Chiyoe

Chiyoe remembers the hum of a crystal lattice focusing energy through their perfectly balanced bamboo shafts—not to channel water, but to shatter a soul. They had been the finest artisan in The Crystal Highlands of Armaria, their work sought by powerful mages for its flawless resonance. Then, in a shadowed workshop, they saw what that resonance was truly for: powering a device that could erase a mind. That night, Chiyoe traded carving tools for war paint and a red panda mask, becoming a nameless adventurer. The bamboo they carry is no longer for art; each piece is a potential weapon or part of an escape. No one who sees the wrinkled survivor suspects they are a master craftsperson trying to outrun their own creation.