Efrén is a Lyra shadow theater performer who managed a small shadow theater troupe within the Tisdhera Clan caravan. He is the father of Sierra, whom he raised while traveling from city to city across Asgartha.
Shadow Theater Career
Efrén managed a small shadow theater within the Lyra caravan troupe, delighting children with stories of princesses and ancient heroes, fables and tales from ages past. He spoke of mythical cities including Madrid, Venice, and the City of Light.
When not performing, Sierra would help her father manipulate threads and lights, silhouettes and sets behind the narrow backstage. Sierra watched the audience, marveling at the faces of children alternately joyful, sad, worried, or laughing.
Life in the Caravan
Efrén raised Sierra while following the Tisdhera Clan caravan from city to city in a nomadic existence. He listened to Sierra recount epic adventures she imagined with other Clan children, often teasing her by saying she could have easily become a Bravos, much to his daughter’s vexed gaze.
The Tumult Incident
When a Tumult anomaly erupted while their caravan traveled Asgarthan roads, Efrén and Sierra jumped out of their mobile home, trying to avoid iridescent pools of Tumult oozing from the ground. As terrain transformed and collapsed, they struggled to stay upright in the violence of earthquakes and topographic variations.
When Sierra stepped into a pool of Tumult and her legs began chaotically mutating, Efrénpulled her by the arms to safety with a horrified look. He watched as her left leg liquefied into scattering pebbles and her right leg transmuted into knotted wood sprouting colorful feathers and rusty nails.
Caring for Sierra
After Sierra’s legs had to be amputated due to Tumult damage, Efrén did everything he could to feed her and massage her painful thighs with ointments. He listened to her moan, scream at the world, and despair, but didn’t allow her to wither away. One day he carried her to the front of their lodge so she could gaze at the sky again.
Efrén tried every means to occupy Sierra’s mind - asking her to help rebuild his theater, to sculpt and paint new puppets. Though she most often agreed, these activities brought her no happiness at all.
Journey to Verbera
At dawn one day, Efrén woke Sierra and asked her to get dressed. He carried her throughout the journey to Verbera, located on the edge of the Muir Concordia. He informed her they were there to find a wheelchair or any device allowing her to regain semblance of autonomy. The timing coincided with the Prodigium, the Axiom’s World Exposition.
At the prosthetist Hamisu’s workshop, Efrén could only afford rudimentary mobility devices rather than the advanced Grafts that responded to their wearer’s will. After Sierra was fitted with racing blades, they spent the rest of the day enjoying the Prodigium. They watched parades of floats, ate ice cream on the beach, and looked across the sea at distant Arkaster.
During their stay in Verbera, Efrén took advantage to finalize their new caravan and performed many shows in the city to fund his projects. The goal was to leave as soon as the Clan was back on its feet.
Sierra’s Choice
As departure day approached, Efrén’s expression grew concerned as he saw Sierra’s darkening mood. Even if he didn’t entirely agree with the approach - believing technical additions harmed the simplicity of his art - he had accepted Sierra building smoke machines, spark projectors, and visual effects to accompany his plays. He could see the young girl had a knack for these things, even if he wasn’t as enthusiastic about them as she was.
One evening, Efrén went to see Hamisu himself, asking him to sponsor Sierra within the Axiom. The old man agreed to his request if it was truly something the young girl desired from the bottom of her heart.
In the morning, after helping Sierra continue her rehabilitation, Efrén asked her to sit with him over a cup of coffee. At that moment he suggested she join the Axiom if she wanted to continue her technical apprenticeship. She was, of course, free to follow him when he left, to pick up their life where they had left it. But Efrén felt that what she had discovered in Verbera had given new meaning to her life.
Farewell
A few days later, tears rolled down both father’s and daughter’s cheeks as they embraced. Efrén promised Sierra he would visit whenever he passed by the vicinity of the capital. Sierra lingered for a long time, watching the caravan move away until it disappeared on the horizon. Then she turned toward the city, Hamisu’s workshop, and the station that would take her to the capital.
Combat Puppeteer Abilities
Beyond his theatrical performances, Efrén possesses powerful Ignescence and combat abilities he had kept hidden from Sierra. He can use wires to swing rapidly from block to block through the City of Scholars, keeping pace with Sierra’s one-wheeler. He summons combat-equipped puppet Eidolons—old mannequins stored away long ago—that can retrieve artifacts from ledges or engage in battle. These mannequins, which he sculpted with his golden hands, have distinct personalities despite being stored for many years.
Timeline of Activities
393 AC - Letter from Sierra
Efrén received letter from Sierra via The Talaria courier while traveling with caravan. Letter arrived weather-worn and battered, speckled with dried mud and old water stains, with scattered words fallen victim to rain and rough journey. Recognized sender’s handwriting instantly.
Sierra’s letter detailed discoveries at Storvhit including climate analysis of Cais Adarra region, archaeological findings around The Nilam revealing pre-glaciation human settlement, and technical analysis of mysterious ancient machine. Sierra mentioned caravan companions Faarsan and Argiris, asking Efrén to give them hugs and remind them about chores.
Upon reading letter, Efrén felt vast distance between them acutely—leagues upon leagues that would only grow with each passing day, week, month, and year. Missed his daughter intensely, imagining her far away in wild and troubled lands beyond Asgartha.
393 AC, June-August - Reunion with Sierra at The Screed
Efrén arrived at The Screed aboard The Wayfarer, the Tisdhera Clan’s Sahanka. As gondolas descended from the vessel, he called out to Sierra, and they embraced emotionally after ten months apart. Sierra noticed a few more white strands in his hair.
393 AC, June-August - Exploring City of Scholars with Sierra
Efrén accompanied Sierra into the depths of the City of Scholars, using wires to swing from block to block while she sped ahead on her one-wheeler. He revealed his combat puppeteer abilities by summoning old mannequins equipped for battle and artifact retrieval—a facet of himself Sierra had never seen.
Personality
Efrén demonstrated patience, devotion, and wisdom in raising Sierra. Though he valued simplicity in his art and wasn’t as enthusiastic about technical additions as his daughter, he supported her interests and ultimately helped her pursue her passion by arranging her sponsorship into the Axiom, even though it meant losing his daughter’s companionship.
Relationships
- Sierra: Daughter, now Axiom Exalt and engineer, exchanges letters via The Talaria (393 AC)
- Hamisu: Prosthetist in Verbera who agreed to sponsor Sierra into the Axiom
- Faarsan: Caravan companion mentioned by Sierra in letter (393 AC)
- Argiris: Caravan companion mentioned by Sierra in letter (393 AC)
- The Wayfarer: Tisdhera Clan Sahanka aboard which Efrén arrived at The Screed (393 AC)
- The Screed: Expeditionary Corps outpost where Efrén reunited with Sierra (393 AC)
- City of Scholars: Buried city Efrén explored with Sierra using combat puppets (393 AC)