Sorano Murasa

### Companions

IX, Wilhelmina Tohüllen, Rand Carter, Annabelle Sylvvannis-Thatcher, Asterius Whitevein, Anya Mer'Toloth, Quintus

## **Background**

Sorano is a Dragonborn, hailing from the isle of Dol Secun, and originally from the lands of the Yidawonah. The son of one of the island's Executioners, Sorano grew up isolated and somewhat ostracized due to following the roots of his heritage and training as an Executioner as well. A necessary function to grant a quick, artful, and honorable death without unnecessarily offending others (and to minimize risks of starting a blood feud).

While being an Executioner is viewed as a respectable and honorable profession, few ultimately wish to associate long with his ilk, but it afforded him a certain level of freedom as well. Few would harass or stop to question one carrying an executioner's blade while on the road - one can assume with grim certainty why they are travelling. But at the same time, Sorano learned that people are strangely open in conversation with Executioners, speaking in an honest and open manner that decorum normally would prohibit.

Travelling across the lands as work demanded of him, he knew and met many of the islands inhabitants from all corners of the compass, learning from those condemned to die at his blade, their stories - and occasionally coming to be called 'friend' by them in their final moments. So many of their stories were the same - different names of people, different names of places, but the same hopes, the same desires, and the same regrets. In this he sees the scattered people of the Isle, bickering and scheming and competing, as a sad remnant of what used to be, but ultimately are still the same people.

As his father, dedicated to his craft with a will one could only define as singularly minded towards utter perfection in every action, every twitch of his muscle fiber, grew weary with age and was no longer able to practice his craft to the level of perfection demanded of himself, he retired. Upon retirement, his father bestowed upon him a 'gift', taken from one of his previous executions: a shard of black steel, hung around his neck as a necklace. Ultimately this set him upon the path to find the other Seekers of the Black Steel, leading to joining the group that would become The Iron Vanguard, and swearing fealty to Tokoshi in hopes of uniting the isles once more under a common banner.

## **Beliefs**

Sorano holds wary respect for the various deities in the lands, recognizing their power, though prefers to be judged for his actions rather than for his devotion to any given entity. Ultimately pays little mind in his day to day life - whether his desire to do good and enacted will is viewed as righteous from the perspective of the gods is no concern to him, as he will act regardless. Either way, in his mind the gods are ultimately unworthy of devotion - they will either approve of his deeds regardless of his faith, or if not, be a deity worthy of Sorano's contempt.

## **Personality and Temperament**

Sorano is a believer in action over words, though words can certainly sway the hearts of others into action as well. Unshakably optimistic, he believes that hard work will lead to the desired results, that the spirit and sheer force of will can put into action beyond what would normally be possible, and that what he does is for the ultimate good of the people. He could be described in good days as strong willed, in bad days as obsessive, but pursuing his goals through to the end either way. Even in the face of overwhelming odds - even in the face of death - in moments where others cannot come to a decision or do what is ultimately necessary, he takes up his blade time and time again and accepts the weight and responsibility of his actions will entail.