| Relatives | Qiyanan (mother), Mahya (older sister) |
|---|---|
| Languages | Common, Common Sign Language, Primordial |
| Affiliations | Dustwalker Tribe, Shepherds |
| Aliases | Mahleyna—Blade of Mahya |
| Marital Status | Dating Fhazrin Ashseeker (open relationship) |
| Place of Birth | Pteris Badlands |
| Species | Sandstrider Tabaxi |
| Gender | Nonbinary |
| Height | 5’8” |
| Weight | 165 lbs |
| Eye Color | Orange-Gold |
Sorvanan Dustwalker is a Tabaxi from the nomadic Dustwalker tribe with a deep love for good company and a penchant for getting involved in things perhaps best left alone. They are a Way of the Astral Self Monk.
Physical Appearance
Sorvanan has rich brown skin, curly brown hair, and slit orange-gold eyes. They also have brown-furred ears on top of their head along with a tan tail. The last of their overtly cat-like features are pointed canine teeth and retractable claws. Sorvanan has a slender but muscular build and has no trouble putting their muscles on display. They typically wear loose-fitting clothes such as thin, cropped jackets, chest wraps, and pants with sandals. At night, they’ll don one of many woven ponchos to protect from the cold. Their favorite colors to wear are white, gold, and black. When acting as their alter ego Mahleyna, they don a white and gold mask with a white head covering along with a gold cloak.
Personality
From the time Sorvanan was a child, they were considered to be a good candidate to be one of the Dustwalker tribe’s Talesingers due to their jovial nature, healthy appreciation for telling stories, and drive to bring people together. However, this would never come to pass, because with age they revealed themself to be a naturally skilled fighter; this led to them being assigned to be one of the tribe’s Shepherds instead. Though Sorvanan often groans about their job, saying they would prefer to take things easy, they do take the protection of people seriously. They groaned even more when their sister became the tribe’s Grand Sibyl because they knew she would make them her personal Blade. Still, when acting as the Blade of Mahya, they are lethally efficient.
History
Sorvanan was born in the Pteris Badlands to their mother Qiyanan and their father Tahlahn. Unfortunately, Tahlahn died in a skirmish with a group of highly skilled bandits the same day Sorvanan was born, so they never got to meet their father. Considering that Tahlahn was Qiyanan’s second husband, and that her first had also died unexpectedly, some members of the Dustwalker tribe began to suspect that Qiyanan was cursed, though many others simply offered their condolences. Tensions had been high among the Dustwalkers for the past several years due to the seeming absence of their patron spirit, Sandstrider Naahli—The Great Cat. Their patron’s absence meant that no Grand Sibyl had been chosen since the previous one’s death, and the position was an important one since the Chieftain and Grand Sibyl were supposed to govern the tribe together. These things were said to be the cause of the Dustwalkers being in turmoil: they had been stricken with thirst, hunger, bandit raids, and all manner of ill luck. Still, the tribe persevered.
Growing up, Sorvanan was constantly at the hip of the tribe’s Talesingers, those tasked with recording the oral traditions and history of the Dustwalkers through song and performance. They adored the power of stories to change minds and open hearts and, at least for a time, thought at all conflict could truly be resolved by people listening to each other’s stories. Qiyanan allowed Sorvanan to be an innocent child, but she never encouraged this mindset. Mahya was quick to pick up on her mother’s perspective of bloodshed being a necessity at times, but she hoped she could grow into a fierce warrior to protect Sorvanan and Qiyanan from violence. Unfortunately for Sorvanan and Mahya, they would both end up falling into the role that the other sibling wanted. One day, while meditating on the words of a Talesinger’s story, Sorvanan unlocked the ability to channel ki. This might not have meant anything if not for the way they instinctively put these skills to use against attacking bandits. Though Sorvanan was inexperienced, and the adults did most of the work, they proved to have a talent for battle that could not be ignored. Thus, they assigned the train with the tribe’s Shepherds to become an adept protector. That same week, Mahya began receiving visions from the Elements, meaning that she was a seer—Dustwalker seers are not allowed to engage in direct combat.
Although both siblings were initially none too pleased about their assigned roles, they both learned to be very good at what they did. On Mahya’s twenty-third birthday, Sandstrider Naahli manifested before the entire tribe and declared Mahya the new Grand Sibyl. The Great Cat also tasked Mahya and Chieftain Visra with performing five great rites which would be revealed to them one by one when the right times came. Mahya immediately declared Sorvanan her personal Blade since every Grand Sibyl has the right to one. Sandstrider Naahli bestowed the tribe’s lost artifact, the Clearsong Shortsword, to Sorvanan to solidify Mahya’s choice. After a grand celebration for the assumed end of thirty years of struggle, Sorvanan and Mahya took a moment to themselves to discuss how to handle their newfound positions. Mahya told Sorvanan that she planned to make life better not just for the Dustwalkers, but for the Badlands as a whole. Sorvanan swore that they would help Mahya see this vision through.
