• The Nightingale •

I. THE BUDUGA

Saranqerel was brought into the Buduga tribe at a very young age after a conquest of a tribe he doesn’t remember nor was he ever told. What did it matter? He was Buduga now. Due to his meek nature and small stature, he was put on shepherding duties as a young boy and continued to do so in years. During the long nights and days on the Steppe, he taught himself the bow to hunt and protect his flock. Proving oddly adept with the weapon, Sari was shifted to hunting and gathering for the tribe, free to range as far as he desired as long as he brought something valuable back.

This was a welcome relief for Sari was often tormented and bullied by his peers due to his submissive nature of the often strong personalities of the all-male tribe. Alone, he could enjoy nature, observe the wildlife and yet still provide for his people.

The turning point came when the Oronir/Buduga alliance was formed and Sari was pulled from his comfort zone to prepare for the battles ahead. Never before had he used his bow on a sentient being and when the time came, he hesitated.

It cost the Auri teenager dear. Avoiding the fatal first blow from the battle-hardened Dotharl, he was thrown into disorientation as his horn was nicked, chipped, and the first few ilms lost. Thrown off completely, the follow up attacks could not be stopped as he tried to run. Only with luck did the axe not cause a fatal wound, hacking into his shoulder and back in a strong blow that knocked him to the ground. Expecting death, an Oroniri warrior intervened and that was the last he remembered. Brought back to the tribe, Sari was met with even more taunting and ridicule for his ‘cowardly’ actions and he struggled to recover. Drawing a bow to full strength causes pain and he’s slowly building the muscle back. It won’t take much for him to leave his tribe at this time, feeling useless and unwanted.

Volunteering his labor for passage, the hunter arrived in Eorzea completely unprepared for what the new world would bring. Fortunately he found shelter in Nuur Khuudas quickly. Quick to pick up the language and less quick to leave behind his submissive nature, Sari began his new life.

II. RETURN TO THE STEPPE

Time passed and bonds were forged. With his recovery, Sari ventured back to Steppe to search for hits roots. They were found in a small offshoot of Qalli that recognized the necklace he constantly wore as an heirloom of his mother. Her sister, Sari’s aunt, took in the boy and taught him of his heritage. The scenario was too good to be true and soon enough raiders fell upon the small group. And these raiders were Buduga that recognized their runaway brother. Caught in combat, the hunter was tortured by those that had tormented him all his life, the worst being his left eye being burnt out with a molten-hot weapon. Destroyed physically and emotionally, he ran for a full week across the Steppe without pause as he was hunted. He and his faithful yol made it until rescue came in the form of a comrade and he returned in shame to the Post.

III. INTERIM

Recovery was difficult. Even with the aid of tribal healers, the eye couldn’t be saved and Sari had to reteach himself the bow. This was a time of quiet recovery and the beginning of a relationship with Rethyn Adarkim, who found him injured on the Steppe. However the couple didn’t last long. Still fearing intimacy of any kind, it was doomed to fail leading to a spiral of depression. However the energy was channeled into beginning his carvings and opening a modest shop on the beaches of Mist. Little did the Xaela know the success this would lead to later. Also he began his research of astromancy, wanting to emulate the arte his parents were known for.

IV. REVENGE

Though not a violent soul, Sari ached to end those that tortured him and killed the last remnants of his family. Hesitating to ask his tribe, he soon was gifted with the help of trusted comrades. A newcomer was also recruited into the ranks as well by the name of Mau’ti. Wary of a stranger’s willingness to run into battle, the help was accepted. Over the course of a week, the Budugan warriors were lured out and soon the bodies lay cold on the Steppe. The battles were far from easy, many walking away with injuries to include burns to Sari’s arm from a fire grenade his former torturer launched at him. The need for revenge sated, Sari returned to the Post where he and Mau’ti began to court.

V. ISHGARD

With a budding relationship growing, Sari continued to improve himself. In need of an astromancy professor he gathered his courage to venture to Ishgard to learn. It was hardly a kind trip. Despite the end of the Dragonsong War, xenophobia still infiltrated the society. The hunter was often left with the heaviest of classwork and duties. Little sleep, little eating and in a near-zombie state it was only Mau’ti’s appearance in Ishgard that kept him on his feet. The frigid place proved a poor teacher and he eventually returned to southern Eorzea to study under the college of a friend and customer, Sthalkhan Ward.

