Born the son of Cairhienin merchants, Kabuki Kamen was a monstrosity. The midwife, only able to see skin deep, pronounced a death sentence on the child at the moment of his birth. But the child’s father, a brilliant man at the top of his profession, would hear nothing of it. Because his father was kept abroad by his profession, Kabuki was raised by his mother. She was a vain woman, typically Cairhienin, and insisted the boy wore a mask obscuring his deformity. She kept Kabuki a secret and the boy lived his childhood years in isolation. Unfortunately in Cairhien no secret is kept secret for long and being weak like many women, she was unable to live with the shame. She abandoned her son and staging their deaths, she set fire to their home and left the city…
Driven by hunger, Kabuki was reduced to begging for food and living under the city in tunnels typically used by thieves and those like him seeking to hide themselves from the world. The day came when Kabuki was approached by a Foregate showman who in exchange for food and lodging would make the boy an attraction in his side-show. Along with his father’s brilliant mind Kabuki had also inherited his mother’s pride, yet the wish to have some measure of control over his existence overrode even that. Kabuki grudgingly accepted the man’s offer. His adolescence was filled with endless self pity and his only joy came from the music that filled the Foregate at all hours of the day…
The Wheel weaves as The Wheel wills. When the Aiel war descended upon Cairhien the young man disappeared under the city taking refuge in the tunnels with which he was all too familiar. His hope was to find a place of peace and solitude away from the chaos above. He took passages that ran through abandoned cisterns and ancient ruins over which new structures had been built. He eventually found his way to an underground lake. On the other side of this lake he found the place for which he had been searching. Amused to learn that it was located beneath the royal palace he resolved to make it his home. He would emerge only at night to steal food from the kitchens and books from the royal library. He also stole fine clothing from the king's wardrobes and furnishings from some of the best rooms in the palace. He even took the ancient throne of Cairhienin kings; because of Laman’s pride the rulers of Cairhien would now sit on a new throne. He proclaimed himself Shepherd of the Night. Knowing that there was beauty and peace that could only be found at night, he resolved not to let the Dark One hold that title. He spent the next fifteen years honing his diamond sharp intellect and writing music reflecting the pain he could not express in words. The servants talked in hushed tones about a phantom in the palace…
The next chapter of Kabuki Kamen’s life is tragic to say the least. He is not yet inclined to talk about his experiences; he escaped a blood thirsty mob by less than half a step. They seemed a bit bent out of shape concerning certain acts of senseless shocking violence he had committed. Fortunately, in the chaos following the assassination of Galldrian, Kabuki has all but been forgotten. Those intimately involved however have promised to hold Kabuki’s secret…
Lured by talk of a library that surpassed even that of Cairhien, he has donned his mask and has come to the White Tower. Having no interest in combat or Aes Sedai Kabuki has nonetheless become a warder in training as an excuse to remain near the library. Lamentably, Kabuki has found those in the tower who share his interests and hoping to avoid a repeat of what happened in Cairhien he has abandoned his training and has seemingly vanished…
Kabuki Kamen is in his early to late forties (he stopped keep track a long time ago). He is 179 cm [5 ft 10 in] tall (above average for a Cairhienin) and weighs approximately 75 kg [about 165 lb]. His hair is dark brown and wavy/curly. His eyes are almost black. He is always seen dressed formally, and is usually seen wearing a long black cloak. And always now the right side of his face is covered by a white mask. Kabuki is quick to anger and just as quick in meting out vengeance.
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