Shiori

> “Shiori'anma, First daughter of Emperor Hanriyu, and most favored Princess of Kiata, Kingdom of the Nine Eternal Courts and the Holy Mountains of Fortitude.” - Shiori, Six Crimson Cranes
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> “The princess and main character of SCC. She's got a sassy paper sidekick, loves sweets and cooking, and isn't afraid to speak her mind.” - Elizabeth Lim
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**Shiori**, means 'knot.' Her mother chose it. She'd wanted a girl for so long, but after six boys she'd nearly lost hope. When Shiori finally arrived, she chose the name to signify that Shiori would be the last.

## Biography

### Pre-Story

When Raikama had arrive to Shiori’s live, Shiori’s mother had died a year before, and she was inconsolable. came rushing back. Shiori couldn’t stop staring at Raikama, not for her beauty, but because her smile had seemed so tentative, so nervous when she met her brothers and herself. When it came time for Shiori to greet her, she horrified Father's ministers, by embracing her. For a moment, Raikama had glowed, just like Imurinya, that Shiori whispered "are you from the moon?"

Once when Shiori put a snake on Reiji’s bed and Raikama was giving her a lecture, Shiori said “well then, you’re the only snake I like, Stepmother.” Raikama told her “one day, you’ll despise me”, which ended in Shiori calling her “mother” and forgetting her memories. From there, their relationship changed.

Shiori went to Raikama Moon Garden, to steal one of her snakes on a dare. Shiori were so curious about the snakes, and about Raikama. Raikama’s snakes cover Shiori to head to toe, until Raikama came. The next day Shiori was summoned to Raikama’s audience chamber. Her father had told her she is betrothed to Takkan. Shiori begs her father and her stepmother to not marry Takkan.

### Six Crimson Cranes

Instead of going to her betrothal ceremony, she goes running after Kiki jumping into a lake, where she meets a dragon, and fell into a slumber for days. Because of her rudeness to the Bushian family she is forced to make something for them. After having permission from her father she goes to the Summer Festival, meeting the dragon again, going on to teaching her magic.

In Shiori's last lesson with Seryu, she restores Kiki and learns her stepmother, Raikama, is a sorceress....

Later on Shiori follows Raikama, learning some of her secrets. Terrified Shiori runs back to tell her brothers and a fight ensues between the siblings and their stepmother, resulting in the princes being turned into cranes, Shiori being far from the Imperial Palace with Kiki and a bowl stuck on her head. Raikama warns Shiori for every word she speaks, one of her brothers will die.

Shiori works in Sparrow Inn where she meets Takkanand Hasege. Before leaving “Hasege” wants her to go with them but she decided him, so “Hasege” leaves her with his dagger. Shiori goes off to find her brothers, finding them in Zhensa Forest. From there they make plans, getting the starstroke, the brothers finding Raikama's real name, and Shiori making the net. Shiori goes off wanting to meet Seryu, accidentally stumbles on where Takkan was attacked by Yuji’sassassins. This happened after the battle so Hasege takes her to Castle Bushian, thinking she knows where the real Takkan is.

In Castle Bushian she stays in a dungeon, until they accept that she is under Takkan’s protection because of the dagger. Shiori toils there for a few weeks, working in the kitchens by day where she is rejected as a demon worshipper thanks to Hasege and “Zeriena” lies, and working on the starstroke by night.

When Takkan suddenly arrives in Pao’s arms, she goes off to help them. Not allowed to see him, she manages to make him soup, immediately sending for her. Shiori is welcomed as a guest but decides to keep working in the kitchens. By sneaking in to “Zairena’s” chambers at night she manages to spin the starstroke into a net on her spinning wheel.

Later on she tries to make amends with “Zairena” by making monkeycakes and is surprised when she rejects them. She starts to suspect that “Zairena” is not who she says she is. When Oriyu dies, she wonders if “Zairena” is the assassin but when she and Kiki search her rooms they find a portrait that looks just like her and what they think is four breaths, poison remains gold on Kiki’s wing. Then Chiruan is arrested.

Shiori is ready to leave now the net is spun but she doesn’t want to leave since she has become closer with Takkan and Megari, lucky her brothers let her go to the festival. She gets close to Takkan and thinks they will kiss but Shiori leaves then realizing what “Zairena” did.

