Backstory

Sassani Sattari hailed from a small village, hidden in the shadow of [insert mountain/forest here]. A village where anyone knew everyone, a village that earned its meagre keep through the production of farmed goods, and textiles. Though it had past experiences of bandit raids, the town stood firm with the assistance of the local guard.

Sassani’s parents that had very much divided views on what one should do with one's life. From a very young age, her parents would insist that there would come a time when she would need to choose her way. Her mother, Halimeh, would tell her that she should join the [insert equivalent institute of magic here], and her father, Siavas, would say that she should be thinking about joining the [insert equivalent military organisation here]. To please both of her parents seemed an impossible task, but she tried her best.

Some days she would spend time speaking to local healers about how they perform their rituals, and they would laugh and tell her “Young Sassani, the art of magic is one that takes time and patience. A child as young as yourself would need to spend many more years in study before even learning your first ritual! Run along now and tell Halimeh I said hello!”

When the healers turn her away, she would run to the barracks, where the town guard train. She would ask them to teach her how to use a sword, so she can be strong like her father. Her father would not let her play with his sword. He said that the sword was dangerous. Maybe the guards would help, but the guards would laugh and tell her “Young Sassani, it takes considerable bravery, and strength, to become a soldier like your father. A child as young as you is not ready for such things. Wait until your 16, and then come see us. Run along and tell Siavas we said hello!”

When these teachers refused her the lessons she needed, she would quietly observe. As a soldier struck a training dummy with a sword, so to would she strike down innocent flora that dared stand in her way. As a healer would carefully gesture the somatic components of their spells, so would she clumsily weave her fingers through the air.

The day would come when these teachers would begin to pass on their knowledge to her. A healing spell to settle one's stomach after bad fish, a little footwork there to avoid an obvious chop of the sword there. As the years went by, little by little, her knowledge expanded. Her skills at healing improved. Her swordsmanship improved.

Come her 16th birthday, the time came where she would not choose her path herself, but “divine” intervention would nudge her in the “right” direction.

The eve of the celebration of her birth, the town bell rang out in distress. Bandits.

The town guard tried to repel the attackers as best they could, but overwhelming numbers eventually saw the defence crumble. Houses were pillaged for what little they had. Women and children were taken as slaves. Men were slain where they stood.

The attackers had entered Sassani's home. She had already been hidden in the basement. Her parents tried to defend their home as best they could, before they were cut down. All but one of the bandits left, who was tormenting the still barely alive Halimeh.   A dark and poisonous voice startled a scared and tearful Sassani.

“Poor child… Poor sssssweet child. Look at what thessssse cruel men have done to you, to your family, to your home…”

Sassani looked around, trying to find where the voice was coming from.

“Oh child… it'sssss jussssst like your “teachersssss” told you, isssssn't it? You're too young to be a sssssoldier… You're not wissssse enough to know the ways of magic.”

Her father's armoire…

She approached, still sniffling

“Oooooh shhh shhh shhh… my poor child. Why did they torture you ssssooooo? Why did they not give you the knowledge you ssssought? Why did they not teaccccch you how to hold a blade?”

Locked… the key? The desk drawer…

“If they had given you what you needed, would your family not be ssssstanding with you now? Would your home not be in ruin?”

There's the key… but what is inside?

“Come, my dear. Let me teach you what thossssse cowardsssss would not.”

A twist of the key…

“Let me show you how to ssssstrike down those that would harm you.”

The door opens… A sword.

“Let me out…”

Sassani looked at her father's sword…

A sniffle of a wet nose… “Who are you?”

“Ooooh my sssssweet child my name isssss Tsssso Lan, and I’ve come to help you.”

Between the tears and sniffles… “Y-you can help me get my parent’s back?”

“My dear child, I can do more than help you get your parentsssss back… Let me out…”

“How are you going to help me?”

“Poor child, I am going to teach you what those cowardsssss would not. Let me out…”

Sassani stretches out her hand and takes up her father’s sword. As she does so, her veins begin to blacken, like an infection spreading through her body. She winces at first, but feels a warmth now coursing through her. “Oh, my sssssweet child, do you accept my teachingsssss? Do you give yourssssself to me?”

“Yes… help me save my mother.”

Hushed footsteps. A tear-soaked, but stone face ascends the stair. The bandit, savouring the fruits of his labours, toys with his victim. A vicious laugh. A dark glow, from an impossibly darker blade. A sickening smile. Steady, and quiet breathing. Less than adventurous hands over bloodied, but smooth skin. Sharp black eyes. Licking lips. They inhale…

The sound of steel pressing through flesh…

A body drops…

“S…Sassani?”

A faint whisper from the floor… Sassani is quick to drop the blade, but fire begins to course through her body. She winces in pain as she drops to her knees next to her mother and begins drawing out the somatic runes of healing.

“Sassani…”

Tears roll down the frightened daughter’s face as the sigils of healing begin to shine on her hands. She places her palms onto her mother’s wounds.

“S…Sassa…”

The body exhales….

Hours pass before Sassani gives up on the healing. With tears dripping from her cheeks, she once again picks up her father’s sword.

“Young, sweet, child… Ssssee what thesssse foolsssss have done? Filling you with hope. Teaching you non-sssssense. The magic of healing is a lie, child. Why heal, when you can extinguish those that would harm you? Let me show you true power…”