Character History
Sulavik was born on the colder Winter's morning of the 23rd, in the year 464AV. His father was Yasij Vakarion, a respected unarmed combatant, though he was also quite skilled with the Lakan. His mother was a human, surprising enough to the rest of the Vakarion family - his father and his father's brother, Jelis - that she concieved. She made it to full term, his father and uncle surprised everyday that went by without the cries that accompanied miscarriage, cries that every Akalak knew well. Though eventually, as happened so many other times, after giving birth to a strong healthy Sulavik Vakarion, the mother died. A lamentable loss, though as a purchased slave, nothing that could not be replaced. Sulavik never learned his mother's name, and, to be entirely honest, it didn't really matter.
Sulavik grew up to the age of fifteen healthy and training in the art of all manner of weapons and skills. His favourite discipline was by far unarmed combat - the feeling of disabling an opponent only through his own strength and skill, no cold steel assisting him gave him a rush. Though he also trained in the Lakan, as all Akalaks did. The art of riding was another favourite past time of his, though he never pursued it with passion, only riding when he had a spare moment - of which were rare.
As he matured, his father and uncle waited with baited breath for his second soul to make his presence known. Whispered stories had reached their ears, horror stories of darker souls that had emerged later in life. They were the souls who tore apart the sanity and physical strength of the Akalak they resided in. Yasij and Jelis hoped beyond hope that Sulavik would not be one of these souls, but by the age of fifteen, Sulavik was still the quiet, methodical boy he had been his entire life.
Two weeks after Sulavik's fifteenth birthday, he set out on a hunting trip for his Rite of Trial with three other Akalak teenagers. They did not have to venture far before they find their goal. A solo glassbeak was roaming the horizon, with Riverfall still a hazy dot in the distance. Sulavik had immediately taken control of the situation, ushering for the other boys to crouch down low in the long grass and surround him. When the four boys were position, as four points on a compass, with a bloodcurdling yell Sulavik burst, jumping onto the glassbeak's back.
It reared, waving its neck from side to side in an attempt to throw him off, yet Sulavik did not budge. The other three boys leaped forward too, with one being snagged and held down by the vicious bird's talons. With the other two boys free, they ran at either side of the glassbeak and stabbed it until it was weakened. With a quick move, Sulavik snapped the dying bird's neck, causing it to drop to the grassy ground with a thud. The other three boys helped Sulavik to pick it up, and together they made it back to Riverfall safely. His father and uncle were both extremely proud of him and asked what profession he wished to make his pathway in. In keeping with the family tradition, he announced, that like his father, he wished to train in the art of combat and make a profession from that. His second soul had still not emerged.
Sulavik trained, still the quiet individual he was as a child, and taught the art of unarmed fighting. He was indeed a skilled warrior, though the lack of a second soul continued to worry his father and uncle, as they knew that once it did appear, it would be all the more potent and powerful. Sulavik never left Riverfall during this time, never seeing the need to, though he made many a trip into the surrounding Sea of Grass. He trained, ready to become a man. He was eager for his chance at the Rite of Manhood.
Two months after his Rite of Manhood, Sulavik set out with the same three men who had accompanied him on his Rite of Trial. He knew those three were close friends, and had been since their last fight together, though Sulavik refused to impose on their friendship - despite their many attempts to include an Akalak so close in age who had suffered the same trials as they had. They were on the hunt for three nights before they came across any Zith. They were not far from a large Zith caravan when they spotted two scouts from the main family, wandering towards Sulavik and his fellow hunters. Sulavik once again took control of the situation, and divided their group up into two - two for each Zith. With a yell, he again ran at the Zith head on, careening straight to the one on the right.
The battle was fierce, and it resulted in a blow to the head and a stab on the Zith's part, killing it stone dead - though, it too left a mark on Sulavik - a large jagged cut up his left forearm, which would create an ugly scar, a scar which he would later wear with pride. The other two dispatched their Zith soon enough. It was done. Sulavik was now a man, and when he returned home to Riverfall, he placed a part of his soul into his very own lakan.
Now thirty and officially a man of the Akalak society, Sulavik had only one responsibility. It was expected that Sulavik find a mate, and continue on the Vakarion line. It had already begun for other peers his age. One of his hunting partners had already impregnated a Nakivak with his child, a child which was sure to be a strong healthy Akalakian child. Sulavik was surprised at the utter disappointment he felt. Not disappointment at the fact that he had yet to sire an heir, but at the fact that a man he had known had already gone to a woman.
He shook it off, and when the child was born, his friend was happy, and he was happy for him. The child grew and Sulavik moved on, this time feeling a small twinge in his chest every time he saw an aesthetically pleasing man. Though, eleven years later, the friend impregnated the same Nakivak again. This time it hit him. He was attracted to his friend. His male friend.
This development, this attraction, spelled ruin for him. As an Akalak, all he was really expected to do was continue on the race. He just needed to sire an heir, to add another member to the rapidly depleting Vakarion line. Though how was Sulavik meant to do such a thing when merely the thought of mating with a woman made him feel sick to his stomach - but doing the same with a man sent chills down his spine? He dreaded the reaction of his father and uncle. He kept quiet, merely saying that he had not yet found a strong enough woman, but continuing to hope that his preference would disappate.
It didn't, and when he was forty five, Sulavik decided to tell his father and uncle that the Vakarion line would not continue through him. The stunned silence weighed on Sulavik's mind. Suddenly, his uncle started laughing, unable to stop, hysterical mirth pouring from his lips. Whether he actually thought it was a joke, or the shock hit him hard was questionable, but the laughter caused Sulavik's anger to boil. Sulavik rarely got angry. This, however, was hardly an occasion for mirth. The Vakarion line was ending, Sulavik would not have any children and the only mating he would ever do would be with men.
Standing up slowly and strongly, glaring at his uncle, he drew his lakan. With a murderous yell, he slashed his uncle by the throat, killing him instantly with a well placed cut. His second soul had emerged. Sulavik was stable no longer. Turning to his father, dripping in blood, he asked him for his opinion. His father drew his Lakan also.
"You are no son of mine. Now go and be filthy with men." Leaping forward, he cut a line down his fathers chest, not enough to kill him, and fled. He would never beat Yasij in combat. He had to train further. One day, he would return to Riverfall, and his father would breathe no more. He would regret not accepting Sulavik.
Sulavik, and the soul he named Makil.
by Sulavik on January 24th, 2011, 12:28 am 