Nika
Mhenlo
Born in: Wajjun Bazaar Nation: Cantha Profession: Assassin Age: 22
Born in: Serenity Temple Nation: Ascalon Profession: Monk Age: 22
Nika’s past is shrouded in nearly as much mystery as Nika herself, though Master Togo has learned a bit about her— everyone knows the master of Shing Jea Monastery. She has also let slip to Master Togo, if not to Mhenlo and his friends, that she was born in Wajjun Bazaar, a market district not far from one of the largest ports in Cantha. Her father died mysteriously before she was born; her mother sent Nika to the secretive Conclave at a very young age to learn the art of the Assassin, a trade that the women of her family had practiced for centuries. Her mother, in fact, runs the largest Assassin’s guild in all of Cantha. Nika killed her first man at age 10, and made her first solo kill when she was 12. She has never murdered anyone, to her way of thinking—assassination is her business, and she kills only to defend herself or her friends, or to fulfill a licensed contract.
Born in Serenity Temple to a priest of Dwayna and priestess of Balthazar, Mhenlo has been steeped in the teachings of healing and smiting magic. A devoted servant of both Dwayna and Balthazar, he has studied hard his entire life, and has been rewarded by both the gods of his provenance. But paying allegiance to two gods has not been without its consequences; having no clear path to follow, Mhenlo has a tendency to overanalyze situations and possible consequences, not sure whether to take the path. of aggressive strength or that of. defensive grace.
Nika joins Mhenlo’s group almost by accident. She is impressed by the way the disparate group of heroes works so efficiently, and offers to fill a void left by a set of twin sisters that left the group earlier. She is wholly dedicated to only two things—avenging her ancestor Vizu and protecting the Empire of the Dragon.
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Mhenlo spent much of his life inside Serenity Temple, paying homage to the old gods and studying the Path, which will lead him to enlightenment. He also spent a long stretch of his youth studying under Master Togo of Shing Jea Monastery, where he was exposed to even more religious and philosophical teachings that made it no easier for the young monk to find a focus in life. But the teachings of Togo and the Ritualist’s wisdom made a deep impact on Mhenlo. When Master Togo sends a request for Mhenlo’s aid, the monk wastes no time gathering his friends and setting out for Cantha. 31