REAL NAME: GILAD ANNI-PADDA
ALIASES: Eternal Warrior.
ABILITIES: Skilled warrior, he draws from memory to use techniques from long ago.
KNOWN ASSOCIATIONS: G.A.T.E.; Ivar Anni-Padda, Aram Anni-Padda, Vexana Anni-Padda (siblings); Geomancers (presently, Kay McHenry and Tama).
Gilad Anni-Padda (Gilly to his siblings), his older brothers Ivar and Aram, and younger sister Vexana were born in the ancient city-state of Ur millennia ago to the first Geomancer, Anni, who conceived them by herself after she ate from the fruit of the Magic Tree. From a young age, Anni noticed he had a stronger violent disposition motivated by rage.
When Padda — a warrior from the Nergal tribe of death-worshippers that named Gilad and his siblings — returned to eradicate Anni’s clan, he succeeded in mortally wounding her. As she drew her final breath, she appointed Gilad as her successors’ protector, a promise he vowed to keep for all time.
One day, the brothers — revered as their clan’s warriors and protectors — ventured into a mystical realm known as the Faraway in search of the Boon, an artifact capable of enhancing mind and body that could provide for Ur forever. The Faraway’s Geomancer reluctantly agreed to let the siblings take the Boon, but when the locals gave chase Ivar and Gilad stayed behind to ensure Aram returned home with the device. While Gilad used any means to intercept them, Ivar fired a modified arrow that brought down a tree of crystal stalactites that killed their pursuers at the cost of Gilad’s life.
Unaware that the Geomancer’s will dictates Gilad’s life and death, Ivar tried to harness the power of the Boon to revive him. Everyone in Ur but the Anni-Padda died that day when the Boon siphoned their life force.
Beyond the Geomancer’s control over his life and death, whenever Gilad dies, his soul enters a private afterlife within the larger landscape of Deadside where he can spend time with his wife, Leena, and his children. His eldest, Kalam, was taken as a boy by the Dying One and raised away from his family. The Dying One — a quasi-immortal who instantly reincarnates with the full knowledge of his former lives every time he dies — is in an eternal pursuit of Gilad in the belief that he knows the secret to immortality to stop the endless cycle of his reincarnations.
Although Gilad promised to serve the Geomancers, he hasn’t always agreed with them. He refused to kill a child under Geomancer Buck McHenry’s orders, and retired from duty for a few years. Gilad has also been unable to protect the Geomancers many times. Most recently, he grieved for the loss of Kay McHenry at the hands of the Immortal Enemy, who previously gave him the three scars that mark his face, one for each Geomancer he killed. Shortly after her death, he found her successor; a young girl called Tama seemingly sent back in time from the future.
OTHER DETAILS: Gilad knew Aric of Dacia when he was a young man in the 5th Century, they used to train together. He has a friendly relationship with Ninjak. The three of them, and Livewire, are part of the team called Unity.
recommended reading
ETERNAL WARRIORS: LAST RIDE OF THE IMMORTALS
