Devatska Acosaphaura (Deh-VAT-skah Ah-KO-sah-FOW-rah)
Assistant-Warmaster; Shadow Warmaster - Uvya
Devatska is the aging, solitary matriarch of the once-prominent Acosaphaura family and a former advisor to Chief Warmaster Xocis Bu'ran of the Golden Itoqir during the War of the Six. While the Acosaphaura family gained repute for being devoted members of the Kivan Valnoc of the Etir tribe, accomplished koza breeders and riders and talented marksmen, Devatska herself was known for being a brilliant engineer-strategist ahead of her time. Following the suspicious deaths of her sons and husband, however, she retreated into obscurity with her granddaughter Kotia post-war and now works as a local tinker in southwest Korzhûn.
During her service in the war she was widely (albeit quietly) considered to be the true Chief Warmaster, and earned the moniker Shadow Warmaster. She was one of the rare exceptions to the general rule to only employ those with past military experience in the role.
Physical Description
General Physical Condition
Petite, wiry. Walks with a limp due to a mal-healed left hip.
Body Features
Hands are small and crooked with old age.
Facial Features
Diamond-shaped face. Good teeth, and still has all of them.
Identifying Characteristics
Typical of Kivans, she has a complex set of traditional tuch-bahn (tattoos) in a tall collar around her throat. Of the recognizable symbols, there are two koza standing on their hind legs either side of her neck with heads and one paw reaching for her ears.
Apparel & Accessories
Usually charcoal-colored loose men’s work pants, into which is tucked a faded dark blue coarseweave shirt and over which are laced thick brown leather boots. She has a monocle and thick leather gloves that she uses during work, and often walks with the help of an old broom whose bristles are severely flattened. For traveling she wears an inky-blue heavycloth long coat. Her wedding ring -- an unadorned band made of hyinat in an openwork style -- from Eraleon is sealed forever on her middle finger due to increasing swelling of her joints.
Although usually hidden, she also wears a hinged heseta bangle shaped like a koza nearly biting its own tail, with green ryasi for eyes and smaller smoky brown and pale hessarites making up its coat pattern on its upper half. It is a family heirloom from her maternal line.
Specialized Equipment
For koza-riding, her twenty-year tallbelly is black leather with a matching braided edge and has a leather-thonged garnery attachment on the laced side.
Though normally also hidden out of necessity, she is in possession of one of the two long-barreled pistols and rifles of her own design, made of ironwood and brightlescia.
Mental characteristics
Personal history
Devatska was born the youngest of three daughters to Edur and Kethesanta Fraesi-Uvya of the Etir of Kiva, to all intents and purposes an 'unremarkable' family (in her words). From a young age she showed incredible aptitude for all modes of study, which her parents encouraged (despite their own sloven and somewhat hedonistic nature and limited resources) when it seemed that a military career would be a waste, and which her older sisters despised. Her voracious hunger for knowledge met its limits in the roaming nature of the Etir, where she had little connections to other sources -- she then began to conduct experiments and devise inventions to further her knowledge herself. Eventually, aged sixteen, she managed to bully her way into a pseudo-apprenticeship with Norara Ciki in Seishmeb; she studied there when she could, and brought study materials back with her otherwise.
However, this too began to reach its limits and she began to seek contacts in Ustraria, which was rumored to the the "land of ideas". Ironically it was farther inward to which she turned first, recognizing that the Hezar would be her strongest link to anywhere outside Kiva. In 948AC she used the excuse of the quarterly koza gathering to run away from the Etir with the Hezar convoy and go with them to the trading port of Hemon, and bullied her way (again) on board a ship to Korzhûn. Once there she worked solely by rumor and scraps of information given to her by Ciki, and managed to spend a year there under a half-faked identity as a student, absorbing as much information and building as many contacts as she could before finally returning to Seishmeb.
Having finally gathered enough information with which to make significant progress on her primary line of inquiry -- the refinement and stabliized production of enstreng -- she initially took up work under Ciki again. However, when it became obvious that Ciki was seeking to steal her innovations and claim her work as his own, the two separated. During this time she was also building a relationship with Eraleon Acosaphaura that had begun during her time with the Etir -- much to his parents' initial chagrin -- and continued with his every excuse to go to the capital to visit her. Though she may not have realized it at the time, his support was crucial to her.
