Edsel Zahno
The Surly Cyborg
(I do not own, nor did I create this image. I am merely using it to visually represent this character.)
NAME: Edsel 'Ed' Zahno
FACTION: n/a
OCCUPATION: Information Broker, Fence, Sentient Trafficker.
SPECIES: Human/Cyborg
AGE: 51
SEX: Male
HEIGHT: 1.95 meters
WEIGHT: 114 kilograms
EYES: Brown (right), Amber (left, cybernetic).
HAIR: Black (graying), with salt and pepper at his temples.
SKIN: Fair
FORCE SENSITIVE: Yes
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STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES:
+Cybernetics: Optical scanners can track targets while monitoring their body temperature, serving as both a combat aide and a lie detection device.
+Experienced: World-weary and grizzled, Edsel has a lifetime of experience to call upon.
+Strong: Edsel has always been a rather brawny individual.
+/- Failed Padawan: Briefly trained in the ways of the force during his earlier years, Edsel can use his lightsaber with some degree of skill. That said, his style is less elegant than proper force-wielders. Relying more on brute strength and military swordsmanship techniques than the Jedi arts. Truth be told, the lightsaber is more for show than anything else.
-Aging/weathered: Edsel's experience and knowledge comes at the price of old age, there is only so much cybernetics can do for creaky knees, sore hips, and old wounds.
-Wanted man: Edsel's years as an in the Coruscanti underworld are catching up to him, and his life expectancy is rapidly decreasing.
-Addict: Edsel has developed an addiction to painkillers.
APPEARANCE:
Hard lives are rarely kind on the physique, and Edsel is no exception. Barrel-chested and tall, Edsel has always cut an imposing figure (for a human). Edsel's face is lined and muscled, distinctive for his facial tattoo as well as his rather obvious cybernetic implants. The years have shaved some of the muscle away however, giving way to a soft layer of flab, gently obscuring the dense musculature beneath. Edsel cuts his graying hair close to his scalp in an attempt to obscure his age (while stubbornly refusing to dye it).
Edsel changes his wardrobe often to stay ahead of pursuers, save for a long and somewhat frayed/tattered overcoat.
BIOGRAPHY:
Chapter One: The Early Years
Born on Kuat to working class parents, Edsel was discovered to be force sensitive at an early age, and was taken away to the Jedi temple on Coruscant for training. As the young human matured, he quickly developed an arbitrary streak; preferring to seek out shortcuts to problems rather than solving them properly. Edsel cheated on exams, intimidated/bullied rivals, and stubbornly refused to adhere to what he deemed to be the "duller" tenants of the Jedi code. The young man's training suffered as a result of these shortcomings, as no one master would stay with him for long.
As a teenager, Edsel quickly fell behind his peers, repeatedly failing to pass his trails and achieve knighthood. The young man grew increasingly frustrated until he finally cracked and attacked a fellow padawan in a rage. The fight was disrupted by his current master before Edsel could seriously injure the other student. Knowing that he would likely be drummed out of the order, Edsel fled the temple while awaiting punishment. With nothing but his wits, his lightsaber, and a handful of credits, Edsel lived a meager existence within Coruscant's underbelly until his recruitment into a Black Sun cell at the age of 18.
Tasked with manning the storefront which served as a front for the Cell, the newly dubbed 'Edsel's Odds and Ends', where he Edsel lived better than he ever had; he ate regular meals, had a place to sleep, and got paid to stand around. While working his post, Edsel was part of Black Sun's informant structure within the district, a position which provided him with a list of contacts and a sense of who exactly knew what. Edsel made friends, met women, and even fathered a beautiful girl named Edna. The good years, however, did not last.
As a teenager, Edsel quickly fell behind his peers, repeatedly failing to pass his trails and achieve knighthood. The young man grew increasingly frustrated until he finally cracked and attacked a fellow padawan in a rage. The fight was disrupted by his current master before Edsel could seriously injure the other student. Knowing that he would likely be drummed out of the order, Edsel fled the temple while awaiting punishment. With nothing but his wits, his lightsaber, and a handful of credits, Edsel lived a meager existence within Coruscant's underbelly until his recruitment into a Black Sun cell at the age of 18.
