Sasha Kolakowska
Ms. Sasha Kolakowska
She grew up a bookworm, but that turned into a devotion to Athesne as her love for knowledge deepened. She's third of six children. Her grandfather passed away leaving a size-able inheritance that the rest of the family squandered. When they were going to sell off the bookstore she offered up her own share of inheritance in exchange for the bookstore. She is now reopening the bookstore and has joined the Infinite Repository as a Seeker to continue her training.
Physical Description
Physical quirks
Her turquoise eyes glow when she is excited about something, usually learning something new.
Special abilities
Telepathy
Telekinesis
Apparel & Accessories
When at the library, Sasha wears her blue Seeker robe and is usually carrying a number of books around.
At her bookshop though, she wears a white linen blouse and a soft wool skirt.
In either outfit, she wears an amulet with the symbol of Athesne on it and a black armband on her left arm.
Mental characteristics
Personal history
Sasha was born in 1860 to Craig and Annette Kolakowski at their country home in the County of Cherayth. The third of six children, she was always the quiet one among the bustling house, taking more to spending time with books than out playing with her siblings. At first her mother was happy that one of her children was not causing trouble, but eventually even she joined in the nicknaming of their resident bookworm. Sasha bonded more with her grandfather than the rest of her immediate family. Nicholas Kolakowski had taken to collecting rare books and writing his own reviews and collected histories, eventually growing a collection worthy enough that he successfully opened a bookshop in Novandria where he eventually moved to. While dismayed by his absence, Sasha was happy when he suggested she come and go to school there and help him run the shop once she was old enough.
Sasha’s parents were not enthused by that prospect, hoping to marry her to another family to strengthen their wealth and social status. She thought very little of this, devouring the books her grandfather couriered home to her through Lotan’s Athesnian Library. Eventually she dedicated herself wholly to the Goddess of Knowledge and enrolled as a Seeker at the temple. Despite that, she didn’t really change much of her routine, still spending hours hiding from the bluster of her siblings who were obsessed with their approaching entries to society.
It wasn’t until news of her grandfather’s sickness and quick passing in Novandria that she was shook from her routine. She went with her father to bring him home to rest in the family plot. They locked up his bookstore and hired a nearby shopkeeper to watch the place. Sasha continues to wear a black armband in mourning, others point out it’s been several months, but she considers it her duty since her family moved on all too quickly, enjoying the inheritance.
Quickly though, the family’s wealth dwindled. They blamed Nicholas opening his bookstore in expensive Novandria rather than the cause closer to home. Craig was not an astute or patient a thinker like his father and had been selling lands rather than invest in them which depleted their holdings. Sasha’s siblings: Joseph, Dobry, Monica, Marek, and Jan, all drained the coffers and allowances on their ceremonies and parties for coming of age and entering society, their father unable to say no to his children’s demands.
When her siblings suggested that they sell their grandfather’s bookstore in Novandria, and all its stock, Sasha got into her first fight with her family. Not only as a cleric of Athesne could she not let them carelessly sell off books to who-knows-where, but it was clear she was the only one who carried her grandfather’s values. Instead, she convinced her father to take all the inheritance that was to be left to her and give her the bookstore instead. Her siblings were overjoyed at the prospect of an immediate windfall and supported her request greedily.
Once she had received permission to move to the Infinite Repository to continue her training as a Seeker in Novandria, the family set off to meet the lawyers at the shop and finalize the sale.
Gender Identity
At her Rite of Majority, she declared her identity as a woman and her pronouns are she/her.
Sexuality
Books? She likes books.
Education
Educated as a Seeker of Athesne at the Temple Library in Lotans. She is now in training at the Infinite Repository in Novandria.
Employment
She serves Athesne at the Infinite Repository now that she's moved to Novandria, but also runs her own bookshop 'The Lost Chapter' (formerly owned by her grandfather)
Personality Characteristics
Motivation
Sasha is highly motivated by the search for knowledge, she will read just about anything.
Savvies & Ineptitudes
She is the definition of 'booksmart' and lacks almost all 'streetsmarts'.
Likes & Dislikes
She loves reading which is seconded only by having coffee and cake along with her reading.
ALso, quiet calm moments and learning or watching others learn something new.
Social
Family Ties
Grandfather: Nicholas Kolakowski (Male/75/he/him/deceased)
Parents: Craig (Male/48/he/them) & Annette (Ama'il/49/they/them) Kolakowski
Siblings: Joseph (Male/26/he/him), Dobry (Ama'il/24/they/them), Monica (Female/19/she/them), Marek (Female/16/she/her), and Jan (Male/10/he/him)
Religious Views
Devout follower of Athesne, Sasha follows the churches teachings that it is her duty to protect and nurture knowledge in herself and others.
Social Aptitude
Sasha has not always been the most socially adept, she still has the instinct to find a quiet corner with a book rather than go to dinner parties. She is learned in etiquette though and follows it as best she can.
Mannerisms
She is quiet and contemplative most of the time, but becomes animated when people give her the chance to gush about something she's recently learned.
