Hushed Drop
Medjaphist Hushed Drop (Ushuu Maru) Bastissa (a.k.a. Hush - The Black Mirage - the Silent Souteneur)
Known by most as 'Hush', a disgraced mage now turned brothel keeper of one of the Sunblush Sanctuaries of Ara-Pampor. He is notably one of the heroes that defended and held back against the raids and conquests of Vaneda the Screaming Storm - however, has retired and abandoned his life with the Yearning Erudites to commiserate and maintain one of the petty businesses of his Pride. Given to him as a passing inheritance from one of his matras (step-mothers), out of pity, tasked to gather intelligence that may prove useful for their Pride, but forbidden to practice magic ever again.
Divine Domains
Arcana - Knowledge - Trickery
Mental characteristics
Personal history
Born to Pride Bastissa, within one of the most prestigious Tabaxi nobles of Ankh'hera. He was the unwanted male twin of the last of Pride Lord Bastissa, as he desired twins that would be worthy to aid the Mystrasi. Despite a hardened and regimed upbringing from his father, he quickly learned to memorise the rich troves of his Prides libraries and arcana, showing a talent even his father had become impressed by. Showcasing his talents and aptitude for the arcane within the capital, he was mentored under one of the Archivists of the Yearning Erudites and taken by the monastics away from his home. Homesick, but devoted to proving himself and becoming important - he showed his skill and ability to the archives, studying in secret in the desert nights within the libraries, swallowing all the knowledge he could grasp. Archivist Basa'din took exception to this pupil at the age of 13, and took to privately teaching him matters of the arcane, though without witness from the other students. Here, Hush learned more about the old archaic history of Ankh'hera, and how they were destined by fate to reclaim their lands under a dark age and be restored to a green paradise. Enamoured by these tales, the Archivist soon made him aware that not all would survive, and that the catastrophes that they would face were too far and too great to be simply languishing upon the hope of a better tomorrow. Thus, he prepared him with unrealised and forbidden tomes sealed in the Archives of the Mek'rozadh Despots, spells of which even the Erudites of old despised... learning of necromancy. But the teacher was careful, and so was Hush - they realised that their secret lessons would be seen as undeserving and despicable in the eyes of their peers, but they readied for the time that necessary evils were to be made to realise the greater tomorrow, their souls be damned. Hush hoped that this would be the teachings that would define him, but grew concerned of his father's disapproval of such matters - but even he was entranced by the power this magic offered. He would reflect back to how foolish and reckless he was as a youth, misguided by a paranoid teacher.
Upon graduating from his studies as a fully-fledged Medjaphist (talented mage of Ankh'hera), he sought to operate as a defender and a worthy warrior that would bring glory to his house. Recently, the Mek'rodemzai had been causing riots and revolts across the cities - he could not allow those who were seen as 'Fate-Bound' to trigger the prophecy of the Mystrasi too soon. Through his efforts, he joined the patrols out into the desert and made frequent trips to different cities investigating the revolts and helping defuse the situations. Though he was both saddened and horrified by the treatments of these people, finding himself in quiet doubtful moments questioning whether they truly deserved this. Then Hush had received a call to arms when a sandstorm was approaching, raising the alarm at the town - aiding the Pride Guard and the other Medjaphists, alongside the crude and savage Gnolls, seemingly delighting in this frantic atmosphere. Then he heard the screams - deafening, it chilled him to his bones. He could see shadows appear at the edges of the sandstorm, black and bright dressed Mek'rodemzai brandishing swords and bows, screaming at the winds, seemingly calling the sandstorm forth to spread and wind directly at the town gates and walls. The Breorotha came and took the town by storm, charging through the streets, spreading fires and screams, the sand erupting and living as though through some fiendish power possessed them. Surprising and blinding the forces, many heads and throats were cut by their attacks - with all the carnage he witnessed, most of the men under his command dead or bleeding... the freed slaves took arms and started to fight frantically, men, women, children, fleeing and being taken by the Demons of the Sands. Through a desperate cry, Hush summoned his powers of necromancy, never truly tested outside of his secret lessons and summoned his fallen comrades back from death to claim the lives of the insurgent slaves and Breorotha raiders. The scream returned as one bold Mek'rodemzai woman came forth, charging directly at him, though cutting down his allies a second time - he used his magic to attack and defend himself through the night, rallying back to the city gates. Reinforcements came, and he landed a blow with his magic against the leader of the raiders, a stab wound into her side. It broke the concentration of the sandstorm as it dissipated, revealing the locations of the raiders - the Pride Guard rallied a counterattack, and the leader, Vaneda, screamed back for retreat into the desert, carrying as many slaves as they could. Though many of her forces were hampered by the undead guards risen by Hush' magic. Any longer, and the town would have been destroyed - already many portions lie burning and many were dead or dying after the bloody attack.
