Aoife

Overview

Aoife is a Bravos Vanguard warrior who manifested the gift of the Phoenix during combat in the City of Scholars, becoming a Fire Avatar and member of the Phoenixian Guard. After training for over a decade under Basira al-Arshad, she joined field operations with the Expeditionary Corps.

Training Background

Aoife spent her entire life preparing for field missions outside Asgartha’s safety. She trained for over a decade, giving blood, sweat, and tears through all difficulties and hurdles to reach deployment status. Her dedication and perseverance pushed her through the rigorous demands of becoming a Bravos warrior worthy of the Expeditionary Corps.

Of all the recruits Basira trained over the years, Aoife was identified as the one Basira most saw herself in—though without the anger and trauma that shaped Basira’s early career. This similarity made Basira view Aoife as a potential successor who could lead detachments and serve as an Alterer in the future.

Field Deployment

392 AC - Charting Mission with Basira

Aoife participated in a terrain charting mission with Basira, serving as part of a Bravos Vanguard detachment outside Asgartha. The team climbed to the peak of an elevation to survey and map the landscape.

The climb was rough, but Aoife showed minimal signs of exertion aside from mildly heavy breathing and sweat on her forehead. At the summit, her red hair whipped her face in the wind. Basira handed her a flask and Aoife drank from it, then wiped her mouth with the back of her sleeve before returning the flask with a smile.

Basira observed that Aoife was finally in the field after spending her whole life preparing for this mission. This was why Aoife had given blood, sweat, and tears—why she had pushed herself so hard through all the difficulties and hurdles. Aoife motioned for the cartographer to prepare equipment, recognizing the need to complete work quickly so Kaizaimon and Basira could be redeployed.

The mission demonstrated the reality that zones may not remain stable for long after a duo passes through, requiring Exalts like Kaizaimon and Basira to provide escort even for seemingly trivial mapping tasks.

Leadership Potential

Basira assessed that if anything were to happen to her, the detachment would be in good hands with Aoife. However, the question remained whether Aoife would know how to serve as an Alterer, since the Expeditionary Corps still needed Exalts to protect them on the Tumult’s outskirts.

Timeline

392 AC - Charting Mission with Basira

Aoife participated in terrain charting mission with Basira al-Arshad, climbing to peak elevation to survey landscape while Kaizaimon and Basira provided escort.

393 AC, June-September - Phoenix Manifestation and Phoenixian Guard Induction

During shadow entity attack in City of Scholars, Aoife rushed to help Sidqi and manifested the gift of the Phoenix—blades, hair, and eyes catching fire—banishing the shadows and earning induction into the Phoenixian Guard.

393 AC, June-September - Inauguration Celebration

Aoife celebrated her Phoenixian Guard induction at The Mess with Basira al-Arshad, Jubal Okech, and other Bravos, drinking Sap beer until her cheeks flushed.

Relationships

• Basira al-Arshad: Trainer who sees Aoife as similar to her younger self, deployed together on field missions (392 AC)
• Kaizaimon: Provides Exalt escort during Aoife’s field operations
• Catriona: Younger sister who provides medical care and support, complements Aoife’s risk-taking with calm kindness
• Chaghagan: Solid taciturn Bravos who helps look after Aoife alongside Catriona
• Sidqi: Bravos Pendekar whose sacrifice Aoife joined to defend (393 AC)
• Sitina: Phoenixian Guard member whose blade technique Aoife’s Phoenix manifestation resembled
• Phoenixian Guard: Order Aoife joined after manifesting Phoenix gift (393 AC)
• Rune: First Kuningas whose heir Aoife became through Phoenixian Guard induction
• Jubal Okech: Bravos excavator who celebrated Aoife’s inauguration (393 AC)