A'kaia of Bauhala
Hiding deep within the desert storms are the Hutua people, once nomads that decided to establish themselves amongst the other city-states of The Empire. It is said that A'kaia hails from the noble bloodline of the Hutuaian goddess Asayis herself. Due to this alone, responsibilities had been placed on him since the very beginning. The shaman role, one of divination and knowledge, is passed down amongst his own. However, is it enough to demand the respect of his people during their most trying times?
Appearance
Like many of the Hutua, A'kaia appears to have a very androgynous look and an almost pear-shaped body. The Hutua people are know for their slim top frame and heavy, larger bottom half. Not to mention, their glass-like skin. He has strong, broad shoulders and bears abnormally longer arms that almost brush the knee. In fact, many of his features appear to be quite long including his neck and round face. Despite sporting masculine features like his chiseled body and feminine features like his soft face, A'kaia is considered an androgynous beauty amongst his own kind. He wears gold jewelry and keeps his long, thick hair often covered as a sign of his status within the community. However, you will rarely see it in braids of various kinds adorn by jewels.
Skills and Abilities
Taking his mother's position, A'kaia has ascended to a position of immense power. Although he is still learning to use it, A'kaia has an incredible connection with the world of spirits and, whenever in need, calls on his ancestors for guidance. Although most spirits cannot greatly impact the world he lives in, A'kaia is usually given the answers to his problems. The spirits are his guide, they are his protectors at times and a source of power for the young shaman. He can call on them, craft totems in their name and summon spirits specific to his people. Not to mention, the goddess has provided the young noble with the gift of sight, divination.
A'kaia wasn't meant to hold immense power, however, after the death of his eldest siblings he's become the only beacon of hope for his people. When the Hutua people decided to settle around the glowing oasis and build a city, the people conformed to a similar system of government as other city-states and chose a representative-- a lord who acts as the city's best warrior. The Great Lord is sworn to protect their religion and people. The role was passed down from kin to kin, however, A'kaia is sole regent. He's come to learn how to be diplomatic and calculated. He stands a chance in court yet lacks any combat experience as it is forbidden.
Heat Tolerance: A common ability amongst the Hutua people is the tolerance they have for scorching hot temperatures. Centuries of laying on the desert floor dooring for prayer to their goddess and a day's work has given them some sort of affinity for heat. A'kaia can tolerate any temperature above 100°F. However, high heat tolerance means he cannot bear anything below 25°F. While the cold doesn't kill him, if he isn't wearing proper gear or covered correctly, A'kaia can become extremely ill.
Throat Singing: The Hutua have an immense gift from birth. Throat singing is an incredible ability used for communication and ritual amongst their own. It is a sound almost like no other and some describe it as an alarm of some sort.
Healing: A'kaia has learned an unethical way of healing people. At least, that's what some may consider it as it's a ritualistic practice.
Potions & Poison: He's learned that this may be his only form of protection. At some point, A'kaia learned medicine and he took only the lessons of different concoctions with him after finding out he was the next shaman.
Totems: A'kaia summons or channels great spirits within carved objects. The bigger the spirit, the bigger the totem. The bigger the totem, the more energy A'kaia uses to channel the spirit. So far, A'kaia has two totems; a wild dog totem and a rhino totem. The wild dog totem is a dire spirit that comes to his aid, it is a small totem he wears as a necklace. The rhino totem is a powerful, large spirit acts as the city's protector.
Personality
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Biography & Lore
The child of Lord Hassan and Shaman N'Keiah of Bauhala, he had a somewhat rocky start. Great Lord Hassan, who proved to be different once he began adopting parts of other cultures just outside the walls of their city, refused to follow suit of great leaders in the past. The lord's marriage to N'Keiah is a symbol of unity between religion and government, and although it is not a crime to fall in love with the shaman, Lord Hassan found it hard to tie himself to noble houses of Bauhala through marriage. This shook the very foundation of the city as it held political marriages to the utmost highest power.
N'Keiah was a well-respected shaman. Many began separating the shaman who proved worthy of her position from her lover. Due to the lack of lovers, however, N'keiah's reproduction had become an issue of the people as she was not producing the proper number of children at a time. The Hutua people were known to produce at least triplets, N'keiah had only produced a set of twins once before her last child.
