#tyria 432

Vezz of Cautti (#keeper vezz)

Probably the most unlikely of the commander group, Vezz had a very tumultuous route to the place he holds today. From a troubled childhood to a difficult time in college and an unfortunate tenure with the Inquest, he was someone who - in his old classmate Zojja's words - had nothing to lose and everything to gain. And while he started out as something of a death seeker after she roped him into her project, especially in the aftermath of his rampage in the defunct Theta-9 laboratory, he came to accept that he wasn't going to find absolution in anyone but himself. Though he often struggled with his mental health, he still managed to make significant strides. He married fellow commander Rissia after he and Garrus returned from their untimely deaths at Balthazar's hands and remained commander until retiring following the fall of Kralkatorrik. He and Rissia have twin progeny together, a son named Tybalt and a daughter named Sieran, and have settled in a small cottage in Applenook. More recently, they've sent the twins to stay with Rissia's parents while they step back into the saddle to handle the mess the Inquest has caused in Castora at Zojja's request.

Oaklinna (#oaklinna)

A sylvari fifthborn who woke in the Cycle of Dawn, there are some that joke that Oaklinna ran to get out of her pod before the Pale Tree could hand her any sense. Nonetheless, she came into the world deeply curious, energetic, friendly, and awestruck by so many things. Led by her Wyld Hunt to "begin at the ending," she followed the path to become commander, meeting with the rest of the newly forming guild before the events at Claw Island. She and Trahearne had a very close relationship, not romantic but something else, and she was devastated by what happened to him. Insisting to be the one to end his suffering, she disappeared after his death in Heart of Thorns, only to resurface during Path of Fire having finally found her calling: a new tree had sprung up where Trahearne fell, with the firstborn himself becoming its avatar. She now helps with seeing to the newly awakened sylvari of the Brother Tree as its Knight. She loves good food and a good conversation, and has in more recent months encouraged her friends to come to see the new tree and what they've accomplished.

Qirri of Pazz (#qirri tinkerfirst)

The younger sister of Vezz's wife and co-commander Rissia, Qirri was an oopsie baby and born dangerously premature, resulting in underdeveloped lungs and a weak immune system. A prodigy recognized from a young age, she became Zojja's first apprentice when she was eleven, entering the College of Dynamics the next year at twelve. Her college plans got derailed, however, when a bad spell caused her mother to insist she withdraw until her health improved... and that was when Rissia helped her run away from home. From here, she met another of the commanders - Garrus Firstblood - who adopted her as part of his warband and gave her the name Tinkerfirst. Along with fellow apprentice Taimi, she would go on to found the Dragonwatch Krewe. She had multiple near misses due to her health, including contracting a terrible fever in the Maguuma Jungle and nearly being crushed to death by Bangar during the events of Icebrood Saga. She and the rest of the krewe have since settled in Cantha, offering their space for Zojja and Leyya in the aftermath of SotO until they returned to Rata Sum, and working on the energy crisis as a team.

Leyya of Pruri (#infiltrator leyya)

Zojja's childhood best friend that grew into something more as they got older, Leyya is a skilled spy and assassin, known for her sharp wit and easy way about people. Deep down, though, she deals with a lot of insecurities. The oldest of thirteen siblings and the only one born to both her parents (her siblings are all half siblings on one side or the other), she never connected with her father and sometimes acted out with her mother regardless of how hard Pruri tried. As an adult, she works as a Lighbringer with the Order of Whispers, though more often than not she's Zojja's right hand, helping with any little thing she might need doing... partially due to her own unfortunate mindset that if she can't be wanted, she will make herself needed. She found herself possessed by a weak Kryptis after Zojja's injuries in Heart of Thorns, a symbiotic relationship that honestly worked for a while. But when Zojja disappeared at the start of End of Dragons, her mental health started to deteriorate, coming to a head during SotO, with Zojja traveling with them unascended. Eparch triggered a violent transformation, with Cepir and Leyya warring for control of her own body. She was nearly killed in the attempt to save her and has spent time recovering with Zojja in Lion's Arch and later Cantha. Currently she's her baby sister Chuui's legal guardian, living with Zojja in Rata Sum while her long time companion - now wife - navigates her new role on the Arcane Council.