Hasege and Lady Bushain then barge in with “Zairena” and accuse her of being possessed by a demon. While being in a dungeon, she sends Kiki to find Takkan and her brothers, then Megari visits until “Zairena” comes revealing she is Guiya a priestess of the Holy Mountains.

Shiori is taken to the pyre and set on fire where her brothers and Kiki came. Guiya throws the starstroke on her and steals the Pearl given by Seryu. Takkan rides in at the last minute and saves her, and the bowl breaks from her head, breaking the curse. Guiya flees followed by Shior and Takkan. Takkan reveals he knew who Shiori was, and tells her a story. They were about to kiss but Guiya interops and is immediately killed. They are followed by Lord Yuji, his assassins, and the Wolf, who have caged her brothers. The Wolf steals the Pearl, kills his master (breaking his oath) becoming a demon. In the wrestle to get the Pearl back, Shiori is dragged to the holy mountain with him. There she is besieged by demons who recognise her blood but she is saved by Raikama. Raikama is weakened by the effort and confesses to Shiori that she has only ever tried to protect her. She explains that the Pearl came from her sister, Vanna, who died and she took it on her death. She asks Shiori to return it to its rightful owner, Khramelan, so that it cannot be corrupted further as her final wish.

With the curses broken, they return to the palace but Raikama has put everyone into a deep sleep to protect them. Takkan agrees to stay with her brothers and Shiori goes into the water with Seryu to find the dragon who owns the Pearl and return it to him.

## Personality

Shiori is a glutton, rebellious, impatient, full of mischief, and a liar. But everyone who knows her loved her. They say she has spirit, and a laugh that no one could resist. Shiori's biggest weakness is her curiosity.

## Physical Description

It is said that Shiori is pretty and looks like her mother. She has long ebony hair, a face is round, sharp nose, pointed chin, eyes sharp and defiant. Has a smile more impish than kind, and has a dimple in her left cheek whenever she is happy.

Since the curse, Shiori’s hands have changed, being bigger (than her stepmother), and having scars. Shiori has a strike of white hair.

## Powers

Shiori has magic because she was born during a rare moon, able to wield what is left of Kiata’s magic.

She is a bloodsake, her powers comes from her homeland. As an bloodsake she is able to wield magic, being a sorceress, skilled at inspiritation. As Kiata's bloodsake, her blood is the only magic capable of freeing the demons held within the Holy Mountains.

Inspirited is to lend away fragments of your soul to create new life. Shiori give a part of her self away for good when she created Kiki. Kiki had lasted and stayed by her side and shared her thoughts. In her wings: the thread of Shiori’s soul formed a pattern of silver and gold.

Her soul is strong and bountiful. Bandor said it can sustain his army and give them the strength they need to slay a dragon.

## Appearance

* Six Crimson Cranes
* The Dragon's Promise
* Uravel the Dusk (Mentioned Only)

## Trivia

* Shiori’s birthday is at the start of winter.
* She plays the zither, but considers it a chore.
* Shiori used to flirt with the boys at court by sitting very close to them, flashing coy smiles and brushing her elbows against theirs. It was a game for her at festivals and boring ceremonies that her father made her attend. She enjoyed seeing the effects of her attention, such as it making their breathing quicken, their ears redden (Seryu), or when they started to recite poetry or tried to claim her hand.
* Her favourite color is red because she looks good in it, but this changed when her brothers were cranes.
* She is beloved Gindara’s food district.
* Shiori can wake up if it was tarantula, or the smell of freshly griddled sweet rice cakes and a well calculated throw of Reiji’s wooden dice. (Reiki hadn’t thrown dice at her in years.)

## Quotes

* "If fate is a bunch of strings, then I'll carry scissors. My choices are my own. I'll make them as I please." — Six Crimson Cranes
* ”Fear is a game. You win by playing, not by running away.” — Six Crimson Cranes
* ”But a promise is a promise. Not a kiss in the wind, to be thrown about without care. It is a piece of yourself that is given away and will not return until your pledge is fulfilled. Channari still has a part of me. I must return the pearl so I can claim it back. So she may rest.” — The Dragon’s Promise

## Gallery

By Tran NgunBy Tran NgunBy Tran NgunBy RacheleBy RacheleBy RacheleBy RacheleBy Rosie ThornsBy SallyBy Margaret Morales