Hobbies & Pets
She has a fluffy orange tabby called 'Scribbles' that lives in the bookshop.
Wealth & Financial state
Her family were large landholders just outside Lotans. However, with the death of her grandfather and her siblings making poor financial decisions they are not doing so well.
Sasha gave up her savings and inheritance in exchange for her grandfather's bookshop, so she now lives a modest lifestyle in Novandria.
Originally from Lotans, Sasha has come to Eisen to study at the Infinite Repository as a Seeker of Athesne. She has also recently taken over her late grandfather's rare bookshop near the Market Square.
Character Location
Alignment
Lawful Neutral
Honorary & Occupational Titles
Seeker of Athesne (Saya)
Age
22
Date of Birth
April 7th, 1860
Birthplace
Lotans, County Cherayth, Duchy of Tressard
Children
Current Residence
Seeker's quarters at The Infinite Repository
Gender
Female
Eyes
Turqoise
Hair
Blonde
Skin Tone/Pigmentation
Fair
Height
5'4"
Weight
120lbs
Ruled Locations
My first month
September 30th, 1882
Dear diary,
I truly need a reminder to write in this more often, once upon a time I wished for more things to write about, but these last weeks have been so full I scarce have a moment to put pen to paper.
I suppose I should start with Sareena. What started as some sporadic bumping into each other has turned into a fast friendship that I am grateful for. A half-elven young woman, about my age, a street busker who plays beautiful music on her violin. Creative, hardworking, and very kind. She has clearly been through a lot, but I've resigned to respect that privacy. It feels so good to have a friend who doesn't need me to be anyone but who I am, she listens to me talk about whatever I'm reading and then some. If I had only found this one friendship in Novandria I'd be eternally grateful to Athesne for leading me here.
There's been several other people I have had the pleasure to meet, Mr. Lukas Skybound who runs the Skybound Inn, a lovely establishment that I would like to frequent for the delicious meals when I have company. Ms Violet, who came to my shop and met Sareena there and I think they will become fast friends as well through their musical inclinations. Ama Arinelle Illum seems like a compassionate person, a cleric like myself she is very serious and devoted to Loreali.
Several encounters have led me to be acquainted with Mr. Donatien Leblanc, the ringmaster of the Circus of Disquiet, and a person I would not have thought I'd have such a connection with. But, he is understanding of those of us who have...different abilities than most, and has been so kind in indulging my passion for knowledge and helping me come to terms with my own oddities.
The above have all been lovely encounters with people and...looking at it now I am very surprised by how many I have met so amicably. Grandfather once said that "you may think you are not a people person, but maybe you just need to meet the right people." And, I think I understand why you moved to Novandria grandpa Nick.
That said, if there are the right kind of people, then there are most certainly the wrong kind. Here I will say the things that manners and propriety restrain me from with others, but I need to get this out. I am at pains to understand what would possess someone to study at Academia Casus and then forego all learning or application of what they previously learned! Sir Victor Orsei von Tressard just seems like the model for how to do nothing at all with your life. I hear he graduated from Academia Casus but has since just travelled for the sake of carousing around Europa. I had the most unpleasant exchange with him and though I must admit to letting my manners slip and being rude, I still cannot wrap my head around those values.
Well, I should let this rest for now. It is late and I have a busy day tomorrow. I'm going to visit Sareena's home in the Warrens which she seems nervous about. I will endeavour to ensure she knows that short of damaging my books there are few things that I would hold against her.
Good night,
Arriving in Novandria
September 18, 1882
Dear diary,
I've arrived in Novandria just earlier today. Some parts of it remind me of Lotans, but everything is so much busier and bigger. And the eletech is everywhere! Back home, even in the city, there were few eletech devices other than the most practical. Here it is as if life itself is being run by these new technologies. It makes the city feel almost foreign.
As much as I enjoyed taking in the newest developments available to society, the most wonderful place I have found is my new home. The Infinite Repository, home to Athesne's greatest library. This is where I am rooming as I continue my studies as a Seeker. I met with Scholar Astrid who showed me to the dormitories, but just catching a glimpse of the stacks in the rooms and halls we passed made me realize I had made the right decision to come here. It's just as grandfather said! Books, scrolls and tomes stacked in beautiful shelves and cases all there for the people of the world to read, learn, and be inspired! Coming here itself is a gift from the Goddess!
It will be some time before father can come to Novandria and meet me to finalize the transfer of the bookstore. I honestly hope mother doesn't come, she was practically distraught over my decision to take the bookstore in lieu of a dowry. But I couldn't just let father sell it just to waste the money on extravagant parties for Monica and Marek's Coming of Age parties. This was grandfather's dream, to be among the great scholars of Eisen, tracking down rare books, and supporting Athesne's great work to learn about and to teach the world. I don't expect them to ever understand grandfather the way I did. But the contract will be signed, I will continue my studies here at the Repository and the bookstore will be safe in my hands.
Well, Scholar Astrid said I would start learning the catalogues tomorrow, and she insisted I go out and enjoy the Feast of the Merchants tonight.
I suppose I'll have a quick look before returning for some evening reading.
Good night,