Waltian Inika

Waltian is a man whose ambition exceeds his ability. While competent, he does not have the vision or strength of character to become a leader. He has spent much of his life in House Inika's most vital trading posts, first as an assistant outpost master and agent, now as master trader of an increasingly important base. He has spent little time on caravans, considering the risks of such an uncomfortable and dangerous lifestyle much greater than the potential rewards. He has been consistently assigned to the outer posts, away from the cities, for a number of reasons. First, although Waltian is a shrewd and cunning trader, he has made a number of serious mistakes that have cost the house considerably in lost profits. These incidents are in the past, but the leaders of House Inika have long memories. Second, his natural telepathic abilities make him an ideal representative for a distant outpost. He has sufficient psionic power to make a short daily report back to the main chapterhouse in Gulg. Since his most potent telepathic ability is only one-way and his psionic strength is too low to allow him to attempt to use his power more than once or twice a day, he would not be as useful in a central location. Finally, Waltian's personality has stood in the way of advancing his career in Gulg. Advisers to the house matriarch, Andiama Inika, disdain his pompous attitudes toward those of equal or lower rank and his obsequious fawning toward everyone above him. Waltian fancies himself an expert on everything and has an exaggerated sense of self importance. Andiama's advisers hope that the responsibilities of running the fort will eventually tone Waltian down and allow him to develop some polish. No one objects to Waltian's wish to rise in the hierarchy; they are just concerned that he may simply not have what it takes.