Karshenasurei 
Dhani, Viper
Age: 132 (Summer 380 AV)
Height : 5’2 | Weight: 125lbs
Appearance
Surei’s most striking feature is undoubtedly his auburn hair, which he keeps short and out of sight if possible, given its uncommon nature in the sea of black and brown heads Eyktol usually harbors. Standing at a little more than 5 feet tall in human form, he knows fully well that head-on confrontations are not his best bet. This matter is however resolved when Surei chooses his Dhani form: a ten foot-long predator with a golden tail painted in waving patterns, reminiscent of the wind's breeze on hot sand. The patterns seem to gain in detail when he completes the transformation into viper form. Under direct sunlight, one could swear that the sand shifts on his skin. Surei dresses in a thin layer of white linen marked by use and dirt. Touches of green cloth highlight the otherwise uniform outfit, such as a sash worn at waist level under a leather belt.
Personality
Surei has had a hard time adapting to his environment. Dhani are predators first and foremost and he is no exception to this. It took him and his benefactor a great deal of work in order to tame the violent outbursts that marked his early years away from home. Even though aggression remains his primary reflex to this day, coexistence with the tamer eypharians has made him more bearable. No one could’ve afforded his presence otherwise.
Surei is rarely the one to initiate the conversation. He usually cools off small-talkers with a cold attitude. The best way to catch his attention is to present him an interesting piece of information, after what he'll usually be all ears. He would be one to mind his own business, but Noma's inquisitive nature has strongly encouraged his dispositions towards meddling in "other people's" affairs.
As a last thing,he is functional above everything, a fact that sets him apart from the extravagant Eypharians.
Character Concept
Surei thrives on instinct. What to do, what to say…Logic has always been relayed to second place. This, of course, comes with its downside. It is often difficult for him to think ahead. Although he will naturally adapt to situations as they present themselves, some might need more than quick thinking (or no thinking at all!)to be overcome.
Surei views his heritage as a blessing, a necessary end to his survival in an unforgiving environment such as Eyktol. His dedication to Siku comes in the form of his interactions with captured to-be slaves. To varying degree, Surei targets their psychological state, leaving them with scars rooted deeper than most flesh wounds. He believes that the occasional sacrifice in blood makes up for his otherwise fiercely independent take on religion and authority.
Surei is on a quest for freedom, in its purest form. His will could be seen as questionable, contradictory even, considering how steady his life has become. Maybe it is because he doesn’t fully understand it himself. Or maybe, maybe he is not on the right quest. Only time will tell.
Character History
Everyone has to make countless choices over the course of their short existence and while most of them we aren’t conscious of, some can turn a life to better or worse in an instant.
From the moment Surei left the nest behind him, his life has been a series of choices which all had something in common, the impression that there was none in the first place. This hasn’t been as unsettling as it probably should have, but that demonstrates how comfortable Surei has become with the reality of his existence.
Surei was born under no sun or moon. Somewhere north of Ahnatep, five eggs hatched under the vigilant watch of the matriarch herself. He just happened to be the first one as he tore his shell apart with unmatched vigor, fervently making his way into this world. This enthusiasm persisted for the following decades, much to the pleasure of the older members of the nest.
The nest was a community of predators that raised its own as predators. The area didn’t offer much in terms of sustenance, but they had to make with what was at hand. Small animals weren’t the most filling of meals, and that’s why everyone awaited for the Real Feast. The Real Feast was when someone brought in a living prey, a human usually. The evening would prove to be extremely gory to outsiders, but none of it was for outsiders in the first place.
Violent matters were quickly resolved between snakelings, the female opting to lead a hunt instead. Surei was taught the importance of family. Go figure where that got him. The precarious state of the species didn’t allow for any prolonged hate between individuals.
The story is, Surei couldn’t help but hate, although the feeling wasn’t for his fellow snakes, but instead directed at the framework of his daily life. The once tolerable grip that the matriarch had over it became a source of increasing frustration.
As years went by, his solo hunting sessions stretched across increasingly long periods. Some expressed their concerns, but they weren’t going to take away Surei’s new-found freedom.
It had to happen eventually. Surei got caught in an ingenious trap designed by his future associate, Noma , who was only 19 at the time. But even his genie couldn’t stop the fury that killed several men that night before they finally managed to put a collar on him. The head of the caravan at the time, Makhri, an ambitious Eypharian businessman, was elated at the perspective of an unexpected financial gain. Noma saw a potential ally for himself in the Dhani. He could use him to secure the leader’s seat, then aim for timeless grandeur, or whatever his goal at the time was, nobody knew for sure. And he did. Nobody knows how he managed to coerce the Dhani on his side, although the feat proved him right. He could do it.
What happened afterwards was a the beginning of a solid partnership between two individuals unable to trust each other. It held together not because of mutual attachment, but rather by how complementary their skills were. Surei was the raw element, the fear factor, while Noma was his refined, sweet-talking accomplice.
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by Surei on July 23rd, 2012, 4:06 am 