Around this time is when Khantyer gifted the budding merchant with his own property within the Lavender Beds. ‘A Little Piece of Home’ was officially opened as both a shopfront and home.

VI. DISCORD

Though things should have been a quiet affair, it hardly remained so. The relationship with Mau’ti fractured abruptly. This parting hit far harsher than his previous breakup with a partner, sending the teenager into a massive depression spiral once more. Coupled with the now constant pain of the burns on his hand and arm and aches in his back and shoulder, everything seemed to stop for Sari. There was no motivation to study, to work, to create. He turned to the bottle to empty his mind and dull the pain, very quickly becoming dependent on alcohol. It was easy to observe the destructive behavior by his comrades and friends. He ostracized himself from Nuur Khuudas, feeling unwelcome and unworthy of the Post and hiding in his shop.

VII. NEW FRIENDS AND TWIN ADDERS

Salvation came in an odd manner. Well, a few to include the chance meeting and friendship of Ori, a fisherman in Noscea (for all appearances), the mentorship of a fellow Qalli by the name of Elunai, his admiration for the performing storyteller Arik Dazkar, and the maternal presence of a faithful customer, Rerena Rena. Ties with former battlemates from the free company of Sword and Quill also stabilized the teen.

Also, over his time in Eorzea Sari had done frequent favors and tasks for the Twin Adders. With his expertise of tracking and forestry and adherence to the Twelvewood’s laws, many Adders knew of the young Xaela. Soon he was approached with an offer of a commission, an honor for one so young and without prior military experience. It was the focus he needed as he donned the yellow and brown of the Company. The discipline and quick learning curve of being a troop leader kept him focused and away from the bottle. With friends outside the tribe, the leadership aspect of the Adders, and the success of his shop, Saranqerel has had the courage to revert to the tribal name of his birth as he comes up on his twentieth nameday. Perhaps finally things are on a positive path.

VIII. TO ALA MHIGO

Events tumbled together for the new Adder and Saranqerel had found a comfortable duty and responsibility with the Twin Adders. It was a matter of time before his squadron was tasked to deploy to support humanitarian operations within Ala Mhigan territory after the conclusion of the revolution. Though nervous, and in the wake of many events, Sari was sent to the desert. There were many thoughts weighing on his mind. The confession of his dear sister figure Odoki of her crush on him, Ori’s intent to face his family legacy in Ul’dah, and the departure of a man he’d wanted to help, Shimazu Malaguld. All of this had to be pushed to the background.

Combat came swiftly in the Fringes, an Imperial cell falling on the forces late at night. They were repelled with little complication but it still was a hard reminder of what Saranqerel was now involved in. He was the leader of these men, their safety and well-being rested on his shoulders. Now they rest at Ala Ghiri, waiting to press on to the Lochs and their final destination.

IX. CAPTURE & EXPERIMENTATION

The lieutenant was captured by Imperial forces on a scouting mission. In time, the company’s persistence and dedication freed him but not before Garlean scientists had taken the Qalli’s right arm to experiment with new magitek prostheses.

Taken back to Shirogane to recover with Quill, it seemed Sari would fight off the mental wear of such an incident. He did well, at first, determined. Also channeling all those dark thoughts away with joining the Kotodama Clan and taking up the sword. The positive thing of the new limb was that the aches and pain that came with his old Nadaam injuries was gone with the torn muscles held in place with the technology.

Unfortunately this momentum didn’t hold up. It became quickly obvious that Sari was struggling with combat fatigue from his capture, freezing in combat on Clan missions. Anger and frustration pushed Sari to give in to Dain’s goads one evening and he attacked the older man, nearly killing him with his own blade. The struggle lingered in the Xaela even as the group ventured out to Shizunda Island on a mission to help old acquaintances of Dain.

