Difference between revisions of "Vathi"
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|world=First of the Sun |
|world=First of the Sun |
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|books=[[Sixth of the Dusk]] |
|books=[[Sixth of the Dusk]] |
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| + | }}{{notice|style=background-color:#CCA; |1=This article does not use inline citations because the primary source is ''[[Sixth of the Dusk]]'', a novella that does not have chapters for reference.}} |
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| − | }} |
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| − | '''Vathi''' is a |
+ | '''Vathi''' is a woman from the [[Eelakin Islands]] on [[First of the Sun]]. |
| + | == Appearance and Personality == |
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| − | Her name is not a traditional Eelakin name. |
||
| + | She has dark skin and dark, curly hair, and is seen wearing a tight vest and green linen skirts. She carries a pack and her white and green [[Aviar]], [[Mirris]]. |
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| + | She is born in the homeisles but her name does not follow the Eelakin tradition, an example of the growing influence of the [[mainland]]. Growing up, she was often told the story of [[Yaalani]] the Brave, supposedly the only female [[trapper]] ever to have lived. As an adult, she questions the authenticity of this story, noting that most cultures have similar myths of female role reversal that are actually used to reinforce gender stereotypes. |
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| − | She is a senior member of the [[Patji expedition]] fronted by the company. |
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| + | She has an Eelakin accent, but with a polish that indicates that she is educated, and she mentions having read books about trappers and the [[Pantheon]]. She is intellectually curious, and she irritates [[Sixth of the Dusk]] with her many questions about his life and the flora and fauna found on [[Patji (island)|Patji]]. She is courageous and unflappable, and is able to react quickly in dangerous situations. |
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| − | Sixth notes that she does not carry herself like a scribe, and she is called "Lady Vathi" by a member of the Northern Interests Trading Company. |
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| + | == History == |
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| − | She is in possession of a cognitive shroud [[Aviar]] named [[Mirris]]. |
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| + | === The Company === |
||
| + | Vathi is employed by the [[Northern Interests Trading Company]] on the mainland. It is not clear how long she has worked there, but she refers to a number of past meetings with the [[Ones Above]]. She also previously met Sixth on one of his rare visits to the company to acquire technology. |
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| + | |||
| + | She joins the [[Patji expedition]] captained by [[Eusto]], although her interests are more scientific than financial. After the Company establishes a small fortress on the island, Vathi joins a scout team seeking a site for a second fortress. The scout team stays too close to the beach and is attacked and annihilated by a [[deepwalker]]. Vathi fires a spear cannon at the beast; it has little effect, but she escapes into the jungle, although Mirris is injured in the process. |
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| + | |||
| + | Sixth comes across the remains of the scout team and tracks the survivors into the jungle, eventually following Vathi's path which leads towards one of his [[safecamp]]s; unbeknownst to Sixth, Vathi had used a handheld Aviar locator to find the safecamp in hopes of gaining protection from a trapper. She is able to successfully navigate the extreme dangers of the jungle, but she is not skilled enough to avoid being tracked by Sixth and eventually gets caught in one of his traps. |
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| + | |||
| + | === Meeting Sixth of the Dusk === |
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| + | Sixth is not pleased to find Vathi, but he is impressed by her skill and her treatment of her injured Aviar. Vathi believes the Pantheon will eventually be tamed and reveals the true scope of the Company's expedition to Sixth, which angers him. Something suddenly agitates all of the Aviar on the island, and [[Sak]] gives Sixth visions of imminent death. Sixth grabs Vathi and demands that she tell him what her colleagues are doing. Although Sixth's actions disturb her, Vathi discusses her interactions with the spacefaring [[Ones Above]], and the fact that they are very interested in Aviar but seem to have rules about trading with less advanced civilizations. She informs him of the large Aviar tracking device held on one of the Company's ships and assumes that was the source of the disturbance. |
||
| + | |||
| + | === Through the Jungle === |
||
| + | Although traveling in the jungle at night usually leads to certain death, Sixth demands that Vathi immediately leave with him to stop the Company from activating the device again. She declines, and Sixth allows Sak to show her visions of her death, revealing that Sak grants a talent even though she is not a known species of Aviar. Vathi quickly realizes that Sak is a bird from the mainland and somehow gained a talent on Patji. She also learns that [[Patji's Finger]] is a type of tree that has blossoms with a mental signature. She is shocked by these revelations and wants to learn more. Leaving Mirris behind to heal, she agrees to travel to the fortress. |
||
| + | |||
| + | At one point Vathi sees a mating plume from an Aviar and grabs it, setting off a trap, but she and Sixth avoid serious injury. After he admonishes her, he realizes that he is treating her like an apprentice and opens up to her a bit more, even telling her the true meaning of his name. A [[nightmaw]] attacks, and Sixth is dumbfounded when Vathi is able to kill it with her spear cannon. The noise attracts other nightmaws, and the pair recklessly flee through the jungle, ending up at [[Patji's Eye]]. Vathi is incredulous when she sees hundreds of Aviar around the lake, and she deduces that the birds gain their talents from parasites that live in the fruit of the Patji's Finger trees that grow nearby. Sixth nearly sacrifices himself to try and allow Vathi to escape, but they realize at the last moment that they can use one of the blossoms and the spear cannon to lead the nightmaws away from the area. |
||
| + | |||
| + | === Return to the Company === |
||
| + | Vathi and Sixth make it back to the fortress, and she quickly tells [[Winds]] not to activate the machine again, only to learn that it was never turned on - only opened. After considering some suspicious actions by the Ones Above, Dusk and Vathi realize that the technology is essentially a trap. The Ones Above want to rapidly advance society on First of the Sun to the point that they will not violate their "rules" by taking the Aviar. Dusk agrees to help Vathi foil this plan. |
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| + | |||
| + | == Attributes and Abilities == |
||
| + | Vathi is knowledgeable, confident, and resourceful. With the help of her cognitive shroud Aviar, she is able to move through the jungle on Patji without being killed. Sixth notes that she is fast and agile, and even believes that he is tracking a young trapper when he first comes across her path. She appears to a very high level of academic knowledge about the Pantheon, and is limited only by her lack of real-life experience on the islands. She is able to figure out several key pieces of information even when she only has a few clues to work with. |
||
| + | |||
| + | There are some indications that Eelakin society is patriarchal, and Vathi seems to defy convention. Sixth assumes she is a scribe when he first meets her, and she surprises him with her fortitude and skill on multiple occasions. Even after their trip through the jungle, Sixth is still perplexed to see that Vathi holds a position of some authority in the Company and is addressed as "Lady Vathi". Vathi makes note of her disdain for the tale of Yaalani the Brave and also mentions that Captain Eusto sees her as a threat to his authority. |
||
| + | |||
| + | == Trivia == |
||
| + | * Some fans have speculated that Vathi is a [[worldhopper]], but Brandon has confirmed that she is not an alias of [[Khrissalla]]{{wob ref|2795}} or another existing character.{{wob ref|7435}} |
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== Notes == |
== Notes == |
||
<references /> |
<references /> |
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| − | {{ |
+ | {{complete}} |
{{Sixth of the Dusk}} |
{{Sixth of the Dusk}} |
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Revision as of 23:35, 20 March 2019
| Vathi | |
|---|---|
| Bonded With | Mirris |
| Ethnicity | Eelakin |
| Homeworld | First of the Sun |
Vathi is a woman from the Eelakin Islands on First of the Sun.
Appearance and Personality
She has dark skin and dark, curly hair, and is seen wearing a tight vest and green linen skirts. She carries a pack and her white and green Aviar, Mirris.
She is born in the homeisles but her name does not follow the Eelakin tradition, an example of the growing influence of the mainland. Growing up, she was often told the story of Yaalani the Brave, supposedly the only female trapper ever to have lived. As an adult, she questions the authenticity of this story, noting that most cultures have similar myths of female role reversal that are actually used to reinforce gender stereotypes.
She has an Eelakin accent, but with a polish that indicates that she is educated, and she mentions having read books about trappers and the Pantheon. She is intellectually curious, and she irritates Sixth of the Dusk with her many questions about his life and the flora and fauna found on Patji. She is courageous and unflappable, and is able to react quickly in dangerous situations.
History
The Company
Vathi is employed by the Northern Interests Trading Company on the mainland. It is not clear how long she has worked there, but she refers to a number of past meetings with the Ones Above. She also previously met Sixth on one of his rare visits to the company to acquire technology.