A'kaia's birth seemed to be the most shocking. He was not followed by another and when N'keiah was questioned about it, she spoke of the goddess and her wishes for the future. Now, the people of Bauhala thought of this as being some sort of propaganda of Great Lord Hassan that even their shaman was a part of now. The people wondered if their shaman was giving in to her lover's demand and promoting change amongst the cities. For this very reason, the birth of A'kaia was met with disdain at first.
The Hutua relied on the community for education and the assistance of raising children, including nobles like A'kaia. Everyone seemed to turn their backs on the new child since they see him as symbol of change or a bad omen. The only person that knew of his immense future and true nature was his mother. She reassured him every day that the people would eventually come around. "The goddess has plans for you," she would say each day before prayer to him.
She wasn't wrong either. N'Keiah would leave the world too soon, but not without naming her successor. Many couldn't believe it was A'kaia and thought the day of his initiation, he would be denied by the goddess. When he was accepted as the next shaman, Bauhala had given A'kaia mixed emotions. Some apologetic while others were remorseful yet kept to themselves. Nonetheless, there was a wave of confusion amongst the city. Shamans were never born into the great family of Bauhala. They were married into it.
The noble families of Bauhala were in an uproar. Although A'kaia was proven to be the great shaman, many nobles felt his family was trying to cast out other powerful families from the two greatest positions. A'kaia's eldest sibling would be the next Great Lord and he would become shaman. Government officials blamed Hassan and felt there should be an ultimatum. If A'kaia were to be shaman, then the next Great Lord should be chosen and married to A'kaia. Hassan, A'kaia's father, refused since the Great Lord has always been a member of those descended from the goddess and a child of the previous lord.
A civil war broke out in the city. Noble houses made alliances and decided to storm the palace. A'kaia was forced to go into hiding while his eldest siblings and father fought back. A'kaia cannot exactly say what happened but somehow, his father defeated the oppenents. Unfortunately, it was at the cost of his eldest children. Not only did A'kaia's father grow ill due to this, but A'kaia was expected to act as reigning regent until either his father is in better health or a marriage of some sort is approved.
N'Keiah was a well-respected shaman. Many began separating the shaman who proved worthy of her position from her lover. Due to the lack of lovers, however, N'keiah's reproduction had become an issue of the people as she was not producing the proper number of children at a time. The Hutua people were known to produce at least triplets, N'keiah had only produced a set of twins once before her last child.
A'kaia's birth seemed to be the most shocking. He was not followed by another and when N'keiah was questioned about it, she spoke of the goddess and her wishes for the future. Now, the people of Bauhala thought of this as being some sort of propaganda of Great Lord Hassan that even their shaman was a part of now. The people wondered if their shaman was giving in to her lover's demand and promoting change amongst the cities. For this very reason, the birth of A'kaia was met with disdain at first.
The Hutua relied on the community for education and the assistance of raising children, including nobles like A'kaia. Everyone seemed to turn their backs on the new child since they see him as symbol of change or a bad omen. The only person that knew of his immense future and true nature was his mother. She reassured him every day that the people would eventually come around. "The goddess has plans for you," she would say each day before prayer to him.
She wasn't wrong either. N'Keiah would leave the world too soon, but not without naming her successor. Many couldn't believe it was A'kaia and thought the day of his initiation, he would be denied by the goddess. When he was accepted as the next shaman, Bauhala had given A'kaia mixed emotions. Some apologetic while others were remorseful yet kept to themselves. Nonetheless, there was a wave of confusion amongst the city. Shamans were never born into the great family of Bauhala. They were married into it.
The noble families of Bauhala were in an uproar. Although A'kaia was proven to be the great shaman, many nobles felt his family was trying to cast out other powerful families from the two greatest positions. A'kaia's eldest sibling would be the next Great Lord and he would become shaman. Government officials blamed Hassan and felt there should be an ultimatum. If A'kaia were to be shaman, then the next Great Lord should be chosen and married to A'kaia. Hassan, A'kaia's father, refused since the Great Lord has always been a member of those descended from the goddess and a child of the previous lord.
A civil war broke out in the city. Noble houses made alliances and decided to storm the palace. A'kaia was forced to go into hiding while his eldest siblings and father fought back. A'kaia cannot exactly say what happened but somehow, his father defeated the oppenents. Unfortunately, it was at the cost of his eldest children. Not only did A'kaia's father grow ill due to this, but A'kaia was expected to act as reigning regent until either his father is in better health or a marriage of some sort is approved.