When Devatska's experiments finally met success in the Season of Opening, 951AC, it took another two seasons before she was able to find a way into the Ustrarian Gild of Craftsmen -- she found it in the form of Yerga'renona Iatix, a fringe member of the Gild and a quirky but insightful alchemist who was perfectly-placed to recognize the younger girl's innovation, and became Iatix's apprentice in the Season of Closing. It did not take long for Iatix to feel confident in the enstreng Devatska was able to create, and they presented it to the Gild in the Season of Waiting to much aplomb. Despite not being Ustrarian, Devatska earned herself an honorary membership and the ground was laid for further research.
She returned to the Etir victorious; she and Eraleon were married in the following Season of Opening (952AC), and spent much time between the tribe and Seishmeb and Korzhûn over the next few years while she developed firearm prototypes, many of which the Etir would test for her and become proficient at. During this time, however, it became obvious that Devatska's work was being watched and not necessarily with an admiring eye. This combined with the birth of their first son, Tharseas, prompted her to lay low among the tribe. This need grew with the birth of a further four sons -- Nelos in 960AC, Tesperu in 961AC, Ornarin in 962AC, and Andras in 963AC -- but Devatska showed no signs of sacrificing her career for motherhood. She was heavily pregnant with their sixth child when together they went to present the first plans for and two prototypes of long-barreled pistols and breech-loading rifles -- together colloquially known as "the Acosaphaura Firearms" -- to the Gild in 964AC; the next day the two of them were attacked and Devatska was shot in the hip with her own rifle, and the two were issued a warning to cease and desist "such inhumane reaches into the dark of the human mind". She went into labor prematurely and lost the child -- a girl, whom they were going to name Aivaine. Shortly thereafter possession of both enstreng and firearms came under intense scrutiny, culminating in the Quelldraw Act that outlawed them. Devatska in particular was a focal point for the blame, and at Eraleon's behest they retreated into the Etir semi-permanently to protect their family.
However, Devatska's pride would rear itself again in late 985AC when Hezath Zalesper called a kega and encouraged the tribes to join the Violet Accord. Strangely, Devatska did not choose the side bent on further research of a discovery, but instead that which has ostensibly threatened her and her family -- believing she could offer them the greatest protection by being as close to the core of the Ustrarian government as possible, she offered herself as Chief Warmaster to the Korzhûn Stewardship and, though she was instead made assistant to Xocis Bu'ran, she and Eraleon swayed the Etir into aligning with the Pact of the Blessèd in the Season of Waiting of 985AC. Although some remained behind in Kiva, many relocated to Crau-Dainis in Ustraria ahead of the War of the Six in which they would serve.
Devatska would prove a formidable tactical leader in addition to her genius as an engineer, and it did not take long for the more inexperienced Bu'ran to lean heavily on her and for her to garner the nickname 'the Shadow Warmaster' before the conflict even began. Despite her obvious value, however, what she perceived as a thinly-veiled threat came when her sons Tharseas and Tesperu were reported killed in the Tikkiss Skirmish; this was followed by Ornarin's murder in early 987AC, the murder of Eraleon himself, and finally the murder of Nelos. Devatska stood her ground and would not retire from the position mid-war, though she never found any hard evidence much less that it was anything to do with Bu'ran. She also discouraged Aramastus Danig, a close friend of the family, from taking any further investigative action. In a desperate move to protect Andras, her remaining son, and his wife Amiraenta (whom she regarded as a daughter), and knowing of their involvement with a mercenary group, she persuaded the inclusion of this mercenary group -- which would become known as the Hidden Company -- in the Golden Itoqir and their deployment as a specialist task force as far away from Korzhûn and Ustraria as possible.
When Amathara and Andras would fail to return following the signing of the Inebi Treaty, in a calm sort of resignation Devatska took their daughter Kotia and decided to live in Korzhûn permanently in as much anonymity as possible, rationalizing it would be better to be right under their noses and that her only remaining allies would be there. She proceeded to raise Kotia largely ignorant of the family history while keeping a bitter, watchful eye on the city and preparing the girl for an eventuality she did not want to admit to even herself.
