Auraq

Overview

Auraq is a Lyra Alterer and Exalt known for their provocative and extravagant stage persona. Auraq is the alter ego and stage name of Awmar, a performer from a Lyra theatrical troupe. Their companion is Kibble, an ethereal rabbit or cat-like Chimera.

Dual Identity

Awmar is the person behind the persona—more withdrawn, someone who turns his tongue in his mouth several times before speaking, attached to nomadic life. Auraq is provocative, bold, extravagant, and sexy—a liberating feeling to trade one face for another. Through Auraq, there are no more conventions to hold onto. Auraq cares little for conventions and even less about others’ opinions.

Early Life and Mother’s Death

During childhood, Awmar accompanied his parents to their performances. He loved watching the setup, a habit dating back to childhood. He adored wandering amidst the clutter of crates, cables, and metal frameworks. He loved watching actors don costumes and watching his mother perform.

Awmar’s father worked as a costume maker for the troupe, maintaining a studio with fantastical clothing designs. During childhood, Awmar and his friend Nyala would sneak into the studio to take these fantastical designs. Together they dreamed up performances, forming a duo. They vowed to create their first show as team. They spent hours devising scenarios, practicing steps, reciting lines, and juggling. Awmar only left Nyala’s side to watch his mother perform onstage at night.

Nyala developed her Alteration powers first and teased Awmar about his slower progress. For Awmar, Alteration had not been a priority until his mother’s illness consumed their lives. Over time, as the illness claimed his mother, Alteration became both distraction and escape. He caught up to Nyala in mastering the art and surpassed her.

Drawing on her Ignescence, Awmar’s mother captivated crowds with hypnotic voice and elegant gestures, but her performances left her drained. During a rehearsal, Awmar’s mother lost consciousness and sank into a languor that nothing could alleviate. With no one to replace the lead female role, Awmar volunteered to stand in for her and delivered the performance to thunderous applause. When he opened the door to their trailer afterward, he saw his father’s eyes bathed in tears and his mother’s motionless body. He collapsed on the trailer steps, feeling guilty that he had stolen her glory and hadn’t been there when she drew her last breath.

The friendship with Nyala faltered after his mother’s death. Awmar withdrew into guilt. Nyala, unsure how to help, kept her distance. A mutual unease grew into a wall between them. Their paths diverged. Nyala began staging small shows independently while Auraq stepped into her mother’s role. They observed each other from afar without sharing the stage. After finishing her studies, Nyala attempted to reconnect with Auraq, but found Auraq had vanished without trace.

Meeting Kibble

When the Clan journeyed to a Tumult Singularity to entrust his mother’s body to its transforming currents, Awmar insisted on being part of the procession. A strange creature emerged from The Tumult—a Chimera, some kind of cat or rabbit with ethereal body like a soap bubble. The entity approached him and placed its paw on his arm, as if to console him. The Chimera remained close to him afterward, following them in their wanderings and providing a welcome daily distraction. He named the Chimera Kibble.

Theatrical Career and Birth of Auraq Persona

Kibble’s presence allowed Awmar to climb back up the slope, and he took on the roles left vacant by his mother. His performances gained visibility, and critics praised his grandiloquent and touching performances. Over time, his repertoire became more burlesque, and the persona of Auraq was born—more than just a stage name, she was everything Awmar was not. One evening, Auraq invoked her mother’s Eidolon to converse with her, and the Eidolon kissed her on the forehead—Auraq believed she read her blessing there.

Career in Arkaster

Auraq moved to Arkaster to perform at venues like The Opera, The Astoria, The Nightingale, and The Spark. Her performances of Alteration can bring the house down and set venues ablaze with creative energy. Before treading the stage, she always gives a thought to her mother.

Alteration Abilities

Through her mother’s teachings and her own development, Auraq possesses Alteration abilities connected to performance and Ignescence. Her performances can set venues ablaze with creative energy.

Timeline of Activities

360 AC - Watching Lyra Thespian

Auraq watched actor perform alone on stage playing multiple characters using Alteration, wishing to wear mask and be true self behind it.

370 AC - Hathor Performance

Auraq performed on tables in alluring outfit, summoning Hathor to dance flamenco while audience clapped rhythm.

381 AC - Sandman Storytelling

Auraq told Chiara Caceres story to Kasirga clan children with Sandman creating ghostly sand figures, Marang clinging during story.

385 AC - Cloth Cocoon with Ehuang

Ehuang performed aerial ribbons act while Auraq summoned Tanuki as villain threatening scissors, and Ehuang wrapped him in silk cocoon.

386 AC - Twinkle Twinkle Nursery Rhyme

Fen and Aruzhan helped Auraq after children escaped dormitory, and Aruzhan sang nursery rhyme while Crowbar stood guard.

388 AC - Tanuki Stage Performance

Auraq summoned Tanuki with dorayaki from low-cut top, and Tanuki teleported using beech leaf to catch flying treat.

389 AC - Seasick Navigator Journey

Auraq was seasick on boat across Muir Concordia while Kibble pressed wet muzzle against cheek, watching navigator and flying fish emerge.

390 AC - Mind Apotheosis

Auraq drew from Ignescence quieting ego to absorb ideas floating in air, watching them collide like marbles creating inspiration.

392 AC - Stabilizing Area with Kibble

Kibble leaped through fickle gravity crackling with Mana, and Auraq caught him releasing explosion transforming reality into work of art.