X. INTO THE WILD & FOX’S WILES

With the weight of the attack on Dain on his mind and struggling to remain social with the group, Sari made to turn back to the Adders. That’s when the news arrived that they were discharging him. The Grand Company was wary of Garlean tech melded onto one of their officers.

Completely lost, Sari’s spirit finally was completely broken. The keys to his shop were mailed to Odoki. The linkpearl to Quill, his Kotodama uniform, and the glade gifted by Dain were left in Shirogane.

And he departed into the Shroud. Away from people, away from the pain they caused, and away from where others could see how terrible weak and broken he was. He was always more comfortable alone and ranging.

So he would be alone as he felt he deserved to always be.

Or so he thought. Mori Toya, a kind priest that had recently lost his home of Shizunda, sought out the Xaela. He found a depressed and lost man ready to end his own life. However responsibility to care for and defend Mori kept Sari going for the next sennight. A good thing he did for a corruption had began to grow within Mori.

As the evil fox-masked spirit sought to overtake Mori, Sari volunteered himself as a sacrifice to protect the other. He gave up his memories in place to ease the curse upon Mori.

It was successful in many ways.

Relieved of the burden of his memories, Sari was a happy and light-hearted soul. Pure of memories of his past, his kindness truly shown. But it was all at the result of the curse. Friends worried for him but they didn’t push. Perhaps there was a relief that the Qalli seemed content and happy finally in his life.

It was at this time that he began working and living at the Carbuncle’s Cup, a cafe and bookshop run by the Kotodama Clan within the Lavender Beds. Little did he know it was only up the street from his old residence.

It was then he met Khabataaq who was a shy and awkward customer. Something about the man’s demeanor pulled at Sari’s memories but he did his best to push it aside and make the other ex-Buduga feel comfortable and welcome in Eorzea. Reading and writing lessons were held between the two and the long conversations that came of it pulled even more at Sari.

In time, the curse couldn’t hold back the flood of what lingered within the Xaela’s head. A painful and traumatizing night was spent alone as the dam broke. Twenty plus years of memories surged back, leaving physical marks. His hair turned silver from the trauma and the fox left marks about his eyes, broad red strokes akin to the masks Easterners wore to depict the malicious creatures.

Sari was tentative to engage with others again but the kindness of multiple souls helped. That was to include assisting with the birth of Tuya, Yesui and Khaljar’s child!

Such bonds were important. In time, Sari gained the courage to return to the Steppe. This time he had Khabi by his side as the two faced down the evil brought down upon them by the law of the Steppe. It was a peaceful trip surprisingly, the two Xaela bonding over the beauty that lay about their birthplace.

Perhaps in the wake of such a curse, Sari could finally find his place.

XI. HIS OWN PATH

Time passed and Sari resided at the Carbuncle’s Cup. He did reopen his house that had laid abandoned for moons but he always returned to lay his head down at the shop. He had a roommate there. Khabi had moved in in the wake of finally turning his back towards what lingered on the Steppe.

The two victims of the Buduga were kindred spirits, healing each other’s wounds with talk and simple companionship. Of the innocent type, of course! Both men were still quite shy about such things.

Then word came of Yesui and Khaljar leaving the Steppe and Nuur Khuudas. The family was welcomed into Sari’s home. Friends and those he near considered his own family were now close. Things were as content as could be.

That was until another fateful trip to the Steppe.

Accompanying Khaljar to the Dawn Throne, Sari spotted a face he knew. A child he had raised. Still wearing Buduga green, rage boiled up in the Qalli. A child he’d raised that had turned on him in those old days of abuse.

And before he knew it, he had a dagger in the man’s gut and was about to throw him off of the side of the Throne. Only Khaljar’s intervention stopped things from getting worse and the Oronir had to soothe over the event with his own tribe when the Buduga passed from his injuries.

Sari was banned from the Dawn Throne.

Fortunately due to correction (from a broken nose courtesy of the Oroniri swordsman) and the rest of his friends, the hunter didn’t fall back into a depressive pit.

He did one thing he struggled with all his life. He carried on unburdened and learned to let go of what he could not change.

