Sila

Name: Silatuyok

 

Nicknames: Sila (This is what she typically goes by in the city as some people have a hard time with her full name)

 

Age: 23 (as of 1892)

 

Physical Age:  14

 

Height: 4’ 11”

 

Hair: Black

 

Eyes: Black/brown

 

Faction: Disciple

Sila is a very avid supporter of Basileus.  She adores the city and the people within it, and she wishes to do everything she can to aid the Organizer and the other citizens.  In keeping with her upbringing, she believes Basileus to be some form of spirit, though she is not sure exactly what kind.  But whatever he is, Sila believes that Basileus is a being of good intent and that he sincerely desires to aid as many people as he can. Which, she shares a similar mindset, meaning she gets along quite well with the Organizer.  Similarly, she has never been bothered or frightened by Basileus’s appearance or mannerisms, and she treats him essentially the same as she would treat any of her friends.  She is actually quite fond of tagging along behind him at night and asking what are often rather frivolous questions about himself and the city.  Though Basileus doesn’t seem to mind her presence, after a while he will politely remind her that she has other duties to attend to, given her apprentice position.

 

Though she is young, Sila is very dedicated to the Organizer’s cause and will not be swayed against him, no matter what the occasional Insurgent supporter might try and tell her. 

 

Occupation: Doxa Minster

Sila was chosen as Necalli’s apprentice when the older man decided it was time to retire from the post. The calling raised a few eyebrows as Sila was considered too young to be a minister by many citizens.  Having not even been in the city for 10 years, Sila is still unfamiliar with much of its workings and peoples.  But she is an enthusiastic learner, and most people find it hard not to give her the benefit of the doubt after seeing her upbeat, cheery disposition.

After Necalli's assassination, Sila was expedited through the remained of her apprenticeship and has now taken up the post as Doxa's current Minister.  Having received her Mark from Basileus (which lies directly on her forehead, under her fringe) she has taken over the legal and political processions of the district, and despite some people's assumptions, she seems to be handling the position pretty well.  She has kept most of Necalli's staff in place, as having workers who are already familiar with the districts workings is a major asset at this point in her career.   However, in time she will likely come to make the district her own, as each former Minister has done.

 

Sybal Form: The Garrison Roe

Upon first seeing her Sybal form, many people are taken aback by its appearance, typically expecting Sila to be something fairly small and “cute.”  In truth, her Sybal is quite large, standing a little underfive feet at the shoulder. Her body is somewhere between a deer and a dog in build, with a large barrel chest and long, spindly limbs that end in sharp, needle-like points. The strangest feature of her Sybal though is the fact that is seems to posses no real head. Where a head should be, Sila’s neck simply cuts off, topped by an almost stone-like “cap” of sorts made of some hard, unknown material.  This “cap” is sectioned into three main parts that can move across each other to an extant to allow for ease of movement in her neck. On the back portion of this cap is Sila’s main natural weapon.  She has two large tusks the protrude backwards from her neck, typically looking like horns when in their resting position.  But they are more akin to a sort of retractable tusk, and can be swiveled forward into a more offensive position, creating large, goring tusks that she can attack with if necessary.  However, Sila does not particularly care to harm other people if she can help it, so these tusks are usually used more as a display to ward off potential threats. And occasionally to carry things on, as Sila lacks any kind of grasping digits in Sybal form.

 

She is very quick on the ground, and can reach speeds of about 45 mph when given space to sprint. And though she is lightweight and rather spindly looking, Sila is surprisingly sturdy and when she gets enough speed, there are very few things that can halt a charge from her as she packs quite a wallop.  Though she lacks proper hands or feet, she is a skilled climber, behaving rather like a mountain goat when she has need to traverse a non-level area quickly.  However, she tends to avoid the water at night as she sinks like a stone

 

Sybal Power: Flux Shield

Unlike some Sybal powers, Sila’s is visibly present at all times, though its use is not always apparent.  While Sila possess no real head, there is a large, thin disc of sorts that seems to hover, suspended a short ways over the flat top of her neck.   This disc is a solid, slightly reflective material, which cannot be broken by any known means, and cannot be removed from its position over Sila no matter how hard a person tries to shift it.  The disc is patterned to look like the rather irate face of some creature, and the expression is static, meaning it will not change depending on Sila’s actual mood.  Which can be a little funny to hear her cheery voice coming out from under the cross looking face.

