Austela Arsaeria

Austela Arsaeria is a galaxy-renowned singer from the travelling society of arsaeria.

Biography

Early life

Austela was born as Hashen Pyros Eyuvan to a plebian family on the planet Benazen. Despite the patronage system, which in theory provides great social mobility, her chances of entering a trade beyond those in nearby towns were slim. However, she developed a love for music. Her family would often catch her singing wordless songs to the spatterhens, and soon enough she became known around her village for carrying a good tune.

Joining the Arsaeria

Kai Loreli Wyn, her patron at the time, encouraged her interest. He was frustrated by the lack of opportunities available for her and eventually invited her to accompany him to a party thrown by Benazen's ruling heredrae. She wasn't there to sing – Kai's influence didn't stretch that far – but she did get to observe things she had never seen before. One of these sights was a troupe of arsaeria performing the party's entertainment. Seeing her interest, Kai made introductions. Shortly thereafter, she joined the arsaeria and left her home behind.

Austela had never been back to her homeworld. Not once since leaving to become arsaeria, not even to see her old crow. Why would she, when they had nexite relays to bounce calls from one end of the galaxy to the other and they could just project themselves into each other's living rooms? Why would she, when Benazen, no matter her nostalgia for it, was just a reminder of how plebian her existence had been, would still be, had she not forged a path away?

— The Blood-Red Crow

Travelling with the Rythian Delegation

One of Austela's first assignments during her time with the arsaeria was to accompany a delegation of diplomats to The Stewardship of Rythe.

Gaining her wings

Click to see spoilers for The Blood-Red Crow

Austela was contacted out of the blue by Impestor Gret Alaris Miter, who had been appointed to investigate the disappearance of her old friend and patron, Kai Loreli Wyn. Since first becoming her patron, he had served as Benazen's Plebian Crow, and his disappearance was of political importance. Austela went to help the investigation.
Accompanied by Giglin, and later utilising the help of Archivist Lilian Lilesh, she discovered Kai had been murdered by the empyrric who currently ruled Benazen. She had the planetary governor arrested before leaving.
When she did leave, she pondered the importance of Kai's role as Plebian Crow and the need to make sure everyone's voice was heard. She decided to dedicate her time with the arsaeria into a symbol of that: her song to speak as Plebian Crow for the people, a pair of giant crow wings grafted to her back to symbolise that.

Rebellion

Click to see spoilers for The Empyrean

Later in life, Austela went to perform at a party on the planet Sirat. There, she was approached by a white-haired woman called Palia, who she later discovered to empyrric. Palia asked for Austela's help in sneaking aboard The Hegemony flagship to confront the Magister over her son's death. Austela jumped at a chance to hold those in power to account on such a scale, and agreed to help. This agreement even extended to assistance in combat when they had to break Ferrash out of prison. Many of Austela's troupe died, but they still accompanied Palia to the end.
Austela herself died in the final confrontation with the Magister, reduced to nothing by Empyrean flame when she was within a hair's breadth of plunging a dagger into his back.

Appearances

• The Empyrean
• The Blood-Red Crow

Full name
Austela Arsaeria (formerly Hashen Pyros Eyuvan)

Life

23964 SRB 24018 SRB

Birthplace

Benazen

Gender

Female

Eyes

Brown

Hair

Black scalp lock