392 AC, December - Caer Oorun Performance with Nyala

Auraq performed at Kasirga Clan celebration marking Caer Oorun reclamation and expeditionary departure, encountering childhood friend Nyala for first time since their estrangement. During afternoon rehearsal, Auraq observed Nyala’s portal demonstration from backstage shadows but accidentally revealed presence by catching feet in ropes, leading Awmar to remove mask and perform Lyra ballad while Nyala watched. During evening performance, when Nyala lost control of summoned flaming wyvern Eidolon that ignited stage drapes, Auraq improvised intervention by leaping onstage and singing haunting baroque opera variation while communicating with creature through syncopated gestures. After exchanged glance and nod, Nyala created dimensional portal behind Auraq allowing her to command wyvern into gateway, with both performers collapsing from depleted Ignescence as audience erupted believing it was planned duet. Kibble perched ready to defend during intervention, Mana from crowd reinvigorated both performers, and they departed backstage separately without speaking.

393 AC, January-April - Hot Spring Leisure at Storvhit

Auraq bathed in hot springs at Storvhit with Fen and Nevenka, diverting streams to create pools while Fen confided plans about finding The Song of One.

393 AC, January-April - Observing Nyala’s Ice Performance

Auraq watched Nyala perform skating tricks with Mana rippling at fingertips generating portals, dismissing techniques as country fair conjuring tricks despite spectacular relocation abilities.

393 AC, January-March - Will-o’-the-Wisp Misdirection

Auraq materialized pink will-o’-the-wisp to mislead scouts away from Belisenki nest, sending glowing spark down slope to lead explorers astray through coral flowers.

393 AC, January-April - Heimdall Cave Escape

Auraq summoned Heimdall Eidolon in dead-end ice cave, watching guardian blow Gjallarhorn horn with colorful energy waves that exploded rock wall creating rainbow-filled exit.

393 AC, January-April - Lake Ice Rescue Decision

Auraq chose to save children from breaking lake ice rather than warning Nyala who was skating, throwing warmth ideas over kids while ice gave way beneath Nyala.

393 AC, January-April - Icebound Tundra Exploration

Auraq explored frozen canyon with ocher coral-like mineral formations and blue grasses, hearing ominous rustling after studying hybrid stone-plant structures with tree-ring patterns.

393 AC, June-September - Shadow Attack with Lernaean Hydra

Auraq fought alongside Teija and Atsadi against shadow entities in City of Scholars caverns, protecting Kibble while Atsadi summoned Lernaean Hydra whose manifestation Teija psychically altered.

393 AC, June-September - Encountering Tisdhera Contortionist

Auraq discovered a Tisdhera contortionist in underground tunnel of City of Scholars, initially mistaking her singing for a talking hole before the pink-haired performer emerged and they completed a nursery rhyme together.

393 AC, June-September - Consulting Man in the Maze

Auraq consulted I’itoi Eidolon at entrance to The Maze in City of Scholars, seeking guidance about Fen’s quest for The Song of One and questioning whether to ally with or redirect her.

393 AC, June-September - Scheduled at The Stage

Auraq was scheduled to perform at The Stage at The Screed outpost alongside Nyala and the band BLISS!.

Relationships

• Kibble: Ethereal rabbit or cat-like Chimera companion who consoles and accompanies Auraq
• Mother: Deceased Lyra performer who sacrificed herself for her art, taught Auraq Alteration
• Father: Troupe costume maker who maintained studio with fantastical clothing designs, comforted Awmar after mother’s death
• Esmeralda: Lyra Shepherdess (mentioned in relation to rumors)
• Heimdall: Eidolon guardian of Bifrost summoned to escape dead-end ice cave using Gjallarhorn horn (393 AC)
• Will-o’-the-Wisp: Pink glowing spark Eidolon materialized to mislead scouts away from Belisenki nest (393 AC)
• Hathor: Eidolon who danced flamenco during performance (370 AC)
• The Sandman: Eidolon who created ghostly sand figures during storytelling (381 AC)
• Marang: Child from Kasirga clan who clung during story (381 AC)
• Nyala: Childhood friend and performance partner, later rival, collaborated during wyvern incident at Caer Oorun (393 AC)
• Ehuang: Acrobat who performed aerial ribbons act with Auraq (385 AC)
• Tanuki: Eidolon sidekick who served as villain in performances (385 AC, 388 AC)
• Fen: Lyra friend who helped wrangle children after story (386 AC)
• Aruzhan: 10-year-old singer who sang nursery rhyme to children (386 AC)
• Crowbar: Fen’s Chimera who stood guard at door (386 AC)
• Qannik: Child Fen tugged by ear (386 AC)
• Phong: Child motioned back to bed (386 AC)
• Luka: Child motioned back to bed (386 AC)
• Oleneo: Child scared by Crowbar (386 AC)
• Nevenka: Lyra Alterer who bathed with Auraq at Storvhit hot springs, called “little sugar puff” and “favorite songstress” (393 AC)
• Lyra Navigator: Sailor watched by seasick Auraq on boat (389 AC)
• The Screed: Outpost where Auraq was scheduled to perform (393 AC)
• The Stage: Mobile performance venue at The Screed where Auraq was scheduled (393 AC)
• BLISS!: Band scheduled to perform alongside Auraq at The Stage (393 AC)
• Teija: Muna Alterer who fought alongside Auraq against shadows in City of Scholars (393 AC)
• Atsadi: Bravos Exalt who summoned Lernaean Hydra during shadow attack (393 AC)
• Lernaean Hydra: Eidolon summoned by Atsadi during shadow attack, psychically altered by Teija (393 AC)
• Man in the Maze: Eidolon consulted for guidance about Fen’s quest (393 AC)