 

The actual power of her shield though is the ability to expand and shrink its size at will.   Sila can expand the shield out to a radius of approximately 15 feet if she concentrates, though she believes with practice she will be able to make it even larger.  Currently, she cannot freely move the shield around her person, meaning it stays stuck over her neck where a head should be.  This means that while her shield is impenetrable, it only serves to protect her from the front, leaving her back and sides open to potential attack. However, if she concentrates, she can shift its position around just a little. It is her hope that with practice, she will be able to move the shield freely around herself to provide both a better defense, and a potential method of attack.  But for now, she is still learning the extent of her ability.  Currently, Sila uses the disc mainly as a shield and a battering ram.  And also as a sort of tray to carry objects on from time to time.  She does not seem to register weight on the shield directly, but if a heavy enough object is placed on it, it will push her down.  It won’t move the actual disc, but the invisible force that keeps the disc in place will push back on Sila and move her.

 

Docile or Feral: Docile

Sila is a very docile Sybal, with very little changing between her day and night personalities.  If anything, the only noticeable difference is that she seems to be more directly defensive of other people at night.  As in, she is more likely to jump to someone’s aid, even if they are not really in dire need of assistance. 

 

Personality: Sila is incredibly energetic, with a sunny disposition and a positive outlook that could put a smile on even the most sour citizen’s face.  She can be dainty and elegant, and is typically feminine, but possesses such a large amount of energy that she is often times more on the wild, rough and tumble side of things.  She delights in games and frivolities and is always looking to make a game of her work if she can.  However, she knows when to be serious and will settle down and do her work when necessary.  Despite her wily nature, Sila has a very good work ethic instilled in her from childhood, and she fully understands the need for getting work done in a timely manner.  However, that doesn’t stop her from occasionally sneaking away from work to go and have an adventure.  Particularly when the work needing to be done involves sitting at a desk and reading, as paperwork is the one job that Sila has never been able to find a way to make terribly interesting.

 

Sila adores people in general, and finds the sheer variety of cultures and personalities in Sybal Heim fascinating.  She is very open with people, and unafraid to approach people on the street and strike up a conversation about practically anything.  She tries to learn as much as she can, but in her small number of years, she has still barely scratched the surface of all that can be found in the city.   Though Sila is good natured, she can be rather hard headed and standoff-ish at times, and, like her sybal, can be quite an immovable force when she chooses to be. 

Since Necalli's death, Sila has had to mature a bit in order to fully take on her new duties.  Though she is still considered a child by many citizen's reckoning, she has shown considerable poise as Minister thus far.  However, she still possesses a wild, energetic streak that gets her into a little trouble at times. And she can be somewhat blunt when dealing with her citizens if she thinks they are being unreasonable.

 

History: Born in 1790 to the Kivallirmiut people on the Hudson Bay, Sila grew up as something of a nomad.  Being the only child to survive past infancy, Sila’s family was small, consisting of only she and her parents.  In winter, her family would congregate with other tribes in a large group to outlast the cold.  And in the warmer months they travelled with a smaller number of other families, meaning Sila had at least a few of other children to play with, so she didn’t mind her lack of siblings.  However, there was usually little time for play, as even from a young age, work permeated her life.  To survive in their harsh environment, every member of the tribe had to pull their own weight, and from a very young age Sila was already working just as hard as any other member of the group.  Like other women in the tribe, Sila was often responsible for skinning and butchering animals brought back by hunting parties, and prepping and preserving the meat for long term use.  She made clothing, cared for the younger children as well as the tribe’s dogs, fished, gathered resources in the warmer months, and even occasionally accompanied the men on hunting trips when they were short of hands.  There was usually little time for games and frivolity, but Sila still managed to find a little time to simply enjoy life.  The other children often enjoyed her company as Sila could make a game of any task, always finding a way to make even the most tedious chore fun.  Though her wiliness would often lead her and the other children into trouble.  More than once she “accidentally” set the dogs chasing one of the tribe’s older, stuffier members or inadvertently caused the occasional Caribou stampede with her loud, raucous laughter. But on the whole her fellow tribesmen were quite fond of her, and Sila always made sure to work hard when it was truly needed.

