier of his kind, swaying Clans, Houses and States alike to follow him without having to use the sword, as is common amongst battles for leadership among his people. Though he could easily fight his way through any issue, Loda prefers to speak and talk down his enemies before pulling out his blade.
Still Loda is not to trifled with on the battlefield. He commands great respect with the sword, and his skill with it has been the end of many enemies, both of his kind and of the Bachyeon. The Mendel especially respect his abilities, as his swordsmanship ended many of their best in fair and open duels. He also a commendable marksmen at range.
Loda dislikes essence, and despite having some ability, he feels it beneath him and his warriors, preferring true and honest fighting versus the sorcery used by some other species, even not trusting those used by such races as the Radeons.
Equipment
Loda often carries a Precision combat rifle, capable of firing piercing energy rounds at targets, and his both of his father's energy swords, both adopted and real.
Loda wears ornate, protective powered armor, among the best his species can create. The armor is purple in color with violet lights and markings.
Appearance
Being Lord of his people, Loda is confident and proud in appearance when he speaks with them or outsiders. He is focused on everything, and never appears weak, believing he must always be strong for the Gardeili and the Church. His body has been aged a tad, both thanks to the many battles he has survived, the scars he has acquired, and the telepathic mind attacks by Bachyeon controllers. Still, only in private does the façade fall, and he lets his weariness overtake him.
Loda is described like a rock or stone, strong, firm and solid. His body is heavily built, even for a Gardeili, and the one thing that has allowed him to survive all of his battles and rack up all his scars. No matter what, Loda is regarded as the most firm leader among the UAE's leaders, as few could ever miss him, and it is said no one ever does.
Relations
Allies
I am with you.
Neutral
I will observe.
Disliked
...
Enemies
Dance with death itself.
Quotes from others
- Add your own!
“He is a wise leader. His people respect him rightfully.”
- - Barda Clett