Sahal Jai Azal
Dawn of Fire
Hasana Jai Anhala
Image 1: Pre-Firemane warrior and rebel
Image 2: Modern out of armour uniform.
OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION
Her uniform is always crisply presented and maintained. This goes for her out of combat clothing too which is quite plain and basic but scrupulously maintained.
Hasana bears the scars and signs of enslavement and war. Numerous scars on her back and legs are from whips when she was punished and ‘broken in’. She has rejected offers to have them removed. Her face and torso are also marked by old injuries. A scar cutting down the left side of her face from a blade now appears as a white line. A mass of scar tissue on her stomach shows where she was badly wounded by a projectile. Shrapnel scars across her body show where a nearby bursting shell penetrated her armour.
SOCIAL INFORMATION
[*]Personality:
Hasana is best described with three traits, for good and bad: relentless, charitable and indomitable.
In all her life, nobody gifted Hasana with anything, and she was born with no special Force gifts or noble parents. Everything she has achieved she has done so off her own relentless spirit. When she sets her mind to something she will work to achieve it, be it a long or a slow process. When faced with the wonders and terrors of the galaxy she did not flinch from it, but immediately sought to make herself strong and powerful in the new situation. That meant learning Basic, learning to read and write and learning the new technology. She took classes and worked tirelessly to understand and adapt and came out the other side as an ideal candidate for recruitment. Only someone with a restless spirit could have achieved it so quickly.
The downside of this of course is that she can be so driven it is intimidating. Though she has a personal life it is very private, and she devotes most of her time to work, training and improvement. This can make her seem unnecessarily harsh to an outsider.
A softer side of her personality is her charitable nature. Whilst it was in culture for Qadiri to give alms, in practice the nobles and temples gave a pittance away of their true worth. Hasana advocates the giving of greater aid to those who need it, and is no hypocrite in this regard. She gives fully half her net income to charities and groups to help her fellow Qadiri rise up. She also regularly returns home to visit emancipated people and to encourage education and self-reliance.
The downside of this noble act is that it leaves her little time for herself and even less money, but having never been wealthy she is more than willing to pay that price.
Finally, Hasana is indomitable. Having been a slave and a plaything she is utterly determined never to bow to anyone again, never to be in a position of weakness, and never let her enemies know peace. Whilst many Qadiri look to Firemane and its leaders as also messianic saviours, Hasana does not. She is thankful of their aid – especially as it was literally saving her life – but she sees them and all the other ‘sky people’ as beings just like her. She respects their strength, but aspires to be like them. Thus she is happy to work for Firemane, but she is a part of the company, an employee, not a vassal. This fanaticism to resist weakness touches all areas of her life. Some might call it paranoia, but she merely regards it as sensible to take all necessary precautions for even the most minor of events.
To some, this attitude might seem like pride or arrogance, and indeed it might be. However to Hasana it is necessary for her as a free woman to make it clear that she is her own person.
All this shows a woman who has had to make her own way, often in bad circumstances, and is now very protective of her individual liberty. However, this does not make her anti-social or anti-authority. Rather, it makes her a person willing to follow orders and operate in a military structure who is very protective of her own and other rights.
Generally, Hasana is a very tolerant woman towards any non-coercive groups or people. Growing up as she did far from the pressing concerns of the rest of Tygara, she barely met any Xio or Vash before Firemane’s arrival, and only as slaves or servants of her own owners. Therefore, she does not share the enmity most do to the Xio, though she will not associate with ‘reformed’ former slave owners who she deems have not fully recanted. However she has formed an unlikely friendship with some of the Light sided Seekers of the Sky to the point of learning the Xio language.
Towards humans and Eldorai and indeed anyone else she has few stereotypes or generalisations affecting her view. People can be great, and people can be horrible, but not all of one race are either. She cannot abide slavers, imperialists or those who seek to control through any means.
Politically Hasana does not have a defined ideology, but perhaps would be best described as a mild form of libertarian or anarcho-capitalism. Coercion is the enemy of freedom, and having been a literal slave she sees government as either the oppressor or the enabler of oppression. However, she does not wish to see government abolished, only rendered inert for the purposes of crushing people. Her choice to work with a galactic megacorp might seem rather strange therefore, but she is no collectivist, instead seeing that personal liberties are more important than the mode of government. She is opposed to organised or state religions for this very reason, though does not care what people privately worship. She herself is an atheist.
COMBAT INFORMATION
Strengths:
Slavery is a scourge which has afflicted sentient beings since time immemorial and though many cultures have long since discarded the practice, in others it lived on for a long time. One such planet where slavery held sway for many thousands of years was Tygara, in the far outer rim. For some of the civilisations there it was a way of life, for others it was their purpose of existence. For the Qadiri of southern Khajwar the endless squabbles and the agrarian economy provided a great amount of slaves. These unfortunate people provided labour, warriors and servants for the many cities and tribes of this land.