Tasked with manning the storefront which served as a front for the Cell, the newly dubbed 'Edsel's Odds and Ends', where he Edsel lived better than he ever had; he ate regular meals, had a place to sleep, and got paid to stand around. While working his post, Edsel was part of Black Sun's informant structure within the district, a position which provided him with a list of contacts and a sense of who exactly knew what. Edsel made friends, met women, and even fathered a beautiful girl named Edna. The good years, however, did not last.
Chapter 2: Downfall
On Edsel's 27th birthday he got picked up by the district's security force for disorderly conduct and aggravated assault while intoxicated. Faced with some serious prison time and a needy daughter at home, Edsel was given a choice: inform on Black Sun or never see his daughter again. Edsel chose the former and was released the following morning.
Edsel rushed to his girlfriend's apartment, hoping to take his girls away and find a new life off-world, only to find the place turned over and his woman and child brutally murdered. Edsel had barely enough time to hold his daughter's broken corpse before the trap was sprung. Beaten and captured, Edsel learned that his arrest was a test of loyalty, that the local security precinct was owned by Black Sun, and that he has turned on them far too easily for their liking.
The thugs taught Edsel the price of disloyalty and the stubbornly insubordinate Edsel took his beating in silent shock. Edsel's captors (who he recognized as Black Sun owned Security officers) broke his fingers one-by-one, and then his toes. Next, they shattered both of his femurs, broke his jaw, and otherwise beat him bloody; not stopping until the right side of his face was swollen shut. As Edsel lay at the feet of his captors, one of them knelt before him and told Edsel how he would be blamed for the murder of the two people he cared about most in his life. The enraged Edsel screamed and thrashed wildly at the man, to no effect. With nothing left to him but his eye and his final shreds of consciousness, Edsel glared defiantly at the man, reaching out with the force to try and harm his captor in some way. Once again Edsel was met with failure, he simply lacked the skill. The man kneeling before him took offense to Edsel's glare however, and gouged out the offending eye with Edsel's own broken fingers. Edsel screamed one last pain-fueled roar of defiance, and fell silent.
Edsel rushed to his girlfriend's apartment, hoping to take his girls away and find a new life off-world, only to find the place turned over and his woman and child brutally murdered. Edsel had barely enough time to hold his daughter's broken corpse before the trap was sprung. Beaten and captured, Edsel learned that his arrest was a test of loyalty, that the local security precinct was owned by Black Sun, and that he has turned on them far too easily for their liking.
The thugs taught Edsel the price of disloyalty and the stubbornly insubordinate Edsel took his beating in silent shock. Edsel's captors (who he recognized as Black Sun owned Security officers) broke his fingers one-by-one, and then his toes. Next, they shattered both of his femurs, broke his jaw, and otherwise beat him bloody; not stopping until the right side of his face was swollen shut. As Edsel lay at the feet of his captors, one of them knelt before him and told Edsel how he would be blamed for the murder of the two people he cared about most in his life. The enraged Edsel screamed and thrashed wildly at the man, to no effect. With nothing left to him but his eye and his final shreds of consciousness, Edsel glared defiantly at the man, reaching out with the force to try and harm his captor in some way. Once again Edsel was met with failure, he simply lacked the skill. The man kneeling before him took offense to Edsel's glare however, and gouged out the offending eye with Edsel's own broken fingers. Edsel screamed one last pain-fueled roar of defiance, and fell silent.
Chapter 3: Rebirth
Edsel was given a life sentence for his crimes and was left aboard a prison station orbiting Coruscant, just one more piece of Coruscanti trash chewed up and spit out to die. Though his scars would heal and his pride would return, Edsel developed a liking for prescription pain-killers, an addiction he would battle for the rest of his life. Despite this, Edsel remained in good physical shape, with semi-decent meals and mandatory exercise. Years passed, and Edsel's sanity languished as anger and fantasies of brutal revenge gave way to a hopeless depression, and worse; acceptance of his fate.