Agaue Whiptail (#agaue whiptail)

An Ash Legion spy, Agaue is a prickly, stand offish loner with a significant number of chips on her shoulder. Born to a mother who escaped her bonds in the Flame Legion while pregnant with her and a sibling that didn't survive childbirth, she was all too aware of what happened to her mother Medea - and her sire's status as a Flame Legion Shaman - constantly hanging around her neck like a noose. As such, she vowed to be stronger, harder, and more dangerous than anyone else in the fahrar with her, ensuring she would be able to claw back some modicum of respect. When Garrus Firstblood rose to commander, she was ordered to follow him to see what he was up to. Originally, their relationship was rocky- Agaue found him frustratingly easygoing, far too quick to cozy up to the other races they encountered. But with time, she began to warm up to him, and by the time of Path of Fire, they'd started a somewhat tentative relationship. He helped her get her mother to the Olmakhan when they were discovered and was the one to get her out of trouble after she killed her sire, Sanctus Acridflash, at the All Legions Rally. She joined her mother with the Olmakhan, and Garrus has since joined her there as well. They've formally partnered and are expecting cubs.

Lady Deshauna Tahir (#deshauna tahir)

Born into nobility but raised with a firm code of morals, Deshauna grew up in the small village of New Hope, loyal to Lion's Arch and not far from Applenook. Founded by Elonian refugees, her family has been there for generations, constantly uplifting the work and efforts of their neighbors and instilling in their six children a sense of community obligation. As such, Deshauna is a proud philanthropist, doing a great deal of charitable work, including occasionally attending noble soirees in Divinity's Reach to get donations for charities to help refugees and those in need. While she had little involvement with the guild initially outside of helping raise funds for the Pact's activities, the alleged death of Captain Logan Thackeray in Arah and the death of her beloved older brother Jelani in Maguuma during the Mordremoth campaign spurred her to action. She's since stepped up as Pact Marshal alongside her wife, the norn skaald Eshara Ulvhit. Deshauna is extremely politically savvy, which came in handy when the Tyrian Alliance was founded. She's made no secret of her intense dislike and distrust of Isgarren, though - for Zojja's sake since she knows the other woman respects him - she remains perfectly civil with him whenever at all possible. She even took up her spear to assist in the Janthir region while the commanders were busy and Odetta, Leyya, and Zojja were recovering. Her previous romantic relationship with Countess Anise is still the basis of a great deal of gossip, but she never lets that get to her.

Pheazza of Rhonn (#pheazza)

Around the time Garrus and Qirri went missing with Gorrik, Leyya and Odetta travel to Rata Sum with Zojja to help with some cleaning in the Snaff Memorial Lab. While there, Zojja stumbles on a compartment she hadn't seen before containing a series of letters between Snaff and a mysterious asura named Uenno. She hides them from her companions.

About a week later, as things escalate in Cantha, Zojja goes missing from the soap shop in Lion's Arch, leaving only a letter reading "I need to find the truth" in her wake. Leyya and Odetta spend the next several months searching for her with no luck and no leads.

With the search stagnating, Leyya sinks into a depressive episode, and she loses a not insignificant amount of weight due to the stress and worry.

The search is interrupted by the end of EoD and the sudden spread of the Void. Once things clear up and the events in Gyala Delve are handled, the search is resumed on confirming Garrus and Qirri are both safe.

Sudden headaches a couple of months later lead Leyya to Applenook, where they encounter their first Kryptis incursions. She and Odetta are dragged through the portal by Cerus, who recognizes the "stench of a useless little traitor" on Leyya. They are saved at the last minute by a familiar voice: Logan Thackeray's.

Once through, they find Logan and Zojja, who has been with the wizards in Skywatch since her disappearance. Logan is revealed to have survived his ordeal in Arah thanks to a member of the Astral Ward saving his life, but he was unable to contact them to let them know he survived due to "Isgarren's orders."

Zojja reveals as they're given the grand tour, once Odetta is given the Heart of the Obscure, that Logan found her while she was searching for clues and she nearly zapped him with lightning. What she discovered is that Snaff had known of and been involved with the Astral Ward through his old close friend Uenno, who had been trying to convince him to join their ranks. She is considering staying. She does remark on Leyya's haggard appearance and slimmer build, but Leyya brushes it off.

The fight with Dagda doesn't happen. Otherwise things are largely similar with the exception of the addition of a single fractal Logan expresses they are not permitted to enter: the "true line" fractal. Its purpose gets revealed later, by accident.

Following Mabon's death and later the fight with Isgarren, Leyya is pulled aside by the Seer who makes it known in no uncertain terms that he knows what has its claws in her mind, and if she shows any sign of slipping he will not hesitate in having her put down like a rabid dog for the safety of herself, the ward, and Tyria. She begins training with Frode to learn the ways of the Rift Hunters, but her mental health continues to decline.

Peitha reveals herself to Odetta, causing Cepir - still in Leyya's head at this point - to make a heel face turn and swear his loyalty to her over Eparch, who banished him in the first place.