Into one of these cities, the city of Golconda, Hasana was born the daughter of a slave and her master. Said master was not looking for an heir and so the pregnancy was accidental only in that it was not intended. As was customary, Hasana was taken soon after birth and given to a wet nurse before being passed to a creche of slave children. She never knew who either of her parents were.
Into this grim reality Hasana had many cards stacked against her. Fitted with a collar as soon as she could walk, the band of metal would be a constant companion through her early life. Even worse, she never displayed any Force abilities, which the Qadir called ‘Zari’ or spirit. This was, of course, the state of most people, but it meant she was never singled out for special treatment or training. Force using slaves were highly prized and given much greater conditions, used as living weapons by their owners. Those without these skills were common and expendable.
Childhood was not any shelter from the lot of a slave, and Hasana was soon put to work with mundane jobs such as spinning or weaving as soon as she was able. Before then she would be forced to pick apart ropes or fibres, or troll the low water marks of rivers to find the occasional item of value. Discipline was harsh and arbitrary. It was understandable that Hasana resented this whilst her owners paraded in silks and ordered her around with demeaning names. Her bright green eyes were a frequent target of ridicule, often having her called ‘Dusty Jade’ or ‘Mud Emerald’ because bathing was a rare luxury.
Adolescence, for the Qadiri at least, was a time where the free and noble children would transition to either better education or a trade depending. Their families would also seek to find a good and advantageous match for their children so they could be betrothed, and then married when they came of age. Needless to say Hasana had no such opportunities, as education was forbidden from all but a few slaves used as scribes. Likewise, a pretty slave often attracted unwelcome attention.
Soon Hasana was working ten or twelve hour days clearing land or carving stone. It was relentless, back-breaking work but it made her stronger and more resistant to disease and weather by simple endurance. For years she laboured to build a road which was never completed because of a change in ruler in a nearby city who was less favourable. Thus, the road which might have been an invasion highway was abandoned and even slighted to prevent its use. Years of blood and sweat had been literally for nothing.
The oppression and vicious treatment eventually overcame Hasana’s attempts to hide her anger. When the privileged daughter of her owners came to ‘play’ one day, she chose Hasana as her toy. With no ability to resist, Hasana was mocked and humiliated, but when she tried to go a step further, Hasana headbutted the predator and struck her such a blow that the woman fell back stunned. For her insolence Hasana was first beaten by the Lady’s guards and then publicly whipped, leaving scars which still endure.
Hasana was ‘lucky’ not to be executed, but fortunately her owners were short on cash and were at war with neighbouring Peshna. Therefore, Hasana was sold to be a Mamluk, or slave soldier. These slave soldiers were a curious feature of Qadiri states, with many of them utilising either partial or near total forces of them for their armies. Of course, giving slaves weapons and ensuring they were used only on one’s enemies was a tricky business, but the Qadiri had turned it into a process. Breaking down a new recruit involved a mixture of carrot and stick. Recruits were given (relatively) good quarters and rations compared to other slaves. Those who also completed thirty years’ service would be given their freedom. Those who also showed great bravery or skill might also be freed. The fact that few survived to reach the milestone and those who were freed were staggeringly small, the promise was there.
On the other hand, discipline and punishments were brutal, and any infraction was met severely. Executions as examples were common, but more commonly a lost of the few privileges the warrior had was given.
Hasana was trained and found herself an adept warrior. Her strength and toughness enabled her to fight despite fatigue or wounds. Khajwar was at a crossroads of technology at this point, with the old bow armed archers and melee skirmishers giving way to the musket and pike mode of combat. This, combined with growing populations forced cities to expand and conquer or be left behind. Hasana saw her first battle against Peshna, though it was also nearly her last. Incompetent leadership had led the Golcondan army nearly into a trap, and the Mamluks were practically sacrificed to save the rest of the army as it retreated. Fighting for their lives, Hasana and her comrades managed to extricate themselves, though she herself was badly wounded by shell fragments which pierced her armour. Many of her comrades were not so lucky and Hasana started to see their role as cannon fodder and her resentment grew.
Whilst she recovered from her wounds Hasana convalesced with a fellow Mamluk named Kataba. So long forced to keep to herself, never being able to form attachments, Hasana was at first cautious, but soon found herself falling for her fellow soldier. Such a relationship had to be kept secret left it be discovered and one of them either be sent away, or one of them be used as leverage on the other.
If there was one good thing to come from the disastrous battle, it was the removal of the incompetent leader and their replacement by the mercenary Zalquir. Zalquir was a formidable woman, the name alluding to a famous mythological beast famed for its savagery. Though just as strict, she was extremely capable, and saw potential in the Mamluks…possibly as her ticket to rulership later. Therefore, she took care to better equip the Mamluks and give them a better role in the army. Whereas most of the troops were either levies, mercenaries or retinues of semi-independent lords, the Mamluks were long service professionals and veterans. Thus, she retained them as a unit which could excel at hammering blows at just the right moment.
