Aksinya Ignatiev
Human
Age: at least mid twenties
Height: 4’10”
Build: slender
Hair: platinum blonde, long and normally tied back
Eyes: blue
Weaponry: Recurve bow, dagger
Specialty: tracking, stealth
Decent knowledge in: foraging, first aid/traditional remedies, poisons
Chaotic Good
|+| A k s i n y a ’ s P r e s e n t |+|
Aksinya would not want to be remembered as the frail, horribly ill child she once was, but rather the capable hunter who wandered the wilderness with keen savoir-faire. The tireless ranger who gave a bow when needed, with no question of reward. She seeks not praises, but a life well lived—in both aiding the deserving and in being one with herself.
Though, she cannot deny wondering about the kteyat vyshkiy decorating her arms and legs. They kept her alive when she was young. But how else had it affected her?
|+| A k s i n y a ’ s O r i g i n |+|
Her tale began in desolate Beel'ekray, a village deep with the mountainous regions of cold Adnastrana. A humble place; a simple place—filled with hunters and foragers alike. Life proved harsh, but the people became stronger for it. In all respects, ‘twas peaceful.
However, when a nasty outbreak of bolezn’rebenka, a malady that only affects the young, befell Aksinya, her parents worried. True stout and brave hunters, Dalibor and Evgeniya, did not remain idle long. They took the feverish child deep within the mountains, where giants once reigned.
In the colossal caves, her parents used any herb to ease the pain and prayed that the isolation and Aksinya’s will would save her. Less than a tenday after she was taken from Beel’ekray, a tall and gnarled old man propositioned the fretful pair.
He claimed to be the last of the kteyat vyshe, and he was willing to perform a ritual that would either save Aksinya… or end her.
Dalibor and Evgeniya did not hesitate.
The old, supposed, giant chanted in a harsh language the Adnastranans did not recognize and wrote on the ill girl’s arms, with his very lifeblood, chirography much akin to the kteyat vyshkiy sagas fading on the cavernous walls.
At first, nothing changed.
But as the old man withered further, the girl’s condition stabilized. And as the last giant perished, the girl opened her eyes. Aksinya only complained that “her bones hurt.”
Overjoyed that their only child yet lived, the couple made haste for Beel’ekray. The village, however, did not share such a sentiment. Their hearts hearts mourned. Their ears disbelieved the story of the life-saving giant. Their ire fell upon Aksinya, and her outlandish—now permanent—markings on her body. For Aksinya Ignatiev was the only survivor of that plague.
Seen as both an ill-omen and the cause of the bolezn’rebenka, the young girl was cast out. Having no stomach for the heartlessness of their fellows, Dalibor and Evgeniya departed with their daughter, living in the wilds; traveling the lands; raising their heir to never turn aside a person due to mere superstition.
Aksinya grew up happy albeit anomalous. Even as petite adult—as the illness significantly stymied her growth—her bones still ache, and she keeps her markings hidden under bandages.
Tsa-tsar Ochronsoern, Sesairx Roquevieux
Half-orc
Age: 20-23
Height: 6'4"
Build: Muscular, but surprisingly limber
Eyes: bright green
Weaponry: enchanted sword cane
Chaotic Neutral
Tsa-tsar wears many proverbial hats on his bald head. For he has more than one name! Tsa-tsar Ochronsoern, Sesairx Roquevieux—both are him. Mayhaps the names are heavily influenced by his orcish and human parentage?
Standing over six feet, he possesses strong features that prove quite comely on any human man, but his skin is a pale yellow-green and small tusks protrude from his upper lips… Oh, but Tsa-tsar would hardly shy away from throwing a wanton wink or charming smile at a stranger’s way.
He dresses in dark trousers and perpetually unbuttoned shirt (of which never seems to get dirty). He makes up for the dolent tones with a vibrant purple cowled cloak. Truly bedight with the affluent tailoring of a true gentleman… on the go! As one would expect no less of the heir-apparent to the small kingdom of Hailille… or Chief’s son of the Ochran-clan orcs. Tsa-tsar admits to both profusely—but rarely at once!
Verily, how much of what this dapper half-orc says is true, or rather, what are the lies?
R'shnu Jahanoor
Tiefling
Age: 16-20
Height: 5’5”
Build: Lean
Skin: tan with gray hue
Eyes: gray
Hair: short, white
Generally Lawful Evil
Much of R’shnu’s—though young—life was spent behind the high walls of Jehem Tegua, merely a stone’s throw off the Qermez Coast. Daily, the Teguan monks meditated, penned the tenets of their faith, and perfected their martial prowess. R’shnu Jahanoor was at peace.
When bandits raided the monastery, the tiefling found himself alone in the defense of his home. Instead, the boy was chastised for fighting! But what other purpose did one’s fist serve?
His heart wavered.
R’shnu shortly left Jehem Tegua to consort with the very brigands he fought. There, his strength felt appreciated. Nheng-per Stronghold became his new sanctuary. He was at peace.
As the seasons changed, he quickly realized that though they fought well, the brigands lead an aimless and daft life.
His heart wavered.
He departed Nheng-per and traveled deeper into the mainland. The city-state of Ssh’razad called to him with her promise of amity and prosperity. Surely, such was the order and privilege he sought. For a while, R’shnu felt peace.
But the factions that held sway over Ssh’razad squabbled ceaselessly. They created conflicts over property claims, established multiple tariffs on trading, and rarely addressed legitimate issues for the city’s benefit.
His only solace came from working as a glorified guard—no more than a paid mercenary—protecting Ssh’razad from frequent outside attacks (and sometimes within).
But his heart wavered still!
Once more, the tiefling left, searching for the next ideal to follow.
Lhenka Suren
Aliases:
Oor Nergui Neg, "Other Nameless One"
Nergui Shulam, "Nameless Witch"
Human
Age: around 28
Height: 5’6”
Build: average
Hair: Light brown, long, usually unkempt
Eyes: brown
Weaponry: Quarterstaff, dagger
Specialty: Druidic magic
Companion: Naranbaatar, enkhaga mount
True Neutral
From the moment of birth, those born of the Salki Khun had little choice: fight demons, turn their hides and bones into weapons and armor, and scavenge for food and water. Lhenka was no exception. To be useless was a death sentence.
When she was around sixteen, she went after a nwa’baila, a burning ox, alone. Such a brash decision, proved foolish for though she felled the demon, she was not unscathed. And, fortunately for her, a druid watched her fall through the eyes of a nighthawk.
Without his intervention, Lhenka would have died that night.
The druid, Nergui Neg, took the injured girl to his oasis, sustained by the power of nature he channeled. Though he healed her and she was truly grateful—especially since he also brought back her kill and her enkhaga mount—she was also torn for magic, all magic, was taboo for the Salkhi Khun. Her people would rather her die than to be healed through magic.
Lhenka spent many months in Nergui’s oasis, mostly fashioning a half-mask out of the nwa'baila’s skull and other jewelry from its bones. It gave her time to think, to decide.
Lhenka Suren was never given a choice at birth, but, at sixteen, she chose to follow Nergui Neg and become a druid.