Kendappa, whose full title is often given as Kendappa-ō, is a character from the manga series RG Veda. She is a figure of significant complexity, embodying the roles of a refined court musician, a queen, and a formidable warrior. Her external presentation is that of a beautiful and somewhat playful noble lady with long black hair and blue eyes, known for her mastery of the harp and her position within the heavenly court of the emperor Taishakuten.

Beneath this graceful exterior lies a core defined by a deep-seated reverence for strength. Kendappa holds a personal philosophy that values power and the will to survive above almost all else, a trait that heavily influences her life's path and ultimate decisions. This admiration for raw power leads her to pledge her loyalty to Taishakuten, whom she recognizes as the strongest being, even if she privately considers him a monster. Her service to him is not born of simple malice but from a profound conviction that strength is the ultimate determining force in the world.

Her role in the story is one of the most pivotal and tragic, built upon a fundamental deception. Throughout much of the narrative, she appears as an ally and friend to the protagonists, Yasha-ō and the child Ashura, as they gather the prophesied Six Stars destined to overthrow the tyrannical emperor. However, it is eventually revealed that Kendappa herself is the sixth and final star, and she is simultaneously one of Taishakuten's most trusted generals, serving as Jikokuten, one of the Four Generals who guard the emperor. This revelation makes her a mole within the group of heroes, a position that forces her into direct opposition with the people she has come to care for.

Key relationships define her internal conflict and drive the narrative forward. Her most significant bond is with Sōma, a young warrior from a clan that was nearly exterminated. Kendappa saves Sōma's life, and the two develop a deep and intimate romantic relationship. Sōma becomes Kendappa's loyal companion and guard, but their love is steeped in tragedy, as Kendappa's allegiance to Taishakuten ultimately places them on opposite sides of the coming war. Another important relationship is her friendship with Karura-ō, the Queen of the Skies, who has known Kendappa since their childhood and is aware of her past and her true nature. She is also an object of affection for Prince Ten-ō, Taishakuten's son, though she does not return his feelings.

Kendappa's character undergoes a profound, though not redemptive, development as she is forced to confront the irreconcilable conflict between her loyalty to strength and her love for Sōma. She is a master of obfuscation, hiding her true power and intentions behind a mask of gentle frivolity and artistic devotion. Her greatest internal struggle is her insistence on being the one to face Sōma. Her stated hope is to be the one who kills her lover before anyone else can, a twisted act of mercy and possession born from their bond. In the end, after a final, sorrowful battle, she fulfills this grim task, killing Sōma and then immediately taking her own life, unable to exist in a world without the person she loved most.

In terms of abilities, Kendappa is highly skilled in two contrasting arts. As a musician, she is a master harpist whose playing is said to have gained a new, profound depth after meeting Sōma, reflecting her emotional awakening. As a warrior, she is exceptionally dangerous, trained in combat and assassination, a legacy inherited from her father. Her armor as General Jikokuten is described as formidable and intimidating, marking her as a true Lady of War. Her skills in both music and killing are tools that serve her equally well, representing the two sides of her heritage and her nature.