 

Growing up, Sila was very close to her father. Though he was often gone for days on end with the other hunters, whenever he returned he always made sure to spend time with her. He would recount the (often exaggerated) stories of his travels, telling wild stories of giant wolves, bears that could speak, and caribou that could leap high enough to touch the clouds.  Sila knew his words were tall tales, but she delighted in them anyways, and she often dreamt of the wild, fantastic things her father would speak of.  He taught her more practical things of course, showing her how to hunt, track, and fish, among other things. And he taught her of the spirits- that everything thing around them had its own spirit that must be respected and cared for, and in some cases, even feared.  He taught her to be wary and to respect the power of the world around them.

 

“The world is good, but it is a frightful place at times,” he often said, “Fear the angry spirit, lest he bring ruin on our people.  Fear the wolf and the bear, lest they devour the herds and the children.  Respect the spirits of the world around you.  Protect those who are close to you.  Protect the dogs, the children, the fathers and mothers, and yourself.  Do what you can to keep them all safe, and your spirit will be strong.”

 

They were the words her father lived by, and by extension, the same that Sila held dear.  From a very young age, her father’s words instilled a desire in her heart- a desire to protect those around her.  Though, she always took this as more than just keeping them safe from physical harm. Sila felt the best way to protect others was to keep them safe both physically, as well as emotionally.  She always sought to cheer other people up, keeping their spirits and hearts high, even in the hardest of times.  And whatever she could do physically to aid those around her, she did gladly.  And for her part, she was happy.

 

But it was an unusual time her people’s history.  Though it was well before she’d been born, the arrival a strange, pale skinned people in the land was still considered a relatively new thing.  The odd white men had come from across the water in large boats, seeking to trade with and teach the Inuit peoples. They were peaceable enough, and often provided her people with beautiful tools made of metal in exchange for food and clothing.  Though she saw them on a fairly regular basis, it always made her laugh to see how ill suited they were to the cold, and she wondered from time to time if the land they came from was somehow warmer than her own home.  She was always curious of the men when they would come and meet with the tribe to trade goods, and she loved seeing the unusual supplies and trinkets they would bring.  However, only a few members of the tribe spoke the white men’s language, and Sila’s understanding did not stretch beyond a few simple words and phrases.  But all the same, she delighted in using her minute vocabulary to greet the men whenever they would come.  There was one man in particular that she had grown quite fond of.  A middle-aged man with pale brown hair and light blue eyes named Edvin, who had been trading with Sila’s tribe for nearly five years.  He seemed to be a warrior of some sort, and a leader for the other white men.  But Sila and the other children were fond of him because he would always bring them strange and wonderful trinkets when he and his men came to trade.  Sila would often tag around after him, trying to learn new words from the man, who always seemed glad to see her, despite their relative inability to communicate.  She considered Edvin a friend, and for her part, she liked his kinsman as well.  Though from time to time there were the odd scuffles between Inuk and white man, and she heard tales of other tribes having larger problems from time to time.  Though they seemed peaceable, she had been told that some white men, on other parts of the coast had fought with other tribes. Something involving the occasional theft of goods and supplies, though as to which side was doing the theft, that remained unsure.  But Sila usually brushed these rumors aside. After all, her own experiences with the pale men had been, for the most part, very positive.

 

And then something unexpected happened. During her 14^th summer, a larger hunting party was sent out than normal, taking a few of the tribe’s women and younger members, both Sila and her mother included. Numbering about 20 heads in total, the group set out to track their favorite and most revered prey- the Caribou. The warm weather had brought the return of the herds and the bulk of the hunting season.  Sila didn’t mind going on these hunts, especially when she was able to go with her parents, as it provided some rare family time. She rarely got to spend time with both her mother and father together, so these events were always a special treat.  Though she often teased her father about how she never noticed any of the fantastic sights or animals he often claimed to see. Though he always replied with a laugh, saying that her pessimism scared them away.  

