Kazudo Sindil
Kazudo Xiono Sindil (a.k.a. Kaz)
"Softer, young Sindil," came the voice from the shadows. I had taken one step, after remaining perfectly motionless for most of a quarter hour. One step, with the lightest tread I could manage, and the voice came from a surprising patch of darkness. I stifled a grunt of annoyance, and lowered myself into a crouch. I reached out my hands, and spread my weight across my fingers and toes.
I moved again, fingers aching with the strain after having covered only half the room. But the voice didn't come, so it was worth it. A few more steps, and I was just outside the puddle of light coming from the candle on the desk. I gave a silent prayer to Ucara to hide me as I pulled into a crouch, then sprang towards the ceiling and grabbed the lintel over the doorway. I pulled myself up and wedged my legs in the frame, finally able to take the strain off my fingers. I flexed them, but made sure not to let them crack and give my position away again.
All I had to do was cross the hall, but the candle down the hall shed enough light to reveal me. I knew where it hung on the wall, both from experience and from the reflection. I could snuff it with a word, but I'd be pinpointed. I knew I was good enough to hit it with a dart, but I couldn't do it without revealing my position, either. But, there was another way.
The hall had several crossbeams, and there was one between me and the light. That meant if I could somehow go high enough, I could stick to the shadow, and make it through to the next room. I just needed to lift myself by my fingers, raising my legs to the ceiling, then extend them straight out to the hall and wedge myself between the walls. Then, somehow staying out of the light, get through the opposite door.
Nothing for it but to try, so I lifted myself up and stretched out my legs. I thought I saw a corner of my heel caught by the light, but it garnered no reaction, so I kept going. I held myself in place, using both the walls and crossbeams, and saw how I could pivot around to reverse the move. Working as quickly as I could against the fatigue setting into my muscles, I twisted and turned, until I hung from the lintel opposite my starting point and drew in my legs. I lowered myself down, and dropped the last few inches.
The instant I hit the ground, I felt a blade at my kidney, and heard a voice. "Almost there, boy," he said, "but wavered just enough that your heel caught the light. You need to work on your endurance."
I thanked my father, and promised to work on it.
Mental characteristics
Personal history
Kaz and his twin sister, Tam, were born in the city of Akachan in the Children. The Sindil family is a prominent merchant family, tightly tied in with the church of Ucara. The Sindil are one of the more benign of the merchant families, focusing mostly on facilitating legitimate trade across the children while taking their cut, and some smuggling ventures.
Kaz followed in his father's footsteps, entering into the Ucaran priesthood. Thanks to his father's rigorous training when he was young, he was accepted into the priesthood of Ucara, and found the power within to become a cleric of the deity. He served in the temple for a few years, before setting out as a "missionary". He joined with a pirate crew, plundering for a few years and converting several ships to faithful worship of Ucara.
While in port, his sister sought him out, and told him she needed his help. He agreed quickly, and followed her on a voyage to the Pirate Isles. She led a company of crusaders, dedicated to eliminating a powerful Black Guard of Vicien and a fleet he was building up. When they arrived, Kaz felt the power of his opposition, and it was Diabolus, not Vicien, being worshipped. He also had substantially more power than they thought, and in the course of the battle, most of the crusaders were killed. Tam was nearly killed, although Kaz was able to heal her before falling unconscious. When he awoke, he was in a tent, in a camp on the beach. After calling for Ucara's blessing to get rid of the headache, he left the tent to find his sister and a couple of desert Daikini he'd never seen before.
Tam saw him, and called him over. "Meet Belia and Aldris," she said, indicating the woman and man in turn. They were already here, she explained, steadily working their way through the various captains, looking for the members of the Diabolus cult. Right place and time to give them a helping hand in the battle. Having seen them fight, the Daikini invited them to meet their group, and Tam wanted to join. Not having much else going on, and devoted to his sister, he agreed.
Morality & Philosophy
Kazudo has a strong aversion to authority, but an even stronger bond to family.
Comments