Ashuanar
Appearance
After months of hardship and battle, Ashuanar has refined himself into a proper fighting machine. Prior to his time as Vizier he wore his hair plainly and bore no markings. After his appointment and subsequent training, he has been marked with ritualistic scars and tattoos..
It is difficult to find him robed in anything other than the attire of Mari'kuul tribesmen: plain white cloth, with head and face coverings. Usually only in private or in special precedings of court is he seen wearing anything resembling ornate, or comfortable.
It is difficult to find him robed in anything other than the attire of Mari'kuul tribesmen: plain white cloth, with head and face coverings. Usually only in private or in special precedings of court is he seen wearing anything resembling ornate, or comfortable.
Skills and Abilities
Strength and stamina: Ashuanar is not one of such regard as to be considered unnatural, but he is superb among those of his kind, and he is relentless. He relies heavily on technique to expend as little energy possible while still preforming well. He moves on his feet with ease, allowing him great speed and guile even on disturbed ground. He is well co-ordinated and quick to react, making him an adept assassin.
However, after being gifted and garnering some sense of mastery over the Band of Serqet, these attributes in him, like most, have only been bolstered.
Sight: Keenest eyes among his kin for a generation or so. Well adapted to the intensified light, quite fair in the dark, and the ability to visually comprehend magical disturbances.
Hearing: Like most elves, Ashuanar has superb hearing.
Confidence: Almost to the point of arrogance, Ashuanar is quite sure of his strengths. Though this does make him a bit brash, and sometimes even reckless.
Magic: Ashuanar is gifted, but only recently began his training to better wield magic great benefit. For much of his life, most instances of him using magic have been done out of instinct or reaction with no real control. But, after his appointment to Vizier of the Imperial Army it was deemed necessary for him to be better instructed in the arcane ways.
After having been bestowed the Band of Serqet by Emperor Gerra, the Archlector Snaaib assigned several of his priests to tutor him in its ways and several sorcerers were tasked with improving his magical comprehension. Many weeks were spent harnessing the power of the Band alone. Because of this training Ashuanar is now a more capable pyromancer, as well as a modest spellcaster.
The Band of Serqet: An armband forged of gold into the shape of a scorpion, the band was created long ago by a Sand Elf enchanter. It allows the wearer to summon three giant scorpions, or one colossal scorpion. When summoned, the scorpions wriggle up from the earth or sand and are entirely beholden to their summoner. When slain, or dismissed, the scorpions fall into a heap to disintegrate into ectoplasm and steam away. The scorpions can be summoned once per day.
The more adept the wearer, the more powerful the scorpion. As time goes on and Ashuanar's skills improve, he is expected to become a great bearer of the band.
Its place in his care has garnered him the name Akrep.
However, after being gifted and garnering some sense of mastery over the Band of Serqet, these attributes in him, like most, have only been bolstered.
Sight: Keenest eyes among his kin for a generation or so. Well adapted to the intensified light, quite fair in the dark, and the ability to visually comprehend magical disturbances.
Hearing: Like most elves, Ashuanar has superb hearing.
Confidence: Almost to the point of arrogance, Ashuanar is quite sure of his strengths. Though this does make him a bit brash, and sometimes even reckless.
Magic: Ashuanar is gifted, but only recently began his training to better wield magic great benefit. For much of his life, most instances of him using magic have been done out of instinct or reaction with no real control. But, after his appointment to Vizier of the Imperial Army it was deemed necessary for him to be better instructed in the arcane ways.
After having been bestowed the Band of Serqet by Emperor Gerra, the Archlector Snaaib assigned several of his priests to tutor him in its ways and several sorcerers were tasked with improving his magical comprehension. Many weeks were spent harnessing the power of the Band alone. Because of this training Ashuanar is now a more capable pyromancer, as well as a modest spellcaster.
The Band of Serqet: An armband forged of gold into the shape of a scorpion, the band was created long ago by a Sand Elf enchanter. It allows the wearer to summon three giant scorpions, or one colossal scorpion. When summoned, the scorpions wriggle up from the earth or sand and are entirely beholden to their summoner. When slain, or dismissed, the scorpions fall into a heap to disintegrate into ectoplasm and steam away. The scorpions can be summoned once per day.
The more adept the wearer, the more powerful the scorpion. As time goes on and Ashuanar's skills improve, he is expected to become a great bearer of the band.
Its place in his care has garnered him the name Akrep.
Personality
Ashuanar has been described as unpredictable. Though he has never overstepped his bounds and has always adhered to his responsibilities within his community, he will often take things upon himself that are often dealt with in groups. This has not always proven to be beneficial, but it has garnered him some amount of respect, as well as uncertainty.
He is not overly rude, but not particularly kind either. He carries an air of importance about him, but claims none. He tends to take things too seriously, and is devoid of a sense of humour – or at least a normal one.
There is a darker side to him that is rarely ever shown, but when it emerges he displays a far more aggressive and unforgiving disposition. He holds great contempt for the subjugation of his people, and even takes pleasure in torturous revenge.
He holds his family and community as a whole in the highest regard, and will give his life without hesitation to protect both.