Sexuality
Heterosexual
Education
High and varied; a true polymath. Some have called her a eova for her level of cleverness (and size), but her genius is quite simply prodigal.
Employment
Tinker; formerly Assistant-Warmaster
Accomplishments & Achievements
- Discovery/refinement of modern enstreng, stable production thereof
- Breech-loading multi-round mechanisms for firearms (two rifle prototypes, two pistol prototypes)
- Improvements to metallurgy, specifically brightlescia and stable production thereof
Failures & Embarrassments
Being unable to prevent the deaths of her husband and sons; her pride having led to it.
Mental Trauma
The deaths of her husband and sons; her miscarriage.
Intellectual Characteristics
Meyers-Briggs type of ISTP.
Witty and sharp, paranoid (and not undeservedly so), introverted workaholic (without which she’d be considered a hedonist, which is deliberate owing to her distaste for her parents’ own sloth). A brilliant mind for engineering and other academic pursuits -- especially mechanics, chemistry, and medicine -- but often short-sighted. Outside of her work she tends to become too emotional to hold any kind of leadership position, but is respected for her talents.
Morality & Philosophy
Loose morals, can be considered selfish if it does not concern her family. However, she tends to rely heavily on her immediate family -- thinking it a way of showing love due to her general untrusting nature -- and use them without concern for their wishes.
Personality Characteristics
Motivation
Protection of Kotia is her top priority, followed a long ways by trying to remain in anonymity.
Virtues & Personality perks
Brave and feisty, a tough-love mentor type for young adults. Especially loving toward very young children and infants.
Vices & Personality flaws
Proud. Headstrong verging on obstinate, irresponsible when it comes to her own health and wellbeing, can be scathing. Irreverent and little concept of boundaries. Holds grudges and in this respect can be childish and/or bitter. Sentimentality can hinder perspective.
Hygiene
Irresponsible at times, with the exception of dental hygiene, owing to her phobia of having anything wrong with her mouth.
Social
Contacts & Relations
A wide network of vocation- and military-based contacts from the past that she deliberately does not use.
Family Ties
Although her elder sisters are living, they are estranged.
Religious Views
Largely atheist.
Social Aptitude
Impatient of social niceties and can be crude at times as a result (was brash in her youth). Flirtatious with handsome men regardless of age.
Mannerisms
Expressive, wears her heart on her sleeve.
Hobbies & Pets
Bashka
Her koza is a forty year-old tawny wash king named Bashka; he has antler-type horns, the left of which is broken. Fieron noted his Ega to be a deep red with pink flecks, with the texture of rippling mist and the sound of a low flute. He was brother to Mazheri, Eraleon's personal koza.
Her koza is a forty year-old tawny wash king named Bashka; he has antler-type horns, the left of which is broken. Fieron noted his Ega to be a deep red with pink flecks, with the texture of rippling mist and the sound of a low flute. He was brother to Mazheri, Eraleon's personal koza.
Speech
Her voice is surprisingly deep and rough for a woman. Curses copiously. Variety of non-verbal noises to mark confusion, irritation, exasperation, skepticism, and occasionally tenderness.
Relationships
History
Eccentric, codependent.
Nicknames & Petnames
Atypical in that they largely address one another on a first-name basis; in more sentimental moments Kotia will call Devatska "Granna" ('grandma')
Legal Status
Married
Nicknames & Petnames
Devatska referred to Andras as her 'wayward one'.
Wealth & Financial state
Deliberately barely above the poverty line, not that she notices much or cares.
Current Location
Species
Ethnicity
Date of Birth
30th Day of the Season of Opening, 931AC
Year of Birth
931 AC
70 Years old
Birthplace
Family
Spouses
Eraleon Acosaphaura
(husband)
Siblings
Children
Current Residence
Korzhûn; one of two houses down Old Mine Trace on the southwest outskirts
Pronouns
She/Her
Sex
Female
Eyes
Warm brown
Hair
Gray-white (once dark brown / black), wavy, long to middle of back, thick for an older woman. Usually worn knotted messily on top of head with old fabric tape measure.
Skin Tone/Pigmentation
Tanned Caucasian, wrinkled
Height
4'8 / 142cm
Belief/Deity
Atheist
Aligned Organization
Other Affiliations
Comments