Kineza

"You must fan the embers of your inner light, and shine it upon the world." -Master Zenith On the border of a Scalekin village deep within the jungles of Tya, a small basket was discovered by a group out for a morning hunt. As they approached with caution, the air around them tingled with electricity. With a sudden tremble, stones and trees shook violently before all the hunters were lifted from the ground. After a tense moment, the hunters fell to the forest floor. Once they recovered their senses, they heard cries coming from the basket—those of an abandoned Scalekin child. This was how Kineza, The Staff of Qi, was discovered. It was decided that a child could not be left in the dirt to die, and the village took Kineza in. As she grew, episodes similar to the aforementioned would occur regularly, especially when her emotions were heightened. Water boiled when she was angered, winds swirled as she laughed, and clouds burst with her tears. It was decided that Kineza would be placed under the tutelage of Master Zenith, a specialist in manipulating Qi, the energy of life. Under Zenith's guidance, Kineza learned to harness her inner energy, merging it with the qi that enveloped the world. She progressed through his teachings, initially centered upon self-preservation. Before long, Kineza could dodge arrows, redirect blows, and even regenerate her own vitality. Eventually, Zenith gifted her a double-bladed stave which served as a conduit for her power. Its blades shimmered with pulsating energy that flowed from within the Scalekin herself. With each swing she channeled the very forces of nature. When old age finally claimed Zenith, who Kineza viewed as a father, she fell into a melancholic spell darker than a starless night. Unwilling to allow her emotions to affect others, she embarked on a directionless sojourn into the wilds. Chance would have it that she then met Salazar, the Bloodblade Chieftain, and life began anew. Though they contrasted immensely, their initial meeting was marked by mutual respect and a shared desire to heal, as Salazar had also suffered a great loss. Recognizing the strength in one another, their friendship soon blossomed into something more profound. Today, the formidable pair stands side by side, with Kineza imparting the wise teachings of Master Zenith unto her devoted partner as well as any who open themselves to the limitless power of qi.