Princess Kavinara

In her talks with Makar Mesaba, Kavinara explained her perspectives on her past.    As a child, Kavinara was groomed to take the throne by parents who were themselves deteriorating. Her mother had, after the birth of her brother Akelan, entered a deep melancholy that she sought to cure through religion. The sovereign queen went to crusade at Kenahai and returned after many years a person of great rage. Kavinara's father, not of royal blood himself, expected perfection from Kavinara. Over the years, both parents became terrors. Akelan found a way to soften them and find the best in them, and Kavinara did her best to shield her brother - but she became cynical, bitter, and turned away from the ideology of Ishkibism. She began to idolize adventurers and Azalen company leadership: mercenary heroes and business titans who shaped the world by will, not by inheritance or hypocritical faith. These people humored her, made her feel competent on her own terms and taught her elements of their worlds.    Kavinara wanted something authentic- more authentic than the corporate managers or adventuring captains. She was drawn to Dorina, paladin of Theia the Liberator and hero of the People. Dorina gave Kavinara hope again - and then smashed it apart into new cynicism. Dorina was a woman collapsing in on herself under intense pressure by her Goddess. As Dorina spiralled into despair and substance abuse, she took Kavinara with her. Kavinara was intoxicated by her closeness to it all, by the sense of authenticity. And then Dorina betrayed her trust: Dorina promised to help Kavinara intimidate her parents into letting her take the throne early, but used the opportunity to murder them both before fleeing.     Kavinara was imprisoned, prepared for execution, and then given exile as a lesser sentence. For five years of her young adulthood, she wandered. She sought Ishkibal's redemption, like her mother once did. She crusaded and returned with her fear forged into ruthless cunning. She never expected to return to Asalay, but her brother recently invited her back to be his heir. She expected an execution and came willing to face her judgment once more, but found her brother's sincere acceptance. She is not yet certain what to make of it all.