Mansa Sarenna Lohrian

Mansa, Empress, Grand Sage Sarenna Lohrian (a.k.a. The Silver Lion)

In working and praying for an uneventful reign and a memorable succcessor, one finds an irony in great success.

The sole daughter of the previous Mansa Sundiata, Sarenna was placed on the throne as a temporary measure before a more ambitious alternative could be elevated. However, a split between the military, the arcane sages, and the inner families of House Lohrian found her at the center of a fractured Gbara. While few were fond of her careful, plodding pace and refusal to expand the Empire's borders aggressively, none were more popular than her father's successes.

Rather than lament this position, Sarenna did everything in her power to feed these sentiments. She reigned in peace and plenty, erecting monuments, schools, and beginning the Imperial Library system in her father's great name - the solidified conquests of a great conqueror. Rather than be found wanting in the spotlight, Mansa Sarenna would be more likely found working in the Tower of Art or teaching the next generation of Galasteri arcanists. Here, she gained considerably influence over the decades with key families. By the time her succession became an issue, there was no more fracture. House Lohrian was united under whoever she selected, and her choice pleased the military. The sages, her own students, found her incapable of choosing ill, and choosing a warmage with strong political connections pleased all three.

The former Mansa would come to regret entrusting her Empire and her daughter's hand to the one known as Savrias Kith-Born. Brilliant, charismatic, and capable, he brought more of the east under Imperial control, made war and peace with the half-orcish Blooded Houses, and relieved the Empire of the great expense of the Steppes and its corruption. But with the death of Samira, her delicate jewel, his struggling beloved... Savrias changed. He went from ambitious to belligerent. What he once earned through wit and will, he began taking by force. Learning of the chance to craft an arcane Throne, he went too far. Sarenna did everything within her considerable leverage to turn him aside, but her own lack of accolades came back to sting her. Who would listen to a scholar and a schemer when a dreamer in the Dream was at his greatest heights?

It all went to hell. After burying her daughter, she found herself retrieving the Imperial crown from the ruins of what became the Lion's Fall. Once again, Sarenna faces a split empire with no clear successor, but now she is far too old to wait and cultivate a perfect moment. She must choose or lose her chance to choose, but each of her options is greatly flawed.

The age of wisdom has come to a close. The age to follow? May be up to the Mansa Once-Again to decide.

Mental characteristics

Gender Identity

Female (She/Her)

Sexuality

Pansexual, monogamous

Accomplishments & Achievements

• Achieved the status of Grand Sage, exceeded only by Headmaster Heiwa and Savrias himself in the arcane arts
• Established the Imperial Library system across her lands, seeking total literacy among her subjects.
• Added access and disability accommodation to the legal understanding of the Imperial Standard after Lion's Fall
• Reigned without war for over 40 years.

Failures & Embarrassments

• Struggled to train and trust her late daughter Samira, overlooking her as a potential successor.
• Elevated Savrias Kith-Born to power, after seeing herself surpassed as an arcane tutor and leader.
• Prioritized preventing war by paying grievous reparations over back pay owed to countless Imperial troops.

Personality Characteristics

Motivation

• Ideal. To see her people learn and grow without the wasteful, terrible distraction of war.
• Bond. House Lohrian is everything to Sarenna - worth more than her own peace or joy.
• Flaw. There is nothing Sarenna would not sacrifice for the greater good, even her beloved family.
• Traits. Sarenna is slow to trust anyone anymore, preferring an endless barrage of tests; Sarenna has a weakness for students of the arts who impress her with passion.

Social

Religious Views

The Mansa is a devout follower of the Three Queens, favoring the Queen at Dawn most of all.

Alignment

Lawful Neutral

Current Location

The Wayholding of Galastaire

Current Residence

The Palace of Seven Stars, in the Galasteri capital

Quotes & Catchphrases

"There are countless ways to break a thing, but only so many ways to fix it."

Aligned Organization

House Lohrian

Ruled Locations

• Galastaire and the Heartland