Magically, with better leadership came better results. Peshna was defeated after a long campaign and forced to submit. Other nearby cities followed suit, and Golconda was soon one of the greatest states in all southern Khajwar. However, with success often comes jealousy and paranoia. By this stage Hasana had risen to be one of the leaders within the Mamluks and so had been patronised by Zalquir with the aim for using her to turn the warriors to her. The Nawab of Golconda and her advisors feared (with some justification) that Zalquir was planning to use her support in the army to overthrow them and seize power.
Therefore, Zalquir was lured to the palace on the pretence of accepting new orders and was seized treacherously. She was then cruelly tortured to try to get her to admit to treason, but she refused to speak. Frustrated, the Nawab had her beheaded, and then moved swiftly on the Mamluks. The slave soldiers were ordered to assemble outside their camp without their weapons and armour for an inspection. Naturally this was suspicious, but Hasana intuited that they were being setup for slaughter, so passed around a message to all the corps that they should come with concealed weapons and armour and be ready for her word.
When the Mamluks paraded they were surrounded by other soldiers whilst the ‘treason’ of Zalquir was proclaimed, and her head displayed. When the soldiers moved in to ‘punish’ the supposed collaborators, Kataba was chosen seemingly at random. Hasana had taken enough, and she let out a loud cry of ‘Anhala’ or ‘liberty’ and cut down the warrior who had laid hands on her lover. Drawing their concealed weapons, the Mamluks fell upon the surprised warriors and hewed down many of them before they could react. The officers of the Mamluks were all slain and the corps broke for the hills. However, they were pursued by a host of enemies, and fought a running battle for several hours, inflicting but also taking heavy losses until they reached the safety of nearby hills. During this battle Hasana was badly wounded in the stomach by a bullet and carried to safety by her comrades. In the chaos of the aftermath Kataba and one of the few Force users who had come with them managed to save her life and nurse her back to health. She would take months before she could fight, but that freed Hasana to assume command of the rebels.
Only half of the Mamluks made it, but they were now free – though they would have to fight for that freedom. It was only now that the monumental folly of the Nawab became clear. She had needlessly antagonised the most elite, well-armed and motivated unit in their army. The Mamluks would never surrender for death was preferable either to torture or re-enslavement. Attempts to roust them from the hills ended in humiliating disaster, and fugitive slaves and deserters swelled the army’s ranks. Soon enough they were raiding the plains for supplies, weapons and further recruits. Golconda’s armies were humiliated, and Hasana made it a policy to spare the common soldier even if they didn’t join her, but to kill and officers after humiliating them first. The war became bitter and bloody.
Unknown to any in Golconda, great events were happening elsewhere. They had seen strange lights in the sky for months and news of strange visitors from the sky had filtered in. However, Hasana had no time for such things. She had received word that a coalition of states, worried by the slave uprising, had joined with Golconda to finally defeat the insurgents. Impulsively, though not without reason, Hasana decided to accept battle. Her reasons were clear; after fighting for nearly 2 years they could not win. The city walls were too strong and her army had no artillery or engineers to bring it down. If they failed to fight they risked being ground down over time.
However, when Hasana brought her forces to the field she found she would be massively outnumbered. Despite having a good defensive position on high ground above a swamp her army was outnumbered and outgunned at least five to one. Facing dismal odds and perhaps realising her own rashness, she offered any of her soldiers pass to leave freely. Though some deserters and other recruits did leave none of her surviving Mamluks or former slaves left, instead they pledged to win or die.
Before the battle could begin though, a strange light and noise came from the sky and landed near the rebel camp. Though many were panicked by this device Hasana controlled her fear and approached it. To her amazement she found that there was a Qadiri who spoke her language in the flying machine. This Qadiri was Shazora Jai Vahal and she brought tidings of great events happening elsewhere. People from beyond the stars had come to Tygara and she had been chosen as an emissary to bring allies among the Qadiri to them. She showed Hasana her own marks of former enslavement and offered a deal. If Hasana and her warriors pledged their allegiance to ‘Firemane’ they would be granted the right of passage to the north where they could join with Firemane’s other allies.
Faced with this deal though Hasana stood her ground. She would not bow or become servant to anyone. She would only accept if her freedom and those of her warriors was guaranteed. She also knew that the coalition army would not simply let them march free, and so she asked that they be aided in the battle. Shazora however did not want to fight a battle, and so tried to reach out to the Coalition for a diplomatic solution. Unwisely they attacked the gunship and promised to crucify every captured slave.
Faced with battle, Hasana and her troops fought for their lives. They were aided by the gunship, whose weapons and terrifying appearance struck terror in their enemies. However, it could only be in one place at a time, and when it was gone the Coalition attacked with fury. Hasana was everywhere in the front lines, leading counterattacks and shoring up defences. She even killed a pyromancer champion Force user of Golconda in combat though she received a nasty wound to the face doing it. For hours the Coalition army struggled up the bloody slopes to be cut down, but eventually ammunition ran out and the slaves were reduced to fighting with spears, swords and axes. However, they were being worn down by the sheer constant pressure, but so were the attackers, and they were visibly starting to waver.
With the end near Hasana met briefly with Shazora and they organised a final charge. Shouting their battlecry of ‘Anhala!’ every remaining rebel who could still fight charged down the hill into the final onslaught of the Coalition at the same time as the gunship released its final bombs. This charge finally broke the Coalition army, and they broke and fled the field. Hasana and what remained of her army were too shattered to pursue, but they had fought and won their freedom.
In the aftermath transports arrived from Firemane and the survivors were taken aboard. Hasana insisted that the dead be burned at a pyre to prevent them being desecrated by their enemies. With her ‘army’ now numbering less than a thousand able warriors, Hasana was taken to meet with Tegaea Alcori, the wife of Firemane’s leader. Tegaea had been greatly impressed by the former slave’s feats and offered her a place in Firemane’s Qadiri forces. Hasana, faced with humans and other species from beyond the stars in discussion for the first time accepted, but refused to kneel. She would thank the Director, but she would not call her Lady, nor bow before anyone. Tegaea, seeing this was an important distinction, allowed it to be, knowing that past experiences were pushing this upon the Qadiri.
With Shazora as her guide into all things modern, Hasana pushed herself to learn everything she could. She had a considerable disadvantage in being illiterate and not speaking Basic as well as having no concept of the technology she saw around herself. However, with a determination which impressed and somewhat intimidated Shazora she pushed herself to learn. Soon she was being sent to deal with rogue Xioquo who had escaped the battle of the Underrealm, and also Qadiri who fought against the new order. In this role she was quite successful, especially as she had now been equipped with blaster weapons. Her tactics and weapons had changed, but her impulse to attack had not, and so she was very happy to accept the new vehicles driven by droids despite their frightening sound and appearance. She even learned how to drive one…a bit recklessly…through an enemy defence line before jumping out to deal with the enemy in close combat.
With Tygara pacified a great conference was held above the planet to decide the fate of the races. Hasana was not there of course, but she was most happy to hear that slavery would be abolished across the whole planet. What made her even happier was that Golconda had formally refused to comply, and so she accompanied Shazora in a return to her home city. Despite her requests to destroy her former home, the sight of the Firemane ships and soldiers had the desired effect. Hasana was there when the Nawab she had fought for so long formally proclaimed the freedom to the slaves. She then insisted that all the slaves who wished it be transplanted to prevent future exploitation once Firemane’s eye was elsewhere. It was not the total victory she had sought, but it was a triumph regardless.
Finally, with time to relax and reflect, Hasana went to space, taken by her now friend and occasional lover Shazora. Even Hasana’s iron will wavered at the sight, but she contained her fear and was even emboldened to learn even more. Soon she was meeting as many people as she could, speaking in Basic, and learning technology. She had something of a falling out with Kitaba who wanted to settle down now they were free, perhaps adopt a freed child and live a normal life. Hasana could not or would not do that, she was determined to carry liberation beyond Tygara, to prove herself a warrior in the stars. This relentless drive for strength and knowledge took her away from her former love, and though she returned to visit her when she could they were not as close as they had been.
Now Hasana, a Captain in Firemane’s forces, has prepared an elite force of former Qadiri slaves. These ‘Ascended’ form an elite force for Siobhan’s army. She also has achieved proficiency in many deadly weapons and strong armour. When she goes into battle it will be with this new wargear and the enemies of Firemane will know the fury of Hasana.
Image 1: Pre-Firemane warrior and rebel
Image 2: Modern out of armour uniform.
OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION
- Intent: Make a Qadiri NFU who is a tough, potent soldier and future part of a unit.
- Image Credit: Image 1. Image 2. Cannot find Image 1 source or artist. Image 2 is actress Candyse McClure from Battlestar Galactica.
- Role: Hasana is a tough, no-nonsense soldier who excels in unleashing ferocious attacks. She is currently leading an elite force of Qadiri troops aligned with Firemane.
- Links: Qadiri, Firemane, Tygara, Shazora Jai Vahal
- Age: 64
- Force Sensitivity: Non-Force User
- Species: Qadiri
- Appearance: Hasana is a Qadiri of above average height and extremely well built and tough. Constant training and conditioning has made her look quite intimidating. Despite this, she does not like to show her body off in public and tends to wear flowing or long clothing.
Her uniform is always crisply presented and maintained. This goes for her out of combat clothing too which is quite plain and basic but scrupulously maintained.
Hasana bears the scars and signs of enslavement and war. Numerous scars on her back and legs are from whips when she was punished and ‘broken in’. She has rejected offers to have them removed. Her face and torso are also marked by old injuries. A scar cutting down the left side of her face from a blade now appears as a white line. A mass of scar tissue on her stomach shows where she was badly wounded by a projectile. Shrapnel scars across her body show where a nearby bursting shell penetrated her armour.
SOCIAL INFORMATION
- Name: Captain Hasana Jai Anhala. As a slave she had no family name, and so took the name Jai Anhala when she revolted against her oppressors. It means ‘from/of liberty/freedom’, a common name for freed slaves which don’t take the names of their emancipators.
- Loyalties: Firemane, herself.
- Wealth: Poor, though through choice. She receives a considerable salary and bonuses from her employers and through commissions, but donates most of it away. She lives a frugal life by choice.
- Notable Possessions: Her broken collar from when she was a slave, a bracelet from Shazora and a necklace from Kitaba.
- Skills:
Extremely good with ranged and melee weapons of all types except lightsabres. - Trained as pilot, driver and heavy weapons operator.
- Speaks Zandri, Basic and Xio fluently.
- Talented tactician and commander in company and battalion level combats.
[*]Personality:
Hasana is best described with three traits, for good and bad: relentless, charitable and indomitable.
In all her life, nobody gifted Hasana with anything, and she was born with no special Force gifts or noble parents. Everything she has achieved she has done so off her own relentless spirit. When she sets her mind to something she will work to achieve it, be it a long or a slow process. When faced with the wonders and terrors of the galaxy she did not flinch from it, but immediately sought to make herself strong and powerful in the new situation. That meant learning Basic, learning to read and write and learning the new technology. She took classes and worked tirelessly to understand and adapt and came out the other side as an ideal candidate for recruitment. Only someone with a restless spirit could have achieved it so quickly.
The downside of this of course is that she can be so driven it is intimidating. Though she has a personal life it is very private, and she devotes most of her time to work, training and improvement. This can make her seem unnecessarily harsh to an outsider.
A softer side of her personality is her charitable nature. Whilst it was in culture for Qadiri to give alms, in practice the nobles and temples gave a pittance away of their true worth. Hasana advocates the giving of greater aid to those who need it, and is no hypocrite in this regard. She gives fully half her net income to charities and groups to help her fellow Qadiri rise up. She also regularly returns home to visit emancipated people and to encourage education and self-reliance.
The downside of this noble act is that it leaves her little time for herself and even less money, but having never been wealthy she is more than willing to pay that price.
Finally, Hasana is indomitable. Having been a slave and a plaything she is utterly determined never to bow to anyone again, never to be in a position of weakness, and never let her enemies know peace. Whilst many Qadiri look to Firemane and its leaders as also messianic saviours, Hasana does not. She is thankful of their aid – especially as it was literally saving her life – but she sees them and all the other ‘sky people’ as beings just like her. She respects their strength, but aspires to be like them. Thus she is happy to work for Firemane, but she is a part of the company, an employee, not a vassal. This fanaticism to resist weakness touches all areas of her life. Some might call it paranoia, but she merely regards it as sensible to take all necessary precautions for even the most minor of events.
To some, this attitude might seem like pride or arrogance, and indeed it might be. However to Hasana it is necessary for her as a free woman to make it clear that she is her own person.
All this shows a woman who has had to make her own way, often in bad circumstances, and is now very protective of her individual liberty. However, this does not make her anti-social or anti-authority. Rather, it makes her a person willing to follow orders and operate in a military structure who is very protective of her own and other rights.
Generally, Hasana is a very tolerant woman towards any non-coercive groups or people. Growing up as she did far from the pressing concerns of the rest of Tygara, she barely met any Xio or Vash before Firemane’s arrival, and only as slaves or servants of her own owners. Therefore, she does not share the enmity most do to the Xio, though she will not associate with ‘reformed’ former slave owners who she deems have not fully recanted. However she has formed an unlikely friendship with some of the Light sided Seekers of the Sky to the point of learning the Xio language.
Towards humans and Eldorai and indeed anyone else she has few stereotypes or generalisations affecting her view. People can be great, and people can be horrible, but not all of one race are either. She cannot abide slavers, imperialists or those who seek to control through any means.
Politically Hasana does not have a defined ideology, but perhaps would be best described as a mild form of libertarian or anarcho-capitalism. Coercion is the enemy of freedom, and having been a literal slave she sees government as either the oppressor or the enabler of oppression. However, she does not wish to see government abolished, only rendered inert for the purposes of crushing people. Her choice to work with a galactic megacorp might seem rather strange therefore, but she is no collectivist, instead seeing that personal liberties are more important than the mode of government. She is opposed to organised or state religions for this very reason, though does not care what people privately worship. She herself is an atheist.
COMBAT INFORMATION
- Weapon of Choice: Mk1 bolter, Sarix, Cylix Bolt Pistol. Able to use any personal weapon except lightsabres however. Favours a Reaper Shotgun for close assault work. Wears Ironside armour which comes with its own armaments or Olympian which is more mobile.
- Combat Function: Hasana is a tough, no-nonsense soldier who excels in unleashing ferocious attacks. She wears heavy armour, uses heavy weapons and attacks with devastating effect. As a junior officer she specialises in small unit leadership and command. She is quite versatile, being able to use most weapons and armour, fly ships and drive vehicles equally. She especially excels in small elite strike teams against a specific objective.
Strengths:
- Strong. For a Qadiri, and even for a humanoid, Hasana is extremely strong, tough and resilient. She trains frequently and hard to put herself into a state of peak physical condition. Further, long years as a partisan and under the lash of cruel masters has developed her pain tolerance beyond the vast majority of people.
- Versatile. Hasana learned a lot once the ‘sky people’ came to Tygara, increasing her skills in weaponry and machines far beyond what she had before. She is proficient in all conventional melee weapons, ranged weapons and has skills in piloting and driving. Her instinctual navigation works well with the latter skills.
- Leader. Hasana is well suited at small unit leadership and engagements. She is brave and resourceful and inspires those under her command with a fearless example.
- Limitations. Hasana does not feel the Force, and cannot use lightsabres or other arcane abilities. She is perfectly mortal in other ways despite her training, and so can be overwhelmed or injured like anyone else.
- Strategy. Hasana is perfectly suited for small unit leadership, but lacks the ability or desire to command larger forces. Even when she was commanding a small army of slaves her limitations.
- Pride. Hasana’s headstrong and wilful nature makes her hard to control. Her superiors have learned that it is best to set her to a task with acceptable parameters and let her handle the specifics because otherwise she would likely do what she would feel is best. She is proud of herself and her people and will not allow anyone to enslave or overawe them again.
Slavery is a scourge which has afflicted sentient beings since time immemorial and though many cultures have long since discarded the practice, in others it lived on for a long time. One such planet where slavery held sway for many thousands of years was Tygara, in the far outer rim. For some of the civilisations there it was a way of life, for others it was their purpose of existence. For the Qadiri of southern Khajwar the endless squabbles and the agrarian economy provided a great amount of slaves. These unfortunate people provided labour, warriors and servants for the many cities and tribes of this land.
Into one of these cities, the city of Golconda, Hasana was born the daughter of a slave and her master. Said master was not looking for an heir and so the pregnancy was accidental only in that it was not intended. As was customary, Hasana was taken soon after birth and given to a wet nurse before being passed to a creche of slave children. She never knew who either of her parents were.
Into this grim reality Hasana had many cards stacked against her. Fitted with a collar as soon as she could walk, the band of metal would be a constant companion through her early life. Even worse, she never displayed any Force abilities, which the Qadir called ‘Zari’ or spirit. This was, of course, the state of most people, but it meant she was never singled out for special treatment or training. Force using slaves were highly prized and given much greater conditions, used as living weapons by their owners. Those without these skills were common and expendable.
Childhood was not any shelter from the lot of a slave, and Hasana was soon put to work with mundane jobs such as spinning or weaving as soon as she was able. Before then she would be forced to pick apart ropes or fibres, or troll the low water marks of rivers to find the occasional item of value. Discipline was harsh and arbitrary. It was understandable that Hasana resented this whilst her owners paraded in silks and ordered her around with demeaning names. Her bright green eyes were a frequent target of ridicule, often having her called ‘Dusty Jade’ or ‘Mud Emerald’ because bathing was a rare luxury.
Adolescence, for the Qadiri at least, was a time where the free and noble children would transition to either better education or a trade depending. Their families would also seek to find a good and advantageous match for their children so they could be betrothed, and then married when they came of age. Needless to say Hasana had no such opportunities, as education was forbidden from all but a few slaves used as scribes. Likewise, a pretty slave often attracted unwelcome attention.
Soon Hasana was working ten or twelve hour days clearing land or carving stone. It was relentless, back-breaking work but it made her stronger and more resistant to disease and weather by simple endurance. For years she laboured to build a road which was never completed because of a change in ruler in a nearby city who was less favourable. Thus, the road which might have been an invasion highway was abandoned and even slighted to prevent its use. Years of blood and sweat had been literally for nothing.
The oppression and vicious treatment eventually overcame Hasana’s attempts to hide her anger. When the privileged daughter of her owners came to ‘play’ one day, she chose Hasana as her toy. With no ability to resist, Hasana was mocked and humiliated, but when she tried to go a step further, Hasana headbutted the predator and struck her such a blow that the woman fell back stunned. For her insolence Hasana was first beaten by the Lady’s guards and then publicly whipped, leaving scars which still endure.
Hasana was ‘lucky’ not to be executed, but fortunately her owners were short on cash and were at war with neighbouring Peshna. Therefore, Hasana was sold to be a Mamluk, or slave soldier. These slave soldiers were a curious feature of Qadiri states, with many of them utilising either partial or near total forces of them for their armies. Of course, giving slaves weapons and ensuring they were used only on one’s enemies was a tricky business, but the Qadiri had turned it into a process. Breaking down a new recruit involved a mixture of carrot and stick. Recruits were given (relatively) good quarters and rations compared to other slaves. Those who also completed thirty years’ service would be given their freedom. Those who also showed great bravery or skill might also be freed. The fact that few survived to reach the milestone and those who were freed were staggeringly small, the promise was there.
On the other hand, discipline and punishments were brutal, and any infraction was met severely. Executions as examples were common, but more commonly a lost of the few privileges the warrior had was given.
