Chisty Cystal

 

History

Fourth Age

In the spring of 1138, her father died during a robbery at their market stall in Sandstum, a small town in Yofroya. Triggering a premature birth of Chistly right there, her mother died later that day, leaving Chistly an orphan. Handed in at the nearby orphanage. Born early, she was small and fragile, and growing up at that place, she experienced horrors no child should have.

Having a rough childhood and often starving, she became petite, yet with an urge to live, she grasped for the light of life. So she began to entertain the other kids, and then when she was around 8 she began entertaining at street corners and marketplaces. Dancing, acrobatics, and juggling became her preferred style and trained her eye-to-hand skills.

When she came of age, in 1152, she began to recite stories as she performed. Turning her shows into theatrical events, slowly she gained enough fame and income to prepare for a future out of the orphanage. But, in 1154, when she was adding the day’s income to her hidden stash, she was attacked by some of those from the orphanage and robbed of her savings.

That night she left for the city of Dongal in the Gratal region; as she walked out of the town, she heard the fire alarms, and as she topped the north hill, she looked back. The orphanage in flames, she sighed towards the town never to be revisited, and with a blood-stained bag of coins in her belt, she turned and walked on.

In Dongal she rented a small house, bought her way into the artists’ ranks, and started to perform at markets. As her skills developed, she began performing at theatres and private parties. Years passed, and as she observed and heard what many an onlooker said or whispered, she even noticed who used the crowds to talk to whom. Thus, another trade grew alongside her artistic skills.

As the retrieved knowledge grew into distinct patterns and understandings of Dongal’s factions, she began to utilise it in her performances. A smile here, a hair toss there, a blow kiss to this, and a wave to that. This could easily lead to a later walk or dinner, where she could obtain further information. Always recalling the treachery of childhood comrades, she was careful not to believe any of these equals or friends.

Eventually, she gained enough power to directly capitalise on her knowledge. She managed to become one of the performers of the royal theatre in the capital and moved there in 1169. There she aimed for grander glory, meanwhile continuing her information gathering. It was her ambition that led to her slip, as she gained the interest of the regional Mermerant duke, who used his influence to promote her to leading mistress of the royal theatre in 1178.

At first she thought it was merely a trade-off due to her information, but in the summer she found out he had a grand prize in mind as repayment. At a meeting, he expressed his wishes for her as mistress, and when she declined such payment, he forced himself. After he left, their connection was cut, and she began planning revenge for the abuse. Then as autumn came, she discovered herself with child, and the winter became a dark one.

In the spring of 1179, she was birthing a son, but as she loathed its father and needed to have no ties or weak spots, it was given away for adoption. When she heard it was to be picked up, she went to the place and approached the adopters and, acting as just a bypasser, asked the child and them. She looked at the child, and as she gave it a gentle stroke on the cheek, saying, ‘Godspeed’, she noticed two small marks at its neck. But didn’t dare ask into it to not reveal herself.

In 1180, Neevets Kaceb, the Mermerant prince, fell off his horse and crushed his skull on the cobblestones. The city guard said they had never seen a more unlucky horse-scare and fall from a saddle. From then Chistly began to focus on strengthening her political and courtly power with her other trade, and she became leader of a troupe of master assassins.

One of the steps she took was becoming supportive of the 1st Alliance, where her knowledge of Yofroya matters helped sway many a leader. And if needed, her assassins were a useful tool for dealing with those pressuring back. Staying in the shadows, only dealing with Black Oak or Aragon, she was an unknown player in the power play.

When Grimsborg was being built, she moved there, overseeing the grand theatre’s design, construction, and running. Little did the audience know she used every performance to read their actions. Then at the high king's coronation, she met Deepminded, Kanziganthir, and Wrekazi for the first time as the trio addressed her. They asked her a question about her aura and possible relations.

The news that they had seen a similar aura to hers—rare pink, red, and orange-tailed—belonged to a tall, fierce, 35-year-old female warrior-rogue. Daughter of a 70-year-old mana manipulator, lord of the court in Yofroya. Had shaken her; hopefully she had managed to conceal it, but she immediately had thought of her son and the possible granddaughter.

A month later Kanziganthir visited her again; he had noticed her shock and investigated further. At first, she was surprised, but then she felt torn between her duties and the grand wheel of fate. He told her that she most likely had been an object of interest to Allele Diploid from the day of her father’s murder and maybe even before her birth. So she, her son, and granddaughter most likely were pieces in the eternal spin of The Favoured Eight.