Zojja declines ascending in favor of heading into Nayos with Leyya and Odetta, to give herself time to consider her choices. Irja is rescued and leads the group to Heitor, but survives the encounter. (This is a surprise tool to help us later.)

Things largely continue to progress similarly to canon here, with Odetta serving as the Wayfinder and Leyya her Hunter. Things come to a head after the encounter with Labris.

Instead of the meta with the Midnight King in universe, Eparch slaughters Irja for her "loyalty" in leading the Ward's "pets" to him. While gloating, Cepir loses his cool and he and Leyya become unbalanced, leading to Cepir trying to take control to help and Leyya fighting back. They ultimately are overwhelmed, becoming feral after the physical transformation. Leyya's "boss fight" replaces the Eparch meta, placing the lair of the Spider King in the final fight.

After finally whittling Leyya down and withdrawing Cepir from her mind, trapping him in a cage of Peitha's design, she's rushed back to the Wizard's Tower. She's badly injured but stable, if barely conscious, leaving Odetta and Zojja to return to Eparch's lair with Logan and the ward for a final showdown.

Following Eparch's defeat, Logan and Zojja have a long conversation, after which Zojja decides she can't help Tyria - or help fix the ills of asuran society - by stagnating herself forever and forgetting why she's been doing all this in the first place. She opts to return to Tyria with Odetta and Leyya, but congratulates Logan on his newfound purpose and hopes to see him again before he ascends, should he make the decision to do so himself.

Odetta outright refuses to agree with Isgarren making Nayos a police state. Having some monitoring is fine, but she trusts Peitha to manage things, and promises to discuss with Deshauna ways the Pact can help with any pockets of resistance that creep out into Tyria proper. This sets the stage for Peitha appearing at the Tyrian Alliance Meeting later.

Rytlock chuffed at that, letting his posture relax, though his scowl didn't ease. He looked over Logan for a moment, then folded his arms as well, expression souring. "Crecia'd said you showed up with these... wizards. Didn't know if I believed her." He took a step closer, sniffing before his muzzle curled. He remembered Rytlock making that expression in Snaff's lab what felt like a lifetime ago, when he'd smelled something particularly foul. The fact he hadn't lashed out was proof enough of how time and recent events had mellowed him, at least a little. "And you didn't think it'd be prudent to tell anyone you were on this side of the dirt?"

Sighing, Logan spread one hand in front of him, the other pushing his hair out of his face. "It's complicated. I would have, but up until very recently, the wizards chose to remain completely separated from the rest of Tyria. They didn't think it would be safe for people to know of their existence at all. And that included their hand in my survival."

"You had people here." Rytlock was damnably hard to get a read on sometimes, but the irritation in his tone was impossible to miss, especially with how his tail lashed. "Probably would've been nice for them to know. Your damn foolishness did a number on them."

And you, was Logan's thought, but he didn't dare say it out loud, instead folding his hands behind his back to speak up. "Believe me, it wasn't for lack of trying. And I did get to see Zojja- she's done well for herself, even after everything she went through. And you as well. Think you're going to make Khan-Ur?"

Rytlock's hackles immediately raised and he chuffed again, hard, tail whipping hard enough Logan swore it would've cracked like a whip if it could have. "Don't change the subject." Growling low in his chest, he readjusted his posture, frowning hard. "...so what now. You're here. Gonna go back with them?"

"Well... yes. I've been asked to take over Mabon's bastion in the wake of his death, but I didn't want to rush because there were people here I wanted to see before then." He could explain why later. "Besides that, while Lady Tahir is dealing with things in the Janthir region, Zojja had suggested reaching out to Eir - and Caithe if she can spare some time from up there - and going to Elona to visit Glint's lair. A pilgrimage, as it were. To lay old hurts to rest. If you're interested."

The charr turned his head away for a moment, scowling as he bared his fangs. But finally he turned back, lifting his shoulders slightly. "Rh. Fine. Only if you plan on telling me what all... that you just said before means. Here you are asking me about the Khan-Ur position while you're doing all that."

Slowly, Logan nodded. "I'll explain everything, to all of you. I mean... Zojja knows, but you, Caithe, Eir... everyone else deserves to know what's coming." After a moment, he offered out a hand, watching Rytlock's face. "It's a start, isn't it?"

"Hmph. I suppose." Freeing one hand from where his arms had still been crossed, Rytlock reached out to grip Logan's wrist in one massive paw, allowing himself a smirk as he felt Logan's own hand grip his wrist. "Don't think I'm gonna let you off easy for disappearing like you did."

"Wouldn't have it any other way, old friend. It's good to be home."