Fluff about the Fire-Dancer

Sanahra was born to Sesus Alon (founder of one of the five main Sesus households, and a Senator in the Deliberative) and Mnemon Barin. She is currently the second youngest of the family, between her elder sister Sunari and younger brother Mihaku. Her family tends to be terribly exasperated with her, thinking her nothing but trouble and at best a stain on their household's reputation.

She grew up a smart, loquacious and inquisitive girl, often a handful for her childhood tutors and caretakers. Unfortunately, she never gained any significant interest in politics, as Alon's family is known for. She loved to learn, though, and read whatever she could get her hands on, particularly favoring occult topics (perhaps because it made people squirm that she liked it so much.)

Early on she was commended for her skill as a dancer, entering competitions and dancing for family and guests (though the latter she disliked -- her parents insisted on it). She LOVES to dance, and the attention it gives her. She has always been fast on her feet with a flair for style, and carried that into what combat training she has received.

Sanahra attended primary school in the Imperial City, and settled in with an odd but fun group of friends: the tough guy, the unassuming scholar and the painter of impeccable social graces. Exalted there in her 13th year, during a competition that she dearly wished not to lose, in which she faced off with her arch-rival, Peleps Miral. She had previously been attacked by Miral and her lackeys, during which they broke her leg, hoping to shame her, and keep her from performing. Ended up pulling off her performance flawlessly despite the broken limb.

Curiosity for the occult followed her all through secondary school, for which she chose to attend the Heptagram. She was an odd addition to the school, never quite fit in being so social and active, so vivaciously Fire in her mannerisms. But she hit the books as well as the rest of them, and saw in sorcery a tool with which she can better assert herself in the social realm and beyond. Demon-summoning was a challenge she learned to relish.

In time, Sanahra caught the attention of one of the Heptagram's instructors, Sagacious Oak. Many a private lesson later she ended up his lover; he was, in fact, her first love, and the man who took her virginity. But she became increasingly suspicious of him as time passed, began to suspect he was more than he was letting on, knew more than he was truly revealing. Eventually it led to them losing the intimacy in their relationship; Sanahra does not like deception, the feeling of being "played". Oak seemed to genuinely harbor fondness for the spitfire sorceress, though, and remained cordial with her to this day, temper flaring or no.

Miral attended the Heptagram as well. Sanahra's rival is her opposite in many ways: a Water Aspect, prone to underhanded tricks, ice-cold and ruthlessly competitive. They rushed to outdo each other throughout their time in secondary school, and it's still up in the air who's ahead of the race. Why Miral and Sanahra clash so much is more likely than not simply a clash of personalities and immense pride from either side, since neither is willing to back down. There's also the fact Miral aspires to steal or ruin everything Sana covets, including the men she's loved, and may love.

Throughout secondary school Sanahra made an effort to keep in touch with her friends from primary, sending periodic letters back and forth. It was through these letters that she really came to know and understand Lim-Xue, the shy scholar of the group, who was much more quiet and subdued around her in person, but excelled in expressing himself through writing. Milena (the painter) is an excellent writer as well and the letters between her and Sanahra came regularly and often. Mazin she heard from less often, but the highly physical training at the House of Bells kept him pretty busy, and then... he disappeared, his last letter dated just before they graduated and he would enter the Legion proper.

Immediately after graduation Sanahra took a sabbatical from the Realm, journeying towards the Southern pole. She had it in her mind from the start to acquire a familiar of rare quality, a beautiful creature befitting her Aspect. Deep in the Southern savannah, bordering the lands where the Blue Silk Raiders roam, she tamed the Flame Crane Aerybis. It took a great physical sacrifice from her to bond him to her, but her stubbornness won, and he submitted to her. Despite the harsh price exacted from her (reducing her body's rate of regeneration to mortal levels) Aerybis is now quite calm and even caring of his mistress, and they are now inseperable companions.

It has been a year now since Sanahra graduated from the Heptagram, and she's been building herself a reputation as a demon summoner, taking full advantage of the license she acquired (through the help of her friend Milena) to do so in the Realm. Her strange line of work has earned her a living, a bit of an unfortunate reputation, and in some cases, the opportunity to accumulate quite a bit of blackmail on certain individuals' demonic dalliances.

Since graduation she has reunited with Lim-Xue in Tuchara, who has since become an acupuncturist of no small skill. They are more recently lovers, despite (or perhaps because of) their differences in personality, which strangely enough tend to be more complimentary than argumentative. Perhaps because Lim is more likely to nod and smile and let her have her way sometimes simply because he finds her adorable. (Yes, he finds "That Scary Bitch" adorable!) They do not live together, keeping their relationship relatively discreet for now, but still visit each other's respective Manses often.

Sanahra has not seen Mazin and Milena for some time now. Mazin is still at large, much to her concern, and has been trying for some time now (with Lim-Xue's help) to find out where he's disappeared. On the other hand, Milena still sends letters often, and has promised they would meet as soon as she can squeeze some free time out of her schedule. Both of them have had a busy year; it's not for lack of wanting to meet in person.

Recently Sanahra has been invited to attend her elder sister Sunari's wedding in Tuchara, and that is where her story leads now. Unfortunately etiquette is etiquette, and Sunari could not exactly avoid at least OFFERING the invitation... and hoping that she will refuse. Unfortunately for Sunari, the refusal has not been forthcoming. Sanahra can't resist the opportunity to step into the middle of a wedding gala and give her family a little shock at how much the Heptagram has changed her!

Sanahra's parents have been trying to pin her down with an arranged betrothal for a while now, much like they have with Sunari, but she has always found a way to weasel out of it or flat out refuse. She loves Lim, but her family sees no benefit in their union, at least not *yet*. Perhaps the future will provide an opportunity to showcase his skills and versatility in the eyes of Alon and her household. Who knows?

DarkSirenSally/SanahraBio