So, now she could seek out her son and daughter, as she most likely had considered, or let fate run its cruel course. She needed to keep these important pieces safely hidden from exposure to any divine being or agent. It was a cruel choice to take, but an easy one. The safety of the child and grandchild, despite their being unknown to her in person, weighed more heavily than any brief smile of embrace. But when he left, she felt Kanziganthir had not told her all.

In 1262, the royal court of Yofroya’s mana manipulator was sent to Grimsborg. Hearing he was in town, Kanziganthir arranged for her to perform at court. And as she began to recite, she noticed the envoy and felt something familiar. At some point she noticed Kanziganthir studying her closely, and as their eyes met, he gave a slight nod – and she knew.

Afterwards, the envoy was eager to meet the performer, and she finally met her son, Fimaldu Kanan. 83 years had passed since she touched the infant’s cheek, now a tall lord’s bearded jawline. He invited her to come to their villa the next day, in case she wanted to see his daughter perform with as much power as Cistly possessed grace.

The next day Chistly met Fimaldus’s wife, a stunning beauty of Gorean nobility. Her arcane abilities were of such power that Chistly could feel it when they touched her. As Chistly smiled, she thought about the potency of this allele match, and then she felt her aura even before seeing her. Turning, she faced Cyhis Kanan, a tall, wiry and broad-shouldered beauty, who featured the best of all her ancestry lines.

Chistly commented on her beauty, and Cyhis replied it was due to her Gorean mother and father’s unknown origin. But didn’t he look splendid nonetheless? Chistly then did a slip of the tongue as she blurted, “He looks like Moss'Ari and Jomzaar to me.” Fimaldu dropped his jaw, and Chistly immediately regretted it. Then Cyhis cut in; as she had heard Chistly originate from Yofroya, she asked if Chistly knew the act ‘the fall of Prince Neevets’.

“Which of them?” she replied, grinning. “I invented them all,” she said as she stepped back a few paces, bowed, and then began to dance. In but a few heartbeats, Chistly was dancing with Cyhis, one with fluid grace and the other with such force in poses that they mesmerised the audience. And for the first time in a century, Chistly felt genuine joy in the dance and the smiles on the faces and in the eyes of her offspring.

Hours passed, and even though all enjoyed every act and the impressive improvisation of experience, skill, and empathy. But eventually Chistly had to rest and was offered a bath and fresh clothes, as she was drenched. When she was bathing, Cyhis came and bathed with her and at some point, she said she felt as if they had met before. However, she could not recall any previous meeting, and Deepminded had informed her that no familial connection existed between them.

Nonetheless, it was as if they could feel each other’s intentions as their auras flared or stilled. Ensuring her they never had, but she was glad they had met, Chistly kissed her gently and thanked her for the dance. Later, after dinner, Chistly had left. Cyhis rode out of town, and with tears soaking her cheeks – she silently cursed her fate.

Then came the coup de grâce in 1274; Methil Maiur was forced to leave, and the Torch began to topple the scaffolding of it all. Fimaldu left the court the next spring; the beheading of Niellu Muhuaela had shook the entire realm. Chistly decided to leave Grimsborg in 1275. At first she went to Lionel's grand place at Dalip, but all the Kinoblins reeked of animosity, making it an uneasy stay, and when she heard Fimaldu had been assassinated, she moved to Setil's, The Lair.

In 1277 the world changed as the Great Invasion unfolded itself. Suddenly she was on the road, across a grand destrier, slaying invaders. Years passed and the world burnt, and she found herself beside the weary Black Oak. Reinstated as high king, this dried-out relic had led them to their end. The battlefield, vast enough to serve as their grave, suddenly felt as if her aura had been ripped away, with its fading embers scattered in the winds.

Had it not been for Thōm Dūihol, she might have become the second ‘Prince Neevets’, and she was resaddled. Certain her aura was once more unique; both her offspring were now gone. She roared, and her mount surged forward. Plunging through foes, she became the vanguard tip, seeking and finally finding the beastly hearth – she killed the Romasai general, Filine Fedazi.

When they were finally victorious, she swore the cleansing oath and began hunting every invader and traitor across the realm. Every magic path released, every bladeweaving performed, not with the grace of Chistly but with the force of Cyhis. Eventually she went home to Sandstum and is only rarely seen on the dusty roads of the isles.

“Her floating curly hair and stunning beauty are the concealment of her true skills.”

~Skjald

 

Organisation

Her allegiance sways between different powers, depending on the task at hand. Generally she’s said to be affiliated with Bergon, Lionel, Setil, and the High King.

“Many seek her power, which can be wielded in both directions.”

~Skjald

 

Special

She’s a skilled essence mana manipulator… utilising fragrances as ingredients… in her path weavings.

“Scents can literally be mind-dulling… mesmerising… and breathtaking.”

~Skjald Kazumix