About Shiyara
Character Sheet
Have you SEEN what the Basri Countess is wearing tonight? Say what you will, that is a bold dress. I've heard it's elven-made, there are magic fibers in it. The countess brought in a designer from Iadara, in Kyonin. Some sort of avant-garde seamstress, looking to make a name for herself. She's no Valentinos, at least not yet, but she's got talent. She almost sculpts the cloth, it's like something I've never seen. I'm thinking of commissioning something from her for the Grand Day of Exaltation - I'd love to make an impression at the brunch at least, you know? That's the time to take risks. Shiyara...that's what she's been going by.
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Shiyara has been designing clothing primarily for the Basri family for the past few months and is starting to be recognized in Oppara as a talented fashionista. Privately, she agreed to travel to Taldor at the Basri's expense mostly as a diversion. Politics moves slowly in Iadara, and Shiyara was looking for a more dynamic environment to amuse herself for the next few decades. She came to Taldor, content for the time being to play the part of Exotic Curiosity, with vague ambitions to shake up their quaint fashion scene, talk some senators into passing a few nonsensical laws, maybe destroy some stuffy careers if she feels sassy.
The shine of the gilded city looked like Kyonin from a mile out, and she was excited to be leaving the center of Elven culture to experience the height of Human achievement. She stepped off the boat, and the collected refuse of humanity assaulted her like a wave. She nearly turned back right there. In Kyonin, at least, they took care of their people. As she settled in, the Countess Basri tried to shield her from the squalor all around the city. A little apartment above a little shop in Canal row, what more could she want? She had an in with the nobility, plenty of work to keep her busy, and a comfortable life here well within reach. All she had to do was ignore the beggars as she walked to the market. Stand aside for the highborn as they travelled by in their carriages. Wipe the mud and worse from her skirts and carry on with her day. The first and second times she was robbed she tried going to the Oppara Constabulary, soon determining that avenue to be less than helpful. At least they took down her information, which is more than she could say for the others she saw seeking help at the overwhelmed precinct. She witnessed a broad daylight mugging, one peasant robbing another, when travelling with the Basri Countess and the Countess’s niece. Shiyara remarked at the unfairness of it all as the Countess’s guards marched on. The Countess presented platitudes with a patient sigh. Her niece questioned why squabbles between peasants mattered at all. Shiyara realized that, with the right whispers in the right ears, it would take time to change the minds of nobles - time that she, as an elf, certainly had. Perhaps she could even become a champion for the downtrodden in time. But that wasn’t going to help those people in the here and now. If she spent what little political capital she had crusading for small gains for the voiceless now, she would flare out quickly. Shiyara the seamstress wasn’t in a position to provide the help that the people needed.
Shiyara came to Oppara with some small arcane power. Lindúin, the little thrush, started speaking to Shiyara on behalf of an entity calling itself Rosovon only about 15 years ago. She was already a skilled tailor at that point, but with Rosovon's interest came certain powers and influence. Textiles began to move at her whims. A combination of Linduin’s insight and her arcane studies brought spells into her grasp. Shortly thereafter, little Lindy asked her to help weave certain events together through time to create something greater, much as she crafted garments. So far, it has mostly been a word in the right ear here and there. Once, she had to curse misfortune upon an archer in the annual games. So far, Lindy had never asked her to do anything against her morals. Aside from his occasional odd requests, Shiyara was free to use her powers as she pleased. Thus far she has closely guarded her powers, believing discretion and influence to be much more useful than overt displays of might.
But discretion and influence can’t stop a knife in the dark. The muggers on the streets hardly fear the Constabulary, why would they fear threats of ire from a noble they’ve never heard of who doesn’t care about them? But humans are superstitious, and thanks to Rosovon and Linduin, Shiyara commanded very unusual powers - powers that she could use to stop those who would seek to take advantage of the less fortunate. As a frail elf, she would need to stay unnoticed, be as invisible as the piles of garbage around the city. Try to end fights before they started. As a pile of rags, The Ragamuffin was born.
