CHARACTER PROFILE: MASTER PO
Name: Po Ding
Born: July 4, 3119 Harloc V
Titles/Rank: Refrector of Harloc, Shiao-Zhang of House Po
Positions: Nobleman (Mandrinn), Mechwarrior, Philosopher, Freelance Author
Affiliations: Capellan Confederation/Mercenary
Battlemech: Jade Phoenix (Custom)
Education/Training: Sian University (Officer Training Program)
EARLY LIFE
Po Ding was born in 3119 to noble parents on the Capellan world of Harloc V. He grew up as an only child and the sole heir to the Ding family heritage. He showed an early aptitude to his studies, especially in philosophy and the martial arts. He received his citizenship without the need for pulling family strings by showing a particular concern for the people of Harloc. He was able to secure a position of study at Sian University by the age of sixteen. There he learned the martial trade, participating in the prestigious Officer Candidate Program in addition to his studies in philosophy.
EARLY CAREER
Upon graduation he was posted to the Dynasty Guard, and served with them through Operation CELESTIAL REWARD. Shortly after CELESTIAL REWARD ended, his parents were lost in a Dropship accident and he was granted special dispensation to leave the Guard and return to Harloc to take up the reins of leadership of House Ding.
During this time he delved deeply into philosophy to deal with the grief of losing his parents. It was around this time that he began forming his core philosophy of Balance in all things. He began work on writing his initial tome, The People's Principles at this time. He showed an early relative disdain for the courtly life of nobility, and this initially caused him considerable troubles upon taking the reigns of House Ding.
He was notably outmaneuvered politically from attaining the position of Refrector initially by his arch nemesis, Lao Chen. Focusing mostly upon his philosophy and writing, he was looked down upon as something of an affectation by his fellow nobles on Harloc.
RAISING HOUSE PO DING
It was around this time that he began the formation of what would ultimately become House Po Ding. As he was increasingly shunned by the local nobility, he began amassing a small following among those who shared his philosophy of balance. He often taught and lectured on these principles, and in 3148 released his work, The People's Principles. As he neared the third decade of his life, he began to form the core of what would become his mercenary company, House Po Ding. Initially he took only the best and most dedicated of the House Ding militia into his inner circle of warrior philosophers. This core began training and drilling, and Po began delegating much of the running of his family holds to trusted advisors and focusing on the raising of his new unit. He began lecturing at the Duchy Regional Training Center.
At this point, he began open recruiting, seeking out the best and most adherent to his ways to build up the ranks of House Po Ding, even recruiting from amongst the general population people he thought could fit in with his new vision for a unit. Training began in earnest around this time, and this is when he began styling his new unit as "House Po Ding", basing it's structure and martial philosophy upon those of the Warrior House Orders. Initiates would need to be as schooled in philosophy as the martial arts, and he focused heavily on combined arms and cross-training amongst his initiates.
By 3150, it was time for him to initiate the first and most ready of his initiates into his new warrior order. Po himself designed the final training exercise, a journey through the subtropical forests surrounding the Ding family compound in a region called the Mirewood. Aspirants would have to traverse the forest, with it's array of deadly predators including a large pony-sized spider called the Dire Spider. Killing of the creature was forbidden due to it's revered status, aspirants would have to focus on evasion to escape these and a host of other deadly beasts. Several aspirants were lost in this vigorous training regime, but those who survived would be initiated into the ranks of Po's warriors.
By 3151, Po was ready to take the next steps to raising his unit to the status of an active mercenary unit. He had the core of troops and materials, he now lacked a patron or an employer. While Po finalized the training of the House, he dispatched his aide and second in command Maxwell Ma to Galatea to seek out a contract for the unit. Max was a commoner, but had been Po's friend since childhood, and he trusted that his friend would get the job done.
EARLY HOUSE PO DING
Max succeeded not only in finding not only a contract, but was able to procure two brand new OmniMechs for the unit from the Alyina Mercantile League. This would include a factory new Jade Phoenix for Po himself. He would give up his old Hunchback IIC and begin training anew on the Jade Phoenix while they finalized the unit for battle.
With their contract now secured for a series of raids against Clan Hell's Horses, they set out for the Hinterlands. They met with initial success against the Horses, raiding several worlds in the name of the AML. During this time he would make both new friends and new enemies. During one raid, he captured a Horses Protomech and it's pilot as a bondswoman. Over the next year, he would work hard to integrate her into the unit, even going so far as to trialing the Sea Foxes for a handful of technicians to help maintain the Clan tech in his unit.
He also made a powerful enemy in the form of Star Colonel Colleen Ravenwater of the Hell's Horses. Ravenwater was embarrassed by her defeat at the hands of Po, and would seek to exact her revenge against him over the next years.
Upon completion of his initial contract and subsequent trials with the Sea Foxes, Po would return to Harloc with his warriors to repair, rest, and regroup. With his success and victories, he found himself suddenly in favor and in demand among the nobility of Harloc. However, at an evening gala and gathering of the local nobility, Po's nemesis, Refrector Lao Chen would confront Po. The argument quickly turned heated, as Po slighted Chen. Eventually things escalated to the point where a duel was required. Po Ding would take to the field with a handful of his best warriors against the champions of Lao Chen.
Po would defeat Lao Chen's champion, sending the nobleman fleeing in disgrace and granting the title of Refrector to Po himself. With this newfound popularity, Po would rebuild his order from it's losses and be ready to take on new contracts in the very chaotic era of the ilClan.
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