Shaya Deva

 

History

Fourth Age

She was born in Rantia, amidst the fiery hot sandstorms of 1141 that consumed her entire settlement. A travelling caravan discovered the infant a few days later. Said to have been wind-sanded and sunscorched, she was so dried out that they thought her dead. But when touched, she gave a cry that stirred every hearth in the caravan – and, as they claimed, raised murmurs of the settlement’s lost spirits.

Most likely it was the superstitious story of spirit whispers that made her become a student of summoning in 1157. Her talent and inert energies were enough, as she had proven several times during their caravan travels. But an urge for knowledge drove her away from a traveler’s life and into library studies. Her choice led to rapid progress that emphasised studying a large volume of material instead of analysing individual tomes or phrases. It was during this mass consumption that she discovered the pattern that would shape her future and bring her fame.

It was not the first, but somewhere along the studies, she realised that one thing lacked in all the ancient descriptions: runes, scrolls, books, and tomes created by Arisen. As it dawned on her, she reread countless sources, all confirming her hunch – there was none. So she began a specific search, journeying from library to library, academy to academy. She consistently pretended to study summoning, all the while concealing her theory.

Slowly she climbed ranks, and when she became master rank, she began visiting Arisen sources under the excuse of merely studying the field of necromancy. But in reality, openly discussing it with Arisen, whom she boldly faced, she gained the confirmation needed. Arisen could not embed astral energy on or in organic materials, and if they tried to handle such, they soaked up the energies and either became energised or created energetic mist that could condense into magic blue drops.

Finally, in the fall of 1207, she stood before the academy’s council, all thinking she would merely present summoning or elemental manipulation. She blew their minds, as she presented her work about ‘the Arisen Absorb’, a lecture that covered summoning, manipulation, and necromancy. When she concluded, a profound silence filled the room as everyone reflected on her presentation, and then they erupted in applause, giving her a standing ovation one after another.

Thus, in 1208, Shaya stood as an academy lord, with her own chambers filled with shelf upon shelf of relevant materials sent from academies across every isle. And she began working on the next academy rank.

“It’s with this as with everything astral; there’s a pattern, always a pattern.”

—Skjald  Sejrik

 

When the great invasion unfolded, she became a precious link between the high king and some of the arisen she had previously visited, making several arisen realms join the 2nd alliance in defeating the invaders. It was her greatest action so far, as it gave some of the realms that had arisen the promise of rights to their ancient claims. It also resulted in her becoming overlord in necromancy during the ‘cleansing crusade’. After the war and crusade, she returned to their academy, and they are now rebuilding it with fellow survivors.

“Negotiating with the arisen scared many lords, but Shaya did it several times.”

—Skjald Sigurd

 

Organisation

She was an academy lord, living at the academy of Rühlamdu, in Dilnum the capital of Keshon. At the academy, she conducted research to become an overlord in her three fields of expertise while also teaching practitioners in those fields. She is now back at the academy, overlord in one of her fields.

“The pattern now consists of stone and mortar in the morning, lectures during the day, and evening studies.”

—Skjald El Mary

 

Special

She can summon void spirits and use arcane energies.

She is not only a risen healer, but also a summoner of deadly servants and energies.

—Skjald Ulrich