What was changing, however, was his relationship with Khabi. It was growing even more affectionate, perhaps more so than just friends. However both Xaela were far too shy and held back by their pasts to initiate anything beyond. At the turn of the Moonfire Faire, Sari finally instigated with a clumsy and awkward kiss to the other’s cheek.

And from then, the two began courting.

The bonding proposal was only a few moons later in the wake of a friend’s bonding. Just as awkward and innocent, the two are now engaged.

XII. EXODUS

The two Xaela happily married and settled into Sari’s home. However it wasn’t too last long. Sari went out a hunting trip with good trusted friends where he found a poor abandoned baby girl. The Qalli was quick to take her in, naming her Enqtani. Sad at the fate brought upon the infant but pleased he could protect her and raise her and start a family with Khabi helped dampen his anger towards his own people.

He arrived back to Lavender Beds to a dark and empty house. Khabi was gone without a word. Sari waited...and waited. And still his newly-bonded did not return. With no signs of foul play, it seemed Sari was left to be alone again. And now with an adopted daughter.

Upset and needing support, he went to Suiren Shrine in Shirogane where a number of former Kotodama members he knew and trusted had migrated to over the last moons. There he found work as a gardener, healer, and cook for the residents there. Nothing can quite shake off the shroud of sorrow from the songbird. He took to drinking once more, but only in the evenings. He left Tani in the quartermaster’s care during those outings. He also began to frequent a brothel, finding comfort in a hyur there by the name of Hojiro. Even if it was only business for the Hingan man, Sari clung to the company. It, of course, soon became physical.

It wasn’t enough though. Feeling himself detaching more and more from everyday life, he made a decision. Tani was to be left as a ward of the shrine and Sari left for the Steppe.

Enough of caring about others. Enough of seeking out love. Enough of trusting others with one’s most precious feelings. There would only be the hunt.

Living on his own in the Steppe’s wilds, he stops in Reunion to sell his goods to supplement the little income he needs. Skins, meat, bone, charms he’d whittled are all wares he offers when he does visit the trade village. He’s changed his appearance to avoid being tracked by former enemies on the Steppe and now dons a mask to cover his burns and scars. The alias he uses is simple; ‘Shonkor’ or ‘hawk’ in the Eorzean tongue.

XIII: RETURN

After an attempted ambush went wrong, Sari was gravely injured. He toppled from a cliff into the raging river. There as he balanced between life and death, he encountered /something./ Something not quite malevolent or benevolent. But whatever it was pushed the kitsune’s curse fire from his soul, soothing that inquenchable rage.

He awoke downstream, perilously close to death but was fortunately found by the blind Buduga seer Khenbish, whom he’d known for some time. Left to recover, Sari was eventually found by Mori, Atsushi, and S’buroh and taken back to Suiren Shrine for healing.

There he hasn’t quite found peace but the worst of his anger was calmed. It’ll take time to return to normal, if he does so. But it leaves the matter of what filled the whole in his soul when the curse was pushed out...

XIV: SUN

The Qalli, in time, returned to the shrine as the Hawk in him was put to sleep. Back to his duties, back to lingering in his grief. Nothing went right. Everything was always wrong. And so he took back to that ghost of a man he’d been before. That is, until someone went to bust down his emotional doors. A’vani had been a ward of the shrine for some time, the former slave a contrast to Sari’s grey personality. But Vani showed Sari what no one had before; everything was alright. He carried no judgement, no fear, accepted all flaws. It took time, much time, but soon Vani convinced the Xaela to be his partner as they raised their children together.

Sari still struggles as the Hawk grows restless in the peace, spurred on by a recently resolved Fantasia-induced crisis.

XV: HOME

Fortunately the Fantasia debacle was swiftly resolved and Sari found himself back in his normal form with little changed. His marriage to Vani further grounded the Xaela, finding him peace. Sari’s wedding gift to his dear one was a cabin in the heights of Shishu’s mountains, overlooking Kugane and all the views about the small island. Months of work and dedication led to Sari determined to make a home for him, his daughter, his love, and his love’s little ones and now they have a private place to call their own to grow up in the wilds. All still regularly visit and work at the shrine and life has settled into a welcomed peaceful routine.

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