Background


Vekta was born a half breed Yirunda/Caksusa.  A Yirunda officer (for reasons known only to himself) got Vekta's Caksusa mother, one of his troopers, pregnant.  Once it became obvious what had happened the Yirunda was
immediately transferred away.
 

Vekta's mother, Nagapura, bore her daughter on her own, the embarrassment being too much to share.  And abandoned the half-breed child a day later.
But Vekta was tough and managed to survive on her own, first as a street waif in Bhaga, then later in a home of her own on the outskirts of the Wastelands.  Her mixed blood kept her from making many friends but it did allow her to learn things not normally available to the Caksusa.
 
When Vekta was an adolescent, she tracked Nagapura down and confronted her.  Vekta managed to wrench the name of her father from the trooper -- Miramvitar.  Since that time Vekta has only heard rumors of her father, still serving in disgrace in far reaching outposts.
Vekta set up her own home in the Wastelands, taking over an abandoned series of caves.  From there she would venture out into the deserts to meet and eat any creatures she found therein.  At this time, she also discovered an ability in herself to actually 'make friends'.  Through time consuming experimentation -- and more than a few accidents -- Vekta learned to conjure what she needed. 
Though her attempts to make friends of stone or flame that were smarter than herself proved woefully unsuccessful.
 
As she grew bigger and stronger, Vekta left her home to enlist in the army.  Getting in was hard.  But Vekta fought for it and was eventually allowed to join the ranks of the Caksusa troops.  Here her mixed blood made trouble for her again.  The troopers resenting her.  The Yirunda officers disgusted by her.  From this time in her life come the two names that would follow her throughout her time among the Tanaka; Yirunda - 'Big Dumb Vekta', and the Caksusa - 'Runt'.
Her first tour of duty was serving in a Caksusa patrol along Adram's Wall (a literal wall built where Shadow alters and becomes impassable) guarding against anything that might come through.  Well, nothing did for quite some time, until small cracks began to appear and some fairly terrifying (even to the Tanaka) things began to come through, mostly near the "Abyss" that runs between Raksha and Guhai.
 
Other tours were served during the ongoing conflicts between the Tanaka and the 'nearby' Llaru.  Llaru was just to the north of Ananta, and was one of the few places unconquered by the Tanaka that also refused to pay it homage.  They were a fierce people, and had been warring with Ananta for centuries.
After serving a little over a decade in the army, Vekta was discharged due to insubordination.  A number of incidents had accumulated until her Yirunda commander had the excuse he needed to blacklist her.  A typical incident went
something like this --
 
Vekta:  "But Sarge.  It's an ambush.  You can see their pointy flag things over the hilltop."

Sergeant:  "Dammit, Trooper.  When I say Charge, you *CHARGE*!!"

Vekta (charging):  "Yessir."
Vekta's official discharge -- dishonorable -- came while her unit was fairly deep within Tanaka, so the disenchanted Vekta wandered deeper into Raksha to do a little sightseeing.  But she rapidly found her reception was the same -- or even worse -- in the more civilized lands of the interior of the Tanakan Empire.
 
By the time the footsore Vekta reached Am Tanaka, she was pretty hard up.  A desperate search for employment -- not an easy thing for the discharged trooper -- eventually turned up a low-level position in the Imperial dungeons. 
Her duties varied between guard and really ugly menial 'housekeeping'.  But she did it well.  And by this time had learned to keep her mouth shut, so only a few 'hate-inspired' complaints were filed against her.  But nothing that would get her fired.
 
At this time, up in the sunlit world of the Empress and her consort, an old enemy had fallen into their hands.  Adram, creator of the Order Apostasy, had been captured and was being kept within the precincts of the palace.  The palace
Yirunda in charge of security was in a quandary.  He didn't want any of his men exposed to Adram's charismatic influence.  But the Caksusa servants were too easily fooled to be allowed to attend to the Adversary.
A series of inquiries among his subordinates turned up an answer.  A prison guard who was smarter than the average Caksusa but not bright enough to be swayed by Adram's logic.  And thus, Big Dumb Vekta came to be working in the
Palace of Am Tanaka.
 
