Aris

**Baavgai Aris**, also known as simply **Aris** or **Nergui Temuulen** is a *Chotgor Aris*, or Khun shapeshifter, known in more common parlance as a skinchanger. Aris is of the particular Baavgai, meaning bear, variant. As a result, they can shapeshift into an Uul brown bear.

Like all *chotgor aris*, Aris is a hermaphrodite. They identify as neither male nor female, though can often pass as a male when needed.

## Relationships

#### **Rzhevsky Artem Antonovich**

Aris met Artem in the forested region of the northern Valley of Malgai, the valley basin surrounding Mount Uulyn.

Artem revealed to Aris what happened to Baga, having seen the end of the hunt himself.

Using the power of the *chotgor khel*, or demon tongue, Aris was able to swiftly learn and understand the words spoken by Artem in the Imperiyan language, allowing them to communicate.

**Patanjali Padagavakar**

Jali took Aris in as an infant, initially naming them *Pahaad*, meaning "mountain" in Desi. After discovering their status as a *baavgai aris*, they instead named the child *Bhaaloo*, meaning "bear" in Desi.

Jali brought the baby to live among the Hijada, who were essentially the same as the *chotgor aris*. They were born hermaphroditic, with mystical powers to take on the form of animals. But unlike the *chotgor aris*, the Hijada were revered as blessed by the animal deities of the Desi.

While Jali often had to leave for long periods of time, due to his nature as a traveling merchant, he would always make sure to bring back trinkets and gifts from Bhaaloo's homeland.

#### **Baga Aris**

Baga is the name that Aris gave a fellow *baavgai aris.* Baga was a child, but their skinchanged form was rather indistinguishable from an adult Uul bear, though it was slightly smaller. Aris came across Baga in the wilderness, rescuing the child from hunters. The two quickly formed a sort of parent-child bond, with Aris coming to regard Baga as their own child.

Baga was ultimately killed by two Khun hunters; Kopek and Khal. As a result, Aris vowed to avenge their adopted child, requesting the help of Artem in this task.

## Early Life

Aris was born in the middle of a battle between the Ariun Khumuus and the Unan Kumuus, the two warring factions of the Khun Irgenii Dain, the Khun Civil War. The two sides fought due to the *Unan Gurval*, or Third God Movement, a heretical splinter from the Orthodox Gurval, the faith the Khun had followed for thousands of year.

As a result, their mother was able to slip them away during the chaos, avoiding killing the child immediately as is typically the case. But she knew she would be unable to hide the child forever, and so released the babe into the custody of a traveling Desi merchant.

## Desa Kauma

He took the child away to his homeland, Saanp Shahar, calling them initially Pahaad and then later Bhaaloo after discovering their shapeshifting abilities. Hermaphrodites are very common in Desa Kauma, known as Hijada, and their shapeshifting powers are seen as a blessing from the animal totems---especially if they match that animal, such as a tiger, peacock, or snake. As such, they were able to fit in to a Hijada community, and grow up safely and happily.

Upon reaching the age of maturity for the Vaishya Caste, age 12, the merchant asked Bhaaloo if they wished to remain in Saanp Shahar, join them in becoming a Vyaapaaree, or return back to their homeland of Uulyn.

Bhaaloo chose to return to Uulyn.