Biography & Lore
Ashuanar was born about four decades ago to the tribe of Mari'kuul. For the first nine years of his life he dwelt with his family traveling throughout the sands of Amol-Kalit. His parents were traders, like many of his people, and they and their tribe carried on as relatively peaceful nomads for a time.
But it was only a matter of time before this innocence came to an end. His tribe was attacked and decimated by slavers. His sisters were stolen and many of his brothers killed. He was forced into servitude and lived as a slave for many years.
Several who remained from his tribe vowed vengeance on the plight of their people and trained themselves to be killers – but different from those who had wounded them. They would be clean, and precise. They would topple the head, before the body could even realize - and then they would vanish.
And so after over a decade as a slave Ashusnar was set free by his kin, and returned to his tribe to find them very different than when he'd been taken. No longer were they the meek spice traders of before. No. They had changed themselves into lethal killing machines with no purpose other than the restitution of their once great people.
They were the Tribe of Mari'kuul.
Ashuanar was unquestionably welcomed home with open arms, and nursed caringly back to health. Then, fueled by the pain and guilt and sorrow of what had happened to him and his family he took up the new mantle of his family and was trained in the arts of war. He resumed his nomadic lifestyle among his own, changed. No longer the frail boy of his youth, fearful and meek, for now he was an embittered warrior with very little else to live for save for one primary thing.
Vengeance.
And finally after many years of toil, the great prophecy of hope to his people came true. The promised djinn of fire appeared from the sands and claimed his place upon the throne of Amol-Kalit. The God Emperor had arrived at long, long last - a prophecy that the likes of Ashuanar and his kin had all but dismissed. But when it happened... it changed everything about Ashuanar's life. No longer was he the renegade assassin of a nobody nomadic tribe. He was Abtati, and the sands were to rise.
And they did - even as the cold touch of undeath grew cross with Gerra's rising and sought to end it during his coronation at Ragash, the flame could not be undone. In the ensuing battle Ashuanar fought valiantly in the name of his promised king, even going as far as attempting to slay an undead dragon.
Though the attempt failed, and he nearly lost his life as a result, Gerra grsnted favour to him. He was healed, and taken under the wing of Gerra's most trusted instructors, and elevated to become Vizier of the Imperial Army.
This appointment led to Gerra's bestowment of the Band of Serqet into Ashuanar's care. He was instructed on its use, channeling magic, and understanding politics and aristocracy all while assimilating control of the army. It was a daunting experience marked with great trial and frustration, and his training continues even now. But by the time of Gerra's return from his divine pilgrimage - Ashuanar had found his place, organizing the army and wielding his authority with much greater confidence.
He'd truly grown to fit his role quite well.
But it was only a matter of time before this innocence came to an end. His tribe was attacked and decimated by slavers. His sisters were stolen and many of his brothers killed. He was forced into servitude and lived as a slave for many years.
Several who remained from his tribe vowed vengeance on the plight of their people and trained themselves to be killers – but different from those who had wounded them. They would be clean, and precise. They would topple the head, before the body could even realize - and then they would vanish.
And so after over a decade as a slave Ashusnar was set free by his kin, and returned to his tribe to find them very different than when he'd been taken. No longer were they the meek spice traders of before. No. They had changed themselves into lethal killing machines with no purpose other than the restitution of their once great people.
They were the Tribe of Mari'kuul.
Ashuanar was unquestionably welcomed home with open arms, and nursed caringly back to health. Then, fueled by the pain and guilt and sorrow of what had happened to him and his family he took up the new mantle of his family and was trained in the arts of war. He resumed his nomadic lifestyle among his own, changed. No longer the frail boy of his youth, fearful and meek, for now he was an embittered warrior with very little else to live for save for one primary thing.
Vengeance.
And finally after many years of toil, the great prophecy of hope to his people came true. The promised djinn of fire appeared from the sands and claimed his place upon the throne of Amol-Kalit. The God Emperor had arrived at long, long last - a prophecy that the likes of Ashuanar and his kin had all but dismissed. But when it happened... it changed everything about Ashuanar's life. No longer was he the renegade assassin of a nobody nomadic tribe. He was Abtati, and the sands were to rise.
And they did - even as the cold touch of undeath grew cross with Gerra's rising and sought to end it during his coronation at Ragash, the flame could not be undone. In the ensuing battle Ashuanar fought valiantly in the name of his promised king, even going as far as attempting to slay an undead dragon.
Though the attempt failed, and he nearly lost his life as a result, Gerra grsnted favour to him. He was healed, and taken under the wing of Gerra's most trusted instructors, and elevated to become Vizier of the Imperial Army.
This appointment led to Gerra's bestowment of the Band of Serqet into Ashuanar's care. He was instructed on its use, channeling magic, and understanding politics and aristocracy all while assimilating control of the army. It was a daunting experience marked with great trial and frustration, and his training continues even now. But by the time of Gerra's return from his divine pilgrimage - Ashuanar had found his place, organizing the army and wielding his authority with much greater confidence.
He'd truly grown to fit his role quite well.