 

When they reached the herds, the hunters went about their usual way.  Hunting was a typical affair, and the tribesmen were well accustomed to the process.  Sila, while less used to the matter, was still adequate enough, and with the aid of her mother, had managed to separate one of the younger beasts from the herd.  Delighted at their quarry, she and her mother prepared to bring their catch back towards the small base camp.  However, a strange sound caught their attention.  A loud crack, almost like thunder broke through the air, which was odd given that the sky was clear that day.  It took her a moment, but Sila recalled the sound as one of the white men’s strange weapons.  Peculiar metal tools that shot light and smoke which could kill an animal from a great distance.  Upon hearing it she assumed that some of the white men had simply also come to hunt, and though she knew their loud weapons would spook the herd, she didn’t think too much of it.   She and her mother would likely have ignored the sound, had it not been for the loud shouting that shortly followed it.  They quickly realized that something was wrong and abandoned their load, running towards the voices to see what had gone wrong.   But when they reached the others, a strange sight met their eyes.

 

The herd had scattered, congregating off in the distance, and left in the clearing were several people. It was mostly her own tribesmen, with a group of about ten white men standing a short distance away.  They were speaking frantically, their faces panicked, but she could not understand their words beyond what sounded like the quick, frantic repetition of “Sorry.”  And then she realized what her tribesmen were shouting back.  They were screaming at the pale men, cursing them and telling them to leave or be killed.  It confused her at first, and then she saw it.  Lying on the ground between the two groups, with a few men gathered around, was one of her kinsman. He was lying on the ground, gasping for breath, and from his side she could see red pooling out and staining his clothes.  She gave a little cry upon seeing this, drawing some attention to she and her mother.  This seemed to startle one of the white men, and he pointed his odd weapon towards her.  But upon seeing this motion, Sila’s father jumped forward, running as though to place himself between Sila and the man. And his sudden movement frightened the armed man, causing him to jump terribly. There was another loud crack and Sila saw a flash and smoke billow out from the man’s strange weapon and a split second later her father suddenly fell to the ground.  Both she and her mother screamed, running towards the man, but he was already lost.  Whatever thing came from the white man’s weapon had struck her father in the head, killing him instantly.  The realization stunned Sila, but her mother’s shock turned almost at once to blind rage.  She leapt to her feet, grabbing her husband’s spear and ran towards the pale men, several of whom aimed their weapons at her.  The other tribesman seemed to understand what would happen now, and they rushed forward, some trying to stop the woman and others simply trying to attack the white men as well.  And all at once the air was a storm of thunderous booms and screams of carnage.  It lasted only a couple of short minutes, but to Sila, who had thrown herself low to the ground at her father’s side, it felt an eternity.   And then suddenly it fell silent.  After a moment, she dared opening her eyes to be met with a gruesome scene.  Ahead of her lay the bodies of the entire hunting party. Her friends, her companions, her mother, all the same as her father.  And standing a little ways back with looks of fear and shock on their faces were the pale men, their weapons still smoking slightly.  She looked around at them all, and after a moment one of the pale men seemed to notice her.  He aimed his weapon, but another man promptly knocked it to the side.  It was Edvin, speaking in a low, stern voice to the man who had aimed the weapon, who looked away ashamedly in turn.  Then, Edvin slowly stepped towards her.  Sila tried to get to her feet to run, but she was clumsy, and stumbled backwards.  The man drew close, saying something, but all she could understand was the apology that Edvin muttered again and again as tears formed in his eyes.  He reached out as though to comfort Sila, but the girl slapped his hand away, springing to her feet at last and sprinting away from the scene.   The pale men called after her, but she did not stop running, heading out into the wilds and away from the scene of carnage behind her.

It took a while for Sila to stop running, and when she finally lost her footing and tripped, she simply lay on the ground for a long while as tears at last took her.  She screamed and wept for what felt like ages, simultaneously denying what had happened, and yet knowing that it was truth.

 

Keep them safe, her father had said.  Keep everyone close to her as safe as she could. But what had she done? Absolutely nothing.  Her family had needed protection more than anything, and yet Sila had done nothing to try and prevent their fate. All she did was cower and hide as those whom she should have protected died around her. And she cursed herself for it, reviling her own weak and cowardly nature.  For hours she simply lay there in her grief, until at last the oncoming night drove her to her feet.  Even in these warmer months it was deadly to try and stay out on the open tundra at night, and though Sila was tempted to simply let the cold night take her, she had to move.  There was nothing more she wanted than to run as far as she could, but sense drove her to head back towards her remaining tribesmen at the home camp.  But the trek was long and difficult to make alone, and as the sun fell behind the horizon Sila began to fear that her efforts were futile.  And as the cold of the nighttime quickly took control of the land, her pace grew slower and slower.  The bitter winds of the tundra pushed her back, and it seemed to her that even the weather spirit now wished to impede her path.  She pressed on for as long as she could manage, but after a time it became clear to Sila that she stood no chance of reaching her home that night.  All she could do was to curl up on the ground in the sparse cover granted by the scrubby heather, trying to shield herself from the cold and the wind until morning came again. 

 

She wasn’t sure how long she lay there, drifting in and out of a black sleep, before something odd roused her from her semi conscious state.  An odd feeling of being watched came over her, as though some unseen person or beast were standing only a short distance away.  Immediately she opened her eyes, wary of perhaps a wolf or bear, but what she saw was something else entirely.  Ahead of her, Sila saw nothing, but as she turned to look behind she nearly screamed at the sight.  The barren, scrubby tundra had change.  Only a few meters behind her, standing silent and dark were trees. Not the small, bristly kind she had seen before, but massive giants, towering up into the sky and filling the space before her as far as she could see to either side.  It was as though she was staring into another world, and as the thought crossed her mind she suddenly stood.  Some part of her wondered if perhaps it truly was just that.  She had always taken her father’s stories of fanciful occurrences on the tundra as pure fiction, but was this perhaps one of these very occurrences?  Were these trees perhaps a doorway to where her father’s wild creatures resided? A doorway to the world of the spirits?  Another part of her mind told her she was just going crazy- that the night had frozen her wits and that she was simply imagining the trees before her.  And a darker part of her mind even told her that this was the gateway not to a fanciful world of spirits, but to the land of the dead. She half expected to look back and see her own frozen body lying on the ground behind her, but the thought chilled her already frigid blood and kept her from turning around.  And the fear was quickly replaced by another thought. If this was the path to the land of the dead, then surely her family was there already, waiting for her to join them?  The thought both frightened and steeled her, and with a firm resolve, Sila stepped into the woods.

 

She walked for a time, and to her surprise it was closer to dawn than she had first assumed.  After only a minute or two, the sky began to lighten, slowly granting her a better view of the trees.  They spread as far as the eye could see in every direction, but to her dismay she seemed to be entirely alone.  Her parents were nowhere to be seen, nor the faces of any of her fallen tribesmen.  It was nothing but trees all about her.  And stranger still, she noticed that it had grown oddly warmer. And the farther she walked, the warmer it became.  It was astounding how hot it had grown, and she had to remove a couple of her thick layers just to avoid passing out from the warmth.  She walked for what felt like ages, until at long last she saw what seemed to be a break in the trees ahead.  She hurried towards the sight, but stopped a ways back as she realized there was someone already standing there in the clearing.  Positioned just on the outer edge of the trees was a very tall man.  Though he was not quite like the white men she had known, this man was similar in appearance, and it froze her in place.  Any trust and fondness she’d had for these men had withered and died with her family, and she instinctively started to step back, meaning to head back into the denser trees.  But the man spoke, claiming that he meant her no harm, and surprisingly she found she could understand his words.  She had never truly been able to understand the pale men’s speech before, but this man spoke so clearly she’d have sworn he’d been speaking her language his whole life. He introduced himself as Theo, claiming that he was there to aid her, and tentatively she approached him, having no real alternative.  And then he did something that surprised her- he apologized. Not a shameful, guilt-ridden apology like the ones the murderous men had given her, but rather it seemed to her as though he was apologizing for not having been able to aid her earlier.  And at once she knew that this man was somehow aware of what had happened to her. He knew of her family’s death, of the carnage she had seen, and possibly even the guilt and shame she felt.  And all at once the emotion flooded her again and she ran to Theo, embracing him as tears overcame her.  He seemed surprised by the girl’s sudden outburst, but did not push her away, content to provide her with a comforting “shoulder to cry on” so to speak.  She stayed there with him for a long while, until well after morning had risen and illuminated the forest around them.  And then, when she had at last run herself dry of tears, she finally spoke again, asking where she was.  And Theo slowly explained to her where she had come to- a place called Sybal Heim, which served as a sort of haven for those who had suffered or were lost.  He spoke of immortality and fanciful beasts, and for a moment she was reminded of her father’s stories.  It comforted her in a way, and she agreed to go with Theo towards the city. 

 

The city both astounded and terrified Sila.  She had never seen anything even remotely like it, and it was entirely mind boggling to a girl such as her.  The large buildings, the sheer number and types of people, and just the volume of stimuli very nearly made her ill, but Theo was there to keep her calm and steady.  With his help, she was taken to a large estate where she met a man named Necalli- someone Theo referred to as a “Minister” whose job it was to help welcome Sila into the city.  It took some time, but slowly Sila began to grow accustomed to the city, as well as the bizarre nightly changes. It had frightened her at first, but Sila had always been taught that every being possessed a unique spirit, and she reasoned to herself that the “Sybals” that took over at night were simply the physical manifestation of people’s inner spirits.  And though her own form confused her at first, she didn’t terribly mind it.  However, for some time she could not figure out what her so-called “power” was.  True she had a small, strange shield of sorts that hovered over her at night, but it seemed of relatively little use, and she simply supposed that her weak nature and personality had simply landed her with this small, useless power.

 

For while Sila presented a relatively content appearance, inwardly she could not deny the sorrow and self-loathing she still felt.  For nearly a year, she hid these feelings from others, but there was one person who she could not seem to hide it from.  Theo was a keen and observant man, and he knew that not all was right with Sila.  He spoke to her on occasion of her troubles, but she did not wish to share them fully with the man.  He had been so kind to her that she did not wish to burden him with even more of her troubles.  But one day Theo approached her in private, asking her to sit with him for a time, and specifically requesting to speak of the matters that troubled her.  She resisted at first, but having had nobody to share her worries with, she couldn’t help but confide in Theo.  They talked for a long while and she learned that Theo had been concerned that Sila’s inner turmoil may lead to her turning feral, and that he wished to help her avoid this if he could.  And it was all Sila could do to pour out her thoughts to him, like a dam had broken inside of her and now all of her pent up emotions were rushing forward.  She told him of the cowardice and shame she felt, the anger and rage that she held pinned up within her, and of how inadequate she felt.  She even told him of her father’s words- to keep those she cared about safe- and how she had failed in this one request so terribly.  But Theo didn’t see it this way.  He expressed sympathy, but said that he did not blame her for the death of her family, and that she should not blame herself.  There was no action on her part that could have prevented what had happened, and for her own sake she needed to come to terms with that.  He claimed that her father’s words were good, but that it was impossible to protect everyone all of the time, and that he did not think her father would despise her for what had happened.  It was simply the path life had chosen to set her on, but it did not mean she needed to be miserable for eternity.  And then he told her that perhaps she had been given entry to Sybal Heim as a way to prove to herself that she was not as weak as she believed.  He did not know the exact reason Basileus had chosen to send the forest to her, but Theo claimed that his master only invited people whom he believed to be good, strong souls with some greater worth to attain, and that Sila must therefore be one of these strong individuals. 