Hush was met with both the same terror and uncertainty from the eyes of the Pride Guard - he had saved the day, but had committed in a desperate ploy a most heinous act of his order. Necromancy. Though his actions showed bravery, and had saved the people - he was arrested and taken to the Yearning Erudite halls for judgement. He believed his sentence would be death, though his father had come to support him. Or so he thought - he was met in the dungeon by his quietly raging father, not wishing to be snooped on by the guards of his cell - he whispered, or rather hissed at him, "Do exactly as I tell you to. Say nothing. Once this mess is over, you will no longer be welcome among our Pride. Your time as my son, has finally come to a bitter end." Shocked, hurt and heart-broken, Hush did what his father told him, he spoke up for Hush in his trial, using his influence to cater to a lighter plea of banishment from the order and denied ability to use magic ever again. The sentence to abolish magic came with the demands for dismemberment - to show loyalty to the Mystrasi, his father came with his sword and cut off his tail, and swiped down at his left hand, cutting off three fingers. Stripped of any title, privilege or resources of Pride Bastissa, he was expelled from the order and no longer a Medjaphist - his books and tomes confiscated, and banned from all libraries and archives.
After his release, he was nursed to health through one of his matres servants, and given a note that he could still be of use to his mothers and their Pride. Taken by Bromal caravan, he travelled to the city of Ara-Pampor, holding papers set that he was to inherit the recently patronless brothel within the Spice Quarter, a 'Sunblush Sanctuary'. Bitter and saddened, no longer the 'Black Mirage' of Ankh'hera, he was simply Hush - the new patron and souteneur of a brothel. He was tasked to make himself useful, remain anonymous and collect any information that could prove vital for the Pride, keeping an eye on the Pride of Pampora, their rivals. Use the belles of the brothel to gather any good information, work in correspondence with one of the loyal Erudites in the cities archive. Treat the Mek'rodemzai well, earn their trust and make them into useful spies to find out more about the rumours of Vaneda the Screaming Storm. Whatever can be heard, and used, will be of value to the Pride, and will be dearly compensated for such information - so says his Matre.
To this day, he works supporting his Belles, both suitable men and women - a challenging task at first, though learning through the wisdom of an older and wise retired worker of the Sunblush Sanctuaries, a 'civilised' Mek'rodemzai Tiefling by the name of Corene Ubi-Nowa, daughter of none, once known as the 'Peach of Ara-Pampor', now the 'Wilting Peach'. He transformed the derelict whorehouse in the matter of two years into a thriving and popular destination, even earning favour amongst the Ara-Pampor Pride. He still works gathering intelligence for his Pride, though has become content without making use of his magic... he is still haunted by his actions, and developed a habit of smoking the Tabaxo herb to calm himself from his night-terrors.
Personality Characteristics
Motivation
- Seeks to amend his crime for committing necromancy and restore the good name of his Pride.
- Seeks the approval of his father.
- Wishes to delay the Prophecy of the Flood of Fate for as long as possible while his family accumulates power and influence.
Divine Classification
Deity
Alignment
Neutral Good
Current Location
Church/Cult
Age
28
Date of Birth
18th Vernala
Circumstances of Birth
Unwanted
Birthplace
Ankh'hera
Family
Children
Current Residence
The Sunblush Sanctuaries, Spice Quarter, Ara-Pampor
Gender
Male
Eyes
Deep sky blue sclera with green tints, black feline iris
Hair
Long black pony-tailed
Skin Tone/Pigmentation
Curly grey-black-orange torbie coat fur
Height
5'8''
Weight
131 lbs
Aligned Organization