Languages
Sorvanan grew up speaking Common, Common Sign Language, and Primordial. The Dustwalkers use Common because it allows for easy communication with almost anyone they might encounter, Sign Language to speak amongst themselves in outside company, and Primordial because they consider it a sacred language that allows a person to attune to the elements. Sorvanan’s favorite of the three is plain Common because it’s a well-known enough language to help bridge gaps between different people. They’ll never shy away from cursing in Primordial when it’s called for, though. They think Primordial swear words have more weight to them because the language involves so many sounds.
Powers and Abilities
As a monk who follows the Way of the Astral Self, Sorvanan is capable of conjuring aspects of the ki that makes up their “true body”, their Astral Self. Their astral arms manifest as slender, but with wicked claws that rend the souls of their enemies, dealing harsh force damage. The rush of energy caused by this manifestation can itself cause damage to Sorvanan’s opponents. They can also don their other identity as Mahleyna—Blade of Mahya: doing so conjures a surge of primal essence which coalesces in a mask and cloak that obscure Sorvanan’s true identity. Other Dustwalkers and a few Ashseekers (including Fhazrin) know Sorvanan is the Blade, but no one else has made the connection.
Attacks and Weapons
Though Sorvanan prefers hand-to-hand combat over weaponry, they always have the Clearsong Shortsword sheathed and on their hip: the sword was given to them as a symbol of their status as the Blade of Mahya.
Relationships
Qiyanan Dustwalker
Qiyanan is Sorvanan’s mother and a Healer of the Dustwalker tribe. Some other Dustwalkers consider her unlucky or even cursed because both of her previous husbands died. Qiyanan pointedly makes no comment about this, preferring to let her actions speak for the kind of person she is. When Qiyanan does speak, she displays a firm and stoic personality hardened by years of tribe hardship in the badlands. She is warm to her two children, though, and never fails to let them know that she is proud of them. Qiyanan and Sorvanan occasionally come into conflict over Sorvanan’s easy-going nature, but these disagreements usually wane after Sorvanan does something to prove that they can be serious when it counts (usually). Qiyanan doesn’t mean to nag, she just knows from personal experience what can happen when you get too comfortable. She is incredibly happy with the work both her children are doing with the Shepherds.
Mahya Dustwalker
Mahya is Sorvanan’s older half-sister and occupies the prestigious position of the Dustwalker tribe’s Grand Sibyl. This means she is not only a proficient seer, but has been personally appointed by the tribe’s patron spirit, Sandstrider Naahli. Mahya is the first Grand Sibyl to be chosen in 30 years, marking the end of a period of turmoil for the Dustwalkers. She takes her duties seriously and often comes across as detached or cold, but she is a fair tribe advisor. The first thing Mahya did upon gaining her new position was officially join the Shepherds and appoint Sorvanan as their Blade, much to their sibling’s supposed chagrin. Mahya and Sorvanan care deeply for each other and they both agree that Mahya’s vision for the badlands is one worth fighting for.
Visra Dustwalker
Visra is the Chieftain of the Dustwalker tribe. Outsiders tend to be surprised that the Grand Sibyl isn’t the tribe leader (or at the very least, surprised that Visra doesn’t think Mahya is undermining his authority). The reality is that Visra was relieved when Mahya was chosen. He believes that the tribe cannot function in harmony without the guidance of both the Chieftain and the Grand Sibyl and is glad that Sandstrider Naahli has no longer turned away from the Dustwalkers. Visra and Sorvanan respect each other even if Visra thinks Sorvanan could stand to be more like their alter ego all the time.
Fhazrin Ashseeker
Fhazrin is the next in line to be chieftain of the Ashseeker tribe, a tribe of humans who the Dustwalkers often trade and collaborate with. He and Sorvanan have known each other since they were children and it was basically assumed that they were dating before they even got together. They both joined the Shepherds around the same time and, after their third mission together, they officially became romantic partners. Fhazrin is considered a trickster, though he claims he just likes surprising people. His funseeking nature compliments Sorvanan’s love for finding new stories. The two of them are in an open relationship, which isn’t uncommon in either of their tribes.
Sandstrider Naahli—The Great Cat
Naahli the Sandstrider is an old cat spirit. It was she who transformed the first Dustwalkers into Sandstrider Tabaxi so they could better traverse the Pteris Badlands. Though she is aloof, she holds enough care for the Dustwalkers to consider herself their patron. Her reasons for waiting 30 years to choose another Grand Sibyl are unknown, but it is assumed that she was simply willing to wait for the right candidate to emerge. Naahli apparently has no interest in being outright worshipped like a full-blown deity, but the Dustwalker tribe pays her reverence by obeying her Three Decrees. Sorvanan has heard Naahli speak directly more often than other members of their tribe due to their closeness to their sister, the Grand Sibyl. Though they joke about the Three Decrees sometimes, they have never outright disobeyed them.
The Three Decrees
- Revere The Elements Of The Badlands
- Deal With Matters Of Death Cleanly And Quickly
- Take No More Than What Is Needed