Life continued with a sort of hollow monotony for Edsel; he ate, exercised, read, and slept only to begin again the following day. Edsel kept to himself for the most part, preferring extended periods of isolation and meditation. Yet his new-found acceptance had brought some strange side effects.
One night, when Edsel was 30, he was visited in his dreams by what he could only describe as a force-apparition. This apparition told him to remain calm and let go of his misery, to truly accept his position and reach out with the force. In Edsel's mind he heard the words: There is no emotion, there is peace; There is no ignorance, there is knowledge; There is no passion, there is serenity; There is no chaos, there is harmony; There is no death, there is the Force. The words were familiar to Edsel, he had heard them many times before. Yet only now, with his life in ruins and on the verge of insanity, did the mantra make sense to him. Edsel awoke with a start, drenched in his own sweat and tears. His new-found faith gave him the power to be patient, as well as the power to continue living; it was not his destiny to die in this cell.
Life continued with a sort of hollow monotony for Edsel; he ate, exercised, read, and slept only to begin again the following day. Edsel kept to himself for the most part, preferring extended periods of isolation and meditation. Yet his new-found acceptance had brought some strange side effects.
One night, when Edsel was 30, he was visited in his dreams by what he could only describe as a force-apparition. This apparition told him to remain calm and let go of his misery, to truly accept his position and reach out with the force. In Edsel's mind he heard the words: There is no emotion, there is peace; There is no ignorance, there is knowledge; There is no passion, there is serenity; There is no chaos, there is harmony; There is no death, there is the Force. The words were familiar to Edsel, he had heard them many times before. Yet only now, with his life in ruins and on the verge of insanity, did the mantra make sense to him. Edsel awoke with a start, drenched in his own sweat and tears. His new-found faith gave him the power to be patient, as well as the power to continue living; it was not his destiny to die in this cell.
Chapter 4: Escape and Redemption
Edsel's time came with the Sith's occupation of Coruscant. The battle for Coruscant provided the prisoners with an opportunity to riot, which in turn provided Edsel with the opportunity for escape during the chaos. His escape pod landed planet-side, and Edsel ran off into the night. Edsel went home first, retrieving his lightsaber and blaster from their hiding place, changed his clothes, and disappeared. Edsel ran as far down as he could, seeking asylum even deeper inside Coruscant's underbelly, far away from the horrible battle above.
Years passed, and Edsel sought redemption in any way he could. Becoming something of a vigilante, joining a small resistance movement dedicated to helping people escape Sith prosecution. Edsel was especially interested in helping force-sensitive children escape Sith training. Coruscant was a big place, and the group met with continued success in their endeavors. Edsel knew that his contributions were but a drop in the bucket, yet he still finds comfort in what he does; believing he is bringing balance to the force, in his own small way.
Years passed, and Edsel sought redemption in any way he could. Becoming something of a vigilante, joining a small resistance movement dedicated to helping people escape Sith prosecution. Edsel was especially interested in helping force-sensitive children escape Sith training. Coruscant was a big place, and the group met with continued success in their endeavors. Edsel knew that his contributions were but a drop in the bucket, yet he still finds comfort in what he does; believing he is bringing balance to the force, in his own small way.
Chapter 5: Present Day
Good intentions can only get you so far in this chaotic galaxy. Edsel's adventures have left him with the curse of having a recognizable face, and an ever-growing bounty on his head has put not only his life in danger, but those of his fellows as well. Entrusted by his fellows with a secret message, Edsel must find clandestine passage off-world and deliver the message to some contacts in the outer-rim...
SHIP:
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KILLS:
n/a
BOUNTIES COLLECTED:
n/a
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ROLE-PLAYS: