RAKAN

Rakan was known to be mercurial, charming and at the same time an infamous vastayan troublemaker and the greatest battle dancer in the tribal history of Lhotlan. For mortals, his name was synonymous with wild festivals, out of control parties, and anarchic music.

Rakan was born into a tribe in decline, but he never gave up hope. He watched the human lands expand their territory, obstructing the flow of Ionia’s wild, mayhem magic for their own safety. Many tribes tried to negotiate with them, sending their emissaries to secure treaties and to protect the mystical energy the tribes needed to grow. However, these promises were broken 

Disillusioned, vastaya tribes became increasingly isolationist, clinging to their remaining lands. However, Rakan prefered a different path. He believed that he could convince the mortals to allow wild magic to run free, open their eyes to see and appreciate its beauty. Because of this, he was tagged as mutakl, an unloyal, human sympathizer, and collaborator.

Then, Rakan left the Lhotlan tribe to spread the song of his people all over Ionia. He became an entertaining rogue, and a welcome performer at different taverns or village carnivals. And over the years, he realized that was all he was to mortals, nothing more no matter how many dances and songs he performed. Although he gave his all to entertain the crowds, he barely provided diversion to drunk revelers.

Rakan became restless, as he thought of himself without purpose. The thought changed when he met Xayah at the harvest festival in Vlongo. She was also a Lhotlan. Upon seeing her in the crowd, he was inspired to sing one of his old songs that enchanted the entire town with his gleaming plumage. There were countless human and Vastayan women who had fallen for Rakan in the past, but this violet raven seemed used to his charms. However, she seemed not uninterested.

It was a puzzle with almost no possible answer. Curious to what happened to his homeland, he asked Xayah about their tribe. He was told that Lhotlan had lost the last of their lands and it made him furious with rage. His reaction impressed Xayah, and she shared with him that there was still hope. She confessed that she was part of something greater, a rebellion that will take back what vastaya had lost. Not only for Lhotlan but for all the tribes of vastaya.

Rakan was astounded, it was his chance to redeem his people, a principle he was willing to lose his life for. He beseeched Xayah to allow him to accompany her, to which she agreed in a condition that he should carry his weight.

Xayah soon learned that Rakan’s dances were great and impressive in battle as they were on stage. He pronounced himself as the greatest battle-dancer in Lhotlan history, although he sounded boastful, no one could refute it. His grand entrances and entertaining acrobatics distracted and fazed their enemies, until Xayah felled them with razor-sharp quills. Rakan and Xayah fought together with uncanny harmony, no matter how dangerous the situations were.

While traveling, Rakan became fascinated with how Xayah dealt with the world. She was always prepared, aloof, and focused, which was very opposite to him who was absent-minded, affable, and lacked focus. Rakan often forgets Xayah’s laid plans but he made up for it using his ability to read the emotions of others. Even though they are different from each other, they have achieved great feats because their strengths complement the other’s weaknesses.

Later, Rakan could not imagine life without Xayah, as Xayah was without him. They pledged themselves to each other in the middle of a screeching tavern brawl. However, they don’t have eyes for everything. While Xayah saw the world black and white, with mortals always the enemy, Rakan was more compassionate, and believed that some of them can be redeemed. Despite this difference, he was certain that their love for each other would guide them through the storms that may come their way. They both travel to preserve Ionia’s magic from the control of humans. With Xayah, Rakan found his purpose. Inspired by his partner’s principles, he made them his own, and together they fought to reclaim the First Lands for the vastaya.