Hasana was trained and found herself an adept warrior. Her strength and toughness enabled her to fight despite fatigue or wounds. Khajwar was at a crossroads of technology at this point, with the old bow armed archers and melee skirmishers giving way to the musket and pike mode of combat. This, combined with growing populations forced cities to expand and conquer or be left behind. Hasana saw her first battle against Peshna, though it was also nearly her last. Incompetent leadership had led the Golcondan army nearly into a trap, and the Mamluks were practically sacrificed to save the rest of the army as it retreated. Fighting for their lives, Hasana and her comrades managed to extricate themselves, though she herself was badly wounded by shell fragments which pierced her armour. Many of her comrades were not so lucky and Hasana started to see their role as cannon fodder and her resentment grew.
Whilst she recovered from her wounds Hasana convalesced with a fellow Mamluk named Kataba. So long forced to keep to herself, never being able to form attachments, Hasana was at first cautious, but soon found herself falling for her fellow soldier. Such a relationship had to be kept secret left it be discovered and one of them either be sent away, or one of them be used as leverage on the other.
If there was one good thing to come from the disastrous battle, it was the removal of the incompetent leader and their replacement by the mercenary Zalquir. Zalquir was a formidable woman, the name alluding to a famous mythological beast famed for its savagery. Though just as strict, she was extremely capable, and saw potential in the Mamluks…possibly as her ticket to rulership later. Therefore, she took care to better equip the Mamluks and give them a better role in the army. Whereas most of the troops were either levies, mercenaries or retinues of semi-independent lords, the Mamluks were long service professionals and veterans. Thus, she retained them as a unit which could excel at hammering blows at just the right moment.
Magically, with better leadership came better results. Peshna was defeated after a long campaign and forced to submit. Other nearby cities followed suit, and Golconda was soon one of the greatest states in all southern Khajwar. However, with success often comes jealousy and paranoia. By this stage Hasana had risen to be one of the leaders within the Mamluks and so had been patronised by Zalquir with the aim for using her to turn the warriors to her. The Nawab of Golconda and her advisors feared (with some justification) that Zalquir was planning to use her support in the army to overthrow them and seize power.
Therefore, Zalquir was lured to the palace on the pretence of accepting new orders and was seized treacherously. She was then cruelly tortured to try to get her to admit to treason, but she refused to speak. Frustrated, the Nawab had her beheaded, and then moved swiftly on the Mamluks. The slave soldiers were ordered to assemble outside their camp without their weapons and armour for an inspection. Naturally this was suspicious, but Hasana intuited that they were being setup for slaughter, so passed around a message to all the corps that they should come with concealed weapons and armour and be ready for her word.
When the Mamluks paraded they were surrounded by other soldiers whilst the ‘treason’ of Zalquir was proclaimed, and her head displayed. When the soldiers moved in to ‘punish’ the supposed collaborators, Kataba was chosen seemingly at random. Hasana had taken enough, and she let out a loud cry of ‘Anhala’ or ‘liberty’ and cut down the warrior who had laid hands on her lover. Drawing their concealed weapons, the Mamluks fell upon the surprised warriors and hewed down many of them before they could react. The officers of the Mamluks were all slain and the corps broke for the hills. However, they were pursued by a host of enemies, and fought a running battle for several hours, inflicting but also taking heavy losses until they reached the safety of nearby hills. During this battle Hasana was badly wounded in the stomach by a bullet and carried to safety by her comrades. In the chaos of the aftermath Kataba and one of the few Force users who had come with them managed to save her life and nurse her back to health. She would take months before she could fight, but that freed Hasana to assume command of the rebels.
Only half of the Mamluks made it, but they were now free – though they would have to fight for that freedom. It was only now that the monumental folly of the Nawab became clear. She had needlessly antagonised the most elite, well-armed and motivated unit in their army. The Mamluks would never surrender for death was preferable either to torture or re-enslavement. Attempts to roust them from the hills ended in humiliating disaster, and fugitive slaves and deserters swelled the army’s ranks. Soon enough they were raiding the plains for supplies, weapons and further recruits. Golconda’s armies were humiliated, and Hasana made it a policy to spare the common soldier even if they didn’t join her, but to kill and officers after humiliating them first. The war became bitter and bloody.
Unknown to any in Golconda, great events were happening elsewhere. They had seen strange lights in the sky for months and news of strange visitors from the sky had filtered in. However, Hasana had no time for such things. She had received word that a coalition of states, worried by the slave uprising, had joined with Golconda to finally defeat the insurgents. Impulsively, though not without reason, Hasana decided to accept battle. Her reasons were clear; after fighting for nearly 2 years they could not win. The city walls were too strong and her army had no artillery or engineers to bring it down. If they failed to fight they risked being ground down over time.
However, when Hasana brought her forces to the field she found she would be massively outnumbered. Despite having a good defensive position on high ground above a swamp her army was outnumbered and outgunned at least five to one. Facing dismal odds and perhaps realising her own rashness, she offered any of her soldiers pass to leave freely. Though some deserters and other recruits did leave none of her surviving Mamluks or former slaves left, instead they pledged to win or die.