 

His words surprised her, and even after Theo had gone, she sat and contemplated them. And after a time she began to think of the people she had met while in the city.  They had all been so kind and good to her, and she had already made friends who were willing to aid her in any way they could.  And she began to feel a little ashamed for having been so concerned with herself that she failed to appreciate the kindness of these people.  Even in such a short time, they were already dear to her, and she wanted to keep them safe, just as she had with her kinsmen.  And all at once it clicked.  It was true what Theo said- her father’s words were good, but she could not protect everyone all of the time.  But that did not mean that she couldn’t protect anyone.  And in that moment she vowed to turn her grief and self loathing into kindness and caring.  And though she still carried the weight of her loved ones, Sila found at last that she could be at peace in the city, and that very night she discovered what the true purpose of her power was.  The tiny, insignificant shield over her could grow, becoming a grand, impenetrable wall to protect those she cared for.  She was strong now, granted speed and strength by her Sybal that she had never known before, and in time she became confident that her purpose in the city was to protect its kindly citizens, physically and emotionally, just as she had always wished to do before.  And to this day it brings her great joy to bring smiles to those around her, and to shield them from harm, wherever it may hail from.

 

It came as a great shock to Sila after a few years in the city when Theo approached her again.  This time with an invitation to meet with Basileus, who proceeded to offer her a position as Necalli’s apprentice.  And that upon his retirement, she would take his place as Minister of the Doxa district.  At first she felt ill equipped for the call, but trusting in Basileus’s choice, she accepted the offer. After this appointment, Sila moved into the Doxa estates alongside Necalli and his wife to begin her training.  And though she thought the man stuffy and grouchy at first, she quickly figured out that Necalli was actually quite a caring and good natured man.  And she took an immediate liking to his wife, Chenzira, whom Sila practically idolizes these days.  Over time, Sila began to regard the Minister and his wife almost like family, and in a way, treats them in a vaguely parental sense.  

Even after Necalli's death, Sila still holds the man in the highest regard, and aspires to run her district with the same success and efficiency that he did. She has also allowed Chenzira to remain in the Steppe with her as she still regards the woman very much as family.  Though she has taken over his position, currently Sila utilizes a different office for her work than what her predecessor used, as it is difficult to work in an environment that reminds her so strongly of him.  But despite everything, she seems to be handling the overall situation with surprising poise and maturity.

 

 

Additional Info:

    -    Sila was sent forward in time a ways to get to Sybal Heim.  Born in 1790, she entered Sybal Heim in the year 1804, but was jumped forward to the year 1883.  She has been in the city now for 8 years.

 

    -    Sila often refers to Basileus as “Ataataga” meaning “grandfather.” 

 

    -    Sila is not sure of what Sybal Heim truly is, but there is one tale from her people that she relates to the city somewhat.  She was raised to believe that after a person dies, their spirit went to a sort of “waiting room” between life and death where they must stay for a time before passing on to the next world.  And this realm of waiting was said to have been watched over by the spirit of an old man, whose job it was to oversee and care for the smaller spirits there.  Though Sila does not necessarily believe the inhabitants of Sybal Heim are deceased, she can’t help but notice the similarities between the city and this tale.  And she wonders perhaps if this is that same realm and the story merely interpreted the details wrong.  She believes that eventually everyone in the city will pass on to the next realm, but she believes that this is an event intended to happen for everyone simultaneously, and she fears that people who die early risk not finding their way to the next life. She believes it is Basileus’s duty to watch over their spirits, and when the time comes, guide them together onto the next world, and she fears that those who die early will be lost without the Organizer to lead them.  Or at least, that is how she makes sense of things in her mind.

 

    -    Upon entering Sybal Heim, Sila was very distrusting and angry towards the city’s fair skinned inhabitants. Though she knew they were not the same as the ones who had killed her family, she couldn’t help but see those men when she looked at them.  However, upon coming to terms with her grief, and adjusting her view on life in the city, she began to grow more tolerant of these citizens.  And in time, with the aid of several understanding and kindly citizens Sila managed to make peace with her hatred and prejudice.  She no longer holds any resentment towards the fairer skinned citizens, and treats them with the same kindness and respect she would afford any other people.