She joins the Patji expedition captained by Eusto, although her interests are more scientific than financial. After the Company establishes a small fortress on the island, Vathi joins a scout team seeking a site for a second fortress. The scout team stays too close to the beach and is attacked and annihilated by a deepwalker. Vathi fires a spear cannon at the beast; it has little effect, but she escapes into the jungle, although Mirris is injured in the process.
Sixth comes across the remains of the scout team and tracks the survivors into the jungle, eventually following Vathi's path which leads towards one of his safecamps; unbeknownst to Sixth, Vathi had used a handheld Aviar locator to find the safecamp in hopes of gaining protection from a trapper. She is able to successfully navigate the extreme dangers of the jungle, but she is not skilled enough to avoid being tracked by Sixth and eventually gets caught in one of his traps.
Meeting Sixth of the Dusk
Sixth is not pleased to find Vathi, but he is impressed by her skill and her treatment of her injured Aviar. Vathi believes the Pantheon will eventually be tamed and reveals the true scope of the Company's expedition to Sixth, which angers him. Something suddenly agitates all of the Aviar on the island, and Sak gives Sixth visions of imminent death. Sixth grabs Vathi and demands that she tell him what her colleagues are doing. Although Sixth's actions disturb her, Vathi discusses her interactions with the spacefaring Ones Above, and the fact that they are very interested in Aviar but seem to have rules about trading with less advanced civilizations. She informs him of the large Aviar tracking device held on one of the Company's ships and assumes that was the source of the disturbance.
Through the Jungle
Although traveling in the jungle at night usually leads to certain death, Sixth demands that Vathi immediately leave with him to stop the Company from activating the device again. She declines, and Sixth allows Sak to show her visions of her death, revealing that Sak grants a talent even though she is not a known species of Aviar. Vathi quickly realizes that Sak is a bird from the mainland and somehow gained a talent on Patji. She also learns that Patji's Finger is a type of tree that has blossoms with a mental signature. She is shocked by these revelations and wants to learn more. Leaving Mirris behind to heal, she agrees to travel to the fortress.
At one point Vathi sees a mating plume from an Aviar and grabs it, setting off a trap, but she and Sixth avoid serious injury. After he admonishes her, he realizes that he is treating her like an apprentice and opens up to her a bit more, even telling her the true meaning of his name. A nightmaw attacks, and Sixth is dumbfounded when Vathi is able to kill it with her spear cannon. The noise attracts other nightmaws, and the pair recklessly flee through the jungle, ending up at Patji's Eye. Vathi is incredulous when she sees hundreds of Aviar around the lake, and she deduces that the birds gain their talents from parasites that live in the fruit of the Patji's Finger trees that grow nearby. Sixth nearly sacrifices himself to try and allow Vathi to escape, but they realize at the last moment that they can use one of the blossoms and the spear cannon to lead the nightmaws away from the area.
Return to the Company
Vathi and Sixth make it back to the fortress, and she quickly tells Winds not to activate the machine again, only to learn that it was never turned on - only opened. After considering some suspicious actions by the Ones Above, Dusk and Vathi realize that the technology is essentially a trap. The Ones Above want to rapidly advance society on First of the Sun to the point that they will not violate their "rules" by taking the Aviar. Dusk agrees to help Vathi foil this plan.
Attributes and Abilities
Vathi is knowledgeable, confident, and resourceful. With the help of her cognitive shroud Aviar, she is able to move through the jungle on Patji without being killed. Sixth notes that she is fast and agile, and even believes that he is tracking a young trapper when he first comes across her path. She appears to a very high level of academic knowledge about the Pantheon, and is limited only by her lack of real-life experience on the islands. She is able to figure out several key pieces of information even when she only has a few clues to work with.
There are some indications that Eelakin society is patriarchal, and Vathi seems to defy convention. Sixth assumes she is a scribe when he first meets her, and she surprises him with her fortitude and skill on multiple occasions. Even after their trip through the jungle, Sixth is still perplexed to see that Vathi holds a position of some authority in the Company and is addressed as "Lady Vathi". Vathi makes note of her disdain for the tale of Yaalani the Brave and also mentions that Captain Eusto sees her as a threat to his authority.
Trivia
- Some fans have speculated that Vathi is a worldhopper, but Brandon has confirmed that she is not an alias of Khrissalla[1] or another existing character.[2]
Notes
- ↑ Shadows of Self Denver signing
— Arcanum - 2015-10-06# - ↑ Calamity Philadelphia signing
— Arcanum - 2016-02-20#