Before the battle could begin though, a strange light and noise came from the sky and landed near the rebel camp. Though many were panicked by this device Hasana controlled her fear and approached it. To her amazement she found that there was a Qadiri who spoke her language in the flying machine. This Qadiri was Shazora Jai Vahal and she brought tidings of great events happening elsewhere. People from beyond the stars had come to Tygara and she had been chosen as an emissary to bring allies among the Qadiri to them. She showed Hasana her own marks of former enslavement and offered a deal. If Hasana and her warriors pledged their allegiance to ‘Firemane’ they would be granted the right of passage to the north where they could join with Firemane’s other allies.
Faced with this deal though Hasana stood her ground. She would not bow or become servant to anyone. She would only accept if her freedom and those of her warriors was guaranteed. She also knew that the coalition army would not simply let them march free, and so she asked that they be aided in the battle. Shazora however did not want to fight a battle, and so tried to reach out to the Coalition for a diplomatic solution. Unwisely they attacked the gunship and promised to crucify every captured slave.
Faced with battle, Hasana and her troops fought for their lives. They were aided by the gunship, whose weapons and terrifying appearance struck terror in their enemies. However, it could only be in one place at a time, and when it was gone the Coalition attacked with fury. Hasana was everywhere in the front lines, leading counterattacks and shoring up defences. She even killed a pyromancer champion Force user of Golconda in combat though she received a nasty wound to the face doing it. For hours the Coalition army struggled up the bloody slopes to be cut down, but eventually ammunition ran out and the slaves were reduced to fighting with spears, swords and axes. However, they were being worn down by the sheer constant pressure, but so were the attackers, and they were visibly starting to waver.
With the end near Hasana met briefly with Shazora and they organised a final charge. Shouting their battlecry of ‘Anhala!’ every remaining rebel who could still fight charged down the hill into the final onslaught of the Coalition at the same time as the gunship released its final bombs. This charge finally broke the Coalition army, and they broke and fled the field. Hasana and what remained of her army were too shattered to pursue, but they had fought and won their freedom.
In the aftermath transports arrived from Firemane and the survivors were taken aboard. Hasana insisted that the dead be burned at a pyre to prevent them being desecrated by their enemies. With her ‘army’ now numbering less than a thousand able warriors, Hasana was taken to meet with Tegaea Alcori, the wife of Firemane’s leader. Tegaea had been greatly impressed by the former slave’s feats and offered her a place in Firemane’s Qadiri forces. Hasana, faced with humans and other species from beyond the stars in discussion for the first time accepted, but refused to kneel. She would thank the Director, but she would not call her Lady, nor bow before anyone. Tegaea, seeing this was an important distinction, allowed it to be, knowing that past experiences were pushing this upon the Qadiri.
With Shazora as her guide into all things modern, Hasana pushed herself to learn everything she could. She had a considerable disadvantage in being illiterate and not speaking Basic as well as having no concept of the technology she saw around herself. However, with a determination which impressed and somewhat intimidated Shazora she pushed herself to learn. Soon she was being sent to deal with rogue Xioquo who had escaped the battle of the Underrealm, and also Qadiri who fought against the new order. In this role she was quite successful, especially as she had now been equipped with blaster weapons. Her tactics and weapons had changed, but her impulse to attack had not, and so she was very happy to accept the new vehicles driven by droids despite their frightening sound and appearance. She even learned how to drive one…a bit recklessly…through an enemy defence line before jumping out to deal with the enemy in close combat.
With Tygara pacified a great conference was held above the planet to decide the fate of the races. Hasana was not there of course, but she was most happy to hear that slavery would be abolished across the whole planet. What made her even happier was that Golconda had formally refused to comply, and so she accompanied Shazora in a return to her home city. Despite her requests to destroy her former home, the sight of the Firemane ships and soldiers had the desired effect. Hasana was there when the Nawab she had fought for so long formally proclaimed the freedom to the slaves. She then insisted that all the slaves who wished it be transplanted to prevent future exploitation once Firemane’s eye was elsewhere. It was not the total victory she had sought, but it was a triumph regardless.
Finally, with time to relax and reflect, Hasana went to space, taken by her now friend and occasional lover Shazora. Even Hasana’s iron will wavered at the sight, but she contained her fear and was even emboldened to learn even more. Soon she was meeting as many people as she could, speaking in Basic, and learning technology. She had something of a falling out with Kitaba who wanted to settle down now they were free, perhaps adopt a freed child and live a normal life. Hasana could not or would not do that, she was determined to carry liberation beyond Tygara, to prove herself a warrior in the stars. This relentless drive for strength and knowledge took her away from her former love, and though she returned to visit her when she could they were not as close as they had been.
Now Hasana, a Captain in Firemane’s forces, has prepared an elite force of former Qadiri slaves. These ‘Ascended’ form an elite force for Siobhan’s army. She also has achieved proficiency in many deadly weapons and strong armour. When she goes into battle it will be with this new wargear and the enemies of Firemane will know the fury of Hasana.