Saiq Sahn
Saiq Sahn
Title: Private
Race: Clawdite
Sex: Male
Occupation: Resistance Soldier
Profession: Soldier
Homeworld: Zolan
Organization: The Resistance
Ship: N/A
Pain is inevitable, but suffering is a choice.
Theme Song
Jerry Goldsmith - 13th Warrior
History
Saiq Sahn's story begins on his homeworld, Zolan.
He came from a family of Clawdites -- Changelings. Not all the native inhabitants of his world shared this... distinction. A gift to some, a curse to many, the ability to change one's features was never easy, never without pain... and it divided the Clawdites from the other Zolanders, who looked upon them with distrust. Thus, Sahn experienced isolation and discrimination from his early childhood, which was typical of his heritage.
Technology presented no problem for any Zolander, even a 'working-class' upbringing allowed access to tech common to many worlds in the New Republic. However, non-Clawdite Zolanders found ways of denying the 'best' of care to their Clawdite brethren. For Saiq, this meant fewer job opportunities, higher fees (such as, for schooling), the 'runaround' when dealing with businesses -- onworld, that is. He had already set his sights upon the stars, as both his parents had chosen military careers.
Saiq's parents -- Aro and Hyra -- held to a rather ancient Clawdite religion, and they introduced their son to it as well. He accepted. This profoundly affected how he spent his time -- meditating rather than playing, studying and training rather than socialising. It was never his goal to be a 'deceiver' as such, but to become master of his own body and soul, in time. Consequently, he missed out on a great many of the 'pleasures of youth', not that he particularly noticed.
Saiq was 17 when he left Zolan for good. Every day since then, he focused on becoming the best Mabari and soldier he could be. Initially, he had no idea the Resistance even existed -- and after eventually learning about them, he admired them greatly, and began preparing himself to someday join them.
In the end, that is exactly what he did.
Soul Of The Mabari
Saiq found solace in the tenets of the Mabari -- an ancient group of martial artists who had embraced their Clawdite heritage, and learned to focus through the pain of any 'shift. While others of his kind often turned to medication to cope with the pain, the Mabari offered a different path -- one that Saiq's father and mother had chosen. The decision (at 13 years old) to live his life by these tenets -- many of which dealt with the presence and acceptance of pain -- changed the young Saiq, forever shaping him into quite the spiritualist.
It was never just about the shape-shifting, nor even about the combat training, but rather an attitude to life itself. No Clawdite -- especially a Mabari -- would make a 'shift lightly. To change one's features requires practice, discipline, and a willingness to endure agony. The change itself might be quick, but the pain would linger, requiring intense meditation to overcome. The Mabari would channel pain, drawing energy from it. They were never idle, never passive -- to be passive merely invited suffering. This philosophy manifested itself in their particular style of martial arts, and also in their attitude toward oppression.
Consequently, Saiq has great respect for those who act in spite of pain (and equal disrespect for those who do not). He is drawn to those who 'work through' -- who resist -- adversity, so is it any wonder he found himself drawn to the Resistance? To him, defending the weak means *arming* them, equipping them to do their own fighting for themselves as well.
Saiq is happy to speak when he has something to say; the rest of the time he prefers to listen. There is a great deal about the 'pleasures of life', to which others would be relatively accustomed, that are... foreign to him.
RP Hooks
- Oppression - Saiq has experienced his share of prejudice, discrimination, etc even before leaving his homeworld. If you have too, then you and he would have something in common. He has an affinity for the 'underdog' type of person (or people).
- The Resistance - Saiq is a member. There are any number of scenes one could do, involving or inspired by the Resistance.
- Soul of a Monk - The Mabari are an ancient, spiritual Order of Clawdites. Saiq might have something in common with others who have a similar outlook on life -- alternatively, conflict of ideals is even better for RP!
- Sheltered Upbringing - All Saiq has known is training, studying, meditating and more training. There is an awful lot about 'living' that he simply does not 'get'. This could make any number of situations... interesting. Now that he has a chance to explore, he is very interested in doing just that.
- Changeling - Not everyone likes Changelings (in fact, most Sentients do not). This is bound to come up should Saiq reveal what he is (likely by accident) in any given situation. On the other hand, the ability to change shape can come in quite handy.
