Vashan Sacain
| Vashan Sacain | |
|---|---|
| VASH-EN SAR-KIN | |
| Information | |
| Gender | Male |
| Occupation | Soldier |
| Affiliation | The Grey Tower |
| Nationality | Andoran |
Vashan Sacain is an Andoran Soldier of the Grey Tower.
Description
Vashan Sacain is not particularly tall or short for his age. Though his wavy auburn coloured hair and bright green eyes mark him as an unusual person at first glance. He has a fairly handsome and muscular physique, an angular face with thin lips, plus he always keeps himself clean shaven.
Vashan is a very uncommunicative person due to his past. He prefers to listen and observe first rather then jump into action. He sometimes likes to help others in need and be on his way as quickly as he had approached. With his silent nature, Vashan doesn't take in praises or insults but uses his body to communicate. He isn't mute but talking 'isn't his style'. Speaking only when necessary, many people see Vashan as very distant, sad and lonely. The fact is that he very much likes the company of others
When he’s alone, Vashan often feels comforted by his thoughts. Vashan often uses non-verbal communication techniques in order to get his thoughts and ideas across to others instead of using direct words, but of course sometimes words become a necessity in communication. When he is not expressing himself, he wears a thoughtful expression as if in contemplation.
Biography
Vashan Sacain was a bright child who loved to talk and interact with friends and family. His mother and father were both born in Whitebridge. Stephen Sacain was a merchant's guard, so he was rarely home with his family. Selene Sacain was an herbs woman and lived on the floor above her shop, catering to their small neighborhood. She only made enough to sustain their family day-by-day. The times were better when his father came home with that extra bit of coin for the family to spare on other things. His mother had taught Vashan that material things will eventually fade away. Vashan didn't dwell on life anymore then he should have, trying to enjoy each moment with his family and friends and to experience life like a young child should.
When he grew older he began to help his mother run the herb shop. He took on little tasks like running errands and delivering medicine. Although he had no idea what the different herbs were for, he gladly complied when his mother told him to do something for her. Being a bright and attentive child, Vashan was always curious and asked a lot of questions about his mother's work and his mother answered these curious questions for him when she was able to. Some customers repaid Selene for her herbs by teaching her little boy how to read and write.
The Sacain family was not rich but they were happy. On Vashan's tenth nameday, his mother sent Vashan on a longer delivery trip than usual because her little boy was growing older and wanted to give him more responsibilities. Vashan left with a smile, promising his mother he would return as soon as possible. And with a final wave, he said goodbye to his mother. Light only knew that goodbye would be their final farewell.
Not long after Vashan left, a man from out of town feigned interest in herbs, but he only wanted to force any woman into bed with him. Unable to contain his urge within after seeing Selene's beauty, he gagged and bound her. He raped her as she feebly tried to fight back and to escape but she couldn't do anything against the large brute.
After he was done with her and was busy pulling his pants up, Selene took her chance to escape. On unsteady legs she rushed toward the door and finally spit out her gag. But the man was too quick for her. With one giant stride his outstretched hand snatched the crying and screaming Selene back towards him. He held his hand over her mouth to keep her silent. With renewed strength to get back to Vashan, Selene kicked and scratched her attacker while he held her mouth from behind. Trying to regain control over the situation, the man continued to silent Selene while she twisted and struggled. The fierce battle ended with the man accidentally breaking Selene's neck while trying to silence her.
The man of course ran out of the shop and was never seen again. He got what he wanted; he successfully raped Selene and Selene paid with her life for trying to resist.
Vashan came running back down the path, pleased that he had successfully delivered the package. He walked proudly into the shop Vashan tilted his head curiously, wondering where his mother was. His eyes looked once and focused upon a gathering pool of blood forming beneath someone he held so dear to his heart. Not willing to believe his mother's death, he tried to wake her up. Crying and sobbing, Vashan refused to leave his mother's side for the rest of the afternoon and throughout the night. Sadness washed over him, drowning him until his other emotions fled away. Hunger, pain, they meant nothing to him. His mother was dead, what was he to do now?
When morning came, Selene's first customer came into the shop. Upon seeing Selene's still and bloodied body and Vashan who had cried himself to sleep resting beside his mother, the woman rushed out to call for help. Others who knew Selene and heard the news came to the shop in concern for Vashan. A quick search by the people of the street did not yield any results in trying to locate anyone suspicious.
Vashan's father returned after hearing of the news. He felt responsible for not being able to spend more time with his wife before she died and guilty for not being able to protect his family because he was away so much. Trying to hold himself together and be there for Vashan, his father retired from being a merchant's guard. Finding a job suitable in Whitebridge was very difficult for Stephen. His skills specialized in being a merchant's guard, but not much else. Selene's herb shop was left unattended because no one else could look after it.
After that night of Selene's murder, Vashan refused to speak to anyone, not even his father. He only spoke because he was either forced to do so out of necessity or because he had no other choice. Soon Vashan's bright personality changed. He stopped asking questions and often went to the library to read to absorb information. He observed and listened, but did not join in the conversations around people. His father tried to get him to talk at dinner but without any success. His mother's helping nature didn't leave Vashan, he embraced the little bit of job that came with helping someone. Vashan would help others in need when he passed by, but only did so in silence. That little bit of job kept Vashan from spiraling downwards.
