Rise of the Runelords

Sajan is a striking figure of discipline and power, standing tall with a lean, muscular frame honed through a lifetime of martial training. His skin is a warm bronze, his body etched with faded scars and the faint ink of Vudran temple markings. His black hair is cropped short and practical, save for a single braided lock behind his ear—a tradition from his childhood that he refuses to cut until he finds Sajni. His eyes are sharp, dark, and focused, carrying the calm intensity of someone who measures every movement. He dresses simply yet precisely: loose, flowing robes ideal for swift motion, often cinched with cloth sashes in Vudran patterns, and reinforced at the forearms and shins with padded wrappings. A pair of worn temple swords hangs at his sides, their hilts wrapped in dyed cord. Despite his reserved posture, his every step exudes balance, control, and readiness—like a tightly coiled spring, waiting to strike. To many, he moves more like a shadow than a man.

Sajan is quiet, composed, and fiercely driven. A lifetime of padaprajna discipline has made him stoic and introspective, speaking only when necessary and choosing his words with care. He believes deeply in personal mastery, not just of the body, but of the self—emotions, desires, and fears are to be understood and harnessed, not indulged. Though he often appears detached, he burns with purpose: the search for his sister is the fire that fuels his every step. Honor guides him, but not blind obedience; he has learned that tradition without compassion can become cruelty. While he has little tolerance for arrogance or excess, he shows respect to those who train with intention, regardless of status or background. Sajan rarely jokes, but when he does, it’s dry and precise—like a sword stroke that leaves a smile instead of a wound. Beneath his discipline lies an ocean of feeling, held firm not by repression, but by practiced, unshakable will.

Born into the padaprajna warrior caste in Vudra, Sajan and his twin sister, Sajni, were raised to fight with discipline and grace. Trained from infancy with temple swords, the siblings shared a powerful bond, even when split at age twelve to train separately—Sajan with the ghana padaprajna, Sajni with the sastra. Years later, their lord surrendered in disgrace, offering Sajni and half her sisters as tribute. Sajan wept, earning harsh punishment from his father, but resolved to find her. He fled his order, a branded deserter, and followed whispers across seas—from Sumadhadra to Jalmeray, then to Absalom—always a step behind. Now an exile with no home but the road, Sajan wanders the world not only to find Sajni, but to forge his own purpose. He has cast off blind loyalty and seeks to embody true strength through action, honor, and self-discovery. He wears his discipline like armor and bears his shame like a blade.