Description:
A rider born and bred, yet pale beneath the delicate gilt of sunkissed skin, tall, lithe, a slip of lean muscle, this slender young woman exudes pantherine grace and elegance, for all that strength is hinted in the supple lines of her figure, as the finest of tempered steel blades. A keen and deadly beauty, that though delicate, again belies confidence and fearlessness, nose patrician, catlike, tilted eyes a startling brilliant bistre beneath thin arched eyebrows. Her chin is pointed, cheekbones high and angled above an insouciant mouth; the touch of haughty nobility 'pon the finely delineated lines of her face lend her a fierce dignity, even should she be clad in the meanest garb. Raven hair, gleaming as fine silk and smooth as sable flame, cascades down her back, a dragon's tongue of black fire.

Her slender neck is set upon statuesque shoulders straight and lean, arms ever so lightly muscled even if she is thin and long-limbed. The slight curve of her bosom limns a slender girlish frame, not an ounce of fat contained in a body sculpted by hard living. Her flat abdomen slopes to an astonishingly narrow waist, hips slim as a boy's, and finally in the supple length of her long legs, straight and slim, the legs of a runner. Simply clad, she cuts a severe figure in a warrior's garb, a fitted tunic of grey linen with narrow sleeves that bears the insignia of her rank, and leggings of umber that hug the lithe lines of her legs, tucked into high boots of sandy leather. A set of long knives adorns her hips, and the haft of one juts from one sleek boot.

History:
Proud as an eagle, Shuan is the youngest in the Nachina, a family descended from a fairly ancient Eastern line now numbered amongst the Bagatur. She is tall for her age, less than eighteen summers, or so tis rumored. Her four brothers, warriors of their tribe, are held in high acclaim for their daring and prowess in arms; the eldest, Arslan, was especially protective of his little sister, and taught her much of the ways of the warrior as well as how to ride. Their family was a large and comparatively wealthy one in the clan; as the daughter of a notable family, Shuan was to marry early as is the custom in their tribe, but her fiance was slain in a short skirmish. It was just as well perhaps, for the girl declared she would not marry -- at least, or so she said to appease her parents, until she found one she deemed worthy.

Thus given her relative freedom, she rode with a small company of her kindred to Riavod. Her father wished to pay tribute to Zhamik, and in doing so see for himself what tales had brought to their tribe in the past seven years - that the King was indeed an honorable one to serve. His curiosity satisfied, he departed with his warriors, leaving a small number of his men behind, including his own daughter, who was later seen to join the ranks of the nikud in the King's service. It is rumored that the Nachin, whom they call Kirije, the Raven, keeps a close watch on all things to the West, not wishing to remain ignorant as the rest of the easternmost peoples might be, so far from the city.

Supple and strong, Shuan is esteemed as highly as a son by her father, as much for her shrewd counsel and sound judgement as her swiftness to learn the arts of war. Startling in her maturity and depth of perception, she displays more restraint, being more deliberate than her brothers, if no less dangerous for it.

"All knowledge is worth having."