Ariya Malanti

Ariya Malanti is a primary character in novel, The Sentinels: Night Mother. An initiate at the prestigious Sentinel Academy, she hails from an aristocratic family in the commandery of Edenvalia and is training to become a rogue.

Background and Early Life

Ariya was born into a noble family in Edenvalia. Her father, Rei Ilyani, is the head of the Edenvalia Gladestalkers, a provincial intelligence agency, while her mother, Cera Malanti, is a celebrated wizard and the personal chef to Queen Eunriel Lorion.

As a Lunar Elf, Ariya possesses an exceptionally long lifespan. At the age of 82, she has already experienced her "second awakening," a cultural phenomenon where Elves shift to a new career path after decades in a previous one. Before joining the Sentinels, she worked for nearly 50 years as a museum curator. Driven by a desire to see more of the world and serve the entire Hegemony of Mistoria, she chose to join the more inclusive Sentinels rather than the Edenvalian-centric Gladestalkers.

Life at Sentinel Academy

Upon arriving at the Sentinel Academy in the city of Ovyliax, Ariya begins her training on the path of the rogue, following in her father's footsteps. Despite the high value her home commandery places on arcane ability, Ariya's strengths lie in stealth, diplomacy, and perception.

She quickly befriends a diverse group of fellow candidates, including the boisterous barbarian Barnov Kiltskire, the quiet artificer Pen Calin, the sharpshooter Zaren Vigilai, and the paladin Sai Dzeng. Her initial training exercises reveal her to be a resourceful and clever combatant, often using her environment and cunning to overcome opponents rather than relying on brute force.

Personality and Traits

Ariya is intelligent, observant, and determined to prove herself. Having grown up in a life of privilege, she is now eager to forge her own path and experience perspectives different from her own. She is a loyal friend and values the bonds she forms with her fellow initiates. While generally composed and polite, she is not afraid to speak her mind and possesses a strong sense of justice and duty.

Abilities and Skills

Ariya's academy entrance exams rate her as having high proficiency in stealth, thievery, diplomacy, perception, acrobatics, and lore. She is an adept swordswoman, wielding a jian (a type of straight sword). While not as naturally gifted in spellcraft as many of her Edenvalian peers, she demonstrates a growing ability to channel Arc to enhance her combat abilities, a skill she works diligently to improve. Her past as a curator has also given her a broad base of historical knowledge.