Which only made her life worse.  Far worse.  The palace Caksusa who had either inherited their positions or schemed/conspired like mad to get them were infuriated that this newcomer just breezed in.  The Yirunda guard were mortally insulted that a 'Caksusa mule' had been given a job over their heads.  Vekta found no place for herself either in the Servant's Quarters or the Barracks.  Eventually she took to sleeping in front of the doorway to Adram's quarters with the guard Mahisa. The Chief of Security wasn't happy about this, but hey, it worked.
Also outside of Adram's quarters, standing tirelessly at the ready, was Saringhazi.  The Empress thought enough of her prisoner to assign her own bodyguard to ensure that he stayed where he was.  Saringhazi ignored Vekta for
the most part, but she could feel his eyes on her, even though she could not see them beneath his hood.
 
The only peace Vekta had was when she was in the suites, attending to Adram; cleaning up, fetching meals, etc.  As she did these things, Adram slowly  began to talk to her.
Adram was a very personable guy.  His form much resembled those of the Empress and Laertes; completely humanoid.  He was small, about 5'6", with long, red hair that fell in waves past his shoulders.  His eyes were so pale blue
as to nearly be white.  Vekta found it hard to believe that this small, frail creature could pose such a threat to the Tanaka and their way of life, but then, even she were smart enough to know that scary things can come in small packages.
 
Adram was very polite and never talked down to the half-breed.  He thanked her when she brought his meals and when she cleaned up his quarters. He also asked Vekta about herself, and unlike most, gave her plenty of time to answer without growing impatient.
Though Vekta never answered much, she gave the appearance of being a good listener.  She would sit or stand still, watch Adram with unblinking eyes while he
spoke and seldom interrupted.  Vekta also probably understood about one word in five that the Adversary said, and remembered less.
 
It must be suspected that Adram knew as much.  Perhaps that is why he said so much.  Revealing the source of the conflict between himself and Hramini.  Dispelling the notion of 'Order Sickness' that was so prevalent among the lower
orders of the Tanaka.  And many other things that Vekta honestly did not understand or remember, in the four or five months they spent together.  Vekta made a perfect confessor, no judgement, no malice, no grudge.  Just a listener.
The impression Vekta got from him was that he was certain he was going to die here, and wanted to impart his wisdom to someone.  Since she  was the only one who came to see him...
 
The night Adram escaped from the Palace was a confused mess.  Vekta was headed toward Adram's quarters with his evening meal when the Empress' consort and a few guards passed her, speaking briefly to Saringhazi and getting him to open the door.  They all entered the room, and suddenly there was shouting and confusion and Vekta felt a tremendous power emanating from the small room, followed by the sounds of battle.
The door burst from its hinges and a body landed nearly at her clawed feet.  Saringhazi followed, his weapon flashing as it spun, coming to a stop with the point against the throat of the man on the floor.  Laertes emerged with Adram, and the guards tied up the defeated man (for that's what he was, so obviously in no way Tanaka) and all of them departed for the stairs.  The prisoner was tall, thin but well-muscled, with long, straight, brown hair and an arm the color of dull brass.  As they bound him, Vekta saw the symbol of Adram etched into the palm of his hand.
 
He glanced up briefly and Vekta saw his mismatched eyes, one muddy green, the other golden.  This could be none other than Hiranyaksu himself, though she'd have expected more of a fight, even with Saringhazi.
They passed the Caksusa by, and she couldn't help but follow, though at a distance. When they reached the top of the stairs they headed to the throne room, marching straight up to the Empress.
 
Vekta peered through the doors, but the room was so long that she could not hear their words.  Everyone seemed pleased, save Adram and the other prisoner, and another man Vekta did not recognize.  They spoke briefly. 
Hiranyaksu was lead from the room, by Laertes and some of the guards.  Vekta hid behind the door when it opened, and they were long gone before it swung itself closed and revealed her.
Then a stange feeling washed over her.  Part anticipation, part apprehension and part something she couldn't define.  There was a sudden, enormous rush of power in the throne room, and Vekta saw Adram and the man she didn't know
begin to vanish.  Saringhazi leapt at them as they disappeared, taking him with them.
 
After the events in the throne room, Vekta stood and stared for a minute.  Then, gently and quietly put the dinner tray down beside a corridor wall outside the throne.  Long bounding steps to the nearest balcony, verranda, whatever.  And firebirded it out of there.
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