Biographical informationZar'Ahal47Temple of MaelzafanPhysical descriptionUmbral Elf/SkallMale, Unfortunately.5'7EmaciatedPurple as their Mistress's scalesSoft blueSickly PalePolitical informationPersonal Servant of HebemariOut-of-character informationTheIdlingMusehttps://www.facebook.com/hollowgraphic/posts/彡artist-pm_611a-x/1367093958114629/
An abandoned orphan swept up in the claws of the High Priestess of Maelzafan
Appearance
Even among the Drow Kiyari is an unnerving sight. Thinner than thin and unhealthy even at first glance Kiyari is so used to existing in his Mistress's shadow that anyone even noticing their sunken eyes, their scarred neck, or vacant gaze tends to surprise them. Their gaze whenever they are not explicitly pursuing a task given by Hebemarri is always cast down to the floor, one arm crossed to grip the other nervously,
When not on assignment by their Mistress Kiyari wears simple robes of dark ebon hue. Simple white cufflinks and collar the only thing that gives any sort of contrast to the sheer abyss of their clothing. When on assignment these same robes are outfitted with segmented Emril plates and adornments to provide Kiyari some protection around the ribs, neck and legs though this outfit is much more rare for them to be seen in.
Altogether Kiyari is not meant to be seen or heard. Whether existing in his Mistress's shadow as her precious flower or being dispatched to deal with "issues" at her command they never put much thought into their appearance. From their tousled, unkempt hair to their perpetual appearance of being exhausted, malnourished and distracted they look the exact part they play: More a tool than a person.
Skills and Abilities
Pinnacle of Skill (Unreliable)
Though it may be surprising to read given their general demeanor when Kiyari is focused and otherwise unburdened by their many traumas they are one of the most skilled beings on Arethil with a blade. Cutting down other elves, even ones thought dangerous, is routine for them after all. Generally their Mistress's direct command is what motivates them in such a fashion, to be so focused, though were he to be caught without her instruction he would still be quite skilled, albeit entirely unable to push aside his burdens himself. Only Hebemari holds the influence over him to command him to perform at his best.
Blessed/Cursed by Maelzafan
When Kiyari was subjected to the primordial shade pits that birth others of his kind he had hoped for death to take him. To escape the horrors of the life he had lived. He even prayed to Maelzafan for the sweet release of death. That final request, sad to say, was his greatest mistake. Or so he believes. Maelzafan did not grant him mercy in his mind, instead of death or rejection he received the opposite. As both a sign of favor to Hebemari by empowering her personal servant and, as far as Kiyari is concerned, punishing them for asking for mercy Kiyari was able to weather the shade pits longer than most. Perhaps longer than any other hybrid subjected to them before. This gives them immense, powerful control of shadow magic on an instinctual level. Though leaves them unable to form even basic competency in any other form of magic and leaves them hyper vulnerable to any sort of offensive light magic.
Black-Blooded Butcher
What at first appears to be blood as black as ink is instead pure primordial shade that dwells within Kiyari's veins. This shade blood of Kiyari's is rather unique in that it as tangible, physical darkness made manifest. It is not dispersed by light and can be manipulated by any other practitioners of shadow magic in the vicinity. Though there is, of course, the obvious drawback that Kiyari only has so much to give. It is also worth noting that Kiyari's blood is a supremely potent ritual reagent for any ritual requiring shadow magic and would satisfy any requirement for darkness/shadow magic any magical ritual requires.
A Tortured Mind
Though assassinating political adversaries is not exactly sane work in the traditional sense most of Kiyari's time with Hebemari has been under his Mistress's own personal brand of "kindness". Instead of Hebemari's affections it was instead their life prior to her and their exposure to primordial shade that lead to their mind fracturing apart as it has. In most social situations they are little more than a shadow, subservient and silent, though in combat at Hebemari's command they are focused and lethal. Finally, though it has rarely come to pass, threats to his Mistress or combat without her express order has resulted in Kiyari entering a sort of maddened state. Not quite berserking but instead a more sadistic, unhinged expression of vicious enjoyment than simply pure rage.
Personality
As stated above Kiyari's personality is usually a stable thing of quiet submission. Loyalty to his Mistress, loyalty to the Queen, coming above all other concerns. They are a trained killer, servant and shadow to Hebemari and fulfill that duty as well as they can. Though of course not perfectly. Naturally they are not used to being noticed, let alone speaking for themselves, though when forced to do so without Hebemari's presence either due to being on assignment or interacting with other members of the Onyx Kingdom Kiyari is... blunt. Soft-spoken. Off-putting. Most topics end up circling back to his Mistress or his work for them, for that is so much of his life.