 

    -    Prior to her calling as Minister-in-Training, Sila worked in a small flower shop in Doxa.  Having a relatively small sampling of flowers in her home land, she absolutely adores the variety of plant life found in Sybal Heim.  It’s very common for her to wear flowers in her hair, and she loves visiting the various gardens throughout each of the districts. Though sometimes she gets a little distracted when she’s out on errands and comes across a flower she fancies.

 

    -    Since she has no face to emote with in Sybal form, Sila relies mainly on her tone of voice to convey emotion at night. However, she will move her tusks rather like ears to express certain things, as well as using her tail.  When she is upset or angry, she often lowers her neck and bares the face on her shield to people. But normally, her neck is held upright, meaning the shield faces towards the sky, and not at any particular person.

 

    -    Sila’s feet are quite sharp, and she has accidentally speared a few objects and stepped on a few unlucky toes.  As such, it’s always a good idea to keep track of her when she gets to bouncing around if you value the safety of your lower limbs.

 

    -    Sila is still fascinated by the fact that Sybal Heim is not frigidly cold.  It took her a fair amount to time to acclimate to the weather, but once she did she grew to greatly enjoy the wide range of seasons found in the city.  And, while it took some getting used to, she has embraced the fact that she no longer needs to constantly bundle herself in many layers of insulated clothing. She especially likes not having to wear the dense footwear of her homeland, and often times goes about the city barefoot.  However, though she likes the warmth of the summer months in the city, she still has a fairly low tolerance for hot weather and is usually a little miserable during the peak of the summer season.

 

    -    She is often times rather annoyed by the Seele minister, Colo, despite their physical age similarities.  She finds him to be rather rude and obnoxious and is usually frustrated by the fact that he seems to like hanging around her when he can.  She is known to get into scuffles with the boy and has punched him in annoyance on more than one occasion.

 

    -    She is, understandably, very close friends with Theo and considers him rather like a big brother. (Though due to his name of "hound" she sometimes jokingly refers to him as Cousin- a title often used to refer to dogs in her homeland) She loves having him come to visit and she enjoys tagging along after him about the city.  Which, Theo never seems to mind her company, and is usually content to have her tag along.  Though he has to send her away from time to time as many of Theo’s duties involve other citizen’s personal affairs and business, which Sila is not typically invited to be a part of.  But when he is not working, Theo seems to enjoy having the girl about for company.  She is also one of the only people whom Theo allows to mess with his hair. Typically when he comes to review Doxa’s monthly numbers, he allows her to play with his hair while he sits and reads over the paperwork.  He was resilient at first, but finally agreed as it was about the only thing that made Sila sit still long enough to get through the work.  Though Sila’s hairstyles tend to be rather feminine as she seems to practice styles she intends on using on her own hair later.  And though Theo isn’t terribly bothered by this, he does usually have to stop by a mirror and undo Sila’s elaborate styles before going out in public again.  Though on occasion he will keep her style in if it is not too outlandish, and once or twice he has been known to leave the Doxa estates with one or two tiny flowers still woven into his hair.

 

    -     Sila is also on a personal mission to find the “right date” for Theo. After figuring out that he’s supposedly never actually had a serious relationship, Sila decided that it was her duty as his friend to find him one.  Theo resists this very adamantly, but she still gives it her best and occasionally tries to set him up on blind dates without his knowing.

 

    -    Though she found him quite odd at first, Sila is currently very close to Darshil as well, and likes visiting his home in Heilig to hear the man's advice and wisdoms. And though he is a little shy about it, she likes listening to Darshil sing and has convinced him to teach her a few songs here and there.

 

    -    Despite her small stature, Sila is quite strong and hardy, given the nature of her upbringing. However, she is not a trained fighter, and is not of much use in a fight while in human form.  However, Necalli made regular training sessions part of the girl’s routine as he believed it was important for her to learn how to properly defend herself against attack. Sila doesn’t mind this, and she is a fairly quick student in these sorts of matters, and has continued these training sessions even in his absence.  As such, she possesses at least a rudimentary knowledge of combat, and is working to improve her skills to where she will be able to hold her own in even the most difficult of circumstances.  Though that day is still a ways off yet.




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