Sahreni Born Fall 33rd, 484 AV Human-Eypharian mixed blood Description To any outside Ahnatep, it is not readily apparent that Sahreni is a mix between two races. Standing upwards of six feet, his height could simply be attributed to good breeding, and for the most part, that is true. His eye color is a dull brown, hair color a sandy brunet, and at a light glance, his olive skin tone doesn't turn any heads. Under the right lights however, especially in open sunlight, the soft, gilded shimmer of his skin betrays his father's Eypharian heritage. As he bears only two arms, Sahreni more resembles a human, perhaps with traces of gold dust rubbed into his skin. What truly gives him away, more than his lightly glittering skin, are his style of dress and the noble mannerisms befitting a son of the West Winds. His hair is often colored with mineral paints or henna, eyes darkly lined by kohl. The halfblood's tall form is often adorned by colorful silks, or occasionally an animal pelt, both of which tend to be jeweled and fastened with gold clips. A golden ring, bearing a large, ruby stone, signifies his wealth and displays his House colors, as well as identifies him as his father's son. Even when not donned in noble garments, Sahreni still wears the traditional kilt, usually red, bandolier and sandles, and a pair of leather bracers on his wrists. Concept Sahreni has never been certain of where exactly he falls in among the nobles of the West Winds, caught between love for his human mother and the duties laid upon him by his Eypharian father. Being the bastard son of a concubine already puts him in a difficult position, but to make it worse, his impure blood is as apparent as his singular pair of arms. Wearing this badge of shame is a lifelong practice perfected over the years, through unwavering poise and incredibly thick skin. Despite carrying the blood of two races, Sahreni has always been encouraged by both of his parents to act like an Eypharian, and more importantly, a noble. As a child he was the subject of constant ridicule, and though he eventually grew to tolerate and absorb it, it also drove him to being more quiet and reserved. He still holds himself above the humans in Ahnatep, and even the lowborn Eypharians of purer heritage than his. Whatever pollution taints Sahreni's blood, he is still the son of Sehebre of the West Winds, and anyone would do well to remember that. In most scenarios, Sahreni is calm as the oceanic horizon, and usually brief and to the point when dealing with others (especially non-Eypharians). He prefers to keep interactions short, regardless of race or caste, mostly to discourage conversations from veering to his family or bloodline. When dealing solely with humans or other non-Eypharian races, particularly ones not affiliated with the noble houses, Sahreni will often go by the name of Ren and does not rush to correct others when they assume he is human. Explaining his place in the House of the West Winds has become a tired and overdone discussion. Although his obedience to the House of the West Winds is unyielding, even eager, Sahreni is occasionally prone to a fiery temper when the walls protecting his pride are worn thin--especially on the topic of his mother.
History As long as he can remember, Sahreni has understood that he was different from the full-blooded Eypharians of the Ahnatep noble houses. Growing up in his father's household, all the Eypharians had many arms, while the human servants only had two. This was odd, because other than himself, a fewer number of limbs was one of the most distinctive traits of the lesser humanoids that made up the household staff. Eventually, he understood that his mother Tahne was one of them, but because Sahreni was her son, that made her special. It didn't matter that he rarely saw both of his parents in the same room together. His father Sehebre was always a patient, practical man, sometimes prone to rare moments of weakness when he gave in to his sentimentality. Only in retrospect did Sahreni realize that Sehebre protected Tahne after she unexpectedly bore him a son. Most concubines are let go if they have children, but the Eypharian personally insisted she stay, and acted as her patron. Whether he had any real affection for the human was a subject of speculation, but it was inarguably a benefit to keep his bastard son's mother in the home to take a primary role in caring for him. Groups of Eypharian children usually ostracized Sahreni, and he was discouraged from spending too much time with the young human servants that he seemed to more closely resemble. Knowing he was half human, it was only natural for him to pity the humans for belonging to such a low caste, but his mother advised him against such a trifling notion. He was better than they were, even better than she was, and those humans deserved their place. Through his childhood, Sahreni's mother was his anchor of love and support. Eventually, Sehebre married a proper Eypharian woman, and it was made clear that Tahne was no longer welcome to stay within the West Winds household. Sahreni, who was still very young, had a difficult time understanding the politics that dictated each person's place in society. When his mother left, Sahreni begged her to let him come with. She chided him, and assured him that his father's home was the best place for him to stay. This wasn't goodbye, anyway. Sahreni would still be allowed to visit his mother every once in a while. Sehebre's wife, Iseret, made a poor substitute for Tahne. She did not hate Sahreni and was never directly cruel to him, but she seemed to only barely tolerate his existence. Her own children's needs came far before Sahreni's, excluding him from numerous family occasions. Sehebre was not an unkind father, but he was a busy one, and clumsy when it came to showing affection for his son. He rarely got involved in conflicts between Sahreni and Iseret. Suddenly having no true allies, Sahreni weathered a dramatic change in his life and there was no one to give advice or comfort. It might have scarred most people, but Sahreni wasn't most people—he was a noble of the House of the West Winds. He had a place here, delicate though it was, and he would assert himself with respect, but also with pride. |