Calder Marten

Calder Marten
General information
Guild	Navigator's Guild
Profession	Navigator Captain
Soulbound Vessel	The Testament
First Appearance	Of Sea and Shadow chapter 1
Family
Mother	Alsa Grayweather
Father	Rojric Marten

Calder Marten is one of the two main characters of Elder Empire. He is the captain of The Testament. A talented reader but mostly selftaught. Son of a member of the Blackwatch and a thief. He is a Captain of the Navigator's Guild. One of the Fractions want him as the new Emporer.

Appearance and Personality

Calder Marten is of Izyrian heritage, characterized by his red hair​​. Calder displays a certain resilience and adaptability, managing to navigate various challenges and relationships, including those with crew members and figures of authority​​​​. He demonstrates a capacity for leadership and camaraderie, as seen in his interactions with his crew and during various encounters throughout his adventures​​​​.

Abilities/Weapons

Calder has extensive combat experience, having engaged in battles against various adversaries including Elderspawn, cultists, rebels, Consultant assassins, and Imperial Guards. His proficiency in swordsmanship is significant, and he has been actively involved in major military actions​​​​. Calder is skilled in swordplay having been trained by his mother as a duelist. He is also seen carrying a pistol, indicating his proficiency with firearms as well​​. Calder wields an Awakened blade, described as a cutlass with a long, black blade mottled with spots of orange. These spots don't glow exactly, but shift like the patterns on hot coal, possibly due to some alchemical influence. Calder has the ability to extend his senses to read the Intent of others, a skill that is crucial in the series' universe for understanding and predicting actions of others. However, this ability seems limited in certain circumstances, as noted during his interaction with Mekendi Maxeus, a powerful Reader​​. Calder has the mark of Kelarac on his arm, which, alarmingly, can support his Intent. As a Navigator, Calder possesses an uncanny ability to control his ship, to the extent that it is proposed he might be Soulbound to his ship. This control is significant enough to be considered in strategies against him​​. He is noted for his persistence and resourcefulness, often engaging in plans that may seem unlikely but demonstrate his tenacity and creative problem-solving skills​​.

History

Calder Marten's early life was deeply affected by his family's circumstances. His father, Rojric Marten, was executed for the theft of Imperial artifacts, leaving a lasting impact on Calder. His mother served as a commander in the Blackwatch Guild, placing Calder in a position closely tied to the workings of this law enforcement body. Calder himself, identified as being of Izyrian heritage, was once a member of the Blackwatch​​.

A pivotal event in Calder's life was his decision to break his father out of Candle Bay Imperial Prison. This audacious plan involved extensive preparation and research. However, the attempt led to catastrophic consequences. The prison sustained irreparable damage, and many prisoners were not recovered. As a result of this incident, his father was executed, Calder was exiled to the Aion under the supervision of the Navigators, and his mother was taken into custody​​​​.

Calder faced numerous legal charges, including sabotage, theft, destruction of Imperial property, instituting a jailbreak, and conspiracy to commit fraud. These charges led to his sentencing to forced labor in the service of the Navigator’s Guild. This period was crucial in his transition from a member of the Blackwatch to a Navigator, shaping his future path and affiliations​​.

The emotional toll of his father's imprisonment and subsequent death weighed heavily on Calder. He witnessed the disturbing aftermath of the experiments conducted on his father in prison, which led him to a state of rebellion against the Emperor and the existing authority structures. This personal anguish was a driving force behind many of his actions and decisions, pushing him towards paths that would eventually define his role in the series​​.