Ashiri Menessa

Ashiri is a Ostaras born Mal. She spent her childhood in the streets of Ostaras. Later she would become a well-known and respected entertainer across all of Mithra. She would even teach at various academies for a bit, before joining the then forming Band of Seven with her, at that point best friend, Amar the Principled.

Early Life

Born during the War of Ice, her parents both died when she was very young. Orphanages were filled to the brim at this time, and because of that, Ashiri Grew up roaming the streets of Ostaras. Not that Ostaras was or is a very hostile city, but in wartime, the streets of any city can be incredibly cruel. To survive she used to sing tales of travelers and soldiers to the people on the streets. Sometimes she would give them hope, sometimes tales of tragedy, whatever made her the most money.

Later when she was around 14 she joined the army, trying to get out of the then horrible conditions of the Ostaras slums. It sounds very young, especially for a Malen army, but you have to realize that the Dominion was getting desperate at that point. And not for no reason, because later that year, the gates of Ostaras would be broken and the Old Dominion would end.

Most Malen spread out and started living in small communities around the north at that point. But Ashiri was done with the North. She had seen too many friends die, and too much destruction to stay. She wasn't 16 years old when she came to Khathaat Academy. There, in the mountains of Limia, she spent time learning about music theory, many types of instruments, and theater.

Khathaat

The academy, now mostly known for the Tragedy of Dethmore, back in the days it was a very up and coming, and prestigious Academy. It was on its way to becoming one of the best academies in Limia even. But something they didn't do, was take in strays. Taking in and paying for the education of a talented but not so well-off individual is quite a common practice in the south, but is not as prevalent here in the Hearthlands. Here at Zoria Falls we have programs for it, but a lot of the smaller academies don't and are only for the rich and well off, especially the Human ones.
It was in this environment that Ashiri had to survive. She didn't have money, barely any clothes, and was starving most days. She told me she sold the armor they gave her in the army while crossing Mesantia. When she found her way to Limia she was told by some villagers where she took shelter, about the Academy. But when she arrived they sent her away. It was one teacher there that saw the potential and vouched for her. He paid for her tuition and living expenses and made sure she got into good classes. Here she started formal training in music theory, the art of storytelling, and entertaining.

Ugh goddess, you want an actual quote? Alright then, it sucked, everyone hated me, and I hated everyone. I pushed through because I had nowhere else to go. But while I was there I was used, abused, almost murdered, and some other shit that I wouldn't mention in your archive.

— Ashiri

Ashiri's time at Khathaat was not great. The other students and even teachers looked down on her for having gotten a "free pass" into the school, while the one teacher she trusted, the one that got her into the academy, was actually a lying perverted piece of shit who just wanted to use her. She had to do all kinds of horrible shit to stay alive and eat while getting bullied and abused.
She did however go to class and learn, even though some of the teachers loathed her for no good reason, none of them refused to teach her. After a while, a teacher at Siquena School of Arts and Music was at Khathaat Academy and noticed her sing. He asked her to come to Siquena after she answered him why she had bruises on her face. Although she didn't really trust him, she would do a lot to get out of the place she was in. So she packed her things and left the same day.

I had gotten into a fight the day before when some prick human girl who was a few years older than me tried eating my lunch. I remember her, the little prick, Shaani, Shanti, Shaureen? I'm not sure, she had some stupid Human name. I think she was some Mesantian Noble's daughter. Anyway, she and her cronies tried to take my lunch because they thought I was an easy target. Well, I wasn't of course, I kicked their asses, but I also got hit a few times yeah.

Siquena

As much as she hated her time at Khathaat, she loved her time at Siquena. The place had everything she wanted. Some of the best teachers, facilities, and just general people in Mithra. Her tuition was paid for, her living expenses too, and she could spend all her time focussing on her studies. After she left, she still kept in contact with many of her peers and teachers, even becoming an honorary member of the academy and teaching there from time to time. In her words, it is like a second home to her, a place where she actually grew up.

Band of Seven

Ashiri liked roaming Mithra, going from town to town, and singing for the residents. Sometimes wearing Glamour, but mostly as herself. She loved the fame. She loved being recognized by the people of a town and loved it when word of her work spread across the lands. Even though it wasn't a very good time to be Malen in the Hearhtlands, her name spread far and wide. This is when she wrote her masterpiece, the work she is most famous for, the Incarithia ballad.
Later in her life during the Fourth Era, she would meet Amar the Principled. She and Amar instantly hit it off. A Human from the far south, he grew up as a warrior, but was a poet by heart. They traveled together for a while, before they would eventually join the Band of Seven. Now she does whatever she wants. As a very famous and talented musician, she can find work in any court across the whole continent. But she mostly travels it with Amar the Principled, doing whatever she feels like. She has permanent houses in many places, but there is one place she always returns to, Siquena School of Arts and Music.

Species

Malen

Ethnicity

Snow-Malen

Other Ethnicities/Cultures

• Jheracha

Age

2390 Years

Eyes

Light blue

Hair

STNDRD: Grey-Black -> Red-Black -> Pale-Grey -> Dark-Blonde -> Grey-Black -> Grey-Black

Skin Tone/Pigmentation

Fair White

Belief/Deity

The Goddess

Aligned Organization

Siquena School of Arts and Music

I doubt there are a lot of people who wouldn't hold a grudge against a place that sucks the life out of you like Khathaat Academy did to Ashiri. So it's understandable to hear that she was one of the prominent figures in figuring out what happened during the Tragedy of Dethmore. Ashiri even went as far as hiring a Wood-Malen Mercenary band to take control of the academy so she could investigate when they wanted to cover up the tragedy. This is why she isn't welcome at the Academy anymore, but it is also why she is especially welcome in the home of Seran Qilash.