As he grew older, Stephen became worried about the family. Their savings were running out, and if he didn't find a job soon, they would have to sell their home.
One of Selene's previous customers took pity on the Sacain family and recommended one of their family's friends to work at the shop. While Stephen would still need to pay for the herb woman's wage, the shop would still be opened and money would still come in even if it was less than before.
When Vashan was seventeen years old, he decided to take it upon himself to leave home. So he would not burden his father and his father could use the extra gold, instead of feeding and clothing Vashan, to save them instead. Another reason for his leaving was that Vashan felt lost in the world. He thought about the world outside of Whitebridge and wondered if he would be able to help change the world. He wanted a place within the world no matter how big or small, a place and position where he will feel at ease and belong. One night during dinner time, he gathered the courage to talk to his father about his intentions. His father objected, of course, for fear of losing his only son. Stephen felt happy that Vashan was finally talking to him after all this time, but sad at the same time in hearing that Vashan intended to leave home.
Not able to sway Vashan's decision or having the heart to force Vashan to stay home, they said a tearful goodbye to one another. Vashan took a few of his personal belongings and a small amount of supplies and began a new chapter of his life on the road. Heading west of Whitebridge and leaving the safety of the city, Vashan wondered where his new life would take him. He hadn't yet gained his mother's skills with herbs and wasn't particularly skilled in any other type of profession. While on the road, he continued to build at his physique while laboring at farms in exchange for food and shelter. The times were hard, but they were worth the while as he steadily progressed in the north-west direction along the main road.
Learning of another city named Baerlon further along the road, Vashan decided to make his way over to the city to continue his search for his place in the world. On a cold night, Vashan walked along the dusty road, unable to find a farm ahead on either side of the road he decided to stop for the night as the stars filled the sky. Vashan huddled under a bush, cold, tired and hungry. Wrapping his dirty cloak and arms around himself in warmth and comfort, he drifted off to sleep. After what seem like moments, Vashan woke up suddenly to pain as several men kicked him and demanding his gold. Vashan tried to stand up and fight back but with four men against one the chances weren't in his favor. Pain filled him, coursing through his body and his mind fell into a void. Then a whirlwind of fire and ice filled his mind as the power of saidin rushed into him, filling him with a sweetness that Vashan had never experienced before. It filled Vashan, trying to drown him with its power. With saidin inside of him, he directed his anger and the Power at the strangers who were abusing him. All he wanted was to make the men leave him and to let them feel the fire of pain they were inflicting upon him. Crying with happiness at the Power inside of him and through streams of tears, he saw four threads of fire hastily snaking its way around the shirts of the four men. Within seconds the woolen shirts the four men were wearing burned with black holes. Feeling the heat, they threw off their shirts and ran off into the night.
Vashan toppled over with the flood of saidin burning him, he noticed that there wasn't any pain anywhere in him anymore. The sky was beginning to grow light as the sun rose beyond the horizon. Tiredness overcame Vashan as the sweetness and joy of the Power evaporated from him. And then the pain suddenly returned, and before Vashan could cry out for help he fell into unconsciousness. As the morning stretched on, a farmer found Vashan on the ground, bruised and slightly bloodied as he passed by. He lent a hand and helped Vashan into his cart and continued his way to Baerlon. A few hours after noon, when the farmer was settling down on the side of the road to have lunch, Vashan stirred. Noticing Vashan trying to get up, the kind farmer felt pity for the young man and took to his wounds.
With his wounds briefly and unprofessionally bandaged up, Vashan asked where about he was, and the farmer replied that they were close to the city of Baerlon.
He accompanied the farmer into the city and upon arrival; the farmer accepted none of Vashan's thank yous, telling him that he was but an old man just helping out a young man in need. After disappearing off to the market with his cart, Vashan finally got to look at the city. Baerlon was definitely different from Whitebridge, but many things remain the same. Vashan felt more at ease around civilization.
After wandering to a nearby inn named the Swaying Willow in search of work, he met the inn-keeper. After the woman refused him a job saying her inn doesn't need any more workers, he was about to leave when he overheard the news about a Grey Tower which supposedly took in special people. Curious, he listened closely and learned that the Grey Tower was filled with witches, and decent citizens should stay away. Vashan's raised his eyebrows in question. Listening further, the talk of Aes Sedai sprung up and the men around the table shivered at the mention of the 'witches'. Apparently, some merchants go around the Mountain of Mist just to avoid approaching this Grey Tower. Knowing the location of this Grey Tower, Vashan decided that he needed some answers from the Aes Sedai. Though stories of these Aes Sedai were frightening, Vashan's curiosity drove his determination to find this Grey Tower. Not knowing about the real reason behind the forming of the Grey Tower and about the White Tower in Tar Valon, Vashan walked out of the inn to enquire about the specific location of this Grey Tower.
Vashan spent most of the day asking since many chose not to talk about such things such as the Grey Tower. One name however kept coming up again and again for those who were willing to talk about the location of the Grey Tower. The name was 'Elman's Creek'. After getting more specific directions, Vashan used the last of his coins to buy supplies for the journey and placed his faith and life in the place called Elman's Creek where the Grey Tower stands. He hopes to find the Grey Tower and to get some answers to his questions.
Career History
- Soldier
