Surssi
Surssi Eikorinha
Torra is a small kingdom and has only one small music conservatory and a single druid circle. What they do have, however, is a witch.
Surssi is a witch and a scholar. She reads everything she can get her hands on regarding spiritual matters, and has published two books herself - one on silent magic, and the other on the technicalities of souls. She is an expert on all things magic, and although the official stance of the government is that chanting without a license is illegal, everyone passively ignores her practice. After all, silent magic isn't technically chanting... best to leave her to her business.
Mental characteristics
Personal history
Surssi was born and raised in Harsai, a village on the Little Island of Torra. As a child, she wanted to be a druid and planned to move to New Lualai and apprentice herself to a druid as soon as she was old enough.
Surssi began to lose her hearing when she was 5 years old, and as she grew up, her hearing loss became more severe. When she was 15, she was old enough to move away and become a druid, but she was not accepted as an apprentice because none of the druids knew how to teach chanting to someone who couldn't hear. Surssi gave up on becoming a druid and instead travelled to Kaleina.
In Kaleina, she settled in New Räänkia, a Deaf community near the capital. There, she learned Räänkian Sign Language and the principles of silent magic - magic done with rhythm, beat, and vibrations rather than audible sound. She lived in New Räänkia for ten years, learning adaptations from the Deaf community and becoming a skilled magic user. Räänkia's chanting school, however, is not recognized by the government due to its unique practices, so she was unable to become a licensed chanter and earn a living from that.
Eventually, she grew restless and decided to move on again. In the remote islands of Kaleina's North Branches, she met a witch who was the linchpin of his community. Surssi lived in the North Branches for another eight years as she added witchcraft to her chanting knowledge. She learned how magic can affect the soul, even though such a practice is a taboo, and how to make peace with angry älahatta in the woods.
She left to travel through Paisai, and then crossed Falla to reach Manashina. She learned about Manashin religion and magic. She lived in Manashina for 6 years.
Nearing 40 years old, Surssi decided it was finally time to return home. She returned to her home village of Harsai and established herself as a witch. People were wary of her due to societal stigma against witches, but over the years, she provided enough aid to villagers in need to earn the respect of the local community. She became renown in Torra for the breadth of her knowledge, and even druids occasionally visited to seek her perspective on magical issues. They tended to come at night, and try to sneak away without being seen.
Social
Speech
Surssi primarily communicates in sign language. Her tausai, a raven, interprets for her. This was a trick that took her many years of study, and even other Deaf people are surprised she figured out a way to do this. She speaks verbally if necessary, usually if she needs to give time-sensitive instructions while her hands are full (such as while assisting with a birth).
Ethnicity
Year of Birth
682 AK
53 Years old
Birthplace
Harsai
Children
Eyes
Blue
Hair
Pale blonde and wavy