Strangely enough Kiyari could also be described as vaguely.... friendly? Awkward of course. Not at all charming besides. But by their estimation if they are not sent to kill someone, and if that someone respects their Mistress and the Queen, then they are an ally. As such they are to be respected. So while Kiyari is more likely to stare at someone from the shadows under Hebemari's wing as speak to them when they do speak to someone, assuming the person can look past their horrid awkwardness, there is the tortured, traumatized remnant of someone still looking for something in life beyond their Mistress. Not to replace her, of course. Kiyari's emotions surrounding Hebemari are complex to say the least. But a friend or two besides her may not be outside the realm of possibility.
Biography & Lore
The False Daughter
Kiyari is presented as a daughter.
Once upon a time Kiyari was born to a house of minor nobility in Zar'Ahal. To circumstances so unfortunate they only prove the saying that "reality is often stranger than fiction" for Kiyari. The circumstances leading up to Kiyari's birth spelled their doom even before their conception. Kiyari's mother had promised her firstborn to serve for a more powerful noble house in a ploy both desperate and bold to elevate the standing of her house. For of course her firstborn would be a girl. She was a devout follower of Maelzafan and the shadow-mantis queen would not disgrace her with a son.
Not only was Kiyari born a male but his mother did not survive childbirth. Some of the servants had even claimed they saw a spider skittering away from the bed, punishment for testing the patience of Maelzafan and demands made by her supplicants. This left Kiyari's house in a horrible position. Some voices cried to simply dump him in a cave to be left to the beasts, to hide the fact of his birth entire, unfortunately rumor had already spread of his mother's pregnancy and so a more deceptive, desperate ploy was hatched. Kiyari was dressed as a daughter, presented as such, and for a time the deception worked. It was agreed that in only a few short years Kiyari would come to serve the more powerful house. Joy for Kiyari's house became suffering for them. Their earliest memories replete with lashes, cuts, discipline they had called it, in scrubbing away any semblance of masculinity from him.
Spells were woven to stunt him from inheriting the physique of his father, to soften his face, heighten the tone of his voice, and physical punishment enforced a more feminine gait, the use of proper words when describing himself, and everything in-between. The scars from that treatment still linger to this day. And, of course, no lie can last forever.
Kiyari has long since repressed how they were discovered and could not tell a soul, not even their Mistress, if they wanted to. All they recall was the retribution of the house that had adopted him being swift and absolute. What was once his house was cleansed in a night of bloodshed and the only thing that saved Kiyari from the same fate was that during his time pretending to be a daughter the matriarch of his adoptive house had grown fond of their false identity. So it was decided that Kiyari would be left on the steps of the Temple of Maelzafan. Let the priesthood decide what to do with a male meant to masquerade as the superior sex.
That was where Kiyari was found by his Mistress.... and when his life became something altogether different.
Out of the House and into the Pit
Kiyari is given a gift by their new Mistress, one they would cherish forever.
Upon being taken in by Hebemari Kiyari began to be shaped and trained into her own personal servant in every sense of the word. Hebemari's hidden blade, her flower, existing only to serve her and advance her interests. Shown kindness of a kind, of the likes of which their House had never given them. Punishment still came with failure but it was never physical. Instead it was the much worse, heart-constricting gaze of disappointment from their draconic Mistress. While success was rewarded both verbally and, in one special case, even materially. A small, stuffed white rabbit being given to Kiyari that they have since hidden and kept to this day. No doubt Hebemari knows this but they like to think it's a secret even she isn't aware of.
Kiyari proved successful enough, obedient enough, that one day he was informed he would be given the honor of becoming something greater. More able to serve his Mistress now that he had reached adulthood. This moment, perhaps even more-so than simply being taken in by Hebemari, defines who Kiyari is more than any other event in their life. They were taken, stripped, cleansed, prepared and ritualistically submerged into a pit of primordial shade. Some did not expect them to survive. Others were satisfied after they spent only a minute within that comforting darkness. Kiyari.... shamefully Kiyari tried to drown themselves in it. To draw it into their lungs and simply let the darkness take them. Raised among the clergy a simple prayer to Maelzafan came from them, for the sweet release of death, and in Kiyari's mind Maelzafan scorned that prayer entire.
After untold hours within the darkness Kiyari emerges, forever changed.
Within that umbral blackness Kiyari's mind was torn asunder. The darkness suffused their very being and broke their already fragile sense of self. Leaving only precious little enough left to recognize what they had lost, how little they had been left with, and as they tore their emaciated form from the darkness their eyes lay solely on Hebemari. His Mistress. His World. Whom